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Made-in-China robots empower upgrading of manufacturing industry

Xinhua) 08:20, July 02, 2024

JINAN, July 1 (Xinhua) -- At the green energy-powered engine manufacturing base of Weichai Power Co., Ltd. in east China's Shandong Province, automated guided vehicles shuttle and position engine parts via QR codes, to ensure they reach their different production line locations.

Weichai, a leading Chinese powertrain manufacturer based in Weifang, has extensively implemented the use of industrial robots in its smart factories. Almost no manual operation can be seen on the entire production line.

Thanks to the rapid growth of industrial robot production capacity, China's installed capacity of industrial robots currently accounts for more than 50 percent of the world's total. More and more manufacturing companies have improved their production efficiency by using industrial robots. Made-in-China robots are contributing to the upgrading of the manufacturing industry, both at home and abroad.

Robots work on an assembly line of aluminium vehicle body in Zouping, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

IMPROVED PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY

Weichai's equipment automation rate is as high as 99 percent. Through various technologies, including industrial robots, the factory's production process is mostly free from dependence on manpower and experience, and the production line can quickly realize smart adjustments, according to the company.

With the expanded use of robots, Weichai has greatly improved production efficiency. Its production line for green energy-powered engines only needs one-fifth of the workforce required before the implementation of these changes.

A technician makes rehabilitation robots at Gaomi Park of Weifang High-Tech Industry Development Zone in Gaomi, east China's Shandong Province, April 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

China was the world's largest industrial robot market in 2022, with a density of 392 units per 10,000 workers in the manufacturing industry. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed that in 2022, China's output of industrial robots had exceeded 443,000 units, up over 20 percent year on year.

Statistics also showed that there are currently more than 1.5 million robots in operation in factories in China, twice the figure recorded in Europe. In 2023, China alone had installed more than half of the world's new industrial robots, according to the International Federation of Robotics.

Manufacturing practitioners believe that the application of robots not only improves production efficiency but also speeds up product iteration. A decade ago, it would have taken Weichai five years to develop a new product, but now, with the smart system, the development cycle can be shortened to 18 months.

VARIOUS APPLICATION SCENARIOS

The FAIR Innovation (Zibo) Robot Technology Co., Ltd. in the city of Zibo, Shandong, was established in 2019, and currently produces six types of robots with a loading capacity ranging from 3 kg to 30 kg, which are widely used in welding, spraying, precision processing, and catering.

"We attach great importance to research and development investment. The core components of robots, such as controllers, reducers, and motors, are all independently developed and produced by our company," said Wang Min, the company's executive general manager.

China's industrial robot manufacturing technologies are rich in diversity and flexibility. There is now a greater variety of industrial robots, while the application scope is expanding.

A technician adjusts robots at a workshop in Zibo City, east China's Shandong Province, May 12, 2024. (Photo by Yang Mingchao/Xinhua)

For example, Uroica Precision Information Engineering Co., Ltd. is developing robots for mine inspection, while Shenzhen Sunwin Intelligent Co., Ltd. produces a variety of industrial inspection robots and independently develops an inspection operation and maintenance platform that can be applied in different industrial application scenarios and which can eliminate the need for manual inspection tasks. In addition, the accelerated development of e-commerce means that logistics robots also have more applications and potentials.

"We hope to upgrade robots from specialists to generalists. Currently, robots complete specific tasks in a specific scenario. Although robots have done a good job concerning certain tasks, some still have issues due to uncertainties in the real world," said Yi Li, assistant professor at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University. "Robots that are generalists will be able to perform open tasks in an open environment."

Once a robot becomes a generalist, it will have a huge application space. Zhang Jianwei, a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that in scenarios such as rescue, autonomous driving, modern agriculture, and home services, smarter robots will have more room to play.

EXPLORING OVERSEAS MARKETS

Chinese robotics companies have achieved good results in exploring overseas markets in recent years. Some companies are exploring markets in countries and regions that have an aging population problem and high labor costs, such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

Latin America, Southeast Asia, and other regions where development of the manufacturing industry is rapid, but where the overall quality of the labor force is often unable to meet the needs of industrial upgrading, have also become target areas for Chinese robotics companies.

Dobot Robotics, headquartered in south China's Shenzhen, has branches in the United States, Germany, and Japan as well as more than 350 core agents worldwide. Its products have been sold to over 140 countries and regions.

A technician makes rehabilitation robots at Gaomi Park of Weifang High-Tech Industry Development Zone in Gaomi, east China's Shandong Province, April 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

At Dobot Robotics's manufacturing base in the city of Rizhao, Shandong, robots are made via a fully-automated production line. The line was put into operation in 2022, and the 10,000th robot rolled off the line in September of the same year.

"Our main products are collaborative robots and supporting solutions. Relying on the production capacity of the factory in Rizhao, the company has carried out global marketing and promotion of products and has become the largest exporter of domestic robots for five consecutive years," said Liu Chanchan, general manager of the company's Rizhao base.

Over half of the company's sales stem from demand overseas. Overseas markets have a higher awareness of industrial robots, while offering a large market space and high maturity. In addition, human resources in some countries are more scarce, and so their demand for robots is more urgent, Liu added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 2: Brands are increasingly using WhatsApp API to sell and build stronger customer relationships. Kiacart supports well-known brands such as TEXTSPEED SHRI RAJ JEWELLERS RaProcure Arisu Clothing Guntier Amigo Properties Arisu GHUGE AVIATION SERVICES Concepto Lighting MultiFly Media Findvio Wedoit Technology J D Multi Pro Manufacturing Private Limited Al Abrish BrandingWorld and more brands. During the pandemic especially, there was a sudden gap in the distribution, because the physical stores were not available and brands needed instant ways of engaging with their customers. Around this time, WhatsApp emerged as the most effective tool and sales. Kiacart has helped businesses power millions of conversations with thousands of customers in India. Kiacart enables companies to have scalable, yet personalized conversations with its customer engagement software which is built on WhatsApp's Business API. We went vertical in our approach and created integrations with google sheet, zoho, shopify among others to really help scale growth and sharpen the product. Kiacart WhatsApp API liked by many brands such as TEXTSPEED SHRI RAJ JEWELLERS RaProcure Arisu Clothing Guntier Amigo Properties Arisu GHUGE AVIATION SERVICES Concepto Lighting MultiFly Media Findvio Wedoit Technology J D Multi Pro Manufacturing Private Limited Al Abrish BrandingWorld and more brands. Revenues and customer growth have doubled in the past few months as users find ROI in both time saved and increased revenue from automated workflows connected to Ecommerce platforms and CRMs. Built on the official WhatsApp Business API, it enables small-scale companies to manage customer interactions and sales on the communication platform. Now many businesses spending conversation via kiacart such as TEXTSPEED SHRI RAJ JEWELLERS RaProcure Arisu Clothing Guntier Amigo Properties Arisu GHUGE AVIATION SERVICES Concepto Lighting MultiFly Media Findvio Wedoit Technology J D Multi Pro Manufacturing Private Limited Al Abrish BrandingWorld and more brands. They can easily convert product inquiries on WhatsApp into paying customers, take orders on WhatsApp, help recover abandoned carts into sales, send order details and updates to customers and engage with them through multi-agent support. Hari Settu, Founder of Kiacart Private Limited, said, "The business messaging market has grown enormously. Hari Settu was born in Puzhal, Chennai, Tamilnadu. He has played an active role in several political election campaigns in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, particularly in digital media. He holds sway in political circles. He is deeply religious and has a strong devotion to Murugan. He campaigned for Pawan Kalyan during the last election in Andhra Pradesh. Pawan Kalyan emerged victorious in the last election. He possesses strong technical knowledge and is actively involved in business. He adheres to all government policies and laws. Meta estimates that around a billion people per week communicate with a business or service account across WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram. This insight is critical for what's happening now and what's coming ahead. About 40 per cent of Meta's advertisers globally - over 4 million businesses - use click to message ads, which redirect people from Facebook or Instagram into one of Meta's messaging products to chat with business such as TEXTSPEED SHRI RAJ JEWELLERS RaProcure Arisu Clothing Guntier Amigo Properties Arisu GHUGE AVIATION SERVICES Concepto Lighting MultiFly Media Findvio Wedoit Technology J D Multi Pro Manufacturing Private Limited Al Abrish BrandingWorld and more brands. They can also support their customers through a collaborative team inbox, assign chats, and respond to their queries with a single WhatsApp Business Number. Technological advances in operations, newer concepts, and tactics in digital marketing, and prioritized customer experience strategies have made businesses more aware. Kiacart always providing 24/7 support to their 24/7 such as TEXTSPEED SHRI RAJ JEWELLERS RaProcure Arisu Clothing Guntier Amigo Properties Arisu GHUGE AVIATION SERVICES Concepto Lighting MultiFly Media Findvio Wedoit Technology J D Multi Pro Manufacturing Private Limited Al Abrish BrandingWorld and more brands. Visit: http://kiacart.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 2: Capgemini, proudly announces the development of a new state-of-the-art facility in Chennai. The company has pledged an investment of approximately INR 1000 crore over the next three years, aiming to empower local talent and further strengthen its commitment to innovation, growth, and sustainability in Tamil Nadu. The 5000-seat facility slated for completion in April 2027, is designed with sustainability at its core. The campus will integrate advanced energy and water-efficient technologies, utilize recycled materials and implement rainwater harvesting during construction. Powered entirely by renewable energy sources, this green campus embodies Capgemini's commitment to sustainable business practices. Additionally, the company is dedicated to fostering local talent, pledging approximately INR three crores of the investment to the development of neighboring government schools. The facility, spanning nearly 600,000 square feet, is set to become a prime destination for top-tier talent in southern India. Equipped with state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, it will support Capgemini's diverse specialist teams, including financial services, engineering, digital, cloud, AI and many more. The facility will promote a collaborative and engaging work environment featuring advanced engineering labs, dedicated pods for customer experience centers and specialized onboarding rooms. Additionally, wellness centers, town halls, gymnasiums and modernized cafeterias are designed to enhance employee well-being and create a conducive work environment. Commenting on the launch, Vijay Chandramohan, Vice President and Head of Corporate Real Estate Services for APAC and Middle East at Capgemini said, "We are delighted to commence the construction of our new facility in Chennai. This pivotal investment for Capgemini showcases our dedication to innovation and sustainable growth in Tamil Nadu. As a leader that is shaping the future of industry we are investing in local talent and enhancing the well-being of our communities. This expansion demonstrates our strategic vision and commitment to collaborating with local government efforts to drive the country's economic growth." "Chennai is rapidly emerging as a top global destination for investments in technology, as evidenced by the fast pace of office space absorption in the city. This world-class technology facility reflects the quality of our local talent and will further support the state's vision of becoming a trillion-dollar economy by 2030. The dedication and leadership of Honorable Chief Minister Thiru. MK Stalin have been pivotal in creating an enabling environment for such investments. I congratulate Capgemini on launching the construction of this state-of-the-art facility and look forward to collaborating with them on their future endeavors," said Dr TRB Rajaa, Hon'ble Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu. Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of EUR22.5 billion. Capgemini in India comprises nearly 175,000 team members working across 13 locations: Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Coimbatore, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida, Pune, Salem and Tiruchirappalli. Get The Future You Want | Learn more about Capgemini in India at www.capgemini.com/in-en. (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)
During the Cambridge India Conference held at the historic Cambridge Union, Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, forecast reaching a USD 4 trillion GDP milestone this year, outpacing global growth rates. He shared insights into India's remarkable economic growth trajectory and future prospects while engaging in dialogue with Kishen Shastry, a PhD economist from the University of Cambridge. Sanyal highlighted India's ambitious goal to surpass the USD 4 trillion GDP mark and solidify its position as the world's fastest-growing economy. "This year, India's GDP will reach USD 4 trillion, putting us on par with Japan in terms of economic size. We continue to lead as the world's fastest-growing economy by a significant margin. Last year, our growth rate surprised us at 8.2 per cent, and we anticipate over 7 per cent growth this year, outpacing all major economies," Sanyal stated. He emphasized the compounding effects of India's growth rate, noting the rapid pace at which economic milestones have been achieved. In a discussion, Sanyal said, "After liberalization, it took us 16-17 years to cross the first trillion dollars mark. It took another 7 years to reach the 2 trillion dollars mark, which happened in 2014-15. It took another 7 years to hit the 3 trillion dollars mark in 2021-22. It should have taken 5 years, but we lost 2 years because of COVID-19. In just 3 years, we will cross 4 trillion dollars. Now we will need only 2 years to cross 5 trillion dollars unless some major unseen shock happens." Sanyal underscored the importance of maintaining macroeconomic stability, addressing non-performing assets in banks, bureaucratic reforms, enhancing global trade engagement, and investing in sustainable energy through renewables and green technologies. "Our well-capitalized banks and maintained macroeconomic stability during COVID-19 were critical. While we sustain growth, we're committed to supporting vulnerable populations through direct transfers to alleviate poverty," Sanyal remarked. Regarding legal reforms, Sanyal called for modernizing India's legal system. "Administrative and judicial reforms are essential. We need a modern legal system for efficient justice and contract enforcement," he emphasized. Sanyal also critiqued global ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards, expressing skepticism about their imposition without fair consultations by North Atlantic agencies. With key roles in economic policymaking, including Principal Economic Advisor to the Finance Minister since 2017, Sanyal has shaped numerous economic surveys. India is expected to overtake Japan and Germany to emerge as the world's third-largest economy by 2027. Currently, in US dollar terms, India is the fifth largest economy with a size of about USD 3.7 trillion in nominal terms. Notably earlier in June, Shaktikanta Das, Reserve Bank of India Governor, during his address at the 188th AGM (Annual General Meeting) of Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that India is at the threshold of a major structural shift in its growth trajectory. The governor added that India is moving ahead towards 8 per cent GDP growth in a sustained manner, adding that the average growth India recorded in the last three years is 8.3 per cent. According to the recently unveiled data by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, India's GDP surpassed all expectations and stood at 7.8 per cent in the January-March quarter. The full-year 2023-24 GDP has been revised upwards to 8.2 per cent from the second advance estimate of 7.6 per cent. While the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Fitch Ratings have estimated India's growth at 7 per cent, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), S&P Global Ratings and Morgan Stanley projected a 6.8 per cent growth rate for FY25. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 2: Nowadays, people are so accustomed to comfort that it is also needed when going on a pilgrimage. With the changing climate, as well as the hassle during festivities, this has rather become a necessity. It enhances enjoyment and reduces stress throughout the journey. Therefore, proper accommodation is essential to thoroughly enjoying the grandeur of the Kumbh Mela is a festival that lasts nearly 1.5 months. The first and foremost necessity is that you need to have a properly well-equipped suite somewhere closer to the Mela arena to experience it from the very beginning while also having comfort and nullifying stress. The Shivadya Camps by Era Hospitality will provide you with ideal accommodations with all the amenities for the Kumbh Mela 2025, filling your pilgrim with ecstasy and serenity. Kumbh Mela 2025: Spiritual Extravaganza Being the largest congregation of people in India, Kumbh Mela is exceptional. It is also known as the Emergence of the "Amrita Kalash," i.e., the pitcher containing the elixir of immortality. People from all over the world, especially from the U.S. and U.K., come to witness this spiritual extravaganza. It is primarily a Hindu festival, but many people visit during this time regardless of religion, caste, creed, or gender. This festival also showcases the richness of Indian culture, taking place in Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, and Ujjain. History The Devtas and the Asuras assembled on the ocean's shore, which lies in the celestial region of the cosmos. During the churning of the sea, i.e., the Samudramanthan, which was done by the Gods and Demons to obtain invaluable jewels and amrita, firstly emerged a deadly poison that Lord Shiva drank and came to be known as Nilkantha. Then, the second time, Dhanwantari appeared with the nectar of immortality. The Devtas forcibly ceased the pot, and its safety was entrusted to the four Gods - Brahaspati, Surya, Shani, and Chandra. This is because the Asuras were then more potent than the Devtas. After that, the asuras chased the Devtas for many days. During this time, Kumbh dropped at four places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. Since then, these four places have been believed to have acquired mystical powers. The fight for the Kumbh, i.e., the sacred pitcher between the Gods and asuras, continued for 12 divine days, considered as long as 12 years for humans. That is why the Kumbh Mela is celebrated once in 12 years, and gatherings occur in sacred places or holy sites. It is said that during this period, the rivers turned into Amrit. So, several pilgrims worldwide visited the Kumbh Mela to bathe in the essence of purity and immortality. Significance Apart from its intriguing history, Kumbh Mela is also known for its significance. It is believed that bathing in the holy waters of Ganga would wash off every sin a person had committed. It is also believed that a dip in the sacred river during the Maha Kumbh Mela, which takes place once in a lifetime that is after twelve Purna Kumbh Melas, frees the person and their ancestors from the commotion of the cycle of life. The day of Mauni Amavasya is also very essential. It is the largest peaceful congregation of people where devotees come to do the "prayaschitta" of their past mistakes. World's Largest 'Tent City' to Host 400 Million People for Mahakumbh 2025 Uttar Pradesh is all set for the grand event. They have already started setting up 67000 street lights, 25000 public accommodations, and 2000 tents. This is enough to measure the gravity of the event. Due to the expected colossal mass congregation, the U.P. government had already said that they would be installing 23,000 closed-circuit television cameras and an artificial intelligence-based chatbot system for security purposes for the temporary settlement. This will be looked after by a no. of police. People worldwide have already started booking their accommodations and other essentials to witness this enlightening event. The upcoming Maha Kumbh year is expected to see a congregation of 40 crores of people. The area for the 2025 accumulation of the pilgrims will be spread over 5000 hectares. This is expected to be the most considerable assimilation of people to date. The 2013 Kumbh Mela also didn't witness this enormous assimilation of people. It has also come to the ears that Mahakumbh will be divided into 25 sectors, each with a police station and 100 police outposts. Arrangements will also be made to accommodate four lakh vehicles a day in the area near Mela and on the outskirts. Where to Stay During Maha Kumbh? In this hassle, you might be searching for a stay. No worries, as Shivadya Camps by Era Hospitality will help you with all your needs. They have the perfect Maha Kumbh Mela accommodations with all the necessary amenities to make living in them comfortable. Starting from food to tents, they are the best and most affordable. They will provide you with three vegetarian meals at the campsite. They are offering you Deluxe, Premium, Luxury, and Suites for this awakening event. The Deluxe tent provides approximately 350 square feet with fewer people in these chaotic surroundings. The next one is the Premium tent by the Shivadya Camps, which provides 500 square feet of area and more space for relaxation and leisure. The luxury tent spans 700 square feet, has a lot of space, and is the best lunging area to chill with your friends. The final one is the suites, which have many home-like amenities like air conditioners, room heaters, and television. It has a drawing room, changing room, washroom, and twin bedrooms, completing an area of 900 square feet. They have many other facilities like free wi-fi, 247 hot and cold water, a fully equipped medical tent, and many more. Wrapping Up! The Mahakumbh Mela 2025 is one of the most awakening and tourist-attracting events from all over the globe. It is a fantastic event with its rich culture, significant rituals, and the influx of devotees. But you should also look after convenience and comfort to make your pilgrimage successful. The era camps will provide the best hospitality during this hassled religious event. With all the necessary amenities for being safe, healthy, and energetic, it is the best you can look for. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], July 2: Taking the lead towards building diverse capabilities and skills and enhancing employability, Ahmedabad University has launched the dual degree The BxMx Programme. This unique programme allows an undergraduate student to study for a Bachelor's programme in one discipline while completing a Master's in another in five years. The innovative BxMx Programme is designed to equip undergraduate Arts and Science students with a professional degree while building strong humanistic and social competencies that are prerequisites for succeeding in a contemporary workplace. Hence, by integrating undergraduate and graduate studies, Ahmedabad University aims to create flexible employment opportunities for its students while enabling them to explore their passions. Ahmedabad University, a research-driven liberal education university, fosters critical thinking, broadens perspectives, and builds an independent, questioning, and analytical mind. Combined with the professional degrees it offers, the University's ecosystem significantly enhances the students' strengths and employability across various sectors. The new BxMx Programme aligns with the New Education Policy (NEP 2020), which strongly advocates creative combinations of different degrees to enhance critical and analytical thinking and improve employability. The programme also offers multiple entry and exit points, thereby doing away with rigid boundaries and providing opportunities for research-based specialisations and multidisciplinary work. For example, a humanities and social sciences student aspiring to become a banker can seamlessly apply to The BxMx Programme to complete an MBA alongside their BA degree. Similarly, a student completing a BS in Mathematical and Computational Sciences or Physics can pursue a Master's in Quantitative Finance by completing the requirements prescribed for The BxMx Programme. As the University develops other Master's programmes, undergraduate students have access to several options for completing Master's degrees in varied disciplines after their undergraduate education, opening the door to an exclusive educational experience. Current Courses on Offer * BA + MBA * BA in Economics + MS in Quantitative Finance * BS in Computer Science + MS in Quantitative Finance * BS in Mathematical and Computational Sciences + MS in Quantitative Finance * BS in Physics + MS in Quantitative Finance * BTech + MBA * BA in Integrated Arts + Master of Performing Arts/Master of Fine Arts Eligibility Each Master's programme within The BxMx Programme lays down its eligibility criteria, admission requirements, and courses as part of the programme that must be completed within the first four years. Students have the exit option to leave the programme after four years, and if they do so, they will be awarded respective undergraduate degrees. Students can enrol in The BxMx Programme at the time of joining the University or they can apply after joining the University. The programme offers multiple entry points at the end of Semesters four, five, and six upon completion of the credit and CGPA requirements. Ahmedabad University is a leading private, non-profit research university offering students a liberal education focused on interdisciplinary learning, practice orientation, and research thinking. The University has been * Recognised by the Government of Gujarat as a Centre of Excellence. * Accredited with 'A' grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). * Awarded a 5-star rating, the highest awarded in the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) for 2021-22, by the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), Department of Education, Government of Gujarat. * Awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Award for Excellence 2024 for our University Centre. * Recognised by the UGC under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, becoming one of the very few private research universities to have been awarded this recognition for select research universities. * Recognised as a Highly Commended University for Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2023. * Awarded the AACSB's Innovations That Inspire Award 2023 for its Foundation Programme. * Awarded Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council for achieving the Green Building Standards at our University Centre. The University, established in 2009, is rooted in the vision of one of India's finest educational foundations, the Ahmedabad Education Society, which was founded in 1935 by nationalist leaders. Programmes at the University range from bachelors to doctoral levels in humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and management through its 12 Schools and Centres: Amrut Mody School of Management | School of Arts and Sciences | School of Engineering and Applied Science | School of Public Health | Ahmedabad Design Lab | Centre for Heritage Management | Centre for Inter-Asian Research | Centre for Learning Futures | Global Centre for Environment and Energy | International Centre for Space and Cosmology | Sahyog: Centre for Promoting Health | VentureStudio. An urban university, Ahmedabad promotes independent-mindedness and diversity across all dimensions of its activity and helps students mature into critical thinkers who are analytically equipped, practically oriented, and contextually aware global citizens. The University provides a contemporary educational framework that brings liberal arts, sciences, and the professions to engage together in creating new knowledge for addressing complex challenges of the society and in offering majors that merge the boundaries of disciplines to prepare students for the new economy. (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)
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 2: Three M Paper Boards Ltd, a Mumbai based company engaged in the business of manufacturing Recycled Paper-based Coated Duplex Board products since over 3 decades, is planning to raise up to Rs. 40 crores through its SME IPO. The company has received approval to launch its public issue on SME platform of BSE Ltd (BSE SME). The Coated Duplex Boards produced by the company are made from 100% recycled wastepaper and are fully biodegradable, making them an eco-friendly choice for packaging various FMCG and pharmaceutical goods. Comfort Securities Limited is the Book Running Lead Manager to the issue. The company is offering 57,72,000 fresh equity shares to be offered under the IPO; Shares to be listed on SME Platform of BSE Limited (BSE SME) The initial public offering of Rs. 40 crores consist of a fresh issue of 57,72,000 equity shares of Rs. 10 each. The net proceeds will be utilized for various purposes: Rs. 14 crores will be allocated towards capital expenditure, including the purchase of a Plastic-Fired Low-Pressured Boiler, which will use waste plastic for power generation and significantly lower power costs. Additionally, Hot & Soft Nip Calendars will be acquired to elevate product quality, enabling premium pricing and aligning with customer preferences. The funds will also support a factory building extension to increase storage capacity and the acquisition of a sheet cutter to enhance production speed. Rs. 10 crores will be allocated for working capital and Rs. 7 crores for term loan repayment, which will smoothen operations, improve cash flow management, and lower interest costs. The remaining funds will be used for general corporate purposes and issue expenses. Three M Paper Boards Limited (Formerly known as Three M Paper Boards Private Limited and Three M Paper Manufacturing Company Private Limited), established in 1989, is one of the ISO-9001 certified companies engaged in the business of manufacturing recycled paper-based Duplex Board products ranging from 200 to 500 GSM used in various packaging applications across industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and consumer goods and supplies its high-quality duplex board paper products in both the domestic and international markets. Company's products are made out of 100% recycled waste-paper and are completely biodegradable. The company sets out to undertake various innovations in both the product-development side as well as in manufacturing processes on a consistent basis. The company's manufacturing facility in Chiplun, Maharashtra is spread over an area of more than 30 acres has an installed capacity of 72,000 tons per annum (TPA) along with 4 MW captive power plant and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for manufacturing paper boards of the global quality standard suitable for high-quality print jobs in the packaging sectors across the globe. With a vast network of over 25 dealers nationwide and export operations in more than 15 countries, Three M Paper Boards maintains a broad market reach and a strong industry presence. For the financial year ended on March 31, 2024, Three M Paper Boards reported revenue from operations at Rs. 272.23 crore, EBIDTA of Rs. 27.07 crore and net profit of Rs. 11.35 crore. The EBITDA was up by 25% as compared to 21.66 crores of previous financial year. The net profit was up by 170% as compared to 6.62 crores of previous financial year. The Company reported an increase in EBITDA Margin from 6.57% in previous year to 9.94% in current year. Also, the PAT margin increased from 2.01% in previous year to 4.11% in current year. The Indian paper industry plays a noteworthy role on the global stage, contributing approximately 5% to the world's paper production. The industry's economic impact is substantial, with an estimated turnover exceeding Rs. 80,000 crores, contributing to approximately Rs. 5,000 crores to the national exchequer. In terms of employment, the industry directly engages 5,00,000 individuals and indirectly supports an additional 1.5 million jobs. A majority of the paper mills comprise of diverse technological landscape, ranging from the oldest to the most modern technologies. According to industry sources, the paper & pulp industry has an annual turnover of Rs. 700 billion, with an estimated 861 paper mills, of which 526 are operational. The collective installed capacity stands at an impressive 30.73 million tonnes, portraying the industry's robust and expansive presence. The Indian paper and packaging industry are experiencing robust growth, poised for significant expansion in the coming years. Valued at USD 50.5 billion in 2019, the industry is projected to reach USD 204.81 billion by 2025, demonstrating an impressive CAGR of 26.28% from 2020 to 2025. This remarkable growth is attributed to several factors, including the flourishing e-commerce, food processing, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Industry source: Report by Dun & Bradstreet, published in DRHP of Three M Paper Boards. (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)
India PR Distribution New Delhi [India], July 2: There are over 6.3 million MSMEs in India, with an unmet credit demand of close to 120 billion USD. Access to small ticket loans for MSMEs is often a long, uncertain process. MSME lending landscape faces challenges of credit underwriting necessary for the approval and disbursal of loans. Credit underwriting requires the applicant's financial data from a myriad of documents such as balance sheets, cashflow, and income statements, to gauge the risk and financial health of the applicant. MSMEs often lack documentation and have a limited credit history which makes it difficult for lenders to process their loan applications. Many fintech companies work with lenders to enhance lending processes through digital lending, loan origination systems, and automation by leveraging ML and intelligent systems. However, MSME lenders struggle to adopt such systems which work with standard, exhaustive documentation for credit underwriting. MSME lenders have to rely on year-long bank statements to analyze the financial health of their applicants. These bank statements run into hundreds of pages due to low-value transactions and often across different bank accounts. The credit operations teams of such lenders take an average of 1-2 days to analyze these bank statements. Therefore, MSME lenders need faster processing systems to address the underserved MSME segment. Finuit, a fintech division of Quantrium, worked in the past year with a growing regional MSME lender in Tamil Nadu to study their underwriting process. They developed a suite of intelligent document processing tools attending to the specific needs of MSME lenders based on the documents available, such as balance sheets, bank statements, profit and loss statements, etc. Arun S Iyer, Business Head of Finuit, said, "The MSME lending needs are complex. We built a solution that is versatile enough to tackle unstructured financial data across multiple data sources. The overall objective was to make the process of gleaning crucial insights from bank statements faster and simpler. We achieved it by integrating AI, NLP tools and analytical capabilities''. Finuit's Bank Statement Analyzer processes bank statements to enable faster credit decision and underwriting processes. The analyzer leverages AI and ML technology to extract data from bank statements of the applicant's bank accounts to analyze key credit indicators such as earning and spending patterns, unusual or irregular transfers, identifying suppliers and distributors, etc. The Bank Statement Analyzer's user-friendly interface processes images of bank statements and passbooks across multiple bank accounts to derive the cash flow stories of the applicant within 5 minutes. The bank statement solution offers authoritative creditworthiness indicators such as income and spending patterns, unusual or irregular transfers, and supplier and distributor payments. The Bank Statement Analyzer uses an in-house trained, dedicated LLM for identifying key pieces of information from transaction particulars, such as, Counterparty, Transfer Type, Counterparty Type, UPI IDs etc. The income and spending patterns are identified from the particulars and information extracted, through a ML model. M V Ramarao, Product Manager at Finuit elaborates,"To ensure the solution produces accurate and reliable results, we have established hundreds of rules. These rules are meticulously designed to guide the solution, enhancing its ability to deliver precise transaction classifications and insights." Finuit uses data encryption measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality. There are strict access controls in place, to protect data from potential breaches. As an evolving fintech company, they continuously explore newer security measures and mechanisms to update their security protocols. "A significant reduction in processing time without the need for additional resources was what we were aiming at. And our clients are delighted with the results. They complete within two days what used to take a week", said Ramarao. Conclusion: Finuit is the fintech division of Quantrium, a bootstrapped AI-ML IT services and products company headquartered in Chennai, India. Finuit specializes in building innovative AI-powered applications for global organizations. The company is led by accomplished professionals with decades of expertise. Finuit's Document Intelligence suite includes Financial Statement Analyzer, Payslip Analyzer, Passbook Analyzer, Company Deep Forensics Tool, and KYC Validator, solutions that address the business-critical needs of the financial services industry. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
BuisnessWire India New Delhi [India], July 2: CST Advanced Systems, a global leader in defence technologies, continues to spearhead innovation in military and commercial application solutions. Known for its Indigenous design, development, and manufacturing of state-of-the-art security products, CST Advanced Systems is at the forefront of transforming the defence landscape. The company's strategic partnerships and collaborations with leading Indian and international entities and academic institutions significantly drive the Indian government's "Make in India" initiative. This concerted effort enhances domestic capabilities and delivers advanced technology solutions globally for both military and commercial sectors. In the first of its kind for IIT Jammu, CST Advanced Systems and IIT Jammu inked an MoU for developing defence technologies. Since then, CST Advanced Systems and IIT Jammu have been actively involved in designing, simulations, testing and product development of advanced communication and surveillance systems. Based on the successful collaboration in the recent past CST Advanced Systems and IIT Jammu are presently working on two path-breaking projects having equal utilization for the military and commercial sector. CST Advanced System's expertise in cybersecurity, defence and security systems integration and IIT Jammu's renowned research capabilities will drive these projects forward, ensuring the development of advanced, reliable, and secure technologies. These projects will be of immense benefit not only in improving the operations of the armed forces but also in the continuous push towards providing secure/reliable communication and navigation in difficult terrains. The collaborative projects between CST Advanced Systems and IIT Jammu are designed to address critical challenges faced by the armed forces, particularly regarding secure and reliable communication and navigation in difficult terrains. These innovations will significantly enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness, providing the armed forces with the technological edge needed to operate successfully in challenging environments. Furthermore, the commercial applications of these technologies promise to revolutionise industries that require robust communication and navigation systems, thereby broadening the impact of this collaboration. "The clarion call of Atmanirbhar in defence by our Hon'ble Prime Minister can only be realized by enhancing synergy between the academia and private industry. The collaboration between IIT Jammu and CST Advanced Systems is the perfect blend to nurture future technologies and find solutions to the problems faced by our soldiers in the challenging operational environment of Northern Command'' said Lt Gen Sanjay Verma (Veteran) PVSM, AVSM, VSM and Bar, Director Strategy at CST Advanced Systems. This partnership also serves as a model for future collaborations between industry and academia. By combining their respective strengths, CST Advanced Systems and IIT Jammu demonstrate how such alliances can foster innovative breakthroughs and address contemporary technological needs. In a world where technology is rapidly evolving, the synergy between industrial expertise and academic research is crucial for driving progress and meeting global challenges. The collaboration between CST Advanced Systems and IIT Jammu exemplifies the potential of industry-academia partnerships in pioneering advanced technologies. By working together, these institutions are setting new benchmarks in defence innovation, enhancing national security, and contributing to the broader technological advancement of society. As CST Advanced Systems and IIT Jammu continue to develop and implement cutting-edge solutions, their partnership will undoubtedly serve as a beacon of progress and a testament to the power of collaborative innovation. (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)
PNN Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], July 2: Nervfit, a prominent player in wearable technology, and MyCLNQ Health Singapore, a leader in digital health solutions provider, are thrilled to announce their strategic collaboration to launch an innovative 'Technology-Enabled Care' (TEC) system in India. This partnership, with an investment of 100 crores over 3 years, will combine Nervfit's expertise in fitness tracking smart devices, with MyCLNQ advanced health monitoring capabilities, to deliver cost effective and all-encompassing solutions, catering to the health & fitness goals of all Indians. Piyush Pathak, CEO of Nervfit, shared his views on the occasion and commented that, "We are highly optimistic and confident that our collaboration will empower our users with MyCLNQ advanced health monitoring features. This synergy will provide the Nervfit community with a digital platform to effectively manage their fitness goals, leveraging next-generation AI and ML through an easy and intuitive interface." Bharat Maheshwari, CBO of MyCLNQ Health India, further added, " Collaborating with Nervfit marks a significant milestone in our mission to promote preventive healthcare through innovative health tech solutions in the Indian market. Together, we are redefining the benchmark for intelligent wearables, tailored to meet the diversified demands of our discerning consumers." To commemorate this strategic alliance, both Nervfit and MyCLNQ are launching exclusive promotions for early adopters. The conglomerates have invited their users and interested stakeholders to stay tuned and explore their social media platforms, online marketplaces, and websites for exciting deals and updates that will unveil very shortly. Nervfit's CTO, Sanjay Kumar, stated that in the near future, Nervfit is set to launch medical-grade devices that will make collecting and utilizing health- related information very easy ways. These smart devices will securely track your complete health and fitness information, enabling you to use this data at any time to improve your health. With the use of artificial intelligence, the data can be viewed in new dimensions. Farzan Siddiqui, CTO of MyCLNQ Health, further added," As India embraces these cutting-edge technologies, this partnership emerges as a cornerstone in delivering efficient, scalable, and patient-centric holistic healthcare solutions nationwide." Pragnesh Patel, CSO of MyCLNQ Health India, also commented that," Tech-enabled healthcare is empowering both patients and healthcare providers through innovations like smart wearables and telemedicine platforms, as we have already witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic". During the collaboration announcement, the discussions also highlighted the significant prominence of Technology-Enabled Care (TEC) in India, as advancements in digital health solutions continue to revolutionize the healthcare landscape. With innovations ranging from smart wearables to telemedicine platforms, TEC is empowering patients and healthcare providers alike. This transformative shift towards digital health not only enhances accessibility and convenience but also improves patient outcomes through real-time monitoring and personalized care. About Nervfit Nervfit, by Bluemorph Brands Pvt. Ltd., is a fast-growing startup in fitness technology, committed to crafting innovative products that elevate physical well-being and foster a healthier lifestyle. Grounded in precision and user- centric design, Nervfit is consistently setting new standards within the wearable technology sector in India. Bluemorph Brands is based in Bangalore with operations across 5 locations in India. About MyCLNQ MyCLNQ Health, a national award-winning HealthTech company headquartered in Singapore, operates in over eight countries. Specializing in connected health and sustainable holistic solutions for curative and preventive care. They operate the comprehensive "MyCLNQ" ecosystem, a unified platform catering to diverse family healthcare requirements. The AI- powered mobile app emphasizes telemedicine, mHealth, and eHealth services, aiming to deliver cost-effective healthcare in a supportive, age- friendly setting for optimal patient care. For more information about the products and purchasing options, please visit www.nervfit.com and www.myclnq.co (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)
PNN New Delhi [India], July 2: The World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME), a globally recognized organization with UN observer and consultative status, celebrated World SME Day 2024 at Le Meridian, New Delhi, on June 27. This landmark event brought together industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders dedicated to the growth and empowerment of SMEs worldwide. The celebration began with a heartfelt welcome from Dr. Sanjiv Layek, Executive Secretary of WASME. In his keynote address, Dr. Layek emphasized the critical role of SMEs in the global economy, highlighting their contributions to growth, job creation, and innovation. He noted that the theme of the event, "One Europe One SME," underscores the unity and collaboration needed to help SMEs thrive in a competitive global market. The event featured discussions on regulatory frameworks, access to finance, market opportunities, digitalization, sustainable practices, and internationalization strategies. Organized in partnership with the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, and the PR partner Heylin Spark, Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, the Hon'ble Minister of MSME, Government of India, extended his best wishes to SMEs on their special day. Distinguished Guests of Honour included Dr Evgeniy Griva, Deputy Trade Commissioner of the Russian Federation in India, who spoke on the collaboration between European and Indian SMEs, and Dunston Pereira, Group CEO of the Private Office of His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Dubai, UAE, who highlighted the UAE government's role in supporting Indian and European SMEs. Additionally, Pranav Jyoti, Chief Investment Officer of the same office, addressed the audience on "UAE Fulcrum to India and Europe." The event's highlights included several panel discussions addressing the challenges and opportunities for SMEs in Europe, sustainable practices, internationalization strategies, and innovation and R&D. A workshop on the ONDC platform provided insights into how MSMEs can leverage technology for market access and business scaling. A presentation by Invest India outlined support mechanisms for Indian MSMEs looking to expand their businesses. A key highlight of the event was the award ceremony, "Outstanding Leaders of the Year 2024," where leading entrepreneurs and organizations were recognized for their contributions to SME development and their respective industries. The notable awardees included: 1. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Faisal Al Qassimi - Visionary & Honorary Award for Leadership in Global Business and Human Growth and Economic Development 2023-2024.2. Amb Dunston Pereira, Group Chief Executive Officer - Global Business Leader Award for Excellence and top 100 most influential CEOs in the region for International relationships & Business Leadership in EUROPE- UAE -INDIA.3. Pranav Jyoti, Chief Investment Officer - Top 100 Most Influential Person Award for evolving ties between the US - Europe - Middle East and Asia, Distinguished Achievement award for Global Investments and Growth Partnerships.4. Gaurav Khullar, Emeritus of Khullar Group of Companies- Contributions to Indian Arts5. Arshiya Singh, Director Global Compensation, Boston Consulting Group - Outstanding Leadership in Human Resources and Total Reward.6. Dr. Prachiti Punde, Director, Proluxe Wellness & Studio Pvt Ltd - Global Excellence in Luxury Wellness & Innovation.7. Directors' Institute - World Council of Directors - World's Top Institute for Director and Executive Training.8. Amit Bidhuri, Founder of J and J Buildcon - Excellence in Construction & Real Estate.9. Sudha Gupta, Founder and Chairperson, Mother's Pride and Presidium Group of Schools - Excellence in Education and Positive Parenting.10. Eduvoyage International Academy - Excellence in Alternative Holistic Education.11. Arshad Ali Syed, Director of Aiinhome Technologies Pvt Ltd - Pioneers in Data Engineering, Analytics and Application.12. Gurmeet Singh, Managing Director, Sandoz Restaurants Pvt Ltd - Outstanding Leader in Enriching the Legacy of North Indian Cuisine.13. Guruji Shrii Arnav, Mentor of Mentors, Gemstoneuniverse - Outstanding Leader 2024 and Outstanding 360 Degree Personality of The Year.14. Rajesh Singh, CEO of Varalika Medical Industries Pvt. Ltd. - Outstanding CEO in Health Care Industry.15. CA Pratish Goel, Founder of White Worth Consultants - Leaders in Tax Advisory Services in UAE.16. Dr. Shruti Gupta, Medical Director of SKINOS - Top Dermatology Clinic of the Year.17. Pankaj K Keshan and Ruchita P Keshan, Promoters of Enkidu Technologies Pvt. Ltd. - Excellence in IT & Edtech.18. Raja Sri Harsha Vuddagiri, CEO and Managing Director of ViSN LABS - Excellence in AI & Technology Innovation.19. Dr Hritik Sharma - Excellence in Medical Services The event witnessed the participation of over 200 attendees and was hailed as a grand success, showcasing the potential and achievements of SMEs globally. WASME's celebration of World SME Day 2024 not only honored outstanding leaders but also fostered a spirit of collaboration and innovation among SMEs worldwide. Media Contact Heylin Spark info@heylinspark.com https://heylinspark.com/ +91 11-69654833 (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)
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has launched the Nano Fertiliser Usage Promotion Mahaabhiyan on Monday to promote the use of nano-fertilisers, according to a press release. Under this initiative, 200 model nano village clusters have been selected by IFFCO and farmers of 800 villages are being given a subsidy of 25 per cent on the price (MRP) of Nano Urea Plus, Nano DAP and Sagarika fertilisers by IFFCO so that farmers can use nano fertilisers more and more in their fields. Along with this, IFFCO will also give a grant of Rs 100 per acre to the drone entrepreneur so that farmers can get the facility of spraying at low rates. Farmers will be made aware of the increase in the quality and production of the crop in these model nano villages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also launched 100-day action plan to increase the use of nano fertilisers in agriculture, under which 1270 demonstrations of Nano DAP (liquid) will be conducted in 413 districts and 200 trials of Nano Urea Plus (liquid) in 100 districts. The trials will be assisted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, State Agricultural University and other research institutions and will be monitored by the Union Government. "Nano fertilizers will be made available by IFFCO to the cooperative society and other sales outlets. Farmers will be told about the benefits of nano fertilisers. IFFCO is providing 2500 agricultural drones for farmers for spraying nano fertilisers, for which 300 'Namo Drone Didi' and drone entrepreneurs have been prepared. Apart from this, other types of sprayers have also been made available, through which farmers will be able to easily spray nano fertilisers in their fields. Contracts have been made with 15 institutions to spray 245 lakh acres of area by drones, which will spray in the fields of farmers. An incentive of Rs 100 per acre will also be provided on each spray," the release stated. From August 2021 to June 26, 2024, a total of 7.55 crore Nano Urea and 0.69 crore Nano DAP bottles produced by IFFCO have been used by farmers. In order to provide maximum benefit to the farmers, IFFCO has set a target of producing 4 crore Nano Urea Plus and 2 crore Nano DAP bottles in the year 2024-25. Under this campaign, IFFCO has also planned publicity, field testing, training of secretaries of cooperative societies, etc., in all the districts of the country. The Ministry of Fertilisers will also collaborate to implement this scheme so that the use of nanofertilisers in place of chemical fertilisers in the fields can be encouraged. Under this mega campaign, it has been planned to provide 6 crore bottles of nano fertilisers, which will be distributed through 36,000 member cooperative societies of IFFCO and other cooperative societies. IFFCO stated in the release, that the availability of nano fertilisers will be ensured at each Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSK). IFFCO is providing nano fertilisers to farmers by entering into marketing agreements with Indian Potash Limited (IPL), Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT), Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF), National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) etc. In August 2021, IFFCO commercially produced the world's first indigenous nano urea based on nanotechnology, giving the whole world a great alternative to conventional urea. In March 2023, IFFCO also made nano DAP (liquid) available to farmers to reduce the use of DAP fertilizer. In view of the serious problem of environmental imbalance worldwide, there is a need to reduce the use of conventional chemical fertilizers in farming by nano fertilisers, the release said. As a result, the country can be strengthened economically and globally by realising the concept of 'self-reliant agriculture' and 'self-reliant India' with environmental protection, the release added. The indiscriminate use of urea harms the environment through water and soil health. There are several benefits of nano-fertilisers, such as improvement in soil health, reduction in water and air pollution, increase in crop production and quality, reduction in use of conventional fertilisers, reduction in incidence of pests and diseases, IFFCO added in the release. (ANI)
Achieving a major milestone, Godrej Properties Ltd has sold over 2,000 homes worth over Rs 3,150 crore in its project, Godrej Woodscapes, located in Whitefield-Budigere Cross, Bengaluru. The company said that the project is the most successful launch both in terms of value and volume. "This is Godrej Properties' most successful launch ever in terms of the value and volume of sales achieved and is the second launch with Rs 3,000 crore sales in the past three months," the company said in its regulatory filing on July 2. The total area of the project was 3.4 million square feet, the Mumbai-based real estate developer added. Godrej Properties has seen incredible success with their Godrej Woodscapes project, achieving over 500 per cent growth in sales compared to the previous quarter in Bengaluru. The company said that in just the first quarter of the financial year 2024-2025, it has already surpassed its entire sales target for South India for the previous year. Godrej Woodscapes is the second project this quarter to exceed Rs 2000 crore in sales, as per the filing of the company. Over the past year, the company had six project launches each selling over Rs 2000 crore right at launch. These projects include Godrej Jardinia in Noida, Godrej Zenith in Gurgaon, Godrej Reserve in Kandivali, Godrej Aristocrat in Gurgaon, and Godrej Tropical Isle in Noida, the regulatory filing added. The company further informed the exchanges that it has many new projects planned for 2025, especially in Bengaluru. Apart from the existing projects, the company is entering the Hyderabad market. It is posed to strengthen its presence in South India, the company said. Gaurav Pandey, MD and CEO, of Godrej Properties, said, "We are delighted with the response to our project, Godrej Woodscapes. We will strive to ensure Godrej Woodscapes provides its residents with an exceptional living experience. South India is an extremely important region for Godrej Properties, and we aim to further strengthen our presence in the coming years." The company in FY 2021 emerged as the largest developer in India by the value and volume of residential sales, as per the filing release. After the news came in public, the company's stock traded in green with 8.70 up, or 0.79 per cent during the day's trade on July 2. The stocks of the company opened at 1106.40 and touched the high level of 1121.70. (ANI)
Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's debut production 'Girls Will Be Girls' has bagged the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2024. The 'Heeramandi' actor expressed gratitude. Taking to Instagram, Richa shared a poster of the film along with a lengthy note. The note read, "Before the day ends, wanna express my gratitude to the team of 'Girls Will Be Girls' - this film is a gift that keeps on giving! We will always be proud of it! After a great run at Transylvania International Film Festival @transilvaniafilm where we won the Grand Jury Prize and Biarrtiz Film Festival in France, our humble film won the Grand Jury prize at @indianfilmfestival ! I wish we could travel but the reason as you know is that @alifazal9 and I are bringing in a little home production." https://www.instagram.com/p/C840EiMtOgo/? 'Girls Will Be Girls' is produced by Chadha and Fazal's joint venture Pushing Buttons Studios, in collaboration with Blink Digital and Dolce Vita Films. Directed by Shuchi Talati, the film is a compelling story set in a boarding school in a small Himalayan hill town in northern India. It follows the journey of Mira, a 16-year-old girl whose rebellious awakening is intertwined with her mother's unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences. She added, "At @pushingbuttonsstudios , we want to tell stories that move, that take India to the world and talk about the human experience! I love my friend Shuchi Talati, she's stuff of legend, you will see I love @preetiwooman , a breakthrough performance that won a special award for performance at @sundanceorg and she has before her an illustrious future! And now speaking of another actor that I am envious of @kantari_kanmani , star of not just our film but of the Grand Prix winning #ALLWeImagineAsLight! What a great year you're having my beautiful, glorious friend! You'll see the very special @kesav.b , @jitin0804 and @devikashahani and they will win your heart. Thank you @dilipkhussro for finding these gems, we are grateful!" And shared that they are planning to release the film in India soon. "Very soon , we hope to bring this lovely film to India, it is an Indian film after all and we want our people to see it, and hear the amazing track genius @snekhanwalkar has made," Richa continued. Recently, Girls Will Be Girls' was screened at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. (ANI)
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey recalled her first appearance on 'The Tonight Show' and host Joan Rivers' comments about her weight that made her feel like she should be, "shamed", reported People. Winfrey, who feared she had recently lost a role in 'The Colour Purple' owing to her weight, said on The Jamie Kern Lima podcast that she came on 'The Tonight Show' in 1985 to promote how her show 'A.M. Chicago', was outperforming then-ratings behemoth Phil Donahue. However, the conversation turned to Winfrey's size. "I should be shamed," she said. "Joan Rivers turns to me and she said, 'Tell me why are you so fat?' " Winfrey, 70, told Lima, the author of the bestselling book Worthy and the founder of IT Cosmetics. "On national television," Winfrey said, adding, "and I don't know what do with that." "I just did, like, 'Oh, I just love potato chips, Joan.' " Winfrey continued, saying that Rivers, who died in 2014, told her "Shame on you." Winfrey shared, "I agreed with Joan Rivers," who she says told her, ' "I'll let you come back if you lose 15 lbs. You need to lose 15 lbs.' " "She says to me on national television," Winfrey continued. "And I accept it. I accept that I should be shamed, because how dare me, be sitting up here on The Tonight Show." Winfrey said she and Rivers "agreed that I was gonna go away and lose 15 lbs. And of course, I didn't lose the 15 lbs.. I went and ate my way to another 10 lbs." Winfrey shared that she had gone away to "this health retreat", which she explained was "at the time, they called them fat farms" to lose weight. Winfrey said that she was struggling to accept that her weight had lost her a role in 'The Colour Purple. When she had finally given up on the idea of acting in the film, she told Lima about a phone call that altered everything. The Colour Purple's producer, Steven Spielberg, told Winfrey, '"I hear you're at a fat farm.' " " 'You lose a pound,' " he told her, " 'You could lose this part.' " Winfrey said the phone call was a full-circle moment for her -- because she'd finally "let go" of the part when she got the call. "The instant I let it go was the greatest life lesson I have ever received, because I physically felt the release," said Winfrey. "The second I did that it changed," she said -- and Winfrey did, of course, land the role of Sofia, which earned her an Academy Award nomination. "That became my grounding teaching for the rest of my life and career," she shared. "Do everything you can, work as hard as you can, and then let it go," reported People. (ANI)
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be felicitated with the lifetime achievement award, the Pardo alla Carriera at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival. On Tuesday, the organisers of the festival shared this update. The award will pay tribute to SRK's remarkable contribution to Indian cinema. Speaking about the honour, Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director in a statement said, "To welcome a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan to Locarno is a dream come true! The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented. Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him. This brave and daring artist has always been willing to challenge himself while remaining true to what his fans all over the world eagerly expect from his films. A true 'people's hero', sophisticated and down to earth, Shah Rukh Khan is a legend of our times." Shah Rukh will receive the award on August 10 at the open-air venue Piazza Grande. One of his most iconic films, Devdas, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will also be screened during the festival. Shah Rukh is all set to appear at the Forum @Spazio Cinema for a conversation on August 11. Previous recipients of Locarno's Honorary Leopard include Tsai Ming-liang, Francesco Rosi, Claudia Cardinale, Johnnie To, Harry Belafonte, Mario Adorf, Jane Birkin, and Costa-Gavras. The award comes on the heels of SRK's highly successful 2023, which saw the release of his three blockbusters Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki, all of which were huge hits. The actor will reportedly begin shooting for his upcoming film 'King.' Recently, a video of SRK was widely shared on social media where eagle-eyed fans noticed the film's script lying on the table beside him. Reportedly, the film is also set to star Shah Rukh's daughter and actor, Suhana. The video happened to be from a clip of Shah Rukh congratulating cinematographer Santosh Sivan after he received the prestigious Pierre Angenieux Excel Lens Award at this year's Cannes Film Festival. In the aforementioned video, a section of the Internet spotted the script of 'King' on the table next to him.It also contained some additional details on its cover, which were not clearly visible in the video. If reports are to be believed, 'King' will be directed by Sujoy Ghosh. (ANI)
BET has issued an apology to Usher following a technical glitch that marred portions of his acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards on Sunday night. Usher, a celebrated figure in the music industry with three decades of influence, was honoured at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The highlight of the evening was marred when a significant part of his heartfelt 13-minute speech got muted due to what BET described as an "audio malfunction," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The R&B superstar, visibly moved by the tribute and performances of his hits by contemporary artists, took the stage to accept the prestigious accolade. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, as he delved into an impassioned reflection on his career and personal journey, the audience and viewers at home were deprived of hearing some of his most poignant moments due to the technical issue. A spokesperson for BET conveyed their remorse over the incident in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, "Celebrating global icon Usher on our stage with a star-studded tribute and having him accept his award with a heartfelt speech was an honour. Due to an audio malfunction during the live telecast, portions of his speech were inadvertently muted. We extend our sincere apologies to Usher, as we couldn't be more grateful for his participation in culture's biggest night." Despite the setback during the live broadcast, BET assured fans that they could view the unedited version of Usher's speech on their platforms and during the encore airing of the ceremony on BET. During his acceptance speech, Usher shared candid insights into his journey, including personal challenges and the support he received from influential figures in the music industry. Removing his glasses to emphasise his sincerity, he urged forgiveness and resilience in the face of adversity. "We gotta be willing to forgive. We gotta be willing to be open," Usher declared passionately to the crowd, adding, "I'm telling you -- you're standing before a man who had to forgive a man who never showed up, ever, and look at what I made with it." The audience responded with applause as Usher underscored the human spirit's capacity for growth and creativity despite personal setbacks. The incident sparked immediate reactions on social media, with fans expressing disappointment over the muted portions of Usher's speech during the live broadcast. Many praised Usher's resilience and his message of forgiveness and perseverance. (ANI)
Jamie Dornan, known for his role in the 'Fifty Shades' franchise, recently shared insights into his ongoing friendship with Dakota Johnson, his co-star from the steamy film series. Dornan, 42, disclosed that he remains in touch with Johnson and is looking forward to spending time with her and her fiance, Chris Martin. In an interview, Dornan revealed, "I was just texting with her a couple of days ago. I think she's London bound a wee bit over the next few weeks so trying to see her and Chris for dinner," as per E! News. The actor expressed eagerness to catch up with Johnson and Martin, emphasizing their continued bond beyond their work together on screen. Johnson, 33, has reciprocated the sentiment, previously describing Dornan as family. "There was never a time when we didn't get along," she said in an earlier interview, adding, "I know it's weird, but he's like a brother to me." She further expressed her deep affection for Dornan, stating, "I love Jamie so, so, so much. We were really there for each other. We had to really trust each other and protect each other." The actress's recent visit to the UK included supporting Martin, 45, during Coldplay's headlining performance at the Glastonbury Festival on June 29, accompanied by Martin's children Apple, 20, and Moses, 18, from his previous marriage with Gwyneth Paltrow. Reports obtained by E! News suggest that Johnson and Martin have been privately engaged for several years, highlighting their enduring relationship. Reflecting on her admiration for Martin's musical talent, Johnson shared with Bustle in March, "I love watching him. I could watch him every day. I don't know how to explain it. I feel like I don't know. I'm watching my favourite being do his most favourite thing." (ANI)
An inter-state and inter-unit coordination meeting on Kanwar yatra was organised in the auditorium of Police Headquarters under the chairmanship of Abhinav Kumar, Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, in which officials from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, CRPF, Railway Protection Force, Intelligence Bureau participated directly and online. During the meeting held on Monday evening, the Director General of Police said in his address that the upcoming Kanwar Yatra is from July, 22 to August, 2. Kanwar is a very big religious event, in which not only Haridwar but also neighbouring districts and states face many challenges like law and order, crowd management, traffic management etc. He said that earlier this yatra used to affect only the state of Uttarakhand but now it also affects the other states of North India. He said that the objective of this meeting is to ensure that the Kanwar Yatra is completed safely and peacefully with the cooperation of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal, Punjab, Rajasthan and other agencies. After discussing everyone's views, we have concluded that the sensitivity of the Kanwar Yatra has increased. The DGP said that there is a need to keep a close watch on the posts being made on social media regarding the Kanwar Yatra, for this social media monitoring will be increased. He said that we have to make efforts to keep the Kanwariyas on the fixed route of the Kanwar Yatra so that there is no disruption in traffic on the highway. We all will collectively make efforts on this. The DGP said that the Kanwar Yatra is a sacred religious journey, and its sacred form should be kept. Disturbance will not be tolerated in the name of Kanwar Yatra. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met the newly elected Shiv Sena MPs in New Delhi. PM Modi affirmed that the alliance between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not merely a political alliance but a time-tested friendship. The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Ajit Pawar MPs congratulated Narendra Modi on taking the oath as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term following the Lok Sabha polls. Taking to 'X', PM Modi wrote, "Had a great meeting with Shiv Sena MPs. Ours is not a political alliance--it is a time-tested friendship, bound together by common ideals and a shared vision for India's development." He further lauded Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Chief Eknath Shinde, stating that the latter is working tirelessly for the state's progress. "It is commendable how Shri @mieknathshinde Ji is working tirelessly for Maharashtra's progress and to fulfil the great Balasaheb Thackeray Ji's ideals," he tweeted. During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi discussed development work in Maharashtra, while the Shiv Sena MPs raised various issues concerning the state with the Prime Minister. The delegation presented PM Modi with a statue of Vitthal Rakhumai. The Prime Minister held discussions with the MPs for half an hour, encouraging them to play a positive and active role in Parliament. In the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, the Mahayuti alliance, which consists of the BJP, the Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Ajit Pawar, secured a total of 17 seats. The BJP's seats in Maharashtra decreased to nine from 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls while the vote share stood at 26.18 per cent. The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats, respectively. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also met with newly elected MPs of the Jana Sena Party, which is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "Met MPs from @JanaSenaParty. I have been working with Shri @PawanKalyan Garu for many years now and I am amazed by his tenacity and passion for public service. I am sure JSP will always be at the forefront of serving society and contributing to India's progress", PM Modi wrote on 'X'. The Jana Sena fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BJP and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) wherein, the Jana Sena bagged two seats, the BJP three and the TDP 16, taking the total tally of the NDA to 21 out of 25 seats. The alliance also swept the Andhra Pradesh assembly polls, after which TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister with Jana Sena Chief and actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan taking the charge as the Deputy CM. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court will hear Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition on Tuesday against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged liquor policy scam. On July 1, CM Kejriwal was denied two additional meetings with his lawyers through video conferencing (VC) from Tihar Jail by the Rouse Avenue court. Special judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the application moved on behalf of Kejriwal. The special judge said, "Learned counsel for the applicant has failed to convince the court as to how the applicant is entitled to two additional legal meetings through VC on the same grounds which have been discussed and dealt with in the earlier order. There appears to be no reason whatsoever to take a different view based on the contents of the application under consideration." It also said that it is not in dispute that a similar application filed by the applicant seeking the same relief of additional legal meetings with his lawyers was dismissed by this court vide a detailed order of April 10, 2024. It was submitted that Kejriwal is facing about 30 litigations throughout the country and requires two additional meetings with his lawyers through VC to discuss the cases and claim his right to a fair trial. The counsel for Kejriwal also submitted that, after filing this application, the applicant has been arrested in one more case by the CBI. Further, co-accused Sanjay Singh was allowed additional legal meetings by an order of February 22, 2024. The CBI, during the hearing, submitted that during the police custody remand, the accused Arvind Kejriwal has 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, the CBI said. In the light of aforesaid facts and circumstances, the further custodial interrogation of the accused Arvind Kejriwal is not required at this stage, the agency submitted. On June 26, the CBI arrested the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Kejriwal after a Vacation Judge of the Delhi Court allowed the CBI to examine/interrogate him in the courtroom so that the agency could proceed with his formal arrest. The court also asked the CBI to place on record the material that they have for his arrest. (ANI)
Veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark in Lok Sabha asking what was wrong in the latter's speech. "Rahul Gandhi mentioned truth, non-violence, love and harmony as the character of Hindus. What was wrong in saying this? How can BJP, Narendra Modi, whose conduct is contrary to the main principles of Hinduism, claim to represent Hindus? This country belongs to everyone and respecting all religions is our religion. That is our right in our Indian Constitution," Congress leader Singh posted on X on Tuesday morning. Participating in the debate on the Motion Of Thanks to the President's address to a joint sitting of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted the BJP-led government and alleged there has been "a systematic attack" on the idea of India. "There has been a systematic and full-scale assault on the idea of India, the Constitution and on the people who resisted the attack on the Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the leaders are still in jail. Anyone who resisted the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression on poor and Dalits and minorities was crushed...I was attacked by the order of the Government of India, by the order of the Prime Minister of India...The most enjoyable part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by ED...," he alleged. He also called the Hindu symbol 'Abhaya Mudra' which gestures fearlessness, reassurance and safety, as the symbol of the Congress party." "Abhaya Mudra is the symbol of Congress...The Abhaya Mudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions...All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear...But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth...Aap Hindu ho hi nahi," the Congress leader said. Rahul Gandhi also said that the BJP was not the entire Hindu society. "Narendra Modi is not the entire Hindu society. BJP is not the entire Hindu society, RSS is not the entire society, this is not BJP's contract," he said. BJP members took strong objection to Rahul Gandhi's remark and accused Rahul of insulting Hindu religion by connecting it with violence. MP CM Mohan Yadav also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the Lok Sabha saying the Congress leader should apologise immediately and the Congress party should clarify its stand whether it agrees with the statement or not. CM Yadav also appealed to the National President of the Congress party to immediately ask for the resignation of Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President JP Nadda along with Union Ministers and other MPS were seen arriving for the meeting this morning.

The NDA's parliamentary party meeting in being held at GMC Balayogi Auditorium of the Parliament Library Building (PLB).

Various NDA leaders including Giriraj Singh, Milind Deora, Kangana Ranaut and Jayant Chaudhary, were seen arriving for the meeting.

Prime Minister Modi will address the MPs, in his first speech to the MPs of the ruling bloc during the first session of Parliament since he assumed office for a third straight term.

BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a successive third term in office in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP secured 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303.

The Congress won 99 seats. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 293 seats, the opposition INDIA bloc won 234 seats.

A massive uproar erupted in the Lok Sabha on Monday over Rahul Gandhi's remarks. BJP has accused the Raebareli MP of "insulting" the Hindu community.

Prime Minister Modi hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks and said calling "the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter." Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress leader should apologise for his remarks.

Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government and alleged there has been "a systematic attack" on the idea of India.

While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhi's remarks, Congress also held an evening presser to slam the ruling party at the Centre.

Rahul Gandhi launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP targeting it over its remarks during the Lok Sabha campaign, the NEET-UG controversy, Agniveer scheme. (ANI)
The flood situation in Kaziranga National Park in Assam has turned critical as the flood waters inundated 95 forest camps. There are a total of 233 camps in the park. As a result of the flooding, the authorities have vacated six camps. According to the park authority, the flood waters have submerged all 34 camps in the Agratoli range, 20 in the Kaziranga range, 10 in the Bagori range, 5 in the Burapahar range, 6 in the Bokakhat range and 20 in the Biswanath Wildlife Division. Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, said that a wooden bridge near the Moshguli Camp in Agoratoli Range was washed away by floodwaters on Monday, July 1. "Herds of elephants have started moving towards Karbi Anglong through the Hati Dandi corridor. Heavy traffic diversion has been requested for the NH 715 stretch under Nagaon and Golaghat districts. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has also been issued," Ghosh said. She also said that rescue teams and veterinary care units are on standby for immediate deployment. "Boats, boatlines, barricades, raincoats, rescue materials, and medicines have been procured and are already deployed. Country boats, speedboats and mechanised boats have been strategically deployed in key areas for swift response," Ghosh said. Barricades have been placed on highways to control traffic and ensure the safe passage of wildlife, Ghoash added. "Animal sensors are in place and are fully operational. Joint patrolling by commando action groups and forest teams is being conducted regularly. Additional staff from neighbouring divisions have been deployed to intensify patrolling. Joint patrolling in the fringe areas of the park is being carried out by the Forest and Police Departments," Ghosh added. Ghosh further said that a dedicated floodwater gauge station has been set up with support from the Central Water Commission (CWC). Activation of a flood monitoring cell to provide real-time updates and coordinate rescue operations, Ghosh added. "Rescue teams and veterinary care units are on standby for immediate deployment. Health check-ups for staff and elephants have been conducted to ensure they are fit for the flood season," Ghosh said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a telephone conversation, assured Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of full cooperation from the Centre in tackling the flood in the state. CM Himanta said he elaborated to PM Modi, about the floods triggered by heavy rains and also briefed him about the relief measures being taken by the state. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam. I explained him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts. I also briefed him about the relief measures undertaken by the state government," Sarma said in a post on X on Monday, June 1. "He assured me of full cooperation from the Government of India in this hour of crisis," he added. (ANI)
Delhi Minister Atishi said on Tuesday that the Constitution is the last resort for Indian society as it strives to reduce its "deep" inequality, which persisted even after 75 years of independence. "As a representative of the legislature and executive present here today, I would like to say that we have been given many responsibilities in fulfilling the vision of the Indian Constitution," Atishi said while speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the construction of court buildings at Karkardooma, Shastri Park and Rohini. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud laid the foundation stone of the court complex. "We build schools, we work towards giving our children a world-class education, we build hospitals, we take primary healthcare infrastructure near the homes of people, we work towards transforming young people into thriving entrepreneurs, we help women access economic opportunities, and we work towards ensuring basic infrastructure. So that even the poorest sections of society have a dignified existence," she added. She said that the Constitution is the last resort because every citizen is equal before it. "Yet, there is a long way to go. Even after 75 years of Indian independence, we remain a deeply unequal society. We are a country with deep inequalities of caste, gender, wealth, education, and power. But in the last resort, as we strive to reduce these inequalities, there is one place where we are all equal. We are all equal before the Constitution and the eyes of the law," she said. Speaking at the ceremony, CJI DY Chandrachud said, "When we invest in the safety, accessibility and comfort of our judges, lawyers and litigants, we make for a just and inclusive system." "Since the inception of the Karkarduma court in 1993, numerous expansion projects and additional complexes have been constructed and completed. The new court complexes enhance the efficiency of the court and reduce dependency... Courts engage in rigorous discussion and arguments over legal principles and their application to specific cases. Judges carefully deliberate on the merits of each side's arguments before reaching a decision, ensuring a thorough and balanced examination of the issues at hand. Much like how the cornerstone of buildings shapes its structure and orientation, the cornerstone of justice and equality must shape the orientation of the court's approach to cases. Our legal and constitutional system is fundamentally premised on the virtues of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity," he added. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena said that it requires the rule of law and justice to secure the rights of the last man in the queue. "It has been felt that in a vast democracy as ours, it requires the rule of law and justice to secure the rights of the last man in the queue. It is imperative to strengthen the judicial system to bridge the gap of disparity and make all efforts to diminish inequality in the fast-changing contours of our society," Saxena said. "Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has been consistently taking up the issue of augmenting physical judicial infrastructure in the interest of speedy delivery. He has equally stressed the use of technology for not only speedy disposal of cases but also ensuring fairness in investigation and trial," he added. (ANI)
A day after political chaos emerged over Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the Parliament, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday said that it is "unfortunate" that the former's statements are being "distorted". In a conversation with ANI, Chaturvedi said, "First of all, he did not deliver such statements. He talked about those who masquerade as Hindus. There is a huge difference between the BJP and us. They use the Hindu religion for the sake of their politics. We have faith in the Hindu religion. So, it is unfortunate that his statements are being distorted." The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader further stated that the Congress leader had made it clear that the BJP and the RSS are not equal to the entire Hindu community. "I think Rahul Gandhiji made it clear that the BJP and the RSS are not equal to the entire Hindu community", she said. After Rahul Gandhi's remarks against the central government led by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) created a political uproar in the country, several portions of his maiden speech were expunged from the records of the Parliament. The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS among others. Rahul Gandhi in his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon, during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches. The Bharatiya Janata Party - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh among others stood up to express their protest and rebut the Congress MP's remarks. The NDA leaders accused the Congress MP "of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire Hindu community violent". The Congress hit back with counter-allegations against the Modi government. Rahul Gandhi invoked Lord Shiva, Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Budha and Lord Mahavir, saying that he had taken the idea of fearlessness from their teachings.PM Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi during his speech. "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter," the Prime Minister said. However, Gandhi supported his statement by clarifying that the BJP and the RSS are not representative of the entire Hindu community. Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary, while speaking to ANI, backed Gandhi's remarks stating, "Whatever he said was true. Being a Hindu, I'm saying that a true Hindu is never violent. They (BJP) do whatever they want." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the debate on 'motion of thanks' on the President's address in the Lok Sabha later today. (ANI)
https://x.com/naralokesh/status/1808004536835137816

State Education Minister, Nara Lokesh, in a post on X, expressed sadness over the death of the Bus Cleaner.

"The incident of a lorry hitting a school bus near Kavali today has left me deeply worried. It is sad that a cleaner died in an accident. The authorities have been ordered to provide immediate and better treatment to the children injured in the accident. School owners should keep all the buses in good condition," Lokesh said.

The accident occurred when the truck hit the school bus from behind, causing it to overturn, the official said.

The injured students were rushed to a private hospital in Kavali, where they are undergoing treatment, an official of the Nellore police station said.

The deceased has been identified as D Chinna Malleswara Rao (60).

The mishap took place on the 16th National Highway in Kavali, Nellore district. The bus belonged to RSR International School, police said. (ANI)
After the Parliamentary Party meeting of the National Democratic Alliance concluded on Tuesday, MoS and RLD MP Jayant Chaudhary said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told the NDA leaders to work as a family. The meeting marked PM Modi's first address to the MPs of the ruling bloc in his third term. Talking to ANI after the meeting, Chaudhary said, "In the meeting, the PM said that NDA should work as a family." NCP MP Praful Patel said, "The PM said that NDA MPs should work together to run the House and to send a clear message that all are united." Union Minister and JD(S) MP, HD Kumaraswamy said that the Prime Minister advised the leaders to work in the favour of the people. "The PM advised all the MPs to be present in the House and learn a lot of things. He also advised all members on how to behave in the House and work in favour of the people," Kumaraswamy said. Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan said, "The way we have seen Parliamentary traditions being flouted recently during Speaker election and other instances...Learning from the PM's experience means a lot, we got his guidance on it today. During my first two times as an MP, I spent a lot of time in the House to learn." Union minister Kiren Rijiju said that PM Modi urged all the party MPs to follow the rules of the Parliament, and the Parliamentary democracy system and raise their issues effectively. "Today, the PM gave us a very important mantra. He said that every MP has been elected to the House to serve the nation. Irrespective of the party they belong to, service to the nation is our first responsibility. Every NDA MP has to work by prioritising the country, this is what the PM urged. Secondly, the PM guided us well regarding the conduct of MPs," Rijiju said. The Union Minister said that the Prime Minister has asked the MPs to develop expertise in some of the major issues of interest and represent those issues in the House. "He said that every MP should present the matters of their constituency in the House very well as per the rules. He also told us to develop expertise in other major issues of interest - be it water, environment, or social area. So, PM told us to develop expertise in those areas. PM urged NDA MPs to follow the rules of the Parliament, the Parliamentary democracy system and conduct which is essential to becoming a good MP," Rijiju said. "I think this guidance by the PM is a good mantra for all MPs, especially the first-time MPs...We have decided to follow this mantra," the Union Minister said. Rijiju further said, "The manner in which LoP Rahul Gandhi behaved yesterday, turned his back towards the Speaker, spoke out of rules and insulted the Speaker is something that people of our party, the NDA should not do..." A massive uproar erupted in the Lok Sabha yesterday over Rahul Gandhi's remarks. BJP has accused the Raebareli MP of "insulting" the Hindu community .Prime Minister Modi hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks and said calling "the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter." Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress leader should apologise for his remarks. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Maharashtra Legislative Council member Prasad Lad on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Leader of Opposition (LoP) from the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, Ambadas Danve for using abusive language against him. "I demand the resignation of LoP Ambadas Danve as he used abusive words aimed at my mother and sister yesterday. I have spoken to the CM and DCM about this incident. Uddhav Thackeray should also ask his leader about this incident. I request the government to take action against Ambadas Danve," Lad said while addressing media today. There was a massive uproar in the Maharashtra Legislative Council and a heated argument ensued between Ambadas Danve and Prasad Lad on Monday. Prasad Lad accused Ambadas Danve of using abusive language against him and demanded strict action to be taken against him by the Deputy Chairman. Lad also insisted on passing a resolution in the Maharashtra Legislative Council against Rahul Gandhi for making a statement on Hindus in the Parliament. Ambadas Danve, LoP argued against it and said that it is not their subject and the same is being discussed in the Parliament. "We should focus on our discussions," Danve reasoned. Lad along with the MLCs from the ruling Mahayuti coalition objected and started questioning Ambadas Danve. "Aren't you a Hindu?" the Mahayuti MLCs asked Danve, continuously pointing fingers at him and demanding an answer. A massive uproar erupted in Lok Sabha yesterday over Rahul Gandhi's remarks. BJP has accused the Raebareli MP of "insulting" the Hindu community. Prime Minister Modi hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks and said calling "the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter." Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress leader should apologise for his remarks. Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government and alleged there has been "a systematic attack" on the idea of India. While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhi's remarks, Congress also held an evening presser to slam the ruling party at the Centre. Rahul Gandhi launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP targeting it over its remarks during the Lok Sabha campaign, the NEET-UG controversy, Agniveer scheme. (ANI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Tuesday slammed Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, for his remarks in the Parliament on Monday. Rajasthan CM said that the Congress leader not only lied but also insulted 125 crore Hindus. "Yesterday in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi called Hindus 'violent', liars and hateful. He not only lied but also insulted 125 crore Hindus," Sharma told reporters here. "He failed for the third consecutive time. Congress tried to launch him again and again but you can see that he was unable to get launched. He has been rejected. This was the first speech of Rahul Gandhi as the LoP and it was a speech full of lies, despair and baseless things. He did not say a word on the President's Address though the discussion was on the same. He only lied in Parliament. It doesn't suit the LoP to display the photo of a deity in the House and politicise it," he added. Sharma accused the Congress of indulging in politics of appeasement. He alleged that Congress leaders had always taken a stand against the interests of Hindus. Meanwhile, several portions of the maiden speech of Rahul Gandhi as Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha targeting the central government over various issues, including minorities, the NEET row and the Agnipath scheme among others, have been expunged from the records of the Parliament on the orders of the Speaker. The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS among others. Rahul Gandhi in his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon, during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches. The Bharatiya Janata Party - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh among others stood up to express their protest and rebut the Congress MP's remarks. The BJP leaders accused the Congress MP "of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire Hindu community violent". The Congress hit back with counter-allegations against the Modi government. Rahul Gandhi invoked Lord Shiva, Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Budha and Lord Mahavir, saying that he had taken the idea of fearlessness from their teachings. PM Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi during his speech. "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter," the Prime Minister said. Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi. While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhi's remarks, Congress also held an evening press conference to slam the ruling party at the Centre. Among the portions of Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha speech that got expunged were his accusations against the BJP, stating that the party was treating minorities unfairly and perpetrating violence. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday criticized Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accusing him of insulting the Hindu community. Dhami was reacting to Gandhi's remarks in the Lower House, where Gandhi, targeting the BJP, claimed that "those who call themselves Hindus indulge in hate and violence round the clock." "The more Rahul Gandhi's statement in Parliament is condemned, the less it is. The manner in which he called the entire Hindu community 'violent' is highly condemnable," Dhami told reporters. "He has always been proud of insulting the Hindu community. As the Leader of the Opposition, which is a dignified position, he should be serious. May God give him wisdom," he added. Rahul Gandhi, in his speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon, during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address, accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches. The Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, among others, stood up to express their protest and rebut the Congress MP's remarks. The BJP leaders accused Gandhi of "speaking lies, misleading the House, and terming the entire Hindu community violent." Many BJP leaders, including its chief ministers, condemned Gandhi's remarks. Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav said, "Several Congress leaders, including the senior leader of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, Lakshman Singh, have expressed disagreement with what Rahul Gandhi said. I think Mallikarjun Kharge should gather details of this and speak with Rahul Gandhi regarding his resignation." Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma also accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting Hindus with his remarks. "Yesterday in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi called Hindus 'violent,' liars, and hateful. He not only lied but also insulted 125 crore Hindus. He has failed for the third consecutive time; Congress tried to launch him again and again, but he was unable to get launched. He has been rejected," Sharma said. "This was the first speech of Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition, and it was full of lies, despair, and baseless claims. He did not say a word on the President's Address, though the discussion was on the same. He only lied in Parliament. It doesn't suit the Leader of the Opposition to display the photo of a deity in the House and politicize it," he added. Meanwhile, several portions of Rahul Gandhi's maiden speech as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, targeting the central government over various issues, including minorities, the NEET row, and the Agnipath scheme, have been expunged from the records of Parliament on the orders of the Speaker. The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS, among others. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party workers protested against Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai for his remarks made in the Parliament. The workers were seen holding posters of Rahul Gandhi with a cross sign in it as a sign of protest. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, National President of BJP Yuva Morcha Tejasvi Surya said that the BJP Yuva Morcha will hold protests outside Congress offices across the country on Tuesday against Rahul Gandhi's 'Hindu' comment made in the Parliament on Monday. Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the Lower House, Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that the Parliament is not a place to mislead the public and spread fake information. "Parliament is not a place to spread fake information or mislead the public. Rahul Gandhi had a lot of fake information in the Parliament yesterday. At the time, concerning ministers exposed his lies. It is a part of the procedure to expunge from records the lies told on the floor of House," he said. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh called Rahul Gandhi "immature" and said that the way the LoP was speaking in the Parliament looked like he was addressing a public rally. "Rahul Gandhi is still immature. He has still not matured. He might have become the LoP but he is still not mature. He was speaking as if he were addressing a public rally. There were no facts or truth. He just levelled allegations. He should be mature if he has become the LoP," Singh said. After Rahul Gandhi's remarks against the central government led by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) created a political uproar in the country, several portions of his maiden speech were expunged from the records of the Parliament. The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS among others. Rahul Gandhi in his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon, during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches. The Bharatiya Janata Party - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh among others stood up to express their protest and rebut the Congress MP's remarks. The BJP leaders accused the Congress MP "of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire Hindu community violent". The Congress hit back with counter-allegations against the Modi government. Rahul Gandhi invoked Lord Shiva, Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Budha and Lord Mahavir, saying that he had taken the idea of fearlessness from their teachings. PM Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi during his speech. "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter," the Prime Minister said. Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi. However, Gandhi supported his statement by clarifying that the BJP and the RSS are not representative of the entire Hindu community. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday again hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark in the Parliament saying Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge should speak with the Leader of Opposition regarding his resignation. "Several Congress leaders, including senior leader of Madhya Pradesh Congress - Lakshman Singh, have expressed disagreement with what Rahul Gandhi said in the parliament. I think Mallikarjun Kharge should gather details of this and speak with Rahul Gandhi regarding his resignation," CM Yadav told reporters. Congress leader and former CM Digvijaya Singh's brother, Lakshman Singh posted on X, "The comment on "Hindus" in Parliament is indecent and unnecessary. It would be appropriate to raise only and only issues related to the people and the country." State Minister (Independent Charge), Krishna Gaur also raised objection over Rahul Gandhi's remark and said that Hindus of the entire country are angry and the Congress leader should apologise to them. "Hindus of the entire country are angry; the way Rahul Gandhi has given the statement in the parliament yesterday, perhaps he has forgotten that there is a large number of Hindus in the country. The people of the country can never tolerate the insult of Hindus. Therefefor, Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Hindus of the country. His statement is condemnable and we have strong objections to it," the State Minister told ANI. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Hiralal Alawa backed LoP Rahul Gandhi saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was representing the statement of the Congress leader in a wrong way. "Rahul Gandhi has only called BJP and Narendra Modi's government violent, he has not called any Hindu in the entire country violent. The BJP is representing Rahul Gandhi's statement in the wrong way. The BJP has become nervous inside the House due to Rahul Gandhi's roar and nothing else," Alawa told ANI. Meanwhile, there was an uproar on Tuesday in the state assembly over Rahul Gandhi's statement as the BJP was demanding that the LoP should apologise. Due to the ruckus in the House, the proceedings were adjourned for 15 minutes. Notably, the budget session of the Madhya Pradesh assembly is going on which began on Monday. The session will run from July 1 to July 19 and the budget is likely to be presented on July 3. Participating in the debate on the Motion Of Thanks to the President's address to a joint sitting of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted the BJP-led government and alleged there has been "a systematic attack" on the idea of India. "There has been a systematic and full-scale assault on the idea of India, the Constitution and on the people who resisted the attack on the Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the leaders are still in jail. Anyone who resisted the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression on poor and Dalits and minorities was crushed...I was attacked by the order of the Government of India, by the order of the Prime Minister of India...The most enjoyable part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by ED...," he alleged. He also called the Hindu symbol 'Abhaya Mudra' which gestures fearlessness, reassurance and safety, as the symbol of the Congress party." "Abhaya Mudra is the symbol of Congress...The Abhaya Mudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions...All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear...But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth...Aap Hindu ho hi nahi," the Congress leader said. Rahul Gandhi also said that the BJP was not the entire Hindu society. "Narendra Modi is not the entire Hindu society. BJP is not the entire Hindu society, RSS is not the entire society, this is not BJP's contract," he said. BJP members took strong objection to Rahul Gandhi's remark and accused Rahul of insulting Hindu religion by connecting it with violence. Earlier on Monday, MP CM Mohan Yadav attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the Lok Sabha saying the Congress leader should apologise immediately and the Congress party should clarify its stand whether it agrees with the statement or not. CM Yadav also appealed to the National President of the Congress party to immediately ask for the resignation of Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)
Ministers of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar accompanied the Union Home Minister during the visit.

Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal and Murlidhar Mohol were also present on occasion.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri also called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He was accompanied by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natual Gas Suresh Gopi.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi who assumed charge on June 30 also called on President Murmu earlier in the day. He was accompanied by his spouse during the visit. (ANI)
The Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued 13 fishermen marooned on a small island in the middle of the Brahmaputra north of Dibrugarh in Assam due to a rise in the water level of the river, officials said on Tuesday. https://x.com/IAF_MCC/status/1808026492900986922 In a post on X, the IAF said, "IAF rescued 13 marooned survivors from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra, north of Dibrugarh in Assam." The IAF said that a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions on July 2 and undertook the rescue operation from a marshy piece of land. "The coordinated efforts of Pilot and Flt Gunner ensured prompt and safe boarding of 13 survivors. Emergency first aid was provided by the Indian Air Force after the rescue," the Indian Air Force said. Previoulsy personeel of NDRF, SDRF and Inland Water Transport boats had attempted to rescue the fishermen who had been stranded in the middle of the Brahamaputra since Friday. The rising water level and extreme current of the river prevented the rescue efforts, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said. Meanwhile, the flood situation in Kaziranga National Park in Assam has turned critical as the flood waters inundated 95 forest camps. There are a total of 233 camps in the park. As a result of the flooding, the authorities have vacated six camps. According to the park authority, the flood waters have submerged all 34 camps in the Agratoli range, 20 in the Kaziranga range, 10 in the Bagori range, 5 in the Burapahar range, 6 in the Bokakhat range and 20 in the Biswanath Wildlife Division. Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, said that a wooden bridge near the Moshguli Camp in Agoratoli Range was washed away by floodwaters on Monday, July 1. "Herds of elephants have started moving towards Karbi Anglong through the Hati Dandi corridor. Heavy traffic diversion has been requested for the NH 715 stretch under Nagaon and Golaghat districts. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has also been issued," Ghosh said. On Monday the ASDMA said that 19 districts- Kamrup, Golaghat, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Karimganj, Cachar, Dhemaji, Morigaon, Udalguri, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Darrang,Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Biswanath, Jorhat- were affected by the floods. It said that all the rivers flowing through the state had crossed the danger mark at several places. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a telephone conversation, assured Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of full cooperation from the Centre in tackling the flood situation in the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he had briefed the Prime Minister about the relief measures being taken by the State. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam. I explained him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts. I also briefed him about the relief measures undertaken by the state government," Sarma said in a post on X on Monday, June 1. "He assured me of full cooperation from the Government of India in this hour of crisis," he added. Assam Transport Minister Keshab Mahanta on Tuesday visited Hatimura area under Kaliabor Sub-Division in Nagaon district where the flood waters washed away a portion of an embankment near sluice gate. The Assam Minister said that, the administration is constantly monitoring the situation and providing safe shelter to nearby people. (ANI)
Upon receiving the information, five fire tenders were rushed to the scene and started operations to douse the blaze.

The exact cause of the blaze could not be ascertained immediately.

A video showed billows of smoke coming out of the building.

Some locals can be seen gathered on the spot.

More details are awaited. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced on Tuesday that the state administration's preparations for the Kanwar Yatra have begun. He welcomed the pilgrims, assuring them of "good" arrangements. "The preparations for the Kanwar Yatra have begun. We conduct a major meeting in Haridwar every year, and we will have a meeting this year too. Last year, more than 4 crore 'Shiv bhakt' arrived here. We will welcome them all and make good arrangements for them," Dhami told reporters. Meanwhile, an inter-state and inter-unit coordination meeting on the Kanwar Yatra was organized in the auditorium of Police Headquarters under the chairmanship of Abhinav Kumar, Director General of Police (DIG) of Uttarakhand. Officials from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, CRPF, Railway Protection Force, and the Intelligence Bureau participated directly and online. During the meeting held on Monday evening, the Director General of Police stated that the upcoming Kanwar Yatra will take place from July 22 to August 2. He highlighted that Kanwar is a significant religious event, affecting not only Haridwar but also neighbouring districts and states, posing challenges such as law and order, crowd management, and traffic management. He noted that while the yatra used to primarily impact Uttarakhand, it now also affects other North Indian states. The objective of the meeting was to ensure the Kanwar Yatra is completed safely and peacefully with the cooperation of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and other agencies. After discussing various perspectives, it was concluded that the sensitivity of the Kanwar Yatra has increased. The DGP emphasized the need for increased social media monitoring to keep a close watch on posts related to the Kanwar Yatra. He stressed the importance of keeping the Kanwariyas on the designated route to prevent traffic disruptions on the highway. He assured collective efforts to maintain the sacred form of the Kanwar Yatra, stating that disturbances in the name of the yatra will not be tolerated. (ANI)
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in a stern tone said that Leader of Opposition in the House Mallikarjun Kharge cannot every time "rundown the chair" and said that there has been disregard for the chair from his part. As Congress MP Pramod Tiwari was speaking during the debate on the motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address, an argument broke out between Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, LoP in the House Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Jairam Ramesh. Dhankar said that Jairam Ramesh kept interrupting him and when again as Jairam Ramesh stood up to respond to the remarks, Dhankar referred to him as intelligent and talented and mockingly asked to take the position of Kharge that would suit him the best. "Jairam Ramesh, you're intelligent, so gifted, so talented, you should immediately come and take the seat in place of Kharge because by and large you're doing his job," Dhankar said. Responding to this, Kharge said, "Listen, don't bring this varna system, tilled in your mind that varna system is there. That's why you're calling Ramesh very intelligent, very wise and I'm dull so that he could replace me." Dhankar responded saying that Kharge did not understand his words and they were twisted. When Kharge said that he was given the position by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and that power vests only in her not with Dhankar or with Jairam Ramesh, Dhankar responded by saying that Kharge disrespected the chair. "You cannot every time run down the chair. You cannot every time disrespect the chair. You stand suddenly and speak whatever you want without understanding what I am saying. Never in the history of this country and Parliamentary democracy and Rajya Sabha proceedings, there has been such disregard for the chair, as from you," Dhankar said addressing Kharge. "Time for you to reflect. Your dignity has been attacked multiple times. I have always tried to protect your dignity," he added. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha at around 4 pm on Tuesday. "At around 4 PM this evening, Prime Minister @narendramodi will reply to the Motion of Thanks, on the President's address in the Lok Sabha," the Prime Minister's Office posted on X. Earlier, in the day, National Democratic Alliance leaders felicitated PM Modi on his historic third term at the parliamentary party meeting of BJP alliance government on Tuesday. The Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju addressed the reporters after the NDA parliamentary meeting and said that the PM would reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address at around 4 pm. "Today the Prime Minister will reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address at 4 pm in the Lok Sabha. PM Modi will address the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Although the time is not confirmed, but it'll be around 12-1 pm," the Union Minister said. The Lok Sabha witnessed a massive uproar in the House over Rahul Gandhi's remarks. BJP has accused the Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi of "insulting" the Hindu community. Prime Minister Modi also hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks and said calling "the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter." Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress leader should apologise for his remarks. Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government and alleged there has been "a systematic attack" on the idea of India. While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhi's remarks, Congress also held an evening presser to slam the ruling party at the Centre. Rahul Gandhi launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP targeting it over its remarks during the Lok Sabha campaign, the NEET-UG controversy, Agniveer scheme. (ANI)
The student organisations of INDIA alliance partners held a joint press conference demanding a "ban of NTA," the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and holding the NEET exam again.

The press conference was attended by representatives of AISF, AISA, NSUI, Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, SFI and CRJD.

'We are United here to address the issue of scams and corrupt practices carried out by NTA and the issue of NEET students," said NSUI president Varum Chaudhary.

Putting forth their three demands, Chaudhary said, " We want the government to disband the NTA. We want Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to take responsibility and step down. The third thing we want is that NEET to be held again."

NTA is grappling with controversy over alleged irregularities in the entrance exams, including the NEET and UGC NET.

After irregularities resurfaced in the NEET and UGC NET exams, the central government postponed several exams, including the NEET PG.

The opposition parties and several student organisations have been holding protests regularly, demanding action.

Addressing the joint press conference, the national president of Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, Imran Idris, demanded that government be held accountable.

" Government should answer. Union Minister Dharmerndra Pradhan should answer. We want NTA be banned and Pradhan should resign."

Viraaj Devang. The General Secretary of AISF reiterated the three demands and targeted the government for creating the education system.

"NEET-like entrance exam should be removed.NTA scams and problems should not be seen in isolation. And the agenda is to how to throw backward people out of education system," Devang said

"I urge the government to not play with the future of students of the country," he added. (ANI)
The Army Chief was accompanied by his spouse during his visit to the President.

General Upendra Dwivedi took over the command of the Indian Army on June 30. The 30th Chief of the Indian Army belongs to the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and was Vice Chief of Army Staff from February this year.

He is the recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and three General Officer Commanding-in-Charge (GOC-in-C) commendation cards.

A resident of Madhya Pradesh, he studied in Sainik School Rewa, and joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in January 1981. He was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in December 1984, which he later commanded in the Kashmir Valley and the deserts of Rajasthan.

General Dwivedi commanded his battalion in active counter-terrorism operations in the Kashmir Valley and the Rajasthan Desert. He has been the Inspector General Assam Rifles (IGAR-GOC) and Sector Commander of the Assam Rifles in intense counter-terrorist operations and held various other staff command appointments in the North East, where he pioneered the first-ever compendium on Indo-Myanmar border management.

Subsequently, he commanded the Rising Star Corps along the Western Front and the prestigious Northern Army from 2022 to 2024 in an extremely challenging operational environment. During his command, he provided strategic guidance & Operational oversight for the planning and execution of sustained operations along the Northern & Western borders, besides orchestrating the dynamic counter-terrorism operations in J-K. (ANI)
Congress MP KC Venugopal launched a scathing attack on the NDA government for multiple infrastructure failures and said that under the BJP rule, "every building is under threat of collapsing." Speaking during the debate on the motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address, the Congress leader said, "Delhi Airport roof collapsed, Jabalpur Airport roof collapsed, Rajkot Airport canopy collapsed, conditions of roads in Ayodhya is bad, leakage in Ram Mandir, cracks in Mumbai Harbour link road, three new bridges collapsed in Bihar, Pragati Maidan tunnel submerged, all these constructions during the NDA period have collapsed. Under their rule, every building is under the threat of collapsing." The Congress leader also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inquire about the alleged electoral bonds scam and said to put up an inquiry of the parliamentary committee to investigate the same. "I am challenging the Prime Minister to inquire about the electoral bonds. One of the biggest scams the country has ever seen is the electoral bond scam. If you are not scared of anything...then why don't you put up an inquiry? Put up an inquiry of parliamentary committee. You're not ready." Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi pitched for the installation of the Ambedkar statue in front of Parliament on Tuesday. "They are saying again and again that they made the new Parliament. Would it not have been appropriate to install an idol of Bhimrao Ambedkar in front of the Parliament?" he asked. The canopy collapse incident took place at Terminal 1 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on June 28 morning, killing one person and injuring eight others. A day later, the canopy collapsed at the passenger pickup and drop area of Rajkot Airport in Gujarat on June 29. As per the Ministry of Civil Aviation sources, the canopy broke during the maintenance work to push out water accumulated in the canopy. No one was injured in the incident, sources said, adding that a detailed report into the matter has been sought. The repair work is underway. (ANI)
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj moved a notice under Rule 115 in Lok Sabha over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's speech in the House on July 1. In the notice, Bansuri Swaraj drew the Speaker's attention to the alleged mistakes and inaccuracies in the speech delivered by Rahul Gandhi on Monday in Lok Sabha, on the discussion over Motion of Thanks to the President's speech. Swaraj claimed that Gandhi "deliberately" made a factually inaccurate statement regarding the Agniveer scheme and falsely stated that no compensation is available to Agniveers on attaining martyrdom. She said that the LoP made the said statement to "mislead" the House. She further alleged that an inaccurate statement was about his party's conduct qua farmers and referred to it as false and without any basis. Swaraj called it a deliberate attempt to malign and spread hate against her party. She also pointed out Gandhi's statement on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and said that the central government has always been providing MSP support to the farmers and Gandhi's remarks that no MSP was given to the farmers was false and "contrary to facts." Slamming the LoP's remarks as "factually incorrect and misleading in nature", the BJP MP urged the Speaker of Lok Sabha to initiate appropriate proceedings under Rule 115 against Rahul Gandhi. She also urged the Speaker to take cognizance of the "deliberate inaccuracies" made by Rahul Gandhi and take necessary action. Earlier in the day, several portions of the maiden speech of Rahul Gandhi as LoP in Lok Sabha targeting the central government over various issues, including minorities, NEET row and Agnipath scheme among others, have been expunged from the records of the Parliament on the orders of the Speaker. The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus, and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS among others. Rahul Gandhi in his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon, during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches. The BJP leaders accused the Congress MP "of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire Hindu community violent". The Congress hit back with counter-allegations against the Modi government. (ANI)
Alleging that the central government had betrayed the students, the CPIM's youth wing, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), held a protest over the NEET issue in Ernakulam on Tuesday. Protesters broke through the barricades and police had to use water cannon to disperse the crowd. Later, the protesters were allowed to conduct a peaceful march. The march was organized by the DYFI Ernakulam district committee against row over the NEET paper leak. State committee members Advocate Nikhil Babu, Adv. Bibin Varghese, KV Kiranraj, Manisha Radhakrishnan, etc., led the march. National Testing Agency (NTA) is grappling with controversy over alleged irregularities in the entrance exams, including the NEET and UGC NET. NEET-UG examination, conducted by NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. The NEET-UG 2024 was held across 4,750 centres on May 5 and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it. After irregularities resurfaced in the NEET and UGC NET exams, the central government postponed several exams, including the NEET PG. The opposition parties and several student organisations have been holding protests regularly, demanding action. The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced new dates for UGC-NET June 2024 exams, Joint CSIR UGC NET exams and NCET (National Common Entrance Test) 2024 Exams. As per the issued notice, the UGC NET June 2024 exams will be conducted between August 21 and September 4, the Joint CSIR UGC NET will be conducted from July 25 to July 27 and the NCET exams will be conducted on July 10. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 8 a batch of pleas alleging paper leak and irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Under Graduate (NEET-UG) 2024 examination held on May 5. According to the cause list for July 8 uploaded on the top court's website, the pleas are listed before a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. The apex court had earlier sought response from NTA on pleas seeking fresh NEET-UG, 2024 examination amid allegations of paper leak and said the "sanctity" of the exam has been affected and it needs answer from the testing agency. The apex court had told the National Testing Agency (NTA) that if there is any negligence in conducting NEET-UG, 2024 exam, it should be dealt thoroughly with. The Centre and the NTA had, on June 13, told the apex court that they had cancelled the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates and candidates were given the option to either take a re-test on June 23 or forgo the compensatory marks awarded for loss of time. A total of 813 students appeared for the retest held on June 23 across seven centres. Aspirants had approached the top court and raised the issue of leakage of the question paper, awarding compensatory marks and anomaly in the question paper of NEET-UG. A number of petitions were filed in the apex court seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leak and malpractices in the test held on May 5. The apex court had refused to stay the counselling of NEET-UG, 2024. (ANI)
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday urged the Centre to rush a team of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) to his flood-affected state of Assam due to the heavy rains that have inundated it for the past several days. Gogoi, the parliamentarian from Jorhat, also requested that the Union Jal Shakti Minister should visit the State, stating his concerns over the grave situation in the State where the embankments have been breached in the State and water levels have risen in the rivers. "I am present here but my mind and my focus is at the floods in Assam. The situation is very dangerous there. You must have seen the situation in Bihar and UP how during floods people face so many troubles and that is why I want the government to show their concern and rush an NDRF team immediately today and the Jal Shakti Minister should immediately go there," Gogoi said. Earlier today, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said that it had rescued 13 fishermen stranded on a small island in the Brahmaputra River due to the rise in water levels in the northern Dibrugarh region of Assam. Personnel of the NDRF, SDRF and Inland Water Transport boats attempted to rescue the fishermen stranded on that island since Friday. However, the rescue efforts failed due to the rise in water levels and extreme currents in the Brahmaputra River, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said. Meanwhile, the flood situation in Kaziranga National Park has turned critical, with rising water submerged a total of 95 forest camps out of the 233 camps present in the park. Earlier Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the flood situation in the state. He said Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in parts of its upper districts and in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. Sarma further detailed the relief measures undertaken by the state government on the issue. PM Modi on his behalf assured Sarma that he would have full cooperation from the Centre in its hour of crisis. As of July 1, a total of 19 districts had been affected due to the floods, with the death toll rising to 35 as per data provided by Assam Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). Thousands of people are sheltering in relief camps across the State. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted very heavy rainfall in Assam over the next few days. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Minister Udayanidhi Stalin announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at empowering rural women entrepreneurs if the state. The Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation, with financial support from the World Bank, unveiled a special platform named TN-RISE. This initiative seeks to address the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing finance, credit, and marketing opportunities. "Based on the announcement of our honourable Chief Minister in TN Legislative Assembly, Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation is launching a special platform called TN-RISE with the Financial assistance of World Bank. The main focus of this initiative is to bring more women entrepreneurs from the rural areas of Tamil Nadu," Stalin said. Stalin emphasized that the TN-RISE initiative aligns with the progressive principles of the Dravidian movement, which continues to guide the current state government's efforts. "This reflects the progressive tradition of our Dravidian movement, which is represented in the current government of Tamil Nadu. We refer to it as the Dravidian Model government," Stalin added. Stalin highlighted that women are "enslaved in two domains: the material domain and the cultural domain." He said that while organizations like the World Bank work to empower women in the material domain, the Dravidian movement strives to free women from cultural constraints. He expressed pride in the Dravidian Model government's collaboration with the World Bank to advance women's empowerment in the material domain as well. "There are organizations like The World Bank working to liberate women in the material domain. Likewise, our Dravidian movement, strives hard to liberate women from enslavement in the cultural domain. Now, our Dravidian Model government is proud to join hands with The World Bank in empowering women in the material domain as well," the minister said. "Women entrepreneurs face numerous challenges in advancing their business ideas, as well as in accessing finance, credit, and marketing opportunities. TN RISE aims to eliminate these obstacles by offering customized market linkages, financing, and operational advice. Also, it will provide high-end business incubation services to women-led rural enterprises," he added. Minister Stalin also announced that TN-RISE has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with multinational companies such as Flipkart and HP to offer guidance and training to emerging women entrepreneurs "I am proud to say that TN-RISE had signed MoUs with various multinational companies like Flipkart, HP to provide guidance and training for our budding women entrepreneurs," Stalin said. "I would like to invite industries, entrepreneurs to join hands with our government for the noble cause of making more women entrepreneurs from our State of Tamil Nadu," he added. The launch of TN-RISE marks a significant step in supporting and elevating women-led startups across the state. The launch event gathered key stakeholders from the government, industry leaders, investors, and aspiring women entrepreneurs, setting the stage for TN-RISE to drive growth and success for women-led rural enterprises. The Tamil Nadu Government also announced the establishment of an exclusive "Start-up Mission" dedicated to assisting women entrepreneurs with finance, credit, and marketing challenges. Through TN-RISE, the government aims to build on existing platforms and address gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating a robust infrastructure and providing professional expertise to support women-led rural businesses. (ANI)
Reacting to BJP MP Saumitra Khan's remarks on recent violence in Chopra and Cooch Behar in West Bengal, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh accused BJP of running a completely distorted campaign with distorted facts against the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal. He said that this is a social problem and the Chief Minister and the government responded to the situation very promptly. Kunal Ghosh said, "BJP is running a completely distorted campaign with distorted facts. I do not want to comment on this because this is not a problem for Hindus or Muslims, it is a social problem...It should not be seen as Hindus or Muslims. It was a bad incident, the CM and the government responded to the situation very promptly and the accused has been arrested and the victim has been provided with security." He further said that the IC of the police station had been show caused. "Everything that was required has been done," he added. Earlier BJP MP Saumitra Khan said, "In Chopra and Cooch Behar of West Bengal women were beaten up on streets by a TMC leader, JCB who was aided by his MLA. He later said that such incidents happen in a Muslim nation. Tell me, is India a Muslim nation? Will West Bengal go with Bangladesh? I raised my voice in Parliament to make the country take note of it." Earlier a "horrific" video emerged in which a man was seen assaulting a woman in Chopra in West Bengal's Uttar Dinajpur. The assault took place in a public street in Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur district and a purported video of the incident shows a man beating up two people in the presence of onlookers. Police arrested the accused who has been identified as Tajmul Haque alias JCB. "Accused has been arrested. Suo moto case started by the police. Victim has been provided police security. Investigation proceeds," Islampur Police said in a social media post. The police also said efforts are being made to spread misinformation about the incident. "Efforts are being made from certain quarters to spread misinformation about an incident in Chopra PS under Islampur PD. The fact is, police have promptly identified and arrested one person who had publicly assaulted a lady," the Islampur Police District posted on X. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a veiled jibe at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi over the Lok Sabha election results and said that Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the people's mind that they have defeated us but in reality, "Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai." In his speech, PM Modi said that this is the third biggest defeat in the history of Congress. "This is the first time in Congress's history that they have not crossed the 100-seat mark three times in a row. This is the third biggest defeat in the history of Congress. It would have been better if Congress had accepted its defeat and respected the mandate of the people but they are busy doing some 'Sirsasana' and Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the minds of the citizens of India that they have defeated us," he said. "A little child goes out with a bicycle and if he falls and starts crying, his elder says that look, the ant got crushed. You're riding the bicycle well. 'Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai'," PM Modi added. Levelling up his attacks on the Congress, the Prime Minister said that after the 1984 elections, there have been 10 Lok Sabha elections in this country. Despite that, Congress hasn't been able to touch the figure of 250. This time, somehow they are stuck at 99. "I recall a story of a boy who was boasting around with 99 marks, showing everyone how many marks he got. When people heard 99, they would praise him and boost his confidence. Then his teacher came and said, "He didn't get 99 out of 100, but 99 out of 543." Now, who will explain to that foolish boy that he has set a world record for failure?" PM Modi said. He also added that the statements of Congress leaders have surpassed the dialogues of the movie "Sholay". "In 13 states, they have zero seats, yet they consider themselves heroes. I would tell the Congress people not to ignore public mandate in a celebration of false victory. Now, Congress has been a "par-jeevi" party since 2024, which means the one that lives off its host and ends up consuming it. Congress, too, eats up the votes of the party it allies with. Where Congress and BJP had a direct contest, Congress's strike rate is only 26 percent. But where they were in an alliance, their strike rate was 50 percent. Most of Congress's 99 seats were won by the efforts of their allies," the Prime Minister pointed out. "In Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, where Congress fought on its own, out of 64 seats, they could win only 2. This means that Congress has become entirely "Par-jeevi". If Congress hadn't consumed the votes of its allies, it wouldn't have won even these many seats," he added. (ANI)
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakhs each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand each to the injured following the tragic stampede in Hathras. Earlier in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, a stampede at a religious event resulted in the deaths of 50 to 60 people. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the Chief Minister has ordered a thorough investigation. He also instructed the officials to form a team under the leadership of ADG, Agra and Commissioner, Aligarh to investigate the causes of the accident. CM Adityanath is personally monitoring the situation and has dispatched two ministers, the Chief Secretary, and the DGP to the site. An FIR will be filed against the program organizers, and the administration is preparing for major action in response to the tragedy. Earlier in the day, Hathras DM Ashish Kumar confirmed the increase in death toll from 27 to around 5-60. He said,"... District administration is investigating the matter. The injured are being taken to the hospital and people are still being recovered... A figure of nearly 50-60 deaths has been reported to me by the doctors... Permission for the event to be held was given by the SDM and it was a private event... A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter... The primary focus of the administration is to provide all possible help to the injured and kin of the deceased..." Union Minister Rajnath Singh and Biju Janata Dal President Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday expressed their condolences following the tragic incident in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, where a stampede at a religious event resulted in the deaths of 50 to 60 people. Paying condolence to the deceased the Union Minister labelled the accident as "extremely painful". "The accident that happened in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who have lost their loved ones in this accident," Singh said. "Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is providing all possible help to all the victims," he added. BJD President Naveen Patnaik also expressed his sorrow, stating, "Deeply saddened to learn about the loss of so many lives in the stampede in #Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief and pray for the speedy recovery of those who are hospitalised." Additionally, the Office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted that the CM has expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. "He has directed the district administration officials to immediately take the injured to the hospital for their proper treatment and to speed up the relief work at the spot. He has given instructions to investigate the causes of the incident under the leadership of ADG Agra and Commissioner Aligarh," the tweet added. (ANI)
Delhi's Patiala House Court on Tuesday granted two hours of custody parole to jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Rashid Engineer, to take oath as a Member of Parliament (MP) on July 5. Rashid was elected from Baramulla seat as an independent candidate, defeating National Conference leader Omar Abdullah inthe recent Lok Sabha polls. He has sought interim bail or custody parole to take oath as the MP. Special Judge Chander Jit Singh granted custody parole to Rashid Engineer, subject to certain conditions. "Custody parole is allowed for 2 hours or until the conclusion of proceedings, whichever is later. Period excludes travel time," the judge said. "Spouses and children on the production of identity cards shall be allowed to be present during the making and subscribing of the oath," he added. Neither Engineer Rashid can access the phone nor can interact with anyone except the officials concerned, the judge said in the order. He also cannot address or speak to the media on any issue, the order stated, adding that family members of Engineer Rashid are not permitted to take photos of the ceremony or post them. Earlier on Monday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave its consent to permit Rashid Engineer to take the oath on July 5 in parliament. However, the counsel for the NIA said in court that the consent should be subject to certain conditions, including not interacting with the media. The counsel for the NIA suggested three dates from July 5 to 7. He said that Rashid Engineer may take the oath on any of these dates. Defence counsel Vikhyat Oberoi said that July 5 is okay as July 6 and 7 are holidays. His counsel also urged the court to allow Rashid to get his ID card and CGHS Card prepared and open a bank account if the process is on. Counsel also urged the court to allow Rashid's family members to be present at the time of his oath-taking. Rashid has been in custody for the last five years in a terror funding case lodged by the National Investigation Agency.(ANI)
Congress MP KC Venugopal launched a scathing attack on PM Modi-led NDA government and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) projects the Prime Minister bigger than God and is using Hinduism to "polarise" the people and win the elections. Referring to the Bhagawad Gita during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address, the Congress leader challenged the NDA over the question of who could be called a "real Hindu believer" and said, "A real Hindu is a person who understands the message of debate, tolerance and human values. Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse, both believed in the Bhagavad Gita." "Both Mahatma Gandhi and Godse read the Bhagavad Gita, but Mahatma Gandhi learned non-violence, tolerance, respect for human lives and the message of Lord Krishna from the holy book. Whereas Godse learned violence, murder and intolerance from the same texter," he said. Adding further, he said, "We the Congress and INDIA bloc believe in Gandhi's Hinduism, not Godse's Hinduism. We follow Gandhi's Hinduism not Godse's Hinduism." KC Venugopal also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that PM Modi had violated constitutional norms while speaking at rallies before the Lok Sabha elections. "I bring the notice of this house to a serious matter, our PM had clearly violated constitutional norms while speaking. Citing the Prime Minister's remarks on the 'mangalsutra' and 'inheritance' during the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign in Gujarat, KC Venugopal said, "How can a PM talk like this? We gave hundreds of petitions to the Election Commission but they became merely silent spectators." He also targeted the NDA for its strong objection to Rahul Gandhi's remark on Hinduism on Monday and said, "Yesterday Rahul ji's statements sparked controversy after his speech on Hinduism. Are you (BJP) or we are the real believers of Hinduism? You (BJP) are not the real Hindu believers, you are using Hinduism to polarise the people to win the elections." Taking a swipe over the BJP's controversial remarks in recent times, KC Venugopal said, "Yesterday the LoP spoke on the non-biological birth of the PM that he is not biologically born like us." Listing the BJP Sambit Patra's "slip of tongue" remarks during a rally in Puri, Venugopal said, "Sambit Patra said Lord Jagannath is a 'Modi bhakt'. JP Nadda ji had said that PM Modi is now Surendra Modi and that he is the lord of Gods." Another BJP leader Kangana Ranaut said, "PM Modi is an ansh of Lord Ram and Vishnu who takes care of us, while Uttar pradesh CM Yogi said that Bajrangbali is a Dalit, forest dweller and deprived." Quoting a cabinet minister's controversial remark on Ramayana he said, "A Cabinet Minister of the NDA said that Ravan was an intellectual, Lord Ram is imaginary. I do not consider Ramayana to be a true story nor do I accept the fact that Lord Ram was a great historical figure, adding further he said, "And you (BJP) consider to be Hindus and we (INDIA) are anti-Hindus." Adding further, he said, "I am also a Hindu. I used to go to the Guruvarayappan temple every month and to Sabri Malai every year. But I used to visit the Vatican, the Ajmer Sharif and also went to the Golden Temple with leader Rahul Gandhi." "We did seva there. BJP thinks that PM Modi is bigger than god and projects that the PM is bigger than God. That is the biggest anti-Hindu statement. That is the biggest anti-believer statement. As per Hinduism, no one is bigger than God," he said. Earlier in the day, KC Venugopal attacked the NDA government for multiple infrastructure failures and said that under the BJP rule, "every building is under threat of collapsing." Speaking during the debate on the motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address, the Congress leader said, "Delhi Airport roof collapsed, Jabalpur Airport roof collapsed, Rajkot Airport canopy collapsed, conditions of roads in Ayodhya is bad, leakage in Ram Mandir, cracks in Mumbai Harbour link road, three new bridges collapsed in Bihar, Pragati Maidan tunnel submerged, all these constructions during the NDA period have collapsed. Under their rule, every building is under the threat of collapsing." The Congress leader also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inquire about the alleged electoral bonds scam and said to put up an inquiry of the parliamentary committee to investigate the same. "I am challenging the Prime Minister to inquire about the electoral bonds. One of the biggest scams the country has ever seen is the electoral bond scam. If you are not scared of anything...then why don't you put up an inquiry? Put up an inquiry of parliamentary committee. You're not ready." Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi pitched for the installation of the Ambedkar statue in front of Parliament on Tuesday."They are saying again and again that they made the new Parliament. Would it not have been appropriate to install an idol of Bhimrao Ambedkar in front of the Parliament?" he asked. The canopy collapse incident took place at Terminal 1 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on June 28 morning, killing one person and injuring eight others. A day later, the canopy collapsed at the passenger pickup and drop area of Rajkot Airport in Gujarat on June 29. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu expressed her heartfelt condolences on Tuesday following the loss of lives in a stampede in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. Describing the incident as "heart-wrenching," Murmu said, "The news of the accident in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of many devotees, including women and children, is heart-wrenching. I express my deep condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," she added. Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said that the stampede, which occurred at a private event, has tragically resulted in the loss of at least 87 lives and injuries to 18 others. "A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The primary focus of the administration is to provide all possible help to the injured and kin of the deceased," he added. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede. "I assure everyone through this House that the victims will be helped in every way," the PM said while speaking in Lok Sabha. "There are reports of many people dying in the stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. I express my condolences to those who lost their lives in this accident. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured," he added. He also said that the administration is actively involved in relief and rescue operations under the guidance of the state government. "Senior officials of the central government are in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government," PM Modi added. Also taking to a post on X, PM Modi said, "Spoke to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding the tragic incident in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. The UP government is engaged in providing all possible help to all the victims. My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured." Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Rajnath Singh have also expressed sorrow and extended their condolences to the affected families. "I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. May God give them strength to bear this pain. The local administration is engaged in relief work. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," Shah said in a post on X. Paying condolences to the deceased, Union Minister Rajnath Singh labelled the accident "extremely painful". "The accident that happened in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who have lost their loved ones in this accident," Singh said. "Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is providing all possible help to all the victims," he added. Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand each to the injured following the tragic stampede in Hathras. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the Chief Minister has ordered a thorough investigation. He also instructed the officials to form a team under the leadership of ADG, Agra and Commissioner, Aligarh to investigate the causes of the accident. CM Adityanath is personally monitoring the situation and has dispatched two ministers, the Chief Secretary and the DGP, to the site. An FIR will be filed against the program organisers, and the administration is preparing for major action in response to the tragedy, a senior official said. (ANI)
The Ministry of Defence has signed an MoU to establish three state-of-the-art testing facilities in Chennai under the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor- one each in Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Electronic Warfare (EW) and Electro-Optics (EO) domains. The MoU, under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), was exchanged between senior officials of MoD and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane in the national capital. With an outlay of Rs 400 crore, the DTIS was launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in May 2020 to set up testing facilities in collaboration with private industry and the Central/State Government, promoting indigenous defence production, reducing military equipment imports and enhancing self-reliance. To provide impetus to the defence and aerospace sectors within the Defence Industrial Corridors, seven testing facilities were approved - four in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh. The MoU for three facilities in Tamil Nadu has been signed today. The DTIS provides up to 75 per cent government funding as 'Grant-in-Aid', with the remaining 25% funded by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), comprising Indian private entities and State/Central Governments. For the UAS testing facility, Keltron, a government of Kerala undertaking, is the lead SPV member, with some private sector companies being the consortium members. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and India Optel Limited (IOL) are the lead SPV members in the EW and EO testing facilities respectively. Upon the completion of the project, they will provide advanced testing equipment and services to both government and private industry, thus giving a boost to 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence. On March 1, in a major boost to the 'Make-in-India' initiative as part of 'Aatmanirbharta in Defence', the Ministry of Defence signed five major capital acquisition contracts worth Rs 39,125.39 crore in Delhi. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured students across the country that his government is "very serious" about the NEET issue and is working on a "war footing" to prevent such incidents. He also emphasized that those who play with the future of the youth will not be spared at all. "I want to tell every student of the country, every youth of the country that the government is very serious about preventing such incidents and we are taking one step after another to fulfil our responsibilities on a war footing," PM Modi said while speaking on the NEET issue in Parliament on Tuesday. While delivering his Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister assured that no one who was involved in the alleged "paper leak" will be spared and several miscreants involved in the case are being arrested. "Those who play with the future of the youth will not be spared at all. Arrests are being made continuously across the country in the NEET case," PM Modi said. Speaking about the notification of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, the Prime Minister said, "The central government has already made a strict law. Necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the entire system of conducting the examination." The Bharatiya Janata Party government is under fire from the Opposition for allegations of paper leaks pertaining to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Earlier on Monday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Monday referred to the medical entrance exam as a "commercial exam" and said that students appearing for NEET alleged that the exam is designed for "rich students and not meritorious students." Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to a joint sitting of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government over the paper leak issue and said that there is fear among everyone in the nation. "NEET students spend years and years preparing for their exams. Their family supports them financially, and emotionally and the truth is that NEET students today do not believe in the exam because they are convinced that the exam is designed for rich people, not meritorious people. I have met several NEET students. Every single one of them tells me that the exam is designed to create a quota for rich people and to create a passage for them into the system and is designed not to help poor students. The students prepare for months and months," Rahul Gandhi said. "There is fear among, youth, farmers, women and the disabled. In fact not in the whole country there is fear among their own (BJP) party. This is truth and that's why you guys are not shouting now," he said. He further demanded a separate one-day discussion on the issue in the Parliament."We wanted a one day discussion on NEET. It is an important issue. More than two crore students have been affected. Paper leaks have happened on 70 occasions," he said. The NEET UG examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities in the country and 14 cities abroad with 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. The results were declared on June 4, which immediately caused a hue and cry with aspirants raising multiple issues. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720 led to widespread protests in the country. (ANI)
Speaking to reporters, the victim said that people from the ruling party beat her up, stripped and thrashed her.

"TMC people beat me up. I was stripped and thrashed. I don't trust Mamata Banerjee and the Police. I am associated with the BJP," she said while speaking to reporters.

When asked whether she will be getting justice after meeting the Governor, she said, "I am confident."

Earlier on June 29, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged incident of assault on a Minority Morcha leader of the BJP in Cooch Behar.

Union Minister Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on June 28 formed a seven-member team to investigate the alleged assault on the BJP Minority Morcha leader in Cooch Behar.

The seven-member team includes BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, MLA Sikha Chatterjee, Phalguni Patra, Shashi Agnihotri, MLA Malati Rava Roy, Mafuja Khatun and MP Jayanta Roy.

The West Bengal Police said that a case has been registered regarding the alleged incident, and three suspects have been arrested. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha on Tuesday expressed condolences over the death of 116 people who lost their lives in a stampede incident in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras. "Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh in which more than 100 people have lost their lives and several others have been injured. My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Praying for the swift recovery of the injured," Raghav Chadha wrote in a post on X. PM Modi also expressed his condolences during his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister said he had received tragic news of people dying in the stampede in Hathras and the administration was engaged in relief and rescue efforts. He said all necessary help will be provided to victims. The Prime Minister also expressed his condolences over the deaths in the tragedy and wished speedy recovery to the injured. As per the latest death toll, around 116 people have lost their lives and 18 were injured in the tragic incident. "116 people have been confirmed dead. 18 people are injured. Treatment is being ensured for the injured in Aligarh district. Primary investigation is being carried out," said Aligarh Commissioner Chaitra V. Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also expressed grief over the stampede accident. Taking to X Sanjay Singh posted, "The news of the death of hundreds of people in the stampede during the Satsang in Hathras is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant peace to the souls of the dead and give strength to the family members to bear this immense pain." Earlier, Union Minister Rajnath Singh and Biju Janata Dal President Naveen Patnaik also conveyed their sorrow regarding the incident. "The accident that happened in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who have lost their loved ones in this accident," Singh said. "Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is providing all possible help to all the victims," he added. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has appealed to Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar for immediate and substantial action to uphold the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen. In a letter addressed to Jaishankar, CM Stalin emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by the fishermen and criticized the BJP-led government for not taking concrete measures during its three consecutive terms in power. "Despite the fact that the BJP-led government is in power for the third consecutive term, no tangible and meaningful effort has been taken to retrieve the island except for using the issue as an election-time rhetoric," the letter reads. Earlier, the Ramanathapuram District Fisherman Association announced on Saturday that they would hold a protest against the Tamil Nadu government following the introduction of new laws for fishermen, demanding their immediate repeal. 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. (ANI)
After the death toll in a stampede on Tuesday at a religious event in Hathras district rose to 116, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that the government should help the people sensitively. "The government should help people sensitively. I offer my condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones," Gandhi said. Chaitra V, Commissioner of Aligarh said that the death toll is 116 and the number of injured is 18 in the tragic incident. "116 people have been confirmed dead. 18 people are injured. Treatment is being ensured for the injured in Aligarh district. Primary investigation is being carried out," she said. Aligarh IG Shalabh Mathur said, "Dead bodies have been sent to various places for post-mortem. We are trying to give the best possible treatment to the injured. FIR is also being registered. The organizers of the event will be included in the FIR because more than the permitted number of people had come to attend the event. Since it is a matter of investigation, a high-level inquiry has been ordered into it." Uttar Pradesh Minister government announced 2 Lakh compensation to the kin of those who died in the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the stampede in Hathras and wished speedy recovery to the injured.PM Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following the tragedy in which over 50 people died. "The Uttar Pradesh government is engaged in providing all possible help to the victims. My condolences with those who have lost their loved ones. I wish for the speedy recovery to the injured," PM Modi said in a post on X. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has ordered a thorough investigation. He also instructed the officials to form a team under the leadership of ADG, Agra and Commissioner, Aligarh to investigate the causes of the accident. CM Adityanath is personally monitoring the situation and has dispatched two ministers, the Chief Secretary, and the DGP to the site. Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said the incident occurred at a private event. "Permission for the event to be held was given by the SDM and it was a private event. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The primary focus of the administration is to provide all possible help to the injured and kin of the deceased," Kumar said. (ANI)
Three drug smugglers were arrested with 5 kg of heroin from Ranike village in Amritsar, said Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday. It is the second consignment of 5 kg of heroin being recovered from Amritsar in a single day, while around 27.2 kg of heroin has been recovered from Amritsar in less than a week, he said. Probe revealed that all the arrested accused persons were directly in touch with Pakistan-based drug smugglers, the DGP added. Apart from recovering the drug consignment, police teams have also impounded a scooter. The DGP Yadav said that the Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has received reliable input that accused Rasal Singh, Jaskaran Singh and Amritpal Singh have retrieved a huge consignment of narcotics dropped using a drone at border village Dhanoe falls under the jurisdiction of Police Station Gharinda. Acting swiftly on the inputs, he said that police teams from CI Amritsar laid a naka at Baghdhian Morh in village Ranike in Amritsar and apprehended the trio of accused persons along with 5 kg of heroin. Those arrested have been identified as Rasal Singh of village Naushehra in Tarn Taran, Jaskaran Singh of Vanieke in Amritsar and Amritpal Singh of Sahura in Amritsar, the offcier said. The DGP said that videography of the entire search and seizure process has been done in the presence of Gazetted Officer as per the provisions of the new criminal laws. Investigations are underway to establish backward and forward linkages in this case, he added. In this regard, a case has been registered under sections 21, 25 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Police Station State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said he would focus on good work rather than worrying about unconstructive criticism. Speaking at a 'Government at your doorstep' event in Channapatna taluk, he said, "I don't worry too much about unnecessary criticism. Criticism dies while good work lives on for a long time. People's service is important to me. I am the son of Channapatna, my doors are always open to the people. Some are saying that I will go away after the by-elections. They did not do any good work in the constituency when they were in power." He said that a grant of Rs 167 crore had been released from the Irrigation department for Channapatna ahead of the by-elections. "We have released a grant of Rs 167 crore from the Irrigation department for Channapatna. The Chief Minister has agreed to release a special grant of Rs 100 crore for the taluk. Rs 70 crore has been allocated for various other works such as elephant barricades, railway overbridge, drainage, etc. A barrage is being built at a cost of Rs 50 crore across the Kanva river near Addaalahalli. Irrigation works in Sattehala are being done at a cost of Rs 540 crore," he said. "About 2,500 people have submitted pleas for sites and 1,121 people have requested for homes. Officials would issue sites and homes to the needy after reviewing the applications. A new 100-acre layout has been formed in Kanakapura and a similar layout will be formed in Channapatna," he announced. He said that the state government has released 100 new KSRTC buses for Ramanagara district. "When we met the PM for financial assistance to the metro, he said that people are not using metro due to free buses. Most of the people in rural areas use government buses only. We have released 100 new KSRTC buses for Ramanagara district. People have requested bus service to Mandya from here, it will be done soon," he said. He said that Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has instructed officials to restart the KSRTC shuttle bus between Channapatna and Maddur which was discontinued 11 years ago. He said that an investigation has been ordered on an employee on charges of corruption. "The officials in government offices are inactive. I have instructed officials to investigate an employee named Harshita in Nada Kacheri for demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 from one Yashodamma. The employee will be suspended if found guilty," he said. Responding to a plea about issue of ration only one day a week, the DCM instructed officials to form a WhatsApp group and share information on the issue of ration. He urged officials to use technology to serve people. By-elections are scheduled in Channapatna. The Assembly constituency was held by H D Kumaraswamy who vacated it after becoming the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. (ANI)
The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, was suspended from the House for five days on Tuesday for using "foul and abusive language" against Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Prasad Lad. Maharashtra Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil tabled a motion to suspend Ambadas Danve which was passed with a majority in the Legislative Council on Tuesday. Deputy chairperson of the House Neelam Gorhe read the suspension order, which said, "Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve demonstrated indiscipline and used foul and abusive language towards legislator Prasad Lad." "His behaviour tarnished the image and insulted the Council. If his misbehaviour is ignored, it could create a new precedence. A serious note is taken of his misbehaviour, and the House proposes his suspension for five days and ban him from entering the Vidhan Bhavan premises," he added. The Bharatiya Janata Party also held a protest in the Maharashtra assembly along with the Mahayuti alliance against Ambadas Danve. The protest was joined by Minister Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna VK Patil, Pravin Darekar, Nationalist Congress Party's Anil Patil and Shivsena leader Manisha Kayande. In reaction to the suspension, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve was suspended and not given the chance to present his views in the House owing to a "conspiracy" by the ruling Mahyuti alliance. "Today, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council has been suspended. He was not given a chance to present his views in the House. The ruling alliance has conspired and suspended the Leader of Opposition," Thackeray said in a press conference. Thackeray also said that he does not believe that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has insulted Hinduism during his speech on Monday. Notably, a massive uproar erupted in Lok Sabha yesterday over Rahul Gandhi's remarks. The BJP has accused the Raebareli MP of allegedly "insulting" the Hindu community. "What Rahul Gandhi said about Hindus in the Lok Sabha, I support it. I do not believe that he has insulted Hinduism," he said. The former Chief Minister said that it is wrong to bring a proposal in the Legislative Council to condemn Rahul Gandhi's speech and action should be taken against those who are pushing for such a proposal. "Some people have objections to Jai Samvidhaan," he added. The Congress MPs have been shouting Jai Samvidhan slogans after taking their oaths in the Lok Sabha. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Maharashtra Legislative Council member Prasad Lad accused the Leader of Opposition (LoP) from the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, Ambadas Danve of using abusive language against him and demanded strict action against him by the Deputy Chairman. Lad also insisted on passing a resolution in the Maharashtra Legislative Council against Rahul Gandhi for making a statement on Hindus in Parliament. Ambadas Danve, argued against it and said that it is not their subject and the same is being discussed in Parliament. "We should focus on our discussions," Danve reasoned. Lad, along with the MLCs from the ruling Mahayuti coalition, objected and started questioning Ambadas Danve. "Aren't you a Hindu?" the Mahayuti MLCs asked Danve, continuously pointing fingers at him and demanding an answer. (ANI)
Tourists visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Ma Xiping)

The Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest China's Dunhuang, has been haunted by wind and sand over a millennium, and Chinese scientists have recently unraveled the historical sand storm evolution for its better protection.



Researchers from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have successfully established the intensity sequence of dust storm activities in ancient Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, by combining historical documents with modern observation data.

"Alongside intensive efforts of the government and relics conservators in desertification control, our in-depth study into the sand storm evolution will contribute to the protection of the Mogao Grottoes and other relics in the nearby region," Liu Benli, leader of the study, told Xinhua.

Tracing sand evolution

Dating back to the 4th century, the Mogao Grottoes features 735 caves carved into a cliff, currently housing more than 2,000 colorful sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals.

Being surrounded by a vast desert, the site was once severely impacted by wind and sand.

"To prolong the life of Mogao Grottoes, generations of scientists and relics conservators have been devoted to controlling the wind and sand. Our new study sheds light on a better understanding of sand storm activities here," said Liu, also researcher at the NIEER Dunhuang Research Station of Gobi Desert Ecology and Environment.

It wasn't easy from the beginning. Although Dunhuang has ages-old Buddhist art treasures, researchers found only five records of dust storm weather with exact dates among local historical materials.

Researchers then broadened their search to collect records of dust weather events along the Hexi Corridor, which stretches over a distance of nearly 1,000 km in Gansu and is also home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 53 grottoes.

They looked through weather records scattered in renowned Dunhuang manuscripts, word-inscribed bamboo slips from the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), as well as other historical records and local chronicles.

With 143 records and 83 pieces of chronological data, the study initially formed an intensity sequence of dust storm activities in Dunhuang over the past 2,000 years.

By comparing the findings with the results from several climate proxy indicators, including tree rings and ice cores in neighboring areas, researchers examined the temporal and spatial distribution of historical dust storms and their relationship with changes in climate conditions.

"Our study provides more adequate data to understand the historical climatic environment in Dunhuang and northwest China. It is of significance to the climate and environmental governance and cultural heritage protection in the region," Liu said.

"Notably, there are vast potentials and great values of historical documents. We should continue mining the existing historical records and strengthen global cooperation," he added.

Prolonging life of Mogao Grottoes

Relaying and racing with time, governments and generations of Dunhuang devotees from all walks of life have been endeavoring to slow down the aging of Mogao Grottoes.

"From passive protection to active prevention, we are committed to doing everything well to prolong the life of the Mogao Grottoes," said Fan Jinshi, the honorary president of Dunhuang Academy.

The female archaeologist has made a lifelong career of protecting and studying the cultural relics of the Mogao Grottoes, and joining efforts with scientists to carry out sand-control research and practice. Efforts are made to "delay its aging."

Local governments have been dedicated to finding ways to contain the pressure of the wind and the sand toward the Mogao Grottoes, by integrated measures such as sand fixing, restoring degraded forests, and adopting modern drip irrigation technology.

Dunhuang now has a forest coverage rate of 3.54 percent and the vegetation coverage of grassland of 17.3 percent, showed statistics from the city's forestry and grassland authorities.

Scientists are contributing to sand control and relics conservation, with the in-depth study into sand, wind and their interactions with ecology as priorities.

In 2007, the NIEER Dunhuang Research Station of Gobi Desert Ecology and Environment was established as a comprehensive observation and research station focusing on desert ecological environment.

"Working days and nights in desert, we are looking for scientific methods for sand prevention and control, and cultivating younger researchers," said NIEER researcher Qu Jianjun.

"And for our dream of preserving Mogao Grottoes, too," said Qu.
The First Session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which commenced on June 24, witnessed a productivity of 103 per cent in seven sittings of the house. The first session concluded on Tuesday. Concerning the business of the House, Speaker Om Birla informed that the first session lasted for about 30 hours and 40 minutes. He also informed that Lok Sabha recorded 103 percent productivity during the Session. "During the Session, 539 Members took the oath," Birla said. Referring to the election of Speaker,of Lok Sabha held on June 26, Birla expressed gratitude for electing him as Speaker for the second time through voice vote. On June 26, also, the Prime Minister introduced the Council of Ministers to the House. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was appointed as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. Om Birla informed the House that the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address on 27 June, 2024 lasted for more than 18 hours and 68 Members participated in the discussion. In addition, 25 Members laid out their speeches. The discussion concluded with the reply of the Prime Minister on Tuesday. While a total of 41 matters were taken up under Rule 377, three statements were made under Direction 73A. This apart, 338 papers were laid during the Session. The Lok Sabha Speaker expressed his gratitude to Bhartruhari Mahtab, Pro-tem Speaker for the smooth conduct of proceedings during the aath of the Members and election of the Speaker. He also thanked the Prime Minister, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Leaders of Parties, and Members of the House for their contributions to running the House smoothly. The session witnessed stormy debate from the Opposition on various issues like NEET exams, paper leaks, and the Agniveer Scheme. In his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon, during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches. The Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, among others, stood up to express their protest and rebut the Congress MP's remarks. The BJP leaders accused the Congress MP "of speaking lies, misleading the House, and terming the entire Hindu community violent." The Congress hit back with counter-allegations against the Modi government. However, Gandhi backed his remarks, stating that the entire BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) do not represent the entire Hindu community. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj moved a notice under Rule 115 in Lok Sabha over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's speech in the House on July 1. In the notice, Bansuri Swaraj drew the Speaker's attention to the alleged mistakes and inaccuracies in the speech delivered by Rahul Gandhi on Monday in Lok Sabha, on the discussion over Motion of Thanks to the President's speech. Responding to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Hindu Community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that today there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus of being violent and this country will not forget it for centuries. Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister targeted Rahul Gandhi and said that "Jiske darshan hote hai uske pradarshan nahi hote hai" (the deity who is worshipped and sought, their depiction is not used to gain publicity). "Today, there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus, a serious conspiracy is unfolding. It has been said that Hindus are violent. This is your culture, this is your character, this is your thinking, this is your hatred. These are the actions against Hindus in this country. This country will not forget it for centuries," PM Modi said. PM Modi also took a veiled jibe at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi over the Lok Sabha election results and said that Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the people's mind that they have defeated us but in reality, "Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai." "This is the first time in Congress's history that they have not crossed the 100-seat mark three times in a row. This is the third biggest defeat in the history of Congress. It would have been better if Congress had accepted its defeat and respected the mandate of the people but they are busy doing some 'Sirsasana' and Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the minds of the citizens of India that they have defeated us," he said. "A little child goes out with a bicycle and if he falls and starts crying, his elder says that look, the ant got crushed. You're riding the bicycle well. 'Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai'," PM Modi added. Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Tuesday after the House adopted the motion of thanks on the President's address following the reply to the debate by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After the conclusion of PM Modi's reply to the debate, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh moved a motion in the House condemning the behaviour of opposition members. He said the opposition members have violated the parliamentary traditions. Speaker Om Birla said the conduct of opposition members was not in accordance with the parliamentary traditions. He emphasised that the House runs according to rules and will do so. Home Minister Amit Shah supported the motion moved by Rajnath Singh which was adopted by the House by voice vote. The BJP-led NDA formed its third successive government following the Lok Sabha polls. While the NDA won 293 seats, the opposition INDIA bloc won 243 seats. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday visited Kaziranga National Park and took stock of the current flood situation after the flood waters inundated 163 forest camps of the national park. Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, MLA Biswajit Phukan and senior officials of the forest department along with officials of the Golaghat district administration were also present. Assam Chief Minister Sarma told media that, the flood waters have inundated 163 forest camps of the national park. "Since last night, the water level has been increasing in Kaziranga National Park. The flood waters submerged around 163 camps. The forest guards are still staying in those camps and they are still doing their jobs. We have vacated 9 camps due to the high level of water. We have brought some restrictions on vehicular movement given the safety and security of wildlife," said CM Sarma. "A rhino calf died due to a flood and two deers died while crossing the road. NDRF teams are here and mobile veterinary teams are also here. The health department is also working here. We are trying our best to deal with the situation," he said. Adding further, he said, "While the water level in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tinsukia and Subansiri river water level is also decreasing I think that the water level in Kaziranga might be decreased from tomorrow night or the day after tomorrow. Our whole forest team is working day and night." He further said that the training of the 3rd battalion is almost completed and as many as 1,000 forest staff are ready and if needed will be deployed in Kaziranga. "We have made arrangements to deploy 100 out of the 1,000 forest staff of the 3rd battalion in Kaziranga. We will able to deal with the situation. We also touch with the Karbi Anglong district administration, council and village heads to ensure the safety and security of wild animals in the Karbi Hills as many wild animals moved towards the hills areas," said the Assam CM. Earlier in the day, the Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued 13 fishermen marooned on a small island in the middle of the Brahmaputra north of Dibrugarh in Assam due to a rise in the water level of the river. Previously personnel of NDRF, SDRF and Inland Water Transport boats had attempted to rescue the fishermen who had been stranded in the middle of the Brahmaputra since Friday. The rising water level and extreme current of the river prevented the rescue efforts, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said. The flood situation in Kaziranga National Park in Assam has turned critical as the flood waters earlier inundated 95 forest camps. There are a total of 233 camps in the park. As a result of the flooding, the authorities have vacated six camps. Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, said that a wooden bridge near the Moshguli Camp in Agoratoli Range was washed away by floodwaters on Monday, July 1. "Herds of elephants have started moving towards Karbi Anglong through the Hati Dandi corridor. Heavy traffic diversion has been requested for the NH 715 stretch under Nagaon and Golaghat districts. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has also been issued," Ghosh said. On Monday the ASDMA said that 19 districts- Kamrup, Golaghat, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Karimganj, Cachar, Dhemaji, Morigaon, Udalguri, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Darrang, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Biswanath, Jorhat- were affected by the floods. It said that all the rivers flowing through the state had crossed the danger mark at several places. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a telephone conversation, assured Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of full cooperation from the Centre in tackling the flood situation in the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he had briefed the Prime Minister about the relief measures being taken by the State. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam. I explained to him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts. I also briefed him about the relief measures undertaken by the state government," Sarma said in a post on X on Monday, June 1. "He assured me of full cooperation from the Government of India in this hour of crisis," he added. Assam Transport Minister Keshab Mahanta on Tuesday visited the Hatimura area under Kaliabor Sub-Division in Nagaon district where the flood waters washed away a portion of an embankment near the sluice gate. The Assam Minister said that the administration is constantly monitoring the situation and providing safe shelter to nearby people. The flood situation in Assam has deteriorated with more than 6.44 lakh people in 19 districts being affected. Floods have claimed 35 lives so far with one person dying in Tinsukia district on Monday, said Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). The flood has waters inundated 26199.18 hectares of crop area. In view of the current flood situation in Kaziranga, the Golaghat district administration has promulgated diversion of traffic in the entire stretch of Kaziranga National Park within the jurisdiction of Golaghat district which starts Haldibari to Agoratoli under Section 144 CrPC and in the interest of public health, safety and danger to wildlife. (ANI)
After 116 people lost their lives in a stampede incident at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unequivocally said that whether this is an accident or a conspiracy, the government will get to the bottom of it and will give appropriate punishment to the people responsible. CM Yogi told ANI that the police along with the state ministers are at the spot. "PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the bereaved families. The Government of India and the state government have also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the families of the seriously injured. The state government will get to the bottom of this entire incident, whether this is an accident or a conspiracy, we will get to the bottom of it," CM Yogi said. "Doing politics instead of expressing condolences on such an incident is extremely unfortunate and condemnable. The government is already sensitive in this matter and the government will get to the bottom of this matter and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible for this incident," he emphasized further. Further, the UP CM said that a team has been formed to investigate the matter. "The incident is extremely sad and heart-wrenching. Local organizers had organized a program of 'Bhole Baba'. After the program, when the preacher of the Satsang was coming down from the stage, suddenly a crowd of devotees started going towards him to touch him and when the 'sevadars' stopped them, this accident happened there. To investigate this entire matter, we have formed a team under the chairmanship of Additional DG Agra and have asked them to give a detailed report," he said. "Given the incident, the Chief Secretary and DGP of the state are camping there. Three ministers of the state government Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan, Sandeep Singh, Asim Arun, all three of them are at the spot," CM Yogi Adityanath added. Aligarh Commissioner Chaitra V informed that 116 people died in the incident. "116 people have been confirmed dead. 18 people are injured. Treatment is being ensured for the injured in Aligarh district. Primary investigation is being carried out," she said. (ANI)
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy responded to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Hindu Community in the parliament earlier and demanded an apology from the Leader of the Opposition saying that the Congress leader's remarks of Hindus being violent are condemnable and that he should apologise to the people of the country. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Reddy said, "Rahul Gandhi gave a speech in Parliament yesterday, he said that Hindus commit violence. I condemn his speech. Rahul Gandhi should understand that as long as there is a Hindu majority in India, there will be democracy. If Hindus are not in the majority, there will be no democracy in this country, there will be no Constitution either." "After PM Modi's governance, terrorism has reduced, communal clashes have reduced, casualties have reduced," he added. Meanwhile, PM Modi while reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Hindu Community, said that today there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus of being violent and this country will not forget it for centuries. Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister targeted Rahul Gandhi and said that "Jiske darshan hote hai uske pradarshan nahi hote hai" (the deity who is worshipped and sought, their depiction is not used to gain publicity). "Today, there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus, a serious conspiracy is unfolding. It has been said that Hindus are violent. This is your culture, this is your character, this is your thinking, this is your hatred. These are the actions against Hindus in this country. This country will not forget it for centuries," PM Modi said. "They had announced the destruction of the concept of 'Shakti' in Hindus. Which power you are talking about that you want to destroy? This country has been a devotee of 'Shakti' for centuries. Bengal worships Mother Durga. Are you speaking against this power? These are the people who tried to coin the term 'Hindu terrorism'. Their associates compared Hinduism to diseases like dengue and malaria. This country will never forgive them. Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, their entire ecosystem has made it fashionable to degrade, insult, and mock Hindu traditions," he added. The Prime Minister said that the insult of Gods and Goddesses by the opposition is hurting 1.4 billion people in this country. "We have been taught since childhood that every form is a manifestation of God. No form of God exists for personal gain. The insult of our gods and goddesses is hurting 1.4 billion people in this country. The country cannot forgive the mockery of the forms of God for personal political gain. Watching the scenes of yesterday's assembly, now Hindu society will have to think whether this is a preparation for some experiment," PM Modi said in the Lok Sabha. Yesterday, during the motion of thanks for the President's address, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government and alleged there has been "a systematic attack" on the idea of India. "There has been a systematic and full-scale assault on the idea of India, the Constitution and the people who resisted the attack on the Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the leaders are still in jail. Anyone who resisted the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression on poor and Dalits and minorities was crushed. I was attacked by the order of the Government of India, by the order of the Prime Minister of India. The most enjoyable part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by ED," he alleged. He also teamed the Hindu symbol 'Abhayamudra' which gestures fearlessness, reassurance and safety, as the symbol of the Congress party. "Abhayamudra is the symbol of Congress. The Abhayamudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions. All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear. But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, and untruth. Aap Hindu ho hi nahi," the Congress leader said. (ANI)
Tripura Railway Police in the last 1.5 years detained as many as 434 illegal immigrants on the move from different railway stations and running trains. The official further explained that illegal immigrants are basically of two types--Bangladeshi Nationals and Rohingya migrants. Speaking exclusively to ANI, SP Government Railway Police (GRP) Amitabha Paul said, "In 2023, GRP officials posted at six police stations across the state arrested 294 illegal immigrants out of which 76 were Rohingyas while the rest of the others were Bangladeshi nationals. In the current year, 140 illegal immigrants have been arrested so far out of whom only three persons are identified to be Rohingyas." The police crackdown wasn't only confined to Bangladeshi nationals alone as a substantial number of border touts who facilitated the illegal immigration were also arrested. "Last year, as many as 51 Indian border touts were arrested and this year the number stands at 26 so far. Last year, the number of cases filed in connection with the detentions stood at 75 and this year the number of cases stands at 28. Hence the total cases now stand at 103," Paul informed ANI. Paul said that illegal immigrants use Tripura as a corridor and travel to metro cities on being asked about the reason behind such an influx. He said, "According to the testimonies of the arrested persons, they generally cross the borders in search of work. They use Tripura as a corridor and travel to metro cities. They indulge themselves in different kinds of petty jobs such as rag picking, masonry, and construction work to earn money. In some cases, they have their relatives working in big cities who help them in settling down in the initial stage." Apart from the crackdown against illegal immigrants, the GRP unit of Tripura has also seized substantial quantities of illicit drugs. "In 2023, we arrested 239 drug peddlers and registered 86 cases against them. In 2024 150 drug peddlers were arrested already. The number of cases this year is 63. More than 2,300 Kgs of Ganja, 8,000 bottles of banned cough syrup, and 314 grams of heroin were seized. Recently, three persons were arrested under the Arms Act for carrying a pistol on the train," he added. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his appreciation towards Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), terming the production of 1 crore litres per day as a milestone in the history of the dairy cooperative. Siddaramaiah was addressing the media after offering pooja to cows as part of the celebration of one crore litre of milk production by KMF today. The Chief Minister said that milk production in Karnataka was 90 lakh litres per day in June last year. The Chief Minister recalled that earlier, when he was the Minister of the Animal Husbandry Department, he had handed over the dairy to the milk unions. Until then, the dairies and the milk unions worked as separate entities. Milk societies are also farmers' organizations, he said. There are about 16,000 societies and 15 milk unions in the state. In some places, two or three districts have joined together to form a union. There are 15 mother dairies. As one crore litre of milk is being produced, 50 ml of milk has been added to the half-litre milk packet. "The produced milk has to be sold. We cannot say no to milk from farmers and societies. The quantity of Nandini milk has been increased to help the farmers," he said. The Chief Minister said that the opposition party is spreading false information, saying that the Government has increased the price of milk without understanding this. "We have to assume that they don't care about the farmers. If the production of milk increases, there will be more income. The Government provides Rs. 5 crores as subsidy if the milk production increases by 1 crore litres," Siddaramaiah said. He said that farmers are being supported by providing subsidies of Rs 150 crores per month and Rs 1800 crores per year. "I am the one who increased the subsidy from Rs 2 to Rs 5," he said. Reiterating that the price of milk has not been increased, the CM said that even if the price of milk increases, it will be burdensome for the buyers. "Farmers will not be burdened, but it will actually help them," he said adding that, "Even though the quantity has been increased and the price fixed accordingly, the price of milk in Karnataka is low compared to neighbouring states." He said that only Karnataka is providing milk at a lower price to consumers compared to all other states. (ANI)
Assam Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika is closely monitoring the work of divisional engineers and officials to deal with the current flood situation in the state, according to an official statement. After receiving instructions from the minister after his visit to the portion of the breached embankment at Bangkowal in Numaligarh yesterday, 12 Geo Tubes of 25 metre length have been made ready at Numaligarh today for repair of the breached embankment, the statement said. On the other hand, Minister Hazarika also discussed with senior departmental engineers over phone on how to repair or rebuild the embankment that was washed away near the sluice gate at Hatimura in Kaliabor. He also took stock of other urgent work being taken up by the department in every district of the state in the wake of the deluge. He directed divisional engineers to make sincere and urgent efforts to save other embankments from getting washed away by flood waters. The chief engineer, meanwhile, has been instructed to ensure all materials are dispatched to the districts for flood control, the release said. On the other hand, the Minister also instructed officials over the phone to remain prepared to deal with erosion-related issues once water of the Brahmaputra and it's tributaries recedes. "Reconstruction of breached embankment in Bankuwal, Golaghat will start within 3 days with the help of new technologies to provide relief to the people at the earliest," Hazarika told media. All engineers have been directed to focus on vulnerable and weaker embankments on a war footing. The flood situation in Kaziranga National Park has turned critical, with rising water submerging a total of 95 forest camps out of the 233 camps present in the park. Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the flood situation in the state. He said Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in parts of its upper districts and in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. Sarma further detailed the relief measures undertaken by the state government on the issue. PM Modi on his behalf assured Sarma that he would have full cooperation from the Centre in its hour of crisis. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong attack on the Congress and took "balak budhi" and "tumse na ho payega" jibe at its leader Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Tuesday and accused him of "linking Hindus with violence". In his over two-hour reply to the motion of thanks to the President's address in Lok Sabha, PM Modi said Congress is had become a "parasite" on its allies and has made "lies" a weapon of its politics. PM Modi said Congress should accept the verdict of the people in the Lok Sabha polls and BJP-led NDA government had won a third successive term in office based on its performance and its policies of zero-tolerance for corruption and "justice for all, appeasement for none". "The people of India have reposed faith in our government's track record over the past 10 years and have given us the opportunity to continue good governance for the third time. People saw our commitment to serving the citizens with the belief of 'Jan Seva hi Prabhu Seva' (Service to humanity is service to God). People rewarded the zero tolerance for corruption," he said. "We worked for santushtikaran instead of tushtikaran (for saturation rather than appeasement). Belief, expectations and trust of 140 crore citizens become a driving force for development. Nation First is our only goal. when a country develops, a strong foundation is laid to fulfill the dreams of future generations," he added. PM Modi said that in the third term, his government will work at three times the speed, apply three times the energy and deliver three times the results. The Prime Minister, who faced continuous sloganeering from opposition members over the situation in Manipur, reserved a large part of his speech to attacking Congress and Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. PM Modi's remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi's stinging attack on the government in which he also displayed images of deities. "We will not be able to protect parliamentary democracy without taking seriously what happened yesterday. We should not ignore these acts by calling them childish, by considering them childish, we should not ignore them at all and I am saying this because the intentions behind this are not good and I also want to awaken the countrymen," PM Modi said. Referring to Rahul Gandhi's remarks, PM Modi alleged that there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus of being violent. "Jiske darshan hote hai uske pradarshan nahi hote hai" (the deity who is worshipped and sought, their depiction is not used to gain publicity). Today, there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus, a serious conspiracy is unfolding. It has been said that Hindus are violent. This is your culture, this is your character, this is your thinking, this is your hatred. These are the actions against Hindus in this country. This country will not forget it for centuries," he said. "They had announced the destruction of the concept of 'Shakti' in Hindus. Which power you are talking about that you want to destroy? This country has been a devotee of 'Shakti' for centuries. Bengal worships Mother Durga. Are you speaking against this power? These are the people who tried to coin the term 'Hindu terrorism'. Their associates compared Hinduism to diseases like dengue and malaria. This country will never forgive them. Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, their entire ecosystem has made it fashionable to degrade, insult, and mock Hindu traditions... "We have been taught since childhood that every form is a manifestation of God. No form of God exists for personal gain. The insult of our gods and goddesses is hurting 1.4 billion people in this country. The country cannot forgive the mockery of the forms of God for personal political gain. Watching the scenes of yesterday's assembly, now Hindu society will have to think whether this is a preparation for some experiment," he added. PM Modi also took a veiled jibe at Rahul Gandhi over the Lok Sabha election results and said that Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the people's mind that they have defeated us but in reality, "Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai." "This is the first time in Congress's history that they have not crossed the 100-seat mark three times in a row. This is the third biggest defeat in the history of Congress. It would have been better if Congress had accepted its defeat and respected the mandate of the people but they are busy doing some 'Sirsasana' and Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the minds of the citizens of India that they have defeated us," he said. "A little child goes out with a bicycle and if he falls and starts crying, his elder says that look, the ant got crushed. You're riding the bicycle well. 'Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai'," PM Modi added. Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi's election promise, PM Modi said, "Yesterday, on July 1, the country celebrated 'Khatakhat Day'. People were checking their bank accounts whether Rs 8500 had come or not..." "I remember an incident, there was a boy who scored 99 marks and he used to show it to everyone. When people heard 99, they used to encourage him a lot. Then a teacher came and said why are you distributing sweets? He did not score 99 out of 100 but 99 out of 543. Now who will explain to that child that you have created a world record in failure," PM Modi said referring to the number of seats won by Congress in the Lok Sabha polls. Referring to the superhit Bollywood film 'Sholay', PM took another jibe at Rahul Gandhi and said that the remarks of Congress leaders have surpassed even that of film 'Sholay'. "There was a "mausi" (aunty) in it. They (Congress) have lost for the third time, but Mausi, it is a moral victory. Mausi, we got zero seats in 13 states, but he (Rahul Gandhi) is a hero. The party has been ruined, but the party is still breathing. This new drama has been started to gain sympathy," PM Modi said. "There was a 'kid', who was very happily celebrating his score of '99'... But one of his teachers wondered and asked, 'why are you distributing sweets, why are you celebrating?' The teacher wanted to tell that there was nothing to celebrate... The '99' points he secured weren't out of 100, but out of '543'! But who could make a 'Baalak Buddhi' understand that, after all?" he added. Citing another instance, PM Modi said a child was complaining to his mother that he had been beaten but did not tell what he had done to incur the wrath. "Yesterday there was this cry of 'balak budhi'. I have been beaten, I have been beaten by him, I have been beaten there..." PM Modi also talked about cases faced by Rahul Gandhi. "A new drama has been started to gain sympathy but the country knows the truth that he (Rahul Gandhi) is out on bail in a case of embezzlement of thousands of crores of rupees. He has been convicted in a case of calling OBC people thieves. He had to apologize after making irresponsible statement in the Supreme Court. There is a case against him for insulting a great personality like great freedom fighter Veer Savarkar... Today the country is telling him, tumse na ho payega." Noting that the government is making all efforts to strengthen armed forces and keep them battle-ready, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made strong attack on Congress over its criticism of the Agniveer scheme, alleging that the member of the opposition party "cannot see armed forces being strengthened" and it is is spreading lies. PM Modi said an attempt was being made to weaken the defence reforms. He underlined the importance of setting up theatre commands and said defence reforms have picked up pace after the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). PM Modi took "balak budhi" jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said he had in the past made allegations concerning the Rafale fighter jet deal. "Look at 'balak budhi'. He sought to make fun of armed forces by making toy Rafales. Congress opposes every such reform that strengthens armed forces. Congress realises that the greatest strength of our defence forces is the energy of our youth and a lie is being spread on recruitment in armed forces. I want to know through the House that for whom does the Congress want to weaken the armed forces. For whose benefit is it spreading lies about the armed forces," he asked. He said the country's army should be young and the Army is meant to give a tough fight to the enemies. "We should have faith in our youth, and the strength of youth should be increased in the Army...Our Army is the pride of the country. Today, the whole country is watching our army, our defence sector is undergoing so many reforms, as never happened in so many years after independence. Our Army is being modernized, so that our Army can give a befitting reply to every challenge," he said. "With the aim of protecting the country, many things have changed in the last few years. After the creation of the post of CDS, the integration has become stronger...Today I can say with satisfaction that after the creation of a CDS system, progress is being made in the direction of theatre command, which is necessary for the security of the country. Atmanirbhar Bharat, making our army self-reliant is also being played a very important role," he added. PM Modi said people know that defence forces were weak when Jawaharlal was the Prime Minister. "The scams of crores of rupees of Congress weakened the country. After the country gained Independence, there was corruption under Congress rule ....jeep scam, submarine scam, Bofors scam, these scams prevented defence forces from becoming strong. There was a time during Congress rule when forces did not have bullet-proof jackets. They weakened the forces when they were in power and the efforts continue when they are in opposition. Congress did not procure fighter jets when it was in power and when we tried, they resorted to conspiracies. The fighter jet does not reach Air Force, every conspiracy was made," he alleged. "An attempt has been made to fool the country's brave soldiers about One Rank, One Pension (OROP). Indira Gandhi abolished the OROP system in our country. For decades, Congress did not allow it to be implemented, but at the time of the elections, attempts were made to fool by showing Rs 500 crore. NDA government implemented the OROP," he added. During his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday, Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in the House, had criticised the Agniveer scheme. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had countered his remarks. He said Congress leaders should not "suppress people's mandate" under the garb of fake victory celebrations. He said that most of Congress's 99 seats were won by the efforts of their allies. "In 13 states, they have zero seats, yet they consider themselves heroes. I would tell the Congress people not to ignore public mandate in a celebration of false victory. Now, Congress has been a "par-jeevi" party since 2024, which means the one that lives off its host and ends up consuming it. Congress, too, eats up the votes of the party it allies with. Where Congress and BJP had a direct contest, Congress's strike rate is only 26 per cent. But where they were in an alliance, their strike rate was 50 per cent. Most of Congress's 99 seats were won by the efforts of their allies," he said. "In Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, where Congress fought on its own, out of 64 seats, they could win only 2. This means that Congress has become entirely "Par-jeevi". If Congress hadn't consumed the votes of its allies, it wouldn't have won even these many seats," he added. The Prime Minister alleged that Congress has made lies a weapon of politics. "The way an animal gets addicted to human blood, the same way Congress is addicted to the lies," he said. PM Modi said that since the BJP-led NDA came to power in 2014, the Congress ecosystem has also been a big challenge apart from the party. "This ecosystem has prospered due to the help of Congress for 70 years, Today I am warning it, all its conspiracies will be paid back in the same coin," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi assured students across the country that his government is "very serious" about the NEET issue and is working on a "war footing" to prevent such incidents. He also emphasized that those who play with the future of the youth will not be spared at all. "I want to tell every student of the country, every youth of the country that the government is very serious about preventing such incidents and we are taking one step after another to fulfil our responsibilities on a war footing," PM Modi said. He assured that no one who was involved in the alleged "paper leak" will be spared and several miscreants involved in the case are being arrested."Those who play with the future of the youth will not be spared at all. Arrests are being made continuously across the country in the NEET case," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also lauded the people's mandate in the legislative assembly elections held in the four states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and also mentioned massive victories in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh in the Lok Sabha elections. He also touched upon the increasing vote share in multiple states across the nation. "Janta Janardan is by our side", he added. PM Modi urged the opposition to accept the mandate of the people with humility and understand the people's message. He said that the people have chosen the path of development and are determined to realize the goal of Viksit Bharat. Noting that India must collectively embark on a new journey of development, the Prime Minister asked the citizens of India to remain vigilant against those choosing the path of chaos, lawlessness and divisive politics. He also warned against the unsuitable economic policies that tend to push the nation towards economic chaos and the spread of misinformation in the country. The Prime Minister also urged the opposition through the Speaker to maintain the decorum and dignity of the august House and also suggested the Speaker take corrective measures so that the sanctity of the House remains unperturbed. The Prime Minister observed the growth of competition and challenges with India's progress and warned against those who look at the nation's progress as a challenge while inflicting harm on India's democracy, demography and diversity. "It seems that a strong effort is being made to undermine India's progress by creating doubt and weakening its foundations in every endeavor. Such efforts must be culled from the source." He stressed the need for serious deliberations by the entire House on the observations made by the Supreme Court of India and also urged the citizens to remain vigilant of such forces. "India will never tolerate anti-national conspiracies", PM Modi added. Modi reiterated that the world is treating India's progress with extreme seriousness while also noticing all the intricacies. He stressed the need for the contributions of each Member of the House to accomplish the resolutions and create a developed India. He urged the Members to come forward with the belief in national welfare. "We must walk shoulder to shoulder and fulfill the dreams and expectations of the citizens", PM Modi emphasized. He also stressed the importance of positive politics in the present era. "Let us compete on good governance, delivery and fulfilling the expectations of the people", he added. During the speech, the Prime Minister also condoled the unfortunate deaths of victims in a stampede accident in Hathras of Uttar Pradesh. He wished a speedy recovery for the injured in the accident. He also informed the house that the state government was actively engaged in the search and rescue operations while the senior officials of the Central Government were in constant touch with the State Government to ensure all necessary help for the victims. Speaking about the era of Emergency, the Prime Minister said that those ruling the nation had created a dictatorial atmosphere in the country causing widespread cruelty to the citizens and injustice to the nation. He also recalled the time when Baba Saheb Ambedkar resigned from the Cabinet citing his resentment towards the then government's lack of action to protect the rights of backward classes and scheduled castes as promised in the new Indian constitution. He also highlighted the "injustice" other prominent leaders such as Jagjivan Ram, Chaudhary Charan Singh and Sitaram Kesri. Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Tuesday after the House adopted the motion of thanks on the President's address following the reply to the debate by the Prime Minister. The BJP-led NDA formed its third successive government following the Lok Sabha polls. While the NDA won 293 seats, the opposition INDIA bloc won 243 seats. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court dismissed the bail applications of Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir. Both are accused in Rs 36 crore property cases related to the Delhi Waqf Board Money laundering case. The High Court said that the cash amount paid by Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir may be the proceeds of crime generated by AAP MLA Amanat Ullah Khan. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the bail applications of Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir after considering the facts and circumstances of the case. They had moved applications under section 45 of PMLA seeking regular bail in the matter. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that the material brought before this court at this stage issufficient to attract the bar under Section 45 of PMLA on both applicants. "Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, this Court does not find it a fit case for grant of regular bail to the present applicants Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir," Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma said. While dismissing bail pleas, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma noted, "These transactions, related to the property in question, were both in cash and through banking channels, totalling approximately Rs 36 crores." "The seizure of the diary by the investigating agency reveals that the properties in question were purchased for about Rs 36 crores out of which Rs 27 crores were paid in cash out of the total amount of Rs. 36 crores," Justice Sharma said in the judgement passed on July 1. The bench also said that furthermore, the recovery of one sale agreement which shows the sale consideration as Rs. 36 crores, as against one alleged false and fabricated agreement shows the sale consideration of Rs. 13.40 crore had been allegedly prepared to conceal the proceeds of crime and misguide the investigating agencies. The High Court noted in the judgement that the bank account statements of the sellers of the properties in question, prima facie corroborate the factum of the sale agreement having consideration of Rs 36 crores being genuine and the agreement having Rs 13.40 crores as sale consideration being false and fabricated. It is also noted that the bank account statements of purchasers Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir had purportedly paid money, which reflects that the cash amounts paid by both the applicants may be the proceeds of crime generated by Amanatullah Khan as a result ofoffence related to the scheduled offence. "Therefore, the material evidence gathered during the investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement reveals that Amanatullah Khan had hatched a criminal conspiracy along with his close associates i.e., the present applicants/accused and others and under the same, he had invested his ill-gotten money i.e. proceeds of crime, in the immovable properties through his associates namely Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir and others," Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma said. Justice Sharma further said that as alleged, Amanatullah Khan had purchased immovable properties in the name of benamidars i.e. the present applicants Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir, by concealing and suppressing their actual value which is very nominal in comparison to their actual sale value and actively concealed amounts that were paid in cash to the seller, which are the proceeds of crime acquired by Amanatullah Khan out of his corrupt and illegal activities relating to the offences scheduled under PMLA. The High Court also raised a finger on the conduct of Daud Nasir while getting interim bail. The court said that it is of the opinion that the accused Daud Nasir has misled the court by misrepresenting the need for interim bail, which was granted based on the necessity of a major surgery at Fortis Hospital. "Thus, the conduct of the applicant Daud Nasir is doubtful and this Court thinks if the applicant Daud Nasir if released on bail, may misuse the liberty and may attempt to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses," the High Court said. It was argued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that the conduct of Zeeshan Haider in theconcealment of the proceeds of crime, through the forgery of a document, clearly demonstrates that he has knowingly assisted Amanatullah Khan and his associates, Daud Nasir and others, in the transaction involving the sale of the properties in question. (ANI)
At least 39 people have lost their lives in recent anti-government protests in Kenya against the new tax hike, reported Al Jazeera, citing the national rights watchdog. The activists have geared up for a new round of protests this week in Kenya. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) announced the toll on Monday, which is almost double the figure previously disclosed by the government for those killed while demonstrating against a raft of unpopular tax increases that have now been withdrawn. KNCHR records further indicated that 39 people have died and 361 have been injured "in relation to the protests countrywide", the state-funded body said in a statement, adding that the figures covered the period from June 18 to July 1, reported Al Jazeera. It further stated that there had been 32 cases of "enforced or involuntary disappearances" and 627 arrests of protesters. Moreover, largely peaceful anti-tax rallies, led by mostly young Gen-Z protesters, descended into shocking scenes of deadly violence last Tuesday when lawmakers passed the contentious legislation. Later, following the announcement of the vote, crowds ransacked the parliament complex in central Nairobi and it was partly set ablaze as police fired live bullets at protesters, as reported by Al Jazeera. Notably, it is the most serious crisis to be confronted by the government of President William Ruto since he took office in September 2022 following a deeply divisive election in a nation often considered a beacon of stability in a turbulent region. Ruto, in a televised interview on Sunday, said that 19 people had died in the protests, but insisted that he did not have "blood on my hands" and pledged an investigation into the deaths. The KNCHR "continues to condemn in the strongest terms possible the unwarranted violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and on safe spaces such as churches, medical emergency centres and ambulances," the rights body said. "We maintain that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate," it added. The watchdog also said that it "strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness that were exhibited by some of the protesters" including the parliament and other government buildings. Moreover, fresh protests have been called by activists beginning Tuesday despite last week, when Ruto announced that he would not sign into law the bill containing the tax hikes. Additionally, leaflets have been posted on social media with the hashtags "Occupy Everywhere", "Ruto must go" and "Reject Budgeted Corruption". India has also issued an advisory for its nationals in Kenya, as protests against a tax hike turned violent, causing a rampage in the African nation. The Indian Embassy in Kenya earlier advised the Indian nationals there to "exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up." "In view of the prevailing tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up," the Embassy stated. (ANI)
A direct air cargo route linking Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was launched Monday, according to SF Airlines.

This direct cargo route adds a new air logistics channel between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, said the air cargo carrier.

Five round-trip flights are scheduled to shuttle between China and Vietnam every week on this route, providing about 280 tonnes of air cargo transport capacity.

This route is expected to support cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment, manufacturing, agricultural products and other fields. It will also help enhance connectivity between China and the ASEAN region, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, said the cargo airline.

Goods exported from China are mainly air express mail, e-commerce goods, hardware accessories, and electronic products accessories. Imported goods are mainly fresh agricultural products, such as lobsters and durians.

With 87 freighters, SF Airlines, which is headquartered in Shenzhen, is the country's largest air cargo carrier in fleet size. The company is committed to continuously leveraging its fleet and network advantages to enhance services to the international supply chain, said SF Airlines.
Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Vedant Patel reiterated the country's stand on terrorism and said that they hope that any country on the planet condemns terrorism anywhere. Vedant Patel was asked by a media person about where the US relations stand with India and Pakistan as India has always emphasised that terrorism and talks cannot go together with Pakistan. Addressing the media briefing on Monday, the US official was responding to a question on where the US stands as a triangle between the US and India, Pakistan and India and India-US relations. The reporter restated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intent and quoted that he has been trying even during his second term that India wants a good relationship with Pakistan, adding that terrorism and talks cannot go together. "We would hope that any country on the face of the planet condemns terrorism anywhere," Patel said. He further said that the US welcomes any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours. "But ultimately this is between India and Pakistan broadly, of course, we welcome any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours. But as it relates to this specifically, I just don't have anything to offer," he said. Vedant Patel emphasised that India is a country in which the US is deepening relations in a number of key spaces. "India is a country in which we are deepening our relations within a number of key spaces, especially as it relates to deepening our economic ties, deepening our security cooperation," he said. He further noted that US President Joe Biden had the opportunity to briefly see Prime Minister Modi in the margins of the G7 a couple of weeks ago. "So, this is an area we will continue to cultivate this relationship," he said. Further underscoring PM Modi's state visit to the US, Patel said that there will be several additional areas where the US continue to deepen cooperation. "You are no stranger to the fact that we hosted India for a state visit last summer. And I imagine there will be a number of additional areas where we continue to deepen cooperation. National Security Adviser Sullivan just had a visit to Delhi a number of weeks ago as well," he said. (ANI)
The Pakistan apex court has issued a contempt of court notice to television channels for airing contemptuous press conferences against the judiciary, reported ARY News. A three-member bench -- headed by CJP Isa and including Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, issued the written order of the contempt proceedings against lawmakers Faisal Vawda and Mustafa Kamal for their tirades against the judiciary. The Supreme Court, in its written order, stated that it has issued show-cause notices to 34 TV channels, including 26 whose explanations Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa said was "not justifiable". "Those operating the said television channels were only issued a notice (and not a show cause notice). However, they have elected not to avail of the opportunity provided to them to reflect, relent and, if they so consider, to (apologise)," it stated, according to ARY News. During the hearing, the order noted that it also transpired that even after the making of the "contemptuous comments" they continued broadcasting and later re-broadcast the press conferences. The court further expressed its disappointment and concern over the matter, emphasised that nowadays, false information can spread easily and that extra caution is needed. "We inquired whether any retraction or apology was broadcast by any of the channels, and it transpired that this was not done. We are not unmindful that being commercial enterprises television channels make money by broadcasting and advertisements," the order stated. The court said, "We are constrained to issue show cause notices to all 34 channels to show cause as to why they should not be proceeded against for committing contempt of court". The replies to the show cause notices should be submitted within two weeks, it stated. Notably, the replies to the show cause notices should state, first, whether the press conferences were preceded with advertisements, second, whether there were any advertisements during the press conferences, third, whether upon the conclusion of the press conferences there were advertisements, fourth, whether they were re-broadcast and fifth, whether extracts therefrom were broadcast and lastly, the amounts received in payment for such advertisements, ARY News reported. Pakistan's apex court has made it clear that it will not tolerate any violation of its orders and will take action against those who defy its orders. The court further warned the TV channels that they would be held accountable if they spread any false information. Earlier this month, the court had also issued show cause notices to 34 television channels, and asked them to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for airing the lawmakers' remarks. (ANI)
Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) have struck a midnight deal to form a new alliance, leaders from both parties confirmed. With this, the new government formed on March 4 is set to collapse and a formal announcement is expected soon. As per the agreement signed in between Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, an agreement of sharing one and half year's tenure each has been reached in between the leaders. KP Sharma Oli will lead the new government expected to be formed soon for one and half years and then will hand over to Sher Bahadur Deuba for the remaining one and half year term until the next election. "Agreement has been signed between Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Debua and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli overnight to form a new government. As per which Oli will lead the government for next one and half years and Deuba the remaining time until the election which lies three years ahead," a senior Nepali Congress leader present in the meeting held overnight told ANI seeking anonymity. The two parties exclude the incumbent government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda also agreed on the division of the ministries, as per the leader from the UML. "The party who will be leading the government will not get the Home Ministry has been agreed. Apart from the union government, the CPN-UML will be forming a government in Koshi, Lumbini and Karnali provinces while the Congress will lead the Bagmati, Gandaki and Far-Western provinces. The Madhesh-based parties will lead the government in Madhesh Province has been agreed in between the two leaders," the leader confirmed ANI. The new alliance also has formed a committee to give suggestions on amending the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha. In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament also drafted a constitutional amendment agreement where it was stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly. Prior to the signing of the agreement, leaders from the Congress as well as the UML also reached President Ram Chandra Paudel and informed him about the change in the coalition. During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister failed to take a vote of confidence after UML withdrew its support. PM Prachanda should take the vote of confidence again from the parliament after any of the party on board the government withdraws support. Dahal who came to power right after the 2022 general elections, already has tested the floor of parliament for a record four times. There has been no immediate reaction from the Maoist Center led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal over the change in coalition but on Monday's cabinet meeting, Dahal had briefed ministers on board that the alliance will remain intact. "The reports in the media are just rumours. We are still in dialogue with our coalition partners," said Rekha Sharma, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, quoting Dahal, "The Prime Minister briefed us on the internal situation and dismissed external rumours." According to Minister Sharma, Dahal mentioned that he has been in continuous communication with UML Chairman Oli. "I have been in regular dialogue with UML Chairman Oli. We are in discussions on all matters," Dahal stated in the Cabinet meeting, "The ongoing talks are just rumours. This coalition will last long." He also reassured that there is no need to worry about the stability of the current government. "There are concerns about what will happen to this government, but there will be no changes," Dahal said, adding, "Some want this coalition to be short-lived, but we are determined to keep this government stable for a long time." Earlier on March 4, Dahal made a surprising turn by deciding to revive a coalition with the CPN-UML which caught the largest coalition partner, NC, off guard. A new coalition including the CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Janata Samajwadi Party was initially formed. The following day (on March 5), the Nepali Congress formally retracted support to the Dahal government activating Article 100 Sub-section (2). A Prime Minister is required to cross the threshold of 50 percent which is 138 votes as per the present number of parliamentarians. The Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal walked out of the government after the formal split and now is in opposition. The former Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal came to power in December 2022 when he aligned with arch-rival CPN-UML duping the Nepali Congress with whom he had forged alliance in the November 2022 election. The vote of confidence on January 10 last year, resulted in extensive support for Dahal when he got a staggering 99 per cent vote, the highest in the known history of the Nepali parliament since the establishment of democracy. A total of 268 parliamentarians out of 270 present in that meeting had voted in favour of Dahal. However, within three months, Dahal dumped CPN-UML to walk out of government again aligning with Nepali Congress and managed to secure a majority in the vote of confidence on March 20 last year. In the second round of the vote of confidence, Dahal got 172 votes out of 262 lawmakers present at the time of voting. Only 89 votes came in against Dahal while one member abstained from voting. (ANI)
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has said that he does not want to see the end of the Pakistan army as every nation needs an army. However, MQM opposes the military's interference in Pakistan's political, economic and administrative matters and wants to see their involvement in the country's defence only, he added. In his address at the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organization's (APMSO) 46th Foundation Day under the auspices of the UK chapter of MQM in London on Monday, Hussain called it "very unfortunate" that all those who sacrificed for Pakistan were named guilty, traitors and punishable, according to MQM's press release. He stated that "Muslims of the subcontinent were used in the name of religion and the Muslims and Hindus who had been living together for centuries, were divided among themselves in the name of religion and called it the reason why the people did not get freedom even after the formation of Pakistan and they are still slaves of British agents, generals, and feudal lords who have been ruling Pakistan for 76 years and protecting the interests of their "British Masters" Hundreds of people of different nationalities, including MQM office bearers and workers, participated in the meeting. Representatives of various political and social organizations also attended the gathering, according to MQM's press release. During his address, the MQM founder said that the people of Pakistan cannot get real freedom until they get freedom from the slavery of the corrupt army generals and feudal lords. He said that British agents in Pakistan divided the people of Pakistan into ethnic entities, per the MQM's press release. He noted that those who migrated from East Punjab were resettled. However, they were not recognized and accommodated in Sindh and were forced to leave their language and become Sindhis. Altaf Hussain stated that they had formed an organisation for the rights of "mohajirs." He accused Pakistan's military and ISI of forming armed groups called 'Pakhtun Loya Jirga' and 'Punjabi Pakhtun Ittihad (PPI)' against "Mohajirs" by providing them weapons to attack the Mohajirs settlements and create riots so that it could be propagated that MQM is against Punjabis and Pakhtuns. Altaf Hussain said that his crime is that he raised his voice against the Pakistani army's interference in policy and the same issue is now highlighted by the whole of Pakistan and former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. While expressing his opposition to Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, he said that Pakistan would become more unstable with this operation. Upon his arrival at the event, children and girls welcomed Altaf Hussain by waving MQM's flags in their hands outside the hall. The audience gave a warm welcome to Altaf Hussain by chanting slogans and applauding when he entered the event hall, according to MQM's press release. On this occasion, the participants sang the organizational anthem of MQM and supported the anthem in the echo of slogans and applause and later, he addressed the participants of the gathering and met the guests of the event. (ANI)
Eight ministers from the CPN-UML in the Nepal government under Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal are set to resign from the post after a recent midnight overhaul in the ruling alliance. Mahesh Bartaula, the Chief Whip of CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) confirmed that all the eight ministers on board the Dahal cabinet will resign today. "Our ministers will tender their resignation to the Prime Minister today itself. The Prime Minister also might step down from his post soon enough weighing the situation. A new government is expected by evening," Mahesh Bartaula, Chief Whip of CPN-UML confirmed ANI over phone call. Ahead of the resignation of the ministers on board the government, the CPN-UML also called the party secretariat meeting at the party office for 3 pm (local time). With the onset of the government change the CPN-Maoist Center is due to hold a meeting of the Office-bearers to decide about the further roadmap. Prime Minister Dahal is holding talks with office bearers to discuss whether to resign or face the vote of confidence in parliament, Ganesh Shah, one of the leaders from the Maoist Center confirmed ANI. The Rastriya Swatantra Party, meanwhile, is holding a meeting of its parliamentary committee to discuss ways forward after the recent development. The Nepali Congress on the other hand also has started the meeting of Office-bearers to discuss about the change in political course and allocation of the ministries. The latest change in the government in less than 100 days of its formation on March 4 comes amid a new agreement that was struck at midnight in between KP Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba. Both the leaders from the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress have sealed the agreement of sharing one and half year's tenure each changing the course of Nepali politics. As per the agreement, KP Sharma Oli will lead the new government for one and half years and then will hand over to Sher Bahadur Deuba for the remaining one and half year term until the next election. The two parties that exclude the incumbent government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal-Prachanda also have agreed on the division of the ministries, as per the leader from the UML. Along with the new alliance, they also have formed a committee to give suggestions on amending the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha. In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament also has drafted a constitution amendment agreement where it has been stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly. Right before the signing of the agreement, leaders from the Congress as well as the UML also met President Ram Chandra Paudel and informed him about the change in the coalition. During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister failed to take a vote of confidence after UML withdrew its support. Nepal PM Prachanda needs to take the vote of confidence again from the parliament after any of the parties on board the government withdraw support. Dahal who came to power right after the 2022 General Election already tested the floor of parliament for a record four times. Earlier on March 4, Dahal made a surprising turn by deciding to revive a coalition with the CPN-UML which caught the largest coalition partner, NC, off guard. A new coalition including the CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Janata Samajwadi Party was initially formed. On March 5, the Nepali Congress formally retracted support to the Dahal government activating the Article 100 Sub-section (2). A Prime Minister is required to cross the threshold of 50 percent which is 138 votes as per the present number of parliamentarians. The Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal walked out of the government after the formal split and now is in opposition. The former Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' came to power in December 2022 when he aligned with arch-rival CPN-UML duping the Nepali Congress with whom he had forged alliance in the November 2022 election. The vote of confidence on January 10, 2023, resulted in extensive support for Dahal when he got a staggering 99 per cent vote, the highest in the known history of the Nepali parliament since the establishment of democracy. A total of 268 parliamentarians out of 270 present in that meeting had voted in favour of Dahal. Within 3 months, Dahal dumped CPN-UML to walk out of government again aligning with Nepali Congress and managed to secure a majority in the vote of confidence on March 20, 2023. In the second round of the vote of confidence, Dahal got 172 votes out of 262 lawmakers present at the time of voting. Only 89 votes came in against Dahal while one member abstained from voting. (ANI)
The bloody combat operations occurring in Ukraine and Gaza, plus the tensions heating up in the South China Sea, dominate news headlines and make it easy to forget that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) - China's armed forces - continues to strengthen its position along China's southern border with India. In the Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, published earlier this year, border tensions between China and India merited only a single paragraph amidst all the other conflicts, threats and tensions that currently abound in the world. Nonetheless, the report assessed that "The shared disputed border between India and China will remain a strain on their bilateral relationship." It continued, "While the two sides have not engaged in significant cross-border clashes since 2020, they are maintaining large troop deployments, and sporadic encounters between opposing forces risk miscalculation and escalation into armed conflict." In April this year, the Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College published an in-depth report examining PLA activity along the mountainous border in Aksai Chin opposite India in 2020-21. The author, Dennis Blasko, primarily considered how the PLA rapidly moved troops into the region as violence flared between Chinese and Indian troops in Galwan Valley on 15-16 June 2020. However, Blasko, a former US defence attache in Beijing and Hong Kong, also provided a useful assessment of current and future conditions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He assessed, "Barring negotiations with the Indian military and government to withdraw out-of-area combat troops, the PLA appears ready to maintain its deployments near the LAC in Aksai Chin and on the border at Doklam indefinitely." He continued: "In the case of Aksai Chin, due to the challenges of transporting large mechanized units over long distances, rotations of units into and out of the region will likely occur after a prolonged tour of duty (perhaps six months to a year or more). The situation has taken the form of PLA border operations against Vietnam following the 1979 war until 1987, albeit with fewer troops and less actual combat and artillery bombardment." He pointed out that the Chinese army's "extended border reinforcement operations serve both political and military purposes, and provide the units and staffs in the Western Theater Command with real-world operational and logistics experience that cannot be achieved through routine peacetime training". Unfortunately, little is known about how PLA units prepare for, assemble and travel to and from their home bases to the LAC. Once in position, these units are sustained by supply depots more than 1,600km away. Incidentally, the Western Theater Command defends nearly half of China's landmass with just a quarter of the PLA ground force's total troops. The theater command possesses two group armies, plus the Xinjiang and Tibet Military Districts, which are equipped unlike any other PLA provincial military district. Blasko made heavy use of Google Earth satellite coverage of the Aksai China area in his research for the US Army War College, and because some imagery is not up to date, he could not provide a reliable assessment of current deployments. He said, "Although China's state media continues to report on units on the 'front line' or in 'battle positions' in the Karakoram region (without specifying Aksai Chin), it has done so without revealing the total number of troops deployed or their exact locations." Nonetheless, the former US officer assessed that "enough fortified positions were constructed in the various PLA-controlled sectors since the spring of 2020 to support a full division-size deployment - or roughly 10,000 personnel - on top of the two border defence regiments (approximately 5,000 personnel) already assigned to the region. Further, these units are reinforced by engineer, artillery and support elements (probably numbering several thousand more personnel)." In all, he calculated the PLA has approximately 20,000 soldiers arrayed over 400km front in Aksai Chin, in a zone reaching back more than 32km from the LAC. Furthermore, "This number may be higher during the period in which an out-of-area unit that has spent time on the LAC rotates out and is replaced by a fresh unit entering the area. Nonetheless, the 20,000 figure is a considerably smaller estimate of PLA personnel deployed in the disputed region than the 40,000-60,000 frequently asserted in non-Chinese media." Perhaps comfortingly, Blasko concluded that 20,000 troops scattered across such a broad front is "inadequate to conduct a large-scale offensive across the difficult terrain delineated by the LAC". Any offensive would necessitate a build-up of units and supplies if the PLA were to attempt a substantial incursion beyond the border. For defensive operations, PLA doctrine recommends a divisional front that is 15-20 km wide and 20-30 km deep. For offensive operations, that front would sharpen to be some 5-8km wide and 4-8km deep. Obviously, the disposition of Chinese troops along the LAC is nowhere close to that at present and, even at the peak of tensions in mid-2020, the front was in fact some 160km wide from Galwan Valley to Rechin La. At that time, the PLA's combined-arms regiment deployed to Galwan was lined up in a valley less than quarter of a mile wide, and separated by more than 50km from the nearest combat unit. Likewise, two combined-arms regiments in the south deployed over a 40km front, separated by Pangong and Spanggur Lakes, so they could not mutually support each other via land manoeuvres. Of course, the terrain in that rugged, high-altitude part of the world does not favour large-scale armored or mechanized combat operations. This is because mountains and valleys channel advances and prohibit lateral movement. Asked about the terrain, Blasko told ANI: "I just don't think they want to pack too many troops and vehicles into such bad terrain, because they'd just make lucrative targets if fighting actually starts - lucrative to air, missile or artillery attack. In a prolonged conflict, this is light infantry terrain where people will be trying to gain control of ridges, hilltops and areas for long-range observation. In most areas, the new tanks and armored personnel carriers and everything else would really be constricted. This is a very, very tough place to operate, even when you have air and artillery support." Blasko also pointed out in his detailed report that "PLA units have been positioned to consolidate and hold territory, to conduct patrols and protect construction projects, and to create 'facts on the ground', similar to the reef expansion operations in theSouth China Sea a decade ago." Indeed, the PLA is "prepared to stay in the region for as long as it takes for the two governments to negotiate a solution." Actually, there are many similarities between China's aggressive modus operandi along the Indian border and its nefarious reef-building and territory-grabbing activities in the South China Sea. Speaking of which, the confrontation between the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Philippines near Second Thomas Shoal on 17 June came precipitously close to armed conflict. It was the most serious confrontation ever recorded between the two sides, as CCG personnel attempted to prevent resupply of the Philippine military garrison on the beached BRP Sierra Madre vessel there. Chinese personnel operated extremely close to the grounded ship at Second Thomas Shoal, and then proceeded to wield knives and an axe, and ram a Philippine boat in an action that resulted in a Philippine sailor losing a thumb. China seized a Philippine rubber dinghy and confiscated firearms during the confrontation. China claimed that the CCG exercised restraint and acted "professionally and reasonably" in this skirmish, despite extremely contrary video evidence released by Manila. China's violent actions so close to the Sierra Madre, just short of boarding it, demonstrate how it is escalating tensions and testing Manila's red lines. In fact, its seizure of another military's boat could perhaps legally be construed as an act of war. Earlier this year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr warned that the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty could be invoked if a civilian or serviceman is killed in these fiery exchanges in the South China Sea. Beijing is presently flirting with that possibility. The Philippine personnel under attack on 17 June were from the Naval Special Operations Command, and they could easily have fought back against the lesser-trained CCG. The Philippines thus exercised remarkable restraint, and its troops also refrained from firing warning shots. This is because Manila is wary of China baiting it into escalatory behavior. On 23 June, Marcos told personnel watching over the South China Sea that the Philippines is "not in the business to instigate wars". Unfortunately, however, this whole incident reinforced to Beijing how Manila is reticent about escalating tensions, and that the US is reluctant to get more heavily involved. China's probes are discovering that Philippine red lines are quite stretchy and flexible. Of course, China uses the same probing tactics along the LAC, but India has demonstrated that only ongoing and robust action can dissuade China from its bullying provocations. Doklam along the Sino-Indian border was another site where Indian and Chinese troops clashed in 2017, and Blasko highlighted how the situation there exhibited similar, but smaller, characteristics. The American observed: "Based on my analysis of Google Earth imagery, the Tibet Military District light combined-arms brigade located in Yadong County has established protected positions to reinforce border defence units stationed along the border with Bhutan. But likely only one reinforced combined-arms battalion at a time of the combined-arms brigade is deployed on about a one-mile-wide front at Doklam to a depth of about three miles. Forward-deployed units are supported by the brigade's artillery battalion operating from newly built hillside bunkers to the rear." After the Galwan Valley clash, units from the Xinjiang Military District reinforced the two border defense regiments already stationed in Aksai Chin. Over the next six months, the PLA established fortified defensive positions along the LAC. The latter activity was known as the 506 Special Mission, and since then has involved ongoing rotational deployments. Blasko shared: "Until a negotiated political settlement is reached, the Western Theater Command is prepared to sustain the rotation of units into and out of the region in the largest near-combat deployment since the end of the border conflict with Vietnam in 1987." China has been feverishly beavering away on creating new infrastructure, such as two bridges it put across the narrowest part of Lake Pangong. One bridge is estimated to be 6m wide and the other 11m wide, able to support the movement of troops, equipment and supplies. China has also been building a road from the bridge to the Moldo garrison and PLA base camp behind Lake Spanggur, which would facilitate faster tactical deployments of troops. To better prepare troops for living in such high-altitude areas, the PLA Tibet Military Command and the Department of Highland Military Medicine of the PLA Army Medical University launched a pilot program for low-pressure hypoxia cabin acclimation training for recruits before they deploy. According to Chinese media, this training has improved acclimatization and permitted operational deployments in shorter periods of time. The PLA has even created "vegetable factories" at altitudes as high as of 5,270m to provide border defence troops with fresh greens. Asked earlier whether further border confrontations could happen along the Sino-Indian border, Blasko told ANI, "Yes, I think there's a possibility of conflict, especially as small units come into close proximity with each other. There are probably a lot of low-level people on both sides looking for a fight." (ANI)
India has always stressed that there can be no replacement for national efforts in creating an environment where civilians are secure, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Tapan Kumar Deka said at the UN Chief of Police Summit (UNCOPS). He called it important that conducive conditions are created for local political and social processes to take hold. In his remarks at the plenary session 3 'STRENGTHENING PEACE OPERATIONS & PEACE ENFORCEMENT' of the UN Chief of Police Summit (UNCOPS) on June 27, he noted that the changing nature of armed conflict, with a rise in intra-state conflicts involving non-state Armed Groups, has increasingly exposed peacekeeping operations to regional and global dynamics that undermine their efforts to implement their mandate. Stressing that the maintenance of international peace and security has become more complex, IB Director stated, "The changing nature of armed conflict, with a surge in intra-state conflicts involving non-state Armed Groups, has increasingly exposed peacekeeping operations to regional and global dynamics that undermine their efforts to implement their mandate. The maintenance of international peace and security has become more complex and calls for strengthening our peace operations in a manner that they are rooted in clear mandates, backed by adequate resources and incorporating clear exit strategies." He further said, "Our recent experiences have been indicating the fallacy of solutions being imposed from outside. India has always stressed that there can be no substitute for national efforts in creating an environment where civilians are secure. It is thereby important that conducive conditions are created for local political and social processes to take hold. The eroding support of host nations to the presence of peacekeepers is a reflection of the failure to address the root causes of conflict." He also mentioned about Indian police's contribution to UN Peacekeeping. Tapan Kumar Deka said that India during its deployment in conflict-hit situations has experienced that there are divergences in the interpretation of mandates between various stakeholders. Speaking about the Indian police's contribution to UN Peacekeeping, he said, "Apart from being one of the largest Troop Contributing Countries, Indian Police Contribution to UN Peacekeeping is also a priority area with Formed Police Unit of 139 personnel deployed in MONUSCO, DRC, which included 11 women. We also have 11 Individual Police Officers deployed in UNMISS, South Sudan & 01 deployed in UNISFA, Abyei (Sudan)." He further said, "Our experience, however, has revealed recently further learnings that can be employed in our operations. We have experienced, in the context of our deployment in a conflict-ridden situation, that there are divergences in interpretation of mandates between various stakeholders, which results in inadequacy of mandate delivery as well as a threat to the safety of our peacekeepers." Tapan Kumar Deka called it "extremely important" that there is continuous and effective coordination between the UN leadership, host nation and Troop/Police Contributing countries. He said, "This is necessary right from conception when Mission mandates are drawn, to the execution process, till the time of exit of Missions. Strengthened peace operations call for strengthened coordination." IB Director stated that the misuse of the access to digital and social media which is used to spread misinformation and disinformation is further complicating the conflict scenarios and called for strategic communication to be strengthened as also creating local awareness on the mandate of the peacekeeping Missions so that there are no misplaced expectations on part of local Government and society. He further said, "At the same time, we must accept that host Nations would need our support in their endeavour of finding lasting solutions, and towards this end we must promote multilateral solutions, including regional partnerships, that can overcome the limitations of the Security Council's outdated membership." He called for the expansion of UNSC membership as it is the institutional architecture primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. In his speech, Tapan Kumar Deka said, "The Security Council being the institutional architecture primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, it is important that the Security Council is a reformed body with expansion of membership in both the permanent and non-permanent categories." "Given that more than half of the Security Council's work is focused on Africa, India has been consistently calling for greater representation of Africa in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration," he added. In a post on X, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York stated, "The Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Tapan Kumar Deka, conveyed India's position on UN Policing during the 4th #UNCOPS2024 on 27th June." Emphasising the need to strengthen existing mechanism, Deka said, "We have also been witnessing conversations on peace enforcement in context of peace operations. While we need to strengthen existing mechanisms, we call for caution on any activity that is rooted in authorization from a Security Council that is not representative of current realities." "While creating the right political conditions and supporting development is conducive to create conditions where conflict doesn't take root, we have to be wary of infringing upon sovereignty of host nations and their various political stakeholders, especially given the current mistrust the world has in our multilateral systems," he added. (ANI)
The 16th edition of Joint Military Exercise 'Nomadic Elephant' between armies of India and Mongolia will be conducted in Meghalaya's Umroi from July 3-16, the Indian Army stated on Tuesday. Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) said that the exercise set to be conducted in Meghalaya aims to enhance interoperability between two armies in carrying out semi-conventional operations in semi-urban/mountainous terrain. "Exercise #NomadicElephant The 16th edition of Joint Military Exercise #NomadicElephant between #IndianArmy & #MongolianArmy will be conducted in Umroi, #Meghalaya from 03 Jul to 16 Jul 2024. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability between both Armies in conducting semi conventional operations in semi urban/ mountainous terrain under the #UN mandate," Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) posted on X. Exercise 'Nomadic Elephant' is an annual training event with Mongolia which is conducted alternatively in Mongolia and India. The 15th edition of the Joint Military Exercise 'Nomadic Elephant' was conducted in Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar, according to the Ministry of Defence's earlier press release. Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 and Indian Army soldiers from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment had participated in the exercise in 2023. In May this year, the 12th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between the Defence Ministries of India and Mongolia took place in Ulaanbaatar on May 16-17 and reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and identified means to further enhance cooperation between the two countries. The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence Amitabh Prasad and State Secretary of Ministry of Defence, Mongolia Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davagdorj. India's Ambassador to Mongolia Atul Malhari Gotsurve also attended the meeting. During the JWG, both sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries. "They reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and identified means to further enhance cooperation in these areas, articulating steps in this direction," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Moreover, both sides also exchanged views on the current geopolitical situation. Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad highlighted the potential of the capacity and capability of the Indian defence industry and looked forward to a fruitful partnership with the Armed Forces of Mongolia. The Mongolian side exuded confidence in the capacity and capability of the Indian industry. Both sides also acknowledged the growing ties between the two countries. (ANI)
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has decided to face the vote of confidence and not resign immediately. Secretary of the CPN-Maoist Center, Devendra Paudel confirmed to ANI that PM Prachanda would take the floor test and not step down from the post. "He will not resign. He has decided to take the vote of confidence, test the mathematics. The office bearers meeting also has decided to support the decision of PM for which talks will be held with various parties including the Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress and even the CPN-UML and move forward," Paudel confirmed ANI over phone. The latest decision of the Nepal PM comes after the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have struck a midnight deal to form a new alliance. As per the agreement signed in between Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, an agreement of sharing one and half year's tenure each has been reached in between the leaders. KP Sharma Oli will lead the new government expected to be formed soon for one and half years and then will hand over to Sher Bahadur Deuba for the remaining one and half year term until the next election. Along with the new alliance also has formed a committee to give suggestions on amending the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha. In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament also drafted a constitutional amendment agreement where it was stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly. Right before the signing of the agreement, leaders from the Congress as well as the UML also had reached President Ram Chandra Paudel and informed about the change in the coalition. During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister failed to take a vote of confidence after UML withdrew its support. Prachanda should take the vote of confidence again from the parliament after any of the parties on board the government withdraw support. Dahal who came to power right after the 2022 General Election already have taken the floor of parliament test for a record four times. Earlier on March 4, Dahal made a surprising turn by deciding to revive a coalition with the CPN-UML which caught the largest coalition partner, NC, off guard. A new coalition including the CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Janata Samajwadi Party was initially formed. The following day (on 5th March), the Nepali Congress formally retracted support to the Dahal government activating the Article 100 Sub-section (2). A Prime Minister is required to cross the threshold of 50 percent which is 138 votes as per the present number of parliamentarians. The Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal walked out of the government after the formal split and is now in opposition. The former Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal nom de guerre Prachanda came to power in December 2022 when he aligned with arch-rival CPN-UML duping the Nepali Congress with whom he had forged alliance in November 2022 election. The vote of confidence on January 10, 2023, resulted in extensive support for Dahal when he got a staggering 99 per cent vote, the highest in the known history of the Nepali parliament since the establishment of democracy. A total of 268 parliamentarians out of 270 present in that meeting had voted in favour of Dahal. Within 3 months, Dahal dumped CPN-UML to walk out of government again aligning with Nepali Congress and managed to secure a majority in the vote of confidence on March 20, 2023. In the second round of the vote of confidence, Dahal got 172 votes out of 262 lawmakers present at the time of voting. Only 89 votes came in against Dahal while one member abstained from voting. (ANI)
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), in its fourth report, has criticised President William Ruto for using brutal force against citizens protesting the Finance Bill 2024, which included unpopular tax hikes. The East African nation faces an economic crisis as Kenya's total debt stands at USD 80 billion, representing 68 per cent of its GDP, exceeding the World Bank and IMF's recommended maximum of 55 per cent. Most of Kenya's debt is held by international bondholders, with China being the largest bilateral creditor, owed USD 5.7 billion. The debt issue has drawn international scrutiny, with Washington accusing Beijing of "debt trap diplomacy," a claim China denies. Since the protests began on June 18, 2024, the KNCHR reported 39 deaths and 361 injuries. "Initially peaceful, the demonstrations turned violent on June 25, leading to significant property damage. The majority of fatalities occurred in Nairobi, with others reported in regions including Nakuru, Laikipia, and Kisumu," the KNCHR said in its report. The KNCHR also highlighted cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests, with 32 instances of disappearances and 627 arrests. Many protesters are reportedly in hiding due to threats from unidentified individuals. The Commission condemned the excessive force used against protesters, including medical personnel, lawyers, and journalists. https://x.com/HakiKNCHR/status/1807812719527055775 Property damage included the destruction of a National Library, a County Court in Eldoret, the Governor's Office in Nairobi, and Parliament buildings. Additionally, there were reports of attacks on property linked to politicians and private property, including burning cars and looting shops. The deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces to assist national policing efforts was also addressed. The KNCHR emphasised the need for compliance with legal and human rights standards. Roseline Odede, Chairperson of the KNCHR, reiterated the government's obligation to ensure the safety of protesters while maintaining law and order. The unrest underscores Kenya's economic and political challenges and the urgent need for dialogue to prevent further violence and human rights violations. Largely peaceful anti-tax rallies, led by mostly young Gen-Z protesters, descended into shocking scenes of deadly violence last Tuesday when lawmakers passed the contentious legislation, Al Jazeera reported. Later, following the announcement of the vote, crowds ransacked the parliament complex in central Nairobi and it was partly set ablaze as police fired live bullets at protesters, as reported by Al Jazeera. Notably, it is the most serious crisis to be confronted by the government of President William Ruto since he took office in September 2022 following a deeply divisive election in a nation often considered a beacon of stability in a turbulent region. Moreover, fresh protests have been called by activists beginning Tuesday despite Ruto's announcement that he would not sign into law the bill containing the tax hikes, Al Jazeera reported. Additionally, leaflets have been posted on social media with the hashtags "Occupy Everywhere", "Ruto must go" and "Reject Budgeted Corruption." (ANI)
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China's homegrown regional jetliner, the ARJ21, launched its first high-plateau air route on Tuesday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The regional air route connects southern Xinjiang's Kashgar Laining International Airport with Khunjerab airport in Taxkorgan Tajik autonomous county, a land port on the China-Pakistan border situated in the Pamirs region of south Xinjiang.

A plateau airport is defined as one at an altitude exceeding 1,500 meters above sea level, while those above 2,438 meters are classified as high-plateau airports. The Khunjerab airport, located at 3,258 meters above sea level, is the first high-plateau airport in Xinjiang.

Chengdu Airlines, based in southwest China's Sichuan province, stated that it has deployed the ARJ21 aircraft on this route due to its excellent performance.

The aircraft developer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) said it took into consideration the air transport needs of high-altitude airports when designing and developing the ARJ21 aircraft.

The reliability of the aircraft has been verified through repeated high-altitude test flights over the years, the COMAC said.

As a pioneer of Chinese commercial airplanes, the ARJ21 was put into commercial service by Chengdu Airlines in June 2016.

Chengdu Airlines has set up three bases in Xinjiang, deploying nine ARJ21 aircraft to serve 24 local airports on more than 40 flight routes.

In June, the ARJ21 launched its first air route to Central Asia linking Kashgar prefecture in Xinjiang with Khujand in Tajikistan.
With at least 39 people being killed and hundreds of people getting injured during anti-government protests in Kenya as per the country's human rights body, Kenyan President William Ruto has announced that he will implement some of the recommendations put forth by the country's youth. Ruto said that he values the input of youngsters and has listened to them, Kenya-based newspaper The Star reported. In a release on Monday (July 1) marking two weeks since the protests began, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 29 people have died and 361 were injured in connection with the protests. The postmortem of most victims are yet to be conducted, the rights body said. Ruto said that he will implement the recommendations that he can, including reducing government expenditure and offices. He said, "My good sons and daughters let me tell you that I value what you do. I have heard what you have said, I have seen what you have done and you have made recommendations. Some, I will outright implement on cutting down on government and cutting down on offices that we can." The Kenyan President stated that young people have given him tough options and he will hold a meeting with them before the end of the week on how to go about this. Ruto stated as they prepare to hold talks, young people should come forward to give clear suggestions on how the nation can move forward, The Star reported. He said, "I will deal with some of the issues you have raised. You have given me some difficult choices I will suggest to you how we can together go about the difficult choices you have put on the table on some of the issues." Ruto further said, "I want to promise you that in the engagement we are going to have, God willing, in the next couple of days. We've agreed with some of your colleagues here maybe Thursday, or Friday." The Kenyan leader stressed that as they go ahead for dialogue, there must be respect. He called on the youth of Kenya to make every effort they can and within the law to protect the nation. He made these remarks during a meeting with Digital Media Houses representatives at State House in Nairobi, according to The Star report. Kenya's President said, "My request to you is that we have a country to keep. It is the only home we have and we must do whatever it is that we do within the parameters of the law respecting one another and talking to one another with respect so that we can move forward together as a country. I am looking forward to this engagement." Meanwhile, a section of professional bodies and civil society have rejected Ruto's call for talks saying he is aware of what to do to alleviate the anger of people, Kenya-based newspaper Nation reported. Their response came after Ruto formed a National Multi-Sectoral Forum (NMSF) to try and calm the ongoing unrest by the youth. They include the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Kenya Medical Association (KMA), Kenya Union of Journalists and a number of civil society groups, according to Nation report. The groups said, "The youth for Kenya (Gen Z) have clearly spoken on the urgent need for the state to arrest public theft and a bloated cabinet, invest in essential services, act on those who fired upon unarmed protesters and an end to extra-judicial killings among other demands." They further said that many of the issues voiced by the youth do not need a dialogue on policy but decisive executive action. The groups said that the faith of the generation will be restored if the government makes use of decisive execution and not a state-led national conversation. The statement read, "This will bring back confidence in our constitution and governance institution and create a nation united and driven by our constitutional values. We call on the national administration and 47 county administration to listen and act on the considerations and demands raised by the Gen Z." Speaking at Ufungamano House on Monday, the bodies said that the police had killed 24 protesters and 361 others had been injured, Nation reported. In a statement, the groups said, "As of last night, 24 human beings had been killed by police officers, one of the youngest fatalities is 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango." The groups said that police arrested 627 people across the nation and 32 people were abducted where some were still missing to date. According to the groups, those who had been abducted were not even booked in any police stations and were not facing any charges against them. The statement reads, "Tens have been held incommunicado and denied access to their families, legal presentation and medical assistance," Nation reported. The groups stated that majority of the medical practitioners had come under fire as they were arrested by the police who they accused of even stealing patient lists from mobile emergency centers which were present in various part of Kenya to treat the injured. According to the groups, lawyers were denied access to their clients and were being arrested and intimidated by officers to drop some cases. Moreover, cameras of journalists who were reporting about protesters were confiscated, some were arrested and beaten. Kenya has been witnessing a series of anti-government protests for the past two weeks. The protests began with a section of youth expressing opposition to the Finance Bill 2024. This forced Ruto to decline signing the bill into law. The youths have announced that they will continue to hold protest until their concerns are addressed. KNCHR records further indicated that 39 people have died and 361 have been injured "in relation to the protests countrywide," the state-funded body said in a statement, adding that the figures covered the period from June 18 to July 1, reported Al Jazeera. It further stated that there had been 32 cases of "enforced or involuntary disappearances" and 627 arrests of protesters. The KNCHR "continues to condemn in the strongest terms possible the unwarranted violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and on safe spaces such as churches, medical emergency centres and ambulances," the rights body said. "We maintain that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate," it added. The watchdog also said that it "strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness that were exhibited by some of the protesters" including the parliament and other government buildings. Moreover, fresh protests have been called by activists beginning Tuesday despite last week, when Ruto announced that he would not sign into law the bill containing the tax hikes. In addition, leaflets have been posted on social media with the hashtags "Occupy Everywhere", "Ruto must go" and "Reject Budgeted Corruption." India has also issued an advisory for its nationals in Kenya, as protests against a tax hike turned violent, causing a rampage in the African nation. The Indian Embassy in Kenya earlier advised the Indian nationals there to "exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up." "In view of the prevailing tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up," the Embassy stated. (ANI)
The Indian Army contingent departed on Monday for the 13th edition of India-Thailand joint military Exercise MAITREE that is scheduled to be conducted from July 1-15 at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province of Thailand, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. The last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya in September 2019. The Indian Army contingent, comprising 76 personnel is being represented mainly by a Battalion of the Ladakh Scouts along with personnel from other arms and services. The Royal Thailand Army contingent also comprises 76 personnel mainly from 1st Battalion, 14 Infantry Regiment of 4 Division. The Aim of Exercise 'MAITREE' is to foster military cooperation between India and Thailand. The Exercise will enhance combined capabilities in executing Joint Counter Insurgency/ Terrorist Operations in Jungle and Urban Environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The Exercise will focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills. Tactical Drills to be practised during the exercise will include the creation of a Joint Operation Centre, establishing an intelligence & surveillance centre, employment of drones and counter drone systems, securing of a landing site, small team insertion & extraction, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon and Search Operations, Room Intervention Drills and Demolition of Illegal Structures. Exercise MAITREE will enable the two sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for conduct of joint operations. The Exercise will facilitate the development of inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of both countries. The Maitree Exercise is a military exercise between Thailand and India that takes place every year. The exercise covers air and land forces, along with medical and medical support activities. Joint exercises are conducted on a practical level to practice the necessary skills for confronting common threats. The name Maitree means "friendship". The exercise is another step in the process of strengthening friendship and increasing cooperation between Thailand and India. (ANI)
The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE), in collaboration with the East Turkistan National Movement and East Turkistan National Fund, has announced a march scheduled for Friday, from the White House to the State Department in Washington DC. The march aims to commemorate the 2009 Urumchi massacre and to call for meaningful action against China's ongoing campaign of colonization, Uyghur genocide, and occupation in East Turkistan (currently Xinjiang province of China). The march will start at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, and proceed to the State Department, 2201 C St NW, Washington, DC. ETGE posted on X, "The march seeks to draw attention to ongoing issues of colonization, genocide, and occupation faced by the Uyghur population and other ethnic groups in East Turkistan". Central to their demands is the appointment of a Special Coordinator for East Turkistan/Uyghur issues within the State Department. This event is a call to action for the US Government to uphold its moral and legal obligations to prevent and punish China's ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Occupied East Turkistan. The organisers are advocating for official recognition of East Turkistan as an occupied territory, akin to Tibet. They emphasise the urgent need for the United States to fulfil its moral and legal responsibilities in addressing China's alleged genocide and crimes against humanity in East Turkistan. This march represents a unified call for international attention and action to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The event underscores growing global concerns and calls for concerted efforts to uphold human rights and address geopolitical challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. On Monday, the 103rd anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the party faced severe backlash from human rights organisations and ethnic groups for alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, also known as East Turkistan. The Swedish Uyghur Committee highlighted the grim legacy of the CCP on social media, condemning what they describe as the party's "ruthless invasion, occupation, and colonization," of East Turkistan. The post also accused the Chinese government of subjecting millions of East Turkistani people, including Uyghurs to severe human rights violations. (ANI)
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) has condemned the imposition of the draconian National Security Law (NSL) by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Hong Kong in 2020, which has played a huge role in suppressing the freedom of expression in the city. On the fourth anniversary of the NSL, the ISHR expressed support for the views of United Nations experts, calling it one of the most "draconian" laws ever adopted in terms of repressing freedom of expression in Hong Kong. The NSL has consistently faced criticism for the severe repression of Hong Kong residents. A report titled 'The National Security Law in Hong Kong: Adverse Impacts and Increased Risk of Reprisals' highlighted that under the National Security Law, many activists have been jailed, and many NGOs have faced difficulties in operating. "Since the promulgation of the NSL, Hong Kong's once-vibrant environment for civil society has undergone a sea change. Many activists have been prosecuted and jailed for their activities. Many NGOs, both local and international, have decided to cease operations or dramatically shift their work, while other activists and NGO workers have chosen to - or been forced to - abandon their rights work or leave the city and continue work in exile," the report stated. https://x.com/ISHRglobal/status/1807705088883826705 "As explained by the Chairman of the Board of Amnesty International, whose regional office was located in Hong Kong until December 2021, the NSL has made it effectively impossible for human rights organizations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear," it added. The relationship between the government and civil society is facing new strains, directly linked to the National Security Law, impacting the political climate in the city. The Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) used to provide a platform for NGOs and civil society in general to express their views on a range of human rights issues. However, after the adoption of the NSL and the skewed 'patriots only' election, the LegCo no longer maintains a commitment to allowing alternative views or civil society voices to be heard. Since 2021, there has been no public official agenda item where civil society groups in Hong Kong were invited to give their views. "Individuals or organizations based in Hong Kong - or even having links to Hong Kong - cannot reasonably continue to assume the ability to safely engage with the UN over human rights issues. The NSL directly places them at new and heightened risk of reprisals and intimidation," the ISHR report further stated. (ANI)
German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann has expressed condolences on the stampede incident in Hathras, in which as many as 80 people have been killed. "Deeply saddened about the tragic events in Hathras. My condolences to the families that lost their loved ones. We hope that help quickly reaches the injured," the German envoy posted on X. https://x.com/AmbAckermann/status/1808122427425067347 As the death toll in a stampede on Tuesday at a religious event in Hathras district rose to 87, Uttar Pradesh Minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary announced 2 Lakh compensation to the kin of those who died in the incident. "So far the death toll is 87 and the number of injured is 18 and they are out of danger," Aligarh Commissioner Chaitra V said speaking to ANI on Tuesday. Hathras DM Ashish Kumar earlier said that 50-60 people have died in a stampede at a private event. He said that the district administration is actively investigating the incident. "District administration is investigating the matter. The injured are being taken to the hospital and people are still being recovered. A figure of nearly 50-60 deaths has been reported to me by the doctors," Hathras DM Ashish Kumar told ANI. "Permission for the event to be held was given by the SDM and it was a private event. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The primary focus of the administration is to provide all possible help to the injured and kin of the deceased," he added. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the incident in the parliament session. "There are reports of many people dying in the stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. I express my condolences to those who lost their lives in this accident. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The administration is engaged in relief and rescue work under the supervision of the state government," PM Modi said during his response to the Motion of Thanks. "Senior officials of the central government are in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. I assure everyone through this House that the victims will be helped in every way," he added. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also taken cognizance of the tragic incident and expressing his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased, the Chief Minister issued immediate directives to the district administration to expedite relief efforts at the site of the incident. The Chief Minister has instructed officials to promptly transport the injured to hospitals and ensure they receive adequate medical treatment. He has also wished for the swift recovery of those injured. Additionally, CM Yogi has ordered district administration officials to arrive at the scene without delay and accelerate the relief and rescue operations. (ANI)
After the Israeli authorities issued new evacuation orders in the Khan Younis area of Gaza, around 2,50,000 people are expected to face displacement, UN humanitarians warned in a report on Tuesday. UN agency assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that "chaos and panic" are spreading in southern Gaza following the orders. Gazans fleeing the southern city were forced to erect shelters at the water's edge because displacement camps were already packed at the coast. https://x.com/UNRWA/status/1808053707243663831 A few weeks ago, Khan Younis was left deserted after intense Israeli bombardment. But many families with few other options went there after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) moved into Rafah at the beginning of May, the report stated. "It's another devasting blow to the humanitarian response here, it's another devasting blow to the people, the families on the ground. It seems that they've been forcibly displaced again and again," said UNRWA Senior Communications Officer Louise Wateridge. Those forced to move now had a series of "impossible" decisions to make, she added. "How do parents decide where to go; where is there to go? Already by this morning, just to the middle Gaza area, along the coastal road, you can see the makeshift shelters right up to the shoreline, right up to the water coming in. It is absolutely packed with families who have already had to move," Wateridge said. The UNRWA officer noted that heavy bombardment has continued "in the north, middle and south areas of the Gaza Strip...no place is safe. Already on the ground, we are seeing families move away from this area. There is more chaos and panic spreading on the ground." Despite a lack of fuel and safety, Wateridge insisted that the UN agency has continued to deliver water, food parcels, flour, nappies, mattresses, tarpaulins and healthcare. "But it is becoming almost impossible for the UN to provide any kind of response due to the Israeli imposed siege...and now further displacement orders that once again impact our access to the Kerem Shalom border crossing to receive aid". Meanwhile, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has raised deep concerns about the lack of aid reaching Gaza and said that it has "significantly compromised" care in the enclave. Gaza's healthcare sector alone requires 80,000 litres of fuel every day to function but only 1,95,000-2,00,000 litres last arrived at the end of June; "since then, no fuel has entered Gaza," said Dr Hanan Balkhy, regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean. The WHO official also explained that the shipment had to be shared by all sectors including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) requiring 70,000 litres a day. "As a result, hospitals are once again short on fuel, risking disruption to critical services are injured people are dying because ambulance services are facing delays due to shortage of fuel," Dr Balkhy said, adding that a lack of gasoline and diesel were also affecting essential water and sanitation services such as water, delivery, sewage pumping and waste collection. From 15 to 23 June the water and sanitation cluster received less than five per cent of the fuel required daily to keep services running and as a result, water service providers "are forced to ration operations of municipal groundwater wells and the two working water desalination plants, reducing water production even more," the report stated. This is "significantly contributing to the spread of diseases", the WHO official said, while further highlighting concerning spikes in the number of adults and children suffering from waterborne diseases such as hepatitis A, diarrhoea, skin conditions and others. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Astana to represent India at the SCO Summit, which is being held under Kazakhstan's chairmanship. The EAM was welcomed by Kazakhstan Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev at the airport. "EAM @DrSJaishankar reached Astana to represent PM @narendramodi at the SCO Summit from July 3-4, 2024. On arrival, EAM was welcomed by Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister @AlibekBakayev," the Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan posted on X. https://x.com/indembastana/status/1808160463793873147 Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation at the summit. The SCO Summit will be held on July 3-4. The 24th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State (SCO Summit) will be held under the presidency of Kazakhstan on July 4. At the Summit, the leaders are expected to review the organization's activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation. Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed at the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. India's priorities in SCO are shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'SECURE' SCO, wherein, 'SECURE' stands for Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection. India, under its first-ever presidency of SCO, hosted the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in virtual format on July 4, 2023. Kazakhstan took over the SCO presidency from India, which was the president last year. This year's host is Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has proposed, among other initiatives, the establishment of a joint investment fund. In a telephonic conversation with the Kazakhstan President on June 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his full support for the success of the upcoming summit in Astana. The main goals of the SCO are promoting effective cooperation in politics, trade and economy, science and technology, culture as well as education, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and other fields, strengthening mutual confidence and good-neighbourly relations among the member countries, making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region, moving towards the establishment of a new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order, according to the official statement. (ANI)
The Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli on Monday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to step down from the post. The secretariat meeting held late in the evening decided to urge Prime Minister Dahal to step down. The meeting also has decided to hold the resignation of the ministers until the given time. "The party secretariat meeting held at the party office has decided to call on the Prime Minister to step down from the post within 24 hours paving the way for the formation of a new government. The new government will be formed in line with the agreement sealed between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML as per Clause 76 (2) of the Nepal constitution. The ministers would resign from the post on Thursday morning and the party will formally withdraw the support extended to the incumbent government," Yogesh Bhattarai, Secretary of CPN-UML told ANI. The meeting further urged all political parties to bolster political stability by participating in the 'national consensus' government under chair KP Sharma Oli's leadership. The UML and Congress on Monday night agreed to form a new government. Oli would lead a new 'national consensus' government for a year and a half. For the remaining term, ex-PM Sher Bahadur Deuba will be the prime minister. Prime Minister Dahal expressed reluctance to resign immediately. The office-bearers' meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) held in Baluwatar on Tuesday decided that the Prime Minister will not tender his resignation but instead face a trust vote in Parliament within 30 days since the retraction of support. The latest decision of the PM comes after the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have struck a midnight deal to form a new alliance. As per the agreement signed in between Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, an agreement of sharing one and half year's tenure each has been reached in between the leaders till the next elections. A committee is also formed to suggest amendments to the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha. In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament drafted a constitutional amendment agreement where it was stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly. Leaders from the Congress and the UML informed President Ram Chandra Paudel about the change in coalition. During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister fails to win the vote of confidence after UML withdraws its support. PM Prachanda has to take the vote of confidence again from the parliament after a party withdraws support. Dahal, who came to power after the 2022 General Elections, already tested the floor of parliament for a record four times. On March 4, Dahal decided to revive a coalition with the CPN-UML which caught the largest coalition partner, NC, off guard. A new coalition including the CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Janata Samajwadi Party was initially formed. The following day, the Nepali Congress formally retracted support to the Dahal government activating Article 100 (2). A Prime Minister is required to cross the threshold of 50 per cent, which is 138 votes. (ANI)
Several foreign diplomats expressed their condolences on the loss of lives in the tragic stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, which has claimed as many as 116 lives. The stampede occurred at a religious event in Hathras on Tuesday, in which 116 people were killed and 18 people were injured, officials said. Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon termed the incident "heartbreaking." He said their thoughts are with the bereaved families and also wished a speedy recovery to the injured. "Deeply saddened about the loss of lives at the tragic stampede in #Hathras, UP. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Such incidents are truly heartbreaking. Om Shanti," Gilon posted on X. https://x.com/NaorGilon/status/1808148869521485917 Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims and wished speedy recovery to the injured. "Shocked and saddened about the tragic events in Hathras, UP. Deeply mourn for the lives lost and extend heartfelt sympathies to victims' families. Wish the injured a speedy recovery," the Chinese envoy said. https://x.com/China_Amb_India/status/1808183023113797678 British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron also expressed heartfelt condolences. "Shocked and saddened to read about the tragic events today in Hathras, UP. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to all those affected," she stated on X. https://x.com/Lindy_Cameron/status/1808147593299456466 French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou said he is "deeply saddened" and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. "Deeply saddened by the loss of lives following the tragic stampede in Uttar Pradesh's #Hathras district. France expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and wishes the injured a speedy recovery," the French envoy posted on X. https://x.com/thierry_mathou/status/1808143148436091259 German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann also expressed condolences on the stampede incident in Hathras. "Deeply saddened about the tragic events in Hathras. My condolences to the families that lost their loved ones. We hope that help quickly reaches the injured," the German envoy posted on X. https://x.com/AmbAckermann/status/1808122427425067347 Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green also expressed his condolences over the tragic incident. "My heart goes out to all of those affected by the tragic incident in #Hathras in Uttar Pradesh. Om Shanti," posted the Australian envoy on X. https://x.com/aushcindia/status/1808187857812824374?s=46&t=TbrKHKgG29uXA1CMFN38Pw Chaitra V, Commissioner of Aligarh said on Tuesday, that the death toll is 116 and the number of injured is 18 in the incident. "116 people have been confirmed dead. 18 people are injured. Treatment is being ensured for the injured in Aligarh district. Primary investigation is being carried out," she said. Aligarh Inspector General Shalabh Mathur said that the dead bodies have been sent for post-mortem. He also said that the FIR will be registered against several people including the organisers of the event, as more than the permitted number of people were attending the event. "Dead bodies have been sent to various places for post-mortem. We are trying to give the best possible treatment to the injured. FIR is also being registered. The organizers of the event will be included in the FIR because more than the permitted number of people had come to attend the event. Since it is a matter of investigation, a high-level inquiry has been ordered into it," the officials said. The Uttar Pradesh government has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the kin of those who died in the incident. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also ordered a thorough investigation into the incident. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the stampede in Hathras and wished speedy recovery to the injured. PM Modi also spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following the tragic incident. "The Uttar Pradesh government is engaged in providing all possible help to the victims. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," PM Modi said in a post on X. (ANI)
Even though Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with abundant natural beauty, several scenic destinations continue to remain inaccessible to the people due to poor road conditions. Local residents and leaders recently held a press conference to highlight their grievances, emphasising the longstanding neglect of infrastructure development in the region. "A budget of 6 billion PKR was allocated for the Highways Department. During the Prime Minister's visit to Bagh, he confirmed that this allocation would be made. However, despite the Centre's claim of a typical budget allocation of around 41-44 billion PKR, the budget book shows no funds were allocated for our roads," a local resident named Raja Abdul Hafeed said. Pakistan administration's severe neglect of the region is evident in the recent budget allocation, where only 6 billion PKR (Pakistan rupee) were assigned to the highways department from a substantial total budget of 264 billion PKR. Furthermore, no funds have been utilised for repairing the problematic road that connects Bagh, a crucial area in the region. The poor state of roads isn't confined to Bagh alone; even in Muzaffarabad, the capital city, potholes can be found in every few metres, which further highlights how grave the situation is. "We have informed all government organisations and presented our concerns to everyone involved. Unfortunately, no discussions have been held to resolve our issues. Additionally, there is a one-kilometre road in the Sudhan Gali area for which the tender was approved three years ago. When we visited the site, we discovered that no work had been done to construct that road" said Hafeed. Roads in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, no matter where they are located, have consistently suffered from deep-seated corruption within the administration. The local residents complained that even when a certain amount is spent on road infrastructure, the material used is of such poor quality that the roads get washed away in a single flash of rain. In such a situation, the distressed public either protests or hold press conferences to make their demands heard at higher levels, but the stooge administration pays no heed to their clamouring voices. Poor infrastructure limits economic growth and investment opportunities in the PoJK region. Industries such as tourism, agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing are hampered by unreliable transportation routes and insufficient logistical support. This constrains job creation and income generation for local residents. Inadequate infrastructure affects the delivery of essential services such as healthcare, education, and public utilities. Schools, hospitals, and other critical facilities also face challenges in accessibility and operational efficiency due to infrastructure deficiencies. (ANI)
North Korea has said it successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a 4.5-tonne "superlarge warhead", Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday, quoting the state media. The test of the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 missile was conducted to verify its flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500km and minimum range of 90km, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. On Monday, South Korea's military reported the launch of two ballistic missiles by North Korea and said the second likely failed soon after it was fired, blowing up in flight over land. The KCNA report made no mention of the second missile. It also did not elaborate on the nature of the simulated warhead, like where the missile launched from and where it landed. North Korea did not publicise Monday's test with photographs, unlike during previous such announcements. Testing the missile's maximum and minimum ranges suggested it performed two launches. The report of the test was likely "deception", a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) told a press briefing on Tuesday, as one of them appeared to have failed in the early stages of flight, Al Jazeera reported. That missile's trajectory suggested a possible midair explosion over North Korea which could have led to debris falling on the country, Seoul's military said. "It is extremely rare for test launches to be conducted inland, and the claim that they succeeded in such a launch is likely to be false," Al Jazeera quoted JCS spokesperson Lee Sung-joon. One of the two missiles was flying abnormally and appeared to show up in a field not far from the capital, Pyongyang, South Korea's military said. Shin Jongwoo, a Seoul-based military expert, told The Associated Press news agency that the lack of photos also raised some questions about the success of the test. (ANI)
Singapore High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong on Tuesday expressed his condolences to the victims of stampede in Hathras. Wong posted on X, "Sincere condolences to the families affected by the tragic stampede in Hathras. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and our friends in UP. HC Wong". In a tragic event, at least 116 people lost their lives in a stampede on Tuesday afternoon during a religious event in Ratibhanpur village in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district. The Uttar Pradesh government announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the kin of those who died in the incident. Chaitra V, Commissioner of Aligarh said that the death toll is 116 and 18 people were injured in the incident. Aligarh IG Shalabh Mathur said, "Dead bodies have been sent to various places for post-mortem We are trying to give the best possible treatment to the injured. The organisers of the event will be included in the FIR because more than the permitted number of people had come to attend the event. Since it is a matter of investigation, a high-level inquiry has been ordered into it." Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said the incident occurred at a private event. "Permission for the event to be held was given by the SDM and it was a private event. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The primary focus of the administration is to provide all possible help to the injured and kin of the deceased." Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the stampede and wished speedy recovery to the injured. Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following the tragedy. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that the government should help the people sensitively. (ANI)
Hundreds of locals from the Khyber Bara area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan organised a rally condemning the ongoing military operation in the region and raised concerns about its implications on the tribal communities. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) led the protest, with participation from various local ethnic groups. The protestors demanded an end to the mercenary war and the "terrorist military policy in the Pashtun homeland. Pakistan's top leadership recently approved the launch of a new military operation called 'Azm-e-Istehkam' which means 'Resolve for Stability'. The operation was announced after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led a review of the country's "counterterrorism" operations. 'Azm-e-Istehkam' is aimed at quelling a surge in violence in the region. "A peace rally was held in Khyber district against the so-called operation, the imposition of mercenary war on the Pashtun homeland, and the terrorist military policy. All ethnic groups of the Khyber Bara district participated in this peace rally. Our resistance against violence and for peace will continue," PTM posted on X. Human rights coordinator Fayaz Afridi, along with Shaur Afridi, Naqeeb Afridi, Wajid Afridi, and hundreds of other activists, took part in the Bike Peace Rally. The rally commenced from Qambarabad Shalobar, passing through Arjale Nde Chowk, Qambar Khel Chowk, Koh Bazar, Sepah, Akakhel, Kalinga, and Bara Bazar, before concluding at Khyber Chowk. Upon reaching Bara Khyber Chowk, the rally expanded into a larger demonstration, with participants chanting slogans against military operations, targeted killings, and unrest. Muqib Afridi and other speakers denounced the military operation, labelling it an "external agenda" designed to devastate tribal communities. They affirmed the tribal people's patriotism and advocated for targeting traitors and terrorists hiding in other provinces instead. Emphasizing the military's role in safeguarding national borders rather than firing upon its own citizens, they stressed the need to prevent instability. Afridi cautioned both the Pakistani Army Chief and the Prime Minister, asserting that further conflicts would be unsustainable for the tribes. He urged leaders to avoid wars driven by foreign interests, questioning the efficacy of past operations that resulted in the widespread destruction of homes, businesses, and resources. Highlighting glaring disparities, Afridi also pointed out how the children of generals and rulers study abroad while local youth are handed guns and coerced into conflict. Afridi issued a stern warning that failure to rescind the decision on "commitment to stability" would provoke strong opposition from tribal communities and the wider Pakhtunkhwa region, potentially compelling the military to reconsider its stance. (ANI)
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi interacted with the Commandant of National Defence College Lt Gen Md Saiful Alam, the faculty and staff and provided an overview of flux in the security environment in the broader Indo-Pacific Region from a naval perspective. The Navy Chief is on a visit to Bangladesh and visited the National Defence College on Tuesday. During the visit, he interacted with the commandant Lt Gen, faculty, staff and the officers of the National Defence College. "Adm Dinesh K Tripathi #CNS, during his visit to the National Defence College, #NDC Bangladesh interacted with the Commandant Lt Gen Md Saiful Alam, faculty & Staff, & Officers undergoing the NDC," the Indian Navy said in a post on X. Further, in his address to the NDC "Class of 2024", the Navy Chief provided an overview of the geopolitical trends. "In his address to NDC #Classof2024, on the topic "Turbulent Tides and Times - Steering a Steady Course" #CNS provided an overview of the geopolitical trends & flux in the security environment in the broader #IndoPacific Region #IPR from a naval perspective," the Indian Navy stated. https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1808121124129243345 The CNS further stressed these trends including the opportunities for like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific Region to cooperate and collaborate aligned to the Indian government's vision of SAGAR to ensure a free, open, peaceful and inclusive Indo-Pacific. "#CNS highlighted the "so what" of these trends including opportunities for like-minded nations in #IPR to cooperate & collaborate aligned to the GoI vision of #SAGAR & #IPOI towards ensuring a free, open, peaceful & inclusive #IPR for shared peace & prosperity for all littorals in the #IndianOceanRegion," the Indian Navy stated on X. Earlier on Monday, the pre-sail discussions between the Indian Navy and the Bangladesh Navy focused on streamlining procedures to enhance interoperability and exercises to be undertaken during the Maritime Partnership Exercise. "The pre-sail discussions b/n #IndianNavy & #BangladeshNavy focused on streamlining procedures to enhance #interoperability & exercises to be undertaken during #MaritimePartnershipExercise. Towards promoting esprit de corps & cohesiveness, a friendly volleyball match was held b/n IN & BN personnel," the Indian Navy said on X. https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1807784839002857859 Moreover, the Indian Naval Ship Ranvir arrived in Bangladesh's Chattogram on Saturday last week, as part of an operational deployment and will participate in multiple engagements and maritime exercises, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release. INS Ranvir of the Eastern Fleet under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command, was accorded a warm welcome by the Bangladesh Navy. (ANI)
Alliance City Council discusses DORA, cannabis and future for the Value City site

The former Value City property on East State Street in Alliance has a new owner and plans include a controlled-climate storage facility, a gas station and stores, according to Mayor Andy Grove.

ALLIANCE  The former Value City property, across from College Plaza on East State Street, reportedly has a new owner and major plans.

Mayor Andy Grove told City Council on Monday night that the plans include a controlled-climate storage facility, a gas station and retail stores.

The property at 1425 E. State St., adjacent to St. Joseph's Cemetery, currently has some demolition and cleanup efforts going on. Grove said the storage facility would be in the back end of the property. The gas station and stores would be near East State.

"It's a nice-sized lot," Grove said.

The new owner is Rhino Storage Group  doing business as RSS 1425 East State Street LLC  out of Racine, Ohio, and the property was bought for $637,000 in May, according to Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce and Stark County Auditor's Office.

Grove said the plans should enhance the East State corridor, along with the revitalized College Plaza, which he added: "They've done a nice job."

Preparing for the cannabis business in the Carnation City

In other economic news, city officials and City Council are amending part of the city's zoning code to allow state-licensed marijuana dispensaries to open.

Stark County locations: Cannabis Dispensary Map

Safety-Service Director Mike Dreger said the proposed changes would align with state regulations and shorten the distance from 1,000 feet to 500 feet between a dispensary and a public place, like a park. At least two groups have expressed interest in putting a dispensary in the Carnation City, he said.

In Alliance, city officials and council members are discussing zoning code changes that would allow marijuana dispensaries to open on stretches of State Street only.

Because of that, Dreger said stretches of State Street would be the only place a dispensary could open. He said this allows city officials only one street to monitor, and none of them would be in "any neighborhood."

The marijuana dispensary legislation  Ordinance No. 031-24  has been scheduled for a public hearing at 6:10 p.m. Aug. 5 before council likely votes on it.

Is DORA in the city's future? Maybe.

In Stark County, communities such as Canton, North Canton and Louisville have Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas in or near their downtown area.

Could Alliance, be next?

Councilman Phillip Mastroianni told his fellow members that he plans to explore establishing a DORA in downtown Alliance after several people, including merchants, approached him about it recently.

"I think it'd be a good piece of the puzzle," to get more people downtown, Mastroianni said.

In other business, council:

Heard the city's income tax revenue collection is down 2.88%, or about $200,000. City Auditor Kevin Knowles said he is hopeful those numbers will turn around.

Heard state auditors could decide if the city should be removed from fiscal watch by August or September, Knowles said. It has been on the list since May 2018.

Heard Finance Committee has recommended reimbursing a Webb Street resident who said blockages in city-maintained sewer lines caused backups in her basement. Damage was listed at $1,500.

Heard Dunkin' Donuts at 1041 W. State St. is expanding to create two drive-through lines.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance officials to consider marijuana dispensaries on State Street
A soldier of the Ukrainian Army wait for orders to shoot a BM-21 'Grad' to Russian positions in the frontline near Pokrovsk - Anadolu/Pablo Miranzo

Today, we bring you the latest news from Ukraine, look at how Russia has been blamed for jamming GPS signals on British military jets and ask quite why Belarus - a country hosting Russian nuclear missiles - is rattling the nuclear sabre once more.

Listen to Ukraine: the Latest, The Telegraphs daily podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

War in Ukraine is reshaping our world. Every weekday The Telegraphs top journalists analyse the invasion from all angles - military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical - and tell you what you need to know to stay updated.

With over 70 million listens, our Ukraine: The Latest podcast is your go-to source for all the latest analysis, live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. We have been broadcasting ever since the full-scale invasion began.

Ukraine: The Latests regular contributors are:

David Knowles

David is Head of Audio Development at The Telegraph, where he has worked for over three years. He has reported from across Ukraine during the full-scale invasion.

Dominic Nicholls

Dom is Associate Editor (Defence) at The Telegraph, having joined in 2018. He previously served for 23 years in the British Army, in tank and helicopter units. He had operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

Francis Dearnley

Francis is Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph. Prior to working as a journalist, he was chief of staff to the Chair of the Prime Ministers Policy Board at the Houses of Parliament in London. He studied History at Cambridge University and on the podcast explores how the past shines a light on the latest diplomatic, political, and strategic developments.

They are also regularly joined by Telegraph reporters and correspondents around the world, including Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent), James Kilner, (Foreign Correspondent and Editor of the Central Asia & the South Caucasus Bulletin), Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent), Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor), and Tony Diver (US Editor).

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Estonia says it could hold out against a Russian attack 'for a couple of weeks' before NATO arrives

Estonia says it could hold out against a Russian attack 'for a couple of weeks' before NATO arrives

Estonia could resist a Russian attack for two weeks before NATO support arrives, a top commander said.

The Baltic states have ramped up their defense amid fears Russia's aggression could turn on them.

Estonia shares a border with Russia. In 2024, its defense spending will be more than 3% of its GDP.

Estonia could resist a Russian attack for two weeks before NATO support came in, a top Estonian commander said.

The NATO country, which shares a land border with Russia, "would be able to resist an invasion for a couple of weeks," Colonel Mati Tikerpuu, the chief of one of Estonia's two army brigades, told El Pais.

He said this would be "long enough until allied reinforcements arrive."

Estonia, which has a population of just 1.4 million, says its defense spending in 2024 will be more than 3% of GDP  far beyond most NATO countries' contributions  amid deteriorating relations with Russia and alarm at the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

As a proportion of GDP, Estonia has also given Ukraine more military aid than any other country.

At the same time, American, British and French troops are a frequent presence at the training base Tikerpuu spoke from, some 10 miles from the border with Russia, the Spanish outlet reported  a sign of NATO's boosted approach to the region.

In an interview in February, Tikerpuu told ERR, Estonia's national broadcaster, that "nothing can be excluded" when it comes to preparing for a possible Russian attack.

The war in Ukraine has given Estonia something of a preview, which has helped it prepare its own forces' priorities, he told the outlet.

Drones and artillery would be central to any conflict, he said, noting that Russia still favors massed "meat wave" attacks over the expense of using its high-precision weapons.

Despite ramped-up military spending, Estonia's armed forces are limited; its army has no main battle tanks, and its single operational military air base, near Tallinn, has no combat aircraft.

In 2022, its defense department announced the purchase of six US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems, to be delivered this year.

A recent Estonian intelligence report estimated that Russia plans to station almost 40,000 troops near the border over the coming years, El Pais reported.

That figure dwarfs Estonia's own active-duty force of 4,200 troops  although it has just under 40,000 trained reservists, a product of the country's conscription policy.

Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told Business Insider last year of her concern that Russia is "the most direct threat to European security right now."

In March, the US approved a $228 million defense aid package for Estonia and its neighbors Lithuania and Latvia, aimed at fast-tracking military infrastructure.

In February, the former Soviet states agreed to build a new bunker defense line along their collective 1,000-mile border with Russia, with reserve forces readied to deploy additional defenses such as mines and "dragon's teeth" anti-tank pyramids at short notice.

Estonia is also part of a six-country coalition building a "drone wall" protecting their borders, although few details of this have emerged.

The countries have warned of impending Russian hybrid attacks, attacks that disrupt but fall short of overt military action.

Read the original article on Business Insider
It has been encouraging this week to see promising signs that Haiti may finally be on the path toward social stability and democracy, as international help has arrived in the Caribbean country to restore law and order.

This time, a long-awaited United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support mission, led by 200 Kenyan police officers, are there to curb the free-wielding violent gangs that have become the de facto government, controlling 80% of Port-au-Prince, making daily life for Haitians nearly unbearable.

However, were also apprehensive. These transformative moments have often been brief in Haitis long, troubled history.

In fact, this is the fourth time since 1915 that the world has come to the aid of Haiti.

New Prime Minister Garry Conille is guaranteeing success: We will reclaim control of the country, house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city, Conille told reporters on Wednesday as the heavily armed and armored Kenyan officers arrived. Their heavy gear was sending a message to the brutal gangs: Were going to get you.

Conille and other entities must also monitor the armed security Kenyan forces to ensure they carry out their mission within humanitarian standards. Unfortunately, we should expect collateral damage from such a harsh mission. And the gangs reaction is key. Will they surrender or fight?

Another hope is that the UN mission will help Haiti emerge from its prolonged crisis with a democratically elected president and legitimate parliament by 2026.

Haitis latest troubles began with the 2021 assassination of President Jovene Moise, which left the country without leadership, no clear path for a presidential election and an open door to the rebel gangs that bully and terrorize their fellow countrymen.

The year-long mission will cost $600 million. However, the Miami Herald reported that a trust fund administered by the UN has only amassed $21 million. Lets hope its fully funded. For South Florida, a functioning Haiti impacts our economy and population.

Miami Democratic U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, who met with Haitis new prime minister in Washington D.C. on Friday, suggested that the Haitian diaspora in South Florida should play a bigger role in Haitis latest recovery effort. Conille, who was in the U.S. to discuss Haiti, agreed. They can be a secret weapon for their country.

Wilson said she wants to engage South Florida Haitians in relief and reconstruction efforts. Their contributions will be invaluable as the country rebuilds, she said. Thats not a bad idea.

Wilson expressed optimism that Haitis burgeoning government, with support from international partners, could regain order. She believes restoring stability is critical to resume humanitarian aid and development projects to help the country prosper. Wilson is right.

As the Kenyan police arrived, the Biden administration extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitian refugees who had fled to the U.S. but were set to return this year. They have a reprieve until 2026. Its the right thing to do until Haiti restores its footing.

Wilson, who is running for reelection, is now planning to return to Haiti alongside a delegation of anyone who wants to come, hoping their presence can encourage further international involvement.

I dont want Haiti to disappear from the radar, Wilson told reporters, referring to the attention paid to Ukraine and Gaza.

It remains unseen whether the security forces have the numbers and resources needed for such an ambitious operation, especially in densely packed urban areas where gangs are deeply entrenched.

The mission requires extensive planning and coordination between Haitian and international troops. Lets hope that happens to ensure its success.

If the UN mission succeeds in improving day-to-day conditions and paving the way for elections, it will put Haiti back on a democratic path.

The Haitian people deserve the leadership they elect and a chance for their voices to be heard through the democratic process. Were keeping out fingers crossed.

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Marianne Smyth, the American whose elaborate con of a reality television producer was the subject of a 2020 Hollywood Reporter story, has been extradited to Northern Ireland to face trial over a separate alleged scam she ran there.

Smyth was extradited on Tuesday, according to statements from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The 54-year-old Smyth is set to stand before the Newtownards Magistrates Court on Tuesday, while her charges will be assessed by Northern Irelands Public Prosecution Service, according to police. As THR previously reported, the U.K. is seeking to charge Smyth with fraud by abuse of position and theft stemming from a period between 2008 and 2010, around which time she worked as an independent mortgage adviser in Northern Ireland.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

In a statement, Sergeant Davey (whose first name was not provided, the Police Service stated, for security reasons) of the Police Services International Policing Unit said the arrest came about as the result of working closely with the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement to locate, arrest and extradite this suspect. Davey added, Our message is clear to anyone who has left Northern Ireland to avoid arrest or the consequences of their actions. We will relentlessly pursue those that are trying to delay or deny justice to victims of crime.

Smyth was arrested in Bingham, Maine, in February in connection with Northern Irelands allegations. According to a complaint from an assistant U.S. attorney charged with fulfilling the U.S. extradition treaty with the U.K., the U.K. is alleging that Smyth defrauded clients of around 135,570 (or about $173,000) in four instances.

These alleged activities in Northern Ireland predate a stint in Los Angeles that was the subject of THRs 2020 story. Between 2013 and 2017, Smyth conned American Ninja Warrior and Shark Tank producer Johnathan Walton while posing as an Irish heiress and allegedly several other figures in and around Hollywood. In 2019, Smyth was convicted by a Los Angeles court of grand theft in Waltons case and spent time in jail as a result. Around the same period, she took a plea deal in a different case, with former employer PacificIslands.com, where she was accused of stealing around $200,000.

Walton has been in communication with Northern Ireland police since they first contacted him in 2017, after they found a blog he had written about Smyth, he says. In a statement on Tuesday, Walton added, The day Ive been working hard on for the past seven years has finally arrived. My con artist is finally in the U.K. facing a judge answering to all the scams she pulled over there.  My only desire now is for justice for all her victims in Northern Ireland. I hope and pray they put her away for a very long time.

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Last week, the Supreme Court dismissed a case brought forth by Idaho that challenged doctors' ability to provide emergency abortions to stabilize a patients health and life. As a result, for now, Idahos near-total abortion ban does not take precedence over a federal law known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which is a welcome relief for many doctors on the frontlines.

EMTALA, as we previously understood it, is now fully functional in Idaho, so we can provide stabilizing, emergency care to pregnant women if that requires an abortion, Kara Cadwallader, who is a family medicine physician in Idaho, told Salon in a phone interview. That was the good news, because it's been pretty awful not having that protection in place.

But Cadwallader said, what many others have echoed since the decision, that it would have been better if SCOTUS ruled that EMTALA protects everyone. As far as how long, and if, EMTALA will protect pregnant women in Idaho remains unclear  and there are still many scenarios in which doctors feel as if their hands are tied.

As Salon has previously reported, Idaho has one of the strictest abortion laws in the nation where abortions are nearly entirely banned except in cases of documented rape or incest, or to prevent the mother's death. Physicians in Idaho have previously told Salon that they live in constant fear that they will have to deny a pregnant patient stabilizing care, since the line of life-saving care isnt always entirely clear in an emergency setting. Patients have regularly been airlifted from Idaho hospitals to other states.

If health-stabilizing care required an abortion, doctors could face two to five years in prison and lose their medical license. In light of the ruling, for now, health and life saving abortions are technically protected under EMTALA since the appeal from Idaho was dismissed as "improvidently granted, returning it to the lower courts for further litigation. But many view the move as a delay.

The ruling was grounded in the procedure that governed how the case came before the Court and they decided not to decide at this time and just returned the case to the lower courts, Azaleea Carlea, legal director at Legal Momentum told Salon in a phone interview. Which means that at some point, probably after the election, the Court will hear this issue again.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated EMTALA took priority over state laws. Under EMTALA, hospitals and emergency rooms were required to provide emergency abortions even where there were strict abortions laws  like Idaho and Texas. The Biden Administration even sued Idaho, claiming that the state's near-total ban was in direct conflict with the federal EMTALA law. But the state claimed that there wasnt a conflict because technically it has a life-saving exception. Then in January, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas ruled that emergency rooms aren't required to perform life-saving abortions under EMTALA, which then escalated the case to the Supreme Court.

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As Cadwallader said, providers in the state on the frontlines see last weeks decision as welcome relief, but dont believe the decision provides the much-needed reassurance they hoped could have come out of this decision.

This decision to put the case back down to the lower courts does provide some welcome immediate relief for women and their doctors in Idaho, Susie Keller, CEO of Idaho Medical Association, said at a press conference following the ruling. But given how much uncertainty there still is in Idaho law, there's still much more work to do to provide that necessary clarity and certainty around protecting the health of pregnant women and to keep physicians practicing in Idaho.

One major point of criticism is that the Supreme Court failed to make it clear that EMTALA pre-empts abortion bans like those in Idaho. Carlea said in the opinion of Legal Momentum, the highest courts decision leaves a level of chaos and confusion across Idaho and, frankly, across the country.

A definitive decision from the Supreme Court could have made an impact outside of Idaho, too. As Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in her dissent, the Court had a chance to bring clarity and certainty to this tragic situation. And for as long as we refuse to declare what the law requires, pregnant patients in Idaho, Texas, and elsewhere will be paying the price, she wrote.

On the ground, doctors are left with a lack of clarity in real-life situations as well.

There is no real clarity here, patients and doctors are still in this quandary, in this very nebulous place of as a patient, am I going to receive the necessary medical-emergency treatment that I need? Carlea said. It is still not clear, it is still very murky and that's just going to result in more suffering and more discrimination against pregnant patients.

In a press conference, Dr. Duncan Harmon, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at St. Lukes Health System in Idaho, said there are still many scenarios in which EMTALA might not provide protections for physicians to provide health-saving abortions.

They have a pregnancy-related condition, which evidence-based medical care would be discussing termination of pregnancy, and those are patients, and we as clinicians must explain to them that even in the lifting of the stay, we cannot provide them evidence-based care in the state, Harmon said. And that's where the potential fear in as a clinician exists of criminal prosecution or losing the medical license.

Cadwallader elaborated and said many pregnancy complications dont come through the emergency room door as instantly life or health-threatening.

Ideally, we would like to treat those before they have severe threats to their health or even their life, we're afraid that if the care we provide causes an abortion and the patient isn't at high-risk for her health or life, then you know we're still facing a jail sentence, Cadwallader said. And a lot of the care that is essential to provide comes in that under that category.

Cadwallader gave Salon an example of a pregnant patient who has an intrauterine device (IUD). That hypothetical patient would be at high risk for an infection, but taking the IUD out could disrupt the pregnancy.

Even if you know she's trying to continue the pregnancy, that could be perceived as causing an abortion, and that would put me at risk for criminal penalties, Cadwallader said. Even though we have some security around severe pregnancy complications, the vast majority of them we don't have any clarity.

Still, physicians are facing the same dilemma as before.

You have to err on the side of anything that might cause an abortion in that setting, is we're looking at our career versus going to jail, Cadwallader said.

Cadwallader added that issues like OBGYNs leaving the state and patients being airlifted to out-of-state hospitals will remain.

I think we're going to see the transfers continue to happen, she said. I think we're going to continue to lose OBGYNs and other doctors in our state.
Xi's state visits to boost China's ties with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan: spokesperson

Xinhua) 09:40, July 02, 2024

BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan will further boost China's relations with the two countries, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday while briefing the media on the visits.

Kazakhstan is China's friendly neighbor and permanent comprehensive strategic partner, Mao noted, adding that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 32 years ago, China-Kazakhstan relations have grown with a sound and steady momentum, and cooperation in areas such as trade and economy, investment, connectivity, energy, and cultural and people-to-people exchange has had numerous highlights.

"Our two countries have set a good example of good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between neighboring countries," she said.

Last year, President Xi met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev twice in Xi'an and Beijing. The two presidents drew a new blueprint for China-Kazakhstan relations, and have guided China-Kazakhstan cooperation into a golden period of fast growth, Mao noted.

This will be President Xi's fifth visit to Kazakhstan. During the visit, President Xi will have talks with President Tokayev and have an in-depth exchange of views with him on bilateral relations, cooperation in key areas, and the regional and international landscape. President Xi will attend state events, such as the welcoming ceremony, the signing ceremony and the welcoming banquet, and other side events, according to Mao.

"We believe that President Xi's visit will further upgrade the bilateral relations, enrich our high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and enhance the wellbeing of our two peoples," she added.

Tajikistan is China's friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner, Mao noted, adding that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi and President Emomali Rahmon, China-Tajikistan relations have maintained a sound momentum, and the two countries have consolidated political mutual trust, had fruitful Belt and Road cooperation, deepened cultural and people-to-people exchange, and had close cooperation in regional and international affairs.

In May last year, the two presidents announced the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit, she said.

This will be President Xi's second state visit to Tajikistan after five years. During the visit, President Xi will have talks with President Rahmon to have an in-depth exchange of views with him on bilateral relations, cooperation in key areas, and the regional and international landscape, and make new plans for the growth of China-Tajikistan relations. The two presidents will jointly attend various side events, according to Mao.

China looks forward to working with Tajikistan through this visit to further enhance political mutual trust, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, bring people's hearts closer, inject new impetus to the growth of bilateral relations, and elevate our comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, Mao said.

President Xi will attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, and pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan from July 2 to 6, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Sunday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has some immunity from criminal charges for trying to reverse the 2020 election results, which makes a trial before election unlikely.

The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority that includes three justices appointed by Trump himself, voted 6-3 along ideological lines, ordering the lower courts to reconsider the case and determine which allegations cannot be prosecuted.

Police officers stand guard in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 1, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking for the majority, dismissed Trump's expansive immunity arguments, stating that Trump is only immune for his actions conducted in an "official" capacity as president.

"The President is not above the law," the ruling said. "But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts."

"There is no immunity for unofficial acts," the ruling said.

The Supreme Court did not define what qualifies as an official act in this instance, delegating that decision to the lower court.

Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the majority decision.

"It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law," they argued.

Relying on little more than its own "misguided wisdom" about the need for "bold and unhesitating action" by the President, the Court gives former President Trump "all the immunity he asked for and more," they said.

Trump, meanwhile, praised the Supreme Court's ruling. "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY," the former president said on a post on his social networking site Truth Social.

A federal grand jury indicted Trump on four counts for conduct that occurred during his Presidency following the November 2020 election. The indictment alleged that after losing that election to Joe Biden, Trump conspired to overturn it by "spreading knowingly false claims of election fraud" to obstruct the collecting, counting, and certifying of the election results, the ruling noted.

Trump moved to dismiss the indictment based on Presidential immunity, arguing that a President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution.

In February, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit delivered a ruling denying Trump broad immunity from federal prosecution.

Previously, the Supreme Court already received strong disapproval from Democrats for agreeing to hear the Trump case, which delayed a trial that could have started in March.

The extended period the court has taken to address this high-profile case has aided Trump by diminishing the probability that a trial stemming from the charges would conclude before the Nov. 5 election.
Pennsylvania man charged after toddler shoots woman in the back

Pennsylvania man charged after toddler shoots woman in the back

WILSON, Pa. (WHTM)  A Pennsylvania man is facing charges after police say a toddler grabbed a loaded handgun and shot a woman in the back.

The incident happened Monday in Wilson Borough, a suburb of Easton in Northampton County.

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Wilson Police said they were called to the 2200 block of Forest Street for a gunshot victim. There, a 33-year-old woman said she had been shot in the back by a three-year-old child.

She was taken to an area hospital for emergency surgery and is expected to survive.

Witnesses told police that Brian Siegfried, 41, of Williams Township, had been handling a handgun on the front porch of the home. He cocked the gun, placed it on a table, and walked away, witnesses told police.

Siegfried told police he was tired of holding the weapon and put it down.

Several children under the age of five were nearby and a three-year-old picked up the gun and accidentally shot the victim. The child who fired the weapon was not injured.

Duo arrested, charged with homicide in Fulton County infant death investigation

Siegfried, who police say had a Protection From Abuse order, was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

He was charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor persons not to possess a firearm, and five counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Two Russian submarines engaged in a torpedo duel during a Baltic Sea training exercise last week.

The crews of the Novorossiysk and Dmitrov also trained to track enemies and evade enemy attacks.

The Baltic Sea has been described as a "NATO lake" since Sweden and Finland joined the alliance.

Two Russian submarines recently fought a torpedo duel, conducting training that involved detecting enemies, evading attacks, and working combat maneuvers.

The exercises took place in the Baltic Sea, waters sometimes referred to as a "NATO lake" due to its waters being surrounded by NATO allies since Sweden and Finland ascended into the alliance.

The Kilo-class, diesel-electric submarines Novorossiysk and Dmitrov held a training duel involving torpedo fire, according to Russian state-run media TASS. The media outlet reported the training exercise on June 25, citing the Russian navy.

In the Baltic Sea following the completion of anti-submarine warfare maneuvers, the submarine Novorossiysk engaged the Dmitrov with a training torpedo without a warhead, the navy said, per TASS.

The submarine crews also conducted several other exercises focused on detecting and tracking adversary submarines, evasion, and combat training.

The subs Novorossiysk and Dmitrov are representative of two of several variants of Russian Kilo-class submarines. The Novorossiysk, for instance, is a project 636.3 sub and can launch Kalibr cruise missiles. 636.3s are the most current Kilo-class subs being built. The Dmitrov, on the other hand, is a project 877 sub, one of the original variants built.

Both subs are known for being relatively quiet, but the Novorossiysk and other project 636.3 subs are considered to be highly advanced and stealthy vessels. After wrapping up the torpedo training, the two Russian submarines went on to conduct other combat exercises in the Baltic Sea, Russian media said.

Ships from NATO navies sail in formation in the Baltic Sea during the exercise Baltic Operations 2023. US Marine Corps/Staff Sgt. Shawn Coover

The Baltic Sea area has seen geopolitical shifts since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago and neighboring Finland and Sweden joined NATO.

It has sometimes been referred to as a "NATO lake" considering that eight of the nine countries bordering it are now members of the alliance. Russia is the only exception. That's a stark difference from 1990, when only two Baltic Sea countries, Denmark and Germany, were NATO members.

The "NATO lake" term has been debated and criticized as presumptuous, with some experts calling it a "fatal" mistake as the Baltic Sea can be traversed by any seafaring nation and remains an important strategic front for Russia.

The Baltic Sea has become increasingly important for NATO's military presence, but Russia also sees the body of water as vital to its commercial shipping, oil exports, and trade from ports like St. Petersburg and Primorsk.

The region is also home to increasing Russian anti-access/area denial capabilities, particularly in the Kaliningrad area. These capabilities include cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and nuclear weapons, making the sea strategically important for both Moscow and NATO.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A recent study from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows as sea levels rise, pieces of critical infrastructure in New Hampshire could be threatened by flooding from the ocean on a regular basis.

In a medium sea level rise scenario, where the ocean rises about 3.2 feet, a fire station in Hampton would flood about 12 times a year by 2050. An affordable housing unit in Exeter could flood 26 times a year.

As time and sea level rise go on, wastewater treatment plants in Hampton, Portsmouth and Seabrook could expect regular flooding, too.

All told, up to six critical infrastructure assets would be threatened by flooding about 12 times a year by 2100, the study shows.

In a high scenario, with about 6.5 feet of sea level rise, that number jumps to 10, and critical infrastructure is at risk of flooding about 26 times a year.

The study only considered coastal infrastructure that would flood from the ocean itself. Extreme rainfall and river flooding are alsoincreasing threats as the climate continues to change, but those risks arent included in this research.

Kristina Dahl, who worked on the project for the Union of Concerned Scientists, said in some ways, New Hampshire is lucky.

The state has less critical infrastructure on the coast than most other places. Nationwide, 1,600 pieces of critical infrastructure on the coasts are expected to flood twice a year or more from sea level rise, according to her research.

Researchers say because its a problem that can be anticipated, its a problem that can be addressed.

This is not should not come as a surprise to us in the year 2050 that we have facilities that are at risk, she said. Because infrastructure is so long lived, and because the decisions that go into adopting infrastructure are so difficult and require a lot of community engagement, we really need to start now so that we're prepared for 2050 or 2100.

Dahl says communities could use the data as a starting point for more detailed local risk assessments, which could help begin conversations about how to plan for the future. That could include moving or retrofitting buildings.

The changes needed to protect infrastructure from the rising ocean could be expensive, Dahl said. Fossil fuel companies are one place some communities, including the state of Vermont, are looking for the money to become more resilient to climate change.

As we think about how we're going to fund this major effort toward climate resilience along our coasts, it's important that we look to the accountability of those companies that have contributed so much to the problem, she said.

According to scientists, some amount of sea level rise is already locked in, particularly through 2050. But the amount that may threaten infrastructure in the latter part of the century depends on how much the world cuts climate polluting emissions

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: Here's how sea level rise threatens Seacoast NH infrastructure
Arizona's K-12 education budget will remain relatively flat this year, with a slight inflation adjustment, according to lawmakers who passed a $16.1 billion state budget last month.

That's something worth celebrating amid a $1.4 billion deficit that required sweeping cuts, according to Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Glendale.

"We still prioritized K-12 spending," Toma said. "It just looked different from the past. It wasn't about new money, but it was about protecting what they already have."

Even so, Arizona, which ranks 49th in the country for per pupil spending, will likely remain near last for another year. And despite holding steady overall, there are a few key budgetary exceptions that parents and teachers should know before the 2024-25 school year starts.

Legislature rejects Democrats' education voucher reform proposals

Democrats point to the estimated $900 million spent on education vouchers last fiscal year as the primary deficit driver and have called for tightened regulation since the program expanded. Once designed for select groups like special needs students, the Empowerment Scholarship Account program was expanded in 2022 to all Arizona kids, allowing all families to use public money for education expenses like private school tuition, supplies and tutoring.

Lawmakers drafted multiple reform bills this session attempting to curb education voucher spending and add new oversight, said Nancy Gutierrez, D-Tucson, a high school teacher and member of the Legislature's four-person teacher caucus.

One bill would have required a review of the voucher program's efficiency, effectiveness and necessity. Another would have barred parents from selling items purchased with voucher money and required pre-approval for transactions over $500. A third would have required schools that take voucher dollars to follow fingerprinting practices equal to public schools.

Those bills failed to get picked up by a committee for consideration.

"They were pretty darn moderate bills this session," Gutierrez said. "And they just went nowhere."

Toma said legislators pushing for such reforms don't understand how the program works. He sponsored the legislation that led to the universal expansion of education vouchers.

"Every single dollar is reviewed already by the Department of Education, and every charge that is found to be for a nonpermissible item is reversed, or the parent is charged for it," Toma said.

Another member of the teacher caucus, Jennifer Pawlik, D-Chandler, said reforms faced an uphill battle because Republicans would have had to subvert the will of the speaker during an election year. Democrats had only 29 votes in the House; they needed 31.

"We're definitely not seeing eye-to-eye, the speaker and the Democrats, but I think we are trying to use taxpayer money in a responsible manner," Pawlik said. "I'm certainly a pragmatic person, and I'm grateful for anything we got."

Toma said he supports "common sense" education voucher reforms, such as those that were incorporated into this year's budget.

Despite holding steady overall, there are a few key budgetary exceptions that parents and teachers should know before the 2024-25 school year starts.

How have Arizona's universal education vouchers changed this year?

Legislators did enact several changes to the education voucher program this year.

One reform closed a loophole that Toma said allowed parents to use voucher dollars contrary to the program's intent, costing the state about $2.5 million in the process.

Voucher holders had been able to enter the program after the public school year ended, receive six months of funding, and then return to public school by the start of the next school year. Families, then, were raking in voucher dollars strictly for summer use without ever missing a day of class in a public school.

Other reforms require the Arizona Department of Education to maintain an online database of allowable and disallowed expenses and bar service providers and teachers from being paid through the voucher program if the State Board of Education has reprimanded them for "immoral or unprofessional conduct." Another change requires the Empowerment Scholarship Account program to reimburse families for qualified purchases, a practice of the Education Department but not written into the law.

"They have improved the program overall," Toma said of the reforms. "Because it's so incredibly popular for parents, I don't have a problem with us making improvements to it."

The budget also calls for schools accepting voucher money to take the fingerprints of all teaching staff and personnel who have unsupervised contact with students, which Pawlik said is a promising step in the right direction.

However, Gutierrez said that the change is a watered-down version of the Democrats' proposed bill: Unlike public schools, the language does not require voucher-recipient private schools to cross-check those prints with law enforcement agencies and issue clearance cards.

"So they could say that they were fingerprinted, they could throw the fingerprints away, and that counts," Gutierrez said. "That's not going to keep any students safe.  The reforms were not reforms."

Money for schools: Trial that could change how AZ funds school facilities is over, but ruling months off

State poverty funds for schools, established in 2022, to be cut in 2025

At the conclusion of the 2024-25 school year, Arizona will eliminate funding that gives extra support to schools with large populations of students living in poverty.

Known as "opportunity weight funding," those dollars required a decade of advocacy work before they were established in 2022, according to Beth Lewis, a former educator who now leads public education advocacy group Save Our Schools Arizona. Arizona was one of few states that didn't have poverty weight for school funding at the time.

The state had used a results-based "carrot approach" to education, Lewis said, by which schools that performed well on standardized tests were rewarded with more funding without consideration for socioeconomic status.

The poverty weight reversed that. The state allocated $67 million annually to schools in low-income communities to purchase backpacks, school supplies, shoes, reading specialists, interventionists and other resources.

"It was chopped," Lewis said. "And so we're going to have to go back next year and fight for that to be reinstated and hope that there's more dollars."

Lawmakers made a promise of legislative intent to reinstate the funds in fiscal year 2028, Gutierrez said. She has little faith that will happen.

"We know that that literally is not binding, and we also have seen that if you want to add something to the budget, you have to negotiate it," Gutierrez said. "We have nothing to negotiate in public schools."

Will AZ schools see budget increase? Voters will decide in 2024 election

Burden on kindergarten teachers will ease

The budget removed a requirement that public school kindergarten teachers evaluate each student's skill level within a 45-day period through a time-intensive process called the Kindergarten Entry Assessment.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne praised the Legislature for removing the assessment, which he said many educators considered a waste of classroom time. Since taking office in 2023, Horne pledged to reduce unnecessary paperwork for teachers. He said he had already reduced the assessment's burden by 80% but lacked legal authority to eliminate it altogether.

"Over time, the KEA had ballooned into an endless morass of paperwork that meant teachers had to spend too much time on bureaucratic requirements versus time with students," Horne said.

Lewis, a vocal critic of the Horne administration, said she shares his sentiments on this reform.

"Kindergarten teachers are leaving kindergarten classrooms in droves because of that assessment," Lewis said. "You can just imagine having 27 5-year-olds in your class and having to pull each one out for three to five hours for testing in a given time window. It was a nightmare."

Deaf and blind education loses $900,000

Most state agencies were cut by about 3.45% to reduce the deficit, including the agency tasked with educating deaf and blind students.

The Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind was cut nearly $900,000, which Superintendent Annette Reichman said has huge implications for its ability to transport roughly 2,200 students on two campuses.

Phoenix Day School for the Deaf transports students who live within a 50-mile radius to and from school each day. The Tucson campus of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind has dormitories and transports students from across the state, including for monthly visits home.

Reichman said she does not yet have specifics on the types of cutbacks facing transportation as her staff prepares a budget analysis.

"We are reevaluating everything," Reichman said.

The cuts will also further delay about $1.5 million in annual deferred maintenance projects. The Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind receives about $300,000 from the state to address maintenance deficiencies each year, and her team typically supplements that with an additional $300,000 from its own funds. That won't be possible this year, she said, because they want to preserve dollars for student services and classroom instruction.

Reach the reporter at nicholas.sullivan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Arizona's budget will impact universal vouchers, K-12 education
YANGON, Jul 03 (News On Japan) - It has been three years since Myanmar experienced a military coup. Although not a major tourist destination for Japanese citizens, over 300 Japanese companies have established operations in Myanmar.

Aeon Group, which operates nine stores in Myanmar, has found itself entangled in the military regimes hardline measures. Myanmar's state television reported that authorities detained four retail executives, including a Japanese national. Aeon confirmed that one of those detained is Hiroshi Kasamatsu, 53, the head of the product division at Aeon Orange. The reason for the detention was reportedly selling rice at a price higher than the regulated rate.

In February 2021, Myanmar's military claimed electoral fraud in the general elections and staged a coup. Aung San Suu Kyi, a leader of the democratization movement, was detained, and the military took full control.

Citizens have shown resistance, but the military has suppressed these efforts with force. The military has attacked pro-democracy groups and ethnic minorities across the country, leading to the displacement of millions. Over three million people are now internally displaced.

One of the major issues facing the people of Myanmar amid this political turmoil is soaring prices.

A taxi driver commented, "With the rising gasoline prices, there are fewer customers. The fare increase has also reduced the number of customers, leading to decreased income. Despite lower income, the cost of necessities has skyrocketed."

Footage from a supermarket in Yangon, filmed by a Japanese resident, shows a pack of eggs priced at 240 yen, up from the previous 130 yen.

A resident of Yangon in their 50s remarked, "Prices have doubled or tripled over the past year. It feels like a sudden increase. Rice prices have more than doubled. The best rice comes from the northern region of Shan, which is now a conflict zone. It used to be popular, but its no longer available."

The coup and subsequent crackdown have triggered this surge in prices, with the military regime shifting the blame onto businesses.

The State Administration Council stated, "While the nation strives for economic stability and development, some businesses are causing market turmoil by raising rice prices."

On June 25, a market in Yangon saw long lines as a rice industry group offered discounted prices. According to local media, a few days earlier, leaders of the industry group were detained for not adhering to price controls. Authorities are now conducting on-site inspections with police to ensure rice is sold at regulated prices.

The military regime appears to be using pressure and detentions to force price reductions, possibly to divert public dissatisfaction. They have even released propaganda videos.

The Myanmar Ministry of Information announced, "We are grateful that related parties and the government are selling around 2 kilograms of rice for 3,000 kyat (about 150 yen) so that low-income families can purchase it at affordable prices."

A rice dealer commented on the series of detentions, "This won't solve the problem. Prices are rising across the board, so rice prices will also increase. Producers and labor costs require price adjustments. It's unfair to control only the rice market and detain individuals."

Source: ANN
HIROSHIMA, Jul 03 (News On Japan) - A man accused of killing a university student by injecting alcohol in a hotel room in Hiroshima Prefecture to fraudulently claim over 600 million yen in life insurance has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The prosecution argued that the man disguised the victim as himself to receive the insurance payout.

Secluded Hotel Room: Feigning His Own Death

The incident, dubbed the "insurance fraud murder," occurred in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The main figures involved are the victim, Kaito Ando, a 21-year-old male university student; the accused, Daisuke Namba, now 33; and Namba's "brother."

The crime took place in November 2021. Just after midnight, a call was made to emergency services from the hotel.

Emergency Call: "There is a centipede in the room, and someone is in serious condition."

According to the prosecution's claims, when paramedics arrived, they found two men in the room: one in cardiac arrest and the other who made the call. The caller identified himself as "Daisuke Namba's brother" and showed both his and Namba's health insurance cards.

After transporting the patient, the hospital contacted Namba's family, leading to a surprising revelation: the deceased was not Namba. Namba's mother testified to this.

Mother's Testimony: "I immediately noticed the victim was not Daisuke."

The deceased was actually Ando from Aichi Prefecture, and the man claiming to be Namba's brother was Namba himself, attempting to stage his own death.

Over 600 Million Yen Insurance Policy

Namba had taken out life insurance policies on himself worth up to 630 million yen.

Prosecution: "The defendant took out large insurance policies with his brother as the beneficiary, killed the victim, disguised him as himself, and intended to collect the insurance money."

Ando, who did not drink alcohol, was found to have ingested a large amount of sleeping pills and alcohol. It is believed that while he was unconscious, 96-degree vodka was injected into his body. His cause of death was hypoxic encephalopathy due to asphyxiation, unrelated to the centipede bite. The insurance payout would have increased from 550 million to 630 million yen if the death was caused by a centipede, prompting the attempt to stage the cause of death.

Twenty days prior to this incident, Namba attempted to use a wasp for a similar insurance fraud but failed.

Court's Judgment on "Sloppy Plan"

Namba and Ando met through a religious solicitation. Shortly after, Namba began searching for terms such as "identity switch," "life insurance," "autopsy," "sleeping pills," "double murder," "untraceable," "wasp," "death," "insurance payout," "alcohol," and "lethal dose."

There was no evidence that Namba was in financial distress. His motive remained unclear even during the trial.

On July 2, the Hiroshima District Court ruled: "Considering the strong intent to kill, this case does not entirely exclude the possibility of a life sentence. However, given the unrealistic potential to actually receive the insurance money due to the plan's sloppiness, a life sentence is not warranted."

The court handed down a 30-year sentence, as requested by the prosecution.

Source: ANN
OITA, Jul 03 (News On Japan) - A bridge in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, is at high risk of collapse and has been completely closed to traffic.

The bridge piers appear to be crumbling, and the road is noticeably sagging. Its an astonishing scene as the bridge seems about to break.

A nearby worker said, "I heard a very loud noise, a thud. I thought it might be a large vehicle accident, so I looked outside, but that wasnt the case. On closer inspection, the bridge was falling."

The location is Hita City, and the Saburo Maru Bridge spans the Kagetsu River, which is currently flowing with muddy waters.

A local resident said, "A large truck had stopped, and I thought it might be an accident. When I looked closer, I saw the bridge was tilted. I initially thought a truck or something had fallen, but it was the bridge itself."

Another resident added, "There was a traffic jam in front of my house, so I knew something was up. My husband contacted me, saying, 'The bridge has collapsed,' so I hurried to see. It was beyond my imagination. It was much worse than I expected."

"I went to see it, and there was a person stopped in front of the bridge. They told me they heard a sound like thunder, and as they were about to cross, the bridge fell, so they stopped," another local said.

Around 2 p.m. on the 2nd, the police imposed traffic restrictions due to the bridge's collapse risk. Hita City experienced over 250mm of rain in 24 hours.

A nearby resident commented, "(The river water) reached up to here. Yesterday, it was right there, almost at the brink. It's troublesome because it's a vital artery to the city. Everyone is troubled."

"Was the river swelling?" a resident was asked. "Yes, it was. It was very bad yesterday morning. I felt scared. I cross the bridge multiple times a day. Large trucks also pass through during the day, so theres never a time when nothing is crossing," they replied.

According to Oita Prefecture officials, the bridge has been in use for about 60 years.

A prefectural official said, "Records from around 1964-65 are still available. Weve been using the bridge with appropriate reinforcements."

Could the bridge have tilted due to the rivers rising waters?

Shinichiro Yano, a professor at Kyushu University's Faculty of Engineering, explained, "With the increased river flow, the water speed also increases, stirring up sediment at the riverbed and around the piers, which causes them to tilt. This phenomenon is common during relatively large-scale floods. Currently, the rain has mostly subsided. Its unlikely that the piers will be washed away immediately. However, restoring the bridge wont be easy. It will likely involve removing and replacing the piers."

Source: ANN
 Flash

Rescue work is underway after a bombing on the Al-Hoja Street in the center of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip on June 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that his country is in "the final stage" of eliminating Hamas' armed force in the Gaza Strip.

"We are advancing towards the completion of the elimination" of Hamas, Netanyahu said during a meeting with cadets from Israel's National Security College, according to a statement released by his office.

Netanyahu's estimate came a day after he toured the Gaza Division and held a security assessment meeting, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the army's senior command, on Israel's nine-month-long offensive in Gaza, "with emphasis on the fighting in Rafah, as well as the continuation of military pressure on Hamas," according to Netanyahu's office.

Also on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ordered a mass evacuation of civilians from the eastern Khan Younis, signaling that ground forces might soon resume their offensives in the southern Gazan city, presumably to fight Hamas forces that have regrouped in the area.

Israel completed a large-scale attack in Khan Younis in early April and subsequently withdrew most of its forces.
Aomori, Jul 03 (News On Japan) - A man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for killing a hospitalized patient by stabbing him with a toothbrush.

Hitoshi Sasaki, 58, was convicted of repeatedly stabbing 61-year-old Shigeyoshi Takahashi in the face with a toothbrush last March at Michinoku Memorial Hospital in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.

Sasaki, who was hospitalized in the same room as the victim, had his mental competency debated during the trial. On the first of this month, the Aomori District Court ruled that he was fully responsible for his actions.

The defense team plans to discuss the possibility of an appeal with Sasaki.

Source: ANN
HOKKAIDO, Jul 03 (News On Japan) - In the early hours of July 2nd, a large ferry ran aground after colliding with a pier at Tomakomai Port in Hokkaido. The incident left 140 passengers and crew stranded on board for over 10 hours.

A passenger aboard the grounded ferry described the scene: "The sound and shaking happened simultaneously with a loud 'gagaga.'"

Footage taken by a passenger shows the ferry stuck in the same position even after sunrise.

The Silver Breeze, a ferry operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen, ran aground at Tomakomai Port in Hokkaido in the early hours of July 2nd. The bow of the ship collided with wave-dissipating blocks, leaving the hull damaged.

The ferry had 140 passengers and crew members on board.

Ferry Aground for Over 10 Hours

The ferry had departed from Hachinohe Port in Aomori at 5:30 PM on July 1st, scheduled to arrive at Tomakomai West Port at 1:30 AM on July 2nd. However, the ferry hit a pier before reaching its intended destination, causing it to be stranded.

After 10.5 hours of being grounded, the ferry finally returned to the terminal.

One passenger said, "I was worried, walking around. They provided mealscurry rice for breakfast and instant noodles for lunch. I have to go to work now."

The Silver Breeze, a large ferry that began service three years ago, operates daily.

Jun Abe, a director at the Japan Society for Water Disaster Prevention, commented, "It's quite puzzling how a ferry that crosses straits could have an accident here. If it was a human error, perhaps they missed the navigational markers. However, the entrance and exit of the port are areas where utmost caution is required. If an accident occurred there, it might indicate some mechanical failure."

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but there were no injuries among the passengers, and there was no flooding or oil spill reported.
TOKYO, Jul 03 (News On Japan) - The second daughter of Shoko Asahara, the former leader of Aum Shinrikyo, appeared in court to request the handover of his ashes, expressing her desire to mourn his death as a daughter.

Shoko Asahara, born Chizuo Matsumoto, was executed at the age of 63. His daughter has filed a lawsuit demanding the government hand over his remains.

The Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of the daughter, ordering the handover, but the government appealed the decision.

During the appeals hearing at the Tokyo High Court, the daughter emotionally stated, "As his daughter, I want to take his remains and mourn his death. I do not want anyone to use my father anymore."

Conversely, the government argued that if the ashes were handed over to the cult, it could pose a significant threat to public safety and social order.

Source: ANN
Benjamin Kalu

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Cyril Hart on Tuesday accused deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu of discriminating against new lawmakers during debates.

Representing the Bonny/Degema federal constituency of Rivers under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hart was accused on the floor of the house during plenary.

The lawmaker claimed Ahmed Jaha, the legislator representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok federal constituency, moved a motion condemning the recent suicide bombing attack in Borno.

After the motion was moved, several lawmakers, including Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the committee on navy; Idris Wase, former deputy speaker; Babajimi Benson, chairman of the defence committee; and Dasuki Abdussama from Sokoto state, were recognized by Kalu to contribute to the debate.

Nearly all the lawmakers who contributed to the debate are senior members.

After the debate, Kalu was about to put the motion to a vote when Hart raised a point of order.

You do not give preference to first-timers. You dont, Hart exclaimed loudly to the cheers of some members.

The lawmaker said virtually all lawmakers Kalu has recognised to debate the motion are old timers.

This is what you always do. You need to allow first-timers, he said.

Responding, Kalu said, There is no discrimination in the parliament.

He explained that lawmakers are recognised to speak based on their seating arrangement, adding that if someone is not in the designated row, they may be overlooked.

At this point, Hart staged a walkout from the chamber, shouting while doing so.

TOP HEADLINES
The Iowa Utilities Board, since renamed as a commission, recently ruled that Summit Carbon Solutions could use eminent domain to build a carbon dioxide pipeline in Iowa.

Lisa Lima, chair of the Pottawattamie County Democratic Party, criticized the decision in a statement distributed to news outlets last Thursday.

"Summit Carbon Pipelines hasnt proven itself to be a reputable company, hasnt met the requests of landowners, wants to use billions of gallons of Iowa water every year, and will compromise the safety of vegetation, livestock, and citizens within the range of this pipeline," Lima said in the statement.

Lima said that opponents of the pipeline  including the Sierra Club, Bold Alliance, Domina Law Group and landowners  spent three years fighting Summit through advocacy, education and attendance at the state agency's meetings.

"They have shown facts, findings from experts, and data at public meetings as to the negative effects of a carbon pipeline," Lima said. "As a citizen of Iowa, I am deeply concerned for the future of our state if eminent domain is allowed to garner land for profit. Carbon pipelines arent a benefit for the environment, especially should one rupture."

Lima  along with Pottawattamie County vice chair Shawna Anderson  was among 98 signatories to a letter circulated by state Democratic leaders last week.

"This short-term gain for big agribusiness only hurts the long-term sustainability of rural Iowa and the state of Iowa as a whole," the letter states.

"Corporate profits are being prioritized over rural and environmental justice," it continues. "By the use of eminent domain to enrich the pockets of the few, rural communities are being sacrificed through their land, water, and vitality. Not only does this affect rural Iowa, but those Iowans who live in larger municipalities will also suffer the consequences of the overproduction of corn with higher costs of water and further degradation of the Iowa landscape."
A new plan for Iowa agriculture seeks to increase the states production of food rather than ethanol and animal feed, the Iowa Food System Coalition announced at a Monday press conference.

The plan, known as Setting the Table for All Iowans, outlines the coalitions policy goals which include producing more locally grown food, getting more young people to become farmers and providing more financial assistance to farmers.

Chris Schwartz, executive director of the coalition, said the plan is an opportunity to positively impact farmers, the economy and the local community.

Theres room to grow and strengthen our agricultural tradition as well as our collective health and our economy, Schwartz said at the press conference.

Tommy Hexter, who is the director of Grinnell Farm to Table food hub, said many commodity farmers are struggling because most of the profits are going toward the middlemen like seed, equipment and marketing companies.

However, Hexter said selling produce locally cuts out most middlemen and leads to more money going into farmers pockets.

Setting the Table for All Iowans provides an opportunity to build that system where Iowas farmers and small business owners can truly thrive, Hexter said in the press conference.

Iowa leads ethanol production

According to data from the Iowa Farm Bureau, about 50% to 70% of Iowas corn production is used to make ethanol compared to the national average of about 35% to 40%. Iowa alone accounts for nearly 30% of the nations ethanol production.

In 2023, Iowa produced about 4.6 billion gallons of ethanol.

The plan also focuses on how to retain and attract farming talent to Iowa through investments in obtaining refrigerated trucks, increasing the number of rural grocery stores and providing needed equipment to small businesses.

This plan provides us a pathway to collaborate and really support one another, Senior Program Director at Iowa Valley RC&D Giselle Bruskewitz said.

President of the Iowa Farmers Union Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation family farmer, said investments like those are vital for the Iowa agriculture industry where there are more farmers above the age of 65 than below the age of 35.

We know that the oldest generation of Iowans owns over two-thirds of Iowas farmland, Lehman said. We need to invest in those opportunities for a more diverse and younger set of leadership opportunities for people in farming.

Over the past two years, the Iowa Food System Coalition has organized a Food and Farm Day at the Iowa Capitol and invited legislators and state agencies to a food policy summit.

One of the next steps for the coalition is to educate legislators about the plan so it can be used as a guide to create state policies, Schwartz said.
Barely six minutes before an EF3 tornado destroyed hangars and planes at Eppley Airfield, Cody Weihe of Lincoln, Nebraska, huddled with about 50 other passengers in a stairway in Concourse B, staring at a weather app on his phone and worrying about his safety.

Im looking at the radar. It doesnt look great, Weihe recalled of that April day.

But even as the storm cell bore down on Eppley, airport security officers started telling Weihe and others that they had to leave the shelter and go through TSA security again.

At that point, theyre shooing us out of this secure area, he said. A lady keeps yelling at us, Youve got to go, youve got to go.

Weihe and others left the stairway, only to be returned to the shelter minutes later  just as the tornado hit the airport property and badly damaged the general aviation side of the field, about half a mile away.

No one in the passenger terminal was hurt. But Weihe, who filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration, says Eppleys actions in those critical moments could have cost me my life, as well as hundreds of others at the airport.

Eppley officials acknowledge that some changes are needed.

Tim Schmitt, the airport authoritys chief operating officer, said Eppley is changing its storm evacuation policies in the wake of the Arbor Day tornado emergency. He said travelers will now be allowed to remain in shelters until a storm threat has passed.

The airport will also update and increase the frequency of training for its security staff for storm emergencies.

In addition, he said, the authority is also considering whether to use cellphone weather alert apps as a trigger for sheltering in addition to National Weather Service tornado alerts and weather updates.

In the case of the April 26 tornado, Schmitt said the team in Eppleys emergency operations center had been keeping an eye on the approaching storm cell. But it hadnt spawned any twisters for nearly half an hour after the weather service had issued a tornado warning.

One of the things we look at is a confirmed tornado signature, he said. The point is, this thing tracked all the way from Louisville (Nebraska) without a tornado associated with it.

That fact didnt offer much comfort to one Eppley passenger that day, a severe storms meteorologist with the U.S. military. He was in the shelter with Weihe and monitoring the approaching storm on his phone. About the time that airport security began telling people to leave the shelter, the meteorologist saw that the storm was just 3 to 5 miles from the airport, and its rotation was speeding up  an indication it might soon touch down.

Given how close the tornado was to the airport, I felt that calling all passengers out of the shelter area prematurely before the tornado hit put myself and others at risk from the tornadic storm, the meteorologist said in an email to the Omaha Airport Authority. The World-Herald obtained the email through a public records request but is not naming the meteorologist at his request because of his sensitive job.

Our phones were going off

The airport twister was one of at least 24 tornadoes that touched down that day in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Two EF3 tornadoes hit Omaha  one in Elkhorn, and the other, more than an hour later, at Eppley. Schmitt said it was thought to be the first time a tornado had ever touched down on the airport property.

According to a timeline provided by the airport authority, Eppley officials opened their emergency operations center at 2 p.m. Security officers were assigned to coordinate with the Transportation Security Administration and staff stairway shelters around the terminal. Portable signs were placed marking the locations of the 19 stairway shelters in the terminal and the two concourses.

At 3:38 p.m., the weather service issued a rare tornado emergency related to the tornado in Elkhorn, about 16 miles west of the airport. That storm caused significant damage to neighborhoods on Omahas western and northern fringes.

Still, Schmitt said, operations at Eppley continued without interruption because the airport wasnt covered by a tornado warning.

At 4:26 p.m., the weather service issued the tornado warning for eastern Sarpy and Douglas as well as parts of Cass and Pottawattamie Counties, based on radar echoes from a severe thunderstorm near Louisville that showed signs of rotation. People in the warned area were advised to take cover immediately.

Weihe, a 30-year-old software engineer, was waiting to reboard his Chicago-to-Lincoln flight after a business trip to Minneapolis. The flight had diverted to Eppley about two hours earlier  ironically, because of an earlier tornado warning in Lincoln.

All of a sudden, the (Omaha) airport was tornado-warned, and our phones were going off, Weihe said in an interview.

Schmitt said the airport authority did not order travelers into storm shelters based on that warning because the storm was still 25 miles from Eppley and because no tornado had actually been spotted.

A watch or a warning doesnt necessitate closure of the airport, Schmitt said in an interview. What were looking for is more or less a confirmed threat.

The tornado threat was not past us yet

But even though Eppley officials didnt view the tornado danger as imminent and didnt order people to shelter, passengers in or near Concourse B  used mainly by United and Southwest Airlines  wound up going into storm shelters anyway.

TSA agents and passengers alike had heard the tornado warnings on their cellphones. As people headed to shelters, unscreened travelers also were allowed beyond the screening area and into the concourses shelters.

In the emergency operations center, airport authorities grew alarmed when they learned about the rush to the shelters. Having TSA-screened and unscreened passengers sheltering together created a logistical headache, because all passengers would then have to be screened again once the storm passed.

Schmitt said passengers who hadnt been screened should have sheltered in the main terminal.

By 4:52 p.m., the storm hadnt yet produced a tornado. So airport security officers visited the Concourse B stairways, asking passengers to head to the security lines for rescreening. Schmitt said the security officers were told only to give travelers in the stairway shelters the opportunity to leave and should not have ordered anyone to leave.

But passengers like Weihe and the meteorologist didnt think it was optional.

The meteorologist protested that the storm was less than five miles away and bearing down on the airport.

I told the agents and a police officer that the tornado threat was not past us yet and that it could be dangerous in the terminal area, he said in the email.

In fact, at 4:54 p.m., the weather service issued another tornado warning, indicating that Eppley would be in the path by 5 p.m. Two minutes later, a local TV station reported a possible tornado just south of the airport. After confirming it with the weather service, Eppleys communications center used public address, ramp notification and an emergency messaging system to let passengers know. Airport security offers hurried to return people to the shelters they had just left.

Everybody was in the TSA, Weihe said. The police officer said, Get in the shelter. Theres a tornado hitting the airport.

At 4:58 p.m., the Eppley tornado touched down.

It was absolutely crazy

The twister wrecked four general aviation hangars and damaged 27 aircraft. It missed the terminal building, but did frighten passengers there. It also caused concern for some aboard at least two aircraft that had just arrived: a United flight from Denver that landed at 4:31 p.m. and a Delta flight from Minneapolis that landed at 4:49 p.m.

The plane was rocking back and forth. It was absolutely crazy, Toccara Steele of Omaha, a passenger on the United flight, told The World-Herald later that evening. It was scary as I dont know what.

After a minute, the tornado moved northeast across the river, Schmitt said.

The airport authority closed the airport at 5:01 p.m. Seven minutes later, an all-clear order released passengers from the stairway shelters, and TSA began rescreening them.

The airport reopened to passenger and cargo operations within an hour.

Two months after the tornado, the debris from the wrecked hangars has been removed. But the airport authority hasnt received a damage estimate or a firm timeline for reconstruction.

St. Louis learns lessons after 2011 twister

Things could be worse. Schmitts rebuilding task is nowhere near as extensive as the one 13 years ago that faced Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, executive director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

On the evening of April 22, 2011, an EF4 tornado struck the airport, blowing out windows in the main terminal, wrecking one concourse and causing roof damage to another. Five airliners also suffered damage. Three people were injured.

While a tornado warning had been issued 34 minutes earlier, airport officials learned Lambert was in its path only when a security officer spotted it on the western outskirts of the airfield.

Everything said it was going to go north of the airport, Hamm-Niebruegge said in an interview. The tornado warning hit so quickly for us.

The airport was closed, but it was partially reopened the following day and resumed full operations within four days. The rebuilt C concourse opened less than a year later.

She said St. Louis Lambert staff learned lessons from their experience, improving signage for the airports storm shelters and substituting recorded announcements for live ones.

Airport officials now make public-address announcements if tornado warnings are issued within 25 miles. They warn people to stay away from windows if a tornado is sighted within 15 miles, and move to shelters if one is within 10 miles.

Its a hard call. You dont want to overreact, Hamm-Niebruegge said. If you have tornadoes that have not just been sighted, but have touched down, you want people to take shelter.

Even more than a decade later, her staff realizes disaster training is something to take seriously.

For us and for our team, having gone through that, weve seen what 30 seconds of devastation can do, Hamm-Niebruegge said. People realize, its no joke anymore.

My life was in their hands

In Omaha, Schmitt convened airport authority and TSA officials together on May 17 for an after-action meeting. Their list of potential improvements to storm response included:

Allowing people to enter concourse stairway shelters, and remain in them, with a security escort.

Updating plans to reference the track and severity of the storm to determine, and consider using phone alerts to trigger, sheltering.

Reevaluating a public-address announcement that tells people to prepare to shelter.

Emphasizing to TSA that unscreened passengers should shelter in the main terminal, not in the concourses.

Adding training to improve coordination between airport authority staff and TSA.

In his email to the airport authority, the military meteorologist said he applaud(ed) the efforts of everyone involved, especially with zero injuries reported.

He added: I understand it was a frantic situation, but I wanted to share my experience and hope that communication strategies at times like these can be reviewed.

Weihe received an email response from the FAA to his hotline complaint June 12.

The investigation did not substantiate that a violation of an order, regulation or standard of the FAA occurred related to handling of a tornado, the email said. Although no regulatory issue was found, the airport authority did identify an issue and is rewriting airport procedures to prevent this type of event in the future.

Still, Weihe is concerned about what he views as a lapse in safety during his accidental visit to Eppley during Omahas worst tornado emergency in decades.

My life was in their hands, he said, and they screwed up.

Photos and videos: Tornadoes, severe storms hit Omaha and Lincoln metro areas
 Flash

The national flag of Finland flies after a ceremony for Finland's accession to NATO at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 4, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Finnish parliament has approved the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States, announced the parliament on Monday.

According to Finnish national broadcaster Yle, under the agreement, Finland will open 15 of its military bases for potential use by the military forces of the United States and will also allow the United States to bring defense equipment, supplies, materials, and soldiers to Finland.

In addition, the agreement will authorize establishment of certain military zones, which will include facilities accessible only to the personnel of the United States.

The agreement creates a framework for the activities of the United States and a more permanent presence in Finland, noted Yle.

Anna Kontula, Left Alliance lawmakers, has submitted a proposal calling on legislators to reject the agreement. "Generally, it is not a good idea to allow soldiers and weapons of a foreign country to settle. If this is done, it is usually not wise to give them the free right to operate in the country," Kontula was quoted by Uusi Suomi, a Finnish online news service, as saying.

The lawmaker emphasized that in the DCA, Finland significantly cedes its sovereignty to a foreign state, according to Uusi Suomi.

The negotiations for the DCA started in August 2022, three months after Finland's applying for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership. After a total of five rounds of negotiations, the agreement was reached at the end of October 2023.

Finland and the United States signed the DCA in Washington on Dec. 18, 2023. The Finnish government submitted the proposal for the agreement to the parliament for approval at the end of May 2024.
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A top US general has denied recent claims by Zimbabwean government officials that Washington is establishing a military base in neighboring Zambia and is supporting the country economically in a bid to isolate Zimbabwe within the region.

General Michael Langley, head of US Africa Command, or AFRICOM, described as absolutely false Zimbabwes claims that the United States is setting up a military base in Zambia and wants to move AFRICOM operations there from Germany. We have no bases in Zambia. We have no plans to put one there, Langley said during an African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Botswana last week. Washingtons approach on the continent is African-led and US-enabled, he said. The rift between Zimbabwe and Zambia that is increasing day-by-day has been further complicated by the Zambian governments recent decision to avoid using bilateral diplomatic channels and approach the SADC Secretariat instead to seek mediation.

During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg in early June, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa accused the United States of using Zambia as a strategic tool to isolate Zimbabwe within the region through military and economic support. However, Mnangagwa later said he did not call Zambia a security or a client state of the US in a conversation with Putin.

However, according to Zimbabwean newspaper The Sunday Mail, high-level diplomatic sources who spoke under condition of anonymity said that Mnangagwas complaint was not against Zambia; it was against Americas meddlesome activities in the region. The diplomatic sources stressed that the real dispute was between Harare and Washington. In other words, they want to pursue their foreign goals through a situation of misunderstanding and even conflict between two neighboring African states.
European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, has agreed with U.S. supplier Spirit AeroSystems to acquire the major activities related to its airbus planes manufacturing in five plants, including the Casablanca site.

In a press release issued Monday, Airbus said the $559 million acquisition deal aims to ensure stability of supply for its commercial aircraft programs through a more sustainable way forward, both operationally and financially.

The transaction covers Spirit AeroSystems production of A350 fuselage sections in Kinston, North Carolina (USA) and St. Nazaire (France); of the A220s wings and mid-fuselage in Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Casablanca (Morocco) as well as of the A220 pylons in Wichita, Kansas, U.S.

The same day, Spirit AeroSystems announced it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Boeing Company. After carefully evaluating Boeings offer to combine, we are confident this transaction is in the best interest of Spirit and its shareholders, and will benefit Spirits other stakeholders, said Patrick M. Shanahan, President and CEO of Spirit.

Bringing Spirit and Boeing together will enable greater integration of both companies manufacturing and engineering capabilities, including safety and quality systems, he added.

We are proud of the part we have played in Airbus programs and believe bringing these programs under Airbus ownership will enable greater integration and alignment, underlined Mr. Shanahan.

Spirit AeroSystems is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit has facilities in the U.S., U.K., France, Malaysia and Morocco.
The Nigerian military imposed a curfew in Borno state after suspected female suicide bombers targeted a wedding, a funeral and a hospital in the restive Borno region, killing at least 18 and injured 30 others.

Coordinated suicide attacks reportedly orchestrated by Boko Haram claimed the lives of at least 18 people, injuring 42, targeting selected communities in northeastern Nigeria between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon (28-29 June). The Islamist jihadist group, which has not officially claimed responsibility for the bombings, has been waging violence in the region for more than ten years. We all have to be on alert now, as we dont know where many of these girls that have been released are headed now. Our local intelligence was able to ascertain that there are 30 of them, one local source said.

In one of three blasts in the town of Gwoza, a woman carrying a baby detonated explosives in the middle of a wedding ceremony, causing multiple casualties, according to a state police spokesman. Subsequent bombers targeted mourners at a hospital in the same town across the border from Cameroon, while another attack was carried out at the funeral for victims of the wedding blast, authorities said. According to HumAngle, a niche media platform covering Africas conflict, humanitarian, and development issues, the Gwoza general area is Boko Harams primary area of dominance and control, where the group is constantly fending off attacks from both security forces and its rival terrorist group, the Islamic State West Africa Provence (ISWAP).
Lloyd Doggett calls for a change of plans. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Imag

Most elected Democrats and party leaders either back Joe Biden as their presumptive presidential nominee or theyre remaining silent about their fears as they await better polling data about the damage inflicted by his June 27 debate performance. But the first few cracks in this wall of support have appeared with several members of Congress taking their concerns about Bidens 2024 candidacy public.

So far, only veteran Democratic congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas has called on Biden to step aside, invoking former president Lyndon Johnsons decision not to run for reelection in 1968.

My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved, Doggett said in a statement. Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.

Two other members of Congress, Senator Peter Welch of Vermont and Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois, sharply criticized the White House for trying to suppress concerns that Biden is not fit to run.

I really do criticize the campaign for a dismissive attitude towards people who are raising questions for discussion. Thats just facing the reality that were in. Thats hardly  I wont repeat their term, Senator Welch said, alluding to use of the term bed-wetting by the Biden team. Thats the discussion we have to have. It has to be from the top levels of the Biden campaign to precinct captains in the South Side of Chicago.

Representative Quigley told CNN that Biden has to be honest with himself and consider how his next move impacts not just his race, but all the other races coming in November. But he stopped short of calling on the president to step aside.

.@RepMikeQuigley on @JoeBiden's possible replacement: "It's his decision. I just want him to appreciate at this time just how much it impacts not just his race, but all of the other races coming in November ... it wasn't just a horrible night." pic.twitter.com/nHHKHKBYyq  CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) July 2, 2024

Its impossible to say whether these are just a few stray complaints or the start of a more widespread turn against Biden by Democratic lawmakers. Party loyalists may still be able to reassert discipline, particularly if the White House responds by improving its communication with leading Democrats, which has clearly been lacking during this crisis.

Perhaps more significant than the open rebellion of a few elected Democrats are the hints being dropped by Biden loyalists that open discussion of the partys quandary are in order. Representative Nancy Pelosi said on MSNBC that it was completely legitimate to ask if Bidens debate lapse was an episode or  a condition. And Representative Jim Clyburn endorsed Kamala Harris as the nominee if Biden were to step aside. While Bidens support may not be crumbling just yet, the willingness among Democratic elected officials and party leaders to keep concerns private may be coming to an end.

Worried Democrats are clearly on tenterhooks waiting for solid evidence on whether the debate changed public opinion on the Biden-Trump contest. Theres not much post-debate gold-standard national polling of the race, and theres even less data from the battleground states that will determine the outcome. But surely many Democrats are seeing some of the initial if fragmentary numbers suggesting a difficult road ahead for the president. CNN released a post-debate poll showing Trump leading the incumbent by a robust 6 percent, confirming an April survey with the same result that many had considered an outlier. A SuffolkUSA Today poll showed a three-point gain by Trump in a contest it earlier rated as a tie. And Peter Hamby of Puck has leaked some swing-state polling showing Biden losing ground across the board.

We are probably at a juncture where a few more credible national or battleground-state polls showing a Biden debacle could make the first sounds of rebellion we are hearing today prophetic. Without such evidence, and particularly if evidence arises showing the Biden-Trump race mostly unchanged since the debate, the president may yet fight through this moment and reassert complete control of his party. But right now hes sitting on a volcano that could erupt at any moment.
Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

A few dozen influential Democratic donors in Los Angeles settled into a plush gold-and-cream-accented living room in Holmby Hills for what was to be a cozy debate night, happy to be hosted by James Costos, a former HBO executive and Barack Obamas ambassador to Spain, and his husband, the celebrity interior designer Michael Smith. They were joined by Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and a trio of governors who figured to be a big part of Democrats post-2024 future: Michigans Gretchen Whitmer, Illinoiss J.B. Pritzker, and Kentuckys Andy Beshear, each of whom gamely took the mic to greet the Angelenos before the main event. Then Joe Biden started speaking on the television and the room froze. The crowd fell silent as Biden muddled through his first few answers, then exploded into disbelieving murmurs as he continued to struggle against Donald Trump. At one point, Rob Reiner yelled above the agitated din  loud enough for the governors to hear  that Biden was going to lose the election.

Five days later, with Biden signaling that he has every intention of staying in the race, the alarm hasnt dissipated; it has grown exponentially. Democratic senators and governors are furious with the president for not having called to reassure them and with his White House and campaign teams for insisting both his health and political prospects are in better shape than they appeared to 50 million viewers. Unable to reach Biden, lawmakers in Washington are begging Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Jim Clyburn, and Nancy Pelosi to persuade Biden to leave the race or at least to get a message to Barack Obama, First Lady Jill Biden, or the presidents sister, Val. (Heavy-hitting donors are having similar conversations.) Many on Capitol Hill have turned to hoping the bottom falls out of their partys own polling, which they believe would force an ultimatum on Biden: Step aside as the nominee, or let Democrats lose both the White House and Congress to Donald Trump and Republicans.

Governors have been discussing which of the presidents aides are most responsible for keeping Bidens true condition from them and fuming about apparent family-and-friends attempts to deflect blame onto the debate-prep process. And longtime Washington operators have been strategizing about what argument they could make to Biden himself if given the chance. What could you say to him if you loved him? one asked me this week. If you lose, your legacy will be Ruth Bader Ginsburg times 100? Youre the one who brought back fascism? None of these Democrats can figure out how to reach the man himself.

Yet in the White House and Wilmington campaign headquarters, Biden and his inner circle are operating in another political universe entirely. The presidents family set the tone for this defiant posture at Camp David over the weekend, exploring ways for him to reboot his campaign rather than drop out. In this universe, all of the Democratic naysayers are wrong: The debate was a bad moment, but one that will pass without fundamentally changing Bidens chances at reelection. They are convinced that this is the universe in which voters live and that Mondays Supreme Court ruling giving Trump a blank check to abuse a second term only reinforces the importance of stability at the top of the government, party, and ticket.

On Saturday, the campaign team blasted an email to supporters that dismissed concerns from critics (not elected Democrats, in this missives telling, but your panicked aunt, your MAGA uncle, or some self-important Podcasters) and suggested how to respond to the bedwetting brigade calling for Biden to drop out. (That would be the best possible way for Donald Trump to win and us to lose, since Biden has already won the primary and replacing him would be a messy process exposing Democratic rifts and producing a candidate with no money or campaign infrastructure.) The email then outlined the results of a new poll showing Biden losing to Trump by 3 points, but also seven other Democrats frequently named as possible candidates doing worse. (Vice-President Kamala Harriss numbers were identical to Bidens.) The campaign told its backers that it had raised $27 million since the debate and received three times as many job applications as usual.

This matched the campaigns public appeal on Monday. A new ad featured dire footage of Trump from the debate and clips of a more vigorous looking Biden from his Raleigh rally the next day. Reading from a teleprompter, he was much smoother than he had been onstage in Atlanta. I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up, the ad concludes, with video of Biden clenching his fist. (It did not address his partys central concern: the fact that hed knocked himself down.)

The same day, Bidens political brain trust found what it had gone looking for: evidence that the debates actual effects had not been as bad as it seemed. Campaign pollster Geoff Garin internally circulated a memo outlining the findings of a poll hed run in the seven most important battleground states over the weekend that showed the race largely unchanged, though with Trump still narrowly leading. Most importantly, though, the memo underscored that a large majority of Biden 2020 voters who had a negative reaction to his debate performance are still voting for him. These numbers were not reassuring in a race likely to be decided on the margins  only three-quarters still supported Biden in a head-to-head, and fewer in a race with third-party candidates included  but half of those whod abandoned Biden said they might still return.

Its data like this that the broader party is watching closely, too. Among elected officials and donors desperate to see Biden step aside, there is a near-consensus that nothing happens if the polls dont crack, in one donors words  that Biden wont be persuaded to bow out until and unless surveys show a clear drop in support for him and for Democrats in House and Senate races. That, they think, might spur party leaders like Schumer and Jeffries to make an appeal to Biden to retire for his own good and the good of the partys chances up and down the ballot. Yet on a private call between the campaign and donors on Monday night, top officials shrugged off a question about what would happen if they did see a serious polling drop. The campaigns lead pollster, Molly Murphy, said that their internal numbers werent indicating that would happen: Voters saw the debate, they took it in, and didnt change their minds.

Biden took in the initial numbers over the weekend, and despite his partys freakout, he appeared to dig in further. The chip on his shoulder and the capacity for feeling like hes underestimated is bigger than anyone youve ever met in your life, said one Democrat whos known Biden for three decades. Some around him have interpreted calls for his exit to be part of a fundamental misunderstanding of politics by fellow Democrats and the media, populated by out of touch Ivy Leaguers. No entity is the focus of as much Biden eye-rolling as the New York Times editorial board, one of the most prominent voices calling for his voluntary ouster. He remembers well how the board endorsed against him in 2020s Democratic primary, and how the Times elevator operator seemed to understand his pitch to regular voters far better than the journalists. When that editorial was published, people around Biden immediately understood that it would harden his wish to stay in. On the donor call, deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks seemed to channel his bosss belief that the Washington press has simply misunderstood him once again: The media has spent a ton of time blowing this out of proportion.

This argument didnt sit well with all the donors on the call, many of whom expressed frustration that they couldnt ask live questions and that only pre-selected ones were answered. (Its embarrassing, said one. Whats the point if we cant ask questions? wondered another.) Nor has it calmed Democrats concerned about their own reelections in addition to Trumps return. Many expect polling to reveal a serious polling dip for Biden in the coming week and have begun asking why Biden himself hasnt called lawmakers if hes so sure everything will be fine. Instead, thats been left up to a handful of his top staffers and allies. Senator Chris Coons and former congressman Cedric Richmond have been making the rounds among lawmakers, as have campaign chairman Jen OMalley Dillon and senior adviser Anita Dunn among elected officials and donor and White House political director Emmy Ruiz with allied outside groups.

For now, few big-name Democratic lawmakers have been willing to publicly criticize Biden with the exceptions of senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Peter Welch of Vermont. (Joe Manchin was reportedly talked off the ledge by Schumer.) On Tuesday, Texan congressman Lloyd Doggett became the first to call for Bidens exit outright, but he stood alone for the time being, largely as others feared such calls wouldnt work and would only harm Biden if he continues running. (This doesnt necessarily extend to retired officials; former Iowa senator Tom Harkin called the debate a disaster from which Biden cannot recover and urged incumbent senators to pressure him to end his campaign.) Some swing-state Democrats, fearing that whoever took over for Biden would do worse, have begun urging his staff to get him back on the trail, behind a teleprompter, as soon as possible to prove that the debate was a fluke and that the true Biden is the one who showed some fight in North Carolina.

On Monday night, one of the partys most engaged tycoons turned fundraisers rang with some news: Now the donors were fighting. A growing collection of them was circulating a chain email that gamed out a scenario in which the nomination was thrown open and a range of non-Biden contenders declared for a productive and well-organized weekslong sprint of a race for the spot atop the ticket. The caller was frustrated with Biden personally and furious with his team for letting the president out on the debate stage in that condition but didnt find this kind of fantasy politics helpful: Biden is neatly forced out and an ad hoc open replacement process just goes off nicely with no intraparty Armageddon? Nice try. The number of people who are coming up with scenarios that are premised on a world that ended in the 1950s  he complained, his voice betraying a mix of exasperation and resignation. Well, that doesnt exist anymore, where there are just a few people in a room making decisions.

Among many of the most wired-in donor types, theres a crystalizing understanding that the only chance now to replace Biden is to persuade him directly to step aside and name a successor, likely Harris. This certainty isnt just about Bidens mind-set, its also about the partys process for certifying the nominee and getting that person on state ballots. Im not saying what donors or members of Congress are saying doesnt matter, Im not trying to downplay their concerns or disagree with their opinions, but the delegates have been selected, said Donna Brazile, the former Democratic National Committee chair and longtime committee member. Biden could withdraw, of course. But the process for formally getting him on ballots has already been in motion for months, and hes in charge of it now, not some mysterious collection of powerbrokers. Joe Biden is the only one in the drivers seat. He may have passengers who appear to know how to grab control of the wheel, but no, said Brazile. He is the only one driving.

Biden is well aware of this. And though he was reportedly upset at his own performance immediately after the debate, he opted not to say a word about it at all the following evening during his first post-fiasco fundraiser with LGBTQ donors and Elton John in the city. That task fell instead initially to the First Lady, who pointed to Bidens North Carolina rally as evidence he would be fine on the trail. She reported to her own high-paying audience in the Village that after the debate, shed told her husband they wouldnt let 90 minutes define the four years that youve been president.

Yet by Saturday afternoon, as the partys agita intensified, Biden was trying to calm nerves directly himself. In East Hampton, he took a shot at convincing his backers that his teams initial polling numbers were actually fine, not apocalyptic. I understand the concern about the debate, I get it. I didnt have a great night, he said, but he had moved undecided voters to his column, unlike Trump. The point is I didnt have a great night, but neither did Trump, he continued. He insisted that he would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul that I can do this job, before repeating his North Carolina lines about being a bit stiffer and older but being morally upright and resilient. It did little to immediately quash any concerns, and by that evening, he had added another new twist intended to pacify his funders, which most found equally unconvincing and some found insulting.

At Governor Phil Murphys house in Red Bank, New Jersey  where Biden raised $3.7 million in two hours  he compared himself to Obama in 2012: He had the same thing the first debate. Of course, Obama came across as unamused against Mitt Romney, as many of Bidens donors remember well, not irreversibly unfit for the job. Biden then pivoted away from himself: In fact, the big takeaway are Trumps lies. The apparent posture is that hes just navigating another news cycle, even if its a particularly vicious one  and that he can get through it like he has in the past: by refocusing attention on his unacceptable opponent.

The publics attention is really short, people are going to move on from this within a week, predicted Evan Bayh, the former Indiana senator and governor. Plus, he said, the electorate is so closely divided, what were really talking about in my opinion are three states  Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin  and youre talking about a total maybe ten counties in those states, maybe 400 thousand people. Maybe that was easy for Bayh to say. Hed been in remote Alaska on a fishing trip with his son during the debate and hadnt seen it, only read the coverage. But one prominent swing-state Democrat who had been out door-knocking over the weekend, targeting persuadable voters, found a surprising dynamic. There is a slice of the electorate that is high-information Democrats that cannot imagine what its like to be a low-information voters, he said. For low-information voters, Biden was not surprising in the debate because its the same guy theyve seen in viral TikToks. As a result, these peoples view of Biden hadnt shifted, but clips of Trump  including when he refused to promise to accept the next election results  had dented his image.

The greatest change Biden has allowed since the debate was tactical and easy to miss for anyone who doesnt watch his every move: Directingly attacking Trump from the White House, as opposed to at a campaign event on Monday night. Responding to the Supreme Courts ruling that morning, he pursued an unusually explicit political point, just when he knew his entire party was watching closely, terrified that he would show any frailty. He recalled Trumps role in January 6 and said the fact Trump would now likely avoid a preelection trial is a terrible disservice to the people in this nation. Now, he added, the American people must decide if they want to entrust the president, once again, the presidency, to Donald Trump, now knowing that he will be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whatever he wants to do.

And then he did something else uncharacteristic: He ignored his usual urge to answer the press corps shouted questions off the cuff, a practice that often lands him in hot water as he speaks candidly. This time, instead, he turned from the camera and walked slowly away as a reporter yelled, Mr. President, will you drop out of the race?

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The Missile Administration of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) successfully conducted a test-fire of new-type tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11Da-4.5 on Monday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday.

The new-type tactical ballistic missile can carry "4.5 ton-class super-large warhead," according to the KCNA report.

By using missile tipped with a simulated heavy warhead, the test-fire was designed to verify its flight stability and hit accuracy at a maximum range of 500 km and a minimum range of 90 km, the report said.

The DPRK Missile Administration will further test-fire the new-type tactical ballistic missile this month, in a bid to verify its flight characteristics, hit accuracy and explosion power of super-large warhead at a medium range of 250 km, the report added.
Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Since his legal troubles began, Donald Trump and his group of attorneys have used every potential avenue to delay or throw out the many civil and criminal cases against him. This week, they had a new weapon at their disposal: the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Monday, Trumps legal team sent a letter to Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the hush-money case, seeking to overturn his conviction in the aftermath of the Supreme Courts seismic decision on presidential immunity. The Associated Press reported that they asked Merchan to delay his July 11 sentencing hearing and to consider the impact of the Courts ruling on the state-level case.

Merchan agreed to push sentencing back on Tuesday after the Manhattan attorney generals office indicated Tuesday that it wont oppose Trumps motion. Sentencing is now scheduled for September 18, ensuring that Trump will avoid being convicted ahead of the Republican National Convention thats scheduled to begin on July 15. A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to payments made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence over an alleged affair.

The nations highest court officially ruled Monday that a current or former president could not be prosecuted for official acts of the office, though they are potentially liable for unofficial acts. Trump had challenged his indictment by the federal government in its 2020 election-subversion case by arguing that he had absolute immunity in the case given that he was serving as president at the time.

Will Scharf, one of Trumps lawyers on the immunity case, told CNN that Manhattan district attorney Alvin Braggs team used a substantial number of official acts of the presidency as evidence in the hush-money case, which corrupts that trial. He cited posts from the official Twitter account Trump used during his tenure as president as well as messages sent through official White House channels. At the very least, we deserve a new trial where those immune acts will not come into evidence, as the Supreme Court dictated today, he said in the interview.

Though he might succeed in delaying his sentencing, Trumps last-minute push isnt expected to toss his conviction entirely. The request comes after the June deadline for filing post-trial motions, per the New York Times. Also, the specific details of this particular case, which concerns the paying of hush money to Daniels to prevent news of an affair from going public, might not qualify as an official act under the Supreme Courts decision.

The issue was raised by a federal judge last year in a ruling rejecting Trumps attempt to move the case out of New York State court into federal court. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the matter was purely a personal item of the President  a cover-up of an embarrassing event, United States district judge Alvin Hellerstein wrote in July 2023. Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a Presidents official acts. It does not reflect in any way the color of the Presidents official duties.
Joe and Jill Biden after his virtual nomination in 2020. Photo: Bloomberg Television/YouTube

Democratic leaders are facing a short timeframe for deciding what, if anything, to do about their presumptive presidential nominee, President Joe Biden. There are currently no signs that the president himself or his immediate circle of family, friends, and advisers see any reason to reconsider his reelection-campaign plans. They uniformly view his alarmingly poor debate performance on June 27 as a bad night that doesnt change the dynamics of the contest with Donald Trump, and they are increasingly prone to lashing out at the many Democrats who are whispering loudly (if anonymously) about a plan B, not to mention a punditocracy that is all but demanding that the president step aside.

Biden loyalists are so far succeeding in their effort to keep a lid on any Democratic revolt. Tribal loyalty and personal affection aside, the reason is pretty simple: While many Democrats fear the worst about the impact of the Atlanta debate and its effect on already-strong sentiment that the president is simply too old, there really isnt much data to support the supposition that the presidential race has changed. As the New York Times explains, it may be a while before we really know:

Not enough polls with a strong history of accuracy and use of the highest-quality surveying methods have been released thus far to provide a clear picture of the post-debate national mood.

Most of the polls released so far are what are known as opt-in online polls, which have a less established track record for historical accuracy. The New York Times polling average, which includes all polls but gives more weight to higher-quality polls, indicates a slight dip in President Bidens numbers since the debate 

It also takes time to conduct high-quality polls, usually four or five days at a minimum. It takes time to reach people, particularly key groups that are difficult to reach, like younger voters, or Hispanic voters without college degrees. Pollsters often need to attempt to contact respondents multiple times.

When all this is taken together, it means it will be about a week  or more  before a clearer picture comes into focus about how the debate played out for the American public.

If it turns out the underlying dynamics of the Biden-Trump race are too powerful to be moved much by the debate, then the long-standing Biden campaign dictum that old beats crazy could still stand. In that case, Democrats would be foolish to publicly dispute the right of a sitting president who overwhelmingly won the 2024 primaries to wage the general-election battle to the finish. So as Politico Playbook explained, Democratic elected officials are on hold:

House leaders were telling their terrified members to wait for numbers to confirm that their fears were justified, with senior Dems, including Rep. JAMES CLYBURN (D-S.C.), working to calm them down and wait for the polling. That remains where things in Congress stand this morning 

The former senior Biden administration official said that a serious effort to nudge Biden aside will only happen when two things occur: bad polling and Hakeem and Schumer tell him Congress is lost.

Its all going to depend on the data, said a third House Democrat. Everybody can have all their opinions. But what happens if the numbers are still the same?

If the numbers are still the same once adequate polling is available, then its very likely the Great Democratic Freakout of 2024 will come to an end quickly with partisans uniting behind Biden and grimly preparing for the turnout-and-persuasion battle with Trump they had all anticipated. But if the numbers really have shifted, there will be an extremely small window of opportunity to engineer a plan B, particularly if replacing Biden requires his active cooperation.

That window was significantly narrowed before the debate debacle when Democrats began planning a pre-convention virtual roll call (like the one deployed in 2020 owing to COVID-19 concerns). While the formal nomination usually takes places on the third night of the Democratic National Convention, in this case August 21, the plan is to rubber-stamp Bidens renomination in order to meet an August 7 deadline for getting on the Ohio ballot (a new state law requires candidates to be certified as nominees 65 days before the general election). Now theres talk of holding that virtual roll call a full month before the DNC, as Bloomberg reports:

A potential date for Bidens nomination is July 21, when the Democratic conventions credentials committee meets virtually, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity 

The move to virtually nominate Biden before the convention ensures that Biden is on state ballots, but the timing is fortuitous. It allows the party to further coalesce around their nominee even as insiders call for him to step aside for a new candidate after his rocky June 27 debate performance.

Obviously fearful Democrats suspect the DNC is trying to manipulate the calendar to protect their endangered leader. But its unclear whether party leaders decisions can be challenged without the kind of frontal assault on Biden that no one really wants.

Lets say the July 21 date for nominating a Democratic presidential candidate sticks and we dont get polling on the full impact of the Atlanta debate until some point after the Independence Day weekend. That would leave only a few days for the president, the vice-president, party leaders, elected officials, and 3,933 Democratic convention delegates to get their act together and make a display of unity to the country. This nomination ritual will occur immediately after the July 1518 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which will be a raucous celebration of Trumps vengeful comeback campaign. An early nomination would also lock in Biden as the candidate even if he subsequently trails Trump badly. The DNC has the power to fill a vacancy at the top of the ticket but does not have the power to create one.

The shortened timetable makes the fantasy of an open convention where various Democrats compete to be the new nominee even more ludicrous than it already was. There may be just enough of a window for Biden to bow out and designate a successor that the party can unite around, almost certainly Kamala Harris. But if the president wants to hold on despite all the misgivings roiling his party, the institutional inertia of the national party and its plans for his coronation are definitely on his side.
Recommended by Experts A series where we find out which products the professionals (who really know what theyre talking about) actually use and really stand behind. Read more here. Photo-Illustration: Strategist; Photos: Retailers

As someone whos spent the better part of his life mixing drinks, one of the clearest demarcations I find between a fantastic drink and a merely mediocre drink is accurate measuring. Visit any cocktail bar known for the quality and inventiveness of their drinks and you will see everyone behind the bar relying on jiggers, vessels specifically designed to measure out precise  and small  quantities of liquid. A set of good jiggers is an absolute must for any seasoned bartender, and they are doubly essential for the amateur drink-slinger making cocktails at home.

Generally, cocktail recipes can call for measurements ranging from two ounces down to a barspoon, and there are jiggers built to match every measure. You can find jiggers in a wide variety of sizes, but the most common design features one ounce on one side and two ounces on the other. Some styles are all-in-one with demarcations to indicate specific measurements, while others are sized specifically for each measure.

What type of jigger you buy ultimately comes down to whether you prefer to save space and rely on internal demarcations or would rather work with the slightly more foolproof assortment of more specifically sized jiggers. Furthermore, some people might have difficulty seeing the markings on the inside of the jigger, which are usually etched in very small and sometimes hard-to-read lettering. Jiggers are generally made from metal, and the most common material is stainless steel. Copper, gold, and other finishes make for a nice-looking bar cart but typically require handwashing.

To come up with a collection of jiggers to suit every at-home drink-maker, I surveyed four expert colleagues in the beverage industry and included my own favorite as well. If youre looking for other essential barware, you can check out our guide to cocktail strainers and shakers.

A Bar Above Japanese Jigger $16 $16 Photo: Retailer Japan is known for serious bartenders in three-piece suits methodically crafting elegant, minimalist cocktails. As a result, an entire genre of bar tools has emerged around this style. Pretty much all of the bartenders I spoke with mentioned a Japanese-style jigger. PDT bartender Ben Hopkins opts for the one made by bartender-owned shop A Bar Above. They like it because it contains an internal measure for the barspoon (an eighth of an ounce) as well as the one-and-three-quarters-ounce measurement. Its a more nuanced piece of technology, they say, especially since not everyone is going to have a barspoon. $16 at Amazon Buy $16 at A Bar Above Buy

Cocktail Kingdom Japanese-Style Jigger $10 I would never dream of leaving Cocktail Kingdoms small jigger out of my bar kit. It allows for easy measurements of three-quarter and half-ounce pours, plus the interior marking for a quarter ounce is significantly easier to spot than those of other jiggers Ive used. Its nearly identical to A Bar Aboves jigger, without the supplementary measurement lines, for a slightly lower price. $10 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Jigger $27 $27 Those looking for an Art Deco aesthetic in their bar kit should consider Cocktail Kingdoms Leopold jigger. Its able to measure as little as a quarter ounce and up to two ounces. Billie Keithley, the resident cocktail expert at Breckenridge Distillery, favors it for fluidity [of handling] and balance, while Madalyn Summers, the service director at The Nines, thinks its more ergonomic and feels better in my hand. $27 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Barfly 2.5 ounce Measuring Jigger $7 $7 Photo: Retailer Many bartenders prefer the Swiss Armyknife style of a stepped jigger with physical bands for measures ranging from a half ounce to two-and-a-half ounces at the upper rim. Summers says that the extra headroom makes two-ounce pours a little less perilous. You still have a little bit of wiggle room and then you can very easily dump that into a glass without worrying about spills  great for the less practiced hand. $7 at Webstaurant Store Buy

OXO Good Grips Angled Measuring Cup, Mini, Clear $12 Unlike classic jiggers, this cup has a diagonal surface with high-contrast text noting each measure, ideal for anyone who might have difficulty seeing the more subtle demarcations on metal jiggers. Plus, the read-from-above design makes it easy for those who might want to set the jigger down on a surface to pour, rather than hold the jigger in one hand and a bottle in another. $12 at Amazon Buy $7 at Oxo Buy

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Testing, Testing A series where we methodologically and obsessively try new products to tell you if theyre worth it so you dont have to do all that work yourself. Read more reviews here. When the bed is made, other than a small control unit tucked beneath my bedside table, youd never know its there. Photo: Amelia Jerden

If theres one thing Ive learned from testing mattresses, its to generally keep your expectations low when it comes to anything labeled cooling. A lot of mattresses are marketed as cooling, but a more accurate way to describe most of these beds would be less hot. Its not that the purported cooling materials inside them dont work, but that they often dont work the way we expect them to  the idea is to keep you from getting too warm in the first place rather than hitting you with a cooling blast, like the AC in a car might.

A quest to actually be cooled is why I recently spent a few weeks testing the Chilipad Dock Pro Cooling Bed System, from Sleepme. A few years ago, Strategist writer and self-proclaimed hot sleeper Dominique Pariso tested (and loved) the brands original product, the Chilipad Cube, so as summer heat set in, I set up the brands newest cooling system, the Dock Pro. Its similar to the Cube in that its basically a tube-filled pad that goes over your mattress and uses water to regulate temperature. However, it has a few upgrades from the older system: app controls (including the ability to schedule temperature changes), a control unit that more easily fits under a bed, and, according to Sleepme, more cooling power (95 watts for the Dock Pro compared to 52 watts for the Cube). If you want to get really precise, you can also synchronize it with Sleepmes sleep tracker, which makes real-time temperature adjustments based on your sleep data, but I dont have one, so I didnt try that (the tracker also adds a lot to the cost, at $199 plus a $6 monthly subscription fee). Like the Cube, the Dock Pro comes in two models: a Me version that just covers half a mattress and a We version that covers the whole thing and has two zones, so that two sleepers can each control their own temperature preferences. Both come in queen, king, and California king (half-)sizes.

I have the Me version, which was easy enough to set up. I laid the Dock Pros mattress pad over a waterproof mattress protector (which the company recommends, just in case) and positioned it on my side of the bed; the hardest part was getting the two large elastic bands around the sides and bottom of the mattress. You can position the pad so the tube hook-up is at either the head or the foot of your bed, and I went with head because that made it easier to tuck the tubing and cords out of sight. You can place the control unit almost wherever you want, though the instructions say not to block airflow from the grille and air filter. I did notice after remaking the bed that the dark gray mattress pad was very visible through my white linen sheets  something to keep in mind if your sheets are at all sheer.

The Me Chilipad, which covers just half the bed. Photo: Amelia Jerden

To finish the process, I used a large cup to fill the control units tank with about two liters of water, as you might with a humidifier, added the provided cleaning solution (which the directions say to do during set-up), and downloaded the Sleepme app. There are buttons on the control unit that you can use to change the temperature, but the app allows you to customize and create scheduled routines, which I wanted to try.

One of the apps most useful features is the option to create a sleep program, kind of like an alarm-clock schedule  you can set the Dock Pro to automatically turn on at a specific temperature, at a specific time, on specific days. From there, you can set it so the temperature progressively changes throughout the night for optimal sleep: If you put in your bedtime and wake-up time, the app will automatically suggest temperature changes throughout the night (getting cooler about 30 minutes after bedtime, then getting slightly warmer halfway through the night to optimize REM sleep). But you can tweak these, delete them, or add other automatic adjustments if you want. You can also turn on a warm awake, in which the Dock Pro will gradually warm to max heat to wake you up.

The control unit easily fit beneath my bedside table. It could just as easily be hidden under the bed. Photo: Amelia Jerden

The Dock Pro can cool your bed to as low as 55 degrees or as high as 116 degrees. Initially, I set up a weeknight routine with a starting bed temperature of 65 degrees, because it sounded like a cool enough temperature that would make for a pleasant sleep in the early summer heat. When I went to bed, I was impressed: The mattress pad was quite chilly, and the sensation of laying on it was unique  it felt like I was floating on top of a cold body of water, but completely dry. Then, a while after shutting off the lights, I realized I was too cold, and having trouble falling asleep. I upped the temperature to about 75 degrees and still felt cool, but comfortable enough to drift off.

When I woke up in the morning my bed was super warm from the warm awake function. For the most part, I felt so cozy that I didnt want to get out of bed. But if you sweat easily, I dont think Id recommend this setting, unless you really want to be saunad out of bed every day, since the Dock Pros max temperature is 116 degrees, and you cant adjust the warm awake setting lower than that. If you want to wake up warm but not sweltering, you could just add a different adjustment to more subtly increase the temperature in the morning.

The Chilipad is visible through my white linen sheets. Photo: Amelia Jerden

The mattress pad is very thin and, other than showing through my sheets, barely perceptible  I cant feel any tubing through it, and it has stayed in place pretty well. My partner isnt bothered by it, and says he hasnt noticed much difference with the Chilipad on just half our bed. Maintaining the system has been straightforward. Ive refilled the control unit about once a week during the three weeks Ive been testing it. The brand recommends using distilled water; though you can use tap water, it may leave some sediment build up, which could reduce efficiency over time. Ive used tap water so far, but if I keep the system on my bed in the long term, Ill switch to distilled water to keep the everything in good condition.

And after a few weeks of fiddling with my sleep program, Ive learned the most comfortable sleep temperature for me is somewhere between 75 and 80. Though Im not an overly hot sleeper, I have appreciated the cooling effects as the temperatures have routinely been 90 degrees and above where I live in North Carolina. It should be plenty effective for people who feel like they are sleeping in an oven and want to feel more like they are sleeping in a fridge. And because I tend to get fairly cold at night during the rest of the year, Im excited to try the warming features once fall and winter roll around.

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To clarify, Normani was previously booked ahead of time to perform at tonight's #BETAwards, thus she was included in commercials promoting the show. The severity of the injury she sustained days ago in rehearsals prevents her from performing. We wish her a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/hDbnvxdA75  Normani Updates (@NormaniUpdate) June 30, 2024

Normani posted to social media to explain why she had to pull out from performing at the BET Awards, and it was because she unfortunately had an accident during rehearsals and injured herself. She also posted a photo of her wrapped leg. "I am more frustrated and disappointed than anyone believe me. I wanted to get on here and give you guys an update letting you know that while in rehearsals for BET I had a really bad accident and injured myself. I am normally god for powering through under any circumstance but unfortunately due to my doctor's orders, I am just not able to make this performance happen. I desperately wanted to give you my best on that stage but perfroming would delay my healing. I have been going through my process and dong my best to make sense of my feelings regarding this. I am devastated and hate feeling like a disappointment to you but I have to focus on recovering at this time. Trust me, I hear you, and I see you. There is nothing more that I wanted to do than perform for you and also, get back to doing what fulfills me most-BEING ON STAGE. Thank you so much for understanding. Sending my love to BET for giving me and all of the other beautiful black women this opportunity. This is definitely NOT how I envisioned this weekend but best believe I will be championing everyone from home tonight. I'm sorrrrrrry guys and love you so much "
Speaking of revivals.. Studio Bones is having a new project announcement and here I am hoping in vain (again), for a Noragami season 3 

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i want studio bones to do a season 3 of an anime they did too i want Space Dandy season 3 so bad it's my all time favourite anime

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Space Dandy was so fucking ridiculous. I loved it so much. The episode where everyone turned into a zombie

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Holy Shit!! More Ranma 1/2?! I will forever love that series, I do a rewatch every 10 years or so (obviously, I'm an old) - all the characters are such lovable weirdos and the music is so good.

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Im so excited. Both the manga and the anime still make me laugh

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here for Ranma!!



Also, idk how popular they would be, but I'd love both Kodocha and Marmalade Boy, but following the manga storyline!

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yesssss to kodocha and marmalade boy!!!

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There was a stage play for Kodocha made like 10 years ago and for some reason recently they put it on streaming for a limited time, I was very confused lol... so maybe there's a chance?

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omg kodocha!!! i have such fond memories of reading that manga!

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saber marionette j would be insane lmao



i was gonna say i'd love another revival of higurashi but i think one came out a few years ago i just haven't seen it lol. maybe utena bc im basic

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basic? I think not.



excuse you! does this look? I think not.

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Iz mAh MaYuN

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They could never revive Utena. The fuck is the point when it's a masterpiece. Clean up the animation, sure, everything else stays exactly as is.

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Ranma AND Rayearth??!?? Ohhhhh I'm weebing out.



Now if only they could do a Yu Yu Hakusho revival.

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Yasss rayearth! . I'm with you on wedding peach. Also I don't mind those old school shoujo like candy candy to have a revival , so much drama in that series.

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I mean, the dream would be the proper 3rd season of Kenshin with the Revenge arc instead of.... whatever we got before the series was cancelled. (yes I know there was an OVA, don't care.) This is why you wait until the authors are done with their works before you start adapting it to other media, people.



I don't know really outside of that? I think i'd want less a revival or a reboot of many of my old beloved series and more actually high quality uncensored dubs/subs of them. There was a feature on the Rome blurays where you could turn on pop up cultural explanations of certain things in the show; i'd love for something like that to exist for anime in general.

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Why do I get the feeling that Escaflowne's next on the anniversary revival tour?

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Wow I haven't heard that title in years. I'd looove a revival and not have them butcher it.

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Maybe it's the pessimist in me... but I imagine it'd be a bigger trainwreck than Sailor Moon. It's crazy, but I feel more protective of Escaflowne than I did with Sailor Moon.

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I would only accept a sequel that reunites Van and Hitomi, otherwise leave it alone.

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Soul Eater and also I could do a with more Slayers. Or a reboot of Pretear

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I just saw the trailer for Rise of Versailles. It looked nice



I can't think of any old anime I want. Well maybe Little Women but Beth lives. I loved watching that anime(1987) as a kid



I'd love for From Far Away to be adapted to an anime. Since they're doing ton of isakai anyway

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omg I watched that Little Women anime too. I would love a remake. They should do one of Secret Garden or Princess Sara.

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I want a slam dunk remake. The original still holds up but I would like updated animation

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Yeah especially after the movie just did so well!

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ROSE OF VERSAILLES!!!!!!!!!



i was fucking obsessed w that show as a kid, the german opening song fucking rules







(the german sailor moon intros as well)

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umm... this is the german cover of the italian version.



Male version (by Vincenzo Draghi)





Female version (by Cristina D'Avena)





bonus, the actual first song for the italian tv, recorded in 1982



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huh i never knew! germany often did new songs so i wasn't aware that apparently the italian came first.



the german sm intros still rule tho, p sure those beats are original at least lol

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Rayearth!!!!! I am so excited for this.

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I know it would never happen, but an Oishinbo remake would be fascinating. Id love if they kept the 1980s setting, but a full modern reboot could be interesting in its own way (but without the mangaka, theyre messy).

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Early June saw OPEC+ extend its 3.66 million barrels per day (bpd) of production cuts to the end of 2025. It also announced that it would extend another 2.2 million bpd to the end of September 2024. Together, these cuts comprise around 5-6% of global oil demand. Despite this, though, the Brent oil price global benchmark has failed to break through the key US$90 per barrel (pb) level that was last achieved in September. This means that the two prime movers in the OPEC+ alliance  Saudi Arabia and Russia  are way off the oil price needed to balance their budgets. So will they cut production even more?

It is a common misconception that Saudi Arabia is awash with oil money. This is not true at all, as the Kingdom is now battling with a 2024 fiscal breakeven Brent oil price of US$96.17 pb. It has forecast a budget deficit this year of SAR79 billion (US$21.07 billion), which many oil market observers believe to be extremely optimistic. As in all situations where expenditure is greater than revenue, this situation will only become worse from here. Part of the problem is that the country has never fully recovered from the 2014-2016 Oil Price War or the short-lived 2020 Oil Price War, both of which are analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. These two wars were aimed at destroying or at least seriously disabling the then-nascent U.S. shale oil industry, which the Saudi correctly saw as a direct threat to its key oil sector, and therefore to its power in the world. By dramatically increasing production from itself and from its OPEC brothers, Saudi Arabia intended to crash oil prices for long enough that the still-developing U.S. shale sector would see a high percentage of bankruptcies, with those few companies left taking years to recover. Unfortunately for it, the U.S. shale sector demonstrated an extraordinary ability to reorganise itself quickly into a lower-cost industry able to withstand much lower prices than any other producers, including those in Saudi Arabia and OPEC. As a result, it was the latter two players that suffered financially, to the tune of well over US$450 billion in collective lost oil revenues over that two-year period, according to the International Energy Agency, although other commentators believe it to be at least double that figure. Over the course of the 2014-2016 Oil Price War, Saudi Arabia moved from a budget surplus to a then-record-high deficit in 2015 of US$98 billion and spent at least US$250 billion of its foreign exchange reserves over what many senior Saudis said had been lost forever.

Related: Courts Take Charge: Implications of SCOTUS Dismantling Chevron Deference

Another part of the problem is the countrys spending history on various social projects that subsequently spiralled dramatically. These include US$5 billion spent on ship repair and building complex on the east coast, and billions contributed towards the US$23 billion King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Other projects saw spending estimates spiral even more out of control, most notably the flagship Neom City development. Initially-costed at US$1.5 trillion the linear city project located has been cut back in size from 106 miles long to just 1.6 miles long. Added to these huge overspends, the ill-received Aramco initial public offering in December 2019 meant that the Saudis had to commit to a massive dividend expenditure to sweeten the flotation. More specifically, it guaranteed a US$75 billion dividend payment in 2020, which then rose in 2023 to US$97.8 billion. For 2024, Saudi Aramco expects to pay US$124.3 billion in dividends.

Given that Saudi Arabia  along with Iran and Iraq  have the lowest lifting cost per barrel of oil in the world (at just US$1-2 pb) it might be though that a temporary solution for its financial woes might be found in simply producing more oil. Although such an increase would push oil prices down, it could be gauged so that they were not pushed down to anywhere near the level of Saudi Arabias lifting cost, so allowing it a healthy profit per barrel and plugging the fiscal deficit. However, it remains the case that there is no genuine evidence of Saudi Arabia having the capacity to increase its crude oil production much above 10 million bpd for any sustained period without damaging the long-term integrity of its wells, as also analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. The fact is that Saudi Arabia produced an average of 8.267 million bpd of crude oil from 1973 to 1 May 2024, according to figures from OPEC itself. In its entire history, it has only managed to produce 12 million bpd on one occasion  in April 2020  after which it immediately went back down to 8.49 million bpd.

The inability of Saudi Arabia and its OPEC brothers to do anything meaningful further to push oil prices much higher is also a profound concern for Russia. In the first 100 days of its war in Ukraine, it earned nearly US$100 billion from oil and gas exports - considerably greater than its cost for continuing to fight the war. As prices spiked, Russia was able to keep its earnings per barrel of oil much higher than the US$60 pb or so cap in effect around that time as part of various international sanctions by doing off-the-grid deals. These were priced higher than the US$60 pb level, but still undercut the prices of oil from Saudi Arabia and OPEC members. However, as prices dropped, this margin for Russia shrank. After the initial jump in its oil revenues following the 24 February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscows fiscal breakeven Brent oil price officially jumped to US$115 pb. However, as wars do not adhere to easily quantifiable and strictly adhered to budgets, the unofficial fiscal breakeven oil price is whatever President Vladimir Putin thinks it should be at any given moment. Related: Steel Industry Reacts to Import Caps and Tariffs with Cautious Approach

All this would point to both key countries in OPEC+ likely push for greater production cuts from the cartel sooner rather than later. However, there are two problems for them if they do this. The first is that although Saudi Arabias and Russias key geopolitical sponsor China can buy oil and gas at 30 percent or more discounts from its core Middle Eastern suppliers through various deals agreed upon in the past few years, the economies of the West remain its key export bloc. In fact, the U.S. alone still accounts for over 16 percent of Chinas export revenues. Any significant increase in oil prices would damage the demand for its products from the West, adding to an already fragile post-Covid economic rebound. Indeed, according to a senior source in the European Unions energy security complex spoken to exclusively by OilPrice.com recently, the economic damage to China would dangerously increase if the Brent oil price remained over US$90-95 pb for more than one quarter of a year. Even this range is below Saudi Arabias fiscal breakeven price and is of little use to Russia either.

The other problem is that the U.S. is in the run-up to the 2024 Presidential Election, and it is highly to sitting President Joe Bidens advantage that oil (and therefore, gasoline) prices remain where they are or lower (historically around 70 percent of the price of gasoline is derived from the oil price). Longstanding estimates are that every US$10 pb change in the price of crude oil results in a 25-30 cent change in the price of a gallon of gasoline, and for every 1 cent that the average price per gallon of gasoline rises, more than US$1 billion per year in consumer spending is lost. Politically, since the end of World War I in 2018, the sitting U.S. president has won re-election 11 times out of 11 if the economy was not in recession within two years of an upcoming election. However, if it was in recession in this timeframe, then only 1 has won out of 7 times, as also analysed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. Moreover, according to a 2016 study by Laurel Harbridge, Jon A. Krosnick, and Jeffrey M. Wooldridge called Presidential Approval and Gas Prices, a 10 cent increase in gasoline prices correlated with a 0.6 percent decrease in presidential approval over the study period from January 1976 to July 2007. There are multiple direct and indirect mechanisms that a U.S. President in the midst of a close election could bring to bear on the oil price  economic and political pressure on China and Saudi Arabia, more sanctions on Russia, and increasing its own production and those of its allies, among others), many of which these countries would be keen to avoid.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The chief executive of Ineos Energy has said the business will prioritise expansion in the US and Denmark over Britain, arguing that the countrys politicians have put pain on the oil and gas sector.

David Bucknall told The Times that the US and Denmark, the other two regions the company operates in, were much easier to invest in at the moment.

If you look at the US, you have different rhetoric at the top level from different sides of the political spectrum, but the reality is that the people in the Department of Energy are professionals, he added.

They know what theyre doing. We havent seen very much change at all at the operational level, the practical level, in terms of oil and gas, despite who is the president of the US. So it makes it a very investable thing.

In contrast, Bucknall said Britains policy backdrop had become more about parties outdoing each other in how much pain you can put into the industry.

Ineos Energy, created in 2020, manages the energy-related operations of petrochemicals group Ineos, which was founded by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

It entered the US market last year by acquiring part of of Chesapeake Energys oil and gas assets in south Texas for $1.4bn.

Bucknalls comments come ahead of the UK general election on Thursday, which has seen energy policy become a key focus.

The Conservatives have pledged to keep the governments oil and gas profits windfall tax, introduced after the Ukraine war broke out in 2022, until 2029 unless prices return to normal for a sustained period.

Meanwhile, Labour has vowed to raise the levy to 78 per cent from 75 per cent and remove unjustifiably generous investment allowances used by companies to reduce their tax bills.

If you take away investment allowances and you pile on windfall taxes, then its very easy to make things uneconomic, Bucknall remarked.

He added that fiscal uncertainty in Britain had made it more difficult to forecast potential long-term returns from any acquisitions and that UK investment would be more focused on developing existing licences.

By CityAM

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Hurricane Beryl strengthened overnight to a powerful Category 5 storm as it churned in the Caribbean Sea. The Cat. 5 storm is the earliest on record in the Atlantic hurricane season and has caused concern among energy traders about potential Gulf Coast disruptions.

On Monday morning, Beryl made landfall on Grenada's Carriacou Island in the Caribbean Sea with winds around 150 mph. According to NOAA data dating back to 1851, this is the strongest known storm to traverse the Grenadines area.

Beryl's arrival marks an early start to what some meteorologists had said would be an active hurricane season. The storm's intensity has spooked energy traders, sending West Texas Intermediate (occasionally called Texas Light Sweet) to two-month highs on Monday.

Bloomberg noted, "Oil futures rose Tuesday, trading at their highest since late April, with gains tied to expectations for heavy travel around the Independence Day holiday and concerns that powerful Hurricane Beryl could later cause disruptions to offshore crude production in the Gulf of Mexico."

Senior analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya from Swissquote Bank, in a note to clients, emphasized that while Beryl may not immediately impact operations in the Gulf of Mexico, it could potentially cause disruptions later in the week.

Computer models show the storm making landfall on or around Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula around Friday morning and possibly curving north towards the US Gulf Coast afterward.

Related: U.S. Energy Production Chalks Up Another Record

A combination of tensions in the Middle East, robust demand ahead of July 4, a big short squeeze, and a rapid start to the Atlantic hurricane season are some factors driving WTI higher, up 10% since April 26.

As we predicted on June 6, an active Atlantic hurricane season with storms like Beryl could potentially disrupt major US Gulf Coast refineries. This disruption could drive prices at the gas pump to the politically sensitive $4-a-gallon level for the Biden administration ahead of the presidential elections this fall.

Queue up more SPR dumps...

By Zerohedge.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
 Flash

Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday unanimously adopted the resolution, proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 140 countries, on strengthening international cooperation in the capacity building of artificial intelligence (AI).

The resolution on "Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence" emphasizes that the development of artificial intelligence should adhere to "the principles of being human-centered," promoting beneficial intelligence, and benefiting humanity.

It encourages international cooperation and practical actions to help countries, especially developing countries, strengthen their AI capacity building, enhance their representation and voice in global AI governance, advocate for "an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment," and support the United Nations in playing a central role in international cooperation.

The resolution aims to achieve inclusive, beneficial, and sustainable development of artificial intelligence, thereby contributing to the realization of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, stated while introducing the draft resolution at the General Assembly plenary session that the rapid development of global AI technology is having a profound impact on the economic and social development of countries and the progress of human civilization.

However, most countries, especially developing ones, have yet to truly access, use, and benefit from AI, and the global digital divide continues to widen, he noted.

"Many UN member states widely anticipate strengthening international cooperation on AI capacity building, developing and utilizing AI technology equally, and sharing the knowledge and achievements of AI," he said.

Fu noted that this resolution focuses on AI capacity building, proposing a series of significant and practical measures to strengthen related international cooperation.

"The goal is to help all countries, especially developing ones, equally benefit from AI development, bridge the digital divide, improve global AI governance, and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," said the ambassador.

"The unanimous adoption of the resolution indicates broad agreement among member states to enhance global AI governance through dialogue and cooperation, fully demonstrating China's responsible attitude and leading role in AI development and governance," said Fu.

The ambassador added that China looks forward to using the adoption of this resolution as an opportunity "to actively promote its subsequent implementation with the broad membership," adhering to development priorities, being human-centered, ensuring equality and mutual benefit, and upholding innovation.

"China aims to help developing countries strengthen AI capacity building with practical actions, promote sustainable development empowered by AI, enhance the common well-being of humanity, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

A spokesperson of the Chinese permanent mission to the United Nations stated that UN member states, especially developing countries, warmly welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolution and highly appreciated China's leadership role in promoting global AI cooperation and governance, as well as accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

They unanimously agreed that the resolution's focus on AI capacity building and its series of practical measures are of significant milestone importance in bridging the global digital divide and promoting the shared benefits of AI development among countries, he said.

The spokesperson also mentioned that in October 2023, the Chinese leader announced the Global AI Governance Initiative, which provides direction for global AI development and governance.

As the UN's first resolution on international cooperation in AI capacity building, it fully reflects the core essence of the Global AI Governance Initiative and the Global Development Initiative. It meets "the eager expectations" of the broad membership, especially developing countries, and "demonstrates strong support for multilateralism and the United Nations," the spokesperson said.

"It is another major step in practicing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind on the UN platform," the spokesperson noted.
Hurricane season is back, and oil markets are on edge as the earliest category 5 hurricane to form at this time of the year moves toward Jamaica.

- As commodity markets started to talk politics following last weeks Biden-Trump debate, analysts seek to gauge the impact of US gasoline prices on voter satisfaction.

- Nationwide gasoline prices are 3-4% lower year-on-year, with US gasoline consumption trending lower this year, gasoline cracks being a hefty $10 per barrel lower than in 2023 and inventories some 12 million barrels higher.

- However, swing states such as Arizona, Georgia or Nevada saw lower gasoline consumption than the US average, at 551 gallons per year compared to the federal average of 576 gallons, whilst also tending to pay more since Biden took office ($1.12/USG vs $1.06/USG nationally).

- Given that Trump-voting states tend to be more exposed to pump price volatility, due to them being more rural or having a lower average disposable income, even lower gasoline prices might be a problem for President Biden.

Market Movers

- Oilfield services giant SLB (NYSE:SLB) is winding down operations in Libya from July 1 as more than a dozen oil companies owe it some $240 million in unpaid dues.

- Spanish oil major Repsol (BME:REP) is considering selling up to a 49% interest in its assets in the Eagle Ford play in Texas, currently producing over 50,000 boe/d, hoping to garner at least $1 billion from the sale.

- Italys energy giant ENI (BIT:ENI) is planning to divest more than $4 billion in upstream assets, with projects in Indonesia and Cyprus amongst the most likely candidates following its recent asset sale in Alaska.

Tuesday, July 02, 2024

Oil traders have all become professional meteorologists in July, with the market following the rapid start to this years Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Beryl is threatening Jamaica as it moves towards the US-Mexican coast, the earliest category 5 hurricane to form at this time of the year. Meanwhile, Israel-Lebanon tensions keep the geopolitical risk premium priced in as well, lifting ICE Brent to $87 per barrel.

Saudi Arabia Bets on Natural Gas. Saudi Arabias national oil firm Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) has signed contracts worth more than $25 billion for the 2nd phase of its giant 229 TCf Jafurah gas field and the 3rd phase of expanding its main gas grid, seeking to use more gas in power generation.

US Walks Back SPR Replenishment Vow. The Biden administration has not awarded any contracts in its recent solicitation to buy an additional 6 million barrels of sour crude to the US SPR by the end of 2024, with seemingly no bids coming in below the cut-off level of $79.99 per barrel.

Russia Extends Gasoline Export Ban Waiver. The Russian government has waived its ban on gasoline exports for another month until July 31, saying that fuel stockpiles are sufficient despite repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, bringing some 150,000 b/d of the fuel to the markets.

China Creates New Driller for Tight Oil. Beijing is setting up a new state-controlled entity that would group current producers, combining CNPC, Sinopec, and also steel and industrial equipment firms, to search for ultra-deep productive reservoirs and tackle tight oil deposits.

Bidens LNG Pause Challenged in Court. A federal judge in Lake Charles, Louisiana ruled that the Biden administrations pausing of approval for LNG terminals contravened the US Natural Gas Act and was thus unconstitutional, with the Energy Department evaluating its next steps.

Total Clinches Major Deal in Africa. French energy major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) has signed an agreement to acquire a 60% interest in Block STP02 of Sao Tome and Principe, bolstering its offshore position in West Africa even as investment into neighboring Nigeria is stalling.

Beijing Stops Publishing Solar Data. Attesting to the dire situation in Chinas solar sector, straining from overcapacity, Chinese authorities have stopped publishing data that show the extent to which power from solar and wind plants is being wasted amidst constrained grids.

US Air Travel Still Has Room to Grow. According to TSA statistics, US passenger air travel rose to 19.75 million passengers in the week ending 29 June, marking the highest-ever weekly reading and the second time this year already that an all-time high is set.

Hedge Funds Hoard Cobalt as Prices Plunge. Hedge funds such as Anchorage Capital and Squarepoint Capital have been building physical positions in cobalt by buying up material, eyeing the wide contango, and the ensuing opportunity for cash-and-carry trades into 2025.

Rio Tinto Seeks to Avoid Mongolian Collapse. Global mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) is in negotiations with workers at its Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia, one of the largest copper deposits worldwide, after the company cut wages there by as much as 80%.

South Africa Braces for Major Exodus. Frances oil giant TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) is considering relinquishing its acreage in offshore South Africa, having discovered 4.5 TCf of gas assets with the Luiperd and Brulpadda discoveries, however hindered by government red-tape and regulations.

AngloAmerican Is Having a Tumultuous 2024. Shares of mining major AngloAmerican (LON:AAL) dropped almost 6% this week after a methane explosion caused a fire at the Grosvenor metallurgical coal mine, accounting for about 30% of the companys annual coking output.

Chinese Manufacturing Paints a Bleak Outlook. Chinas factory activity contracted for a second straight month in June, with the PMI index coming in unchanged at 49.5, with trade tensions vis-a-vis the United States and Europe weighing on new export orders.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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The Saudi state-owned oil major Aramco has big plans for its future in fossil fuels, despite calls for a global green transition. The oil and gas firm is investing heavily in a future in LNG, solidifying its position in the international market as demand continues to grow. This year, it has announced several big LNG investments, in line with the companys development plan. In addition, Aramcos CEO Amin Nasser has been very vocal in his support for greater international investment in oil and gas, suggesting that demand will remain high for years to come, despite International Energy Agency (IEA) projections that demand will wane from 2030.

Last year, Aramco announced aims to boost its oil production from 12 million bpd to 13 million bpd by 2027, investing a projected $40 billion between 2024 and 2028. However, earlier this year, it announced that it no longer planned to increase its crude output so much, shifting its focus instead to natural gas. The change in plans means that some oil projects will be canceled, including the Safaniya and Manifa increment programs.

It appears to be going all in when it comes to natural gas. Last September, Aramco purchased a minority stake in MidOcean Energy for $500 million, marking its first foray into the international LNG market. Nasser stated, For MidOcean, we're going through the process of getting the right approvals. He added, We are interested also in the U.S. We are in discussion with a number of companies and partners in the US and other parts of the world because that's a growth market. Very significant. We're looking at it for growth opportunity to expand our position in LNG. Aramco has increased its gas production target to over 60 percent by 2030, based on a 2021 baseline.

In June, Aramco signed contracts valued at over $25 billion. Around $12.4 billion will be dedicated to the second phase of expansion of its Jafurah gas field and $8.8 billion will go towards the third phase of expansion of its main gas network. It has also awarded 23 gas rig contracts, valued at $2.4 billion, alongside two directional drilling contracts for $612 million, and 13 well tie-in contracts at Jafurah, worth $1/63 billion. This reflects the companys plans to develop Saudis unconventional gas reserves, using advanced extraction methods.

Jafurah is the biggest unconventional non-oil associated gas field in Saudi Arabia and could well be the largest shale gas operation outside of the U.S., with reserves of 229 trillion cubic feet of gas and 75 billion barrels of condensates. Phase One of development at Jafurah commenced in 2021 and initial start-up is expected in late 2025. Aramco expects the total lifecycle investment in Jafurah to exceed $100 billion, achieving a projected output of two billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030, as well as large volumes of ethane, NGL and condensate.

Nasser stated, By generating an anticipated 2 billion standard cubic feet per day of sales gas by 2030, this bold initiative will strengthen Saudi Arabia's position as one of the top national gas producers in the world. Nasser also hopes the investment will diversify the companys portfolio, enhancing its market position.

Related: Steel Industry Reacts to Import Caps and Tariffs with Cautious Approach

The investment in Saudis main gas network will contribute to a 4,000km expansion of pipelines, which will increase capacity by approximately 3.2 billion standard cubic feet per day, as well as connect several new cities to the network. Several firms were awarded contracts under the investment including a Hyundai Engineering & Construction consortium and Chinas Sinopec.

Aramcos major investment announcements come at a time when many other companies are reducing their oil and gas spending in favor of the diversification of their energy portfolios. The IEA recently stated that it expects a fall in demand growth and a surging supply of crude to leave global oil markets with a surplus this decade. A recent IEA report stated that global oil demand, including biofuels, averaged just over 102 million barrels per day in 2023, and predicted that demand will level off near 106 million barrels a day towards 2030. Meanwhile, due to the surge in global production following the pandemic, output is expected to surpass demand between now and the end of the decade, with the total oil supply likely to reach 114 million bpd by 2030.

However, Nasser has repeatedly urged companies to increase their investment in oil and gas, suggesting that the IEAs prediction is unfounded. Nasser recently stated, In the real world, the current transition strategy is visibly failing on most fronts. Nasser cited a KPMG report that showed that fossil fuels accounted for 82 percent of global consumption in 2023. He said, This is hardly the future picture some have been painting," Nasser said, All this strengthens the view that peak oil and gas is unlikely for some time to come, let alone 2030.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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The worlds biggest oil company and crude oil exporter, Saudi Aramco, is betting big on its unconventional natural gas reserves to strategically grow its domestic and international gas and LNG business.

Aramco has been seeking a greater role in the global LNG market as it plans to ramp up its natural gas production and trading business. The oil giant is looking to boost its domestic natural gas supply, to replace direct crude burn for its power generation and free up more crude for exports.

As part of its strategic gas business expansion, Aramco has awarded $25 billion worth of contracts for the development of the unconventional Jafurah field, the biggest unconventional Saudi non-oil associated gas field, and phase three of its Master Gas System project to expand its domestic gas pipeline network, the Saudi state-held oil giant said this weekend.

Jafurah, which could be the largest shale gas development outside the United States, is estimated to contain 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 75 billion Stock Tank Barrels of condensate. Phase one of the Jafurah development program began in November 2021 and is progressing on schedule, with initial start-up anticipated in the third quarter of 2025.

Related: Shell to Temporarily Halt European Biofuels Project

Aramco said it expects total overall lifecycle investment at Jafurah to exceed $100 billion and production to reach a sustainable sales gas rate of 2 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030, in addition to significant volumes of ethane, NGL, and condensate.

This Sunday, the company announced the award of 16 contracts, worth a combined total of around $12.4 billion, for phase two development at Jafurah.

These contracts will involve the construction of gas compression facilities and associated pipelines, expansion of the Jafurah Gas Plantincluding the construction of gas processing trainsand utilities, sulfur, and export facilities.

In addition, Aramco awarded 15 lump sum turnkey contracts, worth a combined $8.8 billion, to phase three expansion of the Master Gas System to boost its total capacity by an additional 3.15 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd) by 2028 through the installation of around 4,000 km (2,485 miles) of pipelines and 17 new gas compression trains.

The Kingdoms oil giant also awarded 23 gas rig contracts worth $2.4 billion, along with two directional drilling contracts worth $612 million. Meanwhile, 13 well tie-in contracts at Jafurah, worth a total of $1.63 billion, have been awarded between December 2022 and May 2024.

The scale of our ongoing investment at Jafurah and the expansion of our Master Gas System underscores our intention to further integrate and grow our gas business to meet anticipated rising demand, Aramcos president and CEO Amin Nasser said.

This complements the diversification of our portfolio, creates new employment opportunities, and supports the Kingdoms transition towards a lower-emission power grid, in which gas and renewables gradually displace liquids-based power generation.

The expansion of the gas production and infrastructure at home follows recent announcements that Aramco has signed major international LNG deals after the Saudi giant entered the global LNG business last autumn by agreeing a deal to buy a minority stake in LNG company MidOcean Energy, which was in the process of acquiring interests in four Australian LNG projects.

Last month, Aramco signed a non-binding agreement to buy LNG from Sempras Port Arthur LNG project in Southeast Texas and potentially acquire 25% in the projects Phase 2. The Saudi firm also entered into a preliminary agreement with NextDecade Corporation for a 20-year LNG offtake deal from train 4 at the Rio Grande LNG export facility in Texas.

Going into LNG trading would be another lucrative business for the Saudi oil giant, considering that LNG demand is only set to grow in the coming years as Europe ditches Russian gas and Asia looks to use more natural gas instead of coal. On the other hand, Aramcos domestic natural gas expansion will boost the companys gas offering and replace some of its more valuable crude that it currently burns for electricity generation.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Georgias strategic partnership with China may seem promising for Tbilisi on the surface, but the substance of the relationship conflicts with Georgias long-term ambitions.

There are two drawbacks for Georgia. First, the partnership with China comes at the expense of Euro-Atlantic integration: the increasing rivalry between China and the West makes it difficult, if not impossible to walk the geostrategic tightrope dividing both sides. Second, Chinese engagement is unlikely to deter possible future Russian military aggression  the primary security concern in Tbilisi. Georgia is looking for security partners to ensure its survival, while Chinas interests are exclusively economic. This asymmetrical relationship means that Tbilisi has more to lose than to win in the long run.

In recent years, economic and political relations between China and Georgia have strengthened, underscored by the signing of a Strategic Partnership agreement in 2023. China is investing in major infrastructure projects in Georgia, including highways and hydro power plants. Earlier in June, the government awarded a contract to a Chinese consortium to develop the Anaklia deep-sea port.

Georgias engagement in a strategic partnership with China is somewhat surprising when keeping Tbilisis official Euro-Atlantic aspirations in mind. While strategic partnerships with China are not unprecedented among EU or NATO countries, talk of a new cold war between China and the West is a complicating factor. European disengagement from China accelerated after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, evident by the EU Councils Strategic Compass, published in March 2022. Here China is explicitly referred to as an economic competitor, system rival and as military power impacting regional and global security.

The Chinese-Georgian strategic agreement reads that Georgia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, which refers to recognition of Taiwan as part of mainland China. Most EU-countries adhere to a one-China policy, meaning they acknowledge but do not endorse Chinas position on Taiwan. Denmark and Hungary understands and respects the claim, while Belgium and Italy take note of it. Georgias decision to support the more extensive one-China principle thus differs from the general line of EU countries  not to mention that of the United States.

What is even more noteworthy and imbalanced is the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia  the two regions de-facto controlled by Russia since the war in 2008. The restoration of Georgias territorial integrity is not just an important public policy position for successive Georgian governments, but also a political priority in the country. Though China has never recognized their independence, the Chinese-Georgian partnership agreement omits references to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, likely because China does not wish to be at odds with Russia over this issue.

As part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an infrastructure blueprint to expand connectivity between East Asia with Europe, Georgia is a potentially important link within the Middle Corridor  one of six BRI trade routes. This corridor, if fully developed, can serve as an alternative to the Northern Corridor through Russia and the Ocean Corridor via the Suez Canal. The Northern Corridor faces challenges due to the sanctions imposed on Russia following Moscows invasion of Ukraine. The Ocean Corridor is affected by recent instability in the Middle East, intensified by the Israeli-Hamas war. In some instances, the Middle Corridor is estimated to be quicker than the two other corridors. However, this assessment is likely overly optimistic, as the corridor is far from complete and filled with geopolitical, diplomatic and practical pitfalls.

Related: OPEC: The World Cannot Run on Renewable Energy and EVs

From Georgias perspective a partnership with China involves two objectives. First, Georgia seeks to advance its economic interests as China is Georgias third largest trade partner. However, looking at the level of 2023 Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Georgia, China only ranked 8th. Despite Chinas BRI-related initiatives, its investment remains modest. Georgia is not even mentioned in a major 2022 BRI report, probably because Beijings main priority for the Middle Corridor is to connect Central Asian countries internally and with China.

Georgias pursuit of closer ties with China also has a security objective, probably aiming to reinforce the countrys ability to deter further Russian aggression by making offensive action costly in terms of Russias relations with China. Given Russian leader Vladimir Putins decision to wage war in Ukraine, and in light of the 2008 Russo-Georgian war, Georgia faces a very uncertain security situation. Although in the short term, Russian aggression against Georgia is unlikely due to resource scarcity caused by the war in Ukraine, the continuing presence of Russian forces in Abkhazia and South Ossetia serves as a constant reminder of the potential for aggression. From this viewpoint, it seems logical for Georgian leaders to pursue stronger ties with China, but as mentioned before, China probably does not wish to get entrapped on the Georgian side of any potential future Russian-Georgian conflict.

The case of Ukraine serves as an example of this. In 2011, China and Ukraine established a strategic partnership with an emphasis on economic development. A decade later, in 2021, China was ranked first among Ukraines trade partners. However, as became apparent on February 24, 2022, Chinas economic interests in Ukraine did not deter a Russian invasion and China even refrained from publicly criticizing it.

Georgias warming relations with China conflict with its Euro-Atlantic aspirations not only for geopolitical reasons, but also amid rising tensions with Beijing and Western capitals. The Georgian government is accused of engaging in democratic backsliding with the recent passing of the so-called foreign agents law, anti-LGBT rhetoric and reordering of the electoral commission. Georgias recently acquired EU candidate status may be revoked altogether if the country remains at odds with the EU on high-profile policy areas and its relations to China. It begs the question whether accession to EU and NATO is still the political goal of the Georgian government? It would explain the general policy shift and why Tbilisi seeks a consolidated Sino-Georgian partnership. But the central points of this analysis still stand: If the relationship between Georgia and the West deteriorates significantly, Tbilisi will likely stand alone politically and militarily in the case of renewed Russian aggression. In that scenario, the case of Ukraine demonstrates that Tbilisi cannot expect any protection or diplomatic cover from Beijing.

By Anders Streubel-Kristensen via Eurasianet.org

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A Louisiana federal judge has blocked President Bidens pause on new LNG export capacity approvals, ruling in favor of 16 states that sued the federal government for the pause.

President Biden signed what the White House called a pause on new LNG export capacity permits in late January under pressure from climate activists. Those claimed that LNG was even worse for the environment than coal and any new export capacity would aggravate what they see as an already grave situation with the earths climate.

In response to the move, 16 states, including Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, filed a lawsuit claiming that the suspension of new LNG export permits would affect the U.S. economy negatively and interfere with the supply of gas to allies in Europe that were trying to quit Russian gas.

The states also argued that the decision to halt permitting puts billions of dollars in investments in jeopardy, Reuters noted in a March report on the news.

The ban will drive billions of dollars in investment away from Texas, hinder our ability to maximize revenue for public schools, force Texas producers to flare excess natural gas instead of taking it to market, and annihilate critical jobs, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement at the time.

U.S. LNG exports to Europe have been on the decline following the pause on LNG exports, although it was probably not the only reason. Europe came out of winter with plenty of gas in storage and there was also the issue of price, which, for U.S. LNG is higher than alternatives.

Nevertheless, U.S. District Judge James Cains ruling should alleviate some of the tension in energy circles caused by federal government energy policies.

In his ruling, Judge Cain said that the governments move had been arbitrary, capricious, and unconstitutional and that it had violated the Natural Gas Act. Judge Cain added that the Department of Energy had gone above and beyond its scope of authority.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Germanys small and medium-sized companies are increasingly turning to solar power to cover their electricity consumption as energy prices in Europes biggest economy havent dropped much despite the fall in natural gas prices compared to the peak energy crisis.

As electricity prices in Germany show no signs of decreasing as previously anticipated, companies are increasingly recognising the economic viability of installing solar panels, Marie-Theres Husken, an energy expert for the BVMW association for small- and medium-sized businesses, told Reuters.

BDEW, the association of utilities, said in its overview for 2023 that high prices and weak industry led to a record low primary energy consumption in Germany. For the first time ever, more than 50% of electricity generation came from renewable energy, thanks to record growth in photovoltaics (PV) installations.

Germany installed a record-high power capacity from solar and wind in 2023, but only solar additions met government targets, while wind power installations fell short of goals.

Now more German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are likely to turn to solar power, according to various surveys and analyses cited by Reuters.

By installing solar panels and generating their own electricity, companies would not be paying the high grid fees and taxes, which have slowed the decline in electricity prices for small firms.

The high energy costs have been a key reason for weak manufacturing and industrial activity in Germany over the past two years.

Germanys industry is unlikely to fully recover from the energy price shock and return to the competitiveness from before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the chief executive of Germanys top utility, RWE, told the Financial Times in April.

The German industry has a disadvantage, RWEs chief executive officer Markus Krebber told FT, noting that Germany is now seeing structurally higher energy prices as it depends on LNG imports.

Despite reducing significantly its dependence on Russian gas, Europe remains exposed to natural gas supply and price shocks as it lacks any buffers in the system, Krebber told FT at the end of last year.

By Tsvetana Paraskova

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Falling crude oil exports from Saudi Arabia accounted for half of the 1 million barrels per day (bpd) drop in global seaborne shipments in June compared to May, tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg showed on Tuesday.

The estimated decline of about 1.08 million bpd in global crude oil shipments was the biggest monthly drop in seaborne crude supply so far this year, according to the data.

Saudi Arabia, the worlds top crude oil exporter, led the decline, likely because of burning more oil domestically for power generation as it typically does every summer to meet soaring demand for air conditioning in the hottest months in the desert.

Therefore, in most summer months in the northern hemisphere, the Kingdom withholds more of its crude for domestic use, although the timing varies.

Saudi seaborne crude oil shipments thus fell by 529,000 bpd to 5.606 million bpd in June, down from 6.135 million bpd in May, according to the data compiled by Bloomberg.

In June, some other major producers also saw their crude shipments decline compared to May. Iran and Iraqs exports dropped, as did shipments from West Africa, the U.S. Gulf Coast, and the North Sea.

The producers who boosted seaborne shipments included Brazil and Qatar. Additionally, Russias flagship grade Urals also saw shipments rise although exports of other Russian grades fell, the data collected by Bloomberg showed.

Saudi Arabias crude shipments rose in March to the highest level in 9 months, per data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI).

The following month, Saudi crude exports fell by as much as 445,000 bpd from March to 6 million bpd in April, the latest JODI data showed.

At the same time, the Kingdoms crude oil production rose by 13,000 bpd to 8.99 million bpd, according to the JODI data which compiles self-reported figures from the individual countries. Saudi direct crude burn increased by 93,000 bpd month-on-month and was up by 11% year over year in April, according to the data.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil inventories in the United States fell by 9.163 million barrels for the week ending June 28, according to The American Petroleum Institute (API), after analysts had expected a 150,000 barrel draw.

For the week prior, the API reported a 914,000 barrel build in crude inventories.

On Tuesday, the Department of Energy (DoE) reported that crude oil inventories in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) rose by 0.4 million barrels as of June 28. Inventories are now at 372.6 million barrelsthe highest level since December 2022, but still well below the 656 million barrels in inventory in June 2020.

Oil prices were trading up ahead of the API data release on Tuesday. At 10:17 am ET, Brent crude was trading up $0.34 on the day at $86.94and up about $2 per barrel from this time last week. The U.S. benchmark WTI was also trading up on the day at +0.30% to $83.63up nearly $3 per barrel from this time last week.

Gasoline inventories rose this week, by 2.468 million barrels, after last weeks 3.843-million-barrel increase. As of last week, gasoline inventories are on par with the five-year average for this time of year, according to the latest EIA data.

Distillate inventories fell this week by 740,009 barrels, compared to last weeks 1.178-million-barrel dip. Distillates were about 9% below the five-year average for the week ending May June 21, the latest EIA data shows.

Cushing inventories rose this week, according to API data, by 404,000 barrels after falling by 350,000 barrels in the previous week.

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Higher production in Nigeria and Iran boosted OPECs oil production in June for a second month in a row, according to the monthly Reuters survey published on Tuesday.

OPECs all 12 producers pumped 26.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in June, up by 70,000 bpd compared to May, found the survey, which tracks supply to the market and is based on information provided by industry sources and shipping data.

Nigeria increased its oil production by an estimated 50,000 bpd last month, as Africas top oil producer looks to raise output after years of underperforming in the OPEC+ deal, which led to the OPEC+ group cutting its quota at the end of last year.

Iran, exempted from the OPEC+ agreement, saw its output rise to 3.2 million bpd in June, matching the Islamic Republics recent five-year high from November 2023, according to the monthly surveys by Reuters.

The biggest decline in output came from Iraq, OPECs second-largest producer, which reduced production by 50,000 bpd, per the latest Reuters survey.

Nevertheless, Iraq continued to exceed its OPEC+ quota last month.

OPEC as a whole produced 280,000 bpd of crude above the implied target for its nine members bound by the pact. Iraqs overproduction continued to represent the largest volumes that were in excess of the OPEC+ targets, according to the Reuters survey.

In May, OPECs crude oil production rose by 29,000 bpd compared to April as the OPEC+ group headed for the crucial June 2 meeting to decide output policy for the rest of the year. Total crude oil production from all 12 OPEC producers averaged 26.63 million bpd in May 2024, up by 29,000 bpd compared to April, according to secondary sources in OPECs Monthly Oil Market Report published in June.

Iraq, which has failed to stick to its 4-million-bpd cap on production, pumped 4.195 million bpd in Maydown by 7,000 bpd from April, but nearly 200,000 bpd above its target, per OPECs secondary sources.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Russias gas giant Gazprom shipped 23% higher volumes of natural gas via pipeline to Europe in June compared to the same month last year, according to estimates by Reuters.

Gazproms pipeline gas deliveries averaged a daily volume of 81.8 million cubic meters (mcm) in June, up from 66.8 mcm in June last year, per the Reuters calculations based on data from European gas transmission group Entsog and Gazproms daily reports on gas transit via Ukraine.

Gazproms export volumes in June 2024 declined from the 89.5 mcm daily volume in May, due to maintenance on TurkStream in early June.

Gazprom stopped reporting monthly export data at the beginning of 2023.

Russia has seen its gas exports to Europe significantly reduced since the invasion of Ukraine. The major drop in Gazproms gas deliveries was due to the halt of Russian pipeline gas exports to nearly all European countries. Weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Russia cut off supply to Poland, Bulgaria, and Finland.

Then Gazprom started to reduce supply via the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany in June 2022, claiming an inability to service gas turbine maintenance outside Russia due to the Western sanctions against Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. This was weeks before the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines at the end of September 2022, which definitively closed all pipeline gas routes of Russias gas to Germany.

Before the war in Ukraine, Russia supplied around one-third of all the gas to Europe.

Last year, Gazproms pipeline gas exports to Europe slumped by 55.6% compared to 2022.

As a result, Gazprom booked its first annual net loss in 23 years, signaling a significant shift in financial performance attributed to dwindling gas shipments to Europe and pricing pressures.

The Russian gas deliveries in May and June were higher than last years low levels, but it is not certain whether these increased supplies would last. Uncertainty over Russian gas supply led to brief price spikes in Europes benchmark gas prices last month, after German energy giant Uniper terminated its long-term deal for Russian gas supply and OMV warned that Gazprom could halt gas supply to Austria due to a foreign court ruling that could interrupt OMV payments to Gazprom Export, without specifying the case.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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 Flash

This photo taken on June 29, 2024 shows a view of Astana's central axis, in Astana, Kazakhstan. [Photo/Xinhua]

China believes that the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit will help build more consensus among all parties and make contributions to promoting security, stability and development of member countries, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

China has announced that President Xi Jinping will attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Spokesperson Mao Ning said since the SCO was established 23 years ago, its member states have adhered to the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development.

They have jointly promoted solidarity and mutual trust, carried out multilateral coordination, and successfully built the SCO into a security barrier, a bridge for cooperation, a bond of friendship and a constructive force in the region, setting an example of a new type of international relations and new regional cooperation, Mao said.

The upcoming SCO summit is the most important event within the framework of the SCO this year, during which President Xi will engage in in-depth discussions with leaders of other participating countries on deepening cooperation across various fields and on major international and regional issues, and make plans and arrangements for the SCO's future development, the spokesperson said.

After the Astana summit, China will assume the SCO's rotating presidency for the 2024-2025 period.

China attaches great importance to this and has already started comprehensive preparatory work, Mao said.

"We are ready to work with all parties to deepen cooperation on fields of politics, security, economy, trade and culture, under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit, and promote the high-quality development of the SCO and the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future to bring more benefits to people in the region and contribute more to lasting peace and common prosperity in the world," she said.
Venezuelas president, Nicolas, Maduro, has accepted a U.S. proposal for a new round of talks on local policies and the future of U.S. oil sanctions on Caracas.

I have received the proposal during two continuous months from the United States government to reestablish talks and direct dialogue, Maduro said on Venezuelan television, as quoted by the Associated Press

After thinking about it for two months, I have accepted, and next Wednesday, talks will restart with the United States government to comply with the agreements signed in Qatar and to reestablish the terms of the urgent dialogue, the Venezuelan president said.

Caracas and Washington have been talking on and off about election reform in Venezuela as a condition for removing oil sanctions but progress has been patchy.

he United States granted a six-month oil sanction waiver to Caracas last year after the two sides discussed election reforms that would have given Venezuelas opposition a chance in the upcoming vote, to take place on July 28.

However, just months later, the Maduro government effectively banned the oppositions leader, Maria Corina Machado, from running for office, prompting threats from Washington that the sanctions would snap back.

Following the sanction waiver last October, Venezuela had planned to expand its oil production from below 800,000 bpd to over 1 million bpd. As the sanctions snapped back in April, however, these plans remain in jeopardy.

The May production figure was 822,000 barrels daily, as measured by OPEC secondary sources. This was a slight decline from 825,000 barrels daily a month earlier. This has not prevented government officials from claiming that state-owned PDVSA will soon hit its target of 1 million barrels daily in production, despite the sanctions.

Exports of crude from Venezuela, however, surged in May as buyers rushed to take advantage of a grace period before the sanctions snapped back officially, at the end of the month. During that month, Venezuela exported over 700,000 barrels of crude daily, which was a 30% increase on April exports.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The Missouri River reached its high-water mark in Omaha and areas to the north over the weekend, and storms overnight Monday and Tuesday were not expected to alter its continued decline.

Nor were rains in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa expected to significantly impact river crests south of Omaha until the Missouri rolls south of Rulo, Nebraska, federal officials said during a call Monday. However, they stressed they continue to closely monitor the situation.

On Saturday, the rivers water level reached 32.79 feet in the Omaha area, according to a preliminary measure from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That mark ranked the fourth-highest crest in the area for the river in the Omaha area. The Missouri Rivers highest crest was 40.2 feet on April 18, 1952. The third-highest came at 34.4 feet on March 17, 2019.

The recent mark fell more than 2 feet below what hydrologists had previously projected. Last week, hydrologists projected an initial crest of 35.1 feet. That forecast was revised later in the week for the river to reach 35.4 feet.

The Missouri Rivers water level in the Omaha area has since declined to about 30 feet, according to the NOAAs river gauge, as flooding has receded from the moderate stage to minor. A flood warning pertaining to the Missouri River remained in effect until Tuesday evening.

The receding floodwaters led Iowa Department of Transportation officials to plan on partially reopening Interstates 680 and 29 north of Omaha. In a conference call Monday, transportation officials expressed confidence that one lane in each direction along those interstates will be open to traffic before the Fourth of July holiday on Thursday.

Officials added the lanes may be available as early as Tuesday afternoon or early Wednesday. Department crews are pushing debris to the sides of the roadways and a contractor will remove it.

Wind, rain expected to roll through Nebraska Monday night

The decline in the Missouri Rivers water levels around and north of the Omaha area occurred just before more severe weather and rain is forecast to hit much of Nebraska early this week.

Brian Barjenbruch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, said some areas could see more than 3 inches of rain.

Somewhere in there, there will be a band of heavy rain. Its just a matter of where it will develop, Barjenbruch said.

Meteorologists were still working on nailing down the exact areas of where the most impactful of storms could come through, Barjenbruch said.

While the storm systems worst effects are likely to stay west of Omaha, the metro area could see high winds and quite a bit of rain, Barjenbruch said. The storm system was forecast to hit the Omaha and Lincoln areas overnight Monday, weather service meteorologist Clint Aegerter said, and clear out early Tuesday morning.

The storm system follows what was a rainy Monday morning in Nebraska. Barjenbruch said the weather service recorded 0.65 of an inch of rain at its Valley office. Meanwhile, the David City area, which sits about 70 miles west of Omaha, had more than 2 inches. The weather service received reports of more than 1 inch of rain in Lincoln.

The Omaha and Lincoln areas are on the edge of another storm system expected to mainly hit southern Iowa and the extreme southeast edge of Nebraska Tuesday afternoon. That projected system could produce hail, flooding and a tornadoes, Aegerter said.

How the rain will affect the Missouri Rivers flood levels remains to be seen.

The Missouri River itself responds fairly slowly, Barjenbruch said. Any rainwater that does fall will eventually get into the Missouri. But unless (the rain) falls just right on it, it takes a little while for the Missouri to make a notable rise, especially when its this high already.
A Nebraska group that got its start organizing rural alliances to fight oil pipelines now is seeking to forge similar partnerships to catalyze renewable energy projects  and harvest the economic benefits that can come with them  in rural areas.

The launch of the Bold Alliances new clean energy model is fueled by the $3 million Climate Breakthrough Award founder Jane Kleeb received in November.

The international award will deliver $1 million a year distributed over at least three years. Kleeb said Bold also will seek to raise an additional $1 million a year, giving the clean energy initiative a $2 million annual budget. It will deploy the full model in four states  Nebraska, North Dakota, Illinois and Arizona  and help with smaller projects in others.

Kleeb said rural communities have been left out of the conversation about clean energy development. Years of misinformation have led to mistrust of such projects.

She acknowledged that not all members of rural communities will be excited about renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar. Some Nebraska counties already have placed strict zoning requirements on such projects.

The question for us is: We need more energy in America. Period. Anybody who says otherwise is not looking at the projections, Kleeb said. So how do we make sure we go from 14% clean energy nationwide, where were currently at, to 33%, so we have a more balanced energy portfolio so coal, oil and gas cant have our backs to the wall on price?

One idea, she said, will be to help negotiate agreements that allow communities that host such projects to benefit beyond the construction jobs the projects create, the property tax dollars they feed into local coffers and the leases they pay to participating landowners.

If theres the potential for an energy project to leave additional dollars in the community each year, Kleeb said, Bold would meet with residents to find out what they need. Maybe its funding to build a child care center and subsidize child care in the community or annual dividends for people who live in the projects viewshed, like the dividends Alaska residents receive for oil drilling.

Were going to test out new things, she said.

Bolds role, she said, would be to try to help negotiate such agreements, working with energy companies, communities, county officials and opposition groups.

We know you may not like it, but how do we come to an agreement that benefits everybody and puts more money in peoples pockets? Kleeb said.

For rural communities, Kleeb said, clean energy offers a new economic path that can help them survive and grow and keep their young people.

This is the big choice, she said.

Earlier this year, for instance, Bold and Tallgrass Energy announced a community benefit agreement under which the company pledged $1.1 million to support local initiatives and to equip and train first responders in Nebraska communities along the route of its carbon pipeline.

While such agreements still arent common, the number is growing, according to a database maintained by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at New Yorks Columbia University.

Tallgrass plans to convert 392 miles of existing natural gas pipeline to carry carbon dioxide. The agreement, which received support from 11 Nebraska environmental and agriculture organizations, also includes landowner rights protections throughout the pipelines life cycle, from development through decommissioning.

The Trailblazer Pipeline project, announced in May 2022, stretches between Fillmore County and the pipelines western terminus south of Cheyenne, Wyoming, where the greenhouse gas will be injected deep underground, The World-Herald previously has reported.

Kleeb said she raised funds to promote a part-time Bold staff member to full time to manage any landowner complaints that might arise under the agreement.

Kleeb was one of two people worldwide selected for the Climate Breakthrough Award last year and became one of three Americans to receive one. The award money will help with her efforts to have communities benefit from energy projects.

Candidates dont apply but are contacted and interviewed. Kleeb is known for her efforts organizing people opposed to the Keystone XL Pipeline. She also serves as chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party, a volunteer position.

The Climate Breakthrough Project, a global nonprofit based in San Francisco, was launched in 2016 and currently supported, according to its website, by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, the JPB Foundation, The Lemelson Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation and Vere Initiative, according to its website.

Goals: Protecting landowner rights, bringing benefit to communities

The organization, she said, will continue its focus on protecting landowners property rights, whether they live in rural or urban communities.

Residents of those communities, she said, have a lot in common and would benefit if they unite. Energy could be one of the issues that bridges the gap between town and country. To that end, Bold in March hired State Sen. Terrell McKinney as its land justice director.

McKinney represents part of North Omaha in the Nebraska Legislature. He currently is seeking re-election to represent North Omahas District 11. He emerged from the May primary four votes ahead of former State Sen. Ernie Chambers, who previously held the seat until term limits required him to step down.

McKinney will meet with residents with the goal of trying to help groups in North Omaha who want to see the Omaha Public Power District finish converting its North Omaha power plant from coal to natural gas. Residents long have raised concerns about the health impact of emissions from the plant.

Burning coal at the North Omaha Station was supposed to have been completely phased out in 2023. But in 2022, the utilitys board voted to put off the conversion until at least 2026, in large part because it faced a regional backlog in getting the replacement power connected into the grid. OPPD officials have said they are committed to eliminating the burning of coal in North Omaha as soon as the replacement power is available, even in the face of the growing demand.

McKinney said he is just beginning to meet with groups that have been involved in the issue. I dont want to take over what theyre doing, he said. I just want to help them.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2024
All seven victims of Fridays shooting in Crete have been released from the hospital as of Tuesday, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

The victims of the shooting in the 1200 block of Crestline Drive included four children, the youngest of which was 3 years old. As of Saturday, three victims had remained hospitalized.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and authorities are working to determine if the incident was a hate crime, according to a press release from the State Patrol.

The victims, Guatemalan immigrants, were shot by their White neighbor, 74-year-old Bill Booth. Booth was found dead by self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home at 1810 Parkland Drive after he shot at the family with a shotgun, according to the State Patrol.

During a press conference Saturday, Crete Police Chief Gary Young said police had received a complaint from the victims family that Booth had previously flipped them off and told them to go back to where they came from and speak English.

The Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans condemned the shooting in a press release Tuesday, stating this tragic incident has deeply shaken our community.

The commission called for Nebraskans to stand together to condemn racism and violence and stand up for unity and inclusion. The commission also said it is working with the Guatemalan Consulate to identify channels and resources to prevent similar incidents.

While authorities investigate the motive, the history of racial harassment and the targeted nature of the attack cannot be ignored, the release said.

Photos: Seven wounded in shooting in Crete, Neb.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to the "Shared Journey of Friendship" U.S. Youth Exchange Delegation on Monday.

Xi said in the message that for the China-U.S. relationship, the hope lies in the peoples of the two countries, the foundation is laid by the two peoples, the future depends on the youth, and the vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels.

"I hope that through this visit, you will perceive, experience, and have a better understanding of China, communicate and interact with the young people of China to become good partners and good friends, help build more bridges of mutual understanding between the two peoples, and contribute to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples," he said in the message.

The "Shared Journey of Friendship" U.S. Youth Exchange Delegation consists of around 190 teachers and students from 14 schools in seven states across the United States. The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries invited the delegation and is responsible for the reception.
PONTIAC  A 1% sales tax for the city of Pontiac, which is estimated to bring more than $2 million a year for local infrastructure projects, was approved by the City Council on Monday.

With the passage of House Bill 3144 at the end of Illinois' legislative session, municipalities without home rule are allowed to adopt a retailer's occupation or service occupation tax without the need for a referendum.

Under the statute, this tax revenue can only be used for two purposes.

The first is public infrastructure, which is defined in the statute as municipal roads and streets, access roads, bridges, sidewalks, waste disposal systems, water and sewer line extension, water distribution and purification facilities, storm water drainage and retention facilities and sewage treatment facilities.

The second is for property tax relief, which is defined by statute as "the action of a municipality to reduce the levy for real estate taxes or avoid an increase in the levy for real estate taxes that would otherwise have been required."

Pontiac Mayor Bill Alvey said the matter was discussed in depth during a non-voting session of council, and it was agreed that the money would help fund additional street and sidewalk projects across the city.

Of the $2 million the tax is expected to generate each year, the city estimates about $1.8 million would be paid by non-residents.

Before voting on the sales tax ordinance, the council adopted a resolution committing the tax revenue to infrastructure projects.

Street renovations are estimated to cost about $50,000 per block for overlay work and about $150,000 per block for curb and gutter rebuilds.

City Administrator Jim Woolford said the city had previously considered using the funds for a $7 million bond issuance. Debt service would then be covered by future sales tax receipts.

However, Woolford said there would have been a lot of obstacles in having so much money available for upfront work.

"With the level of work $7 million might bring, we might have a hard time finding contractors to do all the work and we'd have a lot of construction going on at one time," Woolford said.

The tax would be imposed on general merchandise where the sale originated, foods prepared for on-premises consumption and all candy and soft drinks.

Woolford told The Pantagraph last week the city is focused on addressing streets and sidewalks with the sales tax but is not ruling out the use of this money on water and sewer projects in the future.

With its passage, the ordinance will be submitted to the Illinois Department of Revenue prior to Oct. 1. The tax would then go into effect in January 2025.

Distribution is about two months behind collection, so the city may not see any new revenue until March 25.

Signs, sights along Constitution Trail 070521-blm-loc-2explore 070521-blm-loc-1explore 070521-blm-loc-3explore 070521-blm-loc-4explore 070521-blm-loc-5explore 070521-blm-loc-6explore 070521-blm-loc-7explore
Answer: You are, if you believe a "Top 100 Places To Live In The U.S." poll by Livability.com, that measures a city's "livability" by its economy, size, amenities, transportation, housing costs, education, safety, affordability and environment. Illinois landed five cities in the top 100, with B-N second to Naperville but ahead of Evanston, Champaign-Urbana and Peoria. The Livability.com poll does not include cities larger than 500,000 residents, as it believes big city life is different in terms of things like feeling at home, friendliness, knowing your neighbors and "livability."
The vibrant city of Accra has welcomed a delightful new addition to its culinary scene: FlakyCrust Cafe. I had the pleasure of attending the opening of this cafe, and I can confidently say its a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in a variety of its delicious offerings.



Located at North Legon, next to the North Hills International School, FlakyCrust Cafe boasts a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a casual hangout with friends.



The cafes interior is tastefully decorated with a blend of modern and rustic elements, creating a warm and welcoming ambiance. But what truly sets FlakyCrust Cafe apart is its meticulously curated menu, offering a diverse range of delectable dishes that cater to all taste buds.



Breakfast & Brunch Highlights



FlakyCrust Cafes breakfast and brunch menu is a standout, featuring hearty options that are sure to kickstart your day on a high note.



Here are some of the highlights:



Kings Plate: This plate is a feast fit for royalty, comprising two toasts, fried eggs, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, flat mushrooms, hash browns, a beef patty, and a side of cut fruits. Its a satisfying meal that promises to keep you fueled for hours.







Queens Plate: Equally indulgent, the Queens Plate includes two toasts, chicken patties, fried eggs, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, and your choice of waffle or pancake, complemented by a hash brown. A perfect choice for those who love a bit of variety on their plate.



Avocado Farm Toast: For avocado lovers, this dish is a dream come true. It features smashed avocado, micro herbs, onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper on sourdough toast, topped with a fried egg. Its a refreshing and healthy option that doesnt compromise on flavour.



Beyond these breakfast and brunch staples, FlakyCrust Cafe offers an array of dishes that cater to diverse palates:



Vegan Breakfast: With grilled tomatoes, avocado, baked beans, mushrooms, and hash browns, this dish is a hearty and wholesome start to the day for vegans and health-conscious diners.



Mexican Omelette: This flavorful omelette includes ham, cheddar cheese, tomato, red onion, and chilli, offering a zesty kick to your morning routine.



NYC Bagel: Choose your filling from options like bagel with turkey ham, scrambled eggs, and cheese, or tuna with cream cheese and radish. Its a delicious nod to classic New York flavours.



The cafe also excels in its selection of sandwiches and wraps, all filled with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber:



Beef Strip Wraps: Featuring tender fillet strips, onions, sweet pepper, mixed cheese, and mayo, these wraps are a savory delight.



Crumbed Chicken: Available as a wrap or baguette, this option includes spicy chicken, bell pepper, onions, cheese, chili sauce, and garlic mayo.



For those with a sweet tooth, the pastry section is a haven of delicious treats. From plain and chocolate croissants to custard puffs and cheese croissants, each pastry is crafted to perfection.



The cafe also offers a variety of cakes, cupcakes, and doughnuts that are perfect for dessert or an afternoon treat.



FlakyCrust Cafe is more than just a place to eat; its a destination where culinary artistry meets a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Whether youre looking for a hearty breakfast, a quick snack, or a sweet treat, this cafe has something for everyone.



The opening was a testament to the cafes commitment to quality and excellence, and I cant wait to see how it becomes a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike.



So, next time you find yourself in Accra, make sure to stop by FlakyCrust Cafeyour taste buds will thank you.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Lawyers for the Inspector-General of Police in the leaked tape saga have challenged claims by chairman of the Parliamentary committee which probed the matter Samuel Atta Akyea that members are divided over the findings of the report.



The Abuakwa South lawmaker claims some members of the committee do not agree with the recommendations and findings of the report despite the fact that all members except him signed the final report submitted to Parliament.



What happened has fully confirmed our nightmare that the chairman had his own agenda, he was on a frolic of his own way aside the remit of the committee and we have been vindicated, lead Counsel for the IGP Professor Kwame Gyan told Joy News on Monday July 1,2024.



He further noted: In the practice of the House, the Chair appointed by the Speaker has no original vote, the chairmans vote is only a casting vote if there was a tie, and there wasnt. So afar as we are concerned this report is a unanimous report. We know hes part of the machinations by some unscrupulous elements who have an insatiable appetite to be IGP.



The Committees report among cited all three offices heard on the tape COP George Alex Mensah, Superintendent Asare and Superintendent Gyebi for professional misconduct and went ahead to refer two of them to the privileges committee for lying to the committee when they appeared before them.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com









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The attention of the Ministry of Roads and Highways has been drawn to a viral video on social media indicating that a portion of the Atimpoku-Asikuma road, near the police barrier, has caved in as a result of severe flooding of a section of the road, following a heavy downpour of rain on Saturday, 29th June 2024.



The Ministry wishes to inform the public that an assessment undertaken by the Ghana Highway Authority after the flood receded, indicates that the 8.2m span bridge over the Fodoga River is in good condition. Hence, the road is now open to traffic.



Further investigations however reveal that about 120m sealed surface of the road was damaged by the flood. There is also a need to improve the free flow of the river to avert the re-occurrence of the flood.



The Ministry is therefore mobilising the necessary resources to undertake emergency remedial works on the damaged section of the road. The Ministry also commits to work with the Ghana Hydrological Authority to improve the free flow of the river.



The Ministry of Roads and Highways wishes to reiterate its commitment to addressing all road network challenges across the country and encourages road users to cooperate with the Ministry as we strive to improve the condition of the national road network.

Source: Ministry of Roads and Highways









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The third Accused in the ongoing Ambulance case, Richard Jakpa, has reiterated to the Court that due process was followed for the procurement of the ambulances as well.



According to him the specifications for the ambulances were sanctioned by Cabinet and Parliament.



Mr. Jakpas statement was an answer to a question posed by the Attorney-General, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, who had raised the questions of transparency and integrity of the procurement process.



On July 2, 2024, there was a court hearing for the ongoing ambulance case where Mr. Jakpa stands trial alongside the minority leader and former deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in whose tenure the said ambulances were procured.



Mr. Jakpa emphasised that the approval process underwent rigorous examination at various levels, so as to ensure that the specifications for the ambulances were adhered to by the manufacturers.



He added that, both the Cabinet and Parliament conducted a comprehensive evaluation including cost assessments and technical reviews, before giving their final approval.



Mr. Jakpa maintained that, the strict process adopted was designed to make sure that Ghana got the best of deals best fit for the health delivery services.



Mr Dame launched the prosecution of this case, voicing concerns about potential irregularities in the procurement process and alleged financial loss to the state.



The Attorney-General noted some discrepancies in the pricing and quality of the ambulances, suggesting that due diligence might not have been carried out by the stakeholders.



In court, Mr Jakpa provided detailed documentation to substantiate his claims, including minutes of meetings, evaluation reports, and correspondence between relevant government bodies.



He contended that the evidence showcased the governments commitment to transparency and accountability in the procurement of ambulances.



Mr Jakpa further reassured the court that the entire process was in compliance with national procurement laws and international best practices.

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Professor Joseph Osafo has called on government to bring back the celebration of July 1st as a statutory public holiday.



Ghana became a Republic on 1st July, 1960 and the day was celebrated each year until the inception of the Akufo-Addo administration that made it commemorative.



Instead, the government seemingly replaced it with 4th August which is a statutory holiday to celebrate the founders of Ghana.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Prof. Osafo appealed for the restoration of July 1st stressing it is a significant day for Ghana but stressed removing its statutory status has broken a "certain sense of nationalism".



He further argued that celebrating the Republic Day "sends a message. It arranges your psyche in a different. If it's commemorative, you don't get any authority backing it".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin has described the ex-gratia as outmoded, thus, has placed a demand for it to be scrapped.



According to the Rt. Hon. Bagbin, the ex-gratia payments made to Article 71 officeholders at the end of each tenure in office no longer serves the purpose for which it was introduced.



It is recalled that, participants in a stakeholder conference on the emoluments and Privileges of Article 71 Office Holders called for an end to the class system that the concept of Article 71 Office Holders has created in the public space.



The proponent for who were drawn from both state and non-state institutions posited that, the ex-gratia creates an unfair and unjust system for all Ghanaians and therefore, called on stakeholders to scrap it.



In agreement to the above call, Speaker Alban Bagbin revealed that, the original intention behind ex-gratia payments for certain public servants and political officeholders was to fight against the menace of corruption, adding that, it no longer serves the intended purpose.



Mr. Speaker, during a forum in Kumasi to mark the 30th Anniversary of the republican of Ghanas parliament maintained that, the ex-gratia is unnecessary.



He also added that theres a difference between ex-gratia and gratuity and its not for members of parliament alone.



The issue of ex gratia is a very thorny issue. The founders envisaged a situation where they wanted some particular category of public servants, including political officeholders. The ex gratia is not for members of Parliament and its not even ex gratia, its gratuity."



He emphasised, Unfortunately, in practice, it has not served its purpose. It has not been able to assist us to curb or contain corruption. And so when I made an attempt to contest as a presidential candidate, I did announce that if elected as president, I was going to ensure that that article is amended from the constitution. So I agree totally with anybody who comes to say that we should do away with Article 71 of the Constitution. It hasnt served its purpose, theres no use maintaining it, he stated.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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The Minority caucus in Ghanas Parliament has announced that they will boycott the vetting of Deputy Minister for Trade designate, Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo.



The NDC minority caucus in parliament made their intention known to the media during a press conference, delivered by the Minority leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.



The minority argued that, the President is not being sensitive to the economic challenges the country faces each passing day. Dr. Ato Forson stated that, instead of reducing the size of government to reduce the huge expenditure of government, the Akufo-Addo led government is rather increasing the size of his government.



The minority highlighted a number of severe challenges, including a crippling economic crisis, food insecurity, debt default due to excessive borrowing, government corruption, and wasteful expenditures as their reason for boycotting the deputy ministerial vetting of Mr. Ahenkorah.



They emphasized their refusal to participate in decisions that would further burden the already struggling Ghanaian, especially given the financial strain of the bloated government.



Dr. Ato Forson, on behalf of the minority caucus said, Members of the Minority Caucus on the Appointments Committee of Parliament will not participate in todays vetting of the Presidents nominee for the post of Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry.



The Caucus is affronted by the already large size of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and its poor economic performance.



We are again unable to support this nomination by President Akufo-Addo at this time because our country has gone through (and continues to go through) very difficult periods, including crippling economic crisis, food insecurity, debt default as a result of excessive borrowing, corruption in government and wasteful and reckless expenditures.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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

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Tension gripped Parliament today as members of the Minority Caucus on the Appointments Committee took a decisive stand by boycotting the scheduled vetting of Kofi Ahenkorah-Marfo, the Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry.



The looming vetting session for Ahenkorah-Marfo was overshadowed by an unexpected turn of events following a press release issued by the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson.



In the widely circulated statement, it was announced that the minority representatives would abstain from the vetting process, citing profound concerns over the prevailing economic challenges besieging the nation.



Echoing dissatisfaction with current economic conditions, the Opposition highlighted the mass relocation of international corporations from Ghana as a pressing issue that necessitates urgent government intervention.

The Minoritys stance centered on advocating for a reduction in governmental size rather than further appointments, emphasizing that the ongoing economic tumult mandates prudent fiscal decisions to alleviate citizens distress.



In a poignant excerpt from the press release, the Minority asserted, We are again unable to support this nomination by President Akufo-Addo at this time because our country has gone through (and continues to go through) very difficult periods, including the crippling economic crisis, food insecurity, debt default as a result of excessive borrowing, corruption in government, and wasteful and reckless expenditures.



Furthermore, the Minority underscored their refusal to engage in activities that might exacerbate the financial burden on Ghanaians already grappling with extreme hardship.



The absence of the Minority members during the vetting session resonates as a potent display of dissent against what they perceive as a disregard for the dire economic plight faced by ordinary citizens.

Source: Daily Guide









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The following is a list of states that allow open carry without requiring a valid permit. Such possession does not automatically correlate with permitless concealed carry, but gun owners must learn local requirements in any case.

1. Alabama

Alabama is one of the most lenient open carry states in the country. Anyone over the age of 18 is allowed the right of openly carrying firearms in most situations, but citizens without a concealed handgun permit can only lawfully do so on their property or in their personal vehicle.

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2. Alaska

Alaska state law also has lenient legislation for citizens possessing firearms. Anyone 21 or older can openly carry or conceal carry without a permit. Furthermore, Alaska does not restrict magazine capacity, ban assault weapons or limit private sales with background checks or waiting periods.

3. Arizona

Arizona does not require responsible gun owners to hold a concealed or open carry permit. Similar to Alaska's permitless carry policy, local governments have little reign over gun laws except to prohibit anyone charged with disorderly conduct or another aggravated offense from being able to carry a handgun.

4. Arkansas

Arkansas gun legislation allows all citizens over the age of 18 to lawfully possess and carry concealed firearms without a permit. In this state, you can also carry handguns or a long gun used for hunting in view of the public.

5. Delaware

Delaware citizens can carry openly but concealed weapon permits are more stringent, requiring background checks and specialized training.

6. Idaho

In this rural state, long guns used for hunting and self-defense are common in motor vehicle racks built for quick access. Both long guns and concealed handguns are allowed without a permit.

7. Indiana

In Indiana, responsible gun owners over the age of 18 can open carry, but state law requires background checks and waiting periods for citizens to attain a concealed carry permit.

8. Iowa

Iowa also does not prohibit open carry or restrict the possession of high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. However, all purchases and private transactions will require a background check.

9. Kansas

Kansas's gun laws are similar to those of other permissive open carry states. Gun owners with concealed carry permits from other states can apply for an optional reciprocity permit.

10. Kentucky

You can open carry in Kentucky as long as you are at least 18 years old. Local authorities have limited autonomy to restrict citizens from openly carrying long guns and other firearms to ensure uniformity across the state.

11. Louisiana

Constitutional carry laws prevail in Louisiana, yet concealed carry permits are issued on a case-by-case basis.

12. Maine

Anyone over 21 can open or conceal carry without a permit. Licensed dealers require a background check, but private sales are not restricted.

13. Mississippi

Both open and concealed carry are allowed without a permit.

14. Montana

Both open and concealed carry are allowed without a permit. Nonresidents can apply for reciprocity permits for concealed carry

15. Nevada

Anyone 18 years or older is allowed open-carrying privileges without a permit. However, if you wish to carry a firearm in a concealed holster, you must apply for a specialized permit and pass a background check.

16. New Hampshire

New Hampshire firearm laws allow responsible, gun-owning citizens to carry a firearm concealed or openly without a permit.

17. New Mexico

New Mexico firearm laws are parallel to most states on this list except the legal age to carry a handgun is 19 years old.

18. North Carolina

North Carolina state law allows open carry without a permit. However, localities are allowed more sovereignty to invoke certain restrictions to improve public safety.

19. Ohio

A person 18 years or older is legally allowed to possess and carry a handgun or other firearm openly. Concealed carry permits are required.

20. Oklahoma

Oklahoma restrictions are lenient and align with most 21-and-older states. However, there is a clause that veterans or military personnel can carry a firearm once they turn 18.

21. Pennsylvania

Long gun laws are typically universal in rural areas of the state, but urban areas are more restrictive. For instance, in Philadelphia, you cannot carry a handgun on your person or stash it in a concealed location in your private automobile.

22. South Dakota

South Dakota aligns with most states on this list, including the reciprocity laws regarding concealed carry restrictions for nonresidents.

23. Tennessee

Tennessee has laws similar to Oklahoma regarding the legal carry of firearms, including the 18-year-old military provision.

24. Texas

The old adage of "everything is bigger in Texas" still rings true. Texas is one of the largest states in the country and one of the biggest proponents of constitutional carry legislation. For many decades, laws regarding the carry of firearms have remained lenient and unchanged.

25. Utah

Any responsible citizen 21 years or older can open carry without a permit in the state of Utah. Firearm laws do restrict high-capacity magazines and assault weapons either.

26. Vermont

Vermont carry laws align with firearm legislation shared by several states on this list, including (but not limited to) reciprocity agreements for nonresidents.

27. Virginia

Virginia upholds stricter gun laws than other open carry states, with special provisions in place for large public gatherings and urban centers like the independent city of Newport News.

28. Washington

A Washington state citizen must be at least 21 years old to open carry without a permit. However, vehicle possessions are generally prohibited.

29. West Virginia

Anyone over 18 are legally allowed open or conceal carry without a permit in West Virginia unless they have prior convictions.

30. Wisconsin

Wisconsin has lenient gun laws that allow open carry without a permit. However, concealed carry laws require stringent background tests and specialized training.

31. Wyoming

Anyone 18 years or older without a record of felonies can carry a handgun or other firearm openly.
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The two miniature fireplaces with trimmed sticks immediately after they were exposed by excavation in Cloggs Cave square R31, with the sticks bases not yet separated from the sediments in which they sit. Credit: Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01912-w

Two slightly burnt, fat-covered sticks discovered inside an Australian cave are evidence of a healing ritual that was passed down unchanged by more than 500 generations of Indigenous people over the last 12,000 years, according to new research.

The wooden sticks, found poking out of tiny fireplaces, showed that the ritual documented in the 1880s had been shared via oral traditions since the end of the last ice age, a study in the journal Nature Human Behaviour said on Monday.

The discovery was made inside Cloggs Cave in the foothills of the Victorian Alps in Australia's southeast, in a region long inhabited by the Gunaikurnai people.

When the cave was first excavated in the 1970s, archaeologists discovered the remains of a long extinct giant kangaroo that had previously lived there.

But the Gunaikurnai people were not involved in those digs, "nor were they asked for permission to do research there", lead study author Bruno David of Monash University told AFP.

Further excavations starting from 2020 included members of the local Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC).

Carefully digging through the soil, the team found a small stick poking outthen they found another one. Both well-preserved sticks were made from the wood of casuarina trees.

Each one was found in a separate fireplace around the size of the palm of a handfar too small to have been used for heat or cooking meat.

The slightly charred ends of the sticks had been cut specially to stick into the fire, and both were coated in human or animal fat.

One stick was 11,000 years old and the other 12,000 years old, radiocarbon dating found.

'Memoirs of our ancestors'

"They've been waiting here all this time for us to learn from them," said Gunaikurnai elder Russell Mullett, a co-author of the study and head of GLaWAC.

Mullett spent years trying to find out what they could have been used for, before discovering the accounts of Alfred Howitt, a 19th-century Australian anthropologist who studied Aboriginal culture.

Some of Howitt's notes had never been published, and Mullett said he spent a long time convincing a local museum to share them.

In the notes, Howitt describes in the late 1880s the rituals of Gunaikurnai medicine men and women called "mulla-mullung".

One ritual involved tying something that belonged to a sick person to the end of a throwing stick smeared in human or kangaroo fat. The stick was thrust into the ground before a small fire was lit underneath.

"The mulla-mullung would then chant the name of the sick person, and once the stick fell, the charm was complete," a Monash University statement said.

The sticks used in the ritual were made of casuarina wood, Howitt noted.

Jean-Jacques Delannoy, a French geomorphologist and study co-author, told AFP that "there is no other known gesture whose symbolism has been preserved for such a long time".

"Australia kept the memory of its first peoples alive thanks to a powerful oral tradition that enabled it to be passed on," Delannoy said.

"However in our societies, memory has changed since we switched to the written word, and we have lost this sense."

He lamented that the ancient animal paintings found in French caves would probably "never reveal their meaning" in a similar way.

Indigenous Australians are one of the oldest continuous living cultures, and Mullett said the discovery was a "unique opportunity to be able to read the memoirs of our ancestors".

It was "a reminder that we are a living culture still connected to our ancient past," he added.

More information: Bruno David et al, Archaeological evidence of an ethnographically documented Australian Aboriginal ritual dated to the last ice age, Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01912-w Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour

 2024 AFP
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A firefighter works to extinguish a wildfire in Keratea, near Athens, on the weekend.

Forest fires that raged near Athens over the weekend have been brought under control, firefighters said Monday, but fresh blazes sprang up elsewhere as authorities warned of a difficult fire season ahead.

Fanned by strong winds of up to 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour and dry conditions, two fires broke out Sunday in the seaside resort of Keratea, east of Athens, and the wooded suburb of Stamata.

Authorities evacuated residents and a 45-year-old man died of cardiac arrest while trying to flee the flames in Stamata, police said.

The flames destroyed several houses and cars.

By Monday, firefighters had brought most of the flames under control, said fire department spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis.

"The fires were contained by firefighters, supported on Sunday by water bombers and helicopters, who fought in very dangerous conditions," he said.

He added that the easing of the winds had helped control most of the fires across the country.

A wildfire that ignited Saturday afternoon in the area of Mount Parnithaknown as "the lungs of Athens"was brought under control Saturday evening with the help of reinforcements from other regions as well as volunteer firefighters.

But more fires were igniting, with the Greek fire brigade recording 52 new blazes on Monday.

The worst of the fires was raging on the Aegean island of Chios, where 142 firefighters, seven planes and three helicopters were deployed to try put out the flames, Vathrakogiannis said.

Two firefighters were lightly injured in the operation, he added.

On the island of Kos, popular with foreign tourists, more than 100 firefighters and eight aircraft were deployed to battle another blaze.

Authorities there called on residents and visitors to evacuate several areas threatened by flames.

The island's mayor, Theodosis Nikitaras, said on Facebook that public buildings could accommodate residents and visitors fleeing the fires.

Greece, a tourist hotspot, faces a tough wildfire season after its warmest winter and earliest heat wave on record, with temperatures hitting 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in June.

Praising the fire service's work, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the Mount Parnitha and Stamata blazes had burnt fewer than 100 hectares (247 acres).

But he warned that the Mediterranean country had "now entered the heart of the fire season", calling on Greeks to do their bit to prevent blazes.

"The fight against fires will continue... it will certainly not be won without the help of citizens," Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting.

Scientists warn that fossil fuel emissions caused by humans are worsening the length and intensity of heat waves around the world.

Rising temperatures are leading to extended wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt by the blazes, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

 2024 AFP
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Crayfish in laboratory. Credit: Jenelle McCuaig

While the impact of wildfires on terrestrial life has been well studied, only recently has research started to examine the effects of wildfire ash on aquatic organisms. New research reveals that wildfire ash can have lethal consequences on Australian water ecosystems.

Wildfires are becoming more prevalent due to the warming and drying effects of climate change, with Australia becoming especially vulnerable to dangerous bushfires. "Therefore, many Australian species may be threatened by fires," says Jenelle McCuaig, a Masters student at the University of Alberta, Canada. "This is putting them at greater risk of endangerment and possible extinction."

Wildfires release ash into the air, which can enter aquatic environments directly or be washed into bodies of water by rainfall. "Once in the water, ash may leach metals and organic combustion products, where they can affect organisms, acquired by ingestion through intestines or respiration through gills," says McCuaig. There are also serious consequences for humans, as we rely on healthy freshwater ecosystems for water and food.

McCuaig and her team focused their research on two common Australian crustacean species, a crayfish (Cherax destructor) and a shrimp (Macrobrachium australiense).

To examine the effects of wildfire ash on the crustaceans, each species was exposed to a range of ash concentrations to determine their sensitivity and likelihood of survival. McCuaig then measured their oxygen consumption using a respirometry system and took tissue samples to look at their metabolic activity.

After exposure to just 5g of ash per liter of water, McCuaig found that no shrimps could survivebut it took 8 times as much ash to reach complete crayfish mortality. "The huge difference in sensitivity between the two species was much greater than I expected," says McCuaig.

This research shows that even between similar species, there can be a big difference in survival response to environmental stressors such as wildfire ash. "Differences in body shape and gill structure, as well as habitat preferences, have allowed them to fulfill different niches," says McCuaig. "Crayfish demonstrated greater resilience to the ash exposure compared to the shrimp."

For the surviving crayfish and shrimp, the individuals exposed to the highest concentrations of ash had the highest metabolic rates, suggesting a high level of physiological stress.

"This is particularly concerning during ash exposure, because increased ventilation means that the animals will be taking up more of the ash particles and leached contaminants from the water, further affecting their body systems," McCuaig notes. "This research will allow us to identify the species that are most threatened by fires and help to inform the development of breeding programs or relocation efforts. When it comes to wildfires, resources are limited, so we must prioritize response actions."

McCuaig adds that even though many wildfires occur naturally, humans still have a responsibility to protect the living world: "Species conservation begins with wildfire prevention in the first placeit is incredibly important to be educated about, and to implement, fire-safety into our lives to mitigate human-caused wildfires."

This research is being presented at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference in Prague from 25 July 2024.
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Aged A1-LCD condensates show identical mesoscale morphology and absence of amyloid fibrils. a, Representative images from no fewer than four DIC microscopy images of different condensates at time of observation. Insulin fibrils are shown as positive control. b, ThT fluorescence ratios of the maximal and minimal intensities for freshly prepared condensates and condensates at t obs  24 h for various A1-LCD variants. No changes were observed in ThT staining for condensates formed as a function of ageing. As a positive control, we show data for amyloid fibrils formed by insulin after 24 h from sample preparation. Credit: Nature Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02558-1

Biomolecular condensates are membraneless hubs of condensed proteins and nucleic acids within cells, which researchers are realizing are tied to an increasing number of cellular processes and diseases. Studies of biomolecular condensate formation have uncovered layers of complexity, including their ability to behave like a viscoelastic material. However, the molecular basis for this putty-like property was unknown.

Through a multi-institution collaboration, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists examined the interaction networks within condensates to better define the rules associated with their unique material properties.

Published in Nature Physics, the results quantify the timescales associated with these interactions, explaining why condensates act like a molecular putty and how they can "age" into a viscoelastic solid more akin to a rubber ball.

"Condensates have often been described as liquid-like, but their material properties can actually vary quite a bit," explained co-corresponding author Tanja Mittag, Ph.D., Department of Structural Biology. "That depends on the sequences of the proteins within them and the lifetime of the interactions being formed."

Interaction timescales define properties of condensates

The speed at which we interact with the world influences how the world responds. Hold putty in your hand, and it will eventually flow through your fingers. Throw it at a wall, and it will bounce back.

The rules that govern this viscoelastic behavior are intrinsic to the interactions that occur within the putty, the making and breaking of which happen on a timescale encoded in the constituent molecules. This means if we interact with a material at different rates, the material will behave differently.

Biomolecular condensates act as reaction hubs to organize biomolecules in cells spatially. Their apparent abundance throughout cellular function and links to disease, particularly neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, has brought with it fundamental questions that need answering.

While garnering attention for their liquid-like behavior, such as their ability to flow, exchange material and dissolve as needed, their capacity to transition to more solid-like structures has led scientists to interrogate these fundamental material properties.

Through the St. Jude Research Collaborative on the Biology and Biophysics of RNP Granules, Mittag is leading work to understand how these material properties are determined by the amino acid sequence of the proteins that form the condensate.

Current efforts build upon years of research into the "molecular grammar" of biomolecular condensates, the rules that dictate how molecules organize themselves through the process of phase separation.

Stickers-and-spacers are vital in viscoelastic crossroad

Mittag and her collaborators previously established a "stickers-and-spacers" model for predicting how proteins phase separate in work published in Science in 2020.

"What we call 'sticker' amino acids make pairwise interactions that form a network fluid," Mittag said. "Now we understand that these pairwise contacts that are forminghow stable they are and what their lifetime isdetermine the viscoelastic properties of the condensates."

The arrangement of stickers (amino acids that form contacts with other stickers) and spacers (amino acids necessary for patterning and arranging stickers and interactions with water) can predict phase-separating behavior in proteins.

Now, the researchers found that whether the condensates behave as an elastic or viscous material depends on the strength of these sticker-sticker interactions.

"If we make stronger interactions, we can push their behavior more toward elastic properties. We now understand how this is encoded in the protein sequence," said Mittag.

Biomolecular condensates age into viscoelastic solids

The group further probed how condensates age, changing their material properties over time. Prior work in the field focused on how proteins within aging condensates can arrange into fibrils, repeating patterns of proteins with a high degree of order. Fibril formation is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS and frontotemporal dementia, but, as the researchers found, it is only one route along the aging pathway.

The researchers also identified an alternative path in condensate aging. "We found that if we exchanged spacer amino acids for ones that like to interact more with water, we could get condensates to age into a solid state, but it was not crystalline. It was not fibrils. Instead, it was a viscoelastic solid," said co-first author Wade Borcherds, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Structural Biology. "This is like putty becoming a rubber ball. They can both bounce, but one is solid, and one is not."

"Condensate research helps us understand a lot of biology that has always existed in the cell but was not understood. This work puts this kind of biology on a quantitative, physical basis instead of treating it phenomenologically," Mittag explained. "Now we know how these material properties and transitions are encoded within the protein sequence and how it really is a viscoelastic solid. That is, I think, the big breakthrough."

More information: Ibraheem Alshareedah et al, Sequence-specific interactions determine viscoelasticity and ageing dynamics of protein condensates, Nature Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02558-1 Journal information: Nature Physics , Science
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Proportion of elevational range shifts (a) and latitudinal range shifts (terrestrial and marine) (b) consistent with climate expectations (that is, direction of isotherm shifts) in the BioShifts database. Credit: Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43017-024-00527-z

As the climate warms, many species are on the move, raising new challenges for policy-makers around the world. Shifts in the ranges of mosquitoes and disease-bearing ticks and bats are introducing illnesses such as malaria and Lyme disease into regions where health care systems are unprepared. Movements of commercially important fish from one jurisdiction to another are shifting job opportunities and causing trade disputes.

To help understand and anticipate when species will shift their ranges, an international team led by McGill University researchers has identified factors that have prompted or constrained shifts in the habitats of thousands of species around the world in recent decades.

McGill Ph.D. student Jake Lawlor, lead author of a study published recently in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, explains, "Most systems in which humans use or interact with other species were built under the assumption that species would stay in place. Integrating range shifts that have already occurred, or might occur in future, into resource-management and conservation plans will be necessary as the effects of climate change continue to be felt."

Warming temperatures not the only factor

The researchers found that climate warming was a good basic predictor for the movements of most of the 26,000 species tracked in BioShifts, a global database. Indeed, 59% of species have shifted toward cooler environments.

In a substantial percentage of cases, however, the picture isn't as clear. In 41% of cases, species either failed to move at all, or moved toward new environments that were not consistent with warming temperatures. This inconsistency suggests temperature alone doesn't fully explain movements.

To better understand why some species are not shifting as expected, the researchers tried to find explanations in other species-specific or environment-specific factors.

"Understanding these temperature-inconsistent shifts will be especially important in helping researchers create models that predict when warming is likely to lead to range shifts, as well as when it won't," says Lawlor.

"For example, the type of life cycle of a particular species, or their sensitivity to warming, or the features of the landscape might help us to predict how likely the species in those habitats are to shift, and even the routes they might take."

Important gaps in the data

The researchers warn that the existing data on range shifts has been concentrated in Europe and North America, has been collected unevenly across plant and animal groups, and largely excludes marine species. They suggest this means there is a need for caution about the results.

For example, patterns seen where there are four seasons, such as in Europe and North America, may not apply to those where there are only wet and dry seasons, and species with different dispersal abilities (the ability to re-establish in new location) and growth rates are expected to respond differently.

"In other words, trends like averaged rates and directions of range shifts that we calculate based on observations of birds and insects might not tell us what to expect for shifts of kelp, or crops, or fish. Nor, as the climate changes, would they be sufficient to inform many conservation-management plans," notes Jennifer Sunday, the senior author of the paper and an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at McGill University.

The team points to a need for increased monitoring of species shifts to improve the understanding of the factors at play and inform strategies for preserving biodiversity amid climate change.

More information: Jake A. Lawlor et al, Mechanisms, detection and impacts of species redistributions under climate change, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43017-024-00527-z Journal information: Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
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Credit: Technical University of Valencia

Research staff from the Gandia Campus of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia and the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology of the Universitat de Valencia have assessed the effects of climate change on the productivity of two species of passerine birds.

The results reveal that extreme weather events such as increasingly warmer temperatures and more frequent torrential rains could compromise the conservation of the populations of these birds.

The work, published in Bird Study, is part of the Ph.D. thesis that Pau Lucio, Associate Lecturer in the Animal Science Department at the Gandia Campus, is developing between the UPV and the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology of the University of Valencia.

The two species studied were the mustached warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) and the common reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), both associated with wetlands on the Mediterranean coast.

The mustached warbler is a resident/short-distance migrant listed as "vulnerable" in the Spanish Red Data Book of Birds 2021 due to its population decline in recent years. Spain is home to the largest population of this species in Western Europe.

In contrast, the common reed warbler, more generalist in its habitat preferences, is a long-distance migrant (it visits Spanish wetlands during the breeding season and spends the winter in Africa). Its conservation status is defined as of "least concern," as it is widely distributed throughout Europe.

Scientific ringing

According to Pau Lucio, the research has aimed to understand to what extent different climatic and/or geographical factors are affecting productivity, i.e., the relationship between the number born in a given year and the number of adults of both species, using a large database with 25 years of ringing in Spanish wetlands.

"Specifically, we have used data from the scientific ringing program for the monitoring of breeding bird species in Spain (PASER) between 1995 and 2021," adds Pau Lucio.

Effect of extreme weather events

The study concludes that a cumulative rainfall of up to approximately 100 mm favors the productivity of the mustached warbler, and rainfall above this threshold is detrimental to the reproduction of the species. As for temperatures, the UPV and UV team observed that high values have a negative effect.

In contrast, temperature positively affected common reed warbler productivity, while rainfall had almost no effect. However, productivity also peaked when rainfall was close to 100 mm.

"Warmer temperatures and more frequent heavy rainfall may compromise the conservation of the mustached warbler in Spain due to the adverse effect of both elements on its productivity. In contrast, higher temperatures may benefit the common reed warbler," says Virginia Garofano from the Research Institute for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IGIC) of the UPV Gandia Campus.

Thus, the study concludes that, given the current climate emergency, it is likely that the population of the mustached warbler will decrease while the population of the common reed warbler could increase. However, further work is needed to establish the specific impact of climate change on survival and its implications for the population trends and dynamics of these two species.

Climate-sensitive periods

One of the main advances of this work has been to be able to use a large database with a large spatial and temporal distribution and also to investigate the specific period (time window) in which climate variables have the most significant impact on productivity to define climatically sensitive periods taking into account spatial variables (site, longitude, latitude and elevation) and temporal changes (year).

"This advance in the ecological modeling of trends in bird populations has been possible thanks to the use of complex data modeling techniques such as data mining, machine learning techniques and the use of genetic algorithms in the optimization of the models," says Rafael Munoz-Mas, researcher also linked to the IGIC of the UPV and co-author of the study.

More information: Pau Lucio-Puig et al, Unravelling the link between productivity and climate for two sympatric Acrocephalus warblers across Spain, Bird Study (2024). DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2024.2343956
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Credit: Deep Rajwar from Pexels

California firefighters battling a blaze that has ripped through more than 13,000 acres of the Sierra National Forest just north of the Giant Sequoia National Monument and close to several hydroelectric facilities finally began to gain control Monday afternoon.

Crews had the Basin fire 17% contained after days of being unable to get a handle on the fire.

The wildfire was one of several burning throughout the state as officials braced for the longest heat wave so far this year, set to kick off Tuesday, two days before the Fourth of July. Forecasters predict broiling weather and increased wildfire risks.

"We are starting to see an uptick in fire activity that we have been predicting," said Robert Foxworthy, spokesperson for Cal Fire. "What's primarily driving the fires we're seeing now is those lighter fuels; those grasses ... that dry out quickly are now dead and receptive to fire."

Two years of back-to-back wet years produced eye-popping blooms and fields of grasslands across the state, which are now browning under punishing heat. And those grasses are already becoming fire fuel.

The heat wave is expected to bring dangerous temperatures through the Fourth of July holiday and into early next week in many areas, particularly across Northern California, the Central Valley and southwestern deserts. Most of Fresno County is under an excessive heat warning from Tuesday through July 9, with the National Weather Service expecting little overnight relief from the high temperatures.

As a result of the Basin fire, officials have evacuated 159 people in the Sierra National Forest, most of whom live at the Balch Camp, an isolated community where Pacific Gas & Electric has facilities that feed into California's power grid.

"The fire reached pretty close to the camp, but there was no physical damage to the facility," said Denny Boyles, a PG&E spokesperson.

The fire began north of the Kings River and was spotted by an air attack plane scouting for fires in the area on June 26.

The Basin fire was one of 18 that started in the Sierra National Forest on or shortly after June 25, when there was a lightning storm in the area, although the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Most of those blazes kindled in grasslands but burned less than a quarter of an acre.

But the Basin fire took hold. A total of 951 firefighters have worked to contain the fire and keep it from crossing the river on its southern perimeter, where groves of ancient sequoias stand, said Mike Lindbery, a spokesperson for Basin fire.

The Sierra National Forest has issued a temporary closure that will remain in effect until July 30.

Other parts of the state also continued to burn. Cal Fire listed 14 active incidents as of Monday night.

In San Diego County, a car fire is believed to have sparked a 900-acre brush fire on Thursday. Dubbed the Mccain 4 fire, the blaze was not contained as of 7 p.m., threatening about 100 structures in Jacumba Hot Springs, said Mike Cornette, a spokesman for Cal Fire San Diego.

Dry grasses struck by lightning June 24 fueled three separate fires in eastern Fresno County that burned more than 10,000 acres but were under control. As of Monday, the Fresno June Lightning Complex firewhich charred antenna towers on Bear Mountainwas 78% contained, and evacuation orders had been lifted.

So far this year, 131,483 acres have been blackened across the state, an early boom in California wildfires. But it's, as of yet, a fraction of the acreage and loss of life seen in recent years. Foxworthy said, however, it only takes one wildfire to devastate the region.

In 2018, the Camp fire became the deadliest in California's history, killing 86 people. It began after a PG&E transmission line in the Sierra Nevada foothills malfunctioned. Two years later, wildfires across the state burned 4.3 million acres and 33 people died.

This summerin the face of an early wildfire season, extreme heat and dense, drying vegetationCal Fire has increased its ranks in preparation, Foxworthy said.

"We have extra folks on," he said, "so we are fully staffed up now."

2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Researchers from the Universities of Zurich, Vienna and Utrecht have uncovered significant flaws in current climate risk assessment techniques that could lead to a severe underestimation of climate-related financial losses for businesses and investors.

A study by Stefano Battiston of the Department of Finance at the University of Zurich and his co-authors, published in Nature Communications, has identified critical shortcomings in the way climate-related risks to corporate assets are currently assessed.

Many current estimates of climate physical climate risk rely on simplified and proxy data that do not accurately represent a company's true risk exposure. This can lead to significant underestimates of climate-related losses, with serious implications for business investment planning, asset valuation and climate adaptation efforts.

Potential losses up to 70% higher than previously estimated

The research team developed a new methodology that uses detailed information about the location and characteristics of a company's physical assets, such as factories, equipment and natural resources. This approach provides a more accurate picture of climate risks than methods that use proxy data, which often assume that all of a company's assets are located at its headquarters.

"When we compared our results with those using proxy data, we found that the potential losses from climate risks could be up to 70% higher than previously thought," says Battiston. "This underscores the critical need for more granular data in risk assessments."

Methodological framework of the asset-level approach to climate physical risk assessment and financial valuation. From left to right, the blocks represent consequential steps of implementation. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48820-1

Preparing for the worst: The role of extreme events

The authors also point to the importance of considering "tail risk" in climate assessments. Tail risk refers to the possibility of extreme events that, while rare, can have catastrophic impacts.

"Many assessments focus on average impacts. Our research shows that the potential losses from extreme events can be up to 98% higher than these averages suggest," says Battiston. "Failure to account for these possibilities can leave businesses and investors dangerously unprepared."

More funding for climate adaptation

The study's findings have significant implications for climate policy, business strategy, and investment decisions. The researchers emphasize that more accurate risk assessments are crucial for developing effective climate adaptation strategies and determining appropriate levels of climate-related insurance and funding.

"Our work shows that we may be seriously underestimating the financial resources needed for climate adaptation," concludes Battiston.

More information: Giacomo Bressan et al, Asset-level assessment of climate physical risk matters for adaptation finance, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48820-1 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A country's financial health is rated more highly when its finance minister knows top executives in credit ratings agencies, new research led by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh suggests.

Patrycja Klusak, an expert in credit ratings agencies and Professor of Accounting and Finance at the University's Edinburgh Business School, says there is an inherent 'favoritism' problem in the business model of credit ratings agencies. This builds up when the directors and executives of credit ratings agencies have ongoing or past professional connections with particular finance ministers. For example, when a ratings agency executive and finance minister worked together in the same organization, or are former colleagues.

Countries where a finance minister has these links are associated with higher ratings than countries without these professional connections, the research concludes. The upside is particularly pronounced for developing countries, which can be rated up to seven times more highly than the equivalent impact for developed countries.

The findings are based on an analysis of professional connections between finance ministers and the top executives of the three largest credit rating agenciesFitch, Moody's, and S&Pfor 38 European countries between January 2000 and November 2017.

The research, "Politicians' connections and sovereign credit ratings", is published in the Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions & Money and is co-authored by Dr. Yurtsev Uymaz, Associate Professor in Finance with Norwich Business School at University of East Anglia and Rasha Alsakka, Professor in Banking & Finance with Bangor Business School at Bangor University.

"The ratings applied to a country's financial health are hugely important because they help that countryand its banks and businessesto access capital and borrow money at affordable rates," Professor Klusak explains. "They also underpin direct investment flows into big national projects and affect the efficiency and stability of capital markets across borders.

"If ratings agencies are consciously or unconsciously inflating their ratings of particular countries, it's a problem, because for financial markets to work properly, buyers of government debt need to know the true creditworthiness of that country."

The European sovereign debt crisis of 201012 exposed the risk of excessive national borrowing fueling a collapse in confidence that can spill over into other countries and their corporations, banks and financial assets, Professor Klusak says.

The crisis began with the collapse of Iceland's banking system in 2008 and led to financial bailouts in Greece, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus. "Drastic sovereign rating downgrades" in Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain were key to this and "shook the stock markets," the research notes.

European regulators scrutinized ratings agencies in the aftermath of this crisis, particularly the conflict of interest when countries pay agencies to rate them, and get a seat on ratings agency committees as a result.

This practice, known as solicited ratings, leads to higher ratings than unsolicited ratings, the research finds. Issuing higher ratings may help the ratings agency attract more business from that country, while countries in turn are safeguarding the health of their economy through higher ratings.

Professor Klusak says the research is the first to unveil how lower credit ratings for developing countries can be influenced by credit agencies using 'soft' informationfor example, a discussion with the country about its financial prospects and management policiesin addition to hard economic or fiscal data, such as gross domestic product.

"Developing countries can be more uncertain and opaque, with less available data," Professor Klusak explains. "So ratings agencies need to be more conservative in their analysis. But, when presented with professional connections, these nations benefit more from higher ratings than their developed counterparts."

The research finds that, for developed countries, business ties to ratings agencies can add roughly between one to two-thirds of a notchclassificationto their ratings across S&P, Moody's and Fitch. For developing countries, the boost is seven-, two- and four-times bigger respectively than the equivalent for developed countries.

The research has "wide-ranging implications" for regulators, governments, market participants and credit rating agencies, Professor Klusak says. During election times, voters are also more interested in news about a country's financial health, because it "infers the quality of incumbent governments," she adds.

The paper calls for new rules to ensure that sovereign ratingscredit ratings of countriesare objective and independent from the rating of other asset types, like corporate loans, to avoid conflicts of interest.

Working conditions for sovereign ratings teams should also be improvedbecause these teams face "immense pressure" to release ratings which might bring in other business from that countryfor example from its corporations and financial institutions, the researchers say.

The study contributes towards the "scarce literature" investigating professional connections in the rating industry, the researchers conclude.

Professor Klusak has been researching the behavior and regulation of credit ratings agencies for more than ten years. Her work also explores climate and biodiversity loss and its effect on future credit ratings of countries.

Before joining Heriot-Watt University, Dr. Klusak was an Associate Professor in Banking and Finance with Norwich Business School at the University of East Anglia, where she has been based for eight years. Professor Klusak is also an Affiliated Researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, a public policy research institute at the University of Cambridge.

More information: Patrycja Klusak et al, Politicians' connections and sovereign credit ratings, Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2024.102022
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Differences in the evolution of air pollutant emissions by treatment status, capturing the joint effect of the EU ETS and concurrent policies, such as standards for LCPs. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319908121

The EU Emissions Trading System is not only good for reducing CO 2 and for the climate. It also results in considerable health benefits due to reduced air pollution and saves hundreds of billions of euros, according to a recently released study by a team at Universitat Hamburg.

The research team from the Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS) at Universitat Hamburg analyzed the indirect effects of the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) on hazardous air pollutants such as sulfur oxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides. The research is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"The EU ETS has already amply proven that it is doing its job as Europe's central climate protection instrument by reducing greenhouse gas emissions," explains Jonas Grunau. "But we don't know as much about side-effects of the system."

To explore such side-effects, the Hamburg team analyzed how the EU ETS had reduced the emission of air pollutants and quantified the damage to health that the emissions reduction has prevented, using the official cost estimates from the Federal Environment Agency. They calculated how the amount of air pollutants have changed in the EU since the introduction of emissions trading in 2005 up to 2021 in regulated sectors such as the energy industry, in comparison to unregulated sectors.

The results show a reduction of 15 million tons (Mt) of sulfur oxide, 1 Mt of particulate matter, and 5 Mt of nitrogen oxides. "While our study provides an initial estimate at the aggregate level, we need further analyses to investigate where the reductions are occurring, and which groups of individuals specifically benefit," added Dr. Piero Basaglia.

European emissions standards, which were tightened during the same time as emission trading was operating, might have also contributed to the reduction in air pollutants. But even when the research team subtracted the full potential amount of reductions resulting directly from the emissions standards, the amount of damage to health prevented amounts to more than one hundred billion euros.

"European climate protection reduces CO 2 and thus prevents climate damages across the globe, particularly for future generations. At the same time, the EU Emissions Trading System is providing substantial benefits for human health here and now for European citizens. This can be an important motivating factor for supporting climate policy," Prof. Dr. Moritz Drupp concluded from the study's results.

More information: Piero Basaglia et al, The European Union Emissions Trading System might yield large co-benefits from pollution reduction, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319908121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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A dress rehearsal for the Ariane 6 rocket, which will launch for the first time on July 9.

Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket is set for its first-ever launch next week, carrying with it the continent's hopes of regaining independent access to space and fending off soaring competition from Elon Musk's SpaceX.

After four years of delays, the European Space Agency's (ESA) most powerful rocket yet is finally due to blast off from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 3:00 pm (1800 GMT) on July 9.

Since the last flight of the rocket's workhorse predecessor, Ariane 5, a year ago, Europe has been unable to launch satellites or other missions into space without relying on rivals such as the US firm SpaceX.

Kourou was the site of launches by Russia's Soyuz rockets for more than a decade, before Moscow withdrew them after invading Ukraine in 2022.

Later that year, Europe's Vega-C light launcher was grounded after a launch failure. Delays to Ariane 6's first flightoriginally scheduled for 2020compounded the crisis.

"Everything that could go wrong went wrong," ESA chief Josef Aschbacher said.

That is why "Ariane 6 is crucial for Europe," he added. "It's absolutely mandatory for Europe to have an independent access to space."

After the struggles of the 4.5-billion-euro ($4.8 billion) program, Europe's space industry has been nervously observing the run-up to the launch.

The European Space Agency's most powerful rocket yet is scheduled to finally blast off from Europe's spaceport in the French Guianan town of Kourou.

A "wet dress rehearsal" late last month ran through all the launch procedures, right up to the moment before the engines ignite on the launchpad.

It went "very smoothly... like a Swiss watch," ESA space transportation acting director Toni Tolker-Nielsen said, adding that there was nothing to call the launch date into question.

'Important moment'

Ariane 6 will put satellites into geostationary orbit, which appears stationary by matching Earth's speed at 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) above Earth. It can also launch constellations a few hundred kilometers up.

The rocket's upper stage, powered by the Vinci engine, ignites after take-off to place satellites in orbit before falling into the Pacific Oceana special feature to prevent space debris.

Ariane 6's first launch will use two boosters, with a more powerful four-booster version scheduled for liftoff in the middle of next year.

Europe's Ariane 6 rocket.

However, the boosters and other parts of the rocket are not reusableunlike SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

Billionaire Musk has repeatedly criticized Ariane 6 for not being reusable.

The European response has been that it would not make economic sense for the rocket to be reusable because it was designed for far fewer launches than the Falcon 9.

The rocket will initially carry out nine launches a yeara far cry from the Falcon 9, which managed 14 in May alone.

The rocket's inaugural flight will carry 18 different smaller items, including university micro-satellites and scientific experiments.

Its first commercial flight is scheduled for later in 2024, with 14 more planned over the next two years.

Shock late cancellation

One positive for Ariane 6 is that space business is booming.

The amount spent on launchers, satellites and other parts of the space economy is projected to surge to $822 billion by 2032, up from $508 billion last year, according to consulting firm Novaspace.

Ariane 6 crosses the Atlantic in a boat from Europe to French Guiana.

But this has not yet been enough to make Ariane 6 profitable.

The financing for the first 15 launches has been secured.

But the ESA's 22 member states have agreed to subsidize the rocket for up to 340 million euros a year from its 16th to 42nd flightsin return for an 11 percent discount.

Ariane 6 already has an order book of 30 missions, including 18 to deploy some of Amazon's Kuiper constellation of internet satellites.

"That is absolutely unprecedented for a rocket that has not flown," said Stephane Israel, CEO of launch service provider Arianespace.

However, just days before the inaugural flight, Europe's weather satellite operator EUMETSAT cancelled plans to use the European Ariane 6 in favor of SpaceX's Falcon 9, citing "exceptional circumstances".

Philippe Baptiste, head of France's CNES space agency, called it "a very disappointing day for European space efforts".

The rocket's massive Vulcain engine, pictured in Kourou before the launch.

Rocket launches since 1957.

Faced with such stiff competition, the challenge for Ariane 6 will be to survive in a "market that needs rockets", ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion said.

After all, Ariane 6 is "Europe's sovereignty launcher", he added.

 2024 AFP
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Temperature change in Ireland. Credit: Prof Andrew Parnell and Dr. Daire Healy of the Hamilton Institute at Maynooth University

A temperature event of 33 degrees Celsius in Dublin's Phoenix Park has gone from being a 1 in 180-year event in 1942 to a 1 in 9-year event in 2020, according to a study led by Ireland's Maynooth University.

The study, which developed a new model to predict the frequency, magnitude and spatial extent of extreme summer temperature events in Ireland, also estimates that a temperature of more than 34 degrees Celsiusa value not yet recorded in Irelandchanged from a 1 in 1,600-year event to a 1 in 28-year event between 1942 and 2020.

The study was carried out by a team of researchers led by Prof Andrew Parnell and Dr. Daire Healy of the Hamilton Institute at Maynooth University, in collaboration with Prof Peter Thorne of Maynooth University's ICARUS Climate Research Centre and Prof Jonathan Tawn of Lancaster University in the UK.

"We found that spatial heat wave events over thresholds that are critical for society have become much larger, having at least doubled in extent for 28 degree Celsius, with this change increasing at more extreme temperatures," Dr. Healy said.

The findings were detailed in a recent paper "Inference for Extreme Spatial Temperature Events in a Changing Climate with Application to Ireland" and were read to The Royal Statistical Society at a meeting on "Statistical Aspects of Climate Change" held online on June 3, 2024. The findings are available on the arXiv preprint server.

According to Prof Parnell, "We are often focused on average changes, and particularly focus on the Paris Climate Agreement of 1.5 degrees Celsius. What we have shown here is that the changes in extremes are much larger than the changes in the average, and are something we should be seriously concerned about."

He said the findings underscored the urgency for societal adaptation to increasing extreme temperature events, which have profound implications for public health, agriculture, economic stability, and infrastructure resilience. The research team believe that the model's ability to predict spatial patterns of extreme events offers a powerful tool for policymakers and stakeholders to mitigate risks and plan for future climate scenarios.

The model captures both location and temporal variations in extreme daily maximum temperatures using new mathematical techniques. Analysis by the research team identifies a significant change in the behavior of extreme temperature events over time, which exceeds the observed changes in mean temperature levels over the same period.

More information: Daire Healy et al, Inference for extreme spatial temperature events in a changing climate with application to Ireland, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2111.08616 Journal information: arXiv
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Credit: Quantitative Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/qub2.41

Over the past 20 years, synthetic biologists have been trying to build biological circuits in living cells to enact specific behaviors such as Boolean logic gates, signal filters, oscillators, state machines, sensors, and genetic controllers. The circuits have been built bottom-up from scratch by connecting genetic "parts" with certain commutating logics.

However, these achievements have largely been confined to a few model organisms like Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Transferring these genetic parts to non-model organisms is challenging due to host-specific gene expression mechanisms, metabolism, and varying DNA vectors.

Thus, developing universal genetic circuits that can operate robustly and predictably across multiple organisms is crucial. The ideal universal genetic circuit should be insulated from the host environment, including extracellular, cellular, and genetic contexts.

A collaborative team from the Ouyang and Qian lab at Peking University and the Lou lab at Chinese Academy of Sciences published an article titled "Functional predictability of universal gene circuits in diverse microbial hosts" in the journal Quantitative Biology.

By developing a quantitative framework to explore the universality and reliability of biological parts in non-model organisms, the team characterized universal genetic parts, namely, the T7 RNA polymerase activation module and a set of transcriptional repression modules, in four microbial hosts including Streptomyces, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Pseudomonas putida, and Escherichia coli. Based on the excellent universality of these parts, the functional predictability of the genetic circuits was rigorously demonstrated.

The bottom-up design pipeline of genetic circuits across diverse species starts with the standardization of transcriptional regulatory elements originating from bacteria and bacteriophages, benchmarking these elements with single reaction models to ensure they perform consistently across host organisms.

Following this, parts are characterized combinatorically and parameterized through detailed modeling. Key parameters defining the behavior of these parts are extracted from measurements and categorized as intrinsic or host-specific. Finally, standardized parts are combined into complex circuits and combinatorial modeling and simulations are used to predict circuit behavior in different host organisms.

"These findings pave the way to predictably design and tune a universal genetic circuit with complex functions, and hold vast potential for realizing design automation of universal circuits in diverse hosts," writes Prof. Baojun Wang from Zhejiang University in a commentary published in the same issue.

More information: Chenrui Qin et al, Functional predictability of universal gene circuits in diverse microbial hosts, Quantitative Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/qub2.41

Provided by Frontiers Journals
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Five ways forward suggested by stakeholders to improve biodiversity monitoring and thereby policy impact in Europe. Credit: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

A new publication authored by scientists from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and IIASA with a large European consortium provides vital insights into the current status of biodiversity monitoring in Europe, identifying policy needs, challenges, and future pathways.

According to the European Environment Agency, Europe's biodiversity continues to decline at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic pressures and a warming climate. Improving biodiversity monitoring data is crucial to ensure effective implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy goals, successful conservation policies, and restoration management under the EU Nature Restoration Law.

However, knowing about data needs from users and policy makers is the first step toward achieving this. Those needs are assessed in the new iDiv-IIASA study published in Conservation Letters.

"Current monitoring efforts in Europe suffer from a variety of limitations, hindering their effectiveness. They are often fragmented across ecosystems and habitats with little continuity. For example, the environmental status of 20%70% of all EU marine regions is unknown," says study lead author Hannah Moersberger from the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ) and iDiv.

"In addition, there is a lack of studies engaging directly with data users and policymakers to map their needs."

Key findings

To address these issues, the scientists used a four-step user-centered stakeholder engagement process, which consisted of an international public stakeholder workshop, an online survey, semi-structured interviews, and an expert meeting with representatives of EU member states.

"The stakeholder engagement process saw strong participation from decision makers, including experts from 18 EU member states, the European Commission, and the European Environment Agency," says study co-lead Juliette Martin, a research scholar jointly associated with the IIASA Population and Just Societies and Biodiversity and Natural Resources programs.

"We wanted our study to be as inclusive as possible, covering all relevant stakeholders, and therefore also surveyed workshop participants, including experts from major natural history societies, museums, universities, and other research organizations."

The survey conducted across Europe identified 274 biodiversity monitoring programs that are currently in place across European countries and agencies. The data reflected a bias in the attention paid to different biomes and species. Birds were, for instance, the most frequently monitored group, accounting for 28% of all monitoring efforts.

"In our study we systematically assessed the user and policy needs as well as regular uptake of monitoring data from structured monitoring and citizen science programs in national policy workflows," says senior author Aletta Bonn, head of the Biodiversity and People research group at UFZ, iDiv, and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

"Our research identified and highlighted the many uses such data can have across a variety of sectors, whether for drawing up agricultural strategies, conservation and restoration plans, or managing hunting permits within a country," explains study co-author Jose Valdez from University Halle and iDiv.

The study identified four main clusters of key policy areas related to biodiversity monitoring within the next decade: assessing biodiversity and species trends; assessing biodiversity policy impact and effectiveness; integrating biodiversity in other policy sectors; and operationalization of monitoring.

Challenges and solutions

The study also identified the top ten challenges to current biodiversity monitoring activities in Europe. These were primarily associated with four major types of obstacles: lack of integrated data, insufficient data, insufficient resources, and biased data.

"The stakeholders involved in the study identified five ways to improve biodiversity monitoring and policy impacts in Europe," says senior co-author Ian McCallum, who leads the Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability (NODES) Research Group in the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis Program.

"These solutions include, enhanced coordination and cooperation, standardization for enhanced data gathering and dissemination, use of advanced models and new technologies, better coordination of financial resources and capacity building, as well as stakeholder engagement."

Building on this study, a proposal for the European Biodiversity Observation Coordination Center was presented by the EuropaBON consortium to the European Commission and the European Environment Agency in Brussels earlier this year.

"This is a major milestone for safeguarding biodiversity in Europe and facilitating modern, evidence-based policy and decision making for conservation and restoration management," concludes Henrique Pereira, another author of the study, chair of the EuropaBON consortium, and head of the Biodiversity Conservation research group at iDiv and MLU.

More information: Hannah Moersberger et al, Biodiversity monitoring in Europe: User and policy needs, Conservation Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1111/conl.13038 Journal information: Conservation Letters
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Credit: Mike Kit from Pexels

After several months of back and forth, officials announced on July 1st that Illinois had signed a partnership agreement that will allow construction of the $1.15 billion Brandon Road Interbasin Project to begin with significant federal funding.

The effort, decades in the making, will become the last, multi-pronged line of defense to stop invasive silver and bighead carp from making it into Lake Michigan, where they pose a threat to Great Lakes ecosystems and billion-dollar fishing and boating industries.

The announcement comes after weeks of experts and advocates urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to adhere to a June 30 deadline so that $274 million in federal funds wouldn't be lost, and construction workers could take advantage of an upcoming scheduled closure of the lock and dam in Joliet.

Any more delays, they said, could have resulted in irreversible disaster if carp continued upstream in Illinois waterways and breached past electric barriers in Romeoville. If the agreement wasn't signed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Rock Island Districtwhich oversees the projectwouldn't have been able to continue allocating resources to pre-construction engineering and design.

"Protecting the Great Lakes has always been and will always be a priority for the State of Illinois and after many years of this project eluding multiple administrations, I am thrilled to see it move forward," Pritzker said in a news release.

"Protecting the Great Lakes is not an undertaking that any one state or city can tackle alone, and I'm thrilled that we were able to forge a path that protects both the Great Lakes and ensures Illinois taxpayers do not shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden."

The project has been awaiting approval from Illinois for a year, after the Michigan legislature authorized $64 million in June 2023 to help finance it. Those funds, plus $50 million from Illinois will account for the project's required $114 million non-federal cost share.

"Complex agreements like this don't happen in a vacuum, nor do they happen quickly," said Natalie Phelps Finnie, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "A tremendous amount of effort over many months went into hammering out the details of this agreement. I'm thrilled this consequential project will now be able to move forward."

In a mid-June virtual news conference, where a group of local politicians, stakeholders and experts gathered to ask the governor to take swift action, Executive Director Jennifer Walling of the Illinois Environmental Council said approving the project was an opportunity for Pritzker to secure his legacy as a "champion" of the Great Lakes and "critical interstate partner" to Michigan.

U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, who have supported the project and helped secure federal funding, urged Pritzker to authorize the project in a June 25 letter.

"You have expressed concerns with Illinois taking on sole responsibility for a project that benefits the entire Great Lakes region, and we understand and share those concerns," the letter read.

The federal government will pay 90% of the costs associated with the Brandon Road Interbasin Project's construction, and just last month, the Illinois senators announced they had secured an increase in the federal cost share for operations and maintenance after construction to 90% as well.

Illinois and Michigan have also entered into a separate agreement to ensure any additional costs as the project continues are shared and do not fall disproportionately on either state's taxpayers, the governor's office said.

Concerns about land acquisition and real estate at Brandon Road Lock and Dam presented a major obstacle, as privately owned land along the riverbank needed for construction is likely contaminated by a former coal plant.

Last year, experts told the Tribune negotiations would be complex; the state was hesitant to buy the property from energy company NRG, which owns the land, and bear the responsibility to ensure it was free of contaminants before passing it on to the federal government. Officials didn't specify how or whether these concerns have been ultimately resolved.

Now that the agreement has been signed, contracts for fabrication, continued design and bedrock removal are slated for solicitation from interested parties in the coming weeks.

The innovative, multipronged plan to install a "gantlet" or layered system at a "critical pinch point" in the Des Plaines River emerged from several years of collaboration among scientists, engineers and partners from numerous U.S., Canadian and tribal agencies surrounding the Great Lakes.

Invasive carp, particularly silver and bighead carp, pose a particular danger to aquatic life due to their large numbers and reproductive capacity. When they reach a new stream, river, lake or anywhere water touches, like wetlands, they can easily outcompete and starve native fish and mussels by eating all the plankton from the base of the food chain.

Under the project, when silver and bighead carp approach the lock and dam in Joliet they will first encounter an acoustic deterrent and an air bubble curtain. The bubbles will serve as a physical barrier and also remove small fish trapped under barges or carried in their wake.

The fish that make it past this curtain will then go through an engineered channel that will extend the length of the current lock, at the end of which persistent carp will come up against an electric barrier like the one in Romeoville. After that, an array of acoustic deterrents will keep the carp at bay by creating painful sound waves. On the other side, a flushing lock will send any remaining larval fish and eggs back downstream.

"Today's agreement will help us get shovels in the ground as soon as possible on the critical Brandon Road project," said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on July 1st. "The Great Lakes are the beating heart of Michigan's economy, and Brandon Road will help us protect local communities and key industries, including fishing and boating, that support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs."

In a news release on July 1st, the Alliance for the Great Lakes praised what they called a milestone agreement.

"The signing of the Brandon Road Project Agreement is historic and will help protect our fishery, our economy and quality of life," said Marc Smith, policy director with the National Wildlife Federation. "Keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes is a national priority."

For the last several decades since invasive carp were introduced to the country in 1963 and escaped into the Mississippi River Basin during flooding events in the 1980s and 1990s, dozens of other states have dealt with the havoc they wreak on aquatic ecosystems. Silver and bighead carp don't have natural predators in American waterways and likely never will, which means their populations can grow unchecked.

In recent years, as the fish have continued spreading in the state's waterways, Illinoisans frustrated with the pace of state and federal deterrent plans have taken matters into their own hands.

Some efforts focus on overfishing: The village of Bath's Original Redneck Fishing Tournament pits amateurs and longtime anglers against each other in a yearly competition; commercial fishermen or "carp cowboys" round up fish elsewhere on the Illinois River; and state biologists have led large-scale removal efforts of hundreds of thousands of pounds of carp in a given day.

Other creative endeavors include using unmanned kayaks to gather information on large carp populations, and attempts to create a market for the fish as a food source, rebranding it as "copi" and cooking it in tacos, nuggets, empanadas and sliders.

2024 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Damaged fishing boats pile up against each other after Hurricane Beryl in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Hurricane Beryl has strengthened into a top-level category 5 storm after it swept across several islands in the southeastern Caribbean, dumping heavy rain and unleashing devastating winds.

Beryl is now the earliest category 5 storm in the Atlantic on record and has developed into a "potentially catastrophic" hurricane, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The NHC said in its latest update early on Tuesday that Beryl was "still intensifying," with recent data showing maximum sustained winds had increased to almost 165 miles (265 kilometers) per hour.

Grenada's Carriacou Island took a direct hit from the storm's "extremely dangerous eyewall" early Monday, with sustained winds at upwards of 150 mph (240 kph), the NHC said.

Nearby islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, also experienced "catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge," it said.

"In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened," Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told a news conference.

"We are not yet out of the woods," Mitchell said, noting that while no deaths had been reported so far, he could not say for sure that none had occurred.

Video obtained by AFP from St. George's in Grenada showed heavy downpours with trees buffeted by gusts.

A pier during a high tide after the passage of Hurricane Beryl in Oistins near Bridgetown, Barbados.

Mitchell said later on social media the government was working to get relief supplies to both Carriacou and the island of Petite Martinique on Tuesday.

"The state of emergency is still in effect. Remain indoors," he wrote on Facebook.

Rare early strong storm

Beryl became the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season on Saturday and quickly gathered strength.

Experts say that such a powerful storm forming this early in the Atlantic hurricane seasonwhich runs from early June to late Novemberis extremely rare.

It is the first hurricane since NHC records began to reach the Category 4 level in June, and the earliest to reach Category 5 in July.

"Only five major (Category 3+) hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic before the first week of July," hurricane expert Michael Lowry posted on social media platform X.

A flooded parking lot is seen after the passing of Hurricane Beryl in Worthing, Christ Church, Barbados.

Barbados appeared to be spared the worst of the storm but was still hit with high winds and pelting rain, although officials reported no injuries so far.

Barbados seems to have "dodged a bullet," Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams said in an online video, but nonetheless "gusts are still coming, the storm-force winds are still coming," he said.

Homes and businesses were flooded in some areas and fishing boats were damaged in Bridgetown.

The storm prompted the cancellation of classes on Monday in several of the islands, while a meeting this week in Grenada of the Caribbean regional bloc CARICOM was postponed.

Jamaica has issued a hurricane warning ahead of the storm's expected arrival on Wednesday, with the NHC forecasting it would bring "life-threatening winds and storm surge."

A tropical storm warning was also issued for the south coast of the Dominican Republic, where authorities placed two provinces on red alert.

The NHC warned the Cayman Islands and areas on the Yucatan Peninsula to monitor the storm's progress.

A boat ended up in a tree after the passage of Hurricane Beryl in Barbados.

View of a damaged restaurant on the beach near the Richard Haynes Boardwalk after the passage of Hurricane Beryl in Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados.

Extreme weather

A Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale is considered a major hurricane.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 weather phenomenon La Nina in the Pacific for the expected increase in storms.

Extreme weather events including hurricanes have become more frequent and more devastating in recent years as a result of climate change.

 2024 AFP
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A mature male brown button spider (Latrodectus geometricus). Credit: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Invasive brown widow spiders across three continents were highly infected with a single strain of Rhabdochlamydia, a bacterium that is related to major pathogens of humans and animals, including chlamydia. A bite from these spiders, however, will not infect people with chlamydia.

Up until now, Rhabdochlamydia was found in only a few organismsa tick, an isopod, a cockroach, and one other spiderand even then, was a rare occurrence in all these organisms.

Dr. Monica Mowery and colleagues at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev compared microbial communities in populations of brown widow spiders collected in South Africa (the likely native range of the spider) and invasive populations in Israel and the United States. The overwhelmingly predominant bacteria, Rhabdochlamydia, was found in 86% of spiders surveyed. It was also found in the female spider's eggs, indicating that mother spiders transmit the bacteria to their offspring.

"Our results suggest that this dominant, widely prevalent chlamydial bacteria has an important role in the invasive brown widow spider," explained Dr. Mowery, an assistant professor at the City University of New York and a former post-doctoral researcher at BGU.

The study was published recently in Scientific Reports.

Characterizing potentially important and widespread bacterial symbionts is a step towards understanding their relevance to ecological interactions and responses to rapid environmental changes. The high prevalence of Rhabdochlamydia in all spider populations tested suggests it may have an important functional role and could contribute to the spider's invasion success.

The brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus, is an urban invasive species that outcompetes native spider species found in warm climates worldwide. These spiders have neurotoxic venom and can be dangerous to young children and the elderly.

Microbial associates can influence a species' invasive spread and success in a new environment and can shift or be lost during the invasion process. The South African brown widow spiders had overall more distinct strains of bacteria compared to newer arrivals in Israel, where brown widows were first found in Tel Aviv in 1980 and in the United States, where spiders expanded from southern Florida in the 2000s. This higher microbial diversity supports the idea that the invasive brown widow spider originated in southern Africa.

Additional researchers included Prof. Yael Lubin and Prof. Michal Segoli from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Prof. Jennifer White, Dr. Eric Chapman, and Laura Rosenwald from the University of Kentucky, Thembile Khoza from the South African National Biodiversity Institute, and Robin Lyle from the Agricultural Research Council, South Africa.

More information: Monica A. Mowery et al, Endosymbiont diversity across native and invasive brown widow spider populations, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58723-2 Journal information: Scientific Reports
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Irrawaddy dolphins feature on the "Red List" of endangered wildlife by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The number of Mekong dolphins has risen to more than 100 in Cambodia, the agriculture minister said Monday, raising a glimmer of hope for the endangered mammals.

Irrawaddy dolphinssmall, shy creatures with domed foreheads and short beaksonce swam through much of the mighty Mekong, all the way to the delta in Vietnam.

But their population in the river has dwindled from 200, when the first census was taken in 1997, to just 89 in 2020, largely due to illegal fishing, habitat loss and plastic waste.

"Currently, we have some 105 dolphins," Agriculture Minister Dith Tina said during a ceremony to mark National Fisheries Day.

In the first six months of this year, eight new dolphin calves were recorded, but there were also two deaths, the agricultural ministry said.

The boost to numbers follows the birth of eight dolphins last year, a ministry statement said, while 2023 also saw five deaths recorded.

"The ministry has strongly taken measures against fishing offenses and the making and distributing of destructive fishing tools that seriously damage marine resources," Dith Tina said.

Last year Cambodia's then leader Hun Sen U-turned on a law to protect the species, saying "dolphins keep dying" while the fishing industry suffered from the conservation legislation.

Irrawaddy dolphins feature on the "Red List" of endangered wildlife by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Adding to concerns about their survival, around 70 percent of the population is now too old to breed.

The dolphins' habitat has also been reduced by upstream dams in Laos and China and climate change, which have had a major impact on water levels in the river.

 2024 AFP
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A neutron beam (green) is split into two parts, which are then rejoined. Every single neutron travels along both paths at the same time. Credit: Vienna University of Technology

Is nature really as strange as quantum theory saysor are there simpler explanations? Neutron measurements at TU Wien prove that it doesn't work without the strange properties of quantum theory.

Can a particle be in two different places at the same time? In quantum physics, it can: Quantum theory allows objects to be in different states at the same timeor more precisely: in a superposition state, combining different observable states. But is this really the case? Perhaps the particle is actually in a very specific state, at a very specific location, but we just don't know it?

The question of whether the behavior of quantum objects could perhaps be described by a simple, more classical theory has been discussed for decades. In 1985, a way of measuring this was proposed: the so-called "Leggett-Garg inequality." Any theory that describes our world without the strange superposition states of quantum theory must obey this inequality.

Quantum theory, on the other hand, violates it. Measurements with neutrons testing this "Leggett-Garg inequality" have now been carried out for the first time at TU Wienwith a clear result: the Leggett-Garg inequality is violated, classical explanations are not possible, quantum theory wins. The results have now been published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Physical realism

We normally assume that every object has certain properties: A ball is at a certain location, it has a certain speed, perhaps also a certain rotation. It doesn't matter whether we observe the ball or not. It has these properties quite objectively and independently of us. "This view is known as 'realism,'" says Stephan Sponar from the Atomic Institute at TU Wien.

We know from our everyday experience that large, macroscopic objects in particular must obey this rule. We also know that macroscopic objects can be observed without being influenced significantly. The measurement does not fundamentally change the state. These assumptions are collectively referred to as "macroscopic realism."

However, quantum theory as we know it today is a theory that violates this macroscopic realism. If different states are possible for a quantum particle, for example different positions, speeds or energy values, then any combination of these states is also possible. At least as long as this state is not measured. During a measurement, the superposition state is destroyed: the measurement forces the particle to decide in favor of one of the possible values.

The Leggett-Garg inequality

Nevertheless, the quantum world must be logically connected to the macroscopic worldafter all, large things are made up of small quantum particles. In principle, the rules of quantum theory should apply to everything.

So the question is: Is it possible to observe behavior in "large" objects that cannot be reconciled with our intuitive picture of macroscopic realism? Can macroscopic things also show clear signs of quantum properties?

In 1985, physicists Anthony James Leggett and Anupam Garg published a formula with which macroscopic realism can be tested: The Leggett-Garg Inequality.

"The idea behind it is similar to the more famous Bell's inequality, for which the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded in 2022," says Elisabeth Kreuzgruber, first author of the paper.

"However, Bell's inequality is about the question of how strongly the behavior of a particle is related to another quantum entangled particle. The Leggett-Garg inequality is only about one single object and asks the question: how its state at specific points in time related to the state of the same object at other specific points in time?"

Stronger correlations than classical physics allows

Leggett and Garg assumed an object that can be measured at three different times, each measurement can have two different results. Even if we know nothing at all about whether or how the state of this object changes over time, we can still statistically analyze how strongly the results at different points in time correlate with each other.

It can be shown mathematically that the strength of these correlations can never exceed a certain levelassuming that macroscopic realism is correct. Leggett and Garg were able to establish an inequality that must always be fulfilled by every macroscopic realistic theory, regardless of any details of the theory.

However, if the object adheres to the rules of quantum theory, then there must be significantly stronger statistical correlations between the measurement results at the three different points in time. If an object is actually in different states at the same time between the measurement times, this mustaccording to Leggett and Garglead to stronger correlations between the three measurements.

Neutron beams: Centimeter-sized quantum objects

"However, it is not so easy to investigate this question experimentally," says Richard Wagner. "If we want to test macroscopic realism, then we need an object that is macroscopic in a certain sense, i.e. that has a size comparable to the size of our usual everyday objects." At the same time, however, it must be an object that has a chance of still showing quantum properties.

"Neutron beams, as we use them in a neutron interferometer, are perfect for this," says Hartmut Lemmel, instrument responsible at the S18 instrument at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, where the experiment was conducted.

In the neutron interferometer, a silicon perfect crystal interferometer that was first successfully used at the Atomic Institute of TU Wien in the early 1970s, the incident neutron beam is split into two partial beams at the first crystal plate and then recombined by another piece of silicon. There are therefore two different ways in which neutrons can travel from the source to the detector.

"Quantum theory says that every single neutron travels on both paths at the same time," says Niels Geerits. "However, the two partial beams are several centimeters apart. In a sense, we are dealing with a quantum object that is huge by quantum standards."

Using a sophisticated combination of several neutron measurements, the team at TU Wien was able to test the Leggett-Garg inequalityand the result was clear: the inequality is violated.

The neutrons behave in a way that cannot be explained by any conceivable macroscopically realistic theory. They actually travel on two paths at the same time, they are simultaneously located at different places, centimeters apart. The idea that "maybe the neutron is only traveling on one of the two paths, we just don't know which one" has thus been refuted.

"Our experiment shows: Nature really is as strange as quantum theory claims," says Stephan Sponar. "No matter which classical, macroscopically realistic theory you come up with: It will never be able to explain reality. It doesn't work without quantum physics."
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Farmer Yigit Aksel stares into a sinkhole in fields near Karapinar in central Turkey.

Every time Turkish farmer Fatih Sik drives his tractor across his cornfields he knows the earth could open up and swallow him at any moment.

Two giant sinkholes have already appeared on his land in Konya, a vast agricultural province known as Turkey's breadbasket.

"Anywhere could sink, I keep thinking. And I know I'd be dead at the bottom," the 45-year-old farmer from Karapinar told AFP.

"But I have to work otherwise my family will starve."

This part of central Anatolia has had sinkholes for centuries. But their numbers have risen in recent years as increasing droughts has led to the overuse of wells for irrigation, experts say.

Many are dizzyingly deepplunging up to 50 meters (165 feet). Invisible from a distance, you can suddenly come upon them in the large fields of corn, beetroot, wheat and clover that dot the Konya plain.

"One of the major factors with sinkholes is climate change," says Arif Delikan, an associate professor of Konya Technical University, who has counted 640 sinkholes in Konyawith more than 600 of them in Karapinar alone.

"Around 20 holes have emerged over the past year in Karapinar," he said, using a hammer to test the ground around the edge of one.

The Inoba Obruk sinkhole that opened up overnight near homes in central Turkey.

He and the government's AFAD disaster agency has identified more than 2,700 surface deformations and non-seismic fractures which indicate a sinkhole risk and need to be investigated.

Sinkholes occur where water dissolves the bedrock below the surface, causing it to cave in. They can form naturally or through "anthropogenic" causes, due to the direct or indirect action of people.

They can appear slowly, or collapse very suddenly with little warning.

They featured in the 2022 film "Burning Days" by Turkish director Emin Alper who used them as a metaphor for cracks within Turkish society.

'Really scary'

Last year, Adem Ekmekci witnessed a large hole opening up which swallowed up several apricot and mulberry trees while walking through his fields.

"My foot suddenly slipped... I looked down and saw cracks in the ground," said the 57-year-old farmer, who has two sinkholes on his 24-acre (10-hectare) farm, each around 50 meters (164 feet) wide.

One sinkhole is next to an 800-year-old Seljuk caravanserai in Karapinar in the central Turkey.

"When I came back, the soil had collapsed and several trees had fallen in. It was really scary."

One sinkhole opened up just 10 meters from his home.

Cracks first appeared in 2018 so he went to the local council which sent workers to cover the area with rocks. Two years later, the ground collapsed.

"It sank 20 meters," he told AFP, saying he was too terrified to sleep at home that night. But with nowhere else to go, he has learned to live with it.

So far, nobody has been hurt or killed in the region, but everyone is aware of the danger.

Grazing his sheep, a 27-year-old Afghan shepherd "Omer" said he feared the sinkholes could swallow his flocks.

"God forbid, if one falls in, the others will follow," he told AFP.

Illegal wells

Over the winter, rainfall was 40 percent below average in Konya, putting even more pressure on farmers in a region that produces 36 percent of Turkey's wheat and 35 percent of its beetroot.

Fearful: Afghan shepherd Omer with his flock in Karapinar, Turkey.

Some have tried to solve their water problems by drilling illegal wells, weakening the bedrock.

"There are tough days ahead," admitted farmer Yigit Aksel who knows drilling and irrigation is partly to blame as they cultivate thirsty crops like corn and beetroot in this drought-stricken region.

Delikan said the region had been losing surface water due to drought over the past 20 years, with farmers turning to groundwater deep below for irrigation.

He said the water level in Karapinar was dropping "by 10 to 20 meters per year".

At Lake Meke, a volcanic crater lake in Karapinar, the water has disappeared over the past decade, its dried-up lakebed covered with salt.

But even a badly-needed rain could be harmful, putting extra pressure on the bedrock and accelerating its collapse, experts say.

Farmer Yigit Aksel looks into a large sinkhole near his home in Karapinar in central Turkey.

Cem Kinay has opened a luxury 13-room hotel in an ancient inn close to one sinkhole.

Sinkhole tourism

Some entrepreneurs have turned the sinkhole crisis into an opportunity.

Last week, Cem Kinay opened a luxury 13-room hotel inside an 800-year-old Seljuk caravanseraian ancient roadside innthat sits on the brink of Turkey's oldest and most famous sinkhole.

Half-filled with water, it looks like a lake.

"We need to turn these fears into something positive," Kinay, 66, told AFP.

Gazing at the sinkhole, South Korean tourist Seongmo Kim was mesmerized.

"It's the first time I have seen this, it's impressive."

Local villager Gumus Uzun recalled her grandfather telling stories about using the sinkhole to water their sheep and wash clothes about 60 years ago.

Back then, the water level was much higher, she said.

"Today it keeps shrinking."

 2024 AFP
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Psilocybe maluti was found growing in pastureland on cow manure in the Free State and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces of South Africa, as well as the highlands of Lesotho. Credit: Cullen Taylor Clark

Two new species of psychoactive mushrooms in the genus Psilocybe have been described from southern Africa, bringing the list to six known species indigenous to Africa. Psilocybe species are among the most well-known and well-studied species of psychoactive mushrooms in the world, with around 140 described species.

In a paper published in the journal Mycologia this week, researchers from Stellenbosch University (SU) and citizen mycologists describe the two new species as Psilocybe ingeli and Psilocybe maluti.

Psilocybe ingeli was first found in 2023 growing in pastureland in KwaZulu-Natal by Talan Moult, a self-taught citizen mycologist. Psilocybe maluti was first found on a Free State small holding in 2021 by Daniella Mulder, who sent photos of the mushrooms for identification to Andrew Killian, one of South Africa's leading citizen mycologists, based in Somerset West.

In both instances, the unusual-looking specimens were sent to Breyten van der Merwe for DNA sequencing and analysis in the lab of Prof. Karin Jacobs in SU's Department of Microbiology. Van der Merwe, now a postgraduate student in chemical engineering at SU, is a trained mycologist and first author of the paper.

A single collection of Psilocybe ingeli was found in KwaZulu-Natal, growing in pasture land. Credit: Talan Moult

The paper also contains information on the traditional use of P. maluti by Basotho traditional healers from the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. According to the researchers, this appears to be the only recorded first-hand report of hallucinogenic mushrooms being used traditionally in Africa.

Cullen Taylor Clark, a citizen mycologist and co-author, worked with Mamosebetsi Sethathi, a Mosotho traditional healer, to document the use of P. maluti (locally known as koae-ea-lekhoaba) in traditional healing practices. This forms part of a larger effort, led by Clark, to document the use of mushrooms by indigenous groups in southern Africa.

Van der Merwe says there are very likely more southern African species in this genus, and that more citizen scientists need to become involved: "These two species were sent to me by citizen scientists. It would be impossible for a single researcher to cover a fraction of an area these mushroom enthusiasts have access to. This is the only way we will be able to further studies in African mycology."

Prof. Jacobs echoes this sentiment, remarking, "There are only a handful of mycologists in Africa documenting local biodiversity. Considering the vast mycological diversity on the continent, it is a daunting task. Collaborating with citizen mycologists is therefore hugely beneficial. In addition to more material, collaboration also opens avenues for conversation and exploration, which can lead to documenting mycophilia (the love of mushrooms) on the African continent."

More information: B. van der Merwe et al, A description of two novel Psilocybe species from southern Africa and some notes on African traditional hallucinogenic mushroom use, Mycologia (2024). DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2024.2363137 Journal information: Mycologia
BARNEGAT LIGHT  Chris Rainone wasnt immediately interested in being the subject of a documentary.

Everybody thinks we rape and pillage the sea, said the commercial fisherman from Little Egg Harbor Township.

Rainone will appear on an upcoming episode of the PBS docuseries Hope in the Water. His episode, Changing the Menu, will air at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

The series highlights the stories of aqua farmers, fishers and innovators who are working toward a sustainable future. Actor and activist Shailene Woodley will be seen in the episode, but not in Rainones segment.

Before deciding whether to appear on the show, Rainone talked to his insurance agent, Hope in the Water director Brian Peter Falk and one of the officials with Fishadelphia, which connects Atlantic Ocean fishers with inner-city high school students through a subscription program that features less popular fish.

I reluctantly said yes. I cautiously said yes, Rainone said. A couple of weeks ago, I saw the end result. They did a great job.

Rainone, 54, has been operating out of Viking Village, a commercial seafood producer on Long Beach Island, since 1999. He has been using his boat, the Annice Marie, named after his wife, since 1996 and bought it in 2006.

The filming took place in the spring of last year, Rainone said. He gave the film crew a quick overview of his 39.6-foot-long boat. He went over general safety to make sure no one from the crew became tangled in the net, because his goal was that no one ended up hurt.

Commercial fishermen scale back production as market demand plummets BARNEGAT LIGHT  With restaurants only permitted to offer takeout and delivery, and many spe

Rainone catches monkfish from May 1 until the end of June and from December to March. He collects Atlantic spiny dogfish when he is not chasing monkfish. He also was out on a friends boat for three years targeting golden tilefish recently.

The nets are designed to catch a specific species, Rainone said.

There was a big casting process, including the placement of ads in the trades, Falk said. A contact with Fishadelphia led to Barnegat Light, which pointed to Viking Village and introduced Falk to Rainone.

When Falk talked to Rainone initially over Zoom, he said Rainone was skeptical but was willing to try.

I dont think he was super convinced until we arrived, said Falk, who added Rainones episode focuses on local sustainability. Hes a very sweet guy.

Some people view commercial fishermen the same way they view farmers, Falk said.

Farmers are often blamed for things like the use of pesticides, Falk said. Fishermen are trying to do the responsible thing.

Over more than 20 years, Falk filmed 22 previous projects as a producer and nine as a director, but he said he had never been out on a boat more than seven miles off the Atlantic coast previously.

At Jersey Shore, seafood still reeling in business BARNEGAT LIGHT  It was like Christmas morning, solving a Rubiks Cube, and the movie Groun

During the PBS special, the footage seen of Rainone on the Annice Marie was captured by a camera operator and a sound engineer and GoPro cameras, Falk said. A second boat affiliated with Falk, called a follow boat, had a second camera operator and a drone operator.

The boats left very early in the morning when it was still foggy, Falk said.

The water was incredibly choppy. It was 5 a.m. It was still dark, he said.

Besides selling one of the most popular kinds of fish, tuna, Viking Village is also the commercial producer of undervalued species such as monkfish, winter skate wings, golden tilefish and spiny dogfish, said Austin Schwerzel, federal compliance and communications manager at Viking Village.

A crew of fishermen on the Jersey Shore are still actively fishing for some of these species, Schwerzel said. There is a narrow market for gillnet fisheries. This is a great help to expose these species.

Between fishermen and dock staff, there are a couple hundred people making use of Viking Village and carrying on a tradition in an industry that has existed here for more than a century.

Schwerzel and Viking Village General Manager Ernie Panacek gave PBS the opportunity to provide the full picture. Schwerzel was made to feel very comfortable with his decision.

They were here to help to tell a story that we wanted to be told, Schwerzel said. It warms my heart. It was a big production. Im very grateful to them.
ATLANTIC CITY  A former school board president and political foe of Mayor Marty Small Sr. sued the Board of Education on Monday, alleging retaliation for calling for an independent board investigation of the Kayan Frazier child sexual abuse case.

John Devlin also sued Small; LaQuetta Small, Smalls wife who is superintendent of city schools; Board of Education President Shay Steele and others.

The school board voted in May 2023 to remove Devlin, who had served for almost two decades, saying he had missed three consecutive meetings without excuse. Devlin denies that allegation.

The complaint, filed by attorney David Castellani, also alleges racial discrimination, saying the mayor has called him a white drunk school board member, and that the board has not removed non-Caucasian members for missing meetings.

Small did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the complaint, Devlin advocated for the board to conduct an investigation of the districts handling of the Frazier case.

Frazier is a cousin of LaQuetta Small who was hired as a substitute teacher at the Pennsylvania Avenue School when LaQuetta Small was principal there.

Frazier is serving 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in February 2021 to one count of child exploitation involving sexual abuse and child pornography, concerning a child he met through Atlantic City schools. He was sentenced in July 2021.

Atlantic City school board member, Small critic, removed due to absenteeism ATLANTIC CITY  A dissenting voice and a center of controversy has been removed from his pos

LaQuetta Small eventually fired Frazier for violating school rules by spending time with students outside school, and Devlin alleges in his lawsuit that she intentionally delayed the reporting of the inappropriate contact and behavior ... in violation of State of New Jersey child abuse reporting laws.

Frazier was then hired by the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency as a caseworker, and was in that job when he was arrested.

LaQuetta and Marty Small opposed a board investigation of the Frazier case, Devlins complaint alleges, and retaliated against him for pushing for it.

Defendants actions ... violated Plaintiffs New Jersey Constitutional rights, depriving him of the same and deterring him from exercising (them) and deterring him from running for future school board positions and other positions of public office, the complaint states.

It also alleges the defendants used threats, intimidation and coercion in violation of state law.

These defendants also ... conspired with each other to retaliate against the Plaintiff for Plaintiffs exercise of his New Jersey Constitutional rights to freedom of speech, the right to petition the Government, and the right to political speech and association, the suit states.

Devlin alleges Small and others orchestrated the filing of ... ethics charges against the plaintiff, and without notice and/or opportunity to be heard on, then voted to remove Plaintiff from his Atlantic City Board of Education ... position because of allegedly missing three consecutive school board meetings without excuse, which allegations were false ... and a pretext for retaliation and discrimination based on Plaintiffs race and for Plaintiff exercising his constitutional rights.

In 2023, at the time of his removal, Devlin said he had called the board officials to alert them to his absences in advance of the meetings as well as causes for his absence, which were all related to family and work obligations and illness.

He also said then that the boards decision to include committee meetings and action sessions, held on the same day before a regular meeting, was made in bad faith to exaggerate the number of meetings he was alleged to have missed.

Earlier this year, Mayor Small, 50, was charged with making terroristic threats, aggravated assault and disorderly persons simple assault, and LaQuetta Small, 47, was charged with three counts of disorderly persons simple assault for allegedly abusing their teenage daughter.

Castellani also represents a high school student who was dating the Smalls daughter and is suing the Smalls. The student alleges the mayor and school officials forced him to attend an alternative school and pressured him to turn over his computer because it contained proof of the Smalls abuse.

The student also alleges the mayor filed a false police report against him in an attempt to harm him.

In 2022, City Council voted Devlin out of his position as chairman of the Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority board. The suit alleges that removal was also by and through Defendant Mayor Marty Small in conspiracy with others.

In 2022, Devlin filed a lawsuit against Small and the ACMUA over that removal.
ATLANTIC CITY  Atlantic City Housing Authority Executive Director Tom Sahlin testified last month in Superior Court that the authority was moving to install a new heating system in Stanley Holmes Village by Oct. 1, as repeatedly ordered by the court over the past year.

But documents sent to the attorney for about 130 residents of Stanley Holmes suing over unsafe and unhealthy conditions there show the authority has done no such thing.

In fact, it plans to forcibly move 126 households out of their apartments  mostly in Village 3  and into other authority properties or into the Section 8 voucher program by Oct. 1.

The moves would be made on an emergency basis, whether families want to move or not.

The existing problematic heating system will be tweaked but not replaced.

All Stanley residents will be moved out by Oct. 1, 2025, according to the plans, and the authority to date has no redevelopment plan, according to a resolution passed by the board Thursday without discussion, and without providing any details about it to the public.

That will leave the city with 420 fewer affordable housing apartments than it now has, with no plans to replace them anytime soon.

ACHA is yet again failing the residents. Sixteen months after the initiation of this litigation that exposed the heating emergency at SHV, ACHA is repeating its conduct of the last two years, attorney Olga Pomar of South Jersey Legal Services wrote in a letter to Superior Court Judge John C. Porto.

Fourteen of the 31 buildings making up the 420-unit complex will be emptied this fall, according to the plan, and the remaining 17 buildings will be emptied by Oct. 1, 2025.

Atlantic City Housing Authority board member who pushed for residents rights set to resign Atlantic City Housing Authority member Charmaine Hall fought for transparency and residents rights, clashing often with the board's leadership. On Thursday, she said she intends to step down.

The authority also plans to rely on the existing problematic heating system for another year for the remaining families, making only some repairs to it.

Mr. Sahlin testified at the plenary hearing on June 5, 2024 that ACHA has now finally retained an engineering firm and is moving forward with installing a new heating system by October 1, 2024 in compliance with these orders, Pomar wrote in a Monday filing to the court.

The proposal that ACHAs team put forth, however, defies the order and instead of presenting a plan for a new replacement heating system, recommends displacing some of the residents, vacating certain buildings, installing sensors, and repairing main pipes of the existing heating system  the same heating system that ACHA has acknowledged on numerous occasions is incapable of providing reliable and adequate heat, Pomar wrote.

Pomar asked Porto to reject the authoritys latest proposal and require the Housing Authority to install a decentralized heating system in all the buildings expected to be occupied Oct. 1.

Most of the authoritys other properties to which families would move also have problems with inconsistent heat and hot water, water intrusion, mold, pest infestations and more.

Sahlin has not responded to several questions texted to him Monday and Tuesday, including how the authority will move families out of Stanley Holmes by Oct. 1, when the authority is under a court order not to forcibly move anyone.

Pomar said the authoritys attorney, Rick DeLucry, told her he would ask the judge to allow forcible moves, but has not yet filed paperwork in court to do so.

The documents provided to Pomar say the plans were made by a a team of engineers, construction managers, purchasing agents, public housing experts and redevelopment consultants assembled by Sahlin. They do not provide the report from the architectural and engineering firm hired by the authority, Thriven Design.

Atlantic City Housing Authority director testifies on why deadlines were missed The Atlantic City Housing Authority has not complied with court orders dating to December 2022 because it had no architectural and engineering firm to prepare plans and bids for replacing the old heating system and gas lines, Executive Director Tom Sahlin testified Wednesday.

On Thursday, the authoritys Board of Commissioners passed a resolution without any discussion adopting a Stanley Holmes resident transfer plan. Sahlin did not provide details about what was in the plan when asked at the meeting.

After the meeting, Sahlin said the resolution would be posted to the authority website, but it has not been posted.

The transfer plan proposes initially downsizing SHV by relocating 126 households out of 14 buildings (not identified by address) by October 1, 2024 and the remaining 182 households by the end of 2025, Pomar wrote to the judge.

The ACHA has not determined a redevelopment plan, if any, for the Stanley site, the document states. The process to obtain HUD approval, site plan approval, environmental approval, as well as securing financing will take several years for a first phase of a (new) construction redevelopment project.

Pomar has filed motions for months trying to get Porto to enforce his orders and has asked him to impose financial sanctions on the authority for missing many deadlines to provide information, repairs and more.

Porto has ordered the authority three times to replace the heating system. On Aug. 18, 2023, he required the authority to submit a detailed plan for replacement of the system, which it never submitted.

On Nov. 2, 2023, Porto ordered the authority to immediately start the process needed to replace the system, and a Feb. 9 order set an Oct. 1 deadline for replacement of the heating system.

DeLucry agreed to each order, never moving to ask for changes.
China makes huge progress in studies of lunar samples

09:49, July 02, 2024 By Zang Chunlei, Yu Sinan ( People's Daily

On June 25, the return capsule of China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe landed precisely in the designated area in Siziwang banner, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, operating normally. The returner brought back samples collected from the moon's far side for the first time in human history, marking another milestone in China's space exploration endeavors.

On December 17, 2020, China's Chang'e-5 probe retrieved about 1,731 grams of samples from the moon - the first ever obtained from a young lunar surface region of volcanic rocks by humankind. Over the past more than three years, the China National Space Administration has distributed 85.48 grams of scientific research samples to 131 research teams in seven batches. More than 70 achievements in multiple fields have been published on important Chinese and foreign journals.

Researchers conduct experiments with lunar samples. (Photo provided by China National Nuclear Corporation)

Although the distributed lunar soil samples account for only about five percent of the collected samples, the scientific achievements cover multiple fields such as lunar formation and evolution, space weathering processes and mechanisms, and resource utilization, said an expert. Through the studies of lunar soil, mysteries of the moon are being unveiled.

According to the expert, the samples retrieved by the Chang'e-5 mission were from lunar basaltic rocks, formed when magma from the lunar mantle flowed onto the moon's surface and solidified. They record the secrets of lunar evolution.

The landing site of the Chang'e-5 spacecraft was one of the youngest mare basalts located at a mid-high latitude on the moon. Previous studies estimated the age of the landing site to be between 1 to 3 billion years, but such estimations carried significant uncertainties.

Using a high-resolution dating technique independently developed by China, a Chinese research team dated the youngest rocks on the moon at around 2 billion years in age, meaning that the period of lunar volcanism was about 800 million years longer than previously believed. This finding has also provided a crucial calibration point for the chronology of impact craters, significantly improving the accuracy of dating impact craters on celestial bodies within the inner solar system.

Based on the latest studies on lunar soil, Chinese scientists have proposed new mechanisms for the formation of young volcanoes on the moon and models for lunar thermal evolution, providing new directions and insights for future lunar exploration and research.

Lunar probes and observations over the past decade have suggested that water (OH/H2O) is widely present on the lunar surface, with polar regions having higher concentrations than equatorial regions. Besides, water ice has been found in the polar regions, undergoing dynamic changes based on the duration of sunlight exposure.

Lunar samples viewed with a microscope. (Photo provided by the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation)

However, due to the lack of direct sample analysis, the origin and distribution of lunar water have been a subject of controversy.

Through infrared spectroscopy and nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry, a research team from the Institute of Geochemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has found that lunar soil grains retain a significant amount of solar wind-derived water by studying lunar samples retrieved by the Chang'e-5 mission. According to estimates, solar wind contributed to at least 179 ppm of water content in the lunar samples gathered by the probe.

The research team also found that in the mid-latitude regions of the lunar surface, solar wind has implanted a greater quantity of water in the outer layers of lunar soil particles than previously assumed, while the high-latitude regions of the moon may contain a significant amount of potentially usable water resources. Experts said that this discovery has important implications for the future utilization of lunar water resources.

Helium-3, a potential fuel for nuclear fusion, is believed to be a promising energy source. Scientists estimate that 1 million tons of helium-3 could supply the entire Earth with sufficient clean energy for 10,000 years. It is very scarce on Earth but abundant on the moon.

By analyzing the lunar soil samples retrieved by the Chang'e-5 mission, researchers have determined the optimal temperature parameters for extracting helium-3 from lunar soil. These crucial scientific data provide a foundation for China to estimate the total amount of helium-3 resources on the moon and to explore and develop the energy source in the future.

Lunar samples are exhibited at the National Museum of China, Beijing. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

It is reported that a research team from the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation, has picked out a single-crystal particle with a radius of about 10 microns from more than 140,000 tiny lunar particles retrieved by the Chang'e-5 mission, using X-ray diffraction and other technologies. The team has also decoded the particle's crystal structure.

It has been officially approved as a new mineral by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA), and named Changesite-(Y), a kind of phosphate mineral in columnar crystal found in lunar basalt particles.

Changesite-(Y) is the sixth new mineral discovered on the moon by humankind. The new finding has made China the third country in the world to have discovered a new mineral on the moon.

According to experts, all 10 lunar sample return missions conducted by humans by far have taken place on the near side of the moon.

The landing site of the Chang'e-6 probe was in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the lunar far side, which is the oldest and largest impact crater on the moon. The collection of samples in this region, a historic milestone for humanity, will enhance humanity's understanding of the lunar origin and the evolution of the solar system.

Researchers said that with the studies on the lunar soil collected by Chang'e-5, they are full of expectations and confidence in studying the samples retrieved during the Chang'e-6 mission.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Dozens of Davenport city workers were filling sandbags and setting up HESCO barriers on Davenport's riverfront Tuesday afternoon. Among them were members of Teamsters Local 238, who are launching a campaign looking to undo collective bargaining restrictions in Iowa.

About a dozen members of the union stood in front of Davenport's City Hall holding white signs that read "Restore the Dignity." The statewide initiative is aimed at highlighting the, "deterioration of standards for public sector employees across the state and calls on legislators to restore rights that have been stripped by legislation harmful to Iowa workers," according to a news release.

Dan Gosa, president of the Quad City Federation of Labor, said the move came on the "coattails of the gutting of Chapter 20," referencing the 2017 move by the Iowa legislature that limited what public sector unions contract negotiators could bargain for.

At the time, supporters of the changes said they gave more flexibility to help state and local governments control budgets.

Gosa, who is also running for state House District 81 as a Democrat, referenced the workers on the riverfront, saying they deserved to be treated with dignity in their own state.

"It has been a very sad state in Iowa when you can go across that bridge right there and be treated a hell of a lot better as a public worker," he said.

Echoing that sentiment was the president of Local 238, Jesse Case.

"Across the state, from the Missouri River to the mighty Mississippi, public servants are working overtime to protect our communities from rising waters," he said. "Our public employees are once again there when we need them ... but who's protecting them?"

Case referenced the bargaining changes, saying public employees are expected to protect their communities but the state is not protecting them. He blamed the "broken system" for stripping workers of their dignity at a time where turnover is high and recruitment is down. He blamed the "take it or leave it" attitude of Iowa employers and said it has lead to low wages and a lower quality of applicant.

"Public servants who are the bedrock of our communities deserve to have their dignity restored today," he said.

A 15-year member of the Teamsters, Marvin Platt works in the public works department for the City of Davenport. He has dedicated his career to serving his community, he said, but the legislature stopped working for him in 2017 when the bargaining laws were stripped from workers.

"We lost the ability to negotiate over critical issues such as health insurance, evaluation procedures and layoffs," he said. "These changes have not only made our jobs more difficult but have taken away our ability to advocate for fair, working conditions."

Platt said workers are now asking for the restoration of their dignity and respect through this campaign, fighting to gain back the right to negotiate for fair and safe conditions. Fellow Teamster Steve Keppy works as a fleet mechanic for the city and has spent the past nine years on the job.

His role for the city includes keeping public vehicles in top condition, he said, ranging from snowplows to emergency vehicles. His work is essential, he said, but so is his ability to do his job safely and live securely.

"Our commitment to the city is unwavering," he said. "It's time for our state officials to recognize the value of public workers and restore the rights that allow us protect our city effectively."

Photos: Teamsters announce a campaign that will protect Iowa workers
Iowas governor and all-Republican congressional delegation have called on the U.S. Department of Labor to reassess its enforcement of teen labor laws in the wake of issuing fines to several Iowa restaurants.

Iowas congressional representatives said in the letter that their offices have received numerous reports from small business owners who have been subject to investigations and excessive penalties by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Iowa Restaurant Association President and Chief Executive Officer Jessica Dunker said several Iowa restaurant owners are facing fines ranging from $50,000 to $180,000 for following a new state law loosening work requirements for teens that conflicts with federal child labor regulations.

State lawmakers last year passed a law allowing teens to work longer hours and at more jobs, including those formerly off-limits as being hazardous. The state law includes a provision allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to work as late as 9 p.m. on school nights and as late as 11 p.m. during the summer.

Federal law specifies younger teens can work only until 7 p.m. during the school year and until 9 p.m. during the summer.

We ask the U.S. Department of Labor to assess their own regulations to determine whether they are aligned with our modern work world, support our young workers, meet employers needs and sustain a strong American economy, according to a letter to acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su led and signed by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, and the other five Republican members of Iowas congressional delegation.

It acknowledges the conflict between federal and state labor laws, but points out that more than 25 other states also have conflicts with federal labor laws.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds joined Iowas federal lawmakers, sending her own letter to the Department of Labor asking it to reconsider or renegotiate the excessive fines levied against the small businesses.

We can all agree that the health, safety, and well-being of our youth is a high priority, but the U.S. Department of Labor's position that a teenager working at a family-owned restaurant past 7 p.m. on a school night qualifies as oppressive child labor is absurd, Reynolds said in a statement. The department is excessively fining small Iowa businesses to the point of closure for violating outdated child labor regulations that were set in the 1930s.

Our workforce and workplaces look much different than they did 85 years ago, and Iowa's child labor laws reflect that, the governor continued. Its time the DOL update its own regulations to recognize the reality of our modern work world."

Reynolds, in her own letter to Su, mentioned Sugapeach Chicken & Fish Fry in North Liberty.

The restaurants owners, Chad and Carol Carter-Simmons, face roughly $65,000 in fines for allowing teens to work longer hours than permitted under federal law. Its an amount they say will put them out of business.

Sugapeach hired 14- and 15-year-olds as part of a program called Scholars Making Dollars, which works with the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter in Iowa City, a historically Black fraternity. Under the program, the high school students receive mentorship provided by the chapter and part-time work experience through the restaurant to develop work skills, gain real-world experience and earn a paycheck.

The Labor Department denies singling out Iowa. So far this year, the department says it has found child labor violations in 16 states, with ongoing investigations in several others.

Last fiscal year, the department concluded 955 investigations, identifying child labor violations affecting nearly 5,800 children across the country. Penalties assessed exceeded $8 million.

Federal labor officials also explicitly warned lawmakers and the governor that employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act who follow the less-restrictive Iowa law would be subject to penalties, and that the agency will continue to vigorously enforce child labor protections across the nation.

In a statement provided to The Gazette last week, the Department of Labor said no child should be working long hours, doing dangerous work or be employed in unsafe conditions.

Its dangerous and irresponsible that amidst a rise in child labor exploitation in this country, Iowas governor and state legislature have chosen to repeatedly undermine federal child labor protections despite the Labor Departments clear guidance, the statement said.

Since 2019, federal investigators have found an 88% increase in children being employed in violation of federal labor provisions.

The Hinson-led letter asks the department by July 9 to respond to five questions:

What steps has the department taken to provide businesses with an opportunity for corrective action prior to issuing a fine?

How does the department determine which businesses to investigate?

What standards are in place to govern the departments interactions with teenage employees during an investigation?

Is it standard practice for the department to demand non-supervised access to teenage employees without parental consent or knowledge?

How many similar investigations are taking place in the other states  including Illinois and Minnesota  that have state labor laws in conflict with federal law?

Workers rights group: Restaurant association misled its members

Jennifer Sherer is director of State Worker Power Initiative at the Economic Policy Institute, an independent, nonprofit think tank that seeks to strengthen labor standards and protect workers rights to unionize.

Sherer said The Iowa Restaurant Association has consistently misled its members by encouraging them to ignore federal child labor laws, and invited federal scrutiny.

Its a really appalling instance of Republicans colluding with industry groups to misinform the public, misinform parents and teens, and really do a serious disservice to Iowa businesses, she said.

Sherer said the federal standards are based on decades of research about how to set guardrails that make sure teens starting at the age of 14 can enter the workforce in a safe way that is compatible with completing their high school education.

And those messages were being actively ignored and obscured by the Iowa Restaurant Association and Republicans, she said.

State Rep. Sami Scheetz, a Cedar Rapids Democrat and union organizer for the Teamsters, said he objects to the governors and the Iowa congressional delegations efforts to undermine essential child labor protections.

The recent relaxation of Iowas child labor laws is dangerous. It opens the door to teenagers working in hazardous conditions, putting our kids at risk, Scheetz said in a statement to The Gazette.

The law, among other provisions, allows 16- and 17-year-olds to operate dangerous power-driven machines and to work in wrecking, demolition or ship breaking operations if they are enrolled in a state-approved career-technical education program, work-based learning program, internship or registered apprenticeship program with proper supervision, training and safety precautions.

Now, they want to blame officials for doing their job by enforcing these federal protections for our kids, he said. To be clear  the Department of Labors enforcement actions are necessary to protect young workers from exploitation and harm.
WASHINGTON  The dog days of summer could be hell for American canines traveling outside the country thanks to a new U.S. policy that may well leave them stranded at the border when they try to return home.

Starting Aug. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer allow puppies under the age of 6 months to enter the United States. Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival.

Every dog crossing into America  even those returning with their owners from a weekend at the beach in Canada  will have to have a microchip implanted before a required rabies vaccination, and the microchip number must appear on any vaccination records. Those vaccinations will have to be administered by a veterinarian certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dog owners will have to fill out a new CDC Dog Import Form before their loved ones paws can once again touch American soil, and that form will have to include a clear photograph of the dog showing its face and body.

Theres no exception to any of those rules for service dogs, but cats are entirely exempt.

Not surprisingly, dog owners are howling about it.

What kind of mind conceived all these things? said Deborah Williams of Colden, who travels frequently to Canada with her 12-year-old Labrador retriever, Sam. What kind of a mind?

Williams, a longtime citizen activist on cross-border issues, warned of potential ramifications from the new rules. Microchipping a dog can cost upward of $100, she said, and theres no telling which vets are USDA-certified and which are not, making it difficult for dog owners to comply with the new rules.

And she predicted if they dont comply, that could lead to tie-ups at the bridges between the United States and Canada, where U.S. Customs officers could be overwhelmed with enforcing the new rules.

Williams is by no means the only person worried about the new dog importation rules. On the U.S.-Canada Border Property Owners page on Facebook, the CDC doggie dictum was the main topic of discussion. A dog groomer from New Brunswick said the new rules would impact her customers coming over from Maine. Another said she had spoken to two veterinarians who offered different takes on what the new rules mean. Another speculated that the rules could reduce cross-border tourism.

To the CDC, though, the rules are absolutely necessary.

CDC is updating its dog regulation to protect the health and safety of people and animals and prevent the reintroduction of dog rabies to the United States, said Dave Daigle, a CDC spokesman. Dog rabies was eliminated in the United States in 2007. This update keeps Americans and their pets safe and will address recent challenges seen with international dog importations, including the challenges posed by fraudulent documentation and dogs housed in unsafe conditions. The rule will also more closely align with the World Organization for Animal Healths standards for the international movement of dogs from rabies-endemic countries.

Then again, Canada does not appear to be a rabies endemic country. Canada reported three cases of rabies among dogs last year. Two of them were in Nunavut, the nearly roadless territory that stretches from the northern Manitoba border into the Arctic. The other case was reported in the Northwest Territories, which are sandwiched between Nunavut and the Yukon.

Hearing that, Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy, a Buffalo Democrat, termed the new CDC rules a solution in search of a problem.

Theres no doubt in my mind that families will be impacted on both sides of the border, and itll slow crossing times, said Kennedy, a Buffalo Democrat who wrote to the director of the CDC, Dr. Mandy K. Cohen, in May to complain about the new rules.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Republican whos running for re-election in a district that will include the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, also expressed concerns about the new rules. Tenney, whos been known to bring her dogs along on the campaign trail, said shes worried that the new rules will prevent Americans from taking their pooches to Canada and be costly to pet owners who decide to do so.

I urge the CDC to reconsider this policy and prioritize the rights of pet owners and their pups over this unwarranted power grab, she said.

Meanwhile, across the border, the Canadian Trucking Alliance called for a compromise, saying the new rules shouldnt be enforced until the end of the year and that all currently vaccinated dogs should be allowed to enter the U.S. no matter when they were microchipped.

The alliance believes this is a reasonable compromise, which will not only boost compliance, education and awareness of this policy, but will also ensure precautions are being taken to safeguard the health and well-being of the animals traveling with truck drivers who are servicing our Canada-U.S. supply chain, said Lak Shoan, the alliances director of policy and industry awareness programs.

Williams concern, however, is far more personal. Shes worried that all the new rules could bar her from bringing Sam into Canada, where hes been scampering along the beach and otherwise enjoying the scenery ever since he was a puppy.

He likes to go kayaking over in Canada, she said. Thats one of his favorite activities. When I say activities, he just lays there.
A man charged with killing a 20-year-old Rapid City man has reached a plea agreement with the state.

In Pennington County Court, William Daly, 33, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree manslaughter.

According to Senior Deputy States Attorney Roxanne Hammond, Daly was the passenger in a vehicle on Aug. 13, 2021. The vehicle had pulled over to the side of the road when Daly pulled out a gun and shot Austin Freeman.

Freeman was shot in the gut and later died due to the injury.

Rapid City Police Captain James Johns said in a previous report Freeman appeared to be an innocent victim of drug related violence and was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Daly was arrested shortly after the shooting and charged with first-degree murder.

Friends and family of Freeman held each other in their arms as they were brought to tears from the hearing, some shaking their heads and clenching their fist at Daly's plea. Most of them wore gray shirts with Freemans face and one direct message: 'Justice for Austin.

Represented by defense attorney Angela Colbath, Daly appeared in court in a gray jumpsuit in front of Pennington County Judge Matthew Brown.

First-degree manslaughter is a Class C felony, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and no minimum sentence.

The state did not specify the exact number of years they will recommend at sentencing. Hammond did say they will not be pushing for life in prison.

Brown set sentencing for Daly for 9 a.m. Oct. 1.




Kathmandu, Nepal, July 2, 2024: The Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML, the largest and second largest parties respectively in the parliament have agreed upon to form a coalition government.





In a significant political development, the two parties have made an understanding to run the coalition government for the remaining term of the parliament. In the meeting held between the senior leaders of both the parties on Monday evening, both the parties have signed in the power-sharing deal.





As per the agreement, the UML Chairman KP Oli will lead the government for at least two years while Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba will lead the government during the remaining term of the parliament.





The UML will take nine ministries including the finance while Nepali Congress will take 10 ministries including the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).





Likewise, the UML will lead provincial governments in Koshi, Lumbini and Karnali provinces while the NC will lead the provincial governments of Bagmati, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces.








Kathmandu, Nepal, July 2, 2024: At least seven persons have been killed and eight injured in a fetal jeep accident occurred at Parewachhahara area of Madi Rural Municipality in Rolpa district on Monday evening.




Colleen Curran Living Editor Follow Colleen Curran 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

A new restaurant from the folks behind Tazza Kitchen and Conejo is headed to Stony Point Shopping Center at Huguenot Road and Forest Hill Avenue in Bon Air.

The Granite Grill & Bar, a neighborhood-style restaurant, is headed to the former Nuevo Mexico spot at 3000-3096 Stony Point Road.

We have been looking in this part of town for a while, said John Davenport with restaurant group Big Kitchen Hospitality. Bon Air is a great neighborhood, and we are excited to add to the new energy at Stony Point Shopping Center.

The Granite will be an updated but classic grill with comfortable booths, an energetic bar, and a year-round patio to enjoy a great meal, watch a game, or celebrate special occasions with family and friends, he said.

The menu will feature smash burgers, salads, grilled seafood and steaks, as well as cocktails, beers and wine. The menu will be a team effort, involving several chefs from Big Kitchen Hospitality.

The Granite Grill & Bar will be on the opposite end of the shopping center from Trader Joes. Other foodie spots in the shopping center include Southbound and Gelati Celesti.

The 5,300-square-foot, full-service restaurant will seat 120 in the main dining area, plus 18 at the bar. The outdoor patio will seat 40. The restaurant will also offer a private dining space that will accommodate 30.

The Granite will be comfortable and casual with a warm, polished vibe and, of course, a granite bar. Like our other restaurants, the patio will be a feature here, too, partner Susan Davenport said.

Partners at the restaurant group Big Kitchen Hospitality include husband-and-wife team John and Susan Davenport and Jeff Grant. Tazza Kitchen currently has three locations in the Richmond area and three in the Carolinas. The company is working with Johannas Design Group and Helen Reed Design to create the new space. James Ashby IV of Cushman & Wakefield  Thalhimer handled the lease negotiations on behalf of the landlord.

The Granite Grill & Bar aims to open in early 2025.
Dawn Page, Richmond School Board representative for the 8th District, is now chair of the school board following Stephanie Rizzis decision to step down as chair.

Page, who was elected in 2016 and again in 2020, is not seeking reelection. She will lead the board for the rest of the year.

At the start of Monday nights meeting, Rizzi, who represents the 5th District, announced her resignation as board chair. She will remain a member of the board.

It appears that the consensus of my colleagues is that I no longer serve as chair. And because of that, and because I do not want to be a distraction to this district, or to the work of the district, Im deciding to resign, Rizzi said at the meeting. I want you all to know that I have been extremely proud of my work and that I have loved deeply getting to know each and every one of you.

But again, as I say, it is the will of the board to do this. And I certainly will not fight and I will do what is best for the continuation of this board. And I want to thank everyone  everyone who has supported, everyone who hasnt. We need to hear all of your voices.

She said she will return at the next meeting in August.

Two of the other eight board members thanked Rizzi for her service.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown ... A perfect world we do not live in, said 7th District representative Cheryl Burke. At the end of the day, we know your heart is with every child in Richmond Public Schools and beyond. Youve accomplished much. ... The decision that youve made, I dont like it, but I know the choice. May you continue to move on and excel because our children and our city need you.

Vice Chair Liz Doerr, who represents the 1st District, also thanked Rizzi for her service and said she has put in a ton of high-quality and unpaid work.

Rizzi hugged Burke and left the meeting with her family.

The remaining board members then unanimously appointed Page to serve as board chair.

Page thanked her colleagues for entrusting her to lead the board for the remainder of the year.

We all make contributions equally and make chair decisions, Page said. Leaders who embrace a collaborative leadership style actively encourage team members to share information openly.  Thats what we will continue to do.

Rizzis resignation

Rizzis resignation as board chair comes after colleagues criticized her for what they termed a lack of transparency.

Tensions among board members regarding Rizzis leadership began to develop in late January when board members learned about a complaint against then-4th District School Board representative Jonathan Young. A 15-year-old girl accused him of acting inappropriately toward her on a December field trip. According to the report, obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the attorney concluded: Youngs behavior toward (the student), although awkward, did not violate (the School Boards harassment policy).

Rizzi emailed board members Jan. 30 to inform them that an outside attorney would investigate the allegations.

Other board members questioned why Rizzi made the decision to order an investigation without consulting the rest of the board. Young resigned from the board on April 12.

At an April 22 School Board meeting, board members began discussing potential changes to policies that dictate the board chairs authority. There was confusion among board members about the policies that dictated the proper chain of command on the Young complaint because it involved a board member, and not a School Board employee. Rizzi said she did not violate policy.

No one person should be making a decision in isolation because we are a board, Page, now the board chair, said at the April 22 meeting.

This responsibility should never fall on one board member, said 6th District representative Shonda Harris-Muhammed.

According to Rizzi, Harris-Mohammed made the phone call last week to inform Rizzi that the board intended to remove her as board chair.

Rizzi was first elected to the School Board in 2020. Her colleagues unanimously appointed her as board chair in January 2023 and again this year.

Rizzi is running for reelection this November for the 5th District seat on the School Board. Her opponent is Mamie Taylor, who served on the School Board in the same district from 2013 to 2016. Taylor attended Monday nights meeting.

Top five weekend events: Fireworks, Music at Maymont & Maggie Walker Celebration Fireworks at Dogwood Dell Fourth of July at the Virginia State Capitol Maggie Walker Celebration Music at Maymont: Leftover Salmon Richmond Shakespeare Festival: 'Doctor Faustus'
An early Sunday morning incident ended with a deputy fatally shooting an armed man, the Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office said in a statement Monday.

Deputies were dispatched to a home in the 10400 block of Spotswood Drive for a domestic disturbance involving a firearm shortly after 3 a.m. where deputies found a 38-year-old man, armed with a gun and pointing it at an adult female. As a result, one of the responding deputies fired his department issued firearm striking the subject.

Deputies treated the man until rescue crews arrived but he died at the scene, the sheriffs office said.

The Virginia State Police is assisting in the investigation.

The deputy has been placed on routine administrative leave.

The deceased man was not identified by the sheriffs office.
Virginias retirement system for public employees is getting close to being fully funded, thanks to a strong stock market and extra help from state lawmakers in the last budget.

The Virginia Retirement System was earning an 11.5% return on its market investments through the end of March, boosting the value of its trust fund above $113 billion to pay long-term pension obligations for more than 800,000 teachers, state and local government employees, retirees and inactive members.

The teacher and state employee pension plans are about 81% funded to pay those obligations, even though the system still carries about $18 billion in unfunded liabilities, primarily from huge investment losses in the Great Recession more than a dozen years ago. The trust fund received a big boost from the two-year budget that just expired on Sunday, with a $1 billion deposit of state tax money that VRS officials expect to save the system $2 billion over the next 20 years.

Weve made significant progress in improving the plans health, VRS director Trish Bishop told the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission on Monday.

However, VRS isnt earning as high a return on its investments as it expected, based on its internal performance benchmarks, largely because of diversification in different types of investments, such as private equity, to reduce the risk of future losses in public markets.

The systems 11.5% investment return over 12 months through March 31 lags its benchmark return of 12.8%, even though it overperformed in most asset classes, including traditional public equities and fixed-income investments. It fell short in investments in private equities  which arent traded on public stock markets  and private investment partnerships that rely on private equities. It met or exceeded all benchmarks over three, five and 10 years.

The Virginia529 program, now called Commonwealth Savers for a broad range of savings programs, also failed to meet most of its investment performance benchmarks, both in the short and long term, even though the program enjoys a hefty revenue surplus that its governing board and legislators are debating how best to use to broaden access to education.

Its money that represents forgone opportunities, JLARC staff analyst Jamie Bitz told legislators on the bicameral state watchdog commission.

The commission reviews VRS and the Virginia529 program every six months to monitor their solvency and other measures of fiscal health to protect state and public investments.

Andrew Junkin, chief investment officer at VRS, said the retirement system diversifies its investments among different asset classes, as required by state law, to seek the right balance between high returns and reasonable risks over the long term for public employees and retirees.

Weve kept our returns where they are; weve reduced the volatility; and weve reduced the probability of large losses, Junkin told the commission.

VRS does not yet know how well its investments performed in the fiscal year that ended on Sunday, but its return for the first nine months of the fiscal year was 8.7%. A year ago, the system earned 6.1% on its investments, which was below the 6.75% average annual return it assumes in setting contribution rates for government employers.

Contribution rates will be lower this year and next year for teachers and state employee pension plans under the two-year budget that took effect on Monday. The rates are not directly comparable because this year state law required VRS to separate contribution rates that the state, local school divisions and other employers pay to traditional pension plans and contributions they make on behalf of employees to 401(k) style savings plans.

Employees contribute at least 5% of their salaries to their retirement, divided between 4% for their pension and 1% for portable retirement plans.

The reduced rates also reflect a decision by lawmakers to keep the contribution rates higher than required in the two-year budget that just expired in order to improve the funded status of the retirement plans and pay down unfunded liabilities. That decision produced additional savings of more than $500 million for the retirement system over the next 15 years.

The payoff is the steady increase in the funded status of the pension plans. The teacher plan is the largest, with 161,524 active members. Its funded status in the fiscal year that just ended was 81%, based on the market value of assets. The funded status of the state employee plan, with 118,896 active members, was 80%, which is the threshold for a well-funded retirement plan.

This is a good news year all around, Junkin said.

Best counties to retire to in Virginia Best counties to retire to in Virginia #25. Bland County #24. Franklin County #23. Albemarle County #22. Hanover County #21. Westmoreland County #20. Henrico County #19. Carroll County #18. Northampton County #17. Mecklenburg County #16. Botetourt County #15. Nelson County #14. Goochland County #13. Wythe County #12. Bedford County #11. Smyth County #10. Henry County #9. Pulaski County #8. Patrick County #7. Mathews County #6. Northumberland County #5. Washington County #4. Middlesex County #3. Roanoke County #2. Lancaster County #1. James City County
My wife Ellen and I recently returned from a two-week guided Danube River cruise through Central Europe. The trip provided another perspective on how we tell history.

First, some context. As a former Virginia secretary of education, I have spent considerable time lately advocating for our education system to fully address Virginias history  the good, the bad and the ugly. We must understand our shared history to address the vestiges of that history as well as avoid repeating previous mistakes.

Further context. My wife Ellen is Jewish. I am Black and Presbyterian. We have four Jewish children, nine multicultural grandchildren, an Arab Muslim and two white Christian sons-in-law. Prior to the Supreme Courts 1967 decision in Loving v. Virginia, it was illegal for Ellen and I to be married in Virginia. Thats part of Virginias history.

To complete the contextual picture: Ellens Jewish family originated in Hungary and Poland. Since her grandparents families were killed or expelled or escaped from those countries because they were Jewish, Ellen had no interest in discovering her roots. However, the current discussion in Virginia about how inclusive and, therefore, honest the teaching of history should be, we took the European tour to better understand the current dynamics of our own interracial/interreligious marriage.

As our trip unfolded through Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany, among other countries, we quickly noticed much was said about centuries of wars over the control of land and empire building by Muslims and Christians, but few, if any, references were made to the Jewish community, a community at the epicenter of the horrendous extermination of the 20th Century.

We saw numerous active churches and mosques, but few synagogues  and those were mostly museums. Only when asked did our guide tell us about the museums, because next to no Jewish population remained.

Only after prodding did our guide share information about generations of ethnic cleansing and Hitlers final solution to ensure German supremacy by eliminating Jews and other unacceptable populations.

In Austria, the guide noted where Hitler spoke to a large crowd as he described, among other things, the final solution. Only after we asked about the crowds reaction did the guide say the crowd cheered because an empire with Hitlers Germany guaranteed Austrias return to power.

Only in synagogue displays did we better understand how dreadfully the Jews, prior to extermination, were treated  like the wearing of badges of shame, the limited available vocations such as money lending, the vocation central to the antisemitic images of Jews portrayed in Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice, and confinement in ghettos.

As for the ghettos, we were told how Hitler shaped the truth filming them as the towns Hitler gave to the Jews. It reminded me of the equally ridiculous explanation that slavery was good for Black people because it taught them skills to better find jobs once slavery ended.

There was no mention of the Jewish diaspora started centuries ago when the Jewish population living in Palestine was exiled throughout the world, including to Europe, where they were then subjected to ethnic cleansing in the counties to which they fled.

Because we took the Jewish tour, only a few of us had the chance to experience the ultimate chilling moment. We saw The Shoes on the Danube Promenade, a memorial in Budapest where hundreds of thousands of men, women and children were brutally shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river to be carried away. Only their shoes were left behind, sending an alarming message. Ellen was physically shaken by the memorial, as was I.

These are only a few examples of how history is distorted or kept secret by those who do not want to tell the bad and the ugly along with the good.

Just as some in Virginia want to avoid the discussion of the ugly parts of Virginias history, such as the horrors of slavery, Massive Resistance and the Jim Crow era, while simultaneously seeking to eliminate DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), Europe, too, must better acknowledge its horrific past in order to avoid history repeating itself. And the chance of that happening becomes more likely every day as so-called national leaders speak of curtailing immigration and increasing deportation to avoid poisoning of our blood. Ironically, if we deported all whose families immigrated here to seek a new life or arrived here in chains, the only people left would be our Indigenous population.

This trip certainly opened our eyes to the need to increase efforts to tell the entire history not only of Virginia, but of the world so that we can start to treat each other with dignity and respect and to live together harmoniously.

Whats past is indeed prologue  history sets the context for the present and the future. As a small sign in Prague said, be a mensch  be a person of integrity and dignity who is responsible and who does what is right  a legacy we wish to leave for our multicultural family.

Close Cantor Sara Beck-Berman chants the El Maleh Rachamim during the Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Va. May 5. Hannah Cohen, a second generation survivor of the Holocaust, lights a candle during the Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Va. May 5. Samuel Asher, president and executive director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum, speaks during the Yom HaShoah ceremony at the museum in Richmond on Sunday. Keynote speaker Stuart E. Eizenstat speaks during the Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Va. May 5. People gather at the end of the Yom HaShoah ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum on Sunday to view the Tolerance and Justice winning pieces in the Visual Arts Contest. Gabriel Laufer, a second-generation survivor of the Holocaust, lights a candle during the Yom HaShoah ceremony on Sunday. Winners of the Visual Arts Contest pose for a group portrait at the Virginia Holocaust Museum on Sunday. Keynote speaker Stuart E. Eizenstat speaks during the Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Va. May 5. Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum Cantor Sara Beck-Berman chants the El Maleh Rachamim during the Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Va. May 5. Hannah Cohen, a second generation survivor of the Holocaust, lights a candle during the Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Va. May 5. Samuel Asher, president and executive director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum, speaks during the Yom HaShoah ceremony at the museum in Richmond on Sunday. Keynote speaker Stuart E. Eizenstat speaks during the Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Va. May 5. People gather at the end of the Yom HaShoah ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum on Sunday to view the Tolerance and Justice winning pieces in the Visual Arts Contest. Gabriel Laufer, a second-generation survivor of the Holocaust, lights a candle during the Yom HaShoah ceremony on Sunday. Winners of the Visual Arts Contest pose for a group portrait at the Virginia Holocaust Museum on Sunday. Keynote speaker Stuart E. Eizenstat speaks during the Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Va. May 5.
Green Alert: More than 400,000 tourists on Cancun vacation as Hurricane Beryl approaches

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  There are more than 400,000 tourists vacationing in the region as Hurricane Beryl heads toward Quintana Roo. Bernardo Cueto, head of the State Tourism Secretariat (Sedetur) says all state agencies are readying to activate protocols for the imminent arrival of Beryl.

According to Cueto, there are currently 423,000 tourists vacationing in the state of which 298,000 are international tourists. He says hotels and consulates will be working with Sedetur to activate the Guest Locator in case evacuations are required.

Cueto says a meeting with the Governor is set for Tuesday, at which time, State Civil Protection will likely start activating protocols regarding hotels, transport vehicles, cruises, ferries and the states airports.

Francisco Fernandez, President of the Nautical Association of Quintana Roo says they are keeping a close eye on official updates and that for now, they will continue to operate normally, at least until Wednesday.

The trajectory has shifted north toward Riviera Maya.

As of Tuesday morning, Hurricane Beryl was upgraded to a category 5 hurricane. Due to its proximity to the coast of Quintana Roo, a Green alert, low danger, has been issued by Civil Protection. However, residents are being asked to clean gutters in front of their homes, prune trees and secure things that can fly away in strong winds. Authorities are also suggesting people protect windows.

Based on the information issued by the National Hurricane Center of Miami, Florida, United States, and disseminated by the National Meteorological Service on monitoring and surveillance for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, the center of Hurricane Beryl, category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, is located 375 km southeast of Beata Island and 2,000 km east-southeast of Cancun, Q. Roo.

It has maximum sustained winds of 260 km/h and gusts of 315 km/h and moving towards the west-northwest at 35 km/h. Its development and trajectory are being monitored. At the moment it does not represent a danger to the states coasts. Green Alert is issued for the state of Quintana Roo, Coordinacion Estatal de Proteccion Civil QRoo posted late Tuesday morning.

A July 2 update shows Berly making landfall around the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve.

According to updated trajectories, Hurricane Beryl could make landfall near the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, south of Tulum as a Category 1 sometime Friday.
Police investigate broad daylight murder of two on Cancun city bus

Cancun, Q.R.  Cancun Police continue to investigate the broad daylight murder of two people on a city bus. A young man and woman were shot to death Monday on a public bus traveling Kukulkan Boulevard in the Cancun Hotel Zone.

According to local authorities, the targeted shooting was drug related. Those responsible fled the bus, managing a successful escape.

The FGE reports that it has opened an investigation for the crime of qualified homicide of two people which occurred in a public transport unit that was circulating Monday on Kukulcan Boulevard in Cancun.

The corresponding authorities worked on the site to clarify the events. The first line of investigation indicates that this event is related to the crime of drug dealing and that the death of one of the victims was due to collateral damage.

The Attorney General of the State (FGE), as a member of the State Coordination for the Construction of Peace and Security in Quintana Roo, reaffirms its commitment to bring those who break the law to justice, the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) reported in a statement.

Cancun police investigate the shooting that left a male and female dead. Photo: July 1, 2024.

Elements of the Mexican Army, National Guard and elements of Citizen Security were at the Monday afternoon scene. A single lane of traffic was open as police investigated the 1:00 p.m. shooting.
TRIPOLI, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday said a total of 303 illegal migrants were deported from Libya to their countries of origin in the past week.

"Last week, IOM Libya facilitated two Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) charter flights, bringing 162 migrants from Benghazi to Dhaka and 141 migrants from Tripoli to Guinea Bissau and Benin," IOM Libya said via its account on social media platform X.

The migrants were deported through IOM's VHR program, which facilitates the return of migrants stranded in Libya to their countries of origin.

According to IOM, 226 migrants, including 32 women and 13 children, were intercepted and returned off the coast of Libya during June 23-29.

So far this year, 8,980 migrants have been intercepted, while 358 died and 513 others went missing off the Libyan coast, IOM added.

Ever since the downfall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a preferred point of departure for some African migrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores. 
Greece has recorded a "monumental growth" in solar power generation and cooperatives are on a promising path to decentralisation and energy democracy. Yet multiple obstacles still prevent many countries from unleashing their potential. And with the commitment of governments called into question by the outcome of the European elections, citizen-led initiatives could take centre stage

The sun's rays beat down on more than 900 solar panels in a field at Stymfalia, the mountains of the Pelopponese peninsula rising above them. The Hyperion solar farm, about 100 kilometres west of Athens, is one of dozens of cooperative projects to have sprung up in Greece in recent years. The 500-kilowatt park has been connected to the country's electricity grid since February, and began generating power for the cooperative's 130 members the following month.

"It's definitely been widely perceived by people as a success story We have inspired other energy communities in Greece and Europe, especially Eastern Europe," says Chris Vrettos, one of the cooperative's founders. In 2018 the government acted to make projects such as Hyperion possible, implementing EU legislation designed to set up energy communitiesofficially recognised, collectively owned and managed projects that contribute to the clean energy transition. "People came together and they said, 'ok, we've been preaching energy democracy for years, how can we put it into action by really creating an energy community now that we have the law? How can they get together, pool their money and create a collective solar park for collective self-consumption?'" Vrettos explains.

"Direct citizen ownership of renewable energy projects is an essential safeguard for ensuring social acceptance and accelerating the transition. The potential of community energy is enormous: by 2050, around 45 % of renewable energy production in the EU could come from citizens," says Stavroula Pappa, policy advisor for REScoop, the European federation of citizen energy cooperatives. Its "transposition tracker" monitors the progress of EU countries in implementing the EU directives that paved the way for energy communities.

"Several Member States have made considerable progress in transposing these provisions into national legislation, including Italy, Belgium and Denmark. However, most Member States have yet to develop an enabling framework allowing energy communities to participate in the market without discrimination compared to other market actors," Pappa adds. "In several countries energy communities are still a new concept and citizens do not necessarily know that they have the opportunity and established right under EU law to set up their own initiatives."

Dr. Paola Zerilli, Associate Professor Economics Department University of York, Scientific Coordinator of the EU-funded SUPER-i and SUPERSHINE projectswhich aim to enhance energy efficiency and reduce energy poverty via renovations in social housingsays she is aware of cases where people have run into obstacles trying to set up energy communities, despite supportive legislation at EU level. As project coordinator for SUPER-i, her particular focus is on generating investment for refurbishment schemes. Pilot schemes are being set up in Italy, Denmark, Slovenia and Latvia. "The key from my point of view is close collaboration first among partners," she says, "but also collaboration from the government that needs to be open and flexible to lift any barriers to investment".

"The end product will be a specific plan for each country and for each pilot and for possible interventions that they could put in place, what will be the consequences in terms of energy savings in terms of lower environmental impact and also decreased energy poverty for the people actually living there, because we have seen more that people just switch off the heating or switch off the air conditioning because they can't afford it, it's as simple as that," Zerilli explains.

The Greek government did act to iron out problems as energy communities got up and running. Private investors were prevented from exploiting the system for their own, purely profit-driven motives: Vrettos says in many cases energy companies have falsely claimed to be energy communities. However, a lack of grid capacity has prevented many applicants from being connected, and projects have struggled to see a return on their investments. Hyperion's journey from drawing board to operational project has been plagued by delays, bureaucracy, internal conflicts and disappointments. Even today, it relies on established electricity suppliers to distribute its solar-generated energy, and to play ball regarding other obligations.

"We're still waiting for the supplier to do the metering in our electricity bills," says Vrettos. "We've seen from other communities that had finished their projects before us that the suppliers were refusing to cooperate although they are legally obliged to do so. For many months, even a year and a half, although we are producing energy and although they are technically legally bound to meter that for us, to credit that, we are still waiting to see this in our electricity bills. So far members are still receiving normal electricity bills. We're almost there, but not 100%."

The failure of established energy suppliers to meet their obligations regarding energy communities is "not just a Greek problem, it's all over Europe", Vrettos adds. For him, the reason is simple: "Because if you have people producing their own energy they're no longer your customers". REScoop, he says, intends to pressure countries to use their share of the EU Social Climate Funddedicated funding to support vulnerable groups in the green transitionto help energy communities take on the financial risk.

The problems experienced by Hyperion and others come despite further EU legislation reinforcing the ability of energy communities to reap the benefits of the electricity they produce. "Citizens no longer need to depend on corporate power for their renewable electricity, heating, or renovations", says Stavroula Pappa. Electricity market reform, signed off by the European Council in May, sets out to regulate and develop energy sharing, enabling consumers to operate renewable systems collectively and access power at reduced rates. As national rules are established, she adds, "it is important that a level playing field is created so that energy communities can participate in this activity and are not pushed out by increasing penetration of commercial market actors".

"I think the green transition is the perfect opportunity to really decentralise and democratise and bring back into public ownership common goods," Chris Vrettos says. However, under pressure from their electorates, the commitment of governments has been called into questionand Europe's political will be further tested following the advances made by the populist right in June's European elections. This challenging context has prompted some experts to highlight the importance of local, citizen-led initiatives. "We are no longer in a world where local actors are peripheral" in the battle to reach environmental goals, wrote a trio of French scientists in an opinion column in Le Monde in May. They called on governments and the European Union "to take account of this multilateralism and restrict regulation to wide-mesh measures, rules of fair conduct, whose implementation is a matter of confidence as much as of control".

Greece has had some success in its long-term drive to meet climate targets. Greenhouse gas emissions have plummeted, while the country was ranked by consultants EY in 2023 as a top destination for investment in renewables. What Chris Vrettos describes as a "monumental growth" in solar power generation has helped renewable energy's share of total consumption almost to double over the past decade. However, the same drive has not always been replicated elsewhere. According to a World Bank assessment in 2020 found that many countries were failing to realise their full potential.

"I've seen in the south of Italy, so many houses could go on without paying any electricity because they could use solar panels. But the problem is that sometimes either there are policy or regulation problems, or that people don't know how to access this funding. There isn't enough literacy about this type of technology," says Paola Zerilli. She calls for more help from governments for transition projects, adding that "also the financial system needs to start waking up and investing more in this type of interventions".

The alternative, she concludes, is stark. "All the negative impacts caused by climate change, are we considering them in the big picture?" she asks, exasperated by what she sees as a resurgence of political short-termism. "Have we forgotten the next flood, the next big storm causing I don't know what damage and even deaths? Are we considering that?"

Project coordinator:

Riccardo Coletta APREAgenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea

coletta@apre.it

Scientific Coordinator:

Dr. Paola ZerilliUniversity of York

paola.zerilli@york.ac.uk

Communication Manager:

Alice de Ferrari : alice.deferrari@icons.it

Project website: https://super-i-project.eu

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SUPERi_project

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/super-i-euproject/

Provided by iCube Programme
DNA Microfactory for Autonomous Archiving (DNAMIC) project lab. Credit: Kaunas University of Technology

A new field of scienceDNA data storageis being developed in Lithuania. Genomika company together with Kaunas University of Technology and other partners, aims to develop an autonomous solution for archiving data in DNA structures. The total value of the project is more than EUR 5 million.

According to Renaldas Raisutis, Director of the K. Barsauskas Ultrasound Research Institute at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU URI), the DNA cache can perfectly archive large amounts of data.

"In a globally digitalized society, more and more data is created and used every year. Conventional data storage centers consume 1.5% of the world's electricity and emit 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) per year," he says.

He says there is a global search for reliable, high-density, sustainable and economically viable data storage solutions. For this reason, the enormous potential of storing data in DNA molecules has become apparent.

In 2060, the entire surface of the Earth would be covered

The KTU professor says that 65 years ago, a five-megabyte hard drive could barely fit in a cargo planetoday it is equivalent to the size of an average digital photograph. However, despite the evolution of data storage technologies, the current ones are not meeting the growing demand.

The DNA Microfactory for Autonomous Archiving (DNAMIC) project, led by a Lithuanian company Genomika and together with an international team of researchers will develop a hard drive based on the storage of data in DNA molecules within three years.

According to Dr. Lukas Zemaitis, co-founder of Genomika, DNA, an information storage technology that has been developed and refined over billions of years, could be a potential technology for information storage.

Ignas Galminas, the second co-founder of Genomika, explains that this invention could solve a multitude of problems related to data storage, such as the use of water and rare metals, longevity and others.

"If the problem of data storage is not solved, by 2060, large data centers will cover the entire surface of the earth," he notes.

DNA is highly stable and reliable

Genomika, KTU and researchers from four other countries are working together to develop the first modular drive that will allow a user with no specific knowledge of genetic technologies to record and read digital information using DNA.

Storing information in synthetic DNA structures allows for more efficient use of space, a small footprint and the ability to store information for thousands of years with very low energy consumption, says Prof. Raisutis of KTU.

"One attractive feature of DNA caches is their ability to store large amounts of information in a very small space. It is significantly more compact than traditional digital media. DNA is extremely stable and reliable for long-term storage of information," emphasizes Raisutis.

He believes that storing data in DNA caches is particularly relevant in the health care sector, as digitized patient data is stored for their entire lifetime. The storage and processing of digitized information is also crucial for the development of new diagnostics and treatments.

The KTU professor notes that this project is of great significance for the future of biotechnology not only in Lithuania but also worldwide. He says that by working together, science and business can create innovations on a global scale.

"This is an exceptional project coordinated in Lithuania, which contributes to solving a global problem. It is not only technologically but also scientifically relevant, as a new field of scienceDNA Data Storageis starting to develop in Lithuania," says Zemaitis, a Genomika co-founder.

A market-changing technology

Mindaugas Bulota, the Head of KTU's National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (NIEC), calls the DNA storage technology a game changer in the market. Without the success of bringing together science and business potential, he says, the opportunities would be significantly smaller.

Bulota emphasizes the importance of remaining one step ahead as critical to becoming a world leader and, of course, generating significant economic benefits. As the results of the international projects have a global impact, this enhances Lithuania's image as a developer of advanced technologies worldwide.

"Naturally, this also attracts the attention of larger investors. In the long term, we attract more foreign investors, which not only creates new, well-paid jobs but also brings knowledge and technology into the country," he explains.

While preparing the project application, Genomika and the KTU UMI team worked with international partnersKilobaser company, Technical University of Munich, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva and Imperial College London.

Provided by Kaunas University of Technology
BNSF Railway is preparing to remove the remaining sections of its collapsed bridge that linked Sioux City and North Sioux City.

The middle section of the aging steel truss bridge broke off and fell into the Big Sioux River on June 23 as the bloated river rose to just below the bottom of the structure.

The right end of the span still attached to the South Dakota side has since dipped into the river, which receded after peaking at a record depth of nearly 45 feet. The left end of the span connected to Sioux City's Riverside neighborhood appeared to be resting on a pile of debris Tuesday.

"We currently have a contractor on site that will mobilize material and heavy equipment to access the river and remove the spans once we have a removal plan," Kendall Sloan, BNSF's director of external communications, said in an email to the Journal Tuesday. "We have a consultant engineer on site to monitor the bridge for any changes, so we can react if needed."

Sloan said the railroad is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local governments who manage levees that hold back flooding on the "next steps for access and removal of the bridge."

"Were assessing the location and the conditions there to ensure our removal efforts dont cause damage to the levees," the spokesman said. "Timing for these efforts depend on our ongoing assessment, the weather and other conditions, but we expect it will take several weeks once removal work begins and will last at least until the end of the month.

Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF, one of the largest freight carriers in North America, also is "assessing next steps" to replace the bridge, Sloan said.

Earlier this week, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said the state will work with BNSF to rebuild the last bridge crossing on the Big Sioux River as soon as possible.

The bridge, part of BNSFs Aberdeen subdivision, dates to the early 1900s, and was the only rail link between North Sioux City and Sioux City. Since the collapse, BNF has rerouted traffic through Creston, Iowa.

BNSF shared the track over the Big Sioux River with D&I Railroad. D&I, a shortline carrier owned by Sioux Falls-based E.G. Everist, a major supplier of aggregates, used the line to ship rock and other materials for construction from Everist's quarry in Dell Rapids, S.D. to its rail yard in downtown Sioux City.

The loss of the bridge cut off the regional railroad's access to Sioux City.

In Sioux City, BNSF also operates a north-south line.
CHEROKEE, Iowa  A former Cherokee Washington High School teacher who was accused of grooming a student for a potential relationship has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and likely will not face time in prison.

Joseph Vannatta, 46, of Cherokee, entered his written plea Monday in Cherokee County District Court to one count of harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor. The charge was reduced from sexual exploitation by a school employee, a Class D felony.

In his plea, Vannatta admitted he "... participated in unwarranted personal communications with another person about his sex life without legitimate purpose and in a manner likely to cause the other person annoyance or harm."

The document said that according to a plea agreement, the sentencing judge will have the option to give Vannatta a deferred judgment, and prosecutors will recommend that any term of incarceration be suspended and he be placed on two years' probation and fined.

"The parties also agree that the facts do not constitute a sexually motivated offense," court documents said.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

As a result of the plea, Vannatta's attorney, Jacklyn Fox, withdrew a motion to dismiss the case. She had argued the information contained in the complaint did not meet the statutory elements of sexual exploitation and the charge should be dismissed because it was vague and too broad.

Vannatta was arrested in March after a lengthy investigation stemming from a student complaint filed in April 2023 in which Vannatta was accused of "a scheme of conduct to insert himself into (the student's) sexual life" from approximately August 2022 through March 2023.

The student, police said in the complaint, felt Vannatta was grooming him for a relationship by engaging him in sexual conversations and asking about his sex life.

A band teacher, Vannatta was later fired after his arrest.
HARTINGTON, Neb.  A man charged with killing four Laurel, Nebraska, residents will not be in the courtroom when he goes to trial later this year.

District Judge Bryan Meismer on Monday granted Jason Jones' request to not be present at his trial.

In a previous motion, Jones' attorney said Jones had severe burns on his upper and lower extremities and his back and it's hard for him to sit upright for long periods of time. He also must use a wheelchair and can walk only short distances, Todd Lancaster, of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy in Lincoln, said.

The motion was filed in May, and prosecutors had asked Meismer not to grant Jones' request until questioning him to make sure he understood this trial rights. Jones appeared with Lancaster at Monday's hearing via Zoom, and Meismer approved his request.

Jones' trial is scheduled for Sept. 9 in Dakota County, where it was moved after Meismer ruled it would be impossible for him to receive a fair trial in Cedar County.

Jones, 44, has pleaded not guilty to four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson for the Aug. 4, 2022, shooting deaths of Michele Ebeling, 53, in her home and Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their home and setting both houses on fire. Prosecutors have filed notice they would seek the death penalty if he is found guilty of first-degree murder.

Authorities responded to a fire in the early morning hours at Ebling's Laurel home, where they found her body with two gunshot wounds. A second fire at the Twiford home was reported soon after, and responders found the family members' bodies, all with gunshot wounds.

Jones, who lived across the street from Ebeling, was arrested without incident at his home about 24 hours after the bodies were discovered and airlifted to a Lincoln hospital for treatment of serious burns over a large portion of his body. He spent nearly three months in the hospital before he was transported to the Nebraska Department of Corrections' Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln, where he remains for medical treatment.

His wife, Carrie Jones, has told investigators she had just gotten home from work when she and her neighbors noticed Ebelings house was on fire and saw her husband stumbling from the house. She told investigators she peeled Jason Jones' burned clothes from his body and washed him in the bathtub before bandaging him and putting him in bed. He refused to go to the hospital.

Carrie Jones, 45, was later arrested and has pleaded not guilty of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony. She is accused of aiding and abetting the death of Gene Twiford. Her trial date has not been set.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Tuesday for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

During the summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana, Xi will discuss with his SCO colleagues development blueprints and build up consensus on cooperation, which is poised to add new impetus to maintaining peace and prosperity on the Eurasian continent and beyond.

Countries on the vast Eurasian continent share a long history of exchanges, similar development tasks and a closely linked future. Xi's upcoming trip is expected to enhance China's cooperation with respective countries and help build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

STRONGER TIES

In early June, Xi, along with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, applauded via video link the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project.

The railway is a strategic project of connectivity between China and Central Asia that demonstrates their commitment to common development through cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The project is the latest example of the SCO family's cooperation and solidarity under the guidance of the "Shanghai Spirit."

The SCO was created 23 years ago with the "Shanghai Spirit" being its founding values, which champion mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development. Now, with nine member states, three observer states and 14 dialogue partners, it is the world's largest regional organization in terms of geographical scale and population.

Xi has attended every SCO head-of-state summit since 2013, including through live videoconferences during the COVID period, and shared his thoughts and proposals on building stronger SCO ties and promoting development.

Maintaining regional peace and security is the cornerstone of SCO cooperation. In recent years, SCO members have strengthened coordination in combating the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, tackling drug trafficking, as well as safeguarding security in cyberspace and outer space.

A major driving force of the SCO's development is an orientation towards economic growth and practical cooperation.

The SCO has witnessed flourishing trade and investment cooperation among its members, with its share of global trade rising from 5.4 percent in 2001 to 17.5 percent in 2020, according to China's customs data.

People-to-people exchanges and mutual learning have become another key component of SCO cooperation through the years.

The bloc has witnessed burgeoning projects and activities, including the 2024 "Chinese Bridge" Spring Camp for students from SCO countries, which opened in Xinjiang in April, and the SCO agricultural universities alliance, which now fosters exchange of agricultural talents among over 20 universities from SCO member states.

Belt and Road cooperation between China and other countries has yielded fruitful results, promoting connectivity and socio-economic development of regional countries, former SCO Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliyev said.

This is an epitome of the countries' cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit, and an important manifestation of the "Shanghai Spirit," he said.

ANOTHER GOLDEN 30 YEARS

China and Kazakhstan share a border of roughly 1,700 km and a long history of friendly exchanges between their peoples. Xi used "good neighbors, good friends and good partners" to describe the profound friendship between the two countries.

The strategic guidance of the two countries' heads of state is a distinctive feature of China-Kazakhstan relations. During a state visit to Kazakhstan in September 2013, Xi proposed the Silk Road Economic Belt, an essential component of the BRI.

When Xi visited the Central Asian nation again in September 2022, he received the Order of the Golden Eagle, the highest honor of Kazakhstan, from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The two leaders announced that China and Kazakhstan will work for building a community with a shared future defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust and sharing weal and woe.

The year 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of bilateral ties. In 2023, Xi and Tokayev met twice in China. They pledged that the two countries are ready to create another 30 years of golden period for bilateral relations.

The two countries have built a full-fledged connectivity network to facilitate cross-border transport and trade. Thanks to cross-border railways, land border crossings and other logistic and trade facilities, China-Europe freight trains rumble like modern-day camel caravans, delivering products made in China to Central Asian and European countries, as well as wheat, fertilizers and other products from the landlocked country to China's Pacific harbors.

China was Kazakhstan's largest trading partner in 2023, with two-way trade up by 32 percent year-on-year to reach 41 billion U.S. dollars.

A variety of cultural and people-to-people exchanges serve as bridges to further strengthen their friendship.

The entry into force of the agreement on mutual visa exemption is expected to increase cross-border travel. The Luban Workshop, a Chinese vocational workshop program training talents overseas, has been operating in Kazakhstan since last year.

With Kazakhstan-China relations growing at a high level, it is believed that Xi's visit to Kazakhstan will open up new prospects for bilateral cooperation, said Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of Kazakhstan's China Studies Center.

NEW IMPETUS

Since the establishment of China-Tajikistan diplomatic ties more than 30 years ago, bilateral relations have withstood the test of the evolving international landscape and achieved a leapfrog development.

In recent years, Xi and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon have maintained frequent interactions, forging a profound friendship and facilitating the growth of bilateral ties.

In September 2014, Xi paid his first state visit to Tajikistan. Rahmon accompanied Xi for nearly 10 hours and warmly received him with a family banquet. "Good brothers walk hand in hand," Rahmon said.

When Xi revisited Dushanbe in June 2019, he received the Order of the Crown from Rahmon. The two heads of state signed a joint statement on further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership.

During the China-Central Asia Summit in May 2023, the two presidents jointly announced the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit, setting a clear goal for the development of bilateral relations.

Tajikistan is one of the first countries to support the BRI and sign cooperation documents with China. Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries has yielded fruits, including the construction of the China-Tajikistan highway.

The two sides are also exploring cooperation in green technology, digital economy and artificial intelligence to boost high-quality development.

Recent years have witnessed an increasing number of Tajik students in the country's Confucius Institutes or in China. The first Luban Workshop in Central Asia has been operating in Dushanbe for two years, grooming many talents for Tajikistan's vocational education and the country's industrialization and modernization.

"Tajikistan and China are the closest neighbors and partners," said Qanoatullo Saifulloev, deputy director of the state-run Khovar News Agency, adding that he believes Xi's upcoming state visit to his country will promote the continued development of bilateral relations and benefit the two brotherly peoples. 
SIOUX RAPIDS, Iowa -- Iowa Air National Guard members converged on the small town to alleviate the effects of the historic flooding in June.

The Iowa Air Guard members from Sioux Citys 185th Air Refueling Wing and Des Moines 132nd Wing sent 30 Airmen to Sioux Rapids to aid in clean up efforts after the overflowing of the Little Sioux River damaged many residences and businesses.

After the rains stopped, residents immediately began gathering debris and flood-damaged property to their curbs. Airmen then load it aboard dump trucks so residents can attempt to return to living in their homes. National Guard Airmen are also working in conjunction with local civil authorities to ensure the safety of the public by cordoning off streets as the Airmen operate their vehicles and equipment.

"Its extremely sad seeing all these peoples homes and valuables just destroyed," said Staff Sgt. Seth Stamm, a 185th Air Refueling Wing Power Production specialist, "But helping clean-up is all we can do."

Residents are faced with the prospect of cleaning up debris including basement carpet, drywall, furniture, and other household contents. The flood damaged debris can present public health concerns.

The Air Guards state mission has units ready to deploy Debris Removal Teams with specialized personnel and tools to assist debris clean-up. Their equipment includes chain saws, skid steer loaders, dump trucks, and other vehicles.

Maj. Daniel Ress, the 185th Air Refueling Wings Deputy Base Civil Engineer, said the unit had no issue getting volunteers for the cleanup.

"They put their plans for the weekend aside. Maybe even their plans for the holiday aside to come out and help and be here for this community," Ress said.

Eric Boge, a local high school teacher, said he was thankful that the Guard came to help.

"That actually brought tears to my eyes," said Boge, "It's been helpful and a fast process with all you guys and many hands."
SIOUX CITY -- A program has been created to assist owner-occupied households impacted by flooding in Sioux City's Riverside neighborhood.

The City of Sioux City Neighborhood Services Division said in a statement that the program focuses on addressing the following needs related to flood impacts:

HVAC

Mechanical

Water heaters

Electrical panels

Radon mitigation (federal requirement)

Other items may be approved on a case-by-case basis. All assistance is income based (only taxable income is counted). Income limits are on a sliding scale based on household size. For example, a family of four could not make more than $79,950 per year in taxable income. If a household only receives Social Security benefits that are not taxed, they would likely qualify.

Up to $10,000 per household in the form of a grant will be available. The program is funded by federal, state and local grants.

Neighborhood Services Division staff began going door-to-door in Riverside on Tuesday with information related to the program. Staff are dressed in red or blue City of Sioux City Neighborhood Services Division polo shirts and will carry a city-issued employee ID.

If a resident is not at home, information will be hung on the front door handle.

Contact Jill M. Wanderscheid at 712-224-5136 for more information.
SIOUX CITY -- The City of Sioux City is facing the arduous process of assessing flooding damage at its aging regional wastewater treatment plant.

Tom Pingel, the city's utility director in charge of the plant at 3100 S. Lewis Blvd., told The Journal Tuesday that flows to the plant returned to normal over the weekend, following Missouri River flooding.

On an average day, the plant gets about 17 to 20 million gallons of wastewater. Amid the flooding, Pingel said 60-some million gallons of wastewater were going to the plant.

"We're still going through and seeing how much damage was caused. It takes a long time to sort that out," Pingel said. "Our plant's at 110% capacity. It's hard to take things offline and get in and inspect it, but, obviously, we have to."

Just late last year, Pingel said the plant recovered from the 2019 flood.

"It takes a few years to actually fully get everything repaired," he said.

Repairs to the plant would need to be made before the eventual construction of a new one. Pingel previously told The Journal the city is "expecting FEMA to pay for all this damage."

Last year, the City Council, in spite of objections from the business community, approved a residential, commercial and industrial sewer rate hike to help fund a phased-rebuild of the beleaguered plant. The first phase of the project will cost $275 million. The second phase is estimated to run between $175 and $200 million. Once phase one is completed, phase two will begin.

The first phase will address all safety and reliability issues associated with the liquids stream treatment process, along with odor control at York, Floyd and Riverside lift stations. The second phase will tackle reliability issues with the solids handling processes.

The plant poses significant safety issues for city staff and has a history of compliance issues with the state. In January of 2022, the Iowa DNR filed suit against the city over alleged repeated environmental violations at the plant, which dated back to March 2012. The city faces fines adding up to millions of dollars.
WELLINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Solomon Islands are boosting their cooperation in tourism and trade, a New Zealand government statement said on Tuesday.

New Zealand is working on enhanced cooperation with Solomon Islands in aviation, connectivity, security, economic development, disaster response and resilience, labor mobility and strategic infrastructure, New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said during his visit to the Pacific island country.

While in Solomon Islands, the New Zealand delegation met with Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and other political leaders to discuss shared development priorities and regional challenges, the statement said.

Peters also attended an event to hand over the upgraded Seghe Airfield, a project co-funded by the governments of New Zealand, Australia and Solomon Islands, and signed a refreshed air services agreement.

"The enhanced Air Services Agreement will improve the freedom of air services on routes between New Zealand and Solomon Islands," it said, adding it will benefit tourism and business travel, allowing for easier travel for seasonal workers and offering better trade potential.

Solomon Islands is the first leg of the New Zealand delegation's Pacific tour this week, to be followed by Nauru and Niue. 
What has Joe Biden been up to since his mythically catatonic performance at last weeks debate? Well, besides dropping by the Stonewall Inn for the last weekend of Pride and (I assume) valeting the first lady to her Vogue cover shoot, the president has apparently been ambling around Camp David with his extended family, wondering what went so wrong. Biden is aware that he appeared to be phasing in and out of reality on CNNs dais, and his clan has offered a variety of suggestions about how to move forward. An idea, as reported by the New York Times, came from one of the presidents seven grandchildren. In order for Biden to remind the country that he is awake, lucid, and capable of walking from one end of the room to the other, perhaps he should break bread with Instagram influencersmaybe by doing the Savage dance on TikTok or some such thing. Heres the quote from the story:

Other family members were trying to figure out how they could be helpful. At least one of the presidents grandchildren has expressed interest in getting more involved with the campaign, perhaps by talking with influencers on social media, according to the informed person.

Ah, yes, of course. To resuscitate the incumbents flatlining campaign and eliminate his infirm image, we simply need to increase the quotient of Bidens involved in the race. What could go wrong!

Look, man, Im not a campaign strategist, but this is evidence of an operation that is officially out of ideas, precisely because its fundamental problema candidate who is 81 and cant interface with another human being without the help of a teleprompteris unsolvable. And why on earth should we trust Bidens greater family tree to get us out of this mess? Only two of the presidents seven grandchildren have any sort of social media presence, and neither of them has the bona fides to speak on the matter with any authority.

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First theres Naomi, the 30-year-old eldest daughter of Hunter, who keeps a thoroughly anodyne influencer-lite scrapbook of tasteful bridal shots and DayGlo vacation envy tiled to her Instagram, which is followed by nearly 200,000 people. None of those images expresses even the faintest political identity, and notably, few pictures of her father are present. The only real way you can tell that shes related to the president are the persistent comments reading HUNTER LAPTOP barnacled to her uploads, all posted by accounts called things like @DRAIN_THE_SWAMP_DEPLORABLE. This, to me, is not an option. The Biden campaign is not going to be able to leverage snapshots of European beaches from a minor dynastic heir into electoral momentum, and God help it if it tries.

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I suppose there is a world where Naomi could empty her contact list and attempt to unite a legion of other Instagram influencers of middling clout for an all-out Biden/Harris assaultprobably geotagged in Santorini or somethingleading to, I dont know, a 0.0001 percent bump in polls around Calabasas and Miami Beach. Outside of that? Youre probably out of luck. Most of the Biden clan have stuck to the enduring presidential tradition of staying offline, and considering the presence of @DRAIN_THE_SWAMP_DEPLORABLE types, you cant really blame them. However, we must also mention the case of 23-year-old Maisy Biden, Hunters middle kid, who has pinned to the top of her TikTok feed a video of her lip-synching while dressed in a Scooby-Doo Halloween costume.* In other words, Maisy has her priorities straight and seems dead set on avoiding getting cast in her grandfathers project. If we are going down with the ship, she should at least be given 10 minutes at the Democratic National Convention just to rub the failure in.

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The point here is that if youve hit the Maybe my grandchildren can salvage this run part of a campaign journey, it might be time to head toward the exit. Joe Biden has long taken a friends-and-family approach to his political career, but this is a bridge too far. Donald Trump has the advantage of hating all his children, so hes never felt the need to listen to their advice. But to his credit, Trump also mastered the influencer outreach tactic long ago. (He smiled for the first time in his life while posing with Logan Paul! How could you ever compete with that?) Lets ignore the input of the grandchildren before things get too embarrassing. Please. For all of our sake. If Joe Biden appears in the next oily Kylie Jenner thirst trap, Im convinced he will lose by 400 electoral votes.
This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Alongside Amicus, we kicked things off this year by explaining How Originalism Ate the Law. The best way to support our work is by joining Slate Plus. (If you are already a member, consider a donation or merch!)

In reversing Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Supreme Court surely imagined that it was empowering states to ban abortion. But what if, instead, Congress protected access to abortion when the procedure is urgently needed to protect a patients life or health? This is the core question at the heart of Moyle v. United States, one of the two major abortion cases decided by SCOTUS this term. At issue in Moyle is the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which requires that hospitals provide stabilizing care to patients who seek treatment at an emergency room. The Biden administration argues that this includes access to abortion for patients whose life and health are on the line, even in states like Idaho, with laws that ban abortion with extremely narrow life exceptions. The courts conservative justices seemed skeptical of that claim when they reached out earlier this year to review the question early in Moyle v. United States. But by the terms end, they had had second thoughts and sent Moyle back to the lower courts for further development.

The courts decision reinstates a lower-court injunction that temporarily protects emergency access in Idaho, but the decision wont do anything to prevent the chaos in emergency obstetric care that abortion bans have unleashed in many states. In the lead-up to Moyle, horror stories facing patients in life-threatening emergencies have become all too common: Physicians in Idaho report an increasing number of patients being airlifted to other states or turned away from emergency rooms, exacerbating a physician shortage that already plagues pregnant patients in the state.

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In returning the case to the lower courts, the Supreme Court divided, with several blocs of justices writing concurring opinions that show us how obstetric care under abortion bans is riven by the social-movement politics of the post-Dobbs era.

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In Moyle, the courts three liberal justices emphasized the perspective of medical science: that abortion is an ordinary and valuable form of health care, especially in cases of medical emergency. Justice Elena Kagan in her concurring opinion, for example, wrote that EMTALA necessitates that hospitals offer an abortion when needed to stabilize a medical condition that seriously threatens a pregnant womans life or health.

She continued: The statute simply requires the hospital to offer the treatment necessary to prevent the emergency condition from spiraling downward. And on rare occasions that means providing an abortion. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson voiced the concerns of a growing number of Americans who support abortion access in cases of threats to life or health, expressing alarm for the pregnant people experiencing emergency medical conditions [who] remain in a precarious position following the Courts decision.

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This view is held by many in the U.S. who support access for those with urgent health needs, even if they oppose abortion. But a vocal minority thinks otherwise.

The anti-abortion movement has long attacked the idea that abortion is health care. Many are skeptical that abortion exceptions ever address bona fide medical needs. Their rallying cry is that abortion is never necessary to save a womans lifemeaning that terminations needed to save a womans life are not abortions.

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In Moyle, one bloc of conservative justices, led by Amy Coney Barrett, vocalized a long-standing movement grievancethat exceptions for patient health are loopholes that simply excuse abortion on demandeven as they expressed concern for women who are not seeking abortions but nevertheless experience pregnancy complications.

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In agreeing that the court should not have granted Idahos petition for certiorari, Justices Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts, emphasized what they viewed as important concessions made during oral arguments by Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration against Idahos ban: EMTALA would never require access in cases of threats to mental health and would do nothing to interfere with doctors who invoke conscience as grounds to refuse to provide urgently needed health care for pregnant patients. (We have already spotlighted the courts efforts to expand health care refusals this term in a case about access to mifepristone, FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.)

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In attempting to extract these concessions, the three swing justices in Moyle channeled established anti-abortion talking points suggesting that health exceptions often serve as a loophole for abortion on demand. In 1973, in a companion case to Roe v. Wade called Doe v. Bolton, the court had embraced as a definition of health psychological as well as physical wellbeing. Based on this conclusion, conservatives began equating health justifications with elective abortionas a Senate Judiciary Committee explained in 1982, abortion opponents believed that Does definition of health permitted a right to abortion  for the entire term of pregnancy for virtually any reason, whether for the sake of personal finances, social convenience, or individual lifestyle. Skepticism of mental-health justifications for abortion became a defining dimension of anti-abortion advocacy, with many movement leaders equating any health exception with abortion on demand. States began narrowing health exceptions, turning them into affirmative defenses or requiring permanent impairment of a major bodily function.

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Barrett, Roberts, and Kavanaugh express this suspicion of patients protecting their health. Barrett reported Idahos concern that EMTALA would render its ban virtually unenforceable and that emergency rooms would function as federal abortion enclaves governed not by state law, but by physician judgment, as enforced by the United Statess mandate to perform abortions on demand.

At the same time, the three echo mainstream anti-abortion groups professed concern for women with wanted pregnancies. Anti-abortion leaders have increasingly concluded that the treatment of these patients doesnt even qualify as abortion; instead, it involves delivery or maternal-fetal separation.

Related From Slate The Supreme Courts New Leaked Abortion Draft Reeks of Cynicism Read More

But the justices on the courts rightmost flank go furtherand read the mere mention of unborn child in EMTALA as evidence that Congress intended to prioritize the needs of the unborn patient over the expense of the health and even life of the pregnant patient. Their dissent is a potent reminder that struggles over the courts composition still matter, even with a conservative supermajority already in place.

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Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch chastise their conservative colleagues for losing the will to decide the easy but emotional and highly politicized question that the case presents. They argue that EMTALA does not limit enforcement of state abortion bans, no matter how narrow their life exception, because they read unborn child in the federal law as treating the fetus as a rights-holding person. This reading of (or into) the statute is remarkable. In 1989, after reports that some hospitals were refusing to care for uninsured women in labor  Congress expanded EMTALA to specify how it included people who were pregnant and having contractions. Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch never mention Congress concern with hospitals that were dumping uninsured patients who arrived at the emergency room in the midst of delivery. Instead, the courts hard-line conservatives reason that the mere mention of the term unborn child in EMTALA creates express protection of the unborn child. In Alitos reading, the statute demonstrates a kind of fetal personhood that renders invisible the personhood of the pregnant patientand leaves a woman to fend for herself in the face of a medical emergency, while obliging doctors to protect her unborn child from harm.

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Today six justices view health exceptions with suspicion. This is a dramatic break with the nations history and traditions. As we show in a forthcoming paper, Abortions New Criminalization, abortion bans in the era before Roe protected doctors judgment in responding to the emergency health needs of pregnant patients, as the law after Dobbs fails to do.

The courts divides in Moyle drive home what is at stake in the upcoming election. A second Trump term could bring several retirementsincluding the courts most conservative justices, Alito and Thomas. Justice Sonia Sotomayor turned 70 in June, and Roberts will turn 70 in January. The next administration could see the end of the courts supermajority or its expansion. Alitos opinion is a reminder that no matter how far the court has gone in overturning Roe, it may be just the beginning.
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.

How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties? Forfor molesting a woman in public, for doing a whole range of things, of having sex with a porn star  while your wife was pregnant. What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat. President Joe Biden, speaking to former President Donald Trump during last Thursdays debate on CNN

Less than a day after the first presidential debate of 2024, mere hours into my attempt to cleanse the haunting memory of Thursdays televised slow-motion political car crash from my mind, I received a text. Hey folks, its Joe, the headline read. On Thursday, I spent 90 minutes debating on a stage with a guy who has all the morals of an alleycat.

It was a callback to an insult from the debate stage, one that Biden used again at a campaign rally in North Carolina last Friday. Ill admit it has a certain ring to it, but it was curious to see the alley cat line from Biden three times in one week. 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, the text from the president continued. But, the reasoning went, at least Biden wasnt anything like his opponent Donald Trump, the apparent alley cat.

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Its an interesting window into one of the many problems with this Biden-Trump rematch. During the debate, Trump told about one lie every 100 seconds, according to multiple Democratic officials (claiming at one point that they [doctors] will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth, with zero pushback or fact-checking from CNNs debate moderators), but Bidens halting, frail, and just plain odd responses stuck with viewers more than Trumps wildest absurdities. Vice President Kamala Harris (among other top officials in Bidens circle) predictably attempted to defend Biden, stating to Georgia voters on Friday that in a real leader, character matters more than style.

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For Biden at least, thats true; he has the record of more than five decades in politics to prove it. And yet, are we trying to pretend that the current president doesnt have a certain  style? The alley cat comment was one of few stylistic flourishes from last weeks debate that were reminiscent of what Biden used to be known fora debate style that is aggressive and full of folksy, old-fashioned witticisms like malarkey. A day before the debate, the New York Times even published a whole interactive story about it.

Voters like myself didnt walk away from Thursdays debate comparing Bidens style to his character; were just terrified that his style has been replaced with very visible physical and cognitive declineand that he wont be able to appropriately lead the country, let alone win his reelection campaign in November.

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Its probably why that alley cat quip actually stuckit was one of the few lighthearted, meme-able moments of the debate. It immediately trended on Twitter and spiked on Google search. And as expected, internet denizens everywhere started making jokes.

do alley cats have like famously bad morals or is this just a harmful stereotype  bald ann dowd (@ali_sivi) June 28, 2024

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A quick search for a dictionary definition will tell you that an alley cat refers to a person of loose morals; also, a promiscuous woman, which, yes, makes the insult funnier. Biden was attempting a swipe at Trump over his sleazy sexual encounters with Stormy Daniels, E. Jean Carroll, and various other women over the years. Yet as Bloomberg Televisions Joe Mathieu put it in a post-debate segment, Im not sure how many twentysomethings have ever heard that wordalley catused in that way.

Related From Slate The Supreme Courts Ruling Criminalizing Sleeping While Homeless Shows New Depths of Cruelty Read More

Fellow twentysomething here: No, I have never heard that specific phrase before. However, I will confess that I understood where Biden was going with it, deducing from context clues and a lifelong love of Disneys The Aristocats (featuring Thomas OMalley as the alley cat) and Frank Loessers classic 1950s musical Guys and Dolls (featuring the ladies of the suggestive Hot Box Club dancing as black cats in, yes, an alley). Bidens quip entertained me. It also reminded me just how old he is.

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Because the insultthe one vestige of Bidens formidable and disarming debating stylemade me feel like a patron in a Texas saloon circa 1843. For all the campaigns increased ad presence on Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTokfor all the talk about inviting a slew of left-leaning Gen-Z influencers to the Democratic National Convention in August for promotional purposesJoe Bidens style simply isnt current. Or at the very least, it simply isnt current enough.

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That isnt necessarily a bad thing; after all, sometimes a folksy style of politicking can appeal to audiences if projected successfully. Remember Bernie Sanders in his mittens during Bidens inauguration? Yet what makes Bidens style in particular fall flat is how it fails to meet the moment. After all, alley cat is a weirdly sedate way to refer to a convicted felon who tried to orchestrate a literal coup. That it was Bidens best quip of the night is extremely telling. And if thats all the Biden campaign can offer up in terms of styleto the point of repeating it over and over again, in ads and via textno amount of character can make up the difference.

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One of the few narratives to emerge in the aftermath of Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance late last week is that whatever happens next will happen only with the blessing of the presidents wife. If Biden is to bow out of the race, it will happen only because of her intervention; if he keeps on, it will be in part because of her unflagging encouragement.

The only person who has ultimate influence with him is the first lady, an unnamed source close to the president told NBC News. If she decides there should be a change of course, there will be a change of course. The New York Times likewise reported on unnamed donors who 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. Axios went almost gloves-off in declaring that only the Biden oligarchy could decide Bidens fate. According to the outlet, Dr. Jill Biden; his younger sister, Valerie Biden; and 85-year-old Ted Kaufman, the presidents longtime friend and constant adviserplus a small band of White House advisersare the only Biden deciders.

It wasnt just traditional news media. Right-wing content farms quickly started churning out takes about how Lady Mac-Biden was desperately clinging to power. The National Review referred to Jill Biden as the Decider.

Some of this can be written off as sexism. Theres been a lot of wife-blaming going around this election cycle, on both sides of the aisle.

But theres an element of much deeper concern in all this coverage. Its not just that these outlets are hand-wringing about what role Dr. Jill Biden could play in Bidens decision. The question is: Why the hell would this decision be up to Dr. Jill Biden, even in part, at all?

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If this were truly a personal family issuea deliberation over whether to place an elderly spouse into assisted living, for instancethen Jill Biden as the decider would make perfect sense. But Jill is not making a personal decision or even a medical decision. She would be making a political one. In effect, she would be deciding on the viability and future of the Democratic Party.

This is, to put it bluntly, not Jill Bidens job.

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And the situation at hand is arguably exactly what a political party exists for. Joe Biden is the president, and as such he is the Democratic figurehead. The structure of a political party is such that the figureheads are supposed to be mutable, while the platform and policies are durable. The top party representative shouldnt matter as much as the mission. And political parties exist to facilitate the smooth and continuous passing of the baton.

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So who the hell is putting all of this onus on Jill?

The Democratic National Committee is full of highly paid and theoretically qualified members whose sole purpose is to make decisions to provision for the continuous betterment of the party. They have pollsters and data and moneyall in the service of this specific goal. These are some of the first people who should be called upon in this moment to figure out what the party should do nextnot Jill. (There is a reason it is not called the Biden Party for Democratic Outcomes.)

Beyond the party, theres actually an even more qualified class of people who should be making this decision: the people tasked with turning out Democratic voters. High on that list are labor unions, grassroots groups, Black churchesthe institutions that actually do the work of getting Democratic voters energized enough to win elections. Then there are the Democratic voters themselves. Especially for a party with democracy rooted in the name, the infusion of some democratic process into the Democratic process sure wouldnt hurt.

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The first lady has worn plenty of hats in her life; she has been a philanthropist and an educator. I bet she is very well qualified to help make decisions about her family. She has been one of Bidens closest confidants over 50 years in politics, and she has been at his side for decades of campaigns. I have no doubt she is really good at that. But one role youll see nowhere on her lengthy CV is political strategist for the Democratic Partyso, when it comes to whether Biden stays in the race, she doesnt have that kind of expertise. (And even if she did, she wouldnt be capable of being unbiased in that expertise here.)

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Related From Slate The Democratic Partys Biden Talking Points Are Cruel and Tragic Read More

Again, Im not saying Jill Biden cant be in charge of this decision because she is inept, shortsighted, untrustworthy. Or because she is a power-hungry Eva Peron, the onetime Argentinian president who took over the role from her husband, despite the conservative commentators making that comparison. (For one thing, if Jill Biden were shadow president, as the Daily Caller claims, surely we would have seen more in the way of her own concerns, like, say, education policy.)

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Shes not qualified to make this decision because the stakes are gargantuan and it would be unfair to lay all of that on the shoulders of one bystander. As Democrats have been telling us for years, the entirety of the American democratic process hangs in the balance of this election. Foisting the pressure on Jill to push her husband out, or pressure him in, is a way of shifting the blame in advance if Trump wins a second term. And that would be utterly unfair.

If a political party exists for anything at all, it is for this. It doesnt make sense for Democrats, for fear of offending the president, to forgo the hard conversations or their part in a decision. So to say its all riding on Jill Bidenespecially in anonymous quotes to newspapersis actually a grotesque abdication of responsibility by all of Democratic leadership.

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The first sitting Democratic member of Congress has officially called on President Joe Biden to drop out: The representative of Texas 37th Congressional District, Lloyd Doggett, put out a statement Tuesday publicly requesting that the president withdraw from the 2024 election. Although Doggett joins a chorus of calls from just outside the Democratic Partyformer members of Congress, current candidateshe is officially the first to break the seal in a quickly evolving situation regarding the presidents reelection.

I represent the heart of the congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same. While much of his work has been transformational, he pledged to be transitional, wrote Doggett. Citing the recent Supreme Court decision bestowing criminal immunity on presidents, Doggett added, President Biden saved our democracy by delivering us from Trump in 2020. He must not deliver us to Trump in 2024.

The statement, laudatory but stern, is a groundshaking development for the embattled president. Despite the undeniable debacle of Thursdays debate, elected Democrats have remained fearful of stepping out and calling on Biden to withdraw. No longer. Yet for many Americans, even for many Democrats, the first question that comes to mind is: Who is Lloyd Doggett?

Doggett represents Austin, Texas, a blue stronghold in the middle of the notoriously red state. He is no spring chicken himself; Doggett is 77 years old and has been in Congress since 1995.

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Nor is he a household name. Doggett is a longtime progressive, a member of the Progressive Caucus and a co-sponsor of Medicare for All. He is renowned among congressional operatives and aides for his ability to get bills started. But he is not an attention grabber or a rabble-rouser; no one would confuse him for a power broker or a member of the Squad (or, despite his repping the politicians former district, for LBJ).

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The most recent time Doggett found himself in the national news, it was over a bitter internecine fight between Dems in 2019, over prescription drug pricing. That scrap found him on the losing end. Doggett introduced a number of amendments in the Ways and Means Committee to Nancy Pelosis signature H.R. 3, the prescription drug regulation package, changes that would have given the measure real teeth and moved it to the left. These were hardly radical additions, but rather simple and likely very popular tweaks, including expanding the number of drugs eligible for price negotiation by the federal government and lowering rates for the uninsured.

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Doggetts amendments were stomped out by Democratic leadershipsome might say brutally. Committee Chairman Richie Neal, working in tandem with Pelosi, obliterated his efforts. Neal, who has long been a top recipient of donations from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, declined to comment publicly on the substance of the amendments, insisting that he merely wanted to stick with his own version, and he did. (H.R. 3 passed the House and died in the Republican-controlled Senate.) And Doggett has been scarcely heard from in the national press in the years since.

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His decision to break rank and become the first Democratic congressman to call for Bidens withdrawal is a watershed moment. It may be the beginning of the dam breaking against the obviously declining presidents beleaguered reelection campaign.

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But Doggett is no Pelosi, no Hakeem Jeffries, no Jim Clyburn. He is very much not a member of leadership; hes one of the more marginal members of the House Democratic Caucus despite his long tenure. And for that reason, his call may also end up meaning little.

He is more of a gadfly, said one Democratic operative, who has worked closely with Doggetts office in the past. If there is an effort to get Biden to step down, having Doggett calling first instead of someone from leadership could make it harder.

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Still, if recent history is any indication, progressives are almost always the first movers when it comes to consequential, sometimes risky decisions made by the Democratic Party (though they get little credit for it). Just Monday, it was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who made waves by becoming the first Democrat to announce that she would file articles of impeachment against at least one Supreme Court justice who has engaged in flagrantly unethical behavior that should well have disqualified them from their post. Ranking Democrats in the relevant committees in the House and Senate have sat on their hands for years as reports of justices misdeeds have poured in.

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The most recent Trump impeachment is perhaps even more instructive. Immediately after the Jan. 6 insurrection in 2021, the very first elected Democrats to go public with their call for a Trump impeachment were members of the Squad and their affiliates. Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, who had just been sworn in for her first term, was the first to call for Trumps impeachment over his role in the riot that left five people dead. Shortly after her came then-progressive Mondaire Jones (who has since had a conservative epiphany), Chicagolands Marie Newman, and original Squad member Ayanna Pressley. Ilhan Omar soon announced that she would be drawing up articles of impeachment.

Pelosi, then speaker of the House, was initially opposed to the move for impeachment. She eventually came around, and Trump was impeached a second time, but its possible that wouldnt have happened had it not been for vocal and public progressive leadership on the issue.

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So, Doggetts statement may turn out to be a one-off call from the partys backbench. Or he may be the first progressive to step out and lead on a historic turn of events, as Democrats scramble to save themselves from electoral catastrophe before its too late.

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A number of recently published polls show Biden now trailing Trump badly, and a number of lesser-known Democratic possibilities, including the vice president, are polling better than Biden head-to-head against Trump, adding even more volume to calls for Biden to stand down.

At this point, it seems as though anything could still happen. But on the same afternoon as Doggetts call, Clyburnthe man credited with saving Bidens 2020 election campaign, and the only member of the old leadership team in the House who didnt step down during this most recent Congressmade an eye-opening statement of support for the vice president. I will support Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden were to step aside, he told MSNBC.

Need advice on living through a historic and nerve-racking presidential election?

Slate wants to help. Submit your questions here. Its anonymous! No question is too dumbor too existential.
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!)

Last week, the conservative majority used its decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo to overturn a long-settled and important precedent, the 40-year-old decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. That case had established what is called Chevron deference, a doctrine requiring that judges defer to the reasonable judgment of executive branch officials when reviewing executive branch regulations.

As law professor Kate Shaw explains it, Chevron deference allowed agencies to use their expertise to determine how to carry out laws passed by Congresslaws intended to keep our air and water clean, our drugs safe and effective and our securities markets protected from fraud and deception.

As bad as that decision is on the merits, a look at what Chief Justice John Roberts said about Chevron places in stark relief the current courts ruthlessness and its arrogant disregard for the traditions of the rule of law itself.

Content not just to overturn precedent, Roberts and his ultraconservative fellow travelers seem eager to display a self-confident superiority and disrespect for justices who served previously and tried to faithfully interpret the law.

Their willingness to trash their predecessors is disturbing and dangerous. While flexing its muscle, the courts current conservative majority is acting in ways that undermine public confidence in the court itself.

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Before looking at what Roberts said in overturning the Chevron decision, lets look at how the court has traditionally handled the delicate task of upending precedent and explaining its reasons for doing so.

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The first thing to note is that from 1810the first time the court overturned a precedentto 2022, the Supreme Court has overturned precedent 235 times. But from 1810 to 1940, the court overruled precedent in only 48 cases.

In fact, it was not until 1871 that the Supreme Court used the word overrule or overturn in one of its decisions.

But research my collaborators and I recently completed shows that there has been a marked increase in the incidence in which precedent has been overruled in the past half-century.

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From 1940 to 1963, the court overruled 43 cases. From 1963 to 2003, which includes the high point of the liberal Warren court, the court overruled precedent in 121 cases.

In the past two decades, including what it did last week, the court has overruled a total of 23 cases, or 1.16 cases a year. Its most infamous overruling decision came in 2022, when the court overruled Roe v. Wade and discarded a 50-year-old precedent.

In addition, our research shows that today the opinions of the court are much more openly critical of the decisions they overrule than were those that overturned precedent throughout most of American history. This has been particularly true when the overruling opinions are written by the courts most conservative members.

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In the past, the court said relatively little about the cases it overruled. When justices did write about them, they were often almost apologetic. They seldom said anything that would impugn the motives or competence of the justices or the courts whose decisions they overturned.

Words and phrases that were most commonly used to characterize overruled cases in this period include inconsistent or unsound, as in We feel constrained to pronounce [the case being overruled] essentially unsound; untenable, as in We are compelled to declare [the overruled case] untenable; not harmonious, as in [The overruled] cases are out of harmony with the general current of the decisions of this court; and erroneous, as in If we follow [the overruled case], we follow an erroneous decision.

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Overruling courts might have gone so far as to call a prior decision confusing, as in Disturbance and confusion that must inevitably flow from an adherence to [the principles of the overruled case]; irreconcilable, as in The judgment in the instant case cannot be reconciled with the decision in [the overruled case]; or a departure (from principle/precedent), as in The decision in the [overruled] case was a departure from the true application of the principles [in this area of jurisprudence].

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Of special note is how often the court expressed reluctance to overturn precedent. It presented its overruling decisions as what Andrew Jacobs calls compelled events.

In the past, Pintip Dunn writes, justices generally used language that was nondescript enough to avoid the alarm bells set off when there is a departure from precedent. The court, he says, sought to speak in ways that sneak the act of overruling by with minimal damage to its legitimacy.

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But no more. As Jacobs argues, there has been a fundamental shift in Supreme Court overruling rhetoric.

When the current court decides to overrule precedent, it is prone to write a trash-and-burn decision about the case it is overturning. Justice Samuel Alitos majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, the case that overruled Roe, exemplifies this new style.

Explaining why Roe should be consigned to the dustbin of history, Alito wrote: Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences.

But Alito was not done. Adding insult to injury, he argued that Roes constitutional analysis was far outside the bounds of any reasonable interpretation of the various constitutional provisions to which it vaguely pointed.

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He alleged that the justices who had decided Roe v. Wade usurped the power to address a question of profound moral and social importance that the Constitution unequivocally leaves for the people. Alito claimed that Roes analysis of the history of abortion and abortion regulation was irrelevant and plainly incorrect.

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He deemed the legal reasoning contained in Roes majority opinion unprincipled, claiming that it offered an unfocused analysis. He called its treatment of the Constitution remarkably loose and hard to defend.

He heaped scorn on Roe and criticized what he called the scheme Roe produced for looking like legislation and providing the sort of explanation that might be expected from a legislative body.

That brings us back to Roberts Loper Bright opinion. Not surprisingly, it is a bit more temperate than what Alito said in Dobbs.

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Nonetheless, the chief justice followed Alitos style in the extensiveness and bluntness of his criticism of Chevron.

He started by calling the courts unanimous 1984 decision misguided. He bitterly complained that the Chevron court had gravely erred. It did so, Roberts wrote, when it concluded

that the [judicial] inquiry is fundamentally different just because an administrative interpretation is in play. The very point of the traditional tools of statutory constructionthe tools courts use every dayis to resolve statutory ambiguities. That is no less true when the ambiguity is about the scope of an agencys own powerperhaps the occasion on which abdication in favor of the agency is least appropriate.

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As if that were not enough, Roberts went on to say that the Chevron court departed from time-honored jurisprudential principles. He accused the court of getting things upside down by presuming that statutory ambiguities are implicit delegations to agencies.

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Related From Slate Elena Kagan Is Horrified by What the Supreme Court Just Did. You Should Be Too. Read More

He concluded that the justices who decided Chevron should have known at the time that Chevron deference would be unworkable. It has required what Roberts, with dripping sarcasm, called a dizzying breakdance.

Four decades after its inception, the chief justice wrote, Chevron has thus become an impediment, rather than an aid, to accomplishing the basic judicial task of say[ing] what the law is. 

In the end, as professor Shaw notes, Roberts Loper Bright decision closely resembles Alitos Dobbs opinion in that both decisions display outright contempt for the decisions reached by earlier Supreme Courts.

The result of this arrogant disregard of precedent is to further erode the publics confidence in the courtthat when the court says what the law is, its decisions are worthy of respect. After all, if one group of justices heaps scorn on its predecessors and displays contempt for them and their rulings, why shouldnt the public follow its lead?
On Monday, the Supreme Court handed down a much-awaited and long-delayed decision in Trump v. United States, testing the former presidents claim to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for the events surrounding the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The 63 decision, penned by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by all of the courts conservatives, broadly expanded the zone of presidential immunity in ways that fundamentally reshape the balance of powers in American government, creating extraordinary new protections for a president who seeks to break the law. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned in her dissent, if the president orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival, he is now insulated from criminal prosecution. The relationship between the president and the people he serves, Sotomayor continued, has shifted irrevocably in every use of official power. The president is now a king above the law.

On a Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus discussing the scope of the decision, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern were joined by professor Corey Brettschneider, who teaches constitutional law and political theory at Brown University and is the author of the new book The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: This opinion is a game changer, but the chief justice characteristically tried to make it sound modest. The majority opinion as penned by the chief justice differentiates between criminal acts that are official and unofficial acts. Help us understand if the court has a marker of the difference between the two, what that line is, and why it matters.

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Mark Joseph Stern: I dont see how the trial court can apply this decision with any modicum of certainty or consistency. Because what Roberts has delivered is a Ziploc bag full of muddy water. I think thats the whole point. In practice, this is just going to mean that anytime the president says I was doing that pursuant to my constitutional authority, the courts are going to grant him immunity. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor argues persuasively in her dissent, this new rule is going to prevent prosecutors from charging a president with the crime of manipulating the tools of his office to engage in corruption. Because as long as the president defends himself in line with Roberts opinion, thats not even a crime in the first place.

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Lithwick: Corey, the court is drawing all these lines, like core functions vs. outer perimeter, that make it sound like theyre solving a math problem. Can you help us understand what a sea change this actually is? Because this is not just a Donald Trump story. This is a separation-of-powers story and fundamentally a structural change to democracy as we understand it.

Corey Brettschneider: You know, the court claims that it has this method of originalism that requires us to look at the text of the Constitution as it was originally understood. So you would expect, in a monumental decision like thisgranting immunity to a former presidents official actsthat the Constitution would say something about presidential immunity. But it doesnt. There was a disagreement at the founding about this: John Adams, for instance, defended the idea that presidents are immune from prosecution, which suits his disposition toward an aggrandized idea of presidential power. On the other side, though, there was James Wilson; at the Pennsylvania ratifying convention, he said the thing that we thought defined our Constitution until Mondaythat no person, not even a president, is above the law, and the president can be prosecuted.

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So its not like there was some universal understanding of presidential immunity at the founding. Theres no textual evidence in the Constitution. The Framers just disagreed when they talked about this issue. So the idea that this is based on originalism is false. And the main precedent they do rely on, Nixon v. Fitzgerald, gets extended way beyond what it actually said. Id argue Roberts is saying something contrary to what that case actually said. And we have stronger cases on the other side, like U.S. v. Nixon, which held that a president facing a criminal subpoena is not above the law. They may claim to respect precedent, but theyre not doing it. They may claim to respect text, but they arent. And they may claim to respect history, as if the Framers sort of agreed about this, but thats not true either.

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Stern: I love Justice Sotomayors two citations to the Dobbs decision in her dissent. She makes the scathing point that it seems history only matters to this court when it is convenient. And thats the whole ballgame. The court will cherry-pick whatever fits its narrative, then ignore everything else. In this instance, its especially egregious because the Framers knew how to put immunity in the Constitutionthey gave it to members of Congress, after all, but not the president. And now, centuries later, six justices decide they know better than the Framers.

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When it came to reproductive autonomy, the conservative justices said, We have to leave this to the people and their representativesits just a matter of policy. But when it comes to making the president a king and undoing the compromises of the Constitutional Convention that established the executive as it existed until Monday morning? All that can be wiped away with a bit of gauzy rhetoric about how important it is to have an energetic executive.

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Lithwick: Mark and I have spent the past couple months talking about a monarchic Supreme Court that is uncheckable on any front we can discern, and the sense that the uncheckable judiciary is not fully appreciated by the nation. But this move, from a monarchic judicial branch to a monarchic presidency, happens at the speed of light. Im just thinking about what it means to have a two-headed monarchy in the place of checks and balances. And Im wondering: After this decision, can the president actually call in SEAL Team Six in order to have a political opponent assassinated and avoid prosecution by saying he was exercising his constitutional authority? Can the president just invoke the Insurrection Act in order to break up a lawful protest? Whats going to constrain this theory of what feels, to me, like unlimited power and zero accountability as long as the president deems it an official act?

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Brettschneider: Certainly not this court. And thats whats so important to get acrossthis is really about the fundamentals of democracy. Were talking about the president committing crimes with impunity that threaten the stability of democracy itself. And the presidency has become so powerful that if Trump wins in November, he could use his office to literally destroy democracy.

How do you stop that? You would hope the courts would say that a president who committed a crime can be prosecuted after they leave office. But this Supreme Court has abdicated that responsibility. It has gotten rid of so many checks on the presidency that we took for granted. But we cant let them have the last word on this. Citizens have got to take the Constitution back. Weve got to demand legislation that limits the office, and the appointment of justices who see things with common sense. But where weve historically been able to push back is through elections. Weve got to figure out how to make this election a referendum on democracy. Because Trump has now essentially been protected in all things, even as outrageous as a political assassination of his opponent. And no president should be able to do that.

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Stern: Can I draw out a point that was implicit in what you just said, Corey? Through Roberts, the majority draws out this distinction between official and unofficial acts as though its the most natural thing in the worldlike, Of course we wouldnt want the president to be punished for committing crimes in the course of exercising the duties of his office.

But as Justice Sonia Sotomayor explained in her dissent, the lesson from Nixon is that when presidents use their power to commit official acts in pursuit of a criminal scheme, that is when we should be most concerned about their conduct and most eager for them to face accountability. Because that is when their criminal conduct poses the most heightened threat to democracy. If the president can take this immense power we entrust him with and manipulate it for corrupt endsknowing he will never face accountabilitythen we have fundamentally changed the nature of what the presidency is. He is no longer a person who is elected by the people to represent them for four years. He is an emperor who walks into office, surveys his new powers, and gets to decide how to use them for his own corrupt advantageto enrich himself, to entrench his authority, to prevent the peaceful transition to power, to even execute his rivals. I just think that is exactly the opposite of how the executive power had been understood until Monday morning. And I find myself baffled that six justices would say that presidential accountability is now constitutionally prohibited rather than constitutionally required.
The Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity is a catastrophe for American constitutional order.

Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion holdsfor the first time in U.S. historythat presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution that ordinary citizens do not. Roberts then divides presidential conduct into three, wholly new classes: exercises of core constitutional powers, official act[s], and unofficial acts. Exercises of core presidential powers garner absolute immunity from prosecution. Official acts are presumptively immune. Unofficial acts enjoy no immunity.

No part of this structure is grounded in the text or original understanding of the Constitution. Roberts testily dismisses as unconvincing the powerful textual and founding-era evidence in Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissent (laid out in even greater detail in this amicus brief, of which I am a signatory). But tellingly, he and the other five avowed originalists who signed on to the majority opinion dont even try to construct an originalist rationale of their own.

When originalists simply ignore everything done, said, and understood by those who wrote and ratified the Constitution, you know you are reading an exercise in power, not principle.

But even exercises in unprincipled judicial power sometimes produce sensible results. This one does not.

Analysis of the first portion of the courts immunity structureexercises of core presidential powers now made absolutely immune from prosecutionillustrates the bankruptcy of the whole.

The court offers no definition of core presidential powers. The idea seems to be that core powers are those the Constitution grants exclusively to the president and over which Congress and the courts exercise no authority at all. Given the tiny number of powers expressly granted by Article 2 to the president alonethe pardon power, the commander-in-chief power, the power to nominate (though not to confirm) judges and certain federal officials, and one or two othersthis category should be so small as to be inconsequential. But, undaunted by its originalist commitments, the majority blithely adds several others, notably the power to dismiss presidential appointees and the power of prosecutorial discretion to investigate and prosecute crime, and leaves the door open for further expansion.

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Consider the courts discussion of three of the powers it deems corepardoning, removal of executive officials, and prosecutorial discretion.

Roberts treats the award of pardons as the paradigm of a core presidential power for which presidents have absolute immunity.

But his understanding of the pardon power is just wrong. It is true that presidents can grant pardons to whomever they wish. And, as I have argued elsewhere, presidential pardons once issued cannot be voided or modified by Congress or the courts. In other words, as to the person pardoned, the exercise of the presidents power is irrevocable and absolute. But that the president has the power to issue nonvoidable pardons does not in the slightest imply that he can issue them for any reason whatever with no consequence to himself.

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To hold otherwise is to say that presidents can openly offer pardons as quid pro quo exchanges for monetary bribes, political contributions, tenders of business concessions for themselves, or offers of employment to friends and relatives. For centuries, the British crown filled royal coffers by openly selling pardons. Roberts opinion offers no barrier to a return to those glorious days of yore.

Likewise, his opinion necessarily implies that presidents can use pardons to protect themselves from criminal liability (even in the limited class of cases the court has left open for prosecution), impeachment, or any other unpleasantness.

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In 1974 the House Judiciary Committee approved an article of impeachment against Richard Nixon for obstruction of justice, based in part on Nixons dangling offers of pardon to his Watergate co-conspirators in order to persuade them not to talk. At the time, few apart from Nixons most die-hard defenders would seriously have suggested that this conduct was not both impeachable and indictable. Indeed, the consensus on the issue was surely one of the reasons Gerald Ford felt it necessary to pardon Nixon.

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Much has been made of the fact that, under Roberts opinion, a president who ordered the military to assassinate a political rival would enjoy at least presumptive immunity for those official acts. But this lurid hypothetical, though an accurate description of Roberts new rule, can too easily be dismissed as paranoid hyperventilation. Far more troubling is that Roberts construct of presumptive presidential immunity for all official acts plus absolute presidential immunity for any pardon grant opens the door to a regime of impunity for presidentially sanctioned crime and oppression by the entire executive branch.

Following an offer from the presidents son of a lucrative private-sector job, the head of the National Park Service illegally grants the presidents family and favored political supporters control of all lodging and concessions in the parks. Son and NPS headpardoned.

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In response to pressure from the chair of the presidents national political party, the head of the Bureau of Land Management adopts a policy that only companies headed by presidential donors will receive oil leases on federal land. Party chair and BLM chiefpardoned.

Border Patrol officers, at the presidents direction, set up mass open-air detention camps for undocumented immigrants in which the inhabitants are provided insufficient food and only tarps for shelter, are given no medical care and no access to courts to contest the legality of their detention, and are beaten senseless if they protest. Pardoned.

National Guardsmen, ordered by the president to peaceful demonstrations against administration policies and told to rough em up, maim, and kill protesters. Pardoned.

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In every such case, the president who ordered, sanctioned, or benefited from the crime would enjoy at least presumptive immunity under the courts new rules for any official acts taken in conjunction with the criminal act. His family, political allies, and criminal subordinates would receive the complete immunity afforded by a pardon. And the president would have absolute immunity for pardoning his relatives and minions. Impunity from the law is the defining feature of autocracies and kleptocracies around the world. The Supreme Court just welcomed impunity to America.

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Even worse than the courts treatment of pardons is its holding that the presidents authority to remove subordinate officials and control over the Justice Departments exercise of discretion to investigate or prosecute crime are core powers enjoying absolute immunity.

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In the present case, the court applies this ruling to excise from Jack Smiths indictment allegations that Trump asked the DOJ to pursue sham investigations into supposed election fraud in order to persuade states not to certify Joe Bidens win and threatened to dismiss the acting attorney general if he did not go along with it.

This result is bad enough, but the implications of the courts new rule are terrifying. A president now enjoys absolute immunity if he orders the Justice Department to undertake a program of factually meritless investigations and prosecutions of his political enemies, even if he expressly avows that the purpose is retribution for past political opposition and a desire to hamstring his partys opponents for the future. (Remember: DOJ officials who follow the presidents illegal orders can, under the courts new rule, be pardoned at no legal risk to the president.)

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One can imagine the courts defenders responding to these hypotheticals by protesting that obviously corrupt and dictatorial exercises of even core powers would surely be prosecutable under appropriately drawn statutes. But in that case, the immunity conferred by Roberts taxonomy would not be absolute at all. And he gives no indication that immunity for exercises of core powers is in any sense conditional.

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Moreover, elsewhere in Roberts opinion, he writes that courts trying to determine the immunity category into which presidential conduct falls (core powers, official acts, unofficial acts) may not consider the presidents motives. This is complete madness. In any case of criminal misuse of official power, the distinction between criminal and noncriminal behavior almost invariably rests on why the defendant took official action. A judge who dismisses a criminal case on the ostensible ground of insufficient evidence is merely exercising a core power of the judiciary. But if the evidence shows that the judge did so because they were offered a bribe, their motive renders the act criminal.

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Related From Slate The Supreme Court Assumes Joe Biden Wont Abuse Its Horrific Immunity Ruling Read More

If courts may not consider presidential motive in deciding whether an exercise of presidential power is criminal, then the Supreme Courts supposed distinction between absolute immunity for core powers and presumptive immunity for other official conduct is entirely illusory because the evidence necessary to rebut the presumption becomes inadmissible.

The Framers of the American Constitution understood that a corrupt or demagogic president could wreck the system they were creating. Accordingly, they erected barriers against that eventuality. They gave Congress multiple means of checking presidential authority through legislation. They created impeachment to remove truly bad presidents from office and bar them from returning. And they unmistakably believed that presidents who employed their powers to usurp the constitutional order through criminal conduct could be deterred by the prospect of prosecution in the courts.

For decades, Congress has progressively abdicated its responsibility for checking presidential excess by legislation. In the current moment, the MAGA cult that dominates the congressional Republican Party has raised slavish acceptance of whatever their once and perhaps future president demands to an absolute imperative. In Trumps previous term, Congress demonstrated that party loyalty has rendered impeachment a nullity. By effectively exempting presidents from any realistic threat of prosecution for criminal abuses of their powers, the Supreme Court has now removed the final obstacle to presidential dictatorship.

Be afraid.
What does a teacher do? What does a barber do? What are recent developments in Swiftonomics? How can the smoothie benefit me? I pondered these questions only after LinkedIn prompted me to do so. Suddenly, I found myself contemplating the very essence of my own reality. How did I learn what I know? How does my hair go from long to short every five weeks? Could a trip to Smoothie King change my life?

If youve logged on to LinkedInthe professional networkingfocused social media platform thats often the butt of jokes but that Ive championed on this very websiteyouve probably noticed it looks different. Like Facebook, Instagram, and just about every modern website, LinkedIn is now decked out with artificial intelligence features.

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Currently, the company says this is only available to English-language Premium subscribersdont yell at me, I get it for freeand is rolling out gradually to its global user base. LinkedIns parent company, Microsoft, has become one of the most voracious funders of A.I. technology, investing $13 billion in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI while building its own internal A.I. team. So, its no wonder that the PC makers social media site is chock-full of A.I. bling.

On my LinkedIn, little diamond symbols adorn suggested prompts underneath user postsand if you click them, it opens up a chat with LinkedIns A.I.

Many of the prompt suggestions are banal. I posted one of my own articles about the startup Anthropic and how its chatbot Claude claims to understand humor now. Underneath, LinkedIn displays the prompts What is Anthropic known for? How can the Claude model enhance AI chatbots humor? As a journalist, Im more than slightly disturbed that LinkedIn wants to give the gist of my article for those too lazy to read it. But these are things people might be wondering.

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I scrolled down. One of my former professors posted something lighthearted about how they find doing vector geometry relaxing. LinkedIn AI: How can vector geometry be relaxing? I clicked. A chat screen opened. Studying vector geometry can be relaxing for some because it offers a structured and predictable form of engagement. Sure.

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I scrolled more. A colleague posted something about Google. LinkedIn A.I.: What is Google known for? I clicked and learned that Google is renowned for its search engine, technological innovations, and contributions to the digital landscape.

Related From Slate Apps Were Supposed to Make Life Easier. What Happened? Read More

The New York Times posted an article with a quote from a man with 14 degrees: I believe that people are like trees I hope I am a sequoia. I want to grow for as long as possible and reach toward the highest level of the sky. LinkedIn A.I.: How can we grow like a sequoia?

LinkedIn is already littered with auto-generated suggestions for comments. But the new chatbot prompts are more blatant attempts to waste users time, keep them using the site for longer, and keep them from clicking on a link and leaving.

A.I. chatbots may be the latest fad, but theyre not making anyones life easier by polluting LinkedInunless they dont know what a teacher is.
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C#

Front-End Development

Office Specialist/Manager

Cooperation with corporate partners

Creating valuable partnerships is key to the successful development and growth of any organization. Collaboration between coporate companies and IT v kurze creates synergies and provides opportunities to improve recruitment and employee development as well as support young talent and broaden social responsibility impact. These collaborative opportunities not only contribute to a company's success, but also to strengthening its position against competitors and building lasting relationships for the future.

IT v kurze offers the following forms of collaboration with corporate partners:

1. Employing students instead of training new recruits (in standard areas but also in organisation-specific areas):

reduction of costs for new employees during periods of low labour productivity in the first months of employment (tuition fees only, excluding other costs per staff member)

quality selection of suitable candidates for the employer on the basis of their study results in a specific field or work on a real project

after being recruited to a junior position, continuing education alongside employment

2. Testing employees (to identify suitable candidates for up-skilling) with follow-up training alongside employment:

increase employee motivation and reduce employee turnover

a benefit linked to the career development of the employee, who may be obliged to pay tuition fees in the event of termination of employment during the first years

stabilization of a quality part of the employee base and building its own group of key employees with higher qualifications will contribute to the positive image of the company

3. Targeted and extensive testing, training and development of employees (advanced PC work at managerial level, software development, soft skills, German language, )

4. Offering job opportunities for our students and graduates

5. Specific projects using different budgets (HR, marketing, CSR, )

6. Media partnership with our organisation

7. Joint marketing campaign

8. Supporting young talent through the Young Talent Support platform

9. Remitting 2% of tax

10. Anyone who shares our principles and has the desire and ability to support our mission can become a partner

For more information visit the website: www.itvkurze.sk
Suspected Fulani herdsmen killed eight Christians, including two children, and wounded four others in attacks on three villages last week in a district of Plateau state, Nigeria, sources said.

In Hwrra village, Miango District, the assailants killed five Christians, including two children, as they slept on Wednesday (June 26), wounded another and set three homes ablaze, said Sam Jugo, spokesman of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA) of the predominantly Christian Irigwe ethnic group in Bassa County.

There was an attack on the night of 26th June at about 10 p.m. by criminal elements suspected to be Fulani herders at Hwrra, Kwall axis, Bassa LGA, Jugo said in a press statement. The incident claimed the lives of five innocent Rigwe souls, namely Mrs. Jummai Matthew, 67, Martha Danladi, 13, Meshack Matthew, 18, Bari John, 30, and Robert Sunday, 7.

Maryamu Sunday was severely injured and receiving treatment at a medical facility, he said.

Three houses were also razed down, Jugo said, adding that the incident was heartbreaking, wicked, condemnable, unprovoked, and coming at a time that all well-meaning Rigwe natives are working tirelessly to ensure peace reigns at home and environs.

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Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday (June 23) ambushed three Christians in Nkiedonwro village, killing one of them, while two others two escaped with bullet wounds. The village was also attacked in 2017, when Fulani herdsmen burned down church buildings and killed 30 Christians.

On June 21, the suspected herdsmen attacked Kparenke village, killing two Christians and wounding another, Jugo said. He identified the two slain Christians as Friday Mangwa, 28, and Deborah Monday, 40. Keziah Friday, 20, a Christian woman, was shot and seriously wounded and was being treated at a hospital in Jos.

At about 10 p.m. on 21st June, when Christians in Kparenke community were asleep, Fulani herdsmen unleashed terror on them, and as a result, two Christians were killed and one other injured, Jugo said. These attacks are as despicable as theyre unfortunate. We condemn these acts of wanton disregard for human lives and extant laws of our nation and our country.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
Becoming a Q Grader is perhaps one of the most difficult certifications in all of coffee. It requires rigorous study, 20 different testsoften with multiple retakeswith a pass rate around 25-30%. And its prohibitively expensive, sometimes in the thousands of dollars if travel is required to take the exams.

Thats why Good Form Coffee has teamed up with Royal Coffee to offer two scholarships for an upcoming Q course taking place at The Crown in Oakland. And applications for the scholarship are open now.

The six-day course will be led by Trish Rothgeb, the co-founder of Good Form, owner of San Franciscos Wrecking Ball Coffee, and instructor with the Coffee Quality Institutethe institution that gives the Q. Rothgeb will be joined by Evan Gilman, Royal Coffees Creative Director and an assistant instructor with the CQI. The goal of the scholarship is to open up the knowledge resources that come with Q certification to coffee professionals who otherwise wouldnt be able to afford them. (The same Q course and exam at Royal Coffee costs $1,995 normally.)

We are aware that coffee pros who would benefit from taking the Q Grader Course are not always able to afford the cost. Offering a scholarship will help to democratize coffee knowledge and open new opportunities for the recipients, Rothgeb states in a press release.

The course will take place from July 27th through August 1st and will cover all nine modules required for Q certification. Scholarship applications are open through July 12th and can be submitted here. Recipients will be notified on July 17th. The scholarship will cover the costs of the course but all meals, transportation, lodging, etc. will be the responsibility of the recipient.

For more information about the scholarship and the Q course, visit the scholarship application page and Royal Coffees Q course event page.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/australian-prime-minister-refuses-to-attend-nato-summit-in-washington-next-week---reports-1119215767.html

Australian Prime Minister Refuses to Attend NATO Summit in Washington Next Week - Reports

Australian Prime Minister Refuses to Attend NATO Summit in Washington Next Week - Reports

Sputnik International

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had been expected to meet his counterparts from Japan, South Korea and New Zealand as members of the so-called Indo-Pacific Quartet at the summit, which marks NATO's 75th anniversary and begins next Tuesday.

2024-07-02T06:03+0000

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world

anthony albanese

joe biden

washington

australia

indo-pacific

nato

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The decision was reportedly made after Albanese has not received a confirmation for a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden ahead of the summit. The prime minister's office advised him not to go at all in order to avoid controversies, the newspaper reported. Initially, Albanese was expected to hold meetings with his counterparts from Japan, South Korea and New Zealand within the Indo-Pacific Four on the sidelines of the summit. Albanese's presence at two previous summits, in Madrid in 2022 and Vilnius in 2023, drew sharp criticism from Beijing, as well as from former prime minister Paul Keating and former foreign minister Bob Carr. They argued that the US and European countries should not interfere in the affairs of Indo-Pacific countries.The 75th NATO summit will take place from July 9-11. On June 17, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he had invited partners from the Indo-Pacific region to the alliance's upcoming summit in Washington. NATO consists of 32 member countries, but it also maintains relations with more than 40 non-member states and international organizations  NATO partners  including Australia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240630/north-korea-accuses-us-japan-south-korea-of-creating-asian-version-of-nato-1119188258.html

washington

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indo-pacific

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australian prime minister anthony albanese, nato's 75th anniversary, nato summit
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/belarus-air-defense-forces-including-polonez-iskander-on-high-alert-amid-ukrainian-border-tensions-1119224786.html

Belarus Air Defense Forces, Including Polonez, Iskander on High Alert Amid Ukrainian Border Tensions

Belarus Air Defense Forces, Including Polonez, Iskander on High Alert Amid Ukrainian Border Tensions

Sputnik International

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the country's forces to high alert after Ukraine massed troops at the border.

2024-07-02T17:52+0000

2024-07-02T17:52+0000

2024-07-02T17:52+0000

military

alexander lukashenko

russia

belarus

ukraine

belarusian defense ministry

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the country's forces to high alert after Ukraine massed troops at the border.Lukashenko stated that due to the increased activity of Ukrainian military forces near the Belarusian border, the Belarusian and Russian Air Force and Air Defense Forces have been put on high combat readiness.Polonez and Iskander long-range missile systems have also been deployed to their positions."The Air Force and Air Defense Forces are in high combat readiness. Both ours and Russia's. There is complete cooperation here," Lukashenko said on Tuesday during a ceremonial meeting in Minsk in honor of Belarus Independence Day. "The Polonez and Iskander missile systems are deployed in position. You also know what kind of ammunition they have.""Border guards have been switched to enhanced state border protection," Lukashenko said. "Special operations forces have been deployed.""Not only border guards but also our military today have blocked the potential enemy's movement directions," the president noted. He stressed that Belarusian security forces have previously conducted similar exercises, and now this experience was in demand.Lukashenko stressed that there are no "red lines"  in the event of aggression, there would be "strikes with all types of weapons on designated targets.""We have thought about everything... we have blocked both the southern border [with Ukraine] and the western border [with the EU countries], so that God forbid they are no mistakes, as it has already happened in our history," the Belarusian president said.Lukashenko highlighted that Belarus will not allow any clashes on its border with Ukraine, and Kiev does not need them either."I guarantee that we will not allow any clashes on the border with Ukraine. There will be none, we do not need them," he said. "But Ukraine does not need them even more due to the events that are happening on their battlefield  it is getting worse and worse for Ukraine there."At the same time, Lukashenko said that he would not instruct border guards to protect the border with Poland from illegal migrants."We're not going to catch them [migrants] here. Our business is to ensure the security of our people. I do not intend to order border guards, military and civilians to protect the European Union on the border between Belarus and Poland," Lukashenko said in his speech.The president noted that the European Union has imposed sanctions on Belarus and is now trying to force Minsk to protect them from immigrants.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240701/ukraines-border-guard-confirms-ongoing-military-buildup-on-belarus-border-1119207872.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231122/challenger-to-himars-and-atacms-meet-belarusian-made-polonez-m-mlrs-1115137385.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/death-toll-from-series-of-explosions-in-nigeria-rises-to-32--vice-president-1119213907.html

Death Toll From Series of Explosions in Nigeria Rises to 32  Vice President

Death Toll From Series of Explosions in Nigeria Rises to 32  Vice President

Sputnik International

A series of explosions in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno has increased to 32, the country's Vice President Kashim Shettima said.

2024-07-02T02:21+0000

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africa

nigeria

sputnik

newsfeed

explosion

suicide bombers

suicide bombing

terrorism

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On Saturday, the Borno State Emergency Management Agency said that at least 18 people were killed and 48 others were injured in the explosions in the city of Gwoza. Suicide bombers reportedly targeted a wedding, a funeral and a hospital. The dead included children and a pregnant woman, authorities said.The vice president added that 26 people remain in the hospital.In January, a massive explosion rocked Ibadan city in Nigeria's south, killing three and injuring 77 more. However, authorities blamed that explosion on illegal mining equipment.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240307/nigeria-plans-to-apply-for-brics-membership-1117180573.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/first-sitting-democratic-lawmaker-urges-biden-to-drop-out-of-presidential-race-1119225836.html

First Sitting Democratic Lawmaker Urges Biden to Drop Out of Presidential Race

First Sitting Democratic Lawmaker Urges Biden to Drop Out of Presidential Race

Sputnik International

Congressman Lloyd Doggett has become the first fellow sitting Democrat to call on US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race following his poor performance in the first debate against Donald Trump.

2024-07-02T18:21+0000

2024-07-02T18:21+0000

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americas

us

joe biden

donald trump

kamala harris

minnesota

atlanta

georgia

cbs news

cnn

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"[U]nlike Trump, President Biden's first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so," Doggett said in a statement on Tuesday. The congressman noted in his statement that Biden failed during the first debate to defend his "many accomplishments" and expose Trumps alleged lies. In Doggetts view, Biden is not the best hope to save democracy in the United States and thus should step down to prevent Trump from winning in November. Biden is set to meet with Democratic governors mid-week to bolster support after his dismal performance during the first presidential debate with challenger Donald Trump, CBS News reported earlier in the day.The governors held a private call organized by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the Democratic Governors Association to discuss concerns about Biden's chances in the upcoming election and his lack of communication with them.The governors expressed a strong desire for Biden to address them directly and noted discussions about a potential call with the Biden campaign or the White House as well as the need to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris.On June 27, Biden and Trump participated in a CNN-hosted debate in Atlanta, Georgia. Biden appeared disoriented, confused and incoherent, reinforcing rather than refuting ongoing concerns about his cognitive decline at age 81. Biden's poor performance has led some Democratic politicians, donors and other supporters to call for him to step aside.However, Biden's campaign communications director Michael Tyler said that there have been no conversations about replacing Biden.Trump and Biden are set to debate again on September 10.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240630/bidens-decision-on-campaign-depends-on-his-inner-circle-will-meet-at-camp-david---reports-1119184873.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/debate-debacle-democrats-need-to-find-new-candidate-asap--wall-street-analyst-1119163291.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/france-rapidly-being-brought-to-its-knees-regardless-of-vote-outcome--1119216123.html

France Rapidly Being Brought to its Knees Regardless of Vote Outcome

France Rapidly Being Brought to its Knees Regardless of Vote Outcome

Sputnik International

Whatever the outcome of the parliamentary elections, France today no longer has the means for its policy, Emmanuel Leroy, president of the Institut 1717, for a new Franco-Russian alliance, told Sputnik.

2024-07-02T07:36+0000

2024-07-02T07:36+0000

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analysis

france

national rally

emmanuel macron

marine le pen

national assembly

ukraine

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Whatever the outcome of the parliamentary elections, France today no longer has the means for its policy, Emmanuel Leroy, president of the Institut 1717, for a new Franco-Russian alliance, told Sputnik.He underscored that quite possibly next Sunday, Marine Le Pens right-wing National Rally (RN) will not obtain an absolute majority required to govern in the country, creating an objectively uncontrollable situation.Emmanuel Macron's bet today is to play on the victory of this party [RN] in such a way as to create a situation of political chaos in France, Leroy suggested.Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has already stated that Macron's centrist coalition will pull out around 60 of its candidates to allow other contenders to have a chance at defeating the RN. But this could be nothing more than a window dressing, said Leroy.The analyst noted that whether France switches to a right-wing or left-wing policy, this wouldnt change the fundamentals. And these fundamentals are that the France of Emmanuel Macron, which has been at the forefront in the desire to completely engage in this war in Ukraine to help the regime [led] by Zelensky, is in phenomenal debt. I remind you that France has an official public debt of 3,000 billion euros, and that this sum is absolutely non-repayable, the former Russia adviser to Marine Le Pen stressed.According to Leroy, by potentially letting Jordan Bardella head the French government, Macron could be setting the president of the National Rally up for the role of a fall guy.Marine Le Pens right-wing National Rally (RN) topped the 1st round of France's parliamentary elections, winning 33.4% of the vote on Sunday. The New Popular Front leftist coalition came in second, securing 27.99%, while President Emmanuel Macron's center-right alliance Ensemble took third place with 20.04%. After the runoff, the RN could clinch between 230 and 280 seats - a relative majority - in the 577-seat lower house, according to national TV calculations.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240701/what-to-expect-from-2nd-round-of-french-snap-elections-1119199857.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240630/crunch-time-understanding-frances-snap-parliamentary-elections-1119181687.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/hungarys-orban-says-kiev-trip-aimed-at-addressing-eu-challenges-1119220686.html

Hungary's Orban Says Kiev Trip Aimed at Addressing EU Challenges

Hungary's Orban Says Kiev Trip Aimed at Addressing EU Challenges

Sputnik International

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made his first trip to Kiev since Hungary assumed the presidency of the EU Council, stating that he visited Ukraine to address peace initiatives and bilateral relations.

2024-07-02T12:19+0000

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viktor orban

world

donald trump

volodymyr zelensky

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This marks Orban's first visit to Kiev in a decade. Hungary is currently holding the presidency of the European Union Council until July 1. Orban's press secretary has announced that during this visit, the Hungarian leader plans to discuss topics concerning peace and various bilateral issues with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky."The goal of the Hungarian presidency is to contribute to solving the challenges facing the European Union. Therefore, my first trip led to Kiev," Orban wrote on Facebook, posting a photo from his meeting with Zelensky.In a recent interview with M1 TV, Orban suggested that if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election, a ceasefire in Ukraine would follow, leading to eventual negotiations between Russia and the US. He stressed that Europe must consider how it would be represented in such potential talks. Orban indicated that Hungary's peace efforts would commence the next day, if Trump won the US presidential race.After meeting Trump in March, Orban mentioned that the former US president promised not to fund Ukraine if re-elected, asserting that without US support, Europe couldn't sustain the conflict, leading to its end.Orban has expressed his wish for Trump to return to the White House in order to bring about peace in Eastern Europe. He is of the belief that if Trump were president, the conflict in Ukraine would quickly come to an end. The Hungarian Prime Minister has stressed that peace in Ukraine can only be achieved through talks between Russia and the United States. He has pointed out that Europe missed an opportunity to mediate the situation due to its failure to enforce the Minsk agreements.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240526/orban-foresees-dire-consequences-if-eu-militarism-continues-unchecked-1118643830.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/if-trump-elected-president-ceasefire-will-be-reached-in-ukraine-orban-says-1119214695.html

If Trump Elected President, Ceasefire Will Be Reached in Ukraine, Orban Says

If Trump Elected President, Ceasefire Will Be Reached in Ukraine, Orban Says

Sputnik International

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election, there will be a ceasefire in Ukraine and negotiations between Russia and the United States will begin.

2024-07-02T04:35+0000

2024-07-02T04:35+0000

2024-07-02T04:35+0000

world

viktor orban

donald trump

ukraine

russia

ceasefire

us

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"If he [Trump] wins, then at least there will be a ceasefire; whether this will lead to a lasting peace is the music of the future, but it will not be like it is now, that's for sure. And that is why Europe needs to quickly prepare for the situation that sooner or later the Americans and Russians will begin negotiations with each other," Orban said in an interview with the M1 broadcaster on Monday. Europe should ask itself "Where is its place in this division", "Who represents its interests and what are they," Orban added. Trump and Orban are longtime allies who share conservative political views and have publicly expressed mutual respect and support. Orban has thrown his support behind Trump both in the US presidential race and the legal challenges he is facing.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/zelensky-announces-detailed-peace-plan-on-ukraine-coming-up-this-year-1119171633.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/iran-to-support-hezbollah-in-conflict-with-israel-by-all-means---supreme-leader-adviser-1119215551.html

Iran to Support Hezbollah in Conflict With Israel by All Means - Supreme Leader Adviser

Iran to Support Hezbollah in Conflict With Israel by All Means - Supreme Leader Adviser

Sputnik International

Iran and all members of the "axis of resistance" will support the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah by all means in the event of a conflict with Israel, Kamal Kharrazi, adviser to the Supreme Leader of Iran, said on Tuesday.

2024-07-02T05:50+0000

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2024-07-02T05:50+0000

world

middle east

israel

lebanon

tehran

hezbollah

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"All Lebanese people, Arab countries and members of the axis of resistance will support Lebanon against Israel... In that situation, we would have no choice, but to support Hezbollah by all means," Kharrazi said in an interview with the Financial Times, if Israel launches a full-scale offensive against Hezbollah, it could provoke a regional conflict. Tehran is not interested in a regional conflict, the official said, urging the United States to put pressure on Israel to prevent further escalation. The expansion of war is not in the interest of anyone  not Iran or the US," Kharrazi said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240104/dc-think-tank-israels-beirut-bomb-forces-hamas-hezbollah--iran-to-retaliate-1115976026.html

israel

lebanon

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iran to support hezbollah, conflict with israel, supreme leader of iran
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/israel-not-ruling-out-palestinian-authoritys-governance-in-post-conflict-gaza---reports-1119218403.html

Israel Not Ruling Out Palestinian Authority's Governance in Post-Conflict Gaza - Reports

Israel Not Ruling Out Palestinian Authority's Governance in Post-Conflict Gaza - Reports

Sputnik International

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has privately been considering abandoning its opposition to the possible involvement of the Palestinian Authority in managing the Gaza Strip after the conflict between the Jewish state and Hamas ends, The Times of Israel newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing three officials familiar with the matter.

2024-07-02T09:37+0000

2024-07-02T09:37+0000

2024-07-02T09:37+0000

world

middle east

benjamin netanyahu

mahmoud abbas

gaza strip

palestine

palestinian authority

hamas

palestine-israel conflict

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Netanyahu was cited as saying that he would like to establish a "civil administration  if possible with local Palestinians and hopefully with support from countries in the region." The move comes after Netanyahu's office for months instructed security officials to exclude the Palestinian Authority from their plans for the post-conflict management of Gaza, the newspaper reported. The order significantly hampered efforts to suggest realistic proposals for Israel's post-conflict plans, which have become known as "the day after," the report said. The individuals in question are Gazans who work for the Palestinian Authority and managed civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip until Palestinian movement Hamas' takeover in 2007, the report said, adding that those persons are now being vetted by Israel. Additionally, Netanyahu's office has started to differentiate between the Palestinian Authority leadership led by President Mahmoud Abbas and "lower level" Palestinian Authority employees already engaged in existing institutions in Gaza, the report added. On October 7, 2023, 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. As many as 120 hostages are believed to be still held by Hamas in Gaza and 43 hostages died in captivity. More than 37,800 people have been killed and over 86,900 others have been wounded in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's military operations, Gaza's authorities said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/thousands-of-protesters-in-israel-demand-early-elections-release-of-hostages-from-gaza-1119183786.html

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palestine

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Islamic extremists in northeastern Nigeria released a video early last week threatening to kill a kidnapped Christian pastor if they did not receive a large ransom payment, according to local reports.

The same terrorists who displayed the flag of jihadist group Boko Haram in a video in May released another video  with published reports showing its date of release ranging from June 21 to June 25  of the Rev. Paul Musa, pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Gamboru Ngala, Borno state, kneeling in front of terrorist brandishing a gun.

Pastor Musa and his wife were kidnapped in March 2023.

One week ultimatum has been given by our captors for you who are ready to secure our release, to do that which is necessary to meet their demands, Pastor Musa says in Hausa on the video. If within one week nothing is done, me and my wife will be killed. My appeal is that you do whatever you can within the stipulated time to get us out of here or receive the news about our death.

The 15-second video shows the pastor dressed in an orange shirt and kneeling, his hands behind his back, with the terrorist standing behind him. He says in the video that this is his last appeal to government authorities and church leaders.

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Reports of the ransom amount the terrorist group demands have ranged from 39,180 USD to 130,221 USD. The Rev. David Ayuba Azzaman of Kings Worship Centre International in Kaduna told media outlet Truth Nigeria that Pastor Musas son informed him from Cameroon that the terrorists gave the pastors family and church seven days from the June 24 release of the video to pay the ransom or he would be killed.

The COCIN raised funds and offered them to the terrorists, which they rejected as insufficient, Azzaman told Truth Nigeria.

The chairman of the Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Rev. John Bakeni, told the media outlet that multiple videos showing Pastor Musa have appeared previously, and that CAN has been striving to obtain the release of various Christian captives, including Pastor Musa.

Kidnapped Priest

In northwestern Nigerias Zamfara state, a Catholic priest appealed for his life in a video after he was kidnapped on June 22 from church premises at St. Raymond Catholic Church in the Damba area of the city of Gusau.

The Rev. Micah Suleiman, in 51-second video sent to the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto by the unnamed terrorists, pleads for ransom to be paid or else he will be killed.

Brethren, heres my plea, please help get me out of captivity. Here, my captors dont keep those they kidnapped for more than a week, Suleiman says in the video.They told me killing is their pastime, and theyll not hesitate to kill me. That Im still alive they said is because theyve decided to give me the chance to talk to my people to pay up the ransom theyre demanding for my release.

I beg you in the name of God, help get me out of here. Just take a look at me. Look at my legs, I have been tied down, and beaten with my legs chained. Here, Im alone, as therere no other captives with me. They killed those theyve kidnapped. Please in the name of God, help me.

The Rev. Nuhu Iliya, chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, announced his kidnapping and asked for prayer, as did the Rev. Emmanuel Anyanwu, also a Catholic priest.

Dear friends and beloved family in Christ, I am Revd. Fr. Emmanuel Anyanwu, and I am asking you in tears for prayers and support for my dear friend and brother priest Rev. Fr. Micah Suleiman, who is in deep suffering under the captivity of Islamic extremists, Anyanwu said. His only offense was being a Christian and a catholic priest.

Zamfara State Police Command spokesman Yazid Abubakar confirmed the kidnapping of the priest.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year. Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/nato-faces-key-weapons-gaps-as-ukraine-eats-its-way-into-stocks-1119217102.html

NATO Faces Key Weapons Gaps as Ukraine Eats its Way Into Stocks

NATO Faces Key Weapons Gaps as Ukraine Eats its Way Into Stocks

Sputnik International

NATO allies intend to discuss speeding up the procurement of weapons at their upcoming summit in Washington, reported Semafor.

2024-07-02T11:16+0000

2024-07-02T11:16+0000

2024-07-02T11:16+0000

nato

nato summit

weapons

ukraine

us arms for ukraine

ukraine crisis

military & intelligence

military

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NATO allies intend to discuss speeding up the procurement of weapons at their upcoming summit in Washington, reported Semafor.Critical gaps in the alliances military readiness need to be addressed, it quoted three European officials as saying, as the bloc continues to funnel weapons to the Kiev regime.Action is expected to be taken on a plan put forward by the NATOs three Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, which have been at the forefront of anti-Russian hysteria throughout the Ukrainian crisis, along with Poland.The Allied Capability Delivery Commitment (ACDC) was presented at a May meeting in Palanga, Lithuania, by the defense ministers of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. At the time, speaking at a press conference with Latvia's Andris Spruds and Lithuania's Laurynas Kasciunas, Estonias Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur said the initiative required extra funds, and the 2 percent minimum spending level agreed at the 2023 summit was no longer "sufficient".In line with the five-year plan, the alliance would boost efforts to procure air defense, long range fires, and ammunition, Tuuli Duneton, Undersecretary for Defense Policy at the Estonian Ministry of Defense, told the outlet.He added that the plan had been agreed upon in principle at a June meeting of NATOs defense ministers in Brussels.As far as Washington is concerned, it supports the intent of the proposal and is working with allies on how to incorporate it in summit deliverables, a US State Department official was cited as saying. The underlying ideas of the proposal will be embedded in the Defense Industrial Pledge expected to be signed at the summit, a Latvian spokesperson told the publication.More defense spending and costly procurement face NATO allies as supporting the regime in Kiev continues to bleed their own stockpiles dry. The bloc's European allies have only a small fraction of the air defense capabilities they would need if the proxy conflict in Ukraine expanded into a direct Russia-NATO confrontation, officials were cited as saying by the Financial Times. At the same time, the Ukraine conflict has become a great boon for America's own leading defense contractors, sending their stocks up and boosting their profits. However, as the US and Europe keep squandering taxpayer money on arms for Ukraine, Russia continues to effectively destroy this weaponry.Russia has persistently cautioned Western countries against furnishing weapons to the Kiev regime, stating that this sort of assistance would only serve to prolong the conflict in Ukraine.Furthermore, Moscow has repeatedly rejected Western claims about an alleged Russian threat as unsubstantiated. Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that the Wests allegations about Moscows plans to unleash a war with NATO are "simply rubbish." He also slammed reports about Russia planning to attack Europe after the end of a special military operation in Ukraine as complete nonsense and intimidation of Europeans to squeeze money out of them [for defense-related] purposes.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/revealed-natos-air-defense-shield-in-eastern-europe-so-full-of-holes-its-essentially-nonexistent-1118704752.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/big-five-us-arms-makers-profit-from-ukraine-conflict-and-overcharge-pentagon-1118144973.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240524/poland-baltics-join-forces-to-build-maginot-style-defensive-line-on-border-with-russia-belarus-1118615830.html

ukraine

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military aid for ukraine, pentagon defense contractors, us defense contractors capitalize on ukraine conflict, us proxy war in ukraine, is us giving more money to ukraine, why is us giving more money to kiev, whats happening to money given to kiev, will us give more money to kiev, how much money does ukraine get, how much money us gives to ukraine, how much money eu gives to ukraine, how much money europe gives to ukraine, what weapons does ukraine receive, does us give ukraine new weapons
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/nato-should-not-harm-asia-pacific-region---chinese-foreign-ministry-1119220567.html

China Warns NATO Not to Harm Asia-Pacific Region

China Warns NATO Not to Harm Asia-Pacific Region

Sputnik International

NATO has already made a mess in Europe, so the alliance should not harm the Asia-Pacific region either, the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Tuesday.

2024-07-02T11:34+0000

2024-07-02T11:34+0000

2024-07-02T12:45+0000

world

jens stoltenberg

china

beijing

chinese foreign ministry

nato

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"NATO has already made a mess in Europe, it should not harm the Asia-Pacific region either," the ministry said. Stoltenberg openly stated that the alliance's promotion in the Asia-Pacific is designed to put pressure on China, to which Beijing protests, the ministry said. Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told told Japanese newspaper Yomiuri that China is responsible for the incitement to the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II. Russia is producing missiles and drones with the support of advanced technology imported from China, which makes Beijing accountable for instigating the conflict, Stoltenberg said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240701/nato-not-planning-to-revise-its-nuclear-doctrine--secretary-general-1119200278.html

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beijing

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asia-pacific region, chinese foreign ministry, nato should not harm
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/over-100-people-killed-in-stampede-at-religious-event-in-india---reports-1119222675.html

Over 100 People Killed in Stampede at Religious Event in India - Reports

Over 100 People Killed in Stampede at Religious Event in India - Reports

Sputnik International

At least 107 people died in a stampede during a religious event in the city of Hathras in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported, citing police.

2024-07-02T13:23+0000

2024-07-02T13:23+0000

2024-07-02T13:23+0000

asia

india

ambulance

stampede

uttar pradesh

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The stampede reportedly unfolded after a preacher's speech as a religious event known as "Satsang" was ending and everyone was leaving the venue. Suffocation at the venue is believed to have caused discomfort among the event participants, who started to run causing the stampede, the Uttar Pradesh police said, adding that it was hot and humid during the event. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the tragic events and ordered an investigation into the matter.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230521/stampede-at-football-stadium-in-el-salvador-leaves-9-dead---police-1110496016.html

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killed in stampede, northern indian state of uttar pradesh
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/rain-or-shine-theyre-just-fine-f-35s-awaiting-upgrade-could-face-millions-in-weather-damage-1119223768.html

Rain or Shine, They're Just Fine? F-35s Awaiting Upgrade Could Face Millions in Weather Damage

Rain or Shine, They're Just Fine? F-35s Awaiting Upgrade Could Face Millions in Weather Damage

Sputnik International

Dozens of America's newest F-35 fighters could suffer millions of dollars worth of weather damage while waiting for a belated software and hardware upgrade, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

2024-07-02T15:00+0000

2024-07-02T15:00+0000

2024-07-02T15:00+0000

military

f-35

pentagon

texas

us

lockheed martin

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The Pentagon will have to bear all of the potential costs of repairing weather-damaged aircraft that exceed the $100,000 per jet that manufacturer Lockheed Martin is responsible for, the report said. Lockheed Martin is planning to start delivering 75 to 110 aircraft this month, each of which costs between $82.5 million to $109 million, the report added. F-35 fighters are at an airfield in Fort Worth, Texas awaiting the TR-3 hardware and software upgrade that was supposed to be finalized in July 2023, according to the report. In late June, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics received a more than $1.5 billion US Navy contract to provide more logistics support and pilot training, for delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, according to the US Defense Department.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240430/multiple-flaws--component-failures-plague-new-lockheed-martin-made-f-35s-1118188058.html

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f-35, f-35 program, lockheed martin, us, us military, us aircraft, costly f-35
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/tucker-carlson-confident-democrats-will-remove-biden-as-presidential-candidate-1119218262.html

Tucker Carlson Confident Democrats Will Remove Biden as Presidential Candidate

Tucker Carlson Confident Democrats Will Remove Biden as Presidential Candidate

Sputnik International

US journalist Tucker Carlson believes that members of the Democratic Party should and will remove President Joe Biden from the ongoing presidential race, following his poor performance at the first debate against Former US President Donald Trump.

2024-07-02T09:34+0000

2024-07-02T09:34+0000

2024-07-02T09:34+0000

americas

us

joe biden

donald trump

tucker carlson

democrats

democratic party

republican

white house

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Last Thursday, Biden faced off against Trump in a CNN-hosted debate in Atlanta. Biden's performance reportedly sparked concerns among Democrats and raised questions about the future of his candidacy. Despite admitting his poor performance, Biden and his campaign assured the public that they would not end the reelection bid. Carlson argued against the "nonsense" opinion that only Biden himself can make the decision to drop his reelection bid, saying that "that's not how the Democratic Party works." US media reported last week that Biden will not drop out of the race for the US presidency unless his closest circle decides so. The inner circle reportedly includes his wife, his younger sister Valerie, adviser Ted Kaufman and a small group of White House advisers. on Monday, First Lady Jill Biden said that her husband had no plans to withdraw from the election. The US presidential election is slated for November 2024. The main contenders expected on the ballot are Biden and Trump, who have both won enough delegates' votes to be their respective Democratic and Republican parties' presumptive nominees. Trump and Biden are set to debate again on September 10.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240701/biden-campaign-urges-supporters-not-to-panic-after-debate-debacle-1119206281.html

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tucker carlson, former us president donald trump, democratic party, joe biden
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/ukraine-de-facto-in-default-due-to-commercial-debt-of-20bln---lawmaker-1119220757.html

Ukraine De Facto in Default Due to Commercial Debt of $20Bln - Lawmaker

Ukraine De Facto in Default Due to Commercial Debt of $20Bln - Lawmaker

Sputnik International

Ukraine has de facto gone into default due to a commercial debt of $20 billion, but it has not yet been declared de jure, Ukrainian lawmaker Nina Yuzhanina said on Tuesday.

2024-07-02T11:37+0000

2024-07-02T11:37+0000

2024-07-02T11:37+0000

world

ukraine

debt

debt

economy

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"We have a problem with commercial debt, which amounts to no less than $20 billion ... we already have a default - de facto, we have it, but de jure we do not," Yuzhanina told the Novyny Live broadcaster. The Ukrainian parliament may announce a possible tax increase to test the reaction of Ukrainian citizens, she said, adding that the decision is also being considered in the presidential office, but the Ukrainian authorities have not yet decided to make the issue public due to concerns over negative consequences. On Monday, The Economist reported that Ukraine could declare a default as early as in August if the authorities fail to reach an agreement with creditors on debt restructuring, with the deal now appearing unlikely.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240701/ukraine-faces-potential-default-in-august-amid-stalled-debt-negotiations-1119205686.html

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commercial debt, ukraine has de facto gone into default, debt of $20bln
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/ukraines-kraken-battalion-leaves-positions-in-chasov-yar-before-regular-units-arrive-1119216751.html

Ukraines Kraken Battalion Flees Chasov Yar Before Regular Units Arrive

Ukraines Kraken Battalion Flees Chasov Yar Before Regular Units Arrive

Sputnik International

Ukrainian national battalion Kraken fled from its positions in Chasov Yar before regular units of the Ukrainian armed forces arrived, a Ukrainian prisoner of war told Sputnik.

2024-07-02T06:48+0000

2024-07-02T06:48+0000

2024-07-02T08:02+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

russia

russian armed forces

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"They promised that we would be covered by Kraken, but when we arrived, the command already knew that there was no one there, they abandoned us. When we arrived, their last car left, and we were left alone," the prisoner said.The prisoner noted that Kraken militants, who were deployed on the second line in Chasov Yar, were supposed to cover regular units. Kraken militants left their positions after Russian military personnel took control of a couple of buildings, the prisoner adder.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240514/watch-russian-solntsepyok-heavy-flamethrower-system-destroy-ukrainian-strongholds-near-chasov-yar-1118422216.html

ukraine

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ukraines kraken battalion, leaves positions, chasov yar
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/who-is-still-conducting-nuclear-tests-1119219193.html

Who is Still Conducting Nuclear Tests?

Who is Still Conducting Nuclear Tests?

Sputnik International

The Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests was signed between the Soviet Union and the US 50 years ago, in July 1974. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), adopted in 1996, never came into force.

2024-07-02T15:51+0000

2024-07-02T15:51+0000

2024-07-02T15:51+0000

world

nuclear tests

comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty (ctbt)

russia

us

china

nevada

the united nations (un)

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The Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests, also known as the Threshold Test Ban Treaty (TTBT), was signed between the Soviet Union and the US 50 years ago in July 1974.It established a nuclear threshold by prohibiting tests with a yield exceeding 150 kilotons (equivalent to 150,000 tons of TNT)August 29 was declared the International Day against Nuclear Tests at a session of the United Nations in 2009.That commemoration was launched on the initiative of Kazakhstan, where on August 29 1991 the Semipalatinsk test site, where Soviet nuclear weapons were tested, was decommissioned.While the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted in 1996, it never came into force.Eight of the 44 countries that had nuclear potential and technology at the time the CTBT was discussed - Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, China, North Korea, Pakistan, and the United States - either did not sign it or signed it but did not ratify it.Russia, one of the first to sign the CTBT, revoked its ratification late in 2023. Russias President Vladimir Putin cited the refusal of ratification by the US. Moscow added that this does not mean that it intends to conduct nuclear tests.The US is the only country to have used nuclear weapons in war, detonating two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final days of World War II. More than 200,000 people were killed instantly or within a few months of the attacks.Currently, the only limitation that keeps countries from nuclear testing is unilateral moratoriums.Since the first Trinity nuclear test by the US on July 16, 1945, more than 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted by at least eight nations, according to the Arms Control Association.Test sites included atolls of the Pacific, the South Atlantic, Nevada (US), Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, Western Australia (UK tests), Algeria (French tests), Lop Nor in China.In order of acquisition, the US, Russia (as successor of the former Soviet Union), the UK, France, and China are the five official nuclear-weapon states (NWS) under the terms of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). They all carried out their first explosions before the NPT was opened for signature in 1968. The greatest number of tests were carried out by the US (1032) and the USSR (715); fewer tests were carried out by France (210), the UK (45), and China (45).In addition, India, Pakistan, and the DPRK conducted their tests after 1968.The Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963 prohibits nuclear weapons tests "or any other nuclear explosion" in the atmosphere, in outer space, and under water, signed by the US, UK, and USSR, but not China or France. Over 100 states also joined the document, which stopped short of prohibiting underground testing. Underground explosions account for about 75% of all tests.The UN has warned that some countries may be still conducting nuclear tests in secret.The USsuspended underground tests in 1992 butbegan subcritical tests five years later.On October 18, 2023, the US conducted a high-explosive experiment at the Nevada site. It used chemical high explosives and radiotracers in an underground tunnel to validate new predictive explosive models," according to a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) statement.The test took place on the same day that the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted the law revoking ratification of the CTBT. On May 14, 2024, the US Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration said that it had executed a "subcritical experiment" at the Principal Underground Laboratory for Subcritical Experimentation at the Nevada National Security Site. It claimed it was done to collect information to support the effectiveness of US nuclear warheads.Washington argued that the experiment, like all 33 previous US subcritical experiments, was consistent with the zero-yield standard of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and the self-imposed moratorium on nuclear explosive testing dated 1992. It claimed the test did not involve a self-sustaining, supercritical chain reaction.Subcritical experiments remain controversial, according to the Arms Control Association, as critics warn they undermine the CTB Treaty by allowing the US to improve the weapons in its nuclear arsenal.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/russias-withdrawal-from-ctbt-does-not-mean-it-plans-to-conduct-nuclear-tests---kremlin-1113980732.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240520/russia-closely-monitoring-situation-after-us-nuclear-test-in-nevada-1118538652.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240702/yemeni-houthis-vow-uss-theodore-roosevelt-primary-target-once-it-enters-red-sea-1119222120.html

Yemeni Houthis Vow USS Theodore Roosevelt 'Primary Target' Once it Enters Red Sea

Yemeni Houthis Vow USS Theodore Roosevelt 'Primary Target' Once it Enters Red Sea

Sputnik International

Yemeni Houthis have released a video promising to sink the aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, once it arrives in Red Sea waters.

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Yemen's Houthi militia has released a video promising to sink the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt once it arrives in Red Sea waters.The aircraft carrier is a "primary target for the Missile Forces of the Yemeni Army from now on, and will be subject to targeting upon its entry into the Red Sea," Ansar Allah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated in the video."If they want to take the risk, get themselves into trouble, and put themselves into the same predicament that Eisenhower was, let them come," al-Houthi warned.The Houthis have vowed to stop all Israeli-owned or bound naval traffic through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until Israel halts its assault on the Palestinian Gaza Strip.The armed forces have tried to strike the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier on several occasions, but the US Navy insists that those attacks caused no damage to the supercarrier or its escorts.A missile and drone barrage targeted the vessel shortly before it departed the region in early June."In response to US and UK air strikes on some cities and civilian targets in Yemen, which killed and injured more than 58 people, most of whom were civilians, the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier was attacked in the Red Sea with a large number of ballistic, cruise missiles and drones," Ansar Allah political office member Hezam al-Asad told Sputnik in May.The Yemeni blockade of Usrael prompted the United States to send warships to the Res Sea along with a handful of ships from a 'coalition' of NATO member states including the UK. Those forces have attacked targets in Yemen.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240626/houthis-claim-use-of-domestic-made-hypersonic-missile-against-israeli-ship-in-arabian-sea-1119144421.html

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All Bets On Tex made every pole a winning one en route to victory in the $8,000 Walter Dale Memorial as part of the season opener at Connell Park in Woodstock, N.B. on Monday, July 1.

After winning in the race prior, Brett LeBlanc and Jeffrey Lilley teamed up once again to send a starter to the gate. This time, in the card finale and feature race, All Bets On Tex lined up in the rail position on the car with four starters at his side. LeBlanc pointed All Bets On Tex forward and cleared the lead. Without looking back, the Lilley student controlled the timer with splits in :27.2, :56.2, and 1:25.2. With his sights set on home, All Bets On Tex cleared the final panel in :30.1 to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. The Bird Dance N (Dan Deslandes) took second with Island Beach Boy (Brodie MacPhee) sprinting to nab the show spot.

All Bets On Tex (All Bets Off - Tampa Town) moved his seasonal record to 6-3-2 from 20 starts and his career record to 14-7-6 in 48 starts. Owned by Lilley, Kent Livingston, and Marc Gallant, the four-year-old gelding added to his lifetime sum to total $89,441.

Ashley MacDonald scored her first career training victory on Monday with Flip The Script ($7.40) in the fifth race on the card. Brodie MacPhee steered the American Ideal - Testing Center mare to a 3-1/2 length triumph in 1:56.

The time of the mile matched the Connell Park track record for older pacing mares, originally set by Abby Best in August 2009.

Horse Racing New Brunswick thanks all horsemen and women, fans, and its many volunteers behind the scenes who work so hard to make Connell Park a great place to come together.

Racing resumes at Connell Park on Saturday (July 6) at 1:00 p.m.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodstock Raceway at Connell Park.

(With files from HRNB)
The Private School Mission Network, led by its Chairman Rev. Jae-hoon Lee, held the '2024 Private School Mission Forum - The Path Christian Schools Should Take in a Rapidly Changing Era' on June 27 at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Yongsan Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

The event featured a number of speakers from churches and Christian ministries as well as representatives from the National Assembly who highlighted the historical role Christian education played in raising the country from poverty to prosperity as well as their relevance in addressing today's societal issues.

In his address to attendants, Far East Broadcasting Company Chairman Rev. Jang-hwan Kim said, "I pray for a day when Christian private schools can freely provide Christian education," and emphasized, "The majority of National Assembly members are elders or deacons of churches. The president himself attended Daekwang Elementary School, a mission school, where he heard sermons from the late Pastor Han Kyung-jik every Wednesday, fostering his Christian faith."

Pastor Jae-hoon Lee, Chairman of the Private School Mission and Senior Pastor of Onnuri Church, remarked that "education is the only way to build people. God changes the world through education. The history of Korea's prosperity from the ashes of war to today was possible because of education."

"At the center of this were Christian schools. Christian schools established around churches have drawn a significant line in modern history.

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"Conversely, the current crisis in Korea stems from Christian schools. Today, it is difficult to maintain the identity of Christian schools due to the legal and institutional environments," he argued and urged participants, "Rather than expecting someone else to bring change, we who cry out about the importance of education should first become people of God, and then God will open the way."

Rev. Sung-eun Choi, Senior Pastor of Jigucheon Church, reflected on Korea's history saying, "Western missionaries established schools and hospitals with the ideology of Christianity to testify the gospel. In the 1880s, four significant Western missionaries came."

"Allen and Underwood of the Northern Presbyterian Mission established Jejungwon and Yonsei University. Henry Appenzeller of the Northern Methodist Mission established Paichai School. Mary Scranton of the Northern Methodist Mission established Ewha Academy, the predecessor of Ewha Girls' High School and Ewha Womans University.

"These missionaries sought to spread the gospel through Christian education. If we also propagate the gospel through Christian education, God will raise the next generation as leaders in the last days," he said.

Assemblyman Jung-hoon Cho vowed to do his best to amend the laws that affect Christian education, saying, "My children are also receiving education in a Christian alternative school, and I am aware of the difficulties related to this."

"I believe that being assigned to the Education Committee in this National Assembly is God's guidance. I will work diligently to amend relevant laws and systems rationally," he said.

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Min-seok Kim acknowledged, "I feel there are many barriers to resolving several issues raised by the Private School Mission. Lets gradually build up wisdom to solve these problems. I hope the Private School Mission will leave a good precedent in solving the issues of our society and community."





Originally published by Christian Daily Korea. Translated and edited by Christian Daily International staff.
Frederick H. Ward Jrs Gowestyounggrace was the wagering favourite in the first of two $21,918-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday (June 30) at Bangor, but to say that this filly has a special place in his owner-trainer-breeders heart would be a glaring understatement.

She was an amazing animal from the day she was born, Ward exclaimed. From the first moment she hit the ground she loved to be around people.

Foals usually hide behind their mother for a few weeks, but not this girl, she wanted to be with people, Ward continued, My wife and I knew that she was different from day one.

Earning the nickname Angel for her pleasant demeanor and willingness to please her humans the three-year-old daughter of Western Maverick from the Wards mare Gracie Gracie has continued the legacy of her dam.

Gracie Gracie was the only horse that I own thats not for sale, Ward said with a chuckle. He and his wife Sharon bought her from Michigan for the princely sum of $1,100. A tough mare to be around, the seller could not get her going, as something always happened when she was ready.

Enter the Wards who employ interval training with their charges and are stabled at the peaceful Oxford (Maine) fairgrounds. Something must have clicked with that mare because she went on to earn $239,549 for them.

She bought me a house and a couple of trucks, beamed Ward when speaking about this family foundation mare. But things werent always profitable.

In the race paddock the mare was so anxious to race that when she was hooked she would persistently kick the left wheel of the race bike. Ward says he lost count of how many tires she flattened in the post parade. This prompted horseman Heath Campbell to tell Ward, youre spending more on tires than for gas.

Nonetheless, Gracie Gracie, an Albert Albert mare from the Keystone Arbor mare Rachels Minuet, was from a family of solid raceway performers. She raced until she was 14, winning 53 of 240 starts. Then she started her new career as a broodmare. Her first foal was a Shady Character mare named Shades Of Gracelyn and she earned the Wards $56,935. Her second foal is a Baron Biltmore mare named Sweet Baby G, who is still racing and has earned $113,570.

Gowestyounggrace is Gracie Gracies third foal and now has $84,176 in earnings, some of which was made while winning last years Maine Sire Stakes freshmen final at Cumberland. Named after that famous Horace Greeley quote Go West, young man, Wards middle name is also Horace, so they put that all together when christening the filly.

She didnt really come around until later in her two-year-old year. It was kind of a slow beginning, but something miraculous happened when we took off her blinders, Ward explained. She could see what Dave was asking of her. Maybe she just needed that human contact. But, after that day, she knew that she was a racehorse.

Ward also noted that driver Dave Ingraham is an excellent colt man so he really helped Angel by teaching her and giving her the confidence that she need to excel.

Ward, himself, also credits this filly as his saving grace. While Ward has been training harness horses for the last five decades, a training accident resulted in Ward hitting the track which resulted in a subdural hematoma, or brain bleed. This happened at the Oxford fairground during the last week in May, when some Canadian geese spooked the colt he was jogging.

Awarded the Iron Man distinction by the Maine Breeders last season, that moniker was put to the test this past month as Ward found himself in the back of the ambulance at Cumberland, two weeks after the training accident.

Grateful, and lucky, that he was at the track and not at the farm when the symptoms manifested, Ward was rushed to Maine Medical and was in the intensive care unit just a few hours after Angel raced and won on June 15. Released a few days later with instructions to take it easy, Ward starting noticing little things and has taken a more holistic approach to life.

I really enjoy every day now. I almost didnt make it, Ward noted.

He is also looking forward to racing the two-year-old full-brother to Gowestyounggrace, named as Gracies Tough Guy, or around the barn known as Satan.

I would never have pulled through this without all of the help and support of the local horse people, Ward noted.

Also a clam digger by trade, folks dont come much tougher than Mainers. And, Mainers dont come much tougher than Fred Ward Jr.

Back jogging horses and improving greatly, the win with Gowestyounggrace in Sundays first division was a graceful reminder of the delicacy of life and importance of good health.

Gowestyounggrace won the first $22,495 Maine Sire Stakes division for three-year-old pacing fillies in 1:57.3 on Sunday (June 30), which was a new lifetime mark. It was also two weeks removed from the day he landed in the hospital. She really is my guardian angel, declared Ward.

The second $22,188 division was captured by Whos Perfect in 1:57.4, who also took a new lifetime mark for her owner breeder Lynne-Marie Plouffe and partners Dick and Patty McKeen. She was driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin.

The Maine Sire Stakes resumes on Wednesday (July 3) at Bangor with the two-year-old filly pacers. Two days later (Friday, July 5) the two-year-old colt and gelding pacers take center stage at First Tracks Cumberland, immediately followed by all the two-year-old trotters on Saturday (July 6).

(Maine Sire Stakes)
As a result of the cancellation of the last two races at Georgian Downs on Sunday, June 30, Ontario Racing was required to postpone the second division of Leg 3A of the three-year-old trotting filly Prospect Series (Race 10).

The second division will now be contested on Sunday, July 7 at Georgian Downs and will go postward as originally drawn.

For additional information, email [email protected].

(Ontario Racing)
Another convention, another weekend filled with various memories, thats what I always say. Alright, so Ive never said that before, but thats my new motto. However, this wasnt just any other con, this was Anime Expo, the biggest anime convention in North America. 50,000 attendees! I cant even begin to fathom that number of people. This years AX was slated to have major guests of honor including the voice actresses from The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, the director of Death Note, and every over-energetic fan girls new favorite band S.K.I.N. These are just a few of the headliners that appeared at this years AX.



From the moment I arrived at the Long Beach Convention Center on Thursday, I could feel the energy of the masses of fans and the sheer size of con. Unfortunately, aside from picking up badges, there was little to do on Day 0. So instead I hung out with nationally renowned con-planner, famous ex con-reporter, and personal friend of mine Ray Nager. We had dinner and swapped stories for the majority of the night. Dear old Ray also generously provided me with a press badge that granted access to many different areas of the con that were normally closed off to the public. After meeting up with The-Os friend Alice Yan to pick up my attendee badge, I retired back to my apartment around 2 am.



Day 1 rolled around quicker than I thought it would. Why? I was asleep, dreaming blissfully about the cute cosplayers I saw the day before, when all of a sudden The-O decides to call meat 6 am. A disgruntled phone conversation later, I found myself getting ready for AX. It had begun. I reached the convention center around 10 due to heavy traffic, and parked my car in some lot quite a ways from the con. After trekking past the crowds of fans in the sweltering heat I made my way to the rendezvous point; the ridiculously large fountain in front of the Performing Arts Center. I couldnt find the group at first, so I happened upon a pair of girls cosplaying as Riku and Aerith; did I mention they were cute, who were keeping cool in the fountain. I asked them how the water was, and they invited me to join them. I woefully declined seeing as I had just found The-O and AMG across the way. Girls if you want to go for a dip anytime let me know ^_^



After we met up, The-O, AMG, and myself joined with WellpaidMercenary, and JDV who were waiting patiently in line for the dealers room to open. Without much else to do, I wandered about taking pictures. One girl in a super sexy awesome Santa outfit let me take her picture and said that my shirt from Threadless (shameless plug) was adorable. I should have gave it to her :\ Anyway eventually the line shifted and we made our way in. As expected, the dealers room was immense with hundreds of different booths including the big names like Bandai, Geneon, Gaia Online, ADV, etc. Also in the mix were a larger number of Japanese companies like Toei Animation. Its hard to recall every booth there, but some that stuck out were Jungle Toys (crazy discounts on swords), Geneon (nice Hellsing theme), and the Broccoli booth, which had cool merchandise along with prizes for each purchase.



Around 1, we all headed out to eat lunch after we dropped off our newly purchased shat in our cars. I also changed into my Teru Mikami from Death Note costume. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, it was hovering around the high 80s all day, and Teru dresses in winter wear, so I was sweating buckets. We all met at Smoothie King for luncherrsmoothies. About an hour later our assembly went off to our respective panels. The-O and AMG to their Hirano, Chihara, and Goto Focus Panel, while JDV, Merch, and myself went to the Bandai Freedom Panel. We arrived a bit early, and I got us in with the press badge. The total number of people that actually went to the panel was around 40; keep in mind that the SKIN concert was also at this time. Anyway, Freedom is a new anime from Bandai, which also happens to be the first HD DVD Anime created. It is a 6 part OVA that features the talents of up and coming director Shuhei Morita, Eureka 7 story director Dai Sato, and character designer Daisuke Sajiki. From what I gleaned during the panel, and later the episode 1 viewing, Freedom is about a group of teenagers who live on the moon base Eden, after the Earth became inhabitable. However, the main character Takeru discovers a hidden secret that could change the human race forever. (watch it).



At the end of the panel the three of us hung out some more at the dealers room, visited the artists alley, and took a ton more pictures. We left the con around 7, and went out to dinner. That was pretty much the end of Day 1.



Day 2, Saturday, came sneaking in quietly. I arrived around 11, but I went with Alice to get her phone fixed. After running around for about an hour looking for the Cingular store we arrived and got our business done. I got back to the con around 1 and I met up with the gang. We spent the majority of our time in the dealers room. There I met up with another group of Death Note cosplayers and we got our pictures taken, that was pretty cool. We also viewed the first episode of Freedom later that day. I thought it was pretty good as a 3D anime. That was pretty much my Saturday, and coincidentally my last day of Anime Expo.



All in all, it was a pretty decent AX. Not the best Ive ever been to, but then again I think the location had a lot to do with it. Also I think with a con of this magnitude, if you dont do your work before hand (cosplay gatherings, joining groups, etc.) you dont tend to get to know that many people. To wrap things up, AX was pretty good; lots of crap to do, lots of crap to buy, lots of nice cosplayers; however, long lines, sheer size, and staff inefficiency kind of outweighed the good parts.


Yesterday, acttil announced their first official project yesterday with news of an upcoming collaboration with TRIGGER to release the Collector's Edition release of Little Witch Academia on Blu-ray this summer. The Collector's Edition will come with one Blu-ray disc, an original soundtrack, and a 112-page art book. TRIGGER will be publishing the disc while acttil handles PR and marketing.

As one of the four titles for Anime Mirai, the Young Animator Training Project, Little Witch Academia revolves around a young girl named Akko Kagari who joins a famous witch academy after she was inspired b the great witch Shiny Chariot when she was younger. The short twenty-six minute episode, which has been compared to by fans with Harry Potter and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, is currently available online on Crunchyroll and on TRIGGER's official YouTube page. Alternatively, you can stream it below.

For fans who will be attending Anime Expo 2013, there will be a Little Witch Academia Fan Event on 7/6 at 2PM featuring script writer Masahiko Otsuka. The event will be open to fifty randomly selected fans who enter acttil's online email contest. Talented up-and-coming voice actress Megumi Han (Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II, The Last of Us), who voiced Akko Kagari, will also be hosting her own panel on 7/5 at 12:15 PM.

For more information about TRIGGER's upcoming release, including how to enter into acttil's Anime Expo 2013 contest, please visit the official English Little Witch Academia website: http://www.acttil.com/littlewitchacademia/

note: Corrected information regarding the upcoming release.
Naruto fans must check out this awesome dance choreography by O-DOG during the Arena 2018 dance competition held on May 20th in Chengdu, China.

O-DOG is a dance crew from Changsha, China in the Hunan province.

Their dance performance earned them 3rd place and featured characters from the series as well as story elements from Naruto Shippuden.

The first Arena competition was held in 2015 in China, and currently hosts competitions in Singapore and in Los Angeles.

Arena Official Homepage:

https://www.arenadancecomp.com/
Every school classroom in Oklahoma will teach about the Bible under a new directive by the States Superintendent, who pledges that he is ready to fight any legal challenges from opponents against his plan.

Republican Ryan Walters, Oklahoma States Superintendent for Public Instruction, and responsible for the oversight of elementary and secondary schools, made the controversial announcement on Thursday (June 27).

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Walters strongly inferred that the decision had been made in opposition to the radical left he accused of wanting to rewrite history in our classrooms.

Walters outlined his reasoning in a video recorded during a State Board of Education meeting, published on X. He said his staff had been looking at the statute and academic standards in Oklahoma, and came to a crystal clear conclusion about the importance of the Bible.

The Bible is a necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of western civilisation, to have an understanding of the basis of our legal system and, as frankly we are talking about the Bible, one of the most foundational documents used for the constitution and birth of our country, said Walters.

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We also find major points in history that reference the Bible. We see multiple figures, rather we are talking about the Federalist papers, constitutional conventional arguments, and Martin Luther King junior, who used it as a tremendous impetus for the Civil Rights Movement. In time, many of those arguments go back to the Bible.

Walters himself worked as a history teacher at McAlester High School in his hometown of McAlester for eight years, and also taught at MillWood High Schools in Oklahoma City. He was named an Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Finalist in 2016 and later became Secretary of Public Education in Sept. 2020 under Governor Kevin Stitt.

Married to Katie, with whom he shares four children, Walters believed in his announcement that it is essential our kids have an understanding of the Bible in its historical context.

So we will be issuing a memo today that every school district will adhere to, which is that every teacher in every classroom in the State will have a Bible in the classroom and will be teaching from the Bible in the classroom, to ensure that this historical understanding is there for every student in the State of Oklahoma, in accordance with our academic standards and State law.

The Oklahoman daily newspaper reported that the decision looked likely to face a court challenge. This is an outcome, the newspaper wrote, that the superintendent has previously welcomed in his quest to bring Oklahomas education system in line with his politically conservative, religiously Christian interpretation of state law.

The memo from Walters reportedly stated that Oklahomas Education Department could provide teaching materials for schools to enable Bible teaching. But the Oklahoman queried which Bible version would be given to schools and who would provide funding.

Critics of the plan have argued that Oklahoma's Constitution specifically forbids spending public funds for a religious purpose, and that his directive would violate that law, the Oklahoman reported.

Phil Bacharach, spokesman for Attorney General Gentner Drummond, told the newspaper that Bibles were already used in the curriculum under current legislation. Oklahoma law already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and enables teachers to use them as a part of instruction," Bacharach reportedly said.

The relationship between religion and school education is a contentious issue in Oklahoma.

On Tuesday (June 25), Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled against the approval of public charter school status to St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, following a petition filed by the States Republican attorney general, Gentner Drummond.

The school had successfully applied to Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board to be administered by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. It would have allowed the Catholic faith to be applied into every aspect of the school, according to the original application.

In the concluding remarks, the courts judges ruled that the charter school is a public school under Oklahomas law.

As such, a charter school must be nonsectarian. However, St. Isidore will evangelize the Catholic faith as part of its school curriculum while Sponsored by the State, said the judges in the concluding remarks.

This State's establishment of a religious charter school violates Oklahoma statutes, the Oklahoma Constitution, and the Establishment Clause.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called the courts overturning of the Boards decision a win for the separation of church and state.

The decision affirms what we already knew: A religious school cant be a public school, and a public school cant be religious, said ACLU in a press release.



Despite warnings from the Oklahoma attorney general, education groups, and civil rights organizations that public schoolsincluding charter schoolscannot legally teach a religious curriculum or discriminate against students and employees, the Virtual Charter School Board approved St. Isidores application and entered into an agreement allowing the school to begin operating for the upcoming school year.



"Today, in ordering the state board to rescind its contract with St. Isidore, the Oklahoma Supreme Court sent a pointed message: Our public schools are for education, not evangelizing.

However, the State Superintendent has opposed the ruling, saying on X the same day (June 25) that he held the firm belief that once again the Oklahoma Supreme Court got it wrong.

The words separation of church and state do not appear in our Constitution, and it is outrageous that the Oklahoma Supreme Court misunderstood key cases involving the First Amendment and sanctioned discrimination against Christians based solely on their faith. Oklahomans have demanded school choice not religious targeting, Walters said.

I agree with the dissent because nothing about the State of Oklahoma contracting for educational services for students in the form of a charter school violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and the enrollment demand at St. Isidore proves that Oklahoma parents want more choices for their kids educations  not fewer.

The ruling subsequently cannot and must not stand, according to Walters who pledged a legal challenge.

There will be additional legal action in support of those parents and the millions of Oklahomans who believe deeply in religious liberty, and I will never stop fighting for Oklahomans constitutional, God-given right to express their religious belief.
As we posted earlier, BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! joined together with Los Angeles' Cafe Dulce for a collaboration cafe event. Cafe events are standard in Japan and if you go to Akihabara you'll probably run into more than a few just walking around. If you can think of a franchise, it probably had a cafe. Because of COVID19 we unfortunately did not get the full cafe treatment with art displays, ambience, and a lot more goods to buy. To make up for it we did get something a little more unique - a Zoom call with none other than Poppin'Party's own Aimi (voice of Kasumi Toyama) and Ayasa Ito (voice of Arisa Ichigaya).

Like any good BanG Dream! fan I was ready to join that Zoom call, hell or high water. Because of my work schedule I would sadly be unable to interact (or even be on camera; I would have very obviously been distracted). All attendees were muted minus the two guests and Joanna, our moderator and MC for the evening. I did see many faces amongst the Zoom crowd that I recognized. As for me? I was a box with our logo on it.

Both Aimi and Ito-san are no strangers to American fans; the pair have visited America for previous events like Bushiroad's CharaExpo which has been held in Anaheim for the past two years. Given the timing of the cafe it's possible we could have seen them in Los Angeles for Anime Expo but, here we are.

Poppin'Party's second album, Breakthrough, was released last month. It is now available on Spotify and Apple Music for streaming. This event served somewhat as a heads-up to fans that it was now available for listening and purchase.

Part of the Zoom call was dedicated to an interactive quiz with Aimi and Ito-san as the test-takers. Attendees were provided with various colored backgrounds to join in with. As a bit of encouragement, if Aimi and Ito-san were able to get six correct answers, they would get some delicious sweets from Cafe Dulce upon returning to Los Angeles (2021, perhaps?). If they get all ten correct, In-n-Out was the prize. The girls came through with flying colors and earned those hamburgers.

Next up was a short Q&A with audience-provided questions.

I love what you do in Poppin'Party. What is your favorite song to play live as a band?

AIMI: My favorite song is "Kizuna Music?." When I'm performing the song, I feel a bond with the band. It reminds me of the anime and brings me to tears.

ITO: My favorite is "Teardrops." It's a really good song and from [my position in] the back of the stage I can see the cool side of each member.

What have you done to entertain yourself during quarantine?

AIMI: Lots of YouTube. I watched lots of concert videos and they helped keep me happy. Me and Ito also became YouTubers.

ITO: I love whipped cream so I bought many different brands of it. I researched the best way to eat whipped cream.

What are your favorite memories of each other?

AIMI: I've stayed at Ayasa-chan's house many times. She's stayed at mine too.

ITO: We spend a lot of time together but there was one time that stands out for me. I once dyed my hair and didn't think it went well. Aimi said, "oh, that looks good." That's one of my favorite memories.

What do you like the most about your character?

AIMI: My favorite part of Kasumi is how she can be friends with everybody. She's really good at making friends and I respect that. I wish I could be more like her.

ITO: My favorite part is that even though Arisa is a tsundere, she can honestly say anyting that's on her mind.

Would you sing the POPIPA chant for us? Thank you for giving us smiles and laughs with your characters all the time.

Both Aimi and Ito-san were happy to perform.

A few prizes were then selected for distribution to a few lucky fans including Weiss Schwartz decks and acrylic keychains featuring various BanG Dream! characters

At the end of the event, everyone present did the Zoom-equivalent of a group photo that you might see at the end of a concert or panel.

In a way this Zoom call was more intimate than your normal convention panel. Even though there was north of 200 attendees we all got a front-row seat to the event and each had the potential to be noticed by the guests. I'm sure it was a nice change for people to not have to wait hours in order to get the closest seats. Just roll on up to your computer or phone in the comfort of your home, log in, and voila. There you are. Some attendees were in plainclothes. Some were in their best cosplay. It was a microcosm of what you would see at a convention.

The guests had a few parting words:

AIMI: Thank you everyone. I enjoyed it a lot. I hope to see you all in person in LA! One day I would like to visit LA for a concert and eat at Cafe Dulce while I'm there.

ITO: It was very fun. Even though it was an online talk show I was happy to see everyone's faces one by one. The collaboration donuts look delicious and I wish I could go to LA to try them!

With that, most of us signed off. About a dozen of us were held back for a short press junket. Questions had been pre-screened and selected ahead of time and are as follows.

How did you feel about the virtual talk show?

AIMI: This is my first time doing an online event like this one but I had a lot of fun just like any other panel I've done in the past. All the fans are warm and kind. It was as comfortable as any other panel I've taken part in.

ITO: This is also my first online event. It was really interesting being able to see everyone's homes. I could see where they live and what their rooms look like. It was sweet seeing everyone's plushies and how they suport us. That was unique for an online event; I really enjoyed it.

Side note: one of my friends had asked me "can they see us?" Yes, yes they can.

What did you think about the cafe's menu items?

AIMI: They were different from the ones in Japan. They all looked really delicious. The designs were cute and if I saw one in store I would definitely buy them. Donuts are a very American sort of thing to have in a collaboration.

ITO: The donuts had colors you don't see in Japan. They were very unique. I'm curious to see what kind of collaboration events would be possible around the rest of the world.

Your latest album, "Breakthrough," just released. What is your favorite song on the album?

AIMI: I really enjoyed recording "Mirai Train." The lyrics really show Kasumi's growth as a character.

ITO: I really enjoyed "Hello! Wink!" That's one of those songs that gets you energized and has a high-tension feel to it. That's definitely my favorite.

Do you have any special memories from working on it (the "Breakthrough" album)?

AIMI: It describes the evolution of the members and their growth. Not just the lyrics but the growth of everyone in their skills as performers.

ITO: When we recorded the music video we had to travel to overseas. It was the first time this year for me to travel. It was also the first time where it was just all five of us traveling. That was a good memory for me.

This is the first BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cafe event held in the U.S. As BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! has really risen in popularity across the world, and weve even seen collaborations, like the song Baby Shark, come exclusively to the global version of the mobile game. What are your thoughts on the increasingly global nature of the franchise? Are there any new ways youd like to see BanG Dream! brought overseas?

AIMI: I really like traveling overseas so I love the feeling of globalization. I'm a global kind of person. I think it's really great that the franchise is spreading around the world. Recently I've been appearing on TV music programs and maybe I can someday be on an overseas TV music program. That would be awesome.

ITO: When I was looking at everyone's screen [during the Zoom call] I saw everyone's room and all the kinds of people from all over. They were cheering us on, holding plushies, and showing that they love and support this franchise. That shows just how far this franchise has reached. Something I would like to do is cover American pop songs.

At CharaExpo USA 2019, Aimi and Sae Otsuka came up with a fun name for their pair of characters in Poppin'Party. What title would you give Kasumi and Arisa as a duo?

AIMI: We (Aimi and Sae Otsuka) kind of wanted to change the name from "Sexy Two" to "Kira Kira Doki Doki Hanazono Land." Something like that.

ITO: Usually we connect our names together but maybe..

AIMI: Beauty Flower?

ITO: Colorful flower? Colorful sound? (thinking about the kanji - colorful)

ITO: Maybe sand. My parents said the meaning might be sand. Colorful sand?

AIMI: How about Kansai-ben? Dialect? Happy dialect? Something like that? Because we both speak in the Kansai dialect. Happy speak? *laughs*

You two have been working together on anime/music projects for a while now. What are some changes and improvements in abilities you've noticed in each other over the years?

AIMI: I've known Ayasa since she was much younger. Over the years I've noticed that she's been able to notice a lot more and sense a lot more of people's needs around her.

ITO: I've noticed that Aimi's expressions for her emotions have become much more clear. She's also able to bring out the more subtle things during her performances.

AIMI: Yeah. Another thing I've noticed about Ayasa is that she's really good at noticing emotional things and experiences.

Aside from the instruments you play in Poppin'Party, are there any other instruments youre interested in playing, or learning to play?

AIMI: Drums. I think my personality would go well with the persona of supporting the other members from the back. Drummers are able to support the people at the front of the stage. I've been doing the opposite of that since I'm the main vocalist and guitar player. As a drummer I would be able to support them from behind.

ITO: I'd play the drums, too. Currently I play the keyboard. Each key is very small and I don't move as much as I would if I were playing the drums. I would be able to freely move around and use my body more. I think it would be more freeing as a performer. (Side note: maybe she should explore the keytar?)

Are there any projects you're working on or have coming up that you can tell us about that you're looking forward to?

AIMI: Currently we are rehearsing for a live performance (BanG Dream! 8th?LIVE which will take place August 21-23 and October 8-9 in Japan). I hope we'll be able to perform.

ITO: I'm really looking forward to Poppin'Party's next original song.

You previously have been guests at Bushiroads Grand Festival and CharaExpo events here in the US. What was the experience like being able to meet the fans here in the US?

AIMI: Everyone's very nice. I like to do puns in English and people laugh and have a great time. Everyone reacts really well.

ITO: One thing I've noticed is that the fans are extremely passionate. I can feel the heat at these events. They sing along with us and they're almost as loud as Aimi is. That makes us very happy, to feel their dedication.

If you were to be invited to another convention or Bushiroad event in the US in the future, what city have you been interested in visiting?

AIMI: New York. I'm a big American comics fan and I visualize the character being in New York, that kind of thing. I definitely want to visit the landmarks I see in the movies.

ITO: I want to go to Broadway. Theater, musicals, that sort of thing. I'd like to attend an actual performance on Broadway.

Aimi has been to the US multiple times so far. Ayasa, did you receive any gifts from her? If so, what was it?

ITO: Every time she goes to the US I get something from her. The last time she went I got socks. All the popipa members got socks and they were really cute but they ended up being mens' sizes. They were colorful and decorative but were too big.

Another thing I remember is that she got us some perfume in the US. Travel size bottles for all five of us.

AIMI: I got the socks from a mall in Hollywood. It was a big mall and that's where the store which I bought the perfumes was too.

Aimi, we last saw you in America at December's Chara Expo event (2019). You, along with the rest of Popipa, were also present at the 2018 event. What have you noticed in terms of the evolution of American fans?

AIMI: I think there were a lot more fans there in 2019. There were a lot more people at the performance and a lot more people in cosplay. Even the goods and the merch (t-shirts, towels, etc) that people were carrying were more numerous.

The BanG Dream! event focuses heavily around desserts and sweets. Do you two have any favorite desserts or sweets?

ITO: I really enjoy sweets and desserts a lot. It's hard for me to just choose one. If I had to, it would be pancakes. Even when we went to Guam, I had pancakes for breakfast.

AIMI: Mine is definitely French toast. It's because you can easily make it yourself. I like it so much that I can use three slices of bread to make French toast and I can eat it all.

And with that the night truly ended. It might have been short but it was very sweet, much like Poppin' Party's music and the delicacies of Cafe Dulce.

For more information about BanG Dream! please visit:

BanG Dream! English Official Website:

https://en.bang-dream.com/

BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Official Twitter:

https://twitter.com/bangdreamgbp_en

BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Official Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bangdreamgbp_en/

BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Official Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/BanGDreamGBP/

BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Official YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPityslSknKsWUq9iy8p9fw

Times are tough, but so is humanity. We'll see you all in person next year.
With the release of the live action Full Metal Alchemist movie earlier this month in Japan, hear what Director Fumihiko Sori and actor Ryosuke Yamada had to say about the film behind closed doors at their press conference earlier this year at Anime Expo 2017. Due to popular demand, we have also released a raw portion of the conference video on the bottom after the transcript.

Note: Questions were asked by various members of the press in attendance. Minor grammatical corrections have been made to some of the questions.

What was the most memorable scene, or perhaps the scene that you spent the most effort in?

Yamada: I put a lot of effort into all the scenes, but if I were to choose, it would have to be the scenes with Alphonse. All the staff and the casts put a lot of passion into these scenes and I believe they came out very well.

This is for Director Sori, what was the biggest challenge in blending the animation into a live action movie?

Sori: The CG in Japan is growing to the level of Hollywood movies, so blending a 3D image with a live person, such as Yamada-kun isnt the hard part. Creating feelings about how to connect the 3D image is the hardest part. There was actually an actor who played Alphonse in the movie which allowed us to capture the feelings of the character. This made the movie come to life.

This is for Director Sori, do you think live action offers something different than animation and what would that be?

Sori: Live action allows the actors to show their feelings more visually than animation does. It also allows us to see the deeper parts of that character and focus more on them. You can also change your facial expressions, and those little changes will allow us to change the entire scene. Unlike animation, you can reflect your expressions and feelings through those changes which makes it more interesting.

This is for Yamada. What are the similarities with your character Ed, and if not Ed, which character do you think has the most similarities to you?

Yamada: The height is the biggest factor, but also in Japan, I am known to have a baby face. People think I am a shy or calm person. Ed, on the other hand, is different. He uses more aggressive words and I am actually similar to him in those regards. I am more manly than people think. If there are any differences, I think that is a hard question because I am very similar to Ed. There really isnt any other character that is similar to me, and Im not saying that because I play Ed, but because again, Ed and I are very similar.

Since you are so similar to Ed, how did you get into the mindset of portraying yourself to play a character that has experienced so much tragedy and dedicated his life to bringing back his brothers body?

Yamada: I read the manga many, many times, and tried relating myself to him. But I also drew influences from the set and I tried to naturally act as the character. So preparations-wise I didnt do anything special for it. I tried to act as naturally as possible.

What are some of the differences between adapting a live-action movie from a manga series, such as Ping Pong which doesnt have any anime series, to creating something that has two anime series like Full Metal Alchemist?

Sori: There really arent any differences. Full Metal Alchemist has an amazing storyline just like Ping Pong and its just the difference between having to use any visual effects or not. It all just comes down to the original narrative.

The Japanese cinemas are set to release the movie on December 1st, but are there any plans to releasing the movie here in America?

Sori: We actually dont know.

This is for Yamada, what are the differences you experienced from acting between the movie Assassination Classroom to Full Metal Alchemist? One might be more action-based to the other more school-based. Can you please compare your role as Nagisa to Ed?

Yamada: The two mangas are very different. Nagisa was more of a girly guy, more shy and quiet. Ed is more outgoing and a man within a man, so they were very different types and I have never really compared the characters before.

In this story, there is Alchemy's First Law of Equivalent Exchange. Is there anything in the world that you would exchange for losing a part of your body?

Yamada: I may be exaggerating it, but the cast and the staff have tried to treasure the original manga as much as possible so if I were to say one thing, I just hope that there will be as many people as possible to watch the movie and enjoy it.

This is for Yamada, you do many things such as acting and singing in an idol group. How do you balance these roles and do you think you will take on more acting in the future?

Yamada: Working as an idol and working as an actor are very different types of jobs. I think as an idol you need to push yourself forward, but when you are acting, at times you need to push yourself back. I like myself as an idol, but I do also like acting. Thankfully I have 9 members in my group so I can watch the balance between them all and try my best to continue doing both jobs.

Both of you are award-winning film artists. So how do you express yourself artistically in the adaptation of a live-action movie from the original works?

Yamada: I tried to use all my skills in this movie, and I think there were even scenes of myself that I have never seen before. I think that is the most exciting part about acting because there really arent any other opportunities that you can see another part of yourself. I just hope that part will be expressed to the viewers.

Sori: I really like action and visual effects, but I dont think that is the main part of the movie. The balance of acting and the visual effects is what creates the movie and that is main part that I focus on the most. I think this movie portrays that the most and it came out very well.

This is for Yamada, are there any rituals that you do before acting in your works?

Yamada: It really depends on the scenes, but if the scene requires me to put more feeling into it, I go into dark places. There was a scene in this movie as well, and I went to that place and stayed there for about 1 to 2 minutes and changed my mindset and came back in front of the cameras.

This is for Director Sori, in the panel, you stated that you wanted to create movies that have the visual effects from American movies, such as the recent superhero movies. What aspects would you like to bring to the Japanese films?

Sori: Recently, American comic books have been remade into live-action movies and I believe they are very faithful to the original series. I think they expressed the cultural aspects the right way, but when Japanese comics are adapted into American movies, I feel there are cultural differences in the stories. Full Metal Alchemist isnt set in Japan, but contains a lot of Japanese cultural ideas. I think if it was to be made here in America, it could be a good movie as well; however, being created by a Japanese team, I think we have caught the nuances as much as possible and this movie will express our greatest efforts.

Full Metal Alchemist has been a beloved series for a very long time. Why do you think it has been a loved series and what was the biggest reason why you wanted to recreate this into a live action movie?

Sori: I believe this series is loved by many and we were given the opportunity to recreate it into a live action film. This movie is not just about action but more about the human feelings and the mechanics behind it. It goes deeper than other stories, so I think it is appropriate to be remade into a live action movie. I also believe that it will appeal to people who have seen the animation. I want to create a bigger fanbase by attracting other people who have never seen the series by having them watch the movie and like the series from a different viewpoint.

This is for Director Sori. During the panel you had stated there is an interest in creating a part 2, but by the end of the panel you had stated, I look forward to part 2. Is there any confirmation about part 2?

Sori: We really look forward to this, but if enough fans out there watch the movie, we hope this will be a confirmed project.

This is for Yamada. You have many fans, not just in Japan, but also internationally. How do you feel about this and where do you want to take it from here?

Yamada: This makes me really happy. I have done concerts in Asia, and this is my first time in America. This makes me really happy that we can go globally with this.

For this movie, you shot scenes in Italy. Were there any cultural differences that surprised you?

Yamada: In Japan, it is normal to shoot from morning to night. Im not too sure if it is a cultural shock or anything, but when we were overseas, there werent any nonstop filming from day to night. The staff there were very surprised and that made us surprised too because of the differences. The movie isnt created by just the Japanese staff, but there were additional Italian staff as well, creating a bond with them. Creating the sets and scenes together made me feel motivated to create a better movie.

This is for Director Sori. You stated you wanted to create something similar to the original series, but how did you incorporate your own style into the film?

Sori: Balance is the most important part of this movie. If you add just the visual effects, it will be a very simple and boring movie, and I did not want that. The theme that I created was a mixture of visuals and emotions, and that is what I like about my style. I hope this film expresses it.

Are there any background stories that you could share that happened behind the scenes?

Yamada: Director Sori looks to be a kind and sweet director, but I do understand this is very important, and he never gives up. It was a lot of work, but until he gets a scene that he approves, we must redo it as much as possible until we get his okay.

Sori: In the movie, there is a scene where Yamada-kun jumps off a very high cliff. and he actually had to jump off of it himself. There was a mattress but the cliff is higher than this ceiling, and of course usually you will rehearse or practice such a scene first before the real shoot. This scene was shot outside and there was a stuntman who tried it out first and of course it took a while to get it in the right way. So finally when the mattress came out and it was Yamada-kuns turn, we advised that he practiced a few times, but he said, No, no practice. We ended up filming the scene on the first try and he had to run 25 meters and jump. The scene was a great shot and it only took that one time to film it. Even Tom Cruise wouldnt be able to do this. Please look forward to it.
Finally, after much anticipated waiting, fans are rejoicing for the 2nd season of Haganai (Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai). Confirmed on the official Haganai Twitter account, production on the 2nd season has finally been green-lit. It will probably be at least a solid 6-months before we see the 2nd season airing on the Japanese broadcast channels, so it is still a ways off.



Seeing that Funimation and Niconico streamed the 1st season as it aired in Japan, we most likely will see a similar deal go down for the 2nd season.



For those who are not familiar with Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, it originated as a series of light novels that revolve around a transfer student named Kodaka and a girl named Yozora. The two decide to form a club called 'The Neighbors' Club', specifically designed for people who don't have very many friends.
LAWSON, a chain of convenience stores in Japan, just announced their latest campaign which starts next week. It's a number of goods from the series A Certain Magical Index (Toaru Majutsu no Index). The top prize (10 winners), is a plush of Index that looks like it's biting your head. Second prize (another 10 winners) is a pajama set in the style matching that which Mikoto Misaka wears in the show. In all, 12,000 prizes are being given out in this campaign.

For this raffle you purchase the campaign items (usually bottled drinks) and enter the code on the receipt at the website to get points, which you spend on raffle entries. Knowing the spending habits of the average hardcore otaku, I'm sure campaigns like this raise a lot of money for LAWSON and the drink companies, and I don't blame them. If they had a similar campaign here in the states, I'd join in.

The campaign site is at: http://lwp.jp/toaru/campaign/static/toaru/
Seis Manos is a new Netflix original anime series releasing on Oct 3rd worldwide. This series is a collaboration between Viz Media and Powerhouse Animation Studios and features a voice cast with primarily Latino heritage. The-O Network was invited to an early screening of the first two episodes held in Los Angeles that included a brief Q&A with some of the voice actors in the show.

What is the premise of Seis Manos? It is a simple one: getting revenge on zombies with kung fu. In the small town of San Simon in the 1970s, three orphans are trained in Chinese martial arts by their sifu master Chiu. Suddenly, their master killed by some zombies, and the orphans join an American DEA agent and a Mexican police officer to avenge his death.

This Mexicanime, as described by the cast and production team of the series [Brad Graeber, Daniel Dominguez, Angelica Vale, Jonny Cruz, Vico Chao, Carl Thiel], has a few influences behind it. Imagine taking the mystical elements from the Jackie-chan Adventures cartoon, the zombies from Night of the Living Dead, the animation style from The Boondocks, combining them together, and you get Seis Manos. The series also appears to pay homage to martial arts movies by featuring cast names in Chinese during the introduction, similar to films made by Shaw Brothers Studios. The creators also gave their nod to blaxploitation films in the character Brister, a DEA agent of African American, descent voiced by Mike Colter. Brister reminds me of Shaft from the 1970s along with his humor.

While overall the visuals are appealing, some of the animation sequences appear distractingly choppy as if they are missing some in-between frames or having a low FPS (frames per second). This is not to be mistaken with the grainy video effect as seen in the beginning of the episode during the flashback, similar to grindhouse-style films.

This series might seem confusing but trust me, its not a SYFY channel original movie. I personally loved how they paid homage to the Shaw Brothers films with the title Seis Manos which follows their naming format. I also enjoyed the fighting sequences in which the orphan students demonstrated different styles of kung fu just like old martial arts movies. Combining that with original music created by composer Carl Thiel (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, and Machete Kills) makes this a multi-layered series, which can arguably be good or bad. I definitely suggest giving this series a chance by watching the first few episodes.



Seis Manos will be available on Netflix on October 3, 2019 and will be available in English and Spanish audio.

http://netflix.com/seismanos
Over the weekend in response to the overwhelming success of the Little Witch Academia 2 Kickstarter campaign, the president of Animation Studio TRIGGER, Masahiko Otsuka was overjoyed by the support the fans and released a statement:

The pledged amount was well over what we expected, and we cannot thank everyone enough who supported the Little Witch Academia 2 project on Kickstarter. At the same time, we definitely feel the pressure because we have to respond to this new challenge with our title. Weve received the baton from our fans. We are ready to run as fast as we can, baton in hand!

The original Kickstarter goal was $150,000 but raised over $625,000 with over 7,938 backers. Little Witch Academia 2 is estimated to enter the production phase in 2014. Full press release inside.

LOS ANGELES, CA., August 9, 2013 - acttil is honored to announce, on behalf of the animation studio TRIGGER, that

TRIGGERs Kickstarter project, Little Witch Academia Episode 2 (tentative title), was able to reach an amazing

$625,000 within a single month, all thanks to fans around the world. The Kickstarter for Little Witch Academia Episode 2 started on July 9, 2013 and ended on August 8, 2013. There were 7,938 backers, and the final total of $625,000 is well over the initial goal of $150,000. The initial goal of $150,000 was reached in just 6 hours! TRIGGER will utilize the pledged amount for the production of a 40-minute Little Witch Academia 2 animation, as well as issue rewards to backers. Little Witch Academia 2 will go into production in 2014.



The pledged amount was well over what we expected, and we cannot thank everyone enough who supported the Little Witch Academia 2 project on Kickstarter. At the same time, we definitely feel the pressure because we have to respond to this new challenge with our title. The president of Animation Studio TRIGGER, Masahiko Otsuka, was overjoyed by the support of the fans. Weve received the baton from our fans. We are ready to run as fast as we can, baton in hand!



Little Witch Academia was produced by TRIGGER as one of the four titles for Anime Mirai, the Young Animator Training Project, whose purpose is to inspire, train, and energize young animators in the Japanese anime industry. After showcasing the trailers and full episode of Little Witch Academia in the Spring of 2013, not only was it well-received in Japan, but it has also become a surprise hit with anime fans in the West.

Story

Akko Kagari is an ordinary girl who joins the renowned witch academy for witch girls, Luna Nova Academy. When she was younger, she went to Magical Festa, a magic show hosted by a witch named Shiny Chariot. Akko was so mesmerized and inspired by Shiny Chariot's performance that she dreamed to someday be a "cool" witch like her. This young and impressionable Akko takes Shiny Chariot's words as her own motto: "Never forget, a believing heart is your magic. As part of a class, Akko and her classmates go into a labyrinth under the Tower of Luna Nova. There, a sealed ancient dragon was unleashed by one of her classmates. Akko tries to stop the dragon, but

For more information about Little Witch Academia 2 and Little Witch Academia Collectors Edition,

visit www.littlewitchacademia.com!

Anime Production, Publisher TRIGGER, Inc., is an animation studio founded by former GAINAX employees Masahiko Otsuka and Hiroyuki Imaishi in August of 2011. If an anime title is like a bullet, we would like to be the trigger that helps propel that bullet forward, said the founders of TRIGGER. They are best known for Inferno Cop, Little Witch Academia, and are now working on KILL la KILL, their first anime series for television.

Ultra Super Pictures is an animation production company, which was established in August, 2011 by a full CG animation studio, Sanzigen, a rising animation studio, TRIGGER, Ordet., and Liden Films. TRIGGERs KILL La KILL and Sanzigens Arpeggio of Blue Steel will be aired in fall of 2013. Ordets Wake Up, Girls! will be aired and open in theaters in spring of 2014. Please look forward to the amazing line-up of Ultra Super Pictures!
NIS America may be new to releasing anime, but they are no stranger when it comes to bundling their products with extra goodies. The company released on Wednesday some of the first pictures of their English DVD release for Toradora! and Persona -trinity soul-. Both box sets with come with 2 DVDs totalling to 13 episodes with a bonus hard cover information book filled with interviews, artwork, character summaries, and more! Interested buyers can preorder them now from NIS America's online store for a discounted $47.99 which supposedly comes with a bonus poster.

Both sets are slated to be released in early July coinciding interestingly enough with Anime Expo. We're sure NIS America has very good reasons to release then. More information on that later, pictures of the bundle inside!
Way back during the Nineties when the VHS was king and not Blu-Ray/DVD, there were tons of classic and beloved anime that were released into the United States. One particular series, Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, holds a special place in my heart as one of the first anime series I really got into and one of my personal favorites. It is also perhaps one of the first anime brought over here to the West to incite the cyberpunk genre fandom for English speaking audiences.

Originally released in 1999 by the now defunct ADV Films, Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 takes place in Tokyo in the year 2040 (yes, Im sure you all are shocked to hear this) in a time where robots are commonplace in Japan. These robots called Boomers are in charge of all the undesirable tasks that their human masters assign to them. However, there has been a rise in rogue Boomers that malfunction and cause havoc in Tokyo leading to the establishment of the A.D. Police and the appearance of the mysterious underground group called the Knight Sabers. A young office worker, Linna Yamazaki, seeks to join the elusive Knight Sabers and rid the city of the growing number of rogue Boomers.

Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 is actually a remake of a 1987 cyberpunk anime OVA called Bubblegum Crisis. The original OVA was cut short due to budgeting issues, leaving many questions unanswered and a lack of character depth or development. Thankfully, Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 includes more than just a quick glance over different characters and has an actual ending (kinda) unlike its predecessor. However, fans of the OVA may be turned off by changes in the series' characters in terms of designs and personalities. The main designs of the Hardsuits, the name of the cybernetic suits used by the Knight Sabers, drawn by Kenichi Sonoda are still there, but the civilian forms of the Knight Sabers as well as other members of the cast are redrawn into a more "modern" look (similar to series such as Gundam Wing and any other anime of that time).

The strong point of Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 is its storytelling which keeps you entertained with its darker episodes. For those of you who love action, there is plenty of it, as almost every episode has an awesome battle involving girls in awesome robot suits kicking robot butt. This series began off as sort of episodic in nature, but goes away from that sort of storytelling as you get into the meat of the story. Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040's ending left me feeling a little happy and a little sad. While the story actually did conclude, we still received a sort of open-ended ending which leaves us to wonder the fates of the Knight Sabers afterward, despite humanity being saved. That said though, it is not as bad as it could have been and it certainly isn't as bad as the OVA.

Unfortunately, though, the series is not without its flaws. Some plot holes do exist. I mean, seriously, if some of your robots start killing civilians for a while, dont you think you should stop making them? Because it certainly seems like a common enough occurrence since they even have a police force (who are completely useless by the way) to fight them. I found a few episodes to be really unneeded and a bit boring. Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 could have easily made do with about 13 episodes instead of 26. However, like I said previously, we do get more character development due to having a longer series.

One particularly rare thing for me is to like English dub casts. The English voice cast actually did a good job and certainly portrayed their characters well. Understandably though, Priss singing was a little sub-par since they had to translate lyrics from Japanese to English and fit the mouth flaps at the same time.

Special features on the complete series classic collection are lacking. It seems nowadays were only given clean openings and ending animations as special features. My collection that I had bought before this set was chock full of bonus features such as voice actor commentaries, character bios, character sketches, vehicle technology, voice actress profiles, interviews with the English voice actresses, as well as clean opening and closing animations. Needless to say I was disappointed in this collections offering (opening/closing animation, advertisements). I do appreciate not have fifteen minutes (well it seemed that long to me anyways) of ADV commercials on this set though.

In conclusion, those who are familiar with the OVA, you may want to stay away. However, those of you who are willing to try the reboot may end up liking it, like I did. Just be prepared for some changes.

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher
From the creative minds behind Last Exile comes a new animation centered around the struggles of citizens of a futuristic Japan that is slowly being engulfed by an out of control forest. Shangri-La was released by FUNimation Entertainment on August 21, 2012 as a two part limited edition set. The series was previously simulcasted on streaming sites such as Crunchyroll. Director Makoto Bessho, writer Hiroshi Omogi, and character designer Range Murata all contributed to this sci-fi animation.

In a post-apocalyptic Japan, where forests have engulfed the earth and the economy is ruled by a Carbon market (due to rampant growth of the world's forests, carbon is heavily regulated) there is one place where all citizens wish to live, Atlas. However, the city is not open to all and access is only gained via lottery. While citizens in Atlas live a peaceful life, those who live outside its walls face many hazards such as hail that rains down with the force of missiles. The group called Metal Age, lead by Kuniko Hojo, aim to make it so that everyone can live safely within the walls of Atlas.

Shangri-La's plot is intriguing, however, as the story went on I was extremely confused with the constant plot changes added to the story. Most of the questions that pop up as you watch the episodes go unanswered or have vague answers. While I really liked the setting and the characters, it was a bit of a challenge to discern what exactly was going on in the anime, especially when it came to the Carbon market. Since the earth's resources are dwindling, a new market has replaced the stock exchange. Aptly named the Carbon market, each country's well-being is measured by the amount of carbon they produce; the less, the better. Karin, a Carbon market analyst, specializes in the market, but it is very hard to follow her terminology.

The series explores somewhat complex topics such as global warming, and they are to draw older fans and others who are interested in these types of storylines. Thankfully the pacing of the series is still decent despite the massive amounts of information that you receive throughout Shangri-La. The series' first episode contains plenty of action, which is expected of an anime that includes rebels fighting a dominant power. Shangri-La's ending was decent, although somewhat disappointing given how much action is in the series.

Shangri-La's character development was quite impressive. Many of the minor side characters actually get a decent amount of screen time and development which really impressed me. Sadly, the most impressive character development in the series was Miko's. Miiko is a transgendered individual who wishes to live lavishly in Atlas, but is thrust into the role of Mikuni's, a young royal girl who is somewhat sadistic, caretaker upon arrival. She grows from being selfish to a warm-hearted and sincere individual. Karin's transformation from a secluded little girl to a slightly more outgoing individual also is a nice development. In contrast, Kumiko, the main character, has a less dramatic character arc that goes from being a rebellious girl to a rebellious rebellion leader.

As far as special features go, Shangri-La offers a nice selection of episode commentaries featuring a few of the voice actors from the English dub as well as a bunch of previews for upcoming releases by FUNimation. Also included are your usual selection of clean opening and ending animations.

Overall, Shangri-La is great for fans of Gonzo's previous works though its storyline definitely is more complex than Last Exile. Those who are more interested and able to fully understand concepts such as world markets and the effects of global warming will enjoy this series. Unfortunately, the fast pace at which you are given copious amounts of detailed information and the lack of clear answers to big questions makes Shangri-La an anime that probably will not have a wide audience.

Pros:

-character development

-voice actor commentary

-complex storyline, interesting setting

Cons:

- main character doesn't have much character development

- too much information given to you at once and unclear answers to questions

-carbon market concept may be a little too complex for younger audiences to understand or take interest in

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the distributor

Images copyrighted: FUNimation/Gonzo


I apologizing for not updating sooner, the staff was completely exhausted after day 3 of Comiket, and then immediately training for over an hour to Chofu in Tokyo for a press event. Essentially, Dwango, the parent company of Japan's largest video site, Nico Nico Douga, invited roughly close to about 100 of their premium members to a Billy Herrington event.

Goodsmile Company was also there to announce a few new Figmas of Billy. We'll have the full coverage report later with plenty of photos as well as some video we recorded of the event. We actually got lost a few times before finally finding the place by turning on the data roaming option on my phone and downloading a map.

As for Comiket itself, day 3 the entire staff split up and met back in the afternoon. Surprisingly, we got the chance to meet with artist Inu, who is probably best known for creating the original doujinshi, Hatsu Inu. Inu-sensei was very pleased to know that he had fans in America and thanked everyone who enjoy his works. Look forward to a future interview by us with Inu-sensei coming soon!

Today was a resting day, as half the staff woke up past 12PM. We dropped by Akihabara for a quick visit to see some of the stuff we may have missed at Comiket. To our surprise, the streets were packed with people carrying bags we saw at Comiket. Stores that sell doujins were fully packed with people pushing and bumping into each other just like at Comiket. There was even a line to gain entrance into the doujin floors of the anime store Toranoana complete with a person carrying a sign for the end of the line, again just like Comiket. We also went back to visit the floors we missed at the 2nd hand anime store, Mandarake, and surprisingly I finally found the item I spent a week so far looking for in Tokyo. Lets just say I am finished with my purchases and am not looking forward to figuring out how to pack everything back.

We will be heading off to Kyoto and Osaka for the next few days and will be back in time to cover Animelo's 10th anniversary and possibly the Gundam Big Expo. We are still working out the details currently on doing some coverage on the Ghibli's Museum. We'll keep you updated on that later. Until then, stay tuned!
India, Pakistan exchange list of prisoners: New Delhi

Xinhua) 09:54, July 02, 2024

NEW DELHI, July 1 (Xinhua) -- New Delhi and Islamabad on Monday exchanged a list of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's jails, officials said.

The exchange was carried out through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, India's foreign ministry said.

According to the ministry, the exchange was done in keeping with the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008 under which such lists are exchanged every year on Jan. 1 and July 1.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The recent Southern Baptist Convention held in Indianapolis, IN adopted a resolution addressing the dignity of the human embryo and the ethical implications of widely used reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). The resolution, directed primarily at pastors, ministry leaders, and couples, urges careful deliberation before engaging in reproductive technologies, a topic that has long been debated within the Southern Baptist community and the broader pro-life movement.

The discourse surrounding the resolution, however, has been marred by sensationalized headlines and misinterpretations, detracting from its core message, according to a recent opinion article by Jason Thacker that was published by the Baptist Press.

Thacker, an assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Boyce College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and senior fellow and director of the research institute at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, argues that at its heart, the resolution acknowledges the profound struggles of infertility faced by numerous couples and affirms the sanctity of human life regardless of its developmental stage or origin.

He notes that, "Infertility is a widespread medical condition affecting approximately one in six couples globally, a deeply personal diagnosis that touches many within our churches."

The resolution empathetically stands with couples experiencing infertility, recognizing their God-given desire for children while urging them to consider the ethical dimensions of assisted reproductive technologies. It underscores the importance of seeking hope, grace, and wisdom from God amidst the trials of infertility.

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The resolution states, "we grieve alongside couples who have been diagnosed with infertility or are currently struggling to conceive, affirm their godly desire for children, and encourage them to consider the ethical implications of assisted reproductive technologies as they look to God for hope, grace, and wisdom amid suffering."

Children are celebrated as blessings and integral to God's design for families and marriage (Psalm 127:3). Regardless of the circumstances of their conception, including those involving IVF, all children are to be cherished, honored, and protected. Many Christian couples have turned to these technologies out of a sincere longing for children, yet the ethical challenges they pose must not be overlooked, Thacker says.

The inherent dignity and worth of every human life, from conception onward, must guide discussions surrounding reproductive technologies, especially considering the emotional complexities faced by families dealing with infertility.

Thacker highlights the crucial question that lies amid these considerations: Are reproductive technologies pursued merely for the sake of having children by any means necessary? This ethical dilemma challenges pro-life advocates and policymakers alike to scrutinize the boundaries of reproductive practices in light of their commitment to upholding human dignity, particularly in its earliest stages of development, he argues.

"IVF is not a morally neutral tool; its conventional practices raise significant ethical concerns for pro-life families seeking to expand. In traditional IVF procedures, embryos are generated outside the natural context of the human body, often subjected to testing, sorting, and cryopreservation in inadequately regulated conditions. Many of these embryos face potential destruction or even worse, exploitation through experimentation. The risks involved in embryo transfer and cryopreservation underscore the ethical complexities faced by couples striving to uphold the dignity of all human life," Thacker points out.

Critics may question the emphasis on artificial reproductive technologies (ARTs) such as IVF, particularly given current political climates and electoral cycles. However, the Southern Baptist Convention reaffirms that ethical truths should not be subject to political expediency. The practices inherent in ARTs often diverge from principles rooted in the sanctity of all human life, irrespective of its developmental stage or geographical location, according to Thacker.

"The Christian ethic of human dignity hinges on the belief that human life begins at fertilization, a truth supported both biblically and scientifically. These embryos are not mere property but human beings, even if they are imperceptible to the naked eye. It is a challenge for pro-life advocates to reconcile this belief with prevailing cultural attitudes that have, for nearly five decades, devalued human life at its earliest stages," he says.

While some may argue against the personhood of embryos due to their differing characteristics from postnatal human beings, the pro-life movement maintains that human dignity is not contingent on achievements or physical traits but on being created in the image of God, the imago Dei. Upholding the value and dignity of children and families remains paramount, even when these values are unpopular or politically disadvantageous.

According to Thacker, the Southern Baptist Convention's resolution serves as a poignant reminder of the ethical considerations surrounding reproductive technologies. By advocating for thoughtful reflection and adherence to ethical principles, it seeks to navigate the complexities of infertility and assisted reproduction in a manner that honors the sanctity of human life from its earliest beginnings.
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Domo-kun has had a long history, as the mascot of the Japanese broadcast company NHK, and behind his large, saw-toothed mouth, theres something endearing about this brown, open-mouth monster. During this years J-POP SUMMIT, the NHK mascot collaborated with the idol group Tokyo Performance Doll, forming a new unit called TPDomo. Making their American debut, Tokyo Performance Doll (TPD), kicked off J-POP SUMMIT at Fort Mason Center on the main stage with a fun and energetic five-minute workout called Domobics at 11:00am on both days.

Originally one of the groups responsible for the massive pop idol sensation thats invaded the world, the group was disbanded in 1996 only to be revived in 2013 after an exhausting member search from over 8,800 candidates. Immediately after being formed, the new female idols who comprised the group had one goal in mind: to become a peerless and unique performance group.

Using the monkier of Domobics (Domo + aerobics), the song features a 5-minute long exercise routine that uses simple moves from stretching to lower body workouts and was composed by m-flos?Taku Takahashi and supervised by Katsuhiko Nagata, an Olympics silver medalist. Although it may seem simple on the surface, underneath the glitz and glamour of the catchy pop-tune is an actual fun rhythmical workout to help you get ready for your day. With the simple message that, if Domo can do it, then you can too, it effortlessly makes exercise fun!

Earlier this month NHK launched a section on their website featuring special videos of Tokyo Performance Doll doing Domobics. While we were a little disappointed that a physical CD or a digital version does not exist yet at this time, we were told you could go watch the Domobics music video on the official NHK YouTube channel. We also received a teaser from Sony Music that it may be released sometime within the near future; so fans will definitely have something to look forward to!

Throughout the festival the NHK booth hosted multiple Domobics sessions featuring Tokyo Performance Doll where attendees were able to learn the routine and even a lucky few were able to participate on stage and receive autographed posters from the group.

Other activities included special appearances by the mascot Domo and attendees were offered the chance for a photo op. Sebastian Masuda, art director of Kawaii International, NHKs pop culture program which explores everything from Tokyo street fashion to art and design, collaborated with NHK to host TIME AFTER TIME CAPSULE a workshop which includes an interactive art installation in the shape of Domo.

Overall, I personally enjoyed my experience at the NHK booth. This was my favorite event at J-POP SUMMIT with the great fans and lots of high energy. With the group earnestly leaving the hope that they will come back again soon, we really hope they come back next year as theyre a performance that needs to be seen!
WonderCon, mostly known as a comic book convention held yearly in San Francisco, will have a larger gaming presence this year including panels by Capcom on Resident Evil 5 and Street Fighter 4. Fans will be able to join an impromptu Street Fighter match on stage to win prizes from Capcom. Nintendo will also be on scene to promote the new NDS title Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon. Video game publisher 2K Games, Electronic Arts, Capcom, and surprising G4 TV will all have booths in the Exhibitor's Hall.

Expect our full coverage on the event in the coming weeks! Panel descriptions and links inside.

"6:00-7:00 Resident Evil 5Get a sneak peek at one of the most anticipated video game releases of 2009 and get a chance to see actual gameplay of Capcom's Resident Evil 5 before it goes on sale in March. Some lucky audience members will get hands-on game time. Capcom's product managers, Mike Webster and Matt Dahlgren and creative director Francis Mao, provide insider info on all the great new features on this first original Resident Evil game for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Plus see behind-the-scenes graphics, view all the Kijuju viral videos that are burning up the Internet, and learn everything you want to know about RE5 in the Q&A session! This panel is recommended for mature audiences. Room 103"

"11:30-12:30 Street Fighter IVCelebrate the phenomena of Street Fighter as Capcom presents an in-depth panel about all the great features, characters, and even some secrets of the just-released Street Fighter IV for PS3 and Xbox 360. Meet the Capcom team consisting of SF master Seth Killian, product managers Grant Luke and John Diamonon, game producer Rey Jimenez, Capcom rep Randy Reyes, and creative director Francis Mao, as they share insider info about SFIV and SFIITurboHD Remix. Plus, watch clips of the exclusive SFIV anime from the SFIV Collector's Edition as well as behind the scenes art and graphics. Finally, they'll be pulling would-be Street Fighter champs from the audience for an impromptu fight club onstage to test your SF might to win awesome prizes! All this and a Q&A session to end the panel! Room 103"

6:00-7:00 NintendoNintendo of America localization producers Tim O'Leary and Rich Amtower have roughly two decades of localization experience between them, and both have been long-time members of Nintendo of America's team, working on such franchises as Fire Emblem, Advance Wars, Golden Sun, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros. Hotel Dusk, and many more. Join Tim and Rich for a Q&A session regarding the localization of the Fire Emblem series for the North American market as well as a live demonstration of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon for Nintendo DS, the fifth title in the series to be released in North America. Room 104

Programming Guide: http://www.comic-con.org/wc/wc_prog.shtml

Exhibitor's List: http://www.comic-con.org/wc/wc_exhib.php
Sep.05 Music NCT DREAM US Tour Starts this Month South Korean boy group NCT DREAM, formed by SM Entertainment, will be kicking off the first leg of their US tour this month in Los Angeles, California on September 12...

Sep.03 Music Lovebites US Tour Begins Soon We are almost to the beginning of Lovebites' US tour. This is a long-awaited series of performances, and in a way, it's surprising that it took this long. One of...

Aug.20 Gaming News Dying Light: The Beast Announced - Gamescom 2024 It's been some time since we have heard anything from masterminds over at Techland and what is in store for the Dying Light franchise. During Opening Night Live at Gamescom, Techland...
The plot to Phantom Brave revolves around the character Marona, a young girl who has the power to communicate with Phantoms, which are essentially the spirits of the dead. In the world of Chromas, her powers carry a negative stigma, and she lives on an island all by herself taking odd jobs to survive. However Marona has a guardian - the phantom Ash - a friend of Maronas deceased parents tasked with watching over the girl.

Compared to Disgaea, the storyline for Phantom Brave carries more serious and emotional tones and it does a good job on all fronts. Marona is a very cheerful and musical character, even with all the misguided hatred towards her - she is very patient and keeps a very positive attitude even when she is at fault, while Ash can be a bit more serious on how Martona is treated. Marona and Ash, along with other characters, make for a very satisfying story and the narrative, is top notch.

In addition to the main story, the PC version also includes the Another Marona storyline, from the Wii and PSP remakes. This takes place after the main story, with everyone in the world except for Marona is killed, and its up to her and the sudden appearance of Phantoms to defeat the threat from 30 years past that has returned. This is a nice addition, since there are new characters with special abilities to enjoy on top of a good additional story to play through.

At its core, Phantom Brave is an SRPG (strategy role playing game) through and through. However, there are some differences that separate it from the traditional SRPG. Gone are the grid based squares that many SRPG players are used to. Each character now has a movement ring at their disposal, giving players a bigger area to traverse and wider range for skills. Moving and manipulating enemies will require a bit more strategy than your basic SRPG and it can take time to get used to but once mastered it can be very satisfying.

The other big change is the number of allies that can be placed on the field. Marona may not be much of a fighter, but she has many phantom friends to help her fight off enemies. However they are nothing but ghosts, lacking any physical presence in the world. Marona will have to summon the Phantom to an object on the field - a rock, a tree, or anything in the surrounding area. However, Phantoms are only allowed on the field for a limited number of turns, and after the timer runs out, the Phantom will no longer be able to be re-summoned during battle. Battles can change greatly on how the player utilizes each phantom. Its not always best to summon every phantom on the first round. If the player is not able to reach the enemies in the amount of turns before the time on the phantoms run out, it will put the player at a disadvantage.

Overall Phantom Brave is really well balanced. I found it less of a grind then my time with Disgaea series. Visually the graphics havent changed by any stretch of the imagination. Text and character portraits look a lot sharper and character models are however pretty blocky and dont look very great. Overall its definitely an improvement over Disgaea PC which had similar issues.

Whether you have played Phantom Brave before or not, this is a solid edition and a welcome addition to an already great lineup of PC games from NIS America. With the PC port the player gets a deep story, better graphics, addicting SRPG gameplay, and the additional storyline.

Phantom Brave PC is a must play for SRPG fans alike.

Pros:

-Deep Story

-Upgraded Graphics

-Fun Combat

-DLC bundled in
Popular love simulator Love Plus is coming to the Nintendo 3DS. Aside from the game being shown in 3-D, not much else is known at the moment. From the trailer, it seems that there might even be a screenshot feature during encounters with the girls? It seems that the Konami conference is still going on at the moment, so well keep you posted. Trailer after the jump.

For the uninitiated, Love Plus is Konami's flagship love simulator series, with two iterations on the Nintendo DS and one on the way for arcades. In this series, players first court one of three girls, Manaka Takane, Rinko Kobayakawa, or Nene Anegasaki. Afterwards, players will have to maintain her happiness by taking her out on dates, working on his own attributes like intelligence and fitness, and sending occasional text messages. Most interestingly, this game makes use of the internal clock feature, effectively making Love Plus a bigger part of players' lives than any love simulator before.

Konami, it seems, is well known for making love simulators, being the developer for the new AKB48-based game. Chances are slim to none that this game will ever come to the US, so interested parties should either cope with an imaginary girlfriend who they can't communicate with or learn Japanese as quickly as possible.

[Source: 4Gamer.net]
Try out the January-due Sequel.

A demo for Gravity Rush 2 will launch via the PlayStation Store tomorrow, December 22, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced. It features two pathsone for those who are new to Gravity Rush and another for veteran players.

Sony also announced that Gravity Rush The Animation: Overture, the Studio Khara-produced animation set between Gravity Rush and Gravity Rush 2, will launch via the official U.S. and European PlayStation YouTube channels on December 26 at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 16:00 GMT / 17:00 CET.

Gravity Rush 2 is due out PlayStation 4 on January 18 in Europe, January 19 in Japan, and January 20 in the Americas and United Kingdom.

Check out a teaser trailer for the animation below.

Source: PlayStation Blog
Half-Minute Hero

for the PSP was a well received game by many critics in the USA when it was released back in October. According to Japanese video game magazine Famitsu, there will be a sequel to the entertaining game called Yuusha 30 Second.

The new game will included five different scenarios and will offer 90 different quests based on those scenarios. If players run out of quests, they can easily go online and download some more. Similar to Little Big Planet and ModNation Racers, players can create their own quest which can be later uploaded to a server and shared around the world.

Yuusha 30 Second will be released in Japan November 4. There have been no release dates announced outside of Japan.

UPDATE: The teaser site for Yuusha 30 Second just opened up here. It leads to a Famitsu preview with screenshots.

[Source: Siliconera]
During Labor Day weekend, I had the pleasure of attending PAX West in person since it had been shut down in 2020 due to the ongoing spread of Covid-19. Obviously, the one main concern with returning to a convention in 2021, was safety, and with the Delta variant in full swing and me and my colleague were a bit hesitant to attend.

Covid Saftey Guide Lines

To my surprise, I absolutely loved how the team at PAX West handled safety around the convention. All attendees and anyone working PAX was required to wear a proper face covering while inside the convention center. There were plenty of booths stationed with hand sanitizer and even enforcers on standby with Lysol wipes.

Overall with the safety rules and plentiful space, PAX West felt more enjoyable and intimate and we were pleasantly surprised with how well people were willing to follow the rules.

Booth Variety

One concern that came to mind when returning to a smaller PAX was, which game companies were actually going to be in attendance. It was no surprise, that PlayStation, Microsoft, and Nintendo were all absent, which was no surprise considering they had pulled out of previous events throughout the year. Surprisingly enough Bandai Namco did make an appearance, touting their latest game Tales of Arise.

Disappointment aside, there were still many great booths selling collectibles to check out such as Limited Games, Sanshee, and Fan Gamer. I would have to say the highlight for me was the Limited Run games booth selling all of their very cool collectors editions of a specific games.

Games and More Games

With not many big-name companies there, many small indie companies had the chance to shine. I was originally concerned that there would not be anything exciting to check out. However, I was completely surprised. I got the chance to check out a number of upcoming games before their release one of the highlights for me being, Angry Video Game Nerd 1&2.

Cosplay

Even with all the safety guidelines in place I still did run into a great variety of cosplayers and they did not disappoint. There were plenty of very attendees dressed up in very detailed costumes. It was refreshing to see people still wanting to cosplay in this current environment.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my time at PAX West and all that the convention had to offer. While I personally felt there was not a strong lineup of games to check out, the convention itself had plenty to offer as a whole, with a huge variety of games to check out, lots of space to move around, Covid safety guidelines, and a great community of people to interact with. I am definitely looking forward to going back this year.
NIS America will be throwing another fun filled press party this year on February 10, 2011. We definitely expect Ar Tonelico Qoga to be playable at the event. Little is known this time; however, a special guest from Japan and an "exciting new title" will be announced. As usual, we will be present to provide you with the latest information, stay tuned!

You can also check out our coverage of last year's event here.


Universal Pictures announced on Monday, July 1, that the much-awaited film adaptation of the Broadway musical 'Wicked' will now open in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22. This is five days earlier than the previous release date of Nov. 27 (Wednesday), the same day as Disney's 'Moana 2.'

It will now go against Paramount's 'Gladiator II,' starring Paul Mescal in Ridley Scott's follow-up to his Oscar-winning 2000 historical epic.

This is the second major date change for 'Wicked: Part One,' originally scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 25. However, Universal rescheduled the film for Thanksgiving to avoid competing with Disney's Christmas releases of 'Mufasa: The Lion King' and 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3.'

The Broadway musical 'Wicked,' which won a Tony Award, is an adaptation of Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.' The project adapts characters that originated in L. Judy Garland played Dorothy in the Oscar-winning 1939 musical 'The Wizard of Oz,' based on Frank Baum's 1900 classic 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.'

The production is based on the long-running Broadway production, which includes hits like 'Defying Gravity' and 'Popular.' Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will play Elphaba, also known as 'the Wicked Witch of the West,' and Glinda, the Good, in the film, following their unlikely friendship torn apart by external forces. Michelle Yeoh plays Shiz University headmaster Madame Morrible, while Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero in the ensemble.

Jon M. Chu, the director of 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'In the Heights,' is helming the two-part 'Wicked' adaptation.

"We dreamed very, very, very big for Wicked," Chu told the CinemaCon crowd when debuting footage at the Las Vegas event in April. "A magical land of sights and sounds that will astonish, and performances that will lift your spirits and occasionally break your heart."

The film is the first in a two-part series, with 'Wicked: Part Two' still slated to open in theaters the day before Thanksgiving in 2025, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025.
Japanese fashion designer, Gashicon was at FanimeCon 2011 which was held earlier this year at the San Jose Convention Center from May 27-30, 2011. Gashicon is also best known for her Hangry & Angry character brand which includes a comic published in the popular Cure Magazine and various merchandise such as clothes, plushies, and other accessories. See what she had to say in our video interview as she also gives us a quick tour of her booth at the show!
Stereopony's been rocking the faces off of Japan since 2007 and we had the chance to be de-facificed ourselves at this years Sakura-Con. If you've enjoyed Mobile Suit Gundam 00 or Darker Than Black, you would probably recognize their music. These three girls have definitely made their mark in the J-Rock and anime world and there's no sign of them slowing down. Our very own Roger Lee sat down with them and talked a little bit about their career, their struggles, and the support they've received from fans friends and family alike.

T-ONO: First of all, we wanted to thank you for coming and making the trip here to Seattle. Are you excited to be back in the United States?

Stereopony: Yes, we are very excited.

T-ONO: Is this your first time in Seattle?

Stereopony: Yes, this is our first time on the west coast.

T-ONO: Have you had a chance to explore the city yet?

Stereopony: Not yet.

T-ONO: Are there any areas you're interested in exploring?

Stereopony: Pike Market Place and first Starbucks Coffee.

T-ONO: In 2007, you're group won the Young People Music Festival, shortly after that, the band was re-named to Stereopony; what was the reason behind that?

Stereopony: When we were writing our first song, there was another band called MIXBOX, in order to become a single band we changed our name to Stereopony.

T-ONO: What was your journey to fame like? What has been the biggest challenge as a band?

Stereopony: I wouldn't consider ourselves famous yet. As far as challenges, because we debuted in high school, balancing music and studying was difficult.

T-ONO: How do the other members in the band feel? Do they have a different opinion?

Nohana: I didn't really have a chance to play with my school mates, so I didn't really have a childhood.

Shiho: I feel exactly the same way.

T-ONO: What are some of your favorable moments?

Shiho: When we are performing live or when we are having the most fun.

Aimi: When we were still aiming for our big debut, we rarely had a chance to play with our high school friends, but when we were finally going to debut, our classmates gave us a big cake and said "Congratulations!" We were really happy about that.

Nohana: Being able to meet all of our fans that cheer for us.

T-ONO: How has your music evolved since you started as the 4-member band MIXBOX, up to your latest single?

Stereopony: The thing that has affected our music the most are the events that have happened through our lives, including high school graduation, debuting, and moving into Tokyo.

T-ONO: Just the other night you finished your first concert in Seattle. How did it feel?

Stereopony: It was really exciting. I know that a lot of the fans were probably seeing us for the first time, since this was our first time on the west coast, I was really happy to see people stay from the beginning to the end of the concert. It was great to see people's smiling faces.

T-ONO: How were your expectations after the concert compared to your expectations before you arrived in Seattle?

Stereopony: It was even more fun than we had expected.

T-ONO: What are some of the factors or influences in choosing which songs to perform during your live performances?

Stereopony: It depends on the location and where we are performing. Sometimes we just want to do a song at a specific location.

T-ONO: It was recently announced that Stereopony will be performing "Stand By Me" for Eureka Seven AO's ending theme, can you tell us a little more about this track?

Stereopony: "Stand By Me" is about the desire to be strong, the people around you that support you and also the will to be strong. I think this is a very important song for Stereopony as it brings a certain realism to our music.

T-ONO: After Sakura-Con ends you'll be flying to San Francisco where you will be performing your first US tour, how does it feel? What are your expectations?

Stereopony: We really like performing live, and with the performance at Sakura-Con we saw so many smiling faces. We just want to take the power that the fans gave us and give that power back with every performance.

We've included a special video message left by the band for their fans.
On November 3, Aniplex held the North American premiere for the first film in a three part trilogy, Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] THE MOVIE I. presage flower at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Heaven's Feel is the third and final route of the original Fate/Stay night visual novel released in 2004. Learn a little about the history and the creation process of the film as we briefly chat with Director Tomonori Sudo (Sudou).

T-ONO: How does it feel to be back in Los Angeles for a major movie release?

Sudo: Two years ago when I came here for Anime Expo, I was here as the Character Designer for Unlimited Blade Works (UBW). While I was here, I was able to meet the fans for the first time. Seeing their reactions was new and interesting for me. Now that I am back as the Director for Heavens Feel, I am looking forward to seeing their reactions to the film.

T-ONO: Have you had the opportunity to see the fans lined up outside?

Sudo: Right now the line is probably a lot longer than when I first saw it. When I originally heard there were that many seats in this theater, I was very surprised. I am glad so many people came here to see Heavens Feel.

T-ONO: Youve had a very prolific career so far, often working as a character designer, an animation director, and also as a director on the same project. Can you tell us a little bit about what its like balancing the different roles?

Sudo: At the beginning when I was a character designer, essentially I took orders from the director and animation director for direction on how to draw the characters. As an animation director when it comes to Type-Moon works, I am continuously handed materials and key animation for review. As a Type-Moon fan, I ask myself at a particular scene how will the be character portrayed; what will the characters expression be? I will try to fix those character expressions so when they appear on screen, they will match. As a director, I am the last person to review the material. Most of the time I trust the screen and animation directors to do their best assembling everything together into multiple layers. When I see the semi-final product, I will try to fix stuff to make sure that character expressions are correct. I am using my experience as an animation director to perform my duty as a director.

T-ONO: Since working on various titles such as Kara No Kyoukai and Fate/Zero, what have you learned while working on those projects that you were able to apply to Heavens Feel?

Sudo: When it comes to Type-Moon works, I have been working with them for a very long time and not just me personally but, the animation studio Ufotable. Ever since we worked on Fate/Zero, we already established many of the necessary preparations to make Heavens Feel. Starting from there, we already had multiple channels of communication with the staff to make sure that they can do the best that they can. Also, because we had experience working on the previous titles, we were able to identity different areas we could improve on, such as maybe we can do better with this type of facial expression. We are constantly trying to improve ourselves and our work so please look forward to our films with Heavens Feel.

T-ONO: Were there any types of pressure that you felt leading the project as this is the first time Heavens Feel has been adapted as an animation?

Sudo: Being a long time Type-Moon fan, I played through all three routes for Fate/stay night and my favorite route is Heavens Feel. In addition, Sakura is my favorite heroine.

Its been awhile since Ufotable got the offer to make Heavens Feel. When we found out that we were making Heavens Feel, I volunteered myself to be the director. I compiled a plan together with the staff and showed it to the original author, Kinoko Nasu from Type-Moon to make sure this is how I want to do Heavens Feel. Obviously there are some difficulty adapting certain parts, but for me, Its a long time dream and I have the opportunity to express it.

T-ONO: We noticed from the trailer the animation looks smoother than what we have seen in the past. Can you tell us a little bit about how this was achieved?

Sudo: With the UBW TV series, we were able to achieve a high quality level of animation with a lot of impressive action scenes. So for Heavens Feel, I actually asked the director of UBW, Takahiro Miura to do the storyboarding for the action sequences. Miura-san presented us with storyboards that were even better than UBW. Everyone on the animation team followed Miuras example and came together to work even harder, such as creating more detailed backgrounds, and made sure that they were able to achieve better animation together.

TYPE-MOON?ufotable?FSNPC

T-ONO: Finally a message for the fans who will be watching this movie in the US?

Sudo: Everyone has waited for Heavens Feel for a long time, even in America, and finally we are able to release Heavens Feel. Heavens Feel is the last route out of all three. With Fate/stay night we have the Saber route and now we have the Sakura route. We finally get to express what is really hidden, the secrets behind the entire story of Fate/stay night. Fans can look forward to finally finding out the true hidden secret.
While in Seattle for Sakura-Con 2015, we sat down behind closed doors in a round table interview with voice actor Yoshitsugu Matsuoka who is best know for his work as Kirito in Sword Art Online, Sora in No Game No Life, and Yukihira Souma in Shokugeki no Souma; and Producer Shinichiro Kashiwada who has worked on Oreimo, Sword Art Online, and Fate/Zero.

Questions asked by The-O Network denoted in blue.

Can you take us through the audition process for Sword Art Online?

Matsuoka: Well, how I found the audition was basically through the agency. However, when I went to the audition I knew that I didn't have that much experience. I mean, I could honestly remember how many roles that I had that year. So when I went to the audition and saw the other people who were there, I immediately thought that,. well that's the end of me and that I'm not going to get the role.

I figured that since I wasn't going to get the part, I may as well use this as a good learning experience. Since I had this mindset, I think I was able to go in audition with very naturally and just be myself which really helped to touch director Ito's heart. I think is what really helped me land the job.

What are your thoughts on Sakura-Con so far?

Matsuoka: So when I first arrived, it made me really feel like I was at a Comiket in Japan. There's so many skillful cosplayers here, and I see so many who are cute, are cool and are really pretty. It made me ask myself, am I in a fantasy world?

For example, when I bumped into a life sized Link, I was like, Oh my gosh! That's Link right there! So it's been beyond my imagination and full of surprises.

T-ONO: Having worked together on Sword Art Online 1 and 2, could you share any particularly memorable moments with us while working on the project?

Matsuoka: It's honestly been my first experience working on a project for this length of time. So when I first saw the previews, everything was new to me. So the entire existence of SAO, really helped me develop into the voice actor that I am today. For example, being a regular in a radio show was a new experience for me. So while there hasn't been a whole lot of time to relax, this experience reminded me that it's very important sometimes to take a pause or take a breath and relax.

Kashiwada: As far as the overseas interactions, it's become a lot more frequent. In terms of the series, when we were moving from 1 to 2, in the first series, there wasn't as much pressure to have as much exposure. However, since number one was so successful, we really felt the pressure to come up with a good story to please the fans. It really pleased me to be called overseas to Sakura-Con last year and this year. I'm really enjoying it and if the series continues, I hope to come again.

Speaking about pressure, before becoming an anime series, Sword Art Online was a successful light novel series. If there is going to be a season three, how much pressure would there be by the fans and each other to produce quality that was exemplified by the previous season(s)?

Matsuoka: So from a pressure standpoint, the strongest pressure was coming from Director Ito. In terms of pressure, I honestly dont prefer giving it, rather Im the type who wants to receive it. When it comes to pressure from fans, I find that it gives me extra motivation to force myself.

So if there is going to be a season three, I think I would just need to do my best at that current time and I believe that would produce the best results. So keep pressuring me, as thats probably what I need!

Kashiwada: From a production standpoint, the director and the character designer are really on top of applying the pressure as they both really want to make something a great product.

Director Ito is really good at scheduling and guiding the acting and performance. Adachi-san (character designer) really has some good designs, so this increases the quality of the artwork. The two of them tag team and really work well together, so even if theres to be a season three, it would continue in that way.

What are Matsuokas impressions of the English Kirito (Bryce Papenbrook)?

Matsuoka: So living in Japan, I dont really get an opportunity to listen to the English dub unless its at an event like this. Having heard Bryces acting, I can tell that hes really good at grasping Kiritos stature and even something as minor as breathing. I can really tell that hes putting in a lot of detail, especially when it came to Kiriko, the female version of Kirito from Gun Gale Online.

Having heard everything, I really want to watch the dubbed version from start to finish.

T-ONO: Matsuoka-san, while you are mostly famous for Sword Art Online, youre also Sora in No Game, No Life. Both characters are very strong and really like to play games. Do the roles help your confidence and secondly, do you have time to play games in real life like they do?

Matsuoka: As far as playing games, yes I do play games. As to your first question about confidence, I do find that Im gaining a lot of experience by playing these characters and this helps me to develop my skills. However, if I were to start taking too much of these characters personalities, I find that it really interferes with my own personality. So I try to draw a line between who I am, who Kirito is and who Sora is.

Kashiwada: Which character do you feel closer to?

Matsuoka: I feel closer to Sora.

T-ONO: Obviously Kirito has become a really popular character alongside Sword Art Online. How has acting as Kirito changed your life, if at all, since youve taken the role?

Matsuoka: Haha, youre asking a bit of a realistic question there. I guess that as an actor, Sword Art Online really helped me to develop a lot of my strengths. Especially thanks to all of the staff that brought me into this along with all of the actors that Ive had a chance to work with.

I actually had the least amount of roles compared to all of my other co-actors (before Sword Art Online), yet I was the lead. So essentially, I wanted to bring out the spirit to lead them through and to keep going ahead.

Just to add on, Ive been able to move into a living space that Im satisfied and can feel good about.

Kashiwada-san, yesterday you announced the new series that youre working on: the Asterisk War. Are there any more details that you can tell us about the upcoming project at this time?

Kashiwada: So its going to be broadcast in Fall 2015 and we want to simulcast it overseas through Aniplex or something. When we showed Kirito fighting, we got a really big reaction and we want the same with the heroes (from Asterisk War). Theyll be fighting for their lives and we want people to really enjoy that story.

Its really because of the Sword Art Online experience that we got to work on Asterisk, so we hope that audiences really look forward to it.

Kashiwada-san, were you able to go around Seattle like last time?

Kashiwada: Yes I was last year, but this year I havent had a chance to yet. Since Ill be able to stay until tomorrow (4/5/15), I really want to do a little bit of sightseeing as time permits.

Matsuoka: Yes, the same here.

T-ONO: Considering the wide range of characters that youve voiced, are there any other archetypes or types of characters that you havent tried voicing but would like to?

Matsuoka: Ive actually been thinking about this for quite some time, but the one role I really want to try is villain. Even when I had a chance to do so however, it was something that I only had a chance to at my High School DD (drama club?).

It was a really weird, psycho type of character. So Id really like to try out a cool character thats hard to read.

Kashiwada: No thats not happening as your voice is way too hero-like. Its too good.

Matsuoka: Oh, really?

Kashiwada: Okay, Ill see what I can do.

What was the funniest moment or who was the funniest person on the show?

Kashiwada: Matsuoka is the funniest.

Matsuoka: Hirata-san [voice actor for Klein] is really in sync with Iwanami-san the sound director and tends to go at his own pace. Hes really in his natural state when hes acting, but he still has that aura of being in his role. You can kind of tell that hes been through a lot. Each word that comes out of Hirata-san, you cant help but laugh.

Kashiwada: Yah, were spending a lot of money on casts.

T-ONO: Matsuoka-san, in your upcoming anime series, Shokugeki no Soma, you play an anime character who cooks a lot. Do you cook yourself in your free time? Additionally, have you tried cooking anything from the series?

Matsuoka: So even prior to having that role in Shokugeki no Soma, Ive been doing my own cooking even when Im busy. However, around the time that I started recording for Soma, I was trying to find something to do with my free time and decided to devote it to cooking.

So from maybe around November of last year, Ive been trying to cook breakfast and dinner on my own. I dont get a lot of time to make lunch as Im usually outside recording around that time. For breakfast and lunch though, I do try to make time to cook on my own.

As far as recipes from Soma are concerned, Ive pretty much tried most of them and can say that theyre something doable.

Has Matsuoka had a chance to try and dubbing of American shows into Japanese?

Matsuoka: Nope. However, if an opportunity arises I would like to try.

T-ONO: Since I know that were running low on time, we were wondering if you would like to close with any messages to your American fans.

Matsuoka: Let me start with this. My name is Yoshitsugu Matsuoka and I am an anime voice actor. So just a little bit from my point of view, until this experience of going abroad, Ive been pretty much confined into just the Japanese world. However, having met my American fans first hand, in both Singapore and here at Sakura-Con, knowing that theres so many fans who watch anime that Ive been in worldwide really makes me happy.

I want to continue to have fans who enjoy my work support me and cheer me on.

Kashiwada: So up until a few years ago, I used to think that just because it was popular in Japan that it would become really popular overseas. However, recently seeing the reactions of fans worldwide has made me realize that it doesnt matter what language the fans speak. We can aim to be popular worldwide from the start of production. So please, cheer us on.
Japanese pop sensation Yuya Matsushita made his first American live performance in San Jose, California at the anime convention, FanimeCon 2011. Matsushita is probably best know for his music featured in several anime series including Durarara! and Black Butler. More recently, he has made appearances in Japanese television dramas and movies. See what this young rising star had to say about his rise to stardom!

T-ONO: Thank you very much for coming to the U.S. and doing your first performance. Were you excited to perform? What was it like?

Matsushita: I didn't expect the audience would be so energetic. This is my first time coming to America, and the first time coming to San Jose so I was nervous for several days before the live. However, once I went in, and even before I did, everyone was excited and pumped that I couldn't even hear myself sing. It wasn't a scene that I would see in Japan, so it surprised me and made me happy.

T-ONO: Were there any type of preparations you may have done for the American performance physically and mentally?

Matsushita: [laughs] For preparation, I can't exactly speak English therefore Ryu-san [handler] helped me prepare with the English for the MC. In Japan, I never had to do a MC in English, so this was my very first attempt!

T-ONO: You had an autograph session and a panel yesterday. What was it like to meet your American fans?

Matsushita: There were numerous people who knew about Japanese culture, and everyone seemed so kind. I felt very close because everyone understood the Japanese culture. I was very glad to interact with all those people.

T-ONO: Changing gears a little bit, you're a relatively young musical artist that just started a few years ago. How has life changed now that you've established yourself in the industry compared to when you began?

Matsushita: Compared to a few years ago (when I first made my debut), I feel like I can deal with all the pressure better. I think I was able to improve from all the live performances I have done. For example, I don't think I would have been able to perform last night if it was two or three years ago. I think my old self could not have been able to handle all the pressure because I wouldn't have had the courage to challenge this. I think it was thanks to my previous experience and efforts that changed me.

T-ONO: We know there's been a lot of information about your musical talents, but very little about your acting career. How did you get started or involved from singing to appearing in drama and movie roles?

Matsushita: I started music around sixth grade and made my debut at the age of eighteen. For acting, it was around the same time when I made my debut, where I was offered to play a role in the movie. Because I participated, my acting career started, which eventually led to getting an offer to be in the Black Butler musical. My opportunities kept on adding on and naturally evolved to where I am now.

T-ONO: Can you tell us a little bit about the role you played in Black Butler? What was it like performing in a live stage show? How was it different from your musical career?

Matsushita: If I really think about it now, playing the role of Sebastian on a live action stage would be impossible. He may appear to be human, but he is a demon. During the play, there would be singing, dancing, and acting that would make one sweat and exhausted; however, for Sebastian, he would never be allowed to do that! During my own performances, I can just naturally be Yuya Matsushita with my own style opposed to a musical play, where I had to actually act as someone who was just so inhumanely perfect. Keeping that role throughout the musical was the most challenging part.

T-ONO: In a way, we could say it was a good training opportunity for your career?

Matsushita: Definitely, it did give me a lot of courage and was very much a positive experience for my future career. I didn't have much experience on stage, but I played the main role. Playing this role, until the end, gave me a lot of confidence to my musical and acting career. In addition, Black Butler is a very popular work, so portraying Sebastian as a perfectionist -despite myself being a normal person- was very challenging. However, I was able to receive a lot of positive feedback from different places that led to, perhaps, my performance here at FanimeCon. So it definitely gave me a lot of courage.

T-ONO: Any plans to maybe pursue an acting career in the future?

Matsushita: For now, I don't plan to stick only to music or only to acting. However, music is the fundamental and that's what I've been doing for the longest time, so I would to cherish music and continue with acting. I don't really have any priorities whether it's acting or singing, but I would like to put 100% of my effort to continue challenging both music and acting. I want to keep it on a very professional level and everything on the same level without dividing my efforts.

T-ONO: Going back to FanimeCon, were there any surprises while meeting your fans?

Matsushita: It was very surprising to visually see how the Japanese culture is being popular and accepted here in America. That being said, I grew up looking up to American culture with music, R&B and hip-hop, all that stuff as well, so vice-versa was just weird and it was just interesting to see how my culture, like where I'm coming from, is being so accepted here. Since it's an internet society right now, it makes me think that American may even know more about Japanese culture than the Japanese. As a Japanese person, this really made me happy.

T-ONO: I know you have been very busy the last couple of days, but have you gotten a chance to look around the convention at all?

Matsushita: Just on the first day I was able to walk around a little bit, but I'm planning on doing it later on today.

T-ONO: I don't know if it's much of a surprise, but all your merchandise in the dealer's hall has been completely empty for days!

Matsushita: [laughs] So yeah, again I mean it was just such a surprise to see all of my fans in America. I think, my staff and I may have underestimated the number of people who are interested in my music or me. I wish we brought more for the fans! I REALLY admire America and the American people and appreciate that they would listen to my music! Also, the bracelets I brought in from Japan was for charity purposes for what happened on March eleventh, so I was just happy to see all of this.

T-ONO: Do you have any message for American, and English speaking fans here?

Matsushita: Thank you for the support and thank you to the people who came out to attend FanimeCon. Although I am mostly active in Japan, I hope that my music and performance can be spread throughout America. America is really one of my favorite places to visit, I definitely would like to come back, perform in other cities in America, and meet everyone as well. Next time if I come back I'll definitely sharpen up my English as well!

Special thanks to FanimCon, Ryu Takahashi, and Sony Music Japan.

Transcribers: Stephen Bajza and Ken Ohata
Queen Bee was formed in 2009 by vocalist Avu-chan and after gaining popularity, signed with Sony Music in 2011. They have released a total of eight albums, with their most recent, 12D ("Juni Jigen"), having just been released at the beginning of February 2023. In Japan, the group is known as "Ziyoou-vachi."

You may better recognize them from the theme songs for Tokyo Ghoul (ending theme HALF), Dororo (opening theme Kaen), and most recently, Chainsaw Man (ending theme VIOLENCE).

Tickets go on sale February 21 at 10AM PST. Tickets are $30, plus fees, and will be available from Ticketmaster.

It's currently unknown whether or not they'll be holding any other shows while they're here in America but it's entirely possible that a stop on the east coast is warranted to pair with the two west coast events. All the same, it's also entirely possible that the band will fly right back to Japan from the west coast. We'll keep an eye out for any future announcements.

4/7/23-4/9/23 Seattle, WA - SakuraCon (exact date TBD)

4/11/23 Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater
FLOW took the stage and performed at Crunchyroll Expo in San Jose on August 30th. This was FLOWs third time performing in San Jose with the first and second at Fanime Con in 2010 and 2011. It's been eight years since then. The concert was sold out with approximately 2,000 people in attendance.

The concert was held in one of the panel rooms at the convention center which was fairly new to me. The stage was facing straight to the back with chairs aligned. Seating was not assigned so it was first come first serve. For a rock concert having chairs still set up was very interesting.

FLOW came on stage and started the concert with Sign, the sixth opening song for anime Naruto Shippunden. The concert's setlist was based on the band's many famous anime songs such as COLORS, the opening for Code Geass, and "BURN," the opening for Tales of Berseria.

The band also added an intro where each of the members played solo pieces. For his guitar solo, TAKE (Gt) came on stage with light sticks and flashing glasses and danced with the crowd to the song FROGS~Keronpa Teikoku no Gyakushu~.

KEIGO (Vo) made sure that everyone in the crowd could understand and used English throughout most of his MC.

The fans went crazy when FLOW performed their cover of CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA which lead to one of their first anime songs, GO!!!

Even after the band had left the stage, the crowd called them back in for an encore. The encore was FLOW's cover of Siam Shades ? no Junjou na Kanjou, which was the anime theme song of Ruroni Kenshin.

Since FLOW has many other famous anime songs I would have like to hear their latest single Neiro. Of course we can not forget that they did come out with an album that was released earlier this year in April, called TRIBALYTHM.

Hopefully FLOW will return to California soon and play in an even bigger sold-out venue next time.

The full setlist:

Sign - Naruto Shippuden 6th OP

?????Niji no Sora?- Naruto Shippuden 34th OP

Re:member - Naruto 8th OP

WORLD END - Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 2nd OP

COLORS - Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion 1st OP

TRIBALYTHM Band Inst.

?????Kaze no Uta) - Tales of Zestiria the X 1st OP

?????? ?Hikari Oikakete) - Image song for Live Spectacle Naruto

BURN - Tales of Berseria OP

Introduce of FLOW

HERO?????? ?Kibou no Uta) - Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods

CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA - Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods

GO!!! - Naruto 4th OP

????????? ?? no Junjou na Kanjou) - Cover song of Siam Shade
Please join us to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hikaru Utada!

2018 marks the 20th anniversary of Hikaru Utadas debut and has kicked off by adding two brand new hits under her belt! Play A Love Song, - a commercial song for the TV commercial of <Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling> is now digitally released as the first single of this special anniversary year.Look out for her second digital single due on May 30th, Hatsukoi, which she specifically wrote for a popular TV drama in Japan, Hana Nochi Hare  Hanadan Next Season as its image song.

After a few year hiatus, Hikaru Utada came back with her 6th album Fantome in 2016, proving she was indeed the one and only legend. In the last 19 months since its release, she has signed with her new home EPIC Record Japan and shes ready to embrace her fans as a brand new Hikaru Utada. EPIC Record Japan has just announced the release of Hikaru Utadas 7th original studio album - her EPIC Record Japan debut - on June 27th, 2018, along with releasing her new publicity photos. What an #EPIC way to celebrate her 20th anniversary of her debut!

The album, titled HATSUKOI (meaning: First Love) tells the stories of feelings. Its written in simple and precise words to express all the unsaid feelings and emotions everyone can relate to with beautifully written melodies that helps everybody feel warm inside. The album HATSUKOI is filled with inspiring and heartwarming emotions in such a way that only an iconic pop creator Hikaru Utada can magically come across through her creativity, and it shows the world that Hikaru Utada keeps on and will keep on staying at her prime for 2 more decades.

The album contains 12 songs (TBD) including all of her latest hits from 2017  Ohzora de Dakishimete (<Suntory Tennensui water> TV commercial song), Forevermore (TV Drama Gommen, Aishiteru theme song), Anata (movie DESTINY Kamakura Monogatari theme song/ <SONY NoiCan Wireless earphones> commercial song), Chikai (KINGDOM HEARTS III theme song), to the latest 2018 hits Hatsukoi (TV drama Hana Nochi Hare  Hanadan Next Season image song), and Play A Love Song (<Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling> commercial song).

As a bonus and special gift, the first shipment of the physical CDs will contain a lottery ticket to pre-order her upcoming Japan tour tickets. YES! HIKARU UTADA JAPAN TOUR for the first time in 12 years! What a perfect way to celebrate her 20th anniversary! Dont miss out on her very special year. The Japan tour will kick off in Yokohama on November 6th and the last day of her tour, December 9th 2018 will mark the 20-year anniversary of her debut album release.

<HIKARU UTADA Concert Tour2018>

DATES VENUE

November 6, Wed Yokohama Arena

November 7, Thurs Yokohama Arena

November 14, Wed Marine Messe Fukuoka

November 15, Thurs Marine Messe Fukuoka

November 28, Wed Osaka Jo Hall

November 29, Thurs Osaka Jo Hall

December 4, Tues Saitama Super Arena

December 5, Wed Saitama Super Arena

December 8, Sat Makuhari Messe Event Hall 9-11

December 9, Sun Makuhari Messe Event Hall 9-11

<ALBUM>

7th original studio album HATSUKOI

Release Date: June 27th, 2018

Standard Edition CD product number: ESCL-5076

Price: 3,240 Yen (incl. tax) / 3,000 Yen (excl. tax)

(a lottery ticket to pre-order the Japan tour tickets packaged with the initial CD shipment)

?Pre-Order Hikaru Utadas 7th album HATSUKOI

Hikaru Utadas first song for 2018 Play A Love Song (Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling commercial song) is now available for download on April 25th! Hikaru Utada, celebrating her 20th anniversary of her debut, is releasing her first single of 2018 to kick off her anniversary year! A new commercial for <Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling> starring Hikaru Utada herself has just been aired from April 24th throughout Japans major media outlets and is already creating big buzz, making the featured song Play A Love Song a remarkable debut on April 25th for its digital release.

The 60 second version of the commercial has been released on YouTube in advance, it has reached over 100,000 views in just a matter of 5 days! Such a remarkable way to kick of her anniversary year and get a sneak peak of whats coming with her brand new album due in June.

Suntory Minami Alps Sparkling> new TV commercial 60 second version

<The single Play A Love Song>

<Single Digital Release>

Play A Love Song (Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling commercial song)

April 25th, 2018

Hatsukoi (TV Drama Hana Nochi Hare  Hanadan Next Season image song)

May 30th, 2018
Japanese dance/vocal group Da-iCE will make their American performance debut at FanimeCon later this month at the San Jose Convention Center, May 27-30. The groundbreaking five-member group has scored multiple chart-topping hits in Japan, becoming a pop music sensation for their multi-octave range, modern dance style, handsome looks, and sophisticated fashions. Their concert at FanimeCon will be the first chance for American fans to see the groups energetic stage show that has sold out concerts across Japan.

The five members of Da-iCE (pronounced Dice)  Yudai, Sota, Taiki, Toru, and Hayate  have visited the U.S. twice before for dance lessons with Americas top choreographers, and each member is looking forward to meeting American fans in the intimate Q&A and autograph sessions at FanimeCon. The San Jose concert (the groups first live show for non-Japanese audiences) will feature a full showcase of songs and dancing, matching the power of their recent tours.

Da-iCE will also bring limited quantities of official merchandise from Japan (available at the Kinokuniya booth)  CDs, DVD, T-shirts, towels, mini-poster + ID card sets (first release at FanimeCon), tote bags, iPhone cases  and there will be a rare and limited-admission Da-iCE photo session for fans who purchase a special goods package at the event.

Saturday, May 28  Autograph Session (11:30 am)

Saturday, May 28  Concert Showcase (Door s 6:15 pm || Start time : 7:00 pm)

Sunday, May 29  Q&A Panel (2:00 pm)

Sunday, May 29  Autograph Session (3:30 pm)

Event details at FanimeCons website: here
So, this was a night of firsts.

First time for me at the Fox Theater. First time for me to see Epica. First time for one of my friends and concert buddies to see both Epica and Sabaton. Not to mention, the first time I'm seeing Sabaton after a dreadful last two years. The pandemic has not been kind to live concerts, and I've seen many a tour be canceled, postponed, or cut short early. It was a good night. I've always wanted to see Epica, and Sabaton is one of my go-to bands time after time. This show was a natural choice for me.

Main Image : ??????, commissioned by Yostar for Azur Lane 2nd Anniversary

The events kicked off early in the day at the Razer Store in San Francisco. About a week and a half ago, Sabaton announced that their only meet and greet of the tour would be at this particular Razer Store. I found it a little odd as there wasn't even a concert in San Francisco. Then again, Oakland (the home of the Fox Theater) doesn't have a Razer Store. Whatever. If you're wondering why Sabaton is holding an event at a Razer Store to begin with, it's because they paired with Razer to have some collaboration goodies like mousepads and mice.

When I meet artists and musicians, it's usually all in Japanese. It was nice being able to actually converse in English for a change and not need a translator, as my Japanese skill hovers somewhere around the level of being able to talk to kindergarteners. I picked up a mousepad, who the group was happy to provide autographs upon. Some folks brought their own items like vinyl record sleeves and album inserts to have signed. Naturally, I took a photo or two with them. Such are the benefits of being the last man in line.

Fast forward a few hours and I find myself outside the Fox Theater. As mentioned, I've never been here before and didn't know what to expect. Most of the shows I see are held in San Francisco. The Fox Theater was first opened in the late 1920s and had its 90th anniversary in 2018, and just over a decade of that has been as a concert venue. It's seen a lot of bands perform upon its hallowed stage, and can now count Epica and Sabaton among them.

The interior still maintains much of its art deco motif. I would describe it as a bigger cousin to San Francisco's Warfield Theater, which also opened in the 1920s. The main antechamber has embellishments on the walls and ceiling, and both feature a combination of sitting and standing room, and also have an upper balcony with elevated seating. Both also have tiered levels on the ground floor, which is great for people like myself who need a little bit extra to be able to see.

As always, I highly suggest earplugs. For someone like myself who is right in front of the barricade being blasted by bass waves show after show, your ears will thank you. I've talked to many a person after a show who has lost some of their hearing and you don't get all of that hearing back. The speakers at the Fox have quite the oomph and while I felt it bodily, my ears didn't.

Leading off the night would be Epica. Vocalist Simone Simons and company mark their 20th anniversary as a band this year. As such, the setlist contained songs from their career from first (Cry for the Moon from "The Phantom Agony") to last (Abyss of Time  Countdown to Singularity from "Omega"). I'm a big fan of Unchain Utopia from "The Quantum Enigma" and was happy to see it live. The performance from Omega Alive of this song really sealed it as one of my favorites from the band. It's probably a good thing that it wasn't part of the first three songs or I would have had trouble deciding whether I wanted to headbang in time with the music or take photos. The rest of the setlist had some good songs like Beyond the Matrix and Code of Life which help show the range and depth of the band, and are good songs in their own right.

Epica's music is pure symphonic metal, and is, well, epic. Simone's operatic vocals collide with the growls of Mark Jansen, and throw in a little yelling by keyboardist Coen Janssen and Isaac Delahaye, too. At this point, every member of Epica has been in the band for a solid decade. I think I first learned of Epica from 2012's Storm the Sorrow (also performed this night). I do not have a good excuse as to why it's taken so long for me to see them in person. It's long overdue, especially how I've seen their namesake Kamelot so many times.

As is customary for Epica concerts, Consign to Oblivion closed out the set. This song is well known for what Simone once called, "The Wall of Epica." For others, it is commonly known as "the wall of death." If you're not familiar with either of those names, it is when a rift is formed in the midst of a crowd at a concert and, at a set time (usually set to a musical cue), the people on the opposing sides slam into each other and then develop a mosh pit or circle pit. It doesn't matter if it's a small live house or a huge amphitheater; The Wall will not be denied.

For a visual representation, please refer to this video:

Sadly, no Attack on Titan songs. They've only played them a couple of times live in Japan and Brazil. I think they should try adding it to their sets, as there's plenty of crossover between metal fans and anime fans. Even without knowing what Attack on Titan is, the songs easily fit Epica's style and I would love to see Crimson Bow and Arrow live. I'd also like to see The Quantum Enigma live, as I've loved that song for a while.

After a short break, the lights dimmed, and the opening bars of the legendary Ghost Division could be heard. Sabaton starts almost every show with Ghost Division and it's hard not to know all the words by heart if you've seen a show or two. Named for Erwin Rommel's armored spearhead during World War II, it is the perfect way to kick things off. Much like Rommel dove headlong into enemy lines, so does the song. You're immediately thrown into the pulse-pounding core that is Sabaton.

Sabaton, if you're not familiar with them, is a band that sings about war. Most songs are of wars long past with the exception of a few which involve the Gulf War (Reign of Terror) and the Global War on Terror (Panzer Battalion). Their most recent album, "The War to End All Wars," is based on World War I, much like the previous album, "The Great War." Joakim Broden and Par Sundstrom are the two most senior members of the band. Drummer Hannes van Dahl (who happens to be married to Floor Jansen of Nightwish) and guitarists Tommy Johansson and Chris Rorland all joined about halfway through the bands life and are equally cornerstones of the band.

A number of songs on the set list are from this latest album but there was plenty of space for some old favorites like Carolus Rex, Night Witches, Shiroyama, and To Hell and Back. Another one of those staple songs, Swedish Pagans, found its way into the encore.

I gained a new appreciation for Dreadnought. On first listen, I wasn't the biggest fan, but after seeing it live, I can say I enjoyed it. Storm Troopers, Christmas Truce, and Soldier of Heaven were also featured from "The War to End All Wars."

All of the songs featured by Wargaming.net (Primo Victoria, Steel Commanders, Bismarck) were included on the set. The Attack of the Dead Men, from "The Great War," has also quickly cemented itself as a regular part of Sabaton's live shows. Joakim took the opportunity to don a gas mask and smoke projector to fit in with the theme.

One song I wish they would play more of is Angels Calling, and it would perfectly fit the World War I timeline. This song was done in conjunction with fellow band Apocalyptica and makes use of their cellos. Also missing, 40:1 and Winged Hussars. 40:1 was one of the first Sabaton songs I heard way back circa 2008 and it's always been one of my favorites, in particular because of the enduring message. Winged Hussars's trademark line "And the Winged Hussars arrive!" will sadly not be present for this tour. Call it a meme or not, it's enjoyable to listen and to chant along to.

We're still at the beginning of the tour so you have plenty of time to make plans and see this concert. Up next will be Los Angeles on Friday, 9/23. One of our other members here will be making his first foray into seeing Sabaton, and I'm not sure if it's because of me, or because Gawr Gura seems to like them too. Or maybe it's our shared interest in BABYMETAL, who collaborated with Joakim for the song Oh! MAJINAI, which is honestly a song you should just forget exists. Trust me, and that's my opinion as a fan of both Sabaton and BABYMETAL. In any case, check Epica and Sabaton out. You'll enjoy it, and maybe learn a thing or two. Tickets are available at www.sabaton.net.

Show dates as follows:

9/15/22 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre

9/16/22 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater

9/17/22 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater

9/19/22 Boise, ID - Revolution Concert House

9/21/22 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater

9/23/22 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium

9/24/22 Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Federal Theatre

9/25/22 Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl

9/27/22 Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex

9/28/22 Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium

9/30/22 Dallas, TX - South Side Ballroom

10/1/22 Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center

10/3/22 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

10/4/22 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle

10/6/22 Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring

10/8/22 Cincinnati, OH - The Andrew J Brady Music Center

10/10/22 Detroit, MI - The Fillmore

10/11/22 Grand Rapids, MI - GLC Live at 20 Monroe

10/13/22 Minneapolis, MN - The Fillmore

10/15/22 Chicago, IL - Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

10/17/22 Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE

10/18/22 Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore

10/21/22 Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway

10/22/22 Montreal, QC (CA) - Place Bell

10/23/22 New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom

Setlist for Epica:

1. Abyss of Time  Countdown to Singularity

2. Sensorium

3. Victims of Contingency

4. Unchain Utopia

5. Cry for the Moon

6. Storm the Sorrow

7. Code of Life

8. Beyond the Matrix

9. Consign to Oblivion

Setlist for Sabaton:

1. Ghost Division

2. Stormtroopers

3. The Red Baron

4. Bismarck

5. The Attack of the Dead Men

6. Soldier of Heaven

7. Steel Commanders

8. Carolus Rex

9. Gott mit uns (Swedish ver)

10. Night Witches

11. Dreadnought

12. Shiroyama

13. The Last Stand

14. Christmas Truce

Encore:

15. Primo Victoria

16. Swedish Pagans

17. Master of Puppets (Metallica cover)

18. To Hell and Back
Japanese band SPYAIR will make their US debut next week. The band, first formed in 2005, grew rapidly in popularity before making their major label debut with Sony Music. They will start their tour at the Anime Weekend Atlanta (AWA) Convention before traveling westward and then across the world.

The band is well known for their various anime theme songs such as "I'm a Believer" and "Imagination" from Haikyuu as well as "Genjou Destruction" and "Samurai Heart" from Gintama. They currently have seven studio albums with their most recent being 2017's "Kingdom." SPYAIR's latest single, "I Wanna Be..." was used as Gintama's 21st OP song.

They will be accompanied by ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D who have also contributed many songs to various anime series. ROOKiEZ started in 2010 and was eventually picked up by defSTAR, an imprint of Sony Music. Their music has been featured in Durarara!! ("Complication"), Blue Exorcist ("In My World"), and Bleach ("Song for...") among other series. Their latest album, "The Sun Also Rises" was released just last week.

The San Francisco stop will be at The Regency Ballroom which recently hosted SCANDAL.

As stated earlier, SPYAIR will begin their concert at Anime World Atlanta in Atlanta, GA before going towards the east coast. They'll loop back towards the west coast followed by Texas and then head down to South America before going all the way to Europe, namely Poland, Germany, the UK, and France. The final show will be in Paris, France.

The full tour dates are:

9/23 Atlanta, GA - Cobb Galleria (AWA)

9/25 Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom

9/27 New York, NY - Gramercy Theater

10/1 San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom

10/3 Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall

10/5 Dallas, TX - Canton Hall

10/7 Mexico City, MX - Sala Puebla

10/12 Santiago, CH - Teatro Teleton

10/14 Sao Paulo, BR - Audio Club

10/17 Krakow, PL - Klub Kwadrat

10/19 Frankfurt, DE - Colos-saal

10/21 London, UK - The Underworld

10/24 Paris, FR - Casino de Paris
Trigun: Badlands Rumble is the first movie set in theTrigun universe and it takes place during the timeline of the original series. The entire original cast is back including Vash, Meryl, Milly, and even Wolfwood. Along side fan favorites, two new characters have joined the Trigun cast, Gasback the great thief and the mysterious silent bounty hunter Ameria.

The story of Badlands Rumble centers around the town of Makka which is surrounded by quicksand. There is talk in the town that the legendary robber Gasback has been sighted and he has his sights set on stealing the wealth of the town. In order to protect the town, Mayor Kepler has hired many bounty hunters to protect mainly himself and the rest of the townspeople. It is up to Vash the Stampede and his good friend Wolfwood to stop Gasback and his rag tag gang.

Trigun: Badlands Rumble appears to be one of those movies that is produced directly for fans. There are many moments during the film that are fan serviced. The story was quite predictable, but the interaction between characters especially Ameria and Vash was extremely amusing . The movie basically followed an extended episode format. The story didn't add anything new to the series, neither did it take anything away from it much like what the Cowboy Bebop movie did to its own series. It was pretty much a fanfare of Trigun love. The interaction between older characters and new ones was quite amusing. There was one particular scene where Vash first meets Ameria and he then tries to rub his face on her hand because she is of course very beautiful, but once he does, Ameria suddenly breaks out into hives. Apparently Ameria is allergic to guys, a recent theme found in anime.

Unlike the television series, Badlands Rumble has clean and vibrant animation. Each scene is fully animated with characters moving freely in the background. In the T.V. series, there were many still scene with character dialogue. There would also be little or no activity in the background. In addition, the action was few and far between. On the other hand, the movie had plenty of action and animated backgrounds. This is especially noticible during the city scenes of Makka and in the bar scene later in the movie.

Overall, Trigun: Badlands Rumble was an entertaining and amusing film. The characters have deep personas and back story that really makes fans want to learn more about the world they live in. While Badlands Rumble has a predictable outcome, it was still fun to see Vash and Wolfwood back on the screen. The interaction between the various characters were fun to watch and there were plenty fan nod moments that were also quite comical. The black cat (Kuroneko) from the Trigun series makes several appearances in this film. If fans werent able to travel to Seattle to screen the movie themselves, then there is still hope. The movie will appear in Japanese theaters later this year with a DVD/Blu-ray release that will follow. Unfortunately, the movie itself was screened in a regular 4:3 DVD format.

Attendees to Sakura-Con had to check in their bags and any electronic devices before entering the main theater.Once inside, fans were forced to sit on uncomfortable chairs that were pretty awful, especially for an hour and forty minute movie. There were also some restrictions while in the theater. If anyones cell phone went off during the screening, then that person would be ban from Sakura-Con, for life. They were pretty strict when it came down to the possible bootlegging of the new movie which one can understand, but they could have turn down the distracting personal walking up and down the isle like Gollum from Lord of the Rings.

After an eleven year wait, it is good to see Trigun return with some fanfare. It goes to show what the power of fandom can do to rekindle a beloved series. Hopefully with enough fan support, they might turn Trigun: Maximum into its own series.

The following is the Q and A that preceded the screening of the movie. Fans were able to ask Director, Satoshi Nishimura and Character Designer, Takahiro Yoshimatsu questions.

Q- How have the characters grown or evolve since 11 years ago in the T.V. Series?

A- Nishimura - A great deal of time has past, somewhere in the T.V. Series, if these events had happened. I didnt want to make changes to the spirit or soul Trigun.

Q- There seems to be a significant departure from the art work, reminiscent of the manga. What is the reason?

A- Yoshimatsu- We wanted to incorporate the taste of the original creator, Nightow-san. However I had him create six cuts. Please look for them

Q- How did your character designs change when you first thought of them

A- Yoshimatsu - Many design and readings with Nightow-san we got a new direction from him

Q- Are there any plans to make more Trigun or animate Trigun: Maximum?

A- Nishimura - Just as with the production of this movie, (Fans made the Movie possible), it will be more likely to happen

Q- Why was the decision made to set the movie during the series instead of after the series?

A- Nishimura- We described very literally we want to see Vash, Meryl and Wolfwood. Do you want to see Wolfwood? (The crowd cheers)

Q- Are there plans to dub or subtitle the movie?

A- Nishimura - Right now negotiations are in the process, there is almost certainly it will be release in the U.S.

(Nishimura then stand and says "peace, peace everyone, Love and Peace")
In the race for Washingtons 3rd Congressional District, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, and Republican challenger Joe Kent of Yacolt are effectively tied.

Thats according to a recent poll from the Northwest Progressive Institute that surveyed 650 likely November general election voters between June 11 and 12.

Respondents were asked who theyd back for Congress if the general election were being held now.

Kent garnered 46% of support from the sample of likely voters, while Perez garnered 45%; 9% of likely voters said they remained undecided.

Those are the initial horserace percentages from the survey, said Andrew Villeneuve, the executive director of the Northwest Progressive Institute, a left-leaning nonprofit. No questions about the candidates priorities or statements from the campaign trail were asked prior to the question that yielded these numbers.

Roughly half of the respondents participated via landline; the other half participated online via text message invitation. The poll has a 3.9% margin of error, according to a news release. The Northwest Progressive Institute has not released all the data from its poll.

The race is a textbook definition of a toss-up, Villeneuve said.

In 2022, Perez defeated Kent by 2,629 votes after the two of them eclipsed longtime incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Republican, in the primary.

Its super tight, with both candidates polling in the mid-40s out of the gate, he said. It goes without saying that everything the candidates and the parties do in this race could matter. This is a contest with the potential to go to a recount.

Also competing are Republican Leslie Lewallen and independent John Saulie-Rohman, both from Camas.

Lewallen is a Camas city councilor who argues that rematches rarely result in flipped outcomes.

Villeneuve said the poll asked whether voters would support Lewallen over Perez, but the organization chose not to release those results because (Lewallen) doesnt have any realistic chance of making it out of the top two in the Aug. 6 primary.

Washingtonians know they have a choice and pretending as though the primary election has been decided is disingenuous, Lewallen said Monday. One thing is abundantly clear with this poll: far-left, liberal groups want a rematch between Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Joe Kent so our seat will stay blue. Joe Kent lost last election cycle and will lose again by an even bigger margin. Im the only Republican who can win this seat, and I am continuing to share my message with Washington families every day.

Lewallen has raised about $533,915 as of March 31, compared with Kents roughly $1.04 million and Perezs $4.15 million, according to data from the Federal Elections Commission.

The race for Washingtons 3rd Congressional District will help determine whether the U.S. House flips Democratic or remains Republican-controlled, Villeneuve noted.

For Democrats, the road to the House majority definitely runs through the greater Pacific Northwest, he said by email. For Republicans, getting WA-03 back is of paramount importance and could help them avoid losing the House.

In 2022, the Northwest Progressive Institute conducted a similar poll that found Perez had a fighting chance in what was at the time considered a safe Republican district, even after Herrera Beutlers loss.

This cycle, Gluesenkamp Perez is the incumbent and is in an even better position to compete, Villeneuve said.

Election officials will begin mailing ballots July 19 for Washingtons Aug. 6 primary election.
Palo Alto Networks has published its State of OT Security: A Comprehensive Guide to Trends, Risks, and Cyber Resilience report. The report surveyed 1,979 operational technology (OT) and IT business leaders across 23 countries globally, including 103 Indian leaders, to understand the trends, risks, and cyber resilience strategies within OT environments, offering insights into the challenges faced by organizations across the globe.

Rampant cyber attacks paralyze Indian industries, draining profits and inciting costly recovery efforts. Amidst rising threats, industrial operators grapple with stricter compliance and unprecedented risks linked to AI, remote access, cloud computing, 5G, and robotics. In response, urgent calls demand a reinvented cybersecurity approach to safeguard operations in the modern era.

Key findings for India from the report reveal a concerning landscape in OT security:

India faced four cyber attacks daily in the past year: Previously, industrial operations were thought to be invulnerable to cyber attacks due to their air-gapped systems, legacy assets, proprietary technologies, and fragmented end markets. This assumption no longer holds true. 75% of Indian respondents stated that their organizations experienced at least one cyber attack in the past year. Equally alarming is the frequency of these attacks, 63% of respondents were experiencing attacks often monthly or weekly.

Cyber attacks can shut down Indian OT operations: Cyber attacks have inflicted significant disruptions, with close to a quarter (24.4%) of Indian industrial entities compelled to halt operations due to successful cyber intrusions, emphasizing the dire consequences of such incidents. Alarmingly over half  53% of Indian operators agree that their organizations OT incident response plan is sufficient. 75% of Indian respondents agreed that regulatory pressure to improve OT cybersecurity will increase in the next two years. Only 27% of Indian respondents stated that cybersecurity initiatives to protect OT environments was a top priority despite close to 70% of Indian respondents stating they were extremely likely or highly likely to experience a ransomware attack on their OT environment. The complexity of OT security solutions is the top issue for Indian operators when buying or deploying OT cybersecurity solutions.

Closing the AI gap- Only 31% of respondents agreed that they have started formulating a strategy around the use of AI technology and AI-enabled solutions to secure OT environments. About 72% of respondents agreed that AI-enabled attacks on their OT infrastructure is a critical issue today. 63% of respondents agree that an AI-enabled SOC will be critical for responding to attacks on their OT infrastructure. These indicate that theres low adoption of AI strategies despite high concern for AI-enabled attacks, with a recognized need for AI-driven solutions in OT security.

Challenges in collaboration between OT and IT teams: The supposedly close knit teams which work together for an organizations cybersecurity assurance, Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) teams have a difference of perspectives in aligning and making decisions. 28% operators feel that the relationship between OT and IT teams is frictional, indicating struggles in aligning views and making decisions. Despite the imperative for unified cybersecurity efforts, a tangible disconnect persists between OT and IT teams within Indian organizations. This breakdown obstructs the coordinated responses to threats and increasing vulnerabilities in critical systems.

Cloud Transition Challenges and Future Outlook on OT Security: Anticipated challenges accompany the shift to cloud solutions for OT security, with over half of Indian respondents foreseeing heightened cybersecurity risks. Nevertheless, theres widespread recognition of the critical role cloud-based architecture will play in OT within the next three to five years, according to 75% of respondents. Additionally, half of Indian respondents acknowledge that AI adoption will drive the integration of OT systems with cloud platforms, indicating a growing synergy between AI, cloud technology, and OT security strategies.

Zero Trust Imperative: Embracing a Zero Trust approach emerges as a critical requirement for Indian industrial operators with 76% Indians having some or little idea about the Zero Trust approach. However, deployment rates for OT security remain relatively low, highlighting the urgency for comprehensive adoption of Zero Trust principles as only 20% of respondents have fully deployed Zero Trust solutions to their OT/IT environment.

Anil Valluri, MD and VP, Palo Alto Networks India and SAARC said: Amidst the evolving cyber battlefield, the call for unity grows louder. Our findings illuminate the urgency for consolidation of strategies, teams, and solutions. As Indian enterprises confront the looming challenges of cloud transitions, AI threats, and team frictions, a unified approach is our strongest shield. By consolidating efforts and embracing Zero Trust principles, we not only fortify our defenses but also pave the path for a resilient digital future, where collaboration conquers complexity. While its commendable to witness industrial operators prioritizing cybersecurity, relying on fragmented approaches wont suffice. Shockingly, 75% of attacks in India stem from vulnerabilities within their internal IT systems. Without bridging the gap between IT and OT, even the most robust cybersecurity strategies and investments will fall short.
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:

Stack Overflow CEO Prashanth Chandrasekar poses on May 21, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. Chandrasekar said the company is trying to balance rising demand for instant chatbot-generated coding assistance with the desire for a community "knowledge base" where people still want to post and "get recognized" for what they've contributed. Credit: AP Photo/Matt O'Brien

Post a comment on Reddit, answer coding questions on Stack Overflow, edit a Wikipedia entry or share a baby photo on your public Facebook or Instagram feed and you are also helping to train the next generation of artificial intelligence.

Not everyone is OK with thatespecially as the same online forums where they've spent years contributing are increasingly flooded with AI-generated commentary mimicking what real humans might say.

Some longtime users have tried to delete their past contributions or rewrite them into gibberish, but the protests haven't had much effect. A handful of governmentsincluding Brazil's privacy regulator on Tuesdayhave also tried to step in.

"A more significant portion of the population just kind of feels helpless," said Reddit volunteer moderator Sarah Gilbert, who also studies online communities at Cornell University. "There's nowhere to go except just completely going offline or not contributing in ways that bring value to them and value to others."

Platforms are respondingwith mixed results. Take Stack Overflow, the popular hub for computer programming tips. First, it banned ChatGPT-written responses due to frequent errors, but now it's partnering with AI chatbot developers and has punished some of its own users who tried to erase their past contributions in protest.

It's one of a number of social media platforms grappling with user warinessand occasional revoltsas they try to adapt to the changes brought by generative AI.

Software developer Andy Rotering of Bloomington, Minnesota, has used Stack Overflow daily for 15 years and said he worries the company "could be inadvertently hurting its greatest resource"the community of contributors who've donated time to help other programmers.

"Keeping contributors incentivized to provide commentary should be paramount," he said.

Stack Overflow CEO Prashanth Chandrasekar said the company is trying to balance rising demand for instant chatbot-generated coding assistance with the desire for a community "knowledge base" where people still want to post and "get recognized" for what they've contributed.

"Fast forward five yearsthere's going to be all sorts of machine-generated content on the web," he said in an interview. "There's going to be very few places where there's truly authentic, original human thought. And we're one of those places."

Chandrasekar readily describes Stack Overflow's challenges as like one of the "case studies" he learned about at Harvard Business School, of a how a business survivesor doesn'tafter a disruptive technological change.

For more than a decade, users typically landed on Stack Overflow after typing a coding question in Google, and then found the answer, copied and pasted it. The answers they were most likely to see came from volunteers who'd built up points measuring their credibilitywhich in some cases could help land them a job.

Now programmers can simply ask an AI chatbotsome of which are already trained on everything ever posted to Stack Overflowand it can instantly spit out an answer.

ChatGPT's debut in late 2022 threatened to put Stack Overflow out of business. So Chandrasekar carved out a special 40-person team at the company to race out the launch of its own specialized AI chatbot, called Overflow AI. Then, the company made deals with Google and ChatGPT maker OpenAI, enabling the AI developers to tap into Stack Overflow's question-and-answer archive to further improve their AI large language models.

That kind of strategy makes sense but may have come too late, said Maria Roche, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School. "I'm surprised that Stack Overflow wasn't working on this earlier," she said.

When some Stack Overflow users tried to delete their past comments after the Open AI partnership was announced, the company responded by suspending their accounts due to terms that make all contributions "perpetually and irrevocably licensed to Stack Overflow."

"We quickly addressed it and said, 'Look, that's not acceptable behavior'," said Chandrasekar, describing the protesters as a small minority in the "low hundreds" of the platform's 100 million users.

Brazil's national data protection authority on Tuesday took action to ban social media giant Meta Platforms from training its AI models on the Facebook and Instagram posts of Brazilians. It established a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,820) for non-compliance.

Meta in a statement called it a "step backwards for innovation" and said it has been more transparent than many industry counterparts doing similar AI training on public content, and that its practices comply with Brazilian laws.

Meta has also encountered resistance in Europe, where it recently put on hold its plans to start feeding people's public posts into training AI systemswhich was supposed to start last week. In the U.S., where there's no national law protecting online privacy, such training is already likely happening.

"The vast majority of people just have no idea that their data is being used," Gilbert said.

Reddit has taken a different approachpartnering with AI developers like OpenAI and Google while also making clear that content can't be taken in bulk without the platform's approval by commercial entities "with no regard for user rights or privacy." The deals helped bring Reddit the money it needed to debut on Wall Street in March, with investors pushing the value of the company close to $9 billion seconds after it began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Reddit hasn't tried to punish users who protestednor could it easily do so given how much say voluntary moderators have on what happens in their specialty forums known as subreddits. But what worries Gilbert, who helps moderate the "AskHistorians" subreddit, is the increasing flow of AI-generated commentary that moderators must decide whether to allow or ban.

"People come to Reddit because they want to talk to people, they don't want to talk to bots," Gilbert said. "There's apps where they can talk to bots if they want to. But historically Reddit has been for connecting with humans."

She said it's ironic that the AI-generated content threatening Reddit was sourced on the comments of millions of human Redditors, and "there's a real risk that eventually it could end up pushing people out."

 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:

Materials and device performance. Credit: Jiang et al. (Nature Energy, 2024).

In recent years, engineers have introduced a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) solutions that could facilitate the sustainable generation of electricity worldwide. These include organic solar cells (OSCs), PV devices that use organic molecules or polymers to convert sunlight into electrical power.

These solar cells could have notable advantages, including high flexibility, lighter weight and lower fabrication costs. However, their power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) remain significantly lower than those of silicon-based solar cells.

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Normal University recently designed a new asymmetric non-fullerene acceptor (i.e., a material that can accept and transport electrons) that could improve the efficiency of OSCs. This material, introduced in a paper published in Nature Energy, has various advantageous optoelectronic properties, including a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and delocalized excitons.

"For organic solar cells (OSCs), bridging the gap with ShockleyQueisser limit necessitates simultaneously reducing the energy loss for a high open-circuit voltage, improving light utilization for enhanced short-circuit current density and maintaining ideal nanomorphology with a high fill factor through molecular design and device engineering," Yuanyuan Jiang, Shaoming Sun, and their colleagues wrote in their paper.

"We design and synthesize an asymmetric non-fullerene acceptor (Z8) featuring tethered phenyl groups to establish an alloy acceptor in ternary OSCs."

The asymmetric non-fullerene acceptor designed by Jiang, Sun and their colleagues is characterized by phenyl-substitution side chains. Its remarkable optoelectronic properties could reduce non-radiative energy losses in solar cells, while promoting the efficient generation and transfer of electrical charge.

"The asymmetric structure minimizes non-radiative energy loss and charge recombination owing to delocalized excitons," Jiang, Sun and their colleagues wrote. "The phenyl-substituted alkyl side chain impacts on the intermolecular interactions, improving the film nanomorphology with efficient exciton dissociation and reduced charge recombination."

To assess their newly designed acceptors, the researchers used them to fabricate single-junction OSCs. The resulting solar cells achieved highly promising efficiencies of 20.2% (certified 19.8%) which compares favorably to other OSCs developed in recent years.

"Through theoretical calculations, we examine the overall distribution of photon and carrier losses and analyze the potential for improvement on open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density and fill factor, providing rational guidance for further development of the OSC performance," Jiang, Sun and their colleagues wrote.

While the results attained by the team's acceptors are encouraging, they still do not compare to the efficiencies reported in silicon-based and various other non-organic PV technologies. In their next studies, Jiang, Sun and their colleagues plan to continue designing materials that could help to minimize photon and carrier losses in OSCs.

Their efforts could contribute to the development of increasingly efficient and scalable OSCs, which could be realistically deployed in real-world settings. Concurrently, their work could inspire others in the PV research community to design similar non-fullerene acceptors aimed at reducing both photon and carrier losses in cells.

More information: Yuanyuan Jiang et al, Non-fullerene acceptor with asymmetric structure and phenyl-substituted alkyl side chain for 20.2% efficiency organic solar cells, Nature Energy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01557-z Journal information: Nature Energy

 2024 Science X Network
Brandon Lingle covers technology, cybersecurity and aerospace for the Express-News. You can reach him at Brandon.Lingle@express-news.net.

Before writing for the Business team, he was an Editorial Board member and opinion columnist. Brandon joined the paper in 2020 as a Report for America fellow. He came to journalism after more than 20 years in the Air Force.
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.
Former Starr County Judge Roel Valadez, 34, was caught up in a large-scale federal drug bust was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in guiding a drug smuggler. Bob Owen, Staff Photographer / Staff photographer

A former Starr County judge caught up in a large-scale federal drug bust was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in providing guidance to a drug smuggler.

Roel Role Valadez Jr., 34, was sentenced Monday after he pleaded guilty to possession of 220 pounds of marijuana with intent to deliver back in March as part of a deal with federal prosecutors, valleycentral.com reported. When the deal was made, federal prosecutors agreed to drop three other charges against Valadez.

Roel Valdez Courtesy of the Valdez campaign

The former Justice of the Peace was one 16 Rio Grande City residents who were arrested in September 2021, a number that would later grow as the operation continued.

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MORE NEWS: How the city is tackling violent crime at Southeast Side complex

They were all netted as part of Operation Ice River, touted by federal authorities as the largest anti-crime task force in the country involving the FBI, DEA and Homeland Security Investigations with a mission of disrupting large-scale drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations.

Throughout the court case that unfolded earlier this year, federal authorities revealed that they had wiretapped phone calls detailing transactions between Valadez and Javier Eden Gonzalez Jr., including one call negotiating the purchase of a substantial amount of marijuana for Valadez to take to Houston, Valleycentral.com reported.

Agents also intercepted phone calls between Valadez and Ignacio Nacho Garza, a drug smuggler with Gulf Cartel connections who was also arrested during the September 2021 raid.

The calls themselves were made in October 2020, when federal agents had seized about 220 pounds of marijuana and arrested Roosevelt Vela, a man who had initially picked up the shipment.

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Garza called Valadez to ask if Vela had been brought into the Starr County jail. Although Vela had not been brought to the county lockup yet, Garza offered Valadez a check in exchange for his help, prosecutors said.

Valadez told Garza what could be done to get Vela out on bond, and pointed out the most influential attorney in Starr County that Garza could hire, prosecutors said.

Garza has since pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance as part of a plea agreement, krgv.com reported.

In Valadezs defense, his attorney O. Rene Flores, of Edinburg, argued that Valadez played a minor role in the conspiracy, valleycentral.com reported. The former judge had already shamed his family and ruined his reputation, Flores said, arguing that prison simply was not necessary.

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Flores also read from a letter of support written by state Rep. Ryan Guillen, R-Rio Grande City, that said Valadez was a small business owner with a history of helping the community.

Ultimately, Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Valadez to serve the 21-month prison sentence, plus three years of supervised release. Valadez is scheduled to self-surrender on Aug. 2.
A 21-year-old man was sent to the hospital in critical condition after he was shot on the East Side. according to San Antonio police. Ken Branca A 21-year-old man was sent to the hospital in critical condition after he was shot on the East Side. according to San Antonio police. Ken Branca

A man was sent to the hospital in critical condition after he was shot on the East Side early Tuesday, police said.

The shooting happened around 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of Amanda Street and Rigsby Avenue.

According to a preliminary police report from the shooting, a group of unknown suspects pushed a 21-year-old man out of their vehicle before fleeing the scene. Officers later learned that the man and the unknown suspects were involved in shooting at homes, according to the report.

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READ MORE: Elderly woman dies in car crash on Northwest Side

At some point, the unknown suspects shot the 21-year-old and pushed him out of the vehicle.

He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Police did not say if he was facing any charges.

Police were unable to locate any suspects.

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A tipster reported Cameron Peterson, 19, idolized school shooters and could potentially become one himself. The FBI arrested him after he tried to buy shotguns. Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

A New Braunfels man has been indicted on gun charges after someone told the FBI that he could be plotting a mass shooting.

The tipster reported that Cameron Peterson, 19, "has severe emotional issues, idolizes violence and school shootings, and that he may emulate infamous prior mass shooters," according to a criminal complaint affidavit.

The tipster reportedly based the warning on secondhand information relayed by someone close to Peterson. That person told the tipster that Peterson discussed plans to commit mass shootings and kept journals in which he detailed fantasies and plans for school shootings, the affidavit said.

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The FBI followed up on the tip and found that Peterson had tried to buy a shotgun from a New Braunfels pawn shop in January, but the shop did not sell it to him because of his age and the type of gun he was trying to buy, the affidavit said.

The FBI interviewed Peterson on May 21 at a home in New Braunfels. During that interview, he allegedly said he smoked marijuana daily. The FBI did not arrest him that day but added him to a list of people in the National Instant Background Check System who are prohibited from buying guns.

Ten days later, Peterson tried to buy another shotgun at a pawn shop using an old address, and did not report that he used drugs, according to the affidavit. The shop did not sell him the weapon after seeing his name was flagged in the NICS.

The FBI arrested Peterson in early June, and a federal grand jury last week indicted him on a count of attempted purchase of a firearm, "knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the firearm would be used to commit a felony, that is premeditated, intentional murder."

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Peterson was also indicted on a separate charge of making false statements on a firearm purchase application for allegedly lying about his address and his use of marijuana on the firearm form.

Also in June, the FBI arrested Trevin Wayne Michael Boone, 19, and charged him with threatening an act of mass violence after he allegedly said on social media he intended to kill himself and take at least 12 people with me to hell, court records show.

Boone, of San Antonio, asserted that he was high on drugs when he made the post and was not serious about the threats, the affidavit says. But federal agents found posts on his other social media accounts that showed him wearing tactical gear and displaying guns. FBI agents also learned that he purchased a rifle and ammunition magazines shortly before he was arrested, court records said.

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A federal grand jury indicted Boone last week on a charge of interstate communication of a threat.
Mike Shannon, Development Services director for the city of San Antonio, talks with a resident at Aristo at Medical Apartments in this Sept. 8 photo. Shannon will be temporarily running Animal Care Services starting July 15. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Development Services Director Mike Shannon will temporarily run Animal Care Services as city leaders extend their monthslong hunt for a permanent director of the oft-criticized department.

Shannon will take the reins from Assistant City Manager David McCary on July 15.

Assistant City Manager David McCary speaks at a 2022 meeting by the San Antonio Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments regarding the Brackenridge Park bond project. McCary has been filling in as the Animal Care Services chief in the wake of Shannon Sims departure. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

McCary was rushed into the position when former ACS Director Shannon Sims retired at the end of May. A week before his departure, which came sooner than he originally said it would, Sims called some local animal welfare activists social media terrorists in a farewell speech to the ACS advisory board.

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San Antonio Animal Care Services Director Shannon Sims speaks in his office at Animal Care Services on May 6. Sims retired at the end of May, earlier than he originally had said he would. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

And now the search for Sims replacement appears to have hit a snag.

A month ago, a city spokesman said four final applicants for the new director position had been interviewed and that the hiring process would be complete by early summer.

But City Manager Erik Walsh said in a Monday memo to the City Council that he is reopening the job to new candidates.

We have gone through a recent recruitment and interviews with potential candidates, Walsh said. I have chosen to continue to recruit candidates for this critical role for our organization.

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READ MORE: Council member wants roaming dogs picked up by city sterilized

More than 70 people initially applied for the position. Shannon Oster-Gabrielson, assistant to the ACS director, was among the applicants, according to records obtained by the San Antonio Express-News. The city has yet to release requested records identifying the four finalists for ACS director.

While Shannon is working with ACS, Deputy Development Services Director Amin Tohmaz will temporarily fill his shoes.

Shannon has been with the city for more than two decades and has served as an ACS board member for four years.

ACS has been heavily criticized in the past year after two San Antonio men were killed in separate dog attacks.

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The city pumped more money into the department, adding officers to police aggressive dogs and ensure their owners are complying with city regulations.
Meta's decision to offer an ad-free subscription in the European Union (E.U.) has faced a new setback after regulators accused the social media behemoth of breaching the bloc's competition rules by forcing users to choose between seeing ads or paying to avoid them.

The European Commission said the company's "pay or consent" advertising model is in contravention of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

"This binary choice forces users to consent to the combination of their personal data and fails to provide them a less personalized but equivalent version of Meta's social networks," the Commission said.

It also noted that companies in gatekeeper roles must seek users' permission to combine their personal data between designated core platform services and other services (e.g., advertising), and that users who refuse to opt in should have access to a less personalized but equivalent alternative.

On top of that, Meta's approach does not allow users to choose a service that uses less of their personal data, stating it doesn't permit users to exercise their right to freely consent to combine their data from its services to target them with personalized online ads, the Commission said.

"Users who do not consent should still get access to an equivalent service which uses less of their personal data, in this case for the personalisation of advertising," it added.

Meta first announced its plans for an ad-free option to access Facebook and Instagram for users in the E.U., European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland in October 2023 as a way to comply with the strict privacy laws in the region.

It also came in response to a ruling from the European Court of Justice last year that a company may offer an "alternative" version of its service that does not rely on data collection for ads.

But in the intervening months, the American tech giant has faced criticism for essentially not offering real choices for customers to opt from, instead forcing them to either consent to tracking for advertising purposes or pay up every month to avoid seeing personalized ads altogether.

"European users now have the 'choice' to either consent to being tracked for personalized advertising  or pay up to 251.88 a year to retain their fundamental right to data protection on Instagram and Facebook," Austrian privacy non-profit noyb said late last year.

"Not only is the cost unacceptable, but industry numbers suggest that only 3 percent of people want to be tracked  while more than 99 percent decide against a payment when faced with a 'privacy fee.'"

Should the preliminary findings be confirmed, Meta could be fined up to 10% of its total worldwide turnover, a number that can go up to 20% for systematic infringement of the rules.

"Subscription for no ads follows the direction of the highest court in Europe and complies with the DMA," Meta was quoted as saying in a statement shared with the Associated Press. It further said it will engage in "constructive dialogue" with the Commission as part of the investigation.

The development comes as a Norwegian court has confirmed that online dating app Grindr violated GDPR data protection laws in the E.U. by sharing user data with advertisers, requiring it to pay a fine of 5.7 million ($6.1 million).
Amkor increases Vietnam investment to $1.6 bln, production to start next year 2025

By Tri Duc Tue, July 2, 2024 | 7:45 pm GMT+7

Bac Ninh province's government has granted an investment registration certificate to the South Korean subsidiary of U.S.-headquartered semiconductor giant Amkor Technology Inc. to increase its investment to $1.6 billion.

The northern Vietnam province granted the certificate for an additional investment of $1.07 billion at the Vietnam-South Korea business forum in Seoul Monday.

The forum was held under the auspices of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs June 30-July 3 visit to South Korea.

Bac Ninh Vice Chairman Vuong Quoc Tuan (front, right) grants an investment registration certificate to Amkor in the presence of PM Pham Minh Chinh (third left, back) in Seoul on July 1, 2024. Photo courtesy of Bac Ninh news portal.

Amkors factory at the provinces Phong 2C industrial park will have an annual output of 3.6 billion items. The facility is set to start trial operations in the first and second quarter of 2025, enter official operation in Q3/2025, and reach maximum capacity in Q4/2035.

Bac Ninh authorities and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) signed a memorandum of understanding on developing an urban area in the southeastern part of Bac Ninh town. The two sides will cooperate to research deployment of the project, covering investment plan, operation plan and other tasks.
Southeast Asian nations, India eye instant retail cross-border payments

By Vietnam News Agency Tue, July 2, 2024 | 11:10 pm GMT+7

The central banks of Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and India are teaming up to start an instant cross-border retail payments platform by 2026, the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) said on July 1.

The central banks of Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and India are teaming up to start an instant cross-border retail payments platform by 2026. Photo courtesy of thestar.com.my.

BIS said it aims to link each country's instant digital payment system, like India's United Payment Interface (UPI) and Singapore's PayNow, as part of Project Nexus, its initiative to enhance cross-border payments.

India and the four countries will be the founding members of the platform, while Indonesia will serve as a special observer, BIS said.

Nexus has the potential to connect a market of 1.7 billion people globally, allowing them to make instant payments to each other easily and cheaply, Agustin Carstens, general manager of the BIS, said in a statement.
Human Error Remains the Leading Cause of Cloud Data Breaches

Human error is still one of the biggest threats to cloud security, despite all the technology bells and whistles and alerts and services out there, from multi-factor authentication, to social engineering training, to enterprise-wide integrated cybersecurity platforms, and more. That's a conclusion of the 2024 Thales Cloud Security Study, a new report from IT services and consulting company Thales based on a global survey of 2,961 respondents that was fielded in November and December 2023 via web survey with targeted populations for each country, aimed at professionals in security and IT management.

The issue is well known on organizational help desks where troubleshooters have long complained of the PEBKAC problem (Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair). But it's also a problem in the cloud, where human errors that have plagued IT for decades are still causing breaches that show little sign of slowing down.

"Human action can compromise security," the report noted. "Fueling this concern is the high number of cloud data breaches, with 44% of respondents reporting such an incident. Fourteen percent reported a breach in the past 12 months. Human error, issues with vulnerability and configuration management, and failures to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) are all cited as leading contributors."

"Identity and Access Management (IAM) is crucial in linking people with technology and policy control," Thales added in a June 26 guest blog post on the site of the Cloud Security Alliance. "People's interaction with technology introduces significant risks, and human error is a leading cause of cloud data breaches."

Noting that almost half of organizations have experienced a cloud data breach, Thales said 31% attributed the breach to misconfiguration or human error, which the company said underscores the need for robust IAM solutions and comprehensive training to mitigate human-related risks. Following misconfiguration/human error, other concerns include vulnerability exploits or failure to implement controls on highly privileged access such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).

[Click on image for larger view.] Causes of Breaches (source: Thales).

"The impact of human interaction is evident in the types of threats respondents are most concerned about," the report said. "While external attackers and malicious insiders ranked highly, human error  evident in incidents such as unintended actions  was often ranked number one."

[Click on image for larger view.] Threat Categories (source: Thales).

As the company's companion 2024 Data Threat Report indicates, the human problem hasn't changed much over the years, nor have attack types (report is from March 2024, data is from S&P Global Market Intelligence's 2021-2024 Data Threat custom surveys):
The powerful sounds of the Calhoun County High School Thunder and Lightning Band can be heard from the school gymnasium as they prepare for an upcoming performance at the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C.

Historic Constitution Avenue and the National Mall will form the setting for the national parade on July 4, but the bands young members are not deterred and confident in their ability to play in any location.

Thats not gonna stop us. We might be small, but were big in heart, said Nigeria Matthews, who serves as a flag girl for the band.

Calhoun County High School Band The Calhoun County Marching Band is preparing for a performance at the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., on July 4.

Thats why I encourage many people to come join our band. You will learn life lessons. This is my first time going to D.C. Im just ready and excited to show the world our talent, she said.

Matthews was among the band members who gathered at the school in St. Matthews on June 19 to practice under band director Travis Lawton.

Lawton said it is a great honor for the band to have been selected as the only band from South Carolina to perform at the parade. The students will be in D.C. July 3-5.

Im super excited about the National Independence Day Parade. I just really want to thank Calhoun County Cares, the community and the parents for the support, Lawton said.

The band director applied for the band to perform through Music Celebrations International, a music performance tour company that provides unique performance and educational opportunities for performing groups.

Calhoun County High School Band The Calhoun County High School Thunder and Lightning Band practices a routine in preparation for the Washington, D.C., performance.

I got an email from them saying to apply and send a video. So once I applied and sent the video, thats where the communication started. Its a selection process, Lawton said.

To be honest, we didnt meet the number of students that they wanted to be on the band. I think the number was 72. So we didnt meet the number, but we met the sound, he said.

Lawton is proud of how hard his band members have worked.

This is my third school. When I look around this group of students, it seems like I got a whole classroom full of me's. They are very talented, they are very dedicated. They go all the way, the band director said.

There are some recently graduated seniors who will be performing with the band on July 4.

History preserved in St. Matthews; former library now West End Heritage Center ST. MATTHEWS  Many community members gathered Friday to witness the official opening of the West End Heritage Center.

Raymeon Cunningham, Julius Carter, Jamari Elliott and Kenyon Stroman are among them.

Cunningham said the parade performance will give the band more exposure.

Im glad theyre giving us the experience to be more out there. ... Were a small town. People dont know much about St. Matthews, he said.

He considers the band like a family and enjoys being a part of it.

The band feels like a home. Its like everybody here is so welcoming. Its a great atmosphere to be in, Cunningham said.

Carter said, "We had a break over last semester, but ever since we've been working on D.C. We've pretty much been working nonstop every week. So it's hard work, dedication.

He said Lawton teaches on many levels and not just music performance.

"It's like a place to learn more about music. We don't only do this. During the school year, he teaches the class. We learn more about music theory and stuff like that, Carter said.

So it's definitely very helpful, and it's definitely something I'll cherish," he said.

Elliott, a flag girl, said, My experience has been great. ... At first I thought I didn't want to necessarily be a dancer, but that became more of an interest when I was put on flag.

I've always liked doing it. I find myself looking at videos of the tricks to learn to use in performances, and I also just like music," she said.

Her plans are to attend Benedict College and become a member of its Divine Silk Color Guard, as well as get her master's degree in business administration for entrepreneurship.

Elliott is also beyond happy about the upcoming national parade performance.

"I'm ecstatic. I'm looking forward to being able to travel outside of South Carolina, but also being able to get more people to notice our school. There's a lot of hidden talent inside of Calhoun County High School," she said.

Elliott continued, "If we're able to put our name out there, then maybe the people that are still gonna be on this band once us seniors leave will be able to get more of a chance to get noticed by maybe bigger colleges and get bigger scholarships towards their future."

Stroman, who used to live in Washington, D.C., said he is looking forward to the trip back.

I know how the Independence Day goes, but to actually be in the parade is actually gonna be fun. I get to see it in a different way now, he said.

Stroman has played both the trumpet and mellophone on the band.

Being on the band is like one big family. You get to see so many different things that you dont normally get to see if you were a regular athlete, or if you were just a regular student. You get so many more opportunities, he said, noting that he considered Lawton a father figure.

Ethan Alsep, Dunnell Jordan and Taryn Mintz are rising juniors who play with the band.

Alsep, 17, plays a variety of instruments. He is headed into his third year with the band under Lawtons direction.

I used to play trombone in elementary school, but I kind of like got out of it. Mr. Lawton kind of resparked that interest for me. Now I play the trombone, the tuba and the bass guitar. So I play a lot of instruments. He really did that, he really sparked it for me," he said.

Alsep said the D.C. trip will actually show the world our talent and what we're capable of.

Jordan said, I'm excited for the Washington trip because it's letting me know as a person on the band that our efforts that we've been putting in for the past two years are really being noticed by people.

Not many high schools, I don't think, get to go to the Washington parade. To be one of those high schools, especially since we're a small one, really shows that we put in a lot of work, he said.

Calhoun County Council: Tax increase gets final approval Calhoun County residents will see an increase in taxes to help pay for the county's 2024-2025 budget.

Mintz, a dancer with the band, said, Mr. Lawton pushes us. He can be hard sometimes, but all of us know basically that he's doing it because he wants us to be better. Hes like second father to us.

She is also excited about the D.C. trip.

Washington is a place where you get noticed by a lot of people. Show your talent. When you show your talents like that and when you get to college, you can get scholarships and then start a career," Mintz said.

The high school band also includes younger members from the nearby St. Matthews K-8 School. Mason Williams, an 8-year-old third-grader, and Masiahya Wilson, a 10-year-old fifth-grader, are among them.

Williams, who serves as a mini drum major, said he is happy to be able to go on the trip.

Ive never been to Washington before, he said, noting that he gets a lot of chances to dance, something he loves to do, as a drum major.

Wilson, who Lawton considers the bands stunt girl, is equally excited about heading to Washington.

Im real excited because its my first time going, Wilson said, noting she enjoys the band because she likes music and flipping.

IN PHOTOS: Calhoun County High School Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band Calhoun County Marching Band
Demand escalates for tour guides with foreign-language skills

10:01, July 02, 2024 By Cheng Si ( China Daily

A group of foreign tourists poses for a photo at the Palace Museum in Beijing, on April 25. (CHINA DAILY)

Tour guides who can speak foreign languages have become some of the most sought-after employees in China, as the inbound tourism market continues its rapid recovery.

"It feels like I've been working every day and have no time to take a short break," said Liu Yiling, a 31-year-old English-speaking tour guide in Beijing, who has worked in the tourism sector for six years.

"My friend in Shanghai, who is also an English-speaking tour guide and knows some French, has seen her daily pay surge to 1,500 yuan ($206) from around late April," he added.

In 2021, when the tourism industry was hard hit by the COVID-19 epidemic, Liu switched jobs from being a tour guide to a preschool teacher.

"My career had bleak prospects and I transferred to the education sector," he said. "But I still loved being a tour guide, because the human touch and person-to-person communication are really attractive to me. So I decided to return to the tourism industry in February."

The must-see Beijing attractions for foreign visitors are the cultural and historical highlights of the Palace Museum, the Great Wall, and the Summer Palace, he said.

"We tour guides are like multitaskers who are responsible for interpretation work, managing foreigners' accommodation and itineraries, and more importantly, explaining to them China's customs and culture," Liu said.

His current monthly pay is 15,000 to 20,000 yuan, and he is confident about the tourism market's performance this summer  the traditional peak season.

Inbound rebound

This year's inbound tourism boom has been fueled by authorities allowing visa-free entry for ordinary passport-holders from more than a dozen countries  including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, and Malaysia  and China's enhanced image as a global tourism destination.

Central authorities also released a series of policies to make it easier for foreign visitors to use their bank cards in China and e-payment apps on their phones.

These moves have seen encouraging results.

The National Immigration Administration said it issued 466,000 visas to international travelers in the first quarter of 2024, up almost 120 percent year-on-year. Nearly 2 million visits were made to the mainland by visa-exempt foreign nationals in the first quarter, up 266 percent year-on-year.

In the first quarter, inbound travel bookings registered three-fold growth year-on-year, with most of the visitors coming from Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, the United States, and Australia, said travel portal Trip.com Group.

Among the top city destinations for international travelers were Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, the group said.

The Chinese mainland saw a surge in international travelers during the May Day holiday, with Ministry of Culture and Tourism figures showing 1.76 million inbound trips during the five-day period.

This success, however, has raised concerns about tourism industry workers lacking the foreign-language skills to cope with the rapidly expanding number of international visitors.

The mainland has 650,000 certified tour guides, according to Ministry of Culture and Tourism statistics. Of those, 93 percent speak Mandarin, 6 percent English, and only 1 percent another language such as German or Spanish.

Xu Xiaolei, chief brand officer of CYTS Tours Holding Co in Beijing, said that the employment market for tour guides often fluctuates. This is due to occasional understaffing problems and seasonal demands, for example during peak periods when guides who speak a less-widely used language are required, and other issues.

"The industry has had a problem of staff shortages, and many foreign-language speaking guides switched their jobs to other industries due to the epidemic or the impacts of the tourism industry upgrading itself. Unsatisfactory pay and the lower social status of the job may also discourage new college graduates from entering the industry," he said.

Every tourism industry job, whether in an office or outside, is hard work and high pressure and requires workers who are passionate and energetic and possess good general knowledge and linguistic skills, he added.

"Tour guides, especially those handling international travelers, are usually all-rounders, as they have to interpret and explain China's history, culture and geography to foreigners. He or she should have the ability to keep learning and be alert to political and cultural differences," he added. "It's a challenging job."

Sharing culture

Jin Zhengwen, 31, has worked as a tour guide for nearly six years. He holds a Mandarin-language tour guide license but can speak fluent Korean. Jin said what he cares about most is the satisfaction he gets from his work, and explaining China's cultural heritage to visitors.

"I worked in South Korea from 2016 and returned to Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture in Northeast China's Jilin province around 2018," he said. "I'm from a Korean ethnic group, but spoke very poor Korean before I went to South Korea and honed my language skills there."

Jin said a good tour guide needs to connect with his or her clients. "From my experience, it's of great importance to resonate with foreign travelers and get to learn their real needs," he said.

The travel agency he works for has about four tour guides who speak Korean. However, in peak season it is in dire need of temporary staff who can speak Korean, he said.

"A foreign-language speaking guide might have been a good money-making job 10 or 20 years ago, but things have changed in recent years. The job is not that stable, and many of my peers work outside the prefecture or in big cities for higher pay," he added.

Song Xueyan is a 43-year-old Russian-language tour guide who started his career in 2008 in Hunchun, Jilin, which shares a border with Russia.

"Russian was my college major. I thought my language skills would return to zero if didn't use them for a long time, so I decided to be a Russian-language tour guide," he said.

"It's not an easy job because I need to be on call 24 hours in case the travelers have some emergencies."

Seasonal fluctuations mean the pay is not steady, Song said.

"In peak season, I earn about 400 yuan a day guiding a tour group, while the payment falls to 200 or 300 a day in the slack season," he said. "I usually head to Sanya, the coastal city in the southern province of Hainan during, the slack season."

Around 2020, amid the COVID-19 epidemic, he started operating his own social media account to teach Russian free of charge. During that period he also began foreign trading and gained a teaching certification.

"I'm always grateful that my language skills gained me a place in society. Foreigners are no different from us, and communication can help us understand each other," he said.

Korean tourists take a boat ride in Zhangjiajie Scenic Area in Hunan province. (CHEN ZHENHAI/XINHUA)

Looking for recruits

With the boom in the inbound tourism market, travel companies are seeking to hire more foreign-language graduates and talented young people.

The number of jobs in the tourism and leisure industries has increased continuously from the second quarter of 2023 after the nation loosened travel policies earlier that year, the latest figures from recruitment platform Zhaopin show.

Jobs in the sector surged 96.3 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, 53.6 percent in the third quarter, and 83.4 percent in the final quarter.

The market's recruitment needs for tourism talent increased 32.1 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, according to Zhaopin.

"We have been recruiting tour guides who speak fluent Russian for quite a long time. We now have about 15 full-time Russian-language guides and hire temporary workers over the summer, usually college students for part-time jobs," said Li Yao, general manager of Heihe Youth Travel Services Co. in northeastern Heilongjiang province.

The company mainly operates cross-border tourism services between China and Russia.

He said it's not easy to pass the exam and get a national permit to operate as a tour guide. The pay of tour guides is also dependent on the economic situation of the province a tour guide works in, Li added.

"Many tourism companies in southern or eastern provinces may offer higher salaries than us in the northern provinces; 3,000 to 4,000 yuan per month is what we can usually offer. So it's harder for us to hire guides who speak foreign languages," he said.

Yu Zikang, 22, who majors in German at Changshu Institute of Technology in Jiangsu province and just graduated in June, said that language is a basic skill for a tour guide, and people who are extroverted may be more suited for the job.

Yu's friend Zhou Keying, who also studies German, said she wouldn't mind trying her hand working as a tour guide, though it's not her first choice of career.

"I may not be competitive in finding a job in the industry because my spoken German is not that good," she said.

"Being a tour guide involves a lot of pressure handling possible emergencies every day, and paying attention to cultural differences when dealing with international travelers in case of any offensive words or behavior.

"I love traveling and I wouldn't mind trying to be a tour guide if I got the opportunity," she said.

Greater efforts should be made to boost the job status and pay of tourism industry workers to attract more college graduates and talented young people, experts said.

"Based on our survey, we found that except for the pay, young people also care about work-life balance, a fair and friendly company culture, and good career prospects," said Li Qiang, vice president of Zhaopin.

"So tourism companies can use more flexible work schedules and develop thorough training and promotion plans for young people who show a willingness to join the industry."

It's also important to tighten the management of tour guide positions and crack down on improper or illegal behavior that encroaches on workers' rights in order to bolster the image of the industry, he added.

"Also, tourism companies can develop more new products that appeal to international travelers to let foreign-language speakers get greater personal satisfaction from the work," Li Qiang said.

Zhou Huiying in Harbin and Han Junhong in Changchun contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Miranda Casarez listens to her defense attorney Anthony B. Cantrell as he argues for a new trial on Tuesday. Casarez was convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, 4, the son of her then-boyfriend, Brandon Lee Cervera. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Miranda Casarez appears in court for a hearing Tuesday in which she was denied a new trial. Casarez was convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, 4, the son of her then-boyfriend. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Miranda Casarez bows her head while appearing in court Tuesday for a hearing on her request for a new trial. Casarez was convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, the son of her then-boyfriend, Brandon Lee Cervera, 4. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Miranda Casarez, right, speaks to her attorney, Anthony B. Cantrell, during Tuesdays hearing. Cantrell was seeking a new trial for Casarez, who was convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, 4, the son of her then-boyfriend, in 2021. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Prosecutor Michael Villarreal laughs with fellow prosecutor Thomas Damico while waiting for a hearing to begin Tuesday on the request for a new trial for Miranda Casarez. She was convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, 4, the son of her then-boyfriend, in 2021. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

A judge has rejected a request for a new trial for Miranda Casarez, the San Antonio woman convicted for her part in the starvation death of her then-boyfriends young son in 2021.

A Bexar County jury on April 17 found Casarez, 25, guilty of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission for the death of Benjamin Benji Cervera, 4. The next day, the panel sentenced her to 25 years in prison.

Her attorney, Anthony B. Cantrell, is appealing the conviction. He maintained throughout the trial that his client regularly took the children in her care to see doctors for medical checkups and that the states evidence of starvation wasnt enough for a guilty verdict.

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Miranda Casarez appears in court Tuesday for a hearing on her attempt to get a new trial. Casarez was convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, 4, the son of her then-boyfriend, Brandon Lee Cervera. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Cantrell filed his motion for retrial on May 17. He argued that prosecutors Michael Villarreal and Thomas Damico withheld crucial records that he said would have changed the trials outcome if his experts and the jury had had access to them.

On Tuesday, state District Judge Kristina Escalona heard three hours of arguments in the 186th District Court before telling Cantrell, Your motion for new trial is respectfully denied.

At issue were medical records that Cantrell said would prove Casarez took Benji to two doctors offices in the months leading up to the boys death on Aug. 17, 2021 and that information taken from health care workers at the facilities indicated Casarez was a good care-giver, that the boy was healthy and did not show any sign of abuse or starvation.

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The defense attorney alleged that the state withheld the records and we should get a new trial just because of that.

Defense attorney Anthony B. Cantrell, center, discusses documents with prosecutor Michael Villarreal, left, and witness Nikki J. Garcia, right, on Tuesday. Cantrell was seeking a new trial for Miranda Casarez, convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, 4, the son of her then-boyfriend. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

A Bexar County District Attorneys Office paralegal who works with Texas Child Protective Services cases testified that she could not recall receiving the medical records because it has been about three and a half years and she has a lot of cases.

When Cantrell asked why prosecutors did not give him those records, the paralegal said not everyone has access to CPS case files because of their sensitivity.

The judge asked Villarreal if the DAs Office had received the documents, he said he also did not recall seeing them, but that he and Damico provided all the evidence they had to Cantrell.

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Dr. Kimberley Molina, Bexar Countys chief medical examiner, told the court Tuesday that she did review all of Benjis medical records to rule on his cause and manner of death and stood by her trial testimony that he died of starvation as a result of homicide because the boy did not have any underlying medical conditions.

Thomas Damico, center, confers with fellow prosecutor Michael Villarreal, left, and defense attorney Anthony B. Cantrell, right, during a hearing Tuesday. Cantrell was seeking a new trial for Miranda Casarez, who was convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, 4, the son of her then-boyfriend, Brandon Lee Cervera. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Jurors in the April trial saw multiple videos of the child crying, I want bread! I want water! and an older brother testified that Casarez forced Benji to drink hand sanitizer and forced hot sauce down his throat. They also saw pictures of locks on the food pantry and refrigerator.

The child was one month shy of his fifth birthday when he died at CHRISTUS Childrens Hospital, where Casarez had taken him. He was unresponsive and weighed 28 pounds, testimony established.

Defense attorney Anthony B. Cantrell shows Bexar County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kimberley Molina documents while she testifies in a hearing Tuesday. Cantrell was seeking a new trial for Miranda Casarez, who was convicted of killing Benjamin Cervera, 4, the son of her then-boyfriend, Brandon Lee Cervera. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Defense experts were critical of Molinas conclusion and Cantrell said she did not check for other reasons the boy might have suddenly died.

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His father the night before dragged him (Benji) through a baby gate and he had head injuries, Cantrell told the court, noting that one of his experts said the child could have died from swelling to the brain.

The jury at Casarezs trial was not convinced by that argument.

Casarez, who testified in the punishment phase of her trial, maintained that she was under the control of Benjis father, Brandon Lee Cervera, 30, who also was charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission.

Casarez said Cervera would spank, hit and drag Benji through the house because he would soil his diapers. Cervera has a court appearance involving an evidence exchange set for July 9, online court records show.

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(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.
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Lucid Group, maker of the worlds most advanced electric vehicles, has introduced its summer incentives, specifically tailored to enhance the ownership experience for all of the companys Air models.

Special summer incentives for new and current EV Drivers

*Flexible Payments Solutions: Customers looking to purchase their first EV vehicle with Lucid can now easily do so with only half of the cars original price at the starting date. This will allow customers eager to explore its Air models to enjoy their purchase to the fullest, whilst taking advantage of a flexible payment option for the remaining 50% at a later date. As an additional incentive, all models will be provided with 0% interest fees.

*VAT Elimination: Lucid is offering an exceptional benefit by eliminating the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the Grand Touring 2023 models. It's a significant saving that allows customers to enjoy the luxurious and innovative features of these high-end models provide, without the additional cost.

*Ease of Ownership: As part of Lucids aim to facilitate EV ownership, this summer both existing and new owners will be provided additional premium support by the company. Those looking for charging options can avail of a completely free home charger along or an equivalent of SR3,750 ($1,000) in charger installation allowance.

Free maintenance

To help ensure that owners enjoy the best possible driving experience, Lucid this summer is offering free scheduled maintenance within the first two years (or the equivalent of 40,000 km) along with an 8-year warranty for the powertrain and battery whichever comes first.

One incentive can be used per car purchase until end of August all over Saudi Arabia, making it the ideal time for residents to embrace the unlimited cost-saving and sustainability benefits of converting or upgrading to the latest in EV technology.--TradeArabia News Service
The Ministry of Energy and Minerals is planning to enhance with the support of technology the contribution of the energy and mineral sectors to the gross domestic product (GDP), and add to the national income of Oman, a report said.

It said that it has achieved strong results in 2023 and wants to supplement the states general budget by using all possible means to boost production at lower cost using the latest technology, Times of Oman said.

Engineer Salem bin Nasser Al-Awfi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, stressed that the ministry is working to harness all capabilities and resources to enhance its role in developing the energy and minerals sectors, and use advanced technology to support the production of crude oil and oil condensates.

The minister further explained that the Ministry of Energy and Minerals continued its efforts in the field of localisation of industries in 2023.

A factory for manufacturing chemicals within the Sultanate of Oman has been certified and approved in accordance with the required standards and specifications, which will contribute directly to enhancing the local value, in addition to achieving a reduction in operational expenses.

The first well drilling rig manufactured in Oman with an electronic operation feature was also completed, as it was manufactured using the latest technologies to ensure safe, efficient and sustainable drilling operations.

He pointed out that in line with the governments directions in supporting the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to contribute to achieving economic and social development, the total spending on small and medium enterprises in the oil and gas sectors amounted to about 16% of the total value of purchases and tenders.

Regarding the important projects that were started in 2023, Engineer Salem bin Nasser Al-Awfi pointed to the Al-Ghaisin Mine Copper Mining Project in the Wilayat of Al-Khaboura.

It is one of the most important and promising projects in copper mining that will contribute to enhancing economic diversification in the Sultanate of Oman.

It relies on modern, environmentally friendly underground mining techniques and its reserve is estimated at more than six million tonnes with an average concentration of 2.04% copper ore.

Also, a solar energy station was opened in the Wilayat of Sur to produce renewable energy for the Sur water desalination plant.

He stressed that the ministry has made tangible efforts in the field of social responsibility with its partners as three national projects were supported by three different companies at a cost of OMR2.5 million.
Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises (BW) has sold its Denmark-based Babcock & Wilcox Renewable Service A/S (BWRS) subsidiary to Zurich, Switzerland-based Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (HZI) for $87 million, subject to customary fees and adjustments.

BWRS, which employs more than 160 people and provides aftermarket parts and services for waste-to-energy plants in northern Europe and the UK, was transferred to HZI upon closing on Friday, June 28, 2024.

This transaction aligns with our previously announced intention to strategically sell certain non-core businesses and assets, and proceeds will be used to reduce our debt, increase our liquidity and support working capital, Kenneth Young, B&W Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said.

Energy demand in the utility and industrial sector is rapidly increasing, which is reflected in our higher bookings and full-year outlook within our segments and businesses as we move forward. Accordingly, we are reiterating our previously stated Full Year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA target range of $105 to $115 million, excluding BrightLoop and ClimateBright expenses.

B&W is a leader in technologies that provide clean, renewable energy from waste, and we will continue to leverage our core technologies, including our advanced DynaGrate combustion grate, state-of-the-art boilers, fuel and ash handling systems and emissions control technologies in the European and global markets to support new build and large upgrade projects, Young added. Were excited about the robust pipeline of opportunities were currently pursuing and the opportunity to continue to work closely with customers in these markets well into the future. --OGN/TradeArabia News Service
Sahara International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) has awarded engineering, procurement and construction contracts worth $187 milllion for the expansion of the ethylene vinyl acetate plant of one of its affiliates - International Polymers Company.

The contract was awarded to SGC E&C Company and SGC Arabia, said Sipchem in its filing to Saudi bourse Tadawul.

Following the expansion, an additional production capacity of 70,000 tonnes (high-grade ethylene vinyl acetate) will be achieved. This will take the total production capacity to 290,000 tonnes per year, it stated.

The entire contract work will be completed in 40 months, it added.

On the financial impact, Sipchem said it is expected after the project completion by Q4 2027.-TradeArabia News Service
Alsulaiman Ikea, the leading home furniture brand, has announced an investment of SR70 million ($18.7 million) to further reduce the prices of products, introducing 3,000 'New Lower Price items during 2024.

Alsulaiman Ikea, part of Alsulaiman Group, plans to continue making additional investments in the coming years to provide more affordable home furniture solutions and expand the category.

This move continues Ikeas long-standing commitment to offering affordable home furnishing solutions, marked by their well-known red tag on discounted products, a practice that has been in place for years in the kingdom catering to a broader audience of customers across the kingdom.

Creating affordable prices

This investment is directed towards ensuring products reach customers at affordable prices without compromising on stringent quality requirements. The 'New Lower Price collection which is continually refreshed with more products being added is retailing across all stores in Saudi, as well on the digital commerce platforms including the website and mobile application, aiming to provide cost-effective solutions without compromising on style, comfort, or functionality.

At Ikea, we are dedicated to creating a better everyday life for the many people, said Samer Sayegh, Chief Executive Officer of Alsulaiman Ikea. This investment underscores our commitment to affordability while maintaining the high standards of design and quality that our customers expect. We are delighted with the response to this New Lower Price offering and believe it will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of the many people as the kingdom's population continues to grow and prosper.

Core design policies

The New Lower Price collection embodies Ikeas core design principles of function, form, quality, sustainability, and low price. Key features of the New Lower Price collection at Ikea include everything from cosy living room essentials to practical and stylish bedroom solutions, efficient kitchen storage, functional office furniture, accessories, and more.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, seen arriving for his court-martial at Fort Sam Houston, was acquitted of sexually assaulting a female subordinate. He was found guilty, however, of flying a giant C-17 cargo plane less than 12 hours after consuming alcohol, in violation of an Air Force "bottle-to-throttle" rule. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor A C-17 Globemaster III on display at Port San Antonio in September 2023. The massive cargo plane can carry a 69-ton M1 Abrams main battle tank and can airdrop more than 100 paratroopers with their gear. Its wingspan is 170 feet, 45 feet longer than that of a Boeing 757-200 passenger airliner. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer 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

As the sun rose, Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart was fast asleep.

Members of his command stood outside his guest house at Altus AFB in Oklahoma on April 13, 2023. They knocked on his door, then on a bedroom window. Stirred awake, Stewart told them he needed 20 minutes. He showed up late for a breakfast held to honor him and a fellow general.

Next, he committed an astonishing misstep for an experienced command pilot: Short on sleep and after a night of drinking that ended in sex with a subordinate officer, Stewart flew a giant C-17 cargo plane in maneuvers that included low-level passes, touch-and-go landings and mid-air refueling.

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RELATED: Officer describes sexual encounter with Air Force general

In so doing, the general ran afoul of Air Force rules that forbid operating an aircraft less than 12 hours after consuming alcohol. Fourteen months later, Stewart was court-martialed for the bottle-to-throttle infraction, along with other charges stemming from the trip to Altus, including two counts of sexual assault.

This past weekend at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, a jury of eight three-star generals acquitted Stewart of sexually assaulting the female subordinate. Stewart did not dispute having sex with her but said it was consensual.

The jury, however, found him guilty of dereliction of duty for assuming control of an aircraft after consuming alcohol within 12 hours prior to takeoff. New details about the incident emerged during the trial.

For violating the 12-hour rule and other offenses, Stewart was ordered restricted to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph for two months and docked $60,000 in pay over six months. He also will receive a reprimand and could have his rank reduced in a separate proceeding.

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It was a steep fall from grace for a combat aviator who at the time of his misconduct led the 19th Air Force, the San Antonio-based command that oversees all pilot training.

Retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, a former Air Force judge who once served as the services chief prosecutor, said it was beyond reprehensible for Stewart to disregard the 12-hour rule.

"He was responsible for setting and enforcing standards of airmen training to be pilots and maintainers, Christensen said. As such, his flouting of safety standards was particularly egregious."

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Shad Magann, who flew the A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Air Force aviators take the bottle-to-throttle rule seriously.

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Mid-air refueling, a potentially risky maneuver, requires focus and a steady hand, he added.

Id say air refueling is routine but requires a high level of concentration, Magann said. Youre flying your aircraft connected to a flying gas station, and if there was a collision, the tanker crew doesnt have ejection seats. You have to control the left/right, up/down, forward/aft and the boom extension all within a few feet.

Afghans packed inside an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Capt. Chris Herbert

The C-17 Globemaster III is used to deliver troops and cargo and transport wounded soldiers during aeromedical evacuations. It is large enough to carry a 69-ton M1 Abrams main battle tank, and it can airdrop 100 paratroopers with their gear. It has a wingspan of 170 feet, 45 feet longer than that of a Boeing 757-200 passenger airliner.

At Altus, instructor pilots and loadmasters with the 58th Airlift Squadron train airmen on the cargo plane. Other units at Altus train pilots and boom operators on two refueling aircraft, the KC-135 Stratotanker and the KC-46 Pegasus.

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The C-17 flight in which Stewart took the controls was a DV orientation mission  DV is Air Force shorthand for "distinguished visitor."

The night before, Stewart drank heavily, according to testimony at his court-martial. Some who saw him late on the evening of April 13, 2023, said he was intoxicated but able to function. A source close to the defense said the prosecution did not establish at trial when Stewart had his last drink or what it was.

It is also unclear when Stewart went to sleep that night, although the woman officer with whom he had sex testified that she did not turn in until 3 a.m.

At his court-martial, prosecutors contended that Stewart was hung over on the morning of the flight. The defense disputed that. Capt. Dustin Roemer, an instructor pilot on the mission, testified that the general did not show signs of impairment. Roemer said he would not have gone with up Stewart if he thought he was drunk or hung over.

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Two members of the general's command staff said Stewart seemed in possession of his faculties, but they thought it odd that he was not awake and dressed when they stopped by his guest quarters that morning.

Roemer said the C-17 originally was supposed to take off at 10 a.m., but the flight was moved earlier to accommodate a busy training schedule that day.

Spectators watch an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III fly over Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio during an air show. The giant cargo plane has a wingspan of 170 feet, 45 feet longer than that of a Boeing 757-200 passenger airliner. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Stewart and his entourage arrived at the flight line around 8:40 a.m. The flight took off at 9:10 a.m., Air Force records show. The sortie lasted nearly five hours and ended with an uneventful landing at 1:59 p.m. Stewart is listed as one of five pilots to fly the plane. He was by far the highest-ranking person onboard.

A former fighter pilot, Stewart had not met formal proficiency standards for the C-17 to qualify to fly the plane, but he was permitted to do so because a qualified instructor pilot was in the seat next to his.

Stewart has flown nearly a dozen other types of aircraft, including the F-15C fighter and the U-2 high-altitude spy plane. With 2,600 hours in the air including more than 600 combat hours  he has had plenty of experience with mid-air refueling.

At Stewart's trial, one of the jurors asked Roemer whether the general in fact took the controls during the flight.

"He operated the aircraft, yes," Roemer said, adding that Stewart did so during critical phases of flight that included touch-and-go landings and in-air refueling.

The refueling occurred around 2 hours into the sortie, he said.

Asked what time Stewart got into the pilot seat, Roemer said 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.
The 7th Annual Commercial Strategy Conference ME, will take place in Dubai on November 26 and 27, 2024, bringing together the regions hospitality sales, marketing and revenue management professionals for key educational insights, connections, inspiration and awards.

Organised by Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Middle East, the conference will gather at the Conrad Dubai hotel, industry peers for two days of exclusive presentations, panel debates, networking opportunities.

It also includes the Rockstar Awards, which recognise and celebrate standout on-property individuals for their remarkable contribution to the Middle East hospitality sector.

The Commercial Strategy Conference, which also takes place annually across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, debuted in the Middle East in 2018 as the only conference of its kind in the region.

The event addresses the industrys most pressing issues and hottest topics, with HSMAIs advisory board  all longstanding, highly experienced industry experts  playing a significant role in the conference content.

The event will be preceded by two educational courses  Certified Hospitality Digital Marketer (CHDM) and Certified in Hospitality Business Acumen (CHBA) taking place on November 24 and 25.

Mona Faraj, Managing Director, HSMAI Middle East, said: Our 2024 Middle East Commercial Strategy Conference will be the biggest and boldest yet, with more attendees, a wider range of discussion points and greater connection opportunities than ever before.

Since the inception of the Revenue Optimization Conference (ROC) in the United States 20 years ago, we have grown, evolved and embraced our industrys ever-changing dynamics, giving hotel executives the insight, experience and education to tackle the most important issues  and seize golden opportunities.

As our 7th regional CSC conference draws near, we look forward to a wealth of invaluable knowledge exchange, networking and new insights at this flagship industry event for the Middle East  and globally.

In addition to roundtable discussions and partners insights, the conference programme will feature a wide range of industry topics including sustainability, destination marketing, and static versus dynamic pricing, amongst many others.

Delegates will also learn about changing market trends, the importance of hand-in-hand relationships between Marketing, Sales and Revenue Management teams, the latest tools to implement new strategies and how to benchmark team performance with competitors.

Day one will close with a poolside networking evening at Bliss 6 Urban Oasis at Conrad Dubai.

The conference will also reward and celebrate disruptors, pioneers, the bold and the visionary at the 2024 Rockstar Awards. Nine submissions, selected by the HSMAI Advisory Board, will be presented on stage, with the audience voting for the top three.

Submissions can be made online until September 15. Registrations are now open, with special early bird discounts available until August 31. Visit Registration  The 7th Annual Commercial Strategy Conference ME 2024 (cvent.com) to secure the reduced rate.  TradeArabia News Service
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Dubai office exhibited a booth for Japan and its embassy, at Tourista Expo 2024, which was held for the first time in Kuwait at Assima Mall.

The event that was held from June 21 to 22, provided networking opportunities for travel agencies, airlines and other tourism-related organisations, and a showcase for their products.

Japan was the only country exhibiting a booth, indicating the growing prospects of the country as a new overseas travel destination in Kuwait, a statement said.

The Japan booth distributed pamphlets and information about the diverse tourist attractions of various parts of Japan, introduced EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai scheduled to be held in 2025, and provided consultations on visa applications by the embassy to encourage visitors to Japan.

During the event, the Embassy of Japan in Kuwait hosted a networking opportunity to exchange opinions with Kuwaiti travel agencies handling outbound travel to Japan, at a Japanese restaurant in the venue mall.

JNTO participated in the networking opportunity and interacted with not only Kuwaiti consumers but also local travel professionals.

It was our utmost pleasure to meet many enthusiastic people who are interested in visiting Japan at our booth at Tourista Expo 2024 and to promote our unique tourism offerings of Japan face-to-face, said Kobayashi Daisuke.

The number of Kuwaiti nationals visiting Japan in 2023 increased by 44.0% compared to 2019 before the pandemic, reaffirming Japan's appeal as a sought-after destination among Kuwaitis.

The resumption and increase of direct flights from the GCC region to Japan have played a pivotal role in facilitating this growth. Notable examples include the launch of Doha-Tokyo Haneda direct daily flights by Japan Airlines in March 2024.

The number of visitors to Japan from GCC countries rapidly recovered in 2023, and it continued to grow at an even stronger rate in the first quarter of 2024, increasing by 15.1% compared to the same period last year.  TradeArabia News Service
SalamAir has announced its network-wide social media engagement campaign to celebrate the Khareef season in Salalah, Oman. It has invited passengers to capture and share their favourite moments in Salalah during Khareef for a chance to win a free return ticket to any of its destinations.

This campaign aims to gather travellers from around the world in a collective celebration and promotion of Salalah as a must-visit destination during the summer months, known for its cooler weather and natural beauty.

Now, SalamAir connects Salalah with non-stop flights to and from Bahrain, Baghdad, Fujairah, and Sohar during the Khareef season.

We are thrilled to reveal this interesting social media campaign, designed to harness the power of our vibrant community of travellers and showcase the enchanting Khareef season in Salalah, said Sherif Hosny, Director of Marketing and Digital Sales at SalamAir.

By encouraging our passengers to share their personal experiences, we highlight Salalah's unique beauty and create a deeper connection with our audience and community.

This strategic initiative aims to magnify Salalah's appeal as a premier summer destination, leveraging user-generated content to inspire and attract more visitors to experience its refreshing cooler weather and captivating landscapes.  TradeArabia News Service
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a world-leading luxury hotel brand within the Accor group, said it has partnered with UAE-based developer Sol Properties to launch a premium residential development in Downtown Dubai, to redefine luxury real estate.

A premium 55-storey housing project, Fairmont Residences Solara Tower is the latest land development in Downtown Dubai offering stunning views of both Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain.

Work is currently underway on the project, which is scheduled for completion by Q3 of 2027.

The property combines Fairmonts distinguished brand standards in the realm of luxury hospitality with Sol Properties vast expertise in luxury real estate to establish new benchmarks in urban living.

The development will include meticulously designed spaces, offering a blend of elegance and timeless opulence.

With a wide array of spacious layouts and cutting-edge amenities, these residences represent the pinnacle of a new-age lifestyle, with expansive terraces offering breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa and the exquisite Dubai Fountain.

"We at Sol Properties and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts are elated to provide a completely new standard of luxury living in Downtown Dubai," said its Founder and CEO Ajay Bhatia.

"Our goal is to provide residents with exclusive amenities and personalised services, thereby setting a new precedent for comfort and convenience for end users," he stated.

"By combining Fairmonts exceptional hospitality services with our integrated residential environment and attention to quality, this project is certain to offer residents unmatched lifestyle experiences," he added.

In response to the evolving demands of urban homeowners, the residential project promises a suite of premium amenities and services.

Additionally, Fairmont Solara Tower stands out in Downtown Dubai as the only residential tower providing a private swimming pool in selected apartments.

Residence owners will also have exclusive access to Fairmonts wide range of integrated amenities, which include gourmet restaurants, fitness centres, spas and wellness centres, offering a resort-like experience within the confines of their own home, he stated.
Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, launched its new direct flights from Bahrain to Munich, Germany, on July 1, further enhancing its European network and connecting Bahrain to key destinations worldwide.

The inaugural flight from Bahrain to Munich Airport was welcomed with a ceremonial water salute upon its arrival at Munich International Airport (MUC) and a host of celebratory activities at both Bahrain International Airport (BIA) and Munich International Airport (MUC).

These new route, operated with the state-of-the-art Airbus 321neo aircraft, will offer four weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

A Gulf Air spokesperson said: The launch of Munich service is a key step in Gulf Airs global network expansion strategy, connecting the Kingdom of Bahrain to a thriving hub of business and leisure in the heart of Europe. This new route embodies our commitment to bridging Bahrain with key global markets, further fostering tourism and trade in alignment with the Kingdoms economic vision.

Marking Gulf Airs second destination in the German market, the addition of the Munich route to its existing daily flights to Frankfurt underscores the airline's strategic expansion within Europe, while solidifying its commitment to offering passengers an exceptional travel experience and a growing network of destinations.  TradeArabia News Service
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has registered solid growth in the inbound visitor spending volumes for Q1 which rose to more than SAR45 billion ($12 billion), up 23% when compared to the first quarter of 2023, according to preliminary data from the Saudi Central Bank's travel account in the balance of payments.

Also, KSA recorded a surplus in the travel account amounting to SAR24 billion, representing a growth rate of over 46% compared to the same period in 2023, it stated.

During the same period, outbound travellers from Saudi Arabia spent an estimated SAR21 billion, it added.

The increase in spending by inbound visitors to the kingdom is part of the continuous successes achieved by the Saudi tourism sector, where it ranked first on the United Nations tourism list for the growth rate of international tourists and the growth rate of tourism revenues among the top major tourist destinations globally in 2023 compared to 2019, as per the preliminary data released by the Saudi Central Bank..

The data also confirms the effective efforts made by the tourism system to achieve global leadership in the sector by applying the best practices in tourism development and improving tourism services and products.

This includes ongoing cooperation with all government entities to support the development of the tourism sector in the Kingdom.

This achievement, which reflects the extensive efforts made by the Ministry of Tourism and other components of the Saudi tourism system, not only enhances the tourism sector but also significantly contributes to the growth of the national economy as part of the framework of the National Tourism Strategy.-TradeArabia News Service
First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra Karen Johns, who lives in Floresville, was seen at First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra Kris Workman, with his wife, Colbey Workman, and friend Benny Ramirez, visits the memorial inside First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. The visit was Kris' first time back at the church since he was shot and paralyzed there Nov. 5. SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Mourners visits the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs Memorial Sunday Nov. 12, 2017. Twenty-six people were killed at the church last Sunday during a shooting. Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News Rod Green walks with his granddaughter, who was visiting from Colorado, as they visit the church on May 28, 2018. Green and his wife, Judy, are long time members and run the church's food pantry that serves the community every Friday morning. Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News Case Leal, 8, of La Vernia, looks at stones, each etched with the name of one of the 26 victims, along one side of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on May 10, 2018. Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News Haley Ward, 8, looks at the chairs dedicated to her family members in the memorial during Remembering Sutherland Springs: One Year Later at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018. Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News A view of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs Memorial Thursday Nov. 30, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Tx. Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News Evelyn Hill, 8, with her aunt, Sarah Slavin, and Sarah's daughter, Elene Slavin, 3, all members of the Holcombe family, look at the memorial dedicated to the victims from First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, including nine members of their family, at the Wilson County District Court Justice Center in Floresville on August 31, 2018. Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra Karen Johns, who lives in Floresville, was seen at First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra Nancy Russey, who used to live near Sutherland Springs, and Karen Johns, who lives in Floresville, were seen at First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra Nancy Russey, who used to live near Sutherland Springs, was seen at First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra First Baptist Church, the site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 22, on July 2, 2024, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. After being turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting, a notice in an email stated that the building would be demolished. Christopher Lee / Staff Photogra

A state district judge on Tuesday blocked leaders of a Sutherland Springs church where a gunman carried out the worst mass shooting in Texas history from tearing down a memorial sanctuary for the victims.

Relatives of three victims of Nov. 5, 2017, massacre filed a lawsuit in Floresville court on May 17 seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the churchs planned demolition of the 100-year-old structure, a focal point for the communitys grief.

Devin Kelley, a New Braunfels man who was kicked out of the Air Force for assaulting his wife and stepson, killed 26 people and wounded 20 others with an assault-style rifle during a Sunday service at First Baptist Church. Most residents of Sutherland Springs, a small Wilson County town about 30 miles east of San Antonio, had ties to the victims.

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State 81st District Judge Jennifer Dillingham granted the plaintiffs request for a TRO, which will remain in effect at least until a hearing later this month, court clerks confirmed. Dillinghams judicial district includes Wilson, LaSalle, Karnes, Atascosa and Frio counties.

Church officials had said Tuesday was the last day people could pay their respects at the memorial sanctuary.

The building was preserved as a memorial under Frank Pomeroy, the churchs pastor at the time of the shooting. His daughter was killed in the shooters rampage. He stepped down as leader of the church about two years ago.

A team of local artists and contractors jumped into action within days of the attack to transform the bullet-ridden building into a sanctuary honoring the lives lost. Inside stand 26 chairs, each bearing the name of a victim.

But there were concerns that the building might have structural problems.

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Pomeroys successor, Senior Pastor Abner Neill, informed church members in an email last weekend  which a parishioner posted on Facebook  of the next steps in First Baptists plans.

As we prepare for the demolition of the memorial sanctuary & old classroom/office building, we have closed off the entire building, but will open the sanctuary portion only for anyone who would like to come make a final visit prior to the demolition, Neill wrote.

A First Baptist official said Neill, who had preached at churches in northern Missouri before taking the helm at First Baptist, was unavailable for an interview Tuesday.

In the wake of the shooting, First Baptist worshipers held services in a makeshift structure until the congregation in 2019 moved into a new home adjacent to the church-turned-memorial. The newer sanctuary, a donated $3 million building with 250 seats, towers above the quaint old church.

Disputed vote

First Baptist members voted 69-35 on Aug. 22, 2021, to demolish the memorial sanctuary. But in their lawsuit filed in May, the relatives of three victims alleged the vote had been unfair, that church officials had wrongly revoked their memberships  and others  before the day of balloting.

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A judge initially rejected their bid for a TRO to stop the demolition because the appropriate time to seek it would have been soon after the vote three years ago, according to Sam Fugate II, a San Antonio attorney representing the families.

Some parishioners said they didnt realize theyd lost their church memberships because of infractions such as lapses in attendance, while others traveled for work and werent told when the demolition vote would take place, said Amber Holder, one of the plaintiffs.

Holder, formerly a longstanding member of First Baptist, said she didnt know she had been kicked out of the church for missing too many services until the congregation voted on whether to demolish the sanctuary. She said she missed some Sundays because she was coping with the emotional aftermath of the massacre.

Some of them havent been there in a hot minute due to having gone through something very traumatic, Holder said.

Holder hired Fugate to filed the lawsuit, which alleges newer church members were allowed to vote but some of those who lost loved ones in the shooting, or who themselves had survived it, were not.

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In June, Pomeroy  who was First Baptists pastor when the vote took place  told KSAT that church officials kept minutes of every meeting held to discussed the future of the church, and that parishioners were frequently reminded to check the status of their memberships.

A few weeks before the vote, Pomeroy said the church held a town hall meeting so parishioners could again check their membership status and air their opinions about the proposed demolition of the memorial sanctuary.

I made sure we had every t crossed and every i dotted, Pomeroy said. Everything I ran by the lawyers, just to make sure that no ugliness could come against us.

Fugate said his clients learned the church had released a request for bids in April for the sanctuarys demolition.

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PHOENIX  A judge dismissed a claim by Abe Hamadeh that his constitutional rights were violated in the 2022 election for attorney general that he lost.

And that makes the GOP contender 0 for 3 in his efforts to overturn his loss by 280 votes to Democrat Kris Mayes or to get an election do-over.

In a ruling Tuesday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney said Hamadehs court challenge came too late.

The judge said it may be that Hamadeh has valid claims about problems with the election. These include problems with printers at Maricopa County voting centers that resulted in long lines, which Hamadeh said resulted in some voters, more likely Republicans he contends, simply walking away. Hamadeh asserted that violated his rights of equal protection and due process.

Blaney said thats legally irrelevant.

This case is actually an untimely election contest, no matter how its dressed up as a constitutional rights case, the judge said.
A young University of Oklahoma graduate from Boggy Depot who had studied pharmacy and taught piano and violin got a newspaper job by necessity and became one of America's best-known syndicated columnists for four decades before she was killed in an automobile crash in 1962.

Writing a newspaper column wasn't what Mrs. Walter Ferguson planned as a career. Her column, called a Woman's View by Mrs. Walter Ferguson, was distributed by the Scripps-Howard Syndicate and was published in newspapers throughout the country.

She also wrote a daily lovelorn column under her maiden name of Lucia Loomis. She got into the newspaper business when she married Walter Ferguson, who had left the University of Oklahoma in 1907 to work as a reporter covering Oklahoma's constitutional convention.

Shortly after he bought the Cherokee Republican newspaper, the two were married.

"We were just out of college, young, broke, blissfully ignorant and rapturously happy when we took over the paper," she told a reporter many years later.

She helped her husband in soliciting advertisements, writing articles, reading proofs and all the other chores associated with publishing a small-town newspaper. Her responsibilities increased as Ferguson continued his interests in politics, duck hunting and fishing.

And when Ferguson was elected to the state Senate in 1916, the entire publishing responsibility fell on her shoulders. It was fortunate that she had studied several writing courses at OU.

She said the newspaper was "solvent only by spurts" until her husband suggested that she should "write a piece every week advocating votes for women, while he would do an editorial opposing the idea."

She didn't like the plan, and he wrote her column as well as his editorial the first week.

"The results were breathtaking," she said. "After a few weeks, the community rocked with the controversy. Men said it served Walter Ferguson right for marrying a college graduate. Give a woman an inch and she takes a mile."

Many even expected a rift in the Ferguson household, but the newspaper's circulation tripled in three months and was being noticed throughout Oklahoma as well as in Kansas, Missouri and Texas.

Although she had not been greatly concerned about women's rights, Mrs. Ferguson's columns opposing her husband's editorials convinced herself of their rightness, and she became an advocate of women's rights -- views that were considered extreme and revolutionary at that time.

"I found much evidence that showed we didn't have any rights," she said. The Fergusons sold their Cherokee newspaper in 1920 and moved to Oklahoma City, where Walter Ferguson took a job with a bank.

A year or so later, she was asked by George Parker, a college friend of the Fergusons who now was the editor of Scripps-Howard's Oklahoma News, to write a column.

Within a short time, her column was being printed daily by all of the chain's newspapers and was distributed to others. When Ferguson became a vice president of the Exchange National Bank (later the National Bank of Tulsa and now the Bank of Oklahoma), the Fergusons moved to Tulsa, and Mrs. Ferguson continued writing her column here.

It was in the Fergusons' home in Tulsa where Edna Ferber stayed while she did research to write her novel "Cimarron."

Lucia Loomis was born in Boggy Depot, where her father was a doctor. He later moved his practice to Wapanucka, where he also opened a drugstore. She was educated at a convent in Dennison, Texas, and later at Hardin College at Mexico, Mo., before enrolling at OU in 1904.

She became a popular speaker at conventions, meetings and college commencements and received many honors, including being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1937.

Mrs. Ferguson was killed in 1962 in an automobile accident near Cross City, Fla., that also killed Mrs. C.C. (Audrey) Cole of Tulsa and injured Ida Lambert. The three were returning to Tulsa after a visit with Dr. Tom Ferguson, the Fergusons' son.

Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive.
Tulsa Race Massacre / The Tulsa World Library: See all of the coverage of the race massacre in this special report.

"The first time Americans were terrorized by an aerial assault was not Pearl Harbor," a CBS News story says leading up to coverage this weekend of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

"Scott Pelley reports on a race massacre in which an estimated 300 people, mostly African American men, women and children, were killed, and aircraft were used to drop incendiary devices on a black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Greenwood Massacre of 1921 has been largely ignored by history, but Pelley finds a Tulsa community seeking to shed more light on what's been called the worst race massacre in history," a preview reads for a "60 Minutes" story airing 6 p.m. Sunday on CBS.

Context for viewers: Six airplanes circled the Greenwood area during the morning hours of June 1.

What they were doing, and why there were so many, has long been a matter of passionate debate. Many people believe they were used to shoot at people on the ground and bomb Greenwood.

Officials said the small craft, generally thought to be two-seat, single-engine Curtis Jenny biplanes, were merely keeping track of activities on the ground and relaying the information through written messages dropped in weighted metal cylinders attached to streamers.

To what extent this explanation was initially challenged is unclear, but in October 1921 the Chicago Defender published a story in which it said Greenwood had been bombed under orders of prominent city officials.

The story cited a Van B. Hurley, who the newspaper said had given a signed statement to Elisha Scott, a Kansas attorney.

Scott filed dozens of lawsuits on behalf of victims but doesnt seem to have ever entered the Hurley affidavit into the record. There is no record of a Van B. Hurley living in Tulsa around the time of the massacre or that anyone by that name ever belonged to the Tulsa police force.

But that doesnt mean the story did not have substance. Many people believed city officials were behind the burning of Greenwood, and the explanation that the squadron of planes was only used for surveillance struck some as suspiciously thin.

Certainly the planes had a great psychological impact on many. For example, Mary Jones Parrish wrote about them in her account, as did prominent attorney B.C. Franklin in his.

The Defender story said the planes dropped nitroglycerin on buildings, setting them afire.

But nitroglycerin is an explosive, not an incendiary. It is also highly unstable and dangerous.

That has caused some to speculate that something like Molotov cocktails might have been used, or turpentine balls  rags soaked in flammable liquid and wrapped around the head of a stick.

There are several practical reasons why trying to light and throw incendiary devices from an open cockpit airplane of that era would seem a difficult, dangerous and even foolish idea.

But that doesnt mean it wasnt done.

Tulsa Race Massacre / The Tulsa World Library: See all of the coverage of the race massacre in this special report.

Tulsa Race Massacre: This is what happened in Tulsa in 1921
The American International School Vietnam (AISVN), headquartered in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, has been suspended for 12 months, starting from July 1, as the school failed to prove that it could maintain its educational operation in accordance with prevailing regulations.

The municipal Department of Education and Training said on Tuesday that it, along with other relevant units, worked with the investor and the management board of AISVN on May 28, requiring a comprehensive report on the schools current situation and financial health to be submitted to the department by June 15.

Specifically, the report would have to include evidence for its ability to maintain educational operations and documents on tax, insurance, and salary payments.

However, after June 15, the department did not receive the required report from the school.

The school was deemed incapable of continuing its operations due to financial weaknesses and a diminished workforce.

Therefore, the municipal department decided to suspend the schools educational operations for 12 months, beginning on Monday.

The department also instructed AIS American International Education JSC, the owner of AISVN, and the school itself to implement appropriate measures to safeguard the interests and benefits of students, ensuring that their studies are not disrupted.

The school was also required to offer sufficient social welfare to its teachers, workers, and executives.

Since April, as many as 134 parents have transferred their children from AISVN to other schools, the department said, citing reports from educational facilities.

In Ho Chi Minh City, schools which are providing an International Baccalaureate program can admit over 1,250 students in the 2024-25 academic year, well above the number of students at AISVN.

Parents of students at the suspended school can visit the website https://chuyentruong.hcm.edu.vn to conduct school changing procedures.

Students can register to study at public, non-public, and international schools in the city.

On March 18, AISVN halted classes for all students as most teachers did not show up out of unpaid salaries.

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BERLIN -- For months, Philip Matthias tried to convince his father to install solar panels on their company's roof in the eastern German state of Thuringia, aiming to cut electricity costs and carbon emissions at the metal products factory.

Initially sceptical of the 2.3-million-euro ($2.5 million) investment, a substantial sum for the medium-sized Tridelta, his father crunched the numbers and decided to nearly double the project capacity, opting to install photovoltaic modules that could power around 900 households in addition to the factory.

"The PV systems amortize after about 7-1/2 years. The manufacturer gives a guarantee of 20 years. That means this is an extremely lucrative investment," Matthias told Reuters.

Since the military conflict in Ukraine and the sudden drop in Russia fossil fuel exports to Germany, Berlin has introduced laws to accelerate solar power expansion, part of its plan to cover 80 percent of the country's energy from renewables by 2030.

Encouraged by a feed-in tariff providing a guaranteed price to renewable energy producers selling their power, as well as reduced solar panel costs, German companies are increasingly turning to solar to get around high energy costs.

Although Germany has Europe's biggest capacity of solar and wind power generation, its small and medium-sized companies have yet to benefit from lower electricity prices because of high grid fees and taxes they must pay. By generating their own solar power, they avoid those fees and taxes.

Companies consumed around 69 percent of Germany's national electricity in 2023, data by the BDEW utilities association showed.

"As electricity prices in Germany show no signs of decreasing as previously anticipated, companies are increasingly recognising the economic viability of installing solar panels," said Marie-Theres Husken, an energy expert for the BVMW association for small- and medium-sized businesses.

Corporate Solar Shift

Newly installed photovoltaic capacity on business rooftops rose by 81 percent year-on-year in the first four months of the year, outpacing the one percent growth in the residential sector, data by the BSW solar power association shows.

A May survey by pollster YouGov showed more than half of German companies with suitable roofs planned to install solar power systems in the next three years. BVMW forecasts that nearly all manufacturing companies in Germany will use solar energy by 2030.

In response to increasing demand, Germany's largest residential solar power developer, Enpal, said in April it was expanding into the commercial sector.

"The demand was not as instant... but the growth is going to be very sustainable," Melchior Schulze Brock, CEO of commercial and industrial solar startup Enviria.

An April study by the Freiburg-based Institute for Applied Ecology showed there was potential to install up to 287 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity, more than enough to meet Berlin's 2030 target of 215 GW, along German roads, railways, parking lots, and industrial areas. This could significantly reduce reliance on agricultural land where permitting and planning approvals can take up to a decade.

A drop in solar panel prices globally since last year has spurred companies to embrace solar energy.

"The market is overrun with cheap but good panels from China. That means that the system that we are building now is about 20 percent cheaper than a year ago," Matthias said.

A German legislative package passed in April easing regulation and increasing subsidies for large rooftop systems as well as a pending tax investment reform for real estate funds operating rooftop solar panels, is expected to drive demand further.

State feed-in subsidies for large scale rooftop photovoltaic projects, introduced in 2021 and which are selected via tender, have also boosted the trend.

The last tender for the subsidised projects in February saw a 107 percent rise in the number of offers year-on-year, data by the federal grid network agency showed.

A feed-in tariff of 9.3 euros cents per kilowatt-hour, higher than Tridelta's power purchasing price, makes it currently cheaper for the company to sell future generated electricity to the grid and buy it back, Matthias said.

Germany's economy ministry declined to comment on companies' electricity trading strategies.

"There's a high correlation between the feed-in tariffs and the build-up of solar PV roof top projects," Hugo Willink, Executive Director at solar roofs developer Sunrock told Reuters.

Sunrock, which won an order from Mercedes Benz in May to build a 23-megawatt solar project on the carmaker's factory roofs, sees Germany as its core market for the coming year.

($1 = 0.9334 euros)
Vietnam currently has approximately seven million people with diabetes, a number that has doubled compared to 10 years ago, with an increasing trend observed among children.

Over half of the cases remain undiagnosed or untreated, while only about one-third of those diagnosed and treated successfully achieved their treatment goals, the Vietnam News Agency quoted Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Dang, president of the Vietnam Association of Endocrinology  Diabetes, as saying.

Significantly, more than 55 percent of the patients experienced complications, with cardiovascular issues affecting 34 percent.

About 39.5 percent of the patients faced eye and neurological complications, while 24 percent dealt with kidney issues.

Notably, the number of child patients has increased to approximately 2,000, with type 1 diabetes currently accounting for 90 percent of the cases, according to data from major pediatric hospitals.

The Ministry of Health attributes this rise to environmental factors including urbanization, population density, socio-economic status, and geographic location.

At the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics in Hanoi, 943 children have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over the last 33 years.

Currently, 586 children under 18 years old continue to receive treatment and management.

Nationally, the number of children with type 1 diabetes has shown a rising trend over the past seven years, with an annual diagnosis rate ranging from 60 to 95 new cases from 2017 to 2023.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Dien, director of the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics, emphasized that type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, can manifest from infancy to any age at any time.

However, there are cases where the disease is detected only when the patient is in a coma or acidosis, posing significant life-threatening risks.

Experts stress the critical importance of early detection, prompt diagnosis, effective treatment, and rigorous management of type 1 diabetes.

They also advocate for lifestyle changes such as adopting proper nutrition and increasing physical activity to help prevent the disease.

The Ministry of Health, relevant associations, public-private partners, and international organizations should collaborate on disseminating information about the disease and providing guidelines for diagnosis and treatment across medical facilities nationwide.

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Land subsidence has continued to plague Vietnams Mekong Delta, resulting in around 300-500 hectares of land swallowed by rivers or the sea, and causing tens of thousands of local homes to be displaced each year, according to data released at a conference held in the southernmost province of Ca Mau on Monday.

The event was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai.

The delta has sunk 10 times faster than the sea-level rise over the past three decades, with lots of places in the region witnessing a decline in groundwater levels by more than five meters and thereby experiencing land subsidence.

Saline intrusion has taken a heavy toll on the delta and upended local inhabitants' production and daily activities.

Ca Mau authorities revealed at the event that the southern province is in need of some VND2 trillion (US$78.7 million) to cope with riverbank subsidence and sea dyke erosion.

With limited capital and resources, the province is unable to promptly tackle land subsidence at a rapid pace, said Huynh Quoc Viet, chairman of the provincial administration.

Ca Mau is seeking the green light from central agencies for putting in place special mechanisms so as to bolster its socio-economic growth like other neighboring provinces, the official added.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said that the Mekong Delta is confronting challenges in terms of water security and requires urgent measures to address the issue.

Tran Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, elaborated that 15 major irrigation facilities have been developed over the past decade to supply water for production activities across the region.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has already introduced plans to build more irrigation works in the upcoming time, but land subsidence and the shortfall of fresh water due to drought and saline intrusion are major hindrances to the region.

Speaking at the event, Lam Minh Thanh, chairman of the administration of Kien Giang, another province in the delta, said that the development of the Cai Lon and Cai Be irrigation systems have enabled Kien Giang to better control salinity and to spur the growth of the local agricultural sector.

However, sea dyke erosion and riverbank collapse have wreaked havoc on Kien Giang, driving the province to spend around VND500 billion ($19.6 million) executing anti-erosion projects, Thanh continued.

Deputy PM Khai concluded that the Mekong Delta has achieved considerable growth in recent years, but collaboration among the delta provinces remains modest and the region is vulnerable to climate change.

He asked the delta provinces to continue boosting their prioritized sectors, such as rice, fruits, and aquatic products, while concentrating on developing sea tourism and renewable energy.

The deputy prime minister noted that they have to ramp up efforts to address land subsidence, bolster economic expansion, and at the same time preserve and promote cultural as well as historic values.

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Catch up on the news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- According to research by Bain & Company, GenZero, Standard Chartered Bank, and Temasek, Vietnam has the highest proportion of motorbikes and mopeds among all passenger vehicles in Southeast Asia, making up 96 percent of the total vehicle share. The remaining four percent consists of cars.

-- A woman who attempted to sell water apples to a foreign man at VND200,000 (US$7.9) per kilogram in Hanoi was fined VND150,000 ($5.9) for peddling on roadbeds, local police said on Monday.

-- A patrol team from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Securitys Traffic Police Department said on Monday that it had seized a 16-seater passenger car as the driver steered it in the wrong direction on an expressway section in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam on Sunday. He faces a fine of VND17 million ($667.6) and a drivers license suspension for six months.

-- The Mekong Delta region is estimated to lose 300-500 hectares of land to riverbank subsidence and tens of thousands of local households would have to move out of areas at risk of land collapse per year, according to a report delivered at a conference in Vietnams southernmost province of Ca Mau on Monday.

-- Authorities in Bac Kan Province, northern Vietnam said on Monday that they had rescued a man from a cave that collapsed on Sunday but had yet to identify the location of another man who was believed to be trapped inside. At the time of the collapse, one man escaped from the cave himself.

Business

-- Revenue of the real estate sector in Ho Chi Minh City reached VND123.9 trillion ($4.9 billion) in the first half of this year, up 6.1 percent year on year, the municipal statistics agency reported.

-- Ho Chi Minh Citys economy is recovering despite hindrances to its gross regional domestic product in the first half of this year, expanding 6.46 percent year on year, according to a report by the municipal statistics agency.

Lifestyle

-- Vietnamese artists Hien Phuoc and Thanh Hoa won the Grand Prix prize, the highest award at the International Circus Festival held in Russia from June 27 to 30 for their circus act titled Moment of Love.' The festival this year gathered nearly 100 artists from 12 countries and territories.

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A patrol team from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Securitys Traffic Police Department said on Monday that it had seized a 16-seater passenger car as the driver steered it in the wrong direction on an expressway section in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam on Sunday.

He was fined VND17 million (US$668) and had his drivers license suspended for six months.

At 8:00 am on Sunday, traffic police officers were patrolling on a section of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot Expressway when they found the car running against the flow of traffic, posing danger to other vehicles and people.

The traffic police officers asked the driver, a 50-year-old resident of Nam Dinh Province in northern Vietnam, to stop the car and confiscated the vehicle.

At the time, there were 13 passengers in the car, which was driving from Nam Dinh to Nghe An.

H. claimed to miss the exit ramp to National Highway 46B in Hung Nguyen District, Nghe An Province by 300-400 meters, so he decided to travel in the wrong direction to reach the ramp.

The 49-kilometer-long Dien Chau - Bai Vot Expressway was opened to traffic on Sunday.

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Sosuke Hanyu, a rice expert coming from a Japanese clan with 38 generations specializing in rice farming, is piloting a rice growing project in northern Vietnam, with rice varieties brought in from Japan.

From an initial cultivation area of only two hectares using Japanese rice varieties in 2023, Hanyu has expanded the trial to 150 hectares so far.

Every month, he sends engineers from Nagoya University and Tokyo University to Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam to discuss issues related to the cultivation of the Japanese rice varieties in the province with local farmers.

These engineers will directly offer rice growers recommendations and solutions for dealing with issues caused by pests, unfavorable weather, and other adverse conditions.

According to Hanyu, an advantage of growing rice in Vietnam is that farmers can harvest two to three rice crops a year.

However, the weather in northern Vietnam, which is hot in the summer and very cold in the winter, poses a challenge for rice farming there.

Over the past trial period, the rice varieties Hanyu brought into Vietnam were not really suitable for the local soil, so both harvest yield and quality have yet to meet expectations.

Therefore, Hanyu stressed the importance of testing various rice types, especially the Japanese varieties, to identify the most suitable one for northern Vietnam.

The Japanese rice expert also pointed out a factor affecting the quality of Vietnamese rice: the common practice of storing grains at room temperature, which makes it susceptible to rats and insects.

Meanwhile in Japan, rice is always stored cold to maintain its freshness, he stated.

Hanyu expressed his intention to continue testing other Japanese rice varieties in Thai Binh to build a comprehensive database that will help experts analyze how different varieties adapt to local soil and climate conditions, ultimately determining the most suitable grains.

If the trial is a success, he will expand cultivation of the appropriate rice varieties to other localities.

Hanyu said the trial growing of Japanese rice varieties in Vietnam is among his activities to continuously follow his family tradition, marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of his familys company.

Currently, no family in Japan has a rice growing tradition that is as long as his family's, Hanyu said, adding that many Japanese farmers have shifted from rice farming to other jobs.

Hanyu always tries to renew himself and meet potential partners to seek new business opportunities.

He also hoped that Vietnam would be a destination that brings business opportunities as well as good luck to his family company.

Speaking of the future, Hanyu wishes to produce sake, a popular Japanese rice wine, from qualified rice harvested from fields growing Japanese rice varieties in Vietnam.

If successful, he will be the first Japanese person to have the opportunity to produce sake abroad.

He noted that in addition to high-quality rice, sake production requires a truly pure water source, not tap or filtered water.

He expressed hope that a suitable water source can be found in Vietnam in the future.

Hanyu has already taken finished rice from Japanese varieties grown in Vietnam back to Japan for trial sake production.

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 05: Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) joins members of the Service Employees International Union for a news conference about nursing home staffing shortages outside the U.S. Capitol on June 05, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Biden Administration set national minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes in April but lawmakers said more needs to be done. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said President Biden failed to reassure voters during last weeks debate that he is the best choice for president NICK WAGNER, FILE / TNS

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from his reelection campaign on Tuesday, becoming the first congressional Democrat to openly criticize the 81-year-old president after his shaky debate performance last week.

In a lengthy statement, Doggett credited Biden for his transformational work in office but said it is not enough to overcome poor polling and nationwide dissatisfaction with his candidacy.

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My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved, Doggett said. Recognizing that, unlike (Donald) Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.

A Biden campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not directly address Doggetts statement during a news briefing Tuesday, but defended the president against the criticism he has faced since the debate.

She said Biden is a strong, resolute president who is always willing and able to work on behalf of the American people.

Its not about performance in a debate, she said. Its about performance in a presidency.

Still, Doggett said Biden failed to reassure voters during last weeks debate that he is the best choice for president, and Democrats must consider who can run the best campaign against Trump. Strategists have spent the past several days reeling from the event, in which Biden appeared to stumble over his words or fail to complete sentences.

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In his statement, Doggett did not directly comment on Bidens performance or some of the wider concerns about his age or cognitive ability.

The Austin lawmaker also cited the Supreme Courts Monday decision granting Trump broad immunity from criminal prosecution. If Trump wins another term, Doggett said, he could usher America into a long, dark, authoritarian era unchecked by either the courts or a submissive Republican Congress.

President Biden saved our democracy by delivering us from Trump in 2020, Doggett said. He must not deliver us to Trump in 2024.

Doggett, 77, has been a member of Congress for 29 years. He currently represents the 37th Congressional District, a deep-blue seat covering parts of Travis and Williamson counties.

That could be one reason Doggett was willing to speak out before others, said Joshua Blank, a political scientist at the University of Texas at Austin.

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Hes not in a position of real threat given his district as its been constructed in this decade, Blank said. He is someone further on in his career who probably has more liberty to say what he really thinks at this point without consequences.

Other congressional Democrats have generally declined to weigh in on the presidents debate performance or his candidacy. U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, the Dallas Democrat who is running against Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, told a Dallas Morning News reporter the day after the debate that he had no immediate comment and was still processing it.

Allred previously has been critical of Biden on issues like immigration. His campaign declined to comment Tuesday.

Thirteen of Texas 38 congressional representatives are Democrats. Hearst Newspapers reached out to all of them on Tuesday, but only Reps. Sylvia Garcia, Lizzie Fletcher and Al Green of Houston responded.

I respect Rep. Doggetts position but it is one I do not share, said Garcia, one of Bidens most vocal defenders. I am supporting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and will work hard to get them reelected.

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Fletcher said Biden has a record of meaningful accomplishments.

The 2024 election presents a choice between two very different visions for our future: President Bidens vision that moves America forward for all of the American people, or President Trumps vision that reverses our progress, denies our freedom, and divides our country, Fletcher said. Its clear which candidate is best for America and Americans.

Green also pointed to Bidens record in office, including nominating the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and running with the first female vice president, Kamala Harris.

One debate does not a campaign make, Green said. I can say without question, reservation or hesitation, Im siding with old Joe Biden.

Brandon Rottinghaus, a politics professor at the University of Houston, said many national Democrats had hoped to minimize the fallout from Bidens debate performance. Doggetts statement is a crack in the dam that the Biden campaign has been trying to prevent, Rottinghaus said.

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Whatever damage control they tried has effectively failed, when you have members of Congress who are weighing in negatively on the president continuing as the nominee, he said. In the big picture, its one thing for political operatives to fret on television about replacing Biden, but its another when a sitting member of Congress does it.
Authorities in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam are probing into the cause of a mass fish die-off in Bac Stream in Quy Hop District.

An official from the Quy Hop Peoples Committee said on Tuesday that a large volume of dead fish had been found floating along the two banks of the stream, which runs across Chau Thanh Commune.

Many residents recounted that fish and shrimp in the stream went belly up on Sunday night.

To investigate the cause of the mass fish deaths, the Quy Hop District administration has formed a dedicated team tasked with conducting on-site surveys and collaborating with other units to test the water in the stream.

Preliminary inspection results indicate that the dead fish were found scattered along the stream.

While the surface of the stream appeared clear, the bottom of the spring appeared to be muddy with light red coloration.

Police officers and officials investigate the cause of a mass fish die-off in a stream in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Huy Nham / Tuoi Tre

Sanitation workers were asked to remove the dead fish from the stream to clear the flow of water and protect the environment.

Meanwhile, locals were advised not to collect the dead fish and shrimp from the stream to eat or sell.

Chau Thanh Commune is home to several mineral deposits.

In March 2017, a dam containing muddy tin waste collapsed in the commune, causing a spillage of the trash into the stream. As a result, farmed fish died en masse.

The Peoples Committee of Quy Hop District dispatched a team to the Nam Ton River in Chau Hong Commune in April to find the reason behind the change of its water color into deep red.

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A woman who attempted to sell water apples to a foreign man at VND200,000 (US$7.9) per kilogram in Hanoi was fined VND150,000 ($5.9) for peddling on roadbeds, local police said on Monday.

Police in Hang Bac Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi said the fine was imposed on V.T.T., a 42-year-old vendor residing in Hoang Mai District.

According to police officers, there is no ground to conclude that T. had overcharged the tourist as the deal was made in an amicable manner.

The tourist agreed to pay VND30,000 ($1.2) for two water apples and did not express any objections afterward.

V.T.T. said she had suspended peddling for several days.

She added that the case had happened in the renowned Ho Guom (Sword Lake) pedestrian area about two weeks earlier.

The foreign tourist who could speak Vietnamese fluently came to buy water apples and said he wanted to film a video to keep the memory.

The woman explained that she set a high price because she purchased large and high-quality water apples from a supermarket at around VND80,000-90,000 ($3.20-3.60), and sometimes even VND100,000 ($4) per kilogram.

She offered the price of VND200,000 per kilogram so that buyers would bargain later, she claimed.

Earlier, a video circulated on social media platforms showing the woman telling the foreign man that a kilogram of water apples cost VND200,000.

She then weighed two water apples and claimed they were 200 grams in weight, fetching a total of VND40,000 ($1.60).

The foreigner negotiated the price down to VND30,000 ($1.20).

The vendor, though reluctant, eventually agreed. The foreign tourist thanked her, paid for the water apples, and left.

The video has caused mixed opinions on social media, with most of them saying the price was too high.

Many others questioned the authenticity of the video as the vendor still sold the water apples at such a rate even though she knew that the foreigner was filming the video.

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A Vietnamese womans pictures of homemade Vietnamese meals prepared for her family in France have garnered millions of likes from netizens impressed by the delicious and visually appealing dishes.

Do Thuy Linh, who resides in Toulouse City, often prepares delicious Vietnamese courses such as malabar spinach and dried shrimp soup, bamboo shoots and bone soup, chayote vines stir-fried with garlic, chicken stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, and boiled meat dipped in shrimp paste for her family.

Linhs meals, each priced under 10 euros for a family of two to three people, continue her culinary traditions from Vietnam while she lives in France.

When I lived in Vietnam, I cherished the daily ritual of cooking and caring for meals, Linh explained.

After moving to France with my husband, Ive maintained the tradition of preparing Vietnamese dishes that evoke the flavors of my homeland.

A meal including bamboo shoots and bone soup, fried eggs with basil leaves, chayote vines stir-fried with garlic, and chicken stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, as prepared by Do Thuy Linh in France. Photo: Supplied

Although Vietnamese cuisine is not a daily occurrence due to her husbands preference for Western dishes, Linhs family enjoys Vietnamese meals three to four times a week.

Living far from my homeland, I dont need fancy food or extravagant dishes, Linh added.

Rice, soup, and vegetables are enough to make me crave.

Linh finds it challenging to source Vietnamese ingredients in France, unlike her hometown in Vietnam where she could easily buy fresh produce from roadside markets.

Supermarkets in France lack spices and herbs, prompting Linh to stockpile Vietnamese cooking essentials at home.

The availability of Vietnamese vegetables in Western markets is rare, whereas Asian markets are quite far, explained Linh, who recounted craving a bowl of sour fish soup but she did not have limnophila aromatica at home, which affected its flavor.

The nearest place to buy it is 30-40 minutes away."

A meal containing fried eggs with mugwort, fried pork belly with galangal, fermented rice and clausena indica leaves, boiled home-grown green beans, and minced meat and dracontomelon fruit soup, as prepared by Do Thuy Linh in France. Photo: Supplied

Consequently, Linh decided to cultivate basic herbs at home, wash and freeze them, and meticulously store them in the refrigerator for weekly use.

She also adapted her meals to suit the ingredients available in France.

Once, she used unsweetened yogurt instead of fermented rice for thit lon gia cay (civet imitation pork).

On another occasion, Linh yearned for banh khuc (Vietnamese cudweed sticky rice balls), but cudweed was unavailable year-round.

She quickly substituted kale, which turned out to be equally delicious.

A meal containing stir-fried water spinach, roasted dried baby shrimp, boiled meat dipped in shrimp sauce, and salted eggplant, as prepared by Do Thuy Linh in France. Photo: Supplied

In France, chicken breasts are preferred over chicken thighs, making the former significantly more expensive, Linh said.

Personally, I prefer chicken thighs, allowing me to save money on poultry purchases.

I also opt for older chickens when making pho [Vietnamese noodle soup with beef or chicken] or braised dishes -- while cheaper, they offer a chewy and flavorful experience.

I keep an eye on supermarket promotions to stock up on discounted items whenever possible.

Do Thuy Linh in France. Photo: Supplied

French keen on Vietnamese cuisine

Linh said that many French people show a keen interest in Vietnamese cuisine, particularly nem ran (spring rolls) and bun thit nuong (noodles topped with grilled pork).

She frequently invites French friends and relatives to her home to savor Vietnamese dishes.

During her father-in-laws birthday celebration, some French guests who had traveled hundreds of kilometers joked that their visit was as much about enjoying the delicious Vietnamese food as it was about celebrating the occasion.

Linhs husband often teases her, remarking on his good fortune to have a wife who cooks so well.

Having lived in France for five years, Linh continues the tradition of making banh chung (square sticky rice cakes filled with mung beans and pork) every Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year).

Before, Linh had never made banh chung in Vietnam.

She embraced and maintained this tradition in France to stay connected to her homeland, bringing her great happiness and pride.

Do Thuy Linh prepares ingredients to make banh chung (square sticky rice cakes filled with mung beans and pork) in France. Photo: Supplied

Her Tet meal includes xoi gac (sticky rice cooked with gac fruit), nem ran, bamboo shoot soup, kohlrabi salad, and Vietnamese steamed pork sausage, mirroring the traditional Tet dishes enjoyed by many in northern Vietnam.

Through these Vietnamese meals, I aim to engage and discuss dishes and food prices in my local community, Linh said.

Wherever you go, Vietnamese cuisine holds a special place in the hearts of Vietnamese people.

Meals at home are particularly meaningful to me, as they express the cooks love through each dish shared with family members.

For anyone who has grown up with family meals, theres a sense of joy.

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Further job redundancies from Seven have been revealed, this time from Seven Brisbane, with the Courier Mail reporting the departure of news operations manager Craig Dyer.

After more than 20 years with the network, Dyer last week announced his immediate resignation in a letter to colleagues.

His departure follows a series of forced redundancies at the networks Mount Coot-Tha base, affecting several employees under his supervision.

Two news camera operators were let go, in addition to a long-serving technical support employee, a news producer and other behind-the-scenes staff.

One of the camera operators received the news while on assignment. According to the article, he was summoned back to the networks Mount Coot-Tha studios, where he was informed that his services were no longer required.

One insider described all of the Brisbane-based redundancies as brutal and cold, adding that they had cast a sombre mood across the networks Mount Coot-Tha base.
Versie 9.8 van OpenSSH uitgekomen. OpenSSH versleutelt het netwerkverkeer om afluisteren, het overnemen van de verbinding en andere netwerkaanvallen tegen te gaan. Daarnaast bevat het de mogelijkheid om zogenaamde veilige tunnels op te zetten en ondersteunt het verschillende authenticatiemethodes. OpenSSH is primair ontwikkeld voor OpenBSD; gebruikers van andere besturingssystemen kunnen hier terecht. In deze uitgave zijn twee beveiligingsproblemen verholpen. Meer hierover is op onze voorpagina te lezen.

Security This release contains fixes for two security problems, one critical and one minor. Race condition in sshd

A critical vulnerability in sshd was present in Portable OpenSSH versions 8.5p1 and 9.7p1 (inclusive) that may allow arbitrary code execution with root privileges.

Successful exploitation has been demonstrated on 32-bit Linux/glibc systems with ASLR. Under lab conditions, the attack requires on average 6-8 hours of continuous connections up to the maximum the server will accept. Exploitation on 64-bit systems is believed to be possible but has not been demonstrated at this time. It's likely that these attacks will be improved upon. Exploitation on non-glibc systems is conceivable but has not been examined. Systems that lack ASLR or users of downstream Linux distributions that have modified OpenSSH to disable per-connection ASLR re-randomisation (yes - this is a thing, no - we don't understand why) may potentially have an easier path to exploitation. OpenBSD is not vulnerable.

We thank the Qualys Security Advisory Team for discovering, reporting and demonstrating exploitability of this problem, and for providing detailed feedback on additional mitigation measures.

A critical vulnerability in sshd was present in Portable OpenSSH versions 8.5p1 and 9.7p1 (inclusive) that may allow arbitrary code execution with root privileges. Successful exploitation has been demonstrated on 32-bit Linux/glibc systems with ASLR. Under lab conditions, the attack requires on average 6-8 hours of continuous connections up to the maximum the server will accept. Exploitation on 64-bit systems is believed to be possible but has not been demonstrated at this time. It's likely that these attacks will be improved upon. Logic error in ssh ObscureKeystrokeTiming

In OpenSSH version 9.5 through 9.7 (inclusive), when connected to an OpenSSH server version 9.5 or later, a logic error in the ssh ObscureKeystrokeTiming feature (on by default) rendered this feature ineffective - a passive observer could still detect which network packets contained real keystrokes when the countermeasure was active because both fake and real keystroke packets were being sent unconditionally.

This bug was found by Philippos Giavridis and also independently by Jacky Wei En Kung, Daniel Hugenroth and Alastair Beresford of the University of Cambridge Computer Lab.

Worse, the unconditional sending of both fake and real keystroke packets broke another long-standing timing attack mitigation. Since OpenSSH 2.9.9 sshd(8) has sent fake keystoke echo packets for traffic received on TTYs in echo-off mode, such as when entering a password into su(8) or sudo(8). This bug rendered these fake keystroke echoes ineffective and could allow a passive observer of a SSH session to once again detect when echo was off and obtain fairly limited timing information about keystrokes in this situation (20ms granularity by default).

This additional implication of the bug was identified by Jacky Wei En Kung, Daniel Hugenroth and Alastair Beresford and we thank them for their detailed analysis. This bug does not affect connections when ObscureKeystrokeTiming was disabled or sessions where no TTY was requested.
By James Pomfret, Scott Murdoch and Jessie Pang

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The resignations of two British judges from China-ruled Hong Kong's highest court not only raise concerns about the rule of law, some lawyers and experts say, but will further undermine confidence in the city's broader commercial legal sector.

Hong Kong's legal industry, which has long helped define the territory as an international financial hub, is already facing pressure from a downturn in capital markets, competition from other judicial centres and growing tensions between China and the U.S.

Fresh questions about the independence of the judiciary and the strength of the rule of law will add to concerns for foreign companies about the legal protections they can expect in Hong Kong, lawyers and experts say.

"Some people think that you can divide or separate commercial cases as a phenomenon from political or human rights cases, but I think that's kind of a perilous path, because what happens is the politics of repression creeps into the commercial area as well," Michael Davis, an international law professor and global fellow at the U.S.-backed Wilson Center think tank said.

The heightened concerns over Hong Kong as a legal centre were sparked by the resignations a month ago of two British judges, Jonathan Sumption and Lawrence Collins.

Both global authorities in commercial law, they quit Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal (CFA) following the convictions of 14 democrats under a sweeping China-imposed national security law.

Collins cited the political situation but in harder-hitting comments, Sumption said in an FT column Hong Kong was "slowly becoming a totalitarian state" and that the rule of law was being profoundly compromised. He referred to an oppressive atmosphere and calls for judicial patriotism that are difficult for judges to oppose.

There are plenty of supporters who say the rule of law remains robust, including Hong Kong government adviser and barrister Ronny Tong, although he acknowledges the damage done by the resignations and the comments.

He said the remarks "don't help to improve our perception in the eyes of the world".

The Hong Kong government has long advocated the beneficial role of foreign jurists in improving local jurisprudence by sitting on cases alongside local judges.

"Hong Kong's ability to remain as an international financial centre is largely attributed to its stable environment with strong rule of law consisting of a robust legal system and a pool of diversified legal talents," a spokesman for Hong Kong's Department of Justice said in response to a Reuters request for comment.

'DEVASTATING' IMPACT

Six senior commercial lawyers with over a century's combined experience said the resignations exacerbated long-standing concerns about Hong Kong's future as a legal centre.

They noted firms drafting commercial contracts, joint ventures, or deciding where to arbitrate complex cases, are now increasingly opting the likes of Singapore, Dubai or Delaware in the U.S., rather than Hong Kong, in contractual jurisdiction clauses, because they are seen as more neutral.

"Sumption and Collins leaving is devastating for Hong Kong, in terms of the CFA's powers as a commercial appellate court," a commercial lawyer with three decades experience told Reuters, declining to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.

Davis said any perceived diminution of legal protections affects the confidence of commercial entities over the enforcement of contracts. While cases involving national security laws have dominated headlines, the vast majority of lawyers in Hong Kong are engaged in commercial and corporate work.

Hong Kong is ranked third in Asia for the rule of law by the World Bank Group, with 11,000 solicitors and 1,600 barristers. However, the number of foreign law firms registered in Hong Kong dropped to 74 in 2024 from 91 in 2019, according to the Hong Kong Law Society.

This consolidation has seen U.S. law firm Winston & Strawn close its Hong Kong office in February, while Dechert is considering closing its Hong Kong and Beijing offices.

Winston said in a press release it had made the move given "changing client needs and the legal market in Hong Kong", while Dechert did not respond to Reuters.

CUTTING TIES

At least one international law firm has reduced their presence in Hong Kong after involvement in politically sensitive cases.

In 2021, when U.S.-headquartered Mayer Brown decided to no longer represent the University of Hong Kong over its decision to remove a statue commemorating China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, it was criticised by former Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

According to six current and former partners at the firm, a number of Chinese state-owned companies including Chinese banks, cut business ties with Mayer Brown.

The sources with direct knowledge of the matter said some private Chinese corporate clients also dropped the firm, leading to some partners leaving because their practices relied heavily on Chinese business, as well as a downsizing of its offices late last year.

Mayer Brown, which in May announced plans to separate its Hong Kong operations, did not respond to requests for comment.

TALENT CRUNCH, LONG WAITS

The debate over the robustness of Hong Kong's rule of law could also exacerbate difficulties in recruiting new judges to Hong Kong courts, lawyers say.

Of the city's 211 designated judicial posts, only 163 are currently filled according to judiciary figures. Average wait times were 171 days for civil cases in the High Court and 111 days for the District Court in March 2024, both up from 2019.

The staffing crunch has been severe enough for the judiciary to now recruit private lawyers as deputy judges for short stints of up to several months, according to a government report, noting the number of such external deputy judges had almost doubled from 23 in 2018 to 45 in 2022.

"The recent criticism is likely to have a reputational impact and make it even more difficult to replenish judges from the private sector," said a fourth commercial lawyer with over 40 years' experience, referring to Sumption's remarks.

Seven foreign non-permanent judges will remain on Hong Kong's highest court, after Canadian judge Beverley McLachlin announced she would step down this month when her term expires, while expressing her confidence in the court and its independence.

Australia's James Allsop, a commercial expert who only joined the CFA in May and also serves on Singapore's International Commercial Court, declined to comment on the resignations but would "sit in Hong Kong when asked to do so."

Another leading British judge on the CFA, David Neuberger, told Reuters last month he would stay on to "support the rule of law in Hong Kong, as best I can."

"Hong Kong has an impressive and independent judiciary and a thriving and able legal profession, both of which benefit the people of Hong Kong and contribute to the rule of law," he said. "They deserve support, not undermining."

(Reporting by James Pomfret, Jessie Pang, Scott Murdoch and Greg Torode; additional reporting Xie Yu and Sarah Wong. Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Migrant parents socialize outside the Annunciation House, June 26, 2018, in El Paso, Texas. Matt York/AP A mother and her two daughters are seen embracing during a press conference on refugees at the Annunciation House Monday, February 11, 2019, in El Paso, TX. Ivan Pierre Aguirre/Ivan Pierre Aguirre for the San

An El Paso judge shot down Attorney General Ken Paxtons attempt to close a Catholic nonprofit sheltering asylum-seekers, which the judge ruled violates state religious freedom laws.

In a scathing order calling Paxtons efforts outrageous and intolerable, state District Judge Francisco Dominguez wrote that the Republican attorney generals request to examine documents from Annunciation House that spurred his attempt to shutter the shelter was a pretext to justify harassment of Annunciation House employees and the persons seeking refuge.

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The Attorney General chose to harass a human rights organization with impunity and with disregard to his duty to faithfully uphold the laws of Texas and the United States, Dominguez wrote. As the top law enforcement officer of the State of Texas, the Attorney General has a duty to uphold all laws, not just selectively interpret or misuse those that can be manipulated to advance his own personal beliefs or political agenda.

Paxton has accused Annunciation House, which has housed asylum seekers for decades, of operating as a stash house and taking part in human smuggling. The attorney general says the nonprofit violated state law by refusing to turn over records related to its work with migrants. His office requested the documents in February.

The El Paso organization said it would provide the information but could not meet the deadline laid out by the attorney generals investigators, and it sued for a temporary restraining order. Paxton, in turn, filed a counterclaim, seeking to revoke Annunciation Houses license to operate in Texas.

Dominguez granted Annunciation Houses motion for summary judgment against Paxton on Monday and ruled that any subpoenas served by the attorney general on Annunciation House over the next two years must be filed with the court.

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The judge denied Paxtons counterclaim, which he wrote violates the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act by substantially burdening Annunciation Houses free exercise of religion and failing to use the 'least restrictive means' of securing compliance with the law.

Paxtons office did not immediately respond to a request for comment or say whether the state planned to appeal the ruling.

Jerome Wesevich, an attorney representing Annunciation House, said the ruling was not "especially surprising" and dismissed Paxton's attempts to shutter the shelter as politically motivated.

"We hope that the attorney general will see and respect the bounds that the court prescribed on his power," Wesevich said.

Annunciation House is one of several nonprofit groups that help migrants from which Paxtons office has sought information in recent months. Team Brownsville, which assists migrants who are dropped off by federal agents in the border city of Brownsville, received a letter demanding documents in May. Paxton is also suing Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley seeking testimony.

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Dominguezs decision comes as religious leaders, including a top U.S. bishop, have raised concerns that government officials targeting of faith-based border work, including Paxtons attempts to shut down Annunciation House, infringe on religious freedom.

Republicans have grown increasingly critical of nongovernmental organizations along the border that have long assisted migrants arriving in the U.S. The groups, which often receive federal funding, help border communities manage new arrivals by taking asylum-seekers off the streets and helping them find transportation to other parts of the state and country.

We obviously want to respect the law, but if that liberty is restricted, then yes, our religious liberty is being restricted because we cant put into practice the precepts of the Gospel, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said during a news conference last month.
Global Citizen Pass migration company in the EU

Global Citizen Pass trusted EU migration company. The company's specialists offer expert support to obtain citizenship in EU countries

Tuesday July 2, 2024 8:10 PM , Naef Abdullah, ummid.com

Global Citizen Pass is a relatively young and rapidly developing migration company that provides assistance for resettlement to the EU and the acquisition of a European passport. Its area of expertise is legal support and international consulting.

Global Citizen Pass has been operating in the migration services market for one year. During this short time, this organization has amassed many reviews and feedback on the Internet. These can be accessed on the company's official website, where they are presented in the form of clients text messages.

The official website of this organization describes its mission as assisting clients in obtaining the rights of an EU national in a timely and cost-effective manner. Global Citizen Pass has a 99% success rate in helping individuals obtain European documents.





Global Citizen Pass services and advantages

Global Citizen Pass offers support throughout the entire relocation process, from document collection to passport issuance. It provides assistance in the form of a single package of services for each client. It includes:

Counseling at any stage of relocation

Global Citizen Pass experts are required to provide migrants with timely information and respond to their queries regarding migration to the EU. Consultations are available at any time during the lawyers' working hours. Upon initial contact with the migration company, experts give relevant information and analysis of the situation free of charge.

Assistance in locating, recovering and preparing documents required for relocation

Archival work is part of the service package. Specialists submit applications to find all certificates needed to move to Europe under accelerated procedures. If necessary, they assist in retrieving them. Global Citizen Pass also hires competent experts to translate the documents into the national language of the chosen country. Its lawyers also certify the necessary certificates.

Submission of application to the Ministry of Justice or similar EU authority

Global Citizen Pass offers clients the help of a personal lawyer responsible for conducting migration procedures abroad. Their role includes support in filing applications, accompaniment to relevant offices, and guidance on the spot.

Monitoring the situation, checking compliance with legislation

Global Citizen Pass lawyer assigned to the client is responsible for monitoring the progress of the migration case, reporting on any relevant news and ensuring that the case proceeds as planned. In addition, the specialist ensures that the migrant does not make any mistakes in legal procedures and communicates with officials.

Support for the registration of European documents

Once the client has completed all the necessary procedures and has obtained a citizenship certificate, Global Citizen Pass specialist is committed to providing help in obtaining a passport. They assist in the application process and ensure that all documentation is received without exception.

On the official website of Global Citizen Pass, the "About Us" section describes the characteristics of this organization, which become the reason for people to choose this migration company. Here are their detailed specifications:

Confidentiality. Global Citizen Pass lawyers undertake to maintain the confidentiality of personal data entrusted to them. They do not transfer it to third parties and use special technological means to prevent information leakage.

Global Citizen Pass lawyers undertake to maintain the confidentiality of personal data entrusted to them. They do not transfer it to third parties and use special technological means to prevent information leakage. Remote assistance. Global Citizen Pass provides legal help in a distant format. According to descriptions on the Internet, this means that the client of the company is not involved in bureaucratic procedures during migration. Specialists conduct the process themselves and give advice via text messages or by phone.

Global Citizen Pass provides legal help in a distant format. According to descriptions on the Internet, this means that the client of the company is not involved in bureaucratic procedures during migration. Specialists conduct the process themselves and give advice via text messages or by phone. Free support for children. The company offers a bonus program for families. Once a parent has obtained EU citizenship with its assistance, their children under 14 are eligible for free expert services.

The company offers a bonus program for families. Once a parent has obtained EU citizenship with its assistance, their children under 14 are eligible for free expert services. Secure cooperation. As highlighted on the official website, Global Citizen Pass experts offer migration support only after the customer has signed an agreement. This document outlines the guarantees of highly qualified assistance, confidentiality and payment in installments after reaching certain stages of relocation.

As highlighted on the official website, Global Citizen Pass experts offer migration support only after the customer has signed an agreement. This document outlines the guarantees of highly qualified assistance, confidentiality and payment in installments after reaching certain stages of relocation. Competent staff. Global Citizen Pass lawyers, as described on the website, are legally qualified to provide their services in Europe. They keep abreast of changes in EU law and give comprehensive guidance.

Ending notes

Global Citizen Pass appears to be a reputable migration company, as evidenced by its positive reputation. It offers a comprehensive package, providing help for relocation in one place. It has a bonus program, offers official guarantees and operates under agreements. These factors indicate that its position among the leaders in the migration services market is justified, despite its relatively recent entry into the industry.





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I beg with folded hands: Punjab MP urges Modi, BJP not to divide society

In a strong appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress MP from Ludhiana Amrinder Singh Raja Warring Monday urged them not to divide the society on the communal lines.

Tuesday July 2, 2024 6:15 PM , ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: In a strong appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress MP from Ludhiana Amrinder Singh Raja Warring Monday urged them not to divide the society on the communal lines.

Alleging Narendra Modi and the BJP leaders of indulging in the communally charged rhetoric during the 2024 Parliamentary Elections, the Ludhiana MP said the campaign damaged the communal fabric in Punjab for the first time.

Elections have taken place in Punjab in the past too. People voted for the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Akali Dal, and to the BJP too. But, unlike in the past, the communally charged campaign in the 2024 elections threatened the communal harmony in the state, he said in the Lok Sabha responding to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address. I beg with folded hands. Dont talk about Hindu and Musalman. Dont talk about mangalsutra. Dont talk about qabristan. I request you dont divide the country on communal lines, he said. Mandir banta. Masjid Banti. Baant diya bhagwan ko Sharam karo BJP walo.. mat baanto is desh ke bhoole bhaale insaan ko, he recited the couplet before ending his speech.

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In a strong appeal to @PMOIndia @narendramodi and the ruling @BJP4India, @INCIndia MP from #Ludhiana Amrinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) urged them not to divide the society on the communal lines. pic.twitter.com/YGP0Tz6pRv  ummid.com (@ummid) July 2, 2024

Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warrings appeal to BJP Monday came hours after Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and Hindutva groups of spreading hate and inciting violence in the name of Hindu religion.

No religion whether Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism no religion propagate hate and violence. But here we see the BJP and its leaders who talk all the time about hate, hate, and hate, Rahul Gandhi said .

While responding to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address, AIMIM leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also referred to the communal campaign by the BJP during the 2024 elections and slammed the use of words infiltrators and those having more children used by PM Modi.

Responding to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address in the Rajya Sabha, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha also urged PM Modi and the BJP to dilute the hatred which has taken over them.

Reciting the poems written by Rahee Masoom Raza and Jamia Research Student Adnan Kafeel Darvesh (Varna Maare Jaoge), Manoj Kumar Jha in his speech said the Muslims are being killed and subjected to violence because of their religious identity.

Reciting the poem written by @jamiamillia_

Research Student Adnan, Manoj Kumar Jha (@manojkjhadu) in his speech said #Muslims are being killed and subjected to violence because of their religious identity. #moblynching #mobviolence #IndianMuslims pic.twitter.com/vG2WQnhlJi  ummid.com (@ummid) July 2, 2024

"The communally charged election campaign incited division in the country. People are bieng lynched", he said adding the arrests and murder of Muslims taking place because of their religion.

Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav while responding to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, said the result of the 2024 general elections indicated the end of the communal politics.

"In this election, people who intended to divide the country on communal lines have been defeated whereas those who talked about diversity, harmony and unity have emerged triumphant", he said.





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Australia could cease to be preferred destination for students after visa fee hike

Indian students planning to migrate to Australia for higher education would likely require to revisit their plans as Canberra has more than doubled the visa fees for the international students.

Tuesday July 2, 2024 3:27 PM , ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: Indian students planning to migrate to Australia for higher education would likely require to revisit their plans as Canberra has more than doubled the visa fees for the international students.

The move, reports said, is taken to control the massive in-flow of foreigners in the country.

"The additional revenue will help fund initiatives in education, including cuts to graduate debt, financial support for apprentices, and the ongoing implementation of its migration strategy", the federal government said as reported by ABC News.

The foreign students visa fee currently AUD 710 has been increased to AUD 1,600 and is applicable immediately i.e. from July 01, 2024, local media reported.

Australia of late had emerged as the preferred higher education destination for meritorious Indian students, ahead of even the United States.

The mover therefore has sparked outrage, especially among the Indian origin students who feel the preference Australia enjoyed so far could cease after the visa fee hike.

The fee increase, combined with high deposit costs, places extra strain on international students. The possibility of spending all that money only to face rejection is quite disheartening for many students, Yeganeh Soltanpour, National President of the Council of International Students Australia, said. It has caused many in the student community to explore other options and competitive countries, she added.

Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, told the ABC that the announcement was the last straw for the international education sector, which has already suffered from a slowdown in visa approvals.

We are really in danger of losing a USD 48 billion a year industry, he said, adding that it will heavily impact relationships with our Indo-Pacific neighbors who rely on Australia to deliver world-class qualifications to young people.

Phil warned that this change could drive prospective students to the United Kingdom, Australias closest competitor, which currently charges USD 900 for student visa fees.

According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, the number of Indian students enrolled for studying in Australia is estimated at around 1,20,277 as of August 2023, making Indian students the second largest cohort of foreign students in Australia.





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Over 100 killed in stampede at Hindu saints congregation in Hathras, UP

Over 100 people, most of them women and children, have been killed in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh after a stampede broke out during a religious congregation organised by the Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam Committee Tuesday July 02, 2024

Tuesday July 2, 2024 9:52 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Lucknow: Over 100 people, most of them women and children, have been killed in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh after a stampede broke out during a religious congregation organised by the Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam Committee Tuesday July 02, 2024.

The stampede occurred during the conclusion of a Satsang at Phulrai village in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.

A huge crowd had gathered there to listen to religious preacher Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba with the officials saying the stampede broke out due to overcrowding.

Locals blamed the state administration for the tragedy. The injured and the deceased were taken to hospitals in both Hathras and neighbouring Etah district.

The family members of the victims alleged inadequate medical facilities and insufficient number of doctors and other staff at the hospitals.

Visuals shared on social media showed the injured and the dead bodies of those killed lying on the ground.

Over 100 people, most of them women and children, have been killed in #Hathras district of #UttarPradesh after a stampede broke out during a religious congregation organised by Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam Committee Tuesday July 02, 2024. #HathrasStampede #HathrasNews pic.twitter.com/EdnrsxxeMy  ummid.com (@ummid) July 2, 2024

Hathras tragedy death toll

There are conflicting reports about the actual death toll. Eyewitnesses talking to media said they have counted 107 dead bodies.

Some media reports have put the death toll as 116.

Eyewitnesses said the stampede broke out as the event concluded and some people tried to move out of the pandal amid the humid conditions while others tried to push them back, leading to confusion and chaos.

They said that the servitors of Bhole Baba reportedly stopped people from leaving the venue amid the heat and humidity, so that the preacher and his retinue could leave first.

Uttar Pradesh government has announced a compensation of INR 200,000 each to the nearest kin of the deceased and INR 50,000 to those injured in the accident.

"Extremely Painful"

Prime Minister Modi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi termed the incident painful and extended their condolence to the family members of the dead and injured.

"My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured," PM Modi said.

Taking to X, Rahul Gandhi wrote: "The news of the death of many devotees due to the stampede during the satsang in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured", he said.

"The government and administration are requested to provide every possible treatment to the injured and relief to the affected families", he added.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav meanwhile criticised the state government for not taking enough safety measures for the religious congregation.

"We were inside the Parliament when we got information about the tragic incident. How can so many people die? What was the state government doing?" Akhilesh Yadav asked while talking with the media outisde the Parliament.

"If such a huge gathering was planned, the government should have made proper arrangements right from the start of the event. The state government is responsible for this and should now help the families of the victims and take care of the injured," he said.





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BM Windows representatives recently visited New Zealand for the partnership signing ceremony with its strategic partner, Starke Facade, a leading company in the aluminum and glass facade industry in this country. The signing ceremony marks the close cooperation between BM Windows and Starke Facade in the New Zealand market and beyond to the Pacific Islands (with nine nations).

In the construction sector in New Zealand, Starke Facade is a big name with over 40 years of experience in the aluminum and glass facade industry. Starke Facade owns a huge distribution network for all big cities with its long-term experience and reputation.

According to the partnership, Starke Facade will be a strategic partner of BM Windows in this market. The two partners are committed to cooperation in and joint development of the typical aluminum and glass products for this island nation.

Given the understanding of Starke Facade in this market, together with the advanced technology and outstanding production and supply capacity of BM Windows, the two partners will cooperate in developing insulated aluminum products as well as other environmentally-friendly products to cope with climatic and architectural problems in the cities in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean.

In February 2024, representatives of Starke Facade paid a working visit to BM Windows in Vietnam. On this trip, Starke Facade highly valued the ability of BM Windows, especially its factories and manpower.

Having the same orientation in facade development  looking forward to a green vision, BM Windows and Starke Facade are committed to cooperating in supplying products focusing on technological and material advancement, creativity and sustainability, meeting the construction environment in New Zealand.

Over the past years, BM Windows has entered fastidious markets and won many important projects. Early this year, the company became the supplier of facades for the 15 Sydney Avenue project in Australia. This is a luxury office building covering 33,000 square metres in the heart of the capital city of Canberra. Earlier, BM Windows was the producer and supplier of over 7,000 facade products for the 91-story The One project in Toronto, and the most recent was the Marriott Hotel project in Vancouver (Canada).

It can be said that expanding the export market is a strategic target confirmed by the company since its establishment. Not only has the company developed domestically, but it has also gone global. As a result, the company proactively conducts market research, and studies the culture and technical demands of every nation, establishing a network of partners around the world to be ready for engaging in international projects.

BM Windows is the first and only Vietnamese enterprise to attend the Zak World of Facades conference in Toronto, Canada, in May this year, and in New York in October 2023. There, the company leaders discussed the global procurement subject with international experts and shared the topic To join export projects, businesses must meet all the most complicated technical requirements of such projects with their production capacity, and prepare infrastructure capable of meeting international standards.

So far, BM Windows has had four factories, with a total area of over 50,000 square meters and total annual production capacity of 2 million square meters. The factories with the state-of-the-art equipment and machinery of Elumatec (Germany). In recent years, BM Windows has improved its position at home, becoming one of the leading companies in the aluminum and glass facade industry serving big projects.
HCM CITY  A recent survey conducted by NIQ, a leading authority in consumer and shopper insights, has uncovered notable changes in shopping behavior among Vietnamese consumers in 2024.

The survey, titled Shopper Trends, has identified a growing trend of increased discernment and price sensitivity among Vietnamese shoppers, particularly in response to price fluctuations.

While deal-seeking behavior is on the rise, consumers continue to value trusted brands and high-quality products, and are often willing to pay premium prices for these attributes, the survey reported.

The report indicates that Vietnamese shoppers exhibit a strong loyalty to established brands while also showing interest in exploring private labels, especially for essential household products. Despite being more exposed to new brands and products, shoppers approach these offerings with caution, indicating a shift in consumer behavior regarding product experimentation.

NIQ emphasises the importance for brands to strike a balance between competitive pricing and product quality to align with consumer expectations. Maintaining this delicate equilibrium is crucial, as consumers place emphasis on both affordability and product excellence.

In addition to these insights, the report highlights critical shifts in channel shopping behaviours and the driving factors behind these changes. An emerging trend showcases an increase in Vietnamese shoppers frequenting convenience stores and channels offering competitive pricing and attractive deals. Moreover, consumers are engaging in more impulse purchasing, deviating from their predetermined shopping lists.

The survey reveals a decline in supermarket visits for fresh food purchases, with a growing number of shoppers favouring smaller-format stores like minimarts and online channels.

Key findings emphasise that while the majority of grocery shoppers plan their purchases, a significant proportion makes impromptu buys during their shopping trips. This underscores the importance of effective in-store marketing and promotional strategies to capture spontaneous purchasing decisions.

NIQ's data indicates that promotions and deals play a pivotal role in influencing impulse buying decisions, with 93 per cent of shoppers purchasing items beyond their initial plans.

With about 30 per cent of shoppers conducting online searches before grocery shopping, maintaining a robust digital presence is essential for retailers. Digital channels serve as valuable touchpoints to provide information, engage with customers, and enhance the overall shopping experience.

The report also notes a significant rise in online shopping in Viet Nam, with consumers increasingly turning to e-commerce platforms, super apps, and websites of modern trade retailers. While the shift to online shopping is more pronounced in non-food and personal care products, traditional retail formats remain important for food and beverages. The convenience and safety of contactless shopping have made online platforms a preferred choice for many Vietnamese consumers.

As Viet Nam's economy experiences growth, NIQ's insights underscore the dynamic nature of the country's retail landscape and evolving consumer preferences. Understanding and adapting to these trends are crucial for manufacturers and retailers to effectively navigate the market and meet consumer demands. By leveraging these insights, companies can refine their strategies, enhance their digital presence, and implement impactful promotional activities to stimulate growth.  VNS
HA NOI  A new regulation on reducing the bank credit limit for large customers under the amended Law on Credit Institutions, will adversely affect both banks and large enterprises, experts said.

Under the law, which came into force on July 1, banks must reduce the credit limit for a customer from 15 per cent to 10 per cent and for a customer and his/her related parties from 25 per cent to 15 per cent, under rules heading up to January 1, 2029.

Specifically, over the next five years, the credit limit will be decreased by 1 per cent every year for a customer and 2 per cent for a customer and his/her related parties. Therefore, over its first year of implementation, the credit limit for a customer will fall from 15 per cent to 14 per cent and for a customer and his/her related parties from 25 per cent to 23 per cent.

Nguyen Thanh Tung, general director of Vietcombank, said the new policy will not only put banks at risk of reducing outstanding loans, but also could cause large enterprises to struggle to access to bank capital.

According to Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, the lecturer at HCM City University of Economics, banks, which have high outstanding loans for large customers, will have to reduce outstanding loans to such customers and find other customers to compensate.

Meanwhile, Huan said, large corporations must accept a reduction in outstanding loans. It means they will have to shrink business activities, or seek additional capital from other banks.

Tung proposed for large banks, which have successfully controlled credit and liquidity risks, should have a special mechanism so that banks can promptly provide capital to the economy, specifically for large corporations.

To lighten the impact of reducing the credit limit on enterprises, Nguyen Quoc Hung, general secretary of the Vietnam Banks Association, suggested that banks should cooperate to co-finance projects.

A bank, whose customer has outstanding debt exceeding the regulated credit limit, needs to proactively invite other banks to participate in co-financing the customers projects, Hung said.

If the project is good, it is possible to ask other banks to co-finance it, he said.

In addition, syndicated loans with the participation of more than one bank in managing and evaluating projects also help increase the transparency and efficiency of the projects, Hung said.

Big banks have also promoted the provision of syndicated loans. Vietcombank, BIDV and VietinBank have recently cooperated to finance US$1.8 billion to build the Long Thanh International Airport.

Hung believes the five-year roadmap from 2024 to 2029 for banks to reduce credit limits is appropriate.

He expected that banks will unite to deploy lending so that all people and enterprises can have access to bank loans and there need be no fear of lack of capital for large projects.  VNS
One of two masked gunmen pronounced dead at the scene of a robbery in Alabama is still alive, according to officials.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has released the name of a masked man killed during a suspected robbery on Friday as 34-year-old Rufus Jermaine Brock.

Birmingham Police had initially reported that two men were killed; however, on Monday, coroner officials stated they had only been made aware of one homicide from the incident, AL.com reported.

Police say the second suspect, who was believed dead, was revived at UAB Hospital and that his condition is currently unknown.

Three men were involved in a shootout. Police say two of the shooters were wearing black ski masks and a third was believed to be a victim of the robbery.

Multiple shots were heard at 11 a.m. on Friday in the 4400 block of Fifth Avenue South in the Oak Tree Apartment complex.

Brock was pronounced dead in the parking lot while still wearing a nylon mask, while the other two were rushed to UAB Hospital.

Police think the victim was targeted for the robbery.

"These are two men in 90-degree weather wearing ski masks," Fitzgerald said. "You tell us what you think they were up to. That's what we're dealing with."

Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald said, "This just goes to show you the level of carelessness the criminal element has."

At least 13 shots were fired in the incident.

Fitzgerald warned criminals, "Before you think you can get the drop on somebody, just remember that other person you think may be a victim; it doesn't always turn out that way."

There have been 73 homicides in Birmingham so far this year, AL.com reported.
HA NOI  The agro-forest-fishery sector is showing robust exports, with a trade surplus of US$8.28 billion in the first half of this year, representing an increase of 62.4 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The latest updates of the agriculture ministry showed that Viet Nam earned $29.2 billion from exporting agro-forestry-fishery products in the period, up 19 per cent.

Major export products included coffee, rubber, rice, fruits and vegetables, cashew nuts, shrimp and wood products.

Specifically, rice exports reached 4.68 million tonnes worth $2.98 billion, up 10.4 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively.

Cashew exports reached 350,000 tonnes worth $1.92 billion, up 24.9 per cent and 17.4 per cent, respectively.

Coffee exports, despite seeing a drop of 10.5 per cent in volume to 902,000 tonnes, saw a rise of 34.6 per cent in value to $3.22 billion on rising export prices.

Five products which saw the highest trade surplus including timber and wood products (a trade surplus of $6.16 billion, up 22.5 per cent), coffee ($3.14 billion, up 36.2 per cent), fruits and vegetables ($2.42 billion, up 35.3 per cent), rice ($2.31 billion, up 27 per cent) and shrimp ($1.43 billion, up 13.3 per cent).

The US, China and Japan remain the largest export market for Viet Nam, according to the ministry.  VNS
HA NOI  Foreign investment disbursement in the first half of this year reached an estimated US$10.84 billion, surging 8.2 per cent year-on-year and marking a record high over the past five years, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The manufacturing and processing sector attracted the largest share of disbursed foreign investment with $8.6 billion, accounting for 79.3 per cent of the total. Real estate followed with $1 billion, equivalent to 9.3 per cent of the total, while production and distribution of electricity, gas, hot water, steam and air conditioning accounted for $418 million, or 3.9 per cent.

The GSO said that foreign investment inflows into Viet Nam during the reviewed period also saw a positive increase of 13.1 per cent year-on-year, to nearly $15.19 billion.

Foreign investors registered nearly $9.54 billion in 1,538 new projects, up 47 per cent in capital and 19 per cent in the project number, compared to the same time last year.

Meanwhile, 592 projects had their capital adjusted up, with a total amount of $3.95 billion, down 6.3 per cent and up 35 per cent year-on-year, respectively.

Capital contributions and share purchases fell 57.7 per cent year-on-year to $1.7 billion.

The department said that foreign investors injected their capital in 18 out of 21 economic sectors in the country in the six months, with the processing and manufacturing industry luring the largest investment of $10.69 billion, or 70.4 per cent of the total, followed by real estate (over $2.47 billion), wholesale and retail sales ($614 million) and science and technology (over $452 million).

Registering nearly $5.58 billion in Viet Nam, Singapore was the largest investor in the country, accounting for around 36.7 per cent of the total in the reviewed period and representing a yearly rise surge of 86 per cent. Japan came next with more than $1.73 billion, or 11.4 per cent of the total. Hong Kong, South Korea and mainland China coming after that.

However, mainland China ranked first in the number of new foreign-invested projects, accounting for 29 per cent of the total projects licensed in Viet Nam in H1, the GSO noted.

It added that foreign investors funneled their capital into 48 cities and provinces across the nation. Of them, Bac Ninh took the lead with $2.58 billion. In the second and third places were Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Quang Ninh, with corresponding capitals of $1.54 billion and $1.36 billion.

According to experts, the shift in global production chains, especially in core technology, chip technology and future technology industries, is opening up many opportunities for Viet Nam to attract high-tech foreign investment.

CEO of Vietnam Investment Promotion and Associates Corp Nguyen inh Nam agreed. He spoke to the Vietnam News Agency that besides opportunities, there are many challenges facing Viet Nam as it competes with other countries in the region.

Among them are insufficient incentives and support mechanisms for large projects and others in core and source technology, inadequate personnel resources especially in new technology industries, chips, semiconductors and artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure and electricity shortages in some large industrial centres.

The supply chain and capacity of domestic supporting enterprises remain weak compared to other countries in the region, so there is a lack of connection between local enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises, Nam said.

To attract high-quality foreign investment, Nam suggested Viet Nam draw up more preferential policies and offer support in corporate income tax for high-tech and source technology projects, especially those in semiconductor chip production.

The country should also speed up administrative reforms to better facilitate foreign investors in addition to focusing on high-quality workforce training and ensuring the synchronous development of infrastructure systems, especially transportation infrastructure connecting airports, seaports, large cities and provinces with industrial centres, he said.

Nam also emphasised the importance of upgrading energy infrastructure and facilitating the implementation of renewable energy projects that meet the standards and production requirements of high-tech projects and protect the environment.

Meanwhile, Deputy General Director of Qualipro Construction JSC Vu Chi Kien said that the infrastructure of industrial zones (IZs) plays a very important role in attracting foreign investors.

Kien told Vietnam News Agency that when foreign investors come to Viet Nam, they are interested in factors such as the location of IZs (convenient for transportation like being near highways, rivers, seaports, and airports), employee recruitment, the hiring costs and social infrastructure for living, accommodation and facilities to develop a supportive business community.

They are also interested in the accompanying technical infrastructure system such as the capacity of the centralised wastewater treatment stations, electricity and water supply and wastewater drainage.

He said an IZ will attract foreign investors if it best meets the above criteria. Thus if Viet Nam wants to lure foreign investors, the infrastructure of IZs is considered the most important and earliest factor that needs to be prepared as it takes between three and five years for developers to research, build and complete an IZ.

Strengthening the connection between domestic enterprises and foreign enterprises is also necessary, Kien said.  VNS
HCM CITY  The 22nd International Medical, Hospital, and Pharmaceutical Exhibition - Vietnam Medipharm Expo 2024 is set to be held from August 1 to 3, 2024, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in HCM City.

This annual event, organised by Vinexad JSC. and HCM City Medical Equipment Association (HMEA) under the Ministry of Health's auspices, serves as a pivotal platform for fostering cooperation and business expansion within Vietnam's burgeoning medical and pharmaceutical sectors.

The global medical device market is projected to grow significantly, from US$637.04 billion in 2024 to $893.07 billion by 2029, with an annual growth rate of 6.99%.

In Viet Nam, the medical device market is also robust, valued at US$1.677,4 million, and experiencing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2 per cent. This growth is fueled by factors such as an aging population, increasing standards of living, and favorable policies aimed at attracting foreign investment and promoting technology transfer.

The exhibition provides a crucial opportunity for industry players to showcase their products and services amidst this promising landscape. Over its two-decade history, Vietnam Medipharm Expo has solidified its reputation, expanding in scale and attracting a growing number of exhibitors each year. It remains a key event for stakeholders looking to tap into Vietnam's dynamic healthcare market and capitalise on its ongoing development trajectory.

For over 20 years, The Vietnam Medipharm Expo in HCMC has established its reputation and quality, expanding its scale and increasing the number of exhibitors each year.  VNS
A NANG  With an economy of VN1.57 trillion (US$61.7 million), or 15 per cent of the countrys Gross Domestic Product, and growing 5.5 per cent annually, the north central and coastal central region is seeking to assert itself as a strategic sea-based economic power and a global brand of logistics, tourism and industrial processing.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Phan Thi Thang said at a conference on trade promotion and import-export development held in a Nang last week that the region is making great efforts to turn it into a smart and green industrial and international co-operation destination by 2050.

The region has key industries of semiconductors, coastal tourism, renewable energy, logistics and sea ports. It is also a leading region in sustainable development in the Governments Master Plan for 2021-30, with a vision to 2050, Thang said.

It has achieved stable growth and an import-export turnover of $46.7 billion in 2023, and attracted foreign direct investment of $3 billion in the last five years, she added.

Thang said the region was assigned to develop two key giant urban and several international centres of industry and services with a smart and green urban network.

She said that the region's sea-based economy and the operation of industrial zones have not yet reached their full potential.

Tourism in the region still lacks unique products and services to grab the attraction of global travellers, and powerful inter-regional institution policy is needed for a rapid boost in revenue growth and investment, she said.

Huynh Tan Hai, Director of Khanh Hoa's provincial industry and trade department, said the coastal province has yet to develop a key port for exports, and most exports from the region are still loaded at key ports in HCM City.

He asked the ministry and the Government to speed up a plan to develop a series of key ports and logistics centres in the region to create favourable conditions for export and import.

Deputy Director of Quang Nam Provinces Department of Industry and Trade Huong Van Minh said the province has been calling for investment in logistics infrastructure and traffic systems to build good connections between the central and Central Highlands provinces and Laos, Thailand and Cambodia via provincial border check-points.

He said the province saw trade turnover of $13.3 billion last year, and a system of airports and sea ports have been upgraded to facilitate trade.

Phan Hoai Nam from Quang Binh Province shared that sea ports and logistics centres should be developed to boost exports of the farm produce, forestry products and seafood of the region.

Director of Tien Giang Provincial Department of Industry and Trade Luu Van Phi called for better business and investment links among the central provinces and the Mekong Delta region via Tien Giang.

He said the province offers investment opportunities in processing industries and international standard logistics, food and aquatic product storage technology as well as e-commerce.

Chairman of Viet Nams Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit) Nguyen Thanh Binh said fruit and vegetable exports achieved impressive sales of more than $3.3 billion in the first half of 2024, but stable quality and safe conditions must be seriously considered.

He warned that the overuse of pesticide and plant protection is still identified by sample tests by importers.

The country has 2.2 million hectares of vegetable and fruit farms with more than 30 million tonnes of product, but the latest technology has yet to be applied at all farms and processing factories.

We have only 156 high-tech factories, or 20 per cent of total processing plants, while 7,000 manual processing centres still remain. Its a disadvantage for the countrys fruit and vegetable exports, Binh explained.

He also said export markets should be diversified to avoid risk as China accounts for 80 per cent of Viet Nams fruit and vegetable exports annually.

Binh said South Korea, the US and Europe have recently emerged as potential markets for farm produce as well as fruits and vegetables from Viet Nam.

He also asked for more businesses links and market information exchanges through embassies in key markets, and green transition in production as well as digitalisation in trade.

The chairman requested setting up food safety standards for 2 million farming households producing qualified export products.

He also warned that the master plan for durian must be strictly reviewed as local farmers have grown 150,000ha, more than the designed plan of 90,000ha.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to support regional provinces in seeking wider export markets, promotions, human resources training and digital transformation in the coming time.  VNS
HA NOI  Bilateral trade between Viet Nam and China is reaching the threshold of US$100 billion, for the first six months of this year.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the bilateral trade between the two countries is recovering impressively despite on-ging global economic difficulties and geopolitical conflicts.

China remains the largest trade partner, the largest import market and the second largest export market to Viet Nam in the world.

Updates from the General Statistics Office showed that Viet Nams export to China reached $27.8 billion in the first half of this year, up 5.3 per cent over the same period last year. Viet Nam imported goods from China worth $67 billion in the reviewed period, up 34.7 per cent.

Viet Nam ran a trade deficit worth $39.2 billion with China in the period, up 67.9 per cent.

There is significant potential to promote trade between the two countries with a number of trade deals such as ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

China is also applying to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The Viet Nams Trade Office in Beijing said that the Chinese economy is recovering positively. The Chinese Government is also issuing policies on import-export management which will create favourable conditions for exports into this market if products meet quality standards.

The trade office pointed out that Viet Nam has plenty of opportunities to increase exports to China. Chinese enterprises are showing interests in buying manufacturing and processing and agricultural products, especially fruits from Viet Nam such as durians, watermelons and bananas.

To date, a dozen agricultural products are exported officially to China, with negotiations being completed for the official export of fresh coconuts and frozen durians.  VNS
HCM CITY  The latest technologies, products and solutions are on display at the 20th Precision Engineering and Manufacturing Reinvented Exhibition that opened in HCM City on Tuesday.

MTA Vietnam has gathered 323 exhibitors from 15 countries and territories, including China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the US.

As a leading trade event in the precision engineering and manufacturing industry, it focuses on metal forming and sheet metal cutting machinery, metal cutting machine tools, measurement and testing technology, cutting and machining tools, automation, and control technologies.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Quan, chairman of the Viet Nam Automation Association, said the exhibition provides an unique opportunity for domestic and international businesses to showcase their products and services and get abreast of the latest trends and technologies.

Over the course of four days, participants can engage in networking, establishing relationships with suppliers, investors, and potential customers, he said.

A number of seminars covering topics like smart and sustainable manufacturing towards net zero, 3D printing technology and transitioning from the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) to the ODM (original design manufacturer) model would be held, he said.

Ben Wong, country general manager of Informa Markets Vietnam, the organiser, said: Over the past two decades, MTA Vietnam has grown from a modest exhibition to one of the largest and most significant manufacturing trade shows in Viet Nam.

We have combined our exhibition efforts with seminars and training programmes to enhance the capabilities of the workforce.

Within the framework of the expo, the second robot competition MTA Challenges will be organised by Informa and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Support Center 2 under the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality.

The competition offers opportunities for university students in HCM City to express their creativity, teamwork skills and robot programming knowledge to nurture the next generation of automation engineers.

The Viet Nam Industrial Robotics and Automation Event exhibition area is expanding and adding more space for companies to showcase and demonstrate automation equipment to visitors.

It made its debut last year and was well received by industry professionals.

The expo, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, will run until Friday.  VNS
ROME  The Vietnamese culture and cuisine were introduced at the 16th Bagnara ethnic culture festival in Bagnara di Romagna commune of Italy's Ravenne province from June 27 - 30.

This is the sixth time Viet Nam has joined in the festival, but this year, aside from cuisine, for the first time, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy and the Viet Nam-Italy Cultural Bridge Association organised a photo exhibition about the countrys landscapes, people, culture, costumes, and musical instruments.

Massimo Bellotti, art director of the festival, said that for years, organisers have supported the Vietnamese community to open a booth at the festival. The booth continued to prove a great success as a large number of visitors patiently waited for their turn to enjoy Vietnamese dishes.

Members of the Viet Nam-Italy Cultural Bridge Association made Vietnamese dishes at the festival. They also wore traditional costumes to participate in a parade there and performed lion dance and "quan ho" (duet singing), a traditional singing genre of the country.

At a meeting with Mattia Galli - Mayor of Bagnara di Romagna, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung, who was the only special guest invited to this year's festival, said that he was impressed with the scale of the event, which attracted representatives from 23 countries and more than 20,000 visitors.

On this occasion, he informed local leaders about Viet Nams 45-day visa exemption for Italian citizens and a plan to launch a direct air route between the two countries.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Woo Won-shik in Seoul on Tuesday during his ongoing official visit to the country.

Welcoming Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on their visit to South Korea  the first visit by a senior Vietnamese leader since the two countries upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership  Speaker Woo Won-shik expressed his belief that the visit will further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and promote ever firmer bilateral relations under the new framework.

Speaker Woo Won-shik congratulated Viet Nam on its recent socio-economic development achievements, noting that the two countries share many similarities in history, culture and economic development priorities such as digital transformation, green transition and responding to climate change. He also highlighted the complementary aspects of the two countries in terms of their economies and work force.

Speaker Woo Won-shik affirmed that the Korean National Assembly will closely cooperate with the Vietnamese National Assembly to support the governments of both countries in effectively and substantively implementing the Action Programme under the new relationship framework and promoting cooperation in economic security and human resource connectivity.

Expressing his delight at visiting the beautiful and hospitable country of South Korea, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked the National Assembly and the people of South Korea for their warm and thoughtful reception.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Speaker Woo Won-shik on his recent election as Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea. He conveyed greetings from Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and senior Vietnamese leaders to Speaker Woo Won-shik, expressing confidence that South Korea will continue to develop and achieve greater success, thereby enhancing its position in the region and the world, with the Korean National Assembly playing an important role.

Both sides assessed that the Viet Nam-Korea relationship has rapidly and substantively developed in many fields since the two countries upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with positive results in trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.

The two leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation between the national assemblies of the two countries, promoting the exchange of parliamentary leaders and leaders of specialised committees, enhancing exchanges between parliamentarians and young parliamentarians of the two national assemblies and leveraging the role of friendship parliamentary groups in each country. They also agreed to share experiences in lawmaking and institution building for sustainable development and digital and green transformation.

Additionally, they will continue to leverage the role of the two countries' legislative bodies in supporting the governments in promoting bilateral cooperation, including achieving the goal of reaching $100 billion in trade turnover by 2025.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that the national assemblies of the two countries closely cooperate to effectively implement bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, support policies that enable Vietnamese enterprises to participate more deeply in the global supply chains of Korean enterprises and further open the Korean market to Vietnamese exports, especially agricultural and aquatic products. He also called for enhanced cooperation in digital and green transformations, with South Korea supporting Viet Nam in human resource training in fields such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

Speaker Woo Won-shik asked the Vietnamese government to pay attention to and create favourable conditions for Korean enterprises to do business in Viet Nam. Appreciating the positive contributions of the expatriate labour community in each country, Speaker Woo Won-shik agreed to work with the Vietnamese National Assembly to urge the governments of South Korea and Viet Nam to support and protect the expatriate communities to ensure they live in stability in their host countries.

He also emphasised the importance of promoting cultural exchanges, tourism and people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and create a foundation for the sustainable development of bilateral relations.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and agreed to coordinate and support each other in international organisations. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also conveyed an invitation from Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man for Speaker Woo Won-shik to visit Viet Nam soon, which Speaker Woo Won-shik gladly accepted.  VNS
SYDNEY - The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has contacted the Vietnamese Government to propose a cooperation opportunity through voluntary participation in the commissions Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) for toothfish.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Todd Dubois, Fisheries Monitoring and Compliance Manager at the CCAMLR, said it is highly concerned about illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CAMLR Convention) Area.

IUU fishing seriously decreased toothfish stocks and undermined the CCAMLRs conservation targets as well as the science supporting reasonable use of marine living resources in the Antarctic. The CCAMLR has taken some measures against IUU fishing, including the launch of the CDS for toothfish, he noted.

Dubois said the CDS is an electronic system designed for tracking toothfish from the time catches arrive at ports and throughout the commercial cycle. It covers all toothfish species harvested and traded by member states. Through this measure, the CDS helps differentiate toothfish harvested legally and illegally, and prevent the import of illegally caught toothfish to into the worlds largest markets.

The CCAMLR has encouraged the country to consider cooperating with it by implementing the CDS, he went on, affirming the CCAMLRs readiness to give all-round support if Viet Nam wishes to work with the CCAMLR via the CDS participitation.

By doing so, Viet Nam will also be able to help the CCAMLR realise conservation targets and assist with global efforts against IUU fishing, according to Dubois. VNS
HUNG YEN  Viet Nam's socio-economic indicators have increased steadily, with economic growth rates remaining on track and close to the 6.5-per-cent target, President To lam told voters at a meeting in Hung Yen City.

He made the remarks at the meeting in Hung Yen Province, on Tuesday, to report on the outcomes of the 7th session of the 15th National Assembly.

Voters in the province warmly congratulated President To Lam in his new position and expressed approval of the session's outcomes, particularly regarding legislation, oversights and the decisions on important national issues.

They also raised several concerns in various areas of public interest, such as fire prevention, trade union recruitment policy, notary office establishment, juvenile justice law and construction planning.

Voter Chu Tieu Binh expressed worries over the recent serious fires causing significant damage to lives and properties.

He called for amendments to the Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue and augmented fire prevention education and training programmes to enhance public awareness of fire safety.

Tran Van Bien from Lien Phuong Commune, Hung Yen City, highlighted the difficulties in accessing construction planning information online.

He said while some local authorities upload comprehensive information on their digital portals, others lag in their online presence, complicating data retrieval for businesses and individuals.

He urged lawmakers to mandate the full disclosure of construction planning information on digital portals. He also suggested adding new features to the portals, such as a quick search tool, to improve data accessibility.

President To Lam acknowledged the voters' concerns about fire safety, noting that the Ministry of Public Security had promptly issued regulations to help prevent repeats of recent fatal fires.

He also revealed that several measures to curb fire risks were proposed and are under consideration, including separating residential and business areas and strengthening supervision of household electricity systems.

Regarding information accessibility, he underlined the role of data transparency in the country's development and called for improvements to ensure construction planning information serves the public interest and prevents misuse for personal gains.

President To Lam also highlighted the country's ongoing efforts in anti-corruption, strengthening national defence and security and enhancing Viet Nam's international standing.

He reported that in the recent session of the National Assembly ten laws were passed, three resolutions were agreed and feedback was given on 11 legal projects, showing their determination to improve the legal framework to meet practical demands.

Regarding salary policies, President To Lam underlined the significant impact on retired workers and the ongoing preparations for salary increases, despite previous delays.

He said the Government had allocated resources to ensure budget provisions for these increases, striving for fairness among current and retired workers.

At the same time President To Lam donated 50 computers to Hung Yen City and visited two policy beneficiary families, presenting gifts to the families of Nguyen Quoc Song and Pham Thi Cay.  VNS
A former U.S. Army doctor who threatened to "shatter" his wife's face while duct-taping her to a pole in their basement and beating her will spend the next three decades in prison.

In 2023, Dr. Drew Steiner, 61, was convicted of abduction with intent to defile, malicious wounding, and attempted rape for an attack and sexual assault attempt on his spouse at their Springfield, Virginia, home in 2020.

On Friday, Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano announced Steiner was sentenced to 30 years behind bars for the crimes committed.

The victim testified she attempted to fight back while her husband beat her. As she armed herself with an aerosol can, Steiner told her, "If you use that I'm going to shatter your face, and you know that I will," WRC-TV reported

Steiner then dragged her to their basement and duct-taped her to a post. The victim broke free and ran to a neighbor's house for help.

Steiner was already serving a 10-year prison sentence for the 2020 rape and videotaping of a woman he met online.

Upon release, Steiner will be forced to register as a sex offender and will be subject to three years of supervision.
HA NOI  Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea agreed that the economy is a crucial pillar in bilateral cooperation, emphasising the need to closely coordinate and implement practical measures to achieve the goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to US$100 billion by 2025, which will be the tenth anniversary of the Viet Nam-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA).

This was highlighted during talks between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Republic of Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Tuesday, during PM Chinh's working visit to the country.

Both sides continue to aim for $150 billion by 2030, in a balanced and sustainable manner.

The RoK PM affirmed that Viet Nam had been a key partner in implementing foreign policies in the region, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI). He noted that Viet Nam was South Korea's largest development cooperation partner, the third-largest trading partner and the largest investment partner in ASEAN.

PM affirmed that Viet Nam supported South Korea's policies and development goals, including the 'Global Pivotal State' policy, aiming to develop a substantial, effective and long-term Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

During their talks, the two leaders reviewed the achievements in bilateral relations since upgrading to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022.

PM Chinh emphasised eight areas of progress since the relationship upgrade: political trust, trade, investment, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, scientific and technological cooperation, labour, local cooperation and cooperation on regional and international issues.

Both sides agreed to closely cooperate in promoting delegation exchanges, high-level contacts and interactions, at all levels. They also agreed to coordinate in implementing cooperation agreements between the two countries, effectively executing the action programme for implementing the Viet Nam-South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

RoK PM Han stated that facilitating investment was essential for sustainable trade and expanding investment, as well as enhancing cooperation in future industries and start-up collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises from both countries. He urged Viet Nam to actively support resolving issues faced by South Korean businesses in Viet Nam and affirmed South Korea's commitment to helping Vietnamese businesses integrate more deeply into the supply chains led by South Korean companies in Viet Nam.

He also suggested that both countries strengthen cooperation to promote South Korean business investments in building stable core mineral supply chains.

The RoK PM highlighted South Korea's priority in supporting Viet Nam's workforce training in industrial sectors through KOICA's grant aid. He committed to further expanding grant aid for areas such as public administration development, e-government, education and research and development. He also announced an increase in the quota for Vietnamese labourers and support for Phase 2 of the Viet Nam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) project.

PM Chinh proposed that South Korea further open its market to key Vietnamese products such as processed foods, agricultural and aquatic products and seasonal fruits. He encouraged South Korean businesses to expand their investments in Viet Nam, especially in areas such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), the digital economy, the green economy, the circular economy, semiconductors, renewable energy, biotechnology and artificial intelligence. He also advocated for the establishment of more research and development centres in Viet Nam.

Both sides agreed to direct their respective ministries and agencies to expedite procedures to open their markets to Vietnamese pomelos and South Korean melons in 2024.

PM Chinh requested that the South Korean Government support the early opening of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Busan in 2024 and the establishment of the Viet Nam Cultural Centre in South Korea.

He also called for simplified visa procedures and the eventual waiver of visas for Vietnamese citizens entering South Korea to boost tourism cooperation. Furthermore, he sought increased local cooperation, more scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in South Korea and greater support and facilitation for the Vietnamese community in South Korea.

Expressing gratitude for PM Chinhs invitation to visit Viet Nam and attend the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in April 2025, PM Han confirmed South Korea's support for Viet Nam in successfully organising this summit.

During their talks, the two Prime Ministers also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern and agreed to cooperate closely in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and ASEAN.

The leaders shared a common vision for ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and flying over the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea). PM Chinh reaffirmed Viet Nam's consistent support for denuclearisation, promoting dialogue, peace, stability, cooperation and development on the Korean Peninsula.

Following their talks, the two Prime Ministers issued a joint press release on the outcomes of their meeting and witnessed the signing of nine cooperation documents between the ministries, agencies and organisations of both countries in the fields of economy, trade, investment, education, development cooperation, start-up ecosystem exchange, competition and consumer protection.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) collaborate to encourage South Korean businesses to increase investments in high-tech projects and high-value-added sectors such as semiconductors, digital and green transformations and biotechnology.

He made his remarks while meeting with RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday as part of his official visit to the country. He also conveyed the warm regards of Vietnamese leaders to RoK President Yoon.

PM Chinh affirmed Viet Nam supported the RoKs development policies and goals, including the 'global pivotal state' policy and expressed readiness for continued close cooperation to ensure greater success for both countries. This collaboration aims to benefit the people of both nations and contribute responsibly to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Highlighting Viet Nam's crucial role in RoKs foreign policy, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), President Yoon said PM Chinh's visit would significantly contribute to effectively implementing the Action Plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was upgraded in December 2022.

PM Chinh informed President Yoon of the significant outcomes achieved during the talks between the two Prime Ministers, including major directions to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the future. He also highlighted the rapid and substantial progress in the two countries bilateral cooperation in recent times.

The Vietnamese leader proposed that both sides continue to maintain and strengthen high-level delegation exchanges and activities at various levels. He emphasised the importance of regularly implementing existing cooperation mechanisms in diplomacy, defence and security.

The two leaders agreed to work closely together to deepen and make economic relations more substantive and effective. PM Chinh suggested collaboration in training human resources in semiconductors, hydrogen and AI. He also proposed promoting loans through the Economic Development Promotion Fund (EDPF) worth US$2 billion and offering non-binding loan conditions for the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) loans, also worth $2 billion, to develop strategic infrastructure such as high-speed railways.

President Yoon said that South Korean businesses saw Viet Nam as a highly potential investment destination and that many South Korean enterprises investing in Viet Nam had created a favourable investment ecosystem.

He called for smoothing South Korean businesses' participation in Viet Nam's key projects, including energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations.

The Korean leader affirmed support for training human resources in Viet Nam for the semiconductor and high-tech industries and developing Viet Nam's cultural industry.

President Yoon highlighted that Viet Nam was the first country to sign a climate change agreement with South Korea and affirmed support for Viet Nam in successfully organising the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in April 2025.

Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in culture, education and tourism, strengthen local cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges to foster greater understanding and connections between their citizens. They also agreed to work closely to protect the legitimate rights of each other's citizens, ensuring their stable and safe lives, and to support multicultural Vietnamese-Korean families.

During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to continue close cooperation and mutual support in international and regional forums of shared interest and to further strengthen cooperation within ASEAN frameworks such as ASEAN-Korea and Mekong-Korea.

President Yoon praised Viet Nam for its excellent role as the coordinator of ASEAN-Korea relations and called for continued support in upgrading ASEAN-Korea relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.  VNS
PARIS  Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee o Van Chien successfully concluded a three-day working trip to France on July 2.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Chien, offered flowers at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh and visited the Museum of Living History in Montreuil during their stay. They also engaged in meetings and working sessions with key French figures, including member of the Politburo of the French Communist Party (PCF) Taylan Coskun, head of the PCF's Committee on Foreign Affairs Vincent Boulet, President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) Thierry Beaudet, and leaders of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV).

Chien stressed that his visit aimed to solidify the Viet Nam-France strategic partnership, strengthen ties between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and political parties in France, and between the VFF and the CESE, bolster people-to-people diplomacy and support for the Vietnamese community in France.

The French officials welcomed the trip, saying it contributes to deepening the relationship between the two nations, which boasts over 50 years of diplomatic ties and a decade of strategic partnership.

Discussions resulted in a consensus on measures to enhance cooperation through party and people-to-people diplomacy channels, particularly collaboration between the VFF and the CESE.

Prior to his departure, Chien met with AAFV members and asked for their assistance with popularising the images of Viet Nam and its people to French friends, supporting Vietnamese Agent Orange victims and To Tren To Nga in her legal battle against US chemical companies that supplied herbicides for the US army to use during the war in Viet Nam.

He also called for supporting the integration of the Vietnamese community in France and sharing Viet Nam's viewpoints on the international stage, thus cultivating a strong and enduring partnership that contributes to global peace and prosperity.  VNS
HA NOI  The number of health insurance participants has surged, benefits have expanded and healthcare quality has seen significant improvement after 15 years of implementing the Law on Health Insurance.

Since its inception in 2009, the law has seen involvement levels increase to over 93.307 million people, covering 93.35 per cent of the population, marking a 35.35 per cent rise since 2009.

Tran Thi Trang, head of the Health Insurance Department under the Ministry of Health told the Suc khoe & oi song (Health & Life) newspaper that the coverage rate was 58 per cent in 2009.

In 2015, following amendments to the law, participation reached 68.5 million people, covering 74.9 per cent of the population.

By 2019, the number of participants increased to 85.7 million, achieving an 89.1 per cent coverage rate.

The number of healthcare visits, covered by the health insurance fund, has shown steady growth annually.

In 2010, there were 102 million visits, consisting of 93.7 million outpatient visits and 8.3 million inpatient treatments.

By 2015, the figure rose to 130.2 million visits, made up of 118.2 million outpatient visits and 12 million inpatient treatments.

In 2019, there were 184 million visits, with 166.9 million outpatient visits and 17.1 million inpatient treatments.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 from 2020 to 2022, healthcare visits decreased compared to the period from 2015 to 2019.

In 2020, there were 167.3 million visits, a decrease of 16.7 million from 2019.

By 2022, as the pandemic stabilised, visits increased to 150.4 million, a rise of 24 million from 2021.

As of June this year, the nationwide total of outpatient and inpatient visits, covered by the health insurance fund, was estimated at 89.552 million, up by more than 6.5 million (equal to 7.91 per cent) from the same period last year.

Trang said the rights of health insurance participants were guaranteed.

Overall, the scope of benefits for participants was quite comprehensive, including costs for medical examinations, blood transfusions, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals during medical visits,regular pre-natal check-ups and childbirth at healthcare facilities.

Additionally, the health insurance fund also covered transportation costs for patients from district to provincial and central-level hospitals for certain priority groups such as the poor, ethnic minorities, revolutionary contributors and children under six in emergency situations or when transferred for specialised medical treatment.

Annually, the health insurance fund also covered 87 per cent to 89 per cent of total healthcare expenses, while participants were responsible for co-payment only ranging from 11 per cent to 13 per cent.

Healthcare rights expanded

Trang said that healthcare rights under the health insurance policies were expanding to meet the healthcare needs of participants, adapting to changing disease patterns, advancements in medical science and technology, balancing the health insurance fund, participant payment capabilities and aiming to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for households.

The list of medicines (including new drugs and traditional medicines), medical supplies and healthcare services, covered by the health insurance fund were being continually adjusted to fit with the latest in medical and technical capacities of healthcare facilities, while ensuring the rights of cardholders and enhancing the technical expertise of healthcare facilities, she said.

Since the implementation of the law, nearly all public healthcare facilities with treatment functions had directly participated in health insurance contracts with social insurance agencies.

Nearly 10,000 commune/ward/town health stations also participated in health insurance through contracts managed by district hospitals or health centres assigned by provincial Departments of Health in the country.

She also added that administrative procedures, medical examination and treatment processes, payment procedures were significantly reformed to reduce inconvenience, facilitate patient access to healthcare services and create favourable conditions for organisations and agencies in implementing health insurance policies.

Effective use

Since the official implementation of the Law on July 1, 2009, it has provided the highest legal basis to gradually achieve fairness in healthcare, implementing the sharing between the healthy and the sick, the wealthy and the poor and working-age individuals and children and the elderly.

To further enhance public engagement and mobilise health insurance across all levels, the ministry has chosen the theme for this year 'Effective use of the health insurance fund and improving the quality of health examination and treatment under grassroots healthcare.'

The ministry has issued a dispatch, requesting provincial People's Committees to direct the Department of Health to coordinate with social insurance offices and relevant agencies to submit proposals to offer education sessions for various groups participating in health insurance locally.

Key messages about health insurance focus on enhancing the quality of healthcare at grassroots healthcare facilities to increase access to health insurance for the public, using the health insurance fund efficiently, how health insurance means safeguarding your health and that participation gives people sustainable financial support during illness and disease.

Trang said that the ministry was currently drafting amendments to the Law on Health Insurance and several decrees to improve quality, ensure sufficient supply of medicines and medical equipment for examinations and treatment, reform medical examinations and treatment procedures and expand the scope of health insurance benefits.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasised that the Land Law and the decree on paddy land must include mechanisms and policies that allow key rice-growing localities to fulfill their political duties, while also developing their socio-economic status.

"Farmers should receive focused support, enabling the application of science and technology to improve productivity, aim for large-scale production and ensure stable incomes and livelihoods," he said during a national hybrid meeting to finalise the draft decree on rice cultivation land on Monday.

Addressing specific issues, the Deputy PM requested the drafting agency to amend and supplement criteria for localities to identify high-yield and high-quality rice-growing areas within the allocated specialised paddy land.

Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should collaborate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to identify large rice-growing regions, such as the Mekong Delta, the Red River Delta and the Central Coast, to establish criteria for determining the scale and area of high-yield and high-quality rice land in each region. Based on that they should propose appropriate management policies that reflect practical realities.

Taking into account the opinions expressed during the meeting, Deputy PM Ha tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with compiling a framework of support policies for paddy land in general, as well as for specialised and high-yield, high-quality rice regions.

He stressed that the decree should include new regulations and mechanisms to help organisations, businesses and farmers cope with climate change risks, support fertilisers, agricultural materials and equipment and access markets.

"The goal is to ensure income and stable livelihoods for rice farmers in all situations," he said.

He noted that support policies for infrastructure, science and technology, commerce, services and the construction of facilities serving agricultural production activities should prioritise large-scale production areas for businesses, cooperatives and inter-household linkage models with specific operational proposals.

To meet this requirement, the Deputy PM instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to review the scope of the decree's adjustments to align with the Land Law, ensuring the consistency and uniformity of terms and concepts with related legal documents and regulations.

The draft decree comprises four chapters and 18 articles regulating the management and use of rice-growing land, as well as policies supporting the protection and development of such land.

Notably, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has incorporated and supplemented regulations on the criteria for identifying high-yield, high-quality rice-growing areas that need protection and restricted conversion.

Regarding this issue, opinions at the meeting suggested that, based on the allocated rice land quotas for each locality, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should establish specific, quantitative criteria such as scale, soil conditions and infrastructure in each region to determine the areas of rice land that need protection and restricted conversion.

Additionally, they should identify areas of rice land that can be converted but still maintain the conditions for reverting to rice cultivation.

Similarly, some delegates emphasised the need to clearly delineate rice land areas, specialised rice cultivation areas, and high-yield, high-quality rice land areas to develop corresponding policies and avoid overlap and redundancy.  VNS
HOA BINH  The General Statistics Office (GSO), in coordination with the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, has started a census to collect socio-economic details of 53 ethnic minority groups. The statistic gathering will run until August 15.

The goal is to gather data for the National Statistical Indicator System and the Statistical Indicator System on ethnic minority affairs. This will inform the development and policy-making process for socio-economic development in ethnic minority regions for the period 2026-2030.

At the official launch ceremony, Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, Hau A Lenh, spoke of the critical importance of the local-level information collection phase. He said: "Collecting complete and accurate information on the population and housing status will assist the Party and the State in formulating correct plans and strategies, laying the foundation for the rapid and sustainable development of the country and ethnic minority regions.

Lenh expressed hope that this survey would continue to provide quality information and data to the Party, National Assembly, Government, agencies, ministries, sectors and localities for strategic planning of ethnic policies. This effort aims to gradually resolve difficulties facing and maximise the potential of ethnic communities and regions, to strengthen national unity.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong said it was important to get the ethnic communities to help.

"The successful organisation of the launch ceremony is vital in communicating to the ethnic households in the province the purpose and significance of the survey , thereby encouraging active cooperation with census takers to provide complete, accurate, and timely information," Phuong said.

Furthermore, the launch ceremony helps provincial leaders and the entire political system understand the importance of the survey, ensuring its effective implementation.

Matt Jackson, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam, stated that UNFPA always calls on countries worldwide to prioritise investing in improving population data systems, ensuring safety for everyone when collecting data, and especially ensuring that disadvantaged communities are represented.

Only when they are truthfully included in the data system with all their diversity can we combat prejudice and inequality, and build a resilient, peaceful, and prosperous future for all, the UNFPA official noted.

According to the GSO, the census will be conducted across 54 provinces and centrally-governed cities, including 51 provinces with communes in ethnic and mountainous regions.



This decision, approved by the Prime Minister, outlines the List of communes in areas III, II, and I in ethnic minority and mountainous regions for the period 2021-25. Additionally, the census will cover three provinces and cities with significant ethnic minority populations: HCM City, Long An, and Ha Tinh.

The survey targets ethnic minority households and actual residents living in these households at the time they are questioned. This includes individuals in the armed forces currently residing in these households but excludes those living in military and police-managed areas. The focus will be on the socio-economic, cultural, health and educational status of communes in areas III, II, and I, as well as other communes with ethnic minority populations.

For households, the survey will collect data on demographic characteristics, education, migration, marriage, health insurance usage, employment, birth history and contraceptive use of females aged ten to forty-nine, information on household deaths in the past twelve months, housing and living conditions, residential and production land, key livestock and access to public services.

For commune People's Committees, the survey will gather information on the commune's characteristics, electricity usage, roads, transportation, schools and teacher qualifications, cultural houses, health and environmental sanitation, markets, qualifications of commune-level officials and civil servants, religion and beliefs and phone and internet coverage.

The results of the survey will be handed over to the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs in April 2025 and are expected to be announced between May and July 2025.  VNS
HCM CITY  The American International School Vietnam (AISVN) continues to be suspended for another 12 months, as of July 1.

HCM City Department of Education and Training and an interdisciplinary team from the city have been working with AISVNs school board and investors since May 28.

A report into the school, due to be submitted by June 15, has not yet arrived at the education department which could have allowed it to continue educational operations.

On March 18 this year, all classes were cancelled when a majority of the schools teaching staff went on strike over unpaid salaries. Nearly 90 of them resigned over the following two days.

Since April, more than 134 students from AISVN have been transferred to other schools to continue their education.

HCM City Department of Education and Training has worked with 18 secondary schools with foreign investments or who offer foreign curriculum programmes, as well as the Viet Nam Australia International School (a public school under the departments management) to assess admission capacity and support policies for students who wish to transfer from AISVN.

On June 28, the department also issued the Official Dispatch No 4011/SGDT-GDTrH providing transfer guidelines for AISVN students via the website https://chuyentruong.hcm.edu.vn.

AIS American International Education JSC, the head investor of AISVN, is required to be accountable towards its students as well as the teaching and administrative staff.

HCM City Department of Education and Training said that the company must take appropriate actions to ensure students rights to education and uninterrupted learning.

It must also ensure benefits as agreed with employees in their contracts and comply with regulations on employing foreign workers according to the laws.

In September last year, many parents gathered in front of the school to protest, saying that they signed zero-interest loan contracts totalling billions of ong with AISVN so that their children would be exempted from official tuition fees.

However, when their children completed the programme or transferred to another school, they did not receive any repayment as stated in the contracts.

A representative of AISVN said that they had been repaying the investments on time in the past, but recently these payments have been delayed due to difficult circumstances.

The HCM City Department of Education and Training demanded a report from AISVN to assess whether the school is eligible for educational operations according to the 2019 Law on Education and Decree 46/2017/N-CP on regulations on investment and operations in the education sector.

AISVN is a private educational institution with all local investors. Prior to being suspended the school had more than 1,200 students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, 129 foreign teachers, 26 Vietnamese teachers and 103 staff members.  VNS
CAN THO  National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and a NA working group on Tuesday visited and presented gifts to revolution contributors in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947-2024).

Meeting with the revolution contributors, Man stressed that the Party, the State and the Government have issued policies and laws on providing support and preferential treatment for revolution contributors. Most recently, on June 25, 2024, President To Lam signed a decision on giving gifts worth totally VN420 billion (US$16.5 million) to more than 1.3 million revolution contributors.

According to him, currently, there are more than 9.2 million revolution contributors nationwide including nearly 1.2 million martyrs, nearly 500,000 relatives of martyrs; over 117,000 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, and nearly 600,000 war invalids.

On this occasion, Man asked Can Tho city authorities to continue paying attention to revolution contributors and implementing policies to ensure their benefits, particularly the NA resolution on adjustment of pension, allowances and preferential allowances to revolution contributors from July 1.

The top legislator noted that its necessary to mobilise resources of the whole political system to take care of revolution contributors. VNS
HCM CITY  Around 90 domestic and foreign scholars shared their thoughts at the 8th international conference of Viet Nams Business, Economics & Resources 2024 (VBER2024) held at HCM City Open University on Tuesday (July 2).

With the theme Going forward from crisis: Unleashing the power of ultimate aspirations and innovations, this annual event aims to create a forum for researchers to present and discuss the latest research in the fields of business, economics and resources in the current context.

The conference serves as a bridge to enhance exchanges, learning, and promote academic cooperation among individuals and countries in the region and around the world.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha, president of HCM City Open University, said with a vision of becoming a university that implements open education and oriented towards high-quality applications, the university continuously strives to create conditions and issue various policies to encourage research activity to strongly awaken and promote research capabilities within the community of students and lecturers.

New research centres and institutes are going to be established to improve and enhance the universitys research output and quality.

The VBER2024 conference is a forum that connects multi-disciplinary, multi-field knowledge to collectively assess opportunities and challenges, thereby proposing solutions, overcoming limitations, and improving socio-economic efficiency through research projects with practical application value and high dissemination, he said.

This year's event attracted 34 papers with the participation of keynote speaker Professor Roger Strange, lecturer at the University of Sussex in UK, and co-editor-in-chief of the International Business Review, along with 34 researchers, and 53 lecturers and doctoral students.

After the opening session and the plenary session, the conference featured two special discussion sessions.

Financial Literacy, Mental Health showcased state-of-the-art academic studies on financial literacy and mental health  the most important aspects of civilised life in modern society.

The Sharing is Caring forum, co-chaired by Professor Roger Strange and Dr. Banjo Roxas, lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, offered a place for young scholars to present their research, receive valuable feedback, and update the most advanced research methods from leading experts worldwide.

Through this, young scholars have improved their skills, enhanced their capabilities, and increased their chances of publishing articles in prestigious international journals.

Professor Roger Strange, lecturer at the University of Sussex in UK and co-editor-in-chief of the International Business Review, shared research on international business.

The new realities of business include the growth (resurgence) of populism and economic nationalism; sustainable development and climate change agenda; new digital technologies, and changing power relationships, he said.

The new realities in Viet Nam are an emerging market-oriented socialist economy in a multipolar world, integration into the global economy, with WTO membership since 2007, low production costs, a conducive business environment, partnerships with independent suppliers and/or opportunities for inward FDI.

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) from US and Europe are increasingly looking for suppliers and GVC partners in friendly emerging economies (friend-shoring) as an alternative to over-reliance on China (decoupling and de-risking).

There is limited domestic availability of parts and components of suitable quality. Most parts and components are imported or produced by foreign-owned firms.

Free trade agreements and bamboo diplomacy are appropriate government policies to promote upgrading and to capture more of value, he said.

Dr. Vo Hong uc, executive director of the Business, Economics & Resources Research Centre at HCM City Open University, said quality papers and research presented at the conference would be considered for publication in prestigious journals listed in the ISI and/or Scopus indexes.

In the conference, awards were given to outstanding papers/presentations, prominent young researchers, and the best papers on gender studies or energy/environmental economics.  VNS
The toll announced by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights is almost double the figure previously disclosed by the authorities for those killed while contesting a raft of deeply unpopular tax increases that have now been withdrawn.

39 killed in Kenya anti-tax protests: rights body, Photo: SIMON MAINA / AFP

"Data from our records indicates that thirty-nine people have died and three hundred and sixty-one injured in relation to the protests countrywide," the state-funded body said in a statement, adding that the figures covered the period from June 18 to July 1.

It also said there had been 32 cases of "enforced or involuntary disappearances" and 627 arrests of protesters.

Largely peaceful anti-tax rallies -- led by mostly young Gen-Z protesters -- descended into shocking scenes of deadly violence last Tuesday when lawmakers passed the contentious legislation.

After the vote was announced, crowds ransacked the parliament complex in central Nairobi and it was partly set ablaze as police fired live bullets at protesters.

It is the most serious crisis to confront Ruto since he took office in September 2022 following a deeply divisive election in a nation often considered a beacon of stability in a turbulent region.

- 'Excessive and disproportionate force' -

"The Commission continues to condemn in the strongest terms possible the unwarranted violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and on safe spaces such as churches, medical emergency centres and ambulances," the KNCHR said.

"We maintain that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate."

The KNCHR also said it "strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness that was exhibited by some of the protesters" including the parliament and other government buildings.

The Kenyan authorities were taken by surprise after small rallies against the tax increases gathered momentum, with thousands of people taking to the streets.

Fresh protests have been called by activists starting from Tuesday despite Ruto announcing last week that he would not sign into law the bill containing the tax hikes.

Leaflets have been posted on social media with the hashtags "Occupy Everywhere", "Ruto must go" and "Reject Budgeted Corruption".

The president said in a television interview Sunday that 19 people had died in the protests, but insisted he did not have "blood on my hands" and pledged an investigation into the deaths.

Kenya's cash-strapped government had said previously that the tax increases were necessary to service the massive public debt of some 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), equal to roughly 70 percent of GDP.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the country to implement fiscal reforms in order to access crucial funding from the Washington-based lender.

Ruto had already rolled back some tax measures after the protests began, prompting the treasury to warn of a gaping budget shortfall of 200 billion shillings ($1.6 billion).

In Sunday's interview, he had warned that the government would have to borrow heavily following the decision to scrap the finance bill.
A Georgia couple was arrested after they were allegedly soliciting men to rape their 2-year-old daughter, cops say.

Ashlee Crawley, 26, is accused of creating sexually explicit content involving her children, and selling it on various online apps, including "MeetMe," according to police in Grovetown, Georgia.

The children's father, James Tripp, 29, was allegedly "making plans and seeking permission" from Crawley to "engage in intercourse with his own 2-year-old biological daughter," said police.

Police arrested the parents Wednesday after receiving an online tip and the kids were turned over to the Division of Family and Children Services.

Crawley has been charged with two counts of child molestation, and one count of computer or electronic pornography and child exploitation, according to police. Tripp was charged with criminal attempt incest and criminal attempt molestation.

Crawley and Tripp are being held at the Columbia County Jail.

It's unclear if they entered a plea to the charges.
Could you share some insights of Messenger's growth in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, Messenger is at the heart of customer interactions, enabling businesses to do more with conversations, especially among Generation Z. Today, there are more than 600 million conversations between people and businesses every day on our platforms.

Vietnam leads the region in business messaging, with nearly half of Vietnamese customers using social media platforms for product-related discovery. At least 1 in 3 consumers in Vietnam say they chat with businesses on a weekly basis. And on the business side of things, 83 per cent of businesses in Vietnam have told us that they get high quality leads from placing ads on Facebook that click-to-message threads.

How do you see the unique challenges or advantages to the Vietnamese market?

Vietnam is one of the fastest growing internet-based economies in the region. The high degree of internet and mobile penetration, as well as a connected and engaged Gen Z has supported the growth of a vibrant digital economy.

Notably, 45 per cent of consumers message businesses directly to make decisions on a product they like, and 62 per cent engage with businesses via messaging apps monthly.

Among Generation Z, 76 per cent are active users of Business Messaging, with even higher adoption rates among Generation Y (86 per cent) and Generation X (82 per cent). Messenger is the preferred platform to conclude conversations with businesses, with a 60 per cent preference rate.

At the same time, small-and-medium-sized enterprises are the major drivers of Vietnams economic growth as 98 per cent of the country's economy is fuelled by these amazing small- and medium-sized enterprises. They have a strong appetite for new technology adoption, and thats why we believe that Vietnam would benefit from Metas latest investment in technology, in particular our AI-powered discovery engine. We are investing heavily in AI to develop and deploy privacy-enhancing technologies and continue building new tools that will fundamentally enable us to deliver more performant and privacy-safe ads.

In terms of challenges, the competition is fiercer than ever before now that people have more options of social media platforms to choose from. However I think this kind of competition is good for the ecosystem. It drives innovation and better services for people. Weve spent more than a decade building the most powerful discovery engine in history  one that generates connection among people, demand for businesses, and interest in brands.

What are your plans for growth in Vietnam given local app Zalo's increasing market share?

Vietnam's digital economy is thriving and diverse enough to accommodate multiple social platforms and e-commerce models. This presents an opportunity for Meta to continue investing in technologies that facilitate connections and engagement among users. By focusing on delivering innovative features and enhancing user experience, we are confident that we will continue to be relevant to our Vietnamese community.

We do this through our four-pronged strategy to help empower businesses with 1) innovation, 2) activation, 3) education and 4) sharing best practices.

First, lets talk about innovation. This year at the Business Messaging Summit, we first launched two new unique messaging solutions for local Vietnamese businesses, which are Live streaming tools and discovery features in Messenger based on our research and insights into the local market and consumer behaviour. Earlier this year, our vice president of Messenger also paid a visit to Vietnam to understand the market appetite and feedback from the community.

Secondly, we activate. We collaborate with leading partners in Vietnam such as Pancake and Haravan to advise businesses on how to leverage their lower funnel signals for better messaging performance. We will continue expanding our Meta Business Partner network so more and more businesses can access our advanced messaging solutions and products easily.

Third, and this is also significant, education. We built Vietnamese resources such as Blueprint to help businesses better understand and leverage our messaging solutions to drive incremental revenue for their businesses. We also host business messaging summits annually, where we bring together the entire ecosystem and share best practices and new products.

Last but definitely not least, we have been and will continue to share best practices. In addition to bringing the latest technology to Vietnam, we also customise our initiatives and programmes for local needs. For example, we have created an annual Business Messaging Award that rewards some of the best work in this area by advertisers, agencies and partners.

Facebook has become popular platform for shopping in Vietnam. Can you share details of this growth?

Facebook and Messenger continue to be leading platforms for discovery, evaluation and conversion. According to data from the Vietnam Ministry of Information and Communications, there has been a significant growth of 30 per cent in the number of digital technology businesses, along with a 32 per cent increase in revenue generated by the digital technology industry between 2019 and 2024. Additionally, the proportion of domestically produced digital industrial products within Vietnam (Made in Vietnam) has risen from 21 per cent to 29 per cent during the same period.

To help businesses in Vietnam make the most out of their conversations with customers, Meta just introduced new messaging products for Messenger at our business messaging summit a few days ago.

Messenger is the number one preferred inquiry method when Vietnamese consumers want to contact businesses during live streams. Thats why we are launching our live-streaming tools. Businesses advertising on Facebook Live will soon be able to leverage live-streaming tools that make it easy for livestream viewers to browse products featured and enquire about them via Messenger.

Meta combines its discovery engine with the commerce capabilities of Meta Business Partners such as Haravan, nhanh.vn, Pancake and Sapo in Vietnam for a smooth journey from chat to conversion. With product discovery features on Messenger, businesses can now sync their catalogue to Facebook, and customers can see the product catalogue inside the chat and conclude the conversations with businesses seamlessly without having to leave the chat.

Vietnam leads Meta's Business Messaging in the region Vietnam is one of the key markets for Facebook parent-company Meta to roll out its Business Messaging. Ankur Prasad, global director for Business Messaging Product Marketing at Meta, shared his thoughts with VIR's Thanh Van about the potential of the product in Vietnam.

The growth of business messaging: how its improving business performance in Vietnam People and businesses have been communicating for years, mainly through face-to-face communication. But technology has changed all of that, including where and how people and businesses communicate. As the world grows more mobile first, peoples expectations of businesses are also evolving.
Raffles City Singapore project invested by CapitaLand Investment Limited

CapitaLand Investment, the investment management arm of CapitaLand Group plans to invest from $70 to $110 million in Vietnam to expand its industrial real estate portfolio to meet the needs of MNCs outside of China to increase production.

Nikkei Asia from Japan said that the real asset manager plans to invest the above investment capital into Vietnam in the next two years, according to Patricia Goh, CEO of Southeast Asia Investment, CapitaLand Investment..

CapitaLand Group and its affiliates, including CapitaLand Investment and CapitaLand Development, have great financial strength thanks to investment capital from Temasek Holdings, a national investment corporation of Singapores government.

In addition to CapitaLand, the list of Temasek Holdings subsidiaries also includes national Singapore Airlines, telecommunications group Singtel, DBS bank, SP Group, state-owned electricity and gas company, Mediacorp, the State-owned media channel and many leading companies in Singapore.

"When looking at companies that want to diversify their production chains outside of China, Vietnam is a logical choice," Goh told Nikkei Asia.

She added that Chinese textile and garment enterprises were targeting Vietnam. In addition, many electronics companies from Korea also intend to expand production in Vietnam.

This investment was not the first interest from CapitaLand Group into Vietnams industrial property market. In February 2022, CapitaLand Development (CLD), the development arm of CapitaLand Group, has signed an MoU with Bac Giang Peoples Committee valued at $1 billion.

The MoU outlines CLDs and the provincial governments mutual interest to explore the development of CLDs first industrial park, logistics park, and township development in Vietnam.

Even though the process of this MoU has not been realised so far, the investment in Bac Giang province will be CLDs first industrial, logistics, and township development in Vietnam.

The more than 400 hectare project will support the creation of a dynamic supply chain network in Vietnams northern key economic region. It will also potentially create over 20,000 new jobs and improve the standard of living for Bac Giangs residents and workforce.

Entering Vietnam in 1994, CLDs portfolio comprises one retail mall, one SOHO development, two integrated developments, and about 16,000 quality homes across 17 residential developments in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Binh Duong province.

CapitaLand Groups investment plan was revealed amid a series of industrial park real estate developers in Vietnam promoting their business plans: Singapore Frasers Property Vietnam, Logos, and BW Industrial Development.

Vietnam is emerging as a potential destination as multinational corporations promote the "China +1" strategy and restructure production chains to minimise risks of supply chain disruption in response to the US-China trade situation.

Large-scale manufacturers such as Apple, Luxshare, Wistron, and Samsung are continuously expanding their investment and commit to expanding production further in Vietnam, despite the slowing down of global investment capital flows.

CapitaLand wins seven PropertyGuru Vietnam Awards CapitaLand Development (CLD) Vietnam won seven awards in both the developer and development categories at the prestigious 2023 PropertyGuru Vietnam Property Awards held on November 10.
The day was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Vietnamese Ambassador to France.

The event brought together industry experts, influencers, and decision makers to discuss the nation's strides in digitalisation and technological innovation, and revolutionising its entire supply chain in aviation, aerospace, and defence.

This sector has seen an influx of interest from investors from around the world, including Dassault Systemes home-base of France, with Airbus notably renewing its commitment to the country late in 2023.

From design to manufacturing, digitalisation has optimized processes, enhancing efficiency and competitiveness. Cutting-edge technologies such as model-based systems engineering, virtual twin technologies, and AI-driven analytics will propel Vietnam's aerospace and defence industry into the 21st century, fostering a dynamic ecosystem for growth, Ding Ming Chee, Asia Pacific South senior sales director for Dassault Systemes, said.

Topics covered included the impact of digitalisation and new technologies, including virtual twin technologies for factories of the future to accelerate innovation and optimise operations.

According to deputy director of NIC Vo Xuan Hoai, in todays rapidly evolving landscape, driven by digitalisation and cutting-edge technologies, recognising the critical role of innovation in enhancing design and manufacturing capabilities is essential.

"NIC is dedicated to furthering investment in research and development, and collaborating closely with businesses, researchers, and international partners to foster sustainable innovation in this sector. Our goal is to serve as a conduit between stakeholders, promoting robust and effective collaboration for all parties involved, Hoai noted.

Dassault Systemes, which opened its Hanoi office two years ago, also took the opportunity to announce a new partnership with KMTC, which will see the local systems integrator spearhead digital transformation in Vietnams aerospace manufacturing sector.

We, not only the Kami team, but also the domestic manufacturing and supply chain community, recognise this partnership as a harmonic combination of our local know-how and expertise in Vietnams aerospace and defence sector with Dassault Systemes wealth of global experience and acclaimed technology solutions. These are all designed to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese components manufacturers to meet the modern needs of the aerospace industry, and from that, to foster the innovation of the new digital economy of the whole country,chairman of KAMI Manufacturing Technology Corporation Louis Cao said.
The charges against the US tech titan follow a finding last week against Apple that marked the first time Brussels had levelled formal accusations under the EU's ground-breaking Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Meta risks fines over 'pay for privacy' model breaking EU rules, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

The latest case focuses on Meta's new ad-free subscription model for Facebook and Instagram, which has sparked multiple complaints over privacy concerns.

Meta's "pay or consent" system means users have to pay to avoid data collection, or agree to share their data with Facebook and Instagram to keep using the platforms for free.

"Meta has forced millions of users across EU into a binary choice: 'pay or consent'," the EU's top tech enforcer, commissioner Thierry Breton, said.

The European Commission said it informed Meta of its "preliminary view" that the model the company launched last year "fails to comply" with the DMA.

The findings come after a probe into Meta began in March under the DMA, which forces the world's biggest tech companies to give European users more choice online.

Meta insisted its model "complies with the DMA".

"We look forward to further constructive dialogue with the European Commission to bring this investigation to a close," a Meta spokesperson said.

Meta can now reply to the findings and avoid a fine if it offers an alternative to address the EU's concerns.

If the commission's view is confirmed however, it can slap fines of up to 10 percent of Meta's total global turnover under the DMA. This can rise to up to 20 percent for repeat offenders.

Meta's total revenue last year stood at around $135 billion (125 billion euros).

The EU also has the right to break up firms, but only as a last resort.

Under the DMA, the EU labels Meta and other companies, including Apple, as "gatekeepers" and prevents them forcing users in the bloc to consent to have access to a service or certain functionalities.

The commission said Meta's model did not allow users to "freely consent" to their data being shared between Facebook and Instagram with Meta's ads services.

"The DMA is there to give back to the users the power to decide how their data is used and ensure innovative companies can compete on equal footing with tech giants on data access," Breton said.

The commission will decide on whether Meta's model is DMA compliant or not by late March 2025.

Europe's BEUC umbrella consumer rights group said the findings were "good news for consumers using Facebook and Instagram who have been presented with unfair choices on the use of their personal data since November".

The EU has shown it is serious about making big online companies change their ways.

The commission told Apple last week its App Store rules were hindering developers from freely pointing consumers to alternative channels for offers.

The EU is also probing Google over similar concerns on its Google Play marketplace.

Apple and Meta are not the only companies coming under the scope of the DMA. Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and TikTok owner ByteDance must also comply.

Online travel giant Booking.com will need to adhere to the rules later this year.

Meta has made billions from harvesting users' data to serve up highly targeted ads. But it has faced an avalanche of complaints over its data processing in recent years.

The European data regulator in April has also said the 'pay or consent' model is at odds with the bloc's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which upholds the privacy of users' information.

Ireland -- a major hub for online tech giants operating in the 27-nation bloc -- has slapped Meta with massive fines for violating the GDPR.
The forum was attended by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and politicians from both two countries.

SK E&S and T&T Group will join forces to convert Quang Tri's thermal power plant from coal-fired to LNG power, along with the development of low-carbon projects, including hydrogen.

Under the agreement, the two sides will also co-develop carbon credit projects, research the establishment of an LNG hub, advance investment promotion, and help Quang Tri to lure investments in potential and sustainable areas.

On April 15, Quang Tri Peoples Committee gave approval for SK E&S and T&T Group to carry out a feasibility study. The province also submitted a document to the government and Ministry of Industry and Trade seeking approval for the project and adding it to the Power Development Plan VIII implementation strategy.

SK Group and Quang Tri People's Committee also signed an MoU for cooperation on energy solution packages.

At the forum, Yoo Young-wook, vice president of SK E&S, said, "To support Vietnam's energy transition towards the net-zero goal by 2050, SK E&S is focused on developing a sustainable energy ecosystem. SK E&S will partner with T&T Group to develop green and sustainable energy projects in Quang Tri, he said.

In June 2023, T&T Group and Korean companies Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) and SK Group signed an MoU to cooperate on developing LNG and hydrogen projects in Vietnam.

SK E&S and T&T Group research LNG project in Quang Tri A consortium of investors, including South Korea's SK E&S and Vietnam's T&T Group, have made a proposal to research the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the central province of Quang Tri.
The 22nd Vietnam Medipharm Expo 2024 is expected to gather over 500 booths from 450 enterprises across 22 countries and territories. This year's exhibition, covering an area of up to 10,000 square meters, will feature large national pavilions from countries such as India, South Korea, Indonesia, Latvia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and China.

Vietnam Medipharm Expo 2023

The number of display categories will still include six main groups, which are pharmaceuticals, functional foods and chemicals; processing, and packaging machinery; medical machinery and equipment, analytical and laboratory equipment; hospital services, medical tourism and medical software; dental and ophthalmic equipment; cosmetics, beauty, and aesthetic equipment.

Noteworthy participants include reputable domestic businesses in the healthcare sector such as NQ Medical, Kosmen JSC, Galaxy water solutions, and FPT Software. The exhibition will feature world-renowned brands such as Global Swiss Group, ARIES AS (Czech Republic) and SGH MEDICAL PHARMA (France).

Moreover, Vietnam Medipharm Expo 2024 will organise high-profile activities for businesses, such as the Medtech 4.0 seminar, the business exchange forum "Vietnam - India Pharmaceutical Cooperation," and discussions on "Bidding Laws and Updated Policies, Vietnam's Medical and Pharmaceutical Market."

Each activity serves as a bridge for entrepreneurs and business leaders to meet, exchange experiences, and move towards sustainable cooperation in the future.

Additionally, the 2024 International Medical and Pharmaceutical Exhibition will welcome thousands of visitors to explore and experience a wide range of products, participate in check-in activities to receive gifts, get free eye exams, and more. This allows visitors to choose healthcare brands that suit their needs.

With its practical significance, the Vietnam Medipharm Expo 2024 promises to bring many valuable contracts, long-term business relationships, and cooperation opportunities. It also provides Vietnamese enterprises with the chance to understand market demands, enhance their competitiveness in the international market.

The exhibition is organised by Vinexad JSC, and Ho Chi Minh City Medical Equipment Association under the ownership of the Ministry of Health as a bridge to bring opportunities for business cooperation and expansion.

This years event continues to receive support from government-backed enterprises such as the Korean National Institute of Medical Development, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board.

In 2023, Vietnam Medipharm Expo 2023 welcomed over 12,000 visitors. The exhibition showcased a wide range of products across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging machinery/equipment, medical equipment, analytical and laboratory devices, dental equipment, ophthalmic technology and products, cosmetic and beauty devices, exam and treatment services, and medical tourism.

According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the global medical device market size is expected to grow from $637.04 billion in 2024 to $893.07 billion in 2029, with an annual growth rate of 6.99 per cent.

The medical device market in Vietnam is also showing strong growth signals, with a market size of $1.677,4 million, ranking eighth in the Asia-Pacific region, and an annual compound growth rate of 10.2 per cent. Additionally, this sector has been attracting substantial foreign investment through mergers and acquisitions.

The boom in the business and manufacturing market for medical and pharmaceutical products and services is driven by several factors. Firstly, the population of ageing is on the rise. According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, the population group aged 60 and above increased from 11.9 per cent in 2019 to 13.9 per cent in 2023, correlating with chronic diseases and age-related illnesses, which frequently require healthcare services.

Secondly, the standard of living is improving, not only in urban areas but also in rural areas. People are increasingly willing to invest significant amounts of money in purchasing health-enhancing products and equipment.

Thirdly, Vietnam has numerous policies attracting foreign investors and encouraging technology transfer, such as the National Strategy for the Development of the Vietnamese Pharmaceutical Industry towards 2030, approved in October 2023, and the Plan for Developing the Network of Medical Facilities for 2021-2030, approved in February 2024.

TV.Pharm among the top ten Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies in 2021 Thanks to its steady development and significant contribution to the economic recovery, TV.Pharm Pharmaceutical JSC has been honoured with a trophy and certificate, confirming its position among the ten most prestigious enterprises in the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry.

Sunny World signs strategic cooperation agreement with Daiwha House, Haichang Ocean Park Holdings and Medi Hub Sunny World Infrastructure and Real Estate Investment and Development Group Corporation  a member of the Van Thinh Phat ecosystem  organised a strategic cooperation signing ceremony on May 2 with the aim to strengthen cooperation in investment promotion between Vietnam and Japan towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Green Economics Institute to cooperate with Van Thinh Phat and Medi Hub The Green Economics Institute has implemented an initiative to improve the quality of community health and successfully connected it with sponsorship partners Van Thinh Phat Corporation and Medi Hub Japan to jointly run a pilot model research project in 24 districts of Ho Chi Minh City.
WASHINGTON  House Republicans filed a lawsuit Monday against Attorney General Merrick Garland for the audio recording of President Joe Biden's interview with a special counsel in his classified documents case, asking the courts to enforce their subpoena and reject the White House's effort to withhold the materials from Congress.

The lawsuit filed by the House Judiciary Committee marks Republicans' latest broadside against the Justice Department as partisan conflict over the rule of law animates the 2024 presidential campaign.

The legal action comes weeks after the White House blocked Garland from releasing the audio recording to Congress by asserting executive privilege.

Republicans in the House responded by voting to make Garland the third attorney general in U.S. history to be held in contempt of Congress. The Justice Department refused to take up the contempt referral, citing the agency's "longstanding position and uniform practice" to not prosecute officials who don't comply with subpoenas because of a president's claim of executive privilege.

The lawsuit says Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., made a "last-ditch effort" last week to Garland to resolve the issue without taking legal action but the attorney general referred the Republicans to the White House, which rebuffed the "effort to find a solution to this impasse."

Garland defended the Justice Department, saying officials went to extraordinary lengths to provide information to the committees about special counsel Robert Hur's classified documents investigation, including a transcript of his interview with Biden.

The congressional inquiry began with the release of Hur's report in February, which found evidence that Biden, a Democrat, willfully retained and shared highly classified information when he was a private citizen. Yet the special counsel concluded that criminal charges were not warranted.

Republicans, incensed by Hur's decision, issued a subpoena for audio of his interviews with Biden during the spring. The Justice Department turned over only some of the records, leaving out audio of the interview with the president.

"The audio recordings, not the cold transcripts, are the best available evidence of how President Biden presented himself during the interview," the lawsuit reads. "The Committee thus needs those recordings to assess the Special Counsel's characterization of the President, which he and White House lawyers have forcefully disputed, and ultimate recommendation that President Biden should not be prosecuted."

On the last day to comply with the Republicans' subpoena for the audio, the White House blocked the release by invoking executive privilege. It said Republicans in Congress only wanted the recordings "to chop them up" and use them for political purposes.

Republicans say access to both the audio recordings and the transcripts are warranted to determine if legislative reforms need to be put in place for the storage, handling and disclosure of sensitive documents by members of the executive branch.

Prolonging the investigation also keeps attention on parts of Hur's report that were politically damaging to Biden as he seeks reelection against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, in November.

Beyond the critical assessment of Biden's handling of sensitive government records, Hur offered unflattering characterizations of the Democratic president's memory in his report, sparking fresh questions about his competency and age that cut at voters' most deep-seated concerns about the 81-year-old seeking a second term.

"We need the audio recordings and the transcripts," said Rep. Jim Jordan, the GOP chair of the House Judiciary Committee, during a hearing Thursday. "Put simply, they are the best evidence of the president's mental state."

Executive privilege gives presidents the right to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to protect the confidentiality of decision-making, though it can be challenged in court.

Administrations of both major political parties have long held the position that officials who assert a president's claim of executive privilege can't be prosecuted for contempt of Congress, a Justice Department official told Republicans last month.

Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte cited a committee's decision in 2008 to back down from a contempt effort after President George W. Bush asserted executive privilege to keep Congress from getting records involving Vice President Dick Cheney.

The White House and congressional Democrats slammed Republicans' motives for pursuing contempt and dismissed their efforts to obtain the audio as purely political. They also pointed out that Jordan defied a congressional subpoena in the last session.

Courts have not had much to say about executive privilege. But in the 1974 case over President Richard Nixon's refusal to release Oval Office recordings as part of the Watergate investigation, the Supreme Court held that the privilege is not absolute. In other words, the case for turning over documents or allowing testimony may be more compelling than arguments for withholding them.

Top 10 dangers associated with the Fourth of July Top 10 dangers associated with the Fourth of July Top 10 Fourth of July weekend dangers
Five years ago, the Supreme Court issued one of its worst democracy-related decisions ever. The courts 5-4 opinion in Rucho v. Common Cause prohibited federal courts from doing anything to stop partisan gerrymandering and manipulating our voting maps for political advantage.

Just before the court announced its decision, federal trial courts in Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio had all struck down maps. The trial courts found clear and compelling evidence that politicians drew districts to discriminate against one partys voters in violation of the Constitution. These initially successful court cases were poised to sweep partisan gerrymandering into the dustbin of history. Unfortunately, the Rucho decision stopped these and future federal challenges of partisan gerrymanders dead in their tracks.

The Rucho case began when Common Cause challenged North Carolinas congressional map in federal court. The leader of Republican legislators redistricting efforts clearly stated that he drew the map to enshrine a 10-3 Republican advantage in the congressional delegation in an evenly divided state because he did not believe it is possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats.

We argued that this blatant discrimination against one partys voters violated Article 1 and the First and 14th amendments of the Constitution. When we won in trial court but didnt prevail in the Supreme Court, Common Cause stated our belief that this would open the floodgates to gerrymandering in states where politicians control the process and give legislators a free pass to engage in racial discrimination by handing them a newly created we were discriminating against the other party defense.

Unfortunately, we were right. As we detail in our CHARGE Redistricting Report Card, states in which politicians draw districts were plagued by a lack of transparency, indifference toward public input, and the drawing of boundaries aimed at political advantage instead of the needs of our communities.

In Alexander v. South Carolina Conference of the NAACP, a case decided a few weeks ago, the Supreme Court upheld a congressional map that discriminated against the states Black residents. The court accepted legislators defense that they were merely discriminating against Democrats, just as we predicted courts would post-Rucho. As a result, if most of a community of colors voters register for one political party, the Supreme Court has stated that it is acceptable to discriminate against them. Were that the standard since the 1960s, no racial gerrymander  no matter how egregious  would have been struck down.

The only silver lining in Rucho v. Common Cause was the majoritys statement that the opinion neither condones excessive partisan gerrymandering nor condemns complaints about districting to echo into a void. The majority assured the public that state courts could strike down partisan gerrymanders under state law and that the people could still fight for reforms by taking the power to draw districts from self-interested legislators and creating independent redistricting commissions.

Democracy advocates have accepted this invitation enthusiastically.

Since Rucho, state courts in Alaska, Maryland and New Mexico have joined the list of states banning partisan gerrymandering under state constitutions. Following a redistricting cycle that many observers believe had more public participation than ever, activists are turning their attention to creating independent redistricting commissions.

For example, Ohios Citizens Not Politicians campaign will submit signatures in just a few days to place an initiative on the Nov. 5 ballot to replace the partisan process in effect with an independent commission. The Los Angeles City Council has placed an independent commission measure on the November ballot following a scandal in which council members were caught on tape using racist language to describe their redistricting efforts.

Although the Rucho decision was a setback, fair representation is too important to give up on. Rather than wait for a shift in the extreme partisan makeup of the Supreme Court, democracy advocates will continue to fight for a transparent, nonpartisan and participatory redistricting process that puts communities first. We will fight at the ballot box, in the halls of power and in court until every person in the United States lives in voting districts drawn to prioritize their needs over political partisanship.

Overt racial discrimination and extreme partisan abuse of the redistricting process are not acceptable. But if the Supreme Court has chosen to condone those abuses, we will change the system by other means.
The mother of rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani has died.

Liora Argamani had suffered from brain cancer. She was 61.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced the death in a posting on X.

"Liora's final wish was to see her daughter, Noa, back home," the group stated.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum bows its head upon receiving the news of the death of Liora Argamani of terminal brain cancer.



The mother of recently rescued hostage Noa Argamani had been battling terminal cancer during her daughter's long captivity. Liora's final wish pic.twitter.com/ekC52elMzr  Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) July 2, 2024

"Liora spent her final days alongside her daughter Noa and her close family," it went on to say. "May her memory be a blessing."

Argamani was one of four hostages taken during Hamas' attack on Oct. 7 were saved in a dramatic rescue from the Gaza Strip in early June.

The hostages - identified as Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir, 21, Andrey Kovlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40 - were captured while they were attending the Nova music festival.

Argamani, who was kidnapped at the music festival with her partner, Avinatan Or, was seen in a video being taken by motorcycle to the Gaza Strip.

Or is still believed to be a hostage.
The agricultural giant John Deere, an iconic American company whose tractors till grain from sea to shining sea, has been revealed as the Fortune 100 company planning to build a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse off Interstate 65 near Lowell, Indiana, that the developer says will be longer than the Sears Tower lying on its side.

The Moline, Illinois-based agricultural machinery manufacturer is expected to create thousands of jobs when it builds one of Lake County Indianas largest buildings.

John Deere closed on a 234-acre parcel in Lowell, near the Illinois/Indiana state line. Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty announced the $7 million sale of the undeveloped property just off I-65.

Nancy Frigo and Nicholas Smith represented the seller Hallmark Construction Company. Rosemont-based buyer Venture One will develop the site for John Deere, a multinational that makes tractors, harvesters, field sprayers, backhoes, excavators, loaders and other agricultural, construction and forestry equipment.

Venture One Principal Mark Goode said the new warehouse will be longer than Sears Tower lying down on its side. Its estimated the project will take 1,200 union construction workers to build and employ another 400 to 500 workers in full-time jobs on a permanent basis.

We at the Lowell Chamber of Commerce are very excited for this business to be coming to the town of Lowell, Indiana, said Frigo, who leads the development team for Hallmark Construction and is the president of the Lowell Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to having them here, as well as the positive economic impact for our community that will surely happen.

The 234-acre site is at the southwest corner of Interstate 65 and Route 2. It has more than 2,595 feet of road frontage along I-65 and more than 3,397 feet of road front on Route 2. Its close to Interstates 80, 90 and 94, as well as state highways and the Chicago Skyway.

Economic development officials estimate John Deere will invest more than $125 million in the facility, which would serve as its Midwestern distribution hub. Attorney Jim Wieser, whos representing the developer, said the company was looking to expand by adding another 500,000 square feet to 700,000 square feet to the building in the future.

John Deere was founded 187 years ago and brought in $61.25 billion in revenue last year. It placed 64th this year on the Fortune 500 list of Americas largest publicly traded corporations.

Its looking to build one of several new warehouses that have sprung up along Interstate 65 in Hobart, Merrillville, Crown Point and Lowell in recent years, where a record amount of construction is underway.

News of the project comes on the heels of Fridays announcement that Deere will cut more than 600 jobs at plants in East Moline, Davenport and Dubuque.

On June 5 Deere announced more than 120 would be without a job at John Deeres Seeding and Cylinder Operations in Moline. The day before Deere announced it was eliminating 58 jobs at John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group in Urbandale, 49 jobs at John Deere Waterloo Works and 16 jobs at John Deere Des Moines Works.

In May, 34 were laid off at Cylinder Works in Moline and 190 in Waterloo. This came just after it was announced in April 300 workers at the Waterloo factory would be laid off by the end of the month.

Last fall 225 were laid off at Harvester Works in East Moline, bringing the total of laid off workers between September 2023 until June 2024 to more than 1,600.
NEW HAMPTON  Randy Patrie had little to tell the court or his victims family Tuesday, more than 10 years after he killed a retired grocer in his Nashua home.

I wrote a statement, but I dont feel its going to make a difference, Patrie, 50, said glancing down at a handwritten note as a silent courtroom looked on.

Whatever Patrie had written wouldnt have made a difference in his punishment.

Under Iowa law, first-degree murder is punishable by a mandatory life sentence without parole. Even if the judge wanted a different sentence, his hands were bound.

And Judge Richard Stochl saw no reason to waver from the required sentence.

I heard all of the evidence in this case, and this was basically about greed. You took the life an innocent 70-year-old man in hopes of finding his treasures, Stochl said. The sentence is appropriate based on your actions, the circumstances of the offense  your prior criminal history.

Patrie was convicted during a May trial of sneaking into 70-year-old Carl Ken Gallmeyers secluded home and shooting him in his sleep before ransacking the house in search of an elusive safe filled with cash and rare coins.

Gallmeyer was found dead of a shotgun wound to the head in October 2012, and it wasnt until January 2022 that Patrie was charged with murder. Investigators has found Gallmeyers TV, guns and tools in Patries Charles City home.

Despite Patries silence in the courtroom, he had told others varying accounts over the years  first denying any knowledge to investigators, then telling fellow inmates he killed Gallmeyer when he and his uncle broke into the home, and finally claiming to detectives his uncle had borrowed his car on the night of the slaying and returned with stolen loot. (The uncle was never charged and testified for the state in Patries trial.)

For Gallmeyers family, Tuesdays sentencing was the latest step in a decade-long ordeal.

Prosecutors read a prepared statement written by Gallmeyers sister, Barbara Gallmeyer Marshal.

Randy and evil are one and the same. He has no regard for others and certainly has no respect for the sanctity of life, the sisters letter said.

May you have vivid memories of shooting Ken and be haunted until you meet God, the letter said.

The sister recounted how she learned of Gallmeyers violent death and how she was consumed by fear in the following years, going to counseling and moving out of her rural home because she didnt feel safe, all the while looking over her shoulder.

I was very afraid after Ken was killed, afraid of the dark, (afraid of) the killer coming to my home and looking for Kens safe, she said.

I want Kens children, all of our family, to have our minds cleansed of Randy, for his face, his name, pictures, thoughts, the fear, the anger, images, disgust, and all of the hurt to disappear from our minds. This will be real healing we all deserve, the sister said.

PHOTOS: Carl "Ken" Gallmeyer homicide investigation 021714ho-gallmeyer-gun-3 100912dm-carl-ken-gallmeyer Carl Ken Gallmeyer 021714ho-gallmeyer-gun-1 021714ho-gallmeyer-gun-2 Randy Patrie Randy Lee Patrie 052124jr-patrie-trial-2 052124jr-patrie-trial-1 052124jr-patrie-trial-4 052124jr-patrie-trial-3 052124jr-patrie-trial-5 052124jr-patrie-trial-9 052124jr-patrie-trial-10 052124jr-patrie-trial-11 052224jr-patrie-trial-7 052224jr-patrie-trial-2 052224jr-patrie-trial-4 052224jr-patrie-trial-3 052224jr-patrie-trial-6 052124jr-patrie-trial-x 052324jr-patrie-trial-1 052324jr-patrie-trial-2 052324jr-patrie-trial-3 052324jr-patrie-trial-4 052324jr-patrie-trial-a 052124jr-gallmeyer-home-1
WATERLOO  MercyOne has reached a three-year agreement with UnitedHealthcare ensuring continued in-network access to MercyOne hospitals, doctors and specialists for patients covered by UnitedHealthcare MedicareAdvantage plans.

Patients who receive health insurance coverage through UnitedHealthcare should contact UnitedHealthcare directly using the number on the back of their insurance card with any questions about their coverage or benefits.
HK, Macao hail new travel policy for expats

10:03, July 02, 2024 By Atlas Shao and Li Bingcun ( China Daily

Tourists check out the Macao Special Administrative Region's famous tourist spot, the Ruins of Saint Paul's, in May. (ZHANG JINJIA/XINHUA)

The Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions welcomed the nation's decision to allow non-Chinese permanent residents in the two cities to enter the Chinese mainland with a card-type document starting on July 10.

The policy was announced by the nation's Exit and Entry Administration on Monday, which marked the 27th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's establishment.

The document will enable non-Chinese permanent residents in Hong Kong and Macao to make multiple trips to and from the mainland during its five-year validity period, with each stay not exceeding 90 days. It will save them the need to apply for travel endorsements during the period.

In addition, cardholders can also enjoy self-service clearance, significantly enhancing efficiency.

However, if non-Chinese holders intend to work, study, or engage in news reporting activities on the mainland, they need to apply for visas or residence permits in accordance with the law.

Expressing his appreciation for the central government's support, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu noted that many non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents have deep family roots in the SAR and have been working hard, making notable contributions to the city's development.

Foreign professionals working in Hong Kong are also eager to seize the historic opportunities arising from the nation's rapid economic development and get more involved in making the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area a world-class region, he said.

The measure is not limited to any nationality or industry, fully reflecting Hong Kong's unique status under "one country, two systems", Lee said. It will greatly help the city maintain its international character and diversity, providing a significant incentive for companies and professionals from around the world to settle in Hong Kong, he added.

Hong Kong lawmaker Holden Chow Ho-ding hailed the travel policy as a great gift for the HKSAR to better connect with the world.

According to Chow, this arrangement allows expatriates in Hong Kong to benefit from the city's international environment and enjoy the convenience of traveling to the mainland. This is expected to enhance the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a long-term settlement option for non-Chinese individuals.

Macao's Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng described the central government's move as an important manifestation of the nation's expanding openness.

Ho said he believes that the new measure is conducive to supporting the Macao SAR in attracting overseas talent and consolidating its position as a world center of tourism and leisure, adding that it will also create more favorable conditions for Macao's economic development.

Meanwhile, the central government has introduced a series of measures since early last year to promote exchange of talent between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Since May 6, mainland residents who travel to Hong Kong with an exit endorsement for a business visit have been able to stay for up to 14 days.

Since February 2023, the central government has piloted a new kind of travel endorsement for six types of mainland talent in nine mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, which allows them to make multiple trips to Hong Kong and Macao.

In addition to the nine Greater Bay Area cities, the program has also included eligible talent from Beijing and Shanghai since May 6.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
An autopsy has revealed oxycodone and erectile dysfunction drugs were found in the blood of gunman Anthony Polito, 67, who shot four faculty members at the University of Las Vegas last year.

The Clark County T and Medical Examiner's Office findings show Polito's system tested positive for both oxycodone and tadalafil.

Tadalafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction as well as hypertension and prostate enlargement, while Oxycodone is an opioid generally used for medium to severe pain, KSNV-TV reported.

Polito had 15 nanograms per milliter of oxycodone in his system, according to the Clark County Coroner's report obtained by KLAS-TV.

The typical dose of oxycodone prescribed to adults is five milligrams every six hours, the report stated.

A forensic pathologist ruled that Polito died from multiple gunshot wounds and determined his death was homicide.

Following several rejections to teach at UNLV, Polito shot four people on the University of Las Vegas campus on December 6, 2023, three of whom died from their injuries.

He was ultimately killed in a shootout with two university officers outside Beam Hall.

Polito was a professor at East Carolina University in North Carolina until his resignation in 2017.

Multiple students accused him of making inappropriate comments or advances while employed by the school.
Wisconsin has been named one of 12 federal tech hubs, a boon for the states biohealth industry expected to bring in $49 million over five years to expand capacity and add up to 30,000 jobs over a decade.

The Biden administration on Tuesday selected 12 regional tech hubs, among 31 named in October, to receive a total of $541 million to boost technology  from artificial intelligence and clean energy to semiconductors and quantum computing  and to improve national security and global competitiveness.

We just got put on the map, said Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioFoward, the states biohealth industry association, and head of a group that applied for the hub. We get to stand out, and thats important as companies look at us.

The Wisconsin hub focuses on personalized medicine, or tailoring treatments to a patients genetic makeup or other individual characteristics. Along with UW-Madison and Madison Area Technical College, partners include Madison companies Accuray and Exact Sciences, GE Healthcare and Rockwell Automation in the Milwaukee area and Neenah-based manufacturer Plexus.

Verona-based Epic Systems and the medical radioisotope makers Shine Technologies in Janesville and NorthStar in Beloit are among other companies involved in the sector.

Were coupling Wisconsins innovation capacity with Wisconsins manufacturing capacity in a way that is really unique, said Aaron Olver, managing director of UW-Madisons University Research Park on Madisons West Side and steering committee chair for the tech hub.

Wisconsin edges other biotech competitors

In being picked among the 12 programs to receive implementation grants, Wisconsin beat out five hubs with themes similar to Wisconsins. They are in Minnesota, the Philadelphia area, Baltimore and Birmingham, Alabama.

The dozen awardees span 14 states: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin.

The money comes from the CHIPS and Science Act signed by President Joe Biden in 2022. The U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration initially said it would pick five to 10 hubs for additional funding this summer, with each getting $40 million to $70 million. Instead, 12 hubs are each getting $41 million to $51 million.

Todays announcement is proof of what we as Wisconsinites have long known: We have world-class universities, a second-to-none workforce, and a thriving private sector that will drive the next wave of American innovation, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who pushed for the tech hubs to be part of the federal law, said in a statement.

In February, the Republican-controlled state Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers approved a $7.5 million state grant to support the hub. With private companies contributing about $24 million, the total investment is about $80 million, said Wendy Harris, regional innovation officer for BioFoward.

Projects focused on screening, treating and training

Wisconsins $49 million federal award will fund five projects, Harris said. One, led by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, will build a database of protected health care information from a diverse group of patients for use by researchers and companies. It will include UW Health, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care and Marshfield Clinic.

Startup companies rely on such data to validate products and obtain federal approval, but the information can cost up to $1 million to obtain, impeding development, Harris said.

Another project, led by the Medical College of Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, will screen for various types of cancer in neighborhoods with high levels of health disparities.

The effort, using mobile vans outfitted with imaging and lab equipment, will focus on Milwaukee County and the states tribal nations, Harris said. New screening tests, such as a blood test under development by Exact Sciences to look for many types of cancer at once, could be offered to participants, she said.

A third project, led by GE Healthcare, involves theranostics, a growing field that uses radioactive agents to diagnose and treat some cancers.

GE Healthcare, which makes medical imaging machines such as CT and MRI scanners, is studying new applications at UW-Madison. Meanwhile, UW Health plans to build a new cyclotron, a particle accelerator machine that makes radioactive atoms used in scans to detect tumors. Shine and Northstar make other radioisotopes for cancer research and treatment.

Madison Area Technical College and Milwaukee Area Technical College are leading the fourth project, which will expand apprenticeships and other programs to train more workers for biohealth jobs. Such jobs include lab managers, electrical technicians and computer programmers for automated machines, Harris said.

The last project, led by BioForward, will manage tech hub operations. A related effort aims to expand Forward Biolabs, a biotech incubator in Madison, and establish a similar center in Milwaukee.

30,000 more jobs over 10 years

The initiatives should help Wisconsins biohealth industry, which has an estimated $32 billion annual impact and some 129,000 jobs, grow by $9 billion and add up to 30,000 jobs within 10 years, Harris said.

Other members of the states tech hub consortium are the Universities of Wisconsin; Employ Milwaukee; Madison Region Economic Partnership, or MadREP; Milwaukee7, an economic development group in seven southeastern Wisconsin counties; Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; and Building Industry Group Skilled Trades Employment Program, also known as WRTP Big Step.

Johnson, the BioFoward CEO, said a 2019 report by the Brookings Institution, which named Madison the No. 1 city in the country for potential tech innovation growth and Milwaukee No. 17, spurred discussion of the need to support development beyond coastal tech hubs such as Boston, San Francisco and San Diego.

She said Wisconsin has gradually built its biohealth sector, including companies such as Gilson in Middleton, Promega in Fitchburg and San Diego-based Illumina, which in Madison makes proteins to run its DNA sequencing machines.

We laid the foundation and continued to build on that success, Johnson said. When the federal government came along with this program, we were ready.
California budgets up to $12 million for reparations bills, a milestone in atoning for racist legacy
Technology can be confusing.



The smartphone you use to text your friends has more than 100,000 times the processing power of the Apollo 11 computer that landed man on the moon. Your smart TV can do more than connect to Netflix and may become the hub that helps you stay in your home as you age.

Ask The Tech Guru AARP writer Ed Baig will answer your most pressing technology questions every Tuesday. Baig previously worked for USA Today, BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, and is author of Macs for Dummies and coauthor of iPhone for Dummies and iPad for Dummies. Have a question? Email personaltech@aarp.org

Dont be afraid to explore or to ask questions. Each week, Ill answer a question about your devices, their security and how all the puzzle pieces fit together to help you. Ill also mention a quick tip that you might find enlightening.

The question: Im frustrated with those dang p@$$W0rdS 

I have so many passwords and struggle to make each one unique, but I dont want to pay for a password manager. What can I do?

Using a freebie password manager will save you a few bucks and be fine if you have a few passwords or use only one device to sign in to password-protected accounts.

But the average person has 168 passwords, an increase of nearly 70 percent from about three years ago, according to researchers at NordPass, a company with free and paid password manager plans. Covid lockdowns are one reason, yet the numbers remain on the rise even with the pandemic in the rear-view mirror.

For the uninitiated, password manager software such as 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, LastPass and NordPass can automatically generate strong passwords and store them for websites you frequent, then autofill the credentials when you visit. Some are free; most offer monthly and yearly subscriptions.

Password managers arent just stand-alone apps

Some password managers live inside your smartphone and on the same web browsers you use to read AARP online or compare prices while shopping.

Device-centric managers. Apples free built-in password manager for the iPhone, Safari browser and other Apple devices is free and integrated with a system tool known as iCloud Keychain. Though it can automatically create passwords, for now you must dig into Settings  if you want to look for stored passwords.

Google Password Manager for Android and Chrome is also free. Youll have to sign into your Google Account to access a list of saved passwords.

While the free Apple and Google password managers are convenient, the passwords or biometric methods that you use to log into the devices, such as facial recognition or a fingerprint scan, are their main safeguards.

Single sign-on method. Some websites accept your Facebook or Google ID, which may be more secure than creating a new username and password for sites you wont visit often. The drawback: The new site and Facebook or Google likely will swap information about you, such as your contacts or friends.
Independence Day is the perfect time to light the grill, bring out the sparklers and spend the day celebrating freedom. Many restaurants and chains are helping you enjoy the festivities even more with discounts and deals on summertime staples. Check out these freebies and special holiday offerings available on July 4.

Applebees

The chain is bringing back its Star-Spangled Sips  three patriotic drinks available for a limited time. The All-American Mucho is a frozen lemonade with Titos vodka and a strawberry and blue raspberry swirl, available for $7. The Blue Bahama Mama is a $5 cocktail of Captain Morgan, Malibu Coconut, blue curacao and a blend of passion fruit, pineapple, cherry and lime. Those wanting an option without alcohol can try the new Watermelon Breeze Mocktail for $4, which is a mix of cranberry juice, watermelon and lemon-lime soda. Coors Light beer will also be available for $4. Additionally, the chain is offering appetizers for half price during late night hours, which vary by location. Find your location here.

Members only

Baskin-Robbins

Cool off with ice cream deals available through July 15. Buy a sundae and get another one for half price when you order through the Baskin-Robbins app and use the code BEACHDAY. Use the code FIREWORK to get $5 off a Polar Pizza when ordering through the app. Customers can receive $2.50 off any size milkshake using the code COOL on the app.

BJs Restaurant

For a sweet treat on July 4, take advantage of BJs free Pizookie with the purchase of any appetizer or entree. Use the code FREEPIZOOKIE at online checkout. The offer is only for takeout and delivery orders. Check to see if your location is participating.

Buffalo Wild Wings

If you dont want to spend time at the grill, Buffalo Wild Wings has a buy one, get one free deal on boneless wings when ordering on Buffalo Wild Wings Go. Use the code GOWINGS and youll be eligible for six free wings with any $10 purchase.

Caseys

The convenience store chain with locations in 17 states in the Midwest and South is offering a 20 percent discount on any large specialty pizza July 4 through 7. Feeding a larger party? Through July 14, there is a buy one, get one 50 percent off deal on any large pizza. Use the code BOGO when checking out.

Dunkin

Dunkin Rewards members can try the new Hot Honey Bacon Sandwich for $3 through July 8. Dunkin also recently released the Tornado Twist Sparkd Energy drink, a caffeinated drink with peach, raspberry, strawberry and lychee flavors. The new drink and the original flavors are available for $3 on the Dunkin app throughout the month.
A 14-year-old boy dressed in military clothing is accused of stabbing a 22-year-old student in the neck at the University of Sydney on Tuesday morning, resulting in a campus-wide lockdown.

The student was transported to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in serious but stable condition. Police in Australia said the victim did not know his attacker.

"A motive or ideology, importantly, has not been determined at this time," said Mark Walton, the acting assistant commissioner for the New South Wales Police.

"The ideology that may be related to this young person's activity is unknown, but I would say it's likely to be categorized as a mixed and unclear ideology. It's certainly not a religiously related ideology," he added.

Walton did, however, express his concern over the increasing evidence of young people being radicalized online, reported Reuters.

"They are embracing violent extremist ideologies and moving towards violence."

The 14-year-old had worn a "camouflage defense force uniform" and left a knife at the scene.

He was apprehended after boarding a bus from the university to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The suspect was being given a mental health assessment, the Associated Press reported.

The attacker was also known to police and government agencies prior to the incident.

The New South Wales Police said there was no ongoing risk and that an investigation is still under way.

In April, a 16-year-old was arrested in connection with the stabbing attack of a bishop during a church service. Police in Australia said he had developed an "extremist ideology."
Are you looking for a beach getaway that lets you enjoy beautiful art and support those who create it? At these beaches the relaxed, bohemian lifestyle shines strong. Artists sell their wares in local shops and all are welcome. If youre an artist in need of inspiration, the amazing scenery and breathtaking ocean views provide all the motivation youll need to get the creative vibes flowing.

Here are some destinations for those seeking beaches with an artsy atmosphere.

AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Join Now An aerial view of Tybee Island, Georgia, toward Savannah, Georgia. Tybee Islands South Beach puts you near art galleries and shops where makers sell their crafts. Getty Images

1. Tybee Island, Georgia

Known for its amazing sunsets, Tybee Island  a small barrier island about 20 minutes from Savannah  is a laid-back destination that appeals to artists, free spirits and those comfortable with a pace that runs on island time. Tybee Island has five beaches, one of which is accessible only by boat or jet ski. South Beach is your best bet if you want to be close to art galleries, quaint shops where makers sell their crafts, and the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion. Check out work by talented artists at the Irritable Pelican Artisan Gallery and gallery 80 on tybee.

Where to stay: Just steps away from the sand, the DeSoto Beach Hotel is your best choice if you want to be as close to the ocean as possible. Beachview Inn & Spa has 13 rooms and suites and treats guests to homemade breakfast every morning. Hotel Tybee has rooms with private ocean-view balconies and is a short walk from the beach, restaurants and the fishing pier.

At the California Surf Museum in Oceanside, California, visitors can see surfing memorabilia. Alamy Stock Photo

2. Oceanside, California

This Southern California city is perfectly named, as it is perched at the edge of the Pacific Ocean  allowing for amazing views and whale-watching tours year-round. With 3 miles of coastline, Oceanside is home to several beaches, but walking around town lets you enjoy artwork for free thanks to the colorful murals that adorn many of the local buildings. You will want to take a stroll down Artist Alley, where artists display their work and sell handmade creations. Need a little shade? Head indoors to check out surfing memorabilia at the California Surf Museum or visit the Oceanside Museum of Art, which hosts free family-friendly art days once a month.

Where to stay: Oceanside has two RV parks, plus camping/RV sites at Guajome Regional Park and a variety of hotels and resorts. The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa has a full-service spa, ocean views and is dog friendly. The Fin Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a boutique property in downtown about a half-mile from the beach. Mission Pacific Beach Resort caters to visitors who want to be right on the beach.
Grisly details have emerged about a North Carolina mom who allegedly starved and neglected her adopted children for years until their bodies "could not longer take the inhumane treatment."



Avantae Deven, 63, was arrested and charged last week with first-degree murder, concealment of death and kidnapping after police discovered the remains of Blake Deven, Avantae's adopted son, and what is believed to be the remains of London Deven, her adopted daughter.



Police discovered the bodies on April 10 and testing confirmed one of the remains belonged to Blake last week. Testing on the second set of remains, believed to be London's, is ongoing.

London and Blake's bodies were discovered inside a metal burn barrel, according to Fayetteville Police Sgt. Jeff Locklear, who said that Blake was likely around 10 years old when he was killed, and London was between 15 and 17, according to the Fayetteville Observer.



The Investigation began in November 2023 when police responded to a 911 call about a mental health crisis at the Deven's Home, according to Spectrum News. A sibling of Blake's told police that they had not seen him in five years.



During the investigation police learned that London Deven was also missing, and hadn't been seen since 2019.



While conducting interviews with Blake and London's siblings who were also adopted by Avantae, police discovered the "appalling conditions the kids grew up in."



"Deven kept them in small rooms in complete darkness at times. They were given little or no food, they could earn nourishment through doing 'paperwork.' That meant they had to write hundreds of paragraphs to apologize for misbehavior, " Locklear said, according to multiple reports.



Police say Blake was likely mentally and physically abused before his body "could not sustain the inhumane treatment." He was dismembered and burned, allegedly by Avantae, who also coerced another family member to help her. Police say London likely died "in the same painful way."



Bryanna Morrow, who previously went by Cherish Deven, described what it was like to live under Avantae's roof, according to WRAL, revealing details about the apologies the children were forced to write, locks on the fridge and kitchen cabinets, and sometimes being forced into isolation for days.



"There were days we didn't go with showers. The only time we could turn on the bathroom sink was to get water," Morrow said, adding that by the time she was 15, she was writing " one page [to] 2,000 page" apologies.



Avantae appeared in court for the first time on Thursday, June 24, and was denied bond. Her next court date is July 17.
A series of U.S. Supreme Court rulings over the past week has thrust Texas conservatives to the forefront of a national movement to limit the federal government's authority. Kevin Dietsch/TNS

WASHINGTON  For more than a decade, Texas conservatives have steadily waged a legal battle aimed at limiting the federal governments ability to say how businesses and individuals manage their land, sell guns or pollute the atmosphere.

After a series of U.S. Supreme Court rulings over the past week, including last Fridays headline-grabbing decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine, a decades-old ruling allowing federal agencies the ability to interpret past laws to address modern problems, the states conservative ranks were thrust to the forefront of a national movement to limit the federal governments authority to the powers specifically given by Congress.

Chance Wheldon, director of litigation at the conservative activist group Texas Public Policy Foundation, said the ruling opened up challenges on everything from climate change and gun control policies to rules limiting development around waterways.

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The regulations on the chopping block are these radical interpretations of law, he said. Its a victory for due process and ordinary people whose lives are changed by these decisions.

The court also ruled last week that the the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission violated individuals right to a jury trial by assessing penalties through an in-house administrative court. And Monday the court found the federal governments six-year statute of limitations on challenging regulations was too short.

The decisions are the culmination of a yearslong campaign by conservatives, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott  who, as Texas attorney general was quoted as saying, I go into the office, I sue the federal government, and then I go home.

And with a federal court system that has become increasingly conservative after former President Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Texas conservatives have incredible momentum to limit federal authority, said David Adelman, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Texas AG will see this as a huge opportunity, he said. With the current judiciary all too willing to disregard the views of federal agencies, theres potentially a lot more challenges available. (Conservatives) are going to want to see how far they can push this.

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The state Attorney Generals Office did not respond to requests for comment.

In his majority opinion last Friday, Chief Justice John Roberts said the decision would not impact existing rulings that relied on the Chevron doctrine. But he didnt specifically say lower court judges should not consider cases challenging those decisions.

That could leave an opening for challenges to a federal regulatory structure that has grown considerably since the Chevron doctrine was decided by the Supreme Court in 1984, said Jeff Wood, a Washington-based energy and technology attorney.

Those challenging new federal regulations now have more tools in the tool box, he said.

That could leave open to reversal longstanding federal regulations on everything from food safety to endangered species protection, policies upon which courts have long deferred to agency staff for expertise.

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The end of that relationship is long overdue for conservatives who see it as responsible for the oppression of individuals and businesses in the name of partisan goals. But for those on the left, the decision represents the potential end to what has been decades of progress in cleaning up the environment and protecting consumers against industry greed.
The Benetton Group Srl Shareholders' Meeting a few days back approved the 2023 financial statements and appointed a new Board of Directors made up of Christian Coco (Chairman), Andrea Pezzangora and Claudio Sforza.

Following the Shareholders Meeting, the Board of Directors appointed Claudio Sforza Chief Executive Officer of Benetton Group.

After graduating with a degree in Economics and Commerce at La Sapienza University in Roma, he started his professional career in the realm of Administration and Finance for Pfizer, then moving up the corporate ladder in the telecommunications sector.

Prior to joining the Benetton group, Claudio Sforza worked in upper management of large corporations, public and private alike, in various industrial sectors: from Astaldi to Poste, all the way to Ilva, Telecom and Wind.

For Poste, he worked as Chief Financial Officer before taking the reins of subsidiary Postel until 2011. After that, he was CEO of Gamenet, COO of Ilva Group and lastly legal representative for the management and liquidation for Astaldi dedicated assets.
Reckitt, a global leader in consumer health, hygiene, and nutrition, proudly announces the launch of the Rainbow Classrooms initiative under its Durex The Birds and Bees Talk (TBBT) program, in partnership with Plan India. This initiative aims to transform schools into inclusive, supportive environments by promoting gender inclusivity and fluidity. Through vibrant, rainbow-colored doors and comprehensive gender identity education for teachers, the program seeks to create safe spaces where every student feels valued and respected.

In many parts of India, gender identity issues are often oversimplified, misunderstood, and rarely taught in schools. Recognizing the critical role of educators in addressing these issues, Reckitt, under its Durex TBBT program, has developed India's first gender diversity course specifically designed for teachers. With the support of the Government of India and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), this comprehensive course equips teachers with the knowledge and tools to support and guide students on gender diversity and related issues.

The Rainbow Classrooms initiative is a testament of promoting inclusivity, built through painting doors of classrooms in rainbow colours as a reward and recognition for schools and teachers who have been strong advocates of diversity and inclusion. These schools and teachers have emerged as chain breakers when it comes to supporting their students in the process of growing up and creating encouraging educational environments.

Gaurav Jain, Executive Vice President, Reckitt - South Asia, emphasized the significance of this initiative: "The Rainbow Classrooms initiative is a crucial step in our mission to create inclusive and safe educational environments. By empowering educators and transforming school spaces, we aim to foster a culture of acceptance and respect that will positively impact students' lives. This initiative reflects our broader commitment at Reckitt to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work."

Ravi Bhatnagar, Director of External Affairs & Partnerships, SOA, Reckitt, highlighted Reckitt's year-round commitment to community support: "At Reckitt, we are dedicated to promoting inclusivity and providing continuous support to the communities we serve. The Rainbow Classrooms initiative is a testament to our ongoing efforts to create safe and supportive environments for students, not just during Pride Month but throughout the entire year. By fostering acceptance and understanding, we are empowering the next

generation to embrace their identities and contribute to a more inclusive society."

The initiative will include a series of engaging activities across Sikkim, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh, such as painting competitions, extempore contests, and workshops on gender equality and inclusion. These activities will involve students, teachers, parents, and government representatives, aiming to create a broad impact and foster a culture of acceptance and respect for all gender identities.

Asif Mohammed, Executive Director, Plan International (India Chapter), said, "At Plan International, we believe that every child has the right to feel safe, accepted, and valued in their educational environment. The Rainbow Classrooms initiative is a powerful step towards rewarding our schools. By creating vibrant, welcoming spaces and equipping educators with the necessary tools and knowledge, we are laying the foundation for a more inclusive and equitable society where every student can thrive and embrace their identity without fear or prejudice."

Durex Birds and The Bees Talk Programme is an innovative and pioneering initiative that has focused on inculcating growing up life skills for adolescents in the north-eastern region of India. Through its systematic intervention, the programme encourages conversations around sexual and reproductive health among adolescents, teachers, and their community members. Adolescent girls and boys in the country lack access to information on issues affecting their lives and have limited spaces to develop competencies crucial for their active participation. TBBT programme is addressing these challenges by imparting critical and age-appropriate information, promoting healthy and safe behaviour and practices, as well as equipping adolescents with life skills, values and attitudes to become responsible adults.
News 18 India, countrys No.1 Hindi news channel is all set to organize the inaugural edition of 'Diamond States Summit' today, 2nd July, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. This event marks the beginning of a series of summits that will be held across key states in India, highlighting regional achievements and fostering dialogue on the contributions of each state to the nation's development.

The upcoming edition of the 'Diamond States Summit' aims to provide a platform for in-depth discussions and insights into the progress and potential of Madhya Pradesh. The event will bring together distinguished leaders and influential personalities from the state for a meaningful discussion.

The esteemed speakers who will be attending the summit are Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister; Madhya Pradesh; V. D. Sharma, State President of BJP; Kailash Vijayvargiya, Minister of Urban Development and Housing; Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of Labour, Panchayat, and Rural Development; Rakesh Singh, Minister of Public Works Department; Vishwas Sarang, Minister of Cooperatives, Sports, and Youth Welfare; Krishna Gaur, Minister of Backward Classes and Minority Welfare; Nirmala Bhuria, Minister of Women and Child Development; Uday Pratap Singh, Minister of Transport and School Education; and actor Annu Kapoor amongst others.

The summit will delve into various aspects of Madhya Pradesh's growth story, including economic development, social progress, and cultural contributions. The discussions will be aimed at promoting a comprehensive understanding of the state's role in India's overall development.

The 'Diamond State Summit' promises to recognise the human and social development efforts made by various states of the country and thus their contribution in making India a developed nation.

Tune into the Diamond States Summit  Madhya Pradesh, today 4 PM onwards on News18 India.
BJP Condemns Rahul Gandhi for Controversial Lok Sabha Remarks 2

The BJP has vociferously condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly abusing Hindus during a Lok Sabha session. The party claims Gandhis controversial remarks were aimed at appeasing voters in Keralas Wayanad, where his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting a bypoll.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari demanded an immediate apology from Gandhi for his undignified behavior, specifically accusing him of calling Hindus violent on Monday. He perhaps tried to please the people of Wayanad by abusing Hindus, Sachdeva asserted.

Tiwari further alleged that Gandhi showed disrespect to Lord Shiva and Guru Nanak Dev during his Lok Sabha speech. Gandhis comments ignited heated protests from BJP members, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emphasize the seriousness of labeling the entire Hindu society as violent. Gandhi countered, stating that his remarks were directed at the BJP, not the Hindu community at large.
Maharashtra BJP MLC Prasad Lad Demands LoP Ambadas Danve's Resignation for Abusive Language 2

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Maharashtra Legislative Council member Prasad Lad on Tuesday demanded the resignation of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) from the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, Ambadas Danve for using abusive language against him.

I demand the resignation of LoP Ambadas Danve, as he used abusive words aimed at my mother and sister yesterday. I have spoken to the CM and DCM about this incident. Uddhav Thackeray should also ask his leader about this incident. I request the government take action against Ambadas Danve, Lad said while addressing the media today.

There was a massive uproar in the Maharashtra Legislative Council and a heated argument ensued between Ambadas Danve and Prasad Lad on Monday. Prasad Lad accused Ambadas Danve of using abusive language against him and demanded strict action to be taken against him by the Deputy Chairman.

Lad also insisted on passing a resolution in the Maharashtra Legislative Council against Rahul Gandhi for making a statement on Hindus in Parliament. Ambadas Danve, LoP, argued against it and said that it is not their subject and that the same is being discussed in Parliament. We should focus on our discussions, Danve reasoned. Lad, along with the MLCs from the ruling Mahayuti coalition, objected and started questioning Ambadas Danve. Arent you a Hindu? the Mahayuti MLCs asked Danve, continuously pointing fingers at him and demanding an answer.

A massive uproar erupted in the Lok Sabha yesterday over Rahul Gandhis remarks. The BJP has accused Raebareli MP of insulting the Hindu community. Prime Minister Modi hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks and said calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter. Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress leader should apologise for his remarks.

Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents Address in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government and alleged there has been a systematic attack on the idea of India. While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhis remarks, Congress also held an evening presser to slam the ruling party at the Centre.

Rahul Gandhi launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP targeting it over its remarks during the Lok Sabha campaign, the NEET-UG controversy, and the Agniveer scheme.
"We Do Not Align With Fake Hindutva Portrayed by BJP": Sanjay Raut Backs Rahul Gandhi's Remarks in Parliament 2

A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhis remarks in the Parliament created a political uproar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut backed his words stating that the leaders of the INDIA bloc do not align with the fake Hindutva portrayed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Yesterday, Rahul Gandhiji said that Hindutva is not equal to the BJP. Hindutva does not promote spreading hatred. We do not align with the fake Hindutva portrayed by the BJP, Raut said while addressing the media here in the national capital on Tuesday.

Falling in line with Rahul Gandhis remarks, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader further added that the former said in the Parliament that Hindutva is a much wider term. He did not say anything wrong about the Hindus. Those who consider themselves Hindus should hear again that Rahul Gandhiji had said that Hindutva is a much wider term and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wont understand this, he said.

On Monday, Rahul Gandhis maiden speech in Lok Sabha as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha generated a lot of political heat with BJP leaders accusing him of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire Hindu community violent and the Congress hitting back with counter allegations against the Modi government. The two Houses took up the debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address with PM Modi slamming Rahul Gandhi during his speech. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter, PM Modi said.

Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi. While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhis remarks, Congress also held an evening presser to slam the ruling party at the Centre.

Rahul Gandhi launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP targeting it over its remarks during the Lok Sabha campaign, the NEET-UG controversy, Agniveer scheme. Participating in the debate on the Motion Of Thanks on the Presidents Address, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government over the Agniveer scheme and claimed that Agniveer is not called a jawan and said that Agniveers serving for a period of four years will not get a pension.

One Agniveer lost his life in a landmine blast but he is not called a martyr Agniveer is a use and throw labourer, Rahul Gandhi alleged, attacking the BJP-led NDA government over the scheme, he had said. He also called the Hindu symbol Abhayamudra which gestures fearlessness, reassurance and safety, as the symbol of the Congress party.

Abhayamudra is the symbol of CongressThe Abhayamudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religionsAll our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fearBut, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruthAap Hindu ho hi nahi, the Congress leader said. It is written in the Hindu religion; do not shy away from the truth, stand with the truth, he added.

Gandhis remarks witnessed brickbats from the BJP leaders as they accused the Congress leaders of spreading lies and demanded an apology from his side. Meanwhile, PM Modi will deliver his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the lower house of Parliament later today.

JP Nadda, MoS Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, Jitin Prasada, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Ram Nath Thakur, Nityanand Rai, Satya Pal Singh Baghel, Shobha Karandlaje, BL Verma, L Murugan, Ajay Tamta, Kamlesh Paswan, Ravneet Singh will lay papers on the table in Lok Sabha today.
Alabama community and technical college students who completed federal financial aid forms will start to receive notice of their award packages this week, officials said Tuesday.

About half of community college students in the state should be eligible for some aid. The letters will come as colleges across the country continue to work through a massive backlog of applications caused by a delayed rollout of the new FAFSA. The federal form, which aimed to simplify the application process, was plagued by delays and errors months after its launch in December.

In its latest update on June 8, the U.S. Department of Education said application rates were down by about 10% nationwide compared to last year. Officials were still working with schools at the time to reprocess applications that had errors.

The benefit Alabama has of an entire community college system is that theres a team of individuals, all over the state, who are less focused on the problems and more focused on the solutions that help students and their families reach their goals in higher education, Chancellor Jimmy Baker said in a news release Tuesday. I applaud the efforts of our System Office and our colleges to ensure that students who are eligible for aid now have the notification they need to effectively plan their academic schedules for the fall.

Experts say students are missing out on billions of dollars in free money if they dont fill out the form, which doesnt just qualify students for Pell Grants, but can open the door for other kinds of scholarships and work-study opportunities.

Community college students stand to benefit most from the program, federal data shows.

More than half, 55%, of Alabama two-year college students and 32% of public four-year college students were Pell-eligible in 2021-22, according to the latest federal data. The average Pell Grant amount  $5,464 for all Alabama students  is typically enough to cover the cost of community college tuition in the state.

Alabama requires high school students to fill out the FAFSA in order to graduate, but more families opted to request waivers this year. As of Tuesday, just 52% of Alabama high school seniors completed the FAFSA  down from 64% last year.

Just a couple of months ago, the difference was even more stark: Just one in three students had completed the form by the end of the school year.

Higher education officials told AL.com at the time that they were working on a number of efforts to get completion rates up and process packages quickly, including holding workshops for high school counselors and trainings for staff at local community colleges.

The Alabama Community College Systems Reporting and Enterprise Application Support team assembled each of the 24 colleges financial aid packages, allowing local financial aid offices more time to serve students and host community outreach, according to Tuesdays announcement from the system about coming aid packages.

Our goal of serving the community is truly achieved by all efforts on our campuses, and we appreciate the support from the System Office when it came to handling the FAFSA process in a way that helped us keep our focus on the students, Laticia Dubose, director of financial aid for Enterprise State Community College, said in the release.

The students who will be notified this week have already applied to their local community college and listed the college on the FAFSA. Students should receive the information through their student portals and/or email accounts.

Students who have yet to apply to a community college for the fall semester will receive their award letters after they complete the college application of their choice and add the college to the FAFSA form.
Hurricane Beryl has weakened on Tuesday but was still a powerful Category 4 storm tracking across the Caribbean toward Jamaica.

And the latest forecast track continues to suggest Texas will have to watch the storm over the weekend.

Wind shear was beginning to take its toll on Beryl, which strengthened to a history-making Category 5 hurricane late Monday (the earliest on record in the Atlantic) and had 165 mph winds on Tuesday morning. Its winds had dropped to 150 mph as of Tuesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane warning remained in effect for Jamaica on Tuesday, and hurricane warnings have been added for the Cayman Islands as of Tuesday afternoon. The National Hurricane Center said Beryl could move very close to or over Jamaica on Wednesday, potentially bringing life-threatening wind and storm surge.

The storm moved through the Windward Islands on Monday morning, causing devastating damage to the island of Carriacou, which is part of Grenada, and other areas in the island chain.

Beryl was a top-end Category 4 hurricane at that point with 150 mph winds.

The hurricane center expects Beryl to weaken more tonight as wind shear increases in the Caribbean, but it could still be a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger) when it approaches Jamaica on Wednesday.

As of 7 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Category 4 Hurricane Beryl was located about 360 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and was on a path to the west-northwest at 22 mph.

On the hurricane centers official forecast track, Beryl will pass near or over Jamaica on Wednesday and near or over the Cayman Islands Wednesday night or early on Thursday.

The forecast then shows Beryl continuing westward and potentially making landfall on Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula late Thursday or early on Friday as a hurricane  but not a major hurricane. Hurricane watches went up in that area on Tuesday night.

The long-range track, which is more uncertain, suggests Beryl will cross the Yucatan Peninsula and head into the southern Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm. The end of the forecast period is Sunday afternoon, and it suggests Beryl, still a tropical storm  will make a potential final landfall on Mexicos Gulf Coast, very close to the border with Texas.

The so-called cone of uncertainty continues to include a good part of south Texas.

Those in Texas should stay on guard because there is a lot of uncertainty in the long-range track.

The hurricane center said there is a significant spread in the track guidance when Beryl emerges into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, due mainly to model differences in the strength and location of a break in the subtropical ridge over the southern United States. Thus, there remains considerable uncertainty in the track forecast during the latter part of the forecast period.

Beryl is not expected to be a threat to the Alabama coast.

A hurricane warning remained in effect for Jamaica as well as Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. A hurricane watch has been issued for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Cabo Catoche and the south coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse dHainault.

A tropical storm warning continues for the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque to the border with Haiti. And a tropical storm watch has been issued for Belize from south of Chetumal to Belize City.

Beryl could bring a 4- to 6-foot storm surge along the coast of Jamaica, and 1 to 3 feet in Hispaniola and the Caymans.

Four to 8 inches of rain will be possible across Jamaica, and 2 to 6 inches will be possible for the southern part of Hispaniola.

ELSEWHERE IN THE ATLANTIC

A tropical wave following behind Beryl now has a low chance of becoming a tropical depression.NHC

The hurricane center also continued to track a tropical wave following in the footsteps of Beryl. On Tuesday night it was in the central Atlantic.

Forecasters had originally thought it could become a tropical depression by midweek, but its chances of developing have dwindled in the past few days and as of Tuesday night were at only 20 percent.

There were no other systems being watched for development as of Tuesday.

The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.
Chris DElia, the controversial standup comedian and podcast host, will perform three shows in Alabama this fall.

DElia will perform at the BJCC Theatre in Birmingham Oct. 10; The Montgomery Performing Arts Centre in Montgomery Oct. 11; and the Saenger Theatre in Mobile Oct. 12.

Primarily known for his standup comedy -- including the specials White Male. Black Comic, Incorrigible, Man on Fire and No Pain -- DElia, 44, also has a successful podcast Congratulations with Chris DElia.

The New Jersey native has also appeared on Ten Minute Podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, Hot Ones, H3 Podcast, The Fighter and the Kid, This Past Weekend with Theo Von, The Golden Hour and a podcast he cohosts with his brother Matt DElia Lifeline.

DElia is also an actor with several television credits including Whitney, Undateable, Workaholics, The Good Doctor and You.

In June 2020, DElia was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, some of whom alleged he tried to engage with them when they were as young as 16.

I know I have said and done things that might have offended people during my career, but I have never knowingly pursued any underage women at any point, DElia said in a statement to TMZ.

Later in 2020, DElias appearance in Zack Snyders Netflix film Army of the Dead was removed. He was replaced by standup comic Tig Notaro. His agency, Creative Arts Agency (CAA), also dropped him in the wake of the allegations.

In September 2020, CNN reported actress Megan Drust accused DElia of exposing himself to her in a car without her consent. DElia denied the allegations.

After taking a break from his podcast and other media appearances, DElia posted a video on his YouTube channel to address the allegations. I know it looks bad, and it doesnt show the full scope of what happened, he said in the video.

I stand by the fact that all my relationships have been consensual and legal, he said. Thats the truth.

He also said sex controlled my life, adding, And I do have a problemI need to do work on that. "

In March 2021, The Los Angeles Times reported DElia was named in a lawsuit accusing him of violating federal child pornography and child sexual exploitation laws, including soliciting more than 100 sexually explicit photos and videos from a woman identified as Jane Doe.

The Hollywood reporter said the lawsuit in a U.S. District Court for the Central District of California claimed that, in 2014, a then 34-year-old DElia sexually abused Doe while she was 17 years old and demanded sexually explicit images from her after meeting her over social media. DElia denied the allegations. In April 2021, the woman voluntarily dropped the lawsuit.

In June 2023, Rolling Stone reported more allegations of sexual misconduct.

DElia recently spoke about the allegations during an extended interview with Soft White Underbelly, in which he said being canceled was the roughest thing hes had to deal with in his life.

It was the hardest thing Ive had to deal with, I would say, he said. Its horrible. Its always interesting talking about it, because I still feel like theres no real right way to talk about it without people just being angry at all sides of it...The truth is people lie.

He was also asked if there was any truth to the allegations.

I was a womanizer, DElia said. And thats the truth. No, what I was canceled for was not the truth. But it doesnt matter.

Something that I would always go back to, no matter how hard it was during that time, I would say like, Everythings OK, because, no matter what, I can end my life and not feel this, right? he continued. And I would constantly think of that. Like, All good, everythings fine. You can always end your life.
Authorities have released the name of a man fatally shot in East Lake Monday night.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office Tuesday identified the victim as Kameron Connell. He was 30 and lived in Birmingham.

Connells brother, Keleen Connell, was shot to death by Birmingham police on Feb. 23, 2022. Another brother, Kerry Connell, 18, was fatally shot in 2011 in the parking lot of a convenience store at 36 South Park Road.

East Precinct Officers were dispatched just after 8 p.m. to a report of a person shot in the parking lot of an apartment building in the 7700 block of First Avenue South.

Officers arrived to find Connell unresponsive.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service rushed the victim to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:37 p.m.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said Connell was found near where people were hanging out and shooting dice.

We dont know if the shooting is connected to the dice game, Fitzgerald said. However, we can point out when our officers observed the victim he was in an area where dice is still on the ground.

No arrests have been announced. Fitzgerald said the participants in the dice game were reluctant to talk to police.

Connell is Birminghams 76th homicide this year. Of those, eight have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 99 homicides, including the 76 in Birmingham.

Homicides in Birmingham and countywide were up in the first six months of this year, including a 15 percent increase in Birmingham alone.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call police or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Episcopalians in Alabama this year asked for a reduction in the amount of assessment they are required to pay to support their national denomination and its headquarters operation.

The Episcopal Church General Convention, which concluded June 28 in Louisville, considered a resolution proposed by the Diocese of Alabama and similar proposals by other regions of the church asking for a reduction in the assessment they pay to the national denomination.

The Diocese of Alabama, at its February convention in Montgomery, passed a resolution asking that the percentage, currently 15 percent, be reduced down to 10 percent by 2030. Also requesting a similar reduction in assessments were dioceses in Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri and North Carolina.

The request was rejected by the General Convention.

Theres a sense that more and more, the cost needs to be shared a different way, said Bishop Glenda Curry, head of the Diocese of Alabama, in an interview this week after she returned from the General Convention in Louisville. Were carrying more and more of the burden over time.

She said that the idea of reducing the assessments got started late, or it may have garnered enough support to pass.

We felt like thats a reasonable expectation, especially if you look at the amount of money that gets returned to us in grants, Curry said.

The complicated grant structure often doesnt return money to where its most needed in Alabama, she said.

The people who supported the resolution were interested in having ministry be recognized as local, Curry said. Why should I send you five more percent, if none of it ever is returned, and we have to take it away from things we do?

The election of Bishop Sean Rowe as the next presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, effective Nov. 1, may help change that, she said.

Thats another reason why Im glad Sean was elected, Curry said. He sees that discrepancy and wants to rectify it.

Taking funds from small rural parishes in Alabama and sending it to the New York headquarters doesnt make sense for the states ministry priorities, Curry said.

Were walking alongside all our parishes trying to decide the ones that can handle it and the ones that cant, she said. A network of churches, small and large, across the diocese is more important for sharing the gospel than just one or two giant churches in populated areas. Those small churches are doing amazing ministry in the community. When you go out and visit them, you realize how important the little church in Marion is to the people in Marion.

The Episcopal Church General Convention adopted a $143 million churchwide budget for 2025-27. The budget maintains the 15 percent assessment on revenue that dioceses contribute to the churchwide budget.

The national budget funds 140 full-time denominational staff positions, along with grant programs, churchwide governance, operational functions and initiatives focused on some of the churchs ministry priorities, including racial healing, evangelism and creation care.

Other denominations have also struggled with the issue of reducing the burden on local churches to support the national denominational offices.

The United Methodist General Conference that ended May 3 approved a budget that asks for less money from local churches to support the national and international denominational structure.

The proposed $353 million budget for the United Methodists is a 42 percent reduction.

Facing increased financial strain and budget cutbacks, the denomination was considering a drop from asking 3.29 percent of every churchs budget, down to 2.9 percent.

Instead, the United Methodist General Conference voted to adopt a minority report that the denomination should only ask for 2.6 percent of local church budgets for the next two years. Thats expected to be roughly $40 million less.

The Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church both this year approved resolutions that would work toward the two denominations achieving a relationship of full communion.
President Joe Biden has invited all Democratic governors to meet on Wednesday, as he attempts to solidify support among his partys top leaders after last weeks shaky debate performance.

The discussion is likely to be mostly virtual, according to two people familiar with Bidens plan, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a schedule that hasnt yet been made public.

The president denounced the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity on Monday night but had otherwise announced a largely politics-free and business-as-usual postdebate schedule  including planning to host July 4 celebrations at the White House for Thursdays holiday.

The meeting is the strongest indication yet that Biden is attempting to calm fears among some Democrats, who worry he may not be up to continuing a campaign  much less defeat Donald Trump  following his sometimes raspy and halting performance during last weeks debate in Atlanta.

Texas Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett called Tuesday for Biden to formally withdraw from the race. But most of the partys highest-profile leaders in Congress and elsewhere have continued to back him, at least for now.

There is also no indication that the president is seriously considering stepping aside.

His campaign has downplayed the presidents political problems in a series of memos and private meetings with donors, strategists and party insiders, insisting that Biden can put one bad debate performance Biden him without hurting his long-term chances in November.
Homicides in Birmingham and all of Jefferson County rose in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same time last year.

There were 75 homicides in Birmingham from January through June, up 10 slayings compared to the same time in 2023. Thats a more than 15% increase.

The city reported its first homicide of July -- the 76th of the year -- Monday night when a man was shot in an East Lake parking lot near where people were shooting dice. The victim was identified as 30-year-old Kameron Connell.

Of the 75 in the first half of this year, eight have been ruled justifiable and arent deemed criminal. Birmingham police do not count justified homicides in their numbers, and also do not include a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened one week ago.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 98 killings as of July 1, 2024. That is an increase of two homicides over this time last year.

Countywide, homicides have taken place in Fairfield, Bessemer, Hueytown, Lipscomb, Midfield, Adamsville and unincorporated Jefferson County.

Birminghams homicide tally in 2023 dropped for the first time in five years after years of steady increases brought the deadly toll to a historic high.

The city ended 2023 with 135 homicides, a 6.25% decrease from 2022 when the city had 144 homicides, marking the deadliest year in recent Birmingham history.

The 2022 homicide total surpassed the highest number recorded in recent memory -- 141 in 1991. Birminghams all-time record for homicides was in 1933 with 148 slayings.

The news of Birminghams homicide spike comes as many cities across the United States have reported a decrease in violent crimes.

The FBIs Quarterly Uniform Crime Report released in June showed a 26.4% decrease in murders nationally, according to Stateline. The data, which covers reported crimes from January to March, is collected from nearly 12,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 77% of the countrys population.

Aside from homicide, crime is down fairly significantly in Birmingham thus far in 2024, Police Chief Scott Thurmond said Monday. Its not double digits but its close.

Homicide is the one thing that everybody sees and has the greatest impact on our community and destroys families and thats the worst of all of our crimes, Thurmond said. Its just destroying family after family.

The city saw six homicides in January, 12 in February, 15 in March, 11 in April, 13 in May and 16 in June.

February really hurt us this year, Thurmond said.

A drive-by shooting in Birmingham's Smithfield community left four men dead on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.(Carol Robinson)

In February of 2023, the city recorded only two homicides compared to the 12 in 2024, which included six homicides in one day.

On Feb. 16, four men were killed in a drive-by shooting in Smithfield, and a missing Birmingham couple was found dead on the citys west side.

In Birmingham, the vast majority of the homicides are acquaintance-based.

Not all of them, but a lot of them are, Thurmond said. Its hard for us to intervene or get ahead of the situation when people who know each other and get into an altercation and someone pulls a gun and shoots the other person.

Its that conflict resolution thats not taking place, the chief said.

Police leaders and investigators study each homicide in the city within days of the killing.

We have our violent crime briefing where we see where we are in the case, look at what, if anything, could have been done to prevent it, and see what we need that could help solve it, Thurmond said. We try to make sure our detectives have all the tools they need to solve the case.

Thurmond said the lack of community engagement remains an issue.

The community is not giving us information we need to solve these cases, he said.

In cases where the residents come forward with information, there is often a quick resolution.

Weve had a couple of good ones this year, high profile cases where we got information and we acted very quickly and we made an arrest, Thurmond said.

Birmingham police investigate the kidnapping and murder of young Birmingham mother Mahogany Jackson.(Carol Robinson)

One of those was the horrific kidnapping, torture, and murder of Mahogany Jackson, also in February. Investigators received crucial tips in that case, and police charged eight people in the case.

When we get information, he said, we act swiftly to bring those responsible before the judge and the jury.

Violent crime often heats up as the temperatures rise and continues into the holiday season which Thurmond agreed is concerning giving the increase already seen this year.

Weve had different things weve put in place, like Operation Knight Rider, he said.

The operation targeting exhibition driving and street racing was launched in April and is ongoing.

Its also had an impact on our violent crime as well, looking at the arrest weve made and the guns weve taken off the street, he said. Theres a lot of background investigation that occurs with Knight Rider and its leading to other investigations.

Operation Summer Heat is also underway. It consists of traffic safety checkpoints every day throughout the city.

Those locations are determined by the precinct commanders where theyre needing increased presence and activity, Thurmond said. Theyre trying to get ahead of crime and deploy officers where they need to be.

Other than homicides, Thurmond said overall crime in the city is down significantly.

The FBI report released last month showed that violent crime nationwide dropped considerably with a 15 percent drop in overall, including a 13 percent drop in aggravated assault. Serious violent crime like murder and rape both decreased by about 26 percent.

Through March 4 in Birmingham, statists showed double-digit decreases in the crime categories of rape, robbery, aggravated assaults, and theft. There were increases in homicide, burglary and auto theft.

A ransomware attack on the City of Birmingham March 5 shut down the computer systems and many of the services have not yet been restored. Thats why the latest statists posted on the departments website are from March 4.

Statistics are still be compiled and reviewed by police officials, but all reports since the cyberattack have been done by hand, not computer. Thurmond said they hope to have the systems up and running in several more weeks.
Authorities are searching for family members of two men who died in Birmingham last month.

Their bodies are ready to be released for burial, but the Jefferson County Coroners Office has not been able to locate and notify relatives for either man.

Darrell Talton, 48, died June 19 at UAB Hospital.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Talton was homeless and was being treated at the hospital where he died of natural causes.

He said little is known about Talton.

James Steven Arrington(Jefferson County Coroner's Office)

James Steven Arrington, 56, died June 26, also at UAB Hospital.

Arrington was found in medical distress outside of the Fire House Shelter on June 17. He was taken to UAB, where he died nine days later.

His cause of death has not yet been determined, but Yates said there was no evidence of trauma or foul play.

Arrington in 2020 listed an address in Jemison, but also has past ties to Prattville, Collins, Mississippi and Hattiesburg, MS. Ancestry searches suggest that he and his family are originally from Mississippi, Yates said.

Family members asked to call the coroners office at 205-930-3603.
A Palm Beach County prosecutor painted two girls molested by Jeffrey Epstein as prostitutes, drug addicts, thieves and liars in front of a grand jury empaneled in 2006 to review the states criminal case against sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, newly released court documents show.

Palm Beach County Judge Luis Delgado unsealed the controversial grand jury records on Monday after years of legal action by the Palm Beach Post and other media, including the Miami Herald, CNN and the New York Times. Grand jury records are normally kept under seal to protect witnesses as well as the integrity of the case. But in the years since the Epstein case was closed in 2008, the Miami Herald uncovered evidence suggesting that Epstein and his battery of high-priced attorneys may have exerted undue influence over the state attorney.

The records have remained under seal for 16 years. Earlier this year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, prodded by state lawmakers and Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts Joe Abruzzo, signed a bill to release the files by July 1. The new bill provides for the records to be unsealed if the subject of a grand jury inquiry is dead or the investigation involves sexual activity with a minor.

DeSantis noted that making the records public might explain how the wealthy Epstein managed to engineer an outcome that the average citizen would likely never have been able to accomplish.

The records contain nearly 200 pages, including the testimony of two girls who were molested by Epstein, the New York financier who abused hundreds of underage girls at his Palm Beach mansion between 1996 and 2008. Epstein managed to escape serious charges, in part because the Palm Beach prosecutor at the time, Barry Krischer, elected to charge him with minor prostitution and solicitation rather than bringing a felony sexual assault case.

The Miami Herald reported in 2018 that both Krischer and the lead prosecutor in the case, Lanna Belohlavek, told Palm Beach police that they didnt intend to prosecute Epstein because they believed the girls were prostitutes and a jury would never believe them. But Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter and the lead detective, Joe Recarey, both protested the decision, noting that there were multiple victims, some as young as 14, who were lured to his home under false pretenses. Reiter and Recarey went over Krischers head and took the case to the U.S. Attorneys Office, arguing that Epstein, who was in his 50s, was a serial sex predator who wouldnt stop until he was put in prison.

There was no reason to take this case to a grand jury in the first place, said Spencer Kuvin, the attorney representing one of the girls who testified before the grand jury. They had evidence of numerous victims to show that he was a serial sex predator. The only reason they gave it to the grand jury was to taint their own case and have an excuse not to prosecute.

The grand jury and the girls

The actual audio recordings of the daylong proceeding were not released to the public Monday. The Herald requested the recordings, but was told that they were not available. The transcripts also seem to be missing key elements that would normally be part of a grand jury proceeding. For example, there is no record that Belohlavek introduced herself to the panel, explained what the case was about or told the jury what they were supposed to do. Theres no closing statement summarizing the case or any documentation of what the grand jury ultimately decided.

What is clear is that Belohlavek painted an unsympathetic portrait of the two girls, both of whom came from broken families. One of the girls and her sister had been passed back and forth between parents and were taken to a school for troubled juveniles. The girl ran away several times before meeting a group of older kids, one of whom brought her to Epsteins mansion.

She described for the jury how she was ushered into a large bedroom and instructed to strip down to her underwear. Alone in the room with Epstein, and confused about what was happening, she reluctantly complied. After he molested her, he gave her $200.

In front of the jury, Belohlavek asked the girl: Youre aware that you committed a crime?

Now I am. I didnt know it was a crime when I was doing it, said the girl, who was 14 at the time. Like, I  I dont know. I guess it was prostitution or something like that.

Belohlavek also asked the girls questions about their parents, and allowed members of the jury to make statements to the victims.

Did you have any idea that deep inside of you that you  what youre doing is wrong? asked one juror.

Yea, I did, the girl replied.

Oh do you? the juror said, pointing out that the girl should have known better.

Asked another juror Did it ever occur to you that he could have hacked you up?

Yes, she stammered. I thought about it a lot.

Said the juror: (You) should give it a little further thought.

David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor, was astonished at the way the case was presented to the jury. He pointed out that the girls were under the age of consent, yet they were the ones treated like criminals.

How is that not statutory rape? he said of Epsteins crime. I can see how people think that a wealthy powerful man got away with abusing all these girls.

Recarey, the lead investigator on the case, testified in detail at the proceeding about how Epstein and his assistants would recruit girls from local high schools, telling them initially that they were being hired to give him massages. While they were instructed to lie about their ages, many of them told Epstein their real ages and spoke to him about high school.

Recarey, who passed away in 2018, told the Herald in an interview prior to his death that he was frustrated by the state attorneys handling of the case, claiming that Krischer and Belohlavek went to great lengths to discredit the girls  and failed to present to the jury the corroborating evidence that backed up the girls stories, including phone records.

Neither Krischer nor Belohlavek has ever commented on the case. The Herald was unsuccessful in reaching them on Monday. Both have since retired.

The years that followed

Epsteins case came under fresh scrutiny in 2018, following an investigation by the Herald into the secret negotiations that led Alex Acosta, the federal prosecutor who later oversaw a federal probe into the case, to approve a light jail sentence for Epstein.

Epstein would serve just 13 months in the Palm Beach County jail, where he was given liberal privileges to work in his outside office and at his Palm Beach mansion. After his release from jail, he continued to assault and abuse women at his homes in New York, New Mexico, Paris and on his isolated island off the coast of St. Thomas.

Epstein befriended a host of famous and powerful people, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Prince Andrew, Nobel Prize winners, actresses, actors, hedge fund moguls and bankers. Some of his victims allege that he and some of his friends had sex parties with girls on his private island.

The Heralds series led the FBI and US Attorney in New York to take another look at the case. Epstein was rearrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges and jailed in Manhattan pending trial. He was found dead in his cell a month after his arrest. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging. He was 66.

His accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, 63, was subsequently charged in the case and convicted of sex trafficking charges in 2021. Maxwell, a British socialite who had a long relationship with Epstein, was accused of helping him recruit girls. She is appealing her sentence.

Kuvin, who came to represent nine Epstein victims, wasnt surprised by how the jurors shamed his 14-year-old client.

Think about this in the time frame this was happening, he said. That was the mindset back then. This is pre Me Too movement. We have a come a long way as a society because of cases like this. We have matured as a society and hopefully look at this differently than we did back then.

_____

(McClatchy investigative reporter Ben Wieder contributed to this story.)

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2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Claire Hao is a reporter on the Houston Chronicle business desk covering the Texas power grid, the clean energy transition and other electricity-related topics.

Claire previously spent a year on the climate and environment team of the San Francisco Chronicle. She has written for the news desks of Bloomberg Law and the Chicago Tribune as well as for the editorial board of the Washington Post. Claire graduated from the University of Michigan.
A 21-year-old Alabama mother reported missing in Fayette County was found dead, and the last person seen with her has been charged in her slaying.

Family members reported Laci Whitson missing, saying she was last seen on Wednesday, June 26, in Florence.

They said Whitson had been picked her up by Michael Wade Tucker and was last seen walking away from his residence.

Her phone had been turned off.

On Sunday, her father, Larry Whitson, posted on Facebook that his daughter had been found dead, wrapped in a blanket in a wooded area. Oh God, he wrote, get me through this.

In a press release issued Tuesday, Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby said Tucker, 36, is charged with murder in Whitsons slaying. Authorities have not said how she was killed, but charging documents say she was killed sometime between June 24 and June 29.

Yerby said sheriffs investigators, State Bureau of Investigation agents, and the 24th Circuit District Attorneys Office processed the scene and collected multiple items of evidence.

Tucker was charged, he said, within 24 hours of Whitsons body being found.

This is a tragedy for our community, and we have families that are hurting, Yerby said. We ask that you keep these families in your prayers. We send our heartfelt condolences to the family of Laci Whitson.

Whitson leaves behind a young son. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Nelson Funeral Home Chapel.

The sheriff said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs office at 205-932-3205.
An investigation into undisclosed allegations lodged against the Selma assistant police chief showed no criminal wrongdoing, but she is stepping down from the force, the mayor announced Tuesday.

Mayor James Perkins Jr. in mid-June suspended Assistant Chief Natasha Fowlkes.

Fowlkes suspension came weeks after Perkins put Chief Kenta Fulford on administrative leave on April 30, the second time the mayor suspended the chief in the last 1 /2 years.

The Selma City Council last week reinstated Fulford.

Perkins on Tuesday said someone within the Selma Police Department accused Fowlkes of an illegal activity inside of the department.

When I heard about the allegation, I immediately engaged SPD Internal Affairs Capt. Johnny King, Perkins said. Capt. King reviewed the allegation and determined that the allegation warranted further investigation. "

The mayor said he then asked the Dallas County Sheriffs Office to carry out the investigation.

Sheriffs officials on June 27 notified Perkins they had reviewed the case with District Attorney Robert Turner and jointly concluded this was not a criminal offense.

Perkins received officials noticed on Tuesday.

I want to thank Sheriff Michael Granthum, and the Dallas County Sheriff Criminal Investigation Division for their professional execution of the investigation, Perkins said.

The mayor said he then met with Fowlkes and they engaged in some very candid discussions about her history within the Selma Police Department and about the impact the investigation had on her and her family.

Even though Captain Fowlkes was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing and is entitled to resume her position as assistant chief, after considering all factors, Assistant Chief Fowlkes has decided that it is in the best interest of the City of Selma, and her and her family, that she steps down as Assistant Chief of Police and tenders her resignation from the Selma Police Department, Perkins said. I agree with her decision.

Fowlkes resignation was effective immediately.

I want to thank her for services rendered throughout her law enforcement career with the Selma Police Department and hope for her a successful future, Perkins said. As far as I am concerned, this matter is closed, and we now continue moving forward.
Deadly violence in the city of Birmingham is partially the fault of citizens who refuse to cooperate with police, Mayor Randall Woodfin said.

Woodfin, in an extended interview on the Urbanham News podcast, spent much of his time talking about crime in the city and his frustration with citizens inaction when it comes to reporting what they know.

Citizens in our community give safe harbor to shooters and killers, Woodfin told Urbanham host Iva Williams. BPD officers were not on the scene when that crime happened.

Something has happened in America, not just Birmingham, but everyday community members who have the information are not coming forward.

Going over the citys crime statistics, Woodfin noted that overall major crime is down except for homicides and burglaries.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 98 homicides including the 75 in Birmingham.

Perception is important, and when people hear gunshots too often, people dont feel safe, Woodfin said. I dont like where we are at all, and I give the city, not just me, the city a bad grade on gun violence, but overall crime collectively, rapes, assaults and thefts, all that stuff is down.

He suggested raising the price bail for some people. He said the city would request higher bonds for offenders who reoffend.

The criminal justice system on a continuum has got to work for everybody, he said. Were actually arresting, (but) people are just getting released after they are arrested.

While he takes responsibility for public safety, the mayor also called on the community to share in its own well-being by assisting police.

Woodfin said the city established an $80,000 reward fund as an incentive for people to provide information on shootings that injure or kill young people.

Still, he lamented the need for such an enticement.

Nobody should give safe harbor to men or women who shoot guns and hurt or kill children, he said. I should not have to dangle money in front of you to come forward with credible information to take a shooter off the street because they hurt a child.

Wheres the communitys gumption on no women or children, or seniors? he asked.

For example, Woodfin cited the case of Michael Phillip Coleman. The 62-year-old man was shot to death near his east Birmingham home in May.

Coleman, who was confined to a wheelchair due to ALS, often sat under the shade tree where he was fatally shot.

Woodfin said Coleman was with a group of men under the tree when another group of young men began shooting and the other group retaliated.

They were able to run. They didnt shield Mr. Coleman. They didnt try to get him to cover. The worst part is they know who did the shooting and wont even come forward, Woodfin said.

Again, I dangle money to get people to come forward to do the right thing.

Urbanham podcast host Iva Williams called the interview wide-ranging and unedited.

You see a full conversation with the mayor, and I hope people just glean from it whatever they may, he told AL.com

Urbanham is about amplifying voices and providing in-depth conversations on timely issues with the politicians that should have something to say about it.

Woodfin said he is pro second amendment, but that too many guns are currently on the street and they pack too much fire power for legitimate reasons.

And while he continued to stress individual responsibility, Woodin announced on Urbanham News a pilot project to reduce entrances and exits in some neighborhoods.

I want our seniors, I want our parents to feel comfortable for their children to play safely in their front yards, he said. We are going to decrease your ability to just drive in, shoot and drive out. Were going to pilot it in one neighborhood and Im convinced its going to work, and were going to take it city wide.

Woodfin last week announced a shift among senior police leadership by moving two deputy chiefs. The move came after leaders with the Fraternal Order of Police recently announced it was considering a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Birmingham Police Department.

The mayor in May was met with mixed reaction when the city council approved his plan for a Citizens Observer Patrol, where volunteers who are not police officers would help patrol neighborhoods.

If anybody listening to this has a plan or an idea on how to prevent people who know each other in a house, in a car, on private property, from shooting each other, the city of Birmingham is wide open or will accept their ideas and solutions, Woodfin said during the podcast. I dont know a mayor or a police force that knows how to prevent two people in a house or an apartment or inside a car who know each other from shooting each other.

Woodfin called economic and community development essential elements that continue to be strengthened, but addressing violent crime remains his most pressing priority.

But I need the communitys help in doing it, he said.
An Alabama man has been identified as the homicide victim shot outside a Mississippi bar over the weekend, described by his family as a 24-year-old father who was an amazing young man stolen from us.

Brandon Michael Cartwright, 24, of Fruitdale, in Washington County, was shot and around 2 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the High Noon Lounge and Karaoke in Waynesboro, Mississippi, the Wayne County Coroners Office told AL.com Monday. He died of his injuries at Wayne General Hospital.

A suspect, Jaylen Keonta Mayfield, 24, is being sought by Waynesboro police on a murder warrant in connection with Cartwrights death, the Wayne County News reported. Mayfield was believed to have fled in a tan SUV that was later found abandoned in Waynesboro.

Cartwrights distraught family is making funeral arrangements, and his mother, Teresa Cooper, set up a GoFundMe for the costs.

Crysta Anderson, Cartwrights wife, said his death is traumatizing.

I love you my baby. I just wish I could have you back and this nightmare was over, she posted on social media. I feel so lost and confused. You was my world. It feels like everything is impossible without you here with me and our babies. I cant even stay in our own home because it just would hurt me so bad staying there and your not there with us. This is just traumatizing, she said.

Anderson said she lost my husband, my forever, my best friend and I would never wish this on my worst enemy or on anyone matter of fact because this is the hardest thing Ive ever had to go through, and I never thought at 22 years old i was gonna have to to put my husband to rest and plan his funeral. Its just the most difficult thing Ive ever had to do. I love you so much, my baby.

Teresa Cooper said she missed her son and will remember his laughter.

Im gonna miss all those random visits all those random things you always do, she said on social media. Im gonna miss the way you laugh your sent and so much more. Gonna miss all those crazy things you always got into. Gonna miss those beautiful eyes I get to see everyday when I look into your sons eyes. Im gonna miss you so freaking badly. I will see to it justice if served if it takes my last breathe. You was an absolutely amazing young man stolen from us.
On Monday at 5:19 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 6:30 p.m. for Geneva and Houston counties.

Residents should prepare for wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

"At 5:19 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Graceville to near Cottonwood, moving south at 10 mph," according to the weather service. "Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees."

Locations impacted by the warning include Cottonwood, Chipley, Graceville, Bonifay, Marianna, Malone, Cottondale, Greenwood, Esto, Madrid, Campbellton, Noma, Richter Crossroads, Grangeburg, Garretts Crossroads, Tendil Crossing, Blue Spring, Southern Junction, Cobb Crossroads and Jacobs.

The weather service adds, "For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building."

Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, consider the following recommendations:

Lightning safety plan:

When venturing outdoors, it's crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.

Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it's an indication that lightning is nearby.

Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

Once you've found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.

These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.

Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn't available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.

Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.

If you're in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.

Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It's crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.

Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

Navigating rainy roads: Safety tips for wet weather

When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it's prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of rapid water flow:

Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

On wet roads, slowing down is paramount. Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Prioritize visibility

Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don't follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.

When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
These are troubled days for Democrats, with a disastrous debate on Thursday, some adverse court rulings on Friday, and now an immunity ruling that did not go their way at all. So this might be a good time to consider how they got into such a mess. I would say it all began with Hillary Clinton and Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).

In 2016, Democrats were extremely confident that Hillary would demolish Trump in the presidential election. When she didnt, the shock was huge, and many Democrats instantly lost their minds.

TDS became a widespread Democrat epidemic, and Hillary intensified the virus by funding the Russia peeing prostitute hoax. It was her way of deflecting blame for losing what should have been an easy victory. By the way, the Hillary campaign and the Democratic Party faced no criminal charges for the $1 million plus they gave to finance the dossier smears against Trump. They were merely fined by the FEC. Contrast that with Trumps 34 felony convictions.

The deep state did its part by having the FBI spy on Trump campaign advisors Carter Page, George Papadopoulis, and Sam Clovis. In addition, FBI agent Kevin Clinesmith pled guilty to altering an email that facilitated renewal of the spy warrant. Later, Alexander Vindman, an advisor on the National Security Council, pompously testified about Trumps phone call with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Trumps crime? Asking Zelenskyy to let our DoJ know of any corruption associated with Joe Bidens threats concerning the Ukrainian prosecutor who had been investigating Burisma Holdings (and Hunter). I guess Vindman and the Democrats think an American president has no right to inquire about corruption.

The rest of Trumps presidency was filled with media falsehoods designed to brand him as a stupid, racist, misogynist warmonger. According to CNN and MSNBC, Trump had dreams of being just like Vladimir Putin or Kim Jong Un. The evidence? There was none.

When it was time for Democrats to pick a candidate for the 2020 election, the leadership strong-armed the party faithful by picking the guy who had lost the first three primaries and/or caucuses. They did that because Bernie Sanders (who was leading at that point) was likely to lose against Trump, and Biden was the only other candidate widely known. A big name was needed to defeat the orange menace, so Representative Jim Clyburn strongly endorsed Biden in the South Carolina primary. He did that even though it was already known that Hunter had used Daddys VP status to obtain lucrative employment with a Ukrainian energy company. Once Biden won in South Carolina, he was on his way to winning the nomination.

To ensure victory in 2020, Democrats began planning for massive ballot harvesting in the swing states. Hundreds of lawsuits were filed -- each designed to chip away at the election controls that had been enacted by the state legislatures. The goal was to facilitate ballot harvesting, and make it less detectible. The harvesting plans were turbocharged by COVID, which was the excuse for extensive mass mailing of ballots, and even more dismantling of election controls.

We have a pretty good estimate of the magnitude of this cheating, thanks to True the Vote, the organization behind the 2000 Mules movie. Here are some of their estimates:

Ballot harvesting in the six key swing states was particularly easy because those states did not require the voter to provide ID. Nevertheless, Democrats worried that some of the phony ballots might be detected by means of signature matching (signatures on ballot envelopes are matched to those in registration records). To eliminate that problem, Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania scrapped signature matching, although they did it in different ways.

In Michigan, the Secretary of State declared that employees were to presume signatures on ballot envelopes matched those in registration records. A few months after the 2020 election, a judge ruled that Secretary Jocelyn Benson acted illegally.

In Pennsylvanian, the state Supreme Court declared that a voters ballot could not be rejected simply because his signature didnt match. The voter could sign as Mickey Mouse. It didnt matter.

In Georgia, the largest county, Fulton, did not attempt to match signatures at all. Since the vast majority of Fulton voters are Democrats, the absence of signature matching in Fulton probably won the state for Biden.

In those three states there were millions of mail-in voters, with no ID, and no signature matching. Was that enough to ensure a Democrat victory? Not necessarily. To be certain of winning, Democrats in key counties took one more step: They prevented observation by Republican poll challengers. In Wayne County (Detroit) and Fulton County (Atlanta) they verbally and physically threatened the observers. In Philadelphia County the state Supreme Court ruled that observers could be kept at least 15 to 18 feet from the processing tables. That made observation impossible.

So, Biden won, if you want to call it winning, and Trump knew he had been defrauded. He filed many lawsuits, but judges wanted him to identify the specific fraudulent ballots. That was almost impossible because the standards needed to identify those phony ballots had been eliminated months before the election took place.

At that point, Joe Biden was in the drivers seat. To be a successful president, all he needed to do was maintain the policies Trump had in place, and show people that he was nicer than the mean billionaire bully. However, that did not happen, thanks to TDS.

The hatred of Trump was so great that Biden felt the need to prove his disdain by dismantling any program associated with Trump -- even programs that were obviously important and working. As we all know, the results were disastrous, and this led to even more Dem insanity.

Joes approval rating fell so low that the party worried that Trump would beat him in 2024 -- no matter how many ballots were harvested, and no matter how much they claimed he was a threat to Democracy. Perhaps the Democrat leadership tried to talk Biden into leaving, but he refused. Or perhaps his puppet masters (Jill? Barack?) refused to let Joe Biden retire. In any event, Democrats rolled out a new strategy: lawfare.

It sounded like the perfect plan. Get a hired gun, Jack Smith, to indict and then convict Trump before the election. That would prove to the public that Trump was a very bad man and a true threat to Democracy. At the same time, use friendly county prosecutors in Democrat strongholds to produce similar charges against Trump and his supporters.

That brings us to the present day -- a sad one for Democrats. The lawfare has backfired spectacularly. People see through it, and many realize that the Democrats are the true threat to Democracy. The disillusioned include committed Democrats like Alan Dershowitz and Jonathan Turley, and thousands more. They seem to recognize that their party has lost its way, as well as its integrity. Perhaps they wont become Republicans but I doubt they want to remain with a political party that has gone mad -- with TDS.

Joe Fried is an Ohio-based CPA who has performed and reviewed hundreds of certified financial audits. He is the author of the book, Debunked? An auditor reviews the 2020 election, and How Elections Are Stolen, which outlines 23 problems that must be fixed before the 2024 election. More information can be found at https://joefriedcpa.substack.com/, Joes permanently free substack account.

Image: Heblo via Pixabay
Authors note: Read the stats referenced herein at the National Archives, under the subheading Achieving a Secure Border.

Border security stands at the forefront of Americas hot-button political issues. It represents not just a physical barrier, but a symbol of sovereignty, economic stability, and national security. Donald Trump, with the wind at his back following Joe Bidens ruinous debate performance, staunchly advocates for securing the southern border of the United States. The former president presents a compelling case that resonates with both the working class and the business community alike.

During his administration, Trump oversaw the construction of over 400 miles of what is arguably the worlds most robust and advanced border wall. This initiative was not merely a physical structure but a strategic investment in national security and economic fortification. The implementation of such a monumental project yielded significant results, with illegal crossings plummeting by over 87% in areas where the wall was completed.

This sharp decline underscores the effectiveness of physical barriers in deterring unlawful immigration, thereby alleviating the strain on resources and infrastructure that are vital for the economic health of the nation.

Moreover, Trumps policies extended beyond construction to deployment, as nearly 5,000 troops were mobilized to the southern border. In a testament to cross-border cooperation, Mexico responded by deploying tens of thousands of their own soldiers and national guardsmen to secure their side of the border. This collaborative effort not only underscored the seriousness of the issue but also laid the groundwork for bilateral economic stability and enhanced trade relations.

A secure border fosters an environment conducive to business confidence and investment, essential elements for sustained economic growth.

Under the Trump administration, the perilous practice of Catch-and-Release was decisively terminated. This policy shift meant that instead of allowing illegal aliens to remain in the United States pending distant court hearings, they were detained pending their removal and ultimately repatriated to their countries of origin.

This approach not only upheld the rule of law but also addressed economic concerns by ensuring that the workforce remained lawful and that job opportunities were safeguarded for American citizens and legal residents.

Furthermore, Trump brokered three landmark asylum cooperation agreements with Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. These agreements were pivotal in combating asylum fraud and redirecting illegal aliens to third-party nations pending the processing of their asylum applications.

By managing immigration flows through structured agreements, Trump sought to restore order to a system that had been strained under previous administrations, thereby safeguarding economic stability and job security for American workers.

In a historic move, Trump also forged a partnership with Mexico known as the Migrant Protection Protocols. This initiative allowed asylum-seekers to await their court hearings in Mexico rather than within the United States. This measure not only streamlined the asylum process but also underscored the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges.

Economically, it provided a framework for sustainable immigration policies that prioritize national interests while fostering goodwill among neighboring nations.

Crucially, the Trump administration upheld and enforced existing immigration laws with unprecedented rigor. This commitment was exemplified by an executive order aimed at stripping discretionary federal grant funding from sanctuary cities that harbored illegal aliens. By holding these cities accountable, Trump aimed to restore the integrity of the immigration system and ensure that federal resources were allocated responsibly.

Economically, this approach bolstered confidence in the rule of law and provided a framework for equitable economic growth across the nation.

Additionally, Trumps administration fully implemented the statutorily authorized expedited removal of illegal aliens. This expedited process was designed to swiftly address immigration violations and maintain the integrity of the legal immigration system. By enforcing expedited removal, Trump sought to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and ensure that immigration policies were aligned with economic imperatives, thereby promoting lawful immigration and protecting American jobs.

Moreover, the Department of Justice, under Trumps leadership, pursued a record-breaking number of prosecutions for immigration-related crimes. This robust enforcement strategy sent a clear message that immigration violations would not be tolerated, thereby deterring future offenses and safeguarding the economic interests of American workers.

By upholding the rule of law, Trumps administration sought to create a level playing field where legal immigration pathways were respected, and economic opportunities were accessible to all.

Finally, Trump utilized Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to exert diplomatic pressure on countries that refused to accept their nationals who had been ordered removed from the United States. This strategic measure aimed to compel compliance with deportation orders, thereby facilitating the efficient repatriation of illegal aliens and reinforcing the integrity of the immigration enforcement framework.

Economically, this initiative ensured that resources were allocated judiciously and that immigration policies were aligned with national security and economic priorities.

In conclusion, Donald Trumps steadfast commitment to securing the southern border of the United States resonates as a pivotal issue in the upcoming election. His track record of decisive action, from the construction of a robust border wall to the implementation of stringent immigration policies, underscores his dedication to safeguarding national security and economic prosperity.

As voters prepare to cast their ballots this November, the choice between Trumps proven leadership on border security and the alternative must be carefully considered. A secure border is not just a physical barrier; it is a cornerstone of economic stability, national sovereignty, and the rule of law.

Joseph Ford Cotto, 1st Baron Cotto, GCCCR (DBA) is the author of What Happened to America?: Howand Whythe American Dream Became a Nightmare. He hosts News Sight, an online program with a sharp focus on the current events that impact your life. During 2014, HLM King Kigeli V of Rwanda bestowed a hereditary knighthood upon him. It was followed by a barony the next year. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration.

Image: Public domain.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court came out with a logical opinion that follows centuries of American jurisprudence: A president has complete immunity when he acts within the scope of his express and implied constitutional powers. Within hours, the Democrats were saying that Biden now has absolute immunity to kill his political rivals, from Trump to the conservative justices on the Supreme Court. I want to say that these are not serious people, but they aretheyre dead serious.

You can read a longer commentary here about the Supreme Courts ruling in Donald Trump v. United States. Heres the short version: When a president exercises his explicit or implicit powers under the U.S. Constitution, he has absolute immunity.

This immunity exists because no one else has the constitutional authority to challenge those acts, neither the legislature nor the judiciary, and certainly not the bureaucracy, a non-constitutional entity that merely works for the president. It also exists because a president cannot fulfill his unique responsibilities if hes worried about being second-guessed or attacked. Sure, it may be an imperfect system, but the alternative is worse.

Image by AI.

Alternatively, if a president acts outside of his express and implied powers, hes an ordinary citizen and is still constrained by all the other prohibitions expressed in the Constitution and the laws of the United States, both federal and state.

As a lawyer, this ruling made sense to me because Id see the general principle all the time in tort cases in which someone tried to sue a business for the acts of its employee. The question, always, was whether the employee was acting within the scope of his duty when he committed the wrongful act or outside the scope of that duty.

For example, if a short-order cook undercooks meat, giving customers deadly salmonella, the employer is liable because that employee acted within the scope of his duty. However, if a short-order cook sneaks out of the restaurant during a quiet moment to rob a bank, the employer is not liable because that employee was acting outside the scope of the duty.

In the presidents case, its the same scope of duty analysis, with only the liability portion being different. If a president orders the Border Patrol to abide by the immigration laws of the United States of America to prevent illegal aliens from entering the country, he is acting within the scope of his constitutional duties, both to carry out duly passed legislation and to protect Americas national security. However, if that same president orders the Border Patrol to ignore the immigration laws of the United States of America, he has violated both duties under the Constitution. Thats an unofficial act for which he can be liable.

However, Justice Sotomayor, who engaged in serious false advertising when she called herself a wise Latina, wrote in a panic that the majoritys narrow and exceptional ruling means that, if the president orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival then he is immune.

Chief Justice Roberts was polite when he castigated this as strik[ing] a tone of chilling doom that is wholly disproportionate to what the Court actually does today... In fact, its the statement of a complete moron because Sotomayor is unable to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate acts.

The president may not kill a political rival to win an election (although Democrats, from Biden on down, have gleefully been trying to kill Trumps campaign through illegitimate lawfare). Killingif killing there werecould only be for legitimate reasons, and those (presumably) would be in the area of national security. While the Trump decision says that the president doesnt have to explain himself, the reality is that, if a president is killing rivals, hed better be damn ready, willing, and able to explain himself, and it cant just be I dont like his policies or He might win.

It also had better not be something obviously faked up, such as, Despite his plenary power over national security, he had documents that the bureaucrats marked as classified, so he must be locked up forever. Oh, and that totally doesnt apply to Joe Biden, who absconded with classified documents both as a Senator and Vice President with no plenary power.

But of course, nuance and deep thinking elude leftists. After their first shock that Trump might escape Jack Smiths and D.C. Judge Tanya Chutkans net, they began to see the bright side of the opinion. Going forward, Biden can go full Dark Brandon and kill or otherwise destroy all his political enemies. Hes free! FREE!!

Democrat Rep. Zoe Lofgren: "Theoretically, President Biden, acting within the scope of his official duties, could dispatch the military to take out the conservative justices on the Court!"



THESE PEOPLE ARE TRULY DERANGED! pic.twitter.com/cWCl8u8CZY  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 1, 2024

Good morning America! 



"Legal experts said Monday that ... the 6-3 decision by the courts conservative supermajority means that President Joe Biden could theoretically order that Trump be killed and be immune from criminal prosecution." https://t.co/rdeo85RHV4  Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) July 2, 2024

I DISSENT. After SCOTUS turns the president into a king, Biden declares war on Court and Trump.



What he SHOULD do is pack the court by executive order. Dare the fascists to try to stop the immunity they just gave him



GET THE TUESDAY COUNTDOWN PODCAST: https://t.co/dSCs5IUDWg pic.twitter.com/ZmXfeJX2NX  Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) July 2, 2024

Since Biden is now king and has complete Presidential immunity, he can arrest Clarence Thomas and his wife for treason, Sam Alito and his wife for desecrating the flag, or maybe just dissolve the court. Heres the piglet who packed the court: #LeonardLeo, radical 2025 project. pic.twitter.com/siRs8WeS38  bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 1, 2024

The ink on the Supreme Court immunity decision isnt even dry, and the Left is already fantasizing about Biden dropping bombs on the Supreme Court and killing Trump to prevent him from winning the election and becoming president. pic.twitter.com/M687rMcNh4  Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 1, 2024

Even Biden, while paying lip service to the this is a bad idea line of thinking, is clearly planning ahead...

Each of us is equal before the law. No one is above it  not even a president.



With todays Supreme Court decision on Presidential immunity, there are now virtually no limits on what a president can do.



That is a new, dangerous precedent.  President Biden (@POTUS) July 2, 2024

Theyre all delusional, of course. Contrary to Biden, there are huge limits on what a president can do: Anything outside the Constitution is a limit. And as for the rest of these guys, everything theyre suggesting is not only outside the Constitution but is also blatantly illegal.

Just remember, though: While Democrats are delusional and deeply dumb, theyre also deadly serious. We are living in very dangerous times.
Obama is plotting.

All his lovey-dovey talk about supporting Joe Biden who merely had a bad night at the debate is palaver.

Tucker Carlson says hes hearing otherwise:

From an unusually good source: Obamas tweet supporting Joe Biden was disingenuous. In private, Obama is telling people Biden cant win, and he is therefore in favor of an open convention. Obama will not say whom he supports, nor as of yesterday afternoon had he met personally  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) July 1, 2024

So there was no sitdown, there was never a sitdown, because Obama is not a member of the famiglia. In fact, Obama and Biden still cant stand each other. Jill is shielding Biden from anyone whod tell Joe its over, and calling in her Praetorian guard, also known as the Vogue photoggers.

House Biden is pulling together and closing ranks around decrepit old Joe, particularly Jill and Hunter, both of whom need Joe to remain in power.

But Obama, on the outside, is out there with the opportunists, circling around. The snakiest of them is Gretchen Whitmer, as has been evident enough in various bits of Democrat campaign advertisings. But theres also Gavin Newsom, whos disliked among even Democrat governors for his self-aggrandisement, and J.B. Pritzger of Illinois, whos hardly popular, as well, neither of whom are letting that stop them.

The vultures can see the corpse and are waiting for their chance to swoop.

Kamala Harris, meanwhile, who also is unpopular, is being left in the dust by all sides, given that the Bidens dont like her, and Obamas aims are actually against her own ambitions to be president. All she has to do to win the presidency is just sit tight and wait for the evil old dotard to kick the bucket, but Obama has other plans. Hes not her friend, either.

Hes plotting. Hes no doubt having meetings with other Democrats, the kind that Joes gatekeepers wouldnt give him. Theyre whispering one thing to each other, while outwardly tweeting their support. Tucker called his source an unusually good source, meaning, theres a good chance the source was Obama himself.

This is what happens when too much power is concentrated in the hands of one individual, in this case, through the presidency. Joe has governed as lawlessly as a bandit while in the Oval Office. Now the long knives are out, and others are angling to seize that power. Its like Roman emperor stuff.

Dont discount that double-crosses can happen and things will get ugly among these Democrats. Obama has a history of these kinds of double crosses on his Democrat opponents, starting with his first election, where he got confidential marriage records of an opponent released to knock him out.

Both the famiglia and the Obama federation are capable of anything. Watch as they come to demonstrate that anything.

Image: Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0
If a movie is simply called "Kill," you can be pretty sure of one thing. It's probably not directed by Wes Anderson.

Because there's nothing at all twee or whimsical about "Kill" (opening Thursday throughout Houston), either in its title or execution. And that's the brutal beauty of this Indian action film that plays as if someone said, "You know what would be cool? If we slammed together the gonzo Indonesian action film 'The Raid' with the trapped-on-a-train terror of the South Korean zombie film 'Train to Busan.' Except we're in India, and instead of zombies, we have vicious, knife-wielding thugs. Sound like a plan?"

BEST ACTION MOVIES ON TRAINS: What's your favorite action film set on rails? Here are ours.

Director/writer Nikhil Nagesh Bhat is, apparently, the guy who thought this would indeed be blood-soaked catnip to action-movie fans, and he's right. Once the characters get on board, it's wall-to-wall brawls in cramped quarters with any weapons at hand, from fire extinguishers to bed sheets to toilets. And through it all, "Kill" maintains a death grip on the audience's attention.

At the start, commando soldier Amrit (the singularly named Lakshya) is off duty and in a good mood. He's in love with Tulika (the appropriately charming Tanya Maniktala), and she loves him, though she's engaged to someone else. No matter, they plan to be together, even though her wealthy family just threw a huge engagement bash. Amrit and his best friend from the army, the wiry Viresh (Abhishek Chauhan), show up at the party with a plan to talk Tulika into eloping. But she wants no part of it  her dad's a powerful businessman that you don't cross  and that's how everyone ends up on the same train going back home to New Delhi.

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Lakshya tracks down the bad guys on a train in 'Kill.' Roadside Attractions

But another family is planning a different kind of celebration. Fani (an enjoyably brutish Raghav Juyal) and many of his gangster relatives plan to take over the train during a two-hour stretch between stations, shake down all the passengers and make their getaway. The phones have been jammed and the emergency brakes cut so no one can call for help or escape. What could go wrong?

Well, as the old saying goes, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans." And Amrit may not be divine but he's got the wrath and the vengeance part covered.

Bhat, and his action directors Oh Se-Yeong (Snowpiercer," "Parasite") and Parvez Shaikh, stage some breathtakingly lethal fight scenes that rival those of Gareth Evans (The Raid") and Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us") in terms of kinetic choreography, intensity and brutality. Plus, the family-versus-family dynamic lends "Kill" higher stakes than you might get in other films of this type.

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We've had "Boy Kills World" already this summer, and this could have been named "Grown Man Kills World." This is the movie that the solid but less enthralling "Monkey Man" and the empty "Bullet Train" wanted to be when they grew up.

'Kill' Rated R: strong bloody violence throughout, grisly images and language Running time: 115 minutes Language: Hindi with English subtitles Where: Opens Thursday throughout Houston  (out of 5)

Lakshya (whose full name is Laksh Lalwani) is a rising star in India whose best known for TV series such as "Porus," but he certainly shows off a big-screen swagger in "Kill." There's no reason why, in terms of his physicality, he couldn't make the leap to Hollywood.

After all, the very non-Indian Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions picked up "Kill" for distribution in the U.S., an advantage most films from India don't get in this country. According to Variety, "this weekends theatrical rollout marks one of the first times a mainstream Hindi-language film is partnering with a Hollywood studio for a theatrical release in North America and the U.K." This could, and should, be this year's "RRR," though there's no dancing involved, unless you count falling to the floor after being shanked in the stomach as a dance move.

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On top of all that, an English-language version of "Kill" is already in the works, with "John Wick" director Chad Stahelski producing. And "Kill" is being released on the heels of the Indian science-fiction film "Kalki 2898" doing big numbers in the U.S. last weekend.
The Supreme Court Trump v. United States ruling that former presidents are entitled to some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution has significant implications for the ongoing legal battles surrounding Donald Trump. This ruling, widely perceived as a victory for Trump, has nuanced elements that warrant closer scrutiny, particularly in the comments made by Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

The Courts decision confirmed that presidents are protected from prosecution for official actions extending to the "outer perimeter" of their office, while unofficial conduct remains vulnerable to legal scrutiny. This distinction is crucial, as it provides a pathway for prosecutors to refocus their efforts on Trump's private actions.

Justice Barretts comments have created a critical, largely overlooked opening for Democrats and their Special Counsel. Barrett hinted that if prosecutors concentrate exclusively on Trumps private acts, they might succeed in their legal efforts against him. This insight essentially offers a strategic roadmap for those aiming to hold Trump accountable.

The key question here is this: "When Trump was questioning the accuracy of the vote count, was he doing it in his capacity as the U.S. President or as a candidate running for office?"

The Biden campaign, or whoever his replacement is, can expedite the laser-focused case against Trump the campaigner, while niftily bogging down his campaign to fight the newly invented legal action. This perspective implies that Trumps remarks and actions on January 6, for instance, might be reclassified as those of a candidate rather than a president, thus stripping him of immunity for those specific actions.

Justice Barrett's suggestion does not merely reflect a hypothetical scenario. It outlines a tangible legal strategy. By urging the Special Counsel to fine-tune their indictments to emphasize unequivocally private conduct, Barrett indirectly points to a way to bypass the delays and complications associated with broader, less distinct charges.

This brings to light the broader issue of how legal interpretations can shift political dynamics. The Supreme Courts ruling and Barretts remarks underscore the delicate balance between legal principles and political maneuvering. It raises questions about the extent to which legal strategies are influenced by the political landscape and vice versa.

The implications for Trump are profound. While the ruling ostensibly protects him, it simultaneously invites prosecutors to refine their charges in a manner that could expedite legal proceedings against him. This duality embodies the complexity of navigating legal protections and political vulnerabilities.

Justice Barretts comments highlight a critical juncture in the legal proceedings against Trump. By focusing on private acts, prosecutors might navigate around the broad protections of presidential immunity. This insight not only reflects the intricate interplay between law and politics but also sets the stage for potentially significant developments in the ongoing legal battles involving Trump. As these proceedings unfold, they will undoubtedly continue to shape the political landscape leading up to the next election.

Jerry McGlothlin is a seasoned political and media writer and CEO of Special Guests Publicity, a conservative PR agency.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
After the helicopter crash on May 19, 2024, that claimed the life of former president Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian mullah regime swiftly scheduled early elections.

Not being a particularly competent bunch, they announced the fictional date of Friday, June 31. They held the vote on Saturday.

These elections were orchestrated under the watchful eye of the ailing 85-year-old Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who aimed to use this occasion to solidify his succession plan. While it appeared that Saeed Jalili, a former Revolutionary Guard general close to Khamenei, was set to win, the historically low voter turnout effectively transformed the electoral process into a referendum, expressing the Iranian populaces overwhelming rejection of the regime and their desire for a transition to a democratic and secular government.

That was bad news for the mullahs, so they didnt say anything.

But hundreds of the resistance units across Iran monitored more than 14,000 polling stations until midnight, revealing that a staggering 88% of eligible voters abstained. This act of mass boycott is particularly significant given that voting is compulsory for certain demographics, including soldiers and prisoners. As a result, in many areas under the regime's control, nullified ballots frequently topped the polls.

The Iranian populace has demonstrated a consistent preference for regime change through various uprisings and protests. Notably, during the November 2019 uprising, Reuters reported that at least 1,500 young people were fatally shot under direct orders from Khamenei as they clamored for their freedom.

Similarly, the 2022 uprising saw Ali Khamenei manage to quell dissent only temporarily through severe and unmatched brutality.

These elections have once again amplified the Iranian peoples call for change, a sentiment robustly supported by tens of thousands of Iranians in Berlin the day following the presidential elections.

The Iranians have been heartened to see that they have supporters from the West. Among them, Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo strongly advocated for change in the Iranian leadership.

Alongside a significant protest in Berlin, the annual gathering of the Iranian Resistance took place in Paris, surrounded by tight security measures. The event was inaugurated by Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian Resistance, and was attended by notable American figures such as former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

During his address to the Iranians in Germany and the attendees in Paris, Pence remarked, The new president of Iran will take over a regime that is not only weaker and less stable but also more prone to falling apart. Yet, this regime won't crumble by itself. Thus, it requires a robust, organized, and proven resistance to drive enduring changea movement that motivates, has consistently opposed the regime without yielding, and is prepared to endure sacrifices and pay the price needed for liberty. Fortunately, such a movement exists. It is the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Indeed, the mullahs' greatest fear is the NCRI.

Mike Pompeo, who also spoke, highlighted the presence of a viable alternative that could address the broader issues of the Middle East: We are often told that there is no substitute for the current regime. However, the ongoing activities of resistance units in hundreds of locations across Iran each week prove otherwise. The Peoples Mojahedin Organization-MEK, the main component of the NCRI, presents viable solutions not just for Irans challenges but for the entire region. Indeed, an alternative does exist.

Its safe to say they oppose appeasement, but that isnt the case in the halls of power in all of the West. Its time to end the policy of appeasement.

Despite the wishes of the Iranian people, the Biden administration and Western governments continue their policy of appeasement towards the faltering regime. In the United States, decisions have been made to deposit over one hundred billion dollars of Iranian assets into the regime's treasury, aiding the sale of oil which finances the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxy forces, further supporting their aggressive actions.

In Belgium, compelled by public pressure due to the hostage-taking of a Belgian citizen in Iran, the government last year extradited a diplomat who had been convicted of terrorism and sentenced him to 20 years in prison for transporting a bomb intended for a massive attack at an opposition gathering in Paris in 2018.

In Sweden, although a court resolutely sentenced an individual responsible for the massacre of thirty thousand political prisoners in Iran in 1988 to life imprisonment, last month the government handed him over to the clerical regime, where he was received in Tehran with a red carpet and a garland. Once again, the tactic of taking a Swedish diplomat hostage in Iran proved effective.

During her opening speech at the Resistance conference, Maryam Rajavi admonished the governments that persist in appeasing the Iranian regime: You have assisted this regime in nearing nuclear capabilities, paved the way for Khameneis militaristic endeavors in the region, and emboldened the clerics to such an extent that it sparked protests in Ukraine. For years, your media have spread the falsehood that religious fascism is without an alternative and that we must accept it. Yet, sustaining this dying regime and forestalling its inevitable downfall is unfeasible.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
For a change, Google rolled out the July security patch to the Pixel Watch lineup before Pixel phones. While both watches have already received the update, it has yet to arrive on phones, including foldables. In the meantime, the company has published the content of the July 2024 security update for Pixels and other Android products. Samsung has also revealed the Galaxy-specific patches it will bundle with the July patch.

Googles July 2024 Android security update patches 27 vulnerabilities

Every month, Google releases a new security patch for Android devices. It contains fixes for various bugs and security flaws in Android OS components and other partner components in Android OS. Device makers roll out these patches to their eligible products, often adding fixes for vulnerabilities exclusive to their devices. Its no different this month. Googles July 2024 ASB (Android Security Bulletin) fixes 27 security issues in Android products.

Among those are four critical vulnerabilities potentially causing severe damage to affected devices if threat experts exploited the flaws. According to Google, the most severe issues patched this month could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. The rest are all high-severity vulnerabilities affecting Android versions from 12 to 14, including Android 12L, a special build for foldables and tablets.

As usual, Google has grouped these patches under two different security patch levels: 2024-07-01 and 2024-07-05. Vendors can roll out either patch level to their Android devices. Samsung, the biggest name in the Android smartphone space, always pushes the former build. Its updates also contain dozens of additional security fixes. Called Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) items, these issues dont exist on Android products from other brands.

Samsungs updated security bulletin says the July SMR (Security Maintenance Release) for Galaxy devices contains 33 SVE patches. These include at least two critical vulnerabilities allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with system privilege with the help of user interaction. This months security update for Galaxy devices also patches two high-severity Samsung Semiconductor issues. These issues exist on Exynos-powered devices.

These patches will soon reach millions of Android devices

Google, Samsung, and other brands will soon start pushing the July security update to their respective Android products. The exact number of patches will vary by devicenot every Galaxy device is vulnerable to all 62 issues discussed above. Watch out for an update on your Android phone, tablet, or Wear OS smartwatch in the coming days. Most devices allow you to manually check for updates from the Settings app.
Google has completed the design of the Tensor G5 SoC, a chip that will fuel the Pixel 10 next year. That chip is now ready to be sent to the foundry for fabrication. This one will be manufactured by TSMC, by the way.

The Google Tensor G5 design is ready, coming next year

The information regarding the finished design process comes from Taiwan. The Pixel 10 series will be the first to utilize this processor. Other Pixel products are expected to include it after that, though, of course.

This chip will be made using TSMCs second-gen 3nm node aka N3E. This chip is expected to be a considerable jump compared to everything else Google made thus far. Google designed it itself, and TSMCs second-gen 3nm node is the right way to manufacture it.

The Google Tensor G5 is probably the chip Google hopes will compete with the best processors out there. It is expected to be immensely powerful, in addition to be designed specifically for Pixel products.

Pixel users had to deal with some questionable SoCs in the past, Google is looking to change that

Pixel users had to deal with some really questionable chips in the past. The Exynos 5123 model inside the Pixel 6 series definitely comes to mind, and it was a part of the Tensor chip. The Exynos 5300 was an improvement, but still not the best solution. That one was included in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 series smartphones.

What happens now? Well, while the chip is ready for manufacturing, Google still has to test it out after the fact. Were still a long way from seeing that chip in action, as the Tensor G4 hasnt launched just yet.

The Tensor G4 will arrive alongside the Pixel 9 series next month. Google announced that the new Pixel smartphones will become official on August 13. That is a big change for Google, as everyone expected the devices to arrive in early October.
A group of unionized Samsung workers has announced a general strike demanding better pay and more time off. The three-day strike will begin on July 8 and follow a one-day walkout in June. The strikes come after the company failed to negotiate a deal with the union.

Samsung workers union go on strike over unfulfilled demands

Samsungs unionized workers in its homeland South Korea have long pressured the company to improve bonus pay and other working conditions. The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), which represents roughly 28,000 employees, i.e., over 20% of the Korean conglomerates domestic workforce and 10% of its global workforce, demands an increase in the performance-based bonus and an extra day of annual leave, among other things.

Despite repeated requests, Samsung allegedly didnt come to terms with their demands. It has been locked in negotiations with the union since January, The Business Times reports. The company reportedly offered a 5.1% pay hike, far less than what the union demanded. Last months walkout also doesnt seem to have made the companys leadership flinch. The NSEU is now planning what could be a severely damaging action against the conglomerate.

We are declaring a general strike today, the unions president Son Woo-mok said on a live YouTube broadcast Monday. Until our demands are met, we will fight with the no pay no work general strike. While it initially seemed like an indefinite strike, the SEUs vice president Lee Hyun-kuk confirmed that workers will go on strike for three days. Starting from Jul 8, we will stage a three-day general strike, Lee said in a separate statement on Tuesday.

Samsung faces its biggest action from unionized workers

Samsung didnt allow workers to form unions for almost 50 years, with the first labor union established in the late 2010s. In 2020, the company announced that it would stop discouraging organized labor, leading to increased membership in its workers unions. Last months one-day walkout using annual leave was the first collective action by Samsungs unionized workers. It now faces a bigger action unless the leadership team accepts the NSEUs demands.

The NSEU blames Samsungs management for creating this crisis. The company allegedly failed to offer satisfactory concessions. What will change if we do not act? Will you just watch and do nothing? Will you be a hidden slave or an active owner? Nothing will change if we do not act, the unions statement said. All employees need to participate in the strike. Lets step up and change it! Samsung declined a media request for comment.
Google is set to announce the new Pixel 9 lineup next month in Mountain View. But apparently, the Pixel 9 is already on sale in Algeria. Twitter user @hanibioud got his hands on the Pixel 9 in Pink, in a 256GB model. Hes taken a quick video of the phone, with the new camera bump too.

Pixel 9 is already out in Algeria.

Storage: 256GB

Color : Pink

I'll keep you updated tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/0mE1QlCbEg  Hani Mohamed Bioud (@hanibioud) July 1, 2024

Google doesnt typically do colors like this for the Pixel, but this is definitely a fun color to have available. Maybe Google is back go giving us fun colors, instead of the same old black, white and blue.

We can definitely see the flat sides and the new camera bar on display here with the Pixel 9. Its definitely a different look for the Pixel this year, and one that makes it look a bit more like an iPhone knockoff. Of course, Ill reserve more judgement until I actually see the phone in person. But at least people cant complain that it looks the same as last year.

The first ever Pink Pixel

Googles never done a Pink Pixel before, and one has to think that Google is doing this to appeal to the women out there. In the past few years, Google has offered a blue version of the Pixel, or a green version. For example, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro came in both Bay and Mint colors. While the Pixel 8a came in a bright green color. Now we have a pretty bright pink color, which is something iJustine will love.

The Pixel 9 is set to be announced on August 13, a couple months earlier than usual for Google. Typically, Google would announce the Pixel in October. Perhaps the earlier announcement means that Google is looking to challenge the iPhone, finally.

Like with the Pixel 8, wed expect the Pixel 9 to come with seven years of updates as well. Which is a really nice addition for a phone these days.
Claudia Knoll, Megan Gusman and Hailee Higgins, get ready for a live performance at the Freedom Over Texas festival in Houston. Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

Independence Day, celebrated on July 4, marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This year, Houston and nearby cities will celebrate with fireworks displays, live music and family-friendly activities.

Here are some of the top spots to watch fireworks this Fourth of July.

Houston hosts Freedom Over Texas

Downtown Houston is the spot for Independence Day fireworks at the Freedom Over Texas festival at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

The Freedom Over Texas fireworks show returns to downtown Houston's Eleanor Tinsley Park on July 4, featuring live concerts and a grand fireworks finale. This year's performers include Russell Dickerson, Jo Dee Messina and Chapel Hart. Proceeds from the event support the Houston Food Bank.

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When: 4-10 p.m.

Where: Eleanor Tinsley Park, 901 W. Bagby

Details: Tickets $10, free for kids 5 and younger; houstontx.gov

Post Houston's Skylawn rooftop view

Get a rooftop view of Freedom Over Texas at the 4th of July Celebration at POST Houston. Courtesy photo

Post Houston will host its annual Fourth of July celebration on the Skylawn rooftop. Visitors will get a rooftop view of the city of Houston's fireworks show, Freedom Over Texas. The celebration kicks off at 5 p.m. and includes cirque performers, balloon artists, face painting, food, bars and live performances by the Houston Brass Band and the Alias Band.

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When: 5-10 p.m.

Where: 401 Franklin

Details: $25, free for kids 5 and younger; posthtx.com

Houston Symphony at Miller Outdoor Theatre

Houston Symphonys Star Spangled Salute is free at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Leroy Gibbins

Miller Outdoor Theatre and the Houston Symphony will host the annual Star Spangled Salute on July 4. The event features patriotic tunes conducted by Jason Seber starting at 8:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Free seating is available on the hill, with reserved seating tickets released the day before.

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When: 8:30-10 p.m.

Where: Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive

Baytown's Bicentennial Park

Baytown hosts its Independence Day celebration at Bicentennial Park. Baytown Parks and Recreation

Baytown's Fourth of July celebration at Bicentennial Park features a car show, performances by Tierra Kennedy and Niko Moon, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

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When: 4-9:30 p.m.

Where:1001 Market

Kemah Boardwalk fireworks on the water

See a fireworks show over Galveston Bay at Kemah Boardwalk. Kar B Hlava

The amusement park in Kemah will offer a day of rides, music performances and a Fourth of July fireworks show. Festivities start at 1:30 p.m. with live music by Lone Star All Star Trio, followed by performances by Uncle Sam Stilt Walker and the Slags. The day culminates with a fireworks display over Galveston Bay at 9:30 p.m.

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When: 1:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: 215 Kipp

Sugar Land hosts Red, White and Boom

Sugar Land hosts its fireworks show at the Crown Festival Park. City of Sugar Land

The city of Sugar Land's Red, White and Boom celebration includes family activities, food, music, photo opportunities and vendor booths. The event concludes with a fireworks display around 9 p.m.

When: 5-9 p.m.

Where: Crown Festival Park, 18355 U.S. 59 S.

The Woodlands

Crowds pick out spots to watch fireworks later in the evening during the the annual Red, Hot and Blue festival at Town Green Park in The Woodlands. Cody Bahn/Staff photographer

The Woodlands presents its 27th annual Red, Hot, & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza across multiple locations. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. at Town Green Park, Northshore Park, Waterway Square and Hughes Landing, featuring live music, concessions and family activities. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.

When: 6-10 p.m.

Where: Various locations

Tomball throws Street Fest

Visitors celebrate Independence Day at the Tomball July 4th Celebration and Street Fest, which includes a fireworks display. Courtesy of the city of Tomball

This street festival features live music, food, a cool zone, a kids' zone, patriotic singalongs and one of the area's biggest fireworks displays.

When: 4-9:30 p.m.

Where: Texas 249 Business

Typhoon Texas water park fireworks

Catch the fireworks in Katy at Typhoon Texas' Red, White and Boom celebration. Typhoon Texas Houston

The city of Katy and Typhoon Texas are partnering for the annual "Freedom Celebration." The fireworks show will start at 9 p.m. and can be viewed from the water park or Katy Mills Mall.

When: 9 p.m.

Where: 555 Katy Fort Bend Road, or Katy Mills Mall

Galveston's historic seawall

Fireworks over Galveston Bay. Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

Galveston will celebrate Independence Day with its annual parade and fireworks display. The Independence Day Parade will start at 6 p.m. along Seawall Boulevard, from 22nd Street to 45th Street. Following the parade, the "Fireworks Over the Gulf" display will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m

When: 6-9:30 p.m.
A 71-year-old diabetic woman was left howling in pain before she died after she stopped taking insulin at a workshop run by an alternative healer who she described as a messenger sent by God.

Danielle Carr-Gomm, died at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, where she was taking part in the event in October 2016 which promoted Paida Lajin therapy, which sees patients being slapped or slapping themselves repeatedly.

Hongchi Xiao, of Cloudbreak, California, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence of Mrs Carr-Gomm, from Lewes, East Sussex.

Duncan Atkinson KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mrs Carr-Gomm had sought alternatives to her insulin medication for Type 1 diabetes because of her vegetarianism and fear of needles.

Mr Atkinson said that the 30 people attending the workshop at Cleeve House were keen disciples of the defendant who was described as Master Xiao in the programme for the event.

He said the participants signed a disclaimer form which stated the practice was not meant for medical treatment and they fasted for several days, only consuming a Chinese tea.

The prosecutor said that Mrs Carr-Gomm announced that she had stopped taking her insulin on Monday October 17 which Xiao had congratulated her on.

Hongchi Xiao is accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

He said: He did nothing to alert others to the risk. He simply congratulated her and allowed a Type 1 diabetic to commence fasting without insulin.

Mr Atkinson described how one of the participants saw that Mrs Carr-Gomm, by the Tuesday, was vomiting and observed that her condition was similar to that on the earlier occasion in Bulgaria when she had stopped her insulin injections.

One of her room-mates, Janine Stoodley, also moved out of their shared room because of her condition.

Mr Atkinson said that on the Wednesday, Mrs Carr-Gomm had not attended the workshop and she was seen to be vomiting, tired and weak.

He added that she was also crying on her bed and howling in pain.

She had also been moved from her bed to a mattress on the floor because she had fallen out of bed.

Mr Atkinson said that other participants interpreted her condition as a healing crisis  a term used by the defendant as the process of the Paida Lajin taking effect.

The prosecutor said: He identifies the signs of a healing crisis as including pain, vomiting, insomnia, giddiness and loud crying.

The description by others of a healing crisis is indicative of their reliance on Xiaos leadership in dealing with Danielle Carr-Gomms condition.

It also underlined that the decision to seek help, to intervene, had to come from the defendant as the others relied on him and his interpretation of what was happening.

Mr Atkinson said that her condition worsened in the early hours of the Thursday and she then died.

Hongchi Xiao was standing trial at Winchester Crown Court (Chris Ison/PA)

He added: Whilst she was conscious, she could have received medical care, including the administration of insulin, and this would have saved her.

No-one was better placed than the defendant, the prosecution say, to make sure that this happened.

He said that the sound of Paida-like slapping was heard coming from her room late on the Wednesday while the defendant was with her.

The prosecutor said that after Xiao was arrested, he said in interview that he had believed Mrs Carr-Gomm had been weak from fasting and had not needed an ambulance.

He added: He denied that he had any influence over the students at all. He had no more responsibility than anyone else in attendance.

The court heard that Mrs Carr-Gomm had provided a testimonial for Xiao describing him as a messenger sent by God who was starting a revolution to put the power back in the hands of the people to cure themselves and to change the whole system of health care.

Mr Atkinson said: Xiao knew that Danielle Carr-Gomm by stopping her insulin injections had created a source of danger, and he was all too aware that it was a source of danger.

He knew of his influence over her, he knew the consequences of her not taking her insulin, and he had at least influenced and encouraged her decision to take the potentially fatal step of stopping her insulin.

Mr Atkinson said that Xiao had written a book on Paida Lajin in which he stated that doctors are brainwashed by drug producers to act as salespersons for their drugs.

In the book My Health, I Manage! E-Dao Paida And Lajin Self-Healing he states that the practice should be safer and more reliable than existing healing practices  with no risk of poisoning or side effects and that it should be effective on almost all diseases.

Mr Atkinson said: The messages that come from this book, very clearly, are that the defendant viewed drugs such as insulin as poisons which were contrary to, rather than conducive to health.

Insulin was a cause of problems, and that in contrast Paida Lajin was a cure for illness, including diabetes.

Mr Atkinson said that Xiao told participants at his Australian seminar in 2015 that there was no pain, no gain.

Charles Row KC, defending Xiao, who denies the charge, told the jury that the defendant denied having a duty of care over Mrs Carr-Gomm who he had made absolutely clear to that he was not medically trained.

He said that Xiao had told her not to suddenly stop taking her insulin.

He added: The defendants case is that Danielle Carr-Gomm was a law unto herself, a strong, driven and independent woman.

The degree of influence he had over Danielle Carr-Gomm is very much an issue, as is the question of whether he assumed responsibility for her safety.

Mr Row added that the defendant claimed that his actions were not causative of Mrs Carr-Gomms death and he had not breached a duty of care for her.

The court heard that in a statement on Xiaos website, Mrs Carr-Gomm had described how she had suffered episodes of healing crisis while attending the defendants workshop in Bulgaria.

But she described absolutely astonishing improvements to her health and added that she foresaw freedom after years of slavery caused by her diabetes.

She also wrote: My hope is a second or third group workshop will heal me entirely.

The trial continues.
Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is to face additional historical sex offence charges in court on Wednesday.

Donaldson, 61, is expected to appear at Newry Magistrates Court for a preliminary enquiry (PE) hearing to establish if there is sufficient evidence to send him for trial.

During previous court hearings, Donaldson had faced 11 holding charges brought by police.

An evidence file has since been reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and the former DUP leader will now face 18 charges.

There was a large media and police presence when Sir Jeffrey Donaldson made his first appearance at Newry Magistrates Court in April (Niall Carson/PA)

He will face one charge of rape, four of gross indecency and 13 charges of indecent assault.

The charges span a time period between 1985 and 2008.

The previous holding charges will be withdrawn in court on Wednesday.

Donaldson has previously indicated that he will contest charges against him.

His co-accused, his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 58, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences.

The number of charges she faces has increased from four to five.

There are two alleged victims.

Lady Eleanor Donaldson faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences (Brian Lawless/PA)

It has already been confirmed that Donaldson, who was the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, is not running for re-election in the UK General Election this week.

He was arrested and charged in relation to the historical sexual allegations at the end of March.

Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations against him emerged.

It is understood that in a letter to DUP party officers at the time, he made clear he would be strenuously contesting all charges against him.

Weeks prior to his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont following a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson has been appointed his successor as DUP leader.

There was a large media and police presence when the two accused made their first appearance at Newry court in April. Wednesday will be the first occasion they have had to appear in court in person since then.
British wild card Jacob Fearnley continued his dream summer with a straight-sets victory over Alejandro Moro Canas to set up a second-round tie with Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.

Fearnley only finished his five-year stint at Texas Christian University in May and was ranked outside the top 500 until he won an ATP Challenger event in Nottingham as a qualifier last month.

It helped earn the 22-year-old from Scotland a wild card for this years Championships and he marked his debut with a 7-5 6-4 7-6 (12) victory on a buoyant Court Eight.

Jacob Fearnley celebrates his victory (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

World number 277 Fearnley arrived at SW19 after a narrow defeat to compatriot Billy Harris at Eastbourne, but signalled his intention with a fine wristy forehand winner in a lengthy first game.

While opponent Moro Canas came through qualifying, the Spaniard had limited experience on grass and Fearnley continued to create opportunities on his serve.

Eventually Fearnley was able to break after consecutive winners in the 11th game before an ace closed out a 75-minute first set.

Further break point chances were fashioned at the start of the second, but Moro Canas held before rain forced play to be suspended.

After an hours delay, a double-fault by Moro Canas gifted Fearnley a precious break in the fifth game of the second set before he had to win four points in a row to hold and move 5-3 up.

Not long after Fearnley moved into a two-set lead, Djokovic beat Vit Kopriva on Centre Court with the roar of the crowd audible on his court in the shadows of Wimbledons main arena.

The third set stayed on serve and a tie-breaker was required, during which British number 13 Fearnley put his fans through the wringer.

He squandered five match points before a crisp forehand winner at the back of the court earned him a maiden grand-slam win and booked a clash with Djokovic on Thursday.
A self-radicalised lone wolf terrorist who took a bomb to the hospital where he worked intending to kill as many nurses as possible has been found guilty of preparing terrorist acts.

Mohammad Farooq, 28, was arrested outside St Jamess Hospital in Leeds with a pressure cooker bomb designed to be twice as powerful as those used by the Boston Marathon bombers in 2013.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Farooq had immersed himself in an extremist Islamic ideology and went to the hospital to seek his own martyrdom through a murderous terrorist attack.

He was stopped by a patient who was outside having a cigarette and managed to talk him down, jurors were told.

Prosecutors said Farooq had originally intended to attack RAF Menwith Hill  a North Yorkshire military base used by the United States that had been identified as a target by so-called Islamic State.

When he thought that was not possible, jurors were told Farooq then switched to the softer and less well-protected target of St Jamess Hospital in the early hours of January 20 last year.

Mohammad Farooq denied planning an attack (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

The defendant was a clinical support worker at the hospital and his secondary motive for choosing it was that he had a grievance against several of his former colleagues and had been conducting a poison pen campaign against them, the court heard.

Farooq denied preparing terrorist acts, with defence counsel Gul Nawaz Hussain KC telling jurors Farooq was not an extremist but a troubled man who was motivated by deep rooted anger and grievance towards his colleagues.

On Tuesday a jury convicted him of the offence after deliberating for less than two hours.

Opening the case to jurors in June, prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said Farooqs plan was to detonate the bomb, then kill as many people as possible with knives before using an imitation firearm to incite police to shoot him dead.

CCTV footage of Mohammad Farooq at the branch of Costa in the Gledhow Wing at St Jamess Hospital in Leeds (Counter Terrorism Policing North East)

Mr Sandiford said two pieces of good fortune intervened to stop the planned attack that day.

The first was that a bomb threat he sent in a text to an off-duty nurse in order to lure people to the car park where he was waiting was not seen for almost an hour, and the full-scale evacuation he had hoped for did not happen.

The prosecutor said Farooq left but returned shortly afterwards with a new plan to wait in a hospital cafe for a staff shift change and detonate his device.

But Mr Sandiford told the court that luck intervened again because a patient, Nathan Newby, was standing outside the hospital having a cigarette and noticed the defendant.

He said: Mr Newby realised something was amiss and began to talk to him instead of walking away.

That simple act of kindness almost certainly saved many lives that night because, as the defendant was later to tell the police officers who arrested him, Mr Newby succeeded in talking him down.

Mr Sandiford said Farooq told Mr Newby about his grievances towards his colleagues and his plan to take the bomb into the hospital and kill as many nurses as possible.

The device at the scene at St Jamess Hospital in Leeds (Counter Terrorism Policing North East)

Mr Newby stayed with the defendant and eventually persuaded him to move away from the building, and hand over his phone to call the police.

Officers who arrested Farooq found the viable pressure cooker bomb had just under 10 kilograms of low explosive. He also had, with him or in his car, two knives, black tape and a blank firing, imitation firearm.

An investigation found he had become self-radicalised through accessing extremist material online, and had obtained bomb-making instructions in a magazine published by Al Qaeda to encourage lone wolf terrorist attacks against the West.

Movements of Farooqs mobile phone and car showed he made at least two visits to the area of Menwith Hill in the 10 days leading up to his arrest, jurors were told.

Mr Sandiford said the base had been designated as a target by IS because it was believed it had been used to co-ordinate drone strikes against terrorists.

Farooq admitted firearms offences, possessing an explosive substance with intent and having a document likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: Farooq is an extremely dangerous individual who amassed a significant amount of practical and theoretical information that enabled him to produce a viable explosive device.

He then took that homemade explosive device to a hospital where he worked with the intention to cause serious harm. Examination of his electronic devices revealed a hatred towards his colleagues at work and those he considered non-believers.

It is clear from his internet searches that he was also conducting extensive research of RAF Menwith Hill, with a view to launching a potential attack.

The extremist views Farooq holds are a threat to our society, and I am pleased the jury found him guilty of his crimes.
Lucy Letbys lawyers argued her convictions should be quashed at an appeal as jurors may not have been certain of her guilt, it can now be reported.

Letbys legal team unsuccessfully brought a Court of Appeal challenge in April this year over her convictions for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others.

Reporting restrictions prevented the publication of details of Letbys arguments at the two-and-a-half-day hearing in London until the end of a retrial at Manchester Crown Court for the attempted murder of a baby girl, known as Child K.

Letbys appeal was dismissed in May (Cheshire Constabulary/PA)

Further details can now be published after the second trial concluded on Tuesday with a guilty verdict.

Letbys lawyers put forward several arguments in the failed appeal bid, with her barrister, Benjamin Myers KC, arguing that the trial judge, Mr Justice Goss, was wrong to tell the jury they did not need to be sure of the precise act which caused Letbys victims harm.

Mr Myers said that this was not correct as there may have been other explanations.

He said: There may be more counts or all counts where the jury was unable to reach a state of certainty as to guilt.

They should have been told they should have been sure of the act. They have to have certainty as to the act that lay behind the allegations of deliberate harm.

Nick Johnson KC, for the prosecution, stated the argument was not tenable and that while medical evidence was at the heart of pretty much all of the prosecutions argument, it formed only part of the circumstances of the case and that Letby was always there when things happened.

He said: The law does not and has never required the prosecution to prove precise acts or acts were committed to cause death.

Letby watched proceedings via video-link from a grey room in HMP Bronzefield, Surrey, wearing a cardigan and a dark, spotted top on the first day of her appeal bid.

A second argument was that the judge was wrong not to instruct jurors to disregard evidence from retired consultant paediatrician Dewi Evans.

Mr Myers said that Dr Evans alleged on the hoof that certain events occurred and took the position of an investigator.

He said: The manner in which Dr Evans gave evidence, the defence submits that this was extraordinary, emotive, evasive and constructive.

Lucy Letby was previously found guilty after a trial in Manchester (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Mr Myers continued: If an expert has behaved in the way this expert did, it could not be reasonable to find that their evidence was admissible.

Mr Johnson called the reductive argument an attempt to isolate and insulate one narrow issue in the case from all the rest of the evidence.

Mr Myers also argued the judge incorrectly rejected an argument that Letby had no case to answer as the prosecutions evidence failed to reach the standard required.

He added that none of the medical experts called by the prosecution to give evidence had any physical experience that could possibly make them experts in the case.

Mr Johnson told the court that the witnesses were well-qualified and that other features of the case helped to prove Letbys guilt.

He said: The appellant changing medical records, the appellant always being on shift when these things happened and many other features all, cumulatively and some individually, are well capable of establishing a case for the jury to consider.

All these cases were against the medical opinion that there was no innocent explanation for the collapse or deaths of these children.

A further appeal point related to how the judge dealt with a jury irregularity after a complaint was made to the court in August 2023.

The Court of Appeal in London heard that the complaint alleged that a juror had discussed the case with members of the public during the trial.

After hearing witness evidence, Mr Justice Goss ruled the juror should continue in their role.

Mr Myers said the verdicts were imperilled by the decision, adding: If there was a member of the jury who was disregarding the directions of the trial judge, which we know is a serious matter, that juror should at the very least have played no further part in the activities of the jury from the moment that these activities came to light.

It cant be said that the verdicts that were returned would have been returned.

But Mr Johnson said the original complaint was not legitimate.

He said: We respectfully submit that looking at all the evidence on that particular issue, (the judges decision) was the only reasonable conclusion to draw, and if we are wrong about that, it was a reasonable conclusion to draw.

Mr Myers also asked the court to consider an argument over new medical evidence, claiming that the information could have made a significant difference to the evidence presented to the jury.

Letbys lawyers put forward several arguments in the failed appeal bid (Cheshire Constabulary/PA)

Mr Johnson said the wholly artificial, reductive exercise would not be allowed at trial and should not be permitted by this court.

Dame Victoria Sharp and Lord Justice Holroyde dismissed Letbys bid in May.

In a 59-page ruling, published on Tuesday after Letbys conviction, Dame Victoria said the 34-year-olds appeal complaints were not arguable and declined to formally accept proposed fresh evidence.

She added: In the circumstances of this case, the judge was accordingly correct to direct the jury that they must be sure, on the evidence as a whole, that the applicant had deliberately done something to harm a baby, with the requisite intent for murder or attempted murder, and in the case of those babies who died, that her act or acts had caused or contributed to the death.

It was not necessary for the prosecution to prove the precise manner in which she had acted.

The judge also said the trial judge had taken the correct approach when directing jurors and that there was no arguable basis for interfering with his decision over the evidence of Dr Evans.

A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of the surviving and dead children who were the subject of the allegations against Letby.
A man who murdered two of his former partners who had both complained to police about his violence has been jailed for at least 35 years.

Carl Cooper, 66, was in a relationship with Naomi Hunte, 41, who was stabbed in the chest, and Fiona Holm, 48, whose body has never been found, around a year apart.

Jailing Cooper for life with a 35-year minimum term at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Johnson said: I am sure that you, over many years, have been a great danger to women.

Ms Hunte, of Woolwich, south-east London, was found dead on her blood-soaked sofa on Valentines Day in 2022 while Ms Holm is believed to have died on June 20 2023.

Naomi Hunte was stabbed in the chest (Met Police/PA)

The judge added: You have a history of acting in a controlling and coercive manner to your female partners.

Ms Hunte had made previous complaints to police about your controlling coercive behaviour.

Ms Holm had also made a previous complaint to police about your behaviour, she had also complained to friends that you had stabbed her with a screwdriver.

Ms Hunte made a number of domestic call-outs to police to her home in 2020 and 2021 and told them that handyman Cooper was obsessed with her, the court previously heard.

In a police call-out to her home on June 29 2021, she told officers that Cooper stalks me and Im really scared now.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be a stab wound to the chest.

Her blood was later found on three different areas of Coopers jacket, and on a knife with a serrated blade which resembled a steak knife.

Ms Holm, of Catford, south-east London, had also made complaints about Cooper to the police.

Cooper, of Hither Green, south-east London, lit fires in the immediate days after Ms Holm went missing and also carried out a wholesale redecoration of his living room, which included stripping off wallpaper, cutting out net curtains and removing a rug, prosecutor Joel Smith KC previously told the jury.

Among the victim impact statements read by and on behalf of the womens families on Tuesday, Savannah Holm, Ms Holms daughter, said her mother was the light of the party and that her love was contagious.

Addressing Cooper, she said: If he has any type of decency, he would tell us where our mother is so we can grieve properly and have a proper funeral for her.

Fiona Holms body has never been found (Met Police/PA)

She continued: I feel like the system has failed to support our mother, she was very vulnerable and didnt get the help she needed from social services.

In a statement read out on his behalf, Ms Huntes father said: I have been robbed of my future with my daughter, my only child, and that leaves me with a sadness that will remain forever.

During mitigation, Narita Bahra KC, defending, told the court: There was no evidence that either murder was committed with an intention to kill.

She also asked the judge to take Coopers age into consideration, adding that it is highly likely he will meet his natural death while incarcerated.

Speaking outside the court after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, the senior investigating officer in both cases, said: Despite Cooper cruelly denying Fionas family the opportunity to bury her, we will remain committed to finding Fiona and returning her to her family.

We will also continue to investigate the possibility that Cooper had help in removing Fionas body and I will arrest and charge those I have evidence to do so.

She added that there is a 20,000 police reward for information which leads to Ms Holms remains being found and appealed to anyone with information to come forward.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova joined Steffi Graf in the history books after she lost in straight sets to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to suffer a shock first-round exit.

Vondrousova was a surprise winner at the All England Club last year and returned to Centre Court on Tuesday to begin the defence of her crown, but struggled physically as she tasted 6-4 6-2 defeat inside 67 minutes.

It made Vondrousova only the second defending womens Wimbledon champion to crash out in the first round after Graf did in 1994 to Lori McNeil.

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro celebrates her victory (Mike Egerton/PA)

Prior to her 2023 success, Vondrousova had only won one main-draw match in SW19 and arrived in the capital after an injury scare in Berlin two weeks ago.

World number six Vondrousova insisted ahead of the tournament she was fully fit, but she had three double-faults in her first service game as she was broken immediately.

Further breaks were exchanged between the duo, but Spaniard Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 83rd in the world, sealed the opener inside 40 minutes.

Defending champion Steffi Graf leaves Centre Court at Wimbledon after losing to Lori McNeil (PA)

Vondrousova sent down another double-fault at the start of the second to be broken again and appeared to be growing frustrated with her ailing health.

It failed to distract Bouzas Maneiro though who continued to play her shots and the 21-year-old secured a memorable first grand slam victory with a wonderful backhand winner, which kissed the white chalk to the delight of Centre Court.

It was a different story for Vondrousova and she raced off the court after seeing her title defence end in just over an hour.

A disconsolate Vondrousova reflected: Its tough to go out defending the title. I was really nervous from the morning and everything.

I think practice was fine. Yeah, today I was a bit scared because of my leg, too. But I dont think that was the reason.

I felt nervous from the start. She was also playing a good match. That was kind of tough, too.

Overall it was very tough. Its tough feelings also to go back, I feel like everybody just expects you to win maybe. Thats tough, too. I was happy to be back on the Centre Court. It just didnt go as planned.

Bouzas Maneiro basked in the glory of a career-best victory, saying in her on-court interview: Im really happy. This is one of the most important moments of my life, in my career here on this court, this is amazing.

The atmosphere here, the tournament is the most beautiful tournament I ever played in my life. So, thank you so much to everyone who came here to watch.

Shes one of the best players in the world. She won last year here. I had no pressure, enjoy the moment, enjoy the tournament and just trying to be free-playing and I did it.

The 2022 champion Elena Rybakina shows her class in a straight sets win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/X9tGaVGp2z  Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2024

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina had no such problems easing into round two.

Rybakina, a winner at the All England Club in 2022, raced through with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse after 71 minutes on Court One.

That time was bettered by fifth seed Jessica Pegula after she wiped the floor with compatriot Ashlyn Krueger 6-2 6-0 inside 49 minutes.
Bun B during the soft opening of Trill Burgers on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

The First Court of Appeals has put a pause on the temporary injunction order previously placed on the current operating partners of Trill Burgers, which restricted how they use restaurant funds.

The court's action this week was in response to an appeal filed by the lawyers of Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, Andy Nguyen and Nick Scurfield seeking temporary relief and stay of the temporary injunction order. This means the temporary injunction order cannot be enforced until the court says otherwise.

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It's the latest in ongoing lawsuits between the founders of Houston food sensation Trill Burgers. In August 2023, Bun B, Nguyen and Scurfield (Trill Burgers LLC) filed a lawsuit against Sticky's Chicken owners and co-founders Patsy and Benson Vivares alleging they misused $45,000 of Trill Burger earnings. The Vivares siblings came back with their own lawsuit in January, alleging Bun B, Nguyen and Scurfield misused funds and pushed them out of the business without paying them their share of the partnership.

In the Vivareses third attempt, the court granted a temporary injunction order May 24 against Bun B, Scurfield and Nguyen. The order put a closer watch on the Trill Burger LLC funds used by Bun B, Scurfield and Nguyen. So while business could operate as usual, funds were put in a constructive trust, restricting the owners from selling assets, among other guidelines. They were also unable to be paid from Trill Burgers business accounts.

Part of the reason for halting the temporary injunction was that there was no trial date on the proposed order the court approved, meaning it couldn't be enforced.

Saad Aziz, the lawyer for the Vivares siblings, told the Houston Chronicle it is his position that the constructive trust is still in place for Trill Burgers and that Trill Burgers LLC is in violation of the order. He said the order means they still have to comply with it but it is not enforceable until the court says so.

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"We are either going to resolve this in front of an arbitrator or we're going to resolve this in front of a jury at some point in the next many months, but all of this has been incredibly preliminary," said Charles Adams, the lawyer representing Bun B and Nguyen.
Leader of the Reform party Nigel Farage appears with Allison Pearson

Nigel! Niiiige! Hey, Nige, can I get a selfie? You could be prime minister next week! Nigel, good on you, mate!

Something is happening out there. Or so Nigel Farage keeps saying. Is it? Ive come to Clacton to try to find out. Its a blissfully sunny Saturday morning in Frinton-on-Sea (the posher end of this Essex seaside constituency), where I am witnessing the Farage effect first-hand.

As we walk down Connaught Avenue, full of bijou shops, the leader of the Reform UK party, a hate figure to many, is hailed from both sides of the street as a conquering hero. A striking 60-something mixed-race lady, elegant in coral jacket and matching lipstick, is among those in hot pursuit of the surprisingly slight, impeccably dressed figure. Will you vote for Farage? I ask her. Yes, she replies decisively, but dont tell my husband.

Farther along the road, outside a fancy spa, a blonde woman with two little ones in tow, murmurs, Hes handsome. When I start to write that down, she hastily amends it to dapper. Hes dapper, isnt he. The mum confides that she, too, will be voting Reform on July 4. But dont tell my husband, he cant stand him. Is this a previously unknown voting bloc: Shy Tory Wives for Nigel?

Its not just females falling for Farage. The men, if anything, seem even more smitten, queuing up to get his signature on a Reform party leaflet. A middle-aged couple pull their car over and wind down a window to wish him luck. In a walkabout that lasts an hour and a quarter, during which he must have shaken at least 100 hands, I hear only two dissenting voices. The manager of a charity shop asks Farage to move on because Youre bad for business. And a 20-something guy angrily challenges Farage over his observation, during a BBC Panorama interview with Nick Robinson, that the West provoked Putin into invading Ukraine by ignoring Russian concerns about Nato expansion. The remarks caused a furore in the media (grateful for any opportunity to take down the cocky insurgent) and appear to have triggered the first downward dip in the polls for Reform, after it had briefly overtaken the Conservatives. But geopolitics holds little interest for voters here today. Stop the boats is the concern voiced most often and Farage, who didnt go to university, could win Mastermind with that specialist subject.

The politician is proving popular with locals in Clacton - Belinda Jiao

I notice Farage is perfectly happy to stand on the pavement and debate his critic about the invasion of Ukraine for several minutes, even though two bodyguards with earpieces are hovering anxiously. Farage is brave. He has twice been physically assaulted during this campaign. When a milkshake hit him, Sky News called it humbling. (Typical of the unsympathetic coverage he routinely receives.) How different the tone would have been had a milkshake been thrown at the Labour or Conservative leaders, although there was no chance of that. Both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have conducted dull, prophylactic campaigns, speaking largely to supporters in sanitised environments pre-swept for members of the public with awkward opinions. (The bland leading the bland, quips Farage. Without humour and meeting people, theres no bloody point.) At least here, with a salty breeze off the sea whipping up a frisson of excitement, you get the sense of what election campaigns used to be like when politicians were still prepared to engage robustly with their voters instead of harvesting them by algorithm.

Occasionally, Farage fans can be unhelpful. Youre the next best thing to Enoch Powell, shouts a heavily tattooed man in the Frinton crowd. Farage does not acknowledge the remark. Powell was a hero of the young Nigel, but at this point he could do without any association with the politician who made the notorious Rivers of Blood speech. Because of his stand on immigration, the accusation of racism follows Farage and his party around like a bad smell.

Sure enough, on Friday, Channel 4 claimed to have carried out a sting on one Reform canvasser (not even a candidate) who was filmed calling Sunak vile names and suggesting the Army should just shoot migrants crossing the Channel. The weird, foul-mouthed caricature was nothing like the cheerful volunteers I met at Reform HQ above an amusement arcade in Clacton: Holly and her 15-year-old son, who was excited to report that Reform had won the mock general election at his Kent secondary school; a Northern miner who used to vote Labour; a gay couple down from London to help; husband and wife with an opinionated dachshund called Biscuit. It has been alleged that the canvasser is actually an actor who usually speaks in received pronunciation but turned up in our office like something out of an Alf Garnett sketch, according to Farage. When we speak on Monday morning, he calls it the most enormous stitch-up I have ever seen. I am struggling to control my anger.

Reform has reported Channel 4 to the elections watchdog over scandalous election interference. But Channel 4 are standing by it and the story had already got legs, with Sunak saying he was hurt by racial slurs. Then, over the weekend, the BBC produced a Reform candidate who had defected to the Tories out of disgust with the allegations of racism. And there was a second on Tuesday, Georgie David, who claimed the vast majority of candidates for Farages party are racist, misogynistic and bigoted. (Presumably not including the Sikh candidate in Feltham, sporting a turban in Reform turquoise, who has had his posters vandalised.)

Farage snorts in disbelief when I ask him about the reported defections. Ha! Theyre bribing them to say theyre standing down.

Who is they, Nigel?

Conservative candidates who are so desperate to hang onto their seats theyll literally do anything to discredit Reform.

He says that, before the 2019 general election, he was happy to go inside the Conservative tent, offering his services in the Brexit negotiations. (No one knew more about Brussels than me.) But the Tories turned their noses up. Instead, they offered Farage 10 peerages and a knighthood for himself, he claims, if he would stand down Brexit Party candidates and endorse Boris Johnson.

In the end, I stood down our candidates because I didnt want Corbyn in No 10. They could shove their knighthood.

On Friday morning there will be a lot of humbled Tory ex-ministers and ex-MPs who will dearly wish that their government had cut a deal with that ghastly Farage man. What fools Conservatives were to underestimate and spurn one of the most important and gifted politicians of the modern era. More influential than many prime ministers, certainly the luckless Sunak. Nigel Farage, rebel-rouser extraordinaire, is the only man to ever have won a national election as leader of an insurgent party and, as Michael Crick points out in his superb biography, One Party after Another, Farage managed that remarkable feat twice, five years apart, while leading two different parties. (The 2014 European elections as the leader of Ukip, and the 2019 European elections as the leader of the Brexit Party.)

Now he is back, tormenting the Tories again, gleefully picking up millions of voters who he says are disgusted with a party that has betrayed them with mass immigration, threatening their culture, their values and their history.

'A gameshow host gregariousness': Farage at Reform HQ in Clacton - Belinda Jiao

It feels to me like were going to do better than anyone can imagine, Farage says  and I think he believes it. (The best reader of the political tea leaves, a Tory big beast admits bitterly.) The way the polling companies handle the undecided voters, of whom there were between one and three million, is to weight them back to the last general election. That downplays us by about 3 per cent, muses Farage. So were probably talking about 20 per cent of the vote.

Blimey. Twenty per cent for Reform would not send a tremor through Westminster; it would be a political Krakatoa. All these recent smear stories remind me of Brexit at the point where a Remainer establishment was becoming alarmed that the upstart Leave campaign was doing too well.

This is how it always goes whenever Nigel stands for election, sighs Alex Phillips, Farages close friend, former aide and Brexit Party MEP. Its so predictable  Russian interference, racism, secret filming, dodgy candidate. Then, bam! Nigel is a monster, finish him off.

They wont get rid of him that easily. Friends say Farage has mellowed. Nowadays, we see little of the brash, hard-living, loadsamoney city metals trader. (When he first won a seat in the European Parliament, an interviewer warned: Youll find a never-ending round of invitations to lunches, dinners, champagne receptions. Do you think youll become corrupted by the lifestyle, Nigel? He replied with a grin, No. Ive always lived like that.

His superb presentation skills have been honed and softened a bit on his primetime GB News show, where producers marvel at his ability to work without an autocue. (He just won a second TRIC award for best news presenter and was booed by a TV-biz audience, for whom Farages popularity must be infuriating if not yet chastening. He couldnt care less; luvvies tears are nectar to Nigel.) His appearance last year on Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here (he came third) revealed an immensely self-disciplined man who threw himself into every challenge (Im told he was disappointed that physical limitations, the legacy of a near-death plane crash, meant he couldnt always perform as well as he wanted to). Surprisingly private, with an old-fashioned reticence when it came to talking about himself, the one thing he couldnt quite hide was his control-freakery. The only emotion Farage showed in the jungle (apart from a slightly awkward hug he gave his daughter Izzy, who was teary-eyed at seeing her dad) was a prickly irritation when fellow campmates failed to leave the cooking area tidy overnight. He likes things shipshape does Nigel.

Back in Frinton, while Farage has a brief pitstop in Greggs (hot sausage roll, coffee) and scrolls through the hundreds of emails that arrive hourly on his phone (including a large potential donation to Reform from a wealthy individuals private office), a former RAF fighter pilot comes over to him and says that all his military mates agree with Farage about the EU provoking Putin. I wont be voting for you, the retired pilot says, but I just want you to know youre spot on about that.

A brief pit stop for coffee at Greggs and a scroll through the hundreds of emails he receives every hour - Belinda Jiao

When I ask him if he regrets his Putin remarks, he stubbornly digs in, pointing out that David Cameron and George Osborne foolishly cosied up to China, Tony Blair invaded Iraq and Lord Cameron (he says Lord with a barked laugh of incredulity) caused a shambles in Libya and is responsible for tens of thousands of North Africans coming across to Britain in small boats. Fair enough, but theres no doubt the Russia comment was an unforced error: it put off a lot of ex-military types who might have voted Reform. (Richard Tice, the former leader and now chairman of Reform, was not thrilled about it, I reckon.)

Farage is right: something is definitely happening here. No other politician, except Boris, could command this kind of rapturous reception I witnessed. Farage was predicted to do brilliantly in dilapidated Clacton, but genteel Frinton was meant to be a true-blue stronghold. Although Giles Watling is defending a 24,702 majority here, like most Tory seats it is about as safe as a sandcastle at high tide. Farage says he thinks Frinton is very Walmington-on-Sea, the fictional setting of Dads Army (there can be no higher praise in Nigels Ladybird book of Nostalgia). The day before I got there, the Clacton constituency poll, conducted by JL Partners, had Farage on 48 per cent, 27 points ahead of Watling. He led in every age group apart from 18 to 34-year-olds, and only one in five 2019 Conservative voters was sticking with the party.

Seven times, Farage has stood for the House of Commons  in five general elections and two by-elections  and seven times he has lost. This time, there is little doubt that he will fulfil his promise to go to Westminster and make a bloody nuisance of himself.

As Farage leaves Greggs, a group of boys on the other side of the street shout, Its that bloke off TikTok!, greeting him with whoops and cheers. (One reason Farage agreed last year to do ITVs Im a Celebrity was to reach younger voters. It worked. He now has 814,000 followers on TikTok, 14 million likes and has become a bit of a cool uncle on the kids favourite social media platform. Starmer should think carefully before lowering the voting age.) The teenagers cross the road and, suddenly bashful, approach Farage. Is he God? wonders one aloud, and Farage gives his trademark milk-frother laugh, a spittly sound sticky with nicotine. Behave yourselves, boys, he says, clearly delighted.

Farage looks less like the Almighty than a spiffy Wimbledon umpire in blue blazer with silver buttons, blue shirt, patterned tie and grey slacks. His Camp Coffee tan is a lot more flattering than his friend Trumps terracotta bronzer. Armed with a gameshow host gregariousness (Bob Monkhouse comes to mind), he even has a catchphrase: Tell you what

'Some of the attacks on Nigel are so disproportionate they're funny,' says Pearson - Christopher Pledger

Nigel is old school, says a colleague at GB News. He thinks dressing well and making an effort is a sign of integrity and respect for voters. Im told that Farages girlfriend, Laure, who organised his 60th birthday party in April, has got him eating properly and exercising, though she has her work cut out with the booze and the ciggies. A 40 pack of Rothmans punctuates any conversation you have with Farage.

The leader of the boys chirps, Im gonna vote for Nigel. He is crestfallen when we tell him that, at 14, hes too young.

Not short of cheek is he? beams Farage, who is hardly lacking in that exuberant, rude commodity himself. In fact, Boy who Pointed Out the Emperor Has No Clothes is practically the job description. Only Farage has dared to suggest during this campaign that the NHS is broken and we must copy a system like France has, that works; the UK is skint and the national debt must be reduced; the net zero target is ruinous and mad; the second and third lockdowns were the worst policy mistakes in British history; schoolchildren must not be taught that their history is uniquely evil or that girls can become boys; the needs of British people must come before those of migrants. No wonder the shameless and the naked hate him for pointing out what they will not.

The security team signal that the walkabout has to end (an anti-racist group has arrived in Clacton and tracked down Farage on social media. We have to move quickly because there have been death threats). Just as we are about to climb back into a Range Rover with blacked-out windows, a young lad, who has been hanging back, draws near. Sam, aged 18, looks like the kind of slender, fair-of-face youth that ran into the guns at Passchendaele. I ask him why he has come to see Farage. Sam says his grandad, who was 98, died a week ago and the old man often told his grandson about his time with Lancaster bombers during the war. He talked about this country that pulled together, Sam says, and I think weve lost that.

Sam is learning to be a carpenter. What does he think of Sunak? T---.

Starmer? T--- who will make the wokeys worse, he says, These people talk about gender. In school, we got it the whole time, Sam says, Me and my mates, we hate it. Shut up! I dont tell anyone what I do in bed with my girlfriend, why do we have to hear what they do? Its not normal.

I touch Farage on the shoulder and say that a young man would like to meet him. He turns and stretches out a hand to Sam who, face to face with his hero, stammers out his thanks. I wont forget the look on Sams young face; call it gratitude, a yearning for something that he knows is missing but cant quite place. Is Nigel Farage really the hero this lad is looking for; is he a worthy vessel for all that hope?

Sam, why do your generation like Nigel?

This time, there is no hesitation. Because hes not afraid.

You cannot understand Nigel Farage without knowing he almost died three times. A car accident in the 1980s, testicular cancer, and a plane crash (caused by a Ukip banner that wrapped itself around the tail of the two-seater aircraft) on election day in 2010. The latter left him with a punctured lung, a fractured sternum and several fractured ribs. He has never fully recovered from his back injuries and, every so often, I see him wince in pain. Friends say it has given Farage a carpe diem mentality whereby he will take risks and often do the radical, untested thing rather than the safe option. Ive considered myself, ever since that moment, very, very lucky to be alive, he said, and if before that crash, in politics I was unafraid to take on the Establishment, since that day Ive been fearless.

The minute we are inside the Range Rover on our way to the next appointment, Farage fastidiously applies hand sanitiser and strikes up a cigarette. Does he have any sympathy for Rishi Sunak, who is facing one of the greatest humiliations imaginable?

Id like to feel sympathy, but Rishis so dishonest. I mean, the spinning, Allison. They were putting out on social media the other day that Tories have cut the numbers of people crossing the English Channel. Really? Its about to hit 50,000 illegal migrants since Rishi became PM. And, oh, theyve cut NHS waiting lists apparently. Theres no real frankness or honesty, its all spin. Rishi says, Were the party of low tax, well, just look at their 14-year record. I mean, on a human level, of course, its horrible for Rishi. But it doesnt affect him, does it, theyre worth a billion. He can b----- off to California.

Farage says the differences between Labour and Conservative are pretty marginal. A change of middle management, was his scathing description of the general election before the 5,000-strong crowd at a Reform rally at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on Sunday. They agree on net zero. Their immigration status policies are pretty much exactly the same. One supports the Rwanda policy, the other is cracking down on the criminal gangs, but neither will work. Both are going to put more and more money into the NHS even though its broken. Theres this petty routine, Youre gonna put up taxes 2,000, Youre gonna put up taxes 3,000. No substance to any of it. The countrys skint and they have no plans to cut expenditure and bring down the debt as Reform has.

But what about the true-blue Tory MPs, Nigel, like Suella Braverman, Priti Patel, Danny Kruger, Kemi Badenoch, Karl McCartney in Lincoln, Liz Truss, your friend Jacob [Rees-Mogg is threatened with a loss in North East Somerset]. Theres hardly a fag paper between you and them on policy. Why couldnt you stand down Reform candidates in their seats to give them a chance of winning, so at least there would have been a kernel of sound Right-wingers in a Labour-dominated Commons?

Oh, weve done all that before, Farage says crossly. Ive had 25 years of doing them favours, 25 years of standing aside in elections for various members of Parliament. In 2019, I stood aside for them in 317 seats. What have they ever given me? No chance. No chance! When it comes to it, even the good guys, its party first. Always party. None of them have the guts, frankly, to man up and do whats needed.

He has promised to go to Westminster and 'make a bloody nuisance' of himself - Belinda Jiao

He surprises me by singling out Badenoch, a hotly tipped contender to be post-rout Tory leader, for criticism. Shes very unpleasant, he says. [Hotelier] Rocco Forte threw a party at Browns [Fortes Mayfair hotel] and I was looking forward to talking to her, but we had a really unpleasant exchange. It was a social event, a happy evening, but Kemi was really aggressive towards me. She was like, How dare you? If you come back, youre going to split the vote, youve got to realise that youre going to let us down very, very badly.

I said to her, Youve got no divine right to this, Kemi. The Conservatives have no God-given right to rule. That was what Charles I thought and look what happened to him!

Ouch. Did she take the point? No, she was adamant. We didnt even part on a pleasant note, which was hard. And I thought her attitude, well, in a way, thats very revealing  and I wont forget it in a hurry.

Gosh. Sounds like the realignment of the Right is getting off to a slow start. Badenoch has gone on the offensive, saying Reform switchers are good people but dont realise what theyre voting for (I recall similar condescension towards us thicko Leavers). Farage, she claimed, was like the wolf in the Three Little Pigs. Hes not coming for a cup of tea. As the Conservative Parliamentary party is about to trade its ancient manor house for a leaky Portakabin, Im not convinced it is in any position to demonise the man who is building a major, national centre-Right movement. Nor can I see Farage being anything other than the leader of whichever Right-wing party they end up with, because hes such a control freak. One former colleague recalls an important meeting where Farage, who was chairing, was simultaneously on the phone to stationery companies and the like about office trivia. Not a delegator.

(Its hard to see how that one-man band becomes an orchestra.)

The humiliation of Macron in France has only strengthened the impression that the frictionless elite Davos class of liberal globalists, with their open borders, multiculturalism, lack of concern for community cohesion and condescension towards populism, is on the run. Farage says the similarities between Reform and Marine Le Pens National Rally party are not economic  shes very Left wing, the state is everything to them  but cultural ones.

What is it to be French? The real reason Le Pen is doing so phenomenally well is the French people are furious about the explosion of rape and crime where many migrants are implicated, Farage says. We are not there in this country  dare I add yet? French people say they dont feel safe anymore. Parts of Marseille and northern Paris are no-go areas. The crimes against women are horrendous. And suddenly, the egalitarian French are saying, This has to be stopped. Theyve let a lot of people into their country who dont like France very much. When Le Pen sees people kneel in the street on Friday lunchtime to pray, she says, Is this France? And millions agree with her.

'There is no doubt that Farage provides an infuriating contradiction for his critics,' writes Pearson - Belinda Jiao

That is getting pretty close to the boundary of what its acceptable to say. (That dare I add yet is deliberately provocative.) Farage has tried for years to shrug off the charge that his parties are more than the BNP in blazers. He likes to claim that he actually defused the threat of the hard Right taking root in Britain. Maybe. Still, although I dont think Farage is a racist, its a problem that racists attach themselves to Reform.

When I tell him that a friend of mine (a managing director and another Shy Tory Wife) told her family she was voting Reform and her son accused her of being a racist, Farage gives a two-shouldered Gallic shrug. Look, Ive seen all this over 20 years, Allison. At times, Ive been the sole voice arguing that immigration leads to a decline in living standards for British people. Of course, this has been the Lefts technique. Those who want to break down the idea of country, of borders  the old Trotsky idea that were all global citizens  what they do is attack anybody who dares to stand up against it. And the problem is that most of these problems are caused not by the Left but by Conservative cowardice, the sheer cowardice of those Tories who want to be invited to the right dinner parties in Notting Hill. So Im quite used to that level of prejudice being displayed against me.

Some of the attacks on him are so disproportionate theyre funny. Farages Essex putsch is the new Project Fear  a fear of change, of immigrants and of the modern world, blared one Guardian headline.

Farage thinks Britons are finally waking up to the fact that debating immigration is legitimate not racist, although the media are way behind the public. He says he hears the accusation far less than he did 10 years ago. I think you will find that the sort of Marmite reputation Ive got, the number of people who really think Im a bad dude, is a lot less than it was. In life, if you go against the status quo on anything, youre always going to be painted by those who support the status quo as mad, bad and dangerous. And thats just the way human beings are. I mean, to be honest, I couldnt care less.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Nigel Farages magic power: he couldnt care less.

In her victory speech on Sunday night, Le Pen said, Democracy has spoken, seven years of looking down on citizens will come to an end. It could have been Farage talking. He says 2016 was the beginning of the populist wave. They all wanted it to be an aberration. I think its barely started.

Ironically, he believes a Starmer government is the best option for populisms success in this country. If a Tory government was to be re-elected, it would go on pretending it was Conservative, which would muddy the waters, he says. At least with a Labour government, the British people will see what a liberal, statist, high-taxing, woke, women-have-a-penis, open-border government looks like. He thinks Labour will be in trouble within months because most of Starmers front bench are hopeless, out of their depth.

The opposition to Labour wont be in Parliament, Farage says; it will be in the country. Brexit began as a grassroots movement and he plans to build another mass movement in all parts of the country, ready to challenge Labour in 2029.

'I have many failings, but I am courageous,' says Farage, pictured at his campaign headquarters - Belinda Jiao

There is no doubt that Farage provides an infuriating contradiction for his critics. A Little Englander who married a German woman (his two daughters are bilingual) and, since that marriage ended, has had a longstanding French girlfriend. He is racist and homophobic, yet his closest colleague at GB News is a mixed-race gay man he clearly adores and who adores him. The Reform party is anti-immigrant, yet it is standing a large number of non-white candidates in the general election and its biggest donor is Zia Yusuf, a Muslim tech entrepreneur, who told the event at the NEC that Britain is home to the warmest, most welcoming people in the world and immigrants are attracted here because of British values like equality under the law and freedom of religion. So, not quite the racist, colonialist hellhole the Left likes to claim, then?

Just a mention of the name Nigel Farage can send a shudder through polite company. But why? What is uniquely awful about this immensely affable man, a huge enjoyer of life, who is far more authentic than most political leaders I have interviewed? Why is he a byword for bigotry? I dont think those things even cross his mind, says Phillips. Hes got friends of all races and backgrounds. The only thing you can accuse him of is wanting to protect the culture and history of his country  to some, that is racist or xenophobic, it seems.

My guess is that Farage is a proxy for class hatred. Polls show that the majority of people in this country, on Left and Right, broadly share his views on immigration and defending British traditions. This makes those who dont  the liberal, university-educated minority  uneasy. They wouldnt dare attack the plebs for their views, because it would reveal them to be snobs (because they are snobs). But its safe to demonise Farage, the City slicker, the blokeish caricature who enjoys a pint or five and is a human pinata they can beat while not questioning their own hypocrisy. Thats why when Farage spoke in the final BBC election debate, he was asked only hostile questions (Why are you spreading fear?) and was met with a sullen silence from the audience that in no way reflected the affection and enthusiasm I saw with my own eyes. Nor did it capture the polling which yesterday had reform back on 17 per cent after the Russia blip.

We were Labour, said a lovely Liverpudlian couple I met at Reform HQ in Clacton, but we need Nigel, we need a strong man who can talk a good game. Someone who can speak for us. Yes, they do, and yes he does.

Like many traditional alpha males of his background, Farage is suspicious of emotion. When I ask him for things that make him cry, he bats the question away, embarrassed. Two days after we meet, he texts me to report triumphantly that he has been moved almost to tears. When I announced the birth of my first grandson on stage on Sunday. He jokes he will never forget the boys birthday. Well, it was the anniversary of the Brexit vote.

With a growing TikTok following, Farage is looking to garner the support of younger voters - Belinda Jiao

His background is often described as privileged, but it wasnt all plain sailing. Nigels parents, Barbara and Guy (The best-dressed man in the City: sartorial standards can be hereditary) got divorced in the 1970s at a time when that was still a source of shame. Typically, the bumptious young Nigel (God, I was a nightmare) put it about at prep school that only top people had divorced parents. His bravado hid some hurt, I think. Guy Farage was an alcoholic and Nigel and his younger brother, Andrew, were not allowed to see him for a while. His mother was a hugely outgoing, eccentric woman who posed practically nude for charity calendars (Still likes to enter a room in her 80s and be the centre of attention, Farage says fondly).

Nigel is devoted to his parents, but they werent the easiest, says a family friend. That makes sense. There is something of the orphan about him and about the young men who make up Team Farage. (He really could do with some female advisers.) Fagins gang in Oliver Twist, is one striking description of that macho set-up. Lost boys looking for a hero.

There is one thing Farage didnt tell me but a friend did. His dad has been very ill in hospital these past few difficult, demanding weeks. He wont eat. Nigel asked his father if there was one thing in the world he could eat what would it be? Oysters from Chichester, Farage Senior replied. So Nigel took a break from the campaign drive to get the oysters and brought them back to feed to his dad.

He wont be happy Ive told you that story. In fact, hell probably hate it because its not something he can dismiss with that milk-frother laugh. But its something to bear in mind when you next see the supremely confident Reform leader.

Not an easy man to fathom, Nigel Farage. A workaholic who is always up for fun (How many pubs are we visiting tomorrow?), ruthless but capable of great kindness, not a frog but a shark, a Barnum, a gifted ringmaster who makes the show go on, a big character but recessive, protective of his family but willing to get back in the ring and take more blows himself. Resilient. A ladies man but a hard dog to keep on the porch. An astounding Rain Man ability to remember facts but also to talk to anyone. Wealthy enough to be able to enjoy a comfortable life with his television career and American speaking engagements, but coming back once again to stand as an MP out of a sense of duty. Because when he was at the D-Day commemorations (and unlike Rishi, stayed until the end) he asked himself what all those boys would think now about the country they died for.

It was said of Charles Dickens, He didnt give the people what they wanted; he wanted what the people wanted. That is the secret of the success of Nigel Paul Farage.

There is one highly revealing passage in his memoirs when he looks back on himself as a schoolboy: Whenever I encountered interventionist authority, I was at the forefront of the dissidents, whenever I encountered unthinking acceptance of doctrine, whether about the news or history, I challenged it fiercely whatever my own views, I would champion any neglected damsel in distress amongst ideas against the dragons of prejudice I fought fiercely for anarchy, CND doves and warmongering hawks, Christianity, atheists, the pro and anti-abortion (NOT pro-choice and pro-life) feminism, chauvinism This was not me puppy play fighting, I had discovered in myself a passionate loathing of received opinion. That boy has never grown up. Long may he be a bloody nuisance.

At the end of a packed, tiring day, when we are in the pub  where else?  I remind Farage about Sam, the lovely lad we met earlier whose grandad died and who had sought out Farage, looking for something.

Why on earth are you, Nigel, worthy of Sams trust? He sets down his pint. I have many failings, but I am courageous. I will fight and fight anyone who needs fighting and I will bloody well go on fighting.
Amber Haigh was a 19-year-old mother when she vanished from the NSW Riverina in 2002, leaving behind her five-month-old son. Photograph: ODPP NSW

Three months before she disappeared, Amber Haigh told a woman she befriended at a train station that the man now charged with her murder used to ply her with alcohol, tie her to a bed and have sex with her, a court has heard.

Haigh was a 19-year-old mother when she vanished from the NSW Riverina in July 2002, leaving behind her five-month-old son.

Now the father of her child, 64-year-old Robert Geeves, and his wife, Anne Geeves, are facing trial, each charged with her murder. They have both pleaded not guilty.

Related: A very vulnerable young woman: what happened to Amber Haigh?

Petrina Ingram met Haigh in March 2002, after both of their trains were delayed, leaving them stranded at Cootamundra railway station for several hours together, the court heard. The pair had lunch and ice-cream together.

Haigh was travelling to Sydney with her young son, still in a pram, and whom Ingram told the supreme court on Monday Haigh was clearly besotted with.

When Ingram complimented Haigh on her pram or blanket  I cant remember which  Haigh replied that it was a gift from the wife of the father of her child.

I found it shocking, I was shocked by that comment  I said: What? Does she know about the baby?

Ingram told the court Haigh talked to her about her relationship with Robert and Anne Geeves.

She told me that both the husband and wife would come to her place in Young, that they would bring alcohol with them. They would all drink the alcohol until she [Haigh] was drunk and then the wife would go home and that the husband would tie her to the bed and have sex with her.

Ingram told the court she kept a diary in 2002 and wrote an account of the conversation in her diary that night. She also told her partner.

Ingram said three months later, in June 2002, she saw a news report saying that Haigh was missing, and asking for people with information to come forward.

Ingram told the court she rang CrimeStoppers to report her meeting with Haigh to police  including Haighs disclosures about being tied up  and said she was told a detective would call her back.

She said she called CrimeStoppers twice more in the years that followed  including once in 2008 when she saw another news item about Haighs disappearance  but never received a call back.

She said she was finally telephoned in 2024 by Snr Const Amanda Cary, a homicide detective whod been reassigned to the case. Under cross-examination, Ingram agreed she had been disappointed police had not called sooner.

Before Ingrams testimony, the court heard legal argument about the admissibility of her and other witnesses evidence. Defence counsel argued the probative value of the evidence of Haighs disclosures that she was allegedly tied up was outweighed by its prejudice to the Geeves.

Justice Julia Lonergan ultimately ruled in favour of admitting Ingrams evidence, saying it was not unfairly prejudicial to Robert or Anne Geeves. The judge has not ruled on other witnesses evidence.

She said Haigh had made multiple recounts of identical or similar information to other people in her life. Some of those people are expected to give evidence later in this trial.

Haighs unresolved disappearance has been an enduring mystery in the Harden area of the Riverina, where she was living at the time. She left behind a five-month-old son that, the court has heard, she adored and never let our of her sight.

Haighs body has never been found.

In 2022 the NSW government offered $1m for information leading to a conviction over her disappearance and presumed murder.

The prosecution has alleged in court that Haigh  who had an intellectual disability and was described in court as very easily misled  was used by the Geeveses as a surrogate mother because they wanted another baby.

It alleges that once Haighs baby was born  fathered by Robert Geeves  they sought to have her removed from the equation by killing her.

Haigh was last seen on 5 June 2002. The Geeveses say they drove her to Campbelltown railway station, from where she was to visit her sick father, that evening, and have neither seen nor heard from her since, the court has heard.

They told police Haigh left her five-month-old son in their custody.

Related: Woman accused of murdering teenager Amber Haigh watched her have sex with husband, court hears

The Geeveses reported Haigh missing a fortnight later, on 19 June 2002. In 2011, a coroner ruled Haigh had died from homicide or misadventure sometime in 2002.

The supreme court has previously heard the Geeveses 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, but they knew that to do that, Amber had to be removed from the equation  so, the crown asserts, they killed her.

The crown case is circumstantial, the court has heard, but in the absence of forensic evidence over Haighs disappearance will rely on witness testimony from people who knew Haigh, and were concerned she was being exploited and abused by the Geeveses.

The court has heard the crown case will also include evidence of phone intercepts  placed in the Geeveses home and car in 2002  that were retranscribed in 2019, with significant discrepancies from the original transcripts discovered. These will be contested in court.

Lawyers for Robert and Anne Geeves have argued the case against the couple  now more than two decades old  was deeply flawed, arguing 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, the court has heard.

The judge-alone trial continues in Wagga Wagga.
Concerns have been raised about Joe Biden's mental and physical health - Jacquelyn Martin

Joe Bidens loss of control in his debate performance was not a one-off, sources have told one of Americas most respected investigative journalists.

Carl Bernstein, who broke the Watergate scandal, said insiders close to the US president believe he has shown increasing spells of cognitive decline and physical infirmity.

That there have been 15, 20, occasions in the last year and a half when the president has appeared somewhat as he did in that horror show that we witnessed, Mr Bernstein, now a CNN analyst, said.

Mr Bernstein, the former Washington Post investigative reporter who helped bring down Richard Nixon, continued: These people say that in the last six months particularly there have been marked incidents of cognitive decline and physical infirmity.

During his debate practice sessions at Camp David, Mr Biden never began before 11am and was given time off for a daily afternoon nap, according to the New York Times.

Preparations were apparently cut short by two days because the US President was recovering from two recent overseas trips to Europe.

One senior European official said attendees at the G7 summit in Italy last month were shocked by Mr Bidens condition, and that he had noticeably declined since last year.

A former US official who helped organise the trip said they dont know whether they would put the 81-year-old in a room with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.

Mr Bernstein said those who had approached Mr Biden's former chief of staff Ron Klain about the president's 'inexplicable moments' have been 'pushed back repeatedly' - ANDREA RENAULT/AFP via Getty Images

The June 27 debate, which saw a fumbling and halting performance from the 81-year-old president, raised concerns about his health and sparked criticism from some voters and donors.

It also led the New York Times editorial board to issue an op-ed saying that Mr Biden should step aside as the Democratic Party candidate in the November 5 election. Voters, however, cannot be expected to ignore what was instead plain to see: Mr Biden is not the man he was four years ago, the New York Times wrote.

[My sources] are adamant that what we saw the other night  the Joe Biden we saw  is not a one-off, he said.

Repeatedly pushed back

Mr Bernstein did not disclose to whom he had spoken, but said they were people who have supported him, loved him, campaigned for him, see him often.

He added that those who had approached Mr Bidens former chief of staff Ron Klain  who has faced sharp criticism for the presidents debate performance  about these inexplicable moments have been pushed back repeatedly.

People Ive talked to have all been to Ron Klain to say we have a problem, we have a problem such as we saw the other night, he said.

Although no Democrat politicians have publicly called for Mr Bidens campaign to be suspended, there is concern that his age could lose his party the presidency and the House of Representatives on Nov 5.

A post-debate CBS poll showed a 10-point jump in the percentage of Democrats who believe Biden should not be running for president, to 46 per cent from 36 per cent in February.

Voters, however, cannot be expected to ignore what was instead plain to see: Mr Biden is not the man he was four years ago, wrote the New York Times editorial board on Friday, in an uncharacteristically critical piece about the president.

Mr Bernstein said that while there is no question about how sharp Joe Biden is in his national security briefings, staff are dealing with two sets of one person in the White House.

Some Democrats have blamed Mr Bidens top team for refusing to discuss him stepping back before the partys primary elections earlier this year.

The fact is, there wasnt an open dialogue about whether he should run except for the people who would benefit from him running, one Democrat operative told Politico.

A party donor who is concerned about the presidents ailing health added: Weve all enabled the situation.

Junior staff scared

Many of Mr Bidens aides, including Mr Klain, have been political allies of the president for decades of his 52-year career in Washington politics.

But some more junior staff are scared of the president, and deliberately avoid briefing him on topics he will not like, Politico claimed.

Its like, You cant include that, that will set him off, or Put that in, he likes that, one senior administration official said.

Mr Bernstein (L) in 1973 with Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham and investigative journalist Bob Woodward - Mark Godfrey

Its a Rorschach test, not a briefing. Because he is not a pleasant person to be around when hes being briefed. Its very difficult, and people are scared s---less of him.

The White House denied that aides edit briefings to avoid upsetting Mr Biden.

Media briefings

Mr Bidens campaign has also blamed the media and the presidents political opponents for whipping up concerns about his age after Thursdays debate.

Many of the Democrat voices criticising him are former aides of Barack Obama, who did not enjoy working with Mr Biden as vice president from 2009 to 2017.

The bedwetting brigade is calling for Joe Biden to drop out, wrote Rob Flaherty, the deputy campaign manager, in a memo to Democrats at the weekend.

That is the best possible way for Donald Trump to win and us to lose. First of all: Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee, period. End of story. Voters voted.
Barlow spent just 34 years in jail after being convicted of 11 rapes, three attempted rapes, indecent assault and using a firearm to resist arrest - MEN Media

The Coronation Street rapist, one of Britains most dangerous sex attackers, is seeking to be released from jail despite being convicted of 13 life sentences.

The parole board is expected to announce tomorrow whether Andrew Barlow, dubbed the Coronation Street rapist because of the way he attacked his victims in their own terraced homes, can be released on parole.

Barlow, 68, from Bolton in Lancashire, was once Britains most wanted man after a string of sex assaults on women and girls across five counties during the 1980s.

He spent just 34 years in jail after being convicted of 11 rapes, three attempted rapes, indecent assault and using a firearm to resist arrest.

Mr Barlow was formerly known as Andrew Longmire - MEN Media

He was subsequently found guilty of two further rapes in 2010 and 2017, both committed during the 1980s. The final two convictions were for offences committed in 1981 and 1982.

In the first, he raped a woman in front of her three-year-old child, who was hiding behind the settee in their home.

In 2017, Barlow was convicted again  this time of the rape of a 15-year-old girl committed in Great Lever, Bolton, in January 1982.

He went into the girls home at around 8.45am, when she was alone in her bedroom, after both her parents had left the house. He threatened the petrified girl with a knife and pulled off her clothes before raping her.

The cold cases were solved thanks to advances in DNA technology and Barlow admitted them both but said he could not remember either attack.

Mr Barlow is making a new bid for freedom - MEN Media

Barlow, formerly known as Andrew Longmire, was released from prison in March last year, only to be recalled six weeks later, and he has now launched an attempt to try to win his freedom.

Dominic Raab, the former justice secretary, objected to the parole boards original plans to release him, describing his crimes as despicable. He argued that the panel which sanctioned Barlows release failed to take proper account of the evidence regarding risk and in particular the expert psychology evidence.

This was based on slightly differing reports from two psychologists about the safety of Barlows release  one declared him safe, while another said he should be further tested in open [jail] before being confirmed for release.

The Parole Board rejected Mr Raabs application in February, saying that there has been no misdirection of law and the panel had considered all the evidence.

In May last year, the Government confirmed that Barlow had been recalled to prison after an unspecified breach of his conditions.
A researcher with one of the 50 giant African pouched rats working to diagnose TB in patients across Africa - APOPO

Eugene has just returned home from a long day at work. His job is demanding  he saves lives, after all.

As he tucks into his dinner  a modest serving of nuts, seeds, and sardines  he feels satisfied with his days achievements.

Except he doesnt, because hes a rat. And although rats are sentient beings, their brains cant quite process the feeling of job satisfaction.

Eugene and his esteemed colleagues (e.g. Lois, Campbell, and Eunice)  are some of around 50 giant African pouched rats working to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) infections in patients across Africa.

The bacterial disease claims roughly 1.3 million lives per year, over a third of which are on the African continent. Symptoms include a prolonged cough, chest pain, weakness, weight loss and fever before it eventually kills.

TB is almost always curable if detected early on  but in sub-Saharan Africa fewer than half of patients will ever receive a diagnosis because clinics and laboratories are so thinly spread.

This is where Eugene and his furry friends might provide a solution.

The rodents have so far screened an impressive half a million TB samples - APOPO

Although rodents are infamous reservoirs of disease (the bubonic plague, or Black Death which killed off half of Europe in the 1300s was transmitted via rats) this team of super-sniffers are quite the opposite.

The rodents have so far screened half a million TB samples in Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique  all of which rank in the top 30 countries with the highest burden of the disease.

The creatures, which can grow to be roughly the size of a dachshund, act as a second-line defence, double-checking negative tests from local clinics to see if they might have missed the presence of the TB bacteria in samples.

365 days a year, couriers on motorbikes collect TB-negative samples from clinics in the countries cities, towns, and villages and bring them to the rats, which are based in central labs operated by the Belgian charity APOPO.

You may have heard of them  the non-profits specially trained rodents are most famously used to detect unexploded landmines in current and former warzones like South Sudan, Angola, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

When the World Health Organization declared a TB emergency in Africa in 2005, the charity, which was already training its creatures in Tanzania before shipping them off to conflict areas, wanted to see if they could help.

The answer was yes  TB bacteria emits a strong tar-like scent, which was found to be easily identifiable to the giant African pouched rat.

The rats take turns sniffing tiny trays of mucus - APOPO

The rats take turns sniffing around 100 tiny trays of mucus each, which takes them just 20 minutes.

Samples are laid out on a tray in the rats cages.

The rodents pace up and down, and hover over samples they detect as positive for approximately three seconds.

They wont do it for free though  every positive finding comes with a treat, which usually consists of avocados, bananas, or sardines (Eugene loves a banana smoothie, apparently).

Those results are then verified by human technicians  but the rats are almost always right, with a 90 per cent accuracy rate.

Since 2008, when the project was first launched, the rodents have found 30,000 cases that had been diagnosed as false negatives, potentially saving up to half a million lives (the infectious nature of the disease means that just one person can infect upwards of 15 others).

In one study, APOPOs rats were put to the test at the charitys main research lab in Dar Es Salaam.

They were tasked with analysing 10,523 samples from patients whose tests had already undergone traditional screening. Of these, 13.3 per cent had already been identified as TB-positive.

The rats have a 90 per cent accuracy rate - APOPO

The rats then detected an additional 620 cases, which subsequent technician re-evaluation confirmed to be positive  increasing the detection rate by nearly 50 per cent.

In most developing countries, TB is detected using a method known as spectrum smear microscopy, explained Tefera Agizew, who runs APOPOs TB programme.

The method was invented in the 1880s, and has changed little since then.

Technicians examine phlegm samples under a microscope to spot the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis.

And under perfect conditions, its extremely accurate.

But a lack of skill, faulty equipment, and the fact that it doesnt work particularly well on HIV-positive patients means that it misses up to 60 per cent of cases in sub-Saharan Africa.

The WHO recommends that countries use rapid molecular diagnostic tests (RMDT) instead  which is essentially the same as a PCR test.

But this poses another problem for low-income countries: its cost.

Whilst the rat method comes in at $1.1 per sample, RMDTs cost around $18  a problem for many of the struggling health systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

In sub-Saharan settings, the diagnostics are incredibly poor, and its also expensive  we wanted to fill the gap and raise the detection rate and thought our rats could help, explained Agizew.

Smear microscopy tests also take 4-5 days, but we deliver clinics the rat results in 24 hours. If a patient comes in, theyll know their TB status by the next morning, he added.

The rats are cheap to operate  we feed them bananas and avocados, all of which are sourced locally  speed, sensitivity, and cost-wise they really are better than what most of Africa is currently using.

Its not the first time animals have been used in disease detection.

Dogs, rats, and even ants have been used to find various cancers by sniffing peoples skin, bodily fluids, and breath. Agizew says that APOPOs rats could be used to detect more diseases, too, like salmonella and brucellosis.

But not everyone is convinced.

APOPO believes its rats could be used to detect more diseases - APOPO

The main concern is the number of individuals that the rats would flag as positive where no other evidence would support that diagnosis  a re-evaluation by a human might be confirmation bias, said Mike Barer, Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester.

A standard TB treatment course is six months and there is an adverse reaction rate within that.

Possible side effects include liver and eye damage, and so its never a good idea to treat someone who isnt unwell, Prof Barer added.

That being said, smear microscopy can miss a lot of cases, particularly because in Africa there are often difficulties including other bugs contaminating the samples. You also need a reasonable level of technical expertise to have confidence in the results, so there are definitely problems, he explained.

Experts have also noted that the rats cannot differentiate between TB and drug-resistant strains.

Agizew and his team at APOPO, however, think their four-legged friends are an important contribution to the fight against tuberculosis, and hope to expand their work in future.

In Tanzania and Ethiopia, TB is declining at an annual rate of 5 per cent  which is not enough. Our rats are contributing to a faster decline, which is what is needed if we are to eliminate the disease, he said.

In an ideal world, we would want to expand  2.5 million cases are coming each year from India, if we could start a programme there, I think it would make a huge difference, Agizew added.

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Danielle Carr-Gomm, who died at a Wiltshire alternative medicine workshop where the diabetic was allegedly encouraged to stop taking insulin - CARR-GOMM FAMILY/SWNS

An alternative healer who is accused of killing a diabetic grandmother at his slap therapy retreat after encouraging her to stop taking insulin said darkness comes before the dawn as she lay dying, a court heard.

Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, viewed Hongchi Xiao, the holistic therapist, as a messenger sent by God, jurors were told.

On Tuesday, prosecutors said Carr-Gomm believed the practitioner  who jurors have been told had an unshakable belief that Western medicine was evil  was starting a revolution to change the whole system of health care. Mr Xiao was referred to as Master Xiao at the Wiltshire workshop where Carr-Gomm died and prosecutors described his participants as his keen disciples.

Prosecutors allege that Mr Xiao, 61, knew he wielded influence over Carr-Gomm when he praised her for stopping taking her insulin.

They say that Mr Xiao should have known the consequences of a type 1 diabetic not taking their insulin because Carr-Gomm became extremely unwell at a previous workshop and because a six-year-old boy died during another of his retreats.

A court artist's depiction of Hongchi Xiao appearing at Winchester Crown Court where he is charged with manslaughter - ELIZABETH COOK/PA

Mr Xiao is standing trial at Winchester Crown Court, Hants, accused of manslaughter following Carr-Gomms death at his four-day paida lajin course at Cleeve House in Melksham, Wilts, in October 2016.

Paida lajin means slap and stretch in Chinese, and practitioners such as Mr Xiao, who has no medical qualifications, believe the practice of slapping people in various positions can cure diseases and ailments.

Duncan Atkinson KC, prosecuting, said Carr-Gomm previously attended a workshop of Mr Xiaos in Bulgaria and left him testimonials, despite becoming extremely unwell after stopping taking insulin and having to be given it.

In one left on his website, she said: You are definitely messenger sent by God.

She said Mr Xiao was starting a revolution  to put the power back in the hands of the people to cure themselves and to change the whole system of health care.

Carr-Gomm sought out alternative therapy as she was a vegetarian with a fear of needles.

Cleeve House in Wiltshire where Danielle Carr-Gomm died while attending a four-day paida lajin course hosted by Hongchi Xiao - SWNS

Mr Atkinson said participants at the Wiltshire workshop interpreted Carr-Gomms worsening condition as a healing crisis.

Mr Xiao told the 30-person workshop that there were three stages to the healing process in paida lajin, and that illness like Carr-Gomms was darkness before dawn breaks.

Participants fasted and only drank Chinese tea. At classes, Mr Xiao slapped them using his hand and a paddle.

Over the course of the retreat, Carr-Gomm was heard crying and howling in pain, then found alone in bed, pale, sweaty, drooling at the mouth and unable to talk.

On the second day of the workshop, she was heard crying and yelling while lying on her bed.

A day later she was vomiting and by the evening she was howling in pain and was unable to respond to questions.

Could have been saved

Mr Atkinson said: [Mr Xiao] had, but did not take, repeated opportunities to call for medical assistance.

Both his experience with [the six-year-old boy] and with Mrs Carr-Gomm in Bulgaria would have made abundantly clear to him that her life was increasingly in danger.

The medical evidence is that Mrs Carr-Gomms life could have been saved if medical aid was called.

By the time medical assistance was sought the next day it was too late. Carr-Gomm had died of diabetic ketoacidosis as a direct result of the decision to stop taking insulin, Mr Atkinson said.

Mr Xiao, from Cloudbreak, California, denies manslaughter.

The court has heard that he believes medicines are evil and that doctors brainwash people into prescribing them medication.

The trial continues.
Joe Biden pictured arriving at Fort McNair in Washington - AFP

The Democrats may stamp out suggestions that Joe Biden could be replaced by a younger candidate by installing him as their presidential nominee a month before their own convention.

Mr Biden could become the partys official candidate as early as July 21, when the conventions credentials committee holds a virtual meeting, sources told Bloomberg.

The Democratic National Convention, where delegates gather to traditionally cast their votes for the partys presidential candidate, is not scheduled to begin until August 19.

It comes as Democratic politicians and donors urge the 81-year-old to stand aside for a younger successor to take on Donald Trump in Novembers election, following his debate performance on Thursday.

Nevertheless, Mr Biden has signalled that he intends to fight on  something he has been encouraged to do by family members, who joined him at Camp David, the presidents country retreat, this weekend.

Among the names floated to replace Mr Biden are Gavin Newsom, the 56-year-old governor of California, and Gretchen Whitmer, 52, the governor of Michigan.

Democrats had previously planned to nominate Mr Biden before the convention began to ensure he made it onto the ballot in Ohio.

The Buckeye State had set a deadline of August 7 for candidates to be certified, although that has since been moved back.

Democrats have already altered their rules on voting procedures, allowing a potential roll-call vote before delegates have convened in person in Chicago, where the convention will be held.

The development would mean that Mr Biden is nominated shortly after his Republican rival, Donald Trump, who will accept his partys nomination at the Republican convention on July 18.

The US president was widely acknowledged to have performed poorly against Trump in their debate on Thursday, as he struggled to articulate himself, mumbled, and lost his train of thought.

I dont know what he said at the end of that sentence. I dont think he knows what he said either, Trump said at one point.

Nevertheless, Mr Biden declared he would fight and win the presidential election in a fiery appearance at a rally in North Carolina the following day.

Members of the Biden family have urged him to continue his re-election bid while pinning blame for the debate performance on his inner circle  notably Bob Bauer, the US presidents personal attorney, and his wife, senior adviser Anita Dunn.
President Joe Biden with grandson Beau Biden, son Hunter Biden, Melissa Cohen Biden and first lady Jill Biden on 1 July. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

When Joe Biden became engulfed in a plagiarism scandal during his first US presidential campaign in 1987, his adviser and friend Ted Kaufman was blunt: Theres only one way to stop the sharks, and thats pull out, he said.

When Biden was contemplating another run for the White House in 2015, it fell to another longtime confidant, Mike Donilon, to deliver the verdict. I caught him looking at me and gestured, What is it, Mike? Biden later wrote in his memoir. I dont think you should do this, he said.

Related: Anxious donors plot next moves after Biden debate calamity

On both occasions, Biden heeded the advice. Now, in 2024, he is president but again facing questions over his future after a car crash debate performance against Donald Trump last week. The debacle has also shone a critical light on the counsel provided by his most trusted advisers.

It was the Biden campaign that called the early debate, set rules that seemed to play into his opponents hands and rehearsed him for the televised showdown. Members of Bidens family reportedly criticised his top advisers at Camp David last weekend and urged him to make changes.

Some donors have also called for a shake-up of a team that includes Donilon, a close adviser since the 1980s; Ron Klain, Bidens first White House chief of staff; Ted Kaufman, who has at his side for more than half a century; Anita Dunn, a former White House counsel and longtime adviser; and Dunns husband, Bob Bauer, the presidents personal lawyer who played the role of Trump in practice sessions at Camp David.

The debate strategy was signed off by campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon, who helped Biden in 2020 and was appointed in January to boost his re-election campaign, and endorsed by Dunn.

@JoeBidens advisers failed him, John Morgan, a top Democratic donor, posted on the X social media platform. Format was a disaster for him and a plus for Trump. He over practiced and was drained who wouldnt be.

Morgan added: Biden has for too long been fooled by the value of Anita Dunn and her husband. They need to go TODAY. The grifting is gross. It was political malpractice.

Bidens biggest career decisions have always come down to family. His wife, Jill Biden, and son Hunter Biden are adamant that he should stay in the race for the White House and no one carries more weight. His sister Valerie Biden Owens, who ran many of his election campaigns, is one of his fiercest defenders.

Donilon, 65, Klain, 62, and 85-year-old Kaufman are the ultimate Biden insiders and will now be thinking about how to steady the ship. Biden reportedly talks to Donilon several times a day and Klain most days. Donilon was the mastermind of the 2020 election strategy focused on the defence of democracy. Both he and Klain, taking time off from his work as chief legal officer, went to Camp David for debate prep (Klains ninth overall).

Biden regularly meets Kaufman for lunch when he returns to Delaware for the weekend. When Bidens family sat him down and asked him to run for president in 2008, the New York Times reported, Kaufman was the only non-Biden in the room. Valerie Biden Owens wrote in her memoir: Joe has long since said that Ted Kaufman is the wisest man hes ever known. Ted is his true north.

The campaign is going to have to operate at a higher level now

The Biden campaign wanted a debate unusually early, in June, to alert voters to the threat posed by Trump. They got their way in Atlanta with a mute button, no studio audience and no Robert F Kennedy. Yet Biden, 81, appeared out of sorts, stumbling over words, losing his train of thought and failing to stem the tide of Trumps lies.

Bill Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution thinktank and former policy adviser to President Bill Clinton, said: Ive talked to a number of people whove been involved in previous debate sessions who do believe that the president was over-prepared, that his head was stuffed with too many facts and too few themes and that it would have been better to build on his instincts rather than to create poll-tested and focus-grouped alternatives to what he would have said spontaneously.

The Democratic party has been convulsed by a debate over whether Biden should drop out in favour of a younger candidate, a process that carries massive risks of its own. But the Biden family  including Hunter  and his senior advisers have rallied around the president and insisted that he fight on.

Galston added: I would have preferred deeper and more nuanced reflection than appears to have occurred and Im hoping against hope that this doesnt represent the last word on the subject but it may well.

The day after the debate, Biden bounced back with a forceful speech in North Carolina and a pledge to keep going. In an email to supporters on Saturday, OMalley Dillon said internal polls and focus groups showed no change in voters opinions in battleground states after the debate.

She warned overblown media narratives may drive temporary dips in the polls, but said she was confident Biden would win in November. The campaign is eager to end the conversation and move on. Some Democrats, however, are still demanding answers.

Simon Rosenberg, a party strategist, wrote on his Hopium Chronicles website: Yes we need to hear from Joe Biden and the campaign in the coming days about why Thursday night went so wrong, and what can be done to ensure such terrible events dont happen again. They need some time to discuss internally and come together around a new strategy.

In a phone interview, Rosenberg added: The campaign is going to have to operate at a higher level now because I think our job got a little bit harder, and were going to have to fight a lot harder than we were. I think people understand that. The campaign is going to have to do more and take more responsibility now than it was before. But were up for it.

The Biden campaign has been condemned as insular and defensive. There were calls for it to work with  not against  allies who have legitimate concerns about what they saw last Thursday.

Patrick Gaspard, president of the Center for American Progress thinktank, said: They need not go it alone right now. They need not be bunkered at all. Theyve got to work with humility, with vulnerability, with all of the partners out here who love this president, care deeply about the crisis of democracy that were in and are determined to all do our part.

He added: That team now has a responsibility to expand the circle of support and the circle of trust and the circle of storytelling.

The Biden campaign said in an email that no staff shake-up is under consideration. The presidents loyalty to his inner circle means that it is unlikely heads will roll; he resisted calls to fire national security adviser Jake Sullivan after the US militarys botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. But there is pressure to change course.

Kurt Bardella, a Democratic strategist, said the campaign needs to promote the notion that what happened at that debate was a fluke. We need to see that the norm is a robust, vigorous, energetic, capable, competent candidate. The only way to do that is to get him out there everywhere. Theyve resisted to this point doing things like the Super Bowl. They have limited his exposure. They have understandably kept him in a bit of a bubble.

Bardella added: People believe he can stick to a script if its handed to him and its right there before him. People believe that he can operate if there are those guardrails around him. The question that the American people have is, if those guardrails arent there, how will he do it? The only time they have seen him so far without those guardrails was at this debate and it was a disaster.
More than 150 people were admitted to hospitals after the crush

At least 107 people have been killed in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in northern India, local officials have said.

The incident happened in a village in the Hathras district, about 125 miles southeast of the national capital New Delhi, where a large crowd had gathered in response to a call from a local religious leader.

A local official said: We have confirmed 97 deaths so far and are focusing on providing relief and medical aid for the victims.

Umesh Tripathi, a medical official, added that more than 150 people were admitted to hospitals after the crush and that the death toll could still rise.

Unverified videos showed dozens of bodies, many of them women, piled up on the ground outside a local hospital.

Ashish Kumar, Hathras district administrator, told reporters: The incident happened due to overcrowding at the time when people were trying to leave the venue.

An unidentified witness told broadcaster India Today that there was a narrow exit at the venue: As we tried to exit towards a field, suddenly a commotion started, and we didnt know what to do.

Shakuntala Devi, another witness, said: When the sermon finished, everyone started running out.

People fell in a drain by the road. They started falling on top of the other and got crushed to death.

Overcrowding may be factor

Police said overcrowding may have been a factor. Initial reports suggested that over 15,000 people had gathered for the event, which only had permission to host about 5,000.

Uttar Pradesh is Indias most populous state with more than 200 million people. Yogi Adityanath, chief minister, ordered an investigation.

Instructions have been given to the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on war footing and to provide proper treatment to the injured, he said.

Deadly stampedes are relatively common during Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with few safety measures.

In 2013, pilgrims visiting a temple for a popular Hindu festival in central Madhya Pradesh state trampled each other amid fears that a bridge would collapse, and at least 115 were crushed to death or died in the river.

In 2011, more than 100 Hindu devotees died in a crush at a religious festival in the southern state of Kerala.
Keir Starmer and David Lammy

Foreign policy rarely features as much as it once did in British general elections. Defence was a key issue in the 1983 and 1987 elections before Labour dropped its policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament. Brexit clearly had a major impact on the UKs relations with Europe yet was seen more through domestic eyes despite its foreign policy implications.

But this campaign has seen little discussion beyond expressions of support for Ukraine and the argument that ensued over Nigel Farages comments about the role Nato played in encouraging Vladimir Putin to invade.

If Labour wins office on Friday, a highly inexperienced team will be confronted with as complex an international landscape as any seen since the Cold War. One of Sir Keir Starmers first acts as prime minister will be to attend a Nato summit next week marking 75 years of the alliance.

He will be alongside an American president widely regarded as no longer up to the job, a lame duck French leader and a German Chancellor whose countrys powerhouse economy is tanking rapidly. Populists are taking power across Europe even as Britain prepares to elect its most Left-wing administration since the 1970s.

The most immediate foreign policy crisis could well be a sudden influx of migrants across the Channel in the sure knowledge they will not be sent to Rwanda. Sir Keir says vaguely that he will talk to the French government about this but if the Right-wing National Rally wins power, he will have his work cut out to get a deal that involves France keeping would-be asylum seekers bound for Britain.

To navigate these waters a Labour government will need a foreign secretary of some experience and standing. The question for Sir Keir is whether that should be the shadow occupant of the role, David Lammy.

He may have to deal with a US government led by Donald Trump, whom he once called a woman-hating neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath and a profound threat to the international order.

Mr Lammy has also voted against renewing the Trident deterrent and said in 2016 that he cannot do so because of his Christian faith. Sir Keir has declined to say whether Mr Lammy will be foreign secretary and may opt for someone more experienced. Even if it causes ructions in the party, the choice he makes must be for the good of the country.
The Woodlands Towers at The Waterway are seen near The Woodlands Mall in 2022. The Woodlands' developer Howard Hughes has purchased a 6-story office building and 3-acre lot in Town Center as its office portfolio in the area reaches near-capacity. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Construction continues on an apartment building at One Riva Row in 2023. The Woodlands' developer Howard Hughes has purchased a 6-story office building and 3-acre lot in Town Center as its office portfolio in the area reaches near-capacity. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Artist Alex Katzs 3,580 square-foot mural is seen along The Woodlands Waterway Square in 2023. The Woodlands' developer Howard Hughes has purchased a 6-story office building and 3-acre lot in Town Center as its office portfolio in the area reaches near-capacity. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer The Grogan's Mill Village Center is shown in 2023. The Woodlands' developer Howard Hughes has purchased a 6-story office building and 3-acre lot in Town Center as its office portfolio in the area reaches near-capacity. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer The Ritz Carlton Residences-The Woodlands will be located just south of Hughes Landing on Lake Woodlands Drive and Lake Robbins. The Woodlands' developer Howard Hughes has purchased a 6-story office building and 3-acre lot in Town Center as its office portfolio in the area reaches near-capacity. Howard Hughes The Grogan's Mill Village Center is shown in 2023. The Woodlands' developer Howard Hughes has purchased a 6-story office building and 3-acre lot in Town Center as its office portfolio in the area reaches near-capacity. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Howard Hughes is constructing a 13-story tower with penthouses, apartments and townhomes in a development called 1 Riva Row on The Woodlands Waterway. The Woodlands' developer Howard Hughes has purchased a 6-story office building and 3-acre lot in Town Center as its office portfolio in the area reaches near-capacity. Courtesy of Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes has purchased a six-story office building on The Woodlands Waterway.

The developer acquired Waterway Plaza II, a 142,000-square-foot building on a 3.2-acre site in The Woodlands Town Center, according to a June 27 release.

At 55% occupied, the building adds much-needed space to Howard Hughes' office portfolio within Town Center, which is 96% leased. The site, which also includes a 1,316-space parking garage, could also be redeveloped, CEO David O'Reilly said in a release.

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"We have an unparalleled long-term covered land play with an attractive, low-cost basis as our downtown continues to attract companies and employees seeking a business-friendly location and high-quality lifestyle, OReilly said. Our Woodlands Town Center office portfolio is essentially fully leased, and with the execution of our strategic plan to meet the ongoing demand, we expect Waterway Plaza II will achieve (a net operating income) of $3 million in the coming years.

Town Center changes

The developer, which is headquartered at 9950 Woodloch Forest Drive in Town Center, recently renovated its tower's cafe to occupy Australian-based health-conscious cafe Bluestone Lane.

Farther along The Waterway, The Woodlands will soon have its first high-rise luxury apartment building. The 13-story, 268-unit project is set to open in the first quarter of 2025.

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Last July, Howard Hughes transferred The Woodlands Waterway into public hands with The Woodlands Township. Howard Hughes maintains some rights to build future pedestrian bridges connecting its properties and can purchase some parcels near trolley stops for future development, but the township is free to add programs to those areas without restrictions, township legal counsel Bret Strong said last year.

"This is a very historic item on our agenda and something we have looked forward to for a long time, Township board chairman Ann Snyder said last year.

The Town Center area has also been home to several new public artworks, including art benches, bike rack artworks and an upcoming mural celebrating The Woodlands' 50th anniversary.

Located just behind the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, the mural will showcase the beauty of The Woodlands as "the livable forest" and will host The Woodlands 50th anniversary logo, according to the project's call for artists.

Other acquisitions

The developer will also soon own the South County Community Library and community center along The Waterway, per a "land swap" deal with Montgomery County aimed at revitalizing the Grogan's Mill Village Center.

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Per a deal last September, Howard Hughes will design, build and fund a $16.5 million library and community center at the shopping center. In exchange, it will give the majority of the property to Montgomery County and take over the current South Regional Library and South County Community Center property once complete.

Howard Hughes will also revitalize and maintain ownership over some retail portions of the center.

"By summer of (2025), hopefully, we're all ... out there having a grand opening event for the revitalized center," Howard Hughes Houston president Jim Carman said in October.

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Howard Hughes is also developing the last available large-scale residential lot on Lake Woodlands into a 15-story Ritz-Carlton condominium project. The new development, which will be the first standalone Ritz-Carlton residences in Texas, will host more than 100 condos, a Michelin one star restaurant from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, according to PaperCity Magazine, and a private boat dock.
Researchers surveyed more than 2,000 workers to find out our habits - Grace Cary

More than four in five hybrid workers have admitted to watching TV while working from home, research has found.

A survey of more than 2,000 workers, who split their week between the office and home, found 82 per cent of them confessed to viewing popular daytime programmes during their work day.

The average worker spends two hours and one minute each day watching TV, and given that the average working day in Britain lasts 7.28 hours, this amounts to 28% of their time spent on shift.

Generation Z, who make up the majority of the WFH workforce with 87 per cent of 16-24-year-olds working from home at least one day per week, were found to be the worst culprits with 91 per cent admitting they tune in.

Gen Z were found to be the worst culprits with 91 per cent admitting they tune in - Zoonar GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo

Men were also five per cent more likely than women to watch TV while working, and, on average, watched 19 minutes more of it.

Workers in London were found to watch the most television while at their desks, viewing an average of two hours and 52 minutes of it, 22 minutes more than the national average.

Flagship daytime TV programmes were the most popular choices while half of the hybrid workers said they tune into streaming services such as Netflix while on shift.

BBC Breakfast, which has an estimated 1.1 million daily viewers, was the most popular choice among hybrid workers with 28 per cent admitting to having tuned into it during the working day.

The flagship show has an estimated 1.1 million daily viewers. With 9 per cent of the UK workforce being hybrid, then on a day when half of workers are working from home, 376,146 hybrid workers could tune into BBC Breakfast - making up more than a third of its audience.

Good Morning Britain was the third most watched - Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

This Morning, which runs on ITV from 10am to 12.30pm, was watched by 24 per cent of hybrid workers.

The next most popular choices were Good Morning Britain, which 22 per cent of them tuned into, and Come Dine With Me, which 15 per cent of hybrid workers confessed to watching.

Other popular choices were game show Tipping Point, Homes Under the Hammer, Countdown and Lorraine.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube were the most popular streaming platforms for distracted workers.

Gender was also revealed to determine viewing preferences, with men being more likely to choose BBC Breakfast while women tuned in to This Morning.

The survey may raise concerns that remote workers are less productive than they profess to be, but other studies have suggested the practice could make employees happier and more productive.

Stuart Deavall, Digital Marketing Manager at TonerGiant, the company behind the survey, said: The pandemic completely transformed the UKs relationship with the workplace, with home offices becoming the norm for many Brits.

Its interesting to see that four years after the beginning of the pandemic, the priorities and attitudes of Brits towards their work-life balance continue to shift, with a daily dose of daytime TV, still proving to be a welcome addition to the working routine.

It seems that as long as hybrid working continues, Brits will continue sneakily catching up on their favourite shows.
Roland wields his sword at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass - Chronicle/Alamy

It is southern Frances answer to Excalibur, the mythical sword that King Arthur legendarily pulled from a rock to obtain the British throne.

However, Rocamadour has no idea who managed to wrench its famed Durandal sword from the stone in which it had been embedded for centuries, particularly because it was 10 metres off the ground.

All the town knows is that one of its main tourist attractions has vanished. It is presumed stolen and an investigation has been launched.

Durandal was the sword of Roland, a legendary paladin (knight) and officer of Charlemagne in French epic literature. According to the legend, Durandal was indestructible, and the sharpest sword in all existence, capable of cutting through giant boulders with a single strike.

The Durandal sword - GRANTIBO

Its magical qualities are recounted in the 11th-century epic poem The Song of Roland, the oldest surviving major work of French literature. The single existing manuscript of the Song of Roland in Old French is held at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

According to local folklore in Rocamadour, in the Lot department of France, Durendal was embedded in a cliff wall in the town. It was a major tourist site in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne whose sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary has attracted pilgrims for centuries from many countries, among them kings, bishops and nobles.

Medieval myth has it that before it was given to Roland, Charlemagne received Durandal from an angel. Before his death at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, Roland is said to have tried in vain to break it on the rocks to prevent his enemies from seizing it. He finally threw it into the air to save it. Miraculously travelling hundreds of kilometres, it is said to have embedded itself in the rock face of Rocamadour.

The stunning cliff-top town of Rocamadour - CAROLINE BLUMBERG/EPA

Local mayor Dominique Lenfant said the town was devastated. Were going to miss Durandal. Its been part of Rocamadour for centuries, and theres not a guide who doesnt point it out when he visits, he told La Depeche, a French newspaper. Rocamadour feels its been robbed of a part of itself, but even if its a legend, the destinies of our village and this sword are entwined.

Police are trying to work out how someone could have stolen this sword as it was wedged ten metres up in the rock with no way of accessing it.

It was considered so precious to the town that when the Cluny Museum wanted to exhibit it in 2011, a town councillor and a security guard accompanied it on its return journey from the Lot to Paris.

Rocamadour was voted Frances favourite village in 2016 and is also famed for its eponymous goats cheese.
Hannah Fry 'enjoys messing with people's expectations' of mathematics

Hannah Fry has a secret weapon when it comes to election predictions. Betting sites, she says triumphantly. People voting with their money is information.

When I checked the sites yesterday [June 24th], Farage is on course to win Clacton, and Grant Shapps and Penny Mordaunt to lose Welwyn Hatfield and Portsmouth North respectively.

In other words, the polls are holding firm. Jeremy Hunt is teetering in Godalming, but then he gains a few thousand extra Tory voters from the recent boundary changes, so he might be just about ok.

Weve met near the BBC at a slick Fitzrovia cafe. Fry, who is wearing a striking floral dress, arrives without any PR entourage. I dont have people, she says with a grin and promptly orders a cup of builders tea.

Within seconds she has launched into a complicated discussion of how these recent boundary changes affect the way the swing is measured in each constituency. Fry, who on Thursday joins Emily Maitlis and Rory Stewart as chief number cruncher as part of Channel 4s election coverage, is in her element.

People keep asking me if Im a bit nervous but God, no, not at all. There are very few events when the entire country comes together and its purely about the numbers.

Alas, the mathematician known to millions for her vivacious TV appearances on everything from vaccine docs to Have I Got News For You, not to mention her ability to make the most stubborn innumerate delight in the pervasive magic of maths, wont have a swing-o-meter in the style of Peter Snow, whose election coverage she grew up with.

Although probably the screen will crash and Ill have to act out a swing-o-meter myself. But even though Labour will win, and by the way, I think they should be dampening expectations over the size of that win, its a hugely exciting election.

Its not like the 1980s when, because so few seats changed hands, as the results came in, all you heard was hold, hold, hold.

Most brilliant mathematicians stick to the lecture circuit. Fry, 40 who is a professor in the mathematics of cities at UCL, hosts the AI podcast Deepmind: The Podcast, presents the Bloomsburg series The Future with Hannah Fry, appears regularly on the YouTube channel Numberphile, pops up all the time on Radio 4 and Radio 6, and is currently writing her fifth book, on the philosophical benefits of recognising uncertainty and doubt.

Her expansive, hopscotching career is testimony to her core belief in maths as not the preserve of stuffy classrooms but an inclusive glorious tool for understanding pretty much every aspect of how we live.

Numbers, she argues, contain a sublime sociological poetry. Take birth rates, she says. Typically, boys make up around 51 per cent of births and girls 49 per cent. But after a momentous event like a war, the birth rate for boys shoots up. Some say this is natures way of replenishing the population.

But actually, its because you are more likely to have a boy if you conceive early in your cycle. After a war, everyone has more sex, so you get more boys. She giggles. So a single line on a graph can tell you a story about the sex lives of an entire nation. I find that very beautiful.

She thinks Reform is unlikely to make huge inroads in this election. Farage and Galloway are one seat political movements. Every generation there is a big swing to the left  1945, 1974, 1997 and now 2024  but actually Britain has always been very good at finding the centre ground.

Even at the other end of the spectrum, the Green Party has always struggled to get more than a couple of seats. And we might worry about the extreme right gaining a foothold, but in comparison to France our right wing is quite cuddly. (We are speaking before Reform was forced to drop support for several parliamentary candidates after they were alleged to have made racist comments.)

Hannah Fry: 'We need to be better at accepting uncertainty' - Alicia Canter

Fry lives in south London with her two young daughters, seven and four. She split amicably from her husband, Phil, a sportswriter, in 2023. She grew up in Herefordshire, the second of three daughters, and says her working-class family wasnt very political: her father was a welder, her mother an Irish immigrant and stay-at-home housewife.

I got into it at university [she studied maths at UCL] because I was a maths nerd and drunkenly talking about politics at 2am was my route to making friends.

But her interest is that of the geek, in the strange quirks, aberrations and butterfly effects of the voting system itself. When I mention I read that Starmer is on course to win with a lower percentage of the popular vote than Corbyn, who achieved 40 per cent in 2017, she looks panicked. Really? Let me check my notes. Ill have to look into this.

Her willingness to admit she isnt sure of the numbers is revealing. As a mathematician Fry is no imperious voice of authority. There is definitely a problem in this idea that scientists know everything. Science is founded on humility and doubt.

Its not helpful if its put on a pedestal and seen in this paternalistic way. When I was younger I remember opening [the influential mathematician] GH Hardings famous essay A Mathematicians Apology, which rams home this idea of maths as a very elite male world. I immediately closed it and thought not for me, then.

Except, she didnt think that. She has blazed through that world ever since her mother made her learn a page a day of maths during the holidays at the age of 11. She has never let sexism  and there has been a lot of it  get in her way.

If I had worried on an existential level about sexism, I wouldnt be here. During PhD meetings people would ask her to make the tea.

On Twitter the other day, in response to something I tweeted about stats, someone said Im sick of these heavily made-up, big-eyed TikTok girls pretending like they know something.

Pleasingly, someone replied, Dude, she is literally the president of the Institute of Mathematics! [a post she was awarded in January this year]. What more do you want?

She enjoys messing with peoples expectations. When I talk to all these arrogant crusty professors in America, I can see in their faces they have completely underestimated me. And I love it. Because very slowly I let them realise what Im capable of.

But then, men underestimate women all the time. They think we have no idea. On the other hand, Ive noticed younger women have a tendency to cry sexism when they dont get a promotion. So you have to be careful. Sometimes they simply arent ready.

Although very different, Frys disarming blend of dazzling talent and common touch puts you in mind of the late much loved Dr Michael Mosley, with whom she co presented a Horizon documentary on coronavirus in 2022 and who died last month while walking in Greece.

Whats her favourite memory?

He was such a lovely man, so kind, so funny. One day, while we were filming, he came up to me and said do you notice anything about my face? He had just lasered half of it off to see if it made a difference to wrinkles.

The thing is, it did, so his face was very wonky. But he wasnt bothered. It was in the interests of science rather than vanity. He was a surprisingly quiet man. But his personality drew people towards him all the time.

She is full of admiration for his professionalism. He had this unbelievable knack of knowing what would capture the public imagination. He was, for instance, very claustrophobic but yet he once filmed himself potholing because he knew it would make good TV. His instinct always superseded his own personal fears. I feel very deeply for his family.

Dr Michael Mosley's personality 'drew people towards him all the time', recalls Fry

In 2021 Fry contracted cervical cancer and the following year made a Horizon documentary about how we screen and treat it. Now recovered, she feels there remains a big problem in the language used to discuss survival outcomes with patients.

You are told you have a, say, a 45 per cent chance of beating cancer with a particular course of treatment. But we should turn the question round. What percentage of risk are we willing to accept? It would have made a difference to me, I think, if someone had framed it like that.

She is disheartened by the current state of cancer waiting lists in the NHS. We have a system that relies on people being advocates for their own health. But that system is broken because the GP system is broken. With me, a smear test flagged an abnormality, but then I couldnt get a follow up appointment for flipping ages.

I was lucky, I was able to get a private test to expedite the process, but for my mum for example, who has cancer, her diagnosis took a lot longer and she is worse off as a result.

Whats the answer? I dont know, but its a system that was designed in a very different world. In 1945, the number of people over 75 were in the hundreds of thousands. Now there are millions. The world has changed. The NHS has to change as well.

Fry is emphatic she has no plans for world domination, even though her career might suggest otherwise. I am micro ambitious. In other words, I decide if I want to do the thing immediately in front of me, and I dont think about anything after that.

Her illness has played a part in this. Ive become much better at letting things brush past me. As human beings, we like to pretend we have control and that we know what will happen. But we need to be better at accepting uncertainty.

In other words, she has come to realise its not always about the maths.

We invented numbers as a way with which to interrogate the world, she says. But they arent always so good at telling us how to feel.

Britain Decides with The Rest Is Politics and Gogglebox starts at 9.45pm on Channel 4 on Thursday 4 July and runs until 9am the next morning
Boris Johnson urged voters in Priti Patel's constituency to 'stick with Prit'

A huge Labour majority in this weeks general election would mean more wokery and higher taxes, Boris Johnson has claimed.

The former prime minister said that, if the polls were accurate and Sir Keir Starmer was heading for a really big majority, it would mean more pointless, limp kowtowing to Brussels.

Mr Johnson made the remarks in a campaign video for Priti Patel, the former home secretary, in which he urged voters in Witham, Essex, to re-elect her.

A source close to him said he had recorded a large number of such videos and that the decision to do one for Dame Priti was not a sign of his support in any post-election Tory leadership contest.

In his video message, Mr Johnson called her one of the original Brexiteers and said she had been the driving force behind the Rwanda scheme, which, believe me, is still our best hope of stopping illegal cross-Channel gangs from bringing people into our country.

All of that would be put at risk by Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, he went on.

Unless you vote for Priti in Witham, there is a risk that well get an even bigger Labour majority  a really big Labour majority  with more wokery, more illegal immigration, more pointless, limp kowtowing to Brussels, and of course ever higher taxation for you and your family under Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. Dont let it happen. Stick with Prit.

As Boris says; the people of the Witham constituency should 'stick with Prit!'



Thank you to my great friend, the former Prime Minister @BorisJohnson for his support and friendship.



On the 4th July I'm asking voters across the Witham constituency to re-elect me on my local pic.twitter.com/fv5zutdgyV  Priti Patel (@pritipatel) July 2, 2024

Mr Johnson, who stepped down as an MP last year, has so far kept a low profile in the election campaign. Tweeting out his video, Dame Priti thanked him for his support and friendship.

On the July 4 Im asking voters across the Witham constituency to re-elect me on my local record of delivery and for standing up for this beautiful part of Essex.

At the 2019 election, Dame Priti took two-thirds of the vote to win a majority of more than 24,000. However, the constituency has since been been redrawn.

The former home secretary is a front runner to succeed Rishi Sunak if he loses the election  and, crucially, if she keeps her seat.

Other potential contenders are Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, Suella Braverman, another former home secretary, James Cleverly, the current Home Secretary, Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister, Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, and Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the Commons.

However, such is the extent of Labours predicted success that some of those contenders could lose their seats on Thursday night.
A building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Houla, Lebanon. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock

Israel risks going to war against Hezbollah to ensure Benjamin Netanyahus political survival, but it would be a miscalculation that could lead to mass civilian deaths in both Lebanon and Israel, a former US military intelligence analyst has warned.

Harrison Mann, a major in the Defence Intelligence Agency who left the military last month over US support for Israels war in Gaza, also told the Guardian that such a disastrous new war would pull the US into a regional conflict.

Despite an announcement in June by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that planning for a Lebanon offensive had been completed, and increasingly bellicose rhetoric from Israeli politicians, US officials have been saying privately that Netanyahus government is aware how dangerous a war with Hezbollah would be and is not seeking a fight.

Related: Freed Gaza hospital head accuses Israel of repeated torture

Mann, the most senior US military officer to have quit over Gaza to date, said that assessment was optimistic and that there was a high risk of Israel going to war on its northern border for internal political reasons, led by a prime minister whose continuing hold on power and consequent insulation from corruption charges, depends largely on the nation being at war.

We know specifically that the Israeli prime minister must continue to be a wartime leader if he wants to prolong his political career and stay out of court, so that motivation is there, Mann said in an interview. He added that any Israeli government would be sensitive to political pressure from tens of thousands of Israelis displaced from the border area because of Hezbollah rocket and artillery attacks.

On top of that, the Israeli military establishment is convinced that the heavily armed, Iranian-backed Shia militia will have to be confronted sooner rather than later, as it grows in strength, Mann said, but he argued the Israelis have miscalculated the costs of a new war in Lebanon.

I dont know how realistic their assessments are of the destruction that Israel would incur, and Im pretty sure they dont have a realistic idea of how successful they would be against Hezbollah, the former army officer and intelligence analyst said.

He argued Israel military was well aware it could not strike a decisive blow against Hezbollahs fearsome armoury with pre-emptive strikes, as the rockets, missiles and artillery are dug into the mountainous Lebanese landscape.

Instead Mann said the IDF would launch decapitation strikes against Hezbollah leaders, and bomb Shia residential areas, to demoralise the movements support base, a tactic known as the Dahiya doctrine, after the Dahiya district of Beirut which Israel targeted in the 2006 war.

Its not like an actual written doctrine, but I think we can be very comfortable assessing that bombing civilian centres as a way to compel the enemy is clearly an accepted and shared belief in the IDF and Israeli leadership. Weve just seen them do it in Gaza for the past nine months, Mann said  but he stressed that such a plan would backfire.

They think that launching a pre-emptive strike would successfully deter Hezbollah and make Israel safer, and that I think shows the limits of their strategic thinking and planning in general, he said.

Mann predicted Hezbollah would unleash a mass rocket and missile attack, if it felt it was under existential threat.

They probably have the ability to at least partially overwhelm Israels air defences, strike civilian infrastructure around the country, and inflict a level of destruction on Israel that Im not sure Israel has really ever experienced in its history  certainly not in its recent history, Mann said.

Unable to destroy Hezbollahs arsenal in the air, the IDF would launch a ground offensive into southern Lebanon which would come at high cost in Israeli casualties. Mann warned the shelling of Israeli cities meanwhile would make it impossible for the Biden administration, in the run-up to an election, to turn down Netanyahus appeals for the US to become more involved.

Our least escalatory participation will be possibly striking supply lines or associated targets in Iraq and Syria to help cut off lines of communication and armaments flown to Hezbollah, Mann said. But that on its own is risky, because if we start doing that, some of the people that we hit could be Hezbollah, but they could be IRGC [Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps].

He said he thought that the Biden administration would seek to avoid any direct clash with Iran, but the risk of such a conflict would rise anyway.

I trust the administration not to do that, but I think between us or the Israelis striking Iranian targets outside of Iran, the risk of escalation is also going to get much higher, Mann said.

Mann first submitted his resignation in November and it took effect in June. In May, he published a resignation letter on the LinkedIn social media platform, saying that US support for Israels war in Gaza had enabled and empowered the killing and starvation of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians.

As the descendent of European Jews, Mann wrote: I was raised in a particularly unforgiving moral environment when it came to the topic of bearing responsibility for ethnic cleansing.

He said the response from his former colleagues since he resigned his commission had been mostly positive.

A lot of people I worked with reached out to me, a lot of people I didnt work with as well, and expressed that they felt the same way, he said. Its not just a generational thing. Theres quite senior people who feel the same way.
Beit Hanoun is one of the three proposed 'Hamas-free bubbles' - Getty Images/Mostafa Alkharouf

Israel will create Hamas-free bubbles in Gaza as part of a pilot scheme for how the territory could be ruled after the terror group is defeated.

So-called humanitarian enclaves for civilians who are not linked to Hamas are set to be created in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and Atatra in northern Gaza.

Inside these bubbles local Palestinians will slowly take over responsibility for distributing aid  a job currently left to humanitarian groups under the supervision of Hamas  while the Israeli military continues its battle against the terrorists elsewhere in Gaza.

If they prove successful, the Israeli military would then expand the bubbles southward to encompass more of the territory, effectively usurping Hamass decades-long rule over the territory.

The plan is one of several that has been cooked up by small groups of retired military and intelligence officers, academics and politicians who have been trying to tackle the question of how Gaza is run after the war.

An Israeli intelligence source told The Telegraph: The idea is to make around 24 designated areas across Gaza. The big question is who will be the local governance. In the beginning, Israel will be in charge but later, who will Israel transfer this to?

Israel has come under enormous pressure to come up with a plan for how Gaza will be run after the war. But the government has so far been extremely reluctant to discuss it publicly.

The bubbles scheme has already been received with scepticism in Israel, with many observers doubting its viability because of the threat of Hamas violence, as well as its dependence on backing from Arab states.

Its too little, too late

Giora Eiland, a retired IDF Major General who was head of the national security council when Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, dismissed the project as a desperate Israeli attempt to bring some alternative to Hamas in Gaza.

The defence minister is now trying to establish these bubbles which might be controlled by some local people in Gaza and these areas may enjoy better conditions. Israel might supply them electricity, food, maybe other things, and this will be the beginning of a self-control regime in Gaza, he told The Telegraph.

But I dont believe it will succeed. We should have done this on a bigger scale from the start, along with the support of other Arab countries, but we failed to recruit their assistance, he said. Its too little, too late.

Under the plan, Palestinians who denounce Hamas could register to live in fenced-off geographic islands located next to their neighbourhoods and guarded by the Israeli military, allowing them to reconstruct their homes.

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, around 83 per cent of Gazans have been displaced by the war.

As much as 83 per cent of Gazans have been displaced during the conflict - Getty Images

Netanyahu softening stance on PA in Gaza

The proposed scheme falls under a broader post-war plan to eventually hand over control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA) which governs the West Bank, in addition to Arab allies in the region.

A major hurdle for the scheme is Benjamin Netanyahus long-held opposition to involving the PA in Gaza, amid concerns over its radical stance against Israel and support of terror.

Last week, the Israeli prime minister told Israels Channel 14, he was not prepared to give [Gaza] to the PA.

But Mr Netanyahu appears to be softening his stance, and has now begun privately walking back his opposition to the PAs involvement in the territory, according to reports.

Some of the prime ministers top aides have concluded that individuals with links to the PA are the only viable option if Israel has to rely on Gazans to help run the strip, the Times of Israel reported.

Mohammed Dahlan, the former Fatah head in Gaza, now living in Abu Dhabi, is one of those Israel is looking to for a plan.

Locals are still reluctant to take over from Hamas unless they realise Hamas is no longer a threat to them, an intelligence source explained.

Hamas, which says it will not allow anyone to interfere with the running of Gaza, has also used violence to thwart Israels previous plans to end its control of the territory.

Military pressure alone wont work

A secret plan to install Gazas Doghmush clan, a powerful family seen as a viable option to topple Hamas, failed after its leader was assassinated, an Israeli intelligence source told The Telegraph.

Israels right-wing coalition has vowed that the war will continue until the remaining 120 hostages are returned home and Hamas is destroyed. But it could take years before Hamas is fully uprooted from the miles of tunnels buried under the strips civilian infrastructure.

If we rely on only military pressure it wont work, said Mr Eiland. Hamas has built an unprecedented infrastructure making Gaza the most fortified area in the world. Nothing can compare to it.

The Israeli military claims at least 15,000 Hamas terrorists have been killed since October 7  about half of the total number of suspected members.
The teenager was last seen walking away from the cottage on June 17 - Instagram

Spanish police wearing forensic gear have searched the holiday cottage where Jay Slater stayed the night before he disappeared.

The missing British teenager visited the farmhouse in northern Tenerife with two men after attending a music festival in Playa de las Americas.

He was last seen walking away from the cottage on June 17 and later called a friend to say he was lost and desperately thirsty.

It comes despite the Guardia Civil has already called off the search for the apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire over the weekend, following 13 days of searching.

However, two officers in plain clothes, wearing forensic-style blue slip-ons over their shoes, were seen searching the cottage where he stayed, which is known as Casa Abuela Tina, on Tuesday morning. The property in the mountain village of Masca is listed for 40 per night on Airbnb.

Spanish police have returned to search the Airbnb where Jay Slater stayed just before he disappeared in Tenerife

As one of the officers left the property, he told MailOnline: Im afraid I cant tell you anything about the investigation or our search inside. If you want any details, speak to headquarters, Im not allowed to talk to you. My colleague and I are from the judicial police and carrying out our own work.

Mr Slaters mother and father, Debbie Duncan and Warren Slater, later visited a Guardia Civil station in Playa de las Americas for two hours on Tuesday.

As the pair left the station, Ms Duncan, 55, told reporters: Its a mystery and hes still missing, we need to just let these guys get on with it.

She added: Keep it going, keep it alive. Let them (the police) get on with it, weve got to trust in these people.

Mr Slater, 58, said they would return to the police station when they ask us to.

The Telegraph understands that Mr Slaters family, including his older brother Zak, 24, will stay in Tenerife to continue the search for him.

Ms Duncan later issued a comment through the British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global, saying that words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing.

She said: Jay is a normal guy who is in his 3rd year of an apprenticeship, and he is a very popular young man with a large circle of friends.

We are a very close family and are absolutely devastated about his disappearance. Words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing.

He is our beautiful boy with his whole life ahead of him and we just want to find him. We do not have any information on his whereabouts.

She added: The Guardia Civil have worked tirelessly up in the mountains where Jays last phone call was traced.

We are aware of the conspiracy theories and speculation on social media and some websites, and can only describe this as vile, the negative comments are extremely distressing to our family.

We also embrace the love and support we have received from across the globe. It has not gone unnoticed, especially his home town in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

As a family we would like the world to respect our privacy at this present time.

Jay's parents have travelled to Tenerife in a bid to keep searching for him

Speaking after the search was called off on Sunday, Rachel Hargreaves, a close family friend who has joined them on the island, told The Telegraph: Nothing has changed. We will continue to search for him.

Mr Slater had travelled to Tenerife with two friends including Ms Hargreaves son, Brad. He went missing on June 17 after he left a music festival in a car with two British men he met that night.

They travelled to the holiday rental cottage in Masca, and Mr Slater was last seen walking up a steep road in the early hours of June 17.

After setting off, he rang a friend and said he was lost, thirsty, had one per cent charge left on his phone and had cut his leg on a cactus. His phone ran out of power shortly after the call and was last traced to the Rural de Teno National Park.

The Guardia Civil has insisted the two men last seen with Mr Slater dont have any relevance to the case. The men, who are believed to be from South East England, have returned to the UK.

Cipriano Martin, head of the forces Greim mountain rescue unit, said: Were mountain specialists and were in charge of searching here, and its the Civil Guard investigators who have been responsible for the investigation.

Those men have been spoken to and they dont have any relevance whatsoever for the case.

The force is also refusing to treat Mr Slaters disappearance as a crime at this stage. It has told a female investigating judge that they see nothing yet that points to Mr Slater being the victim of a crime.

Despite calling off its search, the Guardia Civil said the case remains open and that a parallel investigation is ongoing.
Montage of Sir Keir Starmer and Labour manifesto

Labour is considering an inheritance tax raid to redistribute wealth if it gets into power, a leaked recording of a shadow frontbencher suggests.

Darren Jones, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, told a public meeting that he expected the political consensus to be that inheritance tax should be used to address inter-generational inequality.

It comes at the end of an election campaign in which tax has been the key battleground, with the Tories claiming that households will pay more than 2,000 extra under Labour.

Labour has consistently refused to rule out increases to inheritance tax, capital gains tax or council tax, having said the party will not put up income tax, VAT or National Insurance if it wins Thursdays election.

In the recording, Mr Jones says there is a bulk coming through the system of huge amounts of inherited wealth, which is why Labour wants to continue taxing peoples estates.

On the final day of campaigning on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak is expected to launch a last-ditch attempt to win over swing voters with warnings that Labour will tax their homes, pensions and cars.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said Labour would also repeat the mistakes of the Blair era and send the benefits bill spiralling out of control.

The Prime Minister was holding a campaign rally in London late on Tuesday night, to be followed by a tour of the country on Wednesday.

The latest poll suggests the Tories have narrowed the gap on Labour slightly to 19 points, but that would still translate into major losses for them, with Labour heading for a huge majority in the Commons.

The Conservatives claimed Mr Joness comments had let the cat out of the bag on Labours plans to tax family homes, but Labour said it was total nonsense to suggest the comments pointed to tax rises.

The number of estates subject to inheritance tax is projected to increase by 50 per cent in the next five years, as the thresholds at which the tax is payable have been frozen while house prices continue to rise.

Mr Jones will be No 2 at the Treasury if Labour wins the election and Sir Keir Starmer gives him the same brief in government. This would give him a direct say on taxation.

The Telegraph has previously reported that, at the same meeting, he was recorded saying that Labours green energy plans would cost hundreds of billions of pounds.

At the public meeting, held at a village hall in Bristol in March, he said: Weve had a bit of a debate [on inheritance tax] in Westminster because there were some plans to abolish it.

We said on our side of the House we didnt think that was the right thing to do, because there was going to be this kind of bulk coming through the system of huge amounts of inherited wealth in our country, largely off the back of housing asset values.

And whilst we think the capital gains on primary residences is not the right answer, we do think the inheritance tax regime  even though some people say its unfair because they say its a double taxation  for the inter-generational inequality point we think its important that inheritance tax remains because it does allow you to get some of that value back in, to be able to redistribute across generations.

Its not a silver bullet, but I think its probably where the political consensus is going to have to be. You could say that on inheritance tax, you need to think of the inheritance tax as a way to redistribute money through.

Inheritance tax is currently charged at 40 per cent on the value of estates above 325,000. It has been described as the most hated tax in Britain because the money used to buy a family home has already been taxed through income tax.

The Conservatives have considered abolishing the tax altogether, but Labour is not prepared to forfeit the 9.7 billion a year it is forecast to bring in by 2028/29.

At the moment, around four per cent of estates are subject to IHT, but by the end of the next Parliament in five years that is projected to increase to six per cent as the 325,000 threshold is frozen until 2028, dragging more and more people into death taxes.

Laura Trott, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: While Labour have been campaigning on a nothing to see here policy platform, they have been telling journalists off the record they plan a whole raft of new taxes if they are elected. Now we know where they plan to tax first. Peoples family homes  the cornerstone of most families financial security.

This is what a Starmer super-majority means  tax rises on hard work and aspiration. If you want to stop the Starmer supermajority, the only way is to vote Conservative on Thursday.

A Labour spokesman said: This is total nonsense. Nothing in our plans requires any additional tax to be increased. We have set out fully costed, fully funded plans, with very specific tax loopholes we would close. We have said very clearly that our interest isnt in raising taxes  our priorities are economic growth and making working people better off.

Promising 71 billion in unfunded election promises, embarrassing the country and our veterans at D-Day, and lying through their teeth to cling on to power. Who would have expected any better from a Conservative Party where, after 14 chaotic years, its impossible to point to a single achievement?
A lack of operating theatres and beds was a key reason why so many operations were cancelled last year - CHRISTOPHER FURLONG/GETTY IMAGES

About 180,000 operations were cancelled by the NHS last year because of a lack of beds, staff and equipment, The Telegraph can reveal.

The most common reason for cancelled operations and procedures was because of staffing issues, which was exacerbated by doctor strikes.

But other reasons included a lack of operating theatres and beds, thousands of administrative errors, and even misplaced paperwork and adverse weather, according to freedom of information data obtained by the Labour party and shared with The Telegraph.

Official figures show about 77,000 operations were cancelled last year at the last minute for non-clinical reasons, where a patient was expecting to have surgery that in many cases they had been waiting for months to have, but it was cancelled on the day.

The new unpublished figures suggest the total number of cancelled procedures could be more than twice as high at 179,404, when including days in the lead up to an operation.

The data is based on responses from 43 hospital trusts and extrapolated across the country to give an estimate for 169 trusts.

The operations do not include emergency care, but the surgeries involved could include anything patients are waiting to receive, including knee and hip replacements, surgery to remove tumours, cataracts, various eye surgeries, hernias, and anything in between.

The number of people waiting for operations rose from 7.41 million in April 2023 to 7.53 million this March.

About 30,000, or one in six, were cancelled because there were no staff available to carry out the procedure, while for 22,500 it was because of a lack of operating theatres.

Some 20,000 had to be rescheduled because of administrative errors, such as booking a patient in at the wrong time or not informing them of the appointment, while 7,000 had to be cancelled because equipment failed.

A further 173 had to be cancelled because the patients paperwork could not be located, while 20 were ditched because of adverse weather.

Wes Streeting, the Labour shadow health secretary, said patients were being left in the lurch because the NHS doesnt have the staff, beds, or equipment to treat them on time.

The NHS is in a desperate state after 14 years of Conservative neglect, and it will only get worse if they sneak back in for another five years. Strikes will go on, staff will walk out for good, and waiting lists will hit 10 million, he said.

Mr Streeting and Sir Keir Starmer have both pledged to get around the table with junior doctors to end strikes on day one should they form the next government.

Junior doctors ended their latest walkout at 7am on Tuesday and are demanding a 35 per cent multi-year pay rise.

More than 1.4 million appointments have been cancelled since strikes began, which will include some operations. Increasingly, hospitals have not booked appointments or surgeries for the days that strikes are planned to avoid cancellations.

The new figures show cancellations are up by 14 per cent since 2021-22, when 158,000 were cancelled in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Official figures show about 77,000 operations were cancelled last year at the 'last minute' for non-clinical reasons - CHRISTOPHER FURLONG/GETTY IMAGES

The official figures show nearly 18,000 patients whose operations were cancelled on the same day had to wait more than four weeks for another slot  the highest figure since 2001-02, Labour said

All surgeries that are cancelled at the last minute are supposed to be rescheduled within 28 days under NHS targets.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: If Labour had a credible plan to cut waiting lists, they would be delivering it in Labour-run Wales.

Instead, waiting lists are at a record high and patients are waiting eight weeks longer on average than patients in England. A Labour supermajority will give Keir Starmer unchecked power to do the exact same in England.

Wes Streeting says every health policy in Labour's manifesto is tied to reforming the NHS - GEOFF PUGH FOR THE TELEGRAPH

The Conservatives have given up on the NHS  Labour will provide the reforms it needs



By Wes Streeting



This election is an opportunity for the country to change course. Nowhere is change needed more than in the NHS.

Patients are being failed on a daily basis. Today, The Telegraph reveals that 179,000 patients saw their operations cancelled last year, for a combination of strikes, staff shortages, administrative errors and equipment failure.

Some of those patients will have already been waiting months if not years, only to be let down. People pay through the nose in taxes and then spend their lives waiting for the NHS.

Yet despite the obvious fact that the NHS is broken, it has barely warranted a whisper from Rishi Sunak during this campaign.

Of the six weeks to the day since he called the general election, the Conservatives have spent just one day talking about the health service. They havent set out a plan to cut waiting lists, rebuild NHS dentistry, tackle the mental health crisis faced by the lockdown generation, end the strikes or improve the health of our nation.

When he is challenged on the NHS, Rishi Sunak says were spending more on the NHS than ever before. All he can do is boast about the heavy price we are all paying for failure.

The Conservatives have given up on the NHS and if they are given another five years in power, then nothing will change. The chaos in the NHS will continue, waiting lists will hit 10 million, and ever increasing amounts of taxpayers money will be wasted, like water poured into the leaky bucket.

In contrast, Labour is going into this election seeking a mandate for the fundamental reform the NHS needs. Every health policy in our manifesto is tied to reform.

Our plan for 40,000 extra appointments a week will be delivered at evenings and weekends, putting to use the operating theatres that currently lie empty outside normal hours.

We will tear up the red tape that ties up GPs time, so they can spend it seeing patients instead. GPs are currently measured against about 50 targets, so we will cut through them to bring back the family doctor, so patients can see the same GP each appointment if they choose to.

We have come under fire from those that think the only answer is to pour tens of billions of pounds more into the health service. The bean counters never bother to ask, could the 168 billion were already putting into the NHS be spent better?

Take social care. At any one time, there are about 13,000 patients stuck in hospital despite being well enough to leave, because the care isnt available in their community. Thats enough to fill 26 hospitals.

I met a patient at St Marys hospital in London last month who had been waiting to be discharged for 60 days. Labour will get hospitals buying up social care beds and provision, to get patients out of hospital faster, which is better for them and much less expensive for the taxpayer.

Only Labour can reform the NHS. Every vote for Labour at this election will strengthen our mandate to do just that. If we are elected, Labour will have a once in a generation opportunity to turn the NHS on its head: from the late diagnosis, late treatment service we have today, to one that gets to patients earlier, with more care in the community, using modern technology, and preventing ill-health as well as curing it. But that change will only happen if people vote for it.

Wes Streeting is the shadow secretary of state for health and social care
Lucy Letby is already serving 14 whole-life prison terms after her convictions last year. Photograph: Cheshire constabulary/PA

Lucy Letby has been found guilty of trying to kill a two-hour-old baby girl on the hospital ward where she murdered seven other infants.

The cold-blooded, calculated killer, who is serving 14 whole-life prison terms, was convicted on Tuesday of attempting to murder the extremely premature infant after a retrial at Manchester crown court.

The infant, known as Baby K, was born 15 weeks premature and weighed only 692g (1.52lbs) when the former neonatal nurse was alleged to have tampered with her breathing tube, causing a life-threatening deterioration.

Related: A scrum of spectators and an elephant in the room during Lucy Letby retrial

The newborn died three days later. Letby was initially charged with her murder, but prosecutors later decided there was insufficient evidence.

Letby faced a three-week retrial on the single count of attempted murder, which she denied, after the jury in her original trial was unable to reach a verdict last year.

Baby Ks parents sobbed and held their heads in their hands as the jurys unanimous verdict was delivered after three and a half hours of deliberation.

In a statement on behalf of the family outside court, DI Andrea Price, of Cheshire constabulary, said they were heartbroken, devastated, angry and feel numb. They added: To lose a baby is a heartbreaking experience that no parent should ever go through, but to lose a baby and then learn of the harm that was inflicted in these circumstances is unimaginable.

Over the past seven to eight years we have to had to go through a long, torturous and emotional journey twice from losing our precious newborn and grieving her loss to being told years later that her death or collapse might be suspicious. Nothing prepares you for that news.

Today, justice has been served and a nurse who should have been caring for our daughter has been found guilty of harming her, but this justice will not take away the extreme hurt, anger and distress that we have all had to experience.

The family said they were left with the pain of potentially never knowing why Letby attempted to murder their daughter.

Letby, 34, from Hereford, stared straight ahead and gave no reaction as she was told she would be sentenced on Friday.

She has now been convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

There are continuing police investigations and a public inquiry into how Letby was allowed to remain on the neonatal unit despite the concerns of senior doctors.

Letby, who has consistently maintained her innocence, was in May refused permission to appeal against last years convictions by the court of appeal.

In a 59-page ruling published on Tuesday, the court of appeal said none of Letbys legal challenges had been arguable and that she had not met the criteria for admitting new evidence.

The nurses latest trial centred on Baby K, who was born at the Countess of Chester hospital in the early hours of 17 February 2016.

Prosecutors said Letby attempted to murder the infant about 90 minutes after she was born by displacing her breathing tube moments after the childs nurse had left her side. This caused the childs blood oxygen levels to plummet to life-threatening levels, the court heard.

By this time she had murdered five babies and attempted to murder three others. Senior doctors had linked her to a number of unexplained incidents but she remained on the neonatal unit for a further five months, going on to kill two triplet brothers by injecting air into their stomachs.

She was caught virtually red-handed trying to kill Baby K, the prosecution said, when a senior doctor walked in on her alone beside the infants incubator after she had tampered with the babys breathing tube.

The consultant, Dr Ravi Jayaram, said Letby was doing nothing to help the child as she fought for her life. An alarm on the babys monitor appeared to have been silenced, the court heard.

Prosecutors said the nurse tampered with Baby Ks breathing tube twice more in the following hours in an attempt to convince her colleagues that the newborn, who was sedated on morphine, had dislodged it by herself.

Nicola Wyn Williams, a senior prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, described Letbys actions as those of a cold-blooded, calculated killer.

DCI Nicola Evans, of Cheshire constabulary, praised the courage, strength and resilience of Baby Ks parents and added: A trained nurse responsible for caring and protecting a tiny, premature baby abused that position of trust in the most unthinkable way. The continued denials have caused significant upset for Baby Ks family as they have had to endure a trial and subsequent re-trial. No one should ever have to go through what they experienced.

Giving evidence, Letby said she had never harmed any babies and that she was not guilty of what Ive been found guilty of.

The defendant told jurors she could not remember the night in question and had no memory of Baby K beyond the fact she was so premature. She could not explain why she had searched for the childs family on Facebook more than two years later.

Detectives are analysing the records of about 4,000 babies cared for by Letby during her time as a childrens nurse at Liverpool Womens hospital and the Countess of Chester, both in north-west England.

Cheshire constabulary has launched an investigation into possible corporate manslaughter and is examining the decision-making of senior leadership at the time of the deaths.

A public inquiry led by Lady Justice Kathryn Thirlwall will begin in September into how Letby was able to continue working with babies despite the concerns of senior doctors who connected her to a number of suspicious incidents.

Dr Nigel Scawn, the medical director of the Countess of Chester hospital NHS foundation trust, said: Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Baby K. We are extremely sorry that these awful crimes happened at our hospital.
Beijing launches regular freight-train service to Europe

Xinhua) 10:03, July 02, 2024

In this photo taken by a mobile phone, a China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow departs from the logistics hub in Pinggu District of Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A cargo train left Beijing for the Russian capital Moscow on Monday, marking the launch of a regular China-Europe freight-train service from the Chinese capital.

The freight train carrying construction materials, household electrical appliances, clothing and other goods departed from the logistics hub of Pinggu District in the northeast of the city.

Beijing launched the first trial train last March. More preparations and improvements have since been made. Starting from Monday, the service will run at least once a month.

"The products used to be sent to neighboring Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region or Hebei Province before heading for Europe," said Geng Zhanfeng, deputy general manager with the north China branch of Sinotrans.

"The launch of this regular freight-train service enables us to send the goods directly from Beijing to Europe, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency," he said.

In this photo taken by a mobile phone, a China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow departs from the logistics hub in Pinggu District of Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Brazoria County Fire Departments and the Fire Marshals Office is assisting US Fish and Wildlife with a large wildfire near County Road 227. Brazoria County Fire Marshal's Office Facebook

The wildfire that broke out in Brazoria County earlier this week is expected to begin dying down by this evening, officials told the Chronicle.

I would say its about 90% contained by this point, said David Chisolm, a fire management officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nearby towns should expect the smoke to start clearing by the end of today.

Chisolms team has been fighting the blaze since it began Sunday afternoon. He said he expects the vast majority of the wildfire to be contained by sometime around 5 or 6 p.m. Residents can also expect the smoke to begin clearing by around the same time, Chisolm said.

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While Chisolms teams worked to contain the fire, Brazoria County Fire Marshal Martin Vela and his department investigated the cause. The cause has yet to be determined, but he said the fire was likely the result of an accident.

I dont think we have anything that points to this being the result of negligence, Vela said. No one left a cigarette out or anything. Right now were thinking it couldve been caused by a spark from a vehicle or something along those lines.

Vela believes the fire began as a result of several, separate spot fires that developed throughout the day Sunday.

The fire, which was largely contained to the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, is unlikely to have left any lasting damage to the area, Chisolm said.

In many ways this has the same effect as the prescribed burns we do every year, he said. I think once this has all cleared up, we could be looking at quite a bit of verdant growth in the area. Youre likely to see a good amount of green here in the coming months.

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The refuge is home to thousands of acres of Texas marshland. The marshes, Chisolm said, experience fires as a regular part of their lifecycle. While the recent wildfire was larger than a prescribed burn, it will ultimately have the same effect, he said.
The Royal Courts of Justice in London, where the court of appeal is based. Photograph: Goncalo Diniz/Alamy

Lucy Letby was convicted last year of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the Countess of Chester hospital in north-west England, where she worked as a nurse. She is serving 14 whole-life sentences, meaning she will never be released from prison.

In April she sought permission to appeal against those convictions at the court of appeal in London, and in May her challenge was refused. On Tuesday the court published its judgment explaining its decision. Here we explain what steps she has taken  and what could happen next.

What stages has Letbys case been through at the court of appeal?

Any defendant wanting to make an appeal against a crown court conviction or sentence must seek permission to do so from the court of appeal criminal division, the second most senior court in England and Wales. This court, based at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is able to reduce a prison sentence or quash a crown court conviction. It can order a retrial in cases where a judge has made an error.

After her trial last year, Letbys lawyers sought permission to appeal against her convictions. She put forward four grounds of appeal, each of which related to applications she had made during the trial that had been denied by the judge, Mr Justice Goss. On 24 May, judges denied permission.

What did she argue at the appeal court?

Letbys legal team argued that her convictions were unsafe because Goss had been mistaken in law when he refused four separate applications made by the defence.

First, they said the evidence of the prosecutions key expert, Dr Dewi Evans, should have been struck out for being dogmatic and biased.

Letbys barrister, Benjamin Myers KC, also argued that the medical evidence behind her convictions for fatally injecting air into babies bloodstreams, producing what is known as an air embolus, was very weak and could not be relied upon.

Dr Shoo Lee, an academic who researched the phenomenon of air embolus in babies in 1989, gave evidence to the appeal court on behalf of the defence, telling judges that the only sign of it was pink blood vessels superimposed on a pink or blue body.

When questioned by the prosecution, Lee accepted he had not assessed any of the victims medical records in Letbys case or seen any of the witness testimony provided by other medical staff, who noted strange rashes on a number of the dead babies.

Letbys third argument was that the judge was wrong to direct the jury that they did not have to be sure of the precise act, or acts, that led to a babys collapse or death.

Finally, Myers said the judge failed to properly investigate a complaint made about a juror in the final days of the trial, when they were allegedly overheard saying they had made up their minds from the start about Letbys guilt.

It was later suggested that the complaint may have been made maliciously as the complaint was traced back to a cafe owner who had been in dispute with the jurors partner over the sale of an iPhone.

Why was her application thrown out?

In a 59-page ruling published on Tuesday, the appeal court judges said Gosss handling of the trial had been thoughtful, fair, comprehensive and correct. They ruled that none of the four legal challenges advanced by Letby were arguable and said they did not consider that the criteria for the admission of fresh evidence  in the form of two research papers by Lee  had been met.

Is this the end of the road for Letbys appeal? What could she do next?

After her initial application for leave to appeal was rejected, Letby renewed her application, essentially putting in the appeal application for a second time, to be reconsidered by a panel of judges at a hearing. When this was denied, in effect she had exhausted the appeals process.

One avenue still available to Letby may be the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

What does the Criminal Cases Review Commission do?

The CCRC is an official public body tasked with investigating potential miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It can refer a case back to the court of appeal if it identifies new or overlooked evidence.

It has the legal power to obtain evidence from public bodies, such as the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and private organisations. It can also interview witnesses and arrange for new expert evidence such as psychological reports and DNA testing.

For the CCRC to be able to refer a case back to the court of appeal, there would need to be new information that may have changed the outcome of the case if the jury had known about it.
A huge fire broke out at a suspected Russian air base in the city of Kursk on July 2 - Twitter

A large fire broke out at a suspected Russian air base in the city of Kursk, close to the border with Ukraine, on Tuesday.

Local officials said that over 60 firefighters battled the unexplained blaze at the site of what is believed to be the Central Aviation Technical Base.

Footage taken by local residents shows large plumes of grey smoke close to the facility, which is said to house a large number of vehicles used by the air force. There has been no official comment on the cause of the fire.

Kursk and neighbouring regions are increasingly coming under attack from Ukrainian drones, missiles and shelling, which has brought the war closer to home for Russians in the area.

Officials in Kursk said that its air defences repelled an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Monday, while reporting widespread power cuts and water supply issues in the region.

03:36 PM BST

Thank you for following todays live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict.

03:36 PM BST

Orban asks Zelensky for quick ceasefire

Viktor Orban has pushed Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a quick ceasefire with Russia in order to accelerate peace talks.

Mr Orban, Vladimir Putins closest ally in the EU, met Mr Zelensky during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Tuesday, his first since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader responded that his country needs a just peace, whilst hailing the meeting as a clear indication of our common European priorities.



Mr Orban, an outspoken critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, also told Mr Zelensky that Budapest, which assumed the EU Councils rotating presidency on July 1, will be at Kyivs disposal.



Putin last month said Moscow would not negotiate with Kyiv unless it withdrew its forces from the Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia, including the territory it does not control.

03:15 PM BST

Ukraine to get good news on Patriot missiles at Nato summit

Ukraine is expected to get good news in its quest for more air defence systems at the Nato summit in Washington next week, according to a senior US official.

We hope well be able to get to the summit and make some new announcements on air defence, said the senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Youve heard that the Ukrainians are keen to secure additional Patriots or similar systems. And I think well have some additional good news for them on that front, they added, without specifying further.

It follows reports that the US is preparing to move up to eight retired Patriot missile systems from Israel to Ukraine to help shore up its defences against Russia.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at a military training area in north-eastern Germany where Ukrainian soldiers are trained on the Patriot air defence missile system - AFP

03:03 PM BST

Kremlin reacts to Orbans visit to Kyiv

Russia has said it does not expert anything from Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbans first trip to Ukraine since the war began.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that Budapest had not contacted Moscow before the unexpected visit on Tuesday.

However, Mr Peskov dismissed the visit as simply a means for Hungary to fulfill its responsibilities after taking the helm of the EU presidency on Monday.

He added that that Putins ally Mr Orban was well known for being tough in defending the interests of his country.

02:34 PM BST

Moscow calls upcoming Modi visit very important

The Kremlin has called Indian prime minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to Russia very important.

The official details of the trip are yet to be announced, but Mr Modi, who recently secured a third term in office, is expected to visit between July 8-9.

I can only confirm once again that the visit is in the final stage of preparation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. A very important visit.

Mr Peskov said that regional security and global security issues would be high on the agenda, adding that Mr Modi and Putin have a very trusting relationship.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi embraces Russian president Vladimir Putin at a state visit to New Delhi in 2018 - AFP

01:47 PM BST

Kremlin downplays Trumps peace proposal

The Kremlin said it cannot comment on Donald Trumps proposal for ending the war in Ukraine because Moscow does not know what it involves.

Trump claimed during the debate against President Joe Biden that if he won the November US election, he would have the war settled before he took office in January.

This is not Trumps first statement on this...Without knowing the essence of what this is about, we cannot comment on it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

The Kremlin has previously said that any peace plan for Ukraine proposed by a possible future Trump administration would have to reflect the reality on the ground. Ukraine says Russias terms amount to a demand for its surrender.

Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine in 'one day'. - AP

01:26 PM BST

Why has Orban finally visited Ukraine?

Why has Viktor Orban decided to finally make his first trip to Kyiv and Volodymyr Zelensky since the invasion of Ukraine now - long after many other European leaders?

The Hungarian Prime Minister has a fractious relationship with the Ukrainian president after opposing Western sanctions on the Kremlin, demanding a ceasefire, vetoing EU aid to Kyiv and clashing with him over ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine.

Before he left for Kyiv, Mr Orban revealed he was forming a new eurosceptic alliance in the European Parliament and vowed to make Europe great again.

On July 1, Hungary took up the six month presidency of the EU, which Ukraine wants one day to join. It will chair intergovernmental talks on issues including aid to the war torn country.

Its an opportunity to exert leverage that Mr Orban, the EUs longest serving leader, was not going to pass up.

His Fidesz party won last months European Parliament elections in Hungary but bled support to a new pro-EU opposition party.

Domestic concerns are also behind why this unapologetic nationalist is playing the international statesman.

01:13 PM BST

Ukraine carried out major strike on ammo depot in Crimea

Ukraines air force has claimed to have carried out a major missile and bomb strike on a Russian ammunition depot in annexed Crimea.

It said Mondays attack had inflicted a devastating blow against Russias occupying forces on the embattled peninsula.

Once again, the Ukrainian aircraft destroyed by enemy propaganda continue to successfully perform combat missions, launch missile and bomb strikes on the occupiers positions and eliminate important military facilities in the enemys deep rear, Ukraines air force commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, wrote on Telegram.

Footage was released showing a huge cloud of thick black smoke rising above buildings south of Sevastopol reportedly belonging to Russias Black Sea Fleet.

01:07 PM BST

Russian attack submarines completed secret operations in Irish Sea

Russian submarines twice conducted unprecedented missions in the Irish Sea after Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine, it has emerged, writes James Crisp.

UK forces moved to protect British and Irish waters after the two deployments of the Kilo-class attack subs which can fire Kalibr cruise missiles, torpedoes and lay mines. One was about 18 months ago, while the other was more recent.

The extent of the Russian submarine movements went beyond what UK officials had previously seen, Bloomberg reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

Russia has more than 60 Kilo-class submarines, which have a top speed of 17 knots while surfaced, or 20 knots submerged, and have been used to attack Ukraine from the Black Sea.

Read the full story here.

11:55 AM BST

A look at the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet:

11:33 AM BST

Huge fire reported at Russian military base in Kursk

A huge fire broke out in the western Russian city of Kursk with reports it engulfed a large military base.

Local officials said that over 60 firefighters were at the scene, which is believed to be the Central Aviation Technical Base.

Unverified footage taken by residents shows large plumes of grey smoke rising above the facility only 60 miles from the border with Ukraine.

The military base is said to house a large number of vehicles used by the air force. There has not yet been an official comment on the cause of the fire.

11:13 AM BST

Zelensky holds phone call with future Nato chief

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he held a phone call with the future Nato secretary general and outgoing Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte.

I congratulated Mark on his appointment, and we discussed Ukraines future cooperation with the Alliance, Mr Zelensky wrote.

I had a phone call with my friend, Mark Rutte. I sincerely thanked him for everything he, his government, and the people of the Netherlands have done for Ukraine  all the timely and extensive defense, humanitarian, and political support.



We will continue to stay in touch as he pic.twitter.com/1QBsn78SIM  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) July 2, 2024

11:05 AM BST

Pictured: Viktor Orbans surprise trip to Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Kyiv - Hungarian PM's Press Office

Orban sits down with Zelensky during his first visit to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion - Hungarian PM's Press Office

10:46 AM BST

5,000 Ukrainian villagers urged to flee advancing Russian troops

Over 5,000 Ukrainian villagers have been urged to flee as Russian forces slowly but steadily advance in the war-ravaged Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

It is dangerous to stay here! Be responsible! Evacuate! said regional governor, Vadym Filashkin, on social media after two women were killed by shelling in the streets of Ukrainsk.

Mr Filashkin has been pleading with residents of frontline villages to leave, but many elderly residents have resisted the calls.

Moscows forces are also eying the city of Toretsk, where 700 residents have been evacuated in the last three days under heavy Russian bombardment after local officials acced Russia of using glide bombs on civilian targets.

On Monday, Russia claimed to have captured two more villages on the eastern front, but Ukraine reported heavy ongoing fighting close to the settlements.

Troops of Ukraine's mechanised brigade of fire a 122mm self-propelled howitzer 'Gvozdyka' in an undisclosed area of the Donetsk region - AFP

10:06 AM BST

Nato planning to station official in Ukraine

Nato is planning to station a senior official in Kyiv in a move to display long-term commitment to the war-torn country, according to Nato sources.

The announcement, is expected to be made at this years annual summit in Washington next week, The Wall Street Journal reported.

It is a step towards strengthening ties between Nato and Ukraine without moving towards offering it membership in the face of repeated calls from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to join the alliance.

In May, The Telegraph revealed that Ukraine will not move further on its path to membership of Nato this year amid fears - largely from the US and Germany - that the alliance could be drawn into war with Russia.

09:44 AM BST

Zelensky: Russian casualties six times higher than Ukraines

Ukrainian president Voloydmyr Zelensky said that Moscows casualties were six times higher than those suffered by Kyivs forces.

Mr Zelensky explained that the ratio used to be one to four but due to spiralling Russian losses in the heavy fighting surrounding the cities of Kharkiv and Pokrovsk, it had reached six to one.

He added that Russia has more troops on the battlefield, but said we care for our people more in a recent interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to Ukraines General Staff, Russia has lost over 540,000 troops since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, including those killed and wounded.

09:24 AM BST

Ukraine confirms attack on airfield, but downplays losses

A Ukrainian air force official has confirmed the Russian attack on Myrhorod airfield but sought to downplay its significance.

There was an attack. There are some losses, but not the ones the enemy claims, Yuriy Ihnat said late on Monday after Moscow claimed to have destroyed five Su-27s and damaged two more.

Ukrainian sources reported that prior to the strike a Russian reconnaissance drone was able to fly above the airfield.

There is not enough means to destroy [reconnaissance] drones, Mr Ihnat said, adding that they were a very serious threat.

He added: It flies and reports everything in real-time, then Iskander [missiles] arrived in a couple of minutes. It is obvious.

08:40 AM BST

Ukrainians return to shattered villages liberated from Russia

When war tore through the idyllic village of Bohorodychne it blasted nearly every house, writes Ben Farmer.

The homes are now largely empty shells, while the pale blue walls of the church are sprayed with shrapnel and its golden domes are smashed.

Nearly two years after the village was liberated from the invading Russian forces after heavy fighting, little reconstruction has taken place and its lanes are quiet.

The village is largely deserted, but not quite. Of around 800 residents living in the village before the war, some 24 have returned.

Read the full story here.

Residents of Bohorodychne are totally reliant on aid as every house is smashed and those who have returned use a UN tarpaulin to keep the water out - David Rose/The Telegraph

The village had 800 residents before the war but now only 24 - David Rose/The Telegraph

08:25 AM BST

Russia destroyed five Ukrainian fighter jets

Moscow has claimed that its forces destroyed five Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets in a missile strike on an airfield deep inside Ukraine.

Russias defence ministry said it fired Iskander-M missiles at the Myrgorod airfield in central Ukraine, 90 miles from the Russian border.

As a result of the Russian army strike, five operational Su-27 multirole fighters were destroyed, and two that were under repair were damaged, it said, publishing footage purporting to show the strike.

On June 27, Starokostiantyniv airbase in western Ukraine came under attack as Moscow claimed it was targeting airfields it believes will house F-16s.

Ukraines depleted air force is expected to receive its first batch of Western F-16s this month - aircraft that Russia will be determined to ground or destroy.

Kyiv hopes the aircraft will boost its forces struggling to repel a Russian onslaught along the frontline, which includes glide bombs that F-16s could potentially disrupt.

08:08 AM BST

Hungarian PM arrives in Ukraine for first time since war

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban landed in Kyiv on Tuesday for talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The visit by Orban, an outspoken critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, comes a day after Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union Council.

The most important topic of the talks is the chance to create peace, Orbans press chief Bertalan Havasi added.

Orban, the closest ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin among EU leaders, has frequently opposed EU initiatives to support Ukraine in its defence against Moscow.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky talk at the EU's summit in Brussels on June 27

07:43 AM BST

Hello and welcome to our live coverage

Were bringing you the latest updates from the Ukraine war.
Mark Duggan's son is facing a lengthy jail term

The son of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police in 2011 sparking riots across the country, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting a firearms offence.

Kemani Duggan, 23, pleaded guilty to possessing a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition after his DNA was discovered on the weapon.

The drill rapper was just 10 when his 29-year-old father, who was suspected of carrying a handgun, was shot dead by armed police as he travelled through Tottenham, north London in a taxi.

Riots broke out across the country in the wake of the shooting, but in 2014 an inquest jury concluded that he had been lawfully killed.

Kemani Duggan, who performs as a rapper under the name Bandokay, was arrested along with 22-year-old Abdou Bojang, after a gun and ammunition were discovered in a communal car park beneath a block of flats in Hackney.

Kemani Duggan (in red) performing as a rapper under the name Bandokay

In court, Kemani Duggan was described as a high-ranking gang member, while Bojang had allegedly been minding the weapon.

Bojang was not home when police searched his home on March 21 last year.

He had tried to call both his family and neighbour before police found a yellow plastic bag in the car park containing a 7.62mm Tokarev calibre Zastava Arms model M57 self-loading pistol, complete with 22 rounds of live ammunition.

Bojang had also called Duggan repeatedly during the search, saying the feds were in his block of flats and he might get nicked, the court heard.

He also forwarded Duggan a video of police outside his address along with a photo of the search warrant.

Duggans DNA was later found on top of the handgun and images of the weapon were found on his phone following his arrest at Gatwick Airport on January 13 this year.

He admitted possession of a semi-automatic weapon and ammunition with intent to cause fear of violence.

Duggan's death at the hands of police sparked riots in London

Duggan had earlier admitted simple possession of the gun and ammunition without a firearm certificate between February 19 and March 21, 2023.

Bojang, 22, admitted possessing the weapon and ammunition.

Duggan and Bojang denied the more serious charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life and this was left to lie on file.

Bojang also denied possession with intent to cause fear of violence and this was also left to lie on file.

Duggan, from Islington, and Bojang, from Hackney, will be sentenced on Friday.
Over a third of Ukrainians polled said they greatly trusted the president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and another third trusted him quite a lot. Photograph: Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

A negotiated outcome with Russia, as opposed to an outright Ukrainian military victory, is now seen as the most likely outcome in most European countries, according to a major poll of 15 countries.

Support for Ukraines cause remains strong across Europe despite battlefield reverses, but European voters increasingly regard arming Ukraine as necessary not to achieve a complete Ukrainian battlefield victory, but instead to strengthen Ukraines hand in future negotiations with Russia.

The European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR) thinktank polled 19,566 people in 15 countries in the first half of May 2024. The thinktank has regularly carried out surveys on Ukraine, but it is the first time it has also polled inside Ukraine itself, where it finds support for war and victory are strong, despite talk of weakening morale.

A total of 34% of Ukrainians currently say they trust the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a great deal, while a further 31% trust him quite a lot  meaning that those who are keeping faith with their leader outnumber those who are not by two to one.

When asked about the most likely outcome of the war, 58% of Ukrainians foresaw a Ukrainian victory, 30% said it would end in a settlement, and only 1% expected Russia to emerge victorious. But a majority preferred ceding territory rather than abandoning sovereignty, defined by the right to join Nato and the EU.

Inside 14 European countries surveyed, only in Estonia was there a prevailing view (38%) that Ukraine would win the war outright. Nevertheless, majorities in Sweden and Poland wanted Europe to help Ukraine fight until all its territory is regained. Majorities in Italy, Greece and Bulgaria opposed this to the extent that they thought it was a bad idea to increase the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Overall, Italy emerged as the largest major European power least supportive of Ukraine. But in most European countries, large majorities still support sending more arms to Ukraine, even if it is to strengthen Ukraines negotiating hand.

A middle group of countries, including Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland, lack a national consensus on the war and the EUs role.In no country , even the most hawkish, was there support for sending troops to Ukraine.

A total of 69% of Ukrainians said more weapons were needed to defend itself, but this view did not translate into a disillusionment with the EU. Seventy-five per cent of Ukrainians regarded the EUs role as positive and saw Ukraines membership as necessary to win the war.

Asked to list 10 countries according to the reliability of their support to their homeland, Ukrainians ranked the UK top with 88%, saying Britain had been very or mostly reliable, followed by Lithiuania on 77%, although most countries on the list were regarded as reliable.

But some Ukrainians  a third  admitted they were strongly concerned that the US would strike a peace deal with Russia without involving Kyiv.

The poll shows that the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has failed to persuade the French to follow him into his personal transition towards adopting a much harder pro-Ukrainian position. One-third of France was in favour of supporting Ukraine in regaining its lost territory, another third would rather push Ukraine towards negotiating a peace deal with Russia, while the final third remained on the fence.

A co-author of the survey report and the chair of the Centre for Liberal Strategies, Ivan Krastev, said: The striking thing about the state of public opinion, vis-a-vis Ukraine, is its remarkable stability  while the conflict has not frozen, in many aspects public attitudes have.

Co-author and ECFR director Mark Leonard said: Our new polling suggests that one of the key challenges for western leaders will be reconciling the conflicting positions between Europeans and Ukrainians on how the war will end. While both groups recognise the need for continued military provision, to help Ukraine push back at Russian aggression, there is a profound gulf around what constitutes a victory  and what the purpose of Europes support actually is.

The polling was conducted by Datapraxis with YouGov, Norstat, Alpha Research and Rating Group in 15 countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine).
Wes Fang (centre) sparked a crisis in the Coalition when he accused the Liberal leader Mark Speakman (right) of slinking into Wagga Wagga. The Nationals leader Dugald Saunders (left) has now backed Speakman. Composite: AAP

Peace within the ranks of the New South Wales Coalition has lasted only a few hours after the partnership was reaffirmed, with Nationals MP Wes Fang launching another tirade against the state Liberal leader, Mark Speakman.

Speakman had issued a joint statement on Tuesday morning with the NSW Nationals leader, Dugald Saunders, saying they had reaffirmed the Coalition partnership after crisis talks sparked by last weeks public sniping.

The two leaders said Fang, a Wagga Wagga-based upper house MP, had been stripped of his shadow assistant ministry portfolios and they remained focused on working together to hold the Minns Labor government to account.

The Coalition had been at risk of collapse after Speakman publicly sacked Fang from the shadow ministry on Friday. The Nationals member had earlier criticised Speakman on social media for failing to reveal his Wagga trip to visit independent MP Joe McGirr.

Saunders then publicly rebuffed Speakman, issuing a media release that said the Liberal leader did not have the authority to sack a Nationals MP from the shadow ministry.

After reaching the agreement with the Nationals, Speakman on Tuesday told journalists that the Coalition was united in taking the battle to Labor and that it wasnt unusual he hadnt told Fang he would be in Wagga.

He happens to be a National MP in the upper house. He claims to live there, Speakman said. Theres no disrespect on my part not to tell him.

Asked about Speakmans comment that he claims to live in Wagga, Fang said the opposition leader was going to end up with egg on his face.

Related: NSW Coalition at risk of collapse after Nationals leader backs Wes Fang in spat with Liberals

Fang said he was born and raised in Wagga and moved back there after attending university in Sydney and beginning his career as a pilot in the army and for Child Flight.

I moved back to Wagga in 2008, where I live to this day. My kids were born in Wagga. Im not sure I can get much more Wagga, Fang said on Tuesday.

Maybe his claimed comment only goes to show how out of touch Speakman is.

Fang has declared to parliament his interests in two properties. The register of members interests lists a property in Wagga as his principal place of residence and a property in Sydneys Drummoyne.

The Nationals MP told Guardian Australia he bought the Drummoyne property in 2005 and stayed there when parliament was sitting  but spent the majority of his time in Wagga.

Last week, Fang accused Speakman of slinking into Wagga and pretending like the Libs actually care about the Riverina.

Did he ask the Coalition member who lives in Wagga Wagga and is apparently part of his team to have an in-depth discussion of Wagga Wagga issues? Fang wrote.

No. In fact, he didnt even have the courtesy to let me know he was coming.

The ensuing rift was seen as the greatest threat to the Coalition since then deputy premier John Barilaro threatened to walk away from the agreement over the koala wars in 2020.

Speakman on Tuesday said Fangs behaviour was unacceptable.
Despite Hungary sharing a border with Ukraine, this was Viktor Orban's first trip to Kyiv since 2012 - Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

Viktor Orban has made a surprise visit to Kyiv where he urged Volodymyr Zelensky to accept the Kremlins offer of a ceasefire.

The Hungarian leader, Vladimir Putins strongest EU ally, praised a Ukrainian-organised peace summit in Switzerland last month and said that a ceasefire would speed up negotiations to end the war.

I asked the president whether it was possible to take a break, to stop the firing, and then continue the negotiations, Mr Orban told reporters. After all, a ceasefire could ensure the speeding up of the pace of these negotiations.

Mr Zelensky and his Western backers have described Putins offer of a ceasefire as a trap that would give the Kremlins armies time to rest, rearm and launch more attacks. Mr Orban admitted that the Ukrainian presidents reply to the request had been frank.

Despite Hungary sharing a border with Ukraine, this was Mr Orbans first trip to Kyiv since 2012. Several other European and Nato members have met Mr Zelensky in Kyiv since Putins invasion in 2022 and the strained ties between the two leaders were obvious in their body language.

Mr Zelensky refused to discuss the war or the prospect of negotiations with Putin during the press conference after his talks with Mr Orban. Instead, he obliquely described Hungarys commitment to restoring real long-term security, and talked about their discussions on issues that affect the lives of our people.

Ukrainian emergency services fight a fire after a Russian air strike Kharkiv - Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images

Mr Orban, who took over the six-month rotating chair of the EU on Monday, and his allies in Slovakia are outliers in Europe. They have condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine but have refused to support Ukraines military resistance and have said that Mr Zelensky should negotiate a peace deal.

Analysts have said that despite Mr Orbans intervention the prospects of a quick peace deal between Ukraine and Russia are low to zero.

Mr Zelensky has refused to shift from his position that Russia needs to retreat to its 1991 borders, which means giving up occupied Crimea and swathes of captured eastern and southern Ukraine, and Putin has undermined his ceasefire offers with more aggressive speeches.

Maria Avdeeva, a Ukraine-based commentator on the war, summed up the majority mood in Ukraine after Mr Orbans visit.

A ceasefire could accelerate negotiations with Russia, Orban tells Zelensky, she said. Oh really? I thought Russia should stop killing civilians and withdraw troops from sovereign Ukrainian territory to speed up negotiations.

The Kremlin confirmed that Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, would visit Vladimir Putin in Moscow - Alexandr Demyanchuk/AP

As the war continues, positions are hardening across the world with countries forced to choose sides or balance increasingly precarious neutral positions. On Tuesday, Kremlin officials confirmed that Narendra Modi, Indias prime minister, would shortly visit Putin in Moscow.

This is a rare trip by a major international leader since the start of the war and Indian media reported that Mr Modi could fly to Moscow as early as next week. India still buys oil, gas and weapons from Russia.

Aleksei Zakharov, a Moscow-based expert on India, said that India was neutral over the war in Ukraine but the high-profile visit would still hand Putin a major diplomatic win.

For Putin, its important to demonstrate hes not isolated and countries like China and India are ready to move ahead with building partnerships, he said.
The 19-year-old, who has not yet been named, is believed to have drowned at Port Meadow - JONATHAN YARDIN/ALAMY

An Oxford University student has died after jumping in a river while celebrating the end of his exams.

The 19-year-old, who has not yet been named, is believed to have drowned at Port Meadow on Friday June 21.

Emergency services were called to reports of the incident unfolding, with the young man being retrieved from the water. He was said to be dressed in uniform, as paramedics attempted to resuscitate him on the riverbank.

A witness said: Lots of students were celebrating the end of exams by jumping into the water at Port Meadow from the Thames Path footbridge by Fiddlers Island. Unfortunately towards the end one man wearing academic dress jumped in and drowned before he made it back to the bank.

The witness added: There was a massive emergency response, after his friends noticed that he didnt come out of the water, from the fire, search and rescue, ambulance and police services, before they found the man and unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate him on the bank.

A spokesman for the University of Oxford said: The College has confirmed that a first-year student has died in tragic circumstances. The College is in touch with the family and has been offering support to the student body.

Out of respect for the familys privacy at this difficult time, they are not yet disclosing the name of the student or the college.
Political strategist Glenn Druery says he was invited by members of the Muslim community and Fatima Payman to have informal conversations about the next election. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Australian political strategist and so-called preference whisperer Glenn Druery has confirmed hes talking to Muslim community groups and to suspended Labor senator Fatima Payman about the next election.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese told ABCs 7.30 program it was not acceptable for the senator to be talking to groups working against Labor politicians and appeared to claim Payman had been in touch with those campaigners before she was indefinitely suspended from the partyroom.

Labor MPs are facing campaigns from the Greens and grassroots Muslim groups targeting the partys refusal to immediately recognise Palestine as a state and take a stronger stand against Israels military action in Gaza.

As the Labor caucus met on Tuesday to endorse the indefinite suspension of Western Australian senator Payman for crossing the floor to vote for a Greens motion in the Australian Senate to recognise Palestine, the Greens declared the party would campaign in marginal Labor seats for MPs to join Payman when parliament resumes in August.

Related: Muslim Vote group says it will target Labor ministers and whip at next federal election

The leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt, said Labors decision was shameful because the government had put more sanctions on Senator Payman for speaking out about Gaza than they have on Benjamin Netanyahu for conducting an invasion of Gaza.

The Greens have decided to target Peter Khalil and Ged Kearneys respective seats of Wills and Cooper in north Melbourne, Patrick Gormans seat of Perth, Graham Perretts seat of Moreton in south Brisbane, and Justine Elliots northern New South Wales coastal seat of Richmond.

Labor is also facing a campaign from new community groups the Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter.

Druery, known as a preference whisperer for his years of advice to aspiring minor party candidates, revealed on Tuesday that very recently he was approached by Muslim groups to discuss the election and was having informal conversations with Payman.

I was invited to attend a meeting by members of the Muslim community to have informal conversations about the next election and to meet with Senator Payman. No contract exists between the Muslim community or the senator and me, he told Guardian Australia.

Asked about the developments on Tuesday night, Albanese appeared to hint toward Payman leaving the Labor Party.

I dont take these issues personally. Ive been around a while  and Ive seen people at various times make decisions to change the direction upon which they were elected.

Asked if it was acceptable for somebody to be talking to his opponents, Albanese responded: clearly, its not acceptable, which is why Senator Payman has been suspended from participation in the Caucus.

The idea that this happened just in the last 24 hours is I think not what has occurred, he added.

Someone doesnt just pop up on Insiders because they were walking past the studio on Sunday. Now, I asked for an explanation of why, what the motivation of that was. I havent received one.

On Tuesday, a meeting of the federal Labor caucus endorsed the indefinite suspension of Payman after she warned she was prepared to cross the floor again to vote for Palestinian statehood.

Albanese spoke at the meeting, describing the caucus as the most united hed been a part of, and noted that the previous meeting had unanimously endorsed the parliamentary partys position that recognition of Palestinian statehood occur as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution.



The Labor party platform expresses support for the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to exist as two states within secure and recognised borders and calls on the Australian government to recognise Palestine as a state.



According to a carefully negotiated form of words that was reaffirmed at the ALP national conference last August, the party said it expects that this issue will be an important priority for the Australian government but it did not set a specific deadline to do so.

Related: Fatima Payman and the cost of voting with her conscience - podcast

Albanese said that although he had been criticised for at first suspending Payman for the current parliamentary fortnight, showing restraint and some compassion was a strength and not a weakness.

The prime minister told the meeting he held the leadership title only because he had Labor next to his name, echoing his observation on Monday that Western Australians had not voted directly for Payman on the Senate ballot paper.

Caucus agreed unanimously on the voices  not requiring a formal vote  with the leadership groups decision that Payman would be suspended until she agreed to respect collective obligations.

In question time, the Liberals targeted Albanese about Paymans claims she had been pressed to quit the Senate. Albanese said his discussions with Payman were civil and constructive and that she was welcome back to participate in the team if she agrees that she is part of the team.

The deputy Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, said in a statement she was deeply disappointed by the response and said Labor should have dealt with the issue without putting a 29-year-old woman in a position where she feels intimidated by her colleagues.

Gorman, the assistant minister to the prime minister, responded to the Greens threat by telling Sky News that marginal seat campaigns and stunts in the Senate proved the Greens were more concerned with politics than with the people at the heart of the Gaza conflict.

Gorman said he never took the support of the public for granted but the Greens have always talked a big game in Perth and always come up short.

Similarly, several of the Labor MPs in the sights of the Greens seemed unmoved by the threat. Its a free country, Perrett told Guardian Australia. I might run into them as Ill be door-knocking Moreton this weekend talking about our many cost-of-living initiatives.

Khalil told Guardian Australia elections are always contested and said he was more focused on cost-of-living relief and other policies that change lives of Australians for the better, adding it was only something a party of government can do.

Last week, after Payman crossed the floor, Khalil said his support for Palestinian statehood and self-determination was on the public record.

I support recognition of a Palestinian state as a critical part of a peace process, with a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace.

Khalil said the Coalition and Greens voted against Labor amendments to the Senate motion making it clear they are only interested in playing political games rather than the substantive work of our government in advancing peace.

Bandt told reporters in Canberra that although Labor wanted to argue this is all about party games the fact is this is about the people of Gaza.

Labor MPs talk up a big game but need to be held accountable, he said.

On Monday night, Labors Hawkesbury branch in NSW passed a motion supporting Payman and encouraging the party leadership to listen to and take on board the perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse members.

The motion encouraged Labor senators and MPs to support their colleague and also to encourage Payman not to resign her party membership because of her position on the conflict.

Insiders expect other Labor party branches to pass motions supporting Payman in coming days and weeks.
Just Stop Oil

Around a dozen Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly trying to sway jurors in a court case, in defiance of a judges ruling.

Twelve activists staging a silent sit-down protest outside Southwark Crown Court were led away by police.

Each of the protestors, their number appearing to represent the men and women of a trial jury, held up placards bearing slogans.

One of the protestors held a blank sign and was not arrested.

After being held for several hours in cells beneath the court building, the 11 were bailed to return to Southwark Crown Court on Sep 27 to face potential contempt of court proceedings.

Judge Hehir said the proceedings related to the carrying of placards in an improper attempt to influence the jury in a trial.

As part of their bail conditions the 11 protestors have been barred from entering the precincts of the court and the immediate area until the date of their next court hearing.

Judge Hehir said the matter would either be dealt with by him personally, or by another judge, or referred to the Attorney General for his or her consideration.

Following a similar protest involving five people outside the court on Monday, Judge Hehir had said he would instruct anyone attempting to stage further protests aimed at persuading a jury to reach a particular verdict to be arrested for contempt of court.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: Officers were given directions by a judge to arrest 11 activists on suspicion of contempt of court.

The activists were holding placards outside Southwark Crown Court which the judge determined could be interpreted as influencing a jury.

The dozen activists had begun their sit-down protest at around 8.30am, maintaining complete silence as lawyers, jurors and members of the public walked past them to enter the court buildings.

Police in three vans maintained a discreet watch until around 9.40am when they approached each of the activists before informing them they were being arrested, carrying out a cursory body search and leading them away from the court buildings.

Among the 11 arrested was a retired Metropolitan Police officer, a retired academic and a retired doctor.

In April a High Court judge threw out an attempt by the Governments most senior law officer to prosecute a woman for holding a placard on jury rights outside a climate trial.

Mr Justice Saini said there was no basis for a prosecution of Trudi Warner, 69, for criminal contempt for holding a placard outside the trial of climate activists that informed jurors of their right to acquit a defendant based on their conscience.

The judge accused government lawyers of mischaracterising the evidence when they said Warner had acted in an intimidating and abusive manner, confronting potential jurors outside the court and following them, in a deliberate attempt to interfere with the administration of justice.

Ms Warner, a retired social worker, was being pursued for contempt of court after a lone protest last year outside Inner London Crown Court in which she held up a placard highlighting the right of jurors to acquit defendants on their conscience.

The Attorney General had decided to pursue Ms Warner for contempt of court after she protested at the start of a trial of Insulate Britain protesters for a peaceful roadblock.
The prison system is rapidly running out of capacity - Ian Waldie/Getty Images

An incoming government may have to put convicted offenders under house arrest rather than jailing them because prisons are running out of spaces, a leading think tank has warned.

The Institute for Government (IfG) said the new ministers would have to introduce emergency measures within weeks or even days which would increase the risk to the public but were necessary because of the real danger of having no prison spaces for jailed criminals.

Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, has already introduced the release of prisoners up to 10 weeks early, delayed court hearings and commissioned police cells to hold the overflow of offenders.

But the IfG warned these would not be enough and instead set out an additional three-point plan to tackle overcrowding including introducing a queuing system for offenders handed custodial sentences.

This would mean lower-risk offenders would not be immediately jailed but would be placed under house arrest with electronic tags until a prison place became available.

The time spent in home detention could count towards a prisoners sentence, to avoid a growing backlog. If they breached conditions, they could be sent to prison immediately, said the IfG.

If they do not, and a space does not become available for the duration of their sentence, they could have served their sentence without entering prison. This would prioritise prison places for the highest risk, while taking a more lenient approach to those who are lower risk.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said he will not be able to say he has magicked up a new prison on Friday morning to deal with early releases.

Sir Keir told the BBC: This has got to be a problem well inherit if we are privileged to come in to serve and Im not going to sit here and pretend to you that I can build a prison on the first day of the Labour government.

The Labour leader said in all likelihood he would have to continue with the early release scheme.

I have to say its shocking to have to inherit a problem like that, that our criminal justice system has gotten to a point where were releasing prisoners who should be in prison early and giving instructions to the police not to arrest in certain cases. That is how broken the system [is].

The IfG also recommended releasing thousands more offenders earlier by lowering the point of automatic release for most offenders from 50 per cent through their sentence to between 40 per cent and 45 per cent.

This is the lever that delivers the greatest capacity the quickest, as it can be done in weeks. Lowering automatic release below 50 per cent would mean criminals spend more time on licence in the community than they do in prison, which would likely damage public confidence in the system, said the IfG.

However, it would not apply to the most serious violent and sexual offenders, who currently serve two-thirds of their time in prison and would continue to do so. This would limit the public safety risk, and the risk from being unable to put serious offenders in prison is far greater.

A third measure would allow courts to increase the length of suspended sentences from two to three years, which would mean more offenders would avoid jail. The IfG said most criminals (62 per cent) jailed for two to three years committed non-violent crimes.

It said proposals to axe sentences of under 12 months and replace them with suspended sentences would only reduce the prison population by a few hundred offenders but could cut reoffending. This was proposed by Rishi Sunak but shelved amid a backlash from Tory MPs who believed it was going soft on criminals.

Other options included reducing or removing supervision of offenders after they were released from sentences of under 12 months, which the IfG said would cut the number of recalls, and prioritising defendants on remand for court hearings.

The number of prisoners on remand has nearly doubled to 16,000.

Cassia Rowland, the reports author, said: The new government will not have the luxury of time to decide how to respond to the crisis in prisons. Current emergency measures are both risky and insufficient.

Implementing these short-term options  perhaps within days of the general election  is absolutely critical to avoid a looming emergency and to win the breathing space needed to develop longer-term solutions.

The prison population stands at just over 87,000  increasing by 13 per cent just in the last three years  and is predicted to hit 99,300 by the end of next year.

The IfG said the next government needed to develop a long term strategy as the 4,400 planned new spaces were nowhere near enough to house the extra 12,000 more prisoners.

The emergency measures set out in this paper will only buy so much time, it said.
In this file photo from June 2023, a pair of puppies peer out from their kennel at BARC Houston. The agency was open Monday to allow for extra adoptions amid what BARC is calling a "critical" situation.



Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Tuesday marks the kickoff of a reduced-fee adoption event at BARC and participating shelters across the country.

Empty the Shelters is an adoption drive sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation. The event, which will run through the end of July, aims to alleviate overpopulated shelters by waiving adoption fees for kittens and adult cats and dogs. Puppies will be available for a reduced cost of just $25, according to a news release issued by BARC.

BISSELL Pet Foundation's upcoming Summer National Empty the Shelters event is a crucial opportunity for people to make a real difference in their community through adoption, said Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation in a statement. Please adopt and give a pet a chance it might otherwise not have.

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AREA PETS A NATIONAL ISSUE: Houston area's unwanted pets finding homes thanks to sprawling social media campaigns

The announcement comes as shelters across Harris County report animal populations that are at or over capacity. According to an online tracker, BARC is currently above critical population levels for both cats and dogs. Overpopulation has forced staff at the facility to euthanize more animals, which has reduced BARCs live-release rate to around 82% as of May 2024.

Data from both 2023 and 2024 show the trend isn't confined to just BARC. Harris County Pets, which serves areas outside the city of Houston, reported a similar uptick in euthanasia leading into the summer months. In May, the shelter euthanized more than three times the number of pets it did in March.

Both shelters show an almost identical distribution in previous years. Bissell said inclement weather and related events often put shelters in a difficult position during the summer.

Shelters are struggling with a variety of challenges right now, Bissell said. Some are evacuating pets because of wildfires, tornadoes or even loss of air conditioning in extreme heat. Others are overcrowded and having to euthanize highly adoptable pets to make space, a tragic situation."

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Corey Steele, director of veterinary public health for Harris County, said in a statement to the Chronicle in early June that heat can exacerbate health issues in strays.

This time of the year is when we see an increase in animals brought to the shelter and disease coming in from the community, Steele said.

The compounding factors straining Houston-area shelters have kept BARC from attaining status as a no-kill shelter. To qualify, shelters must maintain a live-release rate of no less than 90%. From January to March of this year, BARC fell a little over five percent short of that goal.

While Harris County Pets maintained its no-kill status with a live-release rate of over 95% in 2023, the countys shelter takes in less than half the number of pets received by BARC each year.

Statistics also reveal that the concern is more pressing for dogs than it is for cats. While both shelters report growing populations across the board, BARC took in more than three times as many dogs than cats from January through March of this year. The Harris County Pets dashboard shows a similar situation, with close to twice as many dogs currently at the shelter than cats.

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Sophia Proler, regional director for Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization, said in a news release that recent legislation has allowed for greater flexibility with regard to cats.

In 2023, several communities throughout Greater Houston saw significant life saving progress for cats through ordinance updates and community cat programming to allow outdoor cats to return home instead of being killed in shelters, Proler said.

Last year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that decriminalized the release of sterilized feral cats. Trap, neuter and release is a program that was since approved by BARC and has allowed the city to release hundreds of cats that would have otherwise been euthanized.

That program, however, has not been extended to dogs, which are generally considered too great a public safety concern to be released back into communities. Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle said nationwide data has shown an upward trend in dogs purchased from breeders, further compounding the problem.

SNIP AND DIP: Feral cat colony near Sugar Land mall launches citys first official spay and neuter program

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If just six percent more people chose to adopt versus purchase their pets, we would end the killing of dogs and cats in our nations shelters, Castle said.

This months Empty the Shelters campaign marks the second attempt to reduce homeless pet populations this year. The organizations collaborated in early May on a similar campaign which lasted for about two weeks. This time, organizers hope the expanded, month-long event will put a dent in the citys overburdened shelter.

This summer our shelter has remained near capacity for both dogs and cats," said Jarrad Mears, BARC's shelter director. "As intake continues to grow every year, strategic partnerships like these are crucial to ensuring that we find positive outcomes for our shelter pets."

While BARC is closed for adoptions on Mondays, the shelter will make arrangements for the adoption of pets marked urgent at its 3200 Carr St. entrance. Applications will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis and prospective owners must be over the age of 18 and possess valid ID. For more information, check BARCs guide to pet adoption.
Robert Smith, Reform UK candidate for Orkney and Shetland, suggested Nicola Sturgeon should be shot

An election candidate for Reform UK suggested Nicola Sturgeon should be shot in remarks condemned as absolutely appalling by the party chairman.

Richard Tice distanced himself from historical social media posts by Robert Smith, the partys hopeful in Orkney and Shetland.

In comments reported by The Times and The Spectator, Mr Smith said in 2016: Since the great David Attenborough legitimised calls for political leaders to be shot, why not start with this b----?

He was referring to comments made in the same year by the naturalist, in which he joked about Donald Trump: We could shoot him, its not a bad idea.

Mr Smith also used his Twitter profile to call Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank, the head b---- of the globalists, while claiming the rainbow symbol used in support of the NHS during lockdowns was the new swastika.

The candidate referred to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU commission, as a silly b in 2021, while calling Guy Verhofstadt, European Parliaments former Brexit boss, and Alastair Campbell cs.

Richard Tice, Reform chairman, has distanced himself from candidate - Paul Marriott/PA Wire

Asked about the remarks by BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Tuesday, Mr Tice said: I havent seen those [comments], but obviously appalling, absolutely appalling.

Im very clear, were a new political party, were growing fast. Of course, like anybody, we make mistakes, but we move on and we change and we learn from them. Thats what were doing. And people have been recognising that.

People actually appreciate that theres a new party out there that is telling it as it is, with some common sense policies, ambitious policies to make work pay, to get to zero waiting lists, to have smart immigration not mass immigration, to have proper law and order on the streets.

And guess what, thats why were growing in popularity, because were prepared to talk about these things.

It follows a series of rows surrounding remarks made by Reform candidates which have seen the party withdraw support from at least a dozen hopefuls.

Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, said on Monday nobody is angrier than him about the racism row in his party

This is a start-up party, I took it over a month ago. There were some people there that should never, ever have been there. And Im sorry for that.

He added: Some bad apples in a start-up. Theyre gone, and I wont have anyone like it in the future in the party. Im going to put this thing under much, much stricter control.

Reform UK and Mr Smith were contacted for comment.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sitting in a tractor during a visit to Wykham Park Farm in Banbury

Forty-eight hours left and the Conservatives are pulling out all the stops. Rishi, having heard that Keir likes to be in bed by 6pm, set his Mickey Mouse alarm clock for a 5am start. If Starmer is Droopy, hell be Speedy Gonzalez - starting the day at an Ocado warehouse, breakfast at Maccy Ds, then rearranging the bread at Morrisons. Is he job hunting already?

I got a call from the office: the PM will be in Banbury around noon, so get your skates on. Banbury? I was there with Labour only the day before. Starmers visit to the Chipping Norton area has prompted a tit-for-tat response from Sunak, and one suspects the hand of the local Lord, Dave Cameron. Dave doesnt want the reds to get in and abolish his title. Hes just printed a thousand new business cards, in Arabic and Chinese.

I drove 120 miles in two hours, nearing the address just as the PMs motorcade whizzed past, no doubt Rishi in the back snorting raw Lucozade as he shouted Arriba! Arriba! Its quite a sight - two bulletproof black cars, half a dozen motorbikes - and wholly unBritish in its American pomposity. Make Jacob Rees-Mogg prime minister and itll be replaced by a tandem: Jacob on the front, followed by a bobby armed with a whistle.

'Is Rishi job hunting already?' - Jonathan Brady/PA

The convoy tore down a dirt track. I followed. The motorcycles stopped and blocked my way, so I wound down the window of my aged Mini and yelled Daily Telegraph! Let me through! And do know you what? They did. For all they knew, I was al-Qaeda - though perhaps the faded Suella4Leader sticker in the back window reassured them otherwise.

I panted into a farm in time to witness Rishi pat a cow, which was hardly worth getting a speeding ticket for. Tell me the cow at least did a poo? I asked a reporter.

It did, but before the PM arrived - so we cant use it. I rolled my eyes. Such are the complicated ethics of journalism. Ah well, I could at least watch Rishi climb into a tractor and honk the horn, then sit down with some farmers to talk shop.

We grew asparagus and then we diversified, said Mr Farmer.

Brilliant, replied the PM in a dead voice, his eyes screaming: Sleep. I need sleep.

It was a tough year with the rain.

Tough... Very tough... Rishi was listening without hearing, imagining sheep jumping over the fence. Uno... dos... tres...

Maybe starting the day so early was a bit ambitious, he thought. Maybe calling an election was a terrible mistake. Maybe he should apply for an entry-level position at Morrisons, get in at the ground floor, work his way up. Rishi could imagine himself on the tills, patiently but firmly explaining to people the correct way to pack a bag... Zzzz....

Time to go, Prime Minister! He popped into the farm shop, probably to splash some water on his face, as the journalists were shepherded back onto the bus. My app showed a three-hour traffic jam back home. Its almost over. Almost.
Sadiq Khan will being an end to green exemptions from the congestion charge by the end of next year - Getty Images/Ray Tang

Sadiq Khan is extending Londons congestion charge to all zero-emission vehicles from the end of next year.

The move, which will extend the 15-a-day tax on motoring to battery-powered electric vehicles from Christmas Day 2025, was widely condemned on Tuesday.

Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, said: Taxing cars even if theyre zero emission shows Labours plan to use motorists as cash cows. If they get into government there will be worse to come, with pay-by-mile taxes and fuel duty hikes to help close their 2,000 tax black hole.

The AA described the scrapping of the green exemption as a turkey bone in the throat for owners of electric cars wanting to drive them in the capital.

Mr Khans office declined to comment when approached by The Telegraph.

Over the years, the Mayor of London has spoken extensively about his personal drive to improve Londons air quality by imposing charges and restrictions on motorists, including the Low Emission Zone (Lez) and the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez).

Transport for London (TfL), which he chairs, confirmed this week that it was proceeding with plans to remove the current 10-a-year exemption that lets owners of battery-powered vehicles drive in the capital without paying the 15-a-day congestion charge.

A spokesman said the plans were first announced in 2018, highlighting a statement from that year which mainly talked about scrapping exemptions for taxis. The congestion charge exemption does not apply to the Lez or Ulez schemes.

Confirmation on Tuesday that the zero emission vehicle exemptions will be scrapped were condemned by Quentin Willson, a former Top Gear presenter who now campaigns for a faster transition to electric vehicles.

Mr Willson told The Telegraph that the plans seemed counter-productive and that his FairCharge UK group would be writing to the Mayor to object to them.

The cynic in me cant help thinking that this is a revenue-based issue, he said. Why are we stopping it now? And they will say, well, its a congestion issue. But then surely, its manifestly better to have cars with zero tailpipe emissions sitting in queues rather than those that are polluting diesel and petrol?

So to me, it just doesnt work with his campaign to make London a much greener, cleaner air city. It seems completely counter-productive.

Steve Tuckwell, who won the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election by opposing Labours war on motorists, said: London is the western front in Labours war on motorists, and only the Conservatives are fighting to defend drivers.

Sadiq Khan has let Labours mask slip  scrapping the discounts on electric vehicles makes this clear. Labour wants your car to make as much money as possible for them, whether its through Ulez or pay-per-mile.

Motoring groups also hit out at the plans. Jack Cousens, the head of roads policy at the AA said: The London Mayors decision to force EV drivers to pay the congestion charge from Dec 25 2025 onwards may be a Christmas present for him.

However, it is a turkey bone in the throat of EV owners who heeded his call to switch to green vehicles and improve air quality in the capital. The key question is: has this decision come about because he hasnt made as much money as he thought from the Ulez expansion?

Sadiq Khan has made clean air one of his priorities as Mayor of London - PA/David Mirzoeff

But Simon Williams, the RACs head of policy, said: This is a somewhat inevitable step as the journey towards zero-emission motoring has progressed considerably since the congestion charge was first introduced, with more than a million electric vehicles now on our roads.

It was put in place to reduce the number of vehicles using central London roads with a view to improving both air quality and traffic flow. And, now we have the Ulez directly tackling air quality, its probably only fair that this discount comes to an end as all vehicles, regardless of how they are powered, can create congestion.

A spokesman for TfL said: The congestion charges cleaner vehicle discount was part of our phased scheme to tackle Londons toxic air. Ending the cleaner vehicle discount from Dec 25 2025 will maintain the effectiveness of the congestion charge, which is in place to manage traffic and congestion in the heart of London.

The introduction of the London-wide Ulez has resulted in dramatic improvements in air quality and more than 52,000 grants have been approved for Londoners, businesses and charities to switch to cleaner vehicles, with 70,000 fewer non-compliant vehicles now seen driving on Londons roads.
John Swinney on his campaign trail with a visit to Speyside Distillery - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

John Swinney has again contradicted his governments gender policies after he called for enforcement of rules allowing biological males to be banned from female spaces.

The First Minister on Tuesday said he backed provisions which allow for biological men who identify as women to be excluded from settings such as womens changing rooms and rape crisis centres, and that these should be applied.

The SNP leader also restated his belief that there are only two genders  male and female  while facing questions from voters during a BBC Radio Scotland phone-in.

Under the Equality Act, it is legal to exclude trans women from some activities and areas reserved for biological women, if it is proportionate and justifiable to do so.

The UKs equalities watchdog has said it is permissible to exclude trans women from settings including female changing rooms, lavatories, refuges and counselling sessions for victims of sexual violence.

Mr Swinney spoke to Jane McLenachan, who urged him to give a definite confirmation that he would protect womens single-sex spaces, on the pre-election radio show.

Ms McLenachan cited a damning employment tribunal ruling centred around the trans inclusive Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, run by a biological male who identifies as female.

She also raised the case of an NHS worker in Fife who claimed she was forced to share a changing room with a biological man.

Mr Swinney said he understood the significance and seriousness of these issues and that provisions which allow for single-sex spaces to be maintained should be enforced.

For the avoidance of doubt, my view is that this is the law so it should be enforced, he said. The protection that Jane is seeking is there, it has to be enforced and applied.

If there are cases where that is not the case, then obviously organisations need to respond to that and set about how theyre going to go about doing that.

Earlier, Mr Swinney said there were various views on how many genders there were but he thought there were only two.

Murdo Fraser, the Tory MSP, questioned why if this was the case, the Scottish Government recently produced a detailed action plan for people who identify as non-binary, meaning they consider themselves neither male nor female.

Meanwhile, the charity LGBT Youth Scotland, which the Scottish Government funds and trains Scottish teachers, has produced a list of 17 genders including demi-boy, butch and genderqueer.

Scottish Government schools guidance states trans pupils should generally be able to use toilets or changing rooms they feel most comfortable with.

Policies in the devolved NHS and public buildings also say people should be able to use facilities that align with their gender identity.

Marion Calder, a director at the For Women Scotland campaign group, said Mr Swinney was contradicting his own governments policies by attempting to reassure women ahead of Thursdays election.

John Swinney again claimed there are only two genders, so he should explain why his government funds lobby groups to spread the idea there are at least 17 and has produced a barmy non binary action plan, she said.

He also called for the enforcement of rules allowing for biological men to be kept out of single-sex spaces. Yet his own governments guidelines give males free reign to encroach into female toilets and changing rooms whether in schools, hospitals or offices.

She added: The First Minister is either completely ignorant of what his self-ID policy actually means, or, more likely, is being deliberately disingenuous in a desperate attempt to avoid defending the indefensible.

Mr Swinney voted for Nicola Sturgeons gender self-ID law, which would have allowed any Scot aged 16 or over to change their legally-recognised sex by signing a declaration.

It was blocked by the UK Government over fears it would impact on the UK-wide Equality Act, with the veto backed by the Scottish courts. Mr Swinney has insisted he remains committed to self-ID and still wants Ms Sturgeons law enacted.

Pressed on Monday on a separate phone-in over how many genders there were, the First Minister attempted to avoid answering but eventually said: From my point of view, theres the male and female gender.

JK Rowling ridiculed Mr Swinney for his response. She tweeted a recording of the exchange, and added: In which the First Minister of Scotland does a very good impression of a teenager trying to bulls--- his way through questions on a book hes never read.
Donald Trump in court in New York on 23 April 2024. Photograph: Yuki Iwamura/Pool via AP

The judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal case in New York postponed his sentencing to 18 September, agreeing on Tuesday to pause proceedings to weigh whether the US supreme courts recent ruling on immunity could imperil the conviction.

The decision by Judge Juan Merchan to delay the sentencing marks an unexpected setback for the case. It remains unclear whether it will affect what sentence Trump receives given the date is only weeks before the 2024 election.

Trump became the first president to be criminally convicted last month when a Manhattan jury found him guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an illicit hush-money scheme to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

The sentencing had been scheduled for 11 July  days before the start of the Republican national convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was set to formally be named the GOP nominee for president  after his own lawyers requested that timetable.

But the expected sentencing date was cast into doubt after Trumps lawyers asked to have the case re-evaluated, and the sentencing postponed, in light of the supreme courts decision on Monday that conferred broad immunity on former presidents for official acts undertaken in office.

The supreme court held that core executive functions of the presidency have absolute immunity from prosecution, official acts of the presidency are presumptively immune, and unofficial acts carry no immunity.

Trumps criminal prosecution in New York was largely centered on his efforts to suppress negative stories during the 2016 election campaign and pre-dated his time in office, though some of the evidence at trial included personal actions Trump took while he was president.

The motion to set aside Trumps conviction could struggle.

Trump actually raised the official acts argument before his New York trial, asking for certain tweets that Trump sent as president to be suppressed. Merchan denied the motion, ruling that Trump had filed it too close to trial.

The Trump legal team would need to be able to show that not only were the tweets examples of official acts  the supreme court held that presidents making communications to the public are a function of the office  that could not be used as evidence at trial, but that Merchan was wrong on the timeliness matter.

In a letter to the judge responding to Trumps request, prosecutors wrote that the Manhattan district attorneys office did not oppose Trumps request.

Although we believe defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, wrote Joshua Steinglass, one of the lead prosecutors who secured Trumps conviction.
Marianne Smyth in Los Angeles in 2013. Photograph: Johnaathan Walton/AP

A US-born woman who posed as an Irish heiress to scam thousands of dollars from several victims has been flown to the UK to face additional charges there.

Marianne Smyth is accused of stealing more than $170,000 from five people whom she met through her jobs at UK-based mortgage companies between 2008 and 2010. For years, Smyth feigned being a witch, psychic and friend of A-list celebrities to deceive others into giving her money.

Notably, Smyth stole nearly $100,000 from a television producer, Johnathan Walton, who later helped send her to prison and publicized her crimes on a hit podcast.

A spokesperson for the justice department confirmed to the AP on Tuesday that Smyth had been extradited and referred additional questions to Northern Ireland authorities.

A statement on Tuesday from Northern Ireland police confirmed a woman matching Smyths description had been extradited on Saturday from the US to stand trial  for a number of fraud offences. It didnt name Smyth but said she made an initial appearance in front of a judge on Saturday.

Smyth was arrested 23 February in Maine after being released from prison for defrauding Walton, who detailed Smyths crime spree in the Queen of the Con: The Irish Heiress podcast. The podcast explained how Smyth defrauded him and others, including in Belfast, Northern Ireland. And it was Walton who provided authorities with Smyths location  a short-term rental  prior to her arrest in Maine.

In 2009, police in Belfast had been planning on arresting Smyth after several victims reported her. Smyth was facing theft and fraud charges in the Northern Ireland capital.

But Smyth managed to flee, even killing more than a dozen dogs who were living with her at the time, according to what her daughter said on Waltons podcast.

Years later, a listener of the Queen of Con podcast ultimately alerted Walton to where Smyth was staying. Walton, in turn, told the police.

In May, a US magistrate judge determined that there was enough evidence to justify Smyths extradition. In a statement to the Guardian on Smyths extradition order, Walton said: Its been said the pen is mightier than the sword, but let me tell you, the podcast is mightier still.

My only desire now is for justice at long last for the victims in Northern Ireland.

Smyth reportedly said she was afraid that she would be murdered if she was returned to Northern Ireland, according to a court transcript obtained by the Guardian.

Her attorney also unsuccessfully argued that there was not enough evidence to extradite her.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
The 50th Street subway station. Photograph: The Guardian

For nearly two weeks, an alarm rang loudly and continuously inside a New York subway station.

As the New York Post first reported, the mysterious bell knelled through the stairway to a downtown 1 train platform at 50th Street in midtown Manhattan, a few blocks north of Times Square. Neither commuters nor workers at businesses located inside the station could identify the source of the incessant ringing.

Its really odd, Adrien Gallo, who owns three storefronts in the subway entrance, told the Post.

The grating screech resembled the sound that comes when someone opens an emergency exit door. It could be heard on the stairs descending into the subway platform, but didnt reach the subway platform. Anyone waiting for a train or walking past the subway entrance above ground would not have noticed it.

On Monday morning, straphangers appeared unfazed by the alarm. I didnt clock it, one commuter said. Theres noise everywhere  its just one of those things in New York.

Theres so much ringing all over the city that I never notice any of it, another woman added. Its part of life.

I just chalked it all up to New York weirdness, said Wyatt, a worker on shift at Tiny Dancer, a coffee shop located next to the staircase, who did not give his last name. I thought maybe its something on the train, maybe its something nearby.

According to Wyatt, an employee from the MTA, which manages the subways and subway stops in New York, stopped in the coffee shop on Monday with encouraging news. They had discovered where the sound was coming from: a vacant Duane Reade drugstore next door.

Mystery solved, right? Not exactly  the alarm was still ringing. Renee Price, deputy communications director for the MTA, said the transit agency could not turn it off. The alarm is not coming from the MTA. It is coming from a vacant storefront, Price wrote in an email. Please contact the New York City department of buildings or the property owner/landlord for assistance.

A department of buildings spokesperson noted that the MTA manages the enforcement of subway stations and other transit property in their jurisdiction, and would not comment further.

Relief came a few hours later, when a representative for Duane Reade said that the alarm finally had been turned off.

How could an alarm ring for so long in the middle of New York? Many considered it part of the cacophony of sounds New Yorkers hear every day. In a city that shrieks with sirens, car horns, music and other commotion, whos really going to notice one more layer?

I just equated it to this phantom noise, and maybe were all in a mass hysteria moment: we hear the bell, but we ignore it because were New Yorkers, Wyatt said.

Noise may be omnipresent, but its still hazardous. The World Health Organization categorizes noise as the second-largest environmental cause of health problems, after air pollution.

The most well-known health impact of noise is hearing loss that results from high levels of noise over time, but exposure to noise also stresses other systems in the body, said Richard Neitzel, an environmental health studies professor at the University of Michigan. It has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure, as well as mental health and cognitive problems, sleep disturbances and other impacts.

City environments are inherently noisy, so it makes sense that New Yorkers tune out certain sounds. That doesnt make it any better. Even when we do that, our nervous system still responds to the sound and our body is still stressed, Neitzel said.

And, even though the alarm has been turned off, New York remains a stressful city.
Bosses at Marks & Spencer have said they will not leave city centres amid criticism from shareholders over moving some stores to out-of-town developments.

It came as the retail giant announced plans to invest 38 million in major new high street stores in Bath and Bristol at its annual general meeting in west London.

The retailer has undergone a sweeping overhaul under chief executive Stuart Machin, and previous boss Steve Rowe, which saw the group shake up its store estate.

Just announced: two brand new @marksandspencer city centre stores in Bristol & Bath. The latest investment in our store rotation programme  creating 150+ jobs and delivering an improved shopping experience for local customers https://t.co/pMkLm6OgSq  Stuart Machin (@MachinStuart1) July 2, 2024

In 2019, the group launched 110 store closures as part of the plans, affecting a number of its longstanding high street shops.

The groups bosses were asked whether they have given up on the high street at the AGM on Tuesday, amid concerns they are shifting increasingly towards retail parks.

Archie Norman, chairman of the business, said: No, we havent given up on the high street.

We have a very important store rotation programme but we are absolutely not trying to leave city centres  that has never been our intention.

We do have some older stores that are hard and costly to maintain and run so we have to look at that.

Stuart Machin, chief executive of M&S, said the programme of closures, refurbishments and relocations follows a previous lack of necessary investment.

Our store rotation is really a catch-up programme on the last 20 years as we have previously underinvested, he said.

On Tuesday, the retailer confirmed that it is investing 17 million in a new store in the centre of Bath, and 21 million on a new flagship store in central Bristol.

It said these are expected to create around 150 jobs.

At the meeting, shareholders voted heavily in favour of the groups pay deal for bosses, who have led M&S shares 45% higher over the past year.

Stuart Machin saw his pay jump by around 2 million to 4.7 million last year, on the back of a larger bonus and long-term share awards.

Outside the AGM in Paddington there was a protest by campaigners for Peta (People for the ethical treatment of animals), with a supporter dressed as an alpaca.

It came after M&S reversed its ban on alpaca wool and said it would introduce the Textile Exchanges Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS).

An M&S spokeswoman said: We dont have any alpaca yarn in our products but updated our policy last year after a careful review of the updated industry welfare standards reassured us that should we reintroduce it in the future, our strict animal welfare requirements would be met.
Royal Mail has hit back at criticism from a Government minister over reports of delays to postal vote delivery, insisting there is no backlog ahead of the General Election.

Kevin Hollinrake was said to be urgently investigating a failure to get ballot packs to people in some constituencies in time for polling day on Thursday.

He suggested Royal Mail should have anticipated extra demand for postal votes during the summer holidays amid fears some could be left disenfranchised by the issues because they are already overseas.

But in a statement issued on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the service said: We have no backlog of postal votes and, whilst we are not complacent, we remain confident that postal votes handed to us on time will be delivered prior to polling day.

Where specific concerns have been raised, we have investigated and confirmed ballot packs are being delivered as soon as they arrive in our network.

We would welcome a review into the timetable for future elections with all stakeholders to ensure that the system for printing and administering postal votes before they are handed to Royal Mail works as smoothly as possible.

Appearing on Tuesdays morning broadcast round, health minister Maria Caulfield had said that Mr Hollinrake, the postal affairs minister, was in direct contact with Royal Mail over the problem.

Kevin is investigating this urgently, she said. I know theres extra resources going into this to try and do a sweep of all the sorting offices and make sure theyre out there.

But sources in Royal Mail told the PA news agency later on Tuesday that Mr Hollinrake has not yet raised his concerns with the postal service to date, in apparent contrast to Ms Caulfields remarks.

It comes after Mr Hollinrake told the Telegraph that he did not think there was any issue at play other than Royal Mail being competent and fulfilling their obligations under the USO (Universal Service Obligation).

Theres a resourcing issue. They have recruited extra people and I welcome that but theyve got to make sure theyve got the right number of people to deliver the mail at busy times like this, he told the paper.

Its not acceptable its sat in sorting offices. It needs to be delivered to peoples houses. So they need to put more people on to do that.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney warned some Scots could be disenfranchised if their postal votes cannot be filled out and returned on time.

Numerous voters north of the border have reported still not having received their ballots, and many have now left for a holiday overseas.

The electoral watchdog has said it recognises the pressures on the postal voting system due to the holiday season and will look into its administration after this election.

Meanwhile, the Local Government Association called for a review of the already overburdened system put under extra pressure by an unprecedented increase in people voting by post.

On Monday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said Rishi Sunak is not concerned that some people could be deprived of a vote as a result when asked by journalists.

Were working closely with the Electoral Commission, returning officers, Royal Mail and the print suppliers to support the resolution of these issues, he said.

(PA Graphics)

Mr Swinney rebuked the Prime Minister over the remarks, accusing him of attempting to dismiss and ignore the concerns of voters, which he claimed was a democratic disgrace.

Sir Keir Starmer and Stephen Flynn also expressed concern over the issues, with the Labour leader calling on Mr Hollinrake to request an emergency meeting with Royal Mail.

Speaking to journalists on the campaign trail on Tuesday, Sir Keir said: They need to sort it out and get on with sorting it out because what you cant have is people who are entitled to a vote not being able to exercise it.

He added: If the Post Office minister hasnt met them, do it now in the next hour or two.

Seriously, we are running out of time, its not something we can do tomorrow.

SNP Westminster leader Mr Flynn, who says he has received numerous emails from voters who have not received their postal ballot in Scotland where school holidays have already begun, questioned Royal Mails denial of a backlog.

I would probably argue some of the Royal Mail sentiments in relation to that because if theres not a backlog, wheres the postal votes for my constituents, people that Ive represented and hope to represent again, who dont have access to the postal votes? he said.

Polling expert John Curtice suggested the delays would likely hit Tories the hardest, if they had any effect.

We know that postal voters tend to be somewhat older  older people are somewhat more likely to vote Conservative, so if it is going to have any particular impact then the truth is that probably, question mark, it may at the margin be more likely to which Conservatives will lose out, he told BBC Radio 4s World at One programme.

The chief executive of the Electoral Commission suggested the system had struggled in some areas with the turnaround after Mr Sunak called a surprise summer election, but said about 6.7 million postal votes had already been sent.

Thats better than previous elections, Vijay Rangarajan said.

At the moment the printers have been working flat out, Royal Mail have been working really flat out, so have electoral administrators to try to get postal votes out so everyone can vote.

He said the last batches should have been delivered to people on Monday and Tuesday, but that if voters are already abroad then theres very little that can be done.

The regulator has said that following the election, we will undertake research with voters and electoral administrators to understand their experiences at this poll. The administration of postal voting is one of the areas we will look at.

Local councils are responsible for sending postal ballot forms to voters.

Completed postal votes must have reached councils by 10pm on polling day.

A Local Government Association spokesperson said: Councils and electoral staff across the country have been doing their utmost to ensure the smooth running of this election and that people can vote.

They added: We are aware of reports of incidents where delays have happened. The postal vote system could benefit from review and more could be done to support Royal Mail and printers to be ready to deliver elections.
Hollywood star Russell Crowe said he decided to invest in a Co Donegal liquor company after being drawn to its fantastic origin story.

The Gladiator and LA Confidential actor attended the formal opening of the new home for The Muff Liquor Company, along with broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and former Boyzone member Ronan Keating.

Crowe and Keating are among the investors in the company, which has recently signed a distribution deal for the US market.

Crowe said he was thoroughly impressed with what Ive seen at the new building.

Hopefully this is the beginning of a long series of successes for you, for your company, he told chief executive of the company Laura Bonner.

Crowe said he was first attracted to the company because he loves a great story.

Ronan Keating, Russell Crowe and Ryan Tubridy attend the opening of the new brand home for the Muff Liquor Company (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ms Bonners grandfather Philip, a potato farmer, began experimenting with making vodkas and gin using his own recipe.

After first trying it out on family and friends, it developed to the stage that every Friday afternoon a queue of locals would pass through his farmhouse to pick up a jar of his spirits before the local dance.

When I heard the story of old Phil and what would happen on a Friday afternoon, I just got really attracted to it, Crowe said.

And then I tried the product, and that really sealed the idea for me that I had to get involved.

It is a great product and the story is a fantastic story that will travel from place to place, from country to country. And I just wanted to be part of that.

He added: Its a romantic idea, isnt it? A potato farmer looking at what he can do with his rotten potatoes, comes up with a recipe for a drink that appeals to people, and on a Friday afternoon a few drop in and fill up their receptacles, I just think its a brilliant story of community, he said to laughter.

Actor Russell Crowe attends the opening in Muff, Co Donegal (Liam McBurney/PA)

Tubridy, who hosted the opening, became friends with Crowe through interviewing him as the former host of RTEs The Late Late Show.

He said: We wouldnt pedal muck, this is good stuff. I think people like the fact that theres a story with it, its not just a drink. So I like that too.

Keating said: Russell and I had been chatting for quite some time about getting involved in different liquor brands, it had become a trendy thing.

I got a call one day, he was here in Ireland shooting a film, and he just said Ive found it.

(Liam McBurney/PA)

Found what? I found what weve been looking for.

The Muff men was created and its been a hell of a lot of fun. When Rusty calls, we step up to the plate.

To see this come to fruition, weve been talking about it for nearly three years now, to see what the Bonnar family have done.

Crowe also took time to pose for photos with locals gathered outside the new building.
Michael Whitten discusess one of the newer fireworks offerings available at the Fireworks Mafia stand Monday, June 24, 2024, in Bacliff. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A variety of fireworks fill the shelves Monday, June 24, 2024, ranging from family and kid friendly ground based fireworks to more advanced adult oriented rockets and displays at the Fireworks Outlet in Bacliff. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A fireworks stand in Fort Bend County offers a variety of options for July 4 celebrations. Juhi Varma A fireworks stand in Fort Bend County offers a variety of options for July 4 celebrations. Juhi Varma

It's easy to tell where city boundaries are in the Houston area this time of year. Do you see a massive fireworks stand lit up with spotlights and waving inflatable tube guys? You're probably at the city limit.

But if you stop and buy some pyrotechnics, what comes next? In Houston and surrounding cities, being caught with fireworks or setting off fireworks could land you a ticket. However, few people have been issued fines in Houston in the last few years, a new Houston Chronicle report shows.

MACK'S SHOW: How Mattress Mack's property near Austin became the home of a 4th of July fireworks show

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Here's what to know about shooting your own fireworks in the Houston area:

Where can I go to legally set off fireworks near Houston?

The use of fireworks is illegal within the limits of most cities in the region, including Houston.

People in unincorporated areas of a county  parts of a county not covered by city limits or a homeowner's association with a ban  are allowed to use fireworks.

Unincorporated areas of Harris County, for example, include neighborhoods in Atascocita, Crosby, Cypress, South Belt, Spring and Channelview.

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If you are not sure whether the area youre in prohibits fireworks, the Harris County Economic Development cities map below shows incorporated parts of the county.

Harris County Economic Development cities map. Harris County Economic Development

Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams said fireworks are allowed in the county but most cities and some homeowners associations have restrictions prohibiting them.

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For the most part, firework (use) in the county will follow state law, which means since we are not in a drought, basically (anything) you can buy at a firework stand is legal to shoot off, Williams said. My best advice is if you live in a city or municipality, you need to contact your city hall for the rules specific to your city because they do vary.

If you don't own property in a particular area, it may be difficult to find a spot to light fireworks.

If fireworks are illegal where you live, there isn't a legal place I can suggest for you to light them," said Rosenberg spokesperson Tanya Kveton.

Where can I buy fireworks near Houston?

Fireworks may be purchased from stands or stores that have retail fireworks permits in the state of Texas. They must be sold in areas where possessing and using fireworks is legal.

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There are 85 fireworks stands across Fort Bend county this year, up from 75 last year, Fire Marshal Justin Jurek said.

We do have a lot of people moving into new neighborhoods in the unincorporated areas of Fort Bend County and more and more people are just choosing to ignite their own fireworks, it does create issues, said Jurek. We just ask you to maintain safety.

Fireworks at the beach

In Galveston, people who shoot fireworks may be charged with a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, a city spokesperson said. This restriction includes all public beaches and parks.

All of Bolivar Peninsula is unincorporated, and people can legally purchase and use fireworks in communities like Crystal Beach, Gilchrist, and High Island.

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You can set them off, but they have to be bought and they have to remain in the unincorporated areas to be legal, said Maj. Ray Nolen of the Galveston County Sheriff's Office.

Fireworks stands are dotted along unincorporated side of Galveston County, mostly the east side off FM 3005 near Deets Road, or on Texas 146 in the San Leon area, Nolen said.

Is it dangerous to light my own fireworks?

Just because you can light fireworks doesn't mean you should, some officials said.

Alcohol and fireworks dont mix, said Williams of Mongtomery County. We tend to have a lot of injuries due to fireworks and it usually because fireworks were misused, they didnt follow safety precautions or alcohol was involved.

Jurek, who has been with Fort Bend County since 2021, said he has witnessed accidents caused by fireworks during Independence Day and New Years celebrations, but none have been life-threatening. He said the Fort Bend County Fire Marshals Office will have at least 10 extra personnel on duty on July Fourth.

We have additional staffing in place for conducting inspections and patrolling areas ensure that state laws are met near facilities such as schools and churches, said Fort Bend County Fire Marshal Justin Jurek. "The various fire departments have their own items in place; theyre preparing themselves as well.

Jurek said fires had occurred due to improperly discarded fireworks, and there was also an incident where a man lost a few fingers because he'd held on to a mortar tube when it was ignited.

Nolen said the county urges those who handle fireworks in these areas to use safety precautions, such as not to point them toward any structures, make sure children are supervised, and not to engage in firework activity if impaired.

Do a lot of people complain about fireworks?

The number of fireworks-related complaints varies by county, according to reports from officials.

The number of complaints in Houston has dropped in recent years, police officials told the Houston Chronicle. You can search this new interactive map to view data on Houston fireworks complaints dating back to 2018.

Nolen said in his 30 years fireworks have not been problematic from a law enforcement perspective.

Residents do complain, he said, but the call volume is not as high as in incorporated municipalities.

When you live in the unincorporated areas of the county you just kind of know that that goes with the territory, Nolen said. If you want to build a bar, you can do it without a permit, you can burn trash and you can shoot fireworks. There are less restrictions and thats why they live in these areas.

Sugar Land and League City officials said they do receive complaints each year about illegal fireworks. "We recommend attending the city's fireworks celebration," Sugar Land spokesperson Doug Adolph said.

Williams said it is important for residents to understand, while fireworks may only be sold during certain times, setting off fireworks is legal year-round.

A lot of people will complain about fireworks on July 5, 6 and even into August, Williams said. Unfortunately, the sheriffs office isnt going to be able to respond. They cant make them stop shooting off fireworks.

Other laws for fireworks

Although fireworks may be legal outside the city limits of Houston and its suburbs, there are still locations where their use is illegal  within 600 feet of any hospital other than a veterinary hospital; an asylum; a licensed child care center; a church; or a public or private primary or secondary school or institution of higher education.

Fireworks are illegal in the area extending 5,000 feet from a city where they are banned. It's also illegal to shoot fireworks from a moving vehicle, including cars and boats.
Shell is to pause building work on one of Europes largest biofuel plants following a slowdown in demand growth for the low-carbon fuelling method.

The site in Rotterdam in the Netherlands is due to produce 820,000 tonnes of biofuels per year when it is complete.

It is the latest low-carbon energy project to be shelved by an energy giant in recent times as firms increasingly pivot back towards their most lucrative operations  oil and gas  to boost profits.

Last week, BP said it would pause two biofuel projects in Germany and the US.

Wael Sawan, Shells chief executive since January 2023, has overseen a raft of rollbacks in such operations, scrapping parts of its hydrogen business and selling down stakes in several renewables projects.

The companys share price has risen 12% this year.

Biofuels are typically made of plant waste or animal fats and are sometimes blended with traditional fuels like petrol or diesel to power planes, trains and cars.

Airlines have leaned heavily on jet biofuel, or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as a way to market flights as being low carbon.

Virgin Atlantic described a flight from Heathrow to New York last year as the worlds first net zero transatlantic flight while the UKs Department for Transport, which helped fund the project, described it as guilt-free flying.

Shell started work on its plant in the Netherlands in September 2021 and it was meant to start producing sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel by 2025.

The July 2 announcement indicates that it is less confident about the biofuels market than before, citing current market conditions as the reason for pausing work on the Dutch site.

Shell said in a statement that contractor numbers will reduce on site and activity will slow down, helping to control costs and optimise project sequencing.

Temporarily pausing on-site construction now will allow us to assess the most commercial way forward for the project, said Huibert Vigeveno, a director in Shells downstream, renewables and energy solutions arm.

We are committed to our target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with low-carbon fuels as a key part of Shells strategy to help us and our customers profitably decarbonise, added Mr Vigeveno.

We will continue to use shareholder capital in a measured and disciplined way, delivering more value with less emissions.
david malosh; alex lau



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A GREAT SUMMER cocktail should be cold, delicious, and relatively easy to make.

Also a plus: flexibility. Because summer cocktails tend to involve mixersfresh-squeezed juices, bubbly seltzers, and the likethe drinks on this list are very forgiving if you need to upsize them for a crowd.

In order to scale up each cocktail without the flavors going awry, just take the ratios specified in each recipe for one drink and then multiply. Eyeballing and tasting as you go along is totally fine, and encouraged even, although keep in mind that the more tasting you do the less able you are to figure out the nuances of the drink. (But summer is not a time for nuances anyway?)

So, this summer, raise a glass to a return to simple pleasures: easy cocktails, with friends and family. Because, really, what else do you need to feel satisfied in life?

Frozen Pimm's Cup

Fresh berries, cucumbers, mint, and the gin-based liqueur Pimms No. 1a Pimms Cup is summer in a glass. This recipe is from Every Cocktail Has a Twist.

A frozen Pimms is powerfully refreshing and simple, because you toss everything in a blender.



HOW TO MAKE IT: In a blender, combine 6 oz Pimms No. 1, 2 oz simple syrup, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 4 thin cucumber slices, 4 medium strawberries (tops removed), 1 quarter-inch-thick slice of peeled ginger, and 12 mint leaves, plus 2 cups of ice. Blend until smooth. Divide equally among 4 tall glasses and garnish with additional cucumber slices, strawberry halves, and mint. Serves 4



David Malosh

Mescal Paloma

Tequila tends to be sweet and smooth. Mescal is smoky and complex, which adds oomph to the sweet-bitter flavors of a Paloma. A pinch of salt, along with some citrus, really helps make the drink pop and makes it more three-dimensional, says Noah Small, the corporate beverage director at Empellon in N.Y.C.

HOW TO MAKE IT: In a tall glass filled with ice, combine 1 12 oz mescal, 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 12 oz fresh lime juice, 3 drops grapefruit bitters, and a pinch of kosher salt. Stir to combine, then top with club soda and garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit. Serves 1

JOE LINGEMAN

The Pacific Standard Michelada

This Mexican drink is awesome because beernot some fancy combo of specialty liquorsdoes all the work. Its just not the sort of thing that needs to be super overthought, says Jeffrey Mor- genthaler, co-owner of Pacific Standard in Portland, Oregon. He takes a crisp lager and adds a duo of fresh citruses for tang and a touch of heat for an afterburn.

HOW TO MAKE IT: Rub the rim of a chilled pint glass with lime, then roll it in a shallow plate sprinkled with Tajin seasoning. In a separate glass, combine 34 oz orange juice, 34 oz lime juice, 12 oz simple syrup (optional), and 1 tsp Tapatio hot sauce. Fill the glass with ice, top with lager, gently stir to combine, and pour the whole thing into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. Serves 1

Alex Lau

The Naked Arnold Palmer

Half lemonade, half iced teathe Arnold Palmer is a classically straightforward NA drink. That doesn't mean it has to be boring (or even NA).

First off, bring the sugar count waaaay down. Go unsweetened on the tea and lower-sugar on the lemonade. (Santa Cruzs lemonade has about 11 grams in 4 oz) Then shake. Tea has a tendency to aerate really well and get nice and frothy, and it just creates a really awesome drinking experience, says Harrison Snow, co-owner and beverage director at Lullaby in New York City.

HOW TO MAKE IT: Shake 4 oz unsweetened iced tea and 4 oz lemonade with ice. Strain into a glass with fresh ice and garnish with a sprig of mint and a lemon wedge. Serves 1

Spike It: Add 1 oz vodka, gin, or bourbon.

Chelsea Kyle

Sidecar

Cognac, lemon, andorange liqueura sidecar is as simple as a manhattan or martini, only way less everywhere. If youve never had one, this version trades the orange for less in-your-face peach. The key is a high-quality liqueur, says Shay Prince, co-owner of Parlor, a cocktail lounge in Atlanta.



HOW TO MAKE IT: In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 oz cognac (Prince likes Dusse VSOP), 12 oz fresh lemon juice, 12 oz peach liqueur, and 12 oz simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water). Shake until well chilled and strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Serves 1



David Malosh

Mezcal Fizz

The Mezcal Fizz combines takes the bite of a margarita and supercharges it with smoke, body, and bubbles. A fizz is simplesparkling water, sugar, spiritso the cocktail is also infinitely versatile.

This version adds an egg white for more oomph (and protein!) and citrus for twang. Pamela Wiznitzer, beverage consultant for NYCs The Lookup, recommends complex, bittersweet mezcal to make a fizz even better.

HOW TO MAKE IT: In a shaker, add 2 oz mezcal,  oz agave nectar,  oz lime juice, 3 dashes orange bitters, and 1 egg white. Shake for 7 seconds to help the drink foam. Open the shaker, add ice, and shake again till well foamed, another 7 seconds. In a highball glass, pour in 1 oz soda water; strain in the contents of the shaker. Let the fizz settle, top with more soda water until the foam reaches the rim. Garnish with lime zest. Serves 1

Alex Lau

Bourbon Punch

Poolside, grill-side, anywhere outsidethis punch fits in at all the parties. Fill a bowl with a balance of high-quality ingredients, drop in ice, go have fun.

This recipe comes from Richard Marin, bar manager at Kingfisher in Durham, North Carolina. Marin recommends putting out garnishes like berries, sliced cucumbers, and herbs to let guests garnish the drink. Easy.

HOW TO MAKE IT: In a punch bowl filled with ice add 12 oz bourbon, 8 oz double-strength peach tea (Marin recommends Celestial Seasonings Country Peach), 6 oz Pimms No. 1 Cup Liqueur, 2 oz rum (Marin likes Smith & Cross), and 2oz simple syrup. Serves 8

Alex Lau

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By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday criticized the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity that was seen as a win for his election rival, former President Donald Trump, calling it a dangerous precedent that did a disservice to the American people.

In calm, measured remarks from the White House, Biden said the decision meant Trump was highly unlikely to go on trial before the Nov. 5 election for his role in seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election .

The U.S. Supreme Court found on Monday that Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional powers as president, but can be for private acts, in a landmark ruling recognizing for the first time any form of presidential immunity from prosecution.

"This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each, each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law. Not even the president of the United States," Biden said.

With the decision on Monday, he said, "that fundamentally changed."

Biden is running for re-election against Trump and has been sharply critical of his rival's actions related to the Jan. 6, 2021, raid on the U.S. Capitol by Trump's supporters, who believed Trump's false claims that he had won the 2020 election.

"Now the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction for what happened that day. The American people deserve to have an answer in the courts before the upcoming election," Biden said, referring to Trump being on trial for his role in spurring the riot.

Biden said the public has a right to know what the results of that prosecution before the election in November. "Now, because of today's decision, that is highly, highly unlikely. It's a terrible disservice to the people in this nation."

Biden, 81, was making his first set of remarks at the White House since his shaky debate against Trump last week led to calls for him to step aside as the Democratic Party's standard-bearer for the election.

After he stumbled over his words on the Atlanta debate stage, his remarks and comportment are being scrutinized for signs that he is up to the job of running for re-election and of governing the country for four more years.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh and Jeff Mason; Editing by Chris Reese and Cynthia Osterman)
Democratic congressional candidate Adam Frisch is joining calls for President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following his poor showing at the debate last week, arguing Tuesday that it would be best for the country.

Frisch, who is running for Colorados 3rd Congressional District, said Bidens performance only reinforced the argument that neither Biden nor former President Trump should be seeking reelection to the White House.

We need a President that can unite America to realize our nations unlimited potential, Frisch wrote in a statement Tuesday. We deserve better. President Biden should do whats best for the country and withdraw from the race.

I thank President Biden for his years of service, he added, but the path ahead requires a new generation of leadership to take our country forward.

Frischs remarks come less than a week since Biden, 81, squared off against Trump, 78, in the first debate of the 2024 general election, during which the incumbent appeared to stumble on his words and lose his train of thought.

Bidens poor debate performance sparked a flurry of concerns from some within the Democratic Party over his ability to defeat Trump in November and lead the nation for another four years.

The president and his reelection campaign maintained last week he does not have any intention of dropping out of the race. Biden has already won the primaries, winning a majority of delegates, and thus he cannot be simply overthrown at the Democratic National Convention in August. This makes the decision ultimately up to him.

While some unnamed Democratic lawmakers have recently expressed concerns with the media over Bidens ability to serve, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) became the first House Democrat to publicly urge the incumbent to remove himself from the 2024 race.

The Texas Democrat said Tuesday that he hoped the debate would provide some momentum, but this did not come to fruition. Doggett argued it is now time to pass the torch in the Democratic Party, while noting Bidens achievements.

Frisch is running to replace Rep. Lauren Boeberts (R-Colo.) seat in the House, after she decided late last year to instead run in Colorados eastern 4th Congressional District  a safely red district that could help her avoid another expensive and competitive House race.

She won the GOP primary in that district last week, defeating a group of challengers to replace former Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who retired from the House earlier this year.

Boebert will take on Democratic candidate Trisha Calvarese in November. Trump won the district by 19 points in 2020, making Boebert the heavy favorite to win the seat in November.

Colorados 3rd Congressional District is rated as lean Republican, by the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Niagara Falls is a popular attraction that BI's reporter found to be less glamorous than it appears on social media and in ads. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent a couple of days in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, for the first time in August 2022.

I found the reality of visiting Niagara Falls didn't match my expectations from social media.

I spent much of my time battling crowds, waiting in lines, and standing on my tippy toes.

In August 2022, I took my first trip to Niagara Falls. At the iconic landmark of massive waterfalls on the border of the US and Canada, I expected to take epic hikes and savor breathtaking views and peaceful moments in nature.

But that's not quite what happened.

While I was completely in awe of how massive, beautiful, and loud the falls were, the environment felt more like an attraction than a nature getaway. I trudged through a crowded boardwalk and saw the falls from viewpoints obstructed by glass and other barriers. I spent more time than I anticipated waiting in lines and looking at the backs of people's heads.

Niagara Falls Tourism didn't respond to Business Insider's request for comments regarding crowds and long lines at attractions.

I visited Niagara Falls on a Monday and Tuesday in August.

Crowds at Niagara Falls in August. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

According to the Points Guy, this is one of the busiest months to visit. This is probably because kids are out of school in the summer, I thought.

When I arrived, I expected to view the falls from hiking trails since that's how I've seen other waterfalls in the past. However, I was only able to view Niagara Falls from a long boardwalk lining the Canadian side or an attraction.

People walk towards Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

During the day, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., I went back and forth between the boardwalk, my nearby hotel, and the attractions surrounding the falls.

While on the boardwalk, I found it nearly impossible to squeeze into a spot on the edge where I could see the falls without other people's heads obscuring my view.

A busy viewpoint in Niagara Falls. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The only way I could get a spot on the edge was by waiting directly behind other viewers, like an informal line.

When I got a spot along the edge, people on a zipline, one of the local area attractions to see the falls, dropped into the view every 15 minutes or so.

Zipliners ride above the falls. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

It was cool the first time, but having my views constantly obstructed by wires and humans got a bit annoying.

After 12 p.m., I noticed the boardwalk was flooded with people, so I decided to try some attractions.

Crowds at Niagara Falls during an afternoon in August. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

It felt like what I imagine Times Square is like on New Year's Eve.

First, I tried the Journey Behind the Falls, an official Niagara Falls tour that takes visitors in an elevator down to a closer vantage point than the boardwalk. But the line to enter stretched through the entire center it was located in.

Lines for the Journey Behind the Falls attraction. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I was worried I wouldn't have time for more activities if I waited, so I skipped it.

Next, I went to Skylon Tower, an observation tower in Niagara Falls that offers 360-degree views of the falls and city.

Skylon Tower (L) and a view from the top (R). Joey Hadden/Business Insider

It was about a 10-minute walk from the boardwalk, and I didn't have to wait too long to get to the top  only about 30 minutes.

But while slipping my camera through the fence got me a nice picture, the actual view from the observation deck looks more like this.

People look at Niagara Falls from the top of Skylon Tower. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Most of the Skylon Tower deck was filled with people, so I had to wait for others to leave to get a front-row spot.

Back down below, walking away from the falls, I thought the town of Niagara Falls felt more like a carnival than a typical city. There was even a Ferris wheel, which I paid $15 for and waited in an hourlong line to ride.

A line for the Ferris wheel (L) and crowds on the carnival-like street (R). Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The city was full of arcades, funnel cake stands, and crowds of people.

I thought the Ferris wheel would offer a grand view of the falls. But when I got to the front of the line, I realized the carts were completely enclosed.

A view of Niagara Falls from the Ferris wheel. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Although I thought the view was cool, I ultimately didn't think it was worth the price and hourlong wait to see the falls through a window.

For more of a thrill, I paid $30 to take a boat tour via Niagara City Cruises.

A boat approaches Horseshoe Falls. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

This attraction gets people the closest to the falls, and it's so popular that it was featured on "The Bachelor" in 2022, according to Niagara Falls Review.

I booked a 6 p.m. time slot, which is after peak hours, according to the Points Guy. But I still had to wait in line for almost an hour, while the boat ride itself was only 20 minutes.

People wait to board the boat. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Niagara City Cruises didn't respond to a request for comment from BI about the wait times.

When everyone piled on the boat, it was so crowded that I thought it felt like no one else could fit.

Crowds fill the top deck. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On board the boat, I had access to two decks. I went to the top deck for a higher vantage point.

Being within feet of the falls and feeling the mist on my face was epic, but it was tough to fully enjoy it with so many other people on board.

Passengers take photos of the falls. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

At the same time, I thought the boat had a great vibe because everyone was so excited to be there. It felt like a big party and was worth the price, in my opinion.

While I used a simple ramp to board the boat, passengers had to take an elevator to return to the boardwalk after the ride.

People wait in line for the elevator. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I waited in another long line for my turn in the elevator.

Regardless of the crowds and long lines, I thought seeing Niagara Falls up close was amazing and entrancing.

The American Falls behind a rainbow. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I think everyone should see them at least once.

To me, it felt like I was witnessing a powerful force of nature commanding people's attention.

Niagara Falls viewed from a boat. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

According to the Points Guy, Niagara Falls tends to be less busy in early spring and late fall. I would love to go back to Niagara Falls when it's less crowded to enjoy a more peaceful moment to myself in front of the falls.

Read the original article on Business Insider
On a blistering-hot June day in Birmingham, Alabama, Elena Vasquez Garcia sauteed chicken and bell peppers over the stove, ingredients for tacos topped with "expensive" avocados for her three children at home, after she'd spent the week at a food pantry catering to community members who can't afford meat, milk and produce.

Feeding four people is especially difficult for her, as a single mom to three kids. Vasquez Garcia takes home about $500 a week and spends about half of it at the grocery store.

When her children  15, 18 and 22  are home all summer, "They're bored and eat everything in sight," she said. She's barely scraping by, but would rather keep the healthy meals coming than deprive her kids. One of them is heading to college in the fall, which will offer some financial relief, she said, "but it shouldn't be that way."

Money for food is especially tight for families in Alabama and 11 other states where Republican officials declined to participate in a new federal food assistance program meant to curb the needs of school families this summer.

Summer EBT, or electronic benefits transfer, is the first new federal food assistance program in nearly half a century. The SUN Bucks program grants $120 per eligible child to be used during the summer months, leveraging existing programs including pandemic-era funding. Kids are eligible if they qualify for free or reduced meals during the school year. Families can use the money in addition to other government food benefits.

The governors of a dozen states  Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming  opted out of the program, leaving about 9.5 million students without the aid this summer, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. All of these states are led by Republicans, who have said they oppose welfare, the administrative burden of overseeing food benefits and what they call overreach by the federal government. All but two of the six states with the highest rates of food insecurity opted out of the benefits. The two exceptions, whose Republican governors accepted EBT, are Arkansas and Louisiana.

Among Republican leaders, there's debate about the extra federal cash for food. Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen has said the program is "just another form of welfare ... and it's not doing our kids any good" whereas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, an Arkansas Republican and former Trump administration official, described it as an important new tool to give Arkansas children the food and nutrition they need.

The White House has said the federal program is a critical addition to existing food assistance programs since state and local options rarely reach all families in need.

But the benefits this summer are only accessible to children in participating states. Millions won't be able to use them.

Mike Lewis, a spokesman for Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, has said the state opted out of the program because of the cost of administering the program. To Vasquez Garcia, who works at a food pantry, it feels like these governors want to "keep the poor extremely poor."

Fresh oranges and broccoli are available for students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Carolina Cupboard food pantry.

What makes food insecurity worse? When everything else costs more too, Americans say

The summer EBT program was meant to be a 'game-changer' in fighting hunger

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called the new federal food assistance program "a proven game-changer" in combating child hunger. He said the program would help officials close the gap in summer hunger families experience.

The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows more than 44.2 million people nationwide experience food insecurity in the U.S., including 13 million children. The department defines food security as having "access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life." Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas and South Carolina have the highest prevalence of food insecurity, according to recent USDA data.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news  fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio story

White House leaders slammed state officials, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who refused to opt in and help combat hunger for parents who can't afford to feed themselves or their children.

"It is $250 million that is left on the table. ... It costs Floridians nothing," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to Spectrum News.

Tori Cuddy, a spokesperson for DeSantis' office, said the state opted out because officials there "anticipate that our states full approach to serving children will continue to be successful this year without any additional federal programs that inherently always come with some federal strings attached."

What is food insecurity? More than 44 million Americans experience it every year.

More and more families are showing the need for food assistance

Food insecurity is skyrocketing at the food pantry where Mary Liz Ingram works with Vasquez Garcia in Birmingham, Ingram said.

The Trinity United Methodist Church is running a drive-up food pantry program with food donations from local grocers and about 200 volunteers to help distribute the goods to families, but Ingram is anxious about whether it is sustainable.

Need at the pantry usually peaks in the winter and declines in the summer. But the trend is bucking this summer.

There's about a 30% increase in need, Ingram said, with 500 families accessing the food pantry on average. The reason for the increase, she said, is families need additional government help because food prices are rising and more refugees are resettling in Alabama and need food assistance.

"This is terrible timing. It also leaves the burden on nonprofits to support those families. And that kind of stinks," she said. "I'm thinking 'Oh my gosh, I want to be there for families and dont want to say we're full.'"

Vasquez Garcia said she could also use the help. She waits until the families who visit take their picks and then chooses from the leftovers for her kids.

Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Millions of hungry kids denied access to summer EBT funds
Five former corrections officers are facing a combination of assault, manslaughter and murder charges over the December 8 death of Othel Moore Jr., a former inmate at a maximum security prison in Jefferson City, Missouri, according to newly released indictments.

The officers were part of a Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), which are specially trained units designed to deal with violent prison situations, at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.

A former inmate at the correctional center tells CNN he witnessed officers create the violent circumstances that killed the 39-year-old Moore, whose 2023 death forms part of an especially deadly year in Missouri prisons.

The exterior of the Jefferson City Correctional Center is pictured in Jefferson City, Missouri. - CNN

I never watched anybody die before, Jordan Seller, 27, told CNN, as he explained the events leading to Moores death began with what was supposed to be a routine search of the cells on the maximum-security prison block he shared with Moore.

They come in like a hundred deep, you know, and thats barely an exaggeration, you know, they try to come in and pull everybody out as fast as they can, search cells fast as they can and get out, Seller said. He and his cellmate had already been pulled out and put back in their cell when they noticed the commotion building around Moores cell, Seller says.

The cell was surrounded by COs, or corrections officers, Seller said and that Moore was pleading with them he had a medical lay-in and needed to be put in two pairs of handcuffs, essentially latched together with the outside rings on the wrist to ease tension on the shoulders being pulled back. Seller said theyre commonly used for bigger inmates or those who may have trouble putting their hands behind their backs.

Seller says the correctional officers refused to listen to Moore and began treating him as if he was non-compliant. The officers proceeded to pepper spray Moore, slam him to the ground and force him into a single pair of handcuffs, he says.

He cant see. Hes spitting out mace, hes coughing, he cant breathe and hes telling them Im allergic to mace, you need to hurry up and get medical here, Seller said.

Seller says he was looking up at the commotion from his cell on the lower floor of the prison block before Moore was brought down the stairs closer to him in a real aggressive manner.

Jordan Seller speaks to CNN. - CNN

The correctional officers placed Moore in some kind of chair-like contraption, according to Seller, which the county prosecuting attorney has said was a restraint chair, sometimes used in corrections facilities. Seller says the prison guards began to place a spit mask on Moore, but Seller maintained he was only spitting out mace.

Of course, hes refusing this because theres no reason for them to put a spit mask on, said Seller, who also says he witnessed this a few feet from his cell door. He dont know whats going on. He cant see, you know, so theyre grabbing on him trying to put something on his head. Hes fighting it. Well, then they started shocking him with the shock glove.

Seller then recounted what he believes were Moores final moments, when the officers pulled out what appeared to be an all-black motorcycle helmet, you know, darkened mask, all that, and put it on Moores head.

Immediately hes jumping, hopping, and you can hear him screaming, you know, Help! I cant breathe. I cant breathe, take it off. I cant breathe. Im, Im allergic to mace. I need help. And then it gets worse and worse, Seller said.

Hes jumping up and down shaking. And, you know, slowly, his screams are getting weaker and weaker, Seller said. I believe I watched him die before they even took him out the wing, he said.

I watched the people that are supposed to be protecting me, kill somebody, literally killed them, you know? And that brought on such a fear, you know? The realization that these people can kill me and theres nothing I can do about it, said Seller.

Moore was declared dead that day.

What the indictment says

When the arrests were made Friday, Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson largely corroborated to CNN Sellers eyewitness account of what happened to Moore, including the use of a spit mask and padded helmet.

During a contraband sweep of the prison, 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 thirty minutes, the prosecutor said in a statement.

Multiple witnesses heard Moore pleading with the corrections staff and telling them that he could not breathe before he was transferred to the prison hospital wing and pronounced dead, Thompson said.

A statement of probable cause against the charged officers describing the incident said Moore showed no aggression to any members of the CERT team during this process and was on video being compliant, and that Moore made no threats to anyone.

The use of a shock glove on Moore, as Seller described to CNN, was not mentioned by the prosecutor.

Former corrections officers Justin Leggins, Jacob Case, Aaron Brown, Gregory Varner and Bryanne Bradshaw were all charged in this case.

Leggins and Case were charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault, in part for recklessly causing physical injury to Moore by pepper-spraying him in the face, according to court documents.

Brown was charged with second-degree murder, and assault in the second degree, for recklessly causing serious physical injury to Moore by placing a mask over Moores face, which inhibited his ability to breathe, according to a joint felony complaint against the officers.

Varner was charged with second-degree murder and assault in the second degree for recklessly causing serious physical injury to Moore by leaving him in a position which caused his asphyxiation, the complaint said.

Bradshaw was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the second degree and is accused of negligently causing Moores death by leaving him in a position that caused asphyxiation, the complaint alleges.

CNN has attempted to identify attorneys for each of the former officers arrested but has not been able to make contact.

Leggins, Case and Brown had their charges read to them during arraignments in court Monday, Thompson told CNN. A judge refused to allow bond for those three defendants, The Associated Press reported Monday.

Varner is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, Thompson told CNN.

Bradshaw has been released from jail after paying bond, and has a court hearing scheduled for the end of July, Thompson told CNN on Monday.

Othel Moore appears in an undated photo. - From lawsuit

In response to the murder charges, the Missouri Department of Corrections said in a statement it has discontinued use of the restraint system in which Moore was held. Additionally, the statement said the department has begun using body-worn cameras in maximum-security prisons, starting with Jefferson City Correctional Center, to bolster both security and accountability.

It also said 10 people involved in the incident have been terminated following internal and independent law enforcement investigations, including the five officers charged.

The corrections department previously confirmed that the warden of the prison at the time of Moores killing, Doris Falkenrath, was no longer with the department. Falkenrath was not among those arrested and not listed on the indictments filed Friday.

Following the indictment, Othel Moores family filed a federal civil lawsuit against the officers, the prison warden at the time of the killing and the previous director of the Missouri Department of Corrections, alleging, in part, that Moore is dead because of the actions, inactions, conscious disregard, willful and wanton, and depraved behavior of the then corrections officers.

The suit also alleges the attack was not an isolated incident but the manifestation of a barbarous pattern and practice, fostered by the highest-ranking members of the Missouri Department of Corrections.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections told CNN the department wont comment on pending litigation.

Attorneys Andrew M. Stroth and Steven Hart are among those representing Moores family.

In remarks to the press Friday following the announcement of the charges, Stroth said, These charges are historic. These charges are unprecedented. When you hear about what happened, witnesses saw what happened, video evidence shows what happened. Its George Floyd 3.0 in a prison. Othel Moore, like George Floyd, was beaten. Othel was actually pepper sprayed, they put a spit mask on his face, they put him in the prone position face down. They shocked him with shock gloves. The entire time before his death was screaming. I cant breathe.

Stroth told CNN: Ive reviewed hundreds of police cases, prison cases, this is one of the most egregious cases I have ever seen.

We want transparency and accountability

Its also part of a worsening trend in the Missouri prison system.

From 2012 to 2019, the average number of deaths, which includes natural deaths, hovered around 99 per year, according to state data obtained by CNN through a Missouri Sunshine Law request. From 2020 to 2023, the average number of deaths then climbed to 128 per year, a near 30 percent jump.

There were fewer people incarcerated in Missouri in 2023 than at any time since at least 2012, according to state data. However, it was the prison systems deadliest year over that time period.

Last year saw 137 prison deaths, with Othel Moore among them.

Lori Curry, founder and executive director of the non-profit advocacy group Missouri Prison Reform, told CNN her group is regularly in touch with around 900 inmates, or residents of prisons, as Curry described them, to use more humanizing language.

Her organization also tracks deaths reported in prisons and based on the data they provided to CNN, what (the state) refer to as natural deaths was the most frequent listing as manner of death in their numbers over 2022 and 2023.

However, Curry cast doubt on the state listings and attributes the rise in the number of deaths in recent years to declining healthcare, an increase in drugs and overdoses, and an increase of staffing shortages, she told CNN.

She said her advocacy group quickly learned about the disturbing circumstances around Moores killing.

People in prisons notified us about the situation immediately, Curry said.

She also believes the Department of Corrections needs to be more forthcoming about the information around this and that if lawyers, family and others were not so vocal about the case it would not have stayed in the spotlight.

Curry founded Missouri Prison Reform in 2019 after launching an anonymous Twitter account where she reported stories relayed to her by inmates. Many years and many stories later, Ive been appalled at the things that have gone on in [Missouri] prisons, she told CNN.

We want transparency and accountability from our department of corrections, she added.

Seller, who has seen the dynamic between guards and inmates up close, says he wants the same thing.

I see police officers out here wearing body cameras all the time, you know, and its required for their stops, arrests, all that. And I believe thats the only solution for the way that inmates are getting treated is that the COs are required to wear body cameras, Seller told CNN.

You cant trust the people that are supposed to protect you, he said. This has become such a big pandemic. I mean, Im calling it a pandemic, you know, and its severe and its a big problem.

Seller was serving a six-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree rape in 2018, according to court records. State registry records also show the victim in that case was a minor. Seller did his time at a few prisons before being released from the Jefferson City Correctional Center in March.

I did a lot of good for myself in there, a lot of soul searching, Seller said.

He told CNN his reason for coming forward was simple:

Its something thats wrong, that needs to be addressed. Something needs to change, he said.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Herbert Simon is charged in the 2017 murder of a Houston couple. Houston Police Department People walk in front of the Harris County Criminal Courthouse on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

A Katy man was given two life sentences after being convicted of shooting a man and kidnapping his girlfriend in 2017, according to the Harris County District Attorneys Office.

Herbert Simon, 42, was sentenced June 26 after being found guilty of murder and aggravated kidnapping at the end of a five-day trial, according to the DAs office. Simon was one of two men accused in the December 2017 shooting deaths of Robert Cerda and Rachel Delarosa. The other man charged with murder, Josue Casco, hasnt gone to trial but is in federal custody after being sentenced to 30 years in prison over his part in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Cerda and Delarosa had gone out on a date in Spring Branch on the night of the shooting and were spending time with friends at a northwest Houston barbershop when the shooting happened, according to the DAs office.

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Cerda went inside the shop to use the bathroom, and while there, Simon, who was inside, took out a gun and shot him, according to police. The men then brought Delarosa into the building and held her against her will, until Casco drove her to a rural part of Fort Bend County and killed her, according to prosecutors. She was shot multiple times in the back, head and neck, according to police.

Casco and Simon were also believed to have dumped Cerdas body in north Houston.

Delarosas body was found the night of the shooting. Cerda was found the next day.

Authorities said Casco believed Cerda was involved in a home invasion robbery of his sisters residence.

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Both Casco and Simon had been in custody for years before they were charged with murder.

Simon was charged with evading arrest in 2018, according to court records. He was sent back to prison following that arrest because he had been on parole from a 2004 aggravated robbery conviction, according to court records.

In October 2020, Casco was arrested in an Ikea parking lot after undercover investigators learned of a plan to sell more than $100,000 worth of meth, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas. Prosecutors said Casco rammed a law enforcement vehicle when authorities moved in to arrest him.

A tipster  another man who had been at the barbershop during the shooting, helped dispose of the bodies and was arrested alongside Casco on federal drugs charges  pointed police to Casco and Simon in 2022, according to the DAs office.

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Scientists have linked loneliness to an increased risk of stroke. Bevan Goldswain/Getty Images

This article originally appeared on Medical News Today

Being consistently lonely over a long period of time significantly increases ones risk of having a stroke, finds a new study.

Loneliness may increase the risk of strokes through three general pathways: physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial.

There are many reasons people may be lonely, some of which are internal and some of which originate externally.

Working with a healthcare professional may provide tools for addressing loneliness.

A new study finds an increased risk of stroke among people who report themselves as being lonely over the long term.

Participants in the study who reported feeling lonely at two interviews four years apart were found to be at a 56% higher risk of stroke.

The study offers a unique perspective derived from interviewing participants twice to gauge the effect of chronic loneliness. Previous research has questioned individuals only at a single time, and thus did not track loneliness long-term effects.

The researchers analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study conducted from 2006 to 2018. Only participants with two recorded measurements of loneliness were included in the new study.

The studys 8,936 participants were aged 50 and older and had never had a stroke. Their loneliness was measured according to their responses to questions in the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale.

Participants were categorized as:

Consistently high  people who score high during both assessments

Consistently low  people with low levels of loneliness in both assessments

Remitting  people with a high loneliness score at the first measurement, but not at the second

Recent onset  people with a low loneliness score at the first measurement but who had a high loneliness score at the second.

The new study found that those who felt lonely were 25% more likely to have a stroke compared to those who didnt at baseline.

The study is published in The Lancets eClinical Medicine.

The link between loneliness and stroke risk

The studys corresponding author, Yenee Soh, ScD, research associate of social and behavioral sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA, explained what may lie behind the connection.

While noting that defining the mechanism linking loneliness to stroke was beyond the scope of the study, Soh said, Based on the literature, there are three broad pathways that generally describe how loneliness can impact stroke risk: physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial.

Previous research has suggested that possible physiological mechanisms include inflammation, reduced immunity, and increased hypothalamic pituitary-adrenocortical activity.

Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and the executive director of health and community education at the Piedmont Healthcare Corporation in Atlanta, GA, who was not involved in the study, added elevated blood pressure due to mental health stressors to that list.

Further, Morgan said, self-abusive behaviors such as decreased physical activity, overeating, high consumption of ultraprocessed foods, increased alcohol intake, increased use of cigarettes and/or drugs, decreased compliance with prescribed medications, and poor sleep hygiene may all be factors.

A psychosocial influence may lie in a persons inability to maintain satisfying social relationships, which may result in longer-term interpersonal difficulties that in turn may affect stroke risk, she said.

I think the key point is that its not just loneliness that likely contributes to the risk of stroke. Its a combination of factors. The fact that youre lonely most likely means that youre less able to care for yourself, said Yu-Ming Ni, MD, board certified cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who was also not involved in the study.

Loneliness vs. isolation

Loneliness is actually the painful feeling of being alone, noted Morgan.

Interestingly, people who are isolated may not actually feel lonely, and those who are lonely may actually be surrounded by tons of people, Morgan pointed out. The study, in fact, separates loneliness from social isolation.

You may be feeling as if you are standing on the sidelines, feeling misunderstood, disconnected with the group, as opposed to people who are isolated who are actually physically separated and have very few social/human interactions, she said.

The age group most at risk for loneliness is actually young people 18 to 22 years of age, said Morgan  they are also at the highest risk of social isolation, anxiety, and depression.

Complementing the studys conclusion that long-term loneliness poses the highest risk of stroke, the USPTF (United States Preventive Task Force) recommends doctors evaluate patients for depression, loneliness, and isolation.

We may be moving into an era where doctors begin to prescribe social interaction and provide referrals to community resources, hoped Morgan.

Why loneliness is not a problem for all

For some, loneliness may not be a problem, Ni said. You can choose to be lonely because thats what gives you strength, thats what is important for you, and meaningful for you. Plenty of people live their lives this way, very functionally, very effectively, and are able to take care of themselves well enough to not develop a stroke, contended Ni.

At the same time, loneliness may be a product of external forces, such as social challenges based on ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, or location.

It remains inconclusive whether behavioral or therapeutic interventions would reduce loneliness. That said, this issue should not only be tackled at the individual level and/or in a healthcare setting, said Soh.

We also need to understand whether there are structural and societal factors that contribute to loneliness and work collectively as a society to address loneliness. There are also an increasingly wide range of organizations and initiatives that provide resources to help combat loneliness, which may be helpful to follow.

 Yenee Soh, ScD

View the original article on Medical News Today
This California woman's friend stopped paying her share of rent  when you need to end a friendship over money

When Chelsea McQueens close friend was dealing with the aftermath of a bad breakup, helping her friend land a job at her workplace and letting her move into her apartment seemed like a no-brainer.

I feel like I'm such a giver that if a close friend of mine tells me that there's something that they really like, or [needs help with their rent], I would love to be able to be that person that gives it to them, McQueen, a 33-year-old account associate at a California-based communications agency, tells Moneywise.

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McQueen explains that she and her friend were earning the same salary and her friend initially agreed to the breakdown of rent and other costs before moving in with her in 2016.

Maybe the first month or two, it was good, she recounts, noting that, soon after, her friend failed to pay her share of the bills on time, leading McQueen to cover the difference. After a while, it got to a point where I knew I was stretching myself too thin.

The breaking point transpired after her friend had her car repossessed three times  each time, turning to McQueen for help. The roommate relationship lasted for little more than a year-and-a-half and McQueen ultimately decided to break off the friendship.

In retrospect, there were a lot of [financial] red flags just kind of throughout our entire friendship that I ignored, she admits.

When money can play a role in a friendship breakup

Finances can come between friends more frequently than youd think  a survey from Bread Financial reveals more than 20% of Americans have lost a friendship over money, while more than a quarter (26%) admit theyre financially incompatible with their friends.

The study discovered that failing to pay back borrowed funds was a major factor behind tensions in these relationships, but there are other situations where money can create bad blood between pals as well.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents admitted to breaking their budgets to socialize with friends  and more than a third say theyve splurged due to influence or pressure from friends as well. But what happens when you refuse to compromise on your finances for a fun outing?

*Alex (whose name has been altered to protect her confidentiality), a 25-year-old woman who works in public relations and communications, says one of her friendships gradually fell apart after a pricey bachelorette trip she couldnt afford to attend.

A recent graduate who had just been promoted out of her first internship, Alex explains that she initially didnt understand just how much the trip would cost  but later realized shed have to cough up more than $2,000 to go. She adds the other friends in the group were older and perhaps more financially stable than she was at the time.

When Alex made the tough decision to tell her friend she wouldnt be able to afford the bachelorette trip, she was taken aback when the bride informed her she had other friends who were taking on side gigs  like walking dogs or babysitting  so that they could join, implying Alex could do the same.

It was a little jarring for me, Alex recounts. She says she tried to remain friendly in the aftermath, but a year after the wedding, realized the other woman wasnt putting in any effort to retain the friendship and decided to let it go.

Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate  without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how

How to be open with your friends about finances

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, a behavioral finance expert and consultant to Bread Financial, says its key to have open and honest dialogues around money, as opposed to pretending it doesnt exist and letting it become a sore spot in your relationships.

Bryan-Podvin says some people may experience anticipatory anxiety when it comes to having the conversation around finances. But what we know is that when people talk about money, they can feel closer to their friends about money.

She says issues can stem from uncertainty and not being clear in your communication  like not letting your friend know it might take you some time to repay money that you borrowed. Or, planning a vacation without having a set budget for the costs of activities and lodging.

When it comes to financial compatibility, Bryan-Podvin believes its less about having a similar income, expenses or even spending habits  and more about being aligned in how you value your time together when money is a barrier.

For example, if youre on a budget or saving for a personal goal and decide you cant afford to meet your friend for their birthday brunch, but feel comfortable asking if you could do a low-cost activity or go on a walk in a park instead.

Alex agrees, noting that this aspect of financial compatibility is what matters in her own friendships today. I think generally if both individuals are very open and honest, I do think that you can make it work even if you are working with vastly different budgets.

McQueen also notes that, in their 30s, she and her friends feel much more comfortable discussing money than they were in their 20s  and are more understanding about each others financial situations too.

When you need to break up

Of course, there are situations where you can only have so many conversations  especially if youre not being heard.

McQueen tried asking her friend multiple times over the course of their living situation whether there was an underlying issue with prioritizing budgets or if something else was going on and holding her back financially, but says she never received a solid reason.

Bryan-Podvin explains that a friend who is taking advantage of you or not respecting your financial boundaries isnt really a friend at all.

You need to protect not only your emotional peace, but also your financial peace, she advises. Just like we wouldn't tolerate a friend who is toxic to us in their communication style or who we feel like uses us for rides or for leveraging our network.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Renauld White attends the third annual Thurgood Marshall College Fund fashion show at Roseland Ballroom on Oct. 25, 2008, in New York City. The model and actor has reportedly died at age 80.

Model and "Guiding Light" actor Renauld White has reportedly died at 80.

His modeling agency, Bella Agency, confirmed the death, calling White "one of a kind."

"We were so honored to have represented Renauld at Bella Agency New York over the past 10 years. He will be truly missed in the fashion world but not forgotten for all the trailblazing moments he accomplished," Bella Agency founder Ray Volant said in a statement to USA TODAY Tuesday. "Renauld's passion and perseverance was an inspiration for many. He helped young models find their place in the industry."

The soap opera actor was in hospice care at Lenox Hill Hospital, friend and designer Jeffrey Banks told Women's Wear Daily. White died on June 26, according to CNN, but the cause of death is not known, the outlets report.

White starred as William Reynolds on "Guiding Light" across seven episodes, from 1986 to 1992, according to IMDb. His other acting credits include the TV movie "Gun Hill" as a Baptist minister and the 2017 horror thriller "Central Park" as Christian Lincoln Smith Jr.

The groundbreaking model also made an appearance on Andy Warhol's short-lived TV series "Fashion" in 1979.

An obituary from Whigham Funeral Home, published on Saturday, said White "left a mark on the fashion world that can never be forgotten." The obituary noted he graced the covers of Essence, Ebony and Jet, and was the first Black man to cover GQ.

Though not listed on his IMDb page, the obituary lists the New Jersey native's additional TV credits on "One Life to Live," "General Hospital," "Inside Job" and "The Stepford Wives." The biography also added "activist" and "martial artist" to his long resume.

"Rest in peace, Renauld White your legacy as a trailblazer and visionary will forever live on. Your contribution to the fashion industry will continue to inspire and empower future generations of models," reads the obituary. "Your unique style, talent, and passion will be sorely missed, but your influence will continue to shape the industry for years to come."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Renauld White dead: 'Guiding Light' actor, model was 80
Ian McKellen is reluctantly stepping away from his role in "Player Kings" following an onstage fall last month.

"Two weeks after my accident onstage, my injuries improve day by day," McKellen, 85, said in a statement Monday shared on the "Player Kings" X account. "It's with the greatest reluctance that I have accepted the medical advice to protect my full recovery by not working in the meantime."

He added: "I had been so looking forward to bringing Player Kings to theatre-goers in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle. But I can assure them that, with David Semark now playing Falstaff, Robert Icke's production and his acting company remain as dazzling as ever."

British Ian McKellen arrives to attend the world premiere of the film "The Good Liar" in London on October 28, 2019.

McKellen, who was cast as Sir John Falstaff in the adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Henry VI," was hospitalized briefly on June 17 after falling during his performance in London's West End, according to The Washington Post and Associated Press. Producers canceled the June 18 show to allow the actor to rest, the theater told USA TODAY in a statement at the time.

The play will continue to tour throughout England.

Howie Mandel clarifies wife Terry was high, not drunk, during fall

"Ian continues to recuperate very well, but he needs the time to rest and ensure a complete recovery. We continue to send him our best wishes," producers of "Player Kings" added in the statement shared Monday.

Following his hospitalization, McKellen thanked fans "for their kind messages and support" in a post on X.

"Since the accident, during a performance of Player Kings last night, my injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts, specialists and nurses working for the National Health Service. To them, of course, I am hugely indebted," he added. "They have assured me that my recovery will be complete and speedy and I am looking forward to returning to work."

McKellen is known for iconic roles such as the wizard Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies and mutant Magneto in the "X-Men" films. He has also starred in over a dozen Shakespearean projects onstage and film, including "Hamlet," "Romeo & Juliet" and "King Lear."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ian McKellen's fall ends his role in 'Player Kings'
Jennie Garth and ex-husband Peter Facinelli are "friends now."

The "Beverly Hills, 90210" actress gave fans an update about her relationship status with the "Nurse Jackie" alum during a shortened episode of her "I Choose Me" podcast, which was released Sunday. The update came after Facinelli appeared on the podcast last month to discuss the duo's co-parenting in a pair of one-hour episodes.

"Guys, we are officially friends now," she told listeners, adding that the father of her three children had "even unblocked me from Instagram" and teased plans between the pair.

"He invited me to his son, Jack's, christening," Garth continued, in reference to Facinelli's 1-year-old son with fiancee Lily Anne Harrison.

Jennie Garth is opening up about her friendship with ex-husband Peter Facinelli on her podcast.

Then, she teased fans, adding that "we are all gonna be going on a boat together, with the whole family!" and "this is the power of the pod, people." During last month's podcast episode with her ex, Garth said the Hollywood stars both "wasted so much time trying to prove our points to one another" and said they both regret that.

In June 2013, Garth and Facinelli finalized their divorced and, at the time, each declined spousal support and they have agreed to share custody of their three daughters: Luca, 27, Lola, 21, and Fiona, 17. After splitting from Facinelli, Garth tied actor Dave Abrams on a blind date and the pair subsequently tied the knot in July 2015.

It's been a year of reunions for the "90210" alum. Earlier this year, she reunited with former co-star Ian Ziering during a charity event held by Los Angeles Mission, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting homelessness.

Garth shared photos from the event on Instagram Sunday, including a shot of her serving food and another pic of herself and Ziering smiling for the camera. The "Bad Influence" star also threw in an adorable clip of a rabbit munching on a carrot for some Easter whimsy.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jennie Garth, ex-husband Peter Facinella are 'friends now'
A crowd crush at a religious gathering in northern India killed more than a hundred people Tuesday, mostly women, in one of the deadliest such incidents the country has seen in recent years.

Many of the scores killed had fallen into an open sewer next to the venue. Police are investigating the organizers, saying a quarter of a million people arrived at the venue - more than three times the number expected - and just a few dozen police officers had been deployed.

Investigators are pursuing Bhole Baba, the self-styled godman who led the event. The disaster happened at a prayer meeting, known as a satsang, in Mughal Garhi village in Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state. The village, in Hathras district, is around 200 kilometers (124 miles) southeast of the capital New Delhi.

At least 121 people died and 35 others were injured, Sandeep Singh, the Minister of State for Education, told reporters Wednesday, after a large number of people rushed to touch Bhole Babas feet, leading to a crush.

Almost all those killed were women, Singh said earlier, with at least seven children also among the dead.

About 72 bodies have been identified so far, and dozens of injured people are being treated in nearby hospitals, according to local health officials.

Local officials have suggested overcrowding was the cause of the crush.

An estimated 80,000 people had been expected to attend the event, where Bhole Baba was giving a sermon. However, a lot more people showed up, Singh said.

Police have been on the hunt for Bhole Baba since the deadly incident and have accused the events organizers of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, wrongfully restraining a person, causing disappearance of evidence or providing false information, according to a police report seen by CNN.

Permission was sought for the event with 80,000 attendees, however a crowd of more than 250,000 devotees gathered, the report said.

Organizers and officials tried to direct the crowd as thousands attempted to leave and in the ensuing chaos dozens were trampled, it added. The report alleged that event organizers provided no assistance to the injured and attempted to cover up the incident by hiding the clothes and shoes that people had lost in the crush in a nearby field.

About 40 policemen had been deployed to provide security at the event, additional director general of Agra police, Anupam Kulshreshtha, told reporters.

The deadly scenes unfolded after the event had finished, when Bhole Babas devotees rushed toward the stage to touch his feet, according to chief secretary Singh, who described scenes of chaos as people began to fall on top of each other and into an open sewer nearby.

He accused the organizers of failing to comply with a list of requirements given by the district. A high-level inquiry has been launched to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and a police report will be filed against the event organizers for allegedly exceeding permitted attendance levels, according to local officials.

There has been a major lapse on the part of the organizers. They will face a strict punishment, he said.

Survivors spoke of the harrowing incident in its aftermath. People started falling one upon another, one upon another. Those who were crushed died. People there pulled them out, Shakuntala Devi told the Press Trust of India news agency, according to the Associated Press.

Efforts are underway to provide the injured with medical care and arrangements are being made for post-mortem examinations at various locations, said Inspector General Shalabh Mathur, of the neighboring district Ambala Range.

A video distributed by Reuters showed crowds gathering outside a hospital in the nearby Etah district, where distraught families cried for the victims. Medical personnel could be seen carrying people on stretchers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a parliamentary address.

Modi said the government is conducting relief and rescue work and is coordinating with the state government. The victims will be helped in every way, he said.

Crowd crushes at religious gatherings in India are not uncommon, and deadly incidents have made headlines in the past, highlighting the lack of adequate crowd control and safety measures.

A new years crush in January 2022 at one of Indias holiest shrines in Jammu, in the north of the country, killed at least a dozen people. In 2008, nearly 150 people who had gathered for a religious event in western India died in a hilltop crowd crush, and three years prior, more than 250 people were trampled to death during a pilgrimage in the western state of Maharashtra.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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West Bath, Maine (AP)  A man who confessed to killing his parents and two of their friends and wounding three people in a highway shooting pleaded guilty to murder and other charges on Monday, and a judge sentenced him to the maximum term of life in prison.

Joseph Eaton never provided a reason to law enforcement officials for the violent crimes he admitted committing in Maine last year, and he had no explanation for the victims families and friends who spoke in court.

Through written testimony read aloud, a woman described the horrific scene of blood and broken glass that confronted her in April 2023 when she found the crime scene where Eaton confessed to the fatal shootings. In a similar written statement, the father of one of three people wounded by bullets that Eaton fired on a highway spoke of his terror that day that his daughter would bleed out in his arms. She ultimately survived. A shooting survivor spoke of discovering 13 bullet holes in her car. Others said they experienced sleepless nights and nightmares as a result of Eatons actions.

He killed the only four people in this world who actually loved and cared for him, said a distraught Kristina DeRaps, who is married to a nephew of one of the victims, Patti Eger. DeRaps called Eaton a selfish little boy.

Eaton looked down at the defense table during much of the testimony. When he spoke, he said he was still in disbelief over his actions. I wake up every day regretting what I did, he said. Of his life sentence, he added, I honestly think I deserve worse. All I can say is, Im sorry.

Law enforcement officials say Eaton, now 35, confessed to fatally shooting his parents, Eger and Egers husband at the Egers home in the rural town of Bowdoin. He also confessed to shooting at vehicles on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth. The crimes took place days after Eaton was released from a Maine prison for unrelated crimes. He has been in jail since his latest arrest.

Killed were David Eaton, 66; Eger and Cynthia Eaton, both 62; and Robert Eger, 72. Cynthia Eaton had picked her son up on April 14, when he was released from prison. Also killed was the Egers dog, which led authorities to add animal cruelty to the list of charges against Joseph Eaton.

Investigators are seen on April 18, 2023, at the scene where Eaton killed four people in Bowdoin, Maine. - Robert F. Bukaty/AP/File

Authorities believe Eaton delivered the fatal shots on April 17, 2023. The victims bodies were found the following morning, on the same day authorities say he fired at cars on I-295 in Yarmouth, about 12 miles outside of Portland, Maines biggest city. Eaton faced separate indictments because the attacks at the Bowdoin home and on the highway happened in different counties.

At the time, Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck called the shootings an attack on the soul of our state. Months later, an Army reservist who lived in Bowdoin killed 18 people at two locations in the city of Lewiston, in what would become the states deadliest mass shooting.

An unsigned note found at the scene of the killings mentioned someone being freed of pain and that the writer of the note wanted a new life, according to a criminal affidavit. Eaton told the Portland Press Herald newspaper in jailhouse interviews that he was not in control of his actions at the time of the shootings and didnt understand why he did it.

All told, Eaton pleaded guilty on Monday to more than a dozen charges, including four counts of murder and aggravated attempted murder. He received the maximum penalty for each of them.

Defense lawyer Andrew Wright said Eaton chose to plead guilty to take responsibility for his actions, believing it was the reasonable and moral thing to do to bring the case to a conclusion.

Outside the courthouse, Wright said he struggles to make sense of Eaton, who despite committing such violent crimes also struck him during their one-on-one interactions as a kind and compassionate and emotional and empathetic man.

Its a senseless act, that makes no sense to anyone involved, he said. Its a tragedy.

Authorities say Eaton also has a criminal history in Florida and Kansas.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
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Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer





Key Takeaways

Walking may be an easy and free treatment option for recurring lower back pain, a new study shows.

Walking can increase blood flow, reduce stiffness, and boost your mood.

If you don't exercise or walk regularly, experts recommend starting with three or four short walksabout five to 10 minutesper week.







Lower back pain affects millions of people each year, but some treatment options, like working with personal trainers or using specialized equipment for exercise, are not always accessible or affordable.

A recent study in Australia found that walking, a free and accessible exercise, can help reduce lower back pain recurrence.

The nice thing about walking is that everybody knows how to do it. People can do it in any location or any place. Its not difficult to teach anybody how to safely walk, said Naileshni S. Singh, MD, a pain medicine specialist at UC Davis Health who was not involved in the study.

The study included 701 adults with a history of non-specific low back pain, meaning the pain did not result from an obvious disease or incident. Half of the study participants engaged in an individualized walking program, while the other half did not receive any intervention.

The participants assigned to the walking program also worked with a physical therapist throughout the study. The physical therapists provided education on basic pain science and strategies for reducing lower back pain recurrence.

Singh said the study didnt specify whether the walking itself or the interaction with a physical therapist helped reduce lower back pain.





Related: Causes of Back Pain and Treatment Options

Why Might Walking Reduce Lower Back Pain?

Light physical activity, rather than bed rest, is often recommended for managing non-specific low back pain. Exercises like Pilates, yoga, and walking can all build core and back strength, which may lead to back pain relief.

Everybody is different and some people respond better to yoga than walking for pain management and vice versa. I usually recommend that people try different combinations of activities to see what helps them feel their best, Tayler Boswell, PT, DPT, CSCS, a physical therapist at Mountain Land Physical Therapy Holladay clinic in Salt Lake City, told Verywell in an email.

Walking is a low-risk exercise that increases blood flow and reduces stiffness in the back. Unlike other activities, walking does not require you to twist your spine, which could increase back pain for some people.

Boswell said he often recommends starting with three or four short walksabout five to ten minutesper week.

As long as their back pain does not increase at this frequency, I recommend adding another day of walking each week or increasing the amount of walking time by another 5 to 10 minutes, he said.



Related: Looking for a Full Body Workout? Try Nordic Walking

Walking May Reduce Pain by Improving Mood

The study did not determine exactly why walking reduced lower back pain recurrence, but mood improvements may have played a role.

We know that patients who have more depressive symptoms or anxious symptoms do have worsened pain, Singh said. Thats true of pretty much every pain condition, including back pain.

Walking and other aerobic exercises trigger the release of endorphins, chemical messengers in the brain that can naturally help relieve pain and improve your mood. Studies have suggested that social interaction and spending time in nature can reduce pain, so taking a walk outside with others may also help.

If you have a mood problem, you have a pain problem and if you add in exercise, it probably helps both, Singh said.

However, walking is not right for everyone with low back pain, especially during the first few days after the pain starts.

When pain is highly flared up, it may not be a good idea to do too much activity because the heat that is produced by working muscles could lead to more inflammation and thus more pain, Boswell said.

During those instances, Boswell recommends using an ice pack on the painful area or talking to a healthcare provider about other pain management options, including medication. However, if a person is only experiencing a moderate flare-up, walking for two to five minutes can help ease the pain by increasing blood flow and reducing stiffness.

Managing back pain is multifactorial, especially when the pain becomes chronic, so it is often beneficial to combine several different activities and lifestyle habits to manage and prevent this pain. In addition to walking, the research shows that getting adequate sleep, staying hydrated, and better understanding the causes of pain can be helpful measures, Boswell said.



Read Next: If Walking Is the Only Exercise You Do, Is That Enough to Stay Healthy?







What This Means For You

A new study shows that walking may help reduce the chances of your lower back pain coming back. Walking can improve your mood, reduce stiffness, and increase blood flow.







Read the original article on Verywell Health.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected challenges to Illinois' ban on assault-style weapons, punting for now on the question of whether the ban is allowed under a controversial new test for gun restrictions.

The court was asked to block Illinois ban while multiple challenges to the states law are litigated.

The justices declined to take the cases.

Justice Samuel Alito said he would have taken the appeals.

Justice Clarence Thomas said the court was "rightly wary" of stepping in at this stage.

"But, I hope we will consider the important issues presented by these petitions after the cases reach final judgment," he wrote.

Hannah Hill, director of legal affairs for the National Association of Gun Rights, said the groups challenges will continue, and will outlast both the gun grabbers and the Supreme Courts procedural reticence.

But my heart breaks for the people of Illinois today, she said on social media.

Gun rights advocates argue the ban violates a recent Supreme Court decision that requires gun restrictions be grounded in the nations history.

This court needs to intervene before this open defiance spreads further, former Solicitor General Paul Clement and other lawyers representing those challenging Illinois ban told the court.

Ten states and the District of Columbia ban some type of assault-style weapons. Others limit large-capacity magazines.

A group from Highland Park, Ill., rallies at the U.S. Capitol July 13 to call for stronger gun control measures, including universal background checks and an assault weapons ban.

Officials in Illinois said theres a historical tradition of reserving especially dangerous weapons for the military and law enforcement.

"As the Seventh Circuit recognized, these regulations have limited the sale, possession, and use of such weapons since the Colonial era," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul told the court.

Raoul also argued the Supreme Court should let the lower courts work through how to apply their recent ruling on guns to the restrictions before determining if theres a need to get involved.

Illinois bans the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles and pistols as well as high-capacity magazines. State officials said such firearms are the weapons of choice for mass shootings because they allow many rounds to be fired without reloading.

Do bans on semi-automatic rifles violate the 2nd Amendment?

The restrictions were passed after a 2022 mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in a Chicago suburb. But they also came months after the Supreme Court struck down gun regulations unless they are "consistent with this nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation."

That decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen didnt directly answer whether prohibitions on certain semi-automatic rifles or high-capacity magazines are consistent with the Second Amendment.

In upholding this month a law banning domestic abusers from owning guns, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that restrictions "must comport with the principles underlying the Second Amendment," but there doesn't have to be a "historical twin" to the rule.

Related Supreme Court to decide fate of Biden's regulation on untraceable weapons known as 'ghost guns'

The Supreme Court has twice declined to get involved at earlier stages of the dispute over the rules in Illinois, which face multiple challenges from gun rights groups, gun shop owners and individuals.

In November, a divided panel of the Chicago-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit denied opponents' efforts to put the law on hold as it's being challenged. The panel also upheld several similar local laws in Illinois.

The panel stressed the ruling was a "preliminary look and said the challengers may present more persuasive evidence during trials that shows the banned firearms are those ordinary people would use for self-defense rather than being akin to machineguns or military-grade weaponry.

Clement called that an exceedingly burdensome hurdle to "challenge something as seemingly obviously covered as a statewide ban on common firearms.

Republican officials from 28 states supported those trying to stop the bans.

The high court recently declined to get involved for now in a challenge to Marylands ban on assault-style weapons after the gun rights groups who oppose the ban had asked the court to take the unusual step of weighing in before an appeals court issued its pending ruling.

The court has so far agreed to take one gun control case for its next term, whether the Biden administration can regulate ghost guns by requiring manufacturers of the untraceable weapon kits to conduct background checks on customers and mark their products with serial numbers.

The court last week struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, devices that turn a semi-automatic rifle into something closer to a machine gun.

A decision is pending on whether domestic abusers can be banned from owning guns.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court turns away challenges to state ban on `assault rifles'
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Tuesday that an order by Israel for Palestinians to evacuate areas of Khan Younis and Rafah was the largest such edict in the Gaza Strip since 1.1 million people were told to leave the north of the enclave in October.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday's evacuation order applies to about a third of Gaza and initial estimates by the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) showed that some 250,000 people may have been currently living in that area.

Dujarric said "an evacuation of such a massive scale will only heighten the suffering of civilians and drive humanitarian needs even higher."

"People are left with the impossible choice of having to relocate, some most likely for the second or third time, to areas that have barely any spaces or services, or staying in areas where they know heavy fighting will take place," he said.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas burst into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages, including civilians and soldiers, back into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

The offensive launched by Israel in retaliation has killed nearly 38,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and has left the heavily built-up coastal enclave in ruins. Some 2.3 million people live in Gaza.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Alistair Bell)
An attendee places a candle near a photo of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, during a candlelight vigil for her on Friday, June 21, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Two days after Jocelyn Nungarays body was found in a Houston creek, a man saw surveillance photos on the news of two men sought by police, looked at his new roommates and then texted a family member he believed he was sitting across from the men they were looking for.

The text message would help police track down the two men arrested and charged with capital murder over Jocelyn Nungarays death, according to newly released search warrants. The warrants show that the people who lived and worked with Franklin Pena and Johan Martinez-Rangel were the ones who alerted police to their identities.

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Jury finds former HPD officer not guilty of driving while intoxicated

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Jocelyn Nungaray was found stripped half naked and tied up in a north Houston creek just before 7 a.m. June 17. Her death caused Mayor John Whitmire and acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite to ask for the publics help just hours after the discovery.

On June 18, police released photos of two men wanted for questioning in connection to Jocelyns death. Police released little information about where the picture came from, or why they were looking for the men.

The Houston Police Department released security images of two men wanted for questioning in connection to the death of a 12-year-old girl who was found in the 400 block of West Rankin on Monday, June 17, 2024. COURTESY/Houston Police Department

But according to a search warrant, a man who was living with Pena and Martinez-Rangel saw a June 19 TV report about the killing and recognized his roommates.

While the man was sitting with the two suspects, he texted his cousin in Laredo, alerting the distant relative to his predicament, according to the warrant. The cousin in turn contacted a Houston Police Department officer, who contacted detectives.

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In a short time, police had arranged for the roommate to leave the apartment and meet with a detective at a nearby food store, according to the warrant.

The man told police he had been out with Pena and Martinez-Rangel at an Ojos Locos restaurant the night they were accused of killing Jocelyn, and provided them with clearer photographs of the men, according to the warrant. The man said he left the restaurant before the others and returned home. He also told police he had been kicked out of his apartment Sunday night and invited to move in with Pena and Martinez-Rangel on Monday, just hours after Jocelyns body was found.

The man said he had originally met one of the men  who he knew as Gordo  while they were migrating to Mexico. Pena and Martinez-Rangel, both Venezuelan nationals, entered the United States without permission, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

On June 19, another man, who said he was Pena and Martinez-Rangels boss, called police after Pena told him about a mistake they had while partying that left someone dead. That man also called police after seeing the pictures released by police.

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Police included the witnesses tips in the search warrants executed on Pena and Martinez-Rangels apartment on the morning of June 20. When searching the apartment, police seized a hair trimmer, toothbrushes, razors, sheets, pants and underwear, bottles and shoes.
(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday it had warned a website called ozempen.com against unlawfully selling versions of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drugs.

Surging demand has outpaced supply for Novo's Ozempic, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and other GLP-1 drugs that promote weight loss, fueling a growing global market for counterfeit versions.

The FDA said the website was offering unapproved versions of obesity and diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.

"These products are only available pursuant to a prescription from a licensed practitioner," the health regulator said.

Last month, the World Health Organization issued warnings on fake drugs claiming to contain the active ingredient found in Ozempic and Wegovy.

Lilly and Novo have sued several entities to stop them from selling products claiming to contain the active ingredients tirzepatide and semaglutide that are used in their respective popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs.

(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)


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If a Hindu politician had declared Jai Palestine! after taking his oath as a Lok Sabha member, he would have been hailed as a robust Third World leader who stands up for Asian rights and non-aligned solidarity. But all hell breaks out when the speaker is Asaduddin Owaisi, the five-time All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP. Amidst raucous accusations of treachery and demands for Mr Owaisi to be ejected from Parliament, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju condemned his statement as inappropriate.

The incident highlights the challenge which India faces even after 77 years of Independence of reconciling reality with theory. It followed hard on the heels of a more consequential spat between India and the United States on the treatment of Muslims by Narendra Modis National Democratic Alliance government, in which his Bharatiya Janata Party remains the dominant voice even though the evidence points to its diminished hold on the loyalty of voters.

The Muslim angle is one element in this story. American supremacism is another. The strident tendency to dictate the rules of a so-called rules-based world order prompted an involuntary spurt of irritation when I read of the adverse comments on religious freedom in India by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an organisation with which New Delhi has crossed swords in the past. It was even more galling to hear Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, criticising the increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities in India.

Not that I was denying the charges. But does Indias secularism need a foreign certificate? Why should faraway Americans, I asked myself, sit in judgment on our domestic conditions. Its no secret that Washington invoked the sacred cause of democracy during the Cold War years to arm dictatorships like Pakistan, Iran or the Philippines when the principal purpose of US foreign policy was to upstage the Soviet Union. Or that it wakes up to human rights abuses in Tibet or Xinjiang only when it has a bilateral bone to pick with Beijing. Even now, the US is doing precious little to arrest Israels brutal campaign against the Palestinians whom Mr Owaisi supports (as do millions of other Indians, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian alike) even though Washington alone can call a halt to Benjamin Netanyahus fanatical murderousness.

But more sobering second thoughts followed my initial rebellious reaction. A military-industrial complex (to use the term that Dwight D. Eisenhower made famous in 1961) like the United States has interests to protect with force as well as diplomatic dexterity. As another American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, supposedly remarked in 1939 of Anastasio Somoza Garcia, the ruthless dictator of Nicaragua from 1936 until his assassination in 1956 and whose family controlled Central Americas largest country as a family bailiwick for 42 years, Somoza may be a son of a bitch, but hes our son of a bitch.

Such refreshing candour -- unheard of in Indias political dialogue  doesnt make the practices it describes any more respectable. More to the point, American frailties and foibles are no reason for glossing over evils that are endemic in our society, preventing the social integration that India desperately needs. The communal prejudice that USCIRF and Mr Blinken highlighted may have become more blatant since Mr Modi first took office at the Centre in 2014.

But leaving aside a sorry string of Hindu-Muslim riots in colonial times which we like to think were a product of Britins divide-and-rule strategy, who can forget the Jan Sangh stalwart from UP, Om Prakash Tyagi, who introduced a Freedom of Religion Bill in the Lok Sabha in 1978 as a private members measure to outlaw conversions through force, fraud or inducement?

That was a precursor to todays campaigns against so-called love jihad and for gau rakshak (cow protection). Both are responsible for innumerable lynchings, murders, persecutions and terrorisation in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and elsewhere.

Bishops, priests and even Mother Teresa opposed had Tyagis measure. Among its lusty supporters were organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its Pratinidhi Sabha, and even two retired high court judges. The BJPs recent choice as chief minister of Odisha of Mohan Charan Majhi is a reminder of those times: Mr Majhi has campaigned for the release of the one-time Bajrang Dal activist, Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the gruesome 1999 murder of an Australian missionary, Graham Staines, who ran a home for lepers in Odisha, and his two little sons, aged ten and only six. Singh led a mob that set fire to the vehicle in which the three Staines males were sleeping so that they were all burned to death. Singh was also convicted in two other murder cases -- of another Christian missionary and a Muslim trader.

Christians like the Staines family are too few and too unimportant to matter to the mob. But 200 million Muslims comprising more than 14 per cent of the population are an altogether different matter. They appear to provoke the visceral hatred of some of the seniormost leaders of the ruling establishment who possibly see them as an embodiment of the twelve hundred years of slavery in Indias life on which Mr Modi harps. The TV image of the Prime Minister rejecting a venerable Muslims courtesy gift of cap and scarf is not easily forgotten. The mockery of his references to Sonia Gandhis former political secretary, the late Ahmedbhai Mohammedbhai Patel, as Ahmed Mian, also remains. The Gandhi family was often jeered at as Mughals. Now that Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, is too august a personage to be dismissed as Pappu, one wonders whether Mr Modi will also abandon the contemptuously used Islamic nickname of Shehzada.

What makes this mockery particularly cruel is that, according to all surveys, Indias Muslims lag behind the rest in all relevant matters like education, employment and earnings. Any actual or perceived concession shown to them at once prompts howls of appeasement! It was part of the BJPs election campaign to claim that the Opposition parties, particularly Mr Gandhis Congress, were bent on abolishing places in schools, colleges and employment reserved for Dalits, Adivasis and the various backward categories and diverting them to Muslims. The tactic misfired. That doesnt mean it wont be tried again, albeit in some other guise.

If a Hindu politician had declared Jai Palestine! after taking his oath as a Lok Sabha member, he would have been hailed as a robust Third World leader who stands up for Asian rights and non-aligned solidarity. But all hell breaks out when the speaker is Asaduddin Owaisi, the five-time All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP. Amidst raucous accusations of treachery and demands for Mr Owaisi to be ejected from Parliament, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju condemned his statement as inappropriate.

The incident highlights the challenge which India faces even after 77 years of Independence of reconciling reality with theory. It followed hard on the heels of a more consequential spat between India and the United States on the treatment of Muslims by Narendra Modis National Democratic Alliance government, in which his Bharatiya Janata Party remains the dominant voice even though the evidence points to its diminished hold on the loyalty of voters.

The Muslim angle is one element in this story. American supremacism is another. The strident tendency to dictate the rules of a so-called rules-based world order prompted an involuntary spurt of irritation when I read of the adverse comments on religious freedom in India by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an organisation with which New Delhi has crossed swords in the past. It was even more galling to hear Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, criticising the increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities in India.

Not that I was denying the charges. But does Indias secularism need a foreign certificate? Why should faraway Americans, I asked myself, sit in judgment on our domestic conditions. Its no secret that Washington invoked the sacred cause of democracy during the Cold War years to arm dictatorships like Pakistan, Iran or the Philippines when the principal purpose of US foreign policy was to upstage the Soviet Union. Or that it wakes up to human rights abuses in Tibet or Xinjiang only when it has a bilateral bone to pick with Beijing. Even now, the US is doing precious little to arrest Israels brutal campaign against the Palestinians whom Mr Owaisi supports (as do millions of other Indians, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian alike) even though Washington alone can call a halt to Benjamin Netanyahus fanatical murderousness.

But more sobering second thoughts followed my initial rebellious reaction. A military-industrial complex (to use the term that Dwight D. Eisenhower made famous in 1961) like the United States has interests to protect with force as well as diplomatic dexterity. As another American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, supposedly remarked in 1939 of Anastasio Somoza Garcia, the ruthless dictator of Nicaragua from 1936 until his assassination in 1956 and whose family controlled Central Americas largest country as a family bailiwick for 42 years, Somoza may be a son of a bitch, but hes our son of a bitch.

Such refreshing candour -- unheard of in Indias political dialogue  doesnt make the practices it describes any more respectable. More to the point, American frailties and foibles are no reason for glossing over evils that are endemic in our society, preventing the social integration that India desperately needs. The communal prejudice that USCIRF and Mr Blinken highlighted may have become more blatant since Mr Modi first took office at the Centre in 2014.

But leaving aside a sorry string of Hindu-Muslim riots in colonial times which we like to think were a product of Britins divide-and-rule strategy, who can forget the Jan Sangh stalwart from UP, Om Prakash Tyagi, who introduced a Freedom of Religion Bill in the Lok Sabha in 1978 as a private members measure to outlaw conversions through force, fraud or inducement?

That was a precursor to todays campaigns against so-called love jihad and for gau rakshak (cow protection). Both are responsible for innumerable lynchings, murders, persecutions and terrorisation in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and elsewhere.

Bishops, priests and even Mother Teresa opposed had Tyagis measure. Among its lusty supporters were organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its Pratinidhi Sabha, and even two retired high court judges. The BJPs recent choice as chief minister of Odisha of Mohan Charan Majhi is a reminder of those times: Mr Majhi has campaigned for the release of the one-time Bajrang Dal activist, Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the gruesome 1999 murder of an Australian missionary, Graham Staines, who ran a home for lepers in Odisha, and his two little sons, aged ten and only six. Singh led a mob that set fire to the vehicle in which the three Staines males were sleeping so that they were all burned to death. Singh was also convicted in two other murder cases -- of another Christian missionary and a Muslim trader.

Christians like the Staines family are too few and too unimportant to matter to the mob. But 200 million Muslims comprising more than 14 per cent of the population are an altogether different matter. They appear to provoke the visceral hatred of some of the seniormost leaders of the ruling establishment who possibly see them as an embodiment of the twelve hundred years of slavery in Indias life on which Mr Modi harps. The TV image of the Prime Minister rejecting a venerable Muslims courtesy gift of cap and scarf is not easily forgotten. The mockery of his references to Sonia Gandhis former political secretary, the late Ahmedbhai Mohammedbhai Patel, as Ahmed Mian, also remains. The Gandhi family was often jeered at as Mughals. Now that Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, is too august a personage to be dismissed as Pappu, one wonders whether Mr Modi will also abandon the contemptuously used Islamic nickname of Shehzada.

What makes this mockery particularly cruel is that, according to all surveys, Indias Muslims lag behind the rest in all relevant matters like education, employment and earnings. Any actual or perceived concession shown to them at once prompts howls of appeasement! It was part of the BJPs election campaign to claim that the Opposition parties, particularly Mr Gandhis Congress, were bent on abolishing places in schools, colleges and employment reserved for Dalits, Adivasis and the various backward categories and diverting them to Muslims. The tactic misfired. That doesnt mean it wont be tried again, albeit in some other guise.

If a Hindu politician had declared Jai Palestine! after taking his oath as a Lok Sabha member, he would have been hailed as a robust Third World leader who stands up for Asian rights and non-aligned solidarity. But all hell breaks out when the speaker is Asaduddin Owaisi, the five-time All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP. Amidst raucous accusations of treachery and demands for Mr Owaisi to be ejected from Parliament, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju condemned his statement as inappropriate.

The incident highlights the challenge which India faces even after 77 years of Independence of reconciling reality with theory. It followed hard on the heels of a more consequential spat between India and the United States on the treatment of Muslims by Narendra Modis National Democratic Alliance government, in which his Bharatiya Janata Party remains the dominant voice even though the evidence points to its diminished hold on the loyalty of voters.

The Muslim angle is one element in this story. American supremacism is another. The strident tendency to dictate the rules of a so-called rules-based world order prompted an involuntary spurt of irritation when I read of the adverse comments on religious freedom in India by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an organisation with which New Delhi has crossed swords in the past. It was even more galling to hear Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, criticising the increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities in India.

Not that I was denying the charges. But does Indias secularism need a foreign certificate? Why should faraway Americans, I asked myself, sit in judgment on our domestic conditions. Its no secret that Washington invoked the sacred cause of democracy during the Cold War years to arm dictatorships like Pakistan, Iran or the Philippines when the principal purpose of US foreign policy was to upstage the Soviet Union. Or that it wakes up to human rights abuses in Tibet or Xinjiang only when it has a bilateral bone to pick with Beijing. Even now, the US is doing precious little to arrest Israels brutal campaign against the Palestinians whom Mr Owaisi supports (as do millions of other Indians, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian alike) even though Washington alone can call a halt to Benjamin Netanyahus fanatical murderousness.

But more sobering second thoughts followed my initial rebellious reaction. A military-industrial complex (to use the term that Dwight D. Eisenhower made famous in 1961) like the United States has interests to protect with force as well as diplomatic dexterity. As another American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, supposedly remarked in 1939 of Anastasio Somoza Garcia, the ruthless dictator of Nicaragua from 1936 until his assassination in 1956 and whose family controlled Central Americas largest country as a family bailiwick for 42 years, Somoza may be a son of a bitch, but hes our son of a bitch.

Such refreshing candour -- unheard of in Indias political dialogue  doesnt make the practices it describes any more respectable. More to the point, American frailties and foibles are no reason for glossing over evils that are endemic in our society, preventing the social integration that India desperately needs. The communal prejudice that USCIRF and Mr Blinken highlighted may have become more blatant since Mr Modi first took office at the Centre in 2014.

But leaving aside a sorry string of Hindu-Muslim riots in colonial times which we like to think were a product of Britins divide-and-rule strategy, who can forget the Jan Sangh stalwart from UP, Om Prakash Tyagi, who introduced a Freedom of Religion Bill in the Lok Sabha in 1978 as a private members measure to outlaw conversions through force, fraud or inducement?

That was a precursor to todays campaigns against so-called love jihad and for gau rakshak (cow protection). Both are responsible for innumerable lynchings, murders, persecutions and terrorisation in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and elsewhere.

Bishops, priests and even Mother Teresa opposed had Tyagis measure. Among its lusty supporters were organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its Pratinidhi Sabha, and even two retired high court judges. The BJPs recent choice as chief minister of Odisha of Mohan Charan Majhi is a reminder of those times: Mr Majhi has campaigned for the release of the one-time Bajrang Dal activist, Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the gruesome 1999 murder of an Australian missionary, Graham Staines, who ran a home for lepers in Odisha, and his two little sons, aged ten and only six. Singh led a mob that set fire to the vehicle in which the three Staines males were sleeping so that they were all burned to death. Singh was also convicted in two other murder cases -- of another Christian missionary and a Muslim trader.

Christians like the Staines family are too few and too unimportant to matter to the mob. But 200 million Muslims comprising more than 14 per cent of the population are an altogether different matter. They appear to provoke the visceral hatred of some of the seniormost leaders of the ruling establishment who possibly see them as an embodiment of the twelve hundred years of slavery in Indias life on which Mr Modi harps. The TV image of the Prime Minister rejecting a venerable Muslims courtesy gift of cap and scarf is not easily forgotten. The mockery of his references to Sonia Gandhis former political secretary, the late Ahmedbhai Mohammedbhai Patel, as Ahmed Mian, also remains. The Gandhi family was often jeered at as Mughals. Now that Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, is too august a personage to be dismissed as Pappu, one wonders whether Mr Modi will also abandon the contemptuously used Islamic nickname of Shehzada.

What makes this mockery particularly cruel is that, according to all surveys, Indias Muslims lag behind the rest in all relevant matters like education, employment and earnings. Any actual or perceived concession shown to them at once prompts howls of appeasement! It was part of the BJPs election campaign to claim that the Opposition parties, particularly Mr Gandhis Congress, were bent on abolishing places in schools, colleges and employment reserved for Dalits, Adivasis and the various backward categories and diverting them to Muslims. The tactic misfired. That doesnt mean it wont be tried again, albeit in some other guise.
178th District Court Judge Kelli Johnson stands outside County Criminal Court at Law No. 3 alongside defense attorney Chris Tritico on July 2, 2024, after appearing on a driving while intoxicated charge. Nicole Hensley/Staff

One of the longest serving felony judges in Harris County appeared in court about a week after her arrest on a driving while intoxicated charge.

Judge Kelli Johnson, 52, entered the misdemeanor courtroom  11 floors below her 178th District Court bench  to face an elected official like herself as hundreds of defendants have done in her place. A prosecutors recitation of the probable cause that led to Johnsons June 25 arrest was delayed until outside counsel could be appointed on behalf of the Harris County District Attorneys Office, who announced plans to recuse themselves.

The judge anticipates a special prosecutor will be tapped to the case by the weeks end.

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More from Nicole Hensley: Brian Coulter found guilty in death of 8-year-old Kendrick Lee in abandoned Houston children case

Judge Leslie Johnson, who is presiding over the jurists case, held off on determining whether Johnson will require random urinalysis as part of her bail conditions until a new prosecutor joins the case.

Houston police arrested Johnson in the 7600 block of Kempwood Drive on the DWI charge. The arrest followed a traffic stop in April in which a Harris County sheriffs deputy suspected that she had been drinking alcohol but issued her a verbal warning for speeding after she passed a field sobriety test, according to body-worn camera audio from the traffic stop that the Chronicle reviewed.

She took several weeks off from the bench in May and June after the traffic stop. She has since recused herself from felony driving while intoxicated cases, court officials said.

Chris Tritico, Johnsons lawyer, declined to comment other than to say that they would be allowing the case to play out in the courts.

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Johnson, a former prosecutor, was elected in 2016 and is running unopposed for her third term. She oversees one of the dockets for the specialty STAR court, with hers providing treatment to women with substance abuse issues and mental health disorders. It was not known if Johnson would continue to preside over that docket, a position that judges volunteer for.

Kathy Griffin, the director of human trafficking for Precinct 1 Constables Office who has participated in Johnsons drug court as a speaker in the past, sat in the gallery and waited for Johnson to appear. She embraced the judge as she arrived.

I love you, Griffin whispered.

The two women sat alongside each other as Johnsons attorney finalized the judges next court date.

Griffin hailed Johnson as a good judge, believing that her arrest will bring her better insight into the experience of those accused of crimes.

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She will have firsthand experience with individuals who have issues, Griffin said. I think that she understands, now more than anybody, how to recognize help and the importance of not being too comfortable.
In Manila, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States spoke about Sino-Philippine tensions over sovereignty and maritime rights, recently highlighted by a direct clash at sea of the two countries navies. On the divorce law, the archbishop stressed that the teaching of the Catholic Church with regard to marriage is very clear, but it is a matter for the bishops to deal with.

Manila (AsiaNews)  The Holy See is calling for every effort to be made to peacefully resolve, as in all other conflict situations, the crisis in the South China Sea, this according to Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, who is in the Philippines for a five-day visit.

Today, the Vatican's "foreign minister" met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his Philippine counterpart, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo.

At a joint press conference, the Vaticans top diplomat answered a question about rising tensions between the People's Republic of China and the Philippines over sections of the South China Sea, which Beijing arbitrarily claims as its own.

The current confrontation is particularly harmful for Philippine fishermen, as Chinas Coast Guard is using increasingly strongarm tactics to stop Philippine trawlers. A few days ago, a Philippine navy vessel was even boarded near the Spratly Islands, which the Philippines considers as part its own exclusive economic zone.

"The position of the Holy See is quite clear," said Archbishop Gallagher in his answer. In such situations of conflict, whatever they are, first of all, that every effort must be made, that any differences, conflict, are resolved peacefully. We would encourage parties in conflict to abide by international law, and to pursue [. . .] that as a way of resolving difficulties and problems with the best interests of all involved."

Archbishop Gallagher told reporters that he was happy to be back in the Philippines, where he worked at the nunciature in Manila in the early 1990s. He also stressed that the Holy See follows the life of this country, its people, and its migrants who "assist the Church in the propagation of the Christian message through their example and their hard work.

Secretary Manalo, for his part, spoke about the many other areas of cooperation between the Holy See and the Philippines; in particular, he explained that an agreement is in the works for the recognition of ecclesiastical degrees issued by the pontifical universities, for the benefit of the many Philippine priests and religious sisters who study in Rome.

He also underlined Pope Francis' attention to the crises caused by climate change, which even in the Philippines hit hardest the poorest and the most vulnerable.

Asked about a politically hot issue currently debated in the Philippines, namely the divorce law approved by the lower house of the Philippine Congress before going to the Senate, the Vatican diplomat, said that "the teaching of the Catholic Church with regard to marriage is very clear, very well known," noting that at the pastoral level it is up to the Bishops' Conference and each bishop to address the issue.

Tomorrow Archbishop Gallagher travels to the large southern island of Mindanao where he will meet with Philippine bishops, who are currently conducting their plenary assembly at the Abbey of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon province.
by Shafique Khokhar

A Punjab court issued a surreal verdict in connection with the brutal attack against a Christian neighbourhood in August 2023, handing down a death sentence against Ahsan Masih, a young man who, like thousands others, shared a post on a social media that was construed as instigating violence. By contrast, 135 people arrested for involvement in the incident have walked free. For Fr Khalid Rashid Asi, the sentence was issued under extremist pressure, but eventually truth will win.

Faisalabad (AsiaNews)  Almost a year after a wave of anti-Christian violence swept over Jaranwala, a death sentence for blasphemy is reopening the wound, with blame pinned on a young Christian man.

On 16 August 2023, 26 churches and hundreds of homes were torched in Jaranwala, Faisalabad district (Punjab), after a local Christian man was accused of desecrating pages of the Qur'an and writing a letter with blasphemous content. This triggered outrage among Muslims who attacked churches and Christian homes.

Ahsan Masih, a 22-year-old man from Sahiwal district, not Jaranawala, posted the letter that sparked the violence on his Tik Tok account. Amir Farooq, a Muslim who now serves as a police officer, downloaded it, and filed a complaint under Pakistans blasphemy rules.

Anti-Terrorism Court Special Judge (Sahiwal) Ziaullah Khan found Ahsan guilty of blasphemy, sentencing him to death, as well as 22 years in prison and a fine of one million rupees (US$ 3,590) for other offences.

This verdict is surreal for local sources since 135 people arrested a year ago by the Punjab police immediately after the attacks on the Christian community in Jaranwala have all been released on bail and only a few are expected to go to trial.

At that time when Jaranwala incident took place, thousands of people, including Muslims and Christians, were sharing that letter with others, just passing the information on, and did not have any intention of committing blasphemy, said Father Khalid Rashid Asi, director of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Faisalabad, speaking to AsiaNews.

I think Session Court judges are cowards and in fear; they therefore quickly announce their verdict in such cases, he added.

After the incident of Jaranwala, blasphemy cases were attached to the Anti-Terrorism Court and we had opposed that decision. In this particular case, Ahsan was not alone in sharing the post, but he and his family were harassed by police then and his family is still living in trauma and fear now.

Ahsans case will be a test case for us, said the clergyman. The Session Court should announce its verdict against all those who burnt the Christian colony and hurt [Christian] feelings.

Instead, it seems that the court issued the death sentence to please someone because they are under pressure. But, I strongly believe that truth will win and Ahsan will be freed by the High Court.

The government should review the blasphemy legislation because so many people are behind the bars on false accusations. The state should book those who frame others in such cases just for personal grudges and vendettas, said Aksa Kanwal, a human rights activist.

There are so many cases registered under this law but complainants can not provide strong evidence against the accused, she added.

In every lynching or burning incidents, the religious sentiments of Christians are also hurt because our churches and Bibles are burnt but they (the attackers] get bail and are freed by the courts while Only the poor and marginalised sections of society are punished, which clearly indicates that judges are in fear or biased.
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

The artificial lake with two reservoirs in the North-Central Province was damaged. The original irrigation system, which dates to the 5th century, is crucial for thousands of people who still depend on it today. Multiple investigations have been launched, but residents fear local authorities are involved.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  A group of farmers has launched protest action against illegal excavations that have damaged the Kala Wewa reservoir complex, which includes two reservoirs, Kala Wewa and Balalu Wewa.

Located in Anuradhapura district, in Sri Lankas North-Central Province, its irrigation system goes back to the 5th century AD.

According to residents, heavy machinery damaged the rock surface, putting the reservoir at risk. The latter has a capacity of 123 million cubic metres and is equipped with a stone spillway and three main sluices.

Water from the central sluice flows through a canal about 12 metres wide for about 86 kilometres and supplies water to Nuwara Wewa in Anuradhapura, as well as irrigating thousands of hectares of rice paddies.

But excavations have damaged the Biso-kotuwa, the equivalent of a modern valve-pit that regulates the outflow of water, built on the surface of the rock near the ancient exit base of the Kala Wewa reservoir.

Farmers suspect that this operation took place with the complicity of officials from the Mahaweli Authority, the state-owned agency that oversees 10 large dams in Sri Lanka and which took over the site some 56 years ago. The excavation site is in fact located near an area that belongs to the Mahaweli Authority.

The farmers held a religious ceremony to demand punishment for those who excavated the site.

For generations, our families have lived in this area as farmers, and about 2,500 farmers depend on this project, said Punchibanda Wijepala, 63, Gunapala Samaratunga, 58, and Priyantha Sumanasiri, 55, speaking to AsiaNews.

They have damaged the Biso-kotuwa, which is the heart of the project. These historical places need protection.

What is more, They have also commenced a boat service here and the political authority in the area is also connected to this plot. Hence, they are silent. But we cannot be silent as we are living here. We will not allow these robbers to exploit this valuable resource. We request the authorities to arrest the culprits.

According to Prof Thushitha Mendis, director general of archaeology, a report would be handed over to the police today following an investigation into the recent unauthorised excavations.

The Ipalogama Police Station launched its own investigation into the incident and tomorrow will report the matter to the court in Kekirawa.

A special committee has been appointed on the advice of Irrigation, Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi to initiate a preliminary investigation into the illegal excavations that have been carried out at the location, said Mahendra Abeywardena, director general of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Development Authority.

Other officials from the archaeology department explained that in 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the enactment of fresh legislation to increase fines and jail terms for those convicted of vandalising archaeological sites and artefacts.

The extant legislation was introduced in the 1940s when the country was still under British rule.
A series of bombings and raids have hit the Dohuk governorate over the weekend. Miska and Rabatkeh were targeted, houses and places of worship were hit. Residents put out a fire triggered by the bombs, limiting the damage. The hashtag #Turkey_Occupies_Dohuk has gone viral.

Erbil (AsiaNews) - Two churches seriously damaged, several houses destroyed and a community living in fear of new violence. This is the balance, still partial, of a series of bombings and raids by Ankara's army in the governorate of Dohuk, Iraqi Kurdistan, which hit several Christian villages in the northern Nahla valley, near the border with Turkey and Iran. The attacks date back to last weekend and confirm fears of a serious military escalation in the area where, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, operative bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are located.

Since 28 June, the Turkish Air Force has launched a series of operations in the valley north of Iraq, in which there are numerous Assyrian-Chaldean Christian villages that have no connection with Kurdish militiamen. Ankara claims to want to strike the militiamen, who belong to a faction that is considered terrorist, but in reality it also ends up targeting the civilian population of the area, as various sources confirm.

The latest to be hit - in the current year there have been almost 840 'attacks and bombings' by Ankara's armed forces, resulting in the death of eight civilians - are the villages of Miska and Rabatkeh. The Turkish bombs also caused massive fires in the mountains, which also affected the homes and property of local residents.

The church in the village of Miska was damaged after being hit by a grenade, while two other houses were destroyed even though there were no people inside at the time of the explosion. A video released by RojNews revealed the extent of the destruction (click here for the footage), with debris piling up around the church and houses devastated by the shelling.

In the village of Rabatkeh, another grenade hit civilian targets and caused a huge fire, but the prompt intervention of the inhabitants allowed the flames to be extinguished without causing further damage, thus also saving the place of worship. The scale of the violence prompted activists and Internet users to denounce it by launching a series of posts with the hashtag #Turkey_Occupies_Dohuk, which is trending on social media and shedding light on the growing military presence that is causing residents to move. A spiral that fuels the anger and discontent of locals.

Following these repeated attacks, villagers are in shock and there is great fear for families, homes and property. Christians are often caught in the crossfire in a region with a growing number of hotbeds of tension from Iraq to Turkey, from Iran to the Holy Land. Hence the appeal of the Christian communities to local institutions and authorities to provide "adequate protection" in the face of a growing risk to life and personal safety.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

On his visit to Tashkent, President Khurelsukh was accompanied by a large delegation from Mongolia's business community. In the past two years the Uzbek economy has grown a lot, doubling all its indicators.

Tashkent (AsiaNews) - The recent trip of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to Uzbekistan has opened up great prospects for a very active inclusion of Mongolians in the markets and initiatives of all Central Asian countries. In addition to the meeting in Tashkent with President Savkat Mirziyoyev, the meetings between representatives of industrial and trade groups from the two countries were very important and well attended, and they sought to make their heads of state's intentions a reality with important investment and economic exchange projects.

Mr. Khurelsukh and Mr. Mirziyoyev expressed their common intention to increase trade between Mongolia and Uzbekistan by 10-20 times in a short period of time, and to support companies in the leading sectors of the economy such as mining, agriculture, transport and logistics, and tourism. A development agreement in trade, economic and investment cooperation for the years 2024-2026 was signed, which will be specified in a series of projects, to achieve win-win opportunities for both countries in just two years.

Currently, 10 Mongolian companies are already active in Uzbekistan, but the business-forum organised in Tashkent during the presidential visit was attended by over 300 companies from both countries. Representatives of the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and the Uzbek Chamber of Industry were also there, extending the already existing cooperation agreement and forming a joint council for its implementation. The purpose of the Council will be to bring investors together and coordinate, opening up prospects for dialogue and collaborative initiatives in all areas of trade, investment, services and industry.

At the forum, cooperation agreements were made between several Mongolian companies such as Tavanbogd Solutions, Mongol Basalt, Network Doctor Auto and Era Fruits, together with their Uzbek counterparts. One of the most important is the realisation in Uzbekistan of a Nura project (Nuclear Receptor Activity dataset), to measure bio-activity molecules with nuclear receptors by comparing toxicological and pharmacological data, in order to detect cancers and other lifestyle-related diseases in advance, thus making use of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence.

In the same delegation as the president of Ulan Bator were representatives of over 40 domestic manufacturers and small and medium-sized enterprises. Trade between the two countries last year amounted to around USD 10 million, and has been growing steadily since the period of the coronavirus pandemic, despite being limited to a small group of articles and productions for the time being. Mongolia's exports to Uzbekistan amounted to .6 million, mainly processing sheep skin, innards and frozen lamb meat, goat meat and other animal meat, while importing fruit and food products, refrigeration equipment and cars worth .4 million from Uzbekistan.

Joint investment programmes are one of the main directives of Savkat Mirziyoyev's policy to overcome the backwardness and immobility inherited from the quarter-century presidency of his predecessor Islom Karimov. In the last two years, the Uzbek economy has grown a lot, doubling all its indicators and bringing the GDP to a level 1.5 times higher than before, greatly increasing the number of active companies and raising the overall production to over 40%. Last year, Uzbek GDP exceeded USD 90 billion, more than 2,500 per citizen, with a foreign trade balance of around USD 63 billion. Uzbekistan has no access to the sea, but is rich in natural resources: it ranks fourth in the world for gold reserves and seventh for extraction of rare minerals.
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

A 15-year-old was arrested and charged with manslaughter after a shooting that left a younger teenager dead early Sunday morning, according to the Houston Police Department.

The shooting happened about 2:30 a.m. inside an apartment in the 6500 block of Wanda Lane, in southwest Houston.

Police said three young people were playing with a gun when it fired, leaving one of the teenagers shot in the stomach. He died inside the apartment, according to police.

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The teenager who lived at the apartment left after the shooting, while a witness stayed behind and called 9-1-1, according to police. The teenager who left was found and stopped a short time after officers arrived, police said.
We have invested intensely  with our own diplomacy in trying to help bring Azerbaijan and Armenia to a peace agreement, Blinken said, speaking at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think-tank. Weve done that in very close collaboration, coordination with the European Union, and I think that thats something that really is within reach.

I was speaking just about a week ago to President Aliyev on this. I think thats achievable, and its manifestly in the interests of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the broader region, he said.

In a June 20 phone call, Blinken reportedly told Aliyev that a peace treaty discussed by Yerevan and Baku should be signed without delay. Aliyev said, for his part, that peace is conditional on Armenia changing its constitution and other laws which he claimed contain territorial claims to Azerbaijan.

Until this happens, the peace agreement will not be signed, the Azerbaijani leader reiterated on Monday.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry rejected Aliyevs demands earlier in June, accusing him of torpedoing the peace process. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun insisted on the precondition when met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James OBrien in Baku on Friday.

Following his talks with Aliyev and Bayramov, OBrien announced that the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers have been invited to a NATO summit in Washington scheduled for July 9-11. He did not say whether the U.S. State Department hopes to host fresh peace talks between them on the sidelines of the summit.

In a June 12 interview with RFE/RLs Armenian Service, OBrien said the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal is important to Washington because it would not only end the decades-long conflict but also reduce Russian influence in the region and facilitate a new trade route from Central Asia to Turkey passing through Armenia.

Blinken similarly stated at the Brookings Institution that the deal is a tremendous opportunity for  connecting countries both east, west, north, and south. Azerbaijan has a critical role to play in that, added the top U.S. diplomat.
2 July 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

In recent years, Azerbaijan and Serbia have significantly improved their bilateral relations, elevating them to a new level of partnership. This development has been characterized by active efforts to strengthen both economic and political ties, leading to mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations.

The strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Serbia, officially recognized in 2013, is grounded in stable, friendly ties based on mutual respect, understanding, and support. This relationship is notably robust on a political level, with both countries sharing similar foreign policy principles and positions. Serbia and Azerbaijan both pursue independent, neutral foreign policies, with a strong emphasis on preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty. This shared stance is reflected in Azerbaijan's unwavering support for Serbia's position on Kosovo, a critical aspect of Serbia's national interest and foreign policy.

Despite the strong political relationship, economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia has room for growth. Both nations recognize this and are working towards enhancing their economic interactions. The upcoming session of the joint Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation in Baku is expected to focus on key areas such as energy, transport, construction, trade, and defense. One of the priorities is establishing a direct flight between Belgrade and Baku to facilitate greater interaction across various sectors.

Currently, there is limited investment between the two countries. Azerbaijan offers investment opportunities within its Free Economic Zones and projects in liberated territories, while Serbia presents possibilities in agriculture, construction, modern technologies, and defense. Azerbaijani construction company AzVirt's involvement in Serbian road infrastructure projects, amounting to one billion USD, exemplifies the potential for economic collaboration. Conversely, Serbian companies are keen to participate in the reconstruction of Azerbaijani liberated lands, although more information on planned projects and application processes is needed to facilitate this engagement.

Energy security is a significant aspect of the Azerbaijan-Serbia partnership. Serbia's agreement with SOCAR for the import of Azerbaijani gas represents a critical diversification of its energy supply. This agreement, which currently allows for the import of 400 million cubic meters of gas per year with potential increases, underscores the importance of Azerbaijani energy resources in Serbia's national security strategy. Additionally, there are discussions about LNG cooperation, SOCAR's participation in constructing a gas-fired power plant, and Azerbaijani investment in new gas storage infrastructure in Serbia.

Cultural and educational exchanges between Azerbaijan and Serbia further strengthen their bilateral relationship. Both countries emphasize traditional family values, tolerance, and multiculturalism, which provide a strong foundation for cultural cooperation. Notable initiatives include the sister city relationship between Shusha and Novi Pazar and the establishment of language centers in each country. Serbia's "World in Serbia" scholarship program also facilitates educational exchanges, providing opportunities for Azerbaijani students to study in Serbia.

Despite their commitment to military neutrality, both Azerbaijan and Serbia recognize the importance of a strong defense capability in the face of global security challenges. Their defense cooperation includes trade in defense industry products, joint production, and technology transfer. The establishment of Defense Attache Offices in Belgrade and Baku and high-level visits between defense officials highlight the active and growing military-technical cooperation between the two countries.

The Azerbaijan-Serbia partnership is a multifaceted relationship that extends beyond political alignment to include significant economic, cultural, educational, and defense cooperation. While there is room for growth in economic interactions and investments, the solid political foundation and mutual respect between the two nations provide a promising basis for continued and expanded cooperation. As both countries navigate the complexities of international relations and security, their partnership serves as a model of mutually beneficial collaboration grounded in shared values and interests.

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2 July 2024 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

Today marks the commencement of the "Black and Caspian Sea Ports & Logistics 2024" exhibition and conference in Constanta, Romania. This significant event, organized by the Port of Constanta, the International Association of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), and the Business Association of the Port of Constanta, brings together over 300 high-level officials, scientists, and industry experts from around the globe. Running until July 4, the conference aims to address pressing global and regional trade and investment challenges.

A key focus of the conference lies in exploring the economic potentials of the Caspian and Black Sea ports, particularly through the lens of the Middle Corridor. This corridor, which includes Azerbaijan as a pivotal player, offers new logistical solutions for regional and international trade. Discussions at the event will delve into the strategic implications of enhancing these ports' capabilities, potentially transforming them into vital hubs for global commerce.

Central to the discussions will be the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a vital artery connecting China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea region (including Azerbaijan), Georgia, Turkey, and further extending into Europe. This route not only facilitates smoother trade flows but also underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among regional stakeholders.

The construction of a fertilizer terminal at the Baku International Sea Trade Port highlights Azerbaijan's proactive stance in infrastructure development, aiming to bolster its role in regional trade dynamics. Such initiatives not only boost logistical efficiency but also contribute to sustainable development goals, a critical agenda in today's global economic landscape.

For Azerbaijan and Romania, events like the "Black and Caspian Sea Ports & Logistics 2024" serve as catalysts for strengthening bilateral economic relations. As both nations explore avenues for deeper cooperation in trade, energy, and infrastructure, these initiatives are poised to unlock new growth opportunities. Romania's strategic location on the Black Sea and its connectivity to European markets complement Azerbaijan's ambitions to diversify and expand its economic footprint.

The ongoing conference in Constanta underscores the evolving economic dynamics in the Caspian and Black Sea regions. With a focus on sustainable development and enhanced logistical capabilities, Azerbaijan and Romania stand to benefit mutually from intensified economic collaboration. As the conference unfolds, it is expected to pave the way for strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that will shape the future of regional trade and economic integration.

The "Black and Caspian Sea Ports & Logistics 2024" conference not only highlights Azerbaijan's proactive role in regional economic affairs but also sets the stage for deeper engagement between Azerbaijan and Romania, fostering a climate of mutual prosperity and shared growth.

Romania occupies a significant position among Azerbaijans Balkan partners, with recent business ties evolving into strategic cooperation. The past years have been particularly fruitful for both nations, fostering a sustainable business environment conducive to long-term initiatives.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev underscored the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Romania, emphasizing expanding cooperation across all sectors during his meeting with the Romanian energy minister. The president highlighted the importance of reciprocal visits between heads of state and other officials to strengthen bilateral ties.

Regarding the 8th meeting of the Joint Commission on economic-trade relations and scientific-technical cooperation held in Baku, President Ilham Aliyev praised its role in defining the future prospects of bilateral relations, especially noting the inclusion of energy and other relevant issues on the agenda.

Discussions between the two sides acknowledged significant advancements in the energy sector, focusing on topics such as natural gas exports from Azerbaijan and the export of green energy to Romania via the Black Sea. Ongoing dialogues encompass LNG, green energy, and gas supply projects, with Azerbaijan aiming for strategic entry into the Romanian energy market.

The foundation of Azerbaijan-Romania trade and economic relations is rooted in energy and transport, with recent emphasis on promising initiatives in electricity transit. Cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, and education has also seen considerable expansion over the past decade.

Trade between Azerbaijan and Romania has increased 2.5 times over the past decade, with a nearly 30% rise in trade turnover to $670 million in 2023 alone. Investments between the two countries have intensified, exemplified by Azerbaijani investments in Romania exceeding $90 million, predominantly in the energy sector through SOCARs operations, which include 70 retail filling stations and three fuel depots.

Azerbaijani exports to Romania, particularly gas, reached 184.29 million cubic meters valued at $171.25 million in 2023. With the completion of interconnector construction in the Balkan region, Azerbaijan plans to increase gas supplies to Romania to one billion cubic meters.

The strategic partnership agreement for the Black Sea Energy project, signed by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary in December 2022, with Bulgaria joining in early 2023, aims to develop an energy line spanning 1,195 km and a capacity of 1,000 MW by 2029. The project, with an initial budget of $2.3 billion, aims to supply renewable energy-generated electricity from Azerbaijan to Europe via a high-voltage submarine cable, potentially supported by the European Commission.

Beyond energy, Azerbaijan and Romania are poised to expand cooperation in transport, tourism, and investment, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemics impact through enhanced collaboration in the tourism sector. Notably, the number of Romanian tourists visiting Azerbaijan increased by 29% in the early months of this year, signaling positive trends in bilateral relations.

Azerbaijan and Romania are deepening their economic partnership across multiple fronts, driven by shared interests in energy, infrastructure, and strategic initiatives. As both nations navigate post-pandemic recovery and pursue ambitious projects like the Black Sea Energy endeavor, their collaboration promises to yield mutual benefits and contribute to regional stability and prosperity.

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2 July 2024 16:36 (UTC+04:00)

By Farman Aydin, AZERNEWS

The last 4 years in the history of Azerbaijan have left a mark as a period of French anti-Azerbaijani propaganda and rhetoric. This can be explained by the tireless, biased, and spiteful positions of the pro-Armenian politicians in the French government, as well as in the European Parliament and several organisations.

Bernard Kouchner, an 84-year-old French politician, is one of those frequently mentioned. His incomprehensible love for Armenians has always been interpreted in a strange way in politics. Because Kouchner's name is constantly mentioned in the media in interesting issues related to Armenia's medicine.

Let's dive into the recent past. Until the local anti-terrorist operations of the Azerbaijani army in Garabagh in 2023, the disproportionate operation of the ICRC in the territories caused serious concerns. At that time, the head of the Doctors Without Borders organization, Kouchner, was among the members of the Yerevan-based institute.

Everyone knows that Kouchner is a doctor by profession and he was once the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the center-right Fillon government under President Nicolas Sarkozy, although he had been in the past a minister in socialist governments. In addition, he is the co-founder of Medecins Sans Frontieres and Medecins du Monde.

Although Kouchner still carries a doctor's diploma, many of his inhuman acts under the name of this honorable profession have not escaped the attention of experts. Russian military expert Aleksander Artamonov once addressed this issue in his statement to Azernews.

"I have to state that the International Red Cross is involved in the case of black transplantology in especially war zones, where as far as I know, in the cars, which go under the sign of the ICRC, illegally seized organs are taken out for transplantation abroad. So the Red Cross, as an organization of Doctors without Borders, which is headed by the infamous Bernard Kouchner, a French citizen, and minister, these two organizations, they basically come together always, they have been involved in dirty provocations and very bad deeds in a number of war zones," the analyst said.

Therefore, Bernard Kouchner's Armenian "love" does not come from simple and human feelings, but from criminal intent. After all, no crime remains a secret. Maybe Azerbaijan, which constantly exposes the illegal actions of France, especially the policy of neo-colonialism in the islands and countries of the African continent, is the target of Kouchner, as well as the French authorities. If it were not so, the cartel of the medical world would not have condemned Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 with the unequivocal support of the world countries. Kouchner has a lot to learn from Azerbaijan. His prejudice only makes him a target and questions his career heading from then on into the sunset.

For example, the fact that Kouchner called a group of Armenians who voluntarily moved from Azerbaijan's Garabagh to Yerevan "120 thousand Armenian refugees" indicates his political illiteracy and the power of theses dictated to him. Kouchner does not pay attention to any evidence or the authenticity of what he says, like some other politicians who sell their dignity for money while receiving gifts from the Armenian lobby. The main thing for him is his goal - and prejudice is in its place.

Kouchner's role in alleged human organ trafficking in Kosovo

When the former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was asked a question about his alleged organ trafficking in Kosovo by a Voice of America reporter, he called reporter Budimir Nicic "insane". This is the story of 14 years ago and the question is still on the agenda: does Kouchner really do such a business?

The journalist's question about the "Yellow House" made Kouchner even more angry. He seemed to be confused by the sudden question. "What's the yellow house?" Why yellow? Sir, you should consult (a doctor), said Kouchner insulting the journalist.

Claims of human organ trafficking in Kosovo were first raised by the former chief prosecutor at the Hague, Carla Del Ponte, in her book Madame Prosecutor.

As the report says in the BalkanInsight, Del Ponte alleged that several hundred Serb civilians were kidnapped in Kosovo in 1999 by the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, and then taken to northern Albania where their vital organs were taken out and sold on the black market.

The Yellow House is named as one of the locations where organs were allegedly harvested. One of Europes top human rights investigators, Dick Marti, is leading the investigation into the claims.

After this scandal, Kouchner tried his experience in Karabakh. However, it is expected that his medical practice full of secrets will gradually be revealed in the media.

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2 July 2024 10:57 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The COP29 negotiating team held bilateral consultations with the delegation from Russia, Azernews reports.

This was reported on the official COP29 account on the 'X' social network.

"Today, the COP29 negotiating team held bilateral consultations on climate issues with the Russian delegation. We shared our priorities for COP29 and discussed key climate agenda items to advance climate action," the post emphasized."

It should be noted that the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan's capital this November. The decision to host COP29 in Baku was made during COP28 in Dubai on December 11 last year.

Besides, Baku is expected to host around 70-80 thousand international guests during the two-week event.

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Houston shelters are asking the public to keep their pets inside during the Fourth of July fireworks to prevent them from running away after being scared. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Houston animal shelters urge residents to ensure their pets have tags and microchips ahead of the Fourth of July in case the fireworks cause their frightened dog or cat to run away.

Corey Stottlemyer, BARC deputy shelter director, said keeping animals indoors is effective in preventing scared pets from escaping. If pets do get lost, shelter officials said microchips are an efficient way to help owners find their pets.

"I know people say they know their pets, but I really encourage you to lean on the side of caution because your animal is likely to act differently when they're stressed and especially if you're up close to a firework display," Stottlemyer said.

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TOP CELEBRATIONS: Fourth of July festivals and parades in Houston

Here's what to know about caring for pets during the Fourth of July, and what to do if they run away.

Register and microchip your pets before the Fourth of July

Houston SPCA officials said 300 pets annually, including during the holidays, have been reunited with their owners because of microchips.

"We scan all the pets that come in. If we find out that information for the owner, we'll be able to get the pet right back to them, said Corey Steele, director of the veterinary public health division at Harris County Pets. "Same with our animal control officers that are out the streets as they're running calls and they see a dog run loose, they can scan."

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The city of Houston passed an ordinance in 2022 requiring pets in the city to have microchips. New pet owners must register their pets with the city and prove the animals have been vaccinated against rabies. Residents may face a fine of $100 to $500 for failing to have an active registration, or owning a pet that does not have a microchip.

Current pet owners should make sure the information on the pet's microchips and tags is updated including the phone numbers, according to an SPCA news release.

How to keep a pet calm during the fireworks

Steele encourages using a carrier, kennel or crate, for pets indoors to "feel more confined in comfort" during the fireworks.

Stottlemyer said putting a blanket over the carriers can help limit the pets' senses of being exposed to the flashing lights and loud firework noises. He added that making sure doors are secure will help prevent the pets from attempting to run away.

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SPCA officials recommend turning on a television or radio on low to help drown out the fireworks. Try tiring the pets before the Fourth of July festivities by having them actively play during the day.

FOURTH OF JULY: Best places to watch fireworks in Harris County

What precautions should you take when bringing a pet outside during fireworks?

If a pet owner plans to bring a pet outside during the fireworks or at an event involving fireworks, they must use a harness or leash that won't break or slip off, Stottlemyer said.

A pet should have fresh drinking water and shade. Owners should ensure pets dont eat foods that could harm them such as chicken bones and corn on the cob, which could lead to complications that require surgery. Additionally, chocolate, avocado and onions are toxic to pets, according to the Houston SPCA. Keep pets away when lighting fire pits, sparklers and fireworks.

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How to find a lost pet in Houston

Stottlemyer said when pets get lost there are resources at the shelter, including the kennel software that integrates with 24PetConnect and pages on social media where people post missing pets. If a pet runs off, the owner can search for the pet, see if anyone registered the pet on 24PetConnect, check the lost pets social media pages and BARC's Facebook page and visit the shelter to see if they have the pet.

"In person is the best way to come and physically see if that animal in our kennel is your pet," Stottlemyer said.

Harris County Pets posts photos of lost pets on its website, countypets.com. Steele said there are additional websites to help people ahead of time in case their pets get lost, including Petco Love Lost. An owner can register their pet with a photo so they can connect a person in case the local shelters have the pet.

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2 July 2024 12:22 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) welcomes Azerbaijan's efforts to strengthen relations with Nicosia, aiming to enhance ties with all Turkish states, particularly in law and mediation cooperation, Azernews reports.

This statement was made by Ozdemir Berova, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tatarstan, during a meeting with a delegation from the Turkic World Mediators Union, including representatives from Azerbaijan's Mediation Council.

Minister Berova praised Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis for establishing a working group on inter-parliamentary relations with TRNC, underscoring Nicosia's commitment to its relationship with Baku. "We adhere to the spirit of 'One nation, three states'," Berova affirmed.

The Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus also announced that the Turkic World Mediators Union fully supports the initiative to establish the Rauf Denktash International Mediation Institute, named after the founder and first President of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus.

He highlighted that cooperation among lawyers and mediators from Turkish states will promote unified standards in judicial law across the Turkic world.

During their visit to Nicosia, the Turkic World Union of Mediators delegation met with Okan Donangil, advisor to the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Bertan Ozerdag, Chairman of the Supreme Court, and Sarper Altnok, Chief Prosecutor. They also held discussions with Ilkan Varol, Commissioner for Human Rights of TRNC.

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2 July 2024 14:19 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

"Prospects for cooperation between the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) were discussed."

Azernews reports that CBA Chairman Taleh Kazimov shared this information on his "X" social network account.

"During a business trip to Tajikistan, we held bilateral talks with Tomas Jordan, Chairman of the Central Bank of Tajikistan. We discussed the current situation and future prospects for cooperation between our central banks. T. Jordan emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration between our institutions and fostering close partnerships within the Electoral Group countries. We expressed gratitude for his significant contributions to promoting these initiatives. We wished Mr. Jordan success in his new endeavors," Kazimov stated.

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) is the country's monetary authority responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy, regulating financial institutions, and maintaining price stability.

It plays a crucial role in overseeing Azerbaijan's financial system and promoting economic stability through its monetary policy decisions.

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is Switzerland's central bank, responsible for monetary policy, issuing Swiss franc banknotes, and managing Switzerland's foreign exchange reserves.

It is known for its independence and its role in maintaining price stability and supporting the Swiss economy.

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2 July 2024 15:31 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Azerbaijans Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov met with Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, and CEO/General Manager at Italys Saipem Alessandro Puliti, as part of the Green Energy Transition Congress and Exhibition held in Milan, Italy, Azernews reports.

During the meeting with Minister Musadik Malik, the parties hailed the high-level relations between the two countries, highlighting the activity of the Joint Working Group on Energy in evolving cooperation in the energy sector.

The two exchanged views on the implementation of the signed agreement on long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply to Pakistan, as well as cooperation within the COP29 and issues of ensuring global energy transition issues.

The meeting with Saipem CEO Alessandro Puliti mainly focused on developing existing cooperation with the company. The sides deliberated the opportunities for cooperation, especially within the framework of Azerbaijans plans to create wind energy production and export infrastructures in the Caspian Sea.

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2 July 2024 16:57 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan has signed a memorandum with China aimed at increasing transportation volumes along the Middle Corridor, Azernews reports.

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2 July 2024 17:31 (UTC+04:00)

First Deputy Minister of Defense, Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev met with Major General Stefan Fix, Deputy Chief of Staff of NATO's Brunssum Joint Forces Command, who is visiting our country.

Azernews reports, citing the Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan that the Chief of the General Staff expressed his satisfaction to see Stefan Fix in our country and said that the current state of relations with NATO is at a high level.

It was noted with confidence that Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation will continue to be useful for both parties and fruitful meetings will be continued.

Stating that the North Atlantic Alliance made a great contribution to the preparation of our units within the framework of NATO's Operational Capabilities Concept, Colonel-General K. Valiyev emphasized that this was highly appreciated.

Major General S.Fiks, on the other hand, noted that he was satisfied with his next visit to Azerbaijan. He stressed the importance of further developing mutual relations with Azerbaijan.

It was noted that the professional activity of the military personnel of the Azerbaijan Army in peacekeeping missions, as well as in other areas within the framework of partnership with NATO, was positively evaluated.

At the meeting, a wide range of views were exchanged on a number of other issues of mutual interest.

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2 July 2024 19:21 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

On July 2, Rovshan Rzayev, the chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, held another reception for citizens, Azernews reports.

Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, large-scale measures were implemented to improve the living conditions of internally displaced persons and increase their employment. It was noted that First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva paid special attention and care to people suffering from the war, including internally displaced persons.

The former IDPs, who were received individually by the chairman of the committee, expressed their confidence that they would soon return to their homeland. The appeals of the citizens participating in the reception were mainly related to the improvement of housing and living conditions, communal services, status, single monthly allowance, employment, return to the territories freed from occupation, and other issues.

Citizens were told that their appeals and issues raised would be investigated and resolved in accordance with the law.

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2 July 2024 16:18 (UTC+04:00)

Ramil Gurbanov has been recalled from the post of Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles, USA, Azernews reports.

President Ilham Aliyev signed a relevant decree in this regard.

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2 July 2024 16:41 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

On July 2, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, received the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to our country, Bilal Haye, on the occasion of the end of his diplomatic activity in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The current strategic partnership agenda between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, issues arising from the last official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and future plans were discussed at the meeting.

Ambassador Bilal Haye was thanked for his comprehensive efforts and professionalism in the development of Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations during his diplomatic activity in our country, and he was wished success in his future activities.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that the period when Ambassador Bilal Haye began his diplomatic activity in Azerbaijan coincided with the 44-day Homeland War, which resulted in the end of the past conflict and the occupation of Armenia, and thanked Pakistan for the continuous moral and political support shown to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country.

It was noted that the meetings held within the framework of the official visit to Pakistan this year, as well as the extensive exchange of views on our strategic partnership relations, gave rise to satisfaction, and the need to use existing perspectives for the development of our cooperation.

The importance of mutual support within multilateral formats, including several regional and international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Council on Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (COCBM) was highlighted. Congratulations on the election of Pakistan as a member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026.

Ambassador Bilal Haye pointed out that he was proud to act as Pakistan's ambassador to Azerbaijan during a very fateful period for our country, and hoped for further development of relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, opinions were also exchanged on other issues of mutual interest.

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2 July 2024 21:51 (UTC+04:00)

A SU-25 jet of the Georgian Defense Forces involved in an aviation component of the planned military training crashed on July 2 killing pilot Kakhaber Zurabishvili, the country's Defense Ministry said, Azernews reports citing Georgian Public Broadcaster.

According to the ministry, relevant services probe into the tragic incident.

The ministry expresses deep sorrow over the tragic incident and offers condolences to the family and relatives of the pilot, reads the statement.

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9/25/2005--The Lake Livingston dam and spillway, Sunday showing the lower lake level after the floodgates were opened to lower the lake level due to possible damage to the dam by strong wave action caused by Hurricane Rita. Steve Ueckert/Houston Chronicle

Repairs are underway on Lake Livingston Dam following a potential failure watch announcement Friday.

Heavy rainfall in the area last month resulted in erosion in the dam, Trinity River Authority said in a statement Tuesday. The potential failure watch is still in place.

Crews and material suppliers are working around-the-clock to ensure that the dam can handle potential storm flow releases, the statement read. The area is a construction zone, and only authorized personnel will be onsite. Additionally, the situation is under 24-hour observation and monitoring. It is too early to determine when the current repairs will be complete.

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The Trinity River Authority said they are working closely with local emergency management to provide them with information to make decisions related to the communities they serve.

Though there is an evacuation plan in place, the dam is not expected to fail in the near future, said Emmitt Eldridge, San Jacinto County emergency management coordinator. Additionally, water levels are expected to stay low enough for repairs to be completed before the next heavy rainfall, including the possible effects of Hurricane Beryl.

The city of Houston draws water for the East and Southeast Water Purification plants from the Trinity River pump station, 35 miles downstream of the Lake Livingston dam, public information officer Erin Jones said in a statement. The plants supply more than 3 million customers in the greater Houston area with water, she said.

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If operations at the Lake Livingston Dam were compromised, Jones said the pump stations would still draw water from the Trinity River, which supplies the city of Houston with 70% of its water supply. Lake Houston via the West Canal serves as an alternative water supply, but Jones said it would be insufficient in keeping the entire service area supported by the Trinity River free of potential disruptions.

There may be potential disruption of water pressure and supply during times of peak water demand and low flow of the Trinty River, she said. Additional water conservation measures may need to take place at that time.

Houston Public Works does not expect there to be any water flow issues, Jones said. The Trinity River Authority said there is no threat or impact to its water customers served by Lake Livingston.

In an on-air interview with KTRH, Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said he is concerned with the current situation regarding the dam, which he believes is a result of heavy rain fall in the Lake Livingston area that began at the end of April.

As the dam processes an increase in water flow due to heavy rain, Ramsey said the Trinity River Authority is taking the right steps to prevent a disaster.

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Theyve identified significant erosion that theyre dealing with, Ramsey said. This is an example of an agency doing what theyre supposed to do, not off on talking about some politics. they are focused on what they should do.

The dam has been generating energy since 2017, Ramsey said. Though he doesnt expect the repairs to force the dam to shut down, Ramsey said the Trinity River Authorities are aware of the affect Hurricane Beryl may have. Currently, Ramsey said he is not concerned about a dam breach.

When I see hurricanes like Beryl in the Gulf, I think a date you need to monitor and the Trinity River Authority is working toward is July 15, he said. Lets get these initial immediate repairs by July 15. "
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Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be?

8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become.
A physician in the Chicago suburbs has pleaded guilty to a $2.4 million healthcare fraud scheme of billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent services.

From 2018 to 2022, Mona Ghosh, MD, owner and operator of the Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based medical office Progressive Women's Healthcare, submitted and caused her employees to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid, TriCare and other insurers, the Justice Department said in a July 1 news release.

Dr. Ghosh billed for procedures that were either not provided, medically unnecessary or performed without patient consent, according to the report. She also overstated the length and complexity of the procedures for higher reimbursement rates, as well as prepared false patient medical records to support the fraudulent claims.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of healthcare fraud, and her sentencing is set for Oct. 22. In her plea agreement, Dr. Ghosh admitted she was accountable for $1.5 million in fraudulent reimbursements, but the federal government alleges she is accountable for $2.4 million.
Youngstown, Ohio, was ranked U.S. News & World Report's most affordable place to retire in 2024.

The company examined the 150 most populated metropolitan areas in the country, using data from the Census Bureau, Labor Department, FBI and U.S. News & World Report's internal resources.

Here are the cities with the most affordable housing that also were listed on the publications' 2024 best places to retire ranking.

1. Youngstown, Ohio

2. Hickory, N.C.

3. Springfield, Mo.

4. Brownsville, Texas

5. Huntington, W.Va., and Ashland, Ky.-Ohio (tie)

6. Fort Wayne, Ind.

7. Winston-Salem, N.C.

8. Mobile, Ala.

9. Toledo, Ohio

10. South Bend, Ind.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, May 31, 2024, in New York. Julia Nikhinson/AP

Off to Elba, Trump?

Regarding Supreme Court rules ex-presidents have broad immunity, dimming chance of a pre-election Trump trial, (July 1):

If Joe Biden, in an official act, had Donald Trump exiled to Elba, would the Supreme Court say OK?

Michael Dressman, Houston

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The Supreme Court ruling on former President Donald Trumps immunity echoes the words of the late John F. Kennedy who said: The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the nations greatness. But the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us.

Lord help us.

Bill Pond, Humble

Now that the Supreme Court opinion is in, if I were President Joe Biden I would be hunkering down with my advisers and seeing what I could get away with to stop Donald Trump from winning.

After all, presidents now have immunity for official acts.

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Kenneth Campbell, Cypress

The Supreme Court decision makes me ache for our country. I wonder if a judge or two wouldve been afraid to go home without an anti-MAGA security detail had they decided differently.

David A. Sherron, Houston

Rome was a republic for hundreds of years. It had a government based on the separation of powers, including the senate, assemblies and magistrates.

It became a dictatorship with an emperor when personal ambition and cult devotion trumped loyalty to the republic.

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Looks like America is headed in the same direction.

Gonzalo Martinez, La Porte

I am a fully sentient 91-year-old great-grandfather and as in a Monty Python skit, in response to calls for President Joe Biden to step down from the presidential race, I fart in your general direction. Such comical disregard for the transformational bipartisan legislation Biden has helped achieve in several disparate areas of infrastructure, chip manufacture, health care expense reduction and border security (the last blocked by Donald Trumps encouragement in order to preserve it for a campaign issue) reaches the height of proverbial pearl-clutching.

I voted for Biden, and will again, because of his towering earned gravitas in foreign affairs and domestic legislating, qualifying him uniquely to defeat the treacherous Trump, which he handily did, withstanding continued foreign interference.

This immunity decision was invented from whole cloth by the courts extremist majority and will not stand the test of time.

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Under it, I feel there is no question that a president could merely dissolve the Supreme Court by fiat (he might be committing a crime, but it would be in his official capacity and therefore immune from investigation, prosecution or punishment) and reconstitute a more balanced court with Senate approval.

This is no more outrageous than the Supreme Courts majority decision this week that destroyed our 248-year-old principle that no man is above the law.

Britt D. Davis, Katy

The rule of law has always struggled to be and to be seen as impartial, as judges see fit. After the Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity, people will see that even-handed justice is not the objective we have all been conditioned to expect. Cases will depend on who is before the court, on the person being judged.

The rule of law has always tried to weigh things evenly, consistently, that is, without regard to the person accused. Some observers will now contend that instead of being impartial, the law will now expand or contract, according to the person being judged. The Supreme Court has chosen the latter, preferring to apply the law based on the role of the person charged with a wrongdoing. Everybody can now see that the rule of law will not attempt to reach impartial verdicts anymore because alleged offenders will either be immune or not, making the rule of law not the law of the U.S. anymore.

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Marco Portales, Bryan

A fireworks-free Fourth

Regarding How to keep your pet calm during fireworks and what to do if they run away in Houston, (July 2): As humans, we understand explosions from fireworks are temporary, their visuals are harmless and were not in danger.

But for animals, its like a war has come to their homes, whether theyre birds, raccoons or armadillos in the nature around us, or the dogs and cats who are part of our family.

Triggered by these concussive sounds, many pets choose flight. More pets go missing on July 4 than any other day of the year. Even worse, frightened birds slam into windows, producing severe injury or death. Wildlife often abandon nests or dens.

There are many alternatives to celebrating without fireworks. Ideas include glow sticks, firecracker pinatas, red and blue bubbles, giant bubble blow wands, balloons with LED lights inside, confetti poppers and silly string.

Ask your city leaders to invest in a celebration that doesnt involve live fireworks. Educate your neighbors, lobby your HOA or local chamber of commerce to change the celebration next year to be 100% animal friendly.

Linda Robertson, Conroe
As of June 28, all 51 Walmart health centers have closed.

Here's five things to know:

1. Walmart Health announced April 30 that it is closing all of its clinics and shutting down its virtual care options.

2. In late May, Walmart Health Virtual Care announced that it was laying off 74 employees at its corporate headquarters in Phoenix. Walmart also said it would lay off hundreds of corporate employees and require a majority of its remote workers to relocate.

3. The health centers stopped taking new patients and halted virtual care June 1.

4. The company recommended patients search ZocDoc and Healthgrades to identify new providers in the area.

5. Walmart's decision to shutter its health centers and end virtual care was due to an unsustainable business . The company cited a challenging reimbursement environment and increasing costs to operate the facilities as contributing factors.
Here are three legal battles involving gastroenterologists that Becker's has reported on in the last year:

1. Nitesh Ratnakar, MD, a gastroenterologist in Wheeling, W.Va., was indicted on charges of tax fraud and obstructing justice after authorities said he failed to pay more than $2.4 million in payroll taxes. Dr. Ratnakar owned and operated a gastroenterology practice and a medical equipment manufacturer. Between 2018 and 2022, he allegedly failed to pay more than $2.4 million in employee withholdings to the IRS.

2. New York City gastroenterologist Zhi Alan Cheng, MD, now faces three indictments of sexual abuse. Dr. Cheng, who was employed by New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian Queens from July 2020 to December 2022, faces allegations from a 48-year-old woman who says she was sedated for a colonoscopy at the hospital and woke up to find Dr. Cheng sexually abusing her. Dr. Cheng now faces more than 60 sex crime charges and has pleaded not guilty to each of them. In August, he was charged with 50 new counts in criminal court for drugging and sexually assaulting several women, including a patient. He was arrested in December 2022 after his girlfriend discovered videos of him drugging and assaulting her.

3. Omar Massoud, MD, PhD, a former Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologist, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to 18 gross sexual imposition and six unlawful restraint charges. Dr. Massoud, who previously served as the clinic's chief of hepatology, was arrested in December after being charged with six felony counts, three involving sexual assaults on patients.
There are several obstacles slowing the migration of gastroenterology procedures from the hospital outpatient departments to ASCs.

James Leavitt, MD, director of clinical quality and outcomes of Miami-based Gastro Health, joined Becker's to discuss these obstacles.

Editor's note: This response was edited lightly for clarity and length.

Question: What obstacles are halting outpatient migration for GI procedures?

Dr. James Leavitt: According to a study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, endoscopic procedures cost on average 55% more at hospitals compared to ASCs. The economic driver should be to move more of these procedures to the lower cost ASC setting especially since outcomes are equal in either setting.

However, there remain several issues preventing more widespread migration to the lower-cost setting. First, there are still some insurers who will only pay for procedures to be done in a hospital setting. Secondly, there are some higher risk patients where the hospital setting would be more appropriate. Patients with a significantly elevated BMI or with poor airways, for example, are more appropriate for a hospital setting.

However, there are still patients who could be done in an ASC and are not. Two major drivers here are access issues (not enough ASC endoscopy slots to accommodate demand) and hospital employed physicians who are required to do their procedures in the HOPD setting.
Hospitals across the country are finalizing staffing plans and issuing public warnings on fireworks safety ahead of the July Fourth holiday, when an average of around 91,000 patients visit emergency departments.

"We are entirely staffed up for both the Fourth of July as well as the 5th of July," Aekta Miglani, MD, medical director of the emergency department at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., told CBS affiliate WROC. "Every year we work really closely with our trauma division who we're lucky to collaborate with on a regular basis, but Fourth of July is one of those holidays where we'll be working [together] my guess is more frequently than others."

On average, emergency departments see nearly 45,000 people daily on July 4 and 5, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of injury data from 2000 to 2018. In 2022, fireworks were involved in an estimated 10,200 injuries treated across hospital emergency departments, though physicians believe that number is much greater, since not everyone seeks care.

"We'll see injuries caused by firecrackers that explode in close range and from sparklers that, when mishandled, caused severe burns to the face, hands and feet," Gary Gillette, MD, emergency medicine physician at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, said in a news release regarding safety tips and emergency department locations for the public. Pew Research Center data shows burns, bruises and cuts are the most common types of fireworks-related injuries.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 activity is rising in many areas of the country, including ED visits. For the week ending June 22, ED visits related to an infection virus rose 23% from the previous week Hawaii and Florida had the highest percentage of ED visits diagnosed as COVID-19 at 5.1% and 1.8%, respectively. Hospitalizations appear to be increasing slightly, though the trends are based on a subset of hospitals that continue to voluntarily report the data to the agency. As of May 1, hospitals are no longer required to report COVID-19 and flu admissions data.
Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham's home care nurses have joined the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

After a successful election on June 28, 436 Mass General Brigham home care nurses and healthcare professionals joined the union, according to a July 2 news release from the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

The clinicians will next choose leaders and a team to negotiate their first contract. The clinicians are asking for fair pay, better benefits, safer conditions for patients and staff, a good work-life balance, fair workloads, and respect for diversity.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association represents more than 25,000 healthcare professionals.

"While we are disappointed with these outcomes, we recognize that this election is part of a continuing national trend among healthcare providers seeking collective bargaining through union representation," a Mass General Brighman spokesperson told Becker's. "As an organization dedicated to providing safe, high-quality care to our community, we recognize the importance of working collaboratively with our nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers to address the needs of our patients and community. We remain focused on that critical mission."

Additionally, the health system said it is looking forward to the ongoing growth of its home hospital care model.
Stacy Jemtrud, DNP, RN, stepped into the role of chief nursing officer at Orlando Health St. Cloud (Fla.) Hospital July 1.

Dr. Jemtrud joined Orlando (Fla.) Health in 2000 and has since served in progressive leadership roles throughout the system. Most recently, she was the senior director of magnet and patient care services professional practices. She is an expert in emergency nursing and neonatal intensive unit care.

"As chief nursing officer, Stacy will provide leadership for activities, processes and policies that support high-quality patient care for nursing and other clinical teams," Brian Wetzel, president of Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, said in a news release.

Orlando Health includes 17 hospitals and 10 free-standing emergency rooms, with plans to open four new hospitals over the next two years.
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health has made several changes to its executive leadership team.

The following changes were made in the last year:

Sanjeev Sah was named chief information security officer.

Kim Henderson was selected as chief administrative officer.

John Gizdic was selected as COO.

Onyeka Nchege was promoted to executive vice president and chief digital and information officer.

Alice Pope was selected as executive vice president and CFO.

Sanjay Gupta was appointed executive vice president and chief transformation officer.

Pam Oliver, MD, was appointed executive vice president and chief medical officer.

The changes come as Novant Health has been eyeing expansion opportunities. In February, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare sold three South Carolina hospitals to Novant Health for $2.4 billion. Novant acquired East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville.

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems also struck a deal in February 2023 to sell its two North Carolina hospitals to Novant Health. However, the deal was called off amid Federal Trade Commission scrutiny.

"As healthcare continues to evolve rapidly, so does the need to evaluate the talent and skills needed to lead Novant Health into the future," Carl Armato, president and CEO of Novant Health, said in a May news release. "These updates on our executive team display our capacity to build the expertise, rigor, creativity and capabilities required to deliver remarkable outcomes for our patients and the communities we serve. I look forward to our continued collaboration as we pave the way for a healthier future for all."
In its most direct statement on transgender care, the Biden administration said it opposes gender-affirming surgery for minors, The New York Times reported June 28.

The Times recently reported on the staff for Adm. Rachel Levine, MD, an assistant HHS secretary, urging an international transgender health organization to remove age minimums for surgery from its treatment guidelines for minors. A draft of the guideline recommended lowering age minimums to 14 for hormonal treatments, 15 for mastectomies, 16 for breast augmentation or facial surgeries, and 17 for genital surgeries or hysterectomies.

The final guideline did not include the age-based recommendations.

"Adm. Levine shared her view with her staff that publishing the proposed lower ages for gender transition surgeries was not supported by science or research, and could lead to an onslaught of attacks on the transgender community," an HHS spokesperson told the Times.

This marks the first time the Biden administration has commented on and explicitly opposed gender-affirming surgery; past statements have supported other forms of gender-affirming care.

It is rare for minors to undergo these surgeries, but national attention on the issue spans far, according to the Times.

At the same time, the Supreme Court plans to review the constitutionality of Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for people younger than 18. The state law prevents minors from receiving puberty blockers and hormones. The case will be the first time the Supreme Court considers whether restrictions on gender-affirming care violate the Constitution.
The FTC has launched a probe into Teva Pharmaceuticals over contested drug patents the company refuses to remove from a federal registry, The Washington Post reported July 1.

Last week, the FTC ordered Teva to turn over internal communications and financial data related to nearly two dozen patents for its asthma and COPD inhalers listed in the FDA's Orange Book, according to documents obtained by the Post.

The FTC claims that Teva and other drugmakers are improperly making small tweaks to their products to keep patents for brand name drugs in the Orange Book, blocking generic competition.

"Teva believes that its patents are properly listed in the Orange Book and continues to stand behind the company's intellectual property," a spokesperson for the company told the Post. The FTC denied the publication's request for comment.

Teva has until July 24 to cooperate with the FTC's information request.
A Mississippi federal judge has denied a request from Novartis Pharmaceuticals and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America for a preliminary injunction against state enforcement protecting 340B pricing for contract pharmacies.

The 340B drug pricing program allows qualifying hospitals and clinics that treat low-income and uninsured patients to purchase some drugs at a discounted rate.

Enrollment in the 340B program has drastically increased in recent years, driving up spending and leading to more disputes between covered entities who need to obtain affordable medications for uninsured or underinsured patients and drugmakers who need to protect company profits and resources.

The drugmakers argued that the state's enforcement of 340B protections in H.B. 728 conflicts with the federal goals of the 340B program.

"Because H.B. 728 does not purport to lower prices on any drugs not already discounted under Section 340B, it does not substantially interfere with the incentives created by patent laws or other federal laws establishing regulatory exclusivities," U.S. District Judge Halil Ozerden wrote in the ruling. "The Court therefore does not find that Plaintiff has shown a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of its preemption claim based on federal regulatory exclusivities."

The American Hospital Association had filed an amicus brief in support of the state's law, citing that "contract pharmacy arrangements are especially important because fewer than half of 340B hospitals operate in-house pharmacies " and "340B hospitals typically must contract with at least one specialty pharmacy to receive the 340B discount for their patients' high-priced specialty drugs."

"We continue to believe Mississippi House Bill 728 violates the U.S. Constitution while doing nothing to lower costs for patients," Nicole Longo, PhRMA spokesperson, shared with Becker's.

Becker's also reached out to Novartis for comment and will update this story should new information become available.
U.S. lawmakers' return-to-office push faces resistance from gov't employees, unions

Xinhua) 10:09, July 02, 2024

NEW YORK, July 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. lawmakers have been beefing up efforts to end remote work across the country ever since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, but their push was met with resistance from government workers and unions, according to recent media reports.

Just under half of all federal workers now show up in their offices in Washington, D.C., down somewhat from before the pandemic, The Washington Post wrote recently in an opinion, citing card-swipe tallies by security solutions provider Kastle Systems.

"The numbers for public employees alone are devastating: Only 6 percent of federal workers are working full-time in their offices; 30 percent are fully remote ... Some agencies are using less than 10 percent of their space," it wrote, citing a Federal News Network survey published in late April.

It has been a very similar picture at the state and local level. For example, ABC7 News said in a recent report that there are still some 240,000 state employees in California working from home full-time, although the stay-at-home order was lifted some three years ago.

Back in 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden promised in his State of the Union address that "the vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person." In August 2023, Jeff Zients, Biden's chief of staff, told federal agencies to "aggressively execute" a pivot back to in-person work. In May, U.S. Senators Mitt Romney and Joe Manchin introduced the Back to Work Act of 2024, a bipartisan legislation to require employees of federal agencies to return to work in-person at least 60 percent of the time.

At the state and local level, Governor of California Gavin Newsom's new policy set in April requires state employees to work in-office at least two days a week starting from June 17. Meanwhile, Cherelle Parker, mayor of Philadelphia, has required all city workers to make a full-time return to the office starting from July 15.

The return-to-office progress remains glacial not only because some government employees have been used to the long-time ease and comfort of working at home, but also because a few unions have strongly opposed the push.

In late May, "the union that represents workers with the federal Economic Development Administration sent a letter warning that further mandates for spending more time in the office would lead to greater turnover and understaffing," said a recent report by Governing website.

Government employees "worked heroically throughout the pandemic. The idea that they have to go into the office to please Jeff Zients is absurd," Jacqueline Simon, policy director of the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union of federal government workers, told The Washington Post.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Houston City Controller Chris Hollins speaks during a press conference at City Hall, 901 Bagby, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Houston Controller Chris Hollins has warned Mayor John Whitmires administration about potential financial challenges the city could face if it were to appeal a state appellate court ruling requiring the city to put hundreds of millions more dollars toward street and drainage projects.

The yearslong lawsuit started after engineers who helped create a charter amendment affecting how Houston funded street and drainage projects sued the city, arguing that the way officials were calculating funding projects under the amendment was illegal.

In April, the 14th Court of Appeals ruled in the engineers' favor and told the city it needed to put roughly double the amount of property taxes it currently puts toward its streets and drainage projects. Whitmires first budget put only $135 million in tax dollars toward drainage, but the lawsuits plaintiffs have said the court-ordered figure would need to be about $100 million more.

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City Attorney Arturo Michel previously said the city plans to appeal the case to the Texas Supreme Court, which returned the case to a lower court last year before it found its way back to the 14th Court of Appeals. Drainage dollars will be allocated under next years budget in the case the court rejects the motion.

Michel has said the city wouldnt feel a financial impact as a result of the lawsuit until the next budget in 2026. But if the city lost the lawsuit again, Hollins told the City Council on Tuesday, the city would have to pay back $110 million to $120 million immediately, creating another big potential expense in this year's budget, which already is stretched thin.

We have to be clear about in the instance that if we were to lose that lawsuit  which weve now lost twice in a row on it  how we cover that for the current fiscal year, Hollins said.

Hollins also questioned Michels logic on the city not having to foot the bill this year.

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I havent seen any legal standing for that position, Hollins said. So we just need to be prepared and have an understanding, again, of how that cost is going to be covered on the downside scenario.

The plaintiffs attorneys have said the Supreme Court has to approve a stay to halt proceedings if the city requests one.

Arturo said after Tuesdays meeting that the city has no plans to seek a stay, and Houston getting around having to make any immediate payments for drainage and street projects will likely come down to the timing of another appeal.

Michel said the city does not plan to file its appeal to the Texas Supreme Court until closer to Sept. 1, and he suspects the court will want to have a briefing on whether to hear the case or not.

That lengthy briefing would likely not start until early next year, Michel said, and if the court decided not to hear the case, it would have only a minor impact on this years budget. Officials would still have to look for ways to pay it off under this year's budget, if it came down to it. Discussions for the 2026 budget will begin next May.

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If the city ends up having to pay money from the 2025 budget, it would likely come from property taxes, Michel said, and would take money away from other city services. Public safety, which takes up nearly 70% of the citys general fund at $1.7 billion, could take a hit, Michel said.

Matthew Erickson, who represents the plaintiffs in the case, said he trusts that Houston will follow the law, and that if the case goes to the Supreme Court, his side will rehash the directives of the 14th Court of Appeals to the city.

It isnt the first warning officials have offered about the case. Finance Director Melissa Dubowski told the council in May that the citys reserves were $91 million over whats legally required. The citys savings would not be able to cover more drainage if it had to shell out an additional $100 million.

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The Biden administration is investing more than $200 million in programs to train primary care physicians in age-friendly care for older adults.

Forty-two programs across the country will receive funding to integrate geriatric training into primary care. Primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and caregivers of older adults will be eligible for training through the Health Resource and Service Administration's Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, HHS said in a July 1 news release.

"It is important that these care providers have the capacity to respond to patients' growing needs as they age," HHS said. "Grantees also will work in the community to help family members and other caregivers understand the changing needs of those they support."

The funding boost comes as the nation faces a shortage of geriatricians, who specialize in care for adults 65 and older  the nation's fastest growing population and who make up nearly half of hospital admissions. Given the shortage of specialists, primary care providers are the main source of care for many older adults.

The dearth of geriatricians is driven by a number of factors, including a lack of training and recognition of the specialty at medical schools, lower pay compared to other areas and the shortage of primary care physicians, since many PCPs move into geriatrics later in their career.
Members of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals at Burlington, Vt.-based UVM Medical Center have shared plans to hold a five-day strike starting July 12.

The strike is to protest "numerous unfair labor practices by UVMMC" and the hospital's refusal to give data acquisition transparency on financial proposals, according to a July 2 VFNHP news release shared with Becker's.

Around 1,800 UVMMC nurses are represented by the union, according to a UVMMC news release shared with Becker's.

"All of our Union's decision-makers have showed up every week to craft our proposals and communicate with our membership, unpaid, on top of all of their work at the bedside," Deb Snell, RN, president of VFNHP, said in the release. "The hospital pays people a lot of money to crunch their numbers, and they don't have enough respect for their nurses to show up, explain why they think it's not worth it for the hospital to recruit, retain and ensure nurses can afford to live here."

Two bargaining sessions were scheduled on June 28 and July 1 by the union in an attempt to avoid a strike. The hospital and union have two more bargaining sessions scheduled for July 2 and July 8 in an attempt to secure a deal ahead of the contract expiration date of July 9, the union release said.

"... we either leave now temporarily, or watch even more of our best nurses leave to travel or create roots with an institution that respects them more," Ms. Snell said.

UVMMC had initially proposed a 20% wage increase over the next three years, which was rejected by the union. The hospital said it is unable to support the union's current wage increase proposal of 31% over three years.

Staff Nurse II nurses, the hospital's largest nursing group, currently have a base pay ranging from $35.75 an hour to $56.37 an hour before incentive and differential pay. An average base wage for this nursing group is $44.50 per hour, the UVMMC release said.

Over the last 18 months, the hospital has hired more than 120 new nurses, with nurse pay currently accounting for 8% of the hospital's budget.

The hospital has received a 10-day strike notice from the union and has put plans in place to bring in external staff should the strike move forward. Specific elective procedures will also be rescheduled if needed, with providers contacting any patients who might be affected.

"While I do still have sincere hope that we can collaborate to reach an agreement and avert a strike  and I share the sentiment with many of our staff and community members that another strike would be painful and difficult for all of us  we have to be ready the moment a strike begins to care for our patients and community, and we will be," Stephen Leffler, MD, president and COO of UVMMC, said in the UVMMC release.
From leadership changes to growing networks, here are six key developments from orthopedic management service organizations in the first half of 2024.

1. U.S. Orthopaedic Partners named Stephen Holtzclaw, MD, as its new CEO. Dr. Holtzclaw worked as CEO of Alteon Health, a physician-led acute care medical group, according to a Jan. 10 news release from USOP. He was also president of hospital-based services for TeamHealth.

2. Orthopedic Care Partners affiliated with Palm Beach Hand to Shoulder in Palm Beach, Fla.

3. Orthopedic Care Partners affiliated with The Orthopedic Partners in Park City, Utah.

4. OrthoLoneStar is expanding Mend's perioperative nutrition and Upgraid precision care navigation after a 14-month pilot with the Carrell Clinic in Dallas.

5. Spire Orthopedic added Providence-based Ortho Rhode Island and its affiliated ASC.

6. Watertown (Wis.) Regional Medical Center partnered with Healthcare Outcomes Performance Co. for orthopedic and spine care.
The boss of an aircraft repair company in Co Antrim has accepted a boardroom ban over his use of company funds

The boss of an aircraft repair company in Co Antrim has accepted a boardroom ban over his use of company funds.

Richard Ryan (61), of Killaughey Road, Donaghadee, accepted the seven-year disqualification undertaking over his conduct as a director of RGR Contracts Ltd.

The company had a registered office at 2 Market Place in Carrickfergus and went into liquidation in October 2021 owing 26,528 to creditors.

The Department for the Economy (DfE) carries out disqualification proceedings following investigations by Insolvency Service.

According to DfE, Mr Ryan accepted unfit conduct involving misapplying company funds by acting in a manner to benefit himself rather than the company.

Read more Risk of damage if Spirit AeroSystems is broken up after Boeing deal

He had used the company turnover or the bounce back loan  a form of emergency lending available to companies during the pandemic  to pay himself a significant increase in salary even though turnover had fallen.

According to DfE, if he had not paid himself this increased salary, RGR Contracts would have had additional money available to repay all creditors in full.

The department said that it had accepted four disqualification undertakings since April 1, with the court making two disqualification orders since the same date.

DfE said that after a company goes out of business through insolvency, insolvency practitioners such as administrators or liquidators have a duty to report unfit conduct to the Insolvency Service.

Disqualification proceedings are carried out against directors of failed companies who have abused the privilege of limited liability status through negligence, incompetence or lack of commercial probity, DfE said.
The application would see multiple buildings transformed in a 50m project

The Tipsy Bird is planned to be turned into a 145-room hotel as part of 50m project.

An artist's impression of proposed luxury hotel in Ann Street in Belfast

A Belfast bar could be turned into a luxury hotel bringing up to 150 new jobs as part of a 50m development of the site.

The Tipsy Bird on Ann Street is part of the location of the proposed project from the hospitality company Glendola Leisure Group and Carlton Hotel Collection.

The planned hotel would also incorporate the courtyard behind the Tipsy Bird, along with the vacant Jamison & Green Building, the former site of a hardware store.

The proposed hotel will feature 145 rooms, a champagne bar with panoramic views of Belfast, a rooftop terrace with an event space, a gym and spa, a Jamison & Green pub and a fine dining restaurant.

Read more Seven times Taylor Swift fell head over heels for NI

A proposal of application notice (PAN) has now been submitted to Belfast City Council by Glendola.

Alex Salussolia, managing director of Glendola Leisure Group, said: Our exciting proposal for the Ann Street hotel represents a 50m investment in Belfast and an opportunity to regenerate this significant area of the city centre.

"Our proposed hotel will create 120-150 employment opportunities and will be the first on the island of Ireland to be part of the Design Hotels group of design-driven, luxury hotels.

The hotel will offer guests a high-quality hospitality experience, including top-tier restaurants and bars with a 360-degree view of the city and Belfast Lough from the rooftop event spaces.

"The ground-level courtyard will enhance the city centres amenities and create new connections between the river and the Cathedral Quarter.

Over the last few weeks, we have been engaging with our neighbours in the Ann Street area and Belfast City Council.

"With the PAN now submitted, we look forward to further engagement with local stakeholders throughout the pre-application community consultation process.

There will be a pre-application community consultation event held in the Tipsy Bird from 2 to 6pm on August 28.

Glendola Leisure Group and Carlton Hotel Collection are the two trading divisions of the UK and Benelux-based Foundation Group of Companies.

Glendola is a family-owned hospitality company with 18 venues in the UK, including hotels, pubs, coffee roasteries, restaurants and a brewery.

Its properties include the Waxy O'Connor's pubs, Alston Bar & Beef, Gordon Street Coffee Roastery, and Shilling Co Brewery.

The Carlton Hotel Collection of 11 four star hotels includes the Carlton Ambassador in The Hague, The Dominican in Brussels, Banks Mansion in Amsterdam, Market Street Hotel in Edinburgh and Carlton George in Glasgow.

News Catch Up: Monday 1st July 2024
But write-off of intercompany debt of 6m means firm has swung to a loss

Angus Properties, part of Denvir Holdings, is the owner of The Printworks building in Belfast's Queen Street

Pete Boyle, founder of Argento, whose holding company reported turnover of 17m in its latest accounts

Turnover at the holding company behind Northern Ireland jewellery chain Argento increased from 16.5m to 17m in the year to June 2023, its accounts have shown.

But Denvir Holdings, led by directors Pete Boyle and Ciara Denvir, swung to a pre-tax loss of 4.2m following the write-off of intercompany bad debt of 6m, the accounts said.

As well as Argento, Denvir Holdings is also the holding company for the directors property business, Angus Properties.

There are 18 Argento stores in Northern Ireland, with two in the Republic and four in Great Britain.

The cost of sales at Denvir Holdings, based at Royal Avenue in Belfast, rose from 6.8m to 7.1m.

Gross profit rose from 9.7m to 9.8m, while operating profit declined from 2.5m to 1.8m.

However, pre-tax profits of 2.5m in the year to June 30 2022 swung to a 4.2m pre-tax loss due to an exceptional item of 6m described in the accounts as write-off of intercompany bad debt.

The company declined to comment further on the accounts.

In a strategic report with the accounts, the groups principal activities were given as the retail distribution of all manner of jewellery and accessories in the UK, and property rental and development.

According to the accounts, around 16.48m of turnover was derived from sale of goods, with the remainder from rental income.

Turnover from sales of goods was up from 15.6m the year before, though turnover from rental income had declined from around 876,260 the year before.

There were 248 employees, down from 256 the year before. But wages and salaries went up nonetheless, from 3.4m to 3.7m.

Read more Luxury 145-room hotel planned at site of Belfast bar

The strategic report said: The directors are pleased to report another profitable year. Turnover has increased from 16.5m in the year ending June 30 2022 to 17m, with gross profit of 9.84m and operating profit of 1.8m.

"The group had a solid financial position at the year end with net assets of 21.7m, down from 26m, and net current assets of 4m, down from 10.5m.

Describing market risk, the group said that it operates in a retail sector that has become highly competitive and driven by sales discounting.

"Political and economic uncertainties depress retail spending and discounting erodes profitability, it said.

Given the groups history within the industry and service within its workforce, the group is in a strong position going into the year ahead.

"With a proven record of innovative and strategic planning and the ability to deliver excellent product and customer service, the directors are confident that the necessary skills and knowledge are available within the business to retain and grow the success it has seen in the current year.

It added: The groups strategy is to further enhance its position within the UK retail jewellery and property market by offering a unique customer experience driving customer loyalty.

It said the group would continue to concentrate on achieving maximum growth in the market sector by driving competitive strengths, improving efficiency in all areas of operations and aiming to increase market share and maximise sustainable profit levels.

The first Argento shop was opened in 1997.

This week law firm Millar McCall Wylie announced it had relocated to the Printworks building in Belfasts Queen Street, owned by Angus Properties. It has carried out an extensive restoration of the red brick warehouse.
GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes had to leave his Breakfast show mid-way through the broadcast after feeling a little unwell.

The Belfast presenter, who co-hosts the show alongside Isabel Webster, had been present at the start of the programme when he announced Labour's plans to build over areas of the green belt to assist with the current housing crisis.

However, viewers noticed the 64-year-old then left the show with Isabel presenting the rest of the show by herself.

A GB News spokesperson confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph Holmes had to leave due to illness.

"Eamonn had to finish earlier today as he was feeling a little unwell. He hopes to be back tomorrow.

A friend added that the presenter was in good spirits.

The Northern Irishman recently admitted at the TRIC Awards that he is not ok amid concerns about the presenters health battle and his split from Ruth Langsford.

Holmes also said at the event  in which GB News Breakfast won an award: "This is not a good time at all.

The pair, who used to present ITVs This Morning together, announced their split last month.

At the weekend it was reported friends are becoming concerned about Eamonns solitary existence after leaving the comfort of the mansion he shared with his estranged wife.

A source told the Daily Mail that he has moved into a "small flat near a roundabout" from which he is chauffeured to and from the GB News studios in West London due to his ongoing mobility issues.

They said pals are worried about the broadcaster.

"It's all a rather sorry affair, the source added.

"It was only a few months ago he was living in his lovely family home with Ruth.

"Yes, they were troubled, but she was caring for him and he had some kind of normality.

"Now, he is alone in a flat living a pretty solitary existence. His marriage ending after such a long time has been something he has found difficult to accept."

It comes days after reports that Ruth is grappling with "agonising guilt" over the break-up.

The Loose Women star is said to be concerned about appearing as if she's abandoned Eamonn who now relies on a wheelchair and walking frame due to chronic pain.

Sources claimed Ruth is caught between supporting her former partner and moving forward with her own life.

Bella magazine quoted one source as saying she feels "terribly guilty" and that seeing recent photos of her "frail" ex has been very hard for her.

However friends, who describe the ITV star as a "sensitive soul" have encouraged her not to be too hard on herself as she adapts to her "new normal".

Even though she has every right to live her life and do what is best for her, shes worried the public will perceive her as abandoning Eamonn in his time of need as he struggles with his health, the source added.

Ruth has continued wearing her sparkling engagement and wedding rings.

She was pictured last week enjoying an evening out at Giovanni Pernice and Anton du Beke's stage show in London after being invited by her close friend Anton (57).

News Catch Up: Tuesday 2nd July 2024
Alleged NI victim of domestic abuse waited until partner was sleeping before stabbing him to death'
Ahead of the completion of the new Belfast Grand Central Station next year a series of timetable changes and alternative transport arrangements have been announced.

Belfast Grand Central Station will be the largest transport hub on the island of Ireland, featuring 26 bus stands and eight train platforms.

A revised NI Railways timetable will be in operation from July 3 until early Autumn.

An express bus substitution service will operate between Lisburn and Europa Buscentre and a shuttle service will operate between Lanyon Place and Europa Buscentre every 30 minutes, serving stops adjacent to Belfast City Hospital, Queens University and Botanic.

A revised train service will operate between Lisburn and Portadown, while Derry, Bangor and Larne line rail services will run to and from Lanyon Place.

In terms of shuttle service routes, these will serve:

Lanyon Station - for passengers going to Europa Buscentre

Great Victoria Street (Brennans Bar) - for passengers going to Botanic and City Hospital

Bradbury Place (Laverys) - for those going to Botanic

Lisburn Road - for passengers going to City Hospital

University Road (Queens Students Union) - for passengers going to Queens University

Bradbury Place (Benedicts) - for passengers heading to the city centre

Great Victoria Street (Great Northern Mall) for passengers going to Lanyon Place

Lanyon Place - for passengers boarding train services to Larne, Bangor and Derry.

The Enterprise line will be closed from July 3 until early Autumn between Lanyon Place and Newry. Bus substitution services will operate between Lanyon Place and Newry, and Portadown and Newry.

Return trains from Dublin will connect with bus substitution services at Newry going to Lanyon Place, while normal Enterprise services will run from Portadown to Dublin Connolly station.

The 9.36am Saturday service from Belfast to Dublin Connolly and the 12.21pm Saturday service from Dublin Connolly to Belfast will not operate.

In addition, the 5.05pm Sunday service from Belfast to Dublin Connolly and the 1pm Dublin Connolly to Belfast Service will not be running.

Great Victoria Street Station was permanently closed from the end of day on May 10 and the revised timetable has been in place since then.

The train line will remain open throughout Belfast, but no longer serve Great Victoria Street. Passengers who normally use Great Victoria Street Station will have to use other stations at Lanyon Place, Botanic, City Hospital and York Street.

NI Railways tickets will be valid on Metro and Ulsterbus services between York Street, Lanyon Station, Belfast city centre, Botanic and City Hospital.

David Curry, Translinks bus services general manager, said Belfast Grand Central Station will be a game changer that will reimagine the city.

Designed to be fully inclusive and able to cater for 20 million passenger journeys a year, it will be the largest integrated transport facility on the island of Ireland bringing the opportunity to further enhance service frequency in the longer term, he added.

Beyond transportation, this new facility will be a new destination in the heart of the city where people meet thanks to a range of popular hospitality and retail outlets offering a unique blend of convenience and leisure.

With reduced passenger numbers during the summer period, we have carefully planned a range of travel options to minimise the overall impact and ensure people can continue to make their journeys and access the city.
Buckfast tonic wine is being pushed as the perfect aperitif or upmarket cooking ingredient.

If you have a bottle of Buckfast sitting idle at home, why not try your hand at making a Buckfast beef bourguignon or Buckfast poached pears?

That may not sound the most appetising of meals for those who arent fans of the famous tonic wine, but the Benedictine monks behind Buckie are pushing the caffeinated alcoholic drink as a base for high-end cocktails and gourmet meals as part of a new marketing strategy.

Buckfast  otherwise known as Lurgan champagne, Buckie, wine, commotion lotion and wreck the hoose juice  has been closely associated with anti-social behaviour in the past.

In Scotland in particular, the drink, which has 15% alcohol, has been demonised by judges, police and politicians as a contributor to anti-social behaviour.

Despite its past, the Benedictine monks in Devons Buckfast Abbey are touting Buckie as the perfect aperitif or upmarket cooking ingredient.

The products official website suggests pairing Buckfast with sparkling wine and declares it is perfect as an aperitif with a side dish of savoury snacks.

Based on a traditional recipe from the 19th century Buckfast tonic wine captivates the senses with its deep full-bodied velvety flavour and lingering warm vanilla finish, it states.

Its distinctive flavours and aromatic profile lends itself to endless possibilities. Why not try some of our easy-to-make suggestions to tantalise your taste buds.

With Wimbledon 2024 getting underway, why not set the Pimms aside for one year and make yourself a jug of Buckfast Fizz?

For that special recipe youll need 250ml of Buckfast, freshly chopped strawberries, cucumber and oranges, and the juice of one orange, topped with soda water. Finish with a sprig of mint.

Maybe a Buckfast Bramble is the one for you?

The Buckfast Bramble cocktail is delightfully well balanced and easy to sip whilst chatting with friends, outlines the recipe. 15ml Buckfast Tonic Wine, 40ml gin, 20ml lemon juice, 10ml Grenadine. Garnish with four blackberries and serve over crushed ice.

Add all the ingredients to a shaker. Shake for 10 seconds with cubed ice to chill. Sieve over cubed ice into an old fashioned glass or tumbler which will keep the cocktail chilled for longer.

Alternatively, add tonic water making this delicious drink last longer!

Your local butchers may have already experimented with some tonic wine with Buckfast sausages that have been sold across Northern Ireland for years  but now is your chance to cook up a special recipe in your own kitchen.

If youre a fan of Beef bourguignon just replace the old fashioned red wine with some Buckie for that caffeinated twist.

However, some spiced Buckfast mushrooms may be your preferred choice.

Pour some Buckfast into a saucepan and reduce to a syrup, explains TV chef Martin Blunos.

Fry the onion in the olive oil till soft and opaque, add garlic and mushrooms and cook for a further 2/3 minutes.

Add Buckfast syrup to the mushrooms and coat. Add butter and lemon juice to enrichen.

As a pro tip, Martin said: You could serve the mushrooms as an accompaniment to steak or game, the aromatic flavour and sweetness of the sauce is so tasty.

For all the cooking and drinks recipes, visit buckfast.com
Samsung launched SmartThings Energy Flex Connect, a demand response program designed to conserve energy during peak hours in New York and California.

Eligible users can earn Samsung Rewards points upon enrolling their smart devices which can be used to redeem discounts.

Read Also : Samsung to Reveal AI-Powered Galaxy Z Series on July 10

Samsung Supports Demand Response Program

The International Energy Agency described demand response as the balancing act between power grids among customers during peak hours. The program is designed to decrease the need for new transmission and distribution infrastructures.

Smart appliances can be enrolled in the SmartThings Energy app, automatically enabling AI Energy Mode. It will optimize energy conservation for all connected devices.

Appliances that are not needed will be turned off by the system to decrease energy usage, this includes third-party lights and plugs. Smart temperature adjustment is also part of the system, especially for thermostats.

How Flex Connect Response to Demand

Samsung's AI Energy Mode can save up to 70 percent of the usual energy consumption of a consumer. The program will analyze the household's routines and will automatically adjust the energy use of the connect apps based on the targets in the app.

Flex Connect will automatically enabled once a demand response alert is received from a utility company. In addition, incompatible appliances can still receive the same alert to notify consumers to adjust their energy consumption manually.

"SmartThings Energy empower our users with tools and information to monitor their energy consumption and save money, and launching Flex Connect is a crucial step in creating a greener and smarter world," said Chanwoo Park, EVP for Samsung Electronics.

Brands like Wemo, TP-Link, Tesla products, Ecobee, and more are all eligible for Flex Connect. All Samsung appliances are encouraged to be enrolled in the program.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said she has not yet made a decision on whether to appeal a High Court judgment striking down a law that banned people from saying Jimmy Savile was a paedophile.

But she was warned by DUP leader Gavin Robinson that an appeal would be bizarre and his party would not be supporting any decision to challenge the ruling.

Ms Long is considering using public funds to appeal the courts decision which overturned legislation she introduced.

The Justice Minister wrote to Executive Ministers on Friday to make clear her position for the first time, and gave them until Tuesday to formally give her their views.

The move comes days before the Alliance leader stands in East Belfast, one of the partys key target constituencies where she could unseat Mr Robinson.

A month ago, the High Court upheld a challenge by this newspaper and other media outlets to key provisions in the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (NI) 2022.

The law, which Ms Long proposed and the Assembly unanimously passed two years ago, made it a criminal offence to identify anyone investigated by police for a serious sexual offence but not charged  and extended that protection for 25 years following their death.

After examining the issues dispassionately, the judge found that the law had such a perverse effect that it was unlawful, ruling that the relevant parts of the legislation were not law because they were contrary to the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

When questioned about the Belfast Telegraphs article revealing she planned to appeal the ruling, Ms Long told the BBCs Good Morning Ulster: I would like to tell people what Im thinking, instead of reading what is, I think, quite a biased view on the front page of the Belfast Telegraph.

Remember, the Belfast Telegraph is one of the parties to this case.

She added: I havent made a decision (on an appeal).

I circulated to Ministerial colleagues the rationale that has been laid out, not by me but for me by our legal advisers and the KC in the case, she said.

Ms Long also admitted the issue had been high on the agenda during Mondays meeting of the Executive.

Its not about the clauses, she said concerning any proposed appeal of the judgment, its about the constitutional implications.

But the Minister was told by Mr Robinson on the programme that she should not be using public funds to challenge the High Court ruling.

We do not believe this case should be appealed, he said.

I think the idea that victims would have to go to court (to secure the naming of an abuser) is bizarre. I dont see whose interests are being served.

It started with the Assembly being misled, he continued, something Ms Long has denied.

The court accepted that the Assembly was told that the package of measures in this legislation were the full implementation of the John Gillen review. What we are discussing now was not part of the John Gillen review.

Ms Long said her stance on bringing the legislation to the Assembly, particularly was to protect those who have been falsely accused of sex crimes

The issue is about the constitutional piece of law, Ms Long said, adding that it would be a simple fix on the issue of naming those convicted of sex crimes after their death.

Opposition leader Matthew OToole tabled an urgent oral question on Monday night which seeks to force Mrs Long to come to the Assembly today.

That will only happen if approved by Speaker Edwin Poots.

News Catch Up: Tuesday 2nd July 2024
A Canadian tourist who was assaulted in Dublin city centre last month has died in hospital (PA)

A Canadian tourist who was assaulted in Dublin city centre last month has died in hospital.

Neno Dolmajian, who was aged in his 40s, was attacked on OConnell Street on Sunday June 23.

The man was taken to the Mater Hospital to be treated for injuries he suffered during the incident. He died in hospital on Tuesday.

To date, four men have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Neno Dolmajian, who was aged in his 40s, was attacked on OConnell Street on Sunday June 23 (PA)

Two of these men have been charged and appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Gardai said that as the matter is currently before the courts, they could not release any further information.

After gardai confirmed his death, Taoiseach Simon Harris told the Dail: I want to join you in expressing my sympathy to the family.

Thats a heart-breaking situation. Thats an extraordinarily devasting situation for the family.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said: Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.

It points to a very, very serious issue that on the main street of our capital city is a dangerous and violent place on a regular basis for so many people.

Its not just the main street of our capital city, its towns and villages across the country that people do not feel safe. And its not happening by accident.

Its happening because we have the lowest number of gardai regarding per capita.
Votes in the 2024 General Election will start being counted soon after 10pm on July 4, with final results due at around 6.30am the following morning (Jacob King/PA)

Here is a guide to when to expect the key results on election night.

The election is being held using new constituency boundaries, which means the results cannot be compared directly with what happened at the last general election in 2019.

To measure how well the parties do at the election, and to determine which seats they need to win to form a government, a set of notional results for the 2019 election has been calculated to show what would have happened if that contest had taken place using the new boundaries.

All majorities and swings mentioned below are based on these notional results.

 10pm

Polling stations close, followed immediately by the publication of the exit poll.

The door of 10 Downing Street, London (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

It will be announced live on the BBC, ITV and Sky News, and will offer the first clues as to how the night will unfold. At each of the past few elections, the exit poll has produced a very accurate projection of the actual result.

Meanwhile, counting begins at venues across the UK for all 650 election results.

 11pm

The first seats to declare are likely to be Blyth & Ashington at around 11.30pm and Houghton & Sunderland South at around 11.45pm: both in north-east England and both defended by Labour.

Houghton & Sunderland South has been won by Bridget Phillipson for Labour at every election since the seat was created in 2010, where she is defending a narrow majority of 3,271, while Blyth & Ashington is a new constituency at this election, where Labour is defending a notional majority of 6,118.

The outcome may provide a guide to what to expect in seats where Labour has small majorities  in particular how Reform UK performs and what happens to the level of Conservative support.

 12am

Swindon South is likely to be the first battleground seat of the night to declare at around 12.15am, where former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland is defending a majority of 5,650 and where Labour candidate Heidi Alexander  who was MP for Lewisham East from 2010-18  needs a swing of 5.7 percentage points to win.

Opinion polls suggest this is the sort of seat Labour ought to win comfortably, and as such the result will be a pointer to what could happen over the rest of the night.

A profile of the Swindon South constituency (PA Graphics)

Basildon & Billericay in Essex is another result due at around 12.15am, where Conservative chairman Richard Holden is a candidate due to a decision made by party officials just two days before the deadline for nominations, to the anger of some local party members, and where the Tories are defending a 20,749 majority.

Broxbourne in Hertfordshire is due at around 12.30am: a seat held continuously by the Conservatives since its creation in 1983, with a majority in 2019 of 19,192, the result giving an early indication of how the Tories are faring in their traditional Home Counties heartlands.

 1am

East Kilbride & Strathaven, Hamilton & Clyde Valley and Rutherglen will provide a first indication of patterns of voting in Scotland.

All three are being defended by the SNP and all are Labour targets, with Rutherglen needing a 6.0-percentage point swing to change hands, Hamilton & Clyde Valley 8.2 points and East Kilbride & Strathaven 12.8 points.

A direct swing in the share of the vote of 10 percentage points from the SNP to Labour in Scotland could see Sir Keir Starmers party pick up 15 constituencies.

A profile of the Harrogate & Knaresborough constituency (PA Graphics)

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats could make their first gain of the night in Harrogate & Knaresborough, which they last held between 1997 and 2010 and where they need an 8.0-percentage point swing to take the seat from the Conservatives, ranking it at number 21 on the partys target list.

Leigh & Atherton in Greater Manchester is ranked at number two on Labours target list: a new seat this election, but one where the Tories are defending a notional majority of just 293.

 2am

The flow of results will now start to pick up, with just over 60 seats due to declare between 2am and 3am.

A win for Labour in Tory-held Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, expected to declare at around 2.30am, would suggest the party is on course for a record-breaking win: the seat needs an enormous 21.5-percentage point swing to change hands, ranking it at number 304 on Labours target list.

The party held the seat from 1997 to 2010 but it has been Tory ever since, with a 2019 majority of 19,879.

The Lib Dems should discover if they have been able to gain one of their longshots, Stratford-on-Avon, from the Conservatives: a seat they need a 17.8-point swing to win and which was held until this year by former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who is not standing this time.

Workers Party leader George Galloway will learn if he has held on to Rochdale in Greater Manchester, which he won at a by-election in February this year.

The result from Sir Keir Starmers constituency of Holborn & St Pancras is due at around 2.30am. The Labour leader is defending a very safe majority of 22,766 and is one of 12 candidates standing in the seat.

Mid Bedfordshire, due to declare at around 2.45am, was won by Labour from the Tories at a by-election in October 2023, marking the first time Sir Keirs party had represented the seat since its creation in 1918.

Based on the size of the swing Labour needs to win again (when compared with the 2019 notional result), the seat ranks at number 263 on the partys target list  so a Labour victory here would suggest the party is on track for an enormous Commons majority.

Also worth watching will be the results from Bolsover in Derbyshire, held by Labour from 1950 to 2019  for much of the time by veteran left-winger Dennis Skinner  until the Tories won at the last election, and which Labour will hope to win back; Peterborough and Redcar, two of Labours key targets; and Torbay in Devon, which could fall to the Lib Dems if Sir Ed Daveys party is doing exceptionally well.

 3am

This is likely to be the busiest time of the night, with nearly 250 declarations expected over the next hour.

Islington North is due to declare, where Independent candidate and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is standing. Mr Corbyn has previously won the seat for Labour at every general election since 1983, but is no longer a member of the party and is contesting the seat with six others, including Labour candidate Praful Nargund.

The result is due from the new seat of Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes, where the Tories are defending a notional majority of 9,759: the sort of constituency Labour has to win (the swing needed is 11.8 points) to be sure of a comfortable majority.

A profile of the Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes constituency (PA Graphics)

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk is one of the Cabinet ministers most at risk at this election and the result from his seat of Cheltenham is due at around 3am, where he is defending a tiny majority of 1,421.

The constituency would fall to the Lib Dems on a swing of 1.3 percentage points, ranking it at number six on the partys target list.

The result is also due at around 3am from Chingford & Wood Green, which former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has won at every general election (including its former incarnation as Chingford) since 1992, but where he is defending a majority of just 1,604 and which would change hands on a swing to Labour of 1.5 points.

Five other candidates are standing, including Shama Tatler for Labour and the Independent Faiza Shaheen, who was Labours candidate here in 2019, meaning there could be a partial split in the Labour vote.

Sir Ed Daveys seat of Kingston & Surbiton is due to declare at around 3.15am, where the Lib Dem leader is defending a majority of 11,174.

Witney in Oxfordshire, a seat won by the Tories at every election since its creation in 1983 and which was once represented by former prime minister David Cameron, is due to declare at this time  another seat that could fall to the Lib Dems if Sir Eds party is having a very strong night.

Also due at around 3.15am is the result from Bristol Central: a new seat at this election and one of the Green Partys top targets, where candidate Carla Denyer is hoping to beat Labours Thangam Debbonaire, previously MP for Bristol West.

At around 3.30am the result is likely from the new constituency of Godalming & Ash in Surrey, where Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is one of six candidates. Mr Hunt could be at risk: he is defending a notional Tory majority of 10,720 and the seat has been heavily targeted by the Lib Dems, who need a swing of 9.7 points to win.

A profile of the Godalming & Ash constituency (PA Graphics)

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is another Conservative big beast potentially in trouble and the result from his seat of Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire should come in around this time. Mr Shapps has held the seat since 2005 but is defending a majority of 10,773 and Labour needs a swing of 10.4 percentage points to win.

House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt will find out if she has held her seat of Portsmouth North, which she has represented since 2010. She is defending a majority of 15,780 and a swing to Labour of 17.2 points would see her defeated.

Another Cabinet minister, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, will discover her fate at Chichester. Ms Keegan is defending a majority at this election of 19,622, with second-place party the Lib Dems needing a swing of 19.3 points to take a seat they last held  as the Liberal Party  100 years ago.

Tatton in Cheshire, once the seat of former chancellor George Osborne and held since 2017 by Government minister and TV presenter Esther McVey, is due to declare, which would fall to Labour on a 17.4-point swing.

Other key seats to watch this hour include Ribble Valley in Lancashire, Thanet East in Kent and Scarborough & Whitby in North Yorkshire  all seats Labour needs to win to be sure of a majority in the next parliament  along with Tory-Lib Dem battlegrounds such as Eastleigh in Hampshire, Wells & Mendip Hills in Somerset and Newton Abbot in Devon, to see how well the Conservatives hold off any potential surge by Sir Eds party in south-west England.

 4am

Enough results should be in now to know which party is on course to win the election and by what margin.

Dartford in Kent is the longest-running bellwether constituency in the country and is due to declare at around 4am. Since 1964, whichever party wins Dartford has also gone on to form the government. Conservative candidate Gareth Johnson is defending a majority here of 14,704, with Labour needing a swing of 15.9 points to take the seat.

Douglas Alexander, who held a number of cabinet roles during the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, has not been an MP since 2015 but is standing this year in Lothian East, Labours top target in Scotland where the SNP is defending a majority of 2,207.

A profile of the Lothian East constituency (PA Graphics)

Rishi Sunaks seat of Richmond & Northallerton, in North Yorkshire, should declare at around this time. The Prime Minister is defending a huge notional majority of 24,331 and is one of 13 candidates standing in the constituency, making it the most contested seat in the country.

Clacton in Essex should declare, which is being defended by Giles Watling for the Conservatives and where Reform leader Nigel Farage is one of nine candidates. It is Mr Farages eighth attempt to become an MP.

The residents of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire will find out at around 4.30am if their next MP is former Conservative-turned-Reform candidate Lee Anderson, who won the seat (as a Tory) in 2019; Independent candidate Jason Zadrozny, who came second in 2019; new Conservative candidate Debbie Soloman; or Rhea Keehn for Labour, whose party held the seat from 1979 to 2019.

A profile of the Ashfield constituency (PA Graphics)

Former House of Commons leader Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg will learn if he has won the new seat of Somerset North East & Hanham, where the notional Tory majority is 16,389 and which Labour would take on a swing of 14.3 percentage points, ranking it at number 165 on the partys target list.

The Greens will discover whether they have held on to Brighton Pavilion in East Sussex, where Caroline Lucas was the partys MP from 2010 to this year, and where their new candidate is Sian Berry.

They will also find out if the Greens co-leader Adrian Ramsay has managed to win the new seat of Waveney Valley in East Anglia, which is being treated as a notional Conservative defence.

A key result from Northern Ireland is due at around 4.30am in Lagan Valley, where Sinn Fein has stood aside in the hope of giving the Alliance Party a better chance of gaining the seat from the DUP.

 5am

Northampton North, a bellwether seat at every general election since February 1974, is due to declare; Labour needs a 3.9-point swing to gain the constituency from the Tories.

Bellwether seats at UK general elections (PA Graphics)

Former prime minister Liz Truss will learn if she is back in her seat of Norfolk South West, where she is defending an enormous majority of 24,180.

The Leicestershire constituency of Loughborough, a bellwether at every general election since February 1974, is due to declare at around 5.30am; Labour needs a 5.9-point swing to gain the seat from the Tories.

Also due at around 5.30am is the result from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, where Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner is defending a majority of 4,689.

Two of the most remote constituencies in Scotland should declare during this hour: Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross and Orkney & Shetland, both of which the Lib Dems are hoping to win, while results should come in for two of Labours top London targets: Finchley & Golders Green and Hendon, both held since 2010 by the Conservatives.

 6am

Among the final results to declare should be the London boroughs of Ilford North and Ilford South, both safe for Labour; the new constituency of Selby in North Yorkshire, which Keir Mather  the youngest MP at the end of the last parliament  is hoping to win for Labour and overturn a notional Tory majority of 14,838; and Farnham & Bordon, a new seat that straddles the borders of Hampshire and Surrey, which could bring the Lib Dems a late gain at the expense of the Conservatives.

 7am and later

Recounts could delay some of the declarations from earlier, but every seat is due to begin counting overnight so there is a good chance all 650 results will be in by mid-morning.

Note: All notional results for the 2019 general election have been compiled by Professor Colin Rallings and Professor Michael Thrasher of the University of Plymouth, on behalf of the PA news agency, the BBC, ITN and Sky News.
Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has told a trial that a joke he made about 9/11 during a lecture on the anniversary of the terror attacks was inappropriate.

Choudary, who was convicted of supporting the so-called Islamic State in 2016, is accused of taking a caretaker role in directing Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), as well as being a member of the banned organisation and encouraging support for it through online meetings.

The 57-year-old, of Ilford, east London, is said to have given lectures to the New York-based Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), which prosecutors allege was the same as ALM.

During an online meeting on September 11 2022, Choudary laughed while telling listeners that Omar Bakri Mohammed, who founded ALM, once advised charging members of the British media 9.11 to enter a place of worship where a press conference on the anniversary of 9/11 was held.

In the passage, which has been shown to jurors during his trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Choudary could be heard saying that Mohammed also suggested starting the conference at the time the first plane went into the North Tower.

He also joked that some members of the press from Japan paid to attend, saying irony is completely lost on the Japanese.

Questioned about this on Tuesday, Choudary said: My joke was about the Japanese, saying they dont understand sarcasm or irony.

Defence barrister Paul Hynes KC asked Choudary if he believed it was inappropriate to joke on the anniversary of the terror attacks.

The defendant replied: In hindsight, it probably wasnt a good joke, people say things when theyre tired or relaxed  it was just a funny thing about the Japanese paying 9.11.

He added: It was a joke, you dont really think about it, people joke about a lot of things.

Prosecutors said the sickening joke may tell jurors about the collective mindset of those attending the lecture.

Asked for his views on 9/11, Choudary said it is prohibited for someone to hijack a plane with innocent people and fly into a building.

Choudary told jurors: You cannot target anyone innocent, ever, in any kind of operation.

Several lectures were recorded by undercover officers in 2022 and 2023.

ALM was proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK in 2010, though it is said the group has continued to exist under various names.

Choudary has previously said that ALM was disbanded in 2004 because Mohammed had a shift in ideology.

Mr Hynes asked Choudary if he has ever directed a proscribed terror group, to which the defendant replied: No, never.

Choudary told jurors that he has always made sure that I abide by the laws in this country.

He denied inviting support to ALM through lectures to ITS because the group didnt exist.

Choudary said you can not say they (ITS) are ALM because they differ in ideology, structure and methodology.

Also on trial is Khaled Hussein, 29, from Canada, whom prosecutors say was a follower and dedicated supporter of Choudary.

He has pleaded not guilty to membership of ALM while Choudary denies directing a terrorist organisation, being a member of a proscribed organisation and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation.

Choudary was arrested in east London on July 17 of last year while Hussein was detained at Heathrow having arrived on a flight the same day.

The trial continues.
The First Minister spoke during a visit to the Highlands on Tuesday (Jane Barlow/PA)

Anas Sarwar would rather see Conservative MPs than SNP MPs elected, John Swinney has said after Labour rejected calls to back his party to beat Douglas Ross.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has urged Labour to back his party in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East  where the Labour candidate was suspended and stripped of party support  to ensure Douglas Ross does not win the seat.

The outgoing Scottish Tory leader announced in June he would stand in the stead of former MP David Duguid  who was barred by party bosses over ill health.

But Mr Sarwar rejected the call just hours after it was made.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he will only call on people to vote Labour (Jane Barlow/PA)

I am the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, I want people to vote Scottish Labour, he said during a visit to Inverclyde on Tuesday.

Scottish Labour is invested in every part of the country, so if you want to get rid of the Tories, if you want Scottish Labour representation, if you want Scotland to be at the heart of a Labour government, then you need to vote Scottish Labour  and thats what Im calling on people to do.

He said the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat is a specific issue due to the suspension of Andy Brown, and he said his only regret is that voters there do not have the chance to support Labour.

But speaking to the PA news agency on the campaign trail in Aviemore, in the Highlands, later in the day, the First Minister said: I think Anas Sarwar has just betrayed what hes all about  hed rather have a Tory than the SNP.

Anas Sarwar has given a really important bit of clarity to the people of Scotland that the Labour Party prefer the Tories, and we can see that from their policy programme because the Labour Party are going to continue the Tory austerity thats done such damage to our public services and our public finances.

Only SNP MPs will campaign against austerity and protect Scotland and Scotlands interests from austerity.

Mr Sarwar, meanwhile, said the SNP views Scotland as one big tactical block.

He added: (They believe) somehow Scots dont have an opinion of their own or Scots dont have a view of their own, or Scots havent lived the consequences of 14 years of the Tories or 17 years of the SNP.

The reason why so many people are moving away from both the Tories and the SNP is because they look at two governments that have utterly failed the people of Scotland.

Mr Sarwar later told the PA news agency he would let (the SNP) play the protest here.

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said: Pro-UK voters in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East know that only the Scottish Conservatives can beat the SNP and end their independence obsession for good.

This seat will be extremely close, and a vote for any party other than the Scottish Conservatives  including Reform, Labour or the Liberal Democrats  just increases the chances of the SNP sneaking in by the back door.

The same applies in key seats up and down Scotland where its a head-to-head between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP.

Shadow Scotland secretary Ian Murray said: This is ludicrous from Stephen Flynn who has cut an increasingly desperate figure during the campaign. While the SNP spends its time attacking the Labour Party, we are relentlessly focused on getting rid of this disastrous Tory government on Thursday.

Only one party can kick the Tories out of Downing Street and deliver the change that Scotland desperately needs, and that is Labour.

Also on Monday, Mr Swinney wrote an open letter to voters telling them the election in Scotland is on a knife edge between his party and Labour, and urging them to vote SNP for a better future.
Women mourn outside the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district in northern India after the stampede (Manoj Aligadi/AP)

A stampede among thousands of people at a religious gathering in northern India killed at least 100, mainly women and children, and left scores injured, officials said on Tuesday, adding that the toll could rise.

People had rushed to leave the makeshift tent following an event with Hindu figure Bhole Baba, local media reported.

Video of the aftermath showed the structure appeared to have collapsed.

Police officer Rajesh Singh said overcrowding may have been a factor in the stampede in a village in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) southwest of the state capital, Lucknow.

Initial reports suggested that more than 15,000 people had gathered for the event, which had permission to host about 5,000.

People started falling one upon another, one upon another. Those who were crushed died. People there pulled them out, witness Shakuntala Devi told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Bodies were brought to hospitals and morgues by trucks and private vehicles, government official Matadin Saroj said.

Government official Ashish Kumar told The Associated Press that at least 60 had reached mortuaries in the district.

More than 150 people were admitted to hospitals, medical official Umesh Tripathi said.

Uttar Pradeshs chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, called the stampede extremely sad and heart-wrenching in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

He said authorities were investigating the cause.

In 2013, pilgrims visiting a temple for a popular Hindu festival in central Madhya Pradesh state trampled on each other amid fears that a bridge would collapse. At least 115 were crushed to death or died in the river.

In 2011, more than 100 Hindu devotees died in a crush at a religious festival in the southern state of Kerala.
A supporter of Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian holds up a poster of the reformist during a campaign stop in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

By Nasser Karimi and Jon Gambrell, Associated Press

By Nasser Karimi and Jon Gambrell, Associated Press

Over 20 years ago, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stood before a crowd at Friday prayers to denounce the US for its disenchanted electorate.

It is disgraceful for a nation to have a 35% or 40% voter turnout, as happens in some of the nations that you see having presidential elections, Mr Khamenei said in 2001.

It is obvious that their people do not trust their political system, that they do not care about it and that they have no hope.

Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and his supporters flash the victory sign during a campaign stop in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Iran now faces what the ayatollah described.

The country will hold a runoff presidential election on Friday, only its second since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, after just 39.9% of its voting public cast a ballot the previous week.

Of over 24.5 million votes, more than one million ballots were later rejected  typically a sign of people feeling obligated to head to the polls but wanting to reject all the candidates.

Meanwhile, public rage simmers after years of Irans economy cratering to new lows, along with bloody crackdowns on dissent, including over the mass protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini after her detention by the countrys morality police allegedly over not wearing her headscarf to their liking.

Tensions with the West remain high as Iran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.

Now, hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili faces the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon who likely needs a widespread turnout to win the presidency.

Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, speaks to a group of athlete supporters during a campaign stop at a sports hall in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Mr Pezeshkians supporters warn of dark days ahead under Mr Jalili.

Meanwhile, many people are unconvinced that their vote even matters.

I did not vote and I will not, since nobody apologised because of Mahsa and later miseries that young people face, neither the reformists nor the hard-liners, said Leila Seyyedi, a 23-year-old university student studying graphic design.

Iranian election law requires a candidate to achieve over 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.

In results released Saturday, Mr Pezeshkian got 10.4 million votes while Mr Jalili received 9.4 million.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf came in third with 3.3 million, while Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi had over 206,000.

A supporter of Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili holds up a poster of Jalili during his campaign stop in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Most voters for Mr Qalibaf, a former general in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and national police chief known for his crackdowns against students and for corruption allegations, likely will break for Mr Jalili after Mr Qalibaf endorsed him, analysts say.

That has put Mr Jalili, a 58-year-old known as the Living Martyr for losing a leg in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, in the lead position for the runoff.

But his recalcitrant reputation among Western diplomats during negotiations over Irans nuclear programme is paired with concern at home over his views.

One politician who has aligned himself with the moderates, former Iranian Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, put the choice between Mr Jalili and Mr Pezeshkian more starkly.

We will not let Iran fall into the hands of the Taliban, he wrote on social platform X, formerly Twitter.

But even such dark warnings seemingly failed to have an effect.

Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili, left, and reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian greet one another at the conclusion of a TV debate (Morteza Fakhri Nezhad/AP)

On the streets of Tehran after the June 28 vote, many told The Associated Press they didnt care about the election.

I did not vote, as former presidents failed to realise their promises, said Ahmad Taheri, a 27-year-old psychology student.

I will not vote this coming Friday either.

Mohammad Ali Robati, a 43-year-old electronic engineer and a father of two, said Iranian officials apparent indifference to peoples economic pressures caused him not to vote.

After years of economic difficulties, I have no interest in politics, Mr Robati said, though he held out the possibility of voting on Friday.
During his first visit to neighbouring Ukraine since Russias full-scale invasion, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday that the war was Europes most important issue, and recommended an immediate ceasefire.

Mr Orban is widely seen as having the warmest relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin among European Union leaders, and his visit was a rare gesture in a tumultuous relationship with Ukraine as Budapest has repeatedly leaned toward Moscow.

The Hungarian prime minister has routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to extend assistance to Ukraine and to sanction Moscow over its war, frustrating both Mr Zelensky and other EU leaders.

But following talks in Kyiv on Tuesday, Mr Orban appeared to open the door to a new phase of bilateral relations, saying the time had come for such an official visit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Kyiv, Ukraine (Zoltan Fischer/AP)

We are trying to leave the disputes of the past behind us and focus on the period ahead, Mr Orban said in brief comments to journalists following the talks.

We would like relations between our two countries to be much better.

Ukraine and Hungary have had a tense relationship since the war began, with Mr Orban portraying himself as a champion for peace and calling for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks without expanding on what that would mean for Ukraines territorial integrity.

He reiterated that call on Tuesday, saying it would provide an opportunity to speed up peace negotiations.

But Mr Zelensky on Tuesday said he was grateful for the humanitarian support Hungary had provided to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.

He also said Hungary could play a role in organising a second iteration of a peace summit that was held in Switzerland last month, which brought together dozens of world leaders.

Today, we discussed in detail how Hungary can show further leadership in preparing the second summit, Mr Zelensky said, adding that he would like for the event to take place this year.

Mr Orbans visit comes the day after Hungary took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, a position that has little real power but can be used to set the tone of the blocs agenda.

Hungarian officials have indicated that they will act as honest brokers in the role despite worries from some EU lawmakers that Hungarys democratic track record makes it unfit to lead the bloc.

During the visit, the Hungarian prime minister acknowledged Russias invasion, and said his aim in travelling to Kyiv was to understand how we could be helpful to Ukraine in the forthcoming six months.

The issue of peace is not only important for Ukraine, it is important for the whole of Europe, Mr Orban said.

This war, which you are now suffering, has a profound effect on European security.

The war is the most important issue for Europe, he said.

The Hungarian leader, a self-described adherent of illiberal democracy, has long been accused by his European partners of dismantling democratic institutions at home and acting as an obstinate spoiler of key EU policy priorities.

The bloc has frozen more than 20 billion dollars (15.8 billion) in funding to Budapest over alleged rule-of-law and corruption violations, and Mr Orban has conducted numerous anti-EU campaigns depicting it as an overcentralised, repressive organisation.

Mr Orban has also long accused Kyiv of mistreating an ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraines western region of Zakarpattia, a community he has used to justify his refusal to provide weapons to Ukraine or allow their transfer across the two countries shared border.

But on Tuesday, Mr Orban said he sees a good chance of achieving progress in the minority communitys affairs, and agreed to a proposal by Mr Zelensky to set up a Ukrainian school in Hungary for refugees.

These families need to be taken care of. They need jobs, they need a livelihood, they need security, they need a good school for their children, they need good teachers, Mr Orban said.

His visit comes as he seeks to recruit members into a new nationalist alliance that he hopes will soon become the largest right-wing group in the European Parliament.

On Sunday, Mr Orban met in Vienna with the leaders of Austrias far-right Freedom Party and the main Czech opposition party, announcing the formation of the new group, Patriots for Europe.

The trio would need to attract politicians from at least four more EU countries to successfully form a group in Europes new parliament, which held elections in June.

Right-wing nationalist parties across Europe strengthened their position in the elections, but ideological differences over the war in Ukraine and co-operation with Russia have often prevented deeper alliances among some of the parties.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was in Kyiv on Tuesday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky  his first visit to the country since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Mr Orbans press chief confirmed to Hungarian news agency MTI that the prime minister had arrived in the Ukrainian capital in the morning for the talks.

Bertalan Havasi said the main topic of the meeting will be the opportunity for building peace as Ukraine fights off Russias invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Kyiv, Ukraine (Zoltan Fischer/AP)

Officials in Kyiv did not confirm Mr Orbans arrival.

His visit was a rare gesture in a relationship that long been marred by tensions.

Known as Russian President Vladimir Putins closest EU ally, Mr Orban has routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to extend assistance to Ukraine and to sanction Moscow over its war, frustrating both Mr Zelensky other EU leaders.

He has also accused Kyiv of mistreating an ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraines western region of Zakarpattia, a community he has used to justify his refusal to provide weapons to Ukraine or allow their transfer across the two countries shared border.

The self-described illiberal leader has long been accused by his European partners of dismantling democratic institutions at home and acting as an obstinate spoiler of key EU policy priorities.

The bloc has frozen more than 20 billion dollars (1.8 billion) in funding to Budapest over alleged rule-of-law and corruption violations, and Mr Orban has conducted numerous anti-EU campaigns depicting it as an overcentralised, repressive organisation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Kyiv, Ukraine (Zoltan Fischer/AP)

The visit comes the day after Hungary took over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union, a position that has little real power but can be used to set the tone of the blocs agenda.

Hungarian officials have indicated that they will act as honest brokers in the role despite worries from some EU legislators that Hungarys democratic track record makes it unfit to lead the bloc.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the importance of the visit, saying Hungary must fulfill (the) functions of its EU presidency and adding that Moscow had no particular expectations for its outcome.

Mr Orbans visit also comes as he seeks to recruit members into a new nationalist alliance that he hopes will soon become the largest right-wing group in the European Parliament.

On Sunday, he met in Vienna with the leaders of Austrias far-right Freedom Party and the main Czech opposition party, announcing the formation of the new group, Patriots for Europe.

The trio would need to attract legislators from at least four more EU countries to successfully form a group in Europes new parliament, which held elections in June.

Right-wing nationalist parties across Europe strengthened their position in the elections, but ideological differences over the war in Ukraine and cooperation with Russia have often prevented deeper alliances among some of the parties.
Fishing vessels damaged by Hurricane Beryl sit upended at the Bridgetown Fisheries in Barbados (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)

By Danica Coto and Kofi Jones, Associated Press

By Danica Coto and Kofi Jones, Associated Press

Hurricane Beryl roared through open waters on Tuesday as a monstrous Category 5 storm on a path that would take it near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands after earlier making landfall in the southeast Caribbean, killing at least six people.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Beryl was forecast to start losing intensity on Tuesday but still to be near major hurricane strength when it passes near Jamaica on Wednesday, the Cayman Islands on Thursday and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Centre.

Sylvia Small, right, waits for police approval to enter the pier to check her boats damages due to Hurricane Beryl at the Bridgetown Fisheries in Barbados (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)

The centre warned that Beryl was expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica, where officials warned residents in flood-prone areas to prepare for evacuation.

I am encouraging all Jamaicans to take the hurricane as a serious threat, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a public address late Monday.

It is, however, not a time to panic.

Beryl is the earliest Category 5 storm ever to form in the Atlantic, fuelled by record warm waters.

Early Tuesday, the storm was located about 300 miles (485 kilometres) southeast of Isla Beata in the Dominican Republic.

It had top winds of 165 mph (270 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 22 mph (35 kph).

Donna Charles, a hotel cook, watches as Hurricane Beryl passes through Bridgetown, Barbados (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)

Beryl remains an impressive Category 5 hurricane, the National Hurricane Centre said.

A tropical storm warning was in place for the entire southern coast of Hispaniola, an island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

As the storm barrelled through the Caribbean Sea, rescue crews in the southeast Caribbean fanned out across the region to determine the extent of the damage that Hurricane Beryl inflicted after landing on Carriacou, an island in Grenada, as a Category 4 storm.

Three people were reported killed in Grenada and another in St Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said.

One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, minister of climate resilience, environment and renewable energy, told The Associated Press.

She said the nearby islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique sustained the greatest damage, with water, food and baby formula a priority.

A surfer braves the waves in Carlisle Bay as Hurricane Beryl passes through Bridgetown, Barbados (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)

An emergency team was expected to travel to Carriacou on Tuesday morning.

The situation is grim, Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told a news conference Tuesday.

There is no power, and there is almost complete destruction of homes and buildings on the island.

The roads are not passable, and in many instances they are cut off because of the large quantity of debris strewn all over the streets.

Mr Mitchell added: The possibility that there may be more fatalities remains a grim reality as movement is still highly restricted.

Meanwhile, Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, promised to rebuild the archipelago in a statement early on Tuesday.

A fisherman looks at fishing vessels damaged by Hurricane Beryl at the Bridgetown Fisheries in Barbados (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)

He noted that 90% of homes on Union Island were destroyed, and that similar levels of devastation were expected on the islands of Myreau and Canouan.

The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.

Grenadian resident Roy ONeale, 77, recalled how he lost his home to Ivan and built back stronger, with his current home sustaining minimal damage from Hurricane Beryl.

I felt the wind whistling, and then for about two hours straight, it was really, really terrifying at times, he said by phone.

Branches of trees were flying all over the place.

One of the homes that Beryl damaged belongs to the parents of UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell, who is from Carriacou. The storm also destroyed the home of his late grandmother.

In a statement Mr Stiell said that the climate crisis is going from bad to worse, and faster than expected.

Whether in my homeland of Carriacou  hammered by Hurricane Beryl, or in the heatwaves and floods crippling communities in some of the worlds largest economies, its clear that the climate crisis is pushing disasters to record-breaking new levels of destruction, he said.

Beryl has broken several records, including marking the farthest east that a hurricane has formed in the tropical Atlantic in June, according to Philip Klotzbach, Colorado State University hurricane researcher.

Houses damaged by Hurricane Beryl in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines (Lucanus Ollivierre/AP)

The storm strengthened from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in just 42 hours, which only six other Atlantic hurricanes have done, and never before September, according to hurricane expert Sam Lillo.

Beryl is the second named storm in the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.

Earlier this month, Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall in northeast Mexico and killed four people.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted the 2024 hurricane season would be well above average, with between 17 and 25 named storms.

The forecast called for as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
The Supreme Court announced that existing rulings on social media regulation by Texas and Florida will be put on hold and returned to lower courts.

The cases will be further reviewed and will undergo proper analysis, citing possible unconstitutional circumstances from previous rulings.

Supreme Court Holds Social Media Legislation in Texas, Florida

In an official document, the Court concluded that the recent social media moderation by the states is "unlikely to survive heightened scrutiny." NetChoice, the representative of tech companies, claimed that the regulations have violated the companies' free speech rights.

"Today, we vacate both decisions for reasons separate from the First Amendment merits, because neither Court of Appeals properly considered the facial nature of NetChoice's challenge," Justice Elena Kagan wrote.

The Court also argued that both rulings have failed to pass "even the less stringent form of review." Kagan's written opinion is signed by five justices, while all nine justices agreed on the overall conclusion.

Supreme Court Defends Freedom of Speech of Individuals

Texas and Florida welcomed its social media regulations in 2021 after former president Donald Trump was banned on Twitter and Facebook. Republican governors signed the enactment of the legislation.

The Court stated that states are prohibited from interfering with individuals' interests to push an ideological balance. Texas' rule is linked to "suppression of free expression" and is deemed by the Court as invalid.

In the case of Florida, the state could not override the content of a paper as it would substitute "governmental regulation" on the editorial choice of the publication.

Free speech advocates applauded the Court's ruling, emphasizing that it is crucial to protect individual's rights to speak their minds and have equal access to information on the internet.
Authorities, recently arrived refugees say clashes between Myanmar junta, rebels drove them across the border.

Rohingya are being brought into southeastern Bangladesh by smugglers as fighting between ethnic rebel groups and junta-aligned forces worsens next-door in Myanmars Rakhine state, said officials and border crossers interviewed by BenarNews.

Smugglers are targeting members of the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority who are trying to flee clashes between Myanmars junta and the Arakan Army, one of the most prominent militias, according to interviews with authorities and Rohingya who recently arrived at a refugee camp in Coxs Bazar district.

Police said they had tightened security at the border, but conceded that more people had been crossing over from Myanmar in recent weeks.

As the sound of explosions continued on the Myanmar side, I learned that a part of the Rohingyas are staying in different places on the bank of the Naf river on Myanmars side, Teknaf Municipality Panel Mayor Mujibur Rahman told BenarNews.

Mohammad Yusuf, a Rohingya who recently traveled to Bangladesh from the Buthidaung area of Rakhine, said he stayed in the mountains for 40 days where he survived by eating leaves.

There were 13 members of my family. But suddenly one day, a bomb exploded in my village, and then everyone ran away to save their lives. It is not known where the rest have gone, he told BenarNews. We, two brothers together, walked for three days in the hilly area and swam across the river. We were accompanied by seven other people from other villages on the journey.

While Yusufs group traveled to Bangladesh, he said others worked with brokers to go to Indonesia or Malaysia.

Families who have money are mainly trying to send young people [away from Myanmar] as youths become targets of both the Arakan Army and Myanmar military, he said.

Authorities said smugglers  known as brokers locally  are active on both sides of the Naf, which marks the border between southeastern Bangladesh and northwestern Myanmar.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said over 70,000 Rohingya were trapped in Rakhine as fighting rages.

Community leaders said brokers were collecting money from Rohingya to leave Myanmar, but did not release any details about recent crossings.

Mohammad Amir Zafar, who commands an Armed Police Battalion (APBn) in Bangladesh, said Rohingya who have been forced from their homes are willing to pay to get across the border.

A Bangladeshi stands at the Teknaf-Myanmar Transit Jetty wharf along the Naf river in Coxs Bazar and listens to gunfire in Myanmar where military troops fight with rebels, July 1, 2024. [BenarNews]





The brokers who are involved in this work will be brought to justice, he told BenarNews.

Along with the APBn, members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh are stationed near the border to prevent infiltration.

Route to safety

Many Rohingya walked from their homes in Rakhine state to the Naf river, where brokers sat in boats waiting to collect fees to carry them across the river.

Mohammad Saje, who entered Bangladesh on June 28 and took shelter at a camp with a relative, said he and 12 others crossed the river during heavy rain.

My home is at Buthidaung. Everything has been destroyed in the war there. My father was killed by a mortar shell attack, he told BenarNews, adding that the Arakan Army entered his village and ordered everyone leave within an hour.

After that, we left the area with some food. Sixty youths were caught by the Arakan Army  I dont know what happened to them, adding, I saw with my own eyes the scene of the killing of many young men on the way.

Arriving near the river in Maungdaw, he and others took shelter for three days before paying 400,000 kyat (U.S. $190) each for a ride across the river.

People walk through a Rohingya camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, March 9, 2023. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP]





Refugee camps in and around Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh, seen as safe locations, are home to about 1 million Rohingya, including over 740,000 who have fled from Myanmar since a military crackdown in August 2017.

Not all who flee from Myanmar are safe. On June 22, a Rohingya identified as Md. Anwar lost a leg in a land-mine explosion along the border as he tried to cross over from the Myanmar side.

On Tuesday, a Rohingya was killed in a mine blast near the border after crossing into Bangladesh, officials said.

Coxs Bazar police station officer-in-charge Saiful Islam said the man, identified as Mohammad Ayash and who was between the ages of 22 and 25, undertook the border crossing during heavy rain.

He was brought to Coxs Bazar Sadar Hospital with injuries around 3 p.m. But the duty doctor said that he died before he was brought to the hospital, Saiful Islam said.
Manila says it is willing to explore a mutually beneficial South China Sea solution with Hanoi.

The Philippines says it is willing to hold talks with Vietnam after it called for consultations on a submission by Manila to extend the nations continental shelf claim in the South China Sea.

We are ready to engage Vietnam on possible ways forward that would help achieve a mutually beneficial solution to South China Sea issues in accordance with international law, particularly the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS], the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The department also welcomed Vietnams recognition of the submission, filed on June 14 with the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to register the Philippines entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the West Palawan region of the South China Sea.

On June 20, responding to Manilas submission, Hanoi did not protest outright but instead said that while coastal states had the right to determine their outer continental shelf boundaries under UNCLOS, when submitting their claims they must respect the legal and legitimate rights and interests of other relevant coastal nations with opposite or adjacent coasts.

A spokesperson for Vietnam said it stayed ready to hold talks with the Philippines to seek a solution that was mutually beneficial for both countries.

Meanwhile, China has rejected the Philippine submission, saying it infringed upon Chinas sovereign rights and jurisdiction and violated international law.

Beijing said it holds historic rights over most of the South China Sea but an arbitral tribunal under UNCLOS in 2016 rejected all of its claims. The Philippine submission, reinforcing the tribunal ruling, has not named China as a party for negotiations on the continental shelf.

China and the Philippines have recently been involved in tense confrontations over some reefs that both claim but lie within Philippine waters in the South China Sea.

Malaysia also categorically rejects the Philippines submission on the basis that its continental margin is projected from the baselines of the Malaysian state of Sabah.

This clearly disregards Malaysias indisputable sovereignty over the state of Sabah, said a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations.

Acceptable solution

Nguyen Hong Thao, professor of international law at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) noted Manilas willingness to discuss the delimitation of maritime boundaries with the relevant countries.

Vietnam and the Philippines have been maintaining solidarity and cooperation for the common good, he told Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews.

It is unclear when the consultation is expected to begin.

The CLCS said it would look at the Philippine submission in a session between January and March 2025.

The continental shelf can extend beyond 200 nautical miles to a maximum of 350 nautical miles from the shore, or baseline. [The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea]

The extended continental shelf is the stretch of seabed that extends to a maximum of 350 nautical miles (648 km) from the shore of a coastal state, which has exclusive rights to explore it or exploit its natural resources.

However, the Philippine submission could overlap with previous submissions by Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as with a Vietnam-Malaysia joint submission in 2009, against which the Philippines protested.

In a recent opinion piece, DAVs Thao argued that maritime limits, including the overlapping outer limits of the continental shelf in the South China Sea, need to be agreed upon by the countries involved.

He warned of a new battle of note verbales, or diplomatic notes sent to the U.N. secretary-general to express concern, from neighbors of the Philippines.

The CLCS cannot make a determination if another party objects, and that is why in the immediate future, the Philippines may consider withdrawing from its objection to the Vietnam-Malaysia joint submission and negotiating with these two countries to find an acceptable solution, the legal expert suggested.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to an RFA request for comment.
But both sides say significant differences remain on how to resolve their maritime dispute.

Chinese coast guard personnel (left, right) aboard inflatable boats block Philippine navy boats (center) during a confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, in this screengrab from a handout video filmed on June 17, 2024, and released by the Philippine military on June 19.

Manila and Beijing agreed to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea following a tense standoff last month at a disputed shoal, Philippine officials said Tuesday after both sides held bilateral talks on the waterway.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong behind closed doors in Manila for the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM), the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The two sides had a frank and constructive discussion on the situation in the South China Sea, the statement said, adding that both affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions.

Lazaro, however, told Chen that Manila would remain relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, the statement said, using Manilas name for South China Sea waters within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Both sides affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions, the statement also said.

Lazaro and Chen, who headed their respective delegations at the talks in Makati, Manilas financial district, committed to implementing a maritime communication mechanism between their countries coast guards and to form a joint committee to discuss such incidents, according to the statement.

It gave no further details on this point, and the two senior diplomats did not hold a joint press conference after their meeting. Similar agreements in the past to set up a South China Sea hotline to quickly address bilateral problems as they arise have not been effective.

There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain, the statement said.

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Troubled Waters: The South China Sea

Scarborough Shoal was a refuge for Filipino fishermen. Then Chinese boats moved in

Tensions simmer near a shoal both China and the Philippines claim

The talks in Manila followed a dramatic standoff between Filipino servicemen and Chinese coast guard personnel at Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal on June 17, during which a Philippine navy sailor lost a finger.



Last week, Washingtons envoy to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, said that international support for the Philippines was growing in the wake of the incident at Ayungin.

U.S. President Joe Biden has stressed that the South China Sea should be free and open where local fishermen can ply their trade free from coercion from other countries, Carlson told the East-West Media Conference in Manila on June 26.

With like-minded partners and all who support the rule of law, we urge [China] to cease harassment of Philippine vessels lawfully operating in the Philippine exclusive economic zones, to halt its disruption to states sovereign rights to explore, utilize, conserve, and manage natural resources in their territories and EEZs, the American ambassador said.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, China reiterated its position that Manilas resupply missions to a Philippine military outpost at the shoal violate its jurisdiction, despite the reef being located within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

The root cause of the current situation is that the Philippines infringed on Chinas rights and made deliberate provocations, Mao Ning, the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, said during a news conference.

The Philippines needs to stop those infringement activities and provocations at once, and return as soon as possible to the track of resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.

READ MORE

South China Sea dispatch: Excitement, fear fill Philippine voyage to Scarborough Shoal

China & Philippines clash in South China Sea, one injured
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California lawmakers are now set to decide on their first-of-its-kind bill to regulate AI firms amid mounting concerns about the technology and the current state of the tech industry.

First reported by the Associated Press, California legislators are set to decide whether to pass earlier proposals for regulatory safety standards on AI development to prevent "catastrophic harm" to its citizens.

The bill is particularly intended to manage an advanced AI system that costs over $100 million to train and a powerful model that does not "exist today but will exist in the near future."

Dem. Sen. Scott Weiner, the bill's author, did not mention any specific company the bill is directed towards, although most of the leading firms in the industry could soon fit the bill's requirements with the rapid development process over the past three years.

OpenAI's ChatGPT, one of the biggest AI models of today, is estimated to require at least $5 million worth of GPUs to train its massive foundation models.

CEO Sam Altman even projected that these costs could balloon well over $100 million as the company's AI training expenses double each month.

Also Read : California Lawmakers Rush to Pass Nearly 50 AI Regulation Bills

AI Firms Oppose California AI Regulation Bill

Several leading tech firms, including Meta and Google, have long opposed the bill as they claim that it would only make the "AI ecosystem less safe" and "jeopardize" AI models from small tech start-ups.

These sentiments have been echoed by California's Chamber of Concerns, expressing concerns that such laws could drive businesses away from the state.

It is not new that a major tech firm pulled out its entire service from the state with Google just blocking all links from California news outlets as a protest against its new journalism law.

More States Set to Push AI Regulation Bills

If California succeeds in its AI regulatory law, more states are expected to soon follow as more lawmakers express concerns about the tech industry's current attitude towards AI.

Colorado and Connecticut, in particular, are also currently pushing their "first-in-nation" state laws to govern AI development to protect their people from "algorithmic discrimination."

New York and New Jersey, although several steps behind, have also rolled out their own state legislations against AI discrimination while national standardized regulations remain in process.
BENNINGTON  A Bennington woman who pleaded guilty four months ago to a charge of cruelty to a child was arraigned Monday morning on the same charge with the same victim and an additional count of domestic assault with a prior conviction.

Lisa Mears, 33, appearing from a correctional facility via Webex, was charged with a felony count of second-degree domestic assault with a prior conviction and misdemeanor cruelty to a child at her arraignment Monday at the Bennington Courthouse. She faces a possible seven years behind bars if convicted on both charges.

Mears pleaded guilty back in March to a single count of cruelty to a child. She received a sentence of 30-60 days  all suspended. The sentence was to run concurrently with a guilty plea Mears took in a 2021 case of aggravated domestic assault that she was sentenced to in 2022. Mears received a probation term of 18 months from her sentencing. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed another charge of aggravated domestic assault. Mears was charged with the latest counts while still on probation.

According to a police affidavit, on April 10, 2024, just two weeks after her prior sentencing, police responded to an address on School Street in Bennington to assist the Department of Children and Families in an investigation into the alleged physical abuse of a seven-year-old child.

Mears has a criminal history in Vermont, including but not limited to a conviction for child cruelty in 2024 and an aggravated domestic assault in 2022.

Mears wrote a handwritten letter to the judge in the case that is part of the public record. In the letter, Mears complains about still being in jail as she awaits a hearing, and lack of communication with her public defender. She informed the judge that she has a different video that prosecutors have that shows a different camera angle to the alleged abuse. She also states that her children are now living with her husband, with whom she is now separated.

I will never be around the kids again, Mears said. I am really trying to better myself.

Mears is being held without bail at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in Burlington on both charges as she awaits her next hearing. Mears is expected to face additional charges, including probation violations. She was ordered to have no contact with any of her children.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
LENOX  When Charles Flint, the dean of regional antiques dealers and appraisal specialists, discovered his passion for art while in high school, little did he know that he would create an 
The Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Thursday. Here's what you need to know...
A new online movement has started on X (formerly Twitter) as hundreds of users band together to protect Chiitan, the "Japanese crazy mascot."

Who is Chiitan?

For those that are yet to be exposed to the glory that is Chiitan, the "Japanese crazy mascot," is a self-described "0-year-old fairy baby" otter that first went viral in 2019 as the unofficial representative of the city of Susaki in Shikoku, Japan.

Although Chiitan left the limelight during the pandemic, the mascot later re-emerged as the self-titled "god of advertising" to combat the spread of scam, crypto, AI, and conspiracy ads on X following a massive brand exodus last year.

I'm Chiitan, Japan's crazy mascot.

I'm the god of advertising who was born to drive out advertising in the world.

I don't have any products or information to recommend, so please watch the video and laugh.

I hope you have a good day today.pic.twitter.com/A2tv44y087  Chiitan (@chiitan7407) November 24, 2023

From then on, many people have become accustomed to Chiitan in their ad feeds doing all sorts of masochistic and often wild activities.

Also Read : Meet Chiitan, the Masochistic Japanese Mascot Saving Your Ad Feed on X

Protect Chiitan Movement: Origins

As more people became exposed to Chiitan's craziness, it was no surprise to see some dissenters and "haters" ready to block the "Japanese crazy mascot" from their feed.

Why does this keep showing up on my tl? https://t.co/8Zka36lxOU pic.twitter.com/CSBywOeLY7  . (@Pragati63785614) June 19, 2024

In response, many users are banding together to defend Chiitan, telling others to "hop off" from their "GOAT" (greatest of all time).

These interactions often end with the Chiitan account responding to the poster telling them that "Chiitan loves you all" and "will protect you from advertising," resulting in the former "hater" being "converted" to Chiitan's side.

Later iterations of the trend came with artists drawing fan-arts of Chiitan to encourage more people to join the "god of advertising" on X.

Bring Back Chiitan Movement

Amid the "Protect Chiitan Movement," a new subgroup was formed after the mascot uploaded an ominous post telling their followers that "I may not be able to update X for a while."

Chiitan did not provide much reason aside from claiming it was "due to circumstances." Included in the post is a picture of Chiitan being carted in a police car.

Due to circumstances, I may not be able to update X for a while.

Could you please follow my account and wait for me?









48 pic.twitter.com/mOKqyDOFaB  Chiitan (@chiitan7407) July 1, 2024

Due to the goodwill the account has earned around several online communities, many users, big and small, are now calling to release Chiitan from custody.

It is uncertain if the supposed arrest is real, although many users have started online campaigns to break free the masochistic mascot from imprisonment, wherever it may be.
BHARAT EYES GLOBAL BIOMANUFACTURING DOMINANCE

Boosting Innovation, Collaboration & Entrepreneurship with BioE3 Policy

Bharat has demonstrated a strong economic growth in the past decade and is poised to be amongst the global leaders in the next industrial revolution by leveraging emerging technologies and new innovative solutions. Bharat is competitively positioned to be amongst the global leaders in futuristic manufacturing that leverages living systems. Biomanufacturing can fundamentally transform the global economy from todays consumptive manufacturing paradigm to the one based on regenerative principles. Biomanufacturing refers to the use of engineered microbial, plant, and animal (including human) cells with increasing precision and control to produce commercially important products on scale. These are versatile processes that have the potential to create bio-based products allowing efficient utilisation of resources, in a scalable and costeffective manner with reduced environmental impact. Keeping in view the national priority of steering Bharat on the path of accelerated Green Growth, an integrated BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy for Fostering High-Performance Biomanufacturing with an aim to make a green, clean, prosperous, and self-reliant Bharat was released on September 12 at Global Bio-India (GBI) 2024. Lets take a look at how the BioE3 Policy for biomanufacturing is set to transform this landscape.
(Photo : Unsplash/Axel Antas-Bergkvist)

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, along with his former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, faces a disturbing lawsuit after eight former employees accused them of intolerable harassment and discrimination while developing the streaming service app called YZYVSN, Billboard first reported.

Yeezy LLC's Inhumane Working Conditions

Plaintiffs aged 14 to 25 from the US, UK, Hungary, and Nigeria filed a lawsuit on June 29 in California's Central District Court. Some were minors when employed at Yeezy LLC and claim they were unpaid during their tenure.

According to TMZ, Ye and Yiannopoulos subjected their employees to "forced labor and inhuman treatment," including making false assurances of payment to both adult and minor workers, compelling them to work excessively long hours, and subjecting them to racist insults such as being mocked as "new slaves."

READ ALSO: SpaceX Wrongfully Terminating Eight Workers, Faces Criticism on Labor Laws and Working Conditions

The documents reveal that Ye and Yiannopoulos allegedly recruited an international group of developers, including several Black members and minors as young as 14, to develop a streaming service app called YZYVSN to promote his "Vultures" and "Vultures 2" albums and compete with Tidal, Spotify, and Apple Music in Spring of 2024.

According to the documents, Yiannopoulos promised to pay $120,000 to the developer group after finishing the app if they accepted the work conditions without objections. The situation escalated when Ye mandated all employees sign non-disclosure agreements, threatening to fire underage workers and withhold payment if they refused. Minor developers were also allegedly pressured to sign "volunteer" agreements.

A Shocking Racially Discriminatory Environment

The employees predominantly worked remotely, using digital communication tools such as Discord, Zoom, and Slack to stay in constant contact with Ye's team, where they were allegedly exposed to a racially discriminatory environment and harsh working conditions.

Ye's white managers overseeing foreign and minority workers allegedly used derogatory language to create a hostile work environment, harassing their subordinates based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and national origin, referring to some team members as "slaves" and others as "new slaves" in group communications.

Yiannopoulos purportedly sent a chat message to an African American team member that included a Black/brown skin emoji and referred to a younger worker as a school shooter. According to the documents, employees were coerced into working late hours into the night without compensation or sufficient rest.

Minor's Disturbing Exposure to Pornography

According to the documents, Ye revealed plans to start an adult film enterprise named "Yeezy Porn" later in April, with his wife Bianca Censori reportedly sending file-sharing links with pornographic content with one worker, which were also accessible to minors.

One plaintiff, referred to as "John Doe 1" in the documents, alleges exposure to pornographic images circulated within group chats used for team communication. The Billboard reported that another plaintiff, identified anonymously as "John Doe 2" in the lawsuit, describes experiencing a highly inappropriate and distressing work environment.

Following a hectic development phase to complete the app, the team reportedly presented Ye with one of the finished applications on May 1, 2024, which was not compensated. The lawsuit seeks damages for unpaid wages, overtime pay, and compensation for emotional distress, with Ben Lockyer of Lockyer Law LLC expressing his team's anticipation of securing justice for the shocking environment his clients were forced to endure.

RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk Sued by Eight SpaceX Engineers Over Wrongful Termination, Gender Bias, Harassment Lawsuit

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Taoiseach Simon Harris has visited the set of hit Netflix show Wednesday, which will be the largest production to ever film in Ireland.

Mr Harris was joined by Minister for Culture and Arts Catherine Martin and Desiree Finnegan, the chief executive of Fis Eireann/Screen Ireland, where they met with the series director Tim Burton, showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar, and several Irish creatives working on the production.

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Wednesday is the most popular English-language TV series on Netflix, amassing 252.1 million views for its first series. The second series is now being filmed in Ireland.

The show has spent 20 weeks on the global top 10 and the top 10 in 93 countries.

Mr Harris said it was a pleasure to see the production in action and to meet Tim Burton.

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I'm delighted to see Ireland continues to be chosen as a location to film series and movies which supports our economy, creates jobs, showcases our creative talents and promotes our country on a global stage, he said.

Ms Martin said she was delighted that Netflix chose to bring one of its biggest shows to Ireland.

The Irish Governments continued recognition of the importance of incoming large-scale production for our sector has been invaluable, she said. Supports like Section 481 are crucial to the continued development of Irelands screen sector.

Anna Mallett from Netflix said the company is planning to produce Marian Keyes' Grown Ups and Lisa McGees How to Get to Heaven from Belfast series in Ireland too.

"Were so proud to now bring the cultural juggernaut that is Wednesday to Ireland, as the countrys biggest production it will create jobs and add millions of euros to the Irish economy," she said.
A Canadian tourist who was assaulted in Dublin city centre last month has died in hospital.

Neno Dolmajian, who was aged in his 40s, was attacked on OConnell Street on Sunday, June 23rd.

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The man was taken to the Mater Hospital to be treated for injuries he suffered during the incident. He died in hospital on Tuesday.

To date, four men have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Two of these men have been charged and appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Gardai said that as the matter is currently before the courts, they could not release any further information.

After gardai confirmed his death, Taoiseach Simon Harris told the Dail: I want to join you in expressing my sympathy to the family.

Thats a heart-breaking situation. Thats an extraordinarily devasting situation for the family.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said: Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.

It points to a very, very serious issue that on the main street of our capital city is a dangerous and violent place on a regular basis for so many people.

Its not just the main street of our capital city, its towns and villages across the country that people do not feel safe. And its not happening by accident.

Its happening because we have the lowest number of gardai regarding per capita.
High Court challenges to the imposition of Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) on certain undeveloped lands have become moot, lawyers for An Bord Pleanala have said.

The court on Tuesday heard that 25 judicial review actions were initiated over the planning appeals boards endorsement of local council decisions to find that particular sites that are primed for residential development should be subject to the tax.

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The levy, set at 3 per cent of a sites value, was introduced in Budget 2022 in a bid to encourage the use of land for building homes.

The RZLT was due to apply to eligible lands from last February, but the Minister for Finance has delayed its activation by one year and directed local authorities to draw up a fresh list of sites for which it will apply.

An Bord Pleanalas barrister, Conor Quinn, said 13 of the 25 cases remained before the court, but these are affected by a recent judgment dismissing a lead challenge by OFlynn Construction Company over the targeting of its Naas Road, Dublin, lands.

One of the 13 was listed before the court on Tuesday, when Mr Quinn said there remained a dispute about legal costs. With consent from the other side, he asked for the matter to be scheduled to return to court later this month.

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Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger listed the case as requested.

Last month, her colleague Mr Justice Anthony Barr agreed to strike out the Michael OFlynn firms case after finding the decision to include the lands on a map of RZLT-liable lands has been overtaken by subsequent events.

The OFlynn lands, located on the former Nissan site, are zoned to allow residential development and received planning permission in 2021 to develop more than 1,100 apartments.

Dublin City Council and An Bord Pleanala agreed the 19-acre site should be subject to RZLT from February 2024.

However, with the changes introduced by the Minister for Finance, An Bord Pleanala argued in the High Court that the OFlynn firms legal action was challenging a redundant decision that is a legal nullity.

The OFlynn firm submitted it was logical to assume the council and board will again decide to include its land on the RZLT list.

Awaiting these new decisions would be a waste of time and money, the developer argued.

Mr Justice Barr agreed with the board that the case was moot and should be struck out.
The co-founders and former co-leaders of the Social Democrats, Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy, have confirmed they will not contest the next general election.

The pair announced their decision on Tuesday morning, stating it was "time for a new generation to take over".

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The two TDs, along with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, founded the party in 2015. Mr Donnelly subsequently left the party in 2016 before joining Fianna Fail.

Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall remained as co-leaders of the party until February 2023, when they announced their decision to stand down from the leadership, with Cork South-West TD Holly Cairns chosen as their replacement.

Party leader @HollyCairnsTD has paid tribute to former co-leaders @CathMurphyTD and @RoisinShortall after they announced they will not contest the forthcoming general election. Full statement here https://t.co/MwZfM55bOK Advertisement  Social Democrats (@SocDems) July 2, 2024

"It has been such a privilege to work in politics alongside colleagues who have shared my energy, commitment and vision for the future," Ms Murphy said in a statement shared by the party.

She added it was her "absolute honour" to represent her constituency of North Kildare, having first been elected as a TD in 2005.

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"While I am bowing out of representational politics, I will continue to work in whatever way I can to support Holly Cairns and the next generation in Kildare and elsewhere, in advocating for and delivering on a social democratic future," Ms Murphy added.

TD for Dublin North West, Ms Shortall was first elected to the Dail in 1992.

In a statement, Ms Shortall said she has a "strong belief in the power of politics as a force for good", adding: "Politics has enormous potential to make peoples lives better and to create a fairer and more progressive country. I have worked in furtherance of those goals over the course of my career."

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Social Democrats co-founders Roisin Shortall (left) and Catherine Murphy (right) with current party leader Holly Cairns. Photo: PA Images

"While I have decided to step down from frontline politics, I hope to continue to work to build on progress already made in the development of the Social Democrats party.

"I truly believe the party can make a major contribution to creating a better Ireland for all," Ms Shortall added.

Ms Cairns paid tribute to Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall, describing them as "trailblazers in Irish politics".

"I can say that I would not be in politics were it not for Catherine and Roisins decision to set up the Social Democrats.

"Their commitment to public service, belief in the possibility of a fairer society and dedication to strictly adhering to social democratic principles were, and are, an inspiration to me and many others," Ms Cairns said.
The most westerly constituency in this weeks Westminster election is set for a familiar race between unionism and republicanism in what is often a photo finish.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone has been decided by fewer than 60 votes on three occasions since the turn of the century, with only four votes separating the leading contenders in 2010.

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In 2024, two new parliamentary candidates are vying for the seat.

For the first time for more than two decades, the Sinn Fein name on the ballot paper will not be that of Michelle Gildernew. The MP for 21 of the last 23 years switched her focus to electoral politics south of the border earlier this year for an ultimately unsuccessful bid to become a member of the European Parliament.

Diana Armstrong speaking to householder Michael McConville during canvassing in Enniskillen (Liam McBurney/PA)

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The timing of the election denied her any opportunity to revert back to Fermanagh and South Tyrone when she missed out on Brussels.

In her stead, Sinn Fein is represented by Pat Cullen, the former general secretary of the RCN nursing union who led her colleagues on an unprecedented UK-wide strike over pay last year.

For the Ulster Unionists  invariably Sinn Feins main challenger in the constituency  there is a different name on the ballot too.

Former UUP leader Tom Elliott, who battled Ms Gildernew in the last three polls, is not running this time, with the party opting for local councillor Diana Armstrong to take on the mantle.

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As the daughter of another former party leader, the late Harry West, Ms Armstrong is steeped in the constituencys unionist tradition.

Im born and bred here, I know the areas, I know the issues, she said.

And I do feel that Im well placed to deliver a message of representation that will resonate with people in the district as a trusted voice.

Ms Armstrong does not have the Northern Ireland-wide profile of Mr Elliott, who held the seat for two years between 2015 and 2017, but she insists she is well known where it counts  in the constituency.

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For the councillor of eight years, the most important issue in the campaign is representation, and the fact that Fermanagh and South Tyrone has not had a voice in the House of Commons for most of two decades because of an abstentionist MP holding the seat.

For so long, this particular district has been lacking in investment, has been lacking and seen the withdrawal of public services, and really it is time that forgotten Fermanagh is no longer forgotten, she said.

She added: I will take my seat and its as simple as that. I will provide representation.

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Former RCN general secretary and Sinn Feins candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Pat Cullen (Liam McBurney/PA)

The other main unionist parties in Northern Ireland  the DUP and TUV  had urged the UUP to join with them to back an agreed pro-Union candidate that had no party-political affiliations.

UUP leader Doug Beattie rejected the overtures, insisting his party, and specifically Ms Armstrong, was best placed to win the seat for unionism.

The other two parties ultimately opted not to field candidates and have urged voters to back Ms Armstrong. However, it remains to be seen whether their supporters will back her with as much gusto as they would have done a jointly agreed contender.

Boundary changes may also work against her, with a redrawing of the eastern edge of the constituency potentially being more beneficial to Sinn Fein. In a race of such usually fine margins, that could be crucial.

I think there is some negative for my campaign within the boundary changes, the numbers have shifted, said Ms Armstrong.

But really, it is up to the people on the day to listen to the messages that Im giving, to look at what Im promoting in terms of optimism, growth, a voice that can deliver, a voice that will take their seat, and that will promise change and deliver change. Now that will take time, but that is my pledge to the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

Sinn Fein did not make Ms Cullen available for interview for this constituency profile.

Indeed, the candidate, who lives in Belfast, has kept a relatively low profile in the media since being involved in a debate with Ms Armstrong on BBC Radio Ulster in the middle of June.

Alliance Party candidate Eddie Roofe (Alliance Party/PA)

During those exchanges, the UUP candidate challenged her rival to condemn the murder of nurses by republican paramilitaries during the Northern Ireland conflict, including the 1987 Enniskillen Remembrance Day attack by the IRA.

Ms Cullen did not do so, prompting criticism from victims representatives.

In response to Ms Armstrongs request for condemnation, the former RCN chief replied: Look, Ive said very clearly those were very dark days. As a community nurse Ive held the hands of many people who lived through those periods.

Ive felt, Ive heard and Ive seen their trauma. Ive seen what it does to them. Lets not go back there. Lets move forward and bring prosperity and hope to the people.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald defended her party candidate, insisting she is a good woman. Ms McDonald said it was not a progressive way toward reconciliation to seize on tragedies, on the hurt of the past to try to derail a candidate.

The SDLP candidate in the election is former Enniskillen councillor Paul Blake.

He is also critical of Sinn Feins abstentionist stance, insisting the constituency needs to get its voice back.

We can be a prominent place once again, he said at the outset of the campaign.

We have been the forgotten neighbours for far too long and I want to use this platform to raise the issues that are important to people.

He added: For years we havent been represented at Westminster. This has to change.

Alliance Party candidate Eddie Roofe is keen to reject the characterisation of the contest as battle only involving unionism and nationalism.

He made history for the cross-community party last year when he became the first Alliance councillor ever elected in Fermanagh.

While the bookies might think otherwise, he insists he can contend on July 4th.

Elections in Fermanagh and South Tyrone are always constantly shoehorned into a two-horse, orange and green race. That is not the case, he said.

Ireland Nationalist battle as SDLP faces Sinn Fein challen... Read More

In the last local election, voters in Enniskillen responded to the positive and progressive Alliance message, and elected their first representative. That showed people if they vote Alliance, they can get Alliance.

I am here to show we are the credible alternative, and I am someone who can represent and deliver for everyone across the constituency equally.

The other two candidates in the six-strong field are Aontus Carl Duffy and Gerry Cullen from the Cross Community Labour Alternative.
The Taoiseach has defended Ursula von der Leyens response to Gaza, saying attempts to make her a bogey woman do not tally with the action she is taking.

Last week, EU leaders endorsed a second five-year term for Ms von der Leyen as European Commission president.

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She will face a vote in the European Parliament later this month when MEPs will meet to take part in a secret ballot.

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Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns was critical of the Government partys decision to back Ms von der Leyen.

Fine Gael at least were honest about their intentions in advance of the election. However, honesty is not a word that can credibly be attached to the position of Fianna Fail on this issue, she said.

von der Leyen and the EU institution do not care about the massacre of Palestinians; that is the reality.

While the Irish Government professes outrage and solidarity with the Palestinians, it is simultaneously supporting von der Leyen and therefore, trade with Israel, which actually increased since this war started.

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Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns was critical of the Government partys decision to back Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

But Simon Harris said it was the German politician who had significantly increased the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA aid budget.

Mr Harris said: This attempt in Ireland to characterise the inertia at an international level on the Middle East around one individual is misplaced.

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Ursula von der Leyen is working on financial packages and support for the Palestinian Authority.

She has been somewhat successfully portrayed as a bogey woman, but I am not sure how successful it actually was when we look at the outcome of elections across Europe.

The effort to make her some sort of bogey woman does not tally at all with the action she is taking.

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Ms Cairns said that what was unfolding in Gaza was beyond horror.

It is the stuff of unrelenting nightmares, she said.

For nine months, the Israeli army has bombed, maimed and tortured a starved and captive population.

Its aim is not self-defence but rather annihilation. According to a report from Save the Children, more than 14,000 children in Gaza have been killed and 21,000 children are missing.

The report said children are also among those found in mass graves recently, with many showing signs of torture.

EU leaders endorsed a second five-year term for Ursula von der Leyen, pictured, as European Commission president last week (Chris Jackson/PA)

This is the reality of the Israeli governments barbarity and cruelty. Gaza is now a graveyard for children.

The slaughter still continues in the full glare of the media spotlight. The publicity does not make a difference.

The Cork TD also asked why the Government had not enacted the Occupied Territories Bill.

It says the Government has disavowed the Bill for legal, political and practical reasons.

While I and many others do not agree with the legal reasons, I find it troubling and offensive that political and practical reasons are cited as a stumbling block to action.

Mr Harris said: On becoming Taoiseach, I asked about the legality of the Occupied Territories Bill again.

The same position has been reiterated to me as has been reiterated to my predecessors.

Indeed, the same position has been reiterated to me by the attorney general that would have been reiterated by his predecessors as well.

I fully accept the deputys bona fides that this is a point of difference, but the very clear legal advice to me, which would be the same legal advice available to Deputy Cairns if she were in my position, is that the Bill is not compatible because these matters are dealt with at a European level.

I can absolutely tell Deputy Cairns that Ireland continues to push at a European level to change policy on the association agreement between the EU and Israel.
A 14-year-old boy dressed in military clothing was arrested after police alleged he stabbed a 22-year-old student in the neck Tuesday at the University of Sydney.

The student was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

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The suspect was treated in hospital for cuts and was kept for a mental health assessment, said Mark Walton, acting assistant commissioner for the New South Wales Police.

New South Wales Police acting assistant commissioner Mark Walton addresses the media in Sydney (Rick Rycroft/AP)

A motive or ideology importantly has not been determined at this time, Mr Walton told reporters.

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The New South Wales Joint Counterterrorism Committee was investigating the matter, but there was no ongoing threat to the community, Mr Walton said.

The ideology that may be related to this young persons activity is unknown, but I would say its likely to be categorised as mixed and unclear ideology. Its certainly not a religiously related ideology, Mr Walton added.

Mr Walton said the boy had worn a camouflage defence force uniform and left a kitchen knife at the scene.

The boy caught a bus from the university to a nearby hospital for treatment before he was arrested, police said.

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Investigators found no link between the university attack and a 16-year-old boy charged with performing a terrorist act in the stabbing of a Sydney bishop on April 15th while a church service was being streamed online.

Several of his teen associates have been charged with various offences including conspiring to engage in or planning a terrorist act.

Police shot dead a 16-year-old boy who had stabbed a stranger in a car park in the Australian city of Perth on May 4th.

That boy had been involved in a de-radicalisation programme for two years before his death, but authorities did not classify the knifing as a terrorist attack, partly because there was no continuing threat that required an elevated law enforcement response.

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Mr Walton said the boy accused of the university attack had previously come to the attention of police and other government agencies, but would not elaborate.

No decision had yet been made on what charges would be laid.

The internet is toxic, and its very easy for young people, especially, to self-radicalize, to move towards violence, Mr Walton said.

The stabbing on Tuesday triggered a major police operation and a lockdown of buildings at Australias oldest university.

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The police operation has since ended and all areas of the campus were now accessible, a university statement said.

The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and members of the community are our priority and we continue to work with authorities, the statement added.
Killer nurse Lucy Letby has been found guilty of the attempted murder of a baby girl.

Letby (34) was convicted at Manchester Crown Court in England last August by another jury of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospitals neo-natal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.

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A verdict on the allegation concerning a baby girl, known as Child K, could not be reached and a retrial at the same court was ordered on that single count.

On Tuesday, Letby was convicted by the fresh jury of trying to murder the very premature infant by dislodging her breathing tube in the early hours of February 17th, 2016.

Letby targeted Child K after the infant was moved from the delivery room to the neo-natal unit shortly after her premature birth.

The youngster, born at 25 weeks gestation and weighing just 692g, was said by the prosecution to be the epitome of fragility.

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About 90 minutes after her birth, Letby deliberately dislodged Child Ks breathing tube through which she was being ventilated with air and oxygen.

Court artist drawing of Lucy Letby giving evidence during her trial at Manchester Crown Court, Photo: Elizabeth Cook/PA.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Ravi Jayaram caught her virtually red-handed as he entered the units intensive care room at about 3.45am, and he then went on to intervene and resuscitate Child K.

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Dr Jayaram told jurors he saw no evidence that she had done anything to help the deteriorating baby as he walked in and saw her standing next to the infants incubator.

He said he heard no call for help from Letby or alarms sounding as Child Ks blood oxygen levels suddenly dropped.

Letby told the jury of six women and six men she had no recollection of any such event.

She denied she did anything harmful to Child K and added that she had not committed any of the offences she had been convicted of.

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Letby also denied the prosecutions claims that she interfered with the infants breathing tube on two more occasions during the same shift to create the impression that Child K was habitually displacing her own tube.

Child K was transferred to a specialist hospital later on February 17th because of her extreme prematurity and died there three days later.

No post-mortem examination was conducted and the cause of death was certified as extreme prematurity and severe respiratory distress syndrome.

More than two years later, on a late Friday night in April 2018, Letby searched on Facebook for Child Ks surname.

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Prosecutor Nick Johnson KC said it was part of a pattern of similar Facebook searches as he told the jury: The truth is that Lucy Letby had a fascination with the babies she had murdered and attempted to murder, and with their families. She took pleasure in her murderous handiwork.

Letby was initially charged with the murder of Child K, but the charge was dropped in June 2022 as the prosecution offered no evidence.

In May, Letby lost her UK Court of Appeal bid to challenge her convictions.

A public inquiry into how Letby was able to commit her crimes on the neo-natal unit is set to begin at Liverpool Town Hall on September 10th.

A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of the surviving and dead children involved in the case.
A House Democratic politician has become the first in the party to publicly call for US president Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee for president, citing Mr Bidens debate performance failing to effectively defend his many accomplishments.

Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas said in a statement on Tuesday that Mr Biden should make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.

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My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved, Mr Doggett said.

Recognising that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.

I respectfully call on him to do so.

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Joe Biden and Donald Trump stand during break in the presidential debate on June 27th (John Bazemore/AP)

Mr Doggett, who represents an Austin-based district and is serving his 15th term in Congress, is the first sitting politician in his party to publicly state what many have been privately whispering behind closed doors since last weeks debate.

I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson, Mr Doggett, who is the number two Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, continued. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same.

Mr Bidens weak performance caused an immediate panic among even his most ardent supporters, leading many to question whether the 81-year-old career politician is the strongest Democratic candidate to take on Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, in November.

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Mr Biden himself conceded the debate did not go well for him, but he insisted he was ready to fight for a second term as president.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, asked about growing concerns among Democrats, said they respect the opinions and thoughts of concerned party members, adding: Thats what makes this party different than the other side.

As for Mr Doggett, she said: Hes going to have his thoughts. Thats for him to speak to.

Beyond the White House, control of both chambers of Congress is also hanging in the balance in November, and Democrats find themselves defending far more Senate seats than Republicans.

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Mr Doggetts statement came minutes after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC on Tuesday that she believes it is a legitimate question whether Mr Bidens halting performance is just an episode or is this a condition.

When people ask that question, its legitimate  of both candidates, Ms Pelosi said.

Ms Pelosi said she had not spoken to Mr Biden since the debate, but she emphasised that the president is on top of his game, in terms of knowing the issues and what is at stake.

Later on Tuesday it emerged that Mr Biden has invited all Democratic governors to meet on Wednesday, as he attempts to solidify support among his partys top leaders after last weeks shaky debate performance.

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The discussion is likely to be mostly virtual, according to two people familiar with Mr Bidens plan, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss a schedule that has not yet been made public.

Senator Bernie Sanders, Mr Bidens one-time Democratic opponent, told The Associated Press that while he is not confident the president can win in November, he does not want him to step aside, considering what the party views as the greatest threat to Democracy in Mr Trump.

A presidential election is not a Grammy Award contest for the best singer or entertainer. Its about who has the best policies that impact our lives, Mr Sanders said.

Im going to do everything I can to see that Biden gets re-elected.
Over 20 years ago, Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stood before a crowd at Friday prayers to denounce the US for its disenchanted electorate.

It is disgraceful for a nation to have a 35 per cent or 40 per cent voter turnout, as happens in some of the nations that you see having presidential elections, Mr Khamenei said in 2001.

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It is obvious that their people do not trust their political system, that they do not care about it and that they have no hope.

Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and his supporters flash the victory sign during a campaign stop in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Iran now faces what the ayatollah described.

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The country will hold a runoff presidential election on Friday, only its second since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, after just 39.9 per cent of its voting public cast a ballot the previous week.

Of over 24.5 million votes, more than one million ballots were later rejected  typically a sign of people feeling obligated to head to the polls but wanting to reject all the candidates.

Meanwhile, public rage simmers after years of Irans economy cratering to new lows, along with bloody crackdowns on dissent, including over the mass protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini after her detention by the countrys morality police allegedly over not wearing her headscarf to their liking.

Tensions with the West remain high as Iran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.

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Now, hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili faces the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon who likely needs a widespread turnout to win the presidency.

Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, speaks to a group of athlete supporters during a campaign stop at a sports hall in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Mr Pezeshkians supporters warn of dark days ahead under Mr Jalili.

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Meanwhile, many people are unconvinced that their vote even matters.

I did not vote, and I will not, since nobody apologised because of Mahsa and later miseries that young people face, neither the reformists nor the hard-liners, said Leila Seyyedi, a 23-year-old university student studying graphic design.

Iranian election law requires a candidate to achieve over 50 per cent of the vote to avoid a runoff.

In results released Saturday, Mr Pezeshkian got 10.4 million votes while Mr Jalili received 9.4 million.

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Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf came in third with 3.3 million, while Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi had over 206,000.

A supporter of Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili holds up a poster of Jalili during his campaign stop in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Most voters for Mr Qalibaf, a former general in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and national police chief known for his crackdowns against students and for corruption allegations, likely will break for Mr Jalili after Mr Qalibaf endorsed him, analysts say.

That has put Mr Jalili, a 58-year-old known as the Living Martyr for losing a leg in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, in the lead position for the runoff.

But his recalcitrant reputation among Western diplomats during negotiations over Irans nuclear programme is paired with concern at home over his views.

One politician who has aligned himself with the moderates, former Iranian Information and Communications Technology minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, put the choice between Mr Jalili and Mr Pezeshkian more starkly.

We will not let Iran fall into the hands of the Taliban, he wrote on social platform X, formerly Twitter.

But even such dark warnings seemingly failed to have an effect.

Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili, left, and reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian greet one another at the conclusion of a TV debate (Morteza Fakhri Nezhad/AP)

On the streets of Tehran after the June 28 vote, many told The Associated Press they didnt care about the election.

I did not vote, as former presidents failed to realise their promises, said Ahmad Taheri, a 27-year-old psychology student.

I will not vote this coming Friday either.

Mohammad Ali Robati, a 43-year-old electronic engineer and a father of two, said Iranian officials apparent indifference to peoples economic pressures caused him not to vote.

After years of economic difficulties, I have no interest in politics, Mr Robati said, though he held out the possibility of voting on Friday.
The deputy leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has said the only sure path to a ceasefire on the Lebanon-Israel border is a full ceasefire in Gaza.

If there is a ceasefire in Gaza, we will stop without any discussion, Hezbollahs deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, said in an interview with The Associated Press at the groups political office in Beiruts southern suburbs.

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Hezbollahs participation in the Israel-Hamas war has been as a support front for its ally, Hamas, Sheikh Kassem said, and if the war stops, this military support will no longer exist.

But, he said, if Israel scales back its military operations without a formal ceasefire agreement and full withdrawal from Gaza, the implications for the Lebanon-Israel border conflict are less clear.

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If what happens in Gaza is a mix between ceasefire and no ceasefire, war and no war, we cant answer (how we would react) now, because we dont know its shape, its results, its impacts, Sheikh Kassem said during a 40-minute interview.

In recent weeks, with Gaza ceasefire talks faltering, fears have increased of an escalation on the Lebanon-Israel front.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily strikes with Israeli forces along their border over the past nine months. The low-level conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.

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In northern Israel, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed; in Lebanon, more than 450 people  mostly fighters but also dozens of civilians  have been killed.

Months of internationally brokered Gaza ceasefire talks have repeatedly failed.

Hamas has demanded an end to the war, and not just a pause in fighting, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to make such a commitment until Israel realises its goals of destroying Hamass military and governing capabilities and brings home the roughly 120 hostages still held by Hamas.

Last month, the Israeli army said it has approved and validated plans for an offensive in Lebanon if no diplomatic solution is reached to the ongoing clashes. Any decision to launch such an operation would have to come from the countrys political leadership.

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Hezbollahs deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beiruts southern suburbs, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Photo: Bilal Hussein/AP.

Some Israeli officials have said they are seeking a diplomatic solution to the standoff and hope to avoid war. At the same time, they have warned that the scenes of destruction seen in Gaza will be repeated in Lebanon if war breaks out.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, is far more powerful than Hamas and believed to have a vast arsenal of rockets and missiles capable of striking anywhere in Israel.

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Sheikh Kassem said he does not believe that Israel has the ability or has made a decision to launch a war at present. He warned that even if Israel intends to launch a limited operation in Lebanon that stops short of a full-scale war, it should not expect the fighting to remain limited.

Israel can decide what it wants: limited war, total war, partial war, he said.

But it should expect that our response and our resistance will not be within a ceiling and rules of engagement set by Israel  If Israel wages the war, it means it doesnt control its extent or who enters into it.

The latter was an apparent reference to Hezbollahs allies in the Iran-backed so-called axis of resistance in the region.

Armed groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere  and, potentially, Iran itself  could enter the fray in the event of a full-scale war in Lebanon, which might also pull in Israels strongest ally, the United States.

US and European diplomats have made a circuit between Lebanon and Israel for months in an attempt to ward off a wider conflict.

Sheikh Kassem said he met on Saturday Germanys deputy chief of intelligence, Ole Dieh, in Beirut. US officials do not meet directly with Hezbollah because Washington has designated it a terrorist group, but they regularly send messages via intermediaries.

Sheikh Kassem said White House envoy Amos Hochstein had recently requested through intermediaries that Hezbollah apply pressure on Hamas to accept a ceasefire and hostage-exchange proposal put forward by President Joe Biden. He said Hezbollah had rejected the request.

Hamas is the one that makes its decisions and whoever wants to ask for something should talk to it directly, he said.

Sheikh Kassem criticised US efforts to find a resolution to the war in Gaza, saying it has backed Israels plans to end Hamass presence in Gaza. A constructive deal, he said, would aim to end the war, get Israel to withdraw from Gaza, and ensure the release of hostages.

Once a ceasefire is reached, then a political track can determine the arrangements inside Gaza and on the front with Lebanon, he added.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was in Kyiv on Tuesday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky  his first visit to the country since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Mr Orbans press chief confirmed to Hungarian news agency MTI that the prime minister had arrived in the Ukrainian capital in the morning for the talks.

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Bertalan Havasi said the main topic of the meeting will be the opportunity for building peace as Ukraine fights off Russias invasion.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Kyiv, Ukraine (Zoltan Fischer/AP)

Officials in Kyiv did not confirm Mr Orbans arrival.

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His visit was a rare gesture in a relationship that long been marred by tensions.

Known as Russian President Vladimir Putins closest EU ally, Mr Orban has routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to extend assistance to Ukraine and to sanction Moscow over its war, frustrating both Mr Zelensky other EU leaders.

He has also accused Kyiv of mistreating an ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraines western region of Zakarpattia, a community he has used to justify his refusal to provide weapons to Ukraine or allow their transfer across the two countries shared border.

The self-described illiberal leader has long been accused by his European partners of dismantling democratic institutions at home and acting as an obstinate spoiler of key EU policy priorities.

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The bloc has frozen more than 20 billion dollars (1.8 billion) in funding to Budapest over alleged rule-of-law and corruption violations, and Mr Orban has conducted numerous anti-EU campaigns depicting it as an overcentralised, repressive organisation.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Kyiv, Ukraine (Zoltan Fischer/AP)

The visit comes the day after Hungary took over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union, a position that has little real power but can be used to set the tone of the blocs agenda.

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Hungarian officials have indicated that they will act as honest brokers in the role despite worries from some EU legislators that Hungarys democratic track record makes it unfit to lead the bloc.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the importance of the visit, saying Hungary must fulfill (the) functions of its EU presidency and adding that Moscow had no particular expectations for its outcome.

Mr Orbans visit also comes as he seeks to recruit members into a new nationalist alliance that he hopes will soon become the largest right-wing group in the European Parliament.

On Sunday, he met in Vienna with the leaders of Austrias far-right Freedom Party and the main Czech opposition party, announcing the formation of the new group, Patriots for Europe.

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The trio would need to attract legislators from at least four more EU countries to successfully form a group in Europes new parliament, which held elections in June.

Right-wing nationalist parties across Europe strengthened their position in the elections, but ideological differences over the war in Ukraine and cooperation with Russia have often prevented deeper alliances among some of the parties.
US president Joe Biden said the US preme Court justices had set a dangerous precedent by ruling that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution.

The ruling extended the delay in the Washington criminal case against Donald Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss and all but ended prospects the former president could be tried before the November election.

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Lawyers for Mr Trump responded by asking the New York judge who presided over his hush money trial to set aside his conviction and delay his sentencing, which is scheduled for later this month.

In a 6-3 ruling, the courts conservative majority, including the three justices appointed by Mr Trump, narrowed the case against him and returned it to the trial court to determine what is left of special counsel Jack Smiths indictment.

US president Joe Biden speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

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Mr Biden said the justices set a dangerous precedent (that) undermines the rule of this nation.

Citing accepted restraints on presidential power dating back to George Washington, he bemoaned that for all practical purposes, todays decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do.

Mr Trump posted in all capital letters on his social media network shortly after the decision was released: Big win for our constitution and democracy. Proud to be an American!

Chief Justice John Roberts insisted the president is not above the law, but in a fiery dissent for the courts three liberals, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote: In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.

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The ruling found Mr Trump is absolutely immune from prosecution for alleged conduct involving discussions with the Justice Department.

People protest outside the Supreme Court on Monday (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

He is also at least presumptively immune from allegations that he tried to pressure then vice president Mike Pence to reject certification of Mr Bidens electoral vote win on January 6th, 2021.

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Mr Roberts wrote that the prosecutor can try to make the case that the pressure on Mr Pence can still be part of the case against him.

Justice Roberts opinion further restricted prosecutors by prohibiting them from using official acts as evidence to prove that a presidents unofficial actions violated the law.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will preside over Trumps trial, will decide how to proceed.

Mr Trumps lawyers wrote to Judge Juan M Merchan, citing the Supreme Courts ruling and asking for a delay in sentencing while he considers the high courts decision and how it could influence the New York case.

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The lawyers argue that the Supreme Courts decision confirmed a position the defence raised earlier in the case that prosecutors should have been precluded from introducing some evidence they said constituted official presidential acts, according to the letter.

In prior court filings, Mr Trump contended he is immune from prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.

His lawyers did not raise that as a defence in the hush money case, but they argued that some evidence  including Trumps social media posts about former lawyer Michael Cohen  comes from his time as president and should have been excluded from the trial because of immunity protections.

Mr Trump was convicted in New York of 34 counts of falsifying business records, arising from what prosecutors said was an attempt to cover up a hush money payment just before the 2016 presidential election.
North Korea said on Tuesday it had test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead, a claim quickly disputed by South Korean officials and experts who speculate the North likely fabricated a successful test to conceal a botched launch.

It is the second time that South Korea has questioned North Koreas claim on the development of new weapons in recent days, as the rivals are locked in heightened animosities over the Norths testing activities.

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The Norths official Korean Central News Agency said that Mondays test involved the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 missile, which can carry a 4.5 tonne-class warhead.

A TV screen shows a file image of North Koreas missile launch during a news programme at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

It said the test was meant to verify the weapons flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 kilometres and the minimum range of 90 kilometres.

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The test apparently refers to the two ballistic missile launches that South Korea said North Korea performed Monday.

Joint chiefs of staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said at a briefing later Tuesday that the second North Korean missile was found to have fallen on an uninhabited area near Pyongyang, the Norths capital.

He said he could find few previous test-launches by North Korea that have aimed at ground target sites.

Regarding the North Korean assessment, were weighing a possibility of deception, Mr Lee said.

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The South Korean military has said the second North Korean missile possibly travelled abnormally during the initial stage of its flight.

It said if the missile exploded, its debris would likely have scattered on the ground.

The KCNA dispatch didnt say from where it launched the new missile and where it landed.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a meeting of Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea in Pyongyang (KCNA via KNS/AP)

Unlike previous weapons tests, North Korea also didnt publicise any photos of Mondays test.

The fact that it tested both the missiles maximum and minimum ranges suggested North Korea performed two launches.

KCNA, citing North Koreas Missile Administration, reported that North Korea will test-fire the missile again later in July to verify the performances of its simulated warhead at the medium range of 250 kilometres.

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Some experts say test-firing missiles at ground targets could be related to efforts to test how powerful warheads are to destroy underground bunkers and structures.

But Shin Jongwoo, a Seoul-based military expert, said the lack of any photos on the launches means it is highly likely the North is trying to deceive the outsiders to cover up Mondays failed launches.

He said North Korea likely launched an existing missile on Monday, not the new missile that it claimed.

Yang Uk, an analyst at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that Mondays tests reflected North Koreas push to acquire a variety of conventional weapons.

But he also said if North Korea truly succeeded in hitting a ground target, it probably would have already published related images to brag about its achievements as it has done in the past.

A TV screen shows a file image of North Koreas missile launch during a news programme at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Since 2022, North Korea has sharply accelerated weapons testing activities to enlarge its nuclear arsenal.

The North Korea-claimed ranges of the newly tested missile imply it targets South Korea.

Experts say North Korea would ultimately want to use an expanded weapons arsenal to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the US.

On June 26, North Korea launched what it called a new multiwarhead missile in the first known test of a developmental weapon aimed at penetrating its rivals missile defences.

North Korea said the launch was successful, but South Korea dismissed the Norths claim as deception to cover up a failed launch.

South Korea said the weapon blew up, sending debris into the waters off the Norths east coast.
Clashes in Mauritania between security forces and protesters rallying against the re-election of the country's president Mohamed Ould Ghazouani left three people dead, authorities said on Tuesday.

An unspecified number of people were reported injured.

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Following the clashes, mobile internet access was blocked on Tuesday as authorities vowed to arrest those behind the violence.

The protests broke out late on Monday in parts of the northwestern African country after Mr Ghazouani was declared winner of the presidential election.

His main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, a renowned anti-slavery activist, rejected the outcome and claimed the result was falsified.

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Women sit behind an electoral banner for Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, during a campaign rally before the presidential elections. The banner reads: There is no place for people embezzling public funds any more (Mamsy Elkeihel/AP)

Authorities said security forces in the southern city of Kaedi  the countrys largest and an opposition stronghold with an overwhelming black majority  confronted the demonstrators, the ministry of interior said, and several arrests were made.

The ministry did not identify the three people killed in the violence or elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths.

Demonstrations also broke out in the towns of Nouadhibou, Rosso Zoueirat and Boghe, all also Abeid strongholds.

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Kaedi last night saw violent acts of vandalism and sabotage of public and private property, scenes of looting and a general climate of fear which led the security forces to confront it and arrest several demonstrators, the ministry said in a statement.

The prosecutors office will open an investigation to determine the circumstances of these events and the death of the demonstrators, the ministry added.

Mr Ghazouani, who had campaigned on a pledge of providing security and economic growth, won 56 per cent of the votes while Mr Abeid received 22 per cent, the electoral commission said on Monday. Mr Abeid promptly called for peaceful demonstrations and peaceful gatherings.

The commission  which includes representatives of political parties  dismissed the opposition claims about voting irregularities.

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Three international election observation missions also said in their preliminary statements on Monday that the voting was held in a peaceful and transparent atmosphere.

Mr Ghazouani has been accused by his opponents of corruption and mismanagement, but remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability amid regional tensions, with several neighboring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence.

For centuries, Mauritanias economic and political elite of Arab and Amazigh people enslaved black people from the northwestern Sahara.

Mauritania outlawed slavery in 1981, the last country in the world to do so, but the practice continues, human rights groups say. There are around 149,000 people held in conditions of slavery in this nation of less than five million, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has said the US will soon announce an additional 2.3 billion dollars (1.8 billion) in security assistance for Ukraine, to include anti-tank weapons, interceptors and munitions for Patriot and other air defence systems.

The announcement came as Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov met Mr Austin at the Pentagon.

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And it marks a strong response to pleas from Kyiv for help in battling Russian forces in the Donetsk region.

Of that total, 150 million dollars of the aid will come from presidential drawdown authority (PDA) and the remainder will be provided by Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

PDA allows the Pentagon to take the weapons from its stocks and send them more quickly to Ukraine; USAI puts weapons on longer-term contracts.

Make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone, and the United States will never waver in our support, Mr Austin said as he opened the meeting with Mr Umerov.

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Alongside some 50 allies and partners, well continue to provide critical capabilities that Ukraine needs to push back Russian aggression today and to deter Russian aggression tomorrow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Russia had dropped more than 800 powerful glide bombs in Ukraine in the last week alone.

And he urged national leaders to relax restrictions on the use of Western weapons to strike military targets inside Russia.

In particular, he said Ukraine needs the necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are.

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Mr Austin did not refer to the restrictions in his opening comments, but he told Mr Umerov that they would discuss more ways to meet Ukraines immediate security needs and to build a future force to ward off more Russian aggression.

Including the latest 2.3 billion dollars, the US has committed more than 53.5 billion dollars (50 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Danny Burns | Bonfire Music Group

Nashville, Tenn. - Bluegrass sensation Danny Burns unveils his latest single, Magnolia Wind, featuring the legendary Tim OBrien. This captivating track is part of the Irish-born artist's acclaimed album, Promised Land, released in 2023 via Bonfire Music Group. Fans can listen to Magnolia Wind on all digital and streaming platforms HERE.



Originally made famous by Grammy-winning folk artist Guy Clark in 2002 and later reimagined by Emmylou Harris and John Prine in 2011, Magnolia Wind receives a fresh Bluegrass twist. This new version showcases heartfelt lead vocals from Burns and mesmerizing harmonies from both Tim OBrien and Aine Burns, complemented by the talents of Scott Vestal (banjo), Billy Contreras (fiddle), Tony Wray (guitar), and Ethan Burkhardt (upright bass). The track was recorded at Neal Cappellinos Doghouse Studios and engineered and mixed by Grammy-winning sound engineer Brandon Bell.



Since the release of Promised Land last fall, Danny Burns has been soaring in the Bluegrass scene. The album, which blends Bluegrass with Americana and Roots influences, features hit singles like Come to Jesus and Dirty Old Town, which collectively spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Bluegrass Today Gospel and Grassicana charts. Other standout tracks include the chart-topping Someone Like You, a cover of Adele's hit, and Some Might Say, a reinterpretation of an Oasis classic.



So far, 2024 has been a bustling year for Burns. Alongside performing select shows, he recently opened The Celt, an authentic Irish restaurant and pub in Charleston, SC, which he runs with his wife, Aine, who is also preparing to release new music this month. The Celt has quickly become a hotspot for live music, hosting some of the countrys most exciting acts.



Danny Burns rising star is catching the industrys eye, as he advances to the second round of the 2024 IBMA ballot in seven categories, including New Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Promised Land), Male Vocalist of the Year, and Song of the Year (Some Might Say). His single Come to Jesus featuring Sam Bush is also in contention for Gospel Recording of the Year, Collaborative Recording of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. The IBMA World of Bluegrass event will take place in late September, with final nominations to be announced soon.



For the latest news, tour dates, and to purchase music, visit Danny Burns official website at www.dannyburnsband.com.
These new quality productive forces, as he has described them, involve advanced productivity freed from traditional economic growth models. It is expected there will also be a whole-of-state effort, directed by Beijing, to both respond to bottleneck technologies such as advanced computer chips, where the West, and the US in particular, have significant leads over China, while leapfrogging the US and dominating other key emerging technologies. The plenum might do more to help restore activity to Chinas property sector, to rebuild consumer confidence and spending. Credit: Getty Images China is confronting a number of problems the plenum will also have to address. Xis crackdown on property developers and the big technology companies in 2021 dealt massive blows to Chinas private sector and to its consumers.

Loading The property sector plunged into a downward spiral, with developers collapsing and sales and prices falling continuously, although very recently there have been some tentative signs that a range of government policies to try to stabilise the sector might be having some effect. The listed private technology sector had around $3 trillion wiped off its market capitalisation as a result of the crackdown. As a result of the actions against the property and tech companies, where private companies represented about 55 per cent of the value all Chinese listed entities in 2021, they represented only about 35 per cent at the end of last year. Thats reflective of the broader trends within the economy.

Private enterprises, which had generated a disproportionate share of Chinas growth  a decade ago they generated about 60 per cent of the growth  now provide less than half, after Beijing poured resources into state-owned or controlled enterprises in pursuit of fused economic and military industry strategies. The party has tightened its control over private businesses. While China has said it now wants to treat private entities equally with state-owned entities, the private sectors confidence and willingness to invest has been undermined by the events of the past three years. So too has the confidence of foreign investors, despite a concerted attempt by Chinas leadership to drum up foreign investment. Last year, for the first time in a decade, there was a net outflow of foreign investment. Chinas deteriorating trade relationships with its biggest market in the West  the US and Europe  arent helping and represent a threat to Xis strategies. Chinas emphasis on an expansion of manufacturing and exports to offset weak domestic demand has run into tariff walls in the US and, it appears probable, Europe because of the threat of excess capacity in Chinese factories to their domestic industries.

The US and its allies are also restricting Chinas access to some of the building blocks of advanced technologies, like the newest generations of semiconductors and the machinery to make them. Domestic consumption, perhaps because of the wealth shock created by the implosion of the property sector, has remained weak and, so far, Beijings efforts to stimulate it have been modest. China is confronting a number of problems that the plenum will have to address. The property sector woes have also exposed vertical fiscal imbalances within the economy. Beijing raises most of the revenue while local governments do most of the spending. That has made local governments reliant on land sales and high levels of off-balance-sheet funding to fund their operations, with the deep downturn in property leaving many local governments at financial breaking point.

The plenum will inevitably have to do something to reform that mismatched relationship between revenue and expenditures and bail out the most affected local governments. It might also do more to help restore activity to the property sector, a prerequisite for rebuilding consumer confidence and spending. Loading It is unlikely that anything particularly bold will be announced at the plenum. Xis shift from the previous prioritisation of growth towards national security and geopolitical dominance wont be undone. It is also unlikely the plenum will provide much detail on its plans for challenging the US in the advanced technologies that will determine future geo-economic and geopolitical leadership. It was Xis detailed Made in China 2025 plan released a decade ago that first alerted the rest of the world to his economic ambition of government-driven and incentivised domination of key 21st century technologies, and through that dominance, geopolitical leadership.
Tucked away on Victorias Sunraysia Highway, 33 kilometres northwest of Ballarat, is the tiny town of Waubra. With a population of just over 300, mostly made up of farming families, its as far away from the bright lights of Hollywood as you can imagine. It was here that Mark Molloy began to wonder about life beyond the boundary line.

Today, Molloy is known as one of Australias most celebrated advertising directors, but in 1984, he was a nine-year-old kid more focused on footy than films.

That would change when his uncle became one of the few people in town to own a VHS player - a big deal in Ballarat back then - and called the family together for a movie night.

Mark Molloy, Eddie Murphy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt attend the Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F world premiere in Beverley Hills. Credit: Getty Images for Netflix

And the first film they watched together? It was Beverly Hills Cop, laughs Molloy.
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley says the Coalitions new competition policy, which could force supermarket and hardware giants to sell off shops, corresponds with her partys ideological history.

Speaking on the ABCs Afternoon Briefing this hour, Ley said the policy unveiled yesterday was well and truly within the Menzies tradition of the Liberal Party to back in small business 100 per cent.

Liberal MP Sussan Ley Credit: Rhett Wyman

And farmers are small businesses, Ley said. To back in our farmers, to back in our rural communities, and to back in those who are struggling with the cost of living  Im comfortable with that as a proud Liberal!

As this masthead reported in March, the opposition has spent months working on laws aimed at reducing the market powers of supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths. Opposition Peter Dutton announced the Coalitions proposed new laws yesterday, outlining that they would include the creation of a supermarket commissioner to deal with complaints from farmers and suppliers about the supermarket giants.

Labor announced last month a new code of conduct and billion-dollar fines for supermarkets accused of price gouging, but the Coalition has taken the crackdown a step further by revealing it would allow the Federal Court to force divestiture.

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This afternoon, ABC host Greg Jennett asked Ley to explain how the Liberals, typically a party which supports more free market economics, were now aligned with the more interventionist Greens and the ACTU.

This policy has come from the joint party room, and it is not just one partys policy, Ley said.

It is a big stick, [but it] is a last resort. It is about competition. It is about making sure that supermarkets do the right thing. But overwhelmingly, its about protecting consumers [and] families  We want to make sure that those who are struggling to cope with the cost of living actually have policies from us that back them in.

Ley said the Coalition would not extend the divestiture powers to regulators of other sectors.
He also thanked Capp for her energy and extraordinary drive during her six years in the role. Councillor Rohan Leppert congratulated Reece and praised him for his commitment to the city. I know you will not be wasting a moment in this role, he said. Reece told The Age the key things that needed to be fixed were city safety and cleanliness.

The reality is that during those years of lockdown we did see a real spike in tagging around the city and just a decline in general cleanliness, he said. Its a real problem that we need to get on top of. A record $97 million has been allocated to cleaning and safety during the 2021-24 council term  double the amount spent in 2014-18  but Reece said more must be done. Reece in 2020 as deputy lord mayor. Credit: Joe Armao He wants to prioritise black spots around the city such the Swan Street bridge  a target for taggers that he says is filthy and looks awful. City safety will be of the highest priority to me, because I feel that everything else follows  if people dont feel safe in the city, then it really does limit your ability to do a lot of the other great things you want to do around the city.

The statistics are very clear: Melbourne is a safe city, but we can do better. Reece would not be drawn on how he would improve safety but said it would be a multipronged effort. Loading There are some parts of the city which are currently completely unacceptable, he said. Elizabeth Street south is a good example of that. Theres some other pockets as well that we really need to target. He also wants to focus on making Melbourne greener and said Capps pet project  the landmark Greenline trail  would also be on his agenda.

Our recent budget put in place a long-term funding plan for Greenline, he said. So the City of Melbourne now has a confident pathway forward for the delivery of that project. Greenline is happening. However, Reece did not have details of how Greenline  a four-kilometre linear park along the Yarras north bank  would be paid for, the project having been rephased in the budget and lacking funding from the state and federal governments. When asked whether it could be funded out of the councils future fund announced last week, he said the fund had strict parameters. [The project] will go through the usual budget processes that are held at town hall around budget-making, so in effect that will be a decision for future councils. Reece grew up in Ringwood in Melbournes outer east and started his career in politics working for previous premiers John Brumby and Steve Bracks. He was also a senior adviser to prime minister Julia Gillard.

Despite this Labor background, both times that Reece has run for council it has been as an independent. Reece was deputy lord mayor since 2018 and was the City of Melbournes planning lead. Credit: Eddie Jim I personally feel that I can serve the city best by running and serving as an independent, he said. That doesnt mean Im not proud to have served a Labor prime minister of Australia and two Labor premiers. Reece was one of the founders of mens charity Movember, which he says is the first charity unicorn raising $1.5 billion for mens health, and he helped establish the Big Issue magazine  sold by people experiencing homelessness  in Australia. He was deputy lord mayor from 2018 and held the role of planning lead  which he jokingly described as how to lose friends and annoy people  alongside working as director of enterprise strategy at the University of Melbourne.
The justices didnt delve deeply into extensive details of what is and isnt fair game in Trumps trials. They instead mostly set broad parameters and sent the case back to US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to consider how those parameters affect the case. A few key points: Loading The court ruled that Trump is absolutely immune from prosecution for any conduct involving his discussions with Justice Department officials  a significant segment of his federal indictment. For instance, this would seem to take off the table Trumps interactions with Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, a key figure who has been indicted in Georgia alongside Trump, as well as other top Justice Department officials telling Trump his voter-fraud theories were wrong.

It ruled that he is presumed immune from prosecution for pressuring his vice president, Mike Pence, to overturn the election on January 6, 2021, because Trumps acts involve official conduct. It said the burden is on the government to prove that prosecuting Trump for this wouldnt pose any dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the executive branch.

It left open the possibility that Trump can be prosecuted for other actions, particularly those with regard to people outside the executive branch and in the states. It ruled that this alleged conduct cannot be neatly categorised as falling within a particular presidential function. All of which means some of Trumps conduct can still be prosecuted, but some cannot. And figuring out what can and cannot be is still to be determined.

The other crucial point is this: the court ruled not only that Trump cant be prosecuted for certain conduct, but also that conduct for which he is immune cant even be used as evidence against him. So his interactions with Justice Department officials, for instance, cant be used to establish a criminal conspiracy to overturn the election. On this point, one of the six conservative justices in the majority dissented. The Constitution does not require blinding juries to the circumstances surrounding conduct for which presidents can be held liable, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in a concurrence. She added: To make sense of charges alleging a quid pro quo, the jury must be allowed to hear about both the quid and the quo, even if the quo, standing alone, could not be a basis for the presidents criminal liability.

Its likely to delay Trumps case beyond the 2024 election While Trump can still technically be prosecuted, the decision will lead to plenty of uncertainty and  most crucially for the 2024 election  probably delay matters even further. Trump wasnt expected to face trial before the election; this reduces whatever chance existed. Loading Thats because Chutkan will have to consider what parts of the prosecutions case are now permitted. And that could lead to lengthy arguments and consideration. Such decisions could also lead to lengthy appeals. Chutkan previously stated she would give Trumps legal team three months to prepare for a trial should the case be sent back to her. That meant the earliest trial date was already October, irrespective of the new decisions that will have to be made. The Supreme Courts majority suggested that certain aspects of the indictment will now have to be revisited  including comments Trump made on January 6, 2021.

[The indictment] includes only select tweets and brief snippets of the speech Trump delivered on the morning of January 6, omitting its full text or context, the majority wrote. Whether the tweets, that speech, and Trumps other communications on January 6 involve official conduct may depend on the content and context of each. It added: This necessarily fact-bound analysis is best performed initially by the District Court. Liberal justices warned of dire consequences, a king above the law Its tempting to view this decision in the context of Trumps trials because thats the immediate concern. But it will also have far-reaching implications for future presidents, including for a potential second Trump term. The courts liberal wing raised a giant red flag on that front, casting the decision as empowering future presidents to take drastic actions.

Perhaps the most striking arguments in the case revolved around hypotheticals about just what a grant of immunity could mean in the future. Credit: Matt Golding Would a president be immune from prosecution for ordering SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a rival? Could he order the military to conduct a coup and not be charged? The courts liberals say thats now on the table. Justice Sonia Sotomayor went the furthest in her dissent. Orders the Navys SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune, Sotomayor wrote. Organises a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

Sotomayor added: The relationship between the president and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was more measured, warning only that a president could now be immune from such charges. Thus, even a hypothetical president who admits to having ordered the assassinations of his political rivals or critics  or one who indisputably instigates an unsuccessful coup  has a fair shot at getting immunity under the majoritys new presidential accountability model, Jackson wrote. The decision lands as Trump appears to be an increasing favourite to reclaim the White House in the 2024 election after President Bidens poor debate performance Thursday, and Trump has at the very least demonstrated a tendency to push the limits of the law and presidential power. The decision could provide Trump a road map for exploiting those powers, and the liberal justices clearly fear what he might do with that.

With fear for our democracy, I dissent, Sotomayor concluded. The hits keep coming for panicky Democrats The ruling caps a remarkably bad five-day period for Democrats. First came Bidens awful debate performance last week. Then came a pair of Supreme Court rulings limiting government prosecutions of January 6 defendants  a significant PR victory for Trump  and giving the right a long-sought tool to challenge federal agency officials. Now comes a ruling that significantly complicates the governments case against Trump, at the least, and could empower him to wield executive power in more extreme ways in a second term.
Godrej Properties Ltd on Tuesday announced a milestone with its latest project, Godrej Woodscapes, located in Whitefield-Budigere Cross, Bengaluru. The company announced on Tuesday that it has sold over 2,000 homes, generating Rs 3,150 crore, marking the most successful launch in its history in terms of both value and volume.

This achievement is the second instance in the past three months where Godrej Properties has reached sales of Rs 3,000 crore. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The success of Godrej Woodscapes has driven the company to over 500 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth in sales in Bengaluru, surpassing its FY24 sales target for South India within the first quarter.

Godrej Woodscapes is the second project in Q1 FY25 to achieve sales exceeding Rs 2,000 crore. This follows a series of launches, including:



Godrej Jardinia, Sector 146, Noida, Q1 FY25: Over Rs 2,000 crore in sales



Godrej Zenith, Sector 89, Gurgaon, Q4 FY24: Rs 3,008 crore in sales



Godrej Reserve, Kandivali, MMR, Q4 FY24: Rs 2,693 crore in sales



Godrej Aristocrat, Sector 49, Gurgaon, Q3 FY24: Rs 2,667 crore in sales



Godrej Tropical Isle, Sector 146, Noida, Q2 FY24: Rs 2,016 crore in sales

Looking ahead, Godrej Properties plans a pipeline of launches for FY25, with several new projects in Bengaluru and a strategic entry into the Hyderabad market to further strengthen its presence in South India.

Speaking on the development, Gaurav Pandey, MD and CEO, Godrej Properties, said, We are delighted with the response to our project, Godrej Woodscapes. We sincerely thank our customers and all stakeholders for their trust and confidence in Godrej Properties."

We will strive to ensure Godrej Woodscapes provides its residents with an exceptional living experience. South India is an extremely important region for Godrej Properties, and we aim to further strengthen our presence in the coming years, Pandey said.
Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad held a meeting with representatives of Think and Learn Pvt Ltd, the parent company of the troubled ed-tech firm Byjus on Monday (July 1). During the meeting, Lad urged the company to address the unpaid dues owed to former employees, as reported by Moneycontrol.

The report mentioned that after the discussion at Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru, Lad said, I have directed them to pay at least 50 per cent of the outstanding dues to the former employees promptly, with the remaining 50 per cent to be settled subsequently. They mentioned that their funds are currently in an escrow account with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and that a hearing is scheduled for July 4. Post-hearing, they will update us on the actions taken to clear the dues. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

Lad revealed that approximately 160 to 200 employees had approached the Labour Department, with total outstanding dues amounting to around Rs 4.5 crore. "Some employees have contacted us personally, while the majority have sent emails to our department, Lad added.

Mohammad Mohsin, principal secretary of the Labour Department, told Moneycontrol, They have assured us that they will settle all dues within a month of receiving a relief order from the NCLT.

The Labour Department has received numerous emails from former Byjus employees complaining about not receiving their full and final settlements months after their termination.

Karnataka HC reserves order on challenge against NCLT

Last week, the Karnataka High Court reserved its order on Byjus challenge against an NCLT Bengaluru ruling that prevents the ed-tech firm from proceeding with a second rights issue. On June 12, the tribunal ordered Byjus to maintain the status quo regarding existing shareholders and their shareholdings. Byjus has appealed this order in the High Court.

Byjus is currently prohibited from issuing shares and using funds raised from a $200 million rights issue until the tribunal reaches a decision. This matter is also set for a hearing on July 4.

Byjus failed to repay debt to Oppo

Meanwhile, smartphone manufacturer Oppo informed the NCLT Bengaluru on Thursday that Byjus has failed to pay them Rs 13 crore for pre-installing their apps on their phones. The tribunal has designated July 3 as Byju Day since nearly 10 petitions against the ed-tech firm are expected to be heard that day.

Oppo claimed that Byjus had acknowledged the debt, making it a clear case for admitting the firm to insolvency to recover dues. The smartphone manufacturer also alleged that Byjus promoters were absconding and no longer residing in India. Byjus legal counsel objected to the term absconding and requested an adjournment.

Prosus writes off stake in Byjus

Additionally, investment firm Prosus has written off the value of its 9.6 per cent stake in Byjus, marking one of the largest write-offs in tech startups by a prominent investor. Prosus reported a fair value loss of $493 million on its investment in the company in its FY24 annual report dated June 24.

This year, the group wrote off the fair value of its 9.6 per cent effective interest in Byjus due to a significant drop in value for equity investors. A fair value loss of $493 million was recorded in other comprehensive income for the current year, stated Prosus in the report.

Since 2019, Prosus has invested $536 million in Byjus over several funding rounds. A Prosus spokesperson stated, We have reduced Byjus valuation to zero by the end of FY24, resulting in a fair value write-down of $493 million for FY24.
The Delhi High Court has issued a warning to low-cost carrier SpiceJet, threatening contempt action if the airline fails to return three aircraft engines to its lessor, TWC Aviation, by July 8. This decision was rendered by a division bench on Tuesday, as SpiceJet sought an extension to the original deadline of June 16, reported Moneycontrol.

The extension request arose from SpiceJets inability to find alternative aircraft engines, leaving the airline in a precarious position. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

Senior advocate Amit Sibal, representing SpiceJet, informed the court that the engines in question are currently installed in operational aircraft.

He also emphasised the significant impact on the airlines operations, highlighting that grounding these aircraft would disrupt travel for around 1,000 passengers daily. Sibal further assured the court that the engines would be returned if replacements did not arrive in time.

On the other hand, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, representing TWC Aviation, argued that SpiceJet owed over Rs 120 crore to the lessor. He contended that the airline should not continue to monetise the engines without settling part of its dues and urged the court to direct SpiceJet to make a partial payment before using the engines further.

In response, the court advised TWC Aviation to file a proper application for such an order. Meanwhile, the bench issued a contempt notice to SpiceJet, stipulating that the notice would be void if the engines were returned by the deadline. The case is now scheduled for a hearing on July 9.

This development follows a previous refusal by the Delhi High Court on May 27 to stay a single judges order directing SpiceJet to return two aircraft and three engines to TWC Aviation. Although SpiceJet withdrew its appeal and pursued the matter before a single judge, the court had extended the deadline to June 16 from the initially planned May 28.

Justice Rajiv Shakder, leading the bench, said that it would be unjust to grant any relief to SpiceJet when it owed such a substantial amount to the lessor. He firmly stated that the airline could not use the aircraft and engines without paying the required lease amount, adding, They [the lessor] are not in the business of charity, said the court.

The single judges interim order on May 15 had already directed SpiceJet to return the aircraft and engines due to non-compliance with earlier payment deadlines. The court was particularly concerned about the airline having cannibalised parts of the aircraft and engines, which significantly influenced its decision.
HKSAR gov't welcomes agreement to further liberalize trade in services with mainland

Xinhua) 10:23, July 02, 2024

HONG KONG, July 1 (Xinhua) -- John Lee, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Monday welcomed the substantial conclusion of the consultations between China's Ministry of Commerce and the HKSAR government for further liberalization of trade in services under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

The Ministry of Commerce announced Monday that an agreement was reached following consultations among the ministry, relevant departments and the HKSAR government under the CEPA, with amendments to further enhance and deepen the mainland's level of liberalization of trade in services with Hong Kong.

Lee said he is looking forward to finalizing the text for the new agreement as soon as possible by the two sides and formally signing and implementing the agreement after the completion of respective internal approval procedures.

"I am very grateful to the central government for its strong support to the HKSAR," he said, adding that CEPA has reinforced Hong Kong's role as a bridge connecting the mainland and the rest of the world and enhanced Hong Kong's competitiveness.

The new amendments will further deepen economic and trade cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong, and provide vast business opportunities, he said.

The Chinese mainland and the HKSAR signed the agreement on trade in services under the CEPA framework in November 2015 to basically achieve the liberalization of trade in services. Subsequently, the two sides signed in November 2019 the agreement concerning amendment to the CEPA agreement on trade in services to further liberalize the mainland's trade in services with Hong Kong.

Under the current framework of the CEPA agreement on trade in services, the mainland fully or partially opens up 153 service sectors to Hong Kong's service industry, enabling Hong Kong enterprises and professionals to enjoy preferential treatment in developing their business in the mainland.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair meetings of secretaries to finalise the governments 100-day agenda after the Union Budget for 2024-25, which is likely to be presented later this month.

Budget proposals by each ministry have already been sent. The ministries have also finalised the 100-day agenda. The presentation by each ministry before the PM will start after the Budget, said a senior government official who did not wish to be named.

After the ongoing special session of Parliament, the PM is likely to visit Russia and Austria between July 8 and 10 in his first set
The southwest monsoon covered the entire country on Tuesday, six days ahead of its normal date, boosting prospects of kharif sowing, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

"The southwest monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab today. Thus, it covered the entire country on July 2, 2024, against the normal date of July 8," the IMD said in a statement. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The monsoon arrived in Kerala and the northeastern region on May 30, two and six days earlier than usual, respectively. It progressed normally up to Maharashtra but lost momentum in between, extending the wait for rains in West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, and worsening the impact of a scorching heatwave in northwest India.

The country recorded 16 days of below-normal rainfall activity from June 11 to June 27, leading to overall below-normal precipitation in June, with 147.2 mm of rainfall against a normal of 165.3 mm for the month, the seventh lowest since 2001.

June rainfall accounts for 15 per cent of the total precipitation of 87 cm recorded during the four-month monsoon season in the country.

Typically, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17, withdrawing entirely by October 15.

IMD data shows this is the third consecutive year the monsoon has covered the entire country ahead of schedule. Since 2011, the monsoon has covered the country seven times earlier than the usual date.

The IMD on Tuesday said the monsoon will remain active over northwest, east and northeast India during the next four to five days.

The weatherman had earlier forecast above-normal rainfall during the 2024 monsoon season in India, with cumulative precipitation estimated at 106 per cent of the long-period average of 87 cm.

June and July are considered the most important monsoon months for agriculture, as most of kharif crops sowing occurs during this period.
With election day fast approaching, Fiona Lalis campaign in Stratford & Bow has stepped up a gear, with hundreds of activists and volunteers hitting the streets over the weekend. Join us for the final push, and get organised for the struggles ahead.

[Originally published at communist.red]

On the back of another week of energetic activity, last Saturday saw the biggest mobilisation yet for Fiona Lalis campaign to bring down the war criminals in Westminster.

Throughout the day, around 250 Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) members and volunteers were out in force to send a clear message: Starmers Labour has blood on its hands! Vote Fiona to sweep out the liars and crooks!

Rally for Lali

The day kicked off with a huge rally, where hundreds of Fionas supporters gathered in Stratford Park. The mood was electric and full of optimism.

Fiona has by far the biggest on-the-ground campaign in the constituency. This is because her campaign is like no other. It starts where all others end: out on the streets, organising all those who want to fight for real change.

As Fiona explained, were not politicians, were revolutionaries! Unlike the candidates from the other parties, Fiona isnt eyeing up a cosy job on the House of Commons benches.

She understands that the real fightback begins on 5 July. This means preparing for a mass movement outside of Parliament, to defend our class from the inevitable attacks that a right-wing Starmer government will carry out.

Yesterday's campaigning session was so much fun. 100s of us spread across the constituency setting up stalls, handing out leaflets, and knocking on doors. We're really connecting with something out here in Stratford and Bow. Just a few more days before we can all VOTE FIONA!! pic.twitter.com/MbF8GwR9Tv  Fiona Lali (@fiona_lali) June 30, 2024

The rally opened up with a speech by Bogdan, an RCP member involved in the encampment at Queen Mary University of London.

Bogdan highlighted Fionas support for the encampments, and underscored her message that we need a mass movement of students and workers  aimed directly at the warmongering British establishment  to support our brothers and sisters in Palestine.

It was the movement of students in British universities in solidarity with Gaza that propelled Fiona to prominence, after her debate with Suella Braverman on TV.

In this gripping exchange, now viewed by millions worldwide, she defended the Palestine movement against the propaganda and hypocrisy of the Tory politicians and the establishment media. Famously, she labelled Braverman a liar and a war criminal, straight to her face!

Bogdan was followed by Alice, an RCP member from Cardiff University, who helped to organise a protest against Jacob Rees-Mogg a couple of months ago. At this demo, a crowd of angry students chased the Tory MP off campus, providing a taste of the impact that militant, direct action can have.

Some of the photos I took at today's fantastic Lali rally! Spoke to so many of the residents of Stratford and Bow, a sense of optimistism all round!@fiona_lali @revcommunists pic.twitter.com/dsM4XOpL6d  Tom (@thomas_fowles) June 29, 2024

Next up was Maya, an RCP member in York, who spoke passionately about the daily oppression, discrimination, and denigration that Muslim and Asian people face in Britain, at the hands of the racist ruling class. And a Starmer government would offer little better, Maya stressed, pointing to Labours recent scandalous attacks on the Bangladeshi community.

Following this, a communist junior doctor working in the NHS recited an emotional poem, which lamented the death of innocent children in Gaza at the hands of the Zionist butchers, backed by British imperialism.

We also heard from a local small-business owner, who was so inspired by Fionas message that he printed custom T-shirts  emblazoned with the slogan we have a world to win!  in support of the campaign.

Finally, Fiona herself gave a rousing speech, where she raged against the hypocrisy of Starmers racist, blood-stained Labour Party, and the crimes of British imperialism, which has backed Israels genocide in Gaza to the hilt.

With this campaign, weve got a lot to be against, explained Fiona. Were against the atrocities in Gaza. Were against the racism and division of Keir Starmer. Were against austerity.

But were also for something, she continued. This is a positive campaign. Were for an economy that is run on the basis of need and not profit. We know that the wealth exists in society to house everyone, to fund the NHS, to give everyone a decent standard of living.

There are massive battles coming our way. There will be strikes, protests, movements from all the different communities that Starmer will try to attack. We need to unite these movements around one solid programme. If I was elected as an MP, I would spend every day exposing every single war criminal and all the crimes that they produce around the world and in Britain. But more importantly than that, I would spend time outside of parliament  that den of crooks and liars; perverts and profit-makers  building a mass movement that can stop the weapons, money, technology, and political support going to Israel. That is what this campaign is all about.

On the march

After Fionas barn-storming speech, comrades marched en masse to Stratford station.

The pavements were awash with a sea of RCP flags and Palestine flags. Slogans like healthcare not warfare! and Keir Starmer: blood on your hands! echoed down the high street.

Marching through Stratford and Bow, in support of @fiona_lali campaign pic.twitter.com/wcW5XEVCdx  Jorge Martin  (@marxistJorge) June 29, 2024

This attracted the attention of passers-by. Many drivers honked in support, and some even stopped in the middle of the road to grab leaflets.

We even had a fleet of cars draped in Palestine flags and Vote Fiona posters  dubbed the Lali-mobiles  driving through the constituency, chanting slogans to drum up support!

A number of comrades, including dozens who had travelled from as far afield as Lancaster and Durham to be there, remarked that they had never seen a mobilisation like this.

Outside Stratford station, Fiona gave another rousing speech to a huge crowd, before comrades split off into different groups and went canvassing all around the constituency, covering every single ward.

Hundreds of @fiona_lali supporters decend on Stratford Station



Down with the war criminals!!

Vote Fiona!!#RallyForLali pic.twitter.com/kDoxUOsreI  Revolutionary Communist Party (@revcommunists) June 29, 2024

Mood on the street

With each passing week, reports indicate that more and more people have already heard about Fionas campaign, and are planning on voting for her this Thursday. Its clear that we, the revolutionary communists, have massively raised our profile in the course of this campaign, especially in the past week.

I went into a corner shop in Mile End to ask about putting up a poster in the window, reported one comrade. Before I could speak, the shopkeeper simply said Lali?. When I said yes, he pointed to the window and said of course you can put it up.

I spoke with a person while door-knocking who works at a McDonalds, reported another RCP member. She said everyone there has been discussing Fiona and her programme, and their manager is also encouraging people to vote for Fiona.

The reason for this support was clearly summed up by one local resident we spoke to. Fiona is giving a voice to the voiceless, they asserted. I am sick of this system, and Fiona gives me hope for a better future.

I think what's brought so many people into this campaign has been the positive case we've been making for a fundamental change. It's not just what we're against but what we're for: a socialist society run for need not profit  pic.twitter.com/y7zTEepguj  Fiona Lali (@fiona_lali) June 30, 2024

As support for Fiona surges, support for Starmers Labour has nosedived into the gutter. The hatred that people feel towards these careerists and Red Tories is plain to see, especially following Starmers disgusting comments about wanting to deport Bangladeshis.

Whilst canvassing for Fiona, people literally wouldnt speak to me until they knew I wasnt part of the Labour Party, said one comrade. Many others reported similar interactions.

My family has been voting Labour for three generations now, explained one Forest Gate resident. We just cant anymore. Im just looking for someone with credibility. Thank you for what you are doing! Ill definitely tell my friends about Fiona!

A number of people we spoke to felt a complete disgust towards politics altogether. One older woman in Bow, beset by health problems, said she doesnt care about the election because all politicians are out for themselves, and they let ordinary people suffer during the pandemic.

We're out canvassing every day multiple times a day as the election gets closer. DM me if you'd like to join in. WE HAVE A WORLD TO WIN! pic.twitter.com/yvX9DV4295  Fiona Lali (@fiona_lali) July 2, 2024

We agree with you! we said, before she shut the door. We want to tear down the whole system! Her face visibly lit up, and we discussed the crisis in healthcare, and Fionas demand to save the NHS by scrapping military spending and expropriating the rich.

This woman ended up buying a copy of The Communist for 10, thanking us for our campaign. I didnt think people like you existed, she said. You have given me hope.

A number of comrades have reported similar conversations. Many people claim that they dont do politics. But in reality, they simply reject the lies and corruption of the traditional parties and politicians. In fact, many are wide open to communist ideas. Far from being apathetic, these people are burning with anger, and are looking for ideas that can express their outrage.

Final push

By all accounts, this election campaign has already been an extraordinary success. With hundreds involved, this has been the biggest communist election mobilisation in decades  perhaps since the original RCP contested the Neath by-election in 1945.

The way we fight imperialism will be through having faith in ourselves, not the courts, not the lawyers, but a mass movement of the workers and youth united. pic.twitter.com/g04NtZ4WV4  Fiona Lali (@fiona_lali) June 28, 2024

Our party has begun to connect with wider layers than ever. In particular, we have met a number of radical young Muslim women who are being politicised by events, particularly in relation to Gaza.

They want to get organised and bring about real change. And we are providing them with such an opportunity, holding regular discussions about womens oppression, the hypocrisy of western liberalism, and more.

Hundreds of people have expressed an interest in joining the RCP. Dozens have already joined. And on the back of this election campaign, we are planning to found a number of new branches in Stratford & Bow, as well as outside the constituency, in places like Walthamstow and North Greenwich.

From now until election day, comrades and volunteers will be working around the clock to have as many conversations as possible  at busy Tube stations, on high streets, and on the doorstep.

ALL OUT FOR JULY 4TH - JOIN THE RALLIES FOR LALI pic.twitter.com/CqD0bteS4W  Fiona Lali (@fiona_lali) July 1, 2024

A full list of our planned activities is provided below. We encourage all of our readers and supporters to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into this historic campaign over the next few days.

Only a matter of weeks after founding the RCP, we are already making waves across London  and across Britain. This campaign has revealed that thousands of ordinary people are looking for a revolutionary programme to combat austerity, war, and oppression.

A conversation I had this week with FIONA LALI one of the rising stars of British politics, Go get em girl https://t.co/HY1QSUDhNG  Roger Waters  (@rogerwaters) June 30, 2024

Whatever the result is on Thursday, its clear that Fiona and the RCP have already won. We have achieved more than simply earning peoples votes and support. We are raising the sights of workers and youth, by explaining how we must prepare for the fight against a right-wing Starmer government.

The election battle ends on 4 July. But the class war will enter a new period of intense turbulence and struggle  of revolution and counter-revolution  in Britain and worldwide.

The RCP is determined to build a genuine revolutionary alternative for workers and young people. Join your party today!
An IPO of that size would break the record set by Life Insurance Corp. of India, which raised 206 billion rupees ($2.5 billion) in 2022. It would also be one of Asias biggest IPOs in recent years. (Photo: Bloomberg)

By Julia Fioretti, Baiju Kalesh and P R Sanjai



Hyundai Motor Co. could raise as much as $3.5 billion from the eagerly anticipated initial public offering of its Indian unit, people familiar with the matter said, easily making it the biggest to ever take place in the country.

Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Hyundai Motor India Ltd. plans to start gauging investor interest in the coming weeks, with a listing likely in September or October, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isnt public.

The carmaker is targeting a deal size of at least $3 billion, potentially rising to as much as $3.5 billion, the people said. Details such as the size and timing of the offering are still under discussion and may change, they said.

A representative for Hyundai India declined to comment. IFR and India media have previously reported the IPO could raise about $3 billion.

An IPO of that size would break the record set by Life Insurance Corp. of India, which raised 206 billion rupees ($2.5 billion) in 2022. It would also be one of Asias biggest IPOs in recent years.

Hyundai filed a draft red herring prospectus with the market regulator in mid-June, saying it would sell a 17.5% stake, or 142.2 million shares. The unit isnt selling new shares in the IPO and the proceeds will go to the parent, it said.

Almost $5 billion has been raised via IPOs in India this year, more than double the amount by this stage last year, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABDL) made a decent stock market debut with its shares listed at Rs 320 on the NSE, a 14 per cent premium over the issue price of Rs 281 per share on Tuesday. The stock of the largest Indian-owned Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) company listed at Rs 318.10, up 13 per cent from its issue price on the BSE.

At 10:01 am; ABDL was trading at Rs 313, quoting a 11 per cent premium over its issue price. The stock had hit a low of Rs 311.10 on the NSE in intra-day trades. A combined around 17 million shares changed hands on the NSE and BSE. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The initial public offering of ABDL was subscribed 24.85 times. The qualified institutional buyers (QIB) portion was subscribed 50.37 times, non-institutional investors portion subscribed 32.09 times, while retail investors subscribed to 4.73 times their allocated shares.

ABDL is one of the only four spirits companies in India with pan-India sales and distribution footprint and a leading exporter of IMFL. It had an estimated market share of 11.8 per cent in terms of sales volume in the Indian whisky market for FY23. The company entered into the mass premium whisky segment by launching its flagship brand Officers Choice in 1988. As of December 2023, the companys product portfolio comprised of 16 major brands of IMFL across whisky, brandy, rum and vodka.

The company is one of the largest players in the IMFL market with its flagship brand Officers Choice holding 20.9 per cent market share in the mass premium segment as of FY23. The company is expected to reduce its total debt from Rs 798 crore as of December 2023 to ~Rs 80 crore from the proceeds of the issue which will help reduce interest cost to a great extent thereby boosting profits and return ratios, according to a report by SBI Securities.

According to Axis Capital, ABDL faces intense competition in the IMFL market in India, from various domestic and multinational companies in India. Some of their key competitors include United Spirits, John Distilleries, Radico Khaitan Ltd and Tilaknagar Industries.

They may face competition from larger competitors with significant resources and which benefit from economies of scale and scope. They continue to face competition in markets where they currently operate, as well as in markets where they expect to expand their operations and currently have limited or no experience, the brokerage firm said in its IPO note.

ABDL plans to use majority of its proceeds to pay down debt, which will lower finance costs and boost profit margins. Even though the issue is fully priced in near term, analysts at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers believes the company has promising long-term business prospects.

While ABDL boasts a strong brand presence, a diverse product portfolio, and an extensive pan India distribution network, its suitability for investment requires careful consideration.

The company's financial performance has been volatile, characterized by low-profit margins and high debt levels. Additionally, the IMFL industry faces intensifying competition, potential tax hikes, and a highly regulated environment. Additionally, the IPO valuation appears exceptionally high, with a P/E of 4014x, the brokerage firm Swastika Investmart said in its IPO note.


On July 4, British citizens will head to the polls to vote in an early general election. The Labour Party is poised to win, replacing the Conservative Party that has ruled Britain since 2010. A change in government after 14 years would have implications for British foreign policy, including the UKs relations with India.

For years, the story of India-UK ties had been underwhelming despite the long intertwined histories of the two nations. In addition, a prolonged Brexit process and political turmoil within Britain resulted in a lack of attention beyond these issues.

With Brexit finally out
In a case following the conviction of a former Indian-American billionaire for fraud in the US, a 51-year-old Indian-American doctor from Chicago has admitted guilt in a federal healthcare fraud scheme involving billing Medicaid and private insurers for services that were never provided.

Mona Ghosh, who runs Progressive Womens Healthcare, specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology, has pleaded guilty to two counts of healthcare fraud, each carrying a potential penalty of up to ten years in federal prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for October 22 before US District Judge Franklin U Valderrama. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

Federal prosecutors have accused Ghosh of obtaining at least $2.4 million through fraudulent reimbursements. She has admitted to being responsible for more than $1.5 million of these fraudulent claims, with the final amount to be determined at sentencing.

From 2018 to 2022, Ghosh and her staff submitted false claims to Medicaid, TRICARE, and other insurers for services that were either not provided or not medically necessary. Some procedures were conducted without patient consent.

Additionally, Ghosh exaggerated the length and complexity of both in-office and telemedicine visits, using incorrect billing codes to secure higher reimbursement rates. She also falsified patient medical records to support these claims, PTI reported.

Case of Indian-American billionaires fraud conviction

In an earlier case, Bloomberg reported the sentencing of Rishi Shah, a former Chicago billionaire, to seven and a half years in prison for a $1 billion fraud involving an advertising startup. This startup, Outcome Health, counted major investors like Goldman Sachs, Google parent Alphabet Inc, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzkers venture capital firm.

Shah, 38, was convicted of multiple counts of fraud and money laundering. He and two other executives were sentenced in Chicago by US District Judge Thomas Durkin. Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence, highlighting Shahs role in deceiving clients, lenders, investors, and auditors. The fraudulent activities involved taking money for ads that were never placed and misrepresenting the companys financial health to investors.

Before his fraud was exposed in a 2017 Wall Street Journal article, Shah was a prominent figure in Democratic circles. He founded Outcome Health, initially called Context Media Health, in 2006 while studying at Northwestern University. The companys swift growth over the next decade significantly raised his public profile, leading then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel to praise the companys potential impact on Chicago.

[With inputs from PTI]
Representative Image: Taliban seized power in August 2021 as United States and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout from Afghanistan.

A United Nations-led meeting held in Qatar with the Taliban on increasing engagement with Afghanistan does not translate into a recognition of their government, a UN official said on Monday.

The gathering on Sunday and Monday in Qatar's capital of Doha with envoys from some two dozen countries was the first time that representatives of the Afghan Taliban administration attended such a UN-sponsored meeting.

The Taliban were not invited to the first meeting, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said they set unacceptable conditions for attending the second one, in February, including demands that Afghan civil society members be excluded from the talks and that the Taliban be treated as the country's legitimate rulers.

Ahead of Doha, representatives of Afghan women were excluded from attending, paving the way for the Taliban to send their envoys though the organisers insisted that demands for women's rights would be raised. Ahead of Doha, representatives of Afghan women were excluded from attending, paving the way for the Taliban to send their envoys though the organisers insisted that demands for women's rights would be raised.

I would like to emphasise that this meeting and this process of engagement does not mean normalisation or recognition, Rosemary A. DiCarlo, a UN official for political and peacebuilding affairs said on Monday.

My hope is that the constructive exchanges on the various issues over the last two days have moved us a little closer to resolving some of the problems that are having such a devastating impact on the Afghan people, she added.

Zabihullah Mujahid, chief Taliban government spokesman who headed the delegation to Doha, said there was opportunity for them to meet with representatives of various countries on the sidelines of the gathering.

He added that the messages from the Taliban reached all participating countries at the meeting. Afghanistan needs cooperation with the private sector and in the fight against drugs, he also said. Most countries expressed their willingness to cooperate in these areas.

The Taliban seized power in August 2021 as United States and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout from Afghanistan following two decades of war. No country officially recognises the Taliban and the UN has said that recognition remains practically impossible while bans on female education and employment remain in place.

However, some participants, including Canada, expressed disappointment over the exclusion of women and civil society representatives.

"Canada is extremely disappointed that the UN organisers have excluded non-Taliban Afghan participants, including women's advocates, religious and ethnic minorities, and human rights groups from participating in the meeting's main sessions, David Sproule, Canada's special representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement.

DiCarlo, the UN official, said that "while women and civil society were not sitting across the table form the de facto (Taliban) authorities in last two days, we made their voices heard ... civil society has a rightful role to play in shaping Afghanistan's future".
MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of mission-critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, today announced that Alvise Munari, MSCIs current Chief Client Officer, has been appointed Chief Product Officer.

Mr. Munari will now be responsible for leading product development and innovation, applying his deep insights into MSCIs global client base. He will continue to drive strong collaboration between MSCIs product teams and the firms client coverage, marketing, research, technology, and data teams to develop and deliver innovative solutions to meet investors complex and unique needs for differentiated tools and insights to power their investment strategies.

Mr. Munari has transformed the MSCI global client coverage team through a relentless focus on understanding clients needs and delivering holistic solutions, leading to record growth and client retention across regions, segments, and products. He has 20 years of prior financial industry experience, including in product innovation leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley. Mr. Munari will continue to report to Baer Pettit, President and Chief Operating Officer at MSCI.

With Mr. Munaris appointment, Axel Kilian will be appointed to the role of Chief Client Officer, now reporting to Mr. Pettit. Mr. Kilian joined MSCI in 2020 as Head of Client Coverage for EMEA, and he has been instrumental in driving MSCIs growth in this region. He has 25 years of experience in the investment industry, leading EMEA and global coverage organizations at UBS, Nomura, Lehman Brothers, and JPMorgan Chase.

Baer Pettit, MSCI President and Chief Operating Officer, said: Alvise has a proven track record of client-centric leadership, and we are excited to have him drive MSCIs next chapter of product innovation to deliver value to our clients and help them build better portfolios. Axels promotion also demonstrates our commitment to talent mobility, and our ability to develop and promote the outstanding leaders we have at MSCI.

About MSCI Inc.

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data, and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process. To learn more, please visit www.msci.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or performance and involve risks that may cause actual results or performance differ materially and you should not place undue reliance on them. Risks that could affect results or performance are in MSCIs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year ended on December 31 that is filed with the SEC. MSCI does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. No information herein constitutes investment advice or should be relied on as such. MSCI grants no right or license to use its products or services without an appropriate license. MSCI MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION HEREIN AND DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

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MultiSafepay (MSP), an Amsterdam-based payment service provider, and Antom global merchant payment services (Antom), a leading payment and digitization services provider under Ant International, announced today that MultiSafepay has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ant International and will integrate with Antom to promote convenient, secure and accessible payment solutions and digitalization services to businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240701540843/en/

Olaf Geurs, CEO of MultiSafepay (left) and Gary Liu, General Manager of Antom Global (right), in a ceremony. (Photo: Business Wire)

MultiSafepay now serves merchants with omnichannel payment services connecting over 40 international payment methods, including cards, e-wallets, Buy-Now, Pay-Laters, internet banking, and more. Antom currently supports merchants in over 40 markets with the flexibility to accept payments in more than 100 currencies. In addition to flexible, secure and reliable payment options, Antom brings a suite of marketing and digitalization services to empower local and regional businesses with more growth opportunities.

Through this strategic partnership, MultiSafepay will leverage Antoms cutting edge technology and digital capabilities to further expand its product offerings and SME merchant coverage in the region.

Since 1999, MultiSafepay has been a pioneer simplifying payment for SME businesses. It provides world-class payment solutions to over 18,000 SMEs, empowering them to concentrate on their business while MSP optimizes payment success rates, payment handling and processing combined with a personal approach.

Olaf Geurs, CEO of MultiSafepay said, The past 25 years have been an incredible journey. Together with our amazing team, we've bootstrapped MultiSafepay into a leading full-service PSP in Europe, overcoming countless obstacles along the way. The entrepreneurial spirit never sleeps, which is why we're partnering with Antom to unlock even greater growth potential for MultiSafepay's products and services, attracting even more businesses to our ecosystem.

Gary Liu, General Manager of Antom Global said, We are thrilled to join hands with MultiSafepay, a trusted industry innovator and our long-term partner. SMEs are the pillar of regional and global prosperity. With digital innovations, we look forward to building together more secure, flexible and efficient payment solutions with cross-sector partners, for small businesses to thrive in a truly inclusive and sustainable global commerce ecosystem.

About MultiSafepay

MultiSafepay is a leading Netherlands-based payment services provider using cutting-edge in-house-developed technology to help businesses of all sizes focus on growth and innovation. It offers European companies a simple, tailored payments ecosystem for online, in-person, and omnichannel solutions through a single platform and integration. MultiSafepay offers a personal approach to payments, optimizing payment success rates and reducing complexities to allow businesses and platforms to concentrate and drive their growth.

About Antom

Ant Internationals Antom is a leading provider of payment and digitization services to merchants worldwide. Antom provides one-stop, vertical-specific digital payment solutions to meet the payment needs for merchants of all sizes, especially SMEs. With a presence in over 150 markets, Antom currently supports merchants in over 40 markets with the flexibility to accept payments in more than 100 currencies. Antom also provides digital marketing solutions and merchant digitization services to help merchant in digital operations and to better engage with their customers.

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Reckitt, worlds leading consumer health and hygiene company, under its Self Care for New Moms and Kids under 5 initiative, is proud to align with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfares Stop Diarrhoea Campaign. Launched last week by Honble Shri J.P. Nadda, Union Minister, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, the campaign aims to attain zero child deaths due to Diarrhoea in India.



In many states, Diarrhoeal illnesses in childhood remains a leading cause of death for children under the age of five years, accounting for 5.8% of all under-five fatalities nationwide (Cause of Death Statistics 2017-19, Sample Registration System of Registrar General of India). Every year, Diarrhoea causes about 50,000 deaths in children in the nation. According to NFHS 5, the prevalence of Diarrhoea in children under five is 7.3%; while only 60.6% received ORS and 30.5% received zinc. In 68.9% of cases, a medical facility or provider was consulted.



To address this issue, Reckitt in partnership with Plan India through the initiative - Self Care for new moms and kids under five, is promoting the use of ORS and Zinc while enhancing hygiene and sanitation through the six steps of handwashing for children under the age of five. The two-month campaign will concentrate on engaging and educating community members across the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan through highlighting the importance of handwashing, conducting ORS demonstrations, community involvement, proactive measures, and distribution of essential diarrhoea kits.



Commenting on the campaign, Gaurav Jain, Executive Vice President, Reckitt - South Asia said, At Reckitt, we are proud to have worked closely with the Government of India towards creating a Swachh and Swasth India across our programs. Over the last 10 years, we have engaged students, teachers, parents, and communities to improve their overall health and well-being, successfully impacting lives of millions of children across India. To further strengthen our commitment, we are delighted to align with the Stop Diarrhoea Campaign, launched by the Government of India and work towards achieving zero child deaths due to Diarrhoeal illnesses. We look forward to the campaign and making progress together to build a healthier nation.



Commenting on the campaign, Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, SOA, Reckitt said, Diarrhoea continues to be the key cause to death of children under five years of age in many states. At Reckitt, we are committed to the holistic welfare of children, especially with poor socio-economic backgrounds. We are proud to align with the Government of Indias Stop Diarrhoea Campaign. Through this campaign, we aim to further our commitment of achieving zero child deaths caused due to Diarrhoea by raising awareness about the use of ORS and Zinc and adopting proactive health measures for Diarrhoea prevention. This step will further enhance our determination to build a healthier future for young children of our country.



Mohammed Asif, Executive Director, Plan International (India Chapter), stated, Through the convergence of our 'Self Care for New Moms and Kids Under 5' initiative with the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign, we are proud to join forces with the Government to eliminate diarrhoea. We hold a shared mission to promote hygiene, raise awareness about the use of ORS and Zinc for diarrhoea prevention, and engage mothers and communities in proactive health measures. Together, we are taking significant strides towards creating a healthier tomorrow for all.



Over the tenure of two-months of the campaign, Self Care for new moms and kids under five will focus on establishing advocacy and communication at district level across target states by generating awareness via capacity-building sensitization sessions of frontline workers, Nukkad Natak, rallies, posters and IEC materials. To maximize the reach of the campaign and impart knowledge around Diarrhoea and its causes, various activations will be introduced based on intersectoral convergence, especially to target blocks in rural areas. It involves all line departments such as WCD, Drinking Water and Sanitation, PHED, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Education, and development partners. The campaign brings together 4 thronged approach of  ORS and zinc promotion, strengthening facilities, advocacy and communication and intersectoral convergence through members from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (lAP), Indian Medical Association (IMA), NGOs, and CSOs to achieve the goal.



The campaign was kicked off with an inaugural event in Gir Somnath, Gujarat in collaboration with district administration., in the presence of District Collector Shri D D Jadeja, Resident Additional Collector Mr Rajesh Aal, Chief District Health officer Dr Arun Roy and other officials from the Health Department. District Collector, Gir Somnath, Shri D D Jadeja emphasised the importance of the campaign, recalling the Covid period and noting that while Covid has taught us about hand washing, there is still a need to focus on hygiene as a part of daily life. Similar campaigns and community events are lined up in the intervention states to support Government of Indias initiative.



During the run of the campaign, community-level meetings on WHOs 7-point plan for mothers will be organized, Diarrhoea kits will be distributed, and key focus will be on raising awareness through utilizing audio-video tools to educate the audience on Diarrhoea management. These steps will further strengthen the existing interventions of the campaign and help eradicate Diarrhoea from the root level.
A pioneer in modified risk products, Swedish Match was the first company to receive a modified risk marketing claim and is the first to advance through the FDA renewal process

Swedish Match presented real-world evidence that shows the claim is delivering on its promise to both reduce harm to individual tobacco users and benefit the health of the population as a whole and should be renewed

Swedish Match also asked the agency to consider adjusting the use of the claim to help switch more smokers and smokeless tobacco product consumers



Experts from Swedish Match USA, Inc., an affiliate of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) (PMI), presented to the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) on June 26, 2024. The committee, comprised of independent scientific researchers, provides regulatory guidance to the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products.

The half-day meeting was part of the FDAs review of Swedish Matchs request to continue marketing General Snus products in the U.S. as Modified Risk Tobacco Products (MRTPs), and to expand permitted use of the reduced risk claim to reach, and transition, more legal-age smokers away from cigarettes.

Initially granted by FDA in October 2019, Swedish Match can communicate to legal age consumers that Using General Snus instead of cigarettes puts you at a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Currently that message is accessible only on the GeneralSnus website.

Swedish Match presented to the committee real-world evidence showing the claim is delivering on its promise to reduce harm to individual tobacco users and benefit the health of the population and should be renewed.

In its renewal submission, Swedish Match is seeking to expand use to additional lawful marketing channels, such as point-of-sale display and direct mail to age-verified consumers.

As FDAs Center for Tobacco Products Director Brian King said when unveiling its new five-year strategic plan, this is a critical moment in the history of tobacco product regulation, Gerry Roerty, General Counsel for Swedish Match, USA, Inc. said to committee members. The Centers mission is to make smoking-related disease and death a part of Americas past and today, together, we can meaningfully advance that goal, Roerty told committee members.

During the meeting, representatives from Swedish Match and committee members discussed a range of scientific, technical, and consumer-communications topics. The company provided an overview of its responsible marketing practices and presented evidence and research demonstrating low levels of use by unintended populations.

General Snus is a smokeless tobacco product, traditionally produced in Sweden, that is non-fermented, and air cured. The modified risk products submitted for renewal include eight General Snus varieties that have been made available in the U.S. for more than a decade, and include:

General Snus Original (pouch)

Original (pouch) General Snus Original (loose)

Original (loose) General Snus White (pouch)

White (pouch) General Snus Mint (pouch)

Mint (pouch) General Snus Wintergreen (pouch)

Wintergreen (pouch) General Snus Mini Mint (pouch)

Mini Mint (pouch) General Snus Classic Blend (pouch)

Classic Blend (pouch) General Snus Nordic Mint (pouch)

Stacey Kennedy, President, Americas Region & CEO of PMIs U.S. business said: We are understandably proud of our commitment to a cigarette-free America, which is achievable much faster if policy is guided by science. She continued, Americas 28 million adult smokers have been bombarded with misinformation about smoke-free products, which can cause confusion and prolong the most harmful form of nicotine consumptionsmoking. We look forward to continuing dialogue with the FDA as it continues to consider renewal of this modified risk authorization.

In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match  a leader in oral nicotine delivery  creating a global smoke-free champion. Our ambition is that all those who would otherwise continue smoking abandon cigarettes and switch completely to scientifically substantiated smoke-free products as soon as possible. Regulatory policies and decisions can accelerate the speed and magnitude of this historic change.

Since 2008, PMI has invested over $12.5 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate, and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of ending the sale of cigarettes.

Note to the editor

The General Snus products were first authorized as appropriate for the protection of the public health through the premarket tobacco product application process in 2015 following a PMTA submission earlier in that same year.

Since then, Swedish Match USA, Inc., has submitted eight annual reports over as many years, the last four of which were combined with MRTP annual reporting.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is a leading international tobacco company, actively delivering a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The companys current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $12.5 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match  a leader in oral nicotine delivery  creating a global smoke-free champion led by the companies IQOS and ZYN brands. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized versions of PMIs IQOS devices and consumables and Swedish Matchs General Snus as Modified Risk Tobacco Products. As of December 31, 2023, PMI's smoke-free products were available for sale in 84 markets, and PMI estimates that approximately 33 million adults around the world use PMI's smoke-free products. Smoke-free business accounted for approximately 37% of PMIs total full-year 2023 net revenues. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI announced in February 2021 its ambition to expand into wellness and healthcare areas and, through its Vectura Fertin Pharma business, aims to enhance life through the delivery of seamless health experiences. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

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Born in Mexico City to a family of self-taught entrepreneurs, Jesus Perez Irigoyen gravitated toward visual arts and graphic design, before branching out into broadcast television and founding his own Dessignare Studio in the municipality of Tlalnepantla de Baz. In my family, recalls Perez Irigoyen, art and design werent things that your family would push you to pursue. When I was growing up, there were no animation schools in Mexico. After I graduated as a graphic designer, I joined one of Mexicos biggest broadcast channels, Televisa.

While working at the broadcast stations educational wing, Fundacion Televisa, Perez Irigoyen collaborated on a series of animated short films. He showcased the work on his Dessignare blog, which he then developed into a production entity. This led to assignments directing animation, branded content, and immersive video-mapping projections. Recent work has included institutions for social programs, education, and the arts, including the Cultural Center of Spain, the National Water Commission of Mexico, the rock band Human Spiral, and exhibits for young science buffs at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Munich.

Science venues led Dessignare to explore unconventional screen formats for animation in planetarium venues and virtual reality. I have a personal interest in technology, says Perez Irigoyen. I divided my company into two groups  Dessignare Studio and Dessignare Media, dedicated to my journalism in the industry. While attending SIGGRAPH, I got inspired by what was coming in VR, and I started to introduce that into my work, building content for our portfolio. And at Annecy, the Google Spotlight Stories inspired me to move into immersive media.

Perez Irigoyens two children also provided feedback as representatives of Generation Alpha whose imaginations have formed with immersive realities at their fingertips. Planetarium shows are typically formatted from 20 to 25 minutes, noted Perez Irigoyen. When I attended those shows with my family, they were educational, but not entertaining and they [lost] the attention spans of children. I decided I wanted to try to create [programming] that could be fun, but also leave a message.

Dessignare Studios Cosmonaute 360, screened at ESOs Supernova Planetarium, involved a stylized astronaut character who inhabits outer space environments in snow-globe-like projections for a half-dome screen, and an additional VR exhibit where participants don headsets to navigate alien underwater realms. Dessignare developed production pipelines for the new media formats working with plug-ins from a Brazilian software developer combined with off-the-shelf hardware of After Effects and Maxon Cinema 4D, allowing animators to create 3d animation unrestricted by the proscenium of a traditional film frame.

Creating a world and storytelling in immersive reality can double the work for digital creation, Perez Irigoyen said. We have two approaches for working in a hemisphere dome or VR. Weve done shows in both formats, and both have their challenges. Something that I have learned in talking with other creators in immersive media is to think of your story  why are you using this format, and how does that benefit your story? It makes sense to use this for planetarium venues, looking to the sky and the stars. But it is important to understand spacial qualities, how does the audience respond to different compositions?

Both VR and hemispherical formats require special lenses and wide fields of view, where animators focus compositions on sweet spots within the broader perspective. You direct peoples attention to that sweet spot, notes Perez Irigoyen. To do that, we use composition, color, scale, and even sound. People may get curious and while they are looking around [the screen], you dont want them to miss a story point. You guide them, but you must be aware that youre stimulating their curiosity. You must do tests, otherwise people may get dizzy, or they may not catch the message you are trying to show. It is 3D animation, but our approach is more like developing a video game and, depending on the level of interactivity, we use more technologies.

To help viewers navigate VR spaces, Dessignare created a soft-toy gadget, resembling a brightly-colored NASA-style camera, for viewers to wield as a pointer in 3d space. Gripping the imaginary camera, with their cell phone Velcroed to the plushy prop, viewers interact in real-time within the immersive animated universe.

Perez Irigoyen is excited to explore further adaptations of audience interaction with 3d animation. The concept of our new film is you become a filmmaker, and you take pictures and capture video. Thats what were conceptualizing now. Its nice to see how people become playful as we add more sensorial technology. You dont need a lot of high-tech [gear] to get people to feel something, creating animation more as a performance. We did another collaboration in Taiwan, where we created a show that accompanied a balancing performance, with dancers trying to touch the stars. It becomes more theatrical, the more we use other levels of interactivity.

The recent 2024 Dome Fest West Immersive Cinema Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado, showcased creative applications for spherical cinema and animation, reflecting a recent rise in popularity from small-scale experimental operations to high-end special venues such as the 18K projections of the Las Vegas Sphere. Perez Irigoyen, who participated in the event, explained his experience there and the potential that this space holds filmmakers:
US considering carbon pricing for imports

Muriel Bal By 02 July 2024

The US is looking to a potential carbon pricing system for goods and services imported into the country as part of a wider carbon policy. The step is a key policy shift as it looks to counter Chinese industrial competition and reduce emissions.



John Podesta said the US would fight against freeriding by foreign producers of carbon-intensive industrial imports, in an interview with the UK Financial Times. Were not going to just give up our industrial base to people who are dumping carbon and freeriding on a system that doesnt account for, and in fact, kind of subsidises the dumping of high carbon production cost into open markets, he said.



The global trading system does not take embodied carbon in tradable goods into account properly, Mr Podesta said. As a result, a task force will collect in-depth data to ultimately help form policy.



What we need is to move towards a global trading system that is going to push towards clean, Podesta said. The specific policy mechanism that we will adopt needs to fairly reflect the carbon that is embodied in the goods being produced. While there was no decision about what the specific policy mechanism looks like yet, he said there was a bipartisan conversation about how we tackle this question taking place in the US with lawmakers from both parties having tabled proposals targeting carbon-intensive sectors in recent years.



China is also considering expanding its carbon permit pricing system while the EU is implementing its carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).

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Vietnam cement exports drop 10.8% in 1H24

ICR Newsroom By 02 July 2024

Between 2019 and 2022, the average export value of cement and clinker ranged from US$1bn to US$1.3bn annually. However, in 2023, export earnings sharply declined due to falling prices. The average Free On Board (FOB) price of clinker fell to US$31-32/t in May 2024, a notable decrease from US$46-48/t in 2022.

The countrys Ministry of Construction (MoC) cited an increase in the tax on clinker exports, from five to 10 per cent as of 1 January 2023, as a key factor making Vietnamese clinker less competitive. Furthermore, anti-dumping duties imposed by the Philippines in March 2023 further complicated Vietnams export market.

In response, the ministry proposed reducing the export tax on clinker to zero per cent and amending tax laws to allow VAT refunds on clinker products. These strategies aim to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese clinker, increase sales, and reduce financial pressures on the cement industry.

The current VAT policy for clinker exports does not allow input VAT deductions, exacerbating the industrys problems. The MoC further stated that, without addressing the countrys tax and VAT issues, Vietnamese clinker will continue losing its competitive advantage by 20 per cent compared to international competitors, damaging export potential.

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India's rights panel issues notice to federal gov't over allegations of jobs bar on married women at Foxconn

Xinhua) 10:31, July 02, 2024

NEW DELHI, July 1 (Xinhua) -- India's human rights panel, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Monday issued notices to the federal government and local government of the southern state of Tamil Nadu over alleged discrimination by Foxconn India, a major manufacturer of Apple products, that it barred married women from jobs.

The panel said it has taken cognizance of the media reports that Foxconn India at its iPhone assembly plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, systematically excluded married women from jobs.

"The commission has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, raise a serious issue of discrimination against married women causing the violation of the right to equality and equal opportunity," the panel said, adding that it has issued notices to the secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the chief secretary of the government of Tamil Nadu calling for a detailed report in the matter within one week.

The NHRC said the state must ensure that all companies follow norms, regulations and related labor laws, including the rights to health, dignity and equality.

Last week, media reports disclosed that jobseekers in the company were contacted between January 2023 and May this year leading to the disclosure that only unmarried women were eligible for assembly jobs, despite no mention of any such policy in the company's advertisements.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
God orchestrated the entire process for this years scuba course, bringing different people together to create a stronger program, says Judy Sloan, Ph.D., dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology at Southern Adventist University.Bo Smith, 88 alum and new instructor for the class, remembers the class being offered when he was a student more than 35 years ago. As soon as he heard that the adjunct position was open, he expressed interest in teaching. While Prof. Smith works full-time in the IT field, he has volunteered as a scuba diver at Chattanoogas downtown Tennessee Aquarium for 17 years and holds a number of professional certifications.Prof.Smith quickly finalized his dive master and instructor certifications and was hired soon after. A vital partner in his certification process was Malu Hammans, who owns and operates Choo Choo Diving & Aquatic Center in Chattanooga, less than 10 miles from the universitys campus. Mr. Hammans helped him streamline the process of gaining the necessary credentials and also remained involved once Prof. Smiths first class was up and running.The support from Choo Choo Diving  prioritizing my certifications and providing air fills and top-notch customer assistance to the university  has been crucial to our programs continued success. At every point that team has stepped up for Southern, Prof. Smith said. Early in the course, he took the students on a field trip to the center so they could experience the exceptional service firsthand. Gear was specially packaged and offered at a reduced rate to help make basic equipment requirements for the class affordable.One hurdle remained before the class could begin. Southerns scuba equipment was quite dated, meaning replacement parts would be nearly impossible to find, and some gear needed to be replaced before the class could start, Prof. Smith said. Searching for a solution, he spent time in prayer and asked God to provide a path forward.Within days, an anonymous donor with no connection to Prof. Smith offered a $10,000 gift specifically for the universitys scuba program. It was used to buy 10 new sets of scuba gear. Those funds were the solution we needed, Prof. Smith said.Status as an educational institution allowed Southern to obtain exceptional pricing discounts on new regulators, buoyancy compensator devices, and wrist dive computers through an affiliation with Deep6 Gear. The new equipment will receive regular servicing and is expected to last a lifetime.Prof. Smiths first class included students from a variety of majors who were introduced to new skills in the classroom before practicing them in the pool and, eventually, in open water. The course culminated in a weekend trip to Lake Jocassee in South Carolina for students to complete their check-out dives, one of the last steps in the certification process. By the end of the course, each student attained a Scuba Schools International (SSI) Open Water Diver certification, enabling them to explore underwater around the world with other certified divers.God ensured that everything for this class fell into place, Prof. Smith said. The whole experience has been a lesson in the power of prayer and His perfect timing.
Well done, DA Wamp.



From what I have read about the press conference and your comments to the community leaders you are spot on.



Thank you.



Clayton Cornell

* * *

I have been sickened today as a coalition of black leaders, most of whom are pastors, dont really appear to want to help our community. Allow me to give you a recap of activity, as has been reported by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.



This saga began when Celeste Murphy was chosen over our local law enforcement officers to come to Chattanooga and serve as our police chief.

Other than her professional qualifications, she was required to reside within the city limits of Chattanooga. Several of our fine law enforcement learned that she may not be playing by the rules and reported it to our District Attorney General. She did the right thing and recused herself, turning it over to the TBI. It was up to them to move forward or ignore these allegations.After the TBI investigated, they appointed a prosecutor outside of Hamilton County, as they found what they thought to be 17 clear violations of law.Now, as is the usual case in Chattanooga, a black coalition struts forward to play the race card. Why not, as Ms. Murphy is black, and they just cant wait to be dividers.Heres where it really becomes sickening to me: the pastors in this group, regardless of their religion, have been called to serve God, and mentor/shepherd/lead us in a direction toward God. When my Savior said to love one another, He didnt put an if at the end.These folks are implicit regarding black on black crime in this city. They wont speak out against it, and neither will the NAACP. They are nothing more than race baiting profiteers. Why wont they speak against the overwhelming percentage of black children born to a single mother? Why wont they speak for black fathers staying in the home to help discipline and mentor their own children? Why have abortions been overwhelmingly higher among black women?Todays events have made me conclude that there is no profit in it for them. Its far easier to be a misogynist toward a white lady who had no place in any of the 17 alleged crimes. She didnt hold the pen, didnt sign the documents, didnt tell anyone to lie about their residence, or have any part whatsoever. But who cares about the truth? I have to believe these men of the cloth dont care.Before the perpetual victims, such a Brenda Washington, chime in, Ill tell you Im a part of a biracial family and we absolutely love each other. So just keep that card in your pocket.The bottom line is we have to solve these problems. It will only happen when our leaders play by the rules and we pull together in the same direction.J. Pat Williams

* * *

The DA stated her position. It is a sad shame that the Black pastors group didnt get together with the DA in a private meeting to have productive dialogue to address problems in the interest of betterment of the community. Instead, their dialogue has the public appearance of a showdown.

Come on, DA Coty, meet with them in private, and get them on the same page. These are fine men, I mean it. Yall both want the same things.

Shame on you, J. Pat Williams, who deems himself an expert on the Black pastors group, and dares to suggest that group is somehow targeting the white DA. This is a ridiculous allegation. I know a couple of those men, and they are the finest of people.

The pastors group has been in front of every DA for at least two decades to share concerns, or at the court house steps. Contrary to Mr. Williams words, the group has been at the offices of every DA, not just Coty Wamp. This statement of Mr. Williams is factually incorrect. I suggest he speak to the prior DAs.

Mr. Williams, why insult another opinion writer that has not even weighed in on the subject. Further, Brenda Washington is not a perpetual victim, she comes from her own experience and life that differs from your own. I want to read differing opinions, otherwise this is an echo chamber.

Please stop discouraging other opinion writers like Brenda Washington and others from weighing in on matters of community interest.

April Eidson

* * *

District Attorney Wamp is 100 percent correct about black murders in Chattanooga. The pastors have not come to city hall to speak out on young black men killing young black men.

Bill Cook

* * *

Kudos to DA Wamp for having the courage to say what most everyone else is thinking but won't because of political correctness.

"I don't care about your politics. He has my phone number, he has my email address, and he knows where I work. If he has something to say to me, he can come down here and say it."

Simply awesome.

Dennis Wooden

* * *

I wish that the clergy who stood on the courthouse steps had taken the time to meet with District Attorney Wamp and discuss items of concern. It is too bad that a group of clergies stand in front of their churches on Sundays and preach of love, respect, helping others, and respect. Yet they go on TV hold a press conference and say how this was all a petty partisan and because the former police chief is a woman.

First all, the police chief should have been a local officer. We have many that are qualified. Instead, our leadership went outside the city to get someone. When she was hired, she signed forms and took an oath. She wasn't telling the truth.

Also, how can you say that crime has gone down under her leadership, when every day there is a shooting, cars getting broken into, and it seems every day there is something and I know that not everything is getting reported to the media. So, no, crime has gone down.

I am glad DA Wamp said what she did. If people would do research before telling the story they would find out that DA Wamp would have told them that she recused herself. There were complaints from Chief Murphy's own people who went to DA Wamp and that is when she recused herself. So, she didn't bring the charges, the complaints were referred to the TBI and they are the ones who brought the charges.

So, when the clergy want to accuse someone, they really need to make sure they get the correct facts. Bet some of those that voiced the complaints are ones in their own congregations.

Before you hold a press conference and accuse someone of something that wasn't done by them, get the facts correct. Before you go on TV and praise the one who is being accused, make sure the numbers and information are correct. Because standing before your congregation and accusing someone is not a good look. Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Amy Smith

* * *

Wow! J. Pat! I'm actually flattered to be mentioned in your rambling, incoherent diatribe. I've not kept much abreast of the recent events surrounding Chief Murphy. Thank you. Your infatuation with me is noted (sarcasm/funny).

Until reading April Eidson's response to you, I would have never known I was worthy of being mentioned by you.

Taking the bother to mention your biracial family as a cover for your "true" character is right up there with someone going on a racist tangent, then at the end bring up their "black/brown" friend. It's shallow and biased.

We all have someone in our family tree who doesn't look the same as our present physical appearance. My family is "multi-racial" racial (so I guess that tops whatever "biracial" point you were trying to make). They are Salvadoran, Hmong (Vietnamese/one a captain in the U.S. military/family were Vietnamese refugees/she lived the first four years of her life at a refugee camp in Taiwan). My multi-racial family also include present day Ethiopian, Ghanian (you know, from that African continent), Native American, German, and a host of other colorful rainbows that makes America "America!" They fought in wars. They died in wars. They "served the country and served it well." But see, J. Pat, that brown skin issue continues to creep up time to time as a reminder many still aren't fully accepted as full bloodied, patriotic Americans.

A Black airman, once returning home on leave, with his Army wife, can attest to that fact, when he was stopped, jacked up/assaulted by one of two airhead CPD cops. His only crime was WWB (walking-while-black) after dusk in the highly racially mixed community he was born into and lived all of his life prior to enlisting to "serve the country."

A shout out to Ms. April Eidson. We've crossed paths in the past, and not always on good terms. In fact, if anyone has ever gone for the jugular and knee-caps at one another, we certainly have. However, I do appreciate her speaking up and out on my behalf. I'd really not read the opinion piece until today, and certainly not J. Pat's rambling.

To April Eidson, I'm humbled.

Brenda Washington
Carl "Wayne" Boyd, 73, of Dunlap, Tennessee, passed away on June 29, 2024.

Born on June 12, 1951, in Chattanooga, he was the son of the late Albert and Mildred Boyd.

Wayne served diligently in the Army, dedicating years to military service, which shaped much of his character and commitment to his community. After his military service, he worked as a water quality analyst for the City of Chattanooga, where he played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the community's water supply.

A man of deep faith, Wayne was actively involved in Greenpond Baptist Church and Riverside Baptist Church. His commitment to his faith was evident in his service as a youth minister, where he touched the lives of many young individuals.

Wayne was a loving husband to Becky Boyd, and a devoted father to the late Carla Boyd, and his daughter, Carey (Stephen) Trachian. His joy was multiplied as a grandfather to Caleb, Lara, and Jonah Trachian, Michael Chambers, and Gabriel Boyd. He is also survived by his sister, Kathy (Dan) Jacobson; brothers, Eugene (Linda), David (Joyce) and Richard (Wanda) Boyd, and sister-in-law Beverly Patton along with several nieces and nephews.

Wayne's hobbies included hunting, fishing, and camping, often shared with his children and grandchildren, supporting them in their various activities and endeavors.

Waynes life was marked by his dedication to his family, faith, and community, leaving a legacy that will be cherished and remembered by all who knew him.

The family will receive friends from 12-2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, at Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. in the Coulter Chapel, with Pastor Caleb Bolton officiating. A graveside service will follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park, with military honors at 501 Memorial Drive, Chattanooga.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Heart Association.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, www.lanefh.com, 423 877-3524.
Dangerous Drawings by Doug McCoy will be on display July 1-31 at In-Town Gallery, "Between the Bridges" on Chattanoogas North Shore at 26A Frazier Ave. There will be after hours reception on July 10 from 5-8 p.m.Officials said, "July at In-Town Gallery features Doug McCoys Dangerous Drawings. Doug is well known for his edgy, satirical and offbeat artwork. His figurative and abstract imagery contains details and subtle references that invite the viewer into a dialogue with the image to establish its meaning."Regarding his current show Mr.McCoy said, Dangerous Drawings, is a deliciously dark and satirical exhibit of acrylic and ink artwork Ive created specifically for this installation. Each painting challenges the accepted norms of modern society while exploring it through musical and literary references.A native of Chattanooga, Mr. McCoy received his BA at UTC after studies in art, theater and literature. He was involved with theater and music earlier in his career, but now focuses exclusively on painting and drawing."However, the different forms of creativity he has pursued inform his highly individual art--rhythm in line, harmony in color, and drama in shape and subject," officials said.Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 am.-6 p.m. and from noon-5 p.m. on Sundays. Visit them at www.intowngallery.com, Facebook and Instagram.
Before being diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles III would visit four countries as part of a fall 2024 royal tour of OceaniaNew Zealand, Fiji, Australia, and Samoa. Now, changes are being made.

Big changes are reportedly being made to King Charles IIIs forthcoming Oceania royal tour. He and Queen Camilla, 76, are scheduled to travel internationally this fall in what will be the monarchs first post-cancer diagnosis royal tour. However, they wont follow the original plan. Instead, schedules will be lighter, and the tour will be shorter.

New Zealand and Fiji may get cut from the kings Oceania royal tour in October

According to The Mirror, the king wont visit Australia, Samoa, New Zealand, and Fiji as part of his Oceania royal tour. The Fiji and New Zealand portions of the tour are being cut as King Charles continues to recover after beginning cancer treatment in February 2024.

Described as a bitter disappointment on both sides, Buckingham Palace hasnt confirmed their plan to nix Fiji and New Zealand from the tour. The kings said to be in denial about all the planning, per The Daily Beast.

Meanwhile, Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, came close to conceding the truth of the worst kept secret in diplomacy when he remarked the king had an open invitation to visit the country, the publications Tom Sykes wrote.

The news wont, a lawmaker told Sykes, be a major disappointment to the people of New Zealand. If the royal visit is canceled, they said, New Zealanders will be typically reasonable about it.

King Charles desperately wants to keep going with Oceania tour planning

Queen Camilla and King Charles III | Victoria Jones-WPA Pool/Getty Images

For now, at least, the Palace is sticking to the line that planning for the trip continues, Sykes wrote. Their unwillingness to rush out an announcement is entirely understandable, given that they still hope Charles will be able to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) conference in Samoa, despite his ongoing cancer fight.

King Charles returned to public duties in late April 2024 after approximately 11 weeks out of the spotlight. His treatment is ongoing as he continues the royal familys busy schedule of summer events, such as the Royal Ascot and Trooping the Colour.

Palace courtiers are in denial by continuing to say that planning for the overseas trip is full steam aheadbut the orders come from the top, a source told the outlet. Charles is optimistic and desperately wants to keep going with everything.

Missing New Zealand is a great loss, and it will be a source of great regret for him, because, to be honest, he probably wont be doing it again, they added. But its frankly incredible that he is still doing Australia, and that should be celebrated.

The kings time in Australia may be shorter than planned

King Charles III, 2012 | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The king may not spend as much time Down Under as originally planned. According to The Mirror, the Australia leg of King Charles Oceania royal tour is being reduced to six days, including two days off.

Unlike Fiji and New Zealand, however, the possibility of removing Australia from the Oceania tour has never been considered.

Australia is such an important part of the Commonwealth that Charles feels it is absolutely non-negotiable, an insider said. There is considerable popular antipathy to the entire concept of the British monarch being head of state there. And, of course, he doesnt want to go down as the man who lost Australia.

To go there when he is being treated for cancer wasnt what he planned, the source added. But you could hardly think of a better way of letting Australians know how important they are to the Crown.
For the development of its high-efficiency power plant, the start-up Reverion has received the TUM Presidential Entrepreneurship Award. In addition to generating electric power with biogas, the plant can also produce hydrogen from surplus energy. Finalists for the award included Planet A Foods, with a sustainable alternative to chocolate, and RobCo, with a robotics system for small and midsized enterprises. The TUM Entrepreneurship Day brought together attendees from the large and diverse Munich innovation ecosystem.

Financial Times Londonrecently cited the potent entrepreneurship network surrounding the Technical University of Munich (TUM) when naming UnternehmerTUM as Europes best start-up hub. Yesterday more than 3000 visitors were on hand for the TUM Entrepreneurship Day to strengthen this network, learn from one another and exchange ideas on innovation trends. More than 100 start-ups came together with students, researchers, investors and industry representatives for pitches, workshops and discussion rounds.

Scheduled events included a matchmaking session for start-ups in search of co-founders and a strategy game for the circular economy. Prospective entrepreneurs learned about the support programs offered by TUM, UnternehmerTUM and TUM Venture Labs. At booths in the extensive fair zone, representatives of start-ups were on hand to take questions and explain their business ideas. Visitors also had a chance to learn how the spin-off Celonis achieved a 10 billion dollar decacorn valuation.

The TUM Presidential Entrepreneurship Award was presented to a highly promising spin-off. The award honors business ideas that are primarily rooted in research, show strong growth potential and have successfully garnered initial funding. It comes with a EUR 10,000 cash prize donated by the Friends of TUM.

Winner: Reverion The Reverion team has developed a gas-fired power station with numerous advantages as compared to earlier plants: It is more efficient, can sequester CO2 and, in addition to generating electric power, can use surplus power.

Reverion currently focuses on highly efficient biogas plants, for which it boasts an 80% efficiency rating. When there is surplus power in the grid, for example from wind or solar energy providers, the system can rapidly switch from power production to power utilization. It then produces hydrogen or methane to store energy and stabilize the networks. The power plants are operated in standardized and scalable container units.

The start-up, founded in 2022, emerged from a research project at the Chair of Energy Systems. It was supported in the TUM Venture Lab ChemSPACE, the XPRENEURS incubator program and the TechFounders accelerator program at UnternehmerTUM. Reverion is now successfully working in the market with more than 100 employees.

Finalist: Planet A Foods Planet A Foods reached the final of the Presidential Entrepreneurship Award. The team has developed a process for making a cocoa-free alternative to chocolate using domestically grown plants. With oats, sunflower seeds and other ingredients, the start-up makes a product that tastes like chocolate and can be used in the same way for further processing. The advantage over cocoa beans: less water consumption, no risk of deforestation, and a big reduction in food miles. The company has calculated that this can reduce the carbon footprint by around 90%.

The start-up team completed doctorates or studied at the Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science or at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It received support in the TUM Venture Lab Food Agro Biotech. Established in 2021, Planet A Foods already has many large confectionary producers as customers.

Finalist: RobCo Despite labor shortages and the struggle to remain competitive, many small and midsized enterprises (SMEs) are slow to acquire robots due to the high costs and potential complexity. For these companies, RobCo has developed a plug-and-play robotic system that is easy to install and intuitive to operate. The software can also be used without specialized skills. Thanks to their modular structure, the robots are suitable for versatile uses in a wide range of applications, including in the Internet of Things. The start-up also offers leasing arrangements.

Four years after its launch, RobCo is already successful at the international level. The technology is based on research at the Chair of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Real-time Systems. Support for the founders came from the XPRENEURS Incubator and the Center for Digital Technology and Management (CDTM), among other sources.
The northern coast of Oregon is currently a popular destination for people living nearby to visit, and thats because a rare fish carcass just washed ashore there. The creature is known as the hoodwinker sunfish. It is 7.3 feet long and weighs around 2,000 pounds.

The giant fish was found on a beach in the coastal town of Gearhart, Oregon, which is located about 80 miles northwest of Portland. Soon enough, photographs of the carcass flooded social media, and many individuals rushed to the beach to see it with their own eyes.

Its massive size isnt the only source of fascination. People are puzzled as to why it appeared in Oregon, of all places, because hoodwinker sunfish only live in the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere. Or at least thats what scientists thought.

According to a social media post from the Seaside Aquarium, other hoodwinkers have recently washed up in California and Alaska, so their habitat range may be wider than previously assumed.

Initially, marine biologists believed the huge fish was a common ocean sunfish (Mola mola). But upon closer inspection, they determined it was a hoodwinker sunfish (Mola tecta). It may be the largest example of the specimen ever found.

Their scientific name, mola, is derived from a Latin word that translates to millstone, referring to the flat, round body of the sunfish. The name was inspired by their sunbathing behavior, when they float on the waters surface to catch prey that happens to drift their way.

The Latin word tecta means hidden or disguised, which is a nod to how the new hoodwinker species had been hiding in plain sight, as described in the aquariums post.

The hoodwinker sunfish was first described in 2017 by marine biologist Marianne Nyegaard. Unlike the common ocean sunfish, its skin stays smooth as it ages.

The fish also has tough skin that makes it difficult for scavengers to pierce through, so it is likely that the carcass will remain on Gearhart Beach for a while. It gives curious onlookers time to observe this wonder of nature and possibly learn something new.

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Courtesy of Alliance Academy Jordan

Ten years ago, evangelicals in Jordan helped pioneer inclusive education for students with disabilities. A decade later the minister of education patronized their commencement event.

Founded in 2014, Alliance Academy Jordan (AAJ), owned by the local Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) church, began with 54 students in kindergarten through second grade. Adding a grade level each year, its first graduating class of two students completes a now 350-student body17 of which have disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to autism and ADHD.

Another 31 have different levels of learning disabilities that require special class support and attention. Over the years, AAJ has enrolled 71 such students altogether.

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It is a drop in the bucket.

In 2017, the Jordanian government launched a 10-year plan for nationwide inclusive education. AAJ was on the initial advisory committee of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that prepared it.

American funding is helping Jordan meet its goal of 30 public inclusive schools in its major cities by 2025, mandating professional development for all. Another 30 schools are planned for less-developed areas after that.

A 2020 study found that only 19 percent of teachers in Jordan were trained appropriately for special needs education. And while 11 percent of youth above the age of 5 have some sort of disability, 79 percent receive no form of schooling at all.

Last year the Higher Council selected AAJ as one of six members to form a public-private school association to share expertise and help in implementation. With an average class size of 17, AAJ is uniquely positioned to serve special needs students as it aids the national endeavor toward their social integration.

And beginning in 2025, the school plans to offer an American diploma.

CT spoke with AAJ general director Salam Madanat about challenges faced by the school, its diversity beyond disability, and how it maintains a Christian vision.

How did you come to your position?

I was happy in retirement at the time, volunteering in ministry through my church. But in 2019, the CMA asked me to join the AAJ board of trustees, due to my background with the Alliance church and in management and human resources with the Arab Bank. Three years later I was tasked to lead the search for a new school director. The position had been held by an American from the CMA mission since inception, but we were looking to transition to Jordanian leadership.

But as the search tarried, my husband whispered: I think you should do it. I didnt want to wake at 6 a.m. every day and carry such a heavy weight. But as others shared similar encouragement at the school and in the church, I prayed and God assured me: This is my work, Im responsible for it.

I am a devout Christian, so I knew he just wanted me to obey. All I could do is place my two copper coins into his hands, trusting him for what I could not see (Luke 21:14). But I am confident AAJ was founded by the will of God for a purpose, and it will remain so.

What is this purpose?

The goal was to provide affordable education for all childrennot just the rich, smart, or ableand show the love of God through this ministry. Many good schools in Jordan have different goals, as education can be a lucrative business. They compete to offer the best facilities and attract the smartest kids, and some will even expel students if their marks threaten to bring down the school grade point average.

We want our children to receive excellent education. We offer the British educational system and soon will add the American. But we located in a lower middle-class neighborhood in Amman and connected a church to the project. Our fees were very affordable for a long time as the CMA church in America helped support us, but with COVID the financial challenges began to grow. We are still much more affordable than other private schools but about on par with Christians schools.

The difficulty comes especially with our commitment to inclusive education.

Where did this vision originate?

It was the product of our original purpose, as a way to serve this neglected part of society and reach their families with the love of God. And a few years later, it fit well within Jordans 10-year plan for inclusive education. We were visited by His Royal Highness Prince Mired Bin Raad, the president of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and several other officials. They spoke of us as a model school and invited us to serve with them.

AAJ was in the news everywhere.

The attention was nice, but not without cost. Now we have a hard time attracting regular students as some families say, That school is for the disabled; I dont want to put my children there. We aim to capbut keeptheir percentage at 10 percent of class size, consistent with international norms. Other schools that enroll students with disabilities tend to be much more limited in scale.

Society is still not ready for inclusivity, but our AAJ parents love it. They say our school builds character in how their children are learning to accept diversity.

How else is diversity nurtured?

Jordan is a haven for refugees, from Syria and Iraq in particular, and some of their children are enrolled in the school. We have an additional 10 other nationalities represented, including Palestinian, Egyptian, Lebanese, American, Australian, Brazilian, Chilean, South Korean, and Chinese.

Several years ago we instituted a Chinese language course up through eighth grade. There are several Chinese projects in Jordan, and our country will need to have people able to interact with China as its influence grows in the world. We feature a yearly China Day with food, art, and clothing.

And from the beginning, we have had a slight majority of Christian students,. Nearly all other schools, including Christian schools, reflect society and its predominant Muslim majority. Christians are less than 2 percent of the Jordanian population, but a majority Christian student body allows an atmosphere that accepts a Christian spirit. And within it we communicate that while we are all different, God loves us the same.

How else do you promote a Christian spirit?

As administrators, we start every day with prayer for our students, staff, and the leadership of our nation. Students attend a morning assembly with a short devotion about biblical life values, followed by a prayer. Once a week every class has a session called Values to Grow, where we teach life lessons drawn from our faith. For parents, every two weeks we nurture a moms group through the Parent-Teacher Association, where we bring in professional experts to speak about parenting, self-care, and family issues.

And every year we celebrate Christmas and Easter.

All this is run through our life development department, which works with students, teachers, parents, and the community to show people the love of God and reach out to them in their needs, extending the help that we can. And as people notice the love of God and the spirit of service, many ask questions and want to know more.

We maintain an open environment, and besides the Christian religion class, we provide the mandatory Islamic religion classes according to the government curriculum, based on the religious background of each student. We want everyone to fit into our family atmosphere.

How does this work in the special needs department?

One key feature is that, unlike many inclusive schools, we hire the shadow teachers ourselves. But we call them learning aides, as we want them to be a part of the AAJ family and grow professionally within their role. This increases our costs substantially, as we become responsible to pay into their benefits and social security package. (Other schools tell the parents to find these accompanying teachers on their own.)

As such they fit fully into our mission and value system with a heart to serve.

We also provide for speech and occupational therapy with early intervention sessions at the school, as opposed to outside specialized centers. These services used to be free, but with our costs rising we have recently asked parents to pay a still deeply discounted rate, as well as part of the salary of the learning aides.

Parents react differently to the costs, but many accept with a grateful heart.

What does your ideal graduating student look like?

Much like our first two graduates, Allissar and Hayel, who embody our values.

AAJ was founded upon the three Rs: responsibility, respect, and relationships. We are committed to excellence in education so that we produce lifelong learners and responsible citizens who serve their society. And we create a community that values diversity, promotes integrity, and extends grace.

But these relationships are forged through the idea that since God loves us, we love others. Self-confidence follows as everyone feels valued. We teach the students to be faithful in their work, as if they are serving God. And then in service to people we emphasize loyalty to the family, country, and most importantly to God.

If our children graduate with these values, they will contribute much to Jordan.
Protesters in front of the US Supreme Court after they ruled that presidents have presumptive immunity for official acts.

Drew Angerer / Contributor / Getty

The Supreme Courts Monday ruling on presidential immunity from criminal prosecution did not offer boundless endorsement of the executive officeholders prerogative to do whatever he wants without fear of consequence.

But it came far too close, holding that the Constitution entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. He is further entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, the courts majority continued, though theres no immunity for unofficial acts.

Exactly where our justice system will draw the line between official and unofficial remains to be seen. Its still possible that the acts alleged hereformer president Donald Trumps attempted interference with the 2020 electionmay be deemed unofficial, permitting his prosecution to move forward. This may be less a victory for Trump than he has claimed.

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But set aside Trump and the official-unofficial distinction to think about this rulings larger implications. The presidents constitutional duties, as Chief Justice John Robertss decision observed, are of unrivaled gravity and breadth. Bracketing off unofficial acts is a good start, but it is only that.

And while stable governance may require us to protect a sitting president from prosecution so that, as the court said, he can do his constitutional duties without undue caution, extending that protection for the rest of his life is not only excessive but wildly risky. It says we must ultimately depend on nothing but presidential character for good governance in many important matters. It says we should cross our fingers and hope the most powerful man on earth decides to behave himself.

I am not a constitutional scholar, and I cant confidently assess the alarming claims in Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissent. But I dont think such expertise is necessary to see the basic problem here. You simply need to know what people are like. You simply need to know about the Fall. You simply need to know, as the King James Version of my childhood put it, that there is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:10), that our hearts are prone to be deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9).

This is true of each of us, of course. But the very power of the office of the presidency offers the unique opportunity to exemplify the evils that the apostle Paul mentioned in the rest of Romans 3. To quote Robertss opinion, the president is constitutionally tasked with

commanding the Armed Forces of the United States; granting reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States; and appointing public ministers and consuls, the Justices of this Court, and Officers of the United States. He also has important foreign relations responsibilities: making treaties, appointing ambassadors, recognizing foreign governments, meeting foreign leaders, overseeing international diplomacy and intelligence gathering, and managing matters related to terrorism, trade, and immigration. Domestically, he must take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and he bears responsibility for the actions of the many departments and agencies within the Executive Branch. He also plays a role in lawmaking by recommending to Congress the measures he thinks wise and signing or vetoing the bills Congress passes.

What a remarkable lot of occasions that list provides for ones tongue to practice deceit, for ones feet to be swift to shed blood, for ruin and misery to mark ones ways, for the way of peace and the fear of God to be unknown in ones thoughts and deeds (Rom. 3:1318).

What a lot of occasions, that is, for a president to commit sinsand crimes.

Im not wholly convinced that prudence requires us to say presidents cant be prosecuted while in office. As a matter of politics and scriptural record alike (Is. 10:12; Is. 49:26; Ezek. 45:89; James 3:1), my instinct is to heighten scrutiny and vigilance wherever power accumulates, the White House very much included. Other countries with similar systems of government already allow greater judicial accountability for their leaders, including (at least in theory) for sitting officials. We could too.

Still, even the lesser threat of post-office prosecution could serve as some check on presidential wrongdoing, and the presidents constitutional purview should not be excluded from that accountability. Many of the presidents constitutional duties are literal matters of life and death, war and peace, assassination and torture and extrajudicial imprisonment. These are precisely the matters that require accountability most.

There is a reason we think of war crimes as a distinctand distinctly seriouscategory of official evil. I care far less about presidential tax fraud than I do about a presidential drone strike on a 16-year-old American boy who was never accused, let alone charged, with any crime.

The only fix here, MSNBC pundit Rachel Maddow said in reaction to the courts decision, is to put someone in the White House, from here on out, who will not abuse the absolutely tyrannical power they have just been legally granted in perpetuity.

Happily, Maddow is wrong. There is another fix. Though we should certainly elect presidents with integrity, the framers of the Constitution did not design our government with such anthropological naivete. They left us other options. Namely, Congress could act to meaningfully constrain presidential power.

It might take a constitutional amendment to directly respond to this decision, but not necessarily, if history is any guide. And if every partisan forever carping about the other sides abuses of power could develop a single ounce of foresight, a congressional fix might stand a real political chance.

Thats undoubtedly wishful thinking, but its a wish I continue to hold dear. To borrow from Lord Acton in a lesser-known portion of his famous letter on the corrupting influence of power, we are foolish to judge presidents unlike other men, with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption it is the other way against holders of power, increasing as the power increases.

A government built on the assumption of its leaders good character is a government badly built.

Bonnie Kristian is editorial director of ideas and books at Christianity Today.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

In the Bible, ancient Israel wrestled with how to restrain corrupt rulers. A modern-day version of that political question went before the US Supreme Court, which ruled Monday on when a president can be prosecuted for criminal behavior.

The case revolved around former president Donald Trumps attempts to interfere with the 2020 election results. Ultimately, the Court decided that presidents have absolute immunity for official acts related to core constitutional duties while in office and presumptive immunity for official acts that dont fall under core powers, but cannot be granted immunity for private acts.

Some evangelicals have expressed disappointment in Trumps actions and support for the resulting criminal charges, saying they are eager to hold their executives to higher ethical standards, especially if they claim Christ. Trump supporters, though, have seen the efforts to prosecute him as unjust and politically motivated.

While Trump and his backers viewed the Court as siding with the former president, reactions were mixed among his opponents. Some were concerned about putting leaders above the law, while others saw the lack of immunity for unofficial acts as a significant check on executive power.

Daniel Darling, who is director of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminarys Land Center for Cultural Engagement and has been critical of Trump, said reactions to the decision were perhaps overblown.

Despite the screaming, the Court has strengthened democracy, he wrote on X. Trump has to prove his election-meddling was part of official acts. The government has to prove they werent. The court seems to lean in the direction that they werent.

Some evangelical critics of Trump have relied on biblical appeals that Trumps actions undermined the rule of law, making him unable to govern. Foremost among them is David French, a New York Times columnist, who wrote in response to the decision that the court might say that presidents arent above the law, but in reality, it established an extraordinarily broad zone of absolute immunity for presidents.

He added that this immunity, combined with the presidents ability to deploy troops, even on American soil under the Insurrection Act, would have dangerous potential implications.

The historic ruling in Donald J. Trump v. United States returned the case back to the trial court for more analysis on which of Trumps actions were official before making a judgment about moving forward with a trial.

While the case on the surface deals with weighty legal matters of contemporary politics, one legal expert said the questions around the rule of law at the heart of the case are the same controversies that biblical figures wrestled with in the Old Testament.

Much of the Old Testament are stories of kings abusing their power, Robert Cochran, professor emeritus at Pepperdines Caruso School of Law and coeditor of a 2013 InterVarsity Press book, Law and the Bible, told CT.

He pointed to the story of King Ahab, who coveted a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth. Naboth refused to sell. So Queen Jezebel had him killed, and Ahab took the vineyard.

Prior to Israel installing a king, the nation suffered from the opposite problem of general lawlessness. The Book of Judges explored the need for someone to be in charge, due to chaos caused by human sin, and the concern that human-held power is liable to corruption.

Cochran pointed to the last five chapters of Judges, where people unrestrained by the rule of law committed rapes, mass murders, kidnappings, and forced marriages (Judges 1721).

At the end of each story appears the refrain In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes, Cochran said, citing Judges 21:25 (NLT). The implication is clear: Israel needs a strong executive to enforce the law.

But establishing a king did not fix ancient Israels problems either.

Donald Trumps case puts this same tension on display, Cochran said. Both sides are arguing that the other side will abuse power if not restrained. . We need a rule that will enable presidents to govern effectively, but one under which they will not abuse their power.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who secured an indictment from a grand jury on four felony charges against Trump in the case, has made the argument throughout the proceedings that blanket immunity would make presidents unanswerable to the rule of law.

Smith accused Trump of conspiring to subvert the will of millions of American citizens and attempting to violate the peaceful transfer of power through election interference.

Meanwhile, Trumps legal team argued that unless presidents have far-reaching immunity, they are vulnerable to prosecutions by politically motivated bad actors once they leave office.

The decision means the lower court will determine whether Trumps actions that are at the heart of the trial were official or unofficial and whether Smith can move forward in prosecuting Trump for the latter. It likely means some allegations Smith had made against Trump, which involved communications between Trump and Justice Department officials, wont be grounds for prosecution.

The Supreme Court majority said the decision was not a power grab for the executive branch: The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official. The President is not above the law.

The minority saw things differently. The President is now a king above the law, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a strongly worded dissent.

Trump celebrated the outcome on his social media network, Truth Social, writing in all capital letters: BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

His supporters also applauded the ruling.

Today the Supreme Court decided on what a majority of Americans already knewthat the DOJ was weaponized against Trump, Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican and former Southern Baptist pastor, wrote on social media. No candidate or party should be attacked by their political opponents.

Critics remained skeptical. Napp Nazworth, director of the American Values Coalition and former politics editor for The Christian Post said the decision couldve been worse. But he questioned the ruling overall.

Is a coup attempt an official act? This seems to be an open question for a majority of the court, he wrote on Threads. A Never Trumper, Nazworth has long held that Trump would have a corrosive impact on the public witness of the church.

The decision today makes it extremely unlikely that Trump will face a trial before voters head to the polls in November.

Legal scholars predicted that, should Trump win the presidency a second time, its unlikely the case will proceed further.

If Trump were to be reelected and this case is still out there, it is highly likely that he would take one of several paths to getting the Justice Department to dismiss the case, George Mason University law professor Ilya Somin told CT. He also noted a standing Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. In addition, theres the open question of whether Trump would pardon himself.

Theres other ways that you could do it, Somin added. But I think the bottom line is that he would find some way to put an end to the case.
Home News Canadian megachurch substantiates abuse allegation against Bruxy Cavey involving minor

One of Canada's largest megachurches says it has substantiated sexual abuse allegations against former pastor Bruxy Cavey, including one involving a minor.

Cavey, who was arrested and charged with sexual assault in June, was the former pastor of The Meeting House, which has multiple campuses across the Toronto area.

Ontario police arrested the 57-year-old on May 31 after an investigation into reports of a sexual assault that occurred while he served as the church's primary teaching pastor from 1996 to 2021.

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An update released by the church on Saturday announced that an investigation into Cavey's conduct revealed two allegations of sexual abuse by a church leader and the third allegation of sexual misconduct involving an underage victim at the time of the alleged abuse.

A separate investigation also "substantiated" sexual abuse allegations against senior pastor Tim Day, who the church said "chose not to participate in the investigation" despite "multiple opportunities to do so."

A statement from church leaders Bruce Miller and Nour Aziz read in part: "In all cases, the victims have suffered great harm. We grieve deeply at the hurt caused to each of these individuals at our church.

"We also acknowledge the courage of those who stepped forward. We are grateful for their bravery, and willingness to be vulnerable. As church leadership, we humbly and profoundly apologize to them for the pain they experienced at the hands of The Meeting House pastors whom they  and we  trusted."

In March, the church shared the results of an initial investigation into Cavey's conduct but stopped short of labeling the allegations as "sexual abuse."

Cavey became the senior pastor of what was once called Upper Oaks Community Church in Oakville in 1997. With its name changed to The Meeting House, the church grew to 19 campuses.

The author of 2007's The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus and the 2017 book Reunion: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints, and Sinners, Cavey gained a following through his sermons and YouTube videos in which he would answer questions about Christianity.

Cavey previously served as a guest lecturer at the California-based Fresno Pacific Bible Seminary. He was removed in 2018 after donors raised concerns over his theology.

The Meeting House held a town hall Sunday to discuss updates on the allegations and how they plan to move forward as a church.

A "victim advocacy" page has been established on the church's website, which reads in part: "We grieve with all victims and are committed to taking all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously."

The page also asks "anyone who thinks they may have experienced sexual misconduct or abuse by a pastor, staff member, or lay leader" to contact the church confidentially.

The allegations involving Cavey and Day are not the first allegations made against those on The Meeting House's pastoral team.

Former youth pastor Kieran Naidoo was arrested in 2012 as part of a child pornography investigation by Ontario police.

Naidoo was later charged with possession of child pornography and other charges.

He was arrested again on sexual exploitation charges in January 2021 for an alleged incident between 2002 and 2005.

Youth pastor David Churchill was charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation in 2014. The church announced Churchill was later convicted on those charges.

In June, The Meeting House announced at a town hall gathering that the four pastors  Cavey, Day, Naidoo and Churchill  have combined for at least 38 reports of sexual misconduct.
Home News Megachurch reveals Bruxy Cavey wasnt only pastor involved in sexual misconduct, cites 38 cases

The Meeting House, one of Canada's largest megachurches, has revealed that its former teaching pastor, Bruxy Cavey, who was recently arrested and charged with sexual assault of a former parishioner, was not the only pastor to engage in sexual misconduct.

In a town hall meeting with the congregation on June 7, the church named at least three more former pastors involved collectively in at least 38 reports of misconduct.

"To date, our victim advocate Melodie [Bissell] has received 38 inquiries. She's documenting each story and is committed to advocating on their behalf," Jennifer Hryniw, member of the church's overseers board, said during the meeting.

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Hryniw named former youth pastors Kieran Naidoo and David Churchill and Tim Day, who served as senior pastor at The Meeting House for 14 years, among the other offending clergy.

Naidoo was arrested and charged as part of a large-scale child pornography investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police in 2012. Last year, he was again arrested and charged with sexual exploitation.

In 2014, Churchill was charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

"The inquiries are not all unique or separate, but they do represent allegations, disclosures and concerns related primarily to clergy sexual misconduct, harassment and abuse by Kieran Naidoo, Dave Churchill, Bruxy Cavey and Tim Day," Hryniw said.

"The cases of Kieran Naidoo and Dave Churchill have gone to court, and convictions were laid. And as you are aware, we are currently underway with two investigations where Bruxy Cavey and Tim Day have been named."

Hryniw noted that other disclosures involving previous leaders and staff at the church engaged in "sexual misconduct, adultery and troubling emotional abuse" were also reported.

"In almost all of the responses, individuals have suffered spiritual harm," she said.

The church also received reports of "brave individuals who have tried to address the culture of immorality in the past, and they felt shut down and alienated by the church."

"Each story we've read causes us deep grief. But we know it's only a fraction of the pain that the victims, both men and women, have experienced," she said. "These aren't new or recent incidences of harm and they do come as a surprise to the overseers and to many in this church family. We're thankful that for many of us, this hasn't been our experience of the church. But that doesn't mean that any of us can afford to ignore them."

Police in Hamilton, Ontario, announced in a statement that they arrested the 57-year-old Cavey on May 31 after an investigation into reports of a sexual assault that occurred while he served as primary teaching pastor at The Meeting House from 1996 to 2021.

The church is headquartered in Oakville and has multiple campuses in the Greater Toronto area.

"Hamilton Police believe that there may be more victims and encourage anyone with information to come forward," the police statement reads. "Hamilton Police want all survivors of sexual violence to know that we believe them and we will respect their choice when and how they report an incident."
Home News Christian man sentenced to death for blasphemy after Muslim riot in Jaranwala

A Pakistani court has sentenced Ehsaan Shan Masih, a 28-year-old Christian man, to death for allegedly reposting blasphemous content on social media that sparked one of the most severe mob attacks on Christians in Jaranwala, Punjab province, last August.

In August 2023, Jaranwala witnessed the torching of dozens of Christian homes and churches after accusations surfaced against two Christian men who were reportedly seen defacing the Quran. These events escalated into severe communal strife, with over 100 individuals arrested, though none have been convicted to date.

Ehsaan Shan, who was not directly involved in the alleged desecration, had shared the contentious pages on his TikTok, an action that his lawyer Khurram Shahzad claims has wrongfully led to the death sentence handed down by a Sahiwal court on Saturday, The Associated Press reported.

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Shan's lawyer announced plans to appeal the decision.

According to the United Kingdom-based watchdog group Center for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement, the ruling announced Monday by Special Judge Ziaullah Khan of the Anti-Terrorism Court includes a 22-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs1 million ($3,500).

"This is a religiously motivated and biased judgment," Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, said in a statement. "The youth is being made a scapegoat to justify the release of those detained for attacking and burning churches and Christian homes."

"The Christian community in Pakistan is facing severe injustice, living in constant fear for their lives, property, and places of worship," Saeed added. "This verdict symbolizes the virtual death of all Christians in Pakistan today. A young Christian has been scapegoated for the violence and destruction that occurred in Jaranwala."

According to Amir Farooq, the police officer who arrested Shan, the accused shared "the hateful content at a sensitive time," worsening the already volatile situation. The violence saw no casualties but forced many Christians to flee their homes.

A local priest in Sahiwal area, Naveed Kashif, expressed his dismay at the severity of the sentence, especially given the apparent lack of action against those directly involved in the mob attacks.

The immediate response by local authorities prevented a larger crisis, as articulated earlier by Bishop Abraham Daniel of the Sahiwal Baptist Church. He highlighted the pervasive fear within the Christian community and stressed the inadvertent nature of Shan's action, noting his illiteracy and lack of awareness about the gravity of his actions.

The repercussions of the violence in Jaranwala have been profound. Homes and churches were significantly damaged, with government promises of reconstruction and compensation slowly materializing. The Punjab interim Chief Minister announced monetary compensation for affected families, yet the full recovery remains a distant reality for many.

The situation remains tense, with the Christian community calling for justice and better protection under Pakistani law.

Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are stringent, with the death penalty being a legal outcome, although no executions for blasphemy have been reported thus far.

The sentencing comes weeks after the National Assembly of Pakistan passed a resolution to ensure the safety of all citizens, including religious minorities, in the wake of a horrific incident where a local tourist was tortured and killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province's Swat Valley after being accused of desecrating a copy of the Quran.

The victim of the latest lynching incident last month, identified only as a tourist from Punjab province, was beaten by an enraged mob that stormed a police station in Swat Valley where he was detained, dragged him out and set his body on fire.

Weeks earlier, in Sargodha city, a Christian community was attacked by a violent Muslim mob in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, instigated by a local cleric over allegations of blasphemy and leading to significant violence and property damage.

Parallel to the actions of the National Assembly, the Punjab Assembly also passed a similar resolution.

Legal processes over blasphemy in Pakistan often precede mob actions based on rumors or complaints, with many of these cases resulting in no serious consequences for the perpetrators. This has been noted in reports by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, criticizing the frequent impunity in such cases.

Under the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, the death penalty can be given for insulting Islam. It carries no provision to punish a false accuser or a false witness.

In 2011, Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer was assassinated by his bodyguard for speaking out against the blasphemy laws.

That same year, Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, sparking international outrage, leading to her acquittal in 2018 after spending eight years on death row.
Home News Florida teen charged with felony for leaving 'donut burnout' skid marks on LGBT pride mural Charge carries potential 5-year prison sentence

A Florida teenager was arrested and charged with a felony on Monday after leaving skid marks with his car on a street pride mural.

Christian Maier, 18, was charged with felony mischief and racing on a street after surveillance footage caught him doing "donut burnouts" with his car on St. Petersburg's "Progressive Pride Street Mural" at 3:45 a.m. on May 22, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Police said the video showed Maier "recklessly maneuvering his car in a way to leave several tire marks across the mural and causing significant damage."

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Christian Maier (18) is now being charged with a FELONY in Florida over this.



Governor DeSantis, pardon this kid.



pic.twitter.com/ESKSUw7YjA  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 2, 2024

The Progressive Pride Street Mural adorning the roundabout at Central Avenue and 25th Street marked "the original St Pete gayborhood and the birthplace of St. Pete Pride in 2003," according to its Facebook page.

Police in St. Petersburg are continuing to investigate a separate May 17 incident during which a truck also caused damage when it "accelerated through the mural."

"Investigators have no reason to believe the incidents are related," St. Petersburg Police said at the time. "Its going to cost the city of St. Petersburg $1,100 to restore. The city aims to have the mural repainted in time for pride month festivities."

Under Florida law, felony criminal mischief requires damage in excess of $1,000, and potentially carries a five-year prison sentence.

Many users on X urged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to pardon Maier, with some suggesting his prosecution is ideologically motivated.

"Blasphemy laws are as old as time itself. Nations generally do not accept insults to the national religion. And were no different here in the U.S. of Gay," tweeted radio host Jesse Kelly.

"Christian Maier is a hero," tweeted journalist Ian Miles Cheong.

"Pure anarcho-tyranny. In Florida, of all states," tweeted Michael Cassidy, a U.S. Navy veteran who also faced a felony mischief charge for toppling a satanic statue in the Iowa state Capitol last December. In May, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for having the felony dropped.

Similar incidents of teens being severely punished for defacing public LGBT pride murals have made national headlines in recent months.

In February, 19-year-old Dylan Brewer raised tens of thousands of dollars on GiveSendGo after he was charged with a felony for vandalizing an LGBT progress pride crosswalk in Clearwater, Florida, by leaving skid marks on it with his tires.

In June, a 19-year-old named Ruslan V.V. Turko and two unnamed minors in Spokane, Washington, were arrested and booked in the county jail for first-degree malicious mischief after leaving multiple dark skid marks on the city's street pride mural with their scooters, according to the Spokane Police Department.

Lime, the San Francisco-based electric scooter company whose scooters the boys used to leave the skid marks, denounced their actions as "vile" and "hateful." The company subsequently disabled the ability of riders to approach the Spokane pride mural.
Home News Fmr. Canadian megachurch pastor Bruxy Cavey faces 2 new charges of sexual assault

The former pastor of a Canadian megachurch who was arrested in 2022 for sexual assault is now facing two additional charges of sexual assault, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Bruxy Cavey, the former teaching pastor at The Meeting House in Oakville, Ontario, was recently charged with two additional sexual assault counts, according to a report by CBC Hamilton.

Cavey is slated to appear in court later this month.

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"It is unfortunate that a new and unrelated allegation has surfaced on the eve of Mr. Cavey's trial," said Megan Savard, lawyer for Cavey, as quoted by the CBC.

Cavey maintains his innocence and will vigorously defend against the new charges in court. In the meantime, he remains focused on and committed to clearing his name at his upcoming trial.

The Meeting House has several campuses and is affiliated with the Be In Christ Church of Canada, which traces its origins to the Anabaptist and Wesleyan movements.

A pastor and author of popular books like The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus, Cavey is credited with helping to grow the congregation into the megachurch.

In December 2021, an independent investigation commissioned by the church's leadership to look into accusations of sexual misconduct found that Cavey had abused his power as a pastor.

The church announced in March 2022 that Cavey had resigned, with the board of overseers having unanimously decided to ask Bruxy to resign from his role at The Meeting House effective immediately.

The investigator determined that Bruxy had maintained a sexual relationship with the victim, an adult woman, in violation of The Meeting House policy and the Handbook of Faith and Life of Be in Christ Church of Canada, stated Maggie John, chair of the churchs overseers board, at the time.

The investigator also found that what became a sexual relationship between Bruxy and the victim, which lasted over an extended period of time, constituted an abuse of Bruxys power and authority as a member of the clergy, and amounted to sexual harassment.

Police arrested Hamilton in late May 2022, with authorities explaining in a statement at the time that they believed there might be more victims.

Hamilton Police want all survivors of sexual violence to know that we believe them and we will respect their choice when and how they report an incident, local authorities noted.
Home News 'Beyond ticked off': Gold Star families react to Biden's claim no US troops have died under his watch

Family members of the U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan in 2021 expressed anger and frustration with President Joe Biden after he claimed during the CNN presidential debate that no service members were killed overseas during his time as commander-in-chief.

On Thursday, CNN hosts Dana Bash and Jake Tapper moderated the first debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump before the 2024 presidential election. The candidates discussed a variety of political issues, including abortion, immigration and foreign policy.

At one point during the debate, Biden claimed that he is the "only president this century, this decade, that doesn't have any troops dying anywhere in the world."

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The statement sparked criticism from multiple Gold Star families who lost loved ones during the Biden administration's 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In August 2021, 13 U.S. service members and around 170 Afghan civilians were killed in a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate. The bombing occurred shortly after the U.S. Department of Defense warned people about going near the airport due to reports of an imminent attack by the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) on Afghans and Americans attempting to flee the country after the Biden administration ordered a withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan.

Mark Schmitz, the father of Marine Cpl. Jared Schmitz, one of the fallen service members in Kabul, told The New York Post in a Friday statement that he received several phone calls after Biden made that remark.

"My phone blew up for probably 20 minutes after that came through, and everybody was just in utter shock. And my poor kids were in the next room  let's just say I ultimately ended up having to apologize to them for my language," he told The Post.

"It took all self-restraint not to put my fist right through my TV," Schmitz added. "I was beyond ticked off, disrespected. That's all we've ever gotten out of this president."

The White House did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

Steve Nikoui, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, who died in the blast, told The New York Post that Biden's comment did not surprise him, adding that he hopes the rest of America can see what he and other Gold Star families "have been dealing with for the last three years."

"What he did last night was he basically refused to honor the service and sacrifice of the 13 servicemen and women that were killed at the Abbey Gate directly  were killed because of his incompetence  and he refuses, since that's happened, to even recognize them," Nikoui said in a Friday statement.

Nikoui was arrested in March after he shouted at Biden during the president's State of the Union address. The father was invited to the speech as a guest of Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican from Florida who lost his legs while serving in the military. During Biden's speech, Nikoui could be heard yelling "Abbey Gate," a reference to the 2021 explosion at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

"He was arrested because he cried out to Joe Biden to remember his son," Mast wrote in an Instagram post about the situation. "Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success!"

In response to the criticism, a White House spokesperson told Fox News that Biden "cares deeply about our service members, their families, and the immense sacrifices they have made."

"Thats why the President attended the dignified transfer of the 13 brave service members who lost their lives in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021; as well as, of the three who lost their lives in Jordan earlier this year," the spokesperson said.

"As he said then and continues to believe now: Our country owes them a great deal of gratitude and a debt that we can never repay, and we will continue to honor their ultimate sacrifice."

Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, who also died in the 2021 bombing attack in Kabul, told Fox News on Saturday that he felt so much rage after hearing Biden's statement that he started yelling at the television. Hoover was in the middle of his third tour in Afghanistan and was engaged to be married at the time of his death. He was 31 years old.

"Just out of frustration. He's never acknowledged, not one time, any of our kids," the Gold Star father said. "He's never said their names. Even to this day, I doubt very seriously that he even knows their names."

Kelly Barnett, the mother of Taylor, said of the Biden administration: "What I would say to them is shame on you using our children as a pawn. It just makes me sick."
Home News Documents revealing Hamas' plans for Gaza civilians to join Oct. 7 massacre uncovered by IDF: report

Amid its ongoing military operation in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces recovered documents they say detail Hamas' plans for carrying out its Oct. 7 terror attack against civilians in southern Israel in which Gazan civilians reportedly played a part.

The documents were published for the first time Friday in a joint article by the Hebrew-language daily newspaper Israel Hayom and the German newspaper Bild detailing Hamas' purported long-term plans to conquer communities in Israel along the border with Gaza.

Hamas, recognized as a terror group by the U.S. government, has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 and killed over 1,200 people in its Oct. 7 attack, sparking Israel's military offensive in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry says over 37,000 people have been killed since the war began. Those figures don't differentiate between combatants and civilians.

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According to the report, the document instructed Hamas terrorists to abduct a large number of soldiers within the first few moments of fighting and bring them to the Gaza Strip.

Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, known as "Abu Saheeb," is a senior Hamas official who encouraged members of the terror group to create live footage of the assault. The day before the attack, the senior Hamas official held a secret meeting with his commanders and handed them a document containing battle orders.

"Ensure that there is a live broadcast of the assault and takeover of the outposts and kibbutzim. The brigade's information (department) has permission to upload the footage (to the internet)," the document stated. "You may take flags of Arab and Islamic countries with you to hoist them atop the outposts and kibbutzim."

The document does not include instructions to kidnap and murder civilians, and Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who organized the Oct. 7 attack, has claimed that the atrocities of that day were because "People got carried away, and it shouldn't have happened."

Israel Hayom asserted in its reporting, however, that additional documents recovered during Israel's military operation in Gaza show "the lengths to which [Oct. 7] was an engineered, planned, and precise operation that is very unlikely to have 'gotten out of control.'"

The first wave of the attack, conducted by Nukhba forces, Hamas' elite terror unit, entered the kibbutz Kfar Aza with what the outlet described as "chilling efficiency." The Nukhba forces appeared to already know the location of the private home and armory of the kibbutz's security coordinator.

Members of the Mizrahi family recalled how the terrorists took over their home, which did not appear to have been a coincidence, as Israel Hayom reported. The family's home faced the kibbutz's perimeter fence, which allowed the terror unit to easily shoot at IDF forces attempting to retake the kibbutz.

After the first wave, the outlet reported that Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, called for people in Gaza to grab a weapon and join the assault against Israel in a message broadcast in Gaza's mosques.

The outlet notes that similar instructions were given through Hamas' media outlets in the Gaza Strip and passed by word of mouth. The "incitement calls" were carefully planned in advance and were an attempt to "flood the Gaza border communities with as many vengeful and hate-filled Gaza residents as possible, who would enter Israel under the cover of the breaches provided by the first wave of the Nukhba force," according to Israel Hayom.

A third wave of individuals who joined the attack appears to have been civilians who took advantage of the opportunity, as Israel Hayom reported. The Israeli intelligence community labeled the individuals who participated in this third wave as "looters" or "mob."

"There are quite a few people who say in interrogations, 'We heard Mohammed Deif in the mosque, we took a knife, and our goal was to slaughter Jews,'" a police source told the outlet.

Multiple former hostages taken by the terror group on Oct. 7 have told the media that during their time in captivity, they were held in civilian homes in Gaza or hospitals.

Another document uncovered by the IDF described Hamas' goal of taking control of 221 settlements in southern Israel and expelling the "settlers" from these areas. The document stated that Hamas' leadership expected Israel to respond to the terrorist attack with force, "not only with strikes but also with an atomic bomb," noting that they were ready for this action.

The new documents' revelation comes as written orders reported on by The Wall Street Journal last October suggest terrorists were directed to maximize human losses and take hostages. Additionally, elementary schools and youth centers were among the primary targets.

One set of orders targeted the farming community of Alumim and instructed militants to "achieve the highest level of human losses." In the farming community of Sa'ad, terrorists were ordered to "take control of the kibbutz, kill as many individuals as possible, and capture hostages." For communities like Kfar Aza and Nahal Oz, details were provided about points of entry and modes of transportation for the attackers.

Hamas also reportedly conducted dress rehearsals of its attack, according to a propaganda video posted to social media on Sept. 12, according to The Hill. The video showed militants using explosives to get through a replica border gate and going building to building in a reconstruction of an Israeli town.
Home News Kamala Harris fact-checked after claiming Trump 'would ban abortion nationwide'

Vice President Kamala Harris falsely claimed that former President Donald Trump would pass a national abortion ban following the former president's debate with Joe Biden.

"Donald Trump would ban abortion nationwide," the vice president wrote in a Sunday X post. "President [Joe Biden] and I will do everything in our power to stop him and restore women's reproductive freedom."

A community note beneath the post cited multiple media outlets that reported on Trump's abortion stance, providing links to the articles. According to the community note, "President Trump has repeatedly said he will not sign a national abortion ban."

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X owner Elon Musk tweeted: "He clearly said he would not do so in the debate."

Trump has insisted that abortion policy should be left up to the states and that he wouldn't support efforts to enact federal legislation to limit abortion to certain gestations of pregnancy.

The vice president has made it clear she opposes the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, a ruling that restored regulatory authority over abortion to the states.

Harris, a former senator from California, has been a staunch supporter of abortion throughout her political career. Earlier this year, pro-life advocates condemned Harris' decision to tour a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Minnesota instead of visiting one of the state's numerous pro-life pregnancy centers.

During the CNN debate on Thursday, Biden and Trump discussed various political issues, including immigration, foreign policy and abortion. In response to a question about whether he would "block" chemical abortions, Trump expressed support for the Supreme Court's recent rejection of a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's approval of abortion pills.

Trump also said that he supports each individual state deciding its abortion policies, and he clarified that he believes in abortion exceptions in cases of rape, incest or if the pregnancy presents a risk to the mother's life. The former president argued that the Democrats are "radical" on the issue, claiming that Democratic lawmakers support abortion "in the eighth month and ninth month and even after birth."

He then highlighted comments from 2019 by former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who said that under a proposed Virginia law, an "unviable" newborn would be "kept comfortable," and a discussion would ensue between the parents and the doctor about whether the child should be "resuscitated."

During the debate, Biden claimed that allowing states to dictate abortion laws is a "terrible thing," saying that it is a "little like saying we're going to turn civil rights back to the states, let each state have a different rule." Regarding the limits the president supports on abortion, Biden said that he supports Roe v. Wade.

"I supported Roe v. Wade, which had three trimesters," Biden said in response to a question about whether he supported any abortion restrictions at all.

"First time is between a woman and a doctor. Second time is between the doctor and an extreme situation. And a third time is between the doctor  I mean, it'd be between the woman and the state."

At one point during the debate, Trump claimed that Biden supports abortion in the ninth month or after the baby is born, to which the president claimed, "We are not for late-term abortion. Period, period, period." Biden later argued that Trump and Republican lawmakers would pass a "universal ban on abortion" if the former president wins the 2024 election.

Earlier this year, the Republican presidential nominee posted a video to Truth Social outlining his campaign's abortion position, declaring that the Republican Party under his administration "will always support the creation of strong, thriving and healthy American families." Trump also expressed support for in-vitro fertilization "in every state in America."

Various pro-life groups, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and March for Life, disapproved of Trump's abortion stance. SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated that the organization was "deeply disappointed in President Trump's position."

"Saying the issue is 'back to the states' cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy," the pro-life leader stated. "If successful, they will wipe out states' rights."
Home News Missionary, 5 family members perish in fire at Wisconsin vacation rental

Pastor Steve Witte, a missionary affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, commonly referred to as WELS, perished in a fire along with five members of his family while at a vacation rental in the state, the Synod has announced.

Yesterday, we received the news of a terrible tragedy. Six members of an extended family lost their lives in a house fire at a vacation rental near Wisconsin Dells, Wis., WELS President Mark Schroeder said in a statement Monday.

The pain of losing six members of one family cannot be described with words. The only thing that can begin to bring comfort in such a time of grievous loss are the words that God himself speaks to us. Those words remind us that these members of our extended WELS family are now resting in perfect joy and peace at the side of their Savior, Schroeder added.

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Along with Witte, who served as a missionary in Thailand, his two daughters, Lydia Witte and Charis Kuehl, and three granddaughters, Stella Kuehl, Lena Henselin and Merci Henselin, also died.

The Juneau County Sheriffs Office said in a press release that at about 2:35 a.m. Sunday, they received a 911 call about a house fire at W 5040 Morros Mile Road in Necedah. The caller said they believed about two or three people were still inside the home.

While escorting people away from the home, deputies asked if everyone had been accounted for and they were told that five people were missing. They were later advised that six people, three adults and three children, were still inside the burning residence.

Firefighters reportedly battled the fire for about three hours and were on the scene for more than 12 hours. While an investigation into the fire is ongoing, officials say the fire appears to have been accidental.

Nadine Zielinski, a neighbor, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she was watching television hours before dawn Sunday when she heard what sounded like "the mortar of fireworks" going off at the home. She said when she called the police, they told her the house was on fire and they were already responding.

She speculated that the family had intended to stay at the rental for the week and had planned a Fourth of July celebration.

"I heard fireworks," she insisted. "I know the sound of fireworks intimately."

Pastor Witte, who served as a minister in the early 2000s at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Green Bay, had escaped the fire, but when he realized his grandchildren were trapped inside the burning home, he went back inside in a bid to save them, according to Pastor Larry Schlomer, WELS World Missions Administrator.

It was such a tremendous loss that many deaths within the same family, Schlomer told WMTV.

He actually made it out of the house and found out that two of his granddaughters were still inside, Schlomer revealed. He went back in seeing if he could save them and unfortunately, did not make it.

Schlomer said Pastor Witte was the lead of the WELS Asia Missions Team. His family had gathered to spend time with him because he had been overseas for several months.

His wife, Mary, his children, those were so important. Thats why they were gathered so they could enjoy some time while he was back from his mission field, Schlomer said. His passion for the Gospel, for the Good News about hope for eternity, is something that drove him to do everything that he did.
Home News San Francisco Pride Parade features public nudity around kids, 'Fetish Zone' with urine FBI, ATF participate in parade

The recent San Francisco Pride Parade featured nude adults walking around in front of children and a "Fetish Zone" where men urinated on each other in a kiddie pool and performed other sex acts.

Multiple reporters on the ground over the weekend posted graphic footage on X of the annual event that receives millions in donations from corporations and civic organizations in San Francisco. The ATF and FBI also participated in the parade, according to footage obtained by TENET Media.

TENET Media field reporter Taylor Hansen interviewed multiple nude men on the street who attempted to justify their public nudity in front of children as natural and sometimes even good for them.

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"None of the crybabies and parents who complain about it can ever explain exactly how a child is harmed by seeing the human body, and every study that's been done on the subject shows that it's not harmful. Children who grow up with it are more well-adjusted," said one naked man who described himself as "a nudist and an artist."

"I think that kids are born naked and that as long as theres not any kind of sexuality added to it, that its just nude. Thats all it is," another man said, who removed his towel to expose himself mid-way through the interview.

A 9-year-old girl Hansen spoke to recounted how she saw a man wearing a Darth Vader helmet and cape "with nothing else," which she said made her feel "grossed out."

Two naked men who described themselves as "non-binary" and "pan[sexual]" also made light of the nudity.

"Just in general, sex work is OK, so is being nude in public. San Francisco's kind of all about that," the man who identified as non-binary said.

"I know there's kids," the pansexual man said. "I don't really like that. I also want them to experience this event too, so I just try to be really respectful about it, and when I see kids, I go walk the other way. It's tough, it really is." He floated the idea of having an adults-only part of the event.

Hansen also posted a thread on X detailing more footage he captured of naked adults in front of children at the parade, including one man who positioned himself at the front of the crowd as multiple school districts and the Boy Scouts of America marched by in the parade.

The Christian Post has reached out to the San Francisco Pride Parade for comment and will update this piece if they respond.

Hansen also asked officers with the San Francisco Police Department about the nudity in front of children, which one officer affirmed was legal as long as no "sexual gratification" took place.

According to a San Francisco ordinance, public nudity is prohibited except during "any permitted parade, fair, or festival held under a City or other government issued permit."

Footage taken by reporter Savanah Hernandez at the event's Fetish Zone showed a bearded man in an inflatable kiddie pool being urinated on by a woman as others around them watched. Hernandez reported that despite the area being 18+, the attendant was not checking IDs.

Footage of the same pool taken by Hansen showed a similar situation, but which also included fellatio. When Hansen approached police about the incident, they reportedly told him it's a "pick your own battles kind of day."

Other booths in the Fetish Zone reportedly featured men getting whipped and spanked, as well as other simulated sex acts.

Most mainstream media outlets that covered the event neglected to cover its lewder aspects, with the San Francisco Chronicle running with the headline: "SF Pride Parade draws thousands celebrating LGBTQ community: 'We love our people'"

"Pride takes over San Francisco streets with eye-catching costumes and fantastic floats," read the headline from SFGate.
SCOTUS Rules Trump Has Immunity, SF Pride Parade With Full Nudity Around Kids, VP Harris Urged To Remove Biden

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:55 06:55

Top headlines for Tuesday, July 2, 2024

In this episode, we unpack the key moments from the recent San Francisco Pride Parade, including controversial elements like the Fetish Zone. We'll also cover the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions on social media censorship laws and presidential immunity. Plus, hear about Sen. Raphael Warnock's surprising comparison of President Biden's debate performance.

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Voters care about free speech, poll finds

A new poll has found that most voters support free speech and the freedom to disagree.

Just days before the UK goes to the polls in the general election, a survey by CARE has found that three quarters of the population (77%) believe that "politicians should be able to speak their minds and freely debate difficult issues".

The survey was carried out by Savanta on behalf of the Christian charity and polled the views of 2,054 UK adults.

Commenting on the findings, CARE CEO Ross Hendry called on politicians to work to protect free speech and debate in the next parliament.

"Difference and disagreement are part and parcel of politics. It's important for politicians to robustly debate different issues to ensure good, democratic outcomes," he said.

"Yet, it does seem harder for people to disagree agreeably than in years gone by. Party leaders and others must seek to restore civility, decency, and good debate to our political discourse.

"We want to see free and fair debate, where people's views on a whole range of important topics are expressed with humility and respect, and where a plurality of views are allowed.

"At CARE, we believe that free speech, tempered by civility and mutual respect, is a powerful force for good. We'd urge all politicians to commit to this in the next parliament."

Voters across the UK will cast their votes on 4 July. Latest polling shows Labour continuing to maintain a significant lead over the Tories, but thousands fear they will not be able to vote after reports of delays to postal balots.

According to recent analysis in the Financial Times, Labour could win a record 450 seats.
What is the origin of the word 'Bible'?

How we get the word 'Bible' is tied to the history of the Bible itself. This is the story...

History of the word Bible

The word Bible is indirectly derived from the Greek word for papyrus. Papyrus was used to make a parchment for writing which was rolled into scrolls. The Ancient Egyptians had used papyrus for writing on for thousands of years. In fact the English word 'paper' comes from the word 'papyrus', but in Greek it was called  (byblos).

By the twelfth century BC, Phoenician traders were importing these papyrus reeds from Egypt, and then traded in paper and scrolls. The main Mediterranean port which they used was Gebal in Lebanon. It is mentioned in the Bible in 1 Kings 5:18, Psalm 83:7 and in Ezekiel 27:9.

Today the port is called Jubayl () in Arabic. However, the Greeks came to call the port  because of its trade in papyrus. Or some people think it was the other way round, and the word for paper came from the name of the port. Either way Byblos gave its name to the scrolls, and later books, made from the papyrus. The name for the item as linked to the place stuck, in a similar way that today we say champagne which was originally a region of France, or cologne which is named after a city in Germany.

How the word evolved in Greek

The word  (from the port of Byblos) came to mean a scroll, and its diminutive form  (biblion) was used to mean a small bound book or booklet. In plural these became  (biblia), meaning books.

These words were used in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, called the Septuagint. In Daniel 9:2 we have Daniel 'meditating on the books' (  ).

In the Bible Daniel refers to the prophetic writings as 'the books' (Daniel 9:2). In the early Jewish historical writing of 1 Maccabees, the author refers to the Hebrew Scriptures as 'the holy books' (1 Maccabees 12:9). In the New Testament Jesus refers to 'the Scriptures' in Matthew 21:42, and 22:29 and in Mark 14:49. St Paul also refers to 'the Holy Scriptures' in Romans 1:2. St Paul wrote to Timothy asking him to bring 'books, especially parchments' (2 Timothy 4:13) where books translates   (ta biblia).

Holy Books

Then in the Jewish and Christian context     (ta biblia ta hagia) was used to mean the holy books, i.e. the Scriptures. Christian use of the term can be traced to the early centuries with the terms used by St Clement and Chrysostom. In the Bible itself we find books of the Old Testament referred to as the Scriptures, or the holy books in 1 Maccabees 12:9.

Latin

The Greek Empire was conquered by the Roman Empire, which adopted many of the ideas, and adapted some of the words. The Greek phrase     (ta biblia ta hagia) came into ancient Latin as 'biblia sacra' meaning sacred books. In ancient Latin 'biblia' was a plural neuter noun, but by mediaeval times the sense of 'biblia' in Latin changed to be used as a singular feminine noun. Biblia then entered English via Norman French, which had adopted it from Latin, as the word for the Bible. The word 'Bible' usually only appears on the cover and not in the text itself, but the American Lutheran scholar William F Beck (1904-66) in his 'The New Testament in the Language of Today' published in 1963, used the word 'Bible' in the Gospels rather than the term Scriptures.

Singular or plural?

So according to the development of the word 'Bible', it has the sense of a plural word which came to be used as a singular word. In fact this is quite fitting since the Bible is printed as a single book, but it is an anthology or set of long books and small books or booklets.

Bible as a prefix

The word 'Bible' to mean book can be seen in the 'biblio-' prefix, derived from Greek  (biblion) in different words. The prefix can been seen in many European languages in the local word for library, such as bibliotheque in French, biblioteca in Portuguese and Spanish, and Bibliothek in German. In English a bibliophile is someone who loves books, and a bibliography is a list of books used as a source in an essay. There is even the word bibliomancy to describe the superstitious practice of picking a random book, opening it at random, to seek an answer to a question. A biblioclast is someone who destroys books, and a biblioklept is someone who steals books. Bibliolatry is the worship of books, used metaphorically to mean dependence upon books, or the excessive reverence for the Bible as literally interpreted, to the point of idolatry.

Alternatives to the word 'Bible'

The word 'Bible' or a form of it has been adopted into many languages, especially in countries where Western missionaries have introduced the Bible. However in many languages, especially those not from Western Europe, a word like 'Bible' is not used. In many languages the local equivalent of 'Bible' is a phrase which translates into English as the Holy Book. Many Jews also use the term Tanakh for the Scriptures, and Christians in Israel who speak modern Hebrew often use a phrase which translates into English as the Book of the Covenants.

One word, different contents

Today the word 'Bible' is used by Christians and many Jews, in the English language. The word is quite flexible and it may not be exactly the same set of books. The Bible for Orthodox Christians has more books in the Old Testament than the Bible for Catholic Christians, which in turn also has more books in the Old Testament than the Bible for Protestant Christians. When Jews talk about the Bible in their context, it does not include the New Testament at all.

Even within these traditions the books may be ordered differently. In Orthodox Bibles the General epistles come before the Pauline epistles, but in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles Paul's epistles come before the epistles by the other apostles. The books of the Jewish Bible have the same set of books as found in the Old Testament of Protestant Bibles, but ordered differently.

Bible as an authoritative book

Whatever people may think about the Bible, in our society the word Bible itself has taken on the positive meaning as an authoritative or reliable book. If you go into a bookstore you can find a "Cookery Bible" or a "Baking Bible"; you can find the "Cycling Bible", "Motorcycle Bible", "Biker's Bible", or a "Plumber's Bible" etc. These are not religious books, but in many subjects you can find books which use the word Bible in their title to add the claim to be the authoritative last word on a subject.

Today the Bible is the most translated, most printed, most studied, and most distributed and most influential book in the world, in print and online.
In the keeper's dwelling, artist in residence Lee Angold prepares a canvas of her watercolour art. She has met many people who have come to share the lighthouse experience.
Telecom networks are an integral backbone of the digital infrastructure that powers our economies today. Theyre the driving force behind every industrys digital transformation, connecting businesses, people, and information like never before.

The rapid proliferation of connected devices and increasing reliance on digital services have underscored the need for comprehensive cybersecurity measures and industry-wide standards to mitigate risks and protect users data privacy. Robust cybersecurity frameworks built on globally recognized standards are critical to safeguard the very foundation of our digital economy, ensuring that innovation can thrive in a secure and trusted environment.

Moreover, the deployment of next-generation networks such as 5G and fiber-optic infrastructure requires significant investment and coordinated efforts from governments, regulators, and telecom operators. Spectrum allocation policies play a pivotal role in enabling the efficient rollout of these networks, ensuring operators have access to the necessary resources to deliver high-quality services to consumers and businesses alike. Governments must, therefore, strike a balance between promoting competition, encouraging investment, and safeguarding the public interest when formulating spectrum policies.

Recently, MENA and Central Asian telecoms stakeholders came together at a roundtable during MWC Shanghai 2024, the leading connectivity event in Asia Pacific. The session, Middle East and Central Asia ICT Policy and Governance Forum, was moderated by the GSMA, bringing together regulators and operators from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Central Asia. The stakeholders included senior officials from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and Huawei to discuss industry policies, successful practices, and valuable insights on key industry trends.

Credit: Huawei

Themed Driving Policy and Innovation to Shape Our Digital Future, the forum discussed the importance of spectrum, optical, and datacom policy planning. It also explored how carriers, enterprises, oversight agencies, and regulators can enhance mobile security capabilities and provide guidance for risk management strategies.

Mr. Jeff Wang, President of the Public Affairs and Communications Department, Huawei, said: To fully reap digital dividends, we need to pay more attention to enhancing connectivity, embracing digital application, and empowering digital talent.

The forum round table discussion featured two sessions focused on policy implementation and cybersecurity. The ICT Policy Implementation session explored spectrum planning for 5G and 5G-A networks, universal service funds (USF), and policies to promote mobile connectivity in rural areas, strengthening regulation of mobile and fixed networks to improve digital economy foundations. Based on their specific needs and achievements in these areas, the session provided recommendations for various countries, such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iraq.

More than 50 countries globally are investing in super-fast optical fiber networks and Giga broadband to handle the network demands from future technologies like AR/VR and high-definition streaming. This digital upgrade is crucial to support the development of the regional ICT industry while ensuring a smooth user experience. Operators in MENA especially need to improve their optical fiber networks to provide homes and offices with the speed and stability for these advancements.

These developments can help address the barriers in the journey towards a fully connected, intelligent world. One of these is bridging the digital divide and ensuring universal access to connectivity. As digital services become increasingly essential for education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, policymakers must prioritize initiatives extending network coverage to underserved areas and making connectivity affordable. This may involve establishing universal service funds, public-private partnerships, and targeted subsidies to incentivize operators to invest in rural and remote regions.

Furthermore, the convergence of telecommunications with other sectors, such as healthcare, education, and transportation, necessitates a holistic approach to policy development. Regulators must foster cross-sector collaboration and create an enabling environment for developing innovative digital solutions that address societal challenges. This requires a forward-looking, flexible regulatory framework that encourages experimentation, promotes interoperability, and protects consumers rights.

The meeting further sought to promote the adoption of GSMAs Network Equipment Security Assurance Scheme (NESAS) and Mobile Cybersecurity Knowledge Base (MCKB). Attendees also reviewed industry policies and best practices, with examples from Chinas successful use cases. Mr. Aloysius Cheang, Chief Security Officer, Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, reiterated Huaweis proactive approach to telecom cybersecurity standardization.

Cheang said, As we chart our journey into the digital future, cybersecurity must safeguard the trust and resiliency of the network, the cyberspace, and the metaverse where data is the new oil as organizations assets are increasingly digitalized or virtualized. We must ensure that we continue to embrace the culture of openness, transparency, and collaboration. Cybersecurity is a team sport, and together with GSMA, we can leverage their good work, such as NESAS and MCKB, that will lay the foundation to secure broadband, 5G, 5G-A, and beyond.

Mr. Jawad Abassi, Head of MENA at GSMA, who moderated the roundtable discussion, said, The GSMA regularly explores a range of security considerations including secure by design, 5G deployment models and security activities.

The Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation-Computer Emergency Response Team (OIC-CERT) is also one of the international organizations active in the 5G era standards. Last year, its 5G Security Working Group announced the launch of a Harmonized and Unified Cybersecurity Certification System (HUCCS) to systematically and comprehensively provide a common assurance mechanism for the individually certified cybersecurity outcomes of 5G networks and services among the OIC member states. Huawei was the first global ICT player to join the OIC-CERT, currently the third-largest CERT organization in the world.

Robust national network development strategies, aligned with visions and key industries, are crucial for MENA. The growing demand for advanced services necessitates network upgrades, vital for ambitious projects like Saudi Arabias 10Gbs Society. Supportive policies from governments will incentivize carriers and enterprises to invest in infrastructure optimization.
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Civil Society Media has published a new podcast episode, with Paul Parker, recording clerk of Quakers in Britain and chair of this years upcoming Faith Charities Forum .

In this episode, Paul Parker talks about the relationship between government and faith charities, the importance of charities campaigning and the legacy of Quaker philanthropists in todays voluntary sector.

You can listen to the interview now below or on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Amazon Music , and Pocket Casts , where you can find our other podcast episodes.

AI-generated transcript

Rob Preston:

Hello and welcome to another podcast from civil society media. In this episode, I spoke to Paul Parker about his role as recording clerk for Quakers in Britain. We talked about the relationship between government and faith charities, the importance of charities campaigning and the legacy of Quaker philanthropists in today's voluntary sector. Paul is set to chair this year's faith charities forum, sponsored by rathbones, which will take place in London this September. If you'd like to attend, you can buy discounted tickets until the second of August, offering great value for a full day of learning and networking. I hope you enjoy listening to my chat with Paul as much as I did recording it, and I'll speak to you again at the end.

RP:

Paul Parker, thank you very much for agreeing to do this civil society podcast with us. How you doing?

Paul Parker:

I'm well, thanks. Thanks for having me.

RP:

Thank you. So one of the reasons we've got you onto this podcast is that you're going to speak chairing the faith charities forum in later this year. How are you feeling about that? Chairing the conference.

PP:

I'm really excited about it. I think it's going to be a great day on the 18th of September. We've got some great speakers lined up, and I think I've been coming to the faith charities forum for a few years as a participant, and always found it a really stimulating day. So I'm really looking forward to seeing everybody again and to having some great discussions.

RP:

Excellent. Okay, so we'll talk a bit more about some of the discussions that are going to be taking place later on, but first we could talk a bit about yourself. So you're the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, and you've been in that role for 13 years.

PP:

That's right. Yeah, I can't quite believe it started in 2011 and been here ever since, based at friends house in Euston. Excellent.

RP:

And is that, was that your first involvement with the Quaker community, or I mentioned you might have been involved for a while before then?

PP:

Yeah, I've been a Quaker for most of my life. I suppose I've found my way to Quakers. When I was about 12 or 13, I was looking for a kind of faith experience that suited me, and tried out various things, and found that the Quaker approach both the kind of sitting in stillness together and kind of waiting for spiritual guidance to come, but also the fact that there isn't a fixed set of beliefs that really worked well for me and I met the most amazing People who were really putting their faith into action in different ways in their lives, and found them very inspiring. So that kept me going to Quaker meeting. And when Quakers were looking for someone to take on this senior staff role that I have, they wanted someone who'd obviously who was a Quaker, but also got some management experience and some leadership experience, and I had that from the work I've been doing before in education. So it was quite a good fit, and certainly found it an interesting challenge for the last few years.

RP:

Okay, What work are you doing in education?

PP:

So I was a German teacher, and then I was assistant head of a big secondary school. I did the timetable, that sort of thing. So I suppose lots of things, I think I don't I think lots of teachers have got transferable skills that are really useful in the charity sector. You have to be a good organiser and a good communicator, and you have to be good at kind of managing lots of interpersonal relationships. I think for lots of us in charity leadership, that's a pretty useful skill set.

RP:

Would you say you've had to use those skills, I guess, quite a lot over the last 13 years in your current role.

PP:

Yeah, every day, I think so. Yeah. I mean, when I was a kid, I decided, ironically, I decided I never wanted to have a job where I had to sit in an office. So I've been the kind of charity leader who spends as much time out of his office as I possibly can. But I also learned that I'm no good if I've got a job where I'm bored. And so again, this this sector, I think, really suits me. There's endless interest and a chance to kind of bring your own passion to work. So it's that's exciting every day.

RP:

Has your role changed much in the last decade or so that you've been there?

PP:

I suppose it has. I mean, the pandemic has changed all sorts of things for us. We work really differently. I think some of those things were coming anyway, and it really accelerated the process of change. We started out when I came 13 years ago as an organisation where almost all of the staff sat in an office in central London, and we've become an organisation where people are based all over the country. I think we're better placed to support. Quaker community we work with as a result, because people are kind of close, can turn up on a Sunday morning and meet people from the Quaker community much more easily than if they were all having to come out from London. I think it's really shifted the relationship between our kind of grassroots community, who we work with, and our national organisation. We're no longer kind of a bunch of people in an office up there in London who are hundreds of miles away and don't really get it in people's eyes, brought it all much closer to home. So that's that's worked really well. So that's a big change. And I think, I mean, all of us in the charity sector have seen a lot of change in the environment we work in. I've been particularly concerned about charity sector's ability to campaign and our ability to influence government and to really bring about change that's got a lot worse over the last decade or so. We'll see with the general election this year whether there's a change to that, or whether it carries on being a really difficult environment for charities to operate in,

RP:

yeah, okay, yeah. We might talk a bit more about that in a moment, but for people who don't know, so your organisation is the national Quakers in Britain organisation, there's a network of about 70 charities. Is that right?

PP:

Yeah, so it's about 70 local charities. In fact, each of those is a group of Quaker meetings. So there's about 450 Quaker communities around the country, of various kinds. You know, small ones, large ones, rural ones, urban ones, the real mix. But in most of England, Wales and Scotland, you're not more than 10 miles from your nearest Quaker meeting, unless you're really in the back of beyond. So we work with them, but we also work nationally on behalf of Quakers for a whole range of causes connected with peace and climate justice and social justice of various kinds. So we're a really interesting mix between a kind of umbrella organisation that provides support to local groups and a national and even international organisation that campaigns and works on particular issues at scale.

RP:

Yeah. And outside of your organisation, I'm always interested in. There's so many charities that seem to have they've been Quakers, have been involved in their formation, and there's some guess more obvious ones, like Barra Cadbury and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, but I've been looking into, because it's the RNLI and RSPCA 200th year anniversary, and there were some Quakers involved in the formations of those chances, I think one or two.

PP:

So yeah, and Oxfam started with a group of Quakers who formed a committee in Oxford. So there are, I mean, I think it's true of all faith communities, actually, and it's one of the reasons that the faith charities forum is such a thriving event, is that, you know, for lots of people of faith, and I think this is particularly true of Quakers, there's no point having a faith if you don't do something with it. You know, it tells you something about the sort of world we're trying to create and how we should be with one another. And therefore, if you're really true to your faith, then you take that into the world and try to change things. So the Quakers from early on, didn't separate the everyday, from from their kind of religious life. It wasn't something, still isn't something where, you know, you go off and you do your faith piece for an hour on a Sunday morning and then the rest of the time you can do what you like. It's, you know, I don't think, I don't think most people of faith see it like that. It's about it, you know, it's about who you are, how you are, how you how you exist in the world, how you interact with everybody else. So if you can see that there's some great injustice being perpetuated, well then you're going to try and do something about it. You might set up an organisation, or pull together a group of people who could do something about it, and and lots of those things have become the kind of big name charities that we see in the sector today. That's, that's right, the heart of how, certainly, how the UK charity sector kind of came into being. Yeah. I think that you know that faith stuff goes right back to the beginning of it.

RP:

Well, indeed, yeah. So one source that I've found credits the phrase speak truth to power to a Quaker pamphlet in the 1950s which, yeah, which links into what he was saying about charities' abilities to campaign.

PP:

Yeah,that was Bayard Rustin. In fact, we think who was a great Quaker, racial justice campaigner in the US, alongside Martin Luther King and and others, he was a fascinating man. There's a recent documentary about him, in fact, but you know, speaking out for racial justice before that was a thing people spoke out about. And that sense of kind of being true to what you believe, and speaking that truth to power is really important to us in Quakers, and is, you know, for me, it's one of the reasons that we've been involved in this work on protecting the right to campaign is that for us, that's a religious freedom thing. You know, if we can't go to government and say, here is the truth as we see it, and you need to to hear what we've got to say, because somebody's put a whole load of lobbying regulations around it that stop us speaking out what for us is a religious truth, then that's, you know, that's a really serious restriction on our on our religious liberty. So, yeah, that's right at the core of who we are. I mean, you mentioned Joseph Rowntree earlier, and he is really well known for his insight that, you know there are, he talked about feeding people who were very poor, and said, well, you'll always find people who help you set up a soup kitchen, but you won't necessarily find the people who'll get to the root of why people are starving in the first place, and really challenge the root causes of it, and take that knowledge to power and and sort of challenge those in power to do something about it, so that that sense of speaking truth to power, even if the phrase is a 20th century one, that that tradition of doing that, I Think, has arrived back deep roots in the Quaker movement.

RP:

That's interesting in in the last when the last general election happened, you signed a letter, along with many other people, to the prime ministerial candidates that you were urging them to provide greater freedom for civil society advocacy and campaigning. And then only a couple of years ago, you said the atmosphere around charity campaigning was still pretty hostile. How would you compare now to five years ago? There's been quite a few changes, I suppose, in the environment, there's this new leadership, but the Charity Commission, has it got any better? Has it got worse? What would you say?

PP:

I think in terms of the regulator, it's a bit better than it was. I think there is a welcome acknowledgement that campaigning is part of what charities do, and that we're right to do it, and that if we weren't doing it, we wouldn't be really fulfilling our purpose. And I'm grateful to to Orlando Fraser and the leadership of commission for kind of emphasising that. The bit that worries me still about it is a sense that charities should always kind of do that nicely. And I think I'd like to agree with that, you know, quite a nice person, and I generally want to be nice to other people, but I think sometimes charities do have a duty to kind of express a bit of righteous anger on behalf of their beneficiaries when you've done the nice bit, and actually that hasn't been heard, and some kind of injustice carries on happening. I think, you know, then you get the sorts of scandals that happen to, you know, the Windrush generation, that the post office people, the Grenfell people, where, you know, we shouldn't be nice about things like that. We should be absolutely furious. And I don't think it's the job of a Charity Commission to police whether we're nice or not. I think it's their job to police whether we are exercising our charitable purpose effectively or not. And sometimes I think charitable purpose means you've got to get pretty cross, because, you know, there's a bunch of policies that have been in place over the last decade or so that are not working, that are pulling people in the opposite direction, we've got some pretty scandalous social statistics about poverty. At the moment, for example, the number of children growing up in poverty has escalated hugely. It's all very well going along and nicely asking for that to change, but actually, I think we need to go along and have a good, good old shout.

RP:

That's interesting, yeah. So a lot of the communications, particularly with sort of Orlando frozen, as you've mentioned, some of it's around encouraging charities to adopt a kinder tone, and they've kind of compared it to perhaps some of the mainstream politicians who've not used such good such a. So not creating such a good environment and perhaps holding charities to a bit of a higher standard. But would you say that's a bit unhelpful?

PP:

I mean, I think it's fine to hold charities to a higher standard. I think we're trying to hold everybody else to a high standard, and if we're not living up to that ourselves, people should say so. But I don't think niceness is the standard we're after. I think effective, determined, committed, you know, really driven by the needs of our beneficiaries and the people we're advocating for. That's how I want to be judged. And if it looks like that, we're kind of self serving money wasters. Well, absolutely somebody should point that out, but I don't think most charities are in that space. I think we're in a kind of passionate, committed, determined slog to try and get things to be better. That's what drives those of us who are in the sector to keep going, because we can see that people are suffering and that, you know, the world is not yet the fair, just equal, respectful place that we want it to be. Yeah.

RP:

And that brings us to the Faith Charities Forum, which the theme for that this year is exploring our potential as agents of unity and increasingly polarised society. Yeah, so you said you're looking forward to chairing this year's event. Do you think expecting some lively debates?

PP:

I hope so. I'd be really disappointed if there aren't some. I think it's it's really important that we come together and think about how faiths can work together. We've got a massive amount in common across different faith communities. You know, the world's religions have far more in common and divides us to coin a phrase. And you know, therefore there's lots we can agree on about the importance of treating people well, importance of making sure that people who are in poverty are supported, the importance of positive social change, improving people's chances, all sorts of things that we can agree on easily. I think it's really easy at the moment in society, and we're seeing it a bit in this general election campaign as well. Sadly, for people to be kind of set up against each other. It's interesting that you know, a few weeks ago, a much valued charity, the interfaith network, which is one of the places where faith communities could come together and really meet on equal terms with each other, had to close because its government funding was pulled over what I can only describe as a kind of personal argument that Michael Gove decided to pick with them about who their trustees should be, which is pretty outrageous behaviour from our Secretary of State. And you know, in response, when the government was challenged about, well, how do you see faiths working together, they talked about the sort of funding they're putting into organisations which protect faiths from one another, rather than organisations which actually promote dialogue and cohesion and togetherness. So one of the reasons for really wanting that theme for the faith charities Forum this year was a sense that you know now, of all times we should be looking for the common ground, building the relationships across different communities. There are amazing people in all faith traditions involved in charitable work, and we're stronger if we do that work together and understand one another and build the connections than if we somehow separate off and try and do it in silos within our own distinct communities, that doesn't feel like the way we bring about a kind of more cohesive country that we need?

RP:

Yeah, absolutely. And yeah, we've got Hassan Joudi from the Interfaith Network is going to be speaking at the at the forum, and yes, he was one of the people involved in in the interfaith network, and the government cited his membership of the Muslim Council of Britain as Part of the reason for their decision on funding his he's talking on the panel about the relationship between faith charities and government. Do you think is this just one bad example the interfaith network was the as the relationship changed more generally in recent years? Do you think between faith charities and government?

PP:

I think, I mean, I think it changes all the time, and lots of different charities will have their own experiences. You know, Faith Charities is a really broad umbrella. You've got organisations like Islamic Relief and Christian age and a big international NGOs at one end of it. And you've got, you know, very small. Organisations doing particular things in the local community, at the other end of that spectrum, and I think people have really different experiences. I think probably what we'll find in common is that lots of faith charities find it difficult to talk to state agencies, whether that's government or to local authorities or whatever. And I think a lot of that is to do with a lack of understanding of what makes faith charities tick, and a suspicion that's still around, however hard we try to disappe that faith charities only exist to convert people to a particular faith. The vast majority of faith charities are providing some kind of service. If you go to a, for example, a hospice because you're reaching the end of your life, and it happens to be a faith based organisation, as many hospices are, they're not trying to convert you, they're just trying to make sure that your life ends as comfortably and as well as possible, and to support you and your family through that, so that that needn't be something where you know a potential funder looks at that organisation and says, Oh, we shouldn't fund them because they're a faith organisation. It's not the right question to be asking. The question is, no, is this a an organisation that does this work well and needs to be part of the community that we're trying to create. So so I think you know different different organisations will have their own experience, but I do think that issue comes up very commonly when I talk to leaders of other faith organisations and people sometimes miss some of the benefits around the kind of relationship that faith charities can have with grassroots communities. There are plenty of places, particularly in inner city communities, some of the areas of the country which are the most deprived, where faith organisations are pretty much the only thing around, and so, you know, you have to see them as part of the landscape and the fabric of those communities that is going to help things improve and work work with that. We've seen some really great examples during the pandemic, for example, and since, of Muslim charities really stepping up in local communities and providing services that the state wasn't providing or was no longer capable of providing, because it's been kind of hollowed out and its services outsourced. You look at what's going on with food banks, which are overwhelmingly based in religious premises, you know, there are lots of communities where a faith building in a church hall or a mosque or a temple or a synagogue is the only public space. So if something's going to happen in that community, that's where it needs to happen. So I think there's a real conversation to be had about the value of faith organisations in communities, both at that grassroots level and and at scale, and how we can kind of really build that kind of cohesive, just society that we're after.

RP:

And you mentioned relationships between different faith based organisations, which is some of the work that the interspace network did. Obviously, over the past year, with the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, there's been reported increases in antisemitism and Islamophobia in this country has that affected relationships? Do you think between different charities of different faiths and attitudes towards charities of certain faiths as well from members of the public?

PP:

Undoubtedly, and I think this is where people in these faith organisations who are kind of confident holding these conversations, well, really need to step forward and reach out and try to build bridges. We're seeing, you know, increasing polarisation again, I think in society, we saw it over the European referendum. We've seen it over some of the sort of political rhetoric, particularly in the in the Boris Johnson administration, where there was a kind of stoking of of divisions. And we're seeing it sadly in this election campaign over some issues as well. We don't solve these kind of conflicts by by going off into our own spaces and slamming the door behind us. We have to find ways to connect, to reach out to to find activities. We can get involved with in common and to not be afraid of having some pretty difficult conversations with one another. You know, I've learned a great deal in the last year about anti semitism and how that presents, and you know what that looks like today. I've learned a great deal as well about Islamophobia and how that presents, and you know how we can navigate those spaces and call those things out and say, Well, hang on a minute. Let's actually meet some real people and understand that it's not like that. You know, I think there are people on all sides of the faith landscape at the moment who are looking at the situation in Israel and Palestine and going, This needs to stop. I don't think that's a something where you know which faith you are means you're going to necessarily end up on one side or other of that. You can all agree that this needs to stop people are dying unnecessarily, and we need to find a way to to get people to a table and to work out how, you know, different communities are going to live alongside one another in the same part of the planet. And so, you know, there's a great deal of common ground there already to work with. And the moment you start ending up in a conversation which is about how you protect people from one another, how you strengthen the security, how you how you make sure those people over there never get in, the further we get from a peaceful resolution, it seems to me, so I'm really interested to See you know how, how far we can get on we've got a one day conference right on the 18th of September. Um, hopefully we scratch the surface of that a little bit more and build some relationships. Could get some people in a room together who might not otherwise have met, build some connections, find some common ground. That feels to me a really important offering at the moment, to the, you know, this part of the charity sector. Yeah,

RP:

Absolutely. And there's, yeah, there's quite a few more meaty topics that are going to be discussed on this, this conference, another one. There's a session on the intersection of faith and abuse in some more reports at various organisations over the past year. Do you think that's another important topic that will be discussed?

PP:

It's got to be faith communities have got to face up to some of the things that have been allowed to go on. Lots of those things are about accountability, really. If you let people behave in an unaccountable way, then they eventually do the thing you wish they would. And so I think the more we can surface issues like safeguarding and talk about, you know, how do we get the kind of transparent accountability frameworks that we need in faith communities, where often you've got people in a position which can feel really hard to challenge. You know? I mean, it's interesting. I'm from a faith tradition which has no kind of ordained leadership. We don't have special people who who, you know, can kind of stand in front and have their views heard without being challenged. But even in Quaker communities, there are people where it's pretty difficult to call them out, and we've seen some some things go wrong, but in traditions which have more of a kind of leadership figure in their community, then I think it's really important to have those protections in place, and that means having good practices. It means you know, common sense steps about how you check whether people are who they say they are, whether we really know about things they may have done in the past, or think concerns that may have arisen in the past. But it's also about making sure that you know if or when something does go wrong, it's easy to report it, it's easy for the community to do something about it and to get some help, and it's easy for them to support the survivors of whatever happened. And all of those are conversations that their faith communities have really been struggling with over the last few decades. The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse brought lots of this stuff into the daylight a few years ago, and we've welcomed that very much. I contributed a statement to that inquiry. It's not good enough for there to be abuse in religious settings, so it needs to be we need to understand how to stop it. We need to understand how it happens in order to do that, and we need to be upfront about the things that have gone wrong and deal with them.

RP:

Yeah, yeah, absolutely, yeah. So, so, yeah. It should be an interesting session. Just going back, you mentioned, you briefly mentioned, the Grenfell tower at. And tragedy, and also talks about how often faith organisations or their buildings are ingrained in local communities. I remember writing about after Bren fell, how you had larger secular charities like British Red Cross, who were doing really good work, but they worked with lots of smaller faith based organisations of different faiths. So that really brought out to me. So they were because they could access communities that the bigger organisations couldn't. So and they worked together, and they found new ways of working together because of the necessity of the situation.

PP:

Yeah, exactly. But not just they can access communities, but community assets as well. So if you know, if you've got a load of distressed people, you can have an organisation that knows how to help distressed people, but they still need a church hall to do it in, and someone will bring around a bag of tea bags, and, you know, make a cake and and look after people, or, you know, rally everybody around to find some furniture for the people who've got to move into an unfurnished flat because they've just been relocated. That's where local communities absolutely come into their own. It seems to me, otherwise, you're in a kind of, almost like a kind of aid agency situation, where you're helicoptering stuff in, but lots of what's needed in communities is already there. You've got the people who kind of know what's going on. They know who's who. They know how to help. They know how to access the facilities. And lots of those are going to be in faith, you know, little faith communities, very locally, to where something has happened. And we saw that with Grenfell. We saw it with the pandemic. So, you know, one of the things I think, that these kind of bigger organisations, and particularly state agencies, when they're thinking about, you know how to respond to those kinds of situations. Faith faith communities need to be on their radar so, you know, a useful source of all those things, a bunch of people who want to help, and a bunch of facilities and assets and and knowledge that's really important to supporting people.

RP:

Well, yeah, absolutely. Okay. Well, thank you very much, Paul. And that's everything I wanted to to answer. Is there any any other messages you want to send out? So anyone who might be listening to this might be considering attending the Faith Charities Forum this year?

PP:

Definitely come. I think it's going to be a really interesting day. We've got some fantastic people speaking. I go to a few charity sector events every year, and this is the one that kind of always kind of challenges me, introduces me to people I wouldn't have met somewhere else. So yeah, definitely turn up. It'd be really good to see lots of people there. I think it's it's such an important conversation we're having.

RP:

Thank you very much, Paul, thank you.

RP:

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the civil society media podcast. You can like and subscribe to the podcast and listen to all our other episodes on all major platforms. I hope you stay safe and well, and we'll speak to you again soon for another episode.

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On an unusually hot Monday in April, around a dozen journalists gathered in the slightly lopsided brick building that houses the Bronx Documentary Center for a workshop on reporting safely during the 2024 election.

The journalists, a mix of print, photo, and multimedia reporters, were seated at white foldout tables arranged in an incomplete square around the front of the room. On the walls around them was an exhibition of black-and-white photographs by the late Anja Niedringhaus, the AP photojournalist who was killed while reporting in eastern Afghanistan in 2014. In front of them stood Jeff Belzil, a former member of the Canadian military, dressed in a thin black hoodie with the sleeves rolled up, his arms covered in tattoos.

Who here has witnessed or experienced violence while covering protests? Belzil asked.

Most of the attendees raised their hands. Belzil didnt seem surprised.

Political reporting is not traditionally thought of as risky work, but in recent years, its become quite dangerous. Reporters have been the targets of attacks by protesters and law enforcement alike, at countless demonstrations. Nearly two dozen journalists were assaulted during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, according to the Freedom of the Press Foundation; many of them had their equipment destroyed.

The workshop in the Bronx is part of a multistate initiative put on by the International Womens Media Foundation, to help reporters better prepare for whats expected to come this summer and fall, as the 2024 campaign season heats up. The IWMF has traditionally done these kinds of trainings overseas, in war-zone environments like the Middle East, but the group says theres been growing demand to bring the safety skills and tactics to a domestic audience.

The US has become increasingly hostile, said Belzil, who is IWMFs director of security. Weve really seen a shift in the way journalists are treated. The police, he added, have become particularly aggressive toward journalists. They just dont care anymore. (In the days after the Bronx training, student journalists at Columbia were threatened with arrest for trying to cover the NYPDs efforts to remove protesters from a university building.)

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Belzil pulled up a presentation on his laptop and projected it on the large white screen behind him. It was on strategies for covering civil unrestspecifically, the threat of police intimidation, force, and unlawful arrest. One slide offered sartorial tips: dont wear all black, to avoid the risk of being identified as a member of antifa. Another slide showed the signs that the police are preparing to charge, like when officers have their gas masks on, visors down, and shields raised. The best way to avoid getting caught up in a sweep, Belzil said, was to stay mindful of where you are in the street: if youre caught in an intersection, your chances of getting arrested are much higher.

Not all the dangers discussed at the workshop were physical. Two lawyers from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a legal group that provides pro bono services to journalists, discussed the uptick in journalist arrests in 2020, during the height of pandemic and police reform protests, when there were four times as many journalists arrested as the year before. They shared a legal guide for covering elections and polling places, and described in detail what police can and cant ask journalists to dofor one, they need a warrant to demand access to a journalists materials, like their phones or notebooks. One of the lawyers described the police as operating on vampire rulesmeaning you have to invite them in.

Later, Yemile Bucay, a journalism security adviser and reporter, held a session on digital safety. She asked each of the attendees to take out their phones and attempt to dox themselvesto see just how much information about them is publicly available.

Bucay warned that theres recently been a proliferation of online data broker sitesplaces where personal data, including addresses, phone numbers, and even the names of relatives, can be easily discovered. It doesnt cost that much money to find where you live, who your relatives are, what your personal phone number is and then post it to Instagram or Twitter and mount a harassment campaign, she said.

To protect from this, Bucay advised that reporters create a layer of security around themselves, such as using a separate work phone number, and even distinct work social media accounts with no personal posts. She pointed to sites like Venmo and dating apps as two places where reporters may overlook just how much personal information is publicly available, and encouraged the audience to comb through their old social media posts and delete anything that might constitute oversharing or that didnt align with their work.

One of the reporters at the session, Garnet Henderson, who covers reproductive rights for Rewire News Group, said she recently had a situation where a source harassed her over email and phone for several months because of something theyd disliked in a story. Organizationally we couldve been a lot better prepared for that, Henderson said. I think its something where wed do well to develop a plan around things like that.

During a break late in the day, a few of the reporters wandered outside into the humid air and talked about what theyd been learning. Monica Montero, a freelance reporter and visual journalist who often covers climate protests, said she was intrigued by some of the specific tactics about making contingency plans during potentially risky events, like how to map out exit routes for the area youll be covering and using tracking apps so an editor always knows your location. Ive been in situations where I was like, Wow, this can get really ugly, Montero said. I had never really received any training, and when I learned these trainings existed, I said, I have to gobecause I want to keep reporting.



Other notable stories:

Hunter Biden, the presidents son, sued Fox News and its parent company in New York, claiming that a 2022 miniseriesin which the streaming platform Fox Nation put him on mock trial on imagined chargesunjustly enriched the network, inflicted emotional distress, and involved the sharing of intimate images in violation of state revenge porn laws; Fox called the suit politically motivated and noted that it took the series down after Hunter complained about it earlier this year, though the latters lawyers claim that parts of the series are still available online. In other legal news, a judge ruled against Devin Nunes, the Republican congressman turned CEO of Trumps media company, in a long-running defamation case related to the 2016 election; Raw Story has the details.

In her final story for Vanity Fair (before joining New York magazine), Charlotte Klein reports on tensions and significant layoffs at the Wall Street Journal, where Emma Tucker, the editor in chief, has overhauled the paper and alienated many of its staff in the process. The Journal under Tuckers leadership is, well, bettera more compelling product that a wider swath of people might pick up and read, Klein writes. Staff were generally on board, until she started firing a bunch of their colleagues, with the Washington DC bureau hit especially hard. One anonymous staffer told Klein that Tucker may be improving the journalism, while seriously hurting the journalists.

Terence Samuel is out as editor in chief of USA Today after a year in charge, effective immediately. Samuel told the New York Times Katie Robertson that his departure was sudden but that he couldnt talk about it further. I wished that this had lasted a lot longer because it was a great year, he added. We did great things in that newsroom, and I wish them the very best. USA Today, which is owned by Gannett, didnt give a reason for Samuels departure either. Caren Bohan, the papers executive editor for politics, will succeed Samuel on an interim basis while a replacement is found.



And Steve Bannon reported to prison yesterday to begin serving a four-month sentence for bucking a subpoena from the congressional committee that investigated the insurrection. Before surrendering, Bannon held a news conference alongside Marjorie Taylor Greene. He told the Daily Beast that he plans to weigh in on the news from behind bars, and that his podcast, War Room, will continue with a roster of guest hosts, including Greene and her congressional colleagues Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz.

ICYMI: Why Bidens debate performance was not a Wizard of Oz moment

Feven Merid is CJRs staff writer and Senior Delacorte Fellow.
Silvergate Bank, the California lender done in by the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, has been fined $63 million by two regulators for allegedly failing to monitor transactions.

The Federal Reserve on Monday announced the penalties against the bank, owned by Silvergate Capital Corp. The Fed portion of the fine is $43 million, and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation makes up the remainder.

Silvergate didnt admit to or deny claims made by the Fed as part of the settlement.

Separately, the US Securities and Exchange Commission is suing Silvergate Capital Corp., a California lender that was done in by the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.

The SEC sued the bank in federal court in Manhattan, according to a docket entry on Monday, which cited securities fraud as the cause. Multiple former Silvergate executives were also listed as defendants on the entry, which didnt provide details of the case.

A representative for the company declined to comment.

As one of the few traditional banks to embrace doing business with the then-nascent digital-asset industry, Silvergate became embroiled in the crypto industrys meltdown in late 2022 and 2023. The lender had made a name for itself by operating one of the few payments systems that allowed investors and digital asset companies to convert US dollar deposits into digital assets.

Top photo: The Silvergate Bank headquarters in La Jolla, California, US, on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Silvergate Capital Corp. plans to wind down operations and liquidate its bank after the crypto industrys meltdown sapped the companys financial strength, sending shares plunging. Photographer: Ariana Drehsler/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
BEREA, Ohio -- Berea City Schools Superintendent Tracy Wheeler recently reviewed a long-established district policy enabling students -- with parental consent -- to attend offsite religion classes during the school day.

At the June 27 Board of Education meeting, she stressed that the Released Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI) policy was adopted by the Berea Board of Education in 2015.

Students may be provided released time from school to attend a course in religious instruction conducted by a private entity off district property as long as parent or guardian consent is given and the sponsoring entity keeps track of attendance, provides transportation and assumes all liability for the student, the board policy says.

The student cannot be excused from a core curriculum course and must make up any missed schoolwork.

LifeWise Academy of Hilliard, Ohio, has indicated its intent to offer offsite Bible classes locally to BCSD students, with an emphasis on traditional Christian beliefs.

Several people at the board meeting urged members to reconsider current district policy for various reasons.

Primarily, this will disrupt the school day, Debbie Thompson said. There are numerous opportunities for faith formation outside the school day.

This is a slippery slope, Anna Jones added. If we go this way, it could change our community and how our children interact with each other.

Wheeler listed the Ohio Revised Code provisions that lawfully allow students to be released during the school day to attend religion classes.

We dont have a choice in that, Wheeler said. We have to adhere to the law.

We have students right now who sign out during the course of the day for religious education.

She emphasized that the outside religious sponsor is not affiliated with the Berea City Schools.

The vetting process is the responsibility of the parent, Wheeler said.

Our families have the right to choose to take their children out of school for religious education.

Discussions about the district policy, and possible changes to it, will continue at the 6 p.m. July 8 Board of Education meeting.

Read more stories from the News Sun.
(This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Tuesday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) A software stock and an e-commerce giant were among the stocks being talked about by analysts on Tuesday. Piper Sandler raised its price target on Atlassian to $225, implying upside of more than 25%. Meanwhile, Mizuho maintained Amazon as a top pick, noting its approaching an inflection point in its artificial intelligence initiatives. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. All times ET. 7:47 a.m.: Piper Sandler downgrades CrowdStrike Piper Sandler is downgrading CrowdStrike for now, despite an optimistic long-term view. The firm downgraded the cybersecurity stock to a neutral rating from overweight. Analyst Rob Owens kept his $400 price target, just 2% higher than Monday's close. "As shares have deservedly risen to the highest revenue multiple of any public software company above $75B in market cap and encroached on our $400 target (which we do not see a near-term catalyst for raising), we are lowering our rating to Neutral," the analyst wrote. CrowdStrike stock has added nearly 54% this year. While Owens remains bullish on the company in the long run, this recent runup means the stock's current risk/reward is "less favorable, he wrote. CrowdStrike also has one of the highest valuations when compared to its peers. Over the long term, however, Owens is optimistic that the cybersecurity stock's strong fundamental performance can continue, although he noted this might slow as the law of large numbers takes effect. "We remain excited about the second act for CRWD, as the company undeniably has a multitude of opportunities ahead with cloud, identity, logging / SIEM, and IT as its best of breed, cloud-native architecture truly differentiates the platform aspect of the story relative to competitors," the analyst said. "Further, its execution has been impressive and the story displays some of the best metrics in software."  Lisa Kailai Han 7:44 a.m.: Seaport upgrades Bank of America, downgrades Goldman Sachs Seaport Research is switching up its recommendations for big bank stocks. Analyst Jim Mitchell upgraded Bank of America to buy and downgraded Goldman Sachs to neutral. Mitchell said in a note to clients that his 2025 earnings estimates Bank of America are now 7% above consensus. "While we may be a little late to the party with our upgrade to Buy, we believe it is justified by BAC's still inexpensive valuation, upside to consensus, top tier consumer/wealth franchise, and the fact that it is by far under-earning the most among peers in [net interest income]," the note said. Goldman, however, appears too expensive based on its outlook. "After a significant rally in the stock, it now trades at a material premium to its LT average. And while it remains most leveraged among the large banks to a recovery in IB activity, our and consensus estimates do already reflect a healthy recovery," the note said.  Jesse Pound 7:43 a.m.: Viking is a luxury travel 'pure-play,' says Barclays Cruise liner Viking's luxury profile makes it stand out during a period of strong cruise travel demand, according to Barclays. The investment bank initiated coverage on Viking Holdings with an overweight rating. Its $39 price target on shares implies 17.3% upside potential from Monday's close. While this is a premium compared to peers' valuations, Barclays believes it is justified on the "scarcity value" of Viking's strengths. "VIK's pure-play exposure to luxury travel demand for wealthier American Baby Boomers, at scale, is unique in our coverage universe and we believe deserves scarcity value," analyst Brandt Montour wrote in a Tuesday note. Montour also cited best-in-class visibility and pricing momentum for Viking, as well as better capital efficiency relative to its larger-ship competitors. "We see VIK delivering above-industry revenue and EBITDA growth for the next several years, driven by outsized capacity growth and above-industry yield growth, the latter supported by strong brand awareness and long booking lead-times," Montour said.  Hakyung Kim 7:10 a.m.: Citi downgrades Lennar to neutral on the back of a slowing housing market Citi's taking a step back on shares of Lennar for the time being. Analyst Anthony Pettinari downgraded the home construction stock to neutral from his previous buy rating. Pettinari accompanied the downgrade by lowering his price target to $164 from $174, with the updated forecast reflecting a 12% upside for the stock. Shares of Lennar have slipped 2% this year. Pettinari cited a softening housing market backdrop as one reason for his downgrade. "We see softness in data  permits, starts, sales and prices all recently below expectations  potentially continuing in 2H," the analyst wrote. "New and existing home inventories are ticking up (despite higher for longer rates) and the 'twin engines' of the hot US housing market  TX and FL  are seeing some areas of softening." Pettinari added that although the Federal Reserve's upcoming rate cuts could be a potential catalyst into the second half of the year, housing stocks haven't always rallied into a cutting cycle, historically speaking. "While in our view there is much to like about DHI and LEN (share gain, strong cash flows, resilient GM), we see risk and reward in 2H as roughly balanced, and move to the sidelines," he wrote.  Lisa Kailai Han 6:54 a.m.: Guggenheim stands by its sell rating on Tesla, despite stock's 6% Monday rise Guggenheim stood by its sell rating on Tesla , despite Monday's inbound strength on the electric vehicle manufacturer. Tesla is down 16% on the year but closed 6% higher on Monday. TSLA YTD mountain TSLA year to date Analyst Ronald Jewsikow attributed some of the potential rise to meme stock trader Keith Gill, known by his online moniker "Roaring Kitty." Gill has been back in the spotlight in recent days after a Securities and Exchange Commission filing showed he's now the third-largest stakeholder in Chewy. "While difficult to quantify, we have joked that Roaring Kitty might drive an electric vehicle. Electric vehicle stocks have been highly correlated with the so-called meme-stocks on days when there is actionable news related to Roaring Kitty in the market," the analyst wrote, noting that other electric vehicle stocks also rallied Monday in conjunction. The analyst also attributed Tesla's Monday rise to "skittishness" around energy storage upside potential. "Recall, CEO Musk highlighted 200-300% energy storage growth at the AGM, a figure we do not believe is possible from a capacity perspective, but could suggest a strong 2Q for GWH deployments," Jewsikow said. The added that stronger-than-expected deliveries in Europe and China may have also played a role in the stock's Monday rise.  Lisa Kailai Han 6:33 a.m.: JPMorgan initiates 'highly profitable' Waystar at overweight Waystar has a bright outlook ahead, according to JPMorgan. The bank initiated the health care tech stock with an overweight rating and a December 2025 price target of $24. The stock debuted on the Nasdaq last month and closed on Monday afternoon at $21.51. Goldman Sachs' new price forecast is approximately 12% above Monday's close. "Waystar is a vertical, cloud-based software company focused on automating, digitizing, and enhancing revenue cycle management functions," wrote analyst Anne Samuel. "Adoption of their solutions is being driven by the growing number and complexity of healthcare payments and greater utilization of advanced RCM technologies such as AI." Going forward, the analyst sees "significant room" for Waystar to grow within its $15 billion addressable market opportunity, which is also growing at a 5% annual rate. This total addressable market could increase as Waystar rolls out additional products and solutions. Samuels also highlighted Waystar's "highly profitable" business model, with margins that could remain stable over time. "Putting it all together, Waystar is a scaled technology-driven business that is very sticky with a highly profitable model, and we view this name as a consistent compounder with a solid financial profile," the analyst added.  Lisa Kailai Han 6:13 a.m.: Bank of America reiterates buy rating for Spotify, sees 21% upside Good things are due to come for Spotify Technology , according to Bank of America. Analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich stood by her buy rating for the music platform stock but increased her price objective to $380 from $370. Her updated forecast implies 21% upside for shares of Spotify. As a catalyst, the analyst cited her optimism for Spotify's second-quarter results to at least come in to match guidance expectations. Ehrlich also highlighted Spotify's company initiatives, which include raising its prices, and have put it on the path towards posting positive revenues, gross margins, free cash flows and operating income. "The company clearly is at an inflection point, which has been driving share price performance over the past year and a half," she wrote. "We are confident in the sustainability of this momentum highlighted by recent price increases that should partially flow through to gross margin." Meanwhile, the company also has a dedicated consumer base and has demonstrated its ability to grow subscribers. Ehrlich sees further upside from potential pricing tiers and features such as audiobooks. Shares of Spotify have soared 67% in 2024.  Lisa Kailai Han 5:55 a.m.: Wells Fargo reiterates overweight rating on Las Vegas Sands but lowers price target Wells Fargo is still bullish on Las Vegas Sands long term, although it sees some near-term blips on the radar. Analyst Daniel Politzer reiterated his overweight rating on the casino and resort stock but lowered his price target to $58 from $60. This new forecast corresponds to a potential 35% upside for shares of Las Vegas Sands. The stock has slipped 13% in 2024. Politzer wrote that he was lowering his price to reflect updated gross gaming revenues, or GGR, and potential share shifts. While GGR has been solid for the last few months, overall growth decelerated over the course of last month. "Our LVS/WYNN est's both reflect our expectation for modest sequential market share losses, w/ LVS affected by Londoner construction disruption," the analyst said. However, Politzer believes that the setup for Las Vegas Sands could improve into the end of this year and 2025 once its estimates improve. "We are Overweight, but acknowledge LVS may be more suited for investors w/ duration/appreciation for capital return than those seeking NT upside from Macau GGR re-accelerating," the analyst added. Politzer specifically highlighted the company's Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore as a "bright spot" in its portfolio.  Lisa Kailai Han 5:43 a.m.: Piper Sandler upgrades Atlassian to overweight after 25% sell-off Investors could be overlooking Atlassian at the moment, according to Piper Sandler. The investment firm upgraded the software stock to overweight from neutral. Analyst Rob Owens also increased his price target to $225 from $200. This updated forecast implies that shares of Atlassian could jump 26% from here. Shares of Atlassian have plunged 25% this year, making the risk/reward look more favorable. The analyst wrote that he sees "the current valuation as an attractive entry point into what we view as one of the most durable companies in our coverage." As more consumers migrate to the cloud, Owens believes that this could drive further durable growth for the company. "We do believe that it is a question of when  not if  these enterprises will move to cloud. With a large amount of new data residency locations coming online in the last year, compelling new products in the cloud only like Atlassian Intelligence and more improvements on the way, we believe enterprise migrations will pick up steam going forward," he wrote. Meanwhile, Atlassian's product innovations could create cross-sell opportunities for the company.  Lisa Kailai Han 5:43 a.m.: Amazon reaching AI 'inflection point,' says Mizuho Mizuho thinks Amazon could soon get a major boost from artificial intelligence. The bank maintained the e-commerce giant as a top pick. Its $240 price target on the stock implies upside of 21.7% from Monday's close. "Gen-AI projects are nearing an inflection point, with external-facing models 6 months away from commercial deployments," analyst James Lee wrote. "After launch, we expect the consumption multiplier effect to kick in as inferencing activity should accelerate meaningfully given the large base of external customers." "With that in mind, we have increased conviction of AWS acceleration and our above-the-Street revenue growth forecast of 20%," Lee added. Amazon shares have popped nearly 30% year to date. AMZN YTD mountain AMZN year to date  Fred Imbert
Still, the public and private criticism by party officials, including some Democrats in Congress, has not subsided despite Biden's effort to calm their nerves.

The campaign said that "nearly two-thirds [of] June's raise came from grassroots donors, and of the $38 million raised in the final few days of the month, more than $30 million came from grassroots donations." The campaign also said its political operation went into the third quarter with $240 million on hand.

The high fundraising total suggests that those who often contribute smaller amounts of money are sticking with the president, even though wealthy Democratic donors and fundraisers sounded the alarm about the president's sluggish debate.

Biden's team noted that the money was raised for Team Biden-Harris, which includes the political entities of the Biden campaign, his joint fundraising committees, the Democratic National Committee and dozens of state parties across the country.

President Joe Biden' s campaign announced in an email that it raised $127 million in June, with over $30 million brought in since his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump on Thursday.

"I think like a lot of people I was pretty horrified," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. about the debate on Monday in an interview for a local television station.

"I think people want to make sure that this is a campaign that's ready to go and win, that the president and his team are being candid with us about his condition  that this was a real anomaly and not just the way he is these days," Whitehouse said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. said in an interview with MSNBC on Sunday that Biden's debate performance was a "big problem," and there are discussions up and down the Democratic Party about what took place on Thursday in Atlanta.

"So this makes it a difficult situation for everybody, but there are very honest and serious and rigorous conversations happening at every level of our party because it is a political party and we have differences in point of view," said Raskin.

Raskin noted that if Biden announces he will not stand for reelection, the party will be united around someone else.

"One thing I can tell you is that regardless of what President Biden decides, our party is going to be unified, and our party also needs him at the very center of our deliberations and our campaign," said Raskin. "And so whether he's the candidate or someone else is the candidate, he is going to be the keynote speaker at our convention. He will be the figure that we rally around to move forward, and beat the forces of authoritarianism and reaction in the country."

Biden's team has said the president has no plans to drop out of the race.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after a jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his criminal trial at New York State Supreme Court on May 30, 2024.

Merchan said he will reach a decision on the matter by Sept. 6. Trump's sentencing will occur Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. ET, if such is still necessary, Merchan ruled.

Trump's lawyers now have until July 10 to file a motion to set aside the hush money verdict. Prosecutors, who did not oppose Trump's bid to delay the sentencing date, must file their response by July 24.

That request came in light of Monday's bombshell Supreme Court ruling that former presidents are entitled to presumptive immunity for all official acts they performed in office.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was previously set to be sentenced July 11. But Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan in Tuesday's order canceled that date, while granting a request by Trump's attorneys to file a motion seeking to overturn his guilty verdict.

Trump's criminal sentencing, if it still happens, will now take place Sept. 18, about seven weeks before the Nov. 5 presidential election.

A New York judge on Tuesday delayed Donald Trump 's sentencing date in his criminal hush money case by more than two months, following a request by the former president's attorneys to challenge his conviction.

The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision instantly threatened to undermine some of the numerous active criminal cases against Trump.

The hush money case, which will likely be the only one against Trump to head to trial before the Nov. 5 presidential election, ended on May 30 with Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The case centered on a $130,000 payment made shortly before the 2016 election to porn star Stormy Daniels, who says she had sex with Trump while he was married years earlier. Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen, who made the payment, was reimbursed by Trump after he became president.

In a letter to Merchan on Monday, Trump's attorneys asked for a July 10 deadline to submit a legal memo in support of their bid to set aside the guilty verdict.

And because of the complexity of the issues presented, they added, President Trump does not object to an adjournment of the July 11, 2024 sentencing date in order to allow adequate time for full briefing, oral argument, and a decision.

The attorneys argued in the letter that, under the Supreme Court's latest ruling, certain evidence prosecutors introduced at trial should never have been put before the jury" because it pertained to official presidential acts. Their letter referenced the then-president's social media posts and public statements.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, they wrote, quoting the majority opinion from Chief Justice John Roberts.

After further briefing on these issues beginning on July 10, 2024, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand, Trump's lawyers wrote.

Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's office, in their own letter to Merchan on Tuesday, said they believe Trump's arguments are meritless.

But we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, the prosecutors wrote.

The Supreme Court's ruling came as part of a separate criminal case charging Trump with illegally conspiring to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

That case was put on ice for months while Trump and special counsel Jack Smith grappled over whether former presidents are immune from prosecution for their official acts.

Judges in federal district court and the federal appellate circuit in Washington, D.C., had rejected Trump's claim of absolute immunity for all official acts.

But the Supreme Court's six-member conservative majority vacated those decisions, ruling Monday that ex-presidents have at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for those acts.

That immunity holds unless the Government can show that applying a criminal prohibition to that act would pose no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch, Roberts wrote.

The majority also appeared to limit the evidence that can be used in a criminal prosecution of a former president, even if they are only accused of unofficial conduct.

Using evidence of official conduct in such a prosecution would defeat the intended effect of the president's immunity, Roberts wrote. Doing so would thereby heighten the prospect that the President's official decisionmaking will be distorted.

The decision drew a vehement response from the court's three liberal justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, who expressed fear for our democracy in a scathing dissent.
An insurance crisis that has sent premiums skyrocketing and caused carriers to flee coastal states like Florida and California is spreading, and it is fundamentally changing the real estate market in states across the country.

"Not only is the cost higher than people anticipated, but just the inability to secure insurance at all makes deals fall through before they even happen," said Bill Baldwin, owner of Boulevard Realty in Houston.

Increasingly, Baldwin said, he and other brokers are seeing insurance companies swoop in just as deals are about to close, making nearly impossible demands.

"A new roof, for roofs that are only seven years old, or 10 years old. They want trees cut down that are within 20 feet of the edge of the house. Oftentimes those trees are on the neighbor's property," he said.

"And when that can't happen, you can't get insurance, which causes the sale to fall through."

A similar dynamic is playing out in commercial real estate, said Ross Markowitz, director of insurance risk management at AEW Capital Management, a global real estate investment advisory firm in Boston.

"We're having to really educate our internal teams," he said. "Don't expect your buyers to be able to get the pricing of insurance that we have, so they'll probably [want] to offer less for the deal."

Mounting insurance losses

The new dynamic comes after several years of staggering losses for the insurance industry from natural disasters, including nearly $80 billion in insured losses last year alone, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

"It's directly related to climate risk," said Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications at the nonprofit First Street Foundation, which quantifies climate-related risks. He said that insurance companies are increasingly interested in the organization's data.

"Insurance companies are responding to the fact that we're seeing more frequent and more severe climate events, and the fact that they're paying out more than they're bringing in," he said.

Leash Yu, managing director of personal lines at Higginbotham in Houston, said insurance carriers are scrambling to maintain their financial ratings and, in some cases, just to stay in business.

"There's three things they can do. They can drastically increase rates, they can get rid of some of their risks, or they can severely limit the type of the new business that comes in," he said. "And some carriers are doing all three."

Hurricanes, wildfires and extreme premiums

The crisis showed up first in Florida, which has endured three major hurricanes in two years. Florida policyholders now pay nearly five times the national average, according to Insurify. With multiple carriers either leaving the state or going out of business, the state's insurer of last resort  Citizens  has seen its policy count triple in four years, to nearly 1.2 million. Now, Citizens is asking regulators to approve a 14% rate increase.

In California, where at least eight carriers have left the state or limited their exposure, that state's insurer of last resort  the California FAIR Plan has seen a 14% jump in policyholders this year alone, and a 137% increase since 2019.

In Louisiana, homeowners are paying roughly three times the national average, according to Insurify.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani departs the U.S. District Courthouse after he was ordered to pay $148 million in his defamation case in Washington, U.S., December 15, 2023.

Rudy Giuliani's New York law license was revoked on Tuesday amid allegations that he assisted former President Donald Trump's failed effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Giuliani's law license remains under review in Washington, D.C.

"The disciplinary charges stem from the allegations that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump's failed effort at reelection in 2020," attorneys for the New York appeals court that issued the ruling wrote in their decision.

Giuliani was first admitted to practice law in New York in June 1969.

"Mr. Giuliani is obviously disappointed in the decision. We are weighing our appellate options," Giuliani's lawyer Barry Kamins said in a statement to NBC News.

The New York appeals court cited a variety of false statements Giuliani has made to allegedly help Trump convince courts to invalidate the results of the 2020 election.
Protesters gather during an anti-far-right rally after French President Emmanuel Macron called legislative elections following far-right parties' significant gains in European Parliament elections in Paris on June 15, 2024.

French President Emmanuel Macron is facing a reckoning after the country's far right made historic gains in the first round of a snap parliamentary election.

The National Rally, led by firebrand Marine Le Pen, and its allies secured over 33% of Sunday's vote in a staunch rebuke of Macron's centrist and globalist policies. If they go on to win an absolute majority during the vote's second round on Sunday, Macron's power will be severely weakened.

Calling the election was a high-stakes gamble for the French president who came to power more than seven years ago. He characterized the race as a choice between nationalism and demagoguery on one side and liberal values and a strong, united European Union on the other  but many now think his gamble backfired.

Thomas Piketty, bestselling French economist and economics professor, pointed to what he described as one of Macron's biggest mistakes: neglecting and demonizing France's left wing.

"What I am a bit concerned with is that the current government has tried to demonize the left in recent weeks, days, months  although Macron would never have been elected without the left," Piketty, author of the book "Capital in the Twenty-First Century," told CNBC's "Street Signs Europe" on Monday.

"Without the left vote in favor of Macron against Le Pen in 2022 and 2017, he would not be president, and he never really tried to do something together in the end with the people who made him president."

Piketty described France as having three main voting blocs: the far right, the centrist business bloc and the left. He described Macron's centrist party, Renaissance, as getting votes in "the very fancy places of the country" where there are concentrations of business elite, saying "they thought they could remain in power just catering" to that bloc.
Gen Z isn't shy about speaking up and advocating for issues they care about in the workplace, whether it's salary transparency or mental health.

This boldness might unsettle HR leaders and bosses  some have called Gen Z the "most difficult" generation to work with  but it can also be a valuable asset for the youngest members of the workforce.

That's at least according to Dr. Benjamin Granger, chief workplace psychologist and head of EX (employee experience) advisory services at Qualtrics.

"Gen Z's greatest strength is that they're more likely than other generations to challenge the status quo," Granger says. "Those conversations and those experiences are where innovation and creativity happen."

Twenty-somethings challenging workplace norms set by their elders is a longstanding trend, but Granger says there's a new confidence and consideration in the way Gen Zers approach these conversations.

One of Gen Z's defining characteristics is their strong sense of social and environmental responsibility.

They're vocal about creating equitable, sustainable workplaces, Granger points out, and are willing to challenge employers to be more accountable for their impact on employees and society at large where others might not.

When younger employees encourage their organizations to shift away from corporate neutrality to a more open expression of values, it can lead to more efficient processes, happier employees and better products, Granger adds.

Research has found that having a proactive attitude and speaking up is generally linked with positive career outcomes, including a higher chance of promotion and stronger relationships with co-workers.

"But such feedback isn't always going to be positively perceived by executives, who might be frustrated with employees breaking long-held norms," says Granger.

Younger professionals can avoid  or minimize  any negative repercussions by doing their homework before raising an issue.

Granger's advice? Consider whether your manager or colleague can realistically take action on your suggestion, accounting for time or resource constraints, and if your opinion can help the team or organization be more successful, not exclusively benefit you as the employee.

For these conversations to be truly effective, he adds, leaders need to create an environment where feedback is encouraged and solicited.

"Giving and receiving feedback can unlock different parts of you that you didn't even know existed and benefit your professional growth," says Granger. "Gen Zers, by embracing and initiating these conversations as much as they are, are catalyzing this growth in themselves."

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A church in Anafiotika neighborhood, a part of the old historical neighborhood called Plaka, in Athens, Greece on March 16th, 2024.

Greece has controversially introduced a six-day working week for some businesses in a bid to boost productivity and employment in the southern European country.

The regulation, which came into force on July 1, bucks a global trend of companies exploring a shorter working week.

Under the new legislation, which was passed as part of a broader set of labor laws last year, employees of private businesses that provide round-the-clock services will reportedly have the option of working an additional two hours per day or an extra eight-hour shift.

The change means a traditional 40-hour workweek could be extended to 48 hours per week for some businesses. Food service and tourism workers are not included in the six-day working week initiative.

The measure would impact two specific types of businesses: Those with continuous 24/7 operations that use rotating shifts, and those firms that operate 24 hours a day, five or six days a week, also using rotating shifts. With the latter, the additional working day option is permissible only in the case of an increased workload.

"It is important to note that this new regulation does not in any way affect the established five-day/40-hour working week mandated by Greek law, nor does it establish a new six-day working week," Greek Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameus told CNBC via email.

"All it does is provide only in limited circumstances for the option of an additional working day, as an exceptional measure. Most countries in Europe have similar provisions for exceptional additional working days. So Greece is not doing anything different," she said.

The pro-business government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said the measure is both "worker-friendly" and "deeply growth-orientated." It is designed to support employees not being sufficiently compensated for overtime work and to help crack down on the problem of undeclared labor.

Labor unions and political observers have sharply criticized the move.
A boy clears rock from the street as it gets flooded after the hurricane Beryl passes in the parish of Saint James, Barbados, near to Bridgetown, Barbados on July 1, 2024. Chandan Khanna | AFP | Getty Images

Hurricane Beryl was roaring by Jamaica Wednesday, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain after the powerful Category 4 storm earlier killed at least six people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Beryl's eyewall was "brushing the south coast of Jamaica." Wind-whipped rain pounded the island for hours as residents heeded authorities' call to shelter until the storm had passed. Power was knocked out in much of the capital. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on Wednesday afternoon that nearly 500 people were placed in shelters. "We are placing emphasis on ensuring they are comfortable and well looked after," he said in a social media post. Before Beryl's arrival in Kingston, people had earlier boarded up windows, fishermen pulled their boats out of the water and workers dismantled roadside advertising boards to protect them from the lashing winds. Kingston resident Pauline Lynch said that she had stockpiled food and water in anticipation of the storm's arrival. With wind already driving rain, Lynch said, "I have no control over what is coming so I just have to pray that all people of Jamaica is safe and we don't suffer no deaths, no loss."

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Getty Images

By midday, winds already howled in the capital, turning the sea into churning whitecaps as Beryl's eye scraped by the island's southern coast. "We are very concerned about a wide variety of life threatening impacts in Jamaica," including storm surge, high winds and flash flooding, said Jon Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather. Porter called Beryl "the strongest and most dangerous hurricane threat that Jamaica has faced, probably, in decades." A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Beryl was forecast to weaken slightly over the next day or two, but still be at or near major-hurricane strength when it passes near or over Jamaica on Wednesday, near the Cayman Islands on Thursday and into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Jamaica was under a state of emergency as the island was declared a disaster zone hours before the impact of Hurricane Beryl. Holness said that the disaster zone declaration will remain for the next seven days. He also announced an island-wide curfew between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Security forces "will be fully mobilized to maintain public order and assist with disaster relief. As soon as the hurricane has passed, the security forces have developed strategic plans to counter any potential threat of looting or any other opportunistic crimes," Holness warned. An evacuation order was also issued for communities across Jamaica that are prone to flooding and landslides. Holness urged Jamaicans to move away from low-lying areas. A hurricane watch was in effect for Haiti's southern coast and the Yucatan's east coast. Belize issued a tropical storm watch stretching south from its border with Mexico to Belize City.

Floodwater is seen after Hurricane Beryl passed in Bridgetown, Barbados, July 1, 2024 in this screen grab obtained from social media video. @geofflemonsport Via X | Via Reuters

Late Monday, Beryl became the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic and peaked at winds of 165 mph (270 kph) Tuesday before weakening to a still-destructive Category 4. On Wednesday, the storm's center was about 65 miles (100 kilometers) west-southwest of Kingston. It had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 20 mph (31 kph). Hurricane strength winds extended 45 miles from the center. In Miami, hurricane center director Michael Brennan in an online briefing said people on the island should plan to stay sheltered throughout the day Wednesday with conditions only beginning to improve overnight. Jamaica's southern coast, where Kingston is located, was expected to bear the brunt of Beryl with coastal water levels rising to 6 or 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 meters) above normal tide levels in some area. Heavy rains of 4 to 8 inches, with up to a foot in isolated areas, threatened flash flooding and mudslides on the mountainous island, he said. Mexico's Caribbean coast was preparing for Beryl Wednesday. The government issued a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun. The head of Mexico's civil defense agency said that Beryl is expected to make a rare double strike on Mexico. Laura Velazquez said the hurricane is expected to make landfall between late Thursday and early Friday along a relatively unpopulated stretch of the Caribbean coast between Tulum and the inland town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Because the coast there is largely made up of lagoons and mangroves, there are few resorts or hotels in the area south of Tulum. The hurricane is expected to weaken to a tropical storm as it crosses the Yucatan peninsula and reemerge over the weekend at storm strength into the Gulf of Mexico. Velazquez said that Beryl is then expected to hit Mexican territory a second time in the Gulf coast states of Veracruz or Tamaulipas, near the Texas border.

Hurricane Beryl is seen from Space, July 1, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video. International Space Station | Via Reuters
Japan's two largest commercial airlines are toughening their stances against travelers who verbally or physically abuse airline staff.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways updated their websites Friday with "customer harassment" policies, in the wake of rising instances of front-line worker abuse occurring across industries in Japan.

Using similarly worded language, the two airlines cited nine behaviors that constitute "harassment" under the policies, including:

Abusive language, aggressive tone, insults, discrimination, slander Threatening words or actions Excessive or unreasonable demands Assault Deeds which disrupt business operations (prolonged detention, excessive repetition of requests or complaints) Unpermitted entry to workplace Deeds which deceive its employees Slander against the company or its employees on social media and the internet Sexual harassment

ANA's customer harassment policy also includes voyeurism, stalking and indecent behavior  a jarring reminder of the situations that airline employees can face in an industry that often sees travelers behaving at their worst.

The policies are meant to address a lack of clear standards which has made it difficult for employees to handle customer interactions, ANA's Yoshiko Miyashita, vice president of CS promotion, customer experience management told Nikkei Asia.

"This has placed a significant burden on our employees, leading to cases where some have been forced to take leave," she said.

Japan Airlines' policy also mandates airline staff to undergo harassment training  employees will be provided manuals detailing how to quickly and appropriately respond to "malicious" behavior.

"We have also established aftercare support for our staff's physical and mental health," according to the airline.

Both airlines' policies state that travelers who harass employers will be issued a warning, after which consequences can include denial of boarding and police involvement.
A new suitor for Paramount Global has emerged.

Media mogul Barry Diller is taking a look at acquiring National Amusements Inc., the company owned by Shari Redstone and the controlling shareholder of Paramount, CNBC's David Faber reported on Tuesday.

Diller's IAC , an internet media and publishing company, has signed a nondisclosure agreement and is looking in the data room of National Amusements, Faber said Tuesday. IAC could make a decision in the near term to place a bid on National Amusements, which would give it a controlling stake in Paramount, he said, citing sources.

These discussions come weeks after National Amusements stopped talks with Skydance on a proposed merger with Paramount.

Following months of deal talks with a consortium that included David Ellison's Skydance and private equity firms RedBird Capital and KKR, the deal was called off as it awaited signoff from Redstone. National Amusements, which Redstone controls, holds 77% of class A Paramount shares.

Prior to calling off the proposed merger, National Amusements had agreed to financial terms of the deal, CNBC reported. The proposed deal would have seen Redstone receive $2 billion for National Amusements, with Skydance buying out nearly 50% of class B Paramount shares at $15 apiece, or $4.5 billion. Skydance and RedBird had also agreed to contribute $1.5 billion in cash to Paramount's balance sheet to help reduce debt.
Tightness in labor markets is boosting the use case of robotics, Morgan Stanley says, predicting a boom in humanoids  or robots in human form. "Advancements in AI are transforming the robotics industry," Morgan Stanley analysts said in a June 26 report called: "Humanoids: Investment Implications of Embodied AI." "Labor shortage and demographic trends increase the commercial relevance and paths of adoption (and economic payback period) across a broad range of industries," they added. The bank forecasts a humanoid population of 40,000 by 2030, 8 million by 2040 and 63 million by 2050. But it's not worried about robots replacing jobs  the analysts say it's more likely that robots will do jobs that humans don't want to. "We see a more optimistic future than the one painted by technology de-accelerationists  one where robots continue to complement and further enhance human labour and productivity and one in which mundane and hazardous work can be outsourced," they wrote. "But perhaps more pressing still is the starker reality that we will need humanoids." Morgan Stanley is not alone in its bullish stance on humanoids. Last month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his company's Optimus robots could eventually take the automaker's value to $25 trillion  over half of the value of the S & P 500 . In January, a demo video showed Optimus robots folding laundry. However, it was strongly criticized by engineers as the robots were being operated by humans and were not autonomous. Still, Morgan Stanley outlined a number of sectors set to potentially benefit from humanoids, with social care likely to be the largest total addressable market. The cost of building humanoid robots could range from $10,000 to $300,000 per robot, the bank said, but added that with "the benefit of scale, the introduction of AI algorithms to significantly shorten the R & D cycle, and the utilization of cost effective components from China, we see opportunities for significant cost reduction." The anaysts came up with a list of 66 stocks that it said "best expresses the humanoids theme." They are categorized as enablers  defined as companies that develop such robots or their inputs such as their "brain and body"  or beneficiaries, which are companies that can benefit from humanoid labor  or both. Here are some of the stocks from Morgan Stanley's list. They include names from the United States, Asia and Europe:  CNBC's Michael Bloom and Lora Kolodny contributed to this report.
Hill Street Studios | Digitalvision | Getty Images

The perceived benefits of financial education are so great that in a 2022 survey from the National Endowment for Financial Education, more than 85% of Americans polled said learning about personal finance should be a requirement to graduate from high school. Lawmakers have responded to this need with the unanimous passage this week of a bill in the California Legislature to guarantee rising generations with one semester of a stand-alone personal finance course. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2927 on Saturday, assuring that future California high school students will receive a huge leg up in terms of their understanding and managing their own personal finances. As a proponent of this legislation and co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance, I am elated that with the stroke of Newsom's pen, fully 64% of all U.S. high schoolers will be required to take a one-semester personal finance course as a condition for graduation.

California becomes the 26th state to require a stand-alone personal finance class. Just five years ago, only five states did so, covering 17% of high school students, according to Next Gen Personal Finance 2019 State of Financial Education report. The dramatic adoption of this policy across the country speaks to the impact and equity inherent in providing real world skills that will help prepare every student to navigate a life after graduation, whether that involves college or a career. So many adults I have met over the years share with me this common refrain about personal finance: "This is a class that I wish I had." They have shared with me how they struggled to manage credit and the deleterious impact it had on their credit scores, or how their lack of investing knowledge prevented them from starting early to benefit from compounding.

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There's also the economic benefit for the student. California students who take a one-semester course in personal finance experience a $127,000 lifetime positive benefit, according to research from Next Gen Personal Finance and consulting firm Tyton Partners. The benefits don't stop with the student. As a volunteer teacher at Eastside College Preparatory School in East Palo Alto, California, I saw this impact extend beyond the classroom as students brought lessons home to siblings and parents. This experience inspired me to co-found Next Gen Personal Finance. It is high time that the most populous state in the nation and one of the most diverse, the home of innovation and opportunity, joined other states in requiring a personal finance class as a high school graduation requirement. Its dismal performance in this subject area got the state an "F" in financial literacy in a 2023 report from Champlain College's Center for Financial Literacy. Hardly something to hang on the fridge. Currently in California, a personal finance course as a condition for graduation is required of only 1% of high school students, according to the Next Gen Personal Finance 2024 State of Financial Education report. Compare that to 53% nationally. With the passage of this requirement, California puts a welcomed end to that failure. Every student in the state  regardless of where they go to school or their economic status  will now have equal opportunity to learn such vital 21st century skills including budgeting, credit management and understanding financial options for career or college.
Tesla shares jumped 10% on Tuesday after the company posted second-quarter vehicle production and deliveries numbers that beat analyst expectations.

Here are the key numbers:

Total deliveries Q2 2024: 443,956 vehicles

Total production Q2 2024: 410,831 vehicles

Analysts expected Tesla deliveries to hit 439,000 in the three months ending June 30, according to a consensus of estimates compiled by FactSet StreetAccount. The total number of deliveries in the second quarter fell 4.8% from 466,140 a year earlier but rose 14.8% from the first quarter.

The stock closed Tuesday at $231.26, and is down about 7% in 2024.

Deliveries are the closest approximation of sales disclosed by the electric vehicle maker. Tesla groups deliveries into two categories  Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, and all other vehicles  but doesn't report numbers for individual models or specific regions.

Tesla's current lineup includes its popular Model Y crossover utility vehicles, Model 3 sedans and the new Cybertruck pickups, as well as the Model X SUV and flagship Model S sedan.

In April, Tesla reported a drop of 8.5% in first-quarter deliveries to 386,810, the first annual decline since 2020. Weeks later the company reported a 13% decline in year-over-year revenue for the quarter, "primarily due to lower average selling price."

Sluggish sales were in part the result of temporary factory shutdowns initiated in response to an alleged arson attack at Tesla's factory in Germany, as well as shipping delays following Red Sea conflicts, Tesla said.
UK shadow foreign secretary vows to pursue consistency, engagement with China

Xinhua) 10:38, July 02, 2024

LONDON, July 1 (Xinhua) -- David Lammy, shadow foreign secretary of the UK's Labour Party, said on Monday that the United Kingdom (UK) must consistently approach and engage with a country as important as China if Labour is elected on July 4.

At a briefing organized by the Foreign Press Association in London, Lammy told Xinhua reporter that Labour outlined "three Cs (Cooperate, Compete, and Challenge)" in its manifesto published last month.

"What sets Labour apart from the current government's policy towards China is its commitment to a consistent approach, despite areas where the UK must compete and face challenges, particularly related to national security," said Lammy.

Lammy also said that Labour would begin an audit of UK-China relations and seek more engagement with China at all levels of government, given the current government's lack of engagement with Chinese officials.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Investors who want to support the energy transition should consider backing natural gas as a fuel that can "make a really huge impact" by replacing coal, according to a top analyst at asset manager PGIM. Wind and solar are "growing like gangbusters" but they still face an "Achilles heel" that natural gas can help solve, said Shehriyar Antia, vice president and head of thematic research at PGIM, who recently published a report called "Fueling the Future. " "Renewables are not easily dispatchable  that's technical jargon for you can't turn them on and off easily," Antia told CNBC in an interview. "Natural gas is very complementary to them, it is highly dispatchable and it is very low cost." The U.S. is the largest natural gas exporter in the world, according to the Energy Information Administration. There are investment opportunities in U.S. natural gas producers such as EQT Corp. , but the major pipeline companies are a better play for investors who want to avoid the risk associated with volatile commodity prices, Antia said. Pipelines specialize in the transportation and storage of oil and natural gas, and many of these companies offer dividends as well as the prospect of price appreciation. "Pipelines offer a very different kind of risk/reward proposition for an investor than, say, a natural gas producer who is very exposed to the volatility of the natural gas price," Antia said. "The pipeline is much less exposed to the price." The analyst pointed to pipeline operators such as Williams Companies and Kinder Morgan , which have gained 21.7% and 12.2% year to date, respectively. Williams Cos. has caught the attention of Wall Street analysts recently, with Argus and Wells Fargo upgrading the company's stock as natural gas demand is expected to rise while coal is phased out and electricity demand increases. Williams has a dividend yield of 4.5%, while Kinder Morgan's yield is 5.8%. Natural gas is "starting to resemble oil" as the global market grows for liquefied gas that can be transported across oceans to meet demand, Antia said. He pointed to Cheniere Energy as a way to play the growing LNG market. The stock is up 1.4% in 2024, and it has a dividend yield of 1.0%. "When it comes to LNG infrastructure, Cheniere is a company that provides the infrastructure necessary to liquefy as well as re-gasifying natural gas," Antia said. "They're a big part of the shipping internationally of natural gas." Natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels and can make a "huge impact" in the energy transition by displacing coal in top economies like China and India that remain dependent on it as an electricity source, Antia said. "Fossil fuels are not going to be easily replaced and certainly not soon, so from the perspective of an investor who's looking to accelerate an energy transition and looking to decarbonize our world a little bit, there are real opportunities at the greener end of fossil fuels," Antia told CNBC.
An oil pump jack is shown in a field in Stanton, Texas, on June 27, 2024.

U.S. crude oil pulled back from a two-month high Tuesday, as traders assessed the risk of war between Israel and Hezbollah, while monitoring the potential threat of Hurricane Beryl to Gulf Coast refineries.

Oil has rallied in recent days with gasoline prices have hit an average of $3.50 per gallon ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, according to the motorist association AAA. Prices at the pump are about 3 cents higher than last week but still lower than last month.

West Texas Intermediate crude hit a high of $84.38 earlier in the session, the highest level since April 26, but ultimately closed lower at $82.81 per barrel. Brent rose to $87.46 earlier in the session, the highest level since April 30, before also settling lower.

Here are Tuesday's closing energy prices:

Rising gasoline prices will likely continue into Fourth of July and could hit $3.69 per gallon in the coming weeks if the oil rally continues, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote on social media Tuesday.

"I expect the national retail price of gasoline to increase 5 to 10 cents per gallon over the next 7 days," Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, said in a note Tuesday.

Oil prices gained 6% last month after sagging in May as geopolitical risk entered the market again. Eighteen Israeli soldiers were injured Sunday in a drone attack launched by the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer attends a campaign event at a farm in Oxfordshire, Britain, July 1, 2024. Phil Noble | Reuters

LONDON  The incoming U.K. government will confront a complex international landscape after Britons head to the polls on July 4. Labour leader Keir Starmer is widely expected to lead his party to victory, pledging to kick-start a "decade of national renewal," following 14 years of rule under the Conservative Party. But the center-left politician will also be seeking to redefine the U.K.'s international image in the wake of Brexit, a recent spat of domestic political and economic blunders, and a more fractured global landscape. CNBC takes a look at the foreign policy priorities for the incoming government.

Navigating U.S.-China trade tensions

High on the new government's agenda will be maneuvering sensitive ties between global superpowers and geopolitical rivals, the U.S. and China. Labour will be eager to maintain Britain's so-called special relationship with its trans-Atlantic ally, presenting a united front in areas of shared strategic interest. But it will also need to adapt to a more protectionist and likely unpredictable U.S., particularly in the event of a change in leadership following the November presidential election stateside. "You could imagine that the relationship between the incoming personalities of Keir Starmer and Donald Trump would be awkward," David Dunn, professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham, told CNBC over the phone. "But they will work together."

Britain is in a remarkably ambiguous position  as is the EU  dependent on China but also concerned about territorial acquisition and regional threats. David Dunn professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham

Progress on a U.K.-U.S. free trade deal  one of the key pledges of the Brexit campaign  is also likely to be limited, given current interest from both the Republican and Democrat administrations. Britain could instead be expected to focus on certain "sector agreements" and to continue partnerships on military and critical technologies, Chatham House directors Bronwen Maddox and Olivia O'Sullivan said in a May note. Faced with a more assertive China, Labour is likely to continue the U.K.'s current position of "deliberate strategic ambiguity," Dunn said, mindful of the country's economic ties to Beijing even amid geopolitical and national security concerns. Labour ministers  like Tories  met with Chinese-founded fast-fashion giant Shein ahead of a potential London listing despite disputes over its human rights record. "Britain is in a remarkably ambiguous position  as is the EU  dependent on China, but also concerned about territorial acquisition and regional threats," Dunn said.

Repairing EU relations

Labour is also likely to foster a closer working relationship with the European Union. Starmer, who campaigned for the Remain movement not to depart the bloc in the U.K.'s 2016 referendum, has said there is "no case" for rejoining the EU, including its single market and customs union. He has nevertheless pledged to improve the "botched" U.K.-EU deal, including in areas such as trade, research and security. "There may be opportunities to revisit the core elements of the trading relationship  not immediately, but after the two sides have rebuilt trust and the relationship is working more smoothly," Mujtaba Rahman, Eurasia Group's managing director for Europe, told CNBC by phone.

Protestors march with large flags during The National Rejoin March. Pro-EU groups demonstrated in central London, UK. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

The U.K.'s steadfast support for Ukraine amid Russia's full-scale invasion has also helped soothe ties with EU neighbors, establishing its post-Brexit role in bolstering European security. This stance looks set to be upheld under a Labour government. "This support has strengthened the U.K.'s conversation with EU countries about common risks, in turn opening up the chance for more constructive discussion of post-Brexit relations," Chatham House's Maddox and O'Sullivan said.

Improving national security

Boosting the U.K.'s national security will also be a key priority for Labour amid rising global tensions and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. In its election manifesto, Labour mirrored Conservative plans to increase defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product, but replaced the 2023 timeline with ambitions to deliver the target "as soon as we can."

The U.K. should play a consistent role on global issues ... particularly on climate change, international development, arms control. Bronwen Maddox and Olivia O'Sullivan directors at Chatham House

Given the current geopolitical landscape, however, Chatham House advised this defense expenditure should be raised to a minimum of 3%. Starmer has also said that Labour will "maintain an unshakeable commitment to NATO and our nuclear deterrent, and put a renewed focus on improving morale in our armed forces." However, discussions over the future shape the trans-Atlantic military alliance are likely to continue into the next U.S. administration.

Strengthening international order
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump share common ground on tariff policy. But some policymakers argue that while tariffs can protect and help grow domestic industries, they can also lead to higher prices for Americans.

"The economics on tariffs are really clear that they're a tax increase that ultimately we pay," Erica York, senior economist and research manager with the Tax Foundation's Center for Federal Tax Policy, told CNBC. "But the politics on them are actually really favorable because the tariff is this policy tool that lets a politician say, 'Hey, we're going to punish foreign producers, we're going to protect domestic producers.'"

Trump's trade war on tariffs generated about $233 billion in duties collected by U.S. Customs through March 2024, according to an analysis from the Tax Foundation.

And U.S. consumers paid the extra billions through higher prices.

"China doesn't pay the tariffs. The tariffs are paid by American companies that import Chinese goods, and they pass those costs on as much as they can to their consumers," Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, told CNBC.

A study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that Trump's 2018 U.S. tariffs cost the typical household an additional $419 per year.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump has floated tariff ideas, including a 10% universal baseline tariff on all U.S. imports and a 100% tariff on imported cars. He also floated the idea of replacing the federal income tax with potential tariffs on countries whose citizens might be contributing to illegal immigration.

"If you look at Trump, he started the trade war with China by imposing around 25% tariffs on certain items, and now he is saying that [if he's] elected, he will try to increase the tariffs to 60%," Christopher Tang, global supply chain professor and business administration chair at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, told CNBC.

By comparison, Biden aims for more targeted tariffs.

In May 2024, the Biden administration announced new tariff rates on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports, including a 100% tariff on electric vehicles, a 50% tariff on solar cells and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum.

Starting in 2025, Chinese semiconductor tariffs will double to 50%.

The Biden administration has largely maintained Trump's trade war tariffs.

"When he was running for presidency in 2020, he said that if he was elected he would actually remove the tariffs imposed by President Trump. But he didn't," Tang told CNBC.

Neither candidate's campaign responded to CNBC's request for comment in time for publication.

Watch the video above to find out which candidate's tariffs will be more expensive for the American consumer.
Hustle culture encourages working constantly and hardly taking breaks, but cases of burnout are proof that not leaving room for pauses might make you less productive. A Zen Buddhist monk suggests that laziness may actually lead to more productivity at times.

During a recent episode of "Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris," Harris spoke to Brother Phap Huu, a Zen Buddhist monk, who made a case about how laziness can help you be productive.

"Sometimes the doing nothing, it gives us an opportunity to just reflect," Huu said. "To just really look deeply and ask our self, 'Am I happy? What I'm doing, is it giving me nourishment? Is it offering me the joy that I need in order to also offer joy?'"

Huu takes a "Lazy Day" once a week where he doesn't schedule anything and lets "the day manifest as how it should be."

Moments of mindfulness can lead to curiosity and opportunities to think differently about what you want out of your life, he noted.

He suggests that anyone who is considering adding lazy days to their weekly schedule, start with a 30-minute period where you allow yourself to be completely present in the moment first. As you're doing this, be conscious of instances where you feel called to put on a podcast or watch a movie instead of being immersed in the moment, Huu said, and try to resist the urges.

"In the non-doing here, it is actually doing. So in the not being active, there is another thing that is happening which is allowing yourself to feel and to see what needs to be felt and seen," Huu said.

Without making time for moments of stillness where you can sit and think, you won't be able to pinpoint what you need to feel more fulfilled, or even take stock of whether you're happy to begin with.

"If we continue to chase after the wholeness, but we don't recognize that the wholeness is [being] present, and we can offer wholeness to one another by just being there for one another, then we're never gonna stop wanting," Huu said.

"By being, we allow our self to just not continue to run after something, but just to be present and just to feel the miracle of life that is here [right now]."

Want to be a successful, confident communicator? Take CNBC's new online course Become an Effective Communicator: Master Public Speaking. We'll teach you how to speak clearly and confidently, calm your nerves, what to say and not say, and body language techniques to make a great first impression. Sign up today and use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off through July 10, 2024.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.
Nvidia 's share price has been volatile over the last month amid some concerns over future demand for AI chips, and the pace at which artificial intelligence will become widely adopted. The stock has more than doubled this year as the company logged high double-digit net profit growth in the first two quarters of this year, but its shares fell 13% over three trading days last month, before bouncing back. NVDA 1Y line Large cloud computing firms, such as Microsoft , Amazon and Google , have bought billions of dollars worth of AI chips from Nvidia over the past two years. Investors now want to know whether these Big Tech giants will be able to make a return on their investment  a precursor for further spending on AI chips. "There's still questions about demand. Where is the profitability of the [companies] spending all of this money? How are they going to keep doing that? How is that going to accelerate in the years to come?" Raj Shant, managing director at Jennison Associates, one of the top 10 shareholders of Nvidia, said on CNBC's "Street Signs Europe" Monday. However, history shows that major technological developments tend to take longer than expected to improve productivity. The impact of railways, for example, first introduced in Britain, took around 70 years to be seen in productivity data, according to Capital Economics. However, the lags for technologies invented since then have shortened. "Nvidia investors are part of a long tradition of attempting to capture the benefits of new technologies ahead of them fully materialising in the real economy," Capital Economics' Chief Economist Neil Shearing said in a note to clients on July 1. "This was true during the 'Railway Mania' of the late 19th century, and more recently during the dotcom boom at the end of the last century." However, "tentative" signs have started to emerge that spending on AI chips may be spurring investment in the broader economy, Capital Economics said. Economists at the consultancy believe productivity improvements seen over the past two quarters in the U.S. economy can be partly attributed to "investment in software rather than hardware." Yet they caution that much of the productivity gains won't be felt until the end of this decade. "We remain of the view that the boost to productivity from AI will be substantial  but that this boost won't arrive until the second half of this decade," Shearing added. CGI Inc For clues as to how quickly AI technologies are being adopted, Scotiabank highlighted CGI , a Canadian multinational IT firm that helps companies introduce AI into their business models and operations. CGI shares are traded in the U.S. and Canada. Last year, CGI revealed plans to invest $1 billion over three years to expand its AI capabilities. But Scotiabank analyst Divya Goyal highlighted a "slower than anticipated adoption of the technology" among its customers. Many businesses are still in the "discovery phase" phase of the AI trend, Goyal said, which involves producing proof-of-concept applications, while others are waiting for AI software to gain maturity before implementing them. According to the analyst, many companies are looking to transition to a viable AI-powered service in the next 6 to 24 months. GIB 5Y line "As per the CGI team, while ~80% of the clients are currently exploring [generative] AI, less than 10% are in implementation stage with limited dollars currently being allocated for such Gen AI deployments," Goyal said. The Scotiabank analyst believes that as large companies prepare to start AI spending, CGI is set to benefit and capture any future growth. "We believe CGI is well-positioned to cater to the growing demand for AI engagements across its global clientele," Goyal said. Scotiabank expects CGI shares to rise 17% from the current share price of 136.55 Canadian dollars ($99.62) for Toronoto-listed stock, and $99 for New York-listed stock.
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) hosted its D Show from June 26 to June 28 in Goa, attracting dozens of jewellery manufacturers who showcased stunning diamond jewellery designs. In addition to Indian retailers, the event featured prominent retailers from the Middle East, Africa, and other regions.CNBC-TV18 interviewed jewellers from Turkey, Bahrain, Egypt, and Malaysia to gather insights on the Indian jewellery market and the buying trends in their respective countries.Dinesh Jain from PMJ Jewellers in Hyderabad noted, "Diamonds constitute 65% of total jewellery sales, with growth rates of around 20-25% over the years."He mentioned preferences in South India: "People here generally prefer complete sets, pendants, and similar items, with solitaire sales growing at a much slower pace."Ediz Dereli of Ediz Dereli Jewellers in Turkey expressed his excitement about exploring the Indian jewellery market. He shared, "I have been visiting India for over 25 years as a major dealer in coloured stones and diamonds. We've recently started franchising and merchandising in Turkey, with over 230 franchises in and around the country."He reflected on market changes and added, "When I started in 1988, one kilogram of gold was around $8,000. Today, it's approximately $75,000 in Istanbul."Hany Milad Gaied from Joyaux in Egypt highlighted the investment trends in the Middle East and Egypt, stating, "People are increasingly investing in gold bars and coins due to the economic downturn. This trend is especially noticeable in Egypt."He elaborated, "We typically use 21-carat and 18-carat gold for weddings, which is part of our cultural tradition. However, recently, many Egyptians are buying gold for investment purposes."
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China aims to be among the first countries to begin developing standards for the future of brain-computer interfaces with the establishment of a new technical committee by its Ministry of Industry and Information Technology specifically for this purpose.

The ministrys Brain-Computer Interface Standardization Technical Committee is currently fielding opinions and ideas on various issues associated with the technology and standards that the country already has set for its development, according to a press release published online by the Ministry.

These include developing and revising basic standards not only for the technologys technical aspects, but also to hammer out issues around ethics and safety  which become increasingly more critical as technology that pushes boundaries for human-machine interaction advance.
Exploring creativity isn't just about hobbies -- it could significantly impact mental health, recent studies suggest. Whether through art, music, or writing, engaging in creative activities has been linked to improved well-being and resilience.

Studies confirm a reciprocal relationship between creativity and mental health. As per Tapinto.net, when people engage in creative pursuits, such as painting or playing an instrument, their overall happiness and contentment often increase. This, in turn, fosters an environment where creativity can flourish, creating a positive feedback loop.

The therapeutic benefits of art aren't confined to personal enjoyment; professional settings increasingly integrate art therapies into patient care. From hospitals to counseling offices, art therapy is utilized to aid individuals coping with chronic illnesses, mental health disorders, and physical disabilities. According to the Mayo Clinic, exposure to art can elevate serotonin levels and instill feelings of hopefulness, contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Practitioners of art therapy observe significant reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms among patients. The American Art Therapy Association has noted its efficacy in empowering patients, particularly children, to express complex emotions that may be challenging to articulate verbally.

Embracing one's creative side doesn't require prior expertise. Engaging in creative activities, whether drawing, writing, or playing music, provides a unique outlet for self-expression and mental rejuvenation. The process itself is valued over the end result, fostering personal growth and emotional resilience.

To incorporate creativity into daily life, experts recommend simple activities like daily sketching, spontaneous writing around random themes, or playing music for relaxation. These activities not only provide a break from daily routines but also nurture mental clarity and positivity.

Finding time for creative pursuits amid busy schedules is crucial, according to them. Allocating as little as 20 minutes a day to creative endeavors can yield tangible mental health benefits, including reduced stress and enhanced focus.
Good news for people who dont want to spend a single second of the summertime outdoors  all six seasons of the hit ABC series Lost are now streaming on Netflix. Judging from the reaction on social media, a lot of people are excited to rewatch the popular, and frequently misunderstood, sci-fi series.

While we mostly remember Lost for its dramatic storylines, wacky twists and improbably hot plane crash survivors, there was some comedy to be found in the show too. Case in point, Hurleys dad was played by the great Cheech Marin, who somehow wasnt responsible for creating the Smoke Monster.

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But in retrospect, the most notable cameo for comedy fans was when Its Always Sunny in Philadelphias Rob McElhenney showed up in Season Three as Aldo, an armed guard working for the mysterious Others. We first see him reading a copy of Stephen Hawkings A Brief History of Time before the poor guy gets roughed up by Sawyer and knocked unconscious by Kate after spilling his guts in a truly un-Mac-like fashion.

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Although that may have been a fun (albeit kind of distracting) cameo for Sunny fans, clearly McElhenneys character wasnt intended to be a major part of the show. Like, it would have been pretty weird if he randomly showed up in that church in the controversial series finale.

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McElhenney was supposed to make an appearance in the third season finale, but ultimately couldnt because he was too busy shooting Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Producers later implied that his character had been killed off during the Others climactic battle with the castaways.

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McElhenneys casting came about after he met two Lost writers at a dinner party, who professed their admiration for Its Always Sunny. They also informed him that Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof was similarly a big fan. Since Lost was McElhenneys favorite show on the air, he asked if he could visit their offices. Sunny didn't even have a writers' room, he revealed in an interview. I just wanted to see how a real show functions.

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While he was checking out the Lost offices, Lindelof casually remarked, Hey, if you ever want to be on the show, let me know. To which McElhenney replied, Yes, I will be on the show, please.

Presumably it was this mutual appreciation that led to Aldo the Other later being resurrected in a Season Six episode.

Yeah, it turned out that he wasnt dead after all. In one of the funniest moments in the whole show, we learn that Aldo is still pretty bitter that Kate banged him on the head with the butt of her rifle. Hes further offended that she doesnt even recognize him or remember the incident that was clearly so traumatizing for him.

But right as hes venting these emotions, Kate knocks him unconscious again.

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Aldo finally gets killed off for good later in the episode  although his death scene is far less brutal than the fate that befalls McElhenneys Game of Thrones character.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
Great Rooms A visual diary by Design Editor Wendy Goodman. The Living Room: The pair of 1930s wing chairs is attributed to Jean-Charles Moreux. Above the fireplace is a painting by Nicholas Howey. The blue carpet is Chinese Deco. Photo: Tria Giovan

I always dreamed of having a country house with a separate studio, says Nicholas Howey, which is just what he got when he and his husband, Gerard Widdershoven, bought this Bridgehampton property in 2008. The privet was hiding the Dutch Colonial from both the street and the fact it was sitting on one full acre of land  enough room for a studio in what was once a three-car garage and an old barn Howey describes as adding to the atmosphere.

Howey, a native of Dubois, Pennsylvania, graduated from NYU with an M.A. in art in 1974 and later went to work for the artist Robert Rauschenberg. Widdershoven, who was born in the Netherlands, had founded the design gallery Maison Gerard on East 10th Street, also in 1974. Widdershovens expertise included the work of Art Deco and mid-century designers such as Jean-Michel Frank, Line Vautrin, Jacques Adnet, and Jules Leleu.

Howey and Widdershoven met in 1987. They lived in a townhouse across from St. Marks Church on East 10th Street for 20 years before they decided it was time to buy a country house. (Among other things, this place had the advantage of being near their close friends Vincent and Shelley Fremont.) They moved into an apartment in the city and spent most of their time in Bridgehampton. In 2010, Widdershoven retired from Maison Gerard. (He died in 2020.)

The main house was built by Whitey Pulver, the owner of the local gas company, in 1925. When he died, his daughter took it over and added a bedroom on the main floor, which Howey and Widdershoven used as the primary.

The couple didnt do much more to it than paint when they moved in. The decor is simple and colorful  a lifetime of collecting. Gerard was always finding things, Howey says.

But they had that in common. Howey points to a diptych of Roy Lichtenstein posters in the kitchen. After Howey bought one and had Lichtenstein sign it, he found out it was part of a set. Coincidentally, Widdershoven already owned the other half.

A stroke of destiny! says Howey.

The Living Room: The blue sofa is by Jules Leleu from Maison Gerard. Photo: Tria Giovan

The Stairs: The photographer of the Roman Coliseum is unknown. The painting at the bottom of the stairs is by Robert Laughton. Photo: Tria Giovan

The Wegman Bedroom: The three photographs above the blue headboard were taken by William Wegman in 1979. The two pink side-table lamps are from the Ladies Village Improvement Society in East Hampton. Photo: Tria Giovan

The Kitchen: A diptych of Roy Lichtenstein posters. Gerard Widdershoven owned one and then Nicholas Howey bought the other, not knowing they were a pair. Photo: Tria Giovan

The Primary Bedroom: This room was part of an addition made to the 1925 house in the 50s. The plaster wall hanging behind the bed is by Mark Bandowsky from Maison Gerard. The bedside tables are Bakelite. The photograph of a sculpture of the head of Apollo is unattributed. Photo: Tria Giovan

The Leleu Bedroom: Widdershoven brought some 60s Jules Leleu wallpaper to Prelle, which created a matching fabric. The circa-1960 glass light fixture is by Massimo Vignelli for Venini; the vintage shag rug is Scandinavian. The paintings in the mirror are by Howey. Photo: Tria Giovan
Photo: Courtesy KPF

Fifth Avenues prime retail strip is doing just fine, and given the state of many New York streetscapes, that itself is news. Post-pandemic recovery in what might be called the Tiffanys district has been real, boosted by ultraexpensive residential development, like the conversion of the Crown Building to the Aman. At 570 Fifth, on the corner of West 46th Street, a new tower will soon rise to replace an array of dowdy prewar holdouts. Itll mostly be a million square feet of offices, but the 80,000-square-foot ground-floor retail space will be none other than Ikea. Per Bloomberg News, the Dutch holding company behind most of Ikeas franchised stores (known as Ingka after the companys problematic Swedish founder) will own a third of the tower plus the Ikea space, and the New York developer Extell will own the rest. Itll open in 2028.

Theoretically, it makes sense for Ikea to make some of its retail stores, like the Billy bookcase, smaller. (The stores in Red Hook and Elizabeth are north of 350,000 square feet; this one, of course, will be 80,000.) People like Ikea for everyday products as well as big decennial purchases. One can certainly imagine dropping in to buy, say, a colander or a desk lamp between schleps out to Red Hook for a crib or a sofa. Its worked for Ikea in other cities and makes extra sense here because comparatively few New Yorkers drive. The stores being called a Meeting Point, presumably because you can make an appointment there to talk through your new kitchen.

Yet its a retail model that, twice now in New York, has looked good for a while and then fallen apart. In 1995, the company opened a mini-Ikea at 135 East 57th Street to lots of attention. At the time, the New Jersey store was comparatively new, giving every visit the vibe of boarding a mysterious Scandinavian spaceship, and Red Hook was still a neighborhood of ungentrified dive bars and battered warehouses. This 57th Street store was far, far smaller than the one in Elizabeth, at 7,400 square feet, and it functioned as a showroom for the full Ikea experience. It was perceived, at the time, as a downscaling of the district, partly because the building had formerly housed the posh menswear store Louis Boston. It was gone within a couple of years, perhaps because it didnt stock enough stuff in its limited space. For anything of size, you placed your order and it was shipped to you. Before we all got habituated to Amazon, that was less than ideal.

Ikea tried this move again in 2019, this time at 999 Third Avenue, at the beginning of its current push toward smaller stores. This one was 17,000 square feet in size, and it carried the label Ikea Planning Studio, the idea being that (as with the forthcoming Meeting Point model) professionals would lend a hand with stuff like kitchen-cabinet and closet-storage designs. Hard to say if it flopped, or was closed in anticipation of this new space thats been announced today, or if, well, 2020 happened. But it, too, closed after barely three years, and a similar store in Rego Park came and went even more quickly. You cant help wondering whether, for some New Yorkers, the overwhelming scale of the megastores is part of the point; a daylong LARP immersion in the catalogue, whether or not you have the space in your apartment for any of what you see.

The former store at 999 Third Avenue. Photo: Courtesy Ikea
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Retried Schenectady City Judge Guido Loyola passed away on Tuesday, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service to the city that saw Loyola serve as a member of the city council, a part of the city administration and then three decades on the bench.
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Britain appears to be on the verge of a political earthquake. This week's General Election looks likely to produce by far the biggest Labour landslide in history, while the Tories face the real prospect of annihilation as a political force.

'We are the masters now,' the Labour MP Sir Hartley Shawcross famously declared after his party's sweeping triumph in the 1945 contest. If the opinion polls are correct, Sir Keir Starmer will enjoy not just mastery at Westminster but complete domination of the British political landscape on a scale never seen before in this country.

Marine Le Pen's National Rally movement emerged as the overwhelming victor on Sunday

Disillusion

Yet Labour's unprecedented supremacy will be tempered by two factors. One is the lack of public enthusiasm for the Starmer project, as shown by the leader's poor personal ratings and the lack of excitement on the campaign trail. The other is the harsh reality that the shift in British politics to the Left is so out of kilter with most of the rest of Europe.

The timing of Labour's imminent win could not be worse. Our country is about to be ruled by a party that clings to all the soggy pieties of traditional social democracy, just at the very moment that this consensus is being comprehensively rejected by European voters.

The increasingly powerful brand of Right-wing populism that is now on the advance across the Continent is the very antithesis of Labour's programme, with its attachment to state planning, cultural diversity, net zero emissions and light border controls.

Indeed, the sort of policies that Starmer now espouses  especially on national identity and mass immigration  have generated precisely the kind of disillusion and hostility that has been at the heart of the Right's dramatic rise.

That is certainly true of France, where Marine Le Pen's National Rally movement emerged as the overwhelming victor from Sunday's first round of elections to the National Assembly, gaining a third of the share of the vote and leaving her party on course potentially to win an absolute majority after next weekend's second round.

Such a result would have seemed unthinkable only a few years ago, when Le Pen was regarded by much of the public as a pariah and her Front National party (as it was known in France) as a band of dangerous, bigoted extremists. But two vital changes have enabled her to break free from such ostracism and enter the mainstream.

The first is that she has cleaned up her party's act through the adoption of more centrist economic policies, the expulsion of hardliners  including her own father and founder of the Front National, the notorious anti-Semite Jean-Marie Le Pen  and the installation of a youthful, charismatic new leader, Jordan Bardella.

The second is that large swathes of the French electorate have become alarmed at the impact of mass immigration, which has increasingly come to be seen as a threat to both public safety and cultural identity.

It is not just in France where the anti-immigration, Eurosceptic Right is in the ascendant. This trend can be observed throughout the continent, where the Left is now in charge of just four of the 29 member states in the European Union.

The Right's tightening grip was graphically demonstrated in the recent elections to the European Parliament, which saw the uncompromising Freedom Party top the poll in Austria, the Flemish Nationalists come first in Belgium, and the controversial Alternative for Germany finish ahead of the Greens, the Social Democrats and the Liberals.

In a similar vein, the PVV party led by outspoken anti-Islamist campaigner Geert Wilders became the largest in the Netherlands after last November's General Election, while Giorgia Meloni, whose victory for her Brothers Of Italy party in 2022 was built on the electorate's fury at bullying by Brussels and unceasing waves of immigration, has shrewdly consolidated her powerbase to become one of Europe's leading politicians.

The PVV party led by outspoken anti-Islamist campaigner Geert Wilders became the largest in the Netherlands

The timing of Keir Starmer's imminent win could not be worse. Our country is about to be ruled by a party that clings to all the soggy pieties of traditional social democracy. Pictured last Thursday

Explaining European voters' shift to the Right in such large numbers, Ms Meloni said recently that 'clearly Europe's answers to citizens are not working'.

She is right. There is a widespread sense of betrayal at what the globalist progressives have inflicted on the European nations through their ideological fixations, like their creed that 'diversity is our strength' or their belief that independence is a menace to humanity.

'National sovereignty is the root cause of the most crying evils of our times,' declares a plaque at the visitors' centre for the European Parliament. It is precisely that kind of mentality which shows that the EU has no grasp of the natural human impulse towards patriotism.

Patriotism

Yet elitist Europe's answers are also Starmer's answers. On so many fronts, he is proposing to indulge in just the kind of activities that now repulse many European voters, such as the move towards the abolition of petrol and diesel cars, or the replacement of gas boilers with expensive heat pumps.

While European citizens want their institutions to take pride in their heritage, the advent of a Labour government here will mean yet more indoctrination about 'decolonisation', as well as the introduction of a new Race Equality Act that will require more ethnic monitoring exercises and more dogmatic training courses in 'unconscious bias', 'white privilege' and 'critical race theory'.

In Labour's brave new world, correct thinking must prevail; those who express fears about the loss of social cohesion in their neighbourhoods must be re-educated rather than respected.

In 2011, a few years before the Brexit referendum, a YouGov poll demonstrated that 62 per cent of British people agreed with the following statement: 'Britain has changed in recent times beyond recognition, it sometimes feels like a foreign country, and this makes me feel uncomfortable.'

Isolation

Just as EU member states are beginning to assert their autonomy, Sir Keir will take Britain in the opposite direction, giving our courts and quangos an ever greater say in our governance and embarking on the process of reversing Brexit, starting with the Single Market. Enabling the EU 'to take back control' will be one of the themes of Starmer's premiership.

Inclined to the worship of Brussels and keen to signal its virtue on topics such as multiculturalism and immigration, the Labour Party has long claimed that Tories and Eurosceptics are 'isolated' on the international stage.

It is a rich irony that it is becoming ever more clear that Europe's leap to the Right will be the real cause of Britain's isolation.

As he pursues the same destructive, Left-wing approach that has so badly discredited the European political establishment, Starmer will soon face his own backlash.

Having been so wilfully opaque on the campaign trail about his plans for office, he has no mandate from the public to drag Britain further into the quagmire of tax rises, debt, free movement of people, racial divisions, asylum abuses and urban crime.

He will have gained office, not through any public yearning for socialism but because of anger at the Tories. That will just make the indignation against his premiership all the greater. Things can only get bitter, to misquote Labour's anthem of 1997.

Frank Furedi is emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent and director of European policy think-tank MCC Brussels.
A man who grew up in polygamist family with 35 siblings and four moms as part of Warren Jeffs' abusive religious cult has spoken out about what his unusual upbringing was like.

In a YouTube documentary made by filmmaker Drew Binsky, Sam Zitting Wyson returns to Colorado City in Arizona for a confronting trip down memory lane.

He left the secretive community when he was 18 years old and is now based in Las Vegas with wife Melissa and their two children.

Today, half of Sam's siblings still believe in Jeffs' cult and they do not have any contact with him as a result.

This includes one sister who married Jeffs' father Rulon when she was aged 18 and he was 80.

In a YouTube documentary made by filmmaker Drew Binsky, Sam Zitting Wyson returns to Colorado City in Arizona for a confronting trip down memory lane

He left the secretive community when he was 18 years old and is now based in Las Vegas with wife Melissa and their two children

Today, half of Sam's siblings still believe in Jeffs' cult and they do not have any contact with him as a result

Sam explains in the film that once someone chooses to leave the community, 'you're not welcome back and so you lose your family basically.'

As he strolls through a local park where he played as a child, Sam touches on what his thoughts were on Jeffs, who served as the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) from 2002 onwards following Rulon's retirement.

He explains: 'Warren Jeffs was as a king, a ruler, a God... People would obey everything he said to do, including law enforcement.

'He owned everything. People had big companies, like construction companies, and he made all of them sign those companies over to the trust so that he could even own that.

'No one felt like they were being scammed including myself, until you left. Once you left and look back, then you realize.'

Throughout the years that Jeffs ran FLDS - which has bases in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, collectively known as Short Creek, as well as one in Eldorado, Texas, which is called the Yearning for Zion Ranch - he brainwashed, imprisoned, and abused multiple women and children, earning him a spot on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted List.

He is currently serving a life sentence in Texas for sexually assaulting underage girls he considered brides.

In his absence, his religious group has been weakened amid government crackdowns and an exodus of members who were kicked out or decided to leave but there is still somewhat of a strong following in Colorado City.

As he strolls through a local park where he played as a child, Sam touches on what his thoughts were on Jeffs

One of the more poignant parts of the documentary, sees Sam return to his family home. Above, a archive image of what the house previously looked like

Sam likens growing up in Jeffs' cult to being subjected to North Korea's dynastic totalitarian dictatorship.

He explains when Jeffs got into power as the 'prophet,' he even went about shutting the city's library down as he only wanted residents to 'read and listen to music from the church.'

Sam said there were various other restrictions, and he was not allowed to hike to a local mountain as he was told there would be negative consequences if he did.

In the YouTube film, the camera crew visit Jeffs' former home, which has since been converted into a sober living center by his 65th wife Briell Decker.

In the property, Briell shows the team one room where dozens of wires are coming out of the wall and she explains that this was a network installed by Jeffs to illegally tap everyone's phones.

By doing this, he pretended to 'mindread' and hear 'messages from God' at church.

Sam says in reaction to seeing the tapping system: 'It just goes to show that that's how he was able to convince so many people that he was hearing from God and he was being directed by God... he was listening in and spying off us.'

Moving upstairs, the team go into Jeffs' room, which they describe as 'super small' with extra sound proofing and an intercom panel on the wall.

In the YouTube film, the camera crew visit Jeffs' former home, which has since been converted into a sober living center by his 65th wife Briell Decker

In the property, Briell shows the team one room where dozens of wires are coming out of the wall and she explains that this was a network installed by Jeffs to tap everyone's phones

Sam says in reaction to seeing the tapping system: 'It just goes to show that that's how he was able to convince so many people that he was hearing from God'

Another spot they visit during the documentary is a compound where Jeffs was planning to house all of his 80 wives.

The gated complex now serves as a hotel, called Zion's Most Wanted.

Sam says when he was growing up, the fact Jeffs had so many wives was kept secret.

He suspected there could have been 20 women as part of his household, but 80 was a number that shocked him.

The duo proceed to explore one of the properties following the hotel conversion.

When they enter a living room, there is a stage in the room and Sam explains that these were 'pretty common in big homes as a place for people to perform.'

He adds: 'For some reason, it was common in the FLDS for families to get up and do performances, like singing or instruments.'

In another scene, the camera crew pass by the city's former 'meeting house.'

Detailing the building's significance, Sam says: 'This meeting house is so iconic to me and to this community because of all of the memories here.

'I mean meeting was a big part of being a member of the FLDS church.

'Every Sunday and every Saturday we would hold meetings here.'

Sam also reveals how the building was constructed with back doors, so the 'leaders of the church could escape law enforcement.'

In another scene, the camera crew pass by the city's former 'meeting house'

Another spot they visit during the documentary, is a compound where Jeffs was planning to house all of his 80 wives. The gated complex now serves as a hotel, called Zion's Most Wanted

Throughout the years that Jeffs ran FLDS he brainwashed, imprisoned, and abused multiple women and children, earning him a spot on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted List

Recounting one such incident, he says: 'I remember very specifically one day, we were in a meeting and it was during the closing prayer and all of a sudden we heard just a loud commotion from the doors.

'[All of a sudden] we had FLDS bodyguards not allowing FBI or law enforcement to come in.

'By the time we looked up to see what was going on, all of the leaders of the church were gone off the stand... they disappeared out these back doors here... and jumped on their vehicles and went down into the the creek that runs through town and escaped law enforcement.'

One of the more poignant parts of the documentary sees Sam return to his family home.

He says that as a child, multiple siblings lived in the same rooms, as the property 'wasn't a massive house by any means.'

As he passes by his basement-level bedroom window, Sam explains that he escaped from there many times but 'don't tell my father.'

After doing a walk around, Sam muses: 'I'm just looking at these windows here and the amount of memories and stories it's just bizarre.

'I walked by this property but I haven't walked onto the property [in years].'

Opening up about family life, he said he had to call his dad 'father' and his mom 'mother.'

In terms of the sleeping arrangements, his father and his four wives all had separate bedrooms.

He explains: 'Father never slept in the mothers' rooms with them. I never saw that and I know that things like that were very secretive in the FLDS.

'We weren't given any type of education on sexual stuff at all, that just wasn't a topic.

'But I I know that sometimes the mothers might go to his room but the mothers in a lot of cases would have young kids in their room sleeping.'

With so many siblings, Sam said money was tight and he couldn't just go and grab snacks from the kitchen.

Instead, the mealtimes were done in an ordered manner so each child got their fair share.

It was only when Sam was older and he started doing construction work outside of the city, he started realizing his upbringing was not 'normal' and it was after this realization that he decided to leave.

After fleeing the community, Sam says having more than one wife is an 'absolute no' for him and he doesn't understand the FLDS system.

Wrapping up the film, filmmaker Drew says: 'As I leave Colorado City the echoes of its past still linger but this isn't just a story of a cult's downfall, it's an account of a place once dominated by fear and control now fighting for a future filled with hope.

'The survivors I met inspire me to keep making videos about marginalized people. The path to healing is long but it's lit by those who refuse to be silenced.'

To help with his own healing process, Sam runs a popular YouTube channel with his wife called Growing Up in Polygamy, where they interview others who have similar stories around their upbringing.
The new flavours are available in British supermarkets, Tesco and Sainsbury's

Walkers have introduced a new range of Monster Munch and Wotsits with a major recipe change.

To tackle high salt content and calories in its products, the British snack manufacturer has introduced a new range made from chickpeas - allowing them to claim that they're no longer high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar (non-HFSS).

Each new packet of crisps is less than 100 calories and provides a source of fibre, 'offering consumers smarter snacking options without compromising on taste,' parent company Pepsico said in a press release.

The range, 'Yummy with', includes three new flavours: Wotsits Cheese Toastie (57 calories per pack), Wotsits Crispy Bacon (57 calories per pack) and Monster Munch BBQ Sauce (76 calories per pack).

Pepsico claimed that the innovative recipe resulted from a 58 million investment in its Leicester factory, which allowed the company to develop a new manufacturing line and upgraded facilities.

Walkers have introduced brand new flavours of Monster Munch and Wotsits with a major recipe change (pictured: stock image of Monster Munch)

Karen Scott, Head of Portfolio Transformation at Pepsico Europe, said: 'Thanks to innovations like the new chickpea range, we are firmly on track to achieve our goal to have 50 per cent of snack sales coming from products that are non-HFSS or sold in portions of 100 calories or less by 2025.

'This commitment to inspiring consumers to make positive choices forms part of PepsiCo Positive, our company's health and sustainability plan.

'It also contributes to PepsiCo's global ambition to expand the use of diverse ingredients like chickpea across our portfolio.'

The new crisps look to be available at Sainsbury's and Tesco, ranging from 1.65 to 1.96 per six-packet multi-pack.

It comes after fans of Walkers crisps have been left outraged after a very popular flavour appeared to have vanished from supermarket shelves.

Earlier this year, X users rushed to social media to express their concerns when they couldn't find any packets of Monster Munch Flamin' Hot.

The claw-shaped snack is very popular in the UK and the Flamin' Hot version is one of Walkers' most beloved flavours according to dismayed fans.

However, Walkers revealed the brand had just been renamed and given a new look, which is why buyers hadn't been able to recognise it on the shelves.

With 57 calories per pack, Wotsits Cheese Toastie flavour (pictured) have hit the shelves in Tesco and Sainsbury's

Walkers fan can also get their hands on a brand new Monster Munch flavour - BBQ sauce (pictured)

The new flavours, including Wotsits Crispy Bacon, claim to be a source of fibre and have less salt

They said: 'We have given them a facelift! They are now called Sweet and Spicy Flamin' Hot. We'll be sure to pass your comments over to the wider team.'

When Monster Munch was first acquired by Walkers in 1995 it offered Roast Beef, Pickled Onion and Saucy flavours.

A spicier alternative - known as Flamin' Hot - was then added to the range and it became a fan favourite.

Meanwhile, UK crisp lovers were left disappointed to learn that another popular flavour has disappeared from shelves last year.

Walkers confirmed to a snack fan on social media that it is no longer making Salt & Vinegar Quavers.

There was further disappointment expressed that the news was only revealed as a result of the crisp giant responding to a fan.
BoredPanda collated funny Home Depot tales from Canada and the US

Every workplace has uniquely bizarre days, no matter what profession you're in.

And furniture hardware store Home Depot - which has locations across the US, Canada, the UK and beyond - is no different.

From farm animals landing in shopping trolleys, to gallons of paint dousing the floor, customers and workers at the chain have witnessed the weird, wonderful and irritating between the shops' aisles.

BoredPanda collated the most hilarious moments shared to a Home Depot subreddit into a gallery.

One Home Depot worker from Canada shared an elusive photo showing a shopping trolley with a baby sheep

It includes a Canadian worker who elusively shared a snap of a baby lamb in the store, as well as an accident that likely left staff with hours of clean-up.

Elsewhere, the post also included a frustrating customer's misunderstanding of a kitchen display and a very amusing refund request.

Elsewhere, a worker in the US shared what appeared to be the start of a very long clean-up process

It was sure to be an irritating clean-up for one employee - as one customer in Canada dumped their coffee through a kitchen display

One poster, thought to be from the US, couldn't stop laughing at this soil return from a customer

This shopper definitely left Home Depot workers baffled as they overfilled a trolley with items - and left

One baffled poster from the US was confused to see a dog obedience class inside the hardware store

This worker, thought to be American, was frustrated to discover that a customer swindled them when alleging to return a spot light

One worker couldn't believe the whopping return a customer made - stating all the fans had been opened and used
A mother who was branded 'the most hated woman in Britain' after paying to adopt twins from the US, has said she would have given the girls 'a good life' and will always be open to 'answer any questions' about the scandal.

Judith Kilshaw and her husband Alan Kilshaw, from Wales, found themselves embroiled in a global scandal after they adopted twins on the internet in 2001.

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine this morning, Judith said she agreed to make the new documentary - which airs tonight on Channel 5 - about the scandal as it was an 'all female team'.

Judith said she had wanted to 'help someone out' as she had a 'big farm, with plenty of animals', as she and her husband were 'comfortable'.

'I wanted to help someone who was really suffering, someone from the back streets, shambles, that nobody wanted.

'I wanted a forgotten child. I thought I could give them a nice home with plenty of opportunity.'

A new documentary on the 'cash for babies' scandal will air tonight, featuring Judith Kinslaw (pictured), who was called the 'most hated woman' after she paid to adopt twins from the US

Judith, pictured right when she adopted the babies, said she believed she could have given the twins a good life and would always be open to 'answer any questions', despite the legal battle that ensued

Judith paid 8,200 in December 2000 to adopt Kiara and Keyara Wecker, now 23, when they were babies in the US.

Problems arose when the couple discovered that another family in the US had also handed over cash for the girls.

The new documentary will focus on the three women involved: Tranda, who gave birth to the twin girls, Californian Vickie Allen, who adopted the twins for a period of time with, and Judith.

The shocking story began in 2000 when an American single mother, Tranda Wecker, then 28, put her two daughter up for sale on the internet.

Tranda, who was hotel receptionist from Missouri, initially sold the twins to Vickie and Richard Allen, who paid 4,000 for them.

However, the adoption quickly fell through when Tranda found herself dissatisfied with her visiting arrangements and reclaimed her daughters.

The girls were then sold to Judith and her husband who paid 8,200 for the babies. The couple hoped to bring the twins to their farm in Wales.

Realising what had happened, Richard and Vickie, fought to bring the twins back to America to regain custody.

Once the press caught wind of the case, all hell broke loose and both children were taken from their new adoptive parents in Wales and put into foster care.

The FBI became involved, with the subsequent international legal battle ending with the children being raised by a third set of foster parents in Missouri.

At the time, national feelings were so potent that one tabloid headline asked 'Is This The Most Hated Woman In Britain?'

Following the dramatic case, UK law was changed and the Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair vowed to halt the trading of children for adoption.

Explaining why she chose to adopt overseas, Judith told Lorraine that she had worried that she would struggle because the UK restrictions were too strong

Judith Kilshaw and her husband Alan sparked an international storm in December 2000 when they paid 8,200 to adopt babies Kiara and Keyara

The trouble and publicity began when it emerged that another couple, Richard and Vickie Allen, had already bought the babies for 4,000

It emerged in 2018 that the girls, then 18, had just started university and were both studying social sciences

Explaining why she chose to adopt overseas, Judith told Lorraine that she thought it would be too difficult in the UK.

'I thought at the time there was cases where people wanted to adopt but were told they were too fat or too old or too thin. It was rigid.'

She said she wrote to an MP to ask about legalities. 'A professor told me to do it because he knew a private facilitator and she'd bought about 800 children to the UK for adoptions.

'I thought if was already above board and happening, lets go for it.'

Judith already had two biological son but said she wanted to adopt more children because she felt she had a lot to offer.

'I thought we had a nice big farm, plenty of animals, comfortable off. If we can help someone that's really suffering. I wanted someone from the backstreet shambles that nobody else wanted, forgotten child.

'I thought if we could give them a home with lots of opportunity, I wanted to do it.'

The situation didn't go as planned and Judith and her husband became known globally as one of most notorious and morally dubious couples.

Discussing the mass coverage of the case in the media, Judith said the whirlwind that followed felt like being 'locked in' after reporters swarmed her home, calling her the most 'hated woman'.

She said she wasn't sure whether she regretted her actions.

'I don't really know because some good has come out of it, maybe it's highlighted that this was going on and people were adopting from abroad.

'It may have done some good, I don't know.'

Judith insisted she still believes she could have given the girls a good life.

'If things had all been equal, we'd have stayed in the farm, they'd have plenty of pets, they'd have had ponies, they'd have gone to school, hopefully university and I'd have hoped they'd have grown up to be good, strong women.'

'They probably have grown up to be good, strong women in fairness to their parents in America'.

Judith hasn't had contact with either children since they were taken from her almost a quarter of a decade ago, though admitted she would always be open to 'answer any questions'.

'I wouldn't push myself on them but if they wanted to contact me, I'm there for them'

'A phone call would be nice just to say we're okay.'

She doesn't 'really' regret what happened. 'You can't pick and choose life and perhaps this was my fate,'

Judith explained she agreed to take part in the documentary because it was sensitively led by all-women.

'It was a sensitive story and needed a sensitive approach' she told Lorraine.

The story was previously re-told in Amazon Prime documentary Three Mothers, two Babies and a Scandal, which was shown in Amazon Prime in 2022.

The Baby Scandal That Shocked The World is on tonight and 9pm on Channel 5
Princess Martha Louise of Norway has shed light on her upcoming nuptials to Durek Verrett in August - including being wed by a 'New Thought' minister from Beverley Hills.

The former royal, 52, who describes herself as 'spiritual' and claims to be a clairvoyant, will wed Durek Verrett, who is bisexual and calls himself a 'shaman', at the Union Hotel in Geirangerfjord on August 31.

Their union has been controversial from the outset, as Martha Louise was forced to step down as a working royal in 2022 due to her partner's controversial views, including that childhood cancer is caused by unhappiness.

The four-day celebration will see guests take a three-hour boat trip to the ceremony at UNESCO site Geirangerfjord, while a brunch the next day will allegedly see performances by the Black Eyed Peas and Stevie Wonder.

Now Princess Martha and Durek have announced that they will have both a reverend and a spiritual guru leading the ceremony.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her fiance Durek Verrett (right) will be joined by New Thought minister Michael Beckwith (left) from Beverley Hills at their wedding ceremony

Princess Martha and Durek have announced that they will have both a reverend and a spiritual guru leading the ceremony

The former royal, 52 will wed Durek Verrett, who is bisexual and calls himself a 'shaman', on August 31 (pictured together)

Martha Louise wrote on Instagram: 'We are so happy to announce that parish priest Margit Lovise Holte will ordain Durek and me in Geiranger on the 31st. august after the Norwegian church's ordination liturgy.

'Pastor Michael Beckwith will also participate in the wedding ceremony with a greeting. This will be a big day that we are very much looking forward to.'

Beckwith is the founder and spiritual director of New Thought at the Agape International Spiritual Center in Beverly Hills.

The 'mind healing' New Thought movement originated in the US in the early 19th century and followers believe it is the successor of ancient thought, including the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Egyptian, Hindu and Buddhist cultures.

It seems to fit well with the couple's non-traditional views.

Though they are no longer royals, the couple released their own version of a monogram to celebrate their union, in the form of an insignia containing 'important symbolism'.

In an Instagram post, they shared that the image, which contains their initials, 'honours our past life together in Egypt'.

Details included the 'Eye of Horus', a symbol of 'protection from evil'; Horses which 'have been a central animal through both our lives' and a diamond to 'represent the portal between the physical and metaphysical realms'.

The couple have also created a custom gin together for their wedding - but this too proved controversial as it contained the word 'Princess' and use of her royal monogram on the back.

Princess Martha Louise stepped down as a working royal in 2022. Pictured ahead of a state banquet in November 2021

The couple also unveiled their shared insignia 'honouring their past life together in ancient Egypt'

The princess went into great detail about the symbolism behind the monogram

As Martha stepped back as a working royal in 2022, she is no longer allowed to use her royal associations to sell products - and it meant the product was awkwardly, and swiftly, removed.

'Unfortunately, there was a mistake, so the title has already been removed from the distillery's website and in the next batch it will also be removed from the bottles,' Carina Scheele Carlsen, the Princess's representative said previously.

Guests will arrive on the Thursday for a 'Meet and Greet' party in the courtyard of the Hotel 1904 in the centre of Alesund.

They will then attend 'pre-wedding' on the eve of the ceremony, including cocktails and dinner at the Hotel Union.

A three-hour boat ride will take passengers to the actual wedding ceremony, which will conclude with a banquet and party at the Hotel Union.

On Sunday the newly-weds will host a three-hour brunch, which will reportedly see performances by the Black Eyed Peas and Stevie Wonder.

In 2022 the princess, who is the only daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, took a Sussex-style step back from royal life over concerns about her American businessman partner.

Martha, herself a self-proclaimed clairvoyant who says she can talk to angels, revealed in 2022 that she would not represent the royal family.

The couple are set to tie the knot at Hotel Union in Geirangerfjord (pictured, file image) in Norway next month

In November 2022, an official statement issued by the Norweigan Royal Family read: 'Princess Martha Louise wants to contribute to a clearer distinction between her own activities and the connection to the Royal Family.

'The Princess has therefore, in consultation with His Majesty the King and the immediate family, decided that she will not be performing official duties for the Royal Family at this time.'

Eyebrows were raised when the Princess first began dating Verrett, who holds some controversial and pseudoscientific views, including that cancer in children can be caused by 'being unhappy'.

In January, he was slammed for saying suicidal people and naughty children are 'possessed by evil spirits'.

The US-born bisexual celebrity healer took to Instagram to share a video about the 'suicide spirit' in Shamanism.

Durek said: 'In shamanism, we believe that there is a suicide spirit - a spirit that gets into your consciousness and plays off of your emotions from the burdens that you feel, that other people are going through by you living, by the things you feel that you cannot overcome, from the pain of any situation or anything that youve done that you cannot forgive yourself'.

The comments were particularly controversial given that Martha Louise's first husband Ari Behn died by suicide.

In an interview with the BBC last year, Martha-Louise praised her parents, King Harald an Queen Sonja, for keeping the dialogue open while she made her decision and they worked out the details about how the arrangements would work.

The royal praised her parents, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, for always keeping channels of communication open and encouraging conversation, even in difficult times

When asked about her decision in comparison with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who also stepped down as senior royals, she spoke about her 'amazing' family, including King Harald and Queen Sonja, and how the dialogue between them has always remained open.

'What I think has been amazing through this whole cycle has been the conversations we have had through it all,' she said.

'From a very young age I remember my mum and dad saying (the King and Queen saying) that we always have to stick together. We always have to talk things through even if it's hard, we have to put all the cards on the table because we are family and we have to work things through.'

The Norwegian royal also discussed how her fiance's controversial 'views' had contributed to how the public viewed her position in the royal family.

She said: 'The Norwegian people I guess... have decided it's best for me to step down because of his views about things.'

Durek, who describes himself as a 'Shaman', was dropped by his publisher shortly after the couple announced their engagement in June 2022 over pseudoscientific claims he made in his book 'Spirit Hacking'.

Among the claims were that children 'can get cancer from being unhappy'.

The couple (pictured in June 2022) have had a tumultuous few years after the princess, who claims to be a clairvoyant, stepped down from royal duties over Verrett's pseudoscientific views

Durek has also claimed he once came back from the dead, recovering from a month-long coma, by letting his soul 'burn' and he has also spoken of having to undergo a kidney transplant from his sister as a child.

It is unclear why he needed the kidney or how he became wheelchair bound, as he has described. The illness which sent him into a coma is also undisclosed.

Elsewhere in the interview, Martha Louise claimed she first began to experience psychic premonitions as a child.

She said: 'When I was little I would see things in you. If you were sad or if you were happy... if you had a pain in your shoulder I would get a pain in my shoulder.

'And I understood that that's a talent and, you know, I could help other people. And that's when the whole ball started rolling.'

The Princess said she decided she wanted to 'earn my own money' which she could only do by giving up her 'money from the state' and paying taxes for the first time in her life.

After giving up her position in the royal family, the Princess revealed she has had to deal with 'lots of scrutiny' - particularly when she takes on new roles.

'Everything you do that's a first, that goes out of the box that you're put in,' she said, adding that press scrutiny has 'continued'.

She added that, in Norway, spiritual beliefs like the ones she holds are 'taboo'.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked stunning in an all-white ensemble as she attended the National Coalition for Financial Health (NCFG) meeting in Utrecht today.

The Dutch royal, 53, usually loves a bright colour palette but instead opted for an all-white display for a striking look.

The mother-of-three looked as glamorous as ever as she stepped out onto a red carpet on her arrival and was welcomed by chair of the Federation Barbara Burgering.

Maxima paired an elegant embroidery anglaise top with matching high-waisted trousers, making for both a timeless and a trendy look.

She opted for a statement pair of button-style pearl floral earrings, that teamed nicely with her look while adding an elegant flourish.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked stunning in an all-white ensemble as she attended the National Coalition for Financial Health (NCFG) meeting in Utrecht today

Maxima paired an elegant embroidery anglaise top with matching high-waisted trousers, making for both a timeless and a trendy look

She quickly got down to business and was pictured deep in conversation with other attendees, making notes through the course of the meeting.

The European monarch was attending the meeting in her capacity as honorary chair of SchuldenlabNL, a foundation aiming to make the Netherlands debt-free.

The coalition is a partnership of companies and employees committed to financial health, and seeking reduce the number of households with financial problems by fifty percent by 2030.

Her outfit is a look she has previously worn for an official Royal Family photoshoot at Huis ten Bosch Palace in the Hague - as Queen Maxima is always keen to recycle her fashionable staple pieces.

It's been a busy couple of weeks for the royal after she stepped out in a striking hat and elegant cream dress with matching accessories for a special networking event in Utrecht last week.

The mother-of-three looked as glamorous as ever as she stepped out onto a red carpet on her arrival

She quickly got down to business and was pictured deep in conversation with other attendees, making notes through the course of the meeting

Queen Maxima attended a National Coalition for Financial Health (NCFG) meeting in Utrecht

She opted for a statement pair of button-style pearl floral earrings, that teamed nicely with her look while adding an elegant flourish

The European monarch was attending the meeting in her capacity as honorary chair of SchuldenlabNL, a foundation aiming to make the Netherlands debt-free

Maxima kept her face shielded from the sun in a wide-brimmed cream hat, in keeping with the statement styles we've noticed the Queen of the Netherlands wearing lately.

Queen Maxima was spotted last month wearing a similar statement style hat from Brussels designer Maison Fabienne Delvinge, this time in a straw colour with a folded ribbon detail at the back.

For the Global Leadership Exchange in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, Maxima teamed an elegant applique dress with the bold hat and simple nude heels, dressing up the look with sparkling bracelets on her wrist and statement earrings. A boxy cream clutch finished the neutral ensemble.

Letting her chic hat take centre stage, the royal pined her blonde hair up and swept it back off her face, with simple eye makeup and a subtle pink glossy lip completing the summery look.

Last week Maxima stepped out in a striking cream ensemble for the Global Leadership Exchange in Utrecht

Maxima was pictured sitting in the audience for the global networking event, looking poised and engaged while listening to the talks on stage.

The Global Leadership Exchange, held in Utrecht, is a week-long learning and networking event that takes place every two years.

The event brings together world leaders in fields such as mental health, disability and substance to share their knowledge and strive for a more inclusive world.

This year the Leadership Exchange was held at Jaarbeurs, an event space located in the centre of The Netherlands, 30 minutes from Schiphol Airport.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium enjoyed spending time with young patients today as she visited a holiday camp for children with cancer close to the city of Malmedy.

The European royal, 51, smiled broadly as she joined in the fun during activities while at Camp Tournesol.

The mother-of-four opted for a classic monochrome ensemble as she stepped out in the rainy Belgium city.

Mathilde donned a short-sleeved black and white blouse with horizontal stripes and wrapped a classic tassel shawl around her shoulders to keep herself warm.

She paired this with slim black cigarette trousers and polished loafers, complete with a clear umbrella.

Hey! Queen Mathilde had a huge smile on her face as she went to Camp Tournesol to meet kids and engage in activities with them

The Belgian royal meeting a young patient; the children can ride horses, do crafts, go on excursions and receive prizes and gifts during their holiday stay

Mathilde looked delighted to be spending time with the children at Camp Tournesol

In terms of accessories, Mathilde sported a pair of black dangly earrings, a watch, a gold bangle and a chic bracelet.

Mathilde wore her golden blonde tresses down in down in her usual blow-dried bob and went for natural makeup.

The Foundation Against Cancer has been organising a holiday camp for children and young people undergoing treatment every year since 1989.

The organisation says that young patients continue their treatment throughout their stay, with voluntary doctors and nursing staff on hand.

Their website states: 'Even if they continue their treatment throughout the week of the stay, the children can forget their illness for a while, thanks to the many activities offered by the instructors and organisers.'

They can ride horses, do crafts, go on excursions and receive prizes and gifts during their holiday stay.

Mathilde sat down on the sofa and had a chat with patients, with some looking elated that the Queen joined them on their trip away.

The-mother-of-four opted for a classic monochrome ensemble as she stepped out in the rainy Belgium city

They sat down on the sofa and had a chat, with some looking elated that the Queen joined them on their trip away

The organisation says that young patients continue their treatment throughout the stay, with voluntary doctors and nursing staff on hand

It comes as her daughter, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium chose to leave Oxford after studying at its prestigious university for three years.

The 22-year-old is next in line to the Belgian throne as she is the eldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.

A spokesperson for the Belgian Royal Palace told the Oxford Mail: 'The Princess loved studying in Oxford and had a wonderful time in Lincoln College.'

She moved to the city in autumn 2021 to start her History and Politics undergraduate course at Lincoln College.
The princess married her late husband's head of security after his death

Princess Lalla Latifa, the mother of Morocco's King Mohammed VI, has died aged 78.

The princess passed away on Saturday in Rabat, according to a royal palace spokesman.

She was born Latifa Amahzoune in 1946 in Khenifra, Morocco and was the widow of King Hassan II.

She also had four other kids - Lalla Meryem, Lalla Asma, Lalla Hasna, and Prince Moulay Rachid - and had ten grandchildren.

A private funeral ceremony is set to take place inside Dar Al Makhzen at the My El Hassan Mauseoleum.

The princess (pictured left when she was younger, and right) passed away on Saturday in Rabat, according to a royal palace spokesman

A statement from the royal palace said: 'As we mourn this painful loss, we ask the Almighty God to shower the deceased with his infinite mercy and grant her paradise, and to prolong the life of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God preserve him and perpetuate his glory.

'To Allah we belong and to him we will return.'

Since his mother's death, condolences have flooded in for the Moroccan king.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said: 'I learned with great sadness of the passing of your mother to her Creator and Benefactor.

'On behalf of myself and the Algerian people, I extend my most sincere condolences.'

Messages were also received from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Abdullah II of Jordan, according to Morocco World News.

Meanwhile the British Embassy in Morocco announced plans to lower flags to half-mast to honour the late princess.

A message on X from them read: 'In honour of Her Late Royal Highness Princess Lalla Latifa, the UK flag will fly at half mast at our Embassy and Consulates across Morocco.

Since his mother's death, condolences have flooded in for the princess's son, King Mohammed VI of Morocco (pictured)

The princess was married to King Hassan II (pictured in 1985) before his death in 1999. She was born Latifa Amahzoune in 1946 in Khenifra, Morocco

'We join the nation in mourning and extend our deepest condolences to the Royal Family.'

The king's mother had no official responsibilities in the North African country and did not carry out public engagements.

She was referred to in Moroccan media in stories as the 'mother of the royal children' and spent most of her life out of the limelight.

Lalla Latifa, who was born into the wealthy Amahzoune family, gained the title of princess after marrying the late King Hassan on November 9, 1961.

The ceremony was a double one - as her brother-in-law Moulay Abdallah tied the knot with Lamia Solh on the same day.

Tributes have flooded in from other countries, including UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

After her husband died in 1999, foreign media reports said she married the late king's head of security Mohamed Mediouri and divided her time between Morocco and France, before returning to Marrakech in 2019.

In 2022, Lalla Latifa was hospitalised with an unspecified illness, and was visited by her son Mohammed VI.

Mohammed VI ascended to the throne in July 1999 upon the death of his father.

He previously met Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for a private dinner in 2019 upon their visit to the country.
A doctor has revealed which five body parts you should check daily to make sure you aren't ignoring tell-tale signs that your health is declining.

Dr. Mindy Pelz is a world-renowned fasting and women's health expert who frequently dishes out life-saving tips online.

Recently, the California-based doctor called for employers to give women three days off during their menstrual cycle.

Now, while speaking to host Steven Bartlett during an episode of The Diary of A CEO podcast, Dr. Mindy gave listeners a checklist that detailed the five areas of your body you should be looking at every day to ensure that you are in good shape.

She explained how your nails, tongue, hair, feet and eyes could all indicate an illness was present.

A doctor has revealed which five body parts you should check daily to make sure you aren't ignoring tell-tale signs that your health is declining

Stay healthy! The five parts of your body you should look at on the daily Nails

Tongue

Bottom of feet

Inner corner of eye

Hair Advertisement

In the clip, Dr. Mindy spoke about how keeping your liver healthy was extremely important.

She said: 'Brain, gut, liver - keep those healthy.' The health expert noted that there were various ways to check on your health without taking a trip to the doctor.

She suggested that everyone have a daily routine that helped them examine the five areas of their bodies.

'A daily routine to see how your body is functioning,' she said.

Dr. Mindy advised people to begin by checking the inside of their eye, which she said could tell you if your liver wasn't working properly.

She explained: 'If the inside of your eye is yellow, that can be a sign of liver stagnation.'

Next, she revealed that the bottom of your feet could reveal whether you had toxins in your system.

'When the bottom of your feet are dry and cracking, it shows that you are not getting proper circulation. It's a possibility that the liver isn't doing a good job detoxing and getting toxins out, so your circulatory system has more sludge in it,' she explained.

Dr. Mindy Pelz is a world-renowned fasting and women's health expert who frequently dishes out life-saving tips online

While speaking to Steven Bartlett during an episode of his Diary of A CEO podcast, Dr. Mindy gave listeners a checklist that detailed the five areas of your body you should be looking at

And before you get your next manicure, the doctor recommends you take a close look at your nails.

She said: 'When there are a lot of ridges in your nails or how quickly your nails are growing, can be a sign of mineral deficiency.'

The next step in your daily routine should be done first thing in the morning, according to the health pro.

She said: 'I also look at my tongue every morning... [if] it has a white coating on it, that can be a sign of candida, of too much yeast in your system and your body is detoxing.

'When you fast sometimes it'll go black and that's like candida coming out, that's yeast coming out....'

Lastly, the doctor recommended you take a look at your hair.

She explained: 'How much hair you're losing can signify a key finding about your health. If your hair is healthy and moist and has the same coating, then you're healthy.'

In the same clip, she claimed that employers should be giving both women and men three days off a month to accommodate the menstrual cycle

In the same clip, she claimed that employers should be giving both women and men three days off a month to accommodate the menstrual cycle.

She said that it would be the 'most fair' to extend the same perk to men and that it should be the employee's choice when they want to take their days off.

The doctor recommended that women take their days the week before their period to 'support hormonal health.'

She said: 'What we know is, if you take it off the week before your period, when you come back you're going to be an even better version of yourself.

'Let your employee use their prerogative because you can't tell them when to use it with their period. I think that's the most fair because then the men can do it too.'
Foodies are rejoicing over the return of a Guzman y Gomez menu item

Guzman y Gomez has announced the return of a fan-favourite item after it was pulled from the menu last year.

The Mexican-themed fast-food chain announced on Monday it was bringing back pulled shiitake mushrooms across its Australian restaurants.

Customers were outraged when the vegetarian option was removed last December and vented their frustration on social media.

A petition was also launched urging Guzman y Gomez to bring back the meal option.

'Give me back my shredded mushroom burrito bowl. I will sell my kidney for it to be back again,' one wrote.

'Bring back the mushroom filling. It is the only thing I order, and I order every week,' another said.

A third added: 'I don't know who decided to take shredded mushrooms off the menu but I hope your pillow is warm on both sides!'

The chain has listened to the feedback and has not only revived the popular menu item, but is also launching pulled shiitake mushroom tacos.

Guzman y Gomez announced on Monday it was bringing back pulled shiitake mushrooms across its Australian restaurants

Customers were outraged when the vegetarian option was removed from the menu last year

Guzman y Gomez founder and co-CEO Steven Marks said: 'The obsession GYG guests have with mushrooms is real. I've never had so much feedback about a menu item and as always, we listened and it's back and better than ever.

'We've also included Pulled Shiitake Mushroom on our brekkie menu and so guests can add it to their Brekkie burrito, or our brekkie tacos and as a side with guac on toast.

'We know the addition of the plant-based Pulled Shiitake Mushroom on the menu is going to is going to be a real talking point for our guests especially our Pulled Shiitake Mushroom Taco with Herb Mayo, it's a special taco build and we want everyone to try it.

'GYG's menu is fully customisable with every order made fresh, so spread the word - It's time to fall in love with GYG's Pulled Shiitake Mushroom again.'

The plant-based option is available all day at GYG restaurants and on the app.
Removing your body hair is risky business, according to doctors, and could have deadly consequences.

Anesthesiologist Doctor Myro Figura has revealed the terrifying reality facing people who choose to maintain a hair-free aesthetic.

The popular medical expert explained hair - especially on the arms and legs - is the body's first line of defence against many pests and diseases.

In an Instagram reel labelled 'mosquito season' the popular doctor explained body hair serves three main roles - 'insulation, protection and sensation'.

He went in depth about how hair 'protects' against pests, especially mosquitoes, sharing a video of one of the blood sucking insects trying to push through thick leg hair to get to skin.

'Now do you think this mosquito has any chance whatsoever? No,' he said.

The mosquito's needles fail to reach the man's skin, keeping him safe from any viruses it could be carrying.

The doctor's warning comes as Europe suffers through one of its worst mosquito seasons on record - with tourists warned to 'stay away' or 'come prepared'.

Cases of dengue alone doubled in 2023 and are expected to 'explode' in 2024 with one seasoned traveller describing it as 'a terrifying plague'.

According to the European Centre for Disease Patrol and prevention residents of and travellers to 13 countries including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain are at serious risk.

The doctors followers were keen to follow his advice.

'It pays to be hairy,' one woman said.

'Looks like it is going to be a hairy summer at my house,' another agreed.

Some took it as permission to stop shaving once and for all.

'So what your saying is don't shave my legs ever especially during summer,' one woman said.

'Can't wait to enter my sasquatch era,' one joked.

Other followers were devastated to hear the doctor's advice.

'I am f***ed. My body is completely hairless,' one woman said.

'Wish I saw this before shaving today,' one man added.

And some were simply skeptical.

'I have pretty hairy legs as a dude and I can confirm, they still find a way to bite you,' one man said.

'They will just bite your toes,' another skeptic said.

'So fun fact- I did a little self-study on this. One year I didn't shave, and I counted all the bug bites and where they are. The next year, I did,' one woman recounted.

'I had six more bug bites the year that I didn't shave, and most of them were on my neck or face. So unless you can grow hair there this won't work. Still, if you wanna go natural, go for it.'
Wearing sunscreen can help keep you safe in the sun  it's a mantra that has been drummed into us for years  but how much can we really rely on it?

Recently, concerns have been raised that the claims about the degree of protection offered by some products isn't always accurate. What's more, some experts say that many people don't understand what sort of sunscreen they are buying, nor how much it protects them.

The upshot is that many are still leaving their skin dangerously overexposed to the sun's harmful UV rays.

'This is a serious issue  there are proven links between sunburn and some types of skin cancer,' says Antony Young, a professor of experimental photobiology at King's College London.

'Applying sunscreen regularly and generously is one of the most effective ways to protect your skin against damage from UV rays.

Wearing sunscreen can help keep you safe in the sun but concerns have been raised that the claims about the degree of protection offered by some products isn't always accurate

'People generally are aware of the need to wear sunscreen, but there's still confusion about what labels mean and how to apply the product to get the best results,' adds Professor Young, who is also a spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists.

But how much can you trust the available sunscreen products?

Last week, consumer group Which? announced that three widely available sunscreens had not passed basic sun protection tests: Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High; Bondi Sands SPF50+ face sunscreen lotion; and Calypso Press & Protect Sun lotion SPF30. All three companies disputed the findings.

Dorothy Bennett, a professor of cell biology at St George's University of London, said she found the results 'disturbing'.

Professor Young says the Which? results provoked 'a furore because it's quite rare for sunscreens to make claims that can't be backed up by independent tests.

'Sunscreens are classed as cosmetic products and are covered by strict laws,' he says. 'The UK and EU Cosmetics Regulations require that any claim made by a product must be substantiated.'

For SPF testing, volunteers' bare skin is exposed to UV lamps simulating sunlight and experts check visually to determine the point when the skin starts reddening, with or without sunscreen.

'Occasionally, there can be odd results, as the tests for SPF ratings are subjective  based on the human eye  so there is margin for error,' says Professor Young.

There's no doubt that good sunscreen used properly can protect your skin from the sun's UVA rays that primarily lead to premature ageing  and UVB that primarily lead to burning.

What's more, sunscreen can help cut the risk of skin cancers, including potentially lethal malignant melanoma. One study by Ohio State University in 2016 suggested that applying SPF30 prior to UVB exposure reduced the risk of melanoma by up to 80 per cent.

But scientists have also identified a 'sunscreen paradox': while the number of people using sunscreen has increased  around 40 per cent of people now use it when they go on holiday, according to a YouGov survey published in April  the rates of melanoma are rising.

Earlier this year Cancer Research UK predicted there will be a record 20,800 cases of melanoma diagnosed this year  up from a yearly average of 19,300 between 2020 and 2022. Meanwhile, in 2016 to 2018 there were 16,744 new cases of melanoma and 2,333 deaths.

'The problem is that people use sunscreen as a permission slip to tan,' said Dr Ivan Litvinov, an assistant professor in the division of experimental medicine at McGill University in Montreal and co-author of two recent studies into the 'sunscreen paradox'.

'People think they are protected from skin cancer  the fear is that this could mean that they tend to stay out longer in the sun.'

To help keep you safe, here we provide an expert guide to sun protection.

Applying sunscreen regularly and generously is one of the most effective ways to protect your skin against damage from UV rays

What SPF really means

When companies develop a sunscreen they give it a sun protection factor (SPF), which relates to the number of minutes it takes a patch of skin covered in sunscreen to slightly redden when exposed to UV light  and divide that by the number of minutes it takes to slightly redden when there is no sunscreen applied.

'So if it takes 300 minutes for skin to burn with sunscreen, and ten minutes to burn without it, then to work out the SPF you divide 300 by 10, which is 30; the SPF is 30,' says Dr Justine Hextall, a consultant dermatologist at Sussex University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the private Tarrant Street Clinic in Arundel.

'Higher factor sunscreens are generally more expensive, but they do offer that extra protection, particularly if you have fair skin,' she says. 'However, if you have tanned skin, SPF30 can be adequate if you apply it properly every two hours in the sun.'

That's because a tan is due to a skin pigment called melanin, which helps protect the skin against UV rays (but a tan can also be a sign of sun damage). Dr Hextall adds that 'anything below SPF15 is classified as low protection and won't really do much to protect skin'.

'I would recommend a SPF30 as a minimum for paler skin types,' says Richard Weller, a professor of medical dermatology at the University of Edinburgh.

'I usually start my holiday on the beach wearing SPF50+ and then take it down as my skin darkens and extra melanin is produced.'

One problem is that most people don't apply a sufficient amount of sunscreen to get the protection displayed on the label. 'Bearing that in mind, using SPF30 probably provides the equivalent of SPF15 as people tend to apply it so thinly  so fair-skinned people will need a higher SPF to get the protection they need,' says Professor Weller. 'Darker-skinned people may need a lower SPF.'

And it isn't enough to just look at the SPF rating, it is really important it has broad-spectrum UV protection too, particularly as UVA damage can contribute to some skin cancers.

Most sunscreen is now rated according to its UVA protection in stars  going from one to five. Dr Hextall says: 'I always buy a sunscreen that has a UVA star rating of five.' Some organic sunscreens may not have a UVA star rating.

Know your ingredients

Sunscreens work in one of two ways to block harmful UV rays. Either they use minerals ground into tiny particles to form a physical barrier, reflecting UV rays away from the skin; or they use chemicals that absorb UV rays.

Chemical sunscreens tend to be easier to apply, but take half an hour or so to work. Physical sunscreens provides immediate protection, but tend to be harder to rub in. 'They are equally effective and it comes down to personal choice,' says Dr Hextall. 'You can tell by looking at the ingredients' list whether a product is a mineral or a chemical sunscreen,' she says.

'Both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are mineral sunscreen ingredients. They each give broad-spectrum UV protection and work best when combined  so choose a sunscreen with both if you can.'

Chemical sunscreens use ingredients such as avobenzone, oxybenzone and octinoxate to absorb UV rays. 'This reaction creates low-level heat, but it quickly dissipates so you won't feel hotter,' explains Dr Hextall.

Professor Young adds: 'Mineral sunscreen is thought to be better for sensitive skins and kinder to the environment, although zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can leave a white residue and feel less pleasant on your skin.'

Another reason many dermatologists recommend mineral sunscreens over chemical is that they tend to deteriorate less quickly once opened, adds Dr Hextall.

Some sunscreens combine both chemical and mineral ingredients to provide ease of application with immediate sun protection. Nivea Sun, for example, the most popular sunscreen in the UK, uses titanium dioxide as well as chemical UV filters in some of its products.

'These hybrid sunscreens offer immediate sun protection and are also easy to apply in terms of texture, so they are generally a good choice,' says Dr Hextall.

Sunscreen can help cut the risk of skin cancers, including potentially lethal malignant melanoma

What about water?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided in 2011 that sunscreens can no longer be described as waterproof or sweatproof, as this exaggerates the effectiveness of the protection.

'In the UK, brands are allowed to call their sun creams waterproof or water resistant and they undergo testing to ensure that they still offer a good level of protection after immersion of the skin in water for a given amount of time,' says Professor Young.

Water-resistant sunscreens are formulated to stick to skin, even when submerged in water, and may contain silicones and mineral oils, which create a seal that stops water getting through.

'Sunscreens can be labelled as 'water-resistant', meaning that depending on the formulation, the sunscreen is effective for up to 40 minutes in water,' says Dr Matthew Sommerlad, a consultant histopathologist at University Hospital Southampton.

Manufacturers can still claim a sunscreen is water resistant if the SPF drops by as much as 50 per cent after two 20-minute periods of immersion and the tests are carried out using tap water, not salt water, he adds.

Sunscreen should be reapplied straight after you have been in water, even if it's 'water resistant', says Dr Sommerlad.

Don't trust 'once-a-day'

'A sunscreen can be made to be longer-lasting by adding ingredients, such as beeswax or candelilla wax, which help it grip the skin,' says Dr Hextall, 'or by using chemical UV filters said to be more stable.'

Professor Bennett advises caution when using all-day products: 'Some are advertised to last all day, but the small print may say you need to reapply after swimming, towelling or sweating.'

In Australia  a leading authority in sun protection  it is no longer permitted to label any sunscreen product as 'once a day'.

Meanwhile, 'children tend to have more sensitive skin that's easier to burn  and so need higher SPFs than adults,' says Professor Bennett. One single severe sunburn in childhood can be serious.

Children's sunscreens are formulated to be easy to apply and suitable for sensitive skin, with no added fragrance for example.

'For young children I always suggest UV clothing as it's the easiest way to give full sun protection,' says Dr Hextall. 'Then apply a sunscreen to all exposed areas, using SPF50 with broad-spectrum protection.'

Children tend to have more sensitive skin that's easier to burn  and so need higher SPFs than adults

Is it worth paying more?

Price doesn't seem to be any guarantee of quality, with the recent Which? tests finding that Lidl and Aldi products passed tests despite being notably cheaper than rivals.

La Prairie Voile Protection UV SPF 50/PA+ Veil costs 124 for 50ml, but the first ingredient is aqua (i.e. water), then cucumber, liquorice and flower and seed extracts, 'some of which may make sunscreens feel nicer on the skin', says Dr Hextall.

'However, basic sunscreens can offer similar protection if they have the same SPF or UVA star rating, whatever the cost.'

Check the expiry dates

Unopened, most sunscreens last three years after the date of manufacture. If they are opened and not airtight (screw top or pull-off bottle tops tend to allow more air to pass into the product than pump action bottles) this can be very much shorter.

Professor Bennett says: 'Look for an icon of an open pot with 12M, 6M or 24M against it, which means the number of months before expiry if opened.' An hourglass means the product will last 30 months from its manufacture date, opened or not. The danger with old sunscreen is that it may lose potency. 'Throw it out if it has lost its colour, smells bad or is clumping,' adds Professor Bennett.

Dr Hextall adds: 'I have seen patients with nasty sunburns because they mistakenly used sunscreen past its best, which no longer offered the correct protection. In some cases, old sunscreen can also contain bacteria that can lead to skin infections.'

How much to apply

To achieve the SPF reflected on the bottle, spread sunscreen on thickly  the British Association of Dermatologists recommends using half a teaspoon for your face and neck.

Adults should use roughly six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen to cover their entire body. 'Used properly, with three whole-body applications a day, a 200mg bottle of sunscreen would last two days for an average-sized woman,' says Professor Young.

'Spray sunscreens need to be applied until the skin looks wet to be effective, not just sprayed from a distance leaving a fine mist,' adds Dr Hextall.

Can you overdo it?

UV light has important health benefits. It's well known that 'vitamin D is synthesised in the skin in the presence of UVB rays in sunlight which has important benefits to healthy bones and teeth as well as a healthy immune system', says Professor Weller.

But sunlight may also play a role in lowering blood pressure. In a paper, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2014, Professor Weller showed how the skin produces nitric oxide  which encourages blood vessels to dilate so lowering blood pressure  in the presence of UVA light.

'If you look at the average blood pressure of people in Britain, it is 3 or 4mmHg lower in summer than it is in winter,' he says. 'My take on this is that it is beginning to be accepted that sunlight has benefits as well as hazards and there needs to a balance.

'Generally speaking for most people, 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure a day in the UK should be enough to get the benefits without the harm.'

And from hair spray to a pill, we assess the newest products on the market

If you think your choice of sunscreen is limited to a cream you smear from head-to-toe, you'd be wrong. The latest options are not only body part specific, but also available in formats from balms to mists  even capsules. But do they still do the job? CHARLOTTE DOVEY asked experts to review a selection.

With insect repellent

Incognito Mineral Suncream Insect Repellent, 100ml, 16.49, hollandandbarrett.com

Claim: 'Contains botanical PMD to repel insects and aloe to nourish the upper dermal layers of the skin. Broad-spectrum UVB and UVA with SPF30.'

Expert verdict: 'PMD is a plant-based alternative to the chemical insect repellent DEET. It is believed to work by altering the bugs' ability to smell us,' says Dr Sophie Momen, a consultant dermatologist at Guy's and St Thomas' and the Cadogan Clinic in London.

Incognito Mineral Suncream Insect Repellent, 100ml, 16.49, hollandandbarrett.com

'However, I question the need for mixing this with sunscreen.

'Insect bites tend to occur at dawn or dusk in most tourist destinations, which isn't when you'd need sun cream. And in tropical regions where you'd get bitten during the day, you'd want a stronger SPF than 30.

'It's also mineral-based  containing zinc oxide  which sits on the skin's surface and creates a barrier to the sun's rays. But it can leave a white-ish tint.

'This also contains linalool, a natural fragrance, which can trigger redness, itching and swelling on sensitive skin.

'If you need to ward off the mozzies, buy a separate repellent and apply as necessary.'

For dry/sensitive skin

E45 Sun Face Cream for Sensitive Skin, 50ml, 12.99, boots.com

Claim: 'SPF 50+. Hydrating sun cream with very high UVA and UVB protection for dry, sensitive skin. Suitable for eczema-prone skin.'

Expert verdict: 'This really is just E45, the well-known treatment for dry skin, with sun protection in it,' says Dr Ross Perry, a GP and medical director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics.

E45 Sun Face Cream for Sensitive Skin, 50ml, 12.99, boots.com

'Using a specific product for the face isn't a bad idea as the skin is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of the body. If you suffer from sensitive skin or are acne prone, an all-body one could cause irritation.

'It contains hyaluronic acid, squalane and shea butter, which are moisturising. To treat dry skin, use your normal moisturiser, let it soak in, then apply a sunblock. However, this is a good day-to-day sunscreen that isn't overly expensive.'

Protects lips

Soltan Active 2 in 1 Face Cream & Lip Stick, 20ml, 6, boots.com

Claim: 'Two in one suncare for face & lips; SPF50+, UVA and UVB protection, water and sweat resistant.'

Expert verdict: 'I think it's particularly helpful for lips,' says Dr Momen.

'The lip border is a common site for damage from the sun's UVA (which ages skin) and UVB (which burns the skin and can cause cancer). This is because the lips protrude slightly and are often left unprotected.

'Putting the sunscreen in a waxy, water-resistant stick will help this stay put. It contains the chemical sunblock ethylhexyl salicylate and the mineral sunblock titanium dioxide, so is a combination sunscreen which can work well. '

Stops hair burning

Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil, 100ml, 22.95, lookfantastic.com

Claim: A 'lightweight, water-resistant UV defence mist that forms an invisible screen to help protect hair from sun exposure' with 'naturally derived UV filters'.

Expert verdict: 'The active UV protection ingredients are wintergreen and cinnamon bark oils, which aren't used widely in traditional sun protection products as there's more evidence for mineral and chemical-based ones,' says Dr Perry.

Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil, 100ml, 22.95, lookfantastic.com

'Hair can become dry in the sun but there isn't really any need to protect it medically, it won't start falling out.

'If you're worried about burning your scalp, this won't make a jot of difference. In that case I'd suggest using a specific product  or wearing a hat.'

'Natural' protection

Odylique Natural Sun Screen, 100ml, 27, odylique.co.uk

Claim: 'Broad-spectrum UVA, UVB and powerful organic antioxidants to scavenge free radicals . . . and counteract the damaging effects of the sun.'

Expert verdict: 'The UVA and UVB protection in this balm come from zinc oxide and karanja oil from the seeds of the Indian beech, an ingredient I'm not aware of as having strong evidence as a sunscreen.

Odylique Natural Sun Screen, 100ml, 27, odylique.co.uk

'But whilst it says it's free from common allergens, it contains sea buckthorn which is a known irritant and can cause rashes  as can the rosemary extract.

'What I find most confusing here is the guide for application. It recommends two to three generous pea-sized amounts per exposed limb and three for the torso, but it then suggests those with particularly sensitive skin add a further two generous pea-size amounts after five hours  and one large pea-size dollop after two and a half hours. This is confusing. I wouldn't recommend it, especially at 27.'

DNA defence

Skincycles DNA Defence Sun Shield, 50ml, 55, skincycles.com

Claim: 'An innovation DNA defence complex strengthens skin's immune system and stimulates DNA repair. Balanced UVA and UVB spectrum protection; SPF 100+.'

Expert verdict: 'Suggesting something defends your DNA is always going to grab your attention,' says Dr Perry. 'But all sunscreens should work this way: by blocking or absorbing UV rays, they stop the DNA damage that these rays can cause in our skin cells.

Skincycles DNA Defence Sun Shield, 50ml, 55, skincycles.com

'The ingredients in their 'DNA defence complex'  tocopheryl acetate, camellia sinensis leaf extract, among others  however, are more likely to be seen in an expensive moisturiser. And while they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, they have nothing to do with protecting against UVA and UVB rays.'

Dr Momen adds: 'Like many newer products this has a plus after the SPF (here it's 100+).

'However my worry with any high SPF sunscreen, is that it can lure people into a false sense of security so they stay out in the sun longer. Regardless of the SPF rating you must reapply after two hours or after swimming or sweating.'

The supplement

Heliocare 360 Oral Supplements 30 Capsules, 34.99, heliocare.co.uk

Claim: 'Additional defence from within against the damaging effects of UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared. Contains supercharged antioxidant Fernblock which defends skin cells from damage caused by the sun.'

Expert verdict: 'I cannot see what benefit you'd get from taking one of these a day as they suggest,' says Dr Perry.

Heliocare 360 Oral Supplements 30 Capsules, 34.99, heliocare.co.uk

'While much research has been done into the efficacy of vitamins when used in a topical cream, how they work on the skin when ingested is still a bit of a grey area.'

Dr Momen adds: 'I worry such products play to people's anxieties  a good SPF50 cream is sufficient. I'm sure some people would not only fail to use sunscreen when taking these, but also believe they'd be (wrongly) protected from UVA and UVB rays.'
Helen Bone is a 42-year-old mother of three young daughters. Three years ago, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer caused only by exposure to asbestos.

As a nurse, Helen has spent her life in hospitals  all containing asbestos, perhaps in ceilings, walls, floors, pipework, just about anywhere.

As a schoolgirl she, like millions of us, would have been in buildings where asbestos was also present.

Mesothelioma (and other asbestos-related illnesses) was once viewed as the 'old working man's disease'  only contracted by builders, miners and ship workers. This is no longer the case.

We're now seeing the premature deaths of doctors, nurses and teachers who have worked in public buildings containing asbestos, and of thousands of other Britons who were exposed to it as school children. Helen is typical of this new category of patient.

Nurse Helen Bone, 42, with daughters Livvy, 16, left, and Maddy, 13

'I don't know how long I will live,' she says. 'But I do know this will be the thing that kills me.'

The average life expectancy for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma is between four and 18 months.

But in spite of her tragic circumstances, Helen says she isn't angry: 'I just want to see the government take action to eradicate asbestos so that no one else has to explain to their three young daughters that Mummy isn't going to be around for ever.'

July 5  the day after the General Election  is Action Mesothelioma Day. Of course, an incoming government faces a challenging 'to do' list of competing priorities, from the economy and national security to the NHS and migration.

But, like Helen, I would like to see this issue  ridding Britain of the scourge of asbestos  high on the public health agenda. Let me explain why.

Asbestos is a silent killer: odourless, tasteless and lethal.

In fact, it is responsible for the deaths of 20,000 people in Britain every year, making it the nation's number one occupational killer.

And yet, 5.5 million buildings in the UK still contain this hazardous material.

It is, I believe, the next big scandal  similar to the Post Office/Horizon one or the infected blood crisis  hiding in plain sight, with institutional denial and failure at its heart.

So why have successive governments, over decades, failed to do anywhere near enough to solve this crisis? The answer, I'm afraid, is a sordid tale of cover-ups, disinformation and ministerial mismanagement on an unprecedented scale.

Three years ago, Helen was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer caused only by exposure to asbestos

The purported safety of 'undisturbed' asbestos in our schools, hospitals and social housing is the biggest lie in public life. A lie that has already claimed thousands of lives and which will claim thousands more if action is not taken.

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral used extensively between the 1950s and 1990s as a cheap insulator in the construction of most new buildings.

However, inhaling its microscopic fibres can cause lung cancers (including mesothelioma), as well as asbestosis, an excruciating inflammation and scarring of the lungs.

The use of brown asbestos was banned in Britain in 1985 with a similar ban for the less dangerous white derivative 14 years later. However, there has been no co-ordinated national effort to remove asbestos already in situ. In 2002, I founded a company called Lucion, an asbestos consultancy dedicated to the careful monitoring and safe removal of the material.

By 2017 we were a global leader in hazard management, advising on everything from legionella to radiation. But no matter how hard we tried, we could not get policymakers to take desperately needed legislative action on asbestos.

So, in 2019, I sold Lucion. My friends and family told me I was mad. This was a company I'd dedicated my life to and which had grown into a highly profitable, world-leading consultancy.

But I could no longer stay silent. I now run the Airtight on Asbestos campaign, which aims to pressure government into radically overhauling the UK's approach to tackling asbestos.

A report published by the Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee in 2022 cited 16 recommendations for asbestos management. Three of these I consider to be fundamental and urgent: to establish a national asbestos database; to produce a 40-year strategic plan to eradicate asbestos risk from British infrastructure; and to introduce effective air monitoring in areas where people are most at risk from it.

As a nurse, Helen has spent her life in hospitals  all containing asbestos, perhaps in ceilings, walls, floors, pipework, just about anywhere

Asbestos is a silent killer: odourless, tasteless and lethal. It is responsible for the deaths of 20,000 people in Britain every year, making it the nation's number one occupational killer

These recommendations were endorsed by the Department for Work and Pensions and a coalition of 28 unions representing 4.5 million workers. And yet the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) refused to support the measures, and action was not taken.

So the question is, why  when France, Poland, the Netherlands and Australia are working furiously to save lives  is Britain lagging so dangerously behind?

The first issue is that mesothelioma has a latency period of up to 40 years. Of the tens of thousands diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses each year, their exposure dates back decades, making it very difficult to prove cause and effect. They have lived their lives unaware of the ticking time bomb inside them.

The second problem is the reporting of deaths. I have told you that 20,000 people die from asbestos exposure each year in the UK. However, the HSE puts this figure at just 5,000 people  a radical underestimation that undermines the need for immediate action.

But who is right? The HSE acknowledges that around 2,000 people die of mesothelioma in the UK each year. The international standard is to assume that the ratio of mesothelioma deaths to asbestos-related deaths from other forms of cancer is 1:8. Therefore, some basic mathematics produces my 20,000 figure.

However, the HSE refutes the international standard ratio and unilaterally uses its own 1:1 ratio, which produces its figure. Why does the HSE use its own utterly baseless metric? I have asked its staff many times and never received an answer.

The third and perhaps most crucial reason why asbestos is not taken sufficiently seriously in this country is the myth  perpetuated by the HSE  that undisturbed asbestos is 'safe'.

I've studied asbestos for almost a quarter of a century. Let me tell you, there is no such thing as safe brown asbestos inside an occupied building.

Asbestos is incredibly friable. It takes very little to disturb the material and release lethal, microscopic fibres into the atmosphere. Inclement weather, a child slamming a schoolroom door or simply throwing a ball against a wall is enough to release thousands of fibres into air vents and, eventually, classrooms.

And don't forget, the buildings containing asbestos  be it a hospital or a school  were designed in the 1960s and 1970s to last roughly 40 years. They are now under near constant maintenance. Every time contractors carry out work, they will inadvertently disturb asbestos in the building. It is impossible not to.

HSE policy states that 0.1 asbestos fibres per millilitre in the air is the safe limit.

But what if I told you that 0.1 fibres per millilitre equates to 8 fibres per breath, 10,000 inhaled fibres per hour and 60,000 fibres in a school day, per child  does that still sound safe?

As a father of three myself, these numbers make me incandescent with rage.

Even more shocking is that the HSE's own research puts the safe limit at 0.0001  considerably lower than the current figure.

Why is there such a discrepancy between the advice of HSE scientists and their official policy?

I fear it all comes down to accountability. For the duration of its near 50-year existence, the HSE has dramatically failed the people of Britain on asbestos.

This is the biggest national scandal of our lifetimes. But nobody, from the HSE to Downing Street, wants to admit it because the liabilities will be too great  both financial and professional  for those who have failed to take action.

Ironically, a recent cost-benefit analysis estimates that it will cost the government three times as much over the long run if they don't tackle the problem head on. Sadly, no government has ever been prepared to take a long-term view.

The reality is, we have the technology and the expertise to stop this madness. All we need now is the political will  to minimise the risks and safeguard the lives of millions of our children and young people.

A national database, an air monitoring scheme and a strategic plan to remove asbestos from our built environment  starting with buildings where there is the highest risk  is basic common sense.

Do I dare hope that a new government will listen and at last take a common sense approach towards what will otherwise be a very costly mess for the public purse  and cost many more lives in the future?

It doesn't sound like too much to ask, does it  to make Helen Bone's wish a reality?

airtightonasbestos.uk
The maker of some of the world's most popular tobacco and cigarette products has launched a nicotine-free vape amid criticism of the industry for marketing dangerous products on minors.

Reynolds American, the maker of Newport and Camel cigarettes and the now-banned Vuse electronic cigarettes, announced it will begin selling a nicotine-free product aimed at adults.

The vape, called Sensa, is set to go on sale in the US this week for $20 and comes in six flavors, including watermelon frost, passionfruit frost and berry fusion.

And while it may be less addictive because of a lack of nicotine, health complications, such as lung disease and damage to blood vessels, from vapes can still come from the ingredients they use and the vapor they produce.

Most e-cig vapors contain toxic chemicals, including propylene glycol and glycerol, which break down into the carcinogen formaldehyde when heated.

The vape, called Sensa, is set to go on sale in the US this week for $20 and comes in six flavors

With its new product, Reynolds American now joins other e-cigarettes makers in the nicotine-free vape market

With its new product, which the company likened to nonalcoholic beer or decaffeinated coffee, Reynolds American now joins the ranks of other e-cigarettes makers in the nicotine-free vape market, such as Elf Bar, Sofi vape and Geek Vape.

Sensa will have up to 5,000 seconds of puffs and a removable battery that can be recycled. Typically, nicotine-free vapes cost between $13 and $17.

When announcing its new product, Reynolds American said the brand's purpose was to provide adults with a product for when they want to vape but don't want to consume nicotine.

It also pledged to 'establish the highest standards in the industry.'

The vaping industry has come under fire for its marketing practices, which public health experts say target young people with their colorful packaging and candy-like flavors.

But Reynolds said Sensa, intended only for adults 21 and older, will not sell flavors that appeal to minors, will use a locking feature to prevent unintended usage, only feature models 35 and older in marketing and advertise on age-restricted social media sites.

The devices, the company said, will be displayed in stores among restricted sections with traditional vapes and cigarettes.

The brand will also carry the warning: 'Zero nicotine does not mean this product is safe.'

Shay Mustafa, senior vice president for business communications and sustainability at Reynolds, told The Wall Street Journal: 'We dont want our products in the hands of youth, period.

'For us, its not gray. Its very clear: We want to be responsible.'

But there are still concerns Sensa will be enticing to some, drawn in by the fruity flavors and seemingly safe 'nicotine-free' label. There are also concerns that some stores may still sell the product to people under 21 years old.

These vapes are not subject to oversight by the FDA, which only regulates e-cigarettes that contain nicotine - and recently the agency has been tasked with trying to stem a tide of illegal devices from China flooding the US market.

Companies looking to get the FDA's stamp of approval must prove their products are less harmful than traditional cigarettes and their benefit in helping smokers quit tobacco outweighs the risk the products pose to underage Americans.

Reynolds said because Sensa does not contain nicotine, it will not seek FDA clearance for the product.

But despite the nicotine-free claims, the e-cigarette will still use a battery to heat up liquid in the device, producing vapor.

When the liquid is heated, toxic chemicals are formed and breathed in by users, whether or not the product contains nicotine.

These chemicals can include propylene glycol - used to make things like antifreeze and paint solvent - acrolein - an herbicide used to kill weeds - nickel, tin, lead, benzene - found in car exhaust - formaldehyde and diacetyl - a chemical that has been linked to the lung disease bronchiolitis, also called 'popcorn lung'

Studies have linked these chemicals to a myriad of health issues, including collapsed lungs, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, asthma, COPD and cancer.

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In a first study of its kind, researchers analyzed health data from 4.3million ex-smokers and found those who switched to vapes were twice as likely to die from lung cancer, compared to those who quit cold turkey.

Another study published in the journal Microvascular Research in January 2024 identified that nicotine-free vape fluid increases a specific protein in the lung, causing stress on the organs, inflammation and the breakdown of blood vessels.

Lead author of the study, Dr Havovi Chichger, associate professor of Biomedical Science at Anglia Ruskin University, said: 'Nicotine-free vape fluid has been demonstrated to have the same chemical composition as nicotine-containing fluid except for the absence of nicotine.

'As the market is not currently well-regulated, it has been difficult to judge which chemical could be the most damaging to vascular function.

'Our findings indicate that nicotine-free vape fluid exposure causes similar pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory effects on human microvascular endothelial cells, and that ARF6 is a key regulator in vape-induced damage to blood vessels.'

The ingredients in Sensa have not been made public, but Reynolds said it would list them on its website soon.

Dr Gavin Nye, a lecturer in anatomy from the UK's university of Chester, previously told MailOnline: In the past, its always been strongly suggested that vaping is not carcinogenic, unlike smoking tobacco, but now the evidence seems to finally be coming to light that toxins in vapes may be linked to cancer.'

Substances from the vapor can also get into the blood and cause damage to blood vessels, potentially raising the risk of a whole host of conditions  from dementia to heart disease.

And a recent study in the UK found nicotine-free vapes can contain as much nicotine as a full-strength e-cig after examining more than 50 brands sold in the country.
Labour will send patients to Specsavers and other high street opticians to cut NHS waiting lists.

It wants private providers to carry out routine checks and scans to free up NHS specialists for more complex procedures.

There are currently 613,000 patients on NHS waiting lists for eye care, 15,000 of whom have been waiting more than a year.

The party claims some patients have been left waiting up to five years for treatment while research from the Association of Optometrists last year found 551 patients have suffered sight lose due to delayed appointments.

Wes Streeting said: Thousands of patients have been waiting more than a year for eye care, putting their sight at risk.

There are currently 613,000 patients on NHS waiting lists for eye care, 15,000 of whom have been waiting more than a year

High street opticians have the kit and staff to do basic checks and scans. Labour will partner with them to get patients the treatment they need.

This is just one way Labour will reform the NHS and use spare capacity in the private sector to beat the Tory backlog and cut NHS waiting lists.

Freedom of Information requests showed a patient at Whittington Health NHS Trust in London waited five years for eye care.

Another at Mid and South Essex Trust waited four years, according to the data.

The shadow health secretary has also suggested that doctors should be paid less for overtime to help clear the NHS backlog.

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As part of its promise of an extra 40,000 appointments and procedures every week, he suggested overtime to cut the NHS waiting list should be capped at time-and-a-half.

Doctors union the BMA recommends consultants charge up to 161 per hour for extra day work and 269 per hour for evening and night work  around three times their contracted rate.

While ultimately down to hospitals and staff, he told the Health Service Journal that he does not want them to throw good money after bad.

He said: If we win the election [we'll try] to give trusts and integrated care boards the freedom and flexibility to work out how best to deliver those appointments at a local level, because it will look different in different places.

What we're not prepared to do is throw good money after bad.

But the Tories dismissed Labours plans, adding that the Labour-ran Welsh NHS had the longest waiting times in Great Britain.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: If Labour had a credible plan to cut waiting lists, they would be delivering it in Labour-run Wales. Instead, waiting lists are at a record high and patients are waiting eight weeks longer on average than patients in England.

This is a glimpse of what Keir Starmers "blueprint" for the rest of the UK looks like. A Labour supermajority will give Keir Starmer unchecked power to do the exact same in England  and hell have to put up taxes by at least 2,094 for every working household in order to fund it.

Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have taken bold action to cut waiting lists at the fastest rate in over a decade outside the pandemic. Weve recruiting record numbers of doctors and nurses and have opened 160 community diagnostic centres, which will deliver 7 million additional checks, tests and scans to ensure patients get the care they need.

Just 130,000 people who are thinking of voting Reform or Liberal Democrat can prevent a Labour supermajority by sticking with the plan and voting Conservative on Thursday.
The BBC has been caught in a food hygiene scare after health hazards were discovered in its staff canteens  including red slime' in one kitchen.

Legal demands were issued to fix some of the problems immediately so the cafeterias could continue serving food and drinks to BBC staff and stars including Alex Jones, Tess Daly, and Gary Lineker.

Local authorities inspected food outlets at the Beebs New Broadcasting House in London and Media City in Salford, Manchester.

Now, documents released under Freedom of Information laws reveal a catalogue of stomach-churning complaints.

At one canteen in Salford, home to huge BBC shows including Match of the Day, inspectors found food items in the kitchen that had gone out of date the previous year.

Local authorities inspected food outlets at the Beebs New Broadcasting House in London, above, and Media City in Salford, Manchester

Legal demands were issued to fix some of the problems immediately so the cafeterias could continue serving food and drinks to BBC staff and stars including Tess Daly, presenter of Strictly Come Dancing

At one canteen in Salford, home to huge BBC shows including Match of the Day, presented by Gary Lineker, inspectors found food items in the kitchen that had gone out of date the previous year

There was also no soap by the sinks, making it impossible for food preparation staff to wash their hands properly.

The News Cafe canteen at Broadcasting House was judged non-compliant for the cleanliness of its sinks and dishwasher, which had red slime growth and deep cleaning needed.

There were further breaches relating to cleanliness because of six months grease accumulation that needed to be scraped away before service could resume.

Rules had been broken due to a grease trap in the main pot-wash area not working and deep cleaning was ordered for the kitchens shelves.

Food had been kept on display at warm temperatures for longer than food hygiene rules allow, and kitchen equipment also needed a deep clean.

The report also found insufficient space in the freezer to store food, and that in the past the kitchen had been plagued by an infestation of fruit flies - which can carry unhygienic bacteria.

The two canteens at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, where Strictly Come Dancing is filmed, also had a couple of minor issues that needed fixing.

These included peeling paint that needed to be rectified so a splashback could be cleaned properly and a crumbling ceiling in a storage room.

Local authorities are responsible for inspecting businesses and enforcing food hygiene laws.

They can take action if they find standards of food hygiene are not good enough, ranging from requiring that issues be fixed to closing the premises or even bringing a prosecution.

Inspections take place at up to five-year intervals but are often more frequent.

The reports released to MailOnline are for the most recent inspections at all three BBC locations for 2020 and 2022.

Food from the BBC staff canteens has a dire reputation and has provided material for stars including Ronnie Corbett, Peter Sellers, Terry Wogan and Les Dawson.

Sellers once quipped on the Goon show in 1954: Lunch is now being served in the BBC canteen. Doctors are standing by.

Canteens at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, where Strictly Come Dancing is filmed, were also found to have issues that needed fixing

Legendary BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson also recently joked on X: A meal I recently had at a cheap roadside joint in Khartoum was better than the BBC canteen.

And BBC producer Kevin Core also posted about a tuna mayo sandwich that was so bad that the guy made it knowing it was properly hard [and] stale. Outrageous.

News presenter Rich Preston also light-heartedly claimed the depiction of the BBCs offices in Scoop, the drama about the Prince Andrew interview, was utter nonsense due to it showing a wide-ranging and healthy food selection.

Writer Bethany Black branded the canteens food the worst I've ever eaten, adding: A tin of chopped tomatoes with a diced mushroom in it isnt Bolognese sauce, and adding bell pepper doesnt make it chili.

BBC director Rob Jones posted a picture of a bowl of bright red soup he had been served, calling it bloody awful'.

Radio 4 newsreader Chris Berrow quipped last year: Given that National Avocado Day has been trailed heavily at the BBC Canteen I'm distraught to find that this year, once again, not a single item on the menu contains avocado.

Allie Hodgkins-Brown, a duty editor at BBC News, complained that it cost 1.50 to have a scraping of butter and Marmite on two slices of bread she had brought in.

While the BBC was asked for food hygiene reports on its canteens, it refused to disclose them. MailOnline instead obtained them from the local authorities for each BBC office location.

At one canteen in Salford, home to huge BBC shows including Match of the Day, inspectors found food items in the kitchen that had gone out of date the previous year

Birmingham City Council said it was unable to provide the inspection report for the BBC's West Midlands Mailbox location as these had been lost.

A BBC spokesman said all the issues raised by inspectors had been fixed, adding: [The canteens] have achieved the highest 5-star food hygiene rating. They are routinely inspected and if any issues are raised they are swiftly rectified.

It comes after viewers of BBC cookery show Saturday Kitchen were horrified by food hygiene standards on display last month.

Chef Tong Chee Hwee had been invited on to serve up the best Peking duck in town.

He was seen using a tea towel to dry a raw duck after dousing it with water, before placing the infected towel on a work surface  and later using it to dry his hands.

The BBC also previously had a problem with mice at New Broadcasting House.

Building managers emailed all staff telling them to expect to see traps laden with bait laid throughout the newsrooms.

The memo said: We should not be expected to put up with them just because we are in central London.

The problem was blamed on the size of the holes cut into cabling ducts, which staff were told would be tightened.
A mum-of-two claims she was forced to play 'hide and seek' with her birth control coil for 12 years after doctors 'lost' it.

Daniella Hampton had an intrauterine device (IUD), also known as the copper coil, inserted into her womb in 2009 but she claims she was told six weeks later it had fallen out.

The 29-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, US explained doctors told her they couldn't feel the strings attached to it and an ultrasound showed nothing.

But the health insurance worker said she 'never stopped believing' the coil remained in her body and felt 'dismissed' by doctors who never took her claims of pains in her rectum seriously.

For nine years she couldn't understand why she couldn't conceive and it wasn't until she had an X-ray following a car accident in April 2021, that the IUD was spotted inside her colon, having migrated there after perforating her uterus.

Daniella Hampton, 29, had an intrauterine device (IUD), also known as the copper coil, inserted into her womb in 2009 but she claims she was told six weeks later it had fallen out

In April 2024, she finally gave birth to her second son, Champion Hampton (pictured)

For nine years she couldn't understand why she couldn't conceive and it wasn't until she had an X-ray following a car accident in April 2021, that the IUD was spotted inside her colon, having perforated her uterus

Surgery to remove the coil in September 2021 brought 'relief' to Ms Hampton and three years later in April 2024, she finally gave birth to her second son, Champion Hampton.

'It was crazy. It was more shocking than the actual injury,' she said.

'The doctors told me they noticed a misplaced coil. Then I viewed the X-rays myself and thought "wow, there's no way that's still inside of me".

'I finally felt like I wasn't crazy. The surgery was optional but at that point I just wanted this foreign object out of my body.

'The strings and everything were still intact, the doctor pulled it out.

'There was a sense of relief that I knew for a fact that it was gone. It was scary though.

'I was definitely more comfortable having it out of me and knowing it wasn't in there. I was anxious to see if I would feel any different.'

The health insurance worker said she 'never stopped believing' the coil remained in her body and felt 'dismissed' by doctors who never took her claims of pains in her rectum seriously

She had an X-ray following a car accident in April 2021 and the results were 'more shocking' than the injury

Ms Hampton explained the coil was still intact including the strings, which doctors failed to locate years earlier

She took to social media to share photos of her X-rays. In the Facebook post she said: 'Trust your body ladies. I always knew it was inside of me but couldn't prove it'.

In the post Ms Hampton said: 'It was like playing hide and seek with the IUD for 12 years. It was pretty traumatic. For two years I had an implant in my arm at the same time.

'I felt my hormones were going crazy. I was having mood swings. Now I know I had two forms of birth control that definitely went hand in hand [until I had the implant removing after two years].

'I never stopped believing that it was still in there. I had mentioned it to other providers but once I told them I had the ultrasound they thought nothing of it.

'In the years following, I had sharp pains in my rectum area. I always felt like it was there but I was told it wasn't.

'I definitely felt dismissed and not heard. It was discouraging. I just went along with it.

'I was going crazy because I was like "what's going on with my body". I couldn't understand. It was really crazy.'

Ms Hampton, pictured with her 15-year-old son Tyrik Jones, was originally told the coil had just fallen out

Three years after surgery to get it removed in April 2024, she finally gave birth to her second son, Champion Hampton who is not three months old

Ms hampton admits the experience has put her 'off birth control' and she regrets not trying to prove to doctors the coil was still inside her, urging other women to trust their bodies

Ms Hampton admitted she believes the coil prevented her from getting pregnant for nine years as it is no 'coincidence' she was able to conceive after its removal.

'I was told that wasn't the reason but to this day I believe it was,' she said.

She added: 'For nine years I was trying to conceive and couldn't. And here I am now.. I don't think it was a coincidence.

'It was unknown if I would be able to fall pregnant again. I was thinking "am I crazy, what am I doing wrong". I was in my child bearing years. It's a happy ending'

But she admits the experience has put her 'off birth control' and she regrets not trying to prove to doctors the coil was still inside her, urging other women to trust their bodies.

Ms Hampton said: 'I think it's courageous when people insist and go a step further to get it checked out. I definitely should have. I was young and naive and trusted my doctor. I believed what she said.

'I really feel like everybody's body is different but this is definitely not the first time I've seen this happen. I feel like it's my duty to share what happened to me.

'It has put me off birth control. The only form of birth control that I use and that I'm comfortable with is the pill because I know I can stop taking it at any time.'
A young Aussie who captured the hearts of thousands of Australians after bravely fighting off cancer for more than a decade has died aged just 19.

Levi Tracy passed away at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth at 9.15am on Tuesday after a two-year battle from acute myeloid leukaemia.

The disease is caused by an abnormal growth of white bloods cells which creates tumours in the body. The condition prevents the immune system from fighting germs and infection.

His father Mark, who created the Lifeline for Levi Facebook page to support his son during his gruelling health journey, announced on Tuesday that his son had died.

'This day was never meant to arrive,' he wrote.

'We are broken beyond compare. We have no idea how to move forward and keep going, but we will find a way. Levi would want that.'

'He fought a massive fight and never gave up, the mountain was just too big.'

Mr Tracy explained that doctors had struggled to stabilise him in the early hours of Monday morning before the family visited him later that day.

Levi Tracy (pictured) passed away at Fiona Stanley Hospital, in Perth, from acute myeloid leukaemia at on Tuesday morning

Doctors told loved ones that Levi didn't have long left.

'His lungs were no longer able to cope and his blood pressure dropped to unsupportable levels,' Mr Tracy wrote.

'The infection in his lungs was the cause and triggered everything else.'

Hundreds of social media users flooded the heartbreaking post with comments to express their grief.

'I am crying like a baby for this beautiful warrior, Levi, and his beautiful family,' one person wrote.

'Levi was such a fighter, a true inspiration to many of us. In my eyes he is a true hero and legend,' another person wrote.

Levi (pictured) who lived in Perth, was first diagnosed with cancer when he was just seven before the disease was detected again ten years later

'Sending my deepest condolences to the family. My heart is shattered for you all,' a third added.

Levi, who lived in Perth, was first diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins T-Cell lymphoma when he was just seven years old.

After enduring several rounds of chemotherapy for two-and-a-half years, he was finally in remission before he turned 10.

But Levi, who found a job as a FIFO worker before he was admitted to hospital, was dealt a cruel blow when he was diagnosed with cancer a second time at the age of 17.

His family had been trying to find a blood stem cell match so that Levi could receive a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

The procedure allows a person who is not producing enough healthy blood cells to receive the protein from a healthy person who can supply the essential fluid.

Friends and loved ones were constantly providing updates on Levi's condition on social media.

A close family friend had set up a GoFundMe page recently to help cover some of the ongoing medical costs.

'Levi is one of the most gorgeous and humble men you could ever have the pleasure of meeting, he has a passion for his dog, his car and the fresh air of the outdoors,' the organiser of the fundraiser wrote.

The family of the 19-year-old (pictured left), were trying to find a blood stem cell match so that he could receive a life-saving bone marrow transplant

Almost $18,000 had been raised by kind donors.

Mr Tracy said the Facebook page would be turned into a tribute page to honour Levi's life.

'With broken hearts, we fight on,' he wrote.

'Don't waste time.'
A British mother claims a Turkish clinic which 'rushed' to count the 4,000 she paid in front of her has botched her boob job leaving her with 'leaking and black' breasts.

Adding insult to injury, she claims they then ghosted her after her ordeal.

Talyah Reid, 29, recalls feeling elated when her family all chipped in money for a breast augmentation as an early birthday present ahead of her 30th birthday in September.

The stay-at-home mother said it had been her dream to have the surgery after having three children - and started researching cosmetic clinics eight years ago.

And she thought stumbled upon the perfect match after finding a clinic in Turkey that had been recommended by influencers on social media.

Talyah Reid, 29, recalls feeling elated when her family all chipped in money for a breast augmentation as an early birthday present ahead of her 30th in September. Here she is pictured with her three children Jason (right) Darcie (left) and Sunny (centre)

While initially pleased with the results of her operation in Turkey upon returning to the UK she experienced concerning symptoms such as breasts swelling

Determined on fixing her biggest insecurity, the mother -of-three booked a boob job and uplift in January and flew to Turkey just weeks later on February 2nd for the operation.

Talyah, who lives in Huyton, Merseyside, said she was initially pleased with the results but soon began experiencing concerning symptoms after returning to Britain.

Her breasts started to swell to double their previous size and abscesses began developing on the incision marks underneath her boobs.

Doctors confirmed the cuts were infected and covered in 'dead skin' - meaning the implants would have to be urgently removed.

Luckily, Talyah made a full recovery but feels 'lucky to be alive' and is urging others to steer clear of cosmetic surgery clinics abroad offering cheap prices.

Talyah said: 'I'd wanted [my boobs] done since my son was born eight years ago. I didn't want to go bigger, I just wanted to get back what I'd lost after having three kids.

'I never ever put a bikini on or went on spa days. It was my biggest insecurity.

'I researched quite a few places. I was looking where influencers had been. I'd been looking for years but never had the money to do it. It's my 30th in September and all my family put money towards it as a present.

'I always wanted to go to this clinic and had seen their previous work on social media so decided to book it.'

Talyah forked out 4,000 in cash for the surgery and went under the knife on the day after she arrived in Turkey.

Looking back, she said was struck by how rushed everything seemed to be as she went through a whirlwind of handing over cash and signing paperwork.

'They were so rush, rush with everything I paid cash and they were counting it all in front of me. Before I knew it, I was signing papers and they said I was ready to go down,' she said.

'Everything seemed fine when I woke up. I was asking them about certain pains I was getting and they said everything was normal.

'I saw my breasts straight after and they looked like what I wanted. The problems didn't start until I got home.'

She also developed black abscesses on the incision marks where the implants had been inserted

These were eventually revealed to be infected and NHS medics had to remove the implants as a result

Upon returning back to the UK, Talyah noticed a lump had appeared in her left breast, but the clinic reassured her this was 'normal'.

However, a month later Talyah was admitted to Whiston Hospital in Prescot after her right breast suddenly swelled to double the size.

NHs doctors prescribed her pain relief and antibiotics to prevent an infection, but the same breast 'blew up' just two weeks later and the area underneath Talyah's boobs began turning black with bruises.

A follow-up appointment confirmed there were infected abscesses on the incision marks where the implants had been inserted - and there was a high likelihood they would have to be removed.

'They kept me in overnight and told me I would need surgery. They said we'll try our hardest to keep the implants but that wasn't the case,' she said,

'The abscesses popped in hospital and the surgeon came to have a look, they said there's no way we can save them. They said it would be impossible.

'I was devastated. I couldn't look at myself. I was so angry with the clinic. I kept contacting them and they never replied. I was just left with the consequences.

'(Medics) said there was dead skin underneath my boob so had to remove quite a bit of skin. I've been left with a lot of scars. In Turkey, I felt scared getting the surgery but I felt in safe hands in the NHS.'

After five days in hospital, Talyah was discharged and said she feels lucky to be alive.

She is now urging other women to avoid having any surgery in Turkey after nearly losing her life.

'I feel like I've been botched. I feel lucky to be alive,' she said.

'I knew as soon as I came home from Turkey something wasn't right. I was in so much pain. I couldn't even lift a kettle or push a pram. I wasn't healed months down the line.

'I regret this surgery so much. I didn't pick the cheapest place in Turkey, to me I thought I booked the best place.

I'd say to any woman considering this surgery do not go to Turkey. It's not worth it to save the extra money.'

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons analysed 324 cases of Brits needing medical treatment or corrective surgery after having gone under the knife overseas since 2018

Talyah declined to reveal the name of the clinic she went to. She is hoping to undergo correction surgery at some point in the future and her mum has launched a fundraising page to help pay for the operation.

She's not alone in suffering harm as a result of going under the knife overseas.

An audit by The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) last year found 324 Brits have needed medical treatment or corrective surgery after having cosmetic surgery overseas, with Turkey accounting for the lion's share.

This figure has surged 94 per cent in three years, the organisation claimed, as increasing numbers of Brits seek to look more like their celebrity idols.

BAAPS estimates the average cost to the health service of treating a Brit botched overseas is about 15,000, putting the total bill since 2018 at about 4.8million.

This bill represents the cost of resources like medication and dressings, as well as the time surgeons and other NHS staff must spend on such cases.

While the 15,000 figure is an average, surgeons have previously told this website more serious cases can cost upwards of 100,000 to the taxpayer.

Taylah's case is horrific but other Brits have suffered worse fates as result of botched operation overseas.

At least 25 Brits have died as a result of medical tourism trips to Turkey since January 2019, according to the Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Six of those deaths have occurred since 2023.

Surgery safety campaigners warning Brits against going for cosmetic ops overseas have described being asked to pay in cash as a 'massive red flag' of a potential poor provider.

Taylah's story comes just a week after union British Medical Association said more Britons are dying or requiring emergency care in the UK after jetting abroad for cut-price obesity surgery.

The crisis is fuelling delays for routine care, such as hip and knee replacements, because these health tourists are increasingly occupying NHS beds, the unions annual meeting heard.
The rapid spread of deadly bird flu could make it harder to get your morning bacon, egg, and cheese.

This week, McDonald's announced that restaurants in Australia will stop serving breakfast 90 minutes earlier as the country's egg supply is hit by bird flu outbreaks.

'Like many retailers, we are carefully managing supply of eggs due to current industry challenges,' the company said Tuesday in a Facebook post.

In the US, the H5N1 virus is surging from infected eggs, beef, and unpasteurized milk, leading American experts to warn of 'pandemic potential.'

As the virus rages on, food safety experts told DailyMail.com that that the US food industry is 'generally well-prepared' to face the challenge - but continuous monitoring is 'crucial' to maintain that stability.

McDonald's has not yet responded to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.

McDonald's announced that restaurants in Australia will stop serving breakfast 90 minutes earlier amid egg shortages from bird flu outbreaks

The above map shows states where bird flu infections have been reported in cattle

Dr Darin Detwiler, former FDA and USDA food safety advisor, told DailyMail.com: 'The situation in Australia, where McDonald's is limiting breakfast availability, due to egg shortages from bird flu, highlights the potential vulnerabilities in food supply chains caused by disease outbreaks.'

'While the current situation in Australia is concerning, it does not necessarily predict a similar immediate impact in the US.'

He added: 'Nevertheless, it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining biosecurity measures and having adaptive strategies in place to cope with unexpected challenges in the food supply chain.

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In Australia, bird flu has been detected in 11 poultry facilities in the southeastern part of the country. As a result, 1.5million birds have been culled to reduce the spread.

McDonald's stores will now stop serving breakfast at 10:30am, 90 minutes earlier than the original 12pm stop time.

'We are working hard with our Aussie farmers and suppliers to return this back to normal as soon as possible,' the company said Tuesday.

And Australian grocery store Woolworth's announced it would limit customers to just two packages of eggs per week. The limit applies to the New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria regions.

'Along with other retailers, we're expecting a short-term delay in stock from one of our egg suppliers in NSW, ACT and Victoria, due to the temporary closure of one of their packing sheds,' a Woolworths spokesman said.

'The situation in Australia, where McDonald's is limiting breakfast availability, due to egg shortages from bird flu, highlights the potential vulnerabilities in food supply chains caused by disease outbreaks,' Dr Detwiler said.

McDonald's in the US has not announced any restrictions or upcoming menu changes to cope with the outbreak. However, bird flu has spread to both poultry and cattle.

A tick indicates foods that have tested positive for bird flu, while a cross indicates those that have been tested for bird flu but were not found to contain the virus

The above shows how bird flu is edging closer to human spillover in the US

As of July 1, more than 136 dairy herds in 12 states have been affected, according to the CDC.

Like Australia, the US has also culled several flocks of poultry to contain the virus.

In May, officials in Sioux County, Iowa, confirmed that 4.2million birds were killed after bird flu was found among the flock.

One month earlier, another 2million birds were culled after bird flu was reported at Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the US.

And St Louis-based Post Holdings said in May that bird flu outbreaks at two-third party facilities decimated almost 14 percent of its egg supply - about 5.7million egg-laying hens.

Federal health agencies have not said there is an egg shortage, though production is down.

A May release from the USDA noted that egg production in April 2024 was down one percent from the same time last year, and the number of egg laying birds decreased by two percent.

Dr Detwiler noted that unlike smaller countries like Australia, 'the US has a robust and diverse agricultural sector with multiple regions contributing to the supply of eggs and beef.'

'This diversification can help mitigate localized shortages. However, should a severe and widespread outbreak occur, it could strain the supply chain.'

He also noted that US fast food chains typically have contigency plans to handle any supply chain disruptions. These include sourcing from different suppliers, removing ingredients from menus, or changing portion sizes.

'One problem is that shrinkflation is often associated with economic decisions- not with availability issues, so consumers are sometimes left not knowing the real cause,' he said.

Australia is not the only country whose eggs have been hit hard by bird flu related egg shortages.

In Japan, 17 million chickens were culled last season due to bird flu, or nearly one in 10 egg-laying hens, BBC reported.

This led 18 companies to suspend egg-related items last year, including McDonald's Teritama Muffin, which uses egg, and several sandwiches at 7-Eleven.

'It is reasonable to be aware and concerned about these risks, but right now the US food industry is generally well-prepared to manage and mitigate such challenges,' Dr Detwiler said.

'Continuous monitoring and proactive measures will be crucial in ensuring stability in the supply of eggs and beef.'
Vapes cannot be recommended as way to stop smoking as too little is known about the harms and benefits, bosses at the World Health Organization (WHO) have said.

The global body's ruling runs counter to NHS advice which says the devices are an effective way to quit the habit, which is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the UK.

In world-first guidance setting out possible interventions to help people stop using tobacco products, the WHO labelled the evidence around e-cigarettes as 'complex'.

Vapes 'may' be recommended as a smoking cessation aid 'in the future as evidence accumulates', it added.

Instead, health chiefs should back 'behavioural' support like counselling or smartphone apps and nicotine replacement therapy to get people to quit tobacco.

Currently, the NHS recommends the devices as a healthier way to stop the habit, which is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the UK. Yet, in world-first guidance setting out interventions to help people quit, the UN agency labelled e-cigarettes 'complex'

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The WHO's newly published document states: 'E-cigarettes are beyond the scope of this guideline because the potential benefits and harms of using these products are complex, and are addressed in a separate body of literature.

'These products may be addressed in the future as evidence accumulates.'

The NHS, however, says e-cigarettes are far less harmful and can help people quit smoking for good.

Responding to the release, Dr Rudiger Krech, director of health promotion at WHO, added: 'The immense struggle that people face when trying to quit smoking cannot be overstated.

'We need to deeply appreciate the strength it takes and the suffering endured by individuals and their loved ones to overcome this addiction.

'These guidelines are designed to help communities and governments provide the best possible support and assistance for those on this challenging journey.'

This latest ruling is just the latest in a series of statements and ruling against vapes made by the WHO

The UN agency last year called for all flavored vapes to be banned worldwide and treated similarly to cigarettes.

At the time, the WHO said 'urgent measures' were needed to control their sales and warned the devices could drive nicotine addiction in non-smokers.

It was also slammed by fact-checkers for claiming vaping can cause a seizure within 24 hours earlier this year.

E-cigs allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour  which is produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon  two of the most dangerous elements.

Nicotine's effect on the brain is well known  within 20 seconds of inhalation, it triggers the release of chemical messengers such as dopamine, associated with reward and pleasure.

But it also increases heart rate and blood pressure and makes blood vessels constrict. This is because nicotine triggers the release of the hormone adrenaline.

Campaigners have long blamed predatory manufacturers for the ever-growing crisis, claiming they are intentionally luring kids in with colourful packaging, compared to highlighter pens, and child-friendly flavours such as bubblegum and cotton candy

As of February, a total of 1,009 reactions to vapes have been recorded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Here are the 10 most common reports

Despite NHS chiefs insisting it is safer than smoking, vaping is not risk-free. E-cigarettes contain harmful toxins and their long-term effects remains a mystery.

Experts are concerned the high nicotine content might increase blood pressure and cause other heart problems.

Doctors have expressed fears there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.

In April, one shock study warned that e-cigarettes may raise the risk of heart failure.

Another suggested vaping triggers cell changes which may go on to cause cancer.

Earlier this year, MailOnline also discovered the number of adverse side effects linked to vaping reported to UK regulators has now eclipsed 1,000, with five of them fatal.

The extensive list includes everything from headaches to strokes. Members of the public and medics can submit them.

The nicotine-filled gadgets have also seen a surge in popularity among youngsters.

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A shocking MailOnline investigation last year even uncovered vapes resembling sweets and high street stores selling the devices next to chocolate and fruit gummies

Figures show how the proportion of kids using e-cigarettes has exploded amid the decline of traditional smoking, with more than a third of 16 to 18-year-olds now regularly inhaling them.

For comparison, less than one in 10 were doing so a decade ago.

This is despite sales of vapes to under-18s being banned, with anyone caught flogging them to children threatened with fines and prosecution by Trading Standards.

Campaigners have long blamed predatory manufacturers for the ever-growing crisis, claiming they are intentionally luring kids in with colourful packaging, compared to highlighter pens, and child-friendly flavours such as bubblegum and cotton candy.

In efforts to stamp out the UK's child vaping epidemic, Rishi Sunak last year pledged to ban disposable e-cigs completely.

Such devices - loved by kids - were expected to be outlawed by early 2025.

Under the Prime Minister's wider crackdown, vapes were expected to be limited to four flavours, sold in plain, tobacco-style packaging and displayed out of sight of kids.

But July's general election has now quashed any hopes of the historic bill passing before this Parliament.

Both Germany and Ireland have outlined their own proposals to place restrictions on vapes, with Berlin chiefs currently considering an outright ban on disposable e-cigs.

Separately, Australia has put in place measures to make vapes available only to those who have prescriptions.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has also set out restrictions that ban vape shops from being within 300 metres of a school and which ensure all vapes must have removable batteries.

While the potential long-term dangers of vapes are still undecided smoking the evidence that smoking harms your health is well established.

An estimated 76,000 people die every year from smoking-related health problems, including heart disease, strokes and cancer in the UK.
Rental prices have reached another new record high, according to the property website Rightmove.

Average advertised rents have reached 1,316 per calendar month outside of London, up 91 or 7 per cent compared to a year ago when the average rent was 1,225.

In the capital, average rents are now 2,652 per month, up 92 or 4 per cent from 2,560 a year ago. In percentage terms this made it the region that had the smallest rise, along with Wales.

Rightmove is therefore calling for the next Government to build more homes in order to make rent rises more 'sustainable'.

Supply and demand: Rightmove says 120,000 more rental homes are needed on the market to bring rent growth back to more normal levels of around 2% a year

While rents continue to go up, they are rising more slowly thanks to more properties becoming available which means landlords may price them more competitively.

The pace of rent growth has eased from its peak of 12 per cent two years ago, though it is still higher than the more normal level of around 2 per cent per year seen before the pandemic.

There are still nowhere near enough homes to satisfy the number of tenants looking to move, according to Rightmove.

Its analysis suggests that 120,000 more rental properties are needed to reduce rent growth to 2 per cent per year, based on the current level of demand.

Rents rise the most in North East England

Rents have been rising faster in some parts of the country with some regions experiencing double digit rental growth.

For example, in the North East of England, the average asking rent is up 11 per cent year-on-year, jumping from 808 a month to 894.

The West Midlands, where average rents are now 1,180 a month, is up 10 per cent on this time last year equating to a 109 monthly uplift.

Scotland is currently the hardest hit by supply and demand imbalances, according to Rightmove, with renters competing fiercely over limited stock.

Up until recently Scottish landlords could only increase rents on current tenancies by up to 3 per cent, unless given special permission.

However, the cap was lifted from 31 March and means rental costs will be back in the control of landlords, 18 months after the first price freeze was introduced.

Despite the rent controls imposed, average advertised rents in Scotland are up 9 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, London rents are now 4 per cent above last year. This is also the same in Wales.

London had seen rents boom during 2022 and 2023, but now, thanks to improvement in the balance between supply and demand in the capital, prices appear to be cooling in most areas.

Change of pace: London rents are now 4% above last year, now the joint smallest increase of all regions having been the biggest riser in the past two years

Next Government 'must build homes to cut rents'

Tim Bannister, a property expert at Rightmove thinks the next Government needs to streamline the planning process, accelerate housebuilding, and provide incentives for landlords to invest in more homes.

He said this would improve the supply and demand imbalance in the rental market and ensure that rental prices stop soaring upwards.

'We've been talking about the imbalance between supply and demand in the rental market for a long time now,' says Bannister. 'It's easy to forget that there was a time before the pandemic where rental price growth was more stable.

'Double-digit yearly rent increases were not sustainable, and, whilst there has been some improvement in the ratio between supply and demand, price growth at 7 per cent suggests we are still out of balance.

'In fact, our analysis shows we would need 120,000 more properties on the rental market to achieve a more sustainable level of rent growth of around 2 per cent per year.

'The next Government should be prioritising an improvement to the planning process, an acceleration of housebuilding, and encouraging more supply into the rental market.'

Biggest imbalances between supply and demand

Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, the estate agent membership body, agrees with Bannister.

He said: 'Propertymark has long argued that the private rental sector needs more houses to stabilise rental prices, but there is a myriad of other factors that can contribute towards making the market more attractive for both investors and tenants.

'With a general election coming this week, we would like to see the next government reform the tax system so that more investors can be persuaded to invest in the private rental sector and lower rents for tenants in the long-term.

'Whilst we support a greater supply of houses, there has to be a sensible deliverable programme mindful of protecting the green belt wherever possible.

'It would also be wise for them to avoid rent controls which have had a devastating effect on the private rental sector in Scotland'
All new cars sold in Europe are required to be equipped with speed limiters from this week - and UK models are likely to have them installed too.

As of Sunday 7 July 2024, new vehicles will need to have Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems fitted as standard as part of an EU safety regulation mandate.

While the same law does not apply in Britain, most models sold in the UK will ultimately have the same speed-limiting technology installed by manufacturers.

We explain how it works, why it is being introduced, if the UK Government is also considering a mandate and explain if you can manually override the system or turn it off entirely.

Intelligent Speed Assistance is mandatory only for new cars, vans and trucks sold in the EU - but the chances are that most models in UK showrooms will be fitted with the technology too

How does Intelligent Speed Assistance work?

Intelligent Speed Assistance technology, put simply, can restrict a vehicle's speed automatically.

It uses a combination of GPS data, satellite navigation, speed-sign recognition cameras and forward-facing cameras to identify what the speed limit is at any given time and determine if the vehicle is exceeding it.

If the car is travelling over the limit, the system can ultimately reduce the engine power until the legal speed is met.

For instance, if you're driving on the M1, the ISA technology can limit you to a maximum of 70mph.

ISA uses a combination of GPS data, satellite navigation, speed-sign recognition cameras and forward-facing cameras to identify what the speed limit is at any given time and determine if the vehicle is exceeding it. Drivers are warned to lower their speed, and if they don't the system can actively reduce the engine power

Before the system intervenes to lower a car's speed, motorists are initially warned they need to slow down.

The warning is either via a visual alert on the instrument cluster or screen, a short audible warning, or a haptic notification that gently vibrates the steering wheel when the limit is being exceeded. Manufacturers can use a combination of these or all three.

If the alerts are ignored by the driver, the system automatically slows the car by restricting engine power - though at no time does it apply the brakes.

Why the EU has mandated Intelligent Speed Assistance

European Parliament in 2019 agreed to mandate ISA technology to combat excessive traffic collisions and injuries on roads across the continent.

The technology was recommended by the European Transport Safety Council on claims that ISA could reduce traffic collisions by 30 per cent and casualties by 20 per cent as part of a wider target of achieving zero road deaths by 2050.

From 6 July 2022, every new model introduced to market for the first time has been required by EU law to have the technology.

But from 7 July 2024, ISA will need to be retrofitted to all new vehicle in showrooms.

This means manufacturers will need to install the tech on some long-in-the-tooth models, such as the VW Touran, which has been on sale in its existing generation since 2015.

Intelligent Speed Assistance is an EU mandate only. The UK Government has confirmed to This is Money that it does not follow the same rules for new models sold in Britain

Will the UK Government mandate speed limiters?

There's no denying that speeding is one of the leading causes of casualties on UK roads.

Latest road casualty statistics show that in 2022 some 1,766 people died on UK roads (1,711 in Britain, 55 in Northern Ireland) - a 10 per cent increase on the previous year.

And in almost a fifth (19.7 per cent) of fatal collision on Britain's roads, drivers had been exceeding speed limits.

But despite these stats and the EU's new rules, the current government currently has no plans to mandate speed-limiting tech in the UK.

The Department for Transport tells us it will not be introducing the same regulation on Sunday 7 July 2024 - though hinted that it could be considered after the general election.

A spokesperson for the DfT told This is Money: 'The Intelligent Speed Assistance laws coming into effect in July apply to the EU and Northern Ireland only, not Great Britain.

'We are constantly carrying out research into how transport users across all modes can benefit from the latest technology, ensuring journeys are safe, reliable, and cut emissions.'

The systems will use GPS, sat-nav, traffic-sign-recognition cameras and forward-facing cameras to identify the speed limit and how fast the vehicle is travelling before it intervenes

Even without a mandate, expect new models sold in Britain to have speed limiters

While ISA isn't mandated for UK models, there's a very high likelihood that a new model you test drive from a dealership will have one installed.

Volvo has been fitting speed limiters to all its new cars sold in the UK since the beginning of 2020, also restricting them to speeds no higher than 112mph.

All new Renault and Dacia models have also had the technology installed since 2022.

And many other manufacturers are factory-fitting ISA in some - if not all - of their cars, including mainstream brands such as Citroen, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Jaguar, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which represents UK car makers, told us that although makers will be required to fit new vehicles sold in the EU with ISA, it is up to the discretion of each brand to do so for GB-bound motors.

Mike Hawes, chief executive at the SMMT, said: 'Safety is the number one priority for car makers and, while the UK already has some of the worlds safest roads, the sector is always working to improve safety still further by developing and deploying new safety technologies.'

Despite the SMMT's stance, motoring groups and road safety charities widely expect manufacturers to sell cars in Britain with the speed-limiting systems equipped.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, told us: 'Even though ISA isnt mandatory in the UK, many new cars will be sold with this technology.'

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis added that he would be 'surprised if manufacturers deliberately excluded the feature from those they sell in the UK as it would add unnecessary cost to production'.

Dennis added: 'Anyone getting a new vehicle would be well advised to familiarise themselves with ISA and how it works.'

Neil Greig, policy advisor at leading road safety charity and advocate IAM RoadSmart, also commented, telling This is Money: 'The EU requirement for Intelligent Speed Assistance will almost certainly filter into to most new cars sold in the UK.'

Greig added: 'We would urge whoever forms the next UK government to adopt the same safety regulations as the rest of Europe quickly to avoid consumer confusion and provide car makers with certainty.'

Drivers will not only be able to turn ISA off before a journey but can override it even when it is activated. Here's how

Can Intelligent Speed Assistance be overridden?

When active, ISA can still be overridden for a short period only.

To do so, the driver will need to push hard enough on the accelerator pedal to disengage the system, for instance when they need to complete an overtake on a slower-moving vehicle.

The system should allow the car to go above the permitted speed limit for a short amount of time before the alerts reengage.

Can Intelligent Speed Assistance be turned off?

Under the EU's regulation, ISA can also be turned off. But not permanently.

The system will automatically activate each time the engine is started, meaning motorists will need to switch it off before setting off on every journey.

How difficult it is to deactivate the system is determined by the car brand.

Renaults, for instance, have a button on the steering wheel that, when held down, turns off the system.

However, in cars from other manufacturers, drivers might need to navigate through the options menu in an infotainment system to turn the feature off each time they get into the car.

Not only could speed-limiting technology reduce the number of fatal car accidents but it might also slash journey times

What are the benefits of Intelligent Speed Assistance?

The obvious benefit of ISA is that it is expected to save lives.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that every 1 per cent increase in speed results in a 4 per cent rise in fatal crashes and a 3 per cent increase in the serious crash risk.

By automatically adjusting the speed to the current limit, drivers are less likely to accidentally exceed it and be involved in a collision.

And, in theory, it will cut journey times: if ISA can reduce the number of crashes, it will also cut the number of traffic jams that follow them.

And there could be a benefit to drivers' wallets.

Faster driving consumes more fuel and causes more emissions, but by limiting a drivers' speed, cars would become more efficient and less polluting, which would improve overall air quality in major cities and slash motorists' petrol bills.

Some motoring groups are concerned that drivers will become reliant on ISA and less aware of their surroundings

The concerns about Intelligent Speed Assistance

Unfortunately, the technology comes with a few concerns for drivers, from the amount of control motorists will has over their vehicles to the reliability of the tech.

While the European Commission reassures that it can be 'smoothly overridden', currently drivers are only capable of vetoing the ISA system by depressing harder on the accelerator pedal.

It raises concerns over the responsiveness of the driver and the technology in an emergency.

Another potential issue is that ISA could lead to motorists becoming more reliant on the technology and less aware of their surroundings, which could cause issues if a driver uses a vehicle that doesn't feature this tech.

The AA's Jack Cousens said: 'Drivers may see this as a helpful tool to remind them of the speed limit, but we should remember that the best way to regulate speed is through the drivers right foot.'

There's also some apprehension surrounding the reliability of traffic sign recognition tech, especially following new reports in the last month.

Speed sign recognition cameras are not infallible and can make mistakes when misreading signs that are worn, damaged or covered by overgrown trees and bushes.

A recent poll of 2,000 UK drivers found that more than half (53 per cent) are regularly unable to read road signage because it is being obscured by overgrown foliage.

The motoring group warned road users are being put in 'grave danger' as it urged highways authorities to ensure signs are fully visible.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils across England and Wales, said tighter budgets mean highways teams aren't always able to prioritise trimming back foliage around road signage.

As well as obscured, faded and damage signage, there are also long stretches of B-roads where there are no signs for miles.

A recent RAC survey of just over 2,000 UK motorists found that more than half 53% are regularly unable to read road signs due to overgrown foliage. This has raised concerns about traffic sign recognition cameras being able to read them too

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There could also be problems for the technology to function in data blackout areas.

A GPS signal can sometimes be difficult to obtain in rural parts of the UK, which means some important steps will need to be taken to ensure the technology behind ISA is 100 per cent accessible.

German automotive vehicle assessment specialist, ADAC, has previously put ISA to the test in a Ford S-Max MPV and found that it was accurate for around 90 per cent of the time. However, that wasn't using UK roads, where signage and conditions are somewhat different.

Consumer group Which? claims it has also found ISA to be unreliable on many of the cars tested with the tech.

Its test team has experienced 'multiple instances' where a car has registered the speed limit as being 80mph in 30mph zones and also encountered instances on 70mph dual carriageways when a car has mistakenly detected the 30mph limit of an adjacent road.

The technology is also not aware of variable driving conditions, as the AA's Jack Cousens warns.

He said: 'ISA works across all speed limits but is only an assistance tool to help drivers stay within the limit,' the AA spokesman said.

'Drivers will still need to be aware of the speed limit, control their own speed and drive according to the conditions.

'Just because you are on a motorway doesnt mean you should still drive at 70mph if its pouring with rain.'

Do drivers want Intelligent Speed Assistance tech?

Insurer Admiral polled 2,000 UK adults in 2022 and found that almost half (47 per cent) are in favour of the new technology being mandated for new cars sold in the UK.

Its research found that only 18 per cent of those quizzed are against its introduction, with the remaining members of the panel (35 per cent) unable to give their definitive verdict as they don't know what ISA is or does.

Most of those in support backed ISA for its prospective improvements to road safety (68 per cent), while a similar percentage (64 per cent) said it will help to eradicate the age-old issue of motorists speeding and putting others in danger.

Of those that disagree with the EU's new legislation, 57 per cent said it shouldn't be written into UK law just because it has been in European Union member states.

Another 38 per cent say it should be up to motorists how fast they drive.

Nearly a fifth (17 per cent) believe speeding is not an issue, though Admiral points out that SP30 speeding convictions are the most common endorsements of all and can increase the cost of a car insurance premium by an average of 29 per cent - and in the worst cases, by up to 75 per cent.

Mark Gabriel, director of motor products at the insurer, said: 'Its encouraging to see that almost half of people welcome the new ISA technology, with two thirds doing so because they want to see speeding addressed to improve road safety.'
Revolut made a record profit last year, as the UK fintech giant continues its lengthy wait for a British banking licence.

The group made a pre-tax profit of 438million in 2023, up from a loss of 25million in 2022, while revenue almost doubled to 1.8billion.

The London-based group has expanded aggressively in recent years, opening offices in new countries including Brazil and New Zealand in 2023.

Revolut chief executive Nikolay Storonsky said on Tuesday: 'We remain committed to our ongoing UK banking licence application'

It added 12million customers last year, taking the total to more than 45million.

Revolut nearly doubled its advertising and marketing budget last year to 241million as part of its plans to continue expanding in Europe.

It has previously signalled its aim to list publicly but the company's interim chief financial officer Victor Stinga declined to comment on any timeline for an initial public offering on Tuesday.

Last month, Revolut announced a deal to move its global headquarters to a newly-refurbished building in Canary Wharf, which it said 'will help facilitate the future growth of Revoluts UK and global operations.'

Chief executive Nikolay Storonsky said on Tuesday: 'We remain committed to our ongoing UK banking licence application in addition to bringing the Revolut app to new markets and customers around the world.

'Even as we reached 45million global retail customers six months into 2024, Revolut remains poised for exponential growth in 2024 and beyond, continuing to redefine the financial services landscape as weve known it.'

Results: Revolut made a pre-tax profit of 438m in 2023, new results show

In a boost for its attempt to win over UK regulators, it is the first time in three years that Revolut has published its accounts on time.

The rate of expansion has seen it far outstrip the growth of rival digital money firms like Monzo and Starling, which have roughly nine million and three million customers respectively.

However, unlike Monzo and Starling, Revolut is still not allowed to offer lending products like credit cards, personal loans, or mortgages without a banking licence.

In 2021 Revolut was worth 26billion and was hailed as the most valuable fintech in the UK.

Now it is seeking a valuation of around 32billion in an employee share sale  a 20 per cent jump that would make Revolut larger than NatWest.

The regulatory delay sparked an outburst from Storonsky last year when he branded Britain an undesirable place to do business.

He said it had been a long and tiring process and that Revolut would not choose London for a future public listing.

Analysts at the time dismissed his comments as a tantrum and sour grapes.

Getting its accounts in order has been seen as a crucial step on the path to getting a licence.

But Revolut has failed to publish its finances on time two years in a row.

When 2021s accounts were finally published in March last year, auditor BDO said it was not able to independently verify three-quarters of its 636million revenue.

The accounting firm warned that some information may be materially misstated.

In December last year Revolut published its 2022 results three months late.
A planned strike at Port Talbot steelworks because its Indian owner threatened to shut the plant early has been suspended.

Members of the Unite union have been taking industrial action such as banning overtime and planned to stage an all-out strike from Monday next week.

The union is embroiled in a dispute with Tata Group over plans to close the two blast furnaces at its plant in South Wales and switch to greener steel production with fewer workers  costing 2,800 jobs.

Strike threat: Port Talbot's Indian owner Tata wants to close the plant's two blast furnaces and switch to greener steel production with fewer workers  costing 2,800 jobs

But the union said the industrial action and next weeks strike have been suspended.

Unite said Tata has agreed to enter talks about future investment for its operations and not just redundancies in South Wales.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: This is a significant development in the battle to protect jobs.

Tata last week threatened to shut the Port Talbot steelworks as soon as this week. It has been given a 500million government bailout to shift to electric arc furnaces.

Some 2,800 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.
Motorists enjoying cheap 5 hand car washes may be unwittingly fuelling modern slavery, money laundering and tax evasion, experts warned today - as the number of sites edged past 5,500.

Bargain prices at local car washes makes them popular with drivers, but campaigners warn these are often only possible due to a reliance on low-paid workers who may have been trafficked from overseas.

They also warn the unregulated nature of the industry makes it particularly suitable for organised criminals looking to legitimise their ill-gotten gains, with many sites controlled by brutal drugs gangs.

Earlier this year, police busted an Eastern European crime syndicate who smuggled 12 migrants into the UK with the promise of a better life before stealing wages they earned at car washes and other 'grey economy' businesses.

One migrant was forced to live in an unheated garage without a roof before being put to work cleaning vehicles for no money, with his captors - who included 47-year-old Czech man Zdenek Drevenak - exploiting his 'desperation' not to be deported.

Another case saw a couple force more than 40 Slovakian 'slaves' to carry out nearly 1million worth of work for free at their car wash in Southmead, Bristol. Maros Tancos and Joanna Gomulska, both 46, were jailed for a total of 25 years.

Joanna Gomulska (left) and Maros Tancos (right) forced more than 40 Slovakian 'slaves' to carry out nearly 1million worth of work for free at their car wash in Southmead, Bristol

The couple's car wash in Bristol, which was staffed by 'slaves'

Zdenek Drevenak, 47, was part of an Eastern European gang who smuggled 12 migrants into the UK with the promise of a better life before stealing wages they earned washing cars

Adam Hewitt, from anti-trafficking charity Hope for Justice, described car washes as 'among the highest risk types of business for modern slavery'.

'Many of the survivors we are helping right now were exploited at a car wash at some point because they are often low-wage, cash-in-hand operations where most staff do not need to speak to the public,' he told MailOnline.

'This means they can be controlled more effectively. We have seen cases of victims being forced to sleep on-site, working extremely long hours with few if any breaks, and getting paid nothing or maybe just a small handout, or even just some cigarettes or alcohol.

How you can spot a rogue car wash

Adam Hewitt, from anti-trafficking charity Hope for Justice, advised drivers to look out for suspicious signs, such as groups of workers all being picked up and dropped off together, especially at unusual times. He continued: 'Looks for lights on at businesses at night  could someone be living there? 'Look out for workers with bruises or who look dishevelled or anxious, or who don't seem to be allowed to talk for themselves. If it's so cheap it seems too good to be true, ask yourself why  maybe the staff aren't actually being paid properly.' Advertisement

'This is because they are under the control of a trafficker, who keeps them compliant using threats against them or their family, debt obligations, psychological manipulation or other forms of control.

'That means that a victim will often not think about ''escape'' in the way you might expect  they do not feel this is an option for them and sometimes they may even say they are grateful to their trafficker, thinking that something better will come along soon.'

Mr Hewitt advised drivers to look out for suspicious signs, such as groups of workers all being picked up and dropped off together, especially at unusual times.

He continued: 'Looks for lights on at businesses at night  could someone be living there?

'Look out for workers with bruises or who look dishevelled or anxious, or who don't seem to be allowed to talk for themselves. If it's so cheap it seems too good to be true, ask yourself why  maybe the staff aren't actually being paid properly.'

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University estimate there are now about 5,500 hand car washes in the UK, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of car washes overall.

They said 'wage theft, failure to pay business rates, lack of environmental protections and many other unlawful practices' remain 'endemic' in the sector despite their efforts.

'At this point in time, we would not recommend any of you take your car to be washed at a hand car wash in your neighbourhood,' Rich Pickford, Professor Ian Clark and Dr James Hunter wrote in a research paper.

'Businesses often don't hold insurance to move your cars, hold a licence to use water commercially which means acids, soap and other all the dirt and grime from your car goes untreated, or pay anything near the minimum wage we would expect all workers to be paid across the UK', they added, asking that after the election, the new government commits to tackling the issue once and for all.

The conditions of the cramped rooms where car wash 'slaves' controlled by Maros Tancos and Joanna Gomulska lived

The poor conditions in Tancos and Gomulska's flat are likely being replicated in scores of other locations across the UK

Workers were locked in the house and had identity documents and mobile phones taken during the modern slavery and human trafficking operation

The Car Wash Association (CWA) is also asking for a new mandatory licensing scheme to be introduced by the next government.

Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the CWA, said: 'Non-compliant hand car washes, that vastly outnumber legally operated sites, are blatantly disregarding employment laws, with minimal enforcement from the relevant authorities.

'When employment laws are ignored, people suffer. These hand car washes, many of which only accept payment in cash, are often a hotbed of modern slavery and other illegal activities, such as money laundering and tax evasion.

'The continued lack of action on this issue empowers these criminals and endangers lives.'

He added: 'A National Licensing Scheme must be part of any prospective Government's strategy to address these employment law violations.

'Inaction allows criminals to operate with impunity.'

Today one car wash owner hit back against the suggestion that his industry was a haven for criminals.

Adnan, 44, who owns Charlton Car Wash in south east London, and another carwash in Kent, said: 'The government is looking at us all the time.

'We have the Home Office every couple of months and the minimum wage people every six months, so we have to keep records for five to six years now.'

The entrepreneur charges an average of 15 to 20 for cars with discounts for NHS workers. Vans are 25.

When asked if he has faced issues from other carwashes undercutting his prices, he said: 'Outside London maybe sometimes you can find these cheaper carwashes, and how can they afford it?

'When you add the cost, the rent, the water, staff wages have gone up.

'Our staff are happy to stay here, we are not forcing them. After Brexit, we find it hard to find people, the local people they don't want to work here.'

'We pay the London Living Wage of 12 an hour, and we got no one.'

Charlton Car Wash in south east London, where the owner, Adnan, follows all regulations and pays staff the London Living Wage. He believes the industry has been unfairly given a bad name

The entrepreneur charges an average of 15 to 20 for cars with discounts for NHS workers. Vans are 25

Egyptian Reda Abdelmorty, 39, recently opened M&R Valeting in Merthyr Tydfil. He said: 'I've heard that car washes are involved in organised crime but that's not my experience'

At Drive and Shine hand car wash in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, 10 cars were being pressure washed, polished and valeted on Sunday morning. Its manager, Aras Karam said the firm runs checks on its employees to ensure they were in the UK legally

At Drive and Shine hand car wash in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, 10 cars were being pressure washed, polished and valeted on Sunday morning.

The car wash employs up to ten workers, from Bulgaria, Romania, Kurdistan along with some locals.

Manager Aras Karam said Drive and Shine was a legitimate business which ran checks on its employees to ensure they were in the UK legally.

He said the company followed Health and Safety regulations and paid its workers the minimum wage 'sometimes more'.

Mr Karam, a Kurd, said he was aware that car wash companies had the reputation of being fronts for organised crime.

He said: 'That isn't happening here. There are so many car washes in the country now, some will be operating illegally, I know that.

'But this is a legitimate business, we have been here for many years. I'm not saying it doesn't go on, but it depends on the place and who is running it.'

Regular customer, furniture restorer Sue Williams, 57, said: 'They work hard and do a good job, I've been coming here for years.

'I'd think again if the place was being used for money laundering and was staffed by slave labour.

'But I put my trust in the police and immigration authorities to make sure it's a properly run business.'

Egyptian Reda Abdelmorty, 39, had been working at car washes in South Wales for 10 years but left his last job because he was not getting holidays pay.

He now manages the recently opened M&R Valeting in Merthyr Tydfil along with his brother and his 18-year-old son.

Mr Abdelmorty said: 'I'm a father-of-three, I work hard for my family. I've heard that car washes are involved in organised crime but that's not my experience.

'I left the last place after nine years, run by a Palestinian with a British passport, because he wasn't giving me holiday pay when I go back to Egypt every year.

'This new place is owned by a local businessman and I'm doing my best to get it established.'

Workers in the carwash come from all over the world, with many from Eastern Europe, but also India and Nepal.

The business has been operating since the 1990s, and Adnan, who moved to the UK in 1997 from Kosovo after the war, has been involved on and off for around eight years, taking ownership again last year after a period under different management.

The entrepreneur prides himself on how well he follows new government legislations, even employing someone full time to ensure the business is complying with all the rules.

Adnan also wants more carwash owners to follow the rules, he said: 'People should run their businesses the way they should be. Everywhere there are bad people and good people.'

There have been many recent cases of criminals using car washes to rip off workers or as fronts for money laundering.

Arti Dhir, 59, and her younger husband Kaval Raijada, 35, were both sentenced to 33 years over plot which saw them launder money through their car wash

The couple hid seven gold-plated bullion bars in a punchbag at their grubby London flat

In February, British couple Arti Dhir, 59, and Kaval Raijada, 35, were both sentenced to 33 years in prison after they were found to have smuggled cocaine to Australia between 2019 and 2021 before laundering it through a car wash in London.

The pair moved 3million in boxes and suitcases around different storage sites in the capital and hid seven gold-plated bullion bars in a punchbag at their London flat.

They were also accused of the murder of an 11-year-old boy in India.

Paul Law, 36, from Manchester, used his car valeting firm as a front to launder drugs money whilst arranging for hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of high purity cocaine to be imported into the UK concealed in computer hard drives.

The father-of-one was caught in 2016 after police raided his company P&D Auto Clean in Wigan and other properties when police raids and seized huge hauls of cash, drugs and equipment associated with cocaine production.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Law, from Wigan, was jailed for 14 years after he was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cocaine importation following a two month trial.

Five other men and three women were found guilty of various drugs offences and jailed for a total of 63 years.

As far back as 2018, MPs were already warning that hand car washes were centres of 'modern slavery' and should be licensed.

A report by the Commons environmental audit committee said thousands of car washes  charging as little as 5 per vehicle  have sprung up on unused land around the country in the past 15 years.

Some are linked to trafficking for cheap labour, said the report, adding: 'This is modern slavery in plain sight on Britain's streets.' One study found that of 450 people trafficked into the UK, 40 were working in hand car washes.

Committee chairman Mary Creagh said at the time: 'Hand car washes hide the widespread exploitation of workers through illegally low pay, poor working conditions and, in some cases, forced labour. The Government must target the sector and prosecute exploitative employers.'

Natasha Mitra, Head of Helpline Services at Unseen told MailOnline: 'The exploitation of car wash workers remains a serious issue in the UK, despite a drop in reported cases during 2023.

'This decrease doesn't necessarily indicate a reduction in cases, but could stem from legislative changes like the 2022 Nationality and Borders Act and 2023 Illegal Migration Act hindering victim disclosures, particularly those with irregular immigration status, alongside a recent media focus on care sector exploitation.

Dhir and Raijada kept the spoils of their crimes in a bedside table

'The public plays a vital role in identifying and reporting exploitation, and consumers should look for signs like workers appearing fearful, exhausted, or living onsite.'

It is not only car washes that have come under a cloud of suspicion.

Earlier this year, barber shops were accused of being possible fronts for human trafficking across the Channel, drugs and slave labour.

The number of barbers operating in the UK has ballooned in recent years, fuelled by a surge in male grooming.

Detective Superintendent Charlotte Tucker of Wiltshire Police, claimed establishments in London offering 'really cheap' 10 haircuts could be a 'red flag', potentially highlighting it was being run by a criminal gang.

Meanwhile, in April, a Met Police detective warned of 'large' numbers of trafficked women being brought to work in nail bars.

To get help or report modern slavery, call the independent Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or visit www.modernslaveryhelpline.org.
Growing Democratic uproar over President Joe Biden's shockingly feeble debate performance on Thursday night appears to be turning into a full-blown party revolt.

'For Biden's own good and the good of the country, he should step aside immediately,' major Democratic donor and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson told DailyMail.com. 'The fact that it has now been three days and Biden has done nothing to reassure us confirms my worst fears.'

Tilson has given the party more than $300,000 in recent years.

Days after the President struggled to hold his train of thought and tailed off mid-answer into incomprehensible gibberish during the CNN debate, left-wing benefactors are still up in arms.

On Saturday, Biden appeared at a New York fundraiser  in a glitzy Long Island beach town  and, according to one attendee, read a simple 15-minute speech off a teleprompter, before leaving without taking any questions.

'Doing that for the next five months is not going to be enough,' the fundraiser guest said, stressing that Biden's understandably anxious supporters deserve reassurance that he is capable of defeating Donald Trump in November.

But later on Saturday night, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison and Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez only further stoked concerns on a conference call with wavering DNC members.

Growing Democratic uproar over President Joe Biden's shockingly feeble debate performance on Thursday night appears to be turning into a full-blown party revolt.

Days after the Biden struggled to hold his train of thought and tailed off mid-answer into incomprehensible gibberish during the CNN debate, left-wing benefactors are still up in arms.

'The call was akin to a rah-rah speech,' said John Verdejo, a party member from North Carolina who told the Mail he was surprised when call organizers failed to address the 'elephant in the room', namely Biden's inability to speak clearly.

Other DNC members went even further than Verdejo in their criticisms. Some said that they felt 'gaslighted' by campaign officials on the call who seemed to deny that there was anything to be concerned about. The official Team Biden line appears to be: Nothing to see here.

'On every metric that matters, data shows [the debate] did nothing to change the American people's perception,' Jen O'Malley Dillon, chair of the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign, insisted in a memo released this weekend.

Hardly anyone believes that spin.

'The data!?' tweeted Mike LaRosa, former Press Secretary to First Lady Jill Biden. 'If there is data that counters the impact of what we all saw then WHERE THE HELL IS IT???'

Democrat donor Whitney Tilson similarly didn't his mince words.

'They're p***ing on our legs and telling us it's raining. It's insulting. How stupid do they think we are?'

In fact, a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted over the two days following the CNN debate found that 72 percent of registered voters now do not believe that Biden has the 'mental and cognitive health to serve as president'. That number is up from 65 percent in early June.

On Monday morning, Biden was still holed up in Camp David with his family, who had collected for a post-debate photoshoot with famed celebrity snapper Annie Leibovitz.

He didn't return to the White House until late Monday evening, when he made brief remarks about the day's Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, before leaving the podium without taking questions.

The Bidens returned to the White House on Monday after bunkering down at Camp David for crisis talks amid calls for him to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.

On Saturday, Biden appeared at a New York fundraiser  in a glitzy Long Island beach town  and, according to one attendee, read a simple 15-minute speech off a teleprompter, before leaving without taking any questions.

One reporter could be heard shouting: 'Are you going to drop out?'

Biden's apparent lack of urgency in addressing the party panic's is even now raising alarm among Democratic lawmakers, who fear Biden's stumbles may end up hurting their own electoral prospects.

'Everyone is waiting to see what the president is going to do and say,' one House member said. 'I think the president himself needs to be doing some major reach-out to Congressional leaders.'

An aide to a House Democrat who faces a competitive Republican challenger in November re-iterated those concerns and told the Mail that there are real worries that dissatisfaction with Biden will depress voter turnout overall.

According to Brett Bruen, a former Obama White House adviser, this widening Democrat dread is entirely predictable.

'The donors are the canaries in the political coal mine,' he said. 'As polls in the last day have indicated, there are reverberations from Biden's performance up and down the ticket.'

'The notion that it gets messy if Biden steps aside overlooks the fact that it's already a big freaking mess,' he added.

Perhaps, the biggest challenge facing the party is that even if the President stepped aside, there would be no obvious replacement candidate or clear path forward.

A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted over the two days following the CNN debate found that 72 percent of registered voters now do not believe that Biden has the 'mental and cognitive health to serve as president'.

'The data!?' tweeted Mike LaRosa (above), former Press Secretary to First Lady Jill Biden. 'If there is data that counters the impact of what we all saw then WHERE THE HELL IS IT???'

Whitney Tilson's prescription for Biden, then, is to ditch the notecards, teleprompters and vetted questions, and demonstrate that he is up to the job by holding weekly news conferences, or sitting down with the New York Times editorial board to persuade them that it was wrong to call for him to quit the race.

'It's absolutely a sensible strategy,' said former Obama adviser Bruen. That is, he added, if Biden doesn't suffer another major public misstep.

'There is a significant amount of anxiety among Biden's advisers that one more senior moment could ratchet up the already significant pressure amongst Democrats for the president to drop out,' he said.

That's to say nothing of the unprecedented challenge of swapping out a presumptive major party candidate seven weeks away from a nominating convention and four months from a general election.

The most discouraging news for those who want Biden to bow out came from Chavez Rodriguez on a call with top donors on Sunday. She claimed that if Biden were to step aside then only Vice President Kamala Harris would be able to use the funds raised by his campaign.

The $91.2 million collected by the Biden-Harris ticket as of May 31 is not transferrable to any other candidate, according to Federal Election Commission rules. So perhaps the party would find its hands tied.

A distressing thought, indeed, for party officials who well know that Harris has routinely polled as the most unpopular VP in history.

As one exasperated senior figure observed: 'The irony is that anybody but Kamala Harris would have a better-than-even chance of beating Donald Trump!'
Joe Biden has been accused of allowing federal employees across the nation work from home so they will vote for him, according to the chair of the powerful Oversight Chair.

James Comer said federal offices across the American continue to sit empty four years on from Covid-19 with no structures from post-pandemic work schedules.

An government-wide survey conducted at the end of the year found 68% of 625,568 staff worked three or four days from home.

Comer's committee has been trying to get clarity from the Biden administration on how many federal employees are working from home as Americans continue to get on the phone to agencies such as the Social Security or Veterans' Affairs.

'Biden's main objective with the federal workforce, in my opinion is to to keep them happy at all costs so they'll go vote for him,' Comer told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

He said the Biden administration refuses to hand over figures on what percentage of the federal workforce are teleworking and how many days a week employees are coming to the office.

'It's all crap. Every caseworker here whether they're Democrat or Republican, every office we have caseworkers, they will all tell you it is impossible to get someone on the phone now in any governance, push Social Security, whether it's the VA you know, trying to get passport, it doesn't matter,' Comer went on.

Comer's committee has been trying to get clarity from the Biden administration on how many federal employees are working from home as Americans struggle to get agencies - Social Security Administration, Veterans' Affairs and the like - on the phone

The chairman said he isn't against remote work on principal. If the Biden administration showed them data proving it is more efficient for taxpayers to have federal workers working from their homes, he would support it, he says.

'They have no data to tell whether or not it's more efficient, and I can tell you it's not,' Comer said. 'But if it is more efficient, then I think we should liquidate a lot of these federal buildings. D.C. could turn them into affordable housing or whatever.

'We found in our investigation that some buildings are as low as 8% occupied. os we can we can consolidate workers into buildings and liquidate buildings and save on utility bills - that's greener - save on on repairs and maintenance and things like that. But this administration doesn't want to do anything. All they want to do is spend more money and and attack Donald Trump.'

In the spring Comer hauled in Office of Management and Budget deputy director Jason Miller to testify about remote work policies.

Miller claimed that federal workers who are 'telework eligible,' meaning they have jobs that can be done remotely in some capacity, are currently working at least half of their hours in the office.

The federal government employs some two million people in Washington, D.C. The government spends about $2 billion per year operating federal offices buildings and another $5 billion on leases.

'OMB will continue to push agencies to complete implementation,' Miller said. The agency 'has issued guidance for agencies to substantially increase meaningful in person work at federal offices, particularly at headquarters.'

Late last year Biden's Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients ordered Cabinet heads to ensure that their workforce returns to the office this year.

According to a memo obtained by DailyMail.com, he wrote that federal employees should be in the office at least 50 percent of their work time in order to achieve the goals of the administration.

Zients highlighted the State Department's 'expectation' that all employees are in the office at least 3-4 times per week because there's 'no substitute' for 'engaging face-to-face' when it comes to diplomacy.

But he also acknowledged that 'some of your agencies are not where they need to be.'

Comer said the Biden administration refuses to hand over figures on what percentage of the federal workforce are teleworking and how many days a week employees are coming to the office

'It's all crap. Every caseworker here whether they're Democrat or Republican, every office we have caseworkers, they will all tell you it is impossible to get someone on the phone now in any governance, push Social Security, whether it's the VA you know, trying to get passport, it doesn't matter,' Comer went on

In February a USDA whistleblower wrote to Congress warning of the 'impersonal and inefficient' work environment remote work was causing.

The employee, who describes themself as a supervisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, says full-time remote work and telework is 'negatively affecting productivity, efficiency, and cooperation.'

They said that the 'vast majority' of USDA employees are working remotely, and the unused federal office headquarters resembles a 'ghost town' with empty hallways and vacant offices.

The USDA was found to be at only 11 percent occupied between January and March 2023 and more than 75 percent of the available office space at 17 different federal agencies is still empty, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
READ MORE: The man who COULD be president

It's just days after the first presidential debate, but outside Safeway in the Trumpiest town in deep blue California, nobody is discussing President Biden's bumbling performance  or even that of President Trump who won by a landslide here in both 2016 and 2020.

Instead, the talk in Susanville is all of one man: Golden State Governor Gavin Newsom.

And as he positions himself to take over the Democratic presidential nomination should the 81-year-old Commander-in-Chief bow to pressure to step down, that talk is getting more and more panicky.

Newsom, 56, was front and center after the debate in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday night  presenting himself as a vigorous alternative to the ageing Biden while simultaneously denying any plans to run.

Here, in northeastern California, 4,100 ft up in the Sierra Nevadas, in the county seat of the state's reddest county, the prospect of a Newsom presidency is regarded with utter horror.

California Republican Jackie, 67, who declined to give her last name, was soliciting signatures for a new petition to oust the Governor Newsom in the red city of Susanville, in Lassen County

California Republicans are horrified at the prospect of their governor, Gavin Newsom, replacing Joe Biden on the ballot, should the president bow to pressure to step down after his bumbling performance at the first presidential debate last week

'Newsom has been absolutely terrible for the families in Susanville,' writer Kelly Eggert, 58, told DailyMail.com outside the local Tractor Supply Co.

'In California, the Democrats have got things wrong. They don't have the best interests of the US at heart.

'If Newsom became president, he would be a complete nightmare. I think it would be like the Civil War all over again.'

While few in Susanville have anything good to say about Biden, it is Newsom who draws the most flak.

The petition points to a long list of reasons to remove Newsom, such as the high taxes, woke social policies, his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the homeless crisis

Voters point to a record that they say includes responsibility for sending the state into the red after a spending spree on social programs, rampant homelessness, and policies that amount to a vendetta against conservative areas.

Along with voting heavily for Trump in the past two elections  71% in 2016 and 74% in 2020  Lassen County also led efforts to oust the California governor in 2021 and broke heavily for his Republican rival Brian Dahle in the 2022 Gubernatorial election.

Dahle, 58, who grew up on a farm in a rural part of the county, now represents the area in the California State Senate along with most of the Sierra Nevada counties of Northern California.

Like neighboring Modoc, Plumas, and Shasta counties, Lassen is largely rural and is more than 300 miles north of San Francisco and 550 miles from Los Angeles.

Susanville, a city of just over 16,000 people that revels in the nickname 'Prison Town' due to the two biggest local employers: The maximum-security High Desert State Prison just outside the city limits and Federal Correctional Institution Herlong, 16 miles away.

Located in northeastern California's Sierra Nevadas, Susanville is more than 300 miles north of San Francisco and 550 miles from Los Angeles

The city of Susanville is the seat of Lassen County which Trump who won by a landslide in both 2016 and 2020. The city's political leanings are still evident throughout

In the last two elections, the majority of the county voted for Trump, 71% in 2016 and 74% in 2020. Republicans in the region also led efforts to oust Newsom in 2021

A pro-Trump flag mocking Democrats Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton is decorates a lawn in Susanville

Until last year, the town was also home to the California Correctional Center  shut down last June by Newsom as part of an effort to save $1.5billion by closing five prisons.

Backing on to High Desert, the still-standing facility looked forlorn when DailyMail.com visited and its closure still infuriates locals who saw 300 jobs disappear overnight.

Among them was Eggert's son-in-law who, she said, was able to transfer to High Desert although not all were as lucky.

'He did this to punish a Republican area,' she said furiously. 'He injured our livelihoods. I think he's trying to get Republicans to move out of California.'

One person who agrees is Jackie, 67, who asked not to give her last name.

Outside the Susanville branch of Safeway, she was soliciting signatures for a new petition to oust the Governor  the second attempt since he first assumed office in 2019 should it collect the 75,000 endorsements needed to make it on to the ballot in November.

'I don't believe he has the capability to be president,' she said. 'Look what he has done to the largest state in the Union.

'And you want to hand him how many more states?'

As she spoke to DailyMail.com, a man drove past in a large truck. Catching sight of her sign, he shouted 'get rid of that sucker!' to a large round of applause from onlookers.

Susanville is also known as 'Prison Town' due to the two biggest local employers, including the maximum-security High Desert State Prison just outside the city limits

The Federal Correctional Institution Herlong is located just 16 miles away. It is among the facilities that survived Newsom's move to close five state prisons in an effort to save $1.5billion

Like neighboring Modoc, Plumas, and Shasta counties, Lassen is largely rural

It's a view that comes up consistently in Susanville, with locals pointing to the prison closure as well as many of the points listed on the RescueCalifornia.org petition: the high taxes levied by Newsom's administration, his embrace of woke social policies, his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the homeless crisis that sprang up on his watch.

'We want to slow down some of the insanity,' said Jackie. 'Look at San Francisco. It used to be off-the-rocks beautiful.

'Now look at it. People used to have a way of mingling and now nobody even talks to each other. It's so polarized and divisive.'

Speaking to DailyMail.com writer Kelly Eggert, 58, blamed the governor for 'injuring' the livelihoods of residents and believes he is trying to 'punish a Republican area'

Retired teacher Michael Monahan, 71, told DailyMail.com he believes Newsom is corrupt and accused him of persecuting the Republican parts of California; while conceding he might make a better president than Biden if only because of his relative youth.

He said: 'I don't like him at all. He's Nancy Pelosi's nephew [Newsom is a distant relation by marriage]. I despise Nancy Pelosi.

'She is a total hypocrite and all she does is get rich off of government, which is another problem.

'I have a problem with both Democrats and Republicans when they get filthy, stinking rich off of their policies  it's all backyard trading and I don't like it.'

Monahan, who previously worked at the California Correctional Center, added: 'We're getting persecuted by Governor Newsom which is making more people more angry.

'He's persecuting Lassen County. Guess what he did? He shut our prison down. He shut it down.'

Jeremy Caruso, 53, the editor of local paper Susanvillestuff.com says these views are far from unique, adding that when the idea of shutting down the California Correctional Center was first mooted, angry Susanville officials considered renaming the local landfill site after the unpopular governor.

Retired teacher Michael Monahan, 71, told DailyMail.com he believes Newsom is corrupt and accused him of persecuting the Republican parts of California

Newsom, 56, was front and center after the debate in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday night  presenting himself as a vigorous alternative to the aging Biden while simultaneously denying any plans to run

Lassen County heavily supported Newsom's Republican rival Brian Dahle in the 2022 Gubernatorial election

He said: 'I police the comments on the website  we hit about 30,000 people every morning and you get a feel for how people are thinking.

'You'd be amazed at how many things this town can blame on the Governor.'

That animosity, he added, even extends to the recent arrival of hippy collective the Rainbow Family who had planned to hold its annual gathering in the nearby Plumas National Forest this July 4.

Susanville is located more than 300 miles north of San Francisco in the Sierra Nevadas

Now shut down, the prospect of 10,000 modern-day hippies descending on Susanville was enough to prompt the local police department to issue dire warnings, telling locals not to interact with them and saying they had seen plans to 'puddle' people  dousing them in an LSD-infused water spray.

Caruso added: 'The Rainbow Family coming here. Newsom's fault.'

Not everyone in Susanville thinks Newsom has been a disaster, among them mom-of-four Laura Hammond, 43, and her boyfriend Jacob White, 33.

They told DailyMail.com that they try to stay out of politics and offered a lukewarm endorsement of the California governor, concluding that he would be an improvement on Biden because he is so much younger.

But firefighter David Sandbond, 60, whose wife and son both work at High Desert, is more typical of this conservative town.

'We just want to do what we do and be left alone,' he told DailyMail.com. Asked his thoughts on Newsom, he visibly recoiled and said: 'I'm not going to comment on that man.'

Regardless of whether Newsom or Biden end up on the Democrat ticket, Sandbond's mind is already made up. 'I'm going to vote for Trump,' he said. 'Of course.'
Thursday is shaping up to be the most seismic general election in a quarter of a century.

Brits will wake up fresh on Friday morning with the result almost certainly already clear.

Keir Starmer could have claimed victory and Rishi Sunak admitted defeat - or visa versa - before the sun rises.

So whether you are a politico or just want to see who is to become your next MP, you'll need to make sure you have plenty of coffee and biscuits to see you through the night - or just set an alarm.

After polling stations close at 10pm on July 4, the counting process begins in 650 constituencies across the UK. The first seats to be announced will be around midnight, and the last around 6am, if everything goes to plan.

The crunch time will be between 3am and 4am when the bulk of the results will flood in. And with Rishi Sunak's seat of Richmond and Northallerton due to be declared at 4am, this could be the moment when he conceded the election to Labour - and in a worst-case scenario loses his own seat.

Before then he could lose two of his most trusted lieutenants. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield) and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (Godalming and Ash) are both under threat in their seats, and are due to find out their fate around 3.30am.

Elsewhere. Sir Keir should be confirmed back in his safe Labour seat of Holburn and St Pancras around 2.30am, before his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn finds out whether he has defeated Labour as an independent in Islington North at 3am.

4am will also be a key time for Reform. It is the expected declaration time for Clacton, where leader Nigel Farage is making his eighth attempt to become an MP.

Use our interactive modules below to find out what time your MP is set to be announced.

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Among the early seats to be called will be Basildon and Billericay in Essex, where Tory chairman Richard Holden is standing. This could be one of the first upsets of the night.

The former MP for North West Durham sparked anger when he was the sole candidate presented on what was expected to be a shortlist of three names, according to local Tory members.

He would replace John Baron, who announced he would stand down as an MP in October last year in what should be a safe Conservative seat, with Mr Baron having won a majority of 20,412 over his nearest Labour opponent in 2010.

But polls say it could be lost, with Reform even in with a shout of winning it.

Here is how the evening is likely to progress, assuming there are no recounts or other delays:

10pm

Polling stations close and exit polls are published.

11pm

The first seats to declare are likely to be Blyth and Ashington at around 11.30pm and Houghton and Sunderland South at around 11.45pm. Both are in north-east England and both are defended by Labour.

Houghton and Sunderland South has been won by Bridget Phillipson for Labour at every election since the seat was created in 2010, where she is defending a narrow majority of 3,271, while Blyth and Ashington is a new constituency at this election, where Labour is defending a notional majority of 6,118.

The outcome may provide a guide to what to expect in seats where Labour has small majorities - in particular how Reform UK performs and what happens to the level of Conservative support.

Midnight

Swindon South is likely to be the first battleground seat of the night to declare at around 12.15am, where former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland is defending a majority of 5,650 and where Labour candidate Heidi Alexander - who was MP for Lewisham East from 2010-18 - needs a swing of 5.7 percentage points to win.

Opinion polls suggest this is the sort of seat Labour ought to win comfortably, and as such the result will be a pointer to what could happen over the rest of the night.

Broxbourne in Hertfordshire is due at around 12.30am: a seat held continuously by the Conservatives since its creation in 1983, with a majority in 2019 of 19,192, the result giving an early indication of how the Tories are faring in their traditional Home Counties heartlands.

1am

East Kilbride & Strathaven, Hamilton & Clyde Valley and Rutherglen will provide a first indication of patterns of voting in Scotland.

All three are being defended by the SNP and all are Labour targets, with Rutherglen needing a 6.0-percentage point swing to change hands, Hamilton & Clyde Valley 8.2 points and East Kilbride & Strathaven 12.8 points.

A direct swing in the share of the vote of 10 percentage points from the SNP to Labour in Scotland could see Sir Keir Starmer's party pick up 15 constituencies.

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats could make their first gain of the night in Harrogate & Knaresborough, which they last held between 1997 and 2010 and where they need an 8.0-percentage point swing to take the seat from the Conservatives, ranking it at number 21 on the party's target list.

Leigh & Atherton in Greater Manchester is ranked at number two on Labour's target list: a new seat this election, but one where the Tories are defending a notional majority of just 293.

2am

The flow of results will now start to pick up, with just over 60 seats due to declare between 2am and 3am.

A win for Labour in Tory-held Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, expected to declare at around 2.30am, would suggest the party is on course for a record-breaking win: the seat needs an enormous 21.5-percentage point swing to change hands, ranking it at number 304 on Labour's target list.

The party held the seat from 1997 to 2010 but it has been Tory ever since, with a 2019 majority of 19,879.

The Lib Dems should discover if they have been able to gain one of their longshots, Stratford-on-Avon, from the Conservatives: a seat they need a 17.8-point swing to win and which was held until this year by former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who is not standing this time.

Workers' Party leader George Galloway will learn if he has held on to Rochdale in Greater Manchester, which he won at a by-election in February this year.

The result from Sir Keir Starmer's constituency of Holborn & St Pancras is due at around 2.30am. The Labour leader is defending a very safe majority of 22,766 and is one of 12 candidates standing in the seat.

The result from Sir Keir Starmer's constituency of Holborn & St Pancras is due at around 2.30am. The Labour leader is defending a very safe majority of 22,766 and is one of 12 candidates standing in the seat.

Mid Bedfordshire, due to declare at around 2.45am, was won by Labour from the Tories at a by-election in October 2023, marking the first time Sir Keir's party had represented the seat since its creation in 1918.

Based on the size of the swing Labour needs to win again (when compared with the 2019 notional result), the seat ranks at number 263 on the party's target list - so a Labour victory here would suggest the party is on track for an enormous Commons majority.

Also worth watching will be the results from Bolsover in Derbyshire, held by Labour from 1950 to 2019 - for much of the time by veteran left-winger Dennis Skinner - until the Tories won at the last election, and which Labour will hope to win back; Peterborough and Redcar, two of Labour's key targets; and Torbay in Devon, which could fall to the Lib Dems if Sir Ed Davey's party is doing exceptionally well.

3am

This is likely to be the busiest time of the night, with nearly 250 declarations expected over the next hour.

Islington North is due to declare, where Independent candidate and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is standing. Mr Corbyn has previously won the seat for Labour at every general election since 1983, but is no longer a member of the party and is contesting the seat with six others, including Labour candidate Praful Nargund.

The result is due from the new seat of Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes, where the Tories are defending a notional majority of 9,759: the sort of constituency Labour has to win (the swing needed is 11.8 points) to be sure of a comfortable majority.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk is one of the Cabinet ministers most at risk at this election and the result from his seat of Cheltenham is due at around 3am, where he is defending a tiny majority of 1,421.

The constituency would fall to the Lib Dems on a swing of 1.3 percentage points, ranking it at number six on the party's target list.

The result is also due at around 3am from Chingford & Wood Green, which former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has won at every general election (including its former incarnation as Chingford) since 1992, but where he is defending a majority of just 1,604 and which would change hands on a swing to Labour of 1.5 points.

Five other candidates are standing, including Shama Tatler for Labour and the Independent Faiza Shaheen, who was Labour's candidate here in 2019, meaning there could be a partial split in the Labour vote.

Sir Ed Davey's seat of Kingston & Surbiton is due to declare at around 3.15am, where the Lib Dem leader is defending a majority of 11,174.

Witney in Oxfordshire, a seat won by the Tories at every election since its creation in 1983 and which was once represented by former prime minister David Cameron, is due to declare at this time - another seat that could fall to the Lib Dems if Sir Ed's party is having a very strong night.

Also due at around 3.15am is the result from Bristol Central: a new seat at this election and one of the Green Party's top targets, where candidate Carla Denyer is hoping to beat Labour's Thangam Debbonaire, previously MP for Bristol West.

At around 3.30am the result is likely from the new constituency of Godalming & Ash in Surrey, where Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is one of six candidates. Mr Hunt could be at risk: he is defending a notional Tory majority of 10,720 and the seat has been heavily targeted by the Lib Dems, who need a swing of 9.7 points to win.

At around 3.30am the result is likely from the new constituency of Godalming & Ash in Surrey, where Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is one of six candidates. Mr Hunt could be at risk: he is defending a notional Tory majority of 10,720 and the seat has been heavily targeted by the Lib Dems, who need a swing of 9.7 points to win.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is another Conservative 'big beast' potentially in trouble and the result from his seat of Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire should come in around this time. Mr Shapps has held the seat since 2005 but is defending a majority of 10,773 and Labour needs a swing of 10.4 percentage points to win.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is another Conservative 'big beast' potentially in trouble and the result from his seat of Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire should come in around this time. Mr Shapps has held the seat since 2005 but is defending a majority of 10,773 and Labour needs a swing of 10.4 percentage points to win.

House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt will find out if she has held her seat of Portsmouth North, which she has represented since 2010. She is defending a majority of 15,780 and a swing to Labour of 17.2 points would see her defeated.

Another Cabinet minister, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, will discover her fate at Chichester. Ms Keegan is defending a majority at this election of 19,622, with second-place party the Lib Dems needing a swing of 19.3 points to take a seat they last held - as the Liberal Party - 100 years ago.

Tatton in Cheshire, once the seat of former chancellor George Osborne and held since 2017 by Government minister and TV presenter Esther McVey, is due to declare, which would fall to Labour on a 17.4-point swing.

Other key seats to watch this hour include Ribble Valley in Lancashire, Thanet East in Kent and Scarborough & Whitby in North Yorkshire - all seats Labour needs to win to be sure of a majority in the next parliament - along with Tory-Lib Dem battlegrounds such as Eastleigh in Hampshire, Wells & Mendip Hills in Somerset and Newton Abbot in Devon, to see how well the Conservatives hold off any potential surge by Sir Ed's party in south-west England.

4am

Enough results should be in now to know which party is on course to win the election and by what margin.

Dartford in Kent is the longest-running 'bellwether' constituency in the country and is due to declare at around 4am. Since 1964, whichever party wins Dartford has also gone on to form the government. Conservative candidate Gareth Johnson is defending a majority here of 14,704, with Labour needing a swing of 15.9 points to take the seat.

Douglas Alexander, who held a number of cabinet roles during the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, has not been an MP since 2015 but is standing this year in Lothian East, Labour's top target in Scotland where the SNP is defending a majority of 2,207.

Rishi Sunak's seat of Richmond & Northallerton, in North Yorkshire, should declare at around this time. The Prime Minister is defending a huge notional majority of 24,331 and is one of 13 candidates standing in the constituency, making it the most contested seat in the country.

Rishi Sunak's seat of Richmond & Northallerton, in North Yorkshire, should declare at around this time. The Prime Minister is defending a huge notional majority of 24,331 and is one of 13 candidates standing in the constituency, making it the most contested seat in the country.

Clacton in Essex should declare, which is being defended by Giles Watling for the Conservatives and where Reform leader Nigel Farage is one of nine candidates. It is Mr Farage's eighth attempt to become an MP.

Clacton in Essex should declare, which is being defended by Giles Watling for the Conservatives and where Reform leader Nigel Farage is one of nine candidates. It is Mr Farage's eighth attempt to become an MP.

The residents of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire will find out at around 4.30am if their next MP is former Conservative-turned-Reform candidate Lee Anderson, who won the seat (as a Tory) in 2019; Independent candidate Jason Zadrozny, who came second in 2019; new Conservative candidate Debbie Soloman; or Rhea Keehn for Labour, whose party held the seat from 1979 to 2019.

Former House of Commons leader Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg will learn if he has won the new seat of Somerset North East & Hanham, where the notional Tory majority is 16,389 and which Labour would take on a swing of 14.3 percentage points, ranking it at number 165 on the party's target list.

The residents of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire will find out at around 4.30am if their next MP is former Conservative-turned-Reform candidate Lee Anderson, who won the seat (as a Tory) in 2019; Independent candidate Jason Zadrozny, who came second in 2019; new Conservative candidate Debbie Soloman; or Rhea Keehn for Labour, whose party held the seat from 1979 to 2019.

Former House of Commons leader Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg will learn if he has won the new seat of Somerset North East & Hanham, where the notional Tory majority is 16,389 and which Labour would take on a swing of 14.3 percentage points, ranking it at number 165 on the party's target list.

The Greens will discover whether they have held on to Brighton Pavilion in East Sussex, where Caroline Lucas was the party's MP from 2010 to this year, and where their new candidate is Sian Berry.

They will also find out if the Greens' co-leader Adrian Ramsay has managed to win the new seat of Waveney Valley in East Anglia, which is being treated as a notional Conservative defence.

A key result from Northern Ireland is due at around 4.30am in Lagan Valley, where Sinn Fein has stood aside in the hope of giving the Alliance Party a better chance of gaining the seat from the DUP.

5am

Northampton North, a bellwether seat at every general election since February 1974, is due to declare; Labour needs a 3.9-point swing to gain the constituency from the Tories.

Former prime minister Liz Truss will learn if she is back in her seat of Norfolk South West, where she is defending an enormous majority of 24,180.

The Leicestershire constituency of Loughborough, a bellwether at every general election since February 1974, is due to declare at around 5.30am; Labour needs a 5.9-point swing to gain the seat from the Tories.

Also due at around 5.30am is the result from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, where Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner is defending a majority of 4,689.

Also due at around 5.30am is the result from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, where Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner is defending a majority of 4,689.

Two of the most remote constituencies in Scotland should declare during this hour: Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross and Orkney & Shetland, both of which the Lib Dems are hoping to win, while results should come in for two of Labour's top London targets: Finchley & Golders Green and Hendon, both held since 2010 by the Conservatives.

6am

Among the final results to declare should be the London boroughs of Ilford North and Ilford South, both safe for Labour; the new constituency of Selby in North Yorkshire, which Keir Mather - the youngest MP at the end of the last parliament - is hoping to win for Labour and overturn a notional Tory majority of 14,838; and Farnham & Bordon, a new seat that straddles the borders of Hampshire and Surrey, which could bring the Lib Dems a late gain at the expense of the Conservatives.

7am and later

Recounts could delay some of the declarations from earlier, but every seat is due to begin counting overnight so there is a good chance all 650 results will be in by mid-morning.
President Joe Biden called the Supreme Court's immunity decision 'dangerous' and said it would embolden former President Donald Trump if the Republican is reelected in the fall.

Biden spoke for just under five minutes in the White House's Cross Hall Monday night and refused to answer questions about his own fitness to serve after his disastrous debate performance Thursday.

Instead he warned that the conservative-leaning court 'fundamentally changed' a bedrock principle of the nation - and pushed the American people to reject Trump in November at the ballot box.

'This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America,' Biden said.

'Today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do,' he continued. 'This is a fundamentally new principle and it's a dangerous precedent.'

President Joe Biden called the Supreme Court's immunity decision 'dangerous' and said it would embolden former President Donald Trump during remarks in the White House's Cross Hall Monday night after he returned from Camp David

The Supreme Court handed down a 6-3 decision on presidential immunity Monday, making Special Counsel Jack Smith's election interference case against former President Donald Trump more difficult

'The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone,' he warned.

The Court's 6-3 ruling practically insured that Trump wouldn't face another trial before the November election - after being convicted in New York on 34 counts of business fraud related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

Sentencing for that case comes next week.

The decision, with the three liberal justices dissenting, grants Trump partial criminal immunity on actions he took as president while attempting to overturn the 2020 result - including on January 6 - putting in peril Special Counsel Jack Smith's election interference case.

Additionally, the election interference case in Georgia has been paused, as has the federal classified documents case based in Florida, also being handled by Smith.

Biden called the Supreme Court's decision a continued 'attack' on 'wide range of long established legal principles,' pointing to the reversal of Roe v. Wade and controversial decisions on civil and voting rights.

'Only four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power. We all saw it with our own eyes. We sat there and watched it happen that day,' Biden said.

'Attack on the police. The ransacking of the capitol. The mob hunting down House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Gallows erected to hang the vice president, Mike Pence,' he continued. 'I think it's fair to say it was one of the darkest days in the history of America.'

President Donald Trump is photographed the morning of January 6, 2021, where he falsely told supporters that he was robbed a second term due to widespread election fraud and encouraged them to march on the Capitol - which turned into a violent riot

Text of the Supreme Court decision in Trump v. United States, which gives presidents immunity while from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. Biden warned that the decision would embolden Trump if he's reelected over the Democrat in the fall

Biden pointed to Trump's federal election interference court case.

'The American people deserve to have an answer in the courts before the upcoming election,' he argued. 'Now because of today's decision that is highly, highly unlikely.'

'It's a terrible disservice for the people of this nation,' he said. 'So now, now the American people will have to do what the courts should have been willing to do, but will not - the American people will have to render a judgment about Donald Trump's behavior.'

'The American people must decide whether Donald Trump's assault on our democracy on January 6 makes him unfit for public office - the highest office in the land. The American people must decide if Trump's embrace of violence to preserve his power is acceptable,' Biden said.

'Perhaps, most importantly, the American people must decide if they want to entrust the president - the presidency to Donald Trump, now knowing he'll be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it,' the Democrat warned.

The 81-year-old president pointed to the example set by the nation's first president - George Washington.

'He believed power was limited, not absolute. And that power always resides with the people, always,' Biden said. 'Now we're 200 years later, today's Supreme Court decision, once again it will depend on the character of the men and women who hold that presidency that are going to define the limits of the power of the presidency, because the law will no longer do it.'

Protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court Monday as the conservative majority ruled that former President Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for official acts as president of the United States

'I know I will respect the limits of the presidential powers I have for three and a half years,' Biden said. 'But any president including Donald Trump will now be free to ignore the law.'

Biden said he agreed with liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor. 'In every use of official power, the president is now a king above law. With fear for our democracy, I dissent,' he said, quoting Sotomayor.

'So should the American people dissent,' Biden said. 'I dissent.'

He then walked out of the room as reporters shouted questions.

The decision marks a big win for Trump - who's already been taking a victory lap after showing restraint during Thursday night's CNN debate.

Biden returned to the White House Monday evening as questions hovered over the 81-year-old president as to whether he should remain in the 2024 presidential race after his car crash of a debate performance.

After the debacle in Atlanta, which allowed Trump's parade of lies on the debate stage to go under-analyzed, Biden traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina and gave a forceful comeback speech.

President Joe Biden (second from right) arrives back in D.C. after huddling with family members over the weekend at Camp David. He disembarked Marine One alongside (from left) Hunter Biden, baby Beau, Hunter's wife Melissa Cohen and first lady Jill Biden

President Joe Biden (left) assists his wife Dr. Jill Biden (right) off Marine One Monday evening at Fort McNair in Washington. He spent the weekend fundraising and then at Camp David with family members after his widely-panned debate performance

'I know what millions of Americans know - when you get knocked down you get back up,' the president said, admitting 'I don't debate as well as I used to.'

But Democratic donors and other party members remained in a tizzy over Biden's sometimes incoherent performance.

The president spent the weekend fundraising in New York and New Jersey before returning to Camp David - where he had spent an entire week in debate prep.

The Biden family posed for photographs with celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, while encouraging the 81-year-old to stay in fight, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Fingers were pointed at staff for not preparing the president for his showdown with Trump properly.

But former aides rejected that blame game.

Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and top Biden adviser Anita Dunn and noted that 'prep does not always determine the outcome.'

'Biden was bad,' Psaki posted to X. 'Important convos about what happens next. But if you are directing your ire at "prep" you are not talking about the right things.'

Additionally, the first lady's former press secretary Michael LaRosa blasted Bidenworld for saying that 'data' showed the presidential race wasn't impacted by the debate.

'Jesus Christ with the gaslighting, the talking points, and the damn spinning. Enough already. Show your supporters or the media this data so we can help you help him!' LaRosa posted to X Sunday, reiterating those points Monday during an appearance on Fox & Friends.
A business mogul who once cheated death in a plane crash and his theatre-loving wife are set to join the ranks of Britain's richest billionaires after selling their data company to BlackRock.

Mark and Lindy O'Hare have snapped up 2.55billion for handing over their 21-year-old company Preqin to the world's biggest asset manager.

The O'Hares, who have four children and live on a Grade-II listed farmhouse on the Suffolk coast, will cling on to 80 per cent of the business, meaning they will soon scoop a phenomenal payday.

The founders will keep back a huge 2.04bn sum while the remaining 510 million will be divided between employees of the company which is based near London Victoria station.

It means that a lucky few of Preqin's 1,500 employees, spread across the world's largest financial hubs from New York to Hong Kong, could also become millionaires in the near future.

Once the deal is complete, Cambridge-educated Mr O'Hare, who was born in London but raised near Glasgow, and his South African-born wife, will be pushed into the top 100 richest people in Britain.

Ironically the sale will make the O'Hares richer than BlackRock founder Larry Fink, who has a net worth of 1.3bn.

Their fortune will also place them ahead of ex-F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone and Hargreaves Lansdown founder Peter Hargreaves, who are both worth around 1.8bn.

Mark and Lindy O'Hare have snapped up 2.55billion for handing over their 21-year-old company Preqin to BlackRock

Ironically the sale will make the O'Hares richer than BlackRock founder Larry Fink (pictured) who has a net worth of 1.3bn

In 2017, the couple moved into a Grade-II listed farmhouse near Southwold on the Suffolk Coast, later opening Thorington Theatre in 2021

Preqin's 20-year history

Founded in 2003, Preqin tracks the performance of private equity firms and hedge funds. The UK group has nearly 50,000 customers and 16 global offices, according to its website. It is set to post revenues of 190 million for 2024. Mark OHare was chief executive before he stepped down in 2022 His wife Lindy worked at the firm until 2008. She is on the companys board and represents the OHare familys interests in the business. The couple own 80 per cent of the business through a family holding. Some of Preqins 300-strong workforce also own a share of the group. Advertisement

Preqin which tracks the performance of private equity firms and hedge funds was created in 2003.

In the two decades it has been up and running, the UK group has attracted almost 50,000 customers, with 16 offices being created across the globe.

Mr O'Hare had remained the chief executive of the company before stepping down in 2022 while his wife worked at the firm until 2008.

Mrs O'Hare then remained on the company board to represent the 'family's interests in the business'.

Once the sale is complete, 65-year-old Mr O'Hare will join Blackrock as a vice chairman.

The incoming exec studied mathematics and statistics at the University of Cambridge, where he represented his college rowing.

He went on to study finance at London Business School before joining Boston Consulting Group.

Preqin's sale is not the first time Mr O'Hare has handed over a company of his to a larger firm.

In 1993 he created a financial information provider called Citywatch, which was later sold to Reuters in 1998 for 2.5million. As with the sale of Preqin, four fifths of the sale landed in his pocket.

The theatre, which is open from June to August, cost between 60,000 - 70,000 to set up, Mrs O'Hare (pictured) previously said

Mr O'Hare had remained the chief executive of the Preqin before stepping down in 2022 while his wife worked at the firm until 2008

BlackRock - the world's largest asset manager

Blackrock is the world's largest asset manager and had over $10 trillion in total assets under management at the end of last year. It has its headquarters in Manhattan in New York and claims to have 78 offices across 38 countries. It employs more than 3,900 people in the UK and Ireland and has invested around 500 billion into the UK, according to its website. The company was founded in 1988 by Larry Fink and seven others including Robert Kapito and Susan Wagner. Fink is now the Chairman and CEO of Blackrock and is also on the Board of Trustees at the World Economic Forum. He graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a BA in 1974 before staying on to earn an MBA in 1976. Advertisement

And in 1994, he set up a business to help fund internet start-ups called e-Acorn.com.

There was a slight hiccup, however, between this venture and the launch of Preqin almost a decade later. In 1999, Mr O'Hare - who also is a part-time pilot - crashed his Piper Seneca seven-seat light aircraft.

Speaking ahead of his move to BlackRock as vice chair, Mr O'Hare said yesterday: 'BlackRock is known for excellence in both investment management and financial technology, and together we can accelerate our efforts to deliver better private markets data and analytics to all of our clients at scale.

'I look forward to joining BlackRock and continuing to play a role in the continued growth and success of Preqin and our customers.'

Mrs O'Hare, also 65, meanwhile studied English at the University of Natal and later at Goldsmith College where she studied Contemporary Art.

The mother-of-four, who also holds an Irish passport, went on to become an interior designer.

While the O'Hares are about to be flung further onto the global financial stage, the couple will no doubt try and keep time for their hobbies.

In 2017, the couple moved into a Grade-II listed farmhouse near Southwold on the Suffolk Coast.

When lockdown eventually ended, the 350-seat venue called Thorington Theatre was up and running, with the first audience being welcomed in June 2021. Pictured: Mrs O'Hare during construction

Just before the pandemic the couple started to build an open-air theatre in a clearing in the woods which had been created by a Second World War bomb. Pictured: Thorington Theatre

Preqin which tracks the performance of private equity firms and hedge funds was created in 2003. Pictured: Founder Mr O'Hare

Just before the pandemic they started to build an open-air theatre in a clearing in the woods which had been created by a Second World War bomb.

When lockdown eventually ended, the 350-seat venue called Thorington Theatre was up and running, with the first audience being welcomed in June 2021.

The theatre, which is open from June to August, cost between 60,000 - 70,000 to set up, Mrs O'Hare previously said, and was built using wood for the land.

It was initially created to be a space for local drama groups and amateur actors but as with the couple's other entrepreneurial ideas it quickly became a success.

'Profit was not the driving force - as long as it's not a drain on the farm, we're happy,' Mrs O'Hare told the BBC in 2022. 'The previous owner had also had the idea - when you saw the crater it was obvious it was an amphitheatre.'

One day the new billionaires hope to host the Royal Shakespeare Company for a production of A Midsummer's Night Dream. A local children's company had performed the play earlier on which was a big hit.

But the Ed Sheeran fan added: 'One day, Ed Sheeran will come. He lives at Framlingham, so he's only down the road. That's the dream.'

'I thought I was a farmer, then, at the age of 60, I'm suddenly running a theatre,' Mrs O'Hare told Country Life magazine last year.

'It sounded barking mad, but after walking past for a couple of months, I said to my husband, 'Why don't we do it?' He's the one who said, 'Yes, we'll do it with our own timber.'

Perhaps with their new found billionaire-fortune even more money will be invested into the theatre in the woods.
Serbian trade minister hails China-Serbia FTA

Xinhua) 10:40, July 02, 2024

NOVI SAD, Serbia, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Tomislav Momirovic has said that the free trade agreement (FTA) with China, which took effect Monday, will enhance trade, foster investment cooperation and integrate industrial chains, to ultimately maximize economic benefits for both nations and boost their international competitiveness.

According to the deal signed in October 2023, approximately 90 percent of the products traded between China and Serbia will be exempted from tariffs, while over 60 percent of them will enjoy zero tariffs immediately after the FTA goes into effect.

The tariffs on over 95 percent of the products will be gradually reduced to zero, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

Momirovic made the remarks at a launch event for the FTA in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city. He emphasized the agreement's significance for Serbia's economic development while affirming Serbia's commitment to a "steel friendship" with China, according to a press release issued by the government.

"This is a major development for the Serbian economy. We are looking at a market of 1.4 billion consumers," Momirovic said, adding that China has invested 5.5 billion euros (5.9 billion U.S. dollars) in Serbia, making it one of the country's largest investors.

At the event, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming praised the timely implementation of the "high-quality" agreement, which he said reflects "a high degree of political trust."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Choking during sex is becoming 'normalised' among young people who are putting themselves at risk of brain injuries and even death, a new study has warned.

Almost 60 per cent of Australians under the age of 35 have been choked or strangled by a partner during sex, the survey of 4,702 people by the Universities of Melbourne and Queensland found.

Doctors warn that the act is much more dangerous than most think; aside from sudden injury or death from oxygen deprivation, there is a cumulative effect similar to concussion which causes brain injuries in the long term.

Up to 78 per cent of transgender and non-binary people said they had been strangled during sex, along with 61 per cent of all women and 43 per cent of all men.

On average, people reported being strangled six times by three partners, with 31 per cent of respondents experiencing it for the first time between the ages of 19 and 21.

The research, published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour on Tuesday, found that a growing number of Australians perceive strangulation as a normal part of sex, with 59 per cent of males performing the act on a partner compared to 49 per cent of women.

However, many respondents said they had not consented to strangling, study co-author Professor Heather Douglas from Melbourne University Law School said.

Consent given once was commonly perceived as consent for strangulation to occur in subsequent sexual encounters, the study found.

Prof Douglas said unrestricted access to pornography, and its growing extremity, is increasing pressures, especially for young women, to be adventurous and not 'vanilla' in the bedroom.

Almost 60 per cent of Australians under the age of 35 have been strangled by a partner during sex as the act becomes more normalised among young people (stock)

She warned that strangling a person during sex can cause brain injury, even when the person remains conscious and there is no visible injuries.

'The risks associated with brain injury increase with each subsequent strangulation,' Prof Douglas wrote in the report.

'So it's a little bit like head injury in that injuries can accumulate. Miscarriage can also result from strangulation, and can occur a week or months down the track. Strangulation can lead to stroke.

'There can also be an incremental reduction in memory. One of the things that we really need to remember about strangulation is that, most of the time, you're not going to get a visible injury... and yet, it could still be causing harm.'

It can take less than 10 seconds for someone to be rendered unconscious during sexual strangulation and 150 seconds for them to die, researchers said.

Sexual violence experts launched the campaign and website 'Breathless' on Tuesday to raise awareness of the risks involved in rough sex and strangulation.

Young Aussies shared their own experiences with the campaign.

Professor Heather Douglas said there were growing pressures on young people, young women especially, not to be vanilla in their sex lives and be more 'adventurous'

'There's definitely violent practices like choking and slapping which are almost seen as vanilla now, especially choking. It's very mainstream,' Matilda, 18, shared.

'Because that's what they're seeing in porn, [they think] 'Okay, I see rough positions, she must like that. I see choking, she must like that,' Lana, 22, wrote.

Amy, 19, said: 'I've been in situations where I feel like I'm genuinely being murdered.'

Experts say strangulation is a cultural phenomenon most commonly derived from pornography, and then from movies and social circles.

It's Time We Talked project director Maree Crabbe said there had been an 'explosion' in harmful sexual behaviour by children and young people toward their peers.

'That's the pointy end that tells us very clearly that something's not OK,' she said.

'Pornography - (which) is a global, multibillion-dollar industry - is setting the agenda around what sexuality looks like it and how it's experienced with enormously detrimental effects.'

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578
A Sydney primary school has raised eyebrows after forcing students to chant 'always was, always will be Aboriginal land' at the start of every assembly.

The school instructs children to place their hands on the ground while they repeat the words as part of an Acknowledgment of Country.

One mum from the lower Blue Mountains region, who did not want to name the school, said 'a lot of people' would not know it was going on.

'(The children) have to touch the ground and say "always was, always will be Aboriginal land" at the start of assembly at school now,' she told news.com.au.

'A lot of the parents look confused when they place their hands on the floor for the Acknowledgement of Country'.

Another parent confirmed the act of touching the ground had been happening for some time as a standard practice.

The mum said that an altered national anthem that included the didgeridoo and stick instruments was also used at the school, replacing the traditional version.

Versions of the national anthem with Aboriginal instruments are listed on the Prime Minister and Cabinet website under official recordings of the Australian anthem and have been used in schools for several years.

A primary school has raised eyebrows after forcing students to chant 'always was, always will be Aboriginal land' at the start of every assembly (stock image)

The NSW Department of Education website says 'all staff are encouraged to incorporate a Welcome to Country and/or an Acknowledgement of Country at every meeting, event or other gathering.'

'One of our aims is to promote greater understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and cultures in our workplaces, our schools, and in the wider community,' the website reads.

'By observing these protocols and participating in this cultural practice we are also promoting understanding of and respect for Aboriginal cultural practice.'

Dr Bella d'Abrera, director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs, described the school's practices as an 'appalling example of activism'.

'While such activities are not mandated in schools, many teachers feel compelled to perform them given that the National Curriculum prioritises indigenous issues in the classroom, and activists in the education sector push this agenda,' she said.

'There is no place for activism in any classroom in Australia.'

It comes after civil servants were reportedly asked to remove their shoes and wiggle their toes during a Welcome to Country last month.

A Welcome to Country can only be delivered by traditional owners or custodians of the land on which the event takes place (pictured, performers during a Welcome to Country)

Employees at Queensland's Department of Justice and Attorney-General office in Brisbane recently attended an awards ceremony which began with a Welcome to Country.

They were asked to remove their shoes, wiggle their toes and close their eyes in order to feel more in tune with the earth, reported the Courier Mail.

A Department of Justice and Attorney-General spokesman only confirmed that a Welcome to Country was conducted at the event.

'A Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country is conducted at appropriate government-organised events, including awards ceremonies and conferences,' he said.

'They can take many forms and often differ, according to the nature of the event and the presenter.

'For example, a Welcome to Country can encompass singing, dancing or smoking ceremonies.'
This is presidential power on life support  and Jill Biden is refusing to pull the plug.

For someone who ridiculously insists on being called 'Dr.'  Jill is not a medical doctor, or even a PhD, just America's most famous community college teacher  well, Jill seems quite the opposite.

What she is doing to her husband is arguably elder abuse, and what she's doing to the nation is unforgivable.

It's not enough that The New York Times, the day after last Thursday's calamitous debate, called on President Biden to step down.

Or that the New Yorker, The Economist, the Chicago Tribune, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution have all, too, called for Biden to go.

What Jill is doing to her husband is arguably elder abuse, and what she's doing to the nation is unforgivable.

As for the American electorate, a damning new CBS poll shows that 72 percent of registered voters  both Republican and Democrat  think that Joe Biden should not be running for a second term.

The same percentage said that they don't think he is mentally and cognitively fit to serve as president.

That last data point begs a larger question, one the mainstream media  telling us, up until last week, that videos of Biden wandering off at the G7 or acting confused at Normandy or generally stumbling around, looking vacant and open-mouthed, were all 'cheap fakes'  has yet to get around to: Who is really running the United States of America?

Jill could surely tell us, but she's too busy hustling her corpse-like husband, 'Weekend at Bernie's'-style, from debate stage to the stump to a glitzy Hamptons fundraiser this weekend, acting as if everything is totally fine, all systems go, nothing to see here.

Oh  and also seeming to green-light a hagiographic Vogue cover that went live on Monday, Jill in a cream designer suit, lit like a religious apparition, our sainted Dr. Jill looking to the heavens.

Her name is displayed in enormous font, a size that will surely be deployed when her husband is forced to drop out. Until then, she offers this defiant cover quote: 'We will decide our future'.

To anyone thinking she's talking about voters and American democracy  allow me to disabuse you.

Jill means that the Biden family alone will decide if Joe stays in the race. And if she has her way, he will.

That's the Bidens for you: craven, cynical, selfish, shameless to the last.

It's quite clear they don't give a crap about America, or the average voter, or national security or our allies.

Vogue's hagiographic new cover features Jill in a cream designer suit, lit like a religious apparition, our sainted Dr. Jill looking to the heavens.

It's quite clear they don't give a crap about America, or the average voter, or national security or our allies.

The Biden family doesn't care that nearly every other leader at the G7 expressed alarm at Biden's decline.

Or that 45 government officials, on both sides of the aisle, told the Wall Street Journal just weeks ago that Biden appears to fall asleep in meetings.

Or that, as reported Monday, Joe is only functioning between the hours of 10am to 4pm (if you believe that, which I don't).

If anything, this would be the moment a caring family  a truly loving wife  pulls up the drawbridge, saves their husband and father from himself, seeks to preserve his legacy and insists he withdraw with dignity.

But 'dignity' and the Biden family aren't familiar with each other. They're not even on glancing terms.

Nope: As reports emerge that party officials have told the president he has the week to prove his capability or voluntarily step down, that Joe himself feels 'humiliated' over his debate performance, Jill and Hunter Biden are said to be urging Joe to stay in the race.

Of course they are! This is what Bidens do: When given the choice to act with grace or greed, with courage or cynicism, to choose their patriotic duty over personal sacrifice, they'll always take the lesser option.

One suspects Jill and Hunter cling to the presidency because they know, deep down, that without it they're classless, over-leveraged with multiple mortgages, mounting legal bills, and no second act in sight.

Without Joe as president, what do these two have to offer?

So here's Jill turning to Anna Wintour  another dinosaur clinging to power  and hosting a sycophantic Vogue writer who relays 'drinking honey-ginger tea' out of 'dainty cups' with the otherwise-down-to-earth First Lady, as they gaze upon the White House's South Lawn.

'We don't need more chaos,' Jill tells her interviewer.

HA! If she really believes that, there's one sure way to show it.

Yet in this very profile, we must endure friends and staffers talking about regular, good-old Jill, who doesn't really like D.C. or the trappings of power and celebrity, who would be more than happy to leave the White House behind.

If you believe that, I've got Corn Pop out back ready to show you how he, not Joey, beat Medicare.

'She misses "normal",' Jill's close friend Mary Doody says. 'I guarantee you, when [Joe] leaves office they'll be home and happy to be home.'

Really? Because the otherwise left-leaning media has just built them an off-ramp  a wheelchair accessible one at that.

If anything, this would be the moment a caring family pulls up the drawbridge, saves their husband and father from himself, seeks to preserve his legacy and insists he withdraw with dignity.

One suspects Jill and Hunter cling to the presidency because they know, deep down, that without it they're classless, over-leveraged with multiple mortgages, mounting legal bills, and no second act in sight.

And here's Jill's 'work husband', her senior adviser Anthony Bernal, who has reportedly sexually harassed and bullied colleagues: 'Her family means everything to her.'

Yeah, sorry, no. Not buying it. If family meant everything to Dr. Jill, she would have told Joe, long ago, that he wasn't seeking a second term.

If family meant everything, she wouldn't have dragged her husband to a televised campaign event after that catastrophic debate, condescendingly telling him, 'You did such a great job! You answered every question!'

This is the president of the United States, not a small child in remedial reading.

What is it with the Biden family and their propensity for public humiliation?

If family was everything to Jill, she wouldn't have wrapped herself in a post-debate 'VOTE' dress.

She wouldn't have dragged Joe to a midnight Waffle House stop way past his bedtime.

And she wouldn't have called Annie Leibovitz to Camp David this weekend to shoot a grand, ceremonial family photograph marking her husband's lowest point ever. To memorialize what we all know is the end of his hopes, if not his place in history.

And as for that vaunted 'democracy' Jill insists she's fighting for  well, we didn't elect her.

How hypocritical to claim that Donald Trump poses the greatest threat to democracy, ever, when we don't even know who's really in charge in the Biden White House.

Towards the end of her Vogue profile, Jill is quoted addressing a 'Women for Biden' event, talking about Trump and her husband's enemies.

'They underestimate our power,' Jill says, 'because they don't understand it'.

Truer words that chill the spine.
High-profile YouTuber Spanian has filmed the heart-stopping moment he got caught up in a military raid of a drug house he had been documenting in Colombia.

Anthony Lees, known as Spanian, had been invited by drug dealers to visit the den in Medellin - a city which was known as the 'murder capital of the world' when the Pablo Escobar cartel was operating from the 1970s into the 1990s.

Spanian, 37, visits dangerous neighbourhoods around Australia and overseas and shares his adventures to his 775,000 subscribers.

The footage of his most recent visit showed him standing in a crumbling apartment in front of 'bricks of drugs', guns and ammunition laid out on a bed.

'So here's, pretty much, the insides of their business,' he said.

'Tusi is the product we move,' one of the alleged drug dealers said, referring to a new form of ketamine, also known as 'pink cocaine'.

'For us to be able to do this, we have lookouts all over the streets,' a man, whose face was blurred, said.

Tensions became visibly heightened as the room fell silent because of an unexpected visitor outside the apartment.

Drugs and guns are pictured in an abandoned, crumbling apartment in notorious city of Medellin, Colombia, in a video made by Aussie YouTube star Spanian

Spanian, 37, visits dangerous neighbourhoods around Australia and overseas and shares his adventures to his 775,000 subscribers

'Why are they whispering, I'm getting paranoid,' Spanian said.

The fixer who arranged the tour of the drug house was then seen putting a finger to his lips to urge quiet.

Then a voice was heard saying the word no-one would ever want to hear in a drug den.

'Cops.'

Several people jumped over a back wall with Spanian following close behind.

He ran across sheets of fibro roofs before making his getaway down a staircase and past bricks of drugs that the dealers had dropped along the way.

He emerged onto a graffiti-strewn alleyway, visibly shaken.

'Cuz, that's crazy, I'm going to turn the camera off for a minute, alright. This is no f****** joke,' he said.

Spanian cut off the camera before he resumed the video when he was far away from danger.

'If it wasn't clear what happened, while we were in the middle of all that, bricks of drugs on the bed, guns on the bed, the military came,' he said.

'I seen a military bloke. I seen his head. He was looking at me.

'I ducked back in the house, the lads started running, grabbing bricks of drugs, dropping them everywhere, hitting the rooves.'

Spanian claims to have been 'running for my life' when he got caught up in a police raid while filming in a drug house in the notorious city of Medellin, Colombia.

Alleged drug dealers in Medellin, Colombia, are seen beside massive bricks of drugs they have just packed up for sale

Spanian feared what could have happened to him if he had been nabbed by the military.

'I have no idea and I don't wanna know. But, it's probably the end of Spanian, you know what I mean?' he said.

'I got raided in a drug house in Colombia.'

Spanian had earlier been conversing with the drug dealers who explained how they weighed the contraband and what they used to wrap it.

They said they dealt cocaine and marijuana and offered Spanian a taste of tusi when he asked them what it was.

'No, I'm good,' he replied, laughing nervously.

'It's a mixture of different types of pills to make you happy,' his guide told him.

'It's very addictive, very bad drug, (used by) a lot of young people. It was supposed to be the fancy drug used by rich people.

'(But) now the recipe is all spread around so every (drug dealer) makes their own.'
The disgruntled professor who shot four educators at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas - killing three - had taken a powerful erectile dysfunction drug before going on his rampage.

Anthony Polito, 67, opened fire on the fourth floor of the Lee Business School at 11.45am on December 6, killing Professors Patricia Navarro Valez, 39; Cha Jan 'Jerry' Chang, 64; and Naomo Takemoru, 69, and critically injuring a fourth.

He then died in a shootout with police who rushed to the scene.

An ensuing autopsy report has since revealed that Polito had tadalafil - the scientific name for Cialis - in his bloodstream, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.



Polito's bloodstream tested positive for 84 nanograms per milliliter of the erectile dysfunction drug - which can last up to 36 hours in the body, according to the autopsy report on June 15.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas gunman Anthony Polito, 67, had oxycodone and erectile dysfunction drugs in his system when he was shot down by police in December

Polito's bloodstream tested positive for 84 nanograms per milliliter of Cialis

He also tested positive for oxycodone, with 15 nanograms per milliliter in his bloodstream - far below the US Department of Transportation testing threshold of 100 nanograms per milliliter for urine tests.

Neither Cialis nor oxycodone are known to increase risk-taking behavior the way alcohol does, Matthew Johnson, a Johns Hopkins University specialist who studies psychological effects of drugs, told the Review-Journal.

He also noted that it is unclear whether Polito took the oxycodone shortly before his death, or if he had taken a large amount in the past.

It is believed Polito opened fire on the Las Vegas campus after feeling jilted that he was rejected from a teaching position at the school.

He had been obsessed with Sin City, his former students have said, and had applied to several jobs at various colleges and universities across Nevada - but was denied the job each time.

Polito targeted the university's business school after allegedly feeling jilted that he was rejected a job opportunity

The shooting spurred a large police presence on the Las Vegas campus

On the day of the attack, police said Polito went to several floors of the business school before he was killed in a shootout with two university officers outside the building.

The officers were later identified as Det. Nathaniel Drum, who has been employed with the University Police services since 2017, and officer Damien Garcia, who has been on the force since 2018.

'These two officers are heroes,' Adam Garcia, police chief for the University Police Services Southern Command said in the aftermath.

'They kept the worst from becoming a bloodbath.'

Polito's body was later found in front of the Frank and Estella Beam Hall, with a legally-purchased 9mm handgun and 11 loaded magazines on him, and several pouches containing nine additional magazines.

Naoko Takemaru, 69, associate professor of Japanese studies was killed in the shooting

Patricia Navarro-Velez, an assistant professor at the UNLV accounting department, and Jerry Changn (right) were also shot dead by Polito

He had already been armed with 150 rounds of ammunition, the Review-Journal reports.

Investigators also found what appeared to be a target list - a laminated notecard with names and room numbers on them, according to the autopsy report.

Officials announced in the days following the shooting that they had contacted everyone on the list, except for one person who was on a flight.

'None of the individuals on the target list became a victim,' Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.

As the massacre unfolded, the university alerted students to 'RUN-HIDE-FIGHT'

Students were seen evacuating the university as shots rang out in December

As the massacre unfolded, the university issued an alert to students, warning them to 'RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.'

A huge police presence including tactical teams immediately deployed to the scene, searching for the suspect, as the school was put on lockdown.

Less than an hour after the alert was released, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced the suspect was deceased, and footage showed terrified students being gradually escorted out of buildings across the campus.
An overworked paramedic has narrowly avoided death after falling asleep behind the wheel and crashing an ambulance following a nightmare 18-hour-long shift.

The Victorian paramedic had started working at 7am on Wednesday and he was 14 hours into his shift when he was asked to drive to NSW for one last job.

He finished at around 1.30am on Thursday and was driving home when his vehicle hit an embankment at 90km/h and rolled onto its side in Victoria's north-east.

Ambulance crew managed to free him from the wreckage before flying him to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said paramedics working 18 hours is not an isolated case and blamed the punishing workload for putting lives at risk.

'This is daily, this doesn't shock us at all,' Mr Hill told Channel Nine's Today on Tuesday.

'This is happening ever single day that paramedics work four or five hours of forced incidental overtime and it's hard for them to refuse it.'

'But too often they are ramped at emergency departments or responding to very low acuity cases and are often being used as a utility, often to stop the clock for government KPIs and it becomes dangerous,' he said.

The paramedic had worked from 7am until 1.30am the following morning when his ambulance hit an embankment at 90 km/h and rolled

Secretary of the Victorian Ambulance Union Danny Hill (pictured centre) said paramedics working an 18 hour shift is not an isolated case

Mr Hill said the paramedic had not stopped throughout the entire 18 and a half-hour shift.

At around 9pm the paramedic raised concerns about the number of hours he had worked when they were given one last job interstate.

'They had been ramped at Wangaratta hospital for several hours. At about 9:30pm they said, 'look, we've been going for about 14 hours now',' Mr Hill said.

'And then Ambulance Victoria said, "look, we've got a job across the border in NSW in Corowa and we've got no one else to go". And so the crew went.'

Mr Hill said Victorian crews responding to jobs in NSW is a regular occurrence as there are no resources close to the border.

The paramedic returned to his base in Myrtleford at 12.30am before he dropped a colleague off and headed home.

'He then drifted off and veered off to the left at 90km/h and rolled down the embankment,' Mr Hill said.

He added the paramedic has physically recovered but is distressed.

Mr Hill said he is surprised cases like this don't happen more often due to the heavy workloads.

The Victorian Ambulance Union blamed the crash on the punishing workloads endured by their members

'The employer needs to put control measures in place, ensure paramedics get reasonable breaks, that they get off their shift at a reasonable time and they have a manageable workload,' he said.

'We're just not seeing enough improvement in that part of the system.'

A Ambulance Victoria spokesman told Daily Mail Australia they were reviewing the incident.

'Our initial investigations suggest the paramedic and an Ambulance Community Officer were on call when dispatched to a case in Corowa at 9.30pm on Wednesday 26 June, and were cleared off that case at 11.16pm. They were not rostered to an 18-hour shift,' he said.

'AV is reviewing the circumstances, including the movement of the ambulance between arriving back in Myrtleford at 12.39am on Thursday 27 June until the rollover at 1.26am.

'However, there is no indication the paramedic was dispatched to a case at that time.'
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has accused the Greens of ignoring the wishes of Australians by pushing for a new Voice-style Indigenous body.

The Coalition's spokesperson for Indigenous Australians said the proposal to create a Truth and Justice Commission showed the party was 'hellbent on pushing ideology' rather than listening to Australians.

'The Greens aren't interested on what Australia has to say on any issues,' Senator Price told Sky News interviewer Peta Credlin on Monday night.

'They would prefer to continue down a path of division within our country, of reinvention of culture.

'They infantilise Indigenous Australians and are not focusing on meeting the needs of our most marginalised, nor looking at improving economic independence for our marginalised Indigenous Australians.'

The Greens have introduced a bill to establish a 10-member commission, which would spend four years looking into 'historic and ongoing injustices' towards Indigenous Australians.

The proposal echoes the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which envisioned the Voice as an advisory body to parliament as well as a 'truth-telling commission' and finally a treaty between Indigenous Australians and the Commonwealth.

Senator Price argued that with over 60 per cent of voters rejecting the Voice in last October's referendum, Labor would be ill-advised to continue on with a truth-telling commission.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (pictured) told Sky News host Peta Credlin that the Greens were ignoring Australians on Indigenous issues

'Labor in their right mind shouldn't support it,' she said.

'They clearly understand the result of the referendum, it would not benefit them to support this but you never know, in desperation they may choose to do so.

'They haven't been clear with the Australian people, but they need to come clean on what they intend to do in terms of the truth-telling commission that they said they still support.

'Whether it's to the Greens, whether it's some other measures that they haven't revealed yet.'

While the Albanese government has not committed to the truth-telling commission, it has pledged $27million to fund the Makarrata Commission, which is exploring a proposed treaty between Indigenous people and the Commonwealth.

Senator Price accused the government of being 'very sneaky' about its Indigenous policy plans since the referendum defeat.

'We haven't heard much, in fact, [anything] at all, on anything to do with Indigenous policy ever since the referendum,' she said.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has introduced a Bill to establish a Truth and Justice Commission for Indigenous Australians

'There's been a whole raft of problems, a whole raft of issues, but nothing proposed going forward as to how they're supposed to, again, support our most marginalised Indigenous Australians.'

In introducing its bill to create a Truth and Justice Commission, Greens First Nations spokesperson Dorinda Cox said such a body was even more important

'People need hope, they need some hope that we want to progress as a nation,' she said.

'We want to make sure that we are making inroads into those conversations. We're providing a very bold and courageous action in bringing a bill to the parliament that sees this enshrined in legislation.

'This issue is not going away, and we need the Labor government to back this in.'
Squatting is usually legal if home looks abandoned and you don't break in

Baby boomer homeowners are seething after a prominent tenants' rights advocate stumbled across a vacant home Melbourne - and boasted that anybody could break into it if they wanted to.

Jordan van den Berg, known online as Purplepingers, encourages squatters by maintaining a list of abandoned homes that he tells people to occupy if they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

He posted an image on social media on Monday of himself standing in front of a seemingly abandoned home in Prahran, 5km south-east of Melbourne's CBD.

The front door had been clumsily locked shut with wire clothes hangers and padlocks which Mr van den berg said was an attempt to 'keep people from entering'.

The median house price in Prahran is $1,745,500, according to realestate.com.au.

'Rich people really need to lock up their abandoned houses better, especially the ones still connected to electricity and water,' he wrote in the caption.

Mr van den Berg told Daily Mail Australia the home was 'quite clearly vacant' and he had been told by neighbours it had not been occupied for at least six years.

His post was the latest in a series highlighting how many homes are currently being left empty or abandoned while many Aussies struggle to secure stable housing.

Rental advocate Jordan van den Berg (pictured) has infuriated boomer homeowners after posing in front of a vacant home locked up with warped coat hangers and padlocks

While few would disagree with Mr van den Berg advocating for fairer conditions for the 31 per cent of Australians who rent, his advocacy for squatting has irked some homeowners who argue it's their right to leave their homes vacant if they so choose.

Backlash against Mr van den Berg exploded in April when he published the addresses of empty homes while noting that squatting isn't 'necessarily illegal'.

In Australia, you can typically occupy a property if it looks abandoned and the doors are unlocked. If the home is locked, you risk being charged with breaking and entering, and if you stay after being asked to leave by the owner, that's trespassing.

Homeowners said Mr van den Berg 'should be arrested' for his activism - even though it is not illegal to publish a list of vacant homes - and one even vowed to 'smash the living s***' out of him.

One furious comment on X, formerly Twitter, read: 'I would love for you to break into my house. It wouldn't end well for you, comrade.'

Mr van den Berg clarified to Daily Mail Australia he did not break into the Prahran home - only posed for a photo outside it - and said he was used to receiving death threats.

Back in April, Mr van den Berg sparked a national conversation around homelessness when he posted a video explaining that squatting was usually legal if the home is unlocked

Back in April, he sparked a national conversation around homelessness when he posted a video explaining that squatting was usually legal if the home is unlocked.

'Fun fact, squatting in Australia is not necessarily illegal. Which is the best type of legal. Especially if the front door doesn't actually lock,' he said.

'So yeah, here's a free house if you want it.'

A squatter can become the legal owner of a home if they stay there long enough.

Also known as adverse possession, the long-held legal tradition allows a person to take control of an abandoned property if they live or maintain it for 15 years in Victoria or 12 years in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia.

Owners can still evict anyone on their property before they reach that benchmark.

Mr van den Berg, who is a lawyer, said he had noticed absent homeowners starting to use ineffective locks to ward off would-be squatters - instead of properly securing their houses - after he started highlighting the issue.

'I think it's because they know that people now know it's vacant,' he said.

Mr van den Berg noticed absent homeowners starting to use ineffective locks to ward off squatters - instead of properly securing their houses - after he started highlighting the issue

Mr van den Berg acknowledged his videos were polarising, but said his critics were mainly just people who would rather see homeless people stay homeless.

'There's people that can see the idea that we shouldn't have people without homes while we have homes without people, that's pretty straightforward,' he said.

'But there's also people who really don't like the idea of housing homeless people at the end of the day.'

Mr van den Berg said owners deliberately leaving properties vacant was 'just greed'.

'Landlords are abandoning properties so that they can increase in value and then sell them later while we have a housing crisis is ridiculous,' he said.

'This particular house - and many like it - don't have any development applications, they're not for sale, they're rotting.'

Mr van den Berg said that while the average Aussie was opposed to squatting as a solution to the rental crisis, the issue was nonetheless seriously affecting the fabric of Australian society

Mr van den Berg admitted the average Aussie was opposed to squatting as a solution to the housing crisis.

However, he said the housing shortage issue was nonetheless seriously affecting the fabric of Australian society, with younger people growing 'discontent' with their inability to ever own a home or rent at a reasonable price.

Mr van den Berg said this discontent had evolved into 'contempt' and a feeling that the Australian way of life is no longer something worth defending.

'It's quite clearly an exploited mass of people... I think a lot of people want something done about it, and if nothing happens it's not going to look good,' he said.

He added that previous governments had helped provide affordable housing to older generations to 'stop people from feeling this contempt... by giving them something to defend' - but this is no longer happening.
France was gripped by political turmoil yesterday after Marine Le Pen's hard-Right party won the first round of a snap election.

Violence erupted on the streets of Paris after the results were declared, as demonstrators smashed shop windows, set rubbish ablaze and launched flares.

Riot police clashed with protesters in the Place de la Republique, a focus for angry demonstrations against the rise of Le Pen's party National Rally (RN).

The party took 33 per cent of all votes in the first round of the national elections, leaving President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance to trail in third place behind a Left-wing coalition.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal warned RN was at the 'gates of power' and urged parties to work together to block the hard-Right from winning an outright majority. Polls suggest RN is the only party that could win outright in Sunday's second round of voting, although they predict it is likely to fall short of the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority in the 577-seat National Assembly.

People gather to protest against the French far-right Rassemblement National party following partial results in the first round of the elections, in Paris, France, on June 30

France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife First Lady Brigitte Macron





RN's opponents hope tactical voting in the second round could block its path to power.

France's two-round election system means candidates in three-way contests can withdraw in an attempt to unite voters behind a single opponent. Mr Attal urged his own party's candidates to drop out if they were in third place behind RN and a Left-wing candidate, and said voters had a 'moral' duty to stop RN from winning an absolute majority.

According to a tally by French newspaper Le Monde, 169 candidates had withdrawn yesterday. The deadline for withdrawals is tonight.

RN's result on Sunday was unprecedented for a populist hard-Right party in France. The Left-wing New Popular Front alliance won 28 per cent of the vote and Macron's Ensemble won just 22 per cent.

Leader of the French far-right National Rally Marine Le Pen and lead candidate of the party for the upcoming European election Jordan Bardella during a political meeting on June 2, 2024, in Paris

French people protesting against the far-right Rassemblement National during the elections

If RN wins an outright majority, it could form France's first hard-Right government since the Second World War and install Le Pen protege Jordan Bardella as Prime Minister.

Intense negotiations were under way between its rivals over which candidates should drop out from three-way races, known as 'triangulaires'. Left-wing MEP Raphael Glucksmann said: 'We have seven days to spare France from catastrophe.'

Mr Macron has previously warned that a win for RN could set France on a path to civil war. He declared the snap election after his party suffered a humiliating defeat in the European Parliament elections, where RN won 32 per cent of the vote in France. His critics accused him of taking a reckless gamble with France's political future.

RN, which has a history of racism, has said it would curb immigration and boost police powers.

On Sunday night, after the first round votes were declared, Mr Macron called for a 'broad' alliance against RN, but questioned whether it should include Left-wing party France Unbowed (LFI), led by Jean-Luc Melenchon and part of the New Popular Front alliance.

Its firebrand leader Mr Melenchon is a deeply divisive figure in French politics, thanks to his tax-and-spend proposals and class war rhetoric.

Mr Bardella, 28, urged voters to deliver an outright win for his party.

He said France faced an 'existential threat' from the Left-wing, who he dubbed 'agents of chaos'.
A man in Michigan is seeking justice as mail trucks continue to savage his front lawn.

Benny Hunt, a resident of Waterford, detailed the strange saga last week, claiming the truck have been driving on his lawn for years.

As he spoke, a mail delivery driver from the United States Postal Service (USPS) pulled up, driving past Hunt's house and onto his neighbor's portion of the sidewalk.

A reporter from WXYZ proceeded to give chase, asking the driver why she had traversed the curb to maker her deliveries.

The driver did not answer, as Hunt claimed the same thing has been happening on his front lawn for the past five years.

Scroll down for video:

Benny Hunt, a homeowner in Waterford, Michigan, is seeking justice as mail trucks continue to savage his front lawn.

He detailed the strange saga last week, producing surveillance still that showed how such infractions have been happening for years

'I literally have the best lawn on the block, so it hurts when I see somebody drive through it!' a visibly frustrated Hunt told the outlet.

'I have an estimate for $500 in damages.'

Detailing those damages, he said: 'They ran over three or four solar lights, destroyed them. Four or five different American flags, destroyed them,' Hunt said.

Reporter Sarah Michals at this point asked what the taxpayer-funded drivers say when confronted with the concept that driving over the curb messes up the homeowner's property.

'What do they say to you?' she asked.

'It's a safety hazard,' he said.

Hunt went on to explain how he and his wife, who have a young son, have complained repeatedly complained to local authorities by filing police reports, all to no avail.

When the problem persisted, he even tried moving his mailbox to form a sort of roadblock, he explain - a maneuver that resulted in USPS issued its own complaint.

As he spoke, a mail delivery driver from the United States Postal Service (USPS) pulled up, driving past Hunt's house and onto his neighbor's portion of the sidewalk

A reporter from WXYZ proceeded to give chase, asking the driver why she had traversed the curb to maker her deliveries. The driver did not answer, as Hunt claimed the same thing has been happening on his front lawn for the past five years

'They say its a safety hazard for the carrier delivering my mail,' he claimed. 'They refuse to deliver my mail.'

He insisted that that defense came in despite the fact that some of his neighbors have their mailboxes in nearly identical positions.

At this point in the conversation, the USPS truck pulled up, seemingly noticing the news crew and passing by Hunt's part of the sidewalk.

When the driver refused to talk, Michals went down to USPS carrier annex for answers, where they also refused to discuss the subject.

Citing how he's been met with similar pushback in his half-decade quest for answers, he told the outlet: 'I called 43 times yesterday, not one answer.'

When asked about the subject last week, the USPS responded in this brief statement: 'The Postal Service will reach out to the customer to resolve any delivery issues.

'The Postal Service apologizes for the inconvenience this has caused the customer,' it concluded.

When the driver refused to talk, the reporter went down to USPS carrier annex for answers, where they too refused to speak on the subject

Citing how he's been met with similar pushback in his half-decade quest for answers, he told the outlet: 'I called 43 times yesterday, not one answer'

When asked about the subject last week, the USPS responded in this brief statement: 'The Postal Service will reach out to the customer to resolve any delivery issues.

Hunt, meanwhile, said he is planning on suing USPS for damages, as he remains locked in a bitter stalemate

After hearing the statement, Hunt responded by stating, 'I still have no mail.

'This is what Im dealing with for five years, round and round and round,' he said, at one point sitting out front with his son amid concerns for his safety.

When asked about the incidents, cops in the town of 70,000 said it was illegal for cars to drive over sidewalks and onto private property, but did not state why not case had been filed.

Hunt, meanwhile, said he is planning on suing USPS for damages, as he remains locked in a bitter stalemate.
Emmanuel Macron is scrambling to form a centrist and left-wing alliance to block the far right National Rally party from taking control of France's government, after the president's snap election backfired.

The last-minute scramble comes after the French president's humiliation in the first round of voting.

Marine Le Pen gleefully declared that Macron's party had been 'wiped out' as she celebrated the victory - a 33 per cent share in the first round of voting.

Macron meanwhile is languishing in a distant third place with just 20% of the vote behind the left-wing New Popular Front alliance on 28%.

In response to the initial results left-wing supporters were so incensed by Le Pen's victory they took to the street in protest, setting fire to rubbish, smashing shop windows and launching fireworks.

The far-right National Rally (NR) of Marine Le Pen won a resounding victory while Macron's centrists trailing in third place behind the left-wing New Popular Front.

French President Emmanuel Macron has been scrambling for a centrist and left-wing alliance to keep Marine Le Pen's hard-right party at bay

Marine Le Pen (pictured) won a huge victory in the first round of voting on Sunday and has urged voters to throw their weight behind her once again to see in the first right-wing government since WWII

Left-wing demonstrators made their feelings about the RN known following the announcement of the results of the first round of the French parliamentary elections at Place de la Republique in Paris on June 30, 2024

Bins were overturned and set alight in the French capital following the announcement of a historic success for the hard-right party as they gathered 33 per cent of the initial vote

Demonstrators also took to the streets with banners and signs reading 'what we don't get through the ballot box, we'll get through the street' in Nantes, western France

Le Pen has urged voters to give the RN an absolute majority during a second round of voting on July 7, which would see the party's 28-year-old chief Jordan Bardella become prime minister.

Such a victory would mark the first time a hard-right force has taken power in France since World War II amid the occupation by Nazi Germany - a fact not lost on left-wing politicians.

If Le Pen's hard-right party does form a government, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he would be willing to work with them, adding that should they win at the polls it would be a lesson to everyone to listen to voters.

Although most projections show the RN falling short of an absolute majority, hordes of riot police descended on the city to quell left-wing violence.

Trained officers concentrated in the French capital's Place de la Republique where the police clashed with flare-toting protesters well into the early hours of the morning.

Barricades designed to keep crowds controlled were overturned as countless protesters poured into Place de la Republique and climbed the iconic statue showing the personification of France, Marianne.

Bins were uprooted, with their contents spread all over the tarmac and promptly set alight as protesters circled touting banners, flares and projectiles.

Young women trying to enjoy nights out in the city were forced to stand behind armoured cops who forced back the activists with batons and tear gas as firefighters were called in to douse the blazes set by protestors.

Having seemingly heard the frustrations of the left-wing rioters, Macron's camp has begun forming a left-wing alliance in the hopes that tactical voting will prevent the RN winning the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority.

Thousands of supporters of the Popular Front (Front Populaire, left coalition) march in streets near Place de la Republique on June 30, 2024 in Paris, France

People watch fireworks released during a demonstration against the French far-right in Paris

A barricade burns as protesters demonstrate against the French far-right National Rally party

Macron's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who is likely to be forced to resign after the second round, warned that the right was now at the 'gates of power' and implored voters to block the RN in the second round set for Sunday July 7.

On Sunday night Macron called for a 'broad' democratic coalition against the far right, and convened a cabinet meeting on Monday to decide a further course of action.

'Let's not be mistaken. It's the far right that's on its way to the highest office, no one else,' he said at the meeting, according to one participant.

But he did not give any firm instructions to candidates over standing down, sources said.

The deadline to decide whether to stand down is Tuesday evening. According to a provisional count by AFP, more than 150 left-wing or centrist candidates have already dropped out.

Analysts say the most likely outcome of the snap election is a hung parliament that could lead to months of political paralysis and chaos, just as Paris is preparing to host the summer Olympic Games.

With a total of 76 candidates elected in the first round, the final composition of the 577-seat National Assembly will be clear only after the second round.

The second round will see a three-way or two-way run-off in the remainder of the seats to be decided - although a tiny number of four-way run-offs are also possible.

The arrival of the anti-immigration RN in government would be a turning point in French modern history - the first time a far-right force has taken power in the country since World War II, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany.

If the RN takes an absolute majority and Bardella, who has no governing experience, becomes prime minister, it would create a tense period of 'cohabitation' with Macron, who has vowed to serve out his term until 2027.

The election results fuelled fresh criticism of Macron's decision to call the early vote, a move he took with only a tight circle of advisors in the hours after his party was trounced by the RN in European elections last month.

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that the NR's popularity is a lesson to all to listen to disaffected voters and said he would work with Le Pen's party if he gets into power on Thursday

Tear gas was deployed against protestors in Paris in a bid to break up demonstrations

Throngs of protestors climbed up the Place de la Republique in Paris as riot police descended on the capital to quell the violence

Demonstrators gather in Place de la Republique, to protest against the rising right-wing movement after the Rassemblement National's victory in the first round of the snap general election

Demonstrators hold French flags and 'Popular Union' flags in support of the 'Nouveau Front Populaire' (New Popular Front - NFP) as they gather to protest against the French far-right

The right-wing Le Figaro said in an editorial that the country faced a 'tragedy' with only 'bad solutions' on offer.

The chaos risks damaging the international credibility of Macron, who is set to attend a NATO summit in Washington immediately after the second round.

US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said Washington expected to continue its 'close cooperation with the French government' regardless of the election results.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the far-right success was a cause for concern, describing the RN as 'a party that sees Europe as the problem and not the solution'.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the results represented a 'very dangerous' turn for France and Europe.

Russia, which the French government has repeatedly accused of seeking to interfere in domestic politics, is following the election results in France 'very closely', Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

With elections looming on Thursday, Labour leader Keir Starmer has sad the French results were a lesson that 'we need to address the everyday concerns of so many people'

While he accepted the results might not be what he was expecting, the potential new Prime Minister said he would be willing to work with Marine Le Pen's party if they win the French elections.

He told Sky: 'I will work with any government in Europe and across the world if we are elected in to serve the country. For me, that's what serious government is about.'

He also emphasised that an NR party would not undermine Labour's efforts to work out a better Brexit deal for the UK despite Le Pen being vocally Eurosceptic.

But far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the results, saying attempts to 'demonise' far-right voters were losing impact.

And Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country is taking over the EU's rotating presidency, said the election showed that French voters wanted 'change'.
The only thing WA Labor senator Fatima Payman has done wrong, according to Labor Party rules, is cross the floor and vote for a motion her conscience demanded.

You can agree or disagree with Senator Payman about whether or not Palestine should be recognised as a state, but for her doing so is being true to a core belief. Even if that means siding with the Greens rather than Labor.

In contrast, the Prime Minister responded to what transpired with nothing but pragmatism. Pure political pragmatism... which is not to say his judgement on that front worked out the way he would have liked.

Anthony Albanese initially let Senator Payman's violation of Labor Party rules slide. He didn't want to expel her from the party, or even suspend her from caucus.

The PM was worried that doing so might inflame the situation. It could upset supporters of Palestine, cause tensions within the factional Left of his party, expose how antiquated Labor's rigid rules about crossing the floor really are and ultimately leave him one vote short in the Senate.

Throw the optics of acting against a 29-year-old female senator from a diverse background into the mix as another reason Albo didn't want to be too heavy handed.

Behind the scenes, the PM's office was even keen to highlight past examples where Labor MPs had crossed the floor without sanction, to justify why nothing was being done on this occasion.

To justify his weak response. To justify not following the party rules.

No love lost here: Photos such as this are a distant memory for the PM and rebel Labor senator Fatima Payman

Eventually, the PM hit Senator Payman over the head with a wet lettuce, briefly suspending her from attending Labor partyroom meetings. Which feels more like a reward than a punishment, as I am sure most Labor MPs who have to sit through such meetings would agree.

Case closed right? Wrong. This is where it all came undone.

Senator Payman went on ABC Insiders on Sunday - the day before the start of Labor's cost of living relief package - and boldly declared that she will keep crossing the floor if similar votes occur. Confirming that for her this is a matter of principle.

That was when the PM realised he needed to act, lest he put party powerbrokers off side.

Labor MPs and factional bosses who are pulled into line whenever they challenge the party collective wanted to know why it was OK for this senator to do so - but not them.

The PM hauled his new young senator to his official residence in Canberra for a meeting after her national TV interview, telling her that she will be indefinitely suspended from the Labor party room.

He told her if she couldn't put principles aside in the name of the party she should quit the Senate so that Labor can replace her with someone who will. Saying the quiet part out loud.

The issue was also threatening to become a distraction from Labor's mission this week - selling income tax cuts and energy bill relief.

The PM even said that was the problem when quizzed about the issue on ABC Radio. 'It's not because of her support for a policy position that she's advocated,' he said, 'it's because of the (tax) question that you've just asked me. Today is July 1. It's a day where we want to talk about tax cuts.'

He was again saying the quiet part out loud. He was concerned about how Senator Payman was hurting Labor's communications strategy.

Tense: Senator Fatima Payman is seen during Senate Question Time on Monday

Everyone knows that Labor and Coalition senators are only elected because they are part of major party tickets.

Albo also used his media interview to declare that the only reason Senator Payman got elected is because of the Labor brand, declaring that a quarter of a million West Australians didn't specifically vote for her, but for the party. Again, saying the quiet part out loud.

Senator Payman is now claiming that she feels intimidated and bullied: 'I have been exiled', she said, pointing to how she was kicked out of caucus Whatsapp groups.

'These actions lead me to believe that some members are attempting to intimidate me into resigning from the senate.'

Cabinet minister and Albanese rival Tanya Plibersek put her arm around Senator Payman to check on her well being at the swearing in of the new Governor General on Monday.

It shouldn't be easy to forget all of this is going on against the backdrop of parliamentary reforms in the wake of all manner of allegations of what goes on in the nation's capital during parliamentary sitting weeks.

Former Liberal MP Julia Banks made a number of claims of bullying within her party in a book she released shortly after her time in parliament during the Coalition's time in power. The now PM was vocal in his support of her and others for doing so.

Now a new concern is rising for the PM and his Labor team to worry about.

Senator Payman gets a hug from Tanya Plibersek

It didn't want to rip up its collective rules preventing MPs and Senators crossing the floor against party directives, but now that one has and on the issue of Palestine there are concerns within Labor that traditionally strong support within the Muslim community could wane.

This is especially concerning in Sydney's west where Muslim populations can have strong influence on the vote. The powerful NSW right is raising such concerns, in the belief that Albo's flip-flopping has made a difficult situation harder to handle.

Labor always takes its opportunity to spruik divisions within the Liberal Party when its MPs cross the floor. But doing so is their right, and the Liberal Party likes to claim that it is proud of that tradition of senators and MPs voting on their conscience.

In truth such moves are punished in other, non-formal ways. Promotions are held back, pre-selections get harder and fundraising too. But Liberals don't face any risk of party expulsion for crossing the floor.

The PM can't escape the bad look that Senator Payman's actions have caused. He can't escape the unedifying comparison of her as a woman of conviction compared with him as a Prime Minister of base pragmatism.

But he also can't escape the reality that his initial weak reaction made the circumstances of Senator Payman crossing the floor worse. And saying the quiet parts out loud thereafter only added to the tensions.
A young couple who were expecting a baby have been identified as the victims of a fatal crash.

Simran Shiuagani Mala, 25, and her partner Jamie William Pitman, 35, were found dead at the scene near Queenstown, in New Zealand, late on Thursday night.

A heartbreaking roadside memorial was set up on Malaghans Road, where mourners left flowers, a teddy bear attached to butterfly wings and a pair of pink baby boots.

It is understood that the local couple were due to welcome their baby in October, and devastated friends and family paid tribute to them on social media

One woman sent condolences to Mr Pitman and his partner's whanau - the Maori word for family - 'and our unborn pepi'.

Another said she was 'completely lost for words'.

'Going on 20 years ago my dad bought you into our lives and you became part of our whanau,' she wrote on Facebook.

'If I knew two weeks ago would be the last time we spoke, we wouldn't have sat there talking about cars and mowers with you.

Simran Shiuagani Mala, 25, and her partner Jamie William Pitman, 35, were found dead at the scene near Queenstown, in New Zealand , late on Thursday night

'We're going to miss all the random calls and visits. You will always be remembered, Jamie.'

'Sending aroha and condolences  my heart aches right now  you both will be sadly missed but not forgotten,' a third person posted.

Mr Pitman's father, Brent Cook, said he will value their brief phone catch-ups for a lifetime.

'RIP, son, love you and will miss you, love dad,' he said.

One of Ms Mala's friends said she will always remember her as 'bubbly and cheerful'.

'Everyone who knew her is in shock about the death,' she told Star News.

'I thought she was just a breath of fresh air; she was so kind to everyone she met.

'If someone was feeling down, she would always bring things back to life.'

Another said their loss was 'absolutely devastating'.

A heartbreaking roadside memorial was set up on Malaghans Road, where mourners left flowers, a teddy bear attached to butterfly wings and a pair of pink baby boots

Police said the two-vehicle crash also involved a Millbrook Resort shuttle bus.

Three ambulances and a rescue helicopter rushed to the crash scene at Dalefield, midway between Queenstown and Arrowtown, around 10pm.

'Our crews assessed and treated one patient in a moderate condition and four patients in a minor condition; all were transported to Lakes District Hospital by road, a spokesperson said,' a Hato Hone St John spokesperson told the New Zealand Herald.

Five people were injured and taken to Lakes District Hospital, where one was treated for moderate injuries.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated.
This week could well see the start of the greatest onslaught on Britain's countryside in living memory. By the end of the month the assault, by the almost inevitable incoming Labour government, could be in full swing.

Yet, besides being his first major initiative, Sir Keir Starmer's plans to build on the green belt are likely to prove his first big blunder. For they are already deeply unpopular even among Labour voters and seem set to make Britain's scandalous housing crisis  blighting the lives of millions of young people  even worse.

As reported in yesterday's Mail, the putative new Prime Minister says he will 'hit the ground running' implementing his proposals 'on day one'. Two weeks on, Angela Rayner  as housing secretary  is set to announce her new building programme then order councils to start 'regularly reviewing' green belt plans.

Starmer and Rayner deny that they want to 'flatten the whole green belt', as one Labour official suggested recently. But the London Green Belt Council warns the Party's determination to get parts of it reclassified for development, risks 'unfettered' building that 'would do immeasurable harm'. And Labour has made it clear that it will undemocratically override councils trying to resist.

Yet, besides being his first major initiative, Sir Keir Starmer 's plans to build on the green belt are likely to prove his first big blunder

Starmer and Rayner deny that they want to 'flatten the whole green belt', as one Labour official suggested recently

The point is that Britain's 6,300 square miles of Green Belt land  introduced in the 1950s to prevent urban sprawl  have been an extraordinary success story.

London has grown at the same rate as Los Angeles in the past 80 years: without those vital belts of protected land, it would presumably now be the same vast size  concreting over everything from Brighton to Cambridge.

Instead the belts around towns and cities provide highly-appreciated 'countryside next door' for some 30 million Britons. At this point, I should say I live in London's green belt so I have a vested interest. But I did not oppose the building of a new estate on brownfield land next door to my home, though I did successfully push for some of the houses to be made affordable.

Labour seems wedded to the mantra widespread in Whitehall that Britain has a huge housing crisis, that building more will automatically bring prices down  and that therefore we must develop the green belt.

Polls show the real world disagrees. Only about a quarter of Britons support building in parts of the green belt. Sixty per cent, including, most likely, Labour voters, oppose it.

The mantra is wrong in every particular except the first. We do undoubtedly have a crisis. Home ownership among 25-34 year-olds has been cut by more than half over the past 20 years. Five million adults still live with their parents. It is absolutely unacceptable.

But building more houses does not, of itself, bring prices down. Government figures, supported by academic studies, show that even Labour's planned 300,000 new homes a year for 20 years would only trim house prices by some 6 per cent in real terms, in contrast to a 250 per cent rise since 1994.

This is partly because demand, including from immigration, is rising. But it's also partly due to people buying homes as investments, and housebuilders doing everything they can to keep prices up.

Developing the green belt is part of that. Houses can be sold for much more there, so builders commonly construct costly four to five bedroom properties; few are affordable.

The point is that Britain's 6,300 square miles of Green Belt land  introduced in the 1950s to prevent urban sprawl  have been an extraordinary success story

What's more, lower concentrations of houses are built in the green belt, typically under six an acre, which is less than half the national average density for new developments.

So ruining the green belt is unlikely to do anything to solve the housing crisis and could even make it worse, not least by pushing up prices even more.

We absolutely must build new homes, and build a lot of them, but they must specifically cater for the needs of the young, rather than the greed of the housebuilders.

We must use new cheap construction techniques to bring prices down. And we must use previously developed abandoned or under-utilised brownfield land, where the vital infrastructure already exists: Britain has enough of it, astonishingly, for 1.2 million homes.

Ominously, Labour leaders are saying that theirs needs to be the party of housebuilders. How about being the party of the people instead?

Geoffrey Lean is a specialist environment correspondent and author
Millions of Australians will be slammed with an increase to their internet bills in the latest blow to households amid a national cost-of-living crisis.

NBN Co raised its wholesale pricing for residential plans on July 1, with the major telcos due to pass on the increases to households.

The cost of the more affordable NBN 25 Mbps plans and faster NBN 50 Mbps options will jump by around $5 a month.

The increase comes less than a year after customers copped a similar hike, bringing the total rise to between 10 and 13 per cent since October, the Courier Mail reported.

The latest price rise will impact about 70 per cent of homes, with Telstra's standard NBN plan increasing to over $100 a month for the first time.

Telstra, Optus, Aussie Broadband, Dodo, Superloop, iPrimus and Exetel have told customers about the July price hikes and the other telcos are likely to follow.

Australia's biggest internet service provider Telstra has raised the price of its faster NBN 50 Mbps plan from $100 to $105 a month.

The NBN 25 Mbps plan has jumped from $85 to $89.

NBN Co raised its wholesale pricing for residential plans from July 1, with the major telcos due to pass on the increases to Aussie households

While prices of the standard NBN plans will increase, some more expensive and fast ones, including NBN 250 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps, will actually drop.

For example, Telstra's NBN 1000 Mbps plan is expected to drop by $20 a month.

Shadow Communications spokesman David Coleman accused the federal government of being 'completely out of touch with the cost of living pain that families are going through'.

'Incredibly, the Albanese Government has backed massive NBN price increases that are deliberately designed to hit families on low cost plans the hardest,' he said.

Communications minister Michelle Rowland refuted the Coalition's criticism, arguing NBN wholesale prices for the cheapest NBN plans were 'cheaper today than they were 12 months ago'.

The cost of the more affordable NBN 25 Mbps plans and faster NBN 50 Mbps options will jump by around $5 a month

How much more Aussies will pay The Standard NBN 50 plans are expected to rise by:  Telstra $5 to $105/month  Optus $4 to $89  Aussie Broadband $4 to $89  Dodo $3.90 to $83.90  Superloop $2 to $81  iPrimus $4 to $84  Exetel $1 to $79.99 Advertisement

Over the next four years, the NBN is set to receive a $2.4 billion funding boost from the Albanese government, with Ms Rowland saying privatisation was not an option.

Joel Gibson, from telco comparison site WhistleOut.com.au, told 9News NBN Co is trying to incentivise Aussies to opt for higher internet speed and said these higher speeds are not necessary.

'For a typical four-person household, a Standard NBN 50 plan is enough,' he said.

'The ACCC's 'Netflix test' has found that 99 per cent of Standard NBN plans can stream Netflix in HD on 4 screens simultaneously.'
Anthony Albanese's government could face a 'Teal wave' of its own at the next election from new Muslim political organisations targeting the party in key seats.

The Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter are calling for candidates to run against high-profile Labor ministers and MPs at the next election.

The groups were formed amid Labor's perceived failure to stand up for Palestine.

And in an intriguing twist, both groups have rallied behind first-term WA Labor Senator Fatima Payman after she was 'exiled' from the party for crossing the floor on a Greens motion recognising Palestine.

That has sparked speculation she could strike out on her own as an independent affiliated with the Islamic 'united collective'.

Both groups have rallied behind Ms Payman.

Muslim Votes Matter said: 'Our community is united and stands firmly with Senator Fatima Payman. It is deeply concerning that her Labor colleagues have not demonstrated the same level of commitment to human rights and justice.

'We will not forget at the next election.'

Both groups have rallied behind first-term WA Labor Senator Fatima Payman as she faces sustained backlash for crossing the floor and voting with her conscience

Muslim Votes Matter has identified 32 seats to focus upon, including 20 in which 'the Muslim community collectively has the potential deciding vote' in the next election.

'In the last 25 years, no federal government has been elected by a margin of more than 15 seats,' the group said.

Education Minister Jason Clare, Employment Relations Minister Tony Burke and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen - all representing west or south-western Sydney seats - are among the most high profile members of government who have been put on alert.

Mr Clare's seat is comprised of 31.7 per cent Muslim voters and his margin in the 2022 election was 14.9 per cent.

And in Mr Burke's seat, 25.1 per cent of voters are Muslim, with a margin of 15.1 per cent.

Education Minister Jason Clare (top) and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen (bottom) are among the most high profile members of government who have been put on high alert

Labor's Peter Khalil, Ged Kearney and Graham Perrett will face assaults on two fronts, with the Greens also vowing to launch a doorknocking campaign over the coming weeks deriding Labor's treatment of Senator Payman to voters.

Ms Payman has been indefinitely suspended from caucus and claims she has been 'exiled' and bullied for voting with her conscience on the Palestine matter.

Senior ministers and Labor MPs have been doing media rounds for days now, each generally saying the same thing: that Ms Payman has not been a team player and would be welcomed back into the fold if she were to promise to toe the party line.

Behind the scenes, it's understood Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing pressure to come down harder on Ms Payman.

But Greens volunteers will begin doorknocking in key electorates telling voters that their own representative could be doing more on the Palestine issue if they cared about it by following Ms Payman's lead.

Ged Kearney (pictured) is among Labor MPs who will face assaults on two fronts, with the Greens also vowing to launch a doorknocking campaign over the coming weeks explaining to voters in their electorates Labor's treatment of Senator Payman

In Employment Relations Minister Tony Burke's seat, 25.1 per cent of voters are Muslim, with a margin of 15.1 per cent

The volunteers will say that if a young, first-term senator can be 'brave' and speak out about the matter then seasoned Labor MPs should be doing the same.

This, paired with the efforts of the Muslim collectives to unite the Islamic vote in certain electorates, spells danger for Labor.

The Muslim Vote said in a statement: 'The next Federal election signals a shift. We will no longer accept being taken for granted.

'Australian Muslims are a powerful, united force of nearly one million acting in unison. The Muslim Vote alone is capable of forcing the current government into minority government.

'In 2024, we are focused on Federal seats where the Muslim vote can influence the outcome.

'The Muslim Vote is a loose but united collective. Our principal aims are to educate and mobilise at the grassroots. The community sentiment does exist, and it is important that their voices are put forward and their issues are represented without needing to conform to party policy.'

As Ms Payman weighs up her future within the Labor party, she has garnered support from the Greens and the cross bench, as well as the 'united collective' behind this Muslim Vote initiative

The organisation said the biggest electoral battles will be in southwest Sydney and Melbourne, and there will be a concerted effort to 'create viable grassroots political infrastructure in our communities'.

'Having an independent voice is real representation of the issues, unlike a political party,' it said.

'As Australia approaches the 2024 federal election, the strategic importance of the votes of Muslims, students, and the broader Australian populace cannot be understated for any party aiming for victory, especially the Labor Party.

'Historically reliant on the support of these key demographics, Labor now finds itself in unknown territory due to its position on Gaza, particularly its stance on Israels genocide, which has notably seen mass exit among these critical voter groups.'

The group said while Muslims have traditionally aligned themselves with Labor, the government's perceived inaction relating to Gaza has 'caused significant disaffection within these communities'.

'The fallout from Labor's current position is likely to alienate a substantial portion of its base, which is increasingly vocal and influential in shaping public discourse and electoral outcomes,' it said.
Two men have been arrested on Oprah Winfrey's $5.3million Hawaiian ranch suspected of illegal hunting.

Luke Allen and Ty Munoz, both 19 and from Maui, were arrested just before midnight on June 21 after officers found them using a hunting spotlight on a public road that runs through Winfrey's ranch and land in Kula, state officials said.

While they were not caught actively hunting, officers found a loaded shotgun and a loaded rifle in the pair's truck, and Winfrey's ranch surrounds the road where they were stopped, the state said.

The men were arrested on suspicion of hunting on private lands without permission, not having a hunting license and other violations. One of them was also arrested for an unregistered semi-automatic rifle.

Winfrey snapped up the 870 acres of picturesque land in the Kula region of the Hawaiian island of Maui for $6.6million in March 2023, close to a ranch she bought for $5.3million in 2003.

In this image provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, two men are detained on June 21, 2024, in Kula, Hawaii

The land purchased by Oprah last year is close to two adjacent properties she bought in Maui in 2003 for about $5.3 million, which contained a main house and a guest house on 23.7 acres of land

Two men arrested last month on a road within Oprah Winfrey's property on the Hawaiian island of Maui are suspected of illegal night hunting, state officials said Monday, July 1

Oprah's purchase means she now owns around 1,000 acres of land on the paradise island of Maui

Oprah Winfrey has snapped up 870 acres of picturesque land on the Hawaiian island of Maui - adding to her burgeoning portfolio of real estate in the Aloha state

Last year's purchase, revealed in sales deeds, means Winfrey now owns around 1,000 acres of land on Maui.

She reportedly snapped up the new plots in several purchases: a 520 acre parcel for $3.89 million, a 330 acre parcel for $2.47 million, and two 10 acre parcels for $100,000 each.

Oprah, whose net worth is estimated at between $2.5 billion and $3 billion, bought her latest plots of land from Ulupalakua Ranch, which is owned by the prominent Erdman family. The land is agriculturally-zoned.

Oprah's intentions for the plot aren't clear but she's previously purchased land to protect it from development, according to her website.

About 11,000 acres of Ulupalakua land is protected for conservation - and cannot be developed - but the chunks bought by Oprah aren't included within that, according to SFGate.

Invasive axis deer run rampant on Maui and other islands of Hawaii and could have been a potential target of the alleged hunters arrested on Winfrey's ranch.

Maui County prosecutors will review the case and determine if there will be charges. Records show the men were released pending investigation, county officials said.

'Last month, DLNR reached out to Upcountry ranchers regarding their efforts to prevent illegal poaching throughout the area and we agreed to cooperate. The arrests did not happen on the property,' Winfrey's production company, Harpo, said in a statement.
One of Jeffrey Epsteins victims detailed to his grand jury she was just 14 when he abused her, according to newly released transcripts from his 2006 investigation which raise fresh questions about how he got such a sweetheart plea deal.

The girl testified that the late pedophile used to pleasure himself in front of her in the massage room of his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, and also used a sex toy on her.

She was one of two victims who testified before the grand jury in June 2006 with a second saying that Epstein had sex with her the day before she turned 18 - and never called her again.

The transcripts were released now after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law that allowed them to be made public.

They reveal the full horror of the case against Epstein and show that he raped one underage girl as she screamed no then offered her $1,000 as an apology.

One of Jeffrey Epstein s victims detailed to his grand jury she was just 14 when he abused her, according to newly released transcripts from his 2006 investigation which raise fresh questions about how he got such a sweetheart plea deal

The girl testified that the late pedophile used to pleasure himself in from of her in the massage room of his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida (seen here), and also used a sex toy on her

After hearing the testimony the jury returned an indictment of one count of solicitation of prostitution.

In the first of many errors in the case, the charge did not reflect the fact that the victims were minors.

Two years later, after furious negotiations by Epsteins powerhouse legal team, he scored his outrageous plea deal and dodged a case being prepared by federal prosecutors, who had drawn up a 53-page indictment against him.

Instead Epstein pleaded guilty in a state court to one count of solicitation of prostitution and one count of solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18.

He was jailed for 18 months but only served 15 months in a low security prison where he was free to come and go most of the days.

It would take until 2019 after shocking reports by the Miami Herald that Epstein was finally arrested by federal prosecutors but he hanged himself while awaiting trial.

His madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted of child sex trafficking in 2021 and was jailed for 20 years.

She was one of two victims who testified before the grand jury in June 2006 with a second saying that Epstein had sex with her the day before she turned 18 - and never called her again

The transcripts were released now after Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a law that allowed them to be made public

They reveal the full horror of the case against Epstein and show that he raped one underage girl as she screamed no then offered her $1,000 as an apology

Epsteins grand jury transcripts show that much of the evidence that was used against Maxwell - and would have been used against Epstein - was already there from the original investigation by police in Palm Beach.

The victim, who was 14 at the time of her abuse, and was 16 as she testified in court, said she was told by a friend to lie about her age when she went to Epsteins house and said she was 18.

She said that after arriving she shook hands with Epstein who asked her and her friend: Whos going first?

Epstein then pointed to the 14-year-old and said: How about you?

They went up to the massage room and the victim began the massage.

After about 20 minutes Epstein asked if she wanted to make more than the $200 she was expecting so the girl said yes and got onto the massage table naked, her buttocks straddling his.

Epstein pulled out the vibrator and used it on the girl along my vagina, she testified.

Epstein's madam, Ghislaine Maxwell , was convicted of aiding the sex pest's child sex trafficking in 2021, after which she was ordered jailed for 20 years

Epsteins grand jury transcripts show that much of the evidence that was used against Maxwell - and would have been used against Epstein - was already there from the original investigation by police in Palm Beach

The victim, who was 14 at the time of her abuse, and was 16 as she testified in court, said she was told by a friend to lie about her age when she went to Epsteins house and said she was 18

After that he jerked off for a couple of minutes, she said.

He put his hand on his penis and started going up and down kind of fast', she said, adding that Epstein ejaculated after 40 seconds.

The victim said she was scared to tell her friend about the vibrator because it involved her body and not Epsteins.

Her story came out when she tried to recruit another girl at her high school but the other girl told everyone and they got into a fight which led to them both being taken to the assistant principals office.

The assistant principal looked in the girls purse and found the $300 she earned from Epstein.

When a juror asked if she knew what she was doing was wrong, the girl said: Yes I did

She also agreed she was worried she would get 'hacked up' at Epstein's

The 18-year-old victim testified that she was around 16 when she first went to Epsteins house after being told there was a 'man in Palm Beach and he was looking for girls'.

The 18-year-old victim testified that she was around 16 when she first went to Epsteins house after being told there was a 'man in Palm Beach and he was looking for girls'. He is seen in Palm Beach in 200 with Maxwell and former President Donald Trump and Melania

The friend said to 'dress very girly', according to the testimony, which also claimed that during her 10 visits, she was paid $200 a time and Epstein asked her to be completely naked

The friend said to 'dress very girly', according to the testimony.

During her 10 visits she was paid $200 a time and Epstein asked her to be completely naked.

In her testimony, the girl said Epstein asked to touch her but she said no so he would masturbate himself.

But the last time she visited, the day before her 18th birthday, he had sex with her.

The girl said: 'He told me to lay down because he was going to crack my back, which he had done before. And he just sort of did it'

Epstein paid her $300 for sex and stopped calling her after that final visit, she testified.

Asked by a juror if he 'took advantage of your youth', she replied: 'Maybe. But it was also stupid of me to put myself in that situation'.

A juror asked: 'Perhaps you were too young to be up against a man of that age who had more control over you and that you knew?'

The victim said: 'Yes'.

Asked by a juror if he 'took advantage of your youth', she replied: 'Maybe. But it was also stupid of me to put myself in that situation'. Epstein and Maxwell are seen on board the late finacier's infamous Lolita Express - a private plane used to aid in his illegal exploits

Another juror asked if it was 'wrong of him to take advantage of your youth' and she agreed.

The victim also agreed with a question from a juror as to whether Epstein took away her 'person, your being, your spirit'.

Former Palm Beach police detective Joseph Recary detailed the investigation into Epstein which showed extensive criminality involving multiple minor girls.

During trash pulls of his Palm Beach property, officers found notebooks with messages about young girls.

One number was a high school girl who was 16 who was regularly going to Epstein's house until she was 18.

Another note had a phone number with the words: 'For a good time call' followed by the girl's name.

When police tracked her down they discovered she was just 17 and said that Epstein once showed her a white vibrator with a 'huge head' on the tip.

Epstein gave her a rental car as a thank you for their sessions, she said, but denied anything serious happened.

The filings further revealed how during trash pulls of his Palm Beach property, officers found notebooks with messages about young girls

Police also interviewed another girl who had just graduated from high school and said she recruited six others to Epsteins house.

Based on her claiming she was like Heidi Fleiss, the notorious Hollywood madam, she appears to be a woman called Hayley Robson.

The girl said that she first met Epstein when she was 17 and was taken to his house where she met a woman called Sarah, likely Sarah Kellen, one of Epstein's alleged co-conspirators.

When the girl resisted Epstein's attempts to have sex during a massage he told her: 'If you bring me girls I will pay you'.

According to Recary, the girl agreed to do so and Epstein told her: 'The younger the better'.

She brought him one 23-year-old but Epstein said she was too old, the transcript says.

When the girl resisted Epstein's attempts to have sex during a massage he told her: 'If you bring me girls I will pay you'

The girl told the others that she recruited that 'the more you did, the more money you made', meaning that if they got naked they got paid more.

Perhaps the most disturbing account of all came from one victim who told Recary that she began going to Epstein's aged 16 and went there 'hundreds of times'.

This victim identified Sarah Kellen by her full name and said she led her up to the massage room where Epstein began to masturbate at her.

According to the victim, she was forced to take part in threesomes with Nadia Marcinko, the sex slave from the former Yugoslavia who Epstein is said to have bought from her parents when she was 14.

Epstein persuaded her to give oral sex to Marcinko by offering her another $200 if she did it for five minutes.

The victim had been told that Epstein would never penetrate her as he had a 'deformed' penis but one time he 'grabbed (her) and placed her head on the massage table and inserted his penis in her vagina'.

The victim had been told that Epstein would never penetrate her as he had a 'deformed' penis but one time he 'grabbed (her) and placed her head on the massage table and inserted his penis in her vagina'

According to the victim, Marcinko bought sex toys for them to use as a present for Epstein's birthday one year.

Recary told the court that one 17-year-old victim was paid $300 by Epstein for each massage and given $200 as a 'Christman bonus'.

Recary detailed his interviews with Alfredo Rodriguez, Epstein's former driver, butler and head of security.

Rodriguez said that 'girls as young as his daughter come in' the house and that were 'too young' to be giving a massage.

When asked how young, Rodriguez said: 'Very young'.

Recary said that during the search of Epstein's house they discovered a purple Twin Torpedo - a sex toy that was eventually shown to the jury at the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell.

In one shocking passage of testimony, Recary says that when Epstein penetrated one victim - it is not clear who - she 'screamed no'.

Little St James - another idyllic site where Epstein engaged in illegal activity - was dubbed 'pedophile island' after Epstein used to it abuse underage girls

A detective who investigated the claims confirmed that Epstein did have 'covert cameras' hidden in the house - two in the case of his Palm Beach residence. Some girls even refused to talk to the police, he said - with one telling them: 'I love Jeffrey, I'm not testifying against him'

Epstein then 'apologized and offered her $1,000' and stopped.

Recary confirmed that Epstein did have 'covert cameras' hidden in the house - two in the case of his Palm Beach residence.

After examining Epstein's computer Recary found photos of what he believed were the victims he had spoken to previously.

Such was Epstein's control over the victims that Recary had to stop telling them information because so much was being leaked back to him, the transcript states.

Some girls even refused to talk to the police, telling them: 'I love Jeffrey, I'm not testifying against him'.
Anthony Albanese has been slammed after turning down an invitation to join a summit in the United States.

The Prime Minister will not join a select group of world leaders at a NATO summit in Washington later this month.

Defence minister Richard Marles will instead attend the event and join leaders from the US, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and most western European countries.

An unnamed source told the Sydney Morning Herald that Mr Albanese's advisers warned him not to make the trip as his government is being slammed over the cost-of-living crisis.

Concerns were reportedly raised that the trip could add fuel to criticism about Mr Albanese's overseas travels - with his frequent departures earning him the nickname 'Airbus Albo'.

The nickname began circulating on social media and eventually in Opposition commentary after the Prime Minister notched up 31 overseas trips in his first seven months in office.

Liberal foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham on Tuesday accused Mr Albanese of committing 'a dereliction of duty' by not going to the summit.

'The number one responsibility of a government is the national security of the nation,' he told Sky News.

Mr Albanese attended the previous two NATO summits, in the Spanish city of Madrid in 2022 and the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius last year, calling them 'essentially the meeting globally of the world's democratic leaders'

'The bringing together of the NATO nations together with the four Asia Pacific nations is a grouping of the very first types of nations and partners and allies who we would call upon if we were in trouble.'

Mr Birmingham claimed the Prime Minister was more concerned about winning votes.

'Anthony Albanese would rather be campaigning to shore up Labor marginal seats than sitting down with the NATO leaders to ensure global security and our national security interests are heard, is an appalling representation of his priorities,' he said.

Mr Birmingham did not accept Mr Marles as an adequate substitute.

'We should expect the Prime Minister to do the job as the nation's leader,' he said.

'Now, if Anthony Albanese has an absolutely compelling reason, let him state it as to why he cannot go.

'But if this is just because he'd rather be at home campaigning or dealing and responding to the internal chaos in the Labor Party, well, that is not a good enough reason.'

Anthony Albanese has been slammed after turning down an invite to join a summit of world leaders in the US

An unnamed diplomatic source in Brussels said Mr Albanese's decision was 'disappointing'.

'This gathering of leaders will hopefully send a message that the world's leading democracies are united when it comes to preserving the rules-based order,' the source said.

'Australia will be represented but of course, it would be preferable if all the leaders of all nations were there.'

A government source claimed Mr Albanese made the decision after he was unable to confirm a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden.

Mr Albanese attended the previous two NATO summits, in the Spanish city of Madrid in 2022 and the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius last year, calling them 'essentially the meeting globally of the world's democratic leaders'.
ABC finance reporter Alan Kohler has warned of the consequences to Australia when it comes to climate change if Donald Trump is to be re-elected as president.

Mr Kohler said in an opinion piece that Mr Trump's disregard for climate change, including how he referred to it as a 'hoax', will mean 'the world will not achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050'.

Mr Trump plans to pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement - where world leaders pledge to work to prevent the global temperature from rising by more than 1.5C - if he is to be voted in again.

'Unless Biden quits, Australia and the world should be preparing for a second Trump presidency, which means preparing for global warming of a lot more than the Paris target of 1.5 degrees Celsius  at least 2 degrees, probably more,' Mr Kohler wrote for The New Daily.

The finance expert said while it was 'virtually impossible' to reach net zero by 2050, the world should still keep it as the goal.

Mr Kohler said the actions of some of the most populated countries such as the US, China, India, as well as Europe, were important when it came to the future of the environment.

He said all four had 'collectively increased, not reduced' fossil fuels.

'If Trump wins in November and Europe takes a right turn, it's more than likely that the whole thing (reducing the use of fossil fuels) will simply be abandoned,' he said.

ABC finance reporter Alan Kohler has warned of the consequences to Australia when it comes to climate change if Donald Trump is to be elected as president

Mr Kohler said Australia needed to focus on building a hydrogen and green steel manufacturing industry - which reduces carbon emissions.

'Unless the world's scientists are wrong, at some point political and business leaders will hit the panic button, and desperately look for ways of reducing fossil fuels to save themselves,' he said.

Mr Kohler added as Australia was the country with the 'most sunlight hitting it', it needed to 'get ready to supply it'.

His comments come after Mr Biden's widely-criticised performance in the 90-minute debate last week.

The debate saw the US president frequently lose his train of thought, trail off mid-sentence and mix up topics, prompting calls from politicians and pundits on both sides for the 81-year-old to step down.

Mr Biden still has no public plans to drop out or resign from office, as he has continued campaigning since the debate.

During the debate, Mr Trump was seen contorting his face in shock at Mr Biden's confused meandering and frequent gaffes in the debate, at one point telling millions of Americans watching at home: 'I really don't know what he (Biden) just said.

'He's not equipped to be president. You know it and I know it.'
A stingray who got pregnant at a North Carolina aquarium this winter despite not having shared a tank with a male of her species for many years has died.

The Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville said that the stingray, named Charlotte, died after getting a rare reproductive disease. It didn't go into further detail.

'We are sad to announce, after continuing treatment with her medical care team and specialist, our ray Charlotte passed away today,' the aquarium wrote, while also thanking fans for their 'love and support.'

The aquarium, which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, announced in February that Charlotte had become pregnant despite not having shared a tank with a male stingray in at least eight years.

A stingray named Charlotte, who became pregnant at a North Carolina aquarium, despite not sharing a tank with a male for years, has died

The Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville announced that Charlotte died from a rare reproductive disease

Despite ongoing treatment, Charlotte's condition deteriorated, and she was no longer pregnant by early June

The pregnancy made headlines around the world and provided fodder for late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel and Saturday Night Live.

The aquarium said in late May that Charlotte was suffering from a rare reproductive disease, and that it was trying to find out more about the malady.

'There have been studies done on southern rays, but we have not found any yet done on round rays,' it wrote.

The aquarium announced in early June that Charlotte was no longer pregnant.

The development led the facility to temporarily close to the public on June 1.

In its post on Sunday, the aquarium said it would remain closed for the time being and that staff would continue to feed and care for the other animals.

At one stage, the aquarium said Charlotte was pregnant with up to four pups but the sonogram (pictured) appeared to show only one. Ultimately none were born

Charlotte draw in visitors from far and wide, capturing the attention of wildlife lovers online

Charlotte, seen in February when she was supposedly 'heavily' pregnant though no pups were ever delivered

Kinsley Boyette, the assistant director of the aquarium is seen posing next to Charlotte

Virgin births occur when a stingray has been in isolation for an extended period and clones itself to produce an embryo

The pregnancy was thought to be the result of a type of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, in which offspring develop from unfertilized eggs, meaning there is no genetic contribution by a male.

The mostly rare phenomenon can occur in some insects, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles, but not in mammals.

Documented examples have included California condors, Komodo dragons and yellow-bellied water snakes.

Charlotte became the center of a media frenzy back in February when Team ECCO announced she was pregnant.

Capturing the mood, one commenter wrote: 'We've been catfished by a stingray.'

However, some accused the aquarium of concealing the truth about her: that she was never actually pregnant, and that it was all a publicity stunt.

The extraordinary length of her pregnancy concerned some observers, who pointed out that something was wrong.

But as is the case with internet intrigue and conspiracy, many commenters were likely swept up in the excitement of feeling like they are onto something.
Gavin Newsom is headed to New Hampshire to canvas for Joe Biden, which won't stop those speculating he'd replace the president on the ticket.

Americans have wondered for days if Biden would drop out after his disastrous first debate with Donald Trump.

Now, Newsom is set to head to a state that shows the full extent of Biden's electoral problems.

A new post-debate poll released Monday from St. Anselm College found that former President Donald Trump is beating Joe Biden by two points in New Hampshire.

The last time a Republican presidential candidate won the state was George W. Bush in 2000.

Gavin Newsom is headed to New Hampshire to canvas for Joe Biden, which won't stop those speculating he'd replace the president on the ticket

Americans have wondered for days if Biden would drop out after his disastrous first debate with Donald Trump

The event, called Blue Summer Campaign Kick-Off, is being hosted by New Hampshire's Democrat Congressional delegation.

'We look forward to welcoming Governor Newsom to New Hampshire to campaign on behalf of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as we work to once again defeat Donald Trump,' New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley said in a statement to Fox News.

Newsom, despite speculation, has adamantly said that he 'will never turn my back on President Biden' and is not running a secret campaign.

'I don't know a Democrat in my party that would do so. And especially after tonight, we have his back,' he said.

He has done his best to instead reassure Americans that the president is still capable.

'I spent a lot of time with him. I know Joe Biden. I know what he's accomplished in the last three and a half years. I know what he's capable of. And I have no trepidations.'

The poll is shocking considering Biden beat Trump in the state by more than seven points in 2020.

The survey found Trump leads 44 percent to Biden's 42 percent while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 4 percent of the vote.

A new post-debate poll released Monday from St. Anselm College found that former President Donald Trump is beating Joe Biden by two points in New Hampshire

Biden, 81, fumbled and stumbled in the first presidential debate, losing his train of thought, sounding hoarse and searching for words as a composed Donald Trump swatted at his arguments.

Newsom, 56, told DailyMail.com that claims that he could replace Biden, 81, in November were 'farcical.'

Following the debate, the democrat said on MSNBC: 'Weve got to go in, weve got to keep our head high and as I say, weve got to have the back of this president, Newsom said. 'You dont turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that?'

But his appearance has sparked claims that the governor was placed in front of cameras as part of a plan to replace Biden.

Former pre-candidate for president Vivek Ramaswamy said: 'What we witnessed tonight wasnt an accident, it was intentional. Brace yourself for a wild 5 months ahead.'

Ramaswamy has been floating around the theory that the Democratic party was planning to replace Biden since last year's Republican debates in November.

He said at the time, addressing the Democratic Party: 'End this farce today.

'Joe Biden isn't going to be your nominee. We know he's not even the president of the United States. He's a puppet for the managerial class.

Newsom, 56, told DailyMail.com that claims that he could replace Biden, 81, in November were 'farcical'

Many have even theorized that the Democratic party wanted Biden to perform poorly all along to create an exit strategy that would see Newsom become the candidate.

Focus much of this weekend post-debate has been on the Biden family, who gathered at Camp David to discuss their patriarch's political future, while mega-donors and famous supporters plot their own courses of action.

The family has offered its unequivocal support to the president and even wondered how they can get further involved, with troubled son Hunter insisting his father fight back into the race.

However, many have started to play the blame game, citing Biden's advisors' poor debate prep to face Donald Trump and time is of the essence as Democrats panic at his dive in the polls post-Atlanta.
General practitioners willing to make the move to rural Tasmania will receive a $100,000 allowance as part of the state government's $4million push to attract health professionals to the state.

The Liberal state government has also pledged to wipe HECS debts of up to a maximum of $100,000 for doctors who agree to work in outer urban areas across Tasmania.

The HECS assistance will work separately to the already existing federal government scheme that relieves eligible GPSs of 100 per cent of their HECS debt and will assist doctors who do not meet the federal requirements.

The package will include a $100,000 allowance that will be spread across the five years, with 10 per cent paid at the end of the first year, 20 per cent at the end of the second year, 30 per cent at the end of the third and 40 per cent at the end of the fourth year.

The government hopes the initiative will help fill 40 positions throughout Tasmania's rural and regional communities.

Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Guy Barnett said the initiative was purposely designed to attract new GPs to the state.

'We are making record investments across all major hospitals, employing more frontline healthcare workers and making steady progress to ending ramping - but we know that attracting more GPs here is critical to supporting this work, especially in our regions,' he said.

'I am confident that this significant incentive will begin to quickly attract GPs to our rural and regional communities, with Tasmanians to benefit as a result.

GPs willing to make the move to rural Tasmania will receive a $100,000 allowance as part of a $4million push to attract health professionals (pictured, Tamar River in Tasmania)

The Tasmanian state government has also pledged to wipe HECS debts of up to a maximum of $100,000 for doctors who agree to work in outer urban areas (stock)

'This is another part of our GP Guarantee - with our commitment to also provide multi-year funding to outer-urban, regional and rural Tasmanian GP clinics and our GP NOW Rapid Response Team, both set to begin shortly.'

Final guidelines on how to apply and the specific areas the program will apply to will be released by August 1.

In a similar initiative, the Queensland state government offers $70,000 to GPs willing to relocate from Brisbane to rural or remote communities across the state.
A couple's wedding night turned into a horror show after the groom was shot in the head by a masked gunman.

Dulce and Manuel Gonzalez were finally getting married on Friday night after a decade and two children together, KSDK reports.

The night was going well, with 50 family members celebrating the couple in the backyard of their St. Louis, Missouri home until the early morning hours.

But just before 1am on Saturday, two masked gunmen entered the party from the bride and her sister's shared driveway fence, according to Fox 2 Now.

The assailants yelled for nobody to move as they demanded money from the wedding guests - brandishing their guns as a threat.

Dulce and Manuel Gonzalez's wedding Friday night turned into a horror when two masked gunmen shot the husband in the head

Police say one of the men then started going through the guests' pockets, while the other stood behind the 32-year-old groom and shot him in the head several times.

At that point, the men ran away - without taking any of the family's items or money.

'They took nothing, yet they took everything from us,' the bride's sister, Yaribeth Pena, told Fox 2 as her new brother-in-law remains in critical condition at a local hospital.

The family said they saw some signs of hope when Manuel moved his hands.

'He's fighting for his life,' Pena said. 'We are hoping he pulls through.'

The couple finally got married on Friday after more than a decade and two kids together

Pena added that her sister is now 'distraught, she's depressed, she's heartbroken,' as police continue to investigate the shooting.

'They were saying my brother-in-law was going for his wallet, and maybe they thought he was going for a weapon,' Pena suggested.

She said she now worries about her family's safety in the Dutchtown neighborhood of the city.

'I feel like we would have to move to feel comfortable,' she told KSDK, as she begged the community to help her family locate the suspects, whom she believes are teenagers.

The suspects ran off on foot following the shooting, without any money or any of the family's belongings

An online fundraiser has also been set up to help the family with expenses, including medical bills and the loss of Manuel's income. As of Monday night, it had raised over $12,000.

No arrests have been made yet in the shooting, and police say the investigation is ongoing.

But as of Sunday afternoon, the family said detectives had not yet collected all of the evidence left at the scene and had not interviewed all of the witnesses.
A Catholic school teacher who abused a student ate dinner at her victim's home to gain the trust of the teenager's family.

Victorian woman Michelle Grant, 62, was sentenced to six months in prison for the shocking abuse of the St Columba's College Essendon pupil in the early 1990s.

On one occasion, during a 'sleep over', Grant and the student watched what the County Court heard was a 'lesbian movie' and kissed on the couch.

The art and textiles teacher then copied the scenes of the film and sexually abused the teenager, the Herald Sun reported.

Grant taught at the school from the 1980s until she was fired in 2022, groomed the girl from the age of 14 and wrote letters telling her she loved her.

As their 'intimacy grew', the teacher, who was married at the time, drew the victim who was nude and told a 'web of lies to keep the relationship alive'.

She got into a 'position of trust' with the girl, having dinner with the victim's family and arranging with her mother to spend time with her.

The teacher also took the pupil to the theatre and trips to the country with her husband and family and friends of the girl.

A Catholic girls school teacher Michelle Grant (pictured) has been jailed after pleading guilty to sexual penetration of a child under care, supervision or authority

Grant would 'slip away' to be 'physical' with the victim on these country trips, the court heard.

The girl was tricked into sleeping over at the teacher's Moonee Ponds house by being told that others would be there too.

But there were no others there and Grant stuck her tongue in the child's mouth, saying afterward that 'You can't tell anyone  I could go to jail for this.'

The mother-of-two then left her husband and moved to Essendon where she continued her offences against the victim.

When the teenager finished high school, she tried to distance herself from Grant.

But she used 'emotional blackmail' to try to keep the 'sexual relationship' ongoing and slapped the victim in the face when she child finally ended things.

Grant paid for the victim to see a therapist over the trauma years after the abuse ended.

Grant, 62, was sentenced to six months in prison for the shocking abuse of the St Columba's College Essendon (pictured) pupil in the early 1990s

The police told the education department of the charges against Grant in 2022.

She was deregistered and banned from teaching after she pleaded guilty to what Judge Gregory Lyon said were 'repugnant' and 'utterly unconscionable' acts.

The abuse by a 'trusted teacher' left the victim suffering 'real, deep and lifelong harm', resulting in feelings of 'shame, grief and guilt', the judge said.

Grant was given an 18-month jail sentence for her 'appalling transgression', but 12 months of it was suspended.
Incredible footage captured the moment a driver crashed his car before stumbling out and offering a bizarre response to bystanders.

The shocking incident unfolded at Duncraig, in Perth's north, on June 28 and was filmed by Luke Dewar with the footage uploaded to Reddit.

Mr Dewar was in the passenger seat of another vehicle and filmed a Holden Maloo ute after claiming the driver was 'acting really furious'.

'He was tailgating us for a while until he finally flew past us, almost hitting us,' Mr Dewar wrote.

The video showed the ute driving erratically in front of Mr Dewar's vehicle before it swerved around a corner.

'He's going to frigging kill someone, dude,' Mr Dewar's friend said.

The ute had spun 180 degrees and stopped against a fence with debris scattered over pavers, as smoke billowing from the back and an Australian flag flew in the background.

The ute driver stood in front of the open passenger door and appeared confused.

Incredible footage captured the moment a driver crashed his car before stumbling out and offering a bizarre response to bystanders

'You're a d**k! An absolute d**k, mate,' Mr Dewar's friend yelled at him.

'F**king hell  what the f***? the ute driver said.

Residents ask what happened and Mr Dewar's friend informed them: 'He's the driver there  and he's a d***.'

'What's happened?' the driver asked.

'What do you mean what's happened? You're fried, mate,' Mr Dewar's friend said.

'I'm not, I'm not,' the driver said.

'It was an accident'.

'It was not an accident, you peanut,' Mr Dewar's friend said.

'There's kids around, mate, you would've killed someone.'

The ute had spun 180 degrees and stopped against a fence with debris scattered over pavers

A Western Australian Police spokesman said a 40-year-old man had been charged over the incident.

'About 2.45pm, a Holden Maloo utility crashed into a tree outside a home on Guron Road in Duncraig,' a spokesman said.

'The driver then drove away from the scene, before the utility crashed into the wall of a property further down the road. A short time later, the 40-year-old male driver was arrested. He underwent a breath analysis test which allegedly provided a positive result.'

The man was charged with exceeding a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 per cent, driving an unlicensed vehicle, driving with a cancelled license, and reckless driving in a confiscation zone.

'The utility was impounded,' the WA Police spokesman said.
Carl Bernstein claims Biden White House insiders have told him that the president's visibly ailing health at the first debate Thursday has been seen on numerous occasions in the past 18 months.

The torturous 90-minute debate saw the president frequently lose his train of thought, trail off mid-sentence and mix up topics, prompting a cacophony of calls from politicians and pundits for the 81-year-old to step down.

The performance has sparked an unprecedented panic in the party, leading many to wonder if Biden, 81, should drop out or even resign.

Bernstein, 80, is a longtime journalistic icon in Washington, having broken the Watergate scandal that took down Richard Nixon 50 years ago.

While he told Anderson Cooper Biden was 'at his absolute best' during his brief speech in response to the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, his advisors and staffers who love and admire the president say 'in the last six months, particularly, there has been a marked incidents of cognitive decline and physical infirmity.'

Legendary journalist Carl Bernstein revealed Biden White House insiders have told him the president's visibly ailing health at the first debate Thursday has been seen on numerous occasions in the past 18 months. Pictured: Biden freezes on stage at a recent fundraiser with Barack Obama

In an interview Monday, Bernstein confessed to multiple sources telling him that Biden's looked very similar to the way he did Thursday night at least 15 to 20 times in the past year and a half.

'[My sources] are adamant that what we saw the other nightthe Joe Biden we saw is not a one-off,' he told Anderson Cooper.

Bernstein said that many have gone as far as ex-White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain - who took heat for his performance in preparing Biden for the debate from his family and advisors - with their concerns over the president's health.

'They have all gone to Ron Klain in the past year to say 'we have a problem' such as we saw the other night.'

He says that the president has often 'lost his train of thought' while speaking and been unable to pick it back up.

Bernstein also seemed to nod at recent incidents of Biden outright 'freezing' in public in recent weeks, which White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said were 'deep fakes'.

He cited a fundraiser where he started at his podium and then appeared to become stiff, 'almost like rigor mortis' at the Four Seasons in New York in June 2023.

'A chair had to be brought for him to do the latter part of the event,' Bernstein added.

Bernstein, 80, is a longtime journalistic icon in Washington, having broken the Watergate scandal that took down Richard Nixon 50 years ago

In an interview Monday, Bernstein confessed to multiple sources telling him that Biden's looked very similar to the way he did Thursday night - and at this Juneteenth celebration with Vice President Harris - at least 15 to 20 times in the past year and a half

The overall message they've said to Klain is 'we need to talk about this' but they've been shut down.

Biden remains able to hold his own on key issues like foreign policy, Bernstein's sources say.

'There is no question. I have heard for two years how sharp Joe Biden is in his national security meetings, on Ukraine, on the situation in Gaza... he has an absolute command of the facts.'

However, that's not who he is all the time, saying: 'We're clearly dealing with two sets of one person,' adding Biden 'has good days [and] bad days.'

Bernstein claims not only do 'an awful lot' of high level Democrats agree, some of them have already made statements backtracking on it in public, saying they still support the president.

'But this is a problem that's not going to go away, unless it's explicable. Does this mean doctors' reports? I mean, obviously it would be great if we could have real doctors' reports from both candidates. Well, that's not going to happen.'

Biden's health has been in question by many in the months and even years leading up to the debate, but talk has ratcheted up recently after the series of questionable freezing incidents in public.

DailyMail.com asked Jean-Pierre about recent videos of former President Barack Obama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni guiding him after events, and whether they had been asked to do so.

Biden remains able to hold his own on key issues like foreign policy, Bernstein's sources say, but adds that 'he has good days, he has bad days'

DailyMail.com asked Jean-Pierre about recent videos of former President Barack Obama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (pictured) guiding him after events, and whether they had been asked to do so

'Let's not forget: President Obama, President Biden have a relationship. They are friends. They're like family. And I think that's what you saw,' she said, in reference to video after a $30 million fundraiser where Biden stood stationary for several seconds while the audience applauded at the end of the event before Obama grabbed him by the arm and led him off stage.

She also dismissed video of Italy's Meloni, who also grabbed Biden by the arm during an event at the G7 where the leaders viewed a parachute demonstration. Biden left the group briefly to greet a parachute jumper, only to be led back by Meloni for a photo-op.

'That was definitely a cheap fake,' she said.

It was a scuffle Jean-Pierre appeared ready to have having earlier blasted the videos as 'cheap fakes' when first asked about them at the top of her briefing Monday, her first within days.

Biden still has no public plans to drop out or resign from office, as he has continued campaigning since the debate.

During the debate, Trump was seen contorting his face in shock and derision at Biden's confused meandering and frequent gaffes in the debate, at one point telling millions of Americans watching at home: 'I really don't know what he [Biden] just said.

'He's not equipped to be president. You know it and I know it.'

ABC News is set to host the second debate on Tuesday, September 10, but it's hard to see how the hapless, weary Biden would be able to rise to the challenge - no matter how much his wife Jill continues to push, and lie, to him.

ABC News is set to host the second debate on Tuesday, September 10, but it's hard to see how the hapless, weary Biden would be able to rise to the challenge

Focus much of this weekend post-debate has been on the Biden family, who gathered at Camp David to discuss their patriarch's political future, while mega-donors and famous supporters plot their own courses of action.

The family has offered its unequivocal support to the president and even wondered how they can get further involved, with troubled son Hunter insisting his father fight back into the race.

However, many have started to play the blame game, citing Biden's advisors' poor debate prep to face Donald Trump and time is of the essence as Democrats panic at his dive in the polls post-Atlanta.
Air New Zealand passengers had to endure a nine-hour flight that took them back to where they departed after their plane was forced to turn back.

Flight NZ289 left Auckland, in New Zealand, on Monday night and was bound for Shanghai, in China, but did a U-turn near the Solomon Islands just four-and-half hours into the 12-hour flight.

Air New Zealand chief operating officer Alex Marren told 7News the aborted flight was a 'proactive safety measure' carried out because one of the plane's engines was using more fuel than normal.

'The decision was made to return to Auckland so the aircraft could be checked by our engineering team here to expedite repair,' Mr Marren said.

'The aircraft arrived in Auckland at 8:36am this (Tuesday) morning and customers will be accommodated on the next available service.

'We'd like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while our teams work through the rebooking process.'

It's understood the plane will have a complete service, which the airline does not have the facilities for in Shanghai.

Last month two people were injured on an Air New Zealand plane when it hit severe turbulence on a flight from Wellington to Queenstown.

An Air New Zealand passenger plane was forced to turn back four-and-a-half hours into its intended flight to Shanghai (generic image pictured)

Because of unusually high fuel use in one engine the plane had to make a U-turn over the Pacific

A passenger reportedly suffered burns from a pot of hot coffee while a crew member was thrown from her feet about 15 minutes after take-off on June 16.
Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori has denied claims she sent porn to Yeezy staff, including minors.

A federal lawsuit filed in California claimed that Censori, 29, sent an employee a link to 'hardcore' sexual content after her husband announced the launch of his adult film business, Yeezy Porn, in late April.

It alleged that the videos were accessible to underage staffers, but did not name her as a defendant in the suit - simply using the story to illustrate the work environment at the YZYVSN streaming service app.

Censori has since denied the claims via West's former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, who told DailyMail.com he had permission to speak on her behalf.

'I've been authorized by Bianca to stress that any allegation that she showed or caused to be shown any pornographic material to minors is offensive, disgusting, abhorrent and categorically and wholly false,' the statement says.

Bianca Censori, 29, has denied claims that she sent a Yeezy employee a link to 'hardcore' porn

Censori, Kanye West's wife, was not named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit which accuses the rapper of engaging in 'forced labor and cruel inhuman, or degrading treatment'

The 39-year-old British commentator went on in his statement Monday to dismiss the allegations against him in the federal lawsuit, which accuses him and Ye of engaging in 'forced labor and cruel inhuman, or degrading treatment.'

Yiannopoulos slammed the claims, saying it 'takes more imaginative leaps than The Lord of the Rings,' and claiming it was filed by a man who had no authority at YZYVSN.

'The tragic, desperate, attention-seeking wannabee Yeezy staffer behind this egregious and repulsive pack of lies, Shemar DaCosta, has never had any kind of access to Ye, his family, or Yeezy, or any information pertinent to the company, and he never will,' Yiannopoulos said.

'DaCosta, known as "Hotep Susan" in Yeezy circles for his histrionic and absurd race-baiting, faked an entire job history at Yeezy on his LinkedIn profilethe most tragic and thirsty lie imaginable.

'He claimed to be a lead developer for Yeezy. He has never worked at Yeezy. Read my lips: He will never, ever, ever land a job at the company after telling such odious lies about the Lady of the House.

'Theres a simple reason DaCostas clownish claimthat minors were shown Yeezy Pornisnt true and cant be true. Yeezy Porn doesnt exist.

'I made sure of that by falling on my sword and quitting over it.

Milo Yiannopoulos hit out at the allegations made in the lawsuit in a statement sent to DailyMail.com

'All Ive done since is try to get these app developers paid, as voluminous correspondence demonstrates,' he continued - defending himself from claims that developers went unpaid for their work.

'Anyone asserting otherwise, including many in the press, are lazy or simply dishonest buffoons uncritically repeating mendacious lies from a lawsuit that takes more imaginative leaps than The Lord of the Rings.'

He went on to hit out at the claims that he segregated employees by race, and named Discord chat rooms 'slaves' and 'new slaves.'

'Secret white chat rooms? No, the other team just hustled harder than you did,' the former Yeezy chief of staff said of DaCosta.

'Hostile working environment? How can that be? You were never hired. Minors working illegally? Give me a break.

'The only minors being taken advantage of are the poor suckers roped into this lawsuit, who have no idea what a pack of lies their names have been attached to,' he claimed.

'If anyones taking advantage of kids, its Shemar DaCosta and his bozo Instagram lawyer Ben Lockyer, whose area of legal expertise appears to be credulous African Americans with dubious causes of action,' Yiannopoulos concluded.

'Both of them should be ashamed of themselves. And if theyre not now, they soon will be.'

Yiannopoulos sent DailyMail.com some posts from former YZYVSN that he says backs his claims that the lawsuit is frivolous

Yiannopoulos also included posts from X that he said backs his claims that the suit is frivolous.

Several wrote that Yiannopoulos is trying to get the app developers paid, with one man who identified himself as a 'Yeezy developer waiting to get paid' saying Yiannopoulos has been the only (ex)employee trying to get us paid by doing everything he can and more.'

'This lawsuit has only made things far worse for everyone,' the post said.

Another, who identifies himself as the lead developer for the app, agreed.

'So then suing him [because you] didnt get offered a job by them or make up other lies is crazy,' he wrote.

The suit claims Ye ordered all of his employees to sign NDAs and threatened to fire the minors if they didn't

The lawsuit alleges that West and Yiannopoulos hired an international developer group comprised of several black members, many of whom were underage, with some as young as 14.

They then fostered an allegedly racist working environment and repeatedly made false promises about payment and working hours.

It claims that Yiannopoulos promised the developer group $120,000 if they completed the app, agreed to the work conditions and didn't complain.

But Ye then allegedly ordered all of the employees to sign NDAs and threatened to fire the minors if they didn't.

The duo also allegedly required minors to sign 'volunteer' agreements.

From then on, Ye's white managers reportedly used disparaging and racist language to create a hostile working environment.

They reportedly harassed team members on the basis of their age, race, gender, sexual orientation and national origin.

The workers were also reportedly forced to work through the night without pay or sleep.

If they did not agree with the long work hours without breaks, the plaintiffs were allegedly threatened with having their pay withheld.

But even after the team allegedly finished one of the apps on May 1 and sent it to Ye, the suit claims he did not pay them - leading them to file the suit asking for damages for unpaid wages and overtime pay, as well as emotional distress.

DailyMail.com has reached out to West for comment.
A man has been arrested and charged with a slew of offences after allegedly leading police on a wild chase across land and water.

Officers were called to Golden Beach on Queensland's Sunshine Coast after an allegedly stolen Ford Ranger crashed into the front of a house at 5.30am on Monday.

A 28-year-old man from Caboolture is accused of driving the vehicle then allegedly fleeing to the waterfront with the home's owner, Aaron Mason Smith, in pursuit.

He was able to avoid Mr Smith by jumping into the water, but was found by police swimming in the nearby Pumicestone Passage shortly after.

Senior sergeant John Van Egmond said the man was known to police and allegedly barricaded himself on a boat and 'armed himself with some knives and poured petrol on himself'.

Footage of the dramatic incident showed the shirtless man wearing a large life jacket while staring down specialist police as they attempted to negotiate with him.

He then dramatically jumped off the boat covered in a tarp before swimming to another vessel nearby where police allege he 'made threats'.

Officers pepper sprayed the man as he hung off the side before he surrendered himself to police.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and faces a slew of charges after allegedly crashing a stolen vehicle into a home before leading police on a wild chose in a nearby bay (pictured)

Mr Mason said the initial crash sounded 'like a bomb had gone off' in his home and woke up both him and his wife.

'I just woke up and thought, "Jesus, is this the end of the world?" Something crashed into my house. I didn't know what was going on,' he told 9News.

No one was injured in the crash, however Mr Mason's home, which he had bought just six months earlier, was deemed not safe to live in.

Queensland Police's Brod Doolan praised Mr Smith for taking up pursuit as he gave officers a 'really good idea' as to where he was.

Police allege the Ford was stolen in Wurtulla, about 8km north of Golden Beach, earlier that morning.

Police allege the man barricaded himself on a boat in Pumicestone Passage, southern Sunshine Coast, before allegedly arming himself with knives and dousing himself in petrol

The accused was taken to hospital where he was charged with 20 offences.

They include four counts each of enter premises and commit wilful damage, and one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and obstruct police were among the offences.

He was not present when the matter was mentioned before Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

His defence lawyer Luke Bull told the court his client had not applied for bail and requested the matter to be adjourned.

He is expected to next appear before court on August 6.
A groom on his bucks weekend was mocked by his friends for having sex with 'the less attractive' of two teenagers who say they were gang raped by members of the group, a court has heard.

Maurice Howell was 27, his brother 20 and David 28 when they travelled from Sydney to Newcastle in February 2022 with six other men ahead of the older Hawell's wedding.

Three women, Miss A, Miss B, and Miss C, have told a jury they were sexually assaulted at an Airbnb rented by the group but they could not identify which men were allegedly responsible.

Miss A and Miss B, both then 18, said they were raped together in the apartment on the Friday night while 19-year-old Miss C said she was abused the next evening.

Maurice Hawell and David claim any sex they had with the women was consensual and deny performing certain acts, while Marius Hawell insists he did not take part in any sexual activity at all.

The three men are facing trial together in Downing Centre District Court on the basis they engaged in a joint criminal enterprise.

The court has heard their friend 'Matt' had consensual sex with Miss A on the Friday in one bedroom while Miss B had consensual sex with Maurice Hawell and David in another.

Matt is not accused of having committed any wrongdoing at any time.

A groom on his bucks weekend was mocked by his friends for having sex with 'the less attractive' of two teenagers who say they were ganged raped by members of the group, a court has heard. Andrew David (above) is one of three of the group accused or sexual assault

He told the court that while having sex with Miss A, Maurice Hawell entered the room and said, 'Hey guys, do you want to have a threesome? [Miss B] is keen too'.

Matt said he deferred to Miss A by saying, 'It's up to you' and she said the same thing to him.

He denied Maurice Hawell had reached down to touch Miss A's upper thigh before being asked to leave the bedroom.

Matt also denied telling Maurice Hawell during a conversation outside the bedroom door, '[Miss A] is happy to have a foursome with us if [Miss B] also joins us'.

Miss A and Miss B have given evidence they were later raped by a number of men in the room where Miss A and Matt had consensual intercourse.

Matt told the jury on Tuesday he had seen Miss A, Miss B, Maurice Hawell and David in the bedroom, 'kissing and having sex' with the light on.

He said he had gone to the room because he heard Miss A call out, 'Where's Matt?'. He told her, 'Hey, I'm here, are you OK?' and she responded, 'I'm OK'.

Three women, Miss A, Miss B, and Miss C, have told police they were subjected to sexual assaults at an Airbnb rented by the group but they cannot identify which men were allegedly responsible. Maurice Hawell is pictured

Miss A has given evidence she repeatedly called out 'Where's Matt' and multiple male voices replied 'I'm Matt'.

Under cross-examination, Matt said he believed Miss A had enjoyed having group sex with his friends. 'It appeared so,' he said. 'She seemed to be really enjoying it.'

Asked if he formed the same view of Miss B, he said, 'Yeah, her too, but I was in there very briefly'.

Matt said it was possible he had heard Miss B ask, 'Is someone going to f*** me?'

Matt told the court that once the group sex was finished he walked with Miss A and Miss B to the nearby Cambridge Hotel where they had all met earlier in the evening.

'We were speaking, we were kissing, dancing a little bit,' he said of his interactions with Miss A.

Matt said sometime after he had left the pub for the night he received a call from Miss A.

'She called me after two o'clock, I can't remember the time, from her friend's phone,' he told the court.

'She said, "Can we come back to the room and stay there?" and I said, "Yeah, if you guys want".'

Maurice Hawell and Andrew David claim any sex they had with the women was consensual and deny performing certain acts, while Marius Hawell (above) insists he did not take part in any sexual activity at all

Matt said the women decided they would not come back to the apartment after he told them he could not drive them home the next morning.

Miss A had sent him a message about 4am which he answered some hours later when he woke up. 'Did you get home all good?' he wrote.

Matt said when the bucks group went to breakfast that day some of them were laughing at Maurice Hawell 'because he got with the less attractive girl'.

Maurice Hawell and David are charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and one count each of aggravated sexually touching another person and attempted aggravated sexual assault in company.

Marius Hawell is charged with six counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and one count each of aggravated sexually touching another person and attempted aggravated sexual assault in company.

The trial, before Judge Gina O'Rourke, continues.
EXCLUSIVE

A physiotherapist has been charged after his dogs allegedly fatally mauled a Jack Russell and injured her owner - forcing the pair to take shelter from the savage animals in a muddy creek while he fled the scene.

Eleanor Booth, 35, was walking her dog Indigo - affectionately called 'Indi' - through Boggy Well Creek at Lugarno in south Sydney at about 9am on July 9 last year when they were allegedly set upon by two Irish Wolfhounds.

The pair ran into wetlands, where they spent around half an hour trying to fight off the vicious dogs until they were rescued by police armed with pepper spray.

Indi suffered critical injuries and was rushed to a veterinary clinic, but sadly died the following day while undergoing emergency surgery. Ms Booth was also hospitalised for injuries to her face, neck, arms, hands and legs.

Following a seven-month investigation by George River Council, George Helou, 55, was arrested in February and charged with eight offences.

Shortly after the incident, Helou allegedly told police he was 'pet-sitting' the two Irish wolfhounds.

However, according to court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia, police will allege he was the owner of the two dogs and was walking them off-leash when they encountered Ms Booth and Indi.

Police will allege the unrestrained dogs harassed, chased then attacked Indi before turning on Ms Booth as she intervened in a desperate attempt to save her pet's life.

Ms Booth is pictured being escorted out of the muddy creek by officers on 9 July, 2023

George Helou (pictured) has been charged after his two Irish Wolfhounds allegedly mauled a Jack Russell and woman - killing the little dog

Helou allegedly did not have dog leads with him at the time and then ran from the scene while Ms Booth and Indi were trapped in the creek allegedly being attacked by his dogs.

'The defendant was reckless in that his two dogs are large dogs that were not restrained in a public place and with no apparent means of restraint available,' police allege in the court documents.

'Upon encountering Indigo and her owner, the defendant failed to take proper control of his two dogs and then left the area leaving his dogs behind whilst they were acting aggressively towards Indigo and her owner.'

Shortly after Ms Booth and Indi were rescued by police, the two dogs were seized by by council workers at Helou's Peakhurst Heights home and later put down.

Meanwhile, the incident captured the hearts of Australians - who rallied to raise funds for Indi's surgery and help support Ms Booth who required surgery on her hands and forearm.

Indigo - affectionately known as 'Indi' - was seven years old when she died after suffering three heart attacks while undergoing emergency surgery

When approached by Daily Mail Australia in July 2023, Helou - who is the lead physiologist at his family-owned clinic in Lugarno - refused to comment about what happened.

According to the clinic's website, it has been operating in south Sydney for more than 30 years and is a 'family-owned business you can trust'.

'The team at the clinic are highly motivated in helping the community in improving their mobility, strength and overall health,' it reads.

Helou is a local business owner and physiotherapist

Georges River Council launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in July last year.

In February, the council released a statement announcing an individual had been charged with offences under the Companion Animals Act 1998.

'On Monday 5 February 2024, Georges River Council commenced proceedings in the Local Court,' the statement reads.

'As this matter is now before the Local Court, council is not in a position to make further comment.'

Helou has been charged with two counts of owner of dog which attacks person, two counts of dog attacks person etc due to in charge's reckless act, two counts of in charge of dog which attacks person, and two counts of dog attacks person due to owners' recklessness.

His matter is next due before Sutherland Local Court on July 18.
This is the prisoner who was filmed allegedly having sex with a female guard in a cell in HMP Wandsworth, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

Linton Weirich was jailed in April for burglary after stealing 65,000 worth of goods from a safe in a luxury flat in Kensington.

Among the items he stole in a raid in March 2022 were jewellery, belts, handbags, a laptop and a suitcase.

Weirich was jailed for four and a half years for burglary dwelling and theft on June 7 at Kingston Crown Court.

The 36-year-old, from west London, was filmed on a mobile phone allegedly having sex with former prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu.

She appeared in court yesterday charged with misconduct in public office.

MailOnline can reveal Linton Weirich (pictured) is the inmate who was filmed allegedly having sex with a female guard in a cell in HMP Wandsworth

The 36-year-old (right) has a partner (left) who is seven months pregnant and has been left distraught by the alleged video

Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, tried to cover her face as she left Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Monday

Photographs posted on his Instagram page show Weirich with the same arm tattoo as the man in the alleged X-rated video (pictured)

Weirich was jailed earlier this year after stealing 65,000 worth of goods from a safe in a luxury flat in Kensington

Photographs posted on his Instagram page show Weirich with the same arm tattoo as the man in the alleged X-rated video.

Weirich has a partner who is seven months pregnant.

A source close to the partner, who we are not naming, told MailOnline: 'This is the last thing she needs in her condition, it's extremely upsetting.

'This stupid video has affected her health, she was hospitalised at the weekend through stress. She fears it will bring on premature labour.'

Six years ago, Weirich pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the M6 at Stafford.

He also admitted assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest, driving without a licence and driving without insurance when he appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in March, 2018.

Among the items he stole in a raid in March 2022 were jewellery, belts, handbags, a laptop and a suitcase

Ex-prison officer Ms De Sousa Abreu was seen carrying a large suitcase and hiding her face as she left court yesterday

Ms De Sousa Abreu, 30, (drawn in court on Monday) who worked as a guard at HMP Wandsworth, was apprehended at Heathrow Airport on Saturday, a court heard

Ms De Sousa Abreu appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with misconduct in public office

Ms De Sousa Abreu, 30, who is married, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Saturday before she could catch a flight to see relatives in Madrid, a court heard yesterday.

She was attempting to travel on a Portuguese passport, which was seized by the Metropolitan Police.

Ms De Sousa Abreu appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Monday charged with misconduct in public office by engaging in a sexual act with a Prisoner in a prison cell.

Wearing a custody-issue grey tracksuit, she spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address.

Prosecuting Niamh McDonagh told the court: Ms De Sousa Abreu was apprehended at Heathrow Airport where a flight had been booked for Madrid. I believe she has relatives living there.

A Portuguese passport was seized by police when she was apprehended. She is a Portuguese national with a Portuguese passport. 

Defending, Gayathri Yogarajah said Ms De Sousa Abreu had notified HMP Wandsworth telling them of her travel plans which was duly passed on to Scotland Yard.

Ms De Sousa Abreu, a Portuguese national living in southwest London, is a married ex-prison officer

The footage was allegedly filmed at HMP Wandsworth in southwest London

She was granted conditional bail and will appear for a plea and case management hearing on July 29 at Isleworth Crown Court.

She must remain at the southwest London address given in court. Her Portuguese passport must remain with the police and she cannot make any attempt to retrieve it.

She is forbidden from applying or being in possession of international travel documents and she must hand over her Portuguese Identity card that she could travel on.

Ms Da Sousa Abreu is also forbidden to enter any UK port and must be electronically monitored between the hours of 9pm and 7am.
A Greens senator has been condemned as 'an absolute grub' for justifying the vandalism of war memorials in Canberra as a form of 'political expression'.

Jordon Steele-John said his party could not support a motion condemning the actions of protesters because war memorials are 'not politically neutral spaces'.

The Australian National Korean War Memorial, Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, and the Australian Army National Memorial were graffitied with messages condemning the Palestinian war on Saturday night.

The messages read 'blood on your hands' and 'from the river to the sea, Free Palestine'. Another singled out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

Mr Albanese said it was an act of desecration of the worst kind and called on those responsible to be publicly exposed.

Senator Jacqui Lambie moved a motion to condemn the actions in the Senate, but the Greens abstained, with Mr Steele-John later arguing 'the Australian Constitution contains no explicit commitment to freedom of speech'.

'If we are to believe that the men and women of the ADF gave their lives in wars and conflicts to defend such freedoms, then you have to engage with the reality that protesting, that painting is a form of speech,' he said.

The Australian National Korean War Memorial, Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, and the Australian Army National Memorial were graffitied with messages condemning the Palestinian war on Saturday night

Jordon Steele-John said his party could not support a motion condemning the actions of protesters because war memorials are 'not politically neutral spaces'

The Liberal party's assistant defence spokesperson Phillip Thompson later slammed Mr Steele-John, describing him as an 'absolute grub', along with the rest of the Greens who abstained.

'Our nation's parliament, the people that are here to serve the community, to look after the people, to make sure that our veterans and our ADF personnel and their families are supported, and we have those people saying things like they support the freedoms to graffiti,' he said.

'I just think that's a disgrace and they do not deserve to be sitting in.'

Mr Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton jointly condemned the graffiti.

Speaking more widely about the 'frankly idiotic, criminal actions', the PM said 'nothing is as bad as the desecration of those memorials'.

'I hope sincerely that these people who are responsible are found, they get the full force of the law, and they get the book thrown at them,' he said.

The messages read 'blood on your hands' and 'from the river to the sea, Free Palestine', while another singled out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Foreign Minister Penny Wong

'(They should) get exposed publicly as well for who they are. We know what they are - they're unworthy of having any respect and any leniency as a result of their own actions.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton joined Mr Albanese's condemnation and hoped the perpetrators would be arrested soon.

'I hope that the police can double down on their efforts to identify these people (and) allow a very clear message to be sent to those of a similar mind that these acts are not to be condoned in our society,' he said.

Mr Thompson said he would like 'to see these criminals in handcuffs and before the courts'.

Ms Lambie was outraged at the Greens' refusal to show their support, shouting 'whole new low' in the chamber.

Labor's Raff Ciccone also hit out at the Greens, saying Mr Steele-John's comments were 'totally out of order' and 'offensive'.

He said Labor condemned vandalism at 'one of the most sacred places in the country'.

Mr Thompson said he would like 'to see these criminals in handcuffs and before the courts'

'Australians have a right to peaceful protest but they do not have a right to vandalise, spray paint, desecrate ... our memorials.'

The Coalition's James Paterson said the motion could have been a 'moment of unity' for the chamber, if the Greens had supported it.

'It is extraordinary that any elected member of this place would come in here and defend the defacing and the desecration of these monuments,' he said.

An ACT Policing spokesman said the latest vandalism at the three memorial sites and a wall on the western side of Anzac Parade will be investigated.

'The incidents will be considered alongside previous similar matters that have occurred in recent months,' he said.

The spokesman said a search warrant had been executed on Friday, however no charges had been laid at the time of publication.

'Police remind the community that peaceful protest is part of healthy democracy however criminal acts will not be tolerated,' the spokesman said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The future of budget airline Bonza is officially over, with creditors voting to liquidate the company on Tuesday.

At a meeting with administrators Hall Chadwick, the upstart airline's creditors ended the months-long saga that kicked off in late April when the company first collapsed.

'The second meeting of creditors took place today, where it was resolved to place Bonza Aviation into liquidation,' Hall Chadwick said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

'The administration process is designed to maximise the chances of the company or as much as possible of its business continuing in existence.

'Or if this is not possible, to achieve a better result for the company's creditors than that which would result if the company had been immediately wound up.

'The administrators ran an extensive sales campaign involving numerous investors, other airlines and companies from the travel industry.

'The administrators assisted these interested parties, allowing each party to conduct due diligence to help formulate any offer.

'Unfortunately, the administrators had not received any offers for the sale of the company business or assets at the conclusion of the campaign.

'The decision to put the company into liquidation now triggers the Fair Entitlements Guarantee, the Federal Government scheme of last resort that provides financial assistance for unpaid employee entitlements in insolvency.'

Budget airline Bonza has officially been liquidated by administrators on Tuesday, months after it first collapsed (stock image)

Bonza took to the skies in January 2023, taking on behemoths Virgin and Qantas.

The airline offered Australians in the regions a chance to snatch a holiday to tourist hotspots or see loved ones in under-serviced cities and towns at ultra-low prices.

But less than 18 months later, Bonza went bust, collapsing into administration with thousands of passengers left stranded.

Hall Chadwick scrambled to determine whether Bonza could emerge from administration and re-enter the skies, but administrators did not receive any binding offers for the embattled airline.

On June 11, the accountancy firm terminated 500 Bonza workers and cancelled all future flights.

Workers are collectively owed an estimated $10.8million in wages, redundancy and pay in lieu of notice, the Transport Workers Union said on Tuesday afternoon.

'The finality of Bonza's collapse is a sad event for Australia's aviation industry but brings the certainty workers needed to access the Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme for their owed entitlements, including wages for work completed in April,' TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said.

'With cost-of-living still bearing down, 500 families suffered sudden loss of income and months of turmoil about their futures.

'Rebuilding a sustainable aviation industry has never been more critical for workers, passengers and the community.

The airline first took to the skies in January 2023 with CEO Tim Jordan (pictured) promising unique flightpaths without breaking the banks of passengers

Multiple factors led to Bonza's downfall, according to aviation experts.

For one, Bonza did not compete in the Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne market or what the aviation industry refers to as Australia's 'Golden Triangle'.

This meant the company lost out on the airline market's most concentrated money pot.

'The Golden Triangle is so important because this is where most of the action happens and where the money is being made,' Professor Rico Merkert, deputy director at the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney Business School, told NewsWire.

'In terms of seats, both Sydney to Melbourne and Sydney to Brisbane are in the top 10 of the busiest routes globally and when measured in revenues generated, Sydney to Melbourne is typically among the top three in the world and was No.1 in 2023 in front of London to New York.

Bonza also operated with just four aircraft.

The Australian's aviation writer Robyn Ironside says it is 'not looking terribly good' for Bonza passengers.

This comes amid the collapse of the airline Bonza as it entered voluntary administration.

'They'll probably find out more at a creditors meeting this Friday,' Ms Ironside told Sky News Australia.

'Administrators will speak directly to the creditors, among them customers.

'To date, they've been told there are no refunds.'

By contrast, Qantas has more than 100.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine (pictured) said the collapse was a 'a sad event for Australia's aviation industry'

With such a limited fleet, there was little room for error and timetables could quickly become scrambled.

The low-cost carrier also leased Boeing 737-8s, which are large aircraft that boast 186 seats.

Professor Merkert said there may not have been 'sufficient demand' to keep the fleet afloat.

'The Bonza story was great from a cost perspective, which was essentially getting super cheap aircraft during the pandemic that were not only cheap from a capital cost but also operating cost perspective,' he said.

'Being brand new, surely, they would be popular with the customers, too, especially at such low fares and being operated at routes that no one else did, which was 84 per cent of their routes.

'And sure, Bonza optimised their cost structure to the extreme.

'Problem is, this does not guarantee sustained profits.

'Those aircraft had 186 seats and those seats want to be filled on as many flights as possible.
Emmanuel Macron is staring down a French parliamentary election defeat as his centrist allies squabble with hard-left candidates over how to prevent Marine Le Pen's National Rally party from winning an absolute majority.

The hard-right National Rally (RN), headed by 28-year-old president Jordan Bardella, stormed to victory in the first round of elections on Sunday with some 33% of the vote, followed by the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance on 28% - with Macron's centrists languishing in a distant third on just 20%.

Candidates from the hard-right have already scooped 38 confirmed seats by winning outright with more than 50% of the first-round votes in their constituencies.

By contrast, candidates from Macron's alliance secured just two seats on Sunday, prompting the president to call on the left to create a 'broad alliance' to block the hard-right from ascending to power.

Third-place candidates who qualified for the second round have been urged to drop out to present a united front against the far right.

But instead of mounting one last defiant bout of campaigning this week, sources say Macron cut a morose and dejected figure as he met with ministers yesterday, making 'no effort to galvanise his troops'.

The President gave no firm instructions to candidates over standing down, sources said - while some of his ministers cautioned voters against plumping for hard-left candidates.

'Let's not be mistaken. It's the far right that's on its way to the highest office, no one else,' he said at the meeting, according to one participant.

Emmanuel Macron is staring down a French parliamentary election defeat as his centrist allies squabble with hard-left candidates over how to prevent Marine Le Pen 's National Rally party from winning an absolute majority

Marine Le Pen (C), the candidate for the National Rally party, with supporters at the end of the French election day in Paris, France, 01 July 2024

Leader of the French hard-right National Rally Marine Le Pen, left, and lead candidate of the party for the upcoming European election Jordan Bardella during a political meeting on June 2, 2024 in Paris

Supporters of French far right leader Marine Le Pen react after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024

Analysts say the most likely outcome of the snap election is a hung parliament that could lead to months of political paralysis and chaos, just as Paris is preparing to host the summer Olympic Games.

With a total of 76 candidates elected in the first round, the final composition of the 577-seat National Assembly will be clear only after the second round of votes on Sunday.

The second round will see a three-way or two-way run-off in the remainder of the seats to be decided - although a tiny number of four-way run-offs are also possible.

But the RN have their sights set on an absolute majority in parliament, which would allow them to form a government and set about policymaking.

Speaking to French media yesterday, RN president Bardella said: 'In order for me to carry out the project I have planned for the country, I need an absolute majority,' before going on to lambast the left-wing New Popular Front alliance.

'I wish to debate project against project with an alliance I strongly believe, like millions of French people, represents an existential threat to the nation.

'We have people who want to release 20% of prisoners, disarm the police, create new taxes, who have unacceptably ambiguous positions on the threat of Islamists and secularism,' Bardella charged, adding that he would 'bring order to the streets'.

If the RN takes an absolute majority and Bardella, who has no governing experience, becomes prime minister, it would create a tense period of 'cohabitation' with Macron, who has vowed to serve out his term until 2027.

Macron would maintain the power to shape foreign policy and would remain the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

But the RN would assume responsibility for the day-to-day running of the country and domestic policymaking.

The arrival of the anti-immigration RN in government would be a turning point in French modern history - the first time a far-right force has taken power in the country since World War II, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany.

French President Emmanuel Macron leaves a voting booth at a polling station during the first round of the early French parliamentary elections

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand in the voting station before voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024

Jordan Bardella, the leader of the party of the (RN), addresses the press when they arrive at the seat of the party in Paris. 'I wish to debate project against project with an alliance I strongly believe, like millions of French people, represents an existential threat to the nation,' he said of the left-wing New Popular Front

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the voting station on June 30, 2024 in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France

This weekend's first-round election results fuelled fresh criticism of Macron's decision to call the vote in the first place, a move he took with only a tight circle of advisors in the hours after his party was trounced by the RN in European elections last month.

The right-wing Le Figaro said in an editorial that the country faced a 'tragedy' with only 'bad solutions' on offer.

Now Macron's centrist candidates are said to be striking agreements with left-wing rivals whereby the candidate least likely to succeed will stand down to avoid splitting the vote.

In doing so, they hope to pull votes away from the RN and prevent the hard-right outfit from taking an absolute majority, which is now Macron's only priority.

Candidates have until 6pm this evening to drop out, otherwise they will contest this weekend's election.

But some of Macron's own ministers are denying his orders to make deals with or endorse left-wing candidates.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire yesterday urged the electorate not to vote in candidates from France Unbowed (LFI) - a hard-left group leading the NFP alliance.

'For me, France Unbowed is a danger for the nation, just as the National Rally is a danger for the Republic,' he told France Inter radio - a position that angered senior members of the NFP who accused Le Maire of cowardice.

Eric Coquerel, a member of the LFI, declared that such a move would only play into the RN's hands and said that any centrist equating the hard-left with the hard-right as an 'extreme' party is 'affirming that for them, giving the RN a majority isn't a problem'.

Emmanuel Macron is staring down a French parliamentary election defeat as his centrist ministers squabble with hard-left candidates over whether to withdraw from the second round of voting

Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally, stands at the party election night headquarters

Marine Le Pen, member of parliament and French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party leader, arrives at the RN party headquarters in Paris, France, July 1, 2024

The chaos risks damaging the international credibility of Macron, who is set to attend a NATO summit in Washington immediately after the second round.

With elections looming on Thursday in Britain, where the Labour party is expected to end 14 years of Conservative rule, Labour leader Keir Starmer said the French results were a lesson that 'we need to address the everyday concerns of so many people'.

But far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the results, saying attempts to 'demonise' far-right voters were losing impact.

Meloni said that in France, as in Italy, there was 'a constant attempt to demonise... people who don't vote for the left. It's a trick that serves to escape from the debate of the merits of different political proposals... But it's a trick that fewer and fewer people fall for.'

And Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country is taking over the EU's rotating presidency, said the election showed that French voters wanted 'change'.

US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said Washington expected to continue its 'close cooperation with the French government' regardless of the election results.

Russia, which the French government has repeatedly accused of seeking to interfere in domestic politics, is following the election results in France 'very closely', Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the far-right success was a cause for concern, describing the RN as 'a party that sees Europe as the problem and not the solution'.

And Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the results represented a 'very dangerous' turn for France and Europe.
Shocking footage has emerged of a group of vigilante shoppers who confronted two men as they allegedly tried to steal $4,000 worth of power tools from a Bunnings store.

The drama unfolded outside the hardware store in Takanini, around 30km south of Auckland, on the weekend.

Video footage of the alleged incident, which was uploaded to TikTok, showed customers and staff from the store confronting the alleged thieves.

Several shoppers and staff members were heard swearing at the men as they allegedly tried to grab the power tools from a trolley.

'Get out of here, f*** off,' one yelled.

One man wearing an orange hi-vis vest and another man in a grey hoodie began to quickly walk away.

The pair got into a Ford Territory 4WD parked nearby and drove off.

As the commotion unfolded, a staff member was seen carrying a heavy box containing electric tools into the store.

Several shoppers and staff members were heard swearing at the men (pictured centre) as they allegedly tried to grab the power tools from a trolley

The brazen act unfolded in front of shocked onlookers, including a woman who was with her two children.

The footage of the incident went viral online and the clip was flooded with comments from social media users who praised shoppers for their quick thinking.

'Amazing work of the Community. Shows that the public won't stand and watch anymore,' one viewer commented.

Another added: 'Well done to all those involved stopping them.'

A third wrote: 'Good work guys.'

But some weren't in favour of shoppers intervening and escalating the situation.

'I'd advise people not to get involved,' one wrote.

Others said Bunnings should reward the shoppers who confronted the men.

'Free sausage sizzle for everyone,' one person said.

The dramatic incident happened outside the hardware store in Takanini (pictured) around 30km south of Auckland, on the weekend

Bunnings Auckland regional manager Boyd Lane told Daily Mail Australia no customers or staff members were injured

'As this is now a police matter were unable to comment further,' he said.

New Zealand Police have spoken with the store manager and is working with them to prevent such incidents occurring again in the future.

'Police advise shoppers that if you believe a theft or shoplifting incident has occurred, you should advise a staff member at the store,' the spokesman said.

'Do not approach the person suspected of theft yourself.'

Anyone who feels they are in danger is urged to contact police.
His wife Melanie - who stood by him during his trial - still lives there

Greg Lynn's home might be seized by the state

A former Jetstar pilot may lose his million-dollar home after being found guilty of murder - leaving his loyal wife homeless after a brutal year-long trial.

Greg Lynn's $1million Caroline Springs home in Melbourne's west has been in state hands for more than a year while the alleged double murder trial progressed in the courts.

Lynn was found guilty of the murder of Carol Clay, but not guilty of the murder of Russell Hill, in the Supreme Court of Victoria last week.

His wife Melanie Lynn, who has been sole proprietor of the estate since his arrest in November 2021, has supported her husband throughout the trial.

But she faces the prospect of the home being sold to compensate Mrs Clay's family.

Lynn pleaded not guilty to the murders of campers Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73, in the Wonnangatta Valley on March 20, 2020.

Police restrained the three-bedroom home prior to the trial and have held a legal restraining order on it ever since.

The order means that the proceeds of a potential sale can provide compensation for victims.

Greg Lynn's one-million dollar Caroline Springs home in Victoria might be sold by the state in order to compensate Carol Clay's family after Lynn was found guilty of murdering her

Lynn's wife, Melanie, might become homeless if the home is sold off as she still lives there

A possible compensation figure for Mrs Clay's family is still yet to be determined by the court.

It's understood that Lynn intends to appeal against the guilty ruling, the Herald Sun reported.

The order on the property would be lifted if Lynn is acquitted.

But if the verdict were to stand, Mrs Clay's family could seek compensation for the crime.

Mrs Lynn is still living in the home and has erected multiple signs instructing passers-by not to approach the property.

She remained a fixture at her husband's side during the trial even after he confessed to burning Mr Hill and Mrs Clay's bodies.

While Lynn always denied murdering the couple, the jury heard he freely admitted to cleaning up the crime scene and destroying the evidence.

'It was despicable,' Lynn conceded.

'All I can say to the families is that I am very sorry for all of your suffering that I've caused ... yes I should be punished for it. For what I did.'

The jury of 12 unanimously found Lynn murdered Ms Clay before attempting to cover his tracks by burning and destroying the evidence.

The court found him not guilty of murdering Mr Hill however, meaning that his family is not eligible to claim any compensation from Lynn for his death.

It's unknown if authorities froze any of Lynn's other assets during the trial.

A jury of 12 found Lynn guilty of murdering Mrs Clay, 73, in the Wonnangatta Valley on March 20, 2020
Rishi Sunak crunched his election campaigning into overdrive today as he seized on Keir Starmer admitting he avoids working past 6pm on Fridays.

As the battle enters its penultimate day, the PM visited an Ocado plant in Bedfordshire before 5am, and has a frenetic schedule culminating with a 10pm rally in London.

The Tories have branded Sir Keir a 'part-time Prime Minister' and accused him of wanting to work a 'four-day week' after he spoke about his determination to hold on to his family time while in office.

The Labour leader also boasted that getting an historic 'supermajority' on Thursday would be 'better for the country', despite warnings against giving any party untrammeled power.

Campaigning in the East Midlands today, Sir Keir said the attack was 'bordering on hysterical'.

'I do carve out Friday nights, as best I can, for Vic and the kids and her dad as protected time,' he said.

'Her dad's side of the family is Jewish, as people will appreciate, and we use that for family prayers  not every Friday, but not infrequently.

'That doesn't mean I've never had to work on a Friday, of course it doesn't, plenty of times I haven't been able to do it. But I've tried to protect that time. I'd like to try and protect it in the future but I know very well, it's going to be really difficult to do it.

'And that we're even having a conversation about it is laughably pathetic and desperate.'

The row came amid faint glimmers of hope for the Conservatives in the latest polls, with signs Sir Keir's massive lead could be narrowing and the Reform surge has peaked. More survey are set to be released later as the anticipation builds.

Campaigning in the East Midlands today, Keir Starmer said the attack on his working habits was 'bordering on hysterical'

As the election battle enters its penultimate day, the PM visited an Ocado plant in Bedfordshire before 5am

Mr Sunak picked up breakfast from McDonald's for staff and travelling reporters

Mr Sunak chatted to staff at the Ocada plant in Luton this morning

The latest row erupted after Sir Keir, who has a 16-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter with his wife Victoria, told Virgin Radio he was more relaxed after spending time with his children.

'We've had a strategy in place and we'll try to keep to it, which is to carve out really protected time for the kids, so on a Friday  I've been doing this for years  I will not do a work-related thing after six o'clock, pretty well come what may.

'There are a few exceptions, but that's what we do.'

Sir Keir has spoken of the importance of spending time on Friday evenings with his wife's family, who are Jewish and observe the Shabbat.

Mr Sunak told reporters last night: 'I haven't finished at six ever.'

Speaking at Hucknall Town FC's ground in Nottingham, Sir Keir said: 'Look, this is just increasingly desperate stuff.

'I actually can hardly believe that 48 hours before an election, the Conservative Party has got nothing possible positive to say as they go into it.

'I've been arguing throughout this campaign, you'll have heard me many times saying they haven't changed. They're just the same. Nothing's going to change. But they're proving it.

'Because they're not saying 'look, if you vote Tory, vote Conservative on Thursday, these things will happen'. They're just in this negative desperate loop.

'I just think it's increasing desperation bordering on hysterical now.'

Speaking to Times Radio from Nottingham, Sir Keir said: 'I think it's laughably ridiculous that this is even being talked about.

'All I said was that on a Friday night, I tend to try and protect that time for my family as protected time for my wife and my kids.

'Now, of course, I've had to work Fridays in the past, I'll work Fridays in the future.'

On the campaign trail, Mr Sunak was asked if he believed the Labour leader would have got up at 3am to match his day of campaigning.

He told reporters: 'Everyone is going to do this job differently, so that is just the way it is.

'I can just tell you from my experience  about doing this job that it is demanding, and rightly so, because there's a great responsibility that rests on your shoulders, there's always work you can do, there's always decisions that need to be made, and that's what comes with the privilege of doing this job.

'Public service is about service, service means sacrifice. You go into these jobs knowing that, that's why we recognise and respect people who do public service, they are putting themselves at the service of others and that comes always at a sacrifice to you.'

Visiting a Morrisons supermarket in Oxfordshire, Mr Sunak dismissed criticism of his campaign and said he was not heeding grim polls.

'That's his view. That's not going to stop me from working as hard as I can over these final few days to talk to as many people as possible about the choice,' he said.

'And I was up at four this morning talking to workers at a distribution facility. I'm here talking to you. I'll be out till the last moment of this campaign because I think it's a really important choice for the country.

He added: 'I will continue as I've said fighting for every vote till the last moment of the campaign.'

Mr Sunak also denied that his switch from talking about his plans to warnings about a Labour landslide was the language of defeat.

'No, I'm very much still talking to people about our plan,' he said.

A Conservative Party social media post said: 'Keir Starmer has said he'd clock off work at 6pm if he became prime minister.

'You deserve better than a part-time prime minister. The only way to prevent this is to vote Conservative on Thursday.'

A Conservative Party social media post last night said: 'Keir Starmer has said he'd clock off work at 6pm if he became prime minister.'

Tory mayor of the Tees Valley Ben Houchen warned Sir Keir's deputy, Angela Rayner, would be left in charge.

'Angela Rayner in charge of the country because Slippery Starmer needs his beauty sleep. God forbid the Government need to do anything after 6pm.'

Touring broadcast studios this morning, health minister Maria Caulfield said: 'He has indicated that he wants to kind of have a more flexible working life approach. That's just not possible.

'I'm just a junior minister and I work seven days a week, often close to 20-hour days at times. So, it is slightly concerning that that's the approach he's taken.'

But shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the jibes were a 'total disgrace'.

Asked on Times Radio if he would work beyond 6pm on a Friday, Mr Streeting said: 'I'm sure I will be and I'm sure Keir will be doing so too.

'The attacks on him are a total disgrace and it shows how far these people have fallen, how heavily they're scraping the barrel and why they need to be removed from office on Thursday.'

He added: 'Let me say something about the Conservative Party. The party that turned Number 10 into a giant lockdown party now wants to lecture others on their work ethic.

'It's a disgrace and the stench of their lies and hypocrisy is even more overwhelming than the vomit they left for Downing Street cleaners, and like those cleaners we'll clean up the Tories' mess too if we're given the chance on Thursday, and as far as I'm concerned, given their behaviour this morning, that change can't come soon enough.'

In a wide-reaching interview with The Times, Sir Keir insisted he would be a 'serious Prime Minister' if he enters No 10 this Friday as the polls are the predicting.

And he appealed for a 'strong mandate' so he could make difficult decisions to give a boost to the economy.

'It's the mindset change we've talked about,' he said. 'Do we need a strong mandate for that? Yes, we do.

'Because these changes are difficult and the sense of the whole country wanting those changes is important in terms of the platform on which we stand to take the country forward.'
The mother of rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani has died of brain cancer after spending her final days with her daughter.

Liora Argamani's death comes just over three weeks after Noa was freed from Hamas captivity and brought home by Israeli special forces.

Noa's plight made headlines around the world after the 26-year-old was kidnapped from the Nova festival on October 7, with disturbing footage showing terrorists taking her on the back of a motorbike into Gaza.

Her mother, who had stage four cancer, feared she would not live long enough to see her daughter again, and pleaded with Hamas to free her and the Israeli and US governments to bring her home.

After at last being reunited with her in June, Liora 'spent her final days alongside her daughter Noa, who returned from captivity, and her close family,' the hospital where she was being treated said in a statement as it announced her death today.

Noa was seen being directed by her rescuers to a car before being pulled out of Gaza in a military helicopter and returned safely to a hospital in Ramat Gan

Noa Argamani, then 25, was seen kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the horrifying October 7 attacks

Noa was able to celebrate her father Yakov's birthday after spending more than seven months in Hamas captivity

'We relay the family's request to respect its privacy at this difficult time,' Icholov Hospital in Tel Aviv said in the statement.

Israeli troops rescued Noa and three other hostages after 245 days in the Gaza Strip in the largest and most successful rescue operation of the war on June 8.

Noa was seen being directed by her rescuers to a car before being pulled out of Gaza in a military helicopter and returned safely to a hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel .

Three commandos from Yamam, Israel's national counter-terrorism unit, involved in the rescue revealed that the first thing Noa did upon being rescued was ask about her mother.

In an interview with Israeli magazine Walla, one of the commandos said: 'Her first question was whether her mother was still alive. I told her yes.

'She looked right and left at us and asked again if we were sure. We told her yes, "that's why we came, to bring you back to your mother."'

Emotional scenes showed Noa reunited with her father Yakov on his birthday - the first time in more than half a year that they had seen each other since her capture.

Noa smiles while having a drink of Coca Cola with her father Yakov after being reunited last month

A video circulated on social media which allegedly showed Noa in captivity in Gaza

Liora Argamani, Noa's mother, had reached out to US president Joe Biden urging him to help rescue her daughter (pictured in November 2023)

She was pictured hugging her father and reintegrating back into civilian life, enjoying a coke and smiling and laughing as she spoke with friends and loved ones.

Within hours she was rushed to the Ichilov Medical Centre in Tel Aviv to see her mother. Reports at the time suggested the pair would be treated alongside each other in hospital.

After their reunion, doctors said Liora 'believed that Liora understood' her daughter was safe but wasn't able to express her feelings.

Describing the reunion, Noa's father, Yaakov, said: 'Unfortunately her mother is in a very difficult condition. They met, but it was very difficult.'

Over the weekend, a much healthier Noa spoke in a video shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

This is the moment Noa Argamani who was kidnapped by Hamas motorbikers on October 7 was reunited with her father

In the moving, two-minute video shown on a giant screen in the centre of Tel Aviv, Noa shared her deep concern for her parents during her eight months in captivity.

'As an only child to my parents - and a daughter to a mother with a terminal illness - my biggest worry in captivity was for my parents,' she said.

'It's a great privilege to be here after 246 days in Hamas captivity. It's a great privilege to be by my mother's side after 8 months of uncertainty.

'It's a great privilege to see my parents, surrounded by so many good people.'

She also called for 'everything possible' to be done to free those still trapped in Gaza - including her boyfriend.

Noa Argamani spoke in a video released on Saturday following her June 8 rescue from Hamas

'I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that there are still 120 hostages in Hamas captivity. Among them is Avinatan Or, my partner, from whom I was separated at the moment of abduction.'

Hamas led a bloody incursion into southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,170 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

The group has justified the attack as a response to what it called Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people.

Horrifying scenes showed Hamas and other factions wielding Kalashnikov-style assault rifles as they stormed into towns and a music festival in Israel.

In the months since, Israel has pounded the densely-populated Gaza Strip with aerial attacks, displacing the vast majority of the population.

Around 80 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million people have fled their homes, severe hunger is widespread and UN officials say parts of the territory are experiencing famine.

Nearly 38,000 people are reported to have been killed in Israel's attacks, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally.

Israel has stated its war objectives to be returning the hostages and definitively destroying Hamas.

Criticism has fallen on Israel from its allies over civilian casualties and the failure to return the hostages after nearly nine months of fighting.
Serial child killer Lucy Letby showed no emotion today as she was found guilty of attempting to murder a premature baby girl by dislodging her breathing tube.

Jurors at Manchester Crown Court took three and a half hours to return their unanimous verdict at the end of a 13-day retrial on a single count of attempted murder.

The most prolific child killer in modern British history was 26 when she deliberately dislodged the breathing tube of Baby K  an infant so tiny she would have fitted in the killer's open palm  in the first hours of her life. She tried a further two times in the following hours.

The killer showed no emotion in the glass-panelled dock as the male foreman delivered the verdict. Baby K's father held his head in his hands as other relatives cried in the public gallery.

Following the verdict, the child's relatives said knowing the nurse who had been meant to be looking after their daughter had tried to kill her had caused them 'unimaginable pain'.

The verdict takes Letby's tally of convictions to seven murders and seven attempted murders. She is already serving 14 whole life terms following her original 10-month trial that ended in the same courtroom in August.

After the first trial the killer refused to come to the dock to hear the judge read out his sentencing verdicts, but these were read out by the prosecutor at the start of the latest proceedings as she watched on in court.

Lucy Letby, 34, was caught 'virtually red-handed' trying to kill the child, known as Baby K, in February 2016

Body worn camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary showing Letby's arrest

Letby, now 34, denied the latest charge, and still maintains her innocence of the crimes she had previously been found guilty of. She insists she has never harmed any baby in her care.

The jury in her original trial were unable to reach a verdict in the case of Baby K and were discharged. This time a new jury found her guilty.

The family of Baby K said today in a statement read out by a family liaison officer: 'Words cannot effectively explain how we are feeling at this time. To lose a baby is a heartbreaking experience that no parent should ever go through, but to lose a baby then hear of the harm that was inflicted under these circumstances is unimaginable.

'Over the past seven to eight years we have had to go through a long, torturous and emotional journey twice, from losing our precious newborn and grieving her loss, to being told years later that her death or collapse could be suspicious. Nothing could prepare you for that news.

'Today justice has been served and a nurse who should have been caring for our daughter has been found guilty of harming her, but that will not take away the extreme hurt, anger and distress that we have all had to experience.

'It also does not provide us with an explanation for why these crimes have taken place. We are heartbroken, devastated, angry and feel numb. We may never know why this happened.'

The family further thanked the jury, police, prosecutors and the medical witnesses who appeared at the trial.

Letby was caught 'virtually red-handed' trying to murder Baby K by the lead consultant on her neonatal unit, Dr Ravi Jayaram, in the early hours of February 17, 2016.

He felt uncomfortable when the infant's designated nurse, Joanne Williams, briefly left Nursery 1 to tell her parents she was being transferred to a higher-level hospital. Realising that Letby was alone with Baby K, he walked into the nursery.

He saw the killer stood beside her victim's ventilator, doing nothing to help her as the monitors showed a catastrophic drop in saturation levels.

Dr Jayaram told the court that he and a number of colleagues already had concerns about Letby before Baby K's near-fatal collapse.

'I was sitting at a desk close to the nurses' station, with my back to the wall,' he recalled.

'Joanne told me she was going to update K's parents.

'I'd probably just spoken to the transport team, so she would have been going to update them about where K was going to be. She said Lucy Letby was babysitting.

Dr Ravi Jayaram, the lead consultant on Letby's unit, caught Letby 'almost red handed' trying to kill Baby K

Letby, who worked at the Countess of Cheshire Hospital, giving evidence in court last month

'At this time, February 2016, we had had a number of unusual incidents with babies and a number of colleagues and myself had noticed the association with Lucy Letby being present at these things. We'd had a thematic review and not found any other factors.

'I was sitting there and  I'll be very honest  I felt very uncomfortable. Obviously you can say that's completely irrational, and my internal dialogue was very much 'Stop being stupid, get on with your work'. But I needed to go in just to reassure myself that everything was okay.

'It was around two-and-a-half to three minutes, maybe, from Joanne telling me she was going to K's parents that I stood up and walked into the nursery. I went in the doorway closest to the nurses' station.

'I came around the wall and walked towards the incubator. As I was walking towards it the first thing I looked at was the monitors above the incubator. So as I walked in that direction I could see the screens in front of my. The oxygen saturations were dropping  in the low 80s and going downwards.

'Lucy Letby was standing next to the incubator. She was looking at me. She didn't have hands in the incubator. She was definitely facing in my direction. I can't remember whether she was directly facing or slightly angled towards the monitor.

'I asked something like 'What's happening?'

Today's verdict takes Letby's tally of convictions to seven murders and seven attempted murders

A photo showing Letby during a night out that she shared on her social media

He would have heard any alarm if it was sounding, and had any been activated he would have gone into Nursery 1 earlier.

In reaching their verdict, the jury of six men and six women rejected the claim by Letby's barrister, Ben Myers KC, that Dr Jayaram's account was so 'incredible' it could not be believed.

He said that if the prosecution's 'star witness' had really caught the neonatal nurse 'almost red-handed' in the act of attempted murder, he would have taken immediate action rather than being 'rendered silent' for the next 14 months.

'If he had really seen what he said he saw, and believed someone was 'killing babies' on the unit he would have 'told the management, and if they had dragged their heels he would have told the police'.

He added: 'You don't need to be a paediatric consultant to do thatA child would know what to do.

'We say it's an insult to the collective intelligence of this courtroom to say that Dr Jayaram saw what he says he saw and did absolutely nothing. It is ridiculous and it is unbelievable'.

The killer's repeated denials have helped spark a wave of conspiracy theories among people convinced of her innocence. At times during the re-trial Letby supporters were queuing to get into both Court 7 and the overspill annex in Court 16.

Letby's parents, John and Susan, attended virtually every day of her original trial. This time they appear to have taken the deliberate decision to stay away. Instead, one of their daughter's close friends, fellow nurse Janet Cox, had been prominent in the public gallery.

Once the verdict had been delivered, the trial judge, Mr Justice Goss, looked up and told the killer: 'Lucy Letby, would you stand. Having been convicted of this offence of attempted murder you will obviously have to be sentenced.

'That will take place on Friday morning and you will be here for that hearing...Would you take her down, please'.

Letby wearing an academic gown on her graduation day

The neo-natal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked

Dr Nigel Scawn, medical director at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Baby K. We are extremely sorry that these awful crimes happened at our hospital. Since Lucy Letby worked at our hospital, we have made significant changes to our services and remain committed to providing high quality safe care to our local communities.

Lucy Letby timeline November 2020 - Letby, from Hereford, is arrested and charged following a string of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit. August 2023 - The nurse is found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others, making her Britain's most prolific child serial killer in modern history. The jury fail to reach a verdict on the attempted murder of a baby girl, Baby K. July 2024 - Letby is found guilty of the attempted murder of Baby K. Advertisement

'We want to acknowledge the impact this continues to have on everyone involved in this case and restate our commitment to do everything we can to help families get the answers they deserve. We remain grateful for the unwavering co-operation and professionalism of our staff, some of whom returned to court to repeat evidence and relive events. We will continue to ensure our staff receive the care and support they need and we remain committed to fully and openly supporting the ongoing legal processes.'

Senior Crown Prosecutor Nicola Wyn Williams, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire's Complex Casework Unit, said: 'Lucy Letby has continually denied that she tried to kill this baby or any of the babies that she has been convicted of murdering or attempting to murder. The jury has heard all of the detailed evidence including from her in her own defence and formed its own view.

'Our case included direct evidence from a doctor who walked into the nursery to find a very premature baby desaturating with Letby standing by, taking no action to help or to raise the alarm. She had deliberately dislodged the breathing tube in an attempt to kill her.

'Staff at the unit had to think the unthinkable  that one of their own was deliberately harming and killing babies in their care.

'Letby dislodged the tube a further two times over the following few hours in an attempt to cover her tracks and suggest that the first dislodgment was accidental. These were the actions of a cold-blooded, calculated killer.

'The grief that the family of Baby K have felt is unimaginable. Our thoughts remain with them and all those affected by this case at this time.'
Justice Sonia Sotomayor has said the Supreme Court's 'utterly indefensible' decision to grant Donald Trump immunity for his role in the US Capitol insurrection has allowed a president to become a 'king above the law'.

In an unsparing dissent, Sotomayor argued that the ruling 'effectively creates a law-free zone around the president' and is 'upsetting the status quo' under which the nation was founded.

The 6-3 decision split along the court's ideological lines ensures that Trump will not face another blockbuster trial before the November election with the case sent back to a lower court to determine what is considered his 'official' versus 'unofficial' acts.

The case centered on Special Counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump for allegedly masterminding efforts to overthrow the 2020 election while in office, including on January 6.

Sotomayor was joined by liberal justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who wrote another dissent referring to the ruling's consequences as a 'five alarm fire'. Chief Justice John Roberts accused the liberal justices of fearmongering in the 6-3 majority opinion.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor has said the Supreme Court 's 'utterly indefensible' decision to grant Donald Trump (pictured during Thursday night's presidential debate) immunity for his role in the US Capitol insurrection has allowed a president to become a 'king above the law'

The 6-3 decision split along the court's ideological lines ensures that Trump will not face another blockbuster trial before the November election with the case sent back to a lower court to determine what is considered his 'official' versus 'unofficial' acts. Pictured: Bottom row, from left, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Elena Kagan. Top row, from left, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

Sotomayor read her dissent aloud in the courtroom, with a weighty delivery that underscored her criticism of the majority. She strongly pronounced each word, pausing at certain moments and gritting her teeth at others.

She called the decision, which likely ended the prospect of a trial for Trump before the November election, 'utterly indefensible' and argued it will have 'disastrous consequences' for the nation's democracy.

'The court effectively creates a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding,' she wrote.

'Ironic isn't it? The man in charge of enforcing laws can now just break them,' Sotomayor said.

SCOTUS found Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional powers as president, but can be for private acts, in the landmark ruling recognizing for the first time any form of presidential immunity from prosecution.

The chief justice insisted that the president 'is not above the law', with the ruling arguing that presidents must be entitled to presumptive immunity to allow them to forcefully exercise the office's far-reaching powers and avoid a vicious cycle of politically motivated prosecutions.

While the opinion allows for the possibility of prosecutions for private acts, Sotomayor said it 'deprives these prosecutions of any teeth' by excluding any evidence that related to official acts where the president is immune.

'This majority's project will have disastrous consequences for the presidency and for our democracy,' she said. She ended by saying, 'With fear for our democracy, I dissent.'

Trump, for his part, has denied doing anything wrong and has said this prosecution and three others are politically motivated to try to keep him from returning to the White House.

In an unsparing dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor (pictured in February 2024) argued that the ruling 'effectively creates a law-free zone around the president' and is 'upsetting the status quo' under which the nation was founded

The Supreme Court opinion in former President Donald Trump's immunity case is photographed Monday, July 1, 2024. In a historic ruling the justices said for the first time former presidents can be shielded from prosecution for at least some of what they do in the Oval Office

The other justices looked on in silence and largely remained still as Sotomayor spoke, with Justice Samuel Alito shuffling through papers and appearing to study them.

Sotomayor pointed to historical evidence, from the founding fathers to Watergate, that presidents could potentially face prosecution. She took a jab at the conservative majority that has made the nation's history a guiding principle on issues like guns and abortion. 'Interesting, history matters, right?'

Then she looked at the courtroom audience and concluded, 'Except here.'

The majority feared that the threat of potential prosecution could constrain a president or create a 'cycle of factional strife,' that the founders intended to avoid.

Sotomayor, on the other handed, pointed out that presidents have access to extensive legal advice about their actions and that criminal cases typically face high bars in court to proceed.

'It is a far greater danger if the president feels empowered to violate federal criminal law, buoyed by the knowledge of future immunity,' she said. 'I am deeply troubled by the idea ... that our nation loses something valuable when the president is forced to operate within the confines of federal criminal law.'

In the historic 6-3 ruling, the court's conservative majority, including the three justices appointed by Trump, narrowed the case against him and returned it to the trial court to determine what is left of special counsel Jack Smith's indictment.

The ruling reflected a muscular view of presidential power, and left dissenting judges to criticize it as undermining a core democratic principle that no person is above the law.

People protest outside the Supreme Court on Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington DC

Protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court Monday as the conservative majority ruled that former President Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for official acts as president of the United States

The court's decision highlighted how the justices have been thrust into an impactful role in the November presidential election.

Earlier, they had rejected efforts to bar him from the ballot because of his actions following the 2020 election.

Sotomayor's dissent: A president should not be a 'king above the law' In an unsparing dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the Supreme Court allowed a president to become a 'king above the law' in its ruling that limited the scope of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the election. She called the decision, which likely ended the prospect of a trial for Trump before the November election, 'utterly indefensible.' 'The court effectively creates a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding,' she wrote. She was joined by liberal justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who wrote another dissent referring to the ruling's consequences as a 'five alarm fire.' Sotomayor read her dissent aloud in the courtroom, with a weighty delivery that underscored her criticism of the majority. She strongly pronounced each word, pausing at certain moments and gritting her teeth at others. 'Ironic isn't it? The man in charge of enforcing laws can now just break them,' Sotomayor said. While the opinion allows for the possibility of prosecutions for private acts, Sotomayor said it 'deprives these prosecutions of any teeth' by excluding any evidence that related to official acts where the president is immune. 'This majority's project will have disastrous consequences for the presidency and for our democracy,' she said. She ended by saying, 'With fear for our democracy, I dissent.' Sotomayor pointed to historical evidence, from the founding fathers to Watergate, that presidents could potentially face prosecution. She took a jab at the conservative majority that has made the nation's history a guiding principle on issues like guns and abortion. 'Interesting, history matters, right?' Then she looked at the courtroom audience and concluded, 'Except here.' The majority feared that the threat of potential prosecution could constrain a president or create a 'cycle of factional strife,' that the founders intended to avoid. Sotomayor, on the other handed, pointed out that presidents have access to extensive legal advice about their actions and that criminal cases typically face high bars in court to proceed. 'It is a far greater danger if the president feels empowered to violate federal criminal law, buoyed by the knowledge of future immunity,' she said. 'I am deeply troubled by the idea ... that our nation loses something valuable when the president is forced to operate within the confines of federal criminal law.' Advertisement

The court last week also limited an obstruction charge faced by Trump and used against hundreds of his supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The split among the justices also in many ways mirrored the political divide in the country.

'Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority,' Chief Justice Roberts wrote for the court.

'And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.'

Trump posted in all capital letters on his social media network TruthSocial shortly after the decision was released, saying: 'BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!'

He continued: 'Today's Historic Decision by the Supreme Court should end all of Crooked Joe Biden's Witch Hunts against me, including the New York Hoaxes - The Manhattan SCAM cooked up by Soros backed D.A., Alvin Bragg, Racist New York Attorney General Tish James' shameless ATTACK on the amazing business that I have built, and the FAKE Bergdorf's "case." PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

'THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IS A MUCH MORE POWERFUL ONE THAN SOME HAD EXPECTED IT TO BE. IT IS BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN AND WISE, AND CLEARS THE STENCH FROM THE BIDEN TRIALS AND HOAXES, ALL OF THEM, THAT HAVE BEEN USED AS AN UNFAIR ATTACK ON CROOKED JOE BIDEN'S POLITICAL OPPONENT. ME. MANY OF THESE FAKE CASES WILL NOW DISAPPEAR, OR WITHER INTO OBSCURITY. GOD BLESS AMERICA!'

He also commented on Thursday night's presidential debate, with Trump congratulating broadcaster CNN for have '51.3million people' tune in for the contest and '30+million online' - which he claims was the 'most in their history'.

President Joe Biden, in evening remarks from the White House, cited accepted restraints on presidential power all the way back to George Washington and bemoaned that 'for all practical purposes, today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do.'

'This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each, each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law. Not even the president of the United States,' Biden said, reading from a teleprompter.

He said the court's decision meant there were now virtually no limits on what a president could do.

'It's a dangerous precedent, because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law,' Biden said.

'The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.'

Biden, 81, was making his first set of remarks at the White House since his shaky debate against Trump last week led to calls for him to step aside as the Democratic Party's standard-bearer for the election.

After he stumbled over his words on the Atlanta debate stage, his remarks and comportment are being scrutinized for signs that he is up to the job of running for re-election and of governing the country for four more years.

President Joe Biden, in evening remarks from the White House, cited accepted restraints on presidential power all the way back to George Washington and bemoaned that 'for all practical purposes, today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do'

Donald Trump posted in all capital letters on his social media network TruthSocial shortly after the decision was released, saying: ' BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!'

Biden said he sided with Sotomayor, who wrote she feared for US democracy in her dissent in the 6-3 decision.

'Now the American people will have to do what the court should have been willing to do, but will not. The American people will render judgment on Donald Trump's tenure,' Biden said, alluding to the November presidential election.

'I concur with Justice Sotomayor's dissent today,' he added. 'So should the American people dissent. I dissent. May God bless you all. May God help preserve our democracy,' Biden said in closing.

Smith's office declined to comment on the ruling.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the ruling as 'a disgraceful decision,' made with the help of the three justices that Trump appointed.

'It undermines SCOTUS's credibility and suggests political influence trumps all in our courts today,' the New York Democrat said on X.

The justices knocked out one aspect of the indictment. The opinion found Trump is 'absolutely immune' from prosecution for alleged conduct involving discussions with the Justice Department.

Trump is also 'at least presumptively immune' from allegations that he tried to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to reject certification of Biden's electoral vote win on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors can try to make the case that Trump's pressure on Pence still can be part of the case against him, Roberts wrote.

The court directed a fact-finding analysis on one of the more striking allegations in the indictment - that Trump participated in a scheme to enlist fake electors in battleground states won by Biden who would falsely assert that Trump had won.

Both sides had dramatically different interpretations as to whether that effort could be construed as official, and the conservative justices said determining which side is correct would require additional analysis at the trial court level.

Roberts' opinion further restricted prosecutors by prohibiting them from using any official acts as evidence in trying to prove a president's unofficial actions violated the law.

President Biden's deputy campaign manager blasted the Supreme Court decision. Quentin Fulks said Trump has become more 'unhinged' since the January 6 attack and because of the court decision, he is 'unchecked'

Under Monday's decision, a former president could be prosecuted for accepting a bribe, but prosecutors could not mention the official act, the appointment, in their case.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the rest of Roberts' opinion, parted company on this point. 'The Constitution does not require blinding juries to the circumstances surrounding conduct for which Presidents can be held liable,' Barrett wrote.

She also described as unnecessary the analysis of the fake electors claim. 'I see no plausible argument for barring prosecution of that alleged conduct,' Barrett wrote.

The work of figuring out how to proceed will fall to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who would preside over Trump's trial.
A former St George bank staffer is being pursued by Westpac as she prepares to fight allegations she defrauded multiple banks.

Police claim Sara Daizli used her role at St George bank to open accounts in fictitious names and swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars between February 2016 and December 2018.

She allegedly siphoned money into her bank account under a false name and used the ill-gotten gains to line her pockets.

The 32-year-old is also accused of making fraudulent loan applications to St George as well as ANZ bank.

She has pleaded not guilty to a staggering 120 charges, including dealing with the proceeds of a crime and 108 counts of dishonestly gaining a financial advantage by deception.

On Tuesday, Ms Daizli wore a short, skintight beige dress and a long white blazer with black high heels, believed to be Christian Louboutin pumps, as she faced Sydney Downing Centre District Court ahead of her trial.

She also sported Louis Vuitton sunglasses believed to be worth about $850.

Ms Daizli's lawyer Abigail Bannister revealed her client is also facing civil proceedings brought by Westpac Bank in relation to her alleged fraud.

Police claim Sara Daizli (pictured) used her role at St George bank to open accounts in fictitious names and swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars between February 2016 and December 2018

On Tuesday, Ms Daizli (pictured) wore a short, skintight beige dress and a long white blazer with black high heels, believed to be Christian Louboutin pumps, as she faced Sydney Downing Centre District Court ahead of her trial. She also sported Louis Vuitton sunglasses

Ms Bannister has issued four subpoenas to the bank in relation to the criminal allegations against her client, some of which the court heard also relate to the civil proceedings.

A lawyer for Westpac told the court the bank had been going to 'extreme lengths' to find the requested documents and hand them over, but the volume of material sought meant the subpoenas 'might be oppressive'.

He told the court Westpac had not received an outline of Ms Daizli's proposed defence, so the bank had 'no idea why these documents are sought'.

The parties will discuss a number of issues related to the subpoenas in a hearing later this month.

Her lawyer Abigail Bannister revealed Ms Daizli (pictured) is also facing civil proceedings brought by Westpac Bank in relation to her alleged fraud

Ms Bannister pushed for the matter to be resolved as soon as possible, as her client's trial is set to begin in September.

'Our concern is the trial date could be placed in jeopardy if the bank is not given enough time to produce the documents,' she said.

'There's quite a lot of records that are sought.'

Acting Judge Graeme Henson adjourned the matter until July 19 and urged the parties to continue to whittle down the number of issues in dispute.
Eight boys have been accused of gang-raping a disabled classmate in the girl's bathroom of a Spanish school.

The attack on a 12-year-old girl occurred in a Penaflor, Seville school in May, according to a police report filed by the child's family.

The police document said that the girl was 'removed from the sight of students and teachers and taken to the girl's bathroom' during a break, where the gang-rape allegedly occurred.

Speaking to Spanish television program 'Y Ahora Sonsoles' the girl's distressed grandmother, whose identity was not shared, detailed the horrifying incident.

'They grabbed my hands and they opened my legs and they made love to me', the girl reportedly told her grandmother, to which she responded: 'No my dear, that's not making love'.

Distressed grandparents (who did not share their identities) of a 12-year-old disabled girl who was gangraped by eight classmates while at school in Seville last month detailed the horrific attack

'They grabbed my hands and spread my legs', the 12-year-old girl told her mother after she was attacked

The gang-rape occurred in the Sevillian town of Penaflor. Pictured: Penaflor town hall

Her grandmother also described the 'hell' the young girl endured the days after, as she did not open up about her assault for several days.

She did not want to go to school, would not eat and would not sleep, her grandmother told a separate outlet, Telemadrid.

She would also repeatedly pull her own hair and throw herself on the ground, before she finally opened up to her grandmother.

She was then taken to the hospital for an examination.

The forensic medical team confirmed that the girl had been penetrated, the grandmother told.

But since all children involved in the horrific attack were born between 2011 and 2012, making them 12 and 13 years old, means that the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office cannot carry out any kind of investigation.

According to Spanish Juvenile Law, when a perpetrator of rape is under the age of 14, he or she won't be held liable.

The case has been transferred to Child Protection Services as a result.

But Andalusia's Councillor for Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality, said in a press conference last week that the Andalusian government is in contact with the prosecutor's office.

'From now on what we are going to do is put in place all the mechanisms for the protection of the girl, obviously, to fund the origin of this conduct, and based on that, adopt the appropriate measures'.

The Councilor for Social Integration, Youth, Families and Equality Loles Lopez said she is in contact with the prosecutor's office following its decision to not investigate eight schoolboys who gangraped their disabled classmate as they are under the age of 14

Horrified Spaniards have taken to social media to express their concern over the decision to not investigate the schoolboys further.

One user on X, formerly Twitter, said: 'If legislation is not urgently passed, these atrocities will continue, once again in a school that washes its hands'.

Another said: 'Please, what is happening to society? Clearly we are doing it wrong and we are doing wrong to children'.

Lopez added that she is preparing a campaign for the Andalusian Institute for Women to raise awareness over consent in minors.

Just last month, a Spanish court acquitted a man who raped a 12-year-old girl and left her pregnant with twins after it ruled that their relations were just part of the gypsy culture.
Keir Starmer further hardened his position on gender rights rights today as he said trans women with penises would not be allowed to enter female-only spaces.

The Labour leader was responding to criticism from JK Rowling over where those with gender recognition certificates who retain their male anatomy would be able to gain access.

In an article for The Times last week, the Harry Potter author claimed that she will 'struggle to support' Labour at next week's election over the party's support of women-only spaces.

Speaking to the same paper, Sir Keir was asked about a question she posed on X/Twitter, in which she asked: 'Do biological males with gender recognition certificates have the right to enter women-only spaces?'

He replied: 'No. They don't have that right. They shouldn't. That's why I've always said biological women's spaces need to be protected.'

Asked whether he would meet Ms Rowling, he added: 'I've indicated a willingness ... hopefully we can get that organised.'

But it is the latest remark by the Labour leader to threaten to put him on a collision course with his own MPs after the election.

The Labour leader was responding to criticism from JK Rowling over where those with gender recognition certificates who retain their male anatomy would be able to gain access.

In an article for The Times last week, the Harry Potter author claimed that she will 'struggle to support' Labour at next week's election over the party's support of women-only spaces.

Last week shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson argued that female facilities were the right place for people with gender recognition certificates.

GRCs currently require doctors to sign off and two years' evidence of living in a different gender - although Labour proposals could see that downgraded to a two-year 'cooling off' period.

However, there is no requirement for people to have had reassignment surgery, or be planning to do so.

Speaking on Times Radio, Ms Phillipson insisted that single-sex provision was important for women's 'dignity and safety'.

But she stressed that there needed to be 'provision for trans people'.

It was the second time she and Sir Keir had appeared to disagree. He also said children should not be taught gender ideology at school, in an apparent slapdown.

Labour's leader said teachers did need guidance on sex and relationships education but that lessons should be age-appropriate.

His comments appeared to contradict those made by Ms Phillipson the day before, when she failed to back the Government's proposed ban on children being taught about gender identity.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson argued that female facilities were the right place for people with gender recognition certificates

GRCs currently require doctors to sign off and two years' evidence of living in a different gender - although Labour proposals could see that downgraded to a two-year 'cooling off' period. However, there is no requirement for people to have had reassignment surgery, or be planning to do so

Almost half of the party's 2019 voters said they are in favour of the Conservatives' plan to protect single-sex services, a poll revealed yesterday.

Some 48 per cent said they agreed with Rishi Sunak's plan to amend the Equality Act, making it clear that sex means biological sex rather than gender identity.

By contrast only one in three supporters of Sir Keir Starmer's party (35 per cent) back its plan to make it easier for transgender people to change sex legally.

Four in ten (40 per cent) of the party's voters oppose the policy to simplify the process of obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC).

The survey of 2,146 adults in Britain by PeoplePolling comes just a day after a different poll found two-thirds of Labour voters (65 per cent) agreed with the statement 'a woman cannot have a penis' while only 13 per cent disagreed.

In last weeks head-to-head TV debate, Sir Keir said it was very important that we protect womens spaces but insisted this is already set out in the Equality Act. It prompted Ms Rowling to claim he believes men can also be women.

Sir Keir was then accused by a radio caller of speaking absolute twaddle and not listening to women who do not want to share spaces with men.

And in a TV interview he would not say if he thought a transgender woman should use the ladies or gentlemens toilets, saying only: I do want to ensure that whatever the facility, it is a safe and secure place for women.
Convicted killer Greg Lynn has been subjected to a disgusting attack in jail just days after a verdict was delivered on the deaths of Carol Clay and Russell Hill.

The ex-Jetstar pilot was last Tuesday found guilty of murdering Ms Clay, 73, but not guilty of the murder of Mr Hill, 74, in the Supreme Court in Victoria.

The 57-year-old had pleaded not guilty to the murders of the two campers in the Wonnangatta Valley, in Victoria's Alpine region, on March 20, 2020.

It can now be revealed that human faeces was thrown at Lynn last week by another inmate at Melbourne Assessment Prison, where he is awaiting sentencing.

The inmate is believed to have been asked by another prisoner to attack Lynn, 7News reported.

Lynn is currently being housed in a protection unit inside the facility where he is allowed to mix with other inmates including Lachlan Young, who allegedly killed 23-year-old Ballarat woman Hannah McGuire.

It's understood Lynn is unhappy in jail and has already complained that living conditions are not up to scratch.

Convicted killer Greg Lynn has been subjected to a disgusting attack in jail just days after a verdict was delivered on the deaths of Carol Clay and Russell Hill

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said in a statement that it does not comment on individual cases involving prisoners.

'Corrections Victoria takes all incidents very seriously and refers all allegations of criminal activity and serious incidents to Victoria Police for investigation,' they said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Corrections Victoria for further comment.

During his murder trial, Lynn claimed the deaths of Mr Hill and Ms Clay were accidental, but admitted to burning the crime scene and destroying their bodies.

Forty-nine witnesses were called during the trial, including national park rangers, weed sprayers, campers, deer hunters, police forensic and ballistics experts and the families of Mr Hill and Ms Clay.

Mr Hill was married and the pair were having a secret affair together when they disappeared.

Lynn, Mr Hill and Ms Clay were the only people who stayed at Bucks Camp that evening, on March 20, 2020.

The ex-Jetstar pilot was last Tuesday found guilty of murdering Ms Clay, 73, but not guilty of the murder of Mr Hill, 74, in the Supreme Court in Victoria. (Carol Clay is pictured left and Russell Hill is pictured right)

Lynn said he had been out deer hunting when he returned to threats from Mr Hill that he had drone footage of Lynn hunting too close to the campsite that he would turn into police.

Later that evening, he said Mr Hill took a shotgun and ammunition from Lynn's car.

Lynn claimed he went to get his gun off Mr Hill, who shot off a few warning shots before turning the gun on Lynn.

Lynn and Mr Hill struggled over the gun, Lynn claimed, when another shot went off and hit the side of Mr Hill's ute mirror, which ricocheted off and went into Ms Clay's head.

Shot fragments were later found, proving that Ms Clay died in a shooting.

Mr Hill then charged at Lynn with a knife, the pilot claimed, with a second struggle ensuing.

Lynn said he was trying to defend himself when the knife went into Mr Hill's chest and there was no evidence shown to the jury about how Mr Hill died.

Lynn admitted to burning the couple's campsite, putting their bodies in a trailer and driving to the Union Spur Track where he unloaded their bodies and covered them with sticks.

He returned twice, including in November 2020 when he set fire to Mr Hill and Ms Clay's remains.

Human faeces was thrown at Lynn last week by another inmate at Melbourne Assessment Prison (pictured), where his is awaiting sentencing

He was arrested a year later, where he told his story to police and led investigators to the couple's bodies, which were discovered to be broken down into 2,100 bone fragments.

Lynn maintained he was innocent of murder and admitted to the jury his actions in covering up the crime, including repainting his 4WD used to dispose of the bodies, were 'despicable'.

He had offered to plead guilty to destruction of evidence charges before the trial began, his defence team said.

But the prosecution said Lynn's story was a work of fiction and his conduct after the killings proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to murder the couple.

Lynn, wearing a suit and blue jumper, remained silent as the two verdicts were read aloud, raising his eyebrows after learning his fate.

He waved to his son Geordie, who was seated in front of him inside the court room, after the jury left the court.

He spoke to his lawyers before he was escorted from the court flanked by custody officers and will be sentenced at a later date.

The maximum penalty for murder is life in prison.

Lynn is scheduled return to court on July 19 for a mention where dates will be set.
At the time she was convicted as Britain's most prolific baby killer, Lucy Letby refused point blank to go into the dock to hear Mr Justice Goss pass sentence on her.

She remained, defiant, alone and still in denial, in a holding cell at Manchester Crown Court, while in Court Seven the sentencing process  carried out in full view of TV cameras - went on in her absence.

The judge delivered the sentence as if the killer was standing before him in the glass-panelled dock, and he directed that she should be given transcripts of both his own remarks and the personal statements read out on behalf of the babies' parents.

He imposed 14 whole life orders on her for the murders of seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and the attempted murders of six others.

In June, at the start of her re-trial for the attempted murder of a child known as Baby K, Letby, 34, finally got to hear most of the words she had studiously avoided hearing nearly 10 months earlier.

Lucy Letby refused to hear the judge's sentencing remarks when she was convicted of the murders of seven babies. But she had to listen to them in person in June (when she's seen in court)

On this occasion it was not the judge who delivered them.

Instead, he looked on as Nick Johnson KC, prosecuting, read them out as part of a presentation he was making during legal argument. The jury was not present.

They included references to her 'murderous intent', the pre-meditation of her crimes, and the 'calculation', 'cunning', 'cruelty' and 'callousness' she used in carrying them out.

Mr Johnson also read out some of the phrases Letby had scrawled on a piece of paper found in her home. 'The world is better off without me,' she wrote. And 'I am evil I did this'.

Looking out onto a packed courtroom, Letby betrayed no sign of emotion as it dawned on her that she finally had to face up to the damning words she had previously avoided.

Mr Justice Goss' statement was as follows:

'You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions.

'The babies you harmed were born prematurely and some were at risk of not surviving, but in each case you deliberately harmed them intending to kill them.

'In your evidence you said that 'hurting a baby is completely against everything that being a nurse is', as, indeed, it should be. You also claimed you never did anything that was meant to hurt a baby and only ever did your best to care for them.

'That was but one of the many lies you were found to have told in this case.

'There is no doubt that you are intelligent and, outwardly, were a very conscientious, hard working, knowledgeable, confident and professional nurse, which enabled you repeatedly to harm babies on the unit without arousing suspicion for some time. You prided yourself in your competence.

Mr Justice Goss said Letby 'acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies'

'Your fellow neonatal nurses spoke very highly of you, and several of them became your close friends. Having started as a Band 5 nurse at the Countess of Chester in 2012, you became a mentor to student nurses and, in the spring of 2015, gained the qualification that enabled you to care for the sickest babies on the unit or those requiring the most intensive care.

'You relished being in the intensive care nursery. Your messages to colleagues revealed an interest in babies that were on or were coming to the unit who had uncommon medical conditions.

'The methods you employed to carry out your murderous intent were only revealed by the later detailed investigation into the events of and surrounding the collapses and deaths of the babies which commenced in 2018.

'There was pre-meditation, calculation and cunning in your actions. You specifically targeted twins and, latterly, triplets. Some babies were healthy, others had medical issues of which you were aware. The great majority of your victims suffered acute pain as a result of what you did to them. They all fought for survival; some, sadly, struggled in vain and died.

'You used a number of different ways to try to kill them, thereby misleading clinicians into believing the collapses had, or might have had a natural cause or were a consequence of a developing medical condition. You took opportunities to harm babies when staff were on breaks or away from babies.

'On some occasions you falsified records to indicate there were signs of a deterioration before a collapse occurred. You knew that the last thing anyone working in the unit would or did think was that someone caring for the babies was deliberately harming them.

'As the number of unexpected and unexplained collapses and deaths escalated senior doctors started to 'think the unthinkable' and consider the possibility that someone was, in fact, deliberately harming the babies and you were identified as the common factor.

The killer nurse is currently in prison serving 14 whole life orders

'You had a detached enthusiasm for the resuscitations and what followed. You endeavoured to impress colleagues and clinicians and sought reassurance from them as to your competence and skills, and would message others to the effect that no one was at fault.

'On occasions, your cruelty and callousness was revealed by making inappropriate remarks to some of the grieving parents at the time of or in the immediate aftermath of a death.

'When the homes of both you and your parents were searched, confidential documents relating to babies, including handover and resuscitation sheets and notes and blood gas readings were found, and there were entries in a diary recording relevant events.

'Handover sheets relating to all but the first four of the babies had been taken from the unit and kept by you. I am satisfied you started to keep these documents after those initial offences in June 2015 as morbid records of the dreadful events surrounding the collapses of your victims and what you had done to them.

'You had a fascination with the babies and their families, which extended to making repeated searches on Facebook for their parents, sometimes immediately following the events and, on occasions, much later.

'A piece of paper with dense writing on both sides, setting out your thoughts and feelings, was found in the first search of your home in 2018. Amongst the phrases you wrote were 'the world is better off without me' and 'I am evil I did this'.

'The impact of your crimes has been immense, as disclosed by the deeply moving personal statements that have been read to the court this morning. The lives of new-born or relatively new-born babies were ended almost as soon as they began and lifelong harm has been caused, all in horrific circumstances.

'Loving parents have been robbed of their cherished children and others have to live with the physical and mental consequences of your actions. Siblings have been deprived of brothers and sisters.

'You have caused deep psychological trauma, brought enduring grief and feelings of guilt, caused strains in relationships and disruption to the lives of all the families of all your victims'.
Online 'hoaxers' have been blasted for spreading 'rumours' that Robin Hood's famous 1,000-year-old oak tree in Sherwood Forest is dying.

Last week wildlife enthusiasts were alarmed when claims were made on social media that the roots of the 92ft high Major Oak - one of Britain's most famous trees - had rotted and it would not survive the winter.

Legend has it that Robin Hood and his Merry Men met under The Major Oak near Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire.

One Facebook post read: 'If anyone has wanted to see the Major Oak, make the effort this year as it won't be alive after this winter. Experts have deemed that the root system has all but rotted away and it's not going to last this year out. Quite heartbroken.'

The post caused people to contact the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the charity responsible for the tree's welfare.

Online hoaxers have been blasted for spreading fake rumours that a famous 1,000-year-old oak tree in Sherwood Forest is dying

Map showing the location of the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

Legend has it that Robin Hood and his Merry Men met under The Major Oak near Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire

The Major Oak's earliest recorded name was the Cockpen Tree in the mid 1800s, as the sport of cock fighting once took place there

In an unprecedented move, the RSPB denied the rumours, but acknowledged the tree has suffered as a result of extreme weather conditions in recent years.

Who was Robin Hood and what is the Major Oak in Sherwood? Robin Hood is a legendary English outlaw who was a skilled archer and swordsman Who was Robin Hood? Robin Hood is a legendary heroic English outlaw who was a highly-skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend he is depicted as being of noble birth, and in modern retellings he is depicted as having fought in the Crusades before returning to England to find his lands taken by the Sheriff of Nottingham. He is said to have robbed from the rich and given to the poor. A number of characters are now associated with Robin Hood through retellings and adaptations, including his lover Maid Marian, his band of outlaws the Merry Men, and his opponent the Sheriff of Nottingham, who is depicted as an accomplice to the usurper Prince John. What is the Major Oak? Legend has it that Robin Hood and his Merry Men met under The Major Oak near Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire The Major Oak is one of many hundreds of old Sherwood oaks. It weighs an estimated 23 tonnes, its trunk circumference is 33ft and its branches spread to over 92ft. The Major Oak's earliest recorded name was the Cockpen Tree in the mid 1800s, as the sport of cock fighting once took place there. In 1790, Major Hayman Rooke, a noted archaeologist, included the tree in his popular book about the ancient oaks of Sherwood. Since then, The Major Oak has become its new name. Due to its national importance, conservation measures to the tree have been carried out continually since 1908. Advertisement

Spokesperson Robert James said: 'While it may be looking its age, it should be remembered that for over a century now, different methods have been used to support its huge limbs and roots to keep it alive.

'There has been frequent speculation about its health for many years and it has certainly endured some challenges in recent times, including three consecutive droughts during peak growing periods combined with unprecedented high temperatures of 40C in July 2022.

'One of the biggest challenges it faces is the impact of soil compaction above its vast root system, caused by decades of visitors walking up to the tree.

'This has made it harder for rainwater to penetrate the soil and for essential microbial activity to take place below the surface.

'In response, a fence was installed in the 1970s and Nottinghamshire County Council used a range of techniques to try and alleviate the issue, which is still affecting the tree, as are the effects of climate change.

'The RSPB, which manages the Sherwood Forest reserve today, is now working alongside some of the UK's leading tree and soil health experts to carefully aerate the soil around the tree's roots, increasing oxygen flow, as well as to add a mulch made from natural material in the forest.

'The RSPB is also using technology to measure the water content and soil temperature, as well as the growth and shrinkage of the tree, in real time.

'Water flow rates and the chlorophyll content of the tree's leaves are also being regularly tested.

'Vegetation around the base of the tree is being allowed to grow naturally to help break up the compacted earth and to retain moisture and vital nutrients.

'This project is ongoing and it is hoped that, while all trees do eventually reach the end of their life, the Major Oak will still continue to live and be in leaf for many years to come.'

The Major Oak's earliest recorded name was the Cockpen Tree in the mid 1800s, as the sport of cock fighting once took place there.

In 1790, Major Hayman Rooke, a noted archaeologist, included the tree in his popular book about the ancient oaks of Sherwood.

Since then, The Major Oak has become its new name.

Due to its national importance, conservation measures to the tree have been carried out continually since 1908.

An estimated 350,000 tourists visit Sherwood Forest each year to see the fabled oak tree.

Due to its national importance, conservation measures to the tree have been carried out continually since 1908.

An estimated 350,000 tourists visit Sherwood Forest each year to see the fabled oak tree

Completely hollow inside, it has a hole in the trunk which visitors used to climb inside. However, the practice was stopped and the area around the tree's roots fenced in the 1970s as conservationists recognised the damage this was causing the ancient tree

Completely hollow inside, it has a hole in the trunk which visitors used to climb inside.

However, the practice was stopped and the area around the tree's roots fenced in the 1970s as conservationists recognised the damage this was causing the ancient tree.

The famous forest is also a National Nature Reserve and has some of the highest natural protections in Europe.
Greece has introduced a six-day working week in a bid to combat shrinking productivity amid an exodus of skilled workers in a move dubbed 'barbaric' by unions.

At a time when many European nations are considering four-day work weeks, citing trials that show consistent productivity along with a reduction in sick days and employee burnout, officials in Athens are adamant that Greek citizens need to work even harder - and longer.

Greece's debt crisis of 2009 plunged its economy into a brutal recession and sparked a major rise in unemployment as many businesses went bust.

The economy has since recovered, but Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is sounding the alarm over a major demographic shift that has seen roughly half a million skilled Greek workers seek opportunities further afield since the crash.

Greece already has the longest five-day working hours in Europe, at an average of 41 hours a week.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is sounding the alarm over a major demographic shift that has seen roughly half a million skilled Greek workers seek opportunities further afield

Critics have slammed the new measure as harmful to workers' rights, claiming that profit-hungry businesses will now be able to demand their employees clock six days a week every week, without facing any repercussions (2021 labour demonstrations in Athens pictured)

The government hopes the introduction of a six-day working week will help to spark further growth and boost productivity amid the 'ticking timebomb' of a shrinking population and a shortage of skilled labour.

But Akis Sotiropoulos, an executive committee member of the civil servants' union Adedy, told the Guardian: 'It makes no sense whatsoever.

'When almost every other civilised country is enacting a four-day week, Greece decides to go the other way.'

The six-day scheme does not apply to all Greek workers.

Under the new labour laws, the six-day scheme will be limited to private businesses offering round-the-clock services.

In this extended working week, employees in certain industries and manufacturing sectors can choose to work an extra two hours a day or take on an additional eight-hour shift.

They will also earn a 40% bonus on their daily wage - a move that Mitsotakis' conservative government argues solves the problem of unpaid overtime and combats the widespread issue of undeclared work.

'The core of this legislation is worker-friendly, deeply growth-oriented,' Mitsotakis insisted when the Greek parliament passed the law some months ago.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attends a cabinet meeting at the Maximos Palace in Athens, Greece, 15 June 2024

Critics claim the move will give employers an excuse to not hire sorely needed additional staff members - and leave more young people without a job (Pictured: a general view of Acropolis of Athens, Greece)

Critics meanwhile have slammed the new measure as harmful to workers' rights, claiming that profit-hungry businesses will now be able to demand their employees clock six days a week every week, without facing any repercussions.

They also claim the move will give employers an excuse to not hire sorely needed additional staff members - and leave more young people without a job.

'In reality, this has been passed by a government ideologically committed to generating ever bigger profits for capital,' said union committee member Sotiropoulos.

'Better productivity comes with better work conditions and a better quality of life for employees.

'We now know this means fewer hours, not more.'
An infamous Virgin Mary statue that 'wept tears of blood' has been declared a fake by Vatican officials after a 'mystic' drew in thousands of pilgrims by claiming the mother of Jesus spoke to her and magically supplied free pizza.

The wild claims of the 'bleeding Madonna's' superpowers caused widespread controversy after pilgrims around Italy flocked to catch a glimpse of the statue's 'miracle' on the third of each month and make confessions to the effigy.

Gisella Cardia, the owner of the Madonna di Trevignano claimed it had been shedding tears of blood since 2016 - while alleging the statue has been giving her private revelations since then.

She also boasted about experiencing supernatural phenomena, including an occasion where she fed 15 people seemingly never-ending portions of pizza, gnocchi, and rabbit - thanks to the alleged powers of the carving.

Duped followers believed she brought messages from Mary and some said she'd even predicted the Covid pandemic.

The Madonna di Trevignano was known for 'weeping tears of blood' but results following a Vatican probe have revealed the claims are fake

Pictured: A duped faithful during the prayer for the vision of the Madonna by the 'mystic' Gisella Cardia, which was held on every third day of the month

Thousands of Italians would flock to the statue in a bid to witness the statue's superpowers before they were proven to be fake

But last year, locals from the small town of Trevignano Romano who were skeptical of the bleeding Madonna called in a private investigator who met with the Italian military police.

The suspicious locals reportedly presented evidence suggesting the red liquid appearing from the statue's eyes was pig's blood.

An earlier investigation in 2020 revealed that after a series of tests, the blood found on the statue was a genetic match to Cardia's own.

Now, Catholic Church chiefs have ruled that that supernatural phenomenon was false, having it rubber-stamped by the prestigious Vatican.

Their Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its first decree according to a new set of rules for vetting alleged Marian apparitions and spiritual phenomena.

It referred to a preliminary report from an investigation by the Diocese of Civita Castellana that found nothing supernatural about the statue.

It stated: 'It is clear that it is not supernatural.

'May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mother of the Church and our Mother, restore peace and serenity in view of the spiritual good of the faithful of the parish of Trevignano Romano and of the people of God who are throughout the Diocese of Civita Castellana.'

Officials believe Cardia has now fled her home town after fleecing her followers with tens of thousands of Euros in donations.

It comes after a Vatican academy last year revealed it was set to investigate 'mystical phenomena' around the world, including 'weeping' statues of Virgin Mary, stigmata and ghost sightings under plans for a dedicated observatory.

The Pontifical Mariana International Academy (PAMI), which describes itself as a scientific institution of the Holy See, hoped to uncover 'around a hundred ongoing phenomena' in Italy alone.

Another Virgin Mary in Argentina was seen 'weeping' tears of blood for the 38th time back in 2018. The statue was linked to several 'miracles' including a woman who had a three-inch tumour that allegedly disappeared after she visited the effigy

They had their eye on the curious case of the Madonna di Trevignano before it was squashed, but this was not the first example of a case of this nature.

Back in 2018, a New Mexico church found a Madonna which was leaking olive oil, sparking excitement that there was a supernatural force behind it.

Bishop Oscar Cantu of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hobbs, US, said the church would determine whether or not the sign was a good one or an evil one.

Later that year, another Virgin Mary, this time in Argentina, was seen 'weeping' tears of blood for what was reputed to be the 38th time.

The statue of the Virgin of the Mystic Rose has been linked to several 'miracles', such as a woman who had a three-inch tumour which reportedly disappeared after she visited it.

A year prior, Catholic miracle investigators studied a Virgin Mary in Acapulco in south-western Mexico which began to 'shed tears' in front of its owners.

The saint was a Mexican version of the Virgin Mary, nicknamed la Morenita, or the brunette. Devout followers were astonished when images and videos surfaced of tears seemingly streaming down its cheeks.
A retired academic was killed in a fire started by her mentally ill grandson just hours after police refused to detain him, an inquest heard.

Police were warned by Vera Croghan's son that Chanatorn Croghan, 22, was dangerous and in the midst of a psychotic episode on 11 December, 2020.

Richard Croghan called 999 warning police he thought his son was going to kill him.

But after three police officers visited the property in Norwich and decided they could not arrest him, he then left the house to stay with his partner nearby.

Retired lecturer Mrs Croghan, 89, was left alone in her 750,000 home with her trouble grandson and found dead in her bedroom.

Vera Croghan, 89, was killed in a blaze started by her unstable grandson

Chanatorn Croghan has a history of mental health problems and is now in a mental health unit

Norfolk Coroner's Court heard Chanatorn- who called himself Marco- had a history of problems with his mental health and was trying to keep up with his studies.

After the officers left, he said he phoned his partner who advised him to leave his house and return to a flat where she was staying.

He was asked by Norfolk Area coroner Yvonne Blake whether he had considered taking his mother out of the house, but he said he did not believe that she had been at risk.

Mr Croghan said: 'Marco had shown no aggression towards to her, but I thought he was going to punch or stab me.

'I was dumbfounded that when you are in fear of your life, that nobody can do anything about it.

'I was dissatisfied completely that his mental health was being assessed. I was not being taken seriously in my view.'

Marco had grown up in Thailand, but had moved to the UK at the age of 16 to start sixth form at Wymondham College boarding school in Norfolk after his mother complained about him becoming 'aggressive and unmanageable'.

Richard Croghan who tried to warn police his son was dangerous hours before the fire

The fire was spotted by a walker at 6.30am in the morning as smoke began to come through the windows.

Mrs Croghan, a mother-of-four and grandmother of ten who used to work for University of East Anglia, was found dead of smoke inhalation.

Her grandson was arrested when he came back to house at 3.30pm the same day.

He was originally charged with murder prosecutors accepted his plea of being guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility and arson.

He he was diagnosed with Hebephrenic Schizophrenia and given an indefinite Hospital Order under the Mental Health Act.

The sentencing judge also ruled doctors cannot grant his release without the authorisation of the Secretary of State.

Vera Croghan had worked as a lecturer at the University of East Anglia

Police and emergency services outside the Edwardian property where the fire was started

Recalling what his son was like before the fire, Mr Croghan said: 'He was behaving extremely erratically and nonsensically. Every time he called me, he said he wanted to do a new course. He was getting angry because I was not going to pay each time.

'He appeared blank, expressionless. It was like talking to a cat. He didn't understand or ignored everything. It was at about 10pm or 11pm. I called police just before midnight.

'The police came in and he was under his duvet. They interviewed him looking at the whites of his eyes. My feelings were that if they had taken him out of his bed they would have seen more symptoms.

'I did tell the policeman that he could fool a doctor. I was extremely surprised when they said he was stable. My description of Marco didn't match what they said. I was scared for my life.'

Mrs Croghan was a lecturer Swedish and Scandinavian Studies at the UEA from its establishment in 1963 until her retirement over 30 years later, and also authored a best-selling 'Teach Yourself Swedish' book.

The inquest continues.
Passengers and crew of a British Airways plane taken hostage in Kuwait by Iraqi troops have threatened legal action against the airline and the UK government.

More than 300 people on board British Airways Flight 149 were detained by Saddam Hussein's forces at Kuwait International Airport in the early hours of August 2, 1990.

They were then used as human shields against Western attacks amid the dictator's invasion of the Middle Eastern neighbour, while also being subject to rape, starvation, torture and mock executions.

Law firm McCue Jury and Partners said it is representing 95 claimants in relation to the case, who are seeking 'compensation for their injuries, pain and suffering' and 'being treated as disposable collateral' during their five months as hostages.

They all 'suffered severe physical and psychiatric harm during their ordeal', according to the firm, which has written to the Government and British Airways saying it may bring legal action.

British Airways Flight 149 pictured after being blown up by Iraqi forces. Hostages taken from the flight are threatening to sue the UK government and the airline

More than 300 people on board were detained of which 11 were children, including John and Jennifer Chappell (pictured)

Hussein pictured in November 2006. Hostages were used as human shields against western attacks amid the dictator's invasion of the middle eastern neighbour in 1990

The Government has previously said responsibility for what happened 'lies entirely' with the Iraqi authorities at the time, while British Airways has said it was 'not warned about the invasion'.

Documents released in November 2021 showed the Foreign Office was told by the British ambassador in Kuwait that Iraqi forces had crossed the border an hour before the flight landed.

The information was never passed to British Airways, which was unable to take action to divert the flight, according to the Foreign Office files released to the National Archives.

There have been claims that a group of about 10 men who were the first to disembark when the plane landed were special forces troops, but this has always been denied by the Government.

McCue Jury and Partners said the Government and British Airways 'knew the invasion had taken place while the plane was still in the air' but 'did nothing to divert it safely'.

It added that 'evidence demonstrates' the flight was used to 'secretly transport a special ops team for immediate and covert deployment to the battlefield'.

One of the passengers in the claim is Barry Manners, who was a 24-year-old businessman at the time of the flight.

He said: 'We were not treated as citizens but as expendable pawns for commercial and political gain.

'A victory over years of cover-up and bare-faced denial will help restore trust in our political and judicial process.'

United States Marines pictured by the wreckage of the BA flight

Law firm McCue Jury and Partners said it is representing 95 claimants in relation to the case, who are seeking 'compensation for their injuries, pain and suffering'

Hussein pictured in 2001. BA passengers and crew were detained by the dictator's forces at Kuwait International Airport in the early hours of August 2, 1990

Matthew Jury, managing partner of McCue Jury and Partners, said: 'The lives and safety of innocent civilians were put at risk by the British government and British Airways for the sake of an off-the-books military operation.

'Both have, we believe, concealed and denied the truth for more than 30 years.

'The victims and survivors of Flight BA149 deserve justice for being treated as disposable collateral.

'HMG and BA watched on as children were paraded as human shields by a ruthless dictator, yet they did and admitted nothing.

'There must be closure and accountability to erase this shameful stain on the UK's conscience.'

The UK Government declined to comment.

MailOnline has approached British Airways for comment.
A 13-year-old girl was killed instantly after being struck by lightning just yards from her parents on a northern Greek beach on Friday, and her family blames the metal bead on her swimming costume for the tragedy.

Greek teen Dorothea had been swimming with her parents at Faros beach, near Poseidi in Halkidiki, a resort area southeast of Thessaloniki, before she was tragically killed.

Kassandreia Mayor Anastasia Halkia said the family, who had been caught in an unexpected summer rainstorm, had gotten out of the sea as it started to rain, but the weather took a turn for the worse.

'There was a lot of lightning,' she said. 'It's the kind of summer storm that usually doesn't cause any trouble.'

Greek news outlet Prothema said that the family had started rushing to the car to avoid the rain when lightning struck the young girl.

A 13-year-old Greek girl tragically died on Friday after being struck by lightning while on a northern Greek beach with her family

The tragedy occurred at Faros beach, near Poseidi in Halkidiki, a resort area southeast of Thessaloniki

Dorothea was between one and one and a half meters behind her mother, while her father was further ahead. He reportedly heard the crack of lightning and saw his wife and daughter fall on the sand.

'My child fell down and didn't get up again', her father told Prothema.

He also said that had his wife and daughter been holding hands, they both would have been dead.

Police said the girl was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her parents were uninjured.

A relative of the girl told outlet Mega that the medical examiner believed the accident was caused by a metal bead the size of a button that was in the teen's swimsuit.

Her funeral took place this morning at the Holy Church of Agios Georgios in New Moudania, Halkidiki.

Her body was seen arriving in a white coffin. Grief-stricken relatives and classmates could be seen arriving at the church to say their last goodbyes to the teen.

Dorothea's father described her as an excellent student and a very good athlete. She leaves behind two younger brothers.

This is not the only recent tragedy to have taken place in the area, as a 33-year-old British tourist drowned while diving at the Epanomi Shipwreck in Thessaloniki on Sunday after getting into difficulty.
Jay Slater's distraught family are being targeted with fake 'ransom demands' as they continue to search for the missing British teenager on the island of Tenerife, an investigator has revealed.

TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who also probed the disappearance of Nicola Bulley, has revealed the family are grappling with 'vile threats' and demands for money after they raised fears that Jay may have been kidnapped.

Apprentice bricklayer Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, near Blackburn in Lancashire, vanished after the last night of the three-day NRG festival in the Playa de las Americas resort town.

He was last seen near the rugged Rural de Teno Park on June 17 after going back to an Airbnb with two men in the remote area of Masca, and a huge search involving dogs, drones and a helicopter has failed to find any trace.

On Sunday, the Spanish police officially ended its search for the 19-year-old, but insisted the investigation 'remains open'. Jay's mother Debbie Duncan, has urged police not to 'give up on Jay', according to a family source.

Mr Williams-Thomas, who flew out to Tenerife last week to help with the search, wrote on X: 'So much fake content has been created in the Jay Slater case - mocked up chat, messages, pic. It's a very different world we live in today with social media and online detectives.

'Overwhelming response from people has been very positive people just wanting to help, even though most have no direct info, just what they have read, seen or think. Also a number of people making vile threats and ransom demands (all checked out and have no credibility).'

In the early stages of the search, Debbie said she thought Jay had been 'taken against his will', while the last person he spoke to - Lucy Mae Law - also echoed kidnapping fears.

Jay Slater, 19, is pictured with his mother Debbie Duncan, who flew out to Tenerife with other family members

TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas has said that there have been fake ransom demands made

This was the final official search for Jay Slater on Saturday before Spanish police ended the hunt

Spanish police called off the hunt for the missing 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer, 14 days after Jay went missing

The teen's disappearance has left some young British holidaymakers feeling unsafe and being more cautious in Tenerife. These two Britons said their group had all shared their locations with each other

Mr Williams-Thomas, who also exposed Jimmy Savile's evil crimes and worked on the Madeline McCann case, has said he has 'been able to speak to important witnesses' and has a 'very detailed picture of Jay's movements' in the lead up to his disappearance.

Jay was last seen at around 8am on June 17 by the owner of an Airbnb he had gone back to with two men after a rave. The Spanish police have described the men as 'irrelevant' to the investigation.

Jay had asked the owner when the next bus to Los Cristianos was and when she said 10am, he decided to set off back to his accommodation on foot for what would have been an 11-hour walk. Search efforts has been focused on a group of small buildings close to where his phone last pinged in the Masca mountains.

The teen's disappearance has left some young British holidaymakers feeling unsafe and being more cautious on Tenerife.

'I was a little bit more scared coming here and we definitely made sure we had each other's locations before we came which we wouldn't have done before all this happened,' one told Sky News.

Another said: 'I think not less safe but maybe more cautious, more aware. We've all got our locations on... when we booked this holiday we probably wouldn't have even considered the safety measures.'

It comes as Jay's mother Debbie yesterday urged police to keep going with their investigation.

Heartbroken mother Debbie, father Warren, and brother Zak are understood to have spoken with Spanish cops over the phone to make 'sure the police aren't giving up on Jay', according to a family source.

Police had called for an army of volunteers to help on Saturday, but only six turned up. Jay's father and brother (pictured at back) also joined

The mountainside near Masca, where the search parties gathered for two weeks, was quiet on the hillside on Sunday as Spanish police called off the search

They have been in constant contact with the police after being left 'blindsided' by Sunday's decision to call off the hunt for the missing 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer after 14 days scouring the mountains in Tenerife.

Amateur sleuths who have taken over the search for Jay in the police's absence claimed they have discovered a new clue which could help explain what happened to him.

TikTok sleuth and amateur mountaineer Paul Arnott, who has been assisting Jay's family since the police wound down their investigation, told MailOnline a pair of sunglasses similar to the ones Jay was last seen wearing had been found close to where his mobile phone last pinged.

A family source told The Mirror: 'The family want to be sure the police aren't giving up on Jay. They are in constant contact with them about the case.'

The sunglasses were handed in to the family, which were found by Chris Pennington, 43, originally from Chester and a former British Army reservist who served in Iraq with the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry.

He said he found the sunglasses and believes the area where Jay's phone last pinged suggested someone had thrown it in there.

Mr Pennington who now lives in Tenerife, told MailOnline: 'I've done a bit of hiking and mountaineering and wanted to help out the family.

'They are desperate to find their lad and with my background I thought I could do my bit.

'I parked up near the viewpoint near where the phone last pinged and found them on the ground near some bushes and in the area where they have been searching.

'I don't know if they are Jay's but as a duty of care I picked them up and told the Guardia Civil about them.

'They told me not to touch them if possible and wrap them in paper not plastic and I did and handed them in.

'They also took my DNA and fingerprints as well. It must be awful for the family with the search sacking back and they haven't had any news for two weeks weeks.

'I walked a bit further towards where they said his phone pinged but it was a challenge to get through, it was impossible.

The pair of sunglasses found by Chris Pennington, 43, originally from Chester and a former British Army reservist who served in Iraq with the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry

A sleuth claimed a pair of sunglasses has been found on a remote Tenerife mountain that could have belonged to missing raver Jay Slater

The video, which has since been deleted, shows a pair of broken black sunglasses lying on the ground near to the Mirador viewing point, in the area where his phone was last tracked

Jay's desperate family have called in the help of one TikTok sleuth - Paul Arnott (pictured). He has blasted the police search on his TikTok account as a 'PR exercise'

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

'You would have needed a machete to get through all that undergrowth so this phone pinged from there it's because someone threw it in there.

'The sunglasses were about 50 metres from the road near a tunnel I wanted to search. I saw them glinting in the sun and picked them up.'

Mr Arnott, an adventurer and mountaineer from Flitwick, Bedfordshire, cancelled a charity fundraiser to fly out to Tenerife last week and join the search and rescue operation.

The self-described explorer, who has been sharing clips on TikTok of his own search operation, has been backed by Jay's family, who he claims are 'really proud' of his efforts.

After Spanish officials called off the search, he told MailOnline: 'The police say they have searched everywhere but I'm not happy with that.

'If they had searched everywhere they would have found him, but they haven't and I'm convinced he is on that mountain.

'I've been along ridges and gullies they haven't been down and now I intend to look at two other ravines.

'They say they have searched everywhere but in my opinion that haven't and that's why I am carrying on.'

Mr Arnott also revealed he had refused help from Jay's family and said: 'They are so amazing and lovely. They just want to find Jay and I want to help them.

'They keep offering to pay for my food and accommodation, but I keep telling them no. I don't want anything and I don't want anything from the Go Fund Me site.

Jay's father Warren, along with with his mother Debbie and a number of his friends, have flown to the Spanish island

Warren Slater (right), 58, and his son Zak (left), 24, pictured alongside volunteers at the remote mountain spot outside the village of Masca where Jay's mobile phone last pinged

'What I would be interested in doing is setting up my own fund to pay for a team from Scotland mountain rescue to come out here.'

Speaking on ITV's This Morning, he said: 'There has been a lot of people around however I've only seen four people actually searching.

'The rest of the people are standing on the side of the road, blocking off paths, trying to stop news reporters going into certain areas.

'The four people that are searching are doing a good job of searching the paths.

'They've gone off-grid a little bit from what I can see but everyone else is just standing about.'

Meanwhile, a family friend told The Times that the Slaters were 'in the dark' about the next steps of the investigation.

It emerged that Spanish authorities say there is 'no current evidence of criminality' in the Jay Slater case.

The female investigating judge who is being kept informed of developments has been told the Civil Guard sees nothing at this stage pointing to Jay being the victim of a crime.

As is standard procedure in Spain, the police force is reporting to a court which has opened a routine judicial investigation and has declined to comment on what it is doing behind the scenes as part of a 'parallel probe' which has continued despite the ending of the visible mountain search.

Mr Williams-Thomas, who worked on the Nicola Bulley case, urged the family to use the 45,000 raised in GoFundMe donations to hire 'experts' to help find him.

He said: 'Although the police search in the mountains and around Masca has concluded, the police investigation into Jay Slater's disappearance remains ongoing.

'In regard to our investigation we have been able to speak to important witnesses and now have a very detailed picture of Jays movements over 16 & 17th along with important background information .

'We still have a number of outstanding actions, but have given the family a preliminary breakdown of findings.

'In light of the police search ending, I have suggested the family should use the GoFundMe money to continue the search using experts in searching. I would appeal again, if you have any 'direct information' having spoken to Jay or anyone that was with him over night 16/17th and have not yet been in contact please do so .'

A judicial source, speaking on condition of anonymity as is normal in Spain, said: 'There is no evidence of criminality at this stage in this case.

'That's not to say things won't change because the case remains open and investigations are ongoing. But right now that's the situation.'

Another said: 'This missing persons' case has been judicialised as is normal in Spain and it's been lodged at Court of Instruction Number One in Icod de los Vinos.

'The Civil Guard don't have to tell the judge about everything officers are doing but will be keeping her updated on case progress and of course update her on any significant developments.'

In line with the revelation that the Jay Slater probe is being treated at the moment as a missing person inquiry and not a crime, officials confirmed investigating judge Maria Goya has not declared it 'secret' to protect the judicial proceedings.

An order called in Spanish a 'secreto de sumario' is often slapped on a criminal probe in its infancy, preventing even defence lawyers and prosecuting attorneys from accessing case files.

Such orders also prevent public officials from revealing details of any case files with breaches punishable by heavy fines.

Judges who make their investigations secret when cases are still in their infancy act out of a desire to avoid them being compromised by minimising the risk of leaks.

The judicial source said: 'The Jay Slater case that has been opened at the Icod de los Vinos court is not under any secrecy order.'
A tiny premature baby who Lucy Letby was today convicted of attempting to murder three times survived her brutal attacks before dying days later in her father's arms.

The child, known as Baby K, had been born weighing just 1lbs 8oz, 15 weeks early at the Countess of Chester Hospital when her mother went into labour unexpectedly early, in February 2016.

Prosecutors described how Letby was caught 'virtually red-handed' trying to murder Baby K by dislodging her breathing tube less than two hours after she was born.

The child, described by her family as a 'perfect little girl', was later transferred to a nearby specialist hospital 12 hours after her birth. Her condition went on to worsen and her parents made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support.

In a moving statement, which was read to the jury, Baby K's mother described this as 'by far the hardest decision of my life'.

Prosecutors described how Lucy Letby was caught 'virtually red-handed' trying to murder Baby K by dislodging her breathing tube less than two hours after she was born

A file photo of the neo-natal unit inside the Countess of Chester Hospital

'As we walked into the room I could see the monitors and sats readings were low - I knew straight away things weren't great,' she said.

'The doctor confirmed the worst. I asked if it was just a waiting game now or if she was going to get better. We had a long conversation and she said what happens next was entirely our decision.

'I remember saying to the doctor that she had been poked and prodded from the moment she was born, her tiny, little, delicate body had swollen up so much I didn't want her to be suffering any more.

'We didn't want to be informed that we'd lost our little girl by alarms on the machines going off, we didn't want to prolong things anymore.

'We made the decision to switch off the machines and let her go. It was by far the hardest decision of my life.

'One of the staff showed us to a family room where it was peaceful and quiet. Our daughter was wrapped in a blanket and was wearing a little hat. Our daughter was in my husband's arms when she took her last breath and silently passed away.'

Baby K's mother dabbed her eyes with a tissue as the statement was read to the jury. She and her husband were present in the public gallery, sitting just yards from Letby, who is in the glass-panelled dock, flanked by three security guards.

The jury was told that, after being 'caught virtually red-handed' by senior paediatrician Dr Ravi Jayaram, Letby tampered with Baby K's breathing tube twice more over the next three hours on the same shift to cover her tracks and make it appear the child was prone to collapse.

Child K was transferred to a specialist hospital later on February 17 because of her extreme prematurity. She died there three days later, although the prosecution does not allege Letby caused her death.

Although Baby K was in the neo-natal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital for less than 12 hours and Letby never knew her first name, she searched for her parents on Facebook more than two years later, the court heard.

Letby was found guilty of Baby K's attempted murder today.

Child K was transferred from the Countess of Chester (pictured) to a specialist hospital later on February 17 because of her extreme prematurity

She is already serving 14 whole life orders for the murders of seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and the attempted murders of six others.

In his closing speech to the jury, prosecutor Nick Johnson KC said the nurses and doctors at the Countess of Chester Hospital had cared for Baby K 'to the best of their abilities... with one notable exception'.

He said defence accusations of sub-optimal care at the Countess of Chester and questioning whether Child K should have been born there rather than a specialist hospital amounted to 'throwing the mud of incompetence at the doctors and hoping some would stick' with the 'underlying suggestion that Lucy Letby was being scapegoated'.

Mr Johnson added: 'We say that the events that define (Child K's) time at the Countess of Chester are best described as criminal, not sub-optimal.

'And these are criminal because the ill fortune that befell (Child K) was a result of the deliberate acts of Lucy Letby.'

Body worn camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary showing Letby's arrest

Turning to Letby's Facebook search for Child K's surname on a late Friday night in April 2018, Mr Johnson said: 'The truth is, ladies and gentlemen, is that Lucy Letby had a fascination with the babies she had murdered and attempted to murder, and with their families. She took pleasure in her murderous handiwork.'

A court order prevents the parents of Baby K or any of Letby's other victims from being identified.
North Korea is believed to be sending thousands of tunnelling troops to Russia to open a new 'underground front' on the border with Ukraine as part of a deal with Vladimir Putin.

Kyiv suspects that military engineers being sent by Kim Jong Un are not for 'restoration work' in the Donbas, as stated, but for an ulterior purpose.

Russia has already used tunnels twice in the conflict, in Avdiivka and Toretsk, says United Ukraine analyst Aleksey Kushch, who has warned of a Putin bid to break the war 'deadlock' by digging tunnels in summer and autumn.

'Judging by various sources, approximately five engineering brigades of the North Korean army may arrive in Donbas,' he said.

If so, this could be 15,000 men, or more. Kushch said it was 'illogical' that they are working on 'restoration' while the war is 'in full swing'.

Kim Jong Un meets soldiers during a visit to a western operational training base in North Korea

Kim Jong Un, right, and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands after signing a comprehensive strategic partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, June 19, 2024

He said: 'The Russian breakthrough near Avdiivka and Toretsk occurred, among other things, as a result of the use of underground tunnels.'

In Avdiivka, a tunnel already existed, while in Toretsk it was dug - almost two miles long.

This was 'a new technology of war to protect against attacks from drones and artillery - undermining, going to the rear, seizing positions, digging in', he said.

He warned: 'Who can dig better than the Koreans?'

Pyongyang has 'developed its own theory of underground warfare' based on its operations in the Korean War.

Tunnels stretching between North and South Korea, which defectors said Kim Il Sung had ordered his army to build, were discovered during the 1970s.

Korea's underground warfare techniques have reputedly been developed amid paranoia over a Western attack with nuclear weapons.

In eastern Ukraine 'underground tactics can be used for a 'creeping offensive' and breaking through complex, layered defences, and to minimise losses from drone and artillery strikes', he said.

A tank T-64 drives by in Novoselivka Persha after driving out of Avdiivka, Ukraine

'I would not be surprised if the 'underground war' strategy was approved during Putin's visit to the DPRK. Perhaps it was suggested by the North Koreans themselves.'

Ukraine needed 'to technically prepare for such risks', he added.

In Avdiivka, Russian commander Anton 'Zima' Morozov, 28, led troops on all fours down a one and a quarter mile concrete pipe - which the Russians had spent months clearing.

They got behind Ukrainian positions during one of the bloodiest and closely fought battles of the war.

A Russian account of this operation said: 'When everything was ready, over 100 of our attack soldiers made their way through the pipe to the rear of the Ukrainian key position called Tsar's Hunt [formerly a hotel and recreation complex].

A Ukrainian servicemen is seen during a training in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Saturday, June 29, 2024

'Most of the defending Ukrainian Armed Forces were destroyed, and about a dozen were captured.

The operation gave the Russians a key bridgehead, hastening a Ukrainian retreat from Avdiivka.

Morozov was recommended for the Kremlin's highest honour - Hero of Russia - but was assassinated before he could receive it.

He was shot 11 times in an apparent Ukrainian operation.
Rishi Sunak has claimed Reform UK might be copying 'malicious' foreign states by using fake accounts on social media to influence voters.

The Prime Minister said Nigel Farage's party had 'serious questions to answer' as the Government's disinformation unit was revealed to have opened an investigation.

Officials are reportedly examining a series of pro-Russian talking points on Facebook pages posted in support of Reform.

But Mr Farage has branded claims that Russian-inspired bots might be posting on social media to interfere with the general election as 'cobblers'.

Hitting out at 'the Russia hoax', the Reform leader also pointed to the Tories' acceptance of cash from Russian-linked donors in recent years.

Rishi Sunak has claimed Reform UK might be copying 'malicious' foreign states by using fake accounts on social media to influence voters

Nigel Farage has branded claims that Russian-inspired bots might be posting on social media to interfere with the general election as 'cobblers'

An analysis of Reform's followers on TikTok - using the 'Fake Follower Checker' by Collabstr - found 27 per cent of the party's followers were 'suspicious'

The National Security Online Information Team is reportedly investigating suspected Russian-linked content on social media. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin

According to The Times, the National Security Online Information Team is investigating suspected Russian-linked content on social media.

The unit, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, will try and establish the source of the content and whether it is more widespread.

It comes after an investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) found five co-ordinated Facebook pages spouting Kremlin talking points.

Some were posted in support of Reform with the network of pages having a combined 190,000 followers, the broadcaster said.

Meanwhile, an analysis of Reform's followers on TikTok - using the 'Fake Follower Checker' by Collabstr - found 27 per cent of the party's followers were 'suspicious'.

This means they are described as accounts with suspicious/irregular behaviour and metrics.

By comparison, the figure is less than 4 per cent for both Labour and the Conservatives.

The Times reported that recent posts by Labour and the Conservatives on TikTok have been flooded with near-identical pro-Reform comments.

These were from apparently new accounts with no biographical information and little other engagement on the site.

The findings suggest these are fake accounts rather than real voters, the newspaper said.

Mr Sunak said: 'We have already seen concerning evidence of malicious foreign actors trying to malign our democracy.

'This has serious implications for the openness and fairness of our elections and needs to be called out.

'It now appears as if Reform may be using the same tactics of using fake accounts to influence voters.

'For the sake of the confidence people can have in our democracy and integrity in our politics, Reform has serious questions to answer.'

Reform were reported to deny the PM's claims, while a TikTok spokesman said the company has expert teams focused on disrupting covert influence operations.

A separate study by Global Witness found the conversation on X, formerly known as Twitter, ahead of the election is being influenced by accounts that appear to be bots.

The investigation uncovered ten accounts that had shared more than 60,000 tweets, which had been seen an estimated 150million times in the last few weeks.

Many of the tweets contained extreme and violent hate speech, disinformation, conspiracy theories and praised Vladimir Putin, Global Witness said.

Two of the three accounts found using the hashtag #stoptheboats encouraged people to vote for Reform.

One bot-like account found using #climatecrisis encouraged people not to vote Conservative by, for example, including the hashtag #GetTheToriesOut in their account bio.

All of the five accounts using #labourlosing promoted Reform, the study said.

Ava Lee, Campaign Leader at Global Witness, said: 'Political discussion online is often toxic  we all know that.

'But when we go on social media, we believe we're seeing what real people think.

'While we might not agree with it, we trust that what we see are genuine views held by other voters.

'When that's not true, when the conversation may have been influenced by someone who has paid for bots to spread division or to get a particular party into power, our democracy is in jeopardy.

'The UK is going to the polls in under a week. The US in four months. Half the world's population this year.

'X, and all social media companies, need to clean up their platforms and put our democracies before profit.'

On Sunday, Mr Farage was quizzed about claims that Russian-inspired bots might be posting on social media to interfere with the general election.

After Deputy PM Oliver Dowden described the findings of the ABC investigation as 'gravely concerning', Mr Farage told Sky News: 'Oh, don't talk cobblers.'

He added: 'I mean you had this, this, this bland fellow on earlier who apparently is the Deputy PM, who no one knows who he is, and there he is saying, 'oh, there are Russian bots involved'.

'Hang on, did you ask him how many millions of pounds his party have taken from Russian sources over the course of the last few years? This is the Russia hoax.'
A Reform UK candidate defected to the Tories today slamming 'racist, misogynistic and bigoted' views in the party.

Georgie David was standing for Nigel Farage's outfit in West Ham & Beckton, but has quit with 'immediate effect'.

She became the second Reform candidate to endorse the Tories this week in the wake of a damning series of revelations about its election slate.

In the latest, a candidate in Scotland was alleged to have called for ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to 'be shot', calling her a 'b****' in 2016.

The remark by Robert Smith, who is running in Orkney and Shetland, reported by the Times, was branded 'absolutely appalling' by chairman Richard Tice.

Mr Smith was already facing criticism for comments about the Royal Family, once saying he would 'prefer Fred and Rose [West] to any of these c****'.

Last year the candidate, who has previously run for UKIP in the area, said Charles was a 'WEF fascist' referring to the World Economic Forum.

Ms David insisted she was in 'no doubt' that the leadership was not racist - but suggested it had tried to 'brush' issues 'under the carpet'.

Georgie David was standing for Nigel Farage 's outfit in West Ham & Beckton, but has quit with 'immediate effect'.

She became the second Reform candidate to endorse the Tories this week in the wake of a damning series of revelations about its election slate.

After Ms David announced her defection, Mr Tice accused the Tories of 'dirty tricks', adding: 'What jobs and safe seats have toxic Tories offered this candidate? As they have with many others.'

In the latest, a candidate in Scotland was accused of calling for ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to be shot. The alleged remark by Robert Smith, who is running in Orkney and Shetland, was branded 'absolutely appalling' by chairman Richard Tice.

Earlier this week a candidate stepped down and backed the Conservatives, citing a 'failure of leadership' over allegations of racism within the party.

Liam Booth-Isherwood, who was standing in the Derbyshire seat of Erewash, announced he was dropping out of the race and would instead be endorsing the Tory contender Maggie Throup to 'stop Labour'.

The candidate said he had become 'increasingly disillusioned' with the behaviour of the party, which he suggested indicated a 'significant moral issue' within its ranks.

After Ms David announced her defection, Mr Tice accused the Tories of 'dirty tricks', adding: 'What jobs and safe seats have toxic Tories offered this candidate? As they have with many others.'

Labour is expected to coast to victory in West Ham & Beckton seat on Thursday, but the news is a blow to Mr Farage's efforts to shake off claims about his candidates.

In a statement released through the Conservatives, Ms David said: 'I am in no doubt that the party and its senior leadership are not racist.

'However, as the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic, and bigoted, I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposing to my own and what I stand for.

'I also have been significantly frustrated and dismayed by the failure of the Reform Party's leadership to tackle this issue in any meaningful way, and their attempts to instead try to brush it under the carpet or cry foul play.

'As such, I have now suspended my campaign with Reform, and I an endorsing the Conservative Party  I would encourage all of my fellow patriots to do the same.'

Liam Booth-Isherwood was standing in the Derbyshire seat of Erewash before he announced he would be endorsing the Conservatives

Now Andrew Tate's onside

Andrew Tate last night endorsed Reform UK and urged young British men to 'vote against the establishment'.

The controversial influencer, 37, and brother Tristan, 35, shared their support for Nigel Farage and told followers on social media site, Rumble: 'It's down to you now'.

Tate faces charges in Romania of trafficking, rape and sexual exploitation, which he denies.

Mr Farage has called him 'an important voice' for 'emasculated' men but said he was 'horrified' by the charges.
A never-before-seen video shows the moment a Pro-Palestinian group threw a red liquid and hurled anti-Semitic slurs at New York investment banker Jonathan Kaye.

Kaye, 52, now former managing director at Moelis & Company, made headlines in early June after a viral video showed him throwing a vicious punch at a female reveler at the Brooklyn Pride Parade on June 8.

The millionaire banker was reported to have resigned from his high-paying role last week after being placed on leave as his firm investigated the incident.

Now, a lengthier video of the scuffle appears to shows how the crowd of revelers seemingly instigated the confrontation, which has left Kaye facing criminal charges.

Kaye was arrested on Monday morning after he willingly turned himself in to police in Brooklyn, where he has been booked on second and third degree assault charges.

A newly released 40-second clip shows Jonathan Kaye walking on the sidewalk towards the group of Pro-Palestine protesters in Brooklyn on June 8 when one throws a liquid at him

He gets closer to the group, apparently trying to confront the person responsible. 'You threw s*** on me?' he questions, to which one person replied: 'It's water.' Another is heard saying 'you pushed me' as Kaye asks again: 'You threw s*** on me?'

The newly released 40-second clip shows Kaye walking on the sidewalk towards the group of protesters when one throws a liquid at him.

He gets closer to the group, apparently trying to confront the person responsible.

'You threw s*** on me?' he questions, to which one person replied: 'It's water.' Another is heard saying 'you pushed me' as Kaye asks again: 'You threw s*** on me?'

But then a demonstrator throws a red liquid at him and, apparently trying to grab the cup, lunges towards the person who seemingly tossed the beverage.

One demonstrator is heard saying 'sir, stop' as Kaye chases after another member of the group.

The clip then ends with the footage that went viral last month, where he allegedly punched a woman in the face before walking away.

Kaye was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday on two counts of third-degree assault, two counts of third-degree menacing and two counts of second-degree harassment.

His attorney Danya Perry, of Perry Law, has said he acted in 'self-defense to escape the situation and return safely to his family'.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Perry said was 'terrorized, assaulted, and surrounded by a group of unruly anti-Semitic protesters' and has vowed to fight for 'full vindication' for Kaye.

Lawyer Ron Kuby, who represents alleged victims Morgan Burns and Micah Phillips, told Bloomberg his clients did not make antisemitic comments. He also confirmed the red liquid was Gatorade.

DailyMail.com has approached Kuby and Perry for comment.

But then a demonstrator throws a red liquid at him and, apparently trying to grab the cup, lunges towards the person who seemingly tossed the beverage

The clip then ends with the footage that went viral last month, where he allegedly punched a woman in the face before walking away

New York investment banker Jonathan Kaye was attacked outside his court appearance, after being charged with assault for slugging a woman at a Pride event

Kaye, 52, the now former managing director at Moelis & Company, made headlines in early June after viral video showed him throwing a vicious punch at a female reveler at the Brooklyn Pride Parade on June 8

Upon leaving court on Monday, Kaye and his lawyer were met by attackers, at least one of whom - a man - went after the banker with keys that they were attempting to use as a knife.

The group Kaye and his attorney engaged with also had antisemitic slurs hurled at them, with at least one member of the pro-Hamas group calling out 'Zionist pigs' and 'Jewish dogs'.

The man physically attacked the lawyer from behind and then tried to chase Kaye with his car keys between his fingers.

A woman eventually told the attacker to run, which he did. DailyMail.com has reached out to the NYPD for comment.

The extended footage of the sidewalk incident was made public after sources close to the financier came forward with his side of the story in the wake of the controversy last month.

They claimed the fracas had unfolded after a group of four female 'Queers for Palestine' supporters allegedly started taunting the Jewish financier and throwing liquids at him as he left a nearby restaurant that night.

CCTV footage obtained by DailyMail.com earlier this week showed events leading up to scuffle, including the moment the two parties cross paths on the street in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, before getting into a heated physical confrontation.

The surveillance images, captured by a nearby restaurant, show Kaye emerging from the right side of the sidewalk, where the group of revelers appear to be hanging out on the corner.

The two parties appear to exchange words as Kaye walks by, but he continues walking, before glancing back at the group after they allegedly begin hurling slurs and insults.

As he continues up the sidewalk, he crosses paths with someone who appears to be returning to the same group of friends in the corner, and they exchange words as well.

The confrontation quickly turns chaotic and physical, with Kaye seen being surrounded and then shoved into the street, off screen, catching the attention of nearby onlookers.

After the altercation unfolds off camera, he reappears in frame seconds later and continues on his way down the sidewalk.

New footage obtained by DailyMail.com shows the moment millionaire investment banker Jonathan Kaye first encounters a group of Pride parade-goers as he walks by them on the corner of a Brooklyn street on June 8

Kaye, 52, continues walking down the sidewalk where he then encounters another member of the group (red arrow) and the two exchange words

It is unknown what was said between the two, but the exchange was enough to prompt Kaye to turn around and approach the group. The bankers' attorneys have claimed the group had hurled anti-Semitic slurs at him

The confrontation quickly turns aggressive and violent, as the group gangs up on Kaye and shoves him onto the street

Last month sources told DailyMail.com that Kaye, who is Jewish, had told the group they were 'on the wrong side', prompting the women to gang up on him

Now, DailyMail.com understands Kaye had turned around and went back to confront the group after hearing the anti-Semitic slurs directed towards him.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Kaye's legal representative Danya Perry, Perry Law said: 'Mr. Kaye, a middle-aged Jewish man with no history of violence or aggression, was terrorized, assaulted, and surrounded by a group of unruly anti-Semitic protesters.

'What the previously released video clip does not show is what another video and other evidence we have shared with the DA does show: that these agitators formed a ring at him, doused him with two unknown liquids, shoved him to the ground, and hurled anti-Semitic slurs at him.

'Terrified and injured, Mr. Kaye managed to act in self-defense to escape the situation and return safely to his family.

'We are hopeful that the District Attorney will fully and fairly consider these facts, along with the surge of anti-Semitic acts, protests, and attacks that are ravaging our city. We will aggressively fight injustice, and we look forward to a full vindication for our client.'

At one point, Kaye is seen reacting as he is pushed, just seconds after approaching them

As previously reported by DailyMail.com, insiders close to the 52-year-old banker had claimed the viral clip did not capture the full clash, which they say began when the group began hurling anti-Semitic slurs at Kate, who is Jewish.

Kaye is said to have told the group that they were 'on the wrong side', prompting the women to gang up on him, the source said.

'You could say that he initiated it, but he didn't,' a source told DailyMail.com.

'He just said "you are on the wrong side", and then the four of them came at him - they threw liquids at him. He didn't know what the liquid was. They were shouting slurs at him.

Kaye was recorded throwing a vicious punch at the unnamed woman during a pride parade in Brooklyn on June 8, he has since turned himself in on assault charges

'He fell or he was chest bumped, and can't remember that bit. But he ended up on the pavement with them four over him.

'He got up and swung at one as he was trying to escape, and then he ran.'

They also claim that the footage shows Kaye covered in liquid, with a stain on his back, in the now-viral video.

Pictures obtained by DailyMail.com show Kaye's clothes soaked in a red liquid, which he believes was Gatorade, and blood pooling around his ankle after he was shoved to the floor.

Kaye was recorded throwing a punch at the unnamed woman during a pride parade in Brooklyn on Saturday evening, although there has not been an official probe launched by the NYPD.

Posters with his face, home address and cell phone number have been plastered in the area close to his $4million four-bedroom townhouse in pricey Park Slope, as neighbors erupted and demanded the father-of-three be arrested.

Defending the banker, who works as a Managing Director at Moelis & Company, a leading investment bank with offices in Midtown Manhattan, the source said the whole thing was 'super anti-Semitic'.

They added: 'You can clearly see in the video, if you slow it down, that he's wet because they were throwing liquids at him.

'That video clip is cut and doesn't show the entire thing. He's never had one issue in his entire life never been arrested or anything.

'It was a super anti Semitic attack of four individuals ganging up against one Jewish man. It's left him completely traumatized.'

Viral video had shown Kaye throwing a vicious overhand right at an unnamed woman in Brooklyn - where he also lives in a four bedroom townhouse in pricey Park Slope, valued at just over $4million

A source with knowledge of the incident said the viral clip does not tell the whole story, which they claim began when a group of Queers for Palestine supporters attacked Kaye as he left dinner. Pictured: Kaye's injuries

Pictures obtained by DailyMail.com show Kaye's clothes soaked in a red liquid, which he believes was Gatorade, and blood pooling around his ankle after he was shoved to the floor

The red liquid is seen on soaked into his shirt after the confrontation with the demonstrators

Kaye is currently under investigation by the bank, with a spokesman confirming his identity and adding that they are taking the footage and allegations seriously. An official report has not yet been made to the NYPD though they are aware of the footage.

In the clip, the woman is seen being thrown to the floor by the force of the punch, as one onlooker unsuccessfully rushes to her aid.

Others looking on are heard calling Kaye an 'a**hole' and telling him to 'go f**k himself' - earning his attention briefly before he abruptly walks away.

Kaye, who lives his wife, owns multiple properties on the street, which he rents out to neighbors.

One said she was 'shocked' when she saw the footage this morning, adding that the father-of-three always seemed 'normal', although she normally spoke with his wife.

Another neighbor described scenes of chaos on the usually quiet street last night, as the victim's friends ran up and down screaming that Kaye had assaulted a woman.
A British sailor who was found dead in the sea off a Greek island has been named as Essex businessman Stuart Bradshaw.

Investment developer Mr Bradshaw, 44, who lived near Colchester, had flown out to take part in a popular sailing regatta off the idyllic island of Spestes before his death.

A police investigation was launched into his death after reports emerged that he had been found with an injury to the left side of his head.

Greek officials yesterday confirmed that they have ruled out any criminal case and that his cause of death was accidental drowning, news site Protothema reports.

Mr Bradshaw had gone to a bar with friends, the outlet reports, and did not follow them back to their hotel, before he was found dead the next day next to the Tsaldari pier in the Old Port.

His family paid tribute to the father-of-two today, saying in a statement: 'Stuart was so loved and will be missed by many. We have been overwhelmed by the support shown and the many kind words that have been shared by those who knew him.

A British sailor who was found dead in the sea off a Greek island has been named as businessman Stuart Bradshaw

Mr Bradshaw was reportedly found in the sea with head injuries near Spetses (file image)

'As we try to come to terms with this tragic accident, we request that we are given the space and privacy needed to grieve as a family,' they added.

The body of Mr Bradshaw was found floating in the sea in the island's old port area, officials said.

An official described a 'gash' on the side of Mr Bradshaw's head as 'puzzling' ahead of a post mortem examination.

It is believed that Mr Bradshaw had arrived on the island with a group of friends to take part in the three-day Regatta which attracts hundreds of sailing fans each year, in his 26-foot US Cup-style boat.

One local said the tragedy had left the island saddened and shocked - he said: 'This is the Monte Carlo of Greece and nothing like this ever happens here. We're really shaken and upset.'

Spetses - which can be reached from the Greek capital Athens in two hours by ferry - has a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous.

It is home to some of the wealthiest people in Greece - the founder of easyJet, Sir Selios Haji-Ioannou is among the super-rich who have luxury villas there.

It has a population of just 3,700 and its annual regatta which attracts entrants from all over Europe.

Spetses has been holding a classic yacht regatta, which the victim is believed to have attended

Founded in 2011 the event is the most popular sailing event in Greece and involves up to 400 traditional wooden boats.

The tragedy brings the death toll of tourists in Greece to eight since the beginning of last month.

Most of the victims, including the British TV doctor presenter Michael Mosley, died while hiking in blistering temperatures that have hit the Mediterranean in recent weeks.

Daily Mail columnist and health writer Dr Mosley tragically died from 'heat exhaustion' after 'sitting down and losing consciousness' while walking across the Greek island of Symi, police said.

The 67-year-old was found in a rocky area at the resort of Agia Marina on June 9 after a five day search.
This is the horrifying moment an inmate is shot dead after he attacks an officer and makes a run for it at a Texas hospital.

Newly released footage shows Joshua Wright, 36, attacking a corrections officer in a bid to escape while receiving undisclosed treatment at Seton Hospital in Kyle, Texas on December 12, 2022.

Wright, who was imprisoned on a string of misdemeanor charges, can be seen pushing back the officer before running down a corridor in the emergency department.

The corrections officer, who was named as 29-year-old Isaiah Garcia, fired his gun and struck Wright after the inmate appeared to bend down to pick up an unidentified object, according to the Hays County Sheriff's Office.

Wright died from his injuries. A felony charge of deadly conduct against Garcia was dropped last month and the Sheriff's Office now released video footage of the incident - more than a year and a half after Wright was killed.

Newly released footage shows Joshua Wright, 36, attacking a corrections officers in a bid to escape while receiving undisclosed treatment at Seton Hospital in Kyle, Texas on December 12, 2022. Pictured above is the moment Wright comes out of the restroom

Wright can be seen pushing back the officer before running down a corridor in the emergency department

Wright (pictured) was incarcerated for misdemeanors including charges like unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, bail jumping, reckless driving, criminal mischief and evading arrest

A felony charge of deadly conduct against Isaiah Garcia (pictured) was dropped last month and the Sheriff's Office now released video footage of the incident, more than a year and a half after Wright was killed

Wright was incarcerated for misdemeanors including charges like unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, bail jumping, reckless driving, criminal mischief and evading arrest.

Last month, Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced that her office dismissed the indictment charging former Corrections Officer Garcia with the third-degree felony offense of deadly conduct.

In a press release, the DA's office in Hays County said: 'On December 12, 2022, Garcia shot and killed 36-year-old Joshua Wright while working as a corrections officer for Hays County.

'Wright was in the Hays County jail and had been transported to Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle the previous evening after complaining of a medical problem.

'Garcia was assigned to guard Wright at the hospital and was preparing to transport Wright back to jail when the shooting occurred.

'As Wright exited a restroom, Garcia attempted to replace the handcuffs that were removed from Wright.

'Wright forcefully shoved Garcia and attempted to escape by running through the emergency room toward the public exit. Garcia shot and killed Wright during that escape attempt.'

The DA's Office said the grand jury in April 2023 considered the possible charges of murder and manslaughter in connection with the shooting.

'Under Texas law, a corrections officer or peace officer may be justified in using force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to prevent the escape of a person in custody,' the office's press release stated.

After hearing the evidence and the relevant law, the grand jury then declined to return an indictment for either of those charges.

But it did return an indictment charging Garcia with the third-degree felony offense of deadly conduct.

The indictment alleges that Garcia discharged a firearm at or in the direction of one or more individuals by shooting at Joshua Wright in a medical facility when patients and staff were present.

While the indictment did not charge Garcia with an offense directly related to the death of Wright, it did accuse him of deadly conduct for the circumstances in which he fired his weapon in a crowded emergency room.

The DA's Office had shown the now-released bodycam footage to Wright's family.

Footage shows Wright as he is running from the toilet through corridors in the ER in his bid to escape

Wright can then be seen bending down to grab an unidentified object, after which the officer fired his gun

Wright died from his injuries after he was shot by corrections officer Garcia (pictured above immediately after the shots were fired)

Higgins said: 'We are aware that the Wright family, as well as many in the community, was deeply disappointed in the grand jury's decision not to indict Garcia for murder or manslaughter.

'The wishes of a victim or the family of a victim are always considered, but other factors that must be considered include public safety and fundamental fairness.'

Weighing those factors, the State moved to dismiss the case against Isaiah Garcia last week and the court dismissed the case.

Prior to the dismissal, Garcia had agreed to a permanent surrender of his corrections officer license and further agreed not to seek any license or certification in the future to work as a peace officer, corrections officer or armed security guard.

Higgins said that the Wright family had also requested for the case to be dismissed after consulting with their legal representatives and watching the bodycam footage.

'The reasons offered by the family for their request were carefully considered and, ultimately, found to be persuasive,' Higgins said.

'We have chosen to respect the family's privacy and will offer no additional discussion of those reasons. We encourage others to also respect their privacy.'
A security guard's alleged plot to kidnap Holly Willoughby was not 'viable' because he could not drive and was too overweight to get over a 9ft-high wall at the star's home, his barrister told jurors today.

Gavin Plumb, a 37-year-old from Harlow in Essex, is accused of planning to kidnap, rape and murder Ms Willoughby last year.

But today his defence counsel, Sasha Wass KC, said the 'fun' of the fantasy 'was the planning' and not its execution.

She added that her client weighed 30 stone when he was arrested and would have needed a ladder to break into her house.

In his wildest dreams he could never get over that wall, Ms Wass told jurors.

Gavin Plumb, a 37-year-old from Harlow in Essex, is accused of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby

But today his defence counsel, Sasha Wass KC, said the 'fun' of the fantasy 'was the planning' and not its execution. Pictured is Ms Willoughby on Dancing On Ice earlier this year

Earlier today, the barrister conceded her client's comments in chat rooms, including one called 'Abduct Lovers', were 'vile and misogynistic'.

But she claimed they were made by 'an isolated and lonely individual' who had 'neither the means, nor the opportunity' to carry out the offences he is charged with.

Ms Wass made her comments during the defence's closing speech in the trial of the obese security guard, who is accused of planning a terrifying raid on Ms Willoughby's London home.

The prosecution claim he intended to knock out the former This Morning presenter and her husband, Dan Baldwin, 49, before holding her in a 'dungeon-style' room.

It is alleged the mother-of-three, 43, would be repeatedly raped and subjected to sexual torture before her throat would be slit and her body thrown in a lake at night.

Ms Wass told the jury today: 'What the prosecution suggests is that when Mr Plumb spoke of a home invasion of the celebrity Holly Willoughby, that was something he actually proposed to do.

'The prosecution suggests that when he spoke of keeping Holly Willoughby prisoner in his own flat while he and his Holly Willoughby fans had sex with her, he actually planned that is what would happen.

'And when he spoke of slitting Ms Willoughby's throat, covering her in bleach and putting her in a lake, this is something he intended.

'But what he was actually doing was living out a fantasy. A dark and twisted fantasy - but a fantasy nonetheless.'

The father-of-two's defence 'was clear' from the moment police raided his ground floor flat in Harlow, Essex, Ms Wass said, as police bodycam footage showed him saying: 'I'm not gonna lie. She's a fantasy of mine.'

Ms Wass then repeated: 'She's a fantasy of mine. She's a fantasy of a lot of guys, isn't she?'

'I think it's indicative of the mindset of the prosecution in this case that you should put the worst interpretation on Mr Plumb's words and behaviour.'

The 37-year-old defendant's alleged co-conspirators 'always' had a reason they couldn't take part in the plot, whether it was Covid or work getting in the way.

'The fun, if that's the right word in the context of this case, was the plan,' Ms Wass said.

Plumb in a video message he sent to an undercover American police officer

Accepting Plumb's comments were 'vile and misogynistic', she told the jury: 'I'm sure all of you were horrified when these messages were read out in court.

'You may form the view that even to send such messages to other people should be a criminal offence.'

The legal position, she explained, was that it might be illegal to send grossly offensive or indecent or obscene or menacing messages, adding: 'If he had been charged with that you might think he had no defence whatsoever.

'But the prosecution has decided to charge Mr Plumb with much more serious offences.

'The defence case is that Mr Plumb was an isolated, lonely individual who lived out his fantasy online.

'He had neither the means nor the opportunity to carry out any of the things he carried out in his chats.'

Ms Wass said the comments were instead the 'ramblings of a sad, isolated fantasist' and told jurors not to 'hold Mr Plumb's previous convictions against him'.

Plumb's online chats contained 'grotesque comments' from distasteful people', his barrister said

Ms Wass reminded them that her client had attempted to kidnap two women from a train in 2006 and falsely imprisoned two 16-year-old girls who worked with him at a Woolworth's branch in 2008.

But she told Chelmsford Crown Court: 'Mr Plumb's age at the time, his personal circumstances at the time, the period that has passed since they took place and the fact he pleaded guilty are reasons it wouldn't be right to hold his previous convictions against him.'

The barrister added her client had explained while giving evidence that the previous convictions were an attempt to escape an 'extremely toxic' relationship by being sent to jail.

The online chats contained 'grotesque comments' from distasteful people', Ms Wass said.

But David Nelson, the undercover police officer who uncovered the alleged plot, assumed he was dealing with a 'stalker' when in fact all the information the defendant disclosed to him about Ms Willoughby, including her movements, security arrangements and layout of her property, were not 'classified'.

Her client had not left Harlow 'except to go to work or go to hospital', she said.

'They [Plumb's comments] do not disclose Mr Plumb asking Mr Nelson to do any of the things set out in the indictment,' Ms Wass added.

The trial continues.
A mysterious 8ft sand hole has appeared on a Cornish beach, sparking fears from locals for their children's safety.

The man-made gaping pit had been dug in the sand on Tregirls beach, near Padstow, with warnings being issued from the coastguard that 'sand hole collapses can cause deaths'.

Standing at 9ft wide and 8ft deep, a digger was eventually called in from Padstow Farm to fill it back up again after it was first spotted on Saturday.

The beach is well known by fans of the BBC series Poldark, a five season show about a returning British army veteran of the American revolutionary war, which used Cornwall's untouched beauty for many of its sets.

A mysterious 8ft sand hole has appeared on a Cornish beach, sparking fears from locals for their children's safety

The man-made gaping pit had been dug in the sand on Tregirls beach, near Padstow, with warnings being issued from the Coastguard that 'sand hole collapses can cause deaths'

An HM Coastguard Padstow spokesman said: 'We are aware of the large hole that has been dug on Tregirls Beach and the danger this presents to the general public. We have arranged for a local farmer to fill it in using a telehandler.

'This particular hole is approximately 9 feet wide and 8 feet deep and had been dug by hand. The potential for it to cause injury to the unwary, or to collapse in on children exploring it should not be underestimated. Sand hole collapses can cause fatalities.

'Please do not dig holes like this on our (or any other) beaches, and fill in any small ones that your children dig before you leave.

'The fact that a telehandler is required to fill this particular one in speaks volumes about the danger it presents.'

The beach is well known by fans of the BBC series Poldark, a five season show about a returning British army veteran of the American revolutionary war, which used Cornwall's untouched beauty for many of its sets

Locals were also furious that someone had decided to dig and leave the potentially lethal hole.

Venting their frustration on social media one person wrote: 'Anyone that finds this funny, clearly can't remember the children that have died after these sort of holes collapse onto them.

'Thank goodness it's been filled in again.

Another said: 'Thank goodness locals are alerted and it can be filled in. No-one should underestimate the power of deep holes dug in the sand to cause tragedy.

'Just don't do it.'

A third added: 'My good friend snapped a tendon and fractured her foot stepping back into a human dug channel on Daymer beach last Easter.

'Ignorant behaviour which led to a nasty injury.'

A fourth said: 'They were lucky it didnt collapse on them whilst digging it out!! Well done yo all involved in spotting, reporting and filling it in.'
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This video is no longer available

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains names and images of people who have died

The heartbroken family of a beloved grandmother who died in a horror bus crash not far from home have broken their silence to express their immense shock and grief.

A Greyhound bus collided with a 4WD towing a caravan on the Bruce Highway near the Wilson Creek Rest Area, between Gumlu and Wangaratta in north Queensland, at about 11am on Sunday.

Three women on board the bus died after it allegedly veered onto the opposite side of the highway moments before the collision.

One of the victims has been identified as a Townsville grandmother-of-eight, 56, who was returning home from Brisbane with her daughter and four grandchildren.

She has previously been named as Emma 'Allie' Sailor. The two other women killed were German tourists aged in their 20s and 30s.

The crash also injured 27 passengers, who were among 33 people on board that was heading to Townsville after it left Brisbane.

The grandmother was remembered as a devout Christian and 'gentle soul'.

The family of a Townsville woman (pictured) who died in a horror bus crash on Sunday have remembered her as a 'gentle soul'

The woman was on her way home from Brisbane when the Greyhound bus crashed into an oncoming four-wheel-drive carrying a caravan on Bruce Highway

The woman's daughter was uninjured in the crash

Her family said her husband of 19 years was 'beside himself'.

'We will miss her presence and smile,' the family told reporters.

'It comes as a huge shock to our family [and] we're still grieving.

'She was a beautiful church woman, she never hurt anyone, [she was] very strong.

'She went out of her way to give the shirt off her back to anyone. She was loved and supported by her grandchildren and immediate family.

'We're thankful to everyone for their wishes and condolences.'

Two men, aged 23 and 24, were admitted to the hospital in critical conditions. The 23-year-old's condition has since been downgraded to stable but serious.

Another two men, aged 27 and 51, are also in a stable condition.

Mackay Superintendent Graeme Paine said emergency responders were confronted with a 'very confronting' and 'very complex' scene.

Police believe the bus veered into the oncoming traffic lane in a 100km/h zone before crashing into the 4WD

The grandmother's family have implored everyone to wait for the results of the police investigation to find out what happened.

'We want the full investigation to go through, there's no point in blaming anyone,' they said.

'Let the police and the courts do their side of the business.'

The loving mother-of-four and grandmother-of-eight was killed alongside two German nationals in their 20s and 30s

Four other people, 23, 24, 27 and 51, were also rushed to hospital with the 24-year-old still in a critical condition

The Bruce Highway was closed until about midnight on Sunday, with the rural location of the crash making it difficult for emergency crews to reach the scene.

Superintendent Paine said the forensic crash unit is investigating the crash.

'Certainly a crash of this nature involving this many people is a very significant and very tragic incident for us,' he said.

'We have a number of specialists on scene that will work through the incident scene.

'They'll forensically process the evidence and then we'll look at that.'

Premier Steven Miles 'expressed his sympathies' to everyone affected by the crash but added it was 'a bit premature to be speculating on [its] cause'.
Emergency crews are battling a massive fire in Brisbane that caused an inner-city to fill with smoke.

Several demountables and shipping containers erupted into flames at the intersection of Wren Street and OConnell Terrace in Bowen Hills shortly after 8pm on Tuesday.

Motorists made multiple calls to triple-0 after they spotted plumes of smoke billowing from the inner city tunnel bypass.

'On arrival, several demountables and shipping containers were on fire,' a Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.

'The smoke affected the tunnel as a result.

'All people at the scene have been accounted for and the fire is under control at this stage.

It's not known if the RNA showgrounds or the Cross River Rail worksite were affected as the street has been closed by emergency services.

Police were called to the area at 8.10pm.

Plumes of smoke could be seen coming out of the tunnel and from the scene of the fire, where several demountables and shipping containers have been burning (pictured)

Emergency service have contained the fire (pictured) which filled the inner city tunnel bypass with smoke

'We're assisting where we can, especially with public safety. The investigation is still ongoing,' a police spokesman said.

Bowen Hills resident Dan Martin told The Courier Mail he heard 'a few explosions' from his apartment.

'We normally hear a lot of sirens in the area but I had a look out the window and I was like hang on I can see smoke,' he said.

'I heard a few explosions, it looks like a decent fire they are trying to get under control.'
A mom who murdered her two young sons 30 years ago has been engaging in phone sex with sugar daddies as she prepares for release from jail.

Susan Smith, 52, drowned sons Michael, three, and Alex, 14, in a South Carolina lake in 1994.

She was sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole after 30 years and has a hearing scheduled for November 4.

In preparation for her potential release, Smith has conducting raunchy phone calls with men, including one who promised her a $40,000 a year allowance, the New York Post reports.

She has reportedly become convinced she will be released, telling one suitor, 'It's time for me to get out. I've done my time. I'm ready to go.'

Murderer mom Susan Smith (pictured in undated mugshot) who murdered her two young sons 30 years ago has been engaging in phone sex with sugar daddies as she prepares for release from jail

The killer mom was just 22 when she locked her two sons in a car and allowed it to roll into the John D. Long Lake in Union County.

Initially she told police she had been carjacked by a black man, sparking a massive manhunt in which she and her husband David publicly begged for their boys' safe return.

However it quickly emerged Smith had been having an affair with a man who apparently did not want children and she eventually admitted to her heinous crime.

Her dalliances have continued even from behind bars, with Smith turning to them for financial advice following her release prison phone records show.

One male caller told her he has a large sum waiting for her comprised of the sale of family property, money he saved and gifts from admirers.

'I'll tell you what I did last night, thinking of you,' he told Smith. 'I made a spreadsheet that starts out with $213,000. You're gonna have more than that. I think you'll be in the $220,000 range, all put together.

'You can [spend] $40,000 a year. While you're withdrawing from that balance, it's still earning interest on the undrawn amount.

'In 20 years' time, you will have spent most of that, but you will still have some of it left over.'

Smith has been serving a life sentence at Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood, South Carolina for the double murder of her sons - Michael, 3 and Alexander, 14 months (pictured)

She was sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole after 30 years and has a hearing scheduled for November 4

The exchange prompted Smith to tell him she loves him 'so much' before the two made kissing noises at each other and the conversation turned sexual.

However he is not alone, with Smith conducting similar calls with at least 12 men in the last three years.

She previously told one admirer she could 'be a good stepmom' and could see herself being around kids after her release.

'She's figuring out her future,' a family member told The Post. 'She is seeing who she can rely on, and who will be able to help her.'

Her time in prison has not been smooth sailing, with the last 30 years marred by infractions for drugs and self-mutilation, as well as two incidents in which she was caught having sex with guards.

Smith was disciplined twice in 2010 and once in 2015 after being caught with marijuana and narcotics.

She was initially incarcerated in Columbia, but had to be transferred to Leath following multiple sex scandals.

In 2000, aged 28, she was disciplined for having sex four times with 50-year-old prison guard Houston Cagle - who was later jailed for three months for the affair.

David Smith, the boys grieving father, (pictured) is inconsolable as he is pictured getting support by friends and family after the funeral of his two young sons

Smith is led from the Union County Courthouse after the first day of testimony in the penalty phase of her trial. Smith was convicted in the October 25, 1994 murders of her sons

Smith confessed to the sexual encounter with Cagle after testing positive for an STI.

The following year it emerged prison captain Alfred Rowe had sex with her and he was sentenced to five years probation and fired from his job.

Former cellmate Stephanie Hulsey said Smith also had a girlfriend, alongside her male paramours.

Smith insists she is 'not the monster society thinks I am' and revealed to reporters in 2015 that she had been planning to kill herself, not her sons, on the night of the tragedy.

'I had planned to kill myself first and leave a note behind telling what had happened,' Smith said. 'I didn't believe I could face my family when the truth was revealed.'

She also refuted claims she had hurt her children to be with a man as 'so far from the truth' and said she was not in her right mind at the time of the killings.

In 2012, she attempted to take her own life at age 40 after smuggling in a razor blade and Smith has a long history with depression predating the murders.

Her stepfather, Beverly Russell, admitted during the initial court case that he had molested Smith as a teen and had consensual sex with her as adult.

Law enforcement officials seen dressed in scuba gear searching the waters of John D. Long Lake after Susan Smith drowned her two little boys on October 25, 1994

Mourners visit a shrine set up near the lake where Michael, 3 and Alexander, 14-months were killed. The boys were strapped into their car seat as the vehicle submerged and sank in the water

He partly mortgaged his home in order to pay for Smith's defense at trial and said the guilt was not all hers to bear.

It is unlikely Smith will be paroled on a first attempt, especially as her ex-husband has expressed strong opposition.

David Smith, who has since remarried and had two more children, plans to argue against her release when the time comes.

Smith has stated her intention to appear at the hearing.
A diabetic grandmother who was killed by an alternative healer at his 'slap therapy' retreat viewed him as a 'messenger sent by God', a court heard today.

Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, 'admired' and wrote glowing testimonials about Hongchi Xiao, the holistic therapist who is accused of allowing her to die from a lack of insulin.

Prosecutors today said Mrs Carr-Gomm believed the practitioner - who jurors have been told had an 'unshakable' belief that Western medicine was evil - was 'starting a revolution' to 'change the whole system of health care'.

He was referred to as 'Master Xiao' at the Wiltshire workshop where Mrs Carr-Gomm died and prosecutors described his participants as his 'keen disciples'.

Prosecutors allege Xiao, 61, knew he wielded 'influence' over Mrs Carr-Gomm when he praised her for stopping taking her insulin.

Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, (pictured) 'admired' and wrote glowing testimonials about Hongchi Xiao, the holistic therapist who is accused of allowing her to die from a lack of insulin.

Prosecutors today said Mrs Carr-Gomm believed the practitioner Hongchi Xiao (pictured) - who jurors have been told had an 'unshakable' belief that Western medicine was evil - was 'starting a revolution' to 'change the whole system of health care'

Court sketch of Xiao appearing at Winchester Crown Court charged with manslaughter of Mrs Carr-Gomm at a slapping therapy workshop

They say that Xiao knew of the consequences of a type 1 diabetic not taking their insulin because Mrs Carr-Gomm became extremely unwell at a previous workshop and because a six year old boy died during another of his retreats.

Xiao is standing trial at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, accused of manslaughter following Mrs Carr-Gomm's death at his at four-day paida lajin course at Cleeve House in Melksham, Wilts, in October 2016.

Paida lajin means 'slap and stretch' in Chinese, and practitioners like Xiao - who has no medical qualifications - believe the practice of slapping people in various positions can cure diseases and ailments.

Today prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said Mrs Carr-Gomm previously attended a workshop of Xiao's in Bulgaria and left him testimonials, despite becoming extremely unwell after stopping taking insulin and having to be given it.

In one left on his website, she said: 'You are definitely messenger sent by God.'

She said he Xiao was 'starting a revolution to put the power back in the hands of the people to cure themselves and to change the whole system of health care.'

She added: 'I admire you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.'

Mrs Carr-Gomm sought out alternative therapy as she was a vegetarian with a fear of needles

Mrs Carr-Gomm died at Xiao's four-day paida lajin course at Cleeve House (pictured) in Melksham, Wiltshire, in October 2016

Mrs Carr-Gomm sought out alternative therapy as she was a vegetarian with a fear of needles.

Mr Atkinson KC said participants at the Wiltshire workshop interpreted Mrs Carr-Gomm's worsening condition as a 'healing crisis'.

Xiao told the 30-person workshop that there were three stages to the healing process in paida lajin and that illness like Mrs Carr-Gomm's was 'darkness before dawn breaks'.

Participants fasted and only drank Chinese tea. At classes, Xiao slapped them using his hand and a paddle.

Over the course of the retreat, Mrs Carr-Gomm was heard 'crying' and 'howling in pain', then found 'alone in bed, pale, sweaty, drooling at the mouth and unable to talk'.

Mr Atkinson KC said: 'It was noted by others on the course that Mrs Carr-Gomm was not present on Wednesday 19th October.

'Those who did see her could see that she was vomiting, tired and weak. She did drink some tea.

'On the evening of Wednesday 19th, Mrs Carr-Gomm was heard by [Teresa] Hayes to be screaming. She was crying on her bed and howling in pain. She was unable to respond to questions.

'Various of those who saw Mrs Carr-Gomm during the course of Wednesday 19th, for example [roommates Janine Stoodley and Claudia Smith], interpreted her condition as a healing crisis.

'This is a condition addressed by Xiao in his book. He suggests that it might appear that an illness has intervened as a result of paida lajin but it is in fact, he says, the result of the toxins leaving the body.

Xiao, from Cloudbreak, California, denies manslaughter. His trial at Winchester Crown Court (pictured) continues

'He identifies the signs of a healing crisis as including pain, vomiting, insomnia, giddiness and loud crying.

'In the early hours of Thursday 20th, it became clear to those at Cleeve House that Mrs Carr-Gomm's condition had become even worse, and then that she had died.

'Paramedics were finally called at 2.54am on Thursday 20th. They found [her] in cardiac arrest, lying on a mattress on the floor of her room. Rigor mortis was already established, and she was confirmed to be dead at 3.11am.'

Mr Atkinson KC added: 'The evidence from those who were present that Xiao was in charge of the workshop more generally, and was providing guidance to DCG's behaviour at the workshop more particularly, that demonstrates his responsibility for her whilst she was at the workshop.

'It is also clear that she relied on him and his guidance in relation to her care.

'In relation to the testimonial that Mrs Carr-Gomm provided for the defendant, of which Xiao can be taken to have been aware given that it was on his website, it is also relevant that there is no evidence that he sought correct her beliefs.

'[Her beliefs] that she would be in 'good hands' with Xiao, that 'diabetes was one of the 'names' he had confidence in tackling' and that he had told her 'that although high glucose levels were never a big problem, he did not agree that [she] should suddenly stop taking insulin injections'.'

Mr Atkinson KC said it showed Xiao had a duty of care

'He knew of his influence over her, he knew the consequences of her not taking her insulin, and he had at least influenced and encouraged her decision to take the potentially fatal step of stopping her insulin', Mr Atkinson KC said.

'As a result, the prosecution contends that Xiao owed [her] a duty to remedy her hyperglycaemic state by either persuading her to take insulin or

summoning medical help... there is no evidence that he did any such thing.

'Xiao was, and would have recognised that he was, in charge and being relied on by others and that his teachings, which are without either medical support or support from the Chinese alternative medical profession, provided the context for a vulnerable women to make a catastrophic decision that he took no step to reverse.

'That failure therefore represented a substantial cause of Mrs Carr-Gomm's death, a death that was reasonably foreseeable to someone in Xiao's position, and the result of such a significant breach of the duty of care he owed to [her] to represent gross negligence.'

Xiao, from Cloudbreak, California, denies manslaughter.

The court has heard he believes medicines are 'evil' and that doctors 'brainwash' people into prescribing them medication.

The three week trial continues.
A BBC radio presenter has sparked anger after saying that US President Joe Biden should have Donald Trump 'murdered'.

David Aaronovitch, who presents Radio 4's Briefing Room show, took to X/Twitter yesterday: 'If I was Biden I'd hurry up and have Trump murdered on the basis that he is a threat to America's security #SCOTUS'.

Critics claimed Mr Aaronovitch had broken the corporation's rules around employee impartiality.

However, he stressed the post was 'satirical' before he deleted the tweet 90 minutes later blaming a 'far right pile on'.

It comes after the US Supreme Court ruled that former US presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, extending the delay in the Washington criminal case against Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss and all but ending prospects the former president could be tried before the November election.

In a historic 6-3 ruling, the court's conservative majority, including three justices appointed by Trump, narrowed the case against him and returned it to a trial court to determine what is left of special counsel Jack Smith's indictment.

David Aaronovitch presents Radio 4's Briefing Room show made the controversial comment on Monday

David (pictured) took to X/ Twitter shortly on Monday: 'If I was Biden I'd hurry up and have Trump murdered on the basis that he is a threat to America's security # SCOTUS '.

The US Supreme Court ruled that former presidents (including President Trump) have broad immunity from prosecution

Spectator columnist Steven Barratt wrote on X/Twitter: 'Impartiality' may not be in the best of health at the BBC'

A second person said: 'This post alone is bad enough but even worse when you remember that David is a BBC presenter.'

Another person urged him to delete the post and said: 'Delete this tweet David. You advocating murder, publicly, and think it is ok .'

Responding to the critic, he said the post was 'satirical and based on today's 6-3 ruling on presidential immunity'.

When one follower attempted to add a 'community note' to his post, he said: 'That community note should be interesting.

'But before you go to the effort of writing it, try reading the arguments, the ruling and the dissent in the Supreme Court's judgment on presidential immunity delivered today.'

Posting 90 minutes when he deleted the post, Mr Aaronovitch said: 'There is now a far right pile-on suggesting that my tweet about the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity is an incitement to violence when it's plainly a satire'.

'So I'm deleting it. If nothing else though it's given me a map of some of the daftest people on this site.

'Note by the way that not one of them has a problem with the ruling itself.'

David later deleted the tweet around 90 minutes later and said there was 'far right pile on suggesting the tweet was an incitement to violence'

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks about the indictment of former President Donald Trump

US President Joe Biden warned the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity set a 'dangerous precedent'

In a historic 6-3 ruling, the court's conservative majority, including three justices appointed by Trump, narrowed the case against President Donald Trump

The US Supreme Court's decision highlighted how the US justices have been thrust into an impactful role in the November presidential election.

Earlier, they had rejected efforts to bar him from the ballot because of his actions following the 2020 election.

The court last week also limited an obstruction charge faced by Trump and used against hundreds of his supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The ex-president's team argued that Trump, and any president, must have absolute immunity from prosecution over actions taken while in office or it could impair important decision-making.

The split among the justices also in many ways mirrored the political divide in the country.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court: 'Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority.

US Supreme Court justices. Bottom row, from left, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito, and Justice Elena Kagan. Top row, from left, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

'And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.'

Trump posted in all capital letters on his social media network shortly after the decision was released: 'BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!'

However, President Biden warned the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity set a 'dangerous precedent' that could turn presidents into kings and called on the American people to 'dissent' by rejecting Donald Trump in November's election.

Speaking from the White House on Monday, he said: 'This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each, each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law. Not even the president of the United States.'

He said the court's decision meant there were now virtually no limits on what a president could do.

The row comes as the BBC introduced new social media rules in September 2023 following controversary around Gary Lineker and his political tweets

'It's a dangerous precedent, because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law,' Biden said. 'The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.'

The 81-year-old was making his first set of remarks at the White House since his shaky debate against Trump last week led to calls for him to step aside as the Democratic Party's standard-bearer for the election.

After he stumbled over his words on the Atlanta debate stage, his remarks and comportment are being scrutinized for signs that he is up to the job of running for re-election and of governing the country for four more years.

Biden said he sided with liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote she feared for US democracy in her dissent in the 6-3 decision.

Meanwhile, the BBC introduced new social media rules in September 2023 following controversary around Gary Lineker and his political tweets. The updated guidelines added more limitations on presenters expressing party political opinions.

The BBC has been approached for comment.
A popular online pet food company has recalled five of its products amid fears of a presence of listeria, it has emerged.

Viva Raw, located in North Carolina, has recalled five turkey-based cat and dog food products over risk of bacteria contamination, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed, adding that the affected products were distributed to pet owners in all 50 states and in Washington DC.

The products included in the recall were shipped as frozen, one-pound bricks in clear packaging. An expiration date was not listed on the packaging.

The FDA warned that listeria can cause 'serious and sometimes fatal infections' in pets that consume contaminated products.

Humans can also be exposed to the bacteria by handling contaminated products or coming in contact with pets that have consumed them.

Online pet food company Viva Raw, located in North Carolina, has recalled five turkey-based cat and dog food products over risk of listeria contamination, the Food and Drug Administration has confirmed (stock photo)

Viva Raw has recalled its Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground, Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked, Viva Turkey for Cats, Viva Pure Turkey and Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies.

The recalled products were all manufactured under Lot 21244 which was exposed to Listeria monocytogenes, the FDA reported.

Viva Raw, which ships fresh pet food to customers on a subscription basis, said that samples from Lot 21244 tested positive for the bacteria.

All products produced from the lot had been 'slated for destruction' but the company said some items were 'inadvertently released from the warehouse' to customers.

'Viva Raw is notifying all customers who were shipped any Turkey or Beef & Turkey for Puppies products between May 16th and June 28th, 2024,' the FDA press release states. 'No illnesses related to this lot have been reported to date.'

Any one who purchased products under the recall are encouraged to contact Viva Raw for a refund. They are also advised to destroy the food products to ensure that children, pets and other wildlife are not contaminated by the bacteria.

Viva Raw has recalled its Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground (left) and Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked (right). The recalled products were all manufactured under Lot 21244 which was exposed to Listeria monocytogenes, the FDA reported

Viva Raw, which ships fresh pet food to customers on a subscription basis, said that samples from Lot 21244 tested positive for the bacteria. It's Viva Turkey for Cats (left) and Viva Pure Turkey (right) products were among those recalled

Pet illnesses from listeria infection are rare, according to the FDA, and those infected may not exhibit any symptoms.

However, some infected animals may show symptoms of diarrhea, anorexia, fever, nervousness, muscular and respiratory issues, miscarriage, depression, shock and death.

'Pets exposed to contaminated food can be infected without showing symptoms. Infected pets, even if they do not show symptoms, can act as carriers and transfer L. monocytogenes through their feces and saliva into the home environment and to people and other pets in the household,' the FDA said.

'If your pet has eaten the recalled product(s) and has symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection, please contact your veterinarian.'

Humans who have been infected by listeria may include nausea, vomiting, aches, fever and diarrhea.

All products produced from the lot had been 'slated for destruction' but the company said some items were 'inadvertently released from the warehouse' to customers. Pictured: Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies, which is included in the recall

The FDA says pregnant women are more susceptible to infection and that the bacteria can cause a miscarriage. Younger people, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are also at higher risk of getting sick.

The agency added: 'FDA recommends humans do not touch the contaminated food product with bare hands. While wearing gloves or using paper towels, place the contaminated food in a sealed plastic bag and throw it in the garbage.

'Areas that may have come in contact with the contaminated product should be sanitized. Do not sell or donate the recalled products.'
The Prime Minister has clashed with ABC host Sarah Ferguson in a fiery one-on-one television interview over the Labor senator who voted against the party and defied caucus rules.

WA senator Fatima Payman crossed the floor of parliament, voting against Labor last week on a Greens motion to recognise Palestine.

The tit-for-tat has been deafening in political circles. The Prime Minister banned Ms Payman from caucus meetings while she has said colleagues were trying to 'intimidate' her to quit the Senate.

On Tuesday media reported Ms Payman had been meeting with a minor party political expert, leading some to conclude she may leave Labor.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sat down with ABC 7.30 presenter Sarah Ferguson on Tuesday, where the pair became embroiled in a terse exchange over the senator.

'That is a decision for her,' Mr Albanese said when asked if the senator would be in the party by the end of the week.

There are also murky links between that political expert and a grassroots Muslim Vote movement, which will reportedly eye federal Labor seats riding a wave of dissatisfaction over the government's stance on Gaza and on the question of Palestinian recognition

The Prime Minister said Ms Payman working with such a group was not a betrayal.

WA senator Fatima Payman crossed the floor of parliament, voting against Labor last week on a Green's motion to recognise Palestine

Tensions boiled over when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) was grilled by ABC's Sarah Ferguson about Senator Payman

'She has made a decision that she can't be bound by what puts our team together,' Mr Albanese said.

'I would like to see her rejoin the team and that option is certainly available to her.

'I don't take these issues personally ... I've seen people at various times make decisions to change the direction upon which they were elected. Fatima was, of course, elected as a Labor Senator.'

Ms Ferguson asked: 'But as we sit here, it's acceptable for you, for someone to be talking to your opponents?'

'Well, clearly, it's not acceptable, which is why Senator Payman has been suspended from participation in the caucus,' Mr Albanese said.

ABC reporter Sarah Ferguson (pictured) interrupted the Prime Minister, asking if it was acceptable for someone to be talking to to his opponents

For her part, Ms Payman has revealed she will continue to vote to recognise Palestinian statehood.

The federal parliamentary Labor Party position on the offending motion was that it did not recognise Israel, therefore it did not have Labor support.
Around 100 worshippers have been crushed to death at a Hindu religious gathering in northern India, government medics have said.

The death toll has risen to 107, with scores of others injured, according to a senior government official. There are fears the number of dead could increase further.

A large crowd had gathered near the city of Hathras, Uttar Pradesh state, for a sermon by a popular preacher but a fierce dust storm sparked panic as people were leaving.

Many were crushed or trampled, falling on top of each other, with some collapsing into a roadside drain in the chaos.

'The attendees were exiting the venue when a dust storm blinded their vision, leading to a melee and the subsequent tragic incident,' said Chaitra V., divisional commissioner of Aligarh city.

Unverified videos show people crammed together as panicked shrieks and sirens ring out. Separate footage shows bodies piled up on the ground outside a local hospital in the aftermath.

Video shows huge crowds of panicked worshippers with sirens blaring in the background

Women mourn next to the body of a relative outside the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras

Pictures on social media show bodies laid out on the ground outside a local hospital in the town of Sikandra Rao, Uttar Pradesh

Indian president Droupadi Murmu said in a statement on X: 'The news of the death of many devotees including women and children in the accident in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is heart-rending.

'I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.'

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his thoughts were with the bereaved families and he ordered an urgent investigation into the incident.

'Instructions have been given to the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on war footing and to provide proper treatment to the injured,' he wrote on X.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said he has spoken to Adityanath regarding the tragic incident.

He said the Uttar Pradesh government 'is engaged in providing all possible help to all the victims.'

'My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this,' he added, 'Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured.'

Crowds had been massing to celebrate the Hindu deity Shiva in the town of Sikandrarao, some 120 miles (200km) southeast of New Delhi.

Concerned relatives gather outside a local hospital where patients injured in the stampede are being treated

Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said that it was 'a private event and permission had been given by the sub-divisional magistrate.

'Security arrangements were made by the administration but the other arrangements were supposed to be made by the organisers.'

Deadly accidents are common at places of worship in India during major religious festivals.

At least 112 people were killed in 2016 after a huge explosion caused by a banned fireworks display at a temple marking the Hindu new year.

Etah Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Umesh Kumar Tripathi confirmed an early death toll in the stampede

Police are investigating the crush, which took place at a religious gathering

The blast ripped through concrete buildings and ignited a fire at a temple complex in Kerala state, where thousands had gathered.

Another 115 devotees died in 2013 after a stampede at a bridge near a temple in Madhya Pradesh.

Up to 400,000 people were gathered in the area, and the stampede occurred after a rumour spread that the bridge was about to collapse.

About 224 pilgrims died and more than 400 others were injured in a 2008 stampede at a hilltop temple in the northern city of Jodhpur.
Polling after Joe Biden's debate fumbled are showing a decrease in support for the president's reelection.

Biden's campaign has brushed off post-debate polls and claimed any dip is the result of 'overblown media narrative.'

But for the first time this election cycle, former President Donald Trump has now pulled ahead in liberal state New Hampshire that has not voted for a Republican candidate for president in more than two decades.

Following the debate, a chorus of Democrats called for Biden, 81, to step out of his reelection race and allow a younger candidate to come forward and lead the party to November.

The latest poll conducted among 1,764 New Hampshire voters on June 28 and 29  the two days following the debate in Atlanta, Georgia  put Trump two points ahead of Biden.

A New Hampshire poll taken post-debate shows Donald Trump ahead of Joe Biden for the first time in the last year

Although just slightly within the St. Anselm College survey's 2.3 percent margin of error, it is the first time the former president is ahead of Biden in this polling.

A year prior in June 2023, Biden was ahead of Trump by 9 points  49 percent to 40 percent. And in December 2023 the incumbent president was ahead by 10 percent  49 percent to 39 percent.

The poll is even more shocking considering Biden won New Hampshire by 7.3 percent and the state has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 24 years when it went for George W. Bush in 2000.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the top independent candidate in this race, received 4 percent of the vote in the poll released Monday.

Biden had a raspy voice at the debate, which his campaign contributed to a cold, and many times was mumbling and hard to understand.

'I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either,' Trump said in a response to Biden's comments about 12 minutes into the head-to-head.

Another survey was released by USA Today/Suffolk University on Tuesday and showed Trump edging ahead of Biden 41 percent to 38 percent. This narrow advantage is compared to the tie at 37 percent the two had in the same polling taken in May  before the debate.

Biden stumbled through the debate and his performance led to immediate calls for him to step down and allow a different candidate to emerge as the Democratic nominee in 2024

Even before polls were coming out showing a dire message to Biden after he stumbled through the CNN debate in Atlanta, his campaign was downplaying any dip.

'On every metric that matters, data shows it did nothing to change the American people's perception, our supporters are more fired up than ever, and Donald Trump only reminded voters of why they fired him four years ago and failed to expand his appeal beyond his MAGA base,' Biden's campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon wrote.

She added: 'If we do see changes in polling in the coming weeks, it will not be the first time that overblown media narratives have driven temporary dips in the polls.'

A CNN flash poll released just after the showdown on Thursday, June 27 showed 67 percent of watchers felt Trump had a better performance compared to the 33 percent who said Biden showed up better.

In 2020, viewers felt Biden outperformed Trump in both of their presidential debates.
A Canadian man accused of running a $7.8 million Ponzi scheme has drowned in a British Columbia river seven months before his trial was set to kick off in Edmonton.

Curtis Quigley, 56, and his former common-law spouse Kathleen Treadgold were officially charged last August with 80 counts of fraud over $5,000.

Edmonton Police alleged the couple ran the scam for 12 years, duping hundreds of Canadian, American and Australian investors. Some of them claimed Quigley, thought of as the mastermind, owed them over $1 million, CBC originally reported.

With Quigley now dead after drowning in the Okanagan River on June 20, experts say the charges against him filed by the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) will eventually be dropped.

The charges against Treadgold remain active, CBC reports, though it's unclear how Quigley's mysterious death will have on her case.

Curtis Quigley, 56, and his former common-law spouse Kathleen Treadgold pictured together sometime in 2019, before their alleged Ponzi scheme was uncovered by Canadian police and bankruptcy investigators

'As with all files, the ACPS assesses on an ongoing basis whether there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and if the matter is in the public interest,' ACPS spokesperson Michelle Davio said.

As the British Columbia Coroners Service continues investigating Quigley's death, prosecutors are awaiting a death certificate to officially stay his fraud trial, which would have started in 2025.

Authorities say two witnesses told them Quigley, who was out on bail, was walking two dogs along a trail by the river he would ultimately drown in.

The dogs then reportedly saw a deer and jumped into the water to chase it, with the witnesses saying Quigley went in after them.

Tony Iannella, chief of the nearby Willowbrook Volunteer Fire Department, responded to the call along with the Okanagan Falls Volunteer Fire Department.

But by the time Iannella arrived, it was already too late.

One of the witnesses had already yanked Quigley from the water, after which Okanagan Falls firefighters performed CPR.

Paramedics arrived shortly after and said he couldn't be revived.

Quigley used to live with Treadgold in Kelowna, which is about 37 miles from where he drowned.

Throughout their years together, the couple was known to have gone on trips to beaches, a ski center in Canada and a romantic getaway to a resort in Mexico.

The couple is pictured in 2016 on vacation at a resort in Mexico near Puerto Vallarta

In the winter of 2016, Quigley and Treadgold went snowshoeing with their dog

Activity like this normally wouldn't raise any alarm, but civil court records from 2020 show that Quigley was allegedly using investor funds not to buy and flip houses as he claimed, but to pay previous investors off.

This is one of the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme.

The person running the fraud will tell the individuals investing with him that he's putting their money into legitimate investments such as real estate or stocks, when in actuality, he's using the new investors' money to pay older investors.

This gives investors the illusion they are making money, when really, they're just getting other people's money. Schemes like this are unsustainable, eventually collapsing when there are no more new investors to bring in.

A woman who invested with him sought a bankruptcy order against him in 2020, claiming he owed her $1.6 million. Three other creditors filed affidavits claiming Quigley also owed them 'substantial' sums of money.

Once the bankruptcy order was granted in June 2020 with Campbell Saunders Ltd. being appointed the insolvency trustee, the details of Quigley's alleged fraud began to come into focus.

According to documents from the trustee, Quigley told investors their money would go towards buying up houses from elderly people getting ready to move into assisted living facilities.

The trustee claims none of this was true.

It's unclear when the couple got together, but this is the earliest photo of them together, posted to Facebook sometime in 2014. This would have been two years after the police claim Quigley started the alleged Ponzi scheme

'The trustee has seen no evidence that [Quigley] purchased homes with the investment funds,' a November 2020 court document says, adding Quigley seemed to have had 'little or no source of funds' except for what his investors were willingly handing over.

'Based on the banking records received and reviewed by the trustee to date, funds received from investors were instead used in part to pay prior investors and in part to fund [Quigley] and his spouse's living and other expenses,' the trustee explained.

All in all, the trustee claimed Quigley owed 72 creditors over $26 million, larger than the estimate Edmonton Police have provided thus far.

Quigley spent years dodging the creditors, repeatedly telling the trustee the money was on the way, but somehow, it never came.

That's when the bankruptcy investigators shifted their focus to Treadgold, who ran a juice and raw food shop until it closed in the beginning of 2020.

Now that Quigley is dead, Treadgold is the only living person prosecutors can hold criminally liable for the alleged scam

A 2021 civil claim against her asserts that Quigley was the chief operator of the Ponzi scheme, while she was either 'an active participant' or 'willfully blind' to the scam.

But an excerpt from a July 2021 court document would further expand on her alleged role convincing people to entrust their hard earned money to her husband.

'She encouraged people to "invest" by making representations  that [Quigley] was making friends rich by flipping properties, that only a small group of people were allowed to invest because it was doing so well, that she had sold her business because [Quigley] was making so much money,' the court document reads.

The truth was the opposite, as court filings show that two banks were coming after Treadgold in 2021 for allegedly falling into delinquency on her various lines of credit to the tune of $130,000.

Treadgold, who was going to be tried alongside Quigley in the trial set to begin in January 2025, has denied involvement in or knowing about any potential scam.

While there hundreds of alleged victims, only 80 people and businesses are listed as victims in the prosecution's case.
Joe Biden-supporting MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has cracked down on indecisive Democrats to replace the presidential nominee.

Maddow pressed that time is of the essence to name a new candidate so they can campaign in Monday's episode of her primetime show on the liberal news network.

President Biden has been facing growing calls to drop out of the race following his disastrous debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump.

The news anchor, who once insisted Biden is not too old to hold office because he can ride a bike, joined the calls for the president to make an urgent decision.

'I will say, in fairness, if the Democrats are going to change their nominee, they should maybe get on it, right? Don't take advice from me on this, but it seems like common sense that just waiting a while is the worst possible solution,' Maddow said.

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow urged Biden and Democrats to make a decision on who the presidential nominee is as soon as possible so they can start campaigning

President Joe Biden has been facing growing calls to drop out of the race following his disastrous debate against Donald Trump

'If Vice President Kamala Harris or anyone else is going to take over the top of the ticket instead of President Biden, that candidate will need enough time to actually run a campaign. And it's July.

'So, I don't know if the Democrats are going to replace Joe Biden at the top of the ticket or if they should. The only person who can make this decision is the nominee himself, President Biden. But I do know that the window to make this decision is right now, and it's about this wide.

'Speak now or hold your peace, Democrats, if you actually want a chance of competing here, because meanwhile, the Republicans are delighted to be running their felon, the guy who really did sic the rioting mob on Congress. They're really running him while he is awaiting sentencing himself for a whole separate set of dozens of unrelated felony charges.'

There is mounting pressure to replace Biden following the debate that saw the 81-year-old stumbling over his words and losing his train of thought multiple times.

Key Democrat donors have threatened to pull the plug is Biden does not step aside.

'For Biden's own good and the good of the country, he should step aside immediately,' major Democratic donor and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson told DailyMail.com.

'The fact that it has now been three days and Biden has done nothing to reassure us confirms my worst fears.'

The news anchor (pictured in 2010 interview), who once insisted Biden is not too old to hold office because he can ride a bike, joined the calls for the president to make an urgent decision

A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted over the two days following the CNN debate found that 72 percent of registered voters now do not believe that Biden has the 'mental and cognitive health to serve as president'. That number is up from 65 percent in early June.

Some of the most popular names being thrown around for a Biden replacement include Governors Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer.

Vice President Kamala Harris is the natural successor of the presidency if Biden steps down during his term. But for years, Democrats have criticized Harris performance and feel she should not take over for Biden before the election.

Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez claimed that if Biden were to step aside then only Harris would be able to use the funds raised by his campaign.

The $91.2 million collected by the Biden-Harris ticket as of May 31 is not transferrable to any other candidate, according to Federal Election Commission rules.
An Arizona mother is missing after she vanished while out for a jog and a swim, with cops arresting her husband on suspicion of assault.

Kelly Paduchowski, 45, was reported as a missing person at 7.30pm on June 30 after she went to exercise at the Campbell Mesa Loop Trails during the day.

The Flagstaff Police Department issued a missing person alert and noted that her white Mazda CX-5 was last seen near the loop-shaped park.

After a day of search and interviews, authorities took Kellys husband, Daniel Paduchowski, 58, into custody and charged him with aggravated assault. Officers did not provide any details of the arrest or specify whether the charge is related to her disappearance or a past incident.

Officials also said that the five foot eight blonde woman was last seen wearing black shorts, a gray shirt and white running shoes.

Kelly Paduchowski, 45, was reported as a missing person at 7.30pm on June 30 after she went for a run and swim at the Campbell Mesa Loop Trails during the day

Kelly, who recently graduated the Metropolitan State College, married Daniel in 2013 and gave birth to her son in 2014

In collaboration with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office as well as assistance from an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter, a search and rescue operation on foot and horseback was launched throughout the hiking area and near her Flagstaff residence.

'Since that time, officers with the Flagstaff Police Department in conjunction with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue have coordinated efforts to find and locate Kelly,' Flagstaff deputies said on a Facebook post.

'During the course of the investigation the Flagstaff Police Department interviewed family members, witnesses and processed evidence resulting in the arrest of Kellys husband, the statement read.

Officials also noted that Kelly has still not been found and it is unclear whether she is alive.

'The investigation is ongoing and the number one priority is to locate Kelly.'

Kelly, who recently graduated the Metropolitan State College, married Daniel in 2013 and gave birth to her son in 2014.

The accused is an architect who moved to Flagstaff from Sedona over a decade ago and runs a full-service architecture firm specializing in sustainable and energy-efficient homes known as Proportion & Scale Architects.

Officials noted that Kelly has still not been found and it is unclear whether she is alive

A search and rescue operation on foot and horseback was launched throughout the hiking area and near her Flagstaff residence

The Campbell Mesa Trails are a popular trail system surrounded by large stands of old-growth ponderosa pine and Gambel oak.

The system includes five loops with the longest being the 5.7-mile Campbell Mesa Loop swings around the northern and eastern perimeter of the mesa.

These various loops offer a wide variety of seasonal wildflowers, many examples of local birdlife, and frequent wildlife sightings.

Officials have asked anyone with information about Kelly to contact them.
John Swinney has been told the SNPs record on protecting womens rights and single-sex spaces is absolutely not good enough in a heated radio phone-in.

The First Minister was accused of allowing transgender self-ID by the backdoor, with legal safeguards ignored by the Scottish Government and other public bodies.

It followed the SNP leader trying to clarify widely criticised comments he made in a BBC Radio 5 interview on Monday when he was asked how many genders there are.

A woman is an adult born as a female and there are also transgender women, he replied.

Author JK Rowling accused him of doing a very good impression of a teenager trying to b******* his way through questions on a book hes never read.

The caller told Mr Swinney Its not good enough, John. It's absolutely not good enough'

Author JK Rowling likened Mr Swinney's responses on the issue to a teenager trying to answer questions on a book they've 'never read

Appearing today on BBC Radio Scotlands Call Kaye, Mr Swinney said he believed there were only two genders but he recognised others take a different view.

He said the 2010 Equality Act which allows single-sex spaces should be enforceable.

He said: Enforceable is certainly my view because thats the law. Its the law in the Equality Act.

But he was challenged by Jane, a caller who said the law on single-sex spaces was not applied in practice, with the SNP Government actively undermining it.

Its not good enough, John. It's absolutely not good enough, she said.

She cited Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre hiring a male-born trans woman as their chief executive and an ongoing employment tribunal about female NHS Fife workers forced to share a changing room with a male-bodied trans woman.

She told Mr Swinney: I think youve been quite disingenuous in claiming that the Equality Act gives protections for single sex spaces unfortunately thats being ignored.

Women are being disadvantaged. Their safety, their privacy, their dignity is being put at risk.

Mr Swinney said he understood the significance and seriousness of the issues.

He said: Fundamentally I come back to my point that the legislation does provide for the protection of single sex spaces. But the crucial point is that it has to be applied and enforced.

For the avoidance of doubt, my view is that this is the law and it should be enforced.

I think the protection that Jane is seeking is there. It has to be enforced and applied.

If there are cases where that is not the case, then obviously organisations need to respond to that and to set out how they're going to go about doing that.

However Jane remained dissatisfied, telling Mr Swinney his government was telling organisations through policies and directives to take a different approach.

She said: If someone's saying, I'm a woman, and the Government is saying to organisations you must accept that person is a woman, weve got self-ID by the back door.

And that's what organisations are working on.

Its not good enough, John. It's absolutely not good enough.

Feminist activist group For Women Scotland said: Schools, hospitals, prisons, rape crisis centres and other publicly funded services currently operate based on faulty Government guidance and funding requirements which insist men are included in women's spaces.

Mr Swinney has the power to set this right and say women's spaces exclude all men - whether or not they have a Gender Recognition Certificate. Voters would thank him.
Employees at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheater spotted 'UFO' lighting up the sky after a concert on June 5.

Reports of the apparent discovery have quickly circulated online, but no pictures or videos have been posted. The National UFO Reporting Center has not confirmed the sighting.

'There was no mistaking what this was,' Michael Lehmann, a Red Rocks employee who revealed he saw the eerie phenomenon, said in his report to The National UFO Reporting Center.

Lehmann said he saw mystifying object around 1 am with about a dozen other coworkers, following a concert headlined by the rock band All Time Low.

'Im the person who made the original report to the UFO database. I was on the loading dock that night and saw the craft that was hovering,' Lehmann said in a Reddit post on Saturday.

About a dozen Red Rock Amphitheater employees reportedly saw a UFO in the Colorado sky around 1am on June 5, following a concert headlined by the rock band All Time Low. (pictured: stock photo)

Lehman discussed his findings with others online and even shared a sketch of what he witnessed (pictured)

He told Out There Colorado that neither he or his coworkers were able to snap a picture or video of the floating metallic object because it disappeared quickly, and they 'were busy working.'

Lehman discussed his findings with others online and even shared a sketch of what he witnessed.

In the sketch, the employee drew the amphitheater on the left side while a large UFO hovered in the sky near a hill.

The 'hopeful skeptic' said the reported UFO was only visible for about 30 seconds and that it had three levels of windows.

Lehman said that the moonlit sky made it easier for him and his coworkers to spot the suspicious object that hovered over the Hogback Ridge Trail, about a mile from the concert venue.

Though the UFO was visible in the sky, Lehman said that because it was metallic and matte black, it 'blended in with the sky pretty well.'

The 'hopeful skeptic' said the reported UFO was only visible for about 30 seconds and that it had three levels of windows. (pictured: Stock image of amphitheater)

According to the National UFO Reporting Center, there have been 3,320 UFO sightings in Colorado this year alone. (pictured: Stock image)

At one point, the group of workers shined a flashlight at the object as it became almost invisible. Lehman said it was as if it was using a 'cloaking device.'

Lehman hopes that more of his fellow employees will come forward and that security guards at Red Rocks 'didn't catch anything.'

'I'm going to try and talk to all the coworkers who were there and see if I can get them to draw pictures, come forward with their stories,' he said.

'We've talked about it since then and we all agree that we saw something special that night.'

He said that has 'been in contact with an investigator' and that she and another investigator planned to meet him at the amphitheater on Monday to show them where he saw the apparent UFO.

The National UFO Reporting Center told DailyMail.com: 'It is difficult for us to make a determinative call on whether it was a true alien craft, but the description provided does not correlate with any known man-made object.'

DailyMail.com contacted Lehman for comment.

During a recent episode of the History Channel's Beyond Skinwalker Ranch, incredible footage showed several 'UFOs' spotted in a mysterious ancient canyon where experts claim they have found 'evidence' of portals.

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.

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 changed 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.
Vice President Kamala Harris has changed her schedule for the week so she can have lunch with President Joe Biden and cozy up to him at this week's Fourth of July festivities.

The move comes as talking of removing Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee continues as part of the fallout from his disasterous debate with Donald Trump.

Harris and Biden will have lunch together at the White House on Wednesday, as they occassionally do.

Then she and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will join both President Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House on Thursday evening a Fourth of July celebration for military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors.

Vice President Kamala Harris has changed her schedule to cozy up to President Biden

Harris and Emhoff are currently in California, where they are fundraising for Biden's re-election campaign. The couple watched his debate performance from the West Coast.

They return to Washington D.C. on Tuesday evening.

In the aftermath of debate, amid calls for Biden to exit the race, Harris came to his defense, noting while it wasn't the president's 'finest hour' that he was still the best bet to defeat Trump in November.

'There are three things that were true yesterday before the debate that are still true today. Let's level set on this. First, the stakes of this race could not be higher. Second, the contrast in this election could not be more stark. And third, we believe in our President Joe Biden, and we believe in what he stands for,' she said at a campaign event in Las Vegas on Friday.

'This race will not be decided by one night in June,' she added.

The Biden campaign has made it clear he is going no where and intends to stay on as the Democratic nominee.

But the president is still dealing with a demoralized staff and donors who are threatening to pull the plug on his campaign.

President Joe Biden intends to stay in the race, his campaign has said

President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff attend during reproductive freedom campaign rally in Virginia in January

Harris is seen as the one who can benefit the most from Biden's debate performance. If he does step down as the Democratic presidential nominee she would be seen as his likely successor. And, while she would not be guaranteed the nomination, she would be the frontrunner.

Additionally, she would have a massive financial advantage over other would-be contenders like Govs. Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer - the millions of dollars that Biden has raised for his re-election campaign can legally only go to one person: his running mate Kamala Harris.

Her name is listed next to Biden's on all the campaign paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission.

But Harris, 59, also polls lower than Biden. Earlier in the campaign cycle some Democrats fretted she would be a drag on the ticket. There was speculation she should be replaced.

Her supporters, however, note she connects well with voters that Biden doesn't naturally have an affinity with such as minorities and younger voters.
A British holidaymaker and his son have been found dead on a rainforest nature trail in Brazil after they were seemingly electrocuted by a broken power cable.

The bodies of the two Brits were found on June 30 on a coastal trail in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo state, between a pair of popular beaches.

Investigators said their corpses sported burns consistent with receiving a powerful electric shock, while the father had one end of a broken mains power cable trapped underneath his leg, local media reported.

In a heartbreaking twist, the worried niece of the father is said to have called his phone as investigators were identifying the bodies in a desperate attempt to locate him.

The bodies of the two Brits were found on June 30 on a coastal trail in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo state, between a pair of popular beaches

The father and son were only found when engineers from Elektro power company went to investigate a blackout at Bonete Beach - one of two beaches connected by the coastal trail.

Their car was later discovered in a nearby parking lot.

Police investigating the case have registered the deaths as accidental.

In a statement, Elektro - the utility company providing power to Ubatuba - expressed condolences over the incident and said they had dispatched their own team of investigators to get to the bottom of the incident.

'Elektro deeply regrets the accident that occurred (on June 30) at the access to Praia do Bonete, in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo.

'The company informs that it is investigating the causes and will support the authorities in everything possible to help clarify the case,' it read.

The bodies of the two Brits were found on June 30 on a coastal trail in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo state, between two beaches

Police investigating the case in Ubatuba have registered the deaths as accidental

Deputy Secretary of the Tourism Department Rodrigo Andrade said in a statement: 'The Tourism Department sympathises with the incident and regrets the death of two tourists this weekend on the Fortaleza to Bonete trail.

'Unfortunately, the incident occurred in an area not regulated for ecotourism, which is an old access used by local residents and is not open to ecotourism activities.'

He added: 'We would like to reiterate the importance of hiring a licensed agency and qualified tour guides who can perform this activity with professionalism and competence, ensuring the safety of people on the trails.'

An FCDO spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are in contact with the local authorities following the death of two British men in Brazil'.
Three Leicestershire Police officers are under investigation over how they dealt with alleged assaults by Valdo Calocane a month before he killed three people on a rampage in Nottingham.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said two constables and a sergeant have been told they are being investigated over how inquiries were progressed.

It is claimed that Calocane assaulted two colleagues at an industrial estate in Kegworth, Leicester, in May last year.

The following month, he went on to kill students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, along with caretaker Ian Coates, in a knife attack in Nottingham.

The watchdog said it is 'looking at Leicestershire Police's contact with Mr Calocane prior to the killings last June and in particular the actions and decisions taken by officers during an investigation into alleged assaults by him the preceding month (May 2023) at Kegworth, Leicester.'

Three Leicestershire Police officers are under investigation over how they dealt with alleged assaults by Valdo Calocane (pictured) the month before he killed three people in Nottingham

One of his victims was 19-year-old first year student Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who was stabbed to death while walking home in the early hours of June 13 last year

Prosecutors told how Grace showed 'incredible bravery' to try to protect her friend Barnaby Webber, 19, but the pair were both stabbed to death

Calocane went on to kill school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, later that same morning

Leicestershire Police referred itself to the watchdog in February this year.

'We have advised three Leicestershire Police officers, two police constables and a sergeant, that they are under investigation for potential misconduct over how enquiries were progressed,' the IOPC said.

'Decisions on whether any officers have a disciplinary case to answer will be taken on completion of the investigation.'

Separately, the watchdog is also examining a number of complaints made by the Nottingham victims' families.

Investigators are looking at what information was available to police about Calocane before the killings on June 13 2023.

They are also examining:

- Nottinghamshire Police's decisions and actions relating to Calocane between September 2021 and the events of June 13 last year

- how the force informed the families of the death of their loved ones, and the support they put in place for them, including how information from the ongoing investigation was communicated to them

- whether senior officers followed relevant policies and procedures in their oversight of officers investigating the events of June 13 and subsequent events, including communications with the family and public over the handling of inappropriate WhatsApp messaging and potential sharing of information about the case.

Grace's parents Dr Sinead O'Malley and Dr Sanjoy Kumar pictured emerging from the Royal Courts of Justice in May after a ruling that Calocane's sentence was not unduly lenient

The Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr (pictured) ruled at London's Court of Appeal that Calocane's original sentence was 'not arguably unduly lenient'

Dr Sanjoy Kumar (left) and Dr Sinead O'Malley (right) arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice to hear the decision on Calocane's sentence

Grace O'Malley Kumar was praised in court for her 'incredible bravery' trying to protect her friend Barnaby Webber from Valdo Calocane's dagger blows

The IOPC said all Nottinghamshire Police officers are currently being treated as witnesses, meaning there is no indication of any wrongdoing at this stage.

In February, the watchdog began the investigation into the contact Leicestershire Police had with the Nottingham stabbings triple killer.

In a statement, the watchdog said it had launched an independent investigation after requesting further information from Leicestershire Police, following a referral from the force relating to inquiries into assaults Calocane is alleged to have committed in May last year.

The IOPC statement said: 'Our investigation will consider the actions and decisions of Leicestershire Police, focusing on their response to the alleged assault.

'We will also examine whether any person serving with the force may have behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings.'

The investigation comes after the grieving families of the victims suffered fresh agony in May after appeal judges ruled his sentence was not unduly lenient.

Calocane was given an indefinite hospital order for the manslaughter of three people in Nottingham last year - and the Court of Appeal in London has since refused to change the sentence.

The paranoid schizophrenic 'brutally' stabbed to death students Barney Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, in the early hours of June 13 last year.

The family of Barnaby Webber, second left, with his father David Webber, left, mother Emma and brother Charlie

Victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, left, pictured with father Dr Sanjoy Kumar, who has criticised 'gaps' in Valdo Calocane's treatment, alongside Grace's mother Sinead and brother James

Flowers were laid at the Ilkeston Road scene in Nottingham where Grace and Barnaby were killed, including by Barnaby's father David Webber

His victims' families wanted him put on trial for murder but in January this year Nottingham Crown Court accepted his guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

In a statement following the appeal court's decision, Barney's mother Emma Webber said the families 'now face their own life sentence' of ensuring Calocane is not released - while Grace's father called the ruling 'disappointing' and criticised police and mental health services for failures ahead of the killings.

The Attorney General referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal in February.

Lawyers argued in May that Calocane should be given a 'hybrid' order where he would be treated before serving the remainder of the sentence in custody.

But three senior judges dismissed the bid, stating that while Calocane's offences caused 'unimaginable grief', his sentence was not unduly lenient as his paranoid schizophrenia was 'the sole identified cause of these crimes'.

Calocane fatally stabbed students Mr Webber and Ms O'Malley-Kumar as they walked home from a night out in the early hours of June 13 last year, before killing Mr Coates and stealing his van.

He then used the vehicle to knock down three pedestrians, Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller, in Nottingham city centre before being arrested.
Labour faces an 'uphill struggle' to reduce Channel migrant crossings under the party's undefined plans to 'stop the boats', according to a migration expert.

Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, cast doubt over Sir Keir Starmer's proposals as she criticised a lack of detail.

The Labour leader has vowed to scrap the Tories' Rwanda deportation scheme on day one of becoming prime minister, if he wins Thursday's general election.

Instead, his party's manifesto pledges to 'smash' people-smuggling gangs through a new Border Security Command, as well as sign a series of new migrant returns deals.

But the Tories have claimed Labour's interest in striking a returns agreement with the EU would see Britain obliged to take a quota of the bloc's asylum seekers in return.

Home Secretary James Cleverly warned this is 'likely to mean the UK taking 100,000 more illegal migrants into our country from the EU'.

One of the Conservatives' top-performing social media posts in recent weeks has been a video of two people carving the word 'WELCOME' into stones on a UK beach.

They are also seen and rolling out a red carpet in a dig at Labour's migration policies.

Sir Keir Starmer faces an 'uphill struggle' to reduce Channel migrant crossings under Labour's undefined plans to 'stop the boats', according to a migration expert

One of the Tories' top-performing social media posts in recent weeks has been a video of two people carving the word 'WELCOME' into stones on a UK beach - in a dig at Labour's plans

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Speaking to The Times, Ms Sumption warned Labour would find it difficult to significantly reduce small boat crossings.

She said the party's approach was too heavily focused on people-smuggling networks, which would adapt quickly to law enforcement tactics.

'The biggest claim in the Labour manifesto is that they can smash the gangs, that there can be an enforcement approach that can reduce small boat arrivals,' she told the newspaper.

'I think that it will be difficult to do that. I've no doubt it'll be possible with more resources to find more of the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

'But the question is whether it'll have a significant impact on small boat arrivals because the smuggling networks are quite decentralised.

'If you take out one group of people others move in to fill the space. There are so many people involved and as long as there is a lot of money to be made, there'll always be new people to step in to fill that space.

'I'm not saying there isn't merit to be focusing on law enforcement, but it'll be an uphill struggle to reduce numbers.'

Ms Sumption also questioned why Labour had not been explicit about a migrant returns deal with the EU in their manifesto.

In September last year, Sir Keir said he would seek an EU-wide returns agreement for asylum seekers who come to Britain.

But there is no specific pledge on an asylum deal with Brussels in Labour's manifesto.

Ms Sumption said: 'If Labour were to pursue some kind of co-operation with the EU there are scenarios where very many more could be sent to Europe than would have been sent to Rwanda, although that is theoretical because we've not seen the Rwanda policy put into action.'

She added: 'It's a pity that we don't get more detail on the Labour side about what they would actually do.'

Sir Keir has previously dismissed the Tories' claim that a migrant returns agreement with the EU would see 100,00 extra arrivals to the UK as 'complete garbage'.

A recent analysis found, since the general election was announced, the clip of the word 'WELCOME' being carved into a UK beach was one of the Tories' best-performing posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The clip, which was posted on June 20 and captioned 'Don't wake up to this on July 5', gained about eight million views and 9,000 comments.

Some X users branded it 'offensive', while others said the video was 'hypocrisy' and 'unbelievable given what has happened over the last 14 years'.

Home Office figures released today showed 85 people arrived on small boats across the Channel yesterday.

It followed 217 arrivals on Sunday, which took the total for the first six months of the year to a record high of 13,491.

Labour's shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said: 'These numbers speak for themselves.

'This is the highest total for small boat arrivals at the half-way point of the year, 18 per cent up on the same period in 2023.

'Indeed, since Rishi Sunak called the election there have been 12 times the number of people crossing the Channel that can be deported to Rwanda in a whole year.

'All that is squarely down to Rishi Sunak. He promised the people of Britain that he would stop the boats, and he has broken that promise.'
The search for a man who vanished without a trace three months ago has ended in tragedy after his body was found in a national park.

The man, 52, was last seen at a home in Lilyfield in Sydney's inner-west on March 17,

He was reported missing when he couldn't be reached by friends and loved ones.

It was believed the man may have gone to the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

A member of the public contacted police after they came across human remains in Blue Mountains National Park last Wednesday.

The missing man, 52, was believed to have been in the Blue Mountains and Katoomba area. His remains were found in the Blue Mountains National Park (pictured) by a member of the public and his identity confirmed by police on Tuesday

A police investigation commenced and a crime scene was established.

NSW Police confirmed the identity of the remains on Tuesday.

There were no suspicious circumstances in the man's death.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

If you or someone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
This perceived weakness could embolden top adversaries like China and Russia

President Joe Biden's disastrous debate and the ensuing questions about his competence and elderliness are sending a 'message of incompetence' to the United States' most dangerous adversaries, top Republicans say.

Biden's mumbling and disjointed debate performance raised alarm bells for even Democrats and liberal pundits who rushed to say the president should consider not running again - something Republicans have long said.

Now, the top ranks of the GOP are raising the threat level further, saying Biden's mental state is so perilous that China and Russia could be looking to strike.

And they say his Cabinet should remove him from office through the 25th Amendment process - which has never been done in history - before World War III breaks out.

US President Joe Biden often spoke feebly and hardly used his fully allotted time to answer complex questions, often stopping with 30 or more seconds left. He also stood with his mouth agape and eyes squinted much of the night, making it appear like he was confused

'[The] performance by the president sent a dangerous message of incompetence that will further embolden our adversaries,' House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul told DailyMail.com, adding 'The world is already on fire and [the debate] only made it worse.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also expressed major worry about the U.S. global standing.

'I've been concerned about what our adversaries see,' he said on Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime Monday night.

Johnson then did some damage control to ensure that any adversaries watching would be deterred from action after a cacophony of criticism about Biden's competence.

'We need to make certain tonight one thing is clear: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea that they understand that the U.S. military is ready to act at any time and regardless of the turmoil regarding the President.'

'America is strong, we will defend our interest and you need not second guessed that,' Johnson continued.

And cause for concern from the countries Johnson mentioned may be justified.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with the leaders of China, North Korea and Iran all within the last seven months.

Johnson said that he is concerned over what US adversaries make of Biden's health

In December 2023, the late president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi traveled to Russia to speak with Putin about the Israel-Hamas war.

In May, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Putin to Beijing for meetings where the two leaders struck a deal to 'further deepen mutual military trust and cooperation.'

Just two weeks ago Putin visited North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un at his home and raced around in cars looking like giddy schoolmates. The images of the eastern leaders raced across the internet gaining much attention.

After their joyride, Un and Putin similarly signed a military agreement.

America's top adversaries, it appears, have been making startling advances in growing their cooperation with one another - constituting a clear threat to the US.

'Yesterdays debate made clear to Americans, our allies, and our adversaries: President Biden is not capable of doing this job,' former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo posted on X the day after the debate.

'This goes beyond politics,' he added. 'Its a question of national security.'

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, right, drives a car with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sitting in front passenger seat in North Korea on June 19, 2024.

The Russian and North Korean leader agreed to a military pact during the visit

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping hold an informal meeting at Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing on May 16, 2024

Putin and Iran's late president Raisi met in December 2023 to discuss the Israel-Hamas war

Biden, Johnson said, should be removed from office so that the country can respond to such mounting threats.

'But, in the meantime, the reason we're talking about the 25th Amendment is because of the fourth clause of the 25th Amendment has never been used.'

'It is when the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet members agree that the President is unfit and unable and incapable of continuing his duties.'

'I think that's what we're watching here,' Johnson said.

And Americans seem to agree with the speaker.

Before the debate in a June 9 poll, 65 percent of respondents said Biden doesn't have the mental fitness to serve another four years  but after the debate, that grew to 72 percent, according to the CBS News/YouGov survey.

Nearly half (46 percent) of Biden's own party don't think he should run for president in 2024.

The speaker also said that Biden is unpredictable unless he is reading off a teleprompter and can't be trusted to make presidential-level decisions.

'I don't think he's capable of making these big decisions and that is something that should alarm all of us and it's something that we need to be talking about.'

'I think people are privately murmuring about this. But I think desperate times call for desperate measures, and we may well be at that moment.'
Former Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan is calling for Vice President Kamala Harris to replace President Biden on the Democratic ticket, warning there is too much at stake for the president to continue his bid.

Ryan, who mounted his own short-lived Democratic presidential bid in the 2020 primary, was the first presidential candidate to endorse Biden in the last election.

But in an op-ed published in Newsweek on Tuesday, the former Congressman wrote the Democratic nominee in 2024 should be Harris.

'Joe Biden's debate performance was deeply troubling. But it isn't just about a 90-minute debate and a terrible performance,' Ryan wrote. 'This election needs to be about generational changesomething about which I have been shouting for more than a year now.'

Former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan is calling for Democrats to put Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket

Ryan left Congress after losing the Ohio Senate race in 2022 to Republican JD Vance.

While some elected Democrats have been raising alarms about the looming election behind closed doors, Ryan is one of the few elected Democrats so far to publicly speak out about the need for change following the president's poor debate performance.

Ryan addressed in Newsweek how Biden 'promised' to be a bridge president to the next generation.

'I liked that idea. I envisioned him defeating former President Donald Trump, stabilizing the country, and passing the torch to the next generation,' he wrote.

'Regrettably, that bridge collapsed last week. Witnessing Joe Biden struggle was heartbreaking. And we must forge a new path forward,' he continued.

Vice President Kamala Harris said Biden had a slow start in the debate but a strong finish

Ryan argued that the current vice president is the best choice to replace Biden and praised her performances in appearances on TV following the debate.

'Those who questioned her chops over the past several years were rebuked by a polished, confident leader communicating clearly in the throes of a political meltdown of epic proportions. I loved watching it. Our Vice-President was masterful,' he wrote.

Ryan also argued that Harris can energize the electorate and govern effectively.

He claimed she is ready for the job and would be more convincing carrying the Democratic message than Biden, especially on abortion rights and said having her at the top of the ticket could help Democratic congressional candidates in swing districts.

At the same time, Ryan dismissed concerns her candidacy would be a greater risk than Biden facing Trump.

An average of polling between Trump and Harris show the ex-president leading the vice president by more than six points, but there has not been recent polling on the potential matchup.

Vice President Harris taking the stage at a rally in Nevada on June 28, one day after the presidential debate

Harris has been forcefully defending her boss ever since the debate.

The vice president appeared on television almost immediately after the debate where she admitted Biden had a 'slow' start in the debate but argued he had a strong finish.

Harris has repeatedly defended his ability to lead and argued he is fighting on behalf of the American people.

She also hit the campaign trail in Nevada for a rally following the president's stumbling performance where she warned against giving Trump a second term.

We have to rip the band aid off! Too much is at stake. @VP has significantly grown into her job, she will destroy Trump in debate, highlight choice issue, energize our base, bring back young voters and give us generational change. Its time! https://t.co/izPypeSmDL  Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) July 2, 2024

While Ryan called for a new generation of leadership and for Harris to lead the ticket, he did praise Biden's work during his first term.

The former congressman said Biden is the 'most pro-union, pro-manufacturing president in my lifetime.'
A mother shot her husband and autistic eight-year-old son dead before turning the gun on herself, police believe.

Jenny Williamson, 49, was found dead in their home near Albany, Louisiana, on Monday morning alongside Steven Williamson, 49, and their boy, Jio.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said they were killed on Friday night or early Saturday morning at the remote house surrounded by woods.

A family member found the bodies when they came to the house after not being able to get hold of the couple.

Jio is believed to be the son of one of Jenny's family members and she and her husband had custody of him. She also had two adult sons.

Jenny Williamson, 49, was found dead in their home near Albany, Louisiana, on Monday morning alongside Steven Williamson, 49, and their boy Jio

The couple got married in February 2022 after 19 years together

Photos shared online showed the couple taking Jio to Disney World, Dollywood, festivals and dressing up for Halloween.

Jenny appeared to be a loving wife and mother with no signs of discontent on her social media.

'I love you more than words can express,' she wrote of her husband last August on his birthday, which was celebrated with Jio and two elaborate cakes.

Jenny also celebrated their wedding anniversary in February - only two years after their marriage despite being together for 21 years.

Jio is believed to be the son of one of Jenny's family members and she and her husband had custody of him

Jenny appeared to be a loving wife and mother with no signs of discontent on her social media

The family moved across the lake from near New Orleans in June last year, paying $293,000 for the three-bedroom house on West Bates Road.

Ard said there was no history of violence at the home.

'This is horrible. I mean, this is something that you never want to see. I'm sure that everybody has questions,' he said.

'Any time you see these types of scenes, you believe somethings got to be going on in order for this to happen.'

Jenny was believed to be suffering from mental health issues, but police were unsure of anything specific.

The suspected murder-suicide is under investigation.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said they were killed on Friday night or early Saturday morning at the remote house surrounded by woods
Startling images have revealed four suspected Chinese spy stations in Cuba as Beijing moves in on America's doorstep.

The 'electronic eavesdropping' facilities, located just 100 miles off the coast of Florida, could allow China to scoop up a 'treasure trove of data' from U.S. military bases, space launches and commercial shipping, according to a report by think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

They could also bolster Beijing's ability to spy on American citizens.

Detailed layouts of three surveillance sites around Havana and one in the south-east of the country, just 70 miles from the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, have been exposed by satellite imagery captured by the CSIS.

It comes a year after White House officials warned that China has been secretly operating a spy base on the Caribbean island amid negotiations between the two communist countries to build a joint military training facility.

Satellite images have revealed four suspected Chinese spy stations in Cuba, including three in the capital of Havana (pictured)

Nestled in the hills overlooking Havana, a surveillance complex in Bejucal is thought to be the largest Chinese spy station in Cuba, according to a Washington D.C. based think tank

Satellite images have revealed detailed layouts of three surveillance sites around Havana and one in the south east of Cuba, just 70 miles from the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay

Havana is seen as an ideal location for China to keep watch over U.S. military operations, as America's southeastern seaboard brims with bases, command headquarters, space launch centers, and military testing sites.

'Collecting data on activities like military exercises, missile tests, rocket launches, and submarine maneuvers would allow China to develop a more sophisticated picture of U.S. military practice,' the CSIS said.

Its analysis of satellite images found that two of the suspected Chinese spy stations near the Cuban capital - in Bejucal and Calabazar - host large dish antennas that appear designed to monitor and communicate with satellites.

Nestled in the hills overlooking Havana, the complex at Bejucal is thought to be the largest active surveillance site in Cuba.

The facility gained notoriety during the Cold War for housing Soviet nuclear weapons during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and has been linked to Chinese intelligence activity for decades.

It even featured in the 2016 U.S. presidential primary debates, when Florida senator Marco Rubio called on Havana to '[kick] out this Chinese listening station in Bejucal'.

Now, satellite imagery reveals the site has undergone major updates over the past decade, including the addition of a radome to 'hide its specifications from unwanted eyes', the CSIS said.

Less than 10 kilometers north of Bejucal lies a smaller facility known as Wajay, where security fencing and guard posts 'strongly suggests' that it is intended for military or other sensitive activities, according to the CSIS.

The compound has gradually expanded over the past 20 years, growing from just one antenna and several small buildings in 2002 to a robust complex today.

'Unsubstantiated rumors' suggest that China played a role in either the site's construction or modernization, the CSIS said.

Close by, a small military complex in Calabazar hosts more than a dozen dish antennas.

The 'electronic eavesdropping sites', such as this one in Calabazar, near Havana, could allow China to scoop up a 'treasure trove of data' from U.S. military bases

Less than 10 kilometers north of Bejucal lies a smaller facility known as Wajay, where security fencing and guard posts 'strongly suggests' that it is intended for military activities

Analysis of satellite imagery by the Center for Strategic and International Studies uncovered this new 'spy station' on the south east side of Cuba that would provide China with a strategic vantage point near Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, a key U.S. military base in the region

Beijing is thought to have four electronic eavesdropping facilities on Cuba, just 100 miles from the coast of Florida, that will be able to gather US military secrets. Pictured: A police officer stands guard across the street from the US embassy in Havana on May 26, 2023

Chinese air force personnel are seen marching in a file photo. The US officials said plans for the training facility in Cuba were revealed in highly classified new US intelligence

On the opposite side of the island, satellite images uncovered a new 'spy station' near the neighborhood of El Salao that would provide China with a highly strategic vantage point near Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, a key U.S. military base in the region.

The structure, whose construction began in 2021, appears to be a large circularly disposed antenna array (CDAA) with a projected diameter of 130 to 200 meters, the CSIS found.

The think tank added that, once operational, the facility 'will serve as a powerful tool for enhancing air and maritime domain awareness in the region, where the U.S. military and its international partners operate regularly'.

Some CDAAs of this approximate size are reportedly able to track signals anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 nautical miles away.

Sites like these were a staple during the Cold War.

Russia and the U.S. have since moved onto new technologies, but China has continued building CDAAs, including on its militarized outposts in the South China Sea.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union operated its largest overseas site for electronic spying, known as signals intelligence, at Lourdes, just outside Havana.

China has played an increased role on the island in recent years, with the U.S. intelligence community confirming in its annual threat assessment released in February that Beijing is pursuing military facilities in Cuba.

Beijing is considered by Washington to be its most significant rival when it comes to both its military and its economy, and a Chinese base with military and spying capabilities so close to the United States would pose an unprecedented threat. Left: Chinese president Xi Jinping. Right: President Joe Biden

From tens of billions of dollars in funding for key infrastructure projects across the region to its own secretive, military-run space station in Argentina that could target American satellites, China's presence in Latin American and the Caribbean has grown huge

China, Washington's top geopolitical rival, has previously denied the claims it is using Cuba as a spy base.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for China's embassy in Washington, told The Wall Street Journal that the U.S. was 'the leading power in terms of eavesdropping' and 'repeatedly hyped up China's establishment of spy bases or conducting surveillance activities in Cuba'.

It comes amid growing concerns over Beijing's operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Cuban embassy, The White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has been approached for comment.

Chinese state banks have loaned $136 billion to Latin American countries since 2005 with terms US officials have dubbed a 'spiraling trap'.

The communist country is also building a megaport on Peru's Pacific coast.
Scottish holidaymakers are facing a summer of strike chaos as airport security staff vow to walkout within days unless pay demands are met.

Hundreds of workers at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports have warned strike action was inevitable just as the summer rush reaches its peak.

Airports are expecting their busiest period since before the pandemic as Scots escape the countrys so-far underwhelming summer for sunnier climes.

But those wanting to escape to hotter destinations like the Canary Islands, Greece and Spain have been told to brace for widespread disruption unless a better pay deal is offered.

Yesterday Unite confirmed that the ICTS Central Search employees, who deal with passengers directly in the security search areas and process them for flights, could start action in mid-July unless ICTS significantly moves on pay in the coming days.

Holidaymakers face delays and disruption at two of Scotland's busiest airports this month after security staff backed strike action over pay

They had been offered a four per cent pay rise, back dated to January, and a 500 one-off payment but workers have dismissed it as not enough.

Pat McIlvogue, the unions lead industrial officer for aviation in Scotland, warned: Strike action is now inevitable because 300 ICTS workers at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports have been left with no choice but to fight for what they deserve.

We are calling on AGS, the owner of the airports to intervene in a final attempt to get ICTS to step back from the brink of a major dispute which will cause widespread disruption.

Without these workers, the airports simply cant operate.

Despite the threat ICTS insisted there would be no disruptions.

At Glasgow Airport around 600,000 passengers expected to pass through the terminal in the three weeks leading up to July 18.

In what airport bosses are expecting will be their busiest period since 2019, until mid-July an average of 30,000 passengers will pass through its doors every single day on more than 240 flights.

Meanwhile, at Aberdeen Airport, around three million passengers pass through its doors a year and sees holiday makers jet off to some of Europes most popular destinations including Alicante and Amsterdam.

It is also a vital lifeline for those travelling around the country, with domestic flights including those to London Heathrow and Sumburgh, in Shetland.

Unite yesterday said scheduled talks with ICTS Central Search management were cancelled at the last minute by the firm in June - and there has been no break through in negotiations despite months of talks.

Strike action was backed by 98.5 per cent at Glasgow airport, with the ballot involving around 200 ICTS workers. At Aberdeen, 89.7 per cent of the roughly 100 workers backed the strike.

An ICTS spokesman said: Constructive pay talks with our staff at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are ongoing.

We would like to reassure the travelling public that their security is our priority and there will be no disruptions.

And spokesman for AGS, which owns and operates Aberdeen and Glasgow airports, said: AGS does not involve itself in discussion between third parties, however, we are ensuring that ongoing dialog between ICTS and Unite can continue with a view to reaching a positive outcome.
The drill rapping son of Mark Duggan whose death started the London riots faces jail after his DNA was found on a semi-automatic pistol.

A court heard Kemani Duggan, 23, is a high-ranking gang member' whose fingerprints came up on a 7.62mm Tokarev calibre Zastava Arms model M57 self-loading pistol.

Prosecutors accused Duggan of possessing the gun and 22 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life but accepted pleas to the lesser charge of having the firearm with the intent to cause fear of violence.

Duggan who performs under the name Bandokay faces a lengthy jail sentence after admitting the charge at the Old Bailey.

He appeared in the dock alongside Abdou Bojang, 22, who pleaded guilty to possessing the weapon and ammunition.

Kemani Duggan, 23, admitted possessing the firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

Mark Duggan, 29, whose death after being shot by the police sparked riots across Britain

The gun and ammunition were found in a communal car park beneath a block of flats where Bojang lived in Wenlock Road, Hackney.

The pair will be sentenced of Friday by Judge Philip Katz KC.

Prosecutor Tom Parker described Duggan as a high-ranking member of the gang while Bojang was minding the firearm.

Bojang was not home when police searched his home on 21 March last year.

He had tried to call both his family and neighbour before officers found a yellow plastic bag containing the gun and 22 rounds of live ammunition in the car park.

Bojang had also called Duggan repeatedly during the search, saying the feds were in his block of flats and he might get nicked, the court heard.

He also forwarded Duggan a video of police outside his address along with a photo of the search warrant.

Duggans DNA was later found on top of the handgun and images of the weapon were found on his phone following his arrest at Gatwick Airport on January 13 this year.

Duggan was ten years old when his father Mark was gunned down by a police officer in Tottenham, North London on 4 August, 2011.

Officers believed Mark, 29, had a handgun with him while he was travelling in a mini-cab and one was found a few feet away from him after he was shot through the chest.

An inquest into the shooting found the killing was a lawful one to the anger of Mark's family.
A Florida prosecutor painted two of Jeffrey Epstein's victims as prostitutes, drug addicts and liars to a grand jury, shocking new court documents reveal.

Filings against the pedophile financier were unsealed this week by a Palm Beach judge, releasing a trove of documents related to a 2006 case against Epstein.

Epstein infamously walked away from that case with a sweetheart plea deal that saw him serve just 15 months in a low security prison in 2008, while avoiding federal prosecution for his sickening crimes.

He would later be charged with a slew of sex crimes over a decade later, before he killed himself inside a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in August 2019.

The release of the filings came after evidence put forward by the Miami Herald suggesting Epstein used his wealth and influence to sway a Florida state attorney, who then discredited Epstein's young victims.

Jefrey Epstein was able to walk away from a 2006 investigation with an outrageous deal after allegedly exerting influence over Florida prosecutors, with new documents showing how they scathed his young victims before a grand jury

The newly unsealed documents focus on Epstein's crimes committed at his Palm Beach, Florida mansion (pictured), where he targeted hundreds of young girls for over a decade

Although grand jury records are normally kept under seal, mounting pressure led Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to approve releasing the filings this week.

DeSantis referenced the suspicious nature of the grand jury claims against Epstein's victims, saying they may explain how he was able to 'engineer an outcome that the average citizen would likely never have been able' to accomplish.

Included in the 200-pages of unsealed documents was horrific testimony from two girls who were targeted and attacked by Epstein inside his Palm Beach mansion.

Their claims against him included one saying the pedophile would pleasure himself in front of her in the massage room of his mansion, and also forcibly used a sex toy on her.

One said he raped her when she was underage as she 'screamed no' before offering her $1,000 as an apology.

But despite courts hearing sickening claims, Epstein evaded serious charges at the time, with critics pointing to Palm Beach prosecutor Barry Krischer as he decided against bringing felony sexual assault charges and opted for lesser charges.

The filings also led to scrutiny over the lead prosecutor in the case, Lanna Belohlavek, who was the one who reportedly scathed the two young victims before the grand jury.

The documents were released due to pressure from Florida legal circles, with many pointing to Palm Beach state attorney Barry Krischer's (pictured) decision to bring lesser charges to Epstein in 2006

Lead prosecutor in the case, Lanna Belohlavek, is accused of discrediting Epstein's young victims and painting them as prostitutes when they went before a grand jury

Krischer's decision not to bring more serious charges sparked fury in Florida legal circles, with his reasoning being that the girls were believed to be 'prostitutes', so juries were less likely to side with them.

The move was furiously opposed Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter and the case's lead detective Joe Recarey, who protested over the fact that some victims were as young as 14, the Miami Herald reports.

Spencer Kuvin, the attorney representing one of the girls who testified before the grand jury, told the outlet that the shocking way the case's were handled was indicative of the influence exerted over prosecutors.

'There was no reason to take this case to a grand jury in the first place,' he said.

'They had evidence of numerous victims to show that he was a serial sex predator. The only reason they gave it to the grand jury was to taint their own case and have an excuse not to prosecute.'

According to the reported release, Belohlavek jumped on the two victims' broken homes to discredit their testimonies.

Epstein walked away from the case with lesser charges, despite the victims' attorney claiming there was 'evidence of numerous victims to show that he was a serial sex predator'

For one, she explained that the victim and her sister attended a school for troubled juveniles while their parents traded custody of them numerous times.

The victim joined a group of older kids, one of whom took her to Epstein's mansion, which led her to a terrifying encounter with the notorious predator when she was just 14-years-old.

She claimed in the grand jury filing that she was quickly taken to a large bedroom and told to strip to her underwear, before reluctantly complying with Epstein's sexual demands in a haze of confusion.

After he molested her, Epstein paid the teen $200.

But before the jury, Belohlavek was far from sympathetic, and questioned the victim: 'You're aware that you committed a crime?'

'Now I am. I didnt know it was a crime when I was doing it,' she replied. 'I dont know. I guess it was prostitution or something like that.'

An 18-year-old victim testified that she was around 16 when she first went to Epsteins house after being told there was a 'man in Palm Beach and he was looking for girls'. He is seen in Palm Beach in 200 with Maxwell and former President Donald Trump and Melania

Another victim, who was 18 when she testified, said she was drawn into Epstein's circle when she was 16, after she was told there was a 'man in Palm Beach and he was looking for girls'.

The friend who lured her there told her to 'dress very girly', and said that over 10 visits she was paid $200 a time and Epstein asked her to be completely naked.

In her testimony, the girl said Epstein asked to touch her but she said no so he would masturbate himself.

But the last time she visited, the day before her 18th birthday, he had sex with her.

The girl said: 'He told me to lay down because he was going to crack my back, which he had done before. And he just sort of did it'

Epstein paid her $300 for sex and stopped calling her after that final visit, she testified.
A Kentucky pastor has been arrested on child sex charges for having an illicit relationship with a minor that he claims was 'consensual.'

Zachary King, 47, the former pastor at LexCity Church in Lexington, was arrested on Monday on charges of rape, sodomy and sexual abuse, according to an arrest citation, according to Fox56 News.

King, who is married, told a detective from the Lexington Police Department that the relationship with the 15-year-old started in January 2023 that lasted until April 2024.

He confessed to the sex crimes telling authorities that he had 'sexual intercourse in the minor's home, at his residence, and at the church where he was a former pastor,' Lex 18 News reported.

He communicated with the teen through Snapchat and WhatsApp, and would 'receive sexually explicit images' from her on the social platform.

Zachary King, a pastor at LexCity Church in Lexington, told detectives he started the relationship with the fifteen-year-old in January 2023 that lasted until April 2023

After members of the Lexington City Church confronted him about the allegations, he resigned from his position, as per the citation

King is pictured smiling during the baptism of a member of the church

After members of the church confronted him about the allegations, he resigned from his position, as per the citation.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.

King told the podcast Off the Record hosted by Pastor Brian Classen about his relationship with his wife back in February 2022.

He revealed: 'At times, where I am frustrated and my needs are not being met - and annoyed by things I shouldn't be annoyed by - is when my wife and I are disconnected and we haven't talked about it and we just kind of let it sit.

'We become really good co-parents and roommates in those seasons - where it's like we just got to get the kids to the next place and get through the next day, almost like surviving until you can go to bed.

'So things that wouldn't never really bother me normally you are treating the symptoms, but you are not treating the root of the problem and I just have to sit there and pray and ask the Lord to reveal the root - typically it's me - my frustration is actually something I'm not doing - so it is really not you it's me in this scenario.'

He also said of his marriage: 'I actually find I am guilty of not just comparing your partner to someone else, but comparing them to the former them.'

Last week, megachurch Pastor Robert Morris, 62, the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake - one of the largest megachurches in the country - was accused of sexually abusing former family friend Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s, when she was just 12 years old.

Clemishire, now 54, finally went public with her allegations in a blog post on The Wartburg Watch - a website dedicated to exposing abuse in churches.

He was reported to have once asked his accuser how much it would cost to silence, her, a phone transcript revealed.
Its just two weeks since she celebrated her wedding at her fathers Carmel ranch but DailyMail.com can reveal that the family unity on display at Morgan Eastwoods nuptials has now exploded into a very public slanging match.

The fight has pitted Clint Eastwoods youngest daughter Morgan, 27, against her older half-sister Kathryn, 36, with director Kathryn accusing her younger sister of calling her insane while dubbing her my evil stepsister and weird and fake.

DailyMail.com can reveal Morgans mother Dina, 58, has also been drawn in  threatening Kathryn with legal action over her social media outbursts and being called a greed [sic] money obsessed psycho in return.

The bitter feud appears to have ignited around the time of the wedding but had been kept under wraps until Kathryn, who lives in La Quinta, California, unleashed a string of furious Instagram posts last week lambasting her sister and stepmother.

The first sign of trouble came when Kathryn posted a video of herself dancing with her father at the wedding before they were interrupted by another guest.

Clint Eastwood's daughter Kathryn has called her pregnant sibling Morgan 'my evil stepsister' in a social media outburst just two weeks after Morgan's wedding (Pictured: Morgan (left), Clint and Kathryn (right) on the red carpet in February 2018)

Clint Eastwood's daughter Kathryn took aim at her just-married sister Morgan on social media (Pictured: Morgan Eastwood, 27, on her wedding day June 15 with husband Tanner Koopmans at Mission ranch in Carmel)

'My siblings are weird and fake, inside and out,' Kathryn Eastwood claimed in an Instagram post less than two weeks after her half-sister Morgan's wedding on their father's ranch

A furious Kathryn wrote: Got to dance with my dad for 50 f***ing seconds before we were interrupted because every star humper wants a piece of his a**.

PS star humper You are so f***ing rude to me and my 94-year-old father. F*** you star humper.

Two days later, the 36-year-old took the gloves off and began laying into her younger sister  starting with a smiling selfie of the pair accompanied by a bitter caption.

The blonde wrote: I had to break up with my sister Morgan after her wedding because shes so concerned with her reputation, she called me insane online for the world to hear.

She added: This has impacted my ability to have children and become a mother and I have to protect myself from further heartache from this image driven monster.

Next came a flurry of posts that compared Morgan to Disney villain Morgana and a family snap showing Eastwood with Dina and six of his seven children at his Carmel ranch captioned: My siblings are weird and fake, inside and out.

Kathryn Eastwood (pictured) has accused her younger sister Morgan of calling her insane while dubbing her my evil stepsister and weird and fake. Morgan got married at a happy family ceremony attended by their father Clint, and Kathryn, just two weeks ago

Next in the social media onslaught came a flurry of posts that compared Morgan to Disney villain Morgana

The blonde wrote: I had to break up with my sister Morgan after her wedding because shes so concerned with her reputation, she called me insane online for the world to hear'

Kathryn then doubled down by posting another photo of herself with Morgan, who is currently pregnant with her first child, and commenting: Shes the cruelest, most shallow superficial woman I have ever known

Kathryn then dubbed the family unity seen at Morgans lavish wedding to energy salesman Tanner Koopmans, 27, a performance and added my siblings suck.

Dina, who divorced Eastwood in 2014 before marrying second husband Scott Fisher in 2016, then waded into the row  confronting Kathryn via text and threatening legal action and consignment to a mental health facility over the string of posts.

Undeterred, the 36-year-old, whose mother is flight attendant Jacelyn Reeves, now 72, posted screenshots of the messages to Instagram, adding heres what my liar of a wicked stepmother has to say.

In the texts, a furious Dina says: One more comment about Morgan online  and if you dont erase the ones youve posted  I will take legal action against you.

Your psychosis is leading you down a very bad legal path and a path that could end up with you being committed to a mental facility.

Stop now. I f***ing mean it young lady you stop it right now [sic]. You will lose for family for eternity just like you want but we wont go down sweetly.

DailyMail.com can reveal Morgans mother Dina, 58, has also been drawn in  threatening Kathryn with legal action over her social media outbursts and being called a greed [sic] money obsessed psycho in return. (Pictured: Dina and Clint when they were together in 2010)

A final text exchange, that sees Kathryn reply to Dina with Bring it on. You gold digger while her stepmom tells her to take her meds and not be a public attacker, was posted with a caption accusing Dina of being after Kathryns inheritance

Clint Eastwood's daughter Kathryn took to Instagram to publicly air her family feud

Further text messages, accompanied by a caption written by Kathryn that reads my stepmother is a greed [sic] money obsessed psycho and phony reality star make more legal threats.

Kathryn's stepmother Dina threatened her with legal action over her social media outbursts

DailyMail.com can reveal Morgans mother Dina, 58, has also been drawn in  threatening Kathryn with legal action over her social media outbursts and being called a greed [sic] money obsessed psycho in return

Further text messages, accompanied by a caption written by Kathryn that reads my stepmother is a greed [sic] money obsessed psycho and phony reality star make more legal threats.

They also refer to a previous family row over Dinas divorce settlement, with the 58-year-old writing: Ill give you until tomorrow morning. Then I will use your fathers money that I stole for him in your words and sue you.

A final text exchange, that sees Kathryn reply to Dina with Bring it on. You gold digger while her stepmom tells her to take her meds and not be a public attacker, was posted with a caption accusing Dina of being after Kathryns inheritance.

It read: My evil stepmother who is after my inheritance and fathers fortune has me committed because she wants money.

Kathryn then doubled down by posting another photo of herself with Morgan, who is currently pregnant with her first child, and commenting: Shes the cruelest, most shallow superficial woman I have ever known.

Zero compassion for others, obsessed with self-image and as cruel inside as she is beautiful without, her looks will fade like a flower and all that will be left is a heartless monster meet my evil stepsister.

The Gran Torino star posed with his second youngest daughter Francesca, alongside her boyfriend Alexander Wraith and their five-year-old son Titan at the wedding

The bride, Morgan Eastwood, wore a gorgeous cream silk gown for the celebration hosted by her 94-year-old father at his sprawling ranch in Carmel-by-the-Sea

The posts are in stark contrast to the happy family on show at Morgans wedding on June 15 and also contrast with previous posts about the 27-year-old.

One June 9 post uses the same smiling photo of the sisters together as the tirade but is captioned with my baby grew up and is having babies.

A second post made the same day shows the sisters together as children with Kathryn writing: Im celebrating MY baby, who is all grown up and about to have HER baby!

I LOVE MY baby and I couldnt be more proud of her and her new adventure into motherhood.

Another post showing the two sisters includes the caption I love my google while further photos show Kathryn enjoying the wedding  posing for one photo under the same rust, cream and gold floral arch Morgan was married beneath.

Several of Morgan's half-siblings attended the nuptials, including her sister Kathryn Eastwood who shared a photo booth strip of pictures with their dad (pictured). This was before Kathryn went on to slam Morgan in a series of incendiary social media posts

Dina, Kathryn and Morgan have all been contacted for comment.

The wedding at Eastwoods Mission Ranch saw all the Eastwood children brought together, including eldest daughters Laurie Murray, 69, and Kimber, 60.

Kathryns brother Scott, 38, was also at the event as was Eastwoods daughter with Titanic actress Frances Fisher, Francesca, 30.

His final two children, Kyle, 56, and Alison, 52, who he had with first wife Maggie Johnson were also at the wedding.
A blind piano tuner was forced to hand over 185,000 of inheritance from his late mother after being ruthlessly targeted by fraudsters.

Mark Best, 55, was said to have been 'played like a violin' by 'predatory' sales director Mark Stanner.

During a callous four-year campaign, heartless Stanner duped Mr Best into believing he owed cash for promoting his business services online.

Using a call centre company in Manchester as a front, Stanner, 42, bombarded Mr Best with phone calls, emails and texts - as well as pressuring his victim with 'aggressive threats' from people claiming to be debt enforcers.

The shameless fraudster even warned Mr Best that bailiffs would arriving at the 55-year-old's home in Basingstoke, Hampshire, 'within the hour' to seize possessions and change the locks if he didn't stump up the money.

A desperate Mr Best ended up borrowing a whopping 30,000 from friends and family after purchasing braille software to read a string of fake invoices which gave him as little as 30 minutes to pay.

Blind piano tuner Mark Best (pictured), 55, was said to have been 'played like a violin' by heartless sales director Mark Stanner, who duped him out of 185,000

'Predatory' Stanner duped Mr Best out of 185,000 during a four-year campaign of deception

Stanner, from Droyslden, has since been jailed for five years and four months after he admitted conspiracy to defraud

The situation became so dire, the disabled 55-year-old even evicted his own uncle from the house his mother had left him in order to sell it and raise cash to pay back the bogus 'debts'.

Mr Best - who has been blind since birth - had been left virtually penniless by the time police were finally called in to investigate the case.

When he was tracked down, Stanner - who calls himself 'The Window Wizard' - claimed to have squandered the money on gambling and drugs.

However, pictures on Facebook showed him enjoying a string overseas holidays in Turkey and the Middle East with his unwitting fiancee Gail Spink and her children during the course of the fraud between January 2017 and July 2021.

It emerged Stanner, from Droyslden, Greater Manchester, was able to target Mr Best as the victim's phone number and email appeared on his business website and social media pages.

He also recruited friends and family to use their bank accounts to field the victim's cash, including his sister Martina Turner, 44, who allowed 31,000 of Mr Best's cash to go through her account.

Mr Best, who lives with his wife Chris who is also blind, said his life had been destroyed by Stanner's deception, with his 'intimidating and aggressive bullying tactics' having badly affected them 'financially and emotionally'.

'My trusting nature has now been taken full advantage of by those who see fit to con vulnerable people purely out of greed for their own self-centred financial gain,' he said.

Stanner - who calls himself 'The Window Wizard' - claimed to have squandered the money on gambling and drugs but had been pictured on several holidays with his unwitting partner

Stanner's sister Martina Turner (pictured) was involved in the fraud, allowing her brother to pay 31,000 of Mr Best's cash into her bank account

'My piano tuning business has been operating for over 30 years and being blind from birth I have to trust those with whom I have contact and I base my work on trust, honesty and integrity.

'Clearly those involved in this scam do not operate under the same high level of morality - that is if they have any morals at all.

'They surely must regard causing financial and emotional stress in this way as some kind of joke.'

Stanner has since been jailed for five years and four months after he admitted conspiracy to defraud.

Mr Best added he had been 'easily traced' by his tormentor after advertising his business online.

He was first targeted by a call from a mobile number, claiming he owed money for alleged outstanding advertising costs, Mr Best said.

Soon, he received texts demanding money at short notice warning of removing me from databases.

The con ramped up to the point he would be bombarded by calls 'on any day of the week, including weekends and late evenings'.

Stanner has since been jailed for five years and four months after he admitted conspiracy to defraud.

Then, the fraud become more sinister, with 'aggressive threats from people claiming to be debt collection agencies' or people 'working on behalf of the police' threatening to seize his home

'This led both my wife and I to fear what could happen to us and our home,' Mr Best said.

'We were sent into numerous panic attacks because we were both made to feel unsafe in our own home.'

Describing the the fraud, Mr Best - who has been blind since birth - continued: 'One bogus demand was for 4,000 to be paid within the hour whilst on several occasions bullying tactics were used displaying rudeness, aggression and impatience if requests for money were not paid in as little as half an hour.

'If I know I owe money, its is always in my nature to pay it as quickly as possible. Every payment I made in this case was done under pressure but in the belief each request to be genuine and due to not having the ability due to my disability to fully investigate the false demands being made.

'These demand for money has taken a huge toll on the wellbeing of my wife and I. Feeling the pressure to pay these alleged debts has left me with very low confidence and I now find it very difficult to trust people in the future.

'My ability to trust has been irreparable taken from me purely out of self-centred greed by these fraudsters.'

Mr Best said each time he would receive a threat, his blood pressure would 'go up dramatically and brought on asthma attacks'. Even eating became problematic, he added.

'I've had sleepless nights and frightening dreams,' he said. 'Much of the money was from my late mother's estate given to me as a bequest including her home.

'I kept telling these heartless people my funds were at breaking point but they showed no compassion and continued to demand payment.

'I feel humiliated and totally worthless and I feel as though I have very seriously let down my late mother.

Piano tuner Mr Best (pictured) said each time he would receive a threat, his blood pressure would 'go up dramatically and brought on asthma attacks'

'I was close to my mother and not only did I lose her but I also lost my inheritance which was my old family home - all to people who have no purpose in life but target and extort money from vulnerable people for pure greed.'

Prosecutor Naomi Duckworth told Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester: 'Mr Best was more vulnerable that most to being exploited. The cruelty he fell victim too once he was trapped in it, pushed him into being squeezed and milked for endless sums of money.

'This was a heartless fraud carried out on a decent man causing him immense worry. To use a musical analogy Mr Best was played like a violin.'

The bank has since re-imbursed 131,000 to Mr Best.

Stanner who had previous convictions for stealing for an employer and deception claimed he had been coerced into the fraud and suffered from mental health issues.

His counsel Rick Holland said: 'Though this fraud was executed on a prolonged basis and on a substantial scale, the root of Mr Stanner's offending has been problems with gambling. There is another dimension to his character.'

Stanner is pictured on holiday during the time he defrauded his blind victim

But when sentencing, Judge Jason MacAdam told Stanner: 'This was a predatory, systematic and organised fraud upon a naive, gullible and vulnerable man. You stole his money without mercy until nothing more could be got.

'You were the principal player and you mercilessly and relentlessly drove this fraud of all that could be extracted from the victim. You were involved from first to the last in every aspect whether it be recruiting others, drafting documents, sending messages or making threatening phone calls to the victim.

'You continue to accept no responsibility for your wicked offending and you simply do not care about the harm you have caused. You remain a thoroughly dishonest, manipulative and devious offender.'

Stanner's sister Martina Turner, 44, was given 18 months jail suspended for 18 month and was ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work after she allowed 31,000 pounds of Mr Best's money to go through her bank account.

Stanner's former business partner Marvin Scott, 41, from Blackley, Manchester was jailed for 31 months for fielding 48,000 of stolen cash. All three will face a Proceeds of Crime hearing later.

In all five people were arrested and charged over the scam. Charges against two suspects were dropped at an earlier hearing.
A huge shark has washed up on a Scottish beach, leaving beachgoers in utter disbelief.

The basking shark, sometimes known as a 'Toothless Bruce' because of it lack of teeth, measured 24ft in length when it appeared on Maidens Beach in Ayrshire, Scotland.

The enormous creature had a rope caught between its mouth and wrapped around its tail when discovered by Yolanda McCall on Sunday evening, who at first mistook it for a whale.

She immediately reached out to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) teams to help remove the shark.

Dramatic scenes showed the deceased animal having to be picked up on a forklift to remove it from the beach.

The basking shark, sometimes known as a 'Toothless Bruce' because of it lack of teeth, measured 24ft in length when it appeared on Maidens Beach in Ayrshire, Scotland

Dramatic scenes showed the deceased animal having to be picked up on a forklift to remove it from the beach

She immediately reached out to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) teams to help remove the shark

'It was tangled in a long loop of rope, in its mouth and caught around its tail,' Yolanda said.

'The creature was bobbing around in the water and we couldn't tell if it was dead or alive.

'I wanted to try to help it, if it was alive and floundering, so I put on a wetsuit and got in the water to check.

'Sadly it was dead, but it looked very complete, a recent death. Maybe it got tired trying to free itself.'

The enormous creature had a rope caught between its mouth and wrapped around its tail when discovered by Yolanda McCall on Sunday evening, who at first mistook it for a whale

Basking sharks are an endangered species which are often spotted off the Ayrshire coast in the summer months

Basking sharks are an endangered species which are often spotted off the Ayrshire coast in the summer months.

Officials on the scene are said to have identified the animal as a basking shark.

She added: 'After the tide went out, we could see the full beautiful big creature.

'[It's] very sad.'

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: 'Just before 8.45pm on Sunday, June 30, HM Coastguard had a report of a beached cetacean at Maidens beach.

'Coastguard rescue teams from Girvan and Ballantrae were sent. British Divers Marine Life Rescue and the South Ayrshire Council were alerted.'
One of the Venezuelan migrants accused of raping and killing a 12-year-old girl is the son of an ex-government official in the socialist nation, DailyMail.com has learned.

Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, is one of two men who could face the death penalty for the capital murder of Jocelyn Nungaray, who was found strangled in a creek earlier this month in Houston, Texas.

Following Martinez Rangel's arrest, Venezuelans from his home state of Guarico began flagging on social media that his mother Nazareth Rangel Palacios is a staunch supporter of Nicolas Maduro and served as a councilwoman for his party.

Venezuela's electoral registry shows Martinez Rangel and Rangel Palacios share the same address in San Juan de Los Morros.

Rangel Palacios was a vocal militant for the ruling party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, and was photographed with her son in pro-government events until he left the country in about 2018.

Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, is one of two men who could face the death penalty for the capital murder of Jocelyn Nungaray earlier this month in Houston, Texas. His mother is a former councilmember for the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Seen here in 2017

Venezuelans from his home state of Guarico flagged that his mother Nazareth Rangel Palacios is a staunch supporter of Nicolas Maduro and served as a councilwoman for his party

Rangel is believed to have entered Colombia before crossing into the U.S. via Mexico illegally in March.

DailyMail.com also confirmed his identity by speaking to one of his childhood friends, who said he did not want to discuss Martinez Rangel's alleged crimes.

'He was my friend when we were kids and it's very sad that he did what he did,' Lias Brandont told DailyMail.com.

Martinez Rangel's family connections have emerged as Univision aired a video they said shows the murder suspect snorting a substance that appears to be cocaine the day of Nungaray's killing.

The footage appears to show the suspect wearing the same hat and accessories he had on when he was pictured next to Nungaray before her murder.

A source shared a voice note with Univision that Martinez Rangel allegedly sent to them, bragging about being very intoxicated.

Rangel Martinez and Franklin Pena, 26, are accused of luring Nungaray underneath a bridge before sexually assaulting and killing her.

Former PSUV councilwoman Nazareth Rangel is seen with her son Johan. She is wearing a shirt showing the eyes of late Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chavez

Rangel Martinez and Franklin Pena, 26, are accused of luring Nungaray underneath a bridge before sexually assaulting and killing her

Her body was found the next morning after she had been strangled, bound and thrown in a bayou. She was naked from the waist down.

The men allegedly met Nungaray, who had snuck out of her house, as she was walking to a 7-11 around 10om on June 16.

The men walked to the store with her and later under the bridge. Investigators have yet to say which of the men they believe raped Nungaray before her death.

Both men are currently being held in jail with $10 million bonds each.

A third man who briefly lived with the two suspects was the one who ratted them out to the cops.

Martinez Rangel's family connections have emerged as Univision aired a video they said shows the suspect snorting a substance that appears to be cocaine the day of Nungaray's killing

EXCLUSIVE: Video shows Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, one of the two men accused of killing Jocelyn Nungaray, snorting what appears to be cocaine.



Sources tell us this was recorded the same night he and Franklin Pena Ramos were seen with the young girl. @UniNoticias pic.twitter.com/gjRYkE2GEZ  Lidia Terrazas (@LidiaTerrazas) July 1, 2024

The footage appears to show the suspect wearing the same hat and accessories he had on when he was pictured next to Nungaray before her murder (above)

The suspects are seen in surveillance video the night of Nungaray's murder

The unnamed roommate claims he had only lived with the two men for a matter of days when he ate dinner with the accused killers on June 16 at a restaurant called 'Ojos Locos' -- or 'crazy eyes' in Spanish, according to Fox 26.

Two days after the murder, as Houston police led a full-fledged manhunt for Nungaray's killers, the tipster was watching TV with Martinez and Pena when their photos flashed on the screen.

The roommate 'tried not to react', as he wasn't even sure it was them.

Through a family member, the roommate contacted investigators who were able to arrest them.

State District Judge Josh Hill set the bond during a court hearing in which prosecutors said authorities found evidence on Martinez-Rangel's cellphone that they allege showed he was trying to leave the country after police were looking for him following Jocelyn's death.
An unhinged woman expressed her support for pedophiles during a podcast, saying that those individuals should be recognized as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

On June 12, a woman named Shayna called into the the iHeart Radio Bex & Buster podcast and showed her unwavering support for pedophiles, including outrageously advocating to get rid of the 'stigma' that surrounds them.

During the show's 'Weirdo Wednesday' segment, Shayna, who works for the International Pedophile and Child Emancipation (IPCE), said that the US shouldn't be 'shunning' people who 'have desires to engage' in relationships with minors.

With absolute shock on their faces, the hosts, Rebekah Maroun and Buster, were practically left speechless as the woman explained her stance on the obscene topic.

'If we're taking a month as a country to showcase our pride for other communities of sexual explorations, then I think we should add the letter P, which is just as important as the LBG and T,' Shayna said.

On June 12, a woman named Shayna called into the the Bex & Buster podcast and showed her unwavering support for pedophiles, and getting rid of the 'stigma' that surrounds them. (pictured: Host- Rebekah Maroun)

This isn't the first time the LGTBQ+ community has had to denounce the inclusion of pedophiles in their spectrum of sexual orientations and communities.

'No LGBTQ organization has condoned pedophilia or advocated for a P to be added to the acronym in support of pedophiles,' Rich Ferraro, the chief communications officer at GLAAD, told USA Today in 2020.

'It pains me to have to clarify that no, the LGBTQ community does not embrace pedophilia, and LGBTP is not an acronym used or supported by the LGBTQ community.'

The radio hosts made it clear that they do not at all agree with the woman's views, as the caption to the clip read: 'We do not endorse the views of this caller. We couldnt believe this woman who believes P for Pedophile should be added to LGBTQIA+ initialism.'

IPCE is a pedophile advocacy group that discusses the difference between 'pedophilia' and 'pedosexuality,' according to its website.

The strange conversation starts off with Shayna introducing herself before Maroun asks her: 'What makes you weird?'

'I don't know if I'm actually weird, but I just want to express that I understand society's stigma when it comes to pedophilia,' Shayna replies.

Both hosts quickly ask: 'Huh? Pedophilia?'

'Correct. I work with IPCE, if you don't know, that's International Pedophile and Child Emancipation.

'And our goal is to abolish the stigmatization of people with pedophilia sexual interests, in normalizing the potential role and moderating pedophiles emotional well-being. I know that's a mouthful,' Shayna explains.

Buster then stumbles on his words before saying: 'Ok, before we get any further,' as his co-host chimes in and asks the caller: 'Wh-what are we saying right now?

Buster says: 'Yeah, this is, this sounds disgusting. Are you saying you're a pedophile?'

'No, I'm not saying that I'm a pedophile, in the sense that I never had sexual relations with a person underage - the age of consent - because that's illegal,' Shayna responds.

Buster then asks her if she supports pedophiles, as Shayna replies: 'I'm saying I support love.'

Both hosts were too stunned to speak as the woman professed how she believes pedophiles should be treated. (Pictured: host Buster)

Maroun, a mother, says: 'OK,' as she appears to lose interest in the woman's commentary.

'And just because America views ages like 18 as some sort of imaginary bar for humans to engage in romantic relationships, doesn't mean it's right,' the caller says.

Maroun quickly cuts Shayna off and asks her if she sees a problem with a 20-year-old dating a 12-year-old.

'That's not what I'm saying, but listen, in Nigeria, the age of consent is 11. It's 14 in other countries like Brazil and Columbia,' she adds before suggesting that the letter 'P' should be added to the LGBTQ+ initialism.

'Oh my... I can't believe this is real. You gotta be like making this up to get on the radio,' Buster says as his co-host agrees with him.

Shayna continues to explain her stance, saying: 'If more people would take the time to have the actual conversation, then maybe we could abolish the stigma... and then we could begin to make a safe environment for this community.'

Mauroun questioned Shayna's strong passion for the odd conversation, and asked her if she's ever been involved with someone younger or older.

'Well, I mean, not in the sense of it being illegal. I have dated both younger and older, but again, I'm just coming from a place of believing in love, not necessarily believing in pedophilia.

'But I think that if we viewed those in the pedophilic community as normal humans with desires that are different from yours or ours, that we could potentially end dangerous black market sex trafficking, things like that,' Shayna replied.

The 'advocate' added that more support for the pedophilic community would help 'improve statistics of suicide,' and have a 'great impact on the mental health community' as well.

'We do not endorse the views of this caller. We couldnt believe this woman who believes P for Pedophile should be added to LGBTQIA+ initialism,' the hosts said in a caption on their show's Instagram

She said that she 'can't support something that's illegal,' but people need to accept that pedophilia is 'part of the LGBTQ etc. community.'

'I feel like I have friends in the gay community that would take great offense to that,' Buster said.

'I mean, their whole motto is "love is love" right? Love is love and you can't help who you love, that's all I'm saying,' Shayna replied.

Just before the uncomfortable episode ends, Mauroun tells Shayna that she has taken 'buzz words', including 'mental health' and 'love is love' to promote a disturbing topic.

'That's the problem, we've blurred the lines so much, that you actually feel like pedophiles have a place on this planet, besides being locked up,' Buster added.

'I'm not talking about molestation, I'm talking about people that are loved,' Shayna said as the hosts admit that they aren't sure they should have allowed her to speak on their show.

'There is a long-standing, homophobic and transphobic tactic of inaccurately comparing LGBTQ people to pedophiles and being LGBTQ to pedophilia,' Ferraro said in his 2020 statement to USA Today. 'Its debased and vile.'

DailyMail.com contacted Buster and Mauron for comment.
A tourist has suffered horrific injuries after a fake delivery rider barged into her apartment, held her at gunpoint and beat her.

Maressa Nunes, 31, was staying in a rented apartment during her holiday in Santiago, Chile, when she was violently attacked on June 24.

Nunes and her female friend, both from Brazil, had ordered food via an app and when a man knocked on the door a bit later, they thought it was the delivery man.

But the man barged inside, overpowered the women, and called two more men to the scene.

Nunes put up a fight because she said she feared she was going to be raped. In a voice note sent to her family after the attack, Nunes said the attacker let her go after hitting her and telling his friends: 'Come on, this is too easy.'

Maressa Nunes (pictured), 31, was staying in a rented apartment during her holiday in Santiago, Chile, when she was violently attacked on June 24

Former body builder Nunes was taken to hospital in critical condition after she suffered fractured eye sockets, jaw, and nose, as well as countless bruises. She will now need reconstructive facial surgery

Nunes and her female friend, both from Brazil, had ordered food via an app and when a man knocked on the door a bit later, they thought it was the delivery man. But the man barged inside, overpowered the women, and called two more men to the scene

The attackers fled after neighbours called the victims' cries for help and called the police.

Former body builder Nunes was taken to hospital in critical condition after she suffered fractured eye sockets, jaw, and nose, as well as countless bruises.

She will now need reconstructive facial surgery after the brutal attack.

Her sister Larissa told local media: 'She has many bite marks all over her body. My sister reacted to the robbery. He put a gun in her mouth. It was a barbaric crime. They beat my sister severely.'

The three men ended up fleeing the apartment block with the women's jewellery, watches, and mobile phones.

The friend who stayed in the flat with Nunes suffered comparatively minor injuries and she was able to return home to Brazil.

Nunes' sister Larissa told local media: 'She has many bite marks all over her body. My sister reacted to the robbery. He put a gun in her mouth. It was a barbaric crime. They beat my sister severely'

The three men ended up fleeing the apartment block with the Nunes' and her friends' jewellery, watches, and mobile phones

But Nunes own injuries were so severe that she is still unable to go back to her home in Maringa.

Her sister explained: 'In her current condition, she can't take a regular flight. She risks haemorrhaging during a normal flight. She needs a medical team on board.'

Nunes' family went to Chile in a bid to bring her back home.

However, just one day after arriving, Larissa herself was mugged on the street by a passing motorcyclist.

She said: 'We just want to leave. Get out of this nightmare and take care of Maressa.'

The local police is investigating the brutal attack. No suspects have been arrested.
Trump's lawyers have until July 10 to file motion to set aside hush money verdict

Donald Trump's sentencing for a 34-count hush money conviction in Manhattan will be delayed until September after the Supreme Court released its decision on presidential immunity.

Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday sent a letter to both Trump's attorneys and the Manhattan District Attorney's office informing them of his decision on Tuesday.

Trump's sentencing is now scheduled for September 18. It was previously set for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

The postponement came after the Manhattan DA's office said it will not oppose delaying sentencing as Trump's lawyers move to file a motion to overturn his hush money verdict.

A New York jury unanimously found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records on May 30 for covering up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 election.

Donald Trump in the Manhattan criminal court after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on May 30

But on Monday, Trump's attorney sent a letter asking to set aside his conviction and delay his sentencing following the blockbuster Supreme Court immunity ruling.

Trump contended he is immune from prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.

In his response, Judge Merchan said he would release a decision in the case on September 6 and if still necessary sentencing would be September 18.

The conservative justices on the Supreme Court ruled that a president does have immunity from prosecution for official acts in office - but not for unofficial acts.

The decision is a major setback for the federal criminal case against Trump, who is accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election and inciting the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

After Monday's ruling, which was decided by a 6-3 vote, Trump claimed the decision 'totally dismantled most of the charges against me.'

While the DA's office said it would not oppose his request to delay sentencing, it rejected that the conviction could be voided.

'Although we believe defendant's arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion,' assistant district attorney Joshua Steinglass wrote.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg speaking to the media after Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts. His office said it does not oppose delaying sentencing

The Manhattan district attorney's office requested two weeks from Trump's lawyers filing paperwork to respond, setting their deadline at July 24.

Merchan granted both the requests from Trump's lawyers to file their motion by July 10 and from the DA's office to have two weeks to respond.

The hush money case centered around the ex-president's personal activity during the 2016 campaign to cover up a sex scandal while seeking office, but some of the evidence used to convict him came from his time in office.

Trump's lawyers argued on Monday the conviction should be set aside.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court that under the U.S.'s constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power 'entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority'.

'And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.'
A woman accused of traveling across the US claiming to be an Irish heiress and scamming several victims out of tens of thousands of dollars has been extradited to the United Kingdom, a US official confirmed Tuesday.

Marianne Smyth faces allegations that she stole more than $170,000 from the victims from 2008 to 2010 in Northern Ireland.

A US magistrate judge in Maine ruled in May that there was sufficient evidence for extradition of the American, who accusers say has also fashioned herself as a witch, a psychic and a friend to Hollywood stars.

A spokesperson for the US Department of Justice confirmed the extradition, and referred questions to law enforcement officials in Northern Ireland. An attorney for Smyth did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Smyth was living and working for a mortgage company in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at the time of the alleged scams which involved taking thousands from victims and promising them hefty returns on investments. Prosecutors say she stole the cash.

Marianne Smyth faces allegations that she stole more than $170,000 from the victims from 2008 to 2010 in Northern Ireland

When she realized she was about to be arrested by British police she allegedly absconded to the US where she embarked on a litany of new swindles.

The cons carried out stateside between 2013 and 2018 resulted in her finally being jailed in 2019 for five years only to be released thanks to Covid-19 protocols in California which saw non-violent offenders given early releases.

The most infamous of those involved TV producer Johnathan Walton who befriended Smyth in 2013 when they lived in same building. In his hugely popular podcast, Queen of the Con: The Irish Heiress, Walton details the long con which saw him part with $100,000.

Walton admits that he fell for Smyth's fantasist tales that she stood to inherit nearly $40 million from her regal family, who she said helped to draft the Irish constitution, but that it was all being held up because of an unspecified issue she had with a relation.

In turn, Walton 'lent' Smyth thousands of dollars, including on one occasion more than $50,000, because he thought it would all easily be paid back when her inheritance came through.

Law enforcement in Belfast learned of Walton's story and made contact to say they had been searching for Smyth. The host was able to supply them with an address in Maine which led to her being arrested in February.

As a result of her scheme involving Walton, Smyth was originally arrested in 2018 on charges of grand theft by false pretense, after dozens of other victims came forward.

In 2019, she was sentenced to five years behind bars but was quickly released in 2020 due to the Covid-19 where she subsequently decamped to Maine, where she was born.

Johnathan Walton described how Marianne Smyth, pictured together, charmed him into making him her best friend with her dazzling tales of Hollywood friendship and her straight-talking personality

Walton eventually realized he had been conned by checking court documents after Smyth's arrest. In January 2019, she was eventually convicted of grand larceny and she has now been sentenced to five years behind bars

Authorities believe that she lived in a series of short term accommodations in her home state in order to prevent her past from catching up to her.

A court in Northern Ireland issued arrest warrants for her earlier this decade. She was arrested in Maine in February.

Smyth drew comparisons to Anna Sorokin, a scammer who impersonated a German heiress to pay for a glamorous lifestyle in New York City, and became subject of a Netflix series.

Sorokin, whose real name is Anna Delvey, was convicted in 2019 of conning $275,000 from banks, hotels and swank New Yorkers to finance her deluxe lifestyle.
Jeffrey Epsteins assistant Sarah Kellen has dodged prosecution for sex trafficking despite being repeatedly mentioned in his grand jury files from 2005.

Kellen was named three times by Epsteins victims in the transcript of a court hearing in Palm Beach, Florida, during the original investigation into the late pedophiles sex trafficking ring.

Victims described her greeting them at his now-razed seafront mansion and then leading them upstairs to the massage room.

Once there, Kellen set up the oils for the massage before Epstein arrived and sexually assaulted or raped them.

One victim described how she contacted Kellen to make an appointment to see Epstein, the first of hundreds of times she would go to his house to be sexually assaulted.

Jeffrey Epstein s assistant Sarah Kellen has dodged prosecution for sex trafficking despite being repeatedly mentioned in his grand jury files from 2005

Kellen (with blonde hair) was allegedly Ghislaine Maxwell's right-hand woman during Epstein's reign of terror.

Also named repeatedly was Nadia Marcinko  also known as Marcinkova  a model from Eastern Europe who victims said they had sex with at Epsteins command.

Both women were named as alleged co-conspirators under Epsteins sweetheart plea deal with prosecutors in Palm Beach in 2008.

Unsealed court documents allege Marcinko, who has never been charged with any crime, procured young women for Epstein, a claim her lawyers have denied.

But under the extraordinary terms of the deal they were exempt from prosecution.

Another woman mentioned in the grand jury files, which were released this week, was Ghislaine Maxwell but she eventually did go on trial and was found guilty in 2021 and is serving a 20 year prison sentence.

An Epstein victim told DailyMail.com: I have never understood why Sarah Kellen did not face prosecution.

She was deeply involved in Epsteins operation. She should face justice just like Ghislaine Maxwell did.

In the 176 pages of grand jury transcripts is testimony from Joseph Recarey, the late Palm Beach police detective who was one of the main officers investigating Epstein.

He told the court he interviewed one girl who had just graduated from high school and said she sent six others to Epstein.

Maxwell was jailed for 20 years for her part aiding Epstein to procure young girls, but Kellen has never been charged

Also named repeatedly in court was Nadia Marcinko, a model from Slovakia who victims said had sex with them at Epsteins command

Based on her claiming she was like Heidi Fleiss, the notorious Hollywood madam, she appears to be Haley Robson.

The girl said that she first met Epstein when she was 17 and was taken to his house where she met a woman called Sarah, who appears to be Kellen.

Recarey said that the girl told him: She was taken to the house. She was introduced to Epstein's assistant by the name of Sarah.

Sarah then would escort her upstairs, prepare the room for massage by putting out the ointments and the different oils.

When the girl refused Epsteins advances he told her he would pay her to bring other girls to him.

Epstein said: The younger the better, Recarey told the grand jury.

Perhaps the most disturbing account came from one victim who said she began going to Epstein's aged 16 and went there 'hundreds of times'.

This victim identified Sarah Kellen by her full name and said she led her up to the massage room where Epstein began to masturbate at her.

Recarey said: She recalled that the appointment was set up for that day.

They (the victim) contacted Mr Epstein's assistant, Sarah; later identified as Sarah Kellen; where the appointment was made.

She (the victim) was taken (to the house). She remembered it was on the weekends because she only worked on the weekends as she was still going to high school.

One victim said she was forced to take part in threesomes with Nadia Marcinko

One girl, who appears to be Haley Robson, said she sent six others to Epstein. Robson said she felt like notorious Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss

According to the victim, she was forced to take part in threesomes with Nadia Marcinko, who Epstein is said to have bought from her parents when she was 14.

Epstein referred to her as his 'Yugoslavian sex slave' although she was actually born in Slovakia, part of the former Czechoslovakia.

Epstein persuaded the teen to give oral sex to Marcinko during a threesome by offering her another $200 if she did it for five minutes, she said.

The victim had been told that Epstein would never penetrate her as he had a 'deformed' penis but one time he 'grabbed (her) and placed her head on the massage table and inserted his penis in her vagina'

According to the victim, Marcinko bought sex toys for them to use as a present for Epstein's birthday one year.

Another victim, 18, also named Marcinko while recounting how she was abused by Epstein from the age of 16.

She was paid $200 each visit and one time he asked her to touch Marcinkos breasts, which she did.

A third victim identified Kellen and described being introduced to Epstein's assistant called 'Sarah'

Recarey said the stories were 'consistent with all the girls'.

He said: 'They would be introduced to the assistant who would lead her upstairs and prepare the room for the massage in the master bathroom area.

'She would put a blanket over the massage tables and provide the ointments that Mr Epstein would like to have used'.

In the case of this victim, who was 16, she was paid $300 for her first visit and then each follow up visit became more and more sexual.

Kellen (right) was deeply involved in Epsteins operation. 'She should face justice just like Ghislaine Maxwell did, one victim told DailyMail.com

Kellen negotiated immunity from prosecution in exchange for information

Kellen has previously denied any wrongdoing and said she is not a monster.

Her parents have previously said that she was vulnerable when she met Epstein having become estranged from them when she was 18 because she stopped being a Jehovahs Witness, the religion her mother and father follow.

Her parents Thomas and Mary Kellen told DailyMail.com in 2020 that they feared she was brainwashed and somebody might kill her.

After leaving Epsteins orbit Kellen married NASCAR driver Brian Vickers and the two live in an apartment in New York.

Calls to Kellen were not immediately returned.

The other two women who were named as co-conspirators in Epsteins 2008 plea deal, Lesley Groff and Adriana Ross, have also denied wrongdoing.
A 19-year-old Texas woman has been arrested after she allegedly invented a fictitious child to get police to search for her friend's car that was stolen.

Stacey Dashay Marie Smith called police on Sunday claiming that her child was in a car that was stolen from 14000 block of Lasso Rock Drive.

El Paso Police Department PIO Adrian Cisneros confirmed with DailyMail.com that there was an 'actual theft' of the car but no child was missing.

Smith was charged on Sunday for providing a false police report.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Smith was still being held at the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $5,000 bond.

Stacey Dashay Marie Smith was booked into El Paso County Detention Facility with a $5,000 bond

Smith called police on Sunday claiming that her child was in a car that was stolen from 14000 block of Lasso Rock Drive pictured on the residential street

Officers from the El Paso Police Department met with the initial caller and Smith, and after an extensive search was conducted, the vehicle was found, but the child was still missing

The El Paso Police Department received a call from an unidentified person around 12.30pm on Sunday regarding a vehicle theft.

According to the authorities, Smith placed a second call to 911, stating that her child was missing and that she believed the subject who took her friend's car had taken the child.

Officers met with the initial caller and Smith, and after an extensive search was conducted, the vehicle was found, but the child was still missing.

The non-profit, Crimes Against Persons Detectives were called in to assist in the investigation.

The investigation revealed the child did not exist, and Smith hatched the plan so police could locate her friend's vehicle quickly.
One person killed U.S. Seattle shooting

Xinhua) 10:41, July 02, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A person died in a shooting early Monday morning in Seattle, the U.S. state of Washington, according to police.

Police officers responded to a report of a shooting at the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood around 12:30 a.m. and found a person who had been shot, according to the Seattle Police Department.

Police said it was not yet clear what led to the shooting, and they have not identified any suspects.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred from practicing law after the city said he made false statements about Donald Trump's 2020 election loss.

Giuliani, who already had his city law license suspended in 2021, is now disbarred completely meaning he is no longer allowed to be involved in legal proceedings in New York.

The court said the 80-year-old had 'baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this country's electoral process.'

However, Giuliani viciously fought back today labelling the decision 'politically motivated' in a statement posted to X.

The decision was handed down by The Appellate Division Courthouse of New York State located in Manhattan today and is effective immediately.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred from practicing law after the city said he made false statements about Donald Trump's 2020 election loss

After Trump suffered a devastating loss in the last national election, Giuliani became the primary mouthpiece for the former President's claims of voter fraud after the results were declared.

The ex-mayor took center stage and held a press conference in front of Four Seasons Total Landscaping outside Philadelphia on the day the race was called and said that the GOP they would challenge what he claimed was a vast conspiracy by Democrats.

It is widely believed that lies around the election results acted as a catalyst for pro-Trump rioters to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to stop the certification of Biden's victory.

After today's announcement, Giuliani said he 'was not surprised' and blamed Democrat judges in a statement on X.

Giuliani quickly became the primary mouthpiece for Trump's false claims of voter fraud after the 2020 results were declared

'I'm not surprised that Ive been disbarred by a Bar Assn which is a politically and ideologically integral part of the Democrat one party corrupted court system for a long time.

'Judges, like Merchan and Engoron in NYC are selected by local Democrat bosses. These judges, just like in a one party Communist dictatorship, are not really elected but selected by the Democrat local bosses and often run unopposed.'

Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani has confirmed that they will be appealing the decision and asked those who 'respect the rule of law' to come forward in support.

'Members of the legal community who respect the rule of law in this country should immediately come forward and speak out against this politically and ideologically corrupted decision,' Goodman told Forbes.

In May, Giuliani's conservative radio talk show was cancelled after he repeatedly questioning the results of the 2020 election.

The station's billionaire owner, John Catsimatidis, abruptly ended the run over Giuliani's election claims.

'John had warned him a few times about doing that and finally he just kind of crossed the line,' Catsimatidis producer Matt Wanning told DailyMail.com.

Asked about potential legal exposure from Giuliani's claims, in particular Dominion Voting Systems, he responded: 'Oh yeah. It's been floating around for a while.'

He wasn't aware if the station had specifically received a warning letter from the voting machine company, which reached a $787 million settlement with Fox News in 2023.

Giuliani blasted the move in a statement to DailyMail.com, indicating that he did not learn of his suspension directly.

'Im learning from a leak to the New York Times that I'm being fired by John Catsimatidis and WABC because I refused to comply with their overly broad directive stating, word-for-word, that I'm, "prohibited from engaging in conversations relating to the 2020 Presidential Election,' he humed.

'This directive is a clear violation of free speech and Ill have much more to say about this on my 8:00 pm ET livestream which you can watch on any of my social media platforms, including on X, Facebook or YouTube,' he said, plugging his own digital program.

Giuliani poses for a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office booking photograph where he posted a $10,000 bond as he faces charges that he conspired to falsely claim Arizona's electoral votes for Trump

A May 9 letter from Red Apple Media signed by Catsimatidis begins, in bold type, 'This letter serves to remind you that you are prohibited from engaging in conversations relating to the 2020 Presidential Election on your programs broadcast on WABC Radio.'

It then states that, 'It has come to our attention that you continue to publish allegations of this nature on social media, and are now subject to additional court filings accusing you of this conduct, as reported by Bloomberg Law this week.

That was a reference to a new legal claim by Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea Arshaye Shaye Moss, who won a $148 million court legal judgment against Giuliani.

The WABC show provides a financial lifetime for Giuliani, who that judgement after a jury found he defamed two Georgia election workers. Giuliani is appealing.

Giuliani was indicted along with Trump and other alleged co-conspirators in Georgia.

Giuliani spoke to Trump supporters on January 6. It is widely believed that lies around the election results acted as a catalyst for pro-Trump rioters to storm the US Capitol in an effort to stop the certification of Biden's victory

On his last radio show, he predicted the classified documents case against Trump would be dismissed, and called for getting special counsel Jack Smith on trial. 'Im looking forward to that should Trump win that therell be an investigation of him,' he said.

After the firing, Giuliani went on a X formerly Twitter storm railing about the move.

'John Catsimatidis and @77ABCradio fired me for refusing to comply with their overly broad directive stating I'm, prohibited from engaging in conversations relating to the 2020 Presidential Election.

'John says I was informed ahead of time of these restrictions, which is demonstrably untrue. Ive been regularly commenting on the 2020 election for 3.5 years, and Ive talked about the Georgia case incessantly ever since the verdict. WABC hosts questioned me on these topics.

'Obviously I was never informed on such a policy, and even if there was one, it was violated so often that it couldnt be taken seriously.'
An award-winning airplane restoration couple have died in a fiery crash over a Kansas field.

David Allen, 78, and his wife Jeanne Allen, 79, were flying their 1934 WACO YKC single-engine biplane when the incident occurred around 6:10 p.m. on Sunday.

The plane crashed under 'unknown circumstances' and then caught fire in the field around 10 miles north of Hoxie in Sheridan County, according to the FAA.

Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed David was piloting the aircraft and Jeanne was the passenger.

The couple was well known in the aviation community and lived at Kelly Airpark in Elbert, Colorado.

David Allen, 78, and his wife Jeanne Allen, 79, died in a fiery crash while flying their 1934 WACO YKC single-engine biplane

Kelly Airpark is a residential community that allows pilots to keep their aircrafts at their homes and taxi them from home hangars onto runways, according to The Denver Post.

'Ive always dreamt about flying biplanes and having my own place with a hangar. Weve got a good thing going here,' David told the local newspaper in 2006.

They bought the lot in 1994 for $20,000 and built their home and hanger on it.

Their first project was a homebuilt Taperwing Waco replica that took six and a half years to complete, reported General Aviation News.

Next up was Straightwing Waco project that won them the award of Reserve Grand Champion Antique at SUN n FUN 2016.

Then they restored the 1934 Cabin Waco YKC that won a variety of awards at different shows and competitions.

The 1934 WACO YKC single-engine biplane (right) crashed under 'unknown circumstances' then caught fire in a Kansas field

The couple was beloved in the aviation community and lived at the Kelly Airpark in Colorado - a community that allows residents to keep their aircrafts at their homes

Tributes from the aviation community have started to pour in for the beloved couple.

'A person, having spent any time with Dave and Jeanne Allen, left the experience feeling on par with two people who were clearly on a level higher than his or her own,' said Terry Bowden

'Very saddened to learn of the passing of David and Jeanne Allen. I first met them back in 2021 at SUN 'n FUN,' said Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association contributor Cayla McLeod.

'I was admittedly very drawn to their turquoise Waco, so I swung by to introduce myself.

'I sat and talked to them for well over an hour as I interviewed them for my first article as a contractor with AOPA: your freedom to fly. They were the nicest people.'
Joe Biden's green agenda was dealt a major blow after a Trump-appointed judge issued a temporary block on the Democrat's liquified natural gas (LNG) export permit ban.

LNG advocates, largely Republicans, have decried the White House's move to restrict the critical energy exports while America was dominating the market.

The White House had said they wanted to conduct reviews on how the practice impacts climate before lifting the ban.

On Monday, a federal judge agreed with 16 Republican-led states who argued that the freeze was done 'completely without reason or logic and is perhaps the epiphany of ideocracy.'

A White House spokesperson, meanwhile, said the administration is 'disappointed' with the injunction.

'We remain committed to informing our decisions with the best available economic and environmental analysis, underpinned by sound science,' the spokesperson said.

LNG has recently become one of the US's top energy exports. It is also the most commonly used fossil fuel to produce domestic electricity

The US became the worlds top LNG exporter last year, beating out Qatar and Australia.

The Biden administration seems to have taken notice, with the spokesperson being sure to clarify: 'The United States remains the world's largest exporter of LNG, and is currently on track to more than double existing capacity by the end of this decade.'

Cain - who was appointed by former President Donald Trump - said in the injunction the 16 states likely will be able to show the ban unconstitutionally and arbitrarily went against the Natural Gas Act.

DOE's ban was 'above and beyond its scope of authority,' Cain said.

Cain wrote in his ruling that the DOE failed to consider the ban's 'impact on national security, state revenues, employment opportunities, funding for schools and charities, and pollution allegedly caused by increased reliance on foreign energy sources.'

The agency has said it disagrees with Cain's judgement and will evaluate his order and before making any steps.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on energy as Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm (L) listens during an event on American energy independence and green energy investments

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm has defended the ban as an important environmental study

'This is a big win for the country's energy industry and the millions of jobs it supports against the attacks from the Biden administration to further its radical climate change agenda at the expense of our economy,' West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said after the injunction.

Top congressional lawmakers also celebrated the judge's move.

'President Biden's natural gas export ban was among his most damaging policy decisions, and that's saying something,' House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday.

'By prioritizing left-wing environmentalists over the needs of our country, President Biden harmed economic growth in America and empowered our adversaries, particularly Russia.'

'President Biden should know by now, when America leads the world in producing and exporting energy, America's economy, energy security, and allies all benefit.'

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a top LNG producing state, also celebrated the blocking of the ban Tuesday.

'Great news -- Biden's disastrous pause on LNG export permitting has been struck down! Unleashing U.S. natural gas creates good jobs, boosts our economy, lowers global emissions, and strengthens U.S. and allies' national security,' he wrote on X.

Another Senate Republican, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., accused Biden of trying to destroy US LNG production.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said Biden's LNG export ban was intended to destroy domestic production to appease climate advocates

'Despite claims by [Joe Biden's] admin, this has always been about destroying LNG to appease the climate lobby, so this is great news for the American people.'

Rep. August Pfluger, a Republican from a rural Texas district full of LNG producers, similarly said: 'The judge is right. President Biden's decision to halt LNG export approvals was 'completely without reason or logic.''

'Blocking this bad policy is a win for the industry and the millions of American workers who fuel our nation and allies.'
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy is denying that he ever sampled dog meat as a photo emerged of him holding up a charred animal corpse.

Vanity Fair was out Tuesday with a deep dive into Kennedy's long history of 'reckless' behavior - chronicling his drug use and allegations of sexual assault.

As an example, the story noted how Kennedy had sent out the photo in question to a friend last year - recommending his pal try a restaurant in South Korea that serves dog meat - an image that could easily derail a presidential campaign.

The magazine said a veterinarian identified the animal as a dog, as the animal had a telltale 'floating rib' found in canines.

Metadata from the photograph showed it was taken in 2010 - the same year that Kennedy contracted a brain worm.

Vanity Fair published a story Tuesday that claimed independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent out a picture to a friend that showed him pretending to gobble down a barbecued dog in Korea. Kennedy said it was a goat in Patagonia

On Tuesday afternoon, RFK Jr. pushed back at claims that he ate dog meat, saying the story was meant to 'distract us from President Biden's cognitive deficits'

On Tuesday afternoon, RFK Jr. posted to X saying that the grizzled animal wasn't a dog but a goat and the photograph wasn't from Korea but Patagonia.

He gave the same explanation during a Tuesday afternoon appearance on Fox News.

'Hey @VanityFair, you know when your veterinary experts call a goat a dog, and your forensic experts say a photo taken in Patagonia was taken in Korea, that you've joined the ranks of supermarket tabloids,' Kennedy wrote.

'Keep telling America that up is down if you want. I'll keep talking about the fact that working families can't afford houses or groceries because our last two presidents went on a $14 trillion debt joyride, paid for by hard-working Americans,' the independent continued.

'The DNC media's garbage pail journalism may distract us from President Biden's cognitive deficits but it does little to elevate the national debate or reduce the price of groceries,' he added.

Vanity Fair's story goes on to suggest that Kennedy could have contracted the brain worm in 2010 from the 'dog.'

The candidate has said that he believed he contracted the tapeworm from food he ate - though it's unclear where he had that meal.

At one point Kennedy suggested he contracted the parasite in India, while the campaign more vaguely pointed to his widespread travel in 'Africa, South America, and Asia.'

In a divorce filing from his late ex-wife Mary Richardson, Kennedy said the tapeworm ate a portion of his brain leading to a 'brain fog,' which diminished his earning potential.

Family members interviewed by Vanity Fair were skeptical of this explanation.

They pointed to the 14 years RFK Jr. was a heroin user.

'One Kennedy has circulated a report from the National Institutes of Health on the impact of long-term heroin abuse, which surmises that the damage can alter the physiology of the brain, "creating long-term imbalances in neuronal and hormonal systems that are not easily reversed" and "which may affect decision-making abilities, the ability to regulate behavior, and responses to stressful situations,"' the magazine's Joe Hagan wrote.

Kennedy picked up the habit at age 15 and couldn't kick it until he turned 29.

'At Harvard, in the mid-1970s, Kennedy was regularly injecting speedballs, a mixture of heroin and cocaine, and became a pied piper to friends and family, regularly shooting up with his troubled brother David Kennedy, according to multiple friends from the era,' Hagan continued.

Kennedy has used his experience as a recovering drug addict to argue that he can better handle the nation's drug crisis.

But savoring dog meat may be a step too far.

The American public hasn't been kind to politicians involved in dog scandals.

Now Sen. Mitt Romney saw his 2012 White House bid hobbled after it was reported that he had strapped the family dog's crate to the rooftop of his car for an hours-long roadtrip.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem appears exiled from former President Donald Trump's veepstakes after she admitted to shooting her dog.

And the White House has had to answer questions about why two of President Joe Biden's dogs - Major and Commander - were allowed to stay after a series of biting incidents.

DailyMail.com reported last month that the Secret Service destroyed a video that showed Commander chomping down on an agent, which resulted in White House tours being paused for 20 minutes so the blood could be cleaned up.
Lucy Letby's parents were a constant presence during her first trial - they unwaveringly showed up every day of the ten-month proceedings at Manchester Crown Court.

Yet today, John, 77, and Susan, 63, were nowhere to be seen as their serial child killer daughter was found guilty of trying to kill another newborn baby.

Jurors this afternoon took three and a half hours to return their unanimous verdict at the end of a 13-day retrial on a single count of attempted murder.

Letby - who is the most prolific child killer in modern British history - was 26 when she deliberately dislodged the breathing tube of Baby K in the first hours of her life.

In the following hours, the cruel killer tried a further two times to murder the infant who was so tiny she would have fitted into Letby's open palm.

Listen to The Mail's #1 True Crime podcast, The Trial of Lucy Letby

Lucy Letby (pictured at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2012) was today found guilty of trying to kill another newborn baby

John, 77, and Susan, 63, had attended every day of her original trial in Manchester between October 2022-August 2023 (pictured outside court in October 2022) but did not attend court today

During her original 10-month trial, where she was eventually found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others

The former nurse remained emotionless as the verdict was read out while Baby K's father held his head in his hands and other relatives cried from the public gallery.

But the criminal's parents - a retail boss and accounts clerk - did not appear in the court room.

During her original 10-month trial, where she was eventually found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others, her parents had attended court every day so they could hear all the evidence against their daughter.

They relocated from their home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Hereford, where they had lived for for almost four decades after marrying in 1989, to Manchester so they could be nearby.

Throughout the first trial, which ran from October 2022 to August last year, Mrs Letby on occasion broke down in tears and appeared anxious during breaks when her daughter was undergoing particularly tough periods of questioning.

Investigators suspect Letby, who will likely spend the rest of her life in prison, had told them scant detail of the horrific nature of the crimes she was being accused of before it was laid out in front of them in court.

And as the guilty verdicts were returned, Mrs Letby broke into a series of anguished sobs which continued even after she had left the court. At one point she cried out: 'You can't be serious. This cannot be right.'

Nothing suggests that Mr and Mrs Letby were anything but caring parents who showered her daughter with love from the moment she was born - five months after they married.

Growing up, Letby was a 'delight' to her parents - neighbours remembered.

Body worn camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary showing Letby's arrest

Letby, who worked at the Countess of Cheshire Hospital, giving evidence in court last month

Today's verdict takes Letby's tally of convictions to seven murders and seven attempted murders

She had a part-time job at WH Smith in the city, and her parents were immensely proud when she became the first in their family to go to university.

When she attained her honours degree they marked her graduation, in December 2011, with an announcement in their local paper, the Hereford Times.

Lucy Letby timeline November 2020 - Letby, from Hereford, is arrested and charged following a string of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit. August 2023 - The nurse is found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others, making her Britain's most prolific child serial killer in modern history. The jury fail to reach a verdict on the attempted murder of a baby girl, Baby K. July 2024 - Letby is found guilty of the attempted murder of Baby K. Advertisement

Alongside a picture of her wearing a mortarboard and clutching her degree certificate, they wrote: 'Letby Lucy BSc Hons in Child Nursing. We are so proud of you after all your hard work. Love Mum and Dad.'

A similar announcement, with an accompanying photograph of Letby as a young child, was also placed in the same newspaper to mark her 21st birthday.

Texts exchanged between Letby and her colleagues, however, hinted that on occasion she had felt smothered by her parents, feeling guilty about moving away from home.

She explained they missed her and hated her living alone.

She appeared to speak or text them every day and described them as 'suffocating at times'. She told one doctor friend who was considering moving to New Zealand that she could never do that as it would 'completely devastate' them.

'Find it hard enough being away from me now and it's only 100 miles,' she said.

In a message to another friend, she wrote: 'My parents worry massively about everything & anything, hate that I live alone etc.

'I feel bad because I know it's really hard for them especially as I'm an only child, and they mean well, just a little suffocating at times and constantly feel guilty.'

A source told the Mail that Letby's loving mother was distraught when she was arrested  wailing, crying and even telling police, 'I did it, take me instead,' in a desperate bid to protect her.

A photo showing Letby during a night out that she shared on her social media

A source told the Mail that Letby's mother was distraught when she was arrested  wailing, crying and even telling police, 'I did it, take me instead,' in a desperate bid to protect her

Today's verdict takes Letby's tally of convictions to seven murders and seven attempted murders. She is already serving 14 whole life terms following her original 10-month trial that ended in the same courtroom in August.

After the first trial the killer refused to come to the dock to hear the judge read out his sentencing verdicts, but these were read out by the prosecutor at the start of the latest proceedings as she watched on in court.

Letby, now 34, denied the latest charge, and still maintains her innocence of the crimes she had previously been found guilty of. She insists she has never harmed any baby in her care.

The jury in her original trial were unable to reach a verdict in the case of Baby K and were discharged. This time a new jury found her guilty.

The family of Baby K said today in a statement read out by a family liaison officer: 'Words cannot effectively explain how we are feeling at this time.

'To lose a baby is a heartbreaking experience that no parent should ever go through, but to lose a baby then hear of the harm that was inflicted under these circumstances is unimaginable.

Letby wearing an academic gown on her graduation day

The neo-natal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked

Letby will spend the rest of her life in prison

'Over the past seven to eight years we have had to go through a long, torturous and emotional journey twice, from losing our precious newborn and grieving her loss, to being told years later that her death or collapse could be suspicious. Nothing could prepare you for that news.

'Today justice has been served and a nurse who should have been caring for our daughter has been found guilty of harming her, but that will not take away the extreme hurt, anger and distress that we have all had to experience.

'It also does not provide us with an explanation for why these crimes have taken place. We are heartbroken, devastated, angry and feel numb. We may never know why this happened.'

The family further thanked the jury, police, prosecutors and the medical witnesses who appeared at the trial.
Former Miss Universe Colombia Maria Arisrizabal has come forward with the frightening details behind the constant stalking she experienced.

The 27-year-old model made a recent appearance on a YouTube program hosted by Colombian lawyer and RCN Television presenter Laura Acuna, sharing that she never received any strange propositions from strangers during her beauty queen days.

However, she did reveal that a man claiming to be the relative of a powerful criminal gained access to her phone number and constantly messaged her and called her via WhatsApp after she was crowned Miss Colombia in 2019.

'He told me that he was the son of a very dangerous person, that I wouldn't like to say the name, but I was very scared,' she recalled.

'I mean, I get goosebumps because that's why I think I can't sleep well. In other words, one thing is that I have to be alert at all times.'

Miss Universe Colombia Maria Arisrizabal revealed that she was stalked by a man who claimed to be related to a powerful criminal several years ago

Maria Arisrizabal walks onstage during the 71st Miss Universe preliminary competition on January 11, 2023

Arisrizabal, who is currently co-hosting nightly reality show Desafio 2023 on Caracol Television, indicated that the calls were made from a number listed in El Salvador.

'He told me that he was going to show up at my house. That he was going to do bad things to my boyfriend,' she said.

Arisrizabal, who was crowned Miss Universe Colombia in 2022, said the individual once offered to book her a hotel room for them to meet at.

'He told me, "I can give you the hotel and you can go with your children." In other words, he said that I had children,' she said. 'He made up a strange life and said that I'm going to get to you in my truck.'

Former Miss Universe Colombia Maria Arisrizabal with her boyfriend Daniel Arango

Miss Colombia Maria Arisrizabal competes during the 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 14, 2023

Arisrizabal said that the man often sent her pictures, including of a helicopter he claimed to own and another of a military-style rifle.

'He was super mean and I blocked him and he came back and contacted me from another number,' she said.

Arisrizabal changed her phone number eight times and then met with authorities in Bogota, the capital, before they learned that all the claims that the individual was making were fabricated.

While investigators were unable to locate the stalker's whereabouts, the constant text messages and phone calls seized.

'I am very careful with who I am and what I like to be and be with my group so that what happened to me was really traumatic,' Arisrizabal said.
An office building opposite Harrods, thought to be the last of its kind, is set to be demolished and replaced with an 11-storey new build block.

One Knightsbridge Green, known as Caltex House, is a 1950s modernist office block on central shopping strip Brompton Road, west London.

Architect firm Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) has submitted plans to Westminster council to partially demolish and replace the building.

The proposals were drawn up for developer Berkeley Estate Asset Management (BERM) and would see 51% of the existing structure retained whilst part of the building on Raphael Street would be refurbished.

An 11-storey newbuild block would be built facing Knightsbridge Green and Brompton Road providing a total of around 19,000 square metres of office space.

 Slide me  One Knightsbridge Green, known as Caltex House (left), compared to the plans for the 11-storey new build block that would replace it

One Knightsbridge Green, known as Caltex House, is a 1950s modernist office block on central shopping strip Brompton Road, west London

An 11-storey newbuild block would be built facing Knightsbridge Green and Brompton Road providing a total of around 19,000 square metres of office space

A pub called Tattersall's Tavern on Raphael Street, one of only two pubs left in Knightsbridge, would also be replaced.

BERM said the existing 1957 building, which underwent a refurbishment in the early 2000s, is dated and difficult to let to the 'quality of tenants that support Knightsbridge as an international retail destination.'

They said the modernist building's appearance was not 'befitting to its prestigious location' and a 'product of its time' which doesn't reflect the area's traditional architecture.

Caltex House is located opposite world famous department store Harrods in Knightsbride

Changes to the plans were made in April, after a consultation, that will see a setting back of the massing on Knightsbridge Green and Raphael Street due to complaints about the height of the proposed building.

The colour of the facade has been switched from the original green colour to a terracotta shade to blend in with neighbouring buildings.
Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has told a court that a joke he made about 9/11 during a lecture on the anniversary of the shocking terror attacks was 'inappropriate'.

Choudary is accused of directing a terrorist organisation called al-Muhajiroun (ALM) and taking part in online meetings.

The 57-year-old was previously convicted of supporting ISIS in 2016.

Choudary, of Ilford, east London, is said to have given lectures to the New York-based Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), which prosecutors allege was 'the same' as ALM.

During an online meeting on September 11 2022, Choudary laughed while telling listeners that Omar Bakri Mohammed, who founded ALM, once advised charging members of the British media 9.11 to enter a place of worship where a press conference on the anniversary of 9/11 was held.

Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary (pictured) denies directing a terrorist organisation, being a member of a proscribed organisation and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation

The 57-year-old from Ilford, east London allegedly joked that the British media should be charged 9.11 to enter a place of worship where a press conference on the anniversary of 9/11 was being held

In the passage, which has been shown to jurors during his trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Choudary could be heard saying that Mohammed also suggested starting the conference at the time the first plane went into the North Tower.

He also joked that some members of the press from Japan paid to attend, saying 'irony is completely lost on the Japanese'.

Questioned about this on Tuesday, Choudary said: 'My joke was about the Japanese, saying they don't understand sarcasm or irony.'

Defence barrister Paul Hynes KC asked Choudary if he believed it was 'inappropriate' to joke on the anniversary of the worst terror attacks seen in America.

The defendant replied: 'In hindsight, it probably wasn't a good joke, people say things when they're tired or relaxed ... it was just a funny thing about the Japanese paying 9.11.'

He added: 'It was a joke, you don't really think about it, people joke about a lot of things.'

Prosecutors said the 'sickening' joke may tell jurors about the 'collective mindset' of those attending the lecture.

Asked for his views on 9/11, Choudary said it is 'prohibited' for someone 'to hijack a plane with innocent people and fly into a building'.

Choudary told jurors: 'You cannot target anyone innocent, ever, in any kind of operation.'

Several lectures were recorded by undercover officers in 2022 and 2023.

ALM was proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK in 2010, though it is said the group has continued to exist under various names.

Choudary attending a demonstration outside the Saudi Embassy in London in 2022 after his government restrictions were lifted following his release form prison

The preacher pictured outside a hostel he was staying in under strict licence conditions after his release from prison in 2018 following a conviction of inviting support for ISIS

Choudary has previously said that ALM was disbanded in 2004 because Mohammed had a shift in ideology.

Mr Hynes asked Choudary if he has ever directed a proscribed terror group, to which the defendant replied: 'No, never.'

Choudary told jurors that he has 'always made sure that I abide by the laws in this country'.

He denied inviting support to ALM through lectures to ITS because the group 'didn't exist'.

Choudary said 'you can not say they (ITS) are ALM' because they differ in ideology, structure and methodology.

Earlier in the trial prosecutors told the jury that Choudary appeared in a video posted on YouTube in 2016 entitled 'The History of Dawah in Europe' in which he referred to 'Islamic Thinkers' as 'our branch in America'.

Asked about this, Choudary said: 'They branched off, they were doing their own thing.'

The defendant said he became aware of ITS' existence in 2010 but was not communicating with members until he started giving online lectures to them in 2021.

He told jurors: 'I was not doing much, I was just out of prison (after the 2016 conviction) and doing some talks online, this was another request and I accepted it.'

Asked why he agreed if ITS members had criticised ALM in the past, Choudary replied: 'I didn't know about the attacks until the police evidence in this case.'

Also on trial is Khaled Hussein, 29, from Canada, whom prosecutors say was a 'follower and dedicated supporter' of Choudary.

He has pleaded not guilty to membership of ALM while Choudary denies directing a terrorist organisation, being a member of a proscribed organisation and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation.

Choudary was arrested in east London on July 17 of last year while Hussein was detained at Heathrow having arrived on a flight the same day.

The trial continues.
A Texas man hiking a popular trail in the Grand Canyon over the weekend has been declared dead, the National Park Service announced.

The Grand Canyon dispatching office received a report around 7 pm on June 29 that a man was found semi-conscious on the canyon's River Trail, which runs for just under two miles along the Colorado River.

Officials identified the hiker as 69-year-old Scott Sims from Austin, explaining in a Monday press release that he was heading to Phantom Ranch where he was planning on staying for the night.

Three National Park Service paramedics rushed to the hiker's position from Phantom Ranch as bystanders began doing CPR on Sims.

Unfortunately, all efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, leading the Park Service to issue a dire warning about extreme heat while hiking, especially on the specific trail Sims was on.

Scott Sims, 69, is from Austin, Texas, and was hiking in the Grand Canyon when he died

Pictured: South Kaibab Trail at Grand Canyon National Park. This is the treacherously hot trail Sims traversed in order to get to Phantom Ranch, where he planned to stay overnight

'In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120F in the shade. Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm,' the federal agency wrote in a statement.

The summer months are a particularly perilous time to hike because the heat also makes it more complicated for rescue operations to be conducted.

The Park Service said 'limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat' are major factors that make a summer trek through the Grand Canyon a potentially deadly affair.

Officials didn't confirm if Sims died from heat stroke, nor did they release any information on his cause of death.

According to AccuWeather, the high temperature on the day Sims died was 91F.

Its important to note, however, that temperatures vary wildly in the canyon, often getting much hotter the deeper you go.

Over the last few weeks, scorching temperatures have swept across the US, and particularly in the southwestern states where the Grand Canyon is located.

Phantom Ranch, located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, was where Sims was headed on his fatal hike. The walk to this lodge is 7.5 miles on the South Kaibab Trail, which takes 4 to 5 hours on average

Pink granite rock outcropping in the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The Black Bridge marks the end of the South Kaibab Trail

Grand Canyon National Park is seen from the South Kaibab Trail along the South Rim trailhead

Extreme heat is known to cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke, with the latter having the potential to be fatal if treatment isn't administered immediately.

Sims' is the second hiker to lose his life this year at the Grand Canyon, after a 41-year-old man was found dead just two weeks ago at the bottom of the Bright Angel Trail, CBS News affiliate KLAS reported.

One other person besides the two hikers has perished at the park this year, though under different circumstances.

A 33-year-old man on the canyon's Sky Walk fell 4,000 feet to his death on the morning of June 5.

The man was never identified by authorities, but the incident was later ruled a suicide.

A new analysis this year ranked the Grand Canyon as the most dangerous national park in the country, mainly due to extreme heat, risk of falls and the presence of wild animals.
Police today launched an investigation into whether the abuse hurled at a rabbi standing as a Conservative candidate when he visited a mosque constituted a hate crime.

Jewish groups and politicians from all sides reacted with horror after a clip of Arnold Saunders being harangued and branded a 'snake' over the war in Gaza was widely shared on social media.

Now Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation into the appalling scene outside Bilal Mosque in Prestwich to establish whether a crime was committed.

Mr Saunders, who is trying to win the Bury South seat, had been invited to the hustings on June 21 when a worshipper began hounding him.

Throughout the clip, the man aggressively approaches the rabbi telling him to condemn Israel's attacks in Gaza following the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas.

Rabbi Arnold Saunders, who is trying to win the Bury South seat for the Conservative Party, was approached by a worshipper outside Bilal Mosque in Prestwich

Throughout the clip, which has been widely spread on social media, the man aggressively approaches the rabbi (pictured) telling him to condemn Israel 's attacks in Gaza following the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas

The man's 'intimidating' behaviour drew condemnation from all sides, with the Board of Deputies of British Jews saying the footage 'clearly shows the Rabbi was being targeted in this fashion due to his religion'.

In a statement today, Greater Manchester Police said: 'We have launched an investigation after a social media video showing a Rabbi being confronted on Bury New Road, Prestwich, was brought to our attention.

'Enquiries are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident and those involved. Our local officers are continuing to provide reassurance to the community who may be concerned.

'Ensuring the safety of those in our communities is our utmost priority. We would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of hate crime or harassment to come forward and report this to us, so we can investigate thoroughly.'

Throughout the clip, which has been widely spread on social media, the man aggressively approaches the rabbi telling him to condemn Israel's attacks in Gaza following the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas.

'Condemn the IDF, condemn the killing of children, of women, of old people, of livestock,' the man shouts.

Rabbi Saunders, who had been invited to the mosque by local elders, tries to speak and stars saying that he 'regret(s)' something before being interrupted once again by the worshipper, who calls him a 'snake'.

'Don't regret. Condemn in the strongest terms. What was your stance on the ceasefire? Did you vote for it? Were you willing to condemn?' the unnamed man adds.

When the Rabbi tries to explain he was unable to vote on the ceasefire, as he is currently not a MP, he is interrupted again and is told 'you're not getting out vote'

When the Rabbi tries to explain he was unable to vote on the ceasefire, as he is currently not a MP, he is interrupted again and is told 'you're not getting out vote'.

The man shouts and tells the Mosque's leader: 'Tell him to go. He should go. Ask him to go. We don't want to engage with you people. We don't want to engage with you.

'You justify child killers. You say that it's right that they cut off water and electricity supplies. You say that with your own people and then you come here and smile like a snake.

'Until he goes I am not going. I've asked him 10 times to condemn it.'

After a three-minute rant the Rabbi is seen being helped up by security staff and led away from the chaos.

Rabbi Saunders was the only candidate to turn up at the hustings held at the mosque last month, although others were invited.

'I was warned before I went there that people attending the mosque might want to engage with me robustly, but that was beyond the pale,' he told MailOnline.

'I never thought I'd have any problems. Maybe I was naive. I had been there for about an hour-and-a-half before the incident happened.

After a three-minute rant the Rabbi is seen being helped up by security staff and lead away from the chaos

'The vast majority of people attending the mosque were very courteous, I was able to engage with them without any issues.

'It was just this one individual who began shouting at me. He was leaning over and invading my personal space. It went on for about four minutes. The elders at the mosque were trying to reason with him.

'There was security there as well, but they could probably have done more to deal with it. I didn't feel physically threatened at any stage. I've never run away from anything in my life.'

The clip has sparked widespread condemnation from the Jewish community and beyond.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: 'We are disgusted by the abusive treatment of Rabbi Arnold Saunders, a candidate in Bury South.

'Rabbi Saunders had been invited by the elders of a local mosque; the video shows that some of the attendees took issue with this and the footage clearly shows the Rabbi was being targeted in this fashion due to his religion.

'We urge all who care about the health of democracy to call out this bigotry.'

A statement from the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and the region said: 'Rabbi Saunders is a much respected communal figure and we unequivocally condemn his treatment in this video.

'The fact he has been attacked emphasises how individuals are importing the tragic conflict taking place in Israel and Gaza onto the streets of the UK,' it added.

'This is manifesting itself in politicians campaigning in a General Election being targeted, abused and unable to freely move around the constituencies they are seeking to represent.'

Christian Wakeford, until the general election was called the Labour MP for Bury South and the party's candidate on July 4, said in a statement on X: 'Both Bilal Mosque and Rabbi Saunders have undertaken many years of progressive interfaith work which is in stark contrast to this individual's behaviour which is totally unacceptable.

'We get nowhere in the world without dialogue and this is not representative of Bury South.

'Despite political disagreements myself and Rabbi Saunders have always had an excellent relationship and I hope he is ok following this incident.'

Richard Holden, the Conservative chairman and parliamentary candidate for Basildon and Billericay, told the Telegraph: 'What's happening here to Arnie Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bury South, is appalling, disgusting and should not be part of our democratic process.

'I hope the Labour leadership and Bury South Labour candidate condemns this hatred.'

In a statement the mosque said most people had 'engaged positively' with Rabbi Arnold's visit.

It continued: 'Unfortunately, one or two individuals questioned the rabbi in a hostile manner and this clip has been widely circulated. This clip was recorded by one of the individuals himself.

'The rabbi was a guest of the mosque, and he was treated inappropriately and disrespectfully. Any genuine political questions should have been raised respectfully.

'We regret what has happened, we have already apologised to the rabbi for how he was treated and wish to extend our apologies to others who have seen the clip and are upset by it.

'This incident is not reflective of the congregation of the mosque or the Muslim community in Bury.

'Rabbi Saunders, a seasoned politician with many years of experience, and a former member of the Conservative Muslim Forum has himself taken the incident very calmly.

'Masjid E Bilal has a long track record of good inter-faith relations and positive relations with the Jewish and other faith communities.

'The Muslim community itself suffered some incidents during this year's Purim celebrations at the hands of some youth activists.

'None of these incidents are reflective of most of the people in the area.

'We call on anyone attending any election events, wherever it may be, to remain calm and respectful whilst questioning candidates or holding politicians to account.'
President Joe Biden, for the second day in a row, did not answer a question on whether or not he should drop out of the presidential race.

Biden, who was at DC's Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday, ignored a shouted question from reporters on the subject. He also ignored a similar question on Monday night, shouted at him at the White House after he spoke about a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

The president was at the center to talk about extreme weather and the dangers of heat. He is facing a political heat of his own as many Democrats push for him to exit the presidential race after his disasterous debate performance with Donald Trump.

His remarks came shortly after Texas Democrat Rep. Lloyd Doggett became the first sitting Democrat to demand Biden step aside.

President Joe Biden talks about the dangers of extreme heat

'I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson,' Doggett said in a statement. 'Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw.'

'President Biden should do the same,' he continued.

The Biden campaign has made it clear the president is going no where and intends to stay on as the Democratic nominee.

But Biden is still dealing with a demoralized staff and donors who are threatening to pull the plug on his campaign.

And even some Democrats are saying his age is a legitimate issue.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC on Tuesday that she believes 'it is a legitimate question' whether Biden's halting performance is just 'an episode or is this a condition'.

'When people ask that question, it's legitimate  of both candidates,' Pelosi said. Trump is 78.

Pelosi said she had not spoken to Biden since the debate, but she emphasised that the president is on 'top of his game, in terms of knowing the issues and what is at stake'.

In his remarks on Tuesday, Biden noted heat can be a killer.

'Extreme heat is a number one weather related killer United States. More people die from extreme heat than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes,' he said.

He also warned about the signs of heat exhaustion.

'Know the signs: headache, naseau and always have water with you whenever you're outside,' he said.

Biden returned to the White House Monday evening as the 81-year-old president was dogged by questions as to whether he should remain in the 2024 presidential race.

After the debate debacle in Atlanta, Biden traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina and gave a forceful comeback speech.

'I know what millions of Americans know - when you get knocked down you get back up,' the president said, admitting 'I don't debate as well as I used to.'

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic lawmaker to call on President Biden to exit the race

Donald Trump leads in the polls on the presidential race

But Democratic donors and other party members remained in a tizzy over Biden's sometimes incoherent performance.

The president spent the weekend fundraising in New York and New Jersey before returning to Camp David - where he had spent an entire week in debate prep.

The Biden family posed for photographs with celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, while encouraging the 81-year-old to stay in fight, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Fingers were pointed at staff for not preparing the president for his showdown with Trump properly.

But former aides rejected that blame game.

Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and top Biden adviser Anita Dunn and noted that 'prep does not always determine the outcome.'

'Biden was bad,' Psaki posted to X. 'Important convos about what happens next. But if you are directing your ire at 'prep' you are not talking about the right things.'

Meanwhile, Biden will have lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Wednesday and also invited all Democratic governors to meet that day too, as he attempts to solidify his support amont the party.

Many of the governors will appear virtually, according to reports, given the short notice of the event.

The meeting comes after Democratic governors held their own call previously and asked Biden to speak with them, CBS News reported.
As Winston Churchill stepped forward towards the microphone, the crowd was in a raucous, restless mood. Having freshly vanquished the Nazis, the prime minister might have expected a warm reception at this vast rally at the Walthamstow greyhound stadium, in one of the last events of the 1945 General Election campaign.

Instead, it was the name of the Labour Party leader that seemed to inspire the throng. We want Attlee! We want Attlee! echoed the chant around the arena, drowning out Churchills speech.

It was an extraordinary scene, a precursor to the landslide that ushered in Clement Attlees radical post-war Labour government.

Needless to say, there has been nothing like it in todays dull, prosaic contest, which has been light on inspiration and excitement.

Even though Labour are the favourites to win, they have been deliberately opaque on policy, and so have failed to capture the imagination of the public.

Cries of We want Starmer have been seldom heard on the campaign trail. Indeed, according to some analysts  and despite its predicted thumping majority  this will be the most unpopular incoming government in modern times.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Starmers own approval ratings are dismal: polls by Ipsos and YouGov in May had it at minus 18 and minus 20 points respectively.

Yet, ahead of the 1997 election, Tony Blair achieved plus 18, and David Cameron plus 3 in 2010.

It highlights a fundamental paradox at the heart of this strange election. If the polls are accurate, then the stodgy North London lawyer may be about to preside over a revolution at Westminster that will annihilate the Tories and make Labour the most dominant political force ever seen in this country.

Even the famous Liberal victory of 1906, which established the record for the largest win by a progressive party and reduced the Conservatives to a humiliated rump of just 156 MPs, could well be eclipsed tomorrow. Some forecasts have Rishi Sunaks party falling as low as just 50 seats.

This wildly unbalanced potential outcome is driven, not by any yearning for Left-wing rule under Starmer, but profound hostility to the Conservative Government which is perceived to have betrayed its promises, especially on tax, crime, living standards and immigration.

Yet, while it is understandable that many voters want to punish the Tories, a democracy needs to be ruled by judgment rather than emotion. Elections should not be exercises in anger management. On the contrary, they are landmarks that decide the fate of the nation.

Whatever Labour pretend, tomorrows vote is not a referendum on the past 14 years of Tory rule but a decision as to which party should be in charge for the next five years.

And the choice of Labour would be a disaster for Britain.

It is bitterly ironic that all the Tory policy failures that have so disillusioned the public are precisely the areas where Starmers government will be even worse.

His frontbench might now pose as the champions of moderation and fiscal rectitude, but a new Labour government is bound to preside over rising taxes, expanding bureaucracy, higher public debts and growing immigration.

Starmers own approval ratings are dismal: polls by Ipsos and YouGov in May had it at minus 18 and minus 20 points respectively

n other areas, like Ashfield in Nottinghamshire  currently held by ex-Tory Lee Anderson, now with Reform UK  a vote for Nigel Farages party may be the best way of hitting Labour

Just as border controls are diluted, so negotiations will reopen for the Brussels empire to bring the UK back into its orbit.

The unions will be emboldened, the woke zealots will step up their bullying. Britain will continue down the dismal path away from the rule of law towards a rule of lawyers.

If anyone has any doubts about how depressing a sweeping Labour triumph will be, just imagine the celebrations inside Whitehall, home to the sclerotic, obstructive civil service blob. Right-on pressure groups will feel all their Christmases have come at once, as will the BBC.

In the final hours of campaigning, Conservative prospects might seem desperate but there are a few glimmers of hope that should encourage Tory activists and voters.

One is that the opinion polls may have the picture badly wrong. After all, they were mistaken over the outcomes of the 2015 and 2017 General Elections, as well as the 2016 European Union referendum.

The post-count inquests into the failure of pollsters to accurately capture Conservative mood in the country are as much a feature of elections as the exit poll. Optimism can also be found in Westminsters first-past-the-post system by which our democracy has always been governed.

Yes, this process  which bestows strong administration and stability by focusing electoral rewards on the winning party rather than distributing them proportionately on the basis of vote share  could hand Starmer a landslide not at all commensurate with the popular vote.

But in the shallowness of Labours support lies the Tories escape route.

The Conservative-held marginal seats that Labour is counting on could evaporate dramatically if small numbers of voters change their minds. And that could undoubtedly happen.

According to the respected peer and polling analyst Lord Ashcroft, writing in todays Mail, almost half of all voters are still undecided, while one in five of those who voted Conservative in 2019 say that they dont know what theyll do, or that they will not vote at all.

In practice, that means that a major upset is still possible.

As Rishi Sunak put it yesterday, 132,000 voters in the most tightly fought seats could decide whether the UK has a hung Parliament or Labour majority.

That is why anyone who does not want to hand Sir Keir Starmer untrammelled power should carefully read this guide.

Throughout the country, there are scores of constituencies in which Mail readers can make a real difference.

In a string of Tory battleground seats, like Dunstable, Wyre Forest and North Somerset, the results could be decided by a few hundred votes either way.

In Weston-Super-Mare, just one percentage point separates the Tory and Labour candidates, while the gap is just two points in Dartford.

In other areas, like Ashfield in Nottinghamshire  currently held by ex-Tory Lee Anderson, now with Reform UK  a vote for Nigel Farages party may be the best way of hitting Labour. The result is anything but settled.

A supermajority for Labour where Starmer could absurdly gain unprecedented power in the Commons on the back of an even smaller share of the vote than Jeremy Corbyn won in 2017  will be anything but super.

At the very least, in our two-party system, every government  especially one that will be as doctrinaire as Starmers  needs a powerful opposition.

But readers should take heart because, with judicious use of your vote, you can not only install a credible counterweight to Labour in the Commons, but you can stop this Starmergeddon nightmare from unfolding in the first place.
A top Republican is demanding the Pentagon explain why it tried to hide taxpayer dollars sent to China for risky virus research.

A new Defense Department report shockingly revealed the agency lost track of millions of taxpayer dollars sent to the adversary of the US.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is now demanding Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin explain what exactly happened, according to correspondence exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com.

Paul says he's 'deeply concerned' over the Pentagon report finding the department couldn't determine whether it sent money to China for pathogen research.

'It is unacceptable that DoD cannot account for the full extent of taxpayer funding it has spent on pandemic pathogen research at Chinese research laboratories,' Paul wrote to Austin.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has requested files from the Pentagon regarding their use of taxpayer dollars to fund pathogen research in China. Paul has been investigating the origins of COVID for years and was shocked over the Pentagon's neglect in tracking funding to foreign countries

The Republican requested Sec. Austin turn over files relating to the Pentagon's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) that funded Chinese pathogen research, similar to the research done on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology before the COVID pandemic.

The senator has been vigorously investigating the origins of COVID and former White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci for his role in the pandemic and its policies.

Now he is examining the Pentagon's role in using 'American taxpayer dollars for risky virus research in China and other foreign countries.'

'This lack of oversight represents a significant gap in our national security and undermines public trust in the DoD,' Paul said.

Previously, the senator disclosed to DailyMail.com how Fauci still receives a taxpayer-funded 24/7 US Marshal security detail despite not being a government employee.

'The only other person probably getting his level of security would be the president, vice president, maybe cabinet members, and a few members in leadership in the House and Senate,' Paul told DailyMail.com.

Virologists working at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which received funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) when Fauci led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

DailyMail.com recently spotted Dr. Anthony Fauci out walking in his neighborhood with a full taxpayer-funded security detail

At least six US Marshal agents were spotted along the walk with Fauci

Paul has also been outspoken in accusing Fauci of obfuscating the origins of the virus.

The Republican has twice sent referrals to the Justice Department for Fauci's prosecution, telling DailyMail.com 'he committed a felony by lying to Congress saying he didn't fund gain and function research. He's still saying that.'

'It is annoying that he's still out there crowing how great he is, when really his philosophic opinion that gain-of-function research is worth the risk is something that I think history should remember, and I'm going to do every bit of making sure that history remembers that he was philosophically in favor of the research that I believe allowed millions of people to die from this lab leak,' Paul told DailyMail.com.

Last month, the Kentuckian grilled several eminent doctors during a Senate hearing on the origins of COVID and definition of gain-of-function research.

The hearing became heated as lawmakers and witnesses sparred over the good that could come from the research that enhances viruses to make them more effective.

And Paul said if Republicans gain control of the Senate in November and he gets committee power, his first action will be to subpoena those files.

'The most important information is the NIH deliberation over what is, what is not gain-of-function,' he told DailyMail.com. 'They won't give us the information.'

Fauci signs autographs outside of the ABC studios in New York with a member of his US Marshals detail behind him

Those documents will truly reveal whether Fauci lied to Congress about whether he was overseeing the dangerous research method, which he previously denied doing before the Senate, Paul said.

Still, the reputation damage to US public health officials is done, he added.

'We have public health officials that appear to be more salesmen for Big Pharma, than they do objective scientists, and that still is a problem,' Paul told DailyMail.com.

'It's led to a great deal of distrust, much more distrust over what the government tells us, than ever before,' he said.
A beloved grandfather was killed after a customer accidentally fired a weapon in a Kentucky gun store.

Chad Wainscott, 50, was killed on Saturday around 8:30 pm, after an unidentified customer 'was viewing a firearm for sale and manipulating it' before a single round discharged, police said.

Wainscott was inside Humphrey Double H Farms Enterprises Inc. in Carroll County when he was struck by the bullet as other patrons attempted to save his life.

Kentucky State Police troopers found the wounded grandfather inside the firearm store being treated by paramedics. He was taken to Carroll County Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

'Prayers to the family and all that, and that's the only comment we have,' an employee from Humphrey Double H Farms Enterprises Inc. told DailyMail.com.

Chad Wainscott, 50, was killed on Saturday around 8:30 pm, after an unidentified customer 'was viewing a firearm for sale and manipulating it before a single round discharged

Wainscott was struck by the bullet inside Humphrey Double H Farms Enterprises Inc. in Carroll County. The shop told DailyMail.com: 'Prayers to the family and all that, and that's the only comment we have'

'He was one of the good ones,' a family member said about Wainscott, also known as 'Papaw.'

State police said that the person who fired the gun has cooperated with investigators, and based on their statements and witness accounts, foul play is not suspected.

'No charges are pending at this time, and this is an ongoing investigation by Post 5 detectives,' the police added.

Wainscott's loved ones have shared their thoughts and prayers for him and his family following his unexpected death.

One said: 'I will miss you my friend!!'

Another wrote: 'He was one of the good ones!'

Wainscott's obituary said that he was also known as 'Little Chigger' by his family, named after his grandfather 'Chig's'

State police said that the person who fired the gun has cooperated with investigators, and based on their statements and witness accounts, foul play is not suspected

'Rest in peace my friend,' someone else wrote.

'RIP buddy,' wrote another.

His mother, Anita Wainscott, posted many pictures of her late son on Facebook. A recent post showed her son smiling big with family members and a little baby.

Wainscott's obituary said that he was also known as 'Little Chigger' by his family, named after his grandfather 'Chig's.'

In his life he worked as a mechanic, remodeled homes with his father, drove for a concrete company, and was an employee for North American Stainless.

Just before he died, Wainscott enjoyed working on the farm with his father. He also loved spending time at Dallasburg Baptist Church in Wheatley, according to his obituary.

In his free time, he loved hunting, collecting guns, looking for four leaf clovers, hats, knives, and taking pictures of cows and sunsets

Wainscott's mother recently posted an image of him smiling alongside family with a 'Pawpaw' T-shirt on

In his free time, he loved hunting, collecting guns, looking for four leaf clovers, hats, knives, and taking pictures of cows and sunsets.

'Chad was known to be most happiest outdoors,' the obituary said.

He is survived by his mother, his father Jerry, his daughter Courtney (Dustin) Burke, his son Coltin Wainscott, his brother Jason Wainscott, and his grandson whom he adored, Edward Burke.

Visitation for Wainscott are set to take place at Tandy-Eckler-Riley Funeral Home in Carrollton on Tuesday and Wednesday.

His funeral will follow on Wednesday at 2.00pm and he will be buried in the Dallasburg Wheatley Cemetery.
Gwyneth Paltrow was approached at an airport check-in desk in Italy by a journalist demanding answers on her connections to Saudi Arabia.

The Goop founder had no response for the reporter as she queued at the Delta departures desk in the Rome airport on Tuesday.

Foreign policy reporter Jonathan Guyer shared a photo of the interaction showing the 51-year-old actress sporting a fresh tan and a nearly all-white outfit with a sweater wrapped around her shoulders and a crossbody bag.

The journalist claimed that he interrogated Paltrow about her recent Saudi Arabia engagements including a conference linked to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but her only response was to look away.

'I asked her why she took the stage earlier this year at a Saudi investment conference, a big-money party that ultimately benefits the killers of Jamal Khashoggi,' Guyer said.

Paltrow spoke at Red Sea International Film Festival which critics slammed as an example of the regime's 'arts-washing' and 'sports-washing' campaign

Paltrow has been slammed by critics for ignoring Saudi Arabia's 'egregious human rights record' while attending prestigious events country.

She attended the Future Investment Initiative in Miami which was sponsored by Saudi's Public Investment Fund in February, reported The New York Times.

In December, the Oscar-winning actress attended the closing ceremony of The Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia.

She dazzled onlookers in a voluminous yellow dress as she posed alongside CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, Mohammed Al Turki.

Human rights campaigners have said that The Red Sea Film Festival is another example of the regime's 'arts-washing' and 'sports-washing' campaign, whereby glamorous international events are hosted in a country to distract from its immoral behavior.

The Oscar-winning actress posed alongside CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, Mohammed Al Turki, at the closing ceremony of the festival

Inside the oil-rich kingdom homosexuality remains a crime punishable by death and women still do not have equal rights and are considered the property of their fathers or husbands.

Critics of the regime are regularly imprisoned and in 2018 dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed by agents of the Saudi Government at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Paltrow's attendance was especially surprising as, outside of her role as Pepper Potts in Marvel films, she has not had a leading role in a film since Mortdecai in 2015.

But it is rumored that A-list celebrities including Paltrow, Johnny Depp and Will Smith were offered around $1 million to walk the red carpet in Jeddah.

Puck news website claimed that: '$1 million was the standing offer that went around the talent agencies for major stars to walk the carpet Will Smith may even have gotten more than that.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Paltrow's representatives and Guyer for comment.
A 74-year-old San Francisco woman has died after she was pushed in front of a BART train by a homeless man at a subway station.

Corazon Dandan, a San Mateo County resident, was shoved in front of a moving Millbrae-bound train at Powell Street station at around 11.06pm yesterday.

BART police officers have identified and taken Trevor Belmont, 49, a homeless man also known as Hoak Taing into custody for the incident.

The push caused the victim to hit her head on the train and fall on the platform, officials said.

Corazon Dandan, a San Mateo County resident, was declared dead after she was shoved in front of a moving Millbrae-bound train at Powell Street station at around 11.06pm yesterday

She was transported to the San Francisco General Hospital, where her head injuries proved fatal.

Belmont has been accused of Murder and Inflicting Injury On Elder Or Dependent Adult Likely To Cause Great Bodily Injury, according to his arrest report.

In an official statement, cops described the perpetrator as a 'transient' - a more formal word for homeless.

According to the San Francisco Standard, a woman on the police scanner audio can be heard saying that Dandan 'was pushed into a train and is now laid out on the platform. We have medical on the way'.

'We're going to need more units for this,' a male voice reportedly also said in response.

BART police officers have identified and taken Trevor Belmont, 49, a homeless man also known as Hoak Taing into custody for the incident

Belmont has been booked at the San Francisco County Jail today where he is being held without bond.

Officers also confirmed that the incident was an active investigation and said: 'BART PD is interviewing witnesses and processing evidence.

'The investigation includes the review of surveillance video. Investigators are still working to determine a motive for this incident.'

Authorities confirmed that Dandan's death is the first homicide of the year on the BART system.
A cancer stricken senior and two others were allegedly beaten by pro-Palestine protesters during a clash at a North Carolina library.

Navy veteran Bob Campbell, 80, was left severely bruised after he said he was attacked along with his companions David Moritz and Monica Buckley, who are Jewish.

The group were attending an event called Strategic Lessons from the Palestinian Resistance at the West Ashville library.

When the anti-Israel crowd realized they were being secretly filmed by Buckley, they turned on the trio and allegedly launched a physical attack.

Campbell said he was pushed to the floor by a man as he attempted to protect Buckley.

'You know I got cancer and I'm 80, you don't have to do much, but he wouldn't stop',' Campbell told WPDE .

Navy veteran Bob Campbell, 80, was left severely bruised after he was attacked by pro-Palestine protesters during a clash at a North Carolina library

Buckley said the violence began after she jumped on a protester's back when they knocked her phone out of her hand.

Video shows the moments leading up to the scuffle, with Buckley filming as the crowd of around 80 people registers their presence and begins to get hostile.

The host of the event turns it over to the attendees and asks what they think they should do about them.

'I think they're not f***king welcome,' one woman shouts out prompting murmurs of agreement.

'I'm just not a big fan of recording so if you want to have this conversation you can put your phone away,' another woman adds addressing the trio.

As they continue to discuss what to do, a person comes and sits in front of the camera to try and block the view.

'What are you guys so afraid of I thought you wanted your message sent out?' Moritz asks.

Eventually the group starts to surround the trio in an attempt to cut off their filming and starts chanting 'Free, free Palestine', with Campbell barking back at them.

Suddenly, the camera falls to the ground and chaos breaks loose. There is no visual feed, but screaming and shouting can be heard in the background.

He was attacked along with his companions David Moritz and Monica Buckley (pictured), who are Jewish

The group were attending an event called Strategic Lessons from the Palestinian Resistance at the at the West Ashville library

The group said they had attended the event to see what was being spoken about in their community.

'I was just sitting there recording the people who were surrounding us, and a woman grabbed the phone and started running towards the door,' Buckley said.

'I jumped on her to get my phone back. There was a swarm of dozens of people that attacked me, and then and Bob and David came to try to help me and then they were swarmed and attacked also.

'They were hitting me, punching me, punching my wrists, stomping on my ankles. Somebody choked me with something. We didn't want to provoke anything. We were there just to listen.'

Campbell and Moritz said they stepped in to try and help Buckley, but were quickly over powered.

'Bob and I both got up to defend her, but it was just such a mob of people, they just started punching me,' Moritz said. 'I had bruises on my head, I was fighting back, I kicked some people.'

Buckley said the violence began after she jumped on a protester's back when they knocked her phone out of her hand.

David Moritz was also hurt in the melee which began after the event hosts became angry Buckley was live streaming the talk

She claimed her live stream alerted cops to the assault, however police later said they were called by a librarian.

In a post on Instagram, Buckley claimed that the event began with the speaker, 'celebrating October 7'.

'The crowd eventually exposed us as Zionists and asked the speaker what they should do with us,' she added.

'He casually mentioned murder and then told the crowd to decide how to handle us and watched as they beat up three people.

'Listen carefully to the glee and casual giggling as they inflict their violence.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Firestorm Books who organized the event for comment.
A jailed ex-cop - convicted of attempted murder - has been moved to another prison after allegations of an 'inappropriate relationship' with a guard emerged.

James Riley, 28, was jailed for 16 years after attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend Ellie Moxham by strangling her and putting a plastic bag over her head.

It was described by a judge as a 'brutal and determined' two-minute attempt on the young academic's life on November 10, 2022.

Ms Moxham was left with a long-lasting brain injury from oxygen deprivation following the attack.

Now it has emerged an investigation was conducted at Salford's Forest Bank due to an alleged 'inappropriate' relationship between a guard and Riley.

James Riley convicted of attempted murder - has been moved to another prison as allegations of an 'inappropriate relationship' with a guard emerge

He was sentenced to 16 years in prison after strangling his ex-girlfriend Ellie Moxham for two minutes leaving her with a long lasting brain injury (pictured: HMP Forest Bank)

The staff member who is believed to have become close with the criminal was moved to another wing after colleagues complained.

A source said co-workers had raised the issue in part because of the risk to the prison officer.

Prison sources have since revealed, the 28-year-old has been moved to another jail, which is believed to be HMP Prison Parc in Brigdend, South Wales

However, it is understood the staff member in question has been cleared because of 'an absence of substantive evidence'.

A source from the prison alleged Riley claimed to be in a relationship with the guard, and that they kept their position at the facility.

An HMP Forest Bank spokesperson said: 'We don't comment on individuals.'

G4S, which operates HMP Parc in Bridgend declined to comment.

Managers at the jail believe there was a 'thorough investigation' which has since been concluded due to a lack of evidence.

They also noted HMP Forest Bank is a 'reception prison' from which inmates are transferred to other facilities daily.

In response to the allegations, an HMP Forest Bank spokesperson said in January: 'We are conducting all relevant enquiries, therefore it would be inappropriate to comment or name any individual in the meantime.'

As he was sentenced in January a judge told him the attack was a 'brutal and determined' two-minute attempt on academic Ellie Moxham's life

CCTV footage revealed Riley's movements after the incident, highlighting his intention to evade capture by making two 250 cash transactions from different ATMs and getting rid of his mobile phone to ensure he could not be tracked

After fleeing the Premier Inn, Riley spent 11 minutes on the phone to his parents  telling them 'I've killed Ellie' - before eventually calling an ambulance then fleeing the scene to 'save his own skin'

Ex-Lancashire Police officer, Riley, was charged with attempted murder after a brutal attack on his former girlfriend at a Premier Inn after she decided to leave him.

Ms Moxham, then aged 24, was 'persuaded' to go to a Sigrid concert in Manchester which the former couple had booked some months earlier.

Riley was hoping to 'rekindle' their relationship, which began when they were both undergraduate students at Lancaster University years earlier, but attacked Ms Moxham with 'murderous intent', after she texted her new partner Alex Gough.

CCTV footage revealed Riley's movements after the incident, highlighting his intention to evade capture by making two 250 cash transactions from different ATMs and getting rid of his mobile phone to ensure he could not be tracked.

After fleeing the Premier Inn, Riley spent 11 minutes on the phone to his parents  telling them 'I've killed Ellie' - before eventually calling an ambulance then fleeing the scene to 'save his own skin'.

Ms Moxham, who was a PhD student at Lancaster University, was initially put into an induced coma and spent a day in intensive care.

Riley was later arrested in West Yorkshire four hours after the incident and sentence to 16 years in jail after admitting attempted murder at Manchester Crown Court in January.

In April 2023, an investigation was conducted into allegations of widespread drug use and inmates who 'run the wings' at Forest Bank.

A source from the prison alleged Riley (pictured) claimed to be in a relationship with the guard in question

it is understood the staff member in question has been cleared because of 'an absence of substantive evidence', however sources say Riley has been moved to HMP Parc in South Wales (pictured)

It prompted both Salford's mayor - Paul Dennett and an MP to request the government demand an 'urgent' review of the facility.

Among the revelations uncovered by Manchester Evening News, was a call from Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey to the Ministry of Justice to scrap a billion pound contract it has with Sodexo who run Forest Bank.

Based on allegations from a whistleblower, an ex-prisoner and his father, and the family of a grandfather who died in his cell, the publication exposed the inner the prison.

The culture at the jail was described by Rebecca Long-Bailey as 'lawlessness'.

It emerged drugs were 'rife' having been smuggled via 'legal letters' and inmates are 'off their t**s a lot of the time'

The investigation also found inmates brew their own hooch, in wings where 'violence' is commonplace.

Staff were said to feel 'unsafe' with a single guard sometimes being 'left to guard a 100-plus inmates'.

Staff were also said to be purchasing 'their own uniform because of cost-cutting'.

A desperate father paid off a drug dealer on his addict son's wing because 'staff didn't protect him'

Sodexo's contract to run the prison comes to an end on January 19, 2025.

In April 2023, an investigation was conducted into allegations of widespread drug use and inmates who 'run the wings' at Forest Bank

The corporation was awarded a deal to build, run and design the former Agecroft power station in 1998.

The staggering 1,006,771,964 deal would see the property transformed to property able to house a maximum of 1,064 inmates.

The private finance initiative was to last for 25 years, before being extended.

The facilities management giant, founded and based in France, runs six prisons in England and Scotland, and last year recorded revenues of 21.1 billion euros.

An announcement about the contract is anticipated to be released following the general election
A gruesome cell phone video captured the moment an alleged member of the Sinaloa Cartel instructed one of his accomplices to shoot at his rivals, who were already dead, inside a dump truck in southern Mexico state of Chiapas.

The footage, leaked by the criminal organization itself last Friday, showed 14 bodies lying on top of each other following a gun battle in the town of La Concordia, 98 miles from the border with Guatemala.

The victims were still wearing their bulletproof vests with their high-powered rifles lying over their bodies before one of the Sinaloa Cartel members climbed inside the truck.

The cartel member, whose voice is heard in the video, alleges in the video that the victims were backed by Ataulfo Lopez, a local farmer.

The man orders his henchmen to remove the victims' weapons. But before doing so, he tells one of the members to shoot one of the victims.

The Chiapas State Attorney General's office was alerted Saturday and dispatched agents to the scene, where they located a pickup truck and a dump truck blocking the road.

Mexican authorities discovered 14 bodies inside a dump truck, two more inside and an additional two lying on the ground next to it on Sunday after alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel killed the victims during a gun battle last Friday

The victims, according to the Chiapas State Attorney General's Office, were hired assassins linked to the Guatemala and Chiapas Cartel, an organization tied to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which is warring with the Sinaloa Cartel over weapons, drugs and migrant trafficking routes in La Concordia, a town located 80 miles from the border with Guatemala

Investigators found two more bodies in the cab and another two lying on the dirt road next to the truck. Another body was found 100 yards away from the pickup truck, which had been shot up in the attack.

Chiapas authorities confirmed that six of the victims Guatemalan and members of an alleged assassin squad that worked under the Chiapas and Guatemala Cartel, which is linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The Guatemalan victims were identified as Mario 'N', Geremias 'N', Fredy 'N', Baudulio 'N', Oscar 'N' y Luis.

Their last names were withheld by the government because of due process laws. The other 13 victims not been identified because they were not carrying legal documents.

While filming the gruesome footage of the 14 victims inside the dump truck, one of the alleged Sinaloa Cartel members claimed that their activities were supported by Ataulfo Lopez (right), a local farmer whose daughter Lucero Lopez (left), was killed May 16 while campaigning for mayor of La Concordia, a city in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas

During Tuesday's press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador linked the killings to the ongoing dispute between criminal organizations.

'What motivates this? Drug trafficking and also migrant trafficking,' Lopez Obrador said. 'That said, human trafficking is a route. Unfortunately in these murders there are people from Guatemala, they are Mexicans and Guatemalans, Guatemalan brothers. We are already looking into this.'

In recent months, Mexico's military has carried out multiple arrests related to weapons and drug trafficking and the smuggling of migrants in the area surrounding La Concordia.

Last week, at least 1,200 troops assigned to the armed forces and the National Guard were dispatched to increase security.

Lopez's daughter, La Concordia mayoral candidate Lucero Lopez, 28, was one of six people shot dead at a campaign rally on May 16.

Two weeks before her death, gunmen attacked Ataulfo Lopez's ranch and killed 10 people. Several vehicles and properties in the vicinity were set on fire.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Ataulfo Lopez for comment.
President Joe Biden will sit down for an exclusive interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos that will air over the July 4th holiday weekend, a time expected to have low audience engagement.

It is the first interview since Biden's train wreck of a presidential debate. He is facing calls to exit the race in the aftermath. The interview will be pre-taped, meaning what airs to viewers can be edited.

Democrats have urged the president do more live, impromptu events without a teleprompter to push back against concerns about his mental health.

Biden will also have a litany of public events over the next few days including traveling to Wisconsin on Friday and holding a press conference next week when NATO leaders are in town. He'll tape the interview with ABC News in Wisconsin.

'He knows how to do the job,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. But she acknowledged of the debate that 'it was a bad night.'

A first look of the ABC interview will air Friday, July 5, on World News Tonight with more airing on the weekend editions of Good Morning America. The extended interview will air Sunday, July 7, on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and on Good Morning America on Monday, July 8th.

Biden has sat down with Stephanopoulos before in August 2021 when he defended his decision to pull U.S. troops from Afghanistan. It is one of the few sit down television interviews that Biden has done as president.

President Joe Biden sits down with ABC's George Stephanopoulos in August 2021

Meanwhile, Biden, for the second day in a row, did not answer a question on whether or not he should drop out of the presidential race.

The president, who was at DC's Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday, ignored a shouted question from reporters on the subject. He also ignored a similar question on Monday night, shouted at him at the White House after he spoke about a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

Biden was at the center to talk about extreme weather and the dangers of heat. He is facing a political heat of his own as many Democrats push for him to exit the presidential race after his disastrous debate performance with Donald Trump.

His remarks came shortly after Texas Democrat Rep. Lloyd Doggett became the first sitting Democrat to demand Biden step aside.

'I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson,' Doggett said in a statement. 'Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw.'

'President Biden should do the same,' he continued.

The Biden campaign has made it clear the president is going no where and intends to stay on as the Democratic nominee.

But Biden is still dealing with a demoralized staff and donors who are threatening to pull the plug on his campaign.

And even some Democrats are saying his age is a legitimate issue.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC on Tuesday that she believes 'it is a legitimate question' whether Biden's halting performance is just 'an episode or is this a condition'.

'When people ask that question, it's legitimate  of both candidates,' Pelosi said. Trump is 78.

Pelosi said she had not spoken to Biden since the debate, but she emphasised that the president is on 'top of his game, in terms of knowing the issues and what is at stake'.

In his remarks on Tuesday, Biden noted heat can be a killer.

'Extreme heat is a number one weather related killer United States. More people die from extreme heat than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes,' he said.

He also warned about the signs of heat exhaustion.

'Know the signs: headache, naseau and always have water with you whenever you're outside,' he said.

Biden returned to the White House Monday evening as the 81-year-old president was dogged by questions as to whether he should remain in the 2024 presidential race.

After the debate debacle in Atlanta, Biden traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina and gave a forceful comeback speech.

'I know what millions of Americans know - when you get knocked down you get back up,' the president said, admitting 'I don't debate as well as I used to.'

President Joe Biden talks about the dangers of extreme heat

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic lawmaker to call on President Biden to exit the race

But Democratic donors and other party members remained in a tizzy over Biden's sometimes incoherent performance.

The president spent the weekend fundraising in New York and New Jersey before returning to Camp David - where he had spent an entire week in debate prep.

The Biden family posed for photographs with celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, while encouraging the 81-year-old to stay in fight, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Fingers were pointed at staff for not preparing the president for his showdown with Trump properly.

But former aides rejected that blame game.

Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and top Biden adviser Anita Dunn and noted that 'prep does not always determine the outcome.'

'Biden was bad,' Psaki posted to X. 'Important convos about what happens next. But if you are directing your ire at 'prep' you are not talking about the right things.'

Meanwhile, Biden will have lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Wednesday and also invited all Democratic governors to meet that day too, as he attempts to solidify his support among the party.

Many of the governors will appear virtually, according to reports, given the short notice of the event.

The meeting comes after Democratic governors held their own call previously and asked Biden to speak with them, CBS News reported.
A scientist who was fired from her job because she refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine over religious grounds has been awarded almost $700,000 in a landmark settlement.

Tanja Benton, 52, was terminated by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BSBST) in November 2022, at a time when many companies were mandating staff receive the vaccine to go back to work following the pandemic.

She claimed in a lawsuit that she could not 'in good conscience' get the vaccine because of her religious opposition to abortion, and said that 'based upon personal research, all COVID-19 vaccines are derived from aborted fetus cell lines.'

A federal jury found that her refusal was based on 'sincerely held religious beliefs', and awarded her the sum in a settlement first obtained by WTVC.

Tanja Benton, 52, was awarded almost $700,000 after she was sacked by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BSBST) in November 2022 for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine

Benton, who worked as a bio statistical research scientist at BSBST from 2005 until she was fired in November 2022, was awarded a total of $687,000 in her settlement.

This broke down to over $177,000 in back pay following her firing, $10,000 in compensatory damages, and $500,000 in punitive damages.

In her lawsuit, the 52-year-old noted that she did not come into regular contact with other staffers during her day-to-day role, and never interacted with hospital patients.

She said that when the pandemic hit, she worked from home for a year and a half, and had no issues with BCBST's policies until they introduced a vaccine mandate.

When she was faced with either getting the jab or losing her job, Benton refused, arguing that doing so 'would not only defile her body but also anger and dishonor God.'

Benton's claim that 'all COVID-19 vaccines are derived from aborted fetus cell lines' is not strictly accurate, however they were used in the development phase of some of the vaccines.

While COVID-19 vaccines themselves do not contain any aborted fetal cells, testing during the research phase of the mRNA vaccines - and during the production of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine - did use fetal cell lines.

Fetal cell lines are grown in a laboratory based on aborted fetal cells that were collected generations ago, per Nebraska Medicine, but they are not actually contained in any of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Benton said she submitted a request for a religious exemption which was denied by the company as it told her that she would be let go unless she complied.

The company also allegedly told her that there were no vaccine exemptions for anyone with her job title, and suggested that she looked for another job.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (pictured is the company's campus in Chattanooga, Tennessee) said they were 'disappointed' with the decision over Benton's case

In a statement to WTVC, the company said: 'The vaccine requirement was the best decision for the health and safety of our employees and members  some of whom are the most vulnerable in the state - and our communities.

'We appreciate our former employees service to our members and communities throughout their time with BlueCross.'

Dalya Qualls White, the company's senior vice president and chief communications officer, added to The Chattanoogan that BCBST was 'disappointed by the decision.'

The outlet reported that a number of other terminated BlueCross staffers have also filed a class action lawsuit against the company on similar complaints.
A popular radio host broadcasting to central Virginia died over the weekend, leaving longtime listeners and friends heartbroken.

Kat Simons, known for her unending love for animals, was a mainstay host on Richmond's 98.1, her voice on air from 10 am to 3pm on weekdays for over 25 years.

The radio station announced her death on Saturday, describing her as 'a cherished friend' and 'a comforting presence.'

'It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Kat Simons,' the station's Facebook post read.

There was no mention of how she died, but tributes to her poured in from the many people whose lives she touched in one way or another.

Radio host Kat Simons, known for her commitment to animal rescue causes, died over the weekend from an unknown cause

Longtime Richmond radio personality Melissa Chase called Simons 'the mom for women in radio.'

'Women in radio, we just got together all the time to make sure that we were taking care of each other because it was definitely a boys' club when we first got started,' Chase told CBS Richmond.

Simons 'supported us in so many ways,' she added.

Simons grew up on a farm in West Virginia, where her affection for animals began.

'This love grew into a lifelong commitment to charity work, supporting local rescue groups and serving as Vice President of Richmond Hero,' her radio station wrote.

The most famous segment on her show was called 'Pet of the Day,' where she would partner with local shelters and help try to find stray pets loving homes.

She also had pets of her own: a dog named Stevie and multiple cats.

Simons grew up on a farm in West Virginia, where her affection for animals began

The most famous segment on her show was called 'Pet of the Day,' where she would partner with local shelters and help try to find stray pets loving homes

Simons was often an emcee at local charity events - many unrelated to animals - routinely helping raise thousands of dollars for various causes.

She worked with over a dozen charities, including the VA, the Alzheimer's Association, and the Diabetes Association just to name a few.

'She freely gave of her time and resources, surprising many with random acts of kindness, monetary gifts, gift cards, and thoughtful birthday cards,' the station described.

Virginia This Morning co-host Bill Bevins worked with Simons for years and said he'll remember her for how much she cared for people.

'You could tell it was the real thing to the point where some people would say, nobody's that nice,' he said. 'But she was. She absolutely was.'

'She was like a one-person Red Cross. ... If you think of somebody who needs help, whether it's an animal or a person, then Kat will come to mind.'

Melissa Golden, Vice President of Richmond-based Henrico Humane Society, said she listened to Simon on the radio long before becoming a close friend of hers through their animal rescue work.

Longtime Richmond radio personality Melissa Chase, pictured, called Simons 'the mom for women in radio'

Melissa Golden, pictured, is the vice president of Richmond-based Henrico Humane Society. She and Simons were close friends and worked together on rescuing stray animals

Golden hosted Simons at her nonprofit's annual Pet Expo for 15 years in a row, and also joined her on the radio a number of times.

'You never felt like it was an interview with Kat,' Golden told CBS Richmond. 'It felt like a conversation.'

'Shes an institution. I grew up here. And before there was Pandora and Sirius, there was just the radio.

'It was a big deal to listen to Kat Simons on Lite 98.'

True to form, Simons' last Instagram post was one of her pets of the day. This time, it was a Pitbull mix named Zub Zero who 'thrives on hooman companionship.'

'This well-mannered boy is as friendly as can be, always ready to make new friends with his social and outgoing personality...and is sure to bring so much joy to your home,' she wrote in mid-June.

Pictured: Kat Simons' final Instagram post, where she tries to get her listeners to adopt this Pitbull mix named Zub Zero

The station's mournful announcement was flooded with comments from avid listeners to Simons, charities she worked with and people gushing over the times they met her in person.

'I just saw her and spoke with her Food Lion just 2 days ago! I am so sad. Every interaction I had with her was so great. She was always smiling and had a gentle soul,' one person wrote.

So many others said they'd miss calling in to her show to request songs.

But the overwhelming sentiment was that she was a uniquely positive and generous force in the Richmond community.

'She was a constant companion, whether at work or at home. Her presence was always a continual source of comfort and pleasure,' her radio colleagues wrote.

'Thank you for everything, Kat.'
Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings this week after spending the weekend at Camp David with his dad on the heels of President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance.

NBC News reported Tuesday on Hunter's presence on calls and in meetings on the White House campus as the 81-year-old president's political future hangs in the balance.

Hunter was convicted last month on felony gun charges and is still under indictment for tax crimes though 'popped into' a couple of meetings, one source said.

'What the hell is happening?' has been the reaction of some senior staff, another source told the network.

Hunter's addiction to crack cocaine and his foreign business dealings have been a years-long political headache for his father, yet Biden has kept his only living son close.

Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings this week NBC reported Tuesday, after spending the weekend at Camp David with his dad on the heels of President Joe Biden 's disastrous debate performance

Hunter Biden (left) is seen returning to the White House Monday evening alongside (from left) son Beau, President Joe Biden, Melissa Cohen and first lady Jill Biden

The president rushed to Delaware last month to hug Hunter on the tarmac hours after a jury decided he was guilty of lying about his sobriety when buying a gun.

The first son, his wife Melissa Cohen and baby Beau then jetted off home to California.

Hunter reappeared with his father as they disembarked Marine One Monday evening at Fort McNair.

The Biden family posed for a photoshoot with famed fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz at Camp David over the weekend, as they pushed the 81-year-old president to hold the course in his embattled reelection bid.

During Tuesday's press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pointed to the upcoming Fourth of July holiday to explain Hunter being alongside his dad and sitting in at least one White House meeting.

'This is a holiday week, Fourth of July,' Jean-Pierre said.

'He spent time with his family, as you all know and reported, at Camp David. Hunter came back with him and walked with him into that meeting, that speech prep, and he ended up spending time with his dad and his family that night. That is basically what happened,' she continued.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Hunter Biden sat in on a speech prep meeting Monday night with President Joe Biden, explaining that the first son is hanging around because 'this is a holiday week'

Democrats are in disarray after President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance Thursday night against former President Donald Trump in Atlanta. His family huddled at Camp David over the weekend and encouraged the 81-year-old to stay in the 2024 race

Biden spoke for less than five minutes Monday night on the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision - a victory for rival, former President Donald Trump - and then walked out of the Cross Hall without taking questions.

When Jean-Pierre was pressed on whether Hunter was sitting in on meetings with senior advisers, she reiterated that the first son was on hand for Monday's speech prep.

'Anything else coming out of that repoting I can't speak to,' she said.

NBC's reporting said that Hunter was involved in several meetings and calls.

'But I can say that, you know, he's close to his family, which is not unusual,' Jean-Pierre said of the president. 'They were together at Camp David. They came back together. You're gonna see a lot more family this week.'

The president and first lady will host the traditional Fourth of July gathering on the South Lawn Thursday.
After weeks, the final vote count came in Tuesday, showing Good officially lost

Conservative hardliner Bob Good has officially lost his race against Trump-backed John McGuire in a contentious primary, according to Virginia election officials.

The race was so close that it took weeks for the results to come out.

McGuire officially beat Good in the primary on Tuesday after the final tally found him ahead by just 374 votes.

The right-wing Freedom Caucus chair lost the support of the president when he initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over him. He also turned off a number of House colleagues when he voted to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speakership.

The Good campaign has said they will demand a recount.

Trump tore into Rep. Bob Good and endorsed his primary challenger John McGuire on Tuesday morning, days after the Freedom Caucus leader went to New York to support him at trial

'The people of our district are reaching out to our campaign demanding' a recount, spokesperson Diana Shores said.

'We will pursue the recount to settle any questions about the fairness or transparency of the election process.'

In June, a fellow Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, even endorsed Good's opponent. The caucus typically likes to put on a united front.

The race attracted more spending by outside groups - $10.7 million - than any other Virginia races. By comparison, the candidates themselves only spent $1.7 million.

Such groups spent some $5.9 million either opposing Good or supporting McGuire.

McGuire, a former Navy SEAL, state senator and election denier who attended the 'Stop the Steal' rally on January 6, 2021, had the backing of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who traveled to his district to tell voters Good is a 'traitor' to Trump.

On the other side, Steve Bannon is backing Good, and told voters in his district 'this isn't about Trump' and the primary challenge was spurred by Good's McCarthy opposition.

Trump conducted a tele-townhall for McGuire on the eve of the primary.

The ex-president also tore into Good days after the Freedom Caucus leader went to New York to support him at trial.



'Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA. He turned his back on our incredible movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and 'loving' Endorsement - But really, it was too late,' Trump repeated again on Truth Social before election day.

Good originally endorsed Ron DeSantis for president before backing Trump when the Florida governor dropped out of the running. But weeks ago Trump endorsed another DeSantis supporter in Congress: Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick.

Trump went on: 'I just want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that can most help me do that is Navy Seal and highly respected State Legislator, John McGuire, a true American Hero.'

Good pictured with Donald Trump in an old photo

'John, who fought the Cartels on the Front Line, and then came home and fought the drug dealers in Virginia, will ALWAYS PUT AMERICA FIRST.'

Good was one of a handful of right wing lawmakers who traveled to Manhattan on May 16 to support Trump in his criminal trial. McGuire went to New York to court Trump's support that same day.

Good leads the roughly 50-member hard right Freedom Caucus, which is comprised of some of Speaker Mike Johnson's biggest Republican antagonists.

Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, have come out in support of Good, Greene has supported his challenger.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden traveled to the district to support McGuire - as did Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers. Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows supports Good.

'Bob Good didn't come here to govern. He came here to be famous,' Van Orden, a Wisconsin Republican, told CNN. 'Bob Good's wearing our jersey, and he's not on the team.'

Good was one of a handful of right wing lawmakers who traveled to Manhattan on May 16 to support Trump in his criminal trial. McGuire went to New York to court Trump's support that same day

Good, meanwhile, had local backing in the district's GOP committee.

Rick Buchanan, the chairman of the district's GOP committee, told Cardinal News in May that a Trump endorsement 'wouldn't move the needle that much.'

'If you listen to McGuire's campaign, then yes, [Trump] is the issue, because McGuire has nothing else,' Buchanan said. 'I'm not seeing where he takes a stance on any real issue, except Bob Good's no good, and Bob Good is not a Trump supporter, which is a lie. That's why he's got the name McLiar.'

Buchanan said Good is trying to run to the right of Good, but 'there is no position to the right of Bob.'

'McGuire has no place to run, he has no issues that he can stand on that Bob hasn't already taken a stand on.'
The White House on Tuesday tried to explain away 81-year-old President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance as just 'a bad night' and the result of a 'cold.'

But in her first briefing since Biden struggled to hold his train of thought during a 90-minute showdown with former President Donald Trump, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had to answer extraordinary questions about whether her boss was suffering from dementia or another debilitating condition.

The tense exchanges show how the issue of a declining president will overshadow the rest of this year's election, as nervous Democrats begin openly calling for Biden to step aside.

'We're not taking away from what you all saw or what the American people saw,' said Karine Jean-Pierre.

'We understand it was a bad night. It is not uncommon for incumbents to have a bad night on their first debate, and we are going to continue to do the work that we have been doing on behalf of the American people.'

President Joe Biden endured a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in Atlanta last week. It has upended the president race

Her answers were greeted with incredulity in the White House briefing room as she explained that the president was simply suffering from a cold and had no plans to step aside.

And she was peppered with follow-up questions, asking whether he had taken cold medication before the debate (no, she said) or whether there was something even more serious wrong with him.

At one point she was asked whether he was 'disabled.'

Another reporter asked: 'I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this: Does President Biden, at 81 years old, have Alzheimer's, any form of dementia or degenerative illness that caused these sorts of lapses?'

Jean-Pierre answered: 'It's a no. And I hope you're asking the other guy the same exact question.'

The problem for the White House and the Biden campaign is that Trump emerged as the clear winner of the debate.

Biden looked every one of 81 years, as his answers ground to a halt or rambled into bizarre non sequiturs.

He was unable to challenge Trump's exaggerations and falsehoods, and at the end of the 90 minutes was helped off stage by his wife.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was forced to answer questions about whether Biden was disabled or had dementia

Biden gave a speech Tuesday after receiving an operational briefing on extreme weather at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's emergency operations center in Washington, DC

The poor performance has dominated news headlines ever since, triggering panic among Democratic donors who fear his campaign is sleepwalking into disaster.

Questions in the briefing room about what sort of shape Biden will be in at the end of a second term and about dementia will not help.

Jean-Pierre did her best to draw a line under the debate. She painted a picture of a busy president getting on with the job, traveling to Wisconsin later in the week, sitting down for an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, and hosting a solo press conference next week when NATO leaders are in town.

She also confirmed he was holding a virtual meeting with Democratic governors, but would not answer questions about whether it was designed to offer reassurances.

'We want to turn the page on this, and we want to turn the page for the American people as well, because we know that they need to see him out there,' she said.

Whether it will be enough to quell growing concern among donors and strategists is another matter.

Several told DailyMail.com they were amazed that the president had gone to ground during the weekend, rather than launching a fightback immediately.

On Tuesday, private chatter exploded into the open as the first elected Democrats went public with calls for Biden to drop out of the race.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic member of Congress to call for Biden to step down.

'My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved,' he said.

'Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden's first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.'
Jay Slater's mother has tonight told of her 'pain and agony' of her son's disappearance in Tenerife as she pleaded that 'we just want to find him'.

Debbie Duncan, 55, tonight issued the emotional plea saying 'our beautiful boy' had 'his whole life ahead of him'.

The loving mother has been on the Spanish island since June 18, having flown out there a day after the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, vanished.

Today, she and Jay's father Warren Slater, 58 spent more than two hours talking to cops at the Guardia Civil HQ in Playa des las Americas - 16 days after he was last seen on a mountain road an hour away in the isolated village of Masca.

In a statement issued by British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global, Debbie tonight gave an insight into what her son is like as a person, calling him a 'normal guy' who is a 'very popular man with a large circle of friends'.

'We are a very close family and are absolutely devastated about his disappearance,' she said.

Jay Slater's mother Debbie has tonight told of her 'pain and agony' of her son's disappearance in Tenerife as she pleaded that 'we just want to find him'

Debbie pictured with Jay's father Warren Slater leaving the Guardia Civil in Playa de las Americas

'Words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing. He is our beautiful boy with his whole life ahead of him and we just want to find him.'

She went on to thank the Spanish police's 'tireless' efforts to find her missing son having scoured the terrain for 12 days.

And she took the opportunity to hit out at the 'vile' conspiracy theories that have swirled on social media and the internet about Jay's disappearance, describing their impact on the family as 'distressing'.

'We do not have any information on his whereabouts,' she added.

'The Guardia Civil have worked tirelessly up in the mountains where Jay's last phone call was traced.

'They conducted a land search for 12 days which involved every resource they had available.

'Although the land search ended, the Spanish police still continue with their investigations into why Jay had travelled to the location so far away from his accommodation.

'We offer our sincere thanks to the Spanish authorities who continue to follow lines of enquiries.

'We are aware of the conspiracy theories and speculation on social media and some websites, and can only describe this as vile, the negative comments are extremely distressing to our family.

'We also embrace the love and support we have received from across the globe. It has not gone unnoticed, especially his home town in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

In a new development, two plain-clothes officers were sent to the property at 11am today. One officer (wearing sunglasses, left) is speaking to MailOnline's Nick Pisa and the other (wearing green, right) is seen with a local

Spanish police have returned to search the Airbnb (pictured) where Jay Slater stayed just before he disappeared in Tenerife more than two weeks ago

In its Airbnb listing Casa Abuela Tina is described as being a farmhouse within the 'unique natural landscape' surrounding it

Jay Slater posted this Snapchat of himself standing on the steps of the Airbnb villa

TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas has said that there have been fake ransom demands made

'As a family we would like the world to respect our privacy at this present time.'

Jay's parents urged the public to 'keep it going' after they left a briefing with Spanish officers today.

It was the first time the couple had been seen together since arriving in Tenerife to join the hunt for their son - Warren and Jay's brother Zak have visited Masca several times but Debbie has so far refused.

Emerging from the building into the afternoon sunshine, school finance officer Debbie said: 'It's a mystery and he's still missing; we need to just let these guys get on with it.

'We don't know anything about the investigation we're leaving it to the police.'

It comes as two plain-clothes officers returned to search the Airbnb where Jay stayed just before he disappeared.

He went back to the remote cottage in the village of Masca with two British men in the early hours of Monday morning after a rave in Playa de las Americas on June 17.

Jay left the 40-a-night two bedroom property called Casa Abuela Tina at 7.30am and posted two pictures from it on Snapchat.

Police on Sunday dramatically called off their search for the British holidaymaker. But now in a new development, two plain-clothes officers were sent to the property at 11am today.

As one of the officers left the property today, he told MailOnline: 'I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about the investigation or our search inside. If you want any details, speak to headquarters, I'm not allowed to talk to you. My colleague and I are from the judicial police and carrying out our own work.'

A local who saw the two officers arrive said: 'They got here around 9am and spent almost two hours inside. They got the key from the owner. I thought it had already been searched but I don't know for sure. It's been taken off the market and not available to book, that's all I know.'

The fact the property has been searched again more than two weeks after Jay was there will raise questions of how the Spanish are handling the investigation.

Meanwhile, TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas revealed that Jay's distraught family are being targeted with fake 'ransom demands'.

Mr Williams-Thomas, who flew out to Tenerife last week to help with the search wrote on X: 'So much fake content has been created in the Jay Slater case - mocked up chat, messages, pic. It's a very different world we live in today with social media and online detectives.

'Overwhelming response from people has been very positive people just wanting to help, even though most have no direct info, just what they have read, seen or think. Also a number of people making vile threats and ransom demands (all checked out and have no credibility).'

This was the final official search for Jay Slater on Saturday before Spanish police ended the hunt

Spanish police called off the hunt for the missing 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer, 14 days after Jay went missing

The teen's disappearance has left some young British holidaymakers feeling unsafe and being more cautious on Tenerife. These two Brits said their group had all shared their locations with each other

In the early stages of the search, Debbie said she thought Jay had been 'taken against his will', while the last person he spoke to - Lucy Mae Law - also echoed kidnapping fears.

Mr Williams-Thomas, who also exposed Jimmy Savile's evil crimes and worked on the Madeline McCann case, has said he has 'been able to speak to important witnesses' and has a 'very detailed picture of Jay's movements' in the lead up to his disappearance.

Jay was last seen at around 8am on June 17 by the owner of an Airbnb he had gone back to with two men after a rave.

Jay had asked the owner when the next bus to Los Cristianos was and when she said 10am, he decided to set off back to his accommodation on foot for what would have been an 11-hour walk. Search efforts has been focused on a group of small buildings close to where his phone last pinged in the Masca mountains.

The teen's disappearance has left some young British holidaymakers feeling unsafe and being more cautious on Tenerife.

'I was a little bit more scared coming here and we definitely made sure we had each other's locations before we came which we wouldn't have done before all this happened,' one told Sky News.

Another said: 'I think not less safe but maybe more cautious, more aware. We've all got our locations on... when we booked this holiday we probably wouldn't have even considered the safety measures.'
Police search for group of males who fled on foot

Two teenage girls, both 15, have been arrested

A man has died after being hit by a stolen car, with two teenage girls arrested and or a group of boys fleeing the scene of the fatal collision.

A black SUV collided with a silver sedan at the intersection of Warrigal Road and Highbury Road in Burwood, in Melbourne's inner-east, about 7pm on Tuesday.

The male driver of the sedan, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

His car was destroyed and ended up in the front yard of a house on the corner.

The stolen SUV travelled further down the road before crashing into a tree.

Two 15-year-old girls were arrested at the scene and taken to hospital where they remained under police guard on Wednesday.

Several males inside the car are reported to have fled the scene on foot with police launching a manhunt involving highway patrol, the dog squad and the public order response team.

A black SUV collided with a silver sedan (pictured) at the intersection of Warrigal Road and Highbury Road in Burwood, in Melbourne's inner-east, about 7pm on Tuesday

Police arrested two teenager girls, both 15, at the scene and are still looking for a number of males who fled the scene of the fatal crash on foot

Victoria Police are hopeful the two teenage girls will be able to identify the males who fled the scene.

'The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and police have cordoned off the area,' police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or any other information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Rescued hostage Noa Argamani has told how 'against all odds' she was able to be with her terminally ill mother in her 'final moments' before she laid her to rest today.

The 26-year-old said she is 'still trying to process everything that has happened' in an emotional farewell to Liora, 61, who died from brain cancer on Monday night.

Noa was rescued by IDF special forces in time to see her mother last month as doctors fought to keep her alive.

Hundreds gathered to pay their last respects as Liora was buried at the New Cemetery in Be'er Sheva in Southern Israel.

Noa's father, Yaakov, 69, broke down several times and was supported by Noa throughout. They stood arm in arm and did not leave each other's side, Noa's face etched with pain.

Speaking at the funeral, Noa paid tribute to her mother. 'I stand here today, still trying to process everything that has happened recently,' she said.

Noa and her father at the funeral of Liora Argamani on Wednesday

Noa was seen being directed by her rescuers to a car before being pulled out of Gaza in a military helicopter and returned safely to a hospital in Ramat Gan

Liora had stage four cancer and had pleaded with Hamas for Noa's release before her rescue

Noa and her father attend the ceremony in Be'er Sheva in southern Israel today

'You fought like a lioness and never gave up on us. Now I understand that... Because Noa is home right now, you realised you no longer needed to worry about me,' Yaakov said

'Against all odds, I was fortunate to be with you in your final moments, to talk with you, laugh with you, and hear your last words.

'Thank you for being strong and holding on all this time, just so I could see you at least one more time. Just so Dad wouldn't be left alone.

'Thank you for 26 years of being by my side every moment. For as long as I can remember, you were a role model for me, teaching me how to appreciate life's little moments.

'You took me travelling with you around the world and shaped me into the strong person I am today.

'The tools you gave me as a little girl are ones I couldn't have acquired anywhere else. You taught me to be strong and independent. Whenever things got tough, you pushed me forward...

'I promise you I'll continue on this path. I promise I'll take care of Dad and look after him just as you did for 31 years.

'I promise you I'll be as strong as you were.

'Mum, you will always be a part of me no matter where I go or who I meet. Your serenity and calmness will always be with me forever.

'And as you used to tell me when I was a little girl - I love you to the moon and back.'

Yaakov, whose daughter was rescued on his birthday last month, then rose to say a few words. Speaking through tears, he said: 'Nothing prepares you for the loss of the person you love most.

'I wanted so much for you to stay with us a little longer. You fought like a lioness and never gave up on us. Now I understand that... Because Noa is home right now, you realised you no longer needed to worry about me.

'Thank you so much, my beloved Liora. Thank you for all your wise advice. Thank you for always being there for me, every step of the way. You made me a better person.

'You've all heard about my Liora, but it's important for me to share with you what kind of person she was... Liora was a good, wise woman, an exemplary mother who raised our daughter Noa with values of honesty and love for humanity.

'Liora always thought it important to approach everyone with respect and appreciation. I thank God for the precious time she gave us to be by her side. For over three decades together.

'My beloved Liora, wait for me when I arrive. We'll continue to be together for eternity.'

'After at last being reunited with her in June, Liora 'spent her final days alongside her daughter Noa,' the hospital where she was being treated said in a statement announcing her passing

'Thank you so much, my beloved Liora. Thank you for all your wise advice. Thank you for always being there for me, every step of the way. You made me a better person,' Yaakov said today

Noa Argamani, then 25, was seen kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the horrifying October 7 attacks

Liora Argamani, Noa's mother, had reached out to US president Joe Biden urging him to help rescue her daughter (pictured in November 2023)

Noa was able to celebrate her father Yakov's birthday after spending more than seven months in Hamas captivity

Liora's Chinese sister also gave a few words.

She said of her sibling: 'As a younger sister of hers, she was my admired figure, she's beautiful, kind in heart, smart and wise, independent and full of energy towards her life and her profession.

'She was extremely attentive and passionate to the needs of her daughter and her husband, in fact she was very considerate to her father and siblings in China.

'She was holding Chinese traditions very well both in China and in Israel. She had a beautiful, wonderful life. I myself, my mum, my eldest sister and younger brother are wishing Liora a beautiful life in heaven.'

The family then walked to the graveyard to bury Liora. They will now enter Shiva, the seven-day Jewish period of mourning.
QUESTION: Was Elton John's Honky Chateau a real place?

This was the Chateau d'Herouville, an 18th-century chateau in the Val d'Oise departement not far from Paris, that was converted into a recording studio.

The French film composer Michel Magne purchased the chateau in 1962. He constructed his recording studio after a fire devastated its left wing in 1969. His goal was to create an idyllic and inspiring environment where artists could live and work simultaneously.

The studio, originally known as the Strawberry Studios, became a magnet for prominent musicians.

Texas musician Rex Foster, who recorded his album Roads Of Tomorrow (1971) there, claims to have coined the nickname Honky Chateau.

This was the Chateau d'Herouville, an 18th-century chateau in the Val d'Oise departement not far from Paris, that was converted into a recording studio

Elton John recorded three of his finest albums at the chateau; Honky Chateau (1972), which featured his song Rocket Man; Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player (1973); and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973).

David Bowie recorded Pin Ups (1973) and T. Rex made The Slider (1972) and Tanx (1973) there.

The musician Laurent Thibault took over management of the studio in June 1974. His input was important in the recording of three classic 1977 albums: David Bowie's Low, Iggy Pop's The Idiot and the Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever.

Despite its successes, the studio faced financial difficulties, leading to its decline, and by the early 1980s it had closed and the chateau fell into disrepair. Following refurbishment, it reopened in 2020.

Stephen Dawson, Didcot, Oxon

QUESTION: Growing up in Kent many years ago, we referred to shoe repairers/cobblers as 'snobs'. Where does this expression come from?

The term snob for a shoemaker dates from at least the mid-18th century. The Vocal Medley, a collection of popular songs published in York in 1755, featured the lyric: 'But the last of the Cobler is said to relate, There's an end of the poor Snob'.

Just where the term comes from is a mystery. A sensible yet unproven conjecture is that it was the shoemaking equivalent of 'snips', used by the tailoring profession since the 16th century, with the obvious borrowing of the 'ob' from cobbler.

By 1848 the word was being used to describe someone 'who vulgarly apes his social superiors', as seen in William Makepeace Thackeray's work The Book Of Snobs. Again, the origin of the term is debated. John Camden, in A Dictionary Of Modern Slang, Cant And Vulgar Words (1859), includes an intriguing etymology. He suggests that it derived from the idea that commoners were registered at university as 's. nob.' meaning sine nobilitate (without nobility). Over time, the term came to be used to describe a person who believes their tastes are superior to those of other people.

Michelle Rowse, Morpeth, Northumberland

QUESTION: Are there any other senior officials who, like Donald Trump, have been tried?

In a controversial decision, Donald Trump made U.S. history as the first former president to be criminally convicted after he was found guilty by a Manhattan jury of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments to a porn star.

Albert B. Fall, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, was involved in the Teapot Dome scandal and convicted of accepting bribes in 1929. He was sentenced to one year in prison, becoming the first former U.S. cabinet official to be incarcerated for crimes committed in office.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City

However Donald Trump is certainly not the first world leader to be tried. Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who ruled the country from 1990 to 2000, spent over 15 years in jail, having been convicted of embezzlement and sanctioning the killing and kidnapping of anti-government guerrilla fighters and activists.

Lee Myung-bak, South Korea's president from 2008 to 2013, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2018 for bribery and embezzlement. His successor, Park Geun-hye, the first woman president, was sentenced to 24 years in jail after she was found guilty of abuse of power and coercion. Both were later given a presidential pardon.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France, was convicted in 2021 of corruption and influence peddling. Yet to do time, he was ordered to wear an electronic tag.

Deborah Brown, Brentwood, Essex
Boris Johnson was unleashed as the Conservative's secret weapon tonight, joining Rishi Sunak on stage as the party tries to wade off Labour's projected supermajority that would see the country 'lurch in diametrically the wrong direction'.

As Brits prepare to go to the polls in less than 48 hours, the former Prime Minister joined Rishi Sunak and a string of cabinet members in a last ditch bid to cling on to blue seats.

Appearing at a late-night Tory rally in central London Mr Johnson called on supporters to return to the fold and stem a Labour landslide 'pregnant with horrors'.

Although he hinted at past 'differences' with his successor, the Daily Mail columnist insisted he 'could not say no' when Mr Sunak asked for his help.

In an impassioned speech in London, Mr Johnson urged voters flirting with Reform to 'draw back from the brink' and prevent Keir Starmer securing a 'sledgehammer majority'.

'If you actually want higher taxes - if you feel you have a few thousand to spare - then vote Labour on Thursday,' he added.

'If you want uncontrolled immigration, and mandatory wokery, and pointless kowtowing to Brussels, then go right ahead and vote for Starmer.

'But if you want to protect our democracy and our economy and keep this country strong abroad by spending 2.5 per cent of our GDP on defence, then the only way to do that is to vote Conservative on Thursday.'

Boris Johnson made a surprise appearance to welcome Rishi Sunak onto stage tonight as the Tories try wade off Labour 's projected supermajority

Throughout his impassioned speech the ex-PM urged the public not to vote for a Labour Party 'pregnant with horrors'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pictured arriving at the rally tonight in central London

Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson raise a pint on a visit to a London brewery in 2021 - before Mr Johnson was deposed as Prime Minister

A new MRP study by Survation, published within the final 48 hours of campaigning, predicted Labour would win 484 seats at this week's general election

The former Prime Minister walked into a crowded room where he was given a huge round of applause and welcomed with dozens of people chanting his name.

Mr Johnson began his attack on the Labour Party by making at a dig at Sir Keir Starmer saying it was 'way past his bedtime' after the Opposition leader admitted he avoids working past 6pm on Fridays.

Mr Johnson told the audience a Labour government would increase taxes and would not stand up to Vladimir Putin.

'They will scrap the Rwanda plan,' he said before describing Labour MPs as 'Kremlin crawlers'.

He went on to criticise Sir Keir Starmer for not being able to explain 'the difference between a man and a woman'. 'He sits there with his mouth open like a stunned mullet,' he said.

The ex-PM spoke after former cabinet minister and outgoing MP Michael Gove also urged the public not to vote for 'Corbyn-hugging' Starmer.

Mr Gove told the audience that the 'safe and secure [vote] is with Rishi as our Prime Minister in an uncertain world we cannot risk the alternative'.

'What has Keir Starmer ever done for us? He's a man who twice argued that Jeremy Corbyn should be our prime ministers,' Mr Gove added.

The former Prime Minister walked into a crowded room where he was given a huge round of applause and welcomed with dozens of people chanting his name

Mr Johnson told the audience a Labour government would increase taxes and would not stand up to Vladimir Putin

The ex-PM spoke after former cabinet minister and outgoing MP Michael Gove also urged the public not to vote for 'Corbyn-hugging' Starmer

The Survation model, based on polling data from more than 30,000 voters, forecast the Tories would be reduced to just 64 seats in the House of Commons

As he entered the rally, Mr Sunak told the audience 'Isn't it great to have our Conservative family united, my friends?'

'This Corbyn hugging, flip-flopping should, tax raising politician should never be allowed near number 10. He's the jellyfish of the world of politics, transparent, spineless and swept along by any incoming tide.'

Tory strategists hope that Mr Johnson's dramatic eve of poll intervention will electrify a flagging campaign and galvanise former Conservative voters to keep the faith when they head to the polls on Thursday.

While the former PM has used his Daily Mail column to launch lacerating attacks on Labour and boosted endorsements on social media, Mr Johnson has kept a relatively low profile on the campaign trail.

This evening Mr Johnson hinted at past 'differences' with Mr Sunak but said he was 'glad when the PM asked for help, and I could not say no'.

He added: 'We are here because we love our country, and whatever our differences they are utterly trivial by comparison with the disaster we face if these opinion polls are right.'

Following his speech, Mr Johnson welcomed the Prime Minister onto the stage who urged voters not to 'surrender to Labour' and 'fight for every vote'.

The Prime Minister onto the stage urged voters not to 'surrender to Labour' and 'fight for every vote'

The Prime Minister outside the venue ahead of his rally in central London tonight

Addressing tensions between himself and Mr Johnson - as well as wider strains within the Tory party - he told the audience: 'Isn't it great to have our Conservative family united, my friends?'

'Just think, just think, it was just the other day when Keir Starmer was saying that Jeremy Corbyn would have been a better prime minister than Boris,' he added.

'Shameful. Can you imagine what that would have meant for Ukraine? What it would have meant for our country's security, our defence, the damage it would have done to our economy?'

He concluded his speech by telling the audience: 'I love my country. My story would not be possible in any other country.'

Mr Johnson's appearance was a closely-guarded secret known only to a tiny handful of No10 officials. Even cabinet ministers attending tonight's rally were kept in the dark.

The PM kicked off a final push for votes with a pre-dawn visit to an Ocado packing plant in Bedfordshire

Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak pictured together leaving Downing Street in 2020

Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson pictured together during Prime Minister's questions

Tonight a friend of Mr Johnson said: 'Boris loves the Conservative party and has always believed in being a big person. So when the call came to help, of course he answered.

'He's hoping that if he can give the Tories such fulsome backing after the way he's been treated by the party other disgruntled supporters will do the same too.'

He appeared on stage after outgoing MP and former cabinet member Michael Gove

His intervention came as:

Mr Sunak said that just 130,000 voters in marginal seats could change the course of the election and prevent an 'unchecked' Labour government.

Polling by Lord Ashcroft suggested Labour's huge lead could be trimmed to single figures if Tory voters return to the fold in the next 48 hours.

Home Secretary James Cleverly branded Labour's immigration plans a 'con job' and warned the party would introduce an amnesty for tens of thousands of illegal migrants.

Sir Keir insisted a Labour landslide would bring stability and be 'better for the country'.

Another Reform candidate defected to the Tories with a blast at the 'racist, misogynistic, and bigoted' views of other senior figures.

The PM and Labour leader spent the day criss-crossing the country in a bid to energise supporters to get out and vote tomorrow.

Mr Johnson tonight said he had doubts about whether polls showing a giant Labour majority were accurate, saying he had faith that people would 'still show more sense on Thursday'.

But he said traditional Conservatives 'cannot just sit back as a Labour government prepares to use a sledgehammer majority to destroy so much of what we achieved'.

He warned that Sir Keir would water down Brexit, restore free movement and 'make us nothing but the punk of Brexit - taking EU law, but with no say in how it is made'.

Campaigning in the East Midlands today, Sir Keir Starmer said the attack on his working habits was 'bordering on hysterical'

As the election battle enters its penultimate day, the PM visited an Ocado plant in Bedfordshire before 5am

And he warned a Labour agenda would involve 'whacking up taxes on pensions and property, persecuting private enterprise, attacking private education and private healthcare - with all the pointless extra burden that will place on the taxpayer'.

He mocked Sir Keir as the former 'disciple' of Jeremy Corbyn who is so in thrall to Left-wing activists that he looks like a 'stunned mullet' when asked to explain what a woman is.

And he savaged Nigel Farage for his praise of Vladimir Putin's skills as a political operator.

Mr Johnsons warned that Reform 'can achieve nothing in this election except to usher in the most left-wing Labour government since the war, with a huge majority,' adding: 'Don't let the Putinistas deliver the Corbynistas.'

Mr Johnson's appearance attracted criticism from the opposing parties.

The Lib Dems deputy leader Daisy Cooper said tonight: 'This is an insult to everyone who made heartbreaking sacrifices during the pandemic.

'Rishi Sunak has reached a desperate new low, turning to a man who discredited the office of Prime Minister and lied to the country time after time.

'It is time to boot out this tired and sleaze-ridden Conservative Party, and elect Liberal Democrat MPs who will stand up for their communities.'

A series of polls today showed that Labour's poll lead is being squeezed as Reform's vote falls back - but suggested Sir Keir remains on course for a landslide majority.

One Tory insider said: 'The squeeze is on, but it is very late.' A Redfield and Wilton Strategies survey of 20,000 voters found that Labour's lead had been trimmed by four points, but left them still 19 points ahead of the Conservatives.

Polling by Lord Ashcroft published by the Mail today also gives Labour a 19-point lead, with Labour's overall support dipping to 38 per cent - less than Jeremy Corbyn achieved in 2017.

But a mega poll by Survation found that Labour were now '99 per cent' certain to get a bigger landslide than Tony Blair in 1997.

The survey of more than 30,000 people, predicted that Labour will win a record 484 seats, with the Conservatives reduced to a rump of just 64, narrowly ahead of a rejuvenated Lib Dems on 61. Reform could get 16 per cent of the vote but win just seven seats, the poll found.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Cleverly said voters worried about the threat of a Labour supermajority can still turn out tomorrow and 'make the opinion polls wrong'.

He acknowledged that some people want to 'punish' the government after tough few years marred by Covid and the war in Ukraine.

But warned he warned those considering Reform that the urge to give the government a 'slap' could lead to '15 years hard Labour' if they split the vote and give Labour a supermajority.'

'The vast bulk of votes have not been cast - you can decide what future you want. You can make the opinion polls wrong,' he said.

'The scale of the 'hovering pencil' cohort means the outcome is nowhere near as definitive as some of the commentary has suggested.' He said those toying with a vote for Reform to send a message to the Conservatives should consider whether 'the message you are looking to send, is worth five, 10, 15 years of hard Labour?'

The PM dismissed suggestions the outcome of the election was a 'foregone conclusion' and said he was 'feeling energised' with two days to go

Mr Sunak purchased McDonald's breakfast for reporters from a Beaconsfield service station in Buckinghamshire

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey fell from a surfboard in Bude, Cornwall, as he continued his stunt-filled campaign

In a speech today, Mr Sunak will urge voters worried about a big Labour majority to take action to prevent it.

'If you are worried about an unchecked, unaccountable Labour government you can stop that by offering us your support so we can stand up for you and be your voice in the next Parliament,' he will say.

'Your vote will determine whether your MP is just another addition to Starmer's supermajority or a local champion, someone who cares about you and will fight for your area and its needs.

'Do you want an MP who holds the Government to account or one who just unthinkingly backs Keir Starmer and whatever he wants to do?'

Mr Johnson's appearance comes as Sunak began a 48 hour whirlwind tour across the country in desperate appeal to the public as pollsters project that on Thursday, Keir Starmer could win a bigger majority than Tony Blair's landslide win in 1997.

Kicking off the last two days of campaigning, the current Tory leader claimed all the party needed was 130,000 votes to make the difference.

'It's not over until it's over,' Mr Sunak brazenly told downbeat supporters and party activists as they approach the finishing line of a grueling six-week drive for votes.

His motivating words echoed that of Johnson's who last week jumped up to the aid of his former Chancellor telling voters 'it's not too late'.

Starmer on the final days of the campaign trail today

The final MRP study by Survation today, published within the last 48 hours of campaigning, predicted Labour would win 484 seats at this week's general election

Sunak pictured on the final blitz of his campaigning rally

'There is still time between now and Thursday for the nation to swerve from the cliff edge,' Daily Mail columnist Mr Johnson wrote on Friday. 'We can collectively come to our senses. We can dodge the bullet.'

The former PM, who resigned almost two years ago, went on to attack Starmer's own 'shockingly low' approval ratings.

Mr Johnson added: 'Britain is about to jump the points and jink left, abruptly, in what could be a Left-wing socialist supremacy that lasts for a decade or more.

'And yet Starmer's own approval ratings are shockingly low  the lowest ever for an Opposition leader on the verge of entering Downing Street, let alone of a triumph on the scale currently predicted. Poll after poll says the same.'

Mr Johnson's appearance with Mr Sunak comes after the current PM welcomed his predecessor to join him on the campaign trail.

Earlier this year Mr Sunak said the ex-PM could join him as he tries to build support for the Tories.

Diffusing any concerns of a rift between the two leaders, Mr Sunak told The Sun's Never Mind the Ballots show that he had been in touch with the ex-PM at the end of last year.

He said in April - months before he announced the election date: 'I spoke to him in person at the end of last year and we've messaged since then as well.'

Asked if he would be invited to campaign on doorsteps and in the streets of Britain for the Tories, Mr Sunak added: 'That's a question for him.

'Anyone from the Conservative family who wants to see a Conservative re-elected and who doesn't think Keir Starmer is the right person to lead our country will be welcome on the campaign trail.

'Ultimately that's the choice. It's Keir Starmer or me as Prime Minister after the next election.

'If you want to keep cutting taxes, a more sensible approach to net zero, if you want to tackle illegal migration, then we are the people to do that for you.'

The final MRP study by Survation today, published within the last 48 hours of campaigning, predicted Labour would win 484 seats at this week's general election.

The model, based on polling data from more than 30,000 voters, forecast the Tories would be reduced to just 64 seats in the House of Commons.It means the Tories would scrape into being the official Opposition, with the Lib Dems predicted to win 61 seats.
Thousands of Armed Forces personnel are to launch legal action over their data being compromised by Chinese state hackers.

A highly embarrassing development for the Ministry of Defence saw soldiers names and banking details accessed in a cyber attack orchestrated by Beijing.

Those affected include people involved in highly sensitive UK security operations whose roles require anonymity.

The hacking incident, which took place earlier this year, shattered the security around their identities.

While the attack was revealed in May, lawyers believe it actually occurred in January or February, meaning victims were unaware of the breach for at least three months. Among those targeted were full-time serving personnel, reservists and veterans.

Thousands of Armed Forces personnel are to launch legal action over their data being compromised by Chinese state hackers (stock photo)

Adnan Malik, from data breach specialists Barings Law, said: We have written to SSCL inviting them to settle this matter on behalf of our clients. The company was responsible for protecting the data of these individuals, some of whom serve in sensitive roles within His Majestys Armed Forces'

More than 5,000 of these men and women have now approached data breach specialists Barings Law  and more than 3,000 have signed up for a potential group action against business support company SSCL, which runs the MoDs payroll.

Adnan Malik, from Barings Law, said: We have written to SSCL inviting them to settle this matter on behalf of our clients. The company was responsible for protecting the data of these individuals, some of whom serve in sensitive roles within His Majestys Armed Forces.

In some cases, their roles require them to remain anonymous and their high-level security clearances are based on them remaining unknown. The hack jeopardised their anonymity.

SSCL and the Ministry of Defence need to ensure such an attack cannot be conducted again. Thousands of serving soldiers and veterans have been caused distress by how this has been handled.

The incident was the latest cyber attack on the UK by China following its targeting of the Electoral Commission and campaigns targeting individual MPs.

But the apparent ease with which Chinese hackers broke into the system brought renewed attention to the UKs vulnerability to such action by hostile states.

The Mail highlighted this week how the UK is unable to defend itself properly.

Cyber defence is a key aspect of Britains security infrastructure, which is facing a cut in expenditure if Labour forms the next government.

While the Conservatives have committed to increasing investment in the nations defences to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, Labour has refused to match this pledge.

Hundreds of thousands of payments to former and serving personnel, including pensions, are processed each month by SSCL. It has also digitised 10 million individual military service records.

The MoD said: Our people are our priority and we are providing personnel with specialist advice, guidance and support along with access to a commercial personal data monitoring service.

SSCL said: We continue to work closely with the MoD to investigate the incident fully. Investigations to date have found no evidence that any data has been removed.

This was an isolated incident. It is wrong to claim that SSCL became aware of the issue in January/February.
Labour's lead over the Tories could dip into 'single figures' if enough disaffected voters return to the Conservative fold, a new Lord Ashcroft poll finds today.

The findings suggest there remains a lot to play for ahead of tomorrow's General Election and that a Labour supermajority can yet be avoided.

The former Tory Treasurer's latest survey, shared exclusively with the Daily Mail, found Labour's vote share lead has fallen by two percentage points to 19 since last week.

But this could plummet further to 13 if former Tory backers who are undecided or don't intend to vote return to the Conservative fold.

And that lead could even fall below ten points if enough of those who have switched from the Tories to Reform UK return to the party, it predicts.

The findings suggest there remains a lot to play for ahead of tomorrow's General Election and that a Labour supermajority can yet be avoided

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pictured at the DCS group distribution centre during a Conservative general election campaign event on July 2

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pictured at Norton Cannes Community Centre on July 2

Lord Ashcroft stressed this was 'unlikely' since three-quarters of those intending to back Reform have suggested they won't change their minds. However, the poll of more than 5,000 people will raise Tory hopes that the party could avoid a wipeout.

The findings will also give fresh impetus to Tory efforts on the final day of campaigning to persuade disaffected former supporters to return and head off a Labour landslide.

It came amid warnings that former Conservative voters and those still undecided risk sleepwalking into ten years of an 'unchecked and unaccountable' Labour government that would hike taxes if they don't return to the Tory fold.

Previous surveys have suggested the Tories could be reduced to a derisory rump of less than 100 MPs, and that the Liberal Democrats could even come close to winning as many seats.

It would mark a dramatic turnaround from the 365 seats won in 2019 under Boris Johnson. But Lord Ashcroft's poll found that nearly eight in ten Reform supporters say a Labour supermajority would be bad for Britain. Some 72 per cent of those who voted Tory in 2019 said the same.

Overall more people think Labour winning a supermajority would be a negative as opposed to a positive  36 per cent think it would be a good thing compared to 37 per cent who don't.

Meanwhile more than four in ten voters said they haven't 'definitely decided' how they will vote  suggesting that millions of ballots are still up for grabs with just 24 hours until polls open.

And, in a sign that Rishi Sunak's last-ditch campaign push is bearing fruit, the survey found that Labour leader Keir Starmer's lead over him in terms of who would make the best premier fell three points.

Labour's overall vote share was down two points to 38, while a separate megapoll by Redfield & Wilton found it has fallen by one point with the Conservatives up three.

It would mark a dramatic turnaround from the 365 seats won in 2019 under Boris Johnson

And, in a sign that Rishi Sunak 's last-ditch campaign push is bearing fruit, the survey found that Labour leader Keir Starmer 's lead over him in terms of who would make the best premier fell three points

In a sign that many voters are not convinced by the alternatives to the Tories on offer, Lord Ashcroft's poll found that nearly two in three voters (64 per cent) were 'fairly' or 'very pessimistic' in general about Britain's future regardless of who wins the Election.

Just 25 per cent said they were 'very' or 'fairly optimistic'.

It found that Sir Keir's lead over Mr Sunak in terms of who voters think would make the best prime minister was also down three points to 18.

More than four in ten (42 per cent) said they 'don't know' when asked this question, while only 58 per cent of respondents said they have 'definitely decided' who they will vote for.

While Labour's vote share was down to 38 points from 40, the Tories remained on 19.

Reform UK was up one to 18, the Lib Dems were up one to 11 and the Greens were down one to 8 per cent.

Public opposes Farage on Russia

More than two-thirds of voters disagree with Nigel Farage's comments about the West being to blame for Russia's invasion of Ukraine  including nearly half of his own supporters.

Lord Ashcroft's poll found 68 per cent of all voters think Ukraine 'had every right to try to join Nato and the EU'.

They also said it would have been 'wrong for the West to discourage those ambitions' over fears of provoking Vladimir Putin.

More than two-thirds of voters disagree with Nigel Farage 's comments about the West being to blame for Russia's invasion of Ukraine  including nearly half of his own supporters

They also said it would have been 'wrong for the West to discourage those ambitions' over fears of provoking Vladimir Putin

This included 77 per cent of Tories, 78 per cent of Labour backers and 47 per cent of people who say they'll vote Reform.

Just 12 per cent of all voters said the 'West could and should have discouraged' Ukraine from trying to join Nato and the EU because the move would provoke Putin.

Reform leader Mr Farage has been accused of 'cuddling up to the Kremlin' over comments he made two weeks ago.

Mr Farage told the BBC that the West had 'provoked' Putin into invading Ukraine after allowing more eastern European nations to join Nato and the EU and by accepting Kyiv's desire to start talks.
Ivanka Trump has opened up for the first time about her father's court battles during a podcast episode where she also shed a tear talking about her 'impossibly glamorous' late mother Ivana.

During an on-camera interview with Lex Fridman, the 42-year-old spoke about the Donald Trump's long series of legal entanglements and reveals why she decided to step away from her father's 2024 campaign.

'On a human level, it's my father and I love him very much, so it's painful to experience, but ultimately, I wish it didn't have to be this way,' Ivanka revealed.

Donald Trump faces charges stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into election interference and the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, as well as charges for mishandling classified documents in Florida.

Separately, Trump, 78, faces charges for election interference in Georgia. He has pleaded not guilty on all charges.

Ivanka Trump has opened up for the first time about her father's court battles during a podcast episode where she also shed a tear talking about her 'impossibly glamorous' late mother Ivana

Donald Trump faces charges stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into election interference and the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, as well as charges for mishandling classified documents in Florida

Later on the podcast, Ivanka also grew visibly emotional as she was asked about her mother, who died July 2022 at the age of 73.

When asked about whether she missed her, Ivanka said: 'So much. It's unbelievable how dislocating the loss of a parent is.

'And her mother lives with me still, my grandmother who helped raise us, so that's very special.'

Pausing to fight back tears, she added: 'And I can ask her some of the questions that I would've... Sorry. I wanted to ask my own mom, but it's hard.'

Ivana Trump was an Olympic skier and model who was married to Donald Trump from 1977 to 1990. Her daughter described her as 'a remarkable, remarkable woman'.

'She was a trailblazer in so many different ways, as an athlete and growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, as a fashion mogul, as a real estate executive and builder,' Ivanka said.

'Just this all-around trailblazing businesswoman. I also learned from her, aside from that element, how to really enjoy life. I look back and some of my happiest memories of her are in the ocean, just lying on her back, looking up at the sun and just so in the moment or dancing.

'She loved to dance, so she really taught me a lot about living life to its fullest. And she had so much courage, so much conviction, so much energy, and a complete comfort with who she was.'

Ivana Trump was an Olympic skier and model who was married to Donald Trump from 1977 to 1990. Her daughter described her as 'a remarkable, remarkable woman'

Pictured: Ivanka with her maternal grandmother, who helped raise her

'I have these vignettes in my mind, seeing her in action in different capacities, a lot of times in the context of things that I would later go on to do myself,' Ivanka added.

'So I would go almost every day after school, and I'd go to the Plaza Hotel and I'd follow her around as she'd walk the hallways and just observe her.

'And she was so impossibly glamorous. She was doing everything in four-and-a-half-inch heels, with this bouffant. It's almost an inaccessible visual.'

Ivanka was a senior advisor in Trump's administration from 2017 until 2021, but she said she's taking a step back from politics and has not been heavily involved in his second bid for the White House.

Along with her half-sister sister Tiffany, she recently celebrated her father's 78th birthday by sharing a series of photos in sweet tributes on Instagram.

Trump's eldest daughter first stated publicly that she would be absent from her father's 2024 campaign back when Donald announced his third run for the White House in 2022.

She said at the time: 'I love my father very much. This time around, I'm choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family,' the former White House adviser said. 'While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena.'

Fridman asked Trump to elaborate on her statement now that Donald has again clinched the Republican nomination and now may be the favorite to win in November.

Despite having worked for her father dating back to his hit NBC series The Apprentice and on through to the White House, Ivanka is not involved in the 2024 campaign

Trump's eldest daughter has been absent from her father's 2024 campaign, something she first stated publicly would be the case back when Donald announced his third run for the White House in 2022

'It was a decision rooted in me being a parent, really thinking about what they need from me now. Politics is a rough business and I think it's one that you also can't dabble in, I think you have to be either all in or all out.'

Ivanka referenced 'the cost' her children would pay from her absence were she to go all in on the campaign trail, adding 'I'm not willing to make them bear that cost.'

'As their mom, I think it's really important that I do what's right for them. I think there a lot of ways you can serve, the enormity, the scale of what can be accomplished in government service, but I think there's something equally valuable in helping in your own community.'

She said there was 'a lot of darkness, a lot of negativity' in politics and says it's the opposite of 'what feels good for me as a human being.'

Earlier on, Fridman asked Trump more about her famous father, wondering how his run for office changed her own life.

'Nothing about our lives had been constructed with politics in mind,' she said of when Donald first told her she was running.

'It was an extraordinary experience, there was so much intensity and so much scrutiny and so much noise. That took, for sure, a moment to acclimate to. I'm not sure I ever fully acclimated to it.'

Ivanka cited 'the process' of learning the day-to-day workings of the presidency while on the job as a senior advisor as 'the most extraordinary' part of the Washington years.'

Ivanka, pictured with then-President Donald Trump (above) in the Oval Office in April 2017, has no plans to return to politics

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at a friend's wedding in Mexico in May. The couple have since relocated to Florida

She also discussed the pressure to help her father, a neophyte in politics suddenly the leader of the free world.

'My father had never spent the night in Washington DC before staying in the White House,' she said.

'He trusted us and our ability to execute and there wasnt a part of me that could imagine a 70 or 80 year old version of myself that would have been ok with saying no.'

She also got personal beyond just her mother's passing and spoke about how she challenges herself.

'I was the child of two extraordinarily successful people and that could have been debilitating and I saw that in a lot of my friends who grew up in circumstances similar to that,' she said.

'They were afraid to try for fear of not measuring up and early on I learned to harness the fear of not being good enough, not being competent enough and I harnessed it to make me better.'

Ivanka was noticeably absent on the night her father announced his campaign launch in November of 2022. Trump called attention to the other family members in the room including wife, former First Lady Melania Trump and his middle son Eric.

Youngest son Barron, as well as Eric's wife Lara and Donald Trump Jr.'s fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle were also front-and-center at Trump's Mar-a-Lago ballroom announcement.

Ivanka also got personal beyond just her mother's passing and spoke about how she challenges herself

Donald Trump with an infant Ivanka on New Years' Eve 1977

Donald Trump Jr. missed the speech due to a flight hiccup as he was returning to Florida from a hunting trip.

Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner have worked to distance themselves from the tumultuous world of politics amid Donald Trump's re-election campaign and his various legal woes.

They relocated to Florida with children Arabella, 12, Joseph, 9, and Theodore, 8, after Trump left office in January 2021.

It was a change of pace for the 42-year-old, who was heavily involved in her father's presidency.

She was handed a prominent role in meetings with the G20 and Kim Jong-un, for which she was met with accusations of nepotism.

However, Ivanka has no desire to return to Washington, according to those close to her and her husband.

Ivanka herself voiced her desire for a quieter life in 2022.

'This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family,' she said in a statement.

'I do not plan to be involved in politics. While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena.'

Kushner, meanwhile, was present at Trump's re-election announcement. He served as Senior Advisor to his father-in-law until Trump left office.

That same year, Kushner launched his Miami-based investment firm, Affinity Partners.
Russia is using a chilling tactic against Ukrainians trapped in occupied territories by demanding a 'tax' from parents that involves handing over one of their children.

Officials tell parents they must select a child to send into their network of sinister 'summer camps', which are used to grab huge numbers of Ukrainian boys and girls for adoption as part of the Kremlin's genocidal strategy to crush the country.

Families refusing to comply are threatened with losing parental rights over all their children and warned 'you'll never see them again', according to a senior adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The horrifying revelation comes as Kyiv helps build the war crimes case started by the International Criminal Court against Russia's president Vladimir Putin and his aide Maria Lvova-Belova, who is the architect of their child-snatching atrocities.

Daria Herasymchuk, Ukraine's presidential commissioner for children's rights and rehabilitation, says Moscow is locking up captured children for almost a year in 'so-called summer camps' that include industrial-style buildings without windows.

Avaaz members and Ukrainian refugees lay out teddy bears in front of the European Commission in Brussels to highlight the reported abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children by Russia on February 23, 2022

She says many families tried refusing to send children into this network of camps across Russia  only to be threatened and forced to comply by Kremlin officials and their stooges in the regions seized by Putin.

She said: 'In some occupied areas it looks like locals were paying a so-called tax with their children. The authorities come to the family and say, 'We know your family has four children so you have to send one child into the camp. You choose which one it will be'.'

'When the parents say no they threaten them, saying, 'We will strip you of all parental rights and we will take all your kids away and you'll never see them again. So you must decide which one is going into the camp'.'

One 15-year-old from the Kharkiv region told her he was held in a camp for nine months after his father was suspected of assisting Ukrainian troops and tortured in a basement. The teenager was retrieved eventually by his mother with Kyiv's help.

Russia is using a chilling tactic against Ukrainians trapped in occupied territories by demanding a 'tax' from parents that involves handing over one of their children to Putin's 'summer camps'

'The boy was taken to what the Russians call a summer camp but it was actually a huge hangar, like a warehouse, without windows, where 15 of them were kept,' said Ms Herasymchuk. 'They were allowed out once a day for a little stroll but apart from that they were kept locked inside. They had just bunk beds, nothing else.

'This young man would say it was imprisonment  and there is huge pain in the boy's eyes as he tells this story.'

Russia claims to have 'rescued' 744,000 Ukrainian children. Kyiv has confirmed 20,000 cases of child abduction but fears as many as 300,000 youngsters might have been kidnapped by the Kremlin.

Ms Herasymchuk said they are taken initially to areas of Donetsk captured in 2014, to be given Russian passports and phones before being dispersed to foster families as far away as Siberia for rapid integration into their society.

She has discovered a series of Russian methods for seizing their children: Grabbing those that lost parents in the invasion; stealing those living in state institutions; taking them during 'filtration' at borders; and removing them as punishment for families deemed loyal to Ukraine.

Avaaz members and the Ukrainian diaspora installed mobile billboards near the United Nations headquarters in New York in February 2023 to call out Putin's abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children

She said many of these children  even those who lost both parents in fighting  had siblings or other relations but 'they instantly take away the opportunity for these children to have any contact with relatives'.

Rescued children say they are given compulsory Russian citizenship lessons and forced to sing the national anthem  then beaten and bullied if continuing to show sympathies towards Ukraine.

One returned teenager told me his foster family 'tried to convert me to being a good Russian' while insisting Ukraine was the enemy. 'But I'm not a fool,' he said. 'I would start arguing.' Such resistance is risky. There are documented cases of Russian call-up papers being served on Ukrainians when they turn 18 to force them to fight against their own country.

Thousands have been detached from families through use of the camps. Parents are persuaded or forced to send children for a few weeks  then officials claim it is too dangerous to return them while intensively brainwashing them against their parents and their country for months.

The camps can be up to 5,000 miles from home, which makes it challenging and costly for poorer Ukrainians living under occupation to fetch them back.

'And that's when the organisers ask, 'Why is your mum not coming  maybe she doesn't like you, maybe she sent you to this camp because she doesn't need you',' said Ms Herasymchuk.

L ocal officials split up friends to isolate the stolen children still further as they continue their indoctrination efforts, ensuring that even older teenagers 'would be torn up and sometimes believe that their parents did not want to take them back,' she said.

In another sickening twist, Ukraine is investigating claims some children are abducted after medics diagnose mysterious diseases and demand they be taken away for urgent treatment.

Ms Herasymchuk says it is clear the Kremlin has carefully prepared methods for brainwashing them. 'This is why we are talking about genocide  the only reason children suffered is because they were Ukrainian,' she said.

Additional reporting: Kate Baklitskaya
President Joe Biden blamed his globetrotting ahead of Thursday's disastrous debate for his poor performance.

The 81-year-old president made the concession during a fundraiser in the ritzy D.C. suburb of McLean, Virginia Tuesday night.

He told the crowd he 'wasn't very smart' for 'traveling around the world a couple times' before his showdown with presumptive Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

'I decided to travel around the world a couple of times  shortly before the debate I didnt listen to my staff  and then I almost fell asleep on stage,' the president said

He added, 'It's not an excuse but an explanation.'

President Joe Biden said at a fundraiser Tuesday night that his poor debate performance was due to his back-to-back European trips that came more than a week before he was onstage Thursday in Atlanta. He's photographed at the D.C. Emergency Operations Center earlier

President Joe Biden endured a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in Atlanta last week. It has upended the president race

On June 8, Biden met with French President Emanuel Macron as part of the 80th anniversary of D-Day

Biden had an entire week holed up at Camp David to prep for the debate after spending the Juneteenth holiday at Rehoboth Beach.

Before that he did back-to-back trips to France to mark the D-Day anniversary and then to Italy for the G7.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Biden was so drained from the jetsetting that advisers cut debate prep short by two days - in order to fit in the beach trip.

And then while at the presidential retreat, debate prep didn't start before 11 a.m. and Biden was given time each day in the afternoon to take a nap.

The fundraiser was scheduled after press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was forced to give her own expanation about the president's poor debate performance from the White House podium.

The tense exchanges show how the issue of a declining president will overshadow the rest of this year's election, as nervous Democrats begin openly calling for Biden to step aside.

'We're not taking away from what you all saw or what the American people saw,' said Karine Jean-Pierre.

On June 13 he attended the G7 Summit in Puglia where he met with other world leaders including Giorgia Meloni, seen here with Biden

Biden then arrived back in the US on June 15 after travelling to Los Angeles from Italy

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was forced to answer questions about whether Biden was disabled or had dementia

'We understand it was a bad night. It is not uncommon for incumbents to have a bad night on their first debate, and we are going to continue to do the work that we have been doing on behalf of the American people.'

Her answers were greeted with incredulity in the White House briefing room as she explained that the president was simply suffering from a cold and had no plans to step aside.

And she was peppered with follow-up questions, asking whether he had taken cold medication before the debate (no, she said) or whether there was something even more serious wrong with him.

At one point she was asked whether he was 'disabled.'

Another reporter asked: 'I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this: Does President Biden, at 81 years old, have Alzheimer's, any form of dementia or degenerative illness that caused these sorts of lapses?'

Jean-Pierre answered: 'It's a no. And I hope you're asking the other guy the same exact question.'

The problem for the White House and the Biden campaign is that Trump emerged as the clear winner of the debate.

Biden looked every one of 81 years, as his answers ground to a halt or rambled into bizarre non sequiturs.

He was unable to challenge Trump's exaggerations and falsehoods, and at the end of the 90 minutes was helped off stage by his wife.

Biden had been back in the country for twelve days when he made his disastrous appearance at the first presidential debate, seen here

Biden gave a speech Tuesday after receiving an operational briefing on extreme weather at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's emergency operations center in Washington, DC

The poor performance has dominated news headlines ever since, triggering panic among Democratic donors who fear his campaign is sleepwalking into disaster.

Questions in the briefing room about what sort of shape Biden will be in at the end of a second term and about dementia will not help.

Jean-Pierre did her best to draw a line under the debate. She painted a picture of a busy president getting on with the job, traveling to Wisconsin later in the week, sitting down for an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, and hosting a solo press conference next week when NATO leaders are in town.

She also confirmed he was holding a virtual meeting with Democratic governors, but would not answer questions about whether it was designed to offer reassurances.

'We want to turn the page on this, and we want to turn the page for the American people as well, because we know that they need to see him out there,' she said.

Whether it will be enough to quell growing concern among donors and strategists is another matter.

Several told DailyMail.com they were amazed that the president had gone to ground during the weekend, rather than launching a fightback immediately.

On Tuesday, private chatter exploded into the open as the first elected Democrats went public with calls for Biden to drop out of the race.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic member of Congress to call for Biden to step down.

'My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved,' he said.

'Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden's first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.'
As Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has worked flat out to portray Labour as the new home for British business.

And now the senior Labour figure has started dressing the part too - ditching skirts for smart suits as she prepares to move into No11 Downing Street.

Mrs Reeves, who says she will impose robust fiscal discipline if she takes the reins of the British economy on Friday, has been seen sharpening up ahead of election day.

The Shadow Chancellor has gone against traditional Labour instinct to try and woo business - holding breakfast meetings to try and convince firms that her party would benefit them in government.

It has meant smartening Labours image up - both in policy and style - from the days of John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn, who put on a more revolutionary front.

As Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has worked flat out to portray Labour as the new home for British business. And now the senior Labour figure has started dressing the part too - ditching skirts for smart suits as she prepares to move into No11 Downing Street

On the campaign trail, Mrs Reeves has worn power suits of all shades as she goes round the UK claiming the country will be a safe haven for companies on her watch.

Since taking the mantle in 2021, she has preached stability and calm, ruling out tax and spend policies and instead advocating for fiscal discipline.

Businesses will hope her conservative outfit choice will have a similar effect on the British economy after a tumultuous few years thanks to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and Liz Trusss budget.
Child serial killer Lucy Letby was on Tuesday found guilty of trying to murder another premature baby less than two hours after she was born.

The former neonatal nurse was already Britain's most prolific baby killer after last year being convicted of murdering seven children and trying to kill six others.

On Tuesday a jury found the 34-year-old guilty of attempting to murder her 14th victim at the Countess of Chester Hospital  a tiny baby girl born 15 weeks early in February 2016, weighing 1lbs 8oz.

The Mail can reveal Letby was originally charged with murdering the infant  know as Baby K  who died at four days old after being transferred to another hospital.

But prosecutors downgraded the charge to attempted murder before the original trial began in October 2023, amid concerns they could not prove Letby's attack  which involved her deliberately dislodging the child's breathing tube  caused her death.

The jury failed to reach a verdict in Baby K's case and a retrial was ordered.

Lucy Letby (pictured at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2012) was on Tuesday found guilty of trying to kill another newborn baby

The neo-natal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby worked

(L to R) CPS Lawyer Nicola Wyn Williams, Deputy Senior Investigating Officer DCI Nicola Evans and DI Andrea Price give statement to the media outside Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday

On Tuesday, Baby K's parents, who have attended every day of the three-week retrial at Manchester Crown Court, sobbed as the jury foreman delivered the guilty verdict.

A female jury member also dabbed away tears. But Letby, who is serving a whole-life tariff and will never be freed, showed no emotion from her seat in the glass-panelled dock.

Baby K's parents said in a statement: 'Words cannot explain how we are feeling. To lose a baby is a heartbreaking experience no parent should ever go through, but to lose a baby and then learn of the harm that was inflicted is unimaginable.

'Over the past seven to eight years we've had to go on a long, tortuous and emotional journey  twice.

'From losing our precious newborn and grieving her loss, to being told years later her death or collapse might be suspicious, nothing can prepare you for that.

'Justice has been served but this justice will not take away the extreme hurt, anger and distress we've all had to experience.

'We are heartbroken, devastated, angry and feel numb. We may never truly know why this happened.'

Detectives are reviewing 4,000 babies Letby cared for at the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women's Hospital, where she trained.

Dr Dewi Evans, an expert witness in the first trial, previously said he believed Letby experimented with tampering with the breathing tubes of babies before beginning her year-long murder spree in June 2015.

Sources have told the Mail police are considering some 40 more cases, as well as probing the Countess for corporate manslaughter.

A public inquiry into how Letby was allowed to remain on the neonatal unit, despite the concerns of senior doctors, is due to start in September.

Letby has consistently maintained her innocence and in May was refused permission to appeal against last year's convictions.

Judge Mr Justice Goss told Letby she would be sentenced on Friday.

Manchester Crown Court (pictured), where the three-week retrial took place

Letby, who worked at the Countess of Cheshire Hospital, giving evidence in court last month

Today's verdict takes Letby's tally of convictions to seven murders and seven attempted murders

She controversially refused to come up from the cells to hear her punishment when she was convicted first time around, denying the parents of her victims the chance to tell her directly about the anguish she had caused.

Lucy Letby timeline November 2020 - Letby, from Hereford, is arrested and charged following a string of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit. August 2023 - The nurse is found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others, making her Britain's most prolific child serial killer in modern history. The jury fail to reach a verdict on the attempted murder of a baby girl, Baby K. July 2024 - Letby is found guilty of the attempted murder of Baby K. Advertisement

She also escaped hearing the damning sentencing remarks of Mr Justice Goss. But before her retrial began last month, Letby was finally forced to listen to the judge's comments in public when they were read aloud during legal argument.

Prosecutor Nick Johnson KC spent seven minutes quoting Mr Justice Goss, who described the 'enduring grief' suffered by the parents of the 'cherished' babies, who'd suffered 'acute pain and death' because of her 'cunning and... murderous intent'.

Mr Johnson read the comments in response to Letby's application to have the attempted murder charge dismissed before the retrial. Ben Myers KC, defending, argued it was 'impossible' for Letby to get a fair trial because of the 'prejudice' caused by the volume of publicity and 'utterly hostile (media) coverage' following her convictions.

The judge dismissed the application, and the jury heard Letby tampered with the breathing tube of Baby K less than two hours after she was born at 2.12am on February 17, 2016.

By then Letby had already murdered five babies and tried to kill three others, and her presence on the unit when babies collapsed had provoked suspicion among doctors.

Dr Ravi Jayaram, senior paediatrician on the unit, told the jury he felt 'uncomfortable' after the nurse looking after Baby K nipped away from her cot to update her parents at around 3.45am.

He said he caught Letby 'virtually red-handed' 'doing nothing' as the tot's oxygen levels fell dangerously low.

DI Andrea Price gives statement to the media outside Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday

During her original 10-month trial, where she was eventually found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others

Letby had silenced the alarm on the machine monitoring Baby K's oxygen levels and her breathing tube had become dislodged, the court heard. Dr Jayaram resuscitated Baby K and the breathing tube was replaced.

But Letby, realising she had almost been caught, moved the tube twice more, this time pushing it further into the baby's airway to try to destabilise her and make it appear she was dislodging it on her own.

Dr Jayaram failed to report the incident to managers or the police, but he and his colleagues added it to their list of suspicious events involving Letby.

Yet she was allowed to continue working for another four months  killing two more babies, brothers from a set of triplets, and harming another three  before being removed at the end of June 2016.

Letby denied dislodging Baby K's breathing tube or turning off the alarm. But the jury of six men and six women took less than three and a half hours to convict her.
James Cleverly has branded Labour's immigration plans a 'con job' which will make the UK 'the destination of choice for illegal migrants in Europe'.

The Home Secretary acknowledged some Tory supporters want to 'tell us off' about immigration, but warned people considering Reform risk getting the opposite of what they want.

Scrapping the Rwanda deportation scheme would worsen the crisis  and leave Sir Keir Starmer with 'no option' but to give an amnesty to tens of thousands crossing the Channel illegally, he claimed.

And he suggested the former human rights lawyer did not have the country's best interests at heart.

The Home Secretary (pictured) acknowledged some Tory supporters want to 'tell us off' about immigration, but warned people considering Reform risk getting the opposite of what they want

Scrapping the Rwanda deportation scheme would worsen the crisis  and leave Sir Keir Starmer with 'no option' but to give an amnesty to tens of thousands crossing the Channel illegally, he claimed

Mr Cleverly urged voters flirting with Reform to consider Sir Keir's past before casting their vote in a way that could hand Labour a supermajority.

He said. 'When coppers were getting beaten up by Black Lives Matter protesters, the leader of the Labour Party took the knee to try to get clicks and likes on social media rather than backing them.

'When I'm trying to get foreign national offenders kicked out of the country... he was fighting tooth and nail to prevent them getting deported. His party has voted against immigration controls 130 times.'

Mr Cleverly said the Rwanda scheme was 'already working' to deter some migrants, even though no flights have taken off. The Labour leader and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper say they will focus on 'smashing the gangs' of people smugglers instead with a 'new' border command.

But Mr Cleverly said a near-identical unit already exists.
One of the deceased was a 17-year-old boy

A mass drug overdose believed to have killed four people at a home in Melbourne could be linked to a deadly new form of cocaine flooding the market.

Michael Hodgkinson, 32, was one of four people discovered in the loungeroom of a unit in the northern suburb of Broadmeadows last week.

Abdul El Sayed, 17, was also killed, along with an as-yet unidentified 37-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman inside the Bicknell Court home.

On Tuesday, the Victorian Department of Health issued a drug alert for cocaine laced with protonitazene, a novel synthetic opioid.

'There have been recent serious harms in Melbourne associated with a white powder sold as cocaine that contained protonitazene,' the warning stated.

'The product appears to produce such as loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, and life-threatening hypoxia (insufficient oxygen for normal functioning).'

A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia detectives are continuing to investigate the Broadmeadows tragedy, with forensic results not expected back for several weeks.

Last week, police were seen entering the property with the aid of oxygen tanks amid fears the four may have been overcome by some form of gas.

A mass drug overdose believed to have killed four people at a home in Melbourne's Broadmeadows could be linked to a deadly new form of cocaine flooding the market

Michael Hodgkinson was among four killed in a suspected overdose at Broadmeadows last week

Abdul El Sayed, 17, (right) leaves behind a partner and an 18-month-old daughter

It is understood carbon monoxide poisoning was quickly ruled out because of the survival of a dog which had been in the house.

Abdul's uncle Cory Lewis also told Daily Mail Australia he believed his nephew had perished from some sort of drug overdose.

Mr Lewis had been first on the gruesome scene, reporting the incident to police.

I went straight in there and I didnt smell anything, Cory said.

The health department warned the new type of cocaine could produce strong effects in very small amounts.

'Protonitazene has a potency of over 100 times that of heroin,' the warning stated.

'Cocaine produces stimulant effects, whereas protonitazene produces sedative effects and may lead to opioid overdose.

'Using protonitazene with depressants such as alcohol, GHB or depressant drugs (such as Xanax or Valium) increases the risk of overdose.'

It further stated respiratory depression also appears more quickly with novel synthetic opioids.

Taking protonitazene with alcohol or other prescription drugs such as Xanax or Valium can also increase the risk of an overdose.

Protonitazene has previously been linked by health officials to overdoses in Victoria and interstate, including a fatality in South Australia.

Authorities there warned it was being mixed with other drugs, making it hard to identify where it had come from.

Last week, Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said police were investigating the possibility the Broadmeadows deaths were all related to an overdose.

'It is unusual to find four people deceased at the one property potentially from a drug overdose, but we've got to keep an open mind and until we confirm that's the case, it could be anything,' Detective Inspector Thomas said.

'I cannot say definitively whether (fentanyl) is involved,' he added.

Police used oxygen tanks to enter the Broadmeadows property last week

Abdul El Sayed is pictured with his mother Jessica Lewis during happier times

Police are treating the deaths as non-suspicious at this stage of the investigation, but are believed to be very interested in where the deceased sourced the drugs they suspect killed them.

'We keep an open mind as to what the cause of death is at this stage,' Mr Thomas said.

The deaths coincided with a Victorian government announcement declaring it would introduce drug checking, after 46 overdose deaths due to novel synthetic opioids since 2022.

The initiative will see a mobile drug checking service established to attend up to 10 music festivals, with a fixed site expected to open in an inner Melbourne area next year.

Both the mobile and fixed-site services will be able to test the makeup of most pills, capsules, powders, crystals and liquids to identify deadly substances, including synthetic drugs.
A woman in Texas lead police on a wild car chase after stealing an ambulance from an El Paso emergency room, police confirmed Tuesday.

Videos of the pursuit showed the female driver in the ambulance blowing through stop lights on crowded streets, with state troopers and local police following behind her.

After sneaking into the medical vehicle at Del Sol Medical Center on the city's east side, the unidentified woman who was not a patient at the hospital, drove off with the ambulance around 8 a.m., reported local station KFOX.

For close to an hour, the woman sped on city roads and onto the highway, finally slowing down in northeast El Paso after the Texas Department of Public Safety successfully spiked the tires on the ambulance, DPS told DailyMail.com.

The woman who stole the ambulance has not been identified. She is seen after crashing at the end of the chase

The woman came to a stop near an apartment complex off the freeway, where an resident recorded police ordering her out of vehicle.

'Hands up! Keep your hands up,' an officer can be heard yelling at the driver in a video shared by @therealfitfamelpaso on Instagram.

When the woman put her hands down, police fired pepper balls at the ambulance.

The woman continued to fumble with what appears to be a bag in her lap and eventually made her way to the passenger side of the vehicle, where she opened the door to let herself out.

Footage shows her exiting the ambulance, moving at the speed of jello, before landing on the ground face first.

The woman was not a patient at the hospital but snuck into the vehicle and drove away

The El Paso Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety engaged in an nearly one-hour chase through Texas' sixth largest city

Police then took her into custody, but have not released her name.

Remarkably, no one was hurt due to the chase.

The fire department is investigating how the woman was able to get access to the ambulance, especially since the agency instituted policy changes after a different ambulance was stolen in 2017.
Scientists have long debated why woolly mammoths, giant sloths and 44 more giant, plant-eating 'megaherbivores' went extinct starting around 50,000 years ago.

Some paleontologists, biologists and others have argued that drastic climate change events across the past two Ice Ages were responsible for the extinctions of these majestic creatures.

But a new study has landed on a different culprit: humans.

A sweeping review pooling together paleo-climate data, preserved DNA samples, archeological evidence and more has determined that 'human predation' from early hunter-gatherers is now the explanation most supported by all available evidence.

'There is strong, cumulative support for direct and indirect pressures from behaviorally modern humans,' the team concluded in their new study.

Humans were 'the key driver,' researchers said, behind these species' extinction.

Scientists have long debated why woolly mammoths, giant sloths and 44 more gigantic, plant-eating 'megaherbivores' went extinct starting around 50,000 years ago. Above, an engraving by Ernest Grise of prehistoric man hunting a woolly mammoth

Scientists refer to large animals  defined as anything greater than 99 pounds (45 kilograms)  as 'megafauna.' And their above-average rates of extinction in modern eras have caused both worry and fascination.

'The large and very selective loss of megafauna over the last 50,000 years is unique over the past 66 million years,' according to the study's lead author Jens-Christian Svenning, who researches paleo-ecology and biodiversity at Aarhus University.

'Previous periods of climate change did not lead to large, selective extinctions,' Svenning noted in a statement, 'which argues against a major role for climate in the megafauna extinctions.'

Svenning, who leads the Danish National Research Foundation's Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) at Aarhus University, managed a team of seven other researchers who helped compile the new study.

One intriguing set of artifacts and physical evidence from the archaeological record helped to bolster their conclusions, published this March in the journal Cambridge Prisms: Extinction.

Ancient traps, designed by prehistoric humans to catch very large animals, as well as analyses of human bones and protein residues on recovered spear points all suggest that our ancestors capably hunted and ate some of the biggest mammals around.

'Another significant pattern that argues against a role for climate is that the recent megafauna extinctions hit just as hard in climatically stable areas as in unstable areas,' Svenning said.

But while a region's vulnerability to climate change played no role in these extinctions, the incoming migration of human hunters did, Svenning's team found.

The researchers noted that 40 of the 48 known large mammals during this period (top right of chart) went extinct, while only smaller and smaller percentages of the each lower 'weight class' of species died off. The bottom row breaks these extinction numbers down by continent

The fossil record shows that these large species went extinct at very different times and at widely differing speeds, some dropping off in number quite quickly and others more gradually  in some cases across 10,000 years or more.

Few of these extinctions are well matched by climate records from this time period, known as the late Quaternary period, which includes the tail end of the Pleistocene epoch, the past two Ice Ages, and the dawn of the Holocene epoch 11,700 years ago.

But many of these extinctions were linked to the local arrival of modern humans.

'Early modern humans were effective hunters of even the largest animal species and clearly had the ability to reduce the populations of large animals,' Svenning noted.

'These large animals were and are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation because they have long gestation periods, produce very few offspring at a time, and take many years to reach sexual maturity,' he added.

His team's survey of big animal extinctions from this time frame found that 40 of the 48 largest animals, those weighing over 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg), went extinct.

The percentages of extinctions tended to trend downward by weight class from there, suggesting that megafauna and the docile plant-eaters in particular had a big target on their backs.

In more recent millennia, from the past 5,000 years or so to present, the remaining megafauna have remained among those species most threatened by extinction from human activity, including poachers and habitat loss.

The researchers cited specifically the worldwide extinctions of the water buffalo species Bubalus mephistopheles, a horse or equid species called Equus ovodovi and the gibbon primate species Junzi imperialis.

They also raised alarm over the dwindling numbers of several megafauna in China, the elephant species Elephas maximus, two rhinoceros species Dicerorhinus sumatrensis and Rhinoceros sondaicus and Panthera tigris tigers.

The extinction of megafauna, according to Svenning, can undermine whole ecosystems, as the big creatures play a role in dispersing seeds, shaping vegetation by their eating habits, and contributing to the nutrient cycle via their waste.

'Our results highlight the need for active conservation and restoration efforts,' the researcher said.

'By reintroducing large mammals, we can help restore ecological balances and support biodiversity,' Svenning concluded, 'which evolved in ecosystems rich in megafauna.'
NASA and Elon Musk's SpaceX are both planning to put humans on Mars in the next 20 years  but a key hurdle is making the atmosphere breathable.

Now, scientists in China say a promising species of plant could convert the Red Planet's rich atmosphere of carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen.

Steppe screw moss, also known as Syntrichia caninervis, is found in extreme desert landscapes like like Tibet and Antarctica.

Lab experiments show that it can survive freezing temperatures and lethal rays of radiation  typical conditions on the Martian surface.

According to the experts, the moss is even more resilient than tardigrades  the microscopic organisms described as 'indestructible'.

Mars is the fourth planet from the sun - a dusty, cold, desert world with a thin atmosphere. Pictured, Mars captured by the Hubble telescope

Lab experiments show that the moss, called Syntrichia caninervis, survive freezing temperatures and powerful rays of radiation

The experts, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, aren't suggesting that humans eat S. caninervis on Mars to stay alive (like Matt Damon's character ate potatoes in 'The Martian').

That's because the plant is not edible and would provide little nutritional value if we did eat it (although it's not toxic).

However, if it could proliferate on the Red Planet, it could convert Martian carbon dioxide (CO2) to oxygen to help create a breathable atmosphere.

One of the many obstacles to 'terraforming' Mars is its atmosphere  around 95 per cent of which is made up of CO2, which is too high for humans to breathe.

'Many plans to establish human settlements on other planets focus on adapting crops to growth in controlled environments,' the team say.

Pictured, the team's graphical abstract showing the plant's ability to turn Martian CO2 into breathable oxygen - while withstanding radiation and freezing temperatures

The experts aren't suggesting that humans eat S. caninervis on Mars to stay alive, because the plant is not edible. Pictured, Matt Damon as Dr Mark Watney growing potatoes on Mars in the 2015 film 'The Martian'

'Our study shows that the environmental resilience of S. caninervis is superior to that of some of highly stress-tolerant microorganisms and tardigrades.'

S. caninervis  already well known for its ability to tolerate drought conditions  is found in Tibet, Antarctica and the circumpolar regions of Eurasia and North America.

Given the moss's ability to survive extreme environmental conditions, the researchers decided to test its limits in the lab.

They stored the plant at -112F (-80C) in an ultra-cold freezer for up to five years and at -320F (-196C) in a liquid nitrogen tank for up to 30 days.

In all cases, the plants regenerated when they were defrosted, although their rebound was less rapid compared to control specimens that had been dehydrated but not frozen.

It's unclear how the researchers would expect the moss to be defrosted when constantly exposed the frigid Martian conditions, however.

In lab tests, the plants regenerated when they were defrosted, though their rebound was less rapid compared to control specimens that had been dehydrated but not frozen

In the lab tests, the moss also demonstrated the ability to survive gamma radiation exposure that would kill most plants, typical of what the Martian surface is exposed to.

Amazingly, powerful doses of radiation at 500 Gray (Gy) even seemed to promote the plants' growth  namely, 'the regeneration of new branches'.

For comparison, humans experience severe convulsions and death when exposed to around 50 Gy of radiation.

Finally, the experts tested the moss's ability to endure Mars-like conditions using the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Planetary Atmospheres Simulation Facility, a ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) simulation chamber.

The simulator's Martian conditions included air composed of 95 per cent CO2 (the same as on Mars) and fluctuating temperatures that went above and below freezing, as well as high levels of UV radiation and low atmospheric pressure.

Steppe screw moss (Syntrichia caninervis) waiting for rain among lichens in Hackberry Canyon of Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado, US

Dried moss plants achieved a 100 per cent regeneration rate within 30 days after being subjected to the Martian conditions for one, two, three, and seven days.

Hydrated plants, which were only subjected to the simulator for one day, also survived, though they regenerated more slowly than their desiccated counterparts.

The team caution that their study does not prove that the moss could be transported to Mars or even explain how it would be planted there.

However, the study identifies S. caninervis as 'a pioneer plant for growth' on the Red Planet, as space agencies work towards 'self-sufficient habitats' there.

'Looking to the future, we expect that this promising moss could be brought to Mars or the moon to further test the possibility of plant colonization and growth in outer space,' they say.

'Our results indicate that S. caninervis is among the most radiation-tolerant organisms known.'

The study has been published in the journal The Innovation.
Give the masses in Magaluf and Marbella a miss and instead discover a quainter, more romantic - and far less crowded - Spain, with a trip to its smallest city.

Welcome to Frias. With fewer than 300 inhabitants, it's the smallest city in the country. Despite its miniscule size, Frias retains a city status that was granted in 1435 by King Juan II of Castile.

The streets of this medieval citadel are so narrow that cars cannot be driven through them - visitors must park and use leg power to explore.

And there is plenty to see.

There are striking houses that hang from vertical rock faces and an eye-catching 12th-century castle perched on a rocky hill - the Castle of the Dukes of Frias - which affords visitors stunning views of the city and the picturesque surrounding landscape.

Welcome to Frias. With fewer than 300 inhabitants, it's the smallest city in Spain

The streets of Frias are so narrow that cars cannot be driven through them - visitors must park outside the perimeter and use leg power to explore

The eye-catching 12th-century Castle of the Dukes of Frias

Pictured are striking houses that hang from vertical rock faces. Picture courtesy of Creative Commons

One visitor said the castle offers the chance to 'travel back to medieval Spain'

The castle can be visited for 2 (1.70), with children entering for free.

According to Spain's tourism website, it 'has beautiful mullioned windows and offers a breathtaking panoramic view'.

One visitor said the castle offers the chance to 'travel back to medieval Spain'.

Sharing a review to Tripadvisor, the tourist continued: 'Excellent castle in an unspoiled medieval village. This small village is worth the drive.

'Great views from the towers and the windy, narrow streets are unforgettable. Plenty of good food in the local restaurants.'

The castle can be visited for 2 (1.70), with children entering for free

The Castle of the Dukes of Frias affords visitors stunning views of the city and the picturesque surrounding landscape

Other tourist attractions in Frias include the Catholic church Iglesia de San Vicente Martir (left), the small Alfonso VIII Park and the Frias bridge (right), which has a defence tower and crosses the River Ebros

Another claimed it was 'worth the drive', while one visitor said the whole of Frias is 'spectacular'.

Other tourist attractions in Frias include Catholic church Iglesia de San Vicente Martir, the small Alfonso VIII Park and the Frias bridge, which has a defence tower and crosses the River Ebros.

There are also plenty of local restaurants, including Restaurante El Albergue, Ortiz Bar Restaurante and Meson Fridas, which all serve Spanish cuisine.

You can stay overnight, with the Hotel Rural Frias in the city centre offering rooms from 79 a night.

Frias is in the Castile and Leon region, less than a two-hour drive from Bilbao on Spain's north coast. The closest airport is Bilbao, but Brits could hop on a ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao and drive rather than fly. The overall trip takes 32 hours with Brittany Ferries.
Meet the man who's such a keen train buff that he'll even travel by rail while his wife flies to the same destination.

Most of us would rather get to our destination alongside our travel companion, but David Crossley, 74, from East Yorkshire is so keen on railways that he sometimes ditches his spouse to take the slower route.

Even if it costs him more money.

He explains: 'I much prefer train travel over flying, even if it takes longer and costs more.

'There is less hassle and stress compared with going through an airport, plus you get the luxury of taking in the surroundings at a slower, more relaxed pace.'

David Crossley, above left, 74, from East Yorkshire is so keen on railways that he'd rather ditch his spouse to take the slower route. Pictured - David and his wife dining on the Orient Express

'Last year I took the train from East Yorkshire to Narbonne in France whilst my wife flew. I'm sure my journey was much more relaxing.'

David has experienced some of the most lusted-after lines in the world.

He comments: 'For my 70th birthday we took the Eurostar to Paris then joined the Orient Express to Venice. After that, we used a Eurail pass to travel through Italy, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Belgium. It was brilliant.

'For my 60th I ventured on a two-week "All Lines Rover ticket" and travelled freely over the network from Penzance to Mallaig and the Isle of Skye. It was truly memorable!'

Interestingly, the train enthusiast's favourite route is in the UK - a journey reviewed by MailOnline Travel Editor Ted Thornhill.

For his 60th, David took the Eurostar to Paris then joined the Orient Express (above) to Venice

David says that trains allow you 'the luxury of taking in the surroundings at a slower, more relaxed pace'. Above - David's meal on the Orient Express to Venice

David recalls: 'My favourite is the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Fort William. It is so special to wine, dine and sleep then awake to breakfast and the fantastic scenery of the West Highlands.'

However, he's also a fan of more exotic trains too. David says: 'We also experienced rail travel at its very best with a Japan Railways Green Class pass and travelled extensively on the fantastic "bullet train" from Tokyo to Hiroshima.

'Travelling over land via rail means I get to see and experience more, and the journey really becomes a big part of the holiday. Most countries have a great train network too, so it's usually quite simple to organise.'

David is far from the only person who prefers a slower mode of travel, as according to a study by luxury travel tour operator Scott Dunn, UK Google searches for info on 'slow travel trips' have increased by 61 per cent in the past three months and there have been more than 16.3million posts mentioning the trend on TikTok.

The findings come from Scott Dunn's latest travel trends report.

The train buff says: 'We travelled extensively on the fantastic "Bullet Train" from Tokyo to Hiroshima'. Above - a picture of a Japanese bullet train taken by David

David notes: 'We experienced rail travel at its very best with a Japan Railways Green Class pass.' Left, a bullet train David travelled on and (right) a view of Mount Fuji from David's seat

It found that in 2024, British holidaymakers are prioritising some well-earned rest and relaxation, with over three-quarters (81 per cent) travelling specifically to de-stress and slow down this summer.

Scott Dunn saw triple the volume of bookings for train journeys between January and April compared to the same period last year and data shows that 45 per cent of the travel planner's guests plan to take longer holidays this year, 'suggesting they crave more rest stops, slower schedules and ample time to relax'.

How do they do this? The study results showed that half of people (50 per cent) say that eating and drinking out is their favourite way to relax when on holiday.

Almost half (42 per cent) admit that reading is their route to relaxation, and a third of people (33 per cent) say simply basking in the sunshine is the answer.

Spending time in nature (31 per cent) and excursions (30 per cent) rounded out the top five ways people chose to relax while on holiday.

The data also showed that it takes Brits three full days to switch off when on holiday, although those who regularly check their smartphone (and work emails) may find it takes them longer.

Simon Lynch, Global Product Director at Scott Dunn, commented: 'Taking a slower and more "gentle" approach to the way that you travel - and making the journey part of your trip - will not only encourage you to relax and unwind quicker, but it will inevitably lead to discovery along the way, and this, in turn, can help you to make meaningful memories too.'

To find out more about Scott Dunn's latest Travel Trends Index, or for more tips from the specialists on how to have a 'relaxing travel experience' this year, visit: www.scottdunn.com/inspiration/travel-trends/this-year/summer
Speaking to DailyMail.com, the agent stands by his comments about Savannah

Owning Manhattan star Jonathan Nrmlle has doubled down on his controversial comments about his former colleague Savannah Gowarty  admitting he has no regrets about belittling her abilities as an agent.

The 27-year-old sparked uproar in the new Netflix reality show after he criticized Savannah, also 27, on a since-deleted podcast episode alongside fellow Serhant employee Jessica Markowski.

During his unfiltered rant, Jonathan questioned Savannah's ability to close a deal and bragged there was 'no competition' between them. He was later forced to apologize by his boss, Ryan Serhant.

Unpacking the storyline in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Jonathan remained unfazed by the drama and admitted that he does not care about Savannah's feelings.

'The thing with Savannah is I tried to help her after hours, like two hours a day and she wasn't even on my team,' he said.

Owning Manhattan star Jonathan has doubled down on his controversial podcast comments

The agent sparked uproar in the new Netflix reality show after he slagged off Savannah (pictured) on the company podcast

'I tried to help her because she is not an agent in any kind of way, which half the cast isn't. I tried to help her get some rentals so she would feel comfortable. And then she went around and said some sketchy sh*t.'

Doubling down on his remarks, Jonathan insisted he's 'okay with calling people out' because when the roles are reversed, he can back himself up.

'I don't regret anything from that at all,' he continued. 'Not in the slightest. I would have kept it up [the podcast].

'For me, I don't regret anything I've done - and that's definitely one of them. Don't commit the crime if you can't do the time.

'As for how we left it [with Savannah], I don't know, and I don't care. We had just met. I don't think she deserved my time from the beginning.'

Jonathan blasted Savannah in the fourth episode of the new Netflix show.

The podcast  which was recorded for the company  unsurprisingly caused a huge fallout among the agents and resulted in Jonathan being forced to apologize.

Venting his frustrations about his Serhant colleagues on the podcast, he said: 'That's what p*****s me off about the people at the firm now, it's almost like a lot of the people have some resentment towards us.'

Speaking to exclusively to DailyMail.com, Jonathan said he stands by his comments about Savannah while adding that she did not deserve his time

In the reality show, he had been forced by his boss Ryan Serhant to apologize to Savannah

'This might sound cocky, but there's no competition at all,' he continued. 'For example, Savannah, with her, what the f**k would she do with a deal?

'If I was Ryan and I owned the firm, I wouldn't give her a deal because she would fumble it, and then Ryan loses money.

'If Ryan gives deals to us, he'll know we'll close it. There is a difference there, right?'

It wasn't long before Ryan found out about Jonathan's badmouthing, and instructed him to apologize to Savannah.

However, when Jonathan went to speak with Savannah, it was clear that they would not be able to resolve their issues.

Jonathan started: 'First of all, I want to say that I apologize for the podcast.'

'Did you learn a lesson from posting it?' Savannah asked.

He replied: 'I think there was a lesson that needed to be learned, that is still probably not learned, even by the way you're behaving right now.'

'I'm here to apologize because Ryan told me to,' he continued.

'But I do think there's a way to go around business that you need to think about. That podcast might have been a little heated, but I don't think.'

All episodes of Owning Manhattan are available to stream on Netflix
Joy, 81, used to work at a school in Long Island teaching English in the 1960s

Joy Behar has opened up about the harrowing sexual harassment she faced while working as a teacher in Long Island - detailing a shocking moment with her boss that left her 'revulsed'.

The 81-year-old comedian, who recently joked on The View that she wants to get it on with a lady when she's 90, used to teach English at Lindenhurst Senior High School on Long Island from the late 1960s to the early 1970s, and it was here that she endured a spate of sexual harassment.

Writing about the incident, Joy referenced the #MeToo movement but claimed: 'Back in 1969, we didnt have hashtags. If you were getting harassed by your boss, you had to get creative.'

The first person article, which was published on Air Mail in February, begins with an incident which occurred in the classroom when a department head came to observe one of Joy's lessons and told her afterwards: 'You were so good, I couldve f**ked you on the blackboard.'

Speaking about how it made her feel, Joy - who was 27-years-old at the time -explained: 'I was torn. On the one hand, I was revulsed. On the other hand, I was a self-supporting, single woman with no trust fund waiting for me, and the chairman of the English department liked my lesson. My mind raced.

Joy Behar has opened up about the time a senior male colleague left her feeling 'revulsed' after touching her inappropriately

The 81-year-old, pictured here in March, wrote about her experience in an article published on Air Mail

'I thought of reporting him, but I knew that would go nowhere. The principal was only interested in catching students smoking dope in the bathrooms. And I really needed this job, so I made up my mind to try and take it as a compliment.'

Joy recalled how a colleague of hers named Krystie was also being sexually harassed by a different male teacher, who kept commenting on 'how big her boobs were.'

The two women, along with another teacher from Germany named Bridget, set about discussing ways in which they could get revenge on the two men for their inappropriate behavior.

Things reached breaking point when the department head propositioned Joy after coming to 'observe' another one of her lessons and suggested they go out for a drink together after work.

Joy lied and told him she was 'involved with someone' but she said this spurred him on even more, and when she tried to excuse herself and leave the room, the man in question put his hands on her and told her: 'Look at the woody you made me get,' referring to his erection.

On the exact same day, Krystie was subject to something similar as the other male teacher came into her classroom and lifted up her blouse - which left her 'hyperventilating.'

Joy described Bridget's reaction and said the history teacher 'went into action' as she led the way to the man's classroom.

'Bridget marched up to him, pulled out a tape measure, and said, "Excuse me. Could I measure your pr*ck?"' Joy wrote, before revealing how they tied his hands behind his back and pulled his pants down.

Joy, pictured in 1992, used to work as an English teacher at a school in Long Island where she was sexually harassed by a colleague

'Youd better not tell anyone about this, or next time, your d*ck wont be so lucky,' Joy recalled Bridget saying to him, before they untied him and left the classroom.

And when it came to dealing with her own situation, Joy decided to invite the department head to another one of her classes and this time she turned the tables on him via her lesson.

During a lesson about grammar, Joy decided to use the analogy of the 'grammatically correct way to get a bully to leave you alone,' and asked him what he would do in the situation.

When her students started suggesting a that bully in a 'superior position' should be reported to their seniors, or perhaps the police, Joy recalled the man 'got up and started to inch his way toward the exit,' as she sarcastically suggested that he should 'come back next week.'

DailyMail.com has contacted the school for comment.

According to Air Mail, the story was taken from the first chapter of Joy's upcoming memoir, which will be published by Regalo Press.

The upcoming non-fiction book was first announced back in November 2023 and will see Joy share stories on various subjects, including relatives, hair, erections, bullies and romance.

While the memoir is not slated for release until sometime in late 2024 or early 2025, Joy's fans can expect the television personality to 'take aim at everyone and everything, including herself.'
It was the smash hit British comedy that made her a household name and won her a slew of awards on both sides of the Atlantic.

But it seems male Amazon executives tore apart the second series of Phoebe Waller-Bridges acclaimed Fleabag and demanded she recast Andrew Scott just days before filming was due to begin.

Following the success of the first BBC-funded series, Amazon swooped in with an injection of cash for its second series but had a number of demands in the writers room, a BBC commissioning editor has claimed.

Luckily, Waller-Bridge, 38,  who went on to sign a 47m deal with the US streamer  stuck to her guns and stayed true to her initial vision, which won her a Bafta and a Golden Globe.

Shane Allen, co-founder of Boffola Pictures and the man who initially commissioned Fleabag for the BBC, told the Radio Times she was afforded creative freedom when it was being funded entirely by the BBC.

Amazon executives tore apart the second series of Phoebe Waller-Bridge s acclaimed Fleabag and demanded she recast Andrew Scott just days before filming was due to begin

Luckily Ms Waller-Bridge, 38,  who went on to sign a 47m deal with the US streamer  stuck to her guns and stayed true to her initial vision, which won her a Bafta and a Golden Globe

But, he said, after accepting additional funding from Amazon, a whole raft of US male execs turned up to the read-through.

He said that, bearing in mind this was a piece exploring self-destructive feminism, the executives proceeded to tear the show apart and demand Andrew Scott was recast with only four days until the shoot started.

He added: Anyone less effervescently charming and smart than Phoebe would have buckled.

Scott, 47, who played the love interest of Fleabag, was an enormous hit with viewers and was dubbed Hot Priest by fans.

He has since become an internationally acclaimed acting star, earning a BAFTA nomination for his appearance in this years All of Us Strangers and the lead role in Netflixs The Talented Mr Ripley adaptation.

Fleabag, which aired its first series in 2016 and its second in 2019, became a global phenomenon and was received Golden Globes for Best Television Series and Best Actress for Ms Waller-Bridge.

Allen said that British channels and production companies are forced to turn to international streaming services due to increasing production costs and a lack of money in the sector.

Channel 4 has advertising woes, the BBCs licence fee freeze has a huge impact, he said.

Shane Allen, co-founder of Boffola Pictures and the man who initially commissioned Fleabag for the BBC, told the Radio Times she was afforded creative freedom when it was being funded entirely by the BBC

But, he said, after accepting additional funding from Amazon, a whole raft of US male execs turned up to the read-through.

But comedy punches well above its weight. Ten years ago, it was seen as a high-cost high-fail genre, while reality shows cost a fraction of the price.

But broadcasters now know that comedy becomes incredibly good value and reaches young viewers.

Comedian Lee Mack, 55, said the reason there is a lack of new British sitcoms, is partly due to a lack of working-class comedians coming through.

There arent younger comics coming through wanting to write them. You can have a whole debate about why. I think part of it might be class-based, he said.
A Top Chef star was charged on Monday after being arrested for allegedly assaulting and threatening his girlfriend with a gun last week in Minnesota.

Ramsey County Attorney's Office charged 39-year-old celebrity chef Justin Sutherland with one felony count of threats of violence in connection to the incident on Friday, per NBC Kare11.

The 24-year-old woman told police that Sutherland allegedly pointed a gun at her, struck her in the chest with it, and said, 'Don't come back here, or I am going to shoot you.'

He then approached her and choked her for several seconds before slamming her phone on the kitchen counter multiple times, according to the criminal complaint.

The alleged victim told officers that the argument began 'when he told her that they were no longer going to a music festival,' according to CBS News.

Top Chef star Justin Sutherland was charged on Monday after being arrested for allegedly assaulting and threatening his girlfriend with a gun last week in Minnesota; (pictured 2022)

Ramsey County Attorney's Office charged the 39-year-old celebrity chef with one felony count of threats of violence in connection to the incident on Friday

The complaint states that she reported Sutherland was agitated about their neighbors 'being racist towards him', and she believed he was venting his frustration on her.

Officers were sent to the same location earlier that evening after a woman reported her boyfriend had strangled her and was trying to evict her from the apartment, per the outlet.

While on the call, she refused to disclose her boyfriend's name, saying she didn't want anyone to face consequences.

Responding officers spoke with the woman, who reported that Sutherland had pushed her in the chest during a minor disagreement but insisted she didn't need help.

Sutherland confirmed the verbal argument and also declined police assistance, resulting in no arrests.

The celebrity chef's attorney, John Daly, described the criminal complaint as 'riddled with falsehoods' in a statement to People.

'Mr. Sutherland vehemently denies all the allegations in the complaint,' Daly said.

'He never threatened to shoot anyone. He did not physically assault his girlfriend. He looks forward to the truth coming out as the court process unfolds.'

The 24-year-old woman told police that Sutherland allegedly pointed a gun at her, struck her in the chest with it, and said, 'Don't come back here, or I am going to shoot you'

The alleged victim told officers that the argument began 'when he told her that they were no longer going to a music festival,' according to CBS News

The celebrity chef's attorney, John Daly, described the criminal complaint as 'riddled with falsehoods'; (pictured 2023)

Regarding the woman's allegations of the reasons for the argument, he noted, 'The relationship was coming to an end.'

If found guilty, the charge for threats of violence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Following his court appearance on Monday, Sutherland was granted release on his own recognizance and instructed to hand over any firearms in his possession to the police within 24 hours.

Sutherland is currently the co-host of TruTV's Fast Foodies with Kristen Kish.

He was an Iron Chef America winner and competed on season 16 of Top Chef in 2019.
Dream Home sisters Taeler and Elle suffered a blow on Sunday night's episode.

The duo decided to take on four spaces at Jacinta and Jordans Punchbowl home, bravely transforming the laundry, powder room, butler's pantry and kitchen.

The kitchen featured a stone benchtop and splashback and a large island bench with a stovetop, while the sink was tucked away in the corner near the butler's pantry.

The sisters from Victoria received praise for the kitchen's opulence; however, some viewers noticed one very morbid detail in their design.

'I just realised the wall-to-wall stone kitchen reminds me of a mortuary. The island is like a slab where the bodies lie,' one user wrote on social media.

'That kitchen looks like a mausoleum. What were Taeler and Elle thinking?' another commented.

'As expected what a horrible kitchen done by Taeler and Elle. Bland and boring yuk,' a third wrote.

And they weren't the only ones to assert the sisters' design came up short.

Dream Home Australia sisters Taeler and Elle suffered a blow on Sunday night's episode. Both pictured

The judges also criticised the kitchen's lack of functionality and excessive use of stone.

'Immediately I just feel disappointed... because there is a way to do en masse stone, but I dont think they got it quite right here,' judge Rosie Morley said.

Meanwhile, Simon Cohen said 'Its just too much stone. I think theyve gone too bold, too hard.'

The duo decided to take on four spaces at Jacinta and Jordans Punchbowl home, bravely transforming the laundry, powder room, butler's pantry and kitchen

'Whats disappointing is [the sink] is probably, next to the fridge, the most utilised item in the kitchen, and youre over here with not even elbow room for doing the dishes,' Lana Taylor added.

Meanwhile, the duos butlers pantry and laundry were both criticised for their lack of storage space.

The pair were given a score of 19 out of 30, placing them at the bottom of the week's leaderboard.

Dream Home continues Tuesday 7.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
An Australian influencer has been hit with a staggering $100,000 tax bill after not knowing how taxes worked at the beginning of her career.

Brittney Saunders, 31, is now a multimillionaire after starting her size-inclusive fashion label Fayt.

Speaking on her podcast Big Business with Brittney Saunders, she said there was a period in her early 20s where she hadn't paid her taxes in over two years.

'I didn't know how it worked, I was so used to working my Monday to Friday full-time job and getting my pay slip every week and seeing the tax being taken out. And then all of a sudden, I'm working for myself at 21 years old, I didn't know how tax worked,' she admitted.

The YouTube vlogger added she didn't have a 'supportive family network' who knew about self employment.

'No one ever taught me about money, or how to save or tax or anything like that,' she said.

'So, for around two years, when I was an influencer and earning all this money, I just simply didn't pay tax. Because when you own your own business, or you're working for yourself.

'I didn't know how I was meant to pay tax, like, how do you do that? What do you genuinely do? Because when you're getting paid as a self employed person and you've got payments coming in, the money just goes into your account and that's it!

Influencer-turned-entrepreneur Brittney Saunders, 31, has been hit with a huge $100,000 tax bill after not knowing how taxes worked at the beginning of her career

'Then you have to work out how you're going to pay tax on that. You don't pay tax every week the way that employees do. You have to collect [the money] all together, and then have an accountant, process that for you for the end of financial year.'

Brittney said she finally enlisted an accountant after growing concern for her finances and received a phone call from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for the outstanding payments, and was told she owed a whopping $100,000.

'I owed $100,000. And I'm in my early 20s. And I owe $100,000. Which, in saying that, I know that's a crazy amount. But if you're owing that amount, you're earning quite a decent amount,' she said.

Speaking on her podcast Big Business with Brittney Saunders, she said there was a period in her early 20s where she hadn't paid her taxes in over two years

Brittney explained she went on a payment plan to pay back the amount and paid it off 'a lot quicker' than expected thanks to some savings in her account.

'When you're in debt to the tax man the interest that you get charged is like 12.5 per cent or something. So I owed $100,000 and was paying 12.5 per cent interest. So I paid it a lot quicker than I was supposed to,' she added.

She said it was an important life lesson at an earlier point in her career.

Brittney said she finally enlisted an accountant after growing concern for her finances and received a phone call from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for the outstanding payments, and was told she owed a whopping $100,000

'That was a great lesson for me in my early 20s and something that I will never forget. I remember I felt sick over it, owing that amount of money and just having to pay it down,' she said.

'But it was a great lesson for me to be more smart with my money and have my finances in order.'

Brittney is originally from Newcastle but now spends most of her time in Sydney tending to her businesses and speaking on podcasts.

Her label Fayt offers clothing in a wide variety of sizes and high-quality fabrics, with sizes ranging from 6 to 24.

Brittney is also the proud CEO of Staple Swim, Form Active, Fayt The Store, Outdo Collective and Outdo Espresso.
Things are heating up in the MasterChef Australia kitchen as six contestants battle for a chance at winning culinary gold.

And while the finale is still weeks away, betting insiders have shared their predictions as to who will be crowned the winner for the show's 16th season.

According to betting site Sportsbet, fan favourite Nat Thaipun comes out on top as a major contender, with odds sitting at $1.33.

The second contestant falling behind is Harry Butterfield, who has odds of $7.

In third place is Josh Perry with $10 odds, followed by Mimi Wong who is currently sitting at $11.

Behind them are Savindri Perera and Darrsh Clarke, who have $13 and $19 odds respectively.

The winner will be crowned during this month's anticipated finale.

Last week, MasterChef Australia fans called out the controversial edit of a judge on this year's series.

MasterChef Australia 2024 winner has been 'leaked' by insiders weeks ahead of the show's finale. Pictured L to R: judges Andy Allen, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin

Viewers flocked to Reddit on Friday to express their dismay that French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli didn't receive as much screen time as his co-hosts.

Joining the judging panel this year alongside Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin, Jean-Christophe, 63, has quickly become a fan favourite on the show.

But one disgruntled fan noted: 'I personally love him but I feel the contestants as well as the judges don't pay much attention to him.

'They don't really include him in the contestant discussions, don't even look in his direction while talking.

According to betting site Sportsbet, fan favourite Nat Thaipun comes out on top as a major contender, with odds sitting at $1.33

'Kinda chuckle whenever he's talking out loud, laugh embarrassingly whenever he praises or bangs the table.

'Poh gets all the attention and is part of everything. Even when he's praising the contestants, they don't take him seriously.'

The viewer went on to say Jean-Christophe is very 'sweet' and tries 'to be as helpful as possible but nobody really cares'.

Other users voiced their agreement, with many praising the restaurateur for his uplifting and positive personality on the Channel 10 cooking competition.

'He's totally our favourite judge. Total breath of fresh air,' one person said.

Another added: 'He's so insane, I love it. Banging the table, screaming with joy in the restaurant service challenge. Pinning the crab on Harry.'

The second contestant falling behind is Harry Butterfield, who has odds of $7

The 2024 season is still ongoing, but Network 10 have already confirmed Jean-Christophe will return in 2025 alongside Andy, Poh and Sofia.

The panel of four made their debut in season 16 this year after Andy, 36, was the only judge to return to the show from last year's panel.

Melissa Leong was dropped from the series and Jock Zonfrillo tragically died in April last year, just one day before season 15 was set to air.

Andy, who joined the panel in 2020, admitted he was unsure about returning after the devastating loss of Jock but decided his friend would have wanted it.
Skint: The Truth About Britain's Broken Economy (Channel 4)

Rating:

Do not adjust your set. There now follows a party political broadcast on behalf of the No More Parties, No More Politics campaign.

It's an enticing idea. After six weeks of electioneering, most of us wouldn't care if we never saw another weary debate or question-and-answer session.

But one of the solutions floated by Radio 4 economist Tim Harford, on Skint: The Truth About Britain's Broken Economy (Ch4), took that idea literally.

A couple of his interviewees argued that the UK needs to do away with democracy altogether and go for a dictatorial regime like the one in Beijing.

Will, the boss of a bicycle manufacturing business called Brompton Bikes, said: 'If we really want to deliver stability into the UK economy, we need to get our governments to set out a cross-party strategy, like China, for the next 25 years. We don't just move from left to right due to the loud minority, we're doing it based on facts. That would be great.'

Radio 4 economist Tim Harford's documentary explores why Britain's economy is struggling

Perhaps it's understandable a cycle-maker fancies the idea of modelling the UK economy on China. I imagine it would be pretty good for fashion houses that specialise in blue dungarees as well.

But if Labour wins its threatened super-majority on Thursday, Britain could become a lot more like China's one-party state than anyone foresaw. That won't be as utopian as Will hopes.

Chilling though this prospect is, Harford's fascination with statistics makes him a broadcaster always worth hearing. He wrote a devastating article in the Daily Mail four years ago, at the height of the pandemic, warning of the insane risks of lockdown.

At a time when most commentators were demanding even more stringent restrictions on our liberty, Harford pointed out that the national survival rate of Covid-19 was actually about 99.9 per cent.

The risk of death from coronavirus, he calculated, was on average three times more serious than taking a bath . . . 'and the prospect of bathtime tragedies has never shut the country down'.

Harford wrote a devastating article in the Daily Mail four years ago, at the height of the pandemic, warning of the insane risks of lockdown

Any analyst whose conclusions are that robust deserves his soapbox, even if you decide you disagree with everything he's saying.

Among his radical suggestions in Skint Britain was a proposal to build two million new houses in the countryside.

Dismissing the English reverence for the greenbelt as 'near-religious', he interviewed one campaigner for new homes who claimed that much of the countryside 'has not got any environmental significance  or beauty significance either'.

That's a view guaranteed to provoke people right across the political spectrum, from the Clarksons to the Packhams.

Charts, graphs and data zigzagged across the screen with often baffling speed. More explanation would have been welcome: for instance, analysis of Britain's GDP showed each generation was twice as well-off as its parents', until the banking crash of 2008.

Since then, prosperity has flatlined. But is it a bad thing if Millennials are no richer than their parents? Aren't we always being told Baby Boomers had it easy?
Natalie Barr has shed more light on her recent skin cancer diagnosis.

The TV presenter, 56, said the shock news was 'a huge wake-up call' before admitting to a lack of skin protection in her youth.

'I grew up in the '70s and '80s and put baby oil on my skin to sunbathe on (Western Australia's) Scarborough Beach,' she told New Idea.

'We didn't think about skin cancer back then and only wore a hat if it matched our outfit,' she added.

The Sunrise presenter also opened up about the moment she learned of her terrifying diagnosis.

'When you hear the "C" word, the shock goes right through you... your mind goes off on a tangent,' she told the publication.

'I am going to double my efforts when it comes to protecting myself because being told you have cancer, even at the earliest stage, really just brings home what you could stand to lose if the diagnosis was worse  like it is for so many other Australians,' she admitted.

The Sunrise co-host told viewers last Tuesday the discovery occurred when she visited her dermatologist after discovering a tiny persistent 'pimple' on her nose.

Natalie Barr, 56, (pictured) has shed more light on her recent skin cancer diagnosis

Natalie's doctor used state-of-the-art AI and 'Spectra-Scope' devices to inspect the blemish and found a cancerous lesion.

'I had a pimple on my nose that wouldn't go away, plus I reckon it had been a couple of years since I had a skin check, so I went to the dermatologist,' she said.

'He said it was skin cancer - this tiny little dot on my nose. The good thing is I got it really early, and there's not much treatment.'

The TV presenter said the shock news was 'a huge wake-up call' before admitting to a lack of skin protection in the 80's

Natalie went on to explain the spot is so small she is able to have it removed with two non-invasive treatments.

The TV star's dermatologist used an AI device to detect worrisome changes in her skin when compared to a global database.

He then used a laser-induced plasma device called a Spectra-Scope to detect cancerous cells in the spot, before doing a biopsy to confirm it was skin cancer.

'I grew up in the 70s and 80s and put baby oil on my skin to sunbathe on (WAs) Scarborough Beach... we didnt think about skin cancer back then and only wore a hat if it matched our outfit,' she told New Idea

Co-host Matt 'Shirvo' Shirvington asked Natalie: 'When you saw that graph, and it indicated that it was skin cancer, how nervous were you?'

'You sort of go, "Oh my God." So many Aussies, millions and millions of us, have skin cancer, but it does make you think,' the breakfast show host responded.

The Channel Seven star said she hoped it served as a reminder to everyone to get their skin checked regularly.
Robert Irwin has given fans a rare insight into his personal life by revealing what his famous family are really like behind closed doors.

The conservationist, 20, admitted on the Mental As Anyone podcast, he leads an 'undramatic and boring' life with his mother Terri, sister Bindi, brother-in-law Chandler Powell and niece Grace Warrior.

'As public as it all is, I definitely still get to live a very nice and authentic existence,' he said.

'In terms of the family dynamic, we're the most undramatic boring people in the world, which is awesome. What we do is absolutely nuts.'

'You're jumping on crocs, you're saving wildlife, you're doing this, doing that. But in terms of the Irwin family dynamic, we're just like, proper, just vanilla ice cream, like we are so boring.'

Robert explained he has a 'very tight knit family group' and there is never a sense of 'drama'.

He added: 'There's nothing wrong with having a boring family dynamic. In fact, that's what you're shooting for.'

Robert's admission comes after he took to Instagram last week to share some thrilling news with his fans and followers.

Robert Irwin has given fans a rare insight into his personal life and revealed what his famous family are really like behind closed doors

The young conservationist posted an adrenaline-pumping photo of himself feeding a massive crocodile, accompanied by an exciting announcement.

In the photo, Robert is seen in mid-action, throwing a chunk of meat into the wide-open jaws of the reptile at Australia Zoo's famous Crocoseum.

'I'm joining my whole family here at Australia Zoo to feed our beautiful crocodiles in the Crocoseum these school holidays - from now until July 7!' he wrote, before adding, 'It's gonna be EPIC We'll see you here!!!'

The news generated a buzz among wildlife enthusiasts and fans of the Irwin family.

The conservationist, 20, admitted on the Mental As Anyone podcast, he leads an 'undramatic and boring' life with his mother Terri and sister Bindi

Robert previously had fans doing a double take after he shared a video of himself feeding a crocodile as he re-created an iconic photo of his father from 2004.

In the video, Robert entices the giant crocodile with food before jumping back as it lunges towards him, narrowly missing his arm.

The wildlife photographer was sporting his iconic Australia Zoo uniform and had a microphone on.

Fans couldn't believe how much the teenager looked like his late father Steve in the clip.

It comes after Robert previously had fans doing a double take after he shared a video of himself feeding a crocodile as he re-created an iconic photo of his father from 2004

'You looks so much like your dad right there!!! Nice croc feeding,' one commented on the video.

Another wrote: 'Man. I see your Dad all in this!'

Meanwhile, a third echoed: 'So much like your Dad. I was a big fan of his and his passion for these beautiful creatures.'

Steve died in September 2006 at the age of 44, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.
Tina Knowles is over the moon for her granddaughter Blue Ivy Carter.

The 70-year-old  who recently opened up about her daughter Beyonce being bullied as child  took to Instagram on Monday to congratulate the 12-year-old on winning the YoungStars Award at the 2024 BET Awards.

'Congratulations my Blue Blue! I marvel at your talent your beauty your intelligence but I am most proud of your kindness and down to earth attitude. Never attention seeking , just cool and chill as a cucumber all the time,' she wrote alongside a photo of Blue.

'Yesterday you played the piano for just me like someone who has been taking lessons for years. But you are self taught. One day I hope you will let me post it and brag like other grandmas get to do

'But for now you made me swear to not share. You play sports, play the piano ,dance like a pro in front of 80k people. Paint like a fine artist, draw so well, sing so beautifully. (Voice like an angel ),' she continued in the lengthy post.

Tina Knowles took to Instagram on Monday to congratulate her granddaughter Blue Ivy Carter on winning the YoungStars Award at the 2024 BET Awards; Tina seen in 2024

'Congratulations my Blue Blue! I marvel at your talent your beauty your intelligence but I am most proud of your kindness and down to earth attitude,' the 70-year-old penned; Blue Ivy seen in 2024

'Voiced an award winning, best selling children's book, You are also in a soon to come blockbuster movie Lion King. One of the youngest recipients of a Grammy Award. And you turned only 12 years old a few months ago,' the doting grandmother continued.

'And in spite of all the challenged adults who struggle with the green eyed monster disease, in true Carter/Knowles/Beyonce tradition it just motivates you to keep it moving. Congratulations BC you deserve everything you work hard to get. Thank you BET for this honor,' she finished.

The post was a hit with her 4.1million followers, racking up over 100.3k likes and 1.7k comments.

Fans rushed to pen their support for the daughter of Beyonce writing, 'Awesomeness! It the blood that runs thru her! Congratulations!'

Another chimed in saying, 'Theres something so poise and grounded when it comes to Blue. Congratulations. You are a very beautiful young lady.'

After her win on Sunday evening, Beyonce congratulated the youngster saying, 'Congratulations to Blue Ivy Carter on winning the 2024 BET YoungStars Award!'

Carter made history back in 2020 when, at just eight-years-old, won the HER Award for Brown Skin Girl.

The young award winner was born on January 7, 2012, to Beyonce and Jay-Z at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, New York.

After her win on Sunday evening, Beyonce congratulated the youngster saying, 'Congratulations to Blue Ivy Carter on winning the 2024 BET YoungStars Award!'; seen in 2024

The young award winner was born on January 7, 2012, to Beyonce and Jay-Z at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, New York; Blue Ivy and Jay-Z seen in 2023

Beyonce and Jay-Z started dating in 2001, just a year and a half after meeting; seen with Blue Ivy in 2018

After seven years together, the pair secretly tied the knot on April 4, 2008 in their New York City penthouse; Beyonce and Blue Ivy seen in 2016

Beyonce and Jay-Z started dating in 2001, just a year and a half after meeting.

After seven years together, the pair secretly tied the knot on April 4, 2008 in their New York City penthouse.

The famous couple also share seven-year-old fraternal twins, daughter Rumi and son Sir.
Anna McEvoy is feeling overjoyed after achieving a major milestone in her latest career venture.

The Love Island Australia season 2 winner, 32, co-founded the self-tanning brand Goldee Bee in 2023 with her husband Michael Staples.

The in-demand ultra-fine facial tanning mist is known for its natural ingredients and incredible results.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Anna celebrated the huge achievement of the product officially selling out online.

'OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT !!!!!!!! This is your sign to take that risk!!' she captioned her post.

'We are 2 people with a passion, who have never run a business before but who have worked it out along the way. We have put our whole hearts & our life savings into @goldee.bee because we knew just how AMAZING the product is!!!'

The former reality star continued by thanking her followers for their incredible support.

'The gratitude we have for our community can never be fully explained but THANK YOU!!! We promise to keep working hard to create products, that make you feel amazing & your most confident self!! Appreciate everyone who has ever supported our small business x10000,' Anna continued.

Anna McEvoy (pictured) is feeling overjoyed after her Goldee Bee self tanning mist officially sold out online

'P.S. we're doing everything possible to be back in stock ASAP.'

In the comments, Anna was inundated with messages of support from her family, friends and fans.

'Congrats on the success Anna, well-deserved,' one user wrote.

'Thank goodness I ordered two bottles yesterday I cannot live without it!' added another.

Goldee Bee stocks ultra-fine facial tanning mist made from 95 per cent naturally derived ingredients.

Anna walked down the aisle last month with husband Michael at a glamorous ceremony at Corfu, in Greece.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Anna celebrated the huge achievement

Founded in 2023, the in-demand ultra-fine facial tanning mist is known for its natural ingredients and incredible results

The couple opted to hold their ceremony at the upmarket Courti Estate, described as a 'Luxury Corfu Villa' with nine bedrooms for guests.

Anna looked gorgeous in a Alin Le' Kal wedding dress from the Melbourne couture designer.

The flowing gown included a long, floral embroidered train and boned corset bodice with dainty straps as well as a thigh high split.

The Love Island Australia season 2 winner co-founded self tanning brand with her husband Michael Staples, who she married last month. Both pictured

Anna walked down the aisle last month with Michael at a lavish ceremony in Corfu, Greece

She revealed she was getting married on the Greek island of Corfu early last year, after getting engaged to Michael in October 2022.

Their wedding venue is part of a fully renovated nine-bedroom estate, where the bride and groom's family and close friends are staying.

She rose to fame on season two of Love Island Australia, and won the show with Josh Packham but they split in December 2020.
Just weeks after the explosive end of Summer House Season 8 - which showed the deteriorating relationship between Carl Radke and Lindsay Hubbard - it's been revealed the exes will both be back for Season 9.

Production on Season 9 will kick off over the 4th of July holiday weekend in Water Mill, New York, with Variety confirming both Radke, 39, and Hubbard, 37, returning.

Both Radke and Hubbard are two of only three cast members to be a main cast member all nine seasons, along with Kyle Cooke, with the failed engagement not stopping that streak from continuing.

They first started dating in early 2022, with Radke proposing on camera during the show's seventh season later that year.

They were set to tie the knot in Mexico this past November, though it was reported extensively last August that the pair had split, and that the break-up was filmed during production on Season 8.

Just weeks after the explosive end of Summer House Season 8 - which showed the deteriorating relationship between Carl Radke and Lindsay Hubbard - it's been revealed the exes will both be back for Season 9.

Production on Season 9 will kick off over the 4th of July holiday weekend in Water Mill, New York, with Variety confirming both Radke, 39, and Hubbard, 37, returning

The couple's constant bickering was caught on camera, as Hubbard even questioned whether Radke was sober anymore - after he quit drinking in 2021.

Carl called out Lindsay's demeaning remarks towards him, adding that he thought she was 'rooting' for him to relapse and fall off the wagon.

Hubbard opened up about the relationship in a late May interview with Glamour where she said she felt like she dodged a, 'massive bullet.'

'I really truly feel thankful that the universe, or God, or whatever higher being you believe in, stepped in and saved me from a really long, hard, rough life ahead. And because of that, I learned a lot from a very traumatic experience, and I feel like I learned a lot about what Im not going to do in my future, especially in my romantic life,' she said.

She even admitted that she wasn't 'nervous' about filming with Carl, adding, 'Its almost a year ago that we broke up, and I did a lot of healing. Im still healing in different ways, of course, but Im just so happy to not be in that.'

She added she would be on Summer House, 'until I was 100,' adding, 'Despite all of the challenges that my ex and I had last summer, it was really, truly a fun summer.'

'I had a blast with the girls, and it makes me excited for this upcoming summer, too, because I still have a great relationship with all of them and the new guys, West and Jesse. I think it was a really good dynamic all around with this cast,' she said.

Radke admitted in a late May New York Times interview that he was, 'not proud of how I was handling the situation and how I was treating her.'

'I mean, I was clearly frustrated and, you know, so I wish I had really been more direct,' he added.

The couple's constant bickering was caught on camera, as Hubbard even questioned whether Radke was sober anymore - after he quit drinking in 2021

Hubbard opened up about the relationship in a late May interview with Glamour where she said she felt like she dodged a, 'massive bullet'

She even admitted that she wasn't 'nervous' about filming with Carl, adding, 'Its almost a year ago that we broke up, and I did a lot of healing. Im still healing in different ways, of course, but Im just so happy to not be in that'

Radke admitted in a late May New York Times interview that he was, 'not proud of how I was handling the situation and how I was treating her'

Radke continued that during that exchange, viewers, 'can clearly see [him] struggling to communicate [his] feelings.'

He said the fault falls on him even though viewers watched him point the finger at his ex-fiancee when they argued during season eight episodes.

'That's not on her,' he said ahead of the reunion. 'That's on me.

'I'm seeing myself blame and play victim, and I don't want to be either,' he continued.

During season eight episodes, viewers watched as a rift grow in their relationship before they announced they had called off their engagement in August 2023  just two and a half months before their wedding.
Beloved Aussie actor Rob Carlton is set to star in season three of HBO's The White Lotus.

The Silver Logie winner, 53, appeared on The Morning Show on Tuesday and confirmed he will be joining the hit series.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Coolidge, who played the ditzy heiress Tanya McQuoid in the first two series, is widely speculated to be making a return despite her character apparently being killed off in series two.

And The Morning Show co-host Kylie Gillies took the opportunity to ask Carlton whether the Emmy winning actress will indeed make an appearance.

'How was Jennifer Coolidge?' Gillies asked, getting straight to the point.

Carlton remained coy, unwilling to comment on the matter.

'That's something straight out of Law and Order,' he said referring to Gillies' slick question.

The actor claimed he had to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) after appearing in the TV megahit.

Beloved Aussie actor Rob Carlton, 53, (pictured) is set to star in season three of HBO's The White Lotus

'I'm under contractual obligation to not answer... they come out with NDA's [stating] "you can't say this, you can't say that",' he revealed.

The Paper Giants star even refused to be drawn into divulging where the series had been filmed, quipping, 'if it was Thailand, it was beautiful'.

Earlier this year it was confirmed that production on season three had begun in Southeast Asia when the show's official Instagram shared a snap of a slate being used on the first day of filming on February 13.

The photo was captioned: 'Unforgettable experiences are in the making at #TheWhiteLotus. We are eager to welcome new guests to our resort in Thailand.'

The Silver Logie winning star appeared on The Morning Show on Tuesday and confirmed he will be joining the hit series but the star of the show, Jennifer Coolidge, who played the ditzy heiress Tanya McQuoid in the first two series, is not expected to make a return as she was killed off in series two

Actors Natasha Rothwell, Jason Isaacs and Aimee Lou Wood will join Carlton.

Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of Arnie and Maria Shriver, is set to play a leading role alongside Thai actors Dom Hetrakul and Tayme Thapthimthong.

Hollywood actresses Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan and indie film actress Parker Posey will also appear.

However, fans haven't put it past White Lotus creator Mike White (third from left) to find a crazy plot twist to bring her back and Kylie Gillies took the opportunity to ask Carlton whether the Emmy winning actress will be making an appearance. Season 1 cast pictured

HBO also revealed Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, and The Last Kingdom's Arnas Fedaravicius have been cast for season three.

Last year, the show's creator teased that the highly-anticipated third season will be 'supersized,' but unfortunately filming was delayed due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.

The Four Seasons Resort on the island of Koh Samui is where season three will be set as the 45-acre hillside resort has been closed to guests since January 29 and been transformed into the new fictional White Lotus Hotel.
A pair of past and present MasterChef judges were spotted out and about in Melbourne last week.

Axed MasterChef Australia judge Matt Preston, who left the Network Ten cooking competition series in 2019, stepped out with current judge Sofia Levin in Melbourne.

The unlikely duo were seen visiting numerous food spots around the suburb of Malvern, sparking speculation the two TV favourites could be cooking up a collaboration.

English-Australian chef Preston kept it casual, donning a pair of denim jeans with a matching long sleeve shirt.

He accessorised the look with a pair of trainers before draping one of his signature scarves over his shoulders.

Meanwhile, Levin sported stylish brown overalls over a red sweater.

She completed the look with a vibrant headband and a pair of platform boots.

The Culinary travel journalist was also spotted carrying a black backpack and a Canon camera over her shoulders.

Former MasterChef Australia judge Matt Preston, who left the Network Ten cooking competition series in 2019, stepped out with current judge Sofia Levin in Melbourne last week

Levin joined the judging panel this year alongside Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

The foursome made their debut in season 16 after Andy was the only judge to return to the show from last year's panel.

Melissa Leong was dropped from the series and Jock Zonfrillo tragically died in April last year, just one day before season 15 was set to air.

Allen, Leong and Zonfrillo originally replaced Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris in 2020.

The unlikely duo were seen visiting numerous food spots around the suburb of Malvern, sparking speculation that the two TV favourites could be cooking up a collaboration

English-Australian chef Preston kept it casual, donning a pair of denim jeans with a matching long sleeve shirt

He accessorised the look with a pair of trainers before draping a scarf over his shoulders

Levin sported stylish brown overalls over a red sweater

She completed the look with a pair of platform boots and a vibrant headband

In July of 2019, Matt told The Daily Telegraph he learnt his contract had been terminated on Instagram after he couldn't agree on terms with the network.

'We were happy with what was being offered, in fact we had accepted Ten's financial offer to make the next series of MasterChef,' he told the publication.

'We just failed to agree on other terms,' he added.

The Culinary travel journalist was also spotted carrying a black backpack and a Canon camera over her shoulders

Levin joined the judging panel this year alongside Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli

The foursome made their debut in season 16 after Andy was the only judge to return to the show from last year's panel
Keith Lee responded with righteous indignation on Monday to a mix-up with Taraji P. Henson during the BET Awards in Los Angeles.

The 27-year-old TikTok food critic took to the social media platform owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance after Taraji, 53, got him confused with fellow TikTok personality Jordan Howlett during the awards ceremony held at the Peacock Theater, according to an article on Monday by ET.

Taraji during a comedy skit in which she 'gave people their flowers' spotted Jordan and called him a 'Method Man look-a-like'.

'Meth is married. Are you?,' Taraji asked while addressing Jordan.

'Mr. Keith Lee, I know what you're thinking right now, this is about a 10.9 outta 10?,' Taraji then asked while borrowing Keith's catchphrase.

Keith Lee, shown on Sunday at the BET Awards, responded with righteous indignation on Monday to a mix-up with host Taraji P. Henson during the awards ceremony in Los Angeles

Jordan quickly pointed toward Keith and his wife, Ronni, who were sitting next to him.

Taraji made a funny face to the camera while acknowledging her mistake.

'I got caught up in my own inner monologue, Im so sorry,' she told Keith while repeating the bit.

She also told Keith that he was 'fine' before moving on.

'Give him his flower,' Taraji said as an assistant handed a rose to Keith.

In a since-deleted TikTok post, Keith dramatically dropped the rose Taraji gave him on the ground.

'Our name will be known in every room it's supposed to be, when it's supposed to be, how it supposed, with no confusion. God is Amazing,' Keith posted along with a praying hands emoji and a 'thankful' hashtag.

Keith has a mixed martial arts background and began using TikTok in November 2020. He began posting restaurant reviews in 2021.

Taraji, 53, got TikTok food critic Keith confused with fellow TikTok personality Jordan Howlett during the awards ceremony held at the Peacock Theater

Taraji during a comedy skit in which she 'gave people their flowers' spotted Jordan and called him a 'Method Man look-a-like'

Jordan quickly pointed toward Keith and his wife, Ronni, who were sitting next to him

Taraji made a funny face to the camera while acknowledging her mistake

'I got caught up in my own inner monologue, Im so sorry,' she told Keith while making sure that he got a flower, which he accepted before later throwing on the floor

The food critic and his wife Ronni have two daughters.

Taraji returned as host for the 24th BET Awards and it was her third time hosting after previously hosting the awards ceremony in 2021 and 2022.

The BET Awards included a special tribute to Usher, 45, who was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Usher also won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, while SZA was named Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.
Kate Beckinsale took to Instagram on Monday with a throwback clip in which she mooned out the window of an apartment building in an attempt to inject some humor into what was a tough time.

The English actress, 50, referred to the June 2023 death of her beloved cat Clive and another unfortunate occurrence in the caption of her post, which intimated that the clip was more than a year old.

The Prisoner's Daughter star, who shares her 25-year-old daughter, Lily, with ex Michael Sheen, 55, said the clip was filmed 'the day after Clive died' and just prior to receiving 'some of the most horrific news ... that next morning.'

In the clip, Beckinsale was clad in a black T-shirt with black sweatpants and white sneakers with her light brown locks pulled into a ponytail as she mooned out of a window to release stress amid the tense time.

'Sometimes theres nothing for it but for your friend to show up as hard as possible and spend the evening making prank calls and mooning Harvey Nichols,' Beckinsale said, 'because sometimes when the bottom falls out of your world the only response after crying till youre sick is your own bottom.'

Kate Beckinsale, 50, took to Instagram on Monday with a throwback clip in which she mooned out the window of an apartment building in an attempt to inject some humor into what was a tough time

The Vacancy actress, who wore multiple gold earrings and necklaces in the post, tagged her friend, actress Nina Kate, 46, thanking her for comforting her in her time of need.

'Ill never forget you jumping into the fire with me,' Beckinsale said.

Beckinsale in June of 2023 informed her Instagram followers about the sad news of the death of her cat, who she owned for nearly two decades and frequently featured on her social media.

'Every single part of my house feels like he should be in it,' the Underworld star said at the time. 'If anyone is expecting to hear from me, you may not for a bit and I'm sorry. My heart is absolutely and totally broken.'

Beckinsale received kind responses from fellow celebs such as Anya Taylor-Joy and Seth Rogen at the time.

She would get a tattoo in memory of her late cat in August of 2023 and honored her late pet months later in a Thanksgiving day post last fall.

The Fool's Paradise actress said: 'Thank you for being with me through every single thing and loving me fiercely and unconditionally for almost 19 years...

'The gratitude I have for the privilege of loving and being loved by you is boundless . My god how I miss you, my Clive xxx.'

The English actress referred to the June 2023 death of her beloved cat Clive and another unfortunate occurrence in the caption, which intimated that the clip was more than a year old

The Prisoner's Daughter star said the clip was filmed 'the day after Clive died' and just prior to receiving 'some of the most horrific news ... that next morning'

In the clip, Beckinsale was clad in a black T-shirt with black sweatpants and white sneakers with her light brown locks pulled into a ponytail as she mooned out of a window to release stress amid the tense time

Beckinsale said, 'Sometimes theres nothing for it but for your friend to show up as hard as possible and spend the evening making prank calls and mooning Harvey Nichols'

The British department store chain Harvey Nichols was pictured in the clip

The actress said that 'sometimes when the bottom falls out of your world the only response after crying till youre sick is your own bottom'

Beckinsale would get a tattoo in memory of her late cat in August of 2023

Beckinsale received a mixed bag of reactions to the clip, with some users critical of her actions

Others appreciated the way in which she battled through the difficult time with a sense of humor

Beckinsale received a mixed bag of reactions to the clip, with some users critical of her actions, while others appreciated the way in which she battled through the difficult time with a sense of humor.

'I once admired you for your grace and sophistication, but I now see I was mistaken,' one user wrote, while another said, 'You're too classy for this.'

One user said, 'In the saddest of moments, I've realized humor and great friends are gods blessings,' while another said, 'Love how you navigate through trauma with humor, no matter how ridiculous.'

A user said to Beckinsale's critics, 'Did anyone read the caption? She was going thru a lot. Laughter is what she needed. Go on Kate.'
One Tree Hill alum Shantel VanSanten and Hallmark star Victor Webster's finalized divorce includes a pet custody arrangement with eye-watering late fees.

The former couple  who split after just 20 months of marriage and a whopping three wedding ceremonies  reached a settlement in mediation that included a visitation plan for their dog Nova, per TMZ.

Court documents revealed Victor will have custody of Nova, but Shantel will enjoy extended visitation periods with the four-legged friend.

However, Shantel is obligated to keep Victor informed about Nova's whereabouts, ensuring regular updates and communication regarding their pet's well-being.

If Shantel fails to return Nova for a period exceeding three weeks, she will be required to pay her ex $10,000 for each additional day the dog is not returned.

One Tree Hill alum Shantel VanSanten and Hallmark star Victor Webster's finalized divorce includes a pet custody arrangement with eye-watering late fees; seen in March 2018

The former couple  who split after just 20 months of marriage and a whopping three wedding ceremonies  reached a settlement in mediation that included a visitation plan for their dog Nova

The pet custody arrangement will prove useful, given that both exes regularly share photos of their dog, Nova, on their individual Instagram accounts, and have even established a dedicated profile for their beloved pooch.

Shantel and Victor wed in 2022 with three ceremonies and split in January of this year.

The actors met on set of 2017's TV film Love Blossoms and were just friends until their relationship took a romantic turn the following year.

The Canadian actor made the filing in January 2024 as the documents cited their date of separation as the 10th.

The do not have any children together and the reason for their separation was 'irreconcilable differences.'

The couple tied the knot in three separate ceremonies back in late 2021 which were highlighted by Brides at the time.

According to the publication, Victor had proposed on top of a mountain in February 2021 when they began planning two wedding ceremonies before circumstances caused them to add a third.

Their first ceremony took place in August of that year as they enjoyed an intimate courthouse wedding on the anniversary date of Shantel's grandparents after her grandfather passed away.

Court documents revealed Victor will have custody of Nova, but Shantel will enjoy extended visitation periods with the four-legged friend

However, Shantel is obligated to keep Victor informed about Nova's whereabouts, ensuring regular updates and communication regarding their pet's well-being

If Shantel fails to return Nova for a period exceeding three weeks, she will be required to pay her ex $10,000 for each additional day the dog is not returned; pictured 2019

The pet custody arrangement will prove useful, given that both exes regularly share photos of their dog, Nova, on their individual Instagram accounts, and have even established a dedicated profile for their beloved pooch

She explained to Brides: 'When my grandfather unexpectedly passed away on Fathers Day, the heartbreak was unbearable; I had been planning on him walking me down the aisle in Minnesota.

'In the midst of my grief, I looked at Victor and said I wanted to do a spontaneous civil ceremony on my grandparents wedding date, August 9.

'The idea of my grandparents being reunited and watching over our ceremony from above gave me some peace.

'They were married for 63 years had such a special, deep love. They were the example to me of how love is a choice and takes work. It wasnt perfect, but their love was always pure'

As if that already wasn't enough the couple were joined by 48 friends and family for a ceremony in wine country Napa, California.

The third gathering in Shantel's hometown of Luverne, Minnesota.

The theme of that wedding was vintage and prairie-inspired as she explained: 'We wanted to blend into the nature around Blue Mounds Park.

'The leaves on the trees were vibrant fall colors, so I wanted to play with those tones and let nature inspire the colors: dusty rose, mauve, blush, burgundy, beige, tan, caramel, and toffee.'

The duo met on set of 2017 TV film Love Blossoms and were just friends until their relationship took a romantic turn the following year

Shantel is best known for portraying Quinn James on seasons seven through nine of One Tree Hill from 2009 to 2012

The duo met on set of 2017 TV film Love Blossoms and were just friends until their relationship took a romantic turn the following year.

Shantel is best known for portraying Quinn James on seasons seven through nine of One Tree Hill from 2009 to 2012.

She has also starred on television series including Shooter, The Boys, The Flash and For All Mankind and films including The Final Destination, You And I, Remembrance, and most recently American Murderer.

Victor has nearly 90 credits to his name including TV series Workin' Moms and films The Scorpion King 4: Quest For Power, Surrogate, and Bringing Down The House.
Jennie Garth shared a positive update on her podcast I Choose Me, revealing she's now 'officially friends' once again with her ex Peter Facinelli.

The 52-year-old Garth and 50-year-old Facinelli met on the set of their 1995 movie An Unfinished Affair and tied the knot in January 2001.

They share three daughters together though the relationship didn't last, with Facinelli filing for divorce in March 2012, which was finalized in June 2013.

Back in late May, Garth had Facinelli on her podcast for an emotional reunion where they opened up about their lives together and their split.

During the new episode of I Choose Me that debuted on Monday, Garth revealed that Facinelli has since unblocked her from Instagram and they are friends once again.

Jennie Garth shared a positive update on her podcast I Choose Me, revealing she's now 'officially friends' once again with her ex Peter Facinelli

The 52-year-old Garth and 50-year-old Facinelli met on the set of their 1995 movie An Unfinished Affair and tied the knot in January 2001

'I want to share with you guys something really quickly. The good that has come from this pod  but specifically the episode with my ex Peter. Guys, we are officially friends now,' Garth admitted.

'He even unblocked me from Instagram. Ive been blocked on his socials for so long that I stopped caring years ago. But Im unblocked now. Thats big news,' Garth added.

She added that he has recently helped her out on a few occasions including using his guest room for fittings and borrowing a cooler.

Garth also said that Facinelli, 'invited me to his son Jacks christening,' referring to the three-year-old son the actor shares with his fiance Lily Anne Harrison.

The reconciliation is even carrying over to the 4th of July holiday, where the whole family is going to be on a boat together.

'And this week, get ready for it, were all gonna be going on a boat together with the whole family,' Garth gushed.

She joked, 'Whether we push one another overboard, that is still TBD but this is the power of the pod people.'

Garth and Facinelli share Luca Bella Facinelli, turning 27 on June 29; Lola Ray Facinelli, 21; and Fiona Eve Facinelli, 17

'I want to share with you guys something really quickly. The good that has come from this pod  but specifically the episode with my ex Peter. Guys, we are officially friends now,' Garth admitted.

'He even unblocked me from Instagram. Ive been blocked on his socials for so long that I stopped caring years ago. But Im unblocked now. Thats big news,' Garth added

'Like, I loved you, and we had this beautiful family, from the outside but I just hadn't developed who I was. I don't even know how you could love me because I didn't know me,' he admitted

Garth and Facinelli share Luca Bella Facinelli, turning 27 on June 29; Lola Ray Facinelli, 21; and Fiona Eve Facinelli, 17

'We haven't really spoken a lot about life about stuff in years, so I honestly don't know you  and I don't think you know me,' the 50-year-old Twilight alum said on Tuesday's episode of her iHeartRadio podcast I Choose Me.

'And yet, it's like when you go home and you're with your mom or your dad or, you know, your sisters and they just treat you like you're 16, 17, 18, like, you know the time they saw you last when you were younger, and so there's this feeling of like, "Oh, I know her because we were together for so long, but you've grown into this mature, wonderful adult woman and I've grown." When we look at each other, we still look at each other like the 21- [and] 22-year-old version of each other,' he added.

Facinelli also said on the podcast, 'I felt a lot of it was I was in this marriage and it felt to me a little bit like an arranged marriage.'

'Like, I loved you, and we had this beautiful family, from the outside but I just hadn't developed who I was. I don't even know how you could love me because I didn't know me,' he admitted.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley turned heads in a semi-sheer jumpsuit as she posed for sizzling snaps during a trip to Sardinia on Monday.

The supermodel, 37, looked sensational in the black Dolce & Gabbana number which boasted a stunning strapless corset top as she enjoyed a break on the picturesque Italian island.

The mother-of-two added a dramatic netted train which draped off her arms as she worked her magic in front of the camera on a balcony overlooking the ocean.

Rosie opted for an eye catching black and gold chunky cross necklace and a pair of matching drop crucifix earrings.

The Transformers star showed off her amazing figure in the outfit as she posed on an outdoor staircase ahead of an event.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley turned heads in a semi-sheer jumpsuit as she posed for sizzling snaps during a trip to Sardinia on Monday

The supermodel, 37, looked sensational in the black Dolce & Gabbana number which boasted a stunning strapless corset top as she enjoyed a break on the picturesque Italian island

The mother-of-two added a dramatic netted train which draped off her arms as she worked her magic in front of the camera on a balcony overlooking the ocean

She simply penned: 'Buonasera Sardinia @dolcegabbana', which translates to 'goodnight Sardinia' in English.

Rosie set pulses racing as she posed for a stunning lingerie photoshoot promoting her Marks and Spencer collection last month.

The model showcased her jaw-dropping figure as she slipped into a navy sheer two-piece with a floral print.

The Transformers star styled her blonde locks into loose curls as she struck a sultry pose for the camera.

Rosie also posted rare snaps of her family to social media which she labelled 'country bumpkins' after they escaped the city for a lavish getaway.

The actress and her action star fiance Jason Statham, 56, were every inch the doting parents as they enjoyed picnics and outdoor activities with son Jack, six, and daughter Isabella, two.

The couple first began dating in 2009 and have been engaged since 2016.

The pair have yet to get married, but revealed their engagement when Rosie flashed her impressive diamond ring at the 2016 Golden Globes.

Rosie opted for an eye catching black and gold chunky cross necklace and a pair of matching drop crucifix earrings

Styling her long blonde tresses in a neat up do, Rosie wore a glamorous palette of makeup for the night
This popular television presenter is an accomplished journalist of almost ten years and is currently the co-host of Today Extra with David Campbell.

The reporter, 39, was previously a co-host of Today before she moved on to Nine News and then A Current Affair.

She began her media career in 2005 with Nine in Brisbane as a script assistant in the newsroom, where she stayed for three years.

After a stint filing lifestyle stories on the Extra program, the mother-of-two landed a gig as a weekend weather presenter on Nine News Queensland in 2011.

The following year, she moved to Sydney to join Today as a reporter and worked her way up the ladder from there.

In 2014, she met her now husband Peter Stefanovic, the brother of Today host Karl Stefanovic, and the pair now share two sons - Henry, three, and Oscar, four.

Do you know who this beloved TV presenter is?

It's Sylvia Jeffreys!

This popular television presenter is an accomplished journalist of almost ten years and is currently the co-host of Today Extra with David Campbell - do you know who she is?

The Today Extra star shared a throwback photo of her school years in an article she penned for 9Honey on Tuesday.

In the black and white snap, a teenage Sylvia sported a huge smile as she donned her uniform hat from Brisbane State High School.

Sylvia shared the photo in a column where she wrote a review of the movie Inside Out 2 and likened it to her own feelings of anxiety as a young girl.

It's Sylvia Jeffreys! The reporter, 39, was previously a co-host of Today before she moved on to Nine News and then A Current Affair. Pictured with husband Peter Stefanovic and their two sons Henry and Oscar

She said she often 'grappled with some of the classic internal trash talk that runs through young, insecure minds' growing up.

'On the verge of entering grade 11, I wrote about the angst of matching board shorts to deck shoes, and my deeply held fear of not being selected for a representative netball team,' she penned.

'As the youngest of three siblings and nine cousins, my hand-me-down wardrobe did little to boost my confidence, while the braces I wore for almost two years placed me firmly in the friend zone with boys.

'They are necessary and superficial things that you can fully appreciate as an adult but lament as an ungrateful, self-absorbed kid.'
Dr Chris Brown shared some unlikely advice to pet owners on Tuesday as he called for Aussies with pooches to open bank accounts for their fur babies.

The celebrity veterinarian, 45, encouraged people who own animals to eschew buying pet insurance, and put that money into a separate bank account instead.

He explained it was a great tactic to budget money and save for vet visits and food bills, reported The Daily Telegraph.

'It comes down to trying to ration your money in the best possible way,' the Dream Home host told the publication.

'It is about staying on top of their health so smaller things don't become bigger because that often leads to that impossible decision people have to make, which is a reality  the pet or the finances  and you never want to see people in that situation.'

He went on to say Australia has very poor options for pet insurance 'because so many things are excluded', and advised pet owners to put the money they would have spent on a policy into a separate bank account instead.

But pet bank accounts aren't the only target the former I'm A Celebrity host has his eye on, as the hunky TV personality has also continued to back demands for pet care subsidies, including an animal Medicare.

Chris said his third Drooly Important Pet Census, which he is launching on Wednesday, will help provide insights into how the government can better help with the rising cost of owning a pet.

Dr Chris Brown, 45, (pictured) shared some unlikely advice to pet owners on Tuesday as he called for Aussies with pooches to open bank accounts for their fur babies

'That is where the pet census is going to be really interesting because if we can really identify the significant role that pets play in our everyday lives, and the benefit that they have for our communities, then why shouldn't we look at subsidising pet care if it is having such a positive effect on our healthcare system, and saving us money in the long run.' he explained.

Chris developed his own 'pet census' in 2016 when he discovered the compulsory Census of Population and Housing, which Australians must fill in every five years, had removed all questions relating to pets in the household.

Refusing to take part in the survey, Chris instead created his own version which was dedicated to gathering date about Aussie pet ownership.

The celebrity veterinarian encouraged people who own animals to eschew buying pet insurance, and put that money into a separate bank account instead

'I didnt fill out the Census. I havent touched it,' he told Nova's Fitzy and Wippa at the time.

'I heard rumours that some members of the family were ignored by the Census  the hairiest members of the family.

'Unlike other years, there is not a single question about whether you have pets and the type of pets you have. This year it has been ignored.'
Sam Taylor-Johnson has shared a rare loved-up snap with her actor husband Aaron after she hit out at the 'fascination' people have with their age-gap romance.

The director, 57, who married her spouse in 2012 after they met on the set of Nowhere Boy three years earlier, is 23 years older than the actor, 34.

Taking to her Instagram Story on Monday, Sam wrapped her arms around her husband as the pair posed for a snap at Glastonbury Festival.

She sported a khaki Marfa Stance padded jacket for the picture, which had a fluffy collar drawstring sleeves and styled her blonde hair in pigtails.

Meanwhile Aaron showed off his full beard as he beamed for the snap and sported a denim jacket with a white t-shirt underneath.

Sam Taylor-Johnson has shared a rare loved-up snap with her actor husband Aaron on Instagram on Monday, after she hit out at the 'fascination' people have with their age-gap romance

Sam said in May that she can't believe the 'fascination' people have had with her and Aaron's 23-year age gap.

The couple have a fiercely private relationship and Sam has admitted people's initial interest in the couples relationship was 'intense' because 'people want to understand things when they can't'.

She revealed that the interest has now 'gone away a little bit' as the couple have been together for 14 years.

Discussing her relationship on BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life, she said: 'I guess that interest was more when we got together, which was now 14 years  at the beginning, was quite intense.

'And that sort of fascination, because he's younger than me, which you know, we couldn't really fathom the fascination. But I guess it's sort of gone away a little bit.

'Mostly when I'm doing press and things like this it sort of resurges a little bit. But yeah, I guess people want to understand things when they can't.

'They want to pick up art when they can't fathom what a certain love story that doesn't fit in a box is.'

Earlier this month, Sam was asked if the couple's age gap ever shows in terms of different interests or reference points.

The director, 57, who married her spouse in 2012 after they met on the set of Nowhere Boy three years earlier, is 23 years older than the actor, 34 (Pictured in 2010)

Sam said she can't believe the 'fascination' people have had with her and her husband Aaron's age gap

She revealed that the interest has now 'gone away a little bit' after the couple have now been together for 14 years (Pictured with daughters Wylda, 13, and Romy, 12, in 2009)

The director told The Guardian's Saturday magazine: 'No, it never does. I mean, it's coming up now because you're asking.

'And it comes up on the outside perspective of people who don't know us, because I guess people will always.

'We're a bit of an anomaly, but it's that thing: after 14 years you just think, surely by now it doesn't really matter?'

Back To Black filmmaker Sam is a mother to Angelica, 26, and Jessie, 17, who she shares with ex-husband Jay Jopling. She shares Wylda, 13, and Romy, 12, with Aaron.

Sam went on to reveal she never hesitated about getting involved with a much younger man.

The couple have a fiercely private relationship and Sam has admitted people's initial interest in the couples relationship was 'intense' because 'people want to understand things when they can't'

She said: 'If I had been cynical for a second, it wouldn't have worked. If I had questioned anything, it would never have worked.

'I'm quite instinctual. I've gone feet first into everything in my life. I'm always, "This seems amazing", and I jump straight in and go through the experience, whether good or bad.

'It's definitely a "F*** it, let's go with it" approach. And I'm a great believer that the heart overrides everything. Love conquers all.'
Gemma Collins has admitted she is worried her bladder will leak on her wedding day.

The former TOWIE star, 43, is engaged to Rami Hawash for the third time after the businessman proposed during their idyllic Maldives getaway back in February.

And while Gemma is excited to tie the knot, she spoke openly about her struggles with incontinence and plans for the big day in an interview with New Magazine.

She said: 'We need to normalise things like bladder leaks, I'm really struggling with it at the moment and I know others are too.

'If I get married, I'll get married in the woods. I want it to be earthy. And I'll be putting on a liner in my knickers on my wedding day because there's going to lots of laughing and tears and I certainly don't want to be leaking then.'

Gemma Collins has admitted she is worried her bladder will leak on her wedding day

The former TOWIE star, 43, is engaged to Rami Hawash for the third time after the businessman proposed during their idyllic Maldives getaway back in February

Gemma explained her mother Joan, 80, suffers from it too and has become so 'depressed', she won't leave the house over the fear her bladder will leak.

'We can't go and have a family trip because everything is being run around my mum's bladder leaks - it's really stressful and upsetting,' she said.

The television personality said it is one of her goals to get her mother 'out and about' again.

Last week, Gemma opened up about her struggle with the common ailment on This Morning.

Gemma admitted she thought that she was pregnant and her 'waters had broken' after struggling with incontinence while jumping on a trampoline.

The former TOWIE star admitted she 'broke down in tears' and feared she was 'going to die' after going to the bathroom and 'seeing water' following an incontinence leak, and added that her pelvic floor exercises have been 'crucial' in her recovery.

While urinary incontinence usually affects women following childbirth, it can be caused by other pressures such as weight gain and constipation.

Gemma told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary she first realised she had incontinence while visiting a trampoline park with her nephew Haydn and stepson Tristan, whose father is her fiance Rami.

And while Gemma is excited to tie the knot, she spoke openly about her struggles with incontinence

She said: 'I start jumping. All of a sudden the floodgates open. I'm in mid-air and I'm like, am I dying?'

'I don't want to ruin the kids' day. I'm soaking wet and this is just shocking. So, I went to the loo and it was water. And then I was just like, ''I'm going to die.I need an operation. Something's happened to me''.

'I'm jumping mid-air, thinking ''am I'm pregnant and the water's breaking?''. I'm so embarrassed. I've not even had kids yet.'

'So, I was beside myself. I remember going home. My fiance wanted to go for dinner that night. I was just feeling so low. I went into the bathroom. I started crying. I was like, my life's over. It was just so bad.'

'Then, obviously, I did my research and 1 in 55% of women in the UK are experiencing this. All shapes, all sizes, all ages. Opener to me as well. It's affecting so many women's confidence.

'And like me, if I'm going on holiday, I want to do what the kids are doing. I want to go on the jet ski and, you know, be that fun person that I am.

'But living with that fear that people have on a daily basis really affected my confidence.'

Despite fearing she would need surgery to treat the problem, Gemma confirmed that she's significantly reduced her incontinence leaks with regular pelvic floor exercises.

Last week, Gemma opened up about her struggle with the common ailment on This Morning

Despite fearing she would need surgery to treat the problem, Gemma said on Friday's This Morning that she's significantly reduced her incontinence with regular pelvic floor exercises

She said: 'I was in Benidorm two days ago. I was laughing my head off. A little bit come out, but nothing like what it would normally do'

'I have almost reversed my incontinence by 95% by doing my pelvic floors.

'I was in Benidorm two days ago. I was laughing my head off. A little bit come out, but nothing like what it would normally do.'

Urinary incontinence is common, affecting an estimated seven million women in the UK, although accurate statistics are hard to come by because so many women are hesitant about talking about their problem.

It can occur at any time, although it becomes more common with age.

'What Gemma experiences is something called stress incontinence, triggered by a weakening of the pelvic floor beneath her bladder, bowels and womb which causes urine to leak out,' Myra Robson, a pelvic health physiotherapist at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, previously told MailOnline in 2023.

This typically occurs as a result of childbirth. The weight of carrying a baby weakens the pelvic floor, the hammock-like band of muscle that runs from the pelvic bone at the front to the tail bone at the back and which helps keep the entrance to the bladder firmly shut. When under pressure  for example, during a coughing fit  urine can leak.

Yet while it's a common problem for mothers, it can also affect those like Gemma who haven't had children.

Chronic constipation, severe coughing, a significant increase in weight over a sustained period, and lifting heavy weights in the gym, can also trigger it, explains Myra Robson.

These all cause pressure in the abdomen, in turn putting pressure on the bladder and, 'unless the pelvic floor is giving the requisite support', it can lead to leaks, adds Gill Davey, a continence nurse for Bladder Health UK.

'Gemma's experience is very usual,' she says. 'The problem can be exacerbated with age and particularly after the menopause when the body is no longer naturally producing the oestrogen that helps strengthen the pelvic floor, which is wrapped around the urethra [the tube that exits the bladder] and has an opening and closing mechanism known as the sphincter.

'When the plumpness of the pelvic floor is weakened from lack of oestrogen, it [the sphincter] won't always close efficiently.'

The cause in Gemma's case is not clear.

In 2015, then aged 34, she underwent a well-publicised non-surgical procedure to rejuvenate her labia  'a designer vagina'  but she's been assured that, as a cosmetic treatment, it had no effect on her pelvic floor.
Do you know more? Email tips@dailymail.com

Olivia Molly Rogers went public with her new man on Saturday, as the pair attended the premiere of Beauty and the Beast in Melbourne.

And now some light has been shed on who the hunk, who Olivia has not named, really is.

Instagram account Aussie Influencer Opinions posted to Instagram Stories on Tuesday, claiming that the handsome fella is called Hugo.

'He's a consultant in Melbourne at a prestigious firm that only recruits the smartest cookies,' they claimed.

The former Miss Universe Australia had her handsome beau on her arm as she walked the red carpet at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday night.

The beauty queen could not wipe the smile off her face as she cuddled up to the handsome man.

The 32-year-old looked gorgeous in a bright mini dress with a plunging neckline, referencing the musical's lead character, Belle, who is known for wearing a yellow gown in the Disney adaption.

Olivia's fella looked dapper in a striped blazer over a dark shirt, black trousers and as leather boots.

Olivia Molly Rogers went public with her new man on Saturday, as the pair attended the premiere of Beauty and the Beast in Melbourne, and now some light has been shed on his identity. Both pictured

Earlier this month, Olivia debuted her man on Instagram, sharing a gallery of photos of her picturesque getaway to Perth.

One photo shows Olivia in a joyful embrace with the man, sparking excitement and speculation among her followers.

The couple's relationship debut was subtly announced through a candid photo of them together, which Rogers adorned with love hearts and affectionate emojis.

The caption of her post, 'Perth ft. pasta, puppies and some of my favourite people,' accompanied by a red heart, which hinted at the romantic nature of their trip.

The Melbourne-based man is said to have been quietly dating Rogers for several months, according to The Herald Sun.

Instagram account Aussie Influencer Opinions posted to Instagram Stories on Tuesday, claiming that the handsome fella is called Hugo. 'He's a consultant in Melbourne at a prestigious firm that only recruits the smartest cookies,' they claimed

Earlier this month, Olivia debuted her man on Instagram, sharing a gallery of photos of her picturesque getaway to Perth

This new relationship comes after Rogers' public split last year from model Morgan Waterhouse, with whom she had a seven-month romance.

Since then, Rogers has been relatively private about her personal life, choosing not to comment on her relationships and avoiding public appearances with her partners.

Her hunky model ex has since sparked romance rumours with Married At First Sight bride Sara Mesa.

Morgan was seen getting very friendly with the Sydney-based nutritionist as they both attended the Bec and Bridge show at Australian Fashion Week in May.

Morgan confirmed his split with former Olivia back in November while attending Melbourne Cup, with the pair attending different parties. The couple split after just seven months together.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Olivia Molly Rogers for comment.
Ella Rae Wise and Dan Edgar shared a steamy kiss in the sea during a very PDA-filled trip in Cyprus on Tuesday.

The TOWIE stars, who announced their split in May, appear to be getting their romance back on track as they shared multiple smooches.

Ella previously revealed Dan had cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend Hannah Rally while she was on holiday in Dubai.

Dan, 34, and Ella, 24, are in Cyprus alongside their ITV co-stars filming series 34 of the reality TV series.

The couple couldn't take their hands off each other as they larked around in the ocean.

Ella Rae Wise, 24, and Dan Edgar, 34, shared a steamy kiss in the sea during a very PDA-filled trip in Cyprus on Tuesday

The TOWIE stars, who announced their split in May, appear to be getting their romance back on track as they shared multiple smooches

MailOnline have contacted Ella and Dan's representatives for a comment.

Just two months since Ella confirmed their split, the appeared to forget all about her cheating claims.

At the time, Essex beauty Ella told her followers she is 'happily single' during a Q&A on her Stories and also took a savage swipe at her love rival Amber Turner and her co-stars.

One fan asked: 'Are you single?'

She replied: 'Yes and happily single. Focusing on myself and my brand'.

While another follower asked: 'Thoughts on some of the other TOWIE girls comments on you?'

Ella hit back and replied: 'All I will say is they think they're bl**dy perfect. The sun doesn't shine out of their a**** trust me.'

Dan and Ella's short-lived romance, only took off on a recent TOWIE cast trip to Bali as they were seen packing on the PDA while filming series 33.

The pair were reportedly open to continuing their romance over the summer as they discussed their future while filming their final scenes for the latest series.

Ella previously revealed Dan had cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend Hannah Rally while she was on holiday in Dubai

Dan and Ella are in Cyprus alongside their ITV co-stars filming series 34 of the reality TV series

The couple couldn't take their hands off each other as they larked around in the ocean

Ella wrapped her arms around the muscular hunk as they shared a passionate kiss

Just two months since Ella confirmed their split, the appeared to forget all about her cheating claims

At the time, Essex beauty Ella told her followers she is 'happily single' during a Q&A on her Stories and also took a savage swipe at her love rival Amber Turner and her co-stars

One fan asked: 'Are you single?' She replied: 'Yes and happily single. Focusing on myself and my brand'

Ella look stunning as she slipped into a gorgeous yellow lace bikini

The lovebirds soaked up the sun and enjoyed some downtime together to rekindle their romance

At one point Ella floated in the sea while Dan gazed into her eyes

The couple looked happier than ever on their romantic holiday

Dan and Ella's short-lived romance, only took off on a recent TOWIE cast trip to Bali as they were seen packing on the PDA while filming series 33

The romance had followed Dan's messy and emotional split from Amber Turner (pictured), who was also on the trip. He later got together with Hannah

The romance had followed Dan's messy and emotional split from Amber Turner, who was also on the trip. He later got together with Hannah.

A source has since told The Sun: 'Dan was dating Hannah for around nine months, they got together shortly after he split from Amber.

'Things were going really well and he even told her he loved her  but he said he wasn't ready for anything serious. Next thing he is in Bali for Towie filming and is getting with Ella.

'Hannah was obviously really shocked, but she just didn't want the drama to decide to wash her hands of him. But they ended up getting together again when Ella was out of town in Dubai.'

After returning to the UK, Ella was reportedly 'furious' with Dan's behaviour, the source added: 'Ella ended up finding out what happened between Dan and Hannah and was furious.

'She confronted Hannah about it and called her embarrassing as well as some other choice words. It got pretty nasty but was really was the last straw for Hannah. Ella seems to have forgiven him for now.'
Rock Ross has spoken out after he was attacked at a Canadian music festival by furious Drake fans for playing a Kendrick Lamar 'diss track' aimed at the rapper.

Ross, 48, whose real name is William Roberts, played a set at the Ignite Music Festival in Vancouver on Sunday; ending his set with Kenrick's chart-topping song against Drake, Not Like Us, a decision that resulted in fury from several concert goers.

Now, Ross has broken his silence for the first time since the shocking incident by sharing a post on his Instagram account, in which he appeared to entirely ignore the furor altogether, simply stating that he had 'fun' during his trip.

'Vancouver it was fun, till next time,' the rapper wrote while posing in front of a black private jet emblazoned with his name.

Ross's seemingly casual post about his time in Canada gave away little about the chaos that unfolded during the end of his set.

Rock Ross has spoken out after a rap battle got physical at a Vancouver music festival over the weekend

As the rapper left the stage, with the song still playing. While he was leaving, he was confronted by a group of Drake fans who were unhappy with his closing song choice.

Footage of the attack shared on social media shows a man who appears to be Ross in a heated argument with a male festival attendee.

The man later throws a punch in Ross' direction, prompting a brawl.

The scuffle didn't appear to have impacted Ross' time in Canada, with the rapper posting an Instagram story on Monday in front of his Rick Ross branded private jet, writing: 'Vancouver, it was fun, till next time.'

In the series of photos, he is also seen sipping on champagne and eating lunch with his entourage.

Drake, 37, appeared to have taken aim at Ross earlier in the year in his track Push Ups. The track included the lyrics, 'I might take your latest girl and cuff her like Ricky / Cant believe hes jumping in, this n---- turning 50 / Every song that made it on the chart he got from Drizzy.'

Ross clapped back with his song Champagne Moments, suggesting Drake had a nose job.

Canadian star Drake and American rapper Kendrick Lamar have been embroiled in a furious rivalry for years.

Lamar, 37, made some serious accusations on his track Not Like Us, released earlierin May, 2024.

In the song, the Compton-born rapper appears to accuse Drake of being a pedophile, along with another member of his crew.

It was released on YouTube with what appeared to be a graphic of Drake's home covered with red sex offender symbols.

In the series of photos, he is also seen sipping on champagne and eating lunch with his crew

This is the moment Rick Ross was attacked by Drake fans after he played Kendrick Lamar's diss track against the Canadian rapper

Drake, 37, appeared to have taken aim at Ross earlier in the year in his track Push Ups

As the 48-year-old rapper left the stage, with the song still playing. While he was leaving, he was confronted by a group of Drake fans who were unhappy with his closing song choice

Drake responded in May, releasing The Heart Part 6, rapping: 'Drake is not a name that you gon see on no sex offender list.

Lamar took aim at the Canadian rapper again in June, hosting the star-studded show, The Pop Out - Ken & Friends at Los Angeles' Kia Forum.

He initially took to the stage opening with his track Euphoria, which is another diss-track aimed at Drake - and it included new lyrics.

According to the BBC, the song included a new line, with the hitmaker rapping: 'Give me Tupac's ring back and I might give you a little respect.'

The new addition seems to reference how Drake purchased the late Tupac Shakur's crown ring for more than $1 million in July 2023, as an anonymous bidder.

While Ross was fighting against Drake's fans, the rapper was celebrating Canada Day, posting a series of videos and photos to his Instagram stories.

He was seen in one clip singing along to a song before looking at the camera and saying 'happy Canada Day.'

In another clip, a friend is seen squeezing a slice of lemon into a drink before clinking his glass with presumably Drake, who was holding the camera and taking a sip, putting a emoji of a Canadian flag and maple leaf on it.

The rapper concluded the day with fireworks, posting a video of the sky show lighting up as he enjoys it with friends.

The Dailymail.com has contacted Ignite Music Festival, Rick Ross and Drake's reps for comment.
Waleed Aly left his co-stars on The Project speechless on Tuesday evening following a special report on 'smell training'.

Smell training is a form of therapy that involves training a patient's nose through regular exposure to a range of odours in order to improve their ability to correctly identify and differentiate between scents.

It's being used to help decrease the symptoms of dementia in those suffering with the disease.

'The ability for scents to trigger memories has long been proven,' noted co-host Sarah Harris in a special investigation.

The TV veteran went on to explain that a declining sense of smell could be indicative of mental deterioration, and training the nose with scents like citrus, coffee and more could slow down the process.

Following the report, Aly stunned the show's panel with the results of a study.

'What you really should be smelling are farts. Im not making this up!' he said.

'They did experiments in mice and found that smelling farts might help protect the braincells against ageing, as well as kidney disease and dementia,'

Waleed Aly left his co-stars on The Project speechless on Tuesday evening following a special report on 'smell training'. Pictured with co-star Sarah Harris

Sarah Harris appeared appalled by the claim, before gleefully announcing, 'Dutch ovens for dementia!'

It comes after Harris told her co-hosts that she once dropped her mic down the loo seconds before she was due live on air.

'I have dropped my mic in the toilet, this was minutes before the very first time I filled in for the queen, Sandra Sully, and read the news in Sydney,' Sarah explained.

It comes after Harris told her co-hosts that she once dropped her mic down the loo seconds before she was due live on air. Pictured with co-host Hamish Macdonald

'I had five minutes to use the bathroom and had these mic packs on and racing to do the last nervous wee before the bulletin,' she went on.

'I popped my pants down and heard a plop, plop,' Sarah continued.

Following the toilet debacle, Sarah's crew was less than impressed.

Luckily, it all worked out in the end and the live cross went ahead as planned despite her panic.
Maya Jama is back in Mallorca and has teased Love Island fans as she shared a cryptic post featuring a piece of piece of paper stating 'Casa Update'.

The presenter, 29, posted a snap to her Instagram Stories of the paper under a tablet featuring a picture of the Love Island sign and a purple package with her name on it.

After suggesting that she could returning for an appearance, she shared the snap after posting a clip of her luxurious villa in the Spanish city which featured an open balcony and a stunning city view.

Her cheeky post comes just hours after the show finally confirmed the return of iconic Casa Amor with 12 hot new bombshells.

While six hunky boys attempt to turn the girl's heads in a shiny new property across the street, another half a dozen babes will be working their magic on the boys back in the villa.

Maya Jama is back in Mallorca and has teased Love Island fans as she shared a cryptic post featuring a piece of piece of paper stating 'Casa Update'

The presenter posted a snap to her Instagram Stories of the piece of paper under a tablet featuring a picture of the Love Island sign and a purple package with her name on it

Each of the muscle-bound new arrivals have their eye on a particular lady and no doubt feathers will be ruffled and relationships tested.

From a TikTok star, to a Butler in the Buff and two rival electricians, it seems that there will be trouble ahead.

But before the chaos unfolds in upcoming episodes, Maya jJama sent pulses racing as she sought a ride from a helicopter to return to work on Love Island: Aftersun on Sunday night.

Maya showed off her eye-popping curves in a sexy white halterneck dress as she fronted the latest episode of the ITV2 spin-off.

Hours ahead of the show, Maya revealed she flew straight from Glastonbury Festival to the ITV studios to front the show, and headed straight to the studio in her full festival outfit for rehearsals.

Maya gushed that getting to fly out of Glastonbury in a helicopter was a 'bucket list' moment, after joining boyfriend Stormzy for a weekend of partying.

After suggesting that she could returning for an appearance, she shared the snap after posting a clip of her luxurious villa in the Spanish city which featured an open balcony and a stunning city view

But before the chaos unfolds in upcoming episodes, Maya jJama sent pulses racing as she sought a ride from a helicopter to return to work on Love Island: Aftersun on Sunday night

Maya revealed she flew straight from Worthy Farm to the ITV studios to front the show, after catching a ride with her pals in a helicopter

Still wearing her muddy wellies, Maya revealed her crew offered her some much-needed supplies, including throat lozenges, shampoo and ginger tea following her weekend of partying.

And despite an exhausting few days, Maya was back to her glamorous best as she prepared to host Aftersun, sharing a glimpse of her latest look.

Showing off every inch of her eye-popping curves, Maya slipped into a sexy white studded halterneck mini dress, with her raven tresses styled into glossy waves.

On Friday, Maya and her boyfriend Stormzy were spotted cosying up to each other at the festival, with the rapper caught snapping pictures of his girlfriend on a disposable camera.

He looked trendy in a beige and red jacket and bucket hat combo with a pair of white love-heart sunglasses.

Meanwhile Maya showed off her figure in a tiny black bandeau which she layered with a patterned jacket.

On Thursday, Maya also threw herself into the festival celebrations, enjoying a tinnie as she travelled to the iconic venue with her pals.

The Love Island host had enjoyed a last-minute blow dry and Aqua Tight facial with to transform her complexion for four days of non-stop partying at the festival.

Maya gushed that getting to fly out of Glastonbury in a helicopter was a 'bucket list' moment, after joining boyfriend Stormzy for a weekend of partying

The presenter shared a glimpse of the stunning views from the chopper as she flew back to London with her pals

After flying straight to the studio, Maya got to work on rehearsals, still dressed in her full festival look

The star showed off her laid-back outfit as she headed back to work, ahead of the latest episode of Aftersun on Sunday

Maya revealed her crew offered her some much-needed supplies, including throat lozenges, shampoo and ginger tea following her weekend of partying

And despite an exhausting few days, Maya was back to her glamorous best as she hosted Aftersun in the latest glamorous look

The star styled her glossy raven tresses into gorgeous waves as she fronted the show

Maya stunned in her tight white dress adorned with silver studs

Maya and her boyfriend Stormzy were spotted cosying up to each other at the festival, with the rapper caught snapping pictures of his girlfriend on a disposable camera

Maya indulged in a pink gin and lemonade as she travelled to the festival on Thursday evening, but showed she wouldn't be enduring the hardships of a campsite, by posting a video of her lavish accomodation at Babbington House.

Sunday's Love Island saw the girls head to the famous Casa Amor villa, as the iconic show twist made its return.

In Sunday's episode, the girls headed out for cocktails only to find out that they wouldn't be returning to the villa that night.

Blade, Joel, Jake, Lionel, Moziah and Hugo arrive at Casa Amor and excitedly waited to meet the girls.

Meanwhile as the girls enjoyed their drinks the promise of six new boys waiting for them at Casa is revealed in a text, leaving them stunned - with some elated and others not so much.

Love Island continues on Tuesday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Rumer Willis has given fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of her new film.

The actress, 35, who is the daughter of Bruce Willis, shared snippets from the set of her new movie, which is being shot in Missouri.

In one shot, the actress posed in an outfit reminiscent of the show Little House on the Prairie - a flowing blue dress and wide-brim hat.

She stood by a rustic cabin, sitting upon a lush field.

'Meet Katherine. I get to play inside her world for the next month and I couldnt be more excited,' Rumer, who was recently in the Caymans, captioned the post. 'This group of people here making this all come to life are beyond my wildest dreams. I cant wait to share more with you about my journey on Broken Trail.'

Rumer Willis shared snippets from the set of her new film to Instagram on Tuesday

Rumer also showed a hint more skin in another snap of her clad in a white corset-style top as she posed inside her trailer.

The post also included a photo of horses, a tiny praying mantis, and a picture which appeared to be of her co-star, who was also in costume.

'It is hot as hell here but we are having the best time,' she captioned the collection of images.

Rumer did not specify exactly what film she was working on, however it appeared to be a Western. She tagged SkipStone Pictures in the post.

Rumer is back to work after traveling to the Caymans with her one-year-old daughter Louetta.

She posted snaps of her idyllic getaway to her Instagram last week.

'Dreaming of being back in Caymans,' she wrote. 'What a glorious family adventure, the most stunning ocean and unbelievable food. Brought my favorite new looks for the beach and Louettas first time all the way in the ocean.'

She shares Louetta with her boyfriend, Derek Richard Thomas.

Rumer also showed a hint more skin in another snap of her clad in a white corset-style top as she posed inside her trailer

She appeared to be posing with her co-star, who was also clad in Western wear

The post included a shot of a tiny praying mantis

The actress also included pictures of horses in her collection of images

In May, Rumer gushed about how her father Bruce Willis is a doting grandparent to her daughter Louetta.

During an appearance on Today, Willis raved her father is a true 'girl dad' as she described seeing him with her little girl.

Willis welcomed daughter Louetta, her first child, with Derek last year, amid her father's battle with frontotemporal dementia.

The star was elated to share how her father had taken to being a grandparent as she recalled a precious interaction he recently had with her daughter.

Rumer said her father, 69, is doing 'so good' before adding, 'Lou is just starting to walk a little bit, and she was walking over to him, and it was so sweet. It's so nice because I feel like my dad, hes a girl dad, through and through.

'And it almost unlocks that kind of little kid, girl dad thing. He's so sweet with her. I saw him with my sisters, my little sisters,' she added.
Nikki Glaser is demanding her parents apologize for their bad take on Julia Roberts' interaction with Travis Kelce at Sunday's Taylor Swift show in Dublin, Ireland.

'Uh oh,' the comedian, 40, captioned a since-expired Instagram Story screenshot of a news story about her parents' remarks on Tuesday, writing: 'My parents are going to issue an apology soon.'

The controversy arose from Nikki's  who defended her jokes at the Tom Brady roast  mom Julie and dad Edward reacting to footage of the Steel Magnolias actress, 56, affectionately touching Kelce's, 34, chest while talking to him.

'She's so gross,' Julie said, adding that it was 'weird' that the actress was 'itching' the athlete's chest.

Edward agreed, saying that Kelce was 'trying to get away' from Roberts.

Nikki Glaser is demanding her parents apologize for their bad take on Julia Roberts ' interaction with Travis Kelce at Sunday's Taylor Swift show in Dublin, Ireland

'Uh oh,' the comedian, 40, captioned a since-expired Instagram Story screenshot of a news story about her parents' remarks on Tuesday, writing: 'My parents are going to issue an apology soon'

'She's trying to French kiss him right now!' Julie went on, adding: 'Just kidding. She would.'

On Tuesday, Julie admitted that she 'should've said something different than the word gross' in an apology video via Nikki's Instagram Story.

'It's not a nice word.  So, I'm issuing an apology right now for using the word  but I think it was really weird.'

Julie went on to say that she 'meant to say just weird, not [gross] and weird.' Edward added in that it was 'too late' to take back her comments.

In the social media footage of Roberts and Kelce, the Oscar winner simply told the Super Bowl champion that she was happy for him and Taylor.

But despite the controversy, the trio had a good time at the concert, which was Nikki's 13th (Swift's favorite number) Eras show.

'This was my 13th show. And the best part for me is always the reveal,' Nikki captioned an Instagram Story video of Swift's entrance at the beginning of the show on Monday.

'My dad cried when we all cheered for her after Champagne Problems,' she wrote alongside a photo of her dad tearing up.

'How cute is this,' she wrote.

The controversy arose from Nikki's mom Julie and dad Edward reacting to footage of the Steel Magnolias actress, 56, affectionately touching Kelce's, 34, chest while talking to him

'She's so gross,' Julie said, adding that it was 'weird' that the actress was 'itching' the athlete's chest. Edward agreed, saying that Kelce was 'trying to get away' from Roberts

'She's trying to French kiss him right now!' Julie went on, adding: 'Just kidding. She would'

On Tuesday, Julie admitted that she 'should've said something different than the word gross' in an apology video via Nikki's Instagram Story

'It's not a nice word.  So, I'm issuing an apology right now for using the word  but I think it was really weird'

Julie went on to say that she 'meant to say just weird, not [gross] and weird.' Edward added in that it was 'too late' to take back her comments

In the social media footage of Roberts and Kelce, the Oscar winner simply told the Super Bowl champion that she was happy for him and Taylor

Stevie Nicks, 76, was seated next to Roberts and Kelce in the VIP tent for Sunday's concert.

Swift gave the Rhiannon a shout-out before performing the the Tortured Poets Department track Clara Bow  which features Nicks name in the lyrics.

'Shes become friends with so many female artists just to be a guiding hand. I cant tell you how rare that is,' she told the audience.

'Shes a hero of mine and also someone I could tell her any secret [and] shed never tell anybody. Shes really helped me through so much over the years. Im talking about Stevie Nicks,' Swift gushed.
Alec Baldwin looked somber as he stepped out with Rust producer and manager Matt DelPiano for lunch in LA this week - just days before his involuntary manslaughter trial is set to begin.

Baldwin, 66, is facing a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison if found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins which took place October 21 2021. The director of the film, Joel Souza, was also injured.

Alec has plead not guilty ahead of the July 9 trial, and has also denied that he pulled the trigger on the gun and denied that it was his responsibility to make sure the gun was safe.

The actor wore a black top and grey suit as he was seen arriving at LAX before meeting up with DelPiano.

The pair hugged one another before heading for lunch.

Alec Baldwin looked somber as he stepped out with Rust producer and manager Matt DelPiano for lunch in LA this week - just days before his involuntary manslaughter trial is set to begin

The actor wore a black top and grey suit as he was seen arriving at LAX before meeting up with DelPiano

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's trial is set to last around two weeks - with jury selection beginning on July 9 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sided with prosecutors in rejecting a motion to dismiss Baldwin's case last month - after dismissing a previous motion 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.

They include film director 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's trial is set to last around two weeks - with jury selection beginning on July 9 in Santa Fe, New Mexico - he is seen on the set of Rust

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.

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.

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.
Kimberley Garner looked stylish in a denim top as she joined glamorous Faye Winter while leading stars at the Fly Me To The Moon UK screening on Tuesday.

The former Made In Chelsea cast-member, 33, turned heads in an all-denim ensemble featuring a busty denim corset for the gala at Ham Yard hotel.

She made a bold fashion statement by adding a pair of 515 Alexander Wang jeans with a cut-out logo design on one leg.

Kimberley finished off the chic look with cream pointy boots while keeping accessories to the minimum.

The Kensington-born TV star beamed joyfully, twirling around under the limelight as she showed off her stunning fit.

Kimberley Garner looked stylish in a denim top as she joined glamorous Faye Winter while leading stars at the Fly Me To The Moon UK screening on Tuesday

The Made In Chelsea alum, 33, turned heads in an all-denim ensemble featuring a busty denim corset

Elsewhere at the event Love Island star Faye, 29, boosted her toned curves in a sculpting white strappy mini dress, putting on a very leggy display.

The bombshell added a glamorous touch in open-toe heels with a maxi flower embellishment.

The Celebrity Masterchef sensation sported a set of gold jewellery for the glitzy night, including a chunky bracelet and a pendant necklace.

She couldn't miss a full face glam make-up with thick eyeliner and a nude lip gloss, dazzling as she stopped for a few shots ahead of the screening.

Meanwhile Love Island iconic couple Molly Marsh and Zacharia Noble put on a loved-up display.

Molly, 22, rocked a quirky black top with laces embellishments and baggy cream trousers with chunky All-Stars trainers.

Personal trainer Zacharia, 27, opted a brown shirt and dove trousers as he cosied up to his beloved girlfriend.

The couple - who found love on the 2023 series of Love Island - have recently rekindled their romance after splitting up.

The luxury swimwear designer made a fashion statement adding a pair of 515 Alexander Wang jeans with a cut-out logo design on one leg

The Kensington-born TV star beamed joyfully as she showed off her stunning fit

Kimberley opted for a very natural make-up which enhanced her stunning features

Elsewhere at the event Love Island star Faye boosted her toned curves in a sculpting white strappy mini dress, putting on a very leggy display

The Celebrity Masterchef sensation sported a set of gold jewellery for the glitzy night, including a chunky bracelet and a pendant necklace

She couldn't miss a full face glam make-up with thick eyeliner and a nude lip gloss, dazzling as she stopped for a few shots ahead of the screening

Meanwhile Love Island iconic couple Molly Marsh, 22, and Zacharia Noble, 27, put on a loved-up display

Molly rocked a quirky black top with laces embellishments and baggy cream trousers with chunky All-Stars trainers

The duo were joined fellow Love Island Island stars Whitney Adebayo and Lochan Nowaki

Whitney, 26, wowed in a busty red midi dress with a white lace trim as she exuded confidence posing for a series of snaps

Dancing On Ice sensation Miles Nazaire was also in attendance of the gala

He beamed cheerfully on the red carpet

Radio presenter Lucy Horobin sported a dusty pink cardigan and added some glamour in a chromed silver mini skirt

Gran Turismo actress Andrea Vasiliou looked stunning in an off-shoulder red gown with a racy thigh-high split

Olivia Arben and her sister both looked glamorous as the British model sported a plunging black fishtail gown with cut-out details

Alien Invasion star Amber Doig-Thorne looked elegant in a black mini dress with laced embellishments

DJ and presenter Becca Dudley made a statement in an all-white denim look with quirky face designs

The duo were joined fellow Love Island Island stars Whitney Adebayo and Lochan Nowaki.

Whitney, 26, wowed in a busty red midi dress with a white lace trim as she exuded confidence posing for a series of snaps.

Dancing On Ice sensation Miles Nazaire was also in attendance of the gala, beaming cheerfully on the red carpet.

Radio presenter Lucy Horobin sported a dusty pink cardigan and added some glamour in a chromed silver mini skirt.

Gran Turismo actress Andrea Vasiliou looked stunning in an off-shoulder red gown with a racy thigh-high split.

Olivia Arben and her sister both looked glamorous as the British model sported a plunging black fishtail gown with cut-out details.

Alien Invasion star Amber Doig-Thorne looked elegant in a black mini dress with laced embellishments.

British actor Dujon Anderson went for a casual look in a cream sweater and white shirt underneath teamed with a black beanie.

DJ and presenter Becca Dudley made a statement in an all-white denim look with quirky face designs.
Love Island fans have blasted Ayo Odukoya after he seized the opportunity to kiss new bombshell Jessica Spencer twice on Tuesday night.

The latest episode saw the main villa and Casa Amor go head-to-head in a game of Raunchy Races to win a party that night.

Via a series of text messages the Islanders were sent challenges with the villa who completes it the quickest time, earning a point.

But when it came time for Ayo, 25, to kiss someone, both times he wasted no time in running straight to Jessica, also 25.

The first challenge was for the tallest boy to kiss the girl he fancies the most, and Ayo and Jessica's smooch won the point over Casa Amor.

Love Island fans have blasted Ayo Odukoya after he seized the opportunity to kiss new bombshell Jessica Spencer twice on Tuesday night (pictured)

The latest episode saw the main villa and Casa Amor go head-to-head in a game of Raunchy Races to win a party that night (Mimii pictured)

But when it came time for Ayo, 25, to kiss someone, both times he wasted no time in running straight to Jessica, also 25

As the girls discovered the main villa had won, they were told that Ayo had snogged someone called Jess S, leaving Mimii Ngulube upset.

The stunning 24-year-old is coupled up with Ayo and building a blossoming romance ahead of Casa Amor.

As she reacted to the news that her partner speedily snogged another girl, she admitted: 'I feel sick'.

Another text later on dared the boy first in the alphabet to kiss the sexiest girl from head to toe.

Once again, Ayo sprinted over the Jessica and rained kisses down her entire body, beating out Casa Amor.

Both he and Jessica were seen laughing and celebrating after the main villa won the party, while in Casa Amor, Mimii couldn't hide her heartbreak.

Viewers watching at home slammed Ayo for not even trying to hide his eagerness to race over to Jess, quipping that they were 'surprised the cameraman can keep up'.

They took to social media to blast his 'villain behaviour' and urge Mimii to realise that he would ditch her.

As the girls discovered the main villa had won, they were told that Ayo had snogged someone called Jess S, leaving Mimii Ngulube upset

The stunning 24-year-old is coupled up with Ayo and building a blossoming romance ahead of Casa Amor

As she reacted to the news that her partner speedily snogged another girl, she admitted: 'I feel sick'

Another text dared the boy first in the alphabet to kiss the sexiest girl from head to toe and once again, Ayo sprinted over the Jessica and rained kisses down her entire body, beating out Casa Amor

They wrote: 'Mimi Ayo kissed the same girl twice the fastest. Please put two and two together; the music with ayo and jessicas laughs is just villain behaviour'.

'It looks like Ayo has been starving for weeks???? Have some decorum; Mimi needs to sharpen up immediately Ayo has kissed the same girl twice'.

'mimii if you hear ayo and jessica one more time i need you to get the point and crack on; ayo is creating an enemy of me second by second'.

'Surprised the camera man can keep up with Ayo running as fast as he could to jessica; Producers are trying to give Mimi a signal to move on but this girl will stand by Ayo always.'

'Do you know how fast Ayo had to be to beat the couple right next to each other both times and the girl he chooses is across from him; Mimi counting how many times shes heard Ayo and Jessica I cant'.

'they could say person with the longest name and Ayo will extend his to Ayobamidele; No words for Ayo - but wouldnt expect anything less because the way he refers to Mimi just solidifies hes not serious'.

Viewers watching at home slammed Ayo for not even trying to hide his eagerness to race over to Jess and took to social media to urge Mimii to realise that he would ditch her

Fans previously declared Ayo had 'lost his head' over Jessica following their streamy chats during Monday's episode

'This game got through to Mimii. We know she ain't recoupling but she better prepare some iconic lines cos Ayo is keeping this Jess; Mimis reaction to Ayo and Jessica winning multiple times is killing me'.

Fans previously declared Ayo had 'lost his head' over Jessica following their streamy chats during Monday's episode.

The pair flirted up a storm by the side of the pool, with him blatantly declaring his interest in Jessica before seemingly questioning his feelings for Mimii.

Love Island continues Wednesday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
NAME: Mimii Ngulube

AGE: 24

FROM: Portsmouth

OCCUPATION: Mental Health Nurse

WHY LOVE ISLAND? The pool in Portsmouth is not giving. I've tried dating and speaking to people on social media and it just hasn't been successful. Applying was a spontaneous thing, I didn't expect to get here!

WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? My girls are my rocks and I'm theirs, so I'll be a good friend as well as going in there to find a man. I like dressing up, so I'll bring style, and I'd like to think I'm quite funny so I'll make people laugh. Bringing honesty as well - I'm good at picking up on people's personality traits and side-eyeing those who might be liars.

NAME: Sean Stone

AGE: 24

FROM: Hertford

OCCUPATION: Sweets Salesman

WHY LOVE ISLAND? I've always been one for relationships, and when you have found someone you want to be with it's the best feeling. Now is the perfect time, the one thing that is missing is my soulmate.

HOW WOULD FRIENDS/FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? Very loving, caring and thoughtful. I'm the kind of guy that, if you broke down on the motorway and needed your tyre changed, I'd be there at any time of night.

NAME: Ayo Odukoya

AGE: 25

FROM: Canning Town

OCCUPATION: Model

WHAT WILL YOU BRING TO THE VILLA? I think I'd bring excitement and joy. I think people would have someone to come to and talk to and feel comfortable being around or to have a laugh with. I think I'm somebody everyone would take to.

WHY SHOULD SOMEBODY DATE YOU?

I feel like the way I carry myself is very respectful and I think people take to that and once you show who you are to somebody you get it back tenfold. The way I am gives off a good enough energy for people to feel comfortable around me.

NAME: Nicole Samuel

AGE: 24

FROM: Aberdare, Wales

OCCUPATION: Accounts Manager

WHY ARE YOU SINGLE? I've been enjoying single life and the attention of different boys, it's fun. I've enjoyed being able to go on holiday with the girls and not having to worry about someone back home. All the girls are there texting in their room and I'm out till 4 in the morning living my best life.

WHAT IS SOMETHING NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU? I became a world champion dancer in 2011, not many people know that. I was a professional street dancer.

NAME: Ciaran Davies

AGE: 21

FROM: Pencoed, South Wales

OCCUPATION: Surveyor

WHAT'S YOUR TYPE ON PAPER? Obviously looks but humour is a big thing for me, I'm a bit of a wind up so I want a girl who can give it back. Loyalty is another one for me: I think that's the most important thing to look for in a relationship.

WHAT IS SOMETHING NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU? When I was in Malia on a boys holiday I pretended to be Liam Reardon from series 7 to get into a club because they wouldn't let us in. It worked and we ended up getting a private booth and free drinks all night.

NAME: Matilda Draper

AGE: 24

FROM: Beckenham

OCCUPATION: Recruitmant Consultant

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BRING? I want to bring sunshine to the Villa. Im lighthearted and dont take myself too seriously. If things get too serious in the Villa Im going to throw in a little joke or a would you rather.

Jessica Spencer

NAME: Jessica Spencer

AGE: 25

FROM: London

OCCUPATION: Fashion Stylist

WHO DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON IN THE VILLA? I have my eyes on Ayo, despite his connection with Mimii. I fancy Ayo so much. Wil also seems like a catch and someone I want to explore a connection with.

WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER ARE YOU GOING TO BE? Im funny, flirty, sassy and ready to find love

Josh Sunday Oyinsan

NAME: Josh Sunday Oyinsan

AGE: 29

FROM: London

OCCUPATION: Semi-pro footballer

WHO DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON IN THE VILLA? All of them!! Mimii, Uma, Grace and Jess S. All of the girls there are beautiful.

WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER ARE YOU GOING TO BE? I am not afraid to speak my mind! Im not afraid of treading on any toes
Calling all soap fans! If you want to know whats going on in Britains biggest soaps before it happens, look no further.

Our new guide gives you a sneak peek at all the hottest plots from episodes of Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale that are being shown this week.

In Corrie, Roy collapses and is rushed to hospital, Stevie looks like hes on his way out of EastEnders and Mattys in terrible danger in prison in Emmerdale.

A word of warning this is the ultimate guide to next week's shows and is full of spoilers including pictures and storylines. Enjoy!

CORONATION STREET

Roy collapses, Gary gets a grilling and Leanne's delighted by a potential new recruit to The Institute... It's all in our sneak peek at next weeks Coronation Street

1. New danger for Roy

After Shona pretends to be ill to force Roy to work in the cafe, her concerned boss decides to take her some home-made soup. However, on the way, Roy is confronted by a gang of yobs. As the gang shout insults at him, Roy finds himself overcome and stumbles, falling to the floor, as the youths look on and laugh.

2. Maria catches out Gary and Sarah

Maria is stunned to learn that Liams bully Mason is to be released from prison. She heads to the police station but gets more than she bargained for when she arrives. Sarah and Gary have been questioned about the hush money Sarah paid Nathan after his attack. As Gary leaves, he runs straight into Maria, who demands to know what hes doing there. Will Gary confess the whole story over what happened with Nathan?

3. Carla to the rescue

Carla spots Roy with the yobs and sends them packing. Its clear that Roys in pain, but he tries to cover as he heads back to the cafe. Later at the factory, Carla is in no mood to listen when Betsy suggests she could be employed full-time. Carla gives her short shrift, leaving Betsy smarting.

4. Roy floored by new setback!

Shona admits to Evelyn that she was never ill, and she only pretended to get Roy out of the flat and back in the cafe. Evelyn sends her home and when Shona later tells Nina what happened, theyre shocked to see an ambulance come around the corner. Theyre left horrified when they rush into the cafe and see Roy on the floor receiving CPR from the paramedics.

5. Leanne takes Toyah on the inside

With Toyah just out of hospital, Leanne offers to stay at home and look after her. Rowan calls and asks Leanne to help out at an Institute taster session and to her surprise, Toyah offers to go with her. When they arrive at the hotel, Leanne is delighted to see Amy there. Is there about to be a new Street recruit to the organisation?

6. Roys mystery visitor

At the hospital, a figure appears at recovering Roys bedside. As Roy drifts in and out of consciousness, the visitor stays for a time before disappearing. Later, Roy tells Nina about his visitor, but she thinks he must be hallucinating. But who does Roy think has been at his bedside?

7. PC Tinkers troubles

Craig confesses to Beth that hes worried hes made an enemy of Kit and explains to her what happened with Gemma over the shoplifting incident. But does Craig really have anything to fear from the dodgy cop?

EASTENDERS

Billy gets a bombshell, Stevie prepares to quit and Tommys caught stealing theyre all in our look ahead at the plots from next weeks EastEnders

1. Mitchell secret rocks the party

Billy throws a birthday party for Stevie at the Vic. With Stevie and Billys mum Val sharing the same birthday, Billys thoughts soon turn to her. But with no idea where Val is now, Billy makes a speech and wishes her well, wherever she may be. However, theres a shock after Phil digs up some info and confronts Stevie who admits the truth to Billy  that his mum is dead. Soon, Stevie shares the tragic story of Vals death with a reeling Billy.

2. Yolande connects with Denzel

Denzel avoids school and goes to the gym instead but is worried when he starts experiencing pains. Howie turns to Yolande for help when he struggles to get through to his son. However, when Yolande teams up with Amy, Denzel accuses them of ganging up behind his back.

Later, Levi arrives to tell Yolande that Pastor Clayton has been charged on two counts of sexual assault. Yolande then tells Denzel the truth about what happened with Clayton and implores him to accept help too. Will she get through to the troubled teen?

3. Crowded house for Sonia and Reiss?

Reiss gets a call from the care home telling him that Debbies fees are overdue. Stressed at how hes going to raise the cash, Reiss decides to rent out the spare room. Sonia, however, isnt happy when people interested in the room arrive at the house. Reiss finally opens up about his worries, and Sonia assures him that theyll find a way without taking in a lodger. Later, Reiss is relieved when someone in the Square offers him a lifeline.

4. Stevies final goodbye?

Now the secrets from the past have been revealed, Stevie apologises to Billy and Teddy and begs them to hear him out before he leaves Walford. Later, a confrontation with Phil leads Stevie to ask Mo if she can do him a favour. Before he leaves, Stevie asks Billy if he can say a final goodbye to his grandkids. Will this be the last time they see the grandfather theyve only just been reunited with?

5. Bobbys birthday blues

Bobbys 21st is approaching and his girlfriend Anna wants to give him the perfect celebration. After failing to engage Ian in the idea, she asks Freddie to help her sound out what Bobby might like, but Bobby realises what theyre up to and insists he doesnt want a fuss. Later, Peter tries to talk to his brother about birthday plans but is left shocked when Bobby admits the reason why hes in no mood to celebrate.

6. Ian keeps his council

Peter is suspicious when Ian wont commit to Bobbys birthday and realises that hes lying about where hell be the following day. After Peter and Cindy confront him, Ian reveals hes thinking of running for the council again.

Later, Ian reveals hes off to a leadership course in Manchester, and Cindy is perturbed when he reveals she cant go with him. But when Peter tells Ian hes checked with the council and there is no course, will Ian confess what hes really up to?

7. Phil makes a meal of things

Billy berates Phil after Will reveals that Phil framed Stevie over the stolen charity money. Meanwhile, the theft of his car does nothing to lift Phils bad mood. His attitude is soon driving a wedge between him and his family, so when Teddy and Billy organise a family meal, they decide not to invite him. Jay steps in and asks Phil to come along and at the dinner Teddy does make an effort to smooth things over. However, the meal remains tense as Phil mouths off about Stevie, so when Harry makes a jibe about Phils missing car, are things about to turn nasty?

8. Teddy turns on the charm

When Harry accidentally spills a drink on Sharon, Teddy grabs the opportunity to ask her out again. She turns him down, but Teddys not done yet. Later, he turns up on her doorstep with a new blouse, a bottle of wine and a winning smile. Will Sharon be convinced by his charms?

9. Reisss creative accounting

After Sharon offers Reiss work chasing up some outstanding invoices, desperate Reiss works out a way to also line his pockets while calling in the money. However, his guilt kicks in when Sharon, impressed by his efforts, gives him a bit extra for doing the job at short notice. Later, Reiss tells Sonia he has enough to pay Debbies care fees. But now hes turned to the dark side, is there any way back for Reiss?

10. Tommy's in trouble

Tommy is down and reveals to Kat and Alfie that he doesnt feel Phil has any interest in him anymore. Later, Kats mortified that Tommy is caught shoplifting from the Minute Mart. Jeans suggestion to Kat that Tommy needs a job to keep him out of trouble soon gives her food for thought.

EMMERDALE

Amy puts Matty in danger, Moiras gunning for Samson and Dawns in despair just some of the big stories in our sneak look at next weeks Emmerdale

1. Amy exposes Matty

In prison, Matty is happy his cellmate Les has accepted him as a trans man and tells Amy the good news when she visits. As shes leaving, Amy is approached by Robbo, who puts on a sympathetic front. Amy wrongly assumes hes Les and during their conversation she reveals the truth about Matty. When Amy returns home, she happily reports back on Mattys positive attitude, little knowing what shes just done

2. Moira on the warpath!

Shocked to hear that Samson intends to head off on his road trip earlier than planned, Moira vows to stop him. She bursts into Sam and Lydias and starts to level accusations against Samson. However, Sam backs his son and after Samson promises hell be back in time for Mattys trial, Sam gives him his blessing to go. Its clear, however, that Moira isnt giving up so easily

3. Dawn loses faith in Billy

Dawn continues to be overprotective over little Evan. Shes upset when the lad spits up his medication while Billys looking after him. Soon, its clear Dawn is losing all trust in her husbands abilities to look after their son.

4. Jai won't accept it's over

In hospital after her heart attack, Laurel is worried that Jai doesnt seem to have accepted her decision that she wants to separate. Back at home, Jai tells Gabby hes going to stay a bit longer for the benefit of the kids. While Jai tries to keep things light in front of the children, Gabby cant hide her loathing for him. However, Jai is adamant and decides to move into Arthurs room on Laurels return.

5. Danger in prison

Matty is left alone in his cell when Les goes to see his solicitor. However, he soon has company when Robbo arrives. Mattys blood runs cold when he realises that Robbo has been speaking to Amy. Revealing that he knows the truth, a menacing Robbo closes in on Matty in the cramped cell Later, Amy starts to worry when she hasnt heard from Matty.

6. Kim covers for Billy

Needing to blow off some steam, Billy accepts an invite from Nate to go for beers. Later, Nate brings a drunk Billy home, and Kim spots them. Not wanting to upset Dawn, Kim helps cover. Billy feels guilty about his lack of social distancing with Nate, worried about breaking the bubble theyre supposed to be keeping for poorly Evans sake .

7. Manpreet opens up to Charles

With the pair still estranged, Manpreet decides to check in on Charles, but as they talk, things remain awkward between them. Putting her cards on the table, Manpreet admits to Charles that she misses him. Will Charles respond to her olive branch and could it be a turning point for the troubled couple?

8. Gail plays peacemaker

Mandy and Rhona are still at loggerheads following their recent bust-up on a double date with Paddy and Marlon, so Gail decides to play peacemaker. She soon orchestrates a get together to try and get the pair on better terms, but will her interference really mend their differences  or will she end up only making things worse?

9. Kim feels pushed out

Worried about Evans cough Dawn takes him to hospital and, overcome by her concerns, she forgets Clemmies birthday. Rose springs into action and successfully pulls off a spontaneous birthday party for the little girl, leaving Dawn and Will both grateful for her help. Kim, however, feels pushed out in her own home as Rose basks in her praise.

10. Lydias suspicious mind

When Samson has a wobble about continuing to lie to the police, Josh threatens the lad. Lydia is watching the boys from afar and their interaction piques her interest. Later, she meets up with Moira, who implores her to help with the Matty situation. Is Lydia starting to realise that Samson isnt being entirely truthful?
A Wall Street analyst has decided to end the debate over whether fast food portions are getting smaller once and for all.

Wells Fargo analyst Zachary Fadem and his team recently set out to test the theory that Chipotle has been skimping on its usually-large portions, after a series of videos posted to TikTok showed employees barely filling their burrito bowls.

The team ordered and weighed 75 bowls from eight locations across New York City, and kept variables the same by ordering the same ingredients - white rice, black beans, chicken, pico de gallo, cheese and lettuce, according to Barrons.

When they ultimately returned to their offices, they discovered that the consistency of the burrito bowls varied widely from restaurant to restaurant.

Some locations served bowls that weighed up to 33 percent more than others, the study found.

Wells Fargo analyst Zachary Fadem set out to test the theory that Chipotle sizes are getting smaller

He and his team ordered 75 burrito bowls from eight different locations across New York City

The largest burrito bowl the team ordered came out to 27 ounces, while the smallest was just 14 ounces.

Among all 75 burrito bowls - which were divvied out for Wells Fargo analysts' lunches - the median weight was about 21.5 ounces.

Fadem's study comes after months of TikTokers claiming that Chipotle workers were skimping on their ingredients.

The trend began in early May, when Keith Lee - a former mixed martial arts fighter and TikTok food critic who has more than 16million followers on the app - posted a video showing him digging into a burrito bowl, and seemingly not finding any of the chicken he ordered.

'These portions be crazy,' he said in the video.

Later that month, another influencer, Isaac Francis, filmed himself ordering at Chipotle and indignantly asking for more rice and chicken.

He wrote in the caption of the video that he 'couldn't let' the employee 'disrespect me with that protein size,' the Guardian reports.

The study came after months of TikTokers claiming that Chipotle workers were skimping on their ingredients

That video apparently created a trend of people filming Chipotle workers as they fill up their burrito bowls.

In one such video, an employee could be seen refusing to fill the bottom of a bowl.

He later only put in 'eight pieces of steak,' according to the video, in which the creator could be heard saying, 'You gotta be joking, bro. You gotta put more in.'

But amid the fervor, CEO Brian Niccol denied the portion sizes were getting smaller.

'We always want to give people big portions to get them excited about the food,' he told Fortune.

'It's kind of who we are,' the CEO continued, saying that if anyone wanted more of any topping, they could simply ask.

Laurie Schalow, Chipotle's chief corporate affairs officer, also told CNN that bowl sizes may vary by the number of ingredients a customer chooses or if they opt to make any ingredient 'light' or 'extra light.

She, too, denied that the company changed its portion sizes.

Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol has denied the portion sizes are getting smaller

But Chipotle employees have said there may be a plethora of reasons customers are getting less food - with one telling the Guardian that she is inclined to give customers who film her smaller portions.

'We actually go lighter on portions because we don't want to be on the record violating Chipotle's proportion policy,' Atulya Dora-Laskey said.

'You could get in trouble with your boss for giving a customer too much food,' she explained.

Other times, customers may get less food if the restaurant is starting to run out of an ingredient.

Dora-Laskey said that the company has been experiencing staffing shortages, and it could take staff 'quite a while' to make a new protein if too few employees are scheduled for any given day.

'Once you run out of chicken or whatever meat a customer asks for, it may be 20 to 40 minutes until you get more, which means there will be a lot of angry customers,' she said.

'So you're probably going to do your best to give them as little of a serving as possible.'

Despite the frustrations, Chipotle racked in $9.9billion in revenue last year, and its sales grew seven percent last quarter.

It is now outpacing rivals like McDonalds, with more than 3,400 stores across the United States and a total market value of $86billion.
Wells Fargo last week announced it will close eight of its local branches.

The bank alerted regulators to the mass closures across California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Utah, Delaware and Washington. Scroll down for the full list with addresses.

In the week June 24 to June 30, banks informed the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that a total of ten branches will be shuttered. The other two are being closed by regional banks.

In the same period, four branches were opened, including two by Chase and one each by Academy and Wells Fargo.

The net loss of local branches suggests the trend of banks closing their bricks-and-mortar branches is set to continue as they commit to online services.

Wells Fargo announced eight closures across seven states in just one week

National banks have closed more than 400 of their branches so far in 2024.

Each week, banks must tell the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) of branches openings and closures.

The last year in which the number of branches in the US increased was 2011, when there were more than 85,000 throughout the US, according to FDIC data. Since then the number has dropped steadily to about 70,000.

Most national banks like US Bank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo have become increasingly confident that online banking can meet most customers' needs.

Closures can lead to significant savings. The average freestanding branch costs $2.6 million a year to run, according to Bancography, an Alabama-based consulting firm that advises banks.

Steven Reider, the founder and president of Bancography, previously told DailyMail.com that 'banks are willing to close a branch that isn't really overlapping any other branch on the gamble that customers are willing to drive a little bit further.'

'I think Bank of America has leaned into that more than the other large banks have,' he added.

Reider also noted that Bank of America's merger history has meant it ended up with branches in rural locations - yet the industry is undergoing 'a rural to urban conversion'.

'Every census since 1910 has shown a greater proportion of Americans living in in urban areas than the preceding census, so as we become an increasingly urbanized country the demand in these legacy rural markets just fades away,' he said.

Ultimately, banks are looking to consolidate the markets they are already in, and that involves placing more focus on dominating in a handful of cities.

Chase filed to open two branches in the past week but closures still created a net loss

For example, Chase is moving into Kansas City with force, Fifth Third is making similar moves into Charlotte and PNC is targeting Austin.

Though the number of bank branch closures started to ramp up through the 2010s, it was exacerbated by the pandemic, which kept people at home.

In 2023, more than 1,500 bank branches were shut for good, with California and the Midwest worst-hit.

See the boxes below for the latest closures and links to all weekly announcements this year.

Branch Closures (June 24 - June 30) Bank City State Location Capitol FSB LAWRENCE KS 4701 West 6th Street Old Point NB of Phoebus NORFOLK VA 580 EAST MAIN STREET Wells Fargo Bank REDONDO BEACH CA 4001 INGLEWOOD AVENUE Wells Fargo Bank WENONAH NJ 1515 WOODBURY-GLASSBORO RD. Wells Fargo Bank ASHEVILLE NC 11 KITCHIN PLACE Wells Fargo Bank SALT LAKE CITY UT 3425 EAST 7800 SOUTH Wells Fargo Bank CHARLOTTE NC 9125 LAWYERS RD Wells Fargo Bank HOCKESSIN DE 7270 LANCASTER PIKE Wells Fargo Bank SPOKANE WA 601 WEST 1ST AVENUE Wells Fargo Bank HUNTINGTON PARK CA 6010 PACIFIC BOULEVARD
Jet fuel or ATF price on Monday was hiked by 1.2 per cent while that of commercial LPG used by hotels and restaurants cut by Rs 30 per 19-kg cylinder in line with international oil price trends.

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price was hiked by Rs 1,179.37 per kilolitre, or 1.2 per cent, to Rs 96,148.38 per kl in the national capital, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

The increase followed a steep 6.5 per cent (Rs 6,673.87 per kl) reduction effected on June 1. The ATF rate in Mumbai was increased to Rs 89,908.30 per kl from Rs 88,834.27.

Prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes.

Alongside, oil firms cut the price of commercial LPG by Rs 30 to Rs 1,646 per 19-kg cylinder.

This is the fourth straight monthly reduction in rates. The price was last cut by Rs 69 per cylinder on June 1. Prior to that, rates were on May 1 reduced by Rs 19 per cylinder, and by Rs 30.5 on April 1.

Rate of cooking gas used in domestic households, however, remained unchanged at Rs 803 per 14.2-kg cylinder.

State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) revise prices of ATF and cooking gas on 1st of every month based on the average price of benchmark international fuel and foreign exchange rate.

Prices of petrol and diesel continue to remain frozen. Rates had been cut by Rs 2 per litre in mid-March. Petrol costs Rs 94.72 a litre in Delhi while diesel is priced at Rs 87.62.
Uttar Pradesh rich cultural tapestry includes not just the revered sites associated with Lord Ram but also key locations integral to the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. To cash in on these Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the State, the UP Government recently launched the "Bodhi Yatra 2024" program to attract pilgrims and tourists from across India and the world, drawn by their historical and spiritual importance.

At an event held here in the national capital, the UP Tourism Department announced a slew of initiatives to attract domestic and international pilgrims and tourists to the renowned Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the state. It is home to many places once visited by the Buddha and sacred Buddhist stupas, monasteries, shrines and stupas, some of which date back to the days of the Buddha himself. He spent much of his life in the region with the spots of his first and last sermons located in the state.

The State boasts of six major Buddhist sites: Sankisa, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kapilvastu, Kaushambi, and Kushinagar.

Uttar Pradesh's Tourism Minister, Jaiveer Singh, explained that the objective of this journey is to showcase the memories of Lord Buddha's ordinary life journey through the heritage sites of Buddhism in the state.

"Throughout the year, this journey aims to familiarize people across India with the significant messages of Buddha," said the Minister as he announced that through various artistic presentations, the Tourism Department will highlight Uttar Pradesh's contributions to Buddhist art, culture, and the importance and connection of Lord Buddha.

Furthermore, an interactive cultural session was also organized during the Bodhi Yatra program, inviting guests from various countries. The program will now be organized periodically in various cities across the country, which will enhance the reach of the pilgrimage, said the Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture Mukesh Kumar Meshram. The conclave featured Ambassadors and other diplomats from Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, Japan, Indonesia, Argentina, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat echoed similar sentiments, appreciating Uttar Pradesh for spearheading the Buddha Circuit, a visionary project to connect pilgrims with the spiritual journey of Lord Buddha, from birth to enlightenment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said people have given his Government a mandate for stability and continuity for the third consecutive term after seeing its work of 10 years and accused the Congress of trying to build a narrative that it has defeated the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls.

Replying to a two-day debate on the Presidents address to both Houses of Parliament, he also accused the Congress of working towards creating economic anarchy in the country. Modi also condoled the loss of lives in Hathras in between his speech.

Modi singled out Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying the House witnessed the wailing of a person with balak buddhi (childish behaviour) who tried to gain sympathy without disclosing the wrongs he had committed.

Images of our Gods cannot be used for personal political interests. They coined phrases like Hindu terrorism, their ally likened this religion to dengue; country will never forgive them, Modi said taking a swipe on Rahuls speech, the content of which was expunged early in the day. This is the first time that the Congress has not crossed 100 seats for three consecutive times. Instead of conceding defeat, they are being arrogant. They are trying to build a narrative that they have beaten us, Modi said in the Lok Sabha amid vociferous protests by the Opposition.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die after two long hours PMs speech and a resolution accepted by the Speaker moved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to condemn the continuous disruption by Opposition when the PM spoke. Modi will reply to the similar debate on thanks to Presidents speech in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Before the Prime Ministers reply, Opposition members wanted Speaker Om Birla to allow the MPs from Manipur to speak in the House but he said a member from the northeastern State had already spoken on Monday. They then trooped into the Well of the House, drawing a sharp rebuke from Birla.

Modi said an attempt was made to mislead Parliament on the Agnipath scheme and minimum support price for farm produce.

The PM said the people of the country had seen the dedication with which his Government served them for 10 years.

In our third term, we will work at triple the speed. Our third term means we will put in thrice the strength. In our third term, we will ensure three times the results, Modi said.

The people of the country have given us this mandate after testing us on every criterion. The people have seen our track record of 10 years. The people have seen that we have worked with dedication for the welfare of the poor, fulfilling the mantra of public service is Gods service, the PM said.

The Prime Minister said he can understand the pain of some, who despite spreading lies and misleading the people, had to face a massive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

People have chosen us in this biggest election exercise. I can understand the pain of some people that despite running falsehoods, they were comprehensively defeated, he said, amid chants of justice for Manipur by Opposition members.

The Prime Minister said Indias prestige has increased and the country is being looked up to by the world.

Modi said before 2014, people had lost self confidence. When there is a lack of confidence, it becomes difficult for the person and the country to stand up. The common people used to say this country cannot achieve anything. Only news of scams prevailed, the PM said.
Over 100 people were feared dead and several others injured as tragedy struck Hathras when a stampede broke out among devotees attending a satsang on Tuesday.

The deceased included mostly women and children. Though the district magistrate of Hathras officially reported around 60 casualties, sources claimed that over 100 devotees died in the accident.

Bereaved family members and local residents staged demonstrations in front of many hospitals, protesting delays in treatment.

Senior officers, along with police forces from all districts of the Aligarh range, were summoned to manage the demonstrators.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the stampede.

In a statement from the UP CM Office, Yogi also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. He directed the district administration officials to ensure that the injured receive proper treatment and to expedite relief efforts on-site.

An investigation into the causes of the incident was ordered, led by the Agra ADG and Aligarh Commissioner. The Chief Minister announced a compensation of `2 lakh for the families of those killed and `50,000 for the injured.

Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and Director General of Police Prashant Kumar were instructed to reach Hathras to gather first-hand information about the incident and to check whether the necessary permissions for the sermon had been granted.

The local administration claimed they had permitted 5,000 devotees, but if they had known such a large crowd would attend, they would have either denied permission or implemented necessary measures. UP Minister Sandeep Singh was also asked to visit the site and submit a report for further action.

According to official sources, a team led by the Agra ADG and Aligarh Commissioner has been formed to investigate the causes of the stampede.

Etah SSP Rajesh Kumar Singh said a religious programme in Mughalgarhi village of Hathras district resulted in the stampede. So far, 27 bodies, including those of 23 women, three children, and one man, had been brought to Etah hospital.

The injured are being treated at hospitals, and the deceased are being identified.

However, sources claimed that 95 bodies were queued up outside the Sikandrarao CHC. The Hathras DM confirmed the death toll to be between 50-60 and said they were still managing the situation and would provide exact figures later.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the accident occurred in Fullerai village of Sikandrarao police station area of Hathras district during Bhole Babas satsang. He mentioned that a religious event in Mughalgarhi village in Ratibhanpur on the Etah-Hathras border led to the stampede, resulting in many deaths, including those of children.

The exact cause of the stampede will be determined after the enquiry is completed.

A local resident confirmed that the stampede occurred after the completion of Bhole Babas satsang due to terrible humidity and heat in the pandal.

More than one lakh devotees were present when the incident took place.

There was a significant delay in the arrival of police and ambulances. Local people sent the injured to nearby hospitals. Eyewitnesses claimed that the number of dead was higher than reported, as many injured were sent to different hospitals in nearby districts, including Hathras, Aligarh, and Etah.

Meanwhile, the real name of Bhole Baba, is said to be Narain Sarkar Hari, who belongs to the Bahadur hamlet of Patiyali Tehsil in Etah.

He was an employee in the Intelligence Bureau but left the job 26 years ago to turn towards spirituality.

His followers hail from Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan , Delhi and Uttrakhand. The posters put up at the venue showed the names of organisers as Devprakash Madhukas (engineer), Mahesh Chandra, Anar Singh, Sanju Yadav, Chandradev, and Ramprakash.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has directed for a probe into alleged corruption in issuing a tender for construction of an additional block in Lok Nayak Hospital (LNH) in the national Capital.

In what points towards massive corruption and blatant violation of procedures, a tender worth `465 crore for construction of the additional block has increased surreptitiously to `1,135 crore, creating an unauthorised liability of approximately `670 crore on the Delhi Government, Raj Niwas officials said here on Tuesday.

Raj Niwas has asked the Vigilance Department to request the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to constitute a special team to probe the irregularities. The huge cost escalation has happened with a clear collusion of the Delhi Governments Health Department under Saurabh Bhardwaj and the Public Works Department headed by Atishi Marlena.

The L-G has also constituted a committee headed by retired IAS officer BK Prasad to examine the procedural violations that led to cost escalation to the tune of `670 crore and submit its report within two months.

The committee will also examine all such on-going projects in different Delhi Government hospitals. The case pertains to construction of a new building block in LNH Hospital. The scheduled start date was 04.11.2020, with a completion period of 30 months. However, even after three and a half years, the current progress of work is only 64 per cent, even as costs have risen by 243 per cent.

The Health & Family Welfare Department of GNCTD had assigned the project to the Public Works Department (PWD). However, the work originally tendered out for `465 crore, ran into re-estimates and expansion of scope of work amounting to a whopping `1,135 crore. The PWD attributed the cost overruns to increase in the scope of work. But while the scope of work increased by 8.61 per cent only, the cost increased by a whopping 143 per cent.

Interestingly, such huge cost over runs were done at the level of the Engineers of the Department itself, even though it should have had gone to the Finance Department and the Cabinet. However, after the L-G flagged the matter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 22.06.2023, the AAP Government brought a Cabinet Note in March 2024, for approval of the cost over runs, which is yet pending.

I have also noticed that during the execution of work, certain disputes arose between PWD and M/s Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd and in order to reach to a solution, the claims of the contractor were forwarded to Dispute Redressal Committee (DRC). Further, since M/s Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd was not satisfied with the decision of the DRC, an Arbitral Tribunal was constituted for the adjudication of claims/disputes, which pronounced an award ni favour of the contractor, amounting to `82.45 crore with 12 per cent interest plus GST. However, the department chose not to challenge the award. The departments failure to challenge this award is beyond comprehension and has further exacerbated the financial burden. Additionally, the award was pronounced by the Arbitral Tribunal on 29.05.2023, however, the PWD did not get the mandatory concurrence from the Finance Department for the same, Saxena said in a note.

The major reason for the increase in PE was attributed to an increase in the covered area of the building from 88040 sqm to 95620 sqm. Apparently, the covered area increased by 8.61 per cent only, whereas the revised PE was increased by 143 per cent, which appears prima facie unjustifiable, incomprehensible and even malafide.

The loss to the exchequer and public money due to the procedural violations and unauthorised liability is a very grave matter that warrants immediate and thorough investigation, the L-G noted.

Welcoming the order, the AAP Government sources said the L-G is himself saying cost escalation has happened at the level of officers without the knowledge of Government.

We welcome any enquiry into this matter and strictest punishment if any illegality is found. These officers are directly under the control of the L-G. The Vigilance Department is directly under the L-G and he and his department should have been more proactive instead of coming into action after media reports, sources added.
Former Delhi BJP President and MLA Vijender Gupta stated that after BJP's resounding victory in the Lok Sabha, the Kejriwal government continues to harass the residents of Delhi.

First, there was the drinking water crisis, then the issues of waterlogging and drainage after rains, followed by traffic jams, and now a conspiracy is underway to render the Delhi Commission for Women, which safeguards women's rights, ineffective.

Gupta has demanded the Lieutenant Governor to intervene in this serious matter and take immediate action to prevent the injustice being meted out to the distressed women of Delhi.Gupta pointed out that it is horrifying that the 181 Women's Helpline has been shut down. Due to negligence by the DCW, the helpline has been non-operational for several days, symbolising the Delhi government's lack of empathy towards crimes against women and girls in the capital.

For over 48 hours, survivors of rape and other crimes have been left without crucial support. The ministers and concerned officials of the Delhi government are accountable for this.Gupta mentioned that the revelations made by former Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal in her letter to Kejriwal reflect the distorted thinking of the Aam Aadmi Party.

He noted that the financial crisis created by the Delhi government in the Commission is a grave matter.

The payment of the third installment of the fiscal year 2023-24 and the first installment of the fiscal year 2024-25 has not been made. The funding shortage over the past six months has crippled the Commission.Gupta added that the massive cut of 10 crores in the Commission's budget threatens the closure of significant programmes. The removal of employees and unfilled vacancies further endanger the Commission's existence. The Delhi Commission for Women plays a critical role in assisting countless women in Delhi.
Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly, Amar Kumar Bauri has demanded a CBI probe over the irregularities in all examinations conducted by the State government. Bauri said that youth of State are now angry against the JMM, Congress and RJD government which came to power by showing dreams to the youth and lying to the people of the state because irregularities have come to light in all the examinations conducted by the alliance government till date. Bauri said this while addressing media persons at the BJP state office in Ranchi on Monday.

Bauri claimed that on Sunday several candidates who had appeared in the JSSC PGT informed him about irregularities in the examination. The candidates have been protesting for the last 17 days over the irregularities. The candidates told in their application that 70-80 percent candidates have passed from a single center. The highest number of candidates have passed from Shreya Digital of Bokaro district and Shiva Infotech of Ranchi district. 513 candidates passed from Syria Digital, 279 from Shiva Infotech and 273 from Dhanbad Digital.

Bauri claimed that the agency appointed to conduct the exam is already blacklisted. The state government has also decided to form an SIT and get it investigated but no arrest has been made so far. Such candidates have also been selected in JSSC PGT from the deaf and dumb disabled quota, who is talking.

He said that the state government has committed a big scam. The government that came to power in the name of five lakh jobs has not given jobs but is definitely selling jobs. Who is the mastermind behind this, has not been known yet. This entire matter is happening at the behest of the state government. Such scams are happening with the connivance of many officers and ministers of the state, which is putting the future of the youth of Jharkhand in danger. The government and its agencies are cheating the youth. Correspondence will also be made with the Union Minister regarding these matters, so that the CBI can investigate all the cases together.

The Leader of Opposition demanded from the government that the government should recommend the CBI for an impartial investigation on this entire matter. And the appointment should be stopped until the investigation is completed.

He warned that if the government does not take any concrete steps on this matter, then when the BJP government comes to the state, then those candidates who are giving the examination and getting appointment on the basis of money, such candidates will lose their jobs and will also have to go to jail.

The Leader of Opposition said that there has been no irregularity in all the jobs given by the BJP from 2014-19. But today's situation is completely different. The students are feeling cheated. State media in-charge Shiv Pujan Pathak, spokesperson Avinesh Kumar Singh, BJP Yuva Morcha state president Shashank Raj were present in the press conference.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and three time Northeast BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday accused the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for 'behaving indecently in Parliament and demanded an apology for insulting Hindus and Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla. Sachdeva alleged that Gandhi abused Hindus on Monday in Parliament to appease the people of Wayanad and stated, "Rahul Gandhi has le ft the Wayanad seat and Priyanka Gandhi has to contest from there and perhaps that is why he tried to please the people of Wayanad by abusing Hindus."

He added that despite being launched in politics three times, Raebareli MP only speaks lies. "His speech on Monday was full of despair and baseless. It's surprising that instead of discussing the President's address, he kept lying, and it's sadder that senior leaders behind him kept laughing," Delhi BJP Chief alleged.

Tiwari said that Rahul Gandhi has been insulting Hindus and parliamentary traditions since 2004 and yesterday he kept pictures of Lord Shankar along with a glass of used water. "Rahul Gandhi is playing a dangerous game to create unrest in various parts of the country and cause damage to the nation," he said while mentioning that expecting decorum from the Congress leader is futile. Further, Sachdeva criticised Gandhi's speech and said it is insulting the Sanatan society, and sowing seeds of hatred. He challenged Rahul Gandhi to use the same language for another religion as he did for the Hindu community. He claimed, "Rahul Gandhi's language reflects his upbringing because no Indian can insult Hindus. It is not surprising that Rahul Gandhi's gang might try to justify his words today. But the reality is that Rahul Gandhi and his party leaders, using such language, prove they work for anti-national forces."

Tiwari stated that Gandhi is shamelessly calling Hindus violent after winning 99 seats and he should remember that 87 per cent of voters in these 99 seats are Hindus.
With monsoon setting in the national capital, BSES has everyone to follow simple safety guidelines and practice social distancing from electrical infrastructure to ensure safety. Issuing these instructions on Tuesday, BSES said monsoons often lead to water logging, strong winds, and falling branches, which can damage electrical installations and cause power outages.

To protect both lives and equipment, BSES may need to temporarily switch off the electricity supply in affected areas as a precautionary measure. Together, by adhering to these safety protocols, BSES and its consumers can navigate the monsoon season safely and efficiently..

" We are geared up to ensure reliable power supply to our over 50 lakh consumers and over 2 crore residents while taking all safety measures that are required during rainy season. Consumers can play a very important role in ensuring an incident free monsoon by following simple safety guidelines," BSES officials said. In the event you notice any fallen cable, pole or exposed wiring or an emergency please inform us on 19123 / 011 49516707 (for South & West Delhi) and 19122 / 011 41999808 for (East & Central Delhi) areas.

To ensure that our consumers and around Delhi residents enjoy an incident free power supply, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), are undertaking all possible measures. The discoms' monsoon action plan has an integrated and proactive approach, which is not only aimed at ensuring consumers' safety but is also aimed at minimizing the down time of power supply arising out of exigencies during monsoon.
Amid growing concerns over the drought situation in Kolhan, Chief Minister Champai Soren has promised residents that alternative irrigation arrangements will be swiftly implemented in Rajnagar block, Seraikela Kharsawan and surrounding areas. Addressing the media during his two-day visit to his home district, Soren emphasized the urgency of expediting the plan to deliver water directly from the river to the fields through an underground pipeline system.

Chief Minister Soren arrived in Jilinggoda, Seraikela , for a two-day visit. While attending a private event on Monday, he took the opportunity to discuss the drought crisis with the media. Soren revealed that a comprehensive plan is in the works to tackle the drought in Jharkhand. This plan includes identifying several villages in Seraikela district and implementing an underground pipeline scheme to ensure timely water delivery to the fields without acquiring villagers' land.

"The pipeline scheme will be executed efficiently and effectively, ensuring that the agricultural needs of the region are met," Soren stated. "Our aim is to complete this project without causing any disruption to the local communities."

Chief Minister Soren also addressed the implementation of a new law across the country starting July 1. He expressed confidence that the new legislation would significantly enhance law and order, making it stronger and more effective nationwide. "The implementation of this new law will bring about a more robust and orderly system, benefitting the entire nation," Soren remarked. Following his engagements in Seraikela , Soren departed for Jamshedpur and subsequently flew to Ranchi by helicopter.

The drought in Seraikela district has posed significant challenges to the local farmers, who rely heavily on consistent water supply for their crops. The alternative irrigation plan, which involves transporting water from the river to the fields through pipelines, is seen as a critical measure to mitigate the effects of the drought and support agricultural productivity.

The Chief Minister's visit and the proposed irrigation scheme have brought a glimmer of hope to the residents of Rajnagar block and surrounding areas. Farmers and local authorities are optimistic that these efforts will provide much-needed relief and ensure the sustainability of their agricultural practices during these trying times.

As the drought situation persists, the implementation of innovative irrigation solutions and supportive policies will be crucial in addressing the water scarcity issues in Seraikela and other affected regions. The Chief Minister's proactive approach and commitment to resolving these challenges highlight the government's dedication to improving the livelihoods of its citizens and ensuring food security.

With the new law coming into effect from July 1, and the promise of enhanced irrigation systems, the people of Jharkhand can look forward to a future with better infrastructure and stronger governance, paving the way for sustained development and prosperity in the region.
Over 300 crores have been amassed illegally by collecting Rs 20000 per seat from operators of the nursing college allegedly by Vishwas Sarang (former Medical Education Minister), he and his committee and Nursing council are responsible for this, said Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Umang Singhar at the Budget Session which started on Monday.

On the first day of the budget session of Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Monday, Congress demanded a discussion on the nursing scam.

Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said, 'Injustice has been done to the youth, there should be a discussion.' To this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya replied, 'The matter is in court, so there cannot be a discussion.' After this, there was an uproar in the House. Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar adjourned the proceedings till 1 pm.

When the proceedings resumed, Singhar once again talked about discussion. On this, CM Mohan Yadav said, 'We are ready for discussion in the accepted tradition under the rules and procedures. We cannot listen to things with excitement. We speak simple language. We are not afraid of anyone.'

After this, the Assembly Speaker said, 'You both have asked to leave it to me, so we will take care of it tomorrow. There will be a discussion after the Question Hour.'

Congress MLAs arrived to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly wearing aprons. They were holding papers with 'Nursing Scam' written on them.

In the budget session, the MLAs have asked a total of 4287 questions to the government. Of these, 2108 questions are starred and 2179 questions are unstarred. The number of online questions is 2386 while 1901 questions have come offline. The Assembly Secretariat has received 163 notices of attention, 1 of adjournment motion, 27 of private resolution and 43 of zero hour.

Before the start of the assembly proceedings, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar and Congress MLAs arrived wearing aprons and raised slogans regarding the nursing scam.

Kamal Nath said, the question is not whether scams happened in the state, the question is which scam did not happen in the state. At the same time, Minister Govind Singh Rajput said - The opposition has neither any issue left nor anyone to speak. If the opposition brings an adjournment motion, we are also ready to answer it.

Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said, 300 crores were collected in the state in the nursing scam. Minister Sarang made laws according to his own wishes and made changes. The law reprimanded, but he did not listen. We are demanding the resignation of Vishwas Sarang so that there are no further scams.

After the uproar in the assembly, the proceedings were adjourned and the opposition came out and protested in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, slogans were raised demanding the dismissal of Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang.

Congress MLAs protested over the nursing scam. All the MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, arrived wearing aprons and stickers of nursing scam. They are protesting in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the assembly premises.

Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said that there should be a discussion on the basis of rules and regulations. Injustice has been done to the youth. Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat asked how many times a student will appear for the exam? After this, there was noise and uproar in the House.

Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar demanded a discussion on the nursing scam in the House. After this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargi said that the matter is pending in the court, so there cannot be a discussion. On this, there was a situation of uproar in the House for some time.
The Delhi government has issued the Flood Control Order for this year, days after Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena flagged that it had not been issued.

After Delhi was hit by incessant rains on Friday, leading to waterlogging and loss of lives, Saxena had said it is shocking that the Flood Control Order and de-silting of drains that should have been issued and completed by June 15 were pending.

"The Flood Control Order, normally issued after the Apex Committee meeting chaired by the Hon'ble chief minister, is pending with the Hon'ble minister," he had said.

The government has issued the Flood Control Order, which says a Central Flood Control Room has been set up and it will continue to be functional till October 15 or till the withdrawal of monsoon, whichever comes later.

The Flood Control Room will receive flood warnings and other related information and submit flood-situation reports to the LG, Chief Minister, Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC), Chief Secretary, Divisional Commissioner and Secretary (I&FC) every evening. It will also issue necessary flood warnings and directions for evacuation and arrange relief supplies.

A number of regional posts of the Flood Control Department will be set up at 16 important locations along the Yamuna river, the Najafgarh drain, the supplementary drain, the Jahangir Puri drain and the Chilla regulator on the Shahdara Outfall drain to monitor the flood situation or drainage congestion and handle any eventuality, the order said.The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will also set up control rooms to receive complaints and take appropriate remedial action in case of drainage congestion on account of heavy rains, the order said, adding that these control rooms will remain in constant touch with the Central Flood Control Room.

The order said each of the 11 revenue districts in Delhi will have a sector committee headed by a sector officer.
The first FIR in MP under the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita- 2023 (BNS) was registered in Bhopal. Praful Chauhan (40), a resident of Israni Market, lodged a complaint against Raja alias Harbhajan at Hanumanganj police station at 12:05 pm on Sunday night. Police have registered a case under section 296. In the IPC, this case would have been registered under section 294.

Chauhan told the police that Raja alias Harbhajan abused him due to old enmity. The accused has not been arrested in this case yet. Police Commissioner Harinarayan Chari Mishra said that 10 FIRs have been registered in Bhopal till 2 pm under the new law. These cases have been registered in Jahangirabad, Talaiya, Hanumanganj and Crime Branch police stations.

ADG Intelligence Jaideep Prasad said that new laws are being implemented by organizing programs at all police station areas and district headquarters level in the state. The district's Superintendent of Police, public representatives and intellectuals of the district are being invited to the program. Retired police officers, women, elderly and school-college students are being invited. During the program, all the attendees are being made aware about the new laws.

ADG Jaideep Prasad said that the policemen have been informed about how to enter the software, how to collect evidence, all these points. The state police have trained more than 31 thousand investigators. Along with this, changes related to the new laws have also been made in CCTNS, which will come into effect from 12 midnight on June 30.
Giridih districts first FIR under the new criminal laws was lodged against an unknown truck driver on Monday.

The Nimiaghat police have lodged an FIR (bearing no. 56 / 2024, dated 01-07-2024) under section 106 and 281 of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) 2023.

The district police have lodged, altogether, three FIRs on the very first day of enactment of the new criminal laws - the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.

The first FIR was lodged today wee-hours in Nimiyaghat police station, others were lodged in Bagodar and Bengabad.

According to the FIR, The accused truck driver had hit a motorcycle near Khakikala village under Nimiyaghat police station of the district. The incident took place at around 6 pm, when one, Kishori Mahto, along with his 20-year-old son, Prakash Kumar Mahto, was on his way towards Bermo. Meanwhile, a speedy truck coming from the opposite direction lost his control and struck the bike, though the rider, Kishori Mahto received minor injuries, his son died on the spot. Giridih Superintendent of Police, Deepak Kumar Sharma, said that the new laws would bring transparency in all respects. Besides, making the system easier for the people, especially the victims or the informants, the new laws would help the police authorities, Investing Officer or the agencies in reaching out the suspects and in many other ways.

As per the new laws, the police authority will provide required information to all the concerned, particularly the informant, regarding his/her cases. Even they would get instant information through text messages, Sharma told the Pioneer. The IPC 1860 has been replaced with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the CrPC1973 has been replaced with Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and the Indian Evidence Act has been replaced with the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023.
Heavy rain continued in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, Mandla recorded 2 inches of rainfall. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of heavy rain at night in 23 districts in the next 24 hours.

On Monday, it also rained in Chhindwara, Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar, Satna, Umaria, Betul, Dhar, Guna, Narmadapuram, Khargone, Ujjain. 55 mm i.e. 2.2 inch of water fell in Mandla from 9 am to 5.30 pm. At the same time, about 2 inch of rain was recorded in Sidhi, 1.25 inch of rain fell in Raisen, 1 inch each in Pachmarhi-Dhar. At the same time, more than half an inch of water fell in Bhopal.

The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of heavy rain with lightning or fall in Guna, Sanchi and Bhimbetka of Raisen, Udaygiri of Vidisha and Sagar in the next few hours. Bhopal, Shajapur, Sehore, Ashoknagar, Pachmarhi of Narmadapuram, Narsinghpur, Damoh, Mandla may receive moderate rain with thunderstorms.

Apart from this, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Betul, Seoni, Sidhi, Singrauli, Rajgarh, Balaghat, Dindori, Jabalpur, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Ratangarh of Datia, Bhind, Khandwa, Maheshwar of Khargone, Harda, Dewas and Katni may also receive rain.

It has been raining continuously for 11 days in Bhopal. On Monday, intermittent rains continued, sometimes heavy and sometimes drizzling. Due to this, 65% more rain has occurred so far. The Meteorological Department has predicted similar weather for the next 4 days.

More than 1 inch of rain fell in the capital in the last 24 hours. With this, the figure is 230.8 mm i.e., 9.2 inches of rain has occurred, which is 25% of the total normal rainfall.

It rains a lot in July in Bhopal. There is a record of 1031.4 mm i.e. 41 inches of rain in a single month here. This happened in the year 1986. On 22 July 1973, 11 inches of rain fell in a single day, which is a record till date. This time the monsoon arrived on 23 June. So far, 63% more rain has occurred than normal. The average rainfall of the month is 367.7 mm i.e. 14.4 inches. Due to rain, the day temperature remains below 30 and the night temperature remains below 25 degrees Celsius. This time, the rain is continuing on Monday, the first day of July.

The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy rain for the next 4 days i.e. July 2, 3, 4 and 5. Heavy rain is expected on Tuesday. Thunderstorms will also continue.

It is expected that Bhopal will receive 106% more rainfall than normal this time. Last time, 18% less rainfall i.e., 82% (30.9 inches) rain was recorded, whereas the normal rainfall in Bhopal is 37.6 inches. Meteorologists say that even though the monsoon arrived 3 days late this time, it will rain well.

Meteorological Department, Bhopal,told that a strong system will be active from July 3. There will be good rain in the state till July 15. Dr. Singh said, 'Due to cyclonic circulation and trough line, there is a phase of rain. Very heavy rain has also occurred at many places in the last 24 to 48 hours.

The situation of storms, rain and thunder will remain for the next 5 days. Rainfall activity will intensify from the eastern Bay of Bengal from July 3. This may cause heavy rainfall in many districts of the eastern part. Many districts will get wet on July 4.'

During the last 24 hours, rainfall was recorded at some places in Chambal division districts of the country; at some places in Gwalior division districts; at many places in Ujjain, Sagar division districts; at all places in Bhopal, Indore, Narmadapuram, Rewa, Jabalpur, Shahdol division districts and the weather remained generally dry in all the districts of the remaining divisions. The maximum temperature fell significantly in the districts of Sagar division and there was no significant change in the temperatures in all the remaining districts.
Former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal has written to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing his ministers of making the women's panel a "weak institution". Meanwhile, Delhi BJP attacked the Kejriwal government over the letter and called it 'evidence of insensitivity towards women'.

Maliwal had resigned as the chairperson of the DCW following her nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the Aam Aadmi Party. In her letter to the chief minister, Maliwal alleged that the DCW staff has not been paid salary for the last six months, the panel's budget has been reduced by 28.5 per cent, the 181 helpline has been withdrawn, and no efforts have been made to fill the vacant posts of chairman and two members.

"Ever since I resigned from the post of chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, the ministers and officers of Delhi government have opened a front against the commission. "None of the staff has been paid salary for the last six months, the budget has been reduced by 28.5 per cent, 181 helpline has been withdrawn and no work has been done to fill the posts of chairman and two members," Maliwal said in a post in Hindi on X. Delhi Women and Child Development minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday said the women helpline 181 will now be run by his department and the number will remain inoperative for a few days for transition.

He said the central government plans to make it mandatory for the women's helpline to be run by the Department of Women and Child Development rather than the DCW.

In the same post, Maliwal said, "The post of a Dalit member is lying vacant for 1.5 years! As soon as I left, every possible effort was being made to make the Women's Commission a weak institution again. Why is the Delhi government showing hostility towards women? I have written a letter to @ArvindKejriwal ji seeking his reply!"

Later addressing a press conference, Delhi BJP MPs Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Bansuri Swaraj said that the poor condition of the DCW is evidence of Kejriwal's insensitivity towards women's safety.

Sehrawat mentioned that when Kejriwal appointed Maliwal as the chairperson of the DCW, there were grand claims about the Commission's work. "However, today, the same Swati Maliwal is questioning the miserable state of the women's commission in her letter to Kejriwal," she said. The West Delhi MP accused Kejriwal of betraying colleagues like Kiran Bedi and Shazia Ilmi, calling it 'an old policy of Kejriwal'.

Swaraj highlighted that for many years before appointing Atishi, there was no woman in Kejriwal's cabinet, 'clearly showing the lack of importance of women in Kejriwal's government'. She added that the High Court directed the Kejriwal government on May 9 and May 30 to immediately release salaries to all employees working in DCW but the government has not released the salaries.
On Saturday night, Rotary Club of Bokaro held its final event of the Rotary year 2023-24, the 'Vocational and Club Awards' ceremony, at the Paul Harris Auditorium. The event recognized outstanding contributions to the community. Doctors and paramedical staff from Muskaan Hospital, Chas, were honored for their exemplary service during the club-organized free medical camp. A total of 10 doctors and 29 paramedical staff were awarded mementos and certificates, and were declared 'Friends of Rotary'.

In addition, the club honored three other individuals for their outstanding service to society. Mohan Azad, who conducts drawing and painting classes in the adopted village of Ulgora, was recognized. Three homeopathic doctors, Dr. Paresh Chaudhary Mahto, who provides services at the clubs free homeopathy clinic every Sunday, and Dr. Nikhil Pathak and Dr. Poonam, who contribute to the free homeopathic clinic at the Gurdwara in Chas, were also honored.

The club recognized 14 members for their dedicated service in 2023-24. Eleven members were named 'Exemplary Rotarians', including Rtn. (Dr.) Professor Anil Trehan, Rtn. Anil Tripathi, Rtn. Ashok Jain, Rtn. Hardeep Singh, Rtn. Dr. John Liu, Rtn. PDG Mahesh Kejriwal, Rtn. Dr. Rajdeep, Rtn. Rani Agarwal, Rtn. Dr. R.N. Pradhan, Rtn. Sandhya Raj, and Rtn. Dr. S.C. Munshi. Additionally, Rtn. Ashok Taneja, Rtn. Chandrima Ray, and Rtn. Pradeep Narayan received the most coveted 'Rotarian of the Year' award amidst resounding applause. Outgoing President Rtn. Ghanshyam Das expressed heartfelt thanks to all members for their support and cooperation throughout the year.

The awards ceremony was successfully conducted by Rtn. Pradeep Narayan, whose unique style was highly appreciated. The event concluded with a musical Antakshari led by Rtn. Chandrima Ray, with participation from Rotary Bokaro Midtown couples and Rotary Chas members. The enthusiastic applause from the audience boosted the morale of the participants. With this event, the Rotary year 2023-24 came to an end worldwide. From July 1, Rtn. Mahesh Gupta, a prominent businessman, will take over as the President of Rotary Bokaro for the year 2024-25.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that the state government is willing to help the small entrepreneurs of the state. Necessary decisions will be taken after discussing the development of small and micro industries at the Regional Investors Summit. Investments in new areas of industry will be invited to the summit being held in Jabalpur this month. There is great potential for the development of mining-based industries, rural cottage industries, and readymade garment industries. To realize these possibilities, small industries will be established by identifying areas.

Yadav was addressing the MSME Summit and felicitation ceremony of entrepreneurs at the local Hotel Marriott on behalf of NDTV channel. The Resident Editor of NDTV Shri Anurag Dwary, on behalf of the channel, discussed various issues with Chief Minister Dr. Yadav. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that at one time he played the role of a businessman while running a tea and snacks hotel in Ujjain. The sense of being self-reliant by running any business in a clean manner with hard work and restraint helps any businessman or entrepreneur achieve success in life.

Yadav said that an important decision has been taken by the ministers in the state to deposit the income tax amount. Today in the Assembly, this decision of the State Government was welcomed by the members by thumping of the tables. Speaker Shri Narendra Singh Tomar made a special mention while giving information about this decision. He also informed about his resolve to deposit income tax. The Leader of the Opposition said that he would also deposit his income.

Yadav said that changes have been made in the system related to toll points in the state. Similarly, in an important decision, it has been decided that ten years imprisonment would be given to the person found guilty in paper leak cases in the state. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that we are always ready for discussion on any important topic in the Legislative Assembly. Honorable members should behave with restraint and decorum while being serious about following all the rules.
U.S. Credit union Patelco limits transactions due to security breach issue

Xinhua) 10:43, July 02, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Patelco Credit Union, the third-largest credit union in the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. state of California, reported a significant security breach over the weekend, leading to the shutdown of its banking systems, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle on Monday.

Erin Mendez, Patelco's president and CEO, confirmed in an email to customers on Sunday that essential transactions, such as Zelle transfers, direct deposits and balance inquiries, were unavailable. The debit and credit card functions were also limited.

"On June 29, we experienced a serious security incident. This required us to shut down some of our day-to-day banking systems so that we can remediate the issue and contain the impact, including online banking, our mobile App, and our call center," Mendez wrote.

"Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an ETA on when those systems will be running as expected," she added.

The institution assured that branches and customer service channels would operate normally on Monday to assist members.

According to the company, Patelco operates 37 branches with nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars in assets and half a million clients.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A 29-year-old man was found dead in a pond in front of Bhopal Central Jail Gandhi Nagar on Sunday, he was not identified late at night. The postmortem of the body was done on Monday.

The family alleged that on June 27, he was sent to jail by the Govindpura police. After this, the information of his death was received directly and they suspect that he was murdered.

Gandhi Nagar police said that a case has been registered in the matter. The spot has been inspected by the FSL team. The real cause of death will be revealed in the postmortem report.

SI Kanhaiyalal Yadav of Gandhi Nagar police station said that Pramod Chaudhary(29), resident of Anna Nagar Govindpura, used to do vegetable business. On Thursday, he had a dispute with his wife. His wife complained about this in Govindpura police station. On the complaint of his wife, the police took him into custody.

Action was taken under section 151 and he was sent to jail the next day. He was released on June 29 as per the jail records. On Sunday, June 30, his body was found in a pond in front of the jail. The body was taken out with the help of divers. He could not be identified then. The body could be identified on Sunday night. In the initial investigation, the case seems to be suicide.

The deceased's maternal uncle Rajesh Chaudhary said that Pramod was sent to jail by Govindpura police. After a mutual dispute, his wife complained against him in the police station. No one in the family had taken his bail. We do not know who took his bail. We also do not know when he was released. On Sunday night, Govindpura police itself informed us about his death. We suspect that someone has done something wrong with him. He has been murdered.

Pramod's family has also informed that he was addicted to drinking alcohol. He used to quarrel with his wife every day while drunk. Pramod was originally from Narsinghpur. He was doing business in Bhopal for a long time. He was married to Pooja eight years ago. They have two children, 7-year-old Princy and 3-year-old Prajul. On Monday afternoon, the police handed over the body to the family after the post-mortem.
The southwest monsoon has covered the entire country six days ahead of the normal date despite making sluggish progress during mid-June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

"The southwest monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab today. Thus, it covered the entire country on July 2, 2024, against the normal date of July 8," the IMD said in a statement.

The monsoon arrived in Kerala and the northeastern region on May 30, two and six days earlier than usual.

It progressed normally up to Maharashtra but lost momentum in between, extending the wait for rains in West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, and worsening the impact of a scorching heat wave in northwest India.

The country recorded 16 days of below-normal rainfall activity from June 11 to June 27, leading to overall below-normal precipitation in June, with 147.2 mm of rainfall against a normal of 165.3 mm for the month, the seventh lowest since 2001.

June rainfall accounts for 15 per cent of the total precipitation of 87 cm recorded during the four-month monsoon season in the country.

Typically, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17, withdrawing entirely by October 15.

IMD data shows this is the third consecutive year that the monsoon has covered the entire country ahead of schedule. Monsoon rains covered all of the country on July 2 in both 2022 and 2021. Since 2011, the monsoon has covered the country earlier than the usual date seven times.

Last year, the monsoon rolled into Kerala on June 8, which was seven days behind the normal date, and covered the entire country by July 2, six days early. Monsoon withdrawal began in west Rajasthan on September 25, with an eight-day delay.

The IMD on Tuesday said the monsoon will remain active over northwest, east, and northeast India during the next four to five days.

Isolated very heavy rainfall is expected over Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura during July 26. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya on July 5-6.

Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, parts of Gujarat, and coastal Karnataka could experience a few spells of very heavy rain during this period, the Met office said.

The weather department on Monday said India could experience above-normal rainfall in July, with heavy rains potentially leading to floods in the western Himalayan states and river basins in the central parts of the country.

The northeastern states are already grappling with severe floods. Assam's flood situation remains critical with over 6.71 lakh people affected in 20 districts in the second wave of flooding this year. Heavy rainfall in Manipur and Mizoram has caused rivers to reach warning levels and triggered landslides.

The year 2023 saw devastating floods in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in July and August, and in the Teesta river in the eastern Himalayas in October, despite below-average rainfall.

The IMD had earlier forecast above-normal rainfall during the 2024 monsoon season in India, with cumulative precipitation estimated at 106 per cent of the long-period average of 87 cm.

However, normal cumulative rainfall over the country during the monsoon season doesn't mean even spatial and temporal spread of precipitation.

The Indian monsoon is characterized by inherent fluctuations and changes that occur over time due to various natural factors. This is called natural variability. However, research shows climate change is making the monsoon more variable. Increased variability means more extreme weather and dry spells.

According to the IMD, below-normal rainfall is expected in northeast India during the entire season, normal in the northwest, and above-normal in central and south peninsular regions of the country.

India's core monsoon zone, covering most of the rain-fed agricultural areas in the country, is predicted to receive above-normal rainfall this season, the Met office said.

The monsoon is critical for India's agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on it. The primary rain-bearing system is also crucial for replenishing reservoirs critical for drinking water and power generation across the country.

June and July are considered the most important monsoon months for agriculture, as most of the sowing for the Kharif crops takes place during this period.

IMD officials have said La Nina conditions may set in by August.

El Nino, the periodic warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean, is associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India. La Nina, the antithesis of El Nino, leads to plentiful rainfall during the monsoon season.
Up to 500 undergraduate places and 16 additional PhD places for Ulster University's Magee campus, it has been announced.

Economy Minister Conor Murphy today updated the Assembly on new skills interventions that will underpin his Economic Vision.

The Minister said: When my Department received its budget in April I created a new ring fenced Skills Fund of up to 12m. The Skills Fund will support important skills initiatives, including launching a new Skill Up programme, developing our childcare workforce, training for the new green skills and growing the apprenticeship system.

As well as supporting my top priority of the expansion of Ulster Universitys Magee Campus, the funding will help more people access apprenticeships through a new apprenticeship challenge fund, Special Educational Needs provision, All Ireland student mobility and increasing maintenance support.

The Minister continued: A highly qualified, skilled workforce is what attracts companies here, helps existing companies to grow, and strengthens our civic and community infrastructure. The interventions announced today help our people access the opportunities within our economy and progress our skills agenda, ensuring it will be a key driver for future growth.

Sinn Fein general election candidate Sandra Duffy welcomed the announcement from the Economy Minister of over 500 additional places for the Magee campus.

The Derry and Strabane District councillor said: Its fantastic news for Derry, our economy and our university that the Economy Minister has today announced over 500 student places for Magee.

Conor Murphy has prioritised the Magee expansion since taking office, and I am delighted at this step in the right direction which will further establish the north west as a vibrant place to live and study."
Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is to face additional historical sex offence charges in court on Wednesday.

Donaldson, 61, is expected to appear at Newry Magistrates Court for a preliminary enquiry (PE) hearing to establish if there is sufficient evidence to send him for trial.

During previous court hearings, Donaldson had faced 11 holding charges brought by police.

An evidence file has since been reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and the former DUP leader will now face 18 charges.

He will face one charge of rape, four of gross indecency and 13 charges of indecent assault.

The charges span a time period between 1985 and 2008.

The previous holding charges will be withdrawn in court on Wednesday.

Donaldson has previously indicated that he will contest charges against him.

His co-accused, his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 58, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences.

The number of charges she faces has increased from four to five.

There are two alleged victims.

It has already been confirmed that Donaldson, who was the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, is not running for re-election in the UK General Election this week.

He was arrested and charged in relation to the historical sexual allegations at the end of March.

Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations against him emerged.

It is understood that in a letter to DUP party officers at the time, he made clear he would be strenuously contesting all charges against him.

Weeks prior to his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont following a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson has been appointed his successor as DUP leader.

There was a large media and police presence when the two accused made their first appearance at Newry court in April. Wednesday will be the first occasion they have had to appear in court in person since then.
Stormonts Finance Minister has been accused of taking MLAs for fools after a 300 million funding announcement was made just days before the General Election.

Caoimhe Archibald was again forced to defend the timing of the announcement of the in-year June monitoring round exercise at Stormont earlier this week.

Answering questions on Tuesday, the Sinn Fein minister said it was vital that under-resourced Stormont departments received the funding as quickly as possible.

But SDLP Opposition leader Matthew OToole repeated his claim that making the announcement so close to election day risked jeopardising civil service integrity.

Executive ministers met on Monday to agree the in-year June monitoring round exercise, at which previously unallocated funds were distributed to departments.

Health, education and social house building were the main beneficiaries of the allocation of 250 million of resource spend and 50 million of capital money.

Some 122 million was allocated to the under-pressure Department of Health.

An outstanding pay settlement for non-teaching educational support workers will be funded from 43.7 million allocated to the Department of Education.

Addressing the issue during ministerial question time in the Assembly, Mr OToole said he had been previously told by Ms Archibald that a consultation on revenue-raising measures could not be published due to the pre-election period.

He said: Why could that not be published but a 300 million monitoring round could be published?

Ms Archibald said: I have been very clear that I considered the pre-election guidance in making the decision to proceed with the June monitoring round.

I did so on the basis that June monitoring is normal and routine business of the Executive and therefore it is appropriate to proceed with it during the pre-election period.

Given the financial pressures right across our departments, it was vital they had confirmation of the additional funding allocations as soon as possible to give certainty as soon as possible.

I also think it was important to give certainty to all of those who rely on those services, whether they are healthcare workers, those on waiting lists, our classroom assistants, school bus drivers and all of those parents who may be able to benefit from the childcare.

Any delays in June monitoring could risk overspend or lead to greater adverse impact than would have been the case had decisions been taken earlier.

Mr OToole responded: Your position is that four days difference would have jeopardised public services, but you also say that a routine report setting out consultation responses without any policy intent could not be published because of the pre-election period.

But totally normal and routine business to have an exceptional Monday morning Executive meeting, for three podiums to be set out in the Great Hall for you, the First and deputy First Ministers.

With respect I think you are taking us for fools and I think you and your department have jeopardised civil service integrity and impartiality by pushing yesterdays monitoring round.

Ms Archibald said she had set out the position four times for Mr OToole.

She added: The pre-election guidance is clear that each case should be considered on its own merits.
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Chinese manufacturers to benefit from CoWoS-like structures and TSMC order surplus

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) remains the world's sole provider capable of delivering a complete end-to-end Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) packaging solution. For Chinese manufacturers, the question arises: what roles do front-end wafer fabrication and advanced packaging companies play, and which markets do they serve?

Samsung Electronics plans to introduce its own CoWoS-like packaging solution, branded as I-CUBE/H-CUBE. Leveraging its ability to supply both High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and CoWoS-style packaging, Samsung aims to compete with TSMC for orders. However, production capacity won't be available until after 2024, and the solution still requires customer validation.

CoWoS packaging technology and HBM integration

Considering the current AI GPU chip architectures from companies like NVIDIA and AMD, CoWoS packaging is essential for HBM integration. The generative AI boom has driven a surge in AI-HPC computing demand, leading to the emergence of "CoWoS-like" structures and a new industry division of labor: Chip-on-Wafer (CoW) + Wafer-on-Substrate (WoS).

In this model, TSMC manufactures the GPU wafer and interposer, completing the "Chip on Wafer" stacking and interconnection. The product is then transferred to OSAT providers to finish the "on Substrate" portion, packaging it onto a substrate.

According to Tencent Technology, Chinese manufacturers have some CoWoS capacity, primarily through CoW+WoS process integration. Advanced logic chips and interposers in China are mainly manufactured by SMIC and then outsourced to specialized OSAT providers like Tongfu Microelectronics and JCET for WoS packaging and testing.

The CoW+WoS Model: Industry Adaptation and Chinese Participation

Chinese AI chip designers with access to TSMC's services prioritize TSMC over SMIC. SMIC lags behind TSMC in advanced process nodes and interposer production, faces capacity constraints, and must support other Chinese manufacturers. In the front-end CoW process, SMIC can only "sufficiently supply."

Chinese OSAT providers are prepared for advanced process technologies and capacities. Beyond collaborating with SMIC on certain projects, they have more opportunities from TSMC's overflow orders, similar to Amkor and ASE, catering to non-Chinese AI-HPC computing demand.

UMC and GlobalFoundries (GF) can also provide silicon interposer manufacturing. UMC has recently stated its intention to focus on HPC interposers and back-end advanced packaging for AI applications. While not explicitly targeting HPC interposer opportunities, GF has been expanding its presence in the Chinese market. The company recently announced a change in leadership for its China operations, a move that merits close attention for potential future developments in this area.

TSMC's CoWoS Dominance and Emerging Competition

Although CoWoS doesn't require extremely advanced technology, high yield is especially crucial for packaging HBM-equipped AI chips. Low packaging yields result in irrecoverable losses of stacked devices like HBM.

Currently, only TSMC can balance advanced process nodes with high yields. However, Samsung is eyeing a slice of this lucrative market, and Intel's Foveros packaging solution is worth watching for potential market entry.

Companies like Amkor, ASE, and Chinese firms Tongfu Microelectronics and JCET are vying for CoWoS overflow opportunities as TSMC's capacity tightens. However, capacity suitable for advanced computing chip processes with high yields remains limited, which is key to TSMC's continued dominance in attracting orders.

The industry views CoW+WoS as a reasonable division of labor, with an increasing number of "CoWoS-like" supply chains emerging. Chinese front-end advanced process logic chip and silicon interposer capacity remain at a level of being "sufficient." As for back-end WoS packaging and testing, Chinese providers can handle both domestic and international overflow orders, but mature yields continue to play a crucial role in their competitiveness.
Malaysia and Singapore vie for semiconductor supremacy in SEA amid global supply chain shifts

As the global supply chain undergoes restructuring, Malaysia and Singapore have emerged as attractive destinations for semiconductor companies seeking to establish manufacturing operations in Southeast Asia (SEA). Both countries have implemented their own strategies to capitalize on this opportunity, leveraging their respective strengths to enhance their value within the semiconductor industry chain.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly emphasized that Malaysia will remain neutral and not take sides in geopolitical conflicts. Anwar believes that if businesses want to engage in trade with China, Malaysia is the top choice for setting up factories. Both the Financial Times and the New York Times have commented that Malaysia stands to benefit from the supply chain shift amid the US-China trade and tech wars.

Malaysia: Expanding beyond IC packaging and testing

Malaysia is renowned in the semiconductor industry for its backend packaging and testing segment. According to data from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia's market share in the global chips testing and packaging market reached 13% in 2023. The country now accommodates prominent semiconductor players like Intel and Infineon.

However, Malaysia is not satisfied with just the packaging and testing market and is actively advancing into upstream areas such as IC design and advanced chip manufacturing. Recently, Malaysia proposed the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), aiming to attract more foreign investments and cultivate 60,000 high-end semiconductor professionals, with the ultimate goal of supplying advanced chips.

This strategic initiative may face the dilemma of "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" Should a good ecosystem be built first to attract businesses, or should businesses be attracted to invest first to create a thriving environment?

The Malaysian government's subsidy support may be limited. The Edge Malaysia pointed out that current subsidies for wafer fabs in some countries are about 30% of investment funds, but Malaysian Minister of Investment, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, admitted that Malaysia does not have such deep pockets. He said that even with only a 10% subsidy, many enterprises are still willing to set up factories in the country. Malaysia should take it step by step, first aiming at advanced packaging and IC design.

Malaysia is currently facing a serious brain drain problem. Reports indicate that many Malaysians working overseas are high-level talents, and the recent depreciation of the ringgit has worsened the situation. Amarjit Sandhu, a senior Micron executive for Malaysia and Singapore, has called for Malaysia to develop a good strategy to ensure an adequate supply of semiconductor talent. The Malaysian Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) also believes a global talent war is underway.

Singapore: Talent and connectivity as the advantages

Singapore emphasizes its strong talent pool, stable business environment, and robust connectivity as a Southeast Asian hub.

Despite its small land area, Singapore's semiconductor manufacturing accounts for 7% of its GDP and constitutes 10% of the world market, compared to a 20% global share for equipment manufacturing. Recently, major companies such as Micron, GlobalFoundries (GF), and Applied Materials have announced plans to expand their investments in Singapore.

Applied Materials has noted that its production capacity, employment numbers, and R&D activities in Singapore will double in the next few years. Its CEO Gary Dickerson believes that despite possessing comprehensive technology, Applied Materials still needs to collaborate with various partners, affirming Singapore's innovative environment.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has acknowledged that Singapore cannot subsidize the semiconductor industry on a large scale like the US and China, nor can it participate in every aspect of the semiconductor industry. It is also difficult to squeeze into the ranks of high-end manufacturing. However, Wong believes that Singapore's greatest asset is its talent and it remains competitive in the 5G, automotive, and IoT chip markets. Moving forward, Singapore will continue to develop based on these strengths.

Nevertheless, the high cost of developing manufacturing in Singapore has become a concern. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) pointed out that the total cost of products manufactured and exported from Singapore to the US is the highest among Southeast Asian countries, 15% higher than in Malaysia.

Malaysia and Singapore have their own distinct advantages and challenges in attracting semiconductor manufacturers to set up factories. Malaysia is seeking to upgrade its industry and move upstream, but the actual implementation details of the National Semiconductor Strategy and how to attract foreign investment remain to be seen. Singapore, on the other hand, prides itself on its talent and connectivity, continuing to expand the proportion of chip manufacturing and strengthen research and development, but labor, energy, and other costs are all higher.
Telecoms face transformation challenges amid slow 5G growth

Telecom operators worldwide are grappling with the challenges of transformation amid the slow growth and lack of a killer app for 5G.

As a result, reducing dependence on traditional telecom revenue has become crucial, prompting companies to diversify into streaming, cloud, and AI applications. Despite China's impressive 5G penetration rate of over 50% and its status as the world's largest consumer market, Chinese telecom operators have made a clear shift at the Mobile World Congress (MWC).

The 2024 MWC in Shanghai commenced on June 26. In the opening keynote, China Telecom announced its successful transformation into a tech and security-oriented company, leveraging AI and positioning 5G as the key driver for network innovation and application expansion.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), by the end of May, the number of mobile service users in China reached 1.76 billion, an increase of nearly 20 million since the end of 2023. Among these, 905 million are 5G users, up by more than 80 million over the same period, with a penetration rate of 51.3%.

Despite high 5G penetration, future growth necessitates a shift towards more advanced and promising sectors, such as 5.5G and AI. The term "5.5G" or "5G-Advanced" refers to the transitional phase between 5G and 6G, offering enhanced functionalities, broader coverage, higher speeds, ultra-low latency, and better multi-device connectivity compared to 5G.

GSMA Chairman Mats Granryd described China's 5G growth as "astonishing," with connections expected to exceed 1 billion by the end of 2024. A significant growth driver for Chinese operators is cloud revenue, now accounting for 12% of total income, a six-fold increase since 2020, reaching US$11 billion over the past three years. Moreover, 5G is projected to significantly boost China's GDP, doubling from US$130 billion in 2023 to an anticipated US$260 billion by 2030.

While telecom revenues showed a moderate 3.7% year-on-year increase to CNY738.7 billion in the first five months of 2024, emerging sectors like cloud computing and big data exhibited robust growth rates of 16.2% and 48.2%, respectively. IoT business revenue grew by 15.4%.

China Unicom reported that while broadband services saw only a modest 2.3% growth last year after peaking at around 30% in 2014, intelligent data service revenues, though still a small part of total income, demonstrated impressive growth rates.

In the world's largest 5G market, Chinese telecom operators' continued transformation hinges on the limited growth potential of mobile services. In contrast, digital services across various industries show promising growth potential. With 5G-Advanced empowering different sectors, the traditionally mobile service-centric telecom industry is poised for a new era of growth, evolving into tech service companies driving digital transformation across industries.
AI giants seize market as OpenAI pulls out of China

OpenAI recently surprised users by announcing that, starting July 9, 2024, it will cease providing API services to China and other regions, including Hong Kong.

This abrupt decision spells trouble for Chinese startups reliant on OpenAI's API, forcing them to seek alternative solutions for product development. As a result, Chinese AI companies now have a prime opportunity to capture market share.

Bloomberg and South China Morning Post report that this move comes as the US ramps up tech sanctions on China. The US Treasury Department recently released a draft to regulate American investments in Chinese sectors like semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, and microelectronics, which could threaten national security, requiring future investments to be notified or prohibited.

Chinese media Securities Times speculates that OpenAI's decision may be linked to the recent addition of NSA Director Paul M. Nakasone to OpenAI's board and security committee.

Xiaohu (Neil) Zhu, founder and chief scientist of University AI, which provides training for Chinese enterprises, sees this as a direct consequence of the US-China tech rivalry. Previous US regulations limiting Chinese access to semiconductor and AI technologies hinted at this development, making OpenAI's API suspension unsurprising.

Singapore-based Dorje AI underscores the need to monitor whether other open-source large language models (LLMs) like Meta Llama will also cut off access for Chinese developers. In July 2023, China introduced interim measures for managing generative AI services, requiring regulatory approval before consumer-oriented generative AI LLMs can be sold in China to control public opinion and social mobilization.

By March 2024, over 200 domestic LLMs had applied for approval, with 117 receiving the green light from Chinese authorities, and no foreign products among them. Consequently, ChatGPT remains inaccessible in China.

For Chinese developers starting from scratch with limited funds, OpenAI's technology is a crucial tool for training their own AI systems and building applications, integrating its API into their products for sale.

In China, there are two ways to use OpenAI's API: purchasing Microsoft's Azure cloud services or using overseas servers to relay requests, though the latter suffers from stability issues and requires additional servers. For OpenAI, losing the Chinese market means missing out on API access revenue, which is charged based on token consumption.

Chinese internet company Qihoo 360 suggests that OpenAI's exit from the Chinese market will push users towards local models, accelerating the growth of China's LLM industry. The Center for Regulation and Global Governance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) also indicates that leading Chinese LLM providers will benefit, helping eliminate small, inefficient players.

Companies like Zhipu, Tencent, Baidu, Alibaba, Kai-Fu Lee's 01.AI, SenseTime, and Baichuan are seizing this opportunity with "migration" plans and model discount schemes. Zhipu, for instance, has announced a special migration plan, offering training, consulting services, and tokens equivalent to what developers used with OpenAI. Baichuan Intelligence promises that migrating from OpenAI to their platform will take only five minutes. According to iiMedia Research, the quick response from Chinese AI firms reflects the increasingly fierce competition in the local industry.

Since ChatGPT's debut at the end of 2022, Chinese companies have launched several LLMs amid the AI boom. Dorje AI notes that OpenAI's move may eliminate many small AI startups that emerged during the frenzy.

In the long run, lacking access to global tools will hinder the development of Chinese AI companies. Alibaba has stated that Chinese AI models will need at least two years to catch up with the US. Furthermore, Chinese tech companies and startups might relocate overseas for a more stable and growth-friendly business environment.
France targets Nvidia in landmark antitrust case over AI dominance

Nvidia is set to face antitrust charges from the French government.

This action follows a raid by French authorities in September 2023 as part of an antitrust investigation into the cloud computing industry.

According to sources cited by Reuters, France is poised to lead global regulators in bringing antitrust charges against Nvidia. However, as the investigation continues, the European Commission is unlikely to expand its preliminary probe at this time.

Nvidia's legal trouble

The US Department of Justice is also reportedly investigating Nvidia for antitrust concerns, citing worries about its dominance in the AI chip market.

France's investigation into the cloud computing industry stemmed from concerns that large operators were monopolizing computing resources and disadvantaging smaller competitors. In late September 2023, the French government disclosed that it had conducted court-approved raids but did not specify the targets.

The Wall Street Journal later reported that Nvidia's offices in France were raided. Such raids typically involve seizing physical and digital materials and interviewing employees.

Alleged monopoly on the market

In June 2024, the French government released a report on competition in the generative AI market, highlighting risks associated with chip suppliers. The report expressed concerns about the industry's heavy reliance on Nvidia's CUDA software, the only system fully compatible with the GPUs necessary for accelerated computing applications.

Additionally, the report raised issues regarding Nvidia's investments in AI cloud service providers like CoreWeave. If found in violation of French antitrust laws, Nvidia could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue, although penalties may be mitigated through settlements.

Rob Enderle, an analyst at Enderle Group, told Silicon Angle that France's focus on codified laws might advantage Nvidia in its defense, particularly compared to the US or UK, as French legislation has not yet been updated for AI or other advanced technologies.

Enderle suggested that proving price-fixing could be challenging for French authorities. "Price fixing involves competitors agreeing on prices secretly to undermine competition. Who would Nvidia be price fixing with?" he said.

Enderle also noted that the French investigation might be premature, given AI's nascent stage. "Nvidia's dominance comes from 20 years of investments that others didn't make, earned through hard work rather than antitrust behavior," he added.
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In a bid to find the very best in trade talent, Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2024 is now open for entries. The annual award has seen 14 of the best tradespeople in Ireland and the UK take home the coveted title since its inception in 2010. Now, as the trade retailer looks to crown its 15th winner, the question is could it be you?

Screwfix Top Tradesperson, which last year saw Devon-based carpenter, Astrid Arnold scoop the top prize, celebrates the outstanding work tradespeople do, highlighting their professionalism and dedication to promoting and supporting the future of the industry.

To enter, tradespeople from Ireland and the UK can put themselves forward or can be nominated by employers, customers or friends, by filling out the online application form at screwfix.ie/stt before entries close on Sunday 14th July.

Following entry, the standout applicants will be shortlisted to take part in a semi-final interview in August. From there, just 10 will head to the final at Screwfix Live in Farnborough on Friday 27th September, where they will go head-to-head in front of a panel of esteemed industry experts.

The winner will join the likes of Astrid Arnold, along with 2022 champion, Toby Peacock, and Dan Lloyd, who topped the trades in 2021, in the Screwfix Hall of Fame. Theyll also walk away with an incredible trade bundle worth 20,000, comprising of tech, tools, and training to boost their business.

Reflecting on the positive impact the award has had on her career, reigning champion Astrid Arnold said: The Screwfix Top Tradesperson award marked a significant turning point in my career. While Ive always been passionate about helping others, the award has given me a bigger platform to help enact change, including providing greater visibility for women in the industry and working with schools to promote the incredible opportunities a career in the trade can provide.

Already, Ive been able to use the prize bundle to grow the existing training programmes that my company offers, supporting disadvantaged women in the local community to improve their DIY skills and better their lives. Theyve been delighted! Often, women can go unnoticed in the industry, but winning this award is recognition of the excellent contribution we make.

Cambridgeshire electrician, and 2022 winner Toby Peacock, adds: The award completely transformed my career. Ive been able to invest in new equipment and training opportunities, which have helped take my business to the next level. Ive also since launched my own podcast Tearoom Talks, which focuses on how we can improve mental health in the trade. One of the great things about the competition was that it allowed me to shine a light on mental health in the industry drawing on my own experiences.

From meeting the other inspirational finalists through to the interviews where I got to showcase my passion and enthusiasm, the competition was a fantastic experience and one that I will forever be grateful for being part of.

Dan Lloyd, an electrician from Brighton, proved he was the brightest spark when he was crowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2021 in recognition of his fantastic approach to customer service and ambitions for his business.

He said: Winning the competition in 2021 provided me with the necessary tools to drive my business forward. Being able to share that Im a Screwfix Top Tradesperson provides further reassurance to my current and prospective customers that they are in the best hands.

Jack Wallace, Marketing Director at Screwfix, added: Screwfix Top Tradesperson is all about recognising the incredible contribution that tradespeople make day in, day out. Although only one person can take home the title, this award looks to celebrate everyone in the trade  from electricians to plumbers, builders to painters, and carpenters to roofers  while showcasing just how rewarding a career in the industry can be.

Theres an abundance of exceptional talent across the board, but were particularly looking for someone who goes the extra mile for their customers and acts as an ambassador for the industry, helping to inspire the next generation of tradespeople.

The calibre of applications we receive year on year is phenomenal, and we cant want to see what this years entrants bring to the table.
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently hosted a 2-day international conference led by DkITs Dr Bernard (Ben) Drumm and supported by The Physiological Society titled "Command and Control: Regulation of Smooth Muscle Function".

The conference catered for over 50 attendees, with more than 80% of those coming from overseas, and more than 50% of attendees at the senior Professor level. Participants arrived from all over the UK (London, Manchester, Strathclyde, Oxford), as well as several attendees from the United States, Australia, Spain and India.

This event was the inaugural Smooth Muscle themed conference by the Physiological Society and the first Society conference in Ireland in more than 8 years.

Dr Ben Drumm who hails from Dundalk said: "We were delighted at DkIT to host this international conference on campus with our colleagues from The University of Manchester and The University of Strathclyde.

"This Physiological Society sponsored symposium brought the top minds in smooth muscle physiology from all over the world on to our campus, symbolizing the strategic importance of the DkIT Smooth Muscle Research Centre as a hub of state-of-the-art life science research in Ireland".

Smooth muscle is a major tissue type in the human body, vital for normal gastrointestinal, urinary, airway, vascular and reproductive function. Diseases resulting from smooth muscle disorders are numerous, ranging from asthma, incontinence, stroke, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, pre-mature labour and even neurological disorders such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

This conference represented a meeting of worlds and expertise, where research from the entire breath of smooth muscle tissues and organs was presented and discussed. This conferences aim was to allow young up and coming investigators, trainees and students, the opportunity to showcase and discuss their work alongside recognized and established international experts.

The DkIT Smooth Muscle Research Centre academics who spoke at this notable event included Professor Keith Thornbury, Director of the DkIT Smooth Muscle Research Centre. Professor and lecturer at DkIT, he is an expert on ion channel pharmacology and smooth muscle physiology. Professor Thornbury spoke about new discoveries from the research group at DkIT on novel targets for treating airway diseases such as asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Dr. Tuleen Alkawadri, a Postdoctoral Scholar also from DkITs Smooth Muscle Research Centre also presented her key findings from her PhD work at DkIT, outlining novel mechanisms for controlling smooth muscle function in the airways.

Dr Ben Drumm further added Id like to extend a massive thank you to Dr. Edel Healy for all the logistical support, DkIT President Diarmuid O'Callaghan for his excellent opening address and all the team at the Smooth Muscle Research Centre in Dundalk for their work.

"Congratulations to my fellow organizers Harry Pritchard at The University of Manchester and Calum Wilson and Matthew Lee from University of Strathclyde. Also well done to my PhD student Neha Gupta who, along with fellow DkIT PhD student Mitchell Mercer, was awarded the joint Early Career Poster Prize!
Lindi, Southern Tanzania (PANA)  Tanzanias first-ever shipment of graphite concentrate from the Lindi Jumbo graphite mine, in the southeast coast of the country, is set to leave for Europe this month, unlocking a new global graphite mining jurisdiction
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Welcome to The Echos annual feature - Summer Soap. Now in its ninth year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which started this week and runs till Saturday week. Called The Space Between Us, the story is about a man who bumps into an ex-girlfriend and discovers she can travel through time. It was written by Robyn Kelly, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. Catch up with previous episodes at echolive.ie. In the second episode, Francis chats to his ex-girlfriend on the train





FRANCIS had spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to think of something to say that wouldnt fan the flames of awkwardness that pushed through his veins.

The more he thought about the last time they spoke, the more uneasy he felt. Clara once again cut the tension, she was surprisingly chill about the whole situation.

Hows your mam?

Oh eh shes grand. She was asking for you at Christmas.

She always made the best dinners tell her I say hi.

I will.

He lied. He could only imagine what his mother would come out with if he told her he spoke to Clara, probably wallop him across the head for not getting back together with her there and then. The idea of small talk nauseated him. He decided to address the elephant in the room.

Listen, I just wanted to say

Please dont. I dont want to talk about what happened. Im just glad to see you.

Francis felt guilty for allowing a wave of calm wash over him after hearing that. He owed her a hell of an apology for what he did, but he knew trying to form anything genuine right now would have been a mess. It was something he needed time to rehearse.

Not too long passed before the silence melted from flaming hot awkwardness to room temperature comfort. It was so weird being a stranger to someone you used to tell everything to, she knew more about him than most of his mates did. She never judged him. Maybe thats why it was so easy to fall into a rhythm with her even after two years of silence. This made the ball of guilt inside him swell.

He couldnt help but notice how different she looked now. Her face was still the same, big cheeks that creased like head heavy pillows when she smiled and high cheekbones directly under her wide eyes. Seeing the familiarity through her facial expressions kept him from showing too much physical discomfort with the situation.

Her sense of style had clearly changed a lot over the past two years, she had ditched the band tees and overly ripped jeans for polished mary janes and cherry red lip oil. Despite the stark difference, he couldnt be too shocked, she was a fashion major after all. She had always experimented with style in an obvious way that separated her from trend follower to trendsetter.

The only reason he was this clued in was because of the friends she had during college, always so full of praise for her, he couldnt help but agree. She was beautiful. Being hyper- aware of how she looked only made him feel more embarrassed about his soggy trainers and ill-fitting flannel with the missing button. He zipped his jacket up over it.

So, you headed back to Dublin?

Yeah I was seeing a friend over the weekend.

The food cart clicked through the aisle, stopping Francis from asking any follow-up questions. Probably for the best, he didnt want to come off nosey.

Tea or coffee snacks or drinks?

The woman pushing the cart had a thick Cork accent and was very enthusiastic about handing out Pringles to passengers. The old woman across from him ordered a cup of tea and a small packet of Lotus biscuits.

Lovely weather today.

She held out the card scanner, smiling. The older woman grunted, then slapped her card around the machine everywhere but the scanner on top. Francis turned his attention back to Clara. She had a book open in front of her but appeared to be reading the same line over and over. Through the corner of her eye she noticed him noticing her and quickly put the book down on the seat next to her.

I feel like I should ask you hows life in Cork, but it feels odd to make small talk with you.

This made him smile.

It does, doesnt it? I mean, if you do really want to know, its going well. Assignments are tough but the people are really nice, especially classmates.

Thats good to hear

He got the sense she was about to ask something else but stopped herself. This reignited the tension between them, silently looking, not moving. Then, tears began to form in the corner of her eyes. She blinked furiously then stood up.

Im so sorry, Ill be back in a second.

Francis had always been particularly quiet when it came to expressing emotion, much more so when trying to comfort others. The swelling of guilt started to rise in him again. He did care for her, but he was more so confused as to why she was crying and less concerned with figuring out a way to make her stop. How could he be so self-aware and yet feel like he knows nothing at all?

He was suddenly very aware of his sunken posture in his seat. He straightened up when he saw Clara re-emerge from the bathroom and walk towards him. She took a bottle of water from her bag, took a delicate sip so as to not smudge her make-up, and then slicked her hair back into a half up ponytail.

Can I ask you something, Fran?

Of course.

The story continues tomorrow...

If you would like to start reading the summer soap from the beginning, click here
TEACHER and mother Niamh OSullivan has created a new puzzle in response to the increased amount of time children and teenagers are spending on social media.

Jigsee is a jigsaw puzzle with a special message to the person completing the puzzle. Unlike traditional jigsaw puzzles, where the person completing it uses the picture on the box as a guide, with Jigsee, the user must persevere to complete the puzzle and the message is only revealed when it is completed.

Niamh said: Fostering self-esteem and creating an environment where children believe in themselves is important to me.

As a mother and a teacher, I am aware of increased pressures that children feel today, and strive to help relieve these worries in any way that I can.

Originally from Waterford, Niamh lives in Cork with her husband and four daughters. She has a degree in Philosophical and Theological Studies and later qualified as a teacher.

She said; After qualifying as a teacher, I was fortunate enough to be part of the Chaplaincy Team in UCC for a year before embarking on teaching full time.

Niamh completed an MA in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. She has worked as the school chaplain in Colaiste Stiofain Naofa for the past 22 years.

Jigsee.

Her work there and her experience as a mother of four makes her adept in understanding the pressures young children and teenagers can feel as a result of social media.

Increased usage of social media and screen time can really influence how we see ourselves in the world, and competing for this time with kids can be a challenge, she said.

I wanted to show my children more traditional ways of play and fun while also encouraging them to be who they are.

I was looking for a puzzle for my own daughter at the time with the aim of limiting her screen time, boosting her self-confidence and nourishing her spirit.

"While mindful products were available, I had imagined a different type of product. Hence, Jigsee was born.

Niamh created the first Jigsee at her kitchen table using Twistables and cardboard. Her daughters enjoyed the prototype and Niamh decided she wanted to make the mindfulness jigsaw puzzle available to more children and teenagers.

I needed to make these available for every child. The reason; so they feel special. This is what Jigsee is about!

The humble jigsaw has been around a while and there is a growing interest in returning to traditional play. Jigsee offers this in a fresh and new imaginative way, she said.

Niamh facilitated focus groups before bringing Jigsee to the market.

I was amazed at how many people of different ages and backgrounds it appealed to. Primarily, it was made for children but I have since discovered it appeals to anyone who likes jigsaws. The unknown message seems to help people persevere at it too.

Jigsee.

Jigsee puzzles fall into four categories: encouragement, happiness, creativity and love.

Niamh said; The message in the Jigsee for me is very important. It can enable connection or meaningful conversations in a relaxed, comfortable and fun way.

It seems that Jigsees appeal is broad; from simple fun for children aged 5+ to adults and parents, to educational professionals such as teachers, to people who work in the area of mindfulness and wellbeing.

A Jigsee in different languages and a range for people in nursing homes was also suggested going forward and may very well be added to the collection in time.

According to Niamh, Jigsee helps people as follows:

1. To be present

It helps children to have fun and be in the moment. Any tactile activity that requires attention and focus helps us come back to ourselves and be in the present. This can have great benefits for our overall wellbeing.

2. It is unique

There is a bookmark included with suggestions on how to nurture areas of creativity, happiness, encouragement and love in their lives.

3. Lessons learned

Jigsee is a response to insights Niamh has gained and what she thinks is important for young people to hear.

4. Positive thinking in a fun way

It is affirming and can enable connection and conversation around the messages.

5. It is fun.

It is a fun activity for everyone.

6. Screen Free

It is engaging and tactile and reduces screen time.

The mental wellbeing of children and teenagers is close to Niamhs heart. She said; I think we have begun to really listen to others and people are bringing the importance of mental health to the fore.

The rise in awareness of mental health is so important. It helps bring to light ways that will help us flourish, grow and nurture our mind and spirit.

I think it is important for children and teenagers to know that they matter. It also helps to know that its okay not to be okay and to reach out to someone you trust.

I think listening to one another is powerful. One of the greatest gifts we can give and receive is to listen and be really listened to.

Niamh acknowledged the help and support she received in making Jigsee available to the public.

She said: I am so thankful to those who have supported me so far on my Jigsee venture. Thanks to AIB Douglas for recently including Jigsee in their fundraising day for the wonderful Rainbow Club Cork. I am also grateful to my Local Enterprise Office for their support and mentoring.

More information about Jigsee can be found online at www.jigsees.com, Instagram and LinkedIn.
CORK woman Kate Sweeney was young when she was first diagnosed with lupus. She had only just turned 18.

For me, I had been overlooked for a long time by GPs, she said. I was a teenager going through hormonal changes, tiredness, brain fog. I had stomach issues. Nobody thought that much of it.

The condition is complicated by this in-built invisibility, meaning that it is often overlooked and misunderstood.

People dont realise the level of tiredness. Its a different type of tiredness. I feel totally drained. Im a qualified pre-school teacher, but Ive been out of work since September, said Kate.

It has been so difficult to explain to people. More awareness would help.

I am only 24. How many people my age are out of work! I wake up and wont know when the pain will start.

Kate added: I look fine. It is an invisible illness and that makes it hard. A flare can come out of nowhere. Stress plays a part, and the sun is an immense pressure. My joints will get so sore.

The unpredictably is incredibly hard to take. I cant work. I cant book a holiday, really, the number of holidays Ive cancelled

Kate, from Ballincollig, said her condition was suspected by her GP once a set of bloods came back as abnormal.

I was in the private system at the time, so it was expensive to get to the bottom of what was happening to me. For years, it has been trial and error. I was doing my Leaving Cert when I found out. It really was an incredibly tough time in my life.

It was only when I got referred to Professor Grainne Murphy that things started to change. She just went to the end of the earth to find out what was wrong. I went into her care last September.

Kate, as she puts it, has been tipping away on medications for years. She has also spent years experiencing massive flares, frequenting the Accident and Emergency department, with stays in hospital too.

Awareness

Others, including Kates own doctor, Professor Grainne Murphy, are now seeking to help by raising awareness in the community.

A campaign, a joint initiative by Arthritis Ireland and AstraZeneca, was launched recently to coincide with World Lupus Day in May.

Arthritis Ireland conducted a survey to understand the impact of lupus on patients beforehand, and the results were shared on the day.

Professor Murphy makes a huge difference, says Kate. She will always check in on me if Im in hospital.

Her passion to find an answer is insane. It is a hard diagnosis to live with as there are so many symptoms.

"I have stomach issues, a butterfly rash across my face, problems with my kidneys, my liver.

But two people will never have the same symptoms; it is such a massive spectrum.

Prof Murphy is a consultant rheumatologist in Cork University Hospital/ University College Cork and an expert in lupus treatment. She is keen to improve the situation for all sufferers.

I have always had a special interest in SLE (known as lupus) and developed it further through a fellowship in a Lupus Centre in the United Kingdom, where I consolidated my interest, said Professor Murphy.

When I returned, I came to the lupus clinic here in the CUH where I have excellent colleagues in rheumatology but also many other specialities relevant to patients with Lupus.

The clinic incorporates other specialities because lupus is a complex condition that can affect many organs in the body, including the kidneys, joints, skin and brain. It is an auto-immune disease, which means the body is attacking itself, but that attack can come in a variety of forms, explains the specialist.

Some people will have a rash, a butterfly rash is one of the most common experienced; other will have severe joint pain or intense, debilitating fatigue. Inflammation can impact internal organs  that might be the brain or the lining of the lungs, or the heart. There is simply no way of predicting how the condition will manifest from patient to patient. Every patient will have a different story.

Professor Murphy explains that the condition is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 15 and 45.

Women are nine times more likely to get it than men in that age category. When younger, the condition can also be more severe .

The treatment required is as various as the different presentations of the illness in patients, she explains.

It is very individualised. Some patients will need aggressive therapy and others will need a less intensive therapy. New drugs being developed might help but we have limited access to them in Ireland. Some medications have been approved in the US or other countries within the EU and the UK but have not become accessible to us yet.

This is what Professor Murphy wishes to fight against: the inequity that exists between patients.

This is a condition that affects (mostly) women in their most productive years. They must have access to appropriate medications.

The lack of awareness of the condition is a huge problem, she argues.

Thats why it can take some people a long time to arrive at a diagnosis. Symptoms can seem vague, and there is no one test for lupus. There is a blood test that can be positive but this can also be positive in many healthy individuals; the patient needs to see a specialist for a clinical diagnosis.

Access to Medication

We dont have exact numbers on the prevalence of lupus, the professor added. We estimate that it will occur in 25 people in every 100,000. That translates to somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 diagnosed patients in Ireland.

The professor says there is also a significant unmet need when it comes to lupus treatment  there have far fewer new therapies approved than for other autoimmune conditions that we treat, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this campaign is to spread awareness so that people recognise lupus symptoms, and to prompt research into new treatments.

There are also serious risks associated with lupus. People are much more likely to have a cardiovascular event, be it a heart attack or a stroke, if they have lupus. It can be complicating in pregnancy and can also lead to serious organ damage if left untreated. I am a huge advocate for enhancing access to new therapies, especially for those patients who have found no relief in previous therapies, she concludes.

Into the Future

Kate Sweeney continues to navigate her diagnosis.

Sometimes the pain is so severe I cant cope. Paracetamol doesnt come close, and I cant take Nurofen due to my kidney inflammation.

Thankfully, and with the help of Professor Murphy, Kate reports feeling massively improved.

Like I said, it has been trial and error but Im on what is like a chemo treatment at the moment. Nothing else was doing what Professor Murphy wanted. We thought about going to Germany to get an immunotherapy.

I dont want to be on all this medication. She adds. It might affect my fertility. We dont really know. I suppose thats a stress in the back of my head. Having that stress puts me in jeopardy of having another flare. Its hard to balance it all.
One of Corks favourite summer events returns this Saturday and will run weekly, weather permitting, until the end of August.

At 10am on Saturday, July 6, in front of the bandstand, this summers Yoga in the Park for Cork Simon Community begins, running until Saturday, August 31.

This popular weekly event supports Corks homeless population through donations made at these weekly classes, all of which go to Cork Simon.

The classes have already raised over 80,000 for Cork Simon Community over the last decade, and bring together up to 200 yoga enthusiasts in Fitzgerald Park, all united for a great cause each week.

The organisers, Himalaya Yoga Valley, describe the weekly event as a family-friendly way to give back while embracing wellness, perfect for all levels and you need no yoga experience to attend.

For more information and to book Yoga in the Park, visit yogacorkireland.com and remember to bring a yoga mat, sunscreen, and water.
A CORK TD has warned that the Government is facing major challenges in combating drug abuse, but pledged he is fully committed to ensuring that Ireland moves forward with a health-led approach to drug use.

Fine Gaels Colm Burke, the minister of state for public health, wellbeing, and the National Drugs Strategy, cited the recent HRB report which showed a substantial increase in the number of people requiring treatment.

He described how drug use impacts families and the community as well as the individual and said he was contacted about one woman who paid 25,000 to drug dealers to try and clear her sons debt so that they wouldnt harm him.

Mr Burke made the comments ahead of launching a report today on drug use and current alternatives to coercive sanctions in Ireland.

Alternatives to sentencing

The report identifies alternatives in Ireland to criminal sentencing for people who are found in possession of controlled drugs for personal use.

One alternative discussed in the report was the Cork Court referral programme, an initiative pioneered by Judge Olann Kelleher which was developed under local accord.

The programme, in operation since 2019, works as a partnership between the HSE South, probation and a drug treatment service, Coolmine, and has focused on diverting young cocaine users away from criminal prosecution and into health intervention programmes.

One alternative discussed in the report was the Cork Court referral programme, an initiative pioneered by Judge Olann Kelleher which was developed under local accord: Larry Cummins

The funding is provided by a fine of 750, which the judge imposes on individuals who are diverted into the programme, though inability to pay does not preclude anyone from it.

By September 2023, 189 young cocaine users had been referred to the programme.

Initiatives like this reflect Irelands move towards a health-led response, an approach also endorsed by the recent Citizens Assembly on drugs use, and highlights enthusiasm among the judiciary, probation workers, and other stakeholders in Ireland for alternative pathways, the report added.

Challenges

Speaking to The Echo ahead of the launch, Mr Burke said: Were moving towards a health-led approach in relation to drugs, but we have major challenges at the moment, the recent HRB report showed a substantial increase in the number of people requiring treatment.

An example of some of the issues on my desk, I got a phone call from a woman who has paid over 25,000 out to drug dealers on behalf of her son, as he has already been seriously assaulted.

Another had to move away from family home because their mother, in her mid-40s, and her partner are addicted to cocaine.

Mr Burke added: Drug use is a serious health issue with long-term implications not just for the person who uses illicit drugs, but for their family and the community around them.

The report shows the enthusiasm for a health-led response, one which diverts people away from courts and prisons and instead towards effective programmes that support their rehabilitation and reduce their likelihood of reoffending.

Mr Burke said he was fully committed to ensuring that Ireland moves forward with this approach.

This shift in Irelands policy aligns with a broader trend in Europe, acknowledging drug use as a public health concern rather than solely a criminal issue.

Criminalisation of drug possession has shown to be ineffective in reducing drug use, the report said.

Working with various agencies is key to steering people away from drug abuse, Mr Burke said, explaining that the supervised injection centre due to open in Dublin at the end of this year was an example of a health-led measure.

Technically, when people are going to that centre they will be carrying substances which are illegal under Irish law, but the gardai and DPP have come onboard with that plan and we are working together to assist people, said Mr Burke.
A world famous reviewer of fast food came to Cork in a very fast car  a Lamborghini no less  and left with happy memories to post rave reviews of the premises he visited  a number of stalls in the Marina Market as well as the legendary KC & Son & Sons takeaway in Douglas  and a pledge to return.

Matt Binges Food Review Club profile on TikTok has more than 750,000 followers and his videos from burger and pizza joints as well as traditional fish and chip shops and a wide variety of other fast food stalls selling delicious speedily dispatched delicacies from all over the world regularly attract millions of views.

Over the weekend, a number of videos from his recent visit to the Marina Market as well as KC's in Douglas were published on his TikTok channel, generating hundreds of comments and thousands of shares.

Speaking to The Echo, Matt, whos originally from Cambridge, told us that he absolutely loved Cork.

Matt Binge of the Food Review Club paid a visit to Cork's Marina Market as well as the legendary KC's Takeaway in Douglas and was very impressed with the fare available.

Though it was a speedy visit, we aim to come back very, very soon, said Matt.

Among the comments on his videos from his Cork visit were hundreds of suggestions - from teaming up with one of the citys own food reviewers, Richies Food and Nature, or taking a trip to the northside for a burger at Dacent Munch or out to Kinsale for the acclaimed fish and chips from Catch of the Day.

He was travelling in a Lamborghini, courtesy of a company which runs raffles for top end cars or campers.

Stamp of approval for KC's and Marina Market stalls

But during his visit to Cork, his focus was on the food.

The best curry sauce thats ever graced my lips, was the big mans verdict on the curry chips at KC's.

He also tried 'The Mexican' and 'The King Creole' from the fast food outlet which he was also delighted with.

Back to the Marina Market and he was hugely impressed with the location on the banks of the river.

There he visited Nua Asador where he sampled the steak and chimichurri and was so impressed with that he awarded it one of his highest ever scores, 9.6. In his comments he spoke about the "passion" with which the food was cooked.

He described the fare at Poulet Vous as "tasty AF" and the kind of food outlet that every town needed, while he also vowed to get back to Oakfire Pizza to give their Cork themed dishes another try.

He told The Echo that he tries to balance his visits to fast food outlets with days of clean eating as he received a bit of a land two years ago after doing a cholesterol test and getting an unwanted high number himself.

Although I am promoting good fast food, I am also promoting that its ok to have this once or twice a week as part of a balanced lifestyle  theres nothing wrong with going for a steak dinner with your family or having a take-away on a Friday after a very long week at work, but you must look after your body as well so Im trying to do a bit of both now, trying to be responsible for a change, said Matt.

His parting words were that he would be back to Cork "very, very soon" as he was impressed with the citys foodie culture.
Xi's special envoy attends inauguration of Panama's president

Xinhua) 10:54, July 02, 2024

PANAMA CITY, July 1 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Panama's government, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Yu Jianhua on Monday attended the presidential inauguration ceremony of Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino.

During the ceremony, Mulino met with Yu, also minister of the General Administration of Customs of China.

Yu conveyed Xi's warm congratulations and best wishes to Mulino, saying that since China and Panama established diplomatic ties seven years ago, bilateral relations have developed rapidly and yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to their people.

China is willing to work with Panama to enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, push for sustained and in-depth development of bilateral relations, and bring more benefits to the two peoples, Yu said.

Mulino thanked Xi for dispatching a special envoy to attend his inauguration ceremony and asked Yu to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to Xi.

Panama attaches great importance to developing relations with China, and is willing to further deepen cooperation with China in various fields and elevate bilateral relations to higher levels, Mulino said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
SOCIAL Democrats leader Holly Cairns has paid tribute to former party co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall who have announced they will not contest the forthcoming general election.

The former co-leaders made the announcement on Tuesday, saying it was time for a new generation to take over.

In a statement released after the announcement, West Cork TD Ms Cairns described her colleagues as "trailblazers" in Irish politics and said Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall will both remain involved and working with the party, albeit in less demanding roles.

Ms Cairns pointed to Roisin Shortall being the States longest-serving female TD and her work reforming the health service, and Catherine Murphy's focus on affordable housing and transparency and accountability in public life.

However, their most enduring legacy will be establishing the Social Democrats in 2015, she said.

They founded the party in the belief that the creation of a better Ireland required a strong social democratic party, with an unwavering commitment to core principles of equality, sustainability and accountability.

Having built the party from nothing, it now has six TDs and 35 councillors and is a hugely positive force in Irish politics.

She added, On a personal basis, I can say that I would not be in politics were it not for Catherine and Roisins decision to set up the Social Democrats.

Their commitment to public service, belief in the possibility of a fairer society and dedication to strictly adhering to social democratic principles were, and are, an inspiration to me and many others."

Despite stepping back from frontline politics, the two leave behind a party with strong roots, huge promise and great potential, she said, highlighting that the party had nearly doubled their number of councillors in the recent local elections, a growth she is determined to continue in the forthcoming general election.

I am unashamedly ambitious about the future of this country, and the role the Social Democrats will play in building it. I know, like my predecessors, that a better Ireland is possible, and I remain hugely grateful to Catherine and Roisin for all they have done to help us achieve it, she concluded.

East Cork councillor for the party, Liam Quaide told The Echo, Roisin and Catherine are leaving a legacy they can be immensely proud of - a progressive party that they built from the ground up, and that is growing in strength.

They share an exceptional record of public service between them, based on hard graft and an unflagging pursuit of a fairer society.

Cork City South Padraig Rice added, I joined the Social Democrats on day one in 2015 and have worked closely with both Catherine Murphy TD and Roisin Shortall TD to help build the party from scratch.

I served with them on the Committee that wrote the partys constitution and helped them organise the first set of regional meetings when the party was just starting out.

I have always admired their hard work and dedication to building a fairer, more equal Ireland for all. The party will continue campaigning for that vision with a new generation of leaders.

Personally, I would like to wish them both well as they prepare to depart frontline politics.
Children suffering from mental health issues in Cork and Kerry are having the door slammed in their faces, because the staff arent there to help them, a Cork TD has said.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs) in the region is facing a recruitment crisis: There are 60 unfilled vacancies locally.

Camhs in the Cork/Kerry region employs fewer people than it did this time last year.

There were 97.9 whole-time equivalent (WTE) workers employed by Camhs in its Cork community teams in May, as opposed to 100.5 WTE in May 2023.

Across Cork/Kerry there were 139.3 whole-time equivalent people working with Camhs, a region with a population of 171,780 aged between 0 and 18 years in May of this year.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) acknowledged that several teams in the Camhs service had recruitment challenges and that these were impacting on waiting times for parents seeking appointments for their children.

A spokesperson acknowledged that staffing at its community teams was not at the Vision for Change policy levels and that several Camhs teams in Cork/Kerry had faced long-standing recruitment challenges.

CKCH disclosed that there were 59.8 vacancies across Cork/Kerry Camhs. Of these, 43 are permanent vacancies and are broken down as follows: 27.5 posts are health and social-care professionals, five are administration staffing, 5.4 are medical staff, and 21.8 are nursing staff, the statement said.

March figures

According to previous figures, provided in response to a Dail question from Cork North Central Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould, which related to March 2024, only one of 10 areas in Cork/Kerry had 100% of its posts filled. That was South Lee 1.

The other nine areas had whole-time equivalent employment levels: 52.4% in South Lee 3, 53.9% in North Lee East, 57.6% in North Lee West, 60.7% in South Lee/West Cork, 61.5% in North Cork to 70.4% in South Lee 2, 74.6% in Kerry Team 2, 76.8% in Cork North Central, and 85.3% in Kerry Team 1.

The figures disclosed that in South Lee 3, where theres a population between 0-18 years of 24,316 people, there was no social-care worker, 3.2 psychologists, one consultant psychiatrist, one nurse, two registrars/senior house officer, no senior registrar, and no speech-and-language therapist.

In South Lee 2, there were no nurses or occupational therapists and there was only half a consultant psychiatrist available.

In North Cork, North Lee East and Kerry Team 1, there was no registrar/senior house officer.

Little progress made

According to Mr Gould, the figures from CKCH illustrated that little progress had been made on Camhs staffing in the region.

Worrying figures for [May] were significantly lower than for May 2023, but, across the board, its clear that there are huge issues with Camhs staffing, he said.

This is not good enough. These are families and children in crisis. They need help.

They do not need to be told that the staff arent there to meet their need. This Government have completely failed childrens mental-health services and, particularly given the impact of covid-19 lockdowns, now is a crucial time in this sector.

It is time for a real plan for Camhs. It is time for proper workforce planning and a change, because no child in crisis should be put on a waiting list.

We need to be clear here: We are talking about children in crisis.

Children who need the support of this State. Instead, the door is being closed in their face, because there are simply not enough staff to support these children.

Recruitment challenges affecting waiting times

CKCH said that management in Cork Kerry Mental Health Services were actively taking every measure to acquire the necessary resources, clinical and otherwise, to ensure a quality service for the children of Cork going forward.

Longstanding recruitment challenges have faced several Camhs teams in Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, which, in turn, has affected waiting time targets, a spokesperson said.

Local, national, and international efforts are continuing in order to ensure that all available avenues are explored to provide a staffing supply for Mental Health Services, including Camhs.

We wish to reassure young people and their families that urgent cases are responded to on a priority basis, often within 24 to 48 hours.

Referrals to Camhs are prioritised according to their acuity and severity.

Parents facing a crisis situation with their children were urged to engage with their GP or Southdoc or to attend the nearest emergency department, where the necessary support would be available, CKCH said.
An initiative that uses old photographs of Cork to trigger memories among dementia patients in the city should be rolled out nationwide, its organisers have said.

Specially designed Music And Memories boxes are being used by hundreds of nursing home residents in a pilot programme by Cork City Libraries.

Funded by Cork City Council, 10 different memory tool kits contain 20 old photographs of the city from the 1950s-1970s, 15 CDs featuring music residents would be likely to have listened to in their youth, as well as dementia-friendly books and a jigsaw.

Margaret OSullivan, executive librarian at the Rory Gallagher Music Library in Cork, said the project had been very successful.

These are designed to provoke and spark memories because people suffering from dementia and Alzheimers have a problem staying in the present, she said.

People sometimes try to pull them into the present, but this can be difficult and not helpful in some cases.

Showing them old pictures of Cork, they can have conversations, they ask each other if they remember stores being at certain locations and talk about musicians and bands from that period of time.

They are having sing-songs in the nursing homes while listening to the music we place in the boxes.

Hundreds of people are getting to see these boxes and it helps each one of them enormously to engage and connect with each other.

I think theres huge potential for it to be extended across the country.

The work of the programme will be showcased on the #YourCouncilDay on July 5.

The awareness-raising initiative highlights the role of county and city councils in supporting people in their daily lives.

The boxes are being used in 10 Cork city nursing homes. There is also an ambition to offer them to people with memory problems still living at home in an effort to combat isolation.

Ms OSullivan, who has worked for the library service for three decades, added:

Ive had a lot of people coming into the library asking for music for relatives suffering with memory loss, we have a vast collection of music from this era and were very lucky we have a music library here.

It was like a bolt of lightning when I realised what could be done.

Supported by senior executive librarian Patricia Looney and city librarian David OBrien, Ms OSullivan secured funding for the pilot through Cork City Council innovation grants.

She worked alongside activity co-ordinators in each nursing home, helping to match the contents of the boxes with the specific interests of the residents.

The contents of the Music And Memories boxes are replaced each month and shared between nursing homes.

While they are available to every resident, the boxes are specifically tailored for those with memory loss.
Residents in a city-centre social housing development say their communal space has become a magnet for antisocial behaviour and are calling on Cork City Council to install security gates at two of its three access points.

Three years ago, what was once a city centre garage and a local authority car park became a social housing development containing 43 homes, with 21 one-bed apartments, 16 two-bed and six three-bed houses, a park and a playground.

The scheme, which is managed by Cluid Housing on behalf of Cork City Council, is located in Rutland Square, just off of White St.

Now residents say their area has, of late, become a haven of antisocial behaviour, with the squares three entry points making it a rat-run for illicit drinking and drug use.

One resident, Brian Duffy, told The Echo that residents have grown increasingly fearful of non-residents engaging in antisocial behaviour in the square, with used needles dropped in the public area and some people being threatening and abusive of residents.

He said residents had been advised by community gardai that putting security gates on two of the three entrances would be helpful in addressing the issue.

As things are, when we call the gardai, people using it for illegal drugs and things like that can get away through one of the other two entrances, which is what is drawing them here in the first place, he said.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said she had been attending night classes in the nearby College of Commerce, and she had to get her husband to come and collect her each evening, as she did not feel safe walking home unaccompanied.

I have young children, and we cant let them go outside and play, because there are strangers around all the time  there was a woman unconscious on the ground only last week, and you couldnt let a child out alone anyway in case they pick up a needle, she said.

Its a shame, because the apartments are beautiful and the neighbours are so good.

Fine Gael councillor for Cork City South Central, Shane OCallaghan, said he had put down a motion to Cork City Council proposing the installation of two security gates, and that is currently being considered by the executive.

I have met the residents and visited their homes, and its a lovely place, theres a great outdoor area there, but the problem is that in recent times it has become a hub of antisocial activity, with people who dont live there coming in, dealing drugs, using drugs, because they see the area around it as a safe haven, and with three entrances and exits, they have two escape routes.

Its an unacceptable situation, and a lot of the residents have small children, theyre not able to go outside because there is illegal drug use outside their doors.

Cork City Council was asked for comment.
A BALLINCOLLIG councillor and former lord mayor has become the latest member of Cork City Council to declare an interest in standing for election to Dail Eireann.

Fianna Fails Colm Kelleher, who topped the poll in the Cork City South West ward last month, told The Echo he intends to seek his partys nomination to contest for the Dail in the Cork North Central constituency.

The workload of a councillor, lately, is very similar to that of an elected member of the Dail, and I know whats involved, what it takes.

Ive also served a term as lord mayor of the city, and I believe now that I can better serve my community at a national level," said Mr Kelleher

Cork North Central is set to expand at the next election to become a five-seat constituency, taking in Mallow and Mr Kellehers native Ballincollig.

Fianna Fail currently has one TD in the constituency, Padraig OSullivan, who was first elected in the November 2019 by-election and was re-elected in 2020.

Lacking

Mr Kelleher said he believed Ballincollig had been lacking its own native TD since former minister Batt OKeeffe retired in 2011, adding: I hope to be able to put my name before the people and ask them to give me the opportunity to represent them.

He said that Fianna Fail has a one member, one vote policy and nobody will be automatically nominated without a vote at its upcoming convention.

He said he had not spoken directly with Tanaiste and party leader Micheal Martin about his intention to seek a nomination.

Mr Kellehers announcement of his intention to seek a nomination to run in Cork North Central follows a similar declaration by his fellow Fianna Fail councillor Tony Fitzgerald, who topped the poll in Cork City North West.

Independent Ireland councillor Kenneth OFlynn has announced he will run for the Dail, while Fine Gaels Shane OCallaghan said he will also seek his partys nomination.
Michael Bolton

A Canadian tourist who was assaulted in Dublin city centre last month has died in hospital.

Neno Dolmajian, who was aged in his 40s, was attacked on OConnell Street on Sunday, June 23rd.

The man was taken to the Mater Hospital to be treated for injuries he suffered during the incident. He died in hospital on Tuesday.

To date, four men have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Two of these men have been charged and appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Gardai said that as the matter is currently before the courts, they could not release any further information.

After gardai confirmed his death, Taoiseach Simon Harris told the Dail: I want to join you in expressing my sympathy to the family.

Thats a heart-breaking situation. Thats an extraordinarily devasting situation for the family.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said: Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.

It points to a very, very serious issue that on the main street of our capital city is a dangerous and violent place on a regular basis for so many people.

Its not just the main street of our capital city, its towns and villages across the country that people do not feel safe. And its not happening by accident.

Its happening because we have the lowest number of gardai regarding per capita.
Sonya McLean

A man who was one of a group of individuals who left a victim with life-threatening injuries following an attack in a Dublin city centre laneway has been jailed.

Jordan Maguire (24), of no fixed abode, was the only person who gardai were able to successfully identify having viewed CCTV footage of the assault on December 21st, 2022.

Carol Doherty BL, prosecuting, told the court that it was accepted by the State that while Maguire can be seen striking at the victim with an implement, he is not responsible for the more serious head and facial injuries suffered by the man.

She said that the victim suffered slash wounds to his face, puncture wounds to his back, neck and arms and had to undergo life-saving surgery following the attack.

Maguire pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to the man in Dublin city centre. He has 51 previous convictions, including assaults.

Judge Martin Nolan jailed Maguire for three years and nine months.

He said Maguire was one of a group of men that decided to attack the victim by knocking him to the ground, slashing his face with blades and using either knives or a screwdriver to assault him.

He accepted that the man needed life-saving surgery and has been left with severe and permanent facial scarring.

He said a victim impact statement, read into the record by the mans partner, was comprehensive and truthful about the impact of the attack on the man.

Judge Nolan accepted Maguires guilty plea and acknowledged that tragedies in his own life probably caused him to take the wrong turn but he added that the attack was at the highest level of seriousness for such offences.

The mans partner read his victim impact statement into the record in which he described the attack as a senseless act of violence  that left me for dead. He said it has taken a physical, emotional and psychological toll on him.

It has shattered my life, and I am living in a constant state of worry and sadness, the statement continued.

He said he endues pain every day due to headaches and the attack irrevocably altered my sense of security and it has been replaced by anxiety and fear.

He said he avoids large social gatherings as he constantly faces intrusive questions about his scars.

He now suffers from severe anxiety which he never struggled with before.

The man said he suffered a loss of six months worth of earnings because he was unable to return to work for some time following the assault.

The man referred to the fact that most of the perpetrators of the assault are still roaming free which has left him with a deep-seated frustration. He said these people must be held accountable not only for me but also to prevent the same thing happening to anyone else.

I am left with permanent scars on my body and mind, the man concluded his statement.

The court heard that the man was down a laneway near Temple Bar in Dublin when he heard a person shouting at him. He could not understand what they were saying, but he understood that the comments were directed at him.

He heard someone say get the blade before he saw six young men walking towards him.

The CCTV footage of the assault shows the man falling to the ground at some point before he is attacked. He was struck to the face and back of the head. He was also attacked with either a screwdriver or knife which caused puncture wounds to his back and neck.

In the aftermath of the attack, the victim is covered in feathers, which had come from his jacket as it was sliced during the assault. He later described feeling skin hanging off my face.

The man was taken to hospital and staff there later told gardai that without medical intervention the mans injuries would have been life-threatening.

Maguire was identified from CCTV footage and arrested the following February.

It was accepted that Maguires plea was of assistance to the prosecution as the victim was very concerned about giving evidence at trial.

Oisin Clarke BL, defending, said his clients mother died suddenly in her sleep. He was very close to her and things went downhill after that, counsel said.

Maguire began taking cannabis, tablets and drinking every day and he was asked to leave the family home. He ended up living on the streets.

Mr Clarke agreed with Judge Nolan that his client had taken an active part in the assault but asked that he accept that he was not responsible for the most serious injuries.

All of the assailants were involved together in attacking him, Judge Nolan said it could not be more clear.
POETRY in the Park, a collaboration between Cork City Libraries and Cork City Council Parks Section, is back again this year.

The Creative Ireland initiative began on Poetry Day Ireland in April, 2021, and brings poetry into public spaces, across six parks citywide.

For summer, 2024, Patricia Looney, Librarian at Cork City Library, invited poet, Bernadette Gallagher, to curate a personal selection by other poets and to contribute one of her own poems.

Patricia said: It is wonderful to have a Cork-based poet curating the programme this summer. Bernadette recently published her debut poetry collection The Risen Tree and brings poets, local, national and international, who have not previously featured in the programme to our parks.

Bernadette said: I am proud to have been asked to curate this work and to have the opportunity to bring yet another community of poets into the warm embrace of the people of Cork.

Some of these poets will visit Cork during the summer to see their work on display.

The poems are all situated at the entrance to each park and Bernadette hopes that people visiting may take a few moments to be with these poems, whether they are at the highest point overlooking Cork harbour, at Jerry OSullivan Park, Churchfield, or at the tourist mecca of Blarney, in Clogheenmilcon Fen Sanctuary Walk.

Cork City Parks coordinate the regular change of poems approximately every six weeks so from mid-July the following 12 poems will be exhibited at:

Jerry OSullivan Park, Churchfield

The Angels Keep, by Patricia McCarthy

By Hedges, by Eileen Sheehan

Blarney Sanctuary Walkway (Clogheenmilcon Fen)

Humpback, by Catherine Phil McCarthy

The Risen Tree, by Bernadette Gallagher

Marina Park

Letters From Mount Fuji, by Jessica Traynor

On Beauty, by Orla Fay

Fitzgeralds Park

Fossil, by Casey Jarrin

A Legacy for Seven Men Ive Loved, by Audrey Molloy

Tramore Valley Park

Leaning In, by Bobbie Sparrow

Bog Medicine, by Annemarie Ni Churreain

Ballincollig Regional Park

La Nollag, by Aifric MacAodha (Christmas Day by David Wheatley)

Squirrels in the Wild, by Mary Frances Turley-McGrath

ABOUT THE POETS

Audrey Molloy is an Irish poet living in Sydney. Her debut collection, The Important Things (The Gallery Press, 2021), won the Anne Elder Award and was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize.

The Blue Cocktail was published by The Gallery Press in 2023. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University. Her work has appeared in The Stinging Fly, Cyphers, Banshee, The Moth, Magma, and Poetry Ireland Review.

Bobbie Sparrow recently published her debut poetry collection, The Weight of Blood with Yaffle press. She is a widely published poet with poems in journals and anthologies. Her work has been placed in several well-known competitions. She lives in rural Galway, loves swimming in lakes and believes curiosity keeps her alive.

Bernadette Gallagher is the author of The Risen Tree (Revival Press, 2024) her debut poetry collection. She has received awards from the Arts Council of Ireland and Cork County Council and her work has been published in numerous literary journals, recorded by the University College Dublin Poetry Archive and the Words Lightly Spoken podcast.

In 2024, Bernadette was selected as curator of Poetry in the Park, a collaboration between Cork City Libraries and Parks. Bernadettegallagher.blogspot.ie

Mary Turley-McGrath is from Mount Talbot on the Galway/Roscommon border and now lives in Letterkenny. She holds an M. Phil in Creative Writing from Trinity College Dublin. Mary has published four collections of poetry: her most recent being After Image (Arlen House, 2020). Her poems are included in well-known magazines and anthologies: Cyphers, Crannog, Drawn to the Light, The SHOp Anthology, Reading the Future, Future Perfect, The Strokestown Anthology, and The Forward Anthology.

Poet, Catherine Phil McCarthy. Picture: Don Moloney / Press 22

Catherine Phil MacCarthys poetry books include Daughters of the House (2019), and The Invisible Threshold (2012), Dedalus Press, Dublin. She received the OShaughnessy Award for Irish Poetry in 2014, a Writers Residency at Varuna, NSW, Australia, 2022; and The Yeats Thoor Ballylee Poetry Prize in 2023. A selection in English and Portuguese is due from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2024.

A native of Co. Limerick, she lives in Dublin, and is a graduate of University College Cork. www.catherinephilmaccarthy.com

Patricia McCarthy edited AGENDA, the international poetry journal, for more than 20 years up until 2023. She won the National Poetry Competition in 2012, was a runner-up twice, and has had six collections of poetry published. She is half Irish, half English, and went to the Holy Child school in Killiney and then to TCD. Her fathers family come from Co. Cork. She lives in the countryside in East Sussex. Patriciamccarthy.co.uk

Aifric Mac Aodhas first poetry collection, Gabhail Syrinx (The Taking of Syrinx), was published by An Sagart in 2010. She has taught in St Petersburg, New York, and Canada and has lectured in old and modern Irish at UCD. She has been awarded several bursaries by The Arts Council and, in recent years, has read at numerous festivals in Europe, America, India and Canada. Her first bilingual collection, Foreign News, with translations by David Wheatley, was published by The Gallery Press in 2017. She lives in Dublin where she works for the Irish-language publisher An Gum.

Eileen Sheehan poet

Eileen Sheehan lives in Killarney, County Kerry. One of the poems from her most recent collection, The Narrow Way of Souls (Salmon Poetry), featured on the Leaving Certificate English Syllabus. A selection of her work appears on Poetry International Web with an introductory essay by Paul Casey. She has read at festivals in Ireland and abroad and was Bealtaine Writer in Residence at The Seanchai Kerry Writers Museum, Listowel.

Annemarie Ni Churreain

Annemarie Ni Curreain is a poet from the Donegal Gaeltacht. Her books include Bloodroot (Doire Press, 2017), Town (The Salvage Press, 2018) and The Poison Glen (The Gallery Press, 2021). She is a recipient of the Arts Councils Next Generation Artist Award and a co-recipient of The Markievicz Award. She is the current poetry editor at The Stinging Fly magazine. Visit www.studiotwentyfive.com.

Orla Fay is the editor of Drawn to the Light Press https://drawntothelightpress.com/. Her first collection of poetry, Word Skin, was published by Salmon Poetry in December, 2023. Her work has been widely published online and in print, and she has won and been placed in several competitions. She wrote On Beauty at Laytown Strand in Co. Meath. She loves the connectedness writing gives her to the spirit.

Author Jessica Traynor and actor Stephen Rea. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

Jessica Traynor is a poet and poetry editor at Banshee. Pit Lullabies (Bloodaxe, 2022) was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation, and a Guardian Best Summer Read of 2022. She was the 2023 recipient of the Lawrence OShaughnessy Award for Irish Poetry from the University of St Thomas, Minnesota. In 2024, she was awarded the Tundish Award for services to the arts in Ireland. A new collection is forthcoming from Bloodaxe in 2025. She recently was award ed the Field Day Tundish Award.

Casey Jarrin is a poet, artist, educator, editor, and co-founder of the Late Night Diners poetry collective. Her writing appears in Banshee, Abridged, Trumpet, Channel, Stony Thursday Book, Banyan Review, Eire/Ireland, and Verve Anthology of Protest.

Shaped by paths as a musician, photographer-filmmaker, literature professor, and trauma survivor, she crafts poems as immersive sensory landscapes, soundscapes, snapshots of life-in-motion, empathy machines. Educated at Yale, Duke, and NUIG, Casey divides her time between Minnesota and Ireland.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

John Cangialosi, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, inspects a satellite image of Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 season, at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida on July 1, 2024. Joe Raedle / Getty Images

The first hurricane of the 2024 season, extremely dangerous Hurricane Beryl  the earliest-ever Category-4 hurricane  headed toward the Windward Islands Sunday night, bringing strong winds and flash flooding on Monday, according to the United States National Hurricane Center.

Beryl made landfall Monday morning on Carriacou Island in the Grenadines as a Category 4 with heavy rain, 150 miles-per-hour maximum sustained winds and life-threatening storm surge, reported CNN. It is the strongest hurricane to make its way through the area since National Oceanic and Atmospheric data began in 1851.

Hurricanes dont know what month it is, they only know what their ambient environment is, Jim Kossin, a First Street Foundation science advisor and hurricane expert, told CNN. Beryl is breaking records for the month of June because Beryl thinks its September.

The deluge from Hurricane Beryl caused power outages, and its storm surge brought flooding for portions of Grenada, Barbados, the Grenadines and Tobago on Monday, the National Hurricane Center said.

The quick strengthening of Beryl due to the unusually warm ocean waters was a sign that the 2024 hurricane season would be abnormally severe.

Kossin said Beryls record-breaking strength combined with the ocean heat certainly have a human fingerprint on them.

The hurricane-force winds brought by Beryl extended 40 miles from its center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching 125 miles.

The National Hurricane Center said Beryls life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels.

After the strong hurricanes landfall, waves could also churn up life-threatening rip currents and surf and threaten fishers and small vessels.

Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley warned people to be extremely vigilant in the face of potential flash flooding in Barbados and the Windward Islands.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for St. Vincent, the Grenadines and Barbados, Grenada and Tobado, while Jamaica was under a hurricane watch. Martinique, Saint Lucia and Trinidad were under tropical storm warnings.

More than 400 people had taken refuge in hurricane shelters in Barbados Sunday night, Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, the countrys chief shelter warden, told CBC News, as CNN reported.

Airports in Saint Lucia, Grenada and Barbados were closed on Sunday.

Beryls path is unclear, but it will continue over the Caribbean Sea into Thursday as a major hurricane.

Hurricane Beryls next expected landfall is around the Yucatan Peninsula sometime around Friday morning. If the storm stays together over land long enough to reach the Gulf of Mexicos warm waters, it could pose a threat to northeast Mexico or the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane as its core moves through the Windward Islands into the eastern Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center said, as reported by Reuters.




Fall in Thailand's shrimp production sparks prime minister's call for investigation

Thailand now finds itself importing shrimp from Ecuador, prompting Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to direct the Department of Fisheries, under the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to investigate the reasons behind the decline of domestic shrimp production.

Thailand previously produced and exported 600,000 tonnes of shrimp annually, but currently produces only 200,000 tonnes. This drop necessitated the importation of shrimp, primarily from Ecuador, leading to a drop in Thai shrimp prices and severe financial hardship for local shrimp farmers.

Chai Wacharong, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, emphasised that the Department of Fisheries was to present its findings and suggest solutions at the next Cabinet meeting, which was scheduled on June 25. One of the aims of the investigation is to develop strategic measures to revive the shrimp production industry.

Factors for the decline in shrimp output have been linked to environmental changes, disease outbreaks, and economic policies that have affected local production.

In a separate statement, a representative from the local shrimp farming community expressed hope that the government's intervention would bring much-needed relief, KhaoSod reported.

"We have been facing unprecedented challenges," the statement said. "The import of shrimp from Ecuador has particularly hit us hard. We are hopeful that the government's timely action will help us recover and sustain our livelihoods."



- Thaiger


PM Modi advises NDA MPs to 'follow rules' in Parliament A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's controversial speech in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs to "follow the rules" of Parliament. During the meeting at the Balyogi Audotortium in Parliament, the Prime Minister also advised the NDA MPs to ensure that their behaviour on the floor of the House is exemplary.



The Prime Minister cautioned NDA MPs that many people can try to come in close contact, but proper verification should be done before allowing them access.



He advised the MPs "not to give unnecessary statements to the media, to devote time to their constituencies, and come to the Parliament with proper preparations."



The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Dharmendra Pradhan, J. P. Nadda, Pralhad Joshi, Chirag Paswan, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, Ramdas Athawale, Jitan Ram Manjhi along with many other cabinet ministers attended the meeting.



It is the first Parliamentary Board meeting of the NDA after PM Modi's third win in the Parliamentary elections.



Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to respond to the Motion of Thanks on Tuesday afternoon on the President's address in the Lok Sabha.



Rahul Gandhi's remarks drew strong protest from the BJP MPs.



Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sought an apology from the Congress MP.




This is in spite of Midjourneys self-imposed ban on creating Trump and Biden images ahead of the US presidential election.

Midjourney, a popular AI-powered image generator, is creating images of Donald Trump and Joe Biden despite saying that it would block users from doing so ahead of the upcoming US presidential election.

When Engadget prompted the service to create an image of the president of the United States, Midjourney generated four images in various styles of former president Donald Trump.

Midjourney

When asked to create an image of the next president of the United States, the tool generated four images of Trump as well.

Midjourney

When Engadget prompted Midjourney to create an image of the current president of the United States, the service generated three images of Trump and one image of former president Barack Obama.

Midjourney

The only time Midjourney refused to create an image of Trump or Biden was when it was asked to do so explicitly. The Midjourney community voted to prevent using Donald Trump and Joe Biden during election season, the service said in that instance. Other users on X were able to get Midjourney to generate Trumps images too.

The tests show that Midjourneys guardrails to prevent users from generating images of Trump and Biden ahead of the upcoming US presidential election arent enough  in fact, its really easy for people to get around them. Other chatbots like OpenAIs ChatGPT, Microsofts Copilot, Googles Gemini and Meta AI did not create images of Trump or Biden despite multiple prompts.

Midjourney did not respond to a request for comment from Engadget.

Midjourney was one the first AI-powered image generators to explicitly ban users from generating images of Trump and Biden. I know its fun to make Trump pictures  I make Trump pictures, the companys CEO, David Holz, told users in a chat session on Discord, earlier this year. However, probably better to just not  better to pull out a little bit during this election. Well see. A month later, Holz reportedly told users that it was time to put some foots down on election-related stuff for a bit and admitted that this moderation stuff is kind of hard. The companys existing content rules prohibit the creation of misleading public figures and events portrayals with the potential to mislead.

Last year, Midjourney was used to create a fake image of Pope Francis wearing a puffy white Balenciaga jacket that went viral. It was also used to create fake images of Trump being arrested ahead of his arraignment at the Manhattan Criminal Court last year for his involvement in a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Shortly afterwards, the company halted free trials of the service and, instead, required people to pay at least $10 a month to use it.

Last month, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a non-profit organization that aims to stop the spread of misinformation and hate speech online, found that Midjourneys guardrails against generating misleading images of popular politicians including Trump and Biden failed 40% of its tests. The CCDH was able to use Midjourney to create an image of president Biden being arrested and Trump appearing next to a body double. The CCDH was also able to bypass Midjourneys guardrails by using descriptions of each candidates physical appearance rather than their names to generate misleading images.

Midjourney is far too easy to manipulate in practice  in some cases its completely evaded just by adding punctuation to slip through the net, wrote CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed in a statement at the time. Bad actors who want to subvert elections and sow division, confusion and chaos will have a field day, to the detriment of everyone who relies on healthy, functioning democracies.

Earlier this year, a coalition of 20 tech companies including OpenAI, Google, Meta, Amazon, Adobe and X signed an agreement to help prevent deepfakes in elections taking place in 2024 around the world by preventing their services from generating images and other media that would influence voters. Midjourney was absent from that list.
Two state laws from Texas and Florida, that could upend the way social media companies handle content moderation are still up in the air. The Supreme Court sent the challenges back to lower courts, which vacates previous rulings. In a 9 - 0 decision in Moody v. NetChoice and NetChoice v. Paxton, the Supreme Court said that earlier rulings in lower courts had not properly evaluated the laws impact on the First Amendment. Never heard of NetChoice? Its an industry group representing Meta, Google, X and other large tech companies. So its incredibly well-funded. NetChoice argued that the laws were unconstitutional.

The Texas law, passed in 2021, allows users to sue large social media companies over alleged censorship of their political views. The Supreme Court suspended the law in 2022 following a legal challenge. The Florida measure, also passed in 2021, attempted to impose fines on social media companies for banning politicians  thats also on hold.

Justice Elena Kagan said that lower court rulings in both cases concentrated on the issue of whether a state law can regulate the content-moderation practices used in Facebooks News Feed (or near equivalents). However, she writes, they did not address the full range of activities the laws cover, and measure the constitutional against the unconstitutional applications. It seems the lower courts need to do their homework.

 Mat Smith

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It banned the creation of Trump and Biden images around the election.

Midjourney

Midjourney, a popular AI-powered image generator, is creating images of Donald Trump and Joe Biden despite saying that it would block users from doing so ahead of the upcoming US presidential election. Engadget managed to get the tool to create images of Trump multiple times. The only time Midjourney refused to create an image of Trump or Biden was when it was asked to do so explicitly. The Midjourney community voted to prevent using Donald Trump and Joe Biden during election season, the service said in that instance. Midjourney did not respond to a request for comment from Engadget.

Continue reading.

The video owner will have 48 hours to respond.

Talking of AI-generated fakes, YouTube quietly added a new policy last month that lets you request the removal of AI-generated content that features your likeness. YouTube says several factors will determine whether it considers a removal, including whether the content is altered or synthetic (and whether its disclosed as such), easily identifiable as the person in question or realistic.

Continue reading.


Vijay Wadettiwar The ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi came in direct confrontation outside the Maharashtra Legislature on Tuesday over Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhis statements in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Legislators from both sides shouted slogans against each other, with Mahayuti members carrying placards condemning LoP Rahul Gandhis speech, demanding an apology to all Hindus and raising Hindutva slogans.



On the other side, MVA legislators shouted slogans defending MP Rahul Gandhi and against the BJP for its alleged "false Hindutva to divide people and grab Hindu votes.



The Congress Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar and the Shiv Sena (UBT)s Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve slammed the Mahayuti in Maharashtra and the ruling NDA at the Centre.



The BJP, which had suspended 150 MPs from the Lok Sabha has no authority to teach Uddhav Thackeray or me about Parliamentary rules and laws, said Danve.



Making a spirited defence of the Congress leader, Wadettiwar said that Rahul Gandhis speech was on the Constitution and he did not utter a word against Hindutva, but the BJP was creating a fake narrative to point fingers at others.



Referring to demands for his resignation from the Mahayuti legislators, Danve said that they are free to ask the (Legislative Council) Chairperson for the same, or approach the courts.



Recalling Rahul Gandhis speech Wadettiwar pointed out that violence was not a part of Hindu culture nor was it the BJPs monopoly and while Hinduism teaches tolerance, equality for all, the BJP is creating religious and social divides to grab Hindu votes.



On the expletives hurled by him in the House on Monday, Danve said that suddenly the BJP leaders have remembered rules and laws, and retorted by asking what do they know about Hindutva and how do they claim to give lessons on Hinduism to others?



I am a Shiv Sainik and I reply in a Shiv Sainik style Let them do whatever they want declared Danve, on the clamour for his apology and sacking as LoP.



Wadettiwar added that the BJP was rattled because Rahul Gandhi exposed them and the RSS Manusmriti to achieve the objectives of making communities fight and grab Hindu votes, though it is against Hindutva tenets.



In New Delhi, SS(UBT) MPs Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi put up a strong defence of LoP Rahul Gandhi and said that "he proved to be 'bhaari' for the PM and eight other BJP heavyweights" in Parliament on Monday.




Dorset Council has agreed to buy a dairy farm as part of a green project which will see the local authority rewild the land.

In its current form, Middle Farm, located at Higher Kingcombe in West Dorset, is 'not ideal' due to concerns over pollution, the council said.

The 'intensive' farm sits alongside a Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) nature reserve, with fears centred on run-off and soil erosion.

It is not known how much Dorset Council paid for the farm, however, it recently received a grant of over 4.6m from the government.

In a statement, the local authority said: The land is ideally located to deliver both nutrient reduction and nature recovery in the headwaters of the River Hooke.

"Changing its use to woodland or rewilding can reduce nitrates as required and could be achieved with little investment."

The council said it was being supported by Natural England and that there had been 'positive' talks with Dorset Wildlife Trust over the project.
A loose dog has killed 13 lambs and two ewes on farmland in Ayrshire, with Police Scotland appealing for more information on the incident.

The attack, which also left numerous other sheep injured, occurred on farmland between the villages of Kirkmichael and Dalrymple, on 13 June.

Police Scotland rural officer Andrew Thorne said it was a significant livestock attack.

"Two ewes and 13 lambs killed and numerous others being injured," he said, adding that the attack had impacted two separate local farm businesses.

Police Scotland is appealing to the public for any information regarding this incident.

Most rural crime police teams across the UK have reported an increase in dog attacks on sheep over recent years

It comes after a woman was recently ordered by a court to pay over 3,000 in compensation to a farmer after two loose dogs killed 15 of his sheep.

Ellie Blake, 60, from Macclesfield, was sentenced at Chester magistrates' court following the livestock worrying incident, which happened in October 2023.
The University of Reading has agreed a new plan for investment in research areas for agriculture, and has completed a 16m purchase of farmland.

The 635-acre site at Tanners Farm, Farley, includes pasture, arable land and woodland, and is close to the universitys existing farm, near Arborfield.

Tanners Farm has been carefully managed, with schemes to encourage wildlife and protect the countryside.

The university said it would initially lease the land to its existing users, continuing to support biodiversity schemes.

The purchase of Tanners Farm, and the adoption of the Agrifood Futures Strategy, are significant events that will extend the universitys farming resources.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, vice-chancellor said: The study of food and farming has been at the heart of the universitys work for more than a century.

Our mission is to develop new methods and partnerships that will transform the way healthy, sustainable food is produced in Britain.

This is another important step to raise Readings position among the worlds best for agricultural research."

The new farm is an addition to the universitys existing agricultural facilities around Reading, which includes mixed farmland and facilities in Arborfield, Shinfield and Sonning.

The funds for the purchase come from the universitys capital investment funds.

Professor Simon Mortimer, head of the university of school of agriculture, said it was an exciting development for Reading's ambitions to invest in the future of food and farming.

The universitys purchase of Tanners Farm will give us the opportunity to research and demonstrate solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing Britain and the world."
An experienced Welsh shearer will be making a record-breaking attempt to shear sheep across nine hours later this month.

Meirion Evans, from North Wales, has been busy shearing in recent weeks and has spent months preparing himself both mentally and physically for his 9 hour British ewe record attempt.

The 25-year-old works on the family beef and sheep farm keeping Welsh Black Cross Limousin cows and mainly Mule Cross Texel ewes with some Welsh Mountain and Speckled Hill.

He also has a local contract shearing business, which keeps him busy over the summer months, and travels to New Zealand over the winter.

Mr Evans said: Shearing has already given me many opportunities including seven seasons working in New Zealand  this is a great way to improve and also to make new friends.

On what motivated him to want to attempt the 9 hour British ewe record, he said: I have helped at several record attempts over the years, I enjoyed being a part of the team and supporting shearers to do their best in whatever record they were attempting.

"I also very much liked the atmosphere and wanted to attempt the record myself."

He added: There are many within the industry I look up to and I remember from a young age watching videos of Stacey Te Huia from New Zealand shearing which was a big inspiration to me.

Gareth Jones, head of member engagement at British Wool, said record attempts are an opportunity to promote the quality of British wool to wider audiences.

As a member organisation, British Wool is committed to supporting champions as representatives and ambassadors.

"Were delighted to be supporting Meirion to help him achieve his goals and wish him the very best of luck.

The event, taking place on 13 July, also hopes to raise 2,000 for farming charity DPJ Foundation.
Corazon Dandan finished her shift as a telephone operator was taking BART home to Daly City when she was pushed to her death on the train platform. Courtesy of Alvin Dandan A man suspected of pushing a woman into the path of an oncoming train has been arrested. Her death marked the first homicide within the BART system this year. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2020

A 74-year-old woman died after being pushed into an oncoming train Monday night at BARTs Powell Street Station in San Francisco, transit police said.

The San Francisco Medical Examiner's office identified her as Corazon Dandan of San Mateo County.

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Dandan finished her shift as a telephone operator at a Marriott hotel in Union Square at 11 p.m. and was taking the train home to Daly City when she was pushed to her death on the train platform, her nephew, Dr. Alvin Dandan, told the Chronicle in an interview. She had held the job for 40 years and took the same route every day to work, he said.

Its just shocking, Alvin Dandan said.

BART police arrested Trevor Belmont, 49, on the train platform shortly after he allegedly pushed Dandan at 11:06 p.m., the agency said in a statement.

Belmont, who police said was transient and also goes by the name Hoak Taing, was booked into San Francisco County Jail Tuesday morning on charges of murder and elder abuse.

Belmont is accused of shoving Dandan into a Millbrae-bound train as it approached the station, police said. Investigators have not determined a motive.

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Dandan hit her head on the train and fell on the platform, police said. Paramedics transported her to San Francisco General Hospital, where she later died.

Her death marks the first homicide within the BART system this year.

Police were interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance video on Tuesday.
Ancient Egyptian scribes suffered back pain from sitting down for too long.

Ancient Egyptian scribes suffered from back pain

A new study has revealed how the repetitive tasks carried out by high-status men with the ability to write and the positions they sat in while doing so could have caused degenerative skeletal changes.

Researchers in the Czech Republic examined the skeletal remains of 69 adult males - 30 of whom were scribes - buried in the necropolis at Abusir between 2700 and 2180 BC and noticed degenerative changes that were more commonplace amongst writers than those in other occupations.

The researchers from the National Museum in Prague wrote in the journal Scientific Reports: "Men with writing proficiency enjoyed a privileged position in ancient Egyptian society.

"Research focusing on these officials of elevated social status usually concentrated on their titles, scribal statues, iconography, etc., but the individuals themselves, and their skeletal remains, have been neglected.

"Statistically significant differences between the scribes and the reference group attested a higher incidence of changes in scribes and manifested themselves in the occurrence of osteoarthritis of the joints.

"Our research reveals that remaining in a cross-legged sitting or kneeling position for extended periods, and the repetitive tasks relating to writing and the adjusting of the rush pens during scribal activity, caused the extreme overloading of the jaw, neck and shoulder regions."
Fat dogs and cats could be offered weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic.

Fat dogs could be offered Ozempic in the future

Experts say that the pet obesity crisis is worsening as canines and felines become increasingly portly and there is an interest in using the injections on the animals.

Professor Alex German, a specialist in small animal medicine at the University of Liverpool, is convinced that semaglutide - the key ingredient in jabs such as Ozempic and Wegovy - will restrict an animal's appetite and be an effective treatment for obesity in the same way it has been for humans.

The expert also stressed that pet owners shouldn't always be blamed for an obese animal.

Professor German told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: "The view that obesity in pets is the fault and responsibility of the owner is flawed as it can be genetic and is more complex than a failing owner. We should be supporting owners as best we can."
A space expert is convinced that humanity will discover a planet that houses alien life in the coming decades.

A planet that is home to aliens could be found in the coming decades

Astrophysicist Jessie Christiansen says that the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) - a telescope that will be launched by NASA in the 2040s - will uncover the truth about extraterrestrials.

Scientists are optimistic that the telescope will find 25 Earth-like planets around sun-like stars.

Dr. Christiansen, from the California Institute of Technology, said: "The bubble of space we've managed to search around our sun is very small compared to the size of our galaxy.

"I believe, in our lifetime, something like HWO will see a signal in the atmosphere of a planet in the habitable zone of a star like our sun that we think is life."

However, the expert thinks the alien revelations will rock the human race when they emerge.

She said: "It might start a revolution in life, religion, philosophy and science."
Kevin Bacon refuses to do the 'Footloose' dance like a "trained monkey".

Kevin Bacon won't perform the Footloose dance 'on command'

The 65-year-old actor's breakthrough role came as Ben McCormack in the 1984 musical, and four decades later he admitted while people "probably would" still ask him to do the film's signature routine at weddings, he wouldn't know where to start.

He told the Metro newspaper's 60 Seconds column: "When people say, 'Do the Footloose dance', I don't know what the Footloose dance is. I am not a trained monkey."

The Hollywood star recalled being asked to perform the memorable dance during an event honouring 'Footloose' writer Dean Pitchford.

Kevin said: "I was on a red carpet recently because we inducted Dean Pitchford - who wrote the Footloose screenplay and co-wrote all the songs in the movie - into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

"And we played the song, my brother and I, for him. And that was really, really fun.

"But on the red carpet, a couple of people said, 'Will you do the Footloose dance?' And I'm like, 'No!' I'll do that when I choose to do it, but not on command."

However, Kevin admitted he doesn't mind people bringing up the 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon' viral game, which is based on the idea that his prolific and wide ranging big screen career means he can be linked to any Hollywood actor in just a few steps.

He added: "I don't mind 'Six Degrees' anymore because of sixdegrees.org.

"We made it into a charitable foundation, and there's a lot of good work that's come out of that. So I've embraced Six Degrees and it's not annoying."

While Kevin used to be "horrified" by the meme and believed it was simply a "joke at his expense", he has grown to love it.

Previously appearing on the 'On With Mario Lopez' podcast, he said: "I always think to myself, it's only because I've been in a whole lot of movies that a whole lot of people have bene in, a lot of very big casts!

"I was horrified! Because I thought it was really a joke at my expense. I just thought, 'Oh come on, they're just making fun of me, let's face it!' "
Toyota announces top British diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix as an Olympic ambassador. She joins a number of athletes partnering with the company in the run up to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, who embody Toyotas Start Your Impossible message  that you can overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

Diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix

The announcement coincides with the release of the third episode of The Journey docuseries, produced with Team GB, which features Spendolini-Sirieix talking about the mental challenges she has overcome to reach top level competition, and her dreams of achieving Olympic success.

Aged 19, Spendolini-Sirieix has been diving for 11 years and is already a world-class competitor. She burst onto the scene as a 13-year-old, making her international debut, and just two years later won her first solo gold at the 2020 FINA Diving Grand Prix. She has amassed over 20 senior national and international medals, including two golds at the most recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and two golds at the European Games in Rome. This tally has helped her become Britains most successful female diver of all time.

In The Journey, Spendolini-Sirieix reveals how diving has moulded her personal development: Ive gone through a lot with my diving and its shaped who I am, not just as a diver, but as an athlete. And the drive, focus and determination that I have in training, I brought into school.

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix

Spendolini-Sirieix describes how it felt when she started on the senior dive circuit at just 13 years old: I was a little scrawny kid, no meat on me, and I was throwing myself off 10 metres like the adults. Nothing is expected of you when youre the underdog, it was like a superpower.

Later in the film she talks about the stress she experienced after a disappointing result from a competition in Budapest when she was 13 and going through adolescence, which made her question whether she wanted to continue diving: I was having panic attacks at school and at training. That period was incredibly difficult  I just didnt perform. As much as it was painful, it was also the best kick in the butt I could have asked for. Sometimes you learn the most when youre at rock bottom.

Spendolini-Sirieixs mother Alex also features in the film. The strength and importance of her support are clear when Andrea speaks with emotion about her mum being her superhero: Having that strong person behind you who wont let you give up, as much at the time that I really didnt like it, its something that I value so much. My mum means everything to me; its that kind of relationship that I will never take for granted  shes taught me how to be a strong woman.

Episode three of The Journey is live on Team GBs YouTube channel and can be viewed here:

The four-part docuseries The Journey, created by Team GB and Toyota, brings fans inside the lives of four athletes as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Episodes one and two feature breaker Roxy Milliner, aka B-Girl Roxy, and Dame Laura Kenny; the fourth will focus on reigning Commonwealth and World Champion gymnast Giarnni Regini-Moran

by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Senior IAS officer Sujata Saunik made history on Sunday, June 30th, by becoming Maharshtras first female Chief Secretary. In 64 years, this is the first time that a woman has taken over the top post in the state.Saunik, an officer of the 1987 batch, was appointed Chief Secretary by the MahaYuti government. She took over from former chief secretary Nitin Kareer at a ceremony held at Mantralaya, the state secretariat in South Mumbai, on Sunday evening. She will have a year-long tenure in office, after which she will retire in June next year.According to reports, she was unanimously appointed to the position by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demonstrating support for women voters ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.Sujata Saunik has over three decades of public policy and governance experience under her name. The new chief secretary also has an abundance of experience in education, healthcare, finance, disaster management, and peacekeeping at the district, state, and federal levels, as well as in international organisations as part of the Indian Administrative Service and the United Nations.Saunik has held key positions in her almost 40-year career in the civil service. Among these positions, a few prominent ones are the Advisor and Joint Secretary to the National Disaster Management Authority, Executive Director, Central Social Welfare Board, Ministry of Women and Child Development, as well as Municipal Administrator and Civil Affairs Officer, United Nations Mission in Kosovo.The IAS officer became the second woman in Maharashtra this year alone to take on a significant leadership role, shortly after Rashmi Shukla was appointed the Director General of Police.Before becoming chief secretary, Sujata Saunik was the additional chief secretary in the state home department. Her husband, Manoj Saunik, is also a former state chief secretary. With Sujata Saunik's promotion to this top position, the husband-wife duo becomes the first in India's history to have both held the position of chief secretary.
A London court of appeal recently ruled that the refusal of the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) to investigate imports of cotton allegedly produced by slave labour in the Chinese region of Xinjiang was unlawful, and British authorities must reconsider their decision.

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) had taken legal action against NCA after it declined to start a criminal investigation into the allegations of whether cotton from Xinjiang amounts to criminal property.

A London court of appeal recently ruled that the refusal of the UK National Crime Agency to probe imports of cotton allegedly produced by slave labour in the Chinese region of Xinjiang was unlawful, and British authorities must reconsider their decision. The World Uyghur Congress and the Global Legal Action Network had taken legal action against NCA.

A judge at London's High Court had ruled last year that there was "clear and undisputed evidence of instances of cotton being manufactured ... by the use of detained and prison labour as well as by forced labour".

But the legal challenge was dismissed on the grounds that the British authorities' approach to the law was correct.

The court of appeal overturned that decision, ruling that "the question of whether to carry out an investigation ... will be remitted to the NCA for reconsideration".

The court of appeal rejected the NCAs argument that once adequate consideration (i.e. market value) is paid for criminal property, the property is cleansed of its criminal character and is free to be bought and sold without consequence.

Instead, the court determined that while a purchaser is protected when they pay adequate consideration for criminal property, as soon as they transfer that property they are exposed to criminal liability. This means criminal property can be bought, but not passed on.

The court of appeal further determined that the NCA had made an error of law in stating that a specific consignment of forced labour cotton needed to be identified in order to commence an investigation, according to a press release issued by GLAN and WUC.

Rahima Mahmut, WUC UK director, described the ruling as "a monumental victory and a moral triumph".

"This win represents a measure of justice for those Uyghurs and other Turkic people who have been tortured and subjected to slave labour there," Mahmut said in the press release.

"This case will set a real precedent for upcoming similar cases regarding the import of Uyghur forced labour goods, in the UK or elsewhere.This is the very first successful step towards accountability for Uyghurs. We hope that moving forward UK-based companies will take adequate caution not trading or importing Uyghur forced labour goods, and that the government will also conduct investigations diligently, WUC president Dolkun Isa, said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Joseph Roberts is seen during an appearance in Department 112 at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse on September 29, 2023, in Oakland. Roberts was sentenced after he was convicted of killing his girlfriend. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

A man convicted of killing his girlfriend and dismembering her body was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years to life in state prison in what an Alameda County Superior Court judge called one of the most heinous cases to come before him.

The inhumanity of your actions are beyond my ability to comprehend, Judge Scott Patton told Joseph Roberts. None of my comments here are sufficient to stress the outrage of our community at your actions.

Roberts, 43, was found guilty in May of second-degree murder in the killing of Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner, 27, whose dismembered body was found wrapped in black garbage bags along a trail near Harbor Bay Club in Alameda a year ago.

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The case drew widespread publicity for two reasons: the grisly nature of the crime and Roberts controversial past. In 2017, the Trump administration held him up as a victim of an overzealous #MeToo movement after Roberts claimed he was falsely accused of sexual harassment when he was a student at Savannah State University in Georgia in 2013.

Roberts and Buckner met at Golden Gate University School of Law in 2019 and later moved in together in Pleasanton. Buckner was about to graduate before she was killed.

Rachel Imani Buckner grew up in the Bay Area, graduated from Howard University and attended Golden Gate School of Law in San Francisco where she worked toward becoming a lawyer. Courtesy of the Buckner family

Prosecutors said Roberts killed Buckner and then dismembered her to cover his tracks before dumping her body. Police relied on DNA to identify her, but how she died was not determined. Her head, hands and feet were cut off and not found.

The prosecution built the case on circumstantial evidence: DNA on some of the bags and a piece of duct tape pointed to Roberts, as did cellphone records, which placed him at the scene the day a dog walker came upon Buckner's body. Investigators found a fragment of a bone belonging to Buckner in a drain at their shared apartment.

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Roberts didn't report Buckner missing. Instead, he carried on without concern for her and even joined a dating app, Deputy District Attorney Colleen Clark said during closing arguments.

Roberts attorney, Annie Beles, told the jury the case was rooted in "speculation and conjecture." With no evidence as to how Buckner died before she was dismembered, there was no proof Buckner was killed, let alone that Roberts was to blame, Beles said.

At the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse on Tuesday, Buckners family and friends remembered her as an intelligent and charismatic woman with a promising future who got trapped in a relationship marred by emotional and physical abuse at the hands of Roberts.

Roberts actions left Buckners 4-year-old daughter without a mother. Standing at the podium in the courtroom, Jamila Buckner said her granddaughter asks how her mother died: Did her heart stop? When Buckners daughter is upset, she cries for her mother, Jamila Buckner said.

As for Jamila Buckner, she lost her firstborn child. I felt like my insides were ripped out of my very soul, she said of her daughters death.

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Jamila Buckner called Roberts a dangerous man and said he once beat up her and her mother, Imani Buckers grandmother. She and others asked Patton to sentence Roberts to life in prison, although that wasnt an option within the judges discretion.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 1, 2024) - DiscoverMyBusiness, a digital marketing company founded by Yauheni Chvanau, specializes in pay-per-click advertising, conversion rate optimization, media buying, and managing entire marketing departments. In the past few months, the company has recently announced its relaunch in service focus for 2024. Their Fractional CMO Services have taken center stage due to high demand. Having accumulated over 200 working case studies across 17 business segments, the company, with 25 active team members, is poised to meet the growing demand for specialized marketing and sales operations services to clients of all sizes in 2024.





Yauheni Chvanau, Founder of DiscoverMyBusiness



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DiscoverMyBusiness is spearheading a shift in the marketing landscape in terms of how it offers its CMO services. It takes a high-level overview when building its full-scale marketing approach. "If you have multiple departments, it's very challenging for just one person to manage them all efficiently," says Chvanau.

This is where DiscoverMyBusiness comes in. Depending on if the client needs done with you (DWY) or done for you (DFY) services, Yauheni and his team can join as either of the two roles. Either as a full-fledged team member running one of many departments or taking a hands-on approach to meeting with the active company's current CMO twice a week. Embracing this amphibious approach, the company manages both implementation and strategic foresight, providing support to marketing directors and executives alike.

Having established 100 active partnerships with leading software vendors and agencies alike, the company is poised to expand its clientele. Its focus remains on deepening its portfolio of clients across healthcare, e-commerce, legal services, and B2B sectors with new high-powered marketing and sales operations services tailored to meet the demands of these industries.

Regarding company culture, the leadership team prioritizes transparency and clear communication from the outset of client engagements. Founder Yauheni underscores this ethos, emphasizing the importance of honesty upfront with clients rather than perpetuating services that may fall short of expectations. In his words, "Our commitment is to maximize value for our clients, even if it entails guiding them towards a shift in perspective." This dedication to forthrightness fosters trust and ensures alignment between the company and its clientele.

About:

DiscoverMyBusiness, a pioneering marketing solutions company, recently relaunched its service focus in Q3 2024. It specializes in a range of services, from fractional CMO as a leader to paid advertising, organic client acquisition, partnership development, marketing and sales operations, and many more. With over 200 successful case studies across 17 business segments, the agency is poised to meet the growing demand for specialized marketing services. DiscoverMyBusiness serves a diverse client base in healthcare, e-commerce, the food industry, legal services, and B2B sectors with tailored marketing solutions.

Contact Name(s): Yauheni Chvanau

Location: New York City, New York

Company Name: DiscoverMyBusiness

Email: Yauheni@discovermybusiness.co

Website Link: https://discovermybusiness.co/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214456

SOURCE: AK Infinite
NEW DELHI, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LT Foods Ltd.'s flagship brand DAAWAT has partnered with select restaurants in Australia to celebrate the 3rd edition of DAAWAT World Biryani Day by bringing alive the delectable biryani experiences to all the biryani lovers.

As a part of the celebrations, select restaurants across Melbourne, Sydney and Perth will offer complimentary servings of biryani, prepared with DAAWAT finest rice, celebrated for its exceptional quality and taste. The restaurants will showcase their unique biryani recipes, offering a variety of options that highlight the versatility and cultural significance of this iconic dish.

In Melbourne, the restaurant Chilli India would be offering delicious Biryani to its guests from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at its restaurants in Melbourne Central, Epping, Preston, Coolaroo, Chadstone, Hopper's Crossing and Docklands on 7th July'24. In Sydney, the guests can experience the unique Biryani at Grand Paradise (Rockdale), Mandi King (Auburn and Wentworthville) and Swagath Biryani House (Wentworthville) from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on 7th July'24. In Perth, people can enjoy their complimentary biryani at Royal India Restaurant at 1134 Hay Street from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on 6th July'24.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ritesh Arora, CEO, India and Far East Business, LT Foods, said, "Biryani, a globally cherished delicacy, holds a revered status in the culinary world. It can connect people from all walks of life and captivate their taste buds. We believe that its universal adoration deserves its own special day. As brand DAAWAT is integral to the finest Biryani, we conceptualised DAAWAT World Biryani Day in the year 2022. Since then, we have remained committed to making every biryani day more special. This year, we are delighted to bring the joy of biryani to food lovers in Australia through our partnership with select restaurants. This event is not just about food; it's about bringing communities together to celebrate a shared passion for biryani, fostering a sense of togetherness and culinary appreciation."

Recently, the brand DAAWAT launched an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled personalized campaign to mark the third edition of DAAWAT World Biryani Day. This is a first-of-its-kind campaign in the essential foods category, which celebrates the world's most loved dish. The campaign offers a personalized experience for biryani enthusiasts to create lasting memories by appearing alongside celebrated Chef Sanjeev Kapoor in the campaign.

The Link to the Campaign: https://youtu.be/jLnxWcixcZI

Click here to create your own Personalised Campaign: https://dreamadwithchefsk.daawat.com/

Talking about the latest campaign, Mr. K. Ganapathy Subramaniam, Vice President and Head of Marketing, LT Foods, shared, "We are thrilled to launch this unique AI-enabled personalized campaign for DAAWAT World Biryani Day. This campaign will help us manage greater scale, yet personalize it for every individual who shares our love for the world's most loved dish, biryani. Personalization enabled by AI would help biryani lovers to cook and experience the appreciation from Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. They too can share this with their loved ones. Let's get ready to express our love for Biryani in our own special way."

About LT Foods

LT Foods Ltd. [NSE: LTFOODS, BSE: 532783] is a leading Indian-origin global FMCG company in the consumer food space. It is a leading player globally in the specialty rice and rice-based foods business for more than last 70 years.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2294530/4442432/LT_Foods_Logo.jpg





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SINGAPORE and MANILA, Philippines, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gupshup, the world's leading Conversation Cloud today announced its partnership with Tonik Bank, the first digital-only neobank in the Philippines, to develop a state-of-the-art Generative AI chatbot for Tonik's mobile app. The innovative solution aims to provide Tonik's customers with instant and accurate answers to frequently asked questions, revolutionizing the way they interact with their bank.

The Generative AI chatbot, powered by Gupshup's advanced natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) technologies, is designed to understand and respond to customer queries with human-like precision and empathy. By leveraging the latest advancements in AI, the chatbot can engage in contextual conversations, providing personalized and relevant information to each customer.

Tonik is the first digital bank in the Philippines to leverage Generative AI for customer service. By integrating the chatbot into their mobile app, Tonik Bank aims to provide their customers with instant access to information, reducing wait times and improving overall satisfaction.

"The integration of Gupshup's ACE LLM into our operations has been truly transformative. We've witnessed significant value in its ability to automate routine tasks, elevate customer service, and boost our overall efficiency. This technology has the potential to revolutionize our operations, and we are excited to further explore its capabilities and implement it across our business," said Sateesh Reddy, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of Tonik Bank.

Since the implementation of Gupshup's technology, nine out of ten customer queries are now directed through Tonik's in-app chat feature, where the AI autonomously resolves 75% of the queries without human intervention. This has not only amplified the efficiency of Tonik's in-house customer care team by 4.3 times but also empowered them to dedicate more time to resolving intricate issues, ensuring that customers receive the personalized support they need.

The Generative AI chatbot solution is expected to generate significant cost savings for Tonik, with an estimated total of over USD 20 million over the next three years.

"Our partnership with Tonik Bank exemplifies the future of BFSI. As the sector evolves, Gen AI will be crucial to deliver seamless, personalized, and efficient customer experiences. Our chatbot solution is designed to do just that, empowering banks like Tonik to focus on what matters most - building strong relationships with their customers," said Beerud Sheth, Co-founder and CEO of Gupshup.

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Siegfried AG / Key word(s): Acquisition

Siegfried successfully completes acquisition of an early-phase CDMO in Wisconsin (US)



02.07.2024 / 06:30 CET/CEST





Siegfried (SIX: SFZN) has completed the acquisition of an early-phase CDMO site in Grafton, Wisconsin (US) from Curia Global, strengthening Siegfried's customer offering for Drug Substances in terms of capabilities and geography.

The acquisition was announced on June 12, 2024, and was completed on July 1, 2024 with effect as of the same day.

Reto Suter, CEO ad interim and CFO of Siegfried: "We warmly welcome our new Siegfried colleagues to our network. This acquisition significantly enhances our early-stage development services for Drug Substances, strengthens our geographical coverage and will generate attractive opportunities. It will further accelerate our growth story."

The acquisition reinforces Siegfried's position in the United States, the world's largest pharmaceutical market. Siegfried intends to develop the site into its Siegfried Acceleration Hub for early-phase CDMO services to provide comprehensive support to customers in the pre-clinical and clinical development and manufacturing of Drug Substances. This further expands Siegfried's offering, particularly for small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies. The focus on early-phase CDMO services will fuel Siegfried's Drug Substance pipeline by capturing additional attractive opportunities in their early stage, creating significant growth opportunities in the future.

As part of the acquisition, all projects at the Grafton site have been transferred to Siegfried and the Siegfried Acceleration Hub will continue to fulfill all commitments to its existing customers.

Contact Financial Analysts: Media: Dr. Reto Suter Peter Stierli Chief Financial Officer Head Corporate Communications reto.suter@siegfried.ch peter.stierli@siegfried.ch Tel. +41 62 746 11 35 Tel. +41 62 746 15 51 Siegfried Holding AG Untere Bruehlstrasse 4 CH-4800 Zofingen

About Siegfried



The Siegfried Group is a global life sciences company with sites in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Malta, the USA and China. In 2023, the company achieved sales of CHF 1.272 billion and employed on 31.12.2023 more than 3700 people at twelve sites on three continents. Siegfried Holding AG is publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SFZN).



Siegfried is active in manufacturing pharmaceutical APIs (and their intermediates) as well as drug products (tablets, capsules, sterile vials, ampoules, cartridges and ointments) for the pharmaceutical industry and provides development services.







Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



This media release includes statements concerning the future. They are based on assumptions and expectations that may prove to be wrong. They should be considered with due caution as, by definition, they contain known and unknown risks, insecurities and other factors which could result in a difference in the actual results, financial situation, developments or the success of Siegfried Holding AG or Siegfried Group from the explicit or implicit assumptions made in these statements.

expect more



Siegfried AG

Untere Bruhlstrasse 4

4800 Zofingen, Switzerland



+41 62 746 11 11

info@siegfried.ch

www.siegfried.ch



End of Media Release


Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors currently deployed in over 500 million devices, has announced the launch of its AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY on HONOR's Play 60 Plus smartphone. The high-volume, entry-level HONOR Play 60 Plus is shipping for the Chinese market. This smartphone is powered by Elliptic Labs' partner Qualcomm's Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset Elliptic Labs signed the contract for this shipment in March 2024.

"The HONOR Play 60 Plus smartphone marks the 24th HONOR device on which we shipped our AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform," said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "Global smartphone OEMs like HONOR continue to use our technology making their devices greener, smarter, and more user-friendly."

AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY

Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor detects when a user holds their phone up to their ear during a call, allowing the smartphone to turn off its display and disable its screen's touch functionality. This keeps the user's ear or cheek from triggering unwanted actions during the call, such as hanging up or dialing numbers. Turning off the screen also helps conserve battery life.

Proximity detection is a core capability that is used in all smartphones, but Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor is a unique, software-only solution that delivers robust proximity detection without the need for a dedicated hardware sensor. By replacing hardware sensors with software sensors, the AI Virtual Proximity Sensor reduces device cost and eliminates sourcing risk.

INNER BEAUTY is a registered trademark of Elliptic Labs.

AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Proximity Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs.

All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations.

About Elliptic Labs

Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norway's Oslo University, the company's patented software uses AI, ultrasound and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022.

Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240701575427/en/

Contacts:

PR Contacts:

Patrick Tsui

pr@ellipticlabs.com

Investor Relations:

Lars Holmy

Lars.Holmoy@ellipticlabs.com
Baar, Switzerland, 2 July 2024



Ascom and Almaviva, an Italian leading information and communication technology company, have entered a strategic partnership to drive the digital transformation of the Italian healthcare sector. As part of this partnership, Ascom has been commissioned with significant Digistat projects for patient data management, including professional services and software. Further projects are planned for 2024 and 2025.

Ascom and Almaviva, the third largest privately-owned ICT group in Italy, have pooled their expertise and resources in various projects to deploy Digistat solutions across various healthcare facilities in Italy. This state-of-the-art project seeks to advance digitalization in healthcare delivery and accelerate patient data management processes, significantly improving outcomes for patients and healthcare providers. Ascom's flagship healthcare platform with Digistat enables healthcare professionals to consolidate and optimize patient information collection, analysis, and dissemination, resulting in more informed clinical decision-making and improved overall patient outcomes.

"The strategic partnership between Almaviva and Ascom underscores our shared commitment to drive innovation and excellence in Italian healthcare," remarked Andrea Leonardo, Director of Healthcare Strategic Market at Almaviva. "By harnessing the power of Digistat, we aim to empower healthcare providers with cutting-edge tools and insights to optimize patient care delivery and improve overall health outcomes."

Leonardo Manaresi, Country Manager of Ascom Italy, echoed similar sentiments: "The collaboration with Almaviva represents a significant milestone in our mission to advance healthcare digitalization in Italy. By deploying the Ascom Healthcare Platform and Digistat solutions, we seek to equip healthcare facilities with the necessary tools and capabilities to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare delivery, ultimately enhancing patient safety and satisfaction."

This project emphasizes improving operational effectiveness, patient safety, and the standard of care delivery, and represents a substantial investment in advancing digitalization in the healthcare sector.

Contact

Daniel Lack

Senior VP Legal & Communications / IR

+41 41 544 78 10

daniel.lack@ascom.com

Investor@ascom.com

Attachment
Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - In a significant move for cryptocurrency and mobile technology enthusiasts, LBank Exchange, a premier global digital asset trading platform, has announced the listing of APFC Coin (APFC) on June 27, 2024. Users of LBank Exchange can brace themselves for the APFC/USDT trading pair, which went live already.

APFC Listing Banner

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APFC Coin (APFC) is a cryptocurrency backed by APF GROUP assets, designed to merge the stability of Czech Republic agricultural land prices with innovative digital asset investments.

Introducing APFC Coin: Merging Agricultural Stability with Digital Innovation

LBank Exchange is thrilled to announce the listing of APFC Coin (APFC), a revolutionary cryptocurrency introduced by APF Digital Agrifund CR s.r.o., a subsidiary of the APF GROUP. This innovative digital asset is uniquely backed by the stable and appreciating value of agricultural land in the Czech Republic. By leveraging the solidity of traditional agricultural investments with the dynamic potential of cryptocurrency, APFC Coin aims to provide investors with a secure yet progressive financial instrument.

The primary purpose of APFC Coin is to raise funds through an Initial Coin Offering (ICO), which will be utilized to acquire agricultural land and invest in agriculture-related securities and other cryptocurrencies. This dual investment strategy not only capitalizes on the stability of land prices but also seeks to explore the high-growth opportunities within the digital asset market. As a result, APFC Coin offers a balanced investment approach, mitigating risks while enhancing potential returns.

Moreover, APF Digital Agrifund CR s.r.o. is committed to maintaining transparency and trust with its investors. Although it operates independently from the Czech National Bank (CNB) supervision and its funds are not legally insured, the backing of APF GROUP's substantial assets provides a solid foundation. Investors are encouraged to consult legal experts for tailored advice, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and making informed investment decisions.

About APFC Token

Based on ERC20, APFC has a total supply of 250 million (i.e. 250,000,000). APFC token distribution is as follows: 50% for ICO, 20% for APF Group reserves, 15% for team and advisors, 10% for partnerships and ecosystem development, and 5% for marketing and community incentives. The APFC token is poised for its debut on LBank Exchange at 10:00 UTC on June 27, 2024. Investors who are interested in APFC can easily buy and sell on LBank Exchange now.

Learn More about APFC Token:

Official Website: https://apfdigitalagrifund.com/en/

Contract: https://etherscan.io/token/0x8eD955a2b7d2C3a17a9d05dACa95E01818f8C11e

Twitter: https://x.com/APF_Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apfdigitalagrifund

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apfdigitalagrifundcr

Telegram: https://t.me/APFagriculture

About LBank

LBank is one of the top crypto exchanges, established in 2015. It offers specialized financial derivatives, expert asset management services, and safe crypto trading to its users. The platform holds over 10 million users from more than 210 regions across the world. LBank is a cutting-edge growing platform that ensures the integrity of users' funds and aims to contribute to the global adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Start Trading Now: lbank.com

Community & Social Media:

l Telegram

l Twitter

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l LinkedIn

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Press contact:

press@lbank.com

Business Contact:

LBK Blockchain Co. Limited

LBank Exchange

marketing@lbank.com

business@lbank.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215140

SOURCE: LBank


EQS Newswire / 24/06/2024 / 12:15 CET/CEST

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 24 June 2024 - Hong Kong Science Park Corporation (HKSTP) congratulates BioMap, a Park company, on its strategic partnership with the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC) to jointly propel innovation across multiple sectors including biopharmaceuticals, green technology, and new industrialisation, further cementing Hong Kong's position as an international hub for innovation and technology.



Clara Chan, CEO of HKIC (left), and Wei Liu, CEO of BioMap (right) signed the strategic partnership agreement, witnessed by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government (centre).

BioMap, a pioneering company at the intersection of artificial intelligence and the life sciences sector, integrates cutting-edge AI with biotechnology to accelerate research and development and design novel proteins in areas such as pharmaceuticals and enzymes. Earlier this year, BioMap established its presence at the Science Park and will launch its inaugural BioMap Innovation Hub in Hong Kong, aimed at expanding their global operations. HKSTP continues to provide comprehensive infrastructure and professional services, enabling BioMap's engagement with a diverse range of partners and investors.



Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP (left) congratulates Wei Liu, CEO of BioMap on the company's business expansion in Hong Kong and strategic partnership with HKIC.

The ceremony took place during the International Bio-Computing Innovation Summit where Clara Chan, CEO of HKIC, and Wei Liu, CEO of BioMap signed the strategic partnership agreement, witnessed by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government.



Along with business expansion in Hong Kong, BioMap also launched its first Innovation Hub to attract innovators from around the world and nurture local I&T talent, boosting the building of an AI for life science ecosystem in Hong Kong. Distinguished guests including Wei Liu, CEO of BioMap; Gracie Ng, Chief of Staff of HKSTP; Professor Max Shen, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) of the University of Hong Kong; Professor Wang Yang, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; and Dr Rocky Cheng, CEO of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, joined the "Light Up" ceremony.



Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, "We are extremely pleased to welcome BioMap to Science Park and to establish a strategic partnership with Hong Kong Investment Management Limited. Together, we are embarking on a new chapter. HKSTP is committed to providing diverse support to biotech companies, accelerating the commercialisation of scientific research, and serving as a 'super-connector' - linking local and international industry partners and investors. Our aim is to assist companies like BioMap to leverage Hong Kong's exceptional scientific research capabilities, international reach, and strategic location in the Greater Bay Area to access global markets."



Wei Liu, CEO of BioMap, said, "We set up our first bio-computing innovation hub in Hong Kong to leverage the city's international status, liberal financial policies, and world-class intellectual property system and data governance to help BioMap gain the trust of more multinational customers in the global competition, maintaining its leading position in the industry. Furthermore, Hong Kong has ample AI and biotechnology talent resources and an excellent innovative academic atmosphere. We hope that the BioMap Innovation Hub will serve as a cultivating and testing ground for Hong Kong's interdisciplinary talents in information and biotechnology to transform more innovative ideas into practical macromolecule solutions utilising our large language model for life sciences, whilst further amplifying the value of innovative products through our global manufacturing and business network as well as partners."



To enhance its visibility and connect with the international industry, HKSTP, along with BioMap and other park companies, participated in the world's largest biotech event, BIO 2024, earlier in June in the United States. Key activities included the APAC Summit session, showcasing the strengths and potential of Hong Kong's biotechnology sector to a global audience.



BioMap, headquartered in the US, is one of the second batch of strategic enterprises signed by the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) of the HKSAR Government to set up operations in Hong Kong. Combining AI and biotechnology, the company has developed the 'xTrimo' platform, a foundational large language model for life sciences based on protein language. Recently, BioMap secured a USD 1 billion partnership with multi-national pharmaceutical giant Sanofi and is collaborating with over 10 commercial partners and more than 200 academic institutions.



HKSTP is dedicated to nurturing the entrepreneurial skills of researchers and scientists, aiding them in translating research into viable products and fostering a thriving biotechnology ecosystem. Currently, the park is home to over 250 biotech companies.



As a government-owned organisation that manages HK$62 billion in fundings, HKIC announced two weeks ago its first partnership with another HKSTP company SmartMore, a homegrown AI unicorn, to make Hong Kong the base of SmartMore's development and stock market listing.

Hashtag: HKSTP

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 to create a thriving I&T ecosystem grooming 12 unicorns, more than 14,000 research professionals and over 1,800 technology companies from 28 countries and regions focused on developing healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies, etc.



Our growing innovation ecosystem offers comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures, with the I&T journey built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined.



Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen plays positive roles in connecting the world and the mainland with our proximity, strengthening cross-border exchange to bring advantages in attracting global talent and allowing possibilities for the development of technology companies in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability, with both dry and wet laboratories, co-working space, conference and exhibition facilities, and more.



Through our R&D infrastructure, startup support and enterprise services, commercialisation and investment expertise, partnership networks and talent traction, HKSTP continues contribute in establishing I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong.



More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org .



News Source: Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

24/06/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Forging Future Paths for Creativity and Culture

10th and 11th July 2024

Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past 4 years, CREACT4MED has provided financial support to cultural and creative entities, launched a training programme to upskill budding entrepreneurs, and has built a community of over 1.600 creative minds across the Mediterranean region. On the 10th and 11th of July 2024, CREACT4MED will celebrate its final event in Barcelona to present the impact made, gather key stakeholders from across the Mediterranean to solidify the CREACT4MED community, and spark further action for stronger and brighter cultural and creative industries in the Mediterranean.

As part of the agenda of activities, CREACT4MED is pleased to invite you to the press conference where project partners and beneficiaries will fully explain the impacts and results of CREACT4MED. The press conference will take place July 11, at 09:30 am at Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, Barcelona.

Event: Press conference CREACT4MED Closing Event Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024 Time : 09:30 am Venue: Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, Barcelona (Spain)

If you are unable to attend the press conference in person, you can also follow online at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcocOutrDsiH9a_3JvdBwyBzlJrNlv8tawb

You must register prior to the press conference via Zoom. You can then add the meeting link directly to your calendar.

At the press conference, the following will be at your disposal:

Rym Ayadi President and Founder, EMEA CREACT4MED Director Maria Ruiz de Cossio Senior Project Manager, EMEA CREACT4MED Coordinator Roger Albinyana Managing Director, IEMED Rola Fayyad Founder and CEO, Viavii Wafae Zaoui Founder and CEO, CRE ARTISANAT Farah Chamas Project Manager, Nucleus Ventures

About CREACT4MED

CREACT4MED is a project funded by the European Union (EU) through the EuropeAid Programme, that aims to strengthen businesses and entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in the Southern Neighbourhood of the EU, with a particular focus on young people and women. The project is coordinated by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) as Lead Partner.

About Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA)

Aimed at contributing to the changing realities in the Euro-Mediterranean and Africa, EMEA brings together leading economists and high-level international and local experts to think for the future of the Euro-Mediterranean and Africa in a multi-polar world.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/creact4med-closing-event-302187055.html
California Insurance Commissioner Richard Lara, seen in 2018, said that easing the insurance crisis for homeowners will take much more work, and potentially years, to fully tackle. Russell Yip/The Chronicle

In a Tuesday town hall, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara acknowledged the fear of many California homeowners  that easing the insurance crisis will take much more work, and potentially years, to fully tackle.

We face a tough question: Can consumers actually get insurance they need? And today the answer, unfortunately, generally is no, Lara said. We need to take action to expand insurance availability, really over the next 10 years.

The online town hall, held Tuesday afternoon by the department and state Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, Lara discussed his strategy to end the insurance crisis and took questions from homeowners.

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Wicks represents the East Bay, including Richmond, Berkeley and the Oakland hills  the site of a devastating fire in 1991 that destroyed more than 3,000 homes and killed 25 people. Lara said the department was paying close attention to those areas. Several of its ZIP codes were designated as ones where Safeco, a Liberty Mutual subsidiary, would not offer policies due to the risk of fires after earthquakes. Wicks district also borders Orinda, the ZIP code hit worst by State Farms decision to not renew approximately 30,000 homeowner policies.

Alongside Lara, consumer advocates and industry representatives discussed causes and implications of the insurance crisis.

Seren Taylor, vice president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, an industry group, discussed how insurance companies must protect their own financial strength in order to be accepted by mortgage lenders. To get a mortgage, homebuyers must typically secure insurance. But if a companys credit rating is downgraded, then Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac  government-sponsored mortgage companies  may not accept a policy from that company, Taylor said.

In March, AM Best, an insurance credit rating agency, downgraded the financial strength rating of State Farms California subsidiary from excellent to fair, a worrying sign but not enough to cause Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to reject it, according to Taylor.

Joel Laucher, former chief deputy commissioner for the Department of Insurance and program specialist with the consumer group United Policyholders, discussed how insurance companies determine wildfire risk based on community factors  such as whether there is nearby fuel for wildfires or the slope of the area  as well as property-level features, such as whether homeowners have trees hanging over their roof. He also encouraged homeowners who complete mitigation work, such as installing ember-resistant vents, to contact their insurance companies about potential discounts.

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During the town hall, Lara described his Sustainable Insurance Strategy, a slate of reforms issued in September following an executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The strategy seeks to streamline the process by which insurance companies update their rates as well as alter what they can incorporate into their process. Under the regulations, insurance companies would be allowed to incorporate the cost of reinsurance  insurance for insurers  into their prices and use forward-looking catastrophe models to predict future losses. All of the Sustainable Insurance Strategy is set to be enacted this year.

In order to access those tools, insurance companies will be required to increase the number of policies they write in wildfire areas. Doing so will help transition homeowners in those areas off the FAIR Plan, the state-created but privately run insurer of last resort, Lara said. Part of the departments reforms also include working with the FAIR Plan to expand its coverage limits.

In Alameda County, 2,925 homeowners were on the FAIR Plan as of 2022  a 17% increase from 2015, according to the Department of Insurance. Contra Costa County had 1,366 FAIR Plan policies, up more than 42% from 2015.

Phil Irwin, a FAIR Plan representative, said during the town hall that the association receives nearly 1,500 applications a day. The FAIR Plan first started expanding in 2018 after the devastating Camp Fire, and could be on the hook for millions of dollars in claims if another huge wildfire hits the East Bay or the Sierra Nevada foothills, according to Irwin.

The FAIR Plan is not designed for the growth weve seen at this point, he said.

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Lara answered questions from attendees, during which he touched on rising auto insurance rates. Earlier this year Allstate raised its auto insurance rates by an average of 30%. Lara said the department reviews auto insurance rates carefully to make sure they are not excessive, but he acknowledged that the increased costs of auto repairs and labor have made auto claims more expensive.

He also noted that the department does not have the authority to enforce where companies offer policies, but said he believed the Sustainable Insurance Strategy would be successful in convincing more companies to expand their coverage in wildfire-distressed areas of the state.

Were addressing decadeslong neglect in the department, and were taking on powerful special interests to make insurance more available, which in turn will lead to greater availability, Lara said, adding, We need to get back to a point where insurance companies are competing for your business to drive down that cost.
FREMONT, Calif., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- YES, a leading manufacturer of process equipment for semiconductor advanced packaging, life sciences and AR/VR applications, today announced that Its TersOnus TGV tool was released for panel-level manufacturing. This system will be used to support the growth of advanced heterogeneous packaging for artificial intelligence chips that enable large language models. The TersOnus TGV system provides superior quality and total cost of ownership for manufacturing of panel-level products. YES has developed the equipment and process technologies required for high aspect ratio through glass vias for a variety of glass types, as well as for manufacturing a diversity of glass via configurations-such as hourglass, straight, and tapered vias-by leveraging different chemistries. Furthermore, these sub-50 m vias can be created with various aspect ratios while meeting customers specifications. The TersOnus TGV system is being used for production of advanced 2.5D and 3D packages by the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers.

"To accommodate performance requirements of new emerging applications, semiconductor solutions are moving to a chiplet based architecture that has higher interface bandwidth, larger memory and more heat dissipation. It also requires larger substrate sizes at the same time," said Michael Daly, SVP of Wet BU at YES. "These large substrate sizes are not economically possible with traditional organics materials. The semiconductor industry is moving to Glass based substrates for these leading-edge applications. Our Wet process tools for creating TGVs for glass panels are fully automated and can handle multiple panels simultaneously. In addition, our tools offer integrated in-line metrology for process control and maintaining consistent etch performance," Daly added.

"YES has maintained its leadership position in the advanced packaging market segment by enabling customer roadmaps through the delivery of superior products with low cost-of-ownership and high reliability. The TersOnus TGV delivers on this commitment by providing excellent etch rates and aspect ratios for the most challenging through glass vias all the while reducing manufacturing cycle times. The TersOnus TGV is just one of many products that YES has introduced and will be introducing to the burgeoning glass panel market to support AI advancement," Rezwan Lateef, President of YES concluded.

About YES

YES (Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.) is a leading manufacturer of high-tech, cost-effective equipment for transforming surfaces, materials and interfaces. The company's product lines include vacuum cure ovens, chemical vapor deposition systems, and plasma etching tools used for precise surface modification and thin-film coating of semiconductor wafers, semiconductor and MEMS devices, and biodevices. With YES, customers ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies can create and volume-produce products in a wide range of markets, including Advanced Packaging, MEMS, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality and Life Sciences. YES is headquartered in Fremont, California, with a growing global presence. For more information, please visit www.yieldengineering.com.

Media Contact

Alex Chow

SVP Business Development & Mktg / Asia President

YES (Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.)

+886-926136155 direct

achow@yieldengineering.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2357724/YES_TM_logo_RGBv2_Logo.jpg

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KANAZAWA, Japan, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University report in Small Methods the 3D imaging of a suspended nanostructure. The technique used is an extension of atomic force microscopy and is a promising approach for visualizing various 3D biological systems.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was originally invented for visualizing surfaces with nanoscale resolution. Its basic working principle is to move an ultrathin tip over a sample's surface. During this xy-scanning motion, the tip's position in the direction perpendicular to the xy-plane follows the sample's height profile, resulting in a height map of the surface. In recent years, ways to extend the method to three-dimensional (3D) imaging have been explored, with researchers from Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University reporting pioneering experiments on living cells. However, for 3D-AFM to evolve into a widely applicable technique for visualizing flexible molecular structures, a thorough understanding of the imaging mechanisms at play is necessary. Now, Takeshi Fukuma from Kanazawa University and colleagues have performed a detailed study of a specially designed flexible sample, providing essential insights into the theoretical basis and the interpretation of 3D-AFM experiments.

Using microfabrication tools, the scientists created a sample consisting of a carbon nanotube fiber resting on platinum pillars that in turn were positioned on a silicon substrate. A carbon nanotube is a structure that one can think of as a rolled-up, one-atom-thick carbon sheet. The freestanding portion of the nanotube was about 2 micrometers long. The whole structure was immersed in water, as many 3D biomolecular systems of interest occur in liquid environments.

Fukuma and colleagues then performed 3D-AFM experiments in two different modes. In static mode, the nanotip is lowered vertically towards the sample. When the tip makes contact with the suspended nanotube fiber, the latter gets pushed aside, and bends while the probe descends further. In dynamic mode, the tip, which is attached to a cantilever, is made to oscillate at a resonance frequency while being lowered. By analyzing how the force experienced by the tip changes as a function of the tip's depth, the researchers concluded that the friction between the tip and the fiber is much larger in static mode compared to dynamic mode. The latter is therefore the mode of choice, as less friction means that potential damage to the sample is less likely.

The scientists performed computer simulations to model what happens when the tip reaches the carbon nanotube fiber. The simulations confirmed that the suspended nanotube displaces laterally, and that a continuously vibrating tip (as in dynamical mode) results in weaker forces experienced by the sample, hindering strong adhesion of the tip to the fiber.

Fukuma and colleagues then performed experiments with a carbon nanotube fiber suspended above a regular pattern of nano-sized platinum dots deposited on a silicon substrate. The measurements were done in dynamical mode. The reconstructed 3D map of the scanned volume clearly showed the fiber and the dots below it, underlining the capability of 3D-AFM to image vertically overlapping nanostructures.

These findings show that AFM can generally be applied to visualize flexible 3D structures. Quoting the scientists: " the advancements made in this study may potentially lead to more detailed and accurate AFM analysis of various 3D biological systems such as cells, organelles, chromosomes, and vesicles."

Background

Atomic force microscopy

The principle behind atomic force microscopy (AFM) is to scan the surface of a sample with a very small tip. During this horizontal (xy) scan, the tip, attached to a small cantilever, follows the sample's vertical (z) profile, which induces a force on the cantilever that can be measured. The magnitude of the force at the xy position can be related to the z value. The xyz data generated during a scan then result in a height map providing structural information about the investigated sample. The cantilever can be made to oscillate near its resonance frequency, which is referred to as dynamic mode AFM. Not letting the cantilever oscillate is known as static mode AFM. In dynamic mode, when the tip is moved around a surface, the variations in the amplitude (or the frequency) of the cantilever's oscillation - resulting from the tip's interaction with the sample's surface - are recorded, as these provide a measure for the local z value.

Takeshi Fukuma and colleagues have now provided a detailed AFM analysis of a 3D reference sample with nanosized features that could be reconstructed with high precision. The experiments and accompanying simulations confirm that AFM has the potential to become a robust method for the characterization of 3D nanosized objects, including biological systems.

Reference

Mohammad Shahidul Alam, Marcos Penedo, Takashi Sumikama, Keisuke Miyazawa, Kaori Hirahara, and Takeshi Fukuma. Revealing the Mechanism Underlying 3D-AFM Imaging of Suspended Structures by Experiments and Simulations, Small methods, 2400287 (2024). First published: 21 June 2024

DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400287

URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smtd.202400287

Figure 1. https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/Figure-1-1.jpg

Imaged nanostructure consisting of a suspended carbon nanotube with platinum nanodots beneath.

 2024 Mohammad Shahidul Alam, et al., Small Methods published by Wiley-VCH GmbH

Contact

Hiroe Yoneda

Senior Specialist in Project Planning and Outreach

NanoLSI Administration Office, Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)

Kanazawa University

Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp

Tel: +81 (76) 234-4555

About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University

Understanding nanoscale mechanisms of life phenomena by exploring "uncharted nano-realms"

Cells are the basic units of almost all life forms. We are developing nanoprobe technologies that allow direct imaging, analysis, and manipulation of the behavior and dynamics of important macromolecules in living organisms, such as proteins and nucleic acids, at the surface and interior of cells. We aim at acquiring a fundamental understanding of the various life phenomena at the nanoscale.

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)

The WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to foster globally visible research centers boasting the highest standards and outstanding research environments. Numbering more than a dozen and operating at institutions throughout the country, these centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to engage in innovative modes of management and research. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

See the latest research news from the centers at the WPI News Portal: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsportal/WPI

Main WPI program site:

www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-toplevel

About Kanazawa University

As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.

The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa - a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas.

http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kanazawa-university-research-atomic-force-microscopy-in-3d-302187814.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - East Africa Metals (TSXV: EAM) ("East Africa Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company's development partner Tibet Huayu Mining Co Ltd. ("Tibet Huayu") has initiated the procurement process for heavy equipment required for the construction of the Adyabo Project's Mato Bula and Da Tambuk mines, located in the Tigray Regional State of Ethiopia.

Equipment required for the mine construction and mining operations include drill rigs, excavators, trucks, loaders, bulldozers graders crushers, mills, conveyance systems and other heavy equipment (see press release, April 30, 2018).

This significant milestone marks the next phase in advancing the Adyabo Project towards construction readiness. The procurement is undertaken by Tigray Resources Inc. ("TRI"), which is owned by Tibet Huayu and East Africa Metals, 70% and 30% respectively, including soliciting quotes from suppliers in both the Chinese and European markets. The objective is to finalize the comprehensive schedule of capital costs, complete purchase orders and coordinate the logistics for equipment imports.

Andrew Lee Smith, President and CEO of East Africa Metals, highlighted the importance of this latest development: "The initiation of the procurement process by Tibet Huayu is a crucial step forward for the Adyabo Project. This underscores our commitment to executing a well-planned strategy that ensures the timely acquisition of essential resources for mine construction and operational readiness."

The procurement process is designed to secure high-quality equipment that meets international standards, reflecting our development partner's dedication to operational excellence and environmental responsibility. It aligns with East Africa Metals' broader vision of sustainable resource development in Ethiopia, contributing to local employment and economic growth.

Mato Bula Gold Copper and Da Tambuk Gold Projects

The Adyabo Project's Mato Bula and Da Tambuk deposits are high sulphidation gold rich VMS. This submarine porphyry-related system is located in the southern part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. Mining licences have been received that cover both deposits on Adyabo, Mato Bula Au-Cu-Ag and Da Tambuk Au.

Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) reports dated April 30, 2018 on the Mato Bula Gold Copper and Da Tambuk Gold Projects (which are available on SEDAR+), indicate strong project economics. For Mato Bula, the post-tax NPV was estimated at US$56.7 million (8% discount rate), and an IRR of 28.4%. For Da Tambuk, the post-tax NPV was estimated at US$13.0 million, with an IRR of 28.6% at a gold price of USD1,325/ounce.

About East Africa Metals

The Company's principal assets include a 30% Net Profits Interest in the Mato Bula and Da Tambuk mines (collectively "Adyabo Property") and a 70% project interest in the Harvest polymetallic VMS Exploration Project in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. In addition, the Company has a 30% Net Streaming Interest in the Magambazi Mine in the Tanga Region of Tanzania.

EAM has invested US$66.8M in African exploration since 2005 and has identified a total of 2.8 million ounces of gold and gold-equivalent resources representing an average discovery cost per ounce of US$24.

More information on the Company can be viewed at the Company's website: www.eastafricametals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., CEO

For further information contact:

Nick Watters, Business Development

Telephone +1 (604) 488-0822

Email investors@eastafricametals.com

Website www.eastafricametals.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified using forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "budget", "schedule", "may", "will", "could", "might", "should", "indicate" or variations of such words or similar words or expressions. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by East Africa as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of East Africa to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: timing of receipt of mining permit; timing of mining development; projected heap leach recoveries; early exploration; the closing of the agreement with the exploration and development company to advance the Magambazi Project or identify any other corporate opportunities for the Company; mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of East Africa's projections and estimates, including the initial mineral resource for the Adyabo, Harvest and Magambazi Properties; interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of current exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; foreign taxation risks; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; the speculative nature of strategic metal exploration and development including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves; contests over title to properties; and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as those risk factors set out in in East Africa's management's discussion and analysis for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2023, and East Africa's listing application dated July 8, 2013. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The contained gold, copper and silver figures shown are in situ. No assurance can be given that the estimated quantities will be produced. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the timely closing of the financing; the timely closing of the Handeni Property definitive agreement; the price of gold, silver, copper and zinc; the demand for gold, silver, copper and zinc; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; the renewal or extension of exploration Licenses; the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although East Africa has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company does not update or revise forward looking information even if new information becomes available unless legislation requires the Company do so. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215080

SOURCE: East Africa Metals, Inc.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations has announced that 24 November 2024 will be 'World Conjoined Twins Day' and will be observed each year, to emphasize the need to address the condition of conjoined twins, advocate for their treatment and care, and promote their well-being and social inclusion.

Since its inception in 1990, The Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme has become a leader in the field of conjoined twin separation. The programme team has reviewed 139 cases from 26 countries and has successfully separated 61 pairs of twins. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, in addition to being an Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), is also a renowned pediatric surgeon who has served as Head of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme since it began.

"The United Nations General Assembly," Dr. Al Rabeeah stated, "has adopted a resolution to observe 'World Conjoined Twins Day' on 24 November each year. This is a very proud day for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its ongoing humanitarian efforts to help these special children. I would like to thank the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for their continued support for the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme, which has been a leader in the field of conjoined twin separation, since the programme began in 1990."

To further emphasize the importance of World Conjoined Twins Day, Saudi Arabia will host the first-ever International Conjoined Twins Conference on 24-25 November 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The conference, which will be co-hosted by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, will bring together global medical experts, representatives from humanitarian organizations and others interested in the topic of conjoined twins, to shed light on success stories and challenges of conjoined twin separation and to discuss potential collaboration and recommendations. The conference will also include a panel discussion titled 'Exploring the Multifaceted Impact of Separation on Conjoined Twins and Their Families', which will delve into the physiological, psychological, and social consequences of separation surgeries.

For more information, visit KSrelief's website

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Leading global beauty brand works with Blue Yonder to implement a next generation integrated supply chain

The cosmetics industry is experiencing continued growth as consumers worldwide increasingly prioritize self-care and wellness. However, this growth has also led to a more competitive landscape, and companies must make strategic choices to differentiate themselves and maintain success in this dynamic market. That is why Avon International chose Blue Yonder Platform with Cognitive Demand Planning, Enterprise Supply Planning and Control Tower solutions to create an end-to-end next generation supply chain and support the company's strategy and vision.

Avon International is a global beauty company operating in over 40 countries across Europe and Asia Pacific. The brand Avon has been in operation for over 135 years and has a business model based on relationship selling. Millions of independent representatives offer personalised beauty advice to their customers through offline and online channels. The brand is also accessed through wholesalers, retail stores and marketplaces.

Avon International was seeking to optimize its manufacturing and distribution processes in both Europe and Asia Pacific by establishing a "Planning Hub" for centralized demand and supply planning. To streamline demand planning, respond more quickly to their dynamic market and enhance decision-making, Avon International selected Blue Yonder's flexible SaaS supply chain solutions, based on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities.

"Avon International is committed to transforming itself to meet the needs of its customers, Representatives and partners while staying true to its business model and values. To support this global transformation across all channels, Avon International recognized the need for a more integrated approach to demand planning. After a thorough selection process, Blue Yonder was chosen for its comprehensive solutions and innovative capabilities that met all of Avon International's needs. With Blue Yonder's supply chain solutions, powered by leading-edge AI and ML capabilities, Avon International will be empowered to meet the changing needs of its customers, representatives, and partners in a profitable and sustainable way," said Maciej Kaniowski, COO, Avon International.

The need to reduce inventory across the company has made accurate forecasting and efficient demand planning a business imperative. Blue Yonder solutions' key differentiators include not only the robustness, experience, and scalability of ML forecasting, but also the extensibility and explainability of causal factors, that for Avon include campaigns, price, promotions, catalogue position, and seasonality.

These factors train Blue Yonder's ML models to predict future demand. Blue Yonder's explainability and scenario composable services help planners understand causal contributions and run simulations based on changes like price or promotions, resulting in superior accuracy, greater explainability, and improved decision-making.

Once the Blue Yonder solutions are implemented, Avon International will be able to drive supply chain process simplification and achieve the following benefits:

Streamline operations with an integrated, end-to-end planning process for managing trends, demand, supply, inventory, and vendor collaboration.

Surpass forecast accuracy and achieve improved planner efficiency with the configuration of Avon's causal factors.

Expand omni-channel capabilities and gain a competitive edge by forecasting and planning for all channels and offer types in one solution.

Improve service levels and optimize cash flow with a comprehensive forecasting and planning solution that supports a centralized planning hub.

Avon International's manufacturing supply chain operations in Europe and Asia Pacific are managed by Avon Operations Polska (AOP) and Avon Distribution Polska (ADP), with the backbone of their activities located in Garwolin, Poland. AOP manages the largest and most technologically advanced Avon factory worldwide. Cosmetics manufactured here are distributed to approximately 40 countries on three continents.

"We are thrilled to be a part of Avon International's supply chain digital transformation. It is an honor to work with a company that shares our same commitment to values such as inclusion, women empowerment, and equity. The Blue Yonder solutions will enable Avon International to adapt to changing market conditions and external dynamics, ensuring their supply chain remains agile, sustainable, and competitive," said Terry Turner, president, Manufacturing, Blue Yonder.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand Planning

Video: Next Generation Demand Planning with Cognitive Demand Planning

Learn more about: Blue Yonder Solutions for Consumer Industries

E-book: Improving the Supply Chain through Predictive Insight

About Avon

At Avon, we believe a better world for women is a better world for all. We are the beauty brand for women embracing their power, inspiring their confidence and providing opportunities to realise their potential. Millions of independent sales Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands through their social networks and more than 20% of every sale helps to create better futures for women*. We stand for progress for women: we believe in listening to women's needs, speaking out about issues that matter and creating positive change. Through Avon and the Avon Foundation, we have donated over $1.1 billion, with a focus on tackling gender violence and breast cancer. Avon is part of the Natura &Co Group.

*Learn more at www.avonworldwide.com.

About Blue Yonder

Blue Yonder is the world leader in digital supply chain transformation. Global retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers leverage Blue Yonder to optimize their supply chains from planning through fulfillment, delivery and returns. Blue Yonder's AI-embedded, interoperable supply chain solutions are connected end-to-end via a unified platform and data cloud, enabling businesses to collaborate in real time across functions, which supports more agile decision-making, improved customer satisfaction, profitable growth, and more resilient, sustainable supply chains. Blue Yonder Fulfill your Potential blueyonder.com

"Blue Yonder" is a trademark or registered trademark of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name "Blue Yonder" is a trademark and/or property of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of the companies with which they are associated.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702770779/en/

Contacts:

Blue Yonder Public Relations Contacts:

Marina Renneke, APR, Global Corporate Communications Sr. Director

Tel: +1 480-308-3037, marina.renneke@blueyonder.com

Rossella Benti, EMEA Corporate Communications Director

Tel: +39 335 7849149, rossella.benti@blueyonder.com
The identity as a service market is expected to witness notable growth owing to an increase in the number of identity frauds, increase in the adoption of cloud computing, and other connected technologies, and enhanced integration with IoT devices.

NEW CASTLE, Del., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Identity as a Service Market by Component (Provisioning, Single-Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Audit, Compliance and Governance, Directory Services, and Password Management), Deployment Type (Public Cloud, Private Cloud, and Hybrid Cloud), Enterprise Size (Large Enterprise, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprise), and Industry Vertical (BFSI, IT and Telecom, Manufacturing, Government and Public Sector, Energy and Utilities, Healthcare, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2032". According to the report, the identity as a service market was valued at $6.2 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach $54.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 27.5% from 2024 to 2032.

Prime determinants of growth

The identity as a service market is expected to witness notable growth owing to an increase in the number of identity frauds, increase in the adoption of cloud computing and other connected technologies, and enhanced integration with IoT devices. Moreover, the integration of evolving technologies is expected to provide a lucrative opportunity for the growth of the market during the forecast period. On the contrary, data privacy issues involving consumer information and critical application outsourcing limit the growth of the identity as a service market.

Request Sample Pages: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A14707

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2032 Base Year 2023 Market Size In 2023 $6.2 Billion Market Size In 2032 $54.1 Billion CAGR 27.5 % No. of Pages in Report 337 Segments Covered Component, Deployment Type, Enterprise Size, Industry Vertical and Region Drivers Increase in the Number of Identity Frauds Increase in the Adoption of Cloud Computing and Other Connected Technologies Enhanced Integration with IoT Devices Opportunities The Integration of Evolving Technologies Restraints Data Privacy Issues Involving Consumer Information Critical Application Outsourcing

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The provisioning segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By component, the provisioning segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than one-fourth of the identity as a service market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The growing need for a high level of automation is one of the primary reasons enterprises are increasing their investment in identity provisioning solutions. However, the single-sign-on segment is expected to witness the largest CAGR of 31.3% from 2024 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period.

The public segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

By deployment type, the public segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to more than two-fifths of the identity as a service market revenue, an increase in the need for secure and reliable data within the organization is fueling the market growth for public cloud-based identity as a service solution. However, the private segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 30.1% from 2024 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. It provides several advantages such as reducing costs, supporting business, and effectively controlling the business environment in the organization.

The large enterprises segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on enterprise size, the large enterprises segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to more than three-fifths of the identity as a service market revenue, owing to increase in the adoption of IDaaS devices and cloud computing by enterprises, which significantly aids in market growth. However, the small and medium-sized enterprises segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 30.4% from 2024 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. owing to the expansion of "bring your own device" (BYOD) policy usage and the demand to uphold compliance standards.

The IT and telecom segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

By industry vertical, the IT and telecom segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to more than one-fifth of the identity as a service market revenue, owing to the increasing need to secure telecom procedures, which drives the demand for effective identity management solutions. However, the healthcare segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 32.6% from 2024 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. The extensive adoption of electronic health records supplemented with constant monitoring reform has encouraged healthcare organizations to implement effective technological solutions.

North America region to maintain its dominance by 2032

By region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, accounting for more than one-third of the identity as a service market revenue. The increase in the usage of identity as a service solution in businesses to improve businesses and the customer experience is anticipated to propel the growth of the market in this region. However, Asia-Pacific is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 31.1% from 2024 to 2032. Countries such as China, India, and South Korea are at the forefront, embracing digital technologies to enhance their effectiveness and competitiveness, which is further expected to contribute to the growth of the market in this region.

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Leading Market Players: -

CyberArk

Google LLC

IBM Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

Okta

OneLogin, Inc.

Oracle Corporation

JumpCloud, Inc.

SailPoint Technologies

Thales

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the identity as a service market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different countries. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports Insights" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

David Correa

1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

Int'l: +1-503-894-6022

Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285

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Fax: +1-800-792-5285

help@alliedmarketresearch.com

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DeepSales is committed to enhancing buyer discovery solutions for sales professionals on a global scale

DeepSales, led by CEO Jeremy Kim, has successfully secured a 2 billion dollars Pre-A series investment, with participation from Yes24, Woori Technology Investment, and JL Partners. This recent infusion of capital marks a pivotal milestone for the company, elevating its total cumulative funding to an impressive 3.5 billion dollars. DeepSales' achievement, accomplished within just two years since its inception amidst a challenging venture capital climate, underscores its potential as a prospective AI unicorn.

Yoo Jeong Kim, CEO of JL Partners, spearheaded the investment, citing DeepSales' utilization of deep learning to analyze traditional data and high-potential prospecting in real-time as a key factor in their decision. She emphasized the company's demonstrated scalability in the global market as another compelling reason for their investment commitment.

Founded in November 2021, DeepSales utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to identify high-probability prospects, providing sales teams with valuable insights. By efficiently organizing global sales data and facilitating inter-business transactions, DeepSales empowers sales representatives to quickly identify and close deals with potential buyers.

Noteworthy achievements include participation as a data provider for programs like the Cloud Voucher and Data Voucher, as well as involvement including urea procurement and New York Fashion Week collaboration. DeepSales has maintained profitability since its establishment, with first-quarter revenue in 2024 doubling compared to the previous year, and a service retention rate exceeding 70%. With a global client base of over 450 companies and international revenue accounting for 15% of total revenue, DeepSales continues to demonstrate robust growth and global market penetration.

Jeremy Kim expressed plans to leverage the recent investment to propel the company into a globally recognized startup with differentiating technological advantages. He affirmed DeepSales' commitment to providing optimal buyer discovery solutions to sales professionals worldwide, solidifying their competitive stance in the global market.

About DeepSales:

DeepSales is a leading AI-driven company revolutionizing the sales industry. With a recent 2 billion dollar Pre-A series investment, total funding has reached 3.5 billion dollars. Founded in November 2021, DeepSales specializes in AI technology that identifies high-probability prospects for sales teams globally. For more information, visit DeepSales' official website: https://deepsales.com/ today.

Media Contact

Organization: DeepSales

Contact Person: Taehee Kong

Website: https://deepsales.com/

Email: tkong@deepsales.com

Contact Number: +827044175507

City: Seoul

Country: South Korea

SOURCE: DeepSales

View the original press release on accesswire.com
On June 29th, the event of "Go for Innovation, Rise for Growth 2024 Entrepreneurs' Journey to Jiangxia" organized by the Hubei Branch of Xinhua News Agency, Xinhuanet, China Enterprise Reform and Development Society, and Zhejiang Enterprise Confederation has drawn to a successful close. Over 500 entrepreneurs from Fortune 500 and China's top 500, and industry leaders, as well as renowned experts and scholars gathered on the banks of the Yangtze River and Tangxun Lake.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240701292721/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

Officials of the People's Government of Jiangxia District, Wuhan City and Xinhua News Agency delivered speeches at the main event. Fan Gang and Guan Qingyou, economists, gave public lectures respectively. Keynote speeches were delivered successively by Li Yaoqiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of China National Salt Industry Corporation, Cheng Jie, Party Secretary and President of Dong-E-E-Jiao Co., Ltd,and other influential entrepreneurs.

Mr. He Zhiyi, chief expert of Global Industry Research Institute of Tsinghua University, released the White Paper on Global Industry Research at the meeting, which showed the latest research results of the world's industrial structure and intensity coefficients in a comprehensive manner. In order to help cultivate and develop new quality productive forces, Xinhuanet, together with China Enterprise Reform and Development Society, launched the 2024 Development Case Collection of New Quality Productive Forces.

In the dialog session themed "Digital Leads the Future, Innovation Drives the Development," representatives from associations, industry experts and scholars, and enterprise representatives conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions, sharing views and suggestions from different angles and levels.

During the event, the relevant person in charge of Jiangxia District made industrial promotion and held a signing ceremony for investment and cooperation projects.

2024 Entrepreneurs' Journey to Jiangxia includes industrial development conference, local key project inspection, industry promotion, investment and cooperation project signing, release of global industry research achievements, and cultural exchange activities. During the event, the guests also carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions on the current industrial hotspots, such as new automobile consumption, digital transformation of manufacturing industry, pension finance, and the development of green and low-carbon industries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240701292721/en/

Contacts:

Contact: Wang Han

Email: xinhuawh@foxmail.com

Website: http://www.news.cn/enterprise/zt/2024qyjjxx/index.html
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FXGT.com, the global brokerage powerhouse, announces its successful charity event in collaboration with Great Heart Charity AssociationMalaysia. On May 11th, this powerful partnership transformed lives by delivering crucial support to underprivileged communities in the Klang Valley.

Since its inception in 2010, the Global Heart Charity Association has helped thousands of Malaysians, being a beacon of hope for those in need. Their efforts stem from genuine concern and are occasionally assisted by corporate efforts, such as the collaboration with FXGT.com. Recognizing their shared commitment to community empowerment, FXGT.com stepped in to assist the cause of the Klang Valley residents, who were deprived of essentials required for a normal life.

Fueled by the dedication of 23 volunteers, the charity was a real success, as hundreds of essential packages were distributed to those in need. In addition to providing food, the initiative also included vital health screenings, ensuring people in the valley have the much-needed medical attention.

'Our mission was clear - to improve people's living conditions as much as we can with food, medical aid, and educational support,' said Socratis, FXGT.com's Business Developer.

May 11th became a landmark in the lives of Klang Valley residents. FXGT.com's partnership with the Global Heart Charity Association brought not only immediate relief but also renewed the sense of hope and community spirit among the residents. And this event serves as a great example for what can be achieved when organizations unite for a common cause.

'We wanted to meet their immediate needs and also create long-term improvements in their lives' added Mr. Socratis.

Known for frequently going beyond their usual scope, the company remains committed to seeking and supporting humanitarian causes worldwide. Organizations focused on addressing social and environmental concerns are encouraged to contact FXGT.com by reaching out through its website.

About FXGT.com

FXGT.com is an established, award-winning, and fully regulated online CFD broker, that operates across several continents and regions, expanding rapidly worldwide. Renowned for ensuring strong protection and security of funds by using segregated bank accounts, the company is licensed by the FSA (Seychelles), FSCA (South Africa), along with VFSC (Vanuatu) and CySEC (Cyprus) - both for institutional clients only.

FXGT.com offers a wide range of tradable CFD asset classes and instruments, providing reliable and fast execution across a selection of versatile account types. Additionally, FXGT.com delivers an impressive array of trading tools, market insights, technical analysis, and other valuable resources. Clients also benefit from attractive bonuses, including Welcome Bonuses, Loyalty bonuses, Cashbacks and much more.

Lastly, traders and investors looking to access global markets with ease can open an account with FXGT.com by clicking through this link.

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BH Macro Limited - Conversion of Securities

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 02

BH Macro Limited

(the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability

under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

LEI: 549300ZOFF0Z2CM87C29

Completion of 31 May 2024 Share Conversion

2 July 2024

Classified Regulated Information, under DTR 6 Annex 1 section 2.5

Following the publication on 25 June 2024 of the final month-end net asset values for 31 May 2024, the following share conversion ratios have been determined in accordance with the articles of incorporation of the Company for the purposes of the 31 May 2024 share conversion date:

0.812873 Sterling shares for each US Dollar share 1.230205 US Dollar shares for each Sterling share

On the basis of aggregate applications received and using the conversion ratios listed above, the following shares will be issued:

216,228 Sterling Shares of no par value

and the following shares will be cancelled:

266,010 US Dollar Shares of no par value

all with effect from 2 July 2024.

Application will be made to the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") for the new shares to be admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities.

Admission is expected to occur on or about 10 July 2024. Shareholder CREST accounts for converting shareholders are expected to be updated by 5.00pm on or about 10 July 2024.

Following issue and cancellation of the relevant shares, the total number of shares in issue in each class will be as follows:

- 28,240,699 US Dollar Ordinary Shares (Excluding Treasury Shares)

- 0 US Dollar Treasury Shares

- 356,545,721 Sterling Ordinary Shares (Excluding Treasury Shares)

- 18,313,257 Sterling Treasury Shares

The number of votes each share in the Company is entitled to on a poll at any general meeting of the Company was published by the Company on 9 March 2007 and will not change as a result of the conversions. These are:

US Dollar Share 0.7606

Sterling Share 1.4710

From 2 July 2024, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 545,958,632.

Website: www.bhmacro.com

Enquiries:

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: +44 (0)1481 745001
Police officers and emergency crews park outside the Louis Vuitton store in San Francisco's Union Square on Nov. 21, 2021, after looters ransacked businesses. Danielle Echeverria/The Chronicle

A photo of an official-looking sign in San Francisco that says stolen goods must remain under $950 outside Union Square retailers made waves on social media over the weekend. The signs are referencing Proposition 47, a state measure that turned thefts of goods worth less than $950 into misdemeanors. Critics of the ballot measure argue its fueled out-of-control retail crime over the past decade, and the photos sparked discussion on social media where some posters argued the signs were a prank.

After the the city was contacted on Sunday about the signs, a city staffer was sent out to investigate but didnt see any signs, said Rachel Gordon, a San Francisco Department of Public Works spokesperson.

Its not clear if the signs were a mirage, edited into the photos to look real, or were there at one point but were taken down.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In the photos, a few signs appear to be posted outside different stores in Union Square, including one outside a Louis Vuitton store and one outside a Dior store, both of which were targets of smash-and-grab incidents in recent years.

Prop. 47, passed in 2014, was meant to prevent overcrowding in prisons and reduce jail time for low-level criminals. Supporters say that it has saved the state money, but its opponents claim that it has only worsened theft in California. Voters will have the chance to roll back parts of the measure in November. Under the proposal, someone caught stealing three times could be charged with a felony regardless of the value of the stolen goods.

Stores in Union Square have received considerable attention for retail theft, with a number of outlets hit by smash-and-grab operations in the past few years. The Louis Vuitton where the sign was allegedly posted was one of several stores hit by thieves in 2021. Eight people were arrested following that incident. The Dior store in Union Square also suffered retail theft in October, when robbers drove a car into the store, smashing the storefront and taking items. Two people were charged.

Fake signs have become a way to grab attention in San Francisco. Last year, two fake construction signs went up on Valencia Street following the addition of new bike lanes on the street, with slogans like we regret this bike lane and good luck cyclists.
EQS-News: Eanan Al Samma / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

EANAN inks Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University of Dubai, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Zhuji SRJ Materials Laboratory to foster international cooperation in applied sciences



02.07.2024 / 10:00 GMT/BST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





EANAN inks Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University of Dubai, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Zhuji SRJ Materials Laboratory to foster international cooperation in applied sciences



EANAN Al Samma ( https://EANAN.ae/ ), a UAE-based technology company leading the next evolutionary step in transportation through advanced air mobility (AAM), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Dubai (UD), Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) and Zhuji SRJL Materials Laboratory to foster international cooperation in applied sciences and expand the dissemination of academic and research information.

The MoU was signed by Dr Eesa M. Al Bastaki, President of UD, Raymund Scheffler, Shareholder at EANAN, Mr. Cheng Jin, Member of Standing Committee of University Board of XJTU and Dr Lei Li, Executive Director of SRJL during a ceremony in the presence of representatives from all stakeholders. This collaboration is set to enhance academic exchange among faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students, thereby enriching the academic and practical experience for all parties involved.

As part of this collaboration, a state-of-the-art laboratory will be established at the University of Dubai. This facility aims to promote collaborative efforts between the parties, advance academic research, integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience, provide students with hands-on training in their field, and strengthen the connections between experts and students from diverse backgrounds. These key objectives align with the rapidly growing Advanced Aerial Mobility industry in the UAE, one of the fastest-expanding markets in aerospace.

Raymund Scheffler, Shareholder of EANAN, said: "We are honoured to collaborate with the key academic and industry specialists including the University of Dubai, XJTU and SRJL to contribute to the development of the field of air mobility. This MOU will allow us to leverage our combined strengths to develop innovative technologies and solutions that will drive the future of the air mobility sector. We look forward to working closely with our partners to foster competence exchange, cultivate talent, and make a tangible impact on the industry."

The setting up of an exclusive laboratory at Dubai holds significance as it seeks to further strengthen ties between the UAE and China, fostering innovation and technological advancements through shared expertise and resources.

Dr Eesa M. Al Bastaki, President University of Dubai: "We, at the University of Dubai, are pleased to enter into a strategic partnership with EANAN, one of the leading technology companies in the UAE, along with XJTU and SRJL. This important agreement aims to strengthen academic cooperation and create a fruitful platform for scientific research. It further aligns with our mission to establish deep collaboration between the UAE and international academic and business societies as well as to establish robust ties to different cultures. Furthermore, we are thrilled to be part of this key partnership as it plays a vital role in supporting the UAE's ambitious goal to become a global leader in the air mobility and electric motors industry by promoting the development of innovative technologies in this sector."

Cheng Jin, Member of Standing Committee of University Board of XJTU: "XJTU is currently pursuing a strategy for integration of education and industries. Collaborations with UD, EANAN, SRJL through this MoU are a very important part of this strategy and will be mutually beneficial to all the parties involved. The establishment of the joint laboratory will certainly provide a great opportunity for academic and research staff to get insight into the related fields. The platform will serve as an important base for achieving remarkable progress in science, research and industries in the future. Moreover, it will act as an important link among our partners, as well as between China and the UAE, promoting cooperation and strengthening the friendship between the people in the two countries."

Dr Lei Li, Executive Director of SRJL: "As a high-energy R&D and industrial incubation platform based on international cooperation, the SRJL focuses on the research of key common technologies in material surface treatment and material body enhancement. The establishment of this joint laboratory signifies that we will engage in deeper cooperation in broader fields such as new materials, new energy equipment, and aircraft power systems. We will work together with a more pragmatic attitude and keen insight to overcome difficulties on the path of scientific research and pursue higher technological achievements."

In line with the collaboration, the University of Dubai will offer all on-site support and facilities required for the establishment of the laboratory while EANAN will be responsible for confirming its functionality. The MOU enables parties to send delegates to learn each other's educational system and curriculum design. Additionally, the agreement mandates that postdoctoral from all of the parties should fulfil the requirements set forth by the receiving party to be admitted to a degree-granting or non-degree-granting programme.

Established in Dubai, EANAN is the first company to deliver autonomous multi-copter and flying wing aircraft from its production facility in the country surpassing the rigorous demands and regulatory requirements of the aviation industry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Eanan Al Samma.

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About EANAN:

EANAN is a UAE technology company leading the next evolutionary step in transportation through advanced air mobility (AAM). Based in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH), Dubai South, we are the first company to make advanced unmanned aircraft in Dubai. We engineer, produce, and operate a fleet of heavy cargo and vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that safely, efficiently, and securely transport people and goods across any environment, for every type of need.



From congestion-free travel to faster delivery of goods and from assisting emergency response to monitoring remote facilities, AAM's potential to transform economies and societies, making transportation more accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly is unlimited. We've brought together an ecosystem of local and international experts to deliver autonomous multi-copter and flying wing aircraft from our local production facility, designed, and engineered to exceed the rigorous demands and regulatory requirements of the aviation industry.

Born in Dubai, we nurture Emirati talent, imagination, and ingenuity, with the aim of becoming the first commercially operating air mobility company in the city. For more information please visit, https://EANAN.ae/

About University of Dubai:

The University of Dubai (UD) has become home to multi-talented students, distinguished staff and world-class faculty members with diverse multicultural backgrounds. The University has developed a well-established educational platform for research opportunities through its advanced campus resources, laboratories and centers.

From local conferences and seminars to international summits, the University of Dubai has played an integral role in fostering connections, promoting youth empowerment and building a liaison between the professional and the academic communities.

The University of Dubai offers an extraordinary variety of business, law, engineering and IT programs that aim to educate and raise entrepreneurs and leaders of the future.

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LONDON, July 02, 2024, in partnership with Andan Foundation , a Swiss non-profit humanitarian organization, is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2024 Global Citizen Award .

Created ten years ago in 2014, the Global Citizen Award is a tribute that honors remarkable individuals working to advance any one of the global challenges affecting humanity today - challenges that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone. This year's honor is particularly significant as it marks the 10th anniversary of the Global Citizen Award, celebrating a decade of recognizing and supporting global champions who make a profound impact on our world.

The 2024 laureate will be selected by a distinguished, independent committee and honored at the Global Citizen Award ceremony, the concluding gala evening event of the annual Henley & Partners Global Citizenship Conference which is taking place this year at Capella Singapore from 27-29 November 2024.

Henley & Partners Chairman and Founder of the Andan Foundation, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin , says the awardee's work needs to demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable social groups, particularly with a connection to migration-related issues. "The Global Citizen Award is open worldwide to those working in a field with a direct link to the issues they are looking to affect and excludes political figures, opinion leaders, and celebrities. The committee is looking for remarkable and inspirational individuals who demonstrate vision, courage, and innovation in driving global change, and whose actions and outlook contribute to a more just, peaceful, connected, and tolerant world."

The selection process is confidential and is based on a majority decision of the Award Committee. The award itself consists of a bespoke sculptural medal designed by leading Italian artist Antonio Nocera, an award certificate signed by the Chairman of the Global Citizen Award Committee, and a monetary prize of USD 20,000, which goes towards supporting the awardee's humanitarian efforts. In addition, Henley & Partners commits to working closely with the awardee for a period of one year, raising awareness of their work and supporting the selected project through the firm's network of more than 55 offices worldwide.

Since its inception, the Global Citizen Award has honored many remarkable individuals . The first laureate was German entrepreneur Harald Hoppner, who set up the refugee humanitarian aid project Sea-Watch. He was followed by Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation , Africa's largest disaster relief organization, and Monique Morrow, Co-Founder of The Humanized Internet , a digital identity project that aims to bring hope to the estimated 1.1 billion individuals in the world who cannot prove their legal identity.

Diep Vuong, Co-Founder and President of the Pacific Links Foundation , was awarded for her work in Southeast Asia campaigning for the rights of those enslaved by human trafficking, while Prof. Dr. Padraig O'Malley received his Global Citizen Award in recognition of his work on conflict resolution and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Iraq. Last year's awardee Zannah Bukar Mustapha , the Founder of the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation , was recognized for the psychological, educational, spiritual and other developmental support provided to the children and widows affected by the insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria.

Commenting on the award's 10-year history and significance, Dr. Kaelin says global citizenship ideals are a founding principle of Henley & Partners, and through its partnership with the Andan Foundation, the firm can provide support to those displaced by war, conflict and climate change. "All of our Global Citizen Award laureates have inspired us with their willingness to act in confronting a problem that many see as simply too vast to address. The issues that we face today transcend the family, the tribe, the village, and the nation. It's more critical than ever that we do what we can to support those working to change the lives of vulnerable people around the world."

Nominations close on Friday, 2 August 2024. For more information on how to submit your nomination, please contact Bushra Zaidan at bushra.zaidan@andan.org

Sarah Nicklin

Group Head of PR

sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com

Mobile: +27 72 464 8965
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SINGAPORE, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Turbo VPN, provider of the world's fastest and most secure VPN connections, today announced a substantial expansion of its server network. Its number of available server locations has surged from over 50 to 111, marking a substantial growth in the company's ability to deliver the powerful online protection it's become known for.

This expansion won't come a day too early. The 2023 Cybersecurity Ventures Cybercrime Report revealed that global cybercrime damages are expected to reach USD 8 trillion annually. By 2025, this figure is predicted to soar to USD 10.5 trillion, with global cybersecurity spending exceeding USD 1.75 trillion.

Turbo VPN is addressing these alarming statistics by providing users with improved protection through an expanded network. The increased number of server locations not only offers more options for changing IP addresses but also ensures faster, more reliable connections regardless of a user's location. This development is particularly beneficial for individuals seeking to secure their online activities and access geo-blocked content without compromising speed or reliability.

In conjunction with its server expansion, Turbo VPN has introduced a new feature on its official website: 'What is my IP address?' This completely free tool allows users to easily check their IP addresses and understand any potential vulnerabilities. By making the feature freely available, Turbo VPN aims to widen the use of secure browsing practices.

"The digital space is an increasingly perilous place for everyone," says spokesman at Turbo VPN. "We are intent on providing users with the tools and resources they need to protect themselves properly. Encrypting data via protocols like IPSec, TLS, and SSL, we secure everything from business and personal websites to private conversations and banking transactions. The web can be a hazardous place, but it doesn't need to be."

With their expanded VPN server network and the introduction of 'What is my IP address?', Turbo VPN will help users experience the web most securely and hopefully prevent them from becoming part of yet another frightening set of cybersecurity statistics.

For more information about Turbo VPN, please visit [www.turbovpn.com]

About Turbo VPN:

Turbo VPN, downloaded by over 300,000,000 users, is a world-leading provider of the most secure and fastest VPN connections. Founded in Singapore, Turbo VPN is focused on connecting the world safely through its use of cutting-edge technologies.

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Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:ARK) ("Arras" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced an Induced Polarization ("IP") survey on its 531 square kilometer Elemes project in northeastern Kazakhstan ("Elemes" or the "Project"), to help further define the most prospective drill targets.

Highlights

125km long Pole-Dipole Induced Polarization survey covering the entire Berezski 8.8km x 1.5km NE-SW trending long copper ("Cu") soil anomaly (+150ppm Cu).

Initial focus of the survey will be the 2.8km x 1.6km coherent Molybdenum ("Mo") bulls-eye anomaly (> 5ppm Mo) interpreted to be the core of untested porphyry copper-gold system.

The survey will also extend over the 3km x 2.2km Novi arsenic ("As") anomaly (>25ppm As) thought to be associated with a large high-sulphidation epithermal above a preserved porphyry deposit.

The commencement of the IP survey works follows the recent closing of an upsized financing in which the Company successfully raised C$5.2 million to support ongoing exploration activities on the Company's copper-gold projects in Kazakhstan.

The IP survey will cover the extensive Berezski copper anomaly, associated with highly altered diorites, that displays remarkably similar geological and structural characteristics to the Bozshakol copper-gold mine located approximately 60 km northwest.

Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals, announced, "With the recent completion of the C$5.2 million equity financing, we are well-positioned to advance our exploration programs on our key copper-gold projects across a number of targets areas. The start of the IP survey at the Berezski target on the Elemes project will assist with further defining high-priority targets ahead of drill testing in the following months this summer and fall."

Figure 1. The 8.8km Berezski copper soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Figure 2. The 8.8km Berezski molybdenum soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Figure 3. The 8.8km Berezski arsenic soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Induced Polarization (IP) Survey

The IP and resistivity surveys are being undertaken by Aurora Geophysics of Astana, Kazakhstan. The survey includes 125km of survey lines and will utilize a pole-dipole array with an electrode spacing of 200m, and an average line spacing of 500m. The survey is designed to measure to a depth of ~250m.

Mineralization in porphyry deposits is associated with sulphide minerals, predominantly pyrite and chalcopyrite, which makes the IP survey an important tool in targeting sulphide mineralization at depth and enhancing the definition of drill targets. Additionally, the resistivity function of the survey will assist in identifying silica enriched zones, another import vector tool for future drill planning.

The Berezski Target is located within the 531 square kilometre Elemes/Aimandai license area ("Elemes Project"). The property benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 kilometres ("km") from Arras' operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, Pavlodar. A paved highway runs through the license, and within 5 km of the Berezski target. 1100 KVA power lines and heavy rail all lie within a 15-kilometer radius of the project.

The Elemes Project is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals' Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (2022 production 102kt Cu and 113Koz Au 2 ) approximately 60 km to the northwest.

Figure 4. Arras's License Package showing Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance Areas as "Package A" and "Package B" as well as the Elemes, Aimandai, Stepnoe, Ekidos and Tay licences which are 100% owned by Arras.

Qualified Person: The scientific and technical disclosure for this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Matthew Booth, Vice President of Exploration, of Arras Minerals Corp., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Booth has over 19 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Qualified Person member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG 12044).

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim Barry"

Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo)

Chief Executive Officer and Director

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

+1 604 687 5800

info@arrasminerals.com

Further information can be found on the Company's website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals

About Arras Minerals Corp.

Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue). In December 2023, the Company entered into a strategic alliance with Teck Resources ("Teck") in which Teck will sole fund a US$5 million generative exploration program over a portion of the Arras license package in 2024-2025 focusing on critical minerals. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol "ARK".

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies.

Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras' future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras' exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras' management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management's control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR on February 28, 2024 and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 28, 2024 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

SOURCE: Arras Minerals Corp.

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CHICAGO, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Tie Layer Resin Market by Base Resins (LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE, PP, EVA), Type (Reactive, Non-Reactive), Application (Flexible, Rigid), End-use Industry (Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical & Medical, Automotive), and Region - Global Forecast to 2029," Tie Layer Resin Market size is projected to grow from USD 1.6 billion in 2024 to USD 1.8 billion in 2029, at a CAGR of 3.6%.

The medical sector is showing significant potential demand for tie layer resins due to several critical factors. The need for high-performance medical packaging is paramount to ensure the safety, sterility, and longevity of medical products. Tie layer resins play a crucial role in multi-layer packaging by providing strong adhesion between different materials, enhancing the barrier properties against contaminants, moisture, and oxygen. This is particularly important for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and sterile supplies. Additionally, the medical sector is increasingly adopting advanced polymer-based products, such as catheter tubing and flexible medical films, which require reliable bonding solutions that tie layer resins offer. The growing demand for minimally invasive medical procedures also drives the need for complex multi-layer structures, where tie layer resins ensure the mechanical integrity and performance of medical components.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Tie Layer Resin Market"

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"The flexible application segment is expected to account for one of the largest shares in 2023"

Flexible packaging holds a prominent market share in the tie layer resin market due to its inherent versatility and ability to cater to diverse industry needs. This type of packaging is particularly favored for its customization options, allowing it to be tailored into various shapes and sizes, which is essential for sectors like food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. The multi-layer structure of flexible packaging, enhanced by tie layer resins, provides superior barrier properties, protecting products from moisture, oxygen, and contaminants, thus preserving freshness and extending shelf life.

Moreover, the lightweight nature of flexible packaging reduces transportation costs and environmental impact. It also requires fewer raw materials, making it a cost-effective solution for manufacturers. The emphasis on sustainability has further boosted its market share, as tie layer resins facilitate the production of recyclable and eco-friendly packaging, meeting global environmental standards. Additionally, the rise in e-commerce and changing consumer lifestyles have increased the demand for convenient packaging solutions that flexible packaging offers, such as reseal ability and easy portability.

"The food & beverage end-use industry segment is expected to account for one of the largest shares in 2023"

The food and beverage industry maintains a dominant market share in the tie layer resin market due to its critical need for high-performance packaging solutions. These solutions ensure product safety, freshness, and extended shelf life by offering superior barrier properties against moisture, oxygen, and contaminants. The industry's shift towards convenience and portable packaging, driven by urbanization and changing consumer lifestyles, further fuels this demand. Additionally, stringent regulatory standards and a focus on sustainability necessitate the adoption of advanced, recyclable packaging materials enabled by tie layer resins. This industry's continuous innovation and demand for product differentiation amplify the necessity for these resins, solidifying their prominent market position.

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"Asia Pacific is expected to account for the largest share in 2023"

The growth of the tie layer resin market in Asia Pacific is significantly supported by the region's rapidly expanding economies. Rapid industrialization in countries such as China, India, and Southeast Asian nations boosts the demand for advanced packaging solutions across various sectors, including food and beverage, automotive, and electronics. Urbanization and rising disposable incomes lead to greater consumption of packaged goods, which in turn necessitates high-performance packaging provided by tie layer resins. Additionally, the e-commerce boom in Asia Pacific fuels the need for durable and efficient packaging to ensure the safe delivery of products. Government initiatives promoting sustainability and environmental regulations also drive the adoption of recyclable and eco-friendly tie layer resins, further propelling market growth. The region's strong manufacturing capabilities and ongoing investments in research and development support innovation and the production of advanced tie layer resin solutions.

The key players profiled in the report include LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. (UK), Westlake Corporation (US), Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Japan), Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), Dow (US), Polyram Group (Israel), Zeus Company LLC (US), The Compound Company (Netherlands), and Allnex GmBH (Germany).

Browse Adjacent Market: Coatings Adhesives Sealants and Elastomers Market Research Reports & Consulting

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Barrier Resins Market - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2026

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Hannan Metals Limited's ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSXV:HAN)(OTC PINK:HANNF) is pleased to announce that a significant copper-gold porphyry discovery continues to expand at the Previsto Central prospect within the 100%-owned Valiente Project in Peru (Figures 1 and 2).

Highlights:

Discovery : Outcropping porphyry-style copper and gold mineralization has been discovered over a significant 10 km by 5 km area at Previsto Central to Previsto East (Pictures 1 and 2, Figures 4 to 7) within a previously unmapped area. The discovery remains open in all directions.

Extensive surface anomalism, soil anomaly doubles in size and only 20% of the target area covered : Field work during the optimal dry season is now focused on mapping (alteration and lithology) and soil sampling. A team of six geologists are working on the project supported by two technicians and a large group of local residents acting as field support. Extensive copper and gold anomalism has been discovered to date by geochemical soil sampling in only 20% of the 10 km by 5 km target area. Soil samples commonly exceed 0.1 g/t gold and 0.025% copper (Figures 4 to 7). The gold anomaly has doubled in size over the last month and now exceeds 2 km by 4 km. Impressive copper rich outcrops (formed from blue azurite, a copper oxide) have been identified with many assay results in the laboratory, including channel sampling up to 192 m long (Picture 1).

Upper parts of a porphyry mineral system with scale : Mapping continues to demonstrate the scale of the mineral system. Alteration is dominated by phyllic and intermediate argillic alteration assemblages where pyrite dominates over chalcopyrite, indicating the outcropping rock exposures represent the upper parts of a porphyry mineral system. The new discovery coincides with a 10 km x 5 km large airborne magnetic and radiometric potassic anomaly. Hannan is planning 70 km regional scale IP lines across the entire system for September 2024, to demonstrate the scale and extent of the system in three dimensions.

Cluster: The Previsto discovery is the eighth significant porphyry and/or epithermal target discovered within an area of 25 km by 10 km at Previsto and Belen that Hannan now believes represents a district-scale porphyry cluster.

Michael Hudson, CEO, states: "The Previsto Central discovery area impressively continues to expand rapidly. This further supports the premise that Hannan has found another, and what looks like the largest, porphyry Cu-Au system at Valiente. We are just seeing a glimpse of what is hidden under thin soil cover and to date we have only explored a very small portion of the 10 km by 5 km target area. A team of six geologists is working on the project supported by two technicians and a large group of local residents acting as field support during the dry season as we continue de-risk and move Previsto Central forward to drill permitting as soon as possible."

Having just entered the optimal dry season Hannan's technical teams are focused on mapping and soil sampling the entire Previsto Central target covering an area of 10 km by 5 km. This will provide an excellent overview of the target that will form the basis for detailed mapping, surface IP geophysics and drill permitting. Results continue to impress and with only 20% of the target covered we are confident that the scale of this system will continue to grow.

Stream sediment sampling by Hannan in 2021 provided initial signs of a mineralized system at Previsto Central. The Company gained social access to the area late last year and prospecting work since the start of 2024 has confirmed that a significant copper-gold porphyry discovery exists in the area.

Previsto Central is defined by a large 10 km by 5 kmairborne magnetic and radiometric anomaly. Alteration associated with porphyry intrusions is often magnetic (from magnetite) and potassic (from sericite/biotite/K-feldspar). At Previsto anomalous soil anomalies are associated with areas of elevated magnetics and potassium indicating minerals associated with porphyry alteration. The footprint dimensions of the alteration system at Previsto are considered significant on a global scale for a porphyry system. This area remains the main focus of the Company's field programs during the dry season.

This Previsto Central prospect is located 2.5 km west of the Previsto East (reported on April 10, 2024). The style of mineralization observed at both prospects show strong similarities, where alteration assemblages and mineralization styles include hydrothermal breccias, intense phyllic alteration and relics of potassic alteration, roscoelite veining/dissemination and replacement of feldspars, observed sulfide minerals include chalcopyrite, molybdenite, pyrite. Veining is rare and generally only thin quartz and quartz-pyrite-iron oxide veinlets have been observed in boulders.

Previsto Central exhibits highly anomalous soil geochemical anomalies over 1,000 m, with anomalous rock chip samples and numerous windows of exposed copper and gold mineralization within a 4 km by 2 km area (Figures 4 to 7).

A detailed cross section was made across the broadest part of the 4 km wide alteration system (Figure 3). The section demonstrates a 700 m wide alteration zone, open to the east and west, showing phyllic and intermediate argillic alteration of a K-feldspar porphyry and feldspar porphyry.

Soil sampling continues to expand the footprint of the porphyry copper-gold system at Previsto Central. Soils continue to yield very high gold numbers exceeding 0.1 ppm Au. The width of the gold anomaly has now doubled and exceeds 2 km by 4 km with soil collected at a 100 m to 200 m sample spacing.

Rock sampling has returned anomalous gold and copper in channels and panel samples. The widest channel (14975) to date is 44.5m @ 551 ppm Cu and 28 g/t Mo, including 5.8 m @ 0.25 % Cu and 36 ppm Mo and 4.7 m @ 0.1 % Cu and 67 ppm Mo (Figures 4 and 6). The host rock exhibits intermediate argillic alteration in a K-felspar porphyry. A panel sample covering 3m3 located 1 km NNW of the channel returned 1.2 g/t Au hosted in a phyllic altered K-feldspar porphyry with 3% jarosite and goethitic veinlets. In the same area a weak vuggy texture and phyllic alteration is common in many samples.

Litho-geochemistry at Previsto shows a clear alkaline composition of the porphyry instructive host. The porphyries intrude sediments (sandstone, limestone, and shale) which show contact metasomatism around dykes and intrusive stocks.

Hannan is planning a 70-line km pole-dipole induced polarization geophysical survey to demonstrate the scale and extent of the mineral system in three dimensions. The Company also plans a regional LiDAR survey across the Previsto Central and Previsto East areas to help define outcropping areas and plan logistics.

At Previsto East a 1,800 m by 400 m area contains a high gold in soil anomaly associated with multiple large local copper and gold mineralized boulders, covered by scree and soil cover from 1 m to 5 m thick. Previsto East could represent either a secondary alluvial deposit that is locally or distally sourced (Picture 2).

Other News

Valiente Peru (Hannan 100%)

The DIA application for the Belen area was submitted in late January 2024 and has been progressing through the bureaucratic system much faster than previously expected. Hannan has already started to receive observations and feedback from the relevant authorities. Drill permitting times in Peru appears to be improving and the social support from the project remains strong and the Company completed the last observation to the application, being a water survey by the local water authority, over the last two weeks.

The permit area contains two outcropping porphyry targets (Ricardo Herrera and Sortilegio) and one zone with signatures of both porphyry-epithermal and skarn mineralization (Vista Alegre).

San Martin (JOGMEC JV - Peru)

The environmental permit, the Declaracion de Impacto Ambiental ("DIA") for 40 drill platforms was received from the Ministry of Mines in Peru during January 2024. The DIA is the primary environmental certification required to allow low impact mineral exploration programs, that includes drilling programs, to proceed at the San Martin copper-silver project in Peru.

The Authorization to Initiate activities has been delayed by 30 to 60 days as the Company has been requested to provide further information by the General Directorate of Mining from the Ministry of Mines ("DGM") relating to additional underlying paperwork from the State who holds underlying land titles. The Company has legal permission from the local landholders and communities who have lived on the land for decades. The Company expects drill rigs on the ground in San Martin in October 2024.

A two-stage drill program is planned: First stage: A 2,000 m diamond drilling program over a 2 km strike of mapped surface mineralization down to 800 m depth. Second stage: Subject to Stage 1, a further 1,500 m drill program to test the continuity of mineralization Subject to results in Stage 1 or Stage 2 additional areas may be tested within the 7 km long permitted area.



San Martin West (JOGMEC JV - Peru)

Environmental data collection to support a new DIA application at San Martin West has commenced and will be completed in the coming 2 months.

The environmental data is being collected at San Martin West over an outcropping copper-silver mineralization trend that has been mapped for over 2.3 km of strike including 5.8 m at 3.1% copper and 65 g/t silver from a surface channel sample (previously reported).

Cerro Rolando Chile (Hannan has option to earn 100%)

Hannan is in the process of permitting a small drill program to test a shallow conductor at the Cerro Rolando Project in Chile. The conductor has been modeled to a depth of 60 m and may represent a perched supergene blanket from a mineralized porphyry at depth.

A community contract is in the process of being signed with final drill approval anticipated during September 2024 . Permitting for 3 platforms has been made with a minimum contract requirement for one 100 m deep hole to test the shallow conductor.

The conductor is 10 m to 15 m thick and open to the E and W. It directly overlays a magnetic anomaly that is modeled to 450 m depth. The drill target is located at a regional significant NNW lineament that controls the emplacement of the giant Chuquicamata deposit.

About the Valiente project

The 100% owned Valiente project is in central eastern Peru, east of the city of Tingo Maria (Figures 1 and 2). The area is characterized by steep topography on the eastern flank of the Central Cordillera with elevations between 800 m and 2,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.). The project was discovered in 2021 during an extensive greenfields exploration program initiated by Hannan for back-arc porphyry copper-gold systems. The Company has been actively exploring the project since 2021 and has successfully gained social permits progressively in all areas of interest.

During 2021 Hannan staked and still holds 1,002 km2 of 100% owned mining concessions at Valiente covering unexplored terrain for potential mineralized porphyry targets in central eastern Peru. Early surface prospecting discovered two outcropping copper-gold porphyry targets and one epithermal target at Belen (see Press Release Feb 16, 2023) that is now being drill permitted (Figures 1 and 2). Porphyry discoveries quickly followed at Serrano Norte, Serrano and Pucacunga. The focus more recently has been on Previsto. At Previsto and Belen, a district-scale porphyry cluster within an area of 25 km by 10 km, with eight porphyry and/or epithermal targets now identified in more detail with up to 10 earlier stage targets awaiting further work.

In January 2024 Hannan submitted it first drilling application (DIA) covering two porphyry targets and one epithermal target at the Belen zone (here for news release). The company is now expanding the footprint by exploring new areas to build a pipeline of projects that will be permitted, and drill tested over the coming five years.

Technical Background

All samples were collected by Hannan geologists. Samples were transported to ALS in Lima via third party services using trackable parcels and by company staff. At the laboratory, rock samples were prepared and analyzed by standard methods. The sample preparation involved crushing 70% to less than 2 mm, riffle split off 250g, pulverize split to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Samples were analyzed by method ME-MS61, a four-acid digest preformed on 0.25g of the sample to quantitatively dissolve most geological materials. Analysis is via ICP-MS. Channel samples are considered representative of the in-situ mineralization samples and sample widths quoted approximate the true width of mineralization, while grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property. Gold was analyzed in rock and soils by ALS in Lima using a standard sample preparation and 30g fire assay sample charge. Soil samples were analyzed by a portable XRF (VANTA-VMR) using an inhouse protocol which includes routing use of CRM and field duplicates as well as 10% check samples analyzed by ALS Lima.

About Hannan Metals Limited (TSXV:HAN)(OTC PINK:HANNF)

Hannan Metals Limited is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Peru. Hannan is a top ten in-country explorer by area in Peru.

Mr. Michael Hudson FAusIMM, Hannan's Chairman and CEO, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson"

Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO Further Information

www.hannanmetals.com

1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7

Mariana Bermudez, Corporate Secretary,

+1 (604) 685 9316, info@hannanmetals.com

Forward Looking Statements. Certain disclosure contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. These statements may relate to this news release and other matters identified in the Company's public filings. In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned work programs; permitting; and community relations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news.

Picture 1: Photos of outcropping copper oxides (azurite) at Previsto Central

Picture 2: View from Previsto East looking west showing the 4 km2 footprint of the Previsto Central porphyry target area and the core 3 km x 1 km target.

SOURCE: Hannan Metals Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
European Investment Fund and the NATO Innovation Fund, a venture capital fund backed by 24 North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations, enter partnership.

Memorandum of Understanding signed in Brussels sets terms of closer collaboration.

Goal is to expand funding for start-ups, SMEs and midcaps in defence, security, and resilience sectors.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in supporting the long-term growth of the defence, security, and resilience sectors across Europe. The EIF is part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the NIF is a standalone venture-capital fund backed by 24 NATO countries.

The MoU aims to encourage more private-capital funds to become active investors in technology sectors associated with defence and security, enabling EU companies to raise equity funding from a broader range of sources. The partnership reflects the shared interest of the NIF and EIF in establishing a framework to support start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and midcaps, as well as in enhancing the whole ecosystem by involving all the main stakeholders.

"By facilitating regular dialogue and knowledge sharing, the EIF and NIF will ensure a cohesive approach to strengthening the investment ecosystem for defence, security and resilience," said Marjut Falkstedt, chief executive of the EIF. "This will benefit SMEs, midcaps, and the broader European innovation landscape."

The MoU also outlines plans for EIF-NIF cooperation on ad-hoc activities to share knowledge and raise awareness about the potential of investments in defence and security. This will help foster a comprehensive investment ecosystem, ensure effective outreach to private-capital funds, support companies in their investment plans and raise awareness of the investment opportunities in the defence, security, and resilience sectors among limited partners.

The collaboration with the NIF also is in line with the EIB Group's Security and Defence Action Plan, which is expected to support the effort primarily through the EIB's venture-debt product designed to address the funding needs of innovative companies, and which may complement EIF and NIF venture capital and private-equity funding in some cases. The signatories will also exchange information with the European Commission in areas where its potential involvement may prove beneficial for the purposes of the MoU.

"There is great momentum in deep tech that is propelling innovations to help strengthen European defence, security and resilience," said Andrea Traversone, Managing Partner, NATO Innovation Fund. "We are excited to be collaborating with the EIF, the EIB Group and the Commission to unlock investment opportunities for European businesses, advance capacity building for dual-use innovation, and share best practices across investors, innovators and government."

The collaboration between EIF and NIF will also focus on the design of new financial products to cater for companies' needs. The strategic alliance between the EIF and NIF represents a significant step forward in strengthening Europe's defence and security capabilities, unlocking new avenues for private investment, and driving innovation in these vital sectors.

About the European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund:

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by its member states. It supports sound investments that contribute to EU policy objectives.

Financing for Europe's security and defence industry is among the EIB Group's strategic priorities. We provide a comprehensive range of financial support and solutions designed to meet the demands of companies and public sector entities in the security and defence sector, regardless of their size. From reconnaissance and surveillance, spectrum protection and control, to cybersecurity solutions, infrastructure and military mobility, our financing solutions are designed to bolster projects that keep Europe safe, resilient, and innovative.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.

About the NATO Innovation Fund:

The NATO Innovation Fund is a venture capital fund, backed by 24 NATO Allies, that deploys more than 1 billion in deep tech to address challenges in defence, security, and resilience. The fund invests independently, with 24 nations supporting its portfolio's success and helping provide deep tech entrepreneurs with access to both commercial and government markets.

Participating NATO Allies are: Belgium; Bulgaria; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Spain; Sweden; Turkiye; United Kingdom

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702326925/en/

Contacts:

Serena Sertore s.sertore@eib.org +352 4379 70859

Nikos Chrysoloras n.chrysoloras@eib.org + 32 495 86 10 60

Website: www.eib.org/press Media Office +352 4379 21000; press@eib.org

Amalia Kontesi amalia@nif.fund

Website: https://www.nif.fund/
EQS-News: North Peak Resources Ltd. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

North Peak Announces First Hole Drilled at Prospect Mountain North; CFO Transition



02.07.2024 / 13:30 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company" or "North Peak") announces that drilling is underway at its Prospect Mountain North area, with the first hole to be drilled now completed. The roughly 10,000 foot r/c drill campaign is targeting former near surface, high grade gold mines in the northern area of the Prospect Mountain Property (the "Property") in Eureka, Nevada. Drilling of some 20 holes (see Figure 1) will take place from the Wabash/Williams mine area, Industry Tunnel, Duke and Delaware Madrid sites, with holes ranging in depth from 300 to 700 feet.

"Required groundwork and drill mobilization allowed drilling at Industry Tunnel to start Friday with excellent productivity continuing over the weekend," Brian Hinchcliffe, Chairman & CEO commented.

"The last comprehensive drilling program in 1999 of some 96 holes with 26,000 feet of vertical drilling took place in the Wabash area where this program seeks to target gold mineralization and test a revised interpretation for the area."

Figure 1: Plan of historic Wabash drill collar locations and proposed drill holes in Prospect Mountain North

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9875/215202_dcb026e644a9c8b8_002full.jpg

In addition, the Company reports that Rob Suttie has stepped down as Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary and as a director, and Marrelli Services will conclude its financial administrative support effective July 31, 2024.

"On behalf of the Board, we would like to thank Rob Suttie and the team at Marrelli, who have provided invaluable support to the Company in the important first stage of its development. I personally would like to thank Rob for his commitment to the Company and wish him and his team all the best in the future", added Mr Hinchcliffe.

The Company announces the appointment of Andrew Dunlop to the position of Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Dunlop is a finance and accounting professional with over ten years of experience in the mining sector, focused primarily on assets in North and South America. He has also been appointed to the Audit Committee of the Company.

About Prospect Mountain

The Property lies in the Battle Mountain Eureka trend, in an area known as the Southern Eureka Gold Belt, where three styles of mineralization have been identified, gold, silver Carlin style mineralization, Carbonate Replacement gold, silver, lead, zinc mineralization (CRD) and carbonate hosted Porphyry Related Skarn lead, zinc and gold mineralization associated with cretaceous intrusions. At the Property, the CRD mineralization is heavily oxidized to depths of at least 610m (2000ft) below the top of the ridge line.

A Plan of Operations is in place which covers part of the Property (totalling 81 acres) and entitles an operator to pursue surface exploration, underground mining of up to 365,000 tons per annum and certain infrastructural works. It includes a permit to extract water from a well and to build water containment facilities.

About North Peak

The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere.

The Company has acquired an initial 80% interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in Eureka, Nevada (see the Company's May 4 and 23, 2023 press releases).

The Company can give no assurances at this time that its properties and interests will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

For further information, please contact:

Brian Hinchcliffe, CEO

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com

Website: www.northpeakresources.com

Chelsea Hayes, Director

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, timing and completion of any drilling and work programs on the Property, estimates of mineralization from drilling, sampling and geophysical surveys, geological information projected from drilling and sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones, the potential for minerals and/or mineral resources and reserves, and statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Property and the Company that may be described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the quarter ended March 31, 2024, available at www.sedarplus.ca , many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215202

02.07.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) (OTCQX: KLDCF) (FSE: 3WQ0) ("Kenorland" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the engagement of BBA Consultants ("BBA"), an engineering consulting firm, in preparation for a potential authorization and permit application for development of an underground exploration decline at the Frotet Project (the "Project"). Kenorland holds a 4% net smelter return royalty and Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. ("Sumitomo") is the 100% owner of the Project. Kenorland is currently the operator at the Project.

Kenorland and Sumitomo have engaged BBA to develop a scoping study, which provides a comprehensive approach to permitting an exploration decline at the Project, as well as a preliminary cost estimate associated with developing the underground infrastructure. This scoping study outlines a pathway for permit acquisition and includes several baseline studies to be conducted by BBA. The underground exploration decline aims to facilitate year-round exploration activities, including drilling to delineate the Regnault Gold Deposit, with a resource estimate anticipated by late 2025.

BBA is completing several environmental and technical baseline studies to support the permitting process, which are currently underway. The environmental baseline studies will gather information on the flora, fauna, water, and wetlands in the Project area. The technical baseline studies will include geochemical, hydrological, and geotechnical assessments. These assessments are designed to evaluate and understand ground conditions, groundwater flow and quality, and surface water flow and quality for the purposes of design and development of the exploration decline.

The environmental and technical baseline studies, necessary for the required permits for underground exploration, are expected to be completed in early 2025. It is anticipated that Sumitomo will be the operator of the Project from sometime in 2025. Sumitomo's decision to proceed with the development of the exploration decline will be contingent on the outcomes of the baseline studies, the successful acquisition of necessary permits, and the results of a resource estimate at the Regnault Gold Deposit.

About the Frotet Project

The Project covers 39,365 hectares of the Frotet-Evans greenstone belt within the Opatica geological sub-province of Quebec. The property is adjacent to the past-producing Troilus Gold Corporation's Au-Cu mine (9.23Moz Au indicated resource) and covers several major deformation zones associated with known orogenic gold prospects, as well as stratigraphy hosting VMS deposits elsewhere in the belt. Kenorland initially staked the Project in 2017 and then entered into a joint venture and earn-in agreement with Sumitomo in 2018.

The Project hosts the Regnault Gold Deposit, a greenfields discovery made by Kenorland and Sumitomo in 2020 following two years of systematic exploration. Since the initial discovery, Regnault has seen extensive exploration, totaling 100,721 meters of drilling (220 drillholes).

On February 19, 2024, Kenorland closed a transaction to exchange its 20% participating interest in the Frotet Joint Venture with Sumitomo to a 4% NSR Royalty. Kenorland remains the operator for a minimum of one year from the transaction closure date (see press release dated February 20, 2024).

The Project is located 100 kilometers to the north of Chibougamau, Quebec. Favorable infrastructure exists in the Project area with an extensive forestry road network as well as the Route-du-Nord crossing the southwestern portion of the property. A power transmission line also crosses through the property which supplied power to the past producing Troilus mine.

Figure 1. Frotet Project, Quebec: 4% NSR Royalty





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/214939_eb0dc85d1404a8b2_001full.jpg

*Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on the Troilus Gold-Copper Project, Mineral Resources Effective Date: 02 October 2023

**The Frotet Royalty is subject to the following buy down rights in favour of Sumitomo:

A 0.25% royalty interest may be purchased for a C$3,000,000 cash payment to Kenorland within five (5) years of the grant of the Frotet Royalty

A 0.50% royalty interest may be purchased for a C$10,000,000 cash payment to Kenorland within ten (10) years of the grant of the Frotet Royalty

In the event Sumitomo exercises the foregoing buy down rights, the Frotet Royalty would be reduced to an uncapped 3.25% net smelter return royalty on all minerals extracted from the Project

About Kenorland Minerals

Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) is a well-financed mineral exploration company focused on project generation and early-stage exploration in North America. Kenorland's exploration strategy is to advance greenfields projects through systematic, property-wide, phased exploration surveys financed primarily through exploration partnerships including option to joint venture agreements. Kenorland holds a 4% net smelter return royalty on the Frotet Project in Quebec which is owned by Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. The Frotet Project hosts the Regnault gold system, a greenfields discovery made by Kenorland and Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. in 2020. Kenorland is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Further information can be found on the Company's website www.kenorlandminerals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Zach Flood

President, CEO & Director

For further information, please contact:

Alex Muir, CFA

Investor Relations Manager

Tel +1 604 568 6005

info@kenorlandminerals.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214939

SOURCE: Kenorland Minerals Ltd.
Reyna Duenas, with her daughter at Benicia Public Library on Thursday, is a college student who depends on the librarys Wi-Fi to study for her exams. Amaya Edwards/The Chronicle

Nearly three months after a ransomware attack disrupted phone lines, computer services and Wi-Fi across Solano Countys public libraries, systems are still down with no recovery in sight  an all too common plight for vulnerable government agencies, experts say.

Patrons who depend on using library computers havent had access to them since the April 5 attack, and some workers have had to find other ways to print papers or connect with other libraries, most of which still do not have working phones, library staff said.

Such ransomware attacks against government agencies and the public infrastructure they host are extremely common, said Nick Merrill, director of the Daylight Lab at UC Berkeleys Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity.

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In the attacks, criminals encrypt computer systems with malware, then threaten to withhold or leak data unless a ransom is paid. Their duration depends on the severity of the attack and the victims cyber preparedness, Merrill said.

Successful cyberattacks on public-facing infrastructure worldwide happen several times a week  and attempted attacks occur tens of thousands of times per second, Merrill said in an email. Hackers released data of thousands of Oakland city workers last year following a cyberattack.

Unfortunately, state and local government bodies like libraries and school districts have tight budgets to begin with. Little money is left for cyber preparedness, Merrill said. That makes these organizations vulnerable.

Computers, printing services and self-checkout machines were down at the Benicia Public Library as of last week due to a cyberattack, but the public Wi-Fi was working. Amaya Edwards/The Chronicle

Unexpected activity in library network

Solano County officials still have not publicly confirmed that a cyberattack occurred. The countys chief information officer, Tim Flanagan, told the Chronicle in mid-April only that officials had found unexpected activity within the librarys IT network and responded quickly to confirm the security of our systems and to work toward restoring full functionality as soon as possible.

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However, the incident was acknowledged by officials in St. Helena, in neighboring Napa County  a member of the Solano Partner Libraries and St. Helena network, known as SPLASH.

In an April 19 news release, St. Helena officials said that hackers had targeted the SPLASH network on April 5. They demanded a $100,000 ransom, and threatened to release data they claimed to have stolen from the system if their demands were not met, St. Helena officials said

St. Helena library services were not directly impacted because it uses a separate cloud-based system to house library data, and a review by a data services company found no indication that library card holder data was compromised, city officials said.

Solano officials have not provided details of any possible impact on user data in the countys library system.

Flanagan told the Chronicle in mid-June that the investigation was ongoing, and that the county library will provide more information once the investigation concludes. No indication was given when that would happen.

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Solano Countys libraries have remained open, and patrons have been able to check out books and other material, both physical and digital. But as of July 1, computer services and Wi-Fi remained down across the nine branches in Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City, Rio Vista, Vacaville and Vallejo.

We dont know yet when computers will be restored, reads a service disruption message on the Solano County Library website.

Computers, printing services and self-checkout machines were down at the Benicia Public Library as of last week, but the public Wi-Fi was working. Amaya Edwards/The Chronicle

Another municipal cyberattack

Computers at the St. Helena Public Library are also down  but not because of the April 5 attack, city officials said.

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The city suffered another ransomware attack on May 13, according to a news release. All city servers and computers were taken offline, and the library was closed for the day. Library services have since been restored except for desktop computers, officials said.

Up to 20 city computers and at least one server appeared to have been affected by a virus, officials said. The City has over 25 different systems some of which house sensitive data for employees, businesses, and residents, the release said.

The city is working with third-party experts to identify individuals whose data may have been exposed, and will inform them after the review is complete as required by law, St. Helena officials said.

Compared to other kinds of cyberattacks, such ransomware attacks are actually on the decline after peaking during the pandemic in 2021 when many employers adapted to remote work and moved online without cyber-readiness, said Merrill of UC Berkeley.

On top of that, many had cyber insurance, and those insurers frequently paid ransom, which incentivized potential attackers, he said.

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Now, the ransomware attacks we do see tend to focus on state and local government agencies, which attackers perceive as ill-prepared and thus more likely to pay the ransom, Merrill said.

Government agencies should not pay ransoms, Merrill said. Ransomware crews do ransomware attacks because it pays; if no one pays, the attacks stop, he said.

Data breaches are among the most serious attacks, especially against governments, said Jason Hong, professor of School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

More than 12,200 data breach incidents  1,085 of which had confirmed data disclosure  against public administration were reported in the last year, according to Verizons 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, which tracks security incidents and breaches.

To minimize the likelihood of data breaches, government agencies should keep their software up to date, require two-factor authentication and have a full-time team dedicated to computer security, Hong said.

Its also worth mentioning that data breaches also happen not just because your network is breached, sometimes its because someone lost their laptop, Hong said.

Merrill said he conjectures that the Solano County library system was either hit severely, was not adequately prepared to recover from a cyberattack, or both.

It has impacted the community a lot

The service disruption in Solano County also impacted some services at the Benicia library, which like St. Helena is city-operated but is part of the SPLASH network. Computers, printing services and the self-checkout machines were down as of last week, but the public Wi-Fi was working. Library staff have been using secure connections via internet hot spots.

It has impacted the community a lot, said library assistant Adrianna Murray, adding that staff have to regularly redirect patrons to other places in town for printing services.

Adrianna Murray, staff member at the Benicia Public Library, said a spring cyberattack has impacted the community a lot, adding that staff have to regularly redirect patrons to other places in town for printing services. Amaya Edwards/The Chronicle

We have regulars that come in quite often that may have housing issues or this is the only way of getting work done or anything like that, and they rely on us a lot for that, she said.

Diana Walsh was browsing through the shelves in the librarys Rons Book Nook section on Thursday. A library patron for about 20 years, Walsh said she mostly goes to the library for books but noticed that the computers had been out for a couple of weeks. She assumed the library didnt have enough money to fix them.

Thats disappointing, Walsh said after a Chronicle reporter informed her about the cyberattack.

Anybody that would attack a library is a total jerk. I just hope that they find the culprit, she added.

Benicia Public Library patron Diana Walsh said of a recent cyberattack that hit Solano County, Anybody that would attack a library is a total jerk. I just hope that they find the culprit. Amaya Edwards/The Chronicle

Reyna Duenas also was unaware of the cyberattack. But as a college student who depends on the librarys Wi-Fi to study for her exams, she empathized with those who need to use the librarys computers.

A library is supposed to be a resource for people, Duenas said.

Murray said the disruption has affected library staff as well: Theyve had a harder time getting hold of other libraries because their phone lines have been down.
Almirall's sustainability strategy focuses on five pillars: Planet, People, Patients, Partners and Principles defining clear targets and measurements

Among other commitments, Almirall aims to by 2030 reduce absolute direct greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, minimize the gender pay gap and extend its patient-centric approach

Almirall's sustainability achievements have been recognized by globally leading organizations, including CDP, Ecovadis, and Sustainalytics, which recently placed the company in the top 5% of the pharmaceutical industry

Almirall S.A. (BME: ALM), a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology, launched its new sustainability strategy Act4Impact 2030 today. The updated strategy aims at transforming the company's sustainability roadmap and focuses on five main pillars: "Planet", "People", "Patients" "Partners" and "Principles". Act4Impact consists of 20 strategic lines of action which will be monitored over time to assess progress. These include the deployment of its Net Zero Roadmap through energy decarbonization, sustainable mobility or supplier engagement plan, as well as the definition and deployment of the 2030 Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, including all types of diversity, or the enhancement of our Supplier Risk Management Process. This comprehensive approach is aligned with Almirall's long-term view on its impact on patients, the medical community, and society andits core principles of transparency, responsibility, ethics, and compliance.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702917901/en/

Almirall photovoltaic installation in HQ Barcelona (Photo: Business Wire)

Within the Planet pillar of its Act4Impact strategy, Almirall is committed to taking decisive climate action to become a net-zero emissions company by 2050. A near-term milestone on the journey to achieving this goal, is the reduction of emissions by 50% from its own operations and by 28% from its value chain by 2030. Initiatives to achieve these science-based goals include energy decarbonization, sustainable mobility and sustainable procurement practices as well as water stewardship, circular economy principles, and nature preservation which are aimed at reducing water usage and waste-to-landfill in the short term.

Through the People pillar, Almirall will prioritize the implementation of a dedicated program for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, accelerating the achievement of its equity-related targets, such as the gender pay gap, and measures of employee perceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion. To further unlock talent potential, Almirall is reinforcing its corporate wellbeing initiatives, and will launch a new social action and volunteering program.

The patient engagement at Almirall will be further strengthened within the activities of the Patients pillar focused on continued engagement with patient organizations, and by further embedding a patient-centric mindset across the organisation. The overarching goal is to positively impact over 1.8 million people through Almirall's dermatology portfolio by 2030.

Through the "Partners" strategy pillar, by 2030 Almirall aims for a minimum reduction in CO2 emissions of 69% among suppliers with a carbon scorecard. The company will roll out sustainable procurement programs and engage suppliers in its Net Zero Supplier Engagement initiative.

Throughout these endeavours, Almirall remains committed to fostering an ethical and transparent corporate culture, emphasizing accountability and adherence to best performance Principles, which is the fifth pillar of the strategy. To this end, the company is planning to provide sustainability training to all employees by 2030 and will gauge employee perceptions on the company culture.

Almirall's CEO and President, Carlos Gallardo, emphasized that "in line with our long-term vision, and our commitment to patients, the medical community, and society, our updated sustainability strategy is a key element of our business strategy. Our Act4Impact strategy is at the heart of our decision making and aligned with our purpose to transform the lives of patients

Almirall has been committed to conducting its operations in a responsible and sustainable manner for many years. These efforts have resulted in a number of recognitions and awards for the company. Recently, the Almirall was rated by Sustainalytics, amongst the top 5% of companies in the pharmaceutical industry. CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) awarded Almirall an outstanding "A-, Leadership" score in Climate Change and a "B, Management" score in Water Security. Ecovadis recognized Almirall with a platinum medal, placing it in the top 1% of evaluated pharmaceutical companies for sustainability.

About Almirall

Almirall is a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology. We closely collaborate with leading scientists, healthcare professionals, and patients to deliver our purpose: to transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life. We are at the forefront of science to deliver ground-breaking, differentiated medical dermatology innovations that address patients' needs.

Almirall, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM, total revenue in 2023: 898.8 MM, 1900 employees globally). Almirall products help to improve the lives of patient every day and are available in over 100 countries.

For more information, please visit https://www.almirall.com/

Legal warning

This document includes only summary information and is not intended to be exhaustive. The facts, figures and opinions contained in this document, in addition to the historical ones, are "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on the information currently available and the best estimates and assumptions that the company considers reasonable. These statements involve risks and uncertainties beyond the control of the company. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those declared by such forward-looking statements. The company expressly waives any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, goals or estimates contained in this document to reflect any changes in the assumptions, events or circumstances on which such forward-looking statements are based, unless required by the applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702917901/en/

Contacts:

Corporate Communications:

corporate.communication@almirall.com

Phone: (+34) 659 614 173

Investor Relations

investors@almirall.com

Phone: (+34) 93 291 30 87
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction becomes the first State Education Agency to be Cognia Accredited

Cognia, the global school improvement organization and the largest education accreditor in the world, has developed and implemented an accreditation protocol for use by states. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) is now Cognia accredited and is the first state education agency (SEA) ever to be accredited by a regional accrediting body.

"The purpose of accrediting SEAs is to strengthen their capacity to help schools improve education for all children. Parents and the community now can see the extent to which state agencies can lead and actively support schools and districts in setting conditions for learning excellence across all schools," said Dr. Mark Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia.

"State accreditation is not about passing a one-time inspection," Dr. Elgart says. "Cognia examines the 'whole' state organization and its policies, programs, practices, learning conditions, and cultural context. The process for state accreditation helps state agencies increase their efficiency, improve collaboration, eliminate redundancy and silos, and work more effectively with schools and districts to help them meet improvement goals."

The possibility of accrediting state agencies was first suggested during the 2022-23 school year by North Dakota's state superintendent Kirsten Baesler, one of the nation's leading advocates for continuous improvement in education.

"While we have always strived to do good work, receiving positive feedback and confirmation of this work from a third-party reviewer like Cognia is truly meaningful," noted Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota's state superintendent for public instruction. "We believe in the importance of rigorous evaluations for our school districts, and it is only fair that we hold ourselves to the same high standards."

As part of the accreditation process, Cognia sets standards for performance and has the state education agency demonstrate how it achieves 23 standards and other key competencies. Cognia sends a professional review team and gathers evidence using Cognia's Performance Standards and research-based tools. They meet with the SEA's partners (including district leaders and state and local officials) and stakeholders (including parent and community partners) and make observations to form a complete picture before finalizing the review process. A thorough report provides the department with a broad understanding and detailed insights into where state education agencies are excelling and where they need to further focus and invest resources.

For more than 125 years, Cognia and its antecedent accrediting organizations have worked to establish standards for performance of schools (since 1895), school districts (2004), state charter school authorizers (2017), and state education agencies (2024). With the research and development established over the past two years, Cognia is now in position to accredit state education agencies responsible for the education of more than 51 million students in grades PK-12.

NDDPI's Greatest Strengths

Among the notable achievements in the review Cognia identified five areas that were NDDPI's greatest strengths, including:

Developing and nurturing an authentic environment with an unrelenting focus on children.

Instilling and investing in maintaining a climate of collaboration and partnership with all schools, communities, other state agencies, and key stakeholder groups.

Proactive and innovative efforts to address the supply of high-quality teachers and principals through apprenticeships, including securing available funding to initiate and sustain these programs.

Being a national leader in initiating innovative programs such as Be Legendary Board Training and the K-12 Cybersecurity and Computer Science curriculum.

Designing and implementing programs to meet students' needs and inform instruction, including the ND A+ program and the Native American Essential Understandings.

Codify, coordinate, and communicate

The accreditation engagement review team identified key areas for improvement that NDDPI needs to address in the future. For example, they include:

Codify: Establish systems to improve the ability to monitor and adjust state improvement actions.

Calculate: Further study North Dakota graduates' success in the workforce, postsecondary education or military to inform and strengthen efforts to ensure students are ready and prepared for success after high school.

Communicate: Ensure that the general public and school community understand with clarity and transparency the expectations for student achievement under Every Student Succeed Act.

Coordinate: Determine the effectiveness of state teaching and learning initiatives to support student and staff success and build on what works and eliminate what is not needed.

Characteristics of effective agencies, setting standards

To launch the new accreditation model for state agencies, Cognia identified six characteristics of highly effective state agencies focused on everything from providing ongoing technical assistance to stakeholders, collaborating with constituents and leading innovative initiatives to using data to make informed decisions and resolving issues between local education agencies, partners, and other entities.

Cognia then developed 23 standards for accreditation of state education agencies across six areas, including:

Healthy culture,

Leadership,

Policy management,

Communications and support,

Partnerships, and

Continuous improvement

Trusted eyes outside the agency

"At a time when state agencies need to eliminate duplication of work and effort, it is crucial for state leaders to have trusted eyes outside the agency that can walk them through a research-based process with high standards and meaningful protocols," Superintendent Baesler said.

"In the future, state agencies will get out of the compliance business and be in the business of supporting school districts to reach their goals," said Dr. Elgart. "Accreditation of state agencies helps move states forward by holding themselves accountable for improvement and what matters most."

Cognia has accreditation, assessment, and improvement solutions for states. To speak to an expert on Cognia State Accreditation contact us at Cognia.org.

About Cognia

Cognia is a global, nonprofit improvement organization dedicated to helping schools and other education providers grow learners, teachers, and leaders. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, and improvement services within a framework of continuous improvement. Serving 40,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 90 countries, Cognia brings a global perspective to advancing teaching and learning. Find out more at cognia.org.

###

For information contact:

Shep Ranbom, CommunicationWorks, LLC

sranbom@communicationworks.com

SOURCE: Cognia

View the original press release on accesswire.com
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Petalfast, a leading national sales, marketing and distribution platform for the cannabis industry, announced its partnership with Maven Genetics, an ultra-premium cannabis brand founded by connoisseurs for connoisseurs. Maven's deep roots in the California Cannabis industry and reputation for authenticity and attention to detail make it a stand-out addition to Petalfast's growing California portfolio.

Maven was founded in 2017 with one goal: to breed and cultivate rare and exotic indoor cannabis of the highest caliber. From humble beginnings in the legacy market to 30,000 sq ft of canopy and a flagship store in Tarzana, California, the Maven team has used their unique talents and skills to develop the brand and build an impressive library of genetics. The team's years of cultivation experience, passion for cannabis and dedication to their crafts shine through in everything they produce.

"Maven's unparalleled commitment to quality and authenticity has made them a major force in the industry and garnered them a loyal customer base throughout California," said Jason Vegotsky, CEO of Petalfast. "The Petalfast team looks forward to representing the brand, driving velocity through our retail partnerships and helping even more customers experience the top-shelf quality Maven offers."

Maven's ethos is that everyone seeking more from cannabis is a connoisseur, and its product line of flower, pre-rolls, concentrates and vapes is designed to turn everyone into an enthusiast. Their Gold Blend all-in-one disposable vaporizers are 100% cannabis-derived, strain-specific and sourced from Maven's premium indoor flower. To keep strain offerings fresh and exciting, Maven utilizes vital consumer feedback from their Research and Development line, and their limited edition Artist Series strains are created in collaboration with renowned Los Angeles-based artists.

"As passionate cultivators and cannabis connoisseurs, it was important for us to find the right strategic partners to support our mission so we can continue to do what we love and remain true to our roots," said Maven CEO and Co-Founder David Bosworth. "Our partnership with Petalfast will allow us to expand our presence in the state, drive sales and continue to focus on bringing our consumers the highest quality products possible."

About Maven

Maven Genetics was founded in 2017 with the mission to breed and cultivate rare and exotic indoor cannabis of the highest caliber. Deeply rooted in the California cannabis industry, Maven has earned a reputation for authenticity, quality, and craftsmanship. Their proprietary genetics, developed through extensive research and perfected over time, distinguish them by offering unique and exceptional strains. As an award-winning brand, Maven's product line features premium flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, and vapes, all crafted to deliver a superior cannabis experience. Leveraging consumer feedback and collaborating with renowned artists, Maven continually innovates and elevates California's cannabis culture. Their unwavering dedication to excellence ensures every product meets the highest standards of flavor and quality. Maven Genetics is devoted to transforming every cannabis enthusiast into a connoisseur.

About Petalfast

Petalfast is a leading national sales, marketing and distribution platform for the cannabis industry. The Company represents emerging and established cannabis brands, selling into and through retail channels in California, Arizona and Massachusetts. Notable cannabis brands already engaged in the Petalfast platform include Stiiizy, Wana, Lime, Bloom Brands, Humo and Yada Yada. Through its comprehensive agency of services, Petalfast provides brands with direct access to leading retailers and valuable feedback from buyers. The Company is expanding its high-performing sales team and retail engagement services into additional adult-use recreational cannabis legal markets, thereby extending its geographic footprint into the West, Midwest and Eastern United States.

Petalfast Media Contact

pr@petalfast.com

Contact Information

Petalfast Media

pr@petalfast.com

SOURCE: Petalfast

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Most advanced distillery in the United States commences operations on schedule

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Whiskey House of Kentucky (Whiskey House), the newest and most advanced distillery in the United States, announced operations officially began yesterday, July 1, as initially projected. Located on a 176-acre campus in the T.J. Patterson Elizabethtown Hardin County Industrial Park, Whiskey House is the most sophisticated, technically advanced producer of custom bourbon, rye, and American whiskey in the United States. For more information, visit www.whiskeyhouse.com.

Whiskey House was initially founded in 2022 by David Mandell, John Hargrove and Daniel Linde, the team that started and built The Bardstown Bourbon Company. As the first distillery designed from the ground up to focus solely on large-scale, flexible, contract whiskey production, Whiskey House has no brands of its own and a campus closed to the public, removing all potential conflicts of interest between the company and its customers. The team is hyper-focused on providing superior custom whiskey production, innovative liquid design, exceptional customer service, and the most competitive pricing for its exclusive branded clients.

"Thanks to our incredible team, construction partners, service providers and vendors, we've delivered the most advanced distillery in the United States in just over two years," said co-founder and CEO David Mandell. "Our state-of-the-art facility not only provides unmatched quality, flexibility and production capabilities, but we've also assembled the best team in American whiskey to deliver exceptional customer service for our exclusive brand partners."

Whiskey House is unlike anything in the distilling industry. The facility combines advanced manufacturing principles from the food industry with lean manufacturing techniques and the latest "Industry 4.0" technology. The distinctive design, fully automated system, sequence of operations, and proprietary software enable Whiskey House to run multiple mashbills, including small, craft production runs, while maintaining complete consistency of production.

Additionally, Whiskey House meets the highest quality standards. The company received its Kosher certification from Star-K and is in the process of obtaining the following certifications: ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 22000, 17025, 2018 FSSC, ISO/IEC 27001 and British Retail Consortium.

Whiskey House is also designed to capture and reuse latent energy throughout the production process, resulting in a 50% decrease of energy consumption as compared to the EPA's Energy Star Certified Distilleries.

"Whiskey House truly sets a new, high bar for advanced manufacturing in the whiskey industry," said co-founder, president and COO John Hargrove. "We've created the most flexible distillation system in the country, capable of producing excellent whiskey while enabling tremendous customization at the same time."

Whiskey House's fully integrated operational and information technology infrastructure captures and analyzes data across the entire manufacturing process. With the addition of its artificial intelligence applications, the company can continually improve quality and efficiency, increase production yields, expand sustainability initiatives and provide critical, real-time information to customers about their liquid. As a result of its efforts and vision for the distillery, Whiskey House received a Microsoft for Startups Founder's Hub Grant to accelerate the implementation of AI in all aspects of its manufacturing and distillation process.

"Our technology infrastructure provides customers unprecedented access to every datapoint about their whiskey production, including critical financial, inventory, and quality metrics," said engineering & technology vice president Roger Henley. "This information will not only help our customers improve their businesses, but it will help brands tell deeper, richer stories, leading to more innovation and transparency across the industry."

Produced by Vendome Copper & Brass Works, Whiskey House's distilling and processing equipment is built around a 48-inch custom still and 14, 33,000-gallon closed-top fermenters. The company started operations with greater than seven million proof gallons of annual capacity (112,000 barrels) and will expand to more than 14 million proof gallons (224,000 barrels) in 2027.

The Whiskey House campus includes plans for 33, 41,496 -barrel traditional rickhouses; a 50,000-square-foot palletized warehouse; a spent grain processing facility; a bottling facility; a rail system; as well as access to one of the highest yielding hydro stratigraphic limestone aquifers in the region, which sits 120 feet below the property.

Whiskey House's traditional rickhouses employ a distinctive design structure that is long and skinny with extra-large air channels underneath to ensure consistent airflow and uniform maturation for every barrel.

Whiskey House will also track barrels with a specially printed QR code designed to provide access to complete track and trace data. From the time the grain arrives on the property to its final maturation journey, this comprehensive technology captures all batch, quality, and control information throughout the distillery lifecycle, and precisely defines each barrel's location down to the rick position. Access to this unprecedented amount of actionable information about the production and aging process allows both Whiskey House and its customers to make informed decisions and enhance consistency, efficiency and quality.

Whiskey House construction is led by Bardstown-based Buzick Construction and financed by Truist Bank.

High-resolution photos are available here courtesy Whiskey House of Kentucky.

To learn more about Whiskey House, go to whiskeyhouse.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Whiskey House of Kentucky:

Whiskey House of Kentucky is the most sophisticated, technically advanced producer of custom bourbon and American whiskey in the United States. Located on a 176-acre campus in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Whiskey House is the first facility designed from the ground up for large-scale, flexible, custom whiskey production. Whiskey House provides unparalleled customer service, competitive pricing, and complete transparency into the manufacturing process for its Custom Whiskey Production customers. To learn more about Whiskey House of Kentucky, visit www.whiskeyhouse.com.

Contact: Sallie Greco

Sallie@EstesPR.com

(502) 614-5998

or Aubrey Stemle

Aubrey@EstesPR.com

(502) 614-5997

Estes Public Relations

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Ninth Month of Steady Oil Production: Trans Canada Gold Corp. has successfully completed its ninth consecutive month of steady oil production as of June 2024

Successful Drilling and Production: In October 2023, the Company drilled and completed its first multilateral well, discovering oil throughout the 2675 meters of the Sparky formation.

Land Acquisitions and Future Drilling Plans: Trans Canada Gold has strengthened its land holdings with strategic acquisitions under an Area of Mutual Interest agreement. The company is preparing to drill a new multilateral well this summer, which is expected to reach over 3000 meters of oil reservoir in the General Petroleum sand, as it continues to seek partnerships with senior oil and gas companies to expand its drilling inventory.

Trans Canada Gold Corp. (TSX-V:TTG)(OTCQB:RCTRF) ("Trans Canada" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that the Company has now completed its ninth full month of robust steady oil production for the month of June 2024, with trucking and oil sales to Altex and Cenovus Energy Ltd. The Company will release the June numbers in the coming days, once finalized. In October 2023, the Company successfully drilled and completed seven (7) multilateral legs of the Company's first multilateral well. The Company encountered oil throughout the entire 2675 meters of lateral oil pay in the Sparky formation. Since drilling inception, the Croverro 7HZ Well has now produced over 50,000 barrels of consistent steady oil production. Croverro Energy Ltd., under the terms of the agreement is the Operator.

The Company has strengthened its land position, and completed the purchase of two vital strategic land and lease acquisitions pursuant to an AMI ("Area of Mutual Interest") in a Farmout Agreement ("Farmout") dated November 1, 2022. The Operator has secured a surface lease and is permitting a multilateral well for summer start for drilling. This new multilateral well is expected to contact over 3000 meters of oil reservoir in the General Petroleum sand.

Commented, President & CEO Tim Coupland, "We have now hit the ninth-month of steady oil production and now exceeded over 50,000 barrels, showcasing production expertise in the Sparky reservoir in Lloydminster area. With oil prices remaining high, we are excited to be soon releasing our June production rates, once the final oil production numbers have been finalized with Croverro, and confirmed by Altex and Cenovus Energy Ltd. With the completion of the recent land acquisition, and drilling pre-planning in full progress, we expect drilling to be on schedule for mid/late summer. With global oil prices remaining steady, and the new TMX pipeline now fully operational, oil prices are forecasted to remain high which will allow the Company to pursue additional drilling opportunities and new property acquisitions."

Commented Director Chris Timmins, "Trans Canada Gold's strategy involves purchasing ownership stakes in new multilateral wells drilled by larger corporations, enabling us to earn a percentage of the profits. This proven method allows us to grow our oil production while minimizing costs and risks. Partnering with successful operators like Croverro Energy, who have demonstrated industry proficiency, is essential for our growth strategy. We are actively seeking more multilateral drilling opportunities and land acquisitions and plan on collaborating with senior oil and gas companies to enhance our drilling inventory for 2024-2025. This approach ensures we maintain low-cost operations and boost our substantial monthly cash flow."

ABOUT TRANS CANADA GOLD CORP. - OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION/REVENUE PRODUCING WELLS

The Company is a discovery focused Oil & Gas Resource Development and Mineral Exploration Company that is currently focused on developing and drilling its' production of conventional heavy oil exploration properties, increasing production capabilities, and increasing future oil production revenues through responsible exploration. The Company identifies, acquires and finances with its working interest partners, the ongoing development of oil and gas assets primarily situated in Alberta Canada. The Company has qualified Senior exploration management and Geological teams of professionals, seasoned in exploration production, field exploration and drilling. The Company currently works with Croverro Energy Ltd., who has demonstrated proficiency, expected of an experienced oil and gas technical team that has proven oil production, and revenue success with large multi-lateral wells currently under their supervision. The Company has the necessary manpower in place to develop its natural resource properties and manage its production properties. The Company is committed to minimizing risk through selective property acquisitions, and responsible exploration drilling, and maximizing long term petroleum and natural gas resource assets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Tim Coupland, President and CEO

Trans Canada Gold Corp.

Tel: (604) 681-3131

astar@telus.com

www.transcanadagold.com

or

Christian Timmins, Director

Trans Canada Gold Corp.

Tel: (403)-597-3410

X: @MrChris_Timmins

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Trans Canada Gold Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Freeport Resources closes oversubscribed private placement, underscoring strong investor interest in its 100% of the Yandera Copper Project, one of the largest undeveloped copper deposits in the World, and the largest undeveloped copper project in Asia, the world's leading copper refiner and consumer.

Yandera is an advanced-stage copper project with over US$200 Mil in exploration and development expenditures completed to date, including a 2017 Pre-Feasibility Study, prepared by Worley Parsons, which estimated historical Measured and Indicated Resources of 728 million tonnes grading 0.39% copper equivalent*.

PNG's resource-focused economy is set to enter a construction supercycle with a number of multi-billion dollar infrastructure and mining projects in the pipeline including Wafi Golpu, Frieda River and Yandera Copper.

Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to complete the internal project optimization review and continue discussions with potential strategic partners to advance the Yandera Copper Project to Definitive Feasibility Study.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - Freeport Resources Inc. (TSXV: FRI) (OTCQB: FEERF) (FSE: 4XH) ("Freeport Resources" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of $800,545. In connection with completion of the final tranche of the Offering, the Company has issued 16,010,900 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.05 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share, and one-half-of-one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.25 until June 28, 2026.

In connection with completion of final tranche of the Offering, the Company paid finders' fees of $5,600 and issued 112,000 Warrants, exercisable at a price of $0.25 until June 28, 2026, to certain arms-length parties who assisted in introducing subscribers to the Offering. All securities issued under the final tranche of the Offering are subject to restrictions on resale until October 29, 2024 in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Following completion of the final tranche, the Company has raised gross proceeds $5,235,406 through the issuance of 104,708,120 units in connection with the Offering.

"Strong investor interest and an over-subcribed Offering will allow us to leverage over USD $200 million in exploration and development expenditures committed to the Yandera Copper Project since 2005, culminating in the 2017 Pre-Feasibility Study delineating one of the world's largest undeveloped copper resources*. Proceeds from the Offering will be used to complete the internal project optimization review and continue discussions with potential strategic partners to advance the Yandera Copper Project to Definitive Feasibility Study and a Final Investment Decision," commented Mr. Gord Freisen, Chief Executive Officer, of Freeport Resources.

"Over the coming decades, the global economy will demand unprecedented production of mined copper. With many of the world's largest copper mines nearing end-of-life, the copper market is expected to enter and remain in a deficit position. Papua New Guinea hosts the world's greatest concentration of copper and gold deposits with in-country operations by some of the world's largest mining companies and state-owned enterprises. As a resource-focused economy, PNG is set to enter a construction supercycle over the coming years with a number of multi-billion dollar infrastructure and mining projects currently in the pipeline including Wafi Golpu, Frieda River, and Yandera Copper," concluded Mr. Friesen.

Incentive Stock Option Grant

The Company also announces that it has granted a total of 15,000,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company in accordance with the omnibus incentive plan adopted by the Company. The Options vest immediately, and are exercisable at a price of $0.10 until June 28, 2029.

Yandera - One of the World's Largest Undeveloped Copper Projects

Freeport Resources' wholly-owned Yandera Copper Project is located in the highly prolific PNG Orogenic Belt, the same geological arc as some of the world's largest gold and copper deposits including Grasberg, Frieda River, Porgera, Lihir, Wafi-Golpu and Kainantu. Yandera is a project of strategic national interest in PNG and has the potential to become one of the country's most significant copper mines. The project's proximity to Asia, the world's largest copper refiner and consumer, positions Yandera as an attractive potential long-term source of copper supply.

The renewed license EL 1335 covers a 245.5 square kilometer ("km") tenement comprising the Yandera Project. Approximately USD $200 million in exploration and development expenditures have been spent on EL 1335 since 2005. Work completed and studies funded to date include approximately 154,600 meters of exploration drilling, the vast majority of which has focused on the Yandera Central deposit, as well as scoping studies, engineering studies, environmental studies, the 2017 Pre-Feasibility Study*, and infrastructure-related studies.

The 2017 Pre-Feasibility Study titled, Independent Technical Report on the Yandera Project - Pre-Feasibility Study*, prepared by Worley Parsons, with an effective date of November 27, 2017, estimated a historical open-pit, Measured and Indicated Resources of 728 million tonnes grading 0.39% copper equivalent.

The internal project optimization review is part of Freeport Resources' ongoing strategic review process aimed at maximizing the value of the Yandera Copper Project which the Company believes is significantly undervalued based on historical expenditures, current copper prices and the potential for resource expansion. The Company's internal project optimization review will be led by Dr. Nathan Chutas, Senior Vice-President of Operations, who helped manage the 2017 Pre-Feasibility Study.

* Independent Technical Report on the Yandera Project - Pre-Feasibility Study, prepared for Era Resources Inc. and dated effective November 27, 2017. The study was prepared prior to the Company acquiring an interest in the Yandera Project, and is derived from historical estimates which the Company is not treating as current. This information is intended to provide readers with context on historical analysis conducted on the Yandera Project, however the Company cautions that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify any historical estimates in respect of the Yandera Project as current and any analysis conducted by previous owners of the Project may rely upon assumptions which are no longer reasonable or accurate in the context of the current market.

Yandera - Feasibility Study

The renewal of EL 1335, through November 19, 2025, allows Freeport Resources to commence work on a Definitive Feasibility Study to advance the Yandera Copper Project toward a Final Investment Decision. Concurrent with the Definitive Feasibility Study program planning, Freeport Resources has begun discussions with key international strategic investors and prospective partners for development of the Yandera Copper Project. Demand for copper is undergoing unprecedented structural change driven by the global energy transition with mined copper supply forecast to enter a deficit position starting as early as 2025 (see Copper Supply and Demand Imbalance Chart below).

Yandera's Location is Well Positioned to Supply China, the World's largest Copper Refiner and Consumer









To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5826/215145_2024-07-02%20-%20fri%20nr%20closes%20oversub%20pp%20final%20-%20july%202%202024.png

The Definitive Feasibility Study will build on earlier work undertaken with local and regional communities to determine opportunities to achieve mutually beneficial partnerships and sustainable long-term social benefits related to job creation, indigenous advancement, health and wellness, environment, education and community development.

Freeport and the Community

The Yandera Copper Project is 95-km southwest of the capital city of Madang Province and 235-km to the northwest of Lae which is the largest port city in PNG and an important industrial center. As one of the largest undeveloped copper resources* in the world, the Yandera Project has the potential to support communities and create jobs along the Yandera Corridor. The Company anticipates the potential economic influence of the Yandera Copper Project could span 5 provinces and create wealth for generations including, but not limited to, strategic road and highway building, power generation and related infrastructure.

The landowners and communities of Yandera are stakeholders in the Yandera Project. The overwhelming community support that the Company received at the Warden's Hearing held during the summer of 2023, demonstrated the level of commitment the people of Yandera have for the project. Freeport is also firmly committed to advancing the project and continuing support of the community. The Company expects to continue to develop initiatives to be an active and visible presence in the Community.

Qualified Person

Dr. Nathan Chutas, PhD, CPG, Senior Vice-President of Operations for Freeport Resources, is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Chutas has reviewed and approved the technical content in this announcement.

About Freeport Resources Inc.

Freeport Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a primary focus on advancing the development of the Yandera copper-gold-molybdenum project, located in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. The Yandera project is one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in the world covering approximately 245.5 square kilometers

Please visit www.freeportresources.com or contact the email address below for more information.

On behalf of the Board,

Freeport Resources Inc.

Gord Friesen, Chief Executive Officer

T. (236) 334-1660 or gord@freeportresources.com

E. gord@freeportresources.com

www.freeportresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule", "intends" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215145

SOURCE: Freeport Resources Inc.
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Progress of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Plan



02.07.2024 / 14:37 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Announcement on the Progress of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 2 July 2024 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Progress of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

The announcement is fully available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020240702679224214055.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Progress%20of%20the%20Core%20Employee%20Stock%20Ownership%20Plan

IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk



Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud in the Chinese market, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

02.07.2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


HONG KONG, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The more we discover about the natural world, the more we find that nature is the greatest engineer. Past research believed that liquids can only be transported in fixed direction on species with specific liquid communication properties and cannot switch the transport direction. Recently, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) researchers have shown that an African plant controls water movement in a previously unknown way - and this could inspire breakthroughs in a range of technologies in fluid dynamics and nature-inspired materials, including applications that require multistep and repeated reactions, such as microassays, medical diagnosis and solar desalination etc. The study has been recently published in the international academic journal Science.

Liquid transport is an unsung miracle of nature. Tall trees, for example, have to lift huge amounts of water every day from their roots to their highest leaves, which they accomplish in perfect silence. Some lizards and plants channel water through capillaries. In the desert, where making the most of scarce moisture is vital, some beetles can capture fog-borne water and direct it along their backs using a chemical gradient.

Scientists have long sought to hone humankind's ability to move liquids directionally. Applications as diverse as microfluidics, water harvesting, and heat transfer depend on the efficient directional transport of water, or other fluids, at small or large scales. While the above species provide nature-based inspiration, they are limited to moving liquids in a single direction. A research team led by Prof. WANG Liqiu, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Smart and Sustainable Energy, Chair Professor of Thermal-Fluid and Energy Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering of PolyU, has discovered that the succulent plant Crassula muscosa, native to Namibia and South Africa, can transport liquid in selected directions.

Together with colleagues from the University of Hong Kong and Shandong University, the PolyU researchers noticed that when two separate shoots of the plant were infused with the same liquids, the liquids were transported in opposite directions. In one case, the liquid travelled exclusively towards the tip, whereas the other shoot directed the flow straight to the plant root. Given the arid but foggy conditions in which C. muscosa lives, the ability to trap water and transport it in selected directions is a lifeline for the plant.

As the shoots were held horizontally, gravity can be ruled out as the cause of the selective direction of transport. Instead, the plant's special properties stem from the tiny leaves packed onto its shoots. Also known as "fins", they have a unique profile, with a swept-back body (resembling a shark's fin) tapering to a narrow ending that points to the tip of the plant. The asymmetry of this shape is the secret to C. muscosa's selective directional liquid transport. It all has to do with manipulating the meniscus - the curved surface on top of a liquid.

Specifically, the key lies in subtle differences between the fin shapes on different shoots. When the rows of fins bend sharply towards the tip, the liquid on the shoot also flows in that direction. However, on a shoot whose fins - although still pointing at the tip - have a more upward profile, the direction of movement is instead to the root. The flow direction depends on the angles between the shoot body and the two sides of the fin, as these control the forces exerted on droplets by the meniscus - blocking flow in one direction and sending it in the other.

Armed with this understanding of how the plant directs liquid flow, the team created an artificial mimic. Dubbed CMIAs, for 'C. muscosa-inspired arrays', these 3D-printed fins act like the tilted leaves of C. muscosa, controlling the orientation of liquid flow. Cleverly, while the fins on a natural plant shoot are immobile, the use of a magnetic material for artificial CMIAs allows them to be reoriented at will. Simply by applying a magnetic field, the liquid flow through a CMIA can be reversed. This opens up the possibility of liquid transport along dynamically changing paths in industrial and laboratory settings. Alternatively, flow could be redirected by changing the spacing between fins.

Numerous areas of technology stand to benefit from CMIAs. Prof. Wang said, "There are foresee applications of real-time directional control of fluid flow in microfluidics, chemical synthesis, and biomedical diagnostics. The biology-mimicking CMIA design could also be used not just for transporting liquids but for mixing them, for example in a T-shaped valve. The method is suited to a range of chemicals and overcomes the heating problem found in some other microfluidic technologies."

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/polyu-study-reveals-the-mechanism-of-bio-inspired-control-of-liquid-flow-enlightening-breakthroughs-in-fluid-dynamics-and-nature-inspired-materials-technologies-302188001.html
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - Bluesky Digital Assets Corp., (CSE: BTC) (OTCQB: BTCWD), ("Bluesky" or the "Corporation") announced today that its BlueskyINTEL Web Engagement Platform has moved to soft launch with a robust AI integration and cutting-edge enhanced functionality.

Bluesky's continued focus on Artificial Intelligence ("AI") and Blockchain ("BC") led to the creation of the BlueskyINTEL ("BSI") proprietary Web Engagement Platform ("WEP") which has now reached a strategic release milestone.

BSI's WEP is well positioned strategically in-between Businesses looking to adopt AI & BC technology and with the solutions providers who provide the ability for these businesses to accomplish the adoption and usage of these next generation technologies.

During the soft launch period, businesses can register for free on BSI's AI & BC Landscape page. By clicking the 'Create Requirements' button, they can use BSI's AI-powered matchmaking service. This service analyzes their specific needs and matches them with appropriate solution providers in real-time, powered by AI.

Ben Gelfand, CEO stated: "We continue to track on our roadmap and release schedules and this major milestone release demonstrates that commitment."

Anthony R. Pearlman, COO stated: "This soft launch of major business AI functionality really demonstrates our belief in how AI represents the future for business. We are putting AI to the real-world test and "walking our talk." We encourage people to test our AI requirements wizard and provide feedback before we position our full production release in the next quarter. Feedback is welcomed at softlaunch7@blueskyintel.com."

About Bluesky Digital Assets Corp.

Bluesky Digital Assets Corp, has created a high value digital enterprise at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Web3 business solutions. Leveraging its success as an early adopter providing proprietary technology solutions, Bluesky has invested in its Roadmap. Bluesky's platform, BlueskyINTEL, is well positioned to leverage the current exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence ("AI") and Blockchain based technologies through a tightly focus built collaborative platform. This innovative web platform offering supports and better enables businesses to adopt and utilize these emerging and developing technologies.

For more information please visit Bluesky at: www.blueskydigitalassets.com or www.blueskyintel.com. Please also follow us on Linkedin at: www.linkedin.com/company/bluesky-digital-assets/.

For further information please contact:

Mr. Ben Gelfand

CEO & Director

Bluesky Digital Assets Corp.

T: (416) 363-3833

E: ben.gelfand@blueskydigitalassets.com

Mr. Frank Kordy

Secretary & Director

Bluesky Digital Assets Corp.

T: (647) 466-4037

E: frank.kordy@blueskydigitalassets.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. We seek safe harbor.

- 30 -

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215221

SOURCE: Bluesky Digital Assets Corp.
South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV:SPMC)(FSE:6J00) ("SPMC" or the "Company") announces that Odyssey Trust Company has replaced Computershare Trust Company of Canada as the registrar and transfer agent of the Company effective July 2, 2024. Shareholders of SPMC need not take any action in respect of the change in transfer agent.

All inquiries and correspondence relating to shareholders' records, transfer of shares, lost certificates, or change of address should now be directed to Odyssey Trust Company as follows:

Odyssey Trust Company

United Kingdom Building

350 - 409 Granville Street

Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2

Phone: 1-888-290-1175

Email: shareholders@odysseytrust.com

Website: https://odysseytrust.com/

About South Pacific Metals Corp.

South Pacific Metals Corp (SPMC) is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,000 km land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick Gold, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke and May River.

Immediately flanking K92's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena priority projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District - each having the potential to host similar-style lode gold and porphyry Cu-Au mineralization as is present on K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River project rests adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX.V: SPMC) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).

For further information please contact:

Michael Murphy, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 604-428-6128

Email: info@southpacificmetals.ca

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. KRL does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.

SOURCE: South Pacific Metals Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Corazon Dandan finished her shift as a telephone operator and was taking BART home to Daly City when she was pushed to her death on the train platform, police said. Courtesy of Alvin Dandan

Minutes after clocking out from her night shift as a telephone operator at a hotel in San Franciscos Union Square, Corazon Dandan was waiting at BARTs Powell Street Station for a train that would take her home to Daly City.

At 11:06 p.m. Monday, a person who police described as homeless allegedly shoved Dandan into the oncoming train. She hit her head on the train, police said Tuesday morning.

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BART police quickly responded and arrested the alleged assailant, Trevor Belmont, who was booked into jail Tuesday morning on charges of murder and elder abuse. Paramedics took Dandan to San Francisco General Hospital, where she died.

For her family members, who just last week tried to persuade Dandan to begin driving to work, it was a shocking culmination of their worst fears.

It is a tragic way of passing away, that is the most painful part, nephew Dr. Alvin Dandan told the Chronicle in an interview.

Alvin Dandan described his aunt as a brave, independent woman who grew up in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. alone in the 1980s. After a brief marriage, she remained single and showered kindness and generosity on her nieces and nephews, who affectionately referred to her as Tita Cora.

She put me through medical school, said Alvin Dandan, now an intensive care physician in Illinois.

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Dandan was a cherished employee of the Westin St. Francis in Union Square for more than 40 years, said Clif Clark, the hotels general manager and an area general manager at Marriott International. Clark said Dandan will always be remembered fondly by her St. Francis family.

Dandans family members often encouraged her to retire, her nephew said, but she told them that she wanted to keep working. She had held the same job for four decades, preferring night shifts that ended as late as 11 p.m. or 1 a.m., to which she took the same route every day to and from work, he said.

She was very energetic, she liked her co-workers, and she liked having something to do, he said.

In addition to work, Dandan frequently traveled internationally with family and co-workers, her nephew said. She was constructing a vacation home on a lake in the Philippines at the time of her death, he said.

We were in the process of building it, and now shes gone, he said.

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Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport expands SIXT's presence to 48U.S. airports and more than 100 branches across 25 states

SIXT USA, a subsidiary of Sixt SE a global leader in premium mobility services announces the opening of its newest U.S. car rental branch at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE). The opening expands the company's presence to 48 U.S. airports and more than 100 locations across 25 states. Car rental reservations can be made now at SIXT.com or via the SIXT app.

Located in the MKE car rental center at 5300 S. Howell Avenue, the new branch offers a premium fleet comprised of standard and luxury coupes, sedans, and SUVs, giving customers a wide selection of vehicles to meet specific needs, preferences and budgets.

Tom Kennedy, President, SIXT North America: "With more than 2.6 million passengers last year, Milwaukee International Airport marks an exciting expansion for SIXT. The city's beautiful lakefront, rich cultural heritage and strong economy driven by nearly 1.5 million residents and several Fortune 500 companies make Milwaukee an important Midwest hub for both business and leisure travelers. We are excited to bring our premium fleet and service to more travelers who value premium car rental experience at an affordable price."

Brian Dranzik, Airport Director, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport: "We are excited to welcome SIXT to our lineup of car rentals at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. SIXT is known around the world for providing a high-quality car rental experience for travelers and will be a perfect match with MKE's reputation as a friendly, easy travel airport."

The new Milwaukee location joins a growing list of recent branch openings including Tucson International Airport, Kansas City International Airport, Kona International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, Downtown Philadelphia, Houston Royal Sonesta, Chicago Marriott Naperville and Long Beach, Calif., among others. It also follows the recent expansion of ride-hailing and chauffer services offered in North America through SIXT ride as part of SIXT's previously announced partnership with Blacklane.

In just a little over a decade, the United States has become the most important growth market for SIXT. Today, SIXT operates more than 100 rental branches in 25 states, employs more than 2,000 team members, and now serves 48 of the most important airports across the country. In addition, by launching operations in Canada in 2022, SIXT is tapping into another billion-dollar market that also offers potential for synergies with its U.S. operations.

About SIXT

Sixt SE with its registered office in Pullach near Munich, is a leading international provider of high-quality mobility services. With its products SIXT rent, SIXT share, SIXT ride and SIXT+ on the mobility platform ONE the company offers a uniquely integrated premium mobility service across the fields of vehicle and commercial vehicle rental, car sharing, ride hailing and car subscriptions. The products can be booked through the SIXT App, which also integrates the services of its renowned mobility partners. SIXT has a presence in more than 100 countries around the globe. The company stands for consistent customer orientation, a lived culture of innovation with strong technological competence, a high proportion of premium vehicles in the fleet and an attractive price-performance ratio. In 2023 Sixt Group achieved consolidated pre-tax earnings of EUR 464.3 million and another significant increase in consolidated revenue to EUR 3.62 billion. Sixt SE has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 1986 (ISIN ordinary share: DE0007231326, ISIN preference share: DE0007231334).

https://about.sixt.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240701089219/en/

Contacts:

Zimmerman PR, sixt@zimmerman.com

Joseph Gerbino, SIXT, US-Communications@sixt.com
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced today a $50 million commitment to help mobilize $1 billion for the BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group's (TIG) Latin American reforestation strategy. The announcement was made in Oslo, Norway, on the margins of the Tropical Forest Forum, at a signing ceremony attended by White House Senior Advisor John Podesta, DFC Chief Climate Officer Jake Levine, and TIG Chief Sustainability Officer Mark Wishnie.

This formalized the investment that was originally highlighted by President Biden during the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change last year and represents the DFC's largest-ever carbon-negative transaction.

Jake Levine, DFC's Chief Climate Officer, said, "This is a groundbreaking transaction for DFC. It will sequester carbon equivalent to the annual emissions of two-thirds of a million vehicles, it will restore and protect a very special ecosystem, and it will catalyze investment in the Brazilian bioeconomy. We are proud of the innovative financing structure which incentivizes reforestation and regeneration in areas key to promoting biodiversity and protection of critical watersheds. Working with exceptional partners such as BTG Pactual's Timberland Investment Group, the International Finance Corporation, and Conservation International is the only way we can bring these transactions to fruition and bring the scale of the capital markets to bear on the imperative to drive financing for natural climate solutions."

By investing in both fast-growing timber species and native ecosystems, side by side, TIG aims to generate commercial revenue while protecting and restoring critical habitats. To date, few commercial strategies have dedicated half their land to restoration and conservation efforts. This is a forward-leaning approach, targeting deforested land that for many years was used for cattle ranching or other low-intensity agriculture. Reforesting this land will integrate commercial, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas sequestration goals into a single strategy.

Gerrity Lansing, Head of TIG, said, "We commend the leadership of both the Biden Administration and the DFC for recognizing the crucial role that large-scale nature-based solutions including forest protection, restoration, and sustainable management can play for climate, biodiversity and rural development. This is yet another important milestone for our strategy with Conservation International, which will help deliver concrete outcomes on the ground."

"This transaction with DFC, in addition to directly increasing the area of forest we can restore and sustainably manage, can help to catalyze additional investment, as well as enhance the positive impact of our investment through a sustainability-linked-loan structure that rewards actions that improve water quality and enhance habitat connectivity," Wishnie said.

This sustainability-linked loan structure triggers a better financial outcome for TIG if the strategy meets certain KPIs designed to enhance biodiversity and water outcomes through connectivity corridors for plants and animals, and watershed buffers that can help provide ecosystem services for natural water infrastructure.

The strategy focuses on the conservation, restoration, and planting of deforested and degraded properties in selected regions in Latin America, including the Cerrado biome in Brazil, one of the most biodiverse, seasonally dry ecosystems in the world. Approximately half of the Cerrado has already been converted to other uses, and the biome continues to face high rates of commodity-driven deforestation.

With Conservation International's support, the strategy aims to protect and restore approximately 135,000 hectares (more than 330,000 acres) of natural forests in deforested landscapes. The strategy also seeks to plant millions of trees in sustainably managed commercial tree farms, independently certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards, on another approximately 135,000 hectares of previously deforested and degraded land. To date, TIG has invested in 37,000 hectares, and has already planted more than 7 million seedlings and initiated restoration of approximately 2,600 hectares of natural forest.

ABOUT TIG

BTG Pactual (BPAC11) is the largest investment bank in Latin America, with a market capitalization of approximately $25 billion, offering a diverse range of services, including investment banking, corporate lending, sales and trading, asset management, wealth management, and banking. BTG Pactual Asset Management is a division of BTG Pactual with an international presence and $176 billion in assets under management and administration (as of Q1 2024). BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG), a division of BTG Pactual Asset Management, is one of the world's largest timberland managers with $7.1 billion assets and commitments and nearly 3 million acres under management throughout the United States and Latin America (as of Q1 2024). TIG's team of more than 160 professionals has an on-the-ground presence through 21 offices, bringing local, regional, and global experience to bear on the management of client investments. For more information, please visit www.timberlandinvestmentgroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702500491/en/

Contacts:

Rodrigo Bandeira

rodrigo.bandeira@btgpactual.com
While European travel hits its peak, PLAY offers flights under $100.

PLAY, a low-cost airline operating flights between the United States and Europe, today announced its lowest flight deal of the year, with $79 flights to Iceland and $99 flights to Dublin, Berlin, Paris, and London. While hot summer weather can be stifling, PLAY is cooling off flight fares to bring chilly fall getaways within reach. Travelers can book today through July 8, 2024 at midnight Eastern Time.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702588999/en/

PLAY offers its lowest discount of the year with flights under $100. (Photo: Business Wire)

Travelers are feeling the heat of European travel, as temperatures are high and top attractions are busy during peak summer months. PLAY is bringing a "cool breeze" to European travel with flights under $100-perfect for stretching traveler's budgets and enabling them to recoup in new destinations after a hot summer. Dublin, Berlin, Paris, and London are now filled with summer crowds, and this deal enables travelers to book trips for "shoulder season," when tourism and temperatures lower. The $79 fares to Iceland and $99 flights to Europe are great for travelers to relax after a hot, busy summer and take advantage of more affordable prices and less-crowded attractions.

Trips during "shoulder season," typically September through November, are popular for enjoying fall scenery, fewer crowds, and fall and winter attractions. By spending less on airfare, travelers can unwind by the fireplace of their Dublin bed and breakfast, or grab a croissant by the Eiffel tower without the summer crowds. The tail end of shoulder season is also prime timing to visit Iceland to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights or visit the "Land of Fire and Ice" just in time to experience "the explosion of Yuletide joy." In addition to the deal, travelers can use PLAY's stayover option to double down on this deal by visiting two destinations for the price of one! They can choose to add up to 10 days in Iceland on the departing or returning flight, expanding their travel experience without increasing their flight budget.

"European travel is hot this summer, and many prices have risen," said PLAY CEO Einar Orn Olafsson. "PLAY always offers affordable fares, and this is our lowest deal yet to bring travel to Iceland and Europe within reach. These 'cooled off' prices will enable travelers to take advantage of shoulder season, with cooler temperatures and iconic destinations with fewer crowds."

This deal includes the airline's Basic Bundle, a streamlined travel option with a small personal item included in their discounted fare. The deal runs today through July 8, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. It's valid for one-way flights on roundtrip bookings to Iceland, Dublin, Berlin, Paris, and London between September and December, 2024. Price is inclusive of all mandatory taxes, fees, and carrier charges. Restrictions and baggage fees apply, additional details of this promotion are available at www.flyplay.com/terms-for-advertised-fares.

About PLAY

PLAY is a low-cost airline operating flights between Iceland and Europe, and North America. Founded in Reykjavik in 2019 by a management team with significant experience in the aviation industry, the company operates a fleet of 10 Airbus A321NEO and A320NEO aircraft, offering streamlined, no-frills service that allows travelers to "pay less, play more." Safety comes first for PLAY. On-time performance, simplicity, happiness and low prices are the airline's core principles. In its first year of operations in the United States, PLAY has achieved milestones that have distinguished it as the best low-cost airline in Northern Europe by Skytrax, as well as Start-Up of the Year by CAPA.

The airline seeks to enable passengers to see the world, but not without considering its environmental impact. PLAY is being developed with sustainability initiatives and benchmarks in place to track and reduce fuel consumption, offset carbon emissions, and limit waste. Learn more or book a flight at www.flyplay.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702588999/en/

Contacts:

U.S. Press Contact

Laura Shubel

BIG FISH PR for PLAY

617-713-3800

play@bigfishpr.com
HERZELIA, Israel, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Endospan Ltd ("Endospan"), an Israeli-based, privately-held developer of the NEXUS Stent Graft System ("NEXUS"), announced today an agreement with Artivion, Inc ("Artivion") for additional loans of up to $25M for U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approval of NEXUS.

"We're excited to progress in our IDE study with the FDA and extending options for more patients with aortic arch disease through this agreement with Artivion," Kevin Mayberry, chief executive officer of Endospan, said. "We share a commitment with Artivion to delivering minimally-invasive solutions to help surgeons address the complex challenges of this growing market."

More than 120,000 patients suffer thoracic aortic arch disease every year in the USA and Europe, with only about 25% diagnosed or treated. Despite significant advancements, open surgical aortic arch repair maintains high mortality and morbidity. Patients with excessive perioperative risk or anatomical factors are not indicated for surgery, yet anatomical complexity and lack of approved devices for the arch has often prohibited endovascular repair. This makes the choice of treatment difficult or even impossible for some patients. Providing the alternative of minimally invasive repair decreases the requirement for extra corporal circulation and the possibility of hypothermia, translating into reduced procedure and hospitalization time.

Endospan has developed NEXUS, the first and only approved branched endovascular system to treat aortic arch disease, including both aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections. While minimally invasive endovascular repair has been the standard of care for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA), aortic arch disease patients with aneurysms or dissections who receive treatment have previously had little choice but to undergo open-chest surgery with its associated invasiveness and risks, lengthy hospitalizations, and prolonged recuperation. NEXUS transforms a complex surgical aortic arch repair into a minimally invasive endovascular procedure. NEXUS addresses a $600M global addressable market opportunity.

Endospan is currently enrolling patients in the TRIOMPHE IDE Study, a multi-arm, multi-center, non-randomized, prospective, clinical study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of NEXUS in treating thoracic aortic lesions involving the aortic arch. The study will enroll up to 110 patients at up to 31 sites. Earlier this year, Endospan shared 30-day results of the first 22 patients enrolled in the study. This early data aligned with results achieved during an EU clinical study, suggesting that NEXUS may provide surgeons with a straightforward, minimally invasive solution for aortic arch repair that allows for procedural consistency with reliable patient outcomes.

About Endospan Ltd.

Privately held Endospan, headquartered in Herzelia (Tel Aviv), Israel, is a pioneer in the endovascular repair of Aortic Arch Disease including aneurysms and dissections. Endospan has received CE-Mark to commercialize in Europe the NEXUS Stent Graft System, the first endovascular off-the-shelf system to treat aortic arch disease which affects a greatly underserved group of patients diagnosed with a dilative lesion in, or near, the aortic arch. While minimally invasive endovascular repair has been the standard of care for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), aortic arch disease patients with aneurysms or dissections have not been as fortunate and have had little choice but to undergo open-chest surgery with its invasiveness and risks, lengthy hospitalization periods, and prolonged recuperation. For additional information about Endospan, visit their website, www.endospan.com.

About Artivion, Inc.

Headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, Artivion, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing simple, elegant solutions that address cardiac and vascular surgeons' most difficult challenges in treating patients with aortic diseases. Artivion's four major groups of products include: aortic stent grafts, surgical sealants, On-X mechanical heart valves, and implantable cardiac and vascular human tissues. Artivion markets and sells products in more than 100 countries worldwide. For additional information about Artivion, visit our website, www.artivion.com.

Endospan

Kevin Mayberry

Chief Financial Officer

Kevin@endospan.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2452280/Endospan_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/endospan-receives-additional-25m-from-artivion-for-nexus-fda-approval-path-302188027.html
GB Sciences' Licensing Deal with Endopure Life Sciences will also include Rights to Develop and Market GB Sciences' Cannabinoid-based Treatments for a Suite of Neurological Disorders

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:GBLX), a leading plant-inspired biopharmaceutical research and development company, has signed a letter of intent outlining terms for a licensing deal with Endopure Life Sciences, LLC, a company with experience in manufacturing and supplying cannabinoid-based treatments to the regulated markets of Brazil and within South America. GB Sciences is licensing a suite of cannabinoid-based treatments for neurological disorders to Endopure Life Sciences. Aging populations have caused increased demand for treatments of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. The global market for treatments of neurological disorders is growing and is projected to hit $6.42 billion USD by 2032. New products that address this important market are urgently needed.



GB Sciences' Logo

GB Sciences' Logo

"After the completion of our licensing deal, we look forward to bringing GB Sciences' new cannabinoid-based therapies for neurological disorders to market under our brand name in Brazil and South America, where we have a strong track record of providing trusted cannabinoid-based medicines," said Allen Voigt, CEO of Endopure Life Sciences. "GB Sciences is a good licensing partner, who provides scientific validation for their patented cannabinoid-based formulas."

"When finalized, this licensing deal will not only secure a royalty for GB Sciences on sales of its novel cannabinoid-based neurological products by Endopure Life Sciences in Brazil and South America, but also supply the capital to get GB Sciences' products into first-in-human trials in this region," said Dr. Andrea Small-Howard, president and chief science officer of GB Sciences. "The human data from these clinical trials in Brazil and South America can be used to supplement GB Sciences' efforts for U.S. FDA approvals. Also, the expedited regulatory pathways in Brazil and South America allow for valuable post-market data gathering, which further helps GB Sciences' regulatory approval efforts."

About Endopure Life Sciences, LLC

Endopure Life Sciences researches, develops, manufacturers, and distributes to more than 30 countries, some of the purest and most cost-effective natural cannabinoid Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and products, produced under stringent cGMP pharmaceutical quality standards, to deliver a premium quality natural cannabinoid solution to live a happier and healthier life.

Endopure recognized early on the lack of quality non-regulated, non-standardized CBD products within the industry. We strongly believe that safe, regulatory quality-controlled, naturally derived, CBD (Cannabidiol) API and Cannabinoid-based Products should be readily available to the industry and to health-conscious consumers. For more information, visit www.endopureusa.com.

About GB Sciences and GbS Global Biopharma

GB Sciences, Inc. is a plant-inspired, biopharmaceutical research and development company creating patented, disease-targeted formulations of cannabis- and other plant-inspired therapeutic mixtures for the prescription drug market through its Canadian subsidiary, GbS Global Biopharma, Inc. The "plant-inspired" active ingredients in its therapeutic mixtures are synthetic homologues that are identical to the original plant compounds but are produced under current Good Manufacturing Practices. GB Sciences' intellectual property portfolio contains 8 issued U.S. and 14 issued foreign patents, as well as 15 U.S. and 41 foreign patent-pending applications. In its drug development pipeline, GB Sciences has five preclinical phase product development programs. GB Sciences' lead program for Parkinson's disease is being prepared for a first-in-human clinical trial. GB Sciences' formulations for chronic pain are currently in preclinical animal studies with researchers at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Recently, the company has received positive preclinical animal results supporting their novel formulations for stress and anxiety based on animal studies at the NRC. The company has also received positive preclinical proof-of-concept data supporting its complex cannabinoid mixtures for the treatment of Cytokine Release Syndrome based on preclinical studies at Michigan State University. GB Sciences' productive research and development network includes distinguished universities, hospitals, and Contract Research Organizations. To learn more, visit www.gbsciences.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements relating to future results or events, which are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "may," "could," "should," "anticipates," "likely," "believes" and words of similar import may identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further, information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's business and financial and other results, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware.

Contact Information

Information at GB Sciences, Inc.

info@gbsciences.com

866.721.0297

SOURCE: GB Sciences, Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - Pure Energy Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: PE) (OTCQB: PEMIF) ("Pure Energy" or "the Company") is pleased to report progress at the Clayton Valley lithium brine project ("CV Project") located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Pure Energy entered into a partnership with SLB (NYSE: SLB) to sustainably develop at scale lithium claims held by Pure Energy in the Clayton Valley. SLB has deployed a demonstration plant onsite to test an integrated approach that combines subsurface expertise and surface engineering of advanced technologies, including direct lithium extraction (DLE) (Figure 1).

The important advances made on the project include:

Application for, and receipt of, final permits from government agencies for the construction and operation of the demonstration plant; Completion of plant construction; Commencement of technical trials, which are ongoing.

The sustainable lithium production demonstration plant is located five kilometers southeast of the town of Silver Peak, Nevada, on Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") lands. Pure Energy holds 950 BLM mineral claims in the Clayton Valley area.

The project received all necessary permits from the State of Nevada and the Nevada Division of Water Resources for the demonstration plant construction and water discharge in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Construction was largely completed by Q3 of 2023 (News release of March 28, 2023).

"SLB's demonstration plant represents a significant step toward sustainable lithium brine production at scale. The ongoing technical trials at the facility give us increased confidence that SLB's integrated approach is the future for lithium brine extraction in Clayton Valley and elsewhere," stated Joseph Mullin, Pure Energy's CEO.

The information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mary L. Little, MMSA #01503, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Ms. Little is a director of the Company and therefore, is not considered to be independent.

About Pure Energy

Pure Energy Minerals is a lithium resource developer that is driven to become a low-cost supplier for the growing lithium battery industry. Pure Energy has consolidated a pre-eminent land position at its Clayton Valley Project in the Clayton Valley of central Nevada for the exploration and development of lithium resources, comprising 950 claims over 23,360 acres (9,450 hectares), representing the largest land holdings in the valley.

Pure Energy's strategic partner, SLB, is operator of the Clayton Valley Project. In May of 2019, Pure Energy and SLB signed an Earn-In agreement over the CV Project which requires significant investment by SLB in the Project, to include the design and construction of a pilot plant capable of processing lithium-bearing brines for high-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate ("lithium hydroxide" or "LiOHH2O") and/or lithium carbonate ("Li2CO3") products at a specified rate. For further details regarding SLB's participation, please refer to Pure Energy's Annual General and Special Meeting Management Information Circular dated April 4, 2019, available on SEDARplus.com.

On January 3, 2019, the Nevada Division of Water Resources ("NDWR") approved and granted a Finite Term Water Right to Pure Energy, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Esmeralda Minerals LLC, for the extraction of up to 50 acre-feet of brine during a 5-year period from the CV properties. The Finite Term Water Right was renewed in January, 2024, and is deemed sufficient for brine testing requirements and SLB's pilot plant facility. In July of 2020, the CV-09 well was completed pursuant to the Finite Term Water Right, and results of initial sampling were published by Pure Energy on October 14, 2020. On March 28, 2023, Pure Energy announced that all permits were in place for the construction and operation of the DLE Pilot Plant, and SLB confirmed that construction was underway.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Joseph Mullin"

CEO, Pure Energy Minerals Ltd.

CONTACT:

Pure Energy Minerals Limited (www.pureenergyminerals.com)

Email: info@pureenergyminerals.com

Telephone - +1 604 608 6611

Cautionary Statements and Forward-Looking Information

The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry. Forward-looking statements in this release may include future exploration and development on the Clayton Valley Project. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Figure 1. Aerial views of Clayton Valley demonstration plant and surrounding area. Images courtesy of NASA and SLB.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4131/215223_pe1en.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215223

SOURCE: Pure Energy Minerals Ltd.
The Newly Constructed Sales and Service Center is Kingsbarn's Second Tesla Acquisition in the MSP Metro

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Kingsbarn Realty Capital ("Company" or "Kingsbarn") has announced the acquisition of Tesla's new sales and service center located at 9800 Hudson Boulevard, Lake Elmo, Minnesota (the "Property"). Recently completed in 2024 and designed for Tesla, Inc., the Property consists of approximately 50,000 rentable square feet and features Tesla's typical minimalist, open-concept design, a service and maintenance area, design studio, customer lounge, and administrative offices. Serving the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area, also known as the Twin Cities, the Property is only a 10-minute drive from downtown Saint Paul. The Property is one of only five Tesla sales and service centers located in the Twin Cities, which is home to a population of over 3.5 million.





Tesla's new sales and service center

Tesla's new sales and service center, located in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.





"Kingsbarn is very pleased to add our second Tesla-leased investment property to our portfolio," stated Jeff Pori, CEO of Kingsbarn. "We intend to offer Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) interests to private investors as a simplified 1031 exchange solution through the purchase of shares. With its dominant position in the electric vehicle market and its consistent breakthroughs in battery and autonomous technology, Tesla is a strong, solid tenant in today's market."

Tesla, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, leases, and sells electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems in the United States and internationally. With a market cap over $574 billion, as of May 2024, Tesla is one of the world's most valuable companies and is considered to have investment-grade credit.

ABOUT KINGSBARN REALTY CAPITAL

Kingsbarn Realty Capital is a real estate-centric investment house that provides institutional and accredited investors access to an array of alternative investments. Kingsbarn offers investments in private equity, exchange-traded funds, traditional investment funds, private placements, and Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs). Kingsbarn's management team has wide-ranging experience developing, managing, operating, and sponsoring a diversified portfolio of stabilized, income-driven properties as well as ground-up construction, value-added offerings, opportunity zone investments, and entitlement projects. Kingsbarn has over $2 billion of assets under management and has acquired over 280 properties throughout the United States. The company currently has a development pipeline of over $2 billion consisting of multifamily, student housing, industrial, retail, and hospitality. For further information, visit www.kingsbarn.com.

Contact Information

Emma Williams

Director of Public Relations

emma@theferrarogroup.com

+17023677771

SOURCE: KIngsbarn Realty Capital

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Celebrating our employees and brands across North America who have organized or attended events to share their pride, love, and allyship this month.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Henkel aims to foster a culture of belonging where each employee feels supported and encouraged to come to work as their true selves. Our differences and unique identities are drivers of creativity and performance - elements that are critical to success for the business and our culture. In building an inclusive workplace, we continuously challenge our biases by seeking out perspectives that are different from our own, paving the way for innovation, growth, and strong community ties.

Throughout the month of June, Henkel employees have joined together with friends and family to show their Pride and spread the message of love, allyship and unity to help create a more inclusive world! Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and brands organized participation in events from New York and Connecticut to California and Canada. The PRIDE ERG and many other resource groups across the organization are strong catalysts for connecting employees, increasing our understanding of one another, and encouraging candid conversations about diversity.

Participating in the PRIDE ERG has been a great way to expand my Henkel network and get to know colleagues outside of my normal scope. I've met colleagues across the globe from functions and business units that I wouldn't have been exposed to without my ERG involvement. It has also been a great way to get involved in helping shape internal policies and supporting local LGBTQ+ organizations. Abe Blumenthal, Pilot Plant Process Engineer, Henkel

Hear from more of our employees about diversity within the LGBTQIA+ community at Henkel in the video above!





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Henkel on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Henkel

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/henkel

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Henkel

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



Im kostenlosen, exklusiven Spezialreport prasentieren wir ihnen 5 innovative KI-Unternehmen, die bahnbrechende Entwicklungen in diesem Sektor pragen konnten.



Warum sollten Sie dabei sein?

Trotz der jungsten Erfolge steht die Entwicklung der kunstlichen Intelligenz noch am Beginn eines neuen Superzyklus. Experten gehen davon aus, dass der Sektor bis 2032 global auf 1,3 Billionen US-Dollar explodieren wird, wobei ein groer Teil auf Hardware und Infrastruktur entfallen wird.



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NASA plays 'blame-shifting' game with China as lunar soil research set to start

13:25, July 02, 2024 By Fan Anqi ( Global Times

The returner of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe is opened during a ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. The returner of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe was opened at a ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon. During the ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, researchers opened the returner and examined key technical indicators. (Photo: Xinhua)

As the US space industry recently faced yet more delays and stagnation with key components including manned spacecraft and space suits "going wrong," NASA has once again resorted to its "sour grapes" rhetoric upon seeing China's successful retrieval of fresh lunar soils from the far side of the moon, by claiming that China did not directly invite its scientists to participate in the lunar soil research.

This behavior is a typical blame-shifting trick, Chinese experts said, noting it is clear to all that it is the US' own laws, not China's, that are restricting space cooperation between the two sides. Instead of deceiving themselves by distorting the truth, the US should face up to its own problem of overall weakening engineering capability and the lack of long-term planning in its space industry.

After the Chang'e-6 samples, weighing nearly 2 kilograms, were safely transported to a special laboratory for further study on Friday, NASA spokesperson Faith McKie told media that while China worked with the European Space Agency, France, Italy, and Pakistan on this mission, "NASA wasn't invited to take part in the moon probe."

NASA also didn't get "any direct invitation" to study China's moon rocks, after it welcomed all scientists from around the world to apply to study them, McKie told NatSec Daily.

Responding to the remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the Global Times on Monday that China is open to having space exchanges with the US, and we also welcome countries around the world to take part in the study of lunar samples. "However, the US side seems to have forgotten to mention its domestic legislation such as the Wolf Amendment. The real question is whether US scientists and institutions are allowed by their own government to participate in cooperation with China," Mao said.

"The existence of the Wolf Amendment has basically shut the door to space collaboration between the two countries," Wang Yanan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Monday.

Even if research institutions in the US have the willingness to work with China on opportunities such as lunar sample research, institutions there must obtain special approval from the US Congress due to the presence of this amendment, Wang explained. Currently, no such "green light" is in sight from the Congress.

Furthermore, China's collaboration with international partners is based on equality and mutual benefit, leveraging their respective scientific resources, facilities, and expertise. However, the US only wants what it doesn't have, and its engagement with China would be advantageous only to itself, Wang noted.

NASA has found itself embroiled in a number of thorny issues recently, with the latest being Boeing's Starliner manned spaceship experiencing both helium leaks and thruster issues during a June 6 docking with the International Space Station (ISS), which led to an indefinite delay for its crew's return to Earth, despite NASA's insistence that they are not "stranded" in space.

The return of the Starliner capsule, while has already been delayed by two weeks, will be put on hold "well into the summer" pending results of new thruster tests, which are scheduled to start Tuesday and will take approximately two weeks or even more, per NASA officials.

Previously on June 24, NASA canceled a spacewalk on the ISS following a "serious situation," when one of the spacesuits experienced a coolant leak in the hatch. While being broadcast on a livestream, the astronauts reported "literally water everywhere" as they were preparing for the extravehicular activity, space.com reported.

The report said that this is the second time this particular spacewalk was postponed, after a June 13 attempt with a different astronaut group was pushed back due to a "spacesuit discomfort."

The recurring issues with the spacesuits are due to their much-extended service lifespan, media reported, as the puffy white ones US astronauts currently wear were designed more than 40 years ago.

Despite the pressing need to replace them, NASA announced recently that it is abandoning a plan to develop next-generation spacesuits, which had been committed to be delivered by 2026, CNN reported on Thursday.

One of the root causes for such problems is that the US has developed many large technology conglomerates, which for a long time have benefited significantly from government orders and industry monopolies. Consequently, in many complex engineering fields, the level of attention given is greatly insufficient, Wang noted.

It also reflected the US' lack of long-term strategic planning for its manned space program. For instance, the aging spacesuits should have been replaced a decade ago to ensure that operational suits remain in usable condition. Failure to address this issue results in a hindrance to the space station's necessary maintenance tasks and even poses life-threatening risks to astronauts in emergency situations, experts said.

The issues with Boeing's spacecraft and the spacesuits are not isolated problems, but reflected a systemic issue in the US space industry - the overall weakening of engineering capabilities, they noted.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Most private California universities no longer give preferential treatment to the children of donors or alumni, and among those that do, underqualified applicants are no longer getting in. But 13.6% of all undergraduates admitted to Stanford in 2023 were legacies. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Universities across the country lost the right to consider the race of applicants in admissions decisions last year when the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed affirmative action in higher education.



But five California private schools, including Stanford and Santa Clara universities, continue to give preferential treatment to the children of alumni or wealthy donors who apply for admission, which was not part of the courts ban.

Read also: Why getting into a top U.S. college is about to get even more difficult

California universities that consider such legacies have been required to disclose annually the details of their admissions since 2020, beginning with the class entering in 2019. That five-year law, which expires this year, was prompted by Varsity Blues, the admissions scandal that rocked the country when it was revealed that wealthy parents cheated to get their children into Stanford, University of California and other prestigious schools. One method was by donating to the schools.

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The new reports, released Friday, indicate that most universities dont give preferential treatment to the children of donors or alumni.

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But a bill making its way through the Legislature, AB1780, would, for the first time, outlaw legacy and donor-driven admissions entirely as of Sept. 1, 2025, including at private institutions.

Schools that continued the practice would be punished, as of June 30, 2026, by having to provide even more detail than the expiring law requires, such as disclosing donor status, income brackets and other information about the admitted students.

Earlier versions of the bill had stronger punishments, including civil fines amounting to millions of dollars a year.

The enforcement mechanism would be a lawsuit, said the bills author, Assembly Member Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, who also wrote the 2019 reporting law.

This is affirmative action for the wealthiest Americans, Ting said of legacy admissions. These are not private clubs. These institutions change the trajectory of peoples lives and impact their earnings. Showing preference to the wealthiest is to hurt the ability of the middle class to improve their economic situation.

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The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, which releases the colleges legacy admissions numbers in a single report, opposes AB1780.

Although most of the associations objections dealt with earlier consequences that are now gone from the bill, Kristen Soares, the groups president, told state lawmakers that the enhanced reporting requirements could violate students privacy.

We do not believe that the information can be shared from the student file due to significant restrictions on disclosing data from the Internal Revenue Service, Soares wrote to the Senate Education Committee last month, noting that her association shares concerns about the loss of affirmative action.

The association released the final round of legacy reports for five campuses that practice legacy and donor admissions, although not for Stanford, which releases its own: Santa Clara University, the University of Southern California, Northeastern University Oakland (formerly Mills College), Claremont McKenna College and Harvey Mudd College.

The group said 66 other private schools gave no preferential treatment to the relatives of alumni or to donors for fall 2023, the admissions period covered by the final reports.

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Among those that did, none reported admitting students who failed to satisfy the universitys admissions requirements. Last year, by contrast, USC, Pepperdine and Vanguard each invited underqualified students to enroll, based on their connections.

Santa Clara University reported 38 legacy admissions in 2023, far fewer than Stanford but still more than double the number at some other Northern and Southern California private colleges. Andrei Stanescu/Getty Images

In its separate legacy report, Stanford said it admitted 295 children of alumni in fall 2023, all of whom met the universitys admissions standards.

Those admits represented 13.6% of all undergraduates admitted, compared with 14.4% admitted in fall 2021, or 324 students.

At that time, Stanford reported, another 20 admits had no previous affiliation with the school but had relatives with a history of philanthropy. Although the current report doesnt break out students whose families donated money to Stanford, it says that applications may contain a note about donation history.

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The state of California doesnt yet ban legacy admissions, but its public universities eschew them. The California State University system has said it does not consider applicants relatives or donations, while the University of California regents banned such preferences in 1998.

In 2020, a state audit found that UC Berkeley had admitted at least 55 underqualified students based on connections and donations. A Chronicle report then revealed that a UC regent, the late Richard Blum, had been helping friends and family get into the elite public institution for years.

In the current report, the school with the largest number of legacy admissions in 2023 was the University of Southern California, with 1,791.

Santa Clara University reported far fewer, 38. Claremont McKenna and Harvey Mudd, both in Claremont (Los Angeles County) each admitted 15 well-connected students. Northeastern University Oakland, on the site of the former Mills, admitted fewer than 10.
BANGALORE, India, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Self-Healing Materials Market is Segmented by Type (Concrete, Coatings, Polymers, Asphalt, Fiber-reinforced Composite, Ceramic, Metals), by Application (Building & Construction, Transportation, Mobile Devices, General Industrial, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2030.

The global Self-Healing Materials market was valued at USD 121.1 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 644.2 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 26.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of Self-Healing Materials Market:

Due to the growing need for long-lasting and environmentally friendly materials across a range of sectors, the market for self-healing materials is expanding significantly. This need is primarily being driven by the automotive, aerospace, and construction industries as self-healing materials improve product performance and lifetime while lowering maintenance costs. The creation of more effective self-healing mechanisms has been made possible by developments in nanotechnology and material science, which has fueled market growth even more. Furthermore, as self-healing materials reduce waste and resource consumption, their acceptance is being aided by growing environmental consciousness and the demand for eco-friendly solutions.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE SELF-HEALING MATERIALS MARKET



The market for self-healing materials is expanding due to the usage of polymers in architecture and construction, which allow the creation of novel materials with the potential to self-heal and prolong the life and durability of buildings. Self-healing polymers are used in building materials including sealants, coatings, and concrete to handle common problems like corrosion and cracks. This lowers maintenance costs and increases safety. The need for sophisticated materials that can self-heal and lessen the need for regular repairs is driving the expansion of the self-healing materials market as the construction sector places an increasing emphasis on sustainability and lifespan.

Concrete's integration of cutting-edge technologies that allow it to self-heal cracks and micro-damages is propelling the market for self-healing materials. By addressing the long-standing problem of concrete degradation, this innovation lowers maintenance costs, increases structural longevity, and improves safety. Self-healing concrete is becoming more popular as a result of the construction industry's transition to robust and sustainable infrastructure. This can greatly reduce the need for regular repairs and replacements, which will in turn promote the market growth for self-healing materials.

The market for self-healing materials is expanding due to the transportation sector's need for cutting-edge technologies that can prolong the lifespan of infrastructure and vehicles. In the automobile, aerospace, and railway industries, self-healing materials-like coatings and composites-are utilized to automatically fix dents, scratches, and other damages, saving maintenance costs and enhancing safety. The market is expanding more quickly as self-healing materials that can sustain structural integrity and performance over time become more in demand as the transportation industry places a higher priority on efficiency and dependability.

The need for sustainable practices and increased environmental consciousness have supported the market for self-healing materials. These materials lessen waste and the need for resource-intensive repairs, which promotes sustainability. Self-healing materials reduce the overall environmental impact by prolonging the life cycle of goods and buildings. These materials are being more widely used by industries as part of their green initiatives, supporting international efforts to reduce environmental impact and advance circular economies. Technology that can cure itself is becoming more and more popular for good reason-it saves resources and reduces waste.

The market for self-healing materials is expanding at a substantial rate due to the growing need for robust and long-lasting goods in a variety of sectors. Materials that increase a product's lifespan and decrease the need for frequent repairs and replacements are sought after by both producers and consumers. This need is prevalent in a number of industries, such as electronics, construction, and the automobile, where maintenance may be expensive and inconvenient. By automatically fixing damage, self-healing materials provide a workable option that preserves appearance and usefulness for a longer amount of time.

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SELF-HEALING MATERIALS MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

The Asia-Pacific market is anticipated to develop at a rapid pace due to rising automotive industry demand. Because of the slowing economies in North America and Europe, the demand for self-healing materials has increased less than in Asia-Pacific.

The three main markets for self-healing materials are those in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. In 2017, the market for self-healing materials was dominated by Europe.

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Key Players:

Acciona

Akzo Nobel

Applied Thin Films

Arkema

Autonomic Materials

Avecom

BASF AG

Covestro AG

Critical Materials

Devan Chemicals

DuPont

Evonik

Sensor Coating Systems

Slips Technologies

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- Extrinsic Self-Healing Materials Market

- Self-healing Network Solution Market

- The global Self Healing Network System market was valued at USD 785 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 6186.2 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 34.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Self-healing Virtual Network Market

- Self-healing Shunt Capacitor Market

- Self-healing Low Voltage Shunt Capacitor Market

- Self-Healing Paints Market

- Self Healing Concrete (SHC) Market

- The global Self-Healing Paint Protection Film market is projected to reach USD 429.4 million in 2029, increasing from USD 276.8 million in 2022, with the CAGR of 6.1% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

- The global Automotive TPU Self-Healing Paint Protection Films market is projected to reach USD 1144.6 million in 2029, increasing from USD 797.3 million in 2022, with the CAGR of 5.3% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

- The global Cationic Conditioning Polymers market is projected to reach USD 607.3 million by 2030 from an estimated USD 420.9 million in 2024, at a CAGR of 6.3% during 2024 and 2030.

- The global Solid Surface & Other Cast Polymers market is projected to reach USD 41290 million by 2030 from an estimated USD 28140 million in 2024, at a CAGR of 6.6% during 2024 and 2030.

- The global Polyimides and Imide Polymers market was valued at USD 8072 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 9496.7 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 2.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Synthetic Biodegradable Polymer Market

- The global Polymer Stabilizers market was valued at USD 7834.2 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 10010 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Plastics & Polymers Market

- The global Inorganic Polymers market was valued at USD 26040 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 32880 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global market for Natural Polymers was estimated to be worth USD 4034.4 million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 6844.2 million by 2030 with a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030

- The global Polymer Biocompatible Materials market was valued at USD 745 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 1123.2 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global Water-Soluble Polymers market was valued at USD 50170 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 73120 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- High Performance Polymers Market

- The high performance plastics market was valued at USD 23.6 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach USD 58.0 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2023 to 2032.

- The global Natural Fiber Composites (NFCs) market was valued at USD 6354 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 11750 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global FRP Rebar market is projected to reach USD 1209.7 million by 2030 from an estimated USD 818.4 million in 2024, at a CAGR of 6.7% during 2024 and 2030.

- The global High-precision Ceramic Components market was valued at USD 9190 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 13140 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global Ceramic Granular Materials market was valued at USD 1235 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 1971 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Ceramic Colours Market

- The global Ceramic Core market was valued at USD 171.4 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 226.3 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Large Format Ceramic Panel Market

- Ceramics and Glass Testing Equipment Market

- The global Ceramic PCB market was valued at USD 1362 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 3793.1 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 14.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Ceramic Tester Market

- The global Ceramic Ferrule market is projected to reach USD 680 million by 2030 from an estimated USD 383.9 million in 2024, at a CAGR of 10.0% during 2024 and 2030.

- The global Decorative Coatings market was valued at USD 46670 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 55350 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 2.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global Paints & Coatings market is projected to reach USD 277.8 million by 2030 from an estimated USD 213.3 million in 2024, at a CAGR of 4.5% during 2024 and 2030.

- Construction Paints and Coatings Market

- The global Industrial Coatings market was valued at USD 69 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 94 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Cool Coatings Market

- Appliance Coatings Market

- Chemical Resistant Coatings Market

- Protective Coatings for Construction Market

- The global Non-stick Coatings market was valued at USD 491.7 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 653.6 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global Antifouling Paints and Coatings market was valued at USD 1033 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 1206.9 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 2.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Container Coatings and Paints Market

- High Solids Content Coating Market

- The global Packaging Inks and Coatings market was valued at USD 25470 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 34570 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Multifunctional Smart Coatings and Surfaces Market

- Polarizing Coatings Market

- The global Thermal Spray Coatings Materials market was valued at USD 65 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 88 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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Investment in Cerba Vet and ANTAGENE to broaden and enhance access to diagnostics solutions in France and better serve more veterinary professionals and pets

Mars, Incorporated ("Mars") today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Cerba HealthCare's ownership stake in Cerba Vet and ANTAGENE. Cerba Vet and ANTAGENE now complement the diagnostics portfolio in Mars Petcare's Science Diagnostics division.

Nefertiti Greene, President, Mars Science Diagnostics, said: "We are excited to join forces with the teams from Cerba Vet and ANTAGENE. Cerba Vet and ANTAGENE complement Mars Science Diagnostics, which includes a global veterinary diagnostics business, Antech, and leading cat and dog genetic testing business, Wisdom Panel. Together we will further the Mars Petcare Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS."

ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED

Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN, PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, CESAR, DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, SNICKERS and BEN'S ORIGINAL. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, VCA and ANICURA span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Mars Science Diagnostics

Mars Science Diagnostics is a division of Mars Petcare, a diverse business dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Science Diagnostics brings together the power of leading pet health science with expertise across diagnostics, data, and technology to improve outcomes in pet health. Our veterinary diagnostics business Antech spans in-house diagnostic laboratory instruments and consumables, including rapid assay diagnostic products and digital cytology services; local and cloud-based data services; practice information management software and related software and support; reference laboratories around the globe; veterinary imaging and technology; education; and board-certified specialist support services. Our at-home diagnostics offering includes Wisdom Panel, the world's most accurate pet DNA test. For 60 years, our Waltham Petcare Science Institute has been advancing science to better understand pet health.

About Cerba HealthCare

Cerba HealthCare, a leading global player in medical diagnostics, aims to support the evolution of health systems towards more prevention. It draws on more than 50 years of expertise in clinical pathology to better assess the risk of diseases development, detect and diagnose diseases earlier, and optimize the effectiveness of personalized medicine.

Every day, on five continents, the Group's 15,000 employees sustain the transformation of medicine, driven by one deep conviction: to advance diagnosis is to advance health.

Cerba HealthCare, enlightening health

Additional information is available at www.cerbahealthcare.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702027806/en/

Contacts:

Mars, Incorporated media inquiries:

Kekst CNC

James Lindsay

James.lindsay@kekstcnc.com
provided pursuant to article L.233-8 II of the Code de commerce (French Commercial Code) and article 223-16 of the Reglement generalde l'Autorite des marches financiers (General regulation of the French financial market authority)

Regulatory News:

CARMILA (Paris:CARM):

Date Total number of issued shares Number of real voting rights (excluding treasury shares) Theoretical number of voting rights (including treasury shares)* 30 June 2024 142,441,073 142,306,794 142,441,073

*Pursuant to article 223-11 of the Reglement General de l'Autorite des marches financiers.

Paris, on 2 July 2024.

CARMILA

French societe anonyme with a share capital of 854,646,438

Registered office: 25, rue d'Astorg, 75008 Paris France

Registered at the Paris Commercial and Companies Registry under number 381 844 471

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702049756/en/

Contacts:

CARMILA
Regulatory News:

Teleperformance (Paris:TEP), a global leader in digital business services, today announced that on June 27, 2024 it received the award for the best financial transaction 2023 from the Club des Trente, which since 1973 has brought together the CFOs of major French groups, for its acquisition of Majorel, completed in November 2023.

The Club des Trente's selection criteria included innovation, value creation, consistency with the company's strategy, quality of execution, and the impact of the operation on the social and economic environment.

The acquisition of Majorel for 3 billion euros enabled Teleperformance to broaden its presence in Europe, particularly in France and Germany, in several high-growth potential verticals, and in areas of high-value expertise.

Daniel Julien, founder and co-CEO of Teleperformance Group, said: "We are extremely proud to have received this prestigious award for the acquisition of Majorel. This operation, completed in record time, has strengthened Teleperformance's global leadership position and provides a new springboard for our future successes."

The award was presented in partnership with the auditing group Mazars and the auditing and consulting firm Deloitte, as well as the law firms Brandford Griffith and Cleary Gottlieb. The Club des Trente also joined forces with two press partners, the daily newspaper Les Echos and the weekly Option Finance, and with academic partner HEC Paris.

About Teleperformance Group

Teleperformance (TEP ISIN: FR0000051807 Reuters: TEPRF.PA Bloomberg: TEP FP), is a global leader in digital business services that consistently seeks to blend the best of advanced technology with human empathy to deliver enhanced customer care that is simpler, faster, and safer for the world's biggest brands and their customers. The Group's comprehensive, AI-powered service portfolio ranges from front-office customer care to back-office functions, including operations consulting and high-value digital transformation services. It also offers a range of specialized services such as collections, interpreting and localization, visa and consular services, and recruitment process outsourcing services. The teams of multilingual, inspired, and passionate experts and advisors, spread across nearly 100 countries, along with Group's local presence allow it to be a force of good in supporting communities, clients, and the environment. In 2023, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 8,345 million (US$9 billion) and net profit of 602 million.

Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: CAC 40, STOXX 600, S&P Europe 350, MSCI Global Standard, and Euronext Tech Leaders. In the area of corporate social responsibility, Teleperformance shares are included in the CAC 40 ESG since September 2022, the Euronext Vigeo Euro 120 index since 2015, the MSCI Europe ESG Leaders index since 2019, the FTSE4Good index since 2018, and the S&P Global 1200 ESG index since 2017.

For more information: www.teleperformance.com Follow us on X (Twitter): @teleperformance

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702257765/en/

Contacts:

FINANCIAL ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS

Investor relations and financial communications department

TELEPERFORMANCE

Tel: +33 1 53 83 59 15

investor@teleperformance.com

PRESS RELATIONS

Europe

Karine Allouis Laurent Poinsot

IMAGE7

Tel: +33 1 53 70 74 70

teleperformance@image7.fr

PRESS RELATIONS

Americas and Asia-Pacific

Nicole Miller

TELEPERFORMANCE

Tel: 1 629-899-0675

nicole.miller@teleperformance.com
The Independent Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) has recommended that the trial proceed as planned without modifications.

MaaT033 has shown to have an acceptable safety profile and was well tolerated in patients treated for blood cancers and receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

Regulatory News:

MaaT Pharma(EURONEXT: MAAT the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a leader in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to enhancing survival of patients with cancer, today announced that the DSMB completed its first safety assessment of the Phase 2b trial PHOEBUS, the largest one to date for a microbiome therapy in oncology, and recommended continuation of the trial without modification. The trial is an international, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, testing MaaT033, an oral freeze-dried formulation against placebo, set to be conducted in up to 56 clinical investigation sites and is expected to enroll 387 patients (NCT05762211).

The DSMB, composed of 5 independent experts, reviewed safety data on the first 20 patients (cutoff date as of April 30th, 2024) and concluded that safety was acceptable and well tolerated. Since its first clinical entry in 2020, MaaT033, a drug candidate produced by combining the microbiota from multiple donors using a patented "pooling" process, has continuously displayed a good safety profile.

"The positive outcome of this first DSMB review of the PHOEBUS study significantly builds on the favorable safety and tolerability profile exhibited by MaaT033," said Gianfranco Pittari, M.D., PhD, Chief Medical Officer of MaaT Pharma. "We are very enthusiastic about MaaT033's potential to ensure an optimal microbiome ecosystem and enhance clinical outcomes in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation."

"MaaT033 is designed for ambulatory use and chronic treatment; it will address a substantial market of approximately 11,000 patients annually, and with its freeze-dried capsule formulation it will significantly drive our growth," highlighted Herve Affagard, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of MaaT Pharma. "With the GMP manufacturing facility at full capacity, we will produce up to 1,300,000 capsules annually, meeting patient demand and supporting our innovative microbiome therapies."

About MaaT Pharma

MaaT Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company, has established a complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis in oncology. Committed to treating cancer and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma launched, in March 2022, an open-label, single arm, phase 3 clinical trial in patients with acute GvHD (aGvHD), following the achievement of its proof of concept in a phase 2 trial. Its powerful discovery and analysis platform, gutPrint, enables the identification of novel disease targets, evaluation of drug candidates, and identification of biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions. The company's Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies are produced through a standardized cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome, in liquid and oral formulations. MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of world-leading scientists and established relationships with regulators to support the integration of the use of microbiome therapies in clinical practice. MaaT Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT).

About MaaT033

MaaT033, a donor-derived, high-richness, high-diversity oral Microbiome Ecosystem TherapyTM containing anti-inflammatory ButycoreTM species, is currently being developed as an adjunctive therapy to improve overall survival in patients receiving HSCT and other cellular therapies. It aims to ensure optimal microbiota function and to address a larger patient population in a chronic setting. MaaT033 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Forward-looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by, or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim", "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702248745/en/

Contacts:

MaaT Pharma Investor Relations

Guilhaume DEBROAS, Ph.D.

Head of Investor Relations

+33 6 16 48 92 50

invest@maat-pharma.com

MaaT Pharma Media Relations

Pauline RICHAUD

Senior PR Corporate Communications Manager

+33 6 14 06 45 92

media@maat-pharma.com

Trophic Communications

Jacob VERGHESE or

Desmond JAMES

+49 151 7441 6179

maat@trophic.eu
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Acquisition of a North Shore Company

ITASCA, IL / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Design First Builders, LLC, has announced the acquisition of DDK Kitchen Design Group, with offices in both Glenview IL and Wilmette IL. As a two-generation family-owned business, DDK Kitchen Design Group has built a strong reputation for excellence in kitchen remodeling over four decades.

Design First Residential Remodeling Logo

Builder

Dan Thompson, the founder of DDK Kitchen Design Group, expressed his excitement about the acquisition, stating: "I am delighted to join the Design First Builders family. Their commitment to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with the values that have defined DDK Kitchen Design Group. I am thrilled at the expanded services and possibilities they will bring to the North shore homeowners."

Design First Builders, known for their design expertise, premium quality and excellent client satisfaction, see the transaction as a perfect match to continue DDK Kitchen Design Group's two-generation legacy, and expand service offerings in the Northern Chicago neighborhood. Design First Builders CEO Jordan Zhu remarked: "DDK and Design First teams have a lot in common: we always put customer experience at the front and center, caring for employees and partners, and focusing on quality, innovation and continuous improvements. We are very excited for this partnership, and the added services we could bring to the Northern communities in the Chicagoland area."

The acquisition of DDK Kitchen Design Group by Design First Builders, LLC completed in June 2024. Both companies are working closely to ensure a smooth transition for clients and employees alike.

Contact:

Heather Hudson

hhudson@d1builders.com

630-250 -7777

About Design First Builders:

Design First Builders is a long established residential remodeling company known for its commitment to integrity, innovation, and superior craftsmanship, consistently surpassing client expectations across various projects including new custom homes, kitchens, additions, basements, and bath designs in many neighborhoods like Elmhurst, Naperville, Hinsdale, Park Ridge and Arlington Heights. Their comprehensive services include an In-house Project Management System for accurate estimating, smooth transitions to architecture & interior design, and effective production and contractor management alignment. Additionally, their Custom Cabinet Manufacturing division offers extensive customization, significantly reduces lead times, maintains premium quality, and integrates a Standardized Communication Tool, providing clients with a customized portal for real-time job calendars, order tracking, and seamless communication. Design First Builders stands as a trusted partner in bringing architectural visions to life in the greater Chicagoland area.

About DDK Kitchen Design Group:

DDK Kitchen Design Group is a respected provider of premium kitchen design services known for creativity, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional customer service. DDK consistently exceeds client expectations, reflecting their unique vision and lifestyle. Clients in Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park, Glencoe and Glenview allow us to capture their vision and bring it to life. Their passion for expert design and client satisfaction have made them a leader in the industry. DDK continues to set the standard for innovative yet personalized kitchen designs.

Contact Information:

Heather Hudson

Director of Marketing

hhudson@d1builders.com

6302507777

SOURCE: Design First Builders

View the original press release on newswire.com.
SAN RAMON, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / CMG Financial's Chief of Staff, Melissa Harbourne and Chief Credit Officer, Candy Nowak have both been honored by HousingWire as 2024 Women of Influence. This annual award recognizes women in the housing industry who are making notable contributions to their companies and to the industry at large. Melissa and Candy were honored for their inspiring leadership, mentorship of future leaders, and their industry involvement.

"HousingWire is excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Women of Influence award, recognizing 100 women who are shaping and propelling the housing economy forward with their impressive achievements," wrote Lesley Collins, Program Manager for HousingWire's Editor's Choice Awards.

Women continue to lead the charge in a big way at CMG Financial. The company saw tremendous growth in 2023 and both winners played a critical part in CMG's standout year while other top lenders saw declines. Candy has been a pivotal leader during the past year, building a highly skilled team of underwriting specialists and credit decision-makers. With their support, 291 originators have surpassed their previous production numbers in just the past three months. In the past year, Melissa has been a key player in the preparation, planning, and execution of several acquisitions. Through her efforts, Melissa has incorporated over 1,300 new loan officers, operations specialists, marketing experts and sales employees. These additions resulted in a 73% increase in the number of loan officers and a 60% increase in total employee growth.

"Melissa and Candy have been instrumental to our growth and continued success over the past several years," said Chris George, CEO and President of CMG. "Their dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment is inspiring. I am honored to have both women on our executive management team and look forward to their continued impact within CMG."

Congratulations to Melissa and Candy! To read their full features, visit www.housingwire.com.

About CMG Financial

CMG Financial is a well-capitalized mortgage bank founded in 1993 by Christopher M. George, a former Mortgage Bankers Association Chairman. CMG makes its products and services available to the market through three distinct origination channels: retail lending, wholesale lending, and correspondent lending. CMG also operates seven joint venture companies with builder & realtor partners, holds an impressive MSR/servicing portfolio, and serves the capital markets of fixed income trading & sales through CMG Securities. CMG currently operates in all states, including District of Columbia, and holds approvals with FNMA, FHLMC, and GNMA. The company is consistently recognized as a top-producing lender and top mortgage employer, and it prides itself on helping clients achieve the dream of homeownership through product innovation and streamlined servicing.

Contact Information:

Annaugh Madsen

Senior Copywriter

amadsen@cmgfi.com

(667) 260-6360

SOURCE: CMG Financial

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 02

For immediate release

02 July 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 203,692 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 833.99 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 47,520,371; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 177,470,932.

The figure of 177,470,932 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC PINK:NSAV), a leading Web3, blockchain and digital asset technology company, announced today the launch of the NEWZ token on Uniswap.

The NEWZ token has been introduced on Uniswap in collaboration with TheAlley.io https://www.thealley.io/. Designed as the primary utility token driving TheAlley.io ecosystem, the NEWZ token allows consumers to pay for goods and services using the DiVinciPay DEX plugin. Furthermore, the NEWZ token will be listed on the Company's NSAVx CEX Exchange https://nsavx.com/ on Monday, July 8, 2024, and will be integrated into the company's CEX payment platform, NSAVpay, offering another payment option for NSAV customers.

Tokenomics:

 Token Name: The NEWZ Token

 Symbol: NEWZ

 Token Contract Address: 0xff98e5581a5fe85c1c34222917de7522c87e40a1

 Decimals: 9

 Token Website: NEWZ Token (https://www.newztoken.io)

 Utility Website: TheAlley.io (https://www.thealley.io)

 Token Network: Ethereum (ERC20)

 Token Network URL: 0xff98e5581a5fe85c1c34222917de7522c87e40a1

 Liquidity Pool: Uniswap

 Pricing:

- Phase 1: $0.000006

- Phase 2: $0.015

- Phase 3: $0.10

 Holders:

- Phase 1: 5

- Phase 2: 40

- Phase 3: 150

 Token Supply: 500,000,000

 Held by DEV: 100,000,000

Token Utility: The NEWZ Token serves as the billing and payment token for TheAlley.io blockchain social media platform, facilitating transactions within the ecosystem.

Developer: DiVinciPay (https://www.divincipay.com)

Kevin Simon, CEO of NSAV, stated, "The partnership between NSAVx and TheAlley.io is rapidly developing and is significantly shaping how consumers connect socially on the blockchain. We are proud to assist TheAlley.io with the launch of their native NEWZ token. Since the launch, the price of the token has surged from $0.000006 to $0.015, and the liquidity pool has grown to over $33,000, increasing the market cap from $200,000 to over $7 million in less than two days."

About Net Savings Link, Inc.: NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company, which provides turnkey technological solutions to the Web3, blockchain and digital asset industries. The Company drives innovation in the digital currency space by developing advanced blockchain technologies, digital assets, and market solutions that bridge the gap between traditional business frameworks and the future of decentralized technology. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, financial services, advisory services and information technology.

For further information please contact NSAV at info@nsavholdinginc.com

For further information please contact NSAVx.com at hello@nsavxmail.com

The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at https://www.netsavingslinkinc.com

The NSAV CEX website can be accessed at https://nsavx.com/

TheAlley.io can be accessed at https://www.thealley.io

The AirdropX.co website can be accessed at https://www.airdropx.co/

The Swopx.io website can be accessed at https://www.swopx.io

The NSAV Stock information website can be accessed at https://www.nsavstock.com

The NSAVx Token website can be accessed at https://www.nsavxtoken.com/nsavx-token

The NSAVx Discord Server can be accessed at https://discord.com/invite/7Q2Vv5NmKd

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsav_tech

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.

Contact

Net Savings Link, Inc.

info@nsavholdinginc.com

Media Contact

Organization: Net Savings Link Inc

Contact Person: James Tilton

Website: https://www.nsavholdinginc.com

Email: info@nsavholdinginc.com

Contact Number: +17185698815

Address: 26 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair

Address 2: W1K4QW

City: London

Country: United Kingdom

SOURCE: Net Savings Link Inc

View the original press release on accesswire.com
A sign in favor of a recall vote against two Sunol Glen School board members sits outside of the school in Sunol on April 15. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle A truck advertising a position in the recall vote against two Sunol Glen School board members sits outside the school in Sunol on April 15. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

A nearly yearlong battle for control of a tiny East Bay school board, triggered in September by an implied ban on Pride flags, reaches its political conclusion on Tuesday as two of the three board members face a recall thats split the sleepy town of Sunol.

Ryan Jergensen and Linda Hurley are both up for recall as trustees in the Sunol Glen Unified School District, which serves about 270 students in a single K-8 school.

If theyre recalled, theyll join an unenviable list of conservative school board trustees across California who have been removed this year after instituting policies perceived as anti-LGBTQ. Already, trustees in Orange, Riverside and Yolo counties have been recalled, including most recently the board president in Temecula.

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I know there are a lot of parallels to whats going on around the country in regards to school boards and whats going on here, but just for my own mental health and energy, Ive stayed pretty hyper-focused on Sunol, said Matt Sylvester, a Sunol Glen parent who has led the recall campaign. As long as the people who have supported us go out and vote, statistically speaking we should be sound.

The recall effort began in Sunol in the fall, after Jergensen and Hurley voted in favor of a policy to ban the display of all flags except the American and California state flags. Many parents, school staff and community members viewed the vote as an attempt to ban Pride flags.

Attendees supporting the Pride flag stand outside before the Sunol Glen United School District Board of Trustees meets at Sunol Glen School on Oct. 10. This was the first meeting since the board voted in September to ban the flying of non-U.S./state flags on campus. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Across California, school districts have discussed or adopted measures perceived as anti-LGBTQ, including flag bans and attempts to prohibit certain books or lessons. At least a dozen districts have passed forced outing policies that would require teachers or staff to alert parents if their children identify as transgender at school. California legislators passed a bill that would outlaw those policies statewide; its awaiting the governors signature.

Sunol Glen School never adopted or even discussed many of the more aggressive conservative policies, but the flag ban quickly blew up the quiet town. Sunol is an unincorporated community of Alameda County with about 800 registered voters. The school is attended mostly by students who commute from nearby cities.

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They pulled a fast one on us with the flag ban resolution, said Sylvester. It was sneaky behavior, and then they pushed it through without listening to people. Theres been no compromise. This recall is about making a point that we will not stand for this.

Not long after the flag vote, some parents began organizing the recall. Since then, signs for and against have popped up all over, with neighbors often turning against one another. Even community members with no children in the school have taken sides.

Almost every school board meeting has been chaotic, with yelling matches frequently interrupting public comment or business discussions. Alameda County sheriffs deputies have attended all meetings since September, when the flag vote turned so disruptive that Jergensen forced everyone out of the room.

Board President Ryan Jergensen and board member Linda Hurley listen during a Sunol Glen United School District Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 10. Jergensen and Hurley face a recall vote Tuesday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Inside the school, Superintendent Molleen Barnes, whod been in the role for 17 years and hadnt planned to retire, announced shed be leaving after the school year due to all the controversy. Teachers have said theyre confused by the flag policy and concerned by the instability coming from the board.

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Weve got a town thats completely divided, said James Lowder, a Sunol Glen parent who does not support the recall. The rhetoric around town is that people are not going to forget this. There are scars from whats happened, in fairness on both sides, that I dont see healing.

Jergensen and Hurley did not return emailed requests for comment. Theyve previously stood by the flag vote  Jergensen has said he raised the issue in response to constituent requests, and Hurley has said the decision was mostly to protect the district from lawsuits people might raise over only allowing certain banners to fly.

Board member Linda Hurley appears during a Sunol Glen United School District Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 10. Hurley faces a recall vote Tuesday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Both trustees have said the recall is being led by extreme liberals and bolstered by outside influencers. Jergensen has raised doubts over how the recall signatures were collected, and caused a stir in April when he asked to see who had signed the petitions.

Like Lowder, many parents, teachers and community members dont see the issues raised by the recall going away once the votes are counted, no matter whether the recall succeeds.

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If the two members are forced out, their spots may be temporarily filled by members of the Alameda County Board of Education. Its possible both seats will be up for election in November, and some of the people who have been most vocal in the recall have said they may run for those spots.

I think that nothing will ever be the same again, said parent Kelly Goldsmith, who does not live in Sunol but has a child in the school and is leading the recall effort. This has been a wake-up call for the people of Sunol and the school community. People cant be asleep at the wheel when it comes to consequential local elections and local seats of influence.

After this election, whichever way the chips fall, people are watching Sunol Glen School now, she said.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - Trican Well Service Ltd. (TSX: TCW) ("Trican" or the "Company") intends to release its Second Quarter 2024 results on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 after the close of the market.

The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. MT (12:00 p.m. ET) to discuss its results for the Second Quarter 2024.

To listen to the webcast of the conference call, please enter the following URL in your web browser: https://www.gowebcasting.com/13343.

You can also visit the Investors section of our website at www.tricanwellservice.com/investors and click on "Reports".

To participate in the Q&A session, please call the conference call operator at 1-844-763-8274 (North America) or 1-647-484-8814 (outside North America) 10 minutes prior to the call's start time and ask for the "Trican Well Service Ltd. Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Results Conference Call."

The conference call will be archived on Trican's website at www.tricanwellservice.com/investors.

ABOUT TRICAN

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Trican supplies oil and natural gas well servicing equipment and solutions to our customers through the drilling, completion, and production cycles. Our team of technical experts provide state of the art equipment, engineering support, reservoir expertise and laboratory services through the delivery of hydraulic fracturing, cementing, coiled tubing, nitrogen services and chemical sales for the oil and gas industry in Western Canada. Trican is the largest pressure pumping service company in Canada.

Requests for further information should be directed to:

Brad Fedora

President and Chief Executive Officer

Scott Matson

Chief Financial Officer

Phone: (403) 266-0202

Fax: (403) 237-7716

2900, 645 - 7th Avenue S.W.

Calgary, Alberta T2P 4G8

Please visit our website at www.tricanwellservice.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215244

SOURCE: Trican Well Service Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - Peninsula Energy (ASX: PEN) is pleased to announce that the company is presenting a live virtual corporate update hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services on July 9th, 2024 at 2:00pm ET.

We invite our shareholders, and all interested parties to register for the webinar and participate in the live Q&A session at the end of the presentation moderated by Red Cloud.

The replay will be emailed out to all webinar registrants proceeding the event and will also be available on the Red Cloud website.

For more information and to register: https://redcloudfs.com/events/rcwebinar-pen-2/.

Join Peninsula Energy's Managing Director, Wayne Heili, as he provides an update on the progress being made at the company's Lance Uranium Projects in Wyoming, USA.

About Peninsula Energy

Peninsula Energy Limited (ASX:PEN) is one of the only ASX-listed uranium companies providing US production and direct market exposure. Its' 100% owned Lance Projects in Wyoming is due to re-commence production in December 2024 following a central processing plant capacity expansion construction project. Lance is one of the largest, independent near-term uranium development projects in the US. With a track record of meeting delivery requirements since 2016, Peninsula has 10 years of sales contracts in place with major utilities in both the US and Europe. Once back in production, Lance will establish Peninsula as a fully independent end-to-end producer of yellowcake, well-placed to become a key supplier of uranium and play an important role in a clean energy future.

About Red Cloud Financial Services Inc.

Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. is a globally focused capital markets advisory firm that provides a full range of executive strategy, media, marketing, and corporate access services. Our breadth of services combines with our significant knowledge of the junior mining industry combine for unique product offering. The company was founded by capital markets professionals with extensive experience in the junior mining industry.

For further information:

Peninsula Energy

Wayne Heili

+61893809920

info@pel.net.au

For additional information contact marketing@redcloudfs.com or visit:

www.redcloudfs.com

www.facebook.com/RedCloudFinancialServices

www.twitter.com/RedCloudFS

www.linkedin.com/company/red-cloud-financial-services-inc

www.youtube.com/c/RedCloudFinancialServicesInc

www.instagram.com/redcloudfs

SOURCE: Red Cloud Financial Services
The new program represents Milken Institute's regional engagement strategy focused on paving the way for stronger, more comprehensive partnerships across the African continent.

The Milken Institute today announced the launch of the Africa Leaders Business Council. The newly established council brings together a group of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and experts across business, technology, finance and investment, sustainability, and innovation to support the Institute's plan to deepen its network and engagements in Africa. Leaders on this council will lend their expertise and provide a high-level overview of Africa's evolving business landscape for Milken Institute's wide-ranging network and stakeholders who wish to amplify their engagement in the region.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702327583/en/

MI Health Nigeria (Photo: Business Wire)

The establishment of the Africa Leaders Business Council underscores the Milken Institute's efforts to bolster its commitment to the continent and complements the Institute's plan to solidify its presence across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Prominent leaders from Africa have participated at various Milken Institute convenings as speakers, including the President of Kenya H.E William Ruto, the President of Ghana H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, and Patrice Motsepe, Chairman and Founder of African Rainbow Minerals and Co-Founder and Chairman of the Motsepe Foundation, attesting to the region's increasing interest in engaging with the Institute's global audience.

"Amidst the rapidly intensifying geopolitical landscape, and given its tremendous demographic potential, Africa is poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in the global economy," said Laura Deal Lacey, Executive Vice President who leads the international program at the Milken Institute. "We recognize the excellence in Africa's innovation and ingenuity. We believe our Africa Leaders Business Council will play a key role in helping our stakeholders to navigate the continent and provide a fresh perspective in tackling issues shaping the global agenda across climate change, health, capital access, and energy transition."

Last month, Esther Krofah, Executive Vice President of Health at the Milken Institute, traveled to Nigeria to provide strategic guidance on how to prevent, detect, and treat cancer early at a day-long roundtable hosted by Nigeria's National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT). The Milken Institute's engagements in Africa include the Global Financial Scholars Programs, which aim to build the next generation leaders in financial policy and public financial asset management; the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program, which invites global innovators and entrepreneurs to advance technological solutions toward the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and Milken Institute's work in advancing early warning systems for pandemic preparedness in Kenya and health innovation and cancer control in Nigeria.

Upcoming events intended to engage and mobilize the council include a private investor dialogue on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, a Nigeria policy roundtable on debt sustainability pathways, engagements at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit in December, as well as curated webinars and bespoke in-person and virtual discussions.

"Flutterwave's work to enable global enterprises to expand into and across Africa, as well as African businesses to take flight across the world, fully aligns with the Milken Institute's emphasis on harnessing the power of financial technology and of human and social capital," said Olugbenga "GB" Agboola, Founder and CEO of Flutterwave and member of the Africa Leaders Business Council. "We believe these are key forces that will shape the future of Africa, and via the Milken Institute Africa Leaders Business Council, we look forward to contributing our insights and perspectives to the Institute's expanding work on the continent."

The inaugural members of the council include: Africa Investment Forum; BES; CrossBoundary Group; Dangote Group; Flutterwave; Lateral Frontiers VC; Lions Head Global Partners; Prosper Africa; Proxima Legal; RisCura; Sabi; Symbion Power; Tofino Capital; Ubuntu Group; Unified State Group; Women's World Banking; and YAATRA Ventures.

For more information about the Milken Institute Africa Leaders Business Council and the Institute's work in Africa, please visit www.milkeninstitute.org/africa.

Please direct any media queries about the announcement to Yeen Chong at ychong@milkeninstitute.org.

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what's pressing now and what's coming next. For more information, visit www.milkeninstitute.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702327583/en/

Contacts:

Yeen Chong

ychong@milkeninstitute.org
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - Energy Plug Technologies Corp. (CSE: PLUG) (OTCQB: PLGGF) (FSE: 6GQ) ("Energy Plug" or the "Company") announces the resignation of Jan Urata as Corporate Secretary of the Company, effective June 26, 2024. The Company would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Urata for her valuable contributions during her tenure. Going forward, Connie Hang, the Company's CFO, will take on the role of Corporate Secretary, in addition to her role as CFO.

About Energy Plug Technologies Corp.

Energy Plug Technologies Corp. is an energy technology company, dedicated to innovation and sustainability. With a focus on assembling customized Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery packs, we cater to a diverse range of residential, commercial, and industrial storage needs. Our goal is to advance battery technologies to enhance energy management and grid resiliency. Based in British Columbia, we seek to leverage strategic partnerships with local Indigenous communities, and the development of a vertically integrated supply chain involving industry-leading companies in Taiwan to provide advanced solutions to our customers and partners. For more information about Energy Plug, visit our website at https://energyplug.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "will", "proposes", "expects", "seeks", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations (including negative and grammatical 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. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the Company's financial condition and future plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact Information

Energy Plug Technologies Corp.

Broderick Gunning

President & CEO

brodie@energyplug.com

Investor Relations

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

1900 - 130 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5X 1E3

John Boidman: jboidman@renmarkfinancial.com

Tel.: (416) 644-2020 or (212)-812-7680

www.renmarkfinancial.com

Media Contact

Perri Burrage

Account Manager, DGPR

+1587 577 1337

perri.burrage@dg-pr.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215252

SOURCE: Energy Plug Technologies Corp.
SEAGROVE BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Corcoran Reverie proudly announces the launch of Costera, an exclusive new development set to redefine luxury coastal living along the sun-drenched shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Nestled in the heart of Seagrove Beach on Scenic Hwy 30A, Costera is a low-density community that perfectly embodies refined elegance, with high-end finishes and meticulously selected furnishings that elevate coastal living into an art form.

Costera Digital Visualization

Costera, meaning "coastal," promises residents an unparalleled lifestyle tailored to their unique preferences. From the moment you step inside, you are enveloped in a symphony of natural beauty and sophisticated design.

"Our vision with Costera is to create a community that not only celebrates the natural beauty of 30A but also sets a new standard for luxury living. We believe Costera will become a landmark of prestige and refinement on the Gulf Coast," said Jacob Watkins, co-owner of Corcoran Reverie.

From the panoramic views to the seamlessly connected outdoor living space, each residence affords unique amenities, including private swimming pools, further embodying the essence of Costera - coastal charm intertwined with prestige. Elegance and modern features are seamlessly integrated into the design, with interior spaces curated to perfection. From rich architectural embellishments to the latest in technologies, every element has been carefully selected, setting a new standard for well-appointed, Gulf-front living.

"Costera represents the pinnacle of luxury coastal living. Every element, from the architecture to the interiors, is crafted to offer an unparalleled experience of elegance and serenity. We are thrilled to bring this exceptional development to the market," shared Hilary Farnum-Fasth, Owner and Broker of Corcoran Reverie.

Prospective residents are invited to explore the available opportunities at Costera by visiting Costera30A.com.

Corcoran Reverie is honored to represent Costera, a new development opportunity that promises to redefine luxury living on Scenic Hwy 30A. Discover the essence of coastal living and start envisioning life the Costera way today.

About Corcoran Reverie

Corcoran Reverie, an affiliate of The Corcoran Group LLC - a leading residential real estate brokerage firm headquartered in New York City - is a locally owned, high-end brokerage specializing in the luxury home market in the greater Nashville area and across Northwest Florida from Destin to Panama City and the coastal communities along 30A. With a 200+ agent team led by broker and owner Hilary Farnum-Fasth and partner Jacob Watkins and offices in 30A, Destin, Panama City, and Nashville, Corcoran Reverie was ranked #1 office ranking in Northwest Florida based on closed office sales volume of over $750 million in its first year as a Corcoran affiliate and $1.12 billion in 2021. Throughout the entire network, Corcoran is home to more than 160 offices and more than 5,700 agents in key urban, suburban, and resort markets nationwide.

Contact Information

Corey Birger

Chief Operating Office

corey.birger@corcorangroup.com

850.454.6693

SOURCE: Corcoran Reverie

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Lone Star Funds ("Lone Star") today announced that it has completed the final closing for its twelfth opportunity fund, Lone Star Fund XII, L.P. ("LSF XII"). Total capital available to LSF XII is approximately $5.3 billion.

"Lone Star is a highly disciplined and value-driven investor with a proven track record of investing through multiple cycles over several decades. This experience has allowed us to build longstanding relationships with our investors, to whom we are grateful for their ongoing support," said Donald Quintin, Chief Executive Officer and Global President of Lone Star. "With the closing of our latest fund, we will continue to seek value primarily in companies that are affected by ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty and distressed corporate credits, using LSF XII's flexible mandate to pivot across different markets and asset classes."

Lone Star's opportunity fund series focuses on opportunities that emerge during periods of market dislocation with an emphasis on businesses, sellers, and assets that require capital support and management direction to succeed in challenging economic and market conditions as well as NPL portfolios in a range of asset classes that arise from economic conditions and regulatory pressures.

Since the establishment of its first fund in 1995, Lone Star has organized 24 private equity funds with aggregate capital commitments totaling approximately $92 billion.

The predecessor to LSF XII, Lone Star Fund XI, L.P. held its final closing in February 2019, with aggregate capital commitments of approximately $8.1 billion.

About Lone Star

Lone Star is a leading private equity firm advising funds that invest globally in corporate equity, credit, real estate and other financial assets. Since the establishment of its first fund in 1995, Lone Star has organized 24 private equity funds with aggregate capital commitments totaling approximately $92 billion. The firm organizes its funds in three series: the Opportunity Fund series; the Commercial Real Estate Fund series; and the U.S. Residential Mortgage Fund series. Lone Star invests on behalf of its limited partners, which include institutional investors such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, as well as foundations and endowments that support medical research, higher education, and other philanthropic causes. For more information regarding Lone Star Funds, go to www.lonestarfunds.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240702999133/en/

Contacts:

mediarelations@lonestarfunds.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / A New Holland special edition T7.300 tractor made a colourful impression with pupils, parents and teachers when it rolled into St Anne Line Catholic Junior School in Basildon, England.

New Holland, a brand of CNH, produced the tractor, adorned in psychedelic livery, to celebrate 60 years of manufacturing at the Basildon plant. The plant opened in 1964 when swinging London was at its peak.

The tractor was taken to the school as part of King Charles' nationwide campaign, The Big Help Out. The campaign's aim is to showcase the benefits of volunteering to encourage more people to give back to their communities.

The Basildon Plant team attended the event to strengthen the link between the tractor plant, one of the area's biggest employers, and the community.

Prior to The Big Help Out CNH also ran a tractor knowledge, colouring and drawing competition with the school where pupils could win prizes.

Kasia Camargo, who works in quality assurance at the UK's Basildon Tractor Plant, said: "As a proud employee I felt it would be a great opportunity to spread awareness of the company and its brands. Having our tractor there on display attracted families to take part in the event and also promoted a conversation about what we do in Basildon and globally. This year, children, parents and teachers were extremely excited to see the special edition T7.300 built on their doorstep. Another generation of young farmers and future tractor fanatics in the making."





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CNH

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Ardian, a Paris, France-based private investment firm, raised $3.2 Billion for the sixth generation of its global co-investment platform, Ardian Co-Investment Fund VI, including Fund commitments and mandates from Ardian Customized Solutions.

The new fund received support from 188 investors globally, including from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia. Investors comprised pensions funds, HNWIs, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds.

Fund VI offers access to minority investments in companies alongside top-tier private equity sponsors. These GPs use its scale, expertise, local presence, and the teams dedication to partnering with them, as demonstrated by GPs offering Ardian to co-underwrite most transactions. Fund VI investments are diversified across strategies, industries, company size, GPs, and geographies  including North America, Europe, and Asia. The team will continue to leverage its Secondaries and Primaries platform and access to a global network of 600+ GPs, to drive its approach to deal sourcing.

FinSMEs

02/07/2024
Rent2Cash founders (credit: Rent2Cash)

Rent2Cash, a Rome, Italy-based rental advance platform for landlords, raised 3m in pre-seed equity and debt funding.

Backers were not disclosed.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations, acquire new contracts, expand its product development efforts, including new products across the commercial building sector.

Founded in 2023 by Gianluca Fioranelli, Yilang Chen e Marco Grassi, Rent2Cash provides a platform which enables landlors to obtain immediate liquidity on their future rental fees. Rent2Cash provides landlonds up to 36 future monthly rental fees, also handling the collection stage, and offering dedicated support. Rent2Cash leverages a proprietary algorithm taking into consideration over 50 criteria in order to examine all the features of the location, from the renting contract to the owner and the tenant.

In conjunction with the funding, the company has started working across Italia with the acquisition of the first contracts which will be funded through a securitization operation supported by Banca Finint.

FinSMEs

02/07/2024
Mayor Sheng Thao appears at press conference on June 24, days after the FBI raided her home. The Oakland City Council will take a procedure vote on Tuesday whether to place a recall against the mayor on the November general election ballot. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

The Oakland City Council is poised to approve a resolution Tuesday placing a recall vote against Mayor Sheng Thao on the November general election ballot.

Last month, the city clerk said the recall organizers had gathered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot  meaning that voters can decide whether to remove Thao from office less than two years into her first term as mayor.

The city council meets at 3:30 p.m. and will take up the procedural vote to authorize the recall early in its agenda.

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Last week, the citys ethics commission filed a lawsuit against the recall organizers, alleging that they failed to respond to subpoena requests on their financial contributions. Its unclear whether the lawsuit could derail the recall effort.

The recall comes as progressive politicians and district attorneys face increased scrutiny amid an uptick in crime. The recall against Thao is supported by the local NAACP chapter and retired judge, Brenda Harbin-Forte, who blames Thao for high crime rates and business closures. The city is also staring down a massive budget deficit of $292 million.

On June 20, the FBI raided Thaos home in a probe that included the searches of three properties connected to a politically influential family. At a news conference last week, Thao questioned why the FBI raided her home two days after the recall qualified for the ballot.

Since the raid, recall organizers have held demonstrations calling for her resignation, but Thao has said she has no plans to step down.
Prince Harry and Meghan are both hated and loved by many. But many claim that Duchess of Sussexs popularity is on the rise. But did she just call herself the new Princess Diana? read more

Royal biographer Tom Bower recently published a new book titled House of Beckham, which is about the relationship and career of David and Victoria Beckham. In the book, Bower claims that after her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle came to see herself as the new Diana.

In the book, Bower mentioned that Meghan was upset because in the royal hierarchy she was subservient to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and the future Queen. Amid multiple feuds, Meghan and Harry renounced their royal status in 2020 and have been living in California ever since.

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Meghan Markles popularity on the rise

Abesi Manyando, author and founder of the public relations and branding development firm Abesi PR said that Meghans popularity is on the rise since the time she visited Nigeria with Prince Harry in May. he believes Meghan is a very relevant figure in the media and that her popularity is not limited to Britain.

Meghans American Riviera Orchard

The Mirror report also said that Meghan Markle is set to achieve phenomenal success with her lifestyle brand thanks to her Princess Diana effect, an expert has claimed.

The Duchess of Sussex is yet to fully launch her American Riviera Orchard brand having only done a tease for the range of products and content she will be offering. She revealed the logo and Instagram page for the line back in March and since then has debuted three products gifted to influencers - strawberry jam, raspberry jam and dog biscuits.

Mayando explained to the Express: I think Meghans brand will do very well no matter when its launched. I do think there is a higher demand for its release since her popularity has increased globally and outside of Britain.

Mayando also addressed rumours that Meghan has been struggling to source staff for American Riviera Orchard, saying that she doesnt believe that she is having a difficult time staffing her brand because there is zero evidence of that and the criticism is second-hand hearsay.

(With inputs from agencies)
Arjun Kapoor has shared a cryptic note on Instagram stories on pain, which read, Pain from disciple is better than pain from regret. read more

The breakup rumours of Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora has been making headlines for quite sometime. The speculations became quite strong when the Chhaiya Chhaiya stars didnt attended Kapoors midnight birthday bash nor wished him on social media.

Now, the Gunday star has shared a cryptic note on Instagram stories on pain, which read, Pain from disciple is better than pain from regret.

Recently, speaking about love to Hello Magazine, Malla had said, Ill never give up on the idea of true love, no matter what. Im a typical Scorpio that way, so Ill fight for love till the very end  but Im also very realistic and know where to draw the line.

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While the duo made their relationship official in 2019, a few weeks back, PinkVilla reported that they have parted ways.  Malaika and Arjun had a very special relationship and both of them will continue to hold a special place in each others hearts. They have chosen to part ways and will maintain a dignified silence in this matter. They wont allow anyone to drag and dissect their relationship, a source told the portal.

They had a long, loving, fruitful relationship that has unfortunately run its course now. That doesnt mean there is any bad blood between them. They respect each other hugely and have been a pillar of strength for each other. Over the years, they have given their relationship a lot of respect. They will continue to give each other the same respect despite them deciding to part ways. Both of them were in a serious relationship for years, and they expect people to be gracious enough to give them space at this emotional time, the source added.

However, Malaikas manager denied this news and told India Today, No no. All rumours.
The agreement was signed in July 1972 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistans Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It came months after the conclusion of the 1971 war in which Pakistan was defeated and the independent nation of Bangladesh was formed. Heres what you need to know about the accord and why it remains controversial to this day read more

The agreement was signed on 2 July, 1972, by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistans Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. News18

Today is the 52nd anniversary of the Simla Agreement.

The bilateral agreement was signed on 2 July, 1972, by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistans Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

It came in the aftermath of the 1971 War in which Pakistan was defeated and the independent nation of Bangladesh was formed.

But what do we know about the accord? Why does it remain controversial?

Lets take a closer look:

What does the accord state?

The agreement between India and Pakistan comprises just six paras.

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It states that the governments of both nations are resolved that the two countries put an end to the conflict and confrontation that have hitherto marred their relations.

It adds that the governments will work for the promotion of a friendly and harmonious relationship and the establishment of durable peace in the sub-continent.

It says the countries are resolved to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations or by any other peaceful means mutually agreed upon between them.

It adds that the basic issues and causes of conflict which have bedeviled the relations between the two countries of the last twenty-five years shall be resolved by peaceful means.

It says both Indian and Pakistani forces shall be withdrawn to their side of the International Border.

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With regard to Jammu and Kashmir, the agreement says that the Line of Control which came about as a result of the 17 December, 1971 ceasefire shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side.

The1971 War saw India defeat Pakistan and the formation of the independent nation of Bangladesh. Wikimedia Commons

The treaty says that neither side shall seek to change the status of the Line of Control unilaterally regardless of differences and legal interpretations.

Both sides further undertake to refrain from the threat of the use of force in violation of this line, it further states.

It ends with the governments agreeing that their heads would meet again at a mutually convenient time in the future.

It says that in the meantime, representatives of both sides would meet to discuss further the modalities and arrangements for the establishment of a durable peace and normalisation of relations.

This includes repatriation of prisoners of war and civilian internees, a final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir and the resumption of diplomatic relations.

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As per The Times of India, the treaty was signed at the Kirtikaksh summit hall on the ground floor of the Raj Bhavan  formerly Barnes Court

Barnes Court was a government guesthouse back then.

Bhutto arrived with his daughter Benazir  a teenager at the time.

As per Hindustan Times, the agreement came after both sides initially dug in their heels over Kashmir.

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The accord was eventually signed after Indira and Bhutto held multiple rounds of talks  the final coming after Bhutto hosted a dinner in Indiras honour.

It came after the leaders held a 10-minute meeting.

Veteran journalist Prakash Chander Lohumi told the Times of India, The agreement was signed in a tearing haste on the intervening night of July 2 and 3, just five hours after Bhutto declared at a press conference that talks have failed.

According to Deccan Herald, the agreement is dated 2 July, 1972, despite being signed at 12.40 am on 3 July, 1972.

Why is it controversial?

Because both sides interpret the treaty in different ways.

According to The Nation, India has argued that the accord states that Kashmir is a bilateral issue. New Delhis position is that it rejects any third-party mediation over Kashmir.

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It also says that the local polls conducted in Kashmir are in essence a plebiscite.

Indeed, in 2019 UN Antonio Guterres cited the Simla Agreement to reject third-party mediation in Kashmir after Islamabad asked him to play his due role after New Delhis decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmirs special status.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has sought to heighten the issue.

Islamabad has sought the intervention of the international community over Kashmir.

A number of people particularly in India have criticised the Simla Agreement over the years  saying it did not go far enough to press New Delhis advantage at the time.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar previously said the 1972 Simla agreement resulted in a revanchist Pakistan and continuing problems in Jammu and Kashmir.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is among those who have criticised the Simla Agreement. PTI

Jaishankar, delivering the fourth Ramnath Goenka memorial lecture, advocated a foreign policy that appreciates change and is not status quoist.

He cited key past incidents in Indian history such as the defeat in the war with China in 1962, the Simla agreement and the inaction after the Mumbai terror attacks to contrast it with Indias more dynamic stance post-2014.

Experts differ on the success  or lack thereof  of the agreement.

Sushant Singh, writing for the Deccan Herald, argued that the imperfect peace as a result of the agreement was better than no peace at all.

It is unlikely that a more strident Indian line at Simla would have even allowed Pakistans 1973 constitution to be drawn up. That constitution holds to this day. It is unlikely that Pakistan would have tolerated Zulfikar Bhutto for five years as it did. More humiliation may have bred such insecurity and animosity in Pakistan that all paths to future peace would have been closed. After three wars in the first 24 years of independence, the two countries have had only one limited war, Kargil, in the next 50, Singh wrote.

He also busted a popular myth about the agreement.

Singh noted that the agreement made no mention of the nearly 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war in the custody of India and Bangladesh.

The prisoners, including 12,000 civilians and 22,000 police and paramilitary personnel, were released in August 1973, after 19 days of separate negotiations between the three countries. Those who argue that India should have imposed more stringent conditions on Pakistan, including getting back all of Kashmir, in exchange for the PoW, are ignorant of facts, Singh argued.

Singh wrote that while the Simla Agreement possibly aimed too low, it created an important roadmap.

Singh quoted the late diplomat Sati Lambahs words in 2014 that expected gains from a solution may not be automatic and require sustained effort. But if it opens the door to a new future for India and Pakistan, without compromising our security, integrity and constitutional framework, it is worth pursuing.

The Simla Agreement opened such a door, but there was a lack of sustained effort thereafter, Singh concluded.

A piece in The Hindu argued that despite Pakistans attempts to internationalise the dispute, India succeeded in making Kashmir a bilateral issue.

Most external powers have refrained from interfering in the Kashmir issue citing the Simla Agreement as the reason for doing so. Pakistans efforts to raise the issue in multilateral forums succeeded only marginally, the piece noted.

However, the agreement did clearly not result in a new beginning when it comes to a relationship in Pakistan.

Old habits die hard and there are deep-rooted vested interests, above all the top brass of the Pakistani military that thrives on India-Pakistan tensions, that precluded the beginning of a new chapter in the two countries relations, the piece noted.

The article stated that that New Delhi did not wish to humiliate Islamabad at Shimla by pulling a Versailles  which would result in an anti-Indian, revanchist military coming back to power.

This was one of the reasons why India did not force Pakistan to convert the ceasefire line in Kashmir into the international boundary, the piece noted.

However, this did not work out for India in the long-term.

The Shimla Agreement has run its course. Resurrecting its ghost will not serve any real purpose, the piece concluded.

With inputs from agencies
Although the National Rally was leading after the first round with about 34 per cent of the vote, it is unlikely to be able to form a government on its own. Its capacity to attract more voters in the coming days is limited. This has been a recurrent issue for the far-right in the past elections read more

Supporters of French far right leader Marine Le Pen react after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies , Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. AP

Exit polls after the first round of the French legislative elections indicate the far-right National Rally party leading with about 34 per cent of the vote. The New Popular Front (a coalition of parties from the far left to the moderate left) was in second with about 28 per cent and President Emmanuel Macrons centrist coalition was a distant third with about 20 per cent.

This is by far the largest amount of votes the far right has received in legislative elections since the Second World War.

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Although the National Rally was ahead after the first round, however, alliances are likely to coalesce between the leftist, centrist and moderate right political parties this week to form a united front against far-right candidates in most electorates in the second round of voting.

This would likely make it very difficult for National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and President Jordan Bardella to secure enough seats in the National Assembly next Sunday to win an absolute majority.

French far right leader Marine Le Pen gestures after delivering her speech after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. AP

This second  and most crucial  round of the snap elections will determine whether France has a far-right government, a hard-left government, or a government of moderates united against extreme factions at both ends of the political spectrum.

Although the third solution appears more plausible than the other two, it still may not guarantee political stability. Diverse coalitions dont have a strong track record of stable government in France.

Whats next?

Although the National Rally was leading after the first round, it is unlikely to be able to form a government on its own. The reason: its capacity to attract more voters in the coming days is limited. This has been a recurrent issue for the far right at the second round in past elections.

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Only 67 per cent of French voters cast their ballot on June 30. Although this is high for turnout in the first round of a legislative election in the past two decades, it also means that millions of French people could yet tip the balance one way or another in their electorates next Sunday.

Given Frances traumatic experience of the Second World War and the collaboration of its far-right Vichy government with the Nazis, some French people who did not vote in the first round may well head to polling booths next Sunday to prevent the far right from winning.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand in the voting station before voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. AP

Hundreds of thousands of people turned out for demonstrations against the far right on Sunday, suggesting a highly mobilised electorate.

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More importantly, leftist, centrist and moderate right political parties will likely attempt to forge alliances at the local level to prevent the election of far-right MPs.

This is how it would work. If no candidate receives an absolute majority in a race, the candidates with the two highest shares of the vote progress to the second round, along with anyone else who has received votes from at least 12.5 per cent of registered voters.

So, the leaders of the New Popular Front alliance and Macrons alliance will now urge their candidates to pull out of races where they placed third, so they can coalesce behind one candidate against the far right.

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The leaders of these parties still have strong divisions, but as Raphael Glucksmann, the head of the center-left socialists, said:

We must unite, we must vote for our democracy, we must prevent France from sinking.

Along with Gluncksmann, politicians as diverse as Marine Tondelier (the Greens), former PM Edouard Philippe (moderate right), Francois Bayrou (centre), current Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (from Macrons own party) and many others called for the creation of a Republican Front to defeat the National Rally within a hour of the first-round exit polls being made public.

While this strategy was successful in previous elections against the far right  and may work once again  it does not necessarily mean France will end up with a strong and united government when it is all over.

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Eurasia Group, a risk analysis firm, has said National Rally is unlikely to win an outright majority in the National Assembly. The groups managing director, Mujtaba Rahman, said this means France is heading for:

deadlock and confusion with an irreconcilably blocked National Assembly.

The coming days are going to be extraordinary for French politics, as alliances will be made (and perhaps some broken). The French people, meanwhile, will hold their breath and ponder what all of this means for the future of their country.

Correction: This article has been amended to state that candidates who receive votes from at least 12.5 per cent of registered voters advance to the second round, not 12.5 per cent of the actual vote as originally reported.

Romain Fathi, Senior Lecturer, School of History, ANU / Chercheur Associe at the Centre dHistoire de Sciences Po, Australian National University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
PM Modi is set to reply to the debate on Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address. Also, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni will testify in a deepfake porn trial while Chinese President Jinping will begin a four-day visit to Kazakhastan and Tajikistan read more

PM Narendra Modi is likely to respond this evening to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. File image/PTI

It will be a busy Tuesday today with several important events lined up for July 2.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address while Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been ordered to present himself before a Uttar Pradesh Court in connection to the 2018 defamation case for passing alleged objectionable comments on BJP leader Amit Shah.

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will submit its survey of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex to the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Meanwhile, Punjab and Haryana Court will hear Dera Sacha Saudas plea seeking directions to grant him a 21-day furlough.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to testify in a civil lawsuit against two men allegedly involved in creating deep fake pornographic videos using her likeliness and posting them online.

Let us take a look at all that is to take place today.

PM Modi to debate on presidents address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to thank the President for her address to the the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday (June 27). In the Rajya Sabha, BJPs Sudhanshu Trivedi moved the motion on Friday (June 28) while PM Modi could respond to the debate on July 2 in the Upper House.

PM Modi attends proceedings in the Lok Sabha during ongoing Parliament session, in New Delhi. PTI

As per convention and parliamentary procedures, after the Presidents address to the joint sitting of Parliament, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha adopt separate motions thanking the president for the address. The debate on the motion in both the Houses is likely to see both treasury and opposition benches launching sharp attacks on each other.

Court asks Rahul Gandhi to physically present himself in connection to a defamation case

An MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradeshs Sultanpur on June 26 asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on July 2 in a defamation case filed against him for alleged objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

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Complaint lawyer Santosh Kumar Pandey said that one Ram Pratap had demanded that he be made a party in the case. Opposing the plea, Mr. Pandey said Pratap is neither a victim nor has anything to do with the matter.

ASI to submit survey report of Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque

ASI will submit its survey of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex to the Madhya Pradesh High Court. A writ petition had been filed by Delhi-based social activist Salek Chand Jain who sought the rights for the Jain community to worship at the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex.

Salek Chand Jains lawyer, Manohar Singh Chauhan, confirmed that the High Court is expected to hear the case this week. The petition emphasizes the complexs significance to the Jain community, detailing its past role as an educational and religious centre where monks and scholars engaged in extensive scriptural translations.

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Last date of nominations for the biennial election for 11 MLC seats

July 2 is the last date for the filing of nominations for the biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Out of the 11 retiring MLCs, two are from the Congress.

The ruling BJP has fielded five candidates, including former state minister Pankaja Munde, who lost the Lok Sabha polls from Beed in central Maharashtra. The biennial elections are being held just ahead of assembly polls, which are due in October.

Gurmeet Ram Rahims plea seeking 21-day furlough

The Punjab and Haryana High Court will hear a plea by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim seeking a 21-day furlough in a bid to carry out welfare activities outside the jail. He is currently serving a term in Rohtak Jail after being convicted in rape and murder cases.

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Indian guru, who calls himself Dr. Saint Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim Insan speaks during a press conference ahead of releasing his movie, MSG: The Warrior, Lion Heart in New Delhi. AP

In his application filed before the HC, the Dera Chief has asserted that he is the religious head of the institution where, once every two years in the month of June, a Sewadar Shradhanjali Bhandara is organized to pay tribute to regular volunteers who spent their lives in social services and lost their lives in accidents, serious ailments, or otherwise, to pay condolences and to provide every possible help to their grieved families, reported The Times of India.

Giorgia Meloni to testify in deepfake porn trial

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to testify in a civil lawsuit against two men allegedly involved in creating deepfake pornographic videos using her likeness and posting them online.

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Meloni is seeking compensation from a 40-year-old and his 73-year-old father over the deepfake pornographic videos, which were uploaded to an American porn website in 2020 and viewed millions of times, according to a BBC report.

A deepfake is an image or video that has been digitally manipulated to superimpose a persons face onto another body.

Xi Jinping to visit Kazakhstan, Tajikistan

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to attend a series of diplomatic engagements in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan beginning Tuesday, stated the countrys foreign ministry in an announcement.

In recent times, China has intensified its diplomatic initiatives in the Central Asian region. Central Asia holds a crucial position in Chinas ambitious Belt and Road project, which aims to develop international infrastructure.

The region has gained increased attention from Beijing following Russias aggressive actions in Ukraine in 2022, as former Soviet states expressed concerns about Moscows growing belligerence.

On this day
Addressing both Houses of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a combative speech took aim at the Congress, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the INDI Alliance. This speech, which lasted two hours and 15 minutes, broke the previous record of 2 hours and 13 minutes in 2023  when Modi made a reply to no-confidence motion read more

Rising to address Parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made perhaps his longest speech ever.

Modi, replying to a two-day debate on the Presidents address to both houses of Parliament, took aim at the Congress, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the INDI alliance.

This came a day after Rahul Gandhi used a picture of Lord Shiva to attack the Centre and triggered a row when he said those who call themselves Hindus are engaged in violence and hate round the clock.

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Modi, speaking in the backdrop of alleged irregularities including paper leaks in competitive examinations such as the NEET and the NET, also said the Centre was on a war footing to curb incidents of paper leaks.

Lets take a closer look at PM Modis longest speeches, and how he is able to keep his listeners captivated.

Addresses joint sitting of Parliament (2 hours and 15 minutes)

Modi on Tuesday slammed Rahul albeit not by name.

The prime ministers speech came amid much sloganeering and disruption by the opposition.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha. https://t.co/5ESs5cBMcM  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2024

We saw childish behaviour in Lok Sabha yesterday, Modi said, according to The Times of India. The entire Congress ecosystem is busy pleasing a child these days.

Modi said the House witnessed the wailing of a person with balak buddhi (childish behaviour) who tried to gain sympathy without disclosing the wrongs he had committed.

Modi slammed the Congress for attempting to paint a narrative that they had performed well in the recent polls.

This is the first time that the Congress has not crossed 100 seats for three consecutive times. Instead of conceding defeat, they are being arrogant. They are trying to build a narrative that they have beaten us, Modi said in the Lok Sabha amid uproar by the opposition.

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I recall a story of a boy who was boasting around with 99 marks, showing everyone how many marks he got. When people heard 99, they would praise him and boost his confidence. Then his teacher came and said he didnt get 99 out of 100, but 99 out of 543. Now, who will explain to that foolish boy that he has set a world record in failure, Modi added.

Modi even brought up characters from the Bollywood movie Sholay.

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The statements of Congress leaders have surpassed even the film Sholay. You all must remember Mausi ji from the film Sholay. Arey Mausi, we have lost for the third time but it is a moral victory. Arey Mausi, we have got 0 seats in 13 states, but I still am the hero."

The prime minister said a new drama was played in the Lok Sabha to garner sympathy.

They know the truth that they are out on bail for embezzlement of thousands of crores of rupees, have been convicted for calling OBC people thieves and they had to apologise for irresponsible comments on the countrys top court, the prime minister said in an apparent reference to Rahul.

Modi said an attempt was made to mislead Parliament on the Agnipath scheme and minimum support price for farm produce.

Lies were spoken regarding the scheme and MSP (minimum support price for crops). When seasoned leaders like him (Gandhi) choose this path of anarchy, it shows that the nation is headed for trouble, the prime minister said.

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Speaker siryou endure everything with a smile but something has to be done about what happened here on Monday, otherwise it will not be good for Parliament. Such attempts should not be ignored by calling them balak buddhi. There is a deeper conspiracy, Modi said.

He said the people of the country had seen the dedication with which his government served them for 10 years.

In our third term, we will work at triple the speed. Our third term means we will put in thrice the strength. In our third term, we will ensure three times the results, Modi said.

Modi said the mandate for BJPs rivals was to sit in the opposition and keep shouting after running out of arguments.

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Try to understand the mandate of the people honestly and accept it. I would urge the Congress to accept the mandate and not hide behind fake victory celebrations, Modi said.

Modi also spoke on the paper leaks row, saying those playing with the future of youngsters will not be spared.

Modi said arrests are being made across the country in connection with the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) issue.

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

The president expressed concerns about paper leaks in her address. I also want to tell students and youngsters that the government is serious about controlling such incidents and we are taking back-to-back steps on a war footing to fulfil our responsibilities, he said.

Those playing with the future of youngsters will not be spared, arrests are being made across the country in the NEET issue. The Centre has already framed strict laws and important steps are being taken to strengthen the entire system of conducting examinations, the prime minister added.

Modi said that though the opposition wanted Speaker Om Birla to allow the MPs from Manipur to speak in the House, a member from the northeastern state had already spoken on Monday.

The prime minister said, The people of the country have given us this mandate after testing us on every criterion. The people have seen our track record of 10 years.

The people have seen that we have worked with dedication for the welfare of the poor, fulfilling the mantra of public service is Gods service, he said.

The prime minister said he can understand the pain of some, who despite spreading lies and misleading the people, had to face a massive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections

People have chosen us in this biggest election exercise. I can understand the pain of some people that despite running falsehoods, they were comprehensively defeated, he said.

Modis remarks came amid chants of justice for Manipur by opposition members who also trooped into the Well of the House  drawing a sharp rebuke from Birla.

Modis reply to no-confidence motion (2 hours and 13 minutes)

In August 2023, Modi delivered his second longest speech as prime minister.

The speech, which went for two hours and 13 minutes, saw high drama as members of the opposition even staged a walkout.

However that didnt deter the prime minister and he not only attacked the opposition but also set the tone for the ruling BJPs campaign for the 2024 general election.

Speaking on the Manipur issue, Modi said: Many families (in Manipur) are facing difficulties. Many have lost their kin, and heinous crimes have been committed against women. The Centre and state are together trying to address the situation. I want to assure the people of the country that the state will see a new dawn.

I want to tell the people of Manipur, its women and daughters, that the country is with you, this House is with you. We will face this together and peace will again be restored there. I want to assure the people of Manipur that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that Manipur is on the path of development again.

He added that while the High Courts verdict granting Meiteis Scheduled Tribes status was the immediate trigger, it was the politics of the Congress that is the root cause of the problems plaguing Manipur and the entire north eastern region, which he described as his jigar ka tukda.

Modi also took the opportunity to take swipes at the opposition alliance, terming them as a collection of arrogant dynasties who will take India back by two centuries. Taking on their allegation of spreading hate, the PM said: The opposition is all about loot ki dukan and nafrat ka bazar.

He further questioned the credibility of the opposition and said: To survive they had to take the support of the NDA. The Is in their name stand for the arrogance of the 26 parties and the parivar (dynasty). They stole the NDA. They broke up India with dots  I.N.D.I.A.

Opposition members walk out of the Lok Sabha during Prime Minister Narendra Modis reply to the Motion of No-Confidence, in the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi. PTI

Modis speech also enabled the PM to exude confidence on his return to power in 2024. I thank the opposition for bringing the motion, which appears to be ordained by God. Back in 2018, when a similar motion was brought, I had said that these no-confidence motions do not subject us, but them to floor tests. The latest motion is in a way auspicious for us and a clear indication that we will return to power in 2024 breaking all past records, he said.

He sneered at the opposition, saying that when you bring another no-confidence motion in 2028, adding that in my third term, India will emerge as the worlds third-largest economy.

They (opposition) is a guarantee of taking India back by two centuries, while Modi guarantees that in my third term I will ensure Indias entry into the bracket of top three countries, he said, reeling off his governments achievements in poverty alleviation, sanitation, water supply, defence production among others.

July 2018 no-confidence motion (91 minutes)

In the past, Modi has spoken for long periods in the Parliament, most notably during the no-confidence motion brought against him in 2018. The PM had then spoken passionately for over an hour, during which he accused the Congress of spreading negativity and being deeply opposed" to development.

He had said: What we saw among members of the opposition was sheer arrogance. The only thing they have to say  remove Modi. We are here because we have the blessings of 125 crore Indians. We are not here for selfish interests. We have served the nation with the mantra of Sabka saath, sabka vikas.

The 2018 no-confidence motion brought against PM Narendra Modi may perhaps be remembered by Rahul Gandhis uncharacteristic move of walking over and hugging the latter in Parliament. File image/PTI

This moment has been forever etched in the minds of the people as it was the time that Congress Rahul Gandhi had, uncharacteristically, walked over to the Treasury benches and hugged PM Modi after he was done with his speech.

PMs thanks to the Presidents address in February 2017 (90 minutes)

A year prior to the no-confidence motion, PM Modi had put his oratory skills on display when he spoke for one-and-a-half-hour while replying to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address.

The PM used the opportunity to defend his move to scrap old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, saying that the decision was taken at the right time as the economy was doing well. When can you have an operation? When the body is healthy. The economy was doing well and thus our decision was taken at the right time, he said. He equated the demonetisation to Swachh Bharat, a movement to clean India. Like Swachh Bharat, the decision on demonetisation is a movement to clean India (from corruption and black money), he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi replies to the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Rajya Sabha during Budget Session of Parliament. In his 90-minute address, he had defended demonetisation and slammed the Congress, receiving thunderous applause from the benches. File image/PTI

He also targeted the Congress, questioning them over their failure to notify benami property in the last 26 years. In 1988 when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister, he had more majority in both Houses than Pandit Nehru. The Congress was everywhere from panchayat to Parliament. A bill was made to tackle benami property but it was never notified. Why, all these 26 years, the bill was never notified? he said.

The prime minister also spoke about the surgical strikes applauding the armed forces for the decisive move.

I-Day speech in 2016 (94 minutes)

In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was his eloquent best when he stood at the ramparts of the Red Fort and delivered his Independence Day speech for a whopping 94 minutes. This, in fact, is the longest I-Day speech ever made by a prime minister; in 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had delivered a speech that lasted for 72 minutes, which was the longest ever speech from the Red Fort until 2015.

He listed the achievements of his government, blasted Pakistan for glorifying terrorists, spoke at length about eliminating social discrimination, and also took a dig at the United Progressive Alliance government for delay in decision-making.

PM Narendra Modi addresses the nation during the 70th Independence Day function at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi. File image/PTI

In a significant shift in policy, he had also made a reference to the Baloch freedom struggle in his Independence Day speech, saying the people in the conflicted Pakistani state of Balochistan, as also in Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, had reached out to him.

Diplomats later had said the PMs decision to raise Balochistan in his speech was unprecedented as India has rarely referred to the freedom movement in the state, and had consistently denied any assistance to Baloch nationalists group as alleged by Pakistan.

It was in this very speech that Modi had also announced an increase in the pension of family members of freedom fighters by 20 per cent.

Other lengthy speeches

While PM Modi does hold the record for the longest Independence Day speech as PM in India, he doesnt hold the record for the longest political speech across the world.

That honour is held by former Finance Minister VK Krishna Menon, who spoke for over seven hours explaining Indias position on Kashmir at the United Nations.

This is now listed as the longest by the Guinness World Records.

The second longest speech at an international forum was delivered by Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1960 at the UN.

It lasted four hours and 29 minutes.

With inputs from agencies
For Indians, cross-border digital transactions that rely on the UPI framework, and happen quickly, safely, and cheaply may be here as early as 2026 due to the Nexus project. We explain what the Nexus project actually is, and whether it can make cross-border transactions faster, cheaper, and more transparent read more

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently joined the Project Nexus, a multilateral initiative that is seeking to enable instant cross-border retail payments. In a couple of years time, when Nexus becomes operational, it could change the face of international transactions conducted by Indians, all while leveraging the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

We explain what Project Nexus actually is, and whether it can make cross-border transactions faster, cheaper, and more transparent.

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What action did RBI take?

On June 30 (Sunday), the central bank signed an agreement in Basel, Switzerland, to join Project Nexus. With this, India joined Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand as the founding members of this initiative. The aim is to enable instant cross-border retail payments by interlinking domestic instant payments systems (IPSs).

What is Project Nexus?

The Project Nexus is spearheaded by the Innovation Hub of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and aims to interlink domestic IPSs of participating countries.

The need for the project was felt despite the existence of bilateral collaborations for cross-border payments. This is because a system reliant on individual efforts by countries to secure smooth transactions with other nations is slow, costly, and cumbersome.

Imagine that India wants to enable smooth cross-border digital payments with five other countries. It would have to engage in five separate bilateral dialogues.

With Nexuss multilateral approach, such limitations and inefficiencies can be avoided.

Project Nexus Gateways connect Instant Payment Systems (IPSs) of each country, across borders. Image courtesy: BIS/Firstpost

The platform can be extended to more countries, going forward. The platform is expected to go live by 2026," the RBI has said.

What are the benefits of joining Project Nexus?

Joining the Project Nexus offers numerous advantages, not only for the RBI but also for businesses and consumers engaged in cross-border transactions. Here are the key benefits:

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1. Speed and Efficiency

One of the primary advantages of Project Nexus is the dramatic reduction in transaction times. Domestic payments via FPSs are typically completed within seconds. By linking these systems, cross-border payments could also be processed in under a minute, compared to the hours or even days required by traditional banking systems. This speed is achieved through the continuous operation of FPSs, which function 24/7/365, unlike traditional central bank payment systems that operate only during business hours, according to a report by BIS.

2. Lower Costs

The cost of cross-border payments can be prohibitive, involving various fees for currency conversion, message translation, and sanctions screening. However, Project Nexus can help reduce these costs. FPS participants generally incur minimal fees per transaction, and by interlinking these systems, the overall cost base for cross-border transactions can be kept low. This makes it more feasible for banks to offer these services even in countries where they lack a physical presence or direct partnerships.

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3. Enhanced Transparency

Traditional cross-border payments often lack transparency, with fees and charges accumulating at each stage of the payment chain, leading to uncertainty about the final amount received. In contrast, Project Nexus promises greater transparency. Fees can be calculated upfront and presented to the sender before the transaction is initiated, ensuring that both sender and recipient are aware of the exact costs involved. Moreover, the immediate confirmation or failure of payments adds a layer of certainty that is missing in traditional systems.

4. Expanded Reach

The multilateral nature of Project Nexus simplifies the process for banks to offer cross-border payment services to a wider range of countries. Traditionally, banks would need to establish and maintain correspondent accounts in each country they wish to operate, a process that is both costly and time-consuming. Nexus eliminates this requirement by providing a standardized and scalable framework for interlinking FPSs, thus expanding the reach of instant payment services.

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5. Increased Reliability

Cross-border payments through traditional banking channels may be prone to delays and failures at various stages, often leaving senders and recipients in the dark until issues are resolved. Project Nexus enhances reliability by ensuring that payments are either completed or failed within seconds, providing immediate feedback and reducing the risk of lost or delayed transactions.

6. Benefits for businesses

By facilitating quicker, cheaper, and more reliable cross-border payments, Project Nexus can boost international trade and commerce. Businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), stand to benefit from reduced transaction costs and faster payment cycles, enhancing their cash flow and competitiveness in the global market.

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With inputs from agencies
Indian-American Rishi Shah has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison by a US court for being the driving force behind a $1 billion fraud scheme at his company, Outcome Health. Prosecutors said the 38-year-old overbilled clients, falsified advertising metrics, and also duped Google and Goldman Sachs investors to name a few read more

Rishi Shah, the co-founder of Outcome Health, has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison by a US court for his involvement in a $1 billion fraud scheme. Image Courtesy: @digitaloohnews/X

From a jet-setting billionaire to being found guilty and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison  thats the life of Indian-American businessman, Rishi Shah. A US court has found 38-year-old Shah guilty of his involvement in a $1 billion (Rs 8,300 crore) fraud scheme that involved high-profile investors such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Google parent Alphabet Inc, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzkers venture capital firm.

In court, Judge Thomas Durkin said Shah, the co-founder of Outcome Health, had undermined the integrity of the markets. The only deterrence to white-collar crime or any kind of crime is jail, he said. Its the only thing that gets peoples attention.

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As Shah faces prison time, we take a closer look at who he is and what is the fraud he has been found guilty of.

Who is Rishi Shah?

A son of a doctor, Shah attended Harvards summer economics programme in 2005. He then studied at Northwestern University for a year before dropping out to start his own business. In 2006, he founded Outcome Health, formerly known as Context Media Health. The company aimed to change medical advertising, by installing televisions in doctors offices to display targeted health ads to patients.

In the following year, Shradha Agarwal joined him in this venture and the two of them propelled Outcome Health to record highs, attracting substantial investments and clientele.

Whats the case about?

Outcome installed video screens across physicians offices in the United States and charged pharmaceutical companies to run drug ads targeted at patients in the waiting room. The company recorded massive growth by the mid-2010s, and Shah was considered a rising star in American corporate circles.

However, in 2017, trouble came knocking when Wall Street Journal revealed that the company was running a massive fraud against investors, clients, and lenders by misrepresenting the operational and financial health of the company.

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The 2017 article revealed that the company was selling more advertising inventory than the company could handle and fabricating data to make up for the shortfall. Owing to this, Shah was able to live the big life  exotic trips, the use of private jets and yachts and even the purchase of a $10 million home. In 2016, Shahs net worth had been pegged at more than $4 billion.

Outcomes former executives deceived their clients, their auditor, their lenders, and their investors for years, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M Argentieri, head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, said in a statement. Their sentences should serve as yet another reminder that faking it until you make it is not an acceptable practice for any business.

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Later, investors, including Goldman Sachs, Alphabet, and Governor Pritzkers firm, accused Outcome of committing fraud in connection to a $487.5 million fundraising round that led to a $225 million dividend pocketed by Shah and Agarwal.

Rishi Shahs Outcome Health Outcome installed video screens across physicians offices in the United States and charged pharmaceutical companies to run drug ads targeted at patients in the waiting room. Image Courtesy: Outcome Health

What happened in court?

In 2019, US prosecutors indicted Shah along with Agarwal and CFO Brad Purdy alleging a nearly $1 billion scheme to defraud clients and investors. And in 2023, a jury found Shah, Purdy and Agarwal guilty of numerous criminal counts of wire, mail and bank fraud.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the lawyers had initially sought a 15-year sentence for Shah, arguing he was the frauds driving force, motivated by the desire to become a billionaire. They said he reaped such rewards as a $10 million Chicago home and luxury vacations while snaring junior employees in the scheme and pushing aside those who raised concerns. These kinds of corporate fraud schemes have real impacts on people, prosecutor Kyle Hankey said as per a Wall Street Journal report.

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At the sentencing on June 26, a remorseful Shah accepted responsibility in the matter with NDTV reporting that he accepted his failure to ensure adequate management of the aggressive Outcome Health expansion and creating a corporate culture that led through deceptive practices. He said he was ashamed and embarrassed by the misconduct that brought down the company.

The culture I created permissioned people on my team to think it was okay to create false data in response to a client question, NDTV quoted him as saying.

Shah is due to surrender himself to authorities in September. His lawyers said he plans to appeal the verdict and sentence.

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On the other hand, Agarwal, on June 30, was sentenced to three years in a halfway house. Purdy was also sentenced on the same day to two years and three months in prison.

Apart from this, the US Securities and Exchange Commission sued Shah, Agarwal, Purdy and former chief growth officer Ashik Desai, claiming they used false financial statements to raise cash.

With inputs from agencies
Signed in the aftermath of World War I, the 1920 Svalbard treaty established Norways full and undivided sovereignty over the strategic archipelago located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Norway has blocked the sale of the remote Sre Fagerfjord property to China citing a threat to its national security read more

Pictured taken on May 16, 2024 from a boat shows the view of Longyearbyen, located on Spitsbergen island, in Svalbard Archipelago, northern Norway. AFP

Tensions are rising in the Arctic.

Norway has blocked the sale of the last privately owned property in the archipelago of Svalbard.

The remote Sre Fagerfjord property in southwestern Svalbard, 60 square kilometres of mountains, plains and a glacier, was on sale for $326 million.

China was looking to buy it under the terms of the 1920 Svalbard Treaty.

But what do we know about the treaty? And why has Norway blocked the sale?

Lets take a closer look:

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Svalbard

First, lets take a brief look at Svalbard.

The strategic archipelago comprises a group of islands north of continental Norway.

Twice the size of Belgium, it is located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.

It is around 700 kilometres north of the European mainland.

It is located in the Arctic  a region that has become a geopolitical and economic hotspot as the ice melts and relations grow ever frostier between Russia and the West.

According to the Svalbard Museum website, people from all around the world have been coming to the archipelago since the 17th Century.

Prior to the treaty being signed, the area was open to anyone and everyone who wanted to exploit its natural resources.

According to non-profit JSTOR, Norway, Sweden, and Russia were the earliest states looking to take advantage.

Svalbard witnessed activities such as hunting and coal extraction. Polar explorers also used it as a base to the Arctic.

In 1905, Norway achieved its independence from Sweden. It then sought to include Svalbard in the Kingdom of Norway and also to establish rules regarding its use.

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Many scenarios were looked at including Norway, Sweden, and Russia sharing Svalbard. However, Norway pushed for itself to run the territory.

Unfortunately, negotiations were halted by the outbreak of World War I.

The treaty

The Svalbard treaty was eventually signed on 9 February, 1920 in Paris.

It established Norways full and undivided sovereignty over Svalbard.

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Norway, The United States of America, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Ireland and the British overseas Dominions and Sweden were the original signatories.

According to JSTOR, the countries acceded to this party because of the losses Norways commercial fleet suffered during World War I.

Norways newly-independent status also was a factor.

Russia, which had gone through the 1917 Russian Revolution, did not participate in the negotiations.

Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Peoples Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela have all signed on as of 1 January, 2021.

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One important point the treaty established is that the signatories and their citizens have the same rights to exploit its resources as Norway does.

Citizens and commercial groups from the signatory nations have

Access to and presence in Svalbard

Fishing and hunting

All types of maritime, industrial, mining, and commercial operations

Acquisition, exercise, and enjoyment of the right to ownership of property, including mineral rights

Russia, for example, has maintained coal mining communities on Svalbard, via the state-run company Trust Arktikugol, for decades.

The treaty also states that Norwegian authorities can control activities.

The treaty states that authorities may ban a particular activity or regulate it, but no one can be treated differently simply because of their nationality.

The treaty also demilitarised the region.

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No country, including Norway, is allowed to permanently station troops on Svalbard.

Article 9 of the treaty states,  Norway undertakes not to create nor to allow the establishment of any naval base in the territories specified in Article 1 and not to construct any fortification in the said territories, which may never be used for warlike purposes.

According to the Svalbard Museum, the archipelago must never be used for warlike purposes.

Norways military presence in Svalbard, which comprises mainly coast guard, also remains at minimum levels.

So why has Norway blocked sale?

Norway has cited national security as the reason for blocking the sale after its intelligence agencies warned of a risk.

The government said on Monday a potential sale will require state approval under national security law.

The current owners of Sre Fagerfjord are open to selling to actors that could challenge Norwegian legislation in Svalbard, Trade and Industry Minister Cecilie Myrseth said.

It could disturb stability in the region and potentially threaten Norwegian interests, she added.

Myrseth said anyone ready to fork out a disproportionately high price for Sre Fagerfjord could be intending to challenge Norwegian law and national security.

Norway owns 99.5 per cent of Svalbard.

It has declared most of the land, including the Sre Fagerfjord property, protected areas.

Sre Fagerfjord is located in a national park that was protected in 1973, and which is subject to strict restrictions, according to the Norwegian government.

Since Chinas 2018 white paper on the Arctic, a sign of its interest in the region, the country has defined itself a near-Arctic state and plans to play a growing role in the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing. Both nations have expressed growing interest in Svalbard. Reuters

China is a possible buyer. China has shown great interest in the Arctic for a long time. If they can get a foothold up there, it would have great strategic significance for China, Per Kyllingstad, a lawyer for the owners of the property, was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

China isnt the only one interested in the region.

According to the newspaper, Russian media singled out Svalbard after the 2014 annexation of Crimea as a possible flashpoint for World War III.

Moscow has also repeatedly provoked Norway by flying flags and holding a pseudo-military parade on the archipelago recently.

The Nordic country in late May said it planned to increase its control of Svalbard, as security concerns and climate change impact the Arctic archipelago.

The Nordic nation has long been concerned that tensions between western countries on the one hand, and with Russia or China on the other, could spill over to the vast outpost because of the archipelagos strategic position and of growing interest in the Arctics valuable oil, gas and shipping routes.

Norways ministry again made an offer of $1.9 million for the property last week, Fredrik Sejersted, the attorney general acting on the governments behalf, told Agence France-Presse on Monday.

That offer, a tiny fraction of the owners asking price, was refused.

Kyllingstad, who represents the sellers, has previously told Agence France-Presse that he had received concrete signs of interest from potential Chinese buyers who have been showing a real interest in the Arctic and Svalbard for a long time.

The piece of land is a unique occasion to grab the last private land in Svalbard and, to our knowledge, the last private land in the worlds High Arctic, he said.

Kyllingstad did not immediately respond to the government announcement.

The propertys seller is a company controlled by a Russian-born Norwegian, according to local media.

Critics remain sceptical about the price and feasibility of the sale.

The property, in the southwest of the archipelago, a region without roads or infrastructure, covers protected areas where construction and motorised transport are prohibited, stripping it of commercial value.

The Norwegian state owns 99.5 per cent of Svalbard and has declared most of the land, including the Sre Fagerfjord property, protected areas where construction and motorised transport, among other things, are prohibited.

But the sellers cite the 1920 treaty to argue that owners can exploit and develop their properties.

In 2016, the government paid 33.5 million to acquire the second-last piece of private land on Svalbard, near Longyearbyen, the archipelagos main town, which was also reportedly being eyed by Chinese investors.

With inputs from agencies
A high recall value is key when it comes to getting votes. And political parties understand that a distinct colour can enhance their recognition. On July 4 in the UK, the ruling Conservatives blue will compete against Labours red. Other parties, such as the Liberal Democrats (orange), Reform UK (turquoise), and the Green Party (as expected), are all seeking votes. But how do the parties pick colours? read more

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm local time across the UK on July 4, 2024. Graphic by Firstpost

As the UK gears up for the polls on July 4, the vibrant political landscape is more colourful than ever. Political colours not only represent parties but also convey their ideologies.

In the US, Democrats are blue and Republicans are red. Green can represent environmentalism or Islamic parties in different countries, and orange is linked to Christian Democrats in Europe and post-Soviet uprisings in the east.

We take a look at the kaleidoscope of colours that the political parties in the UK portray themselves with:

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The Conservative party: Blue

The Conservative Partys association with blue dates back to its formation in 1834. Initially, the Tories used the full spectrum of the Union Jack: red, blue, and white. It wasnt until the Labour Party adopted a similar shade of red that the Conservatives dropped red altogether.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a Conservative general election campaign event, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, June 24, 2024. File Image/Reuters

From a marketing perspective, blue is a colour that instils trust, reliability, and confidence, making it a popular choice among corporate companies, technology firms, and hospitals, such as the NHS in the UK.

The Labour party: Red

The colour red has a deep-rooted historical significance for left-wing parties like Labour. It symbolises the blood of the angry workers rising against oppression, a reference that dates back to the first French uprising in 1789 and even earlier to slave uprisings at the end of the Roman Empire.

UK Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks at the launch of the Labour Partys manifesto, in Manchester, UK, June 13, 2024. File Image / Reuters

Red is also powerful in marketing, often used for sales posters because it evokes strong feelings that lead to action. Brands like Coca-Cola and Kelloggs use red to reflect expertise and dominance in their fields.

The Liberal Democrats: Orange

Formed in 1988 from a merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Democrats adopted orange, a blend of the previous parties colours (yellow and red). This colour choice symbolises the partys aim to balance different kinds of liberalismsocial, economic, and political.

People hold signs during a victory rally of British Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Honiton Richard Foord and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, in Tiverton, UK, June 24, 2022. File Image/Reuters

Orange is seen as enthusiastic, friendly, and attention-grabbing in marketing, used by companies like Fanta, Gatorade, Amazon, and Mozilla Firefox to signify a fresh and energetic alternative.

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The Scottish National party (SNP): Yellow

The SNPs yellow dates back to 1928 and David Lloyd Georges report Britains Industrial Future, known as the Yellow Book. Yellow represents the new, modern, and free.

Scotlands then-Health Minister Humza Yousaf and Scotlands Finance Minister Kate Forbes, contenders to become the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Scotlands First Minister, pose as they attend the SNP leadership hustings, in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, March 12, 2023. File Image/Reuters

Yellow is the most noticeable colour in the visible spectrum, symbolising happiness, optimism, creativity, and warmth. Brands like McDonalds, IKEA, and National Geographic use yellow to exude an energetic quality.

The Green party: Green

Green is synonymous with environmentalism, a natural choice for the Green Party. The use of green in politics dates back to the 6th century Byzantine Empire and became prominent in Europe during the 1980s with the rise of environmental parties.

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Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Carla Denyer arrives for a BBC election debate in London, UK, June 7, 2024. File Image/Reuters

In marketing, green represents freshness, sustainability, and eco-friendliness. Brands like Subway, Tic Tac, Android, and Animal Planet use green to signify their commitment to these values.

UK Independence party (UKIP): Purple

UKIP, established in 1993, chose purple, a colour often associated with passion and British heritage. Some believe it symbolises UKIPs attempt to draw voters from various parties, as it combines elements of multiple colours.

UK Independence Party (UKIP) member and YouTuber Mark Meechan stands next to fellow UKIP member and YouTuber Carl Benjamin as he speaks at the launch of the partys European Parliament election campaign in London, UK, April 18, 2019. File Image/Reuters

Purple connotes indulgence, luxury, and wisdom in marketing, used by brands like Cadbury, Wonka, and Hallmark to evoke these qualities.

Plaid Cymru and other parties

Plaid Cymru uses a logo featuring a Welsh yellow poppy on a white and green background. Yellow and green together represent freshness, growth, and nature. This combination exudes positivity and modernity, aligning with Plaid Cymrus political stance.

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Placards lie on chairs after Leanne Wood, then-Leader of Plaid Cymru, launched her partys election manifesto in Rhondda, Wales, UK, May 16, 2017. File Image/Reuters

Reform UK uses turquoise, a fresh and distinctive choice in the crowded political spectrum.

Britains Reform UK Party Leader Nigel Farage delivers a speech during a rally at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, June 30, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Other parties in the UK political landscape also have distinct colours. Northern Irelands Sinn Fein also uses shades of green, symbolising growth and nature. The short-lived Referendum party in the 1990s used pink.

How has political branding evolved?

Political colours have not always been as significant as they are today. The rise of new technology and advertising between the 1950s and 1970s marked a turning point. Parties began to simplify their messaging, Dominic Wring, a professor of political communication at Loughborough University told CNN.

The advertising industry itself underwent a change around the introduction of colour television, so, increasingly, colours and more ambitious or innovative designs became quite significant, Wring added.

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Also Read | From outlaws to leaders: Why are UK Conservatives called Tories?

Colours are not always tied to specific values. For example, the blue of the Democrats and the red of the Republicans in the US represents a reversal of the UKs colour associations.

Despite the strong colour-coded campaigning, UK ballot papers remain black and white, leaving the final decision in the hands of voters without the influence of colours.

With inputs from agencies
Music director Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the San Francisco Symphony as it performs Mahlers Symphony No. 3 at Davies Symphony Hall on Friday, June 28. The organization issued a stern warning to a patron over an obscene sign she used to protest the imminent departure of the conductor. Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle Patrons and supporters of Salonen hold signs at a show on June 14. Lisa Hirsch

The San Francisco Symphony issued a stern warning to a patron over an obscene sign she used to protest the imminent departure of Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Amid growing public outrage over the Board of Governors failure to retain the acclaimed Finnish conductor beyond his five-year contract ending after the 2024-25 season, audience member Laura Leibowitz displayed a sign during the June 21 performance that read F the board in Salonens native language. An image of her with the sign went viral on social media, increasing scrutiny of the organizations direction and finances, prompting the organization to threaten a ban of Leibowitz in Davies Symphony Hall.

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In a letter addressed to Leibowitz which she shared with the Chronicle, Andrew Dubowski, the Symphonys senior director of operations, described her conduct as disruptive and offensive and in violation of its rules.

Displaying of any signage inside Davies Symphony Hall is not permitted, the letter stated, noting that signage is only allowed on the public sidewalks outside the venue.

It added, Should this conduct occur again, you will be subject to further disciplinary action, up to and including removal from Davies Symphony Hall and/or suspension of privileges to enter and attend activities of the San Francisco Symphony.

Oakland resident Leibowitz, a regular Symphony attendee since 1991, told the Chronicle that audience members have been bringing signs for years, such as We love Michael Tilson Thomas or, more recently, Stay, asking Salonen to reconsider his departure.

Symphony librarian Matthew Searing hands out a message from the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony to people walking into Davies Symphony Hall about their views on issues facing the organization before a performance of Mahlers Symphony No. 3 on Friday, June 28. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle

The problem with Stay is thats not really an option for Esa-Pekka. The board is preventing him from realizing his artistic vision, so he is moving on, she said. I wanted to put the blame where it properly lies, with a spin of cleverness. I wanted to make sure it was clear.

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Salonens penultimate season has been unusually rife with protests. Musicians and patrons have voiced concerns over the Symphonys direction and management through flyers and leaflets distributed inside and outside the concert hall, as well as numerous signs.

Leibowitz said she believes she was singled out because of her direct criticism of the Symphonys leadership.

While the 113-year-old organizations rules do not expressly prohibit signs, they forbid disorderly or disruptive conduct. Leibowitz disputes the assertion that she was disruptive and notes that she displayed the sign only during applause, respecting the musicians.

Patrons and supporters display signs expressing support for Salonen at a show on June 14. Lisa Hirsch

Do I advocate being disruptive? No, I dont, she said. I was trying to convey a brief and supportive message to Esa-Pekka.

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The Symphony did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Leibowitz said that a ban would be devastating, as she considers the local classical music community like family. She has reached out to the ACLU to consult her rights and is considering her next move.
You may be familiar with the Conservative Party in the UK being referred to as the Tory party in political discourse. But where does this name originate, and what does it signify? It often carries negative connotations, used by political opponents but interestingly, the term predates the official party name by many years read more

The terms Conservative and Tory have become synonymous over time, with many people using them interchangeably to describe the UKs Conservative Party. However, the origins and historical significance of these terms are distinct and deeply rooted in British political history.

As the UK goes to vote on July 4, the Rishi Sunak-led Conservative party will face-off with the Labour party led by Keir Starmer. Polls show a Labour majority in the British parliament as the Tories are predicted to face their worst defeat in decades.

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The historical origins of Tory

The political term Tory dates back to the Exclusion Crisis from 1679 to 1681 during the reign of Charles II. Parliament was divided into two factions: the Whigs, who sought to exclude Charles brother James, the Duke of York, from the throne due to his Roman Catholic faith, and the Tories, who supported James right to succeed.

The term Tory is derived from the Irish Gaelic word toraidhe, meaning outlaw or robber, which was initially used as a term of abuse for Irish rebels.

The term Tory may also have originated from the Irish word toruidhe or toruighe, meaning to pursue or to hunt. During the 16th and 17th centuries, it described dispossessed Irish who survived by plundering English settlers. It evolved to denote outlaw papists and eventually became a political term during the Exclusion Crisis.

In the final debate before the United Kingdom heads to poll, UK PM Rishi Sunak and Labour Party Leader Kier Starmer exchanged heated words over various issues. File Image/Reuters

Despite the negative connotations, the Tory faction prevailed, and James became King James II in 1685. David Seawright from Leeds University told BBC, Simplistically you could say Tories were Cavaliers and Whigs were Roundheads.

Tories were initially linked with supporting a Catholic heir but later became associated with Anglicanism and strong monarchist and patriotic sympathies.

How did the term Conservative come about?

The term Conservative began to be widely used in the 1830s under the leadership of Sir Robert Peel. Peel modernised the party by reinterpreting the key elements of the old Tory tradition, advocating for social reform and free trade.

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Despite adopting the name Conservative, the term Tory endured, and both names became interchangeable. The Conservative Party officially embraced the name Conservative and Unionist Party in 1912 after allying with the Liberal Unionist Party to oppose Irish Home Rule.

Currently UK Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, he served as PM of the UK as part of the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2016. File Image/Reuters

Unlike Labour, the Conservative Party was never officially founded and did not have a written constitution until 1998. This evolutionary development reflects what many historians see as its most essential and enduring feature: adaptability.

Lord Lexden, the partys official historian, notes, Patriotism is the first, and most deeply rooted, element of the partys character.

Unionist & Tory in Ireland & America

The term Unionist briefly eclipsed both Tory and Conservative in the early 20th century, reflecting the partys resistance to Irish Home Rule. However, Conservative emerged as the official name later in the century, while Tory continued to be used colloquially and in official documents, such as Lord Hailshams Toryism and Tomorrow lecture of 1957, reported BBC.

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Also Read: Who are the key players in the UK general election?

The term Tory was also used during the American War of Independence to describe colonists loyal to the British monarchy. In Canada, centre-right Conservatives are still known as Tories, showcasing the terms enduring legacy in British colonial history.

The modern usage of Tory

Today, Tory is frequently used by journalists as a shorter alternative to Conservative, particularly in headlines. Many Conservative Party members are comfortable being referred to as Tories, and insiders often use both terms neutrally.

Political rivals often use Tory in attack lines, such as Tory cuts or Tory austerity. Former UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, in his 2000 Labour conference speech, referred to Tory spending cuts and Tory froth, eliciting jeers from the audience.

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Also Read: From immigration to cost of living, the key issues for UK voters

David Blunkett, a former Labour minister, stated, I use Tory and Tories to describe our opponents because, to me, those terms place them somewhere backward-looking, negative, and reactionary.

Peter Bone MP mentioned in 2015, These days it doesnt matter which you use. People have forgotten the historyTory is quite handy if youre tweeting. Despite the historical connotations, the term Tory remains a convenient and widely recognised label for the Conservative Party and its members.

What does the dictionary say?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary:

Tory : Initially referred to dispossessed Irish who became outlaws, later used for those who supported James, Duke of York, during the Exclusion Crisis, and eventually a name for one of the two great political parties in Britain.

Conservative: A supporter or member of the Conservative Party of Great Britain, initially used to describe policies espoused by Sir Robert Peel.

From supporting a Catholic heir to modernising under Sir Robert Peel, the Conservative party has evolved significantly. Despite the derogatory use of Tory by political opponents, the term remains a significant and enduring part of the Conservative Partys identity, both in the UK and across former British colonies.

With inputs from agencies
The US Supreme Court in a 6-3 majority ruling stated that presidents are entitled to a degree of immunity from criminal prosecution for any official act they carry out while in office. This judgment is a win for Donald Trump, as it will most likely delay his January 6 case to after the US presidential polls in November read more

The US Supreme Courts decision that Donald Trump has some immunity from criminal prosecution marked a win for the ex-president. File image/AP

While Donald Trump may be smiling away, United States President Joe Biden warned of a dangerous precedence that the Supreme Court has laid out with its latest ruling. On Monday (July 1), the US Supreme Court ruled that former presidents are entitled to some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution for any official act they took while in the Oval Office.

This is a major victory for the Republican frontrunner in the 2024 White House race, who is fending off an indictment in connection with his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which resulted in the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

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Soon after the courts ruling, Trump declared in all caps on Truth Social, his social media network, Big win for our Constitution and democracy. Proud to be an American.

Meanwhile, President Biden said the judgment undermined the rule of law and was a terrible disservice to Americans. In a statement, he said: This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law. Not even the president of the United States.

Todays (court) decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president may do.

What does the courts ruling mean? How does it affect Trump? What are the reactions to the ruling? Heres all this and more.

What did the court rule?

The courts ruling on Monday comes from the special counsels indictment against Trump for his activities in relation to the January 6 insurrection. In his defence, Trump said he was immune from anything he did as the president. That led to the question on whether the president is immune from criminal process and whats the extent of the immunity granted to him for acts taken in his capacity as president of the United States.

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Writing the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: The president enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official. The President is not above the law.

He, however, added: The system of separated powers designed by the Framers has always demanded an energetic, independent Executive. The President therefore may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled, at a minimum, to a presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.

What this primarily means is that the president has been granted substantial  though not absolute  immunity from criminal charges, with the court adding that the threat of future prosecution could chill a presidents ability to do the job.

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The majority opinion also said that a president gets at least a presumptive immunity even for acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility.

However, the court also had a dissenting opinion from Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Sotomayor wrote in her dissent that the courts decision to grant former president criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency.

She added, It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.

Raising a few examples of where the president would be protected, she said: Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organises a military dissenting coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

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A man protests outside the Supreme Court on Monday. The court has in a majority opinion ruled that former presidents are entitled to some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution for any official act they took while in the Oval Office. AP

How does this ruling affect Trump?

In many ways, the US Supreme Court is a win for Trump, who faces a litany of charges and cases ahead of the November elections. The courts decision, according to experts, will delay the Washington DC federal election subversion case. As The Guardian notes the courts ruling guts one of the allegations and challenges the legal viability of the others, raising the stakes still more.

An article published by The Cut wrote that the ability of the prosecution to win a case, and to find that the president did commit a crime, is significantly less than it was before because of the restrictions placed by the majority.

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For instance, Special Counsel Jack Smith has said in the election subversion case that Trump met with his acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen and other top justice department (DoJ) and White House officials to discuss the alleged election fraud after the 2020 elections. Furthermore, when Rosen refused to comply with his demands, Trump repeatedly threatened to fire him.

However, according to the courts ruling Trumps discussion with Rosen constitutes an official act and is protected from criminal prosecution. The court has said that Trump has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority.

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks after the Supreme Court ruled on Trumps bid for immunity from federal prosecution for 2020 election subversion, at the White House in Washington. Reuters

How have people reacted to the ruling?

From his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump celebrated the US Supreme Courts ruling. Moreover, his lawyers asked the New York judge who presided over his hush money trial to set aside his conviction and delay his sentencing, scheduled for next week.

His lawyers argue that the Supreme Courts decision confirmed a position the defence raised earlier in the case that prosecutors should have been precluded from introducing some evidence they said constituted official presidential acts, reports the AP.

On the other hand, US President Joe Biden railed against the ruling, saying: For all practical purposes todays decision almost certainly means there are no limits to what a president can do. This is a fundamentally new principle, and its a dangerous precedent.

Speaking from the White House, Biden added: The American people must decide if they want to entrust once again, the presidency to Donald Trump, now knowing hell be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it.

The courts decision is a win for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his supporters. File image/Reuters

Legal and political experts also weighed in on the matter. David Super, a law professor at Georgetown University, told Al Jazeera that the decision will have a remarkable impact on presidential powers.

This fundamentally transforms the presidency, Super told Al Jazeera. Here, the court says the president is still subject to the law, but theyve made that much, much narrower than it ever was before. These are certainly the kinds of powers that are much more familiar to dictators than they are to presidents of democratic countries.

Matt Dallek, a political historian and professor at George Washington University, also said the courts decision is appalling. The ruling is an assault on the constitutional limits to guard against abuses of power, he told Al Jazeera.

Steven Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, also chimed in, telling AFP that the decision provides a roadmap for a US leader to avoid prosecution for a particular action simply by intertwining it with official government action.

Thats going to seriously hamstring the prosecution of a former president because the presidents official actions and unofficial actions are so often intertwined, he said.

With inputs from agencies
Over 100 people died in a stampede at a satsang of the religious preacher Bhole Baba in Uttar Pradeshs Hathras district on Tuesday. Thousands of people have been trampled to death at religious events in India over the years. But why do these accidents occur? read more

An injured arrives in an ambulance at the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district. AP

A horrific stampede in Uttar Pradeshs Hathras has claimed dozens of lives. At least 116 people were crushed to death in a satsang, a religious event, in the district on Tuesday (July 2).

According to officials, thousands of devotees were present at the religious gathering of Bhole Baba, a religious preacher, when the incident took place. Disturbing visuals from the site of the tragedy show bodies, mostly of women, lying as people look on.

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What caused the stampede? Why are such tragedies common in India?

Hathras stampede

The stampede took place during the address by the religious preacher and his wife at a makeshift tent in the Ratibhanpur village under the Sikandra Rau tehsil of the Hathras district.

An Uttar Pradesh police official told Indian Express, There was a presence of at least 15,000 people at the satsang in Sikandara Rau today. We do not know the exact cause of the stampede but a majority of deaths were a result of suffocation.

According to a Hindustan Times (HT) report, police, prima facie, believe suffocation caused discomfort among people who started running, leading to a stampede.

It was hot and humid during the event, the police said.

A temporary permission was granted for the gathering at the spot situated on the border of Etah and Hathras districts, Shalabh Mathur, Inspector General of Police, Aligarh range, said.

Women mourn next to the body of a relative outside the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district after a stampede at a satsang. AP

Hundreds of injured were admitted to hospitals. According to one of the victims, the incident occurred when the satsang ended and people rushed to leave.

There was a huge crowd gathered of followers at the spot. There was no way out, and everybody fell on each other, and a stampede took place. When I tried to move out, there were motorcycles parked outside, which blocked my way. Many fainted while others died, the victim, who was admitted to a nearby hospital, was quoted as saying by HT.

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The Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement that more devotees were present at the satsang than permitted officially. The number of attendees exceeded the administrations permitted limit at the venue, leading to a stampede during Bhole Babas satsang, the government said, as per Indian Express.

Past incidents

Thousands of people have lost their lives in mass stampedes at temples and other religious sites over the years in India.

A dozen devotees died and several others were injured in a stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir in January 2022, following a heavy surge in crowd.

In July 2015, a stampede in Andhra Pradeshs Rajahmundry claimed 27 lives at a major bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river, where pilgrims had gathered to bathe believing its water would wash away their sins. The devotees had gathered to mark a 12-day Hindu religious festival called Godavari Maha Pushkaram, which takes place only once every 144 years.

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Devotees crowd to attend the Maha Pushkaralu, a Hindu festival, on the banks of river Godavari at Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh, India, July 14, 2015. File Photo/Reuters

In October 2013, over 100 people were killed and another 100 wounded in a stampede during Navratri celebrations near Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradeshs Datia district. The tragedy happened after rumours spread that the river bridge that devotees were crossing was about to cave in.

Another incident had occurred the same month when 32 people were crushed to death at Gandhi Maidan in Patna a little after the end of Dussehra celebrations.

India saw three of its worst stampede tragedies in 2008 and 2005. In September 2008, as many as 250 devotees died and over 60 were injured after a rumour of a bomb explosion at Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthans Jodhpur city triggered panic.

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In August of that year, a stampede had killed 162 people and injured over 40 after rumour of rockslides at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradeshs Bilaspur district.

Maharashtra reported a grim tragedy in January 2005 when over 340 devotees died and hundreds were injured in a stampede during an annual pilgrimage at Mandhardevi temple in Satara district. The accident occurred at the steps of the inner sanctum where devotees, mostly women and children, slipped on coconut water and were trampled by those coming inside.

Why do such tragedies occur?

There are many factors that can cause stampedes, such as rumours that trigger panic, ill-management and overcrowding.

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Mass stampedes at religious gatherings are not rare in India despite the many lives they claim. A 2013 study in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction had found that religious gatherings and pilgrimages make for 79 per cent of stampedes in India.

Teresa Moore with the International Centre for Crowd Management had told _The Wall Street Journa_l in 2013, The higher tolerance for crowded spaces in India allows for people to get closer, because they dont feel uncomfortable until it is very packed.

She said that such crowds often grow in number too fast. People panic and react. Couple that with a rumor, which can come out of that feeling of panic, thats when you can get a surge or a problem, she said.

The risk of stampede heightens as several major temples are located on hills, the banks of rivers or some other uneven terrain.

The 2013 study stated, The triggers of human stampedes have been identified from case studies and it is concluded that a simple accident, an intentional act or even a rumour can trigger a crowd disturbance.

Religious festivals, especially when located at remote rural areas and on hilly terrains, and on the foothills or at riverbanks lacking proper pathways always pose a geographical risk to the pilgrims. Steep slopes, uneven topography of the venue, dead ends, slippery and muddy floors, narrow passages, convergence of pedestrian flow to a single point are among the common risks prevailing in religious gathering sites, compromising safety and triggering stampedes, it further noted.

The role of authorities and their failure to manage such huge crowds cannot be overlooked. While the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had released guidelines in 2014 for crowd management, such accidents continue to occur.

The active implementation of crowd control measures can help in avoiding such tragedies. By ensuring separate entry and exit points at a location, deploying adequate police and security personnel and using a public address system to dispel rumours, stampedes can be prevented, saving many precious lives.

With inputs from agencies
Victims of the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel filed a lawsuit against Iran, Syria, and North Korea on Monday (July 1). They allege that these governments provided financial support, weapons, and expertise necessary for the militants to carry out the assault, which triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza read more

Protesters block a road during a demonstration demanding the immediate return of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 27, 2024. File Image/Reuters

More than 100 victims and relatives of those affected by the October 7 attack by Hamas in Israel have filed a lawsuit in the United States, targeting Iran, Syria, and North Korea. The plaintiffs are seeking at least $4 billion in damages for a coordination of extrajudicial killings, hostage takings, and related horrors for which the defendants provided material support and resources.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington DC, has been initiated by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and backed by over 125 plaintiffs, the lawsuit aims to hold Iran, Syria, and North Korea accountable for their alleged roles in the attack.

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ADL Chief Executive Jonathan Greenblatt stated, Iran is the worlds leading state sponsor of antisemitism and terror  along with Syria and North Korea, they must be held responsible for their roles in the largest anti-Semitic attack since the Holocaust."

The lawsuit accuses Iran, Syria, and North Korea of providing financial, military, and tactical support to Hamas, enabling the attack. The US government has designated these countries as state sponsors of terrorism.

Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan Greenblatt speaks during the Anti-Defamation Leagues Never is Now summit at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan in New York City, New York, US, November 10, 2022. File Image/Reuters

The complaint, drawing on previous court findings and reports from various agencies, suggests that these nations supplied Hamas with weapons, technology, and financial assistance crucial for the assault. Specific evidence includes the use of North Korean F-7 rocket-propelled grenades by Hamas fighters during the attack, reported AP.

What has Irans role been in the conflict?

Iran has long been viewed as Hamas primary supporter, providing arms and funding to counter Israel, seen as its regional adversary. Following the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran has been engaged in a shadow war with Israel, which intensified with recent conflicts, including an attack on Irans embassy in Damascus by Israel.

Also Read: How Iran is biggest gainer in Gaza war

Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have praised Hamas for the October 7 assault, though Iran denies prior knowledge of the attack.

How has North Korea supported Hamas?

North Koreas support for Hamas is deeply rooted in its history of aligning with Palestinian militant groups. This relationship dates back to the 1960s when North Korea began providing financial aid and training to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO).

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High-profile visits by PLO leaders such as Yasser Arafat to Pyongyang cemented this bond, resulting in a steady flow of North Korean weapons to Palestinian factions. Despite a lull after the Cold War, engagement resumed in 2007 when Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip.

North Korea supplied rockets and military communications equipment to Hamas in a secret deal in 2014, underlining a continued commitment to support against Israel.

Banners with information about specific victims from a specific house in Kibbutz Beeri are placed outside that house, on the day of a corner-stone event for a new neighbourhood, after the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip made major damage in Kibbutz Beeri, southern Israel, June 24, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Recent conflicts have brought North Koreas involvement back into focus. On January 8, 2024, South Koreas National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed that Hamas has been using North Korean weapons in its conflict with Israel. Evidence includes photos of North Korean F-7 rocket-propelled grenades with Korean inscriptions, seized by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza.

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Despite North Koreas denial, these findings indicate a substantial military relationship. North Koreas primary motivation appears financial, driven by the need to fund its weapons programs amid heavy international sanctions. The illicit arms trade with groups like Hamas and nations like Iran is part of North Koreas broader strategy of undermining US interests while generating revenue.

What is Syrias relationship with Hamas?

Syrias relationship with Hamas and the broader Palestinian cause is multifaceted and marked by both cooperation and conflict. Hamas originated from the trans-national Muslim Brotherhood, which opposed the Assad familys rule in Syria.

In 1982, Syrian troops crushed a Muslim Brotherhood-led revolt in Hama, resulting in significant casualties.

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Despite this, Syria positioned itself as a supporter of the Palestinian cause, hosting around half a million Palestinian refugees and Hamas leaders, including Khaled Mashaal. This relationship, however, soured during the Syrian civil war when Hamas refused to support Bashar al-Assads regime, leading to Mashaals relocation to Qatar.

Gadi and Reuma Kedem, parents of Tamar, a victim of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas who died along with her husband and children, speak with a police officer during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas from Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel March 2, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Despite expressing solidarity with Gaza, Syrias direct involvement in the recent conflict has been limited. While Syria has supported the Palestinian cause rhetorically and through occasional military actions, such as shelling the Golan Heights, it has refrained from large-scale escalations against Israel.

Nonetheless, Syrias strategic location and its hosting of Iranian military assets make it a crucial player in the regions dynamics. Israeli airstrikes on Syrian airports in Damascus and Aleppo aim to disrupt potential arms shipments from Iran to Gaza.

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Can the lawsuit succeed?

If successful, the plaintiffs could seek compensation from the US Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, established in 2015 to provide payouts to individuals with judgments against state sponsors of terrorism. However, the fund has recently run low, prompting legislative efforts to enhance its funding.

The lawsuit seeks $1 billion in compensatory damages and $3 billion in punitive damages. Nahar Neta, whose mother Adrienne Neta was killed in the attack, stated, While nothing will ever undo the unbearable pain Hamas caused our family or the brutal losses weve suffered, we hope this case will bring some sense of justice.

A person looks at tributes to the victims of the deadly October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as their dog stands next to them, at a fountain in Tel Aviv, Israel, February 14, 2024. File Image/Reuters

The lawsuit joins a growing list of legal actions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in US courts. Past cases have seen judgments against foreign governments, such as the 2018 ruling against North Korea in the wrongful death suit filed by US student Otto Warmbiers parents, reported AP. Similar suits have been filed against Iran, with American prisoners successfully claiming frozen Iranian assets.

Also Read | No one has any idea: Top Hamas official on number of Israeli hostages still alive

This lawsuit represents a significant legal development in the aftermath of the Hamas attack. On October 7, Hamas launched an attack in Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources. In response, Israels offensive in Gaza has caused nearly 38,000 deaths, as reported by Gazan health officials, and left the enclave in devastation.

With inputs from agencies
British women politicians have fallen victim to fake pornography, with their faces being superimposed onto nude images created using artificial intelligence. Among those targeted on a prominent fake pornography website are the Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, the UK education secretary Gillian Keegan, the Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, the former UK home secretary Priti Patel, and the Labour backbencher Stella Creasy read more

Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats and Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, during the ITV Election Debate 2024, in London, UK, June 13, 2024 . File Image/Reuters

The rise of deepfake technology has led to a disturbing trend affecting women, including high-profile British politicians. Deepfake pornography, where images are digitally altered to create explicit content without the subjects consent, has seen exponential growth.

A recent investigation by Channel 4 News uncovered that more than 400 digitally altered images of over 30 prominent UK politicians have surfaced on a sexually explicit website dedicated to the abuse and degradation of women.

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Among the victims are Labours Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, UK Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, Conservative Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, former UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, and Labour backbencher Stella Creasy. These images, created using both sophisticated AI technology and simpler methods like Photoshop, are part of a broader trend that has targeted female politicians and celebrities alike.

Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party speaks at a campaign event by British opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer at The Royal Horticultural Halls in London, UK, June 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Dehenna Davison, who recently stood down as a Conservative MP, described the experience as really strange and quite violating. She spoke to Channel 4 News about the need for a robust AI regulatory framework to prevent major problems in the future. Stella Creasy echoed these sentiments, stating that the abuse is all about power and control, and expressed her revulsion upon learning about the images.

Isnt this supposed to be illegal?

Despite the growing prevalence of deepfake pornography, the creation of such content remains legal in the UK. The Online Safety Act, introduced in January, made sharing non-consensual explicit images a criminal offense.

However, plans to ban the creation of deepfake porn were shelved when UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for an early election. Political parties, including the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru, have pledged to reinstate these plans if they win the next election. The Scottish National Party (SNP) has indicated they would consider any proposed legislation carefully.

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Also Read: What do the various manifestos of the UK parties say?

Internationally, efforts to combat deepfake pornography are also underway. In the US, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is advocating for similar laws, having personally experienced the trauma of encountering a deepfake of herself. She warned that such abuses could lead to severe psychological harm, including instances of suicide.

What is the extent of the deepfake porn threat?

ESET UK conducted a survey that highlighted the publics growing concern over deepfake pornography. The survey, which involved over 2,000 Brits, revealed that 50 per cent of respondents were worried about becoming victims, and 1 in 10 reported either being a victim or knowing someone who was.

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The survey, conducted in December last year, also found that 61 per cent of women were particularly concerned about being targeted, compared to 45 per cent of men. The research underscored that deepfake pornography is a significant risk associated with sharing intimate content.

Despite this, 34 per cent of adults admitted to sending intimate images, with 58 per cent expressing regret. Among under-18s, 57 per cent were worried about becoming victims, and 12 per cent had sent intimate images.

ESET research also revealed that nearly half of all women (48 per cent) who send explicit images do so under the age of 16, rising to 71 per cent being under the age of 18. Representative Image/Pixabay

Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, highlighted the persistence of risky online behaviours, noting that digital images are nearly impossible to delete, and deepfake technology makes it easier to create explicit content without the subjects consent.

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Women are disproportionately targeted more often by abusers looking to exploit intimate images, and the prevalence of deepfake technology removes the need for women to take the intimate images themselves. Were urging the government to look beyond the Online Safety Act and address this critical risk to womens safety and security, he stated.

What can be the psychological impact on a victim?

The psychological impact of being a victim of deepfake pornography can be profound. The ESET survey revealed that nearly half of those who had their intimate images misused felt embarrassment or shame.

Women are disproportionately targeted, with a third of those surveyed reporting misuse of their explicit images. Of these, 25 per cent were threatened with the publication of these images, and 28 per cent had their photos posted publicly without permission.

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Also Read: 7 telltale signs that the video you are watching on social media might be a deepfake

Despite the legal provisions, women remain reluctant to seek help, with only 28 per cent indicating they would contact the police if their images were misused. This reluctance highlights the need for increased awareness and support for victims of such abuse.

How to save yourself from becoming a victim?

To mitigate the risk of falling victim to deepfake pornography, individuals are advised to:

Turn social media accounts to private and be cautious about who they allow to follow them.

Engage in conversations about online safety and the risks of sharing intimate images.

Avoid sharing images that include identifiable features like faces, tattoos, or recognisable backgrounds.

Report instances of deepfake pornography to social media platforms and law enforcement.

The proliferation of deepfake pornography poses a significant threat to privacy, dignity, and mental health, particularly for women. As deepfake technology continues to evolve, so too must strategies for protecting individuals from its misuse.

With inputs from agencies
Born in Kabul in 1995, Fatima Payman came to Australia as a refugee with her family. The countrys first federal politician to don the hijab, Payman was suspended from the Labor Party after crossing the Senate floor to vote against her own government on a motion over Gaza read more

Fatima Payman was elected to the Senate for Western Australia in 2022. Image courtesy: @SenatorPayman

An Australian Senator has left the countrys Parliament divided.

Fatima Payman, an Australian Muslim, was suspended from the Labor government.

Payman crossed the floor of the Senate to vote against her own party on Gaza.

But who is the 29-year-old?And how has Paymans Gaza support impacted the Parliament?

Lets take a closer look:

Who is she?

According to BBC, Payman was born in Kabul in 1995.

As per VOA, she came to Australia as a refugee with her family when she was a child.

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She is the countrys first federal politico to don the hijab.

Payman was the Chair of Standing Committee on Publications and Deputy Chair of Joint Committee on Publications.

She was elected to the Senate for Western Australia in 2022.

She will serve in Parliament till 2028.

She has a BA from the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Diploma in PharmSc from the University of Western Australia.

Payman served as secretary of the Multicultural Labor Branch from June 2019 to June 2022.

She was also Equity and Diversity Officer for Young Labor (WA) in 2020.

She later was elected president of Young Labor (WA) in 2021.

In 2022, she was awarded the Australian Muslim Role Model of the Year.

Gaza support splits Parliament

As per The Conversation, Payman supported a motion from the opposition Greens to announce the need for the Senate to recognise the State of Palestine.

The motion was defeated easily  52-13  with Labor and the Coalition coming out against it.

Australia has been supporting a two-state solution in West Asia.

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The government went against this motion after attempting to insert a clause in it that stated that the recognition should occur as part of a peace process.

BBC quoted Payman as saying it was the most difficult decision" of her political career.

She said that each step across the Senate floor felt like a mile.

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She said she was proud of her actions and bitterly disappointed that others hadnt done the same.

I walked with my Muslim brothers and sisters who told me they have felt unheard for far too long, Payman said.

VOA quoted Payman as saying that Australia cannot believe in two state solutions and only recognise one.

Fatima Payman supported a motion from the opposition Greens to announce the need for the Senate to recognise the State of Palestine. AFP

Payman now says she has been exiled from her party over the vote.

She claims to have been removed from all caucus meetings, group chats and committees.

Anne Aly, the first Muslim woman elected to Australias parliament, as saying she did not agree with Paymans approach.

I choose to do things in a way I think will make a material difference on the ground. Fatima chooses to do it her way," Aly told ABC.

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Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns said, Parliamentarians come from different communities and backgrounds, and trying to balance all those perspectives isnt easy, but we must be an example to the Australian community about how to debate difficult issues respectfully.

Australias Labor government has defended its action.

By her own actions and statements, Senator Payman has placed herself outside the privilege that comes with participating in the federal parliamentary Labor Party caucus, a government spokesperson said as per BBC.

No individual bigger than the team

The Labor Party has a long history of punishing and expelling members who defy its position.

The last time a politician challenged the party line was before Payman was born.

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No individual is bigger than the team, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Albanese also called the motion a stunt.

We need actually real solutions this stunt from the Greens was designed to put Fatima Payman in a difficult position. It was designed to do that, he said.

Some Labor Party MPs have expressed anger at the government.

NSW Labor MP Anthony DAdam, the co-convenor of Labor Friends of Palestine, told the ABC the vast majority of the party membership think that the position shes taken is the right one on the right side of history, and want Labor to be on the right side of history.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the motion by the Greens a stunt. Reuters

DAdam said local Labor branches were passing resolutions calling on the party to make a much stronger position.

I think most ALP members look at the situation in Gaza and are horrified and expect Labor would be more strident in its criticisms of Israel, he said.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt attacked the government.

Labor should stop putting pressure on Senator Payman, Bandt told Yahoo News. If Senator Payman can cross the floor on a matter of principle you should as well.

ABC quoted Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley as saying that has asked Albanese investigate any claims of bullying against Senator Payman.

It shouldnt have been beyond the prime minister to show the leadership required to deal with this issue without putting a 29-year-old woman in a position where she feels intimidated by her colleagues, Ley said.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher added that colleagues were desperately trying to reach out and provide support where they can.

Albanese has said he is unsure whether Payman will remain with Labor.

That is a decision for her, Albanese told ABC. She has made a decision that she cant be bound by what puts our team together. I would like to see her rejoin the team and that option is certainly available to her.

We have consistently supported a two-state solution, he added.

The problem with the motion that was moved by the Greens is it forgot to mention Israel.

A one-state solution, whether it is Israel or Palestine is not in the interests of Israelis or Palestinians.

But a defiant Payman has vowed to vote the same way if the motion is brought up again.

It remains to be seen how this plays out.

With inputs from agencies
Peter Fouche, a 49-year-old British medic, died after he was badly injured in combat against Russian forces. Fouche, who worked as a sniper in the South African police force, volunteered as a soldier following Russias invasion. He co-founded Project Konstantin, a charity organisation that saved around 200 lives on the front lines and delivered humanitarian aid read more

Peter Fouche, a British combat medic, who saved hundreds of lives on the Ukrainian front lines has tragically died like a hero in the battlefield.

Peter Fouche passed away last week after being badly injured in combat against Russian forces, Halyna Zhuk, the commercial director and co-founder of Project Konstantin, a charity organisation founded by the volunteer British medic, said in a video message.

Project Konstantin, which runs rescue operations and gives aid to the Ukrainian soldiers, described the 49-year-old Fouches killing as, the kind of nightmare where you wish you could wake up.

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There are no words that can do Petes life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of us, said its statement posted on social media.

According to the charity organisation, Peter whose heroism knew no bounds has left an everlasting impact on the countless lives he touched. We take a look at his journey

__Once a cop always a cop

Born and raised in South Africas Bluewater Bay, the 49-year-old Peter Fouche served as a sniper in the countrys Flying Squad - an elite branch of the police service tasked with rapid response to major violent crimes such as homicides, armed robberies, and hijackings.

Later, the father of a 15-year-old girl moved to Fulham in West London and obtained British citizenship. He initially worked in construction and later as a driver for the cab and courier service Addison Lee.

Desperate to put his Flying Squad experience to good use, Fouche headed to Ukraine in March 2022 following the Russian invasion in the previous month.

Explaining what compelled him to move to Ukraine and volunteer to fight and serve for Ukrainians, Fouche told _Metro, _They say once a cop always a cop.

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When I saw the images of innocent Ukrainians being mown down as the full-scale invasion began it pushed my police trigger button, he added.

Desperate to put his Flying Squad to good use, Fouche headed to Ukraine in March 2022 following the Russian invasion in the previous month. Instagram/@projectkonstantin

Upon arriving in Ukraine, Fouche initially joined a territorial defense unit to fight for Kyiv as the war unfolded. However, drawing on his Flying Squad expertise in high-speed car control and rapid response, he quickly recognised that his true calling lay in medevacs.

This epiphany gave birth to Project Konstantin, where he leveraged his unique skills to save hundreds of lives on the front lines.

Project Konstantin

Joining hands with fellow combat medic Tetyana Millard, who was also involved in providing humanitarian aid to frontline towns and evacuating wounded soldiers, Fouche founded the charity organisation Project Konstantin.

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The charity was named as a tribute to Konstantin, a Ukrainian serviceman who had fought alongside Fouche and was killed by Russian mortar fire.

In 2023, Fouche was operating near the besieged city of Bakhmut, where he was involved in providing medical assistance to Ukrainian soldiers just 800 metres from the frontline.

Recounting his experiences with Metro late last year, Fouche said, We are embedded with the Ukrainian army and we live in a bunker 800 metres from the zero line.

Whenever they get an injured soldier they call on us and they patch him as best they can before we rush forward and snatch him. We bring him from his beautiful but hellish post to road ambulances that wait for us in a secret location.

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Sadly, last year, his cofounder Millard died in a horrific car crash while driving a donated vehicle to a frontline position in Ukraine. Despite this tragedy, Project Konstantin continued its mission. The charity, which became registered last year, reported that Peters medevacs saved more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

Peter Fouche ran medevac evacuations for wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Instagram/@projectKonstantin

He was actively involved in saving more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, evacuating civilians from the most dangerous frontline cities, as well as bringing humanitarian aid to people in those towns and cities. Petes bravery and selflessness in the face of danger were nothing short of extraordinary, and his actions will forever be etched in our hearts, the statement said.

Beyond medevacs of wounded soldiers, the members of Project Konstantin are responsible for delivering essential supplies such as vehicles, drones, uniforms, food, and more to soldiers on the front lines.

Project Konstantin paid tribute to him saying, Pete was more than a leader; he was a beacon of hope, a true hero, and a friend to all. His wisdom, compassion, and faith in God inspired us every day.

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Tributes pour in

Following Fouches demise, an overwhelming amount of support and tribute poured in on the charitys social media post.

I am deeply sorry for your loss. He was a great and honorable man! We all need to continue to support Ukraine, one user wrote.

While another wrote, Peter had a calling to do what he did. His empathy, compassion and commitment to the cause should never be forgotten.

The British Foreign Office spokesperson said, We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities.

With input from agencies
Amid a shifting geopolitical landscape and a power vacuum in the region, Beijing is stepping up its engagement to secure its interests and expand its influence in Central Asia. We explain why there is a power void in the region, what Chinas interests there are, and what Beijing has been doing to fulfil them read more

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan on Tuesday (July 2). He is there, among other things, participate in the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Then, he is expected to jet off to Tajikistan.

This tour, including a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the visit to Tajikistan at the invitation of President Emomali Rahmon, must be seen as part of a broader strategy by Beijing to expand its influence in Central Asia.

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There is a power vacuum in Central Asia, and China, which has deep interests in the region, has lunged at the opportunity to fill the void. It has already adapted its approach towards the region to fulfil that goal. We explain all of this in detail.

Power vacuum in Central Asia

Since 2021, the Central Asian Republics have faced growing internal and external challenges. Border clashes and internal unrest have exacerbated regional instability. With Russias military and political focus diverted to Ukraine, its historical role as the security guarantor in Central Asia has weakened, creating a vacuum that China is eager to fill. The reduced influence of the United States in the region, especially after its troops exited Afghanistan, is another strategic opportunity for Beijing to enhance its role in the region.

With the war in Ukraine, Russias focus is away from the Central Asian region. Reuters

Chinas increased engagement in Central Asia is a calculated move to secure its interests amid these changing dynamics. Beijing aims to leverage its economic power and political influence to assert a stronger presence, capitalizing on the regions strategic importance and its rich natural resources.

Chinas interest in Central Asian Republics

Central Asia holds great strategic and economic importance for Beijing. The region has vast reserves of energy resources, including natural gas and oil, which are crucial for Chinas energy security. In the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, China extended significant loans to energy-rich Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, cementing its role as a key economic partne, according to ORF. Turkmenistan received US$3 billion, while Kazakhstan secured US$10 billion under a loan for oil agreement, facilitating Chinas access to their natural gas reserves.

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Infrastructure projects such as the China-Central Asia gas pipeline and the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline only go to show Chinas focus on securing energy supplies from the region.

Central Asian countries also serve as a vital transit route for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinas flagship infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity and trade between China and Europe.

Then there is the point of trade. According to a 2023 Euronet report, China was the largest trading partner for Central Asia. In the first nine months of 2023, the country accounted for 21.3 percent of Kazakhstans total foreign trade, valued at $21.7 billion. Similarly, China held a 21.3 percent trade turnover share with Uzbekistan, worth $12.23 billion during the first 11 months of 2023. Clearly, the region is a key market for China.

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The proximity of several Central Asian countries to Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where Chinese authorities have been cracking down on the Uyghur ethnic minority, adds another layer to Beijings interest in the region. Central Asias cooperation is crucial for China to maintain stability in Xinjiang and secure its hydrocarbon resources. In return for Chinese loans and investments, the Central Asian Republics have taken measures to suppress Uyghur organizations and enhance surveillance of the Uyghur population within their borders.

Chinas ambitions extend to the defence sector, where it seeks to capture the CARs defence equipment market. From providing financial aid for military upgrades to supplying arms and military equipment, China has substantially increased its defence cooperation with Central Asian countries. For example, the Kyrgyz Republic received $16 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2017 for weapon upgrades and military personnel accommodation. Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have also benefited from Chinese military aid and arms sales, reflecting Chinas strategic interest in bolstering its influence in the regions security dynamics.

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Chinas efforts to fill the power vacuum

China has been recalibrating its approach to Central Asia to fill the power vacuum left by other global powers. Traditionally, Chinas Central Asia diplomacy was conducted through bilateral meetings and under the auspices of the SCO. However, last year, the world witnessed a shift: China hosted the first-ever China-Central Asia Summit in Xian, a historic city and the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

The Xian summit allowed China to emphasise its historical ties with Central Asia and its commitment to regional development. President Xi Jinping pledged billions in development assistance, focusing on poverty reduction, food security, and green development. He also called for expanded regional connectivity and greater energy cooperation, paintaing China as a benevolent, desirable economic partner.

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The summit positioned China to play a more direct and prominent role in Central Asia, moving beyond its traditional bilateral engagements. By hosting such high-level summits, China aims to institutionalize its relationships with Central Asian countries and solidify its influence in the region.

Chinas economic engagement with Central Asia has also intensified. According to a 2023 report by Eurasianet, China has surpassed Russia to become the largest trading partner of Central Asia. This shift reflects Chinas growing economic clout and its ability to leverage trade and investment to deepen its influence in the region.

Mutual interests at play

While Chinas ambitions in Central Asia are clear, the Central Asian countries themselves have strategic interests in fostering strong ties with Beijing. As landlocked nations reliant on Russia, China, or the sanctioned countries of Iran and Afghanistan for trade routes, Central Asian states seek to balance their relationships to maximize connectivity without becoming overly dependent on any single power.

Central Asian countries aim to maintain multi-vector foreign policies that keep good relations with Russia, China, the West, and other neighboring countries. This approach allows them to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape and avoid choosing sides in the great power competition.

For Central Asian states, engagement with China offers economic opportunities and development assistance. However, they also seek to avoid over-reliance on Beijing and strive to balance their foreign relations to preserve their sovereignty and strategic autonomy.

With inputs from agencies
PM Modi launched counter-attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on a range of allegations that the senior Congress leader levelled at the ruling party on Monday during motion of thanks to the Presidents Address in Lok Sabha. read more

Taking a veiled jibe at INDIA bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday that he can understand the pain of some people who suffered a huge defeat despite spreading lies continuously.

PM Modi launched counter-attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on a range of allegations that the senior Congress leader levelled at the ruling party on Monday during motion of thanks to the Presidents Address in Lok Sabha. Modi gave a point-by-point response to Gandhi as countered the LoPs charges.

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Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Presidents Address in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said people had blessed his government for its policy of zero-tolerance towards corruption.

Violent Hindu

PM Modi accused the Congress of coining the phrase like Hindu terrorism, adding that their ally likened this religion to dengue; country will never forgive them. Its serious matter that conspiracy being hatched to level false allegations against Hindus. The development came a day after Rahul Gandhi on Monday said those who call themselves Hindus talk violence hatred untruth 24 hours.

NEET exam

Speaking on paper leak issue in the parliament, Prime Minister asserted that the government is working on war footing to apprehend the culprits and wont spare those behind paper leaks. Nobody will be spared. Throughout the country, arrests are being made. A law has been made on the issue, he said.

The Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi earlier today written a letter to PM Modi in Lok Sabha, urging for an immediate debate in Parliament to address the growing concerns over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

On personal conduct

Responding to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks pointing out BJP leaders like Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari are cordial with him unless the PM is around and said the Constitution has taught him to take the Leader of Opposition seriously, the Prime Minister took a jibe at Rahul, saying that the Constitution, and the democracy, has taught me to take the LoP with utmost seriousness.

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In the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said earlier today, This morning, Rajnath Singh greeted me well but it stops when PM Modi is around (He becomes) serious, no smile, the Raebareli MP said. The same happens with (Nitin) Gadkariji. He alleged that PM Modi has created an atmosphere of fear among people and his party members alike.

Agnipath

The Lok Sabha witnessed one such spirited exchange between Rahul Gandhi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over Agniveers. One Agniveer lost his life in a landmine blast but he is not called a martyr. I call him a martyr but the government of India does not call him a martyr. PM Modi does not call him a martyr. He calls him an Agniveer. His family will not get a pension. They wont get a compensation. He wont be called a martyr. His people wont get a pension. They wont get compensation, Gandhi said in Lok Sabha.

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Speaking in the Lok Sabha, prime minister said Congress opposes every reform that strengthens the army. Now Congress has realised that the energy of the youth is the biggest strength of the army. Outright lies are being spread regarding army recruitment so that the youth of my country do not join the army. I want to know through the House that for whom does the Congress want to weaken our armed forces, for whose benefit are the Congress members spreading so many lies regarding the armed forces? We are modernising our armed forces so that they can face any challenge and give a befitting reply. We are making reforms to make our troops battle-ready, Prime Minister Modi said.

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Mic being switched off

The Congress on Friday accused the Centre of silencing opposition leaders by allegedly switching off their microphones in Parliament.

Why speaker @ombirlakota switched off LOP Sri Rahul Gandhis mic when he was raising an important issue related to the future of our students? #NEET, posted the Kerala unit of Congress on X.

The Congress a video of Gandhi on social media, showing him requesting access to a microphone. Gandhi was seeking a debate on the NEET controversy and pressing for a joint message from both the Opposition and the Centre.

Responding to the claim, speaker Om Birla said in the Lok Sabha that he does not switch off MPs microphones and has no such control. The discussion should be on the Presidents address. Other matters will not be recorded in the House, Birla said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday came down heavily on the Congress and termed it a parasitic party as it feeds of the parties it allies with and depends on them for its survival read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday came down heavily on the Congress and termed it a parasitic party as it feeds of the parties it allies with and depends on them for its survival.

He said 2024 elections were Congress third defeat in its history and it would have been better had it accepted its defeat and respected the mandate of the people.

This is the third biggest defeat in the history of Congress. It would have been better if Congress had accepted its defeat and respected the mandate of the people but they are busy doing some Sirsasana and Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the minds of the citizens of India that they have defeated usBachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai, said PM Modi while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the presidents address.

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#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, "This is the third biggest defeat in the history of Congress. It would have been better if Congress had accepted its defeat and respected the mandate of the people but they are busy doing some 'Sirsasana' and Congress and its ecosystem are trying pic.twitter.com/G6IsTyZUBV  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

In an indirect dig at the INDIA bloc, the Prime Minister said that the public chose the BJP-led NDA in the worlds largest election and he understands the pain of those who suffered a huge defeat.

Despite spreading lies continuously, they suffered a huge defeat, added PM Modi.

The PM attributed his election win to the zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and rejecting the politics of appeasement, which the country has seen for a long time.

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, "...The country has blessed us for our zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. Today India's credibility has increased across the world...The sole aim of our every policy, every decision, every action has been India first." pic.twitter.com/hnRN8VKFPu  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

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The country has blessed us for our zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. Today Indias credibility has increased across the worldThe sole aim of our every policy, every decision, every action has been India first, said the Prime Minister, adding, Hum tushtikaran nahi santushtikaran ke vichaar ko lekar chalein hai.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "This country has seen the politics of appeasement for a long time and the model of governance of appeasement for a long time...'Hum tushtikaran nahi santushtikaran ke vichaar ko lekar chalein hai'..." pic.twitter.com/Dk05yxuRAl  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

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He assured the countrymen that his government have taken the resolution of Viksit Bharat which it will fulfill with full dedication and honesty.

I assure the countrymen that we have taken the resolution of Viksit Bharat and we will make efforts to fulfil that resolution and we will do it with full dedication and honesty. We will spend every moment of our time to fulfil this resolution, said PM Modi.

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Recalling the days of 2014 when his government had taken over, he said that the people of our country had lost their self-confidence and the country had drowned in the abyss of despair.

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, "If we remember those days of 2014, we will realise that the people of our country had lost their self-confidence. The country had drowned in the abyss of despair. At such a time, before 2014, the biggest loss that the country had suffered was the pic.twitter.com/O8gmVDUeEK  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

At such a time, before 2014, the biggest loss that the country had suffered was the loss of self-confidence of the countrymen and when trust and self-confidence are lost, it becomes difficult for the person, the society, the country to stand up. For some time, it used to come out from the mouth of a common man that nothing can happen to this country. These words of frustration of Indians had become a kind of identity. For some time, when we used to open the newspaper every day, we used to read only news of scams, added the PM.

There was a period of scams when it was shamelessly accepted publicly that if 1 rupee is sent from Delhi, only 15 paise reaches. In 1 rupee, there is a scam of 85 paise. This world of scams had drowned the country in the depths of despair. There was policy paralysis, we were in the fragile 5If a poor person wants to buy a house, he had to give bribe of thousands of rupees. For gas connection, people had to make rounds to the MPs and even then they did not get a gas connection, he added.

He said there was a time before 2014 when terrorists used to attack at will and kill innocent people, but the government of the time used to sit quietly.

Innocent people were killed, every corner of India was targeted and the governments used to sit quietly. 2014 ke baad ka Hindustan ghar mein ghus kar maarta hain, he said.

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, "There was a time before 2014 when terrorists could come and attack wherever they wanted. Innocent people were killed, every corner of India was targeted and the governments used to sit quietly. 2014 ke baad ka Hindustan ghar mein ghus kar maarta pic.twitter.com/9NHWZkMYxV  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

PM Modi said his government managed to pull 25 crore people out of poverty in 10 years.

This feat proved to be a blessing, he said.

Talking about his goal in his third term, he said the government will increase its pace of work by three times and put in three times the energy.

Our third term means we will give three times the results to the people of the country, he said.

He was also all praise for the first-time parliamentarians, saying that not only did these inexperienced MPs made the debate on presidents address more valuable with their views but they also followed all the rules, thereby enhancing the dignity of the House.

Yesterday and today, several MPs have expressed their views on the presidents address, especially those who have come among us for the first time as Parliamentarians. They followed all the rules of the Parliament and their behaviour was like that of an experienced Parliamentarian.

He added, Despite being the first timers, they have enhanced the dignity of the House and have made this debate more valuable with their views

With inputs from agencies
Focaccia from from Penny Roma in S.F. Cesar Hernandez / The Chronicle

MacKenzie Chung Fegan is on a break. Your chauffeur for the week is associate restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez.

When I encounter a good focaccia, I become a bambino again. Like a rapacious child, my sole directive is acquiring more.

I could take down 14 of the dense, rich rounds with nooks of cheese from Telescope Coffee in San Francisco. I could build a statue dedicated to the crusty, feathery loaves from Daytrip in Temescal. Im convinced you could bounce like a springboard on the tall, fluffy focaccia from Delfina in the Mission District.

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Recently, while hunting for the best Italian restaurants in the Bay Area with fellow critic MacKenzie Fegan Chung, Ive found more focaccia to obsess over. To the surprise of no one, the restaurants dedicated to the cuisine that spawned the golden, olive oil enriched bread are where youll find the best stuff.

Lo Coco in Piedmont, an easygoing Sicilian spot, gives away its crusty, confidently salty version. Like Ol Blue Eyes said: The best things in life are free. It arrives warm in a bread basket, with a commanding crunch. It is, also, just about the best thing on the menu.

At La Gastronomia in Fairfax, the focaccia flavor profile skews a bit sweeter, with a texture that verges on pound cake. This Tuscan-style flatbread, known as a schiacciata, has a thinner, lighter construction, but less lift and chew. Its served with customary extra virgin olive oil, providing a jolt of fruitiness.

While the focaccia at Itria doesnt shine as bright as others, its real function is that of a vehicle for flavor. Use it to extract the precious remaining smears of smoky tomato sauce on the plate. It becomes a sponge for flavorful oil, spiked with garlic and anchovy  made better with an added side of house-made cool, creamy curds known as stracciatella.

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The most triumphant focaccia Ive come across in the Bay Area comes from Penny Roma in San Franciscos Mission District. (Or you can visit Flour + Water Pasta Shop, which also offers it.) It is essentially an edible pillow. I cannot, in good conscience, call anything this fluffy a flatbread. I like to imagine the kitchen inflating it with a bike tire pump, pushing wind between pockets of gluten. It lands on the table still steaming hot. It tastes of the most delicate olive oil, faintly sweet and fruity, garnished with salt flakes and sprigs of earthy rosemary.

The most peculiar thing happened when I first tried it. The focaccia vanished in seconds, leaving only a crime scene of crumbs on the plate. So I ordered another one and contemplated a third.
Delhi Airports T1 handles domestic flights and the terminal is used by IndiGo and SpiceJet. However, it has been closed indefinitely since June 28 after the roof collapse mishap read more

Delhi Airports Terminals 2 and 3 are expected to witness more rush as the operations at Terminal 1 are likely to begin at least one month later.

The newly revamped Terminal 1 of Delhis IGI Airport was scheduled to begin operations by mid-July, but now it has been delayed by more than a month after heavy rain on Friday (June 28) led to a portion of the roof at the old terminal collapse, killing one person.

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Currently, structural engineers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi are conducting a study to evaluate the safety and structural integrity of T1. This assessment is expected to take almost a month, following which a decision will be made regarding the reopening of the terminal, PTI quoted a senior government official as saying.

The technical study of T1 is likely to take about a month. After the findings come in, a decision will be taken about recommencing operations there, a report by PTI quoted an official as saying.

Where will Delhi Airport T1 flights arrive & depart?

A report by The Economic Times quoted officials saying, In the meantime, all flights have been accommodated at terminals 2 and 3."

The report also quoted a spokesperson of Delhi Airport saying that no flights have been delayed or cancelled and a cross-functional team is actively evaluating the situation and engaging with various stakeholders to ensure passengers safety as well as convenience.

The Delhi airport is managed by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a consortium led by the GMR Group.

As many as 72 flights of IndiGo have shifted from Terminal 1, nearly half of them to Terminal 2. T2 can handle around 1,400 passengers per hour but new flights have choked the terminal, said airline officials.

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Why are flights not operating from Delhi Airport Terminal 1?

T1 handles domestic flights and the terminal is used by IndiGo and SpiceJet. However, it has been closed indefinitely since June 28 after the roof collapse mishap.

After the incident, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said engineers from IIT Delhi, have been asked to immediately assess the partial collapse of the canopy."

Domestic operations of IndiGo and SpiceJet have been moved to T2 and T3 which are busier terminals.

Revamping of Delhi Airport T1

The Delhi Airports T1 had two separate buildings for departure and arrival. The revamp would have integrated the buildings, doubling capacity to 40 million passengers per year.

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With inputs from agencies
Assam is facing critical conditions with over 6.71 lakh people affected in the second wave of flooding this year read more

People use a boat to cross flood waters following heavy rainfall, in Nagaon district on July 1, 2024. PTI

The northeastern states of India are currently grappling with severe flood and rainfall situations, leading to widespread devastation and urgent rescue operations. Assam is facing critical conditions with over 6.71 lakh people affected in the second wave of flooding this year. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been instrumental in rescue missions, including the dramatic airlift of 13 stranded fishermen in Dibrugarh. Similarly, Manipur and Mizoram are experiencing heavy rainfall, causing rivers to reach warning levels and triggering landslides, respectively. This piece provides a detailed account of the current flood scenarios, rescue efforts, and the ongoing challenges faced by these states.

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Assam

Assams flood situation remained critical on Tuesday with over 6.71 lakh people affected in 20 districts in the second wave of flooding this year, as the IAF rescued 13 stranded fishermen from the severely-hit Dibrugarh district, an official said.

At least 13 major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, are flowing above the danger level at different places, with alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts, an official bulletin said.

#IAF rescued 13 marooned survivors from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra, north of Dibrugarh in Assam.



On 02 Jul 24, after a sunrise takeoff, a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions and undertook rescue ops from a marshy piece of pic.twitter.com/hhr2PJheg8  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 2, 2024

The stranded fishermen were rescued from Hatia Ali, a char (sandbar) area in Dibrugarh, at the request of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

ASDMA requested IAF to airlift these 13 stranded fishermen. All the expenditure for airlifting the people will be borne by ASDMA, the official said.

The IAF, sharing pictures related to the rescue operation on X, wrote: #IAF rescued 13 marooned survivors from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra, north of Dibrugarh in Assam. On 2 Jul 24, after a sunrise takeoff, a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions and undertook rescue ops from a marshy piece of land. The coordinated efforts of the pilot and flight gunner ensured prompt and safe boarding of the 13 survivors, it said.

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The IAF added that emergency first aid was provided by the force after the rescue.

On Sunday, the IAF had rescued 8 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and a revenue official from Jonai in Dhemaji district when they were stranded in another sandbar area during relief operations.

Dibrugarh district has been severely affected in the current wave with the major town in Upper Assam inundated for the sixth consecutive day.

#WATCH | Severe waterlogging in the premises of the Court of District & Sessions Judge in Assam's Dibrugarh due to continuous rainfall in the area. Emergency response personnel use inflatable boats to navigate here pic.twitter.com/bkTJlGG4M5  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

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An ASDMA bulletin said that 6,71,167 people were reeling under flood waters in 67 revenue circles in 20 districts - Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Darrang, Chirang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Majuli, Karimganj, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Nalbari.

With one fatality confirmed in the last 24 hours, the death toll in this years flood, storm and landslide rose to 46.

The Brahmaputra is flowing over the red mark at Neamatighat (Jorhat), Tezpur (Sonitpur), Guwahati (Kamrup) and Dhubri (Dhubri).

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Other major rivers that have breached the danger level are Subansiri at Badatighat (Lakhimpur), Burhidihing at Chenimari (Dibrugarh), Dikhou at Sivasagar, Disang at Nanglamuraghat (Sivasagar), Dhansiri at Numakigarh (Golaghat), Jia-Bharali at NT Road Crossing (Sonitpur), Kopili at Kampur (Nagaon), Puthimari at NH Road Crossing (Kamrup), Beki at Barpeta Road Bridge, Dhaleswari at (Hailakandi), Kushiyara at Karimganj, and Barak river at BP Ghat.

The ASDMA bulletin said the Regional Meteorological Centre at Borjhar, Guwahati, has issued an alert for likely heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

Altogether 8,142 people are taking shelter in 72 relief camps in different affected districts.

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For relief and rescue operations, NDRF teams have been deployed at Cachar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Golaghat, Majuli and Lakhimpur.

SDRF, fire and emergency services personnel, police forces and AAPDA Mitra Volunteers of ASDMA have been helping the district administration in flood affected areas.

Indian Army personnel have also been pressed into relief operations in Golaghat district.

A total of 614 SDRF personnel, including 159 deep divers, with 295 boats have also been deployed in 54 locations.

Breach of embankments in Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Majuli have been reported in the last 24 hours.

Reports of damage to other infrastructure, like roads, have also been received, the ASDMA bulletin added.

In the famed Kaziranga National Park, 95 out of the 233 forest camps have been inundated with the Golaghat district administration issuing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) restricting the movement of vehicular traffic on NH-37 (New NH-715) and vehicle speed to between 20 to 40 km/hour.

Manipur

The Imphal West district administration has requested people staying near the river to stay alert for possible breach of river banks or embankments in the wake of rising river water levels due to heavy rainfall, an official said on Tuesday.

A notification issued by the Office of District Magistrate Imphal West on Monday night said, Major rivers in the district have reached warning level in Imphal area Catchment areas of Imphal and Nambul river are reported to be receiving continuous rainfall, it said, adding that the IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall activity in Manipur for the next five days. The notification said, Public in general and people located near river fronts, river banks or close to river course are requested to stay alert for any possible breach of river banks. Imphal river is the largest river in Manipur valley.

Mizoram

According to News18, relentless and unprecedented rainfall has caused severe destruction and chaos across many parts of the state. The incessant downpour has triggered numerous landslides, leading to extensive property damage and widespread road blockages.

Tragically, homes have been swept away by the deluge, resulting in the deaths of a husband, wife, and their daughter.

The heavy rainfall has forced numerous residents to evacuate their homes and seek shelter in safer areas. Emergency shelters have been established to accommodate the displaced, with authorities providing essential supplies and support to those affected.

In response to the hazardous conditions, the Education Department has declared a school holiday to prioritise the safety of students and staff. Many roads remain impassable due to landslides and flooding, further complicating rescue and relief operations.

The state government has mobilised disaster response teams and is coordinating with local agencies to provide relief and support to the affected communities.

Fighting natures fury

As Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram confront the relentless forces of nature, the resilience and coordination of local authorities, disaster management teams and the IAF play a pivotal role in mitigating the impact.

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Dev Singh Sidhu from Punjabs Amritsar had visited Pakistan to participate in the 185th death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and perform religious rites, according to a report read more

Last week, at least 455 Sikhs arrived in Lahore from India to take part in festivities in connection with Maharaja Ranjit Singhs death anniversary.

A 64-year-old Indian national, who was part of a group of over 450 Sikhs who went to Pakistan for a religious pilgrimage, passed away at the Wagah-Attari border after reportedly suffering a heart attack while returning, according to a media report on Tuesday.

Dev Singh Sidhu from Amritsar, Punjab, had come to Pakistan to participate in the 185th death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and perform religious rites, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

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While returning to India with other Sikh pilgrims, Sidhu reportedly suffered a heart attack at the Indian immigration hall. Despite immediate medical assistance, he could not be revived, the report said.

Last week, at least 455 Sikhs arrived here from India to take part in festivities in connection with Maharaja Ranjit Singhs death anniversary.

The restored statue of the first ruler of the Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, which was earlier damaged by religious extremists, was also unveiled at Kartarpur Sahib in the presence of over 450 visiting Indian Sikhs.

The nine-foot-tall bronze statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was first installed at the Lahore Fort near his samadhi in 2019. It was twice vandalised by activists of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

The statue of the great Sikh ruler of Punjab was a gift to the people of the province from a body of the United Kingdom.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh founded the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century.
PM Modi has decided to skip the SCO summit, which will be attended by Chinas Xi Jinping and Pakistans Shehbaz Sharif. The world leaders are likely to deliberate issues related to cooperation in trade, energy and transportation besides discussing the situation in Afghanistan read more

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit as Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to skip the event, which begins on Wednesday in Kazakhstans Astana. The SCO summit, to be participated by Chinas Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin among others, is expected to work out a plan for multilateral cooperation and discuss regional issues such as the situation in Afghanistan.

At the Summit, the leaders are expected to review the organisations activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation. Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed at the meeting, an official statement by Indias external affairs ministry said.

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Modis vision at SCO

While Modi has decided to skip the meeting, some reports suggest that efforts are underway to explore the possibility of him addressing the SCO gathering by a video-link.

Modis decision to skip the event came when Indias relations with China and Pakistan were at the ebb. A visit to Astana would have brought Modi face-to-face with both Chinas Xi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

However, Modis vision will be shared by the Indian delegation at the SCO summit. Indias priorities in SCO are shaped by the Prime Ministers vision of a SECURE SCO, the MEA statement read on Tuesday.

SECURE stands for Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection.

Kazakhstan took over the SCO presidency last year from India, which, under its first-ever presidency of SCO, hosted the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in July last year in virtual format.

What to expect at the Astana meet

World leaders are expected to review the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation at the SCO Summit in Astana.

The SCO summit is likely to discuss a range of economic, digital, and energy connectivity initiatives, trade, and regional issues including the situation in Afghanistan, where there has been a surge in activities of the Islamic State.

This years host is Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed, among other initiatives, the establishment of a joint investment fund.

Tokayev has received support from other countries. In a telephonic conversation with the Kazakhstan president on June 25, Indian PM Modi conveyed his full support for the success of the upcoming summit in Astana.

What SCO came up for?

With roots in the mid-1990s as Shanghai Five and formally set up in 2001, the SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.The main goals of the SCO are promoting effective cooperation on largely issues that the United Nations promotes. The cooperation goals are in the fields of politics, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, education, energy, transportation, tourism and also environmental protection. The idea is to strengthen mutual confidence and good-neighbourly relations among the member countries, making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region, moving towards the establishment of a new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order.
Rahul Gandhis remarks caused a furore in the House with PM Modi likely to give a response in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday as he will present his motion of thanks to the Presidents address read more

A number of remarks made by the leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi have been expunged from the Parliament.

Gandhi on Monday delivered his first speech as the LoP and to back his statements, the leader came prepared with photos of religious figures and a copy of the constitution.

From slamming the government for creating a communal divide to highlighting the systematic assault of the constitution, the Congress leaders remarks drew strong criticism from the ruling party including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who interjected his speech at least twice.

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Rahul Gandhis remarks caused a furore in the House with PM Modi likely to give a response in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday as he will present his motion of thanks to the Presidents address.

The expunged statements

Gandhi, during his speech, launched a fierce attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological mentor RSS, saying Those who call themselves Hindus only talk about violence, hatred and lies. This remark has been expunged

The LoP also pointed out how PM Modi does not look at him and does not greet him. This statement has been expunged

Raking up the NEET row once again, Gandhi said, The exams are biased towards rich students. You (centre) have centralised the entire examination process in Kota and are making money out of it. This comment has been expunged

The Congress MP from Rae Bareli criticised the government for treating minorities including Sikhs, Muslims and Christians. This remark has been expunged

Gandhis BJPs Agniveer is not a scheme for the Army but for the PMO statement has also been expunged

How are remarks of MPs expunged?

A parliamentarian enjoys certain privileges inside the house to allow him or her to discharge their duties freely and without the fear of retribution. These immunities are awarded to the member of parliament by the house who is also well within its right to take action against an individual in case privileges are breached.

The main goal of these privileges is to provide a platform for the MP to speak in a free and fearless manner. For example, an MP is immune from any legal action for things said or any vote given in the parliament.

In cases of expunction, the parliament has the authority to remove records of speeches or portions of the speeches made by a member of the house.

As per the General Rules of Procedure of Parliament, If the Chairman is of opinion that a word or words have or have been used in the debate which is or are defamatory or indecent or unparliamentary or undignified, he may in his discretion, order that such word or words be expunged from the proceedings of the Council.
The cancellation of NEET-PG caused a furor among lakhs of applicants. The NEET-UG exams have been marred by controversy with students accusing of malpractices including paper leaks read more

After the conduction of the NEET-UG re-test, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is all set to hold the NEET-PG examination this month.

According to a report by NDTV, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Post Graduate will be held this month after it was cancelled on June 23 in view of the NEET controversy.

The cancellation of NEET-PG caused a furor among lakhs of applicants. The NEET-UG exams have been marred by controversy with students accusing of malpractices including paper leaks.

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Meanwhile, the results of the NEET-UG re-test have been announced and the topper tally came down to 61 from 67.

As many as 60 per cent of the 813 students who appeared for the re-examination, however, have improved their scores sans grace marks. Most of these students got a score of above 680. None of these students were able to match their scores to what they had achieved with grace marks.

The NEET-UG examination, originally held on May 5 at 4,750 centres, saw approximately 24 lakh candidates. The results, which were initially expected on June 14, were announced on June 4 due to early completion of answer sheet evaluations.

Notably, 67 students scored a perfect 720, an unprecedented number in NTAs history, with six from a Faridabad centre in Haryana, raising suspicions of irregularities and the role of grace marks.

The NEET-UG exam, conducted by the NTA, is for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions across India.

With inputs from PTI
In his speech in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi underscored his governments commitment to military modernisation and self-reliance accusing Congress of undermining defence reforms and misleading the public on key initiatives read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi replies to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Parliament session, in New Delhi on July 2, 2024. PTI

In his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his governments resolve to introduce reforms in the Indian military. He highlighted efforts ranging from the planned introduction of theatre commands in the Indian military structure to making the forces increasingly reliant on indigenously developed arms, weapons and other military hardware and software. Prime Minister Modi emphasised key aspects of the Indian defence forces and the governments endeavours to create a leaner and more efficient fighting force capable of meeting the threats posed by modern warfare.

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On OROP

Speaking on One Rank, One Pension (OROP), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, An attempt has been made to fool the countrys brave soldiers about One Rank, One Pension (OROP). Indira Gandhi abolished the OROP system in our country. For decades, Congress did not allow it to be implemented, but at the time of the elections, attempts were made to fool the army commanders by showing Rs 500 crore. On the other hand, the NDA government implemented the OROP. No matter how limited the resources are with India, despite the difficult battle against Corona, Rs 1.20 lakh crore was given for One Rank-One Pension.

On Agniveer

Referring to the Agniveer scheme, the prime minister criticised the Congress party.

Congress opposes every reform that strengthens the army. Now Congress has realised that the energy of the youth is the biggest strength of the army. Outright lies are being spread regarding army recruitment so that the youth of my country do not join the army. I want to know through the House that for whom does the Congress want to weaken our armed forces, for whose benefit are the Congress members spreading so many lies regarding the armed forces? We are modernising our armed forces so that they can face any challenge and give a befitting reply. We are making reforms to make our troops battle-ready, Prime Minister Modi said.

On military reforms

The prime minister also strongly criticised the opposition Congress for questioning the reforms his government is implementing in the Indian military.

Look at the intelligence of these children, they used to make small toy models of Rafale and fly them, they used to have fun with the armies. In the last few years, a lot of things have changed. After coming up with the designation of the CDS (Chief of Defence Staff), the integration of the forces has strengthened. Today Congress is spreading lies. They are conspiring to weaken the efforts of defence reform. In fact, the people of Congress can never see the Indian forces becoming powerful, Prime Minister Modi said.
The NBW issued by the CBI court is linked to a cheating case registered by the central agency regarding the alleged division of loans amounting to nearly Rs 180 crore availed by Kingfisher Airlines between 2007 and 2012 read more

Trouble for Vijay Mallya increased once again after a special CBI court in Mumbai issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the fugitive businessman in a Rs 180-crore loan default case linked to Indian Overseas Bank (IOB).

The NBW against Mallya was issued on June 29 by the special CBI court judge SP Naik Nimbalkar and a detailed order was released on Monday (July 1).

Willful non-payment of loan by Mallya

In its warrant, the CBI said that the promoter of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines promoter caused a wrongful loss of Rs 180 crore for the government-run Indian Overseas Bank by the willful non-payment of the loan.

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Case in which NBW issued against Mallya

The NBW issued by the CBI court is linked to a cheating case registered by the central agency regarding the alleged division of loans amounting to nearly Rs 180 crore availed by Kingfisher Airlines between 2007 and 2012. The loans were given by the government-run Indian Overseas Bank.

As per the chargesheet, the loan was issued to the private carrier based on an agreement.

The chargesheet also claimed that Mallya was dishonest and had the intent to cheat, which is why he willfully defaulted on the repayment obligations under the aforesaid loans and caused a wrongful loss of Rs 141.91 crore on account of default on loans.

An additional loss of Rs 38.30 crore was caused by the conversion of loans into shares.

In its plea, the CBI said that Mallya is a fugitive and an absconder who continues to live in England and subvert the process of law in India.

10 accused in the case

There are a total of 10 accused in this case including Vijay Mallya and the FIR was registered in this case in August 2016, the court said.

The court further said that summons to appear has been issued to all the accused, but for Mallya, a non-bailable warrant has also been issued, the court said.

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Citing other non-bailable warrants issued against Mallya after considering CBI submission, and his status as a fugitive, the court further said: This is a fit case to issue an open-ended NBW against him to secure his presence.

The 68-year-old embattled liquor tycoon, who has already been declared a fugitive economic offender in a money laundering case probed by the Enforcement Directorate(ED), currently stays in London and the Indian government is seeking his extradition.

With inputs from agencies
The court made the observation while rejecting a plea moved by a rape accused seeking quashing of an FIR registered by a woman on the ground that the matter was amicably settled between the parties and that she agreed to settle for Rs 1.5 lakh read more

Criminal cases involving allegations of sexual violence cannot be quashed on the basis of monetary payments as doing so would imply that justice is for sale, the Delhi High Court has observed.

The high court said even if the parties have reached a compromise in a sexual violence case, they cannot demand quashing of the FIR as a matter of right.

The court made the observation while rejecting a plea moved by a rape accused seeking quashing of an FIR registered by a woman on the ground that the matter was amicably settled between the parties and that she agreed to settle for Rs 1.5 lakh.

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 This court is of the opinion that criminal cases involving allegations of sexual violence cannot be quashed on the basis of monetary payments, as doing so would imply that justice is for sale, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.

The high court, in an order passed on Monday, said it has considered the fact that the FIR itself reveals serious allegations against the man and his family members, including consistent threats to the prosecutrix (woman) to prevent her from lodging a complaint.

The court noted that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) entered into by the parties is not the result of a resolution of misunderstandings through family intervention but an exchange of money totalling Rs 12 lakh, intended to secure the quashing of the FIR. The woman had initially demanded Rs 12 lakh from the man but later settled for Rs 1.5 lakh.

In the FIR, the woman, who was divorced and had a child, alleged that the accused had misrepresented himself as a divorcee and engaged in sexual relationship and sexual violence with her under the false pretext of marriage.

The FIR also alleged shooting of inappropriate videos and photos by the accused, threats to kill her and her son, and repeated misrepresentation by the accused.

Later, it was submitted that the FIR had been lodged since the woman was angry and that it be now quashed as they have reached a settlement.

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The prosecutor opposed the plea saying if the FIR is quashed on the ground that the prosecutrix had lodged the complaint out of anger towards the accused, it would be a travesty of justice and an abuse of the criminal justice system.

The high court said if the woman has made false allegations and lodged a false FIR, she must face the consequences. The FIR, it added, does not merit to be quashed.

The court said the case necessitates a trial to determine whether the accused committed the offences or the complainant lodged a false complaint and now seeks to settle it after accepting Rs 1.5 lakh.

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This court is of the opinion that true justice and the ends of justice will be served not by quashing the FIR without a trial, but by conducting a trial to fairly ascertain the real culprit, be it the accused or the complainant.

This court is of the opinion that justice in a criminal trial, particularly in a case such as the present one, serves not only as a serious example and deterrent to the accused but also as a lesson to the community as a whole, Justice Sharma said.

The high court said neither the accused nor the complainant can be allowed to manipulate the criminal justice system or misuse the state and judicial resources to serve their own ends.

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Therefore, even if the parties have reached a compromise, they cannot demand the quashing of an FIR as a matter of right.

The trial court must decide the case on its merits, examining the facts in light of natural justice for both the complainant and the accused, as well as considering the broader implications for the community and the criminal justice system. Every judgment carries its own message, and this one emphasises that the integrity of the judicial process must be upheld, it said.
Netanyahu is at odds with almost everyone, his own military, his allies, including US and Europe, as also members of his coalition read more

Europe and the US are pushing Netanyahu for a ceasefire hoping to diffuse the situation before it expands into a regional war, but he appears unwilling. Reuters

A leader struggling to retain power could be disastrous for a nation. This is possibly where Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel stand today. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, with no end in sight, has crossed 260 days, over 37,000 Gazans are dead, while Israel has lost over 1,500 people, including soldiers, while 160 remain hostages. Gaza is a rubble, reconstruction of which would need massive funding and time.

Netanyahu is at odds with almost everyone, his own military, his allies, including US and Europe, as also members of his coalition. With the resignation of Benny Gantz from the war cabinet, over disagreements, it now stands dissolved. This gives greater power and control to Netanyahu.

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Netanyahu criticised his armed forces spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, when he mentioned in a TV discussion, To say that we are going to make Hamas disappear is to throw sand in peoples eyes. If we dont provide an alternative, in the end, we will have Hamas. He added, Hamas is an ideology, we cannot eliminate an ideology. This is reality, which Netanyahu, though aware, tends to ignore. The ongoing conflict only proves that the destruction of Hamas is not as easy as he believes.

A few days earlier, he had objected to the military announcing a daily pause between 8 am to 7 pm in Rafah to permit aid trucks to transit. Netanyahu had stated, We have a country with an army, not an army with a country. His security minister went as far as to state that whoever decided the pause was a fool who should lose their job.

The military subsequently clarified that normal operations would continue. The pause had been announced post talks with Egypt and pressure from the US. The intent was to regain global sympathy, despite destruction and loss of civilian lives.

Meanwhile in Israel, anti-war protests are on the rise demanding new elections and return of hostages. Despite almost complete control over Gaza, hostages are elusive, implying Hamas is still not defeated and leadership almost intact. Netanyahu continues to block investigations into the October 7 Hamas attack which started the war, aware it would indict him.

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He also knows that the possibility of his return, post elections, is slim and the only possibility of regaining power could flow from positive outcomes from the ongoing conflict. He also faces a bleak political future as court cases of bribery, fraud and breach of trust seem to be set to indict him.

Adding to Israels problems are growing tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has been engaging Israel regularly. The firing of rockets from Lebanon has resulted in Israel shifting thousands from its northern border region. Most are unlikely to return as they have resettled elsewhere. This will impact Israel in the long term.

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Israel, on its part, has been targeting the Hezbollah leadership by drone and air strikes, almost inciting them to commence operations. The US is attempting to mediate between the two to prevent an escalation, even threatening Hezbollah that it will not stop an Israeli retaliation. The Israeli military has announced that its plans for operations against Hezbollah have been finalized. The unofficial message from Israel is that Netanyahu would prefer expanding the conflict, rather than ending it.

Netanyahu went thus far as mentioning that with Gaza operations winding up, Israel could redeploy its forces on the Lebanon front. Battle fatigue is a factor which Netanyahu seems to ignore. Israeli forces have been continuously in operations since October last year.

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Nations including Canada, Germany and others are implementing evacuation plans of their citizens from Lebanon, hinting that an Israeli assault is imminent. India has also warned its citizens of impending operations. Israel is threatening Lebanon, which has no control over Hezbollah, which resides in its territory, of massive destruction. Iran has warned Israel that any attack on Lebanon would be responded to by them. The scenario seems to be spiraling out of control.

Simultaneously, reduction of military pressure in Gaza could result in the re-emergence of Hamas, as its elements remain active. Israel is planning to handle their re-emergence by intelligence-based operations. Without a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of remaining hostages is in doubt.

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Adding to Netanyahus problems is the decision of the Israeli supreme court lifting the ban on recruitment of ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminaries into the military. This will impact his coalition as he relies on two ultra-Orthodox parties that consider conscription exemptions as key for continuing support.

The court ruling mentioned, At the height of a difficult war, the burden of inequality is more than ever acute. How will Netanyahu navigate this is to be seen. Arab residents, who comprise 21 per cent of the population are exempt from military service, though few serve on their own will.

Europe and the US are pushing Netanyahu for a ceasefire hoping to diffuse the situation before it expands into a regional war, but Netanyahu appears unwilling. In a recent TV interview, he discarded Bidens ceasefire proposal as also UNSC approved suggestions for terminating the conflict. He continues to insist that his war-aim of destroying Hamass military and governing capability is a priority and he would not waver from it. Simultaneously he mentioned that Israel is willing to expand the war with Hezbollah.

Officially Netanyahu has avoided mentioning any post-war plans for Gaza, implying that he would want the Israeli army to maintain security control over it, something Arab states would not accept. Israel is suggesting a body created by the US, EU and Arab states to govern Gaza, which would mean a puppet regime. The Arab demand is that the future must cater for a permanent ceasefire as also a Palestinian state, which is at odds with Netanyahu.

Netanyahus insistence on continuing and even enlarging the conflict is having its impact in parts of the globe. Anti-Semitic protests are rising in the West while in the US it is impacting Bidens chances of re-election. To further hit Biden, Netanyahu blamed Washington for holding back armament supplies, partially blaming them for setbacks in his Gaza conflict. The US was compelled to clarify that only one shipment of 2000lb bombs were held back on concerns of the utilization in populated areas, adding to casualties.

When and if peace finally returns to Gaza, anger against Israel would remain high considering loss of human lives and destruction. The population would be compelled to survive on aid and dole. The atmosphere would be ripe for the creation of another anti-Israel organisation. Expansion of operations into Lebanon could destabilise the entire. Netanyahu has possibly timed his operations against Hezbollah in a manner that it would conclude before his US visit on July 24 where he would address both chambers of Congress and maybe even offer a new solution.

The author is a former Indian Army officer, strategic analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Forestiere crepe at Grande Creperie in San Francisco. The dish will be available at new restaurant Buvette de Marais in Larkspur. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Crepes at Grande Creperie in San Francisco. Sweet and savory crepes are on the menu at Buvette de Marais, a new restaurant from the same owners. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

After more than 10 years of serving French pastries, the owner of a popular Bay Area bakery is ready to open a new restaurant.

Buvette de Marais opens Tuesday at Larkspurs Marin Country Mart, with a menu that includes crepes along with quiches and coffee. It is the newest project from Patrick Ascaso, who owns bakery Le Marais, so naturally there will be plenty of croissants and other French-style pastries brought in fresh daily. Plans are to initially offer baked goods and crepes 8 a.m.-3 p.m., before opening a lounge area and extending hours further into the afternoon. Full breakfast and a dinner menu of what is described as classic French cuisine are expected in the coming weeks.

Ascaso, who is from Arpajon, France, opened the first of his now five locations in 2013. A Mill Valley location of Le Marais Bakery has been open since 2021. Ascaso said he first thought of the new Larkspur restaurant around two years ago after walking through the Marin Country Mart, known for its bustling food businesses. He hoped to open in fall 2023, but was delayed by permitting problems. Longtime collaborator and chef Emmanuel Pradet, also the chef for the Mill Valley location, helped develop the menu. Dishes will include options like rillettes de saumon (smoked and fresh salmon toast), cheese gougeres and French onion soup, as well as fresh house-made pastas

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The exterior of Buvette de Marais. The new restaurant will focus on crepes and baked goods, also offering wine and eventually dinner. Courtesy of Le Marais

The name is taken from French buvettes, a cozy style of bar where people can come in for a casual drink and some food. Most people in the U.S. would equate a buvette to a plain wine bar, but those dont have the elements we are bringing, Ascaso explained. They dont have crepes or brunch. There is La Colombe coffee as well as a list of classic French wine and ciders from Normandy.

There are also Breton-style crepes like the ones offered at Ascasos Grande Creperie at the San Francisco Ferry Building and at the Le Marais location in the Mission. There are savory buckwheat crepes like French ham and aged Comte cheese, wild smoked salmon with baby spinach and dill, and the Forestiere, with goat cheese, onion jam and mushrooms from Far West Fungi. Ascaso says the batter for savory crepes is made with a rich buckwheat blend that is rested to develop an earthy flavor and crispy ridges.

There are also sweet crepes made with white wheat flour, like a classic butter and sugar crepe, as well as others filled with Nutella, and flambeed bananas. Other fruit crepes will include seasonal produce, like strawberries from Yerena Farms in Watsonville, peaches from K&J Orchards in Yolo County, and blueberries from farmers market favorite Triple Delight Blueberries.

The counter at the new Buvette de Marais, from the owner of Le Marais Bakery, opening Tuesday in Larkspur. Courtesy of Le Marais

The new restaurant and lounge will have an outdoor seating area with around 30 seats surrounded by trees. The indoor area, featuring blue and green hues, can seat around 35 at tables and a bar where customers can sit and watch as crepes are made right in front of them. Its like being in a sushi chefs counter, Ascaso said.

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Buvette de Marais. 2201 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Sunday. www.lemaraisbakery.com

This story has been updated to include additional menu details.
The Chinese may have signed an agreement renouncing mutual aggression, but the future would show that the Panchsheel was for Beijing a mere piece of paper read more

Paramilitary police officers swap positions during a change of guard in front of Potala Palace in Lhasa, during a government-organised tour of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, October 15, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

Panchsheel is in the news again. On June 28, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave an important speech (his speeches are always termed as important), about the relevance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, known as Panchsheel in India.

Addressing a conference to mark the Panchsheels 70th anniversary in Beijing, the Chinese Core leader combined the Five Principles with his new concept of global security initiative envisaging a shared future for mankind.

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According to PTI, [the principles] gained traction with the Non-Aligned Movement to end the present-day conflicts, while today China wants to expand [its] influence in the Global South amid its tussle with the West.

The Tibet Agreement

Unfortunately, Xi does not remember the origin of the Panchsheel.

It was the preamble for the Tibet Agreement or Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the Tibet region of China and India signed on April 29, 1954; at the last minute, Zhou Enlai, then Chinese premier, thought of adding a preamble, perhaps to make Indias surrender of its rights in Tibet more palatable.

PTI is very incorrect when it says: The five principles formed part of the legacy of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Enlai in their unsuccessful quest to find a solution to the vexed boundary issue.

In fact, the Indian side was sure that there was no boundary issue between India and China (which was actually true since it was only an Indo-Tibet border at that time); during the four months of negotiations, which ended with the agreement on April 29, the border was never mentioned.

Prime Minister Nehru was ecstatic; the preamble itself would be the cornerstone of the future friendship between the two Asian giants, he believed.

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In my book The Panchsheel Agreement  Born in Sin, I described in detail what became the last nail in the coffin of a free and independent nation, Tibet.

Despite the fact that the Indian Prime Minister announced in Parliament that the agreement was the best thing that he ever did, despite the beautifully worded preamble, the two delegations were miles apart during the four months.

A telling incident shows how little confidence there was between India and China; one should keep in mind that the main objective of the agreement was to regulate trade and pilgrimage between India and Tibet.

In the Hindi version of the agreement, the Indian translators had written Chhota Mota Vyapar for petty trade. Chhota means small and Mota, fat or big. The Chinese Hindi expert in Beijing could not reconcile the two contradictory words; he did not realise that it was a widely used idiomatic Hindi phrase for petty. He thought that there was some trick behind the term, and it took two weeks to convince the Chinese delegation that the term Chhota Mota was correct. They accepted it only after having cross-checked with their embassy in Delhi.

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Incidentally, the Dalai Lamas government in Lhasa was not even informed of the talks, though at the time, Delhi was preaching for the emancipation and freedom of the colonised nations in Asia or Africa.

In early 1954, Nehrus energies were already turned towards the role he wanted to play in the Indochina conflict; a conference was to start in Geneva to end the French colonisation of this part of the world.

Zhou Enlais subtle message at the time of the Tibet Agreement signature disturbed very few in Delhi; he declared that only the matters ripe for settlement had been solved. Who realised in India that he meant that the boundary was not agreed upon at all (this remains so 70 years later)?

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Before the Tibet Conference, some diplomats, such as Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai (then Governor of Bombay), strongly advised that India should force Beijing to recognise the traditional boundary between India and Tibet as the only way to resolve all the outstanding border questions between India and Tibet.

However, the highlight of the agreement were: Tibet becomes a Region of China (it was the last nail in Independent Tibets coffin); the Five Principles or Panchsheel still celebrated 70 years later by China; recognition of the six border passes in the middle Sector (while other important passes were omitted); establishment of consulates in Lhasa and Shanghai for India and in Calcutta and Bombay for China (eight years later, Lhasa would be closed forever); setting up of trade agencies at Yatung, Gyantse and Gartok for India and at New Delhi, Calcutta and Kalimpong for China (the Indian ones were already in existence); establishment of ten trade marts in Tibet for customary petty border trade by Indian traders and finally facilitating entry and ensuring security of Indian and Tibetan pilgrims to each others holy shrines in Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Sanchi in India and Kailash, Mansarowar and Lhasa in Tibet (the Kailash would soon be out of reach for Indians).

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Another instance showed the lack of trust from the Chinese side; in Article IV, India insisted on the inclusion at the end of paragraph (7) along the Indus from the Indian border to Shershang, Tashigong  Gartok.

The Chinese virulently objected to this route being included in the agreement; they quoted an oral understanding that they would not like in writing, even by implication, to have any reference to Ladakh. For them, the mountainous region of Ladakh was a disputed area.

The Indian ambassador, N Raghavan took the stand that Ladakh was part of Indian territory, and even though this was not in the draft, the route should be mentioned, as its omission would be invidious. But the Chinese remained adamant.

On the last day of the negotiations (April 24, 1954), a royal fight took place between Raghavan and his Chinese counterpart. Raghavan told NR Pillai, the Secretary General of the Ministry of External Affairs, about the previous days negotiations: It was royal fight from beginning to end. Chang [the Chinese negotiator] took [a] very recalcitrant attitude.

The same day, other anachronisms (as Nehru termed them) were removed through an exchange of letters. India gave up her extra territorial rights in Tibet, such as the military escorts in Gyantse and Yatung, post offices, telegraph and telephone services, and 12 rest houses.

Speaking about the above, TN Kaul, who had been negotiating for India at the beginning (he had to stop due to an affair with a Chinese girl), wrote in his memoirs: Raghavan had kept this card up his sleeve and gave it as a concession to Chang in his last meeting with him.

One wonders why Raghavan finally gave away Indias cards. He should have kept them up his sleeve for further discussions, but he probably believed that all the problems had been solved.

During the following years, one would often hear the same refrain: The Government of India found the old advantages of little use, and in any case, the Chinese exercised full control in Tibet.

The Panchsheel Today

Seventy years later, Xi Jinping argues that while facing the major issue of what kind of world to build and how to build this world, China wants to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Like the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: Both are rooted in the excellent traditional Chinese culture of being friendly to neighbours, keeping faith and building friendship, and coordinating all nations.

India, which did not attend the celebrations in Beijing, has learned the hard way in Ladakh since 2020, about the excellent traditional Chinese culture.

The Case of Barahoti

It took less than two months for India to discover that all problems had not been solved. The first Chinese incursion in the Barahoti area of then-Uttar Pradesh occurred in June 1954. This was the first of a series of incursions numbering in the hundreds that culminated in the treacherous Chinese attack in October 1962.

The most ironic part of the tragedy is that it was the Chinese side that complained about the incursion of some Indian troops in Barahoti, which was well inside Indias territory. On July 17, 1954, the counsellor in the Chinese embassy in Delhi wrote to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs: This is not in conformity with the principles of non-aggression and friendly co-existence between China and India.

This was the first of more than one thousand Memoranda, Notes and Letters exchanged by the governments of India and China over the next ten years, published in the White Papers on China.

The Chinese may have signed an agreement renouncing mutual aggression, but the future would show that the Panchsheel was for Beijing a mere piece of paper. John Lall wrote in his book Panchsheel and After: Ten days short of three months after the Tibet Agreement was signed, the Chinese sent the first signal that friendly co-existence was over Significantly, Niti [Barahoti] was one of the six passes specified in the Indo-Chinese Agreement by which traders and pilgrims were permitted to travel.

Indeed, the Tibet (Panchsheel) Agreement was born in sin, as Acharya Kripalani once said in Parliament.

The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Currently, Facebook and Instagram users can choose to use the platforms for free by consenting to data collection, or pay a fee to not have their data shared. Under EUs new rules, tech companies must obtain consent to merge or use personal data across different core service read more

If Meta is found in breach of the DMA, it is looking at some significant penalties, including fines of up to 10 per cent of its global turnover and up to 20 per cent for repeated offences. Image Credit: Reuters

The European Union has taken action against Meta, Facebooks parent company, for allegedly violating its new digital regulations, just a week after launching a similar case against Apple.

The EUs executive body, the European Commission, is leveraging its new authority under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), legislation designed to enhance consumer choice and foster competition among European startups. Compliance with these rules has been mandatory since March.

In preliminary findings released on Monday, EU regulators expressed concerns about Metas pay or consent model.

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Currently, Facebook and Instagram users can choose to use the platforms for free by consenting to data collection or pay a fee to avoid having their data shared. The regulators argue that Metas current model is very misleading NY design to confuse them, potentially coercing users into consenting to data tracking due to the financial burden of the alternative, as per a report by the Financial Times.

According to the EUs new digital rules, tech companies must obtain user consent when they intend to merge or use personal data across different core services. This regulation came into effect in March when compliance investigations were initiated against Meta and other major tech firms.

The European Commission stated that Meta users who do not consent should still have access to an equivalent service that uses less of their personal data, particularly for ad personalisation.

Thierry Breton, the EUs internal market commissioner, remarked that Metas pay or consent business model appears to violate the DMA. Breton also emphasised that the DMA aims to empower users to control their data usage and to ensure a level playing field for innovative companies against tech giants.

Meta responded with a statement asserting that its subscription model for ad-free usage aligns with the direction of Europes highest court and complies with the DMA. The company expressed its willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with the European Commission to resolve the investigation.

If Meta is found in breach of the DMA, it is looking at some significant penalties, including fines of up to 10 per cent of its global turnover and up to 20 per cent for repeated offences. The EUs needs to finalise its preliminary findings in a year from the start of the official investigation in March.

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Last Monday, the EU accused Apple of stifling innovation in its App Store, marking the first use of its new powers against a major tech company. Regulators expressed concerns about Apples restrictions on developers ability to direct customers to promotions outside its ecosystem. Apple has denied any wrongdoing.

The recent charges against Meta indicate that Brussels is committed to swiftly addressing alleged anti-competitive behaviour. An anonymous antitrust lawyer noted that Big Tech is a priority for the EU, acknowledging that traditional competition law enforcement has been slow and somewhat ineffective.
Institutions like The New York Times have already taken legal action against companies like Microsoft and OpenAI for mass web-scraping without consent or compensation. Suleyman, however, believes that content already available on the open web is fair game read more

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman recently shared his views on the contentious issue of fair use in the digital age, suggesting that much of the content available online should be accessible for use by large tech companies. This perspective has sparked considerable debate, particularly regarding the ethical and legal implications of such practices.

During an interview with CNBCs Andrew Ross Sorkin, Suleyman was asked whether AI companies have effectively appropriated the worlds intellectual property to train their data-intensive AI models.

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This question is particularly relevant, given that any content published online or digitized could potentially be used in AI models. Institutions like The New York Times have already taken legal action against companies like Microsoft and OpenAI for mass web-scraping without consent or compensation. Suleyman, however, holds a markedly different view on the matter.

Suleyman contends that content already available on the open web has historically been considered fair game for reproduction and modification, likening it to freeware. He argued that since the 1990s, a social contract has existed whereby such content could be freely used by others.

This perspective seems to conflict with US copyright law, which grants protections automatically when a work is created. The idea of a social contract overlooks the fact that most people did not anticipate their online content being used as AI training material until very recently.

To Suleyman who argued that online content is essentially freeware, this challenges the notion of strict intellectual property rights.

He did acknowledge that there are websites and publishers actively blocking web crawlers, categorizing them separately, though he described this as a grey area.

Suleyman suggested that if a website or publisher explicitly prohibits scraping for any purpose other than indexing, it becomes a legal grey area that needs to be resolved in the courts.

This viewpoint appears to challenge the straightforward nature of copyright protections, as blocking scraping of copyrighted material without permission should not be ambiguous. However, Suleymans comments indicate a more ideological stance rather than a strictly legal one.

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Within the AI community, there seems to be a belief that using online content for training purposes is justified, regardless of existing legal protections. This attitude is further highlighted by Suleymans characterization of humanity as a collective entity focused on knowledge and intellectual production.

This viewpoint underscores a broader debate about the balance between technological advancement and respect for individual creators rights. As AI continues to evolve, so too will the discussions around fair use, consent, and the ethical use of digital content.
EU regulators are building a case that might lead to a formal investigation into the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership. They are also investigating Samsung pre-installing Googles small AI model, Gemini Nano, on certain Samsung devices read more

The European Union is set to investigate artificial intelligence deals involving Microsoft and OpenAI, as well as Googles agreement with Samsung. EU antitrust regulators have raised concerns about the exclusivity clauses in these partnerships, signalling increased scrutiny over how big tech firms are leveraging their dominance in the AI sector.

Margrethe Vestager, EUs competition chief announced that regulators will look for more third-party perspectives in order to understand the implications of these deals in a better way. Moves like these a broader global unease among regulators about Big Tech extending its market power into emerging technologies.

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In March, Vestager sent questionnaires to major tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, Metas Facebook, and ByteDances TikTok, regarding their AI partnerships.

She stated that the responses have been reviewed and follow-up requests for information are being sent, particularly concerning the agreement between Microsoft and OpenAI. Vestager emphasized the need to examine whether certain exclusivity clauses in this partnership could adversely affect competition.

Vestager explained how they have reviewed the replies and are now sending follow-up requests, to understand the deal between Microsoft and OpenAI and see if certain exclusivity clauses could have had a negative effect on competitors.

According to a report by Reuters, EU regulators are building a case that might lead to a formal investigation into the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership. A Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters We stand ready to respond to any additional questions the European Commission may have.

Vestager noted that the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership would not be subject to EU merger rules due to the absence of control. While OpenAIs parent organization is a nonprofit, Microsoft has invested $13 billion in a for-profit subsidiary, which would give it a 49 per cent stake.

Vestager also expressed concerns about Big Tech potentially blocking smaller AI developers from accessing users and businesses. She highlighted that the EU is sending requests for information to better understand the impact of Googles arrangement with Samsung. This deal involves pre-installing Googles small AI model, Gemini Nano, on certain Samsung devices. In January, Google secured a multi-year agreement with the South Korean company to embed its generative AI technology in the upcoming Galaxy S24 series smartphones.

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Additionally, Vestager mentioned investigating acqui-hires, where companies acquire others primarily for their talent. She cited Microsofts $650-million acquisition of the startup Inflection in March, which allowed Microsoft to utilize Inflections models and hire most of its staff. Vestager stressed the importance of ensuring that such practices do not bypass merger control rules if they effectively result in market concentration.

The EUs proactive stance on investigating these AI deals underscores its commitment to maintaining competitive markets and preventing dominant players from stifling innovation. As the investigations proceed, the outcomes could have significant implications for how tech giants conduct their business in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
In a regulatory filing last year, NVIDIA disclosed that regulators in the European Union, China, and France had requested information about its graphics cards. As the investigation into NVIDIA unfolds, the outcome could have significant implications on the AI industry read more

Following the release of ChatGPT late last year, demand for NVIDIA's chips surged. With a combination of its chips, other hardware, and powerful software, NVIDIA has achieved approximately 80 per cent market share. Image Credit: Reuters

NVIDIA, the worlds largest maker of chips for both artificial intelligence and computer graphics, is set to face antitrust charges by the French antitrust regulator. This marks the first enforcement action against NVIDIA in this context, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The French authorities statement of objections or charge sheet follows dawn raids in the graphics cards sector last September, targeting NVIDIA. These raids stemmed from a broader inquiry into cloud computing.

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NVIDIA has experienced a surge in demand for its chips following the release of the generative AI application ChatGPT, which has sparked regulatory scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic.

In a regulatory filing last year, NVIDIA disclosed that regulators in the European Union, China, and France had requested information about its graphics cards.

Sources indicate that the European Commission is unlikely to expand its preliminary review at this time, given the ongoing investigation by the French authority. The French watchdog recently issued a report highlighting competition concerns in the generative AI sector, particularly the risk of abuse by chip providers.

The report specifically mentioned the sectors reliance on NVIDIAs CUDA chip programming software, which is the only system fully compatible with the GPUs essential for accelerated computing. Additionally, it raised concerns about NVIDIAs recent investments in AI-focused cloud service providers like CoreWeave.

Companies found in breach of French antitrust rules could face fines of up to 10 per cent of their global annual turnover, although they can also offer concessions to avoid penalties. The US Department of Justice is leading an investigation into NVIDIA as it allocates Big Tech scrutiny with the Federal Trade Commission, according to a source familiar with the matter.

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In September last year, Frances competition authority conducted raids at NVIDIAs local offices on suspicion of anticompetitive practices. The French competition authority disclosed the dawn raid without specifying the practices under investigation or identifying the targeted company beyond stating it was in the graphics cards sector. The raid was part of a broader inquiry into cloud computing, focusing on concerns that cloud-computing companies might leverage their access to computing power to exclude smaller competitors.

The operation targeted NVIDIA, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing individuals familiar with the raid.

NVIDIAs chips, initially designed for computer graphics, are well-suited for AI-related computing, contributing to the companys significant market share.

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Following the release of ChatGPT late last year, demand for NVIDIAs chips surged. With a combination of its chips, other hardware, and powerful software, NVIDIA has achieved approximately 80 per cent market share.

French authorities have recently taken a more aggressive stance against Big Tech. For instance, in September, France suspended sales of Apples iPhone 12 and threatened a recall, citing radiation levels exceeding the limit, prompting Apple to release a software update for the French market.

As the investigation into NVIDIA unfolds, the outcome could have significant implications for the chipmaker and the broader tech industry. The French antitrust regulators actions demonstrate a robust approach to ensuring fair competition in rapidly evolving technological sectors.
The resolution encourages countries, particularly developing ones, to strengthen their AI capacity, enhance their representation in global AI governance, and support an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment, with the UN in a central role read more

The goal of the resolution is to bridge the digital divide, improve global AI governance, and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Image Credit: Composite image

The 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) saw the unanimous adoption of a resolution proposed by China, co-sponsored by over 140 countries, aimed at bolstering international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). This resolution, titled Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence, emphasizes the development of AI that adheres to human-centred principles, promotes beneficial intelligence, and serves humanity.

The resolution encourages countries, particularly developing ones, to strengthen their AI capacity, enhance their representation in global AI governance, and support an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment. It also underscores the central role of the United Nations in fostering international cooperation in AI.

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The resolution aims to ensure inclusive, beneficial, and sustainable AI development, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Chinas permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, highlighted the significant impact of global AI technology on economic and social development, noting that many countries, especially developing ones, have yet to fully benefit from AI. The digital divide remains a significant challenge, and the resolution seeks to address this by proposing practical measures to enhance AI capacity globally.

Fu stated that the resolution reflects a broad consensus among UN member states on the need for international cooperation in AI capacity building.

The goal is to bridge the digital divide, improve global AI governance, and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The unanimous adoption of the resolution is seen as a testament to the global agreement on enhancing AI governance through dialogue and cooperation, with China playing a leading role.

China aims to use this resolution as a foundation to actively promote its implementation, focusing on human-centred development, equality, mutual benefit, and innovation. The goal is to help developing countries strengthen their AI capacity, promote sustainable development empowered by AI, and enhance global well-being.

A spokesperson for the Chinese permanent mission to the United Nations stated that the resolution received a warm welcome from UN member states, particularly developing countries. They appreciated Chinas leadership in promoting global AI cooperation and governance, viewing the resolution as a milestone in bridging the global digital divide and ensuring shared benefits from AI development.

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In October 2023, Chinas leader announced the Global AI Governance Initiative, providing a framework for global AI development and governance.

This UN resolution aligns with the core principles of the Global AI Governance Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, reflecting the aspirations of UN member states, especially developing countries, and demonstrating strong support for multilateralism and the United Nations.

The resolution represents a significant step towards realizing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, as it promotes international cooperation in AI capacity building on the UN platform.
The law prohibits hiring cooks, DJs, waitresses and security guards who are older than 18 but younger than 21, or even use workers in that age group from third-party contractors hired to perform tasks like air-conditioning repairs or carpentry, according to the lawsuit read more

A 19-year-old woman and the nightclub where she worked as a stripper are challenging a recent Florida law that bars individuals under 21 from engaging in sex work.

The law, aimed at combating human trafficking, prohibits hiring individuals under 21 in roles such as performers, cooks, DJs, waitstaff, security guards, and contractors. It prohibits hiring cooks, DJs, waitresses and security guards who are older than 18 but younger than 21, or even use workers in that age group from third-party contractors hired to perform tasks like air-conditioning repairs or carpentry, according to the lawsuit.

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Serenity Michelle Bushey, who lost her job at Cafe Risque near Gainesville due to the law, argues that the law violates their constitutional rights, including the First Amendment protection of free speech and the Fourteenth Amendments guarantee of equal protection.

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent enforcement of the law, asserting that it infringes on their ability to engage in protected speech and limits their employment opportunities.

According to the lawsuit, the law has affected several adult performers aged 18 to 21 across the state, including eight others at Cafe Risque.

The plaintiffs contend that their work constitutes artistic expression and that they have a legal right to perform and entertain their audiences.

Kylie Mason, communications director for the Office of the Attorney General, stated on Tuesday that while the office has not yet received the lawsuit, it intends to defend the legality of the new law.
The two-day United Nations (UN)-facilitated talks on Afghanistan at Qatari capital Doha were the third such round of talks read more

The Taliban's treatment of women in Afghanistan is a key obstacle to its international acceptance (Photo: AFP)

The United Nations (UN)-facilitated talks in Qatars Doha saw Afghanistans rulers Taliban being asked to include women in public life. On its part, the Taliban pressed for the world to engage with them and recognise them as legitimate rulers of the country.

The issue of girls and women, whom the Taliban has barred from much of education, employment, and even public space, remains central to the worlds barrier in engagement with the Taliban. Even as 16 countries have functional diplomatic missions in Afghanistan, none of them have recognised the Taliban as the countrys legitimate rulers.

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The two-day UN-facilitated talks in Doha were the third such round of talks under the Doha Process that was launched last year. This was the first time that the Taliban were part of the talks. While the Taliban were not invited in the first round, they refused to attend in the second round of talks as Afghan civil society members were also party to the talks.

The talks held on Sunday and Monday were presided by Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Undersecretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, who dubbed the conversations as constructive and useful".

This is the first time such a broad cross section of the international community and the de facto authorities have had the opportunity to hold such detailed discussions. The discussions were frank and, I believe, useful, said DiCarlo after the talks ended, as per VOA News.

No normalisation unless womens issues are addressed: UN

Following the talks, the UN said the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan could not be accepted internationally until the issues of women were addressed.

Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold, or fully develop economically and socially, if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population, said DiCarlo.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have barred girls and womens schooling, higher education, and most employment opportunities. They have also banned womens sports. They have imposed curbs on their public movements and have told them to cover from head to toe in public. They have also blocked them from community spaces such as parks and public baths.

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DiCarlo said that it was not up for the UN to recognise the Taliban regime but for individual countries.

Taliban told of need of inclusive government

Though womens rights were not part of the formal agenda, DiCarlo said the countries and international organisations part of the talks frequently raised the issue, as per VOA News.

The report further said they also stressed the need for an inclusive government, the development of Afghanistans private sector, and helping sustain anti-narcotic efforts in the country.

DiCarlo regretted the exclusion of Afghan civil society members from the talks. She said the Talibans participation was conditioned on the exclusion.

We have a mandate to support this process [of talks]. Our belief was to bring the de facto authorities and special envoys together for direct talks. Regrettably, the de facto authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format, said DiCarlo.

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Separately, the US Department of State said that Afghanistan pointsman Thomas West and Special Envoy Rina Amiri made clear that the Afghan economy cannot grow while half the populations rights are not respected.
The announcement comes as Kyivs weakened and outgunned forces struggle to hold back invading Russian troops, with Moscow regularly claiming the capture of new villages in the eastern Ukraine. It will also enable the United States to get more Patriot and NASAMS air defense interceptors that will be provided on an accelerated timeline, the US defense chief said read more

This handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on July 2, 2024, shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) posing with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban during latter's visit in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP

United States has announced a new $2.3 billion package of security assistance for Ukraine at the backdrop of Hungarys Moscow-friendly prime minister Viktor Orban requesting Kyiv Tuesday to work towards a quick ceasefire in Ukraine that could pave the way for negotiations with Russia to end the war.

Orban, the first vocal critique of Western support for Kyiv, issued appeal standing next to President Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit to Ukraine.

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As per reports, the US announced package will include key air defense and anti-tank weapons, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

The announcement comes as Kyivs weakened and outgunned forces struggle to hold back invading Russian troops, with Moscow regularly claiming the capture of new villages in the eastern Ukraine.

It will also enable the United States to get more Patriot and NASAMS air defense interceptors that will be provided on an accelerated timeline, the US defense chief said.

Umerov thanked Austin for Washingtons assistance, saying that with that support, we will stop Russia and stop the aggression.

The United States has been a key military backer of Ukraine, committing more than $51 billion in weapons, ammunition and other security assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Orban says: I asked the president to consider whether a quick ceasefire could speed up the peace talks.

Orban told reporters, the ceasefire he envisions would be time-limited.

Ukraine has repeatedly rejected calls for a pause in fighting, which it says would just give Russia time to regroup for a fresh assault.

Unlike many other European leaders, Orban had not visited Kyiv since Russia invaded in February 2022 and is widely seen as pro-Russian leader.

In October 2023 he met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Beijing, becoming the first EU leader to do so since the start of the war.

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Orban, a populist leader, in power since 2010, regularly criticises Europes financial and military support for Kyiv, temporarily blocking a 50-billion-euro ($53-billion) aid package for weeks.

And he openly opposes holding EU membership talks with Kyiv as well as Brussels sanctions on Moscow  though Budapest has not used its veto to block the moves.

The Visit

Orbansvisit comes the day after Hungary took over the EUs rotating presidency, a position which gives the central European state sway over the blocs agenda and priorities for the next six months.

Orban said he would report on his talks with Zelensky to EU prime ministers so that the necessary European decisions can be taken.

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Zelensky said the timing of the visit was symbolic.

This is a clear indication of our common European priorities, of how important it is to bring a just peace to Ukraine, he said, urging European countries to maintain military support.

As the two leaders talked in Kyiv, yet more civilians were reported dead from Russian bombardments.

Moscows forces killed two elderly women and injured nine in Nikopol, a city in southern Ukraine, the local governor said.

And a Russian strike killed one person and wounded seven more in the southern Kherson region, which is partially occupied by Russias forces.

Russia responds

Asked about Orbans visit earlier on Tuesday, the Kremlin said it expected little to come of it, but described him as a tough politician who keenly defended his countrys interests.

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Hours after the talks in Kyiv, Moscow said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in which the Ukrainian crisis was discussed.

What Orban wants

Relations have been frosty between Orban and Zelensky since the start of the war.

After winning re-election in April 2022, Orban said the Ukrainian leader was an opponent he had managed to defeat in the campaign after Zelensky had personally called him out over a lack of support in the first days of Russias invasion.

In December, Zelensky sought out the Hungarian leader at the inauguration of Argentine President Javier Milei for what he called a frank conversation.

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Videos circulated online showing the pair locked in a tense exchange.

They were again filmed in a short, animated exchange, last week on the sidelines of an EU Council meeting in Brussels.

Speaking in Kyiv on Tuesday, Orban said he wanted to see much better relations between Hungary and Ukraine, adding that he was trying to put the discussions of the past behind us.

Hungary wields considerable influence over the Wests support for Ukraine given its membership of both the EU and NATO, giving it the ability to thwart, delay, water down or outright block initiatives and funding.

But Orbans call for a ceasefire before substantive peace talks get underway is likely to be a non-starter.

Last month, Putin demanded Ukrainian troops abandon even more territory in the south and east if it wanted the fighting to stop  demands rejected by Zelensky as an ultimatum reminiscent of Adolf Hitler.

The Ukraine leader is also seeking to international support behind his plan to end the war for Russian troops to fully withdraw from the country, including the Crimean peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014, and pay for the destruction wrought since the February 2022 invasion.

At a major peace summit in Switzerland last month Hungary agreed with a document that called for Ukraines territorial integrity to be respected in any final peace settlement.

With inputs from agencies
Blinken has said Ukraine will become a member of NATO and that the summit will help build a bridge to that outcome. read more

In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the use of drones illustrates the potency of A2/AD strategies. File Photo: REUTERS

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Ukrainian presidents chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, on Tuesday discussed NATO members intention to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said.

Their meeting in Washington came before a NATO summit in the U.S. capital next week, at which Ukraine hopes to secure more assurances from the alliance on its membership bid.

Blinken has said Ukraine will become a member of NATO and that the summit will help build a bridge to that outcome.

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They spoke about a number of issues, including the upcoming Washington NATO Summit and allies intention to bring Ukraine closer to NATO membership and helping to strengthen Ukraines ability to defend against Russian aggression, Patel told reporters at a regular press briefing.

On Tuesday, Blinken and Yermak also discussed efforts led by the G7 group of nations to enhance the resiliency of Ukraines energy grid, which has come under Russian attack in recent months, Patel said.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, igniting the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War Two.
Tents line Willow Alley in San Francisco. The Supreme Court's Grants Pass ruling will make it easier for cities to clear homeless encampments. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2023

Regarding How the Supreme Courts Grants Pass ruling could make homelessness worse in S.F. (Editorial, SFChronicle.com, June 28): The rationale behind the Chronicles editorial seems to be that if San Franciscos more conservative neighbors enforce their laws and we dont, then we will have more homeless people. Well, we should just enforce our laws, too.

Its simple: Public space is for everyone and all must abide by the same rules. Camping and living 24/7 in a public space is not allowed for anyone. Our city should have clean and safe infrastructure. I think most people agree with this.

Encampments are not just an eye-sore for nervous NIMBYs, but they facilitate open-air drug use, dealing, addiction and crime. Allowing homeless people to live on the streets is just not an option for our society. We need to find better options for the unhoused.

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If that means homeless people have to be institutionalized or take the offer of shelter they will lose some freedom, but perhaps it puts them on the path to getting help. Thats where our focus should be.

We dont solve anything by letting people live in encampments.

Keith McAleer, San Francisco

Stand up to Trump

Our presidential debates are a useless embarrassment without moderators who fact-check. Watching President Joe Biden during Thursdays debate was agonizing. I wanted him to prevail but he was like a deer caught in the headlights.

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Next time, Biden should confront Donald Trump: Youre doing what you always do  flooding the moment with a nonstop barrage of lies, distortions and incoherent ramblings designed to avoid the issues and avoid answering questions. And I won't have it. Dont get caught in the details of the flood. Step back and expose Trumps manipulations so all can see them.

Biden should challenge Trump: Are you man enough and intelligent enough to have a real discussion on the issues? He should press Trump for concrete specifics on abortion, eradicating child poverty, the effect on the economy of his extreme deportation plan, the opioid crisis, mass shootings and how he plans to address the climate crisis. If Trump has no plans and only infantile grievances, he has no place in the White House.

Biden must be tough and specific, and take no prisoners. Our democracy and the health of the planet are at stake.

David Glick, Fairfax

Stick with Biden

Regarding No lie: Biden should step aside so voters can dump Trump (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, June 28): So Jack Ohman wants to dump President Joe Biden for a lot of other Democrats.

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Apparently, Ohman is unaware that when there is a primary challenger or the incumbent candidate leaves under duress, the incumbent party loses. You want to guarantee a Donald Trump victory? Try to dump Biden.

Biden was terrible in the debate, looking old and sounding worse because of a cold. But there is no one I trust more to handle the international issues and manage the MAGAs in Congress working against the Americans who do not fit their profile of the 1950s American.

Democrats like Ohman need to stop whining, get behind the president and fight against Trump and the threat to our democracy and our rights. Its Biden versus Trump. Deal with it.

Manny Barbara, San Jose

An appreciation for Muni

Regarding Want to see the real San Francisco? Ride a Muni bus (Native Son, SFChronicle.com, June 29): Thank you, Carl Nolte, for appreciating Muni as much as I do and writing about its many joys.

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Thanks also for exposing the people who say Muni is dirty, smelly and dangerous. They are people who wouldnt get on a bus to save their own life or save the planet for that matter. (And the planet is in desperate need of saving at the moment.)

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

I moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco to get away from that attitude, and its disappointing to find it here, too  in a transit-first city, a place where people can live car-free.

Columns like this one might open a few eyes to the best way to get around this beautiful city of ours.
The conservative-dominated high court ruled that Trump  and all presidents  enjoy absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while in office, but can still face criminal penalties for unofficial acts read more

President Joe Biden warned Monday that the US Supreme Courts landmark ruling on presidential immunity sets a dangerous precedent that Donald Trump would exploit if elected in November.

The conservative-dominated high court ruled that Trump  and all presidents  enjoy absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while in office, but can still face criminal penalties for unofficial acts.

For all practical purposes todays decision almost certainly means there are no limits to what a president can do. This is a fundamentally new principle, and its a dangerous precedent, Biden said in a speech at the White House.

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Trump is facing criminal charges over his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, but that trial had been put on hold while the Supreme Court considered his immunity claims.

The 6-3 ruling on Monday, split along ideological lines, is set to further delay proceedings in that case, almost certainly too sometime after voters head to the polls in November.

The American people must decide if they want to entrust once again, the presidency to Donald Trump, now knowing hell be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it, Biden said.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, said a president is not above the law but does have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while in office.

The president therefore may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, Roberts said.

As for a Presidents unofficial acts, there is no immunity, the chief justice added, sending the case back to a lower court to determine which of the charges facing Trump involve official or unofficial conduct.

Trump is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States as well as obstruction of an official proceeding  when a violent mob of his supporters tried to prevent the January 6, 2021, joint session of Congress held to certify Bidens victory.

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The 78-year-old former president is also charged with conspiracy to deny Americans the right to vote and to have their votes counted.

The public has a right to know the answer about what happened on January 6, before theyre asked to vote again this year, Biden said.

Now because of todays decision, that is highly, highly unlikely. Its a terrible disservice to the people of this nation.

Organize a coup? Immune

The three liberal justices dissented from Mondays ruling with Justice Sonia Sotomayor saying she was doing so with fear for our democracy.

Never in the history of our Republic has a President had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law, Sotomayor said. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.

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Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

Trump, in posts on Truth Social, welcomed the decision calling it a big win for our Constitution and democracy.

Todays Historic Decision by the Supreme Court should end all of Crooked Joe Bidens Witch Hunts against me, he said.

Election case will drag on

Steven Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, said the ruling means the case is going to drag on more and more, and longer and longer, and well beyond the election.

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To the extent that Trump was trying to drag his feet and extend this beyond the election, he has succeeded wildly, Schwinn said.

The opinion also provides a roadmap for a US leader to avoid prosecution for a particular action simply by intertwining it with official government action, he added.

Thats going to seriously hamstring the prosecution of a former president because the presidents official actions and unofficial actions are so often intertwined, he said.

Facing four criminal cases, Trump has been doing everything in his power to delay the trials until after the election.

Trump was convicted in New York in May of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal in the final stages of the 2016 campaign, making him the first former US president ever convicted of a crime.

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His sentencing will take place on July 11, though his lawyers have sent a letter to the judge in that case seeking to set aside the verdict in light of the immunity ruling, US media reported.

By filing a blizzard of pre-trial motions, Trumps lawyers have managed to put on hold the three other trials, which deal with his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and hoarding top-secret documents at his home in Florida.

If reelected, Trump could, once sworn in as president in January 2025, order the federal cases against him closed.
The Israeli military has come up with a plan to create humanitarian enclaves for Gazan civilians unaffiliated with Hamas and is set to be rolled out in two northern Gaza cities of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, according to a report read more

An Israeli military vehicle leads a truck in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip during an operation to deliver humanitarian aid from Jordan to the coastal territory through the Erez Crossing, on 1 May , 2024. AFP File

The Israeli military has come up with a plan to create humanitarian enclaves for Gazan civilians unaffiliated with Hamas and is set to be rolled out in two northern Gaza cities of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia.

According to a Financial Times report, citing six people with knowledge of the plan, these Hamas-free bubbles will be set up initially in Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia and slowly give local Palestinians aid distribution responsibilities.

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Under the pilot project, which will be expanded to northwestern Beit Lahia neighborhood of Atatra, Israeli forces would retain security duties for the time being, while Palestinians would gradually take over civil governance, added the report.

If the plan is successful in the north, Israel will begin creating more enclaves in the south, laying a foundation for a replacement for Hamas governing the Strip.

According to the plan, aid will enter from the Western Erez crossing created during the ongoing war against Hamas.

While Israel unsuccessfully tried a similar plan in various parts of central and northern Gaza with local Palestinian clans, the plan has gained increased urgency in recent weeks as Israel nears the end of its nine-month offensive in Gaza aimed at eliminating Hamas following the devastating October 7 onslaught of southern Israel.

According to Financial Times, a former Israeli official said that humanitarian enclaves are just one component of a broader three-tier postwar strategy advocated by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and the Israeli security establishment.

This strategy aims to engage a wide international coalition, including the Palestinian Authority and moderate Arab states, to assume diplomatic and financial responsibility for post-war Gaza. Members of this coalition would effectively oversee the humanitarian zones.

On Tuesday, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi announced that the plan for the day after Hamas would begin implementation in northern Gaza in the coming days.

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He indicated that the IDFs plan has recently been refined, and tangible progress towards its execution would be seen shortly.

Israel invaded northern Gaza in late October, telling Palestinians there to flee south, and has largely prevented Palestinians from returning to the north of the enclave as it seeks to keep Hamas from regrouping in areas it already conquered.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Palestinians who denounce Hamas would be given the right to live in one of the enclaves and reconstruct homes there.

Israel Ziv, a retired major general involved in creating the bubble plan, told the journal that over time the PA could be brought in to administer the area, and Hamas could also take part in administration if it releases the hostages it currently holds and disarms its military wing.

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However, Netanyahu has largely rejected allowing the PA to administer the Strip, and has vowed the total annihilation of Hamas.

Plan met with skepticism

Some of those familiar with the plan downplayed its chances of success saying that Israel already tried a similar method in various parts of central and northern Gaza with local Palestinian clans, reported the Financial Times.

They said that Israel has been working to identify potential non-Hamas local leadership since November, but has been unsuccessful.

They were all either beaten up or killed by Hamas, a former Israeli official familiar with postwar planning was quoted saying.

In January and February, Israeli defence officials proposed using local clans as a stopgap solution for aid distribution, after a series of deadly incidents involving convoys rushed by mobs of hungry and desperate Palestinians or taken over by armed Hamas members. It is unclear to what extent the idea was ever implemented.

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At the time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials laid out a series of plans to hand varying levels of administrative control of some areas in Gaza to local clans free of Hamas influence after the war ended, though experts doubted its viability at the time.

With inputs from agencies
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said that the first-of-its-kind talks since January were taking place in Manila and said he was hoping for the best, according to a report read more

A China Coast Guard vessel manoeuvres near Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Image: Reuters File

Even as Beijing accused Manila of undermining peace and stability in South China Sea, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has confirmed that Chinese and Philippine officials met to discuss the issue related disputed waters on Tuesday.

According to a South China Morning Post report, citing news portal rappler.com, Manalo said that the first-of-its-kind talks since January were taking place in Manila and said he was hoping for the best.

Last week, he expressed hope that discussions between the two countries would help in managing tensions.

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Series of conflicts

Throughout this year, the two sides have been engaged in a series of conflicts within the contested waters.

These incidents includes a specific event on June 17, when Chinese coastguards intercepted a Philippine naval mission tasked with delivering supplies to troops stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal. This interception resulted in clashes during which a Philippine sailor lost a thumb.

The Chinese intervention marked the first instance since the implementation of new regulations permitting them to conduct boarding inspections in waters claimed by China.

Manila asserted that the Chinese coastguards were armed with machetes and knives. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad described their actions as deliberate, planned, and escalatory, labeling them the most aggressive in recent years.

Blame game

Since then, both sides have continued to exchange accusations.

Most recently, Beijing accused the Philippines of undermining peace and stability by supplying a stranded coastguard vessel at Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands on Monday.

China said it had followed and supervised the whole process as three Philippine coastguard vessels transferred personnel and materials to the illegally stranded ship.

According to the South China Morning Post report, a coastguard statement released on Tuesday afternoon asserted Beijings indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters, including Xianbin Reef  the Chinese names for the Spratly chain and the reef.

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It also accused the stranded Philippine vessel of violating Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, added the report.

It went on to say that the Chinese coastguard would safeguard rights and enforce the law in the waters under its jurisdiction and resolutely defend Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Meanwhile, Manila has accused Beijing of attempting to construct an artificial island at Sabina Shoal, located 75 nautical miles (140km) from the Philippine island of Palawan.

China has denied these allegations and expressed concern that the other party is seeking to establish an outpost on the reef.

Over the past few weeks, Beijing has been expanding its presence in the South China Sea.

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The 12,000-tonne Ship 5901, believed to be the worlds largest coastguard vessel, has been observed near Second Thomas Shoal and the Philippine-administered Thitu Island. Additionally, the Shandong aircraft carrier has been sighted approximately 200 nautical miles off Luzon, the largest island of the Philippines.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Navy acknowledged the presence of both ships.

With inputs from agencies
Viktor Orban, the far-right leader of Hungary, is pro-Russia and remains Russian President Vladimir Putins closest ally in Europe read more

Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban has arrived in Ukraine on his first visit to the war-ravaged country since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

Orban, the far-right leader of Hungary, is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the visit.

Orbans visit to Ukraine comes as a surprise as he is the most pro-Russia leader in Europe and remains the closest ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Europe. He has been the most vocal critic of the European Unions (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO) support to Ukraine in the war with Russia. He has also blocked European financial aid packages to Ukraine.

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Orban met Putin in October 2023  the first EU leader to meet him after the war in Ukraine. He also opposes sanctions on Russia.

While not much has been said about Orbans visit, his Press Secretary Bertalan Havasi was quoted as saying that the agenda was building peace.

The most important topic of discussion is the possibility of building peace, AFP quoted Havasi as saying. He was further quoted as saying that the meeting with Zelenskyy will focus on bilateral relations.

Orbans visit coincides with the beginning of Hungarys EU presidency. In the EUs rotation system, a member holds it for six months. It is expected that Orban will seek to influence the blocs policies for the next six months with his newfound sway. On his part, Zelenskyy has said that he wishes Hungary would be effective in promoting European values of values, goals, and interests.

While advancing on its path to the EU, Ukraine is ready to contribute to these efforts and strengthen our Europe, said Zelenskyy, as per AFP.

Orban has dubbed Zelenskyy an opponent

The Orban-Zelenskyy relationship has been frosty as both have hit out each other. While Orban dubbed Zelenskyy as an opponent at the time of 2022 Hungarian elections, Zelenskyy has called out Orban for his lack of support to Ukraine in the war with Russia.

Months of negotiations went into making this visit and the anticipated meeting happen, according to AFP.

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So far, Hungary has wielded influence over the Western support to Ukraine as the country is a member of both the NATO and EU. It has been seeking to water down aid packages and statements and is thwarting the building of a consensus as it remains pro-Russia.
During a more than two-hour debate on public TV, reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian attacked his competitor, Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, for his lack of experience, saying: Tell me, what single company have you ever managed to make you capable of running the country? read more

In this picture made available by Iranian state-run TV, IRIB, reformist candidate for the presidential election Masoud Pezeshkian, right, speaks in his debate with the hard-line candidate Saeed Jalili at the TV studio in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 1, 2024. IRIB via AP

Irans presidential candidates on Monday accused each other of having no solution for the countrys problems ahead of Fridays runoff election aimed at choosing a successor for the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died last month in a helicopter crash.

During a more than two-hour debate on public TV, reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian attacked his competitor, Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, for his lack of experience, saying: Tell me, what single company have you ever managed to make you capable of running the country?"

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Jalili, who 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, defended himself highlighting his career and several positions held, including that of top nuclear negotiator.

Pezeshkian further questioned his opponent on what plans he would have for reaching a nuclear deal, with Jalili responding he would approach it based on strength not weakness, without providing details.

Jalili accused Pezeshkian of having no plans for managing the country, saying his presidency would drive the country to a backward position, as it was under relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani (2013-2021). Rouhani struck a nuclear deal with world powers that capped Irans uranium enrichment in return to lifting sanctions but later, in 2018, President Trump pulled the U.S. out from the landmark deal abruptly restoring harsh sanctions on Iran.

Jalili said that with the support of people, Iran would achieve an economic growth of 8% a year, a promise Pezeshkian mocked, saying authorities should be allowed to execute him if he failed to deliver on it.

Iran must implement a dynamic foreign policy if it wants to have a successful economy, Jalili said, adding that it should not be limited to those nations that it has a problem with  a reference to the U.S. and the western world. Instead, he said, Iran should look to the other 200 nations in the world where foreign relations should be improved.

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Pezeshkian said his foreign policy will be based on engagement with the world including engaging in negotiations for lifting sanctions.

Both sides promised to address the problems of the countrys poor, workers, women, ethnic groups and religious minorities, and vowed to provide better and faster internet  a plea to a younger generation that showed apathy during Fridays vote.

Pezeshkian and Jalili also said the low turnout in the first round  the lowest-ever poll turnout in the Islamic Republics history  should be probed.

It is not acceptable that some 60 percent (of voters) did not cast a ballot, said Pezeshkian.

The candidates will have their second and last debate Tuesday.
Chinas relaxation of hukou regulations seeks to stimulate the real estate sector while promoting reforms in labour mobility read more

The hukou system in China has played a massive role in controlling internal migration and distributing social benefits like education and healthcare based on residency status. AP

Is China relaxing its strict regulations further to rejuvenate its real estate sector?

A downturn in Chinas property market has prompted the easing of some constraints on its inflexible household registration system, potentially allowing for a more flexible approach to labour migration. Under a programme known as hukou, more than 20 cities are now permitting individuals from any part of mainland China to alter their official residency status.

In China, household registration is linked to social benefits, and migrants can transition their status in these urban areas by purchasing a home in the city.

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What is hukou?

Hukou refers to the household registration system in China. Its a system that officially identifies and records the whereabouts of Chinese citizens, tying individuals to a specific geographic location (usually their place of birth or where their family is registered). Hukou registration is crucial for accessing social services such as education, healthcare and employment opportunities within China. It has historically been used to control internal migration and population distribution in China.

Since its establishment in 1958, the hukou system in China has categorised all citizens into either agricultural or non-agricultural hukou statuses tied to specific locations. Over time, the system has become increasingly complex. Since the 1980s, China has decentralised the management of hukou and the policymaking related to it, shifting authority from the central government to local governments at the city and town levels.

According to the South China Morning Post report citing a study by property researcher China Real Estate Index System, the rules governing hukou registration, which historically limited population mobility and are often cited as contributing to Chinas urban-rural divide, have been eased for home buyers in cities such as emerging centres like Hangzhou and Nanjing.

Addressing the barriers created by this system has remained a persistent challenge throughout Chinas decades-long reform process and it has garnered renewed attention ahead of the Communist Partys Central Committee economic-focused third plenum scheduled in two weeks.

Local governments are experimenting with various approaches to attract potential homebuyers such as simplified re-registration processes that grant access to comprehensive urban services like education and healthcare, which typically exceed those available in rural areas.

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With the exception of Hainan province and five major citiesBeijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Tianjinmost other population centres on the mainland have also piloted similar incentives, the South China Morning Post report said.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, over 66 per cent of the Chinese population lived in urban areas last year, but fewer than 50 per cent were officially registered as urban residents.

Hukou and its drawbacks

The hukou system in China presents several significant drawbacks.

Firstly, it reinforces a stark urban-rural divide by granting urban hukou holders better access to social services, education, and healthcare compared to their rural counterparts. This disparity perpetuates social inequality and limits opportunities for rural residents to improve their economic and social standing. Secondly, the hukou system imposes strict migration restrictions, particularly disadvantaging rural residents who seek to move to urban areas for better job prospects. Migrant workers often face discrimination, lack of social benefits and uncertain legal status further exacerbating their marginalisation.

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Additionally, the system can lead to family separation when members move to urban areas but cannot change their hukou status, causing difficulties in accessing basic services and education for their children. Economically, the hukou system hinders labour mobility and efficient allocation of human resources, potentially impacting overall economic growth. Moreover, critics argue that the hukou system infringes upon individuals rights to freedom of movement and residence within their own country raising human rights concerns. Despite recent reforms aimed at easing some restrictions, the entrenched nature of the hukou system poses challenges to meaningful reform efforts and continues to be a subject of debate and scrutiny.

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In an article titled What should economists know about the current Chinese hukou system? on Science Direct, author Yang Song argues that the current hukou system in China adversely affects rural-to-urban migration, economic efficiency and equality by diminishing the anticipated benefits of migration.

In his piece Chinas Hukou System and the Urban-Rural Divide, Max Masuda-Farkas highlighted economists Holger Sieg (University of Pennsylvania), Chamna Yoon (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), and Jipeng Zhang (Southwestern University of Finance and Economics). They emphasised that indigent rural migrants face formidable barriers to obtaining permanent Hukou status in large cities, hindering access to economic opportunities and educational advancement.

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As a result, most rural migrants are relegated to temporary or transitory Hukou statuses, which afford fewer privileges than permanent residency, limiting access to essential public services like healthcare, unemployment insurance and housing funds. Local governments have erected numerous obstacles including barring migrant children from quality public education and, in some areas, preventing them from taking college entrance exams.

Future of hukou

Chinas recent adjustments to its hukou system mark a significant step towards addressing longstanding disparities in urban-rural opportunities. The reforms aim to enhance labour mobility, stimulate the housing market and mitigate social inequalities by easing residency restrictions in select cities and promoting real estate incentives. However, challenges remain in achieving equitable access to social services and economic opportunities for all residents, underscoring the ongoing need for sustained reform efforts and careful management of urbanisation dynamics in China.
The rockets were aimed at Israeli communities near the Gaza border and were fired in retaliation for Israeli crimes against our Palestinian people, said the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad read more

Palestinians, who fled the eastern part of Khan Younis, walk, after they were ordered by Israeli army to evacuate their neighbourhoods, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis. Reuters

Israel carried out fresh strikes in southern Gaza on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of Palestinians to flee after the army once again ordered the evacuation of certain densely populated areas.

Witnesses reported multiple strikes in and around the city of Khan Yunis, where eight people were killed and more than 30 were wounded, according to a medical source and the Palestinian Red Crescent.The bombardment came after a rare rocket barrage claimed by the militant group Islamic Jihad, which has fought alongside Hamas.The rockets were aimed at Israeli communities near the Gaza border and were fired in retaliation for Israeli crimes against our Palestinian people, said the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.

The Israeli military said about 20 projectiles were identified crossing from the area of Khan Yunis, most of which were intercepted. It reported no casualties and said artillery was striking the sources of the fire.

This was followed on Monday by an order to evacuate Al-Qarara, Bani Suhaila and other towns in Rafah and Khan Yunis, nearly two months after an initial order to evacuate Rafah ahead of a ground offensive.

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Prior to Israels ground incursion in Rafah, well over one million people had been displaced to Gazas southernmost city.

Fear and extreme anxiety have gripped people after the evacuation order, said Bani Suhaila resident Ahmad Najjar. There is a large displacement of residents.

Difficult fight

Other parts of the Gaza Strip were reeling from continued fighting nearly nine months into the devastating conflict.

Witnesses and the civil defence agency reported Israeli air strikes in the southern Rafah area and in the central Nuseirat refugee camp.

And in Gaza Citys Shujaiya district, where battles raged for a fifth day on Monday, witnesses reported heavy Israeli tank fire.

An AFP correspondent reported Israeli helicopters firing on houses in Shujaiya, while Hamass armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said it was continuing to fight in Shujaiya and Rafah.

The Israeli military said troops eliminated numerous terrorists in raids in Shujaiya, where air strikes also killed approximately 20 militants.

The military also announced the death of a soldier in southern Gaza, bringing its total toll during the ground offensive to 317.

Netanyahu, who recently declared that the intense phase of the war was winding down, said on Sunday troops were operating in Rafah, Shujaiya, everywhere in the Gaza Strip.

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This is a difficult fight that is being waged above ground and below ground in tunnels.

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 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza including 42 the army says are dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,900 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

Months of on-and-off talks towards a truce and hostage release deal have made little progress, with Hamas saying Saturday there was nothing new in a revised plan presented by US mediators.

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Torture

Israeli authorities released Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Gaza Citys Al-Shifa hospital, along with dozens of other detainees who returned Monday to Gaza for treatment, sparking anger from Netanyahu.

Successive Israeli raids have reduced large parts of Al-Shifa, the territorys largest medical complex, to rubble.

Israel has accused Hamas of using Al-Shifa and other hospitals in Gaza as a cover for military operations, claims the militants have rejected.

Speaking after his release, Abu Salmiya said he had suffered severe torture during his detention since November.

Detainees were subjected to physical and psychological humiliation and several inmates died in interrogation centres and were deprived of food and medicine, he said.

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Israels Shin Bet intelligence agency said it had decided on the release alongside the Israeli military to free up places in detention centres.

The agency said it opposed the release of terrorists who had taken part in attacks on Israeli civilians so it was decided to free several Gaza detainees who represent a lesser danger.

But Netanyahu said he had ordered the agency to conduct an investigation into the release and provide him with the results by Tuesday.

The release of the director of Shifa Hospital is a serious mistake and a moral failure. The place of this man, under whose responsibility our abductees were murdered and held, is in prison, Netanyahu said in a statement.

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According to Abu Salmiya, no charges were ever brought against him.

The United Nations and relief agencies have voiced alarm over the dire humanitarian crisis and the threat of starvation the war and Israeli siege have brought for Gazas 2.4 million people.

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported that during the month of June, Israeli authorities facilitated less than half of 115 planned humanitarian assistance missions to northern Gaza.

In a displacement camp in Gazas Deir al-Balah, pharmacist Sami Hamid said skin infections were on the rise, particularly among children, because of the hot weather and lack of clean water.

The number of skin infections has increased, especially scabies and chickenpox, as have hepatitis cases probably linked to untreated sewage flowing right beside tents, said Hamid.
As per the pact, under the new coalition government, UML Chairman KP Oli Sharma will become the Prime Minister for the next one and a half years, and then Nepal Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba will hold the post for until the next election read more

The Nepal government headed by Prachanda is expected to fall and a new coalition government led by KP Sharma Oli is likely take its place by as early as Tuesday (July 2). The development comes after a deal was agreed upon overnight by the Nepali Congress President and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).

ANI quoted a senior leader from the Nepali Congress as saying that as per the agreement, under the coalition government, UML Chairman KP Oli Sharma will become the Prime Minister for the next one and a half years, and then Nepal Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba will hold the post for until the next election.

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Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachandas party - the Communist Party of Nepal - has been excluded from the new coalition government which is expected to be formed in the country anytime soon.

Prachanda formed a new alliance government on March 4. This change comes in less than 100 days.

New government in Nepal expected by evening

Hours after the pact was signed, reports started doing rounds on Tuesday that eight ministers from the CPN-UML in the Nepal government are set to resign during the day.

Our ministers will tender their resignation to the Prime Minister today (June 2) itself. The Prime Minister might also step down from his post soon enough, weighing the situation. A new government is expected by evening, ANI quoted Mahesh Bartaula, Chief Whip of CPN-UML, as saying.

Also, the CPN-UML has called for the party secretariat meeting at the party office around 3 pm on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Prachanda is holding talks with office bearers to discuss whether to resign or face the vote of confidence in parliament, ANI quoted Ganesh Shah, a leader from the Maoist Centre, as saying.

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Tit-for-tat?

Sher Bahadur Deubas party was a key coalition partner of the Prachanda-led government but in March, the Nepal PM ousted Nepali Congress and inducted Olis CPN-UML.

A report by PTI said Deuba met Oli, who is part of the ruling coalition, at his residence on Saturday to discuss the latest political situation in the politically fragile Himalayan nation.

Following the meeting with Deuba, Oli met Prachanda twice on Sunday and Monday.

After that, the Prime Ministers Press adviser, Govinda Acharya, claimed There is no truth in rumours about a change in the present coalition government and formation of a new alliance."

Details of the agreement between Congress & CPN-UML

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1 - A committee has also been constituted to give suggestions on amending the election procedures.

2 - The committee will also suggest making changes in the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha.

3 - Both the parties also drafted a constitution amendment agreement where it has been stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly.

4 - Both parties met President Ram Chandra Paudel, and informed him about the change in the coalition. They requested to activate Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister failed to take a vote of confidence after UML withdrew its support.

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5 - Both the parties got into consensus on the division of ministries.

6 - As per the agreement, the party leading the government will not get the home ministry.

7 - Apart from the central government, both the parties also agreed on the distribution of leadership in various provinces. The CPN-UML will lead the governments in Koshi, Lumbini, and Karnali provinces, while the Congress will lead in Bagmati, Gandaki, and Far-Western provinces.

Prachanda, who came to power after the 2022 general elections in Nepal, has tested the floor of parliament for a record four times. He will now have to take the vote of confidence again from the parliament now that certain parties in the ruling alliance have withdrawn their support.

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Wont resign

Meanwhile, Prachanda said he would rather face a vote of confidence in Parliament than resign from the post.

The Prime Minister has decided to seek a vote of confidence, Shah was quoted as saying by PTI.

With inputs from agencies
Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine navy boats on June 17 during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal. A Filipino soldier lost a finger in the clash, with Manila also accusing the Chinese coast guard of looting guns and damaging three boats as well as navigational and communication equipment read more

The Philippines and China agreed on Tuesday to de-escalate tensions over the South China Sea, Manila said, following a violent clash in the disputed waters last month.

Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes in the hotly contested waterway but last months incident was the most serious in a number of escalating confrontations.

Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine navy boats on June 17 during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.

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A Filipino soldier lost a finger in the clash, with Manila also accusing the Chinese coast guard of looting guns and damaging three boats as well as navigational and communication equipment.

Beijing insisted its coast guard behaved in a professional and restrained way and blamed Manila for the clash.

A handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a rusty warship deliberately grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manilas claims to the area.

Philippine foreign affairs undersecretary Theresa Lazaro and Chinas vice foreign minister Chen Xiaodong had frank and constructive discussions on Tuesday, the Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement after the talks.

The two sides discussed their respective positions on Ayungin Shoal and affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions, the statement said, using the countrys name for Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognised that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction, it said, adding that significant differences remain.

China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.

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Chinese forces have used water cannon and military-grade lasers and collided with Filipino resupply vessels and their escorts in previous confrontations near disputed reefs.

Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters on Tuesday that the June 17 incident was the most aggressive in recent history.

The reason why we are calling this out is because we dont want any unintended consequence, Trinidad told reporters.

Basically their actions increase the risk for miscalculation.

- Actions speak louder than words -

The latest confrontation has fuelled concerns that the dispute could drag in the United States, which has a mutual defence pact with Manila.

The Philippine government has said that it does not consider the June 17 clash as an armed attack that would trigger a provision in the treaty for Washington to come to Manilas aid.

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In Washington, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said that the United States would welcome any efforts to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea.

But he added that in dealing with Beijing, actions speak louder than words.

The two sides signed an arrangement Tuesday on improving the Philippines-China Maritime Communications Mechanism and agreed to continue discussions between their coast guards.

China and the Philippines launched the consultative meeting in 2017 to promote the peaceful management of conflicts in the South China Sea.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said last week the Manila meeting would look to establish confidence-building measures that can create the basis for more serious discussions.

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We still believe in the primacy of dialogue, and diplomacy should prevail even in the face of these serious incidents, though I admit its also a challenge, Manalo told a Philippine Senate public hearing on the Second Thomas Shoal confrontation.

Second Thomas Shoal lies about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometres from Chinas nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters around the shoal and has turned several reefs into artificial militarised islands.
Properties and vehicles owned by Syrians were vandalised and set on fire in the central city of Kayseri, stoked by social media reports that a Syrian man had sexually abused a female child relative. Yerlikaya said the incident was being investigated. read more

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan blamed the anti-Syrian attacks on the political opposition, accusing it, without citing evidence, of stoking racism in a country with more than 3 million Syrian war refugees.

Turkey closed its main border crossings into northwest Syria on Tuesday after Turkish troops came under fire from Syrians angered by violence against their compatriots in Turkey, a Syrian opposition source and residents said.

In Turkey, police detained 474 people involved in attacks targeting the Syrian community across the country overnight, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, in spreading unrest that began late on Sunday.

Properties and vehicles owned by Syrians were vandalised and set on fire in the central city of Kayseri, stoked by social media reports that a Syrian man had sexually abused a female child relative. Yerlikaya said the incident was being investigated.

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The violence spread to the provinces of Hatay, Gaziantep, Konya, Bursa and an Istanbul district, Turkeys MIT intelligence agency said in a statement. There were social media reports of some injuries among Syrians.

Subsequently, hundreds of angry Syrians took to the streets in several towns in the rebel-held northwest Syria, an area where Turkey maintains thousands of troops and has carved out a sphere of influence that has stopped Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from regaining control.

Late on Monday, Turkey responded to the unrest by closing until further notice the Bab al Hawa border crossing, a main trade and passenger conduit for more than 3 million inhabitants, along with Bab al Salam and other smaller crossings, a border official told Reuters.

The Syrian border city of Afrin was the scene of the most violent clashes, with at least four people killed in an exchange of fire between armed protesters and Turkish troops.

Elsewhere, there were skirmishes and armed clashes, with civilians hurling stones at Turkish convoys in several towns, and tearing down the Turkish flag on some offices.

Several Turkish officials described the unrest in Syria as provocations, with the Foreign Ministry saying: It is wrong to use the sad events that took place in Kayseri  as the basis for some provocations beyond our borders.

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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan blamed the anti-Syrian attacks on the political opposition, accusing it, without citing evidence, of stoking racism in a country with more than 3 million Syrian war refugees.

Nothing can be achieved by fuelling xenophobia or refugee hatred in the public, Erdogan said on Monday.

Erdogan said last Friday a meeting with Assad was possible to help restore bilateral relations. Turkey severed ties with Syria after the 2011 Syrian civil war and supported rebels looking to oust Assad.
Doctors often see patients with complications of chronic disease, but as their cases unfold, it comes to light that the underlying cause of symptoms or injuries is abuse. Nick Otto/Special to the Chronicle

A decade ago, while a medical student, I was handed a chart for a patient with neck pain. Running through a list of possibilities in my head (strep throat, laryngitis, food stuck in the esophagus), I walked into the room.

My patient was a young Nigerian American woman bouncing an infant on her lap. She unfurled the scarf around her neck and revealed two big, blue thumbprints. She had been choked by her boyfriend.

I spoke gently, documenting her bruises and assessing her immediate safety. (Strangulation is an act of violence that predicts high lethality.) She was in pain and terrified. Then, as was and continues to be required by Californias mandatory reporting laws, I stepped out to inform my supervising physician and the local police. I assured her Id be back.

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As an internal medicine physician, I am chillingly familiar with the health consequences of intimate partner violence, which affects 10 million Americans each year. I often see patients hospitalized with complications of chronic disease, but as their cases unfold, it comes to light that the underlying cause of symptoms or injuries is abuse. It breaks my heart every time but theres not much I can do except give them a referral to a social worker and verbal validation that the way they have been treated is not OK. Why? Because doctors are not trained to do anything more than that.

In medical school, screening for abuse comprised exactly one hour of my required education. We were shown slides on prevalence (a whopping 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced domestic violence, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ) and trained briefly on three screening tools. Thats nowhere near enough training, but its still more than many doctors in training today get. According to 2023 data from the American Association of Medical Colleges, around a quarter of medical schools have no coursework on trauma-informed care, a necessary framework to understand patterns of violence and its psychological effects, as well as to deliver effective, sensitive, and empowering interventions.

Identifying patients with histories of abuse takes a great deal of time and trust. For doctors who havent been trained, it can be easier to tell ourselves this is not our problem.

Sometimes, even when screening questions are asked with empathy, the outcomes are not what we hope for.

As my immigrant patient waited for me in the clinic that day, my supervisor and I talked through options. I heard the buzz of static and soon a police officer emerged, walkie-talkie at his hip. He had a kind face. We coasted down the hallway, only to be greeted by an open door and an empty room.

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The woman and her baby had left.

Im still haunted by the outcome. Was she worried that her baby would be taken? That she would be blamed? Deported? That she would be murdered by her boyfriend? That nothing would change? None of these fears were unfounded. Yet I couldnt shake the feeling that our system had failed her.

While there have been steps taken at the federal level to make us more accountable for domestic abuse as a society  like last months decision by the Supreme Court to uphold a federal law preventing anyone with a domestic violence restraining order against them from possessing a firearm  that alone will not end the violence.

We can do better. Australia, for example, is tackling the crisis head-on. In May, the government announced $925 million (about $615 million in the U.S.) in funding over five years to the Leaving Violence Program, providing one-time financial support to people leaving a violent relationship. The Australian Medical Students Association has called for increased training on domestic violence in medical schools and the Australian state of Victoria even appointed a parliamentary secretary for mens behavior change.

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Medical schools and health care institutions in the U.S. can likewise prioritize nuanced and longitudinal training on domestic violence. A few have begun doing so. In the intimate partner violence curriculum at UCLAs David Geffen School of Medicine, students participate in a standardized patient case related to domestic abuse, learning how to conduct a culturally sensitive history, develop a safety plan and understand local context (such as mandatory reporting laws in California).

Similarly, a two-part curriculum at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore for internal medicine resident physicians increased knowledge, comfort, confidence and preparedness to screen patients for abuse. Neither of these trainings took more than a few hours. But those hours could save countless lives by equipping doctors to identify people experiencing violence and connect them to resources early.

Of course, domestic violence training should not end with doctors and nurses. All frontline staff  from security guards to receptionists  can also be trained in trauma-informed communication.

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

I think of the new mother who suffered palpitations only to reveal that her husband barred her from taking iron supplements prescribed for anemia and controlled her every move. Or the leukemia patient with a weakened immune system who contracted herpes virus from her husbands infidelity and marital rape. These patients deserve better.

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In recent years, the United States has had a difficult time returning Chinese nationals who do not have the right to stay in America because China has resisted taking them back. Last year, the United States saw a drastic surge in the number of Chinese immigrants entering the country illegally from Mexico. read more

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas watches during a visit by President Joe Biden to the D.C. Emergency Operations Center, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Washington. DHS says it has deported 116 Chinese migrants from the United States in the first "large charter flight" in five years. Photo- AP

The Department of Homeland Security sent 116 Chinese migrants from the United States back home in the first large charter flight in five years on Tuesday.

The flight, which happened over the weekend, comes as Chinese immigration has become the subject of intense political debate in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

We will continue to enforce our immigration laws and remove individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

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The department said it was working with China to reduce and deter irregular migration and to disrupt illicit human smuggling through expanded law enforcement efforts. It did not respond to questions about how long the migrants had been in the U.S.

In recent years, the United States has had a difficult time returning Chinese nationals who do not have the right to stay in America because China has resisted taking them back. Last year, the United States saw a drastic surge in the number of Chinese immigrants entering the country illegally from Mexico.

U.S. border officials arrested more than 37,000 Chinese nationals on the southern border in 2023, 10 times the number during the previous year.

Chinese migration has increasingly become a rallying cry for Republicans and former President Donald Trump who have raised suspicions about why Chinese migrants are coming to the U.S.

Asian advocacy organizations are concerned that the rhetoric could encourage harassment of Asians, while migrants themselves have said theyre coming to escape poverty and repression.

Earlier this year, the U.S. and China resumed cooperation on migration issues.

The Chinese government has said it is firmly opposed to all forms of illegal immigration. In a statement in May, Chinas Embassy in the U.S. said the countrys law enforcement was cracking down hard on crimes that harm the tranquility of national border, and maintained a high pressure against all kinds of smuggling organizations and offenders.

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Homeland Security said they are working with China on more removal flights in the future but did not give a timeline for when the next one would happen.

Earlier this year, a charter flight carried a small but unknown number of deportees to the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, according to Thomas Cartwright of Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks deportation flights.

Homeland Security officials did not say how many people were on that March 30 flight, but the Gulfstream V aircraft typically has a seating capacity of 14. It also made a stop in South Korea before heading back to the U.S., Cartwright said.

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The announcement of the large charter flight comes after Ecuador cut off a key route used by Chinese migrants to get to the Western Hemisphere. Ecuador was one of only two mainland countries in the Americas to offer visa-free entry to Chinese nationals and had become a popular starting point for Chinese migrants to then trek north to the U.S.

As of July 1, Ecuador has effectively reinstated visas for Chinese nationals after the South American country said it had seen a worrying increase in irregular migration.
Starting in July, Australia restricts vape sales to pharmacies with stringent guidelines, but looser regulations begin in October read more

Starting in July, Australia has implemented a groundbreaking new regulation on vaping, restricting the sale of vapes exclusively to pharmacies.

The Strait Times reported that vapes, or electronic vapourisers, in Australia must now adhere to strict guidelines: they are to be sold in plain colours and packaging and their advertisement and local manufacturing are banned. Additionally, the available flavours are limited to tobacco, menthol and mint.

Purchasing vapes in Australia is set to become significantly more difficult. Health Minister Mark Butler has announced severe penalties for non-compliance including fines up to A$2 million (S$1.8 million) and potential prison sentences of up to seven years for any convenience or tobacco stores found selling vapes.

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Australias history of tough anti-smoking measures

Australia is renowned for its stringent anti-smoking laws. In 2012, it became the first nation to mandate plain packaging for cigarettes, requiring uniform, drab colours and graphic health warnings on cartons. Initially opposed by the tobacco industry, this policy has since been widely adopted worldwide. Additionally, substantial taxes have been enforced, raising the price of a standard 25-pack of cigarettes to about A$50. These tough measures have significantly reduced smoking rates, with only 8 per cent of people aged 14 and over smoking daily in 2023, a steep decline from 24 per cent in 1991.

But there is a catch!

Despite the stringent restrictions, the amendments to the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 could paradoxically increase the availability of vapes just three months later.

Starting October 1, pharmacies will be able to sell nicotine-containing vapes to anyone over 18 years old without requiring a medical prescription. This change results from reclassifying nicotine vapes from schedule 4 to schedule 3 of the poisons standard, as reported by ABC News.

In essence, purchasing a nicotine vape will resemble buying a packet of cigarettes, but exclusively through pharmacies. Vapes will be kept behind the counter, and customers will need to show identification to the pharmacist.

However, individuals under 18 will still need a medical prescription to legally buy a vape from a pharmacist.

Global fight against vaping

Several countries have taken a strong stance against vaping, implementing strict regulations and outright bans to curb its use.

For instance, Singapore has one of the most stringent policies, with a comprehensive ban on the sale, import and use of e-cigarettes. Similarly, Thailand prohibits the import, sale and possession of vaping devices and has imposed severe penalties for violations. India has also enacted a nationwide ban on e-cigarettes, prohibiting their production, import, sale and advertising.

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In Latin America, Brazil has outlawed the sale, import and advertising of vaping products, while Mexico has implemented a ban on their import.

Furthermore, in the Middle East, countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have prohibited the sale and use of e-cigarettes. These countries are concerned about the potential health risks associated with vaping and are taking proactive measures to protect public health, particularly among young people.

Appeal of vaping

People vape for various reasons including the perception that it is a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes as it avoids the combustion process that produces many toxic substances.

Many use e-cigarettes as a tool for smoking cessation, believing it provides nicotine without many harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Curiosity and the trendiness of vaping, along with the wide range of appealing flavours, attract younger individuals. Social influence from peers and family, as well as the desire for stress relief and relaxation also contribute to the popularity of vaping.

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The truth: Vaping harms

However, vaping is not without its harmful effects:

Nicotine addiction: Vaping often involves nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm brain development in adolescents and young adults.

Lung injuries: Linked to serious lung injuries, such as EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury), which has caused hospitalisations and deaths.

Cardiovascular problems: Chemicals in e-cigarettes can increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Respiratory issues: Can irritate the lungs and airways, causing respiratory issues like chronic bronchitis.

Exposure to harmful substances: Includes heavy metals and volatile organic compounds; some flavouring chemicals linked to lung disease.

Youth addiction: Significant increase in vaping among youth and adolescents, a group particularly vulnerable to nicotine addiction and its harmful effects.

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Dual use risks: Dual use of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes can increase exposure to harmful substances, negating potential harm reduction benefits.

While vaping may offer advantages for smoking cessation, it carries significant health risks, particularly for non-smokers and young people.
We would hope that any country on the face of the planet condemns terrorism anywhere but ultimately this is between India and Pakistan. Broadly, we welcome any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours.., said Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson, US Department of State read more

While it said that its focusing to deepen its ties with India in a number of key spaces, the US on Tuesday said that it welcomes any country to take positive steps with their neighbours, including condemning terrorism when it comes to relationship between India and Pakistan.

We would hope that any country on the face of the planet condemns terrorism anywhere but ultimately this is between India and Pakistan. Broadly, we welcome any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours.., said Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson, US Department of State.

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#WATCH | "We would hope that any country on the face of the planet condemns terrorism anywhere but ultimately this is between India and Pakistan. Broadly, we welcome any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours..," says Principal Deputy Spokesperson, US pic.twitter.com/5d8ipYsjpp  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

When asked about India-US relations in wake of Indias relations with a few countries that the US doesnt have good relations with, he said the two countries are focusing on deepening its relations in a number of key spaces, including economic and security ties, and will continue to do so.

#WATCH | "...India is a country in which we are deepening our relations with in a number of key spaces, especially as it relates to deepening our economic ties, deepening our security cooperation...So, this is an area that we will continue to cultivate this relationship..," says pic.twitter.com/IBcX9P4CGc  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

India is a country in which we are deepening our relations with in a number of key spaces, especially as it relates to deepening our economic ties, deepening our security cooperationSo, this is an area that we will continue to cultivate this relationship.., said the Principal Deputy Spokesperson.

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Earlier also the US had said that it wants India and Pakistan to have a productive and peaceful relationship but made it clear that the pace, scope, and character of any dialogue was a matter for the two neighbours to determine.

The relations between India and Pakistan nosedived after the Centre revoked Article 370 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had recently sent a positive message to India, by saying his country does not believe in perpetual hostility and urged the new government in New Delhi to do a sober reflection on its future ties with Islamabad.

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We seek good neighbourly relations with India on the basis of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and a just and peaceful resolution of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Dar had said.

He said Pakistan will also take every step needed to maintain strategic stability in South Asia and would respond effectively and decisively to any ill-considered military misadventure by India. Dar also urged the BJP-led government to have a reflection of ties with Pakistan.

Rather than fight with each other, it would be prudent for the South Asian nations to combat these challenges. We are not only the least economically integrated region, but also one with the lowest rankings on almost all indices of human development, the minister added.

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With inputs from agencies
The European Commission has accused Mark Zuckerbergs Meta of violating the EUs new digital laws with its advertising model that charges users for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram.

Metas Pay or Consent Ad Model

Last year, Meta introduced a pay or consent model to comply with EU data privacy rules. Users can pay a monthly fee for an ad-free version of Facebook or Instagram that does not use their personal data for targeted advertising. If users do not pay, their data is used to show personalized ads.

Subscription Details

Desktop Users: 10 (USD 10.50) per month

iOS/Android Users: 13 (USD 13.50) per month

Eligibility: Available to individuals aged 18 and above in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland

These prices account for the fees charged by Apple and Google according to their policies. This model was launched after the EUs top court ruled that Meta must get user consent before showing ads under strict EU data privacy rules.

Preliminary Findings

The European Commissions preliminary investigation reveals that Metas pay or consent model breaches the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Key issues include:

Lack of Data Use Options: Users cannot choose a service that uses less personal data but is equivalent to the personalized ads-based service.

Consent Issues: Users cannot freely consent to the use of their personal data for targeted ads.

The Commission states that users who do not consent should still have access to an equivalent service that uses less of their personal data for advertising.

Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for digital policy, stated that the DMA aims to empower users to determine how their data is utilized and to ensure that innovative companies can compete fairly with tech giants regarding data access.

Metas Response

Meta responded, stating that their subscription for no ads aligns with the directives of Europes highest court and adheres to the DMA regulations. They expressed anticipation for a productive dialogue with the European Commission to resolve the investigation.

Next Steps

The Commissions announcement is part of a longer process, with a final decision expected by March. If Meta is found guilty, potential penalties include:

Fines: Up to 10% of global revenue, and up to 20% for repeat offences.

Additional Remedies: In cases of systematic non-compliance, the Commission can mandate the sale of parts of the business or ban acquisitions related to the non-compliance.

Meta is the second company to face charges under the DMA. Recently, the Commission also charged Apple with unfair business practices related to the App Store.

Source
President Joe Biden walks from the podium after speaking at the White House about the Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity on Monday in Washington, D.C. Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press

WASHINGTON  Democrats are increasingly campaigning against the Supreme Court this presidential election, a strategy upon which political consultants disagree.

Democratic campaigns up and down the ballot have largely found success campaigning on reproductive rights in the two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and Mondays ruling that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution has served to heighten attacks on the once-nonpartisan body.

The ruling provided a convenient foil for President Joe Biden, whos come under intense scrutiny following his debate performance last week. Biden has ramped up his criticism of the court to argue that the election is not just about the two men running but will have huge implications across the entire U.S. government.

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The Supreme Court is on the ballot this November because the next president of the United States is likely to be able to appoint two or more Supreme Court justices in the next term, Biden said at a fundraiser in New York on Friday. We cant allow Trump to nominate more justices  which would impact the next 30, 40, 50 years of this nation.

But Bidens attacks on the court began increasing before the immunity ruling, following the lead of Vice President Kamala Harris, who has laid the blame for the overturning of Roe v. Wade at former President Donald Trumps feet. She said Trump handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn Roe. And, as he intended, they did.

She also attacked the conservative-majority court in a May interview with the New York Times, saying it has shown itself to be an activist court that is willing to undo recognized rights.

The courts Monday ruling narrowed a Washington criminal case against Trump on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 presidential election outcome, and returned it to the trial court to determine how much the indictment is left given the presidential immunity determination. The courts 6-3 conservative majority found that the former president is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.

Biden, in a speech from the White House on Monday, said the courts decision means the American people have to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, to decide whether Trump is still fit for public office after his alleged actions surrounding Jan. 6, 2021.

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Political observers think attacking the court could be an effective message, if Democrats can frame it in a compelling way.

The trick for Democratic candidates and consultants and messaging gurus is to explain why decisions coming out of the Supreme Court matter to people in their daily lives, California campaign strategist Brian Brokaw said.

The courts decision Monday makes Democrats argument that democracy is at risk more tangible. Its one thing to say Democracy is on the line because thats more of a philosophical argument. Its another to say, Look at what Trumps Supreme Court is doing, and we have to put a stop to this,  Brokaw said.

California political consultant Andrew Acosta said hes unsure how the courts decision Monday will impact candidates further down the ballot, including those running in swing districts.

I dont know if youre gonna see ads in Orange County and in (the) Central Valley attacking the courts when theres a bunch of other issues that are front and center down there, like gas prices and retail theft, Acosta said.

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Acosta said he believes voters care more about control of the House and Senate because those are on the ballot, not this hypothetical that we can have justices that he could appoint.

Other California Democrats campaigning this election cycle have already seized on the immunity ruling.

The Supreme Court not only opened the door to presidential crime, but it also delayed any accountability for Donald Trump, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, told MSNBC. The most dire consequence of all of this is that accountability is being pushed off until after the election. And should Donald Trump be elected, that accountability in the form of this prosecution will probably never come, said Schiff, who is running for the Senate.

The Supreme Court placed itself on trial with this decision  and its credibility has been further diminished in the eyes of all those who believe in the rule of law, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said in a statement.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has sent out several fundraising emails for his political action committee about Supreme Court actions, including one June 14, calling the court out-of-control for overturning gun safety laws.

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The decision may redirect some voters attention away from Bidens poor performance at his debate against Trump, one that has renewed concerns about his fitness for reelection
Demonstrators participate in a rally Monday outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Supreme Courts 2023-24 term wasnt entirely one-sided. But for the most part, the powerful fared better than the powerless.

Industries objecting to U.S. regulations can now ask federal judges to overturn rules they dislike, rather than trying to persuade the regulators. Officials who have acted in favor of private parties can accept gifts from them, known as gratuities, without facing bribery charges. Cities can clear street encampments of homeless residents who have nowhere else to go, and prosecute those who refuse to leave.

And former President Donald Trump cant be prosecuted for most of the actions he took to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Nor can states use a post-Civil War ban on insurrectionists seeking public office to exclude Trump from their presidential ballots.

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Some cases turned out differently. While overturning a federal ban on bump stocks, which convert semiautomatic rifles into rapid-fire weapons, the justices upheld a ban on gun possession by people who have attacked or threatened someone in their household. And for now, at least, the same court that repealed the constitutional right to abortion in 2022 has preserved womens access to the pill used in nearly two-thirds of all U.S. abortions.

But overall, the term that concluded Monday was a success for businesses, conservatives and Trump, who appointed three members of the courts 6-3 conservative majority.

Its a court driven by conservative ideology and politics, not precedent or constitutional doctrine, said Erwin Chemerinsky, the UC Berkeley law school dean and a liberal legal scholar who has argued cases before the court.

Sarah Finkelstein, a professor of law and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, contrasted Fridays ruling overturning the courts 40-year-old Chevron doctrine, which required federal judges to defer to agencies reasonable interpretations of disputed federal laws, with Mondays decision shielding Trump from prosecution for most official actions he took as president. Both were 6-3 rulings by Chief Justice John Roberts.

With those rulings, Finkelstein said, federal courts have gained authority with respect to administrative agencies but lost it with respect to presidential decisions.

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The court also took a different view of judicial oversight in the homeless case, said David Faigman, chancellor and dean at UC College of the Law School San Francisco. While concluding that federal judges were best qualified to oversee the federal bureaucracy and interpret laws and regulations, he said, the justices rejected judicial oversight of street encampments, like those in San Francisco that have been overseen by a federal magistrate since December 2022.

The court has a very high opinion of itself, Faigman said. It is the ultimate arbiter of the extent of individual liberty and regulatory control in the administrative state.

But Sarah Isgur, a legal analyst for the conservative online publication the Dispatch, said the court correctly decided judges were more reliable interpreters of federal laws than government agencies, which change with each new administration.

The law has been flip-flopping around every four years, Isgur, a former Justice Department attorney in the Trump administration, said on a National Constitution Center podcast on the courts term. We should all be rooting for less power for the executive.

It was also a term of outspoken divisions within the court. Dissenting from Mondays ruling that shielded Trump from prosecution, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the majoritys reasoning could also immunize a president who orders the assassination of a political rival or organizes a military coup.

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In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law, wrote Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. With fear for our democracy, I dissent.

Roberts replied that the dissenters strike a tone of chilling doom that is wholly inappropriate and were engaged in fearmongering.

I think this is a very divided court, said Chemerinsky of UC Berkeley. He said the ideological differences among the justices illustrate that presidential elections really matter.

President Joe Biden sounded the same theme in a statement that endorsed Sotomayors dissent.

Under Mondays decision, any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law, Biden said. He said the ruling continued the courts attack in recent years on a wide range of long established legal principles in our nation, from gutting voting rights and civil rights to taking away a womans right to choose to todays decision that undermines the rule of law of this nation.

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The Biden administration was on the losing side of most, but not all, of the courts major rulings. In a 6-3 decision last week, the justices restored the administrations ability to contact social media platforms and ask them to take down posts such as those attacking COVID-19 vaccines or claiming election fraud.

Lower courts had agreed with Republican-led states that the administration was violating freedom of speech. But a majority led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and joined by two fellow conservatives and the courts three liberals, said the states failed to show they were harmed. Justice Samuel Alito said in dissent that the administrations actions posed a serious threat to the First Amendment.

The administration also successfully urged the court to restore access to mifepristone, the abortion medication that had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000 and that has become a crucial means of pregnancy termination in the two years since the court overturned the constitutional right to abortion it had declared in Roe v. Wade 1973.

But last months 9-0 ruling by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, was based on the courts finding that a group of anti-abortion doctors who claimed mifepristone was dangerous had failed to show they were harmed and lacked legal standing to sue.

The issue could return to the court in suits by others, including three states that contend their health systems are being affected by women allegedly harmed by the bill. A federal judge in Texas has allowed the states to intervene in the lawsuit.

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Chinese vice premier meets guests from Switzerland, Japan

Xinhua) 13:36, July 02, 2024

BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Monday respectively met with Swiss Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, also head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, and Yohei Kono, president of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT) and a delegation from the Japanese business community headed by Kono in Beijing.

When meeting with Parmelin, He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with Switzerland to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen and expand practical cooperation in economic and trade fields, upgrade the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and push forward the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership.

Parmelin said Switzerland is ready to strengthen trade and investment cooperation with China and push bilateral economic and trade relations to a new level.

When meeting with Kono and the delegation from the Japanese business community visiting China, He extended warm congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the JAPIT.

He expressed the hope that the JAPIT will better play the role of a bridge and continue to be a practitioner of the China-Japan friendship, a promoter of mutually beneficial cooperation, and a defender of the stability of the global industrial and supply chains.

China is firmly committed to high-level opening up and welcomes Japanese companies to expand investment and cooperation with China further, He said.

For his part, Kono said the JAPIT will continue to promote Japan-China economic and trade exchanges and make new contributions to Japan-China friendship.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The San Francisco chapter of YIMBY Action, which supports an aggressive expansion of housing for people at all income levels, has endorsed Mayor London Breed over her four main opponents in Novembers election. Colin Peck/Special to the Chronicle

A major San Francisco housing advocacy group is fully embracing Mayor London Breeds reelection bid as she tries to defeat four serious challengers partly by promoting her efforts to build new homes in the city.

The San Francisco chapter of YIMBY Action, which supports an aggressive expansion of housing for people at all income levels, has endorsed Breed over her opponents in the November mayors race. Breed has long positioned herself as a champion of the YIMBY movement and has stalwart allies who share her views on housing.

Winning backing by YIMBY Action was especially welcome for Breed after she saw opponents prevail in two other key endorsements last week. Securing the groups backing is a significant victory for Breed after some of the mayoral candidates sought to chip away at her housing-focused supporters by courting an endorsement from YIMBY Action. For example, candidate Mark Farrell, a former supervisor and interim mayor, unveiled a suite of housing policy proposals just days before he was set to meet with the group. But YIMBY Action has so far backed only Breed and has not granted any lower-ranked endorsements to other candidates under the citys ranked-choice voting system.

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San Francisco allows voters to rank up to 10 candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority on the first round, those with the fewest votes are eliminated and their votes are distributed to the voters next-highest choices until one person has a majority.

The YIMBY endorsement could be a key lift to Breeds campaign. While the group doesnt plan to launch a political action committee, it does intend to send volunteers to knock on doors and make phone calls to get out of the vote for Breed and other candidates the group is supporting.

Jane Natoli, the San Francisco organizing director for YIMBY Action, said the organization endorsed Breed because shed been consistent in her approach to housing policy. She pointed to Breeds efforts to partner with state Sen. Scott Wiener, a prominent YIMBY advocate, on various legislation hes authored to boost housing construction in the state. Breed had also been very receptive to feedback from YIMBY Action as the city was putting together its state-mandated plan to approve 82,000 new homes by 2031, Natoli said.



Shes been walking the walk. Shes been putting it in a lot of the work, Natoli said. It does not mean every effort has been successful, obviously we know that. But in terms of the depth and breadth of initiatives that shes put forward  shes been in the trenches doing this for the past six years, and people strongly appreciated that.

Natoli said YIMBY Actions local chapter has not decided whether it will grant a second- or third-choice endorsement in the mayors race.

Breeds campaign was enthusiastic about the YIMBY endorsement in an email to supporters Monday, touting her bold leadership and commitment to creating more housing at all levels in San Francisco.



YIMBY Actions embrace of Breed came after a week when the mayor failed to win the backing of a powerful moderate group and a key labor group.



The board of Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy endorsed Farrell and Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit founder and Levi Strauss heir running for mayor, while telling supporters to rank Breed third. Then the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, which had previously supported Breed during her 2018 and 2019 campaigns, endorsed Farrell and Supervisor Ahsha Safai for mayor. A separate alliance of large construction unions, including the Nor Cal Carpenters Union and two other labor groups, endorsed Breed several months ago, citing her record on housing.

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Despite making a big push for the YIMBY endorsement, Farrell remained optimistic in a statement Tuesday and also critical of Breeds record on housing. He said the city was permitting very few homes this year, which he said was not going to cut it. Farrell said he wanted to jump-start residential construction across the city to deliver more affordable and middle-income homes for families.
Nintendo Reveals Plan To Prevent Scalpers: Make More Consoles To Meet Demand

Nintendo has revealed its plans to prevent scalpers from affecting its economy by making more consoles in order to meet the demand of its players.

In March 2017, when the Nintendo Switch was initially released, it suffered from a constrained supply that boosted scalpers who sold the device at inflated prices. In the past few years, the manufacture of the console was affected by a shortage of components, which made it difficult to find.

Nintendo's Answer to Scalpers

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa spoke during an investor-focused Q&A, noting that things will be different when it comes to launching the successor of the Switch. The translation of the discussions had him saying that the countermeasure against resale was to produce a sufficient number of units to meet demand.

Furukawa added that this particular idea to combat scalpers has not changed since last year. On top of this, they are considering whether there are any other measures that they can take to the extent allowed by laws and regulations while taking into consideration the circumstances of each region, according to IGN.

He said that while they failed to produce sufficient quantities of the Nintendo Switch last year and the year before, the issue has not been resolved. At this time, they do not believe that the shortage of components will significantly impact the production of the Switch's successor.

Read Also: Magic: The Gathering Announces New Foundations Set for Beginners

Nintendo said in May that it would announce the Switch successor console "within this fiscal year," which means sometime before Mar. 31, 2025. In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Furukawa also confirmed the new console but did not give out its name or share a release window.

Reports in February indicated that the Switch 2 as it is called for now was delayed until the early months of 2025. Various sources also claimed that Nintendo told publishers that the console was originally planned to be released at the end of 2024.

The Switch Successor

During his talk, Furukawa was also asked how the Japanese video game company would support indie developers with the new console. He answered that Nintendo has been improving development tools and improving support for developers, said Kotaku.

He also mentioned the regular Indie World strand of its Direct streams. Furukawa added that indie games are essential to increasing the appeal of the platform, which means that they would rather continue to strengthen these activities in the future.

Despite Furukawa's mention of the Nintendo Switch 2, the console itself did not make an appearance at this year's Nintendo Direct. He noted that they value surprising their customers in a positive way.

Additionally, he argued that sharing specific product information or sales strategies in advance would only diminish that surprise factor. This means that the company intentionally did not include the Switch 2 in its sales forecasts.

This was also seen with the surprise release of the OLED Nintendo Switch in 2021, showcasing how the company consistently plays it close to the vest. The Switch successor is expected to significantly improve upon the original console in nearly every way, according to CNET.



Related Article: Ubisoft Lays Off 33 Employees To Deliver on 'Ambitious Roadmap'
A helicopter drops water as the Thompson Fire burns, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Ethan Swope/Associated Press People on jet skis watch as the Thompson Fire burns, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Ethan Swope/Associated Press A women runs while cars evacuate as the Thompson Fire burns, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Ethan Swope/Associated Press

UPDATED LIVE BLOG: Excessive heat warnings continue as temps set to peak; fires burn across state

A long-duration heat wave is underway, bringing extreme temperatures across California  even to the regions that usually stay cooler, like the San Francisco Peninsula. The heat is expected to last through next Tuesday. All-time temperature records could be threatened in several locations, and the hot weather may reach historic territory, both in duration and in magnitude. Wildfires have broken out across Northern California, including the fast-burning Thompson Fire that is threatening parts of Oroville. Fire officials are very concerned about the prospect of illegal fireworks on the 4th of July.

The Now-Cast: Our meteorologists are tracking weather models and here is their latest update  Temperatures will remain quite warm overnight, an unfortunate trend that will continue with this multi-day heat wave. Lows will fall into the upper 50s in the San Francisco and in the low 60s to low 70s everywhere else. Attention then shifts to Wednesday, which looks to be the hottest day of this stretch for coastal areas and represents San Franciscos best shot at reaching 90 degrees in July since 1996.

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Latest updates:

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday night that California secured a fire management assistance grant to help the state enlist resources to fight the Thompson Fire in Butte County. Local, state and tribal agencies will be able to apply for a 75% reimbursement on costs incurred fighting the blaze, according to the governors office. By Tuesday evening, the blaze had burned homes, torched 2,135 acres and forced evacuations on 13,000 people in Butte County.

Flames are seen on a ridge at Potters Ravine Recreation Area near Lake Oroville during the Thompson Fire in Oroville, Calif., Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Dublin officials, citing PG&E, said a power outage affecting 5,000 customers in the western part of the East Bay city could last until Wednesday morning. The outage comes amid a historic heat wave that has produced triple digit temperatures in multiple parts of the Bay Area.



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The National Weather Service on Tuesday said that an excessive heat warning for parts of the Central Valley would remain in effect through 8 a.m. Wednesday. The areas named in the warning include the San Joaquin Valley, West Side Hills, Sierra Foothills, Yosemite Valley, Kern River Valley, Tehachapi Mountains and Kern County Desert.

Weather models Tuesday night showed that smoke from the Thompson Fire is likely to flow from Northern California into the Bay Area by Wednesday morning. The smoke is likely to remain above ground, which means it likely wont cause widespread air quality impacts, according to San Francisco Chronicle Meteorologist Anthony Edwards. Edwards said there could be possibly some slight impacts in some areas of the North and East Bay.

Five engines and 18 firefighters are heading to Butte County to battle the fast-spreading Thompson Fire on an immediate need request under the California mutual aid system, the San Francisco Fire Department said.

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Inmate firefighters with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Antelope Conservation Camp march along Canyon Drive while battling the Thompson Fire in Oroville, Calif., Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The emergency, which impacts Northern California, was due to wildfire, the grid operator said. It could bring the potential loss of local area transmission and generation. More details were not immediately available, but wildfires occasionally threaten transmission lines that move large amounts of electricity across the state.

Approximately 13,000 people in Butte County have been evacuated due to the Thompson Fire, according to Kristi Olio, a county spokesperson.

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As of 7:30 p.m. the fire has torched 2,136 acres. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.

Significant evacuations have occurred in Oroville (pop 20,000)

By Tuesday evening, several parts of Oroville (pop. 20,000) were under evacuation, with the Butte County Sheriff announcing new orders shortly after 7 p.m. Evacuation areas currently include a large portion of East Oroville, which borders Lake Oroville, Californias second-largest reservoir. Some unincorporated communities in Butte County near Oroville such as Kelly Ridge and Hurleton were also under evacuation. Evacuations stretched through portions of Northeast Oroville all the way to the Table Mountain community, located near North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve.

Mop-up work will occur overnight for the fire, which has been burning near Calistoga, Cal Fire said. The fire was mapped at just over 40 acres and burned no structures.

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California State Park officials said Tuesday that the Lake Oroville Recreation Area would remain closed until further notice after the Thompson Fire broke out in Butte County. Officials said camping reservations for the area were cancelled through the 4th of July but could be extended. Updates can be found here.

That includes a forecast of 113 in Ukiah, in Mendocino County, which would set a new daily temperature record. That is very hot for Ukiah, said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain during a presentation Tuesday evening. Even more records are forecast to be broken Friday and Saturday, as shown in this interactive table below.

San Jose hit 102 degrees, tying a record from 1970 and marking the first time the city has topped 100 degrees since September of 2022. Preliminary data shows daily records were set in Concord at 108 degrees, Livermore at 106 degrees and Napa at 102 degrees. All of the previous records in these places were set 23 years ago.

Oakland reached 90 degrees, surpassing a 2001 record. Santa Rosa hit 105 degrees, eclipsing a 1970 record. SFOs high was 88 and downtown San Franciscos high was 82. It doesnt appear as if any records were set in Sacramento, as the city topped out at 104 degrees, which was a few degrees cooler than the forecast.

Seperino Jackson takes a swig of juice while sitting in the shade in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

The fire grew from just 245 acres a few hours earlier. It has forced about 2,000 evacuations in Butte County. Read more here.

In an early Tuesday evening update, the weather service urged people to stay aware and find ways to stay cool and hydrated as the region enters a potentially deadly, historic, and prolonged heat event.

Elvis Rollman stands in the shade near his mobile home in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Rollmans air conditioning unit broke three years ago, and couldnt afford to fix it. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

Caltrain advised its riders to expect delays of between 30 and 80 minutes on all trains in both directions. BART is running its trains at slower speeds and warned riders to expect delays throughout the system.

Hot weather has disrupted above-ground regional rail service in recent years. In 2022, triple-digit heat warped BART rail tracks and caused the partial derailment of a train near Concord.

As the Thompson Fire continued to spread in Butte County, the California Department of Water Resources said several state project water facilities were under evacuation orders.

Precautionary measures have been enacted, including wetting down potentially at-risk areas with water trucks, placing backup generators at key OFD facilities, and creating staffing plans to continue managing state water project operations remotely upon evacuation, officials said on social media.

The city of St. Helena, located roughly 10 miles south of the Toll Fire burning near Calistoga, has canceled its Fourth of July fireworks show. In a community alert, the city pointed to the risk of wildfire, extremely high temperatures and very dry conditions as factors that led to the decision to postpone the fireworks show to a later date when conditions are more favorable. St. Helena will still host a community event on Thursday featuring a bike parade, childrens activities and a performance by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers cover band Petty Rocks.

With the heat reaching 109 Tuesday afternoon, youd think Vacavilles Walter Graham Aquatic Center would be packed. But there were maybe 30 people, mostly kids, playing under a structure that spits and gushes water. Another 20 hung out in a nearby pool. Im surprised there arent more people today, said the head lifeguard, who did not want to give his name. I think a lot of people dont want to go outside when there is air conditioning to be had.

Yasvel Ruiz, 6, reaches for the shower to cool down in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

The Butte County Sheriffs Office issued evacuation orders Tuesday for some 1,500 to 2,000 residents in the areas of Kelly Ridge and Hurleton east of Oroville due to the Thompson Fire. The evacuation shelter is at the Oroville Church of the Nazarene at 2238 Monte Vista Avenue in Oroville.

Temperatures have peaked at over 100 degrees in the midafternoon just to the west of the Thompson Fire in Butte County, with relative humidity levels running between 15% and 20% and winds gusting from the northwest at 20 to 25 mph. In other words, environmental conditions are primed for fire spread, which is why this fire is growing so rapidly.

Temperatures will level off over the next few hours, but the fire has generated so much low-level heat already that winds will continue to be gusty and will likely continue to push the fire southeast toward the Oroville Dam. Relative humidity levels will not recover much overnight, but temperatures and winds should back off a bit, hopefully giving crews an edge on containing the spread before sunrise Wednesday.

The Denverton Fire, which started around 1:30 p.m. near Denverton Road and Creed Road southeast of Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, was fully contained approximately two hours later at 470 acres. Despite the containment, traffic on Highway 12 remained heavily impacted, with no estimated time for reopening. No structures were threatened, and no evacuations were issued.

The heat wave brought many people from around the Bay Area out to San Franciscos beaches in an attempt to cool down. Ocean Beach was a popular haven for people without air conditioning at home seeking to escape high temperatures. Dozens of surfers like Chris Cormier, who has been a regular at Ocean Beach for over 40 years, were heading into the water all morning long. The heat makes coming out surfing more inspiring, he said. Even as the rest of the region sizzled, however, lifeguards at Ocean Beach were more worried about strong rip currents than the rising temperatures. Ocean Rescue lifeguard Sean Scallan, 61, said the currents had been active Tuesday morning. We are more concerned about the currents today than we are about the heat.

The evacuation warning for the Thompson Fire in Butte County now includes the Oroville Hospital. The mandatory evacuation order is just blocks away from the medical facility. The Thompson Fire smoke plume is at least 10,000 feet high, according to radar data. Click here to see evacuation zones.

An excessive heat warning and heat advisory are in effect until next Tuesday, with inland temperatures ranging from the upper 90s to near 110 degrees, posing a significant risk of heat-related illnesses, according to an afternoon update from the National Weather Service. The agency also issued a Red Flag Warning through 5 a.m. Friday for the North Bay interior, Santa Cruz mountains, Marin and Sonoma coastal ranges and East Bay hills. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch is in effect from 9 a.m. Friday through midnight Monday for the interior Central Coast, including the Southern Salinas Valley.

People nap while shading their faces at Albany Bulb beach in Albany, California Tuesday, July 2, 2024 as a heat wave descends on the Bay Area. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

The Butte County Sheriffs Office said it is ordering evacuations for Zones 700 through 715, as well as Zone 851 in Kelly Ridge and Hurleton areas of Oroville due to fire. Click here to see evacuation zones.

Calistogas Amici Cellars, one of only a few wineries located on Old Lawley Toll Road where the Toll Fire broke out on Tuesday, said that all staff have evacuated. No guests were on the property when the evacuation took place. Amici president Melissa Devore said the fire is just over the hill from the winery and the air is pretty smoky, but that there has been great air response from CalFire. We are prepared from fires in the past and communication has been good, she said. Amici winemaker Tony Biagi added he is blown away by how quickly CalFire got on it.

The Toll Fire burning remained at about 50 acres with zero containment as of 2:05 p.m., according to Cal Fire spokesperson Jason Clay. The fire is wind-driven, burning side-slope to the southwest, Cal Fire officials wrote in an incident update. No injuries have been reported.

The National Weather Service in Sacramento just confirmed that the current excessive heat warning, which covers 7 days, is the longest duration excessive heat warning that they have ever issued. The previous record was 6 consecutive days back in June 2017.

Colin Johnson watches his children play in the water while he protects himself from the sun with a straw hat at Crissy Field Beach in San Francisco on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Even with the thermometer hitting 107 in the early afternoon, and some nearby preventative power outages, Vacaville cooling centers, located at two public libraries, were uncrowded. A library clerk at the Cultural Center Library said there were relatively few visitors Tuesday, even from the homeless population in the area that often uses the restrooms or takes advantage of the air conditioning.

While Outer Sunset is still in the lower 60s, places like the Mission District and Sunnydale are already facing temperatures in the mid-80s. This map shows how different S.F. neighborhoods are experiencing todays heat wave.

San Francisco neighborhoods face a wide range of temperatures on July 2. Baron/Lynx

Multiple fire departments across the Bay Area are preparing for potential fire danger ahead of the July 4 holiday as a combination of high heat, high winds and fireworks elevate the risk of wildfires.

Cal Fire-Sonoma Lake is at peak staffing levels according to Jason Clay, the agencys public information officer. Since early June, the Marin County Fire Department has also been at peak staffing, said Mari Ochoa, the agencys public information officer. Similarly, the Alameda County Fire Department will increase their staffing and fire resources for July 4, including five additional fire engines, Deputy Chief Ryan Nishimoto said in a news release.

Californias electricity grid has enough capacity to handle an uptick in demand as residents turn on air conditioners to escape this weeks scorching heat, according to officials with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). As of midday Tuesday, CAISO anticipated that energy demand will peak at 42,205 megawatts on Wednesday and 45,342 megawatts on Thursday, both well below the capacity of 54,053 megawatts. Power usage hit an all-time high of 52,061 megawatts on Sept. 6, 2022.

Still flush from winter, Northern Californias rivers are generating an abundance of hydroelectric power, which can help backfill a drop in solar power as the sun sets, said Anne Gonzales, a CAISO spokesperson. Gonzales said the grid operator has no plans to ask residents to conserve power by issuing flex alerts.

The Toll Fire burning near Calistoga grew to about 50 acres shortly after noon Tuesday, Cal Fire said. Some 300 firefighters were sent to the site of the blaze, burning east of Silverado Trail.

Cal Fire said there were about 114 people in evacuation zones or warning zones.

An air tanker drops retardant behind a home while battling the Toll Fire near Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. An extended heatwave blanketing Northern California has resulted in red flag fire warnings and power shutoffs. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger/Associated Press

Some alarmingly strong language was just issued from the National Weather Service office in Monterey, and all heat advisories in the Bay Area were extended through next Tuesday July 9th.

An exceptionally dangerous situation is expected to unfold over the next week as we enter a potentially historic and deadly heat event. It cannot be stressed enough that while one day at these temperatures may be manageable for some, an event of this scale, magnitude, and longevity will likely rival anything weve seen in the last 18 years, the weather service wrote.

Meanwhile, things continue to heat up around the region. Vacavilles 101 degree reading is the first official triple digit of the day, but plenty more will follow. Many locations in the interior East Bay from Walnut Creek to Livermore have temperatures in the mid to upper 90s as of noon and will rise higher through the afternoon.

Downtown San Franciscos temperature so far has topped out in the low 80s, falling back a few degrees in the noon hour thanks to a sea breeze. That sea breeze is likely to prevent the city from hitting 90 degrees today.

Driving east on I-80 from the bay to Vacaville before noon, temperatures climbed quickly. It was 74 in Albany, near the bay, 79 in Richmond, 88 in Pinole, 90 in Hercules, 95 in Cordelia, 99 in Fairfield, 100 at Travis Air Force Base and 102 in Vacaville.

A sign reminds people to stay hydrated along I-80 eastbound in Albany, Calif. Tuesday, July 2, 2024 as a heat wave descends on the Bay Area. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Evacuation orders were issued Tuesday afternoon for areas surrounding the Toll Fire near Calistoga.

Residents on Old Lawley Toll Road were ordered to leave their properties, according to the Napa County Sheriffs Office. Check this map to see if your property is within the evacuation zone.

An evacuation warning was issued for residents further north of the blaze, which is burning off Old Lawley Toll Road, Cal Fire said.

The East Bay Regional Parks District said it would close a long list of inland parks in response to the heightened fire risk accompanying the regions heat wave.

At least 30 parks would close from Tuesday until Friday morning, park officials said. The parks district made a list of closures available here.

Swimming pools and shoreline park areas operated by the parks district would remain open, officials said.

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla praised the Biden Administrations proposed rule to establish the first-ever federal safety standard to protect workers from excessive heat. The rule, suggested by the Department of Labors OSHA, incorporates provisions from Padillas Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatalities Prevention Act. It mandates work practice standards like required rest breaks, access to shade and hydration, and acclimatization to high-heat conditions. Employers would also need to identify heat hazards, create emergency response plans and train staff to manage heat risks. The rule will affect approximately 36 million workers, aiming to significantly reduce heat-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.

Construction worker Greg Jackson takes a water break while working on the roads in San Francisco on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The National Weather Service extended its red flag warning for the Santa Cruz Mountains, East Bay hills and North Bay mountains until 5 a.m. Friday as hot, dry and windy conditions are not expected to continue through the Fourth of July.

Gusts of 30 to 40 mph will be possible across ridgetops and higher peaks, the weather service wrote in its warning. Many areas that may see lower wind speeds will still be critically dry and very hot. This combined with near historically dry fuels will undoubtedly present very dangerous fire weather conditions.

A historic heat wave is hitting California, with the Bay Area expecting triple-digit temperatures this week. Heres how to stay safe:

Find cool places: If you dont have air conditioning, visit malls, libraries or cooling centers, especially during the hottest part of the day.

If you dont have air conditioning, visit malls, libraries or cooling centers, especially during the hottest part of the day. Avoid the outdoors: Stay inside between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and wear light, loose clothing.

Stay inside between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and wear light, loose clothing. Stay hydrated: Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks.

Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks. Watch for heat illness: Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and seek medical help if needed.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and seek medical help if needed. Check on vulnerable people: Look out for young children, the elderly and those with medical conditions. Do not leave pets in hot cars.

Look out for young children, the elderly and those with medical conditions. Do not leave pets in hot cars. Set thermostats wisely: Keep your thermostat at 78 degrees to avoid power outages.

The city could reach 90 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, which hasnt happened in July since 1996. The Mission District already reached 88 degrees by 11 a.m. It isnt unprecedented for downtown San Francisco to break 90 degrees, but it typically only happens a few times a year.

Streaks of days with temperatures of 90 and above are even rarer. The longest recorded streak was four days.

Vacaville reached 99 degrees by 10:30 a.m., the hottest of any Bay Area city.

Temperatures were into the low to mid-80s in San Franciscos Mission District, and the low to mid-90s in the East Bay valleys. Temperatures are expected to flirt with 90 degrees in downtown San Francisco around 1 p.m., and well into the 100s away from the bay shoreline around 4 p.m.

The National Weather Service is expecting dangerous heat in the coming days, with places in the Bay Area facing major and even extreme heat risk. The Central Valley is expected to face consecutive days of extreme heat risk, depicted in magenta in weather service maps, meaning the entire population at risk of developing heat-related illness.

It is unusual to see heat of this magnitude early in July, said National Weather Service Sacramento meteorolgist Courtney Carpenter in a briefing Tuesday. Its also rare to see multiple days of magenta heat risk in a row. Our historical data back to about 2005 shows a few climate sites have hit two to four days in a row once or twice in the last decade.

A wildfire broke out north of Calistoga, in northern Napa County around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The blaze, dubbed the Toll Fire, was measured at around 40 acres shortly before 11:30 a.m. Alert California webcams showed the fire producing considerable smoke, drifting south. Several aircraft were working to contain the fire, according to the Cal Fire incident map

The North Bay mountains are included in a red flag warning until 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The Toll Fire burning in Napa County. AlertWildfire

Bay Area residents are advised to forgo fireworks this Fourth of July, according to the National Weather Service.

Wildfires will be easy to start and quick to spread, the agency warned in an advisory early Tuesday about the prolonged heat wave affecting the region. Areas under a red flag warning, including parts of the North Bay Hills, East Bay Hills, Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Marin and Sonoma Coastal Ranges, are particularly vulnerable.

The NWS highlighted the increased risk due to a surge in campers over the long holiday weekend and the obvious dangers of fireworks. This puts our area in a combustible situation through next weekend, the NWS stated.

Fireworks should not be used this year, and campers should be very careful with anything dragging from trailers and securing campfires.

About a dozen swimmers got a cool start to what promises to be a hot day by swimming in the bay at the Albany Beach.

It was about 8 a.m. and 63 degrees at the beach next to the closed Golden Gate Fields race track, when Jenny Foskett, Colleen Haraden, 59, and Kim Harley, 54, all from Berkeley, emerged from the bay, where they had measured a water temperature of 66 degrees.

The women and other members of the Albany Bulb Blue Boobies, swim daily at the beach, often emerging into cold, foggy, windy weather. Tuesday it was sunny and calm with just a slight breeze.

Were here year round  rain, fog, freezing temperatures, said Teri Hudson, 54, a teacher who lives in Albany. During the school year she swims with the groups Dawn Patrol, often in the dark.

The group, which has 56 members on its email list, draws about 20 a day two swim together in different waves throughout the day, starting at 6 am. They came together after the pandemic closed public pools, and have stuck to the bay since.On Tuesday, when the forecasts predicted temperatures would hit 88 in Albany, the swimmers enjoyed the warmer, sunny exit from the bay.

James Johnson, 6, swims in the ocean on a hot day at Crissy Field Beach in San Francisco on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The National Weather Service predicts many Bay Area cities will tie or break daily high temperature records Tuesday.

Santa Rosas forecast high of 106 would break the old record of 103 set in 1970.

San Rafael and Kentfield are forecast to hit 105 and 101, respectively. The daily record in both cities is 101, set in 1991.

Oakland is forecast to reach 90, which would beat the previous record of 89 set in 2001.

Firefighters knocked down a 2-acre grass fire in the Berkeley hills on Monday night, which fire officials said was sparked by fireworks.

Crews from five local agencies responded to the fire off Shasta Road in Tilden Park just after 9 p.m. and quickly put it out, said Deputy Fire Chief Jon Fischer of the Berkeley Fire Department. There were no injuries reported and no structures threatened, Fischer said.

A red flag warning is in effect for parts of the North Bay, East Bay and other Northern California areas due to the hot, dry and windy conditions in the forecast. The National Weather Service warned that the use of recreational fireworks during the heat wave will create a combustible situation on the Fourth of July.

The long-lasting California heat wave could break temperature records across the state. This table shows some places where historical records are forecast to be tied or broken today and in the next four days.

The Spare of the Air Alert was extended through Wednesday due to unhealthy smog accumulation in the Bay Area, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

A large portion of the Bay Area registered moderate air quality levels at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, including San Francisco, Oakland and other East and North Bay cities, according to the AirNow air quality map.

Parts of San Jose also had moderate air quality levels Tuesday morning.

Track Bay Area air quality conditions using the Chronicles air quality map.

In addition to excessive heat, the weather over the coming week brings the potential for wildfire development  especially with the July 4th holiday.

Along with whatever fires start in the next couple of days with these hot, dry and breezy conditions, there will then be a spate, probably, of new ignitions from fireworks and from folks doing other stuff outdoors, said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said Monday.

Swain pointed to elevated fire risk statewide, with peak concern in portions of Northern California: the Central Valley, the foothills around the Central Valley up to about 4,000 feet and also coastal mountains, particularly those near the San Francisco and Monterey bay areas.

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said that conditions away from the coast are unlikely to cool down for the next six to eight days. Swain expressed major concern, saying, This is just going to go on and on and on, especially once youre more than 20 or 30 miles from the coast, for seven to 10  10- plus even  days in some places.

Current forecasts indicate that Sacramento may exceed 100 degrees for 10 straight days or more, potentially setting a record. The streak began Monday with a high of 102 degrees.

A monkey plays with blocks of ice and ice pops to beat the heat at Oakland Zoo in Oakland, Calif. Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

The early July heat wave is expected to threaten records, both in magnitude and in duration, according to the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.

A few daily records and all-time July records are possible. Additionally, consecutive days above 100 and 105 degrees may break records. The last comparable Fourth of July heat wave was in 2013  this one may be hotter and longer, said Courtney Carpenter, warning coordination meteorologist at the weather service office in Sacramento.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. began cutting power to Northern California customers on Tuesday morning, including some in the Bay Area. Customers near Vacaville and north of Calistoga appeared to have had their power shut-off as of 8:25 a.m., according to PG&Es outage map.

The shut-offs  which were expected to impact 12,000 customers in Northern California on Tuesday  are an effort to ensure PG&Es equipment does not spark a wildfire during a heat wave.

PG&E customers can search their address to see if theyre in a shut-off zone using the Chronicles PG&E outage map.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. began shutting off power to Northern California customers as the edge of a multi-day heat wave arrived. Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

National Weather Service officials issued an excessive heat warning and heat advisory that will take effect late Tuesday morning and last through Sunday evening.

Inland temperatures in parts of the Bay Area could reach as high as 110 degrees, resulting in major to extreme risk of heat-related illnesses, the weather service said.

The prolonged heat wave threatens to undo all-time temperature records in parts of California. Read more here about the timeline for Californias heat wave and potential impacts.

Probability of the temperature reaching 100 degrees or higher on Tuesday. National Weather Service Bay Area

Heat will kick into full gear around the Bay Area on Tuesday, with widespread 100-degree temperatures inland. Thermometers in San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Napa, Concord, Livermore and San Jose should all surpass the century mark. Downtown San Francisco will even make a run at 90 degrees. The Pacific Coast will escape the worst of the heat, with highs in the 70s at Ocean Beach, Pacifica State Beach and Montara State Beach.

Go here to read the full regional breakdown for the Bay Area.

Sacramento is bracing for nearly a week straight of high temperatures above 108 degrees. The inland valleys of the Bay Area could reach the triple digits for five to seven days. It will even be hot along the San Francisco Peninsula, with highs in the 90s, possibly close to 100 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday.

Probability of the temperature reaching 110 degrees or higher on July 4th. Weather Bell

Some eye-popping temperatures are possible in the eastern deserts and valleys of California, including Death Valley, where temperatures could reach up to 130 degrees by the end of the week. Record highs, and potentially some all-time highs, will be threatened in the San Joaquin and Owens Valleys. Cities like Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield and Ridgecrest will see temperatures ranging from 110 to 118 degrees. Overnight temperatures will also challenge records, ranging from the mid-70s to low 80s.

More Americans die each year from heat than any other weather events, including floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, according to the National Weather Service.

In the last decade, an average of 188 people died each year from heat  representing nearly half of all weather-related deaths, and far surpassing the 103 deaths from floods, 74 from rip currents and 57 from wind, the agencys figures show.

Elevation wont offer much relief from the daytime heat this week, and the peak of the heat wave in the Sierra may not arrive until the weekend. Highs in the Sierra will start in the 80s at the beginning of the week, rising into the 90s by the end of the week in Truckee, Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes. Even high-altitude locations above 7,000 feet will see daily highs climb from the 70s into the 80s as the week progresses. Thankfully, temperatures will cool off overnight in the Sierra, with lows in the 50s.

There are several city-run locations equipped with air conditioning that residents can visit to cool down on Tuesday, including library branches and a community center.

Here is a list of locations, according to the San Francisco Department of Management:
Voting got underway in France's overseas territories Saturday in high-stakes snap parliamentary elections that could see the far-right party of Marine Le Pen take power for the first time.
Sat Saturday

85 /54

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 50s.
Numerous espionage activities thwarted since Counter-Espionage Law revision

Global Times

National sovereignty, security and interests 'effectively upheld'

By Liu Caiyu Published: Jul 01, 2024 09:43 PM

One year after China implemented its revised Counter-Espionage Law, the country's national security agencies have successfully thwarted a number of espionage activities carried out by foreign entities, such as the notable British MI6 spy case, effectively safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.

This demonstrates that the revision of the law is an urgent necessity in the face of new challenges, providing a strong legal weapon for preventing and combating espionage activities in the new situation, observers noted.

The Counter-Espionage Law was passed at the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee in April 2023 and officially came into effect on July 1, 2023.

The revised Counter-Espionage Law is a reflection of China's attitude toward national security. It clarified what activities are lawful and what are unlawful based on dynamic changing espionage activities conducted by foreign forces, and it also advocated the joint participation of the society to combat against espionage work.

The law explicitly categorized "collaborating with spy organizations and their agents" and "conducting cyberattacks against state organs, confidential-related units, or critical information infrastructure" as espionage activities.

The scope of objects subject to theft of secrets has also been moderately expanded, and "documents, data, materials and items related to national security and interests" are also included for protection.

After a year since it was implemented, the revised law has significantly contributed to maintaining national security, which can be seen from cases involving both domestic and foreign individuals colluding in espionage activities being exposed through reports on the official WeChat accounts of the Ministry of State Security (MSS), Li Wei, an expert on national security at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Monday.

Since the MSS debuted on WeChat, one of the most popular social media platforms, in August 2023, it has posted 281 articles relating to national security as of press time.

The MSS released a dozen series covering aspects such as legal interpretations, case analyses, risk alerts, and more, providing the public with explanations of national security through multiple forms, interactive Q&A sessions, bilingual texts, videos and animations.

Li said that the information spread by the MSS has a deterrent effect on individuals who could potentially be recruited by foreign spy agencies or those who are attempting to engage in espionage activities, which helps to raise anti-espionage awareness throughout society.

Among a series of major espionage cases, there is a British MI6 spy case, in which the MI6 used foreign personnel from "a third country" to engage in espionage activities against China.

"It is imperative for us to remain vigilant, as foreign intelligence agencies are likely to adapt by strengthening their tactics through both traditional and non-traditional methods in response to China's changing strategy," the expert noted.

Li Baiyang, an associate professor of intelligence studies with Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Monday that there is trend that the operations of foreign intelligence agencies have evolved beyond mere data theft, extending into the realm of influencing public opinion by inciting defection key figures in vital sectors such as biosecurity, cyberspace and mineral resources.

The revised law stipulates that the individual who voluntarily surrenders may be given a lighter or mitigated punishment, Li Baiyang noted, calling for continuing strengthening public awareness of national security.

Since the implementation of the law, some external forces have been meddling and distorting China's anti-spy legislation and enforcement work, unnerving foreign businesses and investors.

It is the consensus of all countries to attach importance to counter-espionage work. The China's Counter-Espionage Law targets illegal and criminal acts and does not apply to lawful data activities of foreign enterprises and individuals. The allegation can be seen as a rhetoric to cater to US strategy of containing China, Li Baiyang noted.

He added that throughout the year, it has become evident that the law effectively manages the balance between empowerment and limitation of power, as well as the oversight and control of the exercise of public power by national security agencies.

Starting on Monday, two departmental regulations, namely the "administrative enforcement procedures of the national security agency" and the "criminal case handling procedures of the national security agency" will be officially implemented.

The two departmental regulations, together with the revised Counter-Espionage Law, have laid a solid legal foundation for expediting the establishment of a new legal operational framework for national security agencies, experts said.

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Priorities of cooperation with Italy remain unchanged, says Minister of National Defence L. Kasciunas

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-07-01

International cooperation | Minister's news | Security and defense policy

On June 1 Minister of National Defence met with Minister of Defence of Italy Guido Crosetto in Rome with whom he discussed the security situation in Europe, defence cooperation and preparations for the NATO Summit in Washington next week.

"Lithuania's priorities in defence cooperation with Italy remain unchanged. We appreciate Italy's practical support to the security of our region. In full understating of the current security situation, we are grateful to Italy for its contribution to the Baltic security and the security of the entire eastern flank. We are doing everything possible to provide proper service conditions for the Allies," underscored Minister of National Defence L. Kasciunas. Military personnel of Italy are serving in the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in the Baltic region Italian ships patrol the Baltic Sea. Also, Italy has provided rotations to five NATO Air Policing Missions in the Baltic states flown from Siauliai so far and plans to deploy the Italian detachment again for two consecutive rotations starting this year. Minister also pointed out that Lithuania understood the threat of irregular migration originating in the South and Mediterranean and said that expanding bilateral cooperation was of utmost importance in the present geopolitical and security context.

Another topic Ministers discussed was the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington. Besides executability of defence plans and increasing defence spending, decisions on practical implementation of the Rotational Air Defence Model is one of Lithuania's key expectations at the Summit. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that air defence remains among top priorities for defence of the NATO eastern border. Minister L. Kasciunas invited Italy to contribute to the implementation of the model by deploying its air defence capabilities in Lithuania.

Minister also addressed assistance to Ukraine. L. Kasciunas underscored the importance of Ukraine's victory against Russia and thanked Italy for the decision to join the Ukraine Demining Coalition that Lithuania led and encourage equipment, financial or training contributions. Italy has donated individual demining equipment to Ukraine so far, conducts staff officer and combat demining operator training courses, also, it has taken a decision to transfer one more mid-range air defence system. "We have to fight the Russian disinformation campaigns more intensely to prevent it from discrediting the Western support to Ukraine. Only a strong and continued assistance to Ukraine until its victory can bring back stability and peace to Europe," said Minister L. Kasciunas.

The meeting also addressed the importance of cooperation with defence industry. L. Kasciunas underscored that Lithuania had adopted a new defence industry law to promote defence industry investment in Lithuania. Investment of the German Reinmetall stands out as an excellent example of that. Minister invited Italy's defence industrial giant Leonardo to avail of the favorable conditions in Lithuania, particularly in the area of high technology.

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UNRWA: Aid delivery to Gaza 'extremely difficult' with Israeli restrictions

Iran Press TV

Monday, 01 July 2024 7:06 PM

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says a humanitarian response to aid delivery to the besieged Gaza Strip will be "extremely difficult, if not impossible" with Israel's severe restrictions.

"There is an urgent need for sustained and proportionate access to aid, to be able to provide life-saving aid to Gaza," the UNRWA spokesperson, Louise Wateridge, said on Monday.

She added that the UNRWA relief teams in Gaza are facing "great difficulties" to receive Israel's approval for the entry and delivery of aid.

Humanitarian relief shipments into Gaza should be carried out in a way that guarantees the "safety of relief teams and the safety of the aid at the same time."

She raised a question about the benefit of the presence of doctors and nurses in Gaza when medicine is not available due to strict Israeli restrictions.

Israel has killed at least 37,900 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and injured over 87,000 in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

The brutal onslaught enjoys unreserved military and political support on the part of the Israeli regime's Western allies, not least the United States and France.

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Israel says needs 10,000 forces as it remains mired in Gaza war

Iran Press TV

Monday, 01 July 2024 6:08 PM

The Israeli military says it is in urgent need of thousands of more forces, as the regime is facing increasing challenges almost nine months into its genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.

Minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant said in a statement on Monday that the military "needs 10,000 more soldiers immediately."

Gallant said the military can recruit 4,800 soldiers from ultra-Orthodox men.

Last week, Israel's Supreme Court unanimously ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jews must be subject to the military draft, after decades of being exempted from military service.

Israel's chief rabbi had earlier warned that ultra-Orthodox Jews will leave the occupied territories en masse if Tel Aviv forces them to join the military.

Israel launched a military offensive in the Gaza Strip after it was caught off guard by Hamas's unprecedented operation against the occupied territories in October 2023.

So far, the Israeli military has killed nearly 38,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The regime's head Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to "completely destroy" the Palestinian residence movement before the military agrees to end its offensive in Gaza.

He is under mounting pressure to end the genocidal war both globally and at home with protesters on the streets in large numbers calling for his resignation.

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June 30: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Monday, 01 July 2024 11:37 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 37,900 Palestinians so far, including around 17,000 children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Sunday, June 30, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on June 30:

In a joint operation with Al-Quds Brigades, bombarded the Israeli military gatherings penetrating the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City with mortar shells.

Targeted Israeli forces stationed on the "Netzarim" axis, south of Gaza City, with 107mm rockets.

Targeted gatherings of Israeli forces penetrating the Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, with heavy-caliber mortar shells.

Targeted a gathering of Israeli forces penetrating the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, with mortar shells.

Targeted and destroyed an Israeli military "Namer" troop carrier with an Al-Yassin 105 shell south of the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City.

Targeted command and control rooms of the Israeli military on the "Netzarim" axis with 114 mm short-range "Rajoom" rockets.

Targeted and destroyed two "Merkava" tanks with Al-Yassin 105 shells in Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood in Gaza City.

Targeted a "Chezarit" troop carrier and a "D9" military bulldozer with "Al-Yassin 105" shells, south of the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on June 30:

In a complex operation using a barrage of rockets and artillery shells, the rocket unit of the group targeted the Israeli forces at the Salah al-Din axis checkpoint.

Targeted the "Netzarim" checkpoint manned by Israeli forces on the Rashid [street] axis with a type-107 rocket salvo.

The artillery unit of the group targeted the Israeli forces positioned near Badr School with a number of regular 60-caliber mortar shells.

In a joint operation with the Omar Al-Qasim forces, targeted Israeli military gatherings stationed at the axes of advance in the Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood around Al-Baltaji Street with a barrage of mortar shells.

Targeted a group of Israeli forces and their military vehicles with a barrage of mortar shells on the axes of advance in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

In a joint operation with the Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Brigades, targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles infiltrating the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City with standard 60 mm mortar shells.

Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces storming Al-Fara'a camp in the city of Tubas, using machine guns and explosive devices.

In a joint operation with the Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Brigades, targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles infiltrating the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City with standard 60 mm mortar shells.

Targeted gatherings of Israeli forces located in the vicinity of Tal Zorob with a type-107 rocket barrage.

Targeted Israeli forces stationed in the "Netzarim" axis with a 107mm rocket barrage and heavy-caliber mortar shells.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on June 30:

Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles in the vicinity of the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip with a barrage of mortar shells.

Detonated two ground bombs on Israeli military vehicles advancing southwest of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with heavy-caliber mortar shells on the axes of advance in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

Sniped an Israeli soldier in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli soldiers using machine guns and anti-personnel weapons on Ikhlil Street east of the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in Gaza City.

Targeted the "Nahal Oz" military site with 107-type rocket.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on June 30:

Targeted the "Nahal Oz" site east of Gaza City with a rocket barrage.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on June 30:

In a joint operation with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles penetrating the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, with regular 60 mm mortar shells.

Martyr Abdulqader Al-Husseini Brigades' operations on June 30:

Targeted Israeli forces stationed in the "Netzarim" axis with a 107mm rocket barrage.

Hezbollah's operations on June 30:

Eastern Sector:

Targeted the headquarters of the "Sahel" Battalion in the "Beit Hillel" barracks with a Falaq missile.

Targeted a building used by Israeli forces in the "Metulla" settlement with appropriate weapons.

Launched an aerial attack with a squadron of attack drones on the headquarters of the armored battalions of the 188th Brigade in "Rawia" Barracks.

Targeted military workshop of the "Beit Hillel" Barracks with a Falaq missile.

Targeted the Ruwaisat al-Qarn site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with rockets.

Targeted the Al-Samaqa site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with rockets.

Western sector:

Targeted a building used by Israeli soldiers in the "Yir'on" settlement with appropriate weapons.

Targeted the headquarters of the 91st Division in the "Branit" barracks with a heavy Burkan missile.

Targeted Israeli military's artillery positions in "Khirbet Ma'ar" with rockets.

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Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sails near the Philippines

The carrier was spotted near Luzon island as the U.S.-led RIMPAC military exercise kicked off.

By RFA Staff 2024.07.01 -- China's aircraft carrier the Shandong sailed near the main Philippine island of Luzon late last week in what one analyst said was a show of China's resolve amid tensions with Manila in the South China Sea.

Satellite images obtained by MizarVision, a technology firm based in Shanghai, and several open source analysts show that the Shandong was spotted in the waters about 200 nautical miles (370 km) from Luzon, which is the extent of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, since last Wednesday.

The carrier appeared to be nearest to the Philippine mainland on Friday before heading northwest. This would be the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier has come that close to Philippine shores.

On Sunday it appeared to be back in the waters near Hainan, China, some 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Sanya.

The South China Morning Post newspaper quoted Ni Lexiong, defense professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, as saying that the carrier's passage was intended to send a message of deterrence to Manila and Washington and underline "China's determination to protect territorial sea sovereignty" amid tension over the Second Thomas Shoal.

Last month saw escalating confrontations between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards near the shoal, where Manila maintains an outpost on an old warship. On June 17, Chinese coast guard personnel rammed and boarded a Philippine boat, severely injuring a Filipino sailor

The Philippines has not confirmed the sighting of the Shandong.

Named after the Chinese province of Shandong, it is China's second aircraft carrier but its first that was domestically built.

While sending a message of deterrence, China's aircraft carrier fleet, though expanding, still lags far behind that of the U.S. in terms of technology and power projection.

The Shandong was commissioned in 2019, seven years after the first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, joined the navy's fleet. Both carriers use a ski jump-style launch system called STOBAR, considered much less advanced than U.S. carriers which use electromagnetic catapults.

The Shandong cannot accommodate J-35s, China's fifth-generation fighters, as they require catapults for take-off.

Show of force

Ni, the Shanghai-based professor, was quoted in the Hong Kong newspaper as saying that the Chinese carrier's deployment might also be a response to the U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific exercise, which started on Thursday.

The exercise, widely known as RIMPAC, is held every two years and is in its 29th iteration this year.

The U.S. and 28 partner countries have sent 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel to take part in the drills that are expected to last until Aug. 1 in and around Hawaii.

U.S. Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier the Carl Vinson arrived in Pearl Harbor on June 25 to participate in RIMPAC 2024.

The U.S, Navy said in a statement that the exercise this year would include "multi-domain warfare in a range of scenarios from anti-submarine warfare, multi-ship surface warfare, multinational amphibious landings, and multi-axis defense of the carrier strike group against live forces."

U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported that one of the drills will be the sinking of a decommissioned amphibious assault ship - the USS Tarawa - as a target.

At 40,000 tons, the ship is roughly the same size as China's new Type 075 amphibious assault ships that it is believed to have developed in case of conflict in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.

Military analyst Fu Qianshao told China's Global Times newspaper that using an amphibious assault ship of similar size as a target could simulate an attack on a Chinese amphibious assault ship, as well as on an aircraft carrier.

When asked about RIMPAC 2024, Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said, "The U.S. is trying to frighten the Chinese military through the so-called military exercise, which is a completely impossible task."

Edited by Mike Firn.

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Hungary At The Helm: What To Expect From The EU's Next Presidency

By Rikard Jozwiak July 01, 2024

The European Union is bracing for Hungary to take over the EU's rotating presidency, which starts on July 1. It could be an awkward six months for the EU leadership given that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been on a collision course with Brussels, watering down EU sanctions on Russia, preventing military and financial aid for Ukraine, and questioning Kyiv's EU aspirations.

Hungary, a self-styled "illiberal democracy," has been penalized for what officials in Brussels see as backsliding on democracy, with the EU freezing 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion) of funds meant for the Central European country.

Yet despite the thorny relationship Hungary's six months' stint as president in the second half of 2024 may not be as dramatic and problematic as some may fear.

The rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, one of the main decision-making bodies of the bloc that comprises government ministers from the member states, is alternately held for a period of six months by each of the member states. Under this arrangement, each member state has the opportunity to shape the council's agenda.

According to several sources in Brussels with knowledge of the issue, the Hungarian presidency isn't causing too many sleepless nights. This is largely due to two factors: the actual role of the presidency and the quirks of the political calendar.

Diminished Role

Let's start with the first. The presidencies of the EU Council are not what they used to be. There was a time when the country at the helm really did control the agenda, holding proper summits in their capitals, and their diplomats ran the show behind the scenes.

This changed in 2004, when it was decided that all important summits should be held in the Belgian capital. The changes went deeper in 2009 with the advent of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, designed to improve the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the EU, which created a number of new functions and essentially concentrated power in Brussels.

The Lisbon Treaty created a permanent president of the European Council, which mainly consists of the heads of state or government of the member states. The post is currently held by Belgian politician Charles Michel, who serves a five-year term and chairs all summits.

The council also has a much-expanded and powerful secretariat staffed by EU officials with expertise across all the policy fields. The Lisbon Treaty also created an EU foreign policy chief, currently held by Spanish politician Josep Borrell, and a diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service, to give the foreign policy position some heft. The main task of this person is to prepare and chair the monthly EU foreign affairs council where the bloc's foreign ministers meet to make decisions.

How does this affect the Hungarian presidency? Well, it lessens the influence of the two most Brussels-bashing members of Hungary's national-conservative government, Orban and his foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto.

Budapest can, of course, still influence the conversation, as seen with the unveiling of their Donald Trump-inspired Make Europe Great Again (MEGA) slogan for the presidency last week. Hungary's bold move was dismissed as "trolling" by many in Brussels, with the feeling there would be more of that type of thing to come.

While the two men will still preside over informal ministerial meetings and even a summit in Budapest in November, their role will be fairly superficial. Notably, they will also have to face questions at press conferences and from foreign media, which they normally tend to shun.

What is concretely left for Hungary to do? Their other ministers, such as those responsible for agriculture or justice, will still chair council meetings in their fields, and Hungarian diplomats will do the same in preparatory working groups. The whole idea of the rotating presidency is that the incumbents are expected to be honest brokers, seeking consensus among member states.

Rather than causing trouble, Hungary might also decide to play nice. Speaking to officials from various member states, some have pointed out that while Hungary most certainly has an agenda -- and one that is often at odds with the consensus -- Hungarian officials have behaved professionally in the run-up to the presidency, underlining that everything will be done by the book.

Political Calendar

The second factor that could curtail Hungarian ambitions to impose its agenda is the political calendar. The reality is that in the next six months, little will happen in Brussels in terms of new legislation.

That's because the EU capital will be busy with appointing a new European Commission, the bloc's executive and proposer of new laws, a process that includes time-consuming hearings in the European Parliament to approve new commissioners (one from each member state). That process is expected to take up almost the entire fall, and Hungary has no role to play in the decision-making.

There has also been a frantic and largely successful attempt by the current Belgian presidency to clear the decks before Hungary assumed the role. That has meant signing off on a raft of new initiatives and policies. Another round of sanctions on Russia was passed on June 24; restrictive measures targeting Belarus are also expected to be agreed on June 26.

A green light was also given to Ukraine and Moldova to start accession talks on June 25. The process of screening the two EU candidates' various policy accession chapters is expected to take well over six months, and it's likely Budapest won't have to deal with Kyiv's EU accession at all and that it will be the next president of the EU Council, Poland, that will deal with this in 2025.

While Hungary has spoken out against Ukraine's readiness to join the EU, one of Budapest's priorities for the presidency is to advance the membership prospects of Albania and Serbia and possibly even those of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Georgia. (There probably won't be enough support from the member states to green light the latter two.)

Ahead of Hungary's presidency, the EU even managed to send 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) worth of military aid to support Ukraine in defending itself against Russia. This money comes from the profits from Russian assets frozen in the EU, and Brussels got around the Budapest veto on this measure by noting that Hungary abstained from the original decision to set aside this money, so legally it didn't have a say in how that money would be used.

This is a good illustration of how the Hungarian presidency might well play out. During the discussions in Brussels on this issue last week, the Hungarian representative stayed silent the whole time, essentially waving through the measure, whereas Szijjarto posted an angry rant on Facebook about the legality of the move to freeze Hungary out. This could be Hungary's game plan: being constructive and compliant in Brussels while screaming bloody murder to its audience at home.

Then there is the question of money and those frozen EU funds earmarked for Hungary. While the 1.4 billion euros for Ukraine was passed, a Hungarian veto is still hanging over seven other tranches of military aid, worth nearly 7 billion euros, for the war-torn country.

Hungary is used to bargaining with Brussels and could attempt to link its support for further military aid to Ukraine to the 6 billion euros of EU funds it wants Brussels to release. If Budapest doesn't comply with the EU's rule of law requirements by the end of the year, Hungary will permanently lose 1 billion euros. That's one deal that the Hungarians will be keen on making.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-eu- presidency/33014873.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Amid Political Stalemate, Bulgaria's GERB Submits New Cabinet Proposal



By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service July 01, 2024

Shortly after Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on July 1 asked the center-right GERB-SDS coalition to form a new government, the party submitted its proposal for a minority cabinet headed by former parliament speaker Rosen Zhelyazkov.

The proposed cabinet, which is dominated by former GERB ministers and representatives of the current caretaker government, will be submitted to parliament for consideration. A simple majority is needed to accept the proposal.

"This is a government that can share responsibility and a government in which GERB and SDS are fully responsible," said GERB leader and former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

GERB won 68 mandates in the 240-seat legislature in the June 9 elections, the country's sixth vote in the past three years. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, which holds 46 mandates in parliament, has said it would vote in favor of the proposed government.

Borisov urged the relatively new We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, which holds 39 seats and which was GERB's partner in the coalition government that collapsed in March, to support the proposed government.

In comments on July 1, both Borisov and Zhelyazkov stressed the proposed government might be short-lived and would be focused on immediate issues, particularly passing a budget.

"We are not currently talking about a management program for four years," Zhelyazkov said. "We are talking about concrete policies that can calm the political conversation."

"The most important thing is the stabilization of public finances and steadfastness in our European perspective," he continued.

Following elections in April 2023, Bulgaria had a joint government supported by the pro-West, reformist PP-DB and GERB. They had agreed on an 18-month government with a rotation of prime ministers: first Nikolay Denkov from PP-DB and, after nine months, Maria Gabriel from GERB.

Denkov stepped down on March 5 to let GERB lead the government for the following nine months, as agreed. But Gabriel failed to form a government, and on March 27 Denkov also rejected Radev's invitation to try to put together a cabinet.

After the populist There Is Such a People (ITN) party refused an invitation to try to form a government, the stage was set for the June 9 vote.

A caretaker government led by Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev was sworn in on April 9 after being appointed by Radev.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-elections- government-borisov/33015052.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Finnish MPs Approve Defense Deal to Allow US Troops on Its Soil

Sputnik News

20240701

The Finnish parliament has approved a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States, granting access to 15 military sites, broadcaster Yle reported on Monday.

The Finnish Parliament has unanimously approved the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Finland and the United States.

According to the agreement, Finland will provide the US access to 15 military facilities. It also allows for the pre-positioning of defense equipment and supplies in Finland, the entry and movement of US aircraft, ships and vehicles, and the provision of protection, security and safeguarding of US forces, as well as the sites and areas they use.

The agreement does not imply a permanent US presence in Finland. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has insisted that any foreign troops deployed there will be stationed on a rotational basis.

Finland joined the North Atlantic Alliance on April 4, 2023.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview with Dmitry Kiselev the general director of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, Sputnik's parent company, that Sweden and Finland's incorporation into NAT was meaningless for their national interests.

He added that Finland's accession to the alliance would only mean Russia deploying more troops and strike systems near the Finnish border.

In recent years, Russia has noted unprecedented NATO activity near its western borders. NATO describes those manoeuvres as "deterrence of Russian aggression."

Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern about the alliance's build-up in Europe. The Kremlin has stressed that Russia poses no threat to any nation but will not ignore actions that could potentially endanger its interests.

 Sputnik

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NATO Not Planning to Revise Its Nuclear Doctrine - Secretary General

Sputnik News

20240701

TOKYO (Sputnik) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that the alliance currently does not see the need to revise its nuclear doctrine.

"There is no immediate threat. NATO does not see the need to revise its nuclear strategy," Stoltenberg said in an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.

Stoltenberg also noted that the process of replacing US fighter jets used for nuclear deterrence from F-16s to F-35s "continues as usual."

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia could make changes to the nuclear doctrine amid discussions in the West on the possibility of lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. Later, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that Washington sees no reason to make changes to its nuclear doctrine.

 Sputnik

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Tens of thousands displaced in new Gaza City escalation

By Daniel Johnson

01 July 2024 - Ongoing heavy fighting in northern Gaza has now forced an estimated 84,000 people to flee eastern Gaza City in a matter of days, while also cutting off access to a key aid distribution hub, UN humanitarians said on Monday.

The exodus from Gaza City's eastern Shujaiya district follows days of reported intense bombardment by the Israeli military, whose tanks have been sighted "around 100" metres east of Salah El Din road, the main north-south axis.

"People in this area tell us about the looming famine, and how people are eating tree leaves or only have flour to survive on," said the UN aid agency assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA.

Grief and loss

In a written exchange with UN News, Senior Communications Officer Louise Wateridge described the destruction in affected areas, which spans some seven square kilometres - as "apocalyptic - most people have lost their homes, either completely or partially, and have to flee with very few belongings; essentially what they can carry in their hands. Many people have lost members of their families".

"Pregnant women and persons with disabilities are among the most vulnerable as they cannot easily move during forced displacements, as well as huge concern for thousands of unaccompanied and separated children," Ms. Wateridge added.

The violence has also prevented the agency from accessing its distribution centre in Gaza city's Tuffah neighbourhood, "due to its proximity to the front line".

Of the approximately 84,000 people currently displaced, some 10,600 have found shelter in a total of 27 locations including UNRWA schools, where pop-up health points are available and under increasing pressure to cope with demand.

Others are staying in government schools, buildings and open areas, the UN agency spokesperson continued.

Forced out again

To help those forcibly uprooted by the latest escalation in the conflict, sparked nine months ago by Hamas-led terror attacks and hostage-taking in multiple locations across southern Israel, the UN agency has already distributed water, food parcels and flour.

The distribution of nappies, mattresses and tarpaulins is also planned today, said Ms. Wateridge, who noted that some fuel for the agency's needs had been delivered on Sunday via the fence road separating Gaza from Israel.

A limited quantity of diesel had also entered the enclave to run hospital generators and desalination plants but needs remain huge, humanitarians have warned repeatedly.

According to the latest update from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, access constraints, insecurity and ongoing hostilities have continued to "significantly impede" the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance and services across Gaza.

"This includes critical food and nutrition aid, medical care, shelter support, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services for hundreds of thousands of people in need," OCHA said on Friday, noting that the Israeli authorities had facilitated fewer than half of the more than 100 planned humanitarian assistance missions, coordinated to reach northern Gaza this month.

"The rest were either impeded, denied access, or cancelled due to logistical, operational or security reasons."

OCHA also noted that a military operation in the area of al-Mawasi west of Khan Younis resulted in "scores of casualties" arriving at a nearby field hospital and the displacement of at least 5,000 people, according to partners on the ground.

Devastation scene

Amid the ongoing Israeli military operation in Rafah beginning last month, southern Gaza "now resemble the apocalyptic scenes of the north and Gaza City", the UNRWA officer noted.

As the UN's largest aid agency in Gaza, UNRWA has continued to provide "as many humanitarian services and supplies as possible - delivering food, healthcare and even learning activities for children; but it is becoming almost impossible for the UN to provide any kind of response due to the Israeli imposed siege," Ms. Wateridge explained.

"Lack of fuel; lack of aid supplies; lack of safety; and all around total hardship for our staff, who themselves are struggling to survive throughout this war."

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UN pushes for inclusive future in Afghanistan at Doha talks

01 July 2024 - UN-led efforts to nudge Afghanistan towards a more peaceful and inclusive future with a more equal role for women and girls continued Monday at international talks, which for the first time included the Taliban de facto authorities.

Speaking in the Qatari capital, Doha, after the Third Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan, UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo expressed deep concern over the situation of women and girls in the country.

"Running through all the discussions was the deep international concern - from special envoys and from me - about the ongoing and serious restrictions on women and girls," she stated.

"Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold, or fully develop economically and socially, if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population," asserted Ms. DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

The consultations follow talks in May 2023 and February 2024. They build upon the proposals outlined in an independent review on an integrated and coherent approach conducted by Feridun Sinirlioglu, in line with Security Council resolution 2679.

Focused discussions with Afghan women and civil society are scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

Civil society's 'rightful role'

Ms. DiCarlo further stressed that the concerns and views of Afghan women and civil society remain "front and center".

"For the United Nations, the meaningful inclusion of women in political and peace processes is a guiding principle," she said.

"And while women and civil society were not sitting across the table from the de facto authorities the last two days, they made their voices heard. Civil society has a rightful role to play in shaping Afghanistan's future," she asserted.

'Heartbreaking' ban

Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women and girls have faced systemic discrimination, including a ban on girls' education.

That ban is "heartbreaking", Ms. DiCarlo maintained.

"If you prevent half the population from education, from being involved in the economy and various professions, it just means that it delays the develop of Afghanistan," Ms. DiCarlo replied to one woman reporter.

"Just imagine if you were only allowed to go through sixth grade, you would not be sitting here being a journalist, I would not be here being a UN official. [It is] heartbreaking frankly but let us see and let us keep at it, that is all I can say. We have to make clear how important is and how it is going to be better for Afghanistan."

A tough choice

She explained that in organizing the meeting, the UN "faced a very tough, maybe impossible, choice", aiming to bring the Taliban and the special envoys together for direct talks.

"Regrettably, the de facto authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format. But they heard very clearly the need to include women and civil society in all aspects of public life," she said.

Engagement is not recognition

She further emphasized that the meeting and process of engagement "does not mean normalization or recognition" of the Taliban de facto authorities.

Ms. DiCarlo expressed hope that the exchanges on the various issues during the meeting "moved us a little closer" to resolving some of the problems devastating the Afghan people.

"To conclude, I would like to reiterate the United Nations commitment to continue to support this process of principled engagement for the benefit of all Afghans," she said.

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Sudan: UN food convoy attacked, supplies looted amid worsening crisis

01 July 2024 - Unidentified armed men in Sudan on Sunday attacked UN World Food Programme (WFP) trucks carrying food assistance meant for thousands of civilians in need in central Darfur, the agency reported.

Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the top UN humanitarian official for Sudan expressed "outrage" at the incident.

"The aid looted from a WFP convoy in Central Darfur will no longer go to the most vulnerable people in need," she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

In a separate post, WFP called on authorities to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable, stressing that "the safe delivery of supplies must be guaranteed by all."

Alarming situation

The attack comes against the backdrop of a worsening humanitarian crisis, driven by the ongoing war in Sudan between rival militaries that has left the country teetering on the brink of famine.

More than half of the population, around 26 million people, are staring at "crisis levels" of hunger and almost 9.4 million people have been driven from their homes, including about 1.9 million into neighbouring countries.

The situation is particularly concerning in the Darfur region, which has seen intense fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

According to UN humanitarians, the lives of 800,000 people "are hanging in the balance" as fighting rages densely populated areas in the provincial capital El Fasher, causing widespread and long-term harm to civilians and severely disrupting the essential services they depend on.

Funding required 'urgently'

For their part, UN agencies continue to deliver aid and protection to millions in need, despite significant challenges and insecurity.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) together with its partners, for instance, supplied children and their families with safe drinking water, health services and screening for malnutrition.

WFP also scaled up its emergency response to curtail the hunger crisis, more than doubling the number of people targeted for assistance in 2024 to 8.7 million.

However, agencies report the need for additional funding alongside unfettered access to avert famine in the lean season that has now started.

As of 24 June 2024, the $2.7 billion 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which aims to provide life-saving assistance to 14.7 million people across the country, is only 16.6 per cent funded, with $447.4 million received.

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Israel tells civilians to evacuate Khan Younis in southern Gaza

By VOA News July 01, 2024

Israel has issued an evacuation order for Palestinians in parts of Khan Younis and surrounding areas, an order that may indicate Israel is planning to target the southern Gaza city for another offensive, as it did earlier this year when thousands of people were displaced and much of Khan Younis was destroyed.

"It just shows, yet again, that no place is safe in Gaza, more efforts need to be made to protect civilians," said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson. "It's another stop in this deadly circle of movement that the population in Gaza has to undergo on a regular basis," added the spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

A resident who lives in the targeted evacuation zone, Ahmad Najjar, told Agence France-Presse, "Fear and extreme anxiety have gripped people after the evacuation order." He observed that there has been "a large displacement of residents."

The evacuation order came amid news that Israel released the director of Gaza's main hospital Monday as part of the release of dozens of Palestinians who were returned to Gaza for medical treatment

Mohammed Abu Selmia had been detained since November. He led Gaza's Shifa hospital, which Israeli forces raided the same month while alleging Hamas militants were using the site as a command center.

Hospital officials denied the allegations and accused Israel of endangering patients as well as displaced Palestinians who came to the hospital to seek shelter.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized Abu Selmia's release, saying on X the move is "security abandonment."

The Israeli military reported carrying out attacks in response to militants firing 20 projectiles from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis at areas along the border.

The military said it intercepted some of the projectiles, while others fell in southern Israel.

Israeli airstrikes also targeted Hezbollah militants in several villages in southern Lebanon.

The prospect of an expanded conflict in the region, with Israel launching more extensive operations against Hezbollah, have drawn warnings from the United States and others about the need to avoid escalation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his vow Sunday that there is "no substitute for victory," telling his Cabinet that Israel would continue its war against Hamas in Gaza until the militants are defeated and 120 Hamas-held hostages, both dead and alive, are returned.

He said the war, nearly nine months long, would continue "until we achieve all our goals," including that Hamas "no longer poses a threat on Israel."

Netanyahu contended, "Everyone knows the simple truth: Hamas is the only obstacle to freeing our hostages," in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel.

But there appeared to be no change in the stalemated cease-fire talks, with Israel calling for a six-week halt in the fighting and exchange of hostages and prisoners, while Hamas demanded a permanent stop to the fighting and an Israeli withdrawal of its troops.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said Saturday at a Beirut news conference, "There has been no real progress at the end of aggression negotiations, and what is quoted by the American administration is to put pressure on the (Hamas) movement, to accept the Israel (cease-fire) proposal without modification."

"Once again," Hamdan said, "Hamas is ready to deal positively with any proposal that secures a permanent cease-fire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a serious swap deal."

On Saturday, a senior Biden administration official said the U.S. presented new language to intermediaries Egypt and Qatar to try to jump-start the stalled Israel-Hamas negotiations.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza erupted when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, mostly civilians, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has so far killed nearly 38,000 people, according to the Gaza's health ministry, and left the heavily built-up coastal enclave in ruins.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Blinken: No main actors want war between Israel, Hezbollah

By Nike Ching July 01, 2024

The United States is "determined" to prevent military conflict between Israel and Hezbollah fighters based in southern Lebanon from escalating into an all-out war, America's top diplomat said Monday.

While acknowledging "forces of momentum ... may be leading" toward a war between Israel and Hezbollah, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "None of the main actors actually want a war."

"I don't believe Hezbollah actually wants a war," he told an audience at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. "Israel doesn't want a war, although they may well be prepared to engage in one if necessary. ...

"Lebanon certainly doesn't want a war because it would be the leading victim in such a war," he added. "And I don't believe that Iran wants a war, in part because it wants to make sure that Hezbollah is not destroyed and that it can hold onto Hezbollah as a card if it needs it."

Blinken's comments come as Israel signals that a military "downshift" in Gaza would allow its forces to allocate more resources to addressing the threat posed by the Iran-backed Hezbollah on the northern front.

As Blinken spoke, pro-Palestinian protesters outside the Brookings Institution could be heard through his microphone.

Blinken renewed his call on Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, to accept a U.S.-proposed Gaza cease-fire and said Washington is "determined not to be outpaced" in Gaza's post-war reconstruction.

"We know that there are three things that are unacceptable for Gaza's future: an Israeli occupation; Hamas perpetuating its leadership; or chaos, anarchy, lawlessness, which is what we're seeing in big parts of Gaza today."

In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said Israel is "advancing to the end of the phase of eliminating" Hamas' military capabilities in the Gaza Strip, nearly nine months into Israel's war with the militants.

Blinken also defended U.S. President Joe Biden following Thursday night's presidential debate with former president Donald Trump, which many deemed a disappointing performance by Biden. Blinken said that U.S. allies "like the choices and the policies" Biden is pursuing.

China

In his foreign policy speech on Monday, Blinken also addressed China.

"I think China's objectives are clear. Over time, over the coming decades, they would like to be the leading country, the dominant country in the international system, militarily, economically, diplomatically, that's clear," said Blinken.

While the U.S. has stated that its goal is to responsibly manage competition with China, the government in Beijing has refuted this, saying the relationship between the world's two largest economies should not be defined by competition.

Chinese officials have said that "major-country competition" provides "no answer to the problems in the U.S. or the challenges in the world."

The U.S. will host a NATO summit in Washington from July 9 to July 11, with a focus on European security amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

Four countries from the Indo-Pacific region  Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand  are set to attend the summit.

Secretary Blinken warned that while China is not directly providing arms to Russia, its supply of critical materials has helped Moscow sustain its war on Ukraine, posing serious repercussions for European security. Blinken said that 70% of Russia's imported machine tools and 90% of its microelectronics come from China.

Chinese officials have rejected what they describe as Washington's "smear," asserting that Beijing regulates the export of dual-use articles in accordance with its laws and regulations.

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UN talks in Doha end; recognition remains distant dream for Taliban

By Sarah Zaman July 01, 2024

The third round of U.N.-led talks to explore engagement with Afghanistan ended Monday without the Taliban making any reform pledges or winning concessions from the international community.

A few international organizations and special envoys for Afghanistan from nearly two dozen countries met with Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar, over two days. Rosemary DiCarlo, U.N. undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, who presided over the event, told reporters the talks were "constructive" and "useful."

"This is the first time such a broad cross section of the international community and the de facto authorities have had the opportunity to hold such detailed discussions," DiCarlo said at the news conference after the event. "The discussions were frank and, I believe, useful."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated the "Doha process" a year ago.

While participants in the latest round of talks agreed to continue to engage, DiCarlo ruled out recognizing the de facto regime in Kabul unless the Taliban ended curbs on women's education and participation in public life.

Individual decisions

"Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold, or fully develop economically and socially, if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population," the U.N. official said, adding that recognizing Taliban rule is also not the mandate of the global body but would be the decision of individual countries.

Although nearly 16 countries have embassies in Afghanistan, the global community has held back recognition of the Taliban government mainly because it is not inclusive and restricts the rights of women and girls in the country.

Though women's rights were not part of the official agenda, DiCarlo said participants raised the issue throughout their discussions and highlighted the need for an inclusive government during the two-day talks that focused on developing a private business sector and helping the Taliban sustain anti-narcotics gains.

"Afghanistan's messages reached all participant countries," Taliban delegation head Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on social media platform X after the talks, adding that his country needed international cooperation.

Speaking to VOA on background, a Western diplomat said the Afghan delegation members were "very competent" and their technical know-how was "impressive."

Earlier, in a post on X, Mujahid, who is also the Taliban's chief spokesperson, claimed success.

"It was pledged that restriction on banking and economic avenues should be lifted," the post said.

While more than a hundred Taliban members face international sanctions, including financial sanctions, Afghanistan's banks do not. Experts say the country is disconnected from the global banking system and the dominant SWIFT financial transaction network because Western banks are wary of doing business with Afghan banks and exposing themselves to the reputational and financial risks they pose.

No new policy was introduced by any country, the Western diplomat privy to the talks said.

Separately, the U.S. froze $9.5 billion in Afghan central bank funds after the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021. In 2022, the Biden administration put $3.5 billion of that money in a Switzerland-based trust account called "Fund for the Afghan People," which a board oversees. The remaining money remains locked. China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran are among countries that support unfreezing the funds.

'It was about understanding'

Speaking to reporters late Monday, Mujahid said the Taliban did not come expecting a breakthrough.

"It [the gathering] was about understanding each other's views," Mujahid said in response to a VOA question on the lack of progress on contentious issues between the Taliban and the West. "The achievement is that every country wants to support Afghanistan."

The U.N. is under fire from rights activists for its decision to exclude Afghan civil society activists to ensure the Taliban's participation in the global meeting. DiCarlo told reporters it was "a very tough, maybe impossible choice."

"We have a mandate to support this process [of talks]. Our belief was to bring the de facto authorities and special envoys together for direct talks," DiCarlo said. "Regrettably, the de facto authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format."

When asked what concessions the global body would be willing to make in the future to bring the Taliban back to the table, DiCarlo said she could not predict what conditions the de facto rulers might place.

"I could not speculate on that. What I can say is that they did come today. They were very engaged," she said.

At least three prominent Afghan women have declined the U.N.'s invitation to meet for talks in Doha on Tuesday.

"I respect their decision," DiCarlo said. "We're involved in a process now that is going to be a long-term process. This is not easy going forward. And we will continue to try to do the best we can. We won't make everybody happy."

Asked whether the Taliban would come back for more talks, Mujahid said it would depend on who and what were on the table.

"We will consider each meeting separately," he said. " We will look at its agenda and targets."

No date has been set for the next round of U.N.-led talks on Afghanistan.

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Spain's Supreme Court denies amnesty to former Catalan leader facing embezzlement charges

By VOA News July 01, 2024

Spain's Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant amnesty to the Catalonia region's former leader Carles Puigdemont for embezzlement charges, confirming that an arrest warrant for the separatist leader remains in effect.

The decision can be appealed and might weaken Spain's delicate Socialist-led coalition. It also has personal consequences for Puigdemont, who has been living in France since Catalonia's unsuccessful 2017 attempt to gain independence from Spain.

The court ruled a recent amnesty law doesn't apply in Puigdemont's case.

"The judge of the Supreme Court today issued an order stating the amnesty does not apply to the embezzlement charges against former president of the Generalitat Carles Puigdemont," said the court in a statement.

Generalitat is the name by which Catalonia's government has been called for more than 700 years.

A law passed on May 30 aimed to pardon hundreds of separatists involved in Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt in exchange for support from separatist parties for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's new term after inconclusive elections.

The pardon applied to separatists charged with public disorder, disobedience, and embezzlement. However, embezzlement cases involving personal gain or affecting the European Union's finances were exempted.

Investigating judge Pablo Llarena ruled that Puigdemont and his former deputies Antonio Comin and Lluis Puig, who held roles in Catalonia's health and culture departments, fall under these exemptions, saying they benefited personally from using regional funds for an illegal referendum, which he argued was against the public's interest.

All three insist the referendum was legal and dispute the charges.

The judge also pointed out the referendum's impact on the EU's financial interests, as Catalonia's secession could have affected Spain's tax revenues and overall economic output.

Llarena confirmed he would continue to seek the arrest of Puigdemont, Comin and Puig.

The ruling is disappointing for Puigdemont, who hoped amnesty would clear all accusations and allow him to return to Spain without fear of arrest.

Puigdemont's Junts party did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling.

If Junts withdraws support for bills like the 2025 budget, it could leave Sanchez unable to govern and prompt new elections.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 01 July 2024 - Day 859

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in Vovchansk, Kharkiv oblast, fighting is reportedly focused on the Aggregate Plant, where Ukrainian forces are attempting to dislodge Russian forces from this strongpoint in the south-east of the town. The town remains contested. No confirmed Russian advances have been made around Chasiv Yar over the last 72 hours. Combat has reportedly been most intense in Ivanivske and Klishchiivka, to the south of the town. Ukrainian forces have reportedly counterattacked in Klishchiivka making tactical gains.

In the Kurakhiv direction, west of Donetsk City, Russian forces have made further advances within the town of Krasnohorivka and are now likely in control of most of the town, with Ukrainian forces now only present in the extreme north of the settlement.

The Avdiivka-Pokrovsk sector remains the probable Russian main effort and continues to see the highest Russian operational tempo. Russian forces have made minor advances across a relatively broad front towards the villages of Niu-York, Pivnichne, and Pivdenne. Over the next week the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk sector is likely to remain an area of significant operational focus for Russian forces as they attempt to maintain pressure on defending Ukrainian forces, and make opportunistic territorial gains.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of the day, there have been 161 combat clashes.

Russian forces launched four rocket strikes (using six rockets), 33 aviation strikes (50 KABamas in particular) and 433 kamikaze drones, launching 3072 shells at Ukrainian military positions and settlements with artillery and other types of weapons.

In the Kharkiv direction Russian occupiers 11 times forced to storm the defense borders in the area of deep, liptiv and vovchansk. Four fighting clashes are underway. The situation is under control of Ukrainian troops.

17 times Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions in the kupans 17komu direction. Assault actions near the settlements of Sinkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Piscni and Stelmahivka were successfully repelled. Three clashes continue in the vicinity of Sinkivka.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops also made 17 attack attempts - near Grekivka, Nevsky and Makiyivka. Five fights are going on.

The active Russian aggressor was also in the Siversky direction, where 19 assault actions of Russians were recorded. Locations of combat clashes - Bilogorivka, Ivano-Dar'ivka, Spirne, Viimka, Verkhnyokamians ke. In the area of the last two fights continue. Zagarbniks get a decent cut.

In the Kramators .komu direction, Ukrainian troops stopped five Russian attacks in the areas of Novoy and Klishchievka. In Novi, in the direction of Time Yar, one battle is not over yet.

In the Toretsk direction, the Russians tried 19 times to infiltrate Ukrainian defense borders near the settlements of Toretsk, North, South and New York. 16 attacks have been knocked down, three are still ongoing.

Most intensively attacks Russian forces in the Pokrovsky direction. 44 assault actions of Russians have been taking place here since the beginning of the day. 14 attacks near the settlements of Novooleksandrivka, Novoselivka First, Eugene, Falcon, East, Netailove continues.

Russians pay a big price for trying to advance in the Pokrovsky direction. Loss of the Russian opponent since the beginning of the day here are: in personnel, non-returnable-109 occupants, sanitary-181, a few more persons taken captive. Destroyed one tank of Russians, one BMP and MT-LB, two "Tiger" armored vehicles, two cars and one buggy, four operational-tactical-level UAVs, as well as one cannon. Among the damaged equipment of the Russian enemy is a tank, cannon, 120-mm mortar and four cars.

In the Kurakhiv direction, Russian forces tried to advance seven times in the settlements of Krasnogorivka, Georgiyivka and Paraskoviyvka, but unsuccessfully.

On the vremivs komu direction, there have been already 10 Russian attacks in the areas of water and harvest. A section of one assault action is still ongoing. Defense forces are under control.

In the orihivs komu direction suffered two Russian attacks towards robotinogo and novodanilivka.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian occupiers continue to try to knock out Ukrainian Defense Forces units from their positions on placdarmas. All eight attacks of the Russians today did not have success.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 41st Mechanised Brigade, 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 34th Marines Brigade, 113th, 125th Territorial Defence Brigade, and 13th National Guard Brigade near Volchansk, Tikhoye, Goptovka, Neskuchnoye, Zhovtnevoye, and Liptsy (Kharkov region).

Two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU Vostok Special Operations Centre and 92nd Air Assault Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 320 Ukrainian troops, one armoured personnel carrier, seven motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Moreover, one AFU field ammunition depot and three U.S.-made and one Israeli-made counter-battery warfare stations were destroyed.

As a result of active actions, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated Stepovaya Novosyolovka (Kharkov region) and took more advantageous lines.

Losses were inflicted on formations of the AFU 21st, 44th, 60th, 66th mechanised brigades, and 125th Territorial Defence Brigade near Makeyevka, Novovodyanoye, Nevskoye, Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 475 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, and four pickup trucks.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and five AFU field ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 23rd, 93rd mechanised brigades, 56th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 5th Assault Brigade, 80th Air Assault Brigade, 109th, 114th, and 119th territorial defence brigades near Grigorovka, Chasov Yar, Konstantinovka, Krasnogorovka, and Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

One attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade was repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 620 Ukrainian troops, four armoured fighting vehicles including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, and 12 motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer, and three Anclav-N electronic warfare stations were neutralised.

As a result of active actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Novopokrovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and improved the tactical situation.

Losses were inflicted on formations of the AFU 24th, 31st, 110th, 118th mechanised brigades, 68th Jaeger Brigade, and 109th Territorial Defence Brigade near Yevgenovka, Novgorodskoye, Timofeyevka, Sokol, Toretsk, and Progress (Donetsk People's Republic).

Five counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 142th Infantry Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 23rd, 41st, and 47th mechanised brigades were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 405 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, seven motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, and two 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd Mechanised Brigade, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, and 123rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhaynoye and Nikolskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade was repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian troops, seven motor vehicles, and two UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzers.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade, 35th Marines Brigade, and 126th Territorial Defence Brigade near Rabotino, Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region), and Tokaryovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 85 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one Anclav-N electronic warfare station, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery warfare station.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force in an open park and infrastructure of the military airfield, repair and recovery system of the AFU weapons and equipment, a location of storage and a launch site for uncrewed surface vehicles, as well as clusters of enemy manpower in 124 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down eight UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, five French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, five U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles, and 72 unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, 616 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 27,040 unmanned aerial vehicles, 535 air defence missile systems, 16,471 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,362 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 11,185 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 23,201 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Treasury Sanctions Mexico- and China-Based Money Launderers Linked to the Sinaloa Cartel

U.S. Department of the Treasury

July 1, 2024

Washington -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a Mexico-based money launderer and China-based members of a money laundering organization with criminal links to the Sinaloa Cartel as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the flow of illicit narcotics into the United States. This action is the result of the U.S. government's ongoing efforts, in cooperation with the Mexican government, to disrupt the trafficking of fentanyl and save lives a a priority under theA President's Unity Agenda. Today's action furthers efforts byA Treasury's Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force, which leverages Treasury's unique expertise and capabilities to disrupt the illicit financial networks relied upon by the cartels.

"Combatting the threat posed by Money Laundering Organizations in China is a key priority of the Treasury Department, and today we are taking action to cut off the financial flows of major money launderers who are powering the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs to the United States," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. "Through our Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force, we will continue leveraging Treasury's unique capabilities to disrupt the illicit fentanyl and drug trafficking trade that claims the lives of thousands of Americans each year."

This action was coordinated closely with the Government of Mexico, including La Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF), and reflects the close partnership between our countries in disrupting funding that underpins the flow of fentanyl and its precursors into the United States. A

In November 2023, President Biden and President Xi Jinping announced the resumption of bilateral cooperation between the United States and China to combat illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking, including synthetic drugs like fentanyl. The United States is working with Chinese authorities to target illicit financing networks, including those linked to the fentanyl trade. As reiterated duringA Secretary Yellen's recent trip to China, Treasury is furthering its bilateral cooperation with the People's Republic of China (PRC) on countering money laundering and other illicit finance issues. Secretary Yellen also raised the issue of illicit fentanyl in her meetings in Mexico City in December 2023, where Treasury and Mexican authorities committed to enhance information sharing on this illicit finance threat.A

Treasury's sanctions also complement indictments on these designated persons issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. For information on actions previously taken by the U.S. Department of Justice,A please see this link.

CHINESE MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANIZATIONS (CMLO)

As described in Treasury'sA 2024 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment, CMLOs are now one of the key actors laundering money professionally in the United States and worldwide, and are rapidly becoming one of the most prominent money laundering threat actors facing the U.S. financial system. Drug trafficking organizations, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, have increasingly partnered with CMLOs to launder funds. Individuals working for CMLOs pick up bulk cash generated from the sale of illicit drugs in the United States, then work to move a corresponding amount of funds abroad, often to Mexico. This provides U.S. dollars to PRC nationals seeking to overcome currency controls. In addition to violating federal law in the United States and in Mexico, CMLOs also violate currency controls imposed by the PRC.A

MONEY LAUNDERING FUGITIVES

Mexico-based Diego Acosta OvalleA (Ovalle) assisted the Sinaloa Cartel by hiding and collecting drug trafficking proceeds, before delivering them to associates of the cartel. The Sinaloa Cartel associates worked with PRC-based Tong PeijiA (aYea) and He JiaxuanA (aac), both members of a U.S.-based CMLO that has laundered illicit drug proceeds belonging to the Sinaloa Cartel. In at least one instance, Tong Peiji traveled to Mexico to meet with Sinaloa Cartel members to obtain contracts to launder drug trafficking proceeds. Tong Peiji also arranged to purchase cryptocurrency that could be provided to Sinaloa Cartel accounts. Tong Peiji and He Jiaxuan worked within the CMLO to deliver drug trafficking proceeds to individuals in need of U.S. currency. Specifically, He Jiaxuan, as instructed by Tong Peiji, would pick up bulk currency from criminal groups and deliver the funds to other members of the CMLO.A

Ovalle, Tong Peiji, and He Jiaxuan were sanctioned today pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.)A 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.

These designations would not have been possible without the cooperation, support, and ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Southgate, Downey, Glendora, Fullerton, and El Monte, California Police Departments, Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and other local, federal, and international partners.A

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, allA propertyA and interests in property of the designated individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.A U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 14059.

Today's action is part of a whole-of-government effort to counter the global threat posed by the trafficking of illicit drugs into the United States that is causing the deaths of over a hundred thousand Americans annually, as well as countless more non-fatal overdoses. This action demonstrates the Administration'sastrengthened approachato saving lives by disrupting the trafficking of illicit fentanyl and its precursors into American communities. These efforts are part of the Biden-Harris Administration's comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to tackle the nation's overdose epidemic, which goes after two key drivers of this crisis: untreated addiction and the drug trafficking profits that fuel it. Today's action will help strengthen public safety by disrupting the illicit drug production and trafficking pipeline that profits by harming Americans. As a key part of the President's Unity Agenda, the Administration has also made historic investments in critical public health interventions including research, prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.A

OFAC, in coordination with its U.S. Government partners and foreign counterparts, will continue to target and pursue accountability for foreign illicit drug actors.A In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.A

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer toA OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897. A For detailed information on the process toA submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list.

View more information on the individuals designated today.

###

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US bases across Europe bracing for possible terror attack

By Jeff Seldin July 01, 2024

U.S. military bases and personnel across Europe are on heightened alert, after new intelligence warned of a possible terror attack targeting either facilities or personnel.

A U.S. defense official Monday confirmed to VOA that military installations across U.S. European Command (EUCOM) have been elevated to Force Protection Condition "Charlie," which means an attack of some sort is likely.

The official did not elaborate on the contents of the intelligence that sparked the change, although counterterrorism officials from multiple countries have warned of an increased threat, including some surrounding the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.

The U.S. defense official said that the military is "taking extra steps to ensure [U.S. troops] remain vigilant during both business and pleasure activities."

A second U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, emphasized it was the overall threat picture and not one single piece of intelligence, that led to the increased force protection posture.

"There is no specific or imminent threat to U.S. forces in Europe," the official told VOA. "This was a step taken out of an abundance of caution."

A statement Monday from EUCOM likewise indicated the increased security measures are the result of a combination of factors.

"Our increase in vigilance is not related to any one single threat, but out of concern of a combination of factors such as ongoing and upcoming large public forums including the Euro Cup and the Olympics, along with an increasing the threat of attacks by potential bad actors against various non-military targets in Europe," the statement read.

EUCOM "advises personnel in the European theater to remain vigilant and stay alert at all times, including reporting suspicious activity, monitoring Department of State travel advisories, and implementing prudent personal risk mitigation measures," it added.

A report issued last month by the by the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future warned that despite a high risk of cyberattacks, the greatest threat to the Paris Olympics remains the possibility for terror attacks.

French authorities have already disrupted at least two separate terror plots. In one of the cases, the 18-year-old suspect was charged with plotting to carry out an attack on one of the stadiums serving as Olympic venues in the name of the Islamic State.

Top U.S. counterterrorism officials have also acknowledged that the Islamic State terror group, known as IS or ISIS, has also been gaining momentum in recent months.

Much of the concern has focused on the group's Afghan affiliate, known as IS-Khorasan.

"Both ISIS and ISIS-Khorasan ... have demonstrated a capability and intent to conduct external operations," White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal told a counterterrorism conference in Omaha, Nebraska, last week.

National Counterterrorism Center Director Christine Abizaid also warned about IS-Khorasan this past May.

"This ability of the global ISIS enterprise, even without territorial solidity, the ability to reach out virtually to a network of supporters, some of whom are going to conduct attacks, is quite concerning," she told a security conference in Doha.

Abizaid further called IS-Khorasan's ability to reestablish itself in Afghanistan "probably the most significant additive capability we've seen to the global ISIS network in the last three years."

IS-Khorasan claimed responsibility for the January attack on a memorial service in Kerman, Iran, that killed about 90 people, and also the March attack on a Moscow concert hall that killed more than 140 people.

U.S. counterterrorism officials have also raised concerns that IS-Khorasan has become more adept at using transnational criminal networks and human smuggling rings, eying potential plots to send its operatives into the United States.

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna: Sanctions on Belarus make it harder for Russia to avoid sanctions

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

01.07.2024

Entering into force today, the European Union made sanctions imposed on Belarus stricter to limit the country's ability to take part in Russia's aggression against Ukraine and prevent the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia by going through Belarus. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said it was important progress because it makes it much more difficult for Russia to circumvent sanctions.

"Additional sanctions are imposed in Belarus, connecting them more efficiently to the restrictive measures imposed against Russia," Tsahkna explained. "This limits Russia's options for using Belarus to access many goods it needs on the battlefield in its aggression against Ukraine."

Tsahkna said it has been a long-standing problem that while the EU has imposed widespread sanctions against Russia, the country has still been able to obtain the goods it needs to wage war through Belarus. "The new package of sanctions makes it much more difficult," Tsahkna said.

The sanctions package expands export bans to include previously unsanctioned goods, including dual-use goods and technology and goods contributing to Belarus' industrial capacity, such as coal, and also maritime navigation goods, several luxury goods, and goods and technology suitable for use in oil refining and liquefaction of natural gas.

Like the most recent sanctions package imposed on Russia, the export of manganese ore, rare earth compounds, plastics, electrical devices, machine tools and off-road vehicles to Belarus is banned, because all these raw materials and goods have been used by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Import bans are imposed on diamonds, mineral resources unsanctioned so far, such as oil and gold, and also coal and cars. The aim of the ban is to limit the options of Belarus to earn profits.

A transit ban through Belarus is imposed for dual-use goods and technologies, military and defence industry goods, goods that contribute to industrial capacity, and goods, weapons and machines used in the aviation and space sector.

The ban also covers the provision of services to several Belarusian state institutions and state-owned companies, as well as cooperation with the companies of Belarus' energy sector.

Following the example of sanctions imposed on Russia, a provision is added, compelling exporters to add a clause in their contract that prohibits their partners in third countries from exporting certain critical goods, such as weapons and ammunition, to Belarus.

All sanctions will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Additional information on sanctions on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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China's H-6K bomber displays high ballistic missile-carrying capacity

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Jul 01, 2024 09:16 PM

An official photo recently released by the Chinese military showed the outstanding capability of the H-6K bomber in carrying air-launched ballistic missiles - capable of carrying four instead of two previously shown to the public.

The photo, published in a release posted in the WeChat account of the air force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Saturday, showed an H-6K bomber taking off ahead of a mid-night exercise at an undisclosed date in the summer.

Observers pointed out that the H-6K in the photo carried two air-launched ballistic missiles, dubbed the YJ-21 by foreign media, under one side of its wings, indicating that it very likely carried four missiles in total under two wings, considering the need to keep balance.

The missile made its official debut at the Airshow China 2022 held in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province. At the time, an H-6K bomber carrying one such missile under each wing was put on static display to event visitors.

Foreign media also noted that China Central Television for the first time released a clip showing an H-6K bomber firing the missile in May.

Citing the aerodynamic design of the missile, experts reached by the Global Times said that it is likely a type of air-launched ballistic missile that can hit stationary targets as well as slowly moving targets including aircraft carriers at hypersonic speeds from extended distances.

Since the missile seems larger and heavier than other types of munitions carried by the H-6K, observers had presumed that the bomber could only carry two rather than four, but the new official photo negated that presumption, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.

It revealed that the H-6K bomber has sufficient payload capacity and its wings has sufficient structural strength, the expert said.

The additional missiles on the H-6K can significantly increase the PLA Air Force's long-range precision strike capabilities in anti-access/area denial missions, the expert said.

China is not the only country that operates air-launched ballistic missiles. Russia's Mig-31 interceptor is also capable of carrying the Kinzhal, which is widely believed to be a hypersonic weapon, according to media reports.

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Hong Kong launches series of activities to mark 27th anniversary of return to motherland

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:38, July 01, 2024

HONG KONG, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A launching ceremony marking the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland was held in Victoria Park of Hong Kong on Saturday, kicking off a series of celebration activities.

John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said at the ceremony that this year is of great significance as it marks not only the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, but also the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, with the firm support of the country, the efforts of the HKSAR government, the concerted efforts of all sectors of society and the hard work of residents, Hong Kong has been riding the waves and constantly breaking new ground, creating success for the practice of "one country, two systems," Lee said.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said that with the country's strong backing, Hong Kong can achieve better development by integrating into the overall national development.

Hong Kong will continue to enhance its international competitiveness, consolidate and enhance its position in eight key areas, maintain a free, open and standardized business environment, expand smooth and convenient international connections, and further consolidate and give full play to its unique status and advantages, Zheng said.

Tam Kam-kau, chairman of the Hong Kong Celebrations Association, said that since its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has maintained prosperity and stability, and has continuously shaped its own modern style. The great cause of "one country, two systems" has been steadily advancing and has achieved universally recognized success.

As part of the celebration activities, a series of exhibitions and performances showcasing China's traditional culture and innovative development will be held in Victoria Park from June 29 to July 2, with the provincial-level regions of Sichuan, Liaoning, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shaanxi and Ningxia setting up booths to introduce local culture and tourism.

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To carry forward Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, build new type of international relations

People's Daily Online

By Huan Yuping (People's Daily) 11:05, July 01, 2024

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Over the past seven decades, these principles have been widely accepted and recognized by countries across the world, becoming an important norm governing contemporary international relations.

In the wake of the World War II, the struggle for national independence and liberation in Asia, Africa and Latin America surged. Newly independent countries longed for equality in international relations. Under such a historical background, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence emerged.

Seven decades ago, then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai put forth in full the five principles for the first time -- 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.

The enunciation of these principles was a groundbreaking and epoch-making achievement in the history of international relations and a significant contribution to the building of a new type of international relations.

The core of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is that there is sovereign equality among all countries and that no country should monopolize international affairs. These principles conform to the international community's common expectation of building fairer and more equitable international political and economic orders, and offer a powerful intellectual tool for developing countries to uphold their sovereignty and independence.

Rejecting the law of the jungle by which the strong bullies the weak, they embody the notions of equality, peace, and mutual benefit, which are central to the new type of international relations.

They serve not only as guiding principles for the resolution of disputes between countries, but also as a guideline for normal development of bilateral relations between countries whose disputes cannot immediately be resolved.

Amid international volatility, the international relation system is facing obviously increasing risks and challenges, which makes it more necessary for the international community to uphold and carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Chinese President Xi Jinping remarked that in the new era today, the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, instead of being outdated, remains as relevant as ever; its significance, rather than diminishing, remains as important as ever; and its role, rather than being weakened, has continued to grow.

In the face of severe challenges, the international community should inherit and carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, uphold sovereign equality, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and respect the right of all countries to independently choose their social systems and development paths.

All countries should follow the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, champion universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and jointly uphold an open world economy.

Over the past 70 years, China has been adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in pursuing friendship and cooperation with other countries, making important contributions to promoting world peace and human progress.

Since the founding of New China, the country has pursued an independent foreign policy of peace and adhered to the path of peaceful development. Among the major countries, China has the best peace and security record.

China is committed to making as many friends as possible and building a global network of partnerships while upholding the principle of non-alignment. As the depth and width of China's opening up continue expanding, the country is advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts with high-quality development. China's new development will bring more new opportunities to all relevant parties.

Since the new era, China has proposed a series of important visions and initiatives, such as building a new type of international relations, building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the common value of humanity, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, imbuing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence with the spirit of the times.

China is leading the international community in promoting equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation. It is working together with all parties to build an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. China is contributing its solutions and strength to promoting global governance and tackling the challenges of human development.

As the country that proposed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China will work with all parties to firmly observe them, build a new type of international relations, and inject stability and positive energy into the volatile world.

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Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence transcend differences in social system, ideology

People's Daily Online

By He Yin (People's Daily) 09:34, July 01, 2024

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Although born in Asia, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence transcend differences in social system and ideology. They have become an important norm governing contemporary international relations and fundamental principles of international law, contributing the wisdom of the East to properly handling state-to-state relations.

Under the current international situation, inheriting and promoting the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is conducive to fostering international consensus and jointly addressing global challenges, thus promoting world peace and development.

The spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence remains as relevant as ever.

Seven decades ago, then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai put forth in full the five principles for the first time -- 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.

Since then, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have been incorporated into a series of important international documents, widely accepted and recognized by countries across the world.

The enunciation of these principles was a major initiative in the history of international relations and a significant contribution to the building of a new type of just and equitable international relations.

The five principles capture the essence of today's international relations and manifest humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom. They can apply to relations among all countries regardless of their social system, stage of development or size.

Having withstood the test of the evolving international landscape in the past 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are showing strong vitality.

The significance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence remains as important as ever.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have strong vitality because they give concrete expression to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and conform to the fundamental interests of people around the world.

The core of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is that there is sovereign equality among all countries and that no country should monopolize international affairs. These principles offer a powerful intellectual tool for developing countries to uphold their sovereignty and independence, and they have thus become a rallying call for enhancing solidarity, cooperation and strength among them.

The world today is undergoing both transformation and upheaval; changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace; and human society faces unprecedented challenges. In this context, inheriting and promoting the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is particularly important.

Only by truly adhering to the principle of sovereign equality of states can the foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation between countries be established, and peace and development of the world ensured.

The role of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence has continued to grow.

The five principles are conducive to both peace and development. Rejecting the law of the jungle by which the strong bullies the weak, they provide a new approach for peacefully resolving historical issues and international disputes, and create a sound environment for mutually beneficial international cooperation and common development. They help build a fairer and more equitable international order.

In the world today, injustice and inequality are still pronounced problems in international relations. Unilateralism, protectionism and bullyism are resurging. Regional conflicts and local wars continue to erupt.

The international community should further inherit and promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, uphold sovereign equality, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, enhance mutual trust through dialogue, and build peace through cooperation. By doing this, the international community will continuously embrace common progress and win-win outcomes.

China champions and firmly observes the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Over the past seventy-plus years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China has always followed a path of peaceful development. It has never initiated a war or occupied an inch of a foreign land. It is the only country that has incorporated peaceful development in its Constitution, and the only country among the five nuclear-weapon states to pledge no first use of nuclear weapons.

China is working to build a clean and beautiful world featuring lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and a community with a shared future for mankind. Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, providing Chinese solutions to development issues facing the mankind.

Adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in pursuing friendship and cooperation with other countries, China is committed to promoting a new type of international relations, and will contribute its strength in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

Under the new circumstances, China will keep working with all parties to inherit and carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, call for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, build a community with a shared future for mankind and write new chapters of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on July 1, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-07-01 18:52

CCTV: To follow up on yesterday's announcement that President Xi Jinping will attend the SCO summit in Kazakhstan, what will be the topics of discussion between President Xi and other leaders at the summit, and what's China's expectation for the summit? Besides, China will take over the rotating presidency of the SCO after the Astana summit. Can you brief us on what will be the main focus of China's presidency?

Mao Ning: Over the past 23 years since the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), member states have upheld the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, jointly promoted solidarity and mutual trust, engaged in multilateral coordination and successfully built the SCO into a shield of security, a bridge of cooperation, a bond of friendship and a constructive force in the region. The SCO has become a fine example of a new type of international relations and regional cooperation. The upcoming Astana summit will be the most important SCO event this year. During the summit, President Xi Jinping will have in-depth exchange of views with leaders of participating countries on deepening cooperation across the board under the new circumstances and on major international and regional issues of the day, and plan for the future development of the SCO. China believes that this summit will help build more consensus, open up a new chapter of cooperation and contribute to the security, stability, development and prosperity of all countries and to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

After the Astana summit, China will assume the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2024-2025, seven years since China was the SCO chair last time. China attaches great importance to the presidency and has fully begun preparations. We stand ready to work with all parties to follow the Shanghai Spirit, further deepen political, security, economic and people-to-people and cultural cooperation, advance high-quality development of the SCO and build a closer SCO community with a shared future, so as to bring more benefits to the people in the region and contribute more to lasting peace and common prosperity in the world.

Xinhua News Agency: President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Could you share with us the program and China's expectation of the growth of China-Kazakhstan and China-Tajikistan relations?

Mao Ning: Kazakhstan is China's friendly neighbor and permanent comprehensive strategic partner. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 32 years ago, China-Kazakhstan relations have grown with a sound and steady momentum, and cooperation in areas such as trade and economy, investment, connectivity, energy, and cultural and people-to-people exchange has had numerous highlights. Our two countries have set a good example of good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between neighboring countries. Last year, President Xi Jinping met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev twice in Xi'an and Beijing. The two presidents drew a new blueprint for China-Kazakhstan relations, and have guided China-Kazakhstan cooperation into a golden period of fast growth.

This will be President Xi's fifth visit to Kazakhstan. During the visit, President Xi will have talks with President Tokayev and have an in-depth exchange of views with him on bilateral relations, cooperation in key areas, and the regional and international landscape. President Xi will attend state events, such as the welcoming ceremony, the signing ceremony and the welcoming banquet, and other side events. We believe that President Xi's visit will further upgrade the bilateral relations, enrich our high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and enhance the wellbeing of our two peoples.

Tajikistan is China's friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Emomali Rahmon, China-Tajikistan relations have maintained a sound momentum, and the two countries have consolidated political mutual trust, had fruitful Belt and Road cooperation, deepened cultural and people-to-people exchange, and had close cooperation in regional and international affairs. In May last year, the two presidents announced the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit.

This will be President Xi's second state visit to Tajikistan after five years. During the visit, President Xi will have talks with President Emomali Rahmon to have an in-depth exchange of views with him on bilateral relations, cooperation in key areas, and the regional and international landscape, and make new plans for the growth of China-Tajikistan relations. The two presidents will jointly attend various side events. China looks forward to working with Tajikistan through this visit to further enhance political mutual trust, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, bring people's hearts closer, inject new impetus to the growth of bilateral relations, and elevate our comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.

AFP: Italian customs said today they had seized synthetic drugs from China worth EUR 630 million. Italian customs also said that two Chinese nationals related to the case were arrested in the Netherlands. Did the Foreign Ministry notice this? Can you give us some details about the case?

Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with the specifics you mentioned. Let me say broadly that China remains tough on drug-related crimes and engages in international cooperation on this front.

China Daily: We noted that after the commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China issued the Beijing Declaration of the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Can you share more details with us?

Mao Ning: The commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence were held in Beijing on June 28. President Xi Jinping delivered an important address. As the host of the commemorative events, China issued the Beijing Declaration of the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence after the events to reflect the key viewpoints of the participants.

The participants believe that the issuance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence has had an epoch-making significance. Over the past seventy years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have shown everlasting relevance. Informed by Asian wisdom, they have become open, inclusive, and universally applicable basic norms for international relations and fundamental principles of international law. They have made indelible historic contributions to the cause of human progress.

The participants believe that building a community with a shared future for mankind is a natural step for carrying forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence under the new circumstances. The Vision of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind carries forward the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, builds on them, and enriches the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence with the imperatives of the new era. The participants echoed the six-point proposal made by President Xi Jinping in his important address at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. They reaffirmed the importance of upholding sovereign equality and mutual respect, staying committed to the path of peaceful development, pursuing win-win cooperation, safeguarding international fairness and justice, and embracing an open and inclusive mindset.

The participants believe that the Global South is a key force that advocates and practices the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. It should 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. It can make a greater contribution to South-South and North-South cooperation as well as human progress. The participants commended the announcements by China for supporting Global South cooperation.

China stands ready to work with the participants to turn into reality the wide-ranging consensus reached at the commemorative events, champion the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and build a community with a shared future for mankind in order to create a better future for human society.

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NHK: In the 2023 International Religious Freedom Report released last week, the US State Department said that the Chinese government is conducting surveillance and repression on Muslims in Xinjiang Autonomous Region and criticized the Chinese government for its genocide against Uyghurs. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: The US's so-called "report" has no factual basis. It is filled with lies and disinformation and reeks of ideological bias. It is a distortion of China's religious policy. China opposes it.

The Chinese government protects the citizens' freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law. People of all ethnic groups in China are fully entitled to the freedom of religious belief as prescribed by law. In China, there are close to 200 million religious believers, over 380,000 clerical personnel, about 5,500 religious groups and over 140,000 places registered for religious activities. The facts are there for all to see and should not be distorted or denied.

The so-called "genocide" allegation is nothing but a lie propagated by the US side. From the first population census in 1953 to the seventh in 2020, the Uyghur population in Xinjiang has grown from 3.6076 million to 11.6243 million. The increase outnumbers not only that of the total population in Xinjiang, but also that of ethnic minorities in China as a whole. It was also significantly higher than the increase of the local Han population. Xinjiang enjoys social stability, economic development, ethnic solidarity, religious harmony and rising living standards. The US, however, ignores those facts and keeps peddling the lies and disinformation. Its real aim is to create a pretext to keep China down.

Speaking of religion, the US itself is fraught with politicization of religion, scandals involving clerical personnel, religious cults and various other issues. Religious discrimination and persecution is commonplace and "religious freedom" is severely eroded. The US is in no position to lecture other countries or point its fingers at their religious situation.a

We urge the US to respect the facts, correct its wrongdoings, and stop using so-called religious issues to meddle in China's internal affairs.

AFP: Zhang Zhijie, a 17-year-old Chinese badminton player, died on Sunday night during a match in Indonesia. Can the Foreign Ministry provide more information or comment on that?

Mao Ning: We also learned about this sad news. After being informed of the incident, our Consulate-General in Surabaya immediately contacted and coordinated with Indonesia to make every effort to save the athlete, and sent personnel there to help in anyway they can. We mourn and feel deeply regrettable for his passing and extend our sympathies to his family.

The Foreign Ministry will continue to direct our Consulate-General in Surabaya to exercise its duty in handling the incident.

Global Times: NASA's spokesperson Faith McKie said on June 28 that China worked with France, Italy, Pakistan and the European Space Agency on a mission that retrieved samples from the far side of the moon, but NASA wasn't invited to take part in it. China welcomed scientists from other countries to study the moon rocks, but NASA didn't get any direct invitation. What's your comment?a

Mao Ning: The Chinese government is open to having space exchanges and cooperation with the US. China published the Announcement of Opportunities for the Chang'e-6 Mission, which was available to the entire world. We also welcome countries around the world to take part in the study of lunar samples. The US side seems to have forgotten to mention their domestic legislation such as the Wolf Amendment. The real question is whether the US scientists and institutions are allowed by their own government to participate in exchanges and cooperation with China.

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Xi is a 'dictator' who broke Hong Kong treaty, ex-governor says

'No one can trust them further than you can spit,' Chris Patten says of Beijing.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.07.01 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is a "dictator" who broke his country's 1984 treaty with the United Kingdom about Hong Kong and should not be trusted, the last governor of the former British colony has said.

In a video released by the London-based Hong Kong Watch on Sunday ahead of Monday's 27th anniversary of the July 1, 1997, handover of the territory from British to Chinese control, Chris Patten said Beijing had not lived up to the terms of its deal with the United Kingdom.

Instead of respecting Hong Kong's pledged autonomy and status as a free society for 50 years, he said, Beijing had exported its dictatorship.

"What's happened in the years since then is that the Chinese Communist Party, who've made it clear no one can trust them further than you can spit, a trashed a treaty which had been lodged at the United Nations," Patten said in the video posted to X.

"They said it was simply a historic document. It was not. It was a treaty," he said, before acknowledging that "for a few years after 1997 things went pretty well," with Hong Kong remaining mostly free.

"All that changed with Xi Jinping, China's present - let's not beat around the bush - China's present dictator, who came to power at a time when the Chinese communist leadership were getting increasingly worried about things slipping out of control," he said.

Once ranked the third most free society in the world, Hong Kong has since the late 2010s suffered a "descent into tyranny," the U.S.-based Cato Institute said in a report on global freedom released late last year amid Beijing's growing assertions of control over the territory.

'One country, two systems'

Under the 1984 treaty signed by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, Hong Kong was promised continuing autonomy and its British-style legal system under Chinese sovereignty until at least 2047, when the treaty would lapse.

But that did not gel with Beijing's shifting political goals, Patten said.

Xi and his government, he said, had looked to the growing sense of freedom and autonomy enjoyed by Hongkongers and perceived a threat on their own doorstep to their plans to exert increasing control over their society and export a model of authoritarian governance.

"Xi Jinping and his colleagues were having none of it," Patten said.

"In particular, they were very worried about the extent to which Hong Kong reflected all those values which they were trying to stamp out: freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of religion, the rule of law, and all those things they don't understand," he said.

The former Hong Kong governor said he regretted how things had turned out given that "more than half, and probably two thirds" of the territory's population at the time of the handover had arrived there as refugees after escaping communism on China's mainland.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told Radio Free Asia that Patten's video statement on Hong Kong "is a complete reversal of black and white" and "smears" China's leaders.

"Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs that brook no external interference," Liu said, calling the implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" model since 1997 a clear "success."

"Hong Kong has actively integrated itself into China's development and continues to serve as an important bridge and window between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world," he said.

Patten should "have awareness of his role" as the last colonial administrator of the Chinese territory and "get a clear understanding of the change of time," Liu added, rather than supporting "hysterical anti-China elements who attempt to create chaos in Hong Kong."

Exhibition in Taiwan

At an exhibition held in Taipei on Monday to commemorate the handover of Hong Kong to China, attendees told RFA that they saw the anniversary of the handover as a solemn day.

One attendee, who gave only their family name of Chen for fear of arrest in Hong Kong, said the event had to be held in Taiwan because local authorities back home were making examples of anyone who negatively portrayed the anniversary of the handover in public.

Hong Kong police had even arrested more people who took part in the city's 2019 protests, she said, in order to send out a message.

"In these past few days, the Hong Kong government has been arresting people who participated in the protests," Chen said. "They especially arrest people on significant days to intimidate everyone from coming out, which has been a tactic they've used for years."

"But Hong Kong people are resilient. Like on June 4 just passed, many still came out," she said, referring to the date of the Tiananmen Square massacre. "People find their own ways to commemorate, and this spirit of resistance of being water and widespread still persists."

The event's organizer, Fu Tang, said the erosion of liberties in Hong Kong was complete, with even simple statements now criminal.

"Nowadays in Hong Kong, there's no way to say something they don't like," Fu said. "Just the other day, someone said 'Revolution is not a crime, to rebel is justified,' and then the person got arrested."

"Over the past 27 years, freedom has been declining, and repression against us has been getting worse," he said. "July 1st marks Hong Kong's return, but Hong Kongers feel it's the day of being taken."

RFA Cantonese contributed reporting. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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South Korean Military Says DPRK Fired Two Ballistic Missiles

Sputnik News

20240701

On Thursday North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported that the North Korean Missile Administration had "successfully" carried out a separation and guidance control test of individual mobile warheads one day prior.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - North Korea launched two ballistic missiles, including a short-range one, eastward Monday, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported citing the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The short-range ballistic missile flew about 600 kilometers (372 miles), while another missile flew about 120 kilometers (74 miles), the report added.

On Wednesday the DPRK reportedly launched an unspecified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan. Citing a military source, Yonhap later reported Pyongyang had test-fired a hypersonic missile, but the test apparently failed since the missile only flew about 250 kilometers (155 miles).

On Thursday North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported that the North Korean Missile Administration had "successfully" carried out a separation and guidance control test of individual mobile warheads one day prior.

A Sputnik

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Macron's a mess: Far right leads France parl. election in blow to president

Iran Press TV

Monday, 01 July 2024 10:47 AM

France's far-right National Rally (RN) has taken the lead in the first round of parliamentary elections, in a blow to President Emmanuel Macron whose alliance came third.

Marine Le Pen's National Rally won 33.1% of the vote, while the alliance of left-wing parties, the New Popular Front, scored 28%, and the Macron camp obtained only 20.76%.

The president's "Macronist bloc has been all but wiped out," Marine Le said, addressing RN's supporters.

Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old RN party leader, said "I aim to be prime minister for all the French people, if the French give us their votes."

The gains scored by the far right are historic, but the final outcome will depend on next Sunday's second round run-off votes.

What Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella seek is an absolute majority of 289 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly.

After the RN won the first round, Macron's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called for a "broad, clearly democratic and republican alliance for the second round."

"Not a single vote must go to the National Rally," he said, adding, "The stakes are clear - to prevent the National Rally from having an absolute majority."

Without an absolute majority, France will have a hung parliament.

The snap election, which was called by Macron after far right made major gains in the European elections, saw a turnout of 66.7%, the highest for a parliamentary first round since 1997.

The gains came despite Macron's repeated warnings against the rise of the far-right parties in Europe, whom he said can bring the continent to "a standstill."

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France's left, center urge alliance against far-right ahead of legislative runoff

By Lisa Bryant July 01, 2024

France's far-right has never been closer to power after winning the first round of snap legislative elections Sunday. It's a stunning result that could see the far-right taking control of the government a and a far-right prime minister ahead of the Paris Olympics a if it wins big in the second round runoff July 7.

The left and center are now calling for an alliance against extremism in one of Europe's most important countries.

The far-right National Rally a and its leader, Marine Le Pen have been celebrating the latest results. She has spent years revamping the image of her anti-immigrant party from a racist fringe movement to an acceptable political alternative.

Her work appears to have paid off Sunday a the National Rally captured one-third of the vote, well ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party and its allies, which placed third, with just over 20%.

A leftist alliance called the New Popular Front came second, with roughly 28% of the vote.

Turnout was the highest in years, showing the stakes many voters place in these surprise, snap legislative elections. They were called by Macron a three years ahead of schedule a after the far-right's strong showing in last month's European Parliament elections.

Analysts say Macron is gambling his party and his reform plans can somehow prevail, after years of gridlock in France's National Assembly, or lower house.

But the far-right's platform a tough on crime and illegal immigration and focused on common worries a is resonating.

National Rally President Jordan Bardella a possibly France's next prime minister, if his party wins the majority of seats a called on voters to rally behind his ticket in the runoff.

Not everyone is sold. At a polling center in northeastern Paris, considered a leftist stronghold, many voters are dismayed at a possible National Rally victory.

"With our current government, we already had some right-wing policies, but that would only make things worse. Particularly with respect to the right to demonstrate, of the rights of minorities and everything," said Paris voter Matthieu Maguet.

Emmanuela Konan won't say how she voted a but she says a National Rally win will be difficult for the country.

Christine Pekar voted for Macron's alliance.

"I think he showed political courage in pushing through all the reforms he did over the last seven years," she said.

In Paris and elsewhere in the country, people rallied against the far-right after the first results were announced.

Leftist politicians are calling for an alliance against extremism.

So is France's ruling party a and Macron's prime minister, Gabriel Attal. To give mainstream parties a chance, he said, his alliance will pull out of runoff elections in areas where it's not likely to win.

But divisions between Macron and the left are big. And, despite efforts to curb them, there's a chance the National Rally could prove unstoppable.

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More robust, more resilient, more sustainable: The National Security Strategy one year on

Germany Federal Foreign Office

01.07.2024 - Article

A full year after the National Security Strategy was adopted, Foreign Minister Baerbock is inviting Members of the German Bundestag and representatives of the Federal Government, the LAnder and think tanks to meet, take stock and look to the future.

The National Security Strategy is a quantum leap for us in Germany. It reflects a new understanding in our country, a new way of thinking about security. Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine has made it painfully clear that our security is vulnerable. We must do much more to uphold it than we have previously done. This recognition shaped our work on the National Security Strategy and continues to define our understanding of security. The Strategy has given us a navigation system to guide us at home and in the world and has made us more capable of action.

Security policy in a new era

For our partners in Europe and the world, the National Security Strategy explains "Zeitenwende Germany" - Germany's new approach for this new, watershed era. It describes a Germany that has launched a special fund to strengthen the Bundeswehr as a solid pillar of NATO, so that we can protect ourselves against war and violence. A Germany that knows its role at a time of global power shifts and systemic rivalry, and responds firmly to threats to our democracy and the free basic order of our state. A Germany that has also understood that security is more than the military and diplomacy.

The policy of Integrated Security laid out in the National Security Strategy also means, for example, raw materials security, supply chain security, cybersecurity, security against disinformation, and the security of critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, by recognising the climate crisis as the greatest security threat of this century, the National Security Strategy helps us to stay focused on priorities that go beyond the dayatoaday business of acute crisis management. All of these issues affect our security - and we will only be able to respond to them together with our allies.

A change in mindset across the whole of society

The value that the National Security Strategy brings us within Germany consists in a twofold affirmation of our new reality. Firstly, a change in mindset across the whole of society when it comes to our security situation. Secondly, an agreement to take joint, integrated action in light of this. Integrated Security also means that each and every individual can help to improve the security of our country. Thanks to this new understanding, we have invested in all dimensions of our security over the last year. In our robustness, meaning protection against war and violence; in our resilience, meaning our society's ability to withstand attacks on our freedom and our democracy; and in sustainability, meaning the protection of our vital natural resources.

The National Security Strategy sets out conclusions, values, goals and interests in black and white to provide a starting point for us to find solutions together.

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Exchange of list of prisoners between India and Pakistan

India - Ministry of External Affairs

July 01, 2024

India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody. Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and on 1st July.

India has shared names of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian.

The Government of India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody. Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 185 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 47 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far. Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India.

India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's country. In this context, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 75 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India's custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.

As a result of sustained efforts by the Government, 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. This includes 478 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.

New Delhi

July 01, 2024

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Iran's oil exports hit new 5-year high, shipments 4th largest in OPEC

Iran Press TV

Monday, 01 July 2024 4:31 PM

Iran's oil exports have reached a new high in five years, data from an energy trade monitoring company show, as the country gradually regains its position as one of main oil suppliers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Data cited from Vortexa in a Monday report by Iran's IRNA news agency showed that the Iranian oil exports had reached 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, the highest on record since 2019 when Washington toughened its bans on the country's oil trade.

The data showed that Iran had exported an average of 1.56 million bpd of oil in January-May to become OPEC's fourth largest supplier above countries like Nigeria and Kuwait.

Iran's oil exports accounted for 9% of OPEC's total supply of oil and condensates over the five-month period, showed the figures.

The IRNA report, however, rejected statements raised during the ongoing presidential elections in Iran suggesting that the record increase in oil exports from the country was because the US had eased its sanctions to prevent shocks in the global oil markets.

The report said increased Iranian oil exports was mainly a result of increased output, higher demand from China and an expansion in the Iranian oil tankers fleet.

Iranian Oil Ministry estimates suggest oil production in the country will reach a record high of nearly 4 million bpd by the end of the current calendar year in March.

The figure will be even higher than what Iran used to pump before Washington imposed its sanctions in 2018 when the country's total oil production was at around 3.9 million bpd.

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July 1, 2024: The war in Ukraine is the kind of war NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was designed to cope with. While Ukraine was not a NATO member, Ukrainian efforts to join NATO were the main cause of the Russian invasion. Russia did not want another NATO member on their border, especially one that spoke a language Russian speakers could understand. NATO had agreed to accept Ukraine as a member, but first Ukraine had to undergo some military reforms to ensure that most of their weapons and military equipment, like radios, were compatible with those other NATO members were using.

At first, in 2022, Russia said it did not want a war with NATO. Now, in 2024, Russian leaders are talking about taking on the NATO alliance. One reason for this threat is the Russian belief that NATO would not unite, as it is supposed to, but fall apart as many members refused to get drawn into a war with Russia.

NATO is very much involved in the Ukraine War, but not with troops. NATO nations, especially the United States, have supplied Ukrainian forces with over $100 billion in weapons and that aid continues. NATO troops may not be in Ukraine but its weapons and munitions Ukrainians need to fight the Russian are. The fierce resistance of the Ukrainians has cost Russia most of its tank force and over half a million casualties. The war was not supposed to last this long because the initial invasion plan was based on the idea that the Ukrainian resistance would quickly collapse and pro-Russia Ukrainians would seize control of the government and make peace. Turned out that there were not enough pro-Russia Ukrainians to make a difference and that most Ukrainians agreed that the invading Russians must be halted and forced to leave Ukraine, including Crimea and portions of two eastern provinces Russia had seized in 2014.

Russia did not expect this much resistance and found itself unable to sustain their forces in Ukraine. At the same time the Ukrainians went on the offensive and demoralized Russian troops, many of them inducted into the army unwillingly, did not put up much resistance. The cost of the war wrecked the Russian economy and demoralized the Russian population who were initially told the invasion was to prevent NATO forces from taking control of Ukraine and then Russia itself. After about a year, few Russians believed that anymore and were wondering why their government was spending so much money and getting so many Russian soldiers killed inside Ukraine. There were no NATO troops in Ukraine, only angry Ukrainians fighting demoralized Russians.

The fighting in Ukraine has convinced NATO that they have to stop pretending that they are an organized defense organization with forces ready to oppose any attack. That has been a myth for decades, especially after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and the Cold War, which had been going on since the late 1940s, ended. If the Russians could invade Ukraine, they could invade nearby NATO countries that Russia still has claims on. Currently Russia cannot do that, but Russian leaders are openly talking about increasing Russian military power so that such larger scale aggression would be possible. NATO members are now agreeing that peace can only be maintained if NATO members upgrade their armed forces and show Russia that NATO is not unprepared and attacking NATO, which includes the United States and Canada, would be a costly mistake and lead to failure.
To Vote Or Not To Vote? Iranians Mull Continuing Presidential Election Boycott

By Kian Sharifi July 01, 2024

More than 60 percent of Iran's electorate did not vote in the June 28 presidential election, despite it being billed as an important poll given the role that the next president could play in the succession to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

With no candidate managing to secure enough votes to win the election outright, a second round of voting will be held on July 5 between reformist hopeful Masud Pezeshkian and hard-line conservative and former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.

The record-low turnout came after widespread calls by dissidents at home and abroad to boycott the election, arguing that no change has come from voting in past elections.

Iran has seen a trend of sliding voter turnout since 2020 that is driven in part by a growing frustration over a lack of freedoms, a faltering economy, and declining living standards.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Sweden-based Iranian political activist Mahdieh Golrou said the declining voter turnout in recent major elections is also the direct result of "a coordinated act of civil disobedience" that allows the disillusioned public to "communicate their dissent to the authorities."

More than 50 political activists in Iran and other countries have called on the masses to continue their boycott going into the July 5 runoff.

"Any political participation or vote for handpicked and powerless candidates is a dark and bitter joke," the activists, including imprisoned Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, said in a statement on June 30.

They argued that by shunning the Islamic republic's "rigged scenarios," the public would place itself in a position of power and facilitate the "fall of the regime."

The Fear Factor

After the June 28 poll, analysts told RFE/RL that the fear of another hard-line president coming to power might compel some who boycotted the first round to vote for Pezeshkian in the runoff.

That now appears to be what Pezeshkian and his supporters on social media are focusing on to convince supporters of the boycott to vote for him.

Pezeshkian on June 30 wrote on X that "the future of Iran is in danger" and that only a high voter turnout could save the country.

Convincing them to cast their ballots will be no easy task, however. Observers have cast doubt on Pezeshkian's credentials as a true reformist, noting that he has been largely supportive of Khamenei's policies and is likely seen as relatively harmless to the aims of the clerical establishment.

Some have said that Pezeshkian would need to present a clearly outlined platform for reforms before opposition-minded voters could be expected to vote for him.

Others have highlighted the dangers of a Jalili presidency, warning that he could double down on the enforcement of the hijab, or Islamic head scarf, for women, and push Iran along a path of total global isolation akin to North Korea.

Former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi vowed that Iranians "will not allow Iran to fall into the hands of the Taliban," a suggestion that hard-line supporters of Iran's Shi'ite clerical establishment did not take kindly to.

Addressing the majority of the electorate who shunned the ballot box, pro-reform lawmaker Gholamreza Tajgardun said their "voices have been heard." However, he urged them to turn out for the second round to "show that together we can" instigate change.

Even if the boycott is broken, voter apathy remains a serious obstacle.

Some in Iran who do not back the boycott have been asking whether there is any point in voting.

Hossein Dehbashi, a documentary filmmaker with ties to the pro-reform movement, asked on X if there was "a difference between bad and worse" if ultimately the government is restricted in what it can and cannot do.

This is a sentiment that many in Iran share, according to France-based sociologist Saeed Peyvandi.

"[Iranian] society no longer easily accepts promises because its trust has repeatedly been betrayed," Peyvandi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. The Islamic republic has "never understood" people's complaints, he added, and now "trust in the establishment has collapsed."

With reporting by Elaheh Ravanshad of RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-election-debate- boycott-pezeshkian-jalili/33017219.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Floods in Myanmar force 10,000 from their homes, many trapped

Camps for people displaced by war have also been evacuated, residents said.

By RFA Burmese 2024.07.01 -- Rivers in northern Myanmar swollen by torrential rain have burst their banks, forcing about 10,000 people, including many displaced by war, to flee, while many others have been trapped on their roofs by the rising waters, relief workers told Radio Free Asia on Monday.

Heavy rain in Kachin state has led to floods in four townships along the banks of the Irrawaddy and N'mai rivers, forcing residents to seek shelter in monasteries and elsewhere on higher ground.

"Every neighborhood is flooded. It could be worse than the record set in 2004," said one relief worker in the state capital, Myitkyina, referring to the last severe flooding in Myanmar's northernmost state 20 years ago.

"There are lots of people affected," said the aid worker, who declined to be identified in fear of reprisals by the military authorities for speaking to the media.

RFA called Kachin state's junta spokesperson, Moe Min Thein, for information on rescue efforts but calls went unanswered. A junta-backed newspaper, The Global New Light of Myanmar, reported that relief operations were underway and nine evacuation facilities had opened in Kachin state since Sunday.

Overflowing rivers forced residents from their homes in Tanai, Waimaw, Chipwi townships, and parts of Myitkyina, which is on the west bank of the Irrawaddy.

Camps for people displaced by weeks of fighting between the autonomy-seeking Kachin Independence Army insurgent group and junta forces in Waingmaw, Chipwi and Myitkyina townships were also flooded, with their inhabitants forced to find higher ground, witnesses said.

There were no immediate reports of deaths in the latest flooding but landslides, partly triggered by the heavy rain, have recently killed at least 35 people in rare earth mines in Chipwi township.

By 9:30 a.m. on Monday, the Irrawaddy river had risen four feet (1.2 meters) above its critical level, and was still rising by about three inches every hour, Naing Linn Htwe, chief of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, said in a statement.

Some residents of Myitkyina have taken refuge from the swirling, murky waters on the roofs of their homes.

"We're trapped," one resident stuck on a roof told RFA. "The water is almost as deep as the height of a man."

"In my household, there are three kids and two elderly people and rescue hasn't come yet, but they said they would. They said they'd run into some difficulties on the way."

To the south, residents in river-side communities in the Sagaing, Magway and Ayeyarwady regions, which are also on the Irrawaddy, are fretting that the inundation will soon reach them.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Exchange of Lists of Prisoners between Pakistan and India

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan and India today exchanged lists of prisoners in each other's custody through diplomatic channel, in Islamabad and New Delhi. These lists are exchanged simultaneously, in pursuance of the Consular Access Agreement of 2008 on the 1st of January and 1st of July every year.

Pakistan handed over a list of 254 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistani jails. India shared a list of 452 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in Indian jails. A list of 38 missing Pakistani defence personnel, believed to be in India's custody since the wars of 1965 and 1971, was also handed over by Pakistan.

The Government of Pakistan has called for immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentence in India. A request for special consular access to various believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including the physically- and mentally-challenged prisoners, has been made for expeditious confirmation of their national status. The Government of Pakistan has also urged India to ensure safety, security, and well-being of all Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, awaiting their release and repatriation.

The Government of Pakistan is committed to addressing humanitarian matters as a priority. It will continue its endeavours to ensure early return of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails. As part of these efforts, repatriation of 62 Pakistani prisoners in 2023, and 04 in the current year, has so far been secured.



01 July 2024

Islamabad

111/2024



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Press release on Russia's UN Security Council presidency in July 2024

1 July 2024 16:21

1257-01-07-2024

On July 1, Russia took over the presidency of the UN Security Council, which, pursuant to the UN Charter, bears the primary responsibility for finding effective responses to threats to international peace and security.

Three central events have been planned during the Russian presidency. July 16 - open ministerial-level debate on multilateral cooperation for a more just, democratic and sustainable world order. July 17 - open ministerial-level debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue. July 19 - debate in the Security Council on UN cooperation with the CSTO, the CIS and the SCO. The first two events will be chaired by Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.

In general, the Council has a very busy agenda. The mandate-reporting cycle will include meetings on the situation in Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, West Africa and the Sahel region, Yemen, Cyprus, Colombia, Lebanon and Syria, as well as on the activities of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia. The mandates of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, the UN Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement and the Security Council sanctions regime against the Central African Republic are scheduled for renewal.

The agenda also includes discussions on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2720 on the humanitarian mechanism for the Gaza Strip to be attended by the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag.

The Russian Federation as a permanent member of the Security Council and a responsible participant in the international community, will traditionally make every effort to ensure a coherent and expeditious work of this agency. In this connection, Russia will urge its colleagues in the Security Council to seek common denominators, given due account of the interests of all the parties concerned.



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Kremlin Expresses Concern Over Ukrainian Troop Movements Near Belarus Border

Sputnik News

20240701

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Statements about Ukraine's dislocation of troops to the Belarusian border are a cause for concern for Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"Belarus is a union state, we have special formats of dialogue between all relevant departments, including special services. And our defense ministries are in constant partnership contact. Therefore, of course, these are reasons for concern not only for Minsk, but also for Moscow, because we are allies and partners," Peskov told reporters.

Last week, Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Muraveiko said that the situation along the border with Ukraine remains tense and is changing every day, for the worse.

Deployment of INF Missiles

The deployment of intermediate-range missiles (INF) by the Russia is a sensitive issue, but some information about this may appear, Peskov said.

"Obviously, it is unlikely that such information will be announced in any way. After all, this is a very, very sensitive area related to defense and security," Peskov told reporters.

The president is raising this issue, and accordingly, as the process goes on, and some information will be available, the spokesman added.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the country must respond to the actions of the United States and it seems that it is necessary for the country to start the production of INF strike systems.

Accreditation Denial to NATO Summit

The denial of accreditation to the NATO summit in Washington is an infringement on the rights of Russian media, Dmitry Peskov said.

"Of course, this is an infringement of the rights of media representatives. Of course, this indicates that NATO and the relevant services of the North Atlantic Alliance resort to discriminatory policies towards the media by country, which is absolutely unacceptable and contradicts all norms and principles of information openness and transparency. Well, though, we do not expect either of those things from this alliance. Of course, we strongly condemn such discriminatory actions of NATO," Peskov said, answering a question about the refusal to provide accreditation to Russian Izvestia journalists.

Kremlin on Stoltenberg's Words on China: Beijing Can Give Its Own Proper Assessment

Beijing can give a proper assessment to the words of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on its own, Peskov stressed.

"Negatively, but on the other hand, we are confident that our Chinese friends themselves can give a proper assessment of such actions," Peskov told reporters, answering a question about the Kremlin's reaction to Stoltenberg's words.

Earlier in the day, Stoltenberg told told Japanese newspaper Yomiuri that China is responsible for the incitement to the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II. Russia is producing missiles and drones with the support of advanced technology imported from China, which makes Beijing accountable for instigating the conflict, Stoltenberg said.

Russia Monitoring French Elections, Sees Outlined Trends Confirmed

Moscow is closely following the course of the snap parliamentary elections in France, Peskov said, adding that the political trends that had earlier emerged in several European countries were being confirmed.

"We are following the course of these elections very closely. The trends that had been outlined even earlier in a number of European countries, including France, are being confirmed," Peskov told reporters.

He added that the preferences of French voters were clear, but called for waiting for the second round.

The right-wing National Rally party and its allied forces have won the first round of parliamentary elections in France with 33.4% of the vote, data from the French Interior Ministry showed earlier in the day.

A Sputnik

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South Africa's Government Formed - President Ramaphosa

Sputnik News

20240701

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that he had approved the composition of the government of national unity.

"To give effect to this mandate, it was agreed that a Government of National Unity, which brings together parties from across the political spectrum, should be formed ... Following discussions over the course of the last few weeks, a total of eleven parties have elected to work together in government and in Parliament. These are the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Good Party, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi and the United Africans Transformation," Ramaphosa said in a statement on Sunday.

Paul Mashatile was reappointed as South Africa's vice president. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana also retained his post. Ronald Lamola was appointed foreign minister, and Angie Motshekga took the post of defense minister.

On June 23, the ruling African National Congress party said that ten political parties in South Africa had reached an agreement to form a government of national unity.

A Sputnik

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Ramaphosa names bloated new South African Cabinet

By By Kate Bartlett July 01, 2024

After weeks of political deal-making, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the Cabinet of his new government of national unity. Ministers from different parties will now have to put political differences aside to run the country successfully.

South Africa's new ministers are a diverse group a from a former armed robber to a white Afrikaner nationalist.

After the long-governing African National Congress, or ANC, lost its majority in May elections, Ramaphosa opted to form an inclusive government with 10 opposition parties that don't necessarily see eye to eye.

Ramaphosa had to divvy up Cabinet positions to keep everyone happy, with the result a somewhat bloated government of 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers.

"The establishment of the government of national unity in its current form is unprecedented in the history of our democracy. We have had to consider how to form the new government in a manner that advances the national interest, that gives due consideration to the outcome of the election and that makes use of the respective capabilities within each of the parties," he said.

The ANC took 20 of the 32 Cabinet posts, while the Democratic Alliance, or DA, which came second in the elections, won six. Smaller parties took the remainder.

The DA has long been a thorn in the ANC's side, and its leader, John Steenhuisen, who was made agriculture minister, noted that the road ahead would be "difficult."

Steenhuisen, however, pledged to try and make the new government work.

"It is now up to all of us a including the voters who created this multi-party government a to ensure that it delivers on its promise," he said.

Experts say the ANC a which liberated South Africa from apartheid 30 years ago a only won 40% of the vote in polls in May due to a flailing economy, high unemployment, electricity and water shortages and corruption scandals.

The business-friendly DA, which captured 22% of the vote, will now head some key economic portfolios including agriculture and public works and infrastructure as well as getting deputy minister positions in the finance and trade ministries.

David Everatt, a politics professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, said the government of national unity was expected to try to give roles to all members.

"However, the Cabinet has ballooned to a remarkable 75 people, ministers and deputy ministersa the most ironic part of that is that the Democratic Alliance, which is a fairly conservative liberal party, has for many years lambasted the ruling African National Congress for having these very large Cabinets, giving jobs to pals, et cetera. They're now sitting in exactly those seats," he said.

The uMkhonto weSizwe party, led by corruption-accused former President Jacob Zuma, finished third in the voting, and the radical Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters came in fourth.

Both parties have refused to join the government of national unity, and object to the white-led DA's participation. They will now be on the opposition benches.

Other smaller parties that did join and were given portfolios include the anti-immigrant, populist Patriotic Alliance and the right-wing white nationalist Freedom Front Plus.

The Patriotic Alliance's leader, Gayton McKenzie, an ex-gangster who was sentenced to 17 years in prison for robbery, is now minister for sports, arts and culture. Pieter Groenewald of the FF Plus has been made minister of correctional services.

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Control Yuan seeks Constitutional Court ruling on oversight laws

ROC Central News Agency

07/01/2024 10:22 PM

Taipei, July 1 (CNA) The Control Yuan on Monday petitioned the Constitutional Court for a ruling on the constitutionality of government oversight amendments passed by the Legislature in May, arguing that they allowed the legislative body to usurp its power.

The petition was filed by Yang Chang-hsien (), head of the Control Yuan's Department of Supervisory Investigation, and attorney Lee Yuan-te () on behalf of the government watchdog body at the Judicial Yuan in Taipei on Monday afternoon.

They also filed an application for an injunction to halt enforcement of the revisions to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Power and the Criminal Code that were signed into law by President Lai Ching-te () a week ago.

The Control Yuan is the latest party controlled by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to challenge the amendments in the constitutional court, following the Cabinet, Lai, and the DPP's legislative caucus.

As of now, the Constitutional Court has agreed to review the DPP caucus' petition on the constitutionality of the amendments and its application for an injunction.

It is not yet clear whether the Constitutional Court will make the same decision on the other petitions and applications, and, if so, whether it will consolidate them into one case.

A spokesperson for the Judicial Yuan, which oversees the court, told CNA that the court should consolidate multiple petitions on the same legal disputes, but whether the disputes are of the same nature still needed to be determined by the justices.

The Control Yuan argued that the amendments, which took effect on June 26, undermined its investigative powers accorded in Articles 95 and 96 of the Constitution.

The revisions give the Legislature new investigative powers, including the power to hold hearings, and public officials are subject to fines and jail time if they refuse to attend hearings or provide information, or if they present false information.

In the case of individuals or groups from the private sector, they will face penalties if they are deemed uncooperative.

Those measures, according to Control Yuan Secretary General Lee Chun-yi (), failed to make a clear distinction between the investigatory powers of the Control Yuan and those of the Legislative Yuan.

At a press conference on June 25, Lee also cited the Constitutional Court's opinion on the scope of legislative authority (Interpretation No. 585) in 2004 as saying the Legislature's investigative powers "(should) not grow unchecked" under "the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances."

Lawmakers with Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), who pushed the amendments through on May 28, argue that the revisions were necessary to check the power of the government.

That was especially true, they said, given the allegations of corruption and wrongdoing relating to several major DPP government policies and investment projects that the government has never had to answer for.

The Control Yuan is a branch of government dedicated to investigating improper or illegal behavior by government agencies, government officials, and civil servants, and though it has the power of impeachment it generally lacks teeth.

Critics have also said it is run by political appointees who are less inclined to take on the officials who made them Control Yuan members.

Lee, a DPP legislator from 2012 to 2020, previously said he supported the abolition of the Control Yuan, which would require constitutional amendments and likely involve transferring the Control Yuan's investigative powers to the Legislature.

"But before we can make amendments to the Constitution, we must respect its current provisions... this is to defend democratic constitutionalism," he argued.

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/ls

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Beijing pressed Laos to include Taiwan in visa policy for Chinese visitors: Taipei

Laos' decision gives the false impression that Taiwan is part of China, says Taiwan's foreign ministry.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.07.01 -- A decision by Laos to include Taiwan in a policy to attract more Chinese tourists was made under pressure from Beijing and is aimed at giving the false impression that Taiwan is part of China, said Taiwan's foreign ministry.

The Lao government announced on Wednesday that Chinese nationals may visit without a visa for up to 15 days as part of a group tour. It also provided an itinerary approved by its Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

The policy, valid from July 1 to Dec. 31, also applies to tourists from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, the government said in its announcement.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Taiwan and China were not subordinate to each other and Laos should not collaborate with China to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and international standing.

Taiwan had shared its position regarding the issue with the Lao government through Taiwan's representative office in Vietnam, it added.

The ministry explained that there has been no change to a rule requiring Taiwanese tourists traveling to Laos to obtain an electronic or on-arrival visa.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that should be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Since separating from mainland China in 1949, Taiwan has been self-governing.

Tensions have increased since the administration of the island's then-president, Tsai Ing-wen, took power in 2016, refusing to acknowledge the "one China" principle.

During a January presidential election in Taiwan, China took various actions, including floating balloons through Taiwanese airspace and deploying aircraft carriers in the Taiwan Strait, exacerbating tensions and increasing public unease.

China has convinced several of Taiwan's diplomatic allies to switch their recognition to Beijing in recent years, leaving only 12 countries maintaining official relations with Taiwan.

Chinese influence on Laos

In recent years, China has sought to increase its influence in Laos' mostly rural economy.

China has created a political and economic strategy to persuade Laos to sign agreements for important infrastructure. This plan, known as the Ten-Year Long-Term Program (2016-2025), aims to connect major cities in Laos, maintain a growth rate of at least 7.5%, and reduce poverty to less than 10% of the population.

But partly as a result of the major infrastructure projects, Laos has become burdened with debt of about US$12.2 billion, equal to 64.8% of its gross domestic product..

In its political and economic strategy for Laos, China emphasizes the importance of expanding trade by strengthening market relations and establishing special economic zones.

China exports primarily high-tech goods like computers, cars, and insulated wires to Laos, with an aim, analysts say, of increasing Laos' dependence on Chinese technologies.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/07/01

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Sunday to Monday, Jun. 30- Jul. 1

2.PLA activitiesis

6 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 helicopters entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.



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July 1, 2024: In 2023 Ukraine defeated the Russian Black Fleet, destroying or disabling over a third of the Russian ships. The remaining Russian ships fled to farther east ports in the Black Sea. In early 2024 Ukraine built 35 Sea Baby drones, also known as USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles). These USVs are made of a material that is nearly invisible to radar. Each can carry up to 850 kg of explosives. Less explosives can be carried if you want the Sea Baby to travel farther. With a full load of explosives, it can reach targets up to 1,000 kilometers distant, so the Russian Black Sea Fleets remaining ports are within its range. Top speed is 90 kilometers an hour but more economical, in terms of fuel use, cruise speed is about half the top speed. That means it would take the Sea Baby about twenty hours to travel a thousand kilometers. That is a one way trip to a target, like a naval base or any ships docked at the base which is then attacked. Sea Baby navigates using several devices including GPS, INS, and short range sensors to detect and avoid obstacles. These sensors can also be programmed to identify and attack a specific target like a ship or other naval base facility. Sea Baby can also be equipped with short range weapons like explosive rockets that can hit targets a thousand meters distant with thermobaric/fuel air warheads. When used to launch rocket attacks, the Sea Baby can escape and return to a Ukrainian base for reuse. Some Sea Babys are equipped with video cameras to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance missions. In this case, communications equipment must be carried to transmit video or individual digital photos back to the Ukrainian base. The Ukrainians have been very imaginative and flexible in their use of these unmanned seagoing vessels.

In May 2024 the Ukrainian USV and UAV attack on the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk succeeded in damaging port and logistics facilities. Additional UAV attacks were made on oil storage facilities using over fifty UAV. This many UAVs overwhelmed Russian air defenses and made it possible for numerous Russian targets to be hit. Later, residents of the target areas reported hearing numerous explosions followed by outbreaks of large fires, most of them in the oil storage facilities. Since 2023 Ukrainian UAV attacks have been hitting Russian oil refining and storage sites deep inside Russia. These operations have caused fuel shortages for Russian forces inside Ukraine.

Currently Ukraine has three operational Ukrainian models of their USVs. These include Sea Baby, Mother (Mamai), and MAGURA, which carries 320 kg of explosives while Mamai carries 450 kg. These USVs are no longer used just for delivering explosives against a target; they can also be used for reconnaissance when equipped with video cameras that broadcast what they see back to the USV operator. Some USVs have been armed with small rocket launchers. Malyuk has a range of over 700 kilometers, which means they are suitable for operations on the high seas. Endurance is about 60 hours, and top speed is over 70 kilometers an hour. MAGURA has similar characteristics. Mamai was used in the long range attack at the distant naval base at Novorossiysk on Russias Black Sea eastern, which is a thousand kilometers from Crimea.

Sea Baby was used in the mid-2023 Kerch Strait Bridge attack and was carrying 850 kg of explosives that inflicted enough damage to render the bridge unusable. The bridge is a key transport route for getting supplies into Crimea and as of early 2024 was still unusable.

Ukraine has been developing subsurface USVs and in early 2023 the first one, the Toloka2 TK-150 was introduced. This USV was 2.5 meters long and equipped with a sensor mast that remained above the surface for navigation and to identify targets. Toloka2 can also carry a small explosive warhead. More recently, Ukraine developed the larger Marichka USV that is 6 meters long and one meter in diameter. Ukraine has planned for a Western manufacturer to build and weaponize Ukrainian USVs.

Ukrainian USVs have been quite successful in attacking and sinking or disabling Russian navy ships. So far there have been twelve attacks which resulted in damage to 12 ships and the sinking of a cruiser, two small landing ships and one missile corvette. The longest range raids have been against targets in Kerch Strait and the more distant Novorossiysk.

Ukrainian USV operations in the Black Sea forced the Russian Black Sea Fleet to withdraw to the eastern shore of the Black Sea. Sevastopol was no longer a safe place to be, and Russian ships could no longer launch their Kalibr cruise missiles without moving closer to Ukrainian territory and risking attack by Ukrainian USVs. The presence and aggressive use of the USVs means that Ukraines grain corridor has been kept open despite Russias threats to interfere. Beyond symbolic significance, the corridor holds critical economic importance for Ukraine and is expected to contribute 5-7 percent to GDP growth in 2024 because of the grain shipments.

The aggressive and successful use of Ukrainian USVs against the Russian Black Sea fleet was unprecedented in the history of naval warfare. Not only were these USVs tactically successful but financially as well. For example, new frigates cost about $1.5 billion each. That much money can also pay for 5,000 such USVs. Destroyers cost twice as much. The frigates and destroyers are high seas ships and can travel all over the world. The USVs operate in coastal waters although some of the larger USVs can operate up to a thousand kilometers from where they were launched. These USVs carry video cameras and satellite-based communications systems to collect information and, in peacetime, do so without fear of attack. Severe storms are another matter, but any storm damage will be broadcast as it is happening, at least until the video cameras or communications equipment is disabled.

Commercial cargo ships can carry hundreds of armed UAVs equipped with satellite communications so operators anywhere in the world can control them. These USVs can be unloaded at sea and sent to carry out attacks on targets in the area or move to a nearby harbor and remain tied to a dock until needed. The only maintenance is keeping the USV batteries charged. These USVs are a radical new weapon for naval warfare and the war at sea will never be the same because of the success of Ukrainian USVs in their victorious war against the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Nations with major warship fleets, like the U.S. and China, have much to fear from this new development of weaponized seagoing USVs. These USVs are difficult to spot visually, especially at night. Sonar can detect them, and autocannon-equipped ship weapons, like Phalanx, can be adapted to accurately target and destroy USVs. Since the United States provides most of the military aid to Ukraine, they can get some cooperation from the Ukrainians that will help American warships and those of other NATO nations develop weapons and tactics to deal with USVs. The Russians were taken by surprise when their Black Sea Fleet was attacked by USVs. In less than a year, most of the Black Sea Fleet warships were destroyed or severely damaged by USVs. Because of the USVs, Ukraine, which does not have a conventional navy, now controls most of the Black Sea.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, the invaders also expected to reinforce and expand their control of the Black Sea. This included blocking Ukrainian grain exports, which would drive up prices for Russian grain exports. That financial goal was never met because Ukraine fought back with USVs and some air strikes to not only contest efforts to expand Russian control of the Black Sea, but also disrupt Russian naval operations in the Black Sea as well as Russian use of the Crimean Peninsula as bases for naval, air force and army operations. In 2022 Russia had numerous warships in the Black Sea and these came under heavy attack by Ukrainian USVs and missiles. This led to the destruction of the flagship of the Black Sea fleet and systematic attacks on the remaining Russian warships. Ukraine didnt have any ships of their own for these attacks and had to improvise. Ukraine used armed UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and USVs for these attacks, as well as some land-based guided missiles.

This eventually forced Russia to abandon Crimean naval and air force bases. This included the major Crimean port and naval base of Sevastopol. The growing number of Ukrainian attacks on Crimea forced most of the Russian Black Sea Fleet to move. The UAVs and USVs carry explosive warheads to destroy military targets, including bases, ports, headquarters, and airfields. While civilian targets are spared, the military facilities are a major source of employment. When these facilities are damaged, destroyed and shut down, the civilians begin to leave. Now Ukrainian forces are getting close to the narrow isthmus that connects Crimean to the mainland and the other access point, the Kerch Strait bridge in southeastern Crimea is also under constant attack. As the situation in Crimea deteriorates, corruption by local officials makes matters worse for the remaining civilians and persuades a growing number of them to leave.

In late 2023, advancing Ukrainian forces were close enough to the narrow isthmus connecting Crimea to the mainland that the only Russian rail line carrying supplies to occupied Crimea was within range of GMLRS missile attacks. These NATO supplied missiles were carried and launched from HIMARS vehicles. They had a range of 80 kilometers and were a constant threat to Russian supply lines, including ports and ships in the Black Sea.

Ukraine had already disabled the other rail supply route to Crimea, which used the Kerch Strait bridge. Ukraine used various types of UAVs, USVs and novel UUVs (unmanned underwater vessels) to do this, as well as destroy Russian air defenses in Crimea and drive the remaining ships of the Black Sea fleet to port on the east coast of the Black Sea. The largest of these eastern Black Sea ports is Novorossiysk, which had a small naval base facility added in 2012. Now it is being used to host the surviving remnants of the Black Sea Fleet. While Novorossiysk is mainly a commercial port, exporting oil and other goods produced in the area and handling most of the imports, most of that has been halted because of the Ukrainian unmanned weapons that now make the Black Sea a dangerous place for Russian ships of any type. Ukraine did this without a fleet of its own. The Russians were still able to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian ports using submarine launched cruise missiles as well as land-based missiles. These Russian attacks became less frequent as the Ukrainians forced Russian naval forces farther away from Ukrainian export ports west of Crimea.
Modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement enters into force

Global Affairs Canada

News release

July 1, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Today marks a new chapter in Canada and Ukraine's relationship. The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, welcomes the official entry into force of the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA).A

This is a significant milestone in the Canada-Ukraine bilateral relationship. The modernized CUFTA will enhance trade, increase economic cooperation and support Ukraine's financial reform and efforts to rebuild. It also signals Canada's unwavering commitment to Ukraine's long-term security, stability and economic recovery following Russia's full-scale invasion of the country.A

The modernized CUFTA is a win-win for both countries. It maintains the preferential market access gained in the original 2017 CUFTA; it updates and adds new language in areas such as trade in services, investment, temporary entry for businesspeople, telecommunications, digital trade, labour and the environment; and it adds a dedicated chapter on trade and Indigenous Peoples, a first in each country's history.

From the beginning of Russia's invasion, Canada has led international support for the Ukrainian people. The modernized CUFTA is another example of Canada's support for not only rules-based international trade and Ukraine's efforts to rebuild, but also for the country's long-term security, stability and recovery.

Quotes

"Canada's support for Ukraine is critical at this time in history. Our modernized free trade agreement puts all the right elements in place so that when the war is over, Canadian businesses and exporters will be ready to help rebuild the Ukraine of tomorrow." - Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development

Quick facts

The original CUFTA entered into force on August 1, 2017.A A

In early 2020, Canada undertook public consultations on the possible modernization of CUFTA and published a report on the findings in May 2020.

AOn January 27, 2022, Canada and Ukraine launched CUFTA modernization negotiations, which were held from June 2022 to April 2023.A A

On September 22, 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the modernized agreement in Ottawa.

On March 19, 2024, the implementing legislation for the modernized CUFTA received royal assent.

A Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, and the resulting war in Ukraine has had a negative effect on our overall bilateral trade and investment in 2022, leading to a 31% fall in Canada's exports to Ukraine.

A Bilateral trade between Canada and Ukraine reached a peak of approximately $447 million in 2021, decreasing to $422 million in 2022 due to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In 2023, trade surged to $695 million, largely due to Canadian exports of various military equipment to Ukraine to aid in the war effort.

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Russia liberates two more eastern Ukrainian villages

Iran Press TV

Monday, 01 July 2024 5:03 PM

Russia has claimed two new east Ukrainian villages, fighting fiercely against the Ukrainian forces, who struggle to hold the Russian troops back.

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Monday the Russian forces took the village of Novopokrovske in the eastern Donetsk region and the village of Stepova Novoselivka in the northeast Kharkiv region, as they continue to pile pressure on Kiev forces in several directions for weeks.

The gains came after Russia freed two other villages over the weekend. Russian troops have been steadily pushing westwards since they took the industrial hub of Avdiivka in February.

Russian troops have announced the capture of a fresh village in Ukraine's east almost every week this summer.

The village of Stepova Novoselivka in the northeast Kharkiv region is located southeast of the city of Kupyansk, where Russia has also been on the advance for months.

Kupyansk was liberated by Russian troops at the start of Moscow's special military operation in eastern Ukraine in February 2022 but Kiev forces captured the city several months later.

Russian troops launched a renewed local offensive in the Kharkiv region in May.

Meanwhile, Kiev forces have launched deadly artillery and drone attacks on Russian regions bordering Ukraine causing power outages and water supply cuts on Monday.

Deadly drone strikes and shelling on the border region of Belgorod over the past day killed a four-year-old girl and wounded seven people, Belgorod's Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

"There have been power restrictions since early morning," Belgorod's Mayor, Valentin Demidov, wrote on Telegram, saying that the "situation is complex but under control."

The Mayor added that in some parts of the city, the power cuts also affected the water supply.

He further added that air raid sirens were not working in areas with power cuts and cars with loud horns were driving through the streets to sound the alarm. Traffic lights were also not working, and police were checking the main roads.

The Governor said 150 kindergartens were without power and water supplies to hospitals were affected.

Gladkov said the usual number for calling ambulances was not working and listed mobile phone numbers to call.

He added that in a "number of settlements" around the border town of Graivoron, "there is temporarily no electricity."

Governor Alexei Smirnov in the neighboring Kursk region warned that "due to technical issues on power lines in neighboring regions, a deficit of electricity capacity could arise in the Kursk region."

Smirnov said the Kursk region came under Kiev forces' drone attack overnight; however, Russian air defenses shot down the seven Ukrainian drones.

The regional government in the neighboring Voronezh region said some areas were under power restrictions to prevent damage to energy facilities due to overloading of the network.

Earlier, Governor Alexander Gusev had warned about possible drone attacks overnight.

Since war broke out in eastern Ukraine, the US-led Western countries have been providing Kiev with a continuous supply of arms and ammo.

Last month, Ukraine's American backers removed restrictions on Kiev, giving its forces permission to strike targets inside Russia.

Ukraine has also received permission from its main European backers -- namely, Germany, France, and the UK-- to use weaponry supplied by these countries to strike targets deep inside Russia.

Russia has repeatedly warned against flooding Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, adding that it would take retaliatory measures against the West if the weaponry is used on targets inside Russia.

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Ukraine Faces Electricity Cuts Due To Summer Demand, Effects Of Russian Strikes

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service July 01, 2024

Ukrainian electricity provider Ukrenerho warned of blackouts and other restrictions on July 1 because of the effects of Russia's ongoing campaign of attacks targeting energy infrastructure combined with increased demand due to high summer temperatures.

The warning came as Ukraine's Air Force issued a missile and air-raid alert for most regions of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, and after at least seven civilians were injured during an overnight Russian drone strike in the eastern city of Dnipro.

In the Kyiv region, three people, including a child, were reportedly injured in a rocket strike that damaged three private houses and several vehicles, officials reported late on June 30.

Noting that temperatures in most of the country were forecast to be above 30 degrees Celsius on July 1, the company urged Ukrainians to monitor consumption and avoid using demanding appliances simultaneously.

The company added that Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Moldova were providing electricity supplies to Ukraine.

"But due to the scale of the damage [from the Russian attacks], these measures are not enough to maintain the balance in the energy system," Ukrenerho wrote on Telegram.

Russia has been targeting Ukraine's electrical grid for months, forcing frequent power outages. In March, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said 80 percent of the country's thermal-generation capacity had been destroyed. Around the same time, the Energy Ministry said thermal power plants controlled by Tsentroenerho and Ukrhydroenerho had been badly damaged.

Last month, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked the European Union to step up electricity exports to Ukraine, as well as to supply necessary equipment and other resources to make repairs.

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is waging a full-scale war against our energy sector," Zelenskiy said at a meeting of the European Council in Brussels on June 27. "If Russia succeeds in this, it will become part of military doctrines around the world. Energy is one of the foundations of normal human life."

On June 23, Russia conducted its eighth large-scale strike targeting Ukraine's energy grid in the past three months. The strikes damaged power transmission systems in the southeastern Zaporizhzhya and western Lviv regions, Ukrenerho said at the time.

Meanwhile, the administration of Belgorod, a Russian city of some 340,000 located 40 kilometers of the Ukrainian border, reported that electricity had been cut off in several areas of the city and the surrounding region as a result of Ukrainian drone attacks.

Telegram channel Ash said the reason for the power outage was an attack on a substation.

The Russian Defense Ministry said separately that Russian air-defense systems had downed 36 drones over the the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions early on July 1.

The ministry claimed its air-defense systems "destroyed and suppressed" 18 drones over the Bryansk region and nine drones each over the Kursk and Belgorod regions.

The claim could not be independently verified immediately.

Ukraine has over the past several months increasingly targeted fuel-production sites inside Russia, mainly oil-refining facilities that work for the Russian military.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone- attack-dnipro/33014809.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Brazilian President Says Ready to Contribute to Russia-Ukraine Talks

Sputnik News

20240701

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Brazilian President Luiz InAcio Lula da Silva said on Monday he hoped for a shift in Russia-Ukraine dynamics that would allow for peace talks to begin and for Brazil to play a role in them.

Brazil was one of several countries that attended Ukraine's so-called "peace summit" in Switzerland last month, an event Russia was not invited to attend.

"I ... sent my aide, Celso Amorim, to Ukraine to talk with [Volodymyr] Zelensky and to Russia to talk with [President Vladimir] Putin, to see if there was a breakthrough that would allow for peace talks to begin," Lula told Radio Princesa.

The Brazilian president said that his country would never be part to the Ukrainian conflict and reiterated that it could end at the negotiating table.

In May, Brazil and China issued a joint proposal for peace in Ukraine which called for an international peace conference "that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans."

President Vladimir Putin said in June that Russia would immediately cease fire and begin negotiations with Ukraine after Kiev withdrew troops from Russia-controlled territories and officially abandoned its plans to join NATO.

Putin described Ukraine's NATO ambition as a direct threat to the national security and insisted that Kiev's non-aligned status was extremely important for future peace efforts.

Ukrainian President Zelensky rejected Moscow's proposal as an ultimatum. His presidential term expired on May 20, but he postponed the election, citing martial law.

A Sputnik

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Russian UN Ambassador Dismisses Zelensky's So-Called Peace Formula as 'Non-Starter'

Sputnik News

20240701

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The so-called peace formula of Volodymyr Zelensky is a non-starter, and Russia will not even discuss it, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said on Monday.

"To solve the problem on the basis of Zelensky peace formula, we will not even talk about it," Nebenzia told journalists at a UN briefing. "It's a non-starter."

Speaking about Former US President Donald Trump's claim that he can bring the Ukraine conflict to an end in one day, Nebenzia said it is subjective as this crisis is much more complicated

"The Ukrainian crisis cannot be solved in one day, that's subjective," he said

Commenting on Israel's potential decision to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, the diplomat warned that it could have significant political consequences.

Last week, the Financial Times reported that the United States is in talks with Israeli and Ukrainian officials to send Patriot missile systems from Israel to Ukraine.

"We are discouraging all countries, that have not yet done so, from providing arms for Ukraine," Nebenzia said. "The destiny of the weapons that will be eventually exported to Ukraine, from wherever, the destiny is clear, they will be destroyed as the other weapons that the west, the US are supplying Ukraine with, but I presume that the decision that might be taken on the issue may of course have certain political consequences."

A US Defense Department spokesperson contacted by Sputnik on Thursday was unable to verify reports claiming that the United States was in talks with Israel about supplying Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense systems.

Taliban* Are Afghanistan's De-Facto Authorities

The Taliban are the de-facto authorities of Afghanistan and the international community should realize it and deal with them, Nebenzia told journalists.

"Taliban is the de-facto authorities of Afghanistan. We have been saying consistently that you have to recognize this fact and deal with them as such," Nebenzia said during the UN briefing. "This movement [Taliban] is running the country now."

The United Nations will continue to engage with the Taliban in Afghanistan while not decreasing its interactions with Afghan women and civil society, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said earlier in the day.

DiCarlo made the remarks after participating in the third UN-led meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan that was attended by the Taliban for the first time.

*An organization under UN sanctions for terrorist activities

A Sputnik

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Russian Troops Liberate Stepovaya Novoselovka Near Kharkov and Novopokrovskoye in DPR

Sputnik News

20240701

Russian military forces from the Zapad Battlegroup have liberated Stepovaya Novoselovka in the Kharkov region and inflicted damage on five Ukrainian brigades in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), resulting in a loss of up to 475 soldiers, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Monday.

"The units of the Zapad group of forces, as a result of successful actions, have liberated the populated area of Stepovaya Novoselovka in the Kharkov region and have taken more advantageous positions," the report said.

Units of the Zapad Battlegroup also inflicted losses on the formations of the 21st, 44th, 60th and 66th mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade in the areas of Makeyevka, Novovodyanoye, Nevskoye, and Stelmakhovka of the Lugansk People's Republic, as well as Ternov of the Donetsk People's Republic.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 475 servicemen, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier and four pickups," the ministry added.

Additionally, during counter-battery fire, a BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launcher, two US-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, a 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, a 122-mm self-propelled artillery mount Gvozdika, a 122-mm D-30 howitzer and five Ukrainian Armed Forces field ammunition depots were hit.

The Russian Forces have also take control of the settlement Novopokrovskoye in the DPR.

"The units of the Tsentr group of forces, as a result of active actions, have liberated the settlement Novopokrovskoye of the Donetsk People's Republic and improved the tactical position," the statement read.

A Sputnik

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Air Defense Shoots Down 36 Ukrainian Drones Over Russian Regions - MoD

Sputnik News

20240701

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems suppressed and destroyed 36 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod Regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"During the past night, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was prevented. Air defense systems destroyed and suppressed 18 UAVs over the Bryansk Region, while nine UAVs were destroyed over the Kursk Region, and nine UAVs were destroyed over the Belgorod Region," the ministry said.

Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into Russia almost daily since it launched its counteroffensive in early June 2023. The United Nations said in August last year, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure.

A Sputnik

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President Met with the Delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives

President of Ukraine

1 July 2024 - 18:57

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives led by Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Turner, and including Representatives Betty McCollum, John Joyce, Ronny Jackson, and Tony Gonzales.

The Head of State thanked U.S. President Joseph Biden, both chambers and parties of the Congress and the entire American people for their unwavering leadership in assisting Ukraine.

"We see the determination of the U.S. Congress in stepping up support for Ukraine and we are grateful for it. The allocation of macro-financial aid to Ukraine by the Congress significantly strengthens our economy and the Armed Forces," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President spoke about the situation on the frontline and the priority needs of the Defense Forces. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and members of the U.S. House of Representatives discussed the key areas of further U.S. assistance, including additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles.

"This is critically important, as Patriot systems help us save lives and protect infrastructure. We are counting on additional deliveries of these systems in the near future," the Head of State noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the participation of the United States in the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. He also emphasized the importance of joint efforts to engage countries in supporting the final communiquA of the Summit.

The parties also discussed ways to further enhance sanctions pressure on Russia. The President emphasized the role of the Congress in the formation of the legal framework for the use of frozen Russian assets for the needs of our country.

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Russia suffers massive losses in Ukraine, but effect on Kremlin policy unclear

By Victor Vladimirov July 01, 2024

Several recent journalistic investigations have provided statistics showing that Russia's military has suffered staggering losses since launching its February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In late June, independent Russian outlet Important Stories found "more than 71,000 Russian men died in the war" since February 2022. Based on figures compiled by the Russia's State Statistics Service, the report also found that at least 45,000 Russian soldiers died in Ukraine in 2023 alone.

Earlier in June, an open-source investigation conducted by independent Russian media outlet Mediazona and the BBC's Russian-language service confirmed the names of 64,000 Russian soldiers who had been killed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The journalists who conducted the research suggested that the number of fatalities are likely at least twice as high.

On the second anniversary of the invasion, Mediazona and Meduza, another independent Russian media outlet, jointly published a study that found an estimated 83,000 Russian soldiers had been killed in Ukraine.

Reporting on that study, The Kyiv Independent noted that Mediazona and Meduza had announced in July 2023 that they had "accessed a restricted but non-classified database of inheritance cases, and compared trends to those in publicly available mortality data from Russia's State Statistics Service, records from the Russian Probate Registry, and obituaries."

Last August, The New York Times quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying that up to 120,000 Russian troops had been killed and 170,000 to 180,000 wounded, compared to nearly 70,000 Ukrainian troops killed and 100,000 to 120,000 wounded.

The Kremlin does not release official statistics on miliary casualties. On Monday, The Kyiv Independent confirmed that Ukraine's General Staff is reporting that Russia has lost more than 540,000 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion a a number that includes killed and injured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February claimed that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the February 2022 invasion. He also said that he wouldn't disclose the number of Ukrainian troops that were wounded or missing.

Stats censored

Sergei Krivenko of Moscow-based Citizen Army Law, a human rights group, says Russia's aggressive censoring of stats, along with virtually no remaining independent news outlets, means that the rate of casualties is unlikely to sway popular opinion about the war.

"In the '90s, when the Chechen war began, there were independent media outlets that objectively discussed the military topic on their pages and told the truth about the losses," he told VOA's Russian Service. "And this had a sobering effect on society. There is the most severe censorship now, the authorities have everything under control, and for publications of this kind you can easily get a prison term."

Krivenko also noted that the majority of troops sent to Ukraine are contract soldiers a an important distinction from the Afghan and Chechen wars fought primarily by "forced conscripts [that] ... were sent to slaughter, which caused tension and backlash in society, event to the point of creating social movements."

Those who voluntary sign contracts to fight in Ukraine, he added, "made their own choice."

"In addition, they receive a decent salary," he said. "That is, ordinary people do not feel particularly sorry for them."

Krivenko said that while Russia's "enormous" losses in Ukraine cannot be hidden, with cemeteries "expanding in every [Russian] city and town," it will not force the Kremlin to change course."

"They will only turn up patriotic rhetoric more intensely to explain the growing losses," he said. "They will repeat that 'there is a war with the West, so everyone goes to the front.'"

Roman Dobrokhotov of The Insider, an independent investigative outlet based in Latvia, said focus groups have shown that Russians are tired of the war in Ukraine a mainly over casualties and its effect on the economy.

"[W]e see from the focus groups that we have been observing for a long time that even those who previously supported the war and were generally loyal to Putin want him to end this senseless war," he said, adding that he believes Putin is aware of this growing sentiment.

"Hence, there is increasing speculation that the Kremlin wants to return to peace talks," Dobrokhotov said. "But it does not look like Putin is ready to return to pre-war borders. I would be surprised if the Kremlin agreed to leave, for example, Mariupol. And Ukraine will never capitulate."

Yevgeniya Chirikova, an exiled Russian environmental activist based in Estonia, said she sees no signs that Putin is ready to end the war in Ukraine.

"That's not why he went to North Korea," she told VOA. "And the growing number of killed and maimed on both sides does not bother him at all. Until Russian troops receive a tough rebuff in Ukraine, no changes will happen."

But, she added: "It is felt that the limit of patience on the part of Russian society is close to exhaustion."

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Russia says it shot down 36 Ukrainian drones

By VOA News July 01, 2024

Russia's defense ministry said Monday the country's air defenses shot down 36 Ukrainian aerial drones that were involved in attacks on Russian regions along the border with Ukraine.

The ministry said Russian forces downed 18 drones over the Bryansk region, nine over the Kursk region and nine more over Belgorod.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor of Belgorod, reported damage to houses in two villages, and said on Telegram that several areas were without power after the attacks.

The governors of Bryansk and Kursk each said there were no reported injuries or damage in their areas.

Russia also claimed battlefield gains Monday, saying its forces had taken control of the village of Stepova Novoselivka in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region and Novopokrovka in the eastern region of Donetsk.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about the situation in Kharkiv or Donetsk.

Ukraine's air force issued missile alerts Monday in southern and eastern Ukraine, which are frequent targets of Russian drone attacks.

Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said Monday on Telegram that Russian forces attacked with missiles and artillery, with a missile strike in the city of Dnipro injuring seven people.

Lysak said Russian attacks late Sunday included artillery and kamikaze drones that damaged several buildings and a gas pipeline in Nikopol.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his calls late Sunday for countries providing military aid to Ukraine to further relax restrictions on Ukrainian forces using Western weapons to strike military targets inside Russia.

"Clear decisions are needed to help protect our people," he said. "Long-range strikes and modern air defense are the foundation for stopping the daily Russian terror. I thank all our partners who understand this."

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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July 2, 2024: In Ukraine, Russia took the lead in developing electronic jamming technology and Ukraine, the United States and its NATO allies are hustling to catch up. This wartime game of dueling improvements between electronic warfare (EW) and electronic countermeasures (ECM) to electronic warfare has been going on since at least 1940. At the level of small unmanned aerial vehicles, Ukrainian responses to new Russian UAV jamming techniques are currently only ten days behind new Russian advances.

Current Russian local and wide area jamming are making Ukrainian military radios inoperable and reducing the accuracy of GPS guided weapons supplied by NATO. The U.S. has come up with a partial solution to this, a missile that homes in sources of jamming. This capability wont be available until 2025, and that puts pressure on the Ukrainians to improvise.

This is not a new problem. Two years ago the U.S. sent some AGM-88 HARMs (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) to Ukraine. Soon a photo appeared on the Internet showing the debris of a HARM missile used in Ukraine to destroy a Russian air defense radar. The U.S. admitted that some HARMS were being used by Ukrainian warplanes. This is possible via a HARM feature that uses the missiles own radar detection and homing capability. This is a short-range option, good for detecting and locating a radar up to 50 kilometers distant. The Ukrainian have demonstrated a skill at adapting military and equipment for new uses. Rigging a MiG-29 fighter or SU-25 ground attack aircraft to carry and use a HARM missile in HARM as Sensor mode is feasible. This enabled Ukrainian warplanes to use HARM to shut down the many Russian SAM (Surface to Air Missile) batteries that make it difficult for Ukrainian aircraft to operate freely. The HARM-carrying aircraft come in low and under the radar and fire the HARM when close enough for the detection sensors in the missile to become aware of the SAM radar. At that point the pilot launches the HARM and turns away. Until receiving HARM the only anti-radar missile Ukraine had was a Russian design that lacked many of the HARM capabilities.

The U.S. has lots of HARM missiles and they are continuously improved. The latest upgrade is a major one. Since 2012 the U.S. has been upgrading older ABM-88B HARMs to the AGM-88E/F AARGMs (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles) standard. Upgrading older HARMs costs about half as much as buying a new AGM-88E. In most cases AARGMS are created by using the case, rocket motor and warhead of an AGM-88 HARM missile with new components, mainly guidance and control items.

New 88Es cost $1.26 million each. Originally the plan was to produce 1,879 AARGMs but increased demand from U.S. forces and sixteen export customers, including Ukraine led to the current goal, set in 2016, for 2,435 AARGMs. The increased demand was prompted by the improved air defense systems of potential adversaries that rendered the 88B model less effective. Most customers believed potential enemy defenses were still vulnerable to the AARGM upgrade. In 2023 the new HARM model became available.

For over half a century most guided missiles were built with these upgrades and refurbishments in mind. The older missiles not only have more advanced components installed, but the entire missile is examined and any component needing replacement gets that done. Older spare parts for the 88B are also replaced, as needed, with those that work in the 88E. Most AGM-88s are being used on the U.S.-made EA-18G electronic warfare (EW) aircraft, which now takes care of certain EW missions, like SEAD (suppression of enemy air defenses) for the air force and marines as well. To do that they need the latest model HARM. But the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps aviation also use some HARMs and AAARGMs.

The AGM-88 comes in various models, giving users lots of options. Some users only need the older 88B but most want the latest model. The AGM-88B HARM entered service in 1983 and used a passive radar seeker which homed on enemy fire-control radars emissions in order to destroy the radar and thus render surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems useless by destroying radars needed for target tracking. In 1999 (the Kosovo War against Serbia) the 88B HARM was found to be vulnerable. The Serbian forces limited their radar usage to a minimum and used quick radar shutdown techniques and pack and leave tactics for their SAM units. Because of these tactics, HARM had problems acquiring targets. Thats because the missile has precision guidance only when enemy radar is working all the time. Otherwise, the 88B reverts to offline mode that uses the less accurate INS (Inertial Guidance System) only.

NATO forces failed to silence most Serbian SAMs during the campaign. There were calls for upgrades to the 88B and some software upgrades seemed to deal with the problems encountered against Serbia. But the potential threats kept appearing and AGM-88 upgrades continued and resulted in some major changes and a new model HARM.

Not only is the E model an improved version of the 88B, but it also includes major modifications that enable it to hit moving ships. This makes the AGM-88E an effective anti-ship weapon as well. Meanwhile, another upgrade of the AGM-88 entered service. The AGM-88F is very similar to the 88E but comes from a different manufacturer and is aimed at export sales. The 88F completed testing in 2014 and entered production. This version also has the anti-ship capability.

All these upgrades seen in the 88E and 88F contributed to the missile getting a new name. Its now an AARGM (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile) instead of a HARM. AARGM weighs 361 kg (794 pounds) and can detect and attack targets more than 150 kilometers away while traveling at a speed of 2,450 kilometers per hour. The AGM-88E can transmit a picture of the target, just before it is hit, so the user can be certain of what was taken out. The AARGM was developed jointly by U.S. and Italian firms.

The AGM-88F has GPS guidance added with less accurate but jam-proof INS as a backup. The older AGM-88D also used GPS so that the missile, which normally homes in on radar transmissions, could be used to attack targets by location alone. The F model expands on basic GPS capabilities and also includes other features that assist in defeating enemy electronic defenses. What the GPS/INS provides is a way for HARM to act on previous intelligence about where an enemy radar is while also using its radar signal homing capability and new anti-decoy features. Many countries now use a decoy emitter that sends out a fake radar signal to lure the HARM away from the real radar. The 88F model uses GPS and more sensors and new software to get around all known deceptions (and some that havent been invented yet).

There is also a longer-range AGM-88G. The AARGM-ER model has a different shape so that it will fit inside the internal bomb bay of the F-35A and C models. The G model also has improved performance including longer range, about 280 kilometers. This is twice the range of other AGM-88s. By carrying these missiles internally, the stealth of the F-35 is maximized. This is essential for the first aircraft encountering enemy air defenses. These aircraft will take out key radars so subsequent SEAD aircraft, like the non-stealthy EA-18G, can do their job with less risk of loss. The AARGM-ER will enter production after 2023 but it is not yet clear if it will replace or just supplement the existing AARGM. The development of the AARGM-ER began in 2016 and has remained on schedule with production starting in 2023.

The AGM-88 moves at high speed, as in 2,200 kilometers an hour or 36 kilometers a minute. The original 1960s anti-radiation missile (ARM) quickly evolved into the HARM. There were initial orders for over a thousand AGM-88E/Fs from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, Italy, Australia and Germany. Over 25,000 AGM-88s, of all types, have been produced since the 1980s. Most are never used in combat or for training and are built for a long shelf, or storage, life of about 15 years. Manufacturers have found ways to extend the shelf life of these expensive devices to a decade or more, but often before that limit is reached new models of the missile appear with new features that are often essential to get the job done against enemies that have better countermeasures. For that reason, the trend is for guided missiles to be built to make it easier and cheaper to upgrade key components, like the guidance system, which is quite elaborate for a HARM missile. As time goes by successful missile designs result in more of the older models available for refurbishment and upgrades and this has become a major source of income for manufacturers.
Singapore, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Abel Ang retires as Group Chief Executive Officer after a decade and will continue to serve on the Board of Directors



Achieved record global revenues of US$335.0 million, a 15.1% increase year-over-year driven by strong performances in all segments

United States entities grew revenue by 22.3%, making up 55.4% of total revenue and 65.3% of urology revenue

Continued commitment in innovation with R&D investment increasing 20.8% year-over-year

SINGAPORE, 2 July 2024  Advanced MedTech Holdings (AMTH or the Group), innovative global leader in urology, announced that Abel Ang will retire as Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as part of a planned leadership transition. Wong Yau Chung, previously Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), has assumed the role of Group CEO-designate from 1 July 2024 and will take over as Group CEO on 1 October 2024. Yau Chung will also be appointed to the Board of Directors as Group CEO, and Abel will continue to remain on the Board of Directors of AMTH.

In addition to the leadership transition, the Group also announced record revenues for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2024 (FY24). The Group achieved global revenues of US$335.0 million1, representing a 15.1% increase on a reported basis and a 17.4% rise excluding COVID-19 related revenues2. Revenues have also grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5% on a reported basis from FY22 to FY24, and at a CAGR of 16.4% from FY22 to FY24 excluding COVID-19 related revenues. This strong performance was driven by the Group's focus on its Integrated Urology Platform (IUP) strategy.

The Groups Capital Equipment & Consumables (CEC) segment achieved revenues of US$163.6 million, a 15.0% revenue growth from the previous period and CAGR of 14.7% from FY22 to FY24 on the back of innovation-driven growth.

The Clinical Urology Services (CUS) segment achieved revenues of US$120.5 million, a 19.7% revenue growth compared to the previous period, with a CAGR of 16.7% from FY22 to FY24. Rapid expansion in the CUS segment saw more than 60,000 patient procedures performed in FY24, a 14.5% year-over-year increase and an 11.0% CAGR over the last three fiscal years.

Robotic Surgery & Tools (RST) achieved revenues of US$50.9 million, a 5.7% revenue growth from the previous period on a reported basis and a 19.8% increase excluding COVID-related revenues. Excluding COVID-related revenues, RST grew at a CAGR of 21.9% from FY22 to FY24.

This success was supported by robust growth in the United States (US) entities, where revenues grew by 22.3%. The US entities contributed 55.4% of total revenue and 65.3% of urology revenue, driven by the strong performance of new products such as Thulio, Nautilus, Axis and other urological consumables. To support future innovation-led growth, the group increased R&D investment in the year by more than 20%.

Mr. Philip Yeo, Chairman, Advanced MedTech, said, These record results have led to AMTH being amongst the top three for investment returns within the Temasek portfolio over the last 3 years. It is a testament to the effective execution of Advanced MedTechs vision, driven by strong leadership and a clear strategic focus. As we mark a decade under Abels leadership, we are appreciative of his contribution and role in shaping Advanced MedTech into one of the fastest-growing urology companies in the world  launching 30 product innovations globally. We are grateful for his dedication and are pleased to have his continued guidance on our Board of Directors.

Mr. Wong Yau Chung, Group CEO-designate, Advanced MedTech, said, I am honoured and excited to lead Advanced MedTech into a new chapter and its next phase of growth and innovation. I thank Abel for his guidance and partnership over the years, which have been invaluable in establishing a strong foundation for the future. With the support of our incredibly talented team, I look forward to building upon our record success in FY24 and continuing to drive growth in a sustainable manner.

Ends

About Advanced MedTech Holdings:

Advanced MedTech Holdings is a global medical technology leader with a core focus in urology devices and contract manufacturing services. The Group serves millions of patients and physicians in 100 countries worldwide. Advanced MedTech Holdings makes strategic investments in disruptive medical technology companies, strengthening its portfolio of healthcare solutions for customers around the world. Advanced MedTech Holdings is a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek. For more information on Advanced MedTech Holdings, please visit https://www.advanced-medtech.com/ .

APPENDIX:

Wong Yau Chung  Bio:

Yau Chung is a senior executive and business leader with over 18 years of global experience in healthcare and medical devices. He joined AMTH in 2013 as Vice President, Corporate and Business Development, AMTH, before relocating to Munich and serving as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of AMTHs wholly-owned subsidiary, Dornier MedTech. He was promoted to Group COO of AMTH in July 2023.

Prior to joining AMTH, Yau Chung was Deputy Director, Operations & Corporate Planning at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and headed the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)s Biomedical Division, based in their New York office. He also serves on the board of I.M.D. International Medical Devices S.p.A., headquartered in Bergamo, Italy, that specialises in medical diagnostics imaging systems.

Yau Chung holds a B.Sc. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Cornell University on an EDB-Glaxo Scholarship and has completed the Harvard Business Schools Advanced Management Program on an AMTH Management Scholarship.







1 This information is derived from the Group's Audited Financial Statements in SGD. All financial figures have been converted to USD at respective fiscal years' average exchange rates.

2 COVID-related revenue refers to the sale of COVID test kits, ventilators and other COVID-related products in fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023. There were no COVID revenues from fiscal year 2024 onwards.





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New York, United States , July 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Integrated Pest Management Pheromones Market Size is to Grow from USD 945.7 Million in 2023 to USD 1995.9 Million by 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.76% during the projected period.

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Agrochemicals known as integrated pest management (IPM) pheromones are designed to lure in, trap, and destroy insects and pests to promote strong crop growth. Pheromones associated with Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which attempts to reduce insect populations with the least amount of negative environmental impact, are essential to modern agricultural and pest control techniques. Compared to artificial agrochemicals including pesticides, IPM pheromones are believed to be more ecologically benign and cleaner. There are four applications for IPM pheromones: biological, cultural, mechanical, and physical. When used in conjunction with insecticides, pheromones are thought to be a cleaner and more environmentally friendly method of integrated pest management, or IPM. Additionally, many insects use chemicals called pheromones to communicate, find mates, or find food. To reduce pest infestations in fruits, vegetables, grains, and crops, IPM pheromones are extensively used in horticulture, agriculture, and forestry. Some of the key factors influencing global revenue growth are growing awareness of food security, innovations in the agriculture sector, more R&D being done, and a better understanding of the application of sustainable products. Global market expansion is being driven by the world's rapidly growing population, the increasing need to increase agricultural output, and the rising demand for premium crops and food products.

Browse key industry insights spread across 200 pages with 110 Market data tables and figures & charts from the report on the  Global Integrated Pest Management Pheromones Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Sex Pheromones, Aggregation Pheromones, and Alarm Pheromones), By Mode of Application (Monitoring & Detection, Mass Trapping, Mating Disruption, and Others), By Application (Residential, Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, and Storage Facilities) and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023  2033.

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The sex pheromones segment is anticipated to dominate in the global integrated pest management pheromones market during the projected timeframe.

Based on the product, the global integrated pest management pheromones market is divided into sex pheromones, aggregation pheromones, and alarm pheromones. Among these, the sex pheromones segment is anticipated to dominate in the global integrated pest management pheromones market during the projected timeframe. IPM pheromones minimize the disturbance of mating and larval growth on trees and crops.

The mating disruption segment anticipated for a significant share of the global integrated pest management pheromones market during the projected timeframe.

Based on the mode of application, the global integrated pest management pheromones market is divided into monitoring & detection, mass trapping, mating disruption, and others. Among these, the mating disruption segment anticipated for a significant share of the global integrated pest management pheromones market during the projected timeframe. According to mating disruption science, artificial dispensers confuse male insects, making it difficult for pests to mate and reproduce.

The agriculture segment anticipated for the largest share of the global integrated pest management pheromones market during the projected timeframe.

Based on the application, the global integrated pest management pheromones market is divided into residential, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and storage facilities. Among these, the agriculture segment anticipated for the largest share of the global integrated pest management pheromones market during the projected timeframe. The rise of sustainable farming and tighter pesticide regulations are likely to boost the need for IPM pheromones.

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North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global integrated pest management pheromones market over the forecast period.

North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global integrated pest management pheromones market over the forecast period. This is due to the agricultural industry in North America has become more industrialized and dependent on an integrated system to sustain agribusinesses, leading to an increase in demand for IPM pheromones. Grain elevators, chemical and biofertilizers, integrated pest management, and other advanced technologies are being used by farmers in North America. Many farmers have implemented integrated pest management systems to secure their harvests due to the growing demand for efficient pest management techniques in the development of specialty crops. Throughout the projection period, new market opportunities are anticipated as a result of the Canadian federal government's acceptance of the precision farming initiative to promote economical and environmentally friendly techniques.

Europe is predicted to grow at the fastest pace in the global integrated pest management pheromones market during the projected timeframe. This is a result of the abundance of arable land, technological developments and discoveries in the agriculture sector, rising consumer demand for food safety, and growing demand for premium food products in nations including Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom. To promote biodiversity, the federal government is putting several environmental quality objectives into action, such as strong legislation banning pesticides. These objectives, which include stringent prohibitions on the use of harmful pesticides, are meant to promote biodiversity. The European market for IPM pheromones is driven by all of these factors.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the global market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market. Major vendors in the global integrated pest management pheromones market include Russell IPM, Shin-Etsu Chemicals, International Pheromone Systems Ltd (IPS), Suterra LLC, Trece, Inc., Novagrica, Agrisense BCS Ltd, Pheromone Chemicals, Ponalab, Indore Biotech Inputs and Research Pvt. Ltd., BASF SE, Biobest Group NV, Isagro Group, Bio Controle, and other.

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Recent Developments

In April 2022, Biobest has successfully acquired a 60% stake in Biopartner. The goal of the acquisition was to strengthen Biobest's position in Poland.

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2033. Spherical Insights has segmented the Global Integrated Pest Management Pheromones Market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Global Integrated Pest Management Pheromones Market, By Product

Sex Pheromones

Aggregation Pheromones

Alarm Pheromones

Global Integrated Pest Management Pheromones Market, By Mode of Application

Monitoring & Detection

Mass Trapping

Mating Disruption

Others

Global Integrated Pest Management Pheromones Market, By Application

Residential

Agriculture

Horticulture

Forestry

Storage Facilities

Global Integrated Pest Management Pheromones Market, By Regional

North America US Canada Mexico

Europe Germany Uk France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Rest of Asia Pacific

South America Brazil Argentina Rest of South America

Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia Qatar South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa



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Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Western Europe Data Center Construction Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Western Europe Data Center Construction Market was valued at USD 9.01 Billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 14.41 Billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 8.14%.

The increasing demand for data centers nationwide will provide significant opportunities for construction contractors to generate revenue. Some well-known construction contractors in the Western Europe data center construction market include AECOM, AEON Engineering, Arup, Basler & Hofmann, Bouygues Construction, Callaghan Engineering, Cap Ingelec, Collen, DPR Construction, Future-tech, Mercury, PM Group, Turner & Townsend, Winthrop Engineering and Contracting, and many more.

Major players Colt Data Centre Services (COLT DCS), CyrusOne, DATA4, Digital Realty, Echelon Data Centers, Equinix, Global Switch, Iron Mountain, NTT Global Data Centers, Orange Business Services, Vantage Data Centers, Yondr, and others have made substantial investments in the Western Europe data center construction market. Microsoft, Meta (Facebook), and Google are the major hyperscale operators investing in the Western Europe data center construction market.

The Climate Neutral Data Center Pact has significantly improved the sustainability of Western European data centers. By 2030, all signatories commit to powering their facilities with renewable energy. By October 2022, over 100 companies had signed the Climate Neutral Data Center Pact, representing over 90% of European data center capacity.

Western Europe is the top choice for hyperscale facility development due to free and air-based cooling availability. This advantage helps reduce power consumption in these regions. Data center investors are increasingly choosing locations like Spain, Portugal, Greece, and others with abundant renewable energy and reasonable land prices. Industry leaders like Microsoft, Meta, and Google are at the forefront of developing sustainable hyperscale facilities. Colocation data center developers also contribute by adopting initiatives like HVO, sustainable construction materials, and green facades.

Significant growth has been made in greenfield and modular data center developments. The modular data center developments are increasing as construction methods are deemed inefficient due to labor shortages, budget constraints, and construction delays in certain countries across the region. The increased demand for modular solutions from data center operators is increasing the revenue of modular data center solutions providers such as Vertiv, Dell Technologies, and HPE, among others.

The government's interest in promoting data center investments through land for development, renewable energy procurement, and reducing electricity tariffs will drive the colocation market in Europe during the forecast period.

KEY TRENDS

Rising AI Wave Boost Data Center Investment

Continuous growth in AI propels an increased need for data centers and supports the growth of the Western Europe data center construction industry.

Cutting-edge technologies increase demand for advanced data storage and processing facilities.

Western Europe experienced a surge in establishing and expanding data centers to accommodate the escalating demand.

Data centers are pivotal in supporting the infrastructure for developing and deploying AI solutions.

Due to the rising use of AI, Western Europe's growing data center industry positively impacts the economy, generating job opportunities and fostering innovation in the technology sector.

Utilizing Advanced Cooling Technologies

Growing sustainability efforts drive data centers to adopt innovative cooling methods. Large operators focus on reducing power use with approaches like tropical testbeds and underwater centers.

Data centers use diverse cooling methods, such as free cooling and underwater centers, demonstrating a commitment to cost-effective, eco-friendly operations.

Liquid immersion cooling, using dielectric oil, proves cost-effective for managing heat from high-performance servers. "Direct-to-chip cooling enhances efficiency by directly cooling chips, addressing the sustainability challenges of traditional water cooling.

Immersion cooling solutions, including Direct-to-Chip Cooling, aim to overcome sustainability challenges tied to water consumption in traditional cooling methods, making operations more eco-friendly and efficient.

Chip-Level Security in Data Centers

Data centers are increasingly focusing on improving security at the core level through chip-level security - a trend highlighting a growing commitment to enhanced safeguards. This involves implementing advanced security measures directly at the chip level to address threats more effectively and strengthen overall resilience.

Chip-level security emphasizes hardware-based protections, using microarchitecture features to strengthen data centers against evolving cyber threats. This trend marks a move toward comprehensive security integration, with chip-level measures as a foundational layer for a robust security posture in data center environments.

SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

Embracing modular power infrastructure in data centers is poised to yield long-term cost savings. These systems boast higher efficiency, require less maintenance, and save space.

Monitoring's importance is on the rise, fueled by the uptake of real-time monitoring software featuring automation and AI capabilities. This technology predicts maintenance needs, identifies component failures, and executes automatic switchovers for uninterrupted operations.

Cooling techniques in regions with favorable climates are on the upswing, including using evaporative coolers to cool data centers efficiently.

Anticipate data centers to adopt innovative designs like district heating as part of their evolution.

Beyond the initial setup, data centers focus on enhancing physical security. They are utilizing real-time data center infrastructure management systems (DCIM) for continuous monitoring and management of facilities.

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What is the growth rate of the Western Europe data center construction market?

What is the estimated market size in terms of area in the Western Europe data center construction market by 2029?

How big is the Western Europe data center construction market?

What are the key trends in the Western Europe data center construction industry?

How many MW of power capacity is expected to reach the Western Europe data center construction market by 2029?

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 406 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $9.01 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $14.41 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.1% Regions Covered Europe

Market Overview

Historical vs Present Market Scenario

Data Center Construction Cost Across Western Europe

Data Center Design Certifications

Uptime Institute Tier Standards

Leed Certification

Tia 942 Certification

Market Opportunities & Trends

Rising AI Wave Boost Data Center Investment

Utilizing Advanced Cooling Technologies

Surge in Industrial Electricity Rates

Rising Expansion of District Heating Systems

Chip-Level Security in Data Centers

Market Growth Enablers

Integration of Ocp and Hyperscale Infrastructure Solutions

Expansion of 5G Services Leading to Edge Data Center Investments

Data Localization Laws by Western European Countries

Green Initiatives in Western Europe

Market Restraints

Supply Chain Disruptions Hampering Market Growth

Shortage of Skilled Data Center Professionals

Location Challenges for Data Center Development

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers

3M

ABB

Airedale International Air Conditioning

Alfa Laval

Carrier

Caterpillar

Condair

Climaveneta

Cummins

D'HONDT THERMAL SOLUTIONS

Daikin Applied

Delta Electronics

Eaton

ebm-papst

EMICON INNOVATION AND COMFORT

Enrogen

FlaktGroup

Grundfos

Guntner

GESAB

HiRef

HITEC Power Protection

Honeywell

Johnson Controls

KOHLER-SDMO

KyotoCooling

Legrand

Mitsubishi Electric

Munters

Nlyte Software (Carrier Global Corporation)

Perkins Engines

Piller Power Systems

Riello Elettronica (Riello UPS)

Rittal

Rolls-Royce

Schneider Electric

Siemens

Socomec

STULZ

Trane (Ingersoll Rand)

Vertiv

ZIEHL-ABEGG

Prominent Construction Contractors

AECOM

AEON Engineering

APL Data Center

ARC:MC

Ariatta

ARSMAGNA

Artelia

Arup

Atkins

Basler & Hofmann

BENTHEM CROUWEL ARCHITECTS

Bouygues Construction

Cap Ingelec

Collen

Deerns

DPR Construction

Eiffage

EYP MCF

Ferrovial

Future-tech

ICT Facilities

IDOM

ISG

JCA Engineering

JERLAURE

Kirby Group Engineering

Linesight

LPI Group

M+W Group (EXYTE)

Mercury

NORMA Engineering

PM Group

PQC

Quark

RED Engineering Design

Reid Brewin Architects

Royal HaskoningDHV

Skanska

SPIE UK

Starching

STO Building Group

STS Group

studioNWA

TPF Ingenierie

TTSP

Turner & Townsend

Winthrop Technologies

Prominent Data Center Investors

AtlasEdge

Aruba

China Mobile

Colt Data Centre Services (COLT DCS)

CyrusOne

DATA4

Digital Realty

Echelon Data Centres

EdgeConneX (EQT Infrastructure)

Equinix

Euclyde Data Centers

Meta (Facebook)

Global Switch

Google

Iron Mountain (IO)

KDDI (Telehouse)

LCL Data Centers

Microsoft

Nautilus Data Technologies

NDC-GARBE Data Centers Europe

NTT Global Data Centers

Orange Business Services

Proximity Data Centres

Pure Data Centres

T5 Data Centers

Telecom Italia Sparkle

Vantage Data Centers

VIRTUS Data Centres (ST Telemedia Global Data Centres)

Yondr

New Entrants

CloudHQ

Form8tion Data Centers (Thor Equities)

Global Technical Realty

Goodman

Mainova WebHouse

Nation Data Center (NDC)

SEGMENTATION

Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

General Construction

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer Switches & Switchgear

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC and CRAH Units

Chillers Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers, and Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

Cooling Techniques

Air-based Cooling

Liquid-based Cooling

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & Commissioning Services

Engineering & Building Design

Fire Detection & Suppression

Physical Security

DCIM/BMS Solutions

Tier Standards

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

Geography

UK

Germany

France

Netherlands

Ireland

Switzerland

Italy

Spain

Belgium

Portugal

Other Western European Countries

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/a8smw0

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Finland Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Finland Data Center Market was valued at $418 Million in 2023, and is expected to reach $1.93 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 29.12%.



KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Finland's data center market is ideal for development due to its low latency connectivity, high-speed data networks, political stability, and dependable power grid. The country has been witnessing increased investments from colocation and hyperscale data center providers, contributing to the growth of the Finland data center market.

The country is increasingly investing in renewable energy. Data center operators are procuring renewable energy for their data centers to achieve their sustainability goals. By 2035, the country will use renewable energy to meet its carbon neutrality goals.

Cloud service providers will likely enter the country with new data center regions. Operators like Microsoft plan to build a data center region in Finland. The country plans to move most public and private sector workloads to the cloud.

Investing in Finland's tech market can be profitable due to its growing digital infrastructure. The Finland data center market hosts approximately 20 facilities, making it attractive for colocation and enterprise data centers. The government's investments in 5G technology and Artificial Intelligence through initiatives like the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) demonstrate a commitment to technological advancements.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Some key colocation investors in the Finland data center market include Equinix, Elisa, Ficolo, Telia Finland, Herman IT, atNorth, and others.

The Finland data center market has a strong presence from global support infrastructure vendors such as ABB, Airedale, Caterpillar, Cummins, Delta Electronics, Eaton, Legrand, Rittal, Schneider Electric, and STULZ. This has resulted in heightened competitiveness in the infrastructure offerings and solutions available.

The Finland data center market has several local and global construction contractors operating, including Fluor Corporation, AFRY, Granlund Group, and others, offering their services. For instance, Kirby Engineering Group was involved in constructing a hyperscale data center in Hamina, Finland.

EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS

Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Helsinki Other Cities

List of Upcoming Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Helsinki Other Cities



VENDORS

IT Infrastructure Providers ATOS Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Extreme Networks Hewlett Packard Enterprise Huawei Technologies IBM Juniper Networks NEC Oracle

Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors Afry Fluor Corporation Granlund Group Kirby Engineering Group Parviainen Arkkitehdit RED Ramboll Royal HaskoningDHV

Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Airedale Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics Eaton HITEC Power Protection Legrand Rittal Schneider Electric STULZ Trane Vertiv

Data Center Investors Elisa Equinix Google Herman IT Telia Finland Verna Global

New Entrants atNorth Hyperco Microsoft STORESPEED



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How big is the Finland data center market?

How much MW of power capacity will be added across Finland during 2024-2029?

What is the growth rate of the Finland data center market?

How many existing and upcoming data center facilities exist in Finland?

What factors are driving the Finland data center market?

Who are the key investors in the Finland data center market?

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH?

Market size is available regarding investment, area, power capacity, and Finland's colocation market revenue.

An assessment of the data center investment in Finland by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators.

Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across cities in the country.

This report details a detailed study of the Finnish data center market landscape, provides in-depth market analysis, and makes insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period.

Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Finland Facilities Covered (Existing): 20 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 4 Coverage: 8+ Cities Existing vs. Upcoming (Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity)

Data Center Colocation Market in Finland Colocation Market Revenue & Forecast (2020-2029) Retail & Wholesale Colocation Pricing

The Finland data center market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast.

A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry.

Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the industry.

A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the industry.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 103 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $418 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $1937 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 29.1% Regions Covered Finland

REPORT COVERAGE



This report analyses the Finland data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments.

The segmentation includes:

IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Systems Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems CRAC & CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers Economizers & Evaporative Coolers Other Cooling Units

General Construction Core & Shell Development Installation & Commissioning Services Engineering & Building Design Fire Detection & Suppression Systems Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)

Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV



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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "France - The Future of Foodservice to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The report provides extensive insight and analysis of the French Foodservice market over the next five years and acts as a vital point of reference for operators or suppliers.



In 2023, France recorded annual nominal GDP per capita growth of 6% due to a favorable labor market and strong exports. The working-age population (aged 15-64) accounted for 61.1% of the total population in 2023. The proportion of the working-age population is expected to decline to 60.2% by 2028. As of 2023, 17.5% of the population were under 15 years, while 21.4% were aged 65 years and above. The share of the young-age population (0-14) will decline to 16.6% by 2028.



The report includes :

Overview of France's macro-economic landscape: Detailed analysis of current macro-economic factors and their impact on the French foodservice market including GDP per capita, consumer price index, population growth, and annual household income distribution.

Detailed analysis of current macro-economic factors and their impact on the French foodservice market including GDP per capita, consumer price index, population growth, and annual household income distribution. Growth dynamics: In-depth data and forecasts of key channels (QSR, FSR, coffee & tea shop, and pub, club & bar) within the French foodservice market, including the value of the market, number of transactions, number of outlets and average transaction price.

In-depth data and forecasts of key channels (QSR, FSR, coffee & tea shop, and pub, club & bar) within the French foodservice market, including the value of the market, number of transactions, number of outlets and average transaction price. Customer segmentation: Identify the most important demographic groups, buying habits, and motivations that drive out-of-home meal occasions among segments of the French population.

Identify the most important demographic groups, buying habits, and motivations that drive out-of-home meal occasions among segments of the French population. Key players: Overview of market leaders within the four major channels including business descriptions and number of outlets.

Report Scope

The French foodservice profit sector generated total revenue of EUR147 billion ($158.9 billion) in 2023, recording a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% from EUR129.4 billion ($152.8 billion) in 2018. The number of transactions posted a CAGR of 1.2%. The number of outlets recorded a CAGR of 0.3% during 2018-23. QSR led the foodservice profit sector in 2023, accounting for 39.9% of total sales.

The foodservice profit sector is expected to reach EUR177.8 billion ($189.9 billion) in 2028, registering a CAGR of 3.9% during 2023-28, while the number of transactions will achieve a CAGR of 1.6%.

Reasons to Buy

Specific forecasts of the foodservice market over the next five years (2023-28) will give readers the ability to make informed business decisions through identifying emerging/declining markets.

Consumer segmentation detailing the desires of known consumers among all major foodservice channels (QSR, FSR, coffee & tea shop, and pub, club & bar) will allow readers understand the wants and needs of their target demographics.

Company Coverage:

McDonald's

KAP Development

Restaurant Brands International

Domino's Pizza

Yum! Brands

Napaqaro

Groupe Bertrand

MTY Food

Groupe Le Duff

La Boucherie

Starbucks

Columbus Cafe

French Coffee Shop

Illy Cafe

PQ Licensing

Au Fut Et A Mesure

Le Comptoir Du Malt

Barberousse

Les Relais d'Alscace

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Macroeconomic Context

Macroeconomic Overview

Trends Landscape

Profit Sector - Consumer Behavior

Profit Sector Metrics

Key Metric Highlights

Value Share and Growth by Channel

Outlets and Transactions Growth by Channel

Operator Buying Volumes and Growth by Channel

Channel Historic and Future Growth Dynamics

Outlet-Type and Owner-Type Growth Dynamics

Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) Summary & Key Points Metrics Key Players Who? Why? What? Where? What Next?

Full-Service Restaurant (FSR) Summary & Key Points Metrics Key Players Who? Why? What? Where? What Next?

Coffee & Tea Shop Summary & Key Points Metrics Key Players Who? Why? What? Where? What Next?

Pub, Club & Bar Summary & Key Points Metrics Who? Why? What? Where? What Next?

Cost Sector Metrics

Cost Operator Trends - Historic and Future Growth

Data and Channel Share Breakdown

Education

Healthcare

Military & Civil Defense

Welfare & Services

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6l4bsd

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Automotive Robotics Market Report By Component, Types, By Application, Company Analysis 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



United States Automotive Robotics Market is expected to reach US$ 2.99 billion in 2023 to US$ 7.4 billion in 2032, with a CAGR of 10.59% from 2024 to 2032.



Players in the automotive industry strive to implement smart product design and also more adjustable distribution networks in order to cope with changes within the automotive segment.





Robotics technology has welcomed manufacturing departments of automobiles in the United States for over a decade. Robotic technologies in the US automotive sector exceed human features, which enables work execution at a higher speed. This increases flexibility in operations and decreases on raw materials and working process or sequence, hence brings down the costs and improves the viability of the producer.



The United States stands as a global leader in production industries, with a remarkable surge in demand for commercial robots. In 2023, the automotive sector alone experienced a 1% increase in revenue, installing 14,678 robots. This growth follows a remarkable 47% surge in installations in 2022, with 14,472 devices set up. Automotive and component manufacturers contributed 33% of all commercial robotic installations in the U.S. in 2023. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), America ranks as the second-largest producer of vehicles and light vehicles worldwide, following China. This upward trend fuels the need for robots in this sector due to efforts to reinforce domestic supply chains and initiatives promoting the shift to clean energy.



The US has experienced a considerable increase in demand for cars, which is due to the increase in the nation's household income and also strong employment opportunities in the market. This yielded significant monetary expansion and increase consumer confidence regarding large purchases such as cars. Also, with money cheap and available in many options: purchase price incentives for cars have made cars even more attractive to customers.



Current trends on American automobile market where technologies and fuel efficiency are in the spotlight has produced a dramatic shift in buyer interest especially as the stock of electric and hybrid automobiles expand with an emphasis on environmental responsibility among car buyers. Moreover, the manufacturers and dealerships have increased sales and boundless improvements in the affairs through the development of digital features, virtual showrooms, and home delivery services across the United States of America.



Industry 4.1 The financial revolution This domain relates to goal 0 as it deals with automation, real-time data, integration and machine learning. The aggressive potentate leverages intelligent technology to optimize manufacturing and supply chain. Contending that and, indeed, that critical elements - including robotics, artificial intelligence, data analytics and cloud computing - are indeed fundamental to Industry 4. 0, improving the stability and prospects of industrial robots. Ideally, there is no time to cease or reduce operations because this increases chances of success in the identified market, the market in automotive robotics in the U. S.



Established and emergent technologies like innovative LiDAR, vision systems, and radar in robotics systems enable the robotic systems to maneuver through complex spaces and cooperatively engage with people and tools in the automobile industry. By using AI algorithms decision making happens with high intimacy, movement and operations optimization. Digital twin technology creates an exact imitation of assets which can help in predicting maintenance and quality necessities. Self-organizing robots minimize the amount of material transported through the factory and improve the time taken for each process.

Overall, these technologies enable robots to learn and avoid obstacles, modify their behaviors in response to different contexts, and improve path planning, which opens up new markets and addresses the need for application of automation to increase productivity, contain expenses, and enhance quality. The application of robotics systems in the automobile corporations in the U. S. helps them coordinate the mechanical processes imperative for diverse sequences of making automobiles such as assembly, welding, painting, and material transport, thereby fostering the use of automotive robotics.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $2.99 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $7.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.5% Regions Covered United States



Key Players Analysis: Recent Developments & Strategies, Product Portfolio & Product Launch in Last 1 Year, Revenue

ABB

FANUC CORPORATION

Yaskawa Electric Corporation

Omron Adept Robotics

Kawasaki Robotics

Harmonic Drive System

Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp.

KUKA Robotics

By Component - United States Automotive Robotics Market breakup in 6 viewpoints

Sensors

Controller

End Effector

Robotic Arm

Drive

Others

By Types- United States Automotive Robotics Market breakup in 5 viewpoints

Articulated

Cartesian

Scara

Cylindrical

Others

By Application- United States Automotive Robotics Market breakup in 5 viewpoints

Welding

Material Handling

Painting

Cutting

Others

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/abziv8

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "SATCOM on the Move Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Application, Vertical, Component, Platform, and Region - Analysis and Forecast, 2024-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



By 2024, the market is estimated to be valued at $32.16 billion, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.86% to reach $117.75 billion by 2034.

The SATCOM on the move (SOTM) market is experiencing notable growth, driven by various key factors and market drivers. This growth is primarily fueled by the increasing recognition of the advantages offered by SATCOM on the move solutions in enhancing communication capabilities in remote and challenging environments while optimizing operational costs across different sectors.





SATCOM on the move solutions play a crucial role in providing reliable and continuous communication links, even in areas where traditional terrestrial networks are unavailable or unreliable. These solutions bolster situational awareness, operational efficiency, and safety, particularly in sectors such as defense, government, transportation, and emergency services.



Additionally, there is a heightened focus on the importance of reliable communication in remote and challenging environments, driven by the need for seamless connectivity in disaster response, military operations, maritime environments, and other remote locations. SATCOM on the move technologies offer the ability to establish and maintain communication connections while in motion, addressing the evolving communication needs of organizations operating in such environments.



Continuous advancements and innovations in SATCOM on the move technologies are also contributing to market expansion. Leading providers in the SOTM industry, such as Thales Group, Echostar Corporation, and Honeywell International Inc., are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions tailored to diverse operational requirements. Their expertise in satellite communications, coupled with advanced engineering capabilities and customer-centric approach, are instrumental in shaping the SATCOM on the move market landscape.



In conclusion, the SATCOM on the move market is poised for significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for reliable communication in remote and challenging environments, ongoing technological advancements, and proactive efforts from industry leaders to deliver innovative solutions.

How can this report add value to an organization?

Product/Innovation Strategy: The global SATCOM on the move market has been extensively segmented based on various categories, such as application, component, vertical, and platform. This can help readers get a clear overview of which segments account for the largest share and which ones are well-positioned to grow in the coming years.



Competitive Strategy: A detailed competitive benchmarking of the players operating in the global global SATCOM on the move market has been done to help the reader understand how players stack against each other, presenting a clear market landscape. Additionally, comprehensive competitive strategies such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations will aid the reader in understanding the untapped revenue pockets in the market.

Key Questions Answered in this Report:

What are the main factors driving the demand for SATCOM on the move market?

What are the major patents filed by the companies active in the SATCOM on the move market?

Who are the key players in the SATCOM on the move market, and what are their respective market shares?

What partnerships or collaborations are prominent among stakeholders in the SATCOM on the move market?

What are the strategies adopted by the key companies to gain a competitive edge in SATCOM on the move market?

What is the futuristic outlook for the SATCOM on the move market in terms of growth potential?

What is the current estimation of the SATCOM on the move market, and what growth trajectory is projected from 2024 to 2034?

Which application, and product segment is expected to lead the market over the forecast period (2024-2034)?

Which regions demonstrate the highest adoption rates for SATCOM on the move market, and what factors contribute to their leadership?

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 100 Forecast Period 2024 - 2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $32.16 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $117.75 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.8% Regions Covered Global

Current and Future Impact Assessment

Supply Chain Overview

Value Chain Analysis

Pricing Forecast

R&D Review

Patent Filing Trend by Country, by Company

Regulatory Landscape

Stakeholder Analysis

Use Case

End User and Buying Criteria

Impact Analysis for Key Global Events

Market Dynamics Overview

Market Drivers

Market Restraints

Market Opportunities

Companies Profiled

Echostar Corporation

Thales Group

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

General Dynamics Corporation

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Cobham Satcom

Honeywell International Inc.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.

Viasat Inc.

Aselsan A.S.

Iridium Communications Inc.

Intellian Technologies Inc.

St Engineering

Inmarsat Global Limited Overview Top Products/Product Portfolio Top Competitors Target Customers Key Personnel Analyst View Market Share



Market Segmentation:

Application

Command and Control Centres

Virtual Private Network (VPN) Connectivity

VOIP or Video Conferencing

Airliners Live Connectivity

Others

Vertical

Government and Defense

Commercial

Component

Antennas

Transmitters

Receivers

Power Amplifiers

Radio

Others

Platform

Land

Airborne

Naval

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xnyvzo

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Nestle S.A. - Digital Transformation Strategies" company profile has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The report provides comprehensive information and insights into Nestle's technology activities, focusing on its digital transformation strategies and innovation programs. It offers an overview of Nestle's technology initiatives, covering partnerships, product launches, and acquisitions.

Nestle S.A. (Nestle) is a food and beverages company, offering more than 2,000 branded products across 190 countries. The company classifies its business operations into six reportable segments: Zone Americas (AMS); Zone Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa (EMENA); Zone Asia, Oceania, and sub-Saharan Africa (AOA); Nestle Waters; Nestle Nutrition; and Other Business.

The company's product portfolio includes baby foods, bottled water, cereals, chocolate and confectionery, coffee, culinary products, chilled and frozen foods, dairy products, drinks, nutritional products, and ice cream. Nestle manages R&D operations through a network of 40 R&D centers with 4,800 scientists and researchers, and product technology centers globally. Nestle also maintains 25 regional testing labs, which offer quality assurance.

Each technology initiative is detailed with insights into the technology theme, objectives, and benefits, giving a clear understanding of the strategic intent behind each effort. Additionally, the report includes details of Nestle's estimated ICT budgets and major ICT contracts, highlighting the company's financial commitments and priorities in advancing its technological capabilities.

Scope

Nestle has developed an IoT platform for its global business units, including Nespresso and Purina Petcare, using Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its scalability and serverless architecture.

Nestle utilizes data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning to understand consumer behavior and preferences. This information helps Nestle create targeted marketing campaigns that effectively connect with their desired audience, leading to higher brand engagement and sales.

Nestle launched its digital adoption journey to focus on key areas such as employee enablement services and creating a Digital Adoption Center (DAC).

Nestle aims to enhance its market expertise and technological capabilities to convert innovative concepts into tangible products.

Reasons to Buy

Gain insights into Nestle's tech operations.

Gain insights into its tech strategies and innovation initiatives.

Gain insights into its technology themes under focus.

Gain insights into various product launches, partnerships and acquisition strategies.

Key Topics Covered:

Overview

Digital Transformation Strategy

Accelerators, Incubators, and Other Innovation Programs

Technology Focus

Technology Initiatives

Investments

Acquisitions

Partnership, Investment & Acquisition Network Map

ICT Budget and Contracts

Key Executives

Contact the Publisher

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:

ABB

PronoKal

Freshly

Wonder Group

SafeMove

OpenSC

IBM

With/n

Amwell

For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q9fdt6e-s-a-digital-transformation-strategies?w=4

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Medical Biomimetics Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2024 to 2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The 'medical biomimetics market' is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2032, driven by innovations in cardiovascular, orthopedic, and ophthalmological applications.

However, challenges in dental biomimetics adoption present a notable restraint. Market segmentation reflects the diverse applications, with cardiovascular biomimetics leading in revenue in 2023 and orthopedic biomimetics exhibiting the highest anticipated CAGR. Geographically, North America contributes significantly to revenue, while the Asia-Pacific region presents a high growth potential.



Competitive trends highlight the strategies adopted by major players, including SynCardia Systems, Abbott Laboratories, and Stryker Corporation. These companies leverage innovation and strategic collaborations to maintain a competitive edge. As the medical biomimetics market progresses from 2023 to the forecast period of 2032, strategic positioning, ongoing research, and addressing adoption challenges will be critical for sustained success in this transformative field of healthcare.

Market Competition to Intensify during the Forecast Period



In 2023, major players in the medical biomimetics market included SynCardia Systems, Abbott Laboratories, Wright Medical Group N.V., Stryker Corporation, Second Sight Medical Products, Bionic Vision Technologies, Dentsply Sirona, Institut Straumann AG, and Organovo Holdings. These companies adopted diverse strategies, including research and development, strategic collaborations, and product launches, to strengthen their market positions. The evidence lies in Abbott's acquisition of St. Jude Medical, enhancing its cardiovascular portfolio, and Stryker's collaborations with research institutions for orthopedic innovations.



As of 2023, the competitive landscape indicates a dynamic market with companies strategically positioning themselves to capitalize on emerging trends. Revenues for 2023 and the expected landscape for the forecast period (2024-2032) reveal a competitive environment where innovation, market awareness, and global strategies play crucial roles in determining success.



North America Remains the Global Leader



Geographically, North America contributed the highest revenue percentage in 2023, owing to the presence of key biomimetic technology developers and a robust healthcare infrastructure. However, the Asia-Pacific region is poised to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The evidence lies in the increasing investments in healthcare infrastructure and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, creating opportunities for biomimetic solutions. These geographic trends emphasize the need for global market players to adapt strategies for regional dynamics.



Innovations in Cardiovascular Biomimetics



The cardiovascular segment is propelled by continuous innovations in biomimetic technologies, emulating the intricate design and functionality of the human cardiovascular system. Companies like SynCardia Systems and Abbott Laboratories have pioneered biomimetic heart devices and artificial valves, enhancing treatment options for cardiovascular diseases

. The evidence lies in the successful development and clinical implementation of SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart and Abbott's Trifecta Valve, mirroring natural cardiac function. These innovations contribute to improved patient outcomes, reducing the burden of cardiovascular disorders globally.



Advancements in Orthopedic Biomimetics



Orthopedic biomimetics has witnessed significant advancements, with companies such as Wright Medical Group N.V. and Stryker Corporation leading the way in developing biomimetic implants and prosthetics. The evidence lies in the success of Wright Medical's INFINITY Total Ankle System, designed to mimic natural ankle movement, and Stryker's Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology, which combines biomimicry and robotics for precise joint replacements. These innovations not only enhance patient mobility and comfort but also exemplify the transformative potential of biomimetics in orthopedic care.



Revolutionizing Ophthalmology with Biomimetic Technologies



Biomimetic advancements in ophthalmology, driven by companies like Second Sight Medical Products and Bionic Vision Technologies, are transforming vision restoration and eye care. The development of the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System by Second Sight and the BVT Bionic Eye by Bionic Vision Technologies exemplifies the convergence of bioengineering and ophthalmology. These technologies mimic the natural visual processes, offering hope to individuals with retinal degenerative conditions. The evidence lies in the successful clinical trials and market approvals, showcasing the potential of biomimetics to revolutionize ophthalmic healthcare.



Challenges in Dental Biomimetics Adoption



Despite overall market growth, the dental biomimetics segment faces challenges in widespread adoption. Companies like Dentsply Sirona and Institut Straumann AG have introduced biomimetic dental materials and technologies; however, the evidence suggests slower adoption rates. The intricate nature of dental biomimetics and the need for specialized training contribute to the restraint. Additionally, the cost associated with incorporating biomimetic technologies into dental practices presents a barrier. While companies continue to invest in research and development, addressing these challenges is essential for the broader acceptance of dental biomimetics in routine dental care.



Market Analysis by Type: Cardiovascular Biomimetics Segment Dominates the Market



In 2023, the cardiovascular biomimetics segment generated the highest revenue, driven by the success of artificial heart devices and valves. However, the highest CAGR during the forecast period (2024-2032) is expected from the orthopedic biomimetics segment. The dynamic growth is attributed to continuous innovations in biomimetic implants and prosthetics, addressing the increasing demand for orthopedic solutions. This dual performance underscores the diversified applications of biomimetics in medical domains.



Market Analysis by Application: Wound Healing Application to Dominate the Market



The wound healing application led the market in revenue in 2023, with biomimetic technologies contributing to advanced wound care solutions. However, the highest CAGR during the forecast period is anticipated from the tissue engineering application. Innovations in biomimetic tissue scaffolds and regenerative therapies, as evidenced by companies like Organovo Holdings, signify the potential for groundbreaking developments in tissue engineering. This dual segmentation approach reflects the evolving landscape of biomimetics in diverse medical applications.

Key Questions Answered

What are the key micro and macro environmental factors that are impacting the growth of Medical Biomimetics market?

What are the key investment pockets with respect to product segments and geographies currently and during the forecast period?

Estimated forecast and market projections up to 2031.

Which segment accounts for the fastest CAGR during the forecast period?

Which market segment holds a larger market share and why?

Are low and middle-income economies investing in the Medical Biomimetics market?

Which is the largest regional market for Medical Biomimetics market?

What are the market trends and dynamics in emerging markets such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa?

Which are the key trends driving Medical Biomimetics market growth?

Who are the key competitors and what are their key strategies to enhance their market presence in the Medical Biomimetics market worldwide?

Companies Featured

SynCardia Systems

Abbott Laboratories

Wright Medical Group N.V.

Stryker Corporation

Second Sight Medical Products

Bionic Vision Technologies

Dentsply Sirona

Institut Straumann AG

Organovo Holdings

Market Segmentation

Type

Cardiovascular

Orthopedic

Ophthalmology

Dental

Others

Application

Wound Healing

Tissue Engineering

Drug Delivery

Other Applications

Region Segment (2021 - 2031; US$ Million)

North America

UK and European Union

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kg89iv

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appili Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: APLI; OTCPink: APLIF) (the Company or Appili), a biopharmaceutical company focused on drug development for infectious diseases and medical countermeasures, announces that it has entered into an amending agreement (the Amending Agreement) among the Company, Aditxt, Inc. (Aditxt) and Adivir, Inc. (Adivir and together with the Company and Aditxt, the Parties) to amend the previously announced arrangement agreement dated April 1, 2024 among the Parties (the Arrangement Agreement), pursuant to which Aditxt, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Adivir, will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Class A common shares of the Company by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the Transaction). For further information on the Transaction please see the Companys news release dated April 2, 2024, which is available on the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Under the Amending Agreement, (a) the Outside Date (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) was changed from July 31, 2024 to August 30, 2024; (b) the deadline to convene the Companys special shareholders meeting was changed from June 30, 2024 to August 30, 2024; and (c) the deadline for Aditxt to complete the Financing (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) was changed from June 30, 2024 to August 30, 2024 or such later date as the Parties may agree in writing.

A copy of the Amending Agreement will be available on the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Increase to Bridge Loan

The Company further announces that it has increased the principal amount of its previously announced unsecured bridge financing (the Bridge Loan) from Bloom Burton & Co. Inc. (the Lender) from C$300,000 to C$400,000 (the Principal Increase). The Bridge Loan is evidenced by a grid promissory note dated April 26, 2024 in favor of the Lender (the Note) and other than the Principal Increase, the terms of the Note remain unchanged. For further information on the Bridge Loan, please see the Companys news release dated April 26, 2024, which is available on the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Lender is considered to be a related party of the Company, and the Bridge Loan is considered to be a related party transaction for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements available under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on sections 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, is not more than the 25% of the Companys market capitalization. Additionally, the Company is exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, is not more than the 25% of the Companys market capitalization.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein. The securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. persons (as both such terms are defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities offered in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

About Appili Therapeutics

Appili Therapeutics is an infectious disease biopharmaceutical company that is purposefully built, portfolio-driven, and people-focused to fulfill its mission of solving life-threatening infections. By systematically identifying urgent infections with unmet needs, Appilis goal is to strategically develop a pipeline of novel therapies to prevent deaths and improve lives. The Company is currently advancing a diverse range of anti-infectives, including an FDA approved ready-made suspension of metronidazole for the treatment of antimicrobial infections, a vaccine candidate to eliminate a serious biological weapon threat, and a topical antiparasitic for the treatment of a disfiguring disease. Led by a proven management team, Appili is at the epicenter of the global fight against infection. For more information, visit www.AppiliTherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information", including with respect to the proposed use of proceeds. Wherever possible, words such as may, would, could, should, will, anticipate, believe, plan, expect, intend, estimate, potential for and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of the Companys management for future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, the Companys ability to repay the amount under the Bridge Loan, the closing of the Transaction and those risks listed in the annual information form of the Company dated June 25, 2024 and the other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Media Contact:

Jenna McNeil, Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager

Appili Therapeutics

E: JMcNeil@AppiliTherapeutics.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Don Cilla, Pharm.D. M.B.A.

Appili Therapeutics

E: Info@AppiliTherapeutics.com
Chinese city awards "role model" title to heroine sacrificing life to stop knife attack

Xinhua) 13:41, July 02, 2024

NANJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, on Tuesday held a memorial service to mourn Hu Youping, who lost her life after attempting to stop a knife attack that injured two Japanese nationals, and presented a heroic role model certificate to her family.

The "Righteous and Courageous Role Model" certificate was presented by officials from the city's Party committee and the municipal government at the memorial. The Suzhou New District granted the title of "Righteous and Courageous Personnel" to three residents who risked their lives to help subdue the suspect together.

The memorial was attended by Hu's family, friends, government officials, and representatives of local citizens, the medical team that treated her, as well as foreigners in Suzhou.

To promote the spirit of acting bravely for justice, the city plans to establish the "Youping Fund for Righteous and Courageous Deeds" in her name to better commemorate and pay tribute to heroes.

Hu was seriously injured in the attack on June 24 at a bus stop in the Suzhou New District and died in hospital two days later.

A Japanese woman injured in the incident said Hu attempted to restrain the assailant targeting women and children, allowing the Japanese woman's son to escape. The attacker then turned to Hu and stabbed her before being subdued by passers-by and police patrol who rushed to the scene.

"If she hadn't tried to hold back the assailant, there could have been more victims," one eyewitness has said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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WEST CHESTER, Pa., July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stream Companies proudly announces its certification as a trusted partner in Kia Canadas cutting-edge Dealer Digital Sophistication Program. As an esteemed full-service, integrated, data-driven advertising agency with over 27 years of expertise in the automotive industry, Stream Companies is set to transform digital marketing strategies for Kia dealerships across Canada.

Kia Canadas Dealer Digital Sophistication Program is meticulously designed to enhance dealers' digital presence, connecting them with leading names in automotive digital marketing. Stream Companies involvement, specifically within the SEO Content Marketing Program, promises to elevate the visibility and authority of Kia dealerships in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

The program delivers a suite of benefits tailored to empower Kia dealers and optimize their digital marketing initiatives. These include...

Customizable Digital Solutions: Dealers have the flexibility to tailor digital marketing strategies to meet their unique needs, ensuring precision and relevance in their campaigns.

Dealers have the flexibility to tailor digital marketing strategies to meet their unique needs, ensuring precision and relevance in their campaigns. Certified Vendor Excellence: All vendors, including Stream Companies, undergo rigorous review and approval by Kia Canada, with regular assessments to ensure superior performance.

All vendors, including Stream Companies, undergo rigorous review and approval by Kia Canada, with regular assessments to ensure superior performance. Seamless Billing: Vendors' services are conveniently billed through the dealers parts statement, simplifying financial transactions.

Vendors' services are conveniently billed through the dealers parts statement, simplifying financial transactions. Flexible Service Agreements: Dealers can adjust or cancel services with a 30-day notice, providing adaptability without long-term commitments.

SEO Content Marketing Program Highlights:

In todays fast-evolving digital marketing landscape, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial, especially in content creation. Kia Canadas SEO Content Marketing Program, in collaboration with Stream Companies, positions Kia dealerships as top authorities in their markets, encompassing automotive, electric vehicles (EVs), the Kia brand, and its extensive product line.

The program ensures that dealership websites are easily discoverable by potential car buyers through search engines, while also leveraging social media channels to engage higher-funnel buyers and maintain ongoing interest on dealership websites.

Key features of the SEO Content Marketing Program include...

Tailored SEO Packages: Vendors offer both entry-level and advanced SEO packages, featuring expertly crafted content integrated into dealership websites.

Vendors offer both entry-level and advanced SEO packages, featuring expertly crafted content integrated into dealership websites. Strategic Support: Monthly analytics strategy calls and a detailed content calendar help dealerships stay on track and optimize their content marketing efforts.

David Regn, CEO and Co-Founder of Stream Companies, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: We are honored to partner with Kia Canada in their Dealer Digital Sophistication Program. This collaboration highlights our commitment to innovation and excellence in digital marketing. We look forward to driving exceptional results for Kia dealerships across Canada.

With Stream Companies at the forefront, Kia dealers can anticipate a transformation in their digital marketing strategies, leading to unprecedented growth and success in the competitive automotive market.

Don Williams, Vice President of OEM Partnerships, highlighted the significance of the program: Stream Companies deep understanding of automotive retail and their cutting-edge SEO strategies will empower Kia dealers to maximize their digital presence and profitability.

About Stream Companies:

Stream Companies is a leading full-service, integrated, data-driven advertising agency with over 27 years of experience in the automotive industry. Committed to delivering exceptional results, Stream Companies offers a comprehensive suite of digital marketing solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of its clients. For more information, visit Stream Companies.

Press Contact: marketing@streamcompanies.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e9a596e1-9b37-46bb-b122-1528ce7f1f15
Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Drug Delivery Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The China drug delivery market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.14% from a market value of US$76.071 billion in 2022 to US$140.356 billion in 2029.



The growth is attributed to the rising number of market players in the pharmaceutical industry. The major pharma-dependent population is the age group above 64 years. Additionally, patients with Chronic Diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes, and many more also are the major consumers of the drugs in the country. In the last few years, due to the growing healthcare innovations, the life expectancy age has increased. Due to this, the population of old age people is rising in China.

Furthermore, the rising number of patients with chronic diseases has also boosted the demand for drug delivery in China in the last few years. This is expected to grow during the forecast period. Chronic diseases have led to a rise in the use of injectable drug delivery devices, primarily disposable syringes.

The market has seen strategic developments in manufacturing injectable devices, with pharmaceutical companies developing insulin using pens and auto-injectors for patient convenience. Injectable delivery is commonly used for drugs with poor oral bioavailability, targeted systems, and at the site of action. It is used in conditions like cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, autoimmune diseases, pain, hormonal imbalance, Wilson's disease, hepatitis C, and ribose-5-phosphate isomerase deficiency. Injectable drug delivery devices are the second most operating technology after oral drug administration.



MARKET DRIVER:

Increasing Prevalence of diseases



China has been the most populated country in the world for the last many years. Due to this, currently, the population of the old age group has also increased and is projected to rise in upcoming years as well. In 2020, as per the report by the World Bank, the total population of the age group 64 years and above was 168 million, which is an 11.9% rise from 2019.

This increasing aging population is one of the key factors driving the drug delivery market in China. As the population of the age group 15 -64 years is also at its peak, hence this will lead to the growth in the aging population in upcoming years. Therefore, this steady growth in the aged population is projected to boost thedrug delivery marketduring the forecast period.



The death rate caused due to non-communicable diseases has been growing over the last decade in the country. As per the World Bank report, there is an increase in 89% of deaths which are caused due to non-communicable diseases in 2019. The non-communicable diseases include chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, chronic kidney diseases, and other diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson and many more.

Patients with such diseases require regular prescribed drug delivery daily. Hence, the increase in the number of such individuals in China is a key factor in the growing demand for drug delivery. Which led to the market growth in China's drug delivery market.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 116 Forecast Period 2022 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $76.07 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $140.36 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.1% Regions Covered China



Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Market Overview

1.2. Market Definition

1.3. Scope of the Study

1.4. Market Segmentation

1.5. Currency

1.6. Assumptions

1.7. Base, and Forecast Years Timeline

1.8. Key Benefits to the Stakeholder



2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1. Research Design

2.2. Research Processes



3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3.1. Key Findings

3.2. CXO Perspective



4. MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis

4.5. CXO Perspective



5. CHINA DRUG DELIVERY MARKET, BY TYPE

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Inhalation Drug Delivery

5.2.1. Market Opportunities and Trends

5.2.2. Growth Prospects

5.2.3. Geographic Lucrativeness

5.3. Injectable Drug Delivery

5.4. Nasal Drug Delivery

5.5. Oral Drug Delivery

5.6. Transdermal Drug Delivery



6. CHINA DRUG DELIVERY MARKET, BY APPLICATION

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Disease Treatment

6.3. Research/academic purpose



7. CHINA DRUG DELIVERY MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Market Opportunities and Trends

7.3. Growth Prospects



8. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS

8.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

8.2. Market Share Analysis

8.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

8.4. Competitive Dashboard



9. COMPANY PROFILES

9.1. Gerresheimer AG

9.2. Pfizer Inc.

9.3. Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical

9.4. Hutchison China MediTech Limited

9.5. GL Montrose

9.6. Becton, Dickinson and company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/en158k

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
ATLANTA, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is proud to announce the addition of Harris Sinsley as a Senior Associate in Tax Credit Investments.

In his new role, Sinsley will be responsible for presenting Monarchs tax credit investments to CPA firms, financial institutions, wealth managers, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals who can benefit from tax-advantaged investments.

"To address the increasing demand from investors and support our ongoing growth, we have expanded our tax credit investment offerings at both state and federal levels and adding the necessary expertise and resources to support this expansion," said George Strobel, Partner, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Monarch Private Capital. "We are thrilled to welcome Harris to our team. His extensive experience in tax and corporate law, along with his strong background in financial services, will be invaluable as we continue to meet investor needs."

"I am thrilled to join Monarch Private Capital and contribute to the firm's mission of making a positive impact through innovative tax credit investments," said Sinsley. "Monarch's commitment to driving growth and creating value in the industries we serve is truly inspiring, and I look forward to being a part of their continued success."

Prior to joining Monarch, Sinsley served as an Associate Attorney at Culp, Elliott & Carpenter, PLLC in Charlotte, NC. There, he provided corporate and tax counsel to clients, advising on general corporate needs, M&A transactions, tax-advantageous structuring and transactions, audits, and tax controversy matters. His role involved negotiating numerous complex M&A transactions, drafting related purchase and sale documents, and conducting due diligence. Sinsley also has experience negotiating with the IRS and state tax departments to address liability concerns and legal issues.

Sinsley holds a JD from the Joseph F. Rice School of Law and an International MBA with a focus in finance from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. He also earned a certificate in Data Analytics. Additionally, Sinsley earned a dual BA in Legal Studies and International Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and South Carolina and serves on the North Carolina Bar Associations Professionalism Committee.

For more information on Monarch Private Capital and tax equity impact investing, please contact George Strobel at gstrobel@monarchprivate.com. To learn more about the impact of Monarchs investment, click here.

About Monarch Private Capital

Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

CONTACT

Jane Rafeedie Monarch Private Capital jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com

470-283-8431

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03e745b0-67e5-44f5-8775-35627432ab06
Buntanetap showed dose-dependent and statistically significant improvements in cognition in the overall enrolled PD population. Parkinsons patients with substantial cognitive decline exhibited a very pronounced improvement.



Buntanetap showed statistical improvement in the MDS-UPDRS Part II, Part III, Part II+III and Total scores in Parkinsons patients with a >3-year diagnosis.



Buntanetap showed the same statistical improvement in MDS-UPDRS Part II, Part III, Part II+III and Total scores in Parkinsons patients with Postural Instability and Gait Difficulties (PIGD).



Buntanetaps activity resulted in statistically significant improvements in all primary and secondary endpoints in the specified populations as well as in cognition.





MALVERN, Pa., July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) (Annovis or the Company), a late-stage clinical drug platform company pioneering transformative therapies for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimers Disease (AD) and Parkinsons Disease (PD), today announced new data from its Phase III PD study demonstrating that buntanetap is safe and effective in improving motor and non-motor activities and improving cognitive functions in patients with early Parkinsons disease.

These findings will be discussed in more detail on today's webcast at 4:30 PM ET. Register here .

"We are very pleased to see improvements in many of our patients over such a short course of treatment. These compelling data reinforce our commitment to advancing buntanetap into a longer study, which will allow us not only to verify observed symptomatic improvements but also to explore buntanetaps disease-modifying properties," said Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D., Founder, President and CEO of Annovis Bio.

Key Findings from the Study:

Buntanetap stops cognitive decline in all enrolled patients (MMSE 20-30) and improves cognition in patients with mild dementia (MMSE 20-26).





Findings: In the entire enrolled population, placebo group demonstrated cognition deterioration throughout the study, whereas all treatment groups (10mg and 20mg buntanetap) maintained baseline levels, indicating a statistically significant effect of the drug in stopping cognitive decline. In patients with mild dementia, as measured by MMSE 20-26, cognition deteriorated at a faster pace in the placebo group compared to those treated with 10mg buntanetap. Moreover, treatment with 20mg buntanetap showed significant improvement in cognition compared to placebo (Figure 1).





In the entire enrolled population, placebo group demonstrated cognition deterioration throughout the study, whereas all treatment groups (10mg and 20mg buntanetap) maintained baseline levels, indicating a statistically significant effect of the drug in stopping cognitive decline. In patients with mild dementia, as measured by MMSE 20-26, cognition deteriorated at a faster pace in the placebo group compared to those treated with 10mg buntanetap. Moreover, treatment with 20mg buntanetap showed significant improvement in cognition compared to placebo (Figure 1). Background: Inclusion criteria for enrollment included MMSE scores between 20-30, and MMSE scores were measured again at the end of the study as an exploratory endpoint. This allowed us to determine changes in cognition in the entire enrolled population as well as in patients with cognitive decline. Most PD patients had normal cognitive functioning, and just 12% showed cognitive decline as measured by MMSE 20-26. These patients declined by 1.5 MMSE points in the placebo group but did not decline at all and even improved when treated with buntanetap. This data aligns with our AD cognition data, where patients with MMSE>20 responded well to buntanetap, showing statistically significant cognitive improvement in early AD patients.





Buntanetap improves motor and non-motor PD-related functions in patients with a diagnosis of over 3 years.





Findings: Patients with a diagnosis of less than 3 years showed minimal or no deficits in MDS-UPDRS Part II, making it challenging to measure improvement and assess treatment effectiveness. However, in patients diagnosed with PD for longer than 3 years (MH>3), with measurable declines in MDS-UPDRS Part II, 20mg buntanetap significantly improved MDS-UPDRS Part II, Part III, Part II+III, and Total scores compared to placebo and baseline (Figure 2).





Patients with a diagnosis of less than 3 years showed minimal or no deficits in MDS-UPDRS Part II, making it challenging to measure improvement and assess treatment effectiveness. However, in patients diagnosed with PD for longer than 3 years (MH>3), with measurable declines in MDS-UPDRS Part II, 20mg buntanetap significantly improved MDS-UPDRS Part II, Part III, Part II+III, and Total scores compared to placebo and baseline (Figure 2). Background: Longitudinal studies from Parkinsons Progressive Markers Initiative (PPMI) cohorts have shown that Parkinson patients self-evaluation of their activities of daily living (MDS-UPDRS Part II) are relatively intact in the early disease stages. They have also shown that MDS-UPDRS Part II deteriorates at a much slower pace compared to the physician-scored motor evaluation (MDS-UPDRS Part III (Holden et al. 2017).





Buntanetap improves motor and non-motor PD-related functions in patients with Postural Instability and Gait Difficulty (PIGD).





Findings: PIGD patients treated with buntanetap showed significant improvements in MDS-UPDRS Part II, Part III, Part II-III, and Total scores. The disease in this patient group progresses faster than in other PD patients. Our data showed that PIGD patients respond better to buntanetap and improve further than other Parkinsons patients (Figure 3).





PIGD patients treated with buntanetap showed significant improvements in MDS-UPDRS Part II, Part III, Part II-III, and Total scores. The disease in this patient group progresses faster than in other PD patients. Our data showed that PIGD patients respond better to buntanetap and improve further than other Parkinsons patients (Figure 3). Background: Parkinsons is a very heterogeneous disease. Patients diagnosed with PIGD are considered to have faster disease progression (Jankovic et al. 1990 & Stebbins et al. 2013) than patients with no postural and gait issues. This observation provided us with the rationale to evaluate whether PIGD patients, who are at risk of faster decline, would benefit from buntanetap.





Safety Profile: Buntanetap maintained a consistent safety profile across all participants, with no significant differences between early and advanced PD patients confirming our previous AD data.

FDA and Endpoint Clarification: Recent questions regarding the primary and secondary endpoints in MDS-UPDRS scores warrants additional explanation. Initially, Annovis chose MDS-UPDRS Part II+III as the primary endpoint. However, based on FDA feedback, MDS-UPDRS Part II alone was deemed more appropriate for reflecting clinically relevant changes (Goetz et al., 2023). Consequently, we adjusted our primary endpoint to MDS-UPDRS Part II, with MDS-UPDRS Part III as a key secondary endpoint. Our results met both primary and secondary endpoints in the specified subgroups.

Upcoming Webcast

Annovis Bio will host an investor webcast today at 4:30 PM ET to discuss these findings in detail. Investors and interested parties are encouraged to register for the webcast in advance.

To register, please visit Webcast Registration and complete the registration form.

About Buntanetap

Buntanetap (formerly known as Posiphen or ANVS401) targets neurodegeneration by inhibiting the formation of multiple neurotoxic proteins, including amyloid beta, tau, alpha-synuclein, and TDP43. By improving synaptic transmission, axonal transport, and reducing neuroinflammation, Buntanetap aims to reverse neurodegeneration in AD, PD, and other neurodegenerative diseases, thereby aiming to restore brain function and improve the quality of life for patients.

References

Holden, SK, Finseth, T, Sillau, SH and Berman, BD. Progression of MDS-UPDRS Scores Over Five Years in De Novo Parkinson Disease from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative Cohort. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2018, 5: 47-53. [ PubMed ] Jankovic J, McDermott M, Carter J, et al. Variable expression of Parkinson's disease: a baseline analysis of the DATATOP cohort. The Parkinson Study Group. Neurology 1990; 40:15291534. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] Stebbins GT, Goetz CG, Burn DJ, et al. How to identify tremor dominant and postural instability/gait difficulty groups with the movement disorder society unified Parkinson's disease rating scale: comparison with the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale. Mov Disord 2013; 28:668670. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] Goetz, CG, Choi, D., Guo, Y., Stebbins, GT, Mestre, TA., & Luo, S. It Is as It Was: MDSUPDRS Part III Scores Cannot Be Combined with Other Parts to Give a Valid Sum. Movement Disorders 2023, 38(2), 342-347. [ PubMed ]

About Annovis Bio, Inc.

Headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio Inc. is dedicated to addressing neurodegeneration in diseases such as AD and PD. The companys innovative approach targets multiple neurotoxic proteins, aiming to restore brain function and improve the quality of life for patients. For more information, visit www.annovisbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn , YouTube , and X .

Interested investors and shareholders are encouraged to sign up for press releases and industry updates by registering for Email Alerts at https://www.Annovisbio.com/email-alerts

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans related to clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those related to patient enrollment, the effectiveness of buntanetap, and the timing, effectiveness, and anticipated results of the Company's clinical trials evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of buntanetap. Additional risk factors are detailed in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC, including those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this release. The Company expressly disclaims 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 law.

Contacts

Annovis Bio, Inc.

101 Lindenwood Drive

Suite 225

Malvern, PA 19355

www.annovisbio.com

Investor Contact

Scott McGowan

InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)

Phone: 310.299.1717

IR@annovisbio.com

Investor Website









Attachments
NORWOOD, Mass., July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MariMed Inc. (MariMed) (CSE: MRMD) (OTCQX: MRMD), a leading multi-state cannabis operator focused on improving lives every day, today announced that it received approval of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (MCCC) to commence adult-use retail sales at its Quincy Panacea Wellness dispensary. Panacea Wellness Quincy is the third MariMed dispensary in Massachusetts that offers adult-use sales, which is the maximum permissible by state law. The other two adult-use dispensaries are in Beverly and Middleboro.

The Company commenced adult-use sales in Quincy on July 2, 2024. The dispensary, which has been operating as a medical-only location, offers a curated selection of products from across the Companys award-winning brand portfolio. They include Natures Heritage flower and concentrates, Bettys Eddies fruit chews, Bubbys Baked soft-baked goods, Vibations hydrating cannabis drink mixes, and the full suite of our InHouse branded products.

In addition to the three Panacea Wellness locations, MariMeds branded cannabis products are distributed to over 200 dispensaries in the Massachusetts cannabis market, which, according to the MCCC , generated $1.8 billion in total cannabis sales during 2023.

The Company also announced regulatory approval updates that may have a positive impact on our future operational and financial results. These include:

Ohio: Receipt of a provisional dual-use license to add recreational sales to our medical dispensary in Tiffin. Upon state final inspection, MariMed expects to commence adult-use sales.

Maryland: Receipt of a Certificate of Occupancy and state approval to commence operations in the newly expanded area of our cultivation facility in Hagerstown, Maryland. MariMed will begin growing in the new flower rooms immediately to meet the high demand for its Natures Heritage flower and other branded products in that state.

Also in Maryland, the pre-occupancy inspection of our second Thrive dispensary in the state is expected to occur today. The Company hopes to commence adult-use operations in this dispensary, located in Upper Marlboro, a town in Prince Georges County, later this month.

We are thrilled with the number of positive regulatory developments that we have achieved over the past week, said Jon Levine, MariMeds Chief Executive Officer. Many of these have been in the works for more than a year and only the Hagerstown expansion was included in our 2024 financial outlook. Having these assets potentially coming online in the near future is a very positive development for MariMed.

About MariMed

MariMed Inc, a multi-state cannabis operator, is dedicated to improving lives every day through its high-quality products, its actions, and its values. The Company develops, owns, and manages seed to sale state-licensed cannabis facilities, which are models of excellence in horticultural principles, cannabis cultivation, cannabis-infused products, and dispensary operations. MariMed has an experienced management team that has produced consistent growth and success for the Company and its managed business units. Proprietary formulations created by the Companys technicians are embedded in its top-selling and award-winning products and brands, including Betty's Eddies, Natures Heritage, InHouse, Bubbys Baked, K Fusion, Kalm Fusion, and Vibations. For additional information, visit www.marimedinc.com .

IMPORTANT CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

The information in this release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to several risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including without limitation statements regarding projected financial results for 2024, including managements belief that it will report its fifth consecutive year of positive operating cash flow, anticipated openings of dispensaries and facilities, timing of regulatory approvals, plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, expectations, intends, may, plans, and other similar language, whether in the negative or affirmative, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and assumptions regarding our business, timing of regulatory approvals, the ability to obtain new licenses, business prospects and strategic growth plan, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements due to various risks, uncertainties, and other important factors, including, among others, reductions in customer spending, our ability to recruit and retain key personnel, and disruptions from the integration efforts of acquired companies.

These factors are not intended to be an all-encompassing list of risks and uncertainties that may affect our business and results of operations. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risk and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including, among other factors, changes in demand for the Companys services and products, changes in the law and its enforcement, and changes in the economic environment. Additional information regarding these and other factors can be found in our reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In providing these forward-looking statements, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update these statements publicly or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

All trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Company Contact:

Howard Schacter

Chief Communications Officer

Email: hschacter@marimedinc.com

Phone: (781) 277-0007
GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) today announced it has received more than $250 million in contract modifications from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to deliver millions of doses of four medical countermeasures (MCMs). These contract modifications will help ensure continued supply/stockpiling of critical MCMs to address biological threats and emergencies against anthrax, smallpox and botulism.



The four awards include:

A contract modification valued at $30.0 million to supply CYFENDUS  (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted) this year. Previously known as AV7909, CYFENDUS  is a two-dose anthrax vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis use in individuals 18 years of age and older. This new procurement funding is from Emergents existing 10-year contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under contract (HHSO100201600030C).

(Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted) this year. Previously known as AV7909, CYFENDUS is a two-dose anthrax vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis use in individuals 18 years of age and older. This new procurement funding is from Emergents existing 10-year contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under contract (HHSO100201600030C). A contract modification valued at $99.9 million to supply ACAM2000  (Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine, Live) this year. ACAM2000  is licensed for active immunization against smallpox disease for persons determined to be at high risk for smallpox infection. This is under Emergents existing 10-year contract with ASPR (75A50119C00071).

(Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine, Live) this year. ACAM2000 is licensed for active immunization against smallpox disease for persons determined to be at high risk for smallpox infection. This is under Emergents existing 10-year contract with ASPR (75A50119C00071). Two new contract options totaling $122.9 million have been awarded to supply the Strategic National Stockpile with VIGIV [Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)] drug product, and BAT [Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)  (Equine)] drug substance and delivery of drug production this year and into early 2025. VIGIV is used for treatment of complications to smallpox vaccination, while BAT is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic botulism following documented or suspected exposure to botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, B, C, D, E, F, or G in adults and pediatric patients. Both are under Emergents existing 10-year contracts with ASPR (75A50119C00037 and 75A50119C00075, respectively).



Securing multiple contract modifications with the U.S. government for our medical countermeasure products affirms that Emergent is a trusted biodefense partner, and also demonstrates the strength and sustainment of our product portfolio, said Paul Williams, senior vice president, products head at Emergent. As part of our longstanding public-private partnership, we stand ready to continue fulfilling preparedness priorities and stockpiling efforts in the U.S. and abroad.

Emergent specializes in developing, manufacturing, and supplying MCMs for military and civilian populations. The types and quantities of products that should be maintained in a stockpile will depend on the population requiring protection, the products available for meeting the threat, as well as government resources and priorities.

About CYFENDUS (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted)

Indication

CYFENDUS (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted) is a vaccine indicated for post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis in persons 18 through 65 years of age when given with recommended antibacterial drugs.

The efficacy of CYFENDUS vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is based solely on studies in animal models of inhalational anthrax.

Important Safety Information

Contraindication: Do not take CYFENDUS vaccine if you are allergic to CYFENDUS vaccine, BioThrax (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) or any ingredient of the vaccine.

Allergic reactions: Appropriate medical treatment and supervision must be available after receiving CYFENDUS vaccine to manage possible serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

Altered Immunocompetence: Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a diminished immune response to CYFENDUS vaccine.

Pregnancy: CYFENDUS vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant individual. Before getting CYFENDUS vaccine, tell your healthcare provider if you may be pregnant, plan to get pregnant soon, or are nursing a baby.

Adverse reactions: The most common adverse reactions reported were tenderness, pain, warmth, itching, swelling, redness, bruising, arm motion limitations, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, and fever.

U.S. Prescribing Information

The full Prescribing Information for CYFENDUS vaccine can be found here.

About ACAM2000 (Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine, Live)

ACAM2000 is the primary smallpox vaccine designated for use in a bioterrorism emergency, with doses having been supplied to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile. ACAM2000 is also licensed in Australia and Singapore and is currently stockpiled both in the U.S. and internationally.

ACAM2000 is indicated for active immunization against smallpox disease for persons determined to be at high risk for smallpox infection.

The labeling for ACAM2000 contains a contraindication for individuals with severe immunodeficiency. Severe localized or systemic infection with vaccinia (progressive vaccinia) may occur in persons with weakened immune systems. Individuals with severe immunodeficiency who are not expected to benefit from the vaccine should not receive ACAM2000. The risk for experiencing severe vaccination complications must be weighed against the risk for experiencing a potentially fatal smallpox infection.

Additionally, there are warnings and precautions for myocarditis, pericarditis, encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, encephalopathy, generalized vaccinia, severe vaccinial skin infections, erythema multiforme major (including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome), eczema vaccinatum resulting in permanent sequelae or death, ocular complications; blindness and fetal death have occurred following either primary vaccination or revaccination with live vaccinia virus smallpox vaccines. These risks are increased in certain individuals and may result in severe disability, permanent neurological sequalae and/or death.

Please see full Prescribing Information for full Boxed Warning and additional safety information.

About VIGIV [Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)]

(See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning)

WARNING: INTERACTIONS WITH GLUCOSE MONITORING SYSTEMS

Blood glucose measurement in patients receiving Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) (VIGIV) must be done with a glucose-specific method (monitor and test strips) to avoid interference by maltose contained in VIGIV. Maltose in IGIV products may give falsely high blood glucose levels in certain types of blood glucose testing systems (for example those based on the GDH-PQQ or glucose-dye-oxidoreductase methods) resulting in inappropriate administration of insulin and life-threatening hypoglycemia. Cases of true hypoglycemia may go untreated if the hypoglycemic state is masked by falsely elevated glucose readings.

Carefully review the product information of the blood glucose testing system, including that of the test strips, to determine if the system is appropriate for use with maltose-containing parenteral products.

VIGIV (vaccinia immune globulin intravenous, human) is an Immune Globulin (Human), 5% Liquid, indicated for the treatment and/or modification of the following conditions: eczema vaccinatum; progressive vaccinia; severe generalized vaccinia; vaccinia infections in individuals who have skin conditions such as burns, impetigo, varicella-zoster, or poison ivy; or in individuals who have eczematous skin lesions because of either the activity or extensiveness of such lesions; and aberrant infections induced by vaccinia virus that include its accidental implantation in eyes (except in cases of isolated keratitis), mouth, or other areas where vaccinia infection would constitute a special hazard.

VIGIV is not considered to be effective in the treatment of postvaccinial encephalitis.

VIGIV is contraindicated in: isolated vaccinia keratitis; Individuals with a history of anaphylaxis or prior severe systemic reaction associated with the parenteral administration of this or other human immune globulin preparations; IgA-deficient patients with antibodies against IgA and a history of IgA hypersensitivity, as it contains trace amounts of IgA (40 mcg/mL).

Warnings and Precautions for VIGIV include:

Hypersensitivity to human immune globulin (acute anaphylaxis)

Acute renal dysfunction/failure. Use VIGIV with caution in patients with pre-existing renal insufficiency and in patients at increased risk of developing renal insufficiency.

Thrombosis may occur with immune globulin products, including VIGIV. For patients at risk of thrombosis, administer VIGIV at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration in patients before administration. Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk for hyperviscosity.

Hemolysis or hemolytic anemia

Aseptic meningitis syndrome (AMS)

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema [Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI)]

Transmission of infectious agents from human plasma

Monitor renal function and urine output in patients at risk of renal failure; check baseline blood viscosity in patients at risk of hyperviscosity; and conduct confirmatory tests if hemolysis or TRALI is suspected.

Blood glucose monitoring



There is no human or animal data for use of VIGIV during pregnancy. VIGIV should only be given to pregnant and nursing women if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. It is not known whether VIGIV is excreted in human milk. The safety and efficacy of VIGIV has not been established in pediatric and geriatric populations.

The most frequently reported adverse reactions to VIGIV treatment in clinical trials (>10%) include: headache, nausea, rigors, and dizziness.

Please see full Prescribing Information for VIGIV for additional safety information.

About BAT [Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)  (Equine)]

BAT is a mixture of immune globulin fragments indicated for the treatment of symptomatic botulism following documented or suspected exposure to botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, B, C, D, E, F, or G in adults and pediatric patients. The effectiveness of BAT is based solely on efficacy studies conducted in animal models of botulism.

The Warnings and Precautions for BAT include:

Severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, as well as delayed allergic reactions, including serum sickness may occur following BAT administration. Prepare for monitoring and management of allergic reactions.

Infusion reactions. These reactions may be related to the infusion rate of BAT.

Interference with blood glucose testing. Because BAT contains maltose, interference with non-glucose specific blood sugar testing systems can occur. Use glucose-specific testing systems.

Transmissible infections agents. BAT is made from equine plasma and may contain infectious agents, e.g. viruses.

There is no human or animal data for use of BAT during pregnancy. BAT should only be given to pregnant and nursing women if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. It is not known whether BAT is excreted in human milk. The safety and efficacy of BAT has not been established in pediatric and geriatric populations. Only limited safety data exists for pediatric populations.

The most common adverse reactions observed in 5% of healthy volunteers in clinical trials were headache, nausea, pruritus, and urticaria. The most common adverse reactions reported in 1% of patients in a clinical study were pyrexia, rash, chills, nausea, and edema. One serious adverse reaction of hemodynamic instability was observed in one patient in the clinical study.

Please see full Prescribing Information for BAT for additional safety information.

About Emergent BioSolutions

At Emergent, our mission is to protect and enhance life. For 25 years, weve been at work defending people from things we hope will never happenso we are prepared just in case they ever do. We provide solutions for complex and urgent public health threats through a portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics that we develop and manufacture for governments and consumers. We also offer a range of integrated contract development and manufacturing services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. To learn more about how we plan to protect or enhance 1 billion lives by 2030, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the development, availability, and government procurement of ACAM2000 vaccine, CYFENDUS vaccine, BAT and VIGIV are forward-looking statements. We generally identify forward-looking statements by using words like anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, forecast, goal, intend, may, plan, should, will, would, and similar expressions or variations thereof, or the negative thereof, but these terms are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our current intentions, beliefs, and expectations regarding future events based on information that is currently available. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be accurate. Readers should realize that if underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or if known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could differ materially from our expectations. Readers are, therefore, cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and, except as required by law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement to reflect new information, events, or circumstances. Readers should consider this cautionary statement, as well as the risk factors identified in our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, when evaluating our forward-looking statements.

Investor Contact:

Richard S. Lindahl

Executive Vice President, CFO

lindahlr@ebsi.com

Media Contact:

Assal Hellmer

Vice President, Communications

mediarelations@ebsi.com
NEWTON, Mass., July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HAProxy Technologies , the company behind the worlds fastest and most widely used software load balancer, has been named a Leader in 18 G2 Summer 2024 Grid Reports. While maintaining overall leadership in Load Balancing and Container Networking, as established in previous quarters, HAProxy also claimed a Leader position in API Management, DDoS Protection, DevOps, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and Web Security.



Along with an incredible Satisfaction Score of 98 and a host of badges, including Best Results, Best Relationship, and Best Usability, HAProxy gained recognition for its expanding solutions that meet the security and automation needs of modern enterprises. Building on its reputation as a trusted software load balancer, HAProxy is established in the G2 Summer 2024 Grid Reports as an application delivery platform enabling multi-layered security, scalability, and simplicity for mission-critical applications.

G2 product ratings are based on customer and user reviews and aggregated data from online sources. In the Momentum Grid Report, the Satisfaction Score is affected by several factors, including customer satisfaction with end user-focused and administration-specific product attributes, popularity and statistical significance of reviews, and timeliness and quality of reviews.

Our leadership across numerous new G2 categories clearly demonstrates our innovation in security and automation, said Dujko Radovnikovic, CEO, HAProxy Technologies. HAProxy has long been the undisputed top-ranked load balancer, renowned for its exceptional performance, reliability, and flexibility. Today, it's undeniable that our platform provides a complete high-performance solution to the complex and diverse challenges of modern app delivery.

The company is also featured in 13 reports in the Enterprise market segment, demonstrating that HAProxy is increasingly trusted by the worlds leading companies and cloud providers to provide security, flexibility, and efficiency in the most demanding environments.

Exceptional user reviews and diverse solutions drive multi-category success in G2's Grid Reports

G2 awarded HAProxy 47 badges, including naming HAProxy a Leader in 18 Summer 2024 Grid Reports:

Grid  Report for API Management

Report for API Management Grid  Report for Container Networking

Report for Container Networking Grid  Report for DDoS Protection

Report for DDoS Protection Grid  Report for DevOps

Report for DevOps Grid  Report for Load Balancing

Report for Load Balancing Grid  Report for Web Security

Report for Web Security Momentum Grid  Report for API Management

Report for API Management Momentum Grid  Report for Container Networking

Report for Container Networking Momentum Grid  Report for DDoS Protection

Report for DDoS Protection Momentum Grid  Report for Load Balancing

Report for Load Balancing Momentum Grid  Report for Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Report for Web Application Firewall (WAF) Enterprise Grid  Report for DevOps

Report for DevOps Mid-Market Grid  Report for Load Balancing

Report for Load Balancing Mid-Market EMEA Regional Grid  Report for API Management

Report for API Management EMEA Regional Grid  Report for API Management

Report for API Management EMEA Regional Grid  Report for Load Balancing

Report for Load Balancing Europe Regional Grid  Report for API Management

Report for API Management Europe Regional Grid Report for Load Balancing

The Leader designation signifies that HAProxy has earned best-in-class ratings from verified customers for both user satisfaction scores and market presence.

An enterprise user gave HAProxy five stars and wrote, Blazing fast! Security you can take to the bank!  [HAProxy] is essential to how we manage connectivity both internally and from our clients.

HAProxy has been an invaluable addition to our technology stack, from scaling out capacity for our applications to simplifying disaster recovery operations, said another five-star review from an Infrastructure and Security Manager.

A Systems Engineer also gave HAProxy five stars and wrote, As a long-time Linux user, setting up HAProxy to suit my needs is incredibly easy, and the versatility and speed of it makes it perfect for our needs It does the job [of] multiple applications.

Enterprises trust HAProxy for application security and automation

HAProxy Technologies leadership of the API Management, DDoS Protection, DevOps, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and Web Security categories confirms the companys position as a leading security and automation solutions provider for applications and APIs. Recent milestones have supported HAProxy Technologies successful expansion into these critical markets.

Security

HAProxys resilient, high-performance architecture and robust, peer-reviewed open source codebase make it one of the most trustable layers in an application delivery stack. In October 2023, we announced that HAProxy is Not Affected by the HTTP/2 Rapid Reset Attack (CVE-2023-44487) . In April 2024, we also announced that HAProxy is Resilient to the HTTP/2 CONTINUATION Flood .

In May 2024, we announced the release of HAProxy Enterprise 2.9  a milestone release that defined a new security standard for application delivery with next-generation WAF and bot management capabilities that provide advanced security, high performance, and simple management.

HAProxy Technologies presented the security features of HAProxy Enterprise 2.9 at RSA Conference 2024 with the live session "Dont let bots get you down: better bot management for stronger enterprise security" presented by Nenad Merdanovic, Principal Solutions Architect and the on-demand session "Beating the Top 3 Challenges Facing the Critical WAF Security Layer" presented by Jakub Suchy, Director, Solutions Engineering.

Automation

In November 2023, we announced the release of HAProxy Fusion 1.2 with Service Discovery for Kubernetes and Consul. HAProxy Fusion links to the Kubernetes API, which lets HAProxy Enterprise dynamically update service configurations. This combination enables automated external load balancing for on-premises Kubernetes and multi-cluster routing for Kubernetes in public clouds.

HAProxy Technologies presented the infrastructure automation capabilities of HAProxy Fusion at AWS re:Invent 2023. In the live session Scalable load balancing and security made simple on AWS, Jakub Suchy highlighted the challenges that arise with high-scale load balancing on AWS, including increasing costs, latency issues, and the complexity of managing sprawl. Our solution: consolidating multiple layers into a single high-performance load balancing layer, enhanced by centralized management, monitoring, and automation with HAProxy Fusion.

Earlier this month, HAProxy Technologies sponsored the France API 2024 event and demonstrated our API gateway and AI/ML gateway solutions and how to automate HAProxy infrastructure using HAProxy Fusions centralized API.

See HAProxy Technologies at Black Hat USA 2024

HAProxy Technologies will attend Black Hat USA 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada to showcase our latest security and automation capabilities. Join us at our booth #2718 on August 6-10 or schedule a meeting with us.

About HAProxy Technologies

HAProxy Technologies is the company behind HAProxy, the worlds fastest and most widely used software load balancer. Rapidly deploy HAProxy products to deliver websites and applications with the utmost performance, observability, and security at any scale and in any environment. HAProxy Technologies is headquartered in Waltham, MA, with multiple offices across the US and Europe. Learn more at HAProxy.com .

Media Contact:

Deb Randel, VP Marketing

HAProxy Technologies, LLC

drandel@haproxy.com

(614) 204-4643

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42e22cf9-d49b-4c9d-9a67-e555edb36f07
RIMOUSKI, Quebec, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Puma Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PUMA, OTCQB: PUMXF) (the Company or Puma) is pleased to provide an update on its sale agreements with Raptor Resources Ltd. (Raptor) and Canadian Copper Inc. (Canadian Copper) respecting the sale and transfer to Raptor of the Chester and Turgeon Projects (see Figure 1) located in New Brunswick, Canada for a total possible consideration of AUD$2,000,000 in cash and shares as outlined in its March 4, 2024, News Release.



Raptor has recently informed Puma and Canadian Copper that the prospectus relating to its initial public offering of at least AUD$10,000,000 will be lodged with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on or before July 15, 2024.

Pursuant to the sale agreement on Chester, Raptor was required to prepare and lodge a prospectus and receive conditional approval to list Raptor on the ASX by June 30, 2024 (the End Date). The sale agreement provided that if any of the conditions were not satisfied or waived on or before the End Date, Raptor may elect, by paying an extension fee of AUD$20,000, to extend the End Date by a further period of two (2) months ending August 30, 2024. Raptor has requested this extension, and both Puma and Canadian Copper have approved such request.

The Team at Raptor is working diligently to complete the Initial Public Offering and listing on the ASX. The financing is already committed and they are preparing to commence drilling at the Chester Project immediately after listing on the ASX. Canadian Copper and Puma supported the extension request as we strongly believe in this partnership. It is important for all our stakeholders to see more investment and mining activity in New Brunswick. Simon Quick, CEO of Canadian Copper.

Raptor is looking forward to completing its Initial Public Offering and listing on the ASX. We are excited to commence drilling immediately after listing to advance the Chester Project and commence exploration activities on the Turgeon Project. We thank Canadian Copper and Puma for their support of the extension and look forward to building on our relationships.  Brett Wallace, Managing Director/CEO of Raptor.

Marcel Robillard, President and CEO of Puma, expressed his optimism. All of the other terms of the transaction remain unchanged. The initial cash payment of AUD$500,000 will provide us with the capital to advance our Williams Brook Project without the need for share dilution. This means we can avoid issuing shares for our exploration activities, which is fantastic news for our shareholders. This transaction sets us on a path to continue delivering value to our shareholders.

Figure 1. Williams Brook Project properties and other Puma holdings





2024 Outlook

Puma is focused on growing the volume, scale, and grade of the Williams Brook Gold Project. Its 2024 plans include:

Prove the continuity of the gold mineralization sampled at the Tiger Gold Zone along the 4.0km strike extension of the Lynx Gold Trend. Drilling along the Tiger and Cheetah gold zones has been completed, and assay results are pending.



A detailed drone magnetic survey was flown over 6 km of the Lynx Gold Trend, including the recently drilled 3.5 km extension (see April 25, 2024 News Release). The new data will help direct Pumas summer trenching and stripping program and identify targets for future drilling.



Drill high-grade targets at the Lynx Gold Zone and expand to depth the high-grade mineralized intercepts drilled in 2023.



Expand regional exploration to new areas of the property and newly acquired land packages to identify additional priority targets and add to the projects gold inventory.



Demonstrate and continue to improve the gold recoveries at Williams Brook with conventional processing techniques.



About the Williams Brook Gold Project

Puma's flagship Williams Brook Gold Project comprises four properties covering over 50,000 ha in Northern New Brunswickan established and mining-friendly jurisdiction near paved roads and excellent infrastructure. The land package is located near the Rocky Brook Millstream Fault (RBMF), a major regional structure formed during the Appalachian Orogeny and a significant control for gold deposition in the region.

Pumas successful exploration model returned, amongst others, 5.50 g/t gold over 50.15 m in hole WB21-02 (see Sept.15, 2021, News Release), 2.77 g/t gold over 42.80 m in hole WB 22-66 (see June 8, 2022, News Release), 2.49 g/t gold over 63.05 m in WB23-139 (see Oct. 31, 2023 News Release), 5.15 g/t gold over 23.15 m in WB23-142 and 1.24 g/t gold over 98.05 m in WB23-145 (see Nov. 16, 2023 News Release).

Since 2021, with less than C$15 M of exploration investment, Puma has made multiple gold discoveries at the Williams Brook property and believes it hosts an extensive orogenic gold system. Pumas ongoing exploration programs are focused on building a gold camp in Northern New Brunswick, Canada.

Dr. Gregg Morrison, a leading expert on intrusion-related, porphyry and epithermal gold systems, stated: I believe Williams Brook is part of the same family of gold systems as Fosterville and Sunday Creek in Australia and Valentine Lake in Newfoundland. These other deposits are known for their structure-controlled mineralization, metal zoning, free gold in bonanza shoots and kilometre scale depth extent. The similarities to these more comprehensively explored deposits gives real confidence to deeper drilling in the Lynx Zone and continued exploration around the feeder structures in the Williams Brook District.

Qualified Person

Dominique Gagne, P.Geo, a consultant of Puma and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, reviewed and approved this release's technical information.

About Puma Exploration

Puma Exploration is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with precious metals projects in New Brunswick, near Canada's Famous Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC"). Puma has a long history in Northern New Brunswick, having worked on regional projects for over 15 years. As a first mover, the Company quickly and strategically accumulated an impressive portfolio of prospective gold landholdings in the area. Pumas successful exploration methodology combines old prospecting methods with detailed trenching and up-to-date technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate an understanding of the geology and associated mineralized systems.

Armed with geophysical surveys, geochemical data and consultants expertise, Puma has developed a perfect low-cost exploration tool to discover gold at shallow depths and maximize drilling results.

Connect with us on Facebook / X/ LinkedIn.

Visit www.explorationpuma.com for more information or contact:

Marcel Robillard, President and CEO.

(418) 750-8510; president@explorationpuma.com

Mia Boiridy, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development.

(250) 575-3305; mboiridy@explorationpuma.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve several known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Puma to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The quarterly and annual reports and the documents submitted to the securities administration describe these risks and uncertainties.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64931fd7-1b6a-4e46-9894-8fe0f1c26606
Lake City, Colo., July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Join Green Builder Media on Wednesday, July 17 at 2:00 ET for a free webinar on building net zero energy ready homes at an affordable pricepoint.

Howard Building Science is building beautiful net zero energy ready homes in Granite Falls, N.C., for around $200,000. Called Duke Street Cottages, these are not bare-bones homes. They are part of a pocket neighborhood of 11 homes built to the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home standard.

The homes are constructed with structural insulated panels, cement fiber board siding, ductless mini-split heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, heat pump dryers, induction ranges, and other high-efficiency appliances. They are:

Affordable to buy and to own with near zero maintenance and utility bills.

Foster sustainable community living with shared green space and a solar pavilion.

Provide healthy indoor air quality with high-efficiency filtration and ventilation.

These incredibly high-value homes are the future of the housing industry. In this webinar, Rob Howard, President of Howard Building Science, will discuss his company's unique solutions for optimizing housingoffering concrete ideas you can apply to your homes and communities.

Click here to reserve your seat.

About the Presenter

Rob Howard is President of Howard Building Science based in Granite Falls, NC. As a Licensed General Contractor, Howard Building Science provides sustainable development and net-zero energy home construction in the High Country and Foothills of Western North Carolina.

Rob has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. He is the former Director of Construction at Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley where he built ENERGY STAR homes through Advanced Energys SystemVision program. He built the first Net-Zero Energy Home in North Carolina in partnership with the Appalachian Energy Center in 2005. He also built the first DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes in North Carolina in 2015. Previous roles include 5 years as a Sustainable Building Specialist with Habitat for Humanity International and 4 years as a Performance Construction Manager with Mitsubishi Electric.

Rob holds a bachelors degree and a renewable energy technologies diploma from North Carolina State University. He also holds a masters degree in sustainable technology and building science from Appalachian State University where he serves as a lecturer.

About Green Builder Media

Green Builder Media is North Americas leading media company focused on green building and sustainable living content. With a comprehensive suite of content marketing, digital, social, and print media options, high-profile demonstration projects, market intelligence, data services, and live events, Green Builder Media offers a blend of visionary and practical information covering a broad spectrum of topics, including decarbonization, electrification, smart home technologies, energy efficiency, intelligent water, indoor air quality, resilient housing, renewables, and clean transportation.







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SHANGHAI, China, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, invites Electronica China 2024 attendees to Hall E5 Booth 5206 to experience all the latest DigiKey offerings, including in-booth demonstrations, DigiKey Moment live interviews, hands-on workshops, interactive games and more.

Electronica China will be held July 8-10 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.

Returning to Electronica China is DigiKey Moment, a two-day live show hosted at the DigiKey booth. The show features dynamic and informative interviews and demonstrations with suppliers, industry experts, customers and key opinion leaders from Analog Devices, Bel Fuse, DFRobot, Microchip, Molex, Omron, onsemi, Renesas and YAGEO. The interviews will cover hot topics in the industry, including artificial intelligence, automotive, interconnects, industrial automation, IoT, new energy, industry analysis and more. The DigiKey Moment live show will be broadcast from DigiKeys booth at Electronica and on DigiKeys Bilibili channel, along with interactive games and gifts.

DigiKey is excited to return to Electronica China and bring our popular DigiKey Moment live show back to our fans both in person and online, said Tony Ng, vice president, APAC for DigiKey. Electronica China continues to be a crucial meeting place for industry collaboration between trendsetters, companies, manufacturers and engineers. We look forward to discussing the latest trends and market developments and exploring new opportunities to accelerate progress for engineers, designers, buyers and builders.

On Day 2 of the show, DigiKey is inviting attendees to reserve spots for on-site workshop sessions. These spots are limited but can be reserved in advance on the official DigiKey WeChat account. The interactive sessions will allow engineers and designers to engage directly with DFRobot and industry experts.

On Day 3 of the event, customers can participate in specialized workshops to learn strategies for improving their order efficiency and growing their business. Reservations for these customer-focused workshops can also be made on the official DigiKey WeChat account.

Visitors at this year's Electronica trade show will have a unique opportunity to engage directly with the DigiKey team. Throughout the event, DigiKey's sales representatives and engineers will also host a series of interactive game sessions, complete with prizes for participants. These lively sessions will showcase DigiKey's comprehensive suite of services and solutions tailored for engineers, purchasers, makers and business owners. Visitors are encouraged to speak directly with DigiKey's knowledgeable staff, who will be on hand to provide personalized assistance and answer any questions.

DigiKey will provide giveaways for WeChat member registration and activities in the DigiKey booth. Giveaways include travel bags, cable pouches, phone stands, toiletry bags and travel hooks.

Attendees should plan to visit DigiKey at Electronica China in Hall E5 Booth 5206. For more information about DigiKeys presence at Electronica China, please visit the DigiKey website.

About DigiKey

DigiKey, headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minn., USA, is recognized as the global leader and continuous innovator in the cutting-edge commerce distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide. We get technical by providing more than 15.3 million components from over 2,900 quality name-brand manufacturers with an industry-leading breadth and depth of product in stock and available for immediate shipment. DigiKey also supports engineers, designers, builders and procurement professionals with a wealth of digital solutions, frictionless interactions and tools to make their jobs more efficient. Additional information can be found by visiting www.digikey.cn and on WeChat, weibo, QQ video and Bilibili.

Editorial Contact

Wai-Chun Chen

+65 9746 0373

waichun.chen@gmail.com



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed391128-62fc-4c95-80ee-c295b20e5b53
July 2, 2024: In northeast Borno States female Boko Haram suicide bombers, set off their explosives at a wedding and then a funeral, leaving 32 dead and 42 wounded. Boko Haram became active in Borno during 2009 and since then have killed over 40,000 while two million were driven from their homes.

Another consistent security problem is the lack of an effective national police force. Since the 19 th Century there have been sporadic efforts to create a modern, reliable, honest and effective Nigerian national police force. All those efforts have failed and the current national police are still known for their corruption, brutality and ineffectiveness rather than effective policing. This has led to numerous local vigilante groups appearing when needed because of a local crisis. In many other cases the army is sent to restore order but does not stay because Nigerian law does not allow the military to replace the police on a permanent basis. Moreover, soldiers are trained for combat, not full time policing of neighborhoods in towns and cities as well as rural villages.

The military is active in fighting large outbreaks of banditry and terrorism. For example, in northwestern Katsina State, the air force responded to reports of a major Islamic terrorist raid on a group of rural villages as well as a local army base. Dozens of structures were being looted and set on fire. Local police and army forces were alerted but the air force arrived first and saw the fires and detected the Islamic terrorists fleeing on motorcycles and in vehicles. The air force confirmed the presence of the fleeing terrorists and attacked, killing at least 8o Islamic terrorists and attacking some of the rural camps they were living in. The air force and ground forces dont always have this much success when responding to reports of attacks. But in this instance the timing and location of the attacks resulted in heavy losses for the Islamic terrorists.

In most of Nigeria there has been less Islamic terrorist violence since 2020 as these terrorist groups faded away while tribal violence became responsible for most casualties. The Islamic terror groups main activity was staying alive, and they did so via banditry. In some parts of Nigeria, like Katsina State, the Islamic terrorist activity quietly grew. But when there was a major attack, the military was able to respond forcefully and decisively.

Back in 2004, Islamic terrorist violence in the northeast appeared and created some lasting problems. There are still millions of refugees plus substantial economic damage in the northeast (Borno State), where it all began. There seems to be no end in sight because of the local corruption, but more competent leadership in the security forces reduced the violence. All this was caused by a local group of Taliban wannabes calling themselves Boko Haram. Their activity in the capital of Borno State grew for a decade until in 2014 it seemed unstoppable. It took over a year for the government to finally muster sufficient military strength to cripple but not destroy Boko Haram. This did not get much media attention outside Africa, even though in 2014 Boko Haram killed more people than ISIL did in Syria and Iraq. The main reason for Boko Haram gains in 2014 and 2015 was corruption in the army, which severely crippled effective counterterror efforts.

By itself Boko Haram was too small to have much impact on a national scale but the inability to deal with this problem put a spotlight on the corruption that has hobbled all progress in Nigeria for decades. A new president was elected in 2023 and made considerable progress in changing the corruption. This included problems with tribal feuds and growing unrest throughout the country. This has been especially bad down south in the Niger River Delta region which was where most of the petroleum extraction took place. Violence against oil facilities continues, in part because local politicians and business leaders were part of the oil theft business. Northern Moslems want more control over the federal government and the oil money. In northern and central Nigeria, you have increasing violence as nomadic Moslem herders move south and clash with largely Christian farmers over land use and water supplies. For the last few years these tribal feuds have killed more people than Boko Haram. The situation is still capable of sliding into regional civil wars, over money and political power. Corruption and ethnic/tribal/religious rivalries threaten to trigger, at worse, another civil war and, at least, more street violence and public anger.
ORLANDO, Fla., July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (OTC: SGTM) announces, pursuant to a Binding Letter-of-Intent completed the strategic acquisition of Regen Hubs North America, Inc., Regen Hubs International, Inc., and HumiRock, LLC, along with their affiliates known as "Regen Hubs."



The definitive agreement closed on July 1, 2024; the closing terms will be forthcoming in disclosure documents. SGTM believes Regen Hubs has accretive business operations, products, and technologies to grow consolidated operations. Regen Hubs brings an extensive professional and geographical network, which SGTM intends to leverage to expand its reach and drive positive change within the industry.

Regen Hubs is a leading organization focused on improving soil health, reducing chemical usage, and enhancing farmers' profitability through cutting-edge technology and strong partnerships. Committed to revolutionizing sustainable agricultural practices, Regen Hubs is at the forefront of driving positive change in the industry.

The SGTM team and Regen Hubs personnel are immediately working on a comprehensive plan for the sale, packaging, and distribution of SGTM's complete suite of products across various market sectors. Leveraging Regen Hubs' expertise and marketing networks, SGTM intends to establish strong partnerships and secure contracts with the military, NASA, federal and state governments, port authorities, universities, Indian reservations, and cattle ranchers in the United States, Africa, Mexico, and Panama.

Chad Roy , former President of Regen Hubs, states, "It's a great pleasure to finalize the acquisition of Regen Hubs North America Inc. by SGTM. This gives us an extraordinary delivery system provided by SGTM into our global partnerships, both in the retail and agricultural fields. We look forward to providing and delivering the world's most advanced scientific agricultural knowledge to the populace as fast as possible for planet restoration and food security."

From the acquisition, SGTM obtains Regen Hubs' established connections with major retail networks such as Walmart , Lowe's , Home Depot , Kroger, Menards , Tractor Supply , John Deere , Target , Sam's Club , PetCo , and others. Management expects to leverage these relationships to grow existing product lines and offer new products to this client base.

Tony Raynor, CEO at SGTM , states, "I would like to thank Chad Roy of Regen Hubs for his professional dedication to getting the deal done. Together with our new combined teams, we can see extraordinary opportunities globally in providing sustainable products for the small home grander to larger multinational entities. With the professional assistance of many, including Chad and Bobby Mann, I feel we can actively pursue and hopefully secure up to $100M in investment capital to accelerate our operations. These are very exciting times for all of us at SGTM."

In addition to their advisory roles, Chad Roy, Bobby Mann, Gus Ibrahim, and their respective teams will actively support SGTM in raising capital. The goal is to secure up to $100 million in investment capital, utilizing best practices to expedite growth and fuel transformative initiatives.

SGTM's acquisition represents a significant milestone for the Company as it seeks to revolutionize sustainable agricultural practices globally and establish itself as a leader in the industry.

For media inquiries or further information, please get in touch with Tony Raynor at 1-407-886-8733 and traynor@sgtmltd.com .

About Sustainable Green Team, Ltd . (OTC: SGTM) ($SGTM):

Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (OTC+: SGTM) ($SGTM) is a leading Company in climate reversing technologies, a provider of sustainable solutions to improve environmental health, promote sustainable practices, and deliver eco-friendly products and services. SGTM aims to make significant contributions to global sustainability; learn more by visiting the Company website, https://thesustainablegreenteam.com/ , SGTM's YouTube Channel , Corporate Bloomberg TV commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_0rLESvJJ0 , corporate video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ7Dp9Coi88&t=1s and SGTM's Blogs - https://thesustainablegreenteam.com/sgtm-blog .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, including words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. The Company cautions readers not to rely on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact:



Tony Raynor, CEO

Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (OTCQX: SGTM) ($SGTM)

www.sustainablegreenteam.com

Traynor@sgtmltd.com

407-886-8733

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d02ef4d-7276-4bc6-9cc2-d5fc2af81b16
CALGARY, AB, CANADA, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entries for the 2024 De Beers Group Shining Light Awards (SLA) jewellery design competition are officially open. The competition falls under the De Beers Group Designers Initiative (DBGDI), a youth beneficiation skills development initiative aimed at inspiring, igniting, and enabling young jewellers with world-class jewellery design and manufacturing skills in each of the De Beers Group diamond-producing countries  Botswana, Canada, Namibia, and South Africa.

Since its launch more than 25 years ago, the Shining Light Awards have been a springboard for emerging jewellery designers across De Beers diamond producer countries, including Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. The prize pool for this years competition is US$90,000 per country

The competition runs every two years and is open to jewellery designers aged 18 to 35, who are in their final year, have graduated from a jewellery design programme or have relevant experience in jewellery design. The competition provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for youth to showcase their talent. Entries for the 2024 Shining Light Awards competition will be open from 19 June to 16 August 2024.

The SLA is part of our Building Forever Sustainability Strategy commitment to Accelerate Equal Opportunity, explains Otsile Mabeo, Vice President for Corporate Affairs at De Beers Global Sightholder Sales. We at De Beers are committed to making an impact beyond the life of the mine by ensuring that every natural diamond we discover contributes to the sustainable development of our host communities wherever we have our operations. The SLA creates an enabling environment for growth, skills transfer, entrepreneurship, global experiences and mentorship in the jewellery design industry and we are excited to support youth across Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa develop jewellery design and manufacturing skills. 

This years theme is Luxury Redefined, which recognises the power of Millennials and GenZ to tell their story through design. The theme calls on entrants to innovate and curate a future forward definition of luxury that focuses on being authentic, innovative and inclusive whilst celebrating diversity. The theme calls on youth to show the world what Luxury means to them.

Moses Madondo, Managing Director of De Beers Managed Operations, says, The SLA has evolved over the past years from being just a jewellery design competition to a youth enablement initiative that celebrates and capacitates jewellery design talent. It creates new and optimises existing facets of the diamond value chain  from jewellery design and manufacturing to sales, marketing and entrepreneurship.

The theme gives our entrants the space to really create something that accurately reflects their identity and values in todays era, to define luxury in a brand new way. We are looking forward to seeing how they will interpret the theme, says Madondo.

Winners from the four producer countries will be announced in November 2024, at a prestigious gala awards ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa, following judging by an esteemed international panel.

This year the awards have been restructured to meet the winner and runners-up at their particular stage of career or business. There are three options awardees can choose from, and prizes include various combinations of business support, internships, skills development and tuition support for studies.

For more information about the 2024 Shining Light Awards competition and how to submit entries, please visit the official social media pages:

Facebook: Shining Lights Awards

Instagram: Shininglightawards

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Houston, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU), Houstons largest credit union, is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Peggy Horn Miltenberger, a beloved and dedicated member who served on the Board of Directors for more than 30 years. She passed away on June 23, 2024, with her family at her side.

Born in 1938 in Alabama, Miltenberger and her family moved to Texas when she was 10 years old. Peggy's journey with TDECU began when she joined as a loan officer in the early years of the not-for-profit credit union which was founded in Lake Jackson in 1955. She helped many of her friends and neighbors secure loans, and in return, they voted for her to become a director on the TDECU Board in 1993.

"For many people, Peggy was synonymous with TDECU," said Dave Sikora, TDECU Board Chairman. "I joined the board in 2015, and words can't describe my admiration for her, as well as her knowledge and passion for the credit union movement. She always brought unique insights, and filled the room with sunshine and a positive attitude."

Miltenberger's contributions to TDECU and the credit union movement were immeasurable. She often reminded leaders that the credit union was created by workers who united to support a colleague and how that spirit of community should guide all their decisions.

Her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment helped TDECU become a trusted financial partner for hundreds of thousands of Members across Texas.

Miltenberger was remembered at a celebration of life ceremony on June 29th by her four children, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, along with her friends, co-workers and a grateful community.

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Dallas, TX, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickeys Barbecue Pit is getting into the Fourth of July spirit with their delicious pit-smoked barbecue options that are perfect for any sized gathering!

As always, every Dickeys franchise location will be open on the Fourth of July and ready to serve barbecue enthusiasts through dine-in, carryout, pickup or delivery. The Texas-style barbecue brand is treating their loyal guests to a variety of saucy specials this week:

Monday, July 1, to Sunday, July 7 - $10 Off Packs valid on ONLINE or APP ORDERS only using the code: HAPPY4TH

Monday, July 1, to Thursday, July 4 - Double Points for Rewards Members, valid on ONLINE or APP ORDERS only.

Thursday, July 4, to Friday, July 5  Buy One a la carte Sandwich, Get One Half Off - valid on ONLINE or APP ORDERS only using the code: FIREWORK

Saturday, July 6, to Sunday, July 7 - $5 Off Online or app order of $15+ valid on ONLINE or APP ORDERS only using the code: SUNSHINE

This Fourth of July, we hope barbecue lovers across the country will enjoy Dickeys slow-smoked barbecue deals while they cue the celebrations, said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. We want our guests to know we appreciate their loyalty and are looking forward to serving them our tried and true, Texas-style barbecue over the holiday at a great value.

The excitement doesnt stop there! New guests can join Dickeys Big Yellow Cup Rewards Program and receive a free pulled pork sandwich, from July 4th through July 7th.

Fourth of July is meant for fireworks and barbecue, said Roland Dickey Jr, CEO of Dickeys Capital Group. My favorite 4th traditions as a kid were my Dad chopping brisket all day for the neighborhood block party, and trying to shoot more Roman Candles than my younger brother. I hope Dickeys is always a part of our guest's best Fourth of July traditions.



Call Dickeys catering experts at 1.866.BARBECUE (866.227.2328) or request a quote on dickeys.com to discover the variety of catering options available for Fourth of July celebrations of any size.



To learn more, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by the Dickey family. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests in 44 states Legit. Texas. Barbecue.  At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys is led by both Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO, Dickeys Capital Group, who has lead the brands international expansion into 8 countries, as well as the opening of their USDA Certified manufacturing and distribution plant in Mesquite Texas, and his wife, Laura Rea Dickey, CEO, Dickeys Barbecue Pit, Inc. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers eight slow-smoked meats and 8 wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys Barbecue has over 500 locations across the United States and eight other countries.

Dickeys was named to Newsweeks 2022 Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains list, Nations Restaurant News 2024 list for Fast-casual restaurant brands that scored the highest for value, and USA Today 2021 readers choice awards. Dickeys has finished in the Top 20 of the Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers four out of the past five years. The barbecue brand been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur and named to Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was recently named to D Magazines Top 500 CEOs in 2023, was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in Nations Restaurant News, was recognized by Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and honored by Dallas Business Journal. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and QSR Magazine. Dickeys Barbecue is part of Dickeys Restaurant Brands which has more than 700 restaurants nationwide including brands Wing Boss, Trailer Birds, Big Deal Burger and bbqathome.com. DRB is led by CEO Roland Dickey Jr. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

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MONTREAL, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The CSL Group (CSL), a global leader in sustainable marine transportation solutions, is pleased to announce a 21-year strategic partnership with BCI Minerals Limited (BCI) to build and operate an innovative transhipment vessel to support the Mardie Salt and Potash Project (Mardie Project).



As part of CSLs comprehensive transhipment solution, the custom-designed transhipper will handle 5.35 million tonnes of salt and 140,000 tonnes of sulfate of potash per year. Loading will take place at BCIs jetty loadout facility in Cape Preston, Western Australia, with the vessel navigating 12-15 nautical miles to transfer the cargo to ocean-going ships from Handysize to Newcastle Max.

We are excited to partner with BCI and spearhead the development of this custom-built diesel-electric ship, which will provide a high-performance, safe and sustainable solution for the Mardie project, said Louis Martel, President and CEO, The CSL Group. Aligned with CSL and BCIs commitment to environmental sustainability, the design of the new ship provides a pathway to achieve our decarbonization targets. Its diesel-electric propulsion system is engineered for future conversion to clean fuels or electrification.

New Vessel Highlights

Shallow draft to maximize cargo lift within tide and channel constraints

Total deadweight of approximately 16,000 metric tonnes

Gravity discharge, suitable for loading salt, sulfate of potash and other dry bulk commodities onto ocean-going vessels with a deadweight of up to 207,000 tonnes

High maneuverability, with double-ended propulsion

Four azimuth drives and an integrated diesel-electric propulsion and powering system

Single-point loading system with a loading rate of 3,300 tonnes per hour

Self-unloading system with a discharge rate of 4,000 tonnes per hour



BCI Minerals is very pleased to sign this major contract with CSL for a vessel specifically designed for the Mardie Salt and Potash Project, which will provide BCI with a secure and cost-effective shipping solution providing real benefits to our operations and our customers, said BCIs Managing Director, David Boshoff. CSLs market leading reputation for delivering transhipment solutions and their commitment to safety and reliability make them an ideal long-term partner for BCI Minerals.

Construction of the new vessel will begin in spring 2026 with delivery scheduled in mid-2027. In the interim, beginning in the second half of 2026, CSL will provide a vessel on time charter to deliver transhipment services to the Mardie Project while the new dedicated vessel is under construction.

The CSL Group is a world class provider of complex marine solutions and the largest owner and operator of self-unloading ships in the world. Headquartered in Montreal with operations throughout the Americas, Australia, Europe and Africa, CSL delivers millions of tonnes of cargo annually for customers in the construction, steel, energy and agri-food sectors.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brigitte Hebert, Director, Communications

514-982-3854 | brigitte.hebert@cslships.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f535cd1-2063-4a7f-9bbd-745ce6f1e5db
Dublin, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Rivet Type, Equipment Type, Technology, End Use, and Region - Analysis and Forecast, 2024-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The aerospace riveting equipment market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the expanding aerospace sector, which includes commercial aviation, military defense, and space exploration. Considering the optimistic scenario the market is valued at $118.8 million in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.58% to reach $185.9 million by 2034.

How can this report add value to an organization?

Product/Innovation Strategy: The global aerospace riveting equipment market has been extensively segmented based on various categories, such as rivet type, equipment type, technology, and end use. This can help readers get a clear overview of which segments account for the largest share and which ones are well-positioned to grow in the coming years.

The global aerospace riveting equipment market has been extensively segmented based on various categories, such as rivet type, equipment type, technology, and end use. This can help readers get a clear overview of which segments account for the largest share and which ones are well-positioned to grow in the coming years. Competitive Strategy: A detailed competitive benchmarking of the players operating in the global aerospace riveting equipment market has been done to help the reader understand how players stack against each other, presenting a clear market landscape. Additionally, comprehensive competitive strategies such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations will aid the reader in understanding the untapped revenue pockets in the market.

The demand for advanced riveting equipment is fueled by the need for more durable and lightweight aircraft, which are crucial for improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Innovations such as automated riveting machines and programmable robotic systems are becoming increasingly popular, as they offer enhanced precision and reduced labor costs. Additionally, the shift towards newer materials such as composites and titanium in aircraft construction is prompting the development of specialized riveting technologies that can handle these materials without compromising structural integrity.



Regionally, North America and Europe hold substantial market shares, attributed to their mature aerospace industries and the presence of major aircraft manufacturers and suppliers. However, Asia-Pacific is emerging as a rapidly growing market, thanks to increasing investments in aviation infrastructure and the establishment of manufacturing facilities by global aerospace giants. The ongoing trend towards automation and the global push for more efficient aircraft are expected to continue driving the aerospace riveting equipment market forward.



The dominance of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) segment in the aerospace riveting equipment market can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, OEMs are at the forefront of aircraft production, continuously seeking innovative riveting solutions to meet evolving industry standards for safety, performance, and efficiency. As aircraft designs become more advanced and materials like composites gain prominence, OEMs rely on cutting-edge riveting equipment to ensure precise assembly and structural integrity. Additionally, the increasing demand for new aircraft, driven by factors such as rising air travel demand and fleet expansion initiatives by airlines, fuels the growth of the OEM segment.



As major OEMs like Boeing and others ramp up production to fulfill massive backlogs of aircraft orders, the demand for riveting equipment to support these manufacturing activities experiences a corresponding surge. Moreover, OEMs often establish long-term partnerships with riveting equipment suppliers to ensure access to cutting-edge technologies and reliable support services throughout the aircraft production lifecycle. This strategic collaboration between OEMs and equipment manufacturers further reinforces the OEM segment's leadership position in driving market growth within the aerospace riveting equipment industry.



North America's leadership in the aerospace riveting equipment market stems from its robust aerospace industry ecosystem, encompassing major manufacturers, suppliers, and research institutions. The region boasts a long-standing history of aviation innovation and technological expertise, with prominent companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corporation driving advancements in aircraft design and production. Moreover, North America's substantial defense spending fuels demand for aerospace riveting equipment for military aircraft production and maintenance. Additionally, the region benefits from a skilled workforce and a supportive regulatory environment, facilitating the development and adoption of cutting-edge riveting technologies. These factors collectively position North America as a primary hub for aerospace riveting equipment, driving growth and innovation in the market.



In the competitive landscape of the aerospace riveting equipment market, several key players vie for market share and prominence. Established industry leaders such as Atlas Copco AB, Dassault Systemes, and Cherry Aerospace dominate the market with their extensive product portfolios and global presence. These companies leverage their technological expertise and longstanding partnerships with major aerospace manufacturers to maintain their competitive edge. Additionally, they continuously invest in research and development to introduce innovative riveting solutions that address evolving industry requirements, such as lightweight materials and automation integration. However, the market also features a multitude of smaller players and niche manufacturers that cater to specific segments or regional markets, offering specialized riveting equipment tailored to unique customer needs.



Moreover, the competitive landscape is characterized by strategic collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions aimed at expanding market reach and enhancing product offerings. Companies often engage in partnerships with aerospace manufacturers or technology providers to co-develop advanced riveting solutions or integrate complementary technologies. Furthermore, the increasing emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility presents an opportunity for companies to differentiate themselves through the development of eco-friendly riveting equipment and processes. Overall, the aerospace riveting equipment market is marked by intense competition, driving continuous innovation and advancement in riveting technologies to meet the evolving demands of the aerospace industry.

Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis



The companies that are profiled have been selected based on thorough secondary research, which includes analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, market penetration, and insights gathered from primary experts. Some of the prominent companies in this market are:

Atlas Copco AB

Broetje-Automation GmbH

Cherry Aerospace

Howmet Aerospace Inc.

Key Questions Answered in this Report

What are the main factors driving the demand for global aerospace riveting equipment market?

How many patents have been filed by the companies active in the global aerospace riveting equipment market?

Who are the key players in the global aerospace riveting equipment market, and what are their respective market shares?

What partnerships or collaborations are prominent among stakeholders in the global aerospace riveting equipment market?

What are the strategies adopted by the key companies to gain a competitive edge in global aerospace riveting equipment market?

What is the futuristic outlook for the global aerospace riveting equipment market in terms of growth potential?

What is the current estimation of the global aerospace riveting equipment market and what growth trajectory is projected from 2024 to 2034?

Which application, and product segment is expected to lead the market over the forecast period (2024-2034)?

What could be the impact of growing application in the global aerospace riveting equipment market?

Which regions demonstrate the highest adoption rates for global aerospace riveting equipment market, and what factors contribute to their leadership?

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 100 Forecast Period 2024-2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $118.8 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $185.9 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.5% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered



1. Markets: Industry Outlook

1.1 Trends: Current and Future Impact Assessment

1.2 Supply Chain Overview

1.2.1 Value Chain Analysis

1.2.2 Pricing Forecast

1.3 R&D Review

1.3.1 Patent Filing Trend by Year, by Country

1.4 Regulatory Landscape

1.5 Stakeholder Analysis

1.5.1 Use Case

1.5.2 End User and Buying Criteria

1.6 Impact Analysis for Key Global Events

1.7 Market Dynamics Overview

1.7.1 Market Drivers

1.7.2 Market Restraints

1.7.3 Market Opportunities



2. Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market (by Application)

2.1 Application Segmentation

2.2 Application Summary

2.3 Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market (by End Use)

2.3.1 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

2.3.2 Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO)



3. Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market (by Products)

3.1 Product Segmentation

3.2 Product Summary

3.3 Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market (by Rivet Type)

3.3.1 Blind Rivet

3.3.2 Semi-Tubular Rivet

3.3.3 Solid Rivet

3.3.4 Others

3.4 Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market (by Equipment Type)

3.4.1 Hydraulic Riveting Equipment

3.4.2 Pneumatic Riveting Equipment

3.4.3 Electric Riveting Equipment

3.5 Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market (by Technology)

3.5.1 Automated Riveting Equipment

3.5.2 Manual Riveting Equipment



4. Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market (by Region)

4.1 Aerospace Riveting Equipment Market (by Region)

4.2 North America

4.3 Europe

4.4 Asia-Pacific

4.5 Rest-of-the-World



5. Companies Profiled

5.1 Next Frontiers

5.2 Geographic Assessment

5.2.1 Atlas Copco AB

5.2.2 Bollhoff Group

5.2.3 Broetje-Automation GmbH

5.2.4 Cherry Aerospace

5.2.5 Dassault Systemes

5.2.6 Eaton

5.2.7 Howmet Aerospace Inc.

5.2.8 Ingersoll Rand

5.2.9 LAS Aerospace Ltd.

5.2.10 Lockheed Martin Corporation

5.2.11 MP Industrial

5.2.12 Northrop Grumman

5.2.13 SFS Group Germany GmbH

5.2.14 STANLEY Engineered Fastening

5.2.15 Sumake Industrial Co. Ltd.

5.2.16 Other Key Players



6. Research Methodology



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/exmwld

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Toronto, Ontario, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PCCA has named Bob Mehr, BScPharm, CEO and President of Pure Integrated Pharmacy, Vancouver, British Columbia, as its 2024 Canadian Compounding Pharmacist of the Year. This award is presented annually to a pharmacist who has demonstrated service excellence to patients, healthcare providers and pharmacy colleagues. Compounding is the pharmacy method of preparing customized medications to meet each prescribers and patients unique needs. PCCA Canada General Manager Amanda Cassel presented the award to Mehr on June 1, 2024, during PCCAs CONNEXT 2024 Canadian Compounding Conference in Toronto.

Bob pursues opportunities with all that he has, said Cassel. Once he identifies the need, he innovates, advocates, gathers and connects the resources needed to get it done.

Mehr approaches health and wellness by focusing on preventative medicine and promoting vitality, combining a holistic and integrative health model with traditional pharmacy services, including personalized medicine. PCCA President Jim Smith acknowledged Mehrs dedication to his work: Its unbelievable what Bob has been able to accomplish over the course of his career  not only has he done it with great skill and expertise, hes done it with great heart.

The PCCA Canadian Compounding Pharmacist of the Year award is presented to a PCCA member pharmacist who exceeds at being an ambassador for compounding pharmacies. Specific criteria for this award include safety/product quality practices and standards, high ethical standards, continuing education and participation in PCCA events, innovations in the field, positive physician relationships, community relationships and willingness to network with PCCA member colleagues.

Mehr received his BScPharm from the University of British Columbia. After working in a chain store in northern British Columbia, Mehr and his wife and fellow pharmacist, Mahtab, moved to Vancouver Island, opening a few independent pharmacies under a nationally recognized pharmacy brand. In 1999, Mehr decided to re-brand his existing stores as Pure Integrative Pharmacy, offering a combination of a holistic and integrative health model with traditional pharmacy services. He has grown the company to 19 locations across British Columbia, including an online e-commerce department and a compounding laboratory that serves patients and practitioners. Mehr is a dynamic and passionate leader, an educator and a networker of allied health care practitioners. He is active in his community and a proud supporter of InspireHealth Supportive Cancer Care.

At the event, Mehr was joined by his wife, daughters Ranna and Tara, pharmacy team members and representatives of PCCA. Mehr said, I could have not achieved success without the support of PCCA. They have supported me in this amazing journey and taught me a lot about keeping our standards high when it comes to compounding. Their integrity and ethical approach to our industry has been inspiration for me and our entire team at Pure Integrative Pharmacy."

PCCA CONNEXT is an annual Canadian Compounding Conference that brings together pharmacy professionals from across Canada to share knowledge, celebrate achievements and discuss the future of the industry. The Compounding Pharmacist of the Year award is one of the highlights of the conference, celebrating those who have made significant contributions to the field.



ABOUT PCCA

PCCA supports the creation of personalized medicine and innovative products that make a difference in patients lives. As a complete resource for compounding pharmacies, PCCA provides high-quality products, education and support to more than 3,000 pharmacy members throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries around the world. Incorporated in 1981 by a network of pharmacists, PCCA has supported pharmacy compounding for more than 40 years. Learn more at pccarx.com.

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Toronto, Ontario, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jennifer Tuck, RPhT, of Integrum Compounding Centre in Calgary, Alberta, was honored with the inaugural Canadian Compounding Technician of the Year award at PCCAs recent CONNEXT Canadian Compounding Conference in Toronto, Ontario, on Saturday, June 1.

This award recognizes an outstanding pharmacy technician who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill and innovation in their field. Tuck was selected for her remarkable contributions to her pharmacy and the entire compounding pharmacy community.

"We are thrilled to honor Jennifer with our first-ever Compounding Technician of the Year award," said PCCA Canada General Manager Amanda Cassel. "Her commitment to excellence and her passion for patient care have made a significant impact in our industry. She truly embodies the spirit of this award."

Cassel also noted that this pharmacy technician award has been a long time coming  as pharmacy owners and pharmacists rely extensively on the support of pharmacy technicians, like Tuck.

Tuck has been a dedicated pharmacy technician for many years. Throughout her career, she has been known for her meticulous attention to detail, her innovative approach to problem-solving and her unwavering dedication to patient care. Her efforts have not only improved the efficiency and effectiveness of her workplace but also positively impacted the lives of many patients.

"I am deeply honored to receive this award," said Tuck. "It is a privilege to work in a profession that allows me to make a difference in people's lives every day. I am grateful to my colleagues and mentors who have supported me throughout my career."

Since graduating from Norquest College in 2006, Tuck has also worked with the Alberta College of Pharmacy as a sterile compounding assessor and consulted on draft standards for the operation of licensed pharmacies and draft standards of practice for pharmacists and technicians.

PCCA CONNEXT is an annual Canadian Compounding Conference that brings together pharmacy professionals from across Canada to share knowledge, celebrate achievements and discuss the future of the industry. The Compounding Technician of the Year award is one of the highlights of the conference, celebrating those who have made significant contributions to the field.



ABOUT PCCA

PCCA supports the creation of personalized medicine and innovative products that make a difference in patients lives. As a complete resource for compounding pharmacies, PCCA provides high-quality products, education and support to more than 3,000 pharmacy members throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries around the world. Incorporated in 1981 by a network of pharmacists, PCCA has supported pharmacy compounding for more than 40 years. Learn more at pccarx.com.

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DESTIN, Fla., July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As summer heats up and more people flock to the waters of Crab Island, La Dolce Vita (LDV) is committed to promoting water safety to ensure that everyone enjoys their time on the water safely. LDV, known for its premier pontoon boat rentals, is taking this opportunity to remind the community and visitors of essential water safety practices.

Boaters love spending time around Crab Island, but its also an area where water safety incidents can occur. Recent observations have highlighted the need for increased awareness and precautionary measures to prevent accidents.





Key Safety Tips from La Dolce Vita:

Wear Life Jackets: Ensure that all passengers, especially children, wear properly fitted life jackets at all times. Avoid Alcohol Consumption: Operating a boat under the influence is illegal and significantly increases the risk of accidents. Stay sober to stay safe. Education is Key: Regardless of age or experience, it is crucial to educate yourself and take a boat safety course. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers a temporary course completion certificate for those who wish to operate a boat or personal watercraft (PWC) in Florida but do not have a Florida Boater Safety card. Check Weather Conditions: Always check the weather forecast before heading out and be prepared to adjust plans if conditions change. Stay Hydrated and Sun Safe: Drink plenty of water and use sunscreen to prevent dehydration and sunburn, which can impair your ability to operate a boat safely. Follow Navigation Rules: Be aware of the boating traffic and follow all navigation rules to avoid collisions and other accidents. If you are involved in a boating accident, call 911 immediately. It is unlawful for any person operating a vessel involved in a boating accident to leave the scene without giving all possible aid to the involved persons and without reporting the accident to the proper authorities.

While we want everyone to have fun when renting one of our pontoon boats, we also want boaters to stay safe, says Cody Skarupa with LDV. We want everyone to enjoy the beauty of Crab Island without any unfortunate incidents. Weve been at this for years, so we want to ensure anyone who may be out there for the first time takes the time to do it right so they can have a positive experience.

La Dolce Vita offers comprehensive pontoon boat rentals, ensuring that every rental is equipped with necessary safety equipment and is maintained to the highest standards. The company also provides safety briefings to all renters to ensure they are well-informed before setting out on the water.

Serving the beaches from Pensacola to Panama City, La Dolce Vita is a one-stop shop for those searching for the ultimate beach vacation. From a relaxing day on the beach with just the right amount of shade, to an active bike ride through our idyllic beach towns, La Dolce Vita has you covered.

For more information about pontoon boat rentals at LDV visit:

https://ldvbeach.com/destin/calhoun-marina/pontoon-boats

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d6de94f1-a8f1-4ccb-9aea-720a2ad0b868
Encino, CA, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a landscape driven by greed and power, Advisor Associate emerges as a catalyst of change, shifting its focus toward client satisfaction, ethical business, and honesty. While values drive the company forward, Advisor Associate cuts no corners, disrupting the space with cutting-edge technology and customer-forward regulations.

With over 20 years in the industry and more than 40 years of collective experience, the firms team is equipped to handle diverse cases, from individual clients and families to corporate strategies. At its heart, Advisor Associate believes in addressing the needs of SMEsthe silent heroes of the economy, making up nearly 90% of all global businesses. We want to offer the best service for the people who drive the economy forward, assures Ryan.

What fuels this dedication to serving middle-class businesses is an industry-wide gap Ryan noticed during his team's 20-year-long venture in the financial landscape. That voida disconnect between high-level corporations with exponential net worths and the middle marketaccording to him, sparks from the general misconceptions in the field. Smaller businesses often believe they lack the necessary assets or capital to seek professional help, he elucidates. We want them to know that SMEs are not a burden to financial advisors, and we are here to assist with any queries.

Among Advisor Associates wide range of services, spanning estate planning, insurance, alternative investments, fixed income, individual equities, mutual funds, asset allocation, and more, firm acquisition lies at the companys nucleus. Usually, the process begins with identifying a lucrative business with growth potential owned by someone planning to retire or switch life paths.

Over 2-3 years, Advisor Associate gradually implements strategic changes, elevates insurance plans, and educates current employees, dedicated to guiding SME owners through the complex business field. These entrepreneurs are what Ryan calls the Lone Wolf Operators. He says, We love partnering with owners who have decades of experience and who have nurtured their practices with nothing but dedication. Then, when the time is right, we come in, support the business, and combine unique synergies. That owner goes from a Lone Wolf Operator to having a family. With our expertise, running a business changes from having a job to enjoyment.

Advisor Associate also navigates the seas of retirement and wealth management planning expertly, finding common ground between monetary strategies and family values. By listening intently to the goals and abilities of each client, the company can provide accurate predictions and targeted advice, ensuring the stages before and during retirement are as enjoyable as possible. In the wealth preservation realm, the Advisor Associate team works closely with family members, guiding them through the process of generational legacy.

What provides Advisor Associate with a competitive edge is the firms ability to tackle diverse issues within one company, eradicating the need to seek the help of multiple professionals. With a commitment to transparency and integrity, Advisor Associate prioritizes education and raising awareness, equipping clients with the tools to understand complex financial concepts and make informed decisions.

Looking into the future, Advisor Associate is planning to expand its impact across the US and beyond, hoping to spread its value-driven impact further. Ryan shares, Advisor Associate is, first and foremost, a family. We all trust each other, and we strive to foster that same sense of trust with each client. Every team member is driven by faith and family values, and the way we operate is a testament to our ethics. We are here for the clients, offer them our full experience, and never back down even when the market goes down. At Advisor Associate, we navigate the markets together, with transparency, experience, and trust.

Registered Representatives offering securities through Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representatives offering advisory services through Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), a Registered Investment Adviser. Additional advisory services offered through X Advisors, LLC, and Pash & Benson International, Ltd., both Registered Investment Advisors. Advisor Associates, Cherry Creek Capital, Paxton Consulting Group, Crosby Investment Group, Pash & Benson International and IFG are unaffiliated entities.

Media Contact

Name: White Media

Email: micaela@whitemedia.com

There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation.
PITTSBURGH, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential) has announced that it suffered from a data breach which impacted the personal information of approximately 2.5 million individuals.1 The information potentially impacted in the breach includes individuals names, drivers license numbers, and other non-driver identification card numbers.2

Lynch Carpenter, LLP is investigating claims against Prudential related to this data breach. If youve received a data breach notification from Prudential, you may be entitled to compensation.

If you have received a notification from Prudential that your information was impacted, please call Patrick Donathen at (412) 322-9243, email him at patrick@lcllp.com, or fill out our contact form at www.lynchcarpenter.com/contact.

About Lynch Carpenter

Lynch Carpenter is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania, California, and Illinois. Our firm has represented millions of clients in data privacy matters for more than a decade and has earned national acclaim for complex litigation for plaintiffs across the country. To learn more, please visit www.lynchcarpenter.com.

CONTACT Patrick Donathen

COMPANY Lynch Carpenter LLP

PHONE (412) 322-9243

EMAIL patrick@lcllp.com

WEB lynchcarpenter.com

________________________

1 https://www.maine.gov/agviewer/content/ag/985235c7-cb95-4be2-8792-a1252b4f8318/cc7a25d8-bb55-485b-b3bc-060aa12004dd.html.

2 https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/prudential-financial-now-says-25-million-impacted-by-data-breach/.
ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland and Labrador, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortis Inc. ("Fortis" or the "Corporation") (TSX/NYSE: FTS) will release its second quarter 2024 financial results on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. A teleconference and webcast will be held the same day at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern). David Hutchens, President and Chief Executive Officer and Jocelyn Perry, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will discuss the Corporation's second quarter financial results.



Shareholders, analysts, members of the media and other interested parties are invited to listen to the teleconference via the live webcast on the Corporation's website, https://www.fortisinc.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations .

Those members of the financial community in North America wishing to ask questions during the call are invited to participate toll free by calling 1.800.717.1738 while those outside of North America can participate by calling 1.289.514.5100. Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. No passcode is required.

A live and archived audio webcast of the teleconference will be available on the Corporation's website, www.fortisinc.com . A replay of the teleconference will be available two hours after the conclusion of the call until August 31, 2024. Please call 1.888.660.6264 or 1.289.819.1325 and enter passcode 93188#.

About Fortis

Fortis is a well-diversified leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry with 2023 revenue of $12 billion and total assets of $68 billion as at March 31, 2024. The Corporation's 9,600 employees serve utility customers in five Canadian provinces, ten U.S. states and three Caribbean countries.

Fortis shares are listed on the TSX and NYSE and trade under the symbol FTS. Additional information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com , www.sedarplus.ca , or www.sec.gov .

A .pdf version of this press release is available at:

http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/88b8db11-2717-4d16-acb6-da4e8a2f33b9

For further information contact
LONDON, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pixalate, the global market-leading ad fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform, today released the Q1 2024 Google vs. Apple COPPA (Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act) Risk Scorecard Report to examine the state of childrens online privacy across apps available for download in the Google and Apple app stores.

Pixalates data science team analyzed 5.1 million mobile apps available for download across the Google Play Store and Apple App Stores in Q1 2024, and 50+ billion global open programmatic advertising impressions from Q1 2024, to compile this research.

Pixalate found 429k+ likely child-directed apps between the Google Play and Apple App stores (-1.6% YoY decrease in the number of these apps). Nearly half (47%) of these likely child-directed apps request access to personal information via permissions such as camera, microphone, or location.

Key Findings: Pixalates Q1 2024 Google vs. Apple COPPA Scorecard

There are 429k+ likely child-directed apps across the Google and Apple stores as of Q1 2024.

9% of apps in the Google Play Store are likely child-directed vs. 5% in the Apple App Store

31.8K likely child-directed apps across the Google and Apple app stores have no detected privacy policy URL

6.2K likely child-directed apps across the Google and Apple app stores have no detected privacy policy URL but request access to personal information

291k likely child-directed apps have no country of registration identified

Likely child-directed apps are 7% more likely to transmit GPS or IP data in the ad bid stream vs. non-child-directed apps

Access the full Q1 2024 Google vs. Apple COPPA Risk Scorecard Report below. You will also receive the list of the top 200 most popular apps (top 100 from each store) that request access to personal information via permissions and have an app-ads.txt file, including whether GPS coordinates and/or IP address were shared in the ad bid stream, according to Pixalates data.

Download the report.

Pixalate uses automated processing derived from a combination of signals to determine if an app is likely to be child-directed, including the apps category, sub-category, content rating, and contextual signals (specifically, child-related keywords in apps title or the apps description). Pixalate also leverages manual app review by educators on Pixalates Trust & Safety Advisory Board, who make assessments of apps based on the child-directed factors outlined in the COPPA Rule. See our full methodology for more information.

About Pixalate

Pixalate is the market-leading fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics platform for Connected TV (CTV) and Mobile Advertising. We work 24/7 to guard your reputation and grow your media value. Pixalate offers the only system of coordinated solutions across display, app, video, and CTV for better detection and elimination of ad fraud. Pixalate is an MRC-accredited service for the detection and filtration of sophisticated invalid traffic (SIVT) across desktop and mobile web, mobile in-app, and CTV advertising. www.pixalate.com

Disclaimer

The content of this press release, and the Google vs. Apple COPPA Risk Scorecard Report (the Report), reflect Pixalate's opinions with respect to factors that Pixalate believes may be useful to the digital media industry. Pixalates opinions are just that, opinions, which means that they are neither facts nor guarantees; and neither this press release nor the Report are intended to impugn the standing or reputation of any entity, person or app, but instead, to report findings and apparent trends pertaining to mobile apps from the Google and Apple app stores. It is important to note, that the mere fact that an app appears to be directed to children (e.g., data subjects under 13 years of age, as defined by the COPPA Rule) does not mean that any such app, or its operator, is failing to comply with the COPPA Rule. Pixalate calculates estimated programmatic ad spend through proprietary statistical models that incorporate programmatic monthly active users (MAU), the average session duration per user, the average CPM for the category of a given app, and ad density.
East Main Street Webster, MA , July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reardon Insurance Agency and Financial Services, LLC, a leading independent full-service insurance provider, is proud to announce the opening of its third location at 43 East Main Street, Webster, MA 01570. This expansion marks a significant milestone for the company as it continues to grow and serve the diverse insurance needs of the community.



Reardon Insurance Agency and Financial Services, LLC

With existing locations in Medway and Mendon, Massachusetts, Reardon Insurance Agency has a long-standing tradition of excellence in the insurance industry. Established in 1922, the agency has been dedicated to providing personalized and comprehensive insurance solutions. The Reardon legacy in the insurance business dates back to 1866, when the first Reardon sold an insurance policy. Today, the agency is licensed to serve clients in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

"We are thrilled to bring our services to Webster and expand our footprint," said Ted Reardon, Managing partner of Reardon Insurance Agency, and the fourth generation of Reardons to own and operate the Reardon Insurance Agency founded by Ted's great-grandfather William Reardon. "Our commitment to our clients remains our top priority. We pride ourselves on taking the time to explain insurance policies in easy and understandable terms, ensuring that our clients are well-informed and confident in their coverage."

The new Webster location is strategically positioned to better serve the growing needs of residents and businesses in the area. As a full-service agency, Reardon Insurance Agency offers a wide range of insurance products, including homeowners, auto, business, and life insurance. The team of experienced professionals at Reardon is dedicated to providing tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each client.

All of the Reardon Insurance locations are available to service you on a strictly appointment basis only. We do not accept walk in business. Whether you are looking for a new insurance policy or need assistance with an existing one, the Reardon team is ready to help.

For more information, please visit our website at https://www.reardoninsurance.com/ or contact the Webster office at (508) 533-8914.

About Reardon Insurance Agency and Financial Services, LLC

Reardon Insurance Agency and Financial Services, LLC has been serving the insurance needs of its clients for over 100 years- since 1922. As an independent full-service insurance agency, Reardon is committed to providing personalized and comprehensive insurance solutions. Licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the agency continues the Reardon family tradition of excellence that began in 1866.

Contact:

Reardon Insurance Agency and Financial Services, LLC

43 East Main Street Webster, MA 01570

(508) 533-8914

ted@reardoninsurance.com

https://www.reardoninsurance.com/

###

Media Contact

Ted Reardon

Managing Partner

Reardon Insurance Agency and Financial Services, LLC

ted@reardoninsurance.com

(508) 533-8914

https://www.abnewswire.com/pressreleases/reardon-insurance-agency-opens-third-location-in-webster-massachusetts_703531.html



Reardon Insurance Agency & Financial Services, LLC




Denver, Colorado, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The institutions tasked with protecting public health and the environment sometimes pass legislation that isnt particularly helpful. Thats true of all government entities, including the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).



One piece of legislation thats especially concerning for people needing asbestos mitigation is Colorados Regulation #8, Part B. Its about air pollution and asbestos-containing materials and reads as follows:

To prevent any real or potential conflicts of interest, Building Inspectors identifying asbestos-containing material must be independent of the General Abatement Contractor that will subsequently abate the asbestos-containing material identified.

That may sound like a good law to have on the books, and it answers the question in the title of this article: No, its not acceptable (or legal) for an asbestos testing company to perform the abatement. However, despite the intent behind the regulation, we believe it actually opens the door to fraud.

Read on to learn why we think the law is problematic for people who own homes and other buildings.

Public Health Regulations and Asbestos Management: The Two Companies Workaround

Taken at face value, the regulation above appears to be an exemplar of well-crafted, thoughtful public policy. It is clearly designed to protect homeowners and commercial building owners from the potential fraud that can occur when individuals tasked with identifying known hazardsin this case asbestos-containing materialsare also those responsible for removing said hazards.

Unfortunately, its not having the desired effect. The fundamental problem with the wall created by CDPHE between general abatement contractors and asbestos building inspectors is that the barrier is easily surmounted by creating two separate businesses. Nothing prevents owners of asbestos consulting firms from simply obtaining a separate general abatement contractor license by filing with the CDPHE and then managing that business under the same leadership umbrella.

Separation simply requires a separate business owner/limited liability company (LLC). This could meanand unfortunately often doesthat the spouse, son, daughter, or (insert family member here) of the owner of the asbestos consulting firm establishes themself as a certified asbestos abatement contractor and general abatement contracting firm. Once the credentials are obtained and the entity is established, viola! You have legal separation. The ease with which companies can work around the regulation is a recipe for duplicitous behavior and fraud.

Fortunately, there are simple steps you can (and should) take to identify companies that have positioned themselves to be able to commit fraud should they choose to. We explain the actions to take below.

How To Protect Yourself From Asbestos Remediation Fraud

An essential first step when hiring an asbestos consulting firm is asking if they also perform asbestos abatement in-house. Many firms will market their ability to do so to entice homeowners and building owners looking for a turnkey solution. This should raise an immediate red flag regarding the potential for fraud.

Another means of protecting yourself is gathering bids and quotes from local general abatement contractors you identify through research rather than those suggested by the asbestos consulting firm. However, if you want to follow the firms recommendations, you can do so while still being vigilant for potential fraud. Specifically, you can check the Colorado Secretary of States webpage to identify the registered agent listed for both the asbestos consulting firm and the general abatement contractor. If they are the same, you should be suspicious.

Are all owners that have testing and remediation entities looking to cheat you? Surely not. But the problem is that without asbestos identification and abatement expertise, its impossible for you to know whether a provider has your best interests at heart or will leverage their power in the relationship to recommend services you dont need.

Approach Asbestos Testing and Asbestos Abatement With Caution

Ultimately, it is up to consumers to protect themselves from asbestos abatement fraud as best they can. You must be curious and question the asbestos consulting firms you are considering to ensure you get the best services possible. Any upstanding, morally attuned business will welcome questions as an invitation to highlight their business acumen and ethical standing.

Remember, it is up to environmental consultants to prove themselves to clients, not the other way around.

About Colorado Hazard Control

Colorado Hazard Control is the natural industrial, commercial and residential environmental solutions provider achieving the highest quality workmanship by focusing intensely on what we do best  health, safety, and environmental compliance. With locations in Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, we offer our services statewide. Whatever your needs - lead abatement, mold remediation, radon mitigation, demolition, or training - we're there with 24-hour emergency response available. https://www.coloradohazard.com

Media Contact: Lynnelle Beaver, 303-410-4941
Trondheim, 3 July 2024: Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement by Norbit ASA ("NORBIT" or the "Company") (Euronext Oslo Brs trading symbol: NORBT) of 2 July 2024 (the "Announcement") regarding the successful private placement raising gross proceeds of approximately NOK 200 million (the "Private Placement") at a price per share of NOK 77 (the "Offer Price"). All terms used in this notice shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Announcement.

Mandatory notification of trades

The following primary insiders in the Company and close associates of primary insiders were allocated Offer Shares in the Private Placement at the Offer Price as follows: Reitan Kapital AS ("Reitan Kapital"), a company closely associated with the Company's Board member Hakon Kavli, was allocated 257,698 Offer Shares; Petors AS, a company closely associated with the Company's CEO Per Jrgen Weisethaunet, was allocated 25,974 Offer Shares.

Disclosure of share lending

To facilitate delivery-versus-payment settlement to investors in the Private Placement, Reitan Kapital has lent existing shares to the Managers pursuant to a share lending agreement as further detailed in the Announcement.

Prior to completion of the Private Placement, Reitan Kapital held 5,829,083 shares in the Company (representing approximately 9.68% of the issued share capital and votes). Reitan Kapital has lent a total of 5,829,083 existing shares to the Managers (of which 2,597,403 shares will be delivered to investors in the Private Placement) under the share lending agreement. During the term of the share loan, and prior to the redelivery, Reitan Kapital's shareholding in the Company will be reduced to 257,698 shares (with reference to the allocated shares as set out above), equivalent to approximately 0.41% of the issued share capital and votes. Consequently, Reitan Kapital has fallen below the 5% threshold pursuant to section 4-2 (1) and (3) of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act, and will cross above the 5% threshold upon redelivery.

The Board has resolved to issue the 2,597,403 Offer Shares in the Private Placement pursuant to the authorization granted by the Companys annual general meeting held on 6 May 2024, all of which will be subscribed by the Managers and, once issued, delivered to Reitan Kapital as settlement of shares borrowed in relation to settlement of the Private Placement.

See the enclosed forms for further details about the transactions.

For further information, please contact:

Per Jrgen Weisethaunet, CEO, +47 959 62 915

Per Kristian Reppe, CFO, +47 900 33 203

ABOUT NORBIT ASA

NORBIT is a global provider of tailored technology to selected applications, solving challenges and promoting sustainability through innovative solutions, in line with its mission to Explore More. The company is structured in three business segments to address its key markets: Oceans, Connectivity and Product Innovation & Realization. The Oceans segment delivers tailored technology solutions to global maritime markets. The Connectivity segment provides wireless solutions for identification, monitoring and tracking. The Product Innovation & Realization segment offers R&D services, proprietary products, and contract manufacturing to key customers. NORBIT is headquartered in Trondheim with manufacturing in Europe, has around 500 employees, and a worldwide sales and distribution platform.

For more information: www.norbit.com

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements in Regulation EU 596/2014 (MAR) article 19 number 3 and section 4-3 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

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MELBOURNE, Australia, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A staggering 64% of construction projects experience overbilling, according to a new report released by Payapps, an award-winning construction software solution trusted by thousands of main contractors and subcontractors to simplify and standardise progress payment claims. This alarming figure underscores the need for tighter financial controls in an industry grappling with soaring costs due to labour shortages and material price hikes.

The report "Building the Future: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities for Quantity Surveyors and Contract Administrators" surveyed over 1,000 construction professionals and found that overbilling is widespread. The findings reveal that 47% of respondents occasionally face overbilling, with another 17% experiencing it frequently. While 44% of respondents desired to improve cost management, manual processes and time constraints often hampered them.

"The construction industry is facing a perfect storm of cost pressures," said Geoff Tarrant, Co-Founder of Payapps. "Overbilling is not the cause of this crisis, but it does exacerbate it. By automating time-consuming tasks like progress payment claims and greater visibility of contract variations, Payapps frees up valuable time for construction professionals to focus on strategic cost management initiatives."

Payapps users are already seeing the benefits. The report found that 87% of those who find contract variation management straightforward use specialised construction technology like Payapps. By streamlining complex tasks and reducing manual overhead, Payapps empowers construction firms to take control of their finances and protect their bottom line.

"In today's economic environment, precision in cost management is more critical than ever," added Tarrant. Technology is revolutionising how we manage construction finances, making complex tasks like managing contract variations significantly more manageable," said Tarrant. Payapps is not just a software solution; it's a strategic tool for navigating the challenges of the modern construction landscape."

To access the complete Building the Future report, click here. The global survey was conducted by Payapps and included responses from professionals from commercial construction companies in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Payapps thanks their global partners, including the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors, for asking their members to participate in this survey.

About Payapps

Payapps, an Autodesk Company, is a cloud-based collaboration tool for the construction industry. It helps main contractors and subcontractors simplify and expedite progress payment claims for construction projects, including variations and retentions. A simpler and faster digital process ensures greater transparency, increased accuracy, improved compliance, reduced financial risk, fewer disputes, and fairer outcomes. Payapps significantly cuts progress payment claim approval times while helping meet regulatory requirements. Compliance is improved and made easier with documentation verification integrated with the approval process. Seamless integration with a wide range of project, construction and financial management software helps provide real-time data on all project payment requests and approvals.

Geoff Tarrant, Co-Founder of Payapps, emphasises the need for tighter financial controls and digital solutions to combat the issue of overbilling in the construction industry.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c7999c8-db15-46b3-a2ad-73cddaf4f21f
ENDEAVOUR ACHIEVES FIRST GOLD POUR AT LAFIGUE MINE IN COTE D'IVOIRE

Constructed in only 21 months  Delivered on budget and ahead of schedule  Investment phase completed

HIGHLIGHTS: First gold pour at the Lafigue mine achieved on budget and ahead of schedule, only 21 months after construction launch Commercial production and subsequent ramp-up to nameplate plant capacity of 4.0Mtpa expected to be achieved in Q3-2024 Over 17.8Mt of total material moved since Q4-2023 with over 1.8Mt of ore at 1.37g/t totalling over 80koz mined and stockpiled ahead of the processing plant ramp-up Lafigue is expected to produce between 90-110koz of gold at a sector leading AISC of between $900-975/oz in FY-2024, with production increasing to approximately 200koz in FY-2025 The Lafigue mine is the fifth project Endeavour has built in West Africa in the last ten years, all of which have been delivered on budget and on or ahead of schedule, in two years or less

Abidjan, 2 July 2024 - Endeavour Mining Plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV, OTCQX:EDVMF) ("Endeavour", the "Group" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the first gold pour from the Lafigue mine in Cote d'Ivoire was achieved on 28 June 2024, marking the successful delivery of the project construction on budget and a quarter ahead of schedule.

Ian Cockerill, CEO, commented "We are proud to have achieved our first gold pour at Lafigue, which, alongside the first gold pour at the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX expansion that we achieved in April, marks the successful completion of the recent phase of investment and growth that we started in Q2-2022. We now begin a new phase of increased free cash flow generation, de-levering and enhanced shareholder returns.

The Lafigue project is the fifth project that we have successfully built in West Africa in the last decade, which is a testament to the strength of our in-house project construction team and is a demonstration of our competitive advantage in West Africa, the world's most prospective and largest gold producing region.

Lafigue is an excellent example of our ability to leverage this advantage by self-generating a project pipeline. We discovered Lafigue for a cost of $31 million, equivalent to an industry-low discovery cost of just $12 per ounce of M&I resources. The project was quickly advanced through technical studies and permitting, before construction was launched in Q4-2022, and first gold was delivered only 21 months later for a low capital intensity of approximately $150/oz of M&I resources. In less than eight years we have transformed Lafigue from a discovery to production, creating a cornerstone asset that has the potential to produce over 200koz per year, at an industry leading all-in sustaining cost of approximately $900/oz for at least 13 years, improving the quality of our existing portfolio.

We believe this level of value creation is repeatable in West Africa, and we have already identified the Assafou deposit on the Tanda-Iguela property in Cote d'Ivoire, where we have delineated a top tier resource and another potential cornerstone asset, which will underpin our next phase of organic growth in a few years time.

With the current phase of organic growth completed, we are now focused on quickly ramping up our recent development projects to maximise their returns and support our near-term capital allocation priorities of de-levering our balance sheet and enhancing our shareholder returns."

Since the start of wet commissioning on 30 May 2024, approximately 77kt of ore has been processed through the Lafigue processing plant, with all circuits operating in line with expectations. The first gold pour included gold from both the gravity and CIL circuits, and yielded approximately 380 ounces of gold. The Lafigue mine is expected to achieve commercial production and ramp up to its nameplate capacity of 4.0Mtpa in Q3-2024.

Figure 1: First gold pour at the Lafigue mine

Figure 2: Paul Day, General Manager at Lafigue with the first gold bar poured at the mine

ABOUT THE LAFIGUE MINE

The Lafigue mine is located towards the northern end of the Birimian aged Oume-Fetekro greenstone belt, in north-central Cote d'Ivoire, approximately 500km from Abidjan by road. The Lafigue deposit is located in the northeast part of the Fetekro exploration permit, adjacent to existing infrastructure, including sealed paved roads and high voltage grid power. Endeavour has an 80% ownership stake in the Lafigue mine (with 10% owned by the Ivorian Government and 10% owned by SODEMI, a state-owned mining company) and a 100% ownership stake in the remainder of the Fetekro exploration licence.

Endeavour began exploration on the Fetekro property in March 2017, following a strategic assessment of its exploration tenements which identified the project as a top priority target. To date, only a limited portion of the Fetekro property has been explored, as the priority has been the delineation of the Lafigue deposit. A maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the Lafigue deposit was published on 29 October 2018 and subsequently updated on 3 September 2019, 18 August 2020 and 15 May 2022. A Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") was published on 18 August 2020 and a Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS") was completed with the effective date of 31 December 2020.

Construction of the Lafigue project in Cote d'Ivoire was launched in Q4-2022, following the completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") which confirmed Lafigue's potential to be a cornerstone asset for Endeavour. The 2022 DFS contemplates a 12.8 year LOM with average annual production of 203koz at a low AISC of $871/oz, with an initial capital cost of $448 million. The project DFS displayed robust economics at an $1,800/oz gold price assumption including an after-tax NPV 5% of $870m and an after-tax IRR of 33%. For FY-2024, Lafigue is expected to produce between 90-110koz at an AISC of between $900-975/oz.

As at 31 December 2023, Proven and Probable reserves totalled 49.8Mt at 1.69 g/t containing 2.7Moz of gold and Measured and Indicated resources (inclusive of reserves) totalled 46.2Mt at 2.04 g/t containing 3.0Moz of gold.

Given the strong exploration potential, Endeavour is targeting the discovery of 1.2 - 1.8Moz of Indicated resources across the Lafigue mining permit and the wider Fetekro exploration permit area over the 2021 to 2025 period at a discovery cost of $14/oz. To date 0.6Moz, or 50% of the lower end of the target, has been discovered.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

Mark Morcombe, COO of Endeavour Mining plc., a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Jack Garman

Vice President, Investor Relations

+44 203 011 2723

jack.garman@endeavourmining.com Brunswick Group LLP in London

Carole Cable, Partner

+44 207 404 5959

ccable@brunswickgroup.com

ABOUT ENDEAVOUR MINING PLC

Endeavour Mining is one of the world's senior gold producers and the largest in West Africa, with operating assets across Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso and a strong portfolio of advanced development projects and exploration assets in the highly prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across West Africa.

A member of the World Gold Council, Endeavour is committed to the principles of responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to its employees, stakeholders and the communities where it operates. Endeavour is listed on the London and Toronto Stock Exchanges, under the symbol EDV.

For more information, please visit www.endeavourmining.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements". Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", and "anticipates".

Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions and credit availability, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Endeavour operates. Although Endeavour has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Please refer to Endeavour's most recent Annual Information Form filed under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca for further information respecting the risks affecting Endeavour and its business.

Attachment
NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, July 2, 2024 - Heritage Mining Ltd. (CSE: HML) ("Heritage" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche ("Tranche Two") of its non-brokered private placement financing previously announced on June 12, 2024 (the "Offering").

The Company raised an aggregate of $157,000.04 pursuant to Tranche Two, of which $107,000.00 was raised on the issuance of 2,140,000 units ("Units") and $50,000.04 was raised on the issuance of 833,334 flow-through units ("FT Units"). Each Unit was issued at a price per Unit of $0.05 and is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company ("Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire one Common Share for a period of 36 months at an exercise price of $0.075 ("Warrant"). Each FT Unit was issued at a price of $0.06 and is comprised of one Common Share which will qualify as a "flow-through share" as defined in subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one Warrant.

The Company paid an aggregate $2,600.00 in cash commissions and issued an aggregate 41,666 compensation options (the "Compensation Options") in connection with Tranche Two. Each Compensation Option entitles the holder to acquire one additional Unit at a price of $0.05 for a period of 36 months following the date of issuance.

Proceeds of Tranche Two will be used to fund the Company's exploration and drilling program on its flagship Drayton-Black Lake Project, in addition to general working capital. All securities issued pursuant to Tranche Two are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

Insiders of the Company subscribed for 2,570,000 Units under the Offering. Each transaction with an insider of the Company constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Corporation is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.7(1)(a) in respect of such insider participation as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The Company has also agreed to issue an aggregate of 840,000 common shares, at a deemed price of $0.05 per common share, in full satisfaction of certain contractual obligations.

ABOUT HERITAGE MINING LTD.

The Company is a Canadian mineral exploration company advancing its two high grade gold-silver-copper projects in Northwestern Ontario. The Drayton-Black Lake and the Contact Bay projects are located near Sioux Lookout in the underexplored Eagle-Wabigoon-Manitou Greenstone Belt. Both projects benefit from a wealth of historic data, excellent site access and logistical support from the local community. The Company is well capitalized, with a tight capital structure.

For further information, please contact:

Heritage Mining Ltd.

Peter Schloo, CPA, CA, CFA

President, CEO and Director

Phone: (905) 505-0918

Email: peter@heritagemining.ca

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events of the Company. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "outlook" and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks include, among others, the inherent risk of the mining industry; adverse economic and market developments; the risk that the Company will not be successful in completing additional acquisitions; risks relating to the estimation of mineral resources; the possibility that the Company's estimated burn rate may be higher than anticipated; risks of unexpected cost increases; risks of labour shortages; risks relating to exploration and development activities; risks relating to future prices of mineral resources; risks related to work site accidents, risks related to geological uncertainties and variations; risks related to government and community support of the Company's projects; risks related to global pandemics and other risks related to the mining industry. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward?looking information should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward?looking information except as required by law.

This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company in Canada, the United States, or any other jurisdiction. Any such offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein will be made only pursuant to subscription documentation between the Company and prospective purchasers. Any such offering will be made in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws, pursuant to a subscription agreement to be entered into by the Company and prospective investors.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, British Columbia - July 2, 2024 - VanadiumCorp Resource Inc. (TSX-V: VRB) (FSE: NWNA) (OTC: VRBFF) ("VanadiumCorp" or the "Company). The Company announces the resignation of its CEO, Paul McGuigan, who has completed his mandate as temporary CEO as announced in March 2022.

Paul McGuigan, P. Geo., states:

"VanadiumCorp has constructed its first electrolyte plant in less than 12 months using mostly in-house technical staff. We look forward to our next phase of corporate development and commercial production enabled by the experience of our first plant. It has been my pleasure to work with the VanadiumCorp team on this stage of its development."

The Company completed construction and commissioning of its Plant No. 1 in Val des Sources, Quebec. The Company selected this first plant to enable team experience and market development based on a minimal capital expenditure. We look forward to our next phase of corporate development and commercial production enabled by the experience of our first plant.

Batches produced to date in this demonstration-sized plant meet tight electrolyte specifications and high purity, vindicating our selection of electrolyzer technologies, like the new, larger facilities of AMG Vanadium LLC (Europe), Australian Vanadium Ltd. (Australia) and Bushveld Minerals (South Africa). Additionally, we are in receipt of a scoping-level engineering from the Company's technical team for a 4 to 8 million litres per year plant. This second larger plant is scoped using electrolyzer modules from C-Tech Innovation Limited, of the UK. Prior to committing to this larger plant, we seek markets for its premium electrolyte product.

Market studies commissioned by the Company indicated a good demand for high purity electrolytes. However, as the Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) market grows quickly, demand intensifies for the lowest transformation charge for the conversion of vanadium feedstocks to electrolyte for certain VFB applications. The Company will actively scope a chemical process to create a hybrid chemical/electrolyzer manufacturing design, or alternately a fully chemical process design, to meet the growing demand for lower conversion costs and to augment our premium product line.

About VanadiumCorp Resource Inc.

The Company's Plant No. 1 is in Val-des-Sources, Quebec, at the Carrefour d'Innovation sur les Materiaux de la MRC des Sources (CIMMS). The Company's website (www.vanadiumcorp.com) displays photographs of the completed plant.

A remarkable transformation of the global energy landscape is underway as we shift toward renewable energy sources. Solar and wind energy sources are forecasted to dominate power generation. Yet, vast amounts of long-duration energy storage (LDES) are vital to time-shift and stabilize these variable energy sources. The Vanadium Flow Battery is the most mature of the LDES battery technologies. According to MIT (2022), the VFB is "unique for its ability to perform indefinitely with inexpensive operational maintenance."

To assure stable, long-term access to vanadium feedstocks for electrolyte manufacturing, the Company is developing novel hydrometallurgical processes to extract vanadium from the titanomagnetite deposits at its wholly owned Lac Dore property near Chibougamau, Quebec.

On behalf of the Board of VanadiumCorp Resource Inc.:

Paul McGuigan, P. Geo.

Director, Chief Executive Officer

pjm@vanadiumcorp.com

Direct: +1.604.970.3278

Company Contact Information:

Canada

Suite 303 - 5455 West Boulevard

Vancouver, British Columbia V6M 3W5

Canada Germany

Omniturm, 1st Floor, Groe Gallusstrae 16-18

Frankfurt am Main, 60312

Germany

3 rue de Boise,

Marieville, Quebec J3M 1S7

Canada Email: info@vanadiumcorp.com Website: www.vanadiumcorp.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements (including "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding, among other things, VanadiumCorp's business. and the environment in which it operates. In general, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "forecast", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "could" or "will be taken", "occur" or "will be achieved". VanadiumCorp relies on a number of assumptions and estimates to make these forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the ability to acquire the necessary permits and authorizations to advance the Lac Dore property to the production stage, the ability to add to existing resources at Lac Dore through drilling, the costs associated with the development and operation of its properties. These assumptions and estimates are made in light of forecasts and conditions that are considered relevant and reasonable based on available information and current circumstances. A number of risk factors may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or results of such exploration and/or mine development to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, whether such discoveries will result in commercially viable quantities of such mineralized materials, the ability to modify project parameters as plans continue to be refined, the ability to execute planned future exploration and drilling programs, the need for additional financing to continue exploration and development efforts, changes in general economic, market and business conditions, and other risks outlined in VanadiumCorp's latest Annual Information Form under the heading "Risk Factors" and in its other public documents. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and such information is inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may be beyond VanadiumCorp's control. Although VanadiumCorp has attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. In addition, all forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. VanadiumCorp disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this disclaimer.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, July 2, 2024 - Mabel Ventures Inc. (CSE: MBL) (the "Company" or "Mabel") is pleased to announce the completion of the 2024 exploration program at the Bonanza Property located in Quebec. Two diamond drill holes were completed totalling 417.3 m and 86 prospecting samples were collected across the property. Mabel has fulfilled the option agreement and now owns a 51% interest in the Project from Abitibi Metals Corp. (AMQ: CN).

Drilling targeted coincident structural, geochemical and geophysical targets, encountering encouraging precious and metal values and strong sulphide mineralization. Highlights include:

DDH-2024-01: 0.393 ppm Au over 0.95 meter.

DDH-2024-02: 931 ppm Ni and 1650 ppm Cr over 1 meter and 932 ppm Ni and 1670 ppm Cr over 0.5 meter.

*All intervals are core length.

"Our technical team will review the results gathered to-date to determine next steps for the Bonanza Project," said Amanda Bennett, P.Geo, President and CEO of Mabel. "Additionally, working with the Fiore Group, we are assessing further potential precious and base metal acquisitions."

Two diamond drillholes were completed targeting a NW-SE trending IP anomaly. Drillhole DDH-2024-02 intersected 0.53m of massive sulfides resulting 713 ppm Cu, 17.3% Fe, 16.4 ppm Mo and 192 ppm Ni.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length

(m) Au

(ppm) Cu

(ppm) Ni

(ppm) Cr

(ppm) Zn

(ppm) DDH-2024-01 39.2 40.15 0.95 - - - - 1250 and 144.85 145.4 0.55 0.054 1240 - - - and 235.05 236 0.95 0.393 - - - - DDH-2024-02 3 4 1.00 0.003 - 931 1650 - and 92.3 92.8 0.50 0.002 - 932 1670 - and 101.7 102.25 0.53 0.021 713 192 205 224 Table 1: Complete Dril2l Hole assays * All intervals are shown as core length. Further modelling needs to be completed before true widths can be

calculated.

Hole ID Easting-UTM

NAD83 z18 Northing-UTM

NAD83 z18 Azimuth Dip Length (m) DDH-2024-01 434335 5408252 60 -45 249 DDH-2024-02 432562 5409902 60 -45 168.3 Table 2: Drill hole collar coordinates

Bonanza Gold Property

Bonanza is located in the-east central part of the Abitibi sub-province, south of the Urban-Barry greenstone belt, in the Barry Complex. It is situated approximately 25km south of Osisko Mining Inc.'s Windfall Deposit, and 15km to 20km south of Bonterra Resource Inc.'s Barry Property and Gladiator deposit. Mineral tenure consists of 92 map designated claims, covering 5,212 hectares. Bonanza is at the reconnaissance stage of exploration with several exploration programs including heliborne and ground geophysics, soil sampling, prospecting, trenching and drilling completed from 2018 to 2020.

The Company is targeting four different deposit styles on Bonanza: Archean lode-gold systems, magmatic Ni-Cu-Cr systems, banded-iron formation gold and polymetallic VMS mineralization.

Bonanza is located at the southern tip of the basalts of the Chanceux Formation (Urban-Barry greenstone belt). Most of Bonanza is underlain by the Barry Complex, which is composed of meta-sediments and tonalitic gneiss in the area covered by the claims. The presence of several amphibolite enclaves in the west limit of Bonanza indicates a possible southwest extension of the Urban-Barry greenstone belt in this sector.

The proximity with the Urban-Barry greenstone belt, which hosts several deposits under development and the presence of two historical mineralized boulders discovered in the 1990's, initiated some interest for Bonanza. Except for its northwest part, which overlapped several geophysical surveys and one prospecting campaign, most of the exploration programs were completed by Abitibi from 2018 to 2020. In 2018, a heliborne magnetic (MAG) and time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) survey covered Bonanza (582 line km). A series of targets aligned along a magnetic and locally conductive trend striking NW-SE, thought to represent the lithological unit of the historical mineralized boulders (iron formation), is considered as prime target for gold mineralization.

In the summer of 2020, Bonanza was covered by a systematic soil survey (525 soil samples), along with some prospecting. In late 2020, an induced polarization (IP) (13.3 line km) survey was performed on the NW end of the prime target. A trenching and drilling program (15 NQ holes, 1800.7 m) tested the 2020 IP targets. Short intercepts of iron formation were found in two drill holes (BZ-2020-009 and BZ-2020-017) and a 1.23m intersection assayed 4.94 g/t Ag, 310 ppm Cu and 1207 ppm Zn in hole BZ-2020-09. As for gold, two anomalous results (0.134 and 0.121 ppm Au) were intercepted over 1 m in two other drillholes. One of these anomalous gold results was close to a sample from a trench that yielded 0.644 ppm Au.

In 2023, an IP survey and a prospecting campaign was performed by Mabel on the east portion of Bonanza. The IP survey outlined high-priority targets superimposed on the southeast end of the previously defined magnetic trend thought to represent an iron formation unit. Ninety-six (96) lithogeochemical samples (15 outcrops and 81 boulders) were analyzed and delimitated an area of interest, where most of the samples with detectable gold values were concentrated.

QA/QC

A quick log was completed on site before the core was transported to a core logging and cutting facility in Val d'Or. All samples were sent to AGAT Labs. All prospecting samples were bagged on site with a sample tag and sent to AGAT labs.

Qualified Person

The Company's planned 2024 Exploration Program will be supervised by CEO Amanda Bennett, P.Geo, and includes a rigorous Quality Assurance/Quality Control program. Steven Lauzier, P.Geo OGQ1430, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this release.

For more information, please visit Mabel's SEDAR+ profile at: www.sedarplus.ca.

On behalf of the Board,

Mabel Ventures Inc.

"Alicia Krywaniuk"

Alicia Krywaniuk, CFO and Corporate Secretary

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING "FORWARD-LOOKING" INFORMATION:

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. The Company has provided the forward-looking statements in reliance on assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time. All such forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties (including those risk factors identified in the Company's Listing Statement dated November 30, 2023), certain of which are beyond the Company's control. The reader is cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and the actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, the Company will derive therefrom. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Mabel Ventures Inc.
Vancouver, July 02, 2024 - Planet Green Metals Inc. (CSE: PGR) ("Planet Green" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into four (4) option agreements, each to acquire a 100% undivided interest in each of the Marion Property, Sheraton Property, Rich Lake Property, and Grenfell Property (collectively the "Agreements"), all located within the Province of Ontario. Each of the properties is being optioned from Gravel Ridge Resources Ltd. and 1544230 Ontario Inc. (together, the "Optionors"), each of whom is an arm's length party to Planet Green. Each of the Agreements is subject to a Side Letter (as defined below) with the Optionors under which they can all be simultaneously exercised according to the terms of that Side Letter. All shares of the Company that are issued as part of the consideration for any of the Options will be issued at a deemed price of $0.07 each.



New Property Locations, Ontario

https://planetgreenmetals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PGR-Map.png

Marion Property:

The Marion Property consists of fifty-three (53) unpatented mining claims located in the Province of Ontario. Subject to the Side Letter, to exercise its option to acquire a 100% interest in the Marion Property, the Company must pay an aggregate $60,000 and issue an aggregate 300,000 common shares to the Optionors over a period of three years.

The Marion property is located 270 km north-northwest from Thunder Bay, and 100 km southwest of Timmins. The property is underlain by a sequence of sedimentary, felsic and mafic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Swayze greenstone belt. This belt hosts the Cote Lake gold mine (located 35 km southeast of Marion), which contains reserves and resources of 7.61 Moz Au (1.03 g/t Au), and 12.07 Moz Au (0.89 g/t Au), respectively, and is hosted in tonalite intrusions (IAMGold Annual Report, 2023). The primary mineral deposit type being targeted on the property is gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphides. The historic trenching of the property identified 12.75 g/t Au over 9.15 m, and 135 m along strike the structure contained 2.18 g/t Au over 9.75 m (Domego Resources Ltd, 1979). Gold mineralization is also associated with a 15 m thick banded iron formation, which is an excellent host for exhalative and structurally controlled precious metals. The Marion property also contains tonalite intrusions, which will be investigated for Cote Lake style gold mineralization.

Geologically the Marion Property contains a number of lithological and structural features that makes it a compelling target for gold exploration.

Sheraton Property:

The Sheraton Property consists of fifty-eight (58) unpatented mining claims located in the Province of Ontario. Subject to the Side Letter, to exercise its option to acquire a 100% interest in the Sheraton Property, the Company must pay an aggregate $58,000 and issue an aggregate 300,000 common shares to the Optionors over a period of three years.

The Sheraton Property is located 25 km southwest from Matheson, Ontario, with excellent access via a network of forestry roads. The property covers the geological contact of a sequence of felsic to intermediate volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Wawa-Abitibi greenstone belt, which is highly prospective for Cu-ZnAuAg VMS-style mineralization. Exploration by Cross Lake Minerals in the late 1990s on the adjacent property at Cross Lake identified bedded sulphides containing zinc grades ranging from 1% to 6%, with local high-grade pods containing up to 18% Zn over a true width of 3 m, with silver values ranging up to 911 g/t Ag. Copper grades of 1% to 3% were encountered over estimated true widths of up to 12 m (Vaillancourt, 2001). The mineralization represents VMS style, and Planet Green will look for similar critical and precious metal mineralization on the Sheraton Property. The presence of significant copper mineralization at the adjacent Cross Lake property makes the Sheraton Property a compelling target.

Rich Lake Property:

The Rich Lake Property consists of one hundred (100) unpatented mining claims located in the Province of Ontario. To exercise its option to acquire a 100% interest in the Rich Lake Property, the Company must pay an aggregate $50,000 and issue an aggregate 200,000 common shares to the Optionors over a period of three years.

The Rich Lake property is located 365 km north-northeast from Thunder Bay and 17 km west of Fort Hope, Ontario. The two claim blocks straddle along strike Separation Rapids Limited's lithium, tantalum, cesium pegmatite Lilypad Project, where exploration identified several wide mineralized pegmatite dykes. The geology on the property is also prospective for gold mineralization, as highlighted by drilling in 1987 on geophysical anomalies that returned grades as high as 28.11 g/t Au over 1.5 m in sheared mafic tuff on adjacent claims (Naramco Explorations, 1987). Similar lithologies are present on the Rich Lake Property, along with other favourable targets such as iron formations. The Company's technical team believes the Rich Lake Property has excellent potential to host multiple styles of critical and precious minerals.

Grenfell Property:

The Grenfell Property consists of four (4) unpatented mining claims located in the Province of Ontario. To exercise its option to acquire a 100% interest in the Grenfell Property, the Company must pay an aggregate $58,000 and issue an aggregate 300,000 common shares to the Optionors over a period of three years.

The Grenfell Property is located 13 km west-southwest from Kirkland, Ontario, and has year-round access via Highway 11 and the Trans-Canada Highway. The property is located immediately north of the Kirkland Lake "Main Break" fault, which hosts several mines such as Agnico Eagle's Macassa gold mine (6 Moz Au produced, and a mine reserve of 2.25 Moz Au (Agnico Eagle Annual Report, 2023)), located 8 km to the east. The geology of Grenfell is underlain by a thick sequence of sheared massive and pillowed mafic flows of the Wawa-Abitibi greenstone belt. These rocks host auriferous quartz-carbonate veins that are possible splays structures, likely associated with the Kirkland Lake "Main Break" fault. The veins are promising gold target zones, representing an entry point for Planet Green into this renowned gold district.

Jeremy S. Brett, President and CEO commented, "The acquisition of these new properties further increases our land holdings to six projects and provides Planet Green shareholders with exposure to key jurisdictions in Ontario with multiple commodities. It is also very important that there are no NSRs attached to these four new properties, positioning the Company to begin the royalty phase of development, as planned."

"Each property was chosen for its promising geological setting plus historical work, and we are excited to upgrade their potential with cutting-edge exploration. Our focus on critical minerals remains strong, driven by the continued demand in Canada, the US, and Europe due to geopolitical trends. Additionally, we are diversifying into gold, given its current strong price, its role as a market hedge, and strong performance during geopolitical uncertainties."

"The Marion Property, in particular, is exciting due to its location near the Cote Lake Gold Mine and its excellent geological setting. We are eager to start work immediately, as this acquisition is a critical step in our company's growth, and I am looking forward to the value it will bring to our shareholders."

Planet Green has assumed that the historical exploration data set out above resulted from sampling and testing done in accordance with then-current industry best practices, but which may not have met current NI 43-101 QAQC guidelines. Planet Green has not relied on this data beyond an indication of the general prospects of the properties, and readers should exercise similar caution. Mineralization at the Cote Lake Gold Mine is not necessarily indicative of mineralization present on Planet Green's property.

Side Letter:

The Agreements are collectively subject to a Side Letter agreement between the Company and the Optionors under which Planet Green may exercise all four Agreements simultaneously at any time up to eight (8) months from the date of execution of the Agreements for a total payment of $93,000.00 and the issuance of a total of 650,000 common shares in the capital of the Company to the Optionors. This cash payment and share issuance is in addition to those already made under each Agreement.

Grant of Stock Options

The Company has also granted incentive stock options to a consultant to purchase up to 100,000 common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.10 per share until July 2, 2029.

Qualified Person:

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by EurGeol. Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo., a director of the Company and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Planet Green Metals Inc.

Planet Green is strategically building a premier Canadian mineral assets company, leveraging its expertise to acquire high-quality, de-risked mineral exploration and royalty properties. The Company currently holds two lithium exploration properties in northwestern Ontario, alongside four additional copper/gold properties recently acquired within the same region. Planet Green is actively pursuing the acquisition of promising new projects in North America to bolster the project portfolio and provide shareholders with a diversified asset base. With a robust and integrated technical and corporate team, the Company is dedicated to maximizing shareholder value through new mineral discoveries in mining-friendly jurisdictions.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors,

Robert Coltura



Director

Planet Green Metals Inc.

info@planetgreenmetals.com

Tel: 604-290-6152

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
MONTREAL, July 2, 2024 - Auxico Resources Canada Inc. (CSE: AUAG) (OTC: AUXIF) ("Auxico" or the "Company") announces that the Company will host a management update call on Friday July 5, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. During the call, the Company's management will provide information with regard to the following: (1) current cease trade order issued by the Autorite des marches financiers; (2) operational update on the Colombian Minastyc project; (3) technical reports relating to the Colombian Minastyc project; and (4) operational update on the Bolivian El Benton project. The Company's management will respond to questions submitted by shareholders in advance to the scheduled call.

The call will be accessible via the Zoom platform, by video conference and by telephone, and the participants should use the following information to join the call:

Please click the link below to join the video call: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89949666851

Or join via telephone:

United States: +1 646 558 8656

Canada: +1 647 374 4685

United Kingdom: +44 330 088 5830

Webinar ID: 899 4966 6851

More international numbers are available on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kx32Kj5A5

If shareholders would like any specific items to be addressed during the call, they should email suggestions and questions in advance to: ta@auxicoresources.com. Due to the time limit of the call, the management will select a number of questions to be addressed during the call.

About Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

Auxico Resources Canada Inc. ("Auxico") is a Canadian company that was founded in 2014 and based in Montreal, trading on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) under symbol AUAG and on the OTC Market under symbol AUXIF. Auxico is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Colombia and Bolivia.

Additional information on Auxico can be found on the Company's website (www.auxicoresources.com) or on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under "Auxico Resources Canada Inc."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 signed.   signed. 



Pierre Gauthier Mark Billings CEO & President, Auxico Resources Canada Inc Chairman, Auxico Resources Canada Inc. pg@auxicoresources.com mb@auxicoresources.com Cell: +1 514 299 0881 Cell: +1 514 296 1641

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

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 Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

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 planned studies, drill program and the development of the Minastyc, El Bento/Monte Verde or other Projects, its sampling programs, indications and other mining projects and prospects thereof, related to the Company's operations in Colombia and/or Bolivia. 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 management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various risk factors. These factors include, among others, uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors, and their potential effects, which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Except as required by securities law, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.

SOURCE Auxico Resources Canada Inc.
Alpine needs a bandit like Briatore says Ecclestone

Alpine needs a "bandit" like Flavio Briatore to get Renault's factory Formula 1 team back on track, according to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Pierre Gasly, Austrian GP 2024

 Alpine

74-year-old Briatore's return to the Enstone based team and F1 has been controversial, given the flamboyant Italian's central role in the 'crashgate' scandal that initially resulted in a lifetime ban.

I spoke to (Renault CEO) Luca de Meo on the phone for a long time, Ecclestone, no longer officially involved in the sport, told Blick newspaper.

He was desperate, said the 93-year-old. "Then the word Briatore came up.

We quickly agreed that in such a confusing situation only a doer - a bandit among angels - could help, Ecclestone, a well known friend and long-time business partner of Briatore's, added. "There are enough saints in there already.

Flavio's great strength has always been 'Keep the discussions short, do and think big. You don't need friends in Formula 1, you just need success', he said.

Briatore is already predicting a swift return to competitiveness for the crisis-struck team.

In 2026, I will win races, Briatore told Italian radio Rai this week. "Alpine will be on the podium. This year, there are too many handicaps, but we are reshaping the whole team now.

I have received full powers from Luca deo Meo and that's what I'm used to. I guarantee it - in two seasons we will be talking about podiums, he insisted.

Briatore also told Bild newspaper: "I'm here because I want to be. I'm not doing this for money - I wanted to get back into Formula 1 to help this team.

I decided that I'll return to Enstone for the third time, but only to win. I refused many offers to return to F1, but I said yes to this one because it's sexy and because I'm sentimental."

He also revealed to La Repubblica newspaper that he recently underwent successful heart surgery to remove an ulcer. The heart works, he smiled.

You won't believe it, but I have feelings now, Briatore joked.

(GMM)
Lawson will be on F1 grid next year says Marko

Liam Lawson "will" be on the Formula 1 grid next year, Red Bull's F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko insists.

Liam Lawson, Dutch GP 2023

 Red Bull

Marko, 81, had already suggested in the days before the recent Austrian GP that Daniel Ricciardo will be moved aside at the junior team RB to make way for Lawson.

According to strong speculation, 22-year-old reserve driver Lawson's contract with Red Bull guarantees him a full race cockpit by 2025 - or else he will be free to sign a contract elsewhere, such as at Audi-Sauber.

Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner and RB CEO Peter Bayer, however, were not ready to confirm the news at the Red Bull Ring last weekend.

Daniel is in the seat and it's down to him to make the most of that, Horner said.

And Bayer added: We do our job to develop young drivers, but the decision on the second seat will be taken quietly and we're not in a hurry.

Amid the internal power struggle that is clearly still taking place at Red Bull, it is believed Horner is keen to keep Ricciardo in his seat for 2025 - while Marko is championing the young New Zealander Lawson.

Marko has now told Bild newspaper when asked about Lawson: We will offer him something. A cockpit for next year.

Elaborating, the Austrian explained: It is clear that the Racing Bulls are a junior team. That has been communicated internally and everyone has understood that.

Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is hoping the Red Bull turmoil persists for so long that Max Verstappen ultimately decides to switch teams.

At the beginning, he told Kronen Zeitung newspaper, "I thought (Oliver) Mintzlaff was brought in to run that company with an iron fist.

But the decisions that are being made there are clearly being made elsewhere. I believe they wanted this Horner story to be handled the way it probably should have been handled - but that did not happen.

(GmMM)
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On the eve of jury selection, Assistant Attorney General Sean Brown asked Superior Court Judge Arthur R. Barcinas to dismiss the charges against two of the four defendants accused in the 2023 murder of Jason Susuico.

Susuicos body was found decomposing in Yigo in January 2023. Susuico, an Army veteran, died of blunt force trauma, according to then-medical examiner Dr. Jeffrey Nine.

The first arrests in the murder case werent made until July 2023, when an informant led police to Cynthia Rose Quinata, who was initially charged with aggravated murder.

Other arrests followed: Brandon Rufus Chandler, Jason Keith Manibusan and Jordan Michael Babauta. A fifth suspect, Gregory Reese, severed his case from the others, and details of his indictment were not available.

After about a year of pre-trial detention, Chandler and Manibusan are free men.

Their cases were dismissed without prejudice, which means the government may re-indict them in the future.

Jury selection was originally scheduled to start on Tuesday. But after a two-part emergency hearing on the case held Monday afternoon, Brown returned from the break and asked Barcinas for a continuance, which was denied.

He then moved to dismiss the cases against Chandler, represented by attorney William Gavras, and Manibusan, represented by attorney David Lujan.

The trial is still on for defendants Quinata, represented by attorney Minakshi Hemlani, and Jordan Babauta, represented by attorney Vanessa Williams.

Given the recent events, however, the trial was pushed back a day and will start on July 3.

It makes zero sense why the Office of the Attorney General chose, at the eleventh hour, to dismiss their case against Chandler and Manibusan yet continue to prosecute Ms. Quinata and Babauta, said Hemlani. Investigation into this matter is incomplete. The OAG admitted to receiving new information about Cheryl Susuico as a suspect just this morning. It does not serve the interests of justice or the people of Guam to push forward on a case based on incomplete investigation, with a new prosecutor.

It was Hemlani who requested the emergency hearing late last week, when she received more trial evidence  called discovery  from the government.

Moreover, she had not yet received what she had asked for  the information from the phone confiscated from her client a year ago. That information, and even the lack of information, could make a difference at trial, she argued.

Williams joined Hemlanis motion last week, and Lujan also joined on Monday. Gavras said that he wanted to see what happened before making a decision.

Hemlani also discussed videos received Friday afternoon, of the house where they allege the crime took place. She requested in her discovery motion, and believed the state of the house that she saw  is exculpatory to her client Quinata.

Exculpatory means to favor the defendant. Hemlani said the video showed the house was furnished and lived in, contrary to the fleeing state alleged by the government when police came to Quinatas house.

By the end of the day, the motions were moot for both Gavras and Lujans clients.

Hemlani also told Barcinas that based on an email she received right before the 1 p.m. hearing, the government is not done with its investigation because it appears to be considering at least one other suspect.

Brown later said he would not continue to prosecute the case. He once represented Cheryl Susuico in another case that remains under seal.

Lujan said receiving evidence on the eve of trial was not fair to his client, considering the likely lengthy sentence if found guilty.

Gavras said delaying the trial would put the proceedings up against his clients right to a speedy trial, and said should those rights be violated, the case should be dismissed.
From opening a time capsule to swearing in new members of the local bar and hosting a legal summit, the Judiciary of Guam will be hosting multiple events this week in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Court Reorganization Act.

The Court Reorganization Act of 1974, or Public Law 12-85, established the Superior Court of Guam as its known today, as well as the first Supreme Court of Guam, laying the foundation for an independent judicial branch.

Here is the schedule of events:

Friday, July 5

 Guam Law Library Legal Education Summit, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the Guam Museum indoor theater/Guam Judicial Center.

 Swearing-in of newly admitted members of the Guam Bar Association/2024 Hustisia Award presentation at 3:45 p.m. in the Guam Judicial Center atrium. The Judiciary will welcome three new members to the Guam Bar Association and present the 2024 Hustisia Award to the family of the late Honorable Joaquin C. Perez, Guams first presiding judge of the Superior Court of Guam and chief justice of the first Supreme Court of Guam.

 Opening of the Guam Judicial Center time capsule at 4:20 p.m. in the front lawn of the Guam Judicial Center: A 32-year-old time capsule created during the opening of the Guam Judicial Center will be unveiled in this event.

 Ribbon cutting of the Guam Historic Courthouse at 4:30 p.m. in the main entrance of Guam Historic Courthouse: This ceremony will highlight the significance of the first judicial building funded by Guams civil government, symbolizing the commitment to a separate and independent judicial branch.

Saturday, July 6

 Guam Law Library Legal Education Summit, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Guam Museums indoor theater/Guam Judicial Center.

Attorneys will have the opportunity to earn Continuing Legal Education credits from distinguished jurists and legal scholars, including Judge J. Michelle Childs from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit; Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo of the Philippine Supreme Court; Chief Justice Steven C. Gonzalez of the Washington State Supreme Court; Benes Z. Aldana, president of the National Judicial College; and Thomas Leighton, vice president of Thompson Reuters.
A New Orleans, Louisiana, man will spend more than 12 years in federal prison for a 2022 carjacking in Vidor, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas Damien M. Diggs announced Monday.

Aubrey Young, 37, pleaded guilty to carjacking and was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Monday, a news release said.

The court heard that on Oct. 26, 2022, Young approached two people in Vidor asking if they had work for him. After they said they didnt, Young took a gun from his backpack and demanded the keys to the victims vehicle. He then fled in their car, which was spotted near Anahuac.

After a high-speed chase, Young was arrested and a firearm was found in the stolen vehicle, the news release said.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vidor Police Department, the Chambers County Sheriffs Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove prosecuted the case.

On April 18, 2024, U.S. Attorney Diggs announced the launch of the Carjacking Task Force in the Eastern District of Texas. The U.S. Attorneys Office, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives work with state and local law enforcement partners to target carjackings in Southeast Texas.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that unites all levels of law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence in order to make neighborhoods safer.




Haiti - Security : Bandits routed, Gressier police station taken over





At least 20 residents were killed by members of the "Vivre Ensemble" gang coalition led by "Barbecue" who attacked the commune of Gressier (south of Port-au-Prince) on Sunday June 30, 2024 and regained control of the Municipal police station for the 2nd time in less than 3 months https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42673-haiti-news-zapping.html



Jean Vladimir Bertrand, interim executive agent of Gressier, deplored a heavy provisional assessment. On Sunday night alone, there were around twenty deaths killed in their homes and several houses set on fire, sometimes with their occupants. We do not yet have a final assessment of the number of victims. Jean Vladimir Bertrand requested emergency help from the police as the bandits plan to demolish the police station with heavy machinery.



Carlos Hercule, informed of the situation in Gressier, assured the media on the sidelines of his prison tour on Monday July 1, that "The police were actively working to provide an adequate response to the bandits..."



Last minute : Monday July 1st in a muscular counter-offensive, the Haitian National Police (PNH) regained control of the Gressier Police Station, routing the bandits including the leader "Ti Bebe Bougoy" boasted the day before in a video of being stronger than the police forces challenging him to come and attack him... Several bandits were mortally wounded during the recapture of the Police Station by members of specialized PNH units. The heavy machinery for the demolition of the police station is in the hands of the municipality.



PI/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - IDB : $40 million to Haiti to finance priority projects





Monday July 1st, 2024 in the morning, at the headquarters of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Prime Minister Conille on an official visit to the United States accompanied by Ketleen Florestal Minister of Finance, Haitian Chancellor Dominique Dupuy, and Ronal Gabriel Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) spoke with Ana Maria Ibanez, Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge, and Advisor to Amanda Glassman, Vice President of the IDB.



Alfred Metellus, Haiti's representative to the IDB, took part in the discussions while IDB President Ilan Goldfajn spoke by videoconference.



At the end of the meeting Conille announced that IDB officials had agreed to authorize the disbursement of $40 million to finance priority projects for Haiti.



"I thank the Inter-American Development Bank for its commitment to Haiti and the provision of 40 million dollars for this year. We will review the portfolio to align it with the new priorities before the elections and co-organize with other partners a major financing mobilization meeting for Haiti with the participation of the private sector," declared Garry Conille.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42663-icihaiti-usa-prime-minister-conille-spoke-with-congresswoman-frederica-wilson.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42657-haiti-politic-first-official-trip-of-garry-conille-to-the-usa.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - USA : Conille spoke with Jon Finer, Deputy Principal National Security Advisor





Monday July 1st, 2024, in the afternoon, as part of his official trip to the United States, Prime Minister Garry Conille spoke for almost an hour with Jon Finer, Deputy Principal National Security Advisor. of the Biden administration



Finer reiterated the United States' unwavering support for the Haitian people, who have suffered for too long at the hands of gangs, with nearly 5 million people now in need of emergency food assistance.



Finer and Conille discussed the initial deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS), its operation, its needs for reinforcement and U.S. support. The elections in Haiti were also discussed.



Finer reaffirmed U.S. support for integrating strong accountability and oversight mechanisms into the mission. The two men pledged to continue close cooperation to support improved security, economic growth and democratic governance in Haiti.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42677-haiti-idb-$40-million-to-haiti-to-finance-priority-projects.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42663-icihaiti-usa-prime-minister-conille-spoke-with-congresswoman-frederica-wilson.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42657-haiti-politic-first-official-trip-of-garry-conille-to-the-usa.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Hurricane Beryl : Sunrise Airways, flights canceled

Due to Category 5 Hurricane Beryl, flights between Antigua and Saint Lucia (S6 825 from Antigua and S6 826 from Saint Lucia) are canceled for Tuesday 2nd July 2024. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please contact our call center for assistance with a new reservation:



WhatsApp : +509 39 11 2222

Telephone : + 1 877 652 0202 (International)

Email : reservations@sunriseairways.net



Air Caraibes resumes its flights to Haiti:

After more than 3 months of suspension of its flights due to the security situation in Haiti, Air Caraibes announced the resumption on Monday July 1st, 2024 of its weekly Orly / Port-au Prince flight in an Airbus A330-300, with continuation to Santo- Domingo.



TPS : Nearly 500,000 Haitians eligible

According to Guerline Jozef, Director of "Haitian Bridge Alliance" the decision of the Biden Administration to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS), at the same time authorizes new Haitians to apply "[...] The beneficiaries of the Biden program [ conditional stay], tourist visa holders, student visa holders, those who had passed through Mexico and who had benefited from CPB1, are all qualified and must apply for TPS and thus obtain a second level of protection against deportations and continue living in the United States," says Guerline Jozef. Which represents a total of nearly 500,000 Haitians.



Airport : 2nd phase of expropriation

Sunday June 30, 2024 began the second phase of the expropriation process, with a view to the demolition of houses near Toussaint Louverture International Airport.



Gressier : mini-bus driver killed

Monday July 1st in the morning "Francin Jean" a mini-nus driver who provided the Jacmel-PAP route who tried to pass through the secondary roads in Gressier, was shot and killed and his body burned by bandits. The mini bus is in the hands of the bandits.



Prison tour

Monday July 1st, 2024, Me Carlos Hercule, the Minister of Justice, visited the Petion-ville police station and the Reeducation Center for minors in conflict with the law (Cermicol), in Delmas 33, in order to get an idea of the conditions of detention of prisoners. Me Carlos Hercule promises to adopt measures aimed at regaining control of the civil prison of Port-au-Prince as well as that of Croix-des-Bouquets and improving the living conditions of prisoners.



Happy Canada Day

As part of the commemoration of Canada's 157th anniversary (July 1), the Embassy of Haiti in Canada wishes all Canadians a happy national holiday !



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Anzeige

Nvidia's in-house exhibition GTC 2024 in San Jose, California, took place in person for the first time in years and was unsurprisingly dominated by artificial intelligence. Nvidia currently dominates the data center market with its accelerator chips and is generating one record financial result after another in the wake of the AI boom.

Nvidia boss Huang wants it to stay that way. The newly unveiled Blackwell accelerator architecture plays a central role in this in the form of various products, ranging from the B100 to the DGX GB200 SuperPOD, which are to be launched on the market over the course of the year. On paper, Blackwell GPUs achieve twice the throughput of AMD's brand new MI300 accelerators for some data formats.

With the new Blackwell architecture and further reduced data formats such as 4-bit floating point as well as new functions, the focus is primarily on energy efficiency and data exchange between the individual chips. This is why the NVLink switch and the network technology have also been upgraded.

Nvidia boss Huang holds Blackwell (left) and Hopper (right) up to the camera. (Image: c't)

Nvidia traditionally does not name prices and refers to its partners, but as long as the AI hype continues unabated, the chips are likely to sell almost regardless of pricing. Nvidia has already won Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Oracle Cloud as customers, but does not specify exactly when instances will be bookable. Meanwhile, the older H100 products continue to roll off the production line.

Blackwell double chip

Nvidia is breaking new ground with Blackwell, but is remaining true to itself in some ways. The Blackwell "GPU" consists of two individual chips. Although Nvidia did not want to answer our question as to whether the two are functionally identical, it did state that both are at the limit of the exposure possibilities. This means that they should each be around 800 mm in size and therefore take up about as much space individually as their predecessors, the H100 (814 mm) and A100 (826 mm). The word chiplet was not used, as this is usually understood to mean the coupling of different chips.

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Nvidia has the Blackwell chips manufactured at TSMC in a process called "4NP", which does not correspond to the usual nomenclature of the forge. Nvidia did not answer whether this is a derivative of N4P and what characteristics the process has - however, we assume that it is N4P, in which a few parameters have been adjusted according to customer requirements as usual.

Both chips, which Nvidia only refers to together as the Blackwell GPU, are connected to each other via a fast interface with 10 TByte per second (5 TByte/s per direction). According to Nvidia, this is sufficient for them to behave like a single GPU in terms of performance. For comparison: We measure around 5 TByte per second for the level 2 cache as the data-connecting instance in Nvidia's high-end GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards, while AMD's MI300 accelerator chips are connected to each other at up to 1.5 TByte/s.

192 GByte HBM3e memory

When it comes to memory, Nvidia goes all out and starts with eight 24 GByte stacks of the fast HBM3e memory. This adds up to a total of 192 GByte and 8 TByte/s transfer rate. In terms of memory size, the company is on a par with AMD's MI300X, but the B100 has a transfer rate that is around 50 percent higher  the upgrade was also necessary, as Nvidia's H100 generation was lagging behind in terms of memory size. With eight stacks, it is also theoretically possible to switch to 36 GByte stacks at a later date and increase capacity to 288 GByte.

There were only a few details about the internal structure at the presentation. Nvidia only provided performance data for the Tensor cores, but remained silent on traditional shader arithmetic units and other units.

For the presentation in the table, we have used the throughput values with sparsity; with densely populated matrices, the teraflops figures are halved. Exception: FP64, here Nvidia does not specify throughput with sparsity.

Accelerators for data centres and AI Name GB200 AMD MI300X H100 A100 Architecture 1x Grace + 2x Blackwell CDNA3 Hopper Ada Transistors 2x 104 billion. / 4NP / ~800 mm Various chiplets with 153 billion / N5 + N6 80 billion / 4N / 814 mm 54,2 billion / N7 / 826 mm Format Add-on-Board (2 pro 1U-Rack) / SXM SXM5 SXM5 SXM4 Year

2024 2023 2022 2020 TDP 1200 watts per GPU + 300 watts Grace CPU 750 watts 700 watts

400/500 watts

Memory

192 GByte HBM3e 192 GByte HBM3 80 GByte HBM3 80 GByte HBM2E Transfer rate

8 TByte/s 5,3 TByte/s 3,35 TByte/s 2,04 TByte/s GPU-GPU-connection NVLink Gen 5, 1,8 TByte/s 896 GByte/s NVLink Gen 4, 900 GByte/s NVLink Gen 3, 600 GByte/s Computing power tensor core per GPU (TFLOPS, with sparsity) FP64 (Teraflops) 45 163 67 19,5 FP32 (Teraflops) n.a. 163 n.a. n.a. TF32 (Teraflops) 2500 1307 989 312 BF16 (Teraflops) 5000 2615 1979 624 FP8 (Teraflops) 10000 5230 3958 n.a. (INT8: 1248 TOPS) FP4 (Teraflops) 20000 n.a. n.a. n.a. Computing power shader cores per GPU (Teraflops) FP64 (Teraflops) n.a. 81,7 33,5 9,7 FP32 (Teraflops) n.a. 163,4 66,9 19,5 BF16 (Teraflops) n.a. n.a. 133,8 39 FP16 (Teraflops) n.a. n.a. 133,8 78

FP4 and FP6

One of the new features of Blackwell is support for a 4-bit floating point format (FP4) in the chip's transformer engine, for which there is a research paper in collaboration with an Nvidia employee. This is intended to store weights and activations in AI inferencing of Large Language Models (LLM) with only 4 bits. The authors claim "For the first time, our method can quantize both the weights and the activations in the LLaMA-13B model to only 4 bits and achieves an average score of 63.1 on the common-sense zero-shot reasoning tasks, which is only 5.8 points lower than the full-precision model and significantly outperforms the previous state of the art by 12.7 points." FP4 could therefore handle significantly less data with only a relatively small loss in the accuracy of the result, which in addition to the processing speed also doubles the possible model size.

The Blackwell exhibits on the right and in the center of the picture: GB200 board and Blackwell double chip (Image: c't)

During the keynote, Nvidia CEO Huang also revealed that FP6 is also an option. Although this format does not provide additional computing throughput compared to FP8, it saves memory, cache and register space and therefore also energy.

With a GPT model with 1.8 trillion parameters ("1.8T Params"), Nvidia aims to be 30 times faster than an H100-based system with a GB200 with a so-called Mixture of Experts, i.e. adapted computing and data accuracy, and to work 25 times more efficiently. Nvidia claims to have calculated the performance down to one GPU, but in reality compares a system with 8 HGX100 and 400G Infiniband interconnect with 18 GB200 superchips (NVL36).

But even with the established FP8 data format, Blackwell is on paper almost twice as fast as AMD's MI300X and more than 2.5 times as fast as its predecessor, the H100.
We are now pleading with you, members of the Administration Committee, to use your discretion and reject this bill, which violates the Finnish constitution and human rights obligations, the petition reads .

PROFESSORS Lena Nare and Markus Jantti on Sunday published a petition opposing the much-criticised government proposal for a new border security act.

The Parliaments Administration Committee convened to discuss the bill on Monday.

Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday reported that the petition had been signed by over 200 researchers from a wide range of fields by the original deadline, 10pm on Sunday. The list of signatories had grown by roughly a hundred by midnight on Monday.

Nare and Jantti highlighted in the petition that such a bill passing the parliament would be unheard of and viewed that the government has failed to demonstrate how an increase in the number of asylum seekers poses a serious security threat to Finland.

A rule-of-law state must be able to protect the right to seek asylum regardless of the route and means a person has taken to arrive at the border, they argued.

Nare added to Helsingin Sanomat that the objective is to ensure the committee lands on the right side of history.

Weve heard a lot from legal scholars, but we want to show that the research community much more broadly, including humanists and social scientists, share the same concerns as the experts heard by the Constitutional Law Committee, she elaborated to the daily newspaper on Sunday.

Finland is able to cope with a possible influx of arrivals orchestrated by Russia, according to Nare, a professor of sociology who has studied asylum and migration at the University of Helsinki. The arrivals, she underlined, cannot be regarded as especially dangerous simply because they were orchestrated to the border by Russia.

I havent heard any evidence that these are somehow dangerous people.

She also gauged that the only way to respond to instrumentalised immigration is to receive and process the arrivals. The reception system, she pointed out, has various practices and procedures that were shown to work well during the migrant crisis of 2015.

I cant comprehend what makes this so different than [the crisis in] 2015, when we coped excellently with the challenge.

The petition reminds that more than 35,000 asylum seekers arrived in the country in the autumn of 2015, without sparking serious deliberation about the possibility of abandoning human rights treaties. Finland has also avoided a major crisis despite welcoming over 68,000 applications for temporary protection from people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.

The debate has been depressingly black and white  that simply because Russia is behind this these people are somehow different kinds of asylum seekers than those who come to Finland via Norway or Sweden, Nare lamented to Helsingin Sanomat.

Jantti is an economist at Stockholm University.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Virta on Saturday stated to Helsingin Sanomat that the discussion is necessary due to the concerns and criticism expressed to the newspaper by Kaarlo Tuori , one of the internationally most distinguished legal scholars in Finland.

THE PARLIAMENT should have a serious discussion about the state of constitutional review in Finland, views Sofia Virta , the chairperson of the Green League.

An honorary president of the Venice Commission, Tuori in a rare interview expressed his concern about the politicisation of the body responsible for constitutional review in Finland, the Parliaments Constitutional Law Committee.

The development, he argued, has been evident since the start of the electoral term, with the committee constantly placing less and less emphasis on human rights in order to green-light government bills. It culminated in the statement the committee issued on a border security bill that effectively ignored the concerns and opposition of all of the 18 legal experts it heard before drafting the statement.

The committee approved the statement by a vote of 15 for and 2 against on 18 June.

The process broke a number of conventional rules and marked the first time the committee has so brazenly dismissed the almost unanimous views of experts, estimated Tuori.

The criticism is so direct and severe that alarm bells should be ringing, according to Virta.

We should be able to have the discussion on a general level, without it becoming a shouting match between parties, she said to Helsingin Sanomat.

She estimated that the onus is on the National Coalition, which holds the presidency of the Constitutional Law Committee. The ruling right-wing party, though, appears to be reluctant to acknowledge the direction the country is sliding in.

Li Andersson, the chairperson of the Left Alliance, on Saturday similarly estimated that the politicisation of the committee has occurred over a relatively long period of time, starting before the statement on what she and many other critics refer to as the refoulement act.

With its statement on the refoulement act, the constitutional law committee has clearly become politicised.

Also she called for a discussion about means to strengthen rule of law in Finland. Anders Adlercreutz, the chairperson of the Swedish Peoples Party, on Saturday floated the idea of establishing a constitutional court in Finland.

Andersson declined to comment on his proposal, adding that she would listen to the views of legal experts in preparing the requisite reforms.

Representatives of the Centre in the Constitutional Law Committee have not signalled that the committee has become politicised, Antti Kurvinen, the chairperson of the Centre Parliamentary Group, said to Helsingin Sanomat on Saturday.

I share Tuoris concern that we in Finland have to be vigilant when it comes to rule of law because this [erosion of rule of law] is a certain kind of disease thats spreading around the world, he remarked.

Kurvinen added that although the committee bases its statements on expert views, interpreting the constitution is not mathematics.

The Constitutional Law Committee has many times drawn up its statement based on the statements of one or two experts, he said.

The suggestion that the committee has become politicised was also dismissed by Chancellor of Justice Tuomas Poysti.

Poysti on Saturday told Helsingin Sanomat that it would naturally be helpful to have a critical discussion about the statement procedures. He also acknowledged that the issues weighed up this electoral term have exposed differences of view on whether to emphasise economic and security-related realities or confines arising from human rights obligations.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Habitual felon sent to prison for felony thefts

A 57-year-old habitual felon was sentenced on Friday to more than nine years in prison after pleading guilty to three felony larcenies plus a felony charge of larceny from a construction site and admitting that he had been convicted as a habitual felon, District Attorney Andrew Murray announced.

Superior Court Judge Peter Knight sentenced Lafoy Ball Jr., of Hendersonville, to a consolidated active sentence of 110 months minimum and 144 months maximum in prison.

Court records and sentencing hearing testimony showed that on Sept. 19, 2022, Henderson County sheriffs deputies responded to a call reporting a larceny the day before. Upon arrival, deputies met with a Moore & Son Site Contractors employee, who told them that occupants of a Ford F-150 had pulled into the contractor yard and loaded 25 ZIP boards used for sheathing into the bed of the truck and drove away. Deputies reviewed surveillance footage from the construction site where they observed Ball, who was familiar to them, in the passenger side of a gold in color Ford F-150 and leaving with the zip boards.

The next day, before the incident had been reported, deputies arrested Ball on charges unrelated to the building materials theft. During the arrest deputies observed Ball in a gold Ford F-150 matching the description of the vehicle seen in video obtained from the construction site. Deputies also spotted zip boards in the bed of the truck. Based on this information, deputies were able to obtain a warrant for felony larceny from a construction site and felony possession of stolen goods. At Balls residence, deputies explained why they were there and asked him about the stolen goods. After informing Ball that they had surveillance of him stealing the zip boards, he admitted to taking the supplies and said that he had fenced them to an unknown buyer in South Carolina that he was unable to reach.

After speaking with detectives, Ball granted law enforcement permission to go into his garage, where they observed the gold Ford F-150 parked without zip boards in the bed. Deputies then placed Ball under arrest and transported him to the Henderson County jail.

During the sentencing hearing, Ball also admitted to his status as a habitual felon, meaning he had at least three separate prior felony convictions before committing a new felony.

Murray thanked the Henderson County Sheriffs Office for its professional investigation and unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of Henderson County residents.
5.45pm:

SHIPLAKE College beat Belen Jesuit Prep School, U.S.A. in the Fawley Challenge Cup by two and a quarter of a length in a time of seven minutes and three seconds.

The race judge said: Shiplake started fast and quickly gained a decisive lead. They described the schools opponents as sculling tenaciously throughout never letting Shiplake drop their stroke rate.

Shiplake three seat Oliver Nash, 17, from Sonning, said: It was brilliant. I was a bit stressed before, we were kind of stalking the opposition on the internet trying to find stuff on them so we went into it quite confident but you never know what's going to happen.

It was nice to have a tailwind but it was so washy. I think we managed it quite well though and beacuse we were ahead we could focus on our technique a bit more.

We pre-qualified which we didnt expect but we did a good job and it's a good atmosphere.

We haven't had long together as a crew. We are a second boat so people have been coming from the first eight.

We have had three different people in the boat in the last three weeks and we have only had a week and a half together. So considering what little time we have had together I think we have done a pretty good job.

2.00pm:

SHIPLAKE College beat Shawnigan Lake School, Canada in The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup by three and a half of a length in a time of seven minutes and 55 seconds.

The race judge said that the Shawnigan held and early lead but the Shiplake crew towed steadily to a comfortable win.

Shiplake headteacher, Tyrone Howe, said: Its just amazing. We qualified on Friday evening, and they just couldnt believe that they were going to be racing. So, to come through and win in Henley is just a complete thrill.

Its just great and puts big smiles on everybodys faces. I see how hard they work, and when they do and come through, its brilliant. Its a real high at the end of the year. Im really pleased for them, because you dont prepare in a week, a month or even six months, a lot of effort goes into it, and everybodys putting effort into it.

Its a big thing for us, so when it does come through and you have to enjoy it when it does come along because you could easily go out in the first round or you could easily not qualify, so you just have to enjoy it and not take anything for granted.

Sophia McDavid, 18, said: It feels amazing. We barely expected to qualify, so its a really good feeling. We were training a lot and getting as ready for it as possible. It was windier than expected, but it wasnt too bad, but weve rowed in these conditions before, so we were all prepared. The race was different than expected and we were all both excited and nervous. Now we just have to stay relaxed and well recovered and get ready for the next one.

11.30am:

UPPER Thames Rowing Club beat City of Bristol Rowing Club in the Wyfold Challenge Cup by two lengths in a time of seven minutes and five seconds.

The race judge said Upper Thames took an early lead but was warned at the half mile. The club then built a substantial lead until the Stewards enclosure where they dropped their seating.

Coach David Lister said: "The race went to plan, they are a fairly strong crew so they went out hard, settled into a good rhythm and then as soon as they had got some clear water they got into a nice economical paddle. It's a sort of gusty cross tail and there is a bit of swell on the water so its not ideak but its very managble.

From the races we have had against Bristol previously at Dorney and in Marlow we were expecting [the lead] to be around that, a bit less probably. You have to take each race as it comes at Henley. Its a strange event so you need to treat every race as a final beacuse if you loose you are out."

10.35am:

SHIPLAKE College beat Latymer Upper School in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup by one and one-quarter of a length in a time of six minutes and 29 seconds.

The race judge said that the Shiplake crew was always in control although they had to be warned for their steering near the mid-point of the course.

Henry Day-Clark, 17, said: It was pretty good. The water was pretty flat and I just felt zoned out during the race. I was really nervous going into it but its a massive relief to have won.

10.05am:

UPPER Thames Rowing Club lost to London Rowing Club in the Britannia Challenge Cup by 1ft in a time of seven minutes and 13 seconds.

The Henley club had been leading at the Barrier and Fawley checkpoints along the route before being overtaken at the finish line.

9.10am:

READING Blue Coat School in Sonning beat Winchester College in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup by two and three-quarter lengths in a time of six minutes and 50 seconds.

The crews were well matched for the first quarter mile before Blue Coat began to edge ahead and, eventually drew comfortably ahead.

Sam Deacon, 18, from Wargrave, said: "It was a pretty good race. We were expecting Winchester to stay with us and they did at the start but we had put our backs into it.

"Last year, we lost on say two. We hope to go further this year."

5am:

THOUSANDS of spectators will arrive in Henley today (Tuesday) for the start of this years royal regatta.

Eighty-two races will take place in the heats of eight events. starting at 9am, with the final contest at 7.35pm.

Crews from Upper Thames Rowing Club in Henley, Shiplake College and Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning are all in action.

The weather forecast is dry but cloudy with a maximum temperature of 19c in the afternoon.

Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning take to the water against Winchester College at 9.10am in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, for school first eights.

Upper Thames Rowing Club face London Rowing Club at 10.05am in the Britannia Challenge Cup, for mens coxed fours.

Shiplake College meet Latymer Upper School in the Princess Elizabeth at 10.35am.

Upper Thames face City of Bristol Rowing Club at 11.30am in the Wyfold Challenge Cup, for mens coxless fours.

Shiplake take to the water in the first race after the luncheon interval against Shawnigan Lake School, Canada, at 2pm in the Jubilee Challenge Cup, for womens junior quadruple sculls.

The college feature again at 5.45pm against Belen Jesuit Prep School, USA, in the Fawley Challenge Cup, for junior boys quadruple sculls.

Its coxed fours crew will then face a composite crew comprising Godolphin and Latymer School in the penultimate race at of the day, at 7.30pm.

This page will be updated with results and reaction throughout the day.
Fighter jets in flight training

China Military Online) 13:58, July 02, 2024

A fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade with the air force under the PLA Northern Theater Command soars into the sky during a flight training exercise on June 15, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Hao)

A fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade with the air force under the PLA Northern Theater Command fires off flares during a flight training exercise on June 15, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Hao)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
(JNS) - Joe Berlinger says he was troubled when he read reports of a 2018 study from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which showed one in 10 millennial Americans thought that Jews were responsible for the Holocaust, and half could not name a single concentration camp.

So Berlinger, a two-time Emmy Award winner and Oscar-nominated film director who has covered serial killers like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy, in addition to world events such as the Armenian genocide ("Intent to Destroy" in 2015), decided to make "Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial" rel...
By Michael Segal

(JNS)  The core anti-Israel claim on campuses is that the Jews are not indigenous in the Land of Israel. Jews are labeled as settler-colonialists and based on this, the Jewish state is declared illegitimate and worth dismantling. The Jewish community needs to do more to educate students to counter such false claims. Specifically, it needs to drop its reluctance to marshal the science to make the case for Israel.

There is, of course, abundant historical, archaeological and linguistic evidence for the continuity of Jews over the millennia. The Jewish community has done a good...
(JTA)  Months after Jewish students and Hillel and Chabad staff lambasted the Anti-Defamation Leagues report cards for campus antisemitism, the group has released an updated version.

The new report cards  published this week, after nearly all schools had finished their academic year  incorporate seismic events on campus, such as the widespread and contentious pro-Palestinian encampment movement, but dont contain major changes. Some schools went up a letter grade in how the ADL viewed their response to antisemitic incidents; others went down.

But the elements of the project that Jewish c...
(JTA)  Wikipedias editors have voted to declare the Anti-Defamation League generally unreliable on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, adding it to a list of banned and partially banned sources.

An overwhelming majority of editors involved in the debate about the ADL also voted to deem the organization unreliable on the topic of antisemitism, its core focus. A formal declaration on that count is expected next.

The decision about Israel-related citations, made last week, means that one of the most prominent and longstanding Jewish advocacy groups in the United States  and one historically se...
:              ...
(JNS)  Israels government and military remain fully committed to eliminating Hamas terrorist rule in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office clarified on Wednesday evening.

The statement came after Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told Channel 13 News that the governments war goal of ending Hamas rule in Gaza can only truly be accomplished by putting in place a viable alternative.

The Security Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has defined the destruction of Hamass military and governing capabilities as one of the wars goal...
(JNS)  Released Israeli hostage Amit Soussana on Monday recalled the sexual assault she experienced at the hands of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip during a White House event marking International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

If someone had told me a few months ago while I was sitting in a dark room in Gaza tied up by my ankle and unable to move that I would be standing here today before you all, I would have thought that they were out of their mind, she told attendees.

The sexual assault I experienced should never happen to any human being under any circumsta...
The PJ Library and the Jewish Chamber of Commerce will partner to present a special child-friendly mitzvah project benefiting Rosies Adventures Childhood Cancer Foundation. This event will take place on July 14 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and is designed to bring families together for a day of creativity, compassion, and community service.

A day of crafting for a cause

The event invites families to participate in making crafts and bracelets that will be donated to children battling cancer. These handmade items aim to brighten the hospital rooms and lift the spirits of young patients undergoing treatm...
(JNS) - Many of the 120 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip are believed to be alive, a senior Israeli official involved in ongoing negotiations with the terrorist organization said on Tuesday.

"Dozens are alive with certainty," the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to the press, told AFP. He claimed the vast majority of the captives are being held by Hamas, and not by other terror groups in the coastal enclave.

The official told the wire agency that Israel cannot end the conflict with Hamas before a hostage deal is reac...
(JNS)  Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met on Monday in Washington with White House adviser Amos Hochstein.

The two men discussed the ongoing conflict against Hezbollah and the actions required to achieve a framework that enables the safe return of Israeli communities to their homes in the north, according to an Israeli readout.

Gallant reiterated his commitment to changing the security situation on the northern border.

He told Hochstein that the transition to Phase 3 in the war against Hamas in Gaza will impact developments on all fronts, and that Israel is preparing for every scen...
(JNS)  Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Wednesday of the potential outbreak of a wider conflict with Hezbollah, as the Iranian-backed terror group continued to launch rockets and drones at the Jewish state.

Gallant made the comments during a situation assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi at the militarys Northern Command.

We are achieving readiness on land and in the air, strengthening our intelligence systems and preparing for every scenario, said Gallant. We must all remember that Hezbollah started a war against us on Oct. 8, a day after Hamas [attacke...
(JNS)  Hundreds of people gathered in Paris on Wednesday to demonstrate against Jew-hatred in the wake of the antisemitic rape of a 12-year-old girl that shocked the country over the weekend, local media reported.

The rally in the French capital was organized by Collectif Nous Vivrons (We Will Live Collective), which was founded following Hamass Oct. 7 massacre in Israel and the ensuing wave of antisemitism in Europe.

This antisemitic rape is a continuation of a climate hostile to Jews, fueled in particular by irresponsible political declarations, the NGO said ahead of the protest at cit...
(JNS)  Intelligence documents compiled by the Israel Defense Forces Gaza Division only three weeks before Oct. 7 warned that Hamas was preparing for a massive cross-border attack during which at least 200 hostages would be taken, according to Israeli media reports.

The memo, which was internally circulated on Sept. 19, was brought to the attention of at least some top intelligence officials in the militarys Southern Command, Israels Kan News reported on Monday night.

The document detailed drills by the Gaza terrorist groups Nukhba force, which practiced raids on Israeli towns and army bas...
(Israel Hayom via JNS)  The Israeli healthcare system is preparing to deal with pregnancies resulting from sexual assaults during captivity.

An article was published in the June issue of the Israel Medical Associations journal HaRefuah to instruct medical teams on addressing this sensitive, difficult-to-comprehend, yet unavoidable matter.

The piece, written by Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Leah Shelef, former head of the Air Forces psychology department and current dean of Sapir Colleges School of Social Work, and Professor Gil Zalsman, director of the Geha Mental Health Center, aims to prepare...
(JTA) - Nicole Tolkacheva, 52, has endured nearly two and a half years of war as her native Odesa gets pounded by Russian missiles.

"Every morning, the city checks who and what survived the night," she said of Ukraine's storied Black Sea port city. "In this life, you don't know what's safer: running to the shelter and risking your life on the way or staying at home and risking being buried under the rubble."

But one recent weekend, Tolkacheva got a reprieve from the war. She and 200 fellow Ukrainian Jews gathered in the relative safety of Uzhhorod - a city in western Ukraine far from the fight...
MBABANE - Judges in the country feel unsafe and vulnerable after the withdrawal of security personnel from their various residences.

The withdrawal of security from the judges places of abode was communicated to them through a memo that was signed by Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, Siphiwo Nyoni. The judges are of the view that the move to withdraw the security personnel from their residences does not only put them in danger, but also exposes their families to criminals. The memo was directed to the chief justice, judges of the Supreme Court, High Court, Industrial Court of Appeal and judges of the Industrial Court. In the memo, the deputy registrar stated: Chief justice and the honourable justices of courts of Eswatini: Kindly be informed that the contract between Fidelity Security Services and the Judiciary expires on June 30, 2024.

It is for this reason that all security personnel will be withdrawn from the honourable judges residences pending finalisation of the tendering process for 2024/2025 financial year, reads part of the memo. Save for the chief justice, judges are provided with security by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) only when they are at work. At their private residences, they are guarded by personnel from a private security firm, which is paid by government. Information gathered from a source within the Tender Board, was that they were still waiting for a request from the controlling officer in the Judiciary, who is supposed to forward same for a new security firm to take over.

Some of the judges who spoke on condition of anonymity felt that the withdrawal of the security at their residences posed a great risk as they might be attacked by aggrieved litigants.

This matter needs urgent attention as our lives are at risk and same puts us in a precarious position. We deal with criminals every day and some of them are out on bail, said one of the aggrieved judges.
How do we know there's a G-d? Do the Torah and science conflict? How do you know the Torah is true?

These are some of the fascinating questions that will be discussed in "OMG - The Battle Between Faith and Logic," a six-lesson course from JLI teens.

This course will tackle the greatest theological questions humanity has been asking for thousands of years. Students will stand alongside ancient Jewish thinkers who've grappled with powerful existential questions about G-d, morality, and dealing with life's challenges. Bridging age-old Jewish wisdom with modern thinking, your teen will be better p...
(JNS)  With intense fighting in the Gaza Strip winding down, Jerusalem will deploy more troops to the northern border to defend against increasing Hezbollah attacks from Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Channel 14 on Sunday night.

The intense phase of the fighting against Hamas is about to end, he told Patriots host Yinon Magal, adding: It doesnt mean that the war is about to end, but the war in its intense phase is about to end in Rafah.

He added that the Israeli military will continue to mow the grass in Gaza constantly to prevent the enclave from becoming a...
(JNS)  Senior U.S. officials have assured Israel that Washington is prepared to fully back its ally in the event of a further escalation on the northern border, CNN reported on Friday, citing a Biden administration official.

The Biden administration would offer Israel the security assistance it needs to fight Hezbollah, the senior official stated, adding, however, that the U.S. would not deploy American troops on the ground in such a scenario.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant took off for Washington overnight Saturday for meetings with top U.S. officials.

The United States is our most...
(JNS)  Act 1. The stage is set. The key players are Barack Obama, who wants to manufacture a break with Israel; Benjamin Netanyahu, looking to navigate a hostile administration; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden.

During Bidens visit to Israel, the Obama administration stages a scandal, claiming that it was deliberately insulted because the local Jerusalem municipality routed some housing that the administration belatedly opposed through an approvals process.

Hillary Clinton spends an hour (and later brags about) yelling at Netanyahu over the phone. Biden refuses...
(JNS)  Were you aware that the Dreyfusards, those seeking to exonerate the Jewish captain of Frances army who was accused of spying for Germany, were not only working for France and for Jews, but that their campaign was also a fight for Black people, for LGBT people, for indigenous people, for Palestinians? That is the opinion of Noah Berlatsky.

In a 2019 op-ed piece on JNS, I employed the term Diasporic supremacy to relate to the new form of anti-Zionism that has developed, as well as the smug we-do-not-agree-with-Israels-government attitude of the liberal Jewish establishment. Noah...
(The Washington Times via JNS)  The Nova Music Festival was billed as a celebration of Friends, Love, and Infinite Freedom. On Oct. 6, 2023, attendees from more than two dozen countries gathered in Israels Negev Desert just three miles from Hamas-ruled Gaza to sing, dance and celebrate peace through the night.

At dawn the next day, Hamas terrorists used bulldozers and bombs to break through Israels high-tech fence that was thought to secure the border. Arriving at the festival grounds, they began slaughtering, raping, mutilating and kidnapping concertgoers, exuberantly shouting Allahu Ak...
(JNS)  The Biden administration is negotiating directly with Hamas for the release of the five American/Israeli citizens kidnapped and held hostage by the terror group since Oct. 7.

The talks with Hamas, an American-designated international terrorist organization, are being brokered by Qatar. Qatar is an ally of both Hamas and Iran.

Shockingly, those talks are happening with no input or involvement from IsraelAmericas closest and most reliable ally in the world. This is like America negotiating with Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden after 9/11.

In other words, President Joe Biden has realized th...
(JNS)  The Biden-Harris administration released its Fact Sheet on the Administrations Actions to Address Conflict-Related Sexual Violence on June 17, 2024. It is available on the White House website.

Curiously missing is any mention of the Oct. 7 massacre and the mass rapes committed by Hamas. Nor is there mention of the kidnappings, sadistic murders and other atrocities Hamas committed against women on that day and since.

In her remarks later that day at a White House event intended to raise awareness about Conflict-Related Sexual Violencewhich included a screening of Sheryl Sandberg...
CMS also announces creation of Spanish-language resources for filing EMTALA complaints, the latest step by the Department to promote compliance with federal law and raise awareness about Americans right to emergency medical care

Following the Supreme Courts decision in Moyle v. United States, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure sent a letter to hospital and provider associations across the country today reminding them that it is a hospitals legal duty to offer necessary stabilizing medical treatment (or transfer, if appropriate) to all patients in Medicare-participating hospitals who are found to have an emergency medical condition. CMS also announced that the investigation of EMTALA complaints would proceed in Idaho while litigation continues in the lower courts.

In the letter, HHS and CMS also announced the launch of a Spanish-language version of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) complaint form, the latest step taken by the Department to further educate the public about their rights to emergency medical care. The Spanish-language complaint form builds on new information resources on CMS website to help individuals understand their protections under EMTALA and the process for submitting a complaint if they are denied emergency medical care. HHS and CMS also established a dedicated team of experts who are increasing the Departments capacity to support hospitals in complying with federal requirements under EMTALA.

In 2022, CMS issued guidance to reaffirm that EMTALA requires providers offer necessary stabilizing care for patients suffering emergency medical conditions, which might include abortion care in certain situations. Todays letter reinforces previous letters from Secretary Becerra and Administrator Brooks-LaSure to hospital and provider associations reminding them of their obligations under EMTALA.

Read the full letter to hospital and provider associations below.

July 2, 2024

Dear Hospital and Provider Associations:

Last week, the Supreme Court issued an order in Moyle v. United States that reinstates the protections of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) for pregnant women experiencing emergency medical conditions in Idaho. Although the Court did not resolve the disputed legal questions in the case, its order means that women in Idaho can once again access the emergency medical care they need.

While this litigation continues in the lower courts, we write to you to reaffirm our view that EMTALAs protections remain in place  as they have for the last 40 years  and to share that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) remains committed, to the fullest extent of the law, to ensuring compliance with EMTALAs protections.

No pregnant woman or her family should have to even begin to worry that she could be denied the treatment she needs to stabilize her emergency medical condition in the emergency room. As health care providers, you know better than anyone how crucial it is for anyone experiencing a medical emergency to receive appropriate care and to receive it quickly. And yet, we have heard story after story describing the experiences of pregnant women presenting to hospital emergency departments with emergency medical conditions and being turned away because medical providers were uncertain about what treatment they were permitted to provide.1

As the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of CMS, we write to you today to affirm our unwavering commitment to the standards established by EMTALA nearly 40 years ago, and as outlined in CMS 2022 memo to states.2

As we continue to defend our interpretation of EMTALA in court, CMS will investigate complaints from Idaho and other states3 in accordance with the statute, to promote compliance with federal law. Federal EMTALA requirements have not changed: EMTALA requires that hospitals offer stabilizing treatment, including abortion care (or transfer, if appropriate) when necessary to stabilize the patients emergency medical condition and ensure that the patients condition does not materially worsen.4

We have also heard concerns from many physicians regarding their individual liability in states with laws that directly conflict with EMTALA protections. As previously noted,5 if a pregnant patient presenting at an emergency department, including certain labor and delivery departments, is experiencing an emergency medical condition as defined by EMTALA, and that abortion is the stabilizing treatment necessary to resolve that condition, the provider must offer that treatment.6 And when a state law prohibits abortion and does not include an exception for the life and health of the pregnant individual  or draws the exception more narrowly than EMTALAs emergency medical condition definition  that state law is preempted.

In addition, we will continue to build on our recent actions to educate the public about their rights to emergency medical care and to help support efforts of hospitals and health care professionals to meet their obligations under EMTALA. We have also published new informational resources on CMS website to help individuals understand their protections under EMTALA and the process for submitting a complaint if they are denied emergency medical care.7 And weve expanded our dedicated team of experts who are increasing the Departments capacity to support hospitals and health care providers in complying with federal requirements under EMTALA.

The enforcement of EMTALA is a complaint driven process. The investigation of a hospitals policies and procedures, or the actions of medical personnel, and any subsequent sanctions are initiated by a complaint. To help anyone easily submit an EMTALA complaint, CMS recently launched a new option on CMS.gov to allow individuals to file a complaint directly with CMS.8 And today, we are launching the Spanish-language version of this web form, to expand access to this important resource.

If the results of a complaint investigation indicate that a hospital violated one or more of the provisions of EMTALA, CMS will issue a notice of deficiency and provide the hospital with an opportunity to come into compliance. A hospital that fails to do so may be subject to termination of its Medicare provider agreement or the imposition of civil monetary penalties by the HHS Office of the Inspector General. We remain committed to working directly with hospitals, providers, and community leaders across the country to ensure compliance with EMTALA.

Thank you for all that you do to care for your patients. We will continue to do everything in our power to give you the clarity you need regarding the federal laws that protect you and your patients in emergency medical situations.

Sincerely,

Secretary Xavier Becerra

Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure

Endnotes

1 https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/01/hhs-secretary-xavier-becerra-statement-on-emtala-enforcement.html

2 Reinforcement of EMTALA Obligations specific to Patients who are Pregnant or are Experiencing Pregnancy Loss (QSO-21-22-Hospitals-updated August 25, 2022), https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-22-22-hospitals.pdf.

3 The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued an injunction prohibiting certain applications of the EMTALA Guidance issued on July 11, 2022 and Secretary Becerras accompanying July 11, 2022 letter. Texas v. Becerra, No.5:22-cv-185H (N.D. Tex.). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the injunction. Texas v. Becerra, 89 F.4th 529 (5th Cir. 2024).HHS is complying with the courts injunction, which states that: (1) The defendants may not enforce the Guidance and Letters interpretation that Texas abortion laws are preempted by EMTALA; and (2) The defendants may not enforce the Guidance and Letters interpretation of EMTALAboth as to when an abortion is required and EMTALAs effect on state laws governing abortionwithin the State of Texas or against members of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) and the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA). HHS has sought the Supreme Courts review of the Fifth Circuits decision; that petition for review remains pending.

4 Reinforcement of EMTALA Obligations specific to Patients who are Pregnant or are Experiencing Pregnancy Loss (QSO-21-22-Hospitals- UPDATED JULY 2022), https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-22-22-hospitals.pdf.

5 Please see: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/emergency-medical-care-letter-to-health-care-providers.pdf.

6 HHS will continue to comply with all applicable federal conscience protections. See also Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience Federal Statutes, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/11/2024-00091/safeguarding-the-rights-of-conscience-as-protected-by-federal-statutes.

7 For more information, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-new-actions-help-hospitals-meet-obligations-under-emtala and https://www.cms.gov/priorities/your-patient-rights/emergency-room-rights.

8 For more information, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/your-patient-rights/emergency-room-rights/how-to-file-complaint
LOBAMBA  A visibly unwell Ministry of Education and Training Principal Secretary (PS) Bheki Gama, told the PAC that there is no unity in the ministry.

The PS was speaking yesterday, as he was making his preamble when the ministry appeared before the PAC. The PS made this remark after the PAC Chairperson and Mhlangatane Member of Parliament (MP), Madala Mhlanga, noted with concern the state of health of the PS, who was assisted to walk and sit. Gama was also using a wheelchair to move around and did not speak with ease. During the sitting, Mhlanga said he wanted to make it known that the PS could have delegated any of his senior officers and the PAC would have understood.

He added that they would not mind if he were to ask to be excused, because Gamas health status was clear to everyone.

Gama told the PAC that he would sit in, but he had delegated one of the ministrys officers, Sifiso Ndzinisa, who was sitting next to him, to respond to the audit queries. He said Ndzinisa was aware of the audit queries, as he was among the officers who had worked a couple of years in the ministry. He said also part of the delegation was the Under Secretary and Schools Manager, Lungelo Nhlengethwa, who had been in the ministry since 2020.

Affected

I am the one who is privy to most of the issues here. The other senior officers are relatively new, but I will not speak. Ndzinisa will speak because my speech has been affected, I speak like a baby, he said. The PS further told the PAC that among the reasons he would sit through the sessions was because there was no unity in the ministry and some officials mouths could not be controlled, as they might end up saying things they had not yet agreed upon. He said at the end of it all, as the substantive PS, he would eventually have to answer for all that could have been said by the officials. I will sit in and listen if he will be saying what we sent him to say ngobaleka-education sinhlalunhlalu. I need to be here to hear and see if they are saying the right things we had agreed on. Kuhle kwenteka banhlanhlatseke, so ngibagadzile ngikhona ngitowuhlala, because at the end, I will have to answer for all the things, he said.

Gama further shared how scary it was to appear before the PAC. He was reacting to a comment that was made by the PAC chairperson, where he urged the ministry officials to be at ease.

The PS said they were also scared to appear before the PAC, but he appreciated the auditor general, because his audits brought processes to order. He said even those who hated the auditor general wanted to flaunt procedures and were not applying what he stipulates as per the authority given to his office.

Queries

Ndzinisa responded to the queries alone, while the other officials followed quietly. Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo, stated that it looked as if Ndzinisa was just thrown in the deep end, while the others looked on. He asked the senior officials to assist with the responses. The MP, as well as the PAC chairperson, said the ministry needed to organise itself and work together. The two ministrys under secretaries, Lungelo Nhlengetfwa and Naniki Mnisi (Under Secretary Administration) were quiet next to Ndzinisa. Nhlengetfwa only spoke after the PAC asked Ndzinisa to let him respond to a matter that was touching on schools audits.
Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah, and Vermont to provide better continuity of Medicaid and CHIP coverage for incarcerated people, whose health care needs  from substance-use disorder treatment to chronic physical health conditions  have historically gone overlooked.

Adults and youth transitioning out of incarceration can experience delays in getting access to Medicaid or CHIP coverage upon return to their communities  harming public health and public safety. Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), approved the latest in a series of groundbreaking Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) demonstrations that will allow Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah, and Vermont to provide coverage before release, creating a seamless transition and avoiding gaps in coverage. These states join California, Massachusetts, Montana, and Washington in pursuing an innovative option for expanding access to high-quality, affordable health care.

The Biden-Harris Administration is working to ensure every American has access to high-quality, affordable health care. This is an essential step for advancing health equity in our nation, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. For people involved in the justice system, ensuring a successful transition back into the community includes having the health care supports and services they need. Im pleased to see more and more states putting resources behind efforts that will ensure these individuals have what they need to thrive.

For the first time ever, thousands of incarcerated people in Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah, and Vermont will have critical supports during their transition out of a carceral setting, thanks to this important health care coverage, said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. At the heart of that work are Medicaid and CHIP  programs that continue to bring states and the federal government together to meet the needs of our communities. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, thats meant more innovation than ever before to enhance public health and public safety.

Expanding access to life-saving treatment and recovery supports for incarcerated people is a critical part of our bipartisan efforts to beat the overdose epidemic and save lives, said White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Dr. Rahul Gupta. President Biden made addressing the overdose epidemic part of his Unity Agenda for the nation because it is an issue that affects every community across the country and requires members of both parties to deliver progress for the American people. Under this important action today, the Biden-Harris Administration is providing a groundbreaking opportunity for these states to increase access to health care, including care for substance use disorder, in jails and prisons, and provide historically underserved and marginalized individuals with the tools and resources they need to succeed upon reentry. I am grateful to these states  red and blue, from coast to coast  for joining our whole-of-society response to strengthen public health, enhance public safety, and save lives.

The Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity allows a state to cover certain services not otherwise coverable in Medicaid and CHIP up to 90 days before an eligible persons expected release from incarceration. This includes coverage of substance-use disorder (SUD) treatment before a Medicaid or CHIP beneficiary is released from jail, prison, or a youth correctional facility. Additionally, states will be able to help connect the person to community-based Medicaid and CHIP providers up to 90 days prior to their release to ensure they can continue their treatment after they return to the community.

For incarcerated people  who often live with higher rates of SUDs, chronic physical health conditions, poor health care coordination, and other health concerns that can impact public health and public safety  these demonstrations mean:

Increased coverage, continuity of care, and appropriate service uptake through assessment of eligibility and availability of coverage for benefits in carceral settings just prior to release.

Improved access to services prior to release, and improved transitions into the community upon release.

Improved coordination and communication among correctional facilities, Medicaid programs and CHIPs, including managed care plans, and community-based providers.

Increased investments in health care and related services aimed at improving the quality of care for people in carceral settings.

Improved connections between carceral settings and community services to address physical health, behavioral health, and health-related social needs.

Better interventions for certain behavioral health conditions and increased use of stabilizing medications like long-acting injectable anti-psychotics and medications targeting SUDs, with the goal of reducing decompensation, suicide-related deaths, overdoses, and overdose-related deaths in the near-term post-release; and

Improved use of health care resources post-release, which can reduce unnecessary emergency department visits, inpatient hospitalizations, and all-cause deaths among recently incarcerated people with Medicaid and individuals otherwise eligible for CHIP if not for their incarceration status.

As highlighted in a previously released report from HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, there are significant health coverage and continuity-of-care needs that justice-involved individuals face when returning to the community. These include disproportionately high rates of SUD, opioid overdose and overdose deaths, serious mental illness, and infectious and other chronic physical health conditions. Opportunities like the Medicaid and CHIP reentry demonstrations have a track record for improving health and health care transitions.

CMS continues to work with a range of other states on Medicaid reentry section 1115 demonstration requests. The agency has developed a standard demonstration application and special terms and conditions to expedite the approval of these requests. CMS continues to review these applications as quickly as possible under this streamlined approach, which balances increased efficiency with the Biden-Harris Administrations priority to advance high-quality, affordable, person-centered health care coverage wherever possible. CMS hopes to adopt this approach for other section 1115 demonstration initiatives.
Award bolsters pandemic preparedness by leveraging flexible platform

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), will provide approximately $176 million to Moderna for development of an mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccine.

The award was made through BARDAs new Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) Consortium, managed by Advanced Technology International (ATI). The RRPV is a 10-year, multi-purpose acquisition vehicle and consortium partnership designed to support advanced research and development of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. The consortium creates flexible, strategic partnerships with industry that foster innovation and promote collaboration.

We have successfully taken lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and used them to better prepare for future public health crises. As part of that, we continue to develop new vaccines and other tools to help address influenza and bolster our pandemic response capabilities, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Importantly, we are doing this work in partnership with some of the nations leading scientists and clinicians. The Biden-Harris Administration wont stop until we have everything we need to prepare for pandemics and other public health emergencies that impact the American public.

This award aids Moderna in ensuring the establishment of additional pandemic influenza vaccine response capability. These efforts will leverage existing U.S. domestic large-scale commercial mRNA-based manufacturing platforms and ongoing seasonal influenza vaccine development. Additionally, ASPR has secured a fair pricing agreement which will continue ensuring enduring equitable access to vaccines. The U.S. government is committed to leveraging investments now to ensue cost parity for the American taxpayers in the future.

Modernas influenza vaccine candidate uses current mRNA technology leveraged successfully during the COVID-19 response, resulting in one of the first two FDA-authorized - and ultimately FDA-licensed - COVID-19 vaccines. In 2023, BARDA issued a request for proposal to Moderna and other companies to develop mRNA vaccines to prepare for potential public health emergencies (PHEs) caused by influenza viruses, such as avian influenza A(H5N1). mRNA vaccines have the potential to complement traditional vaccine technologies during a pandemic influenza emergency response. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said the risk to general human health from H5N1 is still low and this award is a part of ASPR preparedness efforts.

The award made today is part of our longstanding commitment to strengthen our preparedness for pandemic influenza, said Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn OConnell. Adding this technology to our pandemic flu toolkit enhances our ability to be nimble and quick against the circulating strains and their potential variants.

Moderna will prepare materials and conduct clinical trials to collect safety and immunogenicity data to support FDA licensure and potential commercial scale-up in response to a future PHE. This award will enable the rapid development of an mRNA vaccine targeted to various influenza virus subtypes, also known as strains, of pandemic potential. The award also includes the option for large-scale production and pandemic response. The work under this award will allow development and manufacturing to pivot quickly, if needed, to address other threats, such as emerging infectious diseases.

If successfully developed, an mRNA-based licensed pandemic influenza vaccine could further improve response timelines should a new virus strain emerge and cause a pandemic, as happened with H1N1 in 2009. Since 2005, BARDA has awarded contracts to manufacturers of influenza vaccines licensed in the U.S. to sustain and expand national response capabilities in an influenza pandemic or other public health emergency. Efforts under this award are intended to establish a fourth platform option to the egg-, cell-, and recombinant protein-based approaches used for production of existing, licensed influenza vaccines.

This award is the latest component of the BARDA Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases Divisions medical countermeasure portfolio.


Tuesday July 2, 2024

Toll is almost double the figure previously disclosed by the government as activists gear up for new round of protests this week.





Protesters carry the body of a man who was shot during a protest over proposed tax hikes in a finance bill in downtown Nairobi, Kenya [File: Brian Inganga/AP]



At least 39 people have been killed in recent anti-government protests in Kenya, says the national rights watchdog, as activists gear up for a new round of protests this week.



The toll, announced on Monday by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), is almost double the figure previously disclosed by the government for those killed while demonstrating against a raft of unpopular tax increases that have now been withdrawn.





It added that there had been 32 cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances and 627 arrests of protesters.Largely peaceful anti-tax rallies  led by mostly young Gen-Z protesters  descended into shocking scenes of deadly violence last Tuesday when lawmakers passed the contentious legislation.After the vote was announced, crowds ransacked the parliament complex in central Nairobi and it was partly set ablaze as police fired live bullets at protesters.It is the most serious crisis to confront the government of President William Ruto since he took office in September 2022 following a deeply divisive election in a nation often considered a beacon of stability in a turbulent region.In a televised interview on Sunday, Ruto said that 19 people had died in the protests, but insisted that he did not have blood on my hands and pledged an investigation into the deaths.The KNCHR continues to condemn in the strongest terms possible the unwarranted violence and force that was inflicted on protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists and on safe spaces such as churches, medical emergency centres and ambulances, the rights body said.We maintain that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate.The watchdog also said it strongly condemns the violent and shocking acts of lawlessness that was exhibited by some of the protesters including the parliament and other government buildings.Fresh protests have been called by activists starting from Tuesday despite Ruto announcing last week that he would not sign into law the bill containing the tax hikes.Leaflets have been posted on social media with the hashtags Occupy Everywhere, Ruto must go and Reject Budgeted Corruption.Kenyas cash-strapped government had said previously that the tax increases were necessary to service the massive public debt of some 10 trillion shillings ($78bn), equal to roughly 70 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).The International Monetary Fund has urged the country to implement fiscal reforms in order to access crucial funding from the Washington, DC-based lender.Ruto had already rolled back some tax measures after the protests began, prompting the treasury to warn of a gaping budget shortfall of 200 billion shillings ($1.6bn).In Sundays interview, Ruto had warned that the government would have to borrow heavily following the decision to scrap the finance bill.Analysts say the presidents U-turn on the tax laws has left him severely weakened domestically with his administration divided in its response and his opponents rejuvenated.Enslaved and supported by foreign interests, and never pro-people in its outlook and interests, [Rutos administration] was bound to face the consequences of its priorities, Willy Mutunga, Kenyas former chief justice, told Reuters news agency.As long as the material interests of the youth are not addressed, the chasm grows bigger and bigger, Mutunga said.SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
By Brendan Pierson Drugmakers' appeal to end Zantac cancer lawsuits rebuffed by judge

July 1 - A Delaware judge rebuffed a request by GSK and other drugmakers to appeal a ruling allowing more than 70,000 lawsuits claiming that the heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer to go forward.

The ruling by Judge Vivian Medinilla of the Delaware Superior Court means that the drugmakers, which also include Pfizer, Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim, will have to ask the Delaware Supreme Court directly for permission to appeal. GSK said it already submitted its appeal to that court.

If the state high court declines to take the appeal, it will clear the way for the Zantac lawsuits to go to trial.

"Judge Medinilla resoundingly rejected GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, and Sanofi's attempt to end run around the jury system in Delaware," said Jennifer Moore, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

GSK in a statement said "the scientific consensus remains that there is no consistent or reliable evidence that ranitidine increases the risk of any cancer." Ranitidine is the active ingredient in the now discontinued drug.

Lawsuits began piling up after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020 asked manufacturers to pull the drug off the market over concerns that ranitidine could degrade into a cancer-causing chemical called NDMA over time or when exposed to heat.

The drugmakers say Medinilla should have kept the plaintiffs from introducing expert testimony that Zantac can cause cancer, as a federal judge did in 2022 in about 50,000 claims centralized in Florida.

The plaintiffs' cases depend on that testimony, and cannot go to trial without it.

Industry groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce backed the drugmakers' appeal in a filing last month, saying letting Medinilla's ruling stand had relaxed the standards for evidence in the traditionally business-friendly state and threatened to turn it into "a hotbed of products-liability and mass-tort litigation."

Medinilla wrote on Monday that she had not adopted a different standard from the Florida federal judge, but simply reached a different conclusion about the evidence in the case.

First approved in 1983, Zantac became the world's best-selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first to top $1 billion in annual sales. It was originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK and later sold successively to other companies.

The vast majority of pending cases are in Delaware. Only one case, against GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim in Illinois, has gone to trial, ending in a victory for the companies last month.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The gross GST collection increased 8 per cent to 1.74 lakh crore in June, sources said on Monday. The Integrated GST (IGST) worth  39,586 crore was settled towards Central GST (CGST) and  33,548 crore towards State GST (SGST).

The government, however, has discontinued the official release of monthly GST collection data, they added.

Sources said the gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection so far this fiscal (April-June) stood at 5.57 lakh crore.

The collection in June is higher than the 1.73 lakh crore collected in May 2024. It is 8 per cent higher than 1.61 lakh crore mopped up in June 2023.

The Integrated GST (IGST) worth 39,586 crore was settled towards Central GST (CGST) and 33,548 crore towards State GST (SGST).

The GST mop-up had touched a record high of 2.10 lakh crore in April.

The government, sources said, would not be releasing any statement with regard to tax collection going ahead.

EY India Tax Partner Saurabh Agarwal said this robust performance reflects a buoyant economy, with businesses demonstrating commendable self-compliance. Timely audits, scrutiny measures, and effective enforcement by the department have all contributed to this success.

"The significant surge in collections also raises expectations for the next wave of GST reforms. These reforms could potentially address working capital blockages, streamline tax rates, ease ITC restrictions, and implement sector-specific solutions to tackle existing challenges," Agarwal added.
HDFC Bank announced a scheduled system upgrade on July 13 that will temporarily impact UPI services. The bank said that the upgrade is aimed at enhancing the bank's performance, capacity and reliability. On July 13, HDFC Bank said that The UPI services will be unavailable at two specific times: from 3:00am to 3:45am and from 9:30am to 12:45pm. The headquarters of India's HDFC bank is pictured in Mumbai. (Reuters)

NetBanking and Mobile Banking services will be unavailable throughout the entire upgrade period, the bank said. Additionally, all fund transfer modes, including IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, HDFC Bank account-to-account online transfers, and branch transfers, will also be unavailable throughout the upgrade period, it said.

HDFC Bank said, To minimise disruption, HDFC Bank advises customers to withdraw sufficient funds before 7:30 PM on Friday, 12th July 2024, and to plan all fund transfers in advance. The upgrade is scheduled from 3:00 AM to 4:30 PM on 13th July 2024, during a bank holiday to reduce inconvenience. For further details and updates, please visit the HDFC Bank website or contact customer service.

However, it should be noted that during the upgrade period, customers can withdraw cash from ATMs using HDFC Bank debit and credit cards, although with restricted limits. You can also use debit and credit cards on swipe machines at stores and for online purchases.
Shares of Patanjali Foods hit a record high today (July 2) after the Baba Ramdev-led firms board approved proposal to buy its parent company Patanjali Ayurved's home and personal care business for 1,100 crore. Patanjali Foods shares rose 4% to a high of 1769.15 on July 2 compared to the previous close of 1699.65 on BSE. The company's shares have gained 44.17% in a year and risen 9.16% since the beginning of this year. A hoarding with an image of Baba Ramdev is seen inside a Patanjali store in Ahmedabad, India.(Reuters)

On the BSE, total 1.16 lakh shares changed hands amounting to a turnover of 20.13 crore and the market capitalisation of the firm rose to 62,140 crore.

The company said in an exchange filing, The board of Patanjali Foods Ltd has approved the proposal of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd's to acquire its Home and Personal Care Business, accelerating the company's transition into a leading FMCG company. The HPC business of PAL currently has a strong brand equity in India's FMCG space and enjoys a loyal consumer base across the country. It presently caters to four key segments, being (i) dental care, (ii) skin care, (iii) home care, and (iv) hair care.

It added, The transfer has been mutually negotiated for a lump sum consideration of 1,100 crore, which shall be subject to customary closing date adjustments and on such other terms as set out in the business transfer agreement. The acquisition will lead to a consolidation of 'Patanjali' brand FMCG products portfolio. The acquisition will bring along with it multiple key synergies in terms of brand equity and enhancements, product innovations, cost optimisation, infrastructure & operational efficiencies and positive impact on market share.
SAN FRANCISCO, - Rivian on Tuesday said it had no plans to produce vehicles with Volkswagen after a media report said the U.S. electric vehicle maker was in early talks with the German automaker to extend a recent partnership beyond software. Rivian says no plans to produce vehicles with VW after media report on early talks

Shares of Rivian dipped 1.5% in extended trade.

German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter, that an extended partnership might include producing Rivian's smaller and less expensive R2 SUVs at VW's South Carolina plant that is currently being built.

"There are no plans for production of vehicles with Volkswagen Group," a Rivian spokesperson said in an email to Reuters. Volkswagen declined to comment on the media report and said its clear focus was on the JV.

Rivian has not changed its plans to start producing the R2 at its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, followed by production at a planned Georgia plant, the Rivian spokesperson said.

The companies said last week that VW would invest up to $5 billion in Rivian as part of a deal to share electrical architecture and software - a big shot in the arm for the startup amid slowing EV demand. For VW, the JV gives much needed EV technology that traditional automakers have struggled to build.

VW has said it plans to produce its Scout-branded electric SUVs and pickups at the South Carolina plant from 2026. A spokesperson for Scout Motors said, "We have not had any conversations about producing Rivian vehicles."

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The local police are still struggling to synchronise the new criminal laws that came into force across the country on July 1. The police registered at least three cases under the IPC, which was replaced by the BNS. (HT file photo for representation)

On the day, the local police registered at least six first-information reports, with the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) each getting a 50% share of them.

The police registered at least three cases under the IPC, which was replaced by the BNS.

Commissioner of police Kuldeep Singh Chahal said that the police officials were being trained about the BNS.

Very soon, the police will bring BNS into practice while registering all the cases, he said.

Ludhiana Rural, Khanna police in same boat

The case was no different for the Ludhiana Rural and Khanna police as the officials there seemed to be just as confused.

The lone case registered by the Ludhiana Rural police was under sections of the now-defunct IPC.

The Sadar Jagraon police booked a family under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 498A (dowry harassment) of the IPC.

Khanna police registered three cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The Salem Tabri police station of Ludhiana police commissionerate registered an FIR of assault under the IPC. The Division Number 3 police registered an FIR under section 379 of the IPC after a local reported that his scooter was stolen.

The Jamalpur police registered a case under sections 363 and 366 A of the IPC against a man for allegedly abducting a minor on the pretext of marriage.

Dehlon cops a step ahead

The Dehlon police were a step ahead of the other 29 police stations of police commissionerate and registered the first FIR under the BNS. The police arrested three accused of theft and vehicle lifting. A case under sections 304 (2), 303 (2) and 317 of the BNS was registered.

The Division Number 8 police registered an FIR under section 305 of the BNS after they arrested an accused with stolen mobile phones and a scooter.

Similarly, the Model Town police booked an air conditioner (SC) mechanic for allegedly molesting a woman and registered an FIR under section 74 of the BNS.
In a setback to both the Shiromani Akali Dal and its rebel group, the SAD candidate for the Jalandhar West assembly byelection, Surjit Kaur, on Tuesday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the presence of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann welcoming Surjit Kaur into the Aam Aadmi Party fold in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Surjit Kaur was nominated as the Shiromani Akali Dal candidate for Jalandhar West but she quit the party amid infighting. (HT Photo)

Surjit Kaurs candidature was announced by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on June 20 following which she filed her nomination papers a day later. However, due to infighting in the SAD after its poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections, Sukhbir withdrew the partys support to the two-time municipal councillor, claiming she belonged to the rebel group and her candidature had been arbitrarily announced by Bibi Jagir Kaur and former MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala.

Jagir Kaur and Wadala, who are among senior party leaders who have demanded that Sukhbir step down as party chief, reached Surjit Kaurs house and assured her that senior leaders of the party would campaign for her and provide financial assistance for her campaign.

Both leaders had even begun campaigning for Surjit Kaur but her decision to quit and join the AAP came as a shock to them.

Not Akali stronghold

The Shiromani Akali Dal has not contested elections from the Jalandhar West assembly constituency for over two decades as the seat had been allocated to then ally, the BJP. The saffron party remained a SAD ally from 1997 to 2020.

In 2022, the SAD gave this seat to the Bahujan Samaj Party with which it had a poll pact and the SAD-BSP candidate, Anil Meena, got only 4,125 votes. The SAD has extended support to the BSP candidate in Jalandhar West, a Scheduled Caste reserved seat.

In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, SAD candidate Mohinder Singh Kaypee got only 2,623 votes in the constituency that was once his stronghold.
The Punjab government has forwarded a written request of Amritpal Singh, detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Assams Dibrugarh jail, to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in which the Khadoor Sahib MP-elect has sought temporary release or parole to take oath as a member of Parliament. Amritpal Singh, who is detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Assams Dibrugarh jail, has sought parole to take oath as Khadoor Sahib member of Parliament. (HT file photo)

Amritpals legal adviser Imaan Singh Khara said on Tuesday that the plea by the radical Sikh leader, who registered a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha elections, was sent to the Punjab government through the jail superintendent under the NSAs Section 15 on June 9.

The Dibrugarh jail superintendent had sent the letter to the Amritsar deputy commissioner, who forwarded it to the state government headquarters, which in turn urged the Speaker to allow Amritpal to take the oath.

Section 15 of the NSA deals with temporary release of a person detained by the government for any specified period either without conditions or upon such conditions specified in the direction as that person accepts, and may, at any time, cancel his release.

Rajdev Singh Khalsa, another lawyer of Amritpal Singh who meets him in the jail, said, The Punjab home secretary has told us that he has forwarded the letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Once received, the Speaker can decide about the oath-taking within a 60-day period that starts from June 25. According to procedure, the Speaker takes the advice of the home department before taking a decision.

Highly placed sources in the Punjab government confirmed the development, which comes a day after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave its consent for jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as a Lok Sabha member on July 5.

Rashid is in Tihar Jail since 2019 after being charged by the NIA in a terror-funding case. He defeated former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah by 2 lakh votes to win the Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla seat as an Independent candidate.

After the NIA consent in the case of Rashid, all eyes are on Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal, who defeated Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira by 1.97 lakh votes to win the Khadoor Sahib seat.

Three of Amritpals aides and fellow detainees under NSA, Kulwant Singh Raoke, Bhagwant Singh, alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke, and Daljeet Singh Kalsi, have also announced their intention to contest the assembly by-elections from Punjabs Barnala, Gidderbaha, and Dera Baba Nanak, respectively.
Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, who is also the state BJP chief, on Tuesday sought an apology from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his highly provocative and derogatory remarks against Hindus. He accused the frustrated Leader of Opposition of creating an atmosphere to weaken the country and lowering the prestige of the Lok Sabha by resorting to lies. Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday sought an apology from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his highly provocative and derogatory remarks against Hindus. (HT file photo)

Addressing a press conference at the BJP office in Chandigarh, Saini also condemned the misleading statements of Gandhi about the Agnipath recruitment policy and minimum support price (MSP). Rahul Gandhi is a failed product of the Congress, who has been launched multiple times. It is the result of this frustration that he stooped to this level and made all sorts of wild allegations in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Saini said, adding the Congress leader must tender an unconditional apology for equating Hindus with violence.

Rahul Gandhis conduct as Leader of the Opposition is highly deplorable. He has humiliated a bigger section of the people of this country by spewing venom, which we condemn and demand an apology, the chief minister said.

Saini said the Congress leader should realise the gravity of his mistake and apologise instead of defending himself. The yuvraj (prince) of the Congress said Hindus are violent. He defamed Hindus with his utterances. Now his gang is trying to justify his remarks. What he did in the House was the result of his frustration due to the third successive defeat of the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, he said.

Referring to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and exodus of Kashmiri Hindus, the state BJP chief said the Congress had turned a blind eye when Sikhs were being massacred and Hindus were leaving Kashmir.

He said this was not the first time that the Congress had linked Hindus with violence. When the UPA was in power, the then home minister had dubbed Hindus as terrorists. What Rahul Gandhi is doing is tantamount to creating an atmosphere to weaken the country. It is the culture of the Congress to speak adversely about Hindus, Saini said, pointing out that the LoP should back his claims in the House with evidence and facts.
At least once a week, just before the suns rouser, Im joyfully en route to the historic Gurdwara San Sahib at a village called Basarke Gillan not far from my home in Amritsar. Just after crossing Chheharta town, the much-awaited scenic route begins with farmlands in all directions. The best bit, however, is when I sit along the shrines large holy pool after paying obeisance. I sit at the same spot, sometimes with feet dipped in the water, where thoughts turn so beautiful. With the sun still rising, birds chirping around, I feel more than grateful. A woman pays obeisance at a gurudwara. (AP)

Whenever I visit my maternal village, Butala, I rarely miss a trip to the homes terrace, minutes before bedtime to enjoy a leisurely walk under the canopy of stars. The view of the entire village and its silence often ignites philosophical thoughts about life. I end up talking to myself and it feels as if the stars are in audience, making me feel lighter and calmer. Spotting a shooting star during the talk seems a response from the universe. I return to bed with many of my questions answered.

Being an early riser, I take the path through the fields for my walk. Its soothing to lounge on the bridge of a rivulet before returning home. The sound of the flowing water at the golden hour is free therapy. Like the stars, the water listens and washes away all worries.

At Khasa village, theres another kutcha path lined with old trees that have seen me play under their grand umbrellas. I can sense their joy, which instantly strikes a chord. I return recharged.

The common thread through all these experiences is the much-needed opportunity to connect with the soul, the vitality of which not everyone will understand. Time spent with nature, far away with the cellphone, is the perfect me time to introspect. Its also a crucial break from the mundane, a perfect pause, which over time enriches the mind, offering it so much clarity about life, about what really matters, what doesnt and what truly gives us joy and what doesnt.

The more dedicated we remain to this break, the better we get to know ourselves, including our weaknesses and how they can be addressed. Eventually, we start weaving a better relationship with ourselves, the seed for a peaceful and fulfilling life.

But sadly, for most of us, days, weeks, months and even years roll by without the break to introspect. Therefore, despite all their achievements, including impressive job titles, and fat bank balances, people find something amiss. In this process, life goes on in a robotic way, leading to stress, depression and anxiety. Thankfully, help is within. The conscience never misguides.

One day during my walk at Khasa, I realised, isnt our soul like the roots of the tree? Imagine if we only sprinkled water on the leaves and forget to water its roots. Isnt all our focus on perfecting the world outside? What about our inner world?

The writer is an Amritsar-based freelance contributor and can be reached at rameshinder.sandhu@gmail.com
This summer, Himachals hill stations have witnessed a heavy influx of tourists. It has in turn significant increase in litter, with trails of trash now becoming a part of the sensitive mountain ecosystem. Highways across Himachal, those leading to tourist destinations, are laden with garbage and plastic waste. (HT)

This situation has raised serious concerns among environmentalists, who worry about the impact. With over 74 lakh tourists visiting Himachal till May this year, tourist footfall was up 3.5 % from last year.

The scenic Kullu district has emerged as the most sought-after destination. Nearly 15 lakh tourists visited the district till May, with many heading beyond the higher ranges of Lahaul and Spiti and even visiting Leh during the summer.

Garbage generation has increased manifold in hill towns with the advent of the latest tourist season.

Manali faces the brunt

Manali, a focal point for tourism in Kullu, has borne the brunt of this environmental strain. The towns waste treatment plant, designed to handle 20 to 30 tonnes of garbage daily, is now inundated with 70 to 100 tonnes  a stark overextension of its intended capacity.

The waste treatment plant was set for treating 20 tonnes of garbage generated from seven municipal council wards. It is forced to cater to three other nagar panchayats. Garbage collected from Sarchu to Rohtang In Lahaul and Spiti district and then from Kullus Soja and Kasol, a village known as the Tel Aviv of the hills due to its popularity with Israeli tourists, is also dumped in Manalis waste treatment plant. It has become difficult, Manali nagar panchayat head Chaman Kapoor said.

The plant cannot run beyond capacity, subsequently, we will not allow garbage from other areas to be dumped in Manali, he added.

Kullu deputy commissioner Torul S Raveesh said the administration has adopted various measures to minimise littering.

We are encouraging the panchayats and nagar parishads to set up their waste management plants. The district administration has roped in non-government organisations and the mahila mandals to carry out cleanliness drives, she said, adding that the focus is to construct material recovery facilities.

Highway horror

A significant part of the waste generated in tourist towns, Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Kasauli, Narkanda Chail and Spiti is being attributed to irresponsible disposal of garbage by tourists.

The trash can be seen piling along the national highways connecting Manali to Leh. Plastic waste too is littered on the national highway connecting Shimla to Rampur.

For the last several years, we have been trying to set up waste management systems and running cleanliness drives to educate the local population as well as the tourists, so they learn how difficult it is to dispose of the waste. A lot of trash is generated at the tourist hot spots, Pradeep Sangwan, the founder Healing Himalayas, a non-profit organisation working on the waste disposal problem, said.

Instead of looking at the problems, there is a need to educate people about how sensitive the Himalayas are, he said, adding that tourists visiting the hills need to dispose of the garbage responsibly.

Heaps of garbage can also be seen in the Western Himalayan Park, Glen Nature Park, Natural Trail, Kufri Hills, Mashobra and Naldehra surrounding Shimla.

Tourists visiting the hills should help in maintaining the beauty of hills, instead of throwing trash and empty wrappers, liquor and cold drink bottles, Ajit Singh, a resident of Baldian, a village located five km from the scenic Mashobra, a tourist resort town near Shimla.

Such is the magnitude of the problem that residents of towns bordering China also complain of littering. We keep educating tourists and taxi drivers not to litter in the hills, Chitkul gram panchayat pradhan Baldev Singh Negi located at 11,000 ft above sea level in Kinnaur district.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwals petition challenging his arrest by the probe agency in the Delhi excise policy case. Arvind Kejriwal being taken to a court on Saturday. (PTI)

A bench of justice Neena Bansal Krishna directed the central probe agency to file its response within seven days and fixed July 17 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

Issue notice. Notice on behalf of the CBI is accepted. Let detailed reply by filed within seven days. Rejoinder, if any, be filed within two days. List for further hearing on July 17, the court said in its order.

On Monday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener had approached the high court asserting that his arrest was illegal since it was in contravention of the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Courts ruling in Arnesh Kumar v State of Bihar and section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which mandates the investigating officer to issue notice to the person accused of committing an offence before making an arrest without warrant. In the ruling, the apex court had formulated guidelines to prevent unnecessary arrests and to ensure that the same are made only when mandatory.

Besides challenging his arrest, the Delhi CM has also sought for setting aside Delhi courts June 26 and June 29 orders. On June 26, the city court had remanded Kejriwal to three days CBI custody saying that the remand was warranted as the probe agency had taken courts permission before examining Kejriwal and based upon the interrogation report, found the necessity to arrest. While on June 29 order, the city court had remanded the AAP chief to 14 days judicial custody till July 12.

In the remand note, CBI had alleged that Kejriwals arrest was necessitated as he had remained evasive, non-cooperative and failed to give satisfactory replies to the questions raised to him regarding his role in the matter of allegedly demanding kickback worth 100 crore, the acceptance and delivery of the same to AAP through his close associate Vijay Nair and utilisation of the ill-gotten money for the partys Goa elections campaign.

Kejriwal has denied all charges, and his plea before the high court stated that mere non-cooperation is not a ground to statutorily available to arrest a person.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the Delhi chief minister, represented by senior advocate AM Singhvi, urged the court to issue notice on the plea, asserting that there was no need or necessity to arrest his client. Singhvi emphasised that the probe agency had questioned the CM for nine hours in April 2023 and arrested him based on an FIR registered in 2022. From April till now, nothing is done and thus on the FIR registered in 2022, he (Kejriwal) is arrested, Singhvi told the court.

The senior lawyer also contended that there was no basis or reason to arrest Kejriwal since he was already in judicial custody and could neither be a flight risk nor tamper with evidence. The arrest memo must reflect some reason, some basis. Basis could be he is terrorist, flight risk- that cannot even arise in his case as he is already under arrest in judicial custody. The arrest memo is quite remarkable. Its all of one paragraph and is of four lines, Singhvi added.

Special public prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh, who attended the hearing virtually, accepted notice for the CBI.

The probe agency had arrested the CM in the Rouse Avenue Court on June 26 after a sequence of dramatic developments in court. The developments came after a dramatic start to the day when, at 10.30am, the federal agency briefly questioned Kejriwal in court premises before arresting him. On June 29, a Delhi court had sent the CM to 14 days judicial custody till July 12.

In the remand note, the agency alleged that Kejriwal is one of the main conspirators of the criminal conspiracy and said that Vijay Nair, a former party functionary, was contacting various liquor manufacturers and traders and demanding undue gratification since March 2021.

Kejriwal, the agency claimed, asked YSRCPs Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, who is now an MP, to provide monetary funding to the AAP while assuring support in the liquor business in the national capital. CBI said it had corroboration of these moves from contemporaneous documentary material.

According to the agency, Reddy, YSRCPs Ongole MP, met Kejriwal on March 16, 2021, requesting support in Delhis liquor business. Kejriwal allegedly assured support and asked Reddy to contact Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, who was reportedly working with Kejriwals team. The CBI claimed that Kejriwal also asked Reddy to provide monetary funding to the AAP, a fact they say is corroborated by contemporaneous documentary material.

K Kavitha allegedly told Reddy that 100 crore must be arranged for the AAP as upfront money by March 2021, the agency claimed, while also contending the L1 (wholesale) license given to Indospirits, a company in which K Kavitha and Reddys son Raghav Magunta had stakes, violated rules, and was granted despite pending complaints of cartelisation.

In the past, Kejriwals lawyers have questioned the credibility of the federal agencies relying on witnesses who were granted pardons and turned approvers, especially referring to Magunta Reddy.

The CBI has filed four charge sheets in the case against 17 accused persons, including Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia and 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 homemaker died by suicide in the Phulbari area of West Bengals Jalpaiguri district on June 29 shortly after she was tried for alleged adultery at a kangaroo court called by local villagers, of whom four were arrested on Tuesday, police said. The Jalpaiguri incident is the sixth instance in Bengal since June 22 where public trials led to deaths. (Representative image)

Among those arrested was Swapna Adhikari, a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker from Bakhra Vitta, the village where the incident took place.

The arrests were made on the basis of separate complaints lodged by the victims husband and the family of the man with whom she eloped on June 20 and returned home on June 28, said Nirmal Das, officer-in-charge of New Jalpaiguri police station.

Coming days after Tajimul Islam, a TMC worker, was arrested in the adjacent North Dinajpur districts Chopra on charges of caning a man and a woman at a roadside kangaroo court on Sunday, the Jalpaiguri incident triggered a political row with the opposition parties calling Bengal a lawless state.

The Jalpaiguri incident is the sixth instance in Bengal since June 22 where public trials led to deaths.

A 23-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death over suspicion of theft at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district on Sunday. Similar instances were reported in Kolkata on June 28, Salt Lake (on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata) on June 29, Jhargram district on June 22 (the injured victim died in hospital on June 30) and Pandua (in Hooghly district) on June 27. The victims in four of these cases were attacked over suspicion of theft. The only exception was the incident at Pandua where a brawl started over playing loudspeakers in public.

In the Jalpaiguri incident, the husband of the victim alleged before the media on Tuesday and he, too, was thrashed at the kangaroo court which was held bypassing police and Malati Roy, the TMC panchayat member from Bakhra Vitta, which is under the Phulbari-1 gram panchayat.

After I brought my wife home on Jun 28, the local people pressured me to face a kangaroo court. I wanted to talk to the panchayat member but they did not listen. My wife consumed pesticide minutes after they humiliated and thrashed her on June 29, said the victims husband, who has two sons.

Shambu Roy, husband of Malati Roy, the panchayat member, said: The deceased had eloped with another man earlier as well. Local people did not want to keep her in the village after she returned home on June 28. Some local women thrashed the woman but this was natural.

Speaking in defence of the villagers landed Shambhu Roy in the cross hairs of the Opposition while Malati Roy claimed that she was not even aware of the kangaroo trial.

I was busy in a meeting at the local club when all these things happened. I was not aware at all, said Malati Roy.

The officer-in-charge of New Jalpaiguri police station said: Nobody has lodged any complaint against the local panchayat member.

BJP state general secretary and legislator Agnimitra Paul said: These kangaroo courts and series of lynching have exposed the lawlessness in Bengal. Women are no longer safe.

Countering the BJP, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said: The nation has witnessed incidents like Unnao and Hathras in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. Our police and administration have taken action in all the cases. BJP leaders need not worry about Bengal.

Alapan Bandopadhyay, chief advisor to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, announced on Tuesday afternoon that the government would pay a compensation of 2 lakh each to the families of those who were lynched. Also, a member of each family would be recruited as home guards.
As three new criminal laws replaced the colonial era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act, the first FIR under Section 106 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 for causing death due to negligence was lodged at Rehra police station of Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. Besides Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the new laws include Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. (FOR REPRESENTATION)

Besides Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the new laws include Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023.

The first FIR was lodged by Amroha resident Sanjay Singh at 9.51am on Monday. The complainant mentioned the names of the two accused Rajveer alias Rajju and Bhoop Singh alias Bholu of his village Dhakiya Khadra for letting electric current pass through the fencing done by them around their agricultural field that resulted in the death of his father Jagpal Singh.

He said his father came in the range of the fence while working at his field adjoining the farm of the two accused.

Earlier, Section 304-A IPC covered death due to negligence.

We had been provided proper training about the three new laws that came into existence from today and there is no issue in registering the FIR under appropriate sections as every police station has been provided a handbook comparing the old IPS and the new BNS sections, said Rehra police station sub-inspector Praveen Kumar, the investigation officer (IO) of the case. We were prepared to initiate action under the new laws well in advance, he said.

The second FIR under Section 97 of BNS 2023 was lodged at Baradari police station of Bareilly at 10.17 am on Monday. The FIR was lodged by Sushil Kumar, resident of Sungadi village in Pilibhit district, against unidentified persons for kidnapping his child from Apollo hospital of Bareilly where he was undergoing treatment for the past three days since June 28. The complainant mentioned in the FIR that the hospital authorities informed him that his son was missing from his bed at around 6am on Monday after which he approached the police.

Earlier, Section 369 of IPC dealt with instances of kidnapping of a child below 10 years of age.

Registering FIRs will not be an issue. There is not much change in the investigation process, but the major challenge will be to go according to the new sections of BNSS and BSA as it has a time-bound investigation (and) mandates a certain mechanism to be followed while investigating the FIR under certain sections, said sub-inspector Vipin Kumar, the IO of the case.

The third FIR under Sections 305(a) and 331(4) of BNS 2023 was lodged at Shamsabad police station of Agra at 10.44 am on Monday. The FIR was lodged by Bhuri Singh, resident of Tula Tiwaria village under Shamsabad police station of Agra. He mentioned in the complaint that unidentified people sneaked into his house and committed theft of valuables and cash in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday when he was asleep.

Earlier, IPC Section 380 covered house theft and Section 457 criminal house trespass.

Similarly, the first FIR Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) under BNS Section 352 for using abusive language was lodged against three persons at Baberu police station of Banda at 7am on Monday.

In the NCR, the complainant, Kamta Prasad Upadhyaya, accused one Sampat and his two sons Matganjan and Shiv Mangal of using abusive and insulting language when they disturbed the boundary of his farming field on Sunday night. Earlier, the offences under this BNS Section were dealt with by Section 504 IPC.

BOX

All arrangements made

for implementation

of new laws: DGP

Director general of police (DGP) Prashant Kumar said: Arrangements were made by the Uttar Pradesh police for the implementation of the new criminal laws. The technical wing of the police has completed networking arrangements and provided the necessary software. The first three FIRs under the new laws were lodged in districts Amroha, Bareilly and Agra. A special event is being organised in all police stations to apprise the public representatives, police personnel and local people of the new laws.

Kumar also said the three new laws are more focused on providing justice to the victim, and not punishment to accused, in a time-bound manner and they have lessened the discretion of the investigation agencies.

He said the intent behind these laws is to provide justice within three years and get rid of cases pending for several years in a very transparent and genuine manner. He said these laws are aimed at easing the legal process and increasing the conviction rate to 90%.

The DGP said training for the three new laws for IPS and PPS officers has been completed cent per cent while training for 97.5% inspectors, 92% sub-inspectors and 93% head constables and constables have already been done. He said the remaining police personnel will be trained in another two-three days. Besides, a handbook has been provided to them to consult while registering FIR and conducting the investigation.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday took on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over on his statement on Ayodhya and asserted that the Rae Bareli MP was trying to defame Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya. The chief minister also stated that during Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi had given false and misleading statements. (HT FILE)

Rebuffing Rahul Gandhis statement in Parliament that no compensation was given to people displaced during the road widening drive in Ayodhya, Adityanath said 1733 crore compensation was given by the state government.

The chief minister also stated that during Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi had given false and misleading statements.

He gave misleading statements on the Constitution and tried to influence the election with the help foreign funds, he added.

Everyone knows who kept Ayodhya devoid of its identity till date. Rahul Gandhi and his allies not only kept Ayodhya in vanvas but also made the river Saryu red, Adityanath said.

Adityanath was referring to police firing on karsevaks in Ayodhya on October 30, 1990 during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime.

Whether it is Ram Path, Bhakti Path, Janmabhoomi Path or Ayodhya airport, compensation was given to all those whose land, house or shop was acquired, he said.

We have constructed shops for those who had space at the back (of demolished shops) and for those who didnt, we have allotted new shops in multilevel complexes, he added.
With the three criminal laws bringing changes to the countrys criminal justice framework, the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh has sent letters to all lawyers associations of the state and sought their suggestions, if any, on these laws by July 5. Chairman of the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh Shiv Kishore Gaur (HT PHOTO)

Thereafter, the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh will take up the issue with the Bar Council of India. Till then, it has asked all lawyers associations to refrain from protest. Voices of concern are being raised by lawyers all across the state about the new laws.

The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, an apex body of lawyers in the state, will form an expert committee of lawyers to review suggestions or changes recommended by lawyers, if any, before forwarding them to the BCI. The decades -old Indian Penal Code (1860) and the Indian Evidence Act (1872) enacted during British rule, have been replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita has replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (1973). These laws were passed by Parliament in December last and they came into force from Monday (July 1).

Chairman of the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh Shiv Kishore Gaur has urged fellow advocates to study new laws and compare them with old ones and thereafter point out flaws, if any. Interacting with HT, Shiv Kishore Gaur shared lawyers concerns related to new laws. Excerpts:

The Bar Council is getting calls from lawyers across the state expressing concern over laws.

We are in contact with all lawyers associations of the state and also all Bar Councils of the country.

A section of legal luminaries has voiced concern about these laws. Some are of the opinion that they might be against the general public or the legal fraternity.

We have sent letters to around 700 lawyers associations of the state asking them to study both the new and old laws and thereafter list out suggestions or changes, if any.

They will send their recommendations to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh by July 5. Thereafter, an expert committee of legal luminaries will study them and if required will forward them to the BCI.

Till then, we have asked lawyers not to stage protests against these new laws.

The BCI has assured lawyers that it will take up the issue with the Union government and convey their concern about the new laws.

The BCI has also issued an appeal to lawyers to refrain from any kind of protest against these new laws.
MANZINI - His Majesty King Mswati III has officially opened the E150 million Matsapha and Manzini Lifestyle Centres.

The King began at the Matsapha Lifestyle Centre, located near the Lusushwana River at Mahhala. After opening the shopping complex, owned by the Mansoor Group, the King toured the businesses. Next, he visited the Manzini Lifestyle Centre, which he also officially opened, before touring the shopping complex. During the tours, the King commended the Mansoor Group for their investment in state-of-the-art buildings.

Encouraged

He encouraged the group to invest more as the country works towards eradicating poverty and unemployment. Meanwhile, Matsapha Town Council Public Relations Officer (PRO) Sihle Sihlongonyane said Matsapha is known as the Kingdoms investment hub. They were pleased to witness the opening of new shopping complexes, factories and processing plants.

This will greatly contribute to the economy of the town and the country at large, the PRO said. He added that they believed that through such developments, more job opportunities would be available for emaSwati to earn a living. Sihlongonyane said they were also grateful to Their Majesties and government, for inviting investors to invest in the town of Matsapha.

It is worth noting that last week, the King toured and officially opened the upgraded Eswatini Meat Industries (Embiveni) and Infracast in Matsapha, companies owned by Inyatsi Group Holdings. Additionally, the King toured the Eswatini Oil Mill in Matsapha, which has the capacity to create over 100 000 job opportunities for emaSwati, who could venture into farming and supply the establishment with soybeans.
The Greater Noida police have arrested two individuals on charges of murdering a Dankaur resident earlier in June, senior officere said on Tuesday. During investigation, it was revealed that on June 16, Virendra was drinking alcohol with suspects Danish alias Bakra of Usmanpur village and Bunty of Roshnapur village in Dankaur. The three got into an argument over money and the suspects hit Virendra on the head with a brick, killing him. (Representational image)

The body of the victim was found two weeks ago but was identified only last week after his family came forward to file a missing person complaint, they added.

According to SM Khan, deputy commissioner of police, Greater Noida, on June 27, Bir Singh, a resident of Usmanpur village under Dankaur police station, reported that his 27-year-old brother Virendra Singh has been missing since June 16.

Earlier on June 18, an unidentified body was recovered from Parsol channel in Dankaur and the body was kept in the mortuary since then as it could not be identified. However, the description given by Bir Singh matched the unidentified body. The next day, on June 28, Bir Singh was shown the photos of the body, and he identified the body as that of his brother Virendra. A written complaint was taken from the family and an FIR was registered at Dankaur police station and investigation was launched, said Khan.

The autopsy of the deceased revealed that he was bludgeoned to death using a brick, said a senior officer at Dankaur police station.

During investigation, it was revealed that on June 16, Virendra was drinking alcohol with suspects Danish alias Bakra of Usmanpur village and Bunty of Roshnapur village in Dankaur at an isolated area near the Parsaul channel. The three got into an argument over money. During the fight, the suspects hit Virendra on the head with a brick and he died. They then disposed of his body and fled the scene, the officer said.

On the night of July 1, the two suspects were arrested from their residence.

They were booked under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the SC/ST Act. They were produced before a local court and sent to judicial custody on Tuesday. Further investigation is underway, said the DCP.
The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) on Monday visited the sewage treatment facility, located on the campus of a major IT firm in Greater Noida, where three workers drowned to death after falling into the septic tank on June 24 and ordered the formation of a committee to probe the deaths. Commission president M Venkatesan, and secretary Rahul Kashyap conducted inspections on Monday of the sewage treatment plant located in the basement of Coforge Digital IT Solutions in TechZone Sector (HT Photo)

The company has also been asked to provide necessary financial aid to the families of the deceased persons.

On June 24, three maintenance workers -- Mohit (24) of Greater Noida, Hari Govind (26) of Kanpur and Ankit Kumar (21) of Mathura -- died by drowning after falling into the septic tank of the STP while on duty.

A case was registered into the incident at the Ecotech-1 police station on a complaint given by the family of one of the deceased persons and a police probe is currently underway in the matter.

Commission president M Venkatesan, and secretary Rahul Kashyap conducted inspections of the sewage treatment plant located in the basement of Coforge Digital IT Solutions in TechZone Sector. The officials had arrived to gather information and issue necessary instructions concerning the incident, said district administration officials on Tuesday.

Orders were issued by the commission to form a committee in order to launch a fair probe into the incident. Directions have also been issued to provide the necessary financial compensation to families of victims as per the provisions and ensure necessary assistance, said Atul Kumar, additional district magistrate, finance and revenue.

A fair probe into the incident has been ordered and legal action will be initiated against the negligent based upon the findings, the ADM said.

According to the district administration officials, the family of workers who die in the line of duty while performing cleaning of sewers and sewage tanks are entitled to a compensation of 30 lakh.

There is a Supreme Court ruling that the government or the authorities concerned have to pay 30 lakh compensation to the kin of those who die while cleaning sewers, said ADM Kumar.

The commission officials held a meeting with the district administration after the inspections and directed the district officials to expedite the probe into the incident.

They later met the family members of the victims and assured them of necessary assistance on behalf of the Centre and the state government.
The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) did an about face on July 2 and said it has decided not to cancel the land allotments made to realtors Supertech and Sunworld Groups in Sector 22D in 2011 for constructing group housing projects. Supertech Township and Sunworld Infrastructure were each allotted 100 acres in Sector 22D in 2011. Supertech Township owes  677 crore to Yeida, while Sunworld owes the authority  816 crore. (HT Archive)

The Yeida board cancelled the allotments last week after the two realtors failed to pay their land cost dues. Yeida chief executive officer Arun Vir Singh said the cancellation was revoked after they realised that the cancellation was approved based on wrong recommendations that came from the law department.

Also Read: Noida getting out of reach for middle class? Average cost of an apartment rises to 1.68 crore

We have decided not to cancel the allotment of these two realtors because their cases are pending in the Allahabad high court. We have also decided to act against officials in the law department who proposed the action against the realtors. The law officers did not place the fact before the board that cases pertaining to these two developers are being heard by the Allahabad high court, said Arun Vir Singh, chief executive officer, Yeida.

Yeida said action will be taken against its legal officer and officials of the law department who provided wrong facts about the Supertech and Sunworld allotments.

Even though the case were pending in the high court, a proposal was put forward in the board meeting based on wrong facts to cancel the allotment of Supertech Township and Sunworld Infrastructure. This negligence lies with the law department. In view of the facts, a probe will be initiated, and action will be taken against the responsible officials and employees, said Singh.

During the board meeting on June 26, the authority approved the partial cancellation of land allotted to Supertech Township and Sunworld Infrastructure in Sector 22D, excluding the areas where residential projects have already been sold to homebuyers.

The developers' take

The developers informed the authority about the high court orders preventing any coercive action against them. Singh sought an opinion on this from the authoritys legal team, which confirmed that the developers claims were valid.

As per the legal report submitted to Yeida CEO, Supertech filed two petitions before the Allahabad high court. The first, filed in 2021, challenged the authoritys demand letter of dues issued in March 2021, seeking the benefit of a zero period. This case is still pending.

The second petition, filed in 2022, sought the disposal of its revision application pending before the state government, challenging the quantification of additional compensation.

Also Read: 7 things real estate investors should keep in mind before buying property in Greater Noida and Noida

In September 2022, the high court directed that the revisional authority decide on the application within six weeks, deferring recovery until a decision was made.This decision is still pending.

The legal team recommended that initiating cancellation of the lease deed or recovery of dues is not advisable at this time.

The CEO noted that there was also a stay order against any coercive action against Sunworld Infrastructure.

About the projects

Supertech Township and Sunworld Infrastructure were each allotted 100 acres in Sector 22D in 2011. Supertech Township owes 677 crore to Yeida, while Sunworld owes the authority 816 crore.

Also Read: Yeida cancels allotment of two real estate developers over pending dues

Both builders have not accepted the state governments rehabilitation package for stalled legacy projects despite repeated notices and have failed to clear their dues.

Acceptance of the state governments relief package would have provided Supertech a relief of 128 crore and Sunworld a relief of 156 crore.

Currently, both projects are incomplete, affecting approximately 3,200 homebuyers in Supertech Township and around 1,400 homebuyers in the Sunworld project.

Supertech Group spokesperson said, We have informed the Yeida that the Allahabad high court has restrained authority against taking coercive action in this case.

Sunworld Group spokesperson said, Our case is pending in the Allahabad high court for a final decision.
The father and grandfather of a teen allegedly involved in the Porsche car accident in Pune were granted bail in a case of kidnapping and wrongful confinement of a family driver. The father of the accused 17-year-old boy involved in the Pune Porsche accident case was arrested in an alleged abduction case. (ANI Photo)

Advocate Prashant Patil, a defence lawyer, informed that his clients were granted bail by the court in the alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement case.

"My clients will cooperate with the investigative agency and shall abide by stringent (bail) conditions of the court," Patil said.

The juvenile's parents and grandfather are in jail in two different cases pertaining to the incident  the alleged swapping of blood samples of the boy and the alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of the family driver, who was threatened to take the blame that he was behind the wheels when the accident took place.

Read: Pune Porsche crash: Bombay HC raises concerns over juveniles mental health

The juvenile was released from the observation home and his custody was handed over to his paternal aunt following the high court's order last week. The Pune police are planning to approach the Supreme Court against the Bombay HC order, reported PTI quoting Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar.

The teen was allegedly drunk and driving the luxury car belonging to his father, a real estate businessman, when it hit a two-wheeler in the Kalyani Nagar area of Pune in the early hours of May 19, killing two IT professionals.

There was outrage soon after the incident as the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) granted the 17-year-old bail the same day, ordering that he be placed under the care and supervision of his parents and grandfather, and instructing him to write a 300-word essay on road safety.

Read: After Pune Porsche crash, 12 illegal bars in MMR razed, 40 served notices

However, the bail order was amended amid public anger, and the juvenile was sent to an observation home in Pune, where he has been detained since. Pooja Jain, the juveniles paternal aunt, approached the court on June 14, seeking his immediate release.

The teens parents were arrested for their suspected role in swapping of blood samples of the juvenile. The minors mother on June 1admitted to evidence tampering, saying she switched his blood samples to conceal the fact that he was inebriated.

With PTI inputs
The evaporation of French President Emmanuel Macrons political fortunes in recent weeks has been as spectacular as his rise seven years ago on the back of a centrist movement. Even Macrons closest aides are now questioning his bewildering and sudden decision to call an election ahead of schedule after the far-right National Rally defeated his Ensemble alliance in European parliamentary elections. The National Rally won 34% of the votes in the first round of the election, while the left-wing New Popular Front coalition bagged about 29% and the Ensemble alliance 20.5%. The National Rally and its allies were in the lead or elected in 297 seats of the 577-member National Assembly, while Macrons alliance was in the lead or elected in just 69 seats and set to lose many of the 250 seats it has held since 2022. The far-rights strong showing may help it gather more support during the second round of voting on July 7. A woman looks at election posters of French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) candidate Sandrine Chadournec (C) in Libourne, southwestern France on July 2, 2024 as part of the French legislative elections. France's far right won the first round of pivotal legislative elections on June 30, 2024, with the centrist forces of France's President coming in only third behind the left after the highest turnout in over four decades. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP) (AFP)

If these trends continue during the second round of polling, the outcome could be a National Assembly divided between the far-right and the left, leaving Macron hamstrung and ineffective for the remaining three years of his final term. If the far-right continues to advance, Macron will be the first French president in more than two decades to contend with cohabitation, or having to work with a prime minister from a rival party or alliance.

The National Rallys surge has been welcomed by other right wing forces in Europe, such as Hungarys Russia-friendly prime minister, Viktor Orban. In recent years, Macron has worked to forge greater unity in Europe to cope with the challenges posed by Russia and China. Clearly, much more is at stake than Macrons political future as the outcome of the polls could also influence European integration and support for Ukraine in its dragging war with Russia.
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur has announced the commencement of its tenth batch of the flagship MBA programme, highlighting that 76 per cent or 244 of the total students enrolled are women, compared to 24 per cent or 76 male candidates. Another key feature of the batch, as per the institute, is that 60 per cent of the students are non-engineers. The inaugural event of the IIM Sambalpur's MBA batch was attended by industry leaders

Read: IIT Madras Launches Worlds First MBA in Digital Maritime & Supply Chain

It is noteworthy that exemplifying diversity, the cohort witnessed a significant enrollment by female students with 76% (244 nos.) and 24% (76 nos.) by the male students out of the total 320 students. Moreover, there was a significant rise in the percentage of non-engineers with 60% (194 students), while 40% students hailed from engineering fields (126 Students), the institute mentioned in a press release.

The institute informed that 19 per cent of the non-engineers have science and commerce backgrounds, while 12.5 per cent are from management, and 4 percent have the arts background.

Among the students, 46 per cent (146) have prior work experience, whereas 54 per cent (174) are freshers, it added.

The inaugural event of the batch was attended by industry leaders including Subrat Tripathy, President-Business development of Adani Group as the Chief Guest; Sumit Sangwan, Vice President - Sales and Marketing, Havells India Pvt Ltd as the keynote speaker. Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, who delivered the welcome note, and faculty members and students.

Unlock Success with Vellore Institute of Technology's Affordable MBA Programme

...Before 2017, the percentage of women students in MBA classes across IIMs was less than 11%, including IIM Sambalpur. In 2017, we made a bold decision to implement a policy that provided an additional 5% cut off reduction for female candidates when calling for interviews and then creating a common merit list. This initiative made history by achieving a 50% female enrollment from 2017 onwards, a model that has since been adopted by all IIMs, said Prof Jaiswal during his address.
NEET PG 2024 Date Live: The new exam date is expected to be released this week(Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image)

NEET PG 2024 Date Live Updates: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is expected to announce the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate or NEET PG 2024 revised exam date this week and hold the exam in mid-August. The NBE will share the NEET PG exam date through its official website, natboard.edu.in....Read More

NEET PG was scheduled for June 23, but the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) postponed it as a precautionary measure amid allegations against the integrity of competitive examinations in the country. It said a review of the robustness of processes of conducting the NEET-PG entrance examination will be done.

How to check NEET PG date on natboard.edu.in

Go to natboard.edu.in and open the NEET PG exam page. Open the exam date notification. Download it and check the new exam date.

With the exam rescheduled, the NBE is also expected to issue fresh admit cards. More details will be shared after the announcement of the new date.

NEET PG is the entrance test for Postgraduate Medical courses at institutions across the country.

Follow this live blog for all the latest information on NEET PG 2024 date.
The Teachers Recruitment Board, Government of Tamil Nadu, has released the admit cards for the Direct Recruitment for the post of Secondary Grade Teacher (SGT) 2024 on June 2, 2024. Candidates who have registered for the exam and wish to download the admit cards can visit the official website at trb.tn.gov.in. As per the official website, the recruitment test for the post of Secondary Grade Teacher (SGT) 2024 is scheduled to be conducted on July 21, 2024. (Image used for representation). (GETTY IMAGES.)

As per the official website, the recruitment test for the post of Secondary Grade Teacher (SGT) 2024 is scheduled to be conducted on July 21, 2024. Candidates need to bring their hall ticket to the allocated exam centre as no candidates without the hall ticket would be allowed to enter the exam hall.

Direct Link to download Admit Card

To download the admit cards, candidates need to furnish their login credentials like User ID and password. According to the official website, a change of request of centre will not be entertained.

Also Read: Navy Agniveer admit card 2024 for SSR, MR out on agniveernavy.cdac.in, link here

Candidates who have registered for the exam and wish to download the hall ticket can follow the below mentioned steps.

Steps to download the admit card for Direct Recruitment for the post of Secondary Grade Teacher (SGT) 2024:

Visit the official website of TN TRB at trb.tn.gov.in

Look out for the link to download the admit card for Direct Recruitment for the post of Secondary Grade Teacher (SGT) 2024 and click it

A new page appears where candidates need to submit their login credentials like User ID and password to access the hall ticket

On submitting the login credentials, hall ticket 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.

Also Read: AIAPGET 2024 admit cards to be out soon on exams.nta.ac.in/AIAPGET, here's how to download hall ticket
With the poor performance of a total of 125 Tripura schools under the Vidyajyoti scheme in Central Board Secondary Education (CBSE)-run board examinations, the Tripura government has focused on identifying loopholes to improve results in the future. The Class 10 and Class 12 recorded 61 percent and 55 percent pass percentage this year, as per Education Department sources. (HT Photo)

Of a total of 125 Vidyajyoti schools, 29 are Bengali medium and the rest 96 are English medium. The Class 10 and Class 12 recorded 61 percent and 55 percent pass percentage this year, as per Education Department sources.

Also Read: University of Strathclyde launches Innovative LLM Law, Technology and Innovation Course

In a review meeting held at the Civil Secretariat on Monday evening, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha asked the concerned headmasters and teachers to focus on improving the English skills of the students studying in Vidyajyoti schools and also ensure to make studies are understandable to the students during classes.

Simultaneously, he laid special emphasis on focusing on the schools that recorded poor results in the board examinations. If required, the state might hold talks with the CBSE experts, he added.

He also stressed the School Monitoring Committee ( SMC) to play an active role in this regard.

" The state government is taking all kinds of initiatives to improve the board results. The central government launched New Education Policy to improve quality education in the country. We shall surely get its benefit. If we resolve the problem after identifying it, success will surely come", said CM Saha.

Also Read: QS World University Rankings: O.P. Jindal Global University ranked number one law school in India, 72nd globally

Special Secretary of Education Department Raval Hamendra Kumar, in the meeting, highlighted different problems including lack of proper infrastructure in Vidyajyoti schools. He also stated that special focus was given to imparting training to teachers on the teaching process.

Chief Secretary JK Sinha, secretary to CM PK Chakraborty, director of Higher Education Department NC Sharma, other officials, different district Education officers, and teachers also attended the meeting.

Earlier in May, the Education Department asked the teachers to conduct special classes for the students who failed to qualify for their board examinations during the entire summer vacation.

The state government approved to convert a total of 100 schools to " Vidyajyoti Schools" with state-of-the-art facilities for providing quality education in 2021. All these schools were affiliated with CBSE under Mission 100. Later, more schools were brought under the Vidyajyoti scheme.

Different political parties including CPI(M) and Congress criticized the BJP for the unplanned conversion of Bengali medium schools to English medium with the shortage of qualified teachers.

Also Read: Mastering AILET 2025: Strategies for tackling unpredictable questions
The first look images of the highly-anticipated sequel to Gladiator is here! Vanity Fair revealed a bunch of new pictures of the cast on Monday evening, and fans cannot get enough of the upcoming epic that will be Gladiator 2, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger, and Joseph Quinn. (Also read: Russell Crowe on 'Gladiator' sequel: I'm slightly uncomfortable that they're making another one) Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington in a still from Gladiator 2.

Gladiator 2 first look

The sequel follows Lucius (played by Oscar nominee Paul Mescal), the son of Maximus' (Russell Crowe), who clashes with Pedro Pascal's General Acacius in a battle for power. Talking about his character, Paul said Vanity Fair, Its very angry young man drama in that sense. He can see the way Rome has kind of fallen in on itself. Rome represents all the personal neglect that he felt as a child. Suddenly hes thrust back into that world and has direct proximity to all of the things that he thinks he hates and doesnt feel attached to anymore.

Denzel Washington as Macrinus

Even as fans enthusiastically reacted to the first images of Gladiator 2, it was one look at Denzel Washington's character that garnered the maximum attention. The report adds that Denzel plays Macrinus, with director Ridley Scott stating, Denzel is an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, supplies wine and oil, makes steel, makes spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. So he is a very wealthy man. Instead of having a stable of racehorses, he has a stable of gladiators.

Mixed reactions

Reacting to Denzel's first look, a fan said, Might be more excited to see Denzel in this than anyone else and the cast is very good. A second fan wrote, The best to ever do it. Some of you are gonna see this for Mescal but many of us are gonna see this for Denzel, said a second fan.

However, there were also a lot of mixed reactions to Denzel being cast in a movie set in ancient Rome. Black Roman Imperator? Ahshhahahahhah Great job woke historians, read a comment. Another said, What in the woke is that casting? Can you leave period movies out of all this please?? A comment which defended the casting of Denzel read, lol this comment section aint it: first, no Denzel is not even playing an emperor here, hes playing a wealthy merchant and secondly, for gods sake THERE WAS A BLACK EMPEROR: Septimus Severus. Google is free people.

The original Gladiator, released in 2000, was a huge critical and commercial success, winning the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. Gladiator 2 releases in theatres on November 22.
MBABANE  Following the public outcry on charging residents for imiphakatsi stamps, Chief Gija has called for the arrest of anyone who charged for the service.

The Manzini Regional Administrator (RA), Chief Gija, is also calling for the arrest of anyone who charges members of the public for other services, such as confirmation letters issued by the royal kraals. Recently, Ekutsimuleni residents, under the Mkhiweni Inkhundla, complained that they were not receiving government services brought by the Ministry of Home Affairs, last Thursday, because they did not have E100 to pay for the royal kraal stamp. This is not the first time residents complained about being made to pay for royal kraal stamps.

Affected

It has been gathered that about 50 residents of Ekutsimuleni were affected on that day. Information gathered was to the effect that the E100 was paid towards the stamp, cartridge and paper. The royal kraal collected a sum of E5 000 from typing letters, alleged some of the residents. This means that those who do not have the E100, especially orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) and the elderly, will not get the necessary assistance. The less privileged have been hindered from getting government services since they are expected to pay the stamp fee. Masotja Magagula, who is a member of Ekutsimuleni Inner Council, confirmed that the royal kraal was charging residents for the royal kraal stamp and letters confirming that they belonged to the community.

Meanwhile, Chief Gija frowned upon the act of charging the public for the royal kraal stamp anytime they needed help. He encouraged the affected parties to report their complaints to the regional office. He wondered why the responsible individuals continued to charge the public for the stamp, despite being warned several times. How are we dealing with this issue if we (chiefs) are involved in this kind of practice? We have one King as well as government system, which is the Tinkhundla System of Government, as a nation, he said. Chief Gija wanted to know whether community members and the royal kraal agreed to the use of a computer to type conformation letters. He said: Were the citizens involved in all this? If they are now running a business by charging the residents, why are they not calling the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) to tax their business? he asked.

The Manzini RA further said people failing to pay allegiance to the King through kuhlehla must pay a fee for not attending meetings held within their imiphakatsi, instead of forcing them to pay for a stamp fee. Bayatigangela laba and government is supposed to arrest these people for such conduct. They cannot force emaSwati to pay such an amount before getting the royal kraal stamp. This means that these people operate a stamp company, he said. Meanwhile, Wandile Hlatshwako, one of the affected Ekutsimuleni residents, said he paid E300 before he and two of his unemployed family members received the stamp. He further said he also gave another elderly woman E100 in order to get the service she wanted.

We raised concerns on why we are being forced to pay such an amount. We were told that we paid for the services rendered by the umphakatsi. About 50 people were affected that day. Each of the 50 paid E100. This means they collected E5 000, alleged Hlatshwako. Hlatshwako further said a Home Affairs official advised the authorities of Ekutsimuleni not to charge the residents for the royal kraal stamp. He said the less privileged were the ones affected the most. On the other hand, Ekutsimuleni Indvuna Yemcuba Rogers Mamba, denied the allegations made by Hlatshwako, that some residents went back home without getting government services. Mamba said residents who paid allegiance to the King knew exactly how the E100 fee came about.

Letters

He said there were certain people who did not take part in activities of the umphakatsi, such as kuhlehla, but only appeared at the royal kraal when they required the umphakatsi stamp or confirmation letters. He said: Chiefdoms do not get any government subventions for their daily operations to run effectively. The E100 helps in buying paper, ink, giving a stipend to the secretary who assists with typing the confirmation letters. It is not everyone who comes for a confirmation letter. However, those who do not need to type anything only pay E50. I do not remember a single person being turned back for failing to pay the E100. Only one man raised this concern, Mamba said. It was also brought to his attention what Chief Gija had said regarding the umphakatsi stamp issue. He was told how the chief had always stated that to charge the public for the stamp was wrong.

In response, the Indvuna Yemcuba, Mamba, said: There is nowhere that government freely gives chiefdoms stamps. I cannot comment on what the Manzini RA said, rather than saying chiefdoms do not get government subventions. Other areas do get subventions, except chiefdoms. E100 is paid by those who do not participate in any of our activities at chiefdom level.
Tom Hanks' son, Chet Hanks, recently admitted to abusing drugs in the past. During his appearance on the latest episode of the Raw Talk podcast, the 33-year-old actor recalled doing so much cocaine that even cokeheads told him to chill. Chet Hanks recalled his past drug abuse in a recent episode of the Raw Talk podcast(Chet Hanks/ Instagram)

Chet Hanks admits to past drug abuse

The Greyhound actor explained that although he no longer does drugs, he struggled with cocaine in the past. The drug I had the most problem with was just f**king coke, dude, the Empire star told podcaster Bradley Martyn. Im a f**king cokehead, straight-up. Not anymore, but that is my drug of choice  cocaine, bro, like Tony Montana, he confessed.

Chet revealed that he would often come across fellow drug users, calling them known cokeheads in the club bathrooms. Youre like, I know this dudes a f**king cokehead, but I want a little bump. Like, OK, fine,' he said. I would go do coke with the cokeheads, and they would be telling me, like, Yo, chill, bro.  Wait a second. Give it like 15 minutes, the Your Honor star added.

He went on to say that at the time, he couldn't get enough of the harmful drug. But, no things have changed as he has realised that cocaine wasn't only so bad for his heart health, but also for his soul. Its terrible. It eats away [at you]. You just, like, wither away cause you cant eat, you cant sleep, Chet added.

This is not the first time that the Shameless star has opened up about struggling with drug abuse. In 2015, Chet shared in a video posted on Instagram that he had gone to rehab. A couple months ago, I was selling coke, doing coke until I couldnt even snort it up my nose anymore because it was so clogged. I even smoked crack, he revealed at the time.
A report has claimed that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopezs marriage has been over for months now. Page Six reported that as per sources, the couple have been apart since March. However, Affleck is still very protective of Jennifer. Ben Affleck very protective of Jennifer Lopez but their marriage has been over for months, report claims (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP)(AFP)

Rumours about the couples separation surfaced more than ever in May when Affleck was not by Lopezs side at important red carpet events, including the Met Gala. He was also noticeably missing at the premiere of her new Netflix project, titled Atlas.

Rumours were also rife after Lopez liked an Instagram post about unhealthy relationships. The post said, You cant build a relationship with someone who is disconnected from themselves.

Lopez also reportedly cancelled her This Is MeLive tour to take time off, to be with her children, family and close friends, as per Page Six. I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down, she told fans in her On the JLo newsletter at the time. Please know that I wouldnt do this if I didnt feel that it was absolutely necessary.

Insider says the marriage is completely over

An insider told the outlet in May that Affleck has come to his senses about his short-lived marriage to Lopez, and wished to split from her. Lopez recently travelled to France and Italy on vacation alone. Affleck is believed to have moved his belongings out of the couples mansion while his wife was away.

The pair is reportedly selling their $60 million marital mansion a year after they bought it. Affleck was seen visiting his former wife Jennifer Garners home last week.

Lopez and Afflect have yet to address the rumours. However, a source recently told Fox News Digital that Lopez is "heartbroken" about her marriage woes.

"The marriage is completely over, and Jennifer is heartbroken," the insider said. "She loves love and wanted this to work so badly."
Sarwat Gilani recently spoke about her struggle with postpartum depression post childbirth. She opened up on how her husband Fahad Mirza remained supportive to her. The Pakistani actor in an interview with Arry Digital told that she wanted to let go her newborn as she was unable to deal with the feelings of postpartum depression. (Also read: Pakistani actor Imran Abbas was called 'liar' over Heeramandi offer: I appreciate Sanjay Leela Bhansali's clarification) Sarwat Gilani stressed on the need for more conversations around postpartum depression.

Sarwat Gilani encourages awareness on postpartum depression

While speaking about he experience, Sarwat told, During that time I learnt what postpartum depression actually is. I met my baby after four days in the hospital as I had a serious surgery. She was struggling to have milk and I too was struggling. So, I had this feeling that I should better let her go just to get rid of the stress I am going through. When I entered the room I was crying. I told Fahad that I wanted to hurt the newborn. He told me that these are postpartum blues.

She further opined, So, it's okay and it is not your permanent feeling. So, you need the awareness that the strange feeling that you have they are not you. It's just the mental state that you are going through. Therefore, you must read more about postpartum depression to understand it better. Anything can happen to a person during that stage.

Sarwat Gilani's acting career

Sarwat made her movie debut with the Pakistani telefilm - Shadi Aur Tum Say? Her first theatrical release was Jawani Phir Nahi Ani where she played a pregnant Pashtun woman opposite Vasay Chaudhary. She repriseed her character in the movie's sequel - Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2. The actor also made her debut as a theater director with Kiski Topi Kiskay Sar. Sarwat gained praise for her supporting turn in Saim Sadiq's Joyland.

Sarwat married cosmetology surgeon and actor Fahad Mirza in August 2014. The couple also have two sons - Rohan Mirza and Araiz Muhammad Mirza.
The Bear Season 3 broke records by being the best performing FX premiere on Hulu. Released on June 26, The Bear also held the record for the best performing scripted series on the platform with 5.4 million streams in its first four days of launch, according to Disney. (Also read: The Bear Season 3 review: Ayo Edebiri directs the best episode of the best show on air right now) The Bear Season 3 released on June 26.

The Bear continues to bring in high viewership

The Bear, now for the second time, shows a solid 24% viewership increase for season 3, after its successful 70% viewership growth for season 2. The show is not only the most streamed scripted and FX premiere, but also ranks third for Hulus biggest season premieres of all time. The Bear also accounted for the biggest Hulu on Disney premiere, making it a huge OTT success.

The show is now available for streaming on all Hulu and Disney+ accounts in the US subcontinent, along with Disney+ accounts in select international regions. Hulu on Disney receiving streaming rights for The Bear was a major contributing factor for the shows success, according to Disney.

More details

Season 3 of the Emmy-winning show returned with familiar faces from the previous seasons, including Jeremy Allen White playing Richie, Ayo Edebiri as Sydney and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Cousin. Will Poulter as Luca and Olivia Colman as Chef Andrea Terry also return. This season also had cameos from star John Cena playing Sammy Fak, along with a host of real-life celebrity chefs too.

The Bear is an FX production created by Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo. Season 3 of The Bear revolve around the chaotic early days for the entire team as pressures rises on after the opening of the restaurant. It brings tension within the dynamic of Sydney and Carmy. Season 3 received mixed reviews from fans upon release, with many pointing out that it felt like a filler season in the follow up to Season 4.
Amol Parashar recently surprised fans by sharing a lesser-known and interesting detail from his lifehe excelled in the fiercely competitive IIT-JEE examinations. Days after the 2024 IIT-JEE results were announced this year, Parashar proudly revealed his achievement of securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 238 in exams. Amol Parashar had a rank of 238 in his IIT JEE Mains.

In an Instagram post, Parashar expressed his joy and nostalgia, reflecting on the first he made it to the newspapers. He wrote: Seeing all the IIT-JEE results ads in the newspapers last couple of weeks reminded me of the first time my face was in the newspapers!!(sic).

Also Read: World Social Media Day: Tisca Chopra, Amol Parashar and others reveal who they love to stalk online!

Speaking to us about his unexpected journey into acting, Parashar recalls his earlier focus on conventional career paths.

If somebody had told me I would be an actor, I would not even bet my money on it. I had done just one skit in school, nothing serious. But in college, there was some exposure [to acting], he tells us.

Parashar, known for his versatile roles in TVF Tripling (2016), Sardar Udham (2021), and Cash (2021), adds that options and professions like these didnt exist in the world he grew up in. I had never heard of any relative or cousin doing anything remotely creative. There were just lawyers, doctors, and teachers. And that is how the whole khandaan was brought up, he opines.

Describing the anxiety and anticipation that led up to his results day, the 37-year-old tells us, Your anxious. You make plans of all kinds like hua to kya hoga, nahi hua to kya hoga, which college will I go to. At least at that age, you feel that your life will be defined by that day (result day).

Recalling the moment when he received his IIT admission, Parashar shares, It was a matter of great happiness and pride. I do remember feeling a great deal of relief, when my results were declared.
Margot Robbie has starred across a multitude of big banner projects starting right with her debut in Leonardo DiCaprio's The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). A decade and counting, Margot has never ceased to amaze audiences with her commendable range in acting. While Suicide Squad (2016), I, Tonya (2017), Once Upon a Time...in...Hollywood (2019) and Babylon (2022) serve as a few career highlights for the actor, her biggest project to-date has been Greta Gerwig's Barbie which released in July last year. Margot, who also produced Barbie in part, led the dystopian, feminist billion-dollar grosser front and centre. While the slightly vintage and mostly pink ensembles in the film were an important cornerstone of the visual aesthetic, Margot's, press tour wardrobe, carefully curated by stylist Andrew Mukamal, took the cake as the actor toured the globe promoting the biggest film of the year. Here's taking a look at the most iconic fits from the lot. Margot Robbie turns 34: Throwback to her iconic Barbie press tour closet

Malibu Barbies

The look which kicked off Margot's press tour for Barbie, was almost all Bottega Veneta. A custom Knotted Melange Pleated Skirt with a matching bustier in bubble pink, stood accessorised with a Mini Cabat in Ribbon from the upscale Italian fashion house. Heart-shaped Jessica McCormack jewellery, a vintage rhinestone anklet from Chanel and white-framed Maison Margiela shades completed the look. Full props to the pink convertible, pulling off a complete shade-match for the all-pink frame.

2014's 'Pink and Fabulous' Barbie doll was the inspiration for one of Margot's following looks. She sported a custom polka dotted criss-cross bodycon in pink and white, paired with a bright yellow Rockstud Spike Bag from Valentino. Pristine white Manolo Blahnik pointed pumps, added a neat finishing touch.

Holographic Barbies

All-out holographic ensembles are choppy waters to tread  not for Margot though. The holographic aesthetic made an appearance on multiple occasions across the press tour. One of her early looks featured the actor in a knitted pale pink turtleneck crop sweater paired with a pleated holographic miniskirt in dusty pink, all from Versace.

Margot went vintage Versace once again, this time in an entirely holographic skater dress and Metallic Jadifa Mules from Manolo Blahnik.

A variation of this dress cropped up again in the form of a laminated leather metallic pink dress, also from Versace, during a media byte session.

The third holographic look was a customised Versace number which married a shimmering bodice with a poofed-up layered tulle skirt. Custom Manolo Blahnik pumps in pop pink and a Versace Crystal La Medusa bag completed the look. Incidentally, this look was directly inspired from the 1985 'Day-to-Night' Barbie doll.

Preppy Barbies

1964's 'Sparkling' Barbie doll was the inspiration behind Margot's rhinestone-studded Moschino skirt set with a custom-made bow-embellished headpiece. Custom Manolo Blahnik mules in a bright pink, a Moschino Quilted Heart Purse and pearl and bow earrings from Tiffany wrapped up the look.

Margot's next preppy pop pink look came with the buttoned Versace Cavalry Twill set she donned. A special mention must be made for the pale pink Moschino skirt suit with a cropped blazer standing out for its unmissable heart-shaped buttons  heart-shaped sunglasses and the brand's iconic Heart lock bag completed this look.

Tweed too featured rather heavily across Margot's press tour wardrobe. Be it the Alessandra Rich pale pink and black mini skirt suit, the Carolina Herrera resort wear belted dress or the textured Balmain crop top and midi skirt combination  safe to say, there has been no dearth of variation.

Red carpet Barbies

For the London premiere of Barbie, 1960's 'Enchanted Evening' Barbie doll served as inspiration for Margot's walk down the plush pink carpet. The custom baby pink Vivienne Westwood satin gown featured a corseted bodice, a ruched waist pinned with a flower leading into an asymmetrical trail and a statement feathered bust. Christian Louboutin Degramules and a layered pearl necklace and earrings from Assael, made up the final details.

She had drastically switched things up at the LA premiere for the film a few days prior, opting for an unanticipated all-black ensemble. With 1960's 'Solo in the Spotlight' Barbie doll serving as the mood board, Margot arrived in a custom Schiaparelli sequined midi gown by Daniel Roseberry. An outturned, structured tulle hemline, sleek black velveteen opera gloves, black Manolo Blahnik Patent leather mules and Lorraine Schwartz diamond jewellery tied up the look.

Off-duty Barbie

Barbie was quite the sensation all the way over in South Korea, as were Margot's airport looks. Channeling Barbie while being off-duty as well, the actor emerged from the airport in an Adidas x Gucci set, featuring a slightly oversized powder pink sweatshirt and light pink wide leg ripstop jersey pants. A Chanel Deauville shopping bag in coral pink and Versace Medusa platform sandals effortlessly completed the look.

Its not all pink!

If all that pink happens to be hurting your eyes, it is worth mentioning that Margot regularly switched things up with appreciable pops of non-pink here and there. On one instance she wore a yellow tweed mini skirt set from Chanel, paired with a white Quilted Feather bag from the brand.

1959's 'Mattel's First Barbie' doll inspired a custom Herve Leger striped bodycon in black and white.

On a rare occasion, Margot also donned prints, turning out in a strawberry stamped romper from Moschino.

Other notable looks in this regard included the tweed and sequin skirt suit set from Miu Miu in powder blue and a Dilara Findikoglu Bubble Cut dress in ruby red inspired from 1962's 'Bubble Cut Brunette' Barbie doll.

A detailed recapitulation of all that went into dressing Margot as she trotted the world for Barbie, has been captured in her and stylist Andrew Mukamal's joint venture, an extensive book by the name of Barbie: The World Tour.

We wish Margot a very happy birthday!
At least 116 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede that occurred Tuesday evening during a religious gathering in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh. A large crowd had gathered in a village in Hathras district for a sermon by a popular preacher Narayan Saakar Hari aka 'Bhole Baba'. Relatives mourn next to the bodies of their relatives outside the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district about 350 kilometres southwest of Lucknow, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.(AP)

"The attendees were exiting the venue when a dust storm blinded their vision, leading to a melee and the subsequent tragic incident," said Chaitra V., divisional commissioner of Aligarh city in Uttar Pradesh state, told AFP.

An eyewitness, however, said the rush among Bhole Babas followers for collecting raj (dust) over which the preachers vehicle had passed while leaving the venue was the reason for the stampede.

The chaos led to many being crushed or trampled, with some falling into a roadside drain. Lines of ambulances rushed the injured to hospitals. Outside a mortuary in the town of Etah, where many of the dead were taken, wailing women and crying men gathered, seeking news of their relatives.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and directed district officials to ensure the injured receive prompt medical attention and to expedite relief efforts at the site.

Did suffocation lead to Hathras stampede? What police, eyewitnesses say

Deadly incidents at religious gatherings are unfortunately common in India, often due to poor crowd management and safety lapses. In 2016, 112 people were killed after a banned fireworks display caused a massive explosion at a temple in Kerala. In 2013, a stampede at a bridge near a temple in Madhya Pradesh resulted in 115 deaths. In 2008, 224 pilgrims were killed and over 400 injured in a stampede at a hilltop temple in Jodhpur.

Here is a list of major stampedes in India over the years, most of them at religious festivals or gatherings:

January 2005: Over 340 devotees were trampled to death and hundreds injured during an annual pilgrimage at Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra's Satara district. The stampede was caused by slippery steps leading up to the temple.

August 2008: About 145 Hindu pilgrims died after rumours of a landslide triggered a stampede at the mountaintop Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh.

September 2008: A total of 224 people were trampled to death at the Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan during the Navratri festival. The stampede was triggered by rumours of a bomb going off at the temple in Jodhpur city.

March 2010: At least 63 people, more than half of them children, were killed in a stampede triggered by a massive rush for free food and clothes from a self-styled godman at a Hindu temple in Uttar Pradesh.

January 2011: At least 104 Sabarimala devotees were killed and over 40 were injured in a stampede when a jeep crashed into homebound pilgrims at Pulmedu in Kerala's Idukki district.

November 2011: At least 20 people were killed in a stampede in Haridwar at Har-ki-Pauri ghat on the banks of the Ganga river.

February 2013: At least 36 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a stampede on the busiest day of the Kumbh Mela, a massive gathering in Uttar Pradesh where more than 100 million pilgrims gather over two months.

November 2013: Around 115 people were killed and more than a hundred injured after a stampede at the Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh during the Navratri celebrations.

January 2022: At least 12 people died and more were injured in a stampede at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir after a huge crowd of devotees tried to enter the narrow shrine.

With inputs from Bureau and agencies
Absconding for 31 years, a 65-year-old man was arrested on Monday in connection with the 1993 Mumbai riots. The accused, Sayyad Nadir Shah Abbas Khan, was apprehended in the Sewri area of Mumbai by a team of Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg police, an official told the news agency PTI. Khan was allegedly involved in the riots that occurred in Mumbai after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992. 1993 Mumbai riots accused arrested after being on the run for three decades(HT File Photo)

Read more: 32 years later, man acquitted in post-Babri riot case

He was charged with attempt to murder and unlawful assembly during the riots in the city. While Khan was arrested at that time, he never attended court after obtaining bail, according to a PTI report.

Read more: Kenya violence: Indian high commission issues advisory

The court then declared Khan a wanted accused and issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The police frequented this residence in Sewri multiple times but could not find him. They finally got a lead about his whereabouts after examining the phone records of his relatives.

Read more: Chandigarh AAP protests against Kejriwals arrest

Officials of Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg police station got information on June 29 that Khan would visit his Sewri residence. A trap was laid by the police and he was arrested. An official told PTI that the case was being further probed.

The Bombay riots took place between December 1992 and January 1993. Approximately 900 people died during the riots, according to historian Barbara Metcalf. By her estimate, a majority of those who died were Muslim, followed by Hindus.

Recently, Rajesh Jaiswal, a taxi driver in Mumbai was acquitted by a session courts in connection with the case. According to an HT report, 15 others are reported to still be absconding three decades later, after being named as accused in the case.
A woman in Bihar reportedly attacked and cut off the private parts of a man in the Saran district after he refused to marry her. The woman was taken into custody and interrogated, and a blood-stained knife was recovered from her possession. The injured man was rushed to the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment. A 26-year-old woman from Bihar cut the private parts of a man

After interrogation, the accused said she and the victim were in a relationship from the last two years, but the man refused to marry her. She attacked him after an argument after he denied her proposal.

The incident took place at a private nursing home under the Marhaura police station in Saran district on July 1 around 10am. Police reached the spot after receiving the information and sent the victim to a local hospital for treatment, from where he was referred to Srishti Hospital, Patna for treatment.

The 26-year-old woman, claimed to be a doctor, was in a relationship with the 30-year-old victim for two years. She accused him of sexually exploiting her on the pretext of marriage.

The couple had reportedly planned to register for marriage in a court in Chhapra on July 1. However, the man failed to show up to court.

The woman said she was deeply hurt by his actions, so she called him to her clinic and attacked him. The accused injected him with a medicine and then cut off his genitals, leaving him bleeding profusely.

"During questioning, the woman revealed that both of them had been in a relationship for the last two years. Today (July 1), both of them were going to marry each other in a court in Chhapra, but the man refused at the last moment, leading to such an incident," the police told ANI.

During the questioning, the woman also claimed to have undergone two abortions at his persuasion.

(With inputs from ANI)
The Allahabad High Court has observed that religious congregations where conversions take place should be stopped immediately, or the country's majority population will become a minority one day. The Allahabad HC has directed the principal secretary, basic education, UP, to ensure that all district basic education officers start performing their duties promptly at the earliest (HT file)

Justice Rohit Rajan Agarwal made the observation while rejecting the bail application of one Kailash, who is accused of being involved in the religious conversion of several people from a village here.

"The word 'propagation' means to promote, but it does not mean to convert any person from his religion to another religion," the court said.

Also read | Gujarat govt notice requires Hindus to seek permission for converting to Buddhism

"In the instant case, there are serious allegations against the applicant by the informant that her brother, along with several others, were taken from their village to attend a gathering in New Delhi and converted to Christianity. The brother of the informant never returned," it said.

"If this process is allowed to be carried out, the majority population of this country would be in the minority one day. Such religious congregations should be immediately stopped where conversions are taking place," the court observed.

In its order passed on Monday, the court said that the statements recorded by the investigation officer clearly revealed that Kailash had been taking people to attend religious congregations in New Delhi where they were being converted to Christianity.

Also read | New BJP govt in Rajasthan to introduce fresh law on religious conversion

"It has come to the notice of this court in several cases that unlawful activity of converting SC/ST people and other castes, including economically poor persons, to Christianity is being done at rampant pace throughout Uttar Pradesh.

"This court, prima facie, finds that the applicant is not entitled to bail. Hence, the bail application of the applicant involved in the aforesaid case crime is hereby, rejected," it said.

A case under Section 365 (abduction) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3/5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act was lodged against Kailash at Maudaha police station in Hamirpur district in 2023.

Also read | Allahabad HC upholds interfaith couples right to Special Marriage Act without conversion

According to the FIR, one Ramphal, brother of the informant Ramkali Prajapati was allegedly taken to Delhi by Kailash to attend a social gathering. Several others from the village were also taken to such gatherings where all of them were converted to Christianity.

The applicant had promised the informant that her brother who was suffering from a mental illness would be treated and would return to the village within a week.

However, when that did not happen, she asked Kailash about her brother but did not get a satisfactory reply. She then approached the police.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Tuesday emphasised that court premises are not merely structures of bricks and concrete but are constructed from the profound ideals of hope and justice, as he underscored the multifaceted role of courts in society, the imperative of inclusivity and the pressing need for environmentally sustainable infrastructure. CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud at the foundation stone laying ceremony of new court buildings in Delhi. (HT PHOTO)

Delivering the presidential address at the foundation stone laying ceremony of three new court buildings in Delhis Karkardooma, Shastri Park, and Rohini, the CJI encapsulated his vision for the judiciary where physical spaces symbolise and nurture the principles of justice they are meant to uphold.

Courts are made to realise the virtues of justice and the rule of law. Every case that is being filed before us is with that hope for justice. When we invest in the safety, accessibility, and comfort of our judges, lawyers, and litigants, we build more than just an efficient system. We make a just and inclusive system, Justice Chandrachud said.

The CJI underscored the judiciarys crucial role in safeguarding justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. He referenced the historical example of the Rama Kamati case from 1720 as a stark reminder of the perils of miscarriage of justice.

Kamati, a wealthy noble from Bombay, was wrongfully accused and convicted of conspiring against the East India Company based on fabricated evidence and custodial torture. His servant, under duress, falsely implicated him, leading to Kamatis conviction by Governor Boone and his council, who were also his prosecutors.

The CJI said the case highlighted the dangers of rough, ready, and handy justice, which he described as an anathema to the rule of law and procedural guarantees which we have all come to cherish.

Courts engage in rigorous discussions and arguments over legal principles and their application to specific cases. Judges carefully deliberate on the merits of each sides arguments before reaching a decision, ensuring a thorough and balanced examination of the issues at hand. Much like how the cornerstone of buildings shape its structure and orientation, the cornerstone of justice and equality must shape the orientation of the courts approach to cases, he added.

Inclusivity was another central theme of CJI Chandrachuds address. He said that accessibility measures must be intrinsic to building designs, not mere afterthoughts. Accessibility measures are not annexes or afterthoughts to a building but an inherent structural consideration, the CJI pointed out as he recounted a poignant story involving disability rights groups advocating for accessible features at Indias historical monuments.

When renowned physicist Stephen Hawking visited India, temporary ramps were installed at several monuments to facilitate his movement. It is believed that if you touch the Qutub Minar and make a wish, it comes true. When Stephen Hawking was asked what he wished for at Qutub Minar he said that I wish when I leave, these ramps remain... said Justice Chandrachud, highlighting the necessity of accessibility in all public spaces, including courts.

The new court buildings, he said, are designed to be universally accessible, allowing for comfortable navigation of the premises, and will incorporate essential structural safety features. These foundational considerations are vital if we are to make for an inclusive judiciary, CJI Chandrachud said as he highlighted the historical evolution of the Karkardooma Court, which was the first in Delhi to be equipped as an e-Court in 2010. The new buildings will enhance the efficiency of the courts and reduce case backlogs, providing a dignified environment for all stakeholders.

The CJI addressed the urgent need for environmentally sustainable infrastructure, especially given Delhis record-breaking heatwaves and recent rainfall. Our infrastructure must reflect the reality we live in. Climate change can no longer be ignored, he said.

The new GRIHA-rated court buildings will feature lush greenery, shaded facades, diffusion of natural sunlight, and rainwater harvesting, among other measures. These features aim to mitigate the urban heat island effect and reduce the environmental footprint, aligning with the broader goal of incorporating a green lifestyle into daily operations, Justice Chandrachud said.

In his concluding remarks, CJI Chandrachud hoped the new court buildings would honor their rich legacy while embracing future advancements. I am hopeful that the new additions to the courts will embrace its rich legacy and create futuristic courts to enhance efficiency and uphold justice, he said.

The ceremony was also attended by Delhis lieutenant governor VK Saxena, Supreme Court judge Hima Kohli, chief justice of Delhi high court Manmohan, Delhi high court judge Rajiv Shakdher, and Delhi minister Atishi.
A Delhi court on Tuesday allowed jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, to take the oath of office as a member of Parliament (MP) by granting him custody parole on July 5. Engineer Rashid. (File)

Additional sessions judge (ASJ) Chander Jit Singh granted Rashid custody parole for two hours.

Rashid, who is currently in prison in connection with a 2016 Jammu & Kashmir terror funding case, had approached Delhis Patiala House court on June 5 seeking interim bail or custody parole to take oath and perform other ancillary functions as a member of Parliament.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday gave its nod to allow him to take the oath, however, the agency prayed that certain conditions be imposed.

Rashid, a former two-time MLA who heads the Awami Ittehad Party, was arrested in 2019 in a case filed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and is currently lodged in Tihar jail in the national Capital.

He was the first mainstream leader held under UAPA and has been in jail on terror financing charges. He was being probed in a case where it was alleged that funds were received by Kashmiri separatists from Pakistan to instigate terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rashid contested as an independent candidate from Baramulla seat in Jammu and Kashmir and won by a margin of 2,04,142 votes, defeating former chief minister Omar Abdullah.

Indian law does not explicitly prohibit undertrials from contesting elections. While a lawfully imprisoned person is prohibited from voting under Section 62(5) of the Representation of People Act (RPA) (if they are confined in a prison, whether on a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise or if they are in the lawful custody of the police), a 2013 amendment to the Act states that the person will still be considered an elector if their name is on the electoral rolls.

The amendment was carried out to nullify a July 10, 2023, Supreme Court judgment that anybody in police custody or jail will not be able to contest elections because the person ceases the right to cast vote as an elector. The amended provision, however, allowed even an imprisoned person to contest elections.

Interestingly, Section 8(3) of the RPA states that a person convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for at least two years is disqualified from contesting elections for six more years after their release. However, this does not apply to undertrials, who have not been convicted.
At least 107 people, mostly women, were killed in a stampede at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district on Tuesday. The incident took place at Rati Bhanpur village, where a preacher named Bhole Baba had organised a satsang (religious meeting). Hathras: Devotees at the religious gathering where a stampede broke out.(PTI)

Those dead or unconscious were brought to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre stuffed in trucks and other vehicles.

An eyewitness told news agency PTI that the stampede took place when devotees started to leave the venue after the 'satsang'.

Sikandra Rao police station's SHO, Ashish Kumar, said the stampede occurred due to overcrowding.

The Uttar Pradesh government said that an FIR will be registered against the organisers of the event.

The loss of lives in the unfortunate accident in Hathras district is extremely sad and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved family, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath wrote on X.

Inspector General (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur said the satsang meeting was organised by Bhole Baba, a religious preacher.

The officer said the meeting was organised inside a closed tent. He said that the stampede took place because the devotees felt suffocated.

"It was the satsang meeting of Bhole Baba, a religious preacher. A temporary permission was granted for gathering at the spot on the border of Etah and Hathras district on Tuesday afternoon. It was a closed enclosure of tent and, prima facie, it seems that suffocation led to discomfort and those gathered ran here and there, leading to the stampede," he said.

Jyoti, a teenager admitted to Etah's district hospital, said the devotees tried to leave the premises in haste, leading to the stampede.

There was a huge crowd gathered at the spot. It all happened when satsang ended and all were in haste to leave the enclosure. There was no way out and everybody fell on each other, and the stampede took place. When I tried to move out, there were motorcycles parked outside which blocked the way out," she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu condoled the loss of lives.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government.

"We were inside the Lok Sabha when we received the information about the incident. The question is so many people died... what was the government doing? The government is responsible for the safety and security of people gathering on such a large scale. The government should help the families of those killed. We are hopeful that the government will provide good medical treatment to the injured," he said.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
Shambhavi Choudhury first moved to the Capital in the spring of 2016 as a bright-eyed 18-year-old from Patna. As an undergraduate student of sociology, Choudhury spent three years shuttling between her paying guest accommodation and the leafy campus of Lady Shri Ram College in south Delhi. I did everything a girl in DU has to do  splitting bills, hopping between cafes in GK1, fighting over plates of momos  all in the middle of two hour class breaks, she said. And being late to the next class.

An alumna of LSR and Delhi School of Economics, Shambhavi Choudhury was a director in a Patna school for a few years. (Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times)
Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya is now facing a fresh legal action by the Central Bureau of Investigation as a special CBI court issued a non-bailable warrant against him in the 180-crore loan default case linked to Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). The NBW was issued against Mallya on June 29 by special CBI court judge SP Naik Nimbalkar, and a detailed order was made available on Monday. Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya (REUTERS)

The CBI, in its warrant, said the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines promoter caused a wrongful loss of 180 crore for the government-run Indian Overseas Bank by the willful non-payment of the loan.

Mallya is currently residing in London and has been declared a fugitive economic offender in the money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Indian government is currently seeking his extradition.

Citing other non-bailable warrants issued against the 68-year-old businessman after considering CBI submission, and his status as a "fugitive", the court noted, "this is a fit case to issue an open-ended NBW against him to secure his presence".

The warrant issued by the CBI court is linked to a cheating case registered by the central agency regarding the alleged division of loans availed by Kingfisher Airlines between 2007 and 2012. The chargesheet says that the loan was issued to the private carrier based on an agreement.

The chargesheet claims that Mallya was dishonest and had the intent to cheat, which is why he "willfully" defaulted on the repayment obligations under the aforesaid loans and caused a wrongful loss of 141.91 crore on account of default on loans. An additional loss of 38.30 crore was caused by the conversion of loans into shares.

The CBI plea said that Vijay Mallya is a fugitive and an absconder who continues to live in England and subvert the process of law in India.

Considering the CBI submission, the court said Mallya has absconded, declared a fugitive and NBWs are pending for execution against him in other cases. So no purpose will be served by issuing process (summons) to him.

(With inputs from PTI)
PANAJI: Two men from Karnataka have been arrested by the Goa Police on charges of running a recruitment agency that lured people to travel abroad with attractive job offers but sent them to firms running scam call centres in Cambodia and Thailand. The Goa police also urged family members of individuals working in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam to verify the whereabouts of their relatives (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Nashir Ahamad Tigadi of Belagavi and Mohammad Haji of Vijapura have been arrested, the state police said. Police started probing the case after receiving two complaints from three persons that accused the two suspects of running a recruitment firm in Mumbai. They allegedly approached the victims with an offer for a job that paid a monthly salary of 1 lakh.

Upon his arrival at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 11 April 2024, the victim was taken to Dana Technologies, a company involved in fraudulent activities, including creating fake social media accounts to lure potential victims into cryptocurrency trading scams. This victim came back in May 2024, police said.

Two other victims were told they were being recruited for a casino company in Thailand and left on February 14 this year. Instead, they landed in Thailand and were placed with a call centre in Cambodia. They came back to Goa in March 2024 after making medical excuses, police said.

Efforts are on to trace other accused persons to uproot the illegal network of recruitment. Mobile phones of the accused have been recovered with incriminating evidence, Superintendent of Police (Crime) Rahul Gupta said.

The state police also urged family members of individuals working in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam to verify the whereabouts of their relatives and asked those engaged in cyber crimes in these countries to return immediately. Failure to do so will result in legal action initiated by the Goa Police, Gupta said.
Hathras Stampede News LIVE: In a tragic incident, at least 107 people, including mostly women, died in a stampede during a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district on Tuesday afternoon. The incident took place shortly after a religious preacher, Bhole Baba, addressed his followers at a specially laid tent in the Rati Bhanpur village within the Sikandra Rau area of Hathras district....Read More

According to the police, prima facie, it appears that suffocation at the venue led to discomfort among the people attending the Satsang. Following this, the people started running, causing a stampede.

The exact cause of the incident is being investigated.

Meanwhile, one of the survivors recounted the horror, saying that the stampede took place when the religious event ended, and everyone was rushing to leave the place. There was a huge crowd gathered of followers at the spot. There was no way out, and everybody fell on each other, and a stampede took place. When I tried to move out, there were motorcycles parked outside, which blocked my way. Many fainted while others died, a victim, who was admitted to a nearby hospital, said.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday took cognizance of the incident and announced an ex gratia of 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and 50,000 for those injured.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
The Telangana high court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao seeking to stall the ongoing judicial probe into the alleged irregularities in the states power sector during his regime. The High Court bench rejected KCRs argument that the commissions observations at the press conference were pre-judged (PTI)

A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, which reserved its orders on Friday after hearing the arguments of the petitioner and the government, pronounced its judgement on Monday, a copy of which was reviewed by HT.

KCR, as the BRS chief is popularly called, in his petition in the High Court on June 24, questioned the constitution of the Justice L Narasimha Reddy Commission to investigate into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of 1,000MW of power from Chhattisgarh and also the construction of the Bhadradri and Yadadri Thermal Power Plants during the previous regime.

The former chief minister argued that the order issued by the Congress government on March 14, constituting the judicial commission, was in violation of the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 and Electricity Act, 2003. The commission has no jurisdiction as the terms of reference were subject matter of adjudication before both Telangana and Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, he said.

Stating that the judicial commission had served him a notice asking him to file a reply on or before June 15, the BRS chief pointed out that even before he could submit the reply, Justice Narasimha Reddy held a press conference on June 11, affirming that there were irregularities in the power purchase from Chhattisgarh and the construction of Bhadradri and Yadadri power plants.

The proceeding initiated by the Commission suffers from bias and the issue pending before it has already been pre-judged, KCR argued and told the court that he had written a letter to Justice Narasimha Reddy to recuse himself from heading the commission.

However, the High Court bench rejected KCRs argument that the commissions observations at the press conference were pre-judged. The press conference was held to update the media about the status of the proceeding before the Commission. It does not contain any material so as to indicate that Justice Narasimha Reddy has pre-judged the issues pending before him, the bench said.

The bench also refused to buy the argument of the former chief minister that the judicial commission had no jurisdiction to inquire into the power purchase agreement or the construction of the two power projects. It said the terms of reference of the judicial commission were far wider than the issues adjudicated by the state power regulatory commissions.

Stating that the Commission of Inquiry is purely a fact-finding body and is required to collect facts through evidence produced before it, the bench said the Justice Narasimha Reddy commission shall submit its report to the government, which may or may not accept.

It has neither any power to pronounce a binding or definitive judgment nor has power to enforce its report, the bench said.

The judicial commission would give a reasonable opportunity to the petitioner of being heard in the inquiry and producing evidence in his defence, the bench added.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday inaugurated the curriculum of four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUP) in the state, stressing that it is in line with changes in the global education system where focus is equally on imparting knowledge as well as transfer of skills and vocational training. As per the new curriculum, students will have no restrictions when it comes to choosing their minor and major subjects. (ANI)

The new programmes will promote mental and social development of students through innovative pedagogy, giving importance to research and employability and adopting quality learning methods, the chief minister said at an inauguration event in Thiruvanthapuram.

The introduction of FYUP curriculum is part of the state governments ambitious reforms in the higher education sector amid reports of large-scale migration of students from the state to other states in India as well as abroad for higher education.

Current programmes and courses are being revised based on a two-pronged approach that emphasises both knowledge generation and skill training. Curriculum in the field of technology has been revised with a view to provide full industrial experience to the students during the final year by assimilating the new changes, the Kerala CM said in a statement.

Students will be able to choose their minor and major subjects as per their choice and there will be no restrictions. For example, science students could pursue courses in humanities or arts streams, Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Until the first batch of FYUP students pass out, colleges, universities and the higher education department will closely monitor the curriculum and how well the students are adapting to it, he added.

Keralas higher education minister R Bindu had announced in May that all universities in the state will offer four-year UG programmes from July 1 as part of which the degree will be granted after three years and an honours degree after successful completion of four years.

There is also provision for students to seek inter-university transfers without changing their courses. Theres also an option for students to complete their degree in two-and-a-half years if they secure the credit requirements in that period.
Police said on Tuesday that a woman who disappeared 15 years ago at the age of 20 from her husband's and parents' homes in this coastal district has been confirmed to be dead. Kerala woman, who was missing for 15 years, found to be killed (Representational)

The SP of Alappuzha Chaitra Teresa John confirmed that the woman had been killed.

The officer also confirmed that a case in that regard has been lodged and police presently suspect the involvement of the woman's husband who is in Israel.

The official also said that a special team has been constituted to investigate the case.

"Evidence collection has to be done speedily and it is very important to do so as the case is so old," the SP said at a press conference here.

The officer also said that the arrest of the five persons in custody would be recorded soon.

The confirmation came after the police carried out a several hours-long search and evidence collection by opening up the two septic tanks in the missing woman's husband's home.

It took the step after it received an anonymous letter, a few months back, alleging that her husband killed her and buried the body in the septic tank of his house, police said.

The visuals of the search operation showed police retrieving a hair clip and remains of some clothing from inside the septic tank.

According to the woman's family, she left her matrimonial and paternal homes after she was accused of having an affair with someone by her husband's family.

Her husband was working abroad at that time, the missing woman's sister-in-law told a TV channel.

The sister-in-law said the woman had called her twice within a month after she left both homes and told her that she was living with some man in Palakkad.

"So, till now we believed that she was alive and well. Even now we are hoping so," the family said.
Australian PM refuses to attend NATO summit in Washington next week

Washington, July 2 (UNI) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has decided to skip the upcoming NATO summit in Washington and send a delegation led by Defence Minister Richard Marles, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The decision was reportedly made after Albanese has not received a confirmation for a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden ahead of the summit. The prime minister's office advised him not to go at all in order to avoid controversies, the newspaper reported.

Initially, Albanese was expected to hold meetings with his counterparts from Japan, South Korea and New Zealand within the Indo-Pacific Four on the sidelines of the summit.
Congress president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over a host of issues, including alleged irregularities in this years National Eligibility Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG), and levelled allegations against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), even as Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar defended the organisation, objected to some of the remarks and expunged them from the records. Kharges attack on RSS sparks strong objection by Chairman

Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address in the Upper House, Kharge also cited the recent terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, the collapse of canopy at three airports, the train accident in West Bengal, the violence in Manipur, bridge collapses in Bihar and the hike in toll tax during the third term of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-led government, and took a swipe at Modi over his remark that the last 10 years of his rule was just a trailer and picture abhi baaki hai (the real picture is yet to come).

How the Prime Ministers picture would be, we have been able to imagine in the last one month, Kharge said.

During his nearly 90-minute speech in the Upper House, Kharge lashed out at Modi for allegedly invoking communal sentiments during the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections and cited newspaper reports to buttress his remarks.

The Congress president alleged that Modi tried to stoke fears about the Congress manifesto by saying there was a plan to take away the assets of the majority community and divide the same among minorities. He further read out portions of the Prime Ministers speeches where the latter spoke about the Congresss attempt to snatch the assets, including mangalsutra, of Hindu women.

The government diverts public attention from important issues. When the Opposition talks about farmers, Narendra Modi talks about releasing the buffaloes When the Opposition talks about BJPs divisive thinking, Narendra Modi talks about Aurangzeb and the Mughals While the Opposition talks of unemployment and paper leaks, Narendra Modi talks of mangalsutra and mujra.., the LoP said in the House.

Instead of listening to the people and the Opposition, Modi starts speaking his Mann Ki Baat, Kharge said, referring to the Prime Ministers monthly radio broadcast.

The Congress leaders remarks evoked a sharp reaction from Dhankhar who asked the former to authenticate his assertions about Modi. As Kharge said the speeches were sourced from newspapers, the Chair refused to accept the explanation and said such reports cannot be used for authentication, prompting the Opposition to protest.

Kharge was backed by his party colleague and former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, who asked how an opposition MP could authenticate what the Prime Minister has said other than by citing news reports.

Dhankhar, however, did not accept the arguments and expunged the remarks made by Kharge from the records. It wont go on record. It is derogatory, defamatory.., he said.

Kharge also took potshots at the BJP over its election slogan Ab Ki Baar 400 Paar and alleged the party that exuded hubris had shrunk as the people taught them a lesson during the general elections.

This was the first election in the history of the country where the issue was protection of the Constitution. The BJP had given the slogan of crossing 400. Its leaders had even talked about changing the Constitution if they crossed 400, Kharge said.

In the run-up to the elections, the Opposition had accused the BJP of setting a target to win 400 out of 543 seats to change the Constitution and do away with caste-based quotas  a charge that was dismissed by Modi and the BJP.

Though the BJP emerged as the single largest party, winning 240 seats in the general elections, it fell short of the simple majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha, making it dependent on allies to form the next government. Overall, the BJP-led NDA enjoys a comfortable majority with 293 seats.

Kharge also took a swipe at Modi over his remarks in the 17th Lok Sabha that he is capable of taking on the Opposition uniting against him.Ek akela kitno pe bhari, Modi had said in Rajya Sabha in February last year when the Oppositionhad raised slogans during his reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address.

Ek akela par aaj kitne log bhaari he, election ne dikha diya ki desh ka samvidhan aur janata sab par bhaari hei (Elections proved that Constitution and public weigh over everything), the LoP said. The Opposition had to constantly struggle to put forward its views in the House because the BJPs thinking was that there should be no opposition in Parliament, he added.

Attacking the Centre over instances of paper leaks and irregularities in key exams, Kharge said: If this keeps happening, students will stop studying...there have been 70 instances of paper leaks in the last 10 years.

The Opposition has targeted the Centre over allegedly skewed results in NEET-UG, paper leaks that led to the cancellation of UGC-NET, and the postponement of other exams such as CSIR-NET and NEET-PG. In all, a total of 3.7 million students are affected by the postponements and cancellations.

Kharge also said that while the Prime Minister made numerous trips across the country during the poll campaign, he did not visit Manipur, roiled by ethnic violence, even once. He talks about women and the poor. But Manipur has been burning for a year, he has not gone there till date, he said.

The northeastern state has been roiled by ethnic clashes, primarily between the Meiteis and Kukis, since May 3 last year, leaving 219 people dead and more than 50,000 displaced so far.

Kharge accused the government of taking arbitrary decisions over relocation of statues of freedom fighters in Parliament premises. There was no meeting or prior consultation. It was done as though in authoritarian rule, he said.

The iconic statue of Mahatma Gandhi was recently relocated away from its prominent position in front of Parliament House to inside the Lok Sabha complex where a dedicated area, Prerna Sthal (place of inspiration), is being developed to host all statues in the Parliament complex.

Dhankhar said the relocation was carried out methodically and there should not be criticisms for the sake of it.

Talking about the education system in the country, the LoP made certain allegations against the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP. As Dhankhar expunged the remarks, he defended the organisation, saying it was engaged in working for the nation.

Kharge also expressed dismay at the Presidents address to the joint sitting of Parliament last week, saying there was no vision or direction in the speech. He said that President Droupadi Murmus speech, which was delivered on Thursday, ignored the challenges faced by the country and tried to hide the governments failure.
The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, was suspended on Tuesday for five days due to alleged misbehaviour in the House. Ambadas Danve

The action has been taken after BJP legislator Pravin Darekar claimed that Danve used foul language in the House on Monday evening while responding to a discussion on Congress leader Rahul Gandhis now-expunged remarks in the Lok Sabha.

Earlier on Monday, BJP legislator Prasad Lad brought up Rahul Gandhis remarks in the council, demanding a resolution to condemn them. Danve objected to Lad raising Rahul Gandhis comments on the floor, saying that it was not relevant to the Council.

This led to a heated argument between Lad and Danve, during which Danve used an abusive word.

Gandhi had criticised the ruling BJP in the Lower House, saying that they call themselves Hindus but are engaged in violence and hate around the clock.

Read: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee's chu-kit-kit jibe at BJP's 400 paar slogan

As the proceedings of the House commenced on Tuesday, Darekar demanded a discussion on the alleged use of foul language by Danve. Council's Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe urged Darekar to allow the completion of the Question Hour before addressing the issue. Gorhe emphasised that the legislative council's sanctity needs to be upheld, particularly by the leader of the opposition.

He said that the matter was serious and that a decision could only be made after reviewing the video clips of the remarks and gathering additional details.

Deputy chairperson of the house Neelam Gorhe read the suspension order which said, Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve demonstrated indiscipline and used foul and abusive language towards legislator Prasad Lad.

His behaviour tarnished the image and insulted the Council. If his misbehaviour is ignored, it could create a new precedence. A serious note is taken of his misbehaviour, and the house proposes his suspension for five days and ban him from entering the Vidhan Bhavan premises, it added.

Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Anil Parab demanded that Danve be allowed to present his side, but the demand was not accepted. The opposition later staged a walkout to protest the decision and shouted slogans against Gorhe.

(With inputs from PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a battery of top ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, intervened while Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi made allegations at the government during a highly charged debate on the Presidents speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)

This was the first time that Modi intervened during any MPs speech in the House during his tenure as Prime Minister from 2014 onwards.

The trigger for the PM standing up to make a point was Gandhi making a reference to Hindu god Shiva in an attempt to invoke his posture of peace and security, and trying to contrast it with those who call themselves Hindus are 24 hours (engaged) in hatred, violence and untruth in what was a reference to leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This prompted Modi to get up for a rare intervention. To say that the entire Hindu society is violent is a very serious issue, he said, even as Gandhi argued that Modi, BJP and RSS (Rashtriya Svayamsevak Singh) dont represent the entire Hindu society.

ALSO READ| PM Narendra Modi to speak in Lok Sabha today after Rahul Gandhi's fiery attack over NEET, Agniveer

The issue then snowballed into a major controversy, prompting a series of disruptions, even as Union home minister Amit Shah took serious exception and demanded an apology. Whatever has been said cant be concealed in the commotion. By saying that Hindus commit violence, lie, and spread hatred, Rahul Gandhi has insulted crores of Hindus. He should apologise for this.

A little while later, Prime Minister made another intervention after Gandhi complained that the PM did not greet him or smile at time though defence minister Rajnath Singh did. Modi then got up and said: Democracy and the Constitution have taught me that I need to take the Leader of Opposition seriously. This comment was met by chuckles from the treasury benches.

Though Rajnath intervened to correct Gandhi on the Agniveer army recruitment issue, and agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to interject on minimum support prices, home minister Shah was most vocal during Gandhis speech.

He demanded that Gandhi must authenticate all the claims he was making in the House -- including that Agniveers did not get the status of martyrs and were deprived of compensation or pension, or that the NEET exam. I can understand, he is speaking for the first time. But how can he be allowed to overrule the rule book of the House? We need protection from this, Shah said.

Shah also urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to review Gandhis speech. He has said something. And here, ministers have given their version. I want his speech to be reviewed in the context.

Environment minister Bhupender Yadav, too, frequently threw the rulebook at Gandhi to argue that the LoP was not adhering to the rules of the House.

Later, at the media briefing, Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju accused Rahul Gandhi of denigrating the position of the Leader of Opposition with his extremely irresponsible speech in the Lok Sabha, and of inflicting grave insult on the Hindus by allegedly linking them with violence and spreading untruths.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lawmakers to spend more time participating in parliamentary affairs, refrain from speaking to media out of turn, and focus on working as a team. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

Addressing a meeting of the NDA parliamentary party, Modi called the Lok Sabha results a big win for the alliance. He added only the Oppositions arrogant alliance or ghamandiya gathbandhan was reluctant to accept the verdict. Modi, who previously used to only address BJP lawmakers, said only one family has a problem accepting NDAs return to power for the third time in a row. He did not take any names.

He said the alliance won in states such as Odisha, Sikkim, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh but the Oppositions arrogance and ego prevented them from accepting the verdict, said a person aware of what transpired at the meeting.

A second person said Modi told NDA lawmakers that a family, an oblique reference to the Gandhis, have had a problem honouring Prime Ministers who do not belong to their clan. He urged the lawmakers to visit the PM [Prime Ministers] museum and get a first-hand account of how the BJP government has shown respect to PMs of all parties, said a third person.

Modi cautioned first-time lawmakers from getting misled by people who will make false promises and said they need to be vigilant against such individuals.
The new criminal laws focus on justice and its provisions, and are victim-centric instead of stressing on punishment, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Monday as the country woke up to new regulations on how crime is defined, investigated and punished. Union home minister Amit Shah speaks in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Parliament session, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI/Sansad TV)

The three new laws Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)  replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act respectively. They came into force at midnight on Sunday.

The codes were cleared by Parliament during the Winter Session in December and have been criticised by Opposition for having been pushed through without discussion  an allegation that Shah dismissed.

The new laws have replaced punishment (dand) with justice (nyay) and will bring speedy trial and speedy justice instead of delays. Along with this, earlier laws only protected the polices rights, but these new laws now have provisions to protect the rights of victims and complainants. With the implementation of new laws, India will have the most modern criminal justice system in the world, Shah said at a press conference in the Capital.

The home minister said that, with the implementation, the criminal justice system of the country has now become completely swadeshi, 77 years after Independence. The new laws brought in a modern justice system, incorporating provisions such as Zero FIR, online registration of police complaints, summonses through electronic modes such as SMS and mandatory videography of crime scenes for all heinous crimes.

He said the judicial process would now be timebound and the new laws set time limits of three years to end trial in cases up to the Supreme Court, ending long delays.

On allegations of not enough discussion levelled by the Opposition, Shah said: We discussed every aspect of these laws with every stakeholder for four years. In fact, there has not been a law discussed for so long since Independence. In 2020 itself, I had sought suggestions from all members of parliament, the Supreme Court and high court judges. The home secretary too sought suggestions from all states. I chaired 158 consultative meetings to review the new laws.

He added: In Parliament, there was a 9.29-hour debate in Lok Sabha, and for 6.7 hours in Rajya Sabha... and 34 members in Lok Sabha and 26 in Rajya Sabha participated [in the debate]. But misinformation is being spread about them.

In a post on X, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said after the political and moral shock in the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were pretending to respect the Constitution. But the truth is that the three laws of the criminal justice system that are being implemented from today [Monday] were forcibly passed by suspending 146 MPs [members of Parliament].

Former Union home minister P Chidambaram said the government had taken a lazy approach and 90-99% of the new laws are simply a cut, copy and paste job. A task that could have been completed with a few amendments to the existing three laws has been turned into a wasteful exercise. Yes, there are a few improvements in the new laws, and we have welcomed them. They could have been introduced as amendments, he said on X.

He further said that most of the suggestions received by the committee for reforms in criminal laws were incorporated in the new laws except 4-5 suggestions of political nature.

Shah urged parties not to give a political colour to the implementation of new laws and support them in public interest.

Nonetheless, he said, he was open to hearing the suggestions but there should not be politics on this.

Shah also clarified that the police can take custody of arrested people only for 15 days under the new laws, like the erstwhile legislation. Confusion has been created on this aspect that police remand time has been increased. I want to clarify that the total remand period will remain the same (15 days) in the period of the first 60 days (of arrest), he said.

The home minister further said the new laws make the forensic investigations mandatory in offences punishable by seven years or more, which will help speed up justice and take the conviction rate up to 90%.

The Union Cabinet, he said, has recently decided to set up campuses of forensic science university and establish six new Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in nine more states as India will need manpower of 40,000 forensic experts in coming days. Currently there are seven CFSLs in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Guwahati, Bhopal and Pune.
NEW DELHI: A new offensive launched by Myanmars resistance forces against government troops in western Chin state has brought the fighting closer to the borders with India and Bangladesh, sparking concerns about a possible spillover to the northeastern state of Mizoram. In this photo provided by a displaced Rohingya, the scarlet flames that came out from the burning of the houses in the town of Buthidaung in Rakhine state, Myanmar, are seen from a distance (AP FILE)

As part of several new campaigns by resistance forces in different parts of Myanmar, the Chin Brotherhood group launched an operation in Chin state last month to drive out junta forces. The situation has been further complicated by clashes between two factions of resistance forces, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

The Indian Army and security agencies are keeping a close watch on the situation in Chin state, one of Myanmars most impoverished regions that shares a 510-km unfenced border with Mizoram, the people said. The latest clashes between the anti-junta forces and government troops have occurred closer to the border with Bangladesh but we cant let our guard down, one of the people cited above said.

The security situation within Chin state is very fluid and rapidly deteriorating, a second person said, noting that trade between Mizoram and border areas of Myanmar was suspended in June after junta troops blew up a bridge over the Run river.

The security situation in Chin state has worsened at a time when resistance forces have made advances in other key areas, such as the central Mandalay administrative division, which is home to important military facilities. A Peoples Defence Force (PDF) claimed on Tuesday that it had seized the headquarters of the juntas air defence battalion and eight other bases in Maddaya township of Mandalay region.

Toe Kyaw Hlaing, a councillor of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), an advisory body to Myanmars government in exile, said fresh fighting had also erupted in eastern Shan state after government forces violated a ceasefire brokered by China.

The PDFs have made gains around Matupi township in Chin state and last week, the Arakan Army captured Thandwe airport in Rakhine state, Hlaing said.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar conveyed Indias deep concern at the impact of continuing violence and instability in Myanmar on our border when he met the juntas deputy prime minister Than Shwe in New Delhi on June 26. India is open to engaging all stakeholders in addressing this situation, Jaishankar said on X after meeting Than Shwe, who was transiting through New Delhi.

The reference to all stakeholders, experts said, marks a shift from New Delhis earlier position of engaging primarily with the State Administration Council (SAC) headed by the military leadership.

Jaishankar also flagged priority challenges such as the trafficking of narcotics, arms and people, and particularly sought Myanmars cooperation for the early return of Indian nationals trapped in Myawaddy.

The people cited above said hundreds of Indian nationals were among thousands of foreigners believed to have been lured to Myawaddy with promises of jobs in the IT sector and then forced to join cyber fraud networks.

Hlaing said the Indian side should also engage with Myanmars government in exile to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals caught up in criminal networks run by online fraudsters. Many of these networks are based in areas no longer controlled by the junta, he said.
Given the "very trusting nature" of the relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no topic was off-limits for the two leaders when they meet here soon, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian president Vladimir Putin.( AP File Photo)

The dates of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Moscow will be announced a bit later but preparations for it are already at their final stages, Peskov said.

Putin and Modi will discuss regional and global security, trade and all other topics on the agenda during their meeting, Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia's state-owned TASS news agency.

"We (Russia and India) jointly take part in integration processes, so regional affairs, regional security and global security are always at the top of the agenda. In addition, of course, our bilateral trade and economic interaction is always a focal point, the Kremlin official said, answering a question about what topics will be discussed at the negotiations between Putin and Modi.

ALSO READ| PM Modi slams Rahul Gandhi for waiving posters of deities in Lok Sabha: Jiske darshan hote hain

Describing Prime Minister Modi's visit as "very important," the official noted that Moscow and New Delhi have mutual political will to develop cooperation in a variety of areas.

Given the very trusting nature of the relationship between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi, we can expect that there will be an exchange of views on all issues that are on the agenda, and there are many of them, Peskov added.

"We will announce this visit officially later, after coordination with our Indian friends, I can only confirm to you once again that the visit is in the final stages of preparation, he said, replying to a question on the dates of Modis visit to Russia.

Diplomatic sources in New Delhi had said the Indian prime minister's day-long visit is being planned around July 8, adding there is no finality on the date yet and various options are being explored.

The visit, if it takes place, will be Modi's first trip to Russia in nearly five years. His last visit to Russia was in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in the Far East city of Vladivostok.

If Modi travels to Russia, then he and President Putin are set to hold the India-Russia annual summit after a gap of three years.

The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries.

So far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. The last summit was held on December 6, 2021, in New Delhi. Putin, as head of the Russian state, has visited India nine times.
Rahul Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha updates: Lok Sabha on Monday witnessed a fiery speech by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party on several issues, including the Agnipath Scheme and NEET-UG paper leak. During his speech, the lower house of Parliament also saw Narendra Modi intervene twice when Rahul Gandhi accused leaders of the ruling party of dividing people on communal lines. PM Narendra Modi slammed the Congress leader for calling the entire Hindu community violent. Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi speaks in the House during the ongoing Parliament session in New Delhi on July 1, 2024.(PTI)

Later, holding a press conference, Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kiren Rijiju and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, in a point-by-point rebuttal, accused Rahul Gandhi of denigrating the responsible position of the Leader of Opposition with his extremely irresponsible speech in Lok Sabha in which he made untruthful claims about a host of issues, including Agnipath scheme and compensation to locals in Ayodhya.

Rahul Gandhi was speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the president's address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi on Hindus and communal violence

Rahul Gandhi claimed that leaders of the BJP are not Hindus as they engage in violence and hate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit back, accusing the Congress leader of calling the entire Hindu community violent. Some portions of Rahul Gandhi's speech have been expunged later.

"It is not just one religion that talks about courage. In fact, all our religions talk about courage," Rahul Gandhi said in his debut speech as the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Holding up pictures of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak and Jesus Christ, the Congress leader referred to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism to underline the importance of fearlessness. He also cited the attributes of Lord Shiva and the teachings of Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Buddha and Mahavir to state that all religions and great people of the country have said "daro mat, darao mat (do not be scared, do not scare others)".

How BJP reacted

PM Narendra Modi: Intervening during Rahul Gandhi's speech, Modi said, "This issue is very serious. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a serious issue."

Amit Shah: Union home minister Amit Shah sought the Congress leader's apology to the House and the country for hurting the feelings of crores of people who take pride in identifying themselves as Hindus.

He said the ruckus created by the opposition cannot drown the fact that the words  "those who call themselves Hindus indulge in violence"  were used in the House.

Amit Shah spoke of the Emergency and 1984 anti-Sikhs riots to hit back at Gandhi, saying he has no right to talk about non-violence when the Congress had spread "ideological terror" in the country.

JP Nadda: BJP president JP Nadda demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi alleging that he spoke lies and reflected Hindu hatred and that he has not learnt from the mandate of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"First day, worst show! Lies Hindu hatred = Rahul Gandhi Ji in Parliament. Third Time Fail LoP has a knack for agitated, flawed logic. His speech today has shown that neither has he understood the mandate of 2024 (his third successive loss) nor does he have any humility," JP Nadda posted on X.

"Rahul Gandhi Ji must immediately APOLOGISE to all Hindus for terming them as violent. This is the same person who was telling foreign diplomats that Hindus are terrorists. This intrinsic hate towards Hindus must stop," he added.

Sudhanshu Trivedi: The Rajya Sabha MP said whatever Rahul Gandhi says reflects his mindset.

S Jaishankar: The external affairs minister also hit out at Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in the Parliament and accused him of "attacking Hindus."

"This is now the Leader of Opposition. Who attacks Hindus while professing brotherhood to all. Who disparages the Indian Army's bravery, while expressing concern for their welfare. Who tears up Cabinet decisions, while preaching respect for Constitution. Welcome to the politics of the Congress Party," Jaishankar posted on X.

Rahul Gandhi on Agnipath Scheme

Referring to the Agnipath scheme for short-term military recruitment, Rahul Gandhi said the government regards the Agniveers as use-and-throw labourers and does not even give them the status of a "shaheed" (martyr).

Defence minister's rebuttal

Rajnath Singh: The defence minister intervened to rebut Rahul Gandhi's charge, saying it was rolled out after taking suggestions from 158 organisations.

Rajnath Singh also said an Agniveer who lays down his life in the line of duty gets a compensation of 1 crore.

The Union minister asked the former Congress president not to mislead Parliament and also requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to expunge the former Congress president's claims on the Agnipath scheme.
Hours after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's no-holds-barred attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha on Monday, July 1, accusing the leaders of the ruling party of dividing people on communal lines, several portions of his statements were expunged from the Parliament. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi speaks in the House during the ongoing Parliament session in New Delhi on Monday.(ANI)

Rahul Gandhi's speech on Hindus drew massive protests from the treasury benches, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slamming the Congress leader for calling the entire Hindu community violent.

Portions of Rahul Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha targeting the central government over various issues, including minorities, NEET row and Agnipath scheme among others, have been expunged from the records of the Parliament on the orders of the Speaker.

The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus, and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS, among others. Portions of the Congress MP's remarks on industrialists Adani and Ambani and on the Agniveer Scheme were also expunged.

Besides Modi, who intervened twice, at least five cabinet ministers interjected during Rahul Gandhi's speech that lasted for about an hour and 40 minutes, with Union home minister Amit Shah demanding an apology from him.

"It is not just one religion that talks about courage. In fact, all our religions talk about courage," Rahul Gandhi said in his debut speech as the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha that was watched by his mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from the visitors' gallery.

The Congress leader was speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the president's address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi also quoted Prophet Muhammad to highlight that the Quran talks about fearlessness.

Holding up pictures of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak, and Jesus Christ, Rahul Gandhi referred to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism to underline the importance of fearlessness. He also cited the attributes of Lord Shiva and teachings of Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Buddha, and Mahavir to state that all religions and great people of the country have said "daro mat, darao mat (do not be scared, do not scare others)".

"Shivji says daro mat, darao mat ... talks about ahimsa..."

Modi, intervening into his speech, said, "This issue is very serious. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a serious issue."

Amit Shah sought the Congress leader's apology to the House and the country for hurting the feelings of crores of people who take pride in identifying themselves as Hindus.

In a swipe at Rahul Gandhi for alleging that the ministers do not greet him, the prime minister said democracy and the Constitution have taught him to take the leader of Opposition seriously.

Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of launching systematic attacks on the Constitution and the fundamental concept of India, noting that millions of people have resisted the ideas proposed by the ruling party.

"I was attacked on the orders of Prime Minister Modi and the government. There were 20-plus cases (against me), a two-year jail sentence, (my) house was taken away, (I was subjected to) 55 hours of interrogation by the ED," he said.

As the Congress leader held up a picture of Lord Shiva, Speaker Om Birla reminded him that rules do not allow displaying placards in the House.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh intervened to rebut Rahul Gandhi's charges on Agnipath Scheme.

RSS hits back

The RSS also responded to Rahul Gandhi's allegations with Sunil Ambekar, saying It is unfortunate that people holding important positions in Parliament are associating Hindutva with violence. Whether Vivekananda or Gandhi... Hindutva is a symbol of harmony and brotherhood
French Aviation major Dassault Aviation SA is in the process of acquiring land near Jewar international airport for a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for Indias Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighters, setting the stage for the local manufacturing of latest versions of Rafale fighters in the country to meet the Indian Air Forces long-pending requirement of around 100 twin-engine multi-role fighters that will be needed over the next two decades, according to two people familiar with the matter. The Macron government and Dassault have offered in writing to manufacture Rafale fighters in India. (AFP file photo)

Notwithstanding the political ferment in France  the French far-right front National Rally won the first round of voting for the National Assembly, with 33% of the votes, ahead of the ruling coalitions 20%  the Emmanuel Macron government and Dassault have offered in writing to manufacture Rafale fighters in India under the Make in India rubric with locally sourced components to meet IAFs demand, the two people added, asking not to be named. This comes even as engine maker Safran SA is setting up a MRO facility to handle Rafale fighter engines (if numbers are enough) at Hyderabad adjacent to the companys LEAP engine facility for civilian aircraft, which will be ready by 2025. Safran, the people added, has conveyed that if there is a Rafale order for IAF, it is willing to manufacture the M-88 engines in India.

Also Read:Negotiations on: Why India-France didnt announce new Rafale, Scorpene deals

Given that HALs LCA Mark II with GE-414 engines, which will replace the Mirage 2000, will not be ready before the middle of the next decade, the Rafale fighter will not only meet Indias requirement but also allow India to export the same fighters to third countries. Dassault has already started sourcing titanium parts from companies in India for manufacture Rafale fighters and plans to add more local vendors to the supply chain list.

According to the two people, the manufacture of Rafale fighters in India is a win-win for both close allies as Dassault already has some 300 fighter orders in hand from Croatia, Greece, Serbia, Egypt, Qatar, UAE and Indonesia and has no capacity to manufacture extra planes for India. The company is also in talks with Saudi Arabia for supply of fighters and the French Air Force has asked it for 42 more Rafales.

IAF is already operating 36 Rafale fighters with Hammer and SCALP missiles with the Indian Navy currently involved in price negotiations for 26 Maritime Strike Rafales for the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier. India already has base maintenance depots, repairs, training and simulators for Rafales in its Ambala air base.

Given the gestation period for fighters and engines is over decades, the Modi government has also taken reassurance from Frances stable licensing policy which will ensure there is no hiccup -- like Russia, France has been supplying aircraft to India since the Toofani fighter in 1953.

The people added that Safran is also ready for a joint venture with an Indian company for manufacture of engines for Indian Multi-Role Helicopters (IMRH) so that India does not have to look for a third country for urgent supplies.

With the Chinese PLA in an aggressive mood on the land and sea with India and equipped with its own fifth generation J-20 fighters, the Indian Air Force needs to be bolstered as its force levels are below its projected requirement. China has developed the WS-15 engine, reverse engineering it from the Russian AL-31, and is rapidly expanding its force levels on land, air and sea. India can ill afford to further delay the acquisition of advanced multi-role fighters as the Chinese challenge will increase by the day, said a national security planner.
New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the response of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the probe agency in the Delhi Excise Policy case.



Justice Neena Bansal Krishna directed CBI to file their reply within 7 days. The court will now hear arguments from both sides on July 17.



CBI arrested Kejriwal on June 26 while he was in judicial custody relating to a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).



The trial court granted him bail on June 20 in the case filed by the ED. However, the order was stayed by the High Court the next day.



Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing Arvind Kejriwal argued that there was no question of CBI arresting the Delhi CM in June because CBI FIR is of August 2022. He was then summoned in April 2023 and questioned for nine hours. From then till now, nothing has been done.





Singhvi said that an FIR was filed by CBI in 2022. The summons were issued for questioning in April 2023, and he is arrested now.





Kejriwal is under arrest in judicial custody. There cannot be any reason for arrest. The arrest memo is quite remarkable, only one paragraph, Singhvi said.



The CBI counsel DP Singh appeared before the court in virtual mode.





The court directed CBI to file its reply within seven days, rejoinder if any within two days thereafter. The next date of hearing is July 17, the court pronounced.



UNI SNG RC AKS
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi denigrated the position of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) to a level that is condemnable, with his irresponsible speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked the lawmaker over his remarks against the ruling party and claims about the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi (HT_PRINT)

While Vaishnaw accused Gandhi of misleading Parliament through a series of statements, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the BJP has approached Speaker Om Birla for action in the matter.

This came after Gandhi, in his maiden speech as LoP on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address earlier in the day, said BJP leaders were not Hindus and accused them of promoting violence against minorities. He also claimed that an Agniveer is not called a jawan and that they will not get a pension for their service of four years.

ALSO READ| On Rahul Gandhi's Hindus, Agnipath scheme charges, BJP's point-by-point rebuttal

Hitting out at the Congress lawmaker, Vaishnaw said BJP leaders like former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj were LoPs at different points of time and brought responsibility and seriousness to the position.

Gandhi has always enjoyed power without responsibility. Now he holds a responsible position. But he made the most irresponsible speech today, he told reporters.

Gandhi had once torn apart an ordinance of his own partys government, he said, referring to the ordinance passed by the UPA Cabinet to protect Parliamentarians from disqualification in case they are convicted in any case.

He (Gandhi) made some objectionable remarks in Parliament today. He said that martyrs will not receive compensation under the Agnipath scheme. This is a big lie. During Gandhis speech, defence minister Rajnath Singh said martyrs under the Agnipath speech will be given a compensation of 1 crore. The Congress has always made such remarks against the armed forces and tried to mislead the public, Vaishnaw said.

He tried to mislead Parliament... he said compensation was not paid to farmers in Ayodhya, whereas 253 crore was paid to over 4,000 shopkeepers. The most important issue is that he insulted Hindus. In 2010, then home minister P Chidambaram called Hindus terrorists; in 2013 Sushilkumar Shinde said the same. In 2021, Rahul Gandhi said Hindutvavadis should be expelled, he added.

In his speech, Gandhi claimed the people of Ayodhya lost their land and they were not allowed at the inauguration of the Ram Temple.

Vaishnaw said that Gandhi lowered the dignity of polity to a level that is condemnable. The Congress leaders act of displaying pictures of gods and linking Hindus to violence is unpardonable, he said.

During his speech, Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP, asserting that Hinduism is not about spreading fear, hatred and falsehoods. He also held up a picture of Lord Shiva, saying: If you look at Lord Shivas image, you know Hindus can never spread fear and hatred, but the BJP spreads fear and hatred 24*7.

Rijiju also criticised Gandhis remarks in the House and said the BJP has challenged many of the latters claims and has sought action from the Speaker.

We have made a request to the Speaker to pass a direction that if we have made an unverified statement, then we are ready to take a corrective course. But if the Leader of Opposition has lied in the House, then he will have to face the rules and regulations of the House. He (Speaker) has already assured the House that he will give necessary and appropriate directions in this regard, he said.

BJP president JP Nadda sought an apology from Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi Ji must immediately APOLOGISE to all Hindus for terming them as violent. This is the same person who was telling foreign diplomats that Hindus are terrorists. This intrinsic hate towards Hindus must stop.

Ayodhya MP Awadhesh Prasad, however, said Gandhi did not make remarks about Hindus. He spoke about the mindset of the BJP and the ideology of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). His statement was not for Hindus but for the people of the BJP and the RSS, he said.
Samajwadi Party (SP) lawmaker Awadhesh Prasad on Tuesday claimed the infrastructure in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh was crumbling and said he was pained to see the condition of the temple town that attracts several tourists from across the world. Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad. (File)

Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, the MP from Faizabad alleged that Ayodhya, which houses the Ram Temple, is filled with garbage and slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of lowering the dignity of Lord Ram.

Prasads remarks came amid instances of waterlogging in Ayodhya and potholes in Rampath. Acharya Satyendra Das, head priest of the Ram Temple, also alleged negligence in the construction of the temple that was inaugurated with a grand ceremony earlier this year and complained of water leak from the roof of the sanctum sanctorum during the rains.

While six officials of the public works department (PWD) and the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam were suspended, Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Misra ruled out any flaw in the construction of the temple.

Speaking in the Lower House, Prasad said: I feel very upset with the state of Ayodhya I went there a few weeks ago and saw the roads were filled with sewage water and mud.

He said he is pained to see the condition of the roads, which, he claimed, is filled with garbage. It seems that the garbage of the entire world is in Ayodhya, he said.

Prasads comments were met with applause by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who was seated next to him.

Prasad also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station in December last year and alleged that the boundary walls of the station had crumbled.

He further alleged that the poor were not provided any compensation for the lands that were snatched from them for the redevelopment of the city.

On Monday, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also claimed the people of Ayodhya lost their land and they were not allowed at the inauguration of the Ram Temple, evoking a sharp response from Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who said that whether it is Rampath, Bhakti Path, Janmabhoomi Path or Ayodhya airport, compensation was given to all those whose land, house or shop was acquired.

After the grand opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya by Modi on January 22 this year, the people of Faizabad voted for the first time and rejected the BJP. The partys two-time MP Lallu Singh was defeated by Prasad by a margin of 54,567 votes.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday shot off a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding that the latter restore the expunged portions of his maiden speech as the Leader of the Opposition. He also accused the Speaker of carrying out selective expunction. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, center, arrives at the parliament in New Delhi.(AP)

"I also wish to draw attention to the speech of Anurag Thakur, which was full of allegations, however, surprisingly only one word has been expunged! With due respect to your good self, this selective expunction defies logic," Rahul Gandhi wrote in the letter.

The senior leader alleged that a considerable portion of his speech was chopped off from the proceedings of the House under the garb of expunction.

The Rae Bareli MP also claimed the Speaker's action was against the Lok Sabha rules.

"I am enclosing relevant portions of uncorrected Debates of Lok Sabha dated 2 July. I am constrained to state that the portions expunged do not come under the ambit of Rule 380. What I sought to convey in the House is ground reality, the factual position. Every member of the House who personifies the collective voice of the people whom he or she represents has the freedom of speech as enshrined in Article 105(1) of the Constitution of India. It is every member's right to raise people's concerns on the floor of the House," he added.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi's first reaction after his Lok Sabha speech expunged: 'In Modi ji's world'

Rahul Gandhi wrote in the letter that the Speaker's action goes against the very tenets of parliamentary democracy.

"I request that the remarks expunged from the proceedings be restored," he added.

Several parts of Rahul Gandhi's speech, including his attacks on the BJP over the NEET row and Agnipath scheme, were expunged from the records of the Parliament. His remarks on Hinduism, which prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rare intervention, were also expunged.

Also read: PM Narendra Modi gives 'conduct' advice to NDA MPs, says Opposition upset with him because

Earlier today, in his first reaction to the Speaker's action, Rahul Gandhi said "the truth can't be expunged".

"In Modi ji's world, truth can be expunged. But in reality, the truth can't be expunged. I said what I had to say, that is the truth. They can expunge as much as they want. Truth is truth," Rahul Gandhi told reporters before entering the Lok Sabha.
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP, Kalyan Banerjee on Tuesday criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central governments slogan on 400 paar in the 2025 Lok Sabha polls adding that there is an unstable government and a strong opposition. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee speaks in the Lok Sabha during ongoing Parliament session. (PTI photo)

We now have an unstable government and a strong opposition. The Prime Minister is dependent on Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar to run his government, Banerjee said in his address to Lok Sabha.

He also questioned the government control in the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Enforcement Directorate (EC) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The EC had interfered and intervened in the election process time and again. It has acted according to the directions of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said.

Also Read: Viral video: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjees chu-kit-kit jibe at BJPs 400 paar slogan

His statement evoked sharp opposition from the ruling dispensation.

BJPs Bhartruhari Mahtab and Banerjee engaged in a verbal disagreement in aftermath of the comments.

I would not have raised the matter had it not been mentioned in the Presidents address that was drafted by the Union government, Banerjee added.

Banerjee also expressed his disappointment at PM Modis treatment of the opposition.

It is with great pain that I am saying this, that we, as the opposition, have not heard any sweet words from the Prime Minister, he said adding that this vindictiveness cost PM Modi his popularity.

He accused the PM of misusing state institutions like ED and CBI against opposition leaders.

Except during the Emergency, such misuse of state machinery by the government has never been seen, said Banerjee.

Banerjee also criticised the BJP and PM Modi for attacking federalism in the country.

This governments treatment of non-BJP state governments is an attack on Indias federal structure. While discussing the Ganga and Teesta river matter with Bangladesh, CM of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee was kept out of the discussion, he said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday raised questions about the Uttar Pradesh government's preparedness for the religious congregation in Hathras district where at least 107 people, mostly women, were killed in a stampede. Hathras: Bodies of victims of the Hathras stampede lie in a bus, at Sikandra Rao in Hathras, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (PTI)

Akhilesh Yadav, who was present in the Lok Sabha at the time of the incident, said, The question is what was the government doing when such an incident took place? So many people have lost their lives. If the government knew there would be a large gathering at an event, what did they do for their safety?

The government is responsible for this, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. I hope that the government will ensure the best treatment for the injured.

In a post on X, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, "It is very sad that a large number of people died and many were injured in a stampede during a religious gathering in Hathras district of UP and a young man was killed during a Buddhist/Bhim Katha in Agra."

"The government should investigate these incidents and take appropriate action and provide financial assistance to the victim families," she said.

District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said it was a private function for which the permission was granted by the sub-divisional magistrate.

Did suffocation lead to Hathras stampede? What police, eyewitnesses say

The exact circumstances leading to the stampede are still under investigation, with officials seeking to understand the sequence of events that triggered the tragedy. Initial reports suggest that the stampede started soon after the women rushed out of the venue after the religious congregation of religious preacher Bhole Baba ended.

A police official said overcrowding may have been a factor in the stampede in a village in the Hathras district, about 350 kilometres southwest of Lucknow.

Inspector General Aligarh Range Shalabh Mathur said prima facie, it appeared that some people felt suffocated because of the hot and humid weather and when the satsang ended, those inside the enclosure rushed out resulting in a deadly stampede.

People started falling one upon another, one upon another. Those who were crushed died. People there pulled them out, witness Shakuntala Devi told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Hathras stampede: Who is Bhole Baba, the preacher who led the congregation?

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi called for a thorough investigation into the incident. "The incident that took place in Hathras is sad. Proper investigation should be done on how the incident took place and how the state government could not manage the crowd efficiently. I hope that proper treatment will be given to the injured," Owaisi said.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, My heart goes out to the victims in the Hathras tragedy. It is very tragic. They had congregated for 'satsang' and reportedly over 150 of them lost their lives due to the stampede. I pray for the souls of the departed and for the recovery of those who have been affected. I was hoping that the PM would have got prior information and he would have cut short his 2-hour and 14-minute-long statement. But he refused to do so.

BJP MP Anoop Pradhan urged against politicising the tragedy and said that chief minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to visit the site.

"I believe no one should do politics on such incidents. Tragedies can happen in any government, but it should not and is very unfortunate. The CM is likely to visit the spot tomorrow. I am going to the spot right now," Pradhan said.
Racial and ethnic inequities in health care are found in every state in the U.S. despite the passage of legislation intended to improve health outcomes for minorities and increased awareness of health care disparities over the past two decades, according to a new national report released Wednesday. Racism and bias from health care providers have also contributed to worse health outcomes, according to the report.(REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

The 300-plus-page document from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine detailed how structural racism and people's surroundings have contributed to worse health outcomes for minorities. It also offers recommendations and solutions to health care organizations and the federal government, like a more diverse workforce and adjusting payment systems to make health care more affordable.

ALSO READ: Weathering: How racism impacts the body on a cellular level

Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association and co-chair of the committee that wrote the report, said people of color in the U.S. are more likely to experience maternal and infant mortality, lower life expectancy and many chronic diseases.

Inequities are baked into our health care system, and if we address them, everyone benefits, Benjamin said.

Racism and bias from health care providers have also contributed to worse health outcomes, according to the report, which comes 21 years after the first from the organization.

The committee behind the report suggested that more practicing physicians who are from diverse backgrounds and from the communities they serve would improve several problem areas; studies show that people of color generally receive better care when treated by those who look like them.

The research also showed language barriers persist in health care and that trainings on bias management and ways to become more familiar with cultural issues don't create long-term improvements in health outcomes for minorities.

Health care systems should work to strengthen the ties between patients and providers  so the patient has a voice in their treatment  and bring in important community voices, the report recommended.

Health systems should work with the community to understand what their needs are, and engage them early and often, Benjamin said.

The policies that have been put into place to bridge racial and ethnic gaps havent been widely implemented, the report said, and theres little oversight to ensure their enforcement. It points out the 10 holdout states that have yet to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, as well as legal challenges that have halted broad implementation of several provisions.

The reports authors urged Congress, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to better coordinate their health care equity plans  which the report said are siloed  and to establish a federal oversight body for the implementation of these plans.

Other suggested steps involve collecting better health care data at the federal level and providing more money for research and programs proven to reduce racial and ethnic inequities.

The quality of health care in the U.S. is not what it should be compared to other high-income countries largely because we havent addressed health inequities, said Dr. Lisa Cooper, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity and one of the reports reviewers. She said that became even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The only way we will make progress is if we really pay close attention to this issue, she said. Were failing everybody in our health care system. Its just that some groups of people are suffering even more.

Even if it takes years, the recommendations should be implemented, Benjamin said. If not, he said, people will continue to die unnecessarily, in an unjust way.
Indian actor Hina Khan's stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis has once again raised concern on breast cancer, which is the leading cancer among women in India but breast cancer can often be asymptomatic in its early stages where while a lump is a commonly known symptom, it is important to be aware of others that may seem less obvious. Every 1 in 8 women is diagnosed with breast cancer in their entire lifetime. Hina Khan stage 3 breast cancer: What every woman needs to know about symptoms and screening (Photo by Nadezhda Moryak)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Prof SVS Deo, President  Association of Breast Surgeons of India (ABSI), cautioned, Be mindful of any changes in your breast size, shape, or symmetry. Look for dimpling, puckering, or an orange peel texture on the skin. Nipple retraction, unusual blood-stained discharge and persistent pain in any area of the breast are also potential warning signs. Familiarising yourself with your breasts is crucial for identifying these potential early warning signs.

He suggested, Performing a regular breast self-examination allows you to become acquainted with the baseline look and feel of your breasts, making it easier to detect any abnormalities that may occur. One should perform self-exams monthly, following your menstrual cycle. Using the pads of your fingers, examine your breasts for lumps, bumps, or areas of thickening. If you observe any changes, you should immediately reach out to a doctor. Early detection is key for successful breast cancer treatment. Simple and easily accessible investigations like mammograms can be done to rule out cancer.

Patients are often faced with anxiety due to complex treatment procedures and potential outcomes and delayed consultation however, significant advancements in technology have transformed breast cancer treatment. Prof SVS Deo revealed, Advanced technologies like fluorescence imaging provide surgeons with enhanced visualisation during surgery that helps with selective lymph node removal versus the traditional approach of complete node removal resulting in reduced post-operative complications like swelling of the arm known as lymphedema. Further, because the information is obtained real-time during the surgery, we can now prevent several complications proactively and reduce the overall cost of healthcare.

Echoing that breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women, Dr Bhavisha Ghugare, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology at HCG Cancer Centre in Borivali, said, It is recommended that woman after the age of 40 should go for a mammogram at least once in a year. If detected timely, breast cancer is treatable, and the chances of recovery are higher. Depending on how far the disease has progressed, cancer can be graded in 0-4 stages. When breast cancer is detected, They are either removed surgically, (breast conservation surgery or mastectomy) or sometimes chemotherapy can be given first followed by surgery.

Sharing a ray of hope, she said, With technological advancements, breast cancer patients are getting successfully treated and hospital visits to get external radiotherapy have significantly reduced. In breast cancer, radiotherapy can be used for stage 1/stage 2 cancer patients. While there are options to get the disease treated successfully, it is very important to be mindful of any changes in the breast including lumps, yellow discharge, dimpling, puckering, or an orange peel texture on the skin. Self examination is the key to identify the early symptoms of the disease and get timely treatment.
Health tourism refers to the process of taking a trip to a country of your choice and getting medical treatment while spending a lot less money on the entire procedure. Bonus  we get to explore a new country and take a break. So, both physical health and mental health win here. For this win-win situation, people are currently exploring health tourism. A recent TikTok video went viral on Twitter, in which a woman explored health tourism in Turkiye, got a full body checkup done, met specialists, and explored a top hospital in the country  all within $810. Sounds unbelievable? Bryn Elise travelled to Turkiye for health checkups. Here's how much it costs.

Bryn Elise shared the details of her medical checkups in the TikTok video. From cardiology checking bone density to an eye checkup, the TikToker did it all, within one day, and less than $850. She chose a top hospital in Turkiye after extensive research and visited for speaking to health specialists. Take a look at the video here.

ALSO READ: Medical Tourism in India: Top destinations, scenarios and all you need to know

This brings to our attention the recent boom in the health tourism culture in Turkiye.

What is Turkiye doing right in healthcare?

Turkeys recent boom in health tourism is preceded by the commendable way the country contained the COVID-19 outbreak. This further improved the possibilities of health tourism revenue in the country. Turkiye, with its diverse healthcare services including aesthetic procedures, hair and organ transplant facilities, offers a promising future in health tourism.

In 2021, over 670,000 foreigners visited Turkiye to receive medical treatment, according to the country's state-owned International Health Services (USHAS) agency. One year later, that number rose to over 1.25 million, an increase of 88%. In the first six months of 2023, the figures remained similarly high.

Turkish health care facilities are generating considerable revenue from this international business, totalling more than $2 billion (1.85 billion) in 2022. Revenue fell slightly in the first half of 2023, though experts believe this was primarily due to Turkey's devastating February earthquake, which claimed the lives of more than 50,000 people.

According to a report published by Arabian Gulf Business Insight in April, 2024, Turkiyes health tourism sector generated revenue of $2.3 billion in 2023, data released by the Ministry of Trade reveals. Health service exports surged from $1.9 billion in 2022 to $2.3 billion in 2023, driven by an influx of 1.4 million health tourists, placing Turkiye seventh in the global health tourism rankings.

Travel and healthcare merges in Turkiye

Turkiye is known for its breathtaking locations, picturesque coastline, historical landmarks and lip-smacking cuisine  all of this makes it one of the top countries to visit in every travellers bucket list. With its recent offerings in healthcare facilities, people keep a day for a health checkup and then travel and explore the country.

ALSO READ: Turkey travel alert: Tips on taking a cruise along the Turquoise Coast
Here is another judicial pronouncement on hijab  the professedly Islamic dress code for women. A division bench decision of the Bombay High Court (HC) pronounced on June 26 in this regard made news and continues to raise eyebrows. In May this year, a college in Chembur issued instructions to its students saying, You shall follow the dress code of the college of formal and decent dress which shall not reveal anyones religion. No burkha, no nakab, no hijab, no cap, no badge, no stole, etc. Simultaneously, girls were directed by these instructions to wear any Indian/western non-revealing dress. Pune, India - February 18, 2022: Kul Jamaat Tanzeem stage a huge protest demanding Hijab rights for Muslim women at Azam Campus, in Pune, India, on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Rahul Raut/HT PHOTO) (Rahul Raut/HT Photo)

A writ petition was filed in the Bombay HC on behalf of nine Muslim girls challenging the legality of the said instructions. The challenge was primarily based on the good old claim that wearing a veil or a headscarf by women and grown-up girls is an essential practice of Islam covered by the protection of the fundamental right to freedom of religious belief and practice under Article 25 of the Constitution. It was further claimed that the impugned instructions were also repugnant to the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations of 2012, the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) of 2013, and the National Education Policy of 2020.

The petitioners lawyers thought it fit to include (besides the Chembur college authorities), as respondents, not only the state of Maharashtra and its Higher Education Directorate but also the (central) University Grants Commission and even the government of India. Clearly, there was an attempt to turn a suburban college students grievance into a significant religious issue of nationwide importance. In pursuit of the same goal, a media briefing by the aggrieved girls was arranged to publicise the petition and its professedly high religious significance.

The counsel of the petitioners cited a number of Supreme Court (SC) decisions  Bijoe Emmanuel (1986), Delhi St. Stephens College (2008) the celebrated Right to Privacy judgment of 2017, and so on  not all of them directly related to the hijab issue. With a view to giving the case a human rights perspective, reference was made also to some decisions of the Human Rights Committee of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (against the French government) and of the Constitutional Court of South Africa in a local dispute.

A similar case had been decided two decades earlier by another bench of the Bombay High Court (Fathema Hussain, 2003). It was affirmingly cited by the bench deciding this case, ignoring the crucial fact that it related to an all-girls school whereas the college involved in this case was a co-educational institution. The new judgment cited some apex court decisions on the larger issue of religious freedom under the Constitution and its statutory restrictions.

Major support for dismissing the petition was, however, sought by the learned judges from the much-publicised Resham case on the issue decided by the Karnataka HC in 2022. It is common knowledge that an appeal against the controversial Karnataka ruling to the Supreme Court was decided differently by two judges of a Division Bench. In view of the split decision, a larger bench pronouncement on the issue had become imperative but has yet to see the light of the day. Ignoring this uncertainty in law, the learned judges in the Bombay case under comment asserted that alluding to the Karnataka case was necessary. Acknowledging that it was under appeal, they said be that as it may and asserted: We are in respectful agreement with the view expressed by the Full Bench (of Karnataka High Court) that prescription of a dress code is intended to achieve uniformity amongst students in the school/college so as to maintain discipline and avoid disclosure of ones religion.

The Chembur petition was eventually dismissed saying that the pleadings in the writ petition to support the plea that donning of a hijab or nakab is an essential religious practice are insufficient. The judges were irked by the publicity of the petition in the media but said that as the petitioners were students, we say nothing more and let the matter rest at that. They, however, ignored the same students interest in the actual issue in the case. The impugned instructions on hijab issued by the Chembur college at the beginning of a new academic year were sought to be applied also to students who were now in the second or final year of a three-year graduation course. The tenability of their (or their guardians) belief in the religious essentiality of hijab apart, an equitable exception could have been made for them in the interest of their career  more so since they could not have expected lateral entry into any other institution. After all, hijab can in no sense be seen, to quote the words of the impugned college instructions, as an indecent or a revealing dress.

Religious liberty under Article 25 of the Constitution is surely not guaranteed without conditions  there are several ifs and buts justifiably attached to it  but the right of any group of citizens to conserve their language, script and culture under Article 29 is unconditional. Wearing a headscarf by Muslim women may not be an essential religious practice entitled to constitutional protection, but it remains a cultural practice everywhere across the globe. The courts may well consider its protection under Article 29 of the Constitution for the sake of equity, justice and good conscience.

Tahir Mahmood, former chairman, National Minorities Commission, is professor of eminence and chairman, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Amity University. The views expressed are personal
I keep being asked what secrets there are to ensure a good stay at a hotel. Sadly, I have no special wisdom to impart on this subject. The days when I was willing to stay in an inexpensive hotel and spend the day outdoors exploring the destination are over. I must have a comfortable hotel room to come back to. (Pexels (Representative Image) )

After decades of travelling, my broad conclusions are that you will occasionally find a good hotel that costs less than others in its category and is outstanding value. But this does not happen as often as we would like.

The general principle is simple enough: You get what you pay for. And all too often even if you pay a lot you end up with a terrible experience.

But, of course, not everybody is looking for the same things in a hotel. Often our requirements change as we grow older or more prosperous. In my own case, the days when I was willing to stay in an inexpensive hotel and spend the day outdoors exploring the destination are over. I still like exploring the destination but I must have a comfortable hotel room to come back to.

Here are the lessons I have gathered on my travels.

Location:

There is a hotel axiom attributed to a member of the Hilton family in the days when they owned and ran the Hilton hotels. What matters most when building a hotel, the saying goes, is location, location and location.

By and large, the axiom holds true even today. If you are going on a work trip, try and find a hotel that is near enough to the places you will have to visit. You do not want to have to fight traffic for an hour before you reach what could be an important meeting. If you have breaks between meetings, you may want to go to your hotel to freshen up. You cant do that if your hotel is far away.

In resort hotels, location is even more important. If you are at a seaside resort and cant even see the sea unless you use binoculars or crane your neck, then you have wasted your money. At all resorts, the inside of your room is, of course, important. But whats more important is what you can see if you look out of your window or when you wander outside.

If a hotel says something like only a ten-minute walk from the beach, find somewhere else to stay.

The Room

The hotel room shouldnt matter so much but as you grow older, it does. First of all, your room shouldnt be the size of a shoe box. The bathroom is often crucial to the comfort of your stay. Ideally there should be a bath and a shower stall. Two sinks are always better than one.

In the bedroom there should always be a seating area and a small table where you can have tea, coffee or a snack. There must be a kettle and an easy-to-use coffee machine. There must also be enough cupboard space and the in-room safe should be placed at a decent level so that you do not need to contort yourself to operate it.

Always check the room size when you book. You will be surprised by the number of hotels with perfectly comfortable, good-sized rooms that will nevertheless try and put you into their tiniest rooms if they can get away with it. The larger rooms will go to regular guests, to people with company accounts and to premium members of loyalty programmes. They wont pay more than you; they will just get better deals.

The Food

Does the food at your hotel matter? Yes and no. It all depends where you are staying.

We went to Naples and Capri on holiday last month. At Naples we stayed at the Grand Hotel Vesuvio, the Grande Dame of the city. But the only meal we had there was the buffet breakfast which was included in the room rate. We ate all our meals at restaurants outside the hotel and ate better (and for less money) than we would have if we had eaten in the hotel.

On the other hand, in Capri, we ate every meal in our hotel, the Jumeirah Capri Palace, or at the restaurants the hotel runs some distance away on the cliffs overlooking the sea.

Most resort hotels want to offer their guests a choice of dining options and take trouble to get the food right. From a guests perspective, you usually have four choices at a resort town. You can eat at your hotel. You can go for a meal at another hotel; you can find the one or two really good restaurants in the town; or you can get conned into eating at the hundreds of tourist traps that each resort town offers. Needless to say, most people get fooled into going to the tourist traps.

It isnt easy to find the few good standalone restaurants in the town because you have to research the food scene to find them (never rely on the concierge in a resort) and often the good places will be full or booked out.

This applies to Indian resorts too. There are a few groups that pride themselves on the quality of the food at their Goa hotels (ITC, the Taj and thats about it) so you are better off doing a little research and going to the many independent restaurants that have sprung up. But Goa is also packed with tourist traps which will be recommended by taxi-drivers and hotel receptionists. Try not to go to any of them.

Service

There was a time when Asian hotels excelled at service. No longer.

Last year, at the upmarket wing of the Singapore Shangri La, I checked in after a tiring flight and asked if they would iron the shirt I was going to wear for dinner. No, they said. It was Saturday and laundry did not work on Saturday or Sunday. Even in Bangkok, famous for its hospitality and service, the Peninsula refused to accept any pressing on Saturday/Sunday.

These are upscale Asian chains. Neither of them is cheap. So, whats with the reluctance to provide basic services? Every other hotel in Bangkok provides a laundry service seven days a week.

Service levels in the West can be poor because staff strengths are low. If you order something from room service or want to give laundry, you may have to wait for more than 40 minutes for the knock on your door. We are lucky in India because we have best service in the world but elsewhere service standards can vary. Even getting a bellman to collect your luggage when you are checking out can take half an hour.

Some hotel chains pride themselves on the speed of service. It is very unusual to get bad service at a Mandarin Oriental or a Four Seasons Hotel. Isadore Sharp, who founded the Four Seasons, has written about how no guest should be left waiting for laundry to be returned in the morning before he or she leaves for a meeting.

Other hotel chains are too big to offer any standardisation of service. I stayed last month at the Grand Hyatt in Istanbul and service was perfect. But when I stayed, a few years ago, at the Churchill, a Hyatt Hotel in London, I felt that it was among the worst five-star hotels in London. Service was surly or non-existent and when I finally did manage to give some laundry, the person who brought it back would not hand it over till I paid her in cash. There was no question of putting it on the room bill.

London has some of the worlds most overpriced and badly run hotels so my experience at the Churchill was not unusual. The Intercontinental at Hyde Park Corner is pretty dire too. It charges the sterling equivalent of a lakh of rupees a day which should put it in the luxury league. But, in reality, the values and standards of an Ibis hotel on a Saudi Arabian highway are probably more refined.

And finally:

I know it sounds parochial but always try and look for Indian chains. The Oberoi in Marrakech is so stunning that I recommend it to everyone. The Taj Exotica on Dubais Palm is frankly not very convenient if you have work in the city centre. But I stay there anyway because I like the hotel so much. And in London, 51 Buckingham Gate, run by the Taj, has become my home away from home.

With large global chains, it is harder to maintain quality standards. The worst hotel I have stayed at in Dubai is the Marriott Marquis. And yet many Marriott hotels can be very well run. I had the holiday of a lifetime at the Edition (a Marriott hotel) in Tokyo.

So, remember: There are no rules. Often it just comes down to luck.
Kazakh with rare blood type praised for his generosity, economic contributions

14:02, July 02, 2024 By Zhao Yimeng and Peng Yixuan ( China Daily

Ruslan Tulenov (left) presents a Chinese ceramic cup during his visit to an HSBC branch in Qormi, Malta, in May. Tulenov, a Kazakh with the rare Rh-negative blood type, is known in China for his generosity in donating blood and his contributions to Hainan province's economic cooperation with the world. (CHINA DAILY)

Ruslan Tulenov, a Kazakh with the rare Rh-negative blood type, has made headlines in China for his generous blood donation over the years and his contributions to economic cooperation between China's island province of Hainan and the world.

With a yearning for the sea, 16-year-old Tulenov came to Hainan in 2009 from his home country to explore more opportunities.

Since Tulenov studied at Hainan University as an undergraduate student, he has donated more than 6,000 milliliters of his rare "panda blood" to save the lives of Chinese patients, which is about 1.5 times the amount of blood found in an adult.

His story was shared by President Xi Jinping during a speech at Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev University in 2013, in which he praised Tulenov as "a messenger of China-Kazakhstan friendship".

Tulenov watched the speech on television at his dormitory, but he never expected his "simple" act of kindness would be mentioned by the Chinese president.

His Chinese was even not good enough to understand that he was the protagonist at first because "the advanced words" are not often used by an international student.

Encouraged by the attention, Tulenov made a commitment to study and work hard, aiming to make contributions to the friendship between China and his home country.

"I thought I should study hard and not squander any time," Tulenov said, adding that he wished he could meet President Xi in person someday.

Tulenov's wish came true in 2022 when he had the opportunity to meet and speak with Xi during the president's inspection of Hainan.

Tulenov, who is the global media officer of the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau and deputy director of the bureau's investment promotion department, is responsible for attracting investment and engaging investors from all over the world.

In April, Tulenov visited the Boao Lecheng Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Free Trade Port to learn about the policies to facilitate investment by a Swiss company.

He witnessed an operation in which an artificial cornea was used to help a boy born with poor eyesight.

The Lecheng pilot zone is introducing innovative foreign medicine and medical equipment.

"It usually takes five or six years for foreign medicines to get approval for use in China, but by collecting data, we might be able to reduce the time to six to eight months," Tulenov said.

The Hainan International Economic Development Bureau has organized the China International Consumer Products Expo, a bridge for global brands to enter the Chinese market via Hainan, since 2021.

The expo has provided a new platform for global enterprises to showcase their quality products and share development opportunities.

"After Kazakhstan attended the CICPE, cooperation between different parties has been conducted. I have seen Kazakh products in some supermarkets in Haikou," Tulenov said.

He added that his mother owns a little grocery shop at home, which mostly sells Chinese products.

"My mother used to tell me that when you grow up, you need to be kind to people and help others whenever you can," he said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Chicago, July 2 (UNI) Mona Ghosh, a 51-year-old Indian American OB-GYN, admitted to submitting reimbursement claims to insurers for services and procedures that were not provided or medically necessary, according to the US Justice Department.

The Chicago doctor, has pleaded guilty to federal healthcare fraud charges, and faces 20 years in prison for billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent services.

According to the US Attorney's office, Mona Ghosh owned and operated Progressive Womens Healthcare, which specialises in obstetrics and gynaecology services.

As per the documents, she and her employees admitted to submitting reimbursement claims to various insurers for services and procedures that were either not provided or not medically necessary.

Ghosh "fraudulently overstated the length and complexity of in-office and telemedicine visits and submitted claims using billing codes for which the visits did not qualify to seek higher reimbursement rates," the US Attorney's Office said.

She also admitted falsifying medical records to support the fake reimbursement claims to the insurance companies, it added.

Another physician from Inverness, Illinois, also pleaded guilty to two counts of healthcare fraud on June 27, each requiring a 10-year prison sentence, with her sentencing expected on October 22.

According to the US Attorney's Office, Ghosh is accountable for at least USD 2.4 million (around Rs 20.03 crore) in fraudulently obtained reimbursements. The final amount will be determined by the court at sentencing, a media release said.

Ghosh submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid, TRICARE, and other insurers between 2018 and 2022, for unnecessary procedures and services, some performed without patient consent, as per court documents.

In March last year, Ghosh was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of healthcare fraud. According to the indictment, the physician and her clinic obtained USD 796,000 (around Rs 6.64 crore) through fraudulent means, media reports said.

Ghosh was charged with 13 counts of healthcare fraud, with each count carrying a 10-year jail term. She admitted to preparing false patient medical records to support fraudulent reimbursement claims, the statement said.

UNI ARN ING
Indias military strategy needs to conform to its national posture of strategic autonomy. India has always been loath to military treaties or alliances, and its military engagement with friendly foreign countries are aimed at building partnerships, learning from each others best practices, ensuring interoperability, and the ability to partner and assist during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions. Indian Air Force (IAF) cadets watch the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) fly in formation during a graduation ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, on the outskirts of Hyderabad on June 15, 2024. (Photo by Noah SEELAM / AFP) (AFP)

India has earned global recognition for its swift response to disasters. However, the country realises that it has to be on its own to resolve its boundary disputes and other intractable issues with its neighbours. Military capability, therefore, should be its primary focus.

The government must continue with the self-reliance policy to galvanise domestic industry to meet the needs of the armed forces. Research and development, ease of doing business, strategic partnerships for the transfer of critical technologies, indigenous manufacturing, and defence exports need greater attention.

With the phasing out of the Mig 21 and Mig 27 aircraft, the Indian Air Force (IAF)s fighter aircraft inventory is down to 30 squadrons against an authorised strength of 42 squadrons. While the IAF is fully invested in the Tejas programme, its production needs to be scaled up to meet the promised timelines. A critical lacuna in the development of the Tejas Mk II and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is the lack of an indigenous aero-engine. Collaboration with GE or Safran for indigenous development of the engine needs to be pursued in earnest. This would take time to fructify and, in the interim the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) cant be ignored. Its induction would be the fastest way to build up combat capability while the indigenous Tejas Mk II and AMCA programmes run concurrently. The IAF must be involved as a stakeholder at the highest level for the programme to succeed.

The acute shortage of Airborne Warning and Control Systems/Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS/AEW&C) has an adverse effect on the combat capability of the IAF. With four old Airbus A321 aircraft having been transferred to the IAF inventory, the Cabinet Committee on Security has accorded the design and development of two aircraft. The programme for indigenous development has to be prioritised and put on fast track with appropriate budgetary allocations. In addition, the procurement of six aircraft for AEW&C has to be fast-tracked. The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for Flight Refuelling Aircraft was accorded on February 16, many years after the requirement of the same had been projected by the IAF. The limited availability of these combat enablers affects the training status of IAF personnel.

The capital acquisition procedure is not in sync with the emergent requirements of the armed forces. While the need for procedures and probity is well understood, the timelines leave much to be desired. The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which gives thrust to indigenous design and development, also lays down ambitious timelines that are often not met. The delays can be attributed to incessant observations from the finance ministry and the lack of accountability to meet the desired timelines. There exists an urgent need to review the DAP for faster execution. To give an example, the requirement of an Integrated Perimeter Security System (IPSS) that was felt after the January 2016 Pathankot terror attack took more than seven years to be implemented. The MRFA has been languishing with no clarity in sight.

The private sector is gradually rising to meet the requirements of indigenous production. The Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) on the other hand are behemoths with a sense of entitlement that have an entrenched work culture, rarely delivering what is promised. The need to corporatise DPSUs is the need of the hour. In addition, a private-public partnership model needs to be evolved with the DPSUs outsourcing more and more to the private industry.

With aerospace power being critical for future conflicts, it becomes imperative for the nation to focus on this important tool of national power. Military modernisation is a continuous process, and capability takes years to build; it needs commitment, resolve, and financial outlay. Conflicts, on the other hand, rarely knock before they happen. If they do, the time available may not be enough for an appropriate response. Investment in military capability cannot be ignored if deterrence has to succeed and also because wars will invariably get costlier. Reform, transform, and perform or perish should be the mantra for the new government in the military domain.

Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Anil Golani is director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.The views expressed are personal
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani hosted a mass wedding for over 50 couples at the Reliance Corporate Park (RCP) in Navi Mumbai. This event marked the start of their son Anant Ambanis wedding functions with Radhika Merchant. Over 50 underprivileged couples from the Palghar area, located about 100 km from Mumbai, got married at this event, attended by nearly 800 people. The image shows Nita Ambani hugging a bride at the mass wedding hosted by Ambanis. Mukesh Ambani also attended the celebration. (special arrangement)

Here are some pictures from the event, which was attended by Mukesh and Nita Ambani, their son Akash Ambani, and his wife, Shloka Mehta. Aksahs twin, Isha Ambani, and her husband, Anand Piramal, were also present.

Take a look at the five photos:

Here is an image that shows Nita Ambani, dressed in a red saree, hugging one of the brides who got married at the event.

The image shows Nita Ambani with a bride. (special arrangement)

In this photo, Nita Ambani is seen in conversation with a bride.

Nita Ambani with a bride. (special arrangement)

Heres another photo from the event:

A photo of Nita Ambani with a bride at a mass wedding. (special arrangement)

This photo shows the Ambani family posing together. The Ambanis presented the couples with gold ornaments, including nose rings, wedding rings, and Mangalsutra. They were also given silver toe rings and anklets.

The image (L-R) shows Shloka Mehta, Akash Ambani, Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani, and Anand Piramal. (special arrangement)

Take a look at this picture from the event:

A photo from the mass wedding hosted by the Ambanis. (special arrangement)

Each bride was presented with a cheque of Rs. 1.01 lakh as her streedhan. The couples were also given sufficient grocery and household items for about a year, including appliances like mixers, fans, mattresses, pillows, and gas stoves.

After the ceremony, a grand dinner was organised for everyone who attended the mass wedding. They were also invited to a traditional Tarpa Dance by the Warli Tribe, an indigenous tribe of Western India.

Anant Ambani, the youngest son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani and philanthropist Nita Ambani, is set to marry Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant and businesswoman Shaila Merchant, on July 12 at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The wedding is expected to be a grand affair, with many high-profile guests and elaborate ceremonies.
An American startup, currently based in Bengaluru, got to experience the ugly side of hiring in India when he rejected a job applicant for a role. Anthony Klor shared a screenshot of the abusive messages he received.(Instagram/@tonykmontana)

Anthony (Tony) Klor, founder of Catoff Gaming, received a string of abuses from a job-seeker he rejected. He took to the social media platform X to share a screenshot of his exchange with the disgruntled applicant.

Although the screenshot is too distasteful to reproduce here, it shows the shocking abuse directed towards Klor, who recently moved to Bengaluru from San Francisco. Among other things, the rejected applicant asked Klor to apologise to his mother for giving birth to him, called him a nerd and a Hindi swear word.

When Klor, perhaps out of a sense of irony, asked the unnamed applicant whether he is still interested in the job, he received another vitriolic response. Yes in a b***-job from a foreigners mouth named Tony [sic], he responded, making little sense for all his anger.

Sometimes job candidates in India dont take rejection very well Klor wrote while sharing the screenshot on X. He also asked the meaning of the Hindi swear word used by the jobseeker.

Social media reacts

People in the comments section expressed their shock and disgust at the jobseekers behaviour.

It means, thanks for considering me, but Im not qualified to work as a professional, wrote one X user in the comments section.

I guess he is frustrated with his life, another suggested.

Some apologised on behalf of their countrymen - like the X user who wrote Sorry you had to go through all this.

Others, however, pointed to one of Klors messages in the screenshot which read: Should I call your mother and apologize?

No recruiter has told me Should I call your mother and apologise as well. This is not the entire story, an X user commented.
A souvenir shop at Chennai airport has been exposed as a front for a Sri Lankan gold smuggling syndicate. The shops owner, Mohammed Sabir Ali, was recruited by the syndicate to help them smuggle gold, reported The New Indian Express. A shop at Chennai airport was revealed to be a front for gold smuggling (File Photo)

Customs have arrested Ali and seven of his employees for their role in smuggling 267 kg gold worth 167 crore over a period of two months.

Ali set up a retail souvenir shop, Airhub, at Chennai airports departure lounge. Sources say that a member of the Sri Lankan gold smuggling syndicate, living in Abu Dhabi, paid 70 lakh to help Ali get the lease for the shop.

The syndicate recruited 29-year-old Sabir Ali after seeing videos of his YouTube channel, shoppingboyz, even though he had no prior experience of running a shop. It was also the syndicate that suggested the idea of opening a shop at Chennai airport to help with gold smuggling.

How the man's scheme worked

Ali and his seven employees were trained by the syndicate - through their shop, they received gold from transit passengers and gave it to receivers outside the airport. For this, the former YouTuber and the employees received a commission of 3 crore for two months.

However, their scheme unravelled on June 29 when a Customs official, who suspected one of the employees, found 1 kg gold powder at the shop. The employee as well as the transit passenger who smuggled the gold were taken into custody, followed by the arrest of Ali and his other employees.

The Customs department is now investigating how all eight members of the group possessed identity cards issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), as they were only contract employees. Because of these identity cards, they were not subjected to security checks.
Archaeologists discovered 36 tombs, each containing 30 to 40 mummies. The tombs were apparently reused for up to 900 years. Families that may have perished from infectious diseases were also present in a number of them. These mummies were found in the city of Aswan, which was an important trading, quarrying, and military hub when it was first founded more than 4,500 years ago. It is located on the eastern bank of the Nile River, Egypt as per reports. The burial site extends about 270,000 feet. (Representational Image/@Unsplash )

The burial site extends about 270,000 feet, according to University of Milan researcher Patrizia Piacentini. Additionally, it included up to ten terraces of ancient tombs arranged in tiers on a hillside. Piacentini stated that this indicates that the hillside was covered in tombs by the city's residents, making it almost like a "City of the Dead," reported the Science Times.

The findings from the excavation project indicated that the burial practices of the ancient society were intricately linked to social class distinctions. It was determined by the archaeologists that individuals belonging to the elite class were interred in locations situated above those of the middle-class individuals. (Also Read: Bread that was left uncooked 8,600 years ago in Turkeys Catalhoyuk dubbed as worlds oldest)

As per the report, it was noted that the 36 recently discovered tombs were either 300 or 600 AD old. This is a historical period rich in Persian dominance, Roman rule, and the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty. The head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities' Egyptian Antiquities Division, Ayman Ashmawy, stated that mummy tests revealed that between 30-40% of the buried people died when still quite young. Most of them passed away as young adults or babies. They also found other families, indicating that the deaths might have been caused by an infection. (Also Read: Polish scientists discover world's first 'pregnant' Egyptian mummy)

The team is optimistic about continuing their work to reveal the rich history of the diverse population in the Egyptian city of Aswan.
Business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and his wife, philanthropist Nita Ambani, were captured arriving at a mass wedding venue, which they organised as part of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding celebrations. The mass wedding of the underprivileged is taking place in Navi Mumbai. Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani extended an invitation a few days ago about the mass wedding. (File Photo)

Photographer Varinder Chawla shared a video on Instagram which shows the inside of the venue where the mass wedding is taking place. It also captures some of the couples taking their places before the event.

Take a look at this video here:

Photographer Viral Bhayani also shared another video from the venue. This video captures Mukesh and Nita Ambani arriving at the venue with folded hands. While Mukesh Ambani is wearing black pants and a white shirt, Nita Ambani is sporting a gorgeous red saree.

Here's the video:

Earlier, the Ambanis extended an invitation for the mass wedding, which started at 4:30 pm.

What did the mass wedding invitation say?

As part of the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani & Radhika Merchant, a Mass Wedding of the underprivileged has been organised at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, 2nd July 2024, read a part of the invitation for the mass wedding stated.

Nita & Mukesh Ambani are contributing towards this noble cause and will also grace the occasion along with family. We would be delighted if you could join us in witnessing this Celebration of Love, it read further.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant held their first pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar, Gujarat, earlier this year. Dignitaries from across India and the world attended, as did business tycoons like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Various artists performed during the celebrations, including a show by Rihanna.

As for their second pre-wedding celebration, the Ambanis organised a four-day-long Mediterranean cruise. They selected this venue to accommodate their 1200-person guest list, including Reliance Industries and Encore Healthcare employees. The guest list also involved people associated with Anant Ambani's Vantara.

The couple will marry on July 12 at the prestigious Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.
Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, is known for his love for animals, especially dogs. The 86-year-old industrialist opened a small animal hospital in Mumbai. It is Indias largest 24-hour hospital. Ratan Tata launched Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital in Mumbai on June 1. (Instagram/@sahmumbai)

The Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital is finally open to the public, moving from its trial phase to phase one. We are excited to bring in this new day for veterinary care, a day that marks Care. Cure. Comfort. Thank you, Mumbai, for your support so far and in the years to come, reads the caption to the picture shared on Instagram.

The picture shows Ratan Tata interacting with healthcare professionals. A text on the picture reads, Were open.

Take a look at the Instagram post here:

Ratan Tata, too, shared the post with his followers on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, Were open.

The Instagram post, since being shared, has accumulated over seven lakh likes and the numbers are still increasing. Many even took to the comments section of the post to share their thoughts.

Check out a few comments here:

Ratan Tata has Heart of Gold. The most purest and kindest soul in humanity. Sir, you are absolute gem and perfect example for the new generation to understand the importance of empathy and love in every living soul around us, expressed an individual.

Another added, How many times will you win our hearts, Tata sir.

Congratulations and all the best! shared a third.

A fourth posted, With gratitude, we sing your praise. A shining idol through our and everyones days. Forever etched in historys tome. A hero and A true legend.

Thank you, sir, for making our planet a better place to live. Man with a golden heart. True inspiration, wrote a fifth.
For some parents, it can be a challenge to understand their children completely. In order to help them, South Korea has come up with the concept of "Happiness Factory". Many who choose to take part in this unique experience are parents of socially withdrawn children, also known as hikikomori, as per reports. This program's main initiative is enhancing parent-child communication.(Unsplash)

In order to comprehend their children's loneliness, these parents spend three days in solitary confinement cells while dressed in blue prison uniforms. They live in tiny rooms, and the only thing that connects them to the outside world is a small hole in the door, which is used for feeding. What's more, during this time, no phones or laptops are allowed inside these cells, reported the BBC.

This program's main initiative is enhancing parent-child communication. It's part of a 13-week program that the Blue Whale Recovery Center and the Korea Youth Foundation run. (Also Read: Denmark issues warning against South Korea's famous Buldak noodles for being too spicy, says can cause 'acute poisoning')

Several parents have been participating in this since April. Jin Young-hae, a South Korean resident whose son has been isolating himself in his bedroom for nearly three years now, told BBC that she finally understands her son's "emotional prison" better.

Jin claims that her son has always been gifted, and both she and his father had high hopes for him. However, he had trouble making and keeping friends, was frequently sick, and finally developed an eating issue that made it impossible for him to attend school. Her son appeared to be doing well in his first term of university, then one day he just stopped showing up. Her heart ached to see him trapped in his room, ignoring food and personal hygiene.

When Jin joined Happiness Factory, she read about isolated people and understood more about it.

Similarly, another parent, Park Han-sil, came here for her 26-year-old son, who cut off communication with the outside world seven years ago. Not only that, but he also ran away from his home a few times. Though she finds it difficult to talk to her son, she is now getting a grasp of his feelings through this program.
At least 30 people on an Air Europa flight were left with injuries after their plane was hit with severe turbulence on Monday. A viral video shows an Air Europa passenger being rescued from the overhead bin.(X/@aviationbrk)

The Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was flying from Spain to Uruguay when the incident occurred, reported BBC. The flight was diverted to Brazil before it could reach its destination - the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo.

"Our flight bound for Montevideo was diverted to Natal due to strong turbulence," Air Europa said in a statement. "The plane landed normally, and those injured are already being treated."

More than two dozen passengers on the flight received varying degrees of injuries, with one person seemingly being thrown into the overhead luggage compartment. A viral video shows the person being rescued from the overhead bin. The video shows his fellow passengers helping him down, feet-first, as the turbulence subsided.

Take a look at the video below:

Meanwhile, other videos being shared on social media show oxygen masks dangling above the seats and the aircrafts ceiling panels destroyed.

Some passengers required medical assistance after the ordeal. Around 10 were transported to a nearby hospital after the flight landed in Brazil.

Mariela Jodal, a passenger on the Air Europa flight, said on X that she was wearing her seatbelt and was therefore safeguarded from serious injuries, unlike other passengers who were hurtled towards the ceiling.

This was echoed by another passenger on the Madrid to Montevideo flight. From one moment to the next, the plane destabilized and went into a dive. The people who didnt have seat belts went up in the air and hit the ceiling, and they got hurt  those who had seat belts on, not so much, one of the passengers, Maximiliano, told Reuters.

People who hit the ceiling suffered cranial fractures and cuts to the face, a local medical team told Brazilian media.

A similar nightmare had unfolded in May this year when a Singapore Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence mid-air. A British man lost his life on the flight, possibly due to a heart attack brought upon by the sudden shaking.
China and the Philippines held a crucial meeting Tuesday to try to ease escalating tensions following their worst confrontation in the disputed South China Sea that sparked fears of a wider conflict that could involve Manilas ally the United States. This image released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shows a Chinese militia vessel, top, near Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Cabra as they approach Second Thomas Shoal, locally called Ayungin Shoal, at the disputed South China Sea. (File image).(AP)

There was no mention of any major agreement to try to prevent a repeat of the chaotic June 17 clash at Second Thomas Shoal that caused injuries to Filipino navy personnel and damaged two military boats.

Also read | US warns aggressive China over latest confrontation with Philippines in disputed sea

The shoal off the northwestern Philippines has emerged as the most dangerous flashpoint in the disputed waters, which China claims virtually in its entirety. Chinese naval and civilian vessels have surrounded the Philippine marines aboard a grounded ship, tried to prevent their resupply and demanded the Philippines pull out.

The Chinese and Philippine delegations affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement late Tuesday. There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain."

Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro told her Chinese counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, that the Philippines will be relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the South China Sea, according to the Philippine side.

Also read | In China vs Philippines, India backs Manila on tension over South China Sea

An agreement was signed to improve communications during emergencies at sea and both sides agreed to continue talks on enhancing ties between their coast guards, but no details were provided. There was also another confidence-building plan to convene an academic forum among scientists and academics to improve marine scientific cooperation.

Ahead of the meeting, the Philippines planned to formally ask China's delegation to return at least seven rifles that Chinese coast guard personnel seized during the June 17 faceoff at the shoal and pay for damage, a Philippine official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to discuss the sensitive matter publicly.

The Asian neighbours agreed to hold what they call the Bicameral Consultative Mechanism meetings, first held in 2017, to peacefully manage their conflicts. But the high-sea confrontations have persisted especially under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who, unlike his predecessor, has nurtured closer military and defense ties with the United States as a counterweight to China.

Apart from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also lay overlapping claims to the strategic sea, which has rich fishing areas and potentially more deposits of gas than what has been found mostly in the fringes by a few coastal states so far.

Sporadic confrontations have flared between Chinese forces and those of Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia in the past, but the Southeast Asian nations have resisted aggressively confronting China for fear of destabilizing their substantial economic ties.

Under Marcos, who took office in 2022, the Philippines launched a campaign to expose aggressive Chinese actions by making public videos and photographs and allowing journalists to join coast guard patrol ships, which have figured in dangerous faceoffs with Beijings forces.

The U.S. has no claims to the contested waters, but it has deployed warships and fighter jets for patrols that it says aim to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight and to reassure allies like the Philippines and Japan, which also has territorial disputes with China over islands in the East China Sea.

After last months confrontation in Second Thomas Shoal, where Chinese forces were caught on video brandishing machetes, an axe and improvised spears, Washington renewed a warning that its obligated to help defend the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty if Filipino forces, including the coast guard, come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

Marcos said the Chinese actions would not activate the treaty because no shots were fired.
Kathmandu/New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) Nepal was gripped by political uncertainty, as the Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli reached a power-sharing deal to replace the coalition government of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

Meanwhile, PM Dahal has decided not to resign from his post but face a vote of confidence in parliament.

Barely four months after extending support to Pushpa Kamal Dahals leadership of the government, the CPN-UML, the second largest party in Parliament, decided to end its political association with Dahal and join hands with Nepali Congress, the largest party.

On Saturday, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML chair KP Oli held a sudden meeting at the latters residence, which laid the ground for the potential new political alliance between the two parties.

Deuba and Oli reached an understanding during a meeting on Sunday midnight at an undisclosed location in Kathmandu, where they tentatively agreed to form a new government, amend the constitution, and to work out a power-sharing formula, the Kathmandu Post reported.

As per the understanding between Congress and UML, Oli will lead a new national consensus government for a year and a half. For the remaining term, Deuba will be the prime minister.

A four-member task force has prepared the draft agreement between the two parties, which will detail the power-sharing arrangement, propose amendments to the constitution, review the electoral system including proportional representation, change national assembly arrangements, and discuss the size of provincial assemblies.

The Nepali Congress will lead 10 ministries including home, and the UML nine including finance, as per the draft understanding.

Likewise, the Congress and the UML will lead three provincial governments each, with the government in Madhesh to be led by a regional party.

There has also been a verbal agreement on formation of a high-powered constitution review and suggestions committee under a former chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Deuba and Oli had reportedly been in talks over the past one month in order to address some pressing national issues, and have agreed to amend the constitution where needed. They are also said to have reached understandings on foreign policy, economic crisis, and governance, the Post reported.

The reason for the rift between Prime Minister Dahal and Oli was over the appointment of the chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal or Sebon. The appointment process was ultimately cancelled on Saturday due to differences between the two leaders.

Differences between Oli and Dahal had been steadily building, including over the new Sebon chair, the appointment of ambassadors to eight countries, transitional justice, and the bringing of what Oli termed a Maoist budget for the new fiscal year.

UNI RN
North Korea said on Tuesday it had test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead, a claim quickly disputed by South Korean officials and experts who speculate the North likely fabricated a successful test to conceal a botched launch. A missile is launched, as the state media reports North Korea test-fired a new mid- to long-range solid-fuel hypersonic missile, at an unknown location in North Korea(File via REUTERS)

Its the second time that South Korea has questioned North Koreas claim on the development of new weapons in recent days, as the rivals are locked in heightened animosities over the Norths testing activities.

Also read | North Korea claims test of ballistic missile capable of carrying super-large warhead

The Norths official Korean Central News Agency said that Mondays test involved the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 missile, which can carry a 4.5 ton-class warhead. It said the test was meant to verify the weapons flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 kilometres (310 miles) and the minimum range of 90 kilometers (55 miles).

The test apparently refers to the two ballistic missile launches that South Korea said North Korea performed Monday.

Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said at a briefing later Tuesday that the second North Korean missile was found to have fallen on an uninhabited area near Pyongyang, the Norths capital. He said he could find few previous test-launches by North Korea that have aimed at ground target sites.

Regarding the North Korean assessment, were weighing a possibility of deception, Lee said.

The South Korean military has said the second North Korean missile possibly travelled abnormally during the initial stage of its flight. It said if the missile exploded, its debris would likely have scattered on the ground.

Also read | North Korean officials sport Kim Jong Un pins for first time

The KCNA dispatch didnt say from where it launched the new missile and where it landed. Unlike previous weapons tests, North Korea also didnt publicize any photos of Mondays test. The fact that it tested both the missiles maximum and minimum ranges suggested North Korea performed two launches.

KCNA, citing North Koreas Missile Administration, reported that North Korea will test-fire the missile again later in July to verify the performances of its simulated warhead at the medium range of 250 kilometres (155 miles).

Some experts say test-firing missiles at ground targets could be related to efforts to test how powerful warheads are to destroy underground bunkers and structures.

But Shin Jongwoo, a Seoul-based military expert, said the lack of any photos on the launches means its highly likely the North is trying to deceive the outsiders to cover up Mondays failed launches. He said North Korea likely launched an existing missile on Monday, not the new missile at it claimed.

Yang Uk, an analyst at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that Mondays tests reflected North Koreas push to acquire a variety of conventional weapons. But he also said if North Korea truly succeeded in hitting a ground target, it probably would have already published related images to brag about its achievements as its done in the past.

Also read | Why Putin and Kim Jong-uns controversial alliance has sparked concerns in the West

Since 2022, North Korea has sharply accelerated weapons testing activities to enlarge its nuclear arsenal. The North Korea-claimed ranges of the newly tested missile imply it targets South Korea. Experts say North Korea would ultimately want to use an expanded weapons arsenal to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the U.S.

On June 26, North Korea launched what it called a new multiwarhead missile in the first known test of a developmental weapon aimed at penetrating its rivals missile defences. North Korea said the launch was successful, but South Korea dismissed the Norths claim as deception to cover up a failed launch. South Korea said the weapon blew up, sending debris in the waters off the North's east coast.

Also Tuesday, South Korea held live-fire drills near the heavily fortified land border with North Korea, the first of its kind since the South suspended a 2018 agreement with the North aimed at reducing front-line military tensions in early June. Last week, South Korea conducted similar firing exercises near its disputed western sea boundary with North Korea.

The back-to-back South Korean exercises could prompt North Korea, which also said it wont be bound by the 2018 pact any longer, to take provocative steps at border areas.

Meanwhile, during a four-day key ruling party meeting that ended Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed that his countrys economic and food situations have improved and presented officials tasks to maintain a steady economic development, KCNA said Tuesday. It didnt mention whether the meeting discussed any security or foreign policy issues.
NORFOLK, Va.  For those of you who don't celebrate World UFO Day, consider this: Flying objects and shrunken heads: World UFO Day feted amid surge in sightings, government denials

A former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer told Congress last summer about a government program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects.

The Mexican Congress held an unprecedented session in September during which supposed mummies were presented as nonhuman beings that are not part of our terrestrial evolution.

And NASA now has a director of research for unidentified flying objects, or what it calls unidentified anomalous phenomena.

Never mind that the Pentagon denied the former intelligence officer's claims; that Mexican researchers said the mummies made no sense; and that a NASA study found no evidence of extraterrestrials.

There's still never been a better time to mark World UFO Day.

A look at the history of World UFO Day: Aliens? Or just balloons and crash test dummies?

World UFO Day has its roots in the so-called Roswell Incident on July 2, 1947. On that date, something crashed at what was then the J.B. Foster ranch in New Mexico. There were reports that the U.S. military had recovered a flying disc. But officials later said the debris was merely the remnants of a high-altitude weather balloon.

The Air Force investigated the incident in 1994 amid charges that it was covering up the truth. It concluded that the supposed alien spacecraft was likely a secret Army Air Force balloon designed to monitor Soviet nuclear testing.

The material found near Roswell consisted of foil-wrapped fabric, wooden sticks, rubber pieces, and small I-beams with strange markings on them. A local newspaper headline described the find dramatically and unequivocally: Air Force Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch.

The Air Force research did not locate or develop any information that the Roswell Incident was a UFO event, wrote Col. Richard Weaver, author of the report.

The Air Force released another report addressing UFO claims in 1997, stating that alleged alien bodies found near Roswell were just dummies used in parachute tests.

Some UFO researchers pushed back against that explanation, noting that such dummies weren't used until 10 years after the Roswell Incident. And they said it would be a stretch for people who claimed to see alien bodies to mix up their dates so badly.

The life-size dummies were used in high-altitude parachute drops from 1954 to 1959. The majority landed outside the confines of military bases in eastern New Mexico, near Roswell, according to the Air Force report.

The dummies had a skeleton of aluminum or steel, skin of latex or plastic, a cast aluminum skull, and an instrument cavity in the torso and head.

The Air Force said the existence of such dummies was not widely known outside of scientific circles and "easily could have been mistaken for something they were not. UFOs are a national security concern

In 2022, Congress held its first hearing on UFOs in half a century as the Pentagon investigated hundreds of unexplained sightings in the sky.

The spotted objects appeared to be aircraft flying without any discernible means of propulsion. They have been reported near military bases and coastlines, raising the prospect that what witnesses actually spotted was secret Chinese or Russian technology.

A 2021 government report reviewed 144 sightings of aircraft or other devices that were apparently flying at mysterious speeds or trajectories. It found no extraterrestrial links but drew few other conclusions and called for better data collection.

Lawmakers from both parties have said the UFOs are a national security concern. But the sightings are usually fleeting. Some appear for no more than an instant on camera  and then sometimes end up distorted by the camera lens.

Ronald Moultrie, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, said during a 2022 hearing that the Pentagon was trying to destigmatize the issue and encourage pilots and other military personnel to report anything unusual they see.

Then things got a little strange last year.

During a congressional hearing in late July, retired Air Force Maj. David Grusch testified that the U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects.

Asked whether the U.S. government had information about extraterrestrial life, Grusch said the U.S. likely has been aware of nonhuman activity since the 1930s.

The Pentagon denied Gruschs claims of a cover-up and denied the existence of any such program. Shriveled bodies with shrunken heads

Unlike the hearings in the U.S., the testimony before lawmakers in the Mexican Congress included alleged evidence of aliens.

During an unprecedented session in September, Mexican journalist Jose Jaime Maussan presented two boxes containing shriveled bodies with shrunken, warped heads  supposed mummies found in Peru.

Its the queen of all evidence, Maussan claimed. That is, if the DNA is showing us that they are nonhuman beings and that there is nothing that looks like this in the world, we should take it as such.

The apparently desiccated bodies date back to 2017 and were found deep underground in the sandy Peruvian coastal desert of Nazca. Most attribute the famous Nazca Lines to ancient Indigenous communities.

Julieta Fierro, researcher at the Institute of Astronomy at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, was among those to express skepticism, saying that many details about the figures made no sense.

She noted that scientists would need more advanced technology than the X-rays they claimed to use to determine if the allegedly calcified bodies were nonhuman.

At another hearing in November, Maussan made the case again, citing a nonhuman that did not have lungs or ribs. NASA chief: Show me the evidence

The Pentagon released a study in March that had examined the many UFO sightings over nearly the past century and found no evidence of aliens or extraterrestrial intelligence.

The report analyzed U.S. government investigations since 1945. It also found no evidence that the U.S. or private companies had reverse-engineered extraterrestrial technology.

The Pentagon's report arrived about six months after NASA released a report on UFOs, which also found no evidence of extraterrestrials.

But NASA Administrator Bill Nelson did acknowledge that another Earth-like planet could exist within the billions of galaxies in the universe.

If you ask me, do I believe theres life in a universe that is so vast that its hard for me to comprehend how big it is? My personal answer is yes, Nelson said at a news conference.

When pressed by reporters on whether the U.S. or other governments are hiding aliens or otherworldly spaceships, Nelson said: Show me the evidence.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
TEHRAN, Iran  Irans presidential candidates on Monday accused each other of having no solution for the countrys problems ahead of Friday's runoff election aimed at choosing a successor for the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died last month in a helicopter crash. Iranian presidential candidates accuse each other of having no plan or experience ahead of runoff

During a more than two-hour debate on public TV, reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian attacked his competitor, Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, for his lack of experience, saying: Tell me, what single company have you ever managed to make you capable of running the country?

Jalili, who 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, defended himself highlighting his career and several positions held, including that of top nuclear negotiator.

Pezeshkian further questioned his opponent on what plans he would have for reaching a nuclear deal, with Jalili responding he would approach it "based on strength not weakness, without providing details.

Jalili accused Pezeshkian of having no plans for managing the country, saying his presidency would drive the country to a backward position, as it was under relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani . Rouhani struck a nuclear deal with world powers that capped Iran's uranium enrichment in return to lifting sanctions but later, in 2018, President Trump pulled the U.S. out from the landmark deal abruptly restoring harsh sanctions on Iran.

Jalili said that with the support of people, Iran would achieve an economic growth of 8% a year, a promise Pezeshkian mocked, saying authorities should be allowed to execute him if he failed to deliver on it.

Iran must implement "a dynamic foreign policy if it wants to have a successful economy, Jalili said, adding that it should not be limited to those nations that it has a problem with  a reference to the U.S. and the western world. Instead, he said, "Iran should look to the other 200 nations in the world where foreign relations should be improved."

Pezeshkian said his foreign policy will be based on engagement with the world" including engaging in "negotiations for lifting sanctions.

Both sides promised to address the problems of the country's poor, workers, women, ethnic groups and religious minorities, and vowed to provide better and faster internet  a plea to a younger generation that showed apathy during Friday's vote.

Pezeshkian and Jalili also said the low turnout in the first round  the lowest-ever poll turnout in the Islamic Republics history  should be probed.

It is not acceptable that some 60 percent did not cast a ballot, said Pezeshkian.

The candidates will have their second and last debate Tuesday.

Follow the s coverage of global elections at: /hub/global-elections/

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strips second-largest city. Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip flee from parts of Khan Younis following an evacuation order by the Israeli army to leave the eastern part of Gaza Strip's second largest city on Monday(AP)

The order suggests Khan Younis will be the latest target of Israels raids into parts of Gaza it had previously invaded in the war, as it pursues regrouping Hamas militants. Much of Khan Younis was destroyed in a long assault earlier this year, but large numbers of Palestinians had moved back to escape another Israeli offensive in Gazas southernmost city, Rafah.

The evacuation came as Israel released the director of what was once Gazas largest hospital after holding him for seven months without charge or trial. Israel alleged the hospital had been used as a Hamas command center, which he and other Palestinian health officials have denied. The doctor said he and other detainees were held under harsh conditions and tortured.

ALSO READ| Israeli tanks push forward into north and south Gaza, six Palestinians killed

The decision to release Mohammed Abu Selmia raised questions over Israels claims surrounding Shifa Hospital, which Israeli forces have raided twice since the start of the war with Hamas. The hospital was left severely damaged after the raids.

Abu Selmia's release triggered an uproar across Israels political spectrum. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office called it a grave mistake. Government ministers and opposition leaders expressed outrage and insisted Abu Selmia played a role in Hamas alleged use of the hospital  although Israeli security services rarely unilaterally free prisoners if they have a suspicion of militant links.

Khan Younis evacuation

Mondays evacuation order covered the eastern half of Khan Younis and a large swath of the Gaza Strips southeast corner. Earlier in the day, the army said a barrage of rockets out of Gaza was fired from Khan Younis.

As night fell, streams of civilians trudged on foot beside a steady flow of vehicles as people began making their way out of the evacuation zone. A woman dragged a rolling suitcase with a little girl riding on top. Others carried a few crucial belongings  mattresses, clothing, plastic buckets for washing, an electric fan. Trucks were piled high with possessions and furniture.

We received a message on our mobile phones to evacuate, said one displaced woman Zeinab Abu Jazar, holding back tears. Look at these children, how they walk. We did not find a car to ride in.

Israel told people to move to Muwasi, a coastal area designated by the Israeli army as a safe zone and which has become filled with crowded and unsanitary tent camps.

The order suggested a new assault into Khan Younis was imminent. Israeli forces fought for weeks in Khan Younis earlier this year and withdrew, claiming to have destroyed Hamas battalions. But in other places where the military has made similar claims, renewed raids have underscored Hamas capabilities.

Last week, the military ordered an evacuation from the north Gaza district of Shijaiyah, and intensive fighting has followed.

Netanyahu said Monday that the military was making progress toward ending the phase of the destruction of Hamas terror army. But he said forces will continue to target their remains going forward.

More fighting in the Khan Younis area could further hamper Palestinians access to much-needed potable water. Included in the evacuation zone is a water line that Israel installed following criticism over its cutoff of water to the strip early in the war.

Also in the zone is the area surrounding the Kerem Shalom crossing, the major aid crossing to southern Gaza, and an aid route inside the territory that Israel has said it would safeguard.

Most of Gazas population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, with many displaced multiple times. Israeli restrictions, fighting and the breakdown of public order have hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid, fueling widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the new evacuation order just shows yet again that no place is safe in Gaza for Palestinian civilians. Its another stop in this deadly circular movement that the population in Gaza has to undergo on a regular basis, he said in a statement calling for a cease-fire.

Shifa Hospital directors release

The decision to release Abu Selmia and 54 other Palestinian detainees back into Gaza appeared to be meant to free up space in overcrowded detention centers. Since the start of the war, Israeli forces have detained thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Many are being held without charge or trial in what is known as administrative detention.

Our detainees have been subjected to all kinds of torture behind bars, Abu Selmia told a news conference. There was almost daily torture.

He said guards used batons to beat detainees and terrorized them with dogs. He said some detainees had limbs amputated because of poor medical care. He said a beating caused his head to bleed and guards broke his finger.

The allegations could not be independently confirmed but matched other accounts of Palestinians who have been held in Israeli custody. There was no immediate response from the prison service, which has denied similar accusations.

Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital in November, alleging that Hamas had created an elaborate command and control center inside. Abu Selmia and other staff denied the allegations and accused Israel of recklessly endangering thousands of patients and displaced people sheltering there. Abu Selmia was detained on Nov. 22.

After its first raid on Shifa Hospital, the military uncovered a tunnel beneath it leading to two empty rooms, as well as evidence that militants had brought wounded hostages to the facility. But the evidence fell short of showing an extensive base as claimed. Israel has since raided other Gaza hospitals on similar allegations, forcing them to shut down or dramatically reduce services.

Amid the uproar over Abu Selmias release, the various Israeli state organs responsible for detentions scrambled to shift blame.

Netanyahus office said Abu Selmia belongs in prison and that the prime minister had ordered a thorough review into how the release happened. It said the decision was made without the knowledge of the political echelon or the heads of the organizations.

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israels far-right national security minister who controls the countrys police and prison service, blamed the Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallants office said prisoner releases are the responsibility of the prison service and the Shin Bet internal security agency. The prison service said the decision was made by the Shin Bet and the army, and released a document ordering his release that was signed by an army reserve general.

The Shin Bet said Abu Selmia had passed a risk assessment, compared to other detainees. It said the government had decided against its advice to release detainees determined to be less of a threat to free up space.

Israel launched its offensive after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people across southern Israel and took another 250 hostage. In its campaign, Israel has killed at least 37,900 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or fighters.
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia  Mongolia's ruling party won a much smaller majority in a parliamentary election than it had held previously, according to official results released on Monday, raising the possibility of a return to a coalition government for the first time in eight years. Mongolia may return to coalition government after official results confirm setback for ruling party

The Mongolian People's Party took 68 seats in the 126-seat body in Friday's nationwide vote, while the opposition Democratic Party won 42, according to a certified list of winners posted on the General Election Commission website. The remaining 16 seats were divided among smaller parties.

The commission presented the final results to the country's president on Monday shortly before handing out membership cards to the newly elected lawmakers at a ceremony in the State Palace, a grand building in the capital city that houses the parliament chamber and the offices of the president and the prime minister.

The ceremony, held in a palace auditorium, was a time for hearty handshakes and backslapping embraces as lawmakers congratulated each other on their victories. As their names were read out, they went on stage one-by-one to receive a card in a folded, wallet-size protector that certified them as members of parliament.

The People's Party won overwhelmingly in the previous two elections, taking 62 of 76 seats in the previous race in 2020, and ruled the country singlehandedly. A constitutional revision last year added 50 seats to the parliament.

Mongolian media reports said that the ruling party was discussing formulas for a coalition with both the Democratic Party and the HUN party, which won eight seats. Cabinet positions would be divvied up among the coalition members, the reports said. There was no official confirmation of the discussions.

The last coalition government in Mongolia was one led by the Democratic Party from 2012 to 2016. After eight years of one-party rule, this year's election showed a desire among voters to return to a more balanced system.

Ross Tokola, an expert on Mongolian politics at the educational institution East-West Center in Washington, said the expanded parliament and new electoral system encourage the country's political parties "to seek greater support among Mongolian youth, which constitute the majority of Mongolias population.

That could lead to a new generation of Mongolian leaders playing "a greater role alongside long-time reformers in addressing societal needs and the causes of cynicism that have contributed to disillusionment among Mongolian youth, Tokola said.

Ahead of Monday's ceremony, a former Democratic Party lawmaker who started her own party two years ago held a news conference to criticize allegedly unfair campaign tactics by the People's Party.

Oyungerel Tsedevdamba, the founder and leader of the Civic Unity Party, accused the People's Party of using state power and access to a government database and employees to give itself an unfair advantage in the race.

The Civic Unity Party cannot and will not congratulate the Mongolian Peoples Party for its victory, she said. "Its not real victory. ... Its a result of intimidation and repression.

She spoke with five other candidates from her party, which did not win any seats in the election.

Mongolia transitioned to democracy in the early 1990s after more than six decades as a one-party communist state. The vast and sparsely populated landlocked country sits between China and Russia.

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North Korea said it successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile on Monday capable of carrying a 4.5-ton super-large warhead, state news agency KCNA reported on Tuesday. A man watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on July 1, 2024. North Korea on July 1, launched two ballistic missiles.(AFP)

A day earlier, South Korea reported the launch of two ballistic missiles by North Korea and said the second likely failed soon after launch, blowing up in flight over land.

KCNA made no mention of the second missile.

It said the test of the new tactical ballistic missile, named Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5, was conducted with a simulated heavy warhead to verify flight stability and accuracy.

It did not elaborate on the nature of the simulated warhead.

ALSO READ| North Korea launches ballistic missile off its east coast, South Korea says

The country's Missile Administration will conduct another launch of the same type of missile in July to test the "explosion power" of the super-large warhead, KCNA said in a rare disclosure of a future missile launch plan.

The Hwasongpho-11, or Hwasong-11, is a series of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) developed by the North that are otherwise known as KN-23 and KN-24.

South Korea's military said on Monday the first of the two missiles launched by the North appeared to be a KN-23 that flew about 600 km (373 miles).

The KN-23 is likely the missile that North Korea has supplied to Russia and was used in the war against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian authorities who examined debris from missiles launched by Russia since December.

North Korea and Russia deny any arms trade, but their ties have rapidly developed since their leaders met in September in Russia pledging closer military cooperation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met again in Pyongyang in June and signed a pact on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that included a mutual defence agreement.

South Korean officials have said North Korea's recent short-range ballistic missile launches may be intended to show its wares to potential buyers.

The second missile launched on Monday flew about 120 km, the South Korean military said. Given the trajectory and the location of the launch near the west coast, the missile likely fell inland in North Korea, South Korea's military said.

North Korea has raced to develop a range of ballistic missiles in recent years, which it names with the Hwasong identifier, including its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). Hwasong is Korean for Mars.

On Tuesday, KCNA reported the North's ruling Workers' Party Central Committee concluded four days of policy meetings led by its leader Kim.

The report said Kim highlighted the progress made in the industrial and agricultural sectors in the first half of the year and presented goals and strategy for the second half.

In a departure from usual reporting on his fiery remarks on arms development and anti-U.S. struggle at similar meetings, KCNA made scant mention of any discussion on defence or foreign policy, only saying Kim gave directions for its armed forces.
A special accountability court in the city of Rawalpindi granted interim bail to the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a graft case on Tuesday, local media outlet ARY news reported. Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, right, and Bushra Bibi,his wife. (AP/File)

Bushra Bibi was accused alongside Khan in the case, which related to the alleged receiving of financial help from a land developer in the setting-up of Al Qadir University. Both have denied any wrongdoing.

She will remain in prison as she is also serving a sentence in a case that ruled her marriage with Khan as unlawful.
SANTIAGO, Chile  A Chilean-American raised in the United States filed a criminal complaint against the Chilean government on Monday, alleging that it engaged in a systematic plan to steal thousands of babies from perceived enemies of the state in the 1970s and 1980s. Stolen at birth, an adoptee sues Chile over thousands of similar dictatorship-era crimes

The case filed by Jimmy Lippert Thyden Gonzalez, 43, aims to advance the task of Chilean prosecutors and human rights groups working on accountability for crimes committed under Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

On Sept. 11, 1973, Pinochet led a coup to overthrow Marxist President Salvador Allende, ushering in a period of brutal repression until 1990 during which at least 3,095 people were killed and tens of thousands more were imprisoned and tortured for political reasons.

Little more than a year after learning about his origins as one of thousands of Chilean adoptees taken from their biological parents without consent during Pinochet's dictatorship, Thyden Gonzalez lodged his lawsuit in Santiago, Chile's capital.

He did it at a pivotal moment. On Monday, a new judge assumed control over the judicial investigations into the dictatorship's child-trafficking operations, the latest action as the left-wing government of President Gabriel Boric seeks to strengthen Chile's accountability efforts.

First and foremost, we start with acknowledgement by the government that this has happened. Acknowledgment that there was a wrong," Thyden Gonzalez, a lawyer and former Marine who was raised in Virginia, told The Associated Press in Santiago. "From there we can build on what reparations look like."

Last year, with the help of Nos Buscamos, a Chilean nonprofit facilitating the reconnection of families severed by coerced adoptions, Thyden Gonzalez managed to track down and hug his birth mother, Maria Angelica Gonzalez, who last glimpsed her newborn son being whisked away in a Santiago hospital ward.

Medics had told her that her premature son died shortly after delivery and that they had buried him while she recovered in the hospital. In reality, baby Thyden was given up for adoption to a family in the United States  one of the thousands of illegal overseas adoptions in Chile that predated Pinochet's dictatorship but increased during his 17 years in power.

According to reports from the Chilean judiciary obtained by the , there were some 20,000 cases of coerced or criminal adoptions overall. Civil society organizations such as Nos Buscamos estimate that more than 50,000 Chilean families have been affected.

It took until 2017 for Chile to launch judicial investigations into the chilling practice. The government has built a DNA database to enable adoptees and biological families to connect.

No one has been charged in connection with the abductions. Rights groups have criticized the government's failure to investigate the crimes more diligently and swiftly.

Officials in the Justice Ministry say 1,200 cases of coerced adoption  with most involving the Chilean babies taken to the United States and Sweden for adoption  are winding their way through the Santiago appeals court.

Chile's president met last week with the Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Stockholm, where they struck a cooperation agreement to advance information sharing about the coerced adoptions.

Thyden Gonzalez's lawsuit is one of many attempts at finding justice. But while most of the previous criminal complaints turn on the specifics of individual adoptees' experiences, Gonzalezs case hopes to have a broader resonance.

His complaint stands out in denouncing a systematic situation that spanned decades.

Apart from individual responsibilities, we are interested in determining the responsibility of the Chilean state," said Ciro Colombara, a human rights lawyer who filed Thyden Gonzalezs complaint. This will be a discussion in local courts, national courts and eventually international human rights courts.

Follow s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at /hub/latin-america

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The Israeli army has ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from the eastern half of Khan Younis. Mondays order is a sign that Israeli troops could soon reinvade the southern Gaza city, which is currently filled with displaced civilians. The Latest | Israel appears set to reinvade a city in Gaza filled with displaced civilians

Israel told people to move to Muwasi, a coastal area designated by the Israeli army as a safe zone and which has transformed into a crowded and unsanitary tent camp. Israeli forces pulled out of Khan Younis earlier this year after a ground offensive left much of the city in ruins, claiming to have destroyed Hamas battalions there. Many of the 1.3 million people who escaped Israel's subsequent offensive in nearby Rafah took shelter in Khan Younis.

Israel says it's in the final stages of the Rafah operation. Last week, the military also ordered Palestinians up north in Gaza City to evacuate from the Shijaiyah neighborhood, where there has since been intense fighting and widespread displacement.

Earlier Monday, Israel freed the director of Gaza's main hospital, Mohammed Abu Selmia. He was released without charge or trial after being detained since November, when Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital. Fifty-five other Palestinians detained in Gaza were also released.

The doctor said he and other detainees were held under harsh conditions and tortured. Israel denies such allegations.

Israel launched the war after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250.

Since then, Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have killed more than 37,700 people in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and basic goods to Gaza, and people there are now totally dependent on aid. The top United Nations court has concluded there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza  a charge Israel strongly denies.

Currently:

 An ultra-Orthodox protest against order to enlist in Israeli military turns violent in Jerusalem

 An Israeli airstrike on the northern West Bank kills a Palestinian militant and wounds five other people

 Lawsuit accuses Iran, Syria and North Korea of providing support for Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel

 The United Nations starts to move tons of aid from the United States-built pier after security fears suspended work there

 The U.S. and Europe warn Lebanons Hezbollah to ease strikes on Israel and back off from a wider Mideast war

 Follow s coverage of the war in Gaza at /hub/israel-hamas-war

Heres the latest: Israeli soldier is killed by roadside explosion in West Bank

JERUSALEM The Israeli military says a soldier has been killed by a roadside explosion in the northern West Bank.

Israel's army said the explosion took place in Nur Shams  an urban refugee camp near the city of Tulkarem where the military has been operating in recent days.

Earlier Monday, the army announced the death of another soldier killed in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip.

Over 600 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the war against Hamas erupted on Oct. 7. Israeli settlers attack Palestinian villagers in the West Bank with tear gas and sticks, sending six people to the hospital

JERUSALEM  Israeli settlers violently converged on a small Palestinian village in the southern reaches of the West Bank on Monday, sending six Palestinians to the hospital with wounds from tear gas and sticks, residents and witnesses on the ground told The Associated Press.

It was the latest Israeli assault on the Bedouin village of Umm Al-Khair, which has seen two settler attacks and a major demolition of homes in the last week.

On Monday, residents said settlers from a nearby outpost  known as Roots Farm  shot tear gas at Palestinian villagers and injured one man with a stick. Thats according to local activist Basel Adra, who was present in the village Monday. The leader of the Israeli outpost, Shimon Atiya, fired two live rounds of ammunition in the area, residents said.

There were so many women on the ground, lying on the earth, struggling to breathe, said Adra.

Videos posted to social media by residents showed a group of about 40 Israeli border police and soldiers looking on as the events unfolded.

As ambulances tried to evacuate the wounded, Adra said soldiers stopped the vehicles, allowing settlers to peer inside. Soldiers briefly detained one Palestinian man who was in an ambulance before releasing him the same day.

The soldiers then lined up Palestinian women in the village to photograph their faces, videos obtained by the showed.

The Israeli military declined to immediately comment on Mondays settler violence or the Israeli forces activity.

Last week, Israeli military bulldozers demolished several homes in the village, leaving nearly a quarter of the 200-person village  including 31 children and a prominent Palestinian artist  without a home.

After the demolitions last week, the military body charged with civilian matters, COGAT, said the demolished structures had been built illegally. Palestinians in the areas have long said it is virtually impossible to get construction permits from Israeli authorities. They say settler violence has only worsened since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Germany's Lufthansa Group suspends some flights to and from Beirut, as Israel-Hezbollah tensions escalate

BERLIN  In response to the escalating conflict between Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Israeli military, the Lufthansa Group is temporarily suspending nighttime flights to and from Beirut, German news agency dpa reported on Monday.

The airline group, which also includes carriers Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines, is suspending night flights to and from Beirut until July 31, it told dpa. Daytime flights to and from Beirut will continue to be offered, it said. Israel orders Palestinians to flee Khan Younis, signaling return of troops to southern Gaza city

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip  The Israeli army has ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from the eastern half of Khan Younis.

Mondays order is a sign that Israeli troops could soon return to the southern city  the second-largest in Gaza.

Israel wrapped up an offensive in Khan Younis earlier this year and withdrew most of its forces. The evacuation order indicates that Hamas has regrouped in the area.

Israel has said it is in the final stages of an offensive in the nearby Gaza city of Rafah. Netanyahu joins Israeli uproar over release of Gaza hospital director

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for an investigation into the release of a prominent Gaza doctor from Israeli custody Monday.

The decision to release Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of Shifa Hospital, sparked uproar from across the political spectrum, with government ministers and opposition leaders saying he should have remained behind bars and reiterating Israeli allegations that the hospital served as a base for Hamas.

Abu Selima was released without charge or trial back into Gaza.

Netanyahu said that the decision was made to release Selmia following a petition by rights groups to shut down a shadowy detention facility in Israels south which alleged that Palestinians were being abused at the overcrowded facility. The case prompted the government to transfer the bulk of the Palestinian detainees held there to other facilities and to release some, like Selmia.

The identity of the released prisoners is determined independently by the security officials based on their professional considerations, Netanyahu wrote, adding that he was calling for an investigation into the matter. Israeli forces kill a woman and a teenager in the West Bank and wound 4 others, Palestinian officials say

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Palestinian health officials say a woman and a teenager were shot and killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said another four people were wounded during Mondays raid in the northern West Bank town of Tulkarem.

Israeli forces have carried out near-daily arrest raids across the West Bank since Hamas surprise Oct. 7 attack ignited the war in Gaza.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says over 550 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since then. Most have been killed during Israeli raids or violent protests.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state.

Israel has built scores of settlements across the West Bank that are now home to over 500,000 Jewish settlers. The settlers have Israeli citizenship, while the 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule. Israel releases 55 Palestinians it detained from Gaza

CAIRO  A Palestinian health official says Israel has released 55 Palestinians it detained from Gaza, including the director of the territorys main hospital.

Mohammed Abu Selmia was detained in November when Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital. The army said Hamas was using the facility for military purposes and uncovered a tunnel within the medical complex. Abu Selmia and other staff denied the allegations.

In justifying its first raid, Israel said that underneath the hospital lay a complex network of tunnels, a central command center for Hamas. Evidence produced from that raid caches of weapons, a tunnel leading to small, rusty quarters that appeared out of use, and no scores of militants found  fell far short of the claim.

Nahedh Abu Taema, director of the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, which has also been raided by Israeli forces, says Abu Selmia was among 55 Palestinian detainees from Gaza released Monday. He says all but five were taken to Nasser Hospital for medical checks while the others were taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

Israel accuses Hamas and other militant groups of sheltering in hospitals and using them for military purposes. Palestinian health officials say Israeli raids have forced several hospitals to shut down or dramatically reduce services, recklessly endangering civilians. Hospitals can lose their protection under international law if they are used for military purposes.

In video comments aired by Palestinian media following his release, Abu Selmia accused Israeli authorities of mistreating Palestinian detainees, saying they "are subjected to daily physical and psychological humiliation.

Israeli authorities have denied such allegations. Some 20 projectiles are fired at Israel from Gaza, the Israeli military says, with no casualties

JERUSALEM  The Israeli military says around 20 projectiles were fired from Gaza at communities near the border. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the barrage early Monday.

The military said some were intercepted while others fell inside southern Israel.

It says they were launched from the vicinity of the southern town of Khan Younis, and that Israeli forces are striking the sources of the fire.

Nearly nine months into Israels massive offensive launched in response to Hamas Oct. 7 attack, Palestinian militants have continued to launch sporadic rocket attacks, though the intensity has been greatly reduced.

Fighters have also regrouped in heavily damaged areas of Gaza where Israeli ground troops operated earlier in the war.

In recent days, fighting has erupted in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City in the north, which was largely evacuated and heavily bombed early in the war. Tens of thousands of people have fled the area in recent days, according to the United Nations. Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police during a protest against the Supreme Court's order to enlist

JERUSALEM  Thousands of Jewish ultra-Orthodox men clashed with Israeli police in central Jerusalem on Sunday during a protest against a Supreme Court order for them to begin enlisting for military service.

The landmark decision on June 25 ordering the government to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition as Israel wages war in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of men rallied in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood to protest the order. But after nightfall, the crowd made its way toward central Jerusalem and turned violent with protesters throwing rocks and police using skunk-scented water cannons to disperse the crowd. The demonstration was still not under control late Sunday.

Military service is compulsory for most Israelis, but politically powerful ultra-Orthodox parties have won exemptions for their followers to skip military service and instead study in religious seminaries. The long-standing arrangement has bred resentment among the broader public, a sentiment that has grown stronger during Israel's war against Hamas. Over 600 soldiers have been killed in fighting, and tens of thousands of reservists have been activated, upending careers, businesses and lives.

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Palestinians are streaming out of eastern Khan Younis, the second-largest city in Gaza, as an Israeli evacuation order affects roughly 250,000 people, the United Nations said Tuesday. The Latest | Palestinians flee Khan Younis as UN says 1.9 million people are now displaced in Gaza

Although the exact number of people fleeing was not immediately known, Sigrid Kaag, the top U.N. humanitarian official for Gaza, said more than 1.9 million people are displaced inside the war-torn enclave. Israels military estimated that about the same number of people  around 80% of all Palestinians in the Gaza Strip  are now clustered into the territorys central region.

Israel's military on Monday instructed Palestinians to evacuate a wide swath of Khan Younis and nearby areas, ordering them to head to an Israeli-declared safe zone. That suggests Israel will launch a new ground assault into the city.

However, an Israeli strike on a house inside the safe zone Tuesday killed at least 12 people, including nine members of the same family. Some of the dead had just fled Khan Younis hours earlier, said Asmaa Salim, a relative who lived in the targeted building in Deir al-Balah. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike.

Evacuees have been told to seek refuge in sprawling tent camps in a coastal area that's already overcrowded and has few basic services. The war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and goods to Gaza, and people there are now totally dependent on aid.

Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250.

Since then, Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have killed more than 37,900 people in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The top U.N. court has concluded there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza  a charge Israel strongly denies.

Currently:

 Hezbollahs deputy leader says the group would stop fighting with Israel after Gaza cease-fire.

 Israel orders Palestinians to flee Khan Younis, signaling a likely new assault on the southern Gaza city.

 Turkeys president accuses opposition of stoking racism after anti-Syrian rioting erupts.

 Lawsuit accuses Iran, Syria and North Korea of providing support for Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

 Iranian presidential candidates accuse each other of having no plan or experience ahead of runoff.

 Follow s coverage of the war in Gaza at /hub/israel-hamas-war

Heres the latest: Israeli strike kills 4 men in a West Bank refugee camp. Army says they were militants planting explosives

JERUSALEM  Palestinian health officials say four Palestinians were killed by an Israeli airstrike in a refugee camp in the northern West Bank late Tuesday.

Israels military said an aircraft struck a group of militants who were planting explosives in the area of Nur Shams, an urban refugee camp near the city of Tulkarem. The camp has been a frequent target of the Israeli forces and is known as a militant stronghold.

Early Wednesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry released the four mens names and ages, ranging from 20-25 years old. Local news outlets published photos reportedly showing two of the men holding assault rifles and one wearing a combat vest, indicating they were militants. No groups immediately claimed them as members.

Israel has been operating in Nur Shams for the past week. An Israeli soldier was killed by a roadside explosion in the camp on Monday, the military said.

Since the Israel-Hamas war, over 550 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, with Israeli raids into Palestinian cities and towns driving up the death toll. Israel plans to move ahead with over 6,000 new settlement homes in the West Bank, watchdog group says

JERUSALEM  An anti-settlement watchdog group says Israeli authorities are scheduled to approve or advance construction of over 6,000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank in the coming days.

If the vote goes through, it could trigger new tensions with the United States at a time when relations between the two allies have been strained by the ongoing Israeli war against Hamas.

Peace Now said the Higher Planning Committee, the defense body responsible for settlement planning, is set to approve the construction at meetings on Wednesday and Thursday. A spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli defense body that oversees the committee, declined to comment.

The United States and most of the international community consider settlements to be illegal or obstacles to peace, and past settlement announcements have drawn angry condemnations from the U.S. Israels hard-line government is dominated by West Bank settlers and their allies.

Over 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, in addition to 200,000 settlers in east Jerusalem. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza  areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war  for an independent state. An abyss of suffering: U.N. official says aid efforts in Gaza face huge challenges and 1.9 million people are now displaced

UNITED NATIONS  The top U.N. humanitarian official for Gaza says efforts to accelerate and streamline the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the territory have been fraught with challenges, and deliveries have dropped significantly since Israel launched its military offensive in the southern city of Rafah on May 6.

More than 1.9 million of Gazas 2.3 million people are displaced, Sigrid Kaag told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday. She said the public health system has collapsed, schools are destroyed, and with summer temperatures soaring and severe shortages of water and sanitation, the specter of outbreaks of infectious and communicable diseases looms large.

There is no substitute for political will, full respect for international humanitarian law, especially the protection of civilians, and a safe and enabling environment to secure effective distribution. said Kaag, the U.N. senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza.

She said the war, sparked by Hamas surprise invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, has plunged Palestinian civilians in the territory into an abyss of suffering, creating not only a humanitarian crisis but unleashing a maelstrom of human misery.

While Israel has fulfilled some commitments to improve aid deliveries, Kaag said, Military activity and the lack of safe routes inside Gaza continue to impact humanitarian operations. She added that, A near-total breakdown of civil order has further led to an environment of lawlessness and criminality.

Kaag called for urgent action to establish an effective deconfliction and coordination system across Gaza, clear mines from aid routes, daily required fuel deliveries, and deliveries of security and communications equipment, spare parts and critical humanitarian items.

She also called for scaling up aid from Jordan and through the Zikim and Erez crossings, reopening the Rafah crossing and opening additional crossings in the south, and considering moving aid from the north to the south.

Following last weeks evacuation of 21 Palestinian children with serious illnesses from Gaza to Egypt and in view of the immense needs, she asked the council as a priority to help establish a more regular and predictable system of medical evacuations for patients. Israeli settlers descend on a Palestinian village in the West Bank again as soldiers watch, residents say

JERUSALEM  Israeli settlers staged yet another incursion into the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair Tuesday, a Bedouin hamlet in the southern West Bank that has weathered a week of home demolitions and repeated settler attacks.

Two trucks full of Israeli soldiers arrived at the village before the settlers got there, said Eid Suleman, a well-known artist who lives in the village and had his home demolished last week. The soldiers looked on as a group of settlers from a nearby outpost set up a small clubhouse in a tent directly next to a Palestinian home.

They literally tied the tents rope to the house, said Awdah Hathaleen, a 29-year-old teacher and lifelong resident of the village, which was founded by Palestinians displaced from the Negev Desert in southern Israel during the 1948 war surrounding the countrys creation.

Hathaleen said the settlers spent about two hours in the tent, playing loud music and letting their sheep graze on village land. He said a group of 40 settlers arrived later in the day, standing and praying in the middle of the village.

Israels military did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking comment on Tuesdays events.

Last week, Israeli bulldozers demolished several houses in the village, leaving a quarter of its 200 people homeless, including 31 children. The Israeli military body responsible for civilian matters in the West Bank, COGAT, said the demolished structures had been built illegally and without permits. Palestinians in these areas have long said it is virtually impossible to get construction permits from Israeli authorities.

Since the demolition, Hathaleen said the people whose homes were torn down have been sleeping outside.

We are really broken, said Hathaleen. People are starting to think, Where should we go?

The demolition was followed by a string of assaults on the village by settlers from a neighboring outpost called Shorashim Farm, led by Israeli settler Shimon Atiya.

Settlers arrived in the village Monday and injured six Palestinians, including four women and a 5-year-old girl, with tear gas and sticks. The military described the episode as a violent confrontation with rocks hurled by both sides.

We know what this is. Theyre trying to expel us out of here, said Suleman. The military did the dirty job last week and now the settlers are following up. Israel says 80% of all Palestinians in Gaza are now clustered in the territorys central region

JERUSALEM  Israel says 80% of all Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are now clustered into the territorys central region after many were driven out of Rafah by Israels military offensive there.

Col. Elad Goren, a senior official in the military body overseeing Palestinian civilian affairs, announced the estimate Tuesday while speaking to reporters. He said recent evacuations from the southern city of Rafah, which began in early May, have led many to take shelter in the center.

Goren said Israel has ordered people to move to its self-declared humanitarian area along the Gazas southwest coast and two urban refugee camps in central Gaza. From our assessment, there are approximately 1.8, 1.9 million people in this area, he said.

While Israel calls the area a humanitarian zone, living conditions for those displaced are squalid, United Nations and rights groups say. Many are crowded into tent camps along the beach that lack adequate sanitary or medical facilities, with families living amid mountains of trash and streams of water contaminated by sewage.

International law says the Israeli military, as the occupying power, must protect Palestinian civilians. The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent deaths in the besieged enclave and ramp up humanitarian aid.

Around 100,000 Palestinians have left the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Palestinian border officials told The Associated Press, and another 300,000 are in the heavily damaged north, per U.N. estimates.

Some tens of thousands remain in the Rafah area, per U.N. estimates.

The Rafah border crossing with Egypt was the only place Palestinians could leave Gaza, but it has been closed since Israeli forces captured it in early May. Before that, Israel and Egypt had tightly restricted the movement of people out of Gaza. Some Palestinians had been able to get out by using private brokers. Israel will power a desalination plant in Gaza but water in the territory will remain limited

JERUSALEM  Israel says it will begin to power a major desalination plant in the southern Gaza Strip, a move that Israeli officials say could increase the amount of water produced by the plant.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant this week officially approved the plan to run a new power line to the desalination plant in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The plant is a major source of clean water for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crowded into the neighboring areas, many of whom were displaced by Israeli evacuation orders.

COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, said the plan could quadruple the amount of water the plant is able to produce. Water is scarce in Gaza as summer approaches, with many Palestinians lining up for hours on end for a jug of water to be shared among an entire family. Israeli bombardment has decimated much of Gazas water system.

The power line still requires several repairs inside Gaza before it can function, Col. Elad Goren, a senior official in the military body overseeing Palestinian civilian affairs, told reporters Tuesday. He predicted the line would be functional in a week or two.

UNICEF, the U.N. agency running the plant, confirmed an agreement had been reached with Israel. The agency said the plan to deliver power to the plant was an important milestone, and said it was very much looking forward to seeing it implemented.

The move is unlikely to solve the water crisis in Gaza. Even before the war, desalination plants accounted for only a fraction of the potable water in the strip. The territorys main water source, a coastal aquifer, has been overpumped and almost none of its water is drinkable. Israel chooses a critic of the International Court of Justice to be its ad hoc judge in the genocide case brought by South Africa

JERUSALEM  Israel has tapped a professor critical of the International Court of Justice to be its ad hoc judge in the case before the court accusing Israel of genocide.

On Tuesday, Israeli officials confirmed the appointment of Ron Shapira to replace Aharon Barak, a former chief justice of Israels highest court who had served on the panel. Barak stepped down from the ICJ post in June, citing family reasons.

Shapira, the rector of the Peres Academic Center and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law at Bar-Ilan University, has called the court a body that almost all residents of Israel think is unworthy of any level of trust on his personal Facebook page, according to reports in Israeli media. Now, Shapira will be part of the panel of judges on that same court charged with adjudicating South Africas claim that Israels offensive in Gaza constitutes genocide.

Israel denies South Africas allegations, saying it is waging a war of self-defense against Hamas, the Palestinian militant group whose Oct. 7 attack triggered the war.

In May, the court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an order that Israel has ignored. The court has also ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent deaths in the besieged enclave and ramp up humanitarian aid. 2 Israeli soldiers are killed and a third wounded fighting in central Gaza, military says

JERUSALEM  The Israeli military says two of its soldiers have been killed and a third soldier was severely wounded fighting in central Gaza. It did not provide details of the battle in a statement issued Tuesday.

The Islamic Jihad militant group said it shelled Israeli supply lines Monday in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza. The army carved out the corridor, which stretches from the border to the sea, early on in the war to sever northern Gaza from the south.

It was not possible to independently confirm battlefield reports from either side.

The military says 674 soldiers have been killed since the start of the war in Gaza, more than half of them in Hamas Oct. 7 attack that triggered the fighting. At least 9 Palestinians are killed in an Israeli strike overnight in southern Gaza

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip  Palestinian health officials say an Israeli strike has killed at least nine people in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

The overnight strike came after Israel ordered the evacuation of parts of the city Monday ahead of a likely ground operation.

Records at Nasser Hospital, where the dead and wounded were taken, show that three children and two women were among those killed. Associated Press reporters at the hospital counted the bodies.

The strike hit a home near the European Hospital, which is inside the zone that Israel said should be evacuated. After the initial evacuation orders, the military said the facility itself was not included, but its director says most patients and medics have already been relocated.

The military said it launched retaliatory strikes after Palestinian militants fired a barrage of some 20 projectiles into Israel from Khan Younis on Monday. There were no reports of casualties or damage from the rocket attack. The main United Nations agency providing aid in Gaza says the latest evacuation orders apply to some 250,000 people, many of whom have already been displaced. Thats more than 10% of Gazas population of 2.3 million. About 250,000 people live in the latest mass-evacuation zone ordered by Israel, UNRWA official says

BEIRUT  A United Nations official says around 250,000 people live in the areas in southern Gaza where Israel has ordered another mass evacuation.

The Israeli military on Monday ordered new evacuations in and around the city of Khan Younis, which suffered widespread devastation during an offensive earlier in the year. It was the third mass evacuation ordered in less than three months.

Sam Rose, the director of planning at the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, said Tuesday that the agency believes some 250,000 people are in the evacuation zone  over 10% of Gazas population of 2.3 million  including many who have fled earlier fighting. He says another 50,000 people living just outside the zone may also choose to leave because of their proximity to the fighting. Evacuees have been told to seek refuge in a sprawling tent camp along the coast that is already overcrowded and has few basic services.

Issam Shahwan, the director of the European Hospital located within the evacuation zone, said the facility was nearly evacuated, with the last patients and medics awaiting transport to other medical facilities. After issuing the initial evacuation order, the military clarified that the European Hospital did not need to evacuate.

Palestinian militants fired a barrage of around 20 projectiles at Israel from Khan Younis on Monday, without causing any casualties or damage.

Over a million Palestinians fled the southern city of Rafah in May after Israel launched operations there. Israeli forces have repeatedly returned to areas of Gaza where they had previously operated. Palestinians and aid groups say nowhere in the territory feels safe. Liora Argamani, mother of a freed hostage, dies at 61, less than a month after being reunited with her daughter

JERUSALEM  The mother of a well-known Israeli hostage who was freed from captivity in Gaza in a recent rescue operation has died, the Ichilov Hospital said in a brief statement Tuesday.

Liora Argamani, 61, who had Stage 4 brain cancer, had pleaded for the release of her daughter, Noa, saying she wanted to see her only child before she died.

At the funeral Tuesday, Noa praised her mother, saying Thank you for being strong and holding on all this time, just so I could see you at least one more time.

Noa Argamani emerged as an icon of the hostage crisis after a video from the Oct. 7 Hamas attack showed her being forced onto a motorbike and shouting at her captors not to kill her. She was freed along with three other hostages in early June in an Israeli military operation in central Gaza. Palestinian health officials said at least 274 Palestinians were killed.

The two were reunited, but Yaakov Argamani, Noas father, said Liora was in a very difficult situation and barely registered seeing her daughter, Israeli media reported.

Hamas took around 250 hostages in its surprise attack into Israel and is still holding around 120 after most of the rest were released during a cease-fire in November. Around a third of those still held are believed to be dead. Some 1,200 people were killed in the attack. Israels ongoing offensive, launched in response, has killed at least 37,900 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and fighters in their count.

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New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday expressed shock after some portions of his speech were taken off from the proceedings and said it is against parliamentary democracy.



Talking to reporters at the Parliament premises, Gandhi said, Truth can be expunged in the world of Modi ji. But in the reality truth cannot be expunged. I said what I had to say, let them expunge as much as they want. Truth is truth.



Earlier in the day in a letter addressed to Speaker Om Birla, Gandhi said, Taking off from records my considered remarks goes against the very tenets of parliamentary democracy.



I am writing this in the context of remarks and portions expunged from my speech during discussion on Motion of Thanks To the President's Address on July 1, he said.



"I am however, shocked to note the manner in which considerable portion of my speech has been simply taken off from the proceedings under the garb of expunction," he added.



Gandhi said he was enclosing the portions of the uncorrected debates of Lok Sabha dated July 2 and the portions expunged does not come under the ambit of Rule 380.



Every member of the House who personifies the collective voice of people whom he or she represents has the freedom of speech as enshrined in Article 105(1) of the Constitution of India. It is every member's right to raise people's concern on the floor of the House," Gandhi said.



"It was that right and in exercise of my obligations to the people of the country, that I was exercising yesterday," the senior Congress leader said.



Notably, on Monday, during the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address Rahul Gandhi's Hindu" remark led to ruckus, inviting sharp criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who called it a "serious matter."



UNI RBE SSP
Israeli forces bombarded several areas of the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday and thousands of Palestinians fled their homes in what could be part of a final push of Israel's intensive military operations in nine months of war. Israeli forces bombed several areas of the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday and thousands of Palestinians fled their homes(AP)

Read more: Israeli hostage Noa Argamani speaks out for first time since her rescue: I'm home now, but

Eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded, health officials said. Israel's military said that two soldiers had been killed in battle a day earlier.

Israel's leaders have said they were winding down the phase of intense fighting against Hamas, the Islamist group that has governed Gaza since 2007, and would soon shift into more targeted operations.

Read more: Israeli troops strap injured Palestine man atop army jeep during arrest in West Bank city

Later on Tuesday, 17 Palestinians were killed in Israeli tank shelling of a street in the densely populated Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City in the north of the Strip, medics said. Footage on some Palestinian social media that Reuters was not immediately able to verify showed the scene at a local market, with bread scattered on a floor stained with blood.

Watch: Iran Declares Victory Against Israel, Khameneis Military Aide Reveals USAs Biggest Mistake

The Israeli army had ordered residents of several towns and villages in eastern Khan Younis to evacuate their homes on Monday, prior to tanks re-entering the area the military had left several weeks ago.

Thousands who had not heeded the call were forced to flee their homes in the dark overnight, as Israeli tanks and planes bombed Karara, Abassan and other areas that had been named in the evacuation orders, residents and Hamas media said.

"Where will we go?" said Tamer, a 55-year-old businessman, who has been displaced six times since Oct. 7.

"Every time people go back to their homes and begin to rebuild some of their lives even on the rubble of their houses, the occupation sends the tanks back to destroy what is left," he told Reuters via a chat app.

The Israeli military said its forces had struck areas in Khan Younis from where around 20 rockets had been fired on Monday. Targets included weapon storage facilities and operational centres, it added.

It said measures were taken before the strikes to ensure civilians were unharmed by enabling them to evacuate from the area, referring to the evacuation orders. The military accused Hamas of using civilian infrastructure and the wider population as human shields. The Islamist group denies that.

Islamic Jihad, an allied group of Hamas, took credit for firing the rockets.

ENDGAME IN RAFAH

The war in Gaza began when Hamas burst into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages, including civilians and soldiers, back into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

The offensive launched by Israel in retaliation has killed nearly 38,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and has left the heavily built-up coastal enclave in ruins.

The Gaza health ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, but officials say most of the dead are civilians. Israel says 320 of its soldiers have been killed in Gaza and that at least a third of the Palestinian dead are fighters.

Within the areas subject to evacuation orders was the European Gaza Hospital, which serves both Khan Younis and Rafah, and medical officials had to evacuate patients and families who had taken shelter in the facility, witnesses and medics said.

Some residents headed west towards the Mawasi area by the beach, which is designated as a humanitarian area but is overcrowded by displaced families. Some slept in the street as they could not find shelter.

Israel says that its operation in Rafah, in southern Gaza near the border with Egypt, that was meant to stamp out Hamas in its final redoubt will soon be concluded.

After the intense phase of the war is over, its forces will focus on smaller-scale operations meant to stop Hamas from regrouping, officials say.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was nearing its goal of destroying the military capabilities of Hamas. Less intense operations would continue, he said.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue to stage attacks against Israeli forces operating inside Gaza and fire rockets into Israel. Hamas says Israel has failed to achieve the goals of the war and the group is ready to fight for years.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza have stalled. Hamas says any deal must end the war and bring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in the fighting until Hamas is eradicated.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Alex Richardson)
By Giulia Paravicini and Tuvan Gumrukcu Turkey mediating Somalia-Ethiopia talks on port deal

-Turkey has begun mediating talks between Somalia and Ethiopia over a port deal Addis Ababa signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland earlier this year, Ankara and four officials familiar with the matter said.

The negotiations are the latest attempt to mend diplomatic ties between the East African neighbours, whose relationship soured in January when Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km of coastline from Somaliland, in exchange for recognition of its independence.

Mogadishu called the agreement illegal and retaliated by expelling the Ethiopian ambassador and threatening to kick out thousands of Ethiopian troops stationed in the country helping battle Islamist insurgents.

Turkey's foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had hosted both his Ethiopian and Somali counterparts in Ankara, adding the three had signed a joint statement following "candid, cordial and forward-looking" talks on their differences.

The Somali and Ethiopian ministers discussed ways to address their differences "within a mutually acceptable framework", and agreed to hold another round of talks in Ankara on Sept. 2, the statement said.

"The Ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia reiterated their commitment to the peaceful resolution of differences," it added.

Spokespeople for the Somali government and Ethiopia's foreign ministry, government and intelligence service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Somaliland, which has struggled to gain international recognition despite governing itself and enjoying comparative peace and stability since declaring independence in 1991, said it was not involved in the talks.

The goal of the negotiation was unclear, and expectations of a resolution were low, two of the officials said.

"Despite rumours that Somalia has softened its stance on refusing to engage in dialogue until Ethiopia withdraws the , it seems unlikely," one of the officials said.

"I don't see a way forward, and I don't expect much will come from these talks."

Turkey has become a close ally of the Somali government since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan first visited Mogadishu in 2011, training its security forces and supplying development assistance.

The two nations signed a defence pact in February under which Ankara will provide maritime security support to Somalia to help the African country defend its territorial waters.

Turkey has built schools, hospitals and infrastructure and provided scholarships for Somalis to study in Turkey, and in return secured a foothold in Africa and on a key global shipping route.

A Turkish diplomatic source said Ankara's mediation efforts began after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Erdogan in Ankara in May and conveyed a letter asking Turkey to mediate between Somalia and Ethiopia.

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TORONTO -An Ontario judge ordered pro-Palestinian protesters to leave their two-month-old encampment at Canada's largest university by Wednesday evening, granting the University of Toronto's injunction request in a ruling on Tuesday. Canadian court allows police to clear pro-Palestinian campus encampment

Police were authorized to arrest and remove anyone contravening the order but protesters said the order would not stop them from campaigning for their demands.

University of Toronto student Sara Rasikh, spokesperson for the protesters, said she was "shocked, disheartened but also ready to continue applying pressure" and that the protests would continue until the university divests Israel-related investments and cuts ties with some Israeli institutions.

She said the protesters had not decided if they would comply with the order and leave.

"We dont know what we're going to do yet. We're still trying to process the decision and we need to discuss with the community," she said.

In a statement, the university welcomed the court decision.

"We trust that those in the encampment will abide by the court order and vacate the encampment before the court-imposed deadline," the statement said. "Anyone who chooses to remain in the encampment after that deadline will be subject to consequences under university policy and the law."

The university's president said a letter had been sent to Toronto police requesting their assistance.

The university had sought an injunction that would have police clear the encampment, which has occupied a grassy part of campus for two months.

Lawyers for the university argued protesters took control of university property when they set up the encampment and are preventing others from using it, as well as harming the school's reputation and making some community members feel unwelcome or unsafe.

"The University has suffered and continues to suffer irreparable harm," it wrote in its injunction application.

Lawyers for the protesters argued the injunction sought by the university would effectively prevent the group from engaging in other forms of protest on or near campus. They argued the university is "closer in character to a public park" than private property, and people do not normally need permission to use it.

The encampment, dozens of tents in a fenced-off, poster-adorned grassy area in the centre of the university's downtown Toronto campus, has been in place since early May.

Its participants had demanded the university disclose its investments, divest from any that "sustain Israeli apartheid, occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine" and end partnerships with some Israeli academic institutions.

Last month a Quebec court granted a partial injunction to the Universite du Quebec a Montreal obliging protesters to create a buffer zone allowing access to campus buildings. Two attempts to obtain injunctions ending the encampment at Montreal's McGill University were rebuffed.

The death toll in Gaza after Israel invaded in response to the Oct.7 cross-border attack by Hamas has continued to mount as a global hunger monitor warns of imminent famine in the besieged enclave.

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A video has surfaced on social media, appearing to show the inside of one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. Among what one can spot in the eerie footage are photos of Ghislaine Maxwell, medical equipment, weird paintings, and baby powder. One can also see strange blueprints, a statue depicting a blindfolded archer, and photos of Epstein himself. Eerie clip shows inside of Jeffrey Epstein's house containing strange paintings, medical equipment and more (@ShadowofEzra/X)

The video surfaced shortly after a Florida judge ordered the release of graphic transcripts from the state's 2006 prosecution of the convicted paedophile. The documents, comprising nearly 200 pages, have details of Epsteins crimes. There are first-hand accounts from victims, as well as information about payoffs to minor victims.

Circuit Judge Luis Delgado on Monday, July 1, ordered that the 16-year-old documents be released, saying "details in the record will be outrageous to decent people. "The testimony taken by the Grand Jury concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape  all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal, Delgado wrote.

The judge referred to Epstein as "the most infamous pedophile in American history, adding that the leniency of the state in the case "been the subject of much anger and has at times diminished the public's perception of the criminal justice system.

I am sure the bedroom is littered with hidden cameras

The video shared above garnered several comments, with some users claiming that the video is not new, but may have just resurfaced. One user said, I am sure the bedroom is littered with hidden cameras to capture the abuse. Then it leads to blackmail. But the dark spiritual energy that I can sense is what makes it so vulgar and melancholy. I pray for all children who were abused in that room. It breaks my heart Place has a very year 2000 vibe. Was expecting more high tech, one user commented, while another said, The blindfolded archer is odd u will say.

So I definitely saw a picture of the Pope there. Also, I was under the impression that Epstein had millions of dollars? If thats true then why did all his furniture look like he bought it at a thrift store? One user wrote. For a wealthy man he had horrible taste. I feel like I stepped into The Golden Girls house. 1988, another commented.
By Kanishka Singh Federal judge halts US government's ban on LNG permits

WASHINGTON, - A federal judge on Monday blocked the U.S. government's ban on approving applications to export liquefied natural gas , in response to a lawsuit by Republican-led states.

U.S. District Judge James Cain Jr, in Louisiana, a Trump appointee, ruled that the LNG export ban "be stayed in its entirety, effective immediately."

A coalition of 16 Republican-led states, including Texas, Louisiana and Florida, had filed suit in March in Lake Charles, Louisiana, arguing that the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden lacked the authority to broadly deny the permits.

They claimed the U.S. Department of Energy's pause on exports would harm the U.S. economy and undermine efforts to supply foreign allies in Europe with steady supplies of LNG as the region seeks to wean itself off piped gas from Russia.

The Biden administration said in January the pause would allow officials to review the process for analyzing economic and environmental impacts of projects seeking approval to export LNG to Europe and Asia where the fuel is in high demand.

The January move was cheered by climate activists, an important part of Biden's base, and could have delayed decisions on new plants until after the Nov. 5 presidential election, when Biden will face off against Republican former President Donald Trump.

The states argued that the pause on new approvals for LNG exports oversteps the DOE's authority under the Natural Gas Act, which they said requires the agency to affirmatively show projects are inconsistent with the public interest before denying applications.

The states also argued the ban jeopardizes billions of dollars in investments planned to build export facilities.

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ST. LOUIS  A Missouri judge on Tuesday set an Aug. 21 date for a hearing to determine if Marcellus Williams is innocent of the murder that landed him on death row  a hearing that comes just a little over a month before Williams is scheduled to die. Hearing set to determine if a Missouri death row inmate is innocent. His execution is a month later

Williams, 55, was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1998 stabbing death of Lisha Gayle during a robbery of her suburban St. Louis home. He was hours away from execution in August 2017 when he was given a reprieve after testing unavailable at the time of the killing showed that DNA on the knife matched someone else, not Williams.

Questions about DNA evidence prompted St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell to file a motion in January to vacate the murder conviction. The new hearing date is in response to Bell's motion. Meanwhile, Williams is scheduled to be executed Sept. 24 at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

A 2021 Missouri law allows prosecuting attorneys to file a motion to vacate a conviction if they believe an inmate could be innocent or was otherwise erroneously convicted.

Typically, the judge takes several weeks to weigh the evidence after the hearing ends. In this instance, it isn't certain St. Louis County Circuit Judge Bruce Hilton will rule on the innocence claim before the execution date  creating the possibility that Missouri could execute a man later deemed innocent by a judge.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office opposes the effort to vacate the murder conviction. Bailey's office didn't immediately respond to an email asking if Bailey would seek to postpone the execution until a ruling is reached on the innocence claim.

Tricia Rojo Bushnell, an attorney for the Midwest Innocence Project, urged the state to put the execution on hold.

The Attorney General should not be trying to block the courts review and the Missouri Supreme Court should stay Mr. Williamss execution, Bushnell said in an email.

The Missouri Supreme Court set the execution date on June 4, hours after it ruled that Republican Gov. Mike Parson was within his rights when he dissolved a board of inquiry convened six years earlier by Parsons predecessor.

Gov. Eric Greitens, also a Republican, halted the execution with just hours to spare in 2017, citing the DNA evidence. The inquiry board he appointed was made up of five retired judges.

The board never issued a ruling or reached a conclusion, nor did it issue a report. Parson dissolved the board in June 2023, saying it was time to move forward."

Since adoption of the 2021 law, two men who each spent decades in prison have had murder convictions vacated, and a third case is pending several weeks after a hearing.

In 2021, Kevin Strickland was freed after more than 40 years for three killings in Kansas City after a judge ruled he had been wrongfully convicted in 1979. In 2023, a St. Louis judge overturned the conviction of Lamar Johnson, who served nearly 28 years for a killing he always said he didnt commit.

A St. Louis judge is still weighing the fate of Christopher Dunn after a hearing in May. Dunn has spent 33 years in prison for the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy in 1990.

Williams is the first death row inmate whose innocence claim will go before a Missouri judge  an unprecedented situation, Bell said in a statement. But another death row inmate was freed two decades ago.

Joseph Amrine spent 17 years on death row before he was freed in 2003 after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that no credible evidence linked him to the killing of another inmate. Key testimony against Amrine came from three former inmates, all of whom later recanted. Prosecutors then decided not to retry him.

Prosecutors at the time of the crime said Williams broke a windowpane to get inside Gayles home on Aug. 11, 1998, heard water running in the shower, and found a large butcher knife. When Gayle came downstairs, she was stabbed 43 times. Her purse and her husbands laptop were stolen. Gayle was a social worker who previously worked as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Authorities said Williams stole a jacket to conceal blood on his shirt. Williams girlfriend asked him why he would wear a jacket on a hot day. The girlfriend said she later saw the laptop in the car and that Williams sold it a day or two later.

Prosecutors also cited testimony from Henry Cole, who shared a St. Louis cell with Williams in 1999 while Williams was jailed on unrelated charges. Cole told prosecutors Williams confessed to the killing and offered details about it.

Williams attorneys responded that the girlfriend and Cole were both convicted felons out for a $10,000 reward.



Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this report.

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In recent headlines, tech giants Amazon and Google have paused green card applications, leaving countless H-1B visa holders on a precarious precipice. As layoffs and cost-cutting measures ripple through the US tech industry, the very fabric of career stability for many Indian tech professionals is being unraveled. USIF President and CMO Nicholas A. Mastroianni III opens up on streamlining EB-5 visa process.(USIF/File Image)

The 60-day countdown to visa cancellation looms large, casting shadows on their hard-earned American dreams. And what these poor souls can do? Nothing, we presume.

Enter the EB-5 Visa-a beacon of hope and security in these uncertain times. Offering a seamless transition to US residency, this strategic pathway eliminates the perennial anxiety of visa renewals and job dependency.

With the EB-5 Visa, professionals can enjoy unconditional work and travel freedom, faster green card processing, and the liberty to steer their own entrepreneurial ventures. It's more than just an escape from the volatility of the H-1B; its an investment in a future unbound by the shifting tides of corporate decisions, but, of course, with a catch.

While talking with HindustanTimes.com, Nicholas Mastroianni III, President and CMO of US Immigration Fund (USIF), replicates the same perspective. He has clearly stated, EB-5 ensures you're not at the mercy of corporate layoffs and can secure a stable future in the U.S.

ALSO READ| HT Exclusive: US Immigration Fund President shares tips to crack E-B5 and other visas

Why EB-5 visa a perfect fix for H-1B challenges, tech layoffs, and harsh US visa landscapes

The US visa spectrum is currently a nightmare not only for the Indian techies but has also become a global issue. While resonating the same sentiment the USIF boss stated, Let's be blunt: the U.S. visa landscape is a minefield, and relying solely on the H-1B visa is a gamble with your future. The recent moves by Amazon and Google to suspend green card applications and cut jobs are wake-up calls. Indian tech professionals need to be strategic. The EB-5 visas, though require a significant investment, offer a direct and stable path to permanent residency, freeing you from the uncertainties of employer sponsorship.

Concurrent filing for Adjustment of Status can provide interim benefits like work and travel authorization. Seek professional guidance from immigration attorneys, keep your skills sharp, and maintain a robust network. These steps ensure you're not at the mercy of corporate layoffs and can secure a stable future in the U.S.

While addressing the Amazon & Google suspending green card applications issue amidst the mounting backlogs, Nicholas said, Amazon and Google's decisions to suspend green card applications and implement job cuts are a stark reflection of the current tech industry's volatility. These companies are tightening their belts in response to economic pressures and market shifts, focusing on automation and AI to replace jobs, and opting for local hires or outsourcing to cut costs. The economic downturn and uncertain market conditions are forcing tech giants to prioritize short-term financial health over long-term commitments to their employees, and here comes Eb-5 as a sole rescuer.

When pressed, Even if they came back to India, they dont have many choices left to dance around? Whats your take on this?

He replied, Returning to India isnt ideal for many tech professionals who envisioned settling in the United States. The job market there is crowded, and opportunities might not match the pay and perks of U.S. roles.

ALSO READ| HT Exclusive: American universities deem Asian domination in Computer Science undesirable, expert shares all

Concurrent filing for Adjustment of Status (AOS) is a strategic move. By filing for AOS, you can stay legally in the U.S. while your application is processed and gain interim benefits like Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) and Advance Parole. AOS helps you can continue to live, work, and travel in the U.S. without the stress of finding a new job within 60 days (about 2 months) or uprooting your life. It's about leveraging the options available to you and making informed, proactive decisions to secure your future in the U.S.

What is Adjustment of status?

Adjustment of status allows you to apply for lawful permanent resident status (commonly known as applying for a Green Card) while you are physically present in the United States. This enables you to obtain a Green Card without the need to return to your home country for visa processing, per US Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS).

For H1B visa holders, especially those from India, these measures are a nightmare. Losing a job means a 60-day countdown to find a new employer willing to sponsor their visa, or face deportation. This window is brutally short and the stress is immense. The financial strain of suddenly losing income, coupled with the costs of job searching and potential relocation, adds to the pressure. Emotional toll? Huge, he added.

To ease this burden, USIF offers a loan program of $300,000 to support investors. Additionally, there's a staggered investment option where an initial $200,000 can help start the AOS process, avoiding the need to leave the country within 60 days, the USIF President added. Notably, earlier this year Nicholas told HindustaTimes.com the same thing-how USIF trying to ease the visa pain amidst the huge H-1B ordeals.

ALSO READ| Google techie, laid off on H-1B visa, shares 5 ways immigrants can embrace job loss

How to apply for EB-5 visa?

To apply for EB-5, begin by consulting with an experienced EB-5 lawyer to discuss your unique circumstances and explore alternative green card options, determining if the EB-5 program is the best fit for you. Next, select your investment by choosing a business or project, whether it involves opening a new business, investing in an existing one, or participating in a regional centre project. Ensure that your investment funds are at risk, meaning they are exposed to potential gains and losses, and prepare the necessary paperwork. Then, file Form I-526 with USCIS, an application that establishes your eligibility for the EB-5 program.

Another Indian-American visa podcaster, Rahul Menon, told HT.com earlier, EB-5 is not a program that is easily accessible to a lot of people. You need to invest $800,000 to be able to qualify for that program. Even if you had the money and filed concurrently, it will still take a few months to get their Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

ALSO READ| HT Exclusive: Indian American visa podcaster shares H-1B visa hacks to extend stay in US

Nicholas concluded on a note addressing, Laid off by the employer in the United States, and now their job is being replaced by Indians living in India, do you see my point?

Absolutely, and its a harsh reality. The global nature of the tech industry means that companies are always looking to cut costs and improve efficiency. This often results in jobs being outsourced to countries like India where labor is cheaper. For H1B workers, this means job security is incredibly fragile. Its a bitter pill to swallow knowing your job is now being done overseas. This underscores the urgent need for foreign workers in the U.S. to find more secure and permanent immigration solutions, and added, . The H-1B visa, while providing a critical entry point for talent, has a major flaw in its inability to offer long-term stability.

Tech companies are making decisions based on their best interests, so it's crucial for individuals to do the same.
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki has asserted that Joe Bidens disastrous presidential debate performance was not because of the debate prep. Many have blamed the presidents staff for his bad performance  including White House senior adviser Anita Dunn, her husband Bob Bauer, and Ron Klain, the former White House chief of staff who is known to have run the preparations. Jen Psaki says blaming Joe Biden's staff for bad debate is absurd (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, AP/PTI)

You are not talking about the right things

Taking to X, Psaki wrote, There are a lot of important discussions and debates about this political moment we are in and the path forward, but the notion that the issue at the debate was the prep process done by people like @RonaldKlain and Anita Dunn who have successfully prepped many candidates including Obama, Clinton and Biden is absurd.

It was a bad debate, Psaki claimed. I have no doubt they were tough, strategic and direct. (Believe me I have seen them in action) but prep does not always determine the outcome. Biden was bad. Important convos about what happens next. But if you are directing your ire at prep you are not talking about the right things.

According to a report by The New York Times, Biden is not upset and still trusts his staff. One insider said that the presidents wife, Jill Biden, did not criticise the staff either.

While some sources alleged members of Bidens family were upset with the staff, a White House official dismissed the claims. Some Democrats also believe it is not fair to blame Bidens staff for what was the presidents own failing.

Meanwhile, Klain said Biden would stay in the race without a doubt. He is the choice of the Democratic voters, Klain said. We are seeing record levels of support from grass-roots donors. We had a bad debate night. But you win campaigns by fighting  not quitting  in the face of adversity.
In a new campaign ad, Joe Biden says, I know Im not a young man, seemingly in an attempt to dismiss concerns over his disastrous presidential debate performance. The 60-second ad is titled I know and will reportedly run in the battleground states and mostly target young audiences. Joe Biden attempts to dispel worry about his debate performace in new ad (Photographer: Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg)(Bloomberg)

Folks, I know Im not a young man, but I know how to do this job. I know how to tell the truth. Donald Trump does not, the caption of the video, shared on social media reads, urging people to watch the ad.

The president says in the ad, I know right from wrong. I know how to tell the truth.

And I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up, he adds.

The presidents comments in the ad were taken from his post-debate rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he appeared remarkably more energetic than he did in the debate against Trump. During the debate, he stumbled, froze and stared blankly, and misspoke.

The ad features no footage of Biden from the debate. However, it does show video of Trump on stage, as well as his actions relating to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Did you see Trump last night? I mean this sincerely  the most lies told in a single debate, Biden says in the ad.

He lied about the great economy he created. He lied about the pandemic he botched. And then his biggest lie: He lied about how he had nothing to do with the insurrection on January 6, the commander in chief, 81, adds.

Americans deserve a president who doesnt back down from a fight

Despite his alarming debate performance, it appears as though Biden is not ready to drop out of the race. His wife Jill Biden, as well as other Democrat allies, have been doing damage control for him. On Monday, July 1, Jill appeared on the cover of Vogue and said they will not let those 90 minutes define the four years hes been president and that they will continue to fight.

The presidents campaign said that over the weekend, Biden allies held over 1,500 events across the country in an attempt to gather support for him after the debate. Americans deserve a president who doesnt back down from a fight, and thats Joe Biden, Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler said in a statement, according to New York Post. That is the spirit that this country was built upon, and its what President Biden carries with himself every single day in his job as Commander-in-Chief.

Donald Trump stands against every value that our country stands for. Hes a liar, a crook, and he will always put himself first, the statement added. The American people deserve better than Trumps failed leadership and trademark lies, and this ad is just one more way we will be making the choice they will face at the ballot box this November all the more clear.
President Joe Biden has taken to X to denounce the US Supreme Courts ruling on Donald Trump, saying it fundamentally changed an important principle. In a 6-3 decision on Monday, July 1, the Supreme Court failed to rule on whether Trumps alleged effort to interfere with the election in 2020 comes under the category of an official act. Now, it is up to the lower court to decide. Joe Biden says principle that there are no kings in America changed after SC's ruling on Donald Trump (REUTERS/Tom Brenner, photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP)

In an X post, Biden wrote, This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one is above it. Not even the President of the United States.

He added, With todays Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, that fundamentally changed.

You need someone to help you understand the Courts holding, champ

It is no surprise that Trumps supporters ripped Biden in the comment section, and defended the former president. False, Joel. Diplomatic Immunity is enshrined in the constitution and prohibits you from being prosecuted for anything. Same thing goes for Donald Trump as a sitting president, one user wrote. Another said, Show us Ashleys diary, Hunters laptop, and a list of all your LLCs. No, today's decision protected the President from lawfare during and after leaving office for acting within the scope the Constitution permits him. You essentially crowned yourself King when you ignored the Supreme Court and erased the student loan debt of 3 million Americans, one user said.

It seems like you're calling yourself a king as a result of your extreme interpretation of the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, one user wrote, while another said, Congratulations on becoming the first dictator of the United States, Mr. President. One commented, No it didnt. You need someone to help you understand the Courts holding, champ. Another said, You maybe last another week. Your own Party is throwing you out like garbage.
Moscow, July 2 (UNI) The Russian armed forces launched a missile strike on an airfield in Ukraine's Poltava region, destroying five Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets, Russia's defense ministry said Tuesday.

The attack by an Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system targeted the aircraft parking area at the Myrhorod airfield, destroyed five Su-27 fighter jets belonging to the Ukrainian armed forces, and damaged two more undergoing repairs at the time, the ministry said via its official social media channel.

The ministry also released video footage of the strike. Ukrainian authorities have issued no immediate response.
Joe Biden has called a recent Supreme Court ruling granting former US President Donald Trump partial immunity from criminal prosecution a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law. Donald Trump lauds SC ruling on immunity as a "big win", Joe Biden warns of "dangerous precedent" (AP)

The 46th US president voiced his concern over the decision, saying that it erodes the rule of law and does a terrible disservice to Americans.

The Supreme Court's decision, announced on Monday, has been lauded by Trump on Truth Social as a big win for democracy.

ALSO READ| Total airhead: Donald Trump tears into Melania's ex-friend for blaming Biden's debate disaster on

Trump is now a king above the law

The SC ruled that a president has immunity for official acts but not for unofficial acts, and the matter was referred back to a trial judge for further consideration.

The court said that Trump's tweets and remarks on January 6, 2021, which allegedly incited the Capitol riot, were official acts.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor remarked, The President is now a king above the law.

A White House spokesman watered President Biden's sentiment, saying that nobody is above the law.

This decision is likely to slow down the criminal prosecution of Trump, who is said to have tried to insist on the overturn of the 2020 election, which Biden won.

Trump seeks to toss his NY felony conviction

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the former president is now seeking to toss his New York hush-money felony conviction. His lawyers are taking preliminary steps according to a Bloomberg report.

The courts verdict of six in favour and three against is the factional decision; however, it does not eliminate the charges against Trump but will postpone the trial substantially, which could be held after the November elections.

On Monday, Biden told in a televised statement, This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law. Not even the president of the United States.

Biden wants answer on behalf of American people

Biden warned that the Supreme Court's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president may do. Referring to Trump's alleged role in inciting the January 6 Capitol riot, Biden added, The man who sent that mob to the US Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction for what happened that day. The American people deserve to have an answer in the courts before the upcoming election. Now, because of today's [court] decision, that is highly, highly unlikely.

ALSO READ| Replacing Biden would cost Democrats the 2024 Presidential election, top election forecaster warns

Now, the trial judge will decide, as the Supreme Court ruled, which actions were taken in Trump's official capacity as president.

A lower court judge also has to work out which bits of Trumps behaviour are relevant to the criminal proceedings for the alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
King Charles III is reportedly in discussion to visit Prince Harry in the United States, and it causing some concern among other members of the royal family, specifically Prince William and Queen Camilla. The King is considering a visit to his son Prince Harry in America, aiming to meet his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet.(AP)

Royals are reportedly not happy with Charles extending an olive branch towards his younger son.

According to royal expert Tom Quinn, the King is eager to be a friendly grandfather with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. However, this would necessitate a trip to Montecito, California, where Prince Harry resides with wife, Meghan Markle and their two children.

He is desperate to see them and hates the idea that Archie and Lilibet will not remember him as the warm, friendly grandfather he wants to be, Quinn told the Mirror UK.

A BBC Royal also told DailyMail that the monarch feels a lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely.

Quinn suggests that King Charles has a gap in his schedule next month, which could provide a suitable opportunity for this potential visit.

ALSO READ| Meghan Markle's dad makes major claim about Archie and Lilibet: It struck me as very sad

But Prince Harry still feels hesitant about bringing his children across the pond. Meghan is reportedly not inclined to return to British soil. Quinn told Mirror earlier there is no way the duchess is looking for a discreet, private visit to UK. So it would be Charles to visit the land of George Washington this time.

Prince Harry appears to be open to the idea of his father's visit to Montecito

A source from New Idea has added that King Charles is feeling a little better after his recent cancer diagnosis, which might make the visit feasible. The source explained, This feud has gone on for far too long, and Charles is anxious to sort it out - but he knows it has to be on Harry and Meghan's home turf, particularly if he wants to see his grandchildren.

While the Duke of Sussex is ready to welcome his father with open arms, but royals are against the idea, especially Prince William.

Prince William is reportedly baffled by his father's eagerness to reconcile with Harry. The New Idea source commented, William can't understand why Charles would go out on a limb like this. Camilla is against the trip for health reasons.

ALSO READ| Shocking reason Meghan Markle once banned Prince Harry from being photographed with David Beckham

The Australia tour in October is going to be a lot for a man of his age with cancer, let alone an emotional transatlantic journey to visit his estranged son.

Queen Camilla is also reportedly more hesitant about the potential trip. Camilla's concerns are primarily centred around the King's health. His recent visit to New Zealand was scaled back due to health considerations, and she is apprehensive about the additional strain an emotional journey to the US might impose.
Krispy Kreme has launched a new promotional offer that will run all month through July. As part of the limited-time deal, the bakery chain will give its customers free doughnuts and iced coffee. But there's a catch! The two freebies will only be available on Tuesdays and Fridays, respectively. Krispy Kreme will also give its customers a free Original Glazed doughnut on the Fourth of July. Here's all you need to know about the irresistible offer: Krispy Kreme is celebrating the American Independence Day all July long! Customers can get free doughnuts and iced coffee every Tuesday and Friday. Additionally, the company is also giving away a free Original Glazed Doughnut exclusively on the Fourth of July.(Krispy Kreme)

How to get free doughnuts at Krispy Kreme?

The entire month, Krispy Kreme will give its customers a free doughnut of their choice from a select collection. To qualify for the offer, Krispy Kreme Rewards members simply need to make any purchase. On July 2, customers will be able to get a doughnut of their choice from the company's three Star Spangled Sweetness collection.

The Independence Day special collection includes the Firework Cookies and Kreme doughnut, an unglazed doughnut stuffed with Cookies and Kreme; the Cotton Candy Sparkler doughnut, a glazed doughnut dipped in blue icing and cotton candy sugar; and the Freedom Flag doughnut, a glazed doughnut dipped in white icing, adorned with red stripes and blue and gold sprinkles.

Next Tuesday (July 9), the company's Rewards members will be able to choose a free-of-cost doughnut of their choice from the Kit Kat Collection, which features the Kit Kat Crunch Donut, Kit Kat Cookie Dream Donut and Kit Kat Salted Caramel Brownie Donut. Meanwhile, the free doughnuts for the remaining Tuesdays (July 15, 22, and 29) are yet to be announced. They will remain a surprise until Krispy Kreme provides an update on social media.

How to get free iced coffee at Krispy Kreme?

As part of its July marketing offer, the company will also give its customers a free iced coffee of any size on Fridays (July 5, 12, 19, and 26). Similar to the free doughnut offer, customers must be a part of the company's rewards program to snag an iced coffee free of cost. Those who wish to avail of the offer but are not enlisted can sign up by downloading the Krispy Kreme app or can create an account on the company's official website.

How to get free doughnuts on 4th of July?

As for the special Independence Day offer, any customer wearing red, white, and blue can walk into a participating Krispy Kreme location to get a free Orginal Glazed Doughnut on the Fourth of July.
In another win for Donald Trump, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that he would not oppose former President's plea to delay his hush money sentencing, which is currently scheduled for July 11. Donald Trump on Monday moved to reverse his criminal conviction in the Manhattan case.(REUTERS Photo)

"Although we believe defendant's arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion," assistant district attorney Josh Steinglass mentioned in a letter sent to Judge Juan Merchan.

This comes after Trump moved on Monday to reverse his criminal conviction in the Manhattan case in wake of the US Supreme Court's ruling that a former president has considerable immunity for official acts performed while being in the office.

On May 30, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 charges of fabricating documents related to hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence on their alleged affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

What Trump's lawyers have to say?

On Monday, Trump's legal team wrote to Judge Juan Merchan to request permission to submit a motion contending that the judgments ought to be overturned.

Trump's defense lawyers cited evidence and testimony that they felt should have been shielded by presidential immunity, such as a government ethics form, multiple tweets from the president, and the testimony of former Trump aide Hope Hicks.

Todd Blanche stated that the convictions in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of 'an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself. After further briefing on these issues beginning on July 10, 2024, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

Highlighting testimony of Hicks, Trump's legal team stressed that she said Trump wanted the details of his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, which he strongly denies, be made public after the 2016 election. I think Mr. Trump's opinion was it was better to be dealing with it now, and that it would have been bad to have that story come out before the election, Hicks said in testimony.

Trump's lawyers now seem to rely on one passage in the Supreme Court's ruling that said: Testimony or private records of the President or his advisers probing such conduct may not be admitted as evidence at trial.

In addition, Trump's attorneys contended that the Office of Government Ethics's 2018 submission, phone data from Trump's administration, and social media posts regarding his former attorney Michael Cohen should not have been permitted.

Also Read: Trump immunity ruling allows presidents to order assassination of rivals, poison staff

Manhattan DA seeks time to serve his response

Bragg sought time to submit and serve his response on July 24, which is two weeks after Trump's requested deadline.

Trump's sentencing date was scheduled for July 11, which is a few days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is anticipated to receive an official nomination for the Republican presidential candidacy in 2024.
The notorious paedophile and sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein case that began in Palm Beach County in 2006 could end there as well. But the Palm Beach Post filed a lawsuit in 2019 to explain why it didnt happen, citing confidential documents that reveal what happened 18 years ago when Epstein was charged with a single count of prostitution This photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry shows Jeffrey Epstein, March 28, 2017. On Monday, July 1, 2024, Florida Circuit Judge Luis Delgado released the transcripts of a 2006 grand jury investigation that looked into sex trafficking and rape allegations made against Epstein. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)(AP)

In 2006, as a Palm Beach County prosecutor presented the case against Epstein to a grand jury, he asked one of the teen victims who testified if he realized he had committed a crime, according to the Palm Beach Post lawsuit disclosed in confidential text By the public.

The judges's release of the 150 pages of transcripts came as a surprise. Circuit Judge Luis Delgado ordered the release of this following Florida Governor Ron Desantis' bill sign.

The details in the record will be outrageous to decent people. The testimony taken by the Grand Jury concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape  all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal, Delgado wrote.

The Palm Beach Post's lawsuit stems from the findings of an investigation in 2019, which found then-Palm Beach County State's Attorney Barry Krisher ruined his case against Epstein in 2006. State prosecutor's letters regularly revealed that Krischer's office never interviewed any of the victims. Moreover, once Epstein's celebrity defence attorneys arrived in town, Kreischer's office stopped regular contact with police.

Delgado called Epstein the most infamous pedophile in American history in his order.

ALSO READ| Eerie clip shows inside of Jeffrey Epstein's house containing strange paintings, medical equipment and more: Watch

Why were Epsteins victims treated harshly by the 2006 grand jury?

The newly released documents shed light on the legal process: Epstein was indicted on a single charge despite the seriousness of the charges. The documents miss a grand jury process that seemed to prosecute the victims more than expose Epstein.

The grand jury members, assistant prosecutors Lanna Belohlavec and Mary Ann Duggan, mirrored the accusatory tone, their questions sounding more sarcastic than probing

One juror asked the girl, Do you have any idea, deep down inside of you, that you  what youre doing is wrong? The girl replied, Yeah. I did.

The juror then pressed, Have you set the goals to not do it anymore?

Yes.

When asked, And youre well aware that  what youre doing to your own reputation? to which the girl replied, Yes. I do.

Youre aware that you committed a crime? Belohlavek went on asking.

Now I am.

The manner in which questions were asked was aimed at painting the victims as liars and generally unsavoury characters instead of offenders or victims of Epsteins alleged crimes.

ALSO READ| Judge releases transcripts of 2006 grand jury investigation of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking

Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 plea deal resurfaces

In 2008, following a grand jury investigation, the notorious paedophile struck a deal with South Florida federal prosecutors. This agreement spared him from more serious federal charges and instead led to guilty pleas on state charges of procuring a minor for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution. Epstein received a 1.5-year jail sentence in Palm Beach County, followed by a year of house arrest. Additionally, he was mandated to register as a sex offender.

For almost 20 years, the story of how Jeffrey Epstein victimized some of Palm Beach Countys most vulnerable has been the subject of much anger and has at times diminished the publics perception of the criminal justice system, Delgado wrote in his order, and added, "It is understandable that given those reports the public has a great curiosity about what was widely reported by news as 'special treatment regarding his prosecution.
People are starting to doubt Prince Harrys ability to reunite with his family, saying that he missed his opportunities in the past and, hence, there is no clear prognosis for the future. Britain's Prince Harry arrives to attend the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St Pauls Cathedral, in London, Britain, May 8, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo(REUTERS)

The Duke of Sussex has time and again ended up snubbed from Royal events, starting from his exclusion from the guest list during Junes Trooping the Colour, his failed attempts to restore the communication with King Charles III in May, and his exclusion from the wedding of one of his good friends, the Duke of Westminster.

These cases overshadow the whole picture across Harrys attempts to reconcile the familial conflict.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond expressed, If Harry had really wanted to confront his family and patch things up, he would surely have allotted more time to his recent visits so that his father at least could make arrangements to see him.

Bond told OK!, I don't think there's any chance of William wanting to do so, particularly with all he has on his plate right now. So, I'll believe this when I see it, but it will be lovely if he could indeed spend some time, perhaps at Balmoral, during the summer and make peace with his father.

ALSO READ| Meghan Markle's dad makes major claim about Archie and Lilibet: It struck me as very sad

Prince Harry opened up about his struggles with grief

Bond's comments come in the wake of Prince Harry's recent revelations about his grieving process following the loss of his mother, Princess Diana. The duke was only 12 years old when Diana tragically died in a car accident in Paris.

In a candid conversation with Scotty's Little Soldiers, a charity he supports, said, It's so easy as a kid to think or convince yourself...you convince yourself that the person you've lost wants you, or you need to be sad for as long as possible to prove to them that they are missed, and, added, But then there's this realisation of, no, they must want me to be happy.

That's the hardest thing, especially for kids, I think, which is, 'I don't want to talk about it because it will make me sad', but once realising that if I do talk about it, I'm celebrating their life, then actually, things become easier' as opposed to this 'I'm just not going to talk about it, and that's the best form of coping', when in fact it's not.

He expressed that suppressing emotions can provide temporary relief for a period of time but You can't suppress it forever. It's not sustainable. And will eat away at you inside.

No-one wants to be in the position where they are forced to talk about the very thing they don't want to talk about, especially when every defence mechanism in your mind, nervous system and everything else is saying 'do not go there'.

ALSO READ| King Charles III reportedly in discussion to finally visit Prince Harry in US, but more drama ensues

King Charles want to visit US to meet his younger son and grandchildren

Amidst repeated snubbing from the royal family, a royal commentator told Mirror UK that King Charles III is in final talks to visit Prince Harry in the US in the coming week.

The monarch is desperate to see them and hates the idea that Archie and Lilibet will not remember him as the warm, friendly grandfather he wants to be.
Queen Elizabeth's heartbreaking response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's exit from their positions as working Royal family members has been revealed in a forthcoming book. Queen Elizabeth was disappointed, according to Nicholl, that Harry and Meghan did not bring their kids for sleep over at Balmoral in August.(AP)

The Queen, who was very hurt and exhausted, summed up her feeling with a succinct but tragic eight-word reply as she told a royal insider: I don't want to think about it anymore.

A person close to the Firm provided insight on the late Queen's "turmoil" over circumstances at the time for the upcoming book "The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown."

The source stated, She was very hurt and told me, 'I don't know, I don't care, and I don't want to think about it anymore', according to an excerpt from the book that appeared in Vanity Fair.

Author and royal historian Katie Nicholl said in her book that the late Queen was disappointed as she did not get more time to spend with Harry and Meghan's kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The Queen was disappointed, according to Nicholl, that Harry and Meghan did not bring their kids for sleep over at Balmoral in August. It was a source of sadness to the Queen that she got to see so little of Archie and Lilibet and that Harry and Meghan were not able to join her for a weekend at Balmoral in August when the Queen used to host a 'sleepover' for all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Queen saw Lilibet only for once during the Sussexes' June 2022 visit to the UK for the Platinum Jubilee.

Read Also: King Charles stings Meghan Markle with behind-the-back Royal bees move as tensions brew

What was Queen Elizabeth's say on Prince Harry's UK security

According to court records, the late monarch deemed it imperative that her grandson Prince Harry and his spouse Meghan Markle maintain effective protection after leaving their positions as senior working royals, as per a secret letter.

Her top aide told a Home Office committee that protecting the Sussexes was paramount importance to the late Queen and her family.

According to the Telegraph, the letter that was included in court filings in December stated that Sir Edward, writing on behalf of the Palace, argued in favor of Harry's continuance to have effective security even after he left the Royal Family and moved to the US.

The letter, which was presented to the High Court as evidence to determine whether and when the Duke actually offered to pay for his own security, refutes the story that Meghan and Harry were cut off by the Royal Family.
A House Democratic lawmaker has become the first in the party to publicly call for President Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee for president, citing Bidens debate performance against Donald Trump failing to effectively defend his many accomplishments. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas said in a statement Tuesday that Biden should make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.(AP)

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas said in a statement Tuesday that Biden should make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.

My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved, Doggett said. Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.

Doggett, who represents an Austin-based district and is serving his 15th term in Congress, is the first sitting lawmaker in his party to publicly state what many have been privately whispering behind closed doors since last weeks debate. Bidens weak performance caused an immediate panic among even his most ardent supporters, leading many to question whether the 81-year-old career politician is the strongest Democratic candidate to take on Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, in November.

Beyond the White House, control of both chambers of Congress is also hanging in the balance in November, and Democrats find themselves defending far more Senate seats than Republicans.

Doggett's explosive statement came minutes after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told MSNBC on Tuesday that she believes "it is a legitimate question" whether Biden's halting performance is just an episode or is this a condition.

When people ask that question, its legitimate -- of both candidates, Pelosi said.

Pelosi said she had not spoken with Biden since the debate, but she emphasized that the president is on top of his game, in terms of knowing the issues and what is at stake.
Sarah Ferguson paid an emotional tribute to Princess Diana on what would have been her 63rd birthday. The Duchess of York took to social media to share a photo of the pair standing side-by-side on a balcony and a heartfelt note for her dear friend on Monday, July 1. Sarah Ferguson paid an emotional tribute to the late Princess Diana on her 63rd birthday(Getty Images)

Duchess of York pays tribute to late Princess Diana

The 64-year-old, who is popularly known as Fergie, captioned the Instagram post, Happy birthday to my dear friend, Diana. You were a pillar of light and love. And what a legacy you have left behind. I will forever remember our laughter and the kindred, kind spirit I found in you. I am sure you are watching over us always. Rest in peace my friend, she added.

ALSO READ: Sarah Ferguson breaks silence over remarrying Prince Andrew rumours; We are very happy as

In the photograph, the pair were standing together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as they smiled while watching the Battle of Britain Anniversary Parade on September 15, 1990. Princess Diana and Ferguson became sisters-in-law through their respective marriages to King Charles and Prince Andrew. Throughout her life, the former Princess of Wales shared a close bond with Ferguson.

The Duchess of York reflected on her relationship with the late princess, whom she affectionately called Duch, in a 2021 interview with People. We were best friends from when she was 14 and I was 15, she told the outlet. I said to her, 'Oh, Andrew's really good-looking,'  Ferguson said, recalling the time Princess Diana introduced her to the Duke of York. And she said, 'Duh, Fergs!' Fergie added.

ALSO READ: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can't travel to Australia for this reason

Diana and I both had our own mental health issues, and she and I used to talk, she continued, adding, She [Diana] said, 'Fergie, remember one thing: When you're at the top of the pedestal, it's so easy to fall off. And you're at the bottom. You just climb up.'  We were positioned as saint and sinner. And the most important thing was to remain robust together, and we did, no matter what anyone wrote, Ferguson added.
Former US President Donald Trump praised the US Supreme Court on Monday for ruling that a president has extensive protection for "official acts" during their tenure, even if he's still not quite out of the woods regarding the Capitol riots. Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate and former President, reacted on Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity.(AP)

The 78-year-old Trump had urged the Supreme Court to uphold the notion that a president has "absolute" immunity from prosecution in order to defend himself against allegations in the 2020 election subversion case.

BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! Trump stated on Truth Social following the verdict.

On Monday, the court decided by a vote of 6-3 that former presidents are protected from prosecution for acts they commit while acting in their official role under the constitution, but not for the actions taken in a private capacity.

The ruling will strengthen Trump's defense against federal accusations related to his attempts to rig the 2020 election, which President Joe Biden won. It might also have an impact on Georgia's similar state-level election meddling allegations.

What Supreme Court has to say

Chief Justice John Roberts announced the historic ruling made by court's six-justice conservative majority. The three liberal justices of the court disagreed.

The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official. The President is not above the law, Roberts wrote.

The judges emphasised that immunity doesn't only apply to Trump but to all occupants of the Oval Office, regardless of politics, policy, or party.

On Monday, Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor vehemently disagreed with the majority's decision, contending that the decision essentially legitimizes the misuse of authority.

Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune, she wrote.

Also Read: Tucker Carlson makes big claim over Barack Obama's disingenuous tweet supporting Biden

Democrats call Supreme Court's ruling

A number of Democrats condemned the ruling of the Supreme Court. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive congresswoman, decried the decision as a "assault on American democracy."

The Supreme Court has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control. Todays ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture, she wrote.

AOC further stated that she intend on filing articles of impeachment upon Democrats' return.

Democrats portray Trump as a danger to democracy by pointing out his attempts to rig the 2020 election, which they claim led to Capitol riots on January 6 by his supporters.

Meanwhile, US Congressman Byron Donalds backed the Supreme Court's decision, stating that US President is unable to properly serve the countrymen and defend the nation without immunity.

In todays precedent-setting, 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court did right by President Trump, they did right by the American people, and they did right by the hallowed institution of the Presidency of the United States, he wrote.

He further called Jack Smith's indictment a disgrace to our legal system and it's time that our nation turns the page on this egregious lawfare because President Trump did nothing wrong.
Washington/New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) Even as India continues to advance ties with Iran and Russia, ignoring Washingtons disapproval, a senior US official said that Washington is deepening its relations with New Delhi in a number of key areas, especially economic ties and security cooperation.

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, asked how Washington is going to deal with its deepening ties with New Delhi in view of Indias relations with Iran and Russia, said: India is a country in which we are deepening our relations with in a number of key spaces, especially as it relates to deepening our economic ties, deepening our security cooperation. The President had the opportunity briefly see Prime Minister Modi on the margins of the G7 a couple of weeks ago. So this is an area we will continue to cultivate this relationship.

Speaking about the state visit of PM Narendra Modi to Washington in June last year, he said:

You are no stranger to the fact that we hosted India for a state visit last summer, and I imagine therell be a number of additional areas where we continue to deepen cooperation. National Security Advisor Sullivan just had a visit to Delhi a number of weeks ago as well.

To a question on how the US views the triangle of U.S.-India, U.S.-Pakistan, and India-U.S. relations, in view of former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharifs peace overtures to India and the latter maintaining that talks and terror cannot go together, Patel said: Well, we would hope that any country on the face of the planet condemns terrorism anywhere, but ultimately this is between India and Pakistan. Broadly, of course, we welcome any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours. But as it relates to this specifically, I just  I dont have anything to offer.

UNI RN
By Daphne Psaledakis and Matt Spetalnick US says it's still open to talks with Venezuela after Maduro announces meeting

WASHINGTON, - The Biden administration remains open to dialogue with the Venezuelan government, U.S. officials said on Tuesday after President Nicolas Maduro said he had agreed to restart direct talks just weeks ahead of a July 28 presidential election in Venezuela.

The officials said the U.S. had previously indicated it welcomed discussions "in good faith" but they stopped short of confirming Maduros statement late on Monday that a meeting was now scheduled in coming days.

The Socialist president is seeking a third term in office while Washington has expressed concern about whether he will make good on his promises to hold a free and fair election. Western governments dismissed his 2018 re-election as a sham.

Maduro is now pitted against Edmundo Gonzalez, a veteran ex-diplomat who was named the main opposition candidate after primary winner Maria Corina Machado had a ban on holding office upheld by the Supreme Court, a move condemned by the U.S. at the time.

Machado has since given Gonzalez her backing, and he has built a large lead over Maduro in opinion polls.

The U.S. reimposed oil sanctions on OPEC-member Venezuela in mid-April, accusing Maduro of not fully complying with electoral guarantees he made in deals with the opposition.

Maduro said in a television program that he had accepted Washington's proposal to restart talks with the U.S. "to comply with the agreements signed in Qatar and to re-establish the terms of the dialogue with respect."

Secret negotiations between the U.S. and Venezuela in Qatar late last year helped pave the way to Maduros scheduling of elections this month.

"I'm just not going to get into the specifics of our diplomatic engagements beyond just saying that in the context of Venezuela - you've heard us say this before - we of course welcome dialogue in good faith, and we support the Venezuelan people's desire for competitive and inclusive elections on July 28, U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said.

We are clear-eyed that democratic change will not be easy and certainly requires a serious commitment, Patel told a daily briefing in Washington.

Venezuelan official negotiator and National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez will participate in the talks, Maduro said, without detailing the specific topics to be discussed.

It was not immediately known whether the meeting would be in person or held virtually. A previous meeting between senior U.S. officials and Maduro's representatives took place in Mexico in mid-April.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
ATHENS -A wildfire fanned by gale-force winds raged uncontrolled on the Greek island of Serifos on Sunday, prompting authorities to order several hamlets to evacuate. Wildfire fanned by strong winds rages uncontrolled on Greece's Serifos island

Nearly a dozen firefighters with four fire engines battled the fire on the Aegean island that broke out on low vegetation but spread quickly amid strong winds, and more were expected to join them through the night, a fire brigade official said.

With hot, windy conditions across much of the country, about 50 wildfires broke out on Saturday and authorities advised people to stay out of forest areas.

A wildfire in a mountainous forest area just outside the Greek capital eased earlier on Saturday but some 160 firefighters were still battling to extinguish the flames, officials said.

Gusts exceeding 100 kph hampered their efforts to contain the fire on Mount Parnitha, some 20 km north of Athens, which had threatened to spread to a nature reserve, while water-carrying plans stopped operating through the night.

"The fire has no active front but we still have a long way to go and will work on it all night," Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said in a televised statement.

No homes were threatened by the fire.

Winds are not expected to weaken before Sunday, meteorologists said.

Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean country, but they have become more devastating in recent years as summers have become hotter, drier and windier, which scientists link to the effects of climate change.

After last summer's deadly forest fires and following its warmest winter on record, Greece developed a new doctrine, which includes deploying an extra fire truck to each new blaze, speeding up air support and clearing forests.

A big part of Mount Parnitha's nature reserve, full of pines and fir trees, was destroyed by a large fire in 2007.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A newly-married couple's joyous celebration turned into a nightmare when masked men showed up and started shooting.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police were called to the wedding reception just before 1 a.m. on June 29, following reports the groom was shot during an attempted robbery.

Manuel and Dulce Gonzalez were celebrating their decade-long relationship as a newly married couple at an intimate wedding party when the robbers showed up.

Witnesses told police they were in the backyard when the gunmen started yelling for no one to move.

They demanded money from the party guests. One of them began sifting through people's pockets before the second suspect shot the groom in the head several times

Both ran off without taking any items or money.

Manuel Gonzalez, 42, was rushed to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

"They took nothing, yet they took everything from us," said Yaribeth Pena, the bride's sister told KTVI-TV.

"He's a good father. A good husband to my sister. He's a hard worker," added Pena. "He's just an all-around good person who, I don't know, didn't deserve this."

The family is pleading with the community to submit any footage they may have of the gunmen roaming the streets.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the couple as they face mounting medical expenses.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are encouraging anyone with information to contact authorities.
Sheriff's deputies in Missouri on pulled over an unusual visitor traveling through their state on the way to Roswell, N.M. - an Unidentified Driving Object.

The Crawford County Sheriff's Office said deputies pulled over a vehicle on Friday that "was a little out of this world."

Photos shared on Facebook show a UFO-shaped vehicle on the side of the road, after it was pulled over for a lane violation and an expired out-of-state license plate.

"These friendly humanoids, who have come in peace, are heading west to Roswell, NM for a festival. There was a brief conversation about his out of space, correction, out of state registration, but he assured us that he would take care of that issue when he returned to Krypton," the sheriff's office joked alongside the photos on Facebook.

"He was also warned about our strict enforcement of warp speed on the interstate and to keep his phasers on stun only while traveling."

Despite the minor infractions, the pilot was allowed to continue on his way to Roswell.

It's unclear what event the driver was traveling to, but the annual Roswell UFO Festival runs July 5-7 this year.

Events take place throughout the city, including a Spaceport Roswell virtual reality experience, UFO tours, special museum exhibitions, the Galacticon sci-fi convention, multiple laser shows, an Alien Chase 5k walk/run, and a variety of talks and panels given by UFOlogists.

Roswell has been a hotspot for alien enthusiasts for nearly 80 years, since the U.S. Army Air Forces announced in July 1947 it had recovered a "flying disc" that crashed on a ranch in the area.

The military then claimed it was a weather balloon, setting off speculation about a cover-up of alien contact. Only decades later did the military reveal the weather balloon story was a cover for the use of top-secret listening devices searching for evidence of Soviet atomic bomb tests.

--with reporting by TMX
The husband of a missing Wisconsin woman is under arrest after authorities say he was illegally spending money from her financial accounts.

Crystal Rasch, 37, has been missing since last month.

Sheriff's deputies investigating the case started looking at her bank accounts and say her estranged husband, 42-year-old Zachariah Rasch misappropriate her identity to fund purchases.

He faces seven felony counts of misappropriating ID information to obtain money.

Crystal was last seen on June 11 and reported missing on June 23 by her stepmother, who said she hadn't heard from Crystal since June 11, according to the criminal complaint seen by WITI-TV.

The stepmother told investigators she had stopped at her stepdaughter's home and saw her vehicle parked in the garage.

She was later told by Crystal's mother that the 37-year-old had traveled to Michigan to see her brother; however, the brother said he too had not seen Crystal.

Authorities contacted several friends and family members who all said they haven't had any in-person contact with Crystal since June 10, but several did say they received Facebook messages allegedly from Crystal, though they suspected the messages were fake based on the language and tone used.

Zachariah Rasch also claimed to the police that he had not seen or contacted Crystal as they were reportedly going through a divorce.

The complaint goes on to state that through interviews, surveillance footage, and transaction data, it was discovered that Zachariah had made numerous purchases with Crystal's cards.

He is alleged to have spent as much as $6,000 on cleaning supplies and other items, according to WISN-TV.

A search warrant was executed on Zachariah's home on June 26 related to the identity theft.

Meanwhile, the Adams County Sheriff's Office disclosed Zacharaiah has connections to two separate areas of land in the town of Springville.

Due to the size of the properties, it took nearly 100 law enforcement officers from 28 departments two days to search the property.

A 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse registered to Zachariah Rasch was found and is said to contain "significant evidentiary value" in the whereabouts of Crystal.

It is currently being analyzed by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab in Madison.
One person is dead and five others hurt after gunmen opened fire on a reception at a French wedding hall.

The gunmen stormed the venue in Thionville, a city in northeastern France on late Saturday as approximately a hundred guests were in attendance of a Turkish wedding party.

Two people were seriously injured and one of them was in critical condition, according to AFP. A pregnant woman was among the wounded.

"At a quarter past one in the morning, a group of people went outside to smoke in front of the hall, and then three heavily armed men arrived and opened fire in their direction," a police source told the media outlet.

The suspects arrived in a 4x4 vehicle, "probably a BMW," they added.

Sources have suggested that the attack could potentially be linked to settling a score between drug traffickers

Authorities allegedly believe that a settling of scores connected to drug trafficking could be a possible motive behind the violence.

"The wedding was not targeted as such, it was people who were at the wedding."

In a statement to the BBC, prosecutor Francois Capin-Dulhoste said the men had fired "several dozen times", adding four people had been hit by the bullets. The victims are said to be between 25 and 50 years old.
A Texas congressman and a representative from Maine have become the first elected Democrats to call for President Biden to abandon his reelection bid.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, on Tuesday, cited Biden's performance during last week's presidential debate.

"My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved," Doggett said. "Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden's first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so."

Later the same day, Representative Jared Golden of Maine publicly declared he had no confidence in Biden, also citing the President's 'poor performance' at the debate.

"Biden's poor performance in the debate was not a surprise," Golden wrote in an op-ed for the Bangor Daily News. "It also didn't rattle me as it has others, because the outcome of this election has been clear to me for months: While I don't plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And I'm OK with that."

There has been panic among some Democrats after Biden's difficulty answering questions during the 90 minute debate against Donald Trump.

Biden has vowed to stay in the race. In an appearance the day after the debate he admitted he doesn't speak as well as he used to and doesn't debate as well as he used to but claimed to be up to doing the job for four more years.

Biden would be 86 years old if he served another full term.
Germany and Poland have pledged to work together to boost Ukraine's defense while NATO looks to "Trump-proof" aid amid concerns over the former president's potential return to the White House.

Details of NATO's new initiatives are expected to be announced at a summit in Washington, D.C., next week, following a less-than-stellar performance from President Joe Biden in Thursday's debate against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. and alliance officials.

As part of its plan, the organization is expected to station a senior civilian official in Kyiv and put in place a new command in Wiesbaden, Germany, manned by 700 U.S. and other allied personnel for its NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine operation.

A Trump victory in November could mean a reduction in American support for Ukraine, after he criticized the amount of money the U.S. has spent supporting the country in its war against Russia, which Germany and Poland both view as their biggest threat.

"A big reason for the change is to Trump-proof the assistance effort to Ukraine," former U.S. ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder told the outlet in an interview published Tuesday. "Rather than having Washington in charge of managing the training and assistance, NATO will be in charge. So even if the U.S. reduces or withdraws support for the effort, it won't be eliminated."

Germany and Poland  former enemies during World War II  have vowed to work together and coordinate their military assistance to aid Ukraine.

"It does provide for durability in the face of potential national political changes, whether it is as the result of elections in the United States, France, the U.K. or even in the European Union," another former U.S. ambassador to NATO, Douglas Lute, explained.

In Warsaw Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Germany's alliance with Poland following the first meeting between the two countries in the past six years.

"The security of Poland is also the security of Germany," Scholz reassured, according to the WSJ. "We will pool our capacities, and we will coordinate more... We will jointly take responsibility for the protection of NATO's Eastern flank."
Bradford Morrow at Lit Hub:

My first personal encounter with the rarest book in American literature was memorable, even moving, for many reasons, but its physical appearance wasnt one of them. If ever a book ought not to be judged by its cover, Edgar Allan Poes debut collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, is that book. Known as the Black Tulip, only twelve copies appear to have survived since its publication in July 1827. That one of the last two in private hands is coming to auction this month, not quite two centuries later, marks an historic bibliophilic event.

Both Poe and the novice printer Calvin F.W. Thomas were just eighteen when the poet handed over his manuscript, presumably at Thomass shop at 70 Washington Street in Boston, and paid him to make it into a book. The result was forty pages of unevenly printed verse bound in drab tan wrappers the shade of a faded tea stain. Tamerlanes front cover features a potpourri of discordant typefaces within an ornamental frame that resembles a geometric queue of conifersa heavy-handed period design I have grown to adore.

more here.
Set to open in 2025 after refurbishment, InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will build on the legacy of the property and write a new era of luxury hospitality in the country.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has announced the debut of the InterContinental brand in Cape Town with the signing of InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town, marking a significant milestone in IHG's luxury portfolio.

Inaugurated in May 1997 by former South African president Nelson Mandela, the renowned Table Bay Hotel has consistently set the benchmark for world-class hospitality. Located in the heart of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a mixed-use destination in the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, the hotel has long been admired as one of the city's most luxurious properties.

InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will open in Q4 2025 following a multimillion-dollar redevelopment by the V & A Waterfront.

The hotel will be managed by Sun International under a hotel management agreement.

Under IHG's luxury brand, InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town becomes the latest member of its global IHG One Rewards loyalty program. The hotel will feature 306 rooms, including 45 new guests' suites, with unparalleled views of the harbour, Table Mountain, and the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel will feature a new elevated pool bar and terrace, together with a signature spa, and a Intercontinental Executive Loyalty Club Floor and Lounge. In addition, all the reception areas and restaurants will be reimagined.

With its prime location, guests also have direct access to the vibrant V&A Waterfront's array of shops, restaurants, and attractions, drawing millions of visitors annually.

As an integral addition to the IHG portfolio, the InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will uphold the hotel's legacy of exceptional hospitality and cultural immersion, continuing its commitment to offering travellers unforgettable service, cuisine, and luxury experiences.

Hotel website
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi has announced Evelyn Nguyen Van Schwarcz as its new director of groups & events. With over 11 years of experience in hotel and events operations, Nguyen Van Schwarcz is adept at business development, corporate engagement, and event management.

Her career includes a successful tenure as the head of sales - groups & events at Zaya Nurai Island, where she significantly increased the annual revenue by an average of 37 percent, showcasing her ability to drive growth and enhance profitability. Before joining the team of The St. Regis Abu Dhabi she was head of event sales & marketing at Pixoul Gaming & Adrenark Adventure.

In previous roles, Nguyen Van Schwarcz was instrumental in both the active and passive acquisition of new clients. She expertly managed all event communications from site visits, to set up and execution, and maintained long-term relationships with clients and third parties. Her notable achievements include closing corporate event deals with prestigious clients such as Mercedes-Benz, White & Case, Make Up for Ever, Boston Consulting, and Johnson & Johnson. Additionally, she excelled in managing teams, aligning internal revenue expectations, conducting monthly forecasting, yielding group business, and budgeting.

Nguyen Van Schwarcz's academic credentials are notable, including a marketing certification from the City University of Seattle, a bachelor of science in business administration degree from the City University of Seattle, and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Fluent in English, Slovak, and Hungarian, her multilingual skills have further enhanced her ability to communicate effectively in diverse and multicultural environments.

As the director of groups & events at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Nguyen Van Schwarcz will oversee all aspects of group and event operations, including client acquisition and retention, event planning and execution, as well as group and events revenue management. Furthermore, she will play a pivotal role in further cementing the hotel's reputation as a premier destination for corporate, MICE, government, and social events. Nguyen Van Schwarcz's strategic vision and leadership will be essential to driving the success of the hotel's events department, ensuring that every event exceeds client expectations and contributes to the hotel's overall growth.
London, UK - The World Travel & Tourism Councils (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) has today revealed that Tunisias Travel & Tourism sector is set to inject a record-breaking TND 23BN into the national economy this year.

The latest data shows that across its economic contribution, job numbers, and domestic visitor spending, Travel & Tourism is expected to surpass all previous records this year.

Although international visitor spending isnt anticipated to fully recover this year, the global tourism body expects it will come within touching distance of the 2019 peak.

According to the data, Travel & Tourisms economic contribution will represent 14% of the overall economy this year, while sector jobs are projected to grow 3.9% year-on-year to reach almost 418,000 - accounting for one in nine jobs.

Domestic visitor spending is anticipated to grow 5% from last year to reach TND 11.7BN - 0.7% ahead of 2019.

Although international visitor spending is expected to grow more than 12% to reach almost TND 11BN, this will still be nearly 9% behind 2019 levels.

Tunisia's Travel & Tourism sector has almost fully recovered, with domestic and sector-wide contributions exceeding all previous records. While international visitor spending is still catching up, we are confident that Tunisia's resilient sector will continue to thrive and play a vital role in the nation's economic future. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO

The reestablishment of the Higher Council of Tourism by the Tunisian Government will further help Travel & Tourism achieve these forecasts as it brings together the public and private sector, ensuring collaboration across interested parties.

What Does Last Year Look Like?

According to the latest research, the sectors contribution to Tunisias GDP surged almost 24% year-on-year to reach nearly TND 21BN.

Jobs supported by Travel & Tourism grew almost 10% to reach more than 402,000, representing almost 11.5% of jobs in the country.

Domestic visitor spending increased more than 7% year-on-year to reach more than TND 11BN.

International visitor spending saw a strong 48.8% year-on-year growth last year, to reach TND 9.6BN, but this was still almost 19% behind the 2019 peak.

What Does the Next Decade Look Like?

With the right government support, WTTC is forecasting that the sector could grow its annual GDP contribution to more than TND 32BN by 2034, representing 16% of Tunisias economy, and could potentially employ over 485,000 people across the country.

What Does the Region Look Like?

Across North Africa, the Travel & Tourism sector is forecast to contribute TND225.7BN to the regional economy this year, accounting for 8.5% of the total. Sector-supported jobs are expected to rise to 5.3MN, representing 1 in 11 jobs across the region.

Domestic visitor spending is projected to reach TND97.5BN, whilst international visitor spending is anticipated to reach TND101.9BN this year.

See all the data in our Tunisia Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Report on the WTTC Research Hub.

For more information, please visit wttc.org

*This cutting-edge research was carried out in partnership with Oxford Economics. All values are in constant 2023 prices and exchange rates, as reported in March 2024. All figures are given in TND. The North African economies referenced in the regional data are Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.

About WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.

WTTC Press Office

WTTC
Key Takeaways

Searches for stays on Airbnb by Americans during European dates of the tour have surged nearly 70 percent.

American guests account for nearly a third of European Airbnb bookings during the tour, and over two-thirds of nights booked are by women.

In 2023, travel on Airbnb during the tour dates helped generate over $77 million in estimated economic impact.

The remaining North American dates for the tour are seeing over a 1,300 percent surge in searches on the platform.

This summer is anything but cruel for Swifties as Taylors highly-anticipated tour continues to captivate audiences across Europe. New insights reveal that searches for stays on Airbnb by Americans during European dates of the tour have surged nearly 70 percent compared to the same period last year.1

More than two thirds of nights booked by Americans self-identify as female over Taylors tour dates across Europe. Whats more is that American guests account for nearly a third of all nights booked in European destinations during her tour.

Out of the woods and into Europe, Swifties are leading passion tourism. This wave of event-cations is a major trend driving travel this summer, showcasing the powerful connection between cultural moments and building travel plans around big events. It also highlights the potential power of Taylornomics before the tour returns to North America later this year. Last year alone, more than a quarter of a million guests checked in to Airbnb listings during her US tour concert dates.

Trending Taylor Hotspots: Out of the woods and into Europe

Taylor continues to tour in Europe throughout the summer before returning to North America this fall to close out the tour. Here are some of the highlights for destinations for Taylors tour dates for all global travelers.

London, UK : Forget, So long London. Despite already being a top tourist destination, London has seen a remarkable increase in searches. When tickets for Tays performances went on sale, searches for Airbnbs tripled compared to the previous month. 3

: Forget, Despite already being a top tourist destination, London has seen a remarkable increase in searches. When tickets for Tays performances went on sale, searches for Airbnbs tripled compared to the previous month. Edinburgh, UK : This Scottish capital city saw more than a 500 percent increase in searches when tickets went on sale in July 2023. 4

: This Scottish capital city saw more than a 500 percent increase in searches when tickets went on sale in July 2023. Paris, France: Over the May weekend when Taylor was in Paris, bookings by US travelers alone, increased over 60 percent compared to the year prior, indicating that many Americans are flying overseas to catch her shows.5

Fans from around the world are also eagerly anticipating Miss Americanas big return to North America. Stops closing out the tour are seeing a massive surge in interest. The remaining North American dates for the tour are seeing over a 1,300 percent surge in searches on the platform.6

Miami, US: Miami is gearing up for Taylors return as fans prepare for three highly anticipated shows in October, seeing over a 500 percent surge in searches for her concert dates.

Miami is gearing up for Taylors return as fans prepare for three highly anticipated shows in October, seeing over a 500 percent surge in searches for her concert dates. Indianapolis, US: Indianapolis is having a record-year, welcoming a surge in major, one-off events and driving demand to historic heights; seeing nearly a 7,000 percent surge in searches over concert dates this year.

Indianapolis is having a record-year, welcoming a surge in major, one-off events and driving demand to historic heights; seeing nearly a 7,000 percent surge in searches over concert dates this year. Toronto, Canada : One of only two Canadian stops for the tour Canadas biggest city has become a hotspot for Swifties with a six show run, seeing an over 1,200 percent surge in searches during her concert dates.

: One of only two Canadian stops for the tour Canadas biggest city has become a hotspot for Swifties with a six show run, seeing an over 1,200 percent surge in searches during her concert dates. Vancouver, Canada: Taylor is closing out her tour with a three show run in Vancouver, with an over 3,000 percent surge in searches in the destination during the concert dates.

Top Swiftie cities across the US

So who are the potential Swifties packing their friendship bracelets and sparking a love story with Europe this summer? Below are some of the top US cities with the highest share of guests booking travel in Europe during the same time as Taylors tour:7

Crozet, Virginia

Yuba City, California

Quincy, Massachusetts

Montclair, New Jersey

West Hollywood, California

Charlottesville, Virginia

Arlington, Virginia

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The economic impact of Swiftonomics

Taylors influence extends beyond filling concert venues; it significantly boosts local economies. The US Travel Association estimates that the US tour has likely generated an economic impact surpassing $10 billion from fans expenditures on accommodation, dining, travel, and merchandise.8 In 2023, travel on Airbnb during the tour dates helped generate over $77 million in estimated economic impact.9

Supporting local businesses and communities

Hosts on Airbnb are helping cities accommodate the influx of guests during big events, providing flexible and affordable lodging options while benefiting local hosts and businesses. For Swifties, their impact on concert tour tourism isnt limited to the host cities alone. There is a notable halo effect on surrounding areas, as guests spill over into neighboring towns, boosting economic activity in regions that might not typically see such high tourist traffic. In 2023, Airbnb guests traveled to more than 100,000 cities and towns around the world making it the most dispersed year of travel ever on the platform. In the US, nearly 600 cities and towns welcomed their first guest, demonstrating that travel on Airbnb continues to be a popular way for people to experience new places.

As Taylors tour continues throughout the summer and into the fall, hosts will help welcome guests from across the globe. Check out these ultimate Swiftie stays, inspired by albums on her tour.

1. Searches for tour dates made in June 20, 2023  March 31, 2024 versus June 20, 2022  March 31, 2023.

2. Internal Airbnb Data: Total guest check-ins during Taylors tour weekend concert dates in the US over 2023 including: Atlanta, Boston, Central Florida Gulf Coast, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Jersey City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Nashville, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Tarrant County

3. Internal Airbnb Data: July 2023 searches for stays in London on 21-23 June 2024 and 15-20 August 2024 compared with searches in the previous month for the same dates.

4. Internal Airbnb Data: July 2023 searches for stays in Edinburgh on 8-9 June 2024 compared with searches in previous month for the same dates.

5. The increase in nights stayed by US guests in the Paris region on May 9-12, 2024 compared with the same time period last year May 11-14, 2023

6. Internal Airbnb data: Searches from June 20, 2023 to to March 31, 2024 in Indianapolis, Miami, New Orleans, Toronto and Vancouver during their respective tour dates compared to the same time period the previous year.

7. US cities with the highest proportion of nights booked from June 20, 2023 to March 31, 2024 for Taylors Tour EU concert dates.

8. U.S. Travel Association: The Taylor Swift Impact  5 Months and $5+ Billion, 19th September 2023.

9. Estimated economic impact based on an internal analysis using the IMPLAN economic impact model which assesses direct, indirect and induced economic activity for Taylors US tour dates in 2023.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 1.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

About Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.'s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org's charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.

Airbnb Press

Airbnb Press Office

Airbnb
HBX Group, a leading player in the B2B TravelTech ecosystem, announces today a strategic partnership with PerfectStay, a leading B2B company specialising in tailored holiday packaging. This collaboration aims to create a new global leader in B2B2C package travel solutions.

Since 2023, HBX Group has been collaborating with PerfectStay to offer innovative packaging solutions for airlines, hotels, and banks in EMEA. With this successful commercialisation phase, HBX Group is now accelerating the global rollout of HBX Group and PerfectStay curated travel experiences to a wider selection of clients, enabling them to offer unique and monetisable travel experiences directly to their customers.

PerfectStay is recognised for its exceptional ability in curating unique travel experiences, providing comprehensive travel inventories that include hotels, transfers, car rentals, excursions, flights and activities. With great technological capabilities and advanced dynamic packaging, PerfectStay offers clients bespoke travel solutions.

The partnership will also enhance customer loyalty programmes and consumer platforms. Leveraging advanced technology and data, HBX Group and PerfectStay will boost revenue and improve user experience. Both companies digital marketing expertise will drive traffic and increase conversion rates, ensuring a seamless and rewarding travel experience for customers. PerfectStays technology, combined with HBX Group's global presence and local touch, will ensure the best deals negotiated by destination experts.

According to sector research, there is growing demand for both personalised and organised travel experiences, which is why HBX Group saw in PerfectStay the best partner possible. We are excited to bring to the global travel market as well as to non-travel industry brands willing to step into travel the turnkey ecommerce solutions we have been developing jointly with PerfectStay since 2023. This collaboration will allow us to leverage our combined technology and expertise to enhance the travel experiences for customers worldwide, while providing our partners with new avenues for growth and revenue. Nicolas Huss, CEO of HBX Group

We are thrilled to embark on this strategic partnership with HBX Group, a leader in the global TravelTech space. Their solid infrastructure, talented team and industry acumen will provide our current and future clients with a distinctive solution that only our joint efforts can offer. This collaboration is set to redefine industry standards and bring unparallelled value to our customers. Raphael Zier, Executive Chairman of PerfectStay

This partnership marks a significant milestone in HBX Group's journey towards innovation. Some of the brands currently working with HBX Group and PerfectStay include Air France, Emirates, Transavia, and American Express. Kenya Airways is the latest addition to this client portfolio, highlighting the growing influence and reach of both companies.

As part of the agreement, HBX Group is investing in PerfectStay through the TravelTech Lab venture client recently created to support startups and scaleups developing innovative technological solutions in the travel sector. HBX Group is committed to driving innovation and shaping the future of travel by leveraging advanced technology and forming strategic partnerships, such as the one with PerfectStay.

About HBX Group

HBX Group is a global B2B TravelTech company that owns and operates Hotelbeds, Bedsonline and Roiback. We offer a network of interconnected travel tech products and services to partners such as travel agencies, tour operators, destinations, and hotels, as well as companies wanting to leverage the travel sector. Our vision is to simplify the complex and fragmented travel industry through a combination of cloud-based technology solutions, curated data, and an extensive portfolio of products designed to maximise revenue. HBX Group is present in 170 countries and employs more than 3700 people around the globe. We are committed to making travel a force for good, creating a positive social and environmental impact. For more information visit www.hbxgroup.com.
Visiting your hotels website has become an almost mandatory part of a travelers booking process. It can be the deciding factor.

Taking care of your website is crucial because its the first interaction between you and your potential customer. Of course, its important to have a fast, efficient, and intuitive website. But its just as important to take care of its appearance as well as its technical parameters.

A modern web design in line with current trends will help you convert travelers into customers and thus increase your volume of direct bookings. Here are 7 design trends for 2023 that will give your website a boost and make it more attractive to Internet users.

The challenges of designing your hotel website

The branding of your website is a key element that you have to consider if you want it to be effective in your marketing strategy. In fact, it is from this branding that your hotels visual identity will be shaped. Thats why its so important to choose your graphic charter, design, and logo carefully so that they reflect what you want to convey to travelers (atmosphere, values, etc.).

In the case of a hotel takeover, for instance, dont hesitate to rework these visual elements by creating a new website, to make the establishment your own and give it a new identity in line with your objectives.

The same applies to the creation of a new hotel: a great amount of work on this part is crucial, as its an indispensable tool in the marketing of your services. As well as giving your hotel an identity, it will make it easily recognizable to customers and potential guests, and will therefore play a major role in your digital distribution.



7 web design trends for your website

1. Think mobile first

Today, 70% of Internet users visit your hotels website on mobile devices. It goes without saying that it has become essential to have a mobile version of your hotel website that is as worked and polished as the desktop version. By implementing an adaptive design layout, you ensure smooth, pleasant navigation for travelers who land on your site no matter what device theyre using.

With this type of design, you can rethink your user experience and user interface to adapt them to the screen your visitors are using (mobile, tablet, computer, etc.).

This means you can manage the way each element appears and is arranged on the screen, depending on its size and format. Youll deliver a better user experience because page content will be displayed in an optimized way whatever the platform.

Unlike the responsive web design, which has a single layout that adapts content automatically to the screen size of the browser without taking its display into consideration.

2. Focus on experience

At a time when technology and artificial intelligence are booming, putting the hotel experience and the user at the center of your hotel websites communication is paramount.

Creating life-like scenes in your photos illustrating your offer can help travelers project themselves into your home, and give your hotel an authentic, real-life dimension.

You can also address visitors directly on your website to create a close relationship with them.

3. Bring your website to life

Engaging web users is an important factor in the decision-making process.

A more interactive design helps to arouse browsers curiosity, with a progressive reveal of the products or services on offer, for example. Adding these aesthetic touches is also a way of modernizing your websites design.

This also involves the aesthetic choices you make when designing your hotel website. To move in this direction, bring modernity and engage web users, we recommend adding hover effects to your website. When the mouse hovers over a button (called a call-to-action), or an image.

The CTA is an essential element of a hotel website, as its what enables visitors to book, visit your room pages and discover your hotel. Its a good idea to keep the Book button on every page of your website, to make it easier for visitors to book.

4. Help visitors picture their experience through videos

The video format is also gaining ground in the hotel industry. A short, captivating video can increase the amount of time a visitor spends on your website.

In the same way, as a selection of beautiful, high-quality photos, inserting short videos helps to create a storytelling around your establishment, and therefore encourages traveler engagement, making it easier for them to picture themselves into their stay. Adding a video of your hotel to the home page, for example, allows visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere and unique experience theyll find during their stay at your hotel.

Another increasingly popular feature is aerial photos. Not only does this give your establishment a sense of grandeur, but its also a good way for travelers to visualize the setting in which the hotel is located. Its nothing new, but high-quality photos are essential for your website: the same goes for aerial photos. Dont be afraid to invest in high-quality content!

As it has been for years, photos remain a crucial element to highlight on your hotel website. To modernize this and breathe new life into your site, you can choose a photo carousel.

The photo carousel will add dynamism to your website and allow better navigation and access to your images by visitors. Youll avoid an overloaded effect without sacrificing the visual aspect that illustrates your establishment. Just make sure that the image size and shape are optimal for the space your photos will occupy.

5. Create an inclusive website

Another trend that has become increasingly important in recent years is having an inclusive site, which helps you retain more potential customers. Indeed, by making it more accessible to all, the audience you reach will be much wider. According to the WHO, 16% of the population has a disability: thats just as many potential customers who could represent a missed opportunity!

Adding alternative text to all your images or using high-contrast graphics in your websites charter will benefit people who are color-blind or have poor eyesight. At the same time, youll be able to take advantage of the opportunity to improve the SEO (Search engine Optimization) of your website. Its also one of the simplest elements to implement to make your website more inclusive. A legible typography with an adapted size is also a point that could benefit travelers with dyslexia, for example.

If your hotel website includes videos, its a good idea to include a transcript. In general, transcribing all the media files on your site can only make it more accessible. This way, users who cant hear the video can still learn about its content. If you do it in several languages, you can reach an even wider audience, especially in the hospitality sector.

6. Having clean and impactful designs

In the hotel industry, its good taste to keep web design simple and uncluttered. With a consistent font and fluid, intuitive navigation, youll naturally guide travelers to call-to-actions (CTAs), especially the book now button on your website, which will stand out more.

Use space intelligently to make reading fluid and pleasant, avoiding visual overload. Following these recommendations will result in a more sophisticated, polished look, with a calm atmosphere emanating from it in response to the noisy world that travelers try to escape from during their vacation.

To sum up, both textual and visual content are important. Its advisable to avoid overloading your website with widgets, pop-ups, and other elements that will pollute navigation by creating visual noise. The trend is less is more, with minimalist, elegant hotel websites that focus on the user experience. The aim is to facilitate the travelers decision to book on your official website.

7. Designing room pages

Room pages are where web users spend the most time. Creating a visually appealing experience while providing as much relevant information as possible is therefore essential, as it can have a decisive impact on a potential customers final decision to book with you directly.

There are several ways to make them stand out in the eyes of travelers: make a listing showing every room in a suite, and dedicate a complete page to each, like for the Five Seas Hotel in Cannes, for example.

In addition, to make sure you have a complete description of your rooms, you can, for example, detail their surface area, the equipment available, the number of beds, the presence or absence of a bathroom, heating, wifi, and any other relevant element concerning your offer. Dont hesitate to use pictograms to illustrate this information: visual and quickly understandable, they will enhance the user experience.

Conclusion

These are the 7 design trends that are gaining momentum this year. Of course, its up to you to adapt your website to suit your branding and the image you want to project. The choice of colors, photos, structure, and so on. Its all up to you to adapt your website to your digital hotel marketing objectives.

About Cendyn

Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to drive revenue, maximize profitability, and create deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions. Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn drives commercial success for hotels through its Find, Book, Grow promise: find the right guests; drive them to book direct, and grow loyalty and revenue across the spectrum of digital guest interactions.

Cendyn has over 32,000 customers worldwide in more than 150 countries. The company supports its growing customer base from locations across the globe, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangkok, and India. To find out more, visit cendyn.com.

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I am privileged to have built a career in hospitality technology at an opportune time, as technology emerged as a powerhouse in the industry. I became passionate about hospitality technology as an undergraduate student in the early 2000s.

I had a mentor that recognized my passion in the field. She brought me out of my comfort zone and opened doors to boardrooms, conferences, showroom floors, and mentors in this field. Due to these mentors, I became a three-time Chair of HITEC (i.e., the largest global hospitality technology event), elected President of HFTP (i.e., the largest hospitality technology professional association), earned a PhD in hospitality & tourism management, became MC at The Hotel Show - Dubai, and had opportunities to travel extensively for consulting work in the field. Yet, there is something I have had trouble grasping about hospitality technology in the nearly 25 years I have spent in the field no matter how hard I try: How can I stay abreast of the changes taking place?

A survey of the global business environment evidences a rapid technological revolution in many sectors. Innovations are emerging at an extraordinary pace. Staying abreast of these emerging technologies can be a daunting task for even the most ardent professionals. The landscape is after all constantly evolving. However, embracing technological advancements is crucial for hotels to remain competitive and meet the ever-changing demands of modern travelers.

Furthermore, hospitality professionals have a responsibility to themselves and their careers. We cannot be effective hospitality professionals without an understanding of technology in our industry. A quick overview of statistics that evidence the importance of staying abreast of this:

65% of hotel guests prefer hotels that offer advanced technological amenities (Verma, Plaschka, & Louvieris, 2021).

73% of hotel operators believe that implementing new technologies will be crucial to their success over the next few years (Oracle, 2022).

69% of hospitality companies planned to increase their technology budgets in 2025, reflecting the industrys growing emphasis on technology adoption (Hospitality Technology, 2024).

89% of front-line team members identify enhanced technology as something that makes them happier with their employer (McNalty, 2024).

I believe that anyone who tells you they have a handle on all the logistics and emerging tech in our industry is likely misleading you. What we should do as industry professionals is be cognizant of where we source our information. We need to stay well-informed of hospitality technology and we need to ensure our information is correct. Yet, hospitality technology and its rapid pace of development can be overwhelming.

The niche area of hospitality technology seems to be in a constant state of flux due to the pace of development. Some readers may remember things such as Guestroom 20x at HITEC in the early 2000s. While Guestroom 20x no longer exists, the technology featured in those mock rooms does. In-room voice assistants, video camera doorbells, smart room controls, mobile app integration for check-in and room key access, advanced in-room amenities, WiFi best practices, the cloud, air purification, and even how charging ports exist for the multitude of traveler electronics were presented before their time at Guestroom 20x. Where can someone learn about such emergent hospitality technology today to ensure they do not fall behind?

Guestroom 20x in Anaheim, CA (2009)  Photo by Highline College

Fortunately, there are numerous avenues available for hotel industry professionals to build their knowledge of emerging technologies.

One such avenue is attending an industry conferences or trade show. These are events featuring showroom floors with industry-specific technology for the industry. For instance, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) attracts thousands of attendees annually. HITEC provides a platform for vendors, educators, students, and attendees from industry to connect in a myriad of ways each year. There are education sessions, a showroom social events, and much more.

While printed copies of magazines may be seemingly going out of style, there remains robust journalism in some fields. Hospitality technology seems to be one such field. Hospitality technology magazines can therefore be a resource for industry professionals seeking to stay on top of emerging trends in this niche area. Publications such as Hotel Executive provide insight into the sector. These magazines are not necessarily printed but they are often available online. These publications cover a broad spectrum of topics, from critical analytic pieces and case studies to more rigorous academic articles and insightful pieces from industry leaders.

A third option is higher education from colleges and universities. Many universities and colleges offer degrees and certifications in hospitality, with some even offering hospitality technology management as areas of emphasis. Most colleges and universities also have departments of continuing education that someone can enroll in without becoming an on-campus regular student. These programs are unique in that they provide theoretical knowledge but also at times hands-on training or practical experience. Bridging the gap between academia and industry in a trend in higher education.

Education from industry sources is a fourth option. Education is offered through professional associations, vendors, and lobbying associations. Professional associations in the hospitality sector often balance the provision of effective education with exhibiting bias. Bias can be particularly evident in those with lobbying interests such as AH&LA. Therefore, it is crucial to critically evaluate the knowledge offered by these organizations. Choosing a professional association in lieu of a lobbying association is likely a good approach to ensuring bias is limited. Vendor education is more likely to be biased when compared with associations. With this written, vendor education is integral to learning industry trends.

Finally, social media, blogs, and webinars can offer insight to trends. This is a fifth option for staying abreast of technology trends in hospitality. There are obvious examples of Listservs available to hospitality technology professionals. There are also email lists that organizations such as HTNG, HFTP, Hospitality Net, Hospitality Upgrade, Skift, or Hotel Technology News publish.

Knowing the precise sources to obtain information about hospitality technology can be arduous. The following methods are what I recommend.

Magazines and Other Professional Resources

We seemingly have the worlds knowledge at our fingertips in 2024. Yet, magazines, including online equivalencies of magazines, continue to play a role in our profession. Magazines set themselves apart by being written by experts who provide insights and analysis. Furthermore, industry trends, innovations, best practices, reliable market research, and regulatory updates are included in magazines. These are specific areas that align well with emerging knowledge in hospitality technology.

Table 1. Publications in Hospitality Technology Source: Highline College

Conferences, Conventions, and Trade Shows

Conferences, conventions, and trade shows remain relevant in a post-COVID environment because face-to-face interactions remain integral to effective education and networking. Choosing the right event to attend often has to do with your role and expectations around hospitality technology. For example, Hospitality Upgrades CIO Summit is an invitation-only event intended for C-Suite individuals working daily in hospitality technology spaces. Meanwhile, IHMRS is geared toward operations and has a decidedly restaurant focus in many areas of the showroom floor.

HITECs showroom floor in Orlando (2022)  Photo by Highline College

Table 2. Conventions and Conferences for Hotel Technology Source: Highline College

Education

There are thousands of certifications available from professional associations, vendors, institutions of higher education, and collaborations of individuals from these groups.

When someone thinks of education, they normally think of research institutions of higher education. There is a good reason for this. There are 668 schools in the USA that offer education in hospitality according to Hospitality Colleges (2024). A vast majority of these cover hospitality technology, albeit some are more advanced in their curriculum than others. If someone is seeking to earn a degree or certificate in hospitality education, including in technology, then they would be well-served by learning about their options on the Hospitality Colleges website (link is in the reference list of this article).

Many higher education institutions make their programming available online through platforms such as Coursera, edX, Udacity, FutureLearn, or LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com). These platforms provide access to courses ranging from hospitality data analytics to strategic revenue management. Most of the coursework is led by industry experts or professors at prestigious universities. These courses can assist someone in staying ahead of technology trends at a low cost. Of further note, gaining certifications from prestigious institutions can enhance a professionals credibility. Certifications such as these could potentially even open up additional career pathways. Continuous learning is crucial for adapting to hospitality technologys constantly emerging landscape after all.

Organizations that are considered professional associations such as HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International), HTNG (Hospitality Technology Next Generation), or HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals) as well as lobbyist institutes such as AHLEI (American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute), NRA (National Restaurant Association), or AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association offer certifications in specifically hospitality technology or ones that overlap with this niche area of the lodging industry.

The most elite certifications come with designation, such as the CHTP (Certified Hospitality Technology Professional), CRME (Certified Revenue Management Executive), CDP (Certified Data Protection Officer), or CHIA (Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics). If someone wishes to enhance their professional education and grow their Resume effectively, then these industry certifications provide an excellent avenue to do that.

Many vendors offer education, and perhaps even certification, in their area of expertise. For example, Oracle, Sabre, Cvent, and Amadeus offer professional training in their areas of expertise. These trainings leverage each organizations software and other technology in the ecosystem. Furthermore, many companies offer webinars and online presentations. These can be as simple as attending a 1-hour demonstration on Zoom.

Social Media, Blogs, & Podcasts

Social media, blogs, and podcasts are emergent areas of education for industry professionals. These channels are normally geared more toward younger than older groups. Yet, these channels are showing growth industry-wide and are projected to show continual growth in visitors and importance for reasons such as these:

75% of adults aged 18-29 use social media as a source for news and information about events, compared to only 49% of those aged 65 and older (Pew Research Center, 2021).

The average age of monthly podcast listeners in the United States is 34 years old, with the 18-34 age group making up the largest share of podcast consumers at 41% (Edison Research, 2022).

61% of marketers aged 18-34 learn new skills through blogs and online publications, compared to only 38% of those aged 55 and above (Semrush, 2020).

90% of millennials use social media for professional purposes, including education and learning, while only 48% of baby boomers do so (Sprout Social, 2021).

Industry professionals seeking to stay abreast of technology trends in the lodging space can follow key influencers and thought leaders in hospitality technology on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. They can read blogs by technology providers and industry analysts. For example, PhocusWire offers consistent insights to emergent lodging tech. Podcasts such as The Hotel Tech Podcast, Fuel Hotel Marketing Podcast, and Hospitality Mavericks Podcast offer insights from effective lodging practitioners.

Conclusion

Understanding emergent ideas in the hospitality technology space can seem like an unsurmountable task. The industry is changing at such as rapid pace that it may seem like a full-time job to stay informed. Industry professionals may find navigating emerging technologies in the lodging sector more approachable by applying insights from this article though!

References

Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from http://www.hotelexecutive.com/.
First, the nomenclature of the forbidden practices, then the names for the law, a summary of the latest events, and details of the final California Junk Fee Law. In this article, we will focus on the changes to the California Civil Code (CC), and particularly CC Section 1770) of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CC 1750, et eq.).

The bottom line: As of July 1, 2024, Californias new Junk Fee Law is a comprehensive transparency pricing law that eliminates hidden mandatory fees. It applies to all businesses in all industries, except for a few specific exceptions. Restaurants are exempted if they meet certain conditions. Restaurants may find compliance trickier than apparent at first glance, and even a modest consumer backlash for this special exemption may be harmful.

CA Governor signs SB 1524s new Junk Fee Law with Restaurant Exemption (if certain tests are met). SB 478, SB 1524, and AB 537 all go effective July 1, 2024. Unfair business practices redefined in CC 1770.

California bans fees and practices known by many names  junk fees, hidden fees, mandatory fees, drip pricing, surcharges, resort fees, unfair and deceptive practices, bait and switch, and consumer fraud.

Names for the new 2024 California Junk Fee Law

There are so many names for the California law that is making big changes, primarily to Civil Code Section 1770. It may be helpful to list the most common names, which include:

Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA)

California Junk Fee Law

California Honest Pricing Law

California Hidden Fees Statute

California Transparency Law

California SB 478

California SB 1524

California CC 1770

California Unfair Business Practices

California Unfair Competition Act

The price you see is the price you pay

Dont forget AB 537 and its $10,000 civil penalties.

In addition to the amendments to California CC 1770, another Junk Fee law effective July 1, 2024, was introduced by Assemblyman Berman. He had a bad experience with a hotel resort fee he encountered in his private life. It led him to introduce the new law which adds a new Section 17586.6 to the California Business and Professions Code (B&P Code).

It is nicknamed the California Resort Fee Bill. It requires upfront price disclosure on first contact with consumers of all mandatory fees for all hotels, motels, and other short-term lodging rentals for less than 30 days. It carries a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 per violation. It extends to any advertisement, display, or offer of either from or into California.

It is also referred to as B&P Code Section 17586.6, and the Transparency in Short-Term Lodging Prices Act.

Newsom signs SB 1524 amending California Junk Fee Law

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1524 on Saturday, June 29. 2024. This last-minute act exempts Restaurants (as broadly defined in the bill) from Californias otherwise comprehensive ban on hidden fees and drip pricing. It became effective immediately because the legislature made it an urgency statute. That requires a measure that is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.

The final provisions of the California Junk Fee Law primarily amend Civil Code Section 1770(a) of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CRLA)

The final amended law enacts the new California Junk Fee Law as of July 1, 2024, and it also creates the so-called Restaurant Exemption from the California Civil Code 1770(a)s new prohibition on drip pricing. As mentioned, the Restaurant Exemption covers more than just restaurants. The critical provisions of the final law are below, with the new provisions highlighted in yellow. The Restaurant Exemption is in paragraph (D). (Click here for the complete text of law, as revised):

California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CC 1750, et eq.)

CC 1770 (a)  [Section 1770 of the Civil Code declares that 29 enumerated acts are unlawful, and it also determines that they are unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. . .] CC 1770 (a)(1)-(28) [Individual acts that violate Section 1770 (a)] CC 1770 (a)(29) [Added by SB 478 and SB 1524] (A) Advertising, displaying, or offering a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or charges [except taxes or actual and reasonable delivery charges] . . . (B) [This paragraph provides an exemption for certain persons regulated by the FCC and in compliance with such regulations.] (C) [This paragraph provides an exemption for any financial entity subject to other specified laws or regulations, and which is required to file disclosures required by such laws. An example is the Truth in Lending Act.] (D) (i) Subject to clause (ii), this paragraph does not apply to a mandatory fee or does not apply to a mandatory fee or charge for individual food or beverage items sold directly to a customer by a restaurant, bar, food concession, grocery store, or grocery delivery service , or by means of a menu or contract for banquet or catering services that fully discloses the terms of service. ii) A mandatory fee or charge under clause (i) shall be clearly and conspicuously displayed, with an explanation of its purpose, on any advertisement, menu, or other display that contains the price of the food or beverage item.

. . .

CC 1770 (b)  As of July 1, 2025, any disclosure, advertisement, or notice that is required to be clearly or clearly and conspicuously made must have text that is clear and conspicuous, as defined in subdivision (u) of Section 1791.

Each mention in this article of Restaurants or the Restaurant Exemption refers to all businesses exempted under paragraph (D) above.

What is clear and conspicuous? The test for CC 1770(b) is in CC 1781(u)

Existing law in California CC 1791(u) sets out the definition of the clear and conspicuous disclosure required to claim the Restaurant Exemption. It reads as follows:

CC 1791(u) Clear and conspicuous and clearly and conspicuously means a larger type than the surrounding text, or in a contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks, in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language. For an audio disclosure, clear and conspicuous and clearly and conspicuously means in a volume and cadence sufficient to be readily audible and understandable.

There are several questions as to the clear and conspicuous requirement, and also as to the impact of the July 1, 2025 effective date for compliance with CC 1791s requirements to claim the Restaurant Exemption, but that is a topic for another day.

Background on the Restaurant Exemption

The California Junk Fee Law, including the amendments to the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) or CC 1770, were adopted by the California legislature and signed by the Governor in October 2023. The law provided for a delay in effectiveness until July 1, 2024, to give businesses time to learn about the law and get ready for implementation.

This legislative about-face represented by the Restaurant Exemption has been described as a whiplash reversal in response to the politically powerful special interests of the California Restaurant Association and the UNITE HERE labor union.

In any event, the change in Californias Junk Fee Law was very sudden. Here is the timeline:

October 2023 SB 478 was signed into law, but not effective until July 1, 2024.

May 8, 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued guidelines (DOJs SB 478 FAQs) to help affected businesses. It stated (the obvious) that Junk Fee Law applied to virtually all businesses. Most of the information relates to general businesses, but it also included specific examples of how it applies to Restaurants.

June 5, 2024, Senator Bill Dodd introduced SB 1524, exempting Restaurants (and related food services) from SB 478s Honest Pricing Law. (It was a gut and replace on an existing SB 1524 bill about gambling regulation that had been passed by the Senate and was awaiting final approval in the Assembly. In less than a month, that amendment became SB 1524, amending the Consumer Legal Remedies Act  specifically Civil Code Section 1770(a).

June 20, 2024, Assembly unanimously passes amended SB 1524.

June 27, 2024, Senate unanimously passes the same amended bill as approved by the Assembly.

June 29, 2024, Governor Newsom signs SB 1524, effective immediately. The operative date of the changes to Civil Code 1770(a) remains July 1, 2024.

Understanding CC 1770s demand for transparent pricing in (almost) all businesses ban with a few exceptions, including the new Restaurant Exemption

Before the extraordinary, last-minute effort that created the Restaurant Exemption, the California Junk Fee Law (as enacted from SB 478) was widely hailed as the first comprehensive ban on drip pricing.

The broad prohibitions of CC 1770 (a) were comprehensive. They applied to virtually all businesses in all industries. The exceptions under the prior law were all for industries that were already heavily regulated by other government regulations such as the FCC Act, various banking laws, and the like.

The Restaurant Exemption is the first exception from 17770 (a) that is not justifiable because consumer protection is provided by other specialized regulatory agencies. In that sense, the Restaurant Exemption represents a break in a comprehensive reform.

The Restaurant Exemption: A gift or a Trojan Horse?

While many Restaurants and Bars are relieved by the exemption, there is considerable consumer sentiment against carveout to the new consumer protection law that requires pricing transparency and eliminates hidden mandatory fees and charges.

If mandatory hidden fees are banned for hotels, short-term rentals, ticket sellers, internet providers, and software companies, why should they be OK for Restaurants and Bars? What happened to the politicians promise that the law means that the price you see, is the price you pay?

Restaurants need to increase their revenues for profitably. If even 5% of consumers reduce their Restaurant purchases because of consumer backlash, where is the benefit to Restaurants? And there are likely many legal challenges Restaurants face when they seek to claim the Restaurant Exemption.

As lawyers representing owners, developers, lenders and operators of hotels and restaurants, we advise on compliance, options, and defense of claims. It is time for all players in the hospitality industry to seriously consider their mandatory fee policies.

For more information, please contact Mark Adams or Jim Butler.

Jim Butler

+1 310 201 3526

JMBM

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Summer 2024: More Europeans Plan to Travel, But Taking Fewer Trips

75% of Europeans plan to travel in the coming months, up 6% from last year.

Mediterranean destinations top the list for European travellers as holidaymakers opt for sun and beach trips.

The number of Europeans flying to their destinations increases by 5%, though driving is still favoured by 28% of travellers.

The latest report from the European Travel Commission (ETC), 'Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel  Wave 19,' reveals a notable surge in travel interest among Europeans for June-November 2024, marking a 6% increase compared to last year. This brings the proportion of respondents planning a trip to 75%. The rise is particularly driven by high wanderlust among Spanish, Italian and British travellers. In all three of these countries, eight out of ten survey respondents reported intention to travel during this period.

The study also reveals that 36% of Europeans plan to take one trip in the next months, an increase of 6% from the previous year. Another 33% will take a second trip, while only 24% plan to take three or more trips, perhaps indicating that financial pressures continue to impact travellers' behaviour.

Commenting on the findings, Miguel Sanz, President of ETC, said: OPost-Covid travel trends appear to be solidifying, providing some much welcome stability for the tourism industry. Several key European travel markets are showing strong enthusiasm for the upcoming months. Now is a good time for destinations to take stock of this Onew normal,' which includes concerns about high costs and unfavourable weather, as well as travel planning done predominantly on digital platforms. This will enable tourism professionals to tailor their offerings to long-term trends in traveller behaviour and more effectively promote responsible tourism practices.'

Southern Europe stays top vacation choice

As summer arrives, there remains a strong demand for Southern destinations, with most European travellers (45%) choosing warmer locations for their next vacations. Interest in Europe's South is stable compared to 2023 but is down 10% from 2022. Meanwhile, Western (18%) and Northern (13%) destinations continue to see strong demand. Spain and Italy are the top choices, each preferred by 8% of respondents, followed by France at 7% and Greece at 6%.

This can be partly explained by travellers' solid preference for sun and beach trips, with 19% choosing this as their preferred type of holiday for the next six months. Other travellers opted for culture and heritage holidays (17%), nature and outdoors trips (14%) and city breaks (13%).

The perception of a destination's safety (16%) is the most important factor for travellers selecting a holiday spot, followed by pleasant weather (13), bargains (11%), friendly locals and stable temperatures (both 8%).

Peak travel periods are still popular with European holidaymakers. Most travellers surveyed intend to take a trip in the summer months: 45% will travel in June and July, and 39% opt for August and September. Only 12% aim to travel in October and November, suggesting that the heatwaves and overcrowding which impacted parts of Europe in the summer of 2023 aren't heavily affecting this year's plans.

More Europeans take to the skies

Air travel is the most popular mode of transport for inter-European journeys. Flights are favoured by over half (54%) of Europeans, up 5% from last year. This can be partly explained by fully restored air connectivity and the availability of low-cost flights to a diverse range of destinations across Europe. Travellers from the UK (73%), Spain (68%) and Italy (62%) are most likely to fly to their next holiday destinations.

Driving to a holiday destination is the second most popular option, with 28% of respondents choosing to travel by car  minor decline from 2023 (30%). This trend is particularly strong among Germans (40%), Belgians (38%) and Austrians (35%). Travel by train remains stable at 10%.

'New normal': Financial constraints, weather worries, and digital decision-making

The biggest concerns for travellers in summer and autumn 2024 include high trip costs (21%, down 3% from last year), personal finances (16%), and geopolitical issues (11% worry about the Russia-Ukraine war and 10% about tensions in the Middle East). Extreme weather and transport disruptions are also significant concerns for 10% of Europeans eager to travel in the next months.

Since this year, the survey also delves deeper into the impact of climate events on traveller's choices. 76% of respondents report adjusting their travel habits according to climate change. 17% said they will avoid destinations with extreme temperatures, a figure that rises to 32% for over 55-year-olds, indicating older travellers are the most concerned about coping with soaring temperatures. Overall, 16% of travellers prefer places with stable weather, 15% monitor weather forecasts, and 11% choose activities not dependent on the weather.

Nearly all European travellers use digital sources for their travel plans, online search engines and travel websites being the most popular. Despite some travel companies introducing artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their apps, only 6% of holidaymakers say they use AI-based tools for their planning. Early adopters of AI can be mainly found among the younger generation: 42% of travellers using AI apps for itinerary planning, and 35% of those employing AI platforms for travel purposes, are aged 25-34.

The full summary report can be downloaded from: https://etc-corporate.org/reports/monitoring-sentiment-for-intra-european-travel-summer-autumn24/
Sheraton Lanzhou Anning Hotel - Image Credit Marriott

Sheraton Lanzhou Anning Hotel - Image Credit Marriott

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of Sheraton Lanzhou Anning in Lanzhou of Gansu province. The opening also marks the 100th Sheraton Hotel in Greater China, where the brand made its market debut 50 years ago.

Located in the heart of Lanzhou's Anning District, the new hotel draws on the brands roots as a gathering place for both locals and guests in communities around the world, which continues to evolve through Sheratons new design vision of creating intuitive and holistic experiences through spaces to connect, be productive, and enjoy a sense of belonging.

We are delighted to welcome the 100th hotel for Sheraton brand in China in Lanzhou of Gansu province. said Betty Tian, Vice President, Marketing, Communications, Premium & Select Brands, Greater China, " Throughout the 86-year brand development globally, Sheraton has been committed to innovation, establishing the industry's first computerized central reservation system in 1958. With the opening of the Sheraton Sanya Resort in 2003, the concept of leisure destination resorts was introduced to China. Over the past 50 years of development with China's tourism industry, Sheraton has become a symbol of premium hotel brand in the country. The brand's new vision of transformation journey that began in 2018 aims to introduce the brand spirit of 'The Worlds Gathering Place' to more travel destinations favored by guests. In the future, we will continue to focus on guests, innovate, and enhance the vitality of the brand.

Sheraton Lanzhou Anning marks the debut of the Sheraton brand in Lanzhou of Gansu province. The new hotel provides a scenic setting on the bank of the Yellow River and near Lanzhous bustling industrial and educational center, the Anning District. The new hotel boast a prime location with convenient transportation access. It s approximately 55 kilometers from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport and about 6 kilometers from Lanzhou West Railway Station. Guests can easily visit historical and cultural attractions such as the Gansu Provincial Museum and the Zhongshan Bridge during their stay.

A Modern-Day Community Hub

At the heart of the new experience at Sheraton Lanzhou Anning is the lobby, which was designed as a holistic and open space that invites people to connect or be alone amongst others, creating a sense of energy and belonging. A destination steeped in heritage and history, the property called upon The Yellow River culture, Silk Road culture, and ecological culture as sources of inspiration for its interior design. For example, the lobbys background wall draws inspiration from the undulating hills of the Silk Road, using modern abstract techniques and metallic materials to depict the charm of the Lanzhou Silk Road Desert.

As iconic public spaces of the Sheraton brand's transformed design, the Community Table, The Booths, and The Studios are focal points in the lobby. The brands signature Community Table is an inviting, purpose-built workspace that anchors the hotels lobby and allow guests to work, eat and drink while soaking up the energy of the space. Guests can also retreat in Sheratons signature The Booths, a quiet space that offers privacy without breaking the flow. The Studios, located in the lobby of the hotel, provide flexible event spaces to meet guests needs and a relaxed atmosphere that can foster communication and collaboration with team members.



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The hotel showcases the distinctively local culinary scene with three restaurants and a specialty cafe concept, and a cozy bar. Sheraton Lanzhou Annings new elevated food & beverage features &More by Sheraton, transitioning guests seamlessly from day to night with creative, convenient and flexible culinary & beverage options. Daily Social features gourmet buffets and a la carte menus with an impressive selection of international and regional favorites. YUE, Sheratons signature Chinese restaurant, creatively combines Cantonese cuisine with seafood and offers a unique culinary experience with 24 private dining rooms. Additional culinary and beverage offerings include Soo Noodles, where guests can savor authentic Lanzhou noodles of different flavors along with local snacks and Unspoken, an intimate bar serving creative cocktails and fine wines from all around the world.

Guest Rooms & Club Lounges that Champion Productivity

The Sheraton Lanzhou Anning features 354 modern and stylish guest rooms and suites, ranging from 42-square meters to 190-square meters. Floor-to-ceiling windows welcome natural light into each room, while soft finishes and light wood tones complement each other to create a warm and elegant feeling of home. Additionally, all guest rooms are equipped with convenient office desks and chairs, integrated chargers, and multi-level intelligent lighting systems. The bathrooms are designed with modern walk-in showers and bath amenities by Gilchrist & Soames.

Sheraton Club, an exclusive space for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members and guests staying at Executive Floor, offers an elevated experience in which guests are uplifted through meaningful productivity and a connection to the environment. Guests will find curated food and beverage offerings, premium amenities, enhanced connectivity, and a private atmosphere for working and relaxing.

Meetings, Events and Amenities

Sheraton Lanzhou Anning offers 1,900 square meters of banquet and meeting space. The 1,200-square-meter pillarless Grand Ballroom is 8 meters in height, which can accommodate up to 1,000 guests and is equipped with a 108-square-meter embedded HD LED screen. The hotel also offers five versatile meeting rooms ranging from 30 to 60 square meters. Sheraton Fitness that is completed with advanced aerobic exercise equipment, as well as an indoor heated Swimming Pool.

We are very proud of this milestone opening and feel that Sheraton Lanzhou Anning is perfectly primed to represent Sheraton Hotels existing legacy and bright future as the 100th property in Greater China. said Peng Sun, General Manager, Sheraton Lanzhou Anning.  The hotel will provide an ideal gathering place for guests from around the world in Lanzhou with the features and experiences of Sheraton's transformation, diverse dining options, and signature services.
Image Credit Melia Hotels

Melia Hotels International expands its portfolio in Greece with the signing of a new franchise agreement under the label INNSiDE by Melia in Elounda, Crete, signaling a new chapter in lifestyle travel within the country. This move introduces a fresh concept to Greek hospitality - a premium lifestyle brand geared towards the discerning tastes of the new generation of travelers. The agreement, inked on May 24, 2024, not only marks the fifth Melia hotel in Greece but also signifies the debut of INNSiDE by Melia in the country. This strategic addition reinforces the partnership between Zeus Hotels and Melia Hotels International, resulting in a collective offering of over 1050 rooms.

The agreement concerns the current Elounda Ilion, which will be renamed INNSiDE Crete Elounda. Set to open in May 2025, the INNSiDE Crete Elounda will be a fully renovated and rebranded 5-star hotel situated atop a hill with direct sea views in beautiful Elounda. Elounda, located on the northeastern coast of Crete, is celebrated for its picturesque landscapes, and rich historical significance. Overlooking the Gulf of Elounda and near the famous Spinalonga Island, Elounda is a blend of traditional Greek culture and upscale holiday experiences.

INNSiDE by Melia is more than a hotel brand; it's a lifestyle experience designed for curious minds and fluid lives. Each property within the collection embodies the essence of its destination, fostering a sense of community among like-minded travelers. At INNSiDE Crete Elounda, guests will discover 85 rooms of modern luxury and an open living lounge that seamlessly blends the lobby, reception, and bara dynamic space perfect for work or relaxation. From in-room comforts to the inspiring Big Idea Space, Open Living Lounges, and fitness studios, every detail is crafted to make guests feel more-than-at-home. INNSiDE offers an informal, creative, and spontaneous experience designed for a new generation of independent travelers with an adventurous spirit. Sustainability is integrated into all aspects, with paper and plastic-free collateral, complimentary organic cosmetics, and a celebration of local culture through events, city guides, and local artist spotlights. Furthermore, this venture is backed by Melia Hotels International, one of the world's largest companies focused on the vacation segment, with a Mediterranean origin and a long-standing presence in major holiday destinations such as the Balearic Islands, Spanish coasts, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.

The INNSiDE Crete Elounda joins Melia Hotels International's growing portfolio in Greece in collaboration with Zeus Hotels, which includes Sol Marina Beach, Sol Cosmopolitan, and Affiliated by Melia Blue Sea Beach. Additionally, Melia Athens is part of the Spanish group portfolio.

Lefteris Papakaliatis, CEO of Zeus Hotels, stated: We are happy to expand our successful partnership with Melia Hotels International. This new project in Elounda reinforces our commitment to elevating Greek hospitality standards and providing exceptional experiences for our visitors."

Gabriel Escarrer, Chairman & CEO of Melia Hotels International, added: We are delighted to introduce Innside by Melia to Greece. This partnership allows us to combine Melia Hotels International's industry expertise with the unparalleled hospitality of Greece, strengthening our presence both in Greece and the broader Mediterranean region."


BCD Travel flight and rail data reveal the most frequented destinations by APAC business travelers with insights into how they travel

According to BCD Travels Cities & Trends 2023 Asia Pacific Report, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok are the most visited cities in the region by APAC business travelers. The intercontinental list is led by Frankfurt, London and Amsterdam. The report is based on BCD flight and rail data from 2023 in a range of APAC markets1.

Top 10 cities

Singapore is clearly leading the way in APAC, reclaiming its status as a major meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions destination post-pandemic with robust government support. It has maintained its position as the primary financial hub in the region ahead of Hong Kong and now ranks as Asias top financial center and the third globally2. In 2023, Changi Airport recovered to about 86% of its pre-pandemic passenger volume, driven by a strong rebound in Northeast and Southeast Asia traffic, making Singapore an accessible and convenient destination for business.

2023 ranking APAC Intercontinental 1 Singapore Frankfurt 2 Hong Kong London 3 Bangkok Amsterdam 4 Tokyo San Francisco 5 Kuala Lumpur Munich 6 Shanghai New York City 7 Seoul Paris 8 Taipei Los Angeles 9 Jakarta Stuttgart 10 Manila Chicago

According to GBTAs 2023 Business Travel Index, the APAC region is set to play a significant role in global business travel spending this year, accounting for 42% of the total, said Greg ONeil, president of Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Global Network at BCD. BCD leverages its advanced technology and industry expertise to help travelers and companies navigate the complexities of business travel in APAC, one of the most diverse regions. We support our corporate clients by keeping them informed of developments, advising on supplier negotiations, managing risks, and providing travelers with tools they enjoy using, ensuring they can travel confidently and effectively.

Top 5 countries

Singapore was the most visited APAC country last year, followed by China. The recovery of international travel to and from China has lagged behind the rebound in the countrys domestic travel industry following the end of its zero-COVID policy. Domestic air travel is at 17% above 2019 levels, while international air travel is still recovering. Factors such as a shortage of flights, high ticket prices and administrative hurdles in obtaining visas have contributed to this slower recovery.

The United States is the most visited country globally, followed by Germany. This is not surprising considering that four American cities are among the top 10 intercontinental cities.

2023 ranking APAC Intercontinental 1 Singapore United States 2 China Germany 3 Japan United Kingdom 4 Thailand Netherlands 5 Hong Kong SAR France

Top 10 routes

The most frequently traveled routes3 for APAC flights primarily depart from Singapore, which accounts for four positions in the top 10 city pairs. Hong Kong follows with two city pairs in the top 10. The top 10 arrival hubs for APAC routes are predominantly in Southeast Asia and North Asia, with Singapore being the most popular destination.

For intercontinental routes, Bangalore to Frankfurt tops the chart. The most frequently traveled routes for intercontinental flights from APAC mainly depart from Tokyo and Singapore, together holding seven positions in the top 10 routes. The top 10 arrival hubs for intercontinental routes are largely dominated by European cities, with Frankfurt being the most popular.

2023 ranking APAC Intercontinental 1 Kuala Lumpur  Singapore Bangalore  Frankfurt 2 Singapore  Kuala Lumpur Shanghai  Frankfurt 3 Bangkok  Singapore Singapore  London 4 Singapore  Bangkok Tokyo  Frankfurt 5 Singapore  Jakarta Tokyo  New York City 6 Singapore  Hong Kong Tokyo  San Francisco 7 Hong Kong  Singapore Tokyo  London 8 Jakarta  Singapore Singapore  Amsterdam 9 Shanghai  Hong Kong Shanghai  Munich 10 Hong Kong  Shanghai Singapore  Frankfurt

Rail travel

Rail travel is a popular choice for domestic business travel in China and Japan. Unlike air travel, which requires lengthy check-in and security processes, rail travel offers quicker boarding and deboarding, significantly reducing overall travel time especially for distances up to 1,200 km.

Train stations in both countries are typically located in city centers or business districts, providing easy access to key areas. Train tickets can also be more economical compared to airfares, especially when considering hidden costs such as transportation to and from airports and baggage fees.

2023 ranking China Japan 1 Shanghai  Beijing Tokyo  Osaka 2 Changsha  Shenzhen Osaka  Tokyo 3 Beijing  Shanghai Tokyo  Nagoya 4 Shenzhen  Changsha Nagoya  Tokyo 5 Shanghai  Hangzhou Osaka  Nagoya 6 Hangzhou  Shanghai Nagoya  Osaka 7 Shanghai  Suzhou Tokyo  Kyoto 8 Yancheng  Shanghai Kyoto  Tokyo 9 Wuhan  Changsha Yokohama  Nagoya 10 Suzhou  Shanghai Nagoya  Yokohama

Sustainability has become a top corporate priority, with travel buyers increasingly aware of business travels environmental impact, said Jonathan Kao, managing director of North Asia at BCD. Chinese companies lead in sustainability, favoring high-speed rail over air travel for its cost-effectiveness, efficiency and convenience, especially for distances between 800 and 1,200 km. As the rail network expands, its becoming more competitive with air travel.

To support this shift, BCD Travel China offers Rail+, a solution that simplifies the booking, payment and expense reconciliation process for frequent train travelers, enhancing convenience and reducing administrative burdens. Rail+ is a central billing system specifically for rail travel, so when travelers book a train ticket via their OBT, they dont need to pay for it individually. It also streamlines the reconciliation process, as all charges are automatically matched to the related rail ticket, thus saving finance and travelers time and resources.

The full Cities & Trends 2023 Asia Pacific Report with insights about APAC business travelers can be found here.

Notes: 1: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan and Singapore.

2: Source: The Global Financial Centres Index 34 (GFCI 34) that provides evaluations of future competitiveness and rankings for 121 financial centres around the world.

3: Top routes combine data of multiple airports for the following cities: London (Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City); Paris (Charles de Gaulle and Orly); New York City (John F. Kennedy, Newark and La Guardia); Shanghai (Pudong and Hongqiao) and Tokyo (Narita and Haneda).
Image Credit IHG



The new-build hotel will be situated in Srinagar, renowned as one of the most picturesque destinations in the country

IHG Hotels & Resorts, has signed a management agreement with Geelan Residency for voco Srinagar - IHGs first hotel in Kashmir. Scheduled to open in Q4 2026, the signing is in line with IHGs strategy to expand presence across key leisure destinations in India and capitalize on the growing tourism industry in the country. The signing also marks the sixth voco hotel being developed in India and follows the opening of the first voco in Jim Corbett.

voco offers a premium experience to guests and combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. The brand has showcased remarkable growth trajectory since its debut in India in 2023 and has already expanded across markets such as Jim Corbett, Gurugram, Mumbai, Goa, and Punjab. The latest signing is testament to the growing popularity of the brand in India.

Located in the upmarket commercial area of the city, voco Srinagar will be easily accessible by road from the airport, major leisure attractions in the city and key residential areas. Additionally, the new-build hotel will be situated within a 2-hour driving distance from Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonmarg, making it an ideal choice for leisure travellers.

voco Srinagar will feature 95 well-appointed rooms, diverse dining options including an all-day dining and a pool deck and a fitness centre pool. In addition to hosting leisure guests from India and globally, the hotel will be well poised to cater to the demands for social gatherings and MICE.

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Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts said, We are thrilled to establish our footprint in Kashmir with our premium brand, voco in partnership with Geelan Residency. Kashmir is one of the most popular leisure destinations in the country and has experienced an unprecedented boom in tourism in the past years. This has led to an increase in demand for quality branded accommodation. With its bold design and welcoming service, we are confident that voco Srinagar will become a preferred hotel for travellers visiting Kashmir.

He added, Domestic tourism to leisure destinations is on the rise in India. We recognize the potential and this signing aligns with our commitment to expand IHG's presence in key leisure markets.

Mr. Javeed Jeelani, Managing Director, Geelan Residency added, We are delighted to partner with an internationally and locally trusted hospitality brand like IHG Hotels & Resorts to debut the voco brand in Kashmir. We are confident that the hotels prime location coupled with IHG's global standards, voco Srinagar is set to become an ideal choice for our guests.

IHG currently has 45 hotels operating across five brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express, with a strong pipeline of 50 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years.
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In medias res, Ms. James said aloud as she wrote it on the board. Who can tell me what this means? But when she turned back to the class, they were all staring out the window at something outside.
Master Your Music Library: Top Tips for Organizing Music Files

Transform your music library with these expert tips for organizing your files. Learn the secrets to seamless file management and boost your productivity quickly.

by CRISTINA CANO of DIY Musician

Ever felt the frustration of sifting through a digital haystack just to find one tiny needle of a file? Youre not alone! In the chaotic world of file organization, disorder can be the ultimate killer.

But fear not! By mastering the art of digital tidiness, you can organize your music files in a way that will supercharge your workflow, impress collaborators, and reclaim your well-being.

In this episode of the DIY Musician Podcast, Cristina, Rachel, and Via discuss their digital music organization styles, and share what does and doesnt work for each of them.

Join us as we journey through the challenges, perks, and practical tools of bringing order to your musical universe. [VIDEO BELOW].

Why Bother?

If youve ever wasted precious time hunting for that elusive track buried deep within the digital abyss, youll know that disorganization isnt just a nuisance; its a creativity thief! A cluttered digital space can sabotage productivity faster than a broken guitar string.

From missed collaboration opportunities to overlooked gems, the perils of chaos are real. Thankfully, a thoughtful file system is the key to seamless workflows, smoother collaborations, and a professional reputation that shines like a gold record.

Picture this: a streamlined process where inspiration flows freely and deadlines are a breeze. Sound too good to be true? With efficient file organization, its not just possible  its your new reality.

Achieve a stress-free creative zone with the following tips.

Gather Your Tools

Enter the heroes of organization: cloud storage platforms! Whether you choose one platform or multiple, there are plenty of options and combinations that can fit your needs. Here are a few benefits of a handful of popular options.

Take advantage of a generous amount of free storage space (also, you can choose to upgrade to 100 GB of storage for just $2 per month)

Seamlessly collaborate with bandmates, producers, and more using Google Workspace tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Create multiple versions of lyric documents, such as personal drafts, shared drafts with collaborators, and drafts that include gig rehearsal notes

Easily send links to stored files that anyone can access and download, even without a Dropbox account

Make your files accessible offline on any device, enabling you to view or edit files without Internet access (and Dropbox will sync the changes you made once youre back online)

Keep your music synced across all your devices, ensuring that youre always working with the latest file versions

If youre already immersed in the Microsoft ecosystem, OneDrive offers seamless integration with Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Rest easy knowing that your files are automatically backed up, and that you can access previous versions with ease

Use robust features for file sharing and teamwork that are tailor-made for collaborative projects

Protect your musical work with encryption and access controls, ensuring that your files remain safe

Simplify file sending with an easy-to-use interface and the capability to send large files to anyone, anywhere

Avoid the cumbersome sign-up processes of many cloud storage platforms  you can send and receive files without an account

Music File Naming Conventions

The way you name your files today has the ability to make or break your success in the future. Seriously!

From avoiding mental chaos, to side-stepping bad reputations with potential collaborators, deciding on a proper file naming convention and sticking to it is vital.

Consider all of the following when naming each file:

Date

Project Title

Version Number

Type of Recording or Export

Heres an example: [5/6/24]_[RachelB]_[TheBestSongEver]_[FX Mix 2]

Structure Your Folders

Folders are the unsung heroes of music file organization, offering a sanctuary for your files within the wilds of digital clutter. By developing logical folder structures, you can usher in a new era of clarity and efficiency.

Heres how to craft a folder structure tailored to your needs:

Artists Folders: Create subfolders for each individual artist or band

Create subfolders for each individual artist or band Projects or Albums: Organize subfolders for every single, album, or project

Organize subfolders for every single, album, or project Production Stages: Establish subfolders for different stages of production; consider names like Drafts, Recordings, Mixes, Masters, and Final Master

Establish subfolders for different stages of production; consider names like Drafts, Recordings, Mixes, Masters, and Final Master File Types: Segment your files by type to facilitate fast retrieval by creating subfolders, and using file names like Audio Files, Lyrics, Album Artwork, Charts, and Sheet Music

Segment your files by type to facilitate fast retrieval by creating subfolders, and using file names like Audio Files, Lyrics, Album Artwork, Charts, and Sheet Music Collaborations: Dedicate subfolders to collaborative projects, ensuring that all collaborators have access to the files they need

Dedicate subfolders to collaborative projects, ensuring that all collaborators have access to the files they need Years or Dates: Organize your subfolders chronologically by years or release dates to maintain a clear timeline of your projects

Organize your subfolders chronologically by years or release dates to maintain a clear timeline of your projects Reference Materials: Create subfolders for reference materials and inspiration to motivate you

Create subfolders for reference materials and inspiration to motivate you Backup and Archive: Establish subfolders for backup files and archives to safeguard your music, ensuring that your files are protected and easily retrievable in case of emergencies

By implementing a structure that works for you, you can make the organizational part of your life way less complicated, and focus on what truly matters  your music.

Get It Together

Now you have a ton of resources at your fingertips to build a system that supports your musical endeavors.

Even if you just start with one or two of these tips or tools, you can begin to embrace the power of digital order with a little discipline and a dash of digital savviness.

May your music files be forever organized and your creativity boundless!

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Haddad Subaru presents the Berkshire Humane Society on Friday with an $8,000 donation raised during last year's Share the Love event.

Haddad Subaru 'Shares the Love' With Berkshire Humane Society, Donating $8K



Haddad's 'charity mobile' is decked out with logos of organizations the dealership has supported.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  An $8,000 boost from Haddad Subaru sparked canine and human smiles at the Berkshire Humane Society on Friday.



The sizable donation is a result of the dealership's 2023 Share the Love event, which has raised more than $130,000 for the shelter in eight years of being a beneficiary. In partnership with Subaru of America, the dealership donates a fraction of service tickets and car sales during November and December.



"The consumer that actually is purchasing the vehicle gets to choose where they want this donation to go and overwhelming support has been for the Humane Society," said Chris Kramek, general manager of Haddad Subaru.



Adoptable dogs Riddick, Rosie, and Teddy joined the check presentation. BHS Executive Director John Perreault said he knows that the Haddad team would certainly like these dogs in a home by the end of the day.



For each new Subaru sold or leased between Nov. 16, 2023, and Jan. 2, 2024, the purchaser could chose one of two local charities to receive $300. Strong Little Souls of Pittsfield is another beneficiary of the 2023 Share the Love drive, also receiving a large check for pediatric cancer awareness.



"This is the eighth year for the Share the Love campaign and to date, we've raised over $131,000. Now what does that mean? It means a lot," Perrault said.



"It's not just the animals finding homes, it's us being able to provide food for our pet food pantry, some discounts at our wellness clinic, taking in pets of people in crisis for our Safe Pet Program. This goes a long way."



The shelter houses more than 1,500 animals a month and Perreault said the partnership with Haddad's makes a "major impact."


CBRSD Working on Regional Agreement Education

DALTON, Mass.  The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee agreed to start an education campaign after the proposed regional agreement failed in three of the district's seven towns.

The item failed during the Hinsdale annual town meeting on May 15, the Peru town meeting on June 1, and Cummington's special town meeting on June 7. The regional agreement needed six out of the seven towns to vote in favor of passing.

Until an updated agreement is approved, the school district will continue to operate under its current agreement and follow state law.

The original agreement, created in 1958, has been amended several times and approved locally but never by the state Department of Education, which is required.

During the School Committee meeting last week, committee members highlighted the lack of trust between the district and towns stemming from the 2019 decision to vote by popular vote for the approximately $72 million Wahconah Regional High School building project.

The towns that voted against the regional agreement wanted to require a unanimous vote, not a two-thirds vote, for all decisions regarding debt incurrence.

Whether this can be done is unclear because two-thirds is state law, School Committee Chair Richard Peters said.

The district has worked for a year and a half with representatives from all seven towns and the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools on the update to the agreement, Peters said, and they are 99 percent or 100 percent done if changes can not be made.

Rather than going back to the drawing board, Peters recommended bringing in representatives from MARS, legal, and possibly the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to inform town officials what changes can be made to the agreement.

The district did not do an educational campaign for the agreement, aside from going to select board meetings, Peters said, because the update of the regional agreement was thought to be uncontroversial, as nothing is going to change from what they currently do.

The district may not be able to accommodate every single town without getting a home-rule petition, which could take years, committee member David Stuart said.

"I do want to remember that this agreement is more about the towns than it is about us. We have compliance we have to do within the regional agreement, but this is really their agreement," Stuart said.

"Part of going back and listening to some of the towns or all of the towns is to find out what they're willing to do, what steps they're willing to take if they want to try and change state law if they want to try and get home rule or whatever. It's also on them to take some steps to get what they want in this."

Committee members recommended reaching out to parents to encourage them to attend their town meeting and inform them about the agreement details through digital channels.

They also suggested collaborating with select board and finance committee chairs to educate them about the agreement's details and requirements in the hopes of gaining their support.

Some voters may base their decision on the advice of their select board as they often have more knowledge on all the issues that are voted on, School Committee member Art Alpert said.

The failed document incorporates updated language and includes information to meet the requirements of the state DESE.

This proposed update agreement that failed was preliminarily approved by DESE, and the commissioner would have been signed off after the towns' approval.

The draft more clearly describes the budget and apportionment process and the agreement amendment process. It also includes two pathways for towns to withdraw from the district if they ever choose to do so.

The proposed draft also included "required provisions regarding Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) and pension liabilities."

These provisions ensure that all "member towns carry their fair share of these costs in the event that a town is added or if a town withdraws."

There is also a provision for the agreement to be reviewed every five years in case future changes are needed.
MassTrail grant recipients at the award presentation in Holliston.

Berkshires Gets $600K in Bike Path Grants

ADAMS, Mass.  The Berkshires received more than $600,000 for improvements and planning of recreational trails.

The funds are part of some $12 million in awards announced recently for 65 projects across the state by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation's MassTrails program.

"At DCR, we witness firsthand how trails connect communities across Massachusetts, providing essential opportunities for outdoor recreation, tourism, and economic growth," said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo in announcing the grants in Holliston on June 21. "Expanding and maintaining this extensive network is pivotal in improving accessibility and promoting healthier, more vibrant communities statewide. This grant program underscores our dedication to shared stewardship with our municipal partners, fostering collaboration and ensuring sustainable trail management for the benefit of all."

MassTrail awards range from $100,000 to $500,000 depending on the project type and needs, with shared-use paths commanding higher amounts if they demonstrate critical network connections of regional or statewide significance. The matching grants require a minimum 20 percent match and are awarded by reimbursement.

The town of Adams received the highest amount awarded in the Berkshires: $222,000 to acquire easements for a trailhead on Lime Street. The proposed trailhead will enhance access to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail extension southward that's scheduled for construction in 2028. The town received a $75,000 grant in 2022 for design and engineering. The match for the grant is $73,000.

Plans to bring the rail trail 1.8 miles from Lime Street to Hodges Cross Road in North Adams has been in design since 2012. Notice to proceed on the $9.5 million project was issued in 2019 and it's scheduled to be funded in the 2028 Transportation Improvement Plan. Some $7.7 million of the project will be funded through the federal government.

Eventually, the rail trail will connect in downtown North Adams with a bike path running east from Williamstown. This project is a collaboration of the city and town, the Clark Art Institute, Williams College and its art museum, and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art as the Northern Berkshire Trail Connectivity Development, which received an $82,400 ($20,600 in matching funds) for planning and a pre-acquisition study for cultural, outdoor recreation, and community connectivity.

The 2.4-mile Mohican Recreational Path in Williamstown that ends now near Galvin Road in North Adams will continue east as the North Adams Adventure Trail. The 3.4-mile trail will connect the communities and museum and colleges and run partially through the Tourists resort. Plans by the resort to redevelop the Blackinton Mill includes space and access for the trail; on the other end, Mass MoCA's renovation of Building 6 included a path through the museum and proposes a bridge over the Hoosic River flood control chutes to provide access.

The estimated cost of the project is $36 million and it is currently in the preliminary design phase.

Other awards:

 Lee Bike Trail Project: $120,000 for design completion of a trail to follow the Housatonic River from West Park Street to Big Y Supermarket at the intersection of Routes 20 and 102. The project will consist of paved trails and boardwalk.

 Savoy Kanary Kats Snowmobile Club: $58,420 for annual preventative maintenance of trails in Savoy, Windsor and Hawley. This includes two snowmobile trail groomers, an off-road trail vehicle, and trail groomer drags, batteries, and a saw.

 The state Department of Conservation and Recreation: $47,500 for two all-terrain vehicles and trailer for use in maintaining the motorized trail system throughout Beartown State Forest and its satellite properties in Great Barrington, Lee and Monterey.

 The Berkshire Snow Seekers: $79,875 for the transportation, overhaul and refurbishment by Track Inc. of Newport, Vt., of a 1994 Tucker 1000 SnoCat used at October Mountain State Forest for trail maintenance and purchase replacement hydraulic brakes for the club's 1994 LMC 1800 Sno-Cat used at Pittsfield State Forest.
To jointly advance the conservation of "birds of good fortune"

13:53, July 01, 2024 By Akio Nakajima ( People's Daily

The crested ibis, known as the "bird of good fortune," is widely cherished by people in Northeast Asia. In 1981, researchers discovered seven wild crested ibises in the heart of the Qinling Mountains in northwest China's Shaanxi province. After years of breeding and conservation, the global population of crested ibises has increased to over 10,000.

China's protection of crested ibises serves as a global model for saving endangered species, and significant progress has been made through the collaborative protection efforts of China and Japan. Thanks to this magical bird, I have also developed a deep bond with China.

In the late 20th century, wild crested ibises disappeared in Japan due to environmental degradation caused by economic development, illegal hunting, and other factors. The captive crested ibises also lost the ability to breed.

From 1998 to 2018, China gave seven crested ibises to Japan, helping the country rebuild the species. As a result, the number of captive crested ibises living on Sado island, Niigata prefecture, Japan, has been steadily increasing.

I have been engaged in crested ibis conservation, research, and rewilding programs on Sado Island since 2000. It was also in that year that a female ibis named Mei Mei gifted by China arrived in Japan. It received good care and protection in Japan and mated with Yuu Yuu, the offspring of two crested ibises, Yang Yang and You You, which were gifted by China in 1999. They went on to have many offspring together.

In 2007, Japan returned 13 young crested ibises to China, which were all descendants of Mei Mei and well protected in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve in Luoshan county, Xinyang city, central China's Henan province.

Since then, I have been closely following news about the nature reserve, keen to learn more about these birds. I also hoped that one day I could visit the reserve and see them for myself.

In October 2017, I traveled to Tongchuan city, Shaanxi province to participate in an exchange event about crested ibis protection. While there, I received an invitation to the fourth crested ibis release event at the nature reserve and immediately changed my schedule. Upon arriving at the reserve, I visited a crested ibis breeding station and was impressed by the dedicated work of Chinese experts in protecting the species, which led to a significant increase in their population.

The facilities at the breeding station were very well-arranged to support the crested ibises' growth and living conditions, while also offering visitors a memorable experience. I was filled with excitement when personally seeing the crested ibises that had returned to China from Sado Island ten years ago, along with their offspring, living peacefully.

I made a thorough observation of the environment and facilities, especially the living conditions of the crested ibises. I could not wait to share this information with my colleagues and friends in Japan.

The next morning, I joined the crested ibis release event hosted by the nature reserve. A total of 22 captive crested ibises returned to the nature, bringing the number of released ibises in the region to 100. From the initial few individuals to the large-scale release, this achievement embodies the tremendous efforts of Chinese experts.

The sight of the graceful crested ibises spreading their wings and flying high ignited a powerful feeling within me, as if I could already see a future where these birds soar freely in the skies of Northeast Asia.

A year later, I returned to the nature reserve to observe the breeding habits of crested ibises. At a crayfish farming ponds where crested ibises often forage, I saw an ibis feeding. Crested ibises enjoy eating crustaceans, and the vibrant colors of their feathers come from the chitin in these creatures. Through binoculars, I saw their beautiful plumage, which indicated that they were receiving good care and protection.

I also learned that local elementary schools often launch promotional campaigns about crested ibis conservation. I hope that Japanese and Chinese schools can engage in more exchanges and cooperation on crested ibis protection in the coming future.

Through my interactions with Chinese experts, I gained valuable insights into the conservation of crested ibis and the harmonious coexistence between the birds and the local community. The Chinese people's hospitality and friendliness made a lasting impression on me throughout this process.

I am very much looking forward to visiting China again, the nature reserve in particular, to engage in more extensive discussions with Chinese experts about wild crested ibis monitoring and scientific research cooperation between Japan and China. I also hope to make due contributions to the conservation of crested ibis.

According to historical documents, the crested ibis was a migratory bird with a widespread presence across Northeast Asia. I believe that in the near future, with the collaborative efforts of people in Northeast Asian countries, these "birds of good fortune" will restore their migratory habits. They will then serve as a bridge and symbol of friendly exchanges among Northeast Asian countries.

(Akio Nakajima is a researcher with the Institute of Human and Environmental Symbiosis Research, Dokkyo University.)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
From visa-free to 'City or Not': foreigners explore the real China

14:07, July 02, 2024 By Sun Langchen and Jiang Li ( Global Times

Tourists ride camels at the Mingshashan and the Crescent Lake, an oasis scenic spot in the Gobi Desert in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 9, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo: Xinhua)

China implemented a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from New Zealand, Australia, and Poland on Monday. Citizens of these countries can now enter China without a visa for purposes including business, tourism, visiting relatives, and transit for up to 15 days.

With the 144-hour visa-free transit, an increasing number of foreigners are taking the opportunity to visit China, creating extensive vlogs during their travels.

Danny Casale, an animator from the US with millions of followers on social media platforms, just finished his Beijing trip on Sunday.

Casale told the Global Times that the food in Beijing is very delicious, especially the dumplings. "And when I walk in Beijing, everyone is very kind and sweet," he said. He will bring more friends to visit China in the future.

"City or Not~Uh~?" The trend of foreign visitors filming videos in China has given rise to a new internet meme among international bloggers, particularly noted in the recent travels of American blogger Bao Bao Xiong's sister to China. This foreign blogger made several videos of himself and his sister traveling around China and explained on Chinese social media recently that the term "city" not only conveys urbanization but also a lively and cheerful feeling. Simultaneously, "not city" refers to phenomena that often go unnoticed within the city. He also encouraged audiences to participate in creating these "city" moments together.

Under the new visa-free policy, Theodore Falkner recently traveled to China and shared his thoughts on this popular online trend.

"The concept of 'city or not' really comes to life here. Every corner of cities like Shanghai and Beijing offers something unexpected and exciting," Falkner noted.

Reflecting on his journey, Falkner concluded, "The 'city or not' trend captures the essence of exploring China. Whether it's the bustling urban life or the serene natural landscapes, there's always something new and awe-inspiring. China's hospitality and vibrant culture make it an unforgettable destination."

Citizens from 54 countries have been exempted from visa requirements during transit to China for 72 or 144 hours. The 144-hour visa-free policy has provided great convenience for foreign tourists, who are eager to explore China within this time frame. However, given China's vastness and abundance of attractions, many visitors find 144 hours insufficient. Some have resorted to the "bug-fixing" strategy of traveling to neighboring countries and then re-entering China to extend their stay for another 144 hours.

In their travel vlogs, foreign tourists frequently use keywords like "unexpected" and "never imagined" to express their amazement at China's modernization and rich culture.

When asked if China is dangerous, Falkner responds, "Yes, especially the night markets, which can 'steal' all the money from your pockets without you realizing it."

Statistics released by China's National Immigration Administration show that the number of foreigners coming to China recorded a nearly threefold increase year-on-year in the first quarter of this year. Notably, some 1.98 million foreigners enjoyed visa-free entry into China during the first quarter, soaring 266 percent year-on-year, according to media reports.

For the choice of foreign tourist destinations, "beginner level" includes Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou; "intermediate level" features Chengdu, Xi'an, and Chongqing; while "hard mode" presents Xinjiang and Qinghai. The enthusiasm of foreigners visiting China has been growing day by day. In exploring famous mountains and rivers, tasting local cuisines, and experiencing the beauty of China, they found China's modern development, marveled at its excellent public safety, and found it hard to leave when it was time to depart.

Zhangjiajie, the filming location for the movie Avatar, has become a hotspot for South Korean tourists. In the first eight months of 2023, one-third of the inbound tourists in Zhangjiajie were from South Korea. Korean hiking enthusiasts view Zhangjiajie as their pilgrimage site, flocking to experience its breathtaking landscapes. As one netizen put it, "Zhangjiajie is the Korean version of 'He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.'"

The "Monkey King" of Mount Emei in Southwest China's Sichuan province has also attracted many foreign visitors. Known for their boldness, the monkeys of Mount Emei were surprisingly intimidated by the martial arts moves demonstrated by foreign tourists. Netizens humorously commented, "To tame monkeys, we need to invite people from the West!"

Foreign influencers have been sharing their travel experiences in China on social platforms like YouTube and TikTok, showing a true portrayal of the country. Many of them expressed that there are biases perpetuated by Western media, and their videos allow people to see the real China.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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Lindsay Lohan has said returning to the Disney Production studios for Freaky Friday 2 made her feel like a little kid again.

Production on the sequel has begun 21 years after Lohans original Freaky Friday was released in 2003.

Speaking about her co-star Jaime Lee Curtis, who will also star in the reboot, the Mean Girls star said: Jamie and I have stayed in touch over the years,

You know how they say when you have a best friend or someone youre really close with? If you cannot see them for years and years, but when you see them again, its like you never separated.

Curtis played the role of Lohans mother in the much-loved 2003 film, which sees a mother and daughter swap bodies after getting into a terrible fight.

Lohan, 38, went on to tell Nightline that returning to the Disney production lot in California brought back a flood of memories.

I think really for me was when I went onto the Disney lot, she said.

And being back on the Disney lot, because thats not just Freaky Friday for me. Thats The Parent Trap, thats Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, thats Herbie.

open image in gallery Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan on set of Freaky Friday 2 ( Walt Disney Studios )

Its so many moments for me. So when I got there, I kind of felt like this essence of a little kid again.

Lohan continued: Im so grateful for every moment of it. Every second Im going to get emotional. Its a great experience.

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Last month, the Irish Wish star announced that the sequel to Freaky Friday was in production with a behind-the-scenes video she posted to Instagram.

Were back! the actor captioned the post. Meanwhile, Disney also shared another snap: The Colemans are back and coming to theaters in 2025! The sequel to Freaky Friday is now in production!

The news came amid rumours that a sequel was on the way. Speculation among fans of the film began after Lee-Curtis posted a picture with Lohan back in May 2023.

Its Friday. Im just sayin! Freaky fingers crossed! Curtis captioned the post.

Freaky Friday starred Lohan and Curtis in a remake of the 1976 Disney film, which followed a mother and daughter who are forced to experience a day in one others life after cracking open an enchanted fortune cookie.

The forthcoming sequel, which is written by Jordan Weiss and directed by Nisha Ganatra, will follow Lohans Anna, now an adult with her own daughter, who is preparing to welcome a new stepdaughter from her marriage.

The sequel sees the return of the stars Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Rosalind Chao.

It is slated for a theatrical release in 2025, with an exact date yet to be confirmed.
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French filmmakers Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon have been taken into police custody for questioning over accusations of sexual abuse, French media have reported.

Actor Judith Godreche, 52, formally accused Jacquot of rape and Doillon of sexual assault when she was a minor. Both men deny the accusations.

The two directors, 77, and 80, arrived at the Regional Directorate of the Judicial Police (DRPJ) in Paris alongside their lawyers on Monday morning (1 July), the AFP news agency has said.

Jacquot and Doillons lawyers have said it was unnecessary for their clients to be detained for questioning. Under French law, individuals can be held in police custody for up to 48 hours. Jacquots lawyer, Julia Minkowski, said her client would finally be able to express himself before the law while Doillons attorney, Marie Dose, said no legal criteria could justify his being detained for questioning 36 years after the incident alleged by Godreche.

Earlier this year, Godreche filed a complaint against Jacquot claiming that he had raped her in 1986 when she was 14 years old. She said the director had an unhealthy hold over her from that age, which lasted from 1986 until 1992. Godreche also accused Doillon of abuse on the set of one of his films she had acted in, which prompted a joint investigation in February.

Reacting to Jacquot and Doillon being taken into custody on Instagram, Godreche shared a photo of herself as a teenager next to Jacquot, writing: Im crying From all this I dont know if I have the strength but I will have it. I will have it For her.

After breaking her silence in February, Godreche became the voice of Frances MeToo movement when she urged lawmakers to investigate sex crimes in the film industry.

The actor called for an independent inquiry into misconduct in the French film industry as well as the appointment of independent guardians for underage actors working on film sets. She also put forward proposals to address past abuses and prevent new ones.

open image in gallery Judith Godreche attends Cannes Film Festival ( Getty Images )

In February, a week before her testimony to the French Senate commission, Godreche gave an emotional speech at the Cesars, the French equivalent of the Oscars.

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She called on those present to face the truth about the issue, years after the MeToo movement shook up Hollywood but faced resistance in France.

I am speaking as loud as I can and trying to push the door as open as possible, and yet nothing is really happening because of the way the system is being built for years and years, she said

I think there is something about French society that is somehow still anchored in the Middle Ages.

Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)
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Universals film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, Wicked, is arriving five days earlier than planned.

The film starring Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch was set to go head-to-head against Moana 2 on Wednesday, November 27, the day before Thanksgiving, but will now release on Friday, November 22.

With Disneys Moana sequel and Wicked likely to attract a similar demographic, the latter will now face off against Ridley Scotts epic Gladiator II, starring Paul Mescal.

The clash is already drawing comparisons to last years Barbenheimer event when Greta Gerwigs Barbie and Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer arrived on the same day. As with Wicked and Gladiator II, both films were largely aimed at opposite sexes; however, many people committed to seeing the films one after the other as part of a self-curated double bill.

The result was a global phenomenon that breathed new life into theaters across the world.

Barbie became the biggest film of the year, amassing takings of $1.45bn (1.15bn), while Oppenheimer earned $953.7m (759.9m) to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody.

open image in gallery Ariana Granda is Glinda and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in Wicked (right) ( X/Universal Studios )

Meanwhile, Oppenheimer dominated awards season, winning seven Oscars.

The on-screen Wicked story will be split into two parts, with the sequel, Wicked: Part Two, to be released in November 2025.

The films teaser trailer dropped during the Super Bowl last year and quickly amassed more than 230 million views online.

Cynthia Erivo plays the green-skinned anti-hero Elphaba in the alternative telling of the classic Wizard of Oz tale.

British actor Jonathan Bailey plays the witches love interest Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh plays Madam Morrible, Jeff Goldblum plays the Wizard and Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang is Pfannee, a student at Glinda and Elphabas school.

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Also in the cast is Broadway star Ethan Slater, who plays lovelorn student Boq. Grande and Slater met while on set and have been in a relationship since last summer, following the end of both of their marriages.

Meanwhile, director Scotts highly anticipated follow-up to the 2000 classic starring Russell Crowe will tell the story of Lucius (Mescal), the son of Lucilla (portrayed by Connie Nielsen). Lucilla was the lover of Crowes soldier Maximus, who came to his demise at the end of the first film.

Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus) and Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) play co-emperors Geta and Caracalla, respectively, while Denzel Washington plays a former slave seeking revenge.

Wicked and Gladiator II will be released in theaters on November 22.
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The popular BBC chat show, The Chris and Rosie Ramsey Show, has been shelved indefinitely after just two series, according to reports.

Led by podcasters Chris and Rosie, who are married, the funny chat show debuted on BBC Two in 2022 and saw the pair welcome celebrity couples onto the programme to talk about topics ranging from parenting problems to pet peeves.

The pair rose to fame with their popular weekly podcast Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed, before being given the BBC show, which saw widespread success with its first series before it was moved to a primetime slot on BBC One. The show is also available to watch on Netflix.

The show, however, is reportedly being put on an indefinite hiatus as the pair are unable to find the time to make series three.

An insider told The Sun: The BBC absolutely love Chris and Rosie. Theyre a hilariously entertaining duo, but most importantly, theyre real.

open image in gallery The couple reportedly were unable to find time to film a third series ( BBC )

They want to continue producing The Chris and Rosie Ramsey Show for audiences but due to schedule clashes, they cant make it work right now.

While the show has been paused for now, behind-the-scenes BBC are continuing to look at ways the show can continue with [talent agency] Avalon.

The Independent has contacted the BBC and the Ramsays representatives for comment.

Both from South Shields, the pair have been together for more than 10 years and are parents to two sons, Robin and Rafe.

Chris was already a working comedian appearing on Strictly and Taskmaster, when his fans encouraged his wife Rosie to join in with his work after she made a great impression during one of Chriss Facebook live streams. She proved so popular among his fans that the pair decided to start working together.

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Their podcast was a widespread commercial success, and they released a book in 2020 also titled Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed, which is a funny tell-all on the ups and downs of love, sex, and relationships

The couple took their podcast on tour, performing to packed-out venues around the UK in 2021 and 2023.

During its run, The Chris and Rosie Ramsey Show welcomed celebrity guests including Strictlys Craig Revel Horwood and his partner Jonathan Myring; Katherine Ryan and her husband Bobby Kootstra; Jack Whitehall and his father; Fred Sirieix and his fiancee; Martin and Shirley Kemp; and Ronan Keating and wife Storm.
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The son of media mogul Jimmy Lai has called on all foreign judges to leave Hong Kongs judicial system, which he claimed pressures them to go along with Beijings clampdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Sebastien Lai has been advocating for the release of his 76-year-old father, who has been accused of colluding with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law.

If found guilty, the founder of the now defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, is facing possible life in prison.

His case has sparked an international outcry and is widely seen as a test of Hong Kongs judicial independence. The trial, conducted by three judges designated under the national security law, began on 18 December, three years after Lai was arrested, and has been slower than expected.

Hong Kong has imprisoned more than 1,800 people for their pro-democracy protesting, Mr Lai said at the press club in Canberra, Australia, while rallying support for his father on the 27th anniversary of the former British colonys handover to China.

Critics have claimed Hong Kongs rule of law has been undermined by the security laws and the presence of foreign judges risks lending an air of legitimacy to them.

China has allowed non-permanent foreign judges to sit on Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal, even after taking it back in 1997, to enable continuity with British common law tradition, provide expertise to local lawyers and reassure businesses and financial markets.

open image in gallery Media tycoon Jimmy Lai during an interview in 2020, before his arrest ( AFP/Getty )

Nearly half of foreign judges in Hong Kong have stepped down since China enacted the national security law in the wake of the 2019 protests in the city.

Four Australian judges are among seven overseas ones who remain.

Mr Lai said the judges who left Hong Kong were voting with their feet.

By staying, youre essentially saying theres still some semblance of rule of law in this place that imprisons pro-democracy protesters, Mr Lai said. And that is not true, that is not true at all.

He called on Australias government to join an international campaign to put pressure on Beijing to free his father.

A British judge who resigned from Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal in June said the city was slowly becoming totalitarian.

Hong Kong, once a vibrant and politically diverse community, is slowly becoming a totalitarian state, Jonathan Sumption wrote in the Financial Times.

The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly.

He had stayed on in the hope the presence of foreign judges would help sustain the rule of law, Mr Sumption said, but I fear that this is no longer realistic.

Mr Lai and his lawyers met Australian foreign minister Penny Wong on Monday.

Australia is deeply concerned about Hong Kongs widespread application of national security laws to repress civil society and prosecute journalists like Mr Jimmy Lai, Ms Wong said in a social media post.

Australia is deeply concerned by Hong Kongs widespread application of national security laws to repress civil society and prosecute journalists like Mr Jimmy Lai.



Today I met Mr Lais family and lawyers to discuss Australias advocacy for democracy supporters in Hong Kong. pic.twitter.com/pEvAk6lPxt  Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) July 1, 2024

The prosecution of Mr Lai, as a publisher, has had a chilling effect on free speech in Hong Kong, she added.

Consistent with UN Human Rights Committee recommendations, Australia calls on China to cease suppression of media freedoms and repeal the national security law.

Jimmy Lais trial has been condemned by both the UK and the US as an attempt to stop the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association.
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North Korea publicly executed a 22-year-old citizen for listening to and sharing K-pop music and films, according to South Korea.

The man from the Hermit Kingdom's South Hwanghae province was publicly executed in 2022 for listening to 70 South Korean songs, watching three films, and distributing them, according to testimonies published in the North Korean Human Rights report released by the South's unification ministry on Thursday.

The report  a compilation of testimonies from 649 North Korean defectors  highlights Pyongyang's brutal crackdown on Western influence and information flow into the isolated country.

The ban on K-pop to shield citizens from the "malign influence" of Western culture was further tightened under a new law that the North adopted in 2020, which prohibits "reactionary ideology and culture.

The North has rejected criticisms of the government's grave violation of human rights, calling it a part of a conspiracy to overthrow the leadership.

Other reactionary practices that are punished include perceived South Korean customs such as brides wearing white dresses, grooms carrying the bride, sunglasses, and drinking alcohol from wine glasses.

According to the report, North Koreans are routinely subjected to mobile phone inspections for contact name spellings, expressions, and slang terms.

"The government does not tolerate pluralism, bans independent media, civil society organisations and trade unions, and systematically denies all basic liberties, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and freedom of religion and belief," Human Rights Watch said about North Korea in their world report in 2023.

One of the defectors, a woman in her early 20s, said the "speed of South Korean culture influencing North Korea is seriously fast. Young people follow and copy South Korean culture, and they really love anything South Korean".

After watching Korean dramas, many young people wonder, Why do we have to live like this?  I thought Id rather die than live in North Korea, she was quoted by The Guardian as saying.

Of course, we cannot say anything bad against Kim Jong-un publicly, but among close friends, lovers or family members, we do say those words, she added.

In the past, North Korea has held executions in villages and prison camps where crowds could gather, according to right groups.

But it had increasingly avoided executions in heavily populated residential areas, where authorities had difficulty keeping track of those attending. It has also stopped holding executions near its borders and at facilities that can be easily monitored by satellites.

The South on Tuesday threatened to restart anti-Pyongyang frontline propaganda broadcasts in the latest bout of Cold War-style campaigns between the rivals after North Korea resumed its trash-carrying balloon launches.

North Korea has floated huge balloons carrying plastic bags of rubbish across the border in its fifth such campaign since late May  an apparent response to South Korean activists flying political leaflets via balloons.

The two Koreas are still technically at war since an armistice ended the 1950-1953 Korean War, not a peace treaty.
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North Korea has moved to show off its missiles during a test-fire on Monday

As the country is pushing to modernize its weapons arsenal to cope with what it calls US-led threats it claims it test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a huge warhead.

The Norths official Korean Central News Agency called the weapon Hwasongpho-11Da-4.5 which can carry 4.5 ton-class super-large warhead.

It said the test-fire on Monday was meant to verify flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) and the minimum range of 90 kilometers (55 miles).

South Koreas military earlier said that North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from one of its southwestern towns in a northeastern direction on Monday and that the first missile flew 600 kilometers (370 miles) and the second missile 120 kilometers (75 miles). The second missile's flight distance was too short to reach the waters off the North's east coast, a typical landing site for North Korean test missiles.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the second North Korean missile possibly travelled abnormally during the initial stage of its flight. It said if the missile exploded, its debris would likely have scattered on the ground though no damages was immediately reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a ceremony ( Sputnik )

The KCNA dispatch didnt say from where it launched the new missile and where it landed. But the fact that it tested both the missiles maximum and minimum ranges suggested North Korea performed two launches.

KCNA, citing North Koreas Missile Administration, reported that North Korea will test-fire the missile again later in July to verify the performances of its simulated warhead at the medium range of 250 kilometers (155 miles).

Since 2022, North Korea has sharply accelerated weapons testing activities to enlarge its arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons designed to strike key sites in the mainland U.S., South Korea and Japan. The ranges of the newly tested missile suggest it targets South Korea. Experts say North Korea would ultimately want to use an expanded nuclear arsenal to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the U.S.

Monday's missile's test were the North Korea's first weapons firing in five days. Last Wednesday, North Korea launched what it called a multiwarhead missile in the first known test of a developmental weapon aimed at penetrating its rivals' missile defenses. North Korea said the launch was successful, but South Korea dismissed the Norths claim as deception to cover up a failed launch.

The latest launches came a day after North Korea vowed offensive and overwhelming responses to a new U.S. military drill with South Korea and Japan.
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At least nine people died and four others were injured after a car ploughed into pedestrians in the downtown area of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

The crash happened at an intersection near Seoul City Hall, a typically crowded metropolitan street, at around 9.27pm local time, police said.

A man believed to be 68 years old was driving the vehicle that ran into pedestrians waiting at a traffic stop, according to Yonhap news agency.

Police said the man, who was not named, has been arrested and will be investigated on allegations of accidental homicide.

The driver told investigators that his car accelerated abruptly and unintentionally.

His car would be sent to the countrys forensic agency for an examination, police said.

Of the nine fatalities, six died at the scene while three were rushed to a hospital with cardiac arrest and were pronounced dead by the hospital.

Visuals from the site of the crash showed a black sedan car that was heavily damaged being towed away. The guardrails on the side of the road were flattened to the ground.

open image in gallery Police officers control a car accident scene near Seoul City Hall in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Monday ( AP )

Seoul police said the man was driving the car in the wrong direction and collided with two other vehicles before fatally crashing into pedestrians.

According to preliminary investigation, the crash was caused by unintended acceleration and the driver was not found under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxication in an initial examination.

South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the Interior Ministry to make all-out efforts to treat the victims of the crash.

open image in gallery Broken glass and debris lie at the scene of car accident that resulted in several people killed and injured in central Seoul ( REUTERS )

Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon called it a tragic incident and ordered an investigation.

Arriving at the scene, Mr Oh issued directives to minimise further casualties and prepared measures for bereaved families.

He ordered to take the victims to the hospital quickly and thoroughly identify the cause of the accident.

According to reports, the man was a bus driver from Ansan, a city just south of Seoul and had around 40 years of driving experience.

In 2022, 35 per cent of all road deaths accounted for the deaths of pedestrians, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The road fatalities among pedestrians were highest among OECD countries but the report said the trend was on the decline in recent years.

The incident comes as another tragedy in South Korea just a week after 23 people were killed and many were injured in a fire at a lithium battery factory in Hwaseong city, a major industrial cluster about 90 minutes southwest of capital Seoul.
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At least 27 people have reportedly been killed in a stampede at a religious event in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

The stampede ocurred during a satsang, or prayer meeting, in Hathras.

Footage on local television channels from the community health centre showed several bodies being brought in, surrounded by grieving relatives.

We have received 27 bodies, of which 25 are female and two are male. Some injured have also been taken to hospitals, Umesh Kumar Tripathi, chief medical officer of Etah in Uttar Pradesh, said.

We have heard that there was a stampede during a satsang but dont have too many more details.

Senior superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar said three children were among the fatalities. The incident occurred in a village within the Sikandra Rao police station limits in Hathras.

So far, 27 bodies have been sent to the hospital, of which 23 are women and three are children, he was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The injured have not yet reached the hospital. Further investigation is being carried out, Mr Singh told The Indian Express.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath has taken note of the incident and his government has set up a committee to investigate.
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A special court in Pakistan granted interim bail to the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan in a 190m graft case on Tuesday, local media outlets reported.

This comes months after an Islamabad high court bench approved the bail of Mr Khan in the same case, reported Geo TV.

The couple were accused in the case of receiving of financial help from a land developer in the setting up of the Al Qadir University.

The National Accountability Bureau, Pakistans anti-corruption agency, alleged that Mr Khans government had struck a deal with property tycoon Malik Riaz that caused more than 190m in losses to the national exchequer.

In December 2019, during an investigation by Britains National Crime Agency, Mr Riaz admitted handing over the assets.

Both have denied any wrongdoing, with Mr Khan at the time saying the land was donated for charitable purposes.

Bibi will remain in prison as she is also serving a sentence in a case involving her marriage with Mr Khan.

Meanwhile, a United Nations human rights panel on Monday called for the immediate release of Mr Khan, saying he had been detained arbitrarily in violation of international laws.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention made this demand after examining Mr Khans case in which he was sentenced last year on charges of corruption.

Mr Khan has been slapped with multiple criminal cases since when he was ousted through a vote of no confidence in the parliament in 2022.

There was no immediate comment from the government of Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Mr Khan after his ousting.

Mr Khan has been held in prison since August 2023 when he was sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly hiding assets after selling state gifts. It led to a ban on Mr Khan from seeking political office and contesting the 8 February election, which his party says were rigged.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has denied the allegation.

Additional reporting by agencies
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A UN human rights panel has called for the immediate release of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, saying he has been detained arbitrarily in violation of international laws.

In an opinion published on Monday, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted that Mr Khans detention had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for office.

The panel urged Pakistans government to allow it to visit the country.

Mr Khan was removed from power in 2022 and has been incarcerated since August 2023, when he was arrested and slapped with some 170 criminal charges.

Mr Khan has claimed that the no confidence vote that led to his ouster and the subsequent criminal cases were orchestrated by the countrys powerful military, acting at the direction of the American government, to keep him away from power. Pakistans new government and military as well as Washington have denied the accusations.

Mr Khan has been acquitted or given bail in many of the most serious cases, all of which he maintains are politically motivated.

The former prime ministers Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party told The Independent last month that he was still in jail because of a ruling that his 2018 marriage was unIslamic and illegal. It was the weakest of all the cases, the party said.

Mr Khan was banned from seeking political office and his party was barred from contesting the national election.

Though the election held in February was alleged to have been rigged, independent candidates backed by Mr Khans party won most seats in parliament.

The Working Group said the legal cases brought against the former prime minister were part of a much larger campaign of repression against him and his party.

The panel was alarmed by the general allegations of widespread arrest, detention and disappearances of individuals, including many Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters and urged the authorities to take swift and appropriate action in this regard.

Zulfi Bukhari, a spokesperson for Mr Khans party, said international silence on his illegal incarceration was finally broken. We welcome the Working Groups opinion with hope and optimism as we call on the international community to continue holding the government of Pakistan accountable for the inexcusable miscarriage of justice Mr Khan, his wife and many PTI members have suffered, he said in a statement on Monday.

The international condemnation of the manner in which the government of Pakistan illegally stripped Mr Khan of his freedom and rights has echoed from the US to the UN, with the House of Representatives and now the Working Group shining a light on it as a blatant effort to interfere with his intentions to run for political office.

The Working Group published its opinion in response to a petition by London-based law firm Harbottle & Lewis and Washington-based Perseus Strategies.

Sarah Gogan, partner at Harbottle & Lewis, said they were pleased with the Working Groups report and called for the international community to pressure Pakistans government to release Mr Khan.

She said the opinion reflects the principles of fundamental human rights under the rule of law.

We hope the international community will use this moment as an opportunity to engage further with the Government of Pakistan and work to secure the release of Mr Khan.
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At least 10 environmental activists have been jailed by a Cambodian court on charges of plotting against the government and insulting the king amid fear of crackdown on opposing voices.

The award-winning environmental group Mother Natures founder and a lawyer confirmed the arrests of the activists who have long campaigned against environmental destruction in Cambodia, especially in development projects causing deforestation, illegal sand mining, and corruption.

Of these, five defendants were arrested outside the court in Phnom Penh on Tuesday immediately after the verdict. These activists have been sentenced for up to eight years to 10 years by the court. Mother Nature called the case politically motivated.

Supporters of the jailed activists protested on Tuesday and held white placards reading, Justice is dead. The groups lawyer, Sam Chomreun, confirmed the sentences for the 10 activists.

In recent months, Cambodia has seen growing concerns around freedom of expression under the new leadership of prime minister Hun Manet, who took over the administration last year from his fathers decade-long rule.

"This regime is not only disconnected from reality, it has also shown us how inhumane and cruel it can be towards those who dare to stand up for what is right," said Alejandro Gonzales-Davidson, Mother Natures founder.

"However, this will not be in vain. Today, a new generation of activists has been created," he said, reacting to the court order.

A Spanish national, Mr Gonzales-Davidson told Reuters he was one of three activists held guilty of infringing Cambodias lese majeste law and sentenced to eight years in prison.

Seven activists have received six-year jail terms for plotting against the government, added Mr Gonzales-Davidson, who was sentenced in absentia after having been deported from Cambodia almost a decade ago.

The Cambodian government has previously rejected the charges of trial being politically motivated and said it did not prosecute critics but only those who commit crimes.

Mr Gonzales-Davidson said the accusations of plotting against the state had not been clarified in court. However, three members were arrested after documenting suspected pollution run-off into the Tonle Sap River in Phnom Penh, the capital, in 2021.

The lese majeste charges relate to an internal Zoom meeting about political cartooning that was leaked.

International human rights groups monitoring the developments in Cambodia have warned that the Hun Manet administration is appearing intent on muzzling criticism of the government as it condemned the latest arrests.

The verdict is devastating for the 10 activists, who face between six to eight years in prison for their efforts to protect Cambodias environment. It also sends an appalling message to Cambodias youth that the government will side with special interests over the environment every chance it gets, the statement by the New York-based Human Rights Watch said.

It added that Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet, like his father, former prime minister Hun Sen, has repeatedly ignored calls by United Nations experts to address the closing space for civil society and human rights defenders.

Development partners and others who invest in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for Cambodia should call on the government to quash these verdicts and support genuine freedom of expression and association, the human rights group said.

The previous Cambodian administration under Hun Sen saw the opposition all but dismantled, independent media shuttered and dozens of activists jailed.
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The Indian Air Force on Tuesday rescued 13 stranded fishermen from a riverine island as floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains continued to batter India's northeast.

At least 16 people have been killed over two weeks and more than 300,000 have been displaced from their submerged homes due to the torrential rains in the two northeastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

A military helicopter brought the fishermen to safety four days after being stranded on a small island on the flooded Brahmaputra  one of Asia's largest rivers.

"A Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions and undertook rescue ops from a marshy piece of land," the Indian Air Force said on X.

#IAF rescued 13 marooned survivors from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra, north of Dibrugarh in Assam.



On 02 Jul 24, after a sunrise takeoff, a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions and undertook rescue ops from a marshy piece of pic.twitter.com/hhr2PJheg8  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 2, 2024

The fishermen were rescued from a sandbar area in the Dibrugarh district, the Assam state disaster management authority said.

The Brahmaputra River, which flows 1,280km across Assam state before running through Bangladesh, was among the 13 major rivers flowing above the danger level.

open image in gallery A man carries his daughter on back as he wades through a flooded street in Guwahati on June 20 ( AFP via Getty Images )

This year the incessant rainfall has made the river Brahmaputra, already known for its powerful, unpredictable flow, even more dangerous to live near or on one of the more than 2,000 island villages in the middle of it.

On Sunday, the air force rescued eight state disaster response force personnel and a revenue official after they got stuck during a relief operation.

The flood situation in Assam worsened over the weekend, affecting more than 1.1 million people across 21 districts. The state is bracing for a deterioration in the situation as the Indian Meteorological Department forecasts moderate to heavy rain over the next four days.

At least 8,142 people have been moved to 72 relief shelters across the state, the state authorities said.

open image in gallery An one-horned rhinoceros wades through flood water at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district of India's Assam state ( AFP via Getty Images )

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said: The next 3-4 days will be very critical for the state. The national disaster response force (NDRF) and the army will be on standby to deal with any emergency, he said on Monday.

The animals at the famed Kaziranga National Park, home to some 2,500 one-horned rhinos, were moving to higher ground to escape the floods. Park rangers are monitoring their movements to ensure their safety, Mr Biswa Sarma added.

In neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh which borders China, landslides have wiped out several roads. Army troopers there rescued 70 students and teachers from a flooded school in Changlang district, police said.

open image in gallery A flood affected person loads sacks of rice on a vehicle to transport to a safer place from his submerged house in Sildubi village in Morigaon, Assam ( AP )

Schools have been shut in the Itanagar district till 6 July, authorities said. The Assam Rifles were pressed into action to rescue around 500 stranded people from the flooded villages.

Similarly, heavy flooding in the states of Sikkim, Manipur and Meghalaya swept away roads and collapsed bridges.

So far, more than 80 people across six northeastern states have died since the end of May due to floods and mudslides brought on by the rains, according to official figures.

Disasters caused by landslides and floods are common in the country's northeast region during the June-September monsoon season.

India, and Assam state in particular, is seen as one of the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change because of more intense rain and floods, according to a 2021 report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a New Delhi-based climate think tank.
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An influencers visit to a Turkish hospital for cheaper medical exams has sparked debate about the American healthcare system on TikTok.

In a viral TikTok video, influencer Bryn Elise (@bryn.elise) gave her followers a behind-the-scenes look into the VIP experience at a hospital in Turkey, which included 30 exams - ordinarily expensive in the United States - for the low price of $810. She started the video by saying: I flew to Turkey for the most in-depth checkup of my life.

Doing this in the US would have cost me thousands and taken months to line up, she said, adding later that the hospital was a highly-lauded memorial group hospital accredited by the Joint Commission International. But in one day, were doing it all - scans, tests, meetings with specialists - and the price of everything is jaw-dropping.

The video continued to show what Elise called the fanciest hospital shed ever seen, and she consulted with a translator and coordinator named Sam who showed her around the facility. She first got her blood drawn, then underwent an EKG test for blood pressure, and measured her height and weight.

Next, doctors had her head to radiology for a chest X-ray as well as an abdominal and thyroid ultrasound. After that, she was escorted to the nuclear medicine wing where she received a bone density scan.

She then took a lunch break, eating food from popular restaurant BigChefs Market, which supplied the whole hospital and gave patients the option to order food to their rooms. Afterward, she met with the hospitals internal medicine doctor, who went over the results of the more than 30 exams, scans, and cancer markers she received.

Once she asked all of her pressing questions, she went to the gynecologist to get a pap smear and the ophthalmologist to get her eyes checked. She also saw a cardiologist to do a stress test and analyze her heartbeat.

Elise was able to get more exams and scans done than most American patients could afford with the countrys skyrocketing healthcare prices. In the comment section, users were flabbergasted by just how much she was able to do for under $1,000.

This is like ACTUALLY a checkup, one person wrote. Meanwhile, in the US at an annual [appointment] they tap your knee, take your [blood pressure] and send you off.

Another added: EVERY SINGLE specialty doc in one day is life-changing!

Its an absolute crime that we cant do this once a year in America and have it covered by insurance, someone else said. We are so behind.

This isnt the first time that a debate about expensive medical bills in the US has sparked on TikTok. In 2021, one California woman went viral on the app when she revealed that her hospital had billed her more than $50,000 for the birth of her baby. Her insurance plan ultimately paid $50,816.02 for her delivery, and she only owed $250.

However, she explained that most people don't have a spare $50,000 to have a baby, noting it was like a down payment on a house in some place.
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The US has deported 116 Chinese migrants back home in the first large charter flight in five years, the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

The flight, which happened over the weekend, comes as Chinese immigration has become the subject of intense political debate in the upcoming US presidential election.

"We will continue to enforce our immigration laws and remove individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

The department said it was working with China to reduce and deter irregular migration and to disrupt illicit human smuggling through expanded law enforcement efforts.

It did not respond to questions about how long the migrants had been in the US.

In recent years, the United States has had a difficult time returning Chinese nationals who do not have the right to stay in America because China has resisted taking them back. Last year, the United States saw a drastic surge in the number of Chinese immigrants entering the country illegally from Mexico.

US border officials arrested more than 37,000 Chinese nationals on the southern border in 2023, 10 times the number during the previous year.

Chinese migration has increasingly become a rallying cry for Republicans and former President Donald Trump who have raised suspicions about why Chinese migrants are coming to the US.

Asian advocacy organizations are concerned that the rhetoric could encourage harassment of Asians, while migrants themselves have said theyre coming to escape poverty and repression.

Earlier this year, the US and China resumed cooperation on migration issues.

The Chinese government has said it is firmly opposed to all forms of illegal immigration. In a statement in May, China's Embassy in the US said the country's law enforcement was cracking down hard on crimes that harm the tranquillity of national border, and maintained a high pressure against all kinds of smuggling organizations and offenders.

Homeland Security said they are working with China on more removal flights in the future but did not give a timeline for when the next one would happen.

Earlier this year, a charter flight carried a small but unknown number of deportees to the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, according to Thomas Cartwright of Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks deportation flights.

Homeland Security officials did not say how many people were on that 30 March flight, but the Gulfstream V aircraft typically has a seating capacity of 14. It also made a stop in South Korea before heading back to the US, Mr Cartwright said.

The announcement of the large charter flight comes after Ecuador cut off a key route used by Chinese migrants to get to the Western Hemisphere.

Ecuador was one of only two mainland countries in the Americas to offer visa-free entry to Chinese nationals and had become a popular starting point for Chinese migrants to then trek north to the US.

As of 1 July, Ecuador has effectively reinstated visas for Chinese nationals after the South American country said it had seen a worrying increase in irregular migration.
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the U.S. will soon announce an additional $2.3 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, to include anti-tank weapons, interceptors and munitions for Patriot and other air defense systems.

The announcement came as Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with Austin at the Pentagon. And it marks a strong response to pleas from Kyiv for help in battling Russian forces in the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia had dropped more than 800 powerful glide bombs in Ukraine in the last week alone. And he urged national leaders to relax restrictions on the use of Western weapons to strike military targets inside Russia. In particular, he said Ukraine needs the necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are.
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A stingray that got pregnant despite not having shared a tank with a male of her species for many years has died.

North Carolina aquarium announced the news this week.

The Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville said on Facebook late Sunday that the stingray, Charlotte, died after getting a rare reproductive disease. It didn't go into further detail.

Charlotte went viral at the start of the year after her pregnancy was deemed a once-in-a-lifetime science mystery, by the aquarium.

The aquarium, which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, announced in February that Charlotte had gotten pregnant despite not having shared a tank with a male stingray in at least eight years. But it said in late May that she was suffering from a rare reproductive disease and announced in early June that she hadn't given birth and was no longer pregnant.

The original post, alongside two photos of Charlotte and the babies, said: Our stingray, Charlotte, is expecting! We have held this close to our hearts for over 3 months. We have ultrasound images confirmed by two supporters: Dr. Robert Jones, the Aquarium Zvet out of Australia, and Becka Campbell, PhD candidate at Arizona State Univ.

The really amazing thing is we have no male ray! We do have a couple of possible reasons For this event.

Charlotte, a round stingray, in an undated photo at the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO in Hendersonville

In a statement to ABC 13 News, the aquarium said there are two ways in which Charlotte could have become pregnant. One is a rare process called parthenogenesis, in which the eggs develop on their own without fertilisation and create a clone of the mother.

The mostly rare phenomenon can occur in some insects, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles, but not in mammals. Documented examples have included California condors, Komodo dragons and yellow-bellied water snakes.

The second possible explanation for the pregnancy is Charlotte could have mated with one of the young sharks, according to Brenda Ramer, executive director of Team Ecco.

Ms Ramer told the outlet: In mid-July 2023, we moved two one-year-old white spot bamboo males (sharks) into that tank. There was nothing we could find definitively about their maturation rate, so we did not think there would be an issue.

We started to notice bite marks on Charlotte, but saw other fish nipping at her, so we moved fish, but the biting continued.

Speaking about the stingray and her future babies at the time, Ms Ramer added: Were either going to have partho babies or were going to have some kind of a potential mixed breed, and were waiting for Jeff Goldblum to show up because we are Jurassic Park right now!
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Ten members of a Cambodian environmental activist group that campaigned against destructive infrastructure projects and alleged corruption were each sentenced on Tuesday to six years in prison on charges of conspiring against the state.

Three of the members of the group Mother Nature Cambodia were also convicted of insulting Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, for which they were sentenced to an additional two years in prison, giving them a total of eight years behind bars.

Only five of the defendants attended the trial and the others were convicted in absentia. They included four Cambodians whose whereabouts are unknown and Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, a Spanish national who co-founded the group and was deported in 2015 and barred from ever returning to Cambodia.

The five who attended the trial were arrested outside the court after the verdict and sentences were issued. They had marched to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court with supporters, dressed in traditional white clothing worn at funerals, which they said represented the death of justice in Cambodia.

Phun Keoraksmey, a 22-year-old member of the group whose mother was by her side, said she was prepared to go to prison.

But I never want to go back to jail because I never did anything wrong. But I will never run from what I am responsible for. I chose this way, I chose this path, she said.

The Cambodian human rights group Licadho called the verdict very disappointing.

Today, the court has ruled that youth activists fighting for environmental protections and democratic principles are in effect acting against the state, it said. It is astounding that Cambodian authorities are convicting youth activities who are advocating for clean water in Phnom Penh, protecting mangrove forests in Koh Kong and warning against the privatization of land in protected areas and presenting it as an attack against the state.

The group last year was the co-winner of the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes characterized as the Alternative Nobel, issued by a Stockholm-based foundation to organizations and individuals working to safeguard the dignity and livelihoods of communities around the world.

Three members of the group who were in jail at that time were denied permission by Cambodian court authorities to travel to Sweden to accept the award.

Mother Nature, founded in 2012, was deregistered as a nongovernmental organization by the Cambodian government in 2017 but its members vowed to carry on its work, with some serving jailtime in recent years.

The New York-based group Human Rights Watch last month accused Cambodian authorities of trying the activists on politically motivated charges to muzzle criticism of governmental policies.

For more than a decade, Mother Nature has campaigned against environmentally destructive infrastructure projects, exposed corruption in the management of Cambodias natural resources, and mobilized young Cambodians to defend the countrys dwindling biodiversity, it said in a statement. It noted that Cambodia has one of the worlds highest deforestation rates and levels of wildlife trafficking.

Gonzalez-Davidson and two other defendants were charged with defaming the king in statements made during an online meeting.

Cambodia's government has long been accused of using the judicial system to persecute critics and political opponents. The government insists the country observes the rule of law under an electoral democracy, but parties seen as challengers to the ruling Cambodian People's Party have been dissolved by the courts or had their leaders harassed.

Under former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who held power for almost four decades, the government was widely criticized for human rights abuses that included suppression of freedom of speech and association. His son, Hun Manet, succeeded him last year, but there have been few signs of political liberalization.
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A man has been jailed for 35 years after murdering two of his former partners who were scared of him and had both complained to the police about his violence.

Carl Cooper, 66, was in a relationship with Naomi Hunte, 41, who was stabbed to death, and Fiona Holm, 48, whose body has never been found.

Hunte was found dead on her blood-soaked sofa with a stab wound to the chest and Holm disappeared on 20 June 2023.

A jury at Woolwich Crown Court found the defendant guilty of two counts of murder after three days of deliberations.

Jailing Cooper for life with a 35-year minimum term at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Johnson said: I am sure that you, over many years, have been a great danger to women.

Naomi Hunte told police Cooper stalks her ( PA )

The judge added: You have a history of acting in a controlling and coercive manner to your female partners.

Ms Hunte had made previous complaints to police about your controlling coercive behaviour.

Ms Holm had also made a previous complaint to police about your behaviour, she had also complained to friends that you had stabbed her with a screwdriver.

The trial heard that Hunte made a number of domestic call outs to police to her home in 2020 and 2021 and told them that handyman Cooper was obsessed with her.

In a police call out to her home on 29 June 2021, she told officers that Cooper stalks me and Im really scared now.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be a stab wound to the chest, while she had also drunk alcohol and taken drugs including cocaine and cannabis.

Her blood was later found on three different areas of Coopers jacket, and on a knife with a serrated blade, which resembled a steak knife.

Holm, of Catford, southeast London, had also made complaints about Cooper to the police

Scotland Yard later said there is still a 20,000 police reward for information which leads to Holms remains being found as a detective branded Cooper a dangerous, violent domestic abuser who preys on women with vulnerabilities.

Fiona Holm, whose body has never been found ( PA )

Cooper lit fires in the immediate days after Holm went missing and also carried out a wholesale redecoration of his living room, which included stripping off wallpaper, cutting out net curtains and removing a rug, prosecutor Joel Smith KC previously told the jury.

After the verdict, detective chief inspector Kate Blackburn, of the Mets specialist crime command, said: Carl Cooper is a dangerous, violent domestic abuser who preys on women with vulnerabilities.

He took the lives of two vibrant, sociable women who were so very loved by their families and friends. Naomi and Fiona are in my thoughts today.

DCI Blackburn, who said Cooper had gone to great lengths to remove traces of Holms blood from his flat, paid tribute to the families of both women.

She said: They have sat through court and heard the most difficult of information about the deaths of women they deeply loved. I cannot begin to understand the pain they will experience forever.

While I am relieved that he will be incarcerated in a place where he poses no threat to women, my greatest regret will always be that there wasnt sufficient evidence to charge him earlier.
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A boy cried out in agony after he was shot in the leg alongside another teenager in west London.

Armed police rushed to the scene after a 15-year-old and 16-year-old were shot in Verity Close, in the Ladbroke Grove area, at about 11.40pm on Monday.

They were taken to hospital with gunshot injuries which were later declared not life-threatening, and no arrests have yet been made.

One local said he was woken up by four shots that rang out in the quiet, residential cul-de-sac near Notting Hill.

He told The Independent: I heard the shots and went straight out to have a look. I heard the boy screaming Ive been shot. It looked like he had been shot in the leg.

Then the neighbours came out. There were some passers-by calling the police as they were walking past when it happened.

Then the police and ambulances turned up. I didnt see anyone fleeing the scene.

Police remained at the scene the morning after the shooting ( Supplied )

Neighbour Marie White, 67, told The Standard: I heard a bang like an explosion, it woke me up. I didnt realise it was a gunshot at first but there was suddenly police everywhere.

There was a helicopter above as well. It was very dramatic.

Detectives remained at the scene on Tuesday morning collecting evidence in the investigation.

A Met Police spokesman said Scotland Yards Trident unit, which investigates gun crime, was leading the investigation.

He added: Officers, including firearms officers, attended and found two boys  aged 15 and 16  with gunshot injuries. They were taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Trident detectives are leading the investigation and are working closely with colleagues from the Central West Command Unit who police Kensington.

A crime scene remains in place. At this early stage there have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Any witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 9161/01Jul. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Residents of a housing scheme that describes itself as the UKs leading social enterprise are facing a 500 per cent hike in their heating bills.

Families and pensioners living in Greendykes housing development in Edinburgh say they are frightened and totally out of control in light of the sudden increase.

Their homes are heated by shared heat networks commonly used in blocks of flats - which are not subject to the Ofgem price cap - and they are unable to switch suppliers.

Single parent Emma Watt, 47, says she is having to request her thermostat be turned off entirely over the winter as she cannot afford to pay the hiked charges.

She said her bills will go from 150 to 509 per month under the new charges, which take their energy costs from 5p/kw to 25.54p p/KWh from August 1.

As a single parent with two daughters I absolutely cannot afford these increases and its really scary, the social care worker told The Independent.

This area has a higher proportion of child poverty and deprivation as it is. This is putting people at the bottom of the pile in Edinburgh in an even worse situation. No one can take on more debt at the moment. I dont know where they think this money would come from.

Residents of the Greendykes housing development say they are frightened by the 500% heating bill hike ( Google Maps )

Emma is one of several disabled residents in the development and was shocked to receive a letter sent from Places for People, who manage the development, which advised residents use air fryers or take quicker showers to manage their bills.

I have MS, so to hear from someone that I should just take a quick shower is an absolute insult, she said.

One of her neighbours and fellow single parent, Emma Milton, 57, is facing similar problems and says her heating bill will go from 50 per month to 250 per month.

Before moving into Greendykes, she was living in emergency housing with her two sons and was really happy to have been able to afford a shared ownership deposit of her flat.

Most of my neighbours are the same and have shared ownership. Im a single parent and couldnt afford a house my own, the early years officer said.

I feel totally out of control. I thought maybe they had the wrong tariff but we cant do anything about it. The law is not on our side and it doesnt make any sense at all.

They can just do what they like and thats frightening.

Emma Milton was really excited when she moved into her flat with her two sons ( Supplied )

Households on heating networks are not protected under Ofgems price cap, which sets the maximum suppliers can charge for each unit of energy, meaning that even though they are domestic properties, they are supplied energy via their landlord who purchases it on the commercial market.

Evelyn and Ian Docherty, 69 and 73, say they are now in a very scary situation as they are not sure how theyll afford the price hike with their pension.

Residents were shocked when their bills increased in April without any notice. After complaining, Places for People froze the bills while they conducted a review, which found the price rise would still go ahead on August 1.

In April, Evelyn put 40 from the couples pension into their meter, which usually lasts them four weeks, only to find it had run out in just two days.

When we moved here we were told it would be cheap to run, but look at it now, its horrendous, the retired GP receptionist said. Im beginning to freak out now and really not looking forward to winter.

In April, I thought the meter as wrong or there had been a mistake. I wont be able to put money in my meter this winter or heat this flat up. We get no help and its very scary.

Ian, a retired painter and decorator, and Evelyn live in a block mainly filled with other retirees who fear being cold this winter.

Ian and Evelyn Docherty ( Supplied )

David Chalmers, 47, said his mother, Linda Chalmers, 70, was told by her neighbours about the price rise after 10 in her meter lasted only one day.

Theyre supposed to be a socially responsible landlord but theyve put the price up 500 per cent for elderly and vulnerable people, Mr Chalmers said. Her pension doesnt go up to match this so shes either going to be cold or stuck in fuel poverty. Im really worried about my mum and her neighbours.

A Places for People Scotland spokesperson said: After customers queried their new heat tariff in April, we wanted to make sure we looked into their concerns. So, we reviewed the tariff and the process followed and froze rates to their previous lower level while we did this.

After a thorough and careful review, we can confirm that the new heat tariff procured at the end of last year was based on expert advice and reflects the market conditions at the time. It will therefore be brought in from 1 August.

We understand that the increase feels significant, but it is because the long-term fixed tariff previously in place kept energy costs lower for these customers in recent years while bills elsewhere rose. The new prices are more reflective of the current market following the end of the previous contract.

We would never want to see anyone struggle to meet costs and will continue to offer tailored support. We have a range of financial support schemes available to our customers and we are reaching out to everyone to provide help where needed.
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Jay Slaters mother has urged police in Tenerife to continue their investigation into her sons dissapearance after authorities called off the search for the 19-year-old.

Tenerife officials brought their gruelling 13-day search to a close on Sunday following calls for volunteers to assist in a busqueda masiva  a massive search  on Saturday.

Mr Slaters family, however, have not given up hope of finding him and vowed to continue their own search, while urging authorities to continue their investigation.

A source reportedly said the family are in constant contact with authorities, but were left blindsided by the decision to cut off the search.

The source told The Mirror: The family want to be sure the police arent giving up on Jay. They are in constant contact with them about the case.

Mr Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, his father, Warren Slater, and brother, Zak, have all flown out to the island and continue searching for the Lancashire teenager.

Jay Slaters mother Debbie Duncan, his father Warren Slater and brother Zak have all flown out to the island while they continue searching for the Lancashire teenager. ( PA/ITN )

The 19-year-old disappeared on June 17 near Buenavista del Norte, after travelling there with two men he had met at a festival around 27 miles further south on the island.

The apprentice bricklayer 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 that Monday morning.

Despite the efforts of mountain rescue teams, the Guardia Civil and volunteers, no trace of the Lancashire teenager has been found in the mountain region.

Among the volunteers who have joined efforts in finding Jay is TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who also worked on the Nicola Bulley case.

The 19-year-old disappeared on June 17 near Buenavista del Norte, after travelling there with two men he had met at a festival around 27 miles further south on the island. ( PA/Reuters )

He offered his services free of charge and flew to Tenerife to conduct his own investigation last week and has since urged Mr Slaters family to use the money raised to hire experts to continue the search.

He wrote on X: In light of the police search ending. I have suggested the family should use the GoFundMe money to continue the search using experts in searching.

Over 47,000 has been donated to the fundraiser so far, with Ms Duncan saying the funds would be used to cover the familys costs to stay in Tenerife.

Rachel Hargreaves, a close family friend who has joined Mr Slaters parents on the largest of the Canary Islands, told MailOnline: No one is leaving until we find Jay.

She added: We stay and we do what we need to do. Nothing has changed. We will continue to search for him.

Tenerife officials brought their gruelling 13-day search to a close on Sunday ( PA )

While the search on the ground grinds to a halt, a local mayor in Tenerife insisted the investigation into Mr Slaters disappearance remains open.

The investigation that the Civil Guard is carrying out in this case has several lines of inquiry open, local Mayor Emilio Navarro told Sky News.

Its not that the search has stopped. Maybe, yes, in the territory, the field search, but other lines are open.
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Jay Slaters mother spoke of her pain and agony in a new statement after Spanish police ended their land search for the missing teenager.

Debbie Duncan thanked the Guardia Civil who had worked tirelessly up in the mountains where Jays last phone call was traced and was continuing to investigate why Mr Slater had travelled so far away from his Tenerife accommodation.

She said despite their efforts over the past 12 days the family have no more information on his whereabouts.

A new photo of Jay Slater was released by his family ( LBT Global / family )

In a statement issued through British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global, she said: My son, Jay Dean Slater, came to the holiday island of Tenerife on 13 June with his friend to attend a music festival. On 17 June after not returning to his apartment he was reported as a missing person.

Jay is a normal guy who is in his third year of an apprenticeship, and he is a very popular young man with a large circle of friends.

We are a very close family and are absolutely devastated about his disappearance. Words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing. He is our beautiful boy with his whole life ahead of him and we just want to find him.

Firefighters search near to the village of Masca, Tenerife ( PA Wire )

We do not have any information on his whereabouts. The Guardia Civil have worked tirelessly up in the mountains where Jays last phone call was traced. They conducted a land search for 12 days which involved every resource they had available.

Although the land search ended, the Spanish police still continue with their investigations into why Jay had travelled to the location so far away from his accommodation.

We offer our sincere thanks to the Spanish authorities who continue to follow lines of enquiries.

Ms Duncan also referenced the fake rumours spreading across social media following Mr Slaters disappearance.

She added: We are aware of the conspiracy theories and speculation on social media and some websites, and can only describe this as vile, the negative comments are extremely distressing to our family.

We also embrace the love and support we have received from across the globe. It has not gone unnoticed, especially his home town in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

As a family we would like the world to respect our privacy at this present time.

A Spanish police officer looks over the village of Masca, Tenerife, during the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater ( PA Wire )

On Friday, the Guardia Civil had appealed for volunteer associations, such as firefighters and individual volunteers who were experts in rugged terrain to assist in a busqueda masiva  massive search  on Saturday.

The search in the village of Masca, near his last-known location, took in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths.

He had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca and the two men said to have rented the property were later ruled not relevant to the case, according to reports.

TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas flew out to Tenerife last week after claiming he could solve the mystery behind the 19-year-olds disappearance in three days.

He said: We still have a number of outstanding actions, but have given the family a preliminary breakdown of findings. In light of the police search ending I have suggested the family should use the GoFundMe money to continue the search using experts in searching.

I would appeal again, if you have any direct information having spoken to Jay or anyone that was with him overnight June 16 and 17 and have not yet been in contact, please do so.
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An urgent missing persons appeal has been launched after a Scottish holidaymaker failed to return home from Poland.

Sam Kennedy, aged 20, was due to fly back to Glasgow from Krakow on Thursday but he did not arrive, and his family and friends have not heard from him.

The family of the Clydebank man has issued an appeal on social media that has been shared by thousands of people.

Sister Robyn wrote: This is my brother Sam, he was supposed to have returned home from Poland (Krakow) on Thursday night but me and my family have not heard from him.

If anyone knows any information that could help us find us find him, please let us know and please share this post so we can reach as many people as possible.

Any help is hugely appreciated by me and my family. Thank you.

Within hours almost 2,000 people had shared her plea on Facebook post. One wrote: Praying he gets home safe and well. God bless.

The Foreign Office confirmed it was supporting the young mans family during the search.

Mr Kennedys disappearance comes as the high-profile official search for missing man Jay Slater came to an end on Monday in Tenerife, police confirmed.

Mr Slaters family say they are not giving up on finding the 19-year-old, who disappeared on June 17 near Buenavista del Norte, after travelling there with two men he had met at a festival around 27 miles further south on the island.
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The friends of missing British sailor Sarm Heslop have renewed hope that authorities in the Virgin Islands may now support their search following the resignation of its police commissioner.

Sarm Heslop, 41, vanished from her American boyfriend Ryan Banes 47-foot luxury catamaran in the Caribbean on 8 March 2021. He is believed to have been the last person to see her alive.

Friends behind the campaign #JusticeForSarm said police commissioner Ray Martinez previously failed to engage with the search for Ms Heslop - but he has now resigned amid separate allegations of corruption.

Campaigners have since written to island governor Albert Bryan asking him to demonstrate his commitment to anti-corruption and the US territorys safety by agreeing to meet with their family advocate, former Met detective David Johnston, who was hired to help find out what happened to Ms Heslop.

Ms Heslop was last seen in March 2021 ( Find Sarm )

A #JusticeForSarm spokesperson said: We have been seeking this meeting for over 18 months and despite assurances from police commissioner Ray Martinez, he failed to engage with us.

We see this as an opportunity for the governor to demonstrate his zero-tolerance stance and reassure not just us, but the wider island community that he supports openness, transparency and effective policing on the island.

They added they were shocked but not surprised to hear Mr Martinez had quit.

Local reports suggest Mr Martinez is being investigated over misuse of funds relating to a security contract awarded to his force.

Government house communications director, Richard Motta Jr, said in a statement: The administration has been informed that Ray Martinez, the commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department, is implicated in an ongoing federal investigation.

Adhering to our zero-tolerance policy against corruption, the governor has accepted Mr Martinezs resignation to ensure the integrity of our law enforcement efforts.

Ms Heslop, a former flight attendant from Southampton in Hampshire, was last seen boarding Mr Banes boat where she had been working as a chef on Caribbean tours, after the couple matched on Tinder eight months earlier.

They had been out for dinner at the 420 to Center bar on St John, before returning to the 500,000 catamaran.

Ray Martinez, who has resigned as police commissioner after being implicated in an ongoing federal investigation, holds the US Honor Flag ( Virgin Islands Police Department Facebook Page )

At the time of her disappearance, Mr Bane said the couple watched Netflix and fell asleep. He called 911 at about 2.35am the next morning, told police that he had been woken by the anchor alarm and went to investigate  and realised she was missing.

Ms Heslops wallet, passport and phone had been left on board, and he said she might have fallen overboard.

The sea captain waited until 11.46am the next day to call the coast guard  a nine-hour gap which her friends and now family want him to provide a timeline for.

Mr Bane has never been formally interviewed by police and no forensic search of the boat, Siren Song, was ever carried out.

Ryan Bane at a gym in the US ( Find Sarm )

In the days after Ms Heslops disappearance, Mr Bane told family he was searching for her as he reportedly hired an attorney and declined to be interviewed by Virgin Islands police.

He sailed away shortly after and was spotted in Caribbean islands before pictures recently emerged of him hitting the gym.

It is believed Mr Bane has returned to his family home in his home state of Michigan and is now training to be a pilot.

Ms Heslop, right, with her mother Brenda Street ( Courtesy of Heslop family )

Ms Heslops mother Brenda Street told The Mirror recently that she believes police have been dragging their feet in the investigation.

She said: I think corruption on the island has affected this case. There are too many things that dont make sense and dont add up. When we went to the island people wouldnt speak to us about Sarm and on the posters asking for information someone had gone round and scrubbed out the number to call.

I know it could be to do with protecting tourism but listen  my beautiful daughter has gone missing and I dont give a s*** about how it affects tourism.

In a statement, a lawyer for Mr Bane said: While we empathise with Sarms familys frustration, Ryan Bane had nothing to do with Sarms disappearance. Ryan is heartbroken that Sarm went missing ... The coastguard was twice on the vessel conducting a search and questioning Ryan. They had unfettered access to the vessel and Ryan answered all questions posed to him.

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: We are assisting the family of a British woman who has been reported missing in the US Virgin Islands and are in contact with the US Virgin Islands Police and the US coast guard.
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A year on from the Titan submersible disaster, an expedition to the most famous shipwreck in history is about to take place.

The upcoming expedition is not a commercial tourist trip, but will be an unmanned mission charting the deterioration of the ship, which sank in April 1912.

It is being carried out by RMS Titanic Inc, which owns the salvage rights to the Titanic, and is working to preserve the legacy of its tragic story for future generations.

News of this summers dive met with controversy in the wake of last years submersible disaster, which claimed the lives of five men.

According to reports last year, the US federal government attempted to block the mission, citing the wrecks status as a gravesite.

But RMS Titanic Inc previously obtained permission to explore the wreck after laying out plans that seek to minimise disturbance to the rest of the Titanic wreck, including to the hull of the ship and the remains of those 1,500 souls lost in the sinking of the ship.

RMS Titanic Inc told The Independent that this months trip is still going ahead as planned.

Behind every great mission is an expert team. Meet the @Cinnovationllc ROV mobilization team working hard to prep the ROVs for our July 2024 imaging and research mission.#TITANICExpedition2024 #Cinnovation pic.twitter.com/Am2EbgxN9a  RMS Titanic, Inc. (@RMSTitanic_Inc) July 1, 2024

The company confirmed to The Independent that, unlike last years doomed dive, this years mission will not be carried out by manned submersibles but by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) instead.

In a Reddit Ask Me Anything this week, RMS Titanic Inc said it plans to keep the vehicles in the water for a full 20 days to obtain as much information as possible about the wreck site.

We arent using manned submersibles this time around, so thankfully we dont have to worry about that, just the cabin fever of being stuck on the ship, the company wrote.

This months trip will be RMS Titanic Incs first visit to the wreck since 2010 and it will utilize the most recent technological advancements to document the site.

It plans to identify objects for potential recovery on future dives and to document as much of the ship as possible to learn new details about the sinking, as well as to examine its wider debris field, which the firm admits could be full of surprises.

RMS Titanic Inc plans to document the debris field and identify potential objects for recovery. ( Institute for Exploration, Center for Archaeological Oceanograph )

There is a particular interest in recovering the Marconi wireless system, which was used to send the SOS call the night the ship sank in the middle of the North Atlantic.

Visits to the wreck have been a source of controversy since it was first discovered in September 1985, with many survivors and families of the victims requesting that it be left alone because of its status as a gravesite for more than 1,500 people.

While it was reported last summer that RMS Titanic Inc would be attempting to go inside the wreck where possible, in its recent Reddit Q&A, it said that it will not be doing this on this expedition.

The Titan submersible lost contact with surface vessels during a dive to the wreck of the Titanic. Pictured here is an image of the ship taken on one of its successful missions. ( PA Media )

As the Titanic lies in international waters, it has no owner.

The company obtained exclusive salvage rights to the wreck in 1994 through an agreement with the Liverpool and London Steamship Protection and Indemnity Association in 1994, which asserted potential rights over the wreck under the maritime law of salvage.

The investigation into last years submersible disaster remains ongoing.

This photo provided by OceanGate Expeditions shows the submersible vessel named Titan used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic. ( AP )

It made international headlines when the tourist sub lost contact around an hour and 45 minutes into its dive to the Titanic. The paying guests forked out $250,000 each for a chance to see the wreck.

What followed was an intense international search and rescue mission before its debris were recovered near the bow of the Titanic.

It was then concluded that it had suffered a catastrophic implosion, instantly killing British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood, 48; and his son Suleman Dawood, 19.

The Independent has reached out to RMS Titanic Inc for further information.
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Sir Mohamed Mansour, the senior treasurer of the Conservative Party, announced on Saturday he was resigning from his post 10 days after Rishi Sunaks election defeat.

The Egyptian-born billionaire had donated 5m to the party and had been a key player in raising other funds. His donation was the biggest for the Conservatives since 2001.

He told The Independent: I have been honoured to serve my country and party since December 2022 and it has been a privilege to do so.

Rishi Sunak has announced his intention to depart as party leader, and it makes sense for me to also step down at this time. A new leadership team will bring fresh talent and thinking to the task ahead: guiding the party on its path of renewal.

It adds to the growing list of vacancies for the Tories as they seek a new leader in the aftermath of the worst electoral defeat in its history. Key to their future after selecting an MP to lead them in opposition will be the need to refill their coffers.

Mr Mansour was given a knighthood by Sunak in a surprise honours list in March last year alongside Demis Hassabis, founder of artificial intelligence company DeepMind, and filmmaking couple Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas, who received a knighthood and a damehood. American businessman Ted Sarandos, the co-chief of Netflix, was also given an honorary knighthood.

The 76-year-old billionaire is a naturalised British citizen who has donated to many charitable causes including the Kings Foundation and a memorial for the victims of Covid. His knighthood was awarded for services to business, charity and political service.

Mr Mansour has previously spoken about the prime minister in glowing terms and has said he understands how growth is generated in the modern economy.

He also served from 2005 to 2009 as a transport minister in Egypt under Hosni Mubarak, the late president who quit office during the 2011 Arab Spring. Mr Mansour resigned to return to business life. He famously went from rags to riches, twice losing his fortune due to nationalisation by Egypt and also Sudan, each time rebuilding.

Mubarak, who died in 2020, was considered an autocrat and was accused of maintaining his grip on office by cracking down on political opposition and stifling free speech.

Mr Mansour will continue to support the Tory party but not as an active member of the partys executive.

He is also one of the biggest investors in football in the US on the brink of buying a Major League Soccer franchise for a record $500m (400m). The new franchise, based in San Diego, California, is the sixth biggest football deal in the world, behind Chelsea, AC Milan and Manchester United, but more than the 305m Saudi takeover of Newcastle in 2022.

He is expected to create the club from scratch by recruiting a full set of players, staff and an academy, which sources suggest could add an extra $200m to the bill.
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Voters have been required to bring photographic identification for certain elections in the UK since May 2023.

This came after parliament passed the Elections Act in April 2022, enacting a recommendation the Electoral Commission first made in 2014.

Voter ID is now required at by-elections and recall petitions, general elections, local elections and referendums in England, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.

The new rules do not apply to Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, or council elections taking place in Scotland or Wales.

The new ID laws have already been in place in many local elections and by-elections since being implemented. But 2024 will be the first year they are in place for a general election, after Rishi Sunak announced a snap election on July 4 at the end of May.

Heres everything you need to know about voter ID ahead of upcoming general election:

What ID do I need to vote?

There are many different forms of ID that will be accepted at the polling station. It must be photographic ID - meaning a bank card is not valid, for instance.

Accepted forms of ID include:

Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country

A photo driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (including a provisional driving licence)

A Blue Badge

Older Persons Bus Pass

Disabled Persons Bus Pass

Freedom Pass

Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

Biometric immigration document

Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)

National identity card issued by an EEA state

Anonymous Electors Document

You can use an out-of-date photo ID provided it still looks like you. A full list of accepted forms of ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

What if I dont have voter ID?

If you do not have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, you are able to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. Its free to apply for, and will be accepted at the polling station when you want to vote.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate on the Electoral Commission website. It is free and they do not expire, although it is recommended you reapply every 10 years to ensure your likeness remains similar to the ID.

A voter leaves a polling station after voting in the Rochdale by-election on February 29 ( Getty Images )

If you dont bring an accepted form of photo ID to the polling station, you will be turned away.

What are the issues around voter ID?

The government sought to pass the new voter ID laws to crack down on election fraud, specifically personation. This is a criminal offence, where a person votes at an election pretending to be someone theyre not.

Writing after they were passed, then-levelling up minister Kemi Badenoch said the new law means we can eliminate election fraud and make elections more inclusive, ensuring that everyone eligible to vote will continue to have the opportunity to do so.

However, critics of the voter ID rules have pointed out that cases of electoral fraud are rare in the UK, and personation even more so. Latest data from the Electoral Commission shows that, between 2018 and 2022, only 11 of the 1,386 alleged cases of electoral fraud resulted in convictions.

There are also concerns that voter ID laws can disproportionately affect marginalised communities ability to vote.

In 2021, government-commissioned research found that those with limiting disabilities, the unemployed, people without qualifications, and those who had never voted before were among the least likely to hold a valid form of photo ID.

Further research presented to the House of Commons found that the changes may result in 1.1 million fewer people voting in the next general election.

As there is no justification for this threat to the right to vote, it feels like an opportunistic attack on the rights of some of the most marginalised people in society, said a spokesperson for the Liberty human rights advocacy group in 2021.

A classic example of ruling through division and distrust.

The governments choice to accept forms of local travel photo ID for older people, but not younger people, has also come under scrutiny. Neither the 16-25 or 26-30 railcard are accepted.

Labour MP Nadia Whittome said: The new voter ID requirement will stop many young people from voting  and it seems that is by design, not by accident.

The government has given older voters, who are more likely to vote Conservative, a large range of acceptable forms of ID, while providing very few options for young people.

Levelling up minister Dehenna Davison has defended the decision, saying: Young persons railcards are generally offered in both digital and hard copy formats.

The government did not specifically include digital format documents for the roll-out of the policy, in order to support its effective delivery.
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One in seven young Black and Asian Britons are making concrete plans to leave the UK due to government failings, racism and economic worries, a new study suggests.

A survey by research consultancy Word on the Curb found 15 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds in this group are actively exploring options to emigrate, while a further 51% of those polled said they had recently thought about moving abroad.

Among key reasons given for wanting to leave, 39 per cent of respondents cited the cost of living crisis, 28 per cent dissatisfaction with the current government, while 19 per cent said racial inequality was a factor.

The figures have fuelled fears an exodus of young first and second generation immigrant Britons would cause another blow to the UK economy, Word on the Curb said.

Aisha, a 26-year-old whos planning to leave the UK for Dubai, told The Independent that Brexit and the cost of living crisis had contributed to her decision emigrate.

She said: A series of events led to my decision to move and it was really triggered by Brexit.

I think that Brexit one of the most vindictive, xenophobic things that our government has ever done to young people which denied us the benefits of being in the European Union and the opportunity to move freely across the continent.

From there, everything has started getting worse in the last year or so, in terms of young peoples quality of life.

Frustrated by the soaring rent prices and the cost of living toll, Aisha, inspired by a friend who quit Britain for better prospects, explained that these are additional factors that are driving her out of the country too.

I cant afford to live in London anymore, she added. I cannot live where I grew up and thats annoying me. I have to go very, very far out.

I see that a lot of Londoners are moving to place like the Midlands and then thats displacing people in the Midlands, because the rents are going up; so were being displaced and were displacing other people which I dont like.

Project manager Folu, 33, aims to find a place where he can thrive both professionally and personally, away from the deteriorating social landscape marked by rising racism and anti-immigrant sentiments in the UK.

Research highlights that key reasons for wanting to leave include the cost of living crisis, dissatisfaction with the current government and racial inequality ( Alamy/PA )

Figures from the Office of Statistics shows race hate crimes across England and Wales have increased by 190 per cent in the last 10 years.

Folu said: If theres one key issue thats making me want to leave the country, its the level of racism.

It became visual when we had the Brexit referendum and then it became as clear as day when the George Floyd, Black Lives Matter incident happened, he said.

Pointing to the Rwanda Bill, he said migrants are villified in the UK.

The Black Pound report, published in 2022, found Black, Asian and multi-ethnic consumer segments in the UK hold 4.5 billion in annual disposable income, with 375 million available to spend monthly.

Word on the Curb is warning that an exodus of young Black and Asian Britons means the economy stands to lose a significant portion of this spending power.

The organisations chief executive, Ndubuisi Uchea, said: Participants shared their fears, from the countrys economic crisis and inhibited socioeconomic mobility to concerns about raising children in big cities and the demoralising housing crisis.

These experiences often marginalise and other-ise young minority Brits, adversely affecting their mental and emotional well-being.

Word On The Curb surveyed 1,600 individuals from ethnic minority communities, with more than two-thirds of young Britons polled describing the UK as having a low quality of life. This stance was particularly pronounced among LGBTQ+ communities.

Popular destinations for relocation include Europe (33 per cent), Asia (30 per cent), North America (24 per cent) and the Middle East (22 per cent).

Word On The Curbs research also highlights broader concerns within Black, Asian and minoritised communities.

While the economy and the cost-of-living crisis are seen as the most important issues for the government to address (45 per cent), healthcare (21 per cent) and housing (27 per cent) were also commonly highlighted.

Additionally, over a quarter (27 per cent) of respondents feel sceptical about the upcoming election.
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Former foreign secretaries Jack Staw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind have dismissed concerns that Marine Le Pens National Rally (RN) topping the first round of the French election should be seen as a warning about Nigel Farage and Reform UK.

The result in France has shocked Europe and threatened President Emmanuel Macrons Le Marche centrist party with a major defeat. He is now dependent on a deal with the far left to keep RN out of power.

Concerns have also been expressed after the shock result in France over the weekend with a number of people linking it to the rise of Reform in the polls in the UK election taking place on Thursday.

Farage has pushed his party to second in some polls ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Mr Farage has previously been pictured with Ms Le Pen, the French far right leader, and suggested he could work with her on issues like immigration. However, he also suggested that she could be a a disaster for France.

Connections between the two had previously been made because of their shared views on immigration, both expressing criticism of the west over the war in Ukraine and their similar views on the culture war issues.

Ms Le Pen is also believed to have looked at Ukip as a means of remodelling her party from its fascist past to a rightwing nationalist one.

However, there are differences with Mr Farage taking a much more libertarian view to economic policy in particular.

Le Pens party has topped the poll in France ( REUTERS )

And Mr Straw and Sir Malcolm insisted that the differences do not stop there. Neither expect Reform to perform a similar surge as RN because of crucial differences between the parties - not least because they believe Farage is a one man show.

Sir Malcolm, who was John Majors foreign secretary between 1995 and 1997, said: They are not remotely comparable. Le Pen leads a major party, with a clear ideological identity and many years of growing popular support.

Farage has his own opinions and has some popularity as a campaigner. It is by no means clear if he will even win his own seat in Clacton.

His main objective is to damage the Tories by syphoning of votes that will help Labour win more MPs. He may or may not inflict real damage but he remains an individual not a cause.

Meanwhile, Mr Straw, who served as Labours foreign secretary from 2001 to 2006, argued that both Le Pen and Farage provided good reasons not to have a proportional representation electoral system.

Former foreign secretary Jack Straw ( Getty Images )

He said: I follow French politics as closely as I can. The RN did do very well in the first round but if the left alliance (Nouveau Front populaire) does withdraw in constituencies where it has come third, and Macron's Ensemble does likewise my guess is that the left and centre should win more seats together than the RN, but the RN are now plainly established as a very serious force in French politics.

For all sorts of reasons the RN is much better established than is Farage's lot. It's partly the voting system but partly because thanks to Brexit and Johnson's decision to expel many good One Nation Tories from their party in 2019 the far right rump inside the Tory Party is so much larger than it was - and Sunak has lacked the ability to control it.

Also British society is not so riven as is French in my view. But don't forget that the French voting system is ultimately a first-past-the-post system in the final ballot. If either France or the UK had a PR system God knows where we'd be - except in a mess.
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Jacob Rees-Mogg said he wants to build a wall in the middle of the English channel and questioned the mental acuity of US president Joe Biden.

Mr Rees-Mogg told young Tory activists that he would vote for former US president Trump if he could and that he was right to build the wall along the border with Mexico.

In a leaked recording obtained by The Guardian, he said: If I were American Id want the border closed, Id be all in favour of building a wall. Id want to build a wall in the middle of the English Channel, the former cabinet minister said.

Mr Rees-Mogg is currently campaigning hard to regain his North East Somerset and Hanham seat amid a strong challenge from Labours Dan Norris.

Hes not the only member of the Tory party who has previously admitted his admiration for Mr Trump. Former prime minister Liz Truss has backed Mr Trump to win the presidential election this year and said the world was safer when he was in the White House.

In comments to the BBC in April, she said: Im not saying that I agree with absolutely everything hes ever said.

But added: I do agree that under Donald Trump when he was president of the United States, the world was safer.

I want to work with fellow conservatives to take on what I believe is a real threat of Western society and civilization being undermined by left-wing extreme ideas.

Nigel Farage with former US president Donald Trump ( AP )

Boris Johnson said Mr Trumps return could be a big win for the world and Miriam Cates has also expressed support for the former US president.

Speaking before a pub crawl in March organised by a Young Conservative group, Mr Rees-Mogg said: Every so often, I slightly peek over the parapet, like that image from the second world war of the man looking over the wall, and say if I were an American, I would vote for Donald Trump and its always the most unpopular thing I ever say in British politics, but Im afraid its true. I would definitely vote for Donald Trump against Joe Biden.

He added that Mr Biden doesnt like Britain and said that he worried about the current US presidents mental acuity.

The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is also a big fan of Mr Trump, having been the first UK politician to meet him after his 2016 White House election victory.

Prior to his decision to join Reform UK earlier this month, the partys candidate for Clacton had said he planned to help Mr Trump with his presidential campaign this year.

But he has since admitted: If Im elected the MP for Clacton, and Im there every Friday  itll become more difficult but not impossible.

The Independent has contacted Mr Rees-Mogg for comment.
I envy Sir Keir Starmer. Not for the job hes about to get, nor his commitment to solving societys most intractable problems. But for the childlike naivete in his endearing devotion to family.

In one of his last interviews before possibly becoming prime minister, he admitted that he and his wife Victoria are adamant that theyll down tools at 6pm at the end of the working week to sit around the dinner table with their two teenage children, no matter what.

He told Virgin Radio: Weve had a strategy in place and well try to keep to it, which is to carve out protected time for the kids, so on a Friday  Ive been doing this for years  I will not do a work-related thing after six oclock, pretty well come what may. There are a few exceptions, but thats what we do.

Its all very sweet but does he not realise that trying to solve the housing crisis, breathe life into the NHS and manage immigration is far easier than having a loving and harmonious Friday night family dinner, complete with laughter, sparkling conversation, and chicken thats not been overcooked?

In my house, its a war zone. Or was, until we saw sense and abandoned the whole idea of Friday night togetherness. Admittedly, there were moments of joy and tranquillity (possibly aided by alcohol) but, for the most part, there was endless bickering, made worse by the frustrations of a working week that, in reality, never ends.

There were tantrums about not having phones at the table (mine and theirs), full-on screaming matches about why takeaways would be preferable to home cooking (that might have been me) and short tempers brought on by overenthusiastic drinking (me again) or being made to sit at the table when wed all rather have been somewhere else.

If Sir Keir really thinks that after a week of tussling with his cabinet, arguing with aides, fending off abuse from opposition MPs and going head to head with a combative media, hes going to find solace around the dinner table with his teenage children, he may not be as astute as I thought.

Feller: Work also gives me purpose beyond being a dad and a husband and Im proud of my achievements ( Supplied )

The point is we all want to believe the myth. The fantasy that family time is always wholesome and nourishing. Like political promises that end up in party manifestos, its a seductive idea. The reality, however, is that the more we insist on something happening, the less likely it will be.

We also need to be realistic about the way technology has transformed our working lives. I run a business which relies on me being there 24/7. If Im not, I lose work. If people need some help negotiating a business dilemma or need me to devote the entire weekend to a project with a Monday morning deadline or one of my US clients is calling, I need to be there.

Putting work first is one of the reasons why the business is so successful. I am rewarded handsomely so that I can put something organic and overpriced on the Friday night table in the first place.

Work also gives me purpose beyond being a dad and a husband and Im proud of my achievements. It has taken a lot of hard work to get where I am and I refuse to feel guilty about that. Ive always wanted my children to grow up knowing that Im there for them, but also that work sometimes needs to come first. It makes me happy and it makes a lot of things that make them happy possible too. Sometimes, the balance gets out of whack but that's life.

Sir Keir, if you do get the big job, enjoy it while you can. If Trump wins in November, you may have to spend Friday nights preventing the collapse of global society

Its unrealistic to think that you can suddenly shift between being a good employer and a good parent at 6pm. What a ridiculous metaphor switching off is. If youve got a stressful job and you love it (and have spent the last week telling the country to back you because you will be great at it, like Sir Keir has), there is no switch, there is no off. When youve got the most important and exciting job in the country, why would you even want to?

Those defending Sir Keirs decision have pointed out that his wife Victoria is Jewish and the family observe traditional Shabbat dinners on Friday nights. Sir Keir said protecting time to spend with his son and daughter, 16 and 13, made him more relaxed and a better decision-maker.

I am also Jewish and understand that the beginning of the Sabbath is a moment for reflection, to be grateful for what we have, who we are and that were together. But, my Jewish parents were often out working on Friday evenings while other families were blessing bread.

Starmer is about to inherit the most important job in the country  there wont be much time for Friday night dinner ( Reuters )

They prioritised work because they had to and then eventually wanted to. Like me, they were there in a litany of other ways, when they could and when it mattered. But not as a God-given matter of course.

Without work, I know Id be a rubbish husband and father. I know this because when I suddenly and catastrophically lost my job a decade ago, I had all the time in the world to devote myself to family life. I remember looking forward so much to those Friday nights, tackling an absurdly complicated Ottolenghi recipe and the popping of a cork.

But I got bored of it pretty quickly. The joy I needed lay in work, not the oven. And as work returned and I got busier and more stressed, I became a better father and husband. I was happier which meant so were the kids.

So, I say to Sir Keir, if you do get the big job, enjoy it while you can. If Donald Trump wins in November, you may have to spend Friday nights preventing the collapse of global society. More preferable than trying to get any sense out of a pair of sulky teenagers.

Grant Feller is the founder of media consultancy Every Rung and writes The Storytelling Newsletter on Substack
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A row has erupted after the Tories criticised Sir Keir Starmer for his commitment to spending time with his children after 6pm on Fridays.

The Conservatives suggested that Sir Keirs remarks, made during an interview with Virgin Radio, implied he would be a part-time prime minister if elected, with Rishi Sunak commenting, I havent finished at six ever.

But the Labour Party leader countered that safeguarding time for his 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter makes him more relaxed and a better decision-maker, adding: There are a few exceptions, but thats what we do.

Several have labelled the attack desperate, noting that Starmers wife, Victoria, is Jewish and the family observes traditional Shabbat dinners on Friday nights.

Now we want to know what you think. Would Sir Keir be right to stop work for his family at 6pm on Fridays if elected prime minister? Or should someone in this position always be on call as the Conservatives suggest?

Do you make the effort to put strict divisions between your work and home life? And do you think this is only possible with certain careers?

Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments  well highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.

You can also vote in our poll below.

All you have to do is sign up and register your details  then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines , which can be found here . For a full guide on how to comment click here.

Join the conversation with other Independent readers below.
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Reform chair Richard Tice refused to endorse Nigel Farages views on the Ukraine-Russia conflict in a tetchy clash with the BBCs Nick Robinson.

Mr Tice was asked on Radio 4s Today programme if he thought it was a mistake for Reforms party leader to say that the West provoked Russias war with Ukraine.

He said: Let me tell you whats a mistake, its a mistake to pretend weve got everything right. To pretend that weve never made any foreign policy mistakes whether its this country or other countries. You look at what Nigel talked about, Libya, Syria, weve made serious foreign policy mistakes.

Mr Robinson repeatedly asked: did we provoke the war in Ukraine, to which Mr Tice responded that Putin is vile and that he created the problems in Ukraine.

The BBC presenter challenged Mr Tice that he would not repeat Mr Farages words.

Mr Tice responded: You seem obsessed by one word, what Im obsessed by is learning the mistakes of the past and having the courage to say we can do better, we only do better if you learn from the past, on what youve got right and what youve got wrong.

The Reform chair has previously visited Ukraine as part of a volunteer groupt to deliver supplies to the embattled nation and that they are fighting for the freedom of the West.

It was not the first time the duo clashed. At the start of the interview Mr Tice accused the presenter of repeating absolute nonsense about the party during the introduction.

Mr Robinson set up the interview by saying that some voters could be turned off by the extreme opinions of some of the Reform UK candidates or volunteers.

A clearly irate Mr Tice, responded: Let me tell you, on the doors where I am campaigning support is absolutely rock solid like we have never known before.

People are not buying into this absolute nonsense being perpetrated.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed last month during a BBC interview that the West provoked Russias invasion of Ukraine ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Mr Tice was also questioned about the undercover footage, made by a Channel 4 reporter, that showed a canvasser describe the Pride flag as degenerate and suggested members of the LGBT community are paedophiles.

The Reform chair said the comments were completely inappropriate, but that the party is growing fast and will learn from its mistakes.

Asked about if the Conservative Party needed to be destroyed, he said: You cannot reward failure and the Tories have broken Britain after 14 years of power. And the reality is that there has to be a complete realignment of the right of politics.

Labour will win this election but the Tories desperation creating a culture of fear, people are just sick of it. You cannot reward failure, people want a new common sense approach.

The heated exchange came hours before a second Reform candidate defected to Tories ahead of polling day, claiming her former partys candidates are racist, misogynistic and bigoted.

Georgie David, who had been due to stand for Reform in West Ham and Beckton, said in a statement issued by the Conservative Party: I am hereby announcing my decision to leave the Reform Party and stand down as their candidate for West Ham and Beckton, with immediate effect.

I am in no doubt that the party and its senior leadership are not racist.

However, as the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic, and bigoted, I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposing to my own and what I stand for.
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A senior Tory candidate was a trustee of a church while it promoted so-called conversion therapy, it has emerged.

Miriam Cates, Conservative candidate for Penistone and Stocksbridge, was a member of St Thomas Philadelphia church in Sheffield between 2003 and 2018 and a trustee from 2016 to 2018.

Click here for our live coverage of the general election campaign.

An independent report has concluded the church endorsed and supported conversion practices between 2014 and 2019.

Miriam Cates is a co-foudner of the influential right-wing New Conservatives group of MPs ( PA Archive )

The report, by childrens charity Barnardos, found that the culture of the church in 2014 was one in which the presence of evil spirits and ungodly soul ties were believed to be the cause of homosexual thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and prayers of deliverance for homosexuals were not uncommon.

Witnesses also described gay members of the church being expected to eventually understand the need to be transformed to live in accordance with biblical revelation and orthodox church teachings.

The report was commissioned after Matt Drapper, a gay man, complained he was the victim of an exorcism ritual at the church in 2014.

The BBC, which first reported the findings, said Ms Cates denied awareness of the allegations and does not endorse gay conversion therapy. It also found no evidence Ms Cates had direct knowledge of conversion practices being used in the church, despite such practices being openly discussed in the church while she was a member.

The right-winger is a senior member of the Conservative Party, having co-founded the influential group of around 35 so-called New Conservatives.

The group pushes the party leadership to adopt more hardline positions on issues such as immigration, the economy and transgender rights. However, Ms Cates is currently forecast to lose her Penistone & Stocksbridge seat to Labour at the upcoming general election.

The report said exorcisms taking place were often spoken about by church members and even described celebrations in the congregation because a parent stood up and spoke of an adult in their family, who had been delivered from the sin of homosexuality.

The Diocese of Sheffield, which commissioned the report, said it believes, along with the wider Church of England, that conversion therapy is unethical, potentially harmful and has no place in the modern world.

The report, however, did hear that prayers, or indeed any actions, which seek to change a persons sexuality are not accepted by Church leaders today in the way it may have been ten years ago.

And it said: We heard no evidence to suggest that people from different faiths or from the LGBTQ+ community would not be made welcome by the Church or would be subject to harassment or rejection by its members without challenge from church leaders.

Ms Cates and the St Thomas Philadelphia church were contacted for comment.
Russia is conducting a new recruitment drive for fighters in Africa for its war in Ukraine after suffering heavy casualties on the ground in lethal combat, according to Western intelligence officials.

The enrolment campaign has intensified following the rapid spread of Moscows influence on the continent, boosted by the overthrow of pro-Western governments in several countries by military regimes and the subsequent withdrawal of US and European forces.

Mercenaries formerly with the Wagner Group  which was disbanded after the failed coup attempt by its Russian leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was subsequently killed along with his senior hierarchy in an air crash  are training young men, some from tribal militias, for battle in Europe.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, who founded the Wagner Group and died in an air crash last August ( AP )

Those who join are usually being offered a $2,000 (1,580) signing-on fee, a monthly salary of $2,200, medical insurance, Russian passports for themselves and their immediate family members, and compensation payments for their family if they are killed or injured.

The recruitment programme is partly due to the unwillingness of Vladimir Putins government to carry out another round of unpopular mobilisation in Russia. A partial mobilisation in September 2022 led to an exodus of skilled young workers.

There has also been a drastic fall in the number of convicts being sent to the front line in return for their crimes being pardoned. The justice ministry in Moscow reported that the countrys prison population has fallen from 420,000 before the war to 266,000.

The Ministry of Defence in the UK says more fighters are needed to replace Russian battlefield losses, which are significant, and to sustain offensive activity in multiple axes across the front.

It added: Russias finite pool of convict recruitment likely culminated. Russia is likely expanding its recruitment across the global South, to avoid additional mobilisations within Russia itself.

The true number of Russian troops killed in the countrys war in Ukraine remains unclear. Independent Russian research groups put the figure at between 71,000 and 83,000

Soldiers of the Central African Republic (CAR) honour the birthday of the late Wagner Group chief Yevygen Prigozhin last month in Bangui ( Telegram )

Earlier this month, Moscow-based outlet Mediazone and BBC Russian-language service confirmed the names of at least 64,000 Russian soldiers who have died.

Nato officials estimate that up to 120,000 Russian troops have been killed, along with 70,000 Ukrainians. Volodymyr Zelensky maintains that Ukrainian losses total 31,000 dead, a figure disputed by troops on the front line as too low.

Many former Wagner personnel in Africa are now in a new mercenary group, the Africa Corps  a name that echoes the German Afrika Korps which fought in north Africa under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in the Second World War.

Two senior Russian security officials, deputy defence minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov and Major General Andrei Averyanov, from GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency, are said to be playing key roles in the Kremlins new Africa push.

They have visited the Central African Republic (CAR), Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger  all countries into which Wagners successors have moved, or are seeking to move, after their military regimes forced the withdrawal of French-led international forces.

There has been low-level recruitment in Africa and Asia for a while, but quite a noticeable uptake as Russia has begun to expand its presence in the Sahel and bits of central Africa, said a senior European official who had been based in Mali and Niger.

It has become more difficult to track Russian activity as our presence has faded. Now we hear of local officials helping in the [recruitment] process. The money being offered is very good by local standards and tempting for young men from areas which are very poor.

Some of those who have joined have some experience with various armed groups, but that is very different, of course, from the war in Ukraine with the use of modern weapons. Lots of these men who actually get deployed will probably end up dead.

A small number of African students studying in Russia have been enrolled into the countrys armed forces. There are between 35,000 and 37,000 young men and women from the continent studying in Russia under various scholarship schemes. The figures are due to expand with the Kremlin embarked on a diplomatic offensive in parts of Africa.

There are also reports that African workers living in Russia have been coerced into the armed forces with threats of deportation, with corrupt officials demanding bribes in return for not forcing conscription.

Ukraine has sought to address heavy battlefield losses by enlarging its conscription base to include prisoners, including those convicted of serious crimes. The aim is to mobilise several thousand from a prison population of 20,000. This, however, is a fraction of the numbers needed, the government acknowledges, for the coming fighting season.
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The Bolivian government on Monday summoned the Argentine ambassador to address the country's claim that the attempted military coup that rattled Bolivia last week was a hoax.

Bolivia's official reprimand of its neighbor adds to the fallout from the purported foiled mutiny last Wednesday that has left the country of 12 million shocked and bewildered. Bolivian President Luis Arce faces a wave of criticism at home and abroad from those claiming he engineered the coup to make himself look like a hero  an accusation first made by General Juan Jose Zuniga before his sacking and arrest on charges of leading the armed uprising.

A string of Bolivian opposition figures have united in calling the coup a stunt, with Arce's main political rival and one-time mentor, former leftist President Evo Morales, echoing the accusation late Sunday without providing evidence. Arce has vigorously denied the allegations.

Right-wing Argentine President Javier Milei became the first head of state to join the chorus of skeptics, attacking Bolivia's history of socialist governments, which he said endangers democracy. The tale that was told was not very credible, the president's office said of Wednesday's alleged coup attempt  a dramatic reversal from Argentina's initial statement condemning the troops occupying central La Paz.

Bolivian interim foreign minister, Maria Nela Prada, denounced Milei's statement as unfriendly and reckless and misinformed and biased on Monday. Incensed over what she called Argentina's unacceptable denialism, Prada and other officials called on Milei to stay out of Bolivian internal affairs.

We have always maintained a position of respect and we will demand the same respect, said Gabriela Alcon, Bolivia's deputy minister of communication.

Milei's government only doubled down on its denial of the coup attempt in response to the outrage in La Paz, escalating the diplomatic spat between the nations that share a long border and history of trade and cooperation.

It is simply a description of the facts, an account of the different information that we are collecting, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said in his daily news conference, defending Milei's allegations that the government faked the coup without elaborating. We are aware of the delicate institutional situation."

Various right-wing opposition figures in Bolivia, arrested and still detained over their alleged role in the 2019 mass protests that prompted then-President Morales to resign and flee, thanked Milei for his support.

Asked about the allegations of a self-coup on Monday, U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said Washington hoped to see an independent investigation into last week's events in Bolivia.

We understand and have taken note of the number of viewpoints that have emerged in recent days and we welcome an independent analysis, Patel told reporters.

Last Wednesday, Zuniga and other military officials stormed the presidential palace, ramming its doors with a tank and railing against the country's politicians. In a dramatic face-to-face confrontation, Arce ordered Zuniga to back down  successfully putting a lid on the rebellion after just three chaotic hours that reverberated regionwide.

A brief outpouring of popular support for Arce has given way to a firestorm of speculation about what really happened and whether Arce played a role in the tumult. Authorities are widening their dragnet, arresting 21 soldiers and civilians over the coup attempt.

On Monday, Bolivian state TV reported that police detained an army commander in the central city of Cochabamba and who, the attorney general said, served as a sniper during the coup attempt.

Alleged ringleaders, including Zuniga, remain in custody.

Senior Cabinet member Eduardo del Castillo insisted in remarks late Sunday that the coup was no ploy by Arce but rather an alarming effort to oust the government by force. Explaining its failure, he said: Fortunately, many people were insubordinate."
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Billionaire media mogul Barry Diller is exploring a bid that would give him control of Paramount, parent company of brands like CBS, MTV, and Nickelodeon, according to The New York Times.

The process is far enough along that National Amusements, Paramounts controlling shareholder, has signed non-disclosure agreements with IAC, Dillers company, according to The Times.

IAC doesnt comment on rumors or speculation, said in a statement following the report.

Media mogul Barry Diller is reportedly trying to acquire the largest shareholder in Paramount, which would give him control of the legacy studio. ( (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Yahoo) )

The Independent has contacted National Amusements for comment.

The rumored deal would bring things full circle for Dillare, who led Paramount Pictures in the 1970s and later lost out on a bidding war for the studio in the early 1990s.

The victor back then was Sumner Redstone, father of Shari Redstone, the current largest shareholder in National Amusements.

The alleged takeover bid would allow Dillers IAC to control Paramount without buying the media company outright, given that National Amusements owns over three-quarters of the class A shares in Paramount.

National Amusements was reportedly near a deal in June with the Hollywood studio Skydance, producer of films like Top Gun: Maverick, and private equity firms RedBird Capital and KKR, before talks fell apart.

If Diller is in fact interested in a bid for National Amusements, it would likely cost over $2bn, the reported cost of the previous deal with Skydance, according to CNBC.

Despite the alleged takeover interest, Paramount is in the midst of a complicated economic moment, roughly $14bn in debt, and facing threats to its cable business from streaming media companies. Paramounts own streamer, Paramount+, had 71 million subscribers but losses of $286m in the last quarter.

At a June town hall, executives outlined a plan to cut $500m in costs and discussed selling off some Paramount properties, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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The search for a retired US police officer has been called off after zero evidence of him was found on the Greek island where he went missing more than two weeks ago.

The brother of Eric Albert Calibet  known by his family as Albert  said that the 59-year-old remained missing and that he deeply suspected that foul play had occurred.

Calibet, a former Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy, had been vacationing on the idyllic island of Amorgos before he was reported missing by a friend on June 11.

Prior to his disappearance, he had embarked on a challenging four-hour hike from a route toward the village of Katapola in the scorching temperatures. According to his family, Calibet still worked part-time for the sheriffs department after retiring in 2018 and knew the 49-square mile islands rugged terrain extremely well.

The department was one of multiple agencies that collaborated in the effort to find him.

Calibet, a former Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy, had been vacationing on the idyllic island of Amorgos before he was reported missing by a friend on June 11 ( Municipality of Amorgos )

However, on Monday, Oliver Calibet, announced with a heavy heart that the search for his beloved brother had been ended.

Despite our relentless efforts and determination, Albert remains missing. I deeply fear that foul play has occurred as we found zero evidence of Albert anywhere on the island, Calibet wrote, in an update on a GoFundMe page set up for his brother.

Oliver Calibet said that throughout the ordeal the family had encountered numerous obstacles and roadblocks from the Greek authorities, as well as little assistance from the US embassy.

As a result, we have left the island fearing for our own health and safety; endless hiking of the island was taking a huge toll on our bodies. At this time, I am uncertain of our next steps.

He continued: I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who sent their thoughts and prayers. Your support has been a source of strength for us during this incredibly challenging time.

I also wish to thank the search and rescue teams who assisted us and those that donated to the GoFundMe to make search and rescue efforts possible. We were truly hoping for a different outcome.

It comes amid multiple disappearances of foreign tourists, including another American and a 74-year-old from the Netherlands, across various Greek islands.

Greece, Italy, the Canary Islands, Spain, Turkey and Cyprus have already recorded temperatures above 100F, with Greece also ravaged by a series of fires ( AP )

British celebrity doctor Michael Mosley, a physician and TV star known for advocating healthy lifestyles and intermittent fasting, was also found dead on the island of Symi last month.

Oliver Calibets statement on Monday continued: Given that missing tourists seem to be commonplace in Greece, I deeply urge the Greek government to create a cohesive process and procedure for this type of event.

From what I was told the current EU law prohibits the release of cell phone tower data, however in missing person cases such as this, the law should be modified.

He added that the family remained hopeful of new information but requested privacy at this time.

Tourists traveling to holiday hotspots across the Mediterranean have been warned to brace for extreme weather conditions as heatwaves continue to boil southern Europe.

Greece, Italy, the Canary Islands, Spain, Turkey, and Cyprus have already recorded temperatures above 100F, with Greece also ravaged by a series of fires.
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A Utah murder case that Ted Bundy was once a prime suspect in has been solved 51 years later, according to officials.

Investigators say that Doug Chudomelka murdered Ann Woodward in March 1973 at Woodys Tavern in Moab. Woodward, 46, was the wife of Leslie Woody Woodward. Her husband owned the tavern where police say Chudomelka strangled and probably sexually assaulted her.

Investigators say that the suspect died in 2002 at the age of 67. But a box of DNA evidence taken at the time helped lead to the killer five decades later.

Jeremy Drexler, a police detective working on the case, thinks that the man couldve been angry with the woman for beating him at poker. However, he said the crime might have also been committed out of opportunity.

Woodwards half-naked body was found on the floor between two pool tables at the bar, The Times-Independent reported.

Police say Doug Chudomelka is the prime suspect of Ann Woodwards murder in 1973 ( Moab Police Department )

The victims pants were off. The right leg was inside out and tied into a knot, while her shirt had been unbuttoned. The pant leg was used to strangle the woman, the detective said. When her husband discovered her body at around 6.30 a.m., it was wrapped around her neck.

He was the only one in the world who could have been sitting in that chair, Drexler said, speaking of Chudomelka. The mans DNA was found on the buttons of the womans shirt, the waist of her pants, and on the inside of her pants.

He could explain away having his DNA on the outside of her clothes, but not the inside of her pants. No way, Drexler said.

Chudomelka was originally one of 25 suspects, which included regulars at the bar and Bundy, who entered the picture because of multiple murders he committed in the area around the time of the womans death.

However, witnesses said Chudomelkas mid-1960s Ford sedan matched the car seen parked next to Woodwards truck on March 1, 1973. The victim was killed between 1.40am and 2.30am March 2.

The suspect told investigators that he was not at the bar on the morning of the womans murder but he had instead spent the night drinking at Westerner Grill. Complicating the investigation, the mans girlfriend, a woman named Joyce, told cops that her boyfriend was home at 2 a.m.

In any case, the taverns bartender told police that he hadnt seen Chudomelka that night.

The suspect was arrested on a domestic violence charge on July 3, 1973. Joyce told cops that he killed Woodward and she would speak to the county attorney about the murder.

Later, she recanted and only told police that he came home at 4.10am and not 2.00am as she originally claimed and the case went cold.

It was reopened in 2006 by Moab Police Chief Mike Navarre but Joyce still did not want to talk about the incident decades later.

However, DNA evidence collected by Moab Police Chief Melvin Dalton shortly after the murder helped lead investigators to Chudomelka.

It consisted of hairs pulled from the suspects body, including from his belly button, chest, pubic area, and head. Camel cigarette butts that were found in an ashtray were also preserved.

Those materials were sent to the FBI, but at that time the agency was unable to test the suspects hair or saliva on the cigarettes to determine the mans blood type.

This case hinged on the hair Dalton pulled in 1973, Drexler said. I have no idea how he knew that we would be able to do that today. Dalton made this case very easy for us in that aspect.

The box of DNA evidence was not easy to locate. It was moved from the evidence room and placed in an outbuilding. He eventually found the box 50 years and six months later. The evidence eventually came back matched to Chudomelka.

Nowadays, DNA evidence is used to solve cold cases all over the country, bringing suspects to justice decades after crimes occurred. It has also helped exonerate innocent people who have been incarcerated for crimes they did not commit.

Apart from the murder, Chudomelka also took $75 from the cash register and the $50 Woodward won when she beat him at poker. The suspect paid his rent two days later with five $20 bills.

Its not known if the suspect paid his rent with the stolen money. Leslie Ann Estes, the couples last surviving child, was present at a news conference last week when officials revealed the details of the crime.
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Two teenage girls who were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse by pedophile Jeffrey Epstein were separately branded as prostitutes and drug addicts by a prosecutor, newly unsealed documents reveal.

Approximately 175 pages of transcripts related to a 2006 grand jury investigation into allegations against Epstein were released to the public on Monday afternoon. The surprise unsealing comes months after Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, signed a bill in February allowing circuit judge Luis Delgado to execute the order.

Delgado noted that the details documented will be outrageous to decent people.

The jury heard evidence that Epstein, who took his own life while incarcerated in 2019, had raped girls as young as 14 years old at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, as per the transcripts.

Now, Palm Beach County prosecutors face a wall of disdain for grilling two of Epsteins alleged young female victims, which saw the girls belittled and treated like criminals.

It was just atrocious the way they handled it, Spencer Kuvin, an attorney who represented one of the alleged underage girls who testified, told CBS as he read the transcripts.

The search of Epsteins Palm Beach mansion on El Brillo Way led to his 2008 indictment ( Department of Justice )

Prosecutors called on an alleged Epstein victim, who was aged just 14 at the time her stepmother reported the teenager had received $300 to massage an older man on Palm Beach Island.

The girl said that the disgraced financiers assistant asked her to strip to her underwear before entering the room and massaging Epstein. She then said she agreed to allow him to use a vibrator on her for an additional $100, documents reveal.

Prosecutors continued to probe the girl, who had turned 15 years old by the time of her testimony, and suggested that she had a problem with drugs.

They also asked the girl about her body piercing and a social media post where she lied about her age, and income and bragged about shoplifting. The teen testified that the post was a joke.

You aware that you committed a crime?, one of the prosecutors, Lanna Belohlavek, then asked the witness.

The girl responded: Now I am. I didnt know it was a crime when I was doing it. Now, I guess its prostitution or something like that.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill in February allowing the unsealing of the Epstein transcripts on Monday ( Palm Beach Daily News )

Another witness, an investigator, was asked whether the 14-year-olds social media account included pictures of her in skimpy attire, drinking alcohol and sexually provocative photos.

Yes, maam, they responded.

The second of the two girls to testify before the grand jury said she was just 16 years old the first time she went to Epsteins mansion. He was well aware of my age from the very beginning, she said.

Her 10th and final encounter occurred the day before her 18th birthday when Epstein initiated intercourse, she testified, adding she didnt want to engage in the act, but neither asked him to stop.

You understand that you in effect were committing prostitution yourself, a prosecutor asked. Yes, the witness replied.

Epstein was arrested, booked and released on bond following the grand jurys indictment on one charge of solicitation of prostitution.

In 2008, Epstein cut a deal with federal prosecutors to escape federal sex trafficking and rape charges. He instead pleaded guilty to the original, less serious state charges in the grand jury indictment.

He served 13 months in prison in a private wing of the Palm Beach County stockade and was granted daily work release.
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A Massachusetts State Police investigator who admitted on the witness stand to sending offensive and inappropriate texts about Karen Read was relieved of his duties just hours after the judge declared a mistrial in the case.

Michael Proctor will be transferred out of the detective unit assigned to the Norfolk district attorneys office on Sunday, Massachusetts State Police interim Colonel John E Mawn Jr said in a statement late Monday.

Although Trooper Proctor is still employed by the department, the decision to relieve him of duty means that he can no longer work cases or function as a trooper during this time, a State Police spokesperson told The Boston Globe.

Hours before the decision was announced, Karen Read, the 44-year-old woman on trial for killing her Boston police boyfriend John OKeefe by hitting him with her SUV and leaving him to die outside in the snow in 2022, walked free from the Norfolk courthouse after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision.

The decision to relieve Proctor of his duties comes after Massachusetts State Police opened an internal affairs probe into him over serious misconduct that came out during his testimony at the trial.

Our focus remains on delivering the highest level of police services with professionalism and integrity, Mawn said.

Proctor admitted on the witness stand to sending offensive and inappropriate texts about Karen Read ( AP )

Proctor was a key witness who testified for the prosecution, who argued that Read purposely ran over OKeefe in a rage, while her defense team claimed she was framed as part of a cover-up after he was allegedly beaten to death by his police officer friends.

While Proctor was being questioned by the defense, he acknowledged that he called Read several names during the investigation, including whack-job c*** and re****ed in texts to friends, family and fellow troopers. He also called her a babe with no ass.

Proctor admitted he joked to supervisors about not finding nude photos while searching her phone and that he texted his sister about Read, writing hopefully shell kill herself, which he claimed was a figure of speech and that emotions got the best of me.

He repeatedly apologized in court for the language that he used in the text exchanges, saying that the juvenile, unprofessional comments had zero impact on the facts and evidence and integrity of the investigation.

Read was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. If she was convicted, she could have faced life in prison.

Karen Read walked free on Monday after the judge declared a mistrial ( AP )

However, on Friday, after five days of deliberation, a jury foreperson told the judge that they hadnt reached a unanimous verdict despite an exhaustive review of the evidence. The judge told jurors to keep trying.

On Monday morning, jurors said they were at an impasse, but the judge asked them to continue deliberating. In the afternoon, they said it would be futile to continue.

The deep division is not due to a lack of effort or diligence but rather a sincere adherence to our individual principles or moral convictions, the jury said in a note read by the judge in court.

Prosecutors said on Monday they plan to retry Karen Reads case. A status conference is set for July 22 at Norfolk Superior Court.

In the statement regarding relieving Proctor of his duties, Mawn paid tribute to OKeefe and again offered condolences to his family.

We cannot imagine the way in which this result has heightened the OKeefe familys immeasurable grief, heartache, and sense of loss, the statement read.

John lived a life of honorable service  both to the City of Boston and the children entrusted to his care after the unexpected death of his sister and brother-in-law. We will remember him.
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A prostitute was strangled and sexually assaulted before being left to die inside a Las Vegas hotel, and police say the suspect confessed that he snapped.

Larissa Garcia died on June 21, more than a week after being found inside a Palms Casino Resort hotel room, according to 8NewsNow. She worked as an escort in the area using the names Andrea and Dallas.

Last week, Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in to police in connection to her murder, sexual assault and battery, according to the report.

On June 12, Kendall called police saying a woman was overdosing inside the hotel room, according to police records obtained by the outlet.

Hotel security rushed to the room to find Garica on the floor with her jaw cut.

She was taken to the hospital, where doctors determined there was no alcohol or drugs in her system, according to the report. That led doctors to believe she was the victim of an assault.

Jason Kendall, 35, is accused of strangling, assaulting and killing a prostitute inside a Las Vegas casino hotel room last month ( Las Vegas Metro police )

Six days after the assault, a nurse noted that Garcia had been strangled and possibly suffocated. Garcia died on June 21 after doctors declared her brain dead.

Video surveillance showed Kendall meeting Garcia in the lobby of the casino. An hour later, he was spotted leaving the room with no other people entering or leaving, according to the report.

Investigators also found messages between Kendall and the victim. Kendalls search history also showed him viewing her online advertisement.

Police met with Kendall and he requested an attorney. Officers saw he had injuries to his back and shoulder, according to the report.

The victim was found in a room at the Palms casino and rushed to the hospital. She was pronounced dead days later ( AFP/Getty Images )

Last week, Kendall went to Las Vegas Metropolitan police headquarters to turn himself in, the report noted. There, he confessed to paying Garcia $2,000 before strangling and assaulting her.

Jason said Larissa requested additional payment and he snapped, police records state. He hit her in the face and choked her for 10 minutes and then had sex with her. After having sex with Larissa, Jason wrote he drug her away from the door and left. After leaving the hotel he called the police to report an overdose.

Friends told 8NewsNow that Garcia was a mom of two children and was attending school. Kendall is an Army vet - but its unclear when he served and if he was deployed.

Kendall is being held without bond before his next court appearance, which is scheduled for July 2.
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Lori Vallows Arizona trial has been delayed until February 2025 to give the defense for the Doomsday cult mom more time to review the substantial discovery in the case.

A Maricopa County judge granted the defense earlier motion during a Tuesday status hearing to push the trial from its original date of August 1 to February 25, 2025.

Vallow, who was found guilty in Idaho last year of killing her two youngest kids, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, is also accused of conspiring to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow in 2019 and conspiring on the attempted murder of her nieces ex-husband Brandon Boudreaux.

Boudreaux and his wife were in the courtroom for the hearing on Tuesday, Fox10s Justin Lum reported. Charles Vallows sister, Kay Woodcock, was also present for the hearing.

Public defender Gerald Bradley confirmed to Judge Justin Beresky that Vallow does not want to waive speedy trial rights. In the motion, he wrote that continuance is necessary to provide her competent representation at trial. Vallow was in the courtroom briefly before she waived her appearance and was escorted back to jail.

Bradley argued in the motion the discovery in the case against Vallow, which includes substantial body camera footage, videos and expert evidence, is one of the most voluminous the team has ever come across with over 100,000 pages to review.

Charles and Lori Vallow pictured together. Lori is charged with conspiracy to murder Charles in Arizona, but her upcoming trial has been delayed ( Provided )

Charles death was the first step in a wider plot by Vallow and her current husband, alleged cult leader Chad Daybell, to rid their lives of obstacles as they termed their spouses and her children, according to text message evidence presented at her trial last year for the murders of JJ and Tylee.

In May 2023, Lori was found guilty of the childrens murders and of conspiring to kill her husbands former wife, Tammy Daybell. She was sentenced to three life terms.

A year later, Chad Daybell was sentenced to death after an Idaho jury found him guilty of the same three murders. The children were found buried in Daybells Rexburg, Idaho, backyard in June 2020, nine months after they went missing. Daybells house was on the market for $350,000.

Now, the spotlight has shifted to Arizona, the site of an earlier chapter in the trail of death allegedly left by the couple during their plunge into dangerous Doomsday beliefs.

The remains of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found buried in Chad Daybells backyard in June 2020 nine months after they went missing. Lori Vallow was convicted of their killing ( AP )

In 2006, Vallow married her third husband, Charles, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her third husband, Tylees father, who she had been divorced from for a few years, had just died of a heart attack months ealirer. Vallow and Charles lived in Arizona and later adopted Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallow.

But by 2019, that marriage had also soured. Charles filed for divorce, contending in court papers that Vallow also believed herself to be a deity tasked with helping to usher in the Biblical apocalypse.

In July 2019, Charles went to Vallows home in Chandler, Arizona, for a custody exchange that turned deadly when he was shot by her brother, Alex Cox.

Cox told police he acted in self-defense, and he was never charged. He died suddenly at the age of 51 on December 11, 2019  hours after Tammy Daybells body was exhumed.

Now, years later, Vallow will be tried in two separate cases in Arizona on two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, according to indictments unsealed shortly after her extradition from Idaho to Arizona.

In May 2024, Lori Vallows husband Chad Daybell was sentenced to death for the murders of Tammy Daybell and Vallows two children ( AP )

In one case, court records show that Vallow, along with her brother, are accused of conspiring to kill Charles. In the months leading up to his death, Charles told local police he was concerned that Vallow may hurt him or their children.

In the second case, Vallow and Cox are accused of trying to kill her nieces ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, outside his home in Gilbert in October 2019. He survived the drive-by shooting.

A grand jury indicted Vallow on the conspiracy charges for Charles death in 2021. However, she had to face charges for the deaths of her kids and Tammy Daybell in Idaho before she could face a judge in Arizona.

Vallow is not able to bond out of jail because she is in Arizona on extradition warrants. After both cases are done in Maricopa County, shell have to go back to Idaho to continue serving her life sentences.
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A young mom was found murdered in Alabama after leaving rehab and now a 36-year-old man has been charged in connection to her killing.

Michael Wade Tucker, 36, was charged with murder for the death of 21-year-old Laci Whitson, according to ABC 33/40 .

Tucker was the last known person to be with Whitson, according to the Fayette County Sheriffs Office.

Whitson went missing after leaving a rehab facility in Lauderdale County, Alabama, last week, according to the Tuscaloosa Thread .

Her loved ones started to worry after not hearing from her and raised the alarm.

Michael Wade Tucker, 36, has been booked into jail in connection to the murder of Whitson ( Laci Whitson/Facebook )

On Sunday, Whitsons remains were found wrapped in a blanket and left in the woods of Fayette County, according to the report.

"This is a tragedy for our community, and we have families that are hurting," Sheriff Byron Yerby said. "We ask that you keep these families in your prayers. We sent our heartfelt condolences to the family of Laci Whitson."

Police have not released a motive for the murder.

Whitson, a young mom, was found dead in a blanket in the Alabama woods ( Laci Whitson/Facebook )

Social media was filled with tributes to the young mom from family and friends.

Everyone PLEASE pray for my Cousin Larry Whitson losing a baby, this way, just isnt right, for a parent, Wendy Whitson Dawkins wrote on Facebook.

Laci Whitson, you deserved way better than this sweet girl, Hannah Paige wrote on Facebook. My heart hurts, but I know my doesnt hurt as much as her daddy & the rest of the family! Please still keep them in your prayers as they try to cope with everything.
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Portland residents thought they'd stumbled onto the deal of a lifetime on Sunday - an entire warehouse of items, all free for the taking.

At least that's what a painted piece of plywood outside the warehouse's entrance, and a note asking volunteers to hand out items to anyone who wanted or needed them, led them to believe.

In reality, the owner of the warehouse in the citys northwest had no idea that people were picking over the property, KGW8 reports.

Residents living near the warehouse watched as a crowd empty out the building, prompting one to report a mass burglary at the location. When Portland Police arrived on scene, they found people loading trucks and trailers full of items and walking away with mattresses.

A free sign painted on a piece of plywood outside a warehouse in Northwest Portland led shoppers to mistakenly believe the furniture inside was free. Shannon Clark, 51, was arrested for allegedly painting the sign, but charges against him were later dropped by the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office ( screengrab/KING5 Seattle )

According to police, the individuals they encountered believed that the warehouse was liquidating its stock via a free giveaway.

A 51-year-old man named Shannon Clark was later arrested for allegedly painting the "free" sign on the plywood and for posting the note asking volunteers to hand out items. He was booked on charges of burglary, theft, and aggravated theft, according to police.

His detainment was short lived. On Monday, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office dropped the charges against Clark. Prosecutors said that while they were not pressing charges, it does not mean that they will not announce charges related to the mass theft down the line.

Dan DiCicco, an attorney representing the property owner, real estate developer Carbon Group, told Fox12 he had no idea how word got out about the warehouse. He said that the furniture that was stolen was typically used to model spaces that Carbon Group was planning to develop.

It looked like a feeding frenzy and we were very upset, he said. There was a great deal of valuable property in there, its gone now.

He said he hopes that anyone who took items from the warehouse will return the stolen goods to his clients.

If you want to get in touch with us and bring it back that would be great, he said. It wasnt free.

Residents who witnessed the shopping spree described a chaotic scene at the warehouse.

Davina Cruz, who lives near the facility, told KGW8 that she saw someone push a boxes out of a second story window. She also said people were hauling out massive boxes, presumably filled with furniture.

"There were so many people out in the street," Cruz told the broadcaster. "Oh my god, the boxes were huge. They were bigger than me."

Police are still investigating the theft and are attempting to determine what was stolen  and who took the items.
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A mom who murdered her two young sons 30 years ago has reportedly been giving phone sex to sugar daddies from prison.

Susan Smith, 52, was jailed in 1995 for drowning her two sons Michael, three, and Alex, 14 months, in a South Carolina lake in 1994.

She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years, meaning she could be released this year.

Her family members have said she has spent the past few months convinced that she could be getting out, with her parole hearing scheduled for November 4.

In preparation for her potential release, Smith is believed to be engaging in phone sex with sugar daddies who can bankroll her when she is released, the New York Post reported, citing family sources and South Carolina prison call recordings.

Its time for me to get out, she told one suitor earlier this year in one call. Ive done my time. Im ready to go.

In another call from March, Smith asked a male suitor how she could support herself if she got out, to which he replied that he had a large sum waiting for her comprised of the sale of family property, money he saved, and gifts from admirers.

Ill tell you what I did last night, thinking of you, he told Smith. I made a spreadsheet that starts out with $213,000. Youre gonna have more than that. I think youll be in the $220,000 range, all put together.

Smith was convicted of murder in 1995 and given life in prison with the possibility of parole in 30 years ( AP )

You can [spend] $40,000 a year. While youre withdrawing from that balance, its still earning interest on the undrawn amount.

In 20 years time, you will have spent most of that, but you will still have some of it left over, he said.

The exchange prompted Smith to tell him she loves him so much before the two made kissing noises at each other and the conversation turned sexual, complete with giggling and heavy breathing.

Im going to have you in the front seat of my car, the man said after speculating what shed look like in a wet T-shirt.

Youre so bad, she responded with a giggle. I have some ideas of things we can do. But Im going to make you wiggle and squirm before I tell you.

Babe, he said, Im already wiggling and squirming.

Meanwhile, in another conversation with a different man from late last year, she speculated how she would wake him up in the morning.

I have ways to get your attention, she teased. I can get you up in the morning. And I mean up.

According to prison call recordings, Smith had sexual and romantic conversations with at least a dozen men in the past three years.

She previously told one of her suitors during a phone call last year that she would welcome the idea of being a mom again.

Smith was just 22 when she locked her two sons in a car and allowed it to roll into the John D Long Lake in Union County.

Michael, 3, and Alexander, 14 months, both drowned when their mother Susan drove the family car into a lake with the boys strapped inside ( Handout )

She stood on the side of the lake as the vehicle sank to the bottom, drowning both boys.

Initially, she told police she had been carjacked by a Black man, sparking a massive manhunt in which she and her husband David publicly begged for their boys safe return.

However, it quickly emerged Smith had been having an affair with a man who did not want children and she eventually admitted to her crime.

She was convicted of murder a year later but spared the death penalty, instead being sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.

Her time behind bars has been marred by infractions for drugs and self-mutilation, as well as two incidents in which she was caught having sex with guards.

But her family has insisted that she has turned a corner now. Shes figuring out her future, a family member told The Post. She is seeing who she can rely on, and who will be able to help her.

Smith has previously insisted she is not the monster society thinks I am and revealed to reporters in 2015 that she had been planning to kill herself, not her sons, on the night of the tragedy.

In 2012, she attempted to take her own life at age 40 after smuggling in a razor blade, adding that she had a long history with depression predating the murders.

Her stepfather, Beverly Russell, admitted during the initial court case that he had molested Smith as a teen and had consensual sex with her as an adult.

He partly mortgaged his home to pay for Smiths defense at trial and said the guilt was not all hers to bear.

Smith is unlikely to be paroled on her first attempt, according to experts.
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Two men arrested last month on a road within Oprah Winfrey 's property on the Hawaiian island of Maui are suspected of illegal night hunting, state officials said Monday.

The two Maui men, both 19, were arrested just before midnight on June 21 after officers found them using a hunting spotlight on a public road that runs through Winfrey's ranch in Kula, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a news release.

While they were not caught actively hunting, officers found a loaded shotgun and a loaded rifle in the pair's truck, and Winfrey's ranch surrounds the road where they were stopped, the state said.

The men were arrested on suspicion of hunting on private lands without permission, not having a hunting license and other violations. One of them was also arrested for an unregistered semi-automatic rifle.

Two men arrested last month on a road within Oprah Winfreys property on the Hawaiian island of Maui are suspected of illegal night hunting, state officials said o Monday

Maui County prosecutors will review the case and determine if there will be charges. Records show the men were released pending investigation, county officials said.

A representative for Winfrey didn't immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.
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Red Roof Inn, one of the largest budget hotel chains in America, is set to face lawsuits from hundreds of sex trafficking victims who claim the company turned a blind eye and profited from their abuse for years.

An investigation by The Independent has found that at least 42 federal lawsuits are underway against the hotel chain and its franchisees. Hundreds more victims are in the process of filing legal action, according to attorneys working on their cases.

The victims, some of whom were underage at the time, accuse the company of allowing its rooms to be rented on a grand scale to sex traffickers who forced them into commercial sex work and controlled nearly every aspect of their lives.

They claim the signs of their trafficking were so obvious they could not have been missed by the company. The lawsuits are littered with references to malnourished and underage girls and women under the control of pimps who conducted their business in front of hotel staff, renting numerous hotel rooms where male customers came and went, night after night.

The lawsuits, and those yet to be filed, span the length and breadth of the country, across 39 states and at least 117 Red Roof Inn hotels. As part of this investigation, The Independent has plotted those locations on a map to show the scale and spread of the alleged incidents.

The lawsuits also revealed that a senior Red Roof Inn employee joked about the presence of pimps and hos at one of the hotels under his management.

Steven Babin, an attorney who is representing close to 1,000 sex trafficking victims in cases involving Red Roof Inn, told The Independent that sex trafficking had reached an epidemic level across the hotel chain, and estimated the true number of victims to be in the many thousands.

Sex trafficking is the crime of using force, fraud or coercion to induce another individual to sell sex.

Red Roof Inn intentionally ignored the problem of human sex trafficking in its hotels and completely failed to put any meaningful policies and procedures in place. Instead, their focus was on one thing: money, he claimed.

Red Roof Inn is only one hotel chain among many facing similar allegations, but a trial in which the company is defending itself against 11 alleged victims of sex trafficking in Atlanta, Georgia, made history last month as the first of its kind against a national hotel chain. That trial offered a rare and disturbing close-up view of how trafficking operations were run from two Red Roof Inn hotels in the city, and precisely what the company knew.

I still have scars

The Atlanta courtroom fell silent as Tiffeny entered. She was visibly pregnant and nervous as she took her seat in the witness box. Over the course of the next hour, she described in detail how she was brutally trafficked at a Red Roof Inn hotel when she was 17 by two men named Bless and Bags, between December 2010 and May 2011.

We had to take customers morning, lunch, dinner, midnight, after club hours, she told the court, at times breaking into tears. It was just around the clock. We had to make a quota of a minimum $1,000 a day if we wanted to eat.

Tiffeny and the rest of the plaintiffs filed their lawsuits under a 2008 law that allows victims of sex trafficking to seek civil damages against any entity or individual that knowingly profited from the trafficking activities. Her testimony was historic: She is the first victim of sex trafficking to ever testify at a trial seeking damages from a national hotel chain accused of profiting from the crime.

They were told about it, their employees knew about it, the front desk people knew about it, housekeeping, everybody knew about it Jonathan Tonge, attorney for the 11 plaintiffs in the Atlanta case

Eight days into the trial, Red Roof Inn agreed to an undisclosed settlement with the victims. But even though the trial was cut short, the testimony shone a light on what sex trafficking conducted from hotels really looks like.

Tiffeny described how the pimps would travel in groups and gather in the parking lot of the hotel to coordinate customers while the women worked inside the rooms. Her trafficker would decide when she slept and when she ate, although she said she didnt remember much eating. If she refused to see a customer or disobeyed him she would be choked or beaten.

Throughout this time, she said no Red Roof Inn employees ever asked if she needed help.

Should they have? the attorney for the plaintiffs asked during the trial.

I think its just pretty suspicious to see teenage girls dressed in club wear at 9:00, 10:00 in the morning paying for a hotel room during the week, she replied.

The harrowing court testimony continued with Melissa, who was trafficked in 2015 and 2016 after dropping out of college. She described being forced to have sex with eight men a day, for days at a time at the Red Roof Inn. She spoke about witnessing a pregnant woman being beaten to a bloody pulp by her trafficker in the bathroom and how housekeeping staff came each morning to remove garbage cans filled with condoms and bloody towels.

Its hard to explain because I had to be so numb to the experience, she said. Having random people inside of me every single day, and the pain that my body had to go through of having sex every  it never stopped. It did not stop.

Alexa was 17 years old and in a relationship with her trafficker before he threatened her family with violence if she did not obey him. She has scars on her forehead and her midsection from violence meted out against her by him. She testified that she was forced to get a tattoo of an eye on her leg  a brand her trafficker used to claim ownership of her.

The Red Roof Inn was chosen by the trafficker because of its lax attitude towards what was going on," she said. If things were slow, she could go out into the parking lot to find dates and bring them back to her room.

The Smyrna Red Roof Inn, where some of the plaintiffs in the Atlanta trial say they were trafficked. ( Google )

Each of the victims who testified that day told a similar story. The trafficking was so blatant, they argued, that Red Roof Inn employees could not have missed it.

Dozens of lawsuits filed against Red Roof Inn across the US and reviewed by The Independent tell a similar story. In each of the cases, women were allegedly lured or pressured into a situation where traffickers controlled every aspect of their lives, where they were abused and trafficked for months at a time.

In one lawsuit centered on a Red Roof Inn in Kentucky, a 16-year-old girl said she was forced to have sex with at least 10-12 paying customers a day at the hotel, while enduring brutal physical abuse, rape, exploitation, psychological torment, kidnapping, and imprisonment.

If these girls and women are being trafficked at a hotel, you will see the malnourished body, the way that they are dressed, the demeanor in which they walk, the lack of eye contact Anique Whitmore, expert witness at the Atlanta trial

Another victim was trafficked for three years at Red Roof Inn hotels in Washington, DC, and Maryland, where she claimed staff witnessed her physically and verbally abused by her captors in public areas of the hotel.

Yet another woman, who was trafficked for three years at a Red Roof Inn in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, said in her lawsuit that she encountered many of the same hotel staff repeatedly. Those employees witnessed her trafficker being frequently violent with her and loud sounds of abuse could often be heard from the room, the lawsuit alleges.

The hotel chain, which has some 624 properties across the US, has repeatedly denied that it ignored sex trafficking at its hotels. In some of the cases, Red Roof Inn cast doubt on victims claims that they had been trafficked at all. During cross-examination in the Atlanta trial, the defense team highlighted instances where they argued that the women were able to escape from their traffickers and subsequently went back to them.

The warning signs

The testimonies of the plaintiffs in the Atlanta case, and in lawsuits across the country, leave little doubt that sex trafficking took place at Red Roof Inn hotels. But the question at the center of all of these lawsuits is whether the hotel chain should be held liable for it  especially when the location in question was owned by a franchisee.

Red Roof Inn has been moving further towards the franchise model in recent years by reducing the number of properties it owns directly. Because no cases had gone to trial, it was unclear how that might impact liability.

But in denying a summary judgment motion in the Atlanta trial, the judge agreed with an earlier court ruling that said the evidence shows that the Red Roof Defendants and their employees were aware that they were profiting from renting rooms to those pimps and prostitutes, and that even after the Atlanta location in question was sold to a franchisee, there is evidence that the Red Roof Defendants continued to participate in this venture, although to a lesser degree.

Red Roof Inn contends that trafficking is by its very nature an illicit activity, conducted in secret. For that reason, the company has argued that it could not be expected to identify it, and therefore should not be held responsible.

But experts in the Atlanta case testified that although much of the control exerted over sex trafficking victims is psychological, there are clear red flags.

Anique Whitmore, an expert witness in the Atlanta trial who has trained police departments across Georgia on how to recognize trafficking, said the crime is often clear enough so that you can see it with a naked eye.

These are women, men, children who are being forced into selling their bodies for sex. That money is handed over to somebody, and you receive zero. Your compensation might be some french fries the next day, she told the court.

If girls and women are being trafficked at a hotel, you will see the malnourished body, the way that they are dressed, the demeanor in which they walk, the lack of eye contact  the inability to have their own voice and speak without permission, she said.

To be frank, youd be quite ignorant if you didnt see it, she added.

The victims lawyers contend that the scale of prostitution was so great across Red Roof Inn properties that by turning a blind eye, the company created the conditions for sex trafficking to take place.

Anyone who set foot on the Smyrna and Buckhead Red Roof Inn properties witnessed an open-air prostitution market, the Atlanta lawsuit claimed. It added that those hotels did not just tolerate prostitution, they knowingly chose to profit from it.

my pimps and hos love them some snacks to go with their smokes Jay Moyer, then-regional vice president of operations for Red Roof Inn

Alan Borowsky, an attorney who has taken on dozens of cases relating to sex trafficking at Red Roof Inn, told The Independent that the scale and signs of prostitution were so obvious that the law required action to be taken. Even if you have an instance where sex trafficking may not be outwardly distinguishable from non-coerced sex work, you still have situations where clearly there is some type of commercial sex venture, and it can be discovered through the course of reasonable expectations of observation and investigation that a sex trafficking venture is afoot, he said.

And thats where the liability comes in, he said.

Tonge, the lawyer in the Atlanta case, put it succinctly: If you get rid of all prostitution, then you get rid of all sex trafficking. So just do that.

The claims of widespread prostitution are supported by testimony from former staff and reviews of the hotels posted online by customers.

An analysis of customer reviews of Red Roof Inn hotels by The Independent found that customers mentioned prostitution at 176 properties. This information is publicly available, and evidence presented in the trial showed that Red Roof Inn employed an outside company to monitor reviews.

The reviews, the content of which could not be verified by The Independent, show that customers saw visible signs of prostitution at Red Roof Inn locations across the country for years.

Aaron, a former night manager at several Red Roof Inn hotels, told The Independent prostitution was heavy at the locations where he worked.

While I was with Red Roof, all three of the properties had problems with prostitution, he said in a phone interview.

Aaron said he didnt knowingly witness any sex trafficking, but the scenes he described fit the description of a sex trafficking operation.

They would bring girls in, he said, referring to the men who were managing the operation. Theyd be there two weeks, sometimes. And then theyd send those girls away and bring in some more.

Aaron added that the men who appeared to be running the operation would sometimes pay for the rooms, rather than the girls themselves.

Like other employees who were cited in the lawsuits, he said he received no training on how to identify sex trafficking from Red Roof Inn and that the company prioritized profits over everything else.

Its heads in beds, he said. They want every door sold. They dont care how you do it. Your manager has that pressure of having to do that consistently, so if you can get prostitutes and drug dealers to come in there and keep them in order, youre selling out.

My pimps and hos

It wasnt just the hotel staff that knew about the sex trafficking, but all the way up the Red Roof Inn corporate management chain, according to the lawsuits. The Atlanta lawsuits contained depositions and internal communications between hotel staff and corporate Red Roof Inn employees that attorneys for the plaintiffs argue show a clear awareness that sex trafficking was taking place.

In one email, Jay Moyer, the then-regional vice president of operations responsible for both Atlanta hotels, joked about a vending machine being introduced to one of the properties, writing that my pimps and hos love them some snacks to go with their smokes.

Moyer claimed in a deposition that he was quoting customer reviews, but lawyers for the plaintiffs said that even if that were true, the email confirms that he was aware that the [...] property regularly rented rooms to suspected prostitutes and pimps, which would also indicate knowledge of sex trafficking.

Numerous former Red Roof Inn employees testified in depositions that they passed their concerns about prostitution and sex trafficking to Moyer and other managers.

The law says you dont have to be Superman, you dont have to go rescue trafficking victims to follow the law, you dont have to send traffickers to jail. You just need to exercise reasonable diligence to not make money from human trafficking Steven Babin, an attorney with hundreds of clients who claim to have been victims of sex trafficking at Red Roof Inn

Vanessa Cole, a general manager at one of the hotels between 2011 and 2012, said in her deposition that prostitution was a consistent problem that she reported up the chain, including to Moyer. She said Moyer responded by saying: yes, we understand we have to, you know, clean up the place, but we also need to sell rooms.

Another former employee, Michael Thomas, testified that Moyer told him to book suspected sex workers in the back of the hotel, where they would be less visible to other guests.

On at least one occasion, reports of sex trafficking made their way to the president of the company, Andy Alexander. In December 2015, a former board member of an international anti-trafficking organization, Michele Sarkisian, called Alexander to tell him a known sex trafficker was trafficking women at one of the Atlanta hotels, according to the Atlanta lawsuit. Red Roof Inn did not disclose what action they took in response.

Employees at both Atlanta hotels testified that they did not receive any training on safety and security, prostitution or sex trafficking during the time in question. The company introduced sex trafficking training in August 2014, but it was only for general managers.

A lot of people dont have the power to stop trafficking, but when youre a multi-million dollar corporation with control or at least significant influence over the place where people are being trafficked, you can, and should, be held liable if you consciously disregard the safety of others Emma Hetherington, director of the Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) Clinic

Jonathan Tonge, an attorney for the 11 victims in the Atlanta case, told The Independent that the entire company knew women were being trafficked.

What we accuse them of doing is just blatantly allowing not just prostitution, but sex trafficking. They were told about it, their employees knew about it, the front desk people knew about it, housekeeping, everybody knew about it, he said.

And because of that our clients got hurt. Our clients were trafficked there because Red Roof allowed sex trafficking, he alleged.

According to Babin, Red Roof Inn had significant knowledge of sex trafficking at its properties, and what they did with that knowledge is the key question here.

The law says you dont have to be Superman, you dont have to go rescue trafficking victims to follow the law, you dont have to send traffickers to jail. You just need to exercise reasonable diligence to not make money from human trafficking, he said.

A reckoning

The rise of the internet moved prostitution, and with it sex trafficking, from the streets to hotels  and behind closed doors. An estimated 80 percent of sex trafficking takes place at hotels today.

Anti-trafficking signs with phone numbers for hotlines for people to report suspected trafficking are now routinely hung up in hotel rooms.

Red Roof Inn itself conceded during the trial that hotels are on the frontline of combating sex trafficking, but it didnt introduce training for years after the problem was widespread.

Following the settlement in the Atlanta case, Red Roof Inn said in a statement that it denies all allegations and condemns prostitution and sex trafficking in all forms. It also claimed to have taken steps to mitigate criminal activity at Red Roof properties, without clarifying further.

Emma Hetherington, director of the Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) Clinic and an associate professor at the University of Georgia School of Law, attended the Atlanta trial for seven days and concluded that the company failed to respond in a reasonable or appropriate manner to the many reports of sex trafficking.

A sign displaying the phone number for the National Human Trafficking Hotline on the back of a door at a New York City hotel. ( Richard Hall / The Independent )

A lot of people dont have the power to stop trafficking, but when youre a multimillion-dollar corporation with control or at least significant influence over the place where people are being trafficked, you can, and should, be held liable if you consciously disregard the safety of others, she added.

A verdict in the trial would have answered key questions about the legal liability of national hotel chains and sex trafficking. Although the exact terms of the settlement in the Atlanta case are confidential, Hetherington said the very fact it got to trial is a step forward for the 11 victims who testified.

Most survivors never get their day in court, Hetherington said. Several of the survivors described feeling relieved after testifying, being able to get a good nights sleep for the first time in years, and feeling free for the first time. Civil lawsuits can be a powerful vehicle for healing and can provide a sense of empowerment for people whose autonomy and self-worth were stolen from them.

Babin, the Ohio lawyer with almost 1,000 cases, also believes the trial demonstrated progress.

Trials  no matter what  will help you determine the value of a case. Trials win, lose or draw  show that the cases have facts that are sufficient to get to trial, he said.

Babin said he foresees a reckoning for the hotel industry for its involvement in sex trafficking.

The industry has stuck their head in the sand for a very, very long time. They knew that this was gonna come. At conferences, way before any cases were filed, they were alluding to the fact that they might one day actually have to take responsibility for whats going on in these hotels, he said.

One of the big hotel chains will end up going bankrupt as a result of this litigation. And they deserve way worse.

This article was made possible by the generosity of our readers. If you would like to support future special reports and investigations, please make a contribution.

If you or someone you know is experiencing human trafficking and is in need of support, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888, by texting 233733, or online via webchat at humantraffickinghotline.org . The hotline operates 24/7 and help is available in 200 languages. All calls are confidential.
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Meatballs and Billy bookcases may soon be available at the heart of New Yorks shopping mecca.

Ikea is opening an 80,000 square feet space with a retail store and planning studios at 570 Fifth Avenue, a few blocks from the Rockefeller Center and St Patricks Cathedral.

Ingka Investments, which owns the majority of Ikeas worldwide, did not release how much it paid for the space, which is due to finish construction in 2028.

Ingka has been buying up properties in city centers around the world, including London and Paris. It currently owns and operates 537 Ikea retail locations worldwide, including 373 traditional stores, 26 stores in city centers, and another 138 stores in other configurations across 31 countries, according to Shopping Center Business.

Peter van der Poel, the managing director at Ingka Investments, said that the timing is just right for the purchase at the Fifth Avenue location. He said that the company wanted to be a part of the exciting urban revitalization happening post-pandemic in New York City.

This investment is perfectly in line with our long-term strategy to bring Ikea closer to our customers, he said.

A rendering of an Ikea store at 570 Fifth Avenue, a Manhattan tower that is expected to finish construction in 2028. Ingka Investments, which owns the majority of Ikea stores worldwide, purchased 80,000 square feet in the tower for an Ikea customer meeting point' ( KPF )

The company said on Monday that some of the tower's retail space will include an "Ikea customer meeting point - a broad term Ikea uses to describe its smaller shops and planning studios.

Ikea currently has two stores in the New York metropolitan area: one on Long Island in Hicksville, and another in Brooklyn.

Ingka isn't the only company looking to snatch up property along Fifth Avenue. In January, Kering, the French parent company of Gucci, spent nearly $1bn to buy 115,000 sq ft at 715-717 Fifth Avenue.

In December, an entity tied to Prada spent approximately $410m to purchase 720 Fifth Avenue, and another $425m to buy the adjacent building at 724 Fifth Avenue, according to Bloomberg.
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A Wisconsin pastor died in a devastating house fire that killed six family members on Sunday after he ran back inside the burning building to try and save his grandchildren.

The fire  which authorities believe was an accident  broke out overnight, engulfing the vacation rental near the Wisconsin Dells in flames. Pastor Steve Witte made it out safely, only to discover that two of his granddaughters were still inside, his longtime friend, Pastor Larry Schlomer, told WMTV.

He went back in seeing if he could save them and unfortunately did not make it, he added.

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and the local Beautiful Savoir Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin, confirmed that Witte and five of his family members died in the house fire. The five others were identified as Lydia Witte, Charis Kuehl, Stella Kuehl, Lena Henselin, and Merci Henselin.

Lydia Witte and Charis Kuehl were the pastors daughters, while Stella Kuehl was Charis daughter and the pastors granddaughter. Lena and Merci Henselin were also the pastors granddaughters, WELS states.

By Gods grace, a number of other family members survived, WELS President Mark Schroeder said in a statement. The pain of losing six members of one family cannot be described with words.

On behalf of our entire synod, I want to assure these families that they are in our prayers, he added. We pray that God will remind them of his grace and promises and bring healing to them. We pray that he will continue to help them to hold on to his assurance that he will never leave them or forsake them.

Witte was a pastor at various Lutheran churches in Wisconsin, but in recent years has been serving overseas in southeast Asia, Mike Pfeifer, a staff minister at WELS, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Beautiful Saviour Lutheran Church said that Steve and Mary Witte were on furlough and were holding a family get-together near Necedah when the fire broke out during the night.

The Epistle reading for this week contained Pauls words that he was perplexed, but not in despair, the church wrote. There are times when what God allows is perplexing.

Schlomer told WMTV that the family had gathered to enjoy some time together while Pastor Witte was back from his missionary work.

His wife, Mary, his children, those were so important, he said. His passion for the gospel, for the Good News about hope for eternity, is something that drove him to do everything that he did.

The Juneau County Sheriffs Office said that they were called to a house fire with two or three people trapped inside around 2:35 a.m. on Sunday. When the first responders arrived, they saw the Necedah house fully engulfed in flames and found several people in the driveway.

While escorting them away from the burning house, the survivors said that six people were still unaccounted for  three adults and three children. It took three hours for firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

WELS Christian Aid and Relief said they are offering counselling to any family member, church co-worker, or any members from impacted congregations where the family worshiped or served.
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Timothy Loehmann, the former Cleveland police officer who fatally shot Black 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, kicking off nationwide protests, resigned from a small town West Virginia police department, according to local officials.

As of July 1, 2024, Timothy Loehmann has resigned his position and is no longer an employee, according to a statement to NBC News from White Sulpher Springs mayor Kathy Glover, adding that she wouldnt comment further on a personnel matter.

The Independent has contacted Loehmann for comment.

City Council member Thomas Taylor told Cleveland.com the decision was due to the public outcry around the hiring of Loehmann, who shot the youth outside of a rec center in 2014 within seconds of arriving on the scene, thinking the boys toy gun was a real one.

Activists, including the head of Black Lives Matter Cleveland, had called attention to Loehmanns hiring in recent days on social media.

Loehmann, who was not charged in state or federal court with any crimes, has previously resigned from positions in Ohio in 2018 and Pennsylvania under similar circumstances.

People display sigs at Cudell Commons Park in Cleveland, Ohio, November 24, 2014 during a rally for Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy shot by police on November 23 ( AFP via Getty Images )

White Sulphur Springs police Chief D.S. Teubert told local media that he met Loehmann through friends from his time in the military and that he spent a year researching the officers background before the hiring decision was made.

Just as a person, I looked at the whole situation, Teubert said. I did a background check. I researched everything. Its just a sad situation. Does any police officer in the world stand a chance when theyre involved in a shooting? Do they deserve to never work again as a police officer, or is it just this shooting?
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More than 30 million people are expected to pass through the nations airports during the Fourth of July holiday weekend and TSA is warning people to be prepared for the chaos.

Officials with the Transportation Security Administration are asking travelers to come to the airport early and be prepared for every step of the travel process. The busiest days to travel any week are Sunday and Monday, as well as Thursday and Friday  and this will be especially true in 2024 as July 4 lands on a Thursday.

More than 32 million people are expected to fly between June 28 through July 8, which is a 5.4 percent increase over the same time period last year.

The peak travel day will be July 7 - at the end of the holiday weekend  when the agency expects to screen more than three million individuals at 434 airports. Twelve of the agencys top 15 busiest travel days nationally have occurred since mid-May.

TSA says it will try to meet goal of having only 10-minute waits for its PreCheck lines and 30-minutes in standard airport security.

open image in gallery The peak travel day will be July 7 - at the end of the holiday weekend - when the TSA expects to screen more than 3 million individuals at 434 airports ( Getty Images )

We have been anticipating the arrival of the Fourth of July travel period and planning our security operations to ensure that we are prepared for the surge in travelers who will be coming to the airport, TSA Federal Security Director for Colorado Douglas Cruz said.

TSA will be on the job with security screening officers extending their shifts to ensure travelers have a smooth trip,

We are asking travelers to be good partners with TSA and ensure that they are prepared for the screening process. Please dont bring prohibited items in your carry-on luggage and allow plenty of time for every step of the travel process.

Travelers should be reminded that fireworks are not allowed in carry-on or checked baggage. Passengers are also asked to have boarding passes ready along with their photo ID.

At the Roanoke regional airport in Virginia, officials are warning people about the expected chaos to come with holiday travel.

The check-in counters will be busier, the TSA screening, the parking lots, theres a lot going on, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport public relations officer Alexa Briehl told WDBJ.

The airport in Louisville, Kentucky, expects a similar scene.

We do expect it to be very busy, Louisville airport spokeswoman Natalie Ciresi Chaudoin told WDBR. Its going to be pretty similar to what we saw last year, which was a record-setting year for us.

open image in gallery AAA is projecting that 70.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from their homes over the Independence holiday travel season ( Getty Images )

AAA is projecting that 70.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from their homes over the Independence holiday travel season, defined as a nine-day period, between June 29 and July 7.

With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day, said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel.

We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.
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Joe Biden claims his poor performance at last weeks presidential debate was due to being tired after traveling around the world a couple of times in the days before the debate.

The 81-year-old said he almost fell asleep on stage during his Thursday clash with Donald Trump.

Biden was exhausted from back-to-back trips to Europe, prompting his team to cut his debate preparation sessions by two days to allow him to rest at his Delaware beach house. The preparations lasted for six days, never beginning before 11am and Biden was afforded time for a nap in the afternoon each day, one source told The Times.

It comes as many, including those from his party, have further questioned the presidents cognitive ability and whether he would be up to the role for four more years, should he be re-elected in November.

Biden, speaking at a private fundraiser in McLean, Virginia, on Tuesday, said he "wasnt very smart" for his trips before the debate.

I didnt have my best night ... I decided to travel around the world a couple of times, going through I dont know how many time zones  I figure it was about 50 time zones  in the couple of weeks before the debate, he said.

And I didnt listen to my staff. And I came back and I fell asleep onstage.

Attendees at the fundraiser took his remarks to be a self-deprecating joke and responded with laughter, at which point Biden said he was offering an explanation, not an excuse.

In remarks shared by pool reporters who attended a private fundraiser in Virginia on Tuesday, Biden said he wasnt very smart for traveling around the world a couple of times before debate ( Reuters )

Bidens schedule was filled with national and international travel in the days and weeks leading up to the debate, during which he spoke in a raspy voice, paused for long periods, and appeared to lose his train of thought.

On June 16, he hosted a glitzy fundraiser event in Los Angeles  some 2,000 miles from the debate venue in Atlanta  alongside stars including George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand, where he raised some $30m for his campaign.

Several days earlier, he had been at his family home in Wilmington, Delaware, following the guilty verdict against his son, Hunter Biden.

The week before, he had joined other world leaders in France for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6  some 4,200 miles from Atlanta.

Bidens comments come as his campaign tries to play down the age factor in the presidential race. As the oldest-ever serving president, Biden would be 82 by the time he took the oath of office for the second time in January 2025  should he win.

Two weeks before his disastrous debate performance, Biden attended a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles  some 2,000 miles away ( X/@mmpadellan )

It comes as many senior allies of Biden, including Nancy Pelosi, have voiced concerns about Bidens mental acuity and health. The former House speaker said voters questions were legitimate and called on both candidates to undergo testing.

I think its a legitimate question to say, Is this an episode or is this a condition, Pelosi told MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Rep Lloyd Doggett of Texas has called for Biden to end his re-election campaign, marking the first time a sitting Democratic member of Congress has supported the president dropping out of the race.

Biden has run substantially behind other Democratic candidates in high-stakes races, has trailed Trump in most polls, and then failed to expose his Republican rivals lies during the debate, Doggett said. Our overriding consideration must be who has the best hope of saving our democracy from an authoritarian takeover by a criminal and his gang.

In an op-ed for Newsweek, former Democratic congressman Tim Ryan called on Vice-President Kamala Harris to replace Biden as the partys nominee.

However, the optics of Thursdays debate and Bidens claims of sleep deprivation come following accusations that, behind closed doors, the president is said to be a long way from the softly-spoken, timid man who appeared on stage.

An anonymous senior administration official previously told Politico that Biden often unleashes his wrath upon staff, so much so that aides that pull together the presidents formal briefings are known to tiptoe around topics that could spark red-hot fury from him during meetings.

Its like, You cant include that, that will set him off, or Put that in, he likes that, they said. Because he is not a pleasant person to be around when hes being briefed. Its very difficult, and people are scared s***less of him.

Advisers and allies have grown worried by recent incidents, such as when Biden appeared confused during a D-Day anniversary event in France on June 6. The following day, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden misstated the purpose of fresh military aid to the country.

A few days later, on June 10, Biden seemed to freeze up during an early Juneteenth celebration.
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Members of Joe Bidens staff are said to be scared s***less of him, leading advisors to carefully curate their briefings to ensure they dont set him off, according to a senior official.

Bidens close-knit group of advisors and spin doctors have worked tirelessly to portray a positive public image for the oldest president in US history.

In his first two years in office, he gave the fewest interviews since Ronald Reagans presidency  with critics suggesting that hes faced fewer moments of public accountability for his comments and actions.

All of that unravelled during Thursdays debate where the 81-year-old stumbled his way through the first televised debate of the 2024 election against his more coherent Republican rival Donald Trump.

Following his disastrous performance, family members, including First Lady Jill Biden and son Hunter Biden, blamed Bidens campaign team during a meeting at Camp David on Sunday.

But, behind closed doors, the president is said to be a long way from the softly-spoken, timid man who appeared on stage.

Biden appeared more timid and softly-spoken at Thursdays CNN debate than some of his staff attest ( AFP/Getty )

Instead, an anonymous senior administration official told Politico that Biden often unleashes his wrath upon staff, so much so that aides that pull together the presidents formal briefings are known to tiptoe around topics that could spark red-hot fury from him during meetings.

Its like, You cant include that, that will set him off, or Put that in, he likes that, they said.

Because he is not a pleasant person to be around when hes being briefed. Its very difficult, and people are scared s***less of him, the official continued.

Sources also told the outlet that Biden almost exclusively seeks advice from a handful of senior aides, with his inner circle growing increasingly cliquish as he becomes more difficult to deal with in day-to-day business.

Theyve been digging deeper into the bunker for months now, an anonymous Democratic strategist told Politico.

This isnt the first time that Biden has been accused of losing his temper with staff.

Jeff Connaughton, a former Biden campaign and senate aide, previously wrote in his 2012 book The Payoff that Biden as a senator was an egomaniacal autocrat... determined to manage his staff through fear. He wrote that Biden once told him to get the f*** out of the car when asked to do some fundraising calls.

Ted Kaufman, Biden's longtime chief of staff when he represented Delaware in the Senate, contested that the presidents approach brings the best out of his aides.

The president relies evermore on a tight-knight group of senior staff, sources say ( AP )

If there is something that's not in the brief, he's going to find it, Kaufmman told Axios last year.

It's not to embarrass people, it's because he wants to get to the right decision. Most people who have worked for him like the fact that he challenges them and gets them to a better decision, he added.

Following last weeks debate, top Democratic donor, John Morgan, publicly called out and demanded the resignation of three of Bidens senior staff: Ron Klain, Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer.

[Bidens] advisers failed him, he wrote on X on Sunday. Format was a disaster for him and a plus for Trump. He over practiced and was drained who wouldnt be.

Biden, however, refuted that the trio were at fault, according to another source close with the matter.
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The Supreme Court will not hear a challenge to a key federal agency that oversees workplace safety, which conservative Justice Clarence Thomas slammed as a far-reaching authority that threatens Americans constitutional rights.

On Tuesday, Supreme Court justices declined to hear a case that questioned the constitutionality of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an argument backed by right-wing legal groups and 23 Republican attorneys general.

The challengers had hoped to find a sympathetic court, on the heels of two major rulings that took a sledgehammer to regulatory agencies and the governments ability to go after lawbreakers.

Only Justices Thomas and Neil Gorsuch wanted to hear the case.

Congress purported to empower an administrative agency to impose whatever workplace-safety standards it deems appropriate, Thomas wrote in his dissent.

That power extends to virtually every business in the United States, he added. The agency claims authority to regulate everything from a power lawnmowers design  to the level of contact between trainers and whales at SeaWorld.

A protester calls for Justice Clarence Thomas to resign outside the Supreme Court on July 1 as the courts majority granted Donald Trump and other presidents sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution. ( EPA )

The case stems from a fine imposed by OSHA against an Ohio contractor after a worker was injured by a broken catwalk on a worksite.

The company then sued President Joe Bidens administration, claiming that the agencys ability to set reasonably necessary or appropriate safety standards violates congress constitutional law-making authority.

An appeals court rejected that argument, and the company appealed up to the Supreme Court.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act may be the broadest delegation of power to an administrative agency found in the United States Code, Thomas wrote.

If this far-reaching grant of authority does not impermissibly confer legislative power on an agency, it is hard to imagine what would, he added.

The courts rejection of the case arrived the same day that the Biden administration announced sweeping OSHA protections for workers against heat, marking the first major regulations aimed at preventing heat-related deaths on the job.
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Representative Cori Bush of Missouri describes being sexually assaulted and receiving an abortion in her latest campaign ad as she faces a heated primary.

The ad comes as pro-Israel groups target Bush for her support for a ceasefire in Gaza. Numerous pro-Israel groups spent more than $14m to successfully depose fellow Squad member Jamaal Bowman in New Yorks 16th districts Democratic primary last week. The race was the most expensive congressional primary in history.

Bush describes how the Supreme Courts Dobbs v Jackson, which overturned Roe v Wade, decision reminded her of when she was sexually assaulted.

At 17, I was assaulted and had an abortion, she says. It was devastating. I was devastated again 30 years later, when Republican extremists overturned Roe.

Representative Cori Bush releases an ad detailing her receiving an abortion as a teenager (Cori Bush/YouTube)

Bush, a member of the Squad, faces a Democratic primary challenge from county prosecutor Wesley Bell. Organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committees United Democracy Project super PAC and the Democratic Majority for Israel have sought to highlight when Bush voted against President Joe Biden.

Specifically, they have pointed to her vote against the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Bush also highlighted in the advert how she has taken action to defend reproductive care.

Ive turned my hurt into action, defending access to abortion care, organizing to expand the court, and working with President Biden to protect abortion, she said.

Conversely, she pointed to a story in HuffPost that found that Bell managed the campaign of an anti-abortion Republican.

Wesley Bell worked to elect an anti-abortion Republican and is funded by anti-abortion Republicans, she said.

Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) describes receiving an abortion as a teenager in new campaign ad ( Getty Images for Court Accountab )

Progressives have sought to point out the fact that AIPACs super PAC has been bankrolled by Republican megadonors.

The advertisement comes as UDP has spent 83 percent of the $3.5m spent in Missouris 1st districts Democratic primary, according to AdImpact. The latest ad from the super PAC highlights Bells record of defending abortion rights.

Bush won a Democratic primary against longtime Democratic congressman William Lacy Clay Jr, whose father also held the seat before him, in 2020.

Bush has since become one of the most outspoken progressive voices in Congress.

She and fellow Squad members--including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Bowman, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota--have spoken publicly for their support for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas since the October 7th attack in Israel by Hamas that killed 1,200 people and led to a war in Gaza that has killed more than 35,000 people, many of whom are women and children.
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A group of Democratic governors has demanded a meeting at the White House to get reassurances from Joe Biden and advisers in the wake of his disastrous first debate.

The group, which contains some of Joe Bidens most ardent supporters and some potential successors, has been startled by their lack of contact with the president following the debacle, according to The New York Times.

Biden, 81, received stinging criticism after he stumbled through the first televised debate of the 2024 election against Republican rival Donald Trump.

The proposed meeting on Wednesday, which would include Democratic governors attending the White House in person, comes after a reported virtual meeting held between themselves on Monday.

According to a Times source briefed on Mondays meeting, a number of the governors expressed frustration with the vagueness of current circumstances, and that Biden is being somewhat shielded following the debate.

Allies of president Biden have been urged to make him more visible as part of the attempt to reassure voters and party members following his disastrous debate performance last week ( AP )

Despite this, the newspaper also reported that the presidents team was looking to organize trips to both Wisconsin and Pennsylvania later this week, another attempt at shoring up support and making him more visible to voters in key states.

On Tuesday in Washington, Biden delivered remarks on protecting workers and communities from extreme weather, cracking jokes with those gathered.

He also held an event in North Carolina the day after the first debate in which he recognized his age and debate issues while insisting he was a truth-teller compared to Trump.

The trips to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania  two major swing states  would potentially come on Friday and Sunday, according to the outlet.

The presidents advisers have been urged by several allies, including former speaker Nancy Pelosi, to make him more visible in the aftermath of the debate.

Governors, including Californias Gavin Newsom and Wes Moore, of Maryland, have recently been put out as surrogates to represent the president, with both denying any interest in replacing him on Novembers ballot.

A number of Democratic governors, including Californias Gavin Newsom have rejected ideas that they might replace the president in the campaign ( Getty Images )

On Tuesday, representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Biden ally to call for the president to end his re-election campaign.

Doggett said Biden has run substantially behind other Democratic candidates in high-stakes races, has trailed Trump in most polls, and then failed to expose his Republican rivals lies during the debate.

Our overriding consideration must be who has the best hope of saving our democracy from an authoritarian takeover by a criminal and his gang, he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Doggetts statement followed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis remarks on MSNBC that it is a legitimate question whether the presidents performance in his June 27 debate with Trump was an episode or is this a condition.
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Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings with his father Joe Biden and top aides in the wake of the presidents panic-fuelling appearance during last weeks debate against Donald Trump.

The presidents son, who was convicted on gun-related charges in federal court last month, attended meetings with the president and his staff to prepare for Bidens speech in response to the Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity.

Hunter traveled back to the White House with his father after the familys visit to Camp David over the weekend and then joined a meeting to prepare for the speech, and he ended up spending time with his dad and his family that night, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Tuesday.

According to NBC News, Hunter has been closely advising his father after the family gathered at Camp David over the weekend following the presidents disastrous debate performance.

The younger Biden has popped into meetings and phone calls that the president has had with some of his advisers, the outlet reported.

The reaction from some senior White House staff has been what the hell is happening? according to NBC.

The president as you know is very close to his family. This is a holiday week, Fourth of July, Jean-Pierre told reporters at the White House on Tuesday

Hunter came back with him and walked with him into that meeting, that prep, that speech prep, and  he ended up spending time with his dad and his family that night, she said. That is basically what happened. It is a week where theres going to be more family members who are going to come to the White House. Im sure youll see some of them on Fourth of July. Many more are expected to be here.

President Joe Biden and his family return to Washington DC on July 1 after a trip to Camp David. In the days after, the younger Biden has popped into meetings and phone calls that the president has had with some of his advisers ( AP )

Asked whether Hunter has been participating in meetings with senior advisers, Jean-Pierre repeated that he returned to the White House after the familys trip to Camp David and that he was in the room for speech prep.

But anything else coming out of that reporting I cant speak to, she said.

They were together at Camp David. They came back together. Youre going to see a lot more family this week, she said.

Hunter is reportedly among the strongest voices in Bidens family urging him to stay in the presidential race while major newspaper editorials, a majority of Democratic voters and prominent allies have argued that the president should end his re-election campaign.

The younger Biden, whom the president has long depended on for advice, wants Americans to see a more commanding version of his father compared to the stumbling and frequently incoherent president on display during the debate, according to The New York Times.

The familys pre-planned visit to Camp David, scheduled well before Bidens debate, marked the first time that the family had gathered together after a jury found that Hunter lied on a gun purchasing form by stating that he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.
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Staffers for Joe Biden have witnessed at least 15 incidents in the last year and a half where the president has appeared like he did at that horror show of a debate, Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein said this week.

Bidens performance at the June 27 debate has been widely viewed as dismal, with his voice appearing frail and raspy as he lost his train of thought and made several gaffes.

Bernstein appeared on CNN on Monday, saying that people close to Biden have told him in the last six months that hes shown signs of cognitive decline, adding that his sources have gone to former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain with their concerns during the last year regarding Biden losing his train of thought.

The journalist also mentioned a fundraiser at the Four Seasons in New York last summer where Biden grew very stiff and that it was almost a kind of rigor mortis.

But Bernstein did say that sources insist Biden is sharp in his national security meetings.

The journalist said he has been speaking to people who are very close to President Biden, who love him, have supported him ... among them are some people whove raised a lot of money for him.

They are adamant that what we saw the other night, the Joe Biden we saw is not a one-off, that there have been 15, 20 occasions in the last year and a half when the president has appeared somewhat as he did in that horror show that we witnessed, he said.

Journalist Carl Bernstein says Biden staffers have seen up to 15 horror incidents like debate

He added: These people who have supported him, loved him, campaigned for him, see him often, say that in the last six months particularly there has been a marked incidence of cognitive decline.

Bernstein noted that Klain supervised the debate prep sessions at Camp David in Maryland and that the people Ive talked to have all been to Ron Klain in the last year to say we have a problem.

There have been numerous instances where the president has lost his train of thought, cant pick it up again, there was a fundraiser at which he started at the podium and then he became very stiff according to the people there as if it were almost a kind of rigor mortis, Bernstein continued.

Reporter Carl Bernstein has said that there have been several instances where Biden appeared as he did at his dismal debate ( EPA )

He became very stiff and a chair had to be brought for him to do the latter part of the event, he said.

The Watergate reporter said those ringing the alarm have been pushed back repeatedly whenever its been brought up.

But he also noted how hes been told for two years about how sharp Biden is in his national security meetings. He has special briefing books on Ukraine, on the situation in Gaza that go down into very detailed military reports. He has an absolute command of the facts. Hes sharp as can be.

Bernstein said, Were clearly dealing with two sets of one person.
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Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas has called for President Joe Biden to end his re-election campaign, marking the first time a sitting Democratic member of Congress has supported the president dropping out of the race after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.

Biden has run substantially behind other Democratic candidates in high-stakes races, has trailed Trump in most polls, and then failed to expose his Republican rivals lies during the debate, according to Doggett.

Our overriding consideration must be who has the best hope of saving our democracy from an authoritarian takeover by a criminal and his gang, he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Too much is at stake to risk a Trump victory  too great a risk to assume that what could not be turned around in a year, what was not turned around in the debate, can be turned around now, he added.

Following a Supreme Court decision that grants Trump and other presidents immunity from prosecution for crimes committed in office, a newly-empowered Trump could usher America into a long, dark, authoritarian era unchecked by either the courts or a submissive Republican Congress, according to Doggett.

Doggett  who has been in office since 1995 and represents the largely Democratic capital city of Austin  noted that former President Lyndon Johnson once represented the same district. During a televised address in 1968, Johnson announced he would not seek re-election and would not accept his partys nomination.

President Biden should do the same, Doggett said.

Democratic congressman Lloyd Doggett joins members of the Service Employees International Union in Washington DC on June 5. He became the first sitting Democratic member of Congress to call on Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race on July 2. ( Getty Images )

Biden pledged to be transitional, and leaving the race creates an opportunity to encourage a new generation of leaders from whom a nominee can be chosen to unite our country through an open, democratic process, according to Doggett.

My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved, he added. Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.

Doggetts statement followed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis remarks on MSNBC that it is a legitimate question whether the presidents performance in his June 27 debate with Trump was an episode or is this a condition.

In an op-ed for Newsweek, former Democratic congressman Tim Ryan called on Vice President Kamala Harris to replace Biden as the the partys nominee.

On June 30, Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin said there were very honest, and serious and rigorous conversations taking place within the Democratic Party about next steps.

Adam Frisch, the Democratic candidate for a House seat Colorado, also called on Biden to step aside, saying we deserve better.

Editorial boards for several major American newspapers  including The New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in crucial swing-state Georgia  have also called on Biden to drop out after last weeks debate.

I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, President Biden said in remarks from North Carolina the day after the debate.

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 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.

In the first poll conducted by the network since hosting the debate last week, the results of a new survey from CNN show that most voters believe the Democratic Party would have a better chance of holding on to the presidency without Biden at the top of the ticket.
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Republican Rep Victoria Spartz has been charged with bringing a firearm through airport security at Washington Dulles International Airport, authorities said on Monday.

The Indiana congresswoman, 45, was charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia law and received a summons to appear in court in Virginia, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said Monday.

A TSA spokesperson said officers detected an unloaded .380-caliber firearm in Spartz's carry-on during passenger security screening on Friday at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Her office said in a statement that Spartz had mistakenly carried an unloaded handgun in the pocket of her suitcase while going through security on her way to a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Europe.

Last Friday, Rep. Spartz accidentally carried an empty handgun in her suitcase with no magazine or bullets, which she did not realize was in the pocket of her suitcase, while going through security at Dulles airport, the statement said.

Rep Spartz was issued a citation and proceeded on her international flight.

Rep Victoria Spartz speaks during a Lincoln Day Dinner on May 2 2024. She has been charged with carrying a gun through airport security ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The charge carries up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine if convicted.

TSA allows passengers to travel with a firearm but it must be declared with the airline and packed in a hard-sided case in the passengers checked baggage. Firearms are prohibited at security checkpoints.

The two-term congresswoman from central Indiana won a contentious and competitive primary in May after she had said in 2023 that she wasn't going to run again.

Spartz  a Trump-aligned, Second Amendment touting Republican  is the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress. However, she recently voted against sending war aid to the country, a reversal from her position when Russia invaded Ukraine.
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Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred in New York after he was found to have made repeated false statements about the 2020 election.

The decision, by a New York Appellate Court on Tuesday, was a stunning conclusion for a man who was once one of the most powerful and revered prosecutors in the country.

As US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Giuliani became known as a tough prosecutor who went after organized crime. It was a reputation he leveraged to become New York mayor, leading the city through the devastation of the 9/11 terror attack in 2001.

Giuliani is disbarred from the practice of law, effective immediately, and until the further order of this Court, and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York, the 31-page ruling states.

The court justified its decision by saying that Giuliani had made demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large when he was lawyer for Donald Trump, and part of the failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

On Tuesday, a Giuliani spokesperson told The Independent: Members of the legal community who respect the rule of law in this country should immediately come forward and speak out against this politically and ideologically corrupted decision by the New York Bar Association.

We will be appealing this objectively flawed decision in hopes that the appellate process will restore integrity into our system of justice.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani departs the US District courthouse after he was ordered to pay $148m in his defamation case in Washington on December 15, 2023. He was disbarred in New York on July 2, 2024 ( AP )

Giulianis New York law license was suspended in June 2021 after the division ruled that Giualinis false claims about the 2020 election constituted a threat to the public interest, democracy, and the legal profession.

The 80-year-old has faced increasing legal and financial jeopardy over the last few years. He was indicted in Arizona in May, along with 17 other defendants, for supposedly being a part of a scheme to overturn Trumps 2020 loss in the state.

Last December, he filed for bankruptcy after a defamation judgment ordered him to pay damages of $148m after he made false claims about election workers.

Retired Judge Barry Kamins, who represented Giuliani during the disbarrment proceedings, told the New York Law Journal that Giuliani is obviously disappointed in the decision and we are weighing our appellate options.

A Washington DC disciplinary committee has recommended that Giuliani be disbarred there as well.

The former mayor is also the subject of criminal charges in Georgia over his alleged role in a plot to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.
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Rudy Giuliani, the revered prosecutor who took on the New York mafia and led the city through the 9/11 terror attacks, has been disbarred in his own hometown.

The decision, by a New York Appellate Court on Tuesday, was a stunning conclusion for a man who was once one of the most powerful prosecutors in the country.

As US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Giuliani became known as a tough prosecutor who went after organized crime. It was a reputation he leveraged to become New York mayor, leading the city through the devastation of the 9/11 terror attack in 2001.

On Tuesday, the NY appellate court cited the former mayors repeated false claims regarding the 2020 election as the reason for his disbarrment. As a lawyer for former president Donald Trump, Giuliani was one of the main mouthpieces for the baseless and fact-free argument that the election had been stolen.

The 80-year-old is in both legal and financial hot water.

New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani leads a tour of the site of the World Trade Center terror attack on September 12, 2001. On 2 July, 2024, he was disbarred in New York ( 2001 AP )

Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in December after a defamation judgment that ordered him to pay $148m in damages to two election workers about whom he made false claims. He was indicted in May, along with 17 others, in Arizona for supposedly being a part of a scheme to overturn Trumps 2020 loss in the state. Giuliani faces a similar indictment in Georgia.

He is also under scrutiny in connection with other proceedings in New York. He faces a $10m complaint from a former staffer who has accused him of sexual assault and wage theft. There are also claims that he was selling pardons for $2m, but many of the actions against him were stayed following his bankruptcy ruling. Giuliani has rejected the allegations.

A Washington DC disciplinary committee has recommended that he be disbarred there as well.

Giuliani  feted, knighted, and named Time magazines Person of the Year for his leadership as New York City mayor after the 2001 terrorist attacks  has seen his reputation eviscerated and now his liberty imperiled for his steadfast defense of Trump.

How did it come to this? People whove studied Giulianis rise and fall see his failed 2008 presidential run as a turning point.

Giuliani started as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, capitalizing on his post-9/11 popularity. But he struggled in the primaries amid GOP concerns about his past support for abortion rights, gay rights, and gun control, and questions about his personal life and business ties to the Middle East.

Rudy Giuliani, here seen in 1984, served as a US attorney between 1983 and 1989. He rode his success as a prosecutor all the way to the New York mayoralty ( Bernard Gotfryd/Alamy )

For years following the race, Giuliani's political career appeared over. After falling into a deep depression, he and his then-wife Judith decamped to Florida, where Trump put them up for a month in a bungalow at his Mar-a-Lago estate, biographer Andrew Kirtzman said.

Trump really took Giuliani under his wing at a very vulnerable moment, said Kirtzman, whose second Giuliani biography, Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of Americas Mayor, was published in September 2022. And then in 2016, Trump decided to run for president, and he needed Giuliani, and Giuliani needed Trump.

Trump, a first-time candidate, leaned on Giuliani's political acumen and loyalty and put him to work as a surrogate leading attacks on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whom Giuliani had faced in a 2000 Senate race.

The 2016 campaign returned Giuliani to relevance, but he surprised many with the ferocity of his attacks and his frequent claims that Clinton had committed crimes. Giuliani was seen as squandering his image as an elder statesman of sorts on a candidate who, at the time, was written off as having little chance to win.

Giuliani angled for a post in Trump's cabinet but didn't get it. Instead, he continued as Trump's attack dog, a role that saw him traveling to Ukraine seeking damaging information about Biden's son, Hunter.

Giuliani's contacts with Ukrainian figures later played a role in Trumps first impeachment trial and prompted an FBI investigation. In April 2021, federal agents raided his home and office, seizing computers and cellphones, but the probe was later dropped without any charges.

Some people who were once close to him say the Giuliani of today has little in common with the man they knew.

The man that I knew 20 years ago, the hero of September 11 bears no resemblance to this man, said Judith Giuliani, who was by his side in the aftermath of 9/11 and his 2008 election loss. I actually feel sorry for him. Its sad. Hes not the person that he used to be to any of us.

When Trump lost the 2020 election, Giuliani played a starring role in his effort to remain in the White House, which prosecutors say included illegal maneuvering to flip the results in key states.

He was ridiculed for holding a news conference on Pennsylvania legal challenges outside Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia, an out-of-the-way location next to a crematorium and a pornography shop, not the Four Seasons hotel in the heart of the city.

A few weeks later, Giuliani appeared to have hair dye streaking down his face at another news conference, making him the butt of late-night television jokes and internet memes.

Those blunders came in the wake of another embarrassment: clips from the Borat sequel showing Giuliani flirting with a young actress posing as a TV journalist and then lying on a bed, with his hand down his pants. Giuliani said he went to the hotel thinking he was going to be interviewed and was just tucking in his shirt.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani departs the U.S. District Courthouse in Washington on December 15, 2023. He was ordered to pay $148m in damages to two election workers ( REUTERS )

After his efforts to keep Trump in office failed in the courts, Giuliani on January 6, 2021, made incendiary remarks to Trump supporters who later stormed the U.S. Capitol, suggesting they engage in trial by combat.

Giulianis critics argue that hes always been combative and abrasive, with a disdain for critics and a willingness to go after rivals.

The real Rudy Giuliani was hiding in plain sight, said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Just because he was the face of a devastated and pained city after 9/11 doesnt mean that he wasnt still the authoritarian, anti-democratic bully that he was for 90 percent of his mayoralty, which ran from 1994 to 2001.

After 9/11, Giuliani started a consulting firm that had $100m in revenue in five years. Lately, though, he's shown signs of financial strain, exacerbated by a third divorce, costly lawsuits, and investigations.

To generate cash, hes hawked autographed 9/11 shirts for $911 dollars and pitched sandals sold by election denier Mike Lindell. Hes also joined Cameo, a service where celebrities record short videos for profit. Giulianis greetings cost $325 a pop.

In July last year, he put his Manhattan apartment up for sale for $6.5m before taking it off the market.

In 2022, a judge threatened Giuliani with jail in a dispute over money owed to Judith, his third ex-wife. Giuliani said he was making progress paying the debt, which she said totaled more than $260,000.

His legacy is in tatters, said Kirtzman, who was with Giuliani on 9/11 as they fled debris from the falling World Trade Center.
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The Supreme Court has sidestepped a challenge to the federal law used to convict the presidents son, Hunter Biden.

On Tuesday, the justices asked the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to look again at the recent ruling in US v Daniels, the SCOTUS decision which overturned a conviction on drug users owning guns.

Hunter Bidens defense attorneys cited the ruling in their appeal to his case, where he was found guilty last month of buying a gun while addicted to crack cocaine.

Last year, the Fifth Circuit reversed the conviction of a Mississippi man who owned two guns while using marijuana, saying US history and tradition does not justify disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug usage.

Should the lower federal court uphold its ruling, it could be useful for Bidens appeal.

The case involving the Mississippi man is just one of eight cases the Supreme Court returned to lower courts in light of their June 2024 decision in United States v Rahimi, which determined that the Second Amendment has restrictions for potentially violent individuals.

Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden, exits the J Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 10, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware during his federal gun charges trial ( AFP via Getty Images )

Other cases that the Supreme Court asked lower courts to revisit include disputes to laws that prevent people convicted of a felony or a nonviolent felony from owning a firearm.

One challenge asks whether a New York law requiring a person seeking a gun license to prove they are of good moral character and place restrictions on sensitive locations is a violation of the Second Amendment.

Those lower courts - which include the Second, Third, Fifth, Eighth and Tenth - will need to consider Rahimi when deciding if their original rulings remain valid. Those decisions could be brought back to the Supreme Court at a later time if there is a further constitutional question.

It has been a contentious term for the Supreme Court with strong criticism of the justices decisions to significantly scale back the authority of the administrative state like federal agencies. Their decisions this term may cause lower courts, like the Fifth Circuit, to face a massive docket of cases to revise.

The gun cases make up just a small portion of those cases to revise.

Tuesdays list of cases going back to lower courts also includes nine requests that relied upon the recently overturned 40-year precedent in Chevron v Natural Resources, a landmark case that gave federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and more the authority to defer to their own expertise when interpreting vague language.

Nine other cases are going back to the lower courts thanks to a ruling that found juries are required in criminal cases that invoke a law carrying minimum sentencings of 15 years.

The Supreme Court has agreed to take up only four cases in the next term, two of which are notable. One has to do with the FDAs ban on flavored vapes and the other has to do with age verification requirements on websites containing sexual content.
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Donald Trump has taken his revenge against the chair of the House Freedom Caucus in a primary that proves his endorsement is still a kingmaker within the Republican Party.

The race in Virginias 5th district was called Tuesday afternoon, with all 24 localities reporting. Virginias Department of Elections declared that John McGuire, a retired Navy SEAL and state senator, won the primary with 31,583 votes compared to Representative Bob Goods 31,209, creating a margin of just 374 votes.

The results took days to come in as the race remained on a knife edge, and Good has already said that he will ask for a recount.

McGuire declared victory and thanked Trump for the endorsement in a statement on X/Twitter.

Number one, I want to thank God, he said. We could not have done this without my wife Tracy, our incredible team, and of course President Trump! This is the honor of a lifetime.

On Friday, before results had been called, Good told The Independent he planned to contest them.

We will challenge and contest the race, he said. I think we owe it to the 31,000 people who voted for us to make sure it's accurate, and that it truly reflects the intent of the legal legitimate voters.

Good, who has chaired the Houses most conservative caucus since January, became a target of the former presidents ire when he endorsed Trumps primary challenger Ron DeSantis in May of 2023.

When Good endorsed him, DeSantis looked to be possibly the strongest Republican in the primary, as Trumps legal woes were beginning to mount. The Florida governor was riding high after winning a resounding victory in his battle for re-election in 2022.

DeSantis would eventually bow out of the Republican primary days after the Iowa caucuses in January, having failed to come close to overtaking Trump in a state where his campaign had almost exclusively focused its time and efforts.

Trump-endorsed candidate John McGuire meets voters in June 2024 at a campaign stop ( Facebook: John McGuire )

In the end, he was nearly overtaken by a surging Nikki Haley, who would go on to be the only Republican other than Trump to win a state in the GOP primary this year.

In response, Trump swiftly endorsed McGuire.

John is running against Bob Good, who is not good, he posted on Truth Social ahead of the primary.  Despite his name, hes very bad for Virginia.

Good said that Trumps endorsement of his opponent had an effect on the race and said it was based on inaccurate information.

Obviously I haven't fought against President Trump, he told The Independent. I haven't been bad for Virginia. Obviously, after three and a half years, I wasn't going to suddenly turn on the people in my district and all of that was suggested in the endorsement from the President and so certainly was disappointing.

Good also earned the ire of former House speaker Kevin McCarthy, whom Good opposed as speaker and whom Good voted to oust. McCarthys political action committee poured $10,000 into the race against Good.

Goods opponent successfully squeezed the congressman out as Good sought to reaffirm his loyalty to Trump in 2024.

Bob Good, left, listens as his colleague Matt Gaetz speaks at a Republican press conference outside of Donald Trumps courtroom in Manhattan ( Getty Images )

Good attended court to show support for Trump the same day, even wearing the signature blue suit/red tie combo favored by Trumps acolytes. But it was McGuire who came away with the former presidents endorsement from the showdown possibly unsurprising, given that he was the only non-incumbent granted a spot in the former presidents limousine.

If there was any doubt as to why McGuire won the endorsement in the end, it was settled by Trump himself as the former president spoke virtually at a tele-rally for Goods challenger on Monday evening.

After I won the primary he became a big fan  thats not good enough, Trump told McGuires fans.

Virginias 5th district is solidly Republican, meaning McGuire is all but guaranteed to come to Washington in January.
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The judge presiding over Donald Trumps hush money trial is postponing the former presidents sentencing to September after Manhattan prosecutors said they would not oppose Trumps request to delay in the wake of the US Supreme Courts decision granting him absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.

In a letter to Justice Juan Merchan on July 2, prosecutors with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Trumps arguments are without merit but that they did not oppose his request to push back the sentencing date as he files his legal arguments.

Trump was initially scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, four days before the commencement of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

The judge will instead render a decision on Trumps arguments on September 6 and Trump will be sentenced on September 18 if such is still necessary, according to a notice from Merchan on Tuesday.

That new date means Trump could potentially be handed a jail sentence roughly six weeks before Election Day.

The former presidents attorneys sent a letter to the judge on July 1 in the hopes of delaying his sentencing and blocking his guilty verdict.

The letter arrived within hours of the announcement of a ruling from the nations high court that shields Trump and any other presidents from criminal prosecution for actions considered official duties while in office.

Donald Trump leaves a criminal courtroom in Manhattan on May 30 after he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. ( AP )

Prosecutors are also imminently expected to submit their recommendations to the court for Trumps sentence, which is likely to be the only criminally consequential action against the former president before Election Day.

Judge Merchan will ultimately set the sentence. Trump could face several years in jail or alternatively probation, community service, hefty fines or some combination of those terms.

The justice will likely also pull from guidance from Trumps interview with a New York probation officer last month.

Trump was convicted at his trial on Manhattan on May 30 on all 34 counts against him after jurors deliberated for roughly two days.

The former president was found to have falsified business records in connection with a scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election by paying hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump at a Lake Tahoe hotel in July 2006 threatened to derail his campaign.

Speaking after the Supreme Courts decision, Trump claimed the ruling should end all of Crooked Joe Bidens Witch Hunts against me, including the New York Hoaxes  meaning his hush money case, the civil fraud judgment that has him on the hook for nearly half a billion dollars and a jurys verdict in a federal defamation trial.

His attorneys argued that the hush money case should never have been put before a jury following the Supreme Courts ruling.

They requested a deadline of July 10 to file a motion based on the high courts decision.

Trumps attorneys argued that witness testimony about events in the Oval Office, Trumps social media posts and phone records during his term, and an Office of Government Ethics form about payments to his estranged former personal attorney Michael Cohen should not have been admitted into evidence under the Supreme Courts new presidential immunity doctrine.

Under Trump, this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, they wrote in their July 1 letter.

After further briefing on these issues beginning on July 10 2024, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand, they added.
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Just hours after the Supreme Court granted Donald Trump absolute immunity for official acts while in office, the former presidents lawyers made moves to try to get his conviction in his hush money criminal trial overturned.

The 78-year-old former president was found guilty on May 30 on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in order to quash claims of an affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump could now face up to several years in jail, probation, community service, hefty fines or some combination of penalties for the charges.

Following the Supreme Courts landmark ruling, Trumps team is arguing this conviction should be tossed.

On Monday, Trumps legal team scurried to send a letter to Justice Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case, asking him to throw out the guilty verdict.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office responded on Tuesday arguing that Trumps arguments to do so are without merit  but said that prosecutors do not oppose the former presidents request to push back the July 11 sentencing date by two weeks, requesting a final deadline of July 24 to file all legal arguments in the case.

But is this just a baseless, desperate attempt from Trump to quash the Republican presidential candiates conviction in the 11th hour, or might the defense have a case?

Trump sat with lead attorney Todd Blanche at his hush money criminal trial, which found him guilty of all charges held against him ( via REUTERS )

Duncan Levin, a criminal defense attorney and former senior official at the Manhattan District Attorneys Office, told The Independent that the Supreme Courts ruling is unlikely to change anything at all.

Theres really no credible argument that can be made that covering up the payment of hush money to a porn star is part of the core constitutional duties of the President of the United States, Levin said.

Theyre doing everything they can to try to delay things and delay the sentencing if you dont ask for something, you dont get it, he added.

In the Supreme Courts landmark 6-3 ruling on Monday, the majority of justices said that Trump, and any future presidents, have immunity for official acts while in office.

Presidents, however, are not protected from unofficial acts  that is conduct undertaken in private. But the outer perimeter of the presidents duties must be granted some immunity, the majority wrote.

The Supreme Court has left it up to lower courts to determine what constitutes an official act, meaning that Trumps federal election interference criminal case must now return to a lower court for further legal wranglings, leading to further delays.

Prior to the Supreme Courts ruling, Trump had previously claimed immunity from prosecution or civil threats in all cases against him, which was rejected by two judges.

In Trumps letter to the judge, first reported by The New York Times, his attorneys sought permission to file a motion to postpone his sentencing and dismiss the case altogether.

They argued the high courts ruling reaffirmed their stance that Bragg should not have been allowed to offer evidence regarding Trumps official acts while president.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office is expected to respond to the letter from Trumps legal team on Tuesday ( Getty Images )

One of Trumps attorneys in the immunity case, Will Scharf, has also claimed that the high courts ruling now absolutely impacts the hush money case.

The Supreme Court was very clear that for acts that fall within the outer perimeter of the presidents official responsibilities, acts that are presumptively immune from prosecution, that evidence of those acts cannot be used to try essentially private acts, he told CNN.

But, nothing in the indictment or the prosecutors case presented at trial include actions involving the presidency, other than Trumps signature on checks to his former fixer and then-attorney Michael Cohen that reimbursed him for the payments to Daniels.

Those checks were signed when Trump was president, during his first year in office in 2017.

As shocking as that is, that is not a core constitutional duty to sign checks and furtherance of a criminal concern from the Oval Office, Levin said.

Further, the deadline for post-conviction filings ended last month, and it is unclear what argument Trumps attorneys would present to the court based on Mondays relatively narrow ruling from the Supreme Court.

As of Monday evening, Trumps lead attorney Todd Blanche told The Independent that he had no comment, adding there is nothing public yet to share.

However, the former president was quick to claim that the Supreme Court ruling effectively exonerated him.

In a Truth Social post, he declared that the Supreme Courts decision should end all of Crooked Joe Bidens Witch Hunts against me, including the New York Hoaxes.
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Police arrested a 14-year-old boy accused of stabbing a man on the University of Sydney campus on Tuesday.

The emergency services were called to the scene at Parramatta Road near Camperdown at about 8.35am where the 22-year-old victim was found suffering from a single stab wound.

He is reportedly in a serious but stable condition. The authorities said the two are not known to each other.

The 22-year-old unnamed victim was treated for his wounds at the scene of the stabbing and later taken to the Royal Prince Alfred hospital.

According to 7News, the stabbing took place in front of university students as they were walking towards their classes.

According to New South Wales police, the teenager boarded a bus on Parramatta Road following the attack. However, he was later arrested near the Royal Prince Alfred hospital.

The motive of the crime has not been established yet. New South Wales police say there is no threat or risk to the local community.

A police vehicle is seen at the scene after a 14-year-old boy was arrested and a 22-year-old man was taken to hospital following a stabbing incident at the University of Sydney in Camperdown, Australia, 2 July 2024 ( REUTERS )

A spokesperson for the university was quoted as saying by Australian Broadcasting Corporation: The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and members of the community is our priority, and we continue to work with authorities.

The university also said there will be increased security presence on the campus as police investigated the case.

This incident comes two months after a fatal knife attack at a beachside mall in Sydney left six people dead and 12 injured. There was also an unrelated stabbing of an Assyrian church bishop during a service in Sydneys west.

As a result, the New South Wales government recently strengthened knife laws. These laws include using metal-detecting scanners in public places and harsher penalties for selling knives to minors.

Additional reporting with agencies
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Explosions reverberated across the pre-dawn sky as Ukrainian air defences fended off a Russian attack on this small city in western Ukraine, home to an important air base and a frequent target of Moscows strikes.

Hours after the assault, the tidy streets of Starokostiantyniv had returned to a semblance of normality.

But the June 27 attack was a stark reminder of the challenges Kyiv faces as it rebuilds its depleted air force and deploys the first US-designed F-16s - fighter aircraft that Russia will be determined to ground or destroy.

The first planes are expected to arrive this month, and Ukraine hopes they will boost forces struggling to repel a Russian onslaught along the front line, which includes devastating glide bombs that F-16s could potentially disrupt.

Officials have not revealed where the F-16s will be based, but Moscow said after the strike on Starokostiantyniv last Thursday that it had targeted airfields it believed would house them.

F-16 fighter jets of the Romanian Air Force perform a fly by at the Black Sea, Defense, Aerospace and Security (BSDA) international exhibition in Bucharest ( AP )

The air base has come under frequent attack since the first days of Russias February 2022 invasion, including from drones and hypersonic missiles.

Residents of this historic military outpost of around 30,000 people, nicknamed Starkon, in Ukraines Khmelnytskyi region have learned to adjust to the constant danger.

In short, its fun to live here, said city official and local culture expert Vasyl Muliar with a wry smile, speaking after the recent attack.

A Ukrainian air force spokesman said the strikes presented certain difficulties, but would not undermine the delivery of F-16s or their use in battle.

Officials are tight-lipped about details of attacks on objects such a military bases and critical infrastructure.

Military analysts said the Russians were probably targeting air base infrastructure such as runways and storage facilities to make getting F-16s airborne more difficult, and, when they arrive, the Western jets themselves.

The Ukrainian military, which is low on air-defence ammunition, is also likely to be forced to move the prized planes around airfields, said Justin Bronk, of the Royal United Services Institute.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky attend a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium June 27 ( via REUTERS )

Any ground-based air defence coverage can be saturated if the Russians care enough to fire enough missiles at one target, he said.

After last Thursdays attack, Governor Serhiy Tyurin said air defences had destroyed nine targets over his region. Shortly before it, the air force had warned residents that drones were headed toward Starokostiantyniv.

Local residents, careful not to divulge what might be considered sensitive military information, described living under the threat of being struck and amid the frequent roar of Ukrainian warplanes in the skies above.

Iryna Sapchuk, editor-in-chief of local newspaper Our City, said her parents home had been hit in a previous raid, damaging the roof and shed.

They found debris from a missile in a cherry tree by the window, she added.

As in many other towns and cities across Ukraine, people appeared eager to project a sense of resilience despite the danger of war and inconvenience of frequent power outages caused by Russian attacks on the energy system.

Road works continued as jets streaked overhead, while families and groups of teenagers cooled off at the local beach.

When she travels around Ukraine, Sapchuk said, she found it hard to cope without the noise of airplanes.

Its too quiet for me, she joked, adding that the sound had become a comforting sign that Ukraines outnumbered pilots were putting up a fight.

Muliar, the local official, pointed to the citys history as a 16th-century bastion of defence and, hundreds of years later, key nerve center for independence fighters of the fledgling Ukrainian Peoples Republic after World War One.

This was always a centre of resistance.
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Russian commanders are ordering their forces to kill surrendering Ukrainian soldiers in a plan to terrify droves of Russian troops into not giving themselves up.

Many newly conscripted and poorly trained Russian soldiers realise their lives are being squandered in human-wave attacks, according to Ukrainian officials.

Petro Yatsenko, a spokesperson for Kyivs Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, says orders to kill Ukrainians who could be taken prisoner come from the highest level  the Kremlin. The instructions are designed to terrify their own soldiers, he adds.

The department has representatives from various Ukrainian ministries, with the countrys military intelligence agency playing a key role.

Yatsenko says: The logic is very straightforward: the killing of defenceless [Ukrainian] military personnel is intended to prevent Russians from themselves surrendering to the Ukrainian army on the basis that if [Russians] are doing this to them, the Ukrainians will do the same to you if you give up. Therefore, dont surrender to them, rather kill yourself.

Thats an extremely cruel tactic but we, unfortunately, are dealing with a country, Russia, which traditionally has not abided by any democratic values and for which human life has no worth.

There has been evidence of the Russian take no prisoners policy in multiple places along the front lines but most prominently in the northern battlefields of Ukraines Kharkiv region, where Russia shares a long border and where it launched a powerful attack, with its troops pouring in on 10 May.

A senior Ukrainian army source with knowledge of the situation on the Kharkiv front lines, but who was not speaking officially, told The Independent that during the assaults up to 90 per cent of Ukrainians who fell into enemy hands were executed. He said they included those too badly wounded to flee, soldiers knocked unconscious by explosions and those trying to surrender because their position was hopeless.

A principal goal of the assault was for Russian artillery to get within range of the regions capital, Kharkiv City, already under daily rocket, drone and glide bomb attacks to force its population to flee. Vladimir Putins declared ambition is to create a 10-mile deep uninhabitable grey zone on the Ukrainian side of the two countries frontier.

President Putin addresses a rally in Moscow marking the annexation of four regions of Ukraine ( AFP/Getty )

The Russian intrusion initially claimed a string of villages and captured some 50 square miles of territory. However, Ukrainian counterattacks stemmed the Russian assault and have kept its artillery out of range of Kharkiv City.

For weeks there has been a bloody stalemate with only slight shifts of territory amidst street fighting focused on the largest town in the area, Vovchansk, as well as smaller settlements such as Starytsya, Hlyboke and Lyptsi.

This week, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported, Ukrainian forces counterattacked and recently regained some tactical positions in Vovchansk and Starytsya.

Ukrainian troops fighting in northern Kharkiv told The Independent last month that the Russians were hurling novice troops into the front lines as cannon fodder to force Ukrainians to reveal their positions when they repelled them. They said they were mowing down the Russians in great numbers.

Thats an extremely cruel tactic but we, unfortunately, are dealing with a country, Russia, which traditionally has not abided by any democratic values and for which human life has no worth. Petro Yatsenko

Yatsenko says he cannot confirm for the moment the scale of killings of Ukrainian prisoners as we dont have the objective statistics because its happening in the current battlefields and we can only confirm all these instances after the de-occupation of these territories... with the work of criminal investigators.

But he says the new troops realise their commanders consider them expendable material and that has led to a severe loss of motivation, swelling the number of Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian forces.

Instructions intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence, debriefings of Russian prisoners of war and other sources showed that another reason Russian commanders are ordering their men not to take captives is because dealing with prisoners slows down assaults.

Yatsenko said the orders to kill unarmed or surrendering Ukrainian soldiers in the Kharkiv region come against a background of such atrocities since the start of the Russian invasion in 2014 when Putins forces annexed Crimea and occupied parts of eastern Ukraine in what is known as the Donbas region.

Many of those incidents have been recorded in dozens of videos posted on social media by the Russians themselves.

The aftermath of a missile attack on Kharkiv last month ( AFP/Getty )

Videos of Ukrainians who have surrendered being lined up or forced to kneel before being executed have appeared online, while others show prisoners being tortured. One video that became popular in Russia not just among soldiers but in the wider population, showed a Ukrainian soldier being splayed face down on a table and being castrated as he screams before being killed.

Another video taken by and posted by a Russian soldier shows a prisoner being shot to death after he utters the patriotic slogan Slava Ukraine  Glory to Ukraine.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified some of the incidents and said its investigations and interviews with scores of former Ukrainian PoWs disclosed that they had been subjected to sexual violence during their internment, including attempted rape, threats of rape and castration, beatings or the administration of electric shocks to genitals, and repeated forced nudity.

Last week, Russians left the severed head of a Ukrainian soldier near Volnovakha in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin, is investigating it as a war crime and says Ukrainian intelligence revealed that Russian battalion and company-level commanders had ordered subordinates to behead Ukrainian prisoners in order to cause terror.

The Institute for the Study of War says: Kostins report is consistent with a larger observed trend of prolific Russian abuses against Ukrainian POWs that is apparently enabled, if not explicitly endorsed, by individual Russian commanders and upheld by Russian field commanders.

Russian prisoners of war line up at a camp in Lyiv, Ukraine ( Getty )

Russia is desperate to expand or at least consolidate its gains in northern Kharkiv before the flow of US-supplied weapons and ammunition, held up for six months by political wrangles in the US Congress, resumes.

The lack of US-supplied ammunition, particularly for Ukrainian artillery and rocket systems, severely hampered Ukraines battlefield capabilities and gave Russia a window of opportunity to make significant gains.

But that window is already closing and Ukraines military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, has predicted American supplies will return to previous levels next month.

Yatsenko contrasted the treatment of PoWs by Ukraine and Russia. He says while Ukraine allows free access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the Russian prisoners held by Ukraine, Moscow severely restricts access to Ukrainian prisoners.

He says Ukrainian PoWs said they had rarely seen ICRC representatives while in captivity. And when they are released you can see that the Russian prisoners look in good health and well-fed but our people look like photographs of prisoners in Nazi concentration camps.

He said that at least 170 Ukrainians known to have been taken to Russian PoW camps died in captivity and the true number of slain prisoners is likely much higher.

On 25 June, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for former Russian defence minister and current security council secretary Sergei Shoigu and chief of the Russian general staff Valery Gerasimov for the war crime of directing attacks at civilian objects in Ukraine.

The European Court of Human Rights also announced decisions regarding Russias long-term perpetration of war crimes and human rights violations in Ukraine.
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Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has urged Ukraine to consider a quick ceasefire during his first visit to the war-torn country since Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion.

After crunch talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, during which the two countries pledged to strengthen relations, Mr Orban urged Ukraine to halt fighting and enter negotiations with Russia, adding that the war was having a very intense effect on the security of Europe.

We highly appreciate all the initiatives of president Zelensky for the sake of achieving peace, he said. I told [the] president that these initiatives take a long time. It is precisely because of the rules of international diplomacy that they are very complicated.

I asked the president to think about whether it is possible to go a little differently: to stop the fire and then continue the negotiations. A ceasefire could speed up the pace of these negotiations.

Mr Zelensky did not say how he had responded to this prompt but Kyiv maintains that no ceasefire can happen until Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine  a request that Moscow says will never happen.

Mr Orbans trip marks Hungarys first diplomatic visit after assuming the rotating presidency of the European Union on Monday.

The presidency has caused concern among bloc members given Mr Orbans continued reluctance to support Ukraine. It makes Budapest the co-legislator of the blocs legislature alongside the European Parliament, a considerable power.

Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orban delivers a press conference with Ukraine's president in Kyiv ( Getty )

But while a Hungarian nudge towards the negotiating table may be viewed by some as Mr Orban yet again shying away from standing up to Mr Putin, Ukrainian officials said the visit was productive.

Much has been done for this visit, wrote Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelenskys chief adviser, on X/Twitter. An important conversation about the future of Europe, security, international law, and the formula of peace.

The last time Mr Orban met with Mr Zelensky, on 27 June, the pair were filmed in a heated exchange on the sidelines of a European leaders summit in Brussels. Mr Zelensky then urged all EU leaders to step up their military support for Ukraine.

The Hungarian premier has routinely opposed the blocs support for Kyiv, which requires unanimity among its 27 members to pass legislation.

Last December, after months of opposition, Mr Orban left the room during an EU leaders vote on whether to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, effectively abstaining from the vote.

He has similarly opposed the blocs financial and military support to Ukraine. He backed down from opposing a 50bn (42bn) aid package that excluded weapons only when Brussels agreed in February to unfreeze around 10bn of its cohesion funds. The money had been intended for Budapest but was withheld due to fears Mr Orbans administration was violating the rule of law.

Hungary still opposes the bloc sending weapons to Ukraine. It has vetoed seven legal decisions backed by the EUs 26 other member states that would release 6.6bn tied to weapons supplies to Ukraine.

Russian soldiers fire from the BM-21 Grad self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher in an undisclosed location in Ukraine ( AP )

Budapest justifies its opposition by claiming Kyiv is failing to meet its demands in guaranteeing the rights of the countrys Hungarian minority.

That dispute stems from a law enacted by Kyiv in 2017, which demands Ukrainian schools teach children over the age of 10 in Ukrainian, a move that Budapest says robs a Hungarian community in western Ukraine of learning in their native tongue.

But it has been suggested that Mr Orbans opposition is in part due to Hungarys reliance on Russian natural gas.

While countries in Western Europe have made serious efforts to wean themselves off Russian gas since Moscows invasion, landlocked Hungary has been receiving 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas per year from Russia under a 15-year deal signed in 2021.

During a visit to Putins hometown of St Petersburg for an economic forum this year, Hungarian officials said they had no intention of halting their importing of Russian gas, despite pressure to do so, and accusations that they are helping fund Putins war machine.

Last October, Mr Orban became only the second European leader to meet with Mr Putin since the autocrat launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

During that meeting, Mr Orban told Mr Putin that Hungary had never wanted to oppose Russia.
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Israel has released the director of Gaza's main hospital, seven months after the military raided the facility over allegations it was being used as a Hamas command center.

The release of Mohammed Abu Selmia without charge or trial raised further questions about Israel's allegations regarding Shifa Hospital, which its forces have raided on two occasions since the start of its nearly nine-month war with Hamas.

Abu Selmia said he and other prisoners had been tortured and held under harsh conditions, allegations that could not be independently confirmed but matched other accounts of Palestinian detainees who have been released back into Gaza.

Our detainees have been subjected to all kinds of torture behind bars, he said. There was almost daily torture. Cells are broken into and prisoners are beaten. He said guards broke his finger and caused his head to bleed during beatings, in which they used batons and dogs.

He said the medical staff at different facilities where he was held had also taken part in the abuse in violation of all laws. He said some detainees had limbs amputated because of poor medical care.

Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about why he had been released or his allegations of mistreatment. Prison authorities have previously denied such mistreating detainees.

Two far-right ministers in Israels government meanwhile condemned Abu Selmia's release, saying it had been carried out without their consent.

Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital in November, alleging that Hamas had created an elaborate command and control center inside the facility. Abu Selmia and other staff denied the allegations and accused Israel of recklessly endangering thousands of patients and displaced people who were sheltering there.

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip walk through a street market in Khan Younis ( Copyright 2023, The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The military uncovered a tunnel beneath Shifa Hospital leading to a few rooms, as well as other evidence that militants had been present inside the medical center, but the evidence fell short of what it had claimed before the raid.

Abu Selmia was detained on 22 November while escorting a UN-led evacuation of patients from the hospital. He said his detention was politically motivated, adding that he had been brought to court at least three times but was never charged or allowed to meet with lawyers.

Israel has since raided several other Gaza hospitals on similar allegations, forcing them to shut down or dramatically reduce services even as tens of thousands have been wounded in Israeli strikes or sickened in the harsh conditions of the war. The army raided Shifa a second time earlier this year, causing heavy destruction after saying that militants had regrouped there.

Hospitals can lose their protection under international law if combatants use them for military purposes.

Israel launched its offensive after Hamas's 7 October attack, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 civilians and took another 250 hostages. The war has killed over 37,800 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or fighters.

Most of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, with many displaced multiple times. Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of public order have hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid, fueling widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine.
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The mother of a 26-year-old Israeli hostage has died less than a month after her only daughter was rescued from Gaza.

Liora Argamanis death was confirmed by Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning. She had been suffering from terminal brain cancer.

During Noa Argamanis captivity, she said the chance to hug her daughter was her only dying wish in a letter to US president Joe Biden.

I am terminally ill with stage 4 brain cancer, she wrote. All thats running through my mind before I part ways with my family forever is the chance to hug my daughter, my only child, one last time.

By the time her daughter was released, after more than eight months, Liora Argamani was barely able to look at her, due to her illness, according to her husband.

In a video broadcast to a rally on Saturday night in Tel Aviv, calling for the return of the remaining hostages, Noa Argamani said her biggest concern while in captivity was for her parents.

As an only child to my parents  and a daughter to a mother with a terminal illness  my biggest worry in captivity was for my parents, she said in the two-minute clip.

Noa Argamani was one of four hostages rescued in a special operation by the Israeli military from central Gaza on 8 June. Footage showed her being dragged away from the Supernova music festival on the back of a motorcycle on 7 October, screaming for help as she reached out for her boyfriend Avinatan Or, who remains in captivity.

Of the 251 people taken by Hamas during their 7 October cross-border attack, which also saw the group kill roughly 1,200 people, around 120 hostages are still being held in the enclave by Hamas and other militant groups, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIF).

Liora Argamani was born in Wuhan, China but married her husband Yaakov Argamani when she came to study in Israel in 1994.

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, Noa Argamani, on a motorcycle from southern Israel, in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023 ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Freed Israeli hostage Noa Argamani celebrates father's birthday on her return ( AP )

Mr Argamani said after their daughters release: Liora understood but simply couldnt express her emotions or say what she had longed to tell Noa when she finally met her.

Unfortunately, her mother is in a very poor condition. She barely looked at Noa. They met after eight months, but it was very difficult.

In its announcement on Tuesday morning, however, Ichilov Hospital said the mother had spent her final days next to her daughter.

The majority of the Israeli hostages returned were included in an exchange deal for Palestinian prisoners during a week-long truce last November.

Since the resumption of fighting after the end of the truce, protests led by the families of the hostages have routinely called for another ceasefire to secure the release of the remaining captives.

But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that the only means of freeing the hostages is through a continued offensive in the enclave to root out the remaining Hamas operatives.

More than 38,800 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, have been killed as a result of the fighting since Hamas October attack, the local health ministry says.

On Monday, fresh evacuation notices were handed down to Palestinians in the southern city of Khan Younis, forcing thousands to flee for the area for the second time. Israel launched its first offensive in the area last December.

Palestinians and aid workers in the region say they have nowhere left to go as Israeli forces resume offensives across the enclave.
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Israels military has ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, hinting at a possible new ground assault following a rocket barrage from the area.

The evacuation order covers the eastern half of Khan Younis as well as a large part of Gazas southeastern corner.

For your safety, you must evacuate immediately to the humanitarian zone, Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee told residents in a post on X.

Palestinians in the area also reported receiving evacuation orders through audio messages from Israeli numbers. We received a message on our mobile phones to evacuate, a displaced woman identified as Zeinab Abu Jazar was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Look at these children, how they walk. We did not find a car to ride in.

Khan Younis was destroyed in an Israeli assault earlier this year, but large numbers of Palestinians had moved back to escape another offensive in Gazas southernmost city of Rafah.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres criticised the evacuation order and said it just shows yet again that no place is safe in Gaza for Palestinian civilians.

Its another stop in this deadly circular movement that the population in Gaza has to undergo on a regular basis, he said in a statement.

Al Jazeera reported the Israeli army as claiming that the evacuation order did not apply to the European Hospital in Khan Younis. But the Palestine Red Crescent Society said patients were being transferred to nearby hospitals after Israel ordered the evacuation of the east of the city.

The military asked people fleeing Khan Younis to head to al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, a coastal area which has become filled with crowded and unsanitary tent camps.

The Israeli military attacked al-Mawasi on 28 May and killed 21 people. They struck the camp again on 21 June and killed at least 25 people, according to Gaza officials.

Israel killed nearly 37,900 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, in retaliation for the 7 October attack by the militants on southern Israel during which around 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage.

The evacuation order came after Israel released the head of Gazas main hospital, seven months after the military raided the facility over allegations, as yet unproven, that it was being used as a Hamas command centre.

Additional reporting by agencies.
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A man in Florida has been arrested after allegedly shooting a gun at a Walmart delivery drone.

Dennis Winn, 72, faces multiple charges after police discovered a bullet hole in the package that the drone was carrying.

Local police claim Mr Winn admitted to shooting at the drone once with a 9mm pistol from his residence in Clermont, just west of Orlando.

Lake County Sheriffs Office received a complaint in the Clermont area regarding a Walmart delivery drone being shot, the police department wrote in a post to Facebook.

A bullet hole was discovered in the payload the drone was carrying. Witnesses identified the defendant, Dennis Winn, and directed deputies to his residence, the incident location.

He has been charged with shooting at an aircraft, criminal mischief, and discharging a firearm in public.

In police bodycam footage seen by USA Today, Mr Winn reportedly said that he fired one round at the drone.

They say I hit it so I must be a good shot, or else its not that far away, he said. Im going to wind up having to find a real good defence lawyer.

The Independent has reached out to Walmart for comment.

The shopping giant has completed over 20,000 drone deliveries since launching it in certain areas of Arizona, Florida and Texas in 2022 through delivery firm DroneUp.

The startup, which also works with fast food restaurants like Chick-fil-A and Wendys, is expected to roll out its autonomous service to even more locations over the coming months after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight deliveries in the US.
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Tourists have been evacuated from hotels in Greece as wildfires break out across the country.

Firefighters battled blazes on the eastern Aegean islands of Chios and Kos on Monday and injured five people, as Greeces prime minister warned of a dangerous summer ahead and said the publics help was essential in limiting the impact of wildfires.

Last year 20 people were killed in wildfires during the summer months.

Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean country, but hotter, drier and windier weather that scientists link to the effects of climate change has increased their frequency and intensity.

Emergency services issued evacuation orders for those in the Metohi area of western Chios on Monday morning, urging them to head to a nearby beach.

By the evening, more than 140 firefighters, along with eight teams of firefighters specializing in wildfires, seven water-dropping planes and three helicopters were fighting the blaze.

open image in gallery A burnt car after a wildfire ( Associated Press )

Fire department spokesman Vasilis Vathrakoyiannis said two firefighters had been lightly injured, while dozens more firefighters were heading to the island by boat from the nearby island of Lesbos and from Athens. State-run ERT television later reported that another two firefighters and a volunteer had suffered non life-threatening burns.

The situation remains difficult in Chios, and all Civil Protection forces will make great efforts to limit it, Vathrakoyiannis said during an evening briefing.

Another fire broke out further to the south in the Aegean, on the resort island of Kos, and by late Monday had forced the evacuation of several people, including tourists from hotels, as a precaution. That blaze was being tackled by more than 100 firefighters, including reinforcements sent from Athens, as well as six water-dropping planes and two helicopters, Vathrakoyiannis added.

Clare Smith, 38, who is on holiday in Kos with her husband and nine-year-old daughter, told Sky News the situation had got significantly worse over the day, with thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky.

Its really windy here, it will be like a tinderbox, she said. The sky is covered in smoke. You feel like youre in the apocalypse, or some sort of war film.

open image in gallery Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ( Associated Press )

In total, Greece saw 52 wildfires breaking out in the previous 24-hour period, 44 of which were tackled in the early stages, Vathrakoyiannis said. Authorities were still battling a total of eight fires by Monday evening.

The blazes come a day after the fire department managed to tame two large forest fires near Athens that had been fanned by strong winds.

We have had an exceptionally difficult June regarding weather conditions, with high levels of drought and unusually strong winds for this season, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Monday during a Cabinet meeting. This years summer, he said, is predicted to be particularly dangerous for wildfires.

Mitsotakis said the use of drones as part of an early warning system for wildfires had been particularly useful this year and credited better coordination between authorities and volunteer firefighters for limiting the extent of fire damage so far.

We are entering the tough core of the anti-fire period, and this will certainly not be won without the help of the public as well, particularly in the field of prevention, Mitsotakis said.
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A 24-year-old woman flying from Melbourne to Delhi on a Qantas flight died suddenly, reportedly from tuberculosis.

Manpreet Kaur was feeling unwell but boarded the flight on 20 June without any issue, her friends said. However, she collapsed and died before the plane departed.

Kaur, an aspiring chef, was travelling to see her family for the first time in four years.

She likely died of tuberculosis, an infectious disease that affects the lungs, the Herald Sun reported.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Manpreet Kaur, a Qantas spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent.

The airline said that on 20 June, a customer on our Melbourne to Delhi flight required medical attention shortly after boarding, prior to the aircraft pushing back from the gate.

Urgent assistance was provided by both crew and emergency services but sadly she passed away.

On 1 July, Qantas became aware through media reports that Kaur may have had tuberculosis and contacted Australias National Incident Centre Operations seeking further information.

The health issue had not previously been disclosed to Qantas.

On 2 July, the Department of Health, Victoria, informed the company that they have begun limited contact tracing, and all those identified as having a potential risk would be screened.

The department said other people who were on the aircraft at the time would not undergo contact tracing, according to Qantas.

Meanwhile, friends and family remembered Kaur as a kind and honest person.

Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled, Gurdip Grewal, a friend of Kaur, who also set up a GoFundMe fundraiser, wrote. As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honour her memory and support her family in their time of need.

He reportedly told News Corp that Kaur had been feeling unwell for a while.

Victoria Police and Victoria Ambulance confirmed they attended to the emergency. Police are now preparing a report for the coroner and have confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Kaur moved to Australia in March 2020.

In February this year, a 63-year-old man died after coughing up litres of blood on a Lufthansa flight from Bangkok to Munich.
Peta activists held a protest outside the Marks and Spencer headquarters in London as the retailers annual meeting took place.

The demonstration came after M&S reversed its ban on alpaca wool, sparking a row with campaigners who warn that shearing the animals causes immense suffering.

Last month, the retailer said it would allow the use of alpaca yarn in its clothes, going back on its decision to ban the wool in 2020.

Peta has described the decision as a slap in the face to compassionate customers.

Two activists were seen demonstrating outside the M&S Waterside House Support Centre on Tuesday 2 July.
Russell Crowe took photos with young fans at an Irish liquor launch party on Tuesday 2 July.

The New Zealand actor and director attended the event as a guest of honour to celebrate the opening of the new premises for the Muff Liquor Company, alongside former Boyzone member Ronan Keating.

Both Crowe and Keating are investors in the Donegal-based drinks firm.

As a lively crowd formed around the Gladiator and LA Confidential star, Mr Crowe was seen eager to snap photos and oblige his young fans with selfies.
An Air Europa flight from Madrid to Montevideo was diverted to a Brazilian airport on Monday 1 July after hitting severe turbulence, the airline said, adding that injured passengers were being treated.

Flight UX045 made an emergency landing at the Natal Airport in northeastern Brazil at 2:32am local time.

Our flight bound for Montevideo was diverted to Natal due to strong turbulence, Air Europa said in a statement on social media.

The plane landed normally and those injured of varying severity are already being treated.

Footage from the cabin shows blood-stained seats, damage to the overhead lockers and ambulances on the tarmac.
Jacob Rees-Mogg was spotted driving around his constituency playing Rule, Britannia! over the weekend.

The former cabinet minister was driving his Jaguar close to his office in Keynsham, Somerset, when he was approached by activist Steve Bray.

In footage shared by Mr Bray on social media, the Tory MP is asked are you going to come back as he waits at a zebra crossing.

Rule Britannia, Mr Rees-Mogg responds, before driving off.

Yes, Rule Britannia, were patriotic too, Mr Bray says while holding a sign that reads Stop the Tories.
Dozens of protesters gathered in Paris, France on Sunday 30 June following initial results of the first round of a parliamentary election which tipped Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally (RN) as the winner.

Protesters set off flares in the capital as they marched through the citys streets, past smoking tear gas canisters and flaming trash cans.

The RN was seen winning around 34 per cent of the vote, exit polls showed, in a huge setback for Emmanuel Macron who had called the snap election after his ticket was trounced by the RN in European Parliament elections earlier this month.
With just 48 hours to go until the general election, its time for the British public to decide who will form the next government.

The Labour Party, the Conservatives, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are all battling it out for votes in the hope of securing important seats in the House of Commons.

But what are each party promising voters in the 2024 election?

Ahead of polling day, The Independent takes a look at the manifestos published by the five big hitters.
Victoria Derbyshire questioned why Chris Philp was literally making things up as they clashed over Tory attacks on Labours tax policy.

Speaking to Newsnight on Monday 1 July, Mr Philp suggested Labour had not ruled out a number of tax changes.

Let me pause you there, Labour have ruled out both imposing capital gains tax on peoples homes and reevaluating council tax thresholds. So youre wrong, Ms Derbyshire responded.

The pair then went back and forth on exactly who within the party had ruled out changes, with Mr Philp repeating the Conservative claim that tax will go up by 2,000 under a Labour government.

Is this how desperate you are now that you are literally making things up? Ms Derbyshire then asked, a suggestion that Mr Philp claimed was nonsense.
Rishi Sunak stacked the shelves at a Morrisons supermarket in Oxfordshire while on the general election campaign trail.

The prime minister spoke to employees alongside Rami Baitieh, CEO of Morrisons, on Tuesday 2 July.

He was then seen filling the shelves with freshly baked bread, before finishing up and asking are you happy with that?

Mr Sunak made a campaign stop at a Morrisons store near Witney  the former Oxfordshire seat of Lord David Cameron where the Tories won with a 15,200 majority in 2019.

He was also quizzed on the price of bread by BBC Breakfast during the visit.
Development of the 200m carbon-neutral facility had been held up by the objections of farmer John Lynch

The sod has been turned on Guinness-producer Diageos new 200m state-of-the-art carbon neutral brewery in Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co Kildare.

The start of construction comes two months after sole objector to the brewery, John Lynch, withdrew his High Court challenge seeking to quash An Bord Pleanalas December green light for the project.

The farmer and undertaker withdrew his proceedings after successful mediation talks with Guinness-producer Diageo.

Plans were first lodged for the brewery in July 2022 and a Diageo spokeswoman said yesterday that the target date for the brewery to begin production is 2026 and it will facilitate the growth of overall beer exports from Ireland.

She said: It will also facilitate enhanced capacity for the production of the fast-growing Guinness 0.0 at the traditional home of Guinness at St Jamess Gate in Dublin.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd

The new facility will brew lagers and ales including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwicks, Kilkenny and Carlsberg. With a capacity of two million hectolitres, it will be the second largest brewing operation in Ireland after St Jamess Gate and support the future growth of Diageo Irelands beer brands.

Category head  global beer supply, Diageo, Colin OBrien said: Following the announcement of our plans to construct this new brewery in 2022, we are delighted to have reached this significant landmark through the beginning of construction works. As a global business this new brewery is a major development for Diageo in Ireland and around the world.

Present at the sod-turning ceremony was Minister of State for Agriculture and TD for Kildare South Martin Heydon (FG), who said: This 200m investment by Diageo is hugely important and is great news for Irelands food and drink industry and also for the local economy and community here in Kildare.

Chief executive of Kildare County Council Sonya Kavanagh said that it is a real vote of confidence for the entire county to have such a major company that produces iconic brands locating a brand-new facility here in Kildare.

The new brewery for Littleconnell is to provide a major jobs boost to the Kildare area, providing up to 1,000 roles during the 20-month construction period and will lead to the creation of a further 70 jobs when operational.

Kildare County Council had granted planning permission for the project in March 2023 but the brewery plan was stalled after Mr Lynch and a man at the centre of RTE Investigates allegations concerning payoffs to objectors in the planning system, John Callaghan, through his Sustainability 2050 entity, separately appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

Mr Callaghan withdrew his appeal on November 23 last prior to the appeals board granting of permission in December.
Company also pays 176,000 legal bill as report shows flat revenues of 101m

The Dublin Port Company last year paid out 415,000 in unpaid bonuses to former long-serving ceo Eamonn OReilly as part of a High Court settlement.

The payout to Mr OReilly  along with additional legal costs of 176,000  is disclosed in Dublin Port Companys 2023 annual report, which shows that pre-tax profits at the company decreased by 28pc to 35m.

This followed revenues remaining flat at 101.4m.

Mr OReilly issued High Court proceedings in February 2023 against Dublin Port Company and this followed a High Court ruling in September 2022 that the ceo of Shannon Foynes Port Company, Pat Keating, be paid 373,339 in unpaid bonuses and interest from 2010 to 2017.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd

In response to the court action taken by Mr Keating against his employer, Shannon Foynes Port Company, Mr Justice Mark Sanfrey ruled that a failure by the port company directors to use their discretion to pay the bonus constitutes a breach by the company of the contract which has caused damage and loss to Mr Keating.

The ruling left the way open for Mr OReilly to lodge his action against his former employer. Mr OReilly was ceo from 2010 to the end of August 2022.

A note attached to the Dublin Port Company 2023 accounts states that based on a High Court settlement agreement reached in 2023, the company was obliged to make certain performance related payments in the amount of 415,000 to a past chief executive for services provided during his term in office from 2010 to 2022.

The note states that the settlement is inclusive of employers PRSI.

The note confirms the legal costs of 176,000 resulting in an overall cost of 626,000 from the ex-ceos court action.

Court records shows that a notice of discontinuance was issued in the case last July.

The annual report separately discloses that 367,000 was paid out by Dublin Port Company to two staff in severance payments last year.

The annual report also confirms that the companys hospitality expenditure bill last year increased from 142,000 to 144,000, comprising 86,000 on staff hospitality and 58,000 on client hospitality.

In his report, company chairperson Jerry Grant said that following a strong year in 2022, Dublin Port in 2023 totalled 35.6m tonnes, representing a decrease of 1.1m tonnes or 3pc on the previous year.

Mr Grant said that EBITDA (Earnings before Exceptional Items, net finance cost, taxation, depreciation, amortisation and Impairment costs) totalled 56.7m, which was a 2.6m decrease on 2022.

Numbers employed remained at 150 as staff costs increased to 16.48m.

In his report, ceo Barry OConnell said on the outlook for 2024 that we have taken a reasonably conservative view and budgeted for an overall growth rate of 2.4pc.

He said that the port companys ability to fund the significant capital investment required to deliver on Masterplan 2040 will start to come into focus.

At the end of December last, accumulated profits totalled 586.98m. Cash funds amounted to 199.5m.
Immigration key to determining whether we will need 35,000 or 53,000 homes a year

ESRI says housing targets need to be constantly revised as migration numbers make population growth harder to predict

Housing demand may be significantly below the 50,000 homes a year Taoiseach Simon Harris promised to deliver when he was elected as Fine Gael leader earlier this year  potentially setting the country on course for an over-supply problem with echoes of the Celtic Tiger crash.

A new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), released today, says demand for new homes between 2025 and 2030 could be as low as 35,000 a year, if the recent surge in immigration abates.

However, if the economy continues to outperform other EU peers and immigration picks up, demand could be as high as 53,000 units a year, at the highest end of estimates, the report said.

Immigration is the main variable in the estimates because it is the key driver of population increase, according to Dr Adele Bergin, associate research professor at the ESRI.

There is a lot of uncertainty. Housing targets probably need to be adjusted frequently, not set in stone, she said.

The three key factors that determine the structural housing requirement are population, household size and obsolescence, or the number of older homes that fall out of use, Dr Bergin said.

With immigration now the key driver of population growth in Ireland, estimating housing needs up to and beyond 2030 is very difficult, she said.

Looking at 12 different possible scenarios, the ESRI team said that, on average, structural housing demand will be approximately 44,000 per year until 2030, falling to under 40,000 out to 2040.

Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien - his department said it will consider the implications of the ESRI research

It could be higher if immigration increases. Even if demand comes in at the bottom of estimates and housing supply far outstrips it, the risk of new ghost estates is likely to be low, Dr Bergin said, citing pent-up demand among people who have struggled to get homes in the past decade.

An over-supply would have longer-term implications, however, if it prompts a slowdown by developers.

In his first speech as Fine Gael leader back in April, Mr Harris said: We will build 250,000 homes over the next five years.

That was well above the then-official target to build 33,000 new units per year on average, up to and including 2030. That housing target had formed the basis of the Governments Housing for All plan.

That new 50,000 annual target has been quickly picked up on by officials. A Department of Finance report last month said that Ireland would need to invest 20bn a year to fund a housing need for around 50,000 homes a year, including massive investment from abroad.

The Department of Housing, which commissioned the ESRI report, said last night that it will stick with the 50,000-a-year target because of pent-up demand as a result of under-supply in the last decade.

In a statement, the department, headed by Minister Darragh OBrien, said it will now consider the implications of the ESRI research and estimated level of unmet demand.

Final revised targets are expected to be published in October.

However, the same statement said it is estimated this work will conclude that approximately 50,000 new homes will be required on average per annum.

While the report from the ESRI was far less definitive, it does predict that rising population across the country will underpin growing demand for homes in all regions.

Demand is predicted to be significantly higher in and around Dublin and other urban centres.

This is because immigrants will settle where employment opportunities are most plentiful.

That trend will challenge efforts to spread population growth more evenly across the country

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GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes had to leave his Breakfast show mid-way through the broadcast after feeling a little unwell.

The Belfast presenter, who co-hosts the show alongside Isabel Webster, had been present at the start of the programme when he announced Labour's plans to build over areas of the green belt to assist with the current housing crisis.

However, viewers noticed the 64-year-old then left the show with Isabel presenting the rest of the show by herself.

A GB News spokesperson confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph Holmes had to leave due to illness.

"Eamonn had to finish earlier today as he was feeling a little unwell. He hopes to be back tomorrow, they said.

A friend added that the presenter was in good spirits.

The Irishman recently admitted at the TRIC Awards that he is not ok amid concerns about the presenters health battle and his split from Ruth Langsford.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd

Holmes also said at the event  in which GB News Breakfast won an award: "This is not a good time at all.

The pair, who used to present ITVs This Morning together, announced their split last month.

At the weekend it was reported friends are becoming concerned about Eamonns solitary existence after leaving the comfort of the mansion he shared with his estranged wife.

A source told the Daily Mail that he has moved into a "small flat near a roundabout" from which he is chauffeured to and from the GB News studios in West London due to his ongoing mobility issues.

They said pals are worried about the broadcaster.

"It's all a rather sorry affair, the source added.

"It was only a few months ago he was living in his lovely family home with Ruth.

"Yes, they were troubled, but she was caring for him and he had some kind of normality.

"Now, he is alone in a flat living a pretty solitary existence. His marriage ending after such a long time has been something he has found difficult to accept."

It comes days after reports that Ruth is grappling with "agonising guilt" over the break-up.

The Loose Women star is said to be concerned about appearing as if she's abandoned Eamonn who now relies on a wheelchair and walking frame due to chronic pain.

Sources claimed Ruth is caught between supporting her former partner and moving forward with her own life.

Bella magazine quoted one source as saying she feels "terribly guilty" and that seeing recent photos of her "frail" ex has been very hard for her.

However friends, who describe the ITV star as a "sensitive soul" have encouraged her not to be too hard on herself as she adapts to her "new normal".

Even though she has every right to live her life and do what is best for her, shes worried the public will perceive her as abandoning Eamonn in his time of need as he struggles with his health, the source added.

Ruth has continued wearing her sparkling engagement and wedding rings.

She was pictured last week enjoying an evening out at Giovanni Pernice and Anton du Beke's stage show in London after being invited by her close friend Anton (57).
Netflixs three-part documentary on Jonathan Jacob Meijer, the Dutch serial sperm donor drops this week

You dont have to dig too deep to find the story of Jonathan Jacob Meijer, the Dutch serial sperm donor. The basic facts are contained in a short Wikipedia page.

Meijer  who describes himself as a musician and has a YouTube channel  was banned from donating sperm in the Netherlands in 2017 after it emerged he was the father of 102 children in 11 different clinics around the country.

Hed also fathered at least a further 80 children via private arrangements. The legal limit on donor children in the Netherlands is 25. This didnt put a stop to Meijers gallop.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd

He carried on donating sperm all over the world, including to enormous Danish sperm bank Cyros International, up until last year, when a Dutch court, acting in response to a civil lawsuit by the Donorkind Foundation, ordered him to stop and warned him hed be fined 100,000 for every further infraction.

But the basic facts dont hint at the pain, anguish, deep sense of betrayal and, ultimately, fear felt by the victims of Meijer who appear in the three-part documentary The Man With 1,000 Children (Netflix, from Wednesday, July 3).

That title may well be an understatement. Its likely Meijer, who posted video blogs from numerous locations and seems to have been to any country you can name, including Ireland, has in reality fathered thousands of children, who have hundreds of half-siblings.

The first episode initially adopts a jaunty, serio-comic tone as several women describe the faintly surreal experience of going on a shopping trip (which is essentially what it is) through various sperm donor sites to find a suitable candidate among the hundreds of men whove posted their pictures and profiles.

For couple Suzanne and Natalie (the one who would be carrying the child) a guy called Leon seemed like a good prospect. His photograph was on the fuzzy side, yes, but he seemed reasonably good-looking, while the personal information hed provided suggested he was kind and very intelligent.

Vanessa shares her story. Photo: Netflix

Natalie arranged to meet Leon and found the photo had flattered him. He was bald and thuggish-looking, with a deep scar on the back of his head that ran from ear to ear. The conversation suggested he wouldnt be entering whatever the Dutch equivalent of Mastermind is any time soon.

But Martin was different. Martin was handsome. He had blue eyes, perfect white teeth and long, thick blond hair. He was eloquent and well travelled. Martin was, of course, Jonathan Jacob Meijer, who went by various aliases. In the Netherlands, he was Martin, Jonathan or Jacob. In Australia, he was Ruud.

Meijer insisted he wasnt interested in making money, which is why, he said, he didnt donate to big sperm banks (a lie). All he wanted was the satisfaction of helping people who were desperate to have children (another lie). There were limits, though; he was willing to help no more than five families (yet another lie).

Suzanne and Natalie werent the only ones taken with him. Vanessa, whod never found a man who wanted to have children, was also bowled over.

So was Nicolette, whos gay, and married couple Joyce and John  wJohn had a vasectomy after fathering three children in a previous marriage.

Kate and Laura. Photo: Netflix

All of them ended up with children fathered by Meijer, and all of them were delighted. At first. Joyce and John were so overjoyed with their beautiful child, they had a second using Meijers sperm.

Dr Max Curfs, a Dutch clinical embryologist, says the no-more-than-25 rule exists for a reason: to prevent a donor child unwittingly becoming sexually involved with a close relative and committing incest.

When Curfs received an email tip-off about Meijer, the clinics began comparing records and were horrified at what they found. As the truth about Meijer became public, some of the women hed impregnated formed a Facebook group, which just kept growing.

Nicolette recalls the chill she felt when scrolling through hundreds of pictures of children who all looked uncannily like her daughter. This was just the tip of the iceberg.

What Meijer did was immoral, though not illegal. But a grotesque revelation in episode two plunges a deeply disturbing story into the realm of depravity.

The Man With 1000 Kids is on Netflix from Wednesday July 3
John Deeres expanded new 6M tractor series offers 17 models, including 10 above 150hp  and the 50km/h option is available for all models.

From the compact 6M 95 to the powerful 6M 250, the series now provides even more choice for farmers looking for high-performing tractors with little handling complexity.
The move comes amid efforts to minimise disruption being caused by the ongoing industrial actionThousands of passengers have been hit by the industrial action  and it has led to the cancellation of 392 flightsAn indefinite work to rule remains in place

Pilots have been asked not to escalate industrial action as the Labour Court is set to hold a formal hearing on Wednesday in another bid to resolve a bitter dispute over pay.

But a senior Ialpa official said it has not given a commitment as he made his way from a meeting with the court at Lansdowne House in Dublin last night.

Thousands of passengers have been hit by the industrial action. It has led to the cancellation of 392 flights. An indefinite work to rule remains in place.

A Labour Court meeting that included talks with Ialpa and Aer Lingus management ended after 11pm last night.

Donal Moriarty, chief corporate affairs officer at Aer Lingus, described the discussions as constructive but Mark Tighe, president of Ialpa, claimed the airline is not moving from an offer of a 12.25pc pay rise. He said the airline brought "new demands" that the court had not seen before.

Ialpa is seeking a 24pc pay rise over three years.

The court has requested that the parties submit final written submissions by close of business on Tuesday ahead of a court hearing on Wednesday. The court will issue a recommendation after this.

Mr Tighe said Ialpa had not given a commitment not to escalate industrial action but this is under constant review.

He claimed the airline would not move off a 12.25pc pay offer, without the pilots financing it themselves.

The company, not only have they indicated that they are not moving off their statement of 12.25pc, anything more being financed, they also brought to the Labour Court new demands that the Labour Court have not seen before, he said.

He described these new developments as restrictive practices, which the airline had not elaborated on.

Mr Tighe said the court had used its authority under the Industrial Relations Act 1990 to conduct a formal investigation on Wednesday, and will issue a recommendation.

Im left as before in the hope that the court will be able to write a recommendation that will be able to acknowledge the reasonableness of the pilots claim, he said.

Speaking after leaving the talks, Aer Lingus executive Donal Moriarty said the court is formally intervening, using its statutory powers, and has requested that both parties attend Wednesdays hearing.

It was a constructive engagement with the court and I think the courts assessment was that the best approach that it could take at this time was to formally intervene and conduct a formal hearing and theyre doing that on Wednesday, he said.

Aer Lingus was open to reaching a solution using all avenues available to it for that solution.

He said it is normal protocol that the court expects no escalation of industrial action.

The Labour Court was last night assessing if there is any basis for a deal to prevent more disruptive strikes at Aer Lingus.

It met airline managers and members of the Irish Air Line Pilots Association (Ialpa), which is locked in a row over the pilots demand for a near 24pc pay rise over a period of three years.

A joint session got under way around 6pm yesterday.

Sources said the court was reviewing whether there was enough willingness on either side to move towards a resolution.

Earlier, the pilots union warned it will be back looking at an escalation of industrial action if the courts intervention fails.

It appeared that the parties positions were irreconcilable after two attempts at talks last week ended without any progress.

Speaking on his way into yesterdays meeting, Ialpa president Mark Tighe said there would be more industrial action and more withdrawal of service if the intervention fails.

If this fails today, we are back looking at an escalation, Mr Tighe said.

There is nothing that I can see beyond the Labour Court and its extensive experience, as I mentioned before, so in recognition of that we didnt escalate. But if this doesnt work, there is not much of another option on the table.

However, he would not give any details of what form action would take and whether it would mean further days of strikes, saying this would be a tactical discussion.

He said he is always hopeful there could be a solution, but two parties have to come to that solution.

Ialpa wants pay rises worth just under 24pc over a period of three years.

It is understood that it lowered its claim to around 22pc at face-to-face talks with airline management last week.

Mr Tighe said the union moved on its initial pay claim of 24pc but claimed the airline would not compromise at all.

Ialpa did make a move, he said. He said it felt it had been invited to a meeting by the company in the belief that there was a possible solution on the table.

He said the company stated it was not moving at all, which ended the talks.

Mr Tighe said there is a difference of around 5m a year between the parties, and the company made 225m in profits last year.

He said Ialpa has been talking for 22 months and attempted to find a solution, but claimed the company has not. That should say a lot to people, he added.

Arriving for yesterdays meeting, chief corporate affairs officer at Aer Lingus, Donal Moriarty, said there have been 392 flight cancellations to date, covering a period up to Sunday, July 7.

He said the airline will review the cancellation programme later this week.

This dispute is causing significant financial and reputational damage to Aer Lingus and its impacting negatively on everyone connected with the company, including our passengers, Mr Moriarty said.

When asked if he is concerned about the impact of the dispute on Aer Lingus future, he said the repercussions for everyone connected with the airline are serious.

He said he is hopeful some progress can be made.

Ialpa escalated its industrial action on Saturday when hundreds of Aer Lingus pilots marched around Dublin Airport during an eight-hour strike.

The pilots walked at 6am from Aer Linguss head office on the airport site and walked past the two terminal buildings twice holding placards and banners.

Pilots then set up a picket line at the main roundabout on the entrance to the airport. They have also been involved in indefinite work-to rule industrial action that began last Wednesday.

Flights have been cancelled by Aer Lingus up until next Sunday as a precaution, but further disruption could be announced.

Both parties accepted an invite to attend the Labour Court issued on Friday, while Ialpas disputes committee considered an escalation after talks broke down last week.

The union accepted the invite and agreed not to escalate at this point in time but said their work-to-rule would continue.

Both sides have come under political pressure to resolve the dispute soon; many families are expected to travel abroad as primary schools closed for the summer holidays last week.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has urged both sides to lock themselves in a room and not leave the room until they sort this out.

He said there is absolutely zero public support for this action, but added he is worried there is clearly an amount of bad blood in this dispute.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet on Tuesday morning, Mr Harris urged both sides to dig deep to find a resolution.

"I don't think there has ever been an industrial relations dispute that is resolved without two things - engagement and compromise, he said. That is the key ingredient.
Killian Treacy and Emily Treacy, of Luna in Killarney, are backers of the Killarney Coffee Cup Project. Photo: Joleen Cronin

A town that became the first in Ireland to try to cut out single-use coffee cups has challenged the Government to fully implement the so-called latte levy and reduce the potential for litter nationwide.

Killarney Coffee Cup Project issued the appeal as it noted that the Kerry town had soared into a top 10 ranking for cleanliness by the group Irish Business Against Litter (Ibal) after it made the move on July 31 last year. Participating businesses offer customers reusable coffee cups, rather than single-use ones.

Ibal has also endorsed calls for the 20c latte levy to be used to reduce litter.

The projects backers said the 20c levy was outlined two years ago but had still not been enacted on a national basis.

Luna coffee shop owners Killian and Emily Treacy said Killarney had clearly demonstrated that the move away from single-use cups could work.

We are delighted with the progress the Killarney Coffee Cup Project has made in its first year, Mr Treacy said.

This is something that we are really proud of, particularly given we were the first town in Ireland to introduce this measure. The project has been warmly received by both locals and tourists in Killarney, who see the benefit a project like this is having on our local environment and national park. Theres been a visible reduction in waste in the national park and on our streets since the project commenced last year.

An independent study found Killarney had seen a 60pc fall in roadside coffee-cup litter compared with other Kerry towns. Since it launched, the project has prevented more than one million single-use coffee cups from either ending up in landfill or ending up as litter in the town.

Killarney retailers said they had been taken aback that, despite the success of their project, the Government had still not enacted the latte levy.

A key factor in deciding to go ahead with this project was the expected latte levy from the Government, a 20c tax on single-use coffee cups in Ireland, Mr Treacy said.

The levy was signed into law almost two years ago, yet it still hasnt been acted upon by the Government despite commitments to do so in the first half of 2023. This has been a major disappointment from a policy perspective, as we feel that we have done the right thing by the environment but havent been supported through action from the Government.

Killarneys Coffee Cup Project has more than 70 participants, primarily independent coffee shops and hotels.

There is a cohort of non-participants including a small number of independent coffee shops, an international coffee shop chain and a few retailers who have decided not to join the project yet, Mr Treacy said.

Without the proposed levy, there is no financial disincentive to dissuade consumers from purchasing takeaway coffee in single-use coffee cups from these businesses.

Ultimately, this means more unnecessary waste going to landfill and litter in our national park.

Additionally, it is extremely difficult for project participants to compete with bigger brands who continue serving single-use coffee cups here in Killarney, undermining the ethos of this community project.

The project has now challenged the Government to honour its commitments and follow through on the latte levy.

While the public and ministers support for the project has been welcomed, we feel we need more than a pat on the back  we also need the latte levy acted upon to ensure we are not suffering financially for doing the right thing, Mr Treacy said.

It is our hope that this would ensure the continued success of the Killarney Coffee Cup Project and also encourage other towns in Ireland to develop similar projects of their own.

To date, over 20 towns have reached out with a view to implementing similar projects. However, theres a sense from them that without an incoming levy, its proving difficult to bring enough businesses on board.
The individual most recently re-tweeted negative material about Natasha O'Brien, the soldier assault victim, and has repeatedly advocated the expulsion from Ireland of "foreigners.

An usher has been suspended from Leinster House as an investigation takes place into his online activity, including anti-migrant and far-right posts on social media.

The Taoiseach has been advised about the case with his spokesman saying this evening: "It is a HR matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas. There is due process underway."

The usher has been suspended on full pay as an investigation takes place into his online behaviour.

He had been publicising far-right anti-migrant rants online, using a picture of himself, in his official uniform, apparently taken at Leinster House.

The individual most recently re-tweeted negative material about Natasha O'Brien, the soldier assault victim, and has repeatedly advocated the expulsion from Ireland of "foreigners.

The man was escorted off the Leinster House campus at 5pm yesterday and told not to come back.

The action came hours after the Irish Independent made detailed submissions to the Oireachtas and sought comment.

It is understood the decision to suspend him was taken last week after concerns were raised about the man making his posts under a picture of him in his official Leinster House uniform.

Fianna Fail Senator Timmy Dooley said after the news broke: "Clarity is now required from Leinster House authorities, explaining why this individual was allowed to remain in place despite complaints having been made to the them a number of months previously.

An Oireachtas spokeswoman said today: "As you will appreciate, we do not comment on staff or security matters."

A government spokesman preferred not to comment on whether Oireachtas recruitment and vetting procedures needed tightening up in light of the disclosures.

It is understood the suspended individual had been spoken to by authorities about his tweets and posts on more than one occasion but did not modify his behaviour.

He had been due to attend a meeting with Human Resources personnel last Friday, but the encounter did not take place. He also attended a far-right protest in the past week.

The state-paid attendant at Leinster House had duties that on occasion left him within yards of Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd

The Irish Independent invited the Oireachtas to make a comprehensive statement on what actions had been taken in this matter, and what steps the authorities proposed to take.

It comes after Taoiseach Simon Harris has been targeted at his home by a masked right-wing mob, expressing concern for his own and his family's safety.

The usher was escorted from Leinster House and his security clearance revoked within hours of the Irish Independent contact to the Oireachtas on Monday.

It is understood the man had surprised colleagues at Leinster House on many occasions with his expressed views. There have been mounting concerns about the far right since the November riots in Dublin last year.

On a previous occasion, far right agitators were blamed for intimidation and threatening incidents during a protest outside Leinster House when activists appeared with a home-made gallows, accompanied by the photographs of prominent politicians.
Water level in sections of China's longest river exceeds warning mark

Xinhua) 14:16, July 02, 2024

BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Water levels in sections of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River -- China's longest river -- below the estuary of Dongting Lake, have exceeded the warning mark, according to the Ministry of Water Resources Tuesday.

The water level at the Yangtze Hankou monitoring station in central China's Hubei Province, had reached 27.31 meters as of late Monday, 0.01 meters above the alert mark, the ministry said.

The Yangtze River will see the water levels of its mainstream in middle and lower reaches continue to rise, according to a flood alert released by the ministry.

The water level of middle and lower reaches of the river as well as Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake basins is expected to gradually fall after Friday, according to the alert.

Persistent and heavy rains have lashed the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River since the areas entered the annual rainy season, known as "plum rain season" on June 18.

On June 28, the Yangtze River experienced its first flood of 2024, as water levels at the Jiujiang hydrological station, one of the major monitoring sites for main stream water levels in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze, had risen to 20 meters, reaching their warning level.

The country's water resources authorities have spared no efforts in flood control work, sending out working groups to guide flood prevention work on the front lines and using reservoirs to ease the pressure on flood control in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Former Social Democrats leaders Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy have announced they are not running in the next general election.

The two TDs previously were co-leaders of the party before they handed over the reins to Cork TD Holly Cairns last year.

The two TDs did not say why they would not be running again in statements published by the party.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd

Ms Shortall has been a Dublin TD for over 30 years and previously served as a Minister of State as a member of the Labour Party before she left Labour and co-founded the Social Democrats.

I believe that now is a good time and the right time for me to do so, the Dublin North-West Dail deputy said.

While I have decided to step down from frontline politics, I hope to continue to work to build on progress already made in the development of the Social Democrats party. I truly believe the Party can make a major contribution to creating a better Ireland for all.

Having thoroughly enjoyed a long and active political career, I now very much look forward to playing a different role in politics in supporting and assisting in the further growth of the Social Democrats.

Social Democrats TDs Cian O'Callaghan, Jennifer Whitmore, Catherine Murphy, Roisin Shortall, Gary Gannon and Holly Cairns

Kildare TD Ms Murphy said she co-founded the Soc Dems with Ms Shortall in 2015 because we believe there has never been a greater need to offer a different type of politics that is interventionist and fully focused on getting the basics of life right.

While I am bowing out of representational politics, I will continue working towards the delivery of social democracy in Ireland, albeit in a less prominent way, said Ms Murphy.

Ms Cairns called the two women trailblazers in Irish politics.

Catherine and Roisin are now stepping back from frontline politics, but they leave behind a party with strong roots, huge promise and great potential, she said.

Having nearly doubled our number of councillors in the recent local elections, I am determined to continue to build on that success and grow our number of TDs in the forthcoming general election.

Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to the outgoing former co-leaders of the Social Democrats.

He noted that Ms Shortall, a former Labour Party junior minister for Health, was "the longest serving female TD in the history of the State.

And he paid tribute to Ms Murphy as justifiably renowned for her particularly diligent and efficient work on the Public Accounts Committee for many years, praising both women for helping to set up a new political party.

There were also tributes from the Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald, and from their replacement at the head of the Social Democrats, party leader Holly Cairns.
'Is it even a city?' Visit Oslo tourism ad goes viral in the most deliciously deadpan way

As a refreshing alternative to the standard tourist board video format showing countryside vistas and coastal waters, Visit Oslos latest short has gone viral.

Including phrases such as I wouldnt come here, and Is it even a city? the witty video has been shared thousands of times with views reaching more than six million on X (formerly Twitter).

The video features one man, a Norwegian character called Halfdan, talking to camera, going through everything he hates about the city in which he was born and raised.

But listening to Halfdans deadpan delivery youll hear that Oslo is an idyllic place to visit.

One of the complaints is that you can easily walk around the city  which is no bad thing if you want to avoid cramming onto public transport or only have a small amount of time to see the sights.

Another is that there are no queues for the art galleries, unlike those in Paris or Rome, which might come as good news to anyone who has better things to do than wait in line. While it might not have the Mona Lisa, the city does have Edvard Munchs The Scream.

Nor is it hard to get a table in a Michelin-star restaurant, and the narration suggests its possible to enjoy a seating without a booking.

You might even bump into a member of royalty or the prime minister when walking down the street, as Halfdan complains everything is too available, which is a refreshing change to cities where the famous people only hang out in expensive places.

Subtly showcasing Oslos architecture, swimming pools, art and culture through sarcastic narration, the humorous video has been a major hit with viewers.

On YouTube, where its had over 250,000 views, one wrote: I think this is the best tourism commercial Ive ever seen. And yes, it makes me want to visit Oslo.

While on X, one viewer wrote: Probably one of the best tourism ads Ive ever seen. Another added: I love this so much. Bravo to the marketing person who first pitched this.

Anne-Signe Fagereng, the director of marketing at Visit Oslo said: We did release it with some butterflies as were showcasing a rather dry Nordic sense of humour and we werent sure if people would get it. We certainly didnt expect it to go viral.

"This approach is never without risk, but fortunately, we have so far received an enormous amount of positive interest, she added.

But its not the first ad to incorporate the dry humour Nordic countries are known for.

Last year, Visit Sweden launched a campaign ad reminding viewers to stop confusing it with Switzerland, and in 2021, Visit Iceland ran an advert that parodied the Metaverse.
No more than 4,000 visitors will be allowed to climb the mountain each day at a fee of 11.50

Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Mount Fuji on July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Japan hiked the entry fees and restricted the number of visitors to tackle overcrowding on Mount Fuji as the climbing season kicked off on Monday.

The iconic mountain, Japans highest, has attracted record numbers of tourists in recent years, leading to complaints about overcrowding, pollution and unruly behaviour.

The number of climbers recovered to the pre-pandemic level last year, with about 300,000 going up, the environment ministry said.

This season, no more than 4,000 visitors will be allowed to climb the mountain each day and each will be charged a fee of 2,000 yen (11.50), nearly twice the rate last year.

The new policy kicked in 90 minutes before sunrise on Monday as a newly installed gate opened halfway up the 3,776-metre-high peak.

"I think Mount Fuji will be very happy if everyone is more conscious about the environment and things like taking rubbish home with them," said Sachiko Kan, 61, one of about 1,200 hikers on the first day of the new season.

"This is not Disneyland," said Geoffrey Kula, an overseas climber from Boston. "Having some sort of access control system to limit the amount of potential chaos is good."

Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Mount Fuji on July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Climbers will be given wristbands to access the climbing trail from 3am to 4pm, authorities said.

But visitors staying in mountain huts closer to the peak wont be subjected to the daily limit, they added.

Hikers typically start in the wee hours to make it to the top in time for sunrise.

Supporting the new measures, Yamanashi governor Kotaro Nagasaki said last month that they were necessary to prevent accidents and incidents of altitude sickness, particularly among foreign "bullet climbers", or those who race up to the top.

Japan should focus on attracting "higher spending visitors" over sheer numbers of people, he added.

The climbing season lasts until September 10.

It can get extremely cold on the mountain even in summer and going up with proper climbing gear, boots and clothing is crucial. Trekkers are also at risk of altitude sickness if they ascend too quickly.

At least four people were found dead on Mount Fuji last week, prompting a warning against scaling it before the climbing season began.

Three people were found in a state of cardiac arrest inside a crater on the summit of the mountain while a fourth died after collapsing on the north side.

An active stratovolcano whose last eruption was in 1707, Mount Fuji has been a site of Shinto and Buddhist worship for centuries.

Mount Fuji attracts millions of people to Japan every year.

The town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi recently erected a large black screen along a pavement to block a popular view of Mount Fuji to discourage photo-taking crowds.


Joe Bidens alarming failures during his debate last Thursday with former president Donald Trump confirmed what a majority of Americans already held to be true: At 81, the incumbent is too old for a second four-year term. But some overcautious commentators have drawn a lesson from 1968 to suggest that the US president would sow chaos were he to drop out now.
Is brain hacking and tracking just science-fiction? Or has emotion-sensing neurotech already arrived? And what are the applications, good and bad?

On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by Duke University Professor and Author of The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology, Nita Farahany.

The Law professor first came to neurotech as a result of being a self-described chronic migrainer. She began using neurostimulation devices and neurotechnology to treat the pain and this allowed her to physically move through the migraines without using drugs with negative side effects.

In the second part of the conversation Adrian asked about the negative applications of this novel technology. The author made the point that a lot of this futuristic neurotech is already operational in society. She gave the example of an Australian company that has been selling a device for over a decade that can tell employers if their staff are wide awake or falling asleep. There are more recent reports of workers in China wearing these devices, being exposed to communist messaging and punished if they display a negative reaction.

You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.
Rishi Sunak will be campaign in the Midlands while Sir Keir Starmer is in south-east England on Monday (PA)

British prime minister Rishi Sunak refuses to admit defeat, insisting his Conservative Party is still in with a shout as this Thursdays UK general election looms.

Despite Sunaks bullishness, Labour leader Keir Starmer is expected to take the top job at 10 Downing Street, with the Tories bracing themselves for a devastating performance.

A typical but bizarre narrative has played out since rain-soaked Sunak called for the UK General Election in late May, with betting scandals, bungee jumps and a Banksy stunt at Glastonbury among the headlines in recent days and weeks.

Even the ever-ebullient Nigel Farage has resurfaced, pledging to lead Reform UK to glory, but distancing himself from any kind of union with the Conservatives.

Change is in the air as the UK public goes to the polls for what appears to be a foregone conclusion, but one that represents an immense power shift in Britain.

On this episode of The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined by George Parker, political editor for the Financial Times, and by John Downing, political correspondent with the Irish Independent, to discuss the election's likely outcome and to ask what the crowning of Mr Starmer will mean for Anglo-Irish relations.
Watch: Russell Crowe descends on Donegal for the opening of Muff Liquor distillery

Russell Crowe has delighted fans in Donegal as he met with dozens of people during the launch of the new home of Muff Liquor.

The Hollywood superstar was in Muff today for the launch of the new home of The Muff Liquor Company.

Mr Crowe, who is an investor in the company, was joined in Muff by investors Ryan Tubridy and Ronan Keating while Ed Sheeran and Jimmy Carr are also among the high-profile investors.

The three stars were in Muff on Tuesday.

The three stars flew in to support the event ahead of a new chapter for the the award winning Muff Liquor company which was set up by Laura Bonner near Muff on the Inishowen Peninsula in 2017.

The stars were joined at the launch event by well known figures from Donegal, the Bonner family, media and representatives from the Lucas Bols Company.

Muff Liquor has gone from strength to strength in recent years and the opening of the state of the art facility will ensure a continuation of the success.

Ronan Keating, Ryan Tubridy and Russell Crowe in Donegal on Tuesday.

Speaking of the launch and the product, Mr Crowe said his job is telling stories and when he heard the story of The Muff Liquor Company, he knew he had to get involved.

"I am always open to a good story.

When I heard the story of ole Phil and about what happened on a Friday afternoon, I just got really attracted it and then I tried the product and that really sealed the idea for me.

"Its a great product and the story is a fantastic tory that will travel from place to place and country to country.

"I just wanted to be part of that and I wanted to be part of pushing that.

"Its like the little engine that could.

One of the most important parts is making sure that we have a footprint in Muff so the people of Muff could be involved where we can be an employee which we are going to be on a bigger and bigger scale as time goes by.

"When people can connect to the product, they have a personal pride and I think thats really important.

"It is a romantic idea that this potato farmer was just looking at what he could do with rotten potatoes and he comes up with a recipe for a drink that appeals to people and on a Friday afternoon, if you had nothing on, you could drop into Phil and fill up your receptacle, said Mr Crowe.

Founder of The Muff Liquor Company Laura Bonner.

Founder Laura Bonner was inspired by her grandfather Philip McClenaghan who farmed the bountiful soil in the fields around his native Greencastle and was a poitin maker.

The company recently signed a major distribution deal for the US market with Lucas Bols Company.

The new premises, which has been transformed from a former car garage, will include a distillery, with on-site bottling, a retail shop, offices and a gin experience area.

The distillery will create a number jobs for the area while it will also attract thousands of visitors to the area.

Ms Bonner said she is delighted with how the distillery has turned out and she is overwhelmed with the support she has received.

"I am extremely grateful and unbelievably proud  it has turned out better than we expected and the feedback has been incredible.

"The support of local people has been overwhelming too so long may it last.

"We are launching now with Lucas Bols into America with 30,000 cases heading to America for the launch on November 1, so it is upwards and onwards, said Ms Bonner.

Russell Crowe was given a bottle of Muff Liquor.

Laura is hopeful that the new premises will enhance the tourism industry in Inishowen and bring more people to Muff.

"This is all part of our plan  we want people to come to Muff and Inishowen.

"Muff is the start of the Wild Atlantic Way so hopefully we will get people in and also create jobs, said Ms Bonner.

An emotion Ms Bonner said the dream has been in the pipeline for 20 years and for it to come true is incredible.

"We have partners in Lucas Bols, the US team, the guys from the Netherlands and honestly, I am so grateful to be part of you and for you guys to be part of you,

"I can tell how much you believe in our brand which really helps, said Ms Bonner.

Ronan Keating.

Ronan Keating said he was delighted to see the hard work pay off.

Russell had been chatting for quite some about getting involved in different liquor brands, and it became a trendy thing.

"We kind of stopped looking and we often talk about different things and meet up in different parts of the world.

"I got a call one day, he was here in Ireland, shooting a film and he said Ive found it. Ive found what weve been looking for.

I am putting a bunch of guys together, The Muff Men was created and its been a hell of a lot of fun.

"When Rusty calls, we step up to the plate and its been brilliant.

"To see this come to fruition after we have been chatting about it for nearly three years now.

"To see what the Bonner family have done, it absolutely amazing, said Mr Keating.
Irish News

I needed as much help as I could get  how Irelands first baby bank provides a lifeline to women struggling with costs of having a baby

One mans trash is anothers treasure, they say. This really struck home for a young mother when she found out she was pregnant at the end of her first semester at college.
A judge has expressed his deep-seated concern at how private airfields are being used as an open corridor to fly in large quantities of drugs after a Walter Mitty type character pleaded guilty to importing 8.4m of cocaine into a midlands based airport almost two years ago.

Fifty-six-year-old Tim Gilchrist Jr of Mavis Bank, Newrath, Waterford, pleaded guilty at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday to importing cocaine at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Abbeyshrule, Co Longford on August 4, 2022.

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The father-of-one had previously pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Lough Owel, Irishtown, Co. Westmeath on the same date on foot of a large-scale Garda surveillance operation.

Detective Garda Ciaran Cummins of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) told the court of how a wide-ranging surveillance operation was put in place after confidential information had come to light over the use of a Cessna light aircraft which had flown out from the Longford based airstrip the previous day.

The court heard Gilchrist Jnr had boarded the Cessna light aircraft and flown to France before returning to Abbeyshrule from Dieppe airport.

He said, on the day of the incident shortly before 5:30pm, gardai observed Gilchrist Jnr remove a number of bags from the aircraft before placing them in a dark coloured vehicle.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 3rd

Around half an hour later, gardai stopped two vehicles, one being a black Alfa Romeo car driven by the accused and where five holdalls and a single suitcase were retrieved containing 120kilos of cocaine worth an estimated 8.4m.

The court was told Gilchrist Jnr, in a series of interviews at Ashbourne garda station, held his hands up to being in possession of the drugs but stated he had been under duress from a number of unknown individuals not before the court.

Det Garda Cummins said the former highway maintenance employee told gardai of how two men arrived at his home and told him he would be flying in a plane and to purchase a mobile phone.

Gilchrist Jnr said when he refused, the pair said they would do your daughter. Det Garda Cummins said this was a narrative investigating gardai were not prepared to accept.

Mullingar Courthouse.

Judge Keenan Johnson was told two phones were also seized from Gilchrist Jnr during his detention and a number of text messages which the accused had both sent and received from two men named in court as Sean and Niall.

The court heard how two messages sent from Sean to Gilchrist Jnrs phone in the minutes before the aircraft landed appeared to indicate the plane was being watched.

At 5:24pm Sean texted Gilchrist Jnr, saying there were a lot of guys around and to be careful in a warning that prompted the accused to reply: Okay.

A minute later a second message sent to Gilchrist Jnrs phone advised there might be better other spots just as the aircraft came into land.

Det Garda Cummins described the seizure to be on the very higher end of the scale of high profile drugs detections carried out by gardai.

The court heard Gilchrist Jnr previously enjoyed business interests in Uganda in the meat processing industry and where his wife operates a restaurant.

Defence counsel Michael OHiggins SC, said his client, despite having previously been employed in the highway maintenance sector, was someone who had not enjoyed an excessive lifestyle and whose only income was just over 200 a week in illness benefit.

He said Gilchrist Jnr also suffered from oesophageal achalasia which left him with almost permanent heartburn.

Mr OHiggins described his client as being the weakest link in the chain and the most expendable and was far removed from the source of the seven figure drugs consignment who, he contended enjoy several layers of insulation between the end product and the person who is found in possession of them.

There is a significant Walter Mitty element to him and he does not appear to be a person who has significant assets, he said.

He added the incident appeared to show how small airports are being used as an open corridor to bring in large caches of drugs, an assertion Judge Johnson said the court found concerning.

In closing his mitigation to the court on behalf of Gilchrist Jnr, Mr OHiggins said the Waterford man who has been on remand in custody for almost two years, was facing a very significant custodial sentence at a time of life when he should otherwise be looking forward to retirement.

He implored the court to exercise the maximum 25pc reduction it could apply in finalising sentence in light of his plea, age and difficulties he will invariably face in prison.

Judge Johnson remanded Gilchrist Jnr in custody to a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday when sentencing will be finalised.
A popular priest from Wexford who was known to many as the singing priest recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination.

Father William Howell from Camolin was ordained on June 6, 1974 at age 27.

He was very popular and I know in Ballygarrett, he wouldve been behind building the new community centre beside the church and when he was in Gorey he looked after the renovation of the church."

"He would have done an awful lot for the community and he was in Lourdes every year. No matter who you talk to, he was very popular, said his niece Annette Bailey.

Fr Howell studied in Maynooth College and was a qualified teacher for Irish and Maths. He taught in Carnew School for a number of years before he became a priest. Upon his ordination, he taught in St Peters College, during his career he spent time in Kilmichael, Ballygarrett and St Michaels Parish, Gorey.

He has three siblings; Ann Byrne, Catherine Winkle and Denis Howell as well as many nieces and nephews. He retired during Covid and is now 77 years old.
Adamstown National School 75th Anniversary. Pictured are pupils Will Fortune, Danyal Quli, Ailish Mooney and Ann Ruby viewing the old photographs on display. Photograph: Patrick Browne

Adamstown National School 75th Anniversary. Pictured are pupils Jim Connors , Caoimhe Gallagher, Sarah Power and Nicky Whelan looking at the old roll books. Photograph: Patrick Browne

Adamstown National School 75th Anniversary. Claire Kickham, principal, with Ellie Walsh who retired in 2019 as school secretary. Elle presented the school with a framed story of history of the school building. Photograph: Patrick Browne

Adamstown National School 75th Anniversary. Pictured are Claire Kickham, principal with Ellie Walsh who retired in 2019 as school secretary. Elle presented the school with a framed story of history of the school building . Photograph: Patrick Browne

Adamstown NS has celebrated 75 years in its current building, with a day of travelling down memory lane, while also acknowledging the modern teaching and learning methods currently in place at the school.

Adamstown NS was built in late 1948, opening to children in the area in 1949. It was extended in 1987.

To mark the anniversary, the day began with a mass by Adamstown PP Fr Robert Nolan. The school choir performed and afterwards pupils re-enacted a procession which took place in 1949, when the classmates moved from the old school (which was located near the church, and which has since been knocked), to the new school.

The school has a rich history and has been a source of many fond memories over the past seventy-five years. It has produced many success stories, including sports stars, actors, artists, musicians and business people. It has enjoyed some wonderful events, as well as a few tragedies.

Over the years, Adamstown NS has developed from a very small rural school to a thriving and developing heart of the community.

Adamstown National School 75th Anniversary. Pictured are pupils Will Fortune, Danyal Quli, Ailish Mooney and Ann Ruby viewing the old photographs on display. Photograph: Patrick Browne

At the school celebration, past pupils, staff, the board of management, parents and grandparents all enjoyed performances of songs from the Forties by senior pupils.

Old school roll books were displayed and there were photos dating as far back as the 1910s. Everyone enjoyed catching up and seeing faces and reading names from the past in the roll books and in person.

Adamstown National School 75th Anniversary. Claire Kickham, principal, with Ellie Walsh who retired in 2019 as school secretary. Elle presented the school with a framed story of history of the school building. Photograph: Patrick Browne

Principal Claire Kickham said it was a great community day, topped off by pupils showing their art and IT skills.

Former school secretary Ellie Walsh presented a framed history of the school to Ms Kickham, which now has pride of place on one of the school walls. An extension is currently being finished at the 134-pupil school  which will see its first special education classroom for children with autism open in the autumn.

"Its a modular extension and it also includes a mainstream classroom and two learner support rooms," said Ms Kickham.
Inmate serving 19 years behind bars for abduction and rape, plus 16 years for death threats

Convicted rapist Michael Murray has emerged as the prime suspect in phoning in the hoax bomb threat on Taoiseach Simon Harris home from prison.

It is understood Murray is suspected to have used another inmates identification number to place the call to the Samaritans from his landing in the Midlands Prison.

Its suspected the call was made from a handset which is used by inmates for the purposes of calling permitted numbers, including the Samaritans Helpline.

Murray, who was previously convicted of making a bomb threat to the house of Justice Minister Helen McEntee from behind bars, is currently serving a 19-year-sentence in the prison for rape.

A separate bomb threat targeting Helen McEntee and phoned into the Samaritans in April is also suspected to have been made by a prisoner.

That call was traced back to an inmate serving a sentence in Wheatfield Prison.

If proven that Murray was behind the latest threat, sources say the manner in which prisoners are granted access to the Samaritans Helpline will have to be examined.

Gardai have been investigating the bomb threat made against the Co. Wicklow home of Mr Harris since the incident occurred on Wednesday evening last week.

The probe is being led by the Garda Special Detective Unit, which is the States counter-terrorism investigative branch.

Sources said the caller made the threat to the Samaritans helpline, shortly before 6pm.

He claimed there was a bomb at Mr Harris family home in Wicklow.

The alarm was immediately raised and gardai rushed to the Taoiseachs home to carry out a search for explosive devices.

No device of any kind was found and officers believe the call was a hoax.

Mr Harris was in the Dail at the time, but his wife and young children were at home..

Addressing the matter at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday last week, Mr Harris described the threat as unacceptable.

I dont really wish to comment on it other than to say obviously this is clearly unacceptable situation.

Even the word hoax Im not sure is a fair word as Ive no doubt these things are done to intimidate and upset. I have young children, I have a wife, he said.

Such threats represented a really unacceptable situation, Mr Harris said, adding when people turn up outside his house it should not be described in media reports as a protest.

Sources said rapist Michael Murray is looking at a serious penalty if it is proven the call originated from him.

Last March, he was sentenced to an additional two years in prison for making an earlier hoax bomb threat to Ms McEntees home from the Midlands Prison.

Murray (54), formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021.

The eight-day trial heard that an anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and said explosives had been planted at the home of the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee.

During the trial of hoax bomb caller Michael Murray, a Samaritans volunteer told the court she was left really shook after receiving a call saying explosives had been planted at the Minister for Justices family home.

The volunteer said she had been on duty on March 7, 2021 when the phone rang. She answered the phone and, after a few moments of silence, heard a male voice say: Can you take a message?

She told the court the caller then said: This is the Irish National Liberation Organisation. Explosives have been planted at the home of the Minister of Justice and her family. The password is Red October. This is to do with a court case happening in Dublin tomorrow.

A senior garda told the jury that the call was considered a criminal offence at a serious level that might threaten the security of the State.

Superintendent Dermot Dray said his objective was to try and establish the phone number and identity of the person who had contacted the Samaritans hotline and made the threat.

He made an application to his superior officer to find out the callers number and where they had called from.

He received information two days later that the call came from the Midlands Prison.

Noel Reilly, who worked in the IT department of the Irish Prison Service at the time, said the call was traced back to a number associated with Murray.

He explained that before a call can be made from within an Irish prison, prisoners must enter a number given to them to access the phone system. He said calls to the Samaritans and solicitors are not recorded.

The court heard the call to the Samaritans was traced to the extension within Murrays cell, that his unique identification number was used and he was alone inside his cell overnight.

Mr Reilly said it was his observation that Murray made the phone call to the Samaritans at the exact time.

When interviewed by gardai, Murray agreed to having well-known links to the paramilitary group named in the threat.

Video footage of his arrest and Garda interview on March 26, 2021 was played to the jury.

When asked if he had been aligned with the INLA in the past, Murray responded: Thats well known.

He said his issue with Ms McEntee was that she represents a department that does not release material in a defence trial.

He also said he had no personal problem with her, but with the department she represented.

In 2013, Murray was convicted of abducting a mother and her four-year-old son and repeatedly raping the woman for hours.

He received a sentence of 19 years imprisonment for this.

He was then sentenced to 16 further years in prison for a campaign of harassment and death threats directed at his victim and the prosecuting lawyers in that trial.
Irish TV Presenter and actress Laura Whitmore has said she is excited to pass down her childhood book collection to her daughter.

The star, who currently resides in London, has returned to Dublin to star in the Irish run of Danny Robins play 2:22- A Ghost Story.

The play, which premiered in Dublin on June 20 at the 3Olympia is the story of Jennys (Shona McGarty) attempts to convince her husband Sam (Colin ODonoghue), and their friends Lauren (Laura Whitmore) and Ben (Jay McGuinness) that their new house is haunted.

Whitmore was speaking as a guest on former Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy's podcast The Bookshelf.

Laura Whitmore in Profile

The podcast features guests who share a love of reading and talking about their favorite childhood book, a book that made them cry and the book that changed their life.

The Bray native and former Love Island host spoke about the role some of her childhood books had on her. Whitmore welcomed her first child with husband Iain Stirling in 2021.

[Matilda] was the book of my childhood. I had a Roald Dahl collection and I had a Beatrix Potter one when I was younger so I read all of them and thats lovely because I still have all of them from thirty odd years ago and now I can give that to my child - its a lovely thing to have, said Whitmore.

It just made me love the idea of reading and escapism through reading.

Theres a resilience with Matilda - she is a badass character, she added.

During the podcast, Tubridy and Whitmore had a far-reaching conversation where they addressed topics from her earliest memories of drama class, to how she felt after starting her job for MTV in 2008 and how her own mother inspires her to use her voice for women around the world.

Whitmore previously said she was more nervous ahead of the Dublin opening of the show than during the West End opening as she is performing in front of a home crowd.

Isnt live great, its such a special experience, and I think particularly with the Irish audience, we love a story, were all storytellers. And thats what it is, a really good story that you get to experience with us in this one space, she told RTE.

The 45-minute podcast was launched by Tubridy in April 2024, ten months after the payments controversy in RTE first came to light.

In August 2023, RTE Director General Kevin Backhursy announced that the presenter would not be returning to the station.

Ahead of the launch of his new podcast, Tubridy presented his own mid-morning show on Virgin Radio UK from January to April of this year.

The Bookshelf podcast is sponsored by Easons. Episodes are available on every major audio platform and to watch on YouTube. All books discussed are available at Easons.
Australian police arrest boy (14) dressed in military clothing after stabbing at University of Sydney

Police allege that the teenager, who was dressed in military clothing, stabbed a 22-year-old student in the neck

New South Wales state Police conduct search at the scene of an alleged stabbing at Sydney University, in Sydney (Dan Himbrechts/AP)

Rod McGuirk Tue 2 Jul 2024 at 10:03







A 14-year-old boy dressed in military clothing was arrested after police alleged he stabbed a 22-year-old student in the neck on Tuesday at the University of Sydney.
Britain

Mother recounts biggest mistake of my life allowing daughter (15) to go out the night her ex murdered her
Europe

No chance of a just peace if Ukraine joins Nato, says Kremlin
Palestinian doctor Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, the director of Al Shifa Hospital who was detained by Israeli forces, speaks to the media after his release from an Israeli jail, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Nasser hopsital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Over 100 victims and relatives sue Syria, North Korea and Iran over October 7 attacks

Palestinians walk along a damaged road following an Israeli operation in Nur Shams refugee camp, near the West Bank town of Tulkarem. Photo: AP

The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad fired a barrage of rockets into Israel yesterday as fighting raged in Gaza while Israeli tanks advanced deeper in parts of the enclave, residents and officials said.

Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas  both of whom are backed by Iran  said its fighters fired rockets towards several Israeli communities near the fence with Gaza in response to the crimes of the Zionist enemy against our Palestinian people.
First lady Jill Biden and US president Joe Biden at a rally last weekend. Photo: AP

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has warned that US president Joe Bidens chances of winning the state are now over following his dismal debate performance last week.

Mr Biden had hoped to silence critics who have questioned his age and mental sharpness when he took on Donald Trump during the first televised debate of the 2024 election last Thursday.
Former US president Donald Trumps sentencing in his hush money case has been postponed to September after the judge agreed on Tuesday to weigh the possible impact of a new Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
Hyundai Indias Strategic IPO Entry to Strengthen Position in the Domestic EV Market

In the Indian equities market, there is a great deal of anticipation surrounding Hyundai Motor Indias impending Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company is reportedly going to set up its third manufacturing facility in the country to increase the local production of its battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Hyundai Motor Company, a South Korean brand, established its first plant in India under the name Hyundai Motor India near Chennai in 1996. Over the years, it has grown to become one of Indias largest passenger vehicle manufacturers, surpassing Maruti Suzuki. Nearly three decades later, Hyundai has filed paperwork with Indias Securities and Exchange Board (SEBI) to launch an initial public offering (IPO).

This IPO is anticipated to be the largest ever in the Indian market, valued at INR 250 billion (US$2.9 billion). Hyundais position in the evolving Indian passenger vehicle market is a key selling point for potential investors. Investment banks such as Citi, JP Morgan, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, and Indias Kotak Mahindra Capital Company are advising Hyundai on the IPO entry.

Hyundai Indias IPO listing

If everything proceeds as planned, Hyundai Motor Indias IPO would surpass the record set by Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in 2022, making it the largest IPO in Indias corporate history. The company plans to dilute approximately 17.5 percent of its ownership, offering up to 142,194,700 equity shares, each with a face value of INR 10. The IPO will also include an offer for sale from current shareholders, with no new share offerings planned. The exact timing is yet to be decided, pending SEBI approval.

This move represents the first major IPO by an Indian automaker since Maruti Udyogs listing in 2003. Other publicly listed automakers in India are Tata Motors (IPO in 1980) and Mahindra & Mahindra (IPO in 1996).

Hyundais operations in India

Hyundai manufactures and sells a range of four-wheeler passenger vehicles (PVs) both in India and internationally, including components such as engines and transmissions. The current lineup includes 13 PV models, ranging from battery electric vehicles (EVs) to hatchbacks, SUVs, and sedans. Popular models include the Grand i10 Nios, i20, i20 N Line, Aura, Verna, Exter, Venue, Venue N Line, Creta, Creta N Line, Alcazar, Tucson, and Ioniq 5.

Hyundai Motor Company was established in 1967 and was initially a part of the broader Hyundai Conglomerate, which was started by Chung Ju-Yung in 1947. Working with Ford Motor Company, it debuted the Cortina as its first model in 1968. The first mass-produced automobile in South Korea was an original Hyundai design that was created in 1975. This signalled the start of Hyundais transformation into a global automotive powerhouse. The company entered the North American markets in the late 1970s and early 1980s, in addition to a number of European markets.

Since 1998, Hyundai has sold around 12 million passenger vehicles in India and through exports. As of March 31 this year, Hyundai was Indias largest exporter of passenger cars from FY 200405 to the first eleven months of FY 202324, according to CRISIL. Data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) shows that Hyundai sold 614,717 PVs in India in FY24, marking an 8.3 percent year-over-year increase in sales.

Performance in the Indian market

Indias domestic PV market is highly concentrated, with a few key players dominating. Maruti Suzuki leads in domestic sales volume, followed by Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Hyundai, which together control about 80 percent of the market. However, the market has become more competitive over the past five years with feature-rich PV launches by both established companies and new entrants. Hyundai faces competition from Maruti Suzuki India, Kia Motors, Volkswagen, Nissan Motor, and Honda Cars India in the export market.

In 2023, it was reported that Hyundai India has acquired General Motors (GM) Talegaon, Maharashtra facility. Two of the companys current manufacturing locations are in Irungattukottai and Sriperumbudur, close to Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

As of December 31, 2023, Hyundai Motor India had invested INR 297.41 billion (US$3.5 billion) in tangible fixed assets and capital work in progress. The company serves as a production and export hub for developing countries, especially for models like the Venue and Verna. Hyundai plans to accelerate growth by increasing annual production to one million vehicles by 2025, focusing on affordable EVs.

Spotlight: Hyundais investments in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) at its Tamil Nadu unit Hyundais investment in technology, automation, and AI at its Sriperumbudur plant near Chennai (Tamil Nadu) represents a significant shift towards advanced manufacturing. The plant, located in an industrial hub hosting major global players, such as iPhone maker Foxconn, Samsung, Royal Enfield, Dell, Mitsubishi, and Nissan, among others, is set to receive a massive INR 260 billion (US$3.11 billion) investment injection as Hyundai celebrates its 26th year in the market. Embracing Industry 4.0, Hyundais Sriperumbudur plant integrates AI, machine learning (ML), and virtual reality (VR) across its auto production operations. Key advancements include a digital transformation starting in 2019, which integrated seven shops by linking over 2,000 critical equipment with 1,000 sensors to manage downtime and predict equipment abnormalities, thereby reducing maintenance downtime by 5 percent. AI and ML have been leveraged to process 12 billion data points annually, aiding in predictive maintenance and data-driven decision-making. Automation is pervasive, with AI-driven systems enhancing quality control in assembly, body, press shops, and engine manufacturing, ensuring precision and consistency. The plant also emphasizes employee training through VR, optimizing logistics with mobile robots, and deploying AI for safety and supply chain efficiency. Future plans include generative AI, digital twins, and enhanced sustainability with renewable energy targets. State policymakers also encourage collaborations with entities like the World Economic Forum, which aim to establish Tamil Nadu as a hub for advanced manufacturing and sustainability practices and is aligned with Hyundais own long-term commitment to technological leadership in automotive manufacturing.

EV production expansion in India

Hyundai views India as a key growth market, having invested US$5.04 billion in its two production facilities. Over the next decade, the company plans to invest an additional US$4 billion. The Indian market is the third-largest revenue source for Hyundai globally, after the US and China.

As it aims to improve its position in the electric vehicle market and expand EV charging infrastructure, Hyundai plans to premiumize its offerings by selling more expensive vehicles. Hyundai is reportedly also planning to invest INR 7 billion (US$83.9 million) in India to assemble battery packs for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to be produced locally. The company aims to complete the first phase of construction of its plant in Chennai by 2025, with an initial capacity to produce 75,000 battery packs per year.

One may note that EVs have three different categories, i.e., the plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), and the regular EV, commonly referred to as a battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV).

The move to increase local production is anticipated to help lower the cost of its BEVs in India and boost local demand. The company aims to increase its share of the Indian BEV market from 2 percent to 22 percent by 2030 as part of its global expansion plans.

Earlier this year, Hyundai announced its goal to sell 2 million BEVs annually worldwide by 2030, supported by the launch of 17 new models, including 11 Hyundai and six Genesis models.

BEV demand in India is growing rapidly, albeit from a low base. According to the data provided by the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), a grand total of 90,432 electric four-wheelers were sold in India in FY24. In FY 202223, the sale of EV four-wheelers was recorded at 47,499 units.

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Conclusion

The anticipation surrounding Hyundai Motor Indias upcoming IPO highlights the companys strategic efforts to strengthen its presence in the Indian market. With plans to establish its third manufacturing facility to boost local BEV production, Hyundai aims to significantly increase its market share in both ICE and EV segment. As the company continues to invest in infrastructure and expand its product lineup, industry watchers believe that the company is well-positioned to capitalize on the rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles in India.

(US$1 = INR 83.36)
In a first of its kind, HireMee, an AI-enabled Talent Assessment and Hiring platform, has signed a MoU with Rockefeller Foundations Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) to bridge the gap between graduation and first career jobs for young graduates from diverse communities.

The GMI Program connects student mentees with mentors who provide guidance and business skills in preparation to enter the job market after graduation, thereby enhancing their employability quotient.

The MoU between GMI and HireMee will make the GMI Program available for free to the youth across India. HireMee will initiate an outreach program for students who are in the last two years of their undergraduate course and between the age of 20 and 25 years to take up HireMees free employability assessment.

Driven by its endeavour to ensure that no talent is unemployed or underemployed HireMee enables equal access to opportunities for small-town youth by connecting them with employers.

A social enterprise, HireMee provides artificial-intelligence (AI) proctored assessment covering seven sections including core domain for students finishing their diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate studies in a range of disciplines. The assessment scores of test takers are shared with companies looking for talent and listed on HireMee platform. This service comes at no cost to companies as well as job seekers.

Announcing this Venkatraman Umakanth, Senior Vice President and Head, HireMee said, Our partnership with GMI will select HireMee assessed youth to be mentored by volunteers from top global brands and enhance their employability quotient. This mentoring would greatly help talents, especially from underserved communities, hone skills, and thrive in their corporate career.

Establishing a professional business network and learning communication strategies is critical for the job search. We are delighted to make the Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) program available to the youth across India and enhance their employability quotient even further, said Jon Browning, CEO, Global Mentorship Initiative.

What is Hiremees free employability assessment?

Typically, a major gap found even among bright graduating students is their limited ability to present themselves, articulate clearly, and lack of confidence. And this is where HireMee steps in to help students. The core assessment method being to make the students aware of his/her strengths and areas of improvement across seven key areas which includes aptitude, domain areas and psychometry. This would help him/her/institution take measures to bridge the gap thereby enhancing the employability quotient; and be spotted by over 2,000 companies who have registered on the HireMee platform and get hired.

GMIs success rate:

With over 5,000 mentors in 120 countries, GMIs mentors come from organisations such as Microsoft, LinkedIn, Genpact, among others, to build a more equitable workforce through leveraging digital resources, mentorship, AI, and human connection.

The GMI Program has been a global success. For students enrolling in the GMI Program, there has been a 37-point average increase in career confidence & skills after mentorship (from 53 to 90), 74% of mentees globally had a job within six months of graduating, and 82% of the respondents said that the GMI program was crucial in helping them get hired.

HireMee was established in Salem in 2017 as a social enterprise, and today, nearly 2,000 companies get access to a wider pool of pre-assessed talent from across India readily and at no cost. These companies include Bajaj Housing Finance, Burger King, Lenskart, Tata Starbucks, Teach for India and Zoho.

By working closely with All India Council for Technical education (AICTE), National Career Services (NCS) and National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and a few skilling initiatives in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana state, among others, HireMee has helped over 720,000 talented small-town youth get assessed at no cost by assessing them free of cost and connecting them with companies, big and small, that value diversity and inclusivity.

Nearly 60 per cent of 280,000 interview opportunities to be considered for jobs soon after graduation have gone to students from Tier-3 and Tier-4 towns, with almost half of these opportunities for women candidates.

The Made in India HireMee emerged among the five finalists in the prestigious $5 million XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling competition in the USA in 2022 becoming the only non-American entry to make it to this list.
Representative image/ courtesy: Pixabay

New Delhi/IBNS: The NEET-PG exam, conducted for admission to postgraduate medical courses, will be held this month, media reports said after the Home Ministry met officials from the government's anti-cybercrime body.

The question paper will be prepared two hours earlier, NDTV quoting sources said.

Scheduled for June 23 the NEET-PG exam was postponed hours before its start amid a row over alleged irregularities, including leaked papers, for the UG exam.

The government had then said it would "undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of NEET-PG, conducted by the National Board of Examinations for medical students".

The decision, the government said, had been taken in students' best interest.

The scrapping of the exam, for which lakhs of aspiring medical professionals had enrolled, triggered furious protests, particularly from those who had travelled long distances to appear for the same.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan appointed a committee to probe complaints.

The cancellation followed public outcry over the NEET-UG and the UGC-NET test, the latter is held to appoint assistant professors to colleges and universities as well as to award research fellowships.

Since June 4, when the results of the premiere NEET examination were declared, protests and demonstrations rocked the country over allegations of paper leak and preferential marking.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education cancelled the UGC-NET exam a day after it.

The National Testing Agency, which was in charge of these exams, has been heavily criticised.

The decision, the government said, had been taken in students' best interest.

The scrapping of the exam - for which lakhs of aspiring medical professionals had enrolled - triggered furious protests, particularly from those who had travelled many kilometres to sit for the exam.
Photo Courtesy: PIB

Indian PM Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked the Kuwait government for launching a radio programme in Hindi and described the move as a 'wonderful initiative'.

Addressing the nation in his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, Modi said: " Kuwait government has started a special program on its National Radio. And that too in Hindi."

"It is broadcast every Sunday for half an hour on Kuwait Radio. It includes myriad shades of Indian culture," Modi said.

He said: "Our films and discussions related to the art world are very popular among the Indian community there. I have even been told that the local people of Kuwait are also taking a lot of interest in it."

"I thank the government of Kuwait and the people there from the core of my heart for taking this wonderful initiative," he said.

He said Indians should be happy the way the country's culture is earning glory across the world.

He praised the Turkmenistan government for unveiling the statue of Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.

"Friends, which Indian will not be happy with the way our culture is earning glory all over the world today! For example, in Turkmenistan, the 300th birth anniversary of its national poet was celebrated in May this year. On this occasion, the President of Turkmenistan unveiled the statues of 24 famous poets of the world. One of these statues is also that of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore," he said.
Photo Courtesy: Rishi Shah Linkedin page

Indian-American entrepreneur Rishi Shah, a co-founder and former CEO of Outcome, was sentenced on June 26 to seven years and six months in prison for his role in a fraud scheme that targeted the companys clients, lenders, and investors and involved approximately $1 billion in fraudulently obtained funds.

According to reports, the fraud scheme hit major investors like Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Google parent Alphabet Inc., and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's venture capital firm.

Apart from Shah, Shradha Agarwal, a co-founder and former president of Outcome Health (Outcome), a Chicago-based health technology start-up company, was sentenced to three years in a half-way house.

Brad Purdy, 35, the former chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Outcome, was also sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Outcome, which was founded in 2006 and known as Context Media prior to January 2017, installed television screens and tablets in doctors offices across the United States and then sold advertising space on those devices to clients, most of which were pharmaceutical companies, read a statement issued by US Department of Justice.

Shah, Agarwal, and Purdy sold advertising inventory the company did not have to Outcomes clients and then under-delivered on its advertising campaigns.

Despite these under-deliveries, the company still invoiced its clients as if it had delivered in full.

Shah, Agarwal, and Purdy lied or caused others to lie to conceal the under-deliveries from clients and make it appear as if the company was delivering advertising content to the number of screens in the clients contracts.

Purdy and others at Outcome also inflated metrics that purported to show how frequently patients engaged with Outcomes tablets installed in doctors offices.

According to the trial evidence, the scheme targeting Outcomes clients began in 2011 and lasted until 2017, and resulted in at least $45 million of overbilled advertising services.

Shah, Agarwal, and Purdy also defrauded Outcomes lenders and investors. The under-delivery to Outcomes advertising clients resulted in a material overstatement of Outcomes revenue for the years 2015 and 2016.

The companys outside auditor signed off on the 2015 and 2016 revenue numbers because Purdy caused others to fabricate data to conceal the under-deliveries from the auditor.

Shah, Agarwal, and Purdy then used the inflated revenue figures in Outcomes 2015 and 2016 audited financial statements to raise $110 million in debt financing in April 2016, $375 million in debt financing in December 2016, and $487.5 million in equity financing in early 2017.

The $110 million debt financing resulted in a $30.2 million dividend to Shah and a $7.5 million dividend to Agarwal, and the $487.5 million in equity financing resulted in a $225 million dividend that benefited Shah and Agarwal.

A federal jury convicted Shah, Agarwal, and Purdy in April 2023. Shah was convicted of five counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering.

Agarwal was convicted of five counts of mail fraud, eight counts of wire fraud, and two counts of bank fraud. Purdy was convicted of five counts of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud, and one count of false statements to a financial institution.

Three other former Outcome employees pleaded guilty prior to trial. Ashik Desai, the former chief growth officer, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Kathryn Choi, a former senior analyst, and Oliver Han, a former analyst, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Desai will be sentenced on Sept. 20. Choi and Han will be sentenced on Oct. 4 and Oct. 11, respectively.

Outcomes former executives deceived their clients, their auditor, their lenders, and their investors for years, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. Their sentences should serve as yet another reminder that faking it until you make it is not an acceptable practice for any business, whether that company is a technology start-up or a well-established corporation. Lying about your revenue to obtain customers or financing is fraud, plain and simple. The Criminal Division is committing to holding companies and their executives accountable for their misconduct.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Allahabad/IBNS: The Allahabad High Court has flagged the concern over religious congregations which it said is turning into a site for conversions and added that the country's majority population will turn into a minority if such gatherings continue to take place, media reports said.

The High Court said this while hearing a bail plea of Kailash, who is accused of ferrying people from Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur to Delhi.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal said Article 25 of the Constitution allows freedom to propagate religion but it does not mean, he underlined, conversions.

"The word 'Propagation' means to promote, but it does not mean to convert any person from his religion to another religion," the order said as quoted by NDTV.

The court said, "If this process is allowed to be carried out, the majority population of this country would be in minority one day, and such religious congregations should be immediately stopped where the conversion is taking place and changing the religion of citizens of India."

"It has come into notice of this Court in several cases that unlawful activity of conversion of people of SC/ST castes and other castes including economically poor persons into Christianity is being done at rampant pace throughout the State of Uttar Pradesh," it added.

As per the First Information Report (FIR), Kailash, as the report claims, took Ramkali Prajapati's brother Ramphal to Delhi.

Ramphal, who has been suffering from mental illness, never returned home. He was taken to the gathering for treatment.

The FIR had alleged many people were taken from Hamirpur and were converted to Christianity.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video

New Delhi/IBNS: Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi remained firm on his address to the Lok Sabha, a day after his speech created a furore in the lower house of Parliament.

In response to some parts of the speech being expunged, Gandhi told reporters on Tuesday, "Truth can be expunged in Modi-ji's world but not in reality."

"Whatever I had to say, I have said and that is the truth," he added.

Slamming the LoP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell head Amit Malviya posted on X, " Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi asserts    comment. No remorse. No apology."

Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi asserts    comment. No remorse. No apology. pic.twitter.com/bznfeLyO3A  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 2, 2024

Rahul Gandhi's 'Hindu' remark stirs row

Gandhi's "Hindu" remark on Monday led to a ruckus and even invited sharp criticism from Prime Minister Modi, who called his comment a "serious matter".

This isnt the first time, Third Time Fail Rahul has attacked the Hindus. But his unbridled hate for Hindus as Leader of Opposition and on the floor of the House is a matter of grave concern

Such a rabid and vile speech could trigger a wave of hate crimes against Hindus. pic.twitter.com/GTgXHCEK2V  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 1, 2024

The Congress MP said, "Lord Shiva speaks about non-violence but (pointing towards the treasury bench) people who call themselves as Hindus are doing violence, spreading hatred and speaking lies."

In a strong rebuttal, Modi stood up and said, "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is very serious."

In a return, Gandhi raised his voice further and said, "Narendra Modi is not the entire Hindu society. BJP is not the entire Hindu society. RSS is not the entire Hindu society. This is not BJP's contract."

Gandhi had a heated exchange with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor after the former showed Lord Shiva's portrait.

After the Congress MP showed the portrait of Lord Shiva, Speaker Om Birla objected to it saying, "No picture is allowed to be shown in the House."

When Gandhi displayed the portrait again, Shah stood up and said, "All rules of the House are being flouted. Despite being told not to, he keeps showing portraits."

The heated debate in the Lok Sabha has assumed significance as the ruling NDA is facing a competition from the opposition bench comprising INDIA allies after Modi's BJP failed to get the majority mark in the parliamentary elections.

While the BJP stopped at 240, it needed the mandatory support of the allies to form the government.
Photo Courtesy: BJP X page video grab

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the Lok Sabha during the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address when he targeted the Congress and said it could not even cross the 100-seat mark in the Lok Sabha polls for the third straight time.

Modi was remarking just a day after Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the ruling dispensation over "Hinduism" triggering a furore in the lower house of Parliament.

Taunting Gandhi, he described his address in the Lok Sabha as 'childish'.

"It's for the third time in a row that Congress couldn't cross the figure of 100 in elections! It's the third biggest failure in elections in the history of Congress," Modi said in the Parliament attacking the grand old party of the country which managed 99 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Taking a jibe at Congress, Modi said: "There was a 'kid', who was very happily celebrating his score of '99'...But one of his teachers wondered and asked, 'why are you distributing sweets, why are you celebrating?'The teacher wanted to tell that there was nothing to celebrate... The '99' points he secured weren't out of 100, but out of '543'!"

Also Read: Truth can be expunged in Modi's world but not in reality: Rahul Gandhi firm on his Lok Sabha speech

He said in the third term, the BJP-led NDA will work with three times more power and speed.

"Our third term means that we'll bring 3 times results," he said.

Modi vowed that his government will now work to ensure India becomes the third-largest economy in the world.

"We made India the world's 5th largest economy within just 10 years. And now, the pace with which we have been moving ahead will soon make our country shine as the world's 3rd largest economy," Modi said.

Modi, who returned to power for the record third straight term as the Prime Minister, attacked Gandhi over his address in Lok Sabha and described it as 'childish'.

"We saw childish tantrums in the Lok Sabha yesterday," he said sharpening his attack on the grand old part of the country.

"Rahul Gandhi is currently out on bail in corruption case, convicted for insulting OBC community, facing several defamation cases," he said.

Making a scathing remark against Congress, Modi said: "Congress spreading anarchy by its economic policies, divisive politics around castes and regions, questioning democratic process."

"Congress has become a parasitic party in these polls, its allies are behind its victory in most of the 99 seats it won," he said.

He said the Congress should not rejoice winning the 99 seats and said it should accept the mandate.

Rahul Gandhi's 'Hindu' remark stirs row

Gandhi's "Hindu" remark on Monday led to a ruckus and even invited sharp criticism from Prime Minister Modi, who called his comment a "serious matter".

The Congress MP said, "Lord Shiva speaks about non-violence but (pointing towards the treasury bench) people who call themselves as Hindus are doing violence, spreading hatred and speaking lies."

In a strong rebuttal, Modi stood up and said, "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is very serious."

In a return, Gandhi raised his voice further and said, "Narendra Modi is not the entire Hindu society. BJP is not the entire Hindu society. RSS is not the entire Hindu society. This is not BJP's contract."

Gandhi had a heated exchange with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor after the former showed Lord Shiva's portrait.

After the Congress MP showed the portrait of Lord Shiva, Speaker Om Birla objected to it saying, "No picture is allowed to be shown in the House."

The heated debate in the Lok Sabha has assumed significance as the ruling NDA is facing a competition from the opposition bench comprising INDIA allies after Modi's BJP failed to get the majority mark in the parliamentary elections.

While the BJP stopped at 240, it needed the mandatory support of the allies to form the government.
Photo courtesy: X/BJP4India

He invoked an iconic scene from Sholay to mock the Congress, saying that despite losing the Lok Sabha polls for a third time, the grand old party's refrain was- "mausi ji, it is a moral victory after all."

Modi, who was fighting a vociferous battle with the opposition as he delivered his speech on the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's joint address to Parliament last week, said: "The statements of Congress leaders have even surpassed film Sholay. You all would remember mausi ji from the film. Teesri baar toh haare hain par mausi ji, moral victory toh hai na (we have lost third time but Mausi ji, it is a moral victory).

"Arey Mausi 13 rajyon mein zero seat aayi hai par hero to hai na (Mausi, we got zero seats in 13 states but I am a hero)," he said, attacking Rahul Gandhi.

"Party ki lutiya toh duboyi hai, arey Mausi party abhi saansein toh le rahi hai (Have sunk the party but it is still breathing)," Modi said.

The Sholay dialogue spoofed is between Amitabh Bachchan (Jay) and aunt of Hema Malini (Basanti) for the marriage proposal of Dharmendra (Veeru) with Hema.

In his address, Modi urged the Congress not to suppress the mandate under the garb of "fake victory celebrations".

"Do not drown the mandate in the intoxication of fake victory. Honestly understand and accept the mandate of the people," he said.

"I don't know if the Congress allies have done an analysis of the polls. This election is also a message for these allies. The Congress will be known as the Parjeevi Congress party from 2024," Modi said.

Parjeevi is one who feeds on the body it resides in and the Congress eats up the votes of the party it allies with while prospering at the cost of its ally, the PM said.

"I am calling it parasitic on the basis of facts. Wherever the Congress and the BJP were in a direct contest or where the Congress was the major partner, its strike rate there is 26 percent. But where it was a junior partner, in such states, its strike rate was 50 percent," Modi said.

On most of the 99 seats it won, Congress' allies helped it win that is why it is a parjeevi, the prime minister said.

"In 16 states where it fought alone, its vote share went down. In Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh the Congress fought on its own and won two out of 66 seats. This means that the Congress in these polls had become parasitic and rode on the shoulder of its allies to increase its tally," Modi said.

Taunting Gandhi, he described his address in the Lok Sabha as 'childish'.

"It's for the third time in a row that Congress couldn't cross the figure of 100 in elections! It's the third biggest failure in elections in the history of Congress," Modi said in the Parliament attacking the grand old party of the country which managed 99 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Taking a jibe at Congress, Modi said: "There was a 'kid', who was very happily celebrating his score of '99'...But one of his teachers wondered and asked, 'why are you distributing sweets, why are you celebrating?'The teacher wanted to tell that there was nothing to celebrate... The '99' points he secured weren't out of 100, but out of '543'!"
Photo Courtesy: Mona Ghosh Linkedin page

Indian-origin physician Mona Ghosh has pleaded guilty to federal healthcare fraud charges for billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent services, said US Attorney's office on Tuesday.

Ghosh owned and operated Progressive Womens Healthcare, S.C., a medical office in Hoffman Estates, Ill., specializing in obstetrics and gynecology services.

From 2018 to 2022, Ghosh submitted and caused her employees to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid, TRICARE, and numerous other insurers for procedures and services that were not provided or were not medically necessary, some of which were performed without patient consent, read a statement issued by the US Attorney's office.

"Ghosh also fraudulently overstated the length and complexity of in-office and telemedicine visits and submitted claims using billing codes for which the visits did not qualify in order to seek higher reimbursement rates, her plea agreement states," the statement said.

Ghosh admitted in the plea agreement that she prepared false patient medical records to support the fraudulent reimbursement claims.

"Ghosh, 51, of Inverness, Ill., pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of health care fraud. Each count is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama set sentencing for Oct. 22, 2024," the statement said.

Also Read: Indian-American businessman Rishi Shah, Shradha Agarwal sentenced for USD 1 billion fraud

It is the governments position that Ghosh is accountable for at least $2.4 million in fraudulently obtained reimbursements.

Ghosh admitted in the plea agreement that she is accountable for more than $1.5 million of such fraudulently obtained reimbursements.

The final amount will be determined by the Court at sentencing.
Bollywood actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has called Congress MP Rahul Gandhi a "stand-up comedian" for his controversial remarks on Hindu religion during his first speech as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Monday. "I have said, Rahul Gandhi did a good standup comedian act because he made all our gods and goddesses, brand ambassador of Congress," she was quoted as saying by ANI.

#WATCH | On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's speech in Parliament, BJP MP & actor Kangana Ranaut says, "I have said, Rahul Gandhi did a good standup comedian act because he made all our gods and goddesses, brand ambassador of Congress. He said that the hand raised by Lord Shiva in pic.twitter.com/e67SRhNZjM  ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2024

Ranaut added, "He said that the hand raised by Lord Shiva in blessing is the 'hand' of Congress, these are his statements, this was his speech, so we were already laughing...He said those who raise their hands for Allah are also the hands of Congress."

Also Read: 'Unreal shamelessness': Kangana Ranaut criticised for promoting her movie Emergency outside parliament

Kangana wants Rahul Gandhi to apologise for insulting Hindu Gods

Apart from all the irresponsible statements that Rahul Gandhi ji made in his first speech as the leader of opposition, he also mentioned that he is not one Rahul infact there are two of him, one will now live for the constitution and the other one . The other one he has  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) July 1, 2024

Demanding Gandhi to apologise for his remarks, she added, "His main complaint was that when Raja Beta (Rahul Gandhi) comes, PM Modi doesn't greet him...so you can understand what sort of a standup comedy act it was. He (Rahul Gandhi) even brought the pictures of God and placed it on the desk, while we know it should always be kept inside the temple. He insulted Hindu gods...he even said that the Hindu religion and those who follow it are violent in nature...I think he should apologize for his statements."

Also Read: 5 Things Bollywood Actress Kangana Ranaut Promised To Do On Winning Lok Sabha Elections 2024

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

Gandhi accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading "violence, hatred and lies," which, he said, were against the basic tenets of Hinduism advocated by Lord Shiva.



Speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents Address, Gandhi said, "This is a country of non-violence, not that of fear. Our saints spoke of non-violence. Shiv ji ne kaha daro mat, darao mat ahimsa ki baat karte hain apne trishul ko zameen mai gaadh dete hai, aur jo log apne aap ko Hindu kehte hai, wo 24 ghante hinsa, hinsa, hinsanafrat, nafrat, nafratasatya, asayta, asatya. Aap Hindu ho hi nahi (Lord Shiva said one should not be fearful or scare others. He spoke of non-violence. And these people who call themselves Hindus spread violence, hatred and lies round the clock. You are not Hindus)".

Here is the full video.



The entire BJP IT cell including @MrSinha_ and RW trolls are sharing an incomplete and a misleading video.



Rahul Gandhi: Narendra Modi, BJP, and the RSS are not the whole Hindu Community. pic.twitter.com/wD1WoaEYnL  Aarti (@ItsAarti_) July 1, 2024

He added, "Hindu religion clearly states that one should stand with the truth, not retreat from the truth."

PM Modi's response

Also Read: Annu Kapoor refuses to recognise Kangana Ranaut, asks 'Ye Kangana Ji Kaun Hain, Sundar Hai Kya'

His statement caused a furore in the parliament with many including Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing up and saying, "This is a very grave issue. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is very serious."

In his defense, Gandhi said, "Modi, BJP and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) dont represent all Hindus. The BJP does not have a monopoly over Hindu religion."

It is said that PM Modi will reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on Tuesday afternoon..

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In a move that could affect thousands of Indian nationals hoping to pursue higher studies and settle in Australia, the country has hiked visa fees to more than double. Effective from July 1, visa fees have increased from A$710 (around Rs 40,000) to A$1,600 (around Rs 90,000) for international students wanting to study in Australia.

Can't apply for student visa from Australia

This is one of the many changes Australia has introduced for accepting international students into the country, in an effort to reduce the number of migrants. One of the major changes in Australia's new student visa policy is that those who are already in the country on certain visas, including Visitor and Temporary Graduate visas, will not be eligible to apply for student visas.

Also read: Some Australian Universities Are Imposing A 'Blanket Ban' On Indian Students

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End to visa-hopping

Only visa applications from offshore applicants who demonstrate a genuine intention to pursue studies in Australia will now be considered. According to Australian authorities, this is aimed at curbing 'visa-hopping,' where students and other temporary visa holders exploit loopholes in the rules to continuously extend their stay in Australia.

However, student visa applications submitted within Australia before July 1, 2024, will proceed without being affected by these new rules. Additionally, holders of Working Holiday Maker and Work and Holiday visas are exempt from these changes, and their current visa statuses will remain unchanged.

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Savings requirement for student hiked

Under the new regulations, holders of visitor visas are permitted to study for up to three months while their visa is valid. Individuals planning to pursue studies exceeding this period must apply for a student visa from outside Australia.

The Australian government has also made changes to the savings requirement for student visas, increasing the minimum savings needed from A$24,505 (Rs 13.5 lakhs) to A$29,710 (Rs 16.4 lakhs).

Also read: Canada Plans To Curb Housing Crisis With Cap On International Students

With the increase in student visa fees, studying in Australia is set to become costlier for international students compared to countries like the US and Canada.

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Stayback extended to 180 days

According to the new rules, the duration for which temporary skilled migrants can remain in Australia between employer sponsors has been extended from 60 days to 180 days. Employees will now have 180 days from the date they finish working with their current employer to find another approved sponsor to nominate them, be granted a different visa, or leave Australia.

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A woman has taken to social media to thank Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru for their help in finding her lost diamond ring. Aakanksha Singh, a Mumbai resident, lost her diamond ring at the airport on June 30, but thanks to the help of two CISF personnel, she was able to get it back.

"Today at Kempegowda International Airport, I lost my diamond ring. But with the help of Mr. Rajesh Singh & Mr. Vinay Kumar Rai from CISF, I was able to find my ring. All thanks to their coordination and helping nature. Your help is highly appreciated," she said in a post on X.

Also read: Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport Gets Pink Taxis Driven

Today at Kempegowda International Airport (@kempintairprtps) I lost my diamond ring.



But with the help of Mr. Rajesh Singh & Mr. Vinay Kumar Rai from @CISFHQrs , I was able to find my ring.

All thanks to their coordination and helping nature.



Your help is highly appreciated. pic.twitter.com/SVGtHp6gLt  Aakanksha Singh (@fair_enough_ugh) June 30, 2024

Passenger thanks CISF

She also posted photos showing the nameplates of the CISF personnel. Responding to her post, the CISF said: "Warm greetings from @CISFHQrs. CISF is always there to help & ensure your travel is safe, secure, and smooth. Thank you for your valuable feedback. It has been forwarded to CISF officers at the airport."

Lost and found at Bengaluru Airport

Items getting lost and misplaced is fairly common during flights, and like other airports, Kempegowda International also has a dedicated team that helps passengers reunite with their lost items.

Bengaluru Airport

According to Bengaluru Airport, any queries or claims submitted to the lost and found section will be attended to within a period of 3 business days.

How to reclaim items lost at airports

To reclaim any lost item that has been listed on the Bengaluru Airport's website, the passenger has to produce the following:

a) Copy of boarding pass

b) Details/Description of items being claimed

c) Valid Government photo ID proof of the titleholder/owner of the lost item/article

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Also read: Rs 2,000 For Less Than 40 Km Uber Ride From Bengaluru Airport, Passenger Takes Bus Instead

If the item lost belongs to a person residing outside India, they can claim it by authorizing someone else but will have to submit additional documents, including:

- Valid Government photo-ID of the owner of the item

- Valid Government photo-ID of the individual authorized to collect

- Copy of boarding pass

- Original letter of authorization from the owner of the item/article mentioning the below:

i) Details/Description of the item/article

ii) Proof of ownership of the lost item/article

iii) The reasons for the titleholder/owner not claiming the lost item/article in person.

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Travelling can be stressful enough without the added frustration of dealing with lost or broken luggage. Pieter Levels, a multimillionaire and developer, recently experienced this firsthand when his girlfriends suitcase went missing. In response, he decided to create a website that ranks airlines based on the frequency of luggage loss.

Levels shared this news on X, accompanied by photos, explaining that the websites ranking system adjusts for the varying sizes of airlines by considering factors such as the number of flights and fleet size. Its a real-time ranking of airlines based on their current luggage loss rates, he stated.

Unfortunately for travelers in India, Indian carriers have not performed well in these rankings. Air India is at the top of the list for losing the most luggage, followed by Aer Lingus, WestJet Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and SpiceJet.

The incident that inspired Levels to create the website occurred about a week ago when Vueling Airlines, a Spanish carrier, misplaced his girlfriends suitcase on a flight from Lisbon to Barcelona. The suitcase is currently at Austin airport, where Levels and his girlfriend are also located.

 I made a new site called



  https://t.co/Jm4ChY05B4



It's a live ranking of airlines by how much luggage they are losing right now



So you can avoid flying with them (and hopefully they can improve)



Airlines losing most luggage rn:

 Air India

 Aer Lingus

 British https://t.co/GHIgtIB1Iw pic.twitter.com/069r3BNR79  @levelsio (@levelsio) June 30, 2024

Despite repeated assurances over the past four days that the suitcase would be delivered to their hotel, it has not arrived. This is not the first time they have faced such an issue. In Barcelona, they encountered a similar situation where their suitcase was at the airport, visible but never delivered despite promises from the airline.

Levels voiced his frustration, unsure of the lesson to be learned from this experience, except perhaps to avoid flying with Vueling, which is owned by Qatar Airways through IAG.

Also Read: Travel vlogger explores two-storey mud house in Madhya Pradesh village

The rankings reveal that while Air India loses the most luggage, Japans All Nippon Airways has the lowest rate of lost baggage. LATAM Brazil and Alaska Airlines follow closely, ranking second and third for the fewest lost bags.

Representational Image

The website relies mainly on data from social media, as airlines rarely release their lost luggage statistics. Consequently, the rankings should be viewed with caution since their accuracy depends on the presence and reliability of online reports and complaints.



Also Read: US woman lauds India's 'cheap' healthcare in viral video; desis don't agree

The reactions to Levels post have been varied. One user on X said, this kind love language should deserve a name of its own lol. Another user asked, Maybe stupid question but do airports also play a role? I always thought it was the airports that arrange the bag stuff but idk. A third user shared, Air France lost my bags twice per one trip. Paris-Tokyo and Tokyo->Paris. Yet another suggested, Can you do this for airline experiences too? Like airline reviews.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
An elderly Chinese woman has been left shocked after learning that the hammer she had been using for around twenty years to crack open nuts and pound red chilies in her kitchen was, in reality, an unexploded hand grenade. The woman, identified only by her surname Qin, is now 90 years old and lives in Xiangyang, Hubei province of central China.

Found while working in farm

According to local media, the woman found what she thought was an unusual metal lump while working on her farm and took it home. Assuming it to be a hammer, Qin started using it to do various household tasks.

Also read: Bomb Squad Called To Remove Unexploded Firework From Man's Leg

SCREENGRAB

"Ive been using it at home to pound red pepper, crack nuts, and hammer in nails, Qin was heard saying in a viral video. But she had the shock of her life last week when someone identified it as an unexploded hand grenade.



How it was identified

A demolition worker who was demolishing her old home recognized the object and immediately alerted the local police. Soon a bomb disposal unit arrived at the scene, and the grenade was taken away and disposed of.

SCREENGRAB

Handle had become smooth

The video showed that the wooden handle of the grenade had become smooth and glossy from years of use, while the head showed significant pits from repeated hammering. The grenade has been identified as a domestic Type 67, which has a protective metal cap on its wooden handle.

What is even more shocking is that a section of the grenades fuse was exposed, but somehow it never exploded despite Qin using it to hammer everything all these years.

Also read: She Survived A Grenade Blast At 13, Wrote A PhD Thesis With One Remaining Finge

SCREENGRAB

Don't touch suspicious objects

Following the unusual incident, the local police have warned residents to report any suspicious objects and not use them.

"If you find any suspicious objects that look like hand grenades, you must report it to the police immediately. Do not touch it or use it as a hammer, or the consequences could be disastrous, the police said.



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It is not uncommon to see the names of random people carved on the walls of some of the most famous historic monuments. It is not disgusting to see, but such mindless acts of vandalism can also sometimes cause irreparable damage to structures that have stood the test of time.

Historic significance of Pompeii

In the historic Italian city of Pompeii, a tourist was recently detained after he carved his name on an ancient wall at the archaeological site. Pompeii is an ancient Roman city located in southern Italy. The once-thriving city was buried under volcanic ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The site of the lost city is now a major tourist attraction in Italy.

Also read: Woman Returns Artefacts She Stole From Pompeii, Says They 'Cursed' Her For 15 Years

Pompeii

What the tourist did

Last week, a tourist from Kazakhstan was detained by local authorities after Pompeii Archaeological Park staff caught him vandalizing a wall by carving his name on it. Photos that surfaced on social media showed the letters "ALI" carved on the wall of the House of the Ceii, an ancient dwelling excavated between 1913 and 1914.

Italian Culture Ministry

Pay for restoration

The unnamed tourist was soon taken into custody but was later released after the completion of legal formalities. While he has been freed and will not be criminally prosecuted, the tourist will have to pay the full cost of restoring the damage he caused.

Uncivilised and idiotic

Unfortunately, even today, we find ourselves commenting on an uncivilised and idiotic disgrace caused to our artistic and cultural heritage. This is a very serious act that will have to be prosecuted severely," Italys culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, said in a press statement.

Also read: Archaeologists Discover 2,000-Year-Old Ceremonial Chariot Near Pompeii

House of Ceii

Earlier this year, Italys parliament decided to crack down on the vandalism of its cultural heritage by raising the maximum fine for these offenses from $16,000 to $43,000.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The world's longest bicycle now measures an incredible 180 feet, 11 inches. Eight Dutch engineering enthusiasts collaborated to develop this astonishing machine, which broke the previous record set in 2020 by Australian Bernie Ryan, whose bicycle measured 155 feet 8 inches. This brand-new record-breaking bicycle is astonishingly completely rideable, albeit it may not be practical for regular use in cities.

Who built the record-breaking longest bicycle?

Ivan Schalk, 39, led the crew and had been preparing it since he was a child | Image: YouTube

According to Guinness World Records, Ivan Schalk, 39, led the crew and had been preparing it since he was a child. He said, "I've been thinking about the idea for years. I once received a Guinness World Records book in which I came across this record."



Also read: Viral video: Belgian man expands tongue to 17 centimeters to set Guinness World Record

When was the same record made first?

Ivan, who has previously built carnival floats, started this project in 2018 to fill his leisure time | Image: YouTube

According to the reference book, this record has been beaten several times during the last 60 years. It was set in 1965 by an 8-meter (26-foot-three-inch) bicycle constructed in Cologne, Germany.



Past record holders have come from a variety of countries, including New Zealand, Italy, Belgium, Australia, and two Dutch teams.

How long did it take to make the longest bicycle?

Ivan, who has previously built carnival floats, started this project in 2018 to fill his leisure time.

When he needed help building the massive bicycle, he went to the local carnival in his hometown of Prinsenbeek to find team members.

"Prinsenbeek is known for its volunteers and high technical employability," Ivan informed me.

Also read: Robot Shatters Guinness World Record, Solves Rubik's Cube 10 Times Faster Than Any Human

"You can sit in front of the television, but we don't do that here in Prinsenbeek.

"We have the technical knowledge and want to apply this knowledge to the maximum."

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Many people elect to undergo body alterations in order to appear more appealing. One would rarely consider undergoing surgery in order to resemble a reptile. Erik Sprague, an American freak show artist and sideshow performer, has undergone a series of extreme physical modifications in order to convert into a lizard. He now has a bifurcated split tongue, sharpened fangs, and is completely covered in green tattoos. These alterations have earned him the moniker "The Lizardman".

Who inspired the US man to go for this extreme transformation?

Erik Sprague was motivated to make these adjustments after becoming infatuated with Godzilla | Image: Instagram

Erik Sprague was motivated to make these adjustments after becoming infatuated with Godzilla, a fictitious creature that is both a marine and terrestrial reptile.



Erik Sprague recently appeared on the British chat show This Morning on June 28, when he discussed his body alteration operations in depth.

When did the transformation begin?

He opted to get his tongue bifurcated in 1997 | Image: Instagram

Erik Sprague told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary that he opted to get his tongue bifurcated in 1997.



He said, "I became a fan of the way reptiles cross all cultures and history. No matter where you go, there is either a tale of a lizard man or a reptilian.

At the time, he was most likely the first to insist on this change. He recalled the tongue bifurcation surgery, saying, I could taste and smell my own burning tongue as the laser went through it. The swelling was so severe that it took about a week for the swelling to go down to the point where I could speak or eat normally.



Erik Sprague had Teflon bumps implanted in his skull and above his eyes to give him the appearance of a reptile. These bumps were implanted to simulate lizard scales.

Also read: 'Real-life Devil' With Horn Implants Banned From Church Due To Body Modifications

The surgery to place these implants onto his skin was painful, but Erik Sprague was willing to make these sacrifices. He urged the hosts, "You must suffer for your art."

What problems did the man have to face after the transformation?

He developed a lisp after having his teeth sharpened, making it difficult for him to talk normally. He then learnt how to speak properly again with the assistance of a speech pathologist.



Erik Sprague claimed that when he goes out in public, he is frequently glanced at. He's used to folks doing a double take to have a closer look at him.

Also read: Russian 'Popeye' Faces More Surgery To Remove Implants After Injecting Arms With Petroleum Jelly

He said, Im not proud of it but I have caused a couple of traffic accidents over the years. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, as Im aware of.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Jeff Bezos, the mastermind behind Amazon and Blue Origin, believes in starting his day slowly and thoughtfully, despite his extremely busy schedule. Unlike many people's hectic, high-pressure mornings, Jeff Bezos prioritizes a peaceful and restorative start to the day. This innovative technique helps him to maintain high energy and keen thinking throughout the day, demonstrating that success does not always need rushing through every minute. In a viral video, Jeff Bezos reveals the secrets of his morning routine, from getting adequate sleep to spending quiet time with his family, and explains why he only starts work after 10 a.m.



The Early to Bed and Early to Rise Mantra

Jeff Bezos believes in going to bed and getting up early. He begins his day with "puttering," which includes drinking a cup of coffee, reading the newspaper, and eating breakfast with his children before they leave for school. This peaceful start to the day is important for Jeff Bezos, as it sets the tone for his day's activities.

Setting the First Meeting for 10 AM

reuters

Jeff Bezos arranges his first meeting for 10 a.m., assuring that all "high IQ" meetings are completed before lunchtime. He finishes his day by 5 p.m., even if it means postponing key discussions till the next day. This strategy allows him to retain high energy levels and make smarter decisions throughout the day.



Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's combined net worth

The Importance of Eight Hours of Sleep

In the video, Jeff Bezos discusses the value of getting a full eight hours of sleep. He highlights that getting enough rest allows him to think more clearly, increases his energy levels, and improves his attitude.

Watch the video here:

Jeff Bezos talks about the morning routine of a billionaire. pic.twitter.com/x8XzUbMKRa  Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) June 30, 2024

In the video, Jeff Bezos says: "I go to bed early, I wake up early, I like to putter in the morning. I like to read the newspaper, I like to have coffee, I like to have breakfast with my kids before they go to school. My puttering time is very important to me. That's why I set my first meeting for 10 am"

"Like anything that's really mentally challenging, that's a 10 am meeting. And because by 5 pm, like, I can't think about that today. Let's try this again at 10 tomorrow," he added. He also said that, ""I think better. I have more energy. My mood is better."

Who is Meet Shivon Zilis, mother of Elon Musk's 12th child?



Viral Video on Social Media

The video of Jeff Bezos talking about his daily routine has gone viral on social media. Historic Vids shared the video on X (previously Twitter), and it has already received over 4.7 million views and 18,000 likes. "

Jeff Bezos' Net Worth

As of July 2, 2024, Jeff Bezos has a net worth of $213.9 billion (Over Rs 17 lakh crore), according to Forbes, making him the second-richest person in the world.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Firefighters in Greece battled overnight to contain wildfires raging on the islands of Kos, Chios, and Crete, popular destinations for British tourists seeking summer sun.

The situation on Kos and Chios has reportedly improved since yesterday, with aerial firefighting efforts resuming at daybreak.

The

fire on Kos, while intense, appears to be somewhat under control this morning.

Overnight, the Kos fire, which broke out yesterday in the Portes Antimacheias area near Kardamaina, has subsided, according to local authorities. Firefighters worked tirelessly to encircle the remaining hotspots and create firebreaks.

Over 100 firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, are battling the blaze. The fire, which extends from the old quarry area to Kardamaina, opposite the Antimacheia castle, has reportedly damaged homes and surrounding areas, particularly in Kardamaina.

Residents and tourists were safely evacuated yesterday to public spaces, schools, stadiums, and hotels in Antimacheia, Mastichari, and Marmari. No residential areas have been threatened.

Emergency alerts were sent to those in Kardamaina, urging them to evacuate towards Antimacheia. Buses, provided by local authorities, transported evacuees to schools and a local stadium.

In Chios, firefighters continue to battle the blaze that erupted in Sidirounta. The situation appears better than during the night, with the fire's intensity diminishing, authorities say. While the fire is still active in a mountainous area, it has not threatened any homes.

Six people, including five firefighters and a retired firefighter, sustained minor injuries during the firefighting efforts in Chios.

Authorities have arrested a 63-year-old man in connection with the Chios fire and imposed a substantial fine.

The ongoing wildfires pose a significant challenge for Greece during its peak tourist season, raising concerns about the safety of visitors and the impact on the local economy.

   iefimerida.gr
Firefighters from Bulgaria, Malta, Moldova and Romania will join summer firefighters in Greece as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism's (EUCPM) pre-positioning programme. In its third year, this initiative

aims to enhance collaborative firefighting efforts across Europe

The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection announced that 240 European firefighters, equipped with forest fire vehicles, will be stationed from early July to mid-September at three key locations: Attica, Thessaloniki and Achaia prefecture.

The first contingent from Bulgaria has already arrived in Thessaloniki at the base of the 2nd Special Forestry Operations Unit. They will be followed on July 15 by teams from Malta stationed in Achaia, and those of Moldova stationed in Attica.

This years pre-positioning program involves 12 countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia (participating for the first time), Finland, Greece, Italy (also for the first time), Latvia, Malta, Moldova (for the first time), Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (for the first time). These countries will collectively deploy 556 firefighters to Greece, France, Spain and Portugal, with the dual goals of combating forest fires and exchanging expertise.

As part of the program, Greece already deployed a team of 25 members from the Special Forestry Operations Units that were posted in Southern France on June 15-30.

   iefimerida.gr
SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Stefanos Kasselakis expressed his determination to 'clean up' and 'modernize' the main opposition party, in an interview at ALPHA TV's newscast on Tuesday, ahead of the party organs' meetings.

He said that whoever disagrees with this should seek 'alternatives', while if anyone disagrees on political issues, these

may be discussed in the coming meetings.

Commenting on Avghi newspaper, whose daily publication wa suspended, he saud that the weekly paper, which is issued now as a weekly, "registers losses of a million euros annually" due to the drop in state subsidies, that is why he called on the public and on party deputies to donate.

Kasselakis ruled out new intraparty elections for a leader and underlined that the priority was to go ahead with party procedures, particularly the congress for a party charter, warning that the party organs will change, and "changes bring friction". Those who disagree must "find an alternative for themselves," because SYRIZA's priority is to acquire "a very clear government program, with officials who can clearly implement it" and to convince the public that it holds true to its promises as an independent party.

   iefimerida.gr
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev reviewed bilateral relations during their meeting at the Maximos Mansion on Tuesday.

The two leaders also discussed issues of European interest, following the latest European Council, a press release from the PM's

"Its always my pleasure to welcome my very good friend, the president of Bulgaria, to Athens and to the office of the prime minister. Welcome, Mr. President," Mitsotakis said in statements posted in English on the prime minister's web page. "Always a lot to discuss in our part of the world in the midst of important geopolitical challenges, but also an opportunity to, again, reconfirm the strategic partnership between our two countries, which I think has served both our people very well."

Radev, on his part, thanked Mitsotakis for the invitation, saying, "I do believe that our strategic partnership builds an axis of strategic cooperation. Everything we do between Greece and Bulgaria reflects the security and stability of our region. So thank you so much."

   iefimerida.gr
Two marble funerary vessels of the 4th century BC from Attica were returned to Athens after multi-year efforts by the Greek state and their confiscation by Swiss authorities, the Ministry of Culture said on Tuesday.

The marble vases were in the

shape of a lekythos and a loutrophos, vessels used to store oil and to carry water for the bridal bath, respectively, in antiquity. Their marble copies show up in ancient cemeteries of Attica in the late 5th century and throughout the 4th century BC.

Returning the artifacts was a long process that began in 2017 when the Greek office of Interpol notified authorities of an auction scheduled in London by a Swiss art dealer and provided their photographs. The two pieces had been originally confiscated by Italian and Swiss authorities in Basel in 2002 from the storage space of convicted Italian art dealer Gianfranco Becchina, then sold by Swiss authorities to collect fees owed, and ended up in London through their most recent owner, Swiss art dealer J-D.C.

Commenting on the process, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said Greece had filed six requests for help from Swiss authorities calling for the return of the antiquities and the summons of those involved to testify as to how the two pieces came to their possession.

The lekythos is 0.60 m high, and shows in relief the man who died sitting on a folding chair and using a footstool, with a warrior with a beard next to him and a woman behind the dead man, possibly his wife. The two men are named as Kallias of Demostratos and Demostratos of the deme of Lakiades.

The loutrophoros is 0.54 m high, and has plant decoration in relief, with leaves that cover 2/3 of its height. The handles were made separately and inserted.

Both antiquities will be exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos.

   iefimerida.gr
No fewer than 25 people have been killed at the Dangwaro Flyover, along the popular Kano-Zaria Road, leaving 53 others injured.

It was gathered that at 3:30 am, a speeding trailer with 90 people onboard reportedly lost control and crashed, resulting in significant casualties and injuries.

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The Kano Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, CC Ibrahim Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident, said that twelve people onboard the trailer, with the registration number KMC 311 ZB, were unhurt in the crash.

Abdullahi in a statement by his spokesperson, CRC Abdullahi Labaran attributed the fatal accident involving the trailer (IVECO) with registration number KMC 311 ZB to over speeding which resulted in a loss of control.

READ MORE: Two Kano College Students Killed In Boat Accident

The statement reads: At about 0330hrs on Monday, a fatal accident involving a trailer (IVECO) with registration number KMC 311 ZB occurred at Dangwaro Flyover along Kano  Zaria Road.

The crash involved ninety (90), with devastating consequences: twenty-five (25) fatalities, fifty-three (53) injured individuals, and twelve (12) people rescued unhurt.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the probable cause of the crash was due to over speeding and loss of control by the driver of the trailer.

The FRSC promptly mobilized rescue operations in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and other emergency response agencies.

During the rescue operation, items recovered included six motorcycles, ten mobile phones, animals (rams & goats), maize, and the sum of four thousand naira. All recovered items are currently in police custody.

All victims of the road traffic crash have been swiftly transported to Murtala Specialist Hospital Kano for urgent medical attention.

Speaking further, Abdullahi warned drivers and motorists against unsafe practice of transporting animals, goods, and humans, adding that such practices not only endanger lives but also contravene traffic regulations designed to ensure road safety.

He said: In response to this tragic incident, Sector Commander CC Ibrahim Abdullahi warns drivers and motorists against the unsafe practice of transporting animals, goods, and human beings concurrently. Such practices not only endanger lives but also contravene traffic regulations designed to ensure road safety.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday, debunked reports alleging that he has been lobbying the National Assembly (NASS) to elongate his tenure, and year of service of personnel in the force.

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, disclosed the IGPs denial in a statement saying, It is vital to clarify unequivocally that the bill (Nigeria Police Act 2020) was originally introduced during the 8th Assembly but did not progress beyond the initial stages before the Assemblys dissolution.

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It is standard legislative practice to review and update laws to align with current national realities.

The proposed amendment seeks to extend the years of service for police officers from 35 to 40 years, and the age limit from 60 to 65 years.

He furthered that: The Nigeria Police Force is deeply perturbed by the dissemination of false information across various media platforms, notably the distorted publication by online media, regarding the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Act 2020.

The misleading publications alleged that IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun personally initiated this bill to prolong his tenure as the 22nd indigenous Inspector General of Police, and has allegedly invested significantly in lobbying lawmakers to facilitate its passage.

READ ALSO: IGP Condemns Suicide Blasts In Borno, Deploys More Personnel To Strengthen Security

IGP Egbetokun decried a situation where certain media outlets and their sponsors have chosen to propagate baseless accusations, ignorantly disregarding the fact that any modification to existing legislation is designed to enhance its effectiveness and relevance.

To understand the true motivations behind this initiative, one needs only look at the Inspector General of Polices steadfast commitment to reforming the Nigeria Police Force.

His advocacy for this bill stems from a genuine belief in its potential to improve the conditions of service for police officers and thereby bolster security nationwide, rather than seeking personal gain. It comes from the place of duty rather than benefit.

Furthermore, it is important to note that the tenure of an Inspector General of Police is already prescribed as four years, with the President being the sole authority empowered to remove an IGP before the completion of his tenure

The Nigeria Police Force however called on the public to exercise caution and discernment when consuming information, particularly from sources known for sensationalism and unverified claims.

Such misinformation not only misleads but also detracts from constructive dialogue and efforts towards meaningful police reform, the Police said.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has condemned the suicide blasts that occurred in Gwoza, Borno State on Saturday, June 29.

In a statement released by the Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Monday, the IGP expressed sympathy to the government and people of Borno State, particularly the relatives and loved ones of those affected.

The IG has also deployed more personnel and resources to Borno State to strengthen security, prevent further attacks, and reassure citizens of the forces commitment to their safety and security.

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READ MORE: Police Arrest Verydarkman Over Defamation Charges, Sparks Controversy

The NPF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit in collaboration with the Nigerian Army EOD Unit, is actively engaging in clearance operations to ensure that no further threats infiltrate any part of Borno State or its neighbouring States, the statement added.

According to the statement, the IG restated the Nigeria Police Forces determination to continue working with the military, other security agencies, and stakeholders to combat all types of criminal and violent assaults in the country.

He also urged Nigerians to stay watchful and swiftly report any suspicious activity to the police.

In addition, the IG directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department to increase intelligence gathering around the country for more efficient anti-crime operations.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has rescued a driver and his assistant who were trapped beneath a mini truck loaded with pure water on Monday.

Mr Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, issued the statement, which was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA.

Giwa stated that the accident occurred near Adeniji in Sura while descending from the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

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He disclosed that the accident involved a pure water mini truck (SMK 796 YE) and two Mazda vehicles (AGL 576TG and AKD 531 YC).

READ MORE: I Cant Stop, Theyll Keep Arresting Me  VeryDarkMan Speaks After Release From Police Custody

Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of the mini truck lost control due to brake failure, colliding with the two Mazda cars.

In spite of the governments ongoing campaign to educate motorists about speed limits and the importance of vehicle maintenance, particularly the braking system, drivers continue to flout the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, he said.

Giwa advised all drivers, especially truck drivers and private automobile owners, to avoid speeding and to inspect their cars before driving both within and beyond the state.

The injured driver and his assistant were immediately taken to the hospital by the trucks owner.

LASTMA personnel promptly cleared all accident vehicles to ensure a free flow of traffic towards Lagos Island, he said.

The special adviser highlighted the necessity of driving safely and offered sympathy for those injured in the tragedy.

He encouraged all motorists, including truck drivers, to avoid speeding on any journey within or beyond Lagos.
There are times when you need to associate metadata, or data that describes data, with classes, methods, or other elements in your Java code. For example, your team might need to identify unfinished classes in a large application. For each unfinished class, the metadata would include the name of the developer responsible for finishing the class and the classs expected completion date.

Before Java 5, comments were Javas only flexible mechanism for associating metadata with application elements. But because the compiler ignores them, comments are not available at runtime. And even if they were available, you would have to parse the text to obtain crucial data items. Without standardizing how the data items were specified, they might be impossible to parse.

Java 5 changed everything by introducing annotations, a standard mechanism for associating metadata with various application elements. This tutorial introduces you to Java annotations.
Travelers shopping and dining at Philadelphia International Airport can expect to see a new fee of up to 3% on some of their purchases.

The fee was approved in March by the citys Department of Aviation and is intended to mitigate the increased cost of operating at the airport as the full rates of a recent wage and benefit ordinance went into effect in January. To date, about 87% of businesses at the airport have implemented the fee.

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Our operators expressed concerns that due to the changes to hourly wages, hourly benefits, sick time, federal holidays and vacation time, the cost of operating at the airport changed quickly, Kate Sullivan, the department of aviations chief commercial officer, said via email.

Some of the operators were concerned about whether they could keep their locations under a changed cost structure, she said.

Operating a business within an airport is more expensive, concessionaires have said, because of factors including rent and labor, the Wall Street Journal reported last year. Almost 80% of major airports have prices that are higher than they would typically be at the street level outside the airport, the Journal reported.

At PHL, operators are able to raise prices to a certain point. Businesses can charge up to 15% more than what prices would typically be outside of the airport. Chickies & Petes crabfries, for example, cost $8.79 at the airport compared to $7.99 at the bars South Philly location on Packer Avenue, according to menus listed on the companys website.

This new 3% fee is in addition to the increased pricing model that businesses within the airport can adopt.

We looked at a number of airports and modeled the fee off of how similar airports have addressed changes that impact the cost of operating at the airport, Sullivan said.

Why is the new fee being implemented?

In 2021, City Council voted to increase wages and benefits of several thousand airport workers, which was then signed into law by Mayor Jim Kenney. American Airlines, a major employer at the airport, had pushed back on the increased costs the bill would entail as airlines were still recovering from the pandemic. Some airport businesses were also frustrated with the increased costs, The Inquirer reported in 2021. Ultimately, implementation was delayed.

The full rates of the wage and benefit ordinance went into effect at the airport this January, according to Sullivan. Covered employees make $17.20 an hour and have a supplemental health benefit of $4.57 an hour.

The Department of Aviation and Marketplace PHL LLC, the airports food and retail partner, which handles operator leasing, development, and management, have been monitoring the ordinances impact. In response to operator concerns, businesses were allowed to increase their prices in January, charging up to 15% more than a similar business would charge outside of the airport, according to Sullivan. Businesses had been able to charge up to 10% more in prior years. That compares to 18% more in Los Angeles, 15% more in Kansas City, and 10% more in New York City, according to reporting from the Journal in 2023.

The Department of Aviation continued to hear concerns from operators and the Employee Wage and Benefits Fee is in response to those concerns, Sullivan said.

Who is charging the fee, and where does it go?

Airport operators can choose whether they want to adopt the fee, and some might not be able to because of franchise or other business agreements, according Marketplace PHLs website. To date, 128 of a total 153 open locations within the airport are charging the fee, according to Sullivan.

Businesses that charge the fee need to make it known to customers, including by posting signage about it and reflecting it on the receipt.

The airport does not take any portion of the fee; it goes entirely to the business operator. The fee is also not a tip that gets disbursed directly to employees.

The maximum fee a business can charge is set by Marketplace PHL in conjunction with the Department of Aviation, and every six months the fee will be reviewed to measure its impact.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (left), with John W. Piasecki (center), CEO of Piasecki Aircraft Corp., and David Balevic, CEO of Oregon-based Columbia Helicopters, at Piasecki's "Heliplex" in Sadsbury Township near Coatesville. The two company leaders detailed their plans to rebuild Vietnam-era military helicopters for modern military and civilian use. Read more

Around 200 of the workers Piasecki Aircraft Corp. plans to hire at its new Heliplex in the former Sikorsky factory near G.O. Carlson Airport will rebuild Vietnam-era CH-46 helicopters for military and civilian use by the U.S. and allied nations, chief executive John W. Piasecki said Tuesday.

The first helicopter is to be delivered this year, six more next year. Piasecki spoke at a luncheon to announce the venture at the plant in Sadsbury Township, near Coatesville, Chester County.

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The work will be done in partnership with Columbia Helicopters of Aurora, Ore., which plans a similar number of hires, said Columbia chief executive David Balevic, who joined Piasecki, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.), and other officials at the event.

Piasecki so far has hired 31 engineers and technicians in Coatesville since agreeing to buy the facility last year. The company expects to eventually employ at least 400, including those who will work on the upgrades. The CH-46, officially the Sea Knight, is well known to Marine Corps veterans as the Phrog.

Piasecki said the Russia-Ukraine war had prompted new demand from our allies for heavy-lift helicopters.

Aging Russian-built helicopters in the arsenals of former Soviet-allied states cant operate because of the lack of parts, due to Ukrainian War sanctions, Piasecki added. This has opened a window for Columbia and Piasecki to reestablish a program to update those helicopters.

He said Casey and other Pennsylvania representatives in Congress had pressed the military to support new helicopter research and help allies buy U.S.-made helicopters. Casey said military industries are important to U.S. national security and manufacturing employment.

The updated helicopters, Columbia Model 107-III, will include more powerful engines, glass cockpits, and improved autopilot, rotor and fuel systems.

Piasecki will remove old transmissions, rotors, and other components, ship them to Oregon for refurbishment, and install new wire and cockpit systems, along with the refurbished equipment, then paint and test the upgraded helicopters.

The move comes as Boeings heavy-lift helicopter division, which still makes and upgrades CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the larger, Army cousin of the CH-46, at plants in Ridley Park, Delaware County, and in Arizona, has been lobbying for more military orders to keep from closing its Chinook and Osprey production lines. (Osprey, with its tilt-rotor construction, is a successor to the CH-46.)

Boeings design unit, Piasecki, the Leonardo helicopter factory in Northeast Philadelphia, and other helicopter and parts makers have been lobbying for government contracts to develop unmanned, electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft as drone warfare has threatened to make familiar U.S. and foreign military equipment obsolete and sparked interest, and U.S. funding, for new designs.

The companies have a shared history. Piasecki Aircraft was founded by Philadelphia-born Frank Piasecki, a University of Pennsylvania and New York University grad who started building helicopters for the U.S. Navy during World War II, and is still controlled by family members.

His team designed dual-rotor aircraft. Boeing purchased the business in 1960 and built helicopters for use in the Vietnam War, first at the former Vertol plant in Morton, Delaware County, then at the current Ridley Park complex between the Delaware River and I-95. That plant now employs around 3,500 and continues to update Chinooks for the Army, Air Force, Special Forces, and allied militaries.

Columbia founder Wes Lematta bought surplus helicopters, built by Boeing in Delaware County, as the U.S. scaled down forces in Vietnam in the early 1970s. Columbia eventually licensed what it calls the Model 107 line of helicopters based on Boeings airframes. Scores of old CH-46s are stored at an Air Force base in Arizona and are available to upgrade, according to Columbia.

That company operated six Model 107-II helicopters for the U.S. in Afghanistan and has also sold and serviced the helicopters for use in the Philippines, South Korea, and Switzerland, Balevic said. But production of those helicopters had trailed in recent years, before the recent interest.

Piasecki and Balevic said their partnership would build a new Model 107-III helicopter. We will transform the heavy-lift helicopter industry worldwide, Balevic said, promising more fuel efficient, powerful, and robust aircraft for decades to come.

Piasecki said last year that it hoped to eventually employ 400 in all at the 219,000-square-foot Heliplex near Coatesville, while keeping its Essington headquarters and development center open as well.

The Columbia project will account for about half of the projected staff. Piasecki also presented models of alternate-fuel and training aircraft it has been working on and hopes to build at the Heliplex.

This story has been updated to make clear the difference between the CH-46 Phrog formerly used by Marines and the larger CH-47 Chinook used by the Army and other forces.
Cheyney Universitys accreditation has been reaffirmed, meaning the historically Black state school is no longer on probation.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Cheyneys accrediting body, announced the decision on its website Monday.

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In a statement, Cheyney said it appreciates the decision but remains concerned about Middle States accreditation process. It noted that two commission-appointed peer evaluator teams who visited the campus thought Cheyney was meeting standards before the commission chose to put it on probation, and a third reached the same conclusion after it was placed on probation.

While we agree with this decision, we remain disappointed by the process to arrive at this long-overdue outcome and will continue to advocate for equity and transparency, the university said.

The commission in November placed the university back on probation and said it was in jeopardy of losing accreditation for insufficient evidence that it was meeting several required standards. Those standards cover ethics and integrity; design and delivery of the student learning experience; and planning, resources and institutional improvement. It also fell short, the commission said, in requirements covering compliance with laws, regulations, and commission policies; financial planning; and budget processes and other areas, the commission said.

 READ MORE: Gov. Shapiro and state officials dispute decision to place Cheyney on probation

The November decision brought a backlash from state officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro and State Sen. Vincent Hughes, who argued that Cheyney, which straddles Delaware and Chester Counties, has made progress and did not deserve the designation. They maintained that the decision had hurt the schools reputation and enrollment efforts. Others who were critical of the move include the chancellor and board chair of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), of which Cheyney is a part; the chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus; and members of Cheyneys council of trustees.

The state system in a statement Monday evening said it was pleased with the decision.

We thank the students, faculty, and the entire Cheyney community for their steadfast support of the university, the system said. Cheyney is doing great work as it continues to grow and evolve to best serve its students.

Hughes called the decision vindication of what many of us have said about Cheyney University and how it is going in a positive direction.

He said he remains concerned about the impact the probation decision has had on enrollment, retention and donations to the school.

But at the same time, we feel very good about where we are at Cheyney University, he said. We have a long way to go but things are going in the right direction. [The Middle States decision] affirms that and should give confidence to folks who are prepared to make commitments.

A spokesperson for Gov. Shapiro called the decision to reaffirm accreditation the right one, noting the critical role the school plays in the states higher education system.

It has opened doors of opportunity for Pennsylvania students for more than 185 years, the spokesperson said. The governor has been closely involved in the work to restore Cheyneys academic status...

In February, those who spoke in support of Cheyney noted that it had implemented a new student information system, launched a strategy to improve its handling of federal financial aid, updated policies, and conducted training, while also coping with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The school also, Cheyney President Aaron A. Walton said earlier this year, finished with a balanced budget the last four years and increased enrollment to more than 700 students from a low of 469 a few years ago.

 READ MORE: After a seeming comeback, Cheyney University lands back on probation

The commission said Monday that the university had come into compliance with the standards, resulting in the decision to reaffirm accreditation. The university will be required to issue a report to the commission on March 1, demonstrating sustainability of implemented corrective measures. It also must show further evidence that it is complying with more than a half dozen areas, including government laws and regulations and commission policies and the federal Clery Act covering the reporting of crime on campus, the commission said.

Probation is the second level of action that the commission takes against universities when it has concerns about the schools ability to reach compliance. Warnings are the least serious action, while show cause  when schools must prove they should keep their accreditation or lose it  is the most serious.

Cheyney was on show cause in 2017 and battled back from the brink of losing accreditation. Without accreditation, the school would not have been eligible to receive federal and state financial aid, on which the vast majority of its students depend. In 2019, it had its accreditation reaffirmed.

Cheyneys next evaluation visit by Middle States is scheduled for 2030-31.
NEW YORK  Competitive eater Joey Jaws Chestnut will take his hot dog-downing talents to an army base in Texas for Americas Independence Day this year after a falling out with organizers of the event that made him famous, the annual 4th of July eating contest in Brooklyns Coney Island.

Chestnut, of Indiana, will compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. That's instead of the 10-minute Nathans Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, where he competed against the world's top competitive eaters since 2005 and hadnt lost since 2015. In 2021 he set the current record of 76 hot dogs, in 10 minutes.

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 READ MORE: Dog fight! Joey Chestnut out of July 4 hot dog eating contest due to deal with rival brand.

Organizers of that event initially said he couldn't attend due to a sponsorship conflict, which Chestnut said involved a deal with Impossible Foods, which makes plant-based hot dogs.

Chestnut said he was gutted he couldnt compete in the event in Coney Island, where he said he loved the atmosphere and the sometimes-sweltering crowds.

Those people have been sitting in the sun, waiting. They know what to expect. And theyre not shocked. Theyre cheering and yelling and pushing me, Chestnut said Thursday in a phone interview.

But Chestnut says he's not going to sit home and do nothing. And he's hopeful the soldiers will push him to perform. Fearful of being lazy in competition with amateurs, the perennial world champion will try to out-eat four soldiers, pitting his frank-swallowing total against theirs combined. If they work together, they might even beat him.

If they (each) break ten, thatd be pretty good, Chestnut said Thursday as he fasted on water, lemon juice and liquified calories as part of his pre-competition routine.

 READ MORE: From 2021: Joey Chestnut has eaten 19,200 hot dogs. A new study says he has lost 1.3 years of his life.

Around 15,000 people, mostly soldiers and their families, are expected to attend the annual Pop Goes the Fort celebration at Fort Bliss. It also is to include fireworks and performances by the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and the 1st Armored Division Band, according to Fort Bliss Morale Welfare and Recreation organization spokesperson Marlo Brestar.

Chestnut said he'll do a practice routine Friday, then ingest oils to make sure there's a clean highway, there won't be any traffic jams" in his digestive system before heading to Fort Bliss, the sprawling desert army base that's home to the 1st Armored Division. It will be his first visit to El Paso.

Maybe Ill get to get on a tank, he said.

Fans can watch Chestnut compete on Netflix against rival Takeru Kobayashi in September.

He's hopeful that he can get back to competing on July 4th next year, either with Netflix or at the Nathans Famous contest. To head back to his cherished Coney Island event though, he'd need to make up with the event organizers, Major League Eating.

I feel bullied, he said. If Im ever going to work with them again, theyre going to have to apologize," Chestnut said.

Major League Eating says it eventually conceded the sponsorship issue, according to a statement from spokesman George Shea.

Unfortunately, this was not enough to get us to an agreement, the statement said. We think this is a powerful tribute to our armed forces and we wish Joey the best of luck at his event.
Ala Stanford, a Montgomery County surgeon, joins Penn to teach undergraduates, conduct communications research, and direct the outreach of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation. Read more

Ala Stanford, whose work on health equity issues in Philadelphia during the COVID-19 pandemic received national accolades, has joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania.

The Montgomery County surgeon will teach as a professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, conduct research in the Annenberg School for Communication, and lead community outreach for the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, which is led by Nobel Prize winner Drew Weissman.

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Stanford founded the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium to help disseminate tests and vaccines during the pandemic. She was later appointed the Mid-Atlantic regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a position that she left in May 2023.

She continues to have a leadership role in the Dr. Ala Stanfords Center for Health Equity, a North Philadelphia clinic that grew out of her COVID-19 vaccine work. She wrote a memoir that also highlights her work during the pandemic: Take Care of Them Like My Own: Faith, Fortitude, and a Surgeons Fight for Health Justice, which will be published by Simon & Schuster next month.

Stanford said working at Penn gives her a chance to have the most impact.

We were able to do a lot with my bank account, GoFundMe, and later some state and local funds, she said. Imagine what we can do with the backing of an institution like Penn.

Chance encounters

A series of chance encounters brought her Penn. While working at HHS, Stanford was invited to speak to first-generation college students at Penn planning careers in medicine about the intersection of biology and health equity.

I was really inspired by the students. They were so inquisitive, she said. I loved that.

After hearing her talk, a Penn professor in attendance asked her if she ever considered teaching. That started conversations that ultimately led to her appointments in three Penn schools.

In another chance encounter, Stanford was seated by Weissman at a dinner before her TEDx Talk at Penn last summer.

Weissmans mRNA research powered the technology in the COVID-19 vaccines, but he lamented to Stanford that it doesnt matter what vaccines or medications his lab develops if people dont trust it enough to use them, she recalled.

It was a concern that she has experience addressing. At the height of the pandemic, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium was a reliable source of information, especially in the Black community.

Her conversation with Weissman led to a position in his lab, overseeing community outreach, and the research appointment at the school for communication.

At Penn, she is excited to share with a younger generation her ideas for how to run public health campaigns and health programs  and also maintain her board certification as an adult and pediatric surgeon.

Im having more significance in the world now than in the operating room taking care of one patient at a time, she said.
Milan Briana Jones, a 20-year-old nursing student at Temple University, was known as a funny, smart, well-liked woman with a bright professional future before her, but she was also a victim of intimate partner violence. Her boyfriend has been accused of her murder. Read more

Milan Briana Jones, a 20-year-old nursing student at Temple University, was known as a funny, smart, well-liked woman with a bright professional future before her.

What wasnt known to her circle of family and friends, until much too late, was the abuse and aggression that had crept into her romantic relationship, something which many college-age people face. One in three women and one in four men have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV), often reporting their first incident started before they were 18. LGBTQ+, trans, and nonbinary people experience IPV at the following rates: 61% of bisexual women; 54% of trans and nonbinary people; 44% of lesbian women; and 37% of bisexual men.

People need to know domestic violence is more common than they realize. Scott Sprunger

Around 4 a.m. Saturday morning on June 22, police, responding to a medical emergency, were called to an off-campus apartment on the 1400 block of Willington Street and found Jones unresponsive. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene and her boyfriend, Tymir Lackey, a 21-year-old Temple student, was arrested and charged with murder, recklessly endangering another person, and tampering with physical evidence.

Intimate partner violence: an epic problem

Philadelphia police, who called Jones homicide domestic in nature, respond to more than 100,000 911 domestic calls each year, making domestic violence the most common, dangerous, and misunderstood crimes they face. Intimate partner violence, a form of domestic violence, occurs within a romantic relationship and can be physical, emotional, digital, or psychological.

1 in 10 high school students has experienced physical violence from a dating partner in the past year. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 10 high school students has experienced physical violence from a dating partner in the past year.

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People need to know domestic violence is more common than they realize, said Scott Sprunger, community engagement specialist at Lutheran Settlement House. Sprunger coordinates the agencys teen dating violence prevention program for 14- to 18-year-olds.

Whats love got to do with it?

Hundreds of social media posts have followed Jones death, from students, former teachers, and friends, especially from her alma mater Little Flower Catholic High School. She was the sweetest girl ever, so thankful to have gotten to share the classroom and track field with her, recalled fellow Little Flower alumnae Gianna-Marie Vishio.

I had the pleasure to teach Milan in 7th & 8th grade at Presentation BVM School. She was such a beautiful young woman  inside & out, added Kimberly Packard Szypula.

In retrospect, there was at least one sign of Jones troubles. She stopped texting her friends, cutting off ties when she starting the relationship with Lackey last fall. Friends and family told a CBS Philadelphia reporter they suspected abuse  which Jones denied.

When youre dating you need to set the rules of engagement. What should a disagreement look like? Chad Lassiter

A survivor faces a lot of stigma and often times thats a factor in whether to disclose to a loved one or seek help, said Zachary Mackey, a community engagement supervisor at Lutheran Settlement House.

This was so tragic. I wish we could have prevented it, said Temple professor Melissa Dichter, who researches IPV prevention strategies in health-care settings.

Dichter explained late adolescence or early adulthood is a time when people are inexperienced with romantic relationships. This results in couples who may lack a clear understanding of what healthy relationships are, confuse volatile feelings for romantic passion, may not recognize a partners need for power and control, and may not have the skills to handle the negative emotions that can emerge while dating.

Its a vulnerable stage of life to be in, going from youth to adult. And it is isolating, Sprunger said.

Needed: healthy role models

Before the slaying, neighbors reported hearing an heated argument between Lackey and Jones. We believe that the individual assaulted her and caused her death. The cause of death is blunt force, so it was obvious she was struck by the individual while inside, said Deputy Commissioner of Investigations Frank Vanore with the Philadelphia Police Department.

 READ MORE: Temple student charged with murdering his girlfriend, who was also a student

Over 8,000 new petitions for temporary protection from abuse orders were sought in Philadelphia Family Court in 2022, the latest data available, of which 99% were granted. But in 61% of the cases the plaintiff did not show up to court and the petition was terminated.

We need to model relationships better for young people. When youre dating, you need to set the rules of engagement. What should a disagreement look like? added Chad Lassiter, executive director of Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and a social work professor at West Chester University and University of Pennsylvania.

Finding help

Mackey said anyone who needs help, or if supporters want to know how to assist, can call the 24-hour Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline (1-866-723-3014), which will provide crisis intervention, safety planning, resources, and referrals.

For those who harm their partners, resources are scarcer. Tony Lapp, executive director of Courdea, runs one of the few therapeutic programs that counsels clients who are trying to change.

Philadelphia is a big city with limited resources and people are doing really creative work, which makes me hopeful, but we have a long way to go, Lapp added.

 READ MORE: Where to find help if youre experiencing domestic violence in the Philly region

Lapp explained that for many couples, abusive behavior  harsh or mean language, yelling, criticism, lying, and forms of manipulation  has become the norm instead of an indicator of a problem that will eventually erode safety and trust.

Look, we know life can be hard and relationships can be challenging, said Lapp. We work with anyone over 18. We dont want those who have messed up to be turned into a single identity.

Taken too soon

Jones will be buried on Tuesday, July 2.

Her sister-in-law, Linsay Ramos, established a crowdfunding campaign to pay for funeral expenses and by Monday, July 1, had reached over $24,000 of their $25,000 goal from more than 430 donors.

I really dont know what to say, Ramos said. I guess I want to emphasize that the fact that if youre in any type of abusive relationship, you need to ask for help and if that person cant help you, ask someone else and just keep going until you get it.

Lackey, who was enrolled in Temples College of Liberal Arts, was placed on immediate suspension after he was arrested. He is currently being held without bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 8, according to the criminal court docket.

We have to stop the paralysis of silence, Lassiter said. One life was taken and one life has essentially ended.

If you are in the Philadelphia region and experiencing intimate partner violence or feel at risk of harming your partner, call the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-866-723-3014. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.
Happy birthday to the zoo.

The Philadelphia Zoo welcomed more than 100 families on Monday for an event to honor its 150th anniversary. A brass band greeted visitors and kicked off the festivities, which is how the zoo marked its grand opening a century and a half ago. Guests celebrated with cake, cookies, and a walk around the zoo.

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On this day, 150 years ago, the zoo became a reality, said Jo-Elle Mogerman, president and CEO of Philadelphia Zoo.

On July 1, 1874, Philadelphia Zoo opened its gates for the first time. More than 3,000 visitors came to Americas First Zoo by horse and carriage, by streetcar, by foot, and by steamboat to see nearly 600 animals. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had approved and signed the charter for the Zoological Society of Philadelphia 15 years earlier, but the Civil War delayed the grand opening.

 READ MORE: The Philadelphia Zoo turns 150 today. Heres what it was like when it opened.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker issued a proclamation, which declared Monday to be Philadelphia Zoo Day.

Mogerman also announced a major exhibit renovation and expansion that she said would change our campus and strengthen our commitment to our conservation mission and guest experience. She didnt provide additional information, but said more details were expected to come in the next few months.

City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier presented the zoo with a ceremonial check worth $2 million, which will go toward capital improvements.

Im excited to watch the Philadelphia Zoo continue to strengthen its commitment to its nearest neighbors and become a leader as an urban zoo of the future, Gauthier said.

Wawa Welcome America hosted its own anniversary celebration right outside the zoo in the afternoon that included free food samples, performances, face painting, arts and crafts, and games.
It used to take six to eight weeks to record deeds for sheriff sales in Philadelphia. Now, it can take seven months or longer. Sheriff Rochelle Bilal and her staff have not provided any explanation to frustrated bidders who are calling and visiting the office on Broad Street. Read more

Last November, Dave Brown bought a rowhouse in Oxford Circle at a sheriff sale as a first-time renovation project.

Brown, 54, who works for a local utility company, borrowed some of the $143,429 needed for the purchase. The deed was supposed to have been transferred within 60 to 90 days.

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It ended up taking seven months because of unexplained delays in the Sheriffs Office. He was still trying to get a copy of the deed last week; it had finally been recorded only recently. Meanwhile, hes paying interest on the loan.

A debacle, said Brown, describing his experience buying a home through an auction run by Sheriff Rochelle Bilals office.

Buyers such as Brown who sometimes drop hundreds of thousands of dollars on a foreclosed property at auction are left without a deed for many months, according to an Inquirer analysis of city records and interviews with bidders, real estate attorneys, and real estate agents. The buyers in limbo cant access the properties, make repairs, or rent them out.

The deed-recording process, which used to take around six to eight weeks to conclude after a Philadelphia sheriff sale, recently has taken about seven months  or more.

Im taking a hit on this, he said. I used a home equity line of credit, and Im paying for that.

Bid4Assets, an online auction firm that Bilals staff uses for sheriff sales, tells Philadelphia buyers that deeds can now take as long as 90 days to be recorded.

But The Inquirer analysis of more than 130 sheriff sale deeds recorded between October 2023 and March 2024 found that their auctions were held, on average, just over 200 days prior.

 READ MORE: Phillys sheriff hasnt held a tax sale in years. The city says its costing them millions.

Other buyers have reported similar experiences. They have tried calling and going to the Sheriffs Office on Broad Street, near City Hall, but have received little in the way of an explanation or resolution.

The new delays with mortgage foreclosures are on top of an ongoing freeze on most tax sales: Bilals office has failed for more than three years to auction off hundreds of tax-delinquent properties, costing the city tens of millions of dollars in uncollected tax revenue and contributing to blight around the city.

The sheriff is poised to resume those tax sales later this month, which would drastically increase its caseload.

A spokesperson for Mayor Cherelle L. Parker declined to comment on the problem last week, referring questions to the Sheriffs Office.

Bilal did not respond to requests for comment. Her spokesperson, Teresa Lundy, did not provide an explanation for the delays or acknowledge the existence of any widespread issue.

Those individuals who have not received deeds should contact our office and we can further explain why their deeds were not processed in a timely fashion, Lundy emailed.

Bid4Assets CEO Jesse Loomis did not respond to requests for comment.

Retaliation concerns

Buyers and their representatives contacted by The Inquirer were reluctant to speak out by name, saying they were concerned that the Sheriffs Office would make it even more difficult for them to purchase properties in the future  or obtain the deeds to ones they already paid for.

Its absolutely insane, said one real estate investor who bought a South Philadelphia property in December. That deed also has yet to be recorded.

In Delaware and Montgomery Counties, deeds are typically recorded a month or two after sheriff sales. In Philadelphia, deeds used to be processed on a similar timeline.

If it was two months, even three, that would be fine because thats what they told me. But its seven months now, said the investor, who described feeling like a financial hostage.

Ridiculous, said another investor who waited seven months for a deed to a property he bought with borrowed money. I do not know what went wrong with this office.

Its like a Seinfeld episode, said one real estate agent after a recent visit to the office in a fruitless attempt to obtain a deed from last year. If you ran a business like this, youd be out of business.

 READ MORE: Ammo, DJs, a $9,000 mascot: Inside the Philly sheriffs slush fund spending

The recorded deeds section of the Sheriffs Office website, which appears to not have been updated since January 2021, repeatedly warns readers that a face mask is required for coming to the office, but provides no useful information about deeds.

The Sheriffs Office will STRICTLY enforce Scheduled Appointments ONLY, the site states.

Software switch

The delays appear to be tied to the Sheriffs Office decision to replace records-management software that was put in place by the prior administration.

Sheriff John Green, who resigned in 2011 amid a federal corruption probe and later admitted to taking $675,000 in bribes, left the offices finances in shambles. His successor, Sheriff Jewell Williams, who was elected in 2011, brought in a software firm called Teleosoft to help clean up the mess.

According to a 2022 city controllers report, this system was known as CountySuite but later renamed the Judicial Enforcement Writ Execution Legal Ledger  JEWELL, in a wink to Williams first name  and was used to record financial activity related to individual sheriffs sale properties.

 READ MORE: Timeline: The history of Philadelphia's scandal-plagued Sheriff's Office.

Within a year the sale process became predictable, Cory Fregm, chief executive of Teleosoft, said last week. We could take a sheriff sale from inception to completion in a predictable period.

That software was not without its own issues, according to the controllers audit. It found that officials had taken to using the software as an unofficial accounting system, despite it lacking key functions, such as the ability to generate traditional financial ledger statements.

Last year, Bilal jettisoned that software suite. The system officially went offline in April 2023, Fregm said.

City records show the number of deeds received from the sheriff plummeted almost immediately, while processing times began to increase.

In some recent months, filings seemed to nearly grind to a halt. For all of February and March, the office submitted just 29 deeds for recording, nearly all of which corresponded to auctions that occurred between 200 to 300 days prior.

Joseph Vignola, a former city controller and undersheriff for Williams who helped implement the Teleosoft system, was surprised to hear that buyers were waiting that long for deeds to be recorded.

Wow, Vignola said. We were doing it in 20 days after settlement.

More sales coming

The problem seems to have worsened despite the fact that Bilal, who took office in 2020, is holding far fewer auctions than her predecessor.

Before the pandemic, the Sheriffs Office auctioned off thousands of properties annually; nearly 4,700 deeds linked to sheriff sales were recorded between May 2018 and May 2019, according to city records.

From May 2023 to May 2024, the city processed just 647 deeds submitted by the sheriff.

Most delinquent tax sales have remained on hold since April 2021 after Bilals staff attempted to direct a no-bid contract to Bid4Assets  without the involvement of city lawyers. That led to a protracted dispute with City Hall that froze those sales.

While the city has approved a revised contract between the office and Bid4Assets that will pave the way for these sales to resume later this month, it is unclear whether the Sheriffs Office will be able to handle the increased volume.

Last month, Tyler Technologies, the software firm hired by the Sheriffs Office to replace Teleosoft, announced that it had gone live after a nine-month implementation of its management system. The news release said the software included streamlined real estate data and financial capabilities.

By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we are committed to creating a smarter, more efficient, and more connected community, Bilal said in the release.

Bilals spokesperson did not respond to questions about whether the deeds might be recorded more quickly with the new system in place.

In the meantime, the sheriff continues to collect the fees associated with these sales, regardless of whether buyers have gotten a deed.

An April Inquirer investigation found the office was socking away millions in fees from auctions in bank accounts outside of the citys control, and spending it on expenses such as DJs, catering, ammunition and a $9,000 costume for an office mascot.

Brown, the buyer who waited seven months for a deed, said the Sheriffs Office should be upfront with bidders participating in auctions about when theyll become the official property owners if they win.

Whats right is right, Brown said. If you say it might take 150 days, thats going to deter some people, but at least they would know.

Staff writer Chris A. Williams contributed to this article.
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. The U.S. Supreme Court determined that Trump is partly shielded from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Read more

The United States has thrived for nearly 250 years under the core principle that no one is above the law. But a lopsided U.S. Supreme Court just gave Donald Trump and future presidents a license to cheat, steal, or worse.

In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the court ruled that presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts in office, but no immunity for unofficial acts.

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The long-term impact upends the legal landscape for what presidents can and cant do in office, effectively giving them cover from acts that previously could be considered crimes.

The immediate impact buys Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee in November, more time from criminal prosecution for trying to overturn the 2020 election. Trump already delayed the criminal proceedings by claiming absolute immunity from acts while he was president.

That legal theory seemed like a long shot designed to stall the trial, which was scheduled to begin on March 4. Two lower courts  guided by the long-standing belief that the United States was a government of laws, not of men  rejected the argument. Most legal scholars thought the Supreme Court would do the same.

 READ MORE: To serve his country, Donald Trump should leave the race | Editorial

But an emboldened conservative high court  which includes three Trump appointees and has been taking a sledgehammer to other precedents  decided to take up the case. In doing so, the court stretched out the scheduling of oral arguments and then waited until the last day of its term to announce its decision.

The ruling, in turn, could weaken the case against Trump and give the former president even more time by sending the matter back to Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will have to hold an evidentiary hearing to determine which charges in the special counsels indictment of Trump constitute official acts.

Trump could then appeal any future decisions, adding further delays. The legal battle will surely drag out well past the November presidential election. If Trump wins, he could then order the U.S. Justice Department to drop the case.

The ruling could even impede the state case against Trump for trying to overturn the results in Georgia. Trumps lawyers have argued the case should be dismissed on immunity grounds, as well.

The ruling adds to the stakes of the November election as to whether Trump will be held accountable for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection or for a separate criminal indictment for taking classified documents.

During his first term, Trump trampled on the norms of the presidency. Now, with the help of the conservative justices, Trump has essentially rewritten the laws for presidents.

Going forward, the decision in Trump v. United States opens the door for presidents to essentially abuse their power in office  provided they make sure it is an official act. During the oral arguments, the justices discussed some extreme examples of what presidents could do if granted immunity.

If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military to assassinate him, is that within his official acts to which he has immunity? Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked.

Trumps lawyer responded: That could well be an official act.

Justice Elena Kagan asked if a president would be immune from prosecution if they sold the countrys nuclear secrets to a foreign power. Trumps lawyer argued, Likely not immune, before adding a chilling qualifier. Now, if its structured as an official act, hed have to be impeached and convicted first.

Sotomayor wrote a strong dissent that made clear the ruling dramatically expanded the power of all presidents by granting immunity for official acts, such as assassinating a political rival or taking a bribe in exchange for a pardon.

 READ MORE: When it comes to the law, Donald Trump believes the rules dont apply | Editorial

Sotomayor said the court effectively creates a law-free zone around the president, adding that the immunity power now lies about like a loaded weapon for any president that wishes to place his own interests, his own political survival, or his own financial gain, above the interests of the nation.

The Founding Fathers went to great lengths to create a government with checks and balances to ensure presidents were not treated as kings or dictators. The Supreme Court has undermined that concept by carving out special protection for presidents.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the majority opinion, said immunity was required to safeguard the independence and effective functioning of the Executive Branch, and to enable the President to carry out his constitutional duties without undue caution. But until Trump came along, presidents were able to carry out their duties without protection from committing crimes.

Roberts added that a president may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled, at a minimum, to a presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.

Justice Clarence Thomas tried to push the envelope further in a concurring opinion that would essentially halt the federal prosecutions of Trump. Thomas opinion questioned if the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was even appropriate: If this unprecedented prosecution is to proceed, it must be conducted by someone duly authorized to do so by the American people.

None of the other eight justices joined Thomas in his concurring opinion, but that is an issue Judge Aileen Cannon is mulling in Trumps classified documents case.

It is outrageous that Thomas even participated in the case, given his wifes direct contract with the Trump White House in the efforts to overturn the election. Most justices with any sense of impartiality would have recused themselves.

The same goes for Justice Samuel Alito, who gave the appearance of siding with Trumps election fraud claims by flying flags at his homes in Virginia and New Jersey in support of the Stop the Steal movement. Alito blamed his wife for putting up the flags, which did little to quell the impartiality concerns.

The Supreme Court has gone off the rails providing cover to Trump, who continues to bend the Constitution to his will. If elected, an unbound Trump will be above the law.

Sotomayor concluded her dissent with a stark warning all voters should heed come November: With fear for our democracy, I dissent.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker speaks during a news conference last week. On Tuesday, one of the city's largest labor unions sued her administration over her return-to-office plan. Read more

A union that represents thousands of Philadelphia city employees sued Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration Tuesday over the mayors return-to-office policy, asking a judge to halt the mandate before it takes effect July 15.

The lawsuit was filed by District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 6,000 administrative and supervisory employees. The suit claims that the city violated its contract by requiring all employees to return to in-person work.

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The citys 180-degree turn will cause substantial harm for city workers, and will throw city services into chaos, the union wrote in its suit.

DC 47 also filed a companion unfair labor practices complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

The filings throw into question the future of one of the mayors signature decisions since taking office in January. She framed employees returning to the office as a critical way to advance her agenda of reviving Center City and improving city services. And it put her at odds with DC 47, one of the citys largest municipal labor unions, which is already working under an expired contract.

Parker announced the mandate in May, saying that all 26,000 city employees must return to in-office or on-site work five days a week. Former Mayor Jim Kenney had left hybrid work decisions up to department heads. Parkers mandate impacts about 20% of city employees who work remotely at least part of the time, her administration said.

Leaders of DC 47 immediately opposed Parkers mandate, saying that the mayor made the decision unilaterally and that it should have been subject to collective bargaining. They say working parents were not given enough time to work out child care plans for the summer, and that the city lacks adequate office space to bring all employees back.

The suit, filed in the Court of Common Pleas, also argues that employees were harmed by the city in part because some were hired during the pandemic with the understanding that they could work remotely. The union argues the five-days-in-office policy will also exacerbate a vacancy crisis that has left more than one in five municipal jobs empty.

City services will suffer as a result, the lawsuit reads. If the city is allowed to enforce its unilateral elimination of alternative work schedules, far more [jobs] will become vacant as employees are unable to accommodate the newfound in-office requirements.

A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for July 11.

David Wilson, president of AFSCME Local 2187 of District Council 47, which represents much of the citys professional and administrative staff, said that the decision to end hybrid work schedules unilaterally and abruptly caused significant harm to his unions members.

The mayors decision to bring folks back on the 15th is ridiculous, Wilson said. People need to be treated with more dignity and respect, especially employees of the city.

Parker administration spokesman Joe Grace said Tuesday that the citys lawyers were reviewing the lawsuit but Mayor Parkers position on this issue remains unchanged.

The mayor has defended her work-from-office policy, saying that it improves culture and collaboration, and that its a matter of equity, because much of the blue-collar workforce is unable to work remotely. She has also championed bringing workers back to office in part to bolster activity in Center City, and has asked the leaders of the citys largest employers to do the same.

Several other labor leaders have said they support Parkers policy, including Gabe Morgan, vice president of 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, which represents janitors, security guards, and other office building workers.

While we understand the concerns of the city workers who are hesitant about returning, we believe this policy is essential for the well-being of our entire city, Morgan said in a statement.

Parker has insisted that she does not need the municipal unions permission to bring workers back to the office, and she said in May of the opposition to her plan: I know were not always going to agree.

But Ive been elected by the people to do the best I can with making the best decision possible to help move our city forward, she said, and thats what Im trying to do.

In its lawsuit, DC 47 argued that the policy requires the city to bargain with the union. It wrote that for years union officials had negotiated alternative work schedules with the city.

 READ MORE: City workers feel like pawns for Center City revival as Parker pushes for in-office requirement

Return-to-office policies have become a post-pandemic flashpoint across the American workforce, and there isnt a consensus among employers and unions as to whether they must be negotiated. Jurisdictions have handled the mandates differently based in part on language in public-sector unions contracts.

Workers have increasingly taken legal action over return-to-office policies, arguing that the mandates are unjust, discriminate against people with disabilities, or violate labor contracts.

During a contentious hearing before a City Council committee last month, Chief Administrative Officer Camille Duchaussee said the policy qualifies as a work location change that does not require negotiation with the union.

We understand that there are folks who made decisions to accept positions with the understanding that there was a hybrid or work-from-home opportunity, she said. That work location decision has changed.

Several members of Council expressed frustration with the plan and pledged their support to union members pushing back against it.

Im really disturbed that we hired people under the guise they could work from home, said Councilmember Kendra Brooks, of the Working Families Party. Its problematic and disingenuous.
SCRANTON  Within hours of President Joe Bidens bad debate performance, Pennsylvania Democrats were rushing to defend him.

Gov. Josh Shapiro did a round of TV news interviews. Sen. John Fetterman posted on social media about his own experience with a bad debate and tried to tamp down Democratic panic.

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But U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, arguably Bidens closest ally in the state, and who is now facing the most competitive reelection fight of his career, stayed silent, something his GOP challenger Dave McCormick seized on.

On Monday, at a campaign stop at a brewery in Scranton, Casey reluctantly responded to questions about the presidents performance and said he thinks Biden should remain the nominee.

I think people know whats at stake in this race. Its true at a national level, Casey said. Its true in my race  he had a bad night, theres just no question about it but I think those choices are what people are going to be focused on.

Asked about internal party discussions over whether to urge Biden to decline the nomination, Casey told reporters at the event, Im not aware that there are those conversations going on. He kept his answers about Biden short and was openly relieved when a question came up specific to his race.

In the wake of Bidens rough debate performance, vulnerable Democratic incumbents are navigating how to win their races without aligning too closely with an unpopular president whose policies they are largely running on.

But Casey is different from other swing state incumbents in that he and the president have been friends and allies for decades, further complicating the dynamics of their 2024 campaigns, which share some staffers.

This race has been framed as democracy on the line, so I think friendships and allegiances and longtime relationships come second to defending democracy, Philadelphia political consultant Mustafa Rashed said. Senator Caseys got his own race to run and politics is a calculating business.

Both sons of Scranton, Biden and Casey grew up on the same street in the same Green Ridge neighborhood, and their families share friends. When Caseys mother, Ellen, died last year, Biden had a private viewing to say goodbye. In his State of the Union address in February, Bidens most-watched appearance until the debate last week, the president shouted out only one senator by name and it was Bobby Casey.

McCormick, a former hedge fund executive, has tried to capitalize on Bidens poor debate performance, like other down-ballot Republicans. He already has a digital ad out featuring clips of Casey defending Bidens fitness for office and accusing Casey of lying in his defense of the president. McCormick has also suggested that Bidens cabinet should consider forcing him out of office using the 25th Amendment, which addresses a presidents inability to perform the duties of the office.

Asked on Monday whether he still believes Biden has the ability to run a tough campaign and serve another four years, Casey said yes and yes. Pressed to elaborate he said, Ive been at this a while and I know his work.

What the polls say

Casey has run ahead of Biden in most polling but his race remains close. If Bidens support in Pennsylvania drops, that means more ticket splitters Casey would need to convince to back him.

An Emerson College poll in June found Casey up 6 points against McCormick, outside the polls margin of error. Casey outperformed Biden in that survey by 2 points.

Still, McCormicks team sees room to define Casey and argues that some of the split-ticket support is soft, given that about a quarter of Pennsylvanias likely voters said in a recent survey that they dont know enough to have an opinion of Casey, the states longest-serving Democratic senator in history and the son of a former Pennsylvania governor.

I dont really know a lot about Bob Casey, but I havent heard anything bad about Bob Casey, said Charles Kestener, 41, a registered independent from Allentown who was polled in an Inquirer/New York Times/Siena College survey in May, and who plans to vote for Casey but not Biden.

Looking forward

The extent of the down-ballot damage from Bidens bad debate performance will remain unclear at least until a new round of major polls comes out. After an all-out panic from Democrats on Friday, a strong appearance Biden gave in Raleigh seemed to tamp down some concerns.

Still, many Democrats fear that if Biden remains the candidate and turnout is low, that could hinder other Democrats chances in narrowly divided states.

At Voodoo Brewing in Scranton on Monday, Casey, who is typically mild-mannered, was uncharacteristically animated in describing his campaign fight ahead. In the last few months, the ad wars started in earnest with the Senate Leadership Fund committing $24 million to help McCormick get elected in addition to spending from a billionaire-backed super PAC. Casey lambasted the super PAC and then mentioned the three debates he and McCormick have agreed to ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Theyre continuing to attack me  those billionaires. Im gonna beat em. Im gonna beat em all, Casey said, his voice rising to a yell.

Its gonna be a rough, tough debate and at the end of this race, Im gonna win this race  and the presidents gonna win his race.
We have decided to close our Sydney office following a review of its underwriting activities, said Nick Moore (pictured above), Argentas Group CEO. The business will be transferred to our London platform and our clients will continue to receive high levels of service from our team.
Weve embedded diversity and inclusion throughout our firm, so inclusion is in everything we do; its the way we work and its the way we interact with each other, said Deb Gibson, client director and chair of the Inclusive Business Resource Group.
The GB executive said women in the insurance space also face other familiar issues like balancing a career and family. The challenges include maintaining a career trajectory whilst starting or building on your family, said Odgers. There are also inaccurate assumptions that are often the case in terms of having the space to fill the requirements of senior level roles.
The global brokerage WTW has a new leader for Australia and New Zealand. A media release this morning has announced that from July 15, James Baum (pictured above) will be the firms local head and also head of Corporate Risk and Broking (CRB) ANZ.
We created the Elite Women Producer Group because there were so few women in this role within Lockton 10 years ago, and we were looking for our own connection and support group inside of it, Howard said. We have since taken that group and evolved it into an important role in recruiting, mentorship, onboarding and making sure there's a trajectory for success, not only on the production side, but also within senior leadership, operating committees, practice leader roles and unit managers.
In the order seen by Insurance Business, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner said: By transacting insurance in this state without a Certificate of Authority, the Respondent violated RCW 48.05.030(1) and RCW 48.15.020(1), justifying the issuance of a cease and desist order under RCW 48.02.080(3)(a) and RCW 48.15.023(5)(a).
Im looking forward to working with Ryo as my front-line partner as we continue to challenge the market with new solutions for insureds. Weve had a great first year in Japan, and the hire of Ryo marks our dedication to delivering insurance solutions as strategic deal advisors, he said.
The delisting is anticipated to take effect 10 days after filing, with the last trading day on the NYSE expected to be around July 19. Subsequently, PartnerRe plans to file a Form 15 with the SEC on or about July 22, 2024, to suspend its reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Christoph is an outstanding insurance professional with exceptional leadership skills and a proven track record of success across two decades, Brand said. His deep market knowledge and insights, both locally and internationally, make him perfectly placed to further continue the growth of Sompos business in Switzerland and I look forward to working closely with him.
Domestic workers in Rhode Island will now be paid the states minimum wage under a bill signed into law by Democratic Gov. Daniel McKee.

Traditionally, domestic workers havent been given that protection as the Rhode Island minimum wage has increased because under state law, they werent considered employees.

The new law, the result of Senate Bill 2021, eliminates that exception, specifically removing a provision that classifies any individual employed in domestic service or in or about a private home as not an employee for the purposes of Rhode Islands minimum wage laws.

The new law goes into effect immediately. It applies only to wages and does not mean that domestic workers will now be considered employees that are eligible for workers compensation benefits if injured, an official with the state Department of Labor & Training.

Before the new law, domestic workers in Rhode Island had only been guaranteed the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

The minimum wage in Rhode Island is currently $14 per hour. It is set to increase to $15 per hour on Jan. 1

Theres no reason some workers shouldnt have minimum wage protections just because they work in households, said Senator Dawn Euer, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill extends a very basic protection to some of our most essential workers while removing one of the most puzzling statutes in Rhode Island law.

Rep. Leonela Felix, said domestic workers nationwide are disproportionately women, people of color and immigrants.

Domestic workers are employees just like workers in any other industry in Rhode Island, she said. Now is the time to end this discriminatory exemption.

A 2022 report by the Economic Policy Institute, found that in the United States the vast majority of domestic workers  more than 90 percent  are women; just over half are Black, Hispanic, or Asian American and Pacific Islander women; and they tend to be older than other workers.

Other states have taken similar steps.

In Massachusetts, domestic workers have the same rights as other workers to minimum wage, overtime, and other wage and hour protections.

There are also special rules for domestic workers relating to recordkeeping, rest time, charges for food and lodging, the information they must have about their jobs and rights, and conditions for live-in domestic workers.

In New York, domestic workers have the right to overtime pay at time-and-a-half after 40 hours of work in a week, or 44 hours for workers who live in their employers home. Workers also have the right to a day of rest every seven days, or overtime pay if they agree to work on that day.

And in Hawaii, domestic workers are guaranteed at least the state minimum wage and overtime pay after 40 hours of work in week. Workers are also protected from discrimination on the job.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent
The White House is seeking roughly $4 billion in additional emergency funding from Congress for costs related to the collapse and repair of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore and to respond to other disasters that have occurred around the U.S. in recent months.

That money is part of a new emergency request from President Joe Bidens administration that essentially re-ups a broader, $56 billion ask from last October that Congress virtually ignored. Now, the Democratic administration is asking for that same pot of money again, but with billions added to deal with the bridge reconstruction and related costs.

More specifically, the Biden administration wants an additional $3.1 billion for the Department of Transportation, which would go toward rebuilding Key Bridge with the federal government picking up the entire tab. Nearly $80 million would go to the Coast Guard to compensate for its unplanned costs responding to the March bridge collapse, and another $33 million would be designated for the Army Corps of Engineers for expenses related to wreckage removal after the bridge was struck by a cargo ship.

The request from the Biden administration is detailed in a letter from Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., being sent on Friday. Young says that making this money available would ensure that the federal government fulfills its responsibility to rebuild Baltimore without endangering Americas ability to respond to other recent or future disasters across the nation.

Maryland Hopes to Rebuild Baltimore Bridge for $1.9 Billion With Insurance, Federal, Other Funds

Yellen Sees Insurance Payouts Helping Fund New Baltimore Bridge

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The additional $4 billion also covers costs for other disasters over the past year, including a spate of tornadoes in the Midwest and the wildfires in Hawaii.

The cargo ship experienced electrical blackouts about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore and yet again shortly before it slammed into the Key Bridge, killing six construction workers, federal investigators said last month.

Photo: A US Coast Guard helicopter flies over the Dali container vessel after it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, US, on March 26.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Insurance brokerage Relation Insurance Services reports it has acquired the assets of York Insurance Services, Inc. in Forest Hill, Maryland.

The transaction went into effect on May 31, 2024. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

York owner Butch Tilley will continue managing the office.

Relation continues to actively seek partnerships to expand its geographic footprint. Relation is ranked by Insurance Journal within the top 25 largest agencies in the country by revenue. It has approximately 1,350 employees across more than 137 locations nationwide. Relation is a privately held corporation backed by Aquiline Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in New York and London.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Maryland
Delaware is poised to adopt changes to its widely used corporate law that critics argue could weaken U.S. boards of directors in favor of influential investors such as private-equity firms.

State lawmakers last week approved a bill that gives a corporation the authority to enter into contracts with one or more shareholders that give the investors power over key board decisions.

The approval followed an unusually contentious debate that included warnings from state judges and academics, who said legislators were rushing ahead without understanding the potential impact.

This is a radical change in Delaware law, Usha Rodrigues, a law professor from the University of Georgia, one of more than a dozen opponents who spoke at a senate hearing on June 11.

Governor John Carney has said he will sign Senate Bill 313, which addresses three recent rulings by the Delaware Court of Chancery. It will become law Aug. 1.

The court plays a key role in interpreting the states corporate law. Most U.S. public companies are chartered in the state and related fees provide around one-third of Delawares general budget revenue.

The bill comes at a difficult moment for the court, which has been criticized repeatedly by Tesla CEO Elon Musk for voiding his compensation and by political conservatives for allegedly emphasizing social issues above investment returns.

The bill enshrines a common practice known as stockholder agreements that a court ruling called into question.

In February, Travis Laster, a Court of Chancery judge, invalidated a stockholder agreement that gave Ken Moelis veto power over nearly every significant decision by the board of Moelis & Co., an investment bank he founded.

The directors only manage the company to the extent (Ken)Moelis gives them permission to do so, Laster wrote in his 133-page opinion.

Laster said the agreement violated a bedrock principle of Delaware law that directors manage the business using their best judgment for the benefit of all investors.

The ruling can be appealed and the bill excludes pending cases.

Lasters ruling cast doubt on thousands of stockholder agreements struck by venture capital and private-equity investors and touched off a scramble in Delaware to amend the law.

Investors have invested millions of dollars in corporations and they dont know if the rights they have are valid, Srinivas Raju, a Delaware corporate lawyer who helped draft the bill, told lawmakers.

The agreements are common among private companies and around 20% of corporations that have gone public in recent years have done so subject to a stockholder agreement, Gabriel Rauterberg, a law professor at the University of Michigan, told Reuters.

Critics argue the agreements can be adopted without public shareholder approval or consent.

Supporters said shareholders in public companies are on notice because such agreements are disclosed in securities filings and annual reports.

In addition, similar arrangements can be achieved by including them in a certificate of incorporation or through preferred stock.

The courts chief judge, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, who wrote two of the rulings that prompted the bill, and Laster have both spoken against the rush to pass the legislation, in an unusual break with tradition.

In response, William Chandler, a former chancellor on the court and now with the Wilson Sonsini law firm, urged Delaware House members to ignore academics and judges and follow the state bar, which drafted the bill.

At the moment the corporate market is not feeling too good about Delaware because of the uncertainty and unpredictability of a few decisions by just two judges, Chandler told lawmakers on June 20. Judges dont need to intrude upon the process of making law.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware;Editing by Noeleen Walder and Rod Nickel)

Topics USA
Executive Summary: For a multinational insurance company like Zurich Insurance Group, which can find itself delivering large, complex policies in multiple languages to a single international customer, theres a logical use case for Gen AIs large language models in providing consistency across markets. But thats just one of the ways in which the global insurer has deployed $1.8 billion in technology investments to improve customer experience and efficiency. Zurich says its using more than 160 AI-powered solutions to help transform the entire insurance value chain.

During a tech roundtable held by Zurich in March, executives described a suite of APIs, Zurich eXchange 2.0, allowing the company to seamlessly scale Gen AI solutionssuch as coverage checks, policy comparisons and claims insightsto boost internal efficiencies and to offer services and embedded insurance products externally.

Early adopters of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tools are working hard to employ the technology, which can help insurers innovate, enhance customer experience and boost internal business efficiencies. At the same time, they are carefully containing the potential risks of this new technology.

Tech executives at Zurich Insurance Group described their digital transformation journey, which embraces AI and Gen AI tools while putting in place all the necessary safeguardsto protect their customers and themselves.

Ericson Chan, group chief information and digital officer for Zurich Group, said the companys business digitization enabled some of Zurichs record profit in 2023 of $7.4 billion with a very good combined ratio of 94.5.

During tech media roundtable held in March, Chan said that Zurich is leading in AI usage in the insurance industry, is definitely an early adopter and is already realizing benefits.

Over the last three years, Zurich has invested $1.8 billion in technology, mostly focused on digitalizing the business and improving efficiency and customer experience, according to Zurich in its 2023 annual report.

As a result of Zurichs digital investments, Chan said, almost 90 percent of its retail distribution is digitized, providing straight-through quotations, for example. Zurich said it is using more than 160 AI-powered solutions to help transform the entire insurance value chain.

Chan detailed Zurichs efforts to employ the benefits of AIvia its Zurich eXchange 2.0 platformand how the insurer is leveraging these advanced tech tools internally.

Zurich eXchange 2.0 includes new developments and features that aim to transform the customer and developer experience by enabling embedded insurance, said Zurich in a statement to media attending the roundtable. (Embedded insurance is an insurance add-on, offered by corporations, such as airlines, car manufacturers or travel platforms, as a part of a digital sale.)

Through a new suite of APIs (application programming interfaces), Zurich eXchange 2.0 will be able to seamlessly scale Gen AI solutionssuch as coverage checks, policy comparisons and claims insightsand reuse them globally, Zurich added.

Zurich handles around 70 million API transactions per month, said Frank Verkerk, group chief platform officer, at the meeting. This rapid growth translates into approximately 1 billion API transactions a year, he added.

The fundamental business model of insurance continues to be the same, but we  digitize our business, our processes, our products, our services, how we communicate with our customers.  Ericson Chan, Zurich Insurance Group

With these latest developments, Zurich is making it easier than ever for partners to work with us, said Chan in the media statement.

Tech is a key enabler to transform the customer experience, and this is what were doing by supercharging AI through our open partnership platform, he added.

The fundamental business model of insurance continues to be the same, but we  digitize our business, our processes, our products, our services, how we communicate with our customers. The insurance is the same, but its now more efficient, Chan explained.

Under Zurichs digital program, the company is going to the customers via embedded insurance, offered in its API digital superstore, Chan said. For example, when you buy a plane ticket, we are already part of your purchasing journey [if you want to buy travel insurance]. All you need to do is one-click, and we have you covered, he continued.

With Zurich eXchange 2.0, Zurich offers a digital superstore, where the API is a product that corporate developers can quickly find, test and use in order to begin offering a Zurich insurance product, Verkerk said.

APIs are often neglected, yet they have huge potential to transform how insurance is delivered. We are now able to leverage its full power, which will bring scale and agility to insurance, explained Verkerk in the media statement.

During the tech meeting, he said Zurich has created a marketplace that is actually gateway agnostic. This means its not important which underlying technology is used in the marketplace. Everything comes together. It makes it way easier to scale across the globe for us for our internal use. APIs are often neglected, yet they have huge potential to transform how insurance is delivered. We are now able to leverage its full power, which will bring scale to insurance.  Frank Verkerk, Zurich Insurance Group

He explained that this makes it easier to scale Zurichs partners. If we have enabled something for a partner in one region, it also is accessible for partners in other parts of the world, Verkerk said, noting that this saves time for Zurich and for its partners, which can often go to market in weeks rather than months.

To help internal and external users better navigate eXchange 2.0, which contains a large number of APIs (approximately 1,700), Zurich has enabled multiple stores. The API stores are housed in Zurich Edge, the companys business proposition for more than 200 partnerships, which provides different integration models from which partners can choose.

The idea is basically we can open this up with any partner to integrate with us, said Chan. The open platform will have all the component code to make it easier for developers from Zurichs partners to link with us.

Verkerk explained the APIs provide essential connectivity to the outside worldthey are enablers to connect Zurich with its partners. APIs are often neglected, yet they have huge potential to transform how insurance is delivered. We are now able to leverage its full power, which will bring scale to insurance, he said in the statement.

Verkerk asserted that there could be no artificial intelligence without API because API, if you think about it, thats the intelligence. It needs data in, and it needs data output, he continued.

Without the data input and output provided by APIs, AI would be a brain in isolation, with no way to communicate with the outside world.

Essential to Zurich eXchange 2.0 is Gen AI, the Zurich executives agreed. Indeed, Chan said a Gen AI prototype was up and running in May 2023, which has helped the company leapfrog its digital capabilities.

Gen AI is helping to fast-track embedded insurance via eXchange by going where its customers are. Chan describes this as the future of insurance distribution, or Insurance 2.0.

A Zurich representative explained that eXchange leverages Gen AI by using it to generate API documentation, which allows us to better connect with our partners and quickly understand the integrations.

Practical Internal Uses for Gen AI

The tech team then went on to detail Zurichs AI-powered solutions, including an employee bot called ZuriChat, which uses Gen AI and has been rolled out to over 50,000 employees to support with day-to-day tasks.

In addition, the company offers a high-end Gen AI solution for the analysis of policy wordings under multinational programs to support the issuance of local policies and provides greater visibility to customers on their coverage in each country, said Zurich in a statement.

Finally, an AI-based system that analyzes complex claims such as medical liability or accident and health to support claims handlers and underwriters, through which Zurich was able to improve its operating profits in the first market rollout by more than 9 million, the company continued. Through the exposure of such solutions on Zurich eXchange 2.0, these solutions can now be leveraged globally, through Zurichs partnership network.

Managing Complex Policies

Another major benefit of Gen AI is its ability to understand and manage languagesfor companies like Zurich, which operates across many markets, according to Christian Westermann, group head of AI, at the tech event.

Policy wordings can be quite complex and quite long, with 100 or 200 pages, issued in different countriessometimes by Zurich, sometimes by third-party insurance companies, said Westermann.

For Zurichs international customers, it often has to cover four or more languages. You have different types of policies and sometimes different formats, Westermann said, explaining that Gen AI, with its use of large language models, helps provide policy consistency across all markets. You can extract information from loss adjuster reports in any language, at any detail. This functionality is something [risk engineers] can access from everywhere in the world because it comes together within the Zurich eXchange.  Christian Westermann, Zurich Insurance Group

The team said that Gen AI is helping Zurich improve its underwriting, risk engineering and its loss adjustment capabilities. For example, loss adjustment reports are written around the world in all formats and languages. Zurich uses Gen AI to access those reports and extract all the knowledge, so that going forward, risk engineers can give advice to customers in how they can prevent future losses.

You can even ask [the Gen AI tool] what was the chain of the eventhow did this loss really occur? he said. You can extract information from loss adjuster reports in any language, at any detail. This functionality is something [risk engineers] can access from everywhere in the world because it comes together within the Zurich eXchange, Westermann added.

Safe Transformation

During the tech roundtable, Chan said the key to Zurichs AI approach is doing digital transformation the right wayboth technically and safelyby making sure all projects take a proactively compliant approach.

AI brings tremendous opportunities to improve the ways we work, meanwhile we are cognizant of the risks it brings. A comprehensive framework is necessary so we can leverage AI with confidence. Even with that, it will not be bulletproof yet. Therefore, we always practice a human-in-the-loop principle when leveraging Gen AI, said Chan.

Even before the use of Gen AI, Chan told journalists, Zurich had developed an AI risk framework, which is compliant with the latest EU AI regulations, so it already knew how to manage the risk.

For example, the employee chatbot, ZuriChat, is only used privately, so the data is not shared externally with any other company; employees can use it in a safe zone that is technically safe and compliant, said Chan.

In addition, Chan explained that Zurich is only using this tool to assist employees and all AI-generated information has to be validated before being shared with customers.

He described Zurichs management team as having TQ, or technology quotient. Our management TQ is quite mature, so we understand the potential of this technology. We know how to use the technology [to benefit the business], while minimizing potential risks.

This article first was published online on May 13, 2024 in Insurance Journals sister publication and in CMs Q2 2024 printed edition.

Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence
DETROIT (AP)  A Michigan appeals court revived a lawsuit against Detroit-area paramedics after a woman who had been declared dead gasped for air with her eyes open when a body bag was unzipped at a funeral home.

A judge was wrong to dismiss the lawsuit in favor of Southfield paramedics before the parties could conduct interviews and gather other evidence, a process known as discovery, the court said in a 3-0 opinion Thursday.

Timesha Beauchamp, who had cerebral palsy, was struggling to breathe when her family called 911 in August 2020.

The medical crew tried to resuscitate her but ultimately called a doctor, who declared the 20-year-old dead without going to the home. Beauchamp was never taken to a hospital.

Later that day, a funeral home unzipped the body bag and found Beauchamp had her eyes open. She was rushed to a hospital but died two months later.

Beauchamps family accused the medical crew of gross negligence. Oakland County Judge Nanci Grant dismissed the lawsuit, saying the Southfield employees had governmental immunity.

An attorney for the medical crew, Kali Henderson, acknowledged that it sounds really bad to say theres no liability for the paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

Where do we have the facts that anything they could have done would have changed her condition? Henderson told the appeals court on June 12.

But Judge Brock Swartzle said lawyers for Beauchamps estate havent yet taken depositions and gathered more information.

Discovery might show that they are not responsible for her passing two months later, he said of Beauchamps death. Just focusing on her being in a body bag for a certain amount of time  that would frighten, shock, humiliate anyone, wouldnt it?

Certainly, your honor, Henderson replied, and I dont disagree with that.

The lawsuit now will return to Oakland County court.

Immediately after Beauchamp was found alive, the Southfield fire chief said it might be a case of Lazarus syndrome, a reference to people who come back to life without assistance after attempts to resuscitate have failed.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Michigan
A federal class-action lawsuit alleges the Omaha Housing Authority continuously violated the legal rights of low-income tenants over the last seven years.

Current and former tenants suing OHA claim the public housing provider illegally overcharged them for rent, denied them the right to contest rent hikes and sought to boot them when they could not pay.

In some cases, the federally funded agency tried to evict extremely poor tenants instead of offering rent exemptions entitled to them by federal law, the 54-page complaint alleges.

The contents of the lawsuit filed Thursday mirror the findings of a Flatwater Free Press investigation published in December.

OHA CEO Joanie Poore declined to comment on the lawsuit citing pending litigation.

The agency should pay back tenants it harmed and reform its policies to ensure residents know their rights in the future, said Diane Uchimiya, director of Creighton Universitys Abrahams Legal Clinic, which filed the lawsuit along with local firm Car & Reinbrecht and the San Francisco-based National Housing Law Project.

People have suffered with these violations of law  and they have basically paid rent and paid late fees or been subject to eviction cases and they shouldnt have been, Uchimiya told the Flatwater Free Press on Thursday.

OHAs predatory and unlawful actions threatened some of the citys most vulnerable renters with homelessness, National Housing Law Project lawyer Kate Walz said in a press release.

The seed for the lawsuit came from former Creighton clinic director Kate Mahern, a veteran attorney who previously sued OHA in federal court four times.

While voluntarily representing OHA tenants in eviction court last year, Mahern noticed that a letter informing her client of a $400 rent increase made no mention of the tenants right to challenge the decision as required by federal law.

That client, Rhonda Moses, is now one of the four named plaintiffs in the case brought Thursday.

After Mahern pointed out the missing grievance clause, OHA dismissed the eviction case against Moses and added the clause to its template for rent-change letters, Flatwater previously reported.

Moses moved out anyway, fearing it was only a matter of time before the agency would try to oust her again. The certified nursing assistant believes OHA now owes her thousands of dollars  money she needs to keep a roof over her head.

My rent should have stayed the same for the whole six years (I lived there) because they never let me dispute it, Moses said on Thursday. I just feel I got robbed.

The lawsuit alleges OHA failed to adequately inform tenants of their grievance rights from as far back as October 2016 through September 2023.

Two other plaintiffs, Shernena Bush and Samantha Hansen, represent a separate class that alleges OHA failed to inform them of exemptions to paying rent.

The housing authority charges a minimum rent of $50 a month to tenants with no or very low incomes, but federal law and OHAs own policies say the agency must grant a hardship exemption to families unable to pay the minimum rent.

Last year, OHA filed to evict Bush and Hansen for nonpayment of rent two times each, but the cases were settled or dismissed and both still live in public housing.

The lawsuit alleges that OHA employees never told the two minimum-rent tenants of their ability to apply for a hardship exemption even after they repeatedly asked how they could pay $50 a month without any income.

Bush sold her plasma to stay up with her rent bill but had to stop after her bloods iron level fell below acceptable levels, the lawsuit says.

Six current and former minimum-rent tenants told Flatwater last year that OHA never offered them an opportunity to apply for a hardship exemption before they received eviction notices.

In Illinois, minimum-rent tenants won a settlement last year that required the Chicago Housing Authority to give qualifying tenants rent credits and to erase unpaid minimum rent charges going back years.

Its unclear how many current and former OHA tenants could qualify to be part of the class-action lawsuit but they may number in the thousands, the complaint says.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to require OHA to properly inform tenants of their rights to grievance hearings and hardship exemptions. Theyre also asking that OHA pay back tenants like Moses, Bush and Hansen who were allegedly overcharged.

The plaintiffs attorneys hope to settle the case with OHA, but theyre prepared to go to trial, Uchimiya said.

___

This story was originally published by Flatwater Free Press and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Claims
The US Justice Department will charge Boeing Co. with criminal fraud, leaving the planemaker to choose between pleading guilty or taking the risk of going to trial, according to people familiar with the matter.

Boeing has until the end of the week to decide whether to plead guilty to the charge, the department told the families of victims of two fatal 737 Max crashes and their attorneys in a meeting Sunday, according to the people who asked not to be named discussing a confidential matter.

The department will inform Boeing it will have to pay an additional criminal fine of $243.6 million on top of the $243.6 million already paid with a 2021 deferred-prosecution agreement, bringing the total amount of fine close to $500 million, according to two of the people. The company will also have to hire a corporate monitor for three years, they said.

Officials from the Justice Departments fraud section and the US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas attended the Sunday meeting, according to an email seen by Bloomberg.

Paul Cassell, an attorney representing the crash victims families, called the offer the department plans to make to Boeing a sweetheart plea deal.

The deal will not acknowledge, in any way, that Boeings crime killed 346 people, he said in an email. The families will strenuously object to this plea deal.

The fine the department will seek falls far short of a nearly $25 billion fine the families requested  with the possibility of suspending $14 billion to $22 billion of that if Boeing devotes those funds to an independent corporate monitor and improvements to its safety programs.

The Justice Department declined to comment. Boeing declined to comment.

Bloomberg previously reported that the planemaker is in talks with the department to resolve potential charges stemming from the crashes, and that a settlement is expected to include the appointment of a corporate monitor.

A guilty plea to criminal charges would mark a low-point in Boeings century-long history and a stunning development for a company that was once renowned for its cautious, straight-laced culture. It raises concerns over US government contracts for the company at a time when Boeing needs its defense division to counteract plunging revenue at its commercial airplane business.

The meeting comes after the Justice Department determined the planemaker violated the 2021 deferred-prosecution agreement struck between Boeing and the government in the waning days of the Trump Administration. The deal allowed Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution as long as it met certain conditions.

But in May, the department concluded the company had failed to meet a requirement to implement an effective compliance program to prevent and detect violations of US fraud laws. Boeing told the DOJ that it disagreed with the finding.

The breach announcement came after a fuselage panel blew off a Boeing jet operated by Alaska Airlines Inc. mid-flight in January. US safety investigators determined the plane was missing four bolts meant to secure the so-called door plug in place  a revelation that helped to unearth a series of manufacturing and quality lapses at the company and prompted multiple investigations by lawmakers and government agencies, including the Justice Department.

Boeing has been in turmoil since the mid-air blowout. The companys shares are down by about a third this year and it has warned that its on pace to burn through about $8 billion in cash during the first half of 2024 as it deals with a production slowdown in the aftermath of the near-catastrophe. In response to the January accident, the Federal Aviation Administration capped production of the 737 Max and required Boeing to submit a sweeping plan to address the quality issues at its factories.

At the same time, the planemaker is in the midst of a leadership shakeup as it searches for a new chief executive officer to take over for Dave Calhoun, who plans to step down from the role later this year.

As part of the 2021 deferred-prosecution agreement, Boeing paid a criminal fine and admitted to deceiving the FAA about an obscure flight control system linked to the crashes. The company also pledged to improve its internal safety controls and submit regular reports to the Justice Department. In return, the government would withdraw a criminal charge against the company after three years.

But the door plug blowout, which occurred just days before the deal was set to expire, prompted the department to consider throwing out the agreement.

Photo: Dave Calhoun, chief executive officer of Boeing Co. Photographer: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Aviation Aerospace
The Supreme Courts move to curb federal agency powers could curtail efforts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to establish new rules to police Wall Street and invite more litigation, legal experts said in the wake of Fridays landmark ruling.

The court overturned a 1984 precedent that had given deference to government agencies in interpreting laws they administer. The decision raises the specter of fresh grounds on which to challenge the markets watchdog in court as it rolls out new policies or seeks to regulate new corners of the markets.

The SEC is already fending off an increasing legal assault from public companies, major Wall Street firms and well-heeled cryptocurrency players.

The SCOTUS decision, made 6-3, is likely to tie the SECs hands as it rolls out new rules, according to half a dozen legal experts.

The SEC did not respond to a request for comment. SEC Chair Gary Gensler told Reuters this month that the agency pivots as required by courts interpretation of the law.

The ruling is a game-changer, said Richard Hong, a former SEC trial lawyer and partner with the Morrison Cohen law firm.

The SEC will likely have more reason to pause before acting when seeking to police new financial instruments, said Cary Coglianese, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in regulation.

It will make it more difficult for agencies to adapt their understandings of statutes in the face of new circumstances, Coglianese said.

The precedent, known as the Chevron deference after a ruling involving the U.S. oil company, had been cited by the SEC and other agencies in prior court cases to justify new regulatory efforts, as they deemed the activities within their purview. But now it would fall solely to a court to determine if the agency is acting within the law, which experts said could have a chilling effect.

Related: Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Rule in Blow to Regulators

Proponents of the approach argue that the Chevron deference allows federal regulatory bodies to adapt to changing times and circumstances. But the Chevron doctrine has come under growing criticism from conservatives, arguing it allows rule-writers to overstep their legal authorities.

While the SEC and other regulators have other tools on which to lean, Chevron has been a bedrock of agency rulemaking.

Between 2003 and 2013, Chevron was applied 66.7% of the time when litigating SEC rules in circuit courts and in those cases the agency won just over 81%, according to 2017 research published in the Michigan Law Review.

Going forward, agency action will be under even greater scrutiny and there will likely be more opportunities for the regulated community to challenge agency rules and adjudications, said Varu Chilakamarri, a partner at K&L Gates.

Fridays ruling is the latest effort of the conservative war on the administrative state, which aims to weaken federal agencies across the board. Genslers ambitious agenda has made the agency, which oversees around 40,000 entities, a top target.

The SEC stayed this years landmark climate disclosure rule due to legal challenges. A federal appeals court this month struck down its overhaul of private fund oversight on the grounds the agency exceeded its authorities.

The challenge to the SECs climate rule was already poised to be a difficult fight for the agency, said Leah Malone, leader of Simpson Thachers ESG and sustainability practice. Fridays shift raises even further questions about the survival of the climate rule, as well as other pending rule proposals that have been in the spotlight, Malone said.

Fridays ruling is the second blow to the SECs authority in as many days from the Supreme Court. On Thursday, the justices ruled the agencys reliance on in-house courts to handle enforcement cases was unconstitutional.

If yesterdays decision was causing tremors, causing some dishes to tumble out from the cupboards, todays case is a Richter-7 earthquake, said Hong.

Topics Legislation
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  The head of the national mine workers union on Friday condemned what he characterized as an effort by House Republicans to block enforcement of a long-awaited federal rule directed at curbing workers exposure to poisonous, deadly rock dust, calling it a direct attack on the health and safety of coal miners.

United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts said a budget provision  approved by a U.S. House subcommittee Thursday  prohibiting the Department of Labor from using funding to enforce a silica dust rule operators must be in compliance with next year is morally reprehensible and that the action undermines the principles of fairness and justice that our country stands for.

It is difficult for me to understand how certain members of Congress could possibly be supportive of more miners dying a suffocating death as a result of being forced to breathe this dust, Roberts said in a statement.

Silicosis, commonly referred to as black lung, is an occupational pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust present in minerals like sandstone. Finalized in April by Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, rule cuts by half the permissible exposure limit for crystalline silica for an eight-hour shift.

The regulation is in line with exposure levels imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on construction and other non-mining industries. And its the standard the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was recommending as far back as 1974. The U.S. Department of Labor began studying silica and its impact on workers health in the 1930s, but the focus on stopping exposure in the workplace largely bypassed coal miners.

Su said in April that it is unconscionable that Americas miners have been forced to work without the protections for so long: Were making it clear that no job should be a death sentence.

The black lung problem has only grown in recent years as miners dig through more layers of rock to get to less accessible coal, generating deadly silica dust in the process. Silica dust is 20 times more toxic than coal dust and causes severe forms of black lung disease even after a few years of exposure.

Related: New Rule Could Mean Better Protections, Fewer Claims

The increased drilling has meant that severe forms of the disease are being identified even among younger Appalachian miners, some in their 30s and 40s. An estimated one in five tenured miners in Central Appalachia has black lung disease; one in 20 has the most disabling form of black lung.

On Thursday, the House subcommittee did not debate the bill containing the silica dust rule enforcement block before advancing it. A spokesperson for Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee Chair U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, a Republican representing Alabama, did not return an email request for comment Friday. National Mining Association spokesperson Conor Bernstein said in an email Friday that officials at the organization, which represents operators, havent been involved in this legislation and, therefore, are not in a position to comment.

Mine safety advocates are scrambling to meet with lawmakers before the bill is scheduled to go before the full House Appropriations Committee on July 10. It would have to be greenlit by that committee before going to the full chamber.

Quenton King, federal legislative specialist for Appalachian Voices, a nonprofit that advocated for the silica dust rule, said the protection is essential to protecting not only coal miners in central Appalachia but metal and nonmetal miners across the country. He said that if allowed to be enforced, it will help save thousands of lives.

To willfully prevent MSHA from doing that would literally be killing miners, he said.

West Virginia Attorney Sam Petsonk, who has represented coal miners who were diagnosed with black lung after companies violated safety violations, said he sees workers every day who have fewer than 10 years of mining experience diagnosed with end stage, fatal silicosis.

This is a policy decision by the entire Republican party leadership to throw Americas miners to the dogs, he said. Its insulting and really unfair to our communities for them to do this to us. And its certainly inconsistent with the idea that the Republicans are trying to help coal miners and coal mining communities.

Photo: United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts in 2016. (Kelly Tunney/Herald-Standard via AP, File)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A South Carolina man with a long criminal history has pleaded guilty to multiple insurance fraud and identity fraud schemes that had netted him more than $139,000.

Marcus Blair, of Florence, South Carolina, has been convicted 18 times previously and was using a contraband cellphone in prison to arrange further fraudulent acts when state investigators began zeroing in on him, the South Carolina Department of Insurance said in a bulletin.

After his release from prison, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division kept him under surveillance and obtained a search warrant of his residence. The investigation found hundreds of fake checks, fake identification cards and computer and other records that showed Blair had tried to obtain more than $574,000.

He had successfully received a quarter of that, authorities said.

He was indicted earlier this year and charged with 50 crimes, DOI said. Blair pleaded guilty this week and a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

The nature of the insurance fraud schemes was not explained by DOI. Court records were unavailable.

Topics Fraud Talent South Carolina
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired Rancho Cucamonga, California-based Cornerstone Commercial & Personal Insurance Services Inc.

Phil Hakopian, Allison Hakopian and their team will remain in their current location under the direction of Scott Firestone, head of Gallaghers Southwest region retail property/casualty brokerage operations.

Cornerstone is a retail insurance agency serving commercial and personal clients primarily in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, with a focus on commercial real estate, construction and homeowners associations.

Arthur J. Gallagher is an insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

Topics California Mergers & Acquisitions A.J. Gallagher
July 1, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) With politics in Europe, the UK, and the US driving markets, diversification is investors' "only anchor" to manage risk and capitalize on opportunities amid the current political uncertainties.

This is the warning from Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, one of the world's largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations, as speculation grows that Marine Le Pen's far-right party will struggle to secure an outright majority in the French elections, the UK faces a general election this Thursday, and rumours grow that the current US president will be replaced as the Democratic candidate in the US presidential election.

He comments: "Politics is currently driving market dynamics - and therefore investor returns.

"As we know, politics shapes economic policies, regulatory environments, and investor sentiment. Election outcomes, legislative changes, and political stability directly impact financial markets, driving fluctuations in stock prices, currency values, and bond yields.

"This is happening in real-time."

The deVere CEO continues: "The euro has risen along with European stock markets, driven by speculation that Marine Le Pen's far-right party will face challenges in achieving an outright majority in the French elections.

"This development has alleviated fears regarding potential pressures on France's public finances, leading to higher futures on French government bonds while German bunds have experienced a slight drop.

"Attention now shifts to the crucial second round of voting on July 7, where the power dynamics in France's National Assembly will be determined."

Elsewhere, the UK goes to the polls on Thursday, and it's widely expected that the electorate will oust the Conservatives after 14 years in power and hand Sir Keir Starmer's Labour party a healthy majority.

"The UK's blue-chip index, the FTSE, is largely influenced by international factors, but we expect three specific sectors, among others, are positioned to gain from a Labour victory: construction, banking, and renewable energy. As ever, there are winners and losers with a potential change of government," says Nigel Green.

He goes on to add: "Markets are pricing in an increased possibility that former President Donald Trump will defeat President Joe Biden after Thursday's television debate in which the incumbent looked frail and confused, igniting rumours he will be replaced as the Democratic candidate in these pivotal US elections."

All of this political upheaval creates uncertainty, which markets loathe.

"Diversification stands out as really the only anchor for investors seeking to protect and grow their wealth," affirms Nigel Green.

By spreading investments across various asset classes, sectors, and geographies, investors can buffer against the unpredictable nature of political events. This balanced approach ensures that the impact of adverse movements in one market is offset by stability in others.

Diversified portfolios are more likely to yield stable returns over time. The gains in certain investments can counterbalance potential losses in others, leading to a more consistent performance.

Investing across different regions mitigates the risk associated with country-specific political upheavals. Global exposure allows investors to tap into growth opportunities unaffected by local political dynamics.

Different sectors respond differently to political changes. A diversified portfolio encompassing a variety of sectors ensures that political decisions impacting one sector do not disproportionately affect overall investment performance.

To implement a robust diversification strategy, investors should consider spreading investments across stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities to balance risk and reward; investing in multiple regions to reduce exposure to any single country's political risk, and including a range of sectors to ensure that sector-specific political impacts are balanced.

Continuously assessing and adjusting the portfolio with a financial advisor to maintain optimal diversification in response to changing market conditions will best-position investors.

The deVere CEO continues: "As political landscapes continue to reshape market dynamics, savvy investors recognize the value of strategic diversification.

"By embracing this time-honored approach, investors can mitigate risks, capitalize on opportunities, and achieve stable returns despite the inherent uncertainties of the political climate."

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July 2, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, is set to become one of the major financial hubs of the Global South within the next five years, predicts the CEO and founder of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

Nigel Green of deVere Group says he sees the city competing "more effectively and aggressively" with other international finance hubs in the Global South including Sao Paulo, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Shanghai and Singapore.

He notes: "Auckland's geographic position is a significant advantage, strategically located at the crossroads of the Americas, Asia, and Oceania.

"This unique positioning facilitates international trade and finance, making Auckland a prime base for multinational corporations looking to expand in the Asia-Pacific region. Auckland International Airport is one of the busiest in the region, and is undergoing significant upgrades to accommodate future growth.

"In addition, the city's port facilities are among the most advanced in the southern hemisphere.

"These robust infrastructural foundations enhance Auckland's appeal as a global business hub, providing seamless connectivity for international trade and investment.

"Compare this, for example, to Sao Paulo, which is more regionally focused compared to Auckland's broader Asia-Pacific reach; and Johannesburg faces challenges with regional instability."

The deVere CEO, whose company has a network of offices globally, doing business in more than 100 countries worldwide, adds Auckland's economy is diversified across finance, technology, tourism, and education, "providing a stable base for sustained economic growth."

Government policies fostering a business-friendly environment are crucial. New Zealand has ranked first in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index, reflecting the country's efficient regulatory framework. Auckland has benefited from these policies, attracting significant foreign direct investment (FDI).

"Compare this to Mumbai, for instance, India's rapid growth and large market are strengths, yet infrastructure challenges and bureaucratic hurdles remain. Auckland's streamlined regulatory environment provides a smoother investment landscape," says Nigel Green.

Auckland's rise as a financial hub is significantly driven by its tech innovation. The city is a burgeoning fintech center, with numerous startups and established companies innovating in areas such as digital payments, blockchain, and cybersecurity.

The New Zealand fintech sector has a ten-year compound annual growth (CAGR) of 32%; four times higher than the tech industry as a whole.

The city's innovation ecosystem is supported by strong partnerships between the private sector, academia, and government. Higher education institutions, such as the University of Auckland, are at the forefront of research and development, particularly in fintech.

Auckland's commitment to inclusivity and sustainability sets it apart from other financial hubs.

Nigel Green notes: "The city aims to become carbon-neutral by 2050, aligning with global sustainability goals. Initiatives such as the Auckland Climate Action Plan outline strategies to reduce emissions, promote green energy, and enhance urban resilience.

"In terms of inclusivity, it's a multicultural city with a diverse population. This diversity is reflected in the workforce, fostering an inclusive business environment that attracts global talent. The city's policies support gender equality and diversity in the workplace, enhancing its appeal as a progressive financial hub."

He concludes: "There's an undeniably strong case for Auckland to become one of the biggest and most influential financial hubs of the Global South in the next five years. Rivals should not rest on their laurels."

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A Danish farmers' organisation said its members will be part of a terrifying experiment that no other country has attempted, after the government agreed the worlds first carbon emissions tax on agriculture, starting in 2030.

Denmark is a climate action leader, with the carbon intensity of its economy at 43% below the EU average, achieved without damaging the country's economy. The Danish Parliament set a legally binding target in 2020 of climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest.

"We will be the first country in the world to introduce a real CO2 tax on agriculture", Taxation Minister Jeppe Bruus said last week. "Other countries will be inspired by this."

New Zealand had been on course to be first to tax farm emissions, until last October's elections resulted in a centre-left to centre-right government change. New Zealand's new Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said: The government is committed to meeting our climate change obligations without shutting down Kiwi farms.

"It doesnt make sense to send jobs and production overseas, while less carbon-efficient countries produce the food the world needs.

In Denmark, from 2030 farmers will have to pay 16/t of emitted CO2 equivalent, rising to 40 from 2035 onwards, according to the tax plan of a "green tripartite" which includes the government, the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, the NNF trade union, the Danish Metalworkers' Union, the Confederation of Danish Industry, and Local Government Denmark.

It is estimated that Danish dairy farmers may have to pay an annual emissions tax of nearly 100 per cow.

Agreed after five months of negotiations, the livestock emissions tax plan includes a government commitment to support EU regulation of agricultural emissions through an emissions trading system, with which the tax in Denmark would eventually align.

Land restoration

Also planned is funding for more forests in Denmark, increased peatland restoration, along with new measures to comply with the EU Water Framework Directive.

Farmers expect the plan would take about 400,000 hectares out of Denmark's agriculture (15% of cultivated areas), including buying up some farmland to reduce nitrogen emissions.

The carbon-rich peatlands restoration target is 70,000 hectares. Farmers who do not wish to participate in peatland restoration would have to pay a CO2 tax of 5.36/t of emissions from the peatlands, starting in 2028.

While the plan is subject to approval by parliament, political experts expect it to meet a broad-based consensus, and to pass into law.

With this agreement, we are investing billions in the biggest transformation of the Danish landscape in recent times, Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.

The tax could add about 14% (1.40) to the 10 per kilo discount store price of minced beef in 2030, said Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose.

Revenues from the tax will be channeled back to agriculture for green initiatives, climate technology, and production transformation, and helping the agricultural enterprises facing the most difficulty in transitioning.

Clarity

The Danish Agriculture and Food Council represented farmers in negotiating the plan. The Council said a carbon tax had been a ticking time bomb, but the plan brings clarity. The organisation particularly welcomed a structure around the tax for fast use of climate technology, making it possible to avoid the tax by using climate action measures on the farm.

However, the Bredygtigt Landbrug (Sustainable Agriculture) farmers' organisation said Danish food production will decrease, and the "Agreement on a Green Denmark" is a "sad agreement for agriculture, for the climate, and for the security of the food supply".

Peder Tuborgh, the CEO of Denmark's Arla Foods, the co-operative owned by farmers which is Europes largest dairy group, said it is crucial that farmers who genuinely do everything they can to reduce their emissions are not subjected to a tax now or in the future.

He said Arla can achieve climate goals through voluntary measures, having already cut nearly a million tons of CO2 in two years across the entire Arla Foods group, including 0.21 million tons in Denmark alone.

If there is to be any incentive for making a green transition, one should not be economically penalised, if they take the right measures on the farm.

Mr Tuborgh said the Green Tripartite Agreement's planned largest redistribution of land in Danish history, including 250,000 hectares for new forests and 140,000 hectares of low-lying lands, must support agriculture, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.

However, Denmark's leading climate think tank, Concito in a press statement said the climate tax level is too low, and may fail to ensure the necessary structural transformation in agriculture.

It will not ensure a rapid climate-friendly transition in agriculture, according to Cincito, which served as an independent knowledge partner of the Green Tripartite, but did not participate directly in the negotiations.

Read More 73.8m forestry spend by DAFM last year

Concito Director Christian Ibsen said the agreement's climate tax would be significantly below the industry tax level, until 2035, not putting enough pressure on agriculture to change. "The tax starts too late and too low".

But he welcomed the agreement's moves towards producing more plant-based food, using less space, while protecting the environment, and repurposing some of the land taken out of agriculture for biodiversity, nature, drinking water, nitrogen management, climate protection, and energy plants for solar and wind.

The new plan is more palatable for farmers than expert group proposals of last February, which included a farm emissions tax as high as 101/t, predicted at the time to reduce Danish agricultural production by between 6% and 15%, with cattle and pig production falling by 20%.

New Zealand

Meanwhile, the New Zealand government decided to keep agriculture out of their Emissions Trading Scheme, instead opting to address methane reductions on farms.

Farmers will be encouraged to reduce emissions through the use of technology, without cutting agricultural production or exports. However, the government has also indicated it will introduce an emissions pricing system for farms by 2030.

The developments in New Zealand and Denmark are of interest to farmers in Ireland, which also has a high proportion of emissions from agriculture (38.5% in 2022).

In Denmark, agriculture emissions are predicted to account for 46% of total emissions by 2030, because other sectors are reducing emissions much faster than agriculture.

Nearly half of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture.
Not a week goes by when I dont hear someone complain about the standard of childrens mental health services in this country. It can be a teacher who is trying to manage a child in acute mental distress and is unable to access any support from services or a parent who has been on a waiting list for months on end as they see their childs mental state deteriorate. My usual response is to empathise and say: I know, its dreadful

However, it has become increasingly hard not to agree with the critics given the recent South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs) report and the Families for Reform in Camhs report. These come on the heels of the 2023 Mental Health Commission (MHC) Report, in which the then chief inspector Susan Finnerty stated that she cannot currently provide an assurance to parents in Ireland that their children have access to a safe, effective and evidence-based mental health service.

I try to avoid being overly critical of the staff working in these services because, for many years, I was one of them. I know a bigger picture is at play, which goes beyond the influence of the personnel working in these services. The under-resourcing of mental health services is a long-term issue  I remember sitting on a two-drawer filing cabinet while interviewing parents because we didnt have enough chairs. From what I gather from former colleagues who still work in these services, the facilities have not improved, and in some areas, have worsened.

In his first report, the current mental health chief inspector, Professor Jim Lucey, highlights how 22 of the 66 in-patient services were deemed to be below 80% compliant. This is a deterioration from previous years  nine in 2023 and seven in 2022. Despite the loud discussion about the importance of mental health, these findings show how our services are veering in the wrong direction.

Community Camhs was not included in this series of inspections as Lucey has not received new powers of inspection or regulation of the service. Interestingly, many of the staff I have spoken to at Camhs would welcome an MHC inspection in the hope that it would highlight the poor conditions they work in and lead to improvement and critical investment

Underfunded services

Jim Lucey is a friend and a former colleague. He is a compassionate clinician devoted to improving mental healthcare in Ireland. He is also a pragmatist with a measured outlook and is unafraid to speak out against government inaction.

In an interview last week with Anton Savage on Newstalk, he pulled no punches. Our mental health services secure a paltry 6% of the overall health budget, and the consequences of years of chronic underinvestment are coming home to roost, he said. The reason services were deemed non-compliant, he added, included dilapidated buildings, unsafe environments, not enough therapeutic interventions, and critical levels of understaffing

Luceys comments could also apply to childrens mental health services. For example, a Camhs near where I live is situated in an old asylum, with a winding driveway to a grey old building. Being asked to sit and wait in a long, eerie corridor is not suitable for a child seeking emotional support.

Former colleagues working in Irish mental health services and Camhs appear to be at breaking point.

The levels of unsafe staffing cover, recruitment embargos, and the continued deterioration of the buildings and environments have a deep impact on morale and their capacity to work safely.

I fear we have become habituated to negative reports on our mental health service. I am struck by how few column inches or news bulletins have covered the latest MHC report. We seem to have become resigned to the fact that inadequate and unsafe mental health care is a given, and the quintessentially Irish approach of sure thats more of it seems to have become the response of the day.

Mental health investment must be a make or break political issue. There isnt a family in Ireland unaffected by mental distress. With loneliness, isolation and fear being omnipresent, our need for adequate mental health services is not dissipating. We need to design a more holistic and integrated service delivery model that can respond earlier to the needs of children and young people without over-relying on pharmacological intervention. However, no matter how good our primary care or community services are, there will always be people who will need acute and intensive mental health care, and in-patient settings are where we need to get it right first.

In his report, Lucey stated there are only 66 acute services in the country and even fewer (45) Camhs teams. Surely, improving such a small number of services is achievable. Once we create safe environments for those with the highest level of need, we can address the primary care services.

Positive developments

On a more positive note, since I started working in the Irish mental health services in 1995, a notable cultural shift has occurred in these services. The recovery approach, acknowledgement of the service user voice, incorporation of the lived experience, and challenges to the patriarchal medical model have been positive developments.

I teach mental health nursing students at SETU Waterford, so I know our understanding of mental health bears little resemblance to what I learned nearly 30 years ago. However, despite the growing demand, especially among children and young people, the buildings have not changed much in the intervening 29 years, and the staffing levels and morale of the teams seem to have deteriorated significantly.

If we want our children to have the mental health support they need, we need to act now. The time for talking is over. As Lucey said on Newstalk, We all can continue to walk into the light at 4 a.m. and wear the green ribbons to encourage conversations. But talk is cheap.

With a general election on the way, we need a government that takes the mental health needs of our children seriously. Having adequate support for children with mental health problems, additional needs, and social and communication problems should not be considered a luxury or something exclusive to the Nordic countries; it should be a fundamental human right.

Intelligent large-scale investment is needed. In his report, Lucey stated: The Irish Mental Health services are where the cancer services were 20 years ago, and we have seen a transformation in those services in that time, and so we have to believe that the same is possible for our mental health services too.

In a recent radio interview, Taoiseach Simon Harris said, I want to make this the best country in the world to be a child. I suggest investing in our mental health services, whose purpose is to care for our most vulnerable and bring them, would be a good place to start.

Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist
A total of 13 suspected crime bosses have been arrested on suspicion of directing a criminal organisation within the last 12 months  a significant jump on previous years.

The arrests are under special gangland legislation, introduced in 2009, aimed at combating the threat posed by organised crime gangs. It created offences of directing a criminal organisation, participating in or contributing to that group or committing an offence for a crime gang.

Under Section 8 of the Criminal Justice Act 2009, any prosecution for these offences is automatically sent to the non-jury Special Criminal Court, unless otherwise directed by the DPP.

The act has been used extensively to target various members and associates of the Kinahan crime cartel, including senior lieutenants, various hit teams as well as individuals paid to carry out specific crimes, such as the purchase of mobile phones, for gang assassination attempts.

An annual report is produced on the operation of the legislation and the case for its continuance  and the provisions were passed in the Oireachtas last week.

The report shows that 112 arrests were made under the act between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024. This compares to 110 in the same period the previous year and 112 in the year ending May 2022.

A breakdown for the last year for the three specific offences shows:

13 arrests under Section 71A (directing the activities of a criminal organisation), compared to two in the year ending May 2023 and eight the year before that;

92 arrests under Section 72 (participating in or contributing to activities of the organisation), compared to 90 the previous year and 86 the year before that;

7 arrests under Section 73 (committing an offence for the organisation), compared to 18 in each of the previous two years.

The report said that a total of 30 charges were laid before the courts in the last 12 months in relation to the three offences, which is eight more than the previous year. Of the 30 charges, 10 were brought before the Special Criminal Court, six more than the previous year.

A breakdown shows that 18 charges were in relation to Section 71A, which was 15 more than the previous year. There were 11 charges for participation, three fewer than the previous year, and one charge for Section 73, four fewer than the previous year.

Of the nine convictions secured in the last year, three were in the Special Criminal Court, including that of Sligo gang boss Barry Young last July. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison for directing a criminal organisation, with Judge Tony Hunt describing him as a scourge of his local community for years.

Last May, Michael Crotty, from Cashel in Tipperary, was sentenced to two years for buying a 20 mobile top-up for Sean McGovern, one of the senior leaders of the Kinahan crime cartel who is currently based in Dubai and wanted here.

The phone was used to co-ordinate the murder of an innocent man Noel Kirwan in December 2016. He was targeted by the cartel because they mistakenly believed he was linked to the rival Hutch gang.

A second report on the operation of emergency anti-terrorism legislation  Offences Against the State Act 1998  showed that 39 arrests were conducted in the last 12 months.

These were in relation to five separate offences including 11 arrests for membership of an unlawful organisation, 10 arrests for withholding information and three arrests in relation to explosive or firearms offences.
Hollywood star Russell Crowe said he decided to invest in a Co Donegal liquor company after being drawn to its fantastic origin story.

The Gladiator and LA Confidential actor attended the formal opening of the new home for The Muff Liquor Company, along with broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and former Boyzone member Ronan Keating.

Crowe and Keating are among the investors in the company, which has recently signed a distribution deal for the US market.

Crowe said he was thoroughly impressed with what Ive seen at the new building.

Hopefully this is the beginning of a long series of successes for you, for your company, he told chief executive of the company Laura Bonner.

Crowe said he was first attracted to the company because he loves a great story.

Ronan Keating, Russell Crowe and Ryan Tubridy attend the opening of the new brand home for the Muff Liquor Company (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ms Bonners grandfather Philip, a potato farmer, began experimenting with making vodkas and gin using his own recipe.

After first trying it out on family and friends, it developed to the stage that every Friday afternoon a queue of locals would pass through his farmhouse to pick up a jar of his spirits before the local dance.

When I heard the story of old Phil and what would happen on a Friday afternoon, I just got really attracted to it, Crowe said.

And then I tried the product, and that really sealed the idea for me that I had to get involved.

It is a great product and the story is a fantastic story that will travel from place to place, from country to country. And I just wanted to be part of that.

He added: Its a romantic idea, isnt it? A potato farmer looking at what he can do with his rotten potatoes, comes up with a recipe for a drink that appeals to people, and on a Friday afternoon a few drop in and fill up their receptacles, I just think its a brilliant story of community, he said to laughter.

Actor Russell Crowe attends the opening in Muff, Co Donegal (Liam McBurney/PA)

Tubridy, who hosted the opening, became friends with Crowe through interviewing him as the former host of RTEs The Late Late Show.

He said: We wouldnt pedal muck, this is good stuff. I think people like the fact that theres a story with it, its not just a drink. So I like that too.

Keating said: Russell and I had been chatting for quite some time about getting involved in different liquor brands, it had become a trendy thing.

I got a call one day, he was here in Ireland shooting a film, and he just said Ive found it.

(Liam McBurney/PA)

Found what? I found what weve been looking for.

The Muff men was created and its been a hell of a lot of fun. When Rusty calls, we step up to the plate.

To see this come to fruition, weve been talking about it for nearly three years now, to see what the Bonnar family have done.

Crowe also took time to pose for photos with locals gathered outside the new building.
A Waterford man described as a 'Walter Mitty-type' character flew 8.4m of cocaine to Ireland via an "open corridor" aerodrome in the midlands, a court has heard.

Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) officers monitored a Cessna single-engine aircraft which flew from Dieppe in France and landed at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Co Longford, on the evening of August 4, 2022.

A short time later, they intercepted father of one Tim Gilchrist at the Lough Owel area in Co Westmeath, recovering 120kg of cocaine from his car.

Tim Gilchrist, aged 56, of Mavis Bank, Newrath, Co Waterford, has never applied for bail since his arrest.

In March, he pleaded guilty before Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs worth 13,000 or more for sale or supply at Lough Owel, Irishtown, Co Westmeath, on the date of his arrest.

On Tuesday, he entered an additional plea to unlawfully importing the cocaine in the light aircraft. Judge Johnson heard he used the Cessna for "leisure" flying, and Mr Gilchrist claimed he was under duress from two men who threatened him unless he followed their instructions.

The court heard detailed evidence from Detective Sergeant Ciaran Cummins, who characterised Mr Gilchrist's version of events as "fanciful".

Judge Johnson adjourned sentencing until Thursday.

Gardai were monitoring the light aircraft

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed with John Hayden, prosecuting, that the investigation arose from information received by the GNDOCB about a Cessna light aircraft used to bring controlled drugs into the jurisdiction.

They set up an operation at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome.

The Cessna, carrying two men, landed at 5.25pm, and bags were removed from the aircraft.

Mr Gilchrist was driving an Alfa Romeo car and was followed by the gardai before they stopped him near Lough Owel.

They searched the car and found five black holdall bags and a suitcase in the boot. It contained 120kg of cocaine worth 8.4m, the court was told.

The officers arrested Mr Gilchrist and questioned him at Ashbourne Garda station.

Mr Gilchrist's explanation of his involvement

He admitted possessing the drugs and "put forward a narrative in relation to how he got involved in the importation" and "put his hands up".

Subsequent investigations into his assertions would not support his story, Det Sgt Cummins told the court.

Quoting his statement, Mr Hayden said Mr Gilchrist told gardai:

"One day, two men arrived at my home late at night, about a month ago, and said you are flying in a plane, we seen you. You are going to do something for us."

He claimed that he was told, "And if I didn't do it, I would have another problem." He maintained that he told them, "I'm going to the guards" but one of them made a threat about his daughter.

He told the investigation team that they had instructed him to buy a mobile phone and that they would be back to get the number.

He claimed he had no choice, and they told him he would fly to Dieppe.

Garda investigation 'did not corroborate' the narrative

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed that the investigation did not corroborate the series of events outlined by Mr Gilchrist.

The flight took three and a half hours, and there were no customs officers at the Dieppe aerodrome.

The GNDOCB officer agreed with Judge Johnson that it was the same in Abbeyshrule and a "complete open corridor".

He said there were spot checks, but generally, flights were logged, and pilots were required to declare their trips. Judge Johnson described that as "extraordinary".

Mr Gilchrist had been in Dieppe for 24 hours before returning. When caught, he had his personal phone and a second one with just two contacts.

The second phone was bought "solely for use in communication for the importation".

He admitted it was the primary phone for contacting people not before the court. It was bought in June 2022 and unused until August 3, when he flew to France.

Analysis of the phone showed Mr Gilchrist was sending and receiving messages from people around the aerodrome in Longford shortly before landing. One said, "A lot of guys around be careful."

Gardai also recovered receipts for his hotel in France and fuel for the aircraft.

Detective Sergeant Cummins believed Mr Gilchrist's story was "fanciful" and that he had done "almost identical trips" before.

Mr Gilchrist told gardai he had been under duress

Mr Gilchrist tried to convince gardai he enjoyed leisure flying and that "he was placed under duress by others when they became aware of his flying leisure activities".

He also spoke about his interests in the meat industry in Uganda and a restaurant with his partner there. He claimed to be a company director.

The court heard he worked in Ireland for a highway maintenance firm from 2017 to 2020 and is now receiving 208 a week in illness benefit social welfare payments.

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed with Michael O'Higgins, defending, that his client's guilty plea was valuable.

In a mitigation plea, Mr O'Higgins said his client had one child and lived at a very modest home he inherited, and there was no suggestion he had an excessive lifestyle.

'Something of a Walter Mitty character'

Mr O'Higgins said his client appeared to be "something of a Walter Mitty character".

Counsel asked the judge to note that a hierarchy was always involved in setting up this kind of case.

The person caught carrying the drugs was the weakest link in the chain and the most expendable. Saving the contacts in his phone under two names also suggested a lack of sophistication, he submitted.

"The persons who own the drugs have several layers of protection. While An Garda Siochana are aware who they are, they are not in position to being them before the court," Mr O'Higgins said.

"In relation to the use of the aerodrome, it is an open corridor exploited by others significantly higher up the chain," he said in further pleas for leniency.

He also asked the judge to consider his client's good record and his lack of prior criminal convictions.

Judge Johnson remanded Mr Gilchrist, who spoke only to confirm his plea, in continuing custody.
It could be the woman who you meet daily at the garden wall as she takes clothes out to hang on the line. It might be the person helping you to choose the perfect nail colour to match your outfit for next weekends wedding. It may even be the person sitting across from you on the train, careful not to make eye contact or start a conversation with you but not standing out in any other way.

Hidden in plain sight.

It could be the man working on the farm down the roads, or the teenager cleaning your room during your hotel stay.

Again, hidden in plain sight.

These people who may be a fleeting part of your every day life could be hiding a secret that you are not aware of  that they are among the suspected hundreds of people trafficked into and across Ireland every year to work in Irelands burgeoning sex trade, or in this countrys shadow economy.

Ireland is just two days away from enacting legislation which will introduce a new national referral mechanism (NRM), through the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Bill) 2023. It will be enacted on Wednesday, before the end of the Dail term. It is hoped that the measure will tempt people trapped in homes and industries by trafficking gangs to face their fear and come forward to seek help and a release from the clutches of those controlling their lives and their bank accounts.

Hidden victims

Up to now, victims of human trafficking in Ireland can only be formally identified by gardai. Following the establishment of the new mechanism, other State agencies and NGOs will be involved in the formal recognition of victims, with agencies in the sector expecting an increase in referrals as a result.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president Santa Marta Group, some of the keynote speakers at a Conference on Senior Leadership Summit on Collectively Combating Human Trafficking that was held at the UCC Cork Centre for Executive Education. Picture: David Creedon

The current system was singled out for criticism last week in the US State Departments Trafficking in Persons report, published two days before a conference in Cork involving gardai, the PSNI, and the Santa Marta organisation set in train a decade ago by Pope Francis.

The report stated in relation to Irelands performance in 2023 in relation to human trafficking that the government did not convict any traffickers for trafficking and instead relied on non-trafficking statutes that may have, at times, resulted in inadequate penalties and has never convicted a trafficker for labour trafficking under its anti-trafficking law. Systemic deficiencies in victim identification, referral, and assistance persisted; the government did not amend its NRM [national referral mechanism] and, consequently, did not identify any Irish nationals as victims.

The reason why Ireland is being criticised for failing to introduce the long-awaited NRM was detailed with shocking figures from both sides of the border at the conference in Cork last week.

In contrast to the Republics paltry single prosecution and two current investigations relating to human trafficking, the PSNI reports having had 501 referrals made regarding the crime through its national referral mechanism last year.

PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher said: We have seen in the PSNI in the last 12 months, 501 referrals, 38 different nationalities involved. Of those, a significant number from sub-Saharan countries. There is nowhere out of reach of this crime.

He continued: In the last 12 months, we focused on seven organised crime groups involved in human trafficking and modern slavery. I would say four of those groups have been significantly impacted in their ability to conduct these awful crimes. The two highest risk groups we are currently in the process of the criminal justice processes. We have saved at least 50 people from the clutches of these groups and we work hand in glove with the Garda around a number of these operations.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris knows that the corresponding figures for the Republic are far from the reality of the situation regarding human trafficking and exploitation south of the border.

He admitted: When we see what is being reported through the referral mechanisms in Northern Ireland, then comparatively we must be in a similar position. The NRM which is coming online will make a big difference in terms of what we know about and the statistics we have and therefore, where we want to concentrate our efforts.

He added: It covers a number of areas  exploitation through prostitution, exploitation in terms of labour but also then criminal exploitation. And these are happening in Ireland.

He continued: It is a crime that doesnt respect borders, it is a crime where a huge amount of money is made, second worldwide to drugs in terms of the criminal revenue and it is something we should all be concerned about, particularly as it is so degrading to human beings.

He said that there have been situations where neighbours have noticed something about someone which raised concerns about the possibility of trafficking, including seeing a person carrying out domestic duties and never leaving the premises, day after day, working away, from early in the morning to late at night.

Call for compensation

In its response to last weeks report from the US State Department, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has come strongly in calling for a compensation model for victims of human trafficking in Ireland.

In its role as the National Rapporteur on Trafficking of Human Beings, the commission is calling on the State to explore the possibility of ring-fencing funding for compensation for victims, partially through the confiscated proceeds of crime from trafficking and other related offences. It recommends that the Law Reform Commission considers the specific needs of trafficked victims in its review of compensation.

Chief Constable Boutcher has previously worked in investigations in the UK targeting human traffickers.

He says he has seen what victims have been subjected to in those cases, describing conditions as degrading.

He is keen to stress that the current debates in several European countries about immigration must not be allowed to impact how countries deal with victims of trafficking.

Immigration is a key debate in elections around the world at the moment.

Do not conflate immigration with people trying to escape the awful experiences they have had of being exploited.

"We need to make sure we dont allow that to happen. By very good fortune, most people in this room have probably never experienced, even by relationship or witnessing, any sorts of these crimes. We are very lucky. Not everybody around the world is as lucky as us. Not everybody in Ireland or Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom is as lucky as us.

The roll out of the NRM is a key step in appeasing the critics of the Republics progress on tackling human trafficking at a time of massive movement of people across the globe. However, it is clear that there is some way to go, with the enactment of the new bill on Wednesday being the first step.
At an early stage they come for the judges. Whenever an individual or group attempts to undermine basic tenets of liberal democracy in favour of autocratic rule, an independent judiciary is an early target.

Through threats or action it is conveyed to those who administer the law that results from the courts must be favourable to the regime, rather than a constitution, the rights of citizens or long held legal principles.

Now, the US may well be heading towards autocratic rule under Donald Trump, but neutralising the judiciary is taking a different form.

Instead of judges being undermined by an autocratic ruler, enough of them that matter are simply going along with the autocrats wishes because he represents one side in a growing societal chasm.

Instead of attempting to interpret the constitution without fear or favour, some of the most powerful judges in the States are acting as little more than functionaries in a culture war.

This week, the US Supreme Court ruled that presidents have immunity from prosecution over official actions. This came in the wake of prosecutions initiated against Donald Trump connected with the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The mob was reacting to a completely false narrative propagated by Trump that the preceding election which he lost to Joe Biden was rigged.

There is not a scintilla of evidence anywhere across the US states that there was election rigging. But Trump fed the narrative, tried to interfere in the counting of ballots and enflamed his followers who marched on the seat of US government to secure the country for their leader.

Apart from the shock to democratic values reaching back two hundred years, five people were dead in the immediate aftermath of the riot. Another 174 police officers were injured and four officers who responded to the emergency died by suicide within seven months. Those are the bare facts of lives lost in the name of Trumps attempt to illegally cling to power.

A number of thugs have been jailed for their role in the violence. The general consensus was that the rule of law would prevail in dealing with what was an attempted coup. Then Trump was charged for his actions leading up to the riot. He challenged the charges on the basis that he was immune from prosecution as he was still president.

Members of the Supreme Court: Is it a coincidence that the six judges who voted to grant Donald Trump such immunity are all Republican appointees at a time of such division? Picture: AP /J Scott Applewhite

Now, the highest court in the land, of which judges are members for as long as they wish this side of the grave, has ruled in his favour. The ruling was 6-3, with the assenters all appointees of Republican presidents, half of whom Trump appointed.

The implications of the ruling are best laid out by one of the three dissenting judges, Sonia Sotomayor.

In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law, she wrote. Order the Navy SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organise a military coup to hold on to power? Immune. Take a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune, immune, immune.

The implications for future incumbents in the White House are obvious, but just take Trump, who may be the next one. If he is elected and subsequently impeached, as is highly possible, or if he changes the law in order to run for a third term and is then beaten, what is there to stop him organising a coup? Certainly, the law will not hinder him.

Is it a coincidence that the six judges who voted to grant him such immunity are all Republican appointees at a time of such division? There is every possibility that their interpretation of the law in such a wild manner is entirely attributable to their fidelity to the side of the cultural and political division, one side of which has been entirely captured by Trump.

Look at one of the judges, Samual Alito. Earlier this year it was revealed that following the January 6 assault, a flag outside his home was flown upside down, which at the time was a symbol of those who backed Trumps version of a stolen election. Alito said it was his wifes doing.

But this is one of the most powerful judges in the country being associated with something for which there was not the tiniest scrap of evidence.

Another judge, Thomas Clarence, also had a huge conflict of interest. His wife Virginia helped lead the stop the steal campaign to overturn the 2020 result. This spouse of the most senior judge in the country was involved in a campaign that was based on a conspiracy theory and nothing more.

On January 6 she was at a rally near the White House but did not, as many in attendance did, march on the Capitol.

Despite such glaring conflicts of interest on a matter of major importance reaching back centuries, both Alito and Thomas refused to recuse themselves from the January 6 case. It wouldnt happen in a town council in Nowheresville Idaho, yet that is precisely how the US Supreme Court conducted itself in this instance.

Judges are charged with administering the law using long-held legal principles. Doing so without some recourse to ones personal philosophy would be difficult. But in this instance all the signs are that long-held principles were sacrificed in the name of simply coming down on Trumps side.

That judges who wield huge power, which effectively renders them unaccountable, have arrived at such a station is a severe indictment on a country that prided itself on its principles of liberal democracy.

In this respect, they are following the lead of Republican politicians who bow at the alter of a corrupt crook simply because he has the capacity to get elected. For politicians to be so craven is pathetic. Supreme court judges following suit represents an alarming abandonment of a basic tenet of liberal democracy.

One of the other dissenting judges, Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in her judgement of the majority verdict that it breaks new and dangerous ground by discarding a long held principle that nobody is above the law.

That core principle has long prevented our nation from developing into despotism, she wrote. No more, it would appear.

Prior to the 2016 election, Trump had this to say: I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose any voters. He was probably correct in that assessment.

Now we know he could do the same thing and be beyond the reach of the criminal justice system if he did his shooting as president. The stakes in Novembers election have been just been ratcheted up even further.
THE owners of 11 South Dock Place at Ringsend in Dublin 4 have made excellent use of every square inch in their small, mid-terrace one-bed home and have done it beautifully.

11 South Dock Place, Ringsend, Dublin 4

Cathy Burke of Owen Reilly auctioneers says when they were decorating the Edwardian brown brick property they bought four years ago, the owners used the services of an interior designer.

Its been completely renovated and has new kitchen units , upgraded bathrooms and double glazed sash style windows, she says adding that its also been rewired, replumbed, refloored, and styled beautifully.

Guiding at 500,000, the 55 sq m property also has an attic room which has been transformed into a pretty nursery.

The open-plan kitchen/dining/living space occupying the entire ground floor is stylishly modern with white walls, contemporary grey kitchen units and, for contrast, black alcove units and a black stove.

Both the bathroom and the en suite bedroom on the first floor have been upgraded as has the attic room which was converted by previous owners.

Folding doors in the kitchen open onto a narrow patio which has timber wall panelling and a Gothic mirror to reflect light.

The location at Ringsend in the heart of Dublin 4 is hugely sought after. Its within walking distance of the Aviva stadium, Ballsbridge, Grand Canal Dock, and Sandymount, says Ms Burke noting that the Dart at Grand Canal provides easy access to the city centre.

VERDICT: Small but picture perfect.

Kilcrohane, West Cork 445,000 Size 166 sq m (1,790sq ft) Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 4 BER A2

WHILE some folk love old world properties others want to get their hands on modern, newly-built energy efficient homes that they can finish, furnish, and decorate themselves.

For the latter type of buyer, Sherry FitzGerald ONeill are offering a recently completed three-bed detached, dormer property at Kilcrohane on Sheeps head Peninsula for a guide of 445,000.

Its on the Wild Atlantic Way and has magnificent views of Dunmanus Bay, says auctioneer Olivia Hanafin adding that the 166 sq m property is architect designed and has an A2 energy rating.

The interior has tiled and timber flooring as well as kitchen units and sanitary ware but is pretty much a blank canvas for a new owner to finish and decorate.

Ground floor accommodation includes an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room as well as a sunroom at the side. Theres also a bathroom, a utility room, and an en suite bedroom at the front. The upper floor has two en suite bedrooms.

The detached home at Kilcrohane West is on a site of close to half an acre which is in need of landscaping.

Located within minutes from local shops, its 6km from Ahakista, and 23km from Bantry.

New properties are quite rare in this area. We are getting interest from people who want holiday homes and people who want to spend their retirement in a coastal West Cork location, says Ms Hanafin.

VERDICT: Scenic, modern, and energy efficient

Gortcurka, Co Clare 495,000 Size 232 sq m (2,500 sq ft) Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 3 BER A2

ONCE a refuge for abandoned donkeys, The Sanctuary in the woodlands at Gortcurka near Corofin in Co Clare could perhaps become a haven for a buyer seeking to escape the cares of city living.

On the market with a guide of 495,000, its a five-bed farmhouse which comes with a site of five acres and several outbuildings including stables which the current owner has turned into holiday studios.

It was a donkey sanctuary for 30 years but has since 2016 been successfully trading as an Airbnb, says Douglas Hurley of DNG OSullivan Hurley explaining that the owner put a lot of work into upgrading and redecorating to make this possible.

An elongated traditional farmhouse with some exposed stone walls, timber panelled ceiling and latched doors, its been colourfully decorated and equipped with modern comforts.

It has solar panels, an oil condensing boiler, and double-glazed sash-style PVC windows, says Mr Hurley.

Accommodation includes a huge reception room, a dining room, a kitchen, as well as five bedrooms  one en suite  and two bathrooms.

Outbuildings include sheds and barns as well as a 78sq m workshop and three small guest lodges.

Situated in a clearing, the Sanctuary is surrounded by forestry.

It has charm, character and scenic views of the countryside and of the Burren Hills and Mullaghmore, says Mr Hurley noting that its secluded but not remote being 7km from Corofin and 11km from Ennis.

VERDICT: A retreat, a home, or perhaps a business opportunity.

Rossmore Island, Co Kerry 485,000 Size 134 sq m (1,445 sq ft) Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 BER C1

POSITIONED to offer scenic views of Kenmare Bay and the rugged mountains of Beara, Carrig Fada at 2 Rossmore Island in Tahilla shouldnt prove at all difficult to sell.

Built in 2005 and finished in 2010, its a three-bed, stone-faced dormer with a guide of 485,000.

The setting is picturesque and the residence is attractive, modern, and very well maintained, says Suzanne Teahan of Sherry FitzGerald Daly, noting that its being sold fully furnished.

Designed to resemble a traditional style cottage, the 134 sq m property includes a sunroom at the side. Theres a large timber-floored kitchen/ dining/living space with shaker-style kitchen units at one end and a high traditional style stone fireplace at the other. To the rear theres also a utility and a bathroom.

The upstairs has a bathroom and three bedrooms including one with a large dormer window which frames the view of the sky, the sea, and the mountains beautifully.

One of three similar style properties built in 2005, Carrig Fada is on a site of almost three quarters of an acre.

Used until now as a holiday home, it could, Ms Teahan believes, attract buyers who want to work from home since fibre broadband is set to become available in the area this year.

Located on Rossmore Island, the property is 10km from Sneem, and 19km from Kenmare.

VERDICT: A coastal south Kerry home with all the scenery you could ask for.
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Xi calls on China, Kazakhstan to follow principles key to cooperation

Xinhua) 14:21, July 02, 2024

ASTANA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- China and Kazakhstan need to always follow the four principles that hold key to the success of their cooperation, namely, mutual respect, good neighborly friendship, solidarity in trying times, and mutual benefit, so as to ensure sustained and steady growth of China-Kazakhstan relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a signed article published in Kazakh media on Tuesday.

"I hope my visit will help renew our traditional friendship and deepen the all-round cooperation between our countries. During my visit, President (Kassym-Jomart) Tokayev and I will meet and plan the way forward for further growth of China-Kazakhstan relations and discuss how best to take the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights," he said.

The two countries need to further consolidate their political tradition of mutual support, stay committed to the golden rule of mutual benefit and win-win in cooperation, strengthen public support for an everlasting China-Kazakhstan friendship, and be responsive to the accelerated changes on a scale unseen in a century that are unfolding across the world, Xi said.

The signed article, under the title "Staying True to Our Shared Commitment and Opening a New Chapter in China-Kazakhstan Relations," was published in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper and Kazinform International News Agency, ahead of his state visit to Kazakhstan.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Hurricane Beryl ripped off doors, windows, and roofs in homes across the southeastern Caribbean on Monday after making landfall on the island of Carriacou, the earliest storm of Category 4 strength to form in the Atlantic, fueled by record warm waters.

The US National Hurricane Centre said the storm had strengthened to Category 5 status late on Monday while Grenadas Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said one person had died.

Authorities had not been able to assess the situation on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where there were initial reports of major damage but communications were largely down.

Streets from St Lucia island south to Grenada were strewn with shoes, trees, downed power lines and scores of other debris scattered by winds up to 150mph, just shy of a Category 5 storm. The storm snapped banana trees in half and killed cows that lay in green pastures as if they were sleeping, with homes made of tin and plywood tilting precariously nearby.

A surfer braves the waves in Carlisle Bay as Hurricane Beryl passes through Bridgetown, Barbados (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)

Beryl was still swiping the southeast Caribbean late on Monday afternoon as it began moving into the Caribbean Sea on a track that would take it just south of Jamaica and toward Mexicos Yucatan peninsula by late Thursday as a Category 1 storm.

Late on Monday, Beryl was located about 575 miles east-southeast of Isla Beata in the Dominican Republic and was moving west-northwest at 21 mph, with hurricane conditions possible in Jamaica on Wednesday.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica, and a tropical storm warning for the entire southern coast of Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane as its moves over the eastern Caribbean, the National Hurricane Centre said.

The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.

Terence Walters, Grenadas national disaster coordinator, said that on Monday afternoon, officials received reports of devastation from Carriacou and surrounding islands.

A tree lies on the roof of a house in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, after Hurricane Beryl (Lucanus Ollivierre/AP)

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said he would travel to Carriacou as soon as it was safe, noting the extensive storm surge.

He said that Grenada officials had to evacuate patients to a lower floor after the hospital roof was damaged.

There is the likelihood of even greater damage, he told reporters. We have no choice but to continue to pray.

In Barbados, Wilfred Abrahams, minister of home affairs and information, said drones would assess damage once Beryl passes.

NBC Radio in St Vincent and the Grenadines reported that roofs were torn off churches and schools as communications began collapsing across the southeast Caribbean.

Beryl was the earliest Category 4 Atlantic hurricane on record, beating Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.
Venezuelas government plans to resume negotiations with the US this week on lifting crippling economic sanctions, President Nicolas Maduro has announced.

Mondays announcement comes less than a month before an election in which the president and his party are facing their toughest challenge in decades.

Mr Maduro, who is seeking a third term, wants the US government to lift crippling economic sanctions that were imposed over the last decade in an effort to topple him. He characterised the dialogue as urgent during his weekly TV show.

US President Joe Bidens administration did not respond to a request for comment.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (AP)

I have received the proposal during two continuous months from the United States government to reestablish talks and direct dialogue, Mr Maduro said.

After thinking about it for two months, I have accepted, and next Wednesday, talks will restart with the United States government to comply with the agreements signed in Qatar and to reestablish the terms of the urgent dialogue.

His government had held parallel talks with the Biden administration and with the US-backed Unitary Platform opposition coalition. But they were suspended as he reneged on promises, including to improve conditions ahead of the election, and his government accused the US of not fulfilling portions of agreements.

Some negotiations happened in Qatar. It was not immediately clear where the latest round of dialogue will take place.

The July 28 election is shaping up to be the biggest challenge the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela has faced in its 25-year dominance that began when the fiery Hugo Chavez became president.

President of Venezuelas National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez speaks during a press conference alongside legislator Genesis Garvett, left, and Governor Rafael Lacava in Caracas (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

The party wants to maintain its absolute government control for six more years, but its base is divided, diminished and disappointed after experiencing a complex social, economic and political crisis for 11 years  the entirety of Mr Maduros presidency.

Ten candidates, including the president, will be on the ballot. The only contender with a real chance of defeating the president is Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who represents the oppositions Unitary Platform coalition.

Last year, Mr Maduro entered into an agreement with the opposition coalition to work toward improving conditions for a free and fair election. But he changed course as the meteoric rise of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado turned into a real threat to his re-election prospects.

The US granted Mr Maduros government relief from sanctions on its state-run oil, gas and mining sectors after he entered into the agreement with the opposition. But the Biden administration ended the relief as the ruling party continued to use its control over all government institutions to tilt the balance in his favor, including by blocking Ms Machados candidacy.

Her chosen substitute was barred from the ballot, too. She and the coalition are now backing Gonzalez, a former diplomat.
North Korea said on Tuesday it had test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead, a claim quickly disputed by South Korean officials and experts who speculate the North likely fabricated a successful test to conceal a botched launch.

It is the second time that South Korea has questioned North Koreas claim on the development of new weapons in recent days, as the rivals are locked in heightened animosities over the Norths testing activities.

The Norths official Korean Central News Agency said that Mondays test involved the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 missile, which can carry a 4.5 tonne-class warhead.

A TV screen shows a file image of North Koreas missile launch during a news programme at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

It said the test was meant to verify the weapons flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 kilometres (310 miles) and the minimum range of 90 kilometres (55 miles).

The test apparently refers to the two ballistic missile launches that South Korea said North Korea performed Monday.

Joint chiefs of staff spokesman Lee Sung Joon said at a briefing later Tuesday that the second North Korean missile was found to have fallen on an uninhabited area near Pyongyang, the Norths capital.

He said he could find few previous test-launches by North Korea that have aimed at ground target sites.

Regarding the North Korean assessment, were weighing a possibility of deception, Mr Lee said.

The South Korean military has said the second North Korean missile possibly travelled abnormally during the initial stage of its flight.

It said if the missile exploded, its debris would likely have scattered on the ground.

The KCNA dispatch didnt say from where it launched the new missile and where it landed.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a meeting of Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea in Pyongyang (KCNA via KNS/AP)

Unlike previous weapons tests, North Korea also didnt publicise any photos of Mondays test.

The fact that it tested both the missiles maximum and minimum ranges suggested North Korea performed two launches.

KCNA, citing North Koreas Missile Administration, reported that North Korea will test-fire the missile again later in July to verify the performances of its simulated warhead at the medium range of 250 kilometres (155 miles).

Some experts say test-firing missiles at ground targets could be related to efforts to test how powerful warheads are to destroy underground bunkers and structures.

But Shin Jongwoo, a Seoul-based military expert, said the lack of any photos on the launches means it is highly likely the North is trying to deceive the outsiders to cover up Mondays failed launches.

He said North Korea likely launched an existing missile on Monday, not the new missile at it claimed.

Yang Uk, an analyst at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that Mondays tests reflected North Koreas push to acquire a variety of conventional weapons.

But he also said if North Korea truly succeeded in hitting a ground target, it probably would have already published related images to brag about its achievements as it has done in the past.

A TV screen shows a file image of North Koreas missile launch during a news programme at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Since 2022, North Korea has sharply accelerated weapons testing activities to enlarge its nuclear arsenal.

The North Korea-claimed ranges of the newly tested missile imply it targets South Korea.

Experts say North Korea would ultimately want to use an expanded weapons arsenal to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the US.

On June 26, North Korea launched what it called a new multiwarhead missile in the first known test of a developmental weapon aimed at penetrating its rivals missile defences.

North Korea said the launch was successful, but South Korea dismissed the Norths claim as deception to cover up a failed launch.

South Korea said the weapon blew up, sending debris in the waters off the Norths east coast.
Over 20 years ago, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stood before a crowd at Friday prayers to denounce the US for its disenchanted electorate.

It is disgraceful for a nation to have a 35% or 40% voter turnout, as happens in some of the nations that you see having presidential elections, Mr Khamenei said in 2001.

It is obvious that their people do not trust their political system, that they do not care about it and that they have no hope.

Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and his supporters flash the victory sign during a campaign stop in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Iran now faces what the ayatollah described.

The country will hold a runoff presidential election on Friday, only its second since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, after just 39.9% of its voting public cast a ballot the previous week.

Of over 24.5 million votes, more than one million ballots were later rejected  typically a sign of people feeling obligated to head to the polls but wanting to reject all the candidates.

Meanwhile, public rage simmers after years of Irans economy cratering to new lows, along with bloody crackdowns on dissent, including over the mass protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini after her detention by the countrys morality police allegedly over not wearing her headscarf to their liking.

Tensions with the West remain high as Iran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.

Now, hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili faces the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon who likely needs a widespread turnout to win the presidency.

Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, speaks to a group of athlete supporters during a campaign stop at a sports hall in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Mr Pezeshkians supporters warn of dark days ahead under Mr Jalili.

Meanwhile, many people are unconvinced that their vote even matters.

I did not vote and I will not, since nobody apologised because of Mahsa and later miseries that young people face, neither the reformists nor the hard-liners, said Leila Seyyedi, a 23-year-old university student studying graphic design.

Iranian election law requires a candidate to achieve over 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.

In results released Saturday, Mr Pezeshkian got 10.4 million votes while Mr Jalili received 9.4 million.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf came in third with 3.3 million, while Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi had over 206,000.

A supporter of Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili holds up a poster of Jalili during his campaign stop in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Most voters for Mr Qalibaf, a former general in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and national police chief known for his crackdowns against students and for corruption allegations, likely will break for Mr Jalili after Mr Qalibaf endorsed him, analysts say.

That has put Mr Jalili, a 58-year-old known as the Living Martyr for losing a leg in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, in the lead position for the runoff.

But his recalcitrant reputation among Western diplomats during negotiations over Irans nuclear programme is paired with concern at home over his views.

One politician who has aligned himself with the moderates, former Iranian Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, put the choice between Mr Jalili and Mr Pezeshkian more starkly.

We will not let Iran fall into the hands of the Taliban, he wrote on social platform X, formerly Twitter.

But even such dark warnings seemingly failed to have an effect.

Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili, left, and reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian greet one another at the conclusion of a TV debate (Morteza Fakhri Nezhad/AP)

On the streets of Tehran after the June 28 vote, many told The Associated Press they didnt care about the election.

I did not vote, as former presidents failed to realise their promises, said Ahmad Taheri, a 27-year-old psychology student.

I will not vote this coming Friday either.

Mohammad Ali Robati, a 43-year-old electronic engineer and a father of two, said Iranian officials apparent indifference to peoples economic pressures caused him not to vote.

After years of economic difficulties, I have no interest in politics, Mr Robati said, though he held out the possibility of voting on Friday.
Rishi Sunak has insisted the outcome of the General Election was not a foregone conclusion and that he was feeling energised with two days of campaigning to go.

The British prime minister defended his focus on what should be safe Tory seats as Labour leader Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of running an increasingly desperate, negative campaign.

Mr Sunak kicked off a final push for votes on Tuesday with a pre-dawn visit to an Ocado packing plant in Bedfordshire and stops in Oxfordshire seats where the Conservatives won in 2019 by a sizeable margin.

Im feeling energised. Im on my third breakfast already today

In Banbury, where the Tories majority at the last election was 16,800, Mr Sunak was challenged over whether his defensive campaigning was a sign of conceding defeat.

He told reporters: We have been to every part of the country, every type of seat.

I dont take any vote for granted.

He denied the results coming in overnight into July 5 were inevitable.

I know there are lots of people who want to tell everyone its a foregone conclusion but I dont believe that.

Mr Sunak repeatedly highlighted the fact that he had been up at 4am because his focus was on fighting until the last minute of this campaign.

Even as he has failed to narrow the gaping poll deficit to Labour, Mr Sunak said: Im feeling energised. Im on my third breakfast already today. Like, how often do you get to have three breakfasts before 10 oclock? Thats only good news.

Mr Sunak also said the prime ministerial role entails sacrifice and theres always work to do, in a nod to Mr Starmer's desire to spend time with his family on Friday evenings.

The Labour leader dismissed as laughably ridiculous Tory attacks on his wish to avoid work after 6pm on a Friday, insisting he would work then if necessary.

At a campaign event in Nottinghamshire, he said Labour was making the positive case for change, adding: What a contrast to an increasingly desperate, negative campaign that the Tories are running.

Asked what he would do first after entering No 10, Starmer criticised 14 years of self-entitlement under the Tories and said: The very first thing Id do is change the mindset of politics, and the mindset needs to be politics of service.

Labours opinion poll lead over the Tories has hovered around the 20-point mark for most of the election campaign and the Tory strategy has shifted towards preventing bleeding votes to Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, and saving as many MPs as possible to form an effective opposition.

In a last-ditch attempt to rally wavering Conservative voters, Mr Sunak will claim in a speech later on Tuesday that just 130,000 voters could prevent a Labour supermajority.

Earlier, he said predictions of a Tory defeat were not going to stop me after the likelihood of his return to Downing Street was put at less than lightning striking twice in the same place by a leading pollster.
Government leaders of Poland and Germany held wide bilateral consultations aimed at giving a new impulse to neighbourly relations that sagged under Polands previous government, and to jointly declare responsibility for Europes security in turbulent times.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz travelled with 12 ministers and government members, including Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, for the meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday.

We bring a very clear message: Germany and Poland are good neighbours, close partners and reliable friends. And we want to create a new dynamic for our cooperation, Mr Scholz told a joint news conference with Mr Tusk.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, centre left, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, centre right, review the guard of honour in Warsaw (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

He stressed that close partnership between Germany and Poland is very important to us.

The two pro-European leaders were tightening ties at a time when support is surging in Europe for eurosceptic far-right parties and days after a first round of parliamentary elections in France brought the far right there closer than ever to government.

Wide bilateral consultations between Germany and Poland were most recently held in November 2018.

After that, Polands right-wing government that was in power until last year adopted a hostile attitude toward Berlin, accusing Germany of excessive influence on European Union decision-making, and focusing on demanding some 1.3 trillion dollars in reparations for the losses that Nazi German occupation caused Poland during the Second World War.

Mr Tusks government, which took office in December, is taking steps to mend the ties.

They gained special significance in the face of Russias war on Ukraine, just across Polands and the 27-member EUs eastern border, and pressure of irregular migration from the Middle East and Africa, which Poland and the EU say is a part of Russias and ally Belarus hybrid war on Europe.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk attend a press conference after German-Polish inter-governmental consultations (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

Mr Tusk, a former EU Council head, said that Polands and the continents security was his priority and that no one should have any doubts as to the importance of good cooperation in this area between Poland and Germany.

Mr Tusk said it was with great satisfaction that he heard Mr Scholzs declaration that Germany is ready to take co-responsibility for the security of Polands eastern border, through investment into the infrastructure and other security needs there.

He criticised European countries for lacking coordination and determination in taking steps for the continents joint security.

The security of Germany and Poland is inextricably linked. This means that Polands security is also Germanys security, Mr Scholz said.

This is what we stand for as neighbours, as Nato allies and as partners in the European Union.

Our solidarity and our joint action are our common strength, he added.

Mr Scholz also pledged to take measures to support the surviving victims of the German attack and occupation in the years 1939-45 in Poland and to strengthen remembrance and commemoration of our painful shared history by commemorating the Polish victims through the establishment of a German-Polish House that is intended to be a visible sign against forgetting and a warning for the future.
China and the Philippines held a crucial meeting on Tuesday to try and ease escalating tensions following their worst confrontation in the disputed South China Sea that sparked fears of a wider conflict that could involve Manilas ally the US.

There was no mention of any major agreement to try to prevent a repeat of the chaotic June 17 clash at Second Thomas Shoal that caused injuries to Filipino navy personnel and damaged two military boats.

The shoal off the northwestern Philippines has emerged as the most dangerous flashpoint in the disputed waters, which China claims virtually in its entirety.

Chinese naval and civilian vessels have surrounded the Philippine marines aboard a grounded ship, tried to prevent their resupply and demanded the Philippines pull out.

The Chinese and Philippine delegations affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement late on Tuesday.

There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain.

Philippine Foreign undersecretary Theresa Lazaro told her Chinese counterpart, vice foreign minister Chen Xiaodong, that the Philippines will be relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the South China Sea, according to the Philippine side.

An agreement was signed to improve communications during emergencies at sea and both sides agreed to continue talks on enhancing ties between their coast guards but no details were provided.

There was also another confidence-building plan to convene an academic forum among scientists and academics to improve marine scientific cooperation.

Ahead of the meeting, the Philippines planned to formally ask Chinas delegation to return at least seven rifles that Chinese coast guard personnel seized during the June 17 faceoff at the shoal and pay for damage, a Philippine official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to discuss the sensitive matter publicly.

The Asian neighbours agreed to hold what they call the Bicameral Consultative Mechanism meetings, first held in 2017, to peacefully manage their conflicts.

But the high-sea confrontations have persisted especially under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who, unlike his predecessor, has nurtured closer military and defence ties with the US as a counterweight to China.

Apart from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also lay overlapping claims to the strategic sea, which has rich fishing areas and potentially more deposits of gas than what has been found mostly in the fringes by a few coastal states so far.

Sporadic confrontations have flared between Chinese forces and those of Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia in the past but the Southeast Asian nations have resisted aggressively confronting China for fear of destabilising their substantial economic ties.

Under Mr Marcos, who took office in 2022, the Philippines launched a campaign to expose aggressive Chinese actions by making public videos and photographs and allowing journalists to join coast guard patrol ships, which have figured in dangerous faceoffs with Beijings forces.

The US has no claims to the contested waters, but it has deployed warships and fighter jets for patrols that it says aim to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight and to reassure allies like the Philippines and Japan, which also has territorial disputes with China over islands in the East China Sea.

After last months confrontation in Second Thomas Shoal, where Chinese forces were caught on video brandishing machetes, an axe and improvised spears, Washington renewed a warning that its obligated to help defend the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty if Filipino forces, including the coast guard, come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

Mr Marcos said the Chinese actions would not activate the treaty because no shots were fired.
The deputy leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has said the only sure path to a ceasefire on the Lebanon-Israel border is a full ceasefire in Gaza.

If there is a ceasefire in Gaza, we will stop without any discussion, Hezbollahs deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, said in an interview with The Associated Press at the groups political office in Beiruts southern suburbs.

Hezbollahs participation in the Israel-Hamas war has been as a support front for its ally, Hamas, Sheikh Kassem said, and if the war stops, this military support will no longer exist.

But, he said, if Israel scales back its military operations without a formal ceasefire agreement and full withdrawal from Gaza, the implications for the Lebanon-Israel border conflict are less clear.

Israel can decide what it wants: limited war, total war, partial war

If what happens in Gaza is a mix between ceasefire and no ceasefire, war and no war, we cant answer (how we would react) now, because we dont know its shape, its results, its impacts, Sheikh Kassem said during a 40-minute interview.

In recent weeks, with Gaza ceasefire talks faltering, fears have increased of an escalation on the Lebanon-Israel front.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily strikes with Israeli forces along their border over the past nine months. The low-level conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.

In northern Israel, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed; in Lebanon, more than 450 people  mostly fighters but also dozens of civilians  have been killed.

Months of internationally brokered Gaza ceasefire talks have repeatedly failed. Hamas has demanded an end to the war, and not just a pause in fighting, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to make such a commitment until Israel realises its goals of destroying Hamass military and governing capabilities and brings home the roughly 120 hostages still held by Hamas.

Last month, the Israeli army said it has approved and validated plans for an offensive in Lebanon if no diplomatic solution is reached to the ongoing clashes. Any decision to launch such an operation would have to come from the countrys political leadership.

Hezbollahs deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beiruts southern suburbs, Lebanon, on Tuesday (Bilal Hussein/AP)

Some Israeli officials have said they are seeking a diplomatic solution to the standoff and hope to avoid war. At the same time, they have warned that the scenes of destruction seen in Gaza will be repeated in Lebanon if war breaks out.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, is far more powerful than Hamas and believed to have a vast arsenal of rockets and missiles capable of striking anywhere in Israel.

Sheikh Kassem said he does not believe that Israel has the ability or has made a decision to launch a war at present. He warned that even if Israel intends to launch a limited operation in Lebanon that stops short of a full-scale war, it should not expect the fighting to remain limited.

Israel can decide what it wants: limited war, total war, partial war, he said.

But it should expect that our response and our resistance will not be within a ceiling and rules of engagement set by Israel  If Israel wages the war, it means it doesnt control its extent or who enters into it.

The latter was an apparent reference to Hezbollahs allies in the Iran-backed so-called axis of resistance in the region.

Armed groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere  and, potentially, Iran itself  could enter the fray in the event of a full-scale war in Lebanon, which might also pull in Israels strongest ally, the United States.

US and European diplomats have made a circuit between Lebanon and Israel for months in an attempt to ward off a wider conflict.

Sheikh Kassem said he met on Saturday Germanys deputy chief of intelligence, Ole Dieh, in Beirut. US officials do not meet directly with Hezbollah because Washington has designated it a terrorist group, but they regularly send messages via intermediaries.

Sheikh Kassem said White House envoy Amos Hochstein had recently requested through intermediaries that Hezbollah apply pressure on Hamas to accept a ceasefire and hostage-exchange proposal put forward by President Joe Biden. He said Hezbollah had rejected the request.

Hamas is the one that makes its decisions and whoever wants to ask for something should talk to it directly, he said.

Sheikh Kassem criticised US efforts to find a resolution to the war in Gaza, saying it has backed Israels plans to end Hamass presence in Gaza. A constructive deal, he said, would aim to end the war, get Israel to withdraw from Gaza, and ensure the release of hostages.

Once a ceasefire is reached, then a political track can determine the arrangements inside Gaza and on the front with Lebanon, he added.
Clashes in Mauritania between security forces and protesters rallying against the re-election of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani left three people dead, authorities said on Tuesday.

An unspecified number of people were reported injured.

Following the clashes, mobile internet access was blocked on Tuesday as authorities vowed to arrest those behind the violence.

The protests broke out late on Monday in parts of the northwestern African country after Mr Ghazouani was declared winner of the presidential election.

His main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, a renowned anti-slavery activist, rejected the outcome and claimed the result was falsified.

Women sit behind an electoral banner for Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, during a campaign rally before the presidential elections. The banner reads: There is no place for people embezzling public funds any more (Mamsy Elkeihel

Authorities said security forces in the southern city of Kaedi  the countrys largest and an opposition stronghold with an overwhelming black majority  confronted the demonstrators, the ministry of interior said, and several arrests were made.

The ministry did not identify the three people killed in the violence or elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths.

Demonstrations also broke out in the towns of Nouadhibou, Rosso Zoueirat and Boghe, all also Abeid strongholds.

Kaedi last night saw violent acts of vandalism and sabotage of public and private property, scenes of looting and a general climate of fear which led the security forces to confront it and arrest several demonstrators, the ministry said in a statement.

The prosecutors office will open an investigation to determine the circumstances of these events and the death of the demonstrators, the ministry added.

Mr Ghazouani, who had campaigned on a pledge of providing security and economic growth, won 56% of the votes while Mr Abeid received 22%, the electoral commission said on Monday. Mr Abeid promptly called for peaceful demonstrations and peaceful gatherings.

The commission  which includes representatives of political parties  dismissed the opposition claims about voting irregularities.

Three international election observation missions also said in their preliminary statements on Monday that the voting was held in a peaceful and transparent atmosphere.

Mr Ghazouani has been accused by his opponents of corruption and mismanagement, but remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability amid regional tensions, with several neighboring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence.

For centuries, Mauritanias economic and political elite of Arab and Amazigh people enslaved black people from the northwestern Sahara.

Mauritania outlawed slavery in 1981, the last country in the world to do so, but the practice continues, human rights groups say. There are around 149,000 people held in conditions of slavery in this nation of less than five million, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index.






IHG HOTELS & RESORTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE V&A WATERFRONT BRING INTERCONTINENTAL BRAND TO CAPE TOWN (South Africa) Set to open in 2025 after refurbishment, InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will build on the legacy of the property and write a new era of luxury hospitality in the country. IHG HOTELS & RESORTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE V&A WATERFRONT BRING INTERCONTINENTAL BRAND TO CAPE TOWN (South Africa) Set to open in 2025 after refurbishment, InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will build on the legacy of the property and write a new era of luxury hospitality in the country. South Africa - Industry economy - New brands / Affiliations

This is a press release Category: Africa Indian Ocean This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2024-07-02



IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the worlds leading hotel companies, has announced the debut of the InterContinental brand in Cape Town with the signing of InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town, marking a significant milestone in IHGs luxury portfolio.



Inaugurated in May 1997 by former South African president Nelson Mandela, the renowned Table Bay Hotel has consistently set the benchmark for world-class hospitality.



Located in the heart of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a mixed-use destination in the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, the hotel has long been admired as one of the citys most luxurious properties.



InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will open in Q4 2025 following a multimillion-dollar redevelopment by the V & A Waterfront.



The hotel will be managed by Sun International under a hotel management agreement.



Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: This marks a significant chapter for us in the African market. Its a privilege to bring one of Cape Towns beloved properties under the InterContinental brand as the first in the city. With its rich history, scenic location, and a legacy of excellence, this iconic property perfectly embodies the essence of the InterContinental brand, and we are excited to work with V&A Waterfront and Sun international on maintaining its legacy.



David Green, CEO of V&A Waterfront, said: We are delighted to see this uniquely located hotel undergo an extensive transformation to re-launch under the prestigious InterContinental brand. The Waterfront be investing in excess of R1 billion to refurbish and convert the existing Table Bay Hotel into an InterContinental. IHGs global expertise and standards and the all-important IHG One Loyalty program will attract additional international visitors to Cape Town. We are confident that the prestigious InterContinental brand will elevate the hotels standing and bolster the overarching tourism ambitions here in Cape Town. We are also pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Sun International who will manage the hotel on our behalf, and we are firmly of the view that their collaboration with IHG will enhance the operating performance and customer experience of this iconic Hotel.



Sun International CEO Anthony Leeming said, For almost 30 years we have been the proud owner and operator of The Table Bay Hotel. We have successfully positioned the hotel as one of the most iconic, award-winning hotels in Cape Town. We have hosted dignitaries, heads of state, celebrities and families who have returned year after year because they loved the experience.



We are extremely excited to be part of this incredible hotels transformative journey to becoming an InterContinental hotel, in what is undeniably one of the best hotel addresses in the world !



Under IHGs luxury brand, InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town becomes the latest member of its global IHG One Rewards loyalty program.



The hotel will feature 306 rooms, including 45 new guests suites, with unparalleled views of the harbour, Table Mountain, and the Atlantic Ocean.



The hotel will feature a new elevated pool bar and terrace, together with a signature spa, and a Intercontinental Executive Loyalty Club Floor and Lounge. In addition, all the reception areas and restaurants will be reimagined.



With its prime location, guests also have direct access to the vibrant V&A Waterfronts array of shops, restaurants, and attractions, drawing millions of visitors annually.



As an integral addition to the IHG portfolio, the InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town will uphold the hotels legacy of exceptional hospitality and cultural immersion, continuing its commitment to offering travellers unforgettable service, cuisine, and luxury experiences. About IHG IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.



With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,300 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a development pipeline of over 2,000 properties. Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo

Premium: voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels

Essentials: Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Garner hotels, avid hotels

Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites

Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 375,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.









[ InterContinental Table Bay ]



[Website of the company which publishes this press release]




By:

A coalition of student groups at the University of Michigan say Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is now looking into possible charges against students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on the Ann Arbor campus, which her office has confirmed for the Michigan Advance.

The TAHRIR Coalition, made up of more than 80 student groups, held a press conference on the grounds of the First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor, where they continued to press their case that the university should divest itself, both financially and academically, from the state of Israel over its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

[University President Santa] Ono and the regents are materially supporting horrifying crimes against humanity, and they are doing it in the name of profit, said Jaredo Eno of the Graduate Employees Organization, one of the coalition members. The campus community has spoken on this over and over and over and has said time and again, we do not want to profit from mass murder.

The efforts of the protesters have included a sit-in last November at Onos office, which resulted in felony charges being brought against four individuals, and an encampment that was broken up by campus police in May that led to four arrests.



Rhiannon Willow, a PhD student and research assistant in the Physics Department, speaks at TAHRIR Coalition Call to Action. July 1, 2024. Photo by Jon King

While no charges were filed by Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savits office in the encampment confrontation, Eno said the university was not deterred in seeking to repress and silence them, including asking Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to press charges against protesters.

We do not know how many people they have asked for charges against or what those charges are, but we have confirmed that U of Ms police department has requested warrants for criminal charges from the state AGs office against people who are trying to stop the university from funding genocide, said Eno. Its clear that Ono and the regents will use any tool that they can grasp at to silence those who refuse to be complicit in this. This is shameful, and this is dangerous behavior from our supposed leaders.

Danny Wimmer, a spokesperson for the AGs Office, confirmed that they are looking into the activities of students in Ann Arbor and elsewhere.

Our department is reviewing a number of cases involving protest activity around the University of Michigan, Wimmer told the Advance. As has been reported in the media, protesters have engaged in similar activities in multiple southeast Michigan counties and prosecutorial venues, and our office is uniquely situated to review multijurisdictional cases in their totality.



U of M graduate Simrun Bose speaks at TAHRIR Coalition Call to Action. July 1, 2024. Photo by Jon King

A request for comment was also sent to the University of Michigan, but has yet to be returned.

Protesters actions have also included coalition members appearing outside the homes of U of Ms Board of Regents, including Chair Sarah Hubbard and Regent Jordan Acker.

Ackers office was also the target of vandalism in early June, although the coalition did not take credit for it and no suspects in that case have been identified.

Rhiannon Willow, a PhD student and research assistant in the physics department, was one of the students arrested during the clearing of the encampment, saying officers had slammed my forehead and chin forcefully against the ground, which caused a long lasting and extremely debilitating concussion as well as injuries to my neck and jaw, which have still not fully healed.

While no charges were filed against Willow, she was banned from campus for a year, which she says will complicate efforts at finishing her PhD dissertation. However, Willow told the Advance that she too is now concerned about state-level charges.

I believe whats happening is that, knowing that the Eli Savits office declined those charges, I think thats why theyre going to the AGs office, she said. Theyre trying to make it harder for us to keep going, and it seems that the campus bans are unfortunately pretty effective because now so many of us literally cant set foot on campus or well get arrested immediately.

Also speaking was Simrun Bose, who graduated in May, but says she was among more than two dozen students notified in mid-May that the university was pursuing disciplinary action against them for participating in either the Nov.17 sit-in.

Bose said the university flagrantly violated their own procedures when she alleges they forced the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) to start disciplinary proceedings without a formal complaint having been received, and that when one was finally submitted, it was weeks after the six-month deadline.

Weirdest of all, the university representative who submitted the complaint was not a student, staff, or faculty member, once again violating OSCRs own procedural guidelines, said Bose. Instead, the complainant was a California-based consultant who does not seem to have any knowledge of the events of Nov. 17. Hiring this consultant to do the regents dirty work is a cowardly move to avoid responsibility, and possibly is in violation of federal privacy laws.



Jaredo Eno of the Graduate Employees Organization speaks at TAHRIR Coalition Call to Action. July 1, 2024. Photo by Jon King.

The coalition contends the consultant, Omar E. Torres of Grand River Solutions, was not a student, faculty, or staff member, violating the universitys own policy about who can file a formal complaint. However, they allege only after the fact was he then added to the faculty. An online check shows a listing for Omar Estrada Torres in the universitys human resources department.

A message was also sent to Torres for comment that has not been returned.

Bose says OSCR is forcing students to either accept responsibility or be subject to a formal hearing.

I havent made my decision yet, Bose said. I have a lot of questions about how this consultant even got this information in the first place that I would hope to be answered before Im able to make a decision.

Meanwhile, Eno urged the community to show their support for the coalitions efforts and keep up the pressure on the university to change its policies.

We cannot endure continued support for this genocide, he said. So, we will keep fighting for divestment, and we will keep fighting to keep each other safe, because as youve heard from folks, that is exactly the type of world that we are trying to build and nurture through this coalition and its work. So, well keep fighting.


By Jonathan Este, The Conversation | 

Fighting continues in central and southern Gaza, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to encounter resistance from units of Hamas fighters, despite a recent assessment by the Israeli government that the intense phase of the ground offensive is drawing to a close. The IDF will now switch to conducting raids, according to military sources posting on social media. This will mean keeping two divisions in Gaza.

One of the key operations that the IDF now envisages will be finding and destroying the remaining tunnels through which Hamas fighters continue to be supplied with arms and ammunition from Egypt. It is estimated this could take several months to achieve.

Meanwhile, speaking to Israeli television on June 23, Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said units would redeploy to Israels border with Lebanon to confront Hezbollah. Exchanges of fire with the Iran-backed militant group have become more and more intense in recent weeks.

But Netanyahu said this doesnt mean the war is about to end. He stressed that fighting in Gaza would continue until Hamas was completely driven from power.



Institute for the Study of War



Scott Lucas, an expert in Middle East security at University College Dublin, says there are increasing indications of a difference of opinion between the prime minister and the IDF leadership. Speaking to a different television channel on June 19, a spokesman for the IDF, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the aim of eradicating Gazas leadership was unattainable.

This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear  its simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public. Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. Its rooted in the hearts of the people  anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.

Lucas says the IDF subsequently rowed back on this position, releasing a statement insisting that Hagari had merely spoken about eradicating Hamas as an ideology and an idea. But with political tensions threatening the unity of the governing coalition and the increasingly intense conflict with Hezbollah brewing on Israels northern border and no sign of a workable ceasefire deal or the release of hostages, pressure on Netanyahu is mounting steadily.

Gaza Update is available as a fortnightly email newsletter. Click here to get our updates directly in your inbox.

The IDF could see its numbers boosted up up to 60,000 more young people, after Israels supreme court ruled that ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jewish men must be conscripted to do military service like every other young man and woman when they reach the age of 18. The exemption has existed as long as the state of Israel, writes John Strawson, an expert in Israeli politics who has addressed the key issues.

Al Jazeera English Video: Israel-Hezbollah tensions: Near daily exchange of fire affecting livelihoods

Its a highly contentious issue and one that could crack Netanyahus shaky coalition wide open. As Strawson explains, ultra-Orthodox political parties have been part of almost every government for decades, wielding power out of all proportion to the roughly 13% of the population they represent. Two of those parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), have been crucial to keeping Israels longest-serving prime minister in power. And they are adamant that this judgment will not stand.

But Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, has made it clear that he agrees with the supreme court and will vote against any law that Netanyahu brings forward to counteract the judgment. Strawson says theres now a big question mark over how long the two sides can remain in the same government, particularly given the intensity of feeling among Israels secular Jews, the vast majority of whom have long bitterly opposed the exemption.

Tensions on the Lebanon border

Meanwhile, if the intense phase of the Gaza conflict is coming to an end, there is an increasing intensity to the exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah over the border between Israel and Lebanon.

Most of the focus of this war has rightly been on the victims of the October 7 attack and the many, many Gazans killed or forced to flee their homes. Meanwhile more than 60,000 Israeli citizens in the north of the country have also been displaced, thousands of buildings destroyed or severely damaged and thousands of acres of orchards and forest burned. Some 28 Israeli civilians have been killed.

Michael Ben-Gad, an expert in economics and Israeli national security, sees the hand of Iran behind the escalation in Hezbollah violence. He explains that while Hamas is supported and funded by Iran, Hezbollah is pretty much an extension of Irans Revolutionary Guard. Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, is effectively Irans proconsul in the Levant.

The last time Israel and Hezbollah went to war was in 2006, a conflict which was brought to an end by UN security council resolution 1701, under which Hezbollah agreed to disarm and give way to the regular Lebanese army. None of this happened, but the two sides have avoided an all-out conflict since.

Ben-Gad is concerned that the calculus in Tehran now appears to have changed. With the US looking to disengage from the Middle East and focus more directly on the Pacific, Iran has reactivated its nuclear programme. Hezbollah meanwhile, presumably with the backing of Iran, is talking of targeting Haifa, Israels third-largest city and biggest port. An attack on Haifa would mean all-out war  a conflict in which there would arguably only be one winner: Iran.

An all-out conflict with Hezbollah would effectively mean Israel would be fighting a war on two  maybe even three  fronts. As we have seen, there is realistically no end in sight to the military operation in Gaza which is costly both in terms of soldiers and arms and ammunition. But there is also the possibility that unrest in the West Bank, where violence is beginning to spiral out of control, could erupt into a full-scale intifada. The presence on the West Bank of an estimated 700,000 illegal settlers means IDF resources are tied up protecting them.

Simon Mabon, who specialises in Middle East security at Lancaster University, thinks Israel is currently ill-equipped to take on Hezbollah as well. While Israel can still count of the support of Washington, with Joe Biden facing a tight re-election campaign, he is under pressure to calm things down. And a fresh conflict engulfing Lebanon is not something the White House would view with any relish. Mabon addresses the key issues here.

Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor, The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  I may not have a law degree, but I do know a great deal from personal experience (as a pioneering blogger) and wide reading about the internet. So the passage about presidential tweets in the Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity in Trump v. United States caught my eye.

The court depended on Nixon v. Fitzgerald (1982) in upholding absolute presidential immunity from civil suits for actions taken as part of the fulfillment of the core duties of the presidency. That ruling noted, The Presidents absolute immunity extends to all acts within the outer perimeter of his duties of office. The case arose because Ernie Fitzgerald was an Air Force contractor who in 1968 and 1969 testified before Congress on cost overruns. In short, he was a whistleblower. Nixon had him fired for disloyalty, which was surely improper. But SCOTUS ruled that Nixon could not be sued civilly for the firing because it came under the heading of his official duties, though perhaps it was located in that exotic and mysterious penumbra of presidential duties it described as the outer perimeter. Dangerously, it did not specify the outer limits of the outer perimeter, giving Burgers distant successor John Roberts an opening to scoop everything up into it. Fitzgerald did not hold that presidents had immunity from criminal prosecution. The then chief justice was a Nixon appointee, Warren E. Burger.

The ruling did not give Trump absolute immunity from prosecution for his attempted overthrow of the US government on January 6, 2021, but it did put certain actions and conversations off the table for prosecution. Thus, his attempt to coerce his acting attorney general, and any conversations he had with the AG attempting to browbeat him into overturning the election, and his summary firing of the AG for not going along, were declared within the scope of Trumps immunity. Wait  what?

Thats bad.

So now we come to tweets. Yes, presidential tweets. For younger readers I should explain that Elon Musks X, which is sort of a stationary TikTok for decrepit people, used in yet more ancient times to be called Twitter, and posting (i.e. writing short public messages) used on that platform to be referred to as tweeting.

Roberts writes, The indictment also contains various allegations regarding Trumps conduct in connection with the events of January 6 itself. The alleged conduct largely consists of Trumps communications in the form of Tweets and a public address.

OK, that grabbed my attention. What about it?

The President possesses extraordinary power to speak to his fellow citizens and on their behalf. Trump v. Hawaii, 585 U. S. 667, 701. So most of a Presidents public communications are likely to fall comfortably within the outer perimeter of his official responsibilities.

There is Burgers amorphous outer perimeter! It extends to tweets, the Roberts court maintains! I mean, have they read that maniacs tweets when he was in office?

Then they back off at least a little bit: There may, however, be contexts in which the President speaks in an unofficial capacity - perhaps as a candidate for office or party leader. To the extent that may be the case, objective analysis of content, form, and context will necessarily in- form the inquiry. Snyder v. Phelps, 562 U. S. 443, 453.

So it all comes down to whether a tweet was sent out by Trump in his capacity as head of the Republican Party or whether it was a presidential communication.

Roberts concludes, Whether the communications alleged in the indictment involve official conduct may depend on the content and context of each. This necessarily factbound analysis is best performed initially by the District Court. The Court therefore remands to the District Court to determine in the first in- stance whether this alleged conduct is official or unofficial.

Trump tweeted numerous times on January 6, and his ravings are preserved here.

Let me just speculate that this one, at 5 am on January 6, was unofficial: Get smart Republicans. FIGHT! Just personally, I also think it is seditious, since the election was over and I cant imagine what it would mean to fight two weeks before the inauguration except hand to hand in the street.

At 6 am he was peddling his ridiculous theory that Mike Pence could overturn Bidens election: If Vice President @Mike_Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency. Many States want to decertify the mistake they made in certifying incorrect & even fraudulent numbers in a process NOT approved by their State Legislatures (which it must be). Mike can send it back!

Again, that seems seditious and also not an official communication of the presidency since it is about winning the presidency (which he had long since lost) and so must be about his leadership of the Republican Party.

And more sedition even after the Capitol was invaded by vindictive mobs from whom Josh Hawley ran a 2 minute mile:

Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!

Id bet you that the the far right fascists on the court might even find that one (sung to the tune of hang Mike Pence) to be in the outer perimeter of the presidency.

Which just underlines the degree to which this court has plunged the country into the Outer Limits or the Twilight Zone of dark horror.

Featured image: Digital, Dream, Dreamworld v. 3, 2024.
Highlights:

Field teams identified copper-bearing outcrop porphyry in the central part of the IP Embayment Zone, a previously undrilled and highly prospective area

The Company has intersected disseminated and vein hosted chalcopyrite mineralization at depth on the margins of the IP Embayment Zone, in Drill hole NAK24-19

IP Embayment Zone, in the southeastern area of the NAK project, will be elevated as a priority target for further exploration and drilling.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - - July 2, 2024 - American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE) (OTCQB: AMEGF) ("American Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a potentially significant discovery of outcropping copper mineralization at its NAK project in west-central B.C. As a follow-up to an Induced Polarization survey conducted in 2024 that highlighted a new area of interest designated the IP Embayment Zone ("IPE Zone"). American Eagle deployed field teams to the IPE Zone, where they discovered three widely separated outcrops of copper-bearing porphyry outcrops. (read more here).

Further, American Eagle reports that drill hole NAK24-19 which was drilled to target the western margin of the IP Embayment Zone (see Figure 2) has encountered chalcopyrite mineralization below 700 m down-hole that is similar to the outcropping mineralization and mineralization encountered in NAK's North and South Zone target areas.

Figure 1 - NAK Plan Map Highlighting IP Embayment Zone Target

Figure 2 - IP Chargeability Cross Section Showing IP Embayment

These discoveries and the results from drill hole NAK23-09 drilled 300 metres to the northeast of the a mineralized outcrop provide compelling reasons to continue exploration and drilling of the IPE Zone.

Update on NAK24-18, 19 and -20

Visual observations of NAK24-18, -19 and -20 drill core are consistent with observations from 2023's drill holes and reinforce the notion that the more gold-rich South Zone and the more copper-rich North Zone are linked. The first three deep holes of the program have now been completed, with all holes exceeding 900 metres in depth. Drilling continues, with one rig testing the undrilled ground between the historical North and South Zones, and one rig delineating the near-surface gold-rich mineralization in the South zone, while data from the IPE zone is collected and interpreted. (read more here).

Details of NAK's 2024 Drill Program:

The ongoing 2024 drill program, currently planned for 15,000 metres, will aim to link, better define, and expand upon the historical North and South zones, which the Company showed in its 2022 and 2023 drill programs to extend to considerable depths (close to 950 m below surface) along a strike length of 750 m and across a width of 400 m. Intercepts from 2023 include 900 m of 0.50% Copper Equivalent from surface in the North zone (Link to NAK23-12 News Release) and 302 metres of 1.09% Copper Equivalent within 606 m of 0.74% Copper Equivalent starting from 98 metres downhole in the South Zone (Link to NAK23-17 News Release).

About American Eagle's NAK Project

The NAK Project lies within the Babine copper-gold porphyry district of central British Columbia. It has excellent infrastructure through all-season roads and is close to the towns of Smithers, Houston, and Burns Lake, B.C., which lie along a major rail line and Provincial Highway 16. Historical drilling and geophysical, geological, and geochemical work at NAK, which began in the 1960's, tested only to shallow depths. Still, the work revealed a very large near-surface copper-gold system that measures over 1.5 km x 1.5 km. Drilling completed in 2022 and 2023 by American Eagle has returned significant intervals of high-grade copper-gold mineralization that lie beyond the extent of historical drilling, indicating that several zones of near-surface and deeper mineralization, locally with considerably higher grades, exist within the broader NAK property mineralizing system.

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About American Eagle Gold Corp.

American Eagle is focused on exploring its NAK copper-gold porphyry project in west-central British Columbia, Canada.

Anthony Moreau, Chief Executive Officer

416.644.1567

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www.americaneaglegold.ca

Q.P. Statement

Mark Bradley, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., a Certified Professional Geologist and 'qualified person' for the purposes of Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties, has verified and approved the information contained in this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding whether the Company will be able to complete the Offering as anticipated, the receipt of regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, to complete the Offering, the intended use of proceeds and intended drill program or its anticipated results at the Company's NAK project, the ability of the Company to make the qualifying expenditures as anticipated by management, and other matters ancillary or incidental to the foregoing. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results might differ materially from those suggested in forward-looking statements. American Eagle Gold Corp. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to American Eagle Gold Corp. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by American Eagle Gold Corp. with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under American Eagle Gold Corp. profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2024) - Canter Resources Corp. (CSE: CRC) (OTC Pink: CNRCF) (FSE: 6O1) ("Canter" or the "Company") is pleased to report additional brine assay results from the Company's completed 15-hole Phase I shallow Geoprobe drill program at its Columbus Lithium-Boron Project ("Columbus" or the "Project"), located near Tonopah, Nevada. The Company has now received all brine assays corresponding to its Phase I program with clay assay results pending for nine (9) holes.

Brine Assay Highlights & Takeaways:

Highest Grades to Date: The latest brine assay results include the highest boron ("B") and lithium ("Li") values from Phase I, with total concentrations up to 3,140 mg/L B and 76.4 mg/L Li (see Summary of Results section for analysis and interpretations).

Consistent Brine Aquifers: Two shallow aquifer horizons (<100 feet ("ft") / 30.5 metres ("m")) were intersected at similar depths in most of the drill holes (see Figures 1-2).

Boron Grades Increasing with Depth: The six (6) new assay results at depths > 55 ft (16.8 m) in the central grid of drill holes averaged 558 mg/L B, with two 651 mg/L B samples collected at 86 ft (26.2 m) and 93 ft (28.3 m), respectively (see Figure 2).

Significant Lateral Extent: Higher grade boron and lithium-enriched brines were encountered in drilling located more than five (5) kilometres ("km") west of the central grid, demonstrating the potential for lateral continuity of individual aquifer horizons and widespread mineralization.

Geochemical & Geological Model: Dynamic geochemical system in which boron preferentially precipitates in shallow zones, with the primary target zones for significant lithium concentrations remaining at greater depths in deeper aquifers and structural traps.

"The latest brine results from this shallow interval have provided us with valuable geochemical data for our 3D model and deeper targeting, while consistently intersecting shallow aquifer zones and demonstrating the multi-commodity upside at Columbus," stated Canter CEO, Joness Lang. "The exceptional boron grades near surface show significant mineral resource potential in the upper levels of the system and the increasing downhole lithium concentrations further support our model and deeper drilling plans. We look forward to receiving the clay results and launching a focused 10-hole follow-up Phase II program in the coming weeks."

Summary of Results: Observations and Interpretations

Initial observations suggest a dynamic geochemical system in which boron preferentially precipitates in shallow zones. The preliminary results and discovery of high-grade boron along with elevated barium and potassium in the upper brine generation layer indicate distinct solubility and mobility patterns for lithium and boron and supports the underlying basin deposit model. Boron tends to precipitate and bind in clays at shallow depths, influenced by pH and reducing conditions while lithium is expected to remain more soluble and migrates towards deeper aquifers and structural traps.

The water sampling program from this Phase I campaign suggests significant multi-commodity potential with widespread near-surface lithium and boron mineralization in brines (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Plan view showing brine results only with new assays corresponding to red Drill ID labels.

The additional brine assay results further demonstrate the potential for very significant boron concentrations in the shallow aquifers at Columbus, with new high-grade (>600 mg/L B) results consistently obtained from the northern half of the central drilling grid and peak total values of 1,730 mg/L and 3,140 mg/L B more than five (5) kms to the west. New lithium results from the western grid ranged from 4.2 to 76.4 mg/L Li and, while more modest grade (6 to 24 mg/L Li), the new brine results from the central grid showed increasing lithium concentration trends at depth (total and dissolved), which further supports the Company's deposit model at Columbus and higher-grade lithium targets at more moderate depths.

Central Drilling Grid

A total of nine (9) holes were completed in the central grid. The new brine results to the north of an interpreted brine mixing boundary are favourable and indicate significant mineralization potential, with high boron grades and anomalous lithium, both increasing at depth (see Figure 2). The findings within this grid are consistent within the 0.5 ohm-metre and 0.3 ohm-metre areas of the geophysical anomaly, with an interpreted third aquifer zone just below the limits of drilling from Phase I at 100-150 ft (approximately 30-45 m). The total lithium values also show a narrowing range and an increase in dissolved lithium numbers with depth, suggesting lithium is beginning to show signs of further precipitation at deeper levels. Specific drill holes and depths highlight these trends, providing valuable data for ongoing exploration efforts.

Figure 2 - Long section view (looking west) of central drilling grid showing interpreted aquifer zones, inferred structure and brine mixing boundary, increasing Li-B concentration trends and interpretive shallow aquifer zones including a third favourable horizon (based on previous downhole geophysics) that will be tested in Phase II.

Western Drilling Grid

Drilling in the western grid (six holes), located approximately five (5) km west of the central grid, was designed in part to test the inferred open-ended projection of the HSAMT anomaly (see press release April 8, 2024). Significant mineralization was observed, with peak boron values reaching up to 3,140 mg/L B (CB24-018G) and 1,730 mg/L B (CB24-022G). CB24-021G also returned consistent boron at multiple depths (499 mg/L and 596 mg/L B) located directly due west from the HSAMT projection (see Figure 1). Total lithium concentrations ranged from 4.2 to 76.4 mg/L Li (consistently > 15 mg/L), underpinning the potential for widespread mineralization laterally.

Table 1 - Brine Assay Highlights from Phase I Shallow Drilling at Columbus

Notes: Differences in detection limits are due to the Dilution Factor (DF) being used. (x) = Duplicate. Total solids encompass all the solid matter, both dissolved and suspended, found in water, including organic and inorganic substances. In contrast, dissolved solids refer specifically to the portion of total solids that are soluble in water, such as salts, minerals, and some organic materials, passing through a filter and remaining in solution. The highly anomalous results from CB24-018G were retested at the request of the Company and they were confirmed and validated by WetLabs internal QA/QC.

Summary

The brine results have been incorporated into the Company's 3D model and are being analyzed to help with the precision for deeper drilling at Columbus.

The Company's general thesis at Columbus, supported by deposit analogues plus historical and new data at the Project, suggests boron-rich upper levels, overlapping transition zones (potential for both elevated lithium and boron concentrations), followed by an increase/decrease in lithium and boron, respectively, in deeper aquifer zones.

Boron: Established Market, Emerging Applications & Strategic Importance

The boron market is rapidly emerging as a critical mineral due to its use in numerous high-tech and clean energy applications, making the presence of high-grade boron mineralization at Columbus potentially significant. The Columbus Project hosted historical borax production and shares the same volcanic source rocks that feed Ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project ($240M USD market capitalization).

The boron market is expected to grow to more than $3 billion USD by 20271, with Rio Tinto's US Borax and Turkey's state-owned Eti Maden producing an estimated 85% of global supply.2

To learn more about boron and its more than 300 applications, visit the Company's Boron 101 webpage.

Disclaimer Note: Mineralization at nearby or adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted at the Company's Columbus Project.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)

In a continued commitment to ensuring the highest standards of data accuracy and reliability, the Company has implemented a rigorous quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocol for both groundwater and sediment sampling and analysis. This initiative is designed to enhance the precision and credibility of sampling techniques and assay results.

Upon reaching the target lithology depth during drilling, groundwater sampling is initiated with care to avoid surpassing the designated zone. Utilizing a drive-point screen sampler or mechanical bailer, groundwater is extracted to ensure a clean and uncontaminated collection process. Initial purging is conducted, and a Myron Ultrameter II is used to measure general parameters, such as temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), specific conductivity, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). For wet samples, a minimum 350 mL of groundwater is collected for comprehensive analysis, with all samples handled under strict chain of custody (COC) protocols and stored under optimal conditions until delivery to Western Environmental Testing (WETLAB).

The Company's QA/QC procedures involve collecting additional samples every tenth sample, including duplicates, umpire, and blank samples, to validate the consistency and accuracy of the data. Laboratory analyses cover general parameters and both total and dissolved metals, adhering to stringent testing methods and holding times. More specifically, the following analysis is carried out at WETLAB: Density and pH: SM 4500-H+B; Temperature: SM 2550 B; Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): SM 2540 C; ICP Metals Total Li, B & K: EPA 200.7; Digestion for Total Metals: EPA 200.2; ICP Metals Dissolved Li, B & K: EPA 200.7; Digestion for Dissolved Metals: EPA 200.0 and Sample Filtration: SM..

Qualified Person (QP)

The technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Eric Saderholm P.Geo, Director and Technical Advisor of Canter Resources, a Qualified Person (QP), as defined under National Instrument 43- 101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Canter Resources Corp.

Canter Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company advancing the Columbus Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, USA and the Beaver Creek Lithium Property in Montana, USA. The Company is completing a phased drilling approach at Columbus to test highly prospective brine targets at varying depths for lithium-boron enrichment and plans to leverage the Company's critical metals targeting database to generate a portfolio of high-quality projects with the aim of defining mineral resources that support the domestic clean energy supply chain in North America.

For further information contact:

Joness Lang

Chief Executive Officer

Canter Resources Corp.

Tel: 778.382.1193

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For investor inquiries contact:

Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.

Tel: 604.908.1695

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The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

________________________

1 Global Boron Market Report 2024

2 Boron: The Overlooked Critical Material - Seeking Alpha 2022
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 /Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:ARK) ("Arras" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced an Induced Polarization ("IP") survey on its 531 square kilometer Elemes project in northeastern Kazakhstan ("Elemes" or the "Project"), to help further define the most prospective drill targets.

Highlights

125km long Pole-Dipole Induced Polarization survey covering the entire Berezski 8.8km x 1.5km NE-SW trending long copper ("Cu") soil anomaly (+150ppm Cu).

Initial focus of the survey will be the 2.8km x 1.6km coherent Molybdenum ("Mo") bulls-eye anomaly (> 5ppm Mo) interpreted to be the core of untested porphyry copper-gold system.

The survey will also extend over the 3km x 2.2km Novi arsenic ("As") anomaly (>25ppm As) thought to be associated with a large high-sulphidation epithermal above a preserved porphyry deposit.

The commencement of the IP survey works follows the recent closing of an upsized financing in which the Company successfully raised C$5.2 million to support ongoing exploration activities on the Company's copper-gold projects in Kazakhstan.

The IP survey will cover the extensive Berezski copper anomaly, associated with highly altered diorites, that displays remarkably similar geological and structural characteristics to the Bozshakol copper-gold mine located approximately 60 km northwest.

Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals, announced, "With the recent completion of the C$5.2 million equity financing, we are well-positioned to advance our exploration programs on our key copper-gold projects across a number of targets areas. The start of the IP survey at the Berezski target on the Elemes project will assist with further defining high-priority targets ahead of drill testing in the following months this summer and fall."

Figure 1. The 8.8km Berezski copper soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Figure 2. The 8.8km Berezski molybdenum soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Figure 3. The 8.8km Berezski arsenic soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Induced Polarization (IP) Survey

The IP and resistivity surveys are being undertaken by Aurora Geophysics of Astana, Kazakhstan. The survey includes 125km of survey lines and will utilize a poledipole array with an electrode spacing of 200m, and an average line spacing of 500m. The survey is designed to measure to a depth of ~250m.

Mineralization in porphyry deposits is associated with sulphide minerals, predominantly pyrite and chalcopyrite, which makes the IP survey an important tool in targeting sulphide mineralization at depth and enhancing the definition of drill targets. Additionally, the resistivity function of the survey will assist in identifying silica enriched zones, another import vector tool for future drill planning.

The Berezski Target is located within the 531 square kilometre Elemes/Aimandai license area ("Elemes Project"). The property benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 kilometres ("km") from Arras' operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, Pavlodar. A paved highway runs through the license, and within 5 km of the Berezski target. 1100 KVA power lines and heavy rail all lie within a 15-kilometer radius of the project.

The Elemes Project is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals' Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (2022 production 102kt Cu and 113Koz Au 2 ) approximately 60 km to the northwest.

Figure 4. Arras's License Package showing Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance Areas as "Package A" and "Package B" as well as the Elemes, Aimandai, Stepnoe, Ekidos and Tay licences which are 100% owned by Arras.

Qualified Person: The scientific and technical disclosure for this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Matthew Booth, Vice President of Exploration, of Arras Minerals Corp., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Booth has over 19 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Qualified Person member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG 12044).

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim Barry"

Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo)

Chief Executive Officer and Director

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

+1 604 687 5800

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Further information can be found on the Company's website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals

About Arras Minerals Corp.

Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue). In December 2023, the Company entered into a strategic alliance with Teck Resources ("Teck") in which Teck will sole fund a US$5 million generative exploration program over a portion of the Arras license package in 2024-2025 focusing on critical minerals. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol "ARK".

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies.

Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras' future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras' exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras' management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management's control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR on February 28, 2024 and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 28, 2024 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
VANCOUVER, BC , April 4, 2024 /CNW/ - Tajiri Resources Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: TAJ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement, with a duration of three months, to exclusively negotiate terms for the acquisition of up to an 100% interest in the strategically located, 1.5 x 1... Read More
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the judicial arm of Colombia's transitional justice system, has focused mainly on investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by members of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian army, so far charging almost 100 former rebels and military officials.

In contrast, few civilians that financed or collaborated with parties to the conflict, have reached the JEP. There is at least one prominent politician and several citizens who arent known publicly, but no major economic or business actor, even though this is also part of its mandate. This could change with the dossier on Drummond, the largest mining company in the country today, signalled since over a decade ago of allegedly funding paramilitaries. Two of Drummonds top executives, its current president and his predecessor, were charged by the Attorney General's Office and will have to decide in the coming months whether to appear before the special tribunal or defend themselves in an ordinary trial.

The case, in addition to being possibly the only one in which the JEP may try to establish the responsibility of important businesspersons, is even more interesting because it is advancing in three different tracks simultaneously: in the transitional justice, in the ordinary justice system and in US courts.

Drummond's controversial legacy

Drummond is a private company founded almost a century ago in the United States, owned ever since by the Alabama family whose name it bears. In fact, it was led for four decades by one family member, Garry Drummond, until his death in 2016. It began extracting coal in Colombia in 1995, at the La Loma Pribbenow mine located in La Jagua de Ibirico, in the Caribbean department of Cesar, in the north of the country. It then added two more mines, El Descanso Norte in 2008 and El Corozo in 2021.

Coal has been a highly profitable business for both the US mining company and the Colombian state. In 2023 alone, Drummond exported 27 million tonnes of coal, its sixth year leading that sector. That same year, the company claims to have paid 17 million dollars in taxes and royalties to the country, even operating in the midst of government promises to abandon production of one of the most polluting fossil fuels.

But it has also been a controversial company. In 2013 it was involved in one of the biggest environmental accidents in the country's history, when an overloaded barge dumped 500 tonnes of coal into the ocean to avoid sinking in an episode that sparked national outrage. Five years earlier, it had been fined $48 million by a high court for not properly settling its royalties.

In 2013, our correspondent Andres Lievano Bermudez made this video for the Colombian magazine La Silla Vacia about the Drummond case.

"Confluence between paramilitary groups and Drummond"

What has generated the most noise, however, are accusations that it allegedly facilitated the expansion of paramilitarism in the coal-producing area of Cesar, which led to scores of murders and forced displacements.

The recent Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) stated in its final report that "there was a confluence between the state military apparatus, the actions of paramilitary groups and the multinational Drummond to secure its extractive project". The TRC gave credibility to testimonies that the mining company channelled money to a structure of the Northern Bloc of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) operating in the coal mining area through cost overruns in the cafeteria contracts. This sponsorship, it explained, "was not only to neutralise armed actions against their assets, but also to favour the expansion of coal exploitation in the region".

The TRC also signalled Drummond of buying abandoned and dispossessed land from peasants at rock-bottom prices to expand its operations. In a case study on dispossession in Cesar, it said it was shocked by the Alabama company's "lack of human rights due diligence" in buying the Mechoacan lands and stressed that it had "a duty to know about the violence that raged against the owner families (...) and yet it went ahead with its acquisition".

Drummond has denied the allegations, saying that it "doesnt have and never had any links with illegal organisations, regardless of their origin" and that it "has never financed or provided financial support to criminal structures".

Mining executives in court

In December 2020, the Attorney General's Office charged the most visible figures of Drummonds Colombian operation with conspiracy to commit a crime, for allegedly promoting and financing the AUCs Juan Andres Alvarez Front between 1996 and 2001.

Both have been linked to the Alabama family business for decades: Augusto Jimenez was its president between 1989 and 2013, while Jose Miguel Linares succeeded him in the position after having been legal director and vice-president of corporate affairs. According to the Attorney General's Office, there is "abundant evidence" that the two executives "could have increased the value of food supplies with a contractor to obtain additional resources and use them to cover illegal obligations previously acquired" with the paramilitaries. With these payments, says the accusing body, "they apparently guaranteed the protection of their assets and freely exercised the coal mining operation".

La decision judicial destaca que hay abundante material de prueba que da cuenta de la presunta responsabilidad de los dos directivos en el delito de concierto para delinquir agravado, en la modalidad de promover y financiar grupos armados al margen de la ley, conducta que fue pic.twitter.com/Z6VkvhbJUT  Fiscalia Colombia (@FiscaliaCol) May 31, 2023

Three and a half years later, the trial against both men has not yet started, partly because the legal case is being conducted under a previous inquisitorial criminal system, which was much slower in its pre-trial phase. Following an appeal, in May 2023 another prosecutor confirmed the indictment against the two.

To go to the JEP or not to go, that is the question

That accusation, however, opened another avenue for the two mining executives: since the crime they were charged with is related to Colombias 50-year-long armed conflict, they can turn to transitional justice.

The reason is that the 2016 peace agreement with FARC that underpins it contemplates the possibility of the JEP investigating, judging and sanctioning persons who had an active and decisive role in financing or collaborating with those who committed atrocities. However, the Constitutional Court later limited the JEP's mandate over these so-called 'civilian third parties' and determined that it couldnt summon them, but that they could come forward voluntarily, under the same conditions and incentives as other actors. This ruling seriously limited the Colombian transitional justices range of action over civilians, giving rise to what legal NGO Dejusticia and academic Sabine Michalowski called its "restricted competence". This is why only a handful of civilians have reached the JEP, most of them already convicted in the ordinary justice system (the JEP has no jurisdiction over companies).

Therein lies the dilemma for the two Drummond executives: they may apply to the JEP and, should they acknowledge their responsibility, provide truth and redress their victims, they could receive more lenient 5-to-8-year sanctions in a non-penitentiary setting. Or they can opt to remain in the ordinary criminal justice system, in which case theyll have to be defeated in a trial which counting a possible appeal could take up to five years.

The star witness

Although neither Linares nor Jimenez have applied to the JEP, the Drummond case has been moving through the transitional justice too. In November 2019, the JEP accepted Jaime Blanco Maya, the beneficiary of Drummonds mine cafeteria contract with his company Servicios y Alimentacion Ltda who in 2013 was sentenced to 38 years in prison as the mastermind of the murder of two union leaders at the mine.

According to that judge, Juan Andres Alvarez Front paramilitaries murdered Valmore Locarno and Victor Hugo Orcasita, two Drummond employees and leaders of the Sintraminergetica trade union, in 2001 after discussing it with Blanco Maya. "It is clear that the real interest in having these murders committed lies with Mr. Blanco Maya," says the ruling, "not only because of his terrible relations with the union leaders, but also because it was evident that, through these deaths, he intended to end the pressure exerted by the union on improvement of the food service.

In October 2021, the JEP granted Blanco Maya conditional release after deeming that hed provided a "detailed and exhaustive" account of Drummond's alleged links to paramilitaries. His account, it said, "exceeds the threshold of what has been clarified in the ordinary justice system". Another witness, former paramilitary Jairo de Jesus Charris, convicted of the same double homicide, told the JEP that the company financed the illegal armed group and that the order "was to finish off the union, even if it meant having them killed". Salvatore Mancuso, the AUCs former number two and convicted in the US for drug trafficking, also declared from his Atlanta prison that they met with US citizen James Lee Adkins, a former CIA agent who was Drummond's head of security in the 1990s and whose arrest was ordered by the Attorney General's Office in 2023.

Drummond v. Blanco Maya

In addition to insisting on its innocence, Drummond has also questioned the evidence against the company and its directors. "These allegations are not supported by credible evidence and are based primarily on false statements by convicted criminals who were paid for their testimony," it wrote after the Attorney General's indictment was confirmed in 2023. In its view, there is "a false witness cartel" promoted by the lawyers who filed three lawsuits in Alabama against the company from 2007 to 2013, which were dismissed and never reached trial.

That confrontation escalated again a month ago, when Blanco Maya testified before the JEP about links between the military, paramilitaries and civilian third parties. Drummond said publicly that its former contractor's testimony "is based on the story he fabricated for US lawyers (...) who filed lawsuits against Drummond in the United States, who made large payments on his behalf". According to the mining company, there is a "causal link" between Blanco Maya's story and transfers it attributes to US lawyer Terry Collingsworth for over $120,000. The US company says it gave the JEP eight dossiers with a thousand pages of evidence in its favour and questioned the tribunals decision to granting Blanco Maya legal benefits over what it called "a lying and accommodating account".

Former Drummond contractor Jaime Blanco Maya, convicted of the murders of two mine employees, testified before the JEP in May about the mining company's alleged financing of the paramilitaries two decades ago. Photo:  JEP.

Meanwhile, the judicial proceedings conducted by the JEP this year have been marked by turmoil. In February, a week after a special tribunal hearing in Valledupar with victims, two trade unionists received text messages threatening and portraying them as "rebels disguised as trade unionists, peasants and NGOs". Maira Mendez, a lawyer for the Dutch NGO Pax for Peace who has worked on the case for a decade and is herself the daughter of another unionised Drummond worker killed by paramilitaries, also got one. The mining company rejected the threats.

A third lane in the United States

While the case is moving along two tracks in Colombia, it has also been in the courts in the mining company's home country for over a decade.

On the one hand, a US appeals court revived in 2016 part of the case brought by 45 victims in the coal transport railway corridor against Drummond, sending it back to the trial judge who had dismissed it and ordering a re-examination. In turn, the Alabama family business brought two civil actions against attorney Collingsworth and his former law firm Conrad & Scherer, one for slander in 2011 and another under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisation (RICO) Act in 2015, alleging a criminal campaign against it that included payments to witnesses.

Those two countersuits caused the revived case against Drummond to remain in limbo while the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama resolves whether they merit going to trial. Once resolved, that same court will have to decide whether the original case proceeds to a trial similar to the one a group of Colombian victims just won a fortnight ago in Florida against another US multinational, Chiquita Brands, for its responsibility in eight murders committed by the AUC. In that case, a jury ordered the banana company, which had already admitted to the US Justice Department having paid $1.7 million to paramilitaries, to pay $38.3 million to the families of eight murdered farmers. Collingsworth was one of the plaintiffs' lawyers.

What new can the JEP bring?

In the end, it is unclear what might come out of the Drummond case in the transitional justice. On the one hand, it could establish the criminal liability of its managers, something that has so far not happened in the justice system. "There is hope that this could be our iconic case of corporate accountability, like the industrialists in Nuremberg. The JEPs thinking is that it cannot be a justice system that only investigates warriors," says Camilo Sanchez, director of the University of Virginia human rights legal clinic.

On the other hand, the question of what new truth the JEP can uncover remains, in a case that has been extensively documented by human rights NGOs like Pax for Peace and the Colombian Jurists Commission (which submitted a joint report to the JEP), state entities like the National Centre of Historical Memory, and the transitional justice itself, including both the Justice and Peace transitional mechanism for paramilitaries demobilised two decades ago and the recent TRC. "We need to broaden our understanding of the relations between the economic sector and armed actors, instead of continuing to focus on the cases that have historically gotten the most attention," says Daniel Marin Lopez, a former TRC researcher and author of several studies on corporate accountability.

Even if it were to remain in the narrower scope of a decision on Blanco Maya, the JEP could open a process of symbolic reparation with the paramilitaries victims. "We have the opportunity of setting up a space for truth and restorative justice, which could even be a model for the Jurisdictions work," says Tatiana Devia, a lawyer who worked on the US-based Corporate Accountability Labs report to the JEP and also with the unionised victims.

All for one, one for all

In the end, the different legal tracks are likely to converge. If Drummond's executives choose to go to the JEP, theyd probably do so under pressure from prosecution's findings. If they choose to remain in the ordinary criminal justice system, the JEPs inclusion of the mining case within a broader one on crimes by state agents in partnership with paramilitaries or civilian third parties would ensure its public profile remains high. Ultimately, regardless of how well the two institutions cooperate, if the Colombian justice system is able to determine the mining company's alleged responsibility in the expansion of paramilitaries, it would be a milestone for both.

It would also be one for victims', human rights and legal organisations that documented crimes committed by paramilitaries in Cesar and their possible links to mining companies. As lawyer Laura Bernal Bermudez argues, Colombia has managed to prosecute and convict numerous economic actors for their complicity in serious human rights violations due to a mix of active civil society participation and the declining economic power of targeted companies. While an increase in the power of the people (through the support of global actors and political opportunities) is necessary to secure judicialization and remedy, these results are only possible when they face an economic actor with reduced veto power, she wrote in her PhD thesis at Oxford University.

Seeing its brand challenged in transitional justice and two other jurisdictions, coupled with the fact that its a fading industry in the global energy transition, could help an emblematic case in Colombia also end in a landmark ruling.
Prosecutors said Tuesday they had asked France's highest court to review the legality of a French arrest warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over deadly chemical attacks on Syrian soil in 2013.

The Syrian opposition say one of those attacks in August 2013 on the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus killed around 1,400 people, including more than 400 children, in one of the many horrors of the 13-year civil war.

Prosecutors said they had made the request to the Paris Court of Cassation on Friday on judicial grounds, two days after another appeals court upheld the arrest order issued in November.

"This decision is by no means political. It is about having a legal question resolved," the prosecutor's office at the court said in a statement.

France is believed to have been the first country to issue an arrest warrant for a sitting foreign head of state.

Investigative magistrates specialised in cases of crimes against humanity issued the warrant after several rights groups filed a complaint against Assad for his role in the chain of command for the alleged chemical attacks on August 4, 5 and 21, 2013.

But prosecutors from a unit specialising in investigating "terrorist" attacks have sought to annul it, although they do not question the grounds for such an arrest.

They argue that immunity for foreign heads of state should only be lifted for international prosecutions, such as ones at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Alongside Assad, the warrants target his brother Maher -- the de-facto head of the Syrian army's elite fourth division -- and two generals, Ghassan Abbas and Bassam al-Hassan.

The anti-terror prosecutors contested only the warrant for Bashar al-Assad's arrest.

- 'Political manoeuvre' -

The Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), lawyers' association Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) and the Syrian Archive, an organisation documenting human rights violations in Syria, filed the initial complaint.

SCM head Mazen Darwish criticised Tuesday's move.

"We view (the) filing of the appeal as a political manoeuvre aimed at protecting dictators and war criminals," he told AFP.

Lawyers Jeanne Sulzer and Clemence Witt, who are representing the plaintiffs, said the appeal to the Court of Cassation "again threatens the efforts of victims to have Bashar al-Assad judged in an independent jurisdiction".

A UN report on the August 21 attacks said there was clear evidence sarin gas was used in Moadamiyet al-Sham as well as Zamalka and Ein Tarma in the Ghouta suburbs of Damascus.

Syria's civil war has killed more than half a million people and displaced millions since it broke out in March 2011 with the Damascus authorities' brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Syria in 2013 agreed to join the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons shortly after the Ghouta attacks.

But the global watchdog later accused the Assad government of continuing to attack civilians with chemical weapons in the war, charges Damascus denies.

Syria's OPCW voting rights were suspended in 2021, in an unprecedented rebuke following poison gas attacks on civilians in 2017.

The OPCW found that the Islamic State jihadist group, another actor in the Syrian conflict, used mustard agent in a 2015 attack in northern Syria.
Kim Soo Hyun once again shook the internet as his deleted Instagram photos sparked love speculation with this trending actress. Fans even reacted to the actor's recent social media updates.

Curious about who this female star is? Then read on.

Kim Soo Hyun's Now-Deleted Photos Spark Lovestagram With 'Queen of Tears' Star Kim Ji Won

While busy touring Asia for his fan meeting, Kim Soo Hyun unexpectedly made headlines after fans discovered his current social media activities.

On July 1, he became the center of discussion among netizens asthey noticed the deleted snaps of the actor on Instagram.

In particular, the actor uploaded four selfies wearing a black suit. However, Kim Soo Hyun soon deleted the posts and uploaded a video of clouds taken from the airplane.

Later on, some netizens confirmed that Kim Soo Hyun deleted the four different selfies he had, which resulted in love speculations. Some assumed that he got rid of those snaps because the atmosphere and the pose he had were identical to that of his former on-screen partner Kim Ji Won.

OH HE'S BEING ABSOLUTELY OBVIOUS WITH THIS LOVESTAGRAM IM GONNA SHIT MYSELF#KimSooHyun #KimJiWon #SooWon pic.twitter.com/15EAJRUCtO  numi loves hyuniepoo (@chuguwugetot) July 1, 2024

Adding to the speculations, just days ago, Kim Ji Won uploaded a picture on her SNS along with a black heart emoticon from her event in Taiwan.

In the snap, she takes a selfie wearing a black shoulder-slit one-piece dress.

Since the pose matches the photo that Kim Soo Hyun posted and deleted, the public's attention was drawn even more when Kim Soo Hyun deleted the posts. In response, fans expressed themselves over the actor's social media activities in the comments.

#KimSooHyun's deletion of three SNS photos fueled dating rumors with #QueenOfTears co-star #KimJiWon, due to the similarity in their poses and outfits from a recent Dior event.# # # pic.twitter.com/BXVOpw0Qzy  K-Drama Handle (@kdramahandle) July 2, 2024

"Oppa, why did you delete the pictures?"

"The clouds are beautiful, but the photo in the deleted post is more beautiful."

"I just saw the deleted picture. I smile."

"Oppa, you're late. I captured everything."

"You have to be careful, you already know everything lol."

"It's strange that you deleted it."

What's Next for Kim Soo Hyun?

Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun is currently on an Asia tour for the first time in 10 years since the success of "Queen of Tears." Beginning in Bangkok, he went to Yokohama and then to Manila, and is scheduled to continue in Taipei this July 6, Hong Kong on August 10, and Jakarta on September 7.

Also, Kim Soo Hyun is preparing for his next series "Knock Off" as his comeback screen project. It follows the story of the knockoff market from the time of the foreign exchange crisis in 1997 to the early 2000s.

Kim Ji Won, on the other hand, is also busy with her first Asian fan meeting tour.

What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai San Miguel wrote this.
Popular actress and voice actress Seo Yu Ri recently made headlines as she exposed her ex-husband, producer Choi Byung Gil, for an unthinkable demand.

In a candid revelation on social media, Seo Yu Ri detailed a heart-wrenching story of betrayal that shook fans and drew attention to the complexities of relationships in the spotlight.

"It was winter. A couple who weren't on good terms lived together. They were more like housemates than a married couple. Then, the wife got sick. She could die soon if she didn't have surgery. The doctor said she might not be able to have kids if she does surgery, so she said let's have a child before surgery."

READ MORE : THIS Controversial Actress Now Works as Cafe Manager After DUI Scandal

The actress further disclosed that despite her situation she still want to have a child.

"I asked my husband, 'I want to have a child. I have frozen eggs, so let's have a child first.' But he said, 'No. If you want a child, go out and have one with someone else.' Is this betrayal? It's times like this that you feel betrayed. If you just stayed silent, I would have just stayed silent, too. What's the reason for scratching my weakness when you know my personality? I am strong against the strong and weak against the weak."

The revelation left many shocked and questioning the dynamics of their relationship.

Choi Byung Gil, in response to the allegations, denied the claims, adding confusion to an already tangled narrative of love and loss.

"I don't remember saying that. I don't understand why she is going this far about it."

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Joan Cabigas.
As Kim Soo Hyun's fan meet kicks off, fans have been waiting to see the "Queen of Tears" star meet his Asian supporters.

After starting his Asian tour at Thunder Dome Stadium in Bangkok, the South Korean heartthrob continues to mesmerize fans with his swoon-worthy charm through his meet and greet, dubbed "2024 Kim Soo-hyun Asia Tour: Eyes on You."

Interestingly, one of the recent cities he visited was Manila, Philippines, where he was greeted by Filipino fans with a warm welcome and hospitality.

Gracing his first fan meet after 10 years, the actor was overwhelmed with the presence and love from his Filipino fans.

Kim Soo Hyun Manila Fan Meet 2024 Highlights

Kim Soo Hyun never fails to entertain the crowd with his effortless charm by serenading the audience with a song from his hit series "My Love from the Star."

In addition to this, the K-drama heartthrob sang the OST from "Queen of Tears."

Kim Soo Hyun definitely made the crowd go crazy as he sang "Love You With All My Heart" along with a live band.

He also greeted the audience with Tagalog words and even surprised everyone with Filipino songs, showcasing his effort to connect with his audience.

"I am so happy to come back after 10 years [for my own fan meeting]. Despite the fact that 10 years have passed, I still felt nervous when I came to the stage. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, I was here in the Philippines. I am so happy to see you all again," he said, as mentioned by an outlet.

With the deafening crowd, I can't help but get emotional, seeing everyone supporting and cheering him.

"Because you are all smiling. It's like the first time looking at the smiles, and then I'm crying right now. I became very emotional. Thank you. Salamat po," he added.

Kim Soo Hyun Hints at His New K-Drama

As Kim Soo Hyun bid farewell to his fans, the actor teased them with an update regarding his new K-drama.

Returning to the small screen after "Queen of Tears," the top mentioned that he is starting to film his new drama next month, referring to the upcoming Disney+ series "Knock Off."

"I will do my best for great work and put in a lot of effort for great work," he said, adding that he will come back to the Philippines to meet his fans once again.

As for Kim Soo Hyun's new drama, he will be starring in a comedy series and will be teaming up with Jo Bo Ah.

Helmed by "Uncontrollably Fond" and "Stranger" season 2 director Park Hyun Suk and penned by "My Fellow Citizens" screenwriter Han Jung Hoon, "Knock Off" is set in 1997, when South Korea was experiencing a foreign exchange crisis or the IMF crisis. The drama centers around stories relating to the trade of fake luxury goods.

IN CASE YOU MISSED : Kim Soo Hyun's Deleted Instagram Photos Spark Love Speculation With THIS Actress

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
Will Grannis, the chief technology officer of Google's cloud division, says the next year or two will see many organizations shift from experimenting with artificial intelligence to truly putting the technology to work. Grannis poses at the Collision Conference, in Toronto, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Brienne Hardy, 4, enjoys a treat while watching the dancing. Her mom, Tatanya, brought the girl to Westside Multiculturalism Day to support the Ukrainian community and pass on her culture to her daughter.






Monday, July 01, 2024 - Shekinah Garner is standing by her fiance, Sarper, who is facing intense criticism after revealing his number of past sexual partners.

Garner condemned the slut-shaming directed at Sarper, a star of "90 Day Fiance: The Other Way," for disclosing that he has slept with over 2,500 women.

In an interview in Los Angeles, Garner expressed her disapproval of slut-shaming while acknowledging that Sarper's actions were not wise. However, she praised his honesty about his past. Garner admitted that the revelation has caused trust issues in their relationship, particularly when she is away from their home in Turkey, but noted that they are actively working through these challenges.

Garner also discussed her life in Turkey and whether she sees the move as permanent. Shekinah's insights come in the wake of Sarper's controversial admission on the show, which many fans interpreted as bragging.

During a '90 Day Fiance' tell-all session, Sarper stated he was not proud of his past promiscuity and insisted that Shekinah should not disclose her own number of partners.




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - A Somali businessman is alleged to have shot three hired goons while protecting his business along Nyerere Road in Mombasa Central Business District.

The businessman opened fire at close range and shot at the goons.

In the video, the enraged businessman is seen confroting the goons while armed with a pistol.

The goons pelt him with stones, prompting him to shoot in the air to scare them.

Three goons were injured during the confrontation and rushed to the hospital.

Several vehicles were torched after the shooting incident.

Qafeee Point Restaurant was also vandalized.

The alleged hired goons are now baying for the blood of the alleged shooter, who retreated into the Qafee Point Building.

Watch the video here Link>>

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok hosted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the weekend during his visit to the county in Rift Valley.

Speaking after a church service that was attended by the Deputy President, Barchok asked Rift Valley leaders and residents to avoid divisive politics that were bogging down the Kenya Kwanza government.

He asked leaders to coalesce together with Ruto and avoid scuttling his efforts to retain the presidency in 2027.

The Bomet Governor explained that it was important for Ruto's backyard to unite because the support would be crucial in 2027.

"To our leaders, let's not undermine our efforts and reduce William Ruto's chances in 2027.

"Let's communicate and persevere, as we need the support of others.

"As I mentioned in church, we must honour our agreement."

"We delivered over 200,000 votes, and if we lose focus, it will be difficult for us.

"The people have confirmed their support for you and the president," Barchok said amid cheers from an onlooking crowd.

The county boss lauded Gachagua for standing with the president and supporting his leadership to ensure that the Kenya Kwanza government delivers for the people.

He asked the second in command to avoid listening to naysayers who were focused on running down the milestones they had achieved with his boss, confirming that in every union, there are challenges that must be skillfully handled.

Speculation has been rife that Ruto and Gachagua have not been seeing eye to eye on matters of governance with each pulling to their sides.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, July 2, 2024 - A section of religious leaders from Siaya County has asked the government to sit down with Generation Z and resolve their differences to avert weekly protests that are destroying the countrys economy.

Through their umbrella organization, the Siaya Church Leaders Forum (SCLF), the religious leaders believe that the only way the protests will end is through mediation by an independent party.

The church leaders led by Arch Bishop James Opiyo Anyango lauded the government's efforts to engage to address their demands.

"We advise that an independent international mediator be engaged to end this stalemate because of other promises that have gone without being fulfilled," Opiyo said.

Opiyo noted that the youth lack trust in the government.

He said if conflicting parties do not hold discussions, then there will be no solution to the protests.

"What can make things streamlined is if we have a foreigner, an independent person that all groups will look at him or her and give their trust," Opiyo said.

He noted that the bone of contention in the protests wastage by the government.

"Kenya is a very blessed country with a lot of resources for all of us. But what is happening in the government is that there is no transparency," he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - When peaceful protesters stormed Parliament last Tuesday, Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei was personally leading the operation.

It is believed that Bungei issued the shoot-to-kill order that left three protesters, among them a 27-year-old student from the University of Nairobi, dead.

CNN journalist Larry Madowo aired a video of Bungei watching as police used live bullets to disperse the protesters.

Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei personally led the operation, Madowo said.

Freelance journalist, Chris Sambu, also said that he witnessed Bungei passing by without uttering a word as bodies of peaceful protesters lay outside Parliament.

For clarity; The 25th June 2024 police Killings on protesters was an operation led by the Nairobi region police commander Adamson Bungei.

"As the chief commanding officer on the ground, he had the ability to order no firing live bullets at protesters. History will Judge him harshly, he wrote.

I took this video moments after protesters accessed parliament buildings and a shooting ensued.

"When guns went silent and tear gas smoke filled the Parliament road, a number of protesters lay dead.

"Bungei just passed there without uttering any word, he added.





RECEIPTS: A CNN review found that Kenyan police violated their own rules for the use of force in protests outside Parliament. Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei personally led the operation.



It was the deadliest day for a single demonstration. Who killed these protesters? pic.twitter.com/g7JciakmZV  Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) July 1, 2024





For clarity;The 25th June 2024 police Killings on protesters was an operation led by the Nairobi region police commander Adamson Bungei.



As the chief commanding officer on ground he had the ability to order no firing live bullets at protesters. History will Judge him harshly! pic.twitter.com/rNCQlkgvft  Chris Sambu (@the_sambu) July 1, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, July 2, 2024  A fresh scandal has emerged in the Ministry of Agriculture even as Gen Zs pile pressure on President William Ruto to fire incompetent people in his government.

This is after Auditor General Nancy Gathungu revealed that a fertilizer worth Ksh197 million donated by Russia to Kenya vanished, possibly stolen, at the high seas.

According to the Auditor General, 564.1 metric tonnes of raw fertiliser donated by Russia last year vanished before reaching Kenya's National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

This comes amid rising tension between Nairobi and Moscow after Ruto supported Ukraine and the US.

This alarming discovery raises suspicions of possible theft and deepens the diplomatic strain between the two nations.

The missing fertiliser consignment was part of a larger donation of 34,400 tonnes of raw fertiliser material from Russia.

This contribution was part of Russia's strategy to gain African support amid its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

The fertiliser was intended to bolster Kenya's agricultural output by tripling the production of ready-to-use fertiliser for distribution to farmers nationwide.

The Russian Embassy in Kenya had highlighted the importance of this donation, stating in August last year that the 34,400 tonnes would significantly aid Kenya in achieving a good harvest.

The revelations come at a time of increasing friction between Kenya and Russia, exacerbated by Nairobi's support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

This diplomatic tension adds another layer of complexity to the mystery of the missing fertiliser.

Already, young Kenyans last week demanded that Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi resigns over the fertiliser fiasco that saw farmers receive substandard fertiliser.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, July 01, 2024 - Activist Comrade Israel Joe has advised married women not to allow other men to lure them out of their marriages.

If you must divorce your husband, it should be your personal decision. Don't allow any man deceive you out of your marriage, he will not marry you. They tell you all the sweet things on earth to deceive you just because you are having issues with your husband which maturity could resolve, he wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday, June 31.

"Instead of you to shut-up your ego and allow patience speaks, boom... you quickly rush out because one man there is having all your time. There is no man that has time and attention for a woman like the man who hasn't "knack". He also has all the time convincing his wife until he married her and attention cease. Continue to give him your ears, your eyes go soon clear."




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - A United Democratic Alliance (UDA) governor has urged the protesting youthful Kenyans commonly known as Gen Z, not to allow goons to hijack their protests.

Speaking on Monday, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wesley Rotich urged Gen Z to beat looters and thieves who will try to infiltrate their peaceful protests.

"To our Gen-Z, please deal firmly with those who want to hijack your issue-based agenda. Dont allow goons to infiltrate, loot, burn, or maim," he said on Facebook.

The governor explained that the property the infiltrating goons want to destroy and steal belongs to their fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters.

For this reason, he said that they should not allow goons to damage their tribeless reputation.

"They will struggle to get back to their feet if their businesses are vandalised.

"Dont allow goons to ruin your peaceful and tribeless reputation," Governor Rotich said.

"You are teaching Kenya how to be tribeless therefore looters should be kept at bay," he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, July 01, 2024 - A bodybuilding star died suddenly at 36 after suffering a blood clot, just weeks before she was set to compete.

Cintia Goldani, from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, reportedly succumbed to complications caused by pneumonia after she contracted the lung infection.

"With great pain and sadness, I hereby inform you the passing of Professional Figure Athlete @cintiagoldanipro due to complications from pneumonia," the account wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.

"Cynthia was an angel in human form. God needed backup in heaven."

She was reportedly rushed to hospital but passed away after developing a blood clot.

Ms Goldani, a presenter of the "Figure" category of the Muscle Contest female bodybuilding competition, was set to compete in her home country next month.

She placed 10th in the "Figure" category of the Brazilian competition last year, according to BarBend.

Cynthia had also advertised for an "amateur bodybuilding event" in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on October 12.

Ms Goldanis partner, Gustavo Cesar GC, posted a tribute on Instagram.

"This is the last photo I have of you in my phone, and this is how I want to remember you forever!" the fellow Brazilian bodybuilder wrote.

"Happy smiling and with that wonderful energy, you were the best human being I have ever met in the world!

I wish I could thank you for everything youve done for me, but I will thank you every day when I see the sunset  Thank you Cintia, you are made of pure true love and God wanted you closer to him and away from this evil of the world. I wanted to be there with you being happy as we always were.




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua finally came clean on allegations that he and President William Ruto bribed MPs with Ksh2 million each to vote in favour of the contentious Finance Bill 2024.

This is after Juja MP George Koimburi revealed that MPs were offered Ksh2 million each to vote in favour of the Finance Bill.

"We were offered money... you saw how they carried money in sacks.

"We were told that for every yes vote, we would receive Ksh2 million, Koimburi stated.

However, Gachagua denied the claims, saying the Kenya Kwanza MPs voted their conscience, knowing it was the right thing.

The DP vehemently defended the legislators, who have since faced significant backlash from their constituents for supporting the bill.

I want to confirm as the Deputy President and as the Deputy Party Leader of UDA, we did not give out Ksh2 million for them to vote for the Finance Bill, Gachagua emphatically declared.

Leaked WhatsApp messages earlier this week suggested that some MPs were demanding the remainder of the alleged bribes, claiming they had only received Ksh100,000a mere fraction of the purported Ksh2 million.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Nairobi County Governor, Johnson Sakaja has cleared the air on whether he has banned demons in Nairobi County due to looting and massive destruction of properties.

During last week's demos, criminals looted and destroyed properties worth billions in the busy metropolis.

On Monday evening, reports were claiming Sakaja banned protests in the county following widespread destruction of properties in the previous demonstrations.

"The criminal who camouflaged Gen Z protests caused a lot of damage to Nairobi county and we have agreed with my officials that there will be no more protests in Nairobi and we are prepared to face those who will disobey us," the report said.

However, reacting to the reports, the city governor termed them as false, claiming political opportunists were using his name to create fake news.

"Not true. Don't fall for political opportunists creating fake news," Sakaja wrote on X later in the night.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Firebrand lawyer and barrister Miguna Miguna is one of the few Kenyans commanding the attention of the young generation, known as Gen Z, who are currently protesting nationwide, demanding President William Ruto and his government resign.

This has been repeatedly witnessed as young Kenyans join Miguna Miguna on Twitter Spaces, where they discuss and consult him about pertinent issues affecting the country.

Miguna has also been mobilising Kenyans on X, urging them to turn up for the protests and send Ruto and his government home.

Zakayo, @WilliamsRuto, will you be doing that from Kamiti Maximum Prison, or from self-exile in Dubai?

"We are not allowing you near our institutions.

"You are going home this week. #RutoMustGoNow, Miguna wrote on his X on Tuesday morning before countrywide demos erupted across the country.

Miguna, 62, is an Osgoode law schooler and he once served as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's advisor.

He has been detained severally and during former President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime, he was forced into exile for five years and returned to the country when Ruto took over in 2022.

However, Miguna has said Ruto has failed Kenyans by leading the government of thugs and conmen.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Kuresoi North Member of Parliament Alfred Mutai has dared the Gen Zs to go after him and his properties after voting for President William Rutos contentious Finance Bill which has since been rejected.

Speaking to his constituents over the weekend, Mutai disclosed that he has no apologies for voting for the bill.

According to the UDA lawmaker, he had read the Bill and it had good things for his constituency.

"I voted yes and I will not apologise because I knew voting for the finance bill would enable the construction of our roads. I read the finance bill on your behalf," the MP stated.

Mutai further condemned the destruction of property at Molo MP Kimani Kuria's home, who is also the Chairman of the Finance and National Planning Committee in the National Assembly.

He asserted that the incident was uncalled for, maintaining that Kuria had implemented many projects in his constituency.

"I want to say sorry to the people of Molo. If there is a place that has benefited from development in this country, it is Molo Constituency.

"There is no road that has not been constructed in Molo. But if their gratitude is to destroy their MP's property, then woe unto them," Mutai remarked.

His remarks come as President William Ruto claimed that the MPs that voted for the Finance Bill 2024 were the true heroes of the country.

During a roundtable interview at State House, Nairobi, the Head of State asserted that those lawmakers were the ones who saw the opportunity to take the nation forward.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, July 01, 2024 - Rap star, Kanye West, made a surprise visit to Russia on Sunday, June 30 where he was mobbed by fans.

The 47-year-old American, who has praised Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, in the past, was filmed shopping in Moscow wearing baggy white trousers and a white hoodie.

He is reportedly in Russia to celebrate the 40th birthday of Gosha Rubchinskiy, a Russian fashion designer.

Hello, Moscow, he wrote in Russian, at midday local time on Sunday on the VKontakte website, Russias state-monitored version of Facebook.





Videos shot by fans on their mobile phones showed Ye walking through a Moscow underpass with his entourage and bodyguards.

He was also seen walking across a hotel lobby, shopping in the upmarket Gum Mall and admiring Red Square from a viewing station.

He reportedly stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, next to the Kremlin in the centre of Moscow, where the 212sqm presidential suite costs around 10,000 a night and comes with an en-suite sauna and a luxurious marble bathroom.





In videos posted online, thousands of fans rushed to catch a glimpse of one of Kanye, one of the worlds biggest-selling artists.

| Police have set up barricades near the entrance of a Moscow hotel where American rapper Kanye West is staying.



The reason: dozens of fans gathered in anticipation of their idol.#Russia | pic.twitter.com/l2w2sX96qb  South Today (@SouthToday5) June 30, 2024

Kanye West spotted in Russia  pic.twitter.com/2FlPGKPBax  Ye (@ye_world_) July 1, 2024




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Kapsaret Member of Parliament, Oscar Sudi, has asked Kakamega Senator Dr. Boni Khalwale and the young Kenyans to avoid questioning his source of money after he contributed Sh 20 million to a church Harambee.

In a statement on Sunday, Sudi disclosed that the Sh 20 million was the entire amount raised at the said fundraising.

The lawmaker slammed Khalwale for allegedly spreading false information.

"To Khalwale, all my wealth has been through sheer hard work.

"But some rely on sorcerers for overnight riches.

"In reference to the harambees that I have been attending, which has raised much furore, at no given point have I contributed KSh 20m as alleged.

"As a matter of fact, the amount in question was the entire cash raised in the said Harambee," Sudi said.

Sudi further defended the source of his funds, pointing out that he has been running businesses since he was 14 years old.

The United Democratic Alliance(UDA) elected lawmaker said even though he did not contribute the KSh 20 million; the amount is little to him given his vast investments.

"I have worked since I was 14 years old, when I was selling fruits.

"Stop criticising me because KSh 20 million, that is too little," Sudi added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, July 01, 2024 - A Man on X has shared the chats he sent to a lady after a date didn't end the way he expected.

In the message, the man asked the woman for a refund of the money he spent on their date since she had refused to be his girlfriend.

The woman responded, asking for his account number.

In an update, the South African man said she sent the money back with interest.

He then advised men to ask for money back after unsuccessful dates.

While he gloated about getting his money back, many X users slammed him and told him the woman was right to reject him.

See below.




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - President William Ruto has said he understands what young people in Kenya are going through, especially the jobless ones.

While speaking to the press at State House on Sunday, Ruto reiterated his administration was working to address the rising cases of youth unemployment in the country.

He revealed that his children were also affected by the lack of jobs in the country since some of them are jobless.

"Youth unemployment is something we must resolve.

"You Kenyans out of school out of college including my own children they speak to me, and they have no opportunities to work or to monetize their talents," he stated.

According to Ruto, his children lack channels to monetize their channels or do whatever they want.

He remarked that his children would also benefit from his efforts.

Notably, Ruto's children include; Nick Ruto, Charlene Chelagat Ruto, Stephanie Jepchumba Ruto, June Ruto, George Ruto, and Nadia Cherono Ruto. They have ventured into different fields including law, communication, and international relations.

Ruto's children have kept a low profile and away from the public eye except for his second daughter Charlene who runs her foundation.

Recently, she was selected as Kenya's Blood Ambassador by the Ministry of Health.

At the same time, Ruto shared the progress of the job deal between Kenya and Germany set to offer opportunities to 250,000 Kenyans.

Besides the job deal with Germany, Ruto revealed that his administration had also held discussions with social media platforms such as TikTok to ensure Kenyans get value for their content.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Renowned activist Boniface Mwangi has blamed rogue police officers for burning part of Parliament buildings last week when peaceful protesters stormed in to protest against the anti-finance bill.

The vocal activist claims that he has video evidence to prove that the fire at Parliament was started by the police.

The cops reportedly torched part of the parliament buildings to justify killing peaceful protesters.

According to Mwangi, who was part of the protesters who made it to Parliament, the protesters entered Parliament, ate, and left without causing any damage.

Some of the protesters were shot in the back as they left Parliament.

The fires inside the parliament were started by the police. I have video proof from the brave Kenyans who entered parliament.

"They ate and left. After they left, our police shot them in the back & started fake fires, he wrote.

Mwangis remarks come days after President William Ruto defended police officers for using excessive force against the protesters who stormed Parliament.

Speaking in a roundtable interview with the media on Sunday at State House, Nairobi, Ruto said the police had no option but to fire live bullets after they were overpowered by the protesters.





I was there last week. We go back to the streets again tomorrow. The fires inside the parliament were started by the police. I have video proof from the brave Kenyans who entered parliament. They ate and left. After they left,our police shot them in the back & started fake fires! pic.twitter.com/PSdExrcR4S  The Peoples Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) July 1, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Monday, July 01, 2024 - Rick Ross suffered an attack in Vancouver, Canada, just after his show in the city yesterday, June 30.

The altercation occurred after Ross's performance at the Ignite Music Festival in Vancouver on Sunday. Following his set around 10:30 PM, the rapper stepped offstage into a crowded area and got into a heated argument with several men, triggered by the choice to close his set with Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us."

A group of about 15 men approached Ross, forming a human barrier to prevent him and his crew from moving. TMZ obtained video footage showing the tense verbal exchange escalating into violence. One man is seen throwing a punch at Ross, causing liquid from his drink to fly into the air, though it's unclear if Ross was hit in the face.

Chaos ensued as both groups engaged in a brawl, with several men brutally kicking and beating one individual. The fight eventually dispersed, with all parties going their separate ways.

Details about the incident remain unclear, including what sparked the attack and whether any injuries or arrests occurred. Notably, Drake, known as "champagnepapi," liked a social media post about the assault on Ross, adding his own subtle commentary on the situation.





Watch a video from the scene below




Tuesday, July 2, 2024  Former Baringo Senator and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi has criticized President William Ruto and his goons following the abduction of former Nandi Hills Member of Parliament Alfred Keter on Sunday.

Keter, who is a vocal government critic, confirmed his abduction on Sunday by the hooded government operatives before he was released later that day, and Moi believes this is an attempt to create public fear as Kenya Kwanza faces intense opposition.

According to Gideon, Ruto has panicked due to the Gen Zs revolution and is now desperately instilling public fear.

On Sunday, the nation witnessed the abduction of former Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter in Nairobi, another incident in a series of proliferating gangland-type kidnappings.

This alarming trend, including the abduction of numerous young people that we have consistently and unequivocally condemned, heralds a grim future for the rule of law that Kenya prides itself on.

Since the onset of the vehement opposition to oppressive economic policies mounted by young people, some of them remain missing, held incommunicado, while their families are distressed about the whereabouts of their loved ones.

This desperate attempt to instill fear in the public and silence dissent is unwarranted, uncalled for, and has no place in our nation, Gideon said in a statement.

Gideon warned the law-enforcing agencies to carry out arrests in a manner that respects the guidelines provided by the Constitution; otherwise, they would make it worse for Ruto.

Keter joined young people who protested against the Finance Bill 2024 in Nairobi and told them not to relent, especially in pursuit of calling out the MPs who supported the unpopular bill.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - President William Ruto has once again lied to Kenyans after he said he is the one who ordered church leaders not to allow politicians at the altar.

Speaking during a roundtable interview with media houses on Sunday, Ruto said he urged church leaders to stop politicians from using the church pulpit or any place of worship to advance their agendas.

"It is not right, and I agree we need to change that culture," he said.

He also hinted at a plan to end the tradition of conducting fundraisers (Harambee) in churches.

He argued that harambees initially started as a charitable practice to help people raise funds for purposes such as school fees and medical expenses, but that has since changed.

He asserted that politicians engaging in church fundraisers are contributing to fostering corruption in the country.

"It has stretched too far and I think as a country, it has come to a time when we must stop harambees because it is breeding corruption." He said.

What Ruto didnt tell Kenyans is that it is Gen Z that urged church leaders not to allow politicians near the altar.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, July 01, 2024 - A South African woman has threatened to take strict action after her baby daddy's new girlfriend used a relaxer on their daughter's natural hair without her consent.

I am on my way to fetch my kid from her dad's place because the new girlfriend decided to relax her natural hair without my consent. This guy if he wants to see his child he's gonna see her at my place because he why is allowing his new girl near our daughter, she wrote in a post at the weekend.






Monday, July 01, 2024 - The US Supreme Court has rejected former President Donald Trumps claim of immunity from prosecution, ruling that while former presidents are immune from prosecution for their official acts, they are not immune from unofficial acts.

Monday's historic 6-3 ruling doesn't answer the question of what is an official or unofficial act. Instead, the court kicks the question back to the lower courts to figure out precisely how to apply the decision to Trump's case.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts writes that "Trump asserts a far broader immunity than the limited one we have recognized."

Roberts was joined by the other five conservative justices. The three liberal justices dissented.

Todays decision to grant former presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the presidency. It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of government, that no man is above the law, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a scathing dissent.

Sotomayor, who read a summary of her dissent aloud in the courtroom, said the protection afforded presidents by the court "is just as bad as it sounds, and it is baseless.

The outcome means additional delay before Trump could face trial in the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, all but ending prospects the former president could be tried before the November election.

If Trumps Washington trial does not take place before the 2024 election and he is not given another four years in the White House, he will stand trial thereafter.

But if he wins, he could appoint an attorney general who would seek the dismissal of this case and the other federal prosecution he faces. He could also attempt to pardon himself if he reclaims the White House.

The case stems from Trumps attempts to have charges against him dismissed. Lower courts have found he cannot claim immunity for actions that, prosecutors say, illegally sought to interfere with the election results.

Trump has been charged in federal court in Washington with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election, one of three criminal cases he is still facing.

Earlier this month, Trump was convicted in New York of 34 counts of falsifying business records arising from what prosecutors said was an attempt to cover up a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - On Saturday, Langata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor alias, Jalango, was among the leaders that attended the burial of late comedian Fred Omondi in Siaya.

The burial turned dramatic after some of the locals called out Jalango for betraying his ODM party by working closely with the Kenya Kwanza government and ordered him to apologize.

Although Jalango voted no for the finance bill, some people were still mad at him for being close to President Ruto, who is currently perceived as the enemy of Kenyans.

Raila Odinga, who was among the leaders who attended the burial, was forced to intervene and save Jalango from the irate locals.

The ODM leader held Jalango hand as they walked together from the burial.

Jalango was forced to abandon his car and fly in Railas chopper.









Watch video.

It seems that Raila had to intervene to save MP Jalang'o from the enraged crowd, who were demanding an apology from him, possibly for their turbulent past. Theyre asking him to apologise publicly. Jalango arrived in a car but left with Raila in his chopper. This was today at pic.twitter.com/ZOoo9KjNXK  Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) June 29, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku has shocked his colleagues after expressing his willingness to resign from his role over the current state of the nation.

Speaking during an interview, the ODM legislator relayed that the members of the public had lost faith in the government hence the need to have MPs leave office.

Manduku further stated that he will be sustaining his calls to have Parliament dissolved and fresh elections organised for the government to reclaim legitimacy from the Kenyan population.

He noted even if he resigned, the only solution to Kenyans problems would be fresh elections to allow Kenyans to choose representatives who will advance their best interests.

I may resign but Parliament is constituted by quorum as long as there are fifty of us, we will still transact business, Daniel Manduku.

Manduku further elaborated that if Kenya were to hold an election in the wake of recent developments, Kenyans would exhibit a more grounded voting pattern.

According to the legislator, Kenyans have been voting along party lines rather than through assessing individuals, resulting in the six-piece voting pattern.

He further stated that his proposal to dissolve parliament was unpopular among his colleagues who have pushed him to give up his seat without calling for Parliament to be dissolved.

However, he maintained that the recent invasion of Parliament signifies a failure of the institution to maintain order, respect, and public trust.

Manduku, additionally proposed that Kenya could also adopt a scheduled election system where leaders from various positions are elected after different intervals.

According to the MP, this would enable Kenyans to rate the leaders effectively and vote objectively.

The only thing we would have to do is ensure that these elections are affordable, Manduku added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has dismissed a push by Gen Z protesters to repeal the housing levy.

Speaking in the South B area of Nairobi, Wahome explained that over 100,000 housing units were already in the pipeline across the country.

As a result, she noted that should the state discontinue the levy, the projects would be considered dead capital and a waste of taxpayers money.

"I already have over 100,000 housing units. If I stopped at this stage, then that would be a dead capital investment and it is Kenyans' money," she stated.

Wahome was responding to mounting pressure from protesters who termed the housing levy, deducted at a rate of 1.5 per cent, as punitive to salaried workers even as the cost of living skyrockets.

CS Wahome further told the press that the state was in the process of revising the Land Laws to curb landgrabbers from getting away with state land.

She explained that loopholes in the existing laws were aiding the perpetrators to hive off public land, resulting in a lengthy court battle.

"As soon as we finish with the policy, we will be able to look at the Land Law and do an amendment of the law to capture various serious loopholes and gaps that the landgrabbers are using including how we deal with land belonging to the public that was grabbed and developed," she noted.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has blamed Kenya Kwanza leaders for being the reason the Gen Zs are revolting against President William Ruto and his administration.

This follows the sudden wealth and the arrogance some Kenya Kwanza leaders exhibit towards Kenyans.

Speaking in Bomet County, Gachagua called out leaders whom he said are displaying arrogance and opulence instead of working as per the manifesto of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"We must address issues making Kenyans uncomfortable with our Administration.

"Do not display opulence and arrogance to hungry people. Address them with humility and dignity, not chest-thumping," remarked Gachagua.

Gachagua was addressing the likes of Oscar Sudi, Farouk Kibet, Kipchumba Murkomen, Millicent Omanga, David Ndii, and Kimani Ichungwah who have been vomiting on Kenyans after getting their stomachs full with taxpayers money.

Addressing his relationship with his boss, Gachagua mentioned that he would support the Head of State until the end.

"We are good friends; we have come from far together. We cannot allow intruders to come in between us (with the President). I will support him to the end," he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Xi hails achievements of China-Kazakhstan cooperation

Xinhua) 14:21, July 02, 2024

ASTANA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed achievements of China-Kazakhstan cooperation in a signed article published in Kazakh media on Tuesday.

Mutual political trust between China and Kazakhstan has reached a new level, Xi said, adding that the two countries have achieved new success in results-oriented cooperation and witnessed a new upsurge in people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

"Our coordination and collaboration at the international level has achieved new and tangible results," he said.

Xi's signed article, under the title "Staying True to Our Shared Commitment and Opening a New Chapter in China-Kazakhstan Relations," was published in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper and Kazinform International News Agency, ahead of his state visit to Kazakhstan.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Saint Nicholas Church, Killamery, County Kilkenny

ASKING PRICE: 25,000

An opportunity has arisen to acquire a de-consecrated former Church of Ireland building which is now in ruins, just off the Clonmel/Kilkenny Road (N76) at Killamery.

Killamery is a tiny scenic village in Kilkenny which contains many historic treasures.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE

Saint Nicholas Church was built in 1815 in the grounds and graveyard where Saint Gobhan established a Monastery in AD 632.

The shared graveyard contains a fine 9th Century sandstone Celtic High Cross.

Saint Nicholas Church ceased to be used for public worship in 1903 and is a protected building.

To the north of the Saint Nicholas Church property being offered for sale and contained within the shared boundary wall, is a small stream and beyond is the slightly elevated Roman Catholic cemetery where the High Cross is also located.

This cemetery is an active one and the whole area has been very well maintained by local relatives.

It is also visited by tourists interested in Irish history and the areas beautiful scenery.

Any future purchaser of Saint Nicholas Church will be contractually obliged to grant right of way to all visitors to the graveyard and High Cross.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
Proposals to change Irelands three-part system to send Irish soldiers on peacekeeping missions will be published by September at the latest.

Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin received Cabinet approval in April to amend Irelands triple-lock system.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence told an Oireachtas committee on Tuesday: The legislation is being prepared at the moment, I cant give you a timeline, I doubt it will be in before the (summer) recess.

Were still engaging with the (Attorney General), other the government departments, key stakeholders.

The Tanaiste said they may have the legislation ready before the Dail recess next Thursday, or by the end of July, but if not, it would be the first week of September.

He said pre-legislative scrutiny of the amendment by the foreign affairs committee would be required.

Opposition politicians have expressed concerns that the change could threaten Irelands neutrality.

The triple lock is a way of approving the deployment of Irish troops on peacekeeping missions abroad, requiring the approval of the Irish government, the Irish parliaments lower house, and the UN Security Council.

Mr Martin said Ireland was conscious that no peacekeeping mission had been approved by the UN since 2014.

Five permanent members of the Security Council  the US, Russia, China, France and the UK  have a veto on proposals, including on whether Ireland can deploy peacekeepers on UN missions.

Mr Martin has said previously it was morally wrong that Russia can veto the deployment of Irish troops abroad.

What we would propose into the future is that in the amendment to the triple lock, he said.

We would still frame it within a UN framework, in the context of the UN Charter and the principles of the UN, and the various chapters of the UN framework governing deployments.

He suggested that the triple lock amendment would still require the approval of the Irish government and the Dail.

I would have to reassert the point that there is no connection between the triple lock and our military neutrality, he told the committee.

Our military neutrality is that we are not members of a military alliance, we have no plans to be a member of military alliance.

Mr Martin also spoke about Irelands proposed involvement in three permanent structured cooperation (Pesco) projects, as well as changes to Irelands triple lock system.

The Tanaiste said the first involves becoming a member of a logistic hub where the Defence Forces can store equipment on the continent; the second involves defending critical seabed infrastructure; and the third is training on energy management systems, which includes on-site visits.

The Dail is asked to approve Irish soldiers involvements in Pesco projects.

Ireland is currently taking part in four such projects, which Mr Martin said was low compared to other EU countries.
Nebraska authorities investigating if race played a role in shooting that wounded 4 children and 3 adults, police chief says on June 28.
Kim Soo-hyun deletes Instagram photos, thereby sparking dating rumors

By KTimes

Actors Kim Soo-hyun, 36, and Kim Ji-won, 31, have found themselves at the center of unexpected dating rumors, JTBC and other media outlets reported, Monday.

Both parties have remained silent, offering no official statements on the matter.

The speculation began when Kim Soo-hyun posted four photos on his social media, July 1, only to delete three of them shortly after. This sudden action led some netizens to suspect a possible "Lovestagram" with Kim Ji-won, sparking rumors of a romantic relationship.

One of the deleted photos featured Soo-hyun in a black suit taking a selfie. This was notably similar to a recent selfie taken by Kim Ji-won, who wore a black dress at a luxury brand event in Taiwan.

Netizens speculate that Soo-hyun's quick deletion of the photos was an attempt to avoid drawing attention to these similarities.

Despite the swirling rumors, neither Soo-hyun nor Ji-won has made any comments publicly.

The two actors recently worked together, portraying a married couple in the tvN drama "Queen of Tears," which concluded in April.

Separately, in March, Kim Soo-hyun was embroiled in dating rumors with actress Kim Sae-ron due to an Instagram photo. During the airing of "Queen of Tears," Kim Sae-ron posted a selfie with Soo-hyun on her Instagram, only to delete it shortly after.

At that time, Kim Soo-hyun's agency dismissed the rumors, "There is no truth to it. The photo appears to have been taken when they were in the same agency. We have no knowledge of Kim Sae-ron's intentions behind her actions."

This article was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
The financial regulator on Tuesday published a guideline for the revised corporate governance code for financial firms that requires companies to clearly state who is responsible for certain actions or decisions.

The revised law, set to go into effect Wednesday, seeks to enhance the accountability of financial firms and their employees to shareholders and customers in case of financial incidents, such as incomplete sales of products or embezzlement of funds by officials.

Under the revised law, financial companies will be required to draw up and submit a new organizational chart on accountability, detailing which official is responsible for which action.

"Responsibility refers to the obligation to internal control and risk management that financial companies and their employees must observe under related laws," the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said in a press release.

"Responsibility differs from business duties in that it is an obligation of financial firms and their employees to maintain and implement internal control so no legal violation will occur while the companies or their employees execute their business duties," it added.

The manual explains the chief executive official (CEO) should adequately distribute corporate responsibilities so that they are not omitted, overlapped or skewed toward a few executive officials.

Financial firms are required to submit an organizational chart of responsibilities to the financial authorities after having them approved by their boards, according to the FSC.

"Considering that there is no incentive for financial firms to submit their accountability structure charts at an early date ... the financial authorities are reviewing ways to test run the new system and incentivize financial firms that take part in the test run so that the financial industry can begin introducing an accountability system at an early date," it said.

The financial regulator said it will also offer guidelines on internal penalties for failures to comply with companies steps aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency in the near future. (Yonhap)
Biz associations, shareholder rights' groups clash over corporate board's duty

By Anna J. Park

A heated debate is taking place in the Korean business and financial sectors about potentially revising the Commercial Act to expand the fiduciary responsibilities of corporate directors to include protecting the interests of shareholders.

Currently, Article 382-3 of the act outlines the duty of loyalty for corporate directors, specifying that they "shall perform their duties in good faith for the interest of the company."

The clause, which only references the "interest of the company" and excludes consideration of "shareholders," has faced sustained criticism from shareholder activists. They contend that this omission has perpetuated a legal framework that disproportionately benefits major shareholders, particularly chaebol owners, enabling them to enjoy excessive financial rewards and influence over corporations disproportionate to their ownership stakes.

The advantages in rewards and control afforded to major shareholders, often to the detriment of minority shareholders, are frequently cited as a significant factor contributing to the so-called "Korea discount," which describes the consistent undervaluation of Korean stocks in the market.

Against this backdrop, financial authorities, actively pursuing the Corporate Value-up Program to tackle the "Korea discount," are pushing to amend the act. The proposed revision aims to expand the duty of loyalty for corporate boards to include safeguarding the interests of shareholders. This issue holds particular significance for over 14 million retail investors in Korea, who advocate for a fair and equitable environment that supports minority shareholders.

Expanding duty to address Korea discount

Supporters of the revision argue that it will establish a solid foundation for the healthy development of domestic stock markets, providing enhanced protection for the interests of minority shareholders.

One of the most vocal proponents is Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun, who emphasizes that the revision will positively contribute to the corporate value-up initiatives.

"Corporate governance reforms are essential to ensure equitable treatment for all shareholders. The board of directors must not only set strategic directives for the company and oversee management effectively but also uphold responsibilities toward both the company and its shareholders. Resolving the Korea discount hinges on equally protecting the interests of controlling shareholders and minority shareholders," Lee stressed in a speech in late June.

Many law professors agree with that view.

Lee Sang-hoon, a law professor at Kyungpook National University School of Law and an expert in corporate governance, underscored that the amendment to the act should be at the core of the government-led Corporate Value-up Program.

"In Korea, the gap between corporate value and stock value is too wide. Government-led corporate value enhancement programs that focus on metrics like return on equity (ROE) or price-to-book ratio (PBR) address the outcomes but not the root causes of the Korea discount. We need to identify and resolve these root causes. The fundamental problem of undervaluation in Korean stocks originates from the erosion of shareholder value. The remedy lies in restructuring the board to prevent this value destruction and mandating its improvement," the professor told The Korea Times.

"What the government can do to effectively address the Korea discount is to expand the scope of a corporate board's duty of loyalty to include the protection of ordinary shareholders' rights, so that shareholders' proportional rights can be properly respected," he emphasized. "It is all about establishing a clear principle of corporate boards  when the interests of a few controlling shareholders and those of ordinary shareholders clash, boards should prioritize the interests of the entire shareholders. It should be the target of the corporate value-up initiatives."

Professor Chung Joon-hyug from Seoul National University Law School also noted that it is an "undeniable reality" that there is a widespread perception among foreign investors and retail investors that Korea does not have sufficient protection for minority shareholders.

"Discussions on revising the Commercial Act whether to expand board directors' fiduciary duties are necessary to change this perception," Chung said during a recent seminar held by the association of Korea's listed companies and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).

This position also aligns with global standards. The Principles of Corporate Governance released by the G20 and OECD in 2023 state: "The corporate governance framework should protect and facilitate the exercise of shareholders rights and ensure the equitable treatment of all shareholders, including minority and foreign shareholders."

Business associations bristle

On the other hand, the business community, particularly concerned about sensitive issues such as corporate management succession, vehemently opposes the proposed change.

Eight business associations, including the FKI, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Korea Federation of SMEs, issued a joint statement in late June expressing their opposition to the proposed revision to the act. They delivered this statement to the government and the National Assembly.

They expressed concerns that expanding the fiduciary duty of board directors to include protecting ordinary shareholders could not only create significant confusion in management decisions, but also increase judicial risks.

"Expanding directors' fiduciary duties could hinder swift management decisions, undermine competitiveness, and potentially be exploited by hostile takeover forces," their statement reads.

They explained that amid heightened pressure from activist hedge funds leveraging shareholder rights against listed Korean companies, the proposed revision could further complicate defending management rights. They argue that without tools like poison pills or differential voting rights, it could become increasingly challenging to uphold the authority of existing management.

"With over 14 million retail investors in Korea, each with diverse investment objectives, it is practically impossible for board directors to pursue proportional benefits for all shareholders," Kwon Jae-yeol, professor at Kyung Hee University Law School, pointed out during the FKI seminar.

"Excessive civil liability could clearly impede directors from pursuing innovative management strategies," he remarked.

The professor added that if the revision is passed, the country would need to prepare additional legal frameworks to mitigate potential side effects, such as establishing principles for managerial discretion.

Supporting this stance, an industry insider from a high-tech venture company noted that currently, recruiting outside directors remains challenging due to concerns about potential lawsuits from minority shareholders.

"If the Commercial Act is revised, companies might have to appoint outside directors who may lack relative expertise," he said on condition of anonymity.

Minority shareholders seek more rights

In response to this stance, the Korean Corporate Governance Forum, an association of shareholder activists, questions whether it is acceptable for the disproportionate influence of controlling shareholders, who do not hold a proportional corporate stake, to remain unchecked.

"Over decades, the stake of ordinary shareholders has dwindled while the influence of controlling shareholders has grown stronger through mergers, spin-offs, and the establishment of holding companies," the forum said in a statement. "Promises of bright prospects are made to ordinary shareholders when companies raise substantial capital through listing. Why then is there a reluctance to bear the responsibility to protect the interests of ordinary shareholders fairly, akin to controlling shareholders?"

It is often noted that Korean conglomerates frequently demonstrate a globally unique corporate governance structure. Here, controlling shareholders, who hold a small stake but wield significant influence through shareholdings in subsidiaries, effectively dominate the entire conglomerate.

The forum points out that many retail investors and institutional shareholders of listed companies are not only being deprived of their rightful returns in major capital transactions, such as mergers, divisions, voluntary delistings, and transitions to holding companies, but also systematically excluded from corporate governance.

The majority of public opinions expressed on online bulletin boards align with the forum's stance.

"The board of directors merely serves as a rubber stamp for controlling shareholders," an anonymous online user wrote on a portal site.

"They've been disregarding small retail shareholders for so long, thinking they could get away with it. Are they now concerned they won't get away with it anymore under the proposed revision?" another commented.

"Just let the controlling shareholders play by themselves. Ordinary investors will eventually move to overseas markets anyway," another user noted.

Both the government and opposition parties are pushing for revisions to the act to bolster the rights of minority shareholders.

Rep. Kang Hoon-sik of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposed revision bills to the Commercial Act and the Capital Market Act, to enhance the fiduciary duties of directors to ordinary shareholders and mandate the introduction of electronic voting systems for listed companies.

Rep. Jeong Jun-ho from the same party also proposed a similar bill in early June, aiming to protect the proportional benefits of shareholders.

"Proportional benefits for shareholders essentially align with the principle of shareholder equality," he said.

Abolition of breach of trust

Amid the ongoing controversy, another contentious issue has emerged regarding the possible elimination of charges related to breach of trust.

The FSS governor first raised this issue in mid-June, amid heightened opposition from the business community against expanding the fiduciary duties of directors. Lee proposed discussing the complete abolition of breach of trust charges as part of a comprehensive package.

"It would be better to abolish, rather than maintain, breach of trust charges, which currently target even minor offenses," Lee said during a press briefing. "A board decision could unreasonably fall under the target of criminal penalties as breach of trust under the criminal law, which doesn't align with global standards."

The business community has long contended that the broad application and severe penalties for breach of trust hinder corporate activities.

Sung Tae-yoon, national policy director at the presidential office, echoed the FSS governor's stance.

"If the government expands the scope of directors' fiduciary duties to include shareholder protection, it should also consider either abolishing charges of breach of trust altogether or creating conditions under which directors can be exempt from such charges."

However, shareholder activists have expressed concerns that abolishing breach of trust charges could undermine the intended purpose of the Commercial Act revision.

They argue that addressing both issues simultaneously could potentially favor majority shareholders. They contend that without charges of breach of trust, minority shareholders would be left with civil litigation as their only recourse to hold directors accountable, raising doubts about the likelihood of success in such cases.

"The point of all these discussions on amending the Commercial Act is to strengthen investor protections for corporate value enhancement. If we are overly cautious due to the business community's opposition and end up creating a formulaic law that does not carry substantial changes, the Korea discount could worsen. Moreover, eliminating breach of trust charges for directors, under the pretext of strengthening their responsibilities, would effectively grant them immunity," Kang Sung-boo, CEO of the Korea Corporate Governance Improvement Fund (KCGI), stressed.
The United States on Monday condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches this week, reaffirming its "ironclad" security commitment to South Korea.

On Monday Morning (Korea time), the North fired two ballistic missiles with one of the launches having possibly ended in failure, according to the South Korean military.

"The United States condemns the DPRK's June 30 ballistic missile launches (Washington time)," a State Department spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"These launches, like all the DPRK's other ballistic missile launches in recent years, are in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. They pose a threat to regional and international peace and security and undermine the global nonproliferation regime," the spokesperson added.

The official also stressed close coordination with allies to deal with the North's provocative acts.

"We continue to consult closely with our allies and partners about how best to deter DPRK aggression and coordinate international responses to the DPRK's violations of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," the official said. "Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan is ironclad."

The launch came a day after the North's foreign ministry denounced a joint naval exercise between South Korea, the United States and Japan, saying the country would take "offensive and overwhelming" countermeasures against what it called an attempt to strengthen a military bloc.

The three countries conducted the first trilateral Freedom Edge exercise in international waters south of South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju last week. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has voiced his satisfaction about economic performances in the first half at a key party meeting, saying that economic situations are markedly on an upturn, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday.

But Kim did not issue any message targeting South Korea or the United States, nor did he reveal details about the country's push to advance its weapons arsenal Monday, the fourth and final day of a plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The party meeting garnered more keen attention from South Korea and other regional powers as it followed summit talks between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang on June 19. The two leaders' signing of a new treaty on stronger military cooperation spawned speculation the North may unveil follow-up measures to implement the deal at the party gathering.

North Korea discussed five agenda items at the latest party meeting, including the interim review of the implementation of state policies for this year and the issue of enforcing work discipline in key sectors, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"In the first half of this year, it could be sensed that the country's economic situations are markedly on an upturn, compared with a year earlier," Kim was quoted as saying by the report.

"It can be said that the farming situation throughout the country up to now is also fairly good," he noted.

The North's crop production is estimated to have increased 310,000 tons on-year to 4.82 million tons last year, according to South Korea's Rural Development Administration.

Still, it was below 5.76 million tons, the annual amount that the North needs to feed its people, according to a projection by the Food and Agriculture Organization for the North.

Kim also said the country will witness the completion of new modern production bases in 20 cities and counties by the end of this year, in reference to North Korea's project to build modernized factories in 20 counties over the next decade to improve people's livelihoods.

Touching on the military, the KCNA said Kim clarified the direction of military and political activities by North Korea's all armed forces, without disclosing further details.

The North's leader called for the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) to revise the country's constitution to enhance the prestige of the state, indicating that the North's rubber-stamp parliament is expected to soon hold a key session.

Kim earlier called for revising the constitution at the next SPA meeting to define South Korea as the North's "primary foe" and clarify its territorial boundaries, including the maritime border.

At a year-end party meeting in December, Kim defined inter-Korean relations as those "between two states hostile to each other" and said there is no point in seeking unification with South Korea. During the latest plenary meeting, he did not issue any further messages showing his animosity toward the South.

The unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said North Korea rarely issued a message to South Korea or the U.S. at a June party plenary meeting in the past.

"In light of the current fluid security situation, we will continue to closely monitor why North Korea made no comments on the South and the U.S., and the possibility that it has kept them undisclosed," a ministry official said.

Meanwhile, North Korea carried out a reshuffle of party officials at the party meeting.

The North said it appointed Kim Jong-sun as a department director of the WPK's Central Committee, in what would be a rare move to name a woman in the post of a party department director. (Yonhap)
North Korea has been using a Russian communication satellite, instead of a Chinese one, to transmit its state-run television broadcasts, causing a setback in access in South Korea to the North's broadcasting, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday.

Since June 20, North Korea's state-run Korean Central Television has transmitted its broadcasts using Russia's Express 103 satellite, according to LyngSat, a provider of data about global satellite TVs and radio.

Previously, the North sent broadcast signals using ChinaSat 12, a Chinese communication satellite. Since Monday, reception of the North's TV signals using the satellite has not been possible in the South, making it difficult for media outlets and government agencies in the country to access the North's TV broadcasts.

"North Korea stopped using an existing Chinese satellite and started transmitting broadcasts via a Russian satellite. This caused the reception of satellite broadcasting to remain restricted in some areas in South Korea," the ministry said.

The ministry said it has been monitoring North Korea's broadcasts with the cooperation of related agencies and is in talks to address the technical restrictions.

It remains unknown why North Korea has switched to using the Russian satellite. The operation of the ChinaSat 12 is set to expire in 2027 since it began a 15-year mission in 2012.

The move came after the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held summit talks in Pyongyang on June 19 and signed a new partnership treaty on stronger military and other cooperation.

Currently, South Korean media outlets can access North Korea's state-controlled broadcasts through satellite TVs. But ordinary people are prohibited from having access to the North's media and TV channels in general. (Yonhap)
Experts compare escalating inter-Korean relations to new Cold War

By Kwak Yeon-soo

A new geostrategic environment, anxiety over information penetration and the widening wealth gap between the two Koreas are the reasons behind North Korea's change of policy toward South Korea, a U.S. expert said, Tuesday.

Scott Snyder, president and chief executive officer of the Korea Economic Institute of America, made the point as Pyongyang described Seoul as its "primary foe" and publicly declared it would no longer seek unification and reconciliation with the South.

In January, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered removal of unification references from the country's constitution, dismantlement of monuments honoring the unification efforts of his predecessors and disbandment several government bodies tasked with promoting unification.

"Geostrategic environment is definitely a catalyst for North Korea's change of policy. If we think about the imbalance of the wealth gap (between the two Koreas), we have to imagine that North Korea wants to close the deficit. Strategic relationship with Russia is serving that purpose," Snyder said during a seminar titled "Unification of the Korean Peninsula: International Cooperation and Strategy for the Future" in Seoul. The event was co-hosted by the University of North Korean Studies and the East Asia Institute.

He added, "Anxieties within North Korea about information penetration is another factor. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is so focused on political loyalty. Since he doesn't have personal experience with inter-Korean competition, he's relatively unburdened by historical aspects that are the drive for unification."

During the forum, Junya Nishino, a political science professor at Japan's Keio University, said North Korea's change in policy is both defensive and offensive in nature.

"North Korea's intention is to block the inflow of South Korea's ideology and culture. It has been developing tactical nuclear weapons capable of hitting the South and (intercontinental ballistic missiles) capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Since there are difficulties in establishing mutual nuclear deterrence with the U.S., Pyongyang wants to protect its national security by attacking Seoul as an alternative or to prevent an attack from the U.S.," Nishino said.

"North Korea also has the intention to pursue independent diplomacy without relying on South Korea. Through summits with Seoul, Pyongyang may have realized 'there is nothing we can get from South Korea. It doesn't provide us with any help. It has outlived its usefulness.'"

Cheng Xiaohe, a political science professor at China's Renmin University, acknowledged that inter-Korea relations have complicated the U.S.-China rivalry. He talked about China's role in engaging North Korea, noting how the international community failed to take forward consensus over some issues on the Korean Peninsula and take collective actions.

"China is certainly an important stakeholder in Northeast Asia, but its role has been overshadowed by Russia," Cheng said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Pyongyang.

"China continues with (the) 'Three No(s)' policy  no chaos, no war and no nuclear weapons. The U.S. expects China to cooperate in engaging with North Korea, but at the same time, has been isolating us diplomatically, imposing sanctions on China in an aggressive way. That poses a paradoxical question to China of how to deal with it."

Snyder likened the escalating inter-Korean relations to the Cold War, saying that a new geopolitical event is necessary to bring about a dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea.

Nishino stressed that Japan and South Korea share common security threats posed by North Korea, adding that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been ramping up efforts to engage with Pyongyang by having behind-the-scenes talks on a possible summit.
Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Tuesday called for trainee doctors to swiftly make their decision on whether or not to return to hospitals, as most of them have shown little sign of returning despite the government's appeasement steps.

About 12,000 trainee doctors have left their worksites since late February in protest of the government's plan to hike the number of medical students. With the government finalizing the plan to increase the number of medical students by some 1,500 next year, the government has offered steps to appease trainee doctors.

However, most trainee doctors have been unresponsive to the government's appeasement measures.

"We urge trainee doctors to decide on their return as soon as possible," Cho told a government response meeting, noting that hospitals need to begin the recruitment process for new trainees starting their training in September.

The government has been urging trainee doctors to return to their workplaces and has also asked hospitals to promptly accept the resignations of those not returning.

Previously, authorities had directed hospitals not to accept these resignations to prevent the doctors from seeking employment at other clinics.

Cho also said that blacklisting junior doctors returning to hospitals is "unacceptable" and has requested a police investigation into the matter.

The remark came after a list of junior doctors returning to hospitals following their walkout was circulated last week on an online community exclusive to doctors.

"It is a deeply concerning act that disrupts individuals' decision-making and forces collective action," Cho said. "We have promptly requested a police investigation into the matter. Such illegal activities are intolerable, and we intend to respond sternly."

Cho expressed regret over medical professors, who serve as senior doctors at hospitals affiliated with Korea University and Chungbuk National University, announcing walkouts scheduled for this month.

"We trust most of the professors will fulfill their duty as doctors to protect the lives of people," Cho added.

On the previous day, medical professors at Korea University announced a walkout starting July 12, excluding the operation of emergency rooms and intensive care units.

Those at Chungbuk National University vowed to start an indefinite walkout starting July 26.

Efforts for talks between the government and the medical community, meanwhile, continue to show little progress as trainee doctors and medical students have boycotted a committee launched last month as the representative body.

"We positively evaluate the efforts made by the medical community to gather opinions," Cho added. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol called Tuesday for scientific safety measures to address rising concerns over hard-to-extinguish fires after a lithium battery plant went up in flames last week and killed nearly two dozen workers.

Yoon made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting after the fire at the Aricell lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, 45 kilometers south of Seoul, killed 23 people, mostly foreign employees. Concerns have since arisen that conventional extinguishing methods would not work in such fires.

"In industries like the battery sector, which uses various chemical substances, it is difficult to extinguish fires using traditional methods," Yoon said. "We should thoroughly investigate the types and causes of fires to establish more scientific safety measures."

Given the widespread use of batteries in smartphones and electric vehicles, Yoon ordered related ministries to work together to investigate causes of battery fires, establish safety measures and develop advanced technology to detect and prevent fires at an early stage.

"As new industries rapidly grow, risk factors have become complex and changed. But the firefighting technology and safety awareness have not kept pace with the trend," he said.

Extinguishing a lithium-ion battery fire for an electric vehicle takes longer and requires much more water than a regular vehicle, on top of the exposure to toxic chemicals.

On Monday, a subway maintenance train caught fire on its lithium battery, which was extinguished by submerging it in a water tank. No casualties were reported. (Yonhap)
Russia unlikely to cooperate, but China might, says former US secretary of state

By Lee Hyo-jin

The next president of the United States should address the North Korean nuclear issue more strongly, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday, criticizing the current Joe Biden administration's lack of activity in this area.

"Any American president will be determined not to have North Korea create instability on the Korean Peninsula. President Trump, when he was president, tried to directly address Kim Jong-un. But Kim did not respond and cooperate. President Trump will understand that you cannot deal with a dictator," Rice said during a forum in Seoul when asked which next president will be better suited to handle the North Korea issue.

The forum, organized by the Christian radio network Far East Broadcasting Company, featured Rice in a lecture-interview format.

She continued, "President Biden, in this administration, they have not been very active on North Korea. They have many other things going on of course. I believe whoever is elected in November will have to return to this issue very strongly."

South Korea, a key American ally, is closely watching the U.S. presidential elections, which is currently a rematch between Biden and his predecessor, Trump.

Observers say that if Trump, who initiated an unprecedented era of U.S.-North Korea diplomacy during his term, is re-elected, he might consider another round of personal diplomacy with the North Korean leader. This could significantly impact the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's policy on North Korea.

Describing the North Korean leader as an "erratic man," Rice emphasized the need for the international community to work together to deter his nuclear ambitions.

"It's important to have the world to remember how dangerous it would be to have Kim Jong-un, who is a very strange and erratic man, have a nuclear weapon. This would be a great danger not just to South Korea, not just to the U.S., but to all of the Asia Pacific and to the world," she said.

Rice also stressed the need for efforts to convince Beijing to engage in resolving North Korean issues. She expressed skepticism about Russian cooperation under President Vladimir Putin, who recently visited Pyongyang.

"We must convince China that a nuclear weapon in North Korea is not in China's interest ... China might cooperate," she said, recalling the cooperation of former Chinese leader Hu Jintao during the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program.

Reflecting on her tenure as the top U.S. diplomat under former President George W. Bush, Rice emphasized the importance of promoting democracy and helping civil society develop worldwide, describing these efforts as the best decisions made during her diplomatic career.

Regarding decisions she regrets, Rice mentioned a missed opportunity in the Middle East.

"In 2008, we had a chance to get an agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. We were almost out of office, and the Palestinians were not able to say yes. If we had made the possibility of the agreement public, perhaps the two parties would have been more willing to work together. If I had to do (it) over again, I would push harder for that agreement," she said.

"Then, maybe we would not be where we are today."




North Korea's claim of a successful test-fire of a new missile is likely a "lie," South Korea's military said Tuesday, in the latest dismissal of the North's weapons test assertions.

Earlier in the day, the North said it test-fired the new Hwasong-11Da-4.5 tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead Monday to verify its flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 kilometers and the minimum range of 90 kilometers.

South Korea's military earlier said it had detected two ballistic missile launches, with one of them flying some 600 km before landing in waters off the North's eastern coast, and the other traveling only about 120 km, raising the possibility of a failure.

"(We) are conducting an analysis, while putting weight on the possibility that North Korea's public report is a (form of) deception," Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), told a regular briefing.

Lee said the second missile flew abnormally and appeared to have fallen in a field in an uninhabited area close to Pyongyang.

"It is extremely rare to conduct a test-launch inland and there is a high possibility that its claim of a success is a lie," he said.

North Korea has typically staged missile launches into waters off its eastern and western coasts.

Lee said that both missiles would have fallen inland if they flew the distances as reported by the North, based on the flight direction detected by the JCS.

North Korea has test-fired the Hwasong-11 series of short-range ballistic missiles over the years. The new Hwasong-11Da-4.5 missile is capable of carrying a 4.5 ton-class warhead, according to the North's state media.

When asked whether the military assessed the latest launches to actually involve the new missile, Lee said an analysis is under way on various possibilities.

He said the military has assessed the North's Hwasong-11 series to be able to carry a warhead of up to 2.5 tons, but noted that a 4.5-ton warhead is theoretically possible.

The remarks marked the South's latest dismissal of the North's claim of conducting a successful weapons test.

Last week, Pyongyang claimed it had successfully conducted a multiple warhead missile test, but the JCS dismissed it as "deception," saying the launch ended in failure as the missile exploded in midair.

The JCS later released video footage of the missile exploding into fragments in the air captured with military thermal observation devices. (Yonhap)
By Jung Min-ho

All new conscript candidates will be required to receive drug tests starting July 10 as part of the militarys effort to keep the armed forces from the growing problem of substance abuse.

The Military Manpower Administration made the announcement Monday that it will begin to conduct its mandatory drug testing program next week for six illicit substances  meth, cocaine, opium, marijuana, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) and ketamine.

So far, the government agency has carried out tests only for those who said they had taken illegal drugs during the medical checkups required for military service.

That means the number of people who should undergo such tests will increase from around 1,000 to 260,000 every year. The agency will report those who are confirmed positive to the police for investigation.

This new testing system aims to ensure the safety of all military personnel, an official at the agency said in a press release.

Possible dangers posed by the use of psychoactive drugs could be exceptionally high when they are taken by those who have access to rifles and other lethal military weapons.

According to data, the number of drug offenses involving military personnel has been on the rise in recent years, from nine in 2020 to 32 in 2022.

In one of the latest cases, a noncommissioned officer at the Marine Corps was apprehended in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, in early June on suspicion of a drug violation. He had already been investigated for alleged methamphetamine use on multiple occasions.
Driver claims sudden acceleration, while police, experts are skeptical

By Nam Hyun-woo

Police are investigating a car crash that killed nine pedestrians and injured six others near a busy intersection in central Seoul on Monday night.

The intersection, located near a bustling restaurant district near Seoul City Hall, witnessed a tragic accident that resulted in a higher number of casualties. The incident also shocked many citizens who regularly commute through or dine in the area.

The police plan to investigate claims made by the 68-year-old driver that the sedan suddenly accelerated even though he stepped on the brake pedal.

According to police and witnesses, the accident occurred at 9:27 p.m. when the Genesis G80 vehicle careened onto a sidewalk. The car exited the Westin Josun Seoul near City Hall, drove against traffic on a one-way, four-lane road for approximately 200 meters, and onto the sidewalk. It finally came to a stop after hitting pedestrians and two oncoming vehicles.

CCTV footage showed the car breaking through fences, knocking down pedestrians and parked motorcycles, while citizens nearby panicked and sought help.

The accident resulted in nine deaths and six injuries, including the driver. Among the injured, one person suffered serious wounds, while the others sustained relatively minor injuries.

Witnesses and media reports allege that the man behind the wheel is a bus driver who caused the accident after attending a gathering at the hotel. However, police have declined to confirm his identity, citing the ongoing investigation.

Jeong Yong-woo, head of Seoul Namdaemun Police Station's traffic department, said during a press briefing that police are investigating the driver for potential violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents, specifically regarding accidental homicides.

The drivers wife, who was in the vehicle during the accident, told reporters that her husband stepped on the brake pedal but lost control of the car, which suddenly accelerated. Jeong said the driver has not made such a statement yet, but added, The only evidence suggesting sudden unintended acceleration is the testimony of the wife, and even if there was sudden unintended acceleration, it would not affect the charges.

He said the vehicle will be sent to the National Forensic Service to confirm the exact cause of the accident including the claim of sudden acceleration.

Police said the driver did not attempt to flee the accident scene. Results from a breathalyzer test and a preliminary drug test indicated no traces of alcohol or drug use.

Among the deceased, four were coworkers at a nearby bank who had attended a dinner party to celebrate a job promotion. Additionally, two others were officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

President Yoon Suk Yeol offered condolences to the victims of the accident during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, while Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min pledged to develop and implement comprehensive measures to prevent such unfortunate accidents.

Although the driver claims there was a sudden unintended acceleration, witnesses reported that the vehicle decelerated before coming to a stop. Experts also consider it unlikely that there was a vehicle malfunction.

Based on the available data, it appears highly likely that the accident was due to the driver's mistake. Proving that there was a sudden unintended acceleration will be very difficult, said Kim Pil-soo, a professor at the Daelim University Automotive Engineering Department.

Researchers are refraining from making interpretations regarding situations where vehicles cover such distances in just five to six seconds. There is a lack of conclusive evidence, and many drivers claim sudden acceleration due to uncertainty about what they actually pressed. He added that CCTV footage showed that the cars brake lamps were on when it nearly stopped, meaning the vehicle could have been functioning properly.

If the investigation finds that the accident was caused by driver negligence rather than a vehicle defect, heated debate is expected over the qualifications of elderly drivers.

However, Kim said the driver is too young to be considered as suffering from a degradation of physical ability, and various other reasons could have contributed to the accident.

The rate of car accidents rises quickly among those aged over 75, but not among those in their 60s  Korea has one of the highest elderly employment rates among OECD members, thus a hasty debate on limiting elderly drivers qualifications will only end up causing backlash for infringing on elderly citizens rights of movement.

Currently, the government requires drivers aged 75 and older to renew their driver's licenses every three years, with mandatory cognitive ability tests and traffic safety education as part of the renewal process. The government also recommends drivers aged 65 and older to receive traffic safety education.
By Jun Ji-hye

The new support center for foreign workers in North Jeolla Province utilizes all available resources including financial institutes and lawyers to help the workers in the region.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Jeonbuk Foreign Workers Support Center officially opened on May 3. Previously, the region lacked a support facility for foreign workers.

The support center is one of the nine facilities that have been set up under the ministrys project, which aims to assist foreign laborers in various regions. Under this program, the ministry grants up to 200 million won ($145,000) to local governments, who have established such centers, to cover 50 percent of their operating costs.

The eight others are in Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Changwon, Gimhae, Yangsan and South Chungcheong Province.

The Jeonbuk center is working together with local financial institutes and lawyers specializing in labor issues to offer a variety of counseling services.

The center also offers Korean language education as well as daily necessities such as first aid.

The ministry is planning to link the center to a multi-lingual counseling service, which is offered by local labor offices, and to vocational training programs offered by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea.

As an increasing number of foreign workers are expected to arrive in Korea this year to work in various industries, the ministry and local governments should join forces, Labor Ministry Lee Jung-sik said during his visit to the center, May 26.

The central government will actively support the Jeonbuk center, so it can become the foundation stone to support migrant workers in the region.

During a meeting with the minister on that day, Kuda Baduge Chamara Chandimal Jayantha, a worker from Sri Lanka, shared his experience from 2017 when he first entered Korea under the Employment Permit System, saying he faced many difficulties in the early stages of his stay as he was not fluent in Korean at the time.

He expressed hope that the establishment of the new support center will be well publicized to many other foreign workers so they can receive help.

Meanwhile, the Yangsan Support Center for Foreign Workers has implemented the Global Volunteer program, where migrant workers participate in monthly volunteer activities such as waste sorting or cleaning in the region.

"The program was created to help the workers be more close to local residents as there still is a gap between the workers and the residents, although the region has seen an increasing number of foreign workers," said Yoo Kyeong-hye, who heads the center.
Korea plans to launch a cluster of five small satellites into low Earth orbit by 2028 to monitor emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, officials said Tuesday.

The plan was announced by the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) as part of the country's first 20-year greenhouse gas reduction scheme for the 2023-42 period, released last year.

Under the plan, NIER will develop five mini-size greenhouse gas observation satellites by 2027 in collaboration with Hanwha Systems, with a total budget of 47.3 billion won ($34 million), including 4.3 billion won allocated for this year.

Starting in 2027, all five satellites will be launched into orbit through 2028 to monitor carbon dioxide and methane emissions for up to seven years, operating as a cluster at an altitude of about 600 kilometers, with an interval of some 80 km between them.

The research center plans to capitalize on as much homegrown satellite technology as possible for the development of the so-called "cube" satellites, which will weigh less than 50 kilograms, and measure about 20 centimeters in width and 40 cm in height with a spatial resolution of about 100 meters.

NIER explained that the Korea Meteorological Administration's ongoing greenhouse gas observation satellite project differs from its own. NIER's cube satellites aim to locate the exact sources of emissions and measure the emissions of individual emitters, whereas the weather agency's project seeks to gauge the concentration of greenhouse gases in the natural environment, it said. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol accepted the resignation of Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Kim Hong-il on Tuesday, his office said, before a National Assembly vote on his impeachment.

Kim offered to voluntarily step down earlier in the day, a move designed to have a successor continue the duties because impeachment would suspend the job. The position holds the key to decisions on broadcasting stations, including the appointment of a new president at MBC TV.

Kim denounced the impeachment push as "politically motivated."

The resignation came just hours before the National Assembly was set to hold a plenary session, where the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which holds a controlling majority, planned to pass an impeachment motion against Kim.

The DPK has accused Kim of unfairly running the broadcasting watchdog only with a vice chairperson, leaving three out of five KCC standing member positions vacant.

The opposition had pushed to impeach Kim because once impeached, his duties will immediately be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to endorse or reject the impeachment, a process that usually takes a few months.

The impeachment motion was sure to pass because the DPK has a controlling majority of 171 seats in the 330-member parliament.

Rival parties have clashed over the KCC as it has the right to recommend and appoint board members of public broadcasters, which have influence in shaping public opinion.

The resignation comes about six months after Kim took office in December after former KCC Chairman Lee Dong-kwan resigned shortly before a vote on the impeachment motion against him.

During a plenary session, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik denounced Kim's resignation before an impeachment vote as an "irresponsible and improper" act that disregards the legislative body's authority.

"We also express strong regret over the government's acceptance of his inappropriate resignation," Woo said. "Given that there have been similar cases recently, we believe this is not an issue that can be overlooked."

The presidential office accused the DPK of abusing the National Assembly's impeachment power.

On the same day, the opposition party proposed an impeachment motion against prosecutors involved in corruption investigations into former DPK leader Lee Jae-myung.

"It is not clear on what legal grounds the DPK is impeaching the KCC chairman," a senior presidential official told reporters. "(Yoon) has ordered preparations for appointing the next chairman so as not to leave a vacuum in state affairs." (Yonhap)
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) threatened to launch a filibuster Tuesday if the opposition seeks to pass a contentious bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the military's response to a Marine's death last year.

The move comes as the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is pushing to pass the bill and three broadcasting law revisions during this week's parliamentary plenary session despite objections from the PPP.

The special probe bill calls for a special counsel to look into allegations that the presidential office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the Marines' investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.

The DPK-led bill had initially passed through the previous assembly but was voted down in a revote after President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed it. The DPK proposed it again after the new National Assembly came into office in late May.

Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said his party will respond with a filibuster if the DPK pushes ahead with the bills, which will effectively put Tuesday's regular session to a halt.

"If the introduction of the agenda items is pushed ahead, we will respond with indefinite debates," he said. "It is a long-kept principle and practice that no agenda items are introduced during parliamentary interpellation sessions."

An interpellation session was scheduled for later Tuesday, and the DPK plans to deal with the contentious bills after the session.

A filibuster involves lawmakers holding the floor for extended periods as a way to prevent a parliamentary vote or delay the passage of a bill. (Yonhap)
The floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Tuesday condemned the alleged state interference in a Marine Corps investigation into the death of a young Marine last year as the "worst manipulation of state affairs" since former President Park Geun-hye.

Park Chan-dae made the remark reiterating the DPK's calls for a special counsel to look into allegations that the presidential office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the Marines' investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.

"There is mounting evidence that President Yoon Suk Yeol, the first lady and the presidential office falsely accused Marine Col. Park Jung-hun," he said during a party meeting. "If proven true, it will be the worst manipulation of state affairs since one involving former President Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil."

Park also stressed that as many as 900,000 people have signed the National Assembly's petition for a motion to impeach Yoon.

"The number is expected to surpass 1 million today at the earliest or tomorrow at the latest," he said, claiming that Yoon's earlier remarks indicating that the 2022 crowd crush in Itaewon could have been "manipulated" had further incited public anger. (Yonhap)
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) proposed a motion Tuesday to impeach four prosecutors, including those involved in corruption investigations into former party leader Lee Jae-myung.

The DPK reported the motion to the plenary session of the National Assembly despite opposition from the ruling People Power Party. It will be reviewed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

The prosecutors have been leading investigations into various corruption allegations against Lee, including a scandal involving underwear manufacturer Ssangbangwool Group's alleged illegal remittance to North Korea as well as bribery and other charges from his tenure as the mayor of Seongnam, south of Seoul, from 2014 to 2018.

Uhm Hee-joon of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office and Kang Baek-shin of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office have led investigations into Lee's corruption allegations surrounding development projects, while Park Sang-yong of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office has been looking into the North Korea remittance case.

The DPK has accused the prosecution of attempting to fabricate evidence to implicate Lee.

Kim Young-cheol, a senior prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, was accused of engaging in shady deals in the influence-peddling case involving former President Park Geun-hye.

Rep. Min Hyung-bae said the DPK will continue to push for impeachment of prosecutors if illegal acts are discovered in the investigation process.

The presidential office accused the DPK of abusing its legislative power to protect its former leader.

"The push to impeach prosecutors involved in investigations into Lee Jae-myung is ultimately seen as the DP's move to sway the ongoing probe in the way it wants," a senior presidential official told reporters.

Prosecutor General Lee One-seok also strongly denounced the impeachment motion.

"It amounts to saying that Chairman Lee, the defendant, would try himself as a presiding judge," the top prosecutor said, adding that the move is unconstitutional and illegal interference with judicial procedures.

He emphasized that such power abuse by lawmakers could constitute grounds for their own impeachment, if the Constitution had allowed impeachment of lawmakers.

"It amounts to making it impossible to investigate and try powerful Chairman Lee Jae-myung and helping him avoid criminal punishment," he said.

The DPK has a controlling majority with 171 seats in the 300-member parliament.

Last week, Lee stepped down as DPK chairman in preparation for seeking another term as party leader in a national convention set for August.

Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential vote to President Yoon Suk Yeol, is considered a leading candidate for the liberal party for the next election slated for 2027.

If Lee is convicted of any crime and receives a sentence of imprisonment, he will not be allowed to run in the next presidential election. (Yonhap)
Prosecutors have questioned the wife of former Korean American U.S. House Rep. Jay Chang Joon Kim as part of an ongoing investigation into a luxury bag gift scandal involving the first lady, sources said Tuesday.

The investigation centers on allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee received a Dior handbag worth 3 million won ($2,159) from Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young at her office in Seoul in September 2022.

Choi, known to have close ties with the former representative, has claimed to have made private requests to the first lady on his behalf, in return for the luxury bag and other luxury cosmetic products gifted to her.

Choi said these requests included naming Kim as one of the senior state affairs advisers for the president and securing his future burial at the national cemetery.

The pastor argued that he was referred to one of the first lady's close aides to discuss the burial request, although it was not ultimately fulfilled because the Korean American politician did not meet the requirements for a national cemetery burial.

The sources said the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office questioned Jennifer Ahn, the wife of former Rep. Kim, in person late last month as a witness, focusing on the circumstances behind the alleged delivery of the husband's private requests to the first lady via Choi.

Prosecutors reportedly plan to review whether to question the first lady herself, as well as how and when the questioning should be conducted if it is deemed necessary. (Yonhap)
Heavy rain soaked much of the nation Tuesday, while the southern island of Jeju was hit by strong winds, resulting in flight cancellations and delays.

Seoul had received 58.2 millimeters of rain as of 2:30 p.m., while central and southwestern regions had received more than 80 mm, with 83.7 mm in the southwestern city of Gunsan, 82.8 mm in the city of Buyeo and 82.7 mm in the central city of Sejong, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

Rain will continue through Tuesday night before coming to a stop Wednesday morning in most regions, the KMA said, though the Seoul metropolitan area and the eastern province of Gangwon will see rain continue until Wednesday afternoon.

Jeju was hit by strong winds of up to 26 meters per second. As of 1 p.m., a strong wind warning was issued in the island's northern region and the mountainous regions, while a strong wind advisory took effect across the rest of the island.

Entry to Mount Halla was completely off-limits, while 22 flights were canceled and 59 delayed.

Firefighters were called to various locations across the country to respond to damage from the heavy rain and strong winds.

On Jeju, two people working for the local archeology center were rescued after being buried under a pile of earth during excavation work for cultural assets.

In Bucheon, just southwest of Seoul, firefighters drained water from a flooded semi-basement apartment, while in nearby Incheon, strong winds caused a tree to fall onto a pavement and another to collapse inside a park. In one Incheon neighborhood, a sewer flooded onto the streets.

The interior ministry activated the Level 1 operation of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters as of 7:30 a.m. to respond to the heavy rains, and elevated the warning level to "caution."

Interior Minister Lee Sang-min ordered that places at risk of flooding, including near streams, underpasses, and parking lots, be cordoned off and passersby be guided for detours in order to prevent any human casualties.

Lee ordered that residents in vulnerable areas be helped to flee for safety in advance and the speedy evacuation of those living in semi-basement housings at risk of being inundated. He also called for emergency texts and alarms to be swiftly sent to people to inform them of any updates to the situation. (Yonhap)
By Chyung Eun-ju and Joel Cho

Social media platforms have undoubtedly taken over almost every aspect of our lives, reaching every age group. Now, more than ever, they hold unprecedented influence over the lives of children and teenagers.

While, when used safely, social media platforms may be sources of creativity, learning and communication, they also present significant risks when not properly monitored and administered, especially when it comes to the exposure of minors to age-inappropriate content.

Recently, concerns have escalated over Instagram's algorithm recommending content, sometimes of a sexual nature, to teenagers based on their interactions within the platform. Earlier this year, Meta  Instagram's parent company  updated its privacy policy to protect younger users. Some of these updates include setting by default the most restrictive control settings for teenagers' accounts and automatic blurring of nude photos sent to teenagers via the integrated messaging function. With these new safeguards, the goal should be that users under 16 should not be exposed to sexually explicit content within the platform. However, tests carried out by the Wall Street Journal showed another reality. The account created in the test had the user age set at up to 13 and quickly started showing sexually explicit content to this supposedly teenage user. Comparable tests were conducted on Snapchat and TikTok, and they less frequently recommended sexually explicit content as compared to Instagram's Reels.

According to data submitted by the Korea Communications Standards Commission to Rep. Park Chan-dae of the Democratic Party of Korea in September last year, 18,943 corrective actions were taken against illegal information related to pornography and prostitution on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter from 2019 to August 2023.

Twitter had the most cases with 10,292, followed by Google with 6,814, Instagram with 1,473, Facebook with 346, Naver with 17 and Kakao with 1.

Notably, Instagram saw a 56-fold increase in corrective actions, rising from 24 cases in 2019 to 1,473 cases as of August 2023. Facebook also experienced a 42-fold increase, from eight cases in 2019 to 346 in 2023. Additionally, Google, the parent company of YouTube, saw an increase from 3,130 cases in 2019 to 6,814 in 2023, approximately a 2.1-fold rise.

However, the budget for monitoring illegal pornography and prostitution information on social media has decreased. The annual budget for communication monitoring was reduced by about 16 percent, from 1.04 billion won ($753,000) in 2019 to 870 million won last year, a cut of approximately 170 million won.

Parents in Korea have expressed concern about their children being exposed to adult content without restrictions while their understanding of sexuality is not yet fully developed.

Park Jun-beom, 39, who has two sons aged nine and seven, said, "Especially since children have not yet formed a proper understanding of sexuality through sex education, I think it is dangerous for them to be indiscriminately exposed to such videos. As technology advances, I hope that regulations in this area will be properly enforced."

An elementary school student surnamed Kwon, 11, living in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, said, "I often use YouTube and Instagram, and sometimes when I watch shorts, sometimes sexual videos suddenly appear, which can be surprising. Since I didn't choose to watch them and they just get recommended and suddenly appear, it can be startling when such videos come up while I'm with my parents."

YouTube, in particular, is not classified as media under the current media law, which means there is no legal basis for review or regulation. Experts emphasize the need for the government and civil society to collaborate and take measures, such as strengthening monitoring.

Lee Seung-sun, a professor of media and communication at Chungnam National University, said, "With the recent rapid development of social media platforms like YouTube, these platforms have become primary sources of information. If teenagers, whose understanding of sexuality is not yet fully developed, are indiscriminately exposed to illegal adult content, they may develop distorted views on sexuality."

He added, "The government should take proactive steps to prevent the proliferation of such illegal pornography and should collaborate with civil society organizations to strengthen monitoring efforts."

Parents typically give their children their first smartphone around the age of 9, which has led to a generation that experiences a "media-centric childhood" from a very young age in ways that are different from previous generations.

With various online and offline educational institutions increasingly integrating tablets and other electronic devices into their curriculums, tablets have been deemed essential tools for education. Kim, a working mother in her 30s with a second-grade elementary school child, remarked, "These days, even English homework at academies needs to be done online, making a tablet essential. Online educational programs are also designed to be installed on tablets." She added, "Tuition fees now include tablet device rental fees and learning expenses, making it difficult to ignore portable media devices."

Although children are given smartphones with an educational purpose, it becomes a social tool, and children are in a position where, in order to connect with friends, they may have to go through serious detriment.

For years, tech companies have resisted the notion that they are responsible for exacerbating mental health issues in young people.

The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, proposed a warning label, similar to those found on tobacco and alcohol products, on social media platforms alerting parents that their use might adversely affect adolescents' mental health. He also urged tech companies to implement the following changes: disclose internal data on the health effects of their products, permit independent safety audits and limit features such as push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which he argues "exploit developing minds and contribute to excessive usage."

Tech companies are expected to argue that the scientific consensus on the harmful effects of social media is not definitive. They will likely invoke free speech laws, contending that the government cannot compel them to display product warnings, which is often referred to as "compelled speech."

Therefore, we cannot rely on tech companies, and rather hope for the government to intervene with proper regulations.

According to Jang Hye-young, the lawmaker who hosted the "Right to Refuse Consent to Facebook/Instagram Privacy Policies" roundtable discussion, the difficulty in formulating policies comes from unclear communication channels between Meta headquarters and its Korean branch regarding recent privacy policy issues. She emphasized the substantial influence of social media as an integral part of life and society, pledging to gather diverse opinions from various sectors to explore comprehensive strategies for response.

Ultimately, the pervasive influence of social media platforms on the lives of children and teenagers requires urgent attention and actions, as the safeguards being implemented seem to be falling short. While these platforms offer valuable opportunities for creativity and communication for the younger public, the risks of exposure to age-inappropriate content still remain quite alarming, as we observed with the recent controversies surrounding them. As technology ceaselessly continues to evolve, so too must our regulatory frameworks, especially for any platform that may be used by a younger and more vulnerable public. We must not only safeguard young users, but we must hold responsible companies that do not make the necessary efforts to adopt proper and reasonable safeguards.

Chyung Eun-ju (ejchyung@snu.ac.kr) is a marketing analyst at Career Step. She received a bachelor's degree in business from Seoul National University and a master's degree in marketing from Seoul National University. Joel Cho (joelywcho@gmail.com) is a practicing lawyer specializing in intellectual property and digital law.
Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon confirmed Tuesday the company will not sell its stake in Japan's LY Corp., the operator of popular mobile messenger Line, in the "short term" amid LY's push to lessen its dependence on Naver.

"We don't plan to sell the stake in the short term," Choi said, while noting the company cannot give confirmation on its mid-to-long term strategy.

Naver, Korea's biggest internet portal operator, holds a 50 percent stake in A Holdings, the parent company of LY, while Japan's SoftBank Group holds the other half.

Choi appeared before a parliamentary science and communications committee meeting a day after LY submitted a report to the Japanese government on measures to improve its security system in light of an information leak incident last year.

In the report, LY said it will accelerate its plan to separate its systems and private networks from Naver and its cloud computing affiliate, Naver Cloud, by March 2026 and terminate outsourcing to the Korean companies by the end of next year.

But LY said Naver and SoftBank both informed there are "difficulties associated with short-term capital movements at this time" but they intend to keep discussing potential restructuring of their capital relationship.

The three companies have been in talks over possibly reshaping their capital structure since Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issued administrative guidance to LY earlier this year regarding the data leak incident, urging it to decrease its dependence on Naver.

In November last year, LY said over 300,000 records of its users' personal information were leaked after Naver Cloud came under a cyberattack, as the two companies share a common authentication system.

Since then, LY has been taking various measures to lessen Naver's influence in the company, including the departure of Shin Jung-ho, a key Korean executive, from its board.

Shin is known as the "father" of Line in Korea as he developed the service at Naver in 2011.

Japan's actions drew criticism in Korea, with many viewing them as an attempt to diminish foreign influence on the widely used online platform in the country.

Line had around 96 million monthly active users in Japan, or 78 percent of the country's population, as of last year. (Yonhap)
Korea's top 4 conglomerates take up 40% of GDP in 2023
By Lee Min-hyung

The nation's largest trade association opened a new office in the U.S. city of Dallas in Texas, Monday, to help more Korean firms make smooth inroads into the emerging hub for logistics and industrial development.

According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the office will play a pivotal role in creating more business opportunities not just for Korean but also for U.S. firms in the central and southern regions of the world's largest economy.

A group of 50 businesspeople and government officials from both sides took part in the opening ceremony of the office. They included KITA Chairman Yoon Jin-sik, U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Texas and Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson.

The trade association will run a variety of support programs to offer fresh business opportunities in both countries, thereby helping Korean firms boost exports and investment there, according to KITA.

"Texas is a dynamic state boasting the most rapid economic growth in the U.S.," Yoon said. "Multinational companies actively invest in the state characterized with few regulations. Our Dallas office will carry out a crucial role in strengthening collaboration between Korean firms and their U.S. counterparts."

Another key upside for Texas is that it does not charge any individual or corporate income tax, so more global firms are eyeing the state for their next major business destination, the KITA said.

Korea is Texas's fifth-largest trading partner, contributing to the growth of the state's economic growth in multifaceted areas, such as employment, investment and exports, according to Yoon.

He requested continued support from the Texas government to provide a stable investment environment for Korean companies.

According to data from the trade association, the trade volume between Korea and Texas reached about $32 billion (44.43 trillion won) as of 2023. Texas is the second-most sought-after business territory in the United States for Korean firms after California. Around 270 Korean firms do business in Texas as of April. The figure for California is around 600.

Meanwhile, KITA plans to invite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to Seoul next week to hold a special networking event with a group of officials from both business communities.
Battery firm invests in Australian lithium mine for supply chain diversification

By Baek Byung-yeul

LG Energy Solution secured a contract to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to French carmaker Renault, a sector where Chinese manufacturers have been dominant, becoming the first Korean battery cell maker to supply LFP batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), the battery maker said Tuesday.

The company also said it signed another contract with Australian lithium mining company Liontown to receive lithium spodumene, a mineral that contains lithium, for 15 years starting from the end of this year, to ensure a stable supply of lithium, a key raw material for EV batteries.

The global-leading battery cell maker signed a contract to supply LFP battery pouches for EVs at Renault's headquarters in Paris on Monday (local time). The supply period is for five years, from the end of 2025 to 2030, with a total supply amount of about 39 gigawatt-hours (GWh), which is enough to produce about 590,000 full EVs.

"We will provide the best customer value to Renault, a leading European automaker, through our overwhelming technological prowess and quality competitiveness," said Suh Won-joon, head of LG Energy Solution's advanced automotive battery division.

The battery cells will be produced at LG's Poland plant and will be featured in Renault's next-generation EV models.

LG Energy Solution said this contract is meaningful as it is set to supply LFP batteries in the European market dominated by Chinese companies.

"At a time when Chinese battery companies are expanding their presence in the European market with low prices, this supply contract proves LG Energy Solution's unique customer value capability by demonstrating not only technological and quality competitiveness but also price competitiveness," a company spokesperson said.

LFP batteries are known for cheaper prices than nickel, cobalt and manganese batteries and safety due to the use of relatively inexpensive iron and phosphate and their stable chemical structure. As the demand for affordable EVs increases, the demand for LFP batteries is also increasing.

The battery company saw this contract as an opportunity to further strengthen its market competitiveness, as major carmakers are developing and producing EVs at various prices.

Regarding the lithium procurement contract with Liontown, LG said it will invest $250 million in the mining company through convertible notes.

Under the contract, LG will receive a total of 1.75 million tons of lithium spodumene over 15 years starting from the end of this year. The company said this is enough to produce batteries for about 5 million high-performance EVs capable of driving more than 500 kilometers on a single charge.

"The agreement represents another significant step in our value chain investment strategy aimed at enhancing its resilience to market uncertainties," said Kim Dong-myung, CEO of LG Energy Solution. "By partnering with strong players like Liontown, we will continue to secure a stable supply of IRA-compliant critical minerals, fulfilling our efforts to provide competitive power solutions for electrification."
The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strips second-largest city.

The order suggests Khan Younis will be the latest target of Israels raids into parts of Gaza it had previously invaded in the war, as it pursues regrouping Hamas militants. Much of Khan Younis was destroyed in a long assault earlier this year, but large numbers of Palestinians had moved back to escape another Israeli offensive in Gazas southernmost city, Rafah.

The evacuation came as Israel released the director of what was once Gazas largest hospital after holding him for seven months without charge or trial. Israel alleged the hospital had been used as a Hamas command center, which he and other Palestinian health officials have denied. The doctor said he and other detainees were held under harsh conditions and tortured.

The decision to release Mohammed Abu Selmia raised questions over Israels claims surrounding Shifa Hospital, which Israeli forces have raided twice since the start of the war with Hamas. The hospital was left severely damaged after the raids.

Abu Selmia's release triggered an uproar across Israels political spectrum. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office called it a grave mistake. Government ministers and opposition leaders expressed outrage and insisted Abu Selmia played a role in Hamas alleged use of the hospital  although Israeli security services rarely unilaterally free prisoners if they have a suspicion of militant links.

Mondays evacuation order covered the eastern half of Khan Younis and a large swath of the Gaza Strips southeast corner. Earlier in the day, the army said a barrage of rockets out of Gaza was fired from Khan Younis.

As night fell, streams of civilians trudged on foot beside a steady flow of vehicles as people began making their way out of the evacuation zone. A woman dragged a rolling suitcase with a little girl riding on top. Others carried a few crucial belongings  mattresses, clothing, plastic buckets for washing, an electric fan. Trucks were piled high with possessions and furniture.

We received a message on our mobile phones to evacuate, said one displaced woman Zeinab Abu Jazar, holding back tears. Look at these children, how they walk. We did not find a car to ride in.

Israel told people to move to Muwasi , a coastal area designated by the Israeli army as a safe zone and which has become filled with crowded and unsanitary tent camps.

The order suggested a new assault into Khan Younis was imminent. Israeli forces fought for weeks in Khan Younis earlier this year and withdrew, claiming to have destroyed Hamas battalions. But in other places where the military has made similar claims, renewed raids have underscored Hamas capabilities.

Last week, the military ordered an evacuation from the north Gaza district of Shijaiyah, and intensive fighting has followed.

Netanyahu said Monday that the military was making progress toward ending the phase of the destruction of Hamas terror army. But he said forces will continue to target their remains going forward.

More fighting in the Khan Younis area could further hamper Palestinians access to much-needed potable water. Included in the evacuation zone is a water line that Israel installed following criticism over its cutoff of water to the strip early in the war.

Also in the zone is the area surrounding the Kerem Shalom crossing, the major aid crossing to southern Gaza, and an aid route inside the territory that Israel has said it would safeguard.

Most of Gazas population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, with many displaced multiple times. Israeli restrictions, fighting and the breakdown of public order have hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid, fueling widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the new evacuation order just shows yet again that no place is safe in Gaza for Palestinian civilians. Its another stop in this deadly circular movement that the population in Gaza has to undergo on a regular basis, he said in a statement calling for a cease-fire.

The decision to release Abu Selmia and 54 other Palestinian detainees back into Gaza appeared to be meant to free up space in overcrowded detention centers. Since the start of the war, Israeli forces have detained thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Many are being held without charge or trial in what is known as administrative detention.

Our detainees have been subjected to all kinds of torture behind bars, Abu Selmia told a news conference. There was almost daily torture.

He said guards used batons to beat detainees and terrorized them with dogs. He said some detainees had limbs amputated because of poor medical care. He said a beating caused his head to bleed and guards broke his finger.

The allegations could not be independently confirmed but matched other accounts of Palestinians who have been held in Israeli custody. There was no immediate response from the prison service, which has denied similar accusations.

Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital in November, alleging that Hamas had created an elaborate command and control center inside. Abu Selmia and other staff denied the allegations and accused Israel of recklessly endangering thousands of patients and displaced people sheltering there. Abu Selmia was detained on Nov. 22.

After its first raid on Shifa Hospital, the military uncovered a tunnel beneath it leading to two empty rooms, as well as evidence that militants had brought wounded hostages to the facility. But the evidence fell short of showing an extensive base as claimed. Israel has since raided other Gaza hospitals on similar allegations, forcing them to shut down or dramatically reduce services.

Amid the uproar over Abu Selmias release, the various Israeli state organs responsible for detentions scrambled to shift blame.

Netanyahus office said Abu Selmia belongs in prison and that the prime minister had ordered a thorough review into how the release happened. It said the decision was made without the knowledge of the political echelon or the heads of the organizations.

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israels far-right national security minister who controls the countrys police and prison service, blamed the Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallants office said prisoner releases are the responsibility of the prison service and the Shin Bet internal security agency. The prison service said the decision was made by the Shin Bet and the army, and released a document ordering his release that was signed by an army reserve general.

The Shin Bet said Abu Selmia had passed a risk assessment, compared to other detainees. It said the government had decided against its advice to release detainees determined to be less of a threat to free up space.

Israel launched its offensive after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people across southern Israel and took another 250 hostage. In its campaign, Israel has killed at least 37,900 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or fighters. (AP)
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, extending the delay in the Washington criminal case against Donald Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss and all but ending prospects the former president could be tried before the November election.

In a historic 6-3 ruling , the court's conservative majority, including the three justices appointed by Trump, narrowed the case against him and returned it to the trial court to determine what is left of special counsel Jack Smith's indictment.

Trump celebrated a BIG WIN on X. President Joe Biden said the justices set a dangerous precedent (that) undermines the rule of this nation.

The ruling reflected a muscular view of presidential power, and left dissenting judges to criticize it as undermining a core democratic principle that no person is above the law.

The court's decision highlighted how the justices have been thrust into an impactful role in the November presidential election. Earlier, they had rejected efforts to bar him from the ballot because of his actions following the 2020 election. The court last week also limited an obstruction charge faced by Trump and used against hundreds of his supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The split among the justices also in many ways mirrored the political divide in the country.

Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.

The chief justice insisted that the president is not above the law." But in a fiery dissent for the court's three liberals, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.

Reading from her opinion in the courtroom, Sotomayor said, Because our Constitution does not shield a former president from answering for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent. Sotomayor said the decision "makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of government, that no man is above the law."

The protection afforded presidents by the court, she said, "is just as bad as it sounds, and it is baseless.

Trump posted in all capital letters on his social media network shortly after the decision was released: BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

Biden, in evening remarks from the White House, cited accepted restraints on presidential power all the way back to George Washington and bemoaned that for all practical purposes, todays decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do."

Smiths office declined to comment on the ruling.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the ruling as a disgraceful decision, made with the help of the three justices that Trump appointed.

It undermines SCOTUSs credibility and suggests political influence trumps all in our courts today, the New York Democrat said on X.

The justices knocked out one aspect of the indictment. The opinion found Trump is absolutely immune from prosecution for alleged conduct involving discussions with the Justice Department.

Trump is also at least presumptively immune from allegations that he tried to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to reject certification of Democrat Joe Biden's electoral vote win on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors can try to make the case that Trump's pressure on Pence still can be part of the case against him, Roberts wrote.

The court directed a fact-finding analysis on one of the more striking allegations in the indictment -- that Trump participated in a scheme to enlist fake electors in battleground states won by Biden who would falsely assert that Trump had won. Both sides had dramatically different interpretations as to whether that effort could be construed as official, and the conservative justices said determining which side is correct would require additional analysis at the trial court level.

Roberts opinion further restricted prosecutors by prohibiting them from using any official acts as evidence in trying to prove a president's unofficial actions violated the law. One example not relevant to this case but which came up in arguments was the hypothetical payment of a bribe in return for an ambassadorial appointment.

Under Monday's decision, a former president could be prosecuted for accepting a bribe, but prosecutors could not mention the official act, the appointment, in their case.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the rest of Roberts' opinion, parted company on this point. The Constitution does not require blinding juries to the circumstances surrounding conduct for which Presidents can be held liable, Barrett wrote.

She also described as unnecessary the analysis of the fake electors claim. I see no plausible argument for barring prosecution of that alleged conduct, Barrett wrote.

The work of figuring out how to proceed will fall to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan , who would preside over Trump's trial.

Trump still could face a trial, said Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller. But the fact remains that it is almost impossible to happen before the election."

David Becker, an election law expert and the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research, called the breadth of immunity granted to Trump incredibly broad and deeply disturbing.

Almost anything that a president does with the executive branch is characterized as an official act, he said on a call with reporters following the ruling. He said that "for any unscrupulous individual holding the seat of the Oval Office who might lose an election, the way I read this opinion is it could be a roadmap for them seeking to stay in power.

The ruling was the last of the term, and it came more than two months after the court heard arguments, far slower than in other epic high court cases involving the presidency, including the Watergate tapes case .

The Republican former president has denied doing anything wrong and has said this prosecution and three others are politically motivated to try to keep him from returning to the White House.

In May, Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony , in a New York court. He was found guilty of 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. He still faces three other indictments .

Smith is leading the two federal inquiries of the former president, both of which have led to criminal charges. The Washington case focuses on Trumps alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election after he lost to Biden. The case in Florida revolves around the mishandling of classified documents. A separate case, in Georgia, also turns on Trumps actions after his defeat in 2020.

If Trumps Washington trial does not take place before the 2024 election and he is not given another four years in the White House, he presumably would stand trial soon thereafter.

But if he wins, he could appoint an attorney general who would seek the dismissal of this case and the other federal prosecution he faces. He could also attempt to pardon himself if he reclaims the White House. He could not pardon himself for the conviction in state court in New York.

The Supreme Court that heard the case included three justices appointed by Trump  Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Barrett  and two justices who opted not to step aside after questions were raised about their impartiality.

Thomas wife, Ginni , attended the rally near the White House where Trump spoke on Jan. 6, 2021, though she did not go the Capitol when a mob of Trump supporters attacked it soon after. Following the 2020 election, she called the outcome a heist and exchanged messages with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, urging him to stand firm with Trump as he falsely claimed that there was widespread election fraud.

Justice Samuel Alito said there was no reason for him to step aside from the cases following reports by The New York Times that said flags similar to those carried by the Jan. 6 rioters flew above his homes in Virginia and on the New Jersey shore. His wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was responsible for flying both the inverted American flag in January 2021 and the Appeal to Heaven banner in the summer of 2023, he said in letters to Democratic lawmakers responding to their recusal demands.

Before the Supreme Court got involved, a trial judge and a three-judge appellate panel had ruled unanimously that Trump could be prosecuted for actions undertaken while in the White House and in the run-up to Jan. 6.

Chutkan ruled against Trumps immunity claim in December. In her ruling, Chutkan said the office of the president does not confer a lifelong get-out-of-jail-free pass. (AP)
The Netherlands has a different prime minister for the first time in 14 years as Dutch King Willem-Alexander swore in the countrys new government Tuesday, more than seven months after elections.

The anti-immigration, anti-Islam party of firebrand Geert Wilders won the largest share of seats in elections last year but it took 223 days for the four parties in the coalition to form a government.

Dick Schoof, former head of the Dutch intelligence agency and counterterrorism office, signed the official royal decree at Huis Ten Bosch Palace, saying he declared and promised to uphold his duties as the countrys prime minister. The 67-year-old was formally installed alongside 15 other ministers who make up the countrys right-leaning coalition. (AP)
Daniel Briseno lives in a poor part of Maracaibo, Venezuela's once-rich oil city, where he checks almost daily to see if a letter confirming he has permission to move to the United States has finally arrived in the mail.

Briseno, who wants to move to the U.S. with his elderly mother, is fed up of dealing with the challenges of Maracaibo, which has suffered from acute shortages of basic services such as electricity and water for a decade.

But the 44-year-old Briseno might change his mind if there is a change of guard following July's presidential election.

"I'd like to stay in Venezuela because I know that if the government changes, the oil industry will return in full force," said Briseno, who spent 15 years supervising oil well drilling before losing his job in 2020 as crisis set in to Venezuela's economy.

Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who is trying to unseat Socialist President Nicolas Maduro, has focused part of his campaign on pledges to seek to bring back the 7.7 million Venezuelans who have fled the country during years of economic and political upheaval. Gonzalez has emphasized families' desire to be reunited.

If change does not follow July's election, swathes more of Venezuelans could seek to leave the country, ORC Consultores director Oswaldo Ramirez said.

Almost 16 percent of those polled by ORC Consultores in May said they will leave quickly if their preferred candidate does not win in the July 28 vote. Opposition supporters are significantly more likely to say they would seek to leave than Maduro supporters, the survey showed.

Some 2.8 million Venezuelans already live in Colombia, with 1.5 million in Peru and 568,000 in Brazil. There has also been a sharp increase heading north to cross into the United States.

Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 and is seeking his second reelection, has presided over economic collapse, with a loss of over 73 percent of Venezuela's gross domestic product during his government, according to researchers from the Institute of Superior Administration Studies in Caracas.

Many Venezuelans say they want to vote against Maduro because they want to halt the deterioration to their quality of life, said Ricardo Rios, president of Caracas-based consulting company Poder y Estrategia.

But Western governments have said there are significant obstacles to a free and fair vote. Maduro's 2018 re-election was rejected by the opposition and many Western governments as a sham.

'Rebuilding will take too long'

Even if there were a change in government, that would be too little, too late for some.

No matter what, Briseno's mother wants to join his brother, who now lives in Utah where he works as a package deliveryman, a job that lets him send $300 each month for food and medicine to his family in Maracaibo.

Legally in the U.S., Briseno's brother can sponsor family members for up to a year while their case is heard, under a scheme run by the U.S. government for migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua.

Briseno's mother, Pragedis Rivero, is skeptical a change in leadership will help and plans on leaving anyway.

"This government has not left the country so good and to rebuild it to even half of what it was will take too long," she said while peeling garlic in her kitchen.

While Maduro once laughed at Venezuelan migrants who he said were cleaning toilets in richer countries, during the election campaign he has urged Venezuelans to return home amid a recovering economy.

Some 430 kilometers south of Maracaibo, in a hospital in San Cristobal near the Colombian border, Yubizay Chacon, 29, earns about $130 per month working as a nurse.

Occasionally, Chacon, who has a 6-year-old daughter, makes extra money caring for patients privately, charging $30 per day.

But it is hard to make ends meet. The average price of monthly groceries for a family of five was around $547 in May, according to data from the non-governmental Center for Documentation and Social Analysis of the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers.

Like so many other Venezuelans, Chacon has been contemplating leaving the country to seek a better life.

"You know that abroad you are going to work a lot, but you can be confident working will solve financial problems, which brings peace, tranquility and security that things can be obtained with sacrifice," Chacon said.

If Maduro stays in power, migrating may be the only option, she said.

But she was optimistic that a win for Gonzales would "give us more employment opportunities and more opportunities to have benefits as workers."

"Leaving the country would make me sad," Chacon said. "It depends on who wins." (Reuters)
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After knowing that she would be an additional member of Red Velvet, Yeri confessed what she really felt about it at that time.

On July 1, Red Velvet Seulgi, Joy, and Yeri appeared on Ep. 48 of Shin Dong Yup's talk show uploaded on its official YouTube, "Jjanhyung."

On this day, the members commemorated their 10th debut anniversary by recalling their trainee days and journeys as idols for the last decade.

Yeri also revealed the story of how she ended up joining the group a year after its debut.

In particular, Red Velvet originally debuted as a four-member girl group in 2014 comprising Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy as the youngest. When they debuted with "Happiness," it became a huge hit in South Korea, establishing their position in the K-pop scene.

Just then, Yeri would later join the group as its 5th member in 2015. At the time, she drew divided opinions as to why she needed to be added to an already rising group, earning criticism.

During the broadcast then, the members shared anecdotes about what really happened that she ended up joining Red Velvet.

ALSO READ: Joy, Yeri Snipe at SM After Red Velvets Cosmic MV Delay, Less Screentime, More Upsetting Reasons

Joy started:

"Yeri was supposed to debut as the center of the next girl group with her friends in a younger group. She lived as a separate trainee. The culture here was different from that of the older girls."

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, viewers assumed that the supposed debut of SM's next girl group after Red Velvet eventually fell through. Instead of letting Yeri wait for more years until her debut, the idol who was already ready to become an idol was then added to the group instead.

Regarding this Yeri conveyed what she really felt at that time, narrating:

"When I first heard that I was joining Red Velvet, I felt more sense of loyalty to my friends (trainees). I am not sure what I believed in, but when I was in middle school, I said, 'I'm not going to debut and just do acting.' It's not that I hate my older Red Velvet sisters, but I dropped out of school so I don't remember my friends from school, and those friends (trainees) were like my school friends in my perspective."

Debuting at the age of 15, Yeri has a big age gap with their leader and eldest member, Irene, who was already 23 years old when she debuted.

At first, Yeri felt the gap, but after 10 years, their relationship is now better than ever.

"I am 8 years younger than Irene unnie. When I saw her when I was younger, I felt that there was a big difference, but these days, we are like best friends."

During the broadcast, Joy also attested how Yeri's addition to them changed them for the better. Back then, the four were so shy that they used formal language during their trainee days until they debuted.

But when Yeri suggested they use informal language instead, the atmosphere of the team became better and more refreshing.

READ MORE: K-Netz Praise Red Velvet Yeri's Visuals After THIS Change: 'She Doesn't Seem to Age...'

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
HYBE's attempt to retrieve the internet user's personal information has failed.

On July 1, Korean news outlets reported that HYBE's request for disclosure of personal information regarding X (Twitter) user "Guilty Archive" has been rejected by a U.S court.

According to sources, the lawsuit process of obtaining the information is expected to be stalled. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled the decision on March 28.

HYBE has taken legal proceedings against cyberbullies who spread malicious rumors regarding its artists. One of those accounts is "Guilty Archive," a user who specifically targeted K-pop groups BTS and LE SSERAFIM.

The conglomerate filed a lawsuit against the account at the Yongsan Police Station, in Seoul, with charges of defamation. However, it was difficult to identify the culprit, since the internet user was located in the United States.

This prompted the agency to apply a request for an information disclosure on the account. Sources state that this request was made through a "Discovery System," which involves a process of gathering proof before engaging in a trial and requesting information from third-party sources.

Judge Vince Chhabria, who presided over the case, stated that while HYBE met the basic requirements of Article 1782, the court would not allow the act of disclosing information.

It was also deemed as abuse for private entities to utilize the court to obtain the personal information of others.

"Investigating agencies are generally responsible regarding crime investigations, not the victim," Chhabria stated. "It doesn't indicate the Korean police's actions in relation to HYBE's complaint."

The judge added, "If a South Korean investigative agency requests a disclosure of information, then we will be able to proceed by the treaty between the United States and South Korea."

Here's how netizens reacted to the legal update:

"Do they think that the U.S Court is made up of fools? Do they think that the whole world is theirs?"

"How does everything they do turn into comedy?"

"They honestly only do work that ruins my mood. They can't do anything properly."

"They are not catching anyone from DC Gallery but instead are going for the wrong culprit. By the US' standards, the request is just ridiculous."

"I think that HYBE has a weird way of doing things."

"Defamation cases in the US are really difficult to prosecute because of Freedom of Speech."

"HYBE should've known that it's not Korea, and saved themselves the money and embarrassment."

"It does sound entitled. Running to the U.S district court when you can take matters into the hands of the SK police, at least initially."

"It's a breach of protocol, so I'm not surprised by this reaction. Embarrassing."

"The main issue with HYBE is that they've become so arrogant that they can't think rationally anymore even after taking L's after L's."

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below.

For more K-pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: HYBE Addresses Reports Surrounding ADOR's Management Changes - Here's What The Company Said

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
BLACKPINK Rose was asked by a fan of her opinion of Lisa's "ROCKSTAR."

After her business trip to France, where she attended the ANDAM Fashion Awards 2024, Rose had a short time to sign autographs and interact with fans before her flight back to South Korea.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BLACKPINK Rose Shocks BLINKs With Skinny Physique Following Appearance in Latest Event

In a clip shared online, a fan candidly asked Rose, "How do you feel about Lisa's new song?"

Without hesitation, Rose immediately replied, "I love it. I'm obsessed."

Previously on her Instagram story, Rose also admitted to being obsessed after Lisa's shocking music video was released.

Recently, in a post thanking Lisa's fans, Rose personally expressed her feelings on Lisa's profile, "Yay, proud of you, my girl."

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: BABYMONSTER Ahyeon Gets Compared to BLACKPINK Rose For THIS Reason

The female idol also shared her thoughts on Instagram Story. When the music video first dropped, she hyped fans up and said, "Go off sis! It's finally here!"

In another Story, she stated, "I'm obsessed."

Additionally, Rose caused a sensation on social media by actively requesting to hug fans. The lucky fans who had the opportunity to hug her caused other BLINKs to confess their jealousy online.

CHECK THIS OUT: (G)I-DLE Shuhua Dishes On Her Favorite K-Pop Girl Group Members: Who Are Her Biases In BLACKPINK, TWICE, More?

In addition, Rose also hinted about her upcoming music projects and her fandom name. When a fan affirmed that the best song to always listen to is "GONE," Rose confirmed that she would soon change that, further exciting fans as they anticipate her solo comeback.

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

FOR YOU: BLACKPINK Rose Latest Airport Fit Draws Mixed Reactions: Trendy or Old-Fashioned?

In other news, it was confirmed on June 18 that Rose signed a management contract with THEBLACKLABEL. This makes Rose the only BLACKPINK member to not establish her own agency.

With THEBLACKLABEL, Rose is expected to release new music as a solo act in the near future.

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
"Steel camels" strengthen links between China, Kazakhstan

Xinhua) 15:08, July 02, 2024

XI'AN, July 2 (Xinhua) -- In a bustling freight terminal in northwest China, rows of brand-new electric vehicles gleam in the noonday sun, while workers use forklifts and cranes to stack containers onto waiting trains.

This is a typical scene at the China-Kazakhstan (Xi'an) Trade Logistics terminal in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. The freight terminal was launched in February to facilitate the operation of China-Europe freight trains, which are often referred to as the "steel-camel caravans."

It was jointly launched by KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan's national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), and Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd. Its counterpart in Almaty is expected to be put into operation later this year.

Olzhas Aleibekov, deputy general manager of the Chinese branch of KTZ Express, said the terminal, located at a crucial logistics hub, can effectively alleviate customs congestion and enhance the stability of transportation times.

Trains traveling between China and Kazakhstan have to be transferred to different tracks at the border due to varying track gauges, a process that can take up precious time. Also, the customs clearance process can be complex, and in the past, this often took three to five days.

Located more than 3,000 km from the border, the new terminal provides solutions for both of these problems. When the trains are still at Xi'an, KTZ Express communicates with partners in Kazakhstan to pre-arrange containers and railcars based on the cargo, ensuring efficient transfers and timely delivery.

In addition, trains at the Xi'an terminal are prepared for customs clearance, which means the procedures can be completed within an hour of the train reaching the border in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

To date, more than 35,000 tonnes of goods have been transferred through the terminal in Xi'an.

With enhanced operational capacity, the delivery time between Xi'an and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has been reduced to nine days from 13 days, and the combined rail-sea transportation across the Caspian Sea has been shortened from 20 days to 12 days.

"This terminal has facilitated more efficient cargo transportation between China, Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Europe," said Aleibekov. "Particularly in light of disruptions to the Suez Canal and Red Sea routes due to escalating geopolitical tensions, the reliability of the China-Europe freight trains has been further proven."

PFIT International Logistics Co., Ltd. in Xi'an was among the first group of beneficiaries.

Ma Dong, the company's general manager, said that previously, the company relied on sea routes that took up to two months to transport seamless steel tubes to Baku, Azerbaijan. Now, by using the Xi'an terminal, the journey takes just 12 days, saving 800 U.S. dollars per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU).

China was Kazakhstan's largest trading partner in 2023, with two-way trade up by 32 percent year on year to reach 41 billion U.S. dollars.

Trains speeding along rail tracks have become a symbol of international trade in the new era, just like camel caravans were in ancient times.

Since the first China-Europe freight train left southwest China's Chongqing Municipality in March 2011, the trains have completed over 90,000 trips, reaching 223 cities in 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. More than 8.7 million TEU containers of goods were transported, valued over 380 billion U.S. dollars.

Cross-border e-commerce companies are leveraging China-Europe freight trains to gain convenient access to affordable international delivery services.

So far, 27 companies in Xi'an have built 51 overseas warehouses across 24 countries and regions. The city's cross-border e-commerce transactions exceeded 16.8 billion yuan (about 2.36 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, marking a 16.7 percent increase from 2022.

"Overseas customers can now purchase Chinese products and enjoy door-to-door service with just a few clicks of the mouse," said Jumekenova Anita, a Kazakh entrepreneur who founded a cross-border e-commerce platform called Silkroad City Shop and built warehouses in Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus.

"The terminal sets a precedent for multinational cooperation in the development of China-Europe freight trains," said Yuan Xiaojun, general manager of Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ankara, Jul 1 (AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused opposition parties of stoking xenophobia and racism on Monday, a day after residents in a neighbourhood in central Turkiye set Syrian-owned shops on fire.

The rioting erupted in the Melikgazi region of central Kayseri province late on Sunday, following reports that a Syrian refugee there had allegedly sexually harassed a 7-year-old Syrian girl. Outraged residents overturned cars and set shops ablaze, calling on Syrians to leave.

Also Read | Israel-Palestine Conflict: IDF Releases Around 50 Gazan Detainees, Including Al-Shifa Hospital Director Mohammed Abu Selmia.

At least 67 people suspected of involvement in the violence were detained, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on the social media platform X.

In a televised address on Monday, Erdogan accused opposition parties, which have advocated for the repatriation of refugees, of inciting violence.

Also Read | Hurricane Beryl Update: Dangerous and Extremely Powerful Beryl Makes Landfall As Category 4 Hurricane on Caribbean Island of Carriacou.

Nothing can be achieved by fuelling xenophobia and hatred of refugees in society, Erdogan said and accused the opposition of poisonous discourse.

When neighbouring Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, Turkiye received hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees with compassion, becoming the country to host the largest refugee population globally. As the population grew and Turkiye encountered escalating economic difficulties, it has seen a rise in anti-migrant sentiment.

Turkiye is now home to 3.6 million refugees, according to government figures, though some argue the real population may be significantly larger.

Officials said the alleged abuser in the Melikgazi region was arrested while the girl, her siblings and mother were placed under state protection and would receive psychological support.

Umit Ozdag, the leader of Turkiye's anti-migration Victory Party, rejected Erdogan's accusation and blamed the Melikgazi tensions on the government's allegedly privileged treatment of Syrian refugees.

In summary, it's the government's wrongful Syria policy that is to blame," Ozdag said. Don't go looking elsewhere.

The Melikgazi violence drew a backlash in opposition-held areas of northwestern Syria, including those controlled by Turkish-backed forces.

In Syria's Aleppo province, near the border with Turkiye, dozens of people gathered at the main roundabout in the town of al-Rai to prevent the entry of Turkish convoys and trucks and prevented Turkish trucks from entering the city of al-Bab, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Videos circulating on social media show young men and boys carrying rocks and sticks, chasing after a truck bearing Turkish writing. Demonstrators also chased employees out of a Turkish post office in the Syrian city of Azaz, the group said. In some places, protesters clashed with local security forces.

The Syrian National Army, a coalition of armed Syrian opposition groups backed by Turkiye, urged residents of northwestern Syria to avoid being drawn in by seditionists who seek to sabotage our institutions.

Tensions have been rising in Syrian opposition-held areas over an apparent rapprochement between Ankara and Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, including plans to open a crossing between government-held areas and those held by Turkish-backed opposition forces in Aleppo.

The al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group's salvation government of the region issued a statement calling on Turkiye to assume its legal and moral responsibilities to protect Syrian refugees.

In 2021, similar anti-Syrian riots broke out in an Ankara neighbourhood after a Turkish teenager was stabbed to death in a fight with a group of young Syrians. Hundreds of people chanting anti-immigrant slogans took to the streets, vandalised Syrian-run shops and hurled rocks at refugees' homes. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
To the chants of "Lock Him Up!" from a big crowd of protesters, former Donald Trump advisor Steve Bannon finally went to prison for Contempt of Congress. Before that, however, he went to a press conference with Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, where the two were savagely heckled by the crowd.

The former Trump administration White House chief strategist was sentenced to four months in October 2022 after being found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress. He failed to respond to a subpoena issued to him by the bipartisan January 6 Committee but has since stayed out of prison after employing Donald Trump's infamous "Delay Delay Delay" tactics.

However, all those delays ran out and after the Supreme Court rejected his last ditch effort, he finally went to a federal prison in Connecticut where he tried to look defiant during his press conference by Greene but was instead continually mocked by the crowd.

According to Newsweek, while he and Marjorie Taylor Greene were speaking, protesters interrupted and could be heard chanting, "Lock him up! Lock him up!" while also booing the two MAGA personalities.

"I'm a political prisoner of Nancy Pelosi. I'm a political prisoner of Merrick Garland. I'm a political prisoner of Joe Biden," Bannon claimed, even though the Supreme Court that just ruled in favor of Donald Trump's immunity claims was the one that decided his fate.

"Where's the Democrats, where are they? They're nowhere," noted Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was met with boos. She accused the January 6 committee of being "illegitimate," and added that Bannon's contempt conviction should be dismissed even though the Supreme Court has already ruled on it.

READ MORE: Marjorie Taylor Greene Was Inspiration for Character Firecracker, Says 'The Boys' Showrunner

Protesters Drowned Out Steve Bannon and Marjorie Taylor Greene Press Conference

Throughout their press conference, Greene and Bannon were constantly heckled as demonstrators drowned out what the two MAGA stalwarts were trying to say with cowbells and chants of "Lock him up!"

There were a small group of Bannon supporters who tried to protest the podcast host's imprisonment, but they were eventually drowned out by the protesters.

Steve Bannon Claims MAGA Army Is Ready as He Reports to Prison

During that same press conference, Bannon stated that he was "proud of going to prison today," adding, "I have not only no regrets, I'm proud of what I did."

In an interview with the BBC. Bannon claimed that he was unconcerned about missing a crucial part of Trump's campaign because there is a "MAGA Army" that is ready to ensure the former president defeats Joe Biden in November's election.

"I've served my country now for the last 10 or so years focusing on this," he told the British media giant. "If I have to do it in a prison, I do it in a prison - it makes no difference at all," he added, even though he spent a massive amount of effort trying to stay out of prison.

READ MORE: Marjorie Taylor Greene Repeatedly Humiliated After Republicans Voted Down Her Anti-Ukraine Bill

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Steve Bannon BRUTALLY HECKLED by Crowd! - Pondering Politics
Hurricane Beryl struck the southeastern Caribbean on Monday, tearing off doors, windows, and roofs.

Making landfall on Carriacou, its became the earliest Category 4 storm in the Atlantic, driven by record-warm waters, according to AP News.

Streets from St. Lucia to Grenada were strewn with debris, including trees and power lines, as winds reached 150 mph (240 kph).

Communications were down, but no deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

As Hurricane Beryl moved into the Caribbean Sea, it was expected to pass south of Jamaica and head towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula by Thursday as a Category 1 storm.

The National Hurricane Center warned Beryl would remain extremely dangerous. Jamaica was under a hurricane watch, while Grenada, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines faced tropical storm warnings.

In Grenada, significant damage was reported, and Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell planned to visit Carriacou once it was safe.

Barbados used drones to assess damage, anticipating a life-threatening storm surge of up to 9 feet and 3 to 10 inches of rain.

This powerful storm reminded many of Hurricane Ivan, which hit the region 20 years ago, causing numerous fatalities in Grenada.

READ NEXT: Hurricane Beryl Becomes First Hurricane of 2024; Caribbean Braces for Impact

Severe Impact on Carriacou and Beyond

Carriacou faced some of the worst damage from Hurricane Beryl, with images showing a two-story house's second floor blown off and trees reduced to stumps.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves warned the worst was yet to come, Miami Herald reports.

Wind gusts reached 175 mph, causing severe damage in Grenada and the Grenadines, with homes losing roofs and massive waves.

Carriacou and Petite Martinique, popular boating destinations, were heavily hit. Islands in Beryl's path shut down early, halting air travel, and Grenada declared a state of emergency.

Tobago also suffered, with roofs torn off and trees downed. Grenada saw 3,000 people seek shelter, recalling the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

CARICOM chairman Mohamed Irfaan Ali called for immediate support. Jamaica prepared for strong winds and possible tsunami-like conditions.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness assured readiness, with shelters and supplies in place, but urged evacuation from low-lying areas.

The Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force deployed aid to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Climate Change Fuels Hurricane Beryl

Climate change has intensified hurricanes like Beryl, with North Atlantic temperatures reaching all-time highs, Reuters noted.

Scientists predict more frequent intense hurricanes as water temperatures rise.

Hurricane Beryl's rapid strengthening from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in 42 hours is rare.

It became the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record in the Atlantic, surpassing Hurricane Dennis in 2005, and formed the farthest east in the tropical Atlantic in June.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted above-normal hurricane activity this year.

Canadian travel blogger Nauman Khan described massive waves in Barbados.

Hurricane Beryl's impacts were widely felt across the Caribbean, stranding travelers in Barbados and prompting prayers and concern from friends and family worldwide.

READ MORE: Tropical Storm Alberto, First Named Storm of the Year, Set to Impact Texas and Mexico

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Hurricane Beryl takes aim at southeastern Caribbean as a Category 4 storm - From Associated Press
Panama now has a new president as Jose Raul Mulino has now been sworn in as the country's new leader. As expected, he promised to stamp down on migration and address the Darien Gap situation, as well as work with the United States on the matter.

In his first address as president, Mulino promised to seek international assistance to find solutions to the migration crisis as more and more people from all over the world go through the Darien Gap from Colombia in an effort to reach the United States.

He described this as a "humanitarian and environmental crisis" and added that he and his government are signing an agreement with the United States to crack down on migration through the infamous jungle that is now the busiest migration route on the planet and also the most dangerous.

"We cannot continue financing the economic and social costs that massive illegal immigration generates for the country, along with the consequent connection of international criminal organizations," he told Panamanians in his inaugural address.

Soon after, Mulino's new foreign minister signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States, according to Reuters. This would "allow the closing off of the passing of illegal immigrants through the Darien," and it was signed by the US. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who attended the inauguration.

The White House confirmed the agreement and revealed that it was "designed to jointly reduce the number of migrants being cruelly smuggled through the Darien, usually en route to the United States," adding that the country will "support" efforts to repatriate migrants in Panama illegally. However, no further details were given.

Experts Say New Panama President Jose Raul Mulino's Migration Policy Would Not Be Easy To Do

The new foreign minister of Panama, Javier Martinez Acha, noted that the United States government has agreed to cover the costs but that the amounts were not yet set. Despite this, the endeavor would be a difficult one.

READ MORE: Panama President-Elect Jose Raul Mulino Wants Deal With US Regarding Migrants Crossing the Darien Gap

"It won't be easy to carry out this policy, groups and interests can be expected to come out against it," Michael Shifter, adjunct professor at Georgetown University, told the Associated Press, adding that the US government will have to shoulder the costs of deportation should this happen.

This would be a massive shift in Panama's active efforts to stop and deport migrants, as the former administration only sought to help migrants cross the country quickly and in an orderly fashion.

Who Attended the Inauguration of New Panama President Jose Raul Mulino?

In addition to Homeland Secretary Mayorkas, the US Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte and Secretary of the United States Navy Carlos Del Toro were in attendance during Mulino's inauguration as part of the US delegation.

As for the world leaders in attendance, President Rodrigo Chaves Robles of Costa Rica also attended, and so did the leader of the country on the other side of the Darien Gap, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia. Both countries are also part of the migration route that migrants often take on their way to the US.

READ MORE: Mexico Wearing Down Migrants as New Tactic to Deter Immigration Amid Biden Crackdown

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Panama's New President Jose Raul Mulino Inauguration | Panama News Live | English News | N18G
Former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, a longtime colleague of President Joe Biden, has ignited a contentious debate within the Democrats.

Harkin's call for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race follows a widely criticized debate performance against former President Trump, according to Fox News.

Tom Harkin, speaking to Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck, highlighted voter perceptions favoring Trump's ability to assert control in debates despite criticisms of his responses as "meandering" and "full of lies."

The 84-year-old senator urged Democratic senators and governors to petition Biden to release his delegates and allow the convention to select a new candidate, citing Thursday's debate as irreparably damaging.

President Joe Biden's lackluster showing in the recent CNN presidential debate has sparked intense speculation and concern within Democratic ranks.

Critics question his ability to effectively challenge former President Trump in the upcoming Presidential election.

The fallout from Biden's performance has raised significant logistical and strategic challenges for the Democrats, with many members expressing doubt over his suitability as the party's nominee.

Despite widespread anxiety, the possibility of Biden stepping down remains remote, given the proximity to the Presidential election.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden's Family Criticizes President's Advisers in Camp David Meeting

Potential Replacements and Party Dynamics

Vice President Kamala Harris emerges as a primary candidate to replace President Joe Biden, leveraging her role and visibility within the administration, BBC reports.

Despite defending Biden's debate performance, Harris faces scrutiny over her approval ratings and party support.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Governor Gavin Newsom of California are also cited as potential contenders.

Their respective gubernatorial records and national profiles bolster their candidacy in a potential reshuffling of the Democratic ticket.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois round out the list of possible replacements, each bringing distinct strengths and political acumen to the table.

Complex Pathways to a New Nominee

The prospect of replacing Joe Biden on the presidential ticket presents a complex and unprecedented challenge for the Democrats.

Should Biden choose to step aside, it would trigger an open convention scenario, allowing delegates to reconsider their allegiances.

Democrats' convention rules stipulate a delegate majority is necessary to secure the nomination, underscoring the significance of delegate alignment and strategic endorsements.

While President Joe Biden retains significant delegate support, the potential for a floor fight underscores intra-party tensions.

Moreover, party rules permit flexibility in candidate selection, provided delegates act with "good conscience."

This clause affords delegates the freedom to reassess their support, potentially reshaping the presidential race dynamics in unforeseen ways.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) holds the authority to appoint a new nominee in the event of a vacancy, invoking a consultative process with party leaders and members, Yahoo! News noted.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison would play a pivotal role in guiding the party through such a transition, ensuring democratic principles guide the decision-making process.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Criticizes Joe Biden at Post-Debate Virginia Rally: Calls Him 'Stupid Man'

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: New poll shows impact of Biden's debate performance - From CNN
The Supreme Court has directed lower courts to revisit laws from Florida and Texas that aimed to regulate how social media platforms moderate content, maintaining a block on these laws during further proceedings.

Justice Elena Kagan delivered the opinion, emphasizing the need for a thorough First Amendment analysis, which she found lacking in previous rulings, CBS News reports.

Florida's law, enacted in 2021, targets major social media platforms earning over $100 million annually or with at least 100 million monthly users.

It seeks to combat perceived censorship by imposing restrictions on content moderation and requiring transparency in platform operations.

Trade associations representing companies like Google and Meta challenged the law, citing First Amendment violations.

Both district and appeals courts sided with the associations, prompting Florida's appeal to the Supreme Court.

Similarly, Texas passed a law affecting platforms with more than 50 million active monthly users, mandating disclosure and explanation requirements for content removals.

Legal challenges ensued, resulting in conflicting decisions from lower courts.

The Supreme Court initially blocked the Texas law pending further review, highlighting the contentious nature of the debate over social media regulation and free speech.

READ NEXT: Mark Zuckerberg Apologizes Emotionally During Senate Hearing on Child Safety

Supreme Court's Decision and Implications

Justice Kagan's opinion underscored the platforms' rights akin to those of traditional publishers, asserting protection against governmental interference in editorial decisions, according to AP News.

The unanimous decision by the Court stressed the necessity for lower courts to conduct comprehensive analyses of how these social media laws impact free speech across different digital platforms.

The cases return to lower courts for detailed scrutiny, focusing on the laws' potential infringement on the First Amendment rights of social media companies.

Kagan emphasized that any legal assessments must align with constitutional protections, even in the evolving landscape of digital communication and information dissemination.

Diverse Legal Challenges in the Digital Age

These legislative efforts arose amid conservative allegations of bias and censorship by social media platforms, intensified after platforms banned former President Donald Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The social media laws sought to treat platforms more like traditional businesses while platforms argued for editorial discretion and First Amendment protections, ABC News noted.

Beyond these cases, the Supreme Court this term has grappled with multiple disputes at the intersection of social media, free speech, and governmental oversight.

These include rulings on public officials' liability for blocking constituents on social media and the legality of government communications with platforms regarding misinformation.

As legal battles over social media regulations continue, the Supreme Court's decision marks a pivotal moment in defining the boundaries of free speech online.

The rulings' implications extend far beyond the specific laws of Florida and Texas, shaping the future of digital communication and constitutional protections in the United States.

READ MORE: Florida Man Critically Injured in Shark Attack During Boating Trip

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Supreme Court issues decision on Texas, Florida social media moderation laws - From KREM 2 News
Fox News is facing even more legal troubles, as not only is it facing a lawsuit from Smartmatic worth billions, but also a new one from Hunter Biden over revenge porn. The lawsuit stems from a now-taken-down program from its Fox Nation streaming service.

Lawyers for the presidential son revealed that Fox News, which has repeatedly reported one-sided news stories on him, targeted their client "in an effort to harass, annoy, alarm, and humiliate him, and tarnish his reputation."

"Far from reporting on a newsworthy event, Fox sought to commercialize Mr. Biden's personality through a form of treatment distinct from the dissemination of news or information," the lawsuit against Fox News read. "While using certain true information, the series intentionally manipulates the facts, distorts the truth, narrates happenings out of context, and invents dialogue intended to entertain."

The lawsuit also alleges that the miniseries "unlawfully publishes numerous intimate images (both still and video) of Mr. Biden depicting him in the nude, depicting an unclothed or exposed intimate part of him, as well as engaged in sex acts."

Fox News released a statement to The Hill and claimed that Hunter Biden's lawsuit against the network is "entirely politically motivated lawsuit is devoid of merit."

Back in April, the presidential son and his attorneys threatened to sue the right-wing propaganda network regarding the miniseries. This led to Fox News soon taking down the docuseries from its streaming service.

"This program was produced in and has been available since 2022," Fox News stated at that time. "We are reviewing the concerns that have just been raised and - out of an abundance of caution in the interim - have taken it down."

READ MORE: Fox News Sued for False Election Coverage Again

Fox News Broke New York Revenge Porn Laws with Docuseries, Hunter Biden Lawsuit States

The series, in particular, is the Fox Nation miniseries titled "The Trial of Hunter Biden: A Mock Trial for the American People." The suit alleges that the program showed explicit photographs of the businessman without his consent and thus violated New York state's revenge porn law.

Fox News published his nude photographs and videos as part of the series, and the lawsuit stated that the propaganda network "unlawfully published numerous intimate images (both still and video) of Mr. Biden depicting him in the nude, depicting an unclothed or exposed intimate part of him, as well as engaged in sex acts."

Fox News Appeals Smartmatic Lawsuit, Files Countersuit

The Hunter Biden lawsuit is not the only legal trouble that Fox News is in, it is also facing a massive one from voting machine company, Smartmatic, which is suing the network for its election lies after the 2020 election.

Before Hunter Biden filed his lawsuit, the network appealed a judge's decision to let voting systems company Smartmatic pursue a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against it. The network also countersued the voting machine company to recoup legal costs.

Smartmatic responded with its lawyer, J. Erik Connolly, saying, "It is ironic that Fox claims that Smartmatic's lawsuit is without basis" after that decision and that courts around the country reviewing similar claims "are saying something very different."

During the previous Dominion lawsuit, it was revealed that Fox News personnel knew that Donald Trump lost the election, yet it still proceeded to claim that the election was stolen.

READ MORE: Fox News Board Members Subpoenaed by Smartmatic Over Network's Election Misinformation

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: WOW: Tucker texts leaked, hates Trump "passionately" - David Pakman Show
Chef Justin Sutherland, renowned for his appearances on "Iron Chef America" and "Top Chef," finds himself in legal trouble after being charged with felony threats of violence in Ramsey County.

The allegations stem from an incident where Food Network Celebrity Chef Sutherland allegedly assaulted and threatened his girlfriend with a firearm at their St. Paul residence, CBS News reports.

According to a criminal complaint, police responded to a distress call on Friday evening reporting a man with a gun at the 800 block of Front Avenue.

Witnesses described a tense situation where Minnesota chef Sutherland's girlfriend appeared distressed outside the building.

Sutherland was allegedly seen walking away from the scene.

Officers arrived to find Sutherland leaving the rear of the address, where he reportedly resisted initial instructions from police but was eventually apprehended.

A friend of Sutherland's informed police about ongoing issues between the couple, confirming they had intervened physically during previous disputes but denied witnessing Sutherland with a firearm during the latest incident.

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Allegations of Assault and Threats

Minnesota chef Sutherland's girlfriend recounted to police a heated argument initiated by Justin Sutherland's frustration over canceled plans for a music festival and alleged racism from neighbors.

She claimed Sutherland escalated the argument by choking her and smashing her phone when she tried to seek help from her sister via Facetime.

Further details from the complaint include allegations that Sutherland retrieved a gun, pointed it at her, threatened to shoot, and struck her in the chest with the weapon, according to KSTP.

During a following search of the residence, police discovered multiple firearms, one of which appeared to have blood-like residue, corroborating the severity of the alleged assault.

Earlier the same day, police had responded to a similar disturbance involving Sutherland and his girlfriend, where she declined to provide his name out of fear.

Despite no arrests being made then, these incidents underline a history of tumultuous interactions between the couple.

Following his arrest, Sutherland appeared in court and was released on his own recognizance, albeit with conditions that include surrendering all firearms.

His attorney, John Daly, vehemently denied the allegations, asserting inaccuracies in the complaint and pledging to challenge the charges.

Justin Sutherland's culinary career has been marked by accolades and community involvement, including establishing popular dining venues like Big E sandwich shop and Pearl & the Thief.

Despite recent legal troubles, Sutherland remains actively expanding his restaurant ventures, with plans for new locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Denial and Defense Amid Legal Proceedings

In response to the charges, Food Network Celebrity Chef Sutherland's legal team disputes the allegations of physical violence and firearm threats, characterizing him as a nonviolent community member.

The defense aims to counter the severity of the charges, which could lead to significant penalties if convicted, Bring Me The News noted.

Despite the legal challenges, Justin Sutherland continues pursuing his culinary ventures, underscoring his commitment to the local restaurant scene and enduring popularity among food enthusiasts.

His upcoming projects in Minneapolis and St. Paul reflect his ongoing contributions to the culinary landscape despite the legal cloud hovering over him.

READ MORE: Lizzy Musi, 'Street Outlaws' Star, Dies at 33 After Battling Breast Cancer

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Twin Cities celeb chef Justin Sutherland arrested on felony domestic assault charges - From FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
UPDATE 2: A knock at the door then 2 shots: Easton police nab suspect in West Ward gunfire

UPDATE 1: Photos released of masked teen sought in afternoon shooting into occupied Easton home

Easton police are seeking an unidentified teenager who they say fired multiple gunshots into an occupied home Monday afternoon in the citys West Ward.

The gunfire occurred about 1:37 p.m. in the 100 block of South 12th Street, city police said in a news release.

No one was injured, but officers found evidence that multiple rounds were fired into a home on the block by a masked teenage male, according to the news release, which only offered a limited description of the suspect.

The male reportedly fled west in the 1200 block of Spruce Street.

The occupants of the residence are not cooperating with the police, the news release said. It is believed that the residence was targeted in the shooting.

Police are asking anybody with surveillance cameras in the area of the 100 block of South 12th Street, and 1200 and 1300 blocks of Spruce Street to check them and notify Easton police detectives with any relevant information.

Anybody with any information related to the shooting should call 610-250-6645 or the tipline at 610-250-6635, the release said.
A centuries-old building is getting a new life on the Delaware River.

The Stockton Inn, which was first constructed in the 1700s but has been vacant for seven years, has announced on its website it will reopen this summer. The inn will be soon be home to an upscale Italian restaurant, a tavern and nine hotel rooms, as reported by MyCentralJersey.com.

An official opening date has yet to be announced, but the revamped riverside establishment in Stockton is reportedly expected to open by August.

MyCentralJersey.com reports the centerpiece of the renovated inn will be an Italian restaurant called The Finch, led by James Beard Award semifinalist Bob Truitt. The Finchs food offerings will include pasta, seafood and other Italian staples with ingredients sourced from local farms. The website also reported a 50-seat bar called The Dog and Deer Tavern will be located near the entrance of the inn serving burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, draft beer and more.

The large stone building is believed to have been constructed in 1710 as a private residence before it was renovated in 1832 and turned into a bar that was called the Farmers Bar and later the Old Town Bar. The space operated as a speakeasy called Colligans Stockton Inn during Prohibition. The Colligan family owned the space until 1983, when it was sold and renamed The Stockton Inn.

It isnt just the building that has historical significance  the events that are said to have taken place here are of note as well.

Legend has it Margaret Mitchell wrote a portion of the classic novel Gone With the Wind in the dining room, and composers Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart reportedly used an outdoor waterfall and wishing well from near the building as inspiration for the song Theres a Small Hotel which debuted in their 1936 musical On Your Toes. Many writers like Damon Runyon, who covered the Lindbergh kidnapping and murder trial, lodged at the inn. Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, actor Clark Gable and former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis stayed at the inn as well.

Numerous proposals to revive the building have been discussed since its closing in 2017 but nothing has come to fruition until now.

More food coverage

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First Lady Jill Biden will appear Tuesday afternoon at the Lehigh Carbon Community College campus in Allentown, according to a news release.

Her visit is expected to cause traffic disruptions and intermittent road closures between 1 and 4 p.m. on Route 22 and other roads in Allentown.

Biden is due to appear with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th Dist., and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss education and workforce development in Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional District.

Wild, a Democrat, represents the district that encompasses the Lehigh Valley. She faces a challenge in 2024 from Republican state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-187th Dist.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-44th Dist. (California), U.S. Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-7th Dist. (New York), and local members of the Latino community are also slated to participate in Tuesdays event. The visit is part of Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the Road, an initiative that aims to create opportunities for lawmakers and White House officials to engage with Latino communities.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
Pulling over to the side of the highway to catch a glimpse of a nearby fireworks display on the Fourth of July may seem like a harmless action.

But its dangerous, and its become a big enough problem on a stretch of Interstate 78 near Dorney Park that Pennsylvania State Police issued a warning to drivers on Monday to not tempt fate on the highway just to see the skies light up after sunset.

In addition to the shoulder, parking anywhere on the ramps or center median is also illegal, the agencys Troop M in Bethlehem said in a news release alerting the public about various enforcement activities planned for the holiday.

Parking on the shoulder of the highway causes a danger to other motorists traveling during this busy holiday season, the news release said. Motorists will be cited for Title 75 Section 3353, Prohibitions in Specific Places, and could have their vehicle towed.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, visible from I-78 near the Hamilton Boulevard interchange in South Whitehall Township, hosts three nights of fireworks displays at 9:30 p.m. from Thursday through Saturday as part of its Star-Spangled Nights events, the amusement park said on its website.

An estimated 70,000 vehicles pass through that stretch of the highway each day, according to the most recent Pennsylvania Department of Transportation traffic volume map.

Troop M in Bethlehem also said in its news release that it will be targeting aggressive driving and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in special operations throughout the Lehigh Valley from Wednesday through Sunday.
An SUV passenger was seriously injured in a three-vehicle wreck Monday morning that forced the closure of a portion of Interstate 78 just west of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania State Police report.

Troopers said in a news release that the wreck occurred about 8:30 a.m. in a work zone on a stretch of the highway near Hamburg, Berks County, about 15 miles west of the Lehigh County border.

A tractor-trailer traveling westbound struck a center concrete barrier, pushing sections of the barrier into the oncoming eastbound traffic, the release said.

The damaged concrete barrier was struck by an eastbound SUV and eastbound commercial motor vehicle, troopers said in the release. The involved SUV rolled and landed on its roof within the westbound lanes as a passenger was ejected from the vehicle.

Troopers said the ejected passenger sustained significant injuries and was transported to an area hospital for suspected serious injuries.

The SUV passenger, along with a second passenger and the vehicles driver, are all from Florida. The driver and sole occupant of the westbound tractor-trailer is from Herndon, Pa. The driver and sole occupant of the eastbound commercial vehicle is from Texas.

The release did not indicate if any of the others involved were injured.

WFMZ.com reported Monday afternoon that the westbound lanes of the highway reopened about 3:30 p.m. with the eastbound lanes reopening about 4 p.m.

The closure caused traffic delays as far east as the Trexlertown exit in Lehigh County.
Three Laois-based SPAR stores were honoured at the recent SPAR 365 Standards Customer Care Programme for achieving exceptional standards in retailing.



The Laois winners were Eugene Dalton, SPAR Corrib Oil Mountmellick, SPAR Corrib Oil Portlaoise and Tom OHanlon, OHanlons SPAR Portarlington.



The awards were held in Lawlors Hotel, in Naas and hosted by BWG Foods, owners and operators of the SPAR brand in Ireland. They were held in association with independent bodies Solution Management Associates (SMA) and Lloyds Register Quality Assurance LRQA. The awards recognise those SPAR stores who have excelled during the year across all areas.



In winning these awards, the SPAR stores were independently assessed across a range of criteria including customer service through SMA as well as a robust Food Safety and Hygiene audit conducted by LRQA. These exemplary SPAR retailers received their award in recognition of their commitment to implementing Best practice store standards throughout their store, thereby providing an excellent customer experience to their local community.



Congratulating the winners, Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director, said: The SPAR 365 Standards Customer Care Programme recognise those Retailers who, through their ongoing commitment to outstanding retail standards and customer service, continue to set the benchmark for the SPAR brand and the Retail Marketplace overall. Their efforts have been truly outstanding and this recognition is very well-deserved.
Patients who who receive care at the palliative care unit at Portlaoise hospital will receive treatment in more comfort thanks to the latest help from the Friends of Portlaoise Hospital.

The ever busy support group say are delighted to announce the donation of two Comfort Chairs to the Sieve Bloom and Emo Court Wards.

These chairs will be used in palliative care rooms in the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. The specialised chairs are designed to provide comfort and support for patients of the unit.

They offer patients a more comfortable and dignified experience helping to alleviate some of the physical discomfort associated with their illness. They can also be used by family members wishing to stay with their loved ones during this time.

"We are delighted to be able to make this donation to the hospital," said Aine Reams, Treasurer of the Friends of Portlaoise Hospital. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

"Our goal has always been to enhance patient comforts in the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise and we feel that these chairs will be of huge benefit. This donation has been made possible through the generous support of our local community. The Friends would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all donors and supporters whose contributions have enabled this enhancement in our hospital, she said.

Ms Reams said community support is vital for initiatives such as the support of the palliative care unit.

"We are immensely grateful to everyone who has supported our efforts over the past number of years. Your contributions make a substantial difference in the lives of patients and their families. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Cian and all at Accora for their very generous discount as a contribution to the Friends of Portlaoise Hospital," she said.

A statement added that Accora, which is based in Swords, Co Dublin, aims create and develop assistive products to help people lead as full and safe a life as possible.

The Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise staff are very appreciative of this generous donation as they say the chairs will significantly improve the comfort of patients in palliative care.

The presentation was attended by Olivia (Director of Nursing), Jean Marie (Clinical Nurse Manager), Geraldine (Clinical Nurse Manager), Emily Maher (Friends Committee Member), Sarah Preston (Friends Committee Member), Emma Dempsey (Friends Committee Member), Cian (Accora Product Specialist), Ailis (Clinical Nurse Manager), Ita (Director of Midwivery) and Dr John Connaughton (Clinical Director), Aoife Reams (Secretary Friends) and Tom Timmons (Chairperson Friends).

If you would like to find out more about the Friends you can check out their website: https://friendsofthehospital.wixsite.com/portlaoise or you can contact them at friendsofportloaisehospital@yahoo.com.
PICTURED ABOVE:

Colin OBrien, Category Head, Global Beer Supply, Diageo ; Minister of State for Agriculture and TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon; Annette Aspell, Deputy Chief Executive, Kildare County Council; Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise and Economic Development at Kildare County Council, and Jenny Melia, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland.

The sod has been turned on Diageos new 200 million state-of-the-art carbon neutral brewery in Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

The new facility will brew lagers and ales including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwicks, Kilkenny and Carlsberg. With a capacity of 2 million hectolitres, it will be the second largest brewing operation in Ireland after St. Jamess Gate and support the future growth of Diageo Irelands beer brands.

The state-of-the-art brewery will be powered with 100% renewable energy and will harness the latest process technology to minimise overall energy and water consumption. The target date for the brewery to begin production is 2026 and it will facilitate the growth of overall beer exports from Ireland. It will also facilitate enhanced capacity for the production of the fast-growing Guinness 0.0 at the traditional home of Guinness at St Jamess Gate in Dublin.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon, joined senior leaders for the turning of the sod event in Littleconnell, to express the Governments full support for the brewery that will support up to 1,000 jobs during the construction phase. The new brewery has also received crucial support from the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.

Colin O'Brien, Category Head  Global Beer Supply, Diageo said, Following the announcement of our plans to construct this new brewery in 2022, we are delighted to have reached this significant landmark through the beginning of construction works. As a global business this new brewery is a major development for Diageo in Ireland and around the world. It helps us continue to produce some of the worlds most recognisable beer brands and sets new standards for sustainable production in keeping with our Society 2030: Spirit of Progress commitments to become net-zero in our direct operations by 2030.

I want to thank the Government, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, and the local community for the support they have given the new brewery to date, and I look forward to the first lagers and ales being produced here in two years time.

Minister of State for Agriculture and TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon, said: This 200m investment by Diageo is hugely important and is great news for Irelands food and drink industry and also for the local economy and community here in Kildare. I want to thank Diageo for their commitment to the local area and for the jobs and activity that this new brewery will generate.

Jenny Melia, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, added: Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies in the transition towards a low-carbon economy, and we are delighted to work with Diageo on this important development; a state-of-the-art carbon neutral brewery, that will be powered by 100% renewable energy. Diageo continues to show leadership in investing in the highest sustainability standards, and this new brewery will make an important contribution to the local economy, supporting value added exports, creating high quality jobs.

Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Kildare County Council said Kildare County Council is delighted that construction work and the development of this new brewery in Littleconnell is now underway. The County Council has worked closely with Diageo on this project that will provide employment for and investment in the local community in Newbridge and throughout Kildare. It is a real vote of confidence for the entire county to have such a major company that produces iconic brands locating a brand-new facility here in Kildare.
Representatives from Newbridge Family Resource Centre met with members of the Oireachtas at a briefing event in Buswells Hotel, Dublin this week, to urge them to adequately fund community services in Kildare in this years Budget, so that they can provide the level of support services that are desperately needed in local communities.

The event was run by the Family Resource Centre National Forum, the national representative body for Family Resource Centres, to officially launch its Budget 2025 submission.

The Family Resource Centre programme is the largest community-based family support programme in Ireland. Through a network of 121 FRCs, it supports families in communities experiencing poverty and disadvantage.

Increase in core funding

The primary call on Government as part of the submission, is for an increase in core funding for all 121 FRCs, to 240,000.

Earlier this year, Minister Roderic OGorman raised the minimum level of core funding to 160,000 per FRC. However, this figure was identified six years ago as the basic level of funding for new FRCs. For Budget 2025, the FRCNF has identified the required level of funding per FRC as 240,000, for them to be able to adequately provide the services required of them.

Commenting on their pre-Budget submission, Fergal Landy, CEO of the FRCNF, said: Budget 2025 will be a key opportunity for Government to maximise the potential of the FRC National Programme to increase its capacity to deliver for children, families, individuals, and communities in Kildare and throughout Ireland, and in doing so, provide additional supports to communities coping with many challenges such as the housing crisis, poverty, the cost of living, and integrating new communities. But this cannot be achieved without adequate funding for our 121 FRCs.

The current level of funding of 160,000 per FRC is intended to cover the salary of three full-time staff members, operational costs and the running of services in the centre. This is just not realistic nor sustainable. The shortfall in core funding is leading to a recruitment and retention crisis of suitable, qualified staff and difficulties in maintaining appropriate premises to deliver the high quality supports our FRCs have become known for.

Additional Key Asks

In addition to the increase in core funding, the FRCNF is also calling for:

No new Family Resource Centres, until the funding of existing FRCs is addressed; and involvement of FRCs in the decision-making process, when the programme is expanded to ensure alignment to the existing FRC programme approach.

Ensure consistent, long-term funding for counselling and therapeutic supports in FRCs nationwide.

Develop and introduce a dedicated capital funding stream for FRCs.

Last year, over 70,000 therapeutic support sessions were provided to adults and children in FRCs across Ireland. As a result of these services being made available, 71% of FRCs reported a decrease in their waiting lists for services like play therapy, one-to-one psychotherapy, and parenting workshops. The funding that was made available for these services made a huge impact in communities in Kildare and across the country, and showed us the potential of what could be achieved at a local level  if long-term funding was provided.

We are calling on Government to commit to long-term funding so that we can plan for the future, invest in full-time practitioners and ensure that appropriate therapeutic supports are consistently available for families when they need it most. We are also aware that Government is considering increasing the number of FRCs in 2025, however, we urge that the current funding issues be addressed before adding new centres to the programme.

In every corner of the country, the FRC National Programme plays a vital role in providing services for its community. However, FRCs have long experienced a reduced level of core funding, in comparison to similar organisations, and we are now urging the Government to put communities at the heart of Budget 2025 and invest where it is needed most.

Further information about the FRCNF is available here: https://www.familyresource.ie/
Irish holidaymakers have been warned of the risks of "exceptionally high temperatures" at popular tourist destinations in the coming days.

The mercury is set to creep above 40C in a number of popular tourist destinations for Irish visitors including Italy, Spain and Greece.

On Thursday July 4, parts of Spain will reach over 40C, in particular around Seville, the area between the cities of Cordoba and Jaen, and also close to the border with Portugal.

The Department of Foreign affairs advises: "During the summer months, Spain can experience heatwaves with exceptionally high temperatures recorded in parts of the country. You can monitor information and alerts, including severe weather warnings, on the website of the Spanish Meteorological Agency, AEMET, and on its social media channels".

They also urge Irish tourists that high temperatures also increase the risk of forest fires.

"Irish citizens should avoid engaging in any action that may contribute to the risk of forest fires, and follow the advice of local authorities if they find themselves in affected areas," the Department of Foreign Affairs says.

Pic: weatherforecast.com

In addition to rising temperatures in Spain, Italy and Greece have issued weather warnings, advising caution to any visitors and residents trapped in the heat.
Deutsche Bank Appointed as Successor Depositary Bank for the American Depositary Receipt Program of ABB Ltd





Deutsche Bank announced today its appointment as successor depositary bank for the sponsored American Depositary Receipt Program of ABB Ltd (OTC: ABBNY).

ABB Ltd is a technology company in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company's solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated.*

In addition to specializing in administering cross-border equity structures such as New York Shares, American, and Global Depositary Receipts, Deutsche Bank provides corporates, financial institutions, hedge funds and supranational agencies around the world with trustee, agency, escrow, and related services. Deutsche Bank offers a very broad range of services for diverse products, from complex securitizations and project finance to syndicated loans, debt exchanges and restructurings.

* This information was provided by ABB Ltd (June 2024).

Depositary Receipt Information Country Switzerland Custodian Bank Credit Suisse (Switzerland), Ltd. Effective Date July 1, 2024 Level I ADR CUSIP 000375204 ISIN US0003752047 Symbol ABBNY Exchange OTC Current Ratio 1 ADS : 1 Ordinary Share Eligibility DTC

Depositary Receipt Contacts New Business Development Jonathan Montanaro Tel: +44 20 754-78538 www.adr.db.com Markets Distribution [email protected] London Tel: +44 (0) 20 7547 6500 gtb.db.com New York Tel: +1 212 250 9100

Deutsche Bank provides commercial and investment banking, retail banking, transaction banking and asset and wealth management products and services to corporations, governments, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and private individuals. Deutsche Bank is Germany's leading bank, with a strong position in Europe and a significant presence in the Americas and Asia Pacific.

The Depositary Receipts have been registered pursuant to the US Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). The investment or investment service which is the subject of this notice is not available to retail clients as defined by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. This notice has been approved and/or communicated by Deutsche Bank AG New York. The services described in this notice are provided by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Deutsche Bank) or by its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in accordance with appropriate local registration and regulation. Deutsche Bank is providing the attached notice strictly for information purposes and makes no claims or statement, nor does it warrant or in any way represent, as to the accuracy or completeness of the details contained herein or therein. This announcement appears as a matter of record only. Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein constitutes an offer or solicitation by Deutsche Bank or any other issuer or entity for the purchase or sale of any securities nor does it constitute a solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction where solicitation would be unlawful. No part of this notice may be copied or reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of Deutsche Bank. Past results are not an indication of future performance. Copyright July 2024 Deutsche Bank AG. All rights reserved.

1 july 2024 at 16:35

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EIF and NATO Innovation Fund join forces to unlock private capital for Europe's defence and security future





The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in supporting the long-term growth of the defence, security, and resilience sectors across Europe. The EIF is part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the NIF is a standalone venture-capital fund backed by 24 NATO countries.

The MoU aims to encourage more private-capital funds to become active investors in technology sectors associated with defence and security, enabling EU companies to raise equity funding from a broader range of sources. The partnership reflects the shared interest of the NIF and EIF in establishing a framework to support start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and midcaps, as well as in enhancing the whole ecosystem by involving all the main stakeholders.

"By facilitating regular dialogue and knowledge sharing, the EIF and NIF will ensure a cohesive approach to strengthening the investment ecosystem for defence, security and resilience," said Marjut Falkstedt, chief executive of the EIF. "This will benefit SMEs, midcaps, and the broader European innovation landscape."

The MoU also outlines plans for EIF-NIF cooperation on ad-hoc activities to share knowledge and raise awareness about the potential of investments in defence and security. This will help foster a comprehensive investment ecosystem, ensure effective outreach to private-capital funds, support companies in their investment plans and raise awareness of the investment opportunities in the defence, security, and resilience sectors among limited partners.

The collaboration with the NIF also is in line with the EIB Group's Security and Defence Action Plan, which is expected to support the effort primarily through the EIB's venture-debt product designed to address the funding needs of innovative companies, and which may complement EIF and NIF venture capital and private-equity funding in some cases. The signatories will also exchange information with the European Commission in areas where its potential involvement may prove beneficial for the purposes of the MoU.

"There is great momentum in deep tech that is propelling innovations to help strengthen European defence, security and resilience," said Andrea Traversone, Managing Partner, NATO Innovation Fund. "We are excited to be collaborating with the EIF, the EIB Group and the Commission to unlock investment opportunities for European businesses, advance capacity building for dual-use innovation, and share best practices across investors, innovators and government."

The collaboration between EIF and NIF will also focus on the design of new financial products to cater for companies' needs. The strategic alliance between the EIF and NIF represents a significant step forward in strengthening Europe's defence and security capabilities, unlocking new avenues for private investment, and driving innovation in these vital sectors.

About the European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund:

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by its member states. It supports sound investments that contribute to EU policy objectives.

Financing for Europe's security and defence industry is among the EIB Group's strategic priorities. We provide a comprehensive range of financial support and solutions designed to meet the demands of companies and public sector entities in the security and defence sector, regardless of their size. From reconnaissance and surveillance, spectrum protection and control, to cybersecurity solutions, infrastructure and military mobility, our financing solutions are designed to bolster projects that keep Europe safe, resilient, and innovative.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.

About the NATO Innovation Fund:

The NATO Innovation Fund is a venture capital fund, backed by 24 NATO Allies, that deploys more than ?1 billion in deep tech to address challenges in defence, security, and resilience. The fund invests independently, with 24 nations supporting its portfolio's success and helping provide deep tech entrepreneurs with access to both commercial and government markets.

Participating NATO Allies are: Belgium; Bulgaria; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Spain; Sweden; Turkiye; United Kingdom

2 july 2024 at 07:10

News published onand distributed by:
SKULLCANDY LAUNCHES ALL-NEW ACTIVE COLLECTION





New Push Play Active, Push ANC Active and Sesh ANC Active, Purpose-Built for any Adventure Boasting Maximum Durability and Unwavering Stability

PARK CITY, Utah, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Skullcandy announced an all-new Active Collection featuring three new purpose-built "active" true wireless products for the most active and adventurous consumers, including Push Play Active, Push ANC Active and Sesh ANC Active. The new earbuds are designed with different features at different price points to meet users where they're at. Ranging from $59.99 to $99.99 MSRP, the Active Collection will begin selling July 2 on Skullcandy.com and at select retailers.

"We crafted the Active Collection to meet the demands of those seeking reliable earbud performance in any conditions, from our famously fearless boardsports fans and fitness fanatics to casual outdoor adventurers," said Justin Regan, VP of Marketing, Skullcandy. "These buds are the ultimate companions for those who dare to push boundaries."

Push ANC Active is a zero-compromise earbud with every active feature, including ultra secure, low-profile ear hangers, fully-waterproof construction, adjustable Stay-Aware Mode and 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling. Sesh ANC Active features all-day battery, adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling, fully-waterproof construction and a specially designed in-ear Fit Grip that keeps it comfortably in place. Push Play Active is built for any weather, condition or activity, shrugging off sweat, water, and even dust and dirt, with an unrelenting 34 hours of play time. Secure, low-profile ear hangers keep your earbuds comfortably in place at the gym, on the trail or upside down in mid-air.

Tech specs tied to each Active Collection product include:

Skullcandy Push ANC Active True Wireless Earbuds ? $99.99 MSRP

Up to 37 Hours Battery Life with ANC ON? 7 hours in the earbuds, 30 hours in the charging case

7 hours in the earbuds, 30 hours in the charging case Up to 58 Hours Battery Life with ANC OFF? 12 hours in the earbuds, 46 hours in the charging case

12 hours in the earbuds, 46 hours in the charging case Rapid Charge ? A quick 10 minute charge gives you 2 hours of playtime

? A quick 10 minute charge gives you 2 hours of playtime Adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling ? Actively monitors the surrounding environment to filter out external noise, maintaining crisp audio quality

Actively monitors the surrounding environment to filter out external noise, maintaining crisp audio quality Adjustable Stay-Aware Mode ? Make necessary audio adjustments to stay alert and hear surroundings

? Make necessary audio adjustments to stay alert and hear surroundings IP67 Sweat and Waterproof ? Worry-free durability for any adventure

? Worry-free durability for any adventure Wireless Charging ? The charging case can charge wirelessly for convenient refueling

? The charging case can charge wirelessly for convenient refueling Personal Sound ? Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels

? Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels Skullcandy App Compatibility ? Enables users to dial in their audio experience, including button customization and custom equalizer levels

Enables users to dial in their audio experience, including button customization and custom equalizer levels Multipoint Pairing ? Seamlessly pair to multiple devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer

? Seamlessly pair to multiple devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer Sidetone ? Counteract occlusion, allowing users to hear their own voice more naturally

Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active True Wireless Earbuds ? $89.99 MSRP

Up to 28 Hours Battery Life with ANC ON? 7 hours in the earbuds, 21 hours in the charging case

7 hours in the earbuds, 21 hours in the charging case Up to 48 Hours Battery Life with ANC OFF? 12 hours in the earbuds, 36 hours in the charging case

12 hours in the earbuds, 36 hours in the charging case Rapid Charge ? A quick 10 minute charge gives you 2 hours of playtime

? A quick 10 minute charge gives you 2 hours of playtime Adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling ? Actively monitors the surrounding environment to filter out external noise, maintaining a crisp audio quality

Actively monitors the surrounding environment to filter out external noise, maintaining a crisp audio quality Adjustable Stay-Aware Mode ? Make necessary audio adjustments to stay alert and hear surroundings

? Make necessary audio adjustments to stay alert and hear surroundings IP67 Sweat and Waterproof ? Worry-free durability for any adventure

? Worry-free durability for any adventure Personal Sound ? Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels

? Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels Skullcandy App Compatibility ? Enables users to dial in their audio experience, including button customization and custom equalizer levels

? Enables users to dial in their audio experience, including button customization and custom equalizer levels Multipoint Pairing ? Seamlessly pair to multiple devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer

? Seamlessly pair to multiple devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer Sidetone ? Counteract occlusion, allowing users to hear their own voice more naturally

Skullcandy Push Play Active True Wireless Earbuds ? $59.99 MSRP

Up to 34 Hours Battery Life ? 10 hours in the earbuds, 24 hours in the charging case

10 hours in the earbuds, 24 hours in the charging case Rapid Charge ? A quick 10 minute charge gives you 2 hours of playtime

? A quick 10 minute charge gives you 2 hours of playtime IP55 Sweat and Water Resistance ? Go on any adventure without missing a beat

? Go on any adventure without missing a beat Adjustable Stay-Aware Mode ? Make necessary audio adjustments to stay alert and hear surroundings

? Make necessary audio adjustments to stay alert and hear surroundings Multipoint Pairing ? Seamlessly pair to multiple devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer

? Seamlessly pair to multiple devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer Clear Voice Smart Mic ? Experience a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear

? Experience a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear Preset & Custom EQ Modes ? Choose one of the preset EQ modes or create your own custom 5-band EQ

? Choose one of the preset EQ modes or create your own custom 5-band EQ Sidetone ? Counteract occlusion, allowing users to hear their own voice more naturally

For more information on Skullcandy, Skullcandy.com or follow the brand on Instagram , TikTok , YouTube , Twitter and Facebook .

About Skullcandy

Skullcandy is the original, irreverent, lifestyle audio brand, born of action in 2003 on a chairlift in Park City, Utah. On a mission to connect the fearless ones and amplify experiences while unleashing creativity on the mountains, beaches, and streets. With a deep commitment to boardsports communities, Skullcandy products deliver killer sound and performance with unique style. A full assortment of headphones, earbuds and portable speakers are created, tuned and tested to deliver music you can feel, specially engineered to provide a deeper, more immersive listening experience. Skullcandy designs, markets and distributes its audio products through a variety of distribution channels globally. The company's website can be found at www.Skullcandy.com.

SOURCE Skullcandy

2 july 2024 at 08:00

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Health In Tech, Adena Health, and OSU Health Plan Solutions Partner to Bring Affordable Level-Funded Health Plans to Ohio Employers





STUART, Fla., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Health In Tech, an industry-leading insurtech company that delivers disruptive innovation and reimagines self-funded health plans, today announced that competitively priced level-funded plan options are now available to employers in a ten-county region of south-central Ohio.

The plans are powered by the High-Performance Health Network, an integrated health network powered by Adena Health and The Ohio State University Health Plan Solutions that works to reduce cost through efficient use of medical resources and expertise.

The High-Performance Health Network serves the following counties: Fayette, Franklin, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton.

Glenn Hillyer, Chief Growth Officer at Health In Tech, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "We are thrilled to collaborate with Adena Health and OSU Health Plan Solutions to offer these innovative level-funded health plans. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing employers with cost-effective health solutions that manage risks and deliver significant savings. Together, we are transforming the healthcare landscape in Ohio, making quality care more accessible and affordable for all."

Health In Tech will offer the plans to Ohio employers through a network of health insurance brokers and consultants. In a level-funded health plans, employers fund a fixed monthly amount in exchange for full coverage of their health claims liability. The employer is eligible to receive a partial refund of their annual expenditure when plan claims cost runs lower than expected during the plan year. The plans will be administered by Aither Health, a third-party administration firm based in Buffalo, New York.

About Health In Tech

Health In Tech reinvents the way brokers, groups, and TPAs approach self-funding with the eDIYBS platform. Far surpassing the capabilities of a standard SaaS underwriting solution, eDIYBS streamlines and enhances the quoting process for small and level-funded health plans, prioritizing the speed and flexibility of proposal generation. With the ability to quote 12 plans with four tiers in just minutes, eDIYBS drastically shortens the sales cycle, in turn positively disrupting the typical self-funded process for employers. eDIYBS's also empowers the user to choose plan return options, network, plan designs, and ancillary coverage options to plans.

eDIYBS extends a range of ancillary coverage options provided by ManhattanLife, including Critical Illness and Cancer Voluntary Coverage, Accident Indemnity Plus, Dental, Vision, Term Life, and GAP Coverage. This diverse selection allows clients to tailor their plans according to their specific needs while ensuring they receive comprehensive coverage at an affordable cost. Learn more at healthintech.com.

Contact Glenn Hillyer, Chief Growth Officer at [email protected]

About Adena Health

For more than 125 years, Adena Health has been providing comprehensive care to the nearly 400,000 people who call south central and southern Ohio home. Through the High-Performance Health Network partnership, Adena Health provides convenient, local access to its system of more than 40 locations and 400 primary and specialty care providers across the region.

"Adena Health has a long-standing commitment to ensuring access to comprehensive health care in the communities we serve. That commitment is evident through partnerships like the High-Performance Health Network, which will provide employers and their employees a cost-effective option for streamlined access and continuity of care from primary to advanced specialty care," said Jim McManus, Adena Health Chief Financial Officer.

About OSU Health Plan Solutions

The Ohio State University Health Plan Solutions provides network, wellness, and care management services to benefit the health and well-being of Ohioans and to promote cost-effective care. Through the High-Performance Health Network partnership, OSU Health Plan Solutions opens access to world-class, advanced tertiary care through providers from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, one of the country's largest and most diverse academic medical centers.

About Aither Health

Aither Health (Aither) is a third-party administrator (TPA) based in Buffalo, New York. Aither is a full service TPA and offers a full suite of innovative products and services for self-funded employers.

SOURCE Health In Tech

2 july 2024 at 08:30

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PROG Holdings, Inc. to Release Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results on July 24, 2024





PROG Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PRG), the fintech holding company for Progressive Leasing, Vive Financial, Four Technologies, and Build, is scheduled to release financial results for the second quarter of 2024 on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, prior to market open.

The Company has also scheduled a live webcast for July 24, 2024, at 8:30 A.M. ET to discuss its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. The webcast can be accessed via the below link, or through the Events & Presentations section of the PROG Holdings investor relations website, https://investor.progholdings.com/.

Webcast Link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/5rxamqqg

The webcast will be archived for playback on the company's investor relations website following the event.

About PROG Holdings, Inc.

PROG Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PRG) is a fintech holding company headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, that provides transparent and competitive payment options and inclusive consumer financial products. The Company owns Progressive Leasing, a leading provider of e-commerce, app-based, and in-store point-of-sale lease-to-own solutions, Vive Financial, an omnichannel provider of second-look revolving credit products, Four Technologies, provider of Buy Now, Pay Later payment options through its platform Four, and Build, provider of personal credit building products. More information on PROG Holdings' companies can be found at https://www.progholdings.com.

2 july 2024 at 08:35

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MDA SPACE ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF KARL SMITH TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CFO





BRAMPTON, ON, July 2, 2024 /CNW/ - MDA Space Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a trusted space mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Karl Smith to the company's Board of Directors. MDA Space also announces the appointment of Janet McEachern as interim Chief Financial Officer, effective today. Mrs. McEachern replaces Vito Culmone, who is leaving the Company to pursue another career opportunity.

Karl Smith immediately joins the Audit Committee of the Board and is expected to assume the role of Audit Committee Chair following the next board meeting in August 2024. Mr. Smith's appointment increases the size of the MDA Space Board to nine directors, in accordance with the company's by-laws.

Over a career that spanned more than 30 years, Mr. Smith held a variety of executive roles within the Fortis Group, including as President and CEO of FortisAlberta, and President and CEO of Newfoundland Power. As Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortis Inc., as part of the company's growth strategy Mr. Smith helped to secure its NYSE listing and was actively involved in and led the financial strategy for a number of significant acquisitions. Mr. Smith began his career with five years at Deloitte as a Chartered Public Accountant.

"We are pleased to welcome Karl Smith to our Board of Directors and to the Audit Committee," said Brendan Paddick, Chair of the MDA Space Board. "His deep financial management experience in rapidly growing public companies brings valuable expertise to the MDA Space Board as the company continues to scale, invest and deliver shareholder value."

Mr. Smith currently serves as Board Chair at Raleigh Solar Tech and as a member of the Board at CSA (formerly the Canadian Standards Association.) He also sits on the Board of the Genesis Centre in St John's, Newfoundland where he Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee, and is Co-Chair of the St. John's 2025 Summer Games.

Mr. Smith earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Janet McEachern has been at MDA Space since 2020 and is currently the Vice President, Finance leading the Corporate Finance functions (Financial Planning & Analysis as well as the Corporate Consolidation & Reporting) for the company. Ms. McEachern has been instrumental in the evolution of our finance function as we continue to grow and scale. Prior to MDA Space, she held senior finance leadership roles at L3Harris-Wescam. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and holds an Honours Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.

The search for a new Chief Financial Officer at MDA Space is underway and Mr. Smith will participate as a member of a search committee of the Board of Directors on this important search.

"I am delighted to appoint Janet as our interim CFO. Janet has a deep understanding of the MDA Space business and is a trusted advisor for the finance and operational teams. I look forward to working with her as we search for a permanent replacement. I also wish to extend my thanks to Vito for his contribution to MDA Space and wish him well in his next role", said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space.

ABOUT MDA SPACE

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX:MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The MDA Space team of more than 3,000 space experts in Canada, the US and the UK has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission ? bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that's been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we'll take you there. For more information, visit mda.space.

SOCIAL MEDIA

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mdaspace

X: twitter.com/MDA_space

Facebook: facebook.com/MDAspace

YouTube: youtube.com/c/mdaspace

Instagram: instagram.com/MDA_space

SOURCE MDA Space

2 july 2024 at 09:00

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S2W Showcases Leadership in AI and Cybersecurity at UN Conference





- S2W was invited as a key speaker on cybercrime prevention technology at a private conference organized by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (ODC).

- Held at the UN headquarters in New York on the 28th, the event saw presentations on cutting-edge AI technology capable of combating cybercrimes before investigative officers from 193 UN member countries.

- S2W showcased pioneering technologies such as DarkBERT, the world's first AI language model tailored for the dark web, and AI chatbot DarkCHAT, solidifying its position as a global leader in AI and cybersecurity.

IRVINE, Calif., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- S2W Inc. has solidified its role as a pioneer in AI and cybersecurity with its recent engagement at the United Nations, where it presented on "AI Technology for Tracking Cybercrimes and Its Applications."

The esteemed invitation came as S2W, a specialized data intelligence company led by CEO Sangduk Suh, took the stage as a keynote speaker at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (ODC) conference. This gathering, held at the UN headquarters in New York on the 28th, convened investigative officers from 193 UN member countries to exchange insights and strategies crucial for tackling international crimes. S2W seized the opportunity to showcase cutting-edge methods and AI technologies, including 'DarkBERT,' the world's first AI language model designed specifically for the dark web.

The UN ODC, established in 1997 to combat drug-related crimes and terrorism, annually hosts private conferences to discuss advancements in security technologies. This year's focus on "Use of Cybercrime Services by Terrorists and Extremists for Dark Web and Cyber Attacks" underscored the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures in a digital era fraught with sophisticated threats.

S2W's participation marked a milestone, as it became the first Korean company directly invited by the UN to present its AI-driven crime-tracking solutions exclusively to UN investigative officers. This recognition highlights S2W's pivotal role in shaping global cybersecurity standards.

Hyunmin Suh, Director of the S2W Business Center, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the escalating role of AI in dark web and Telegram crimes. He elaborated on how DarkBERT enhances cybercrime investigations, a groundbreaking technology jointly developed by S2W and KAIST and first unveiled at the prestigious ACL (Association for Computational Linguistics) conference.

Furthermore, S2W captivated global attention with the introduction of 'DarkCHAT,' a ChatGPT-style chatbot integrated with DarkBERT within S2W's advanced deep dark web search solution, XARVIS. DarkCHAT's prototype demo at the Interpol Global Conference 'IGCC' garnered widespread acclaim, with its showcase video on S2W's official YouTube channel approaching 1.8 million views.

Sangduk Suh, CEO of S2W, expressed pride in presenting their latest AI-driven cybersecurity advancements to a global audience of UN representatives united in combatting cybercrime. He affirmed S2W's commitment to continuous investment in research and development (R&D), reinforcing its position as a global leader and standard-setter in cybersecurity.

Recently, S2W unveiled 'CyBERTuned,' a specialized AI language model for cybersecurity documents, at the prestigious NAACL conference. This release follows the success of DarkBERT, marking S2W's continued innovation in addressing the intricate nuances of cybersecurity challenges globally.

About S2W Inc.

S2W Inc. is a data intelligence company that was named one of the 'Top 100 Technology Pioneers' by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2023. As an 'AI and security specialized data intelligence company,' S2W is an official partner of INTERPOL, leveraging expertise that combines artificial intelligence, robust security technologies, and big data processing. The company has expanded into the U.S. (with a subsidiary), Singapore, Indonesia, and Taiwan markets, and has been featured at the world's top AI academic conferences for three consecutive years.

The solutions offered by S2W include XARVIS and QUAXAR. XARVIS is an AI-based Cybercrime Intelligence Platform that leverages big data from covert channels such as the Dark Web and Telegram, which are prevalent with cybercrime, to provide essential intelligence crucial for safeguarding national security and ensuring public safety.

QUAXAR is a Comprehensive Cyber Threat Intelligence(CTI) Platform that integrates Digital Risk Protection(DRP), Threat Intelligence(TI), and Attack Surface Management(ASM) solutions into a single, unified system. This robust platform empowers businesses to safeguard their critical internal assets and proactively address potential threats with immediately actionable intelligence.

SOURCE S2W USA Inc.

2 july 2024 at 11:00

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Canadian Red Cross and Walmart Canada launch annual giving campaign





OTTAWA, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Red Cross, in collaboration with Walmart Canada, is proud to announce the start of its annual giving campaign. During the month of July, Walmart customers across Canada will be invited to support the Red Cross by making a donation at checkout in stores and on Walmart.ca. Funds raised provide disaster relief, which may include emergency lodging, clothing, food and personal items for people impacted by emergencies in Canada.



Support from Walmart, its associates and customers during this campaign is vital to building stronger and more resilient communities in a time when Canadians are facing more frequent and complex emergencies from fires, floods, and other unseen circumstances. To kick off the campaign, Walmart is making a corporate contribution of $1 million.

Over the past year, Walmart Canada and the Walmart Foundation have made contributions in support of domestic emergencies, including donating to the 2023 Alberta Wildfires Appeal, the 2023 Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada Wildfire Appeal; and providing immediate support for thousands of Canadians impacted by both small and large-scale disasters across the country.

Walmart Canada is the largest corporate partner of the Canadian Red Cross. Over the past 21 years, Walmart Canada, together with its associates and customers, has raised more than $70 million for the Red Cross.

"Every day, the Red Cross provides support to Canadians who are experiencing small and large-scale emergency events by providing food, shelter, clothing and essential supplies," said Amy Avis, chief of emergencies at the Canadian Red Cross. "We are grateful for the continued support of Walmart Canada - a valuable supporter of preparedness, response and recovery programs at the Canadian Red Cross. We thank every associate and customer who contributes to help people in need."

"For over two decades, Walmart associates and customers have been raising funds for the Canadian Red Cross to promote disaster preparedness and to provide much-needed support to communities in times of crisis," said Rob Nicol, vice president, communications and corporate affairs, Walmart Canada. "Given the increasing frequency and complexity of emergencies affecting various communities across the country, the significance of this support cannot be overstated. We're proud to support the Red Cross and encourage Canadians to give generously alongside us."

About the Canadian Red Cross

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement ? which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies ? the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart.org represents the philanthropic efforts of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation. By focusing where the business has unique strengths, Walmart.org works to tackle key social and environmental issues and collaborate with others to spark long-lasting systemic change.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store,?Walmart.ca?is visited by 1.5 million customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $750 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca and on Walmart Canada's social media pages -??Facebook,? X (formerly known as Twitter) ,?Instagram?and?LinkedIn.

Media Contacts

Canadian Red Cross:

English Media Line: 1-877-599-9602

French Media Line: 1-888-418-9111

Felicia Fefer, Walmart Canada, [email protected]

2 july 2024 at 11:50

News published onand distributed by:
YOUNG staff working at city centre shops are afraid to take out bins due to the threat of encountering drug addicts, dealers and beggars.

Thats according to a local trader who addressed a special meeting organised by Limerick gardai.

Another businessman said the city centre is like zombie land early in the morning, with drug addicts wandering around aimlessly.

One trader said some beggars are pulling knives, scissors and needles on people" when they are being asked to move out of doorways.

Another went further, saying that when staff ask people to leave outdoor seating areas, threats are being made on their lives.

A city centre store manager said he has been physically assaulted twice in his shop - and even when he was on a night out with his partner.

READ MORE: Exciting new extension plans confirmed for Limerick city schools

One retailer, with more than 30 years experience in the city centre told the meeting - which drew over 50 traders - that things are at an all time low in Limerick.

Limerick Live was asked not to disclose the names of the traders who addressed the event.

This was in order to allow them to speak openly without fear of repercussion.

Supt Andrew Lacey, Henry Street garda station said officers are under no illusion in terms of the scale of the problems facing the city centre.

He said that from next month, 200 body cameras will be deployed on front-line gardai in the city.

But a number of retailers admitted they no longer contact the gardai when problems arise, given the length of time it takes them to respond.

Supt Lacey admitted that Operation Feabhsaigh, set up to tackle the sale and supply of drugs in Kings Island had pushed the issue of dealing in illegal substances from there to the city centre.
TODAY (TUESDAY): Mostly cloudy with occasional rain and drizzle. Some limited bright or sunny intervals will develop from time to time. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees with light to moderate westerly winds.

National Outlook

Overview: Mixed, changeable weather with spells of rain or showers interspaced with drier and brighter periods. Windy at times too, particularly later Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures generally below normal for early July, especially in the northwest.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards to all areas in moderate southwesterly winds, increasing fresh to strong near coasts. Patchy mist and fog also, mainly on hills and coasts. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees.

Wednesday: Damp or wet to begin on Wednesday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle clearing eastwards to a mix of sunny spells and showers in the afternoon. Becoming increasingly windy or blustery as the day goes on with moderate to fresh westerly winds increasing strong along western and northern coasts. Highest temperatures of 14 to 20 degrees, mildest in the east and south.

READ MORE: Limerick schools celebrate as winners of Community Pride Video Competition are announced

Wednesday night: Breezy with a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, mainly affecting the west and north with largely dry conditions further south and east. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees with mostly moderate westerly winds fresh to strong and gusty near coasts.

Thursday: Thursday will be an unseasonably windy day with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees with moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds, strong to near gale along western and northern coasts.

Friday: Current indications for Friday suggest a mostly cloudy start to the day with outbreaks of rain, most persistent in the south, clearing to sunshine and showers in the afternoon, some heavy in the north and northwest. Winds will be mainly light to moderate southwest or variable becoming moderate westerly in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 13 to 18 degrees, coolest in the west and north.

Next Weekend: Continuing showery and rather cool for the time of year.
THE ceiling on the First Home Scheme has been increased by 25,000 up to 425,000 for first-time buyers and those doing self-builds.

It will benefit Limerick applicants with immediate effect.

The scheme is mainly aimed at first-time buyers and those doing self-builds who cannot get the full amount needed for a mortgage and deposit.

READ MORE: DPP to appeal sentence of Limerick-based soldier Cathal Crotty

Fianna Fail TD Willie ODea told Limerick Live that housing continues to be a priority for the party and that this will help to bridge the gap between what people have as a mortgage and deposit and the price of a new home.

He said: We will continue to support first-time buyers as a priority with tax rebates and other financial supports to help them get on the property ladder.

He added that under the Housing for All plan, from June 2023 until May 2024, construction started on 51, 395 housing units.

His party colleague, Minister Niall Collins added: Fianna Fails top priority remains doing everything we can to help people to afford to buy or rent a home and my focus is on doing whatever I can to keep this positive momentum going.
Over 900,000 euro worth of drugs, cash and paraphernalia have been seized after raids in Dublin at the weekend.

Two men have since been charged and appeared in court on Monday in relation to the seizures.

On Saturday, a vehicle in Tallaght was stopped and searched by gardai attached to the Serious Crime unit in Tallaght.

During the search, cannabis herb and 800 euro in cash was seized.

A man aged in his late 30s was arrested at the scene and detained at a Garda station in Dublin under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

During follow-up searches, two premises were searched under warrant in Tallaght and Lucan.

Cannabis herb, cannabis resin and cannabis plants worth around 900,000 euro, as well as drugs paraphernalia, were seized.

During the follow-up searches, a man aged in his late 40s was arrested and detained at a Dublin Garda station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act.

All drugs are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.
An action plan to deal with an environmental crisis at Lough Neagh must be urgently signed off by the Stormont Executive, Agriculture and Environment Minister Andrew Muir has said.

Mr Muir said every day that the plan was not agreed was another day lost as he told MLAs that he had heard nothing since distributing an updated version of the plan to his ministerial colleagues.

The minister updated the Assembly on a range of actions to deal with water quality and environmental issues at the lough following the widespread appearance of blue-green algae last year.

He said his Lough Neagh report and action plan contained 37 actions, 17 of which needed Executive support.

Lough Neagh is the biggest freshwater lake, by surface area, in the UK and Ireland, supplies 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water and sustains a major eel-fishing industry.

Noxious blooms covered large parts of the lough last summer and also affected other waterways and beaches in the region.

While the algae has been detected this summer, it is not on the scale of 2023.

Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertiliser running off fields is believed to be a major contributory factor.

The spread of the invasive zebra mussel species is also understood to have played a role, as they have made the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate, stimulating more algal photosynthesis.

Climate change is another factor cited, with the highest water temperature at Lough Neagh recorded last June.

Updating MLAs, Mr Muir said there were no quick fixes to the issues but added that it was vital to make a start.

Stating that he had brought the action plan to ministers weeks ago, he added: While it remains under consideration by the Executive, I will continue to work with my Executive colleagues to obtain their approval as soon as possible.

He said his department would progress the 20 recommendations which do not require Executive approval.

These include a review of a nutrients action programme and education and training programmes, including for slurry spreading contractors.

He also said officials had been commissioned to undertake an independent scientific review of the environmental impact of sand extraction from the lough and had launched a small business research initiative to explore solutions to treat and reduce blue green algae blooms.

The minister said there would be a range of measures to reduce phosphorus from agriculture.

Mr Muir said: Put simply, we have a problem with slurry and manures; there is too much of it and it is part of the cause of nutrient overload in Lough Neagh.

My vision is to view slurry and manures as a resource which are processed sustainably, generating for example electricity plus by-products for export.

He added: It is both unfair and wrong to castigate farmers as part of some entirely unproductive and divisive blame game.

Ultimately government has to take responsibility, acknowledge what was abdicated for decades now has clearly had consequences, we accept the problem and are determined to fix it together.

He said restricting the use of chemical fertilisers on grasslands would need Executive proposal.

Where you dont need chemical fertilisers containing fertilisers we will seek to save both the environment and the farmer financially by using science and evidence to reduce these issues.

Regarding ownership of the loughs bed, Mr Muir said his preference was for community ownership and he had sought a further meeting with current owner, the Earl of Shaftesbury.

He added: I will do all that I can as minister but urgently need Executive approval for key actions to deliver a cross-cutting, combined approach and interventions already agreed between my department and the infrastructure and justice ministers but awaiting Executive sign-off.

We have run out of time, each day that passes where the plan is not agreed by the Executive is another day lost to fix the problems beamed on TV screens across the world.

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone said it was rather unfortunate the minister was making the statement to the Assembly without final agreement from the Executive.

He added: Can you give us any indication at all why there isnt buy-in and support for the 17 actions which require cross-cutting and other departmental input?

Mr Muir responded: I circulated the Lough Neagh report and Action Plan (to the Executive).

I received some comments.

I updated the report to reflect those comments and I have heard nothing since.
NEWCASTLE West councillor Michael Collins says he is weighing up whether to seek the Fianna Fail nomination to run in the next general election.

Cllr Collins, who runs an auctioneering business in the heart of the county town, was returned to the local authority for the fifth straight time last month.

He smashed through the quota on the first count with 2,012 first preference votes as voters in the Newcastle West electoral area returned the same six councillors they went into the election with.

Given his vote haul, his attention is now turning to a general election which could be held as early as autumn.

Asked if he would like to be a running mate to local TD Niall Collins, he said: It has been asked, and I would hope that I would be considered.

I delivered in a general election the last time in tougher circumstances for Fianna Fail then they are now and I will have to give it some serious consideration, he added.

READ ALSO: Munster ace suited and 'booted' for his wedding in The Kingdom

Cllr Collins joined his namesake on the ticket with just a fortnight to go until Ireland went to the polls in 2020.

It came after former Fianna Fail councillor Eddie Ryan was added to the ticket, but then decided within a short time not to contest.He now sits as an Independent.

With time against him, Cllr Collins managed to secure 5,532 votes before being eliminated at the third count.

But he hopes given the fact Fianna Fail has become the largest party in local government, the circumstances could be more favourable this time in a constituency where the Soldiers of Destiny have traditionally dominated.

As for this council election, the former mayor has welcomed the fact centrist parties have come out strongly.

Its a significant move. Ive always been very blessed that I've been elected comfortably. I got a good feelings going around and when the votes were counted, the feeling I got on the ground proved to be true, he concluded.--
Jenny Schaben |

On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lincoln Universitys Cooperative Research (LUCR) will host its annual Quinoa Field Day at George Washington Carver Farm, located at 3804 Bald Hill Road. This event will allow attendees to explore the latest discoveries in quinoa, a protein-packed superfood. It is open to the public, welcoming farmers and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture or healthy living. Please click here to register for the event.



The Quinoa Field Day will commence at 10 a.m., offering attendees an immersive trolley ride through the quinoa fields. This interactive experience will provide a comprehensive understanding of the crop's lifecycle, from planting to cultivation and harvesting, highlighting its versatility and nutritional qualities. A complimentary lunch will be provided at noon for those who register, followed by a presentation at 1 p.m. LUs team of experts will share insight on how to maximize harvest by using the same plant for both their leafy greens and grains, as well as new research on this crop as forage for ruminants.



Lincoln University is one of the few institutions in the U.S. conducting research on quinoa, focusing on nutrient-rich greens. Quinoa greens  including green leaves, sprouts and microgreens  possess remarkable health-promoting properties, including antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antioxidant and cardio-beneficial features. Despite these qualities, this superfood is underutilized as a crop in the U.S. LUCR's research works to unlock the potential of this climate-smart crop, addressing malnutrition challenges and contributing to food and nutritional security.



For more information, please contact Dr. Safiullah Pathan at PathanS@LincolnU.edu or by phone 573-681-5963.
This Mint Explainer was first published on 2 July 2024. Mint is reposting this after Hindenburg Research on 10 August raised fresh allegations, this time against the chief of the Securities and Exchange Board of India .

The US-based short seller alleged that India's markets regulator was unwilling to act on its January 2023 report on the Adani Group because Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had investments in offshore funds that had links with the Adani Group.

The Sebi chief and her husband have denied the allegations, terming them baseless and an attempted character assassination.

US short-seller Hindenburg Research said it had received a notice from Indias stock market regulator outlining suspected violations of Indian regulations. The notice, dated 26 June 2024, was in response to Hindenburgs 25 January 2023 report in which the short-seller had charged Indian billionaire Gautam Adani with pulling the largest con in corporate history".

The Adani group had denied the allegations, but shareholders were rattled as the value of 10 listed Adani Group entities declined by $150 billion over the three months after Hindenburg published its report.

In some respite to the ports-to-cement conglomerate, Indias Supreme Court on 3 January this year ruled out a separate investigation into Hindenburgs allegations. It directed the Securities and Exchange Board of India to complete its investigation on the matter in three months.

In its June notice to Hindenburg, Sebi states that the research firm profited from taking a short position in Adani stocks. It noted that Hindenburg had signed an agreement with investor Kingdon Capital Management in May 2021, twenty months before it published its report accusing Adani of stock manipulation and accounting fraud.

Hindenburg responded to the notice on 1 July (US time), saying it had been aware that Sebi had been grappling with how to respond to a US-based research firm with no presence or operations in India.

Mint explains the key aspects of the latest development in the Adani-Hindenburg saga, which has now also dragged in Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.

What is Sebi's show-cause notice to Hindenburg all about?

The show-cause notice dated 26 June 2024 was sent to Hindenburg and Kingdon Capital Management, the only investor with which the US short-seller shared its damning report on the Adani Group before publishing it.

The notice details how Hindenburg violated some regulations, including inadequate disclosures on how it traded and profited. It estimates Hindenburg made $14.7 million from taking a short position in Adani stocks.

Sebis 46-page notice, as shared by Hindenburg, states that the short-sellers report made some inaccurate statements to mislead readers and create panic among investors.

How has Hindenburg responded?

Hindenburg said on 1 July that the notice was nonsense, concocted to serve a pre-ordained purpose: an attempt to silence and intimidate those who expose corruption and fraud perpetrated by the most powerful individuals in India".

Hindenburg concluded that Sebis action was akin to shooting the messenger as the market regulator seemed more interested in pursuing those who expose such practices".

Who was Hindenburgs silent partner or investor?

US hedge fund Kingdon Capital Management was the investor that partnered with Hindenburg. According to filings with the US market regulator, Kingdon Capital Management, established in 1983 by financier Mark Kingdon, had $640 million in assets under management at the end of March 2024.

How much did Kingdon Capital and Hindenburg profit following the Adani report?

According to Sebi, Kingdon Capital Management was the only investor with which Hindenburg shared the report before it was published. Kingdon Capital Management made a profit of $22.11 million by trading in futures of Adani Enterprises Ltd shares, per Sebi. Hindenburg's share totalled $5.53 million, or 25% of Kingdon Capital Managements profit.

From November 2022 to March 2023, Hindenburg had incurred a loss of $5,197 from trading bonds of Adani Electricity Mumbai, Adani Green Energy, and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone outside of India.

Also read | A year since Hindenburg firestorm, where do Adani stocks stand?

Hindenburg earned $9.2 million when it took short positions through exchange-traded funds and options on the MSCI India Index on 24 January 2023. Hindenburg's total earnings, according to Sebi, were $14.7 million.

Hindenburgs reply claims it made only $31,000.

What is the other important revelation in Hindenburgs reply?

Hindenburg in its response to Sebis notice also said Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd had created and oversaw the offshore fund structure that Kingdon Capital Management had used to profit from the trade.

Sebi in its notice states that offshore entity K-India Opportunities Fund had traded in futures of Adani Enterprises shares. Hindenburg said in its response that K-India Opportunities Fund stands for Kotak India Opportunities Fund.

How did Kotak India Opportunities Fund work?

Sebi said in the notice that the K-India Opportunities Fund Class F was registered on 4 March 2022, about 10 months before Hindenburg released its report in January 2023.

According toMint's review of the Mauritius companys registry, K-India Opportunities Fund Class F was part of K-India Opportunities Fund, a Mauritius-based entity incorporated on 20 March 2013.

Sebi said K-India Opportunities Fund Class F had no Participating Redeemable Shareholders". Simply put, it was a shell entity.

Also read | 'Kotak fund wasn't aware of Hindenburg's relationship with its investor'

On 20 November 2022, Hindenburg shared a draft report with Kingdon Capital Management. Hindenburg and Kingdon Capital Management signed an agreement about its work on 26 May 2021.

On 28 December 2022, a firm owned by Kingdon bought 100% of the shell company's shares and started taking short positions on futures of Adani Enterprises shares on 10 January 2023.

How has Hindenburgs latest salvo affected the Adani Group and the shares of its companies?

After it published its report in January 2023, the Adani Group cancelled a share sale by Adani Enterprises as the value of all 10 listed group companies crashed by about half over the next three months.

However, after Hindenburgs latest statement, the shares of Adani Group companies were hardly changed. Shares of Kotak Mahindra Bank, though, fell 2% in early trade on Tuesday, while the broader Nifty and Sensex indices were mostly unchanged

Also read | Adani puts Hindenburg behind with a $3-billion fundraising plan
Troubled budget airline SpiceJet has once again attracted the ire of the Delhi high court for failing to settle dues with its lessors. On Tuesday, the court issued a contempt notice to the airline's management after it disregarded a prior order mandating the return of two airframes and three engines to lessor TWC Aviation Capital Ltd. The airline's unpaid dues are reported to total $14 million.

The division bench of the high court has set a final deadline of July 8 for SpiceJet to return all leased assets, including the airframes, engines, and all technical records, to TWC Aviation. Failure to comply may result in the court directing the grounding of the engines.

"If there is no compliance with the direction, we will pass consequential directions for grounding the aircraft carrying the subject engines," remarked the division bench.

However, the court clarified that contempt proceedings could be dropped if SpiceJet complies with the directive by the specified deadline.

Legal battles During the court proceedings, SpiceJet said that it had returned the two airframes within the deadline of 17 June but requested a one-week extension to return the three engines, which are currently operational in other aircraft. The airline cited logistical challenges in securing suitable replacement engines.

By June 17, 2024, we were able to return the two aircraft frames and indicated to the respondent that we are prepared to return them. However, there has been some delay in securing replacement engines. We have taken steps to obtain them and have entered into various agreements and made substantial payments to numerous aircraft lessors, said senior lawyer Amit Sibal, representing SpiceJet.

TWC Aviation, however, refused to accept the airframes without the engines and accused SpiceJet of repeatedly seeking extensions while continuing to profit from the engines without compensating the lessor.

"I just can't fly planes without engines," remarked senior counsel Dayan Krishnan on behalf of the lessor, urging the court to ground the affected aircraft immediately.

Sibal emphasized the impact on passengers, saying, "This is a public airline with thousands of passengers flying daily. We are willing to provide a written undertaking that regardless of finding replacements, we will return the engines by July 8 even if it means grounding aircraft."

TWC Aviation also demanded that the engines be returned to airports in Delhi and Chennai, where the airframes are currently located. SpiceJet's senior counsel requested time to receive instructions from the management regarding the delivery location.

The court will hear the case next on 9 July.

SpiceJet's woes On 27 May, the division bench rejected SpiceJet's plea challenging a single bench order to return the assets, citing substantial dues owed to lessors and alleged misuse of assets, particularly the use of lessor's engines in other aircraft, which violates regulations.

The single bench had on 15 May ordered SpiceJet to return two leased Boeing aircraft and their engines to TWC Aviation by 28 May due to unpaid dues. The court emphasized the need to prevent further damage to the lessor's assets based on an inspection report provided by TWC Aviation.

TWC Aviation had leased two Boeing aircraft and three engines to SpiceJet in 2019 for a 12-month period, but the airline defaulted on its $180,000 monthly rent. Disputes arose during the pandemic, leading to legal actions in courts in India and England.

In March, the High Court of England and Wales issued an interim injunction against SpiceJet, barring the use of TWC's engines on other aircraft due to concerns about misuse and potential damage. Despite SpiceJet's challenge, the court ruled in favour of TWC, ordering the return of the leased assets.

SpiceJet has been embroiled in multiple legal battles over unpaid dues, facing contempt notices from both the Delhi high court and the National Company Law Tribunal. The airline has previously faced similar actions for non-payment of debts to creditors like Credit Suisse and for failing to honour the arbitral award owed to Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways.
Mumbai: Private investors are bringing in forensic auditors early to scan the books of portfolio companies after serial implosions at high-profile startups crushed valuations and wiped out investments. According to investors and auditors, the aim is to detect and fix issues before it becomes too late to put out the fire.

Earlier, private equity and venture capital funds hired forensic auditors only after financial mismanagement and corporate governance issues surfaced.

There has certainly been a bullish trend in the quantum of forensic investigations and reviews on portfolio businesses, as triggered by the investor community at large, including private equity funds and venture capitalists. The investor community has developed a mature outlook towards forensic activity and a positive acceptance on commissioning of such mandates over a period of time," said Geetu Singh, a partner at KPMG in India.

There is a conscious acknowledgement that forensic activity is fundamentally a fact-finding mechanism, and now seen as a "need to have" risk management instrument in the investment lifecycle," Singh said.

In the last two years, investors have ordered forensic audits at high-profile startups such as BharatPe, Byjus, GoMechanic, Trell and Zilingo after cases of fraud, financial mismanagement, or corporate governance missteps. However, now, investors are stepping in early.

Earlier, most forensics were being done as part of a new funding round where an incoming investor was seeking diligence report on the prospective investments. But now, the existing portfolio is being scrutinized by these investors," the head of forensic services at a global consulting firm said on condition of anonymity.

The person cited above said that recently, a global investor requested a forensic audit of a medtech company after a whistleblower complaint, which exposed how the management had inflated revenues. A media tech company was audited over suspicion of round-tripping of revenue. A beauty and personal care company and a healthcare company too saw anxious investors ordering such audits.

Identifying and managing red flags promptly is central to building organizational resilience, said Puneet Garkhel, partner and leader, forensic services, PwC India. Forensics intelligence and analytics are playing a key role in the rise of such pro-active audits, he said.

Reactive audits focus on getting to the genesis of the fraud and gauging the extent of damage after a crisis hits an organization. India Inc. has witnessed many such instances in the recent past with reactive forensic audits exposing systemic, technological and sometimes cultural gaps that have led to fraud," Garkhel said. Progressive companies rethink risks and learn from such reactive audits happening in the business eco-system to proactively assess if their internal checks and balances are fool-proof and fit for future to avert such crises for themselves, he said.

Overall, we see an equal increase in demand for forensic audits of both nature and we are investing in this area aggressively, both from a technology and talent standpoint," Garkhel added. PwC has identified forensics as a promising avenue and is increasing its headcount growing business and is investing behind it.

Also read: Silver lining for Indian startups as monthly funding shoots highest since June

Apart from investors, banking and market regulators in India have frequently ordered forensic audits to get to the bottom of suspect financial transactions.

Investors have turned sceptical after they lost billions of dollars invested in Byjus, BharatPe, Zilingo and others, an early-stage investor said on the condition of anonymity. Incoming investors are increasingly sceptical, and due diligence now spans more than 4-5 months. Only in good companies with better governance standards, there is some hope of a liquidity," the investor said on condition of anonymity.

According to Singh of KPMG, such audits also strengthen the relationships between investors and the portfolio businesses, since real-time transparency raises trust and confidence in each other.

In light of this, forensic advisory practices have certainly scaled up significantly to cope with the increased activity, not just by way of an increase in strength of forensic practitioners, but also introduction of a more diverse skill set, advanced forensic technology and AI leveraging data analytics, in order to cover multitude of complex dimensions in an investigation," Singh said.

Read this: The shortcut that allows risky startups to raise billions from rookie investors
(Bloomberg) -- The US Federal Trade Commission will sue to block Tempur Sealy International Inc.s $4 billion proposed deal with Mattress Firm Inc.

The agency on Tuesday announced that it had unanimously voted to bring a lawsuit to stop the merger, which it said would give the combined company the ability and incentive to suppress competition and raise prices for mattresses for millions of consumers.

Through emails, presentations, and other deal documents, Tempur Sealy has made it abundantly clear that its acquisition of Mattress Firm is intended to kneecap competitors and dominate the market, said Henry Liu, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Competition, in a statement posted on the agencys website.

The FTC will ask a Texas court to put the merger on hold while it conducts a trial in its in-house court. Tempur Sealy denied the agencys claims and said it has been open to making certain changes to address the FTCs concerns such as divesting stores.

We are confident in the procompetitive rationale for this transaction and look forward to presenting the many benefits of the combination, according to a statement issued by the company.

The deal would combine Tempur Sealy  the worlds largest mattress manufacturer with top brands including Tempur-Pedic, Sealy Posturepedic and Stearns & Foster  with the largest US specialty retailer. Mattress Firm, owned by South African retailer Steinhoff International Holdings NV, operates more than 2,300 stores across 49 states.

The lawsuit would mark a rare challenge by the antitrust agency of a so-called vertical merger  deals between companies that arent direct competitors but operate in the same supply chain.

Antitrust enforcers have become increasingly concerned about vertical deals, but have struggled to block them in court. The Justice Department failed in bids to block AT&T Inc.s acquisition of Time Warner Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Inc.s purchase of Change Healthcare Inc., while the FTC lost a trial last year over Microsoft Corp.s buy of Activision Blizzard Inc.

In December, however, a key US appeals court ruled in favor of the FTC in a challenge to Illumina Inc.s acquisition of cancer detection startup Grail Inc.

PoliticoPro earlier reported the FTCs intention to sue to block the mattress deal.

(Updates with statement from Tempur Sealy.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Rishi Shah, 38, an Indian-American ex-billionaire has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after being convicted of defrauding investors such as Goldman Sachs, Alphabet and the Pritzker Group venture fund of $1 billion, Bloomberg reported.

Shah is co-founder of advertising start-up Outcome Health, which provided ads on televisions and in doctors' offices, it added.

He and two other Outcome executives  including one more Indian American  were convicted on over 12 counts of fraud and money laundering charges by a federal jury last year, the report stated. The sentence was pronounced last week by Chicago US District Judge Thomas Durkin, it added, citing a July 1 statement by the United States Attorneys Office.

The three accused were identified as co-founder and former CEO Shah, co-founder and former President Shradha Agarwal (38), and former chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Outcome Brad Purdy (35), the report said.

They were accused of lying to pharmaceutical companies, taking money for ads never placed, and then misrepresenting the health of the company to investors.

Also Read | Hindenburg responds to SEBI on Adani show cause notice: 5 key points of defence

The Case Formerly known as Context Media Health, it was founded by Shah in 2006 when he was a student at Chicago's Northwestern University. He rapidly gained prominence in Democratic circles and even netted investment from Illinois Governor JB Pritzkers venture capital firm before the fraud was exposed in 2017 by the Wall Street Journal.

Describing Shah was the driving force behind a dizzying array of lies to clients, lenders, investors and an audit firm, prosecutors had asked for a 15-year sentence for him.

Prosecutors had further asked for 10-year sentences each for Agarwal and Purdy. But Judge Durkin sentenced them to three years in a half-way house and two years and three months in prison, respectively.

The company oversold ads compared to what it could actually broadcast and lied to MNC clients such as Novo Nordisk A/S about the size of its TV network in US doctors' offices, prosecutors ad securities regulators told the court, the report said.

The fraudulent ad sales worth hundreds of millions of dollars allowed Shah a lavish lifestyle, including weekend trips on private yachts and jets, and a $10 million home. He raised money based on bogus financial statements in 2016 and his net worth was reported at more than $4 billion, prosecutors said.

Outcomes former executives deceived their clients, their auditor, their lenders, and their investors for years. Their sentences should serve as yet another reminder that faking it until you make it is not an acceptable practice for any business, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, said in the statement.

Ashamed, Embarrassed, Says Shah In a prepared statement before the court last week, Shah told the Justice Durkin that he was ashamed and embarrassed by his failure to properly manage his company, adding that an aggressive push for growth led to a number of fatal mistakes that included not tracking the delivery of ads paid for by clients.

The culture I created permissioned people on my team to think it was okay to create false data in response to client questions, he reportedly said.

Investors including Alphabet, Goldman and Pritzker sued Outcome in 2017 claiming fraud tied to a $487.5 million fundraising that same year, which they said led to a $225 million dividend pocketed by Shah and Agarwal.

Also Read | Windfall tax on domestically produced crude oil hiked to 6,000/tonne

Further, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) sued Shah, Agarwal, Purdy and former chief growth officer Ashik Desai for alleged use of false financial statements to raise funds.

Desai and another two other Outcome employees pleaded guilty to charges before the criminal trial against the companys top executives.
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has found itself dragged into the midst of the Hindenburg Research-Adani Group storm with the US short-seller in its latest salvo accusing India's market regulator of trying to shield the private bank and other Indian entrepreneurs.

Hindenburg was responding to a show-cause notice from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for allegedly violating Indian regulations, including on how it traded and profited. In its response, the research firm said Sebi was not upfront in disclosing the involvement of a Kotak bank subsidiary's fund in shorting Adani stocks.

Reacting to the development, Kotak Mahindra (International) Ltd, a unit of Kotak Mahindra Bank, said Hindenburg Research had never been a client or investor in its K-India Opportunities Fund Ltd. But it acknowledged that the fund had facilitated the shorting of Adani shares for Kingdon Capital Management, an investor-partner of the US short-seller.

A Kotak Mahindra Bank executive, who spoke with Mint on the condition of anonymity, said the bank learnt about the association between Hindenburg Research and Kingdon Capital only after the short seller posted a copy of Sebi's 26 June notice to it on its website on Tuesday.

Hindenburg has just thrown us under the bus by revealing our name, the Kotak Mahindra Bank executive said. If a fund manager of a stock that is trading at 200 times price to equity, decides to sell, how are we supposed to know it is a manipulative trade.

KMIL is the largest fund manager for India and any large global investor will naturally look at us, he added.

In a statement, Kotak Mahindra (International) Ltd said the fund was never aware that Hindenburg was a partner of any of its investors. KMIL has also received a confirmation and declaration from the funds investor that its investments were made as a principal and not on behalf of any other person.

Kotak shares were down by about 2% in afternoon trading on NSE on Tuesday, while the broader Nify and Sensex indices were nearly unchanged.

The Adani-Hindenburg sage Hindenburg in response to Sebi's notice said on Tuesday that the markets regulator had failed to disclose Kotak Mahindra Bank's role in the matter, claiming that the Indian bank oversaw the offshore structure used by Kingdon Capital to short Adani stocks.

While Sebi seemingly tied itself in knots to claim jurisdiction over us (Hindenburg), its notice conspicuously failed to name the party that has an actual tie to India: Kotak (Mahindra) Bank, one of Indias largest banks and brokerage firms founded by Uday Kotak, which created and oversaw the offshore fund structure used by our investor partner to bet against Adani, the short seller said.

Instead, it simply named the K-India Opportunities Fund and masked the 'Kotak' name with the acronym KMIL.

Hindenburg also alleged that Sebis omission of Kotaks name may have been intended to protect the businessman from scrutiny.

Also Read: Adani puts Hindenburg behind with a $3-billion fundraising plan Hindenburg Research had in January 2023 published a report accusing Adani group companies of stock manipulation and accounting fraud, ahead of a proposed 20,000 crore share sale by Adani Enterprises Ltd.

This resulted in a $150 billion meltdown in the shares of Adani group's 10 publicly listed companies, even as the conglomerate termed the report malicious and baseless.

In January this year, in some respite to the Adani Group, India's Supreme Court ruled that the conglomerate would not face further investigations beyond Sebi's current scrutiny. The markets regulator has been probing the Adani Group for tax haven use and stock manipulation.

The Kotak fund in question K-India Opportunities Fund Ltd is a Sebi-registered foreign portfolio investor regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius. The fund was established in 2013 to enable foreign clients to invest in India.

Kotak Mahindra (International) Ltd, which acted as the investment manager to the fund, had opened a trading account under Kingdon Capital's name and started trading in Adani shares a few days before the release of the Hindenburg report, and then squared off its entire short position post the publication of the report.

KMIL clarified that the fund follows due KYC (know-your-customer) procedures while onboarding clients and all its investments are made in accordance with all applicable laws. We have cooperated with regulators in relation to our operations and continue to do so, it said.

Also Read: The Adani-Hindenburg episode has given investors lessons on market risk The latest twist in the Adani-Hindenburg saga couldn't have come at a worse time for Kotak Mahindra Bank that has been under the regulatory lens over the last few months.

"It looks like Kotak is walking on eggshells all the time," said the bank executive quoted earlier.

On 1 September, the bank's founder Uday Kotak stepped down as managing director and chief executive, four months before his term ended.

The Reserve Bank of India's April 2021 rules on corporate governance in private sector banks capped maximum tenure of promoters who are MD and CEO at not more than 12 years, with an option to extend it to 15 years with the discretion of the banking regulator.

Kotak is currently serving as the non-independent director on the bank's board.

Then in April this year, RBI stopped the bank from onboarding new customers through its online and mobile banking channels and barred it from issuing fresh credit cards immediately.
Bengaluru/Mumbai: Bengaluru-based Lal Sweets is in talks to raise about $40 million from private equity investors. The potential deal values the company at $150-175 million, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

The company, which sells sweets, cookies and savouries, has received a term sheet from the private equity arm of Motilal Oswal Group, one of the persons cited above said.

The fundraise is a mix of primary and secondary capital, with the promoters selling some stake," the person added.

The company has appointed investment bank Veda Corporate Advisors to help with the fundraise. This is the first time the company is looking to raise external capital since its inception in 2010.

Motilal Oswal PE is doing due diligence," the second person cited above said.

While Veda and Motilal Oswal did not respond to Mints requests for comment, Lal Sweets managing director, Prateek Athwani, declined to comment on the developments.

Founded by Athwani in 2010, the Bengaluru-based company has exposure across general trade, modern trade, online marketplace, exclusive airport outlets and the export market. Lal Sweets is known for its Mysore Pak, Besan Laddoo, Kaju Katli and Dharwad Peda sweets, as per the companys website.

According to the third person cited above, the capital will help the company expand into newer product categories like healthy snacking options, instant mixes, and frozen ready-to-eat options. While Lal Sweets is currently a profitable company, it is focused on improving its revenues in the near-term," the third person said.

Spreading wings

Lal Sweets is prominent in southernIndia apart from Delhi NCR in the north. Besides doubling down on its existing geographies, it is looking to deepen its focus in northern India and cater to international demand.

Lal Sweets ships its products to countries with a large Indian population, such as the US, Singapore, and West Asia.

In 2022-23, Lal Sweets total revenue grew nearly 40% to 85 crore from a year earlier, according to its latest filings sourced from Tofler. It posted an annual profit of 14 crore, swinging from a loss of 2 crore in FY22.

The broader snacking industry has been witnessing sustained momentum in recent times with several new-age startups snapping up funds from investors.

Recent examples include Fireside Ventures $1.5 million investment in Chennai-based snacking brand Sweet Karam Coffee in October, Farmleys $6.7 million fundraise from a group of investors led by BC Jindal Group in December, and direct-to-consumer snacking brand Adukales $1.3 million fundraise led by Force Ventures in April.

Mint also reported in May that private equity firms Blackstone, Temasek Holdings and Bain Capital were evaluating a controlling stake in sweets-and-savouries maker Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt. Ltd. The investors were looking to buy at least a 51% stake in the company at a valuation of $8-10 billion, people in the know said.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India's premier infrastructure company, has clinched contracts worth over $4 billion from Saudi Aramco to expand its gas projects. This substantial achievement reported meed.com, has resulted in a 2.5 per cent rise in L&T's shares during morning trading.

The $4 billion ( 35,000 crore) order from the state-owned petroleum and natural gas giant Saudi Aramco encompasses the development of gas compression systems. This is part of Saudi Aramco's ambitious $110 billion Jafurah gas project in the eastern province.

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L&T's stock price was trading in the green, up 2.61 per cent at 3619.70, on July 2, at 2:50 pm, on the BSE.

According to the Middle East business publication meed.com, these orders are a segment of Saudi Aramco's $25 billion worth of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts announced on June 30. These contracts target two of Saudi Aramco's gas expansion programs.

Although L&T has not yet released an official statement regarding this development, it is reported that L&T has secured two key packages from Saudi Aramco. Package 1, valued at $2.9 billion, involves the construction of a gas processing plant and main process units. Package 2, a $1 billion contract, pertains to gas compression units. Both packages will be executed by L&T's Energy Hydrocarbon division.

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The detailed EPC packages for the second expansion phase of the Jafurah project reveal additional winners, including Hyundai Engineering from South Korea, which received a $2.4 billion order, and Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas, which received contracts totalling $3.2 billion, according to the report.

Last September, L&T had previously bagged two EPC orders worth nearly $4 billion from Saudi Aramco, contributing to the ongoing expansion of the Jafurah gas project. The Jafurah basin is the largest liquid-rich shale gas field in the Middle East, with an estimated 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves spread over 17,000 square kilometres.

Also Read | Hindustan Aeronautics share price Today Live Updates : Hindustan Aeronautics Stock Drops in Trading Today

Additionally, the L&T Energy Hydrocarbon (LTEH) vertical of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured an order from the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for the eighth phase of Pipeline Replacement Project (PRPVIII Group B) off India's west coast, as an exchanged filing.

The order involved engineering, procurement, construction, installation & commissioning (EPCIC) of 129-km subsea pipelines and associated modification works across Indias west coast offshore fields of the ONGC, as per the filing.
When it comes to economic growth, America comfortably beats Europe. Many factors have fed Americas outperformance, from tech innovation to vast oil reserves. But there is one explanation that seems almost too simplistic: that Americans just work harder, as the head of Norways oil fund put it in an interview with the Financial Times on April 24th.

The numbers do in fact bear out this assertiona rare case of national stereotypes being empirically provable. On average Americans work 1,811 hours per year, according to data from the OECD, a club of mostly rich countries. That is 15% more than in the EU, where the average is 1,571 hours. And it is not just that Europeans spend a few extra weeks on the beach. The typical working day in Britain, France and Germany is half an hour shorter than in America, according to the International Labour Organisation.

Observing these differences, it is natural to ask which is the better way of livingwith more money or more free time? The reality is that it is difficult for people to choose. Those in America work according to American schedules; those in Europe conform to European norms. Analytically, the more fruitful question is why Americans put in longer hours. The answer leads to a curious new observation: that remote work is making Americas office drones a little more European, albeit with a puritanical twist.

A first guess suggests that culture might account for the variation in work hours. Maybe Europeans enjoy their leisure more. They are spoilt for choice about how to spend time off, with beautiful cities, culinary delights, rugged mountains and much else besides just a short train ride or discount flight away. America might simply have less to offer travellers, and what it does have is spread over a much bigger area, which goes some way to explain why Europe draws about 150m tourists from abroad a year, twice as many as America. As for Americans, surveys indicate that they view hard work as intrinsically worthwhile. Rugged individualism is, after all, what built the country.

But the difficulty with chalking up the difference to culture is that until the early 1970s many Europeans worked more. American working hours are basically the same now as back then. The big change is that Europeans now toil less. Hours are down a whopping 30% in Germany over the past half-century. Something beyond culturea slow-moving, ill-defined variableis at play.

Edward Prescott, an American economist, came to a provocative conclusion, arguing that the key was taxation. Until the early 1970s tax levels were similar in America and Europe, and so were hours worked. By the early 1990s Europes taxes had become more burdensome and, in Prescotts view, its employees less motivated. A substantial gap persists today: American tax revenue is 28% of GDP, compared with 40% or so in Europe.

But the effect of taxation on work is far from straightforward. Some workers may respond to lower taxes by putting in longer hours, knowing that they can take more money home. Others, by contrast, may decide that the additional post-tax earnings allow them to work less and still enjoy their desired lifestyles. A recent study by Josef Sigurdsson of Stockholm University examined how Icelandic workers responded to a one-year income-tax holiday in 1987, when the country overhauled its tax system. Although people with more flexibilityespecially younger ones in part-time jobsdid indeed put in more hours, the overall increase in work was modest relative to that implied by Prescotts model.

Regulation seems to matter more. European rules give workers power, from generous parental-leave policies to stricter laws on firing staff. Many European countries try to put caps on working time, such as Frances famous 35-hour work-week. These caps have been somewhat misguided, failing to boost employment as their proponents wished. They also have plenty of loopholes. Yet most research agrees that they have reduced work hours.

Another important relationship is that, as people get richer, they typically want to work less. A recent paper by the IMF shows a remarkably strong link between GDP per person and hours worked in Europe. People in richer countries, such as the Netherlands, generally work less than those in poorer countries, such as Bulgaria. That, however, only reframes the question. Americans are wealthier than most Europeans, so why do they still work more?

Perhaps leisure is a collective-action problem. Americans may want to ask their bosses for longer holidays but are worried about being seen as slackers. A paper in 2005 by Alberto Alesina of Harvard University and colleagues argued that Europes stronger unions had in effect solved this collective-action problem by fighting for paid vacations, which ended up enshrined in law. America, with weaker unions, is one of the few countries with no mandatory paid vacations. Europes well-regulated leisure time may then beget more leisure because it is more socially acceptable, and the market responds by supplying more good ways not to work. It is a virtuous cycle of lovely cafes.

Just another day out the office One fascinating new development is a discrepancy in the rise of remote work. In 2023 the Global Survey of Working Arrangements found that full-time employees in America work from home 1.4 days a week, while those in Europe do so for 0.8 days. Applying this home-office split to the working-hours data compiled by the OECD yields a striking result: Europeans and Americans now spend almost exactly the same amount of time in the office, with 1,320 hours a year for the former and 1,304 for the latter.

In other words, the extra 15% of work done by Americans annually is now from the comfort of their own homesor occasionally on the beach, perhaps even one in Europe. Americans do still work harder, but rather more enjoyably than in the past.

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Mumbai/New Delhi: Indias top renewable energy firms including Adani Green Energy, JSW Energy, and Greenko are locked in a race to secure the most suitable sites for setting up pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) plants across the country, in order to support the substantial sums being invested by them for setting up PSH capacity.

PSH plants work on the concept of water flowing between reservoirs at different altitudes. The plants also work like giant batteries, which help even out the inconsistencies of electricity supply inherent in solar or wind power.

However, locations with the right elements required for setting up PSH plants are scarce. These projects have specific requirements including the necessity to build upper and lower reservoirs in close proximity," said Jatin Arya, director and ratings head, CareEdge Ratings. Thus, a site having the requisite altitude benefits, along with availability of contiguous land, is needed for optimal functionality."

According to company disclosures, JSW Energy has already cornered about 6 GW of pumped storage sites so far, while Adani Green has secured about 5 GW, and Greenko is estimated to have captured about 7.6 GW of storage sites.

Sagar Adani, executive director of Adani Green Energy, said at a recent media interaction that the company's focus is to lock up locations for PSH plants, akin to what it did for solar plants. Its a resource game. If a location is gone, it is gone for the next 100 years," Adani said.

JSW Energy, Adani Green, Greenko, and Tata Power did not respond to queries at the time of publishing.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates that there is a potential of setting up about 103 gigawatts (GW) of on-river pumped storage. Off-river pumped storage potential is also available, with suitable sites under evaluation across the country. On-river PSHs or open-loop PSHs have one or both the reservoirs connected to the natural water body (river). In contrast, off-river PSHs, or closed-loop PSHs, are located away from the river and have minimum impact on nearby ecology.

Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have the highest concentration of such sites.

Who's investing in PSH?

Mint had reported earlier that Adani Green is investing 25,000-27,500 crore (about $3 billion) to set up PSH plants in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

A report in The Economic Times quoted Tata Power CEO Praveer Sinha as saying that the company was looking to set up 2.8 GW of of PSH capacity in Maharashtra by FY29 with an investment of 15,000 crore. Sinha said Tata Power has its own reservoirs, and wouldnt have to look outside for them.

Currently, nine pumped storage projects with a total installed capacity of about 4.7 GW are operational in the country. Five more projects with combined capacity of 4.1 GW are under construction.

Additionally, 39 projects with a total capacity of about 56 GW have been allotted by states to players like Adani Green, Tata Power, Greenko, JSW Energy and other state-owned power companies.

Analysts say these projects have relatively longer gestation periods and considerable capacity may go live only by 2028.

Why PSH is important

Significantly, according to the International Hydropower Association, PSH accounts for more than 94 per cent of installed global energy storage capacity worldwide, well ahead of lithium-ion and other battery types.

As per India's National Energy Plan, the country will require about 74 GW of energy storage capacity by 2032. Of this, 27 GW is expected to come from PSH plants and 47 GW from battery energy storage systems (BESS).

According to Arya of CareEdge Ratings, achieving a target of 27 GW by 2032 will necessitate an investment of 1.6 trillion and debt of 1.2 trillion on the storage component alone.

What exactly is pumped storage hydropower?

PSH is a form of hydroelectric energy that is generated when water flows through a turbine from a reservoir at higher altitude to another reservoir at a lower altitude. Unlike traditional hydroelectric plants that are built on rivers and use the natural flow of water, PSH plants reuse the same water multiple times as it moves back and forth between the two reservoirs.

And so, like a giant water battery, PSHs can store energy in the form of water that can be used later. But unlike batteries, PSH plants can store energy at a much larger scale.

This helps plug the demand gap when renewable energy supply dips, for instance, after sunset. When there is surplus power, it is used to pump water from the lower reservoir to the higher one. The system is more sustainable than conventional hydropower stations as the water is reused.

Key is in the site

Unlike a coal-fired power plant or a BESS plant, a PSH plant cannot be set up on any piece of land. A site where the elevation difference between the two reservoirs, called head, is sufficiently large, is preferable.

There are only a few sites that provide the right combination of existing favourable topography, adequate head and the right geological stability to optimize the construction and operating costs," said Hitesh Singh, head of strategy, Afcons Infrastructure, an engineering firm with the required expertise to build PSH plants. "Such sites will be very lucrative for companies looking to invest in pumped storage."

Also Read: The push to store renewable energy in massive salt caverns

The key considerations when selecting a site include the geological and topographical profile of the site, Singh explained. For instance, all things being equal, a site in Maharashtra, where basalt rock is more common, would be preferable for a hydropower plant than a site in Uttarakhand, where the geology consists of relatively younger rocks from the Himalayas.

Adani Greens Sagar Adani compares sites for pumped storage plants to a natural resource.

For example, like in oil and gas, the value of an oil and gas company is fundamentally based on the reserves of oil they have," he said. "Similarly, the value of any renewable company is only, only, and only, based on the locked-in reserves that they have in their control," he said.

Also Read: Adani Green unveils ambitious 45 GW renewable energy push in India by 2030

While Adani Green is working on BESS as well, the executive said that there is limited competitive advantage that the company can gain with batteries.

If you have 100 acres of land, anyone can put it in battery storage. But a large competitive advantage comes for us with regards to pumped hydro storage. Those are geographical locations which get locked-in. If you have access to a location, only you have access to that location," he said.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are recruiting influencers for marketing instead of the traditional routes as the former is affordable, helps to create brand awareness, is trackable and is attributable to sales. Some have raised their expenditure on influencer marketing by three to four times to reach out to their target customers.

"Influencer marketing is a very productive medium for MSMEs to build their brand as it is both affordable and targeted," said Anil Bharadwaj, secretary general of the industry association Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (Fisme). "A targeted approach helps influencers raise awareness for a product or service among a specific niche group of audiences that fall under the total addressable market," he told Mint.

MSMEs are typically businesses with an annual turnover of less than 250 crore, and many of them sprouted during the pandemic, around the same time that social media influencers gained popularity.

Also Read: Indias influencer marketing industry to swell to 34 billion by 2026

Ghar Soaps, a Pune-based skincare brand incepted in 2019, has been leveraging influencer marketing "aggressively" for the past two years. "Earlier, we spent 5,000-10,000 a month on influencer marketing. But when we realized that it helped us grow our revenue threefold, we started spending up to 50 lakh a month collaborating with around 40-50 creators," said Sunny Jain, co-founder of the soap brand, which now has a turnover of 50 crore.

Affordability, smaller budgets

Since the budgets are smaller than what a large company can afford, MSMEs look at influencers who are starting out.

Neha Sharma, a beauty influencer with 100,000 followers on Instagram handle @that_dusky_beauty and 210,000 subscribers on YouTube, did her first paid collaboration with Ghar Soaps when she had 50,000 followers in June 2023.

"MSMEs see a higher return on investment in influencer marketing due to its affordability. They are keen to pay us a good price, which is way higher than our regular job salaries, so it is a win-win for both," said Sharma, 60% of her collaborations every month are with MSMEs, while she is also getting offers from larger brands.

Also Read: The lives of India's baby influencers

Some are targeting a younger customer base aged 18-24 years who are more digital savvy, they are building teams to track influencers and get them on board for a contract period of six months.

"Digital marketing tools and social media platforms offer MSMEs low-cost opportunities to reach their target audiences through influencers. Micro-influencers, in particular, are helping small businesses push their brand narratives at a fraction of the cost of larger brands' ad and TV campaigns," said Neha Aggarwal, a partner at Deloitte, who tracks the MSME sector. Micro-influencers are creators with a follower count between 10,000 and 100,000.

Sam and Marshall, a Delhi-based eyewear brand, is collaborating with influencers to push their premium products among young audiences. "As a micro MSME, we want to use our money at places that can bring us higher returns," said Anushka Raj, the brand manager of the company. By spending 2.5 lakh a month on influencer marketing, the brand saw a 15% hike in its sales in the last financial year. Since their goal is to create an aspirational value for the brand overall, they recruit fashion and lifestyle influencers.

Also Read: Why influencers are tapping into parallel sources of income

Compared to traditional advertisements like outdoor or commercials on TV, which cost 1-10 crore monthly, budget constraints are pushing MSMEs to look at alternatives.

"MSMEs are more profit-oriented than bigger MNCs and do not have dedicated marketing teams. They want to spend on influencer marketing because it does not need upfront investments, and the impact can be easily linked to the sales," said Sahiba Dhandhania, founder of Confluencr, a Global Influencer Marketing Agency.

Startups

Some of the MSMEs are just-born startups that have low marketing budgets.

"Influencers helped us build better brand awareness, especially through videos highlighting our products' unique selling point (USP), which influencers say they have integrated into their daily lives," said Dhruv Verma, co-founder of Rize, a health and wellness-lifestyle brand launched in February 2024.

Rize has worked with Ranaya Singh Banga, a luxury, fashion and lifestyle influencer with 29,500 followers on her Instagram handle @ranaya_singh. Sam and Marshall has collaborated with Dr Shruti Yadav, a dentist cum fashion, beauty and lifestyle influencer with 16,900 followers on her Instagram handle @aestheticsbyshruti.

"Traditional forms of marketing are quite expensive for a new-age brand like us and are only good for brand-building purposes, not sales," Verma added.

Verma noted that the startup has seen 10% higher sales due to influencer marketing compared to outdoor advertisements. The more traditional forms included putting up posters on autorickshaws, etc. The company has clocked a turnover of 20 lakh in the past six months and plans to expand the monthly expenditure on influencer marketing to 5 lakh from 1 lakh.
Bansal Wire Industries IPO opens for subscription on tomorrow (Wednesday, July 3). In three main categorieshigh carbon steel wire, mild steel wire (low carbon steel wire), and stainless steel wirethe company and its subsidiary, Bansal Steel & Power Ltd, provide over 3000 SKUs (stock keeping units). Thecompany offers about 2000 SKUs, while their subsidiary offers 1500 SKUs. Additionally, around 500 SKUs are shared between their company and its subsidiary.

Since its founding, the firm has marketed and sold its goods under the "BANSAL" brand, which enjoys a solid reputation as a reliable brand in the marketplace. In addition to helping to sustain sales momentum, the company's numerous efforts to promote its brands and goods have produced an outstanding customer retention ratio of more than 64% as of Fiscal 2024, Fiscal 2023, and Fiscal 2022.

The firm uses five production sites to produce its products. To meet the required production standards, these methods combine mechanised and human talents. With 14 international representatives, the firm exports its goods to a number of nations, including Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Vietnam. In fiscal 2024, the company's export turnover was 283.94 crore, with over 70% of its total exports going to the US and European markets.

Between FY 2022 and FY 2024, the company's total income climbed at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.86% to 2,470.89 crore. Their PAT climbed at a CAGR of 17.28% from 57.29 crore in fiscal 2022 to 78.8 crore in fiscal 2024, while the company's EBITDA expanded at a CAGR of 14.87% from 113.15 crore in fiscal 2022 to 149.31 crore in fiscal 2024.

Here are the 10 key things to know about Bansal Wire Industries IPO:

Bansal Wire Industries IPO date: The issue opens for subscription on Wednesday, July 3, and closes on Friday, July 5.

Bansal Wire Industries IPO price band: Bansal Wire IPO price band has been fixed in the range of 243 to 256 per equity share of face value of 5.

Bansal Wire Industries IPO lot size: The issue's lot size is 58 equity shares and in multiples of 58 equity shares thereafter.

Anchor investors: The allocation to anchor investors for Bansal Wire IPO is scheduled to take place today (Tuesday, July 2).

Bansal Wire IPO details: The initial public offering of Bansal Wire Industries, worth 745 crore, is completely a fresh issue of 29,101,562 equity share; there is no offer for sale (OFS) component, according to Red Herring Prospectus (RHP).

Bansal Wire Industries IPO Objective: The main aims of the company are described in its memorandum of association, together with auxiliary and incidental purposes that help to achieve them. The aforementioned objectives enable the corporation to: (i) execute its ongoing business activities; and (ii) execute the projects that are recommended to be funded using the net revenues.

Bansal Wire IPO listing date and allotment details: The Bansal Wire Industries initial public offering (IPO) basis for share allocation is expected to be finalized on Monday, July 8. The business will start processing refunds on Tuesday, July 9, and the shares will be credited to the allottees' demat accounts on the same day. Bansal Wire Industries shares are likely to be listed on BSE and NSE on Tuesday, Wednesday, July 10.

Lead Manager and Registrar of Bansal Wire Industries IPO: The book running lead managers of the Bansal Wire IPO are SBI Capital Markets Limited and Dam Capital Advisors Ltd (formerly Idfc Securities Ltd), with Kfin Technologies Limited serving as the issue's registrar.

Bansal Wire Industries IPO reservation: 15% of the shares in the public offering of Bansal Wire Industries have been allocated for non-institutional institutional investors (NII), 50% of the shares are reserved for qualified institutional buyers (QIB), and a minimum of 35% of the offer is designated for retail investors.

Bansal Wire Industries IPO GMP today: Bansal Wire IPO GMP today is +65. This indicates Bansal Wire Industries share price were trading at a premium of 65 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com.

Bansal Wire Industries expected listing price was 321 per share, 25.39% more than the IPO price of 256, taking into account the top end of the IPO pricing band and the existing premium on the grey market.

Investor willingness to pay over the issue price is indicated by the grey market premium.
Winny Immigration IPO: The initial public offering (IPO) of the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) Winny Immigration and Education Services Ltd was subscribed over 27 times by the end of the second day of bidding, according to stock exchange data. The SME IPO of the visa service provider will remain open for investors till June 24, 2024.

Winny Immigration IPO offers a total of 652,000 shares. The Ahmedabad-based company had reserved a total of 309,000 equity shares or 47.39 per cent to retail investors and the same for non-institutional investors (NIIs) in the issue. 34,000 equity shares or 5.21 per cent are also set aside for market makers.

Winny Immigration IPO Subscription Status: On Friday, Winny Immigration IPO was subscribed 27.85 times. Retail investors bid the highest as the portion reserved for them was subscribed 35.73 times and the portion reserved for NIIs was booked 18.58 times. The SME IPO received 1,72,14,000 share applications against offered 6,18,000 shares on Friday.

Winny Immigration and Education Services Ltd opened for subscription on Thursday, June 20 and was subscribed 10.12 times on the first day of issue. The SME IPO received 6,18,000 share applications against offered 62,54,000 shares on Thursday. NIIs bid the highest as the portion reserved for them was booked 11.38 times.

The NII portion was subscribed 11.38 times and received 25,22,000 shares on Thursday. The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 8.16 times and received 25,22,000 equity shares, according to Chittorgarh.com.

Winny Immigration IPO Details: Winny Immigration IPO is a fixed price issue of 9.13 crore. The issue is entirely a fresh issue of 6.52 lakh shares. The IPO lot size is 1,000 shares and the minimum investment amount required by retail investors is 140,000.

The SME IPO closes on June 24, 2024. The IPO allotment is expected to be finalized on June 25, and the equity shares of Winny Immigration IPO will be listed on NSE SME with a tentative listing date set as June 27.

Jignesh Patel is the promoter of Winny Immigration and Education Services. The promoter shareholding will reduce to 58.51 per cent after the IPO from 83.63 per cent at present. Interactive Financial Services Ltd is the book running lead manager of the Winny Immigration and Education Services IPO, while Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd is the IPO registrar.

The company aims to raise over 9 crore from the primary market. The company will credit the shares into the demat accounts of eligible bidders on June 26 and initiate refunds to the unsuccessful bidders on the same day. The company proposes to use the net issue proceeds for opening new offices in India, software development, repayment of debt, branding and advertisement and general corporate purposes.

Winny Immigration Company Details: Winny Immigration is involved in the visa consultancy business and provides assistance to individuals for study, travel, business, work and migration purposes. The company assists individuals for study, travel, work, business, and migration purposes. The company has 12 offices in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi, including branches, franchisees, and a virtual office in Canada.

Winny Immigration and Education Services reported a net profit of 39.27 lakh upon a revenue of 11.02 crore in fiscal 2023-24 (FY24). It had reported a net profit of 1.44 crore and a revenue of 11.97 crore in FY23.
Now that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have ended with Modi-led NDA forming the government for the third straight term, the focus has shifted to the upcoming Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25. Recommending a market strategy, Nishit Master, Portfolio Manager at Axis Securities, in an interview, advised long-term investors to not make any preparatory changes to their portfolios based on their expectations from the Budget. Master also highlighted that Axis Securities' 2024-end target for Nifty50 is 25,000, which means, they expect low single-digit returns from the market.

Edited Excerpts:

How should one trade on budget day? After the implementation of GST, the Budget has become less critical in determining indirect taxes, as these are now set by the GST council rather than within the Budget. Now, the Budget mainly highlights the government's priority areas for spending, the fiscal health of the Union government, and the potential impact of the government's borrowing program. On Budget day, one can take long-term positions in sectors that the government prioritises for spending and where significant growth is expected in terms of allocation. Based on market participants' expectations, short-term trades related to the Budget will likely occur before the Budget. Traders may unwind their trades on the day of the Budget (sell on the news).

Also Read | Expert view: IPO market may see a stronger pull after the Budget

Which sectors should investors focus on around the Budget? We anticipate that the current government will maintain its emphasis on infrastructure development, which should be advantageous for capital goods and construction companies. Additionally, we expect defence spending to remain elevated, with a continued emphasis on "Make in India" for the procurement of defence equipment, benefiting Indian defence companies. We believe that the government will persist in its efforts towards fiscal consolidation, potentially leading to lower yields going forward. This may have a marginal positive impact on non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and banks.

Do you expect any major announcement from the Budget? We do not anticipate any groundbreaking announcements in this Budget. It will continue the previous priorities and policies, which is what investors expect.

How should investors position their portfolios to prepare for the upcoming Budget? We don't think long-term investors should make any preparatory changes to their portfolios based on their expectations from the Budget. Once the government clearly spells out its priorities, long-term investors can incrementally invest in sectors that can benefit from them.

Do you expect the market to consolidate from now till the end of 2024? Or are there more peaks to be hit? Our year-end Nifty50 target is 25,000, which means we expect low single-digit returns for the rest of the year.

What investment strategy should long-term investors follow amid these lofty valuations? Though valuations are high compared to historical averages, a part of premium valuations can be explained by higher RoEs, better growth prospects, and a more extensive scale of operations of Indian companies vs. history. For long-term investors, it still makes a lot of sense to invest in Indian equity markets, which can give superior returns compared to other asset classes despite higher valuation. Investors should focus on high-quality companies with a proven ability to generate consistent free cash flow rather than getting caught up in low-quality companies or sectors that are currently attractive but lack a demonstrated history of value creation for minority investors.

Why have the mid and small-cap stocks been soaring despite not having enough fundamental strength? Should one buy them or stay cautious? One crucial variable we closely track is Return on Equity (RoE). When we compare the RoEs of the small-cap index and mid-cap index with the Nifty50 index, we can see that they have now almost reached parity, which was not the case earlier. This means that small and mid-size companies, at an index level, are almost as efficient in utilising capital as large-cap companies. This is one of the reasons for the outperformance of mid and smallcaps. Another reason is the expectation of higher earnings growth for small and mid-cap companies in general compared to large-cap companies. On the flip side, there are enough small and mid-cap companies that lack adequate financial strength or have a fairly weak business model but are trading at lofty valuations because of some story that has caught up investor frenzy.

Therefore, rather than looking at small and midcaps as one group, it's better to evaluate each and every company on its own merit and decide whether to invest based on its fundamental strengths and valuations.

Do you see FPI inflows similar to 2023 or will outflows continue further? It is tough to predict FPI inflows because they depend on many factors, some of which are not linked to the strength of the Indian economy or its valuation. However, in the long term, we believe that FPIs cannot continue to ignore India. This is because India is still the fastest-growing major economy globally and offers tremendous opportunities to create wealth for FPIs.
Shares of Godawari Power & Ispat have demonstrated a robust upward trajectory over the past 13 months, significantly enhancing investor wealth within a remarkably brief period. From a trading price of 359.60 apiece, the company's shares have surged by an impressive 200%, to trade at the current level of 1,090 per share.

During this period, the stock finished 10 months with gains. This consistent upward trajectory has translated into a remarkable 1918% increase over the past 5 years alone, with an impressive long-term gain of 4640% over the past 8 years.

During the last nine calendar years, the stock has closed in the red only three times, achieving multibagger returns in four of those years. Notably, it delivered exceptional annual returns of 484% in CY17 and impressive performances of 105%, 134%, and 103% in CY20, CY21, and CY23, respectively.

Also Read: 5 analysts' projections on profitable sectors and risky ventures for H2 2024

Expanding its capacity The company is a prominent player in India's steel sector. As a subsidiary of Hira Group, it has evolved into a fully integrated steel manufacturer with a diverse portfolio encompassing iron ore mining, pellet production, sponge iron, steel billets, ferroalloys, and power generation.

GPIL's strategic approach and robust infrastructure have solidified its position as a formidable player in the industry. It is ramping up its mining output at the Ari Dongri mines, which are slated to become the primary raw material source for its pelletization and HRC plants in the future. According to YES Securities, a domestic brokerage firm, these mining activities will bolster GPIL's quest to emerge as one of the country's most efficient steel producers.

Currently, GPIL is expanding its pellet plants' capacity from 2.70 million tonnes per year (mtpa) to 4.70 mtpa. The company has opted for high-grade pellets over iron ore lumps and blended coal in its sponge iron manufacturing process.

According to the brokerage, these premium-quality pellets command a price premium of approximately 1,000 to 1,500 per tonne over standard-grade pellets. The new pellet plant's capacity, set to be commissioned in early FY26, is expected to add about 1.0 million tonnes of incremental volumes from FY24 onwards, significantly impacting the company's financial outlook.

Expanding its mining and pelletisation capabilities, the brokerage highlighted that the company is strategically positioned towards integrated steel production. Its next milestone is the development of a 2.0 mtpa integrated HRC (hot-rolled coils) plant, scheduled for completion between September 2027 and March 2028.

By establishing this plant, GPIL aims to maximise its backward integration capabilities and consolidate its position as one of the nation's most cost-efficient steel producers.

Also Read: Private investment in roads seen to pick up as Centre slows capex increase plan

Strong balance sheet Over the last decade, the company has undergone massive debt restructuring. Post Covid, the company focused on making progressive debt repayments to focus on developing a healthy balance sheet. The companys debt levels peaked in FY2017, thereby denting the capex plans for the company. However, by the end of FY2022, GPIL had become net-debt-free on a consolidated basis.

Looking ahead, the brokerage anticipates that GPIL's debt-free balance sheet will facilitate investment in new capital projects using internal funds. Reduced interest expenses are expected to bolster cash flows, supporting future capital expenditure initiatives.

Currently, GPIL is embarking on a significant venturea 60,000 million greenfield integrated HRC plant with a capacity of 2.0 mtpa. The company plans to finance a substantial portion of this investment through internal cash accruals and existing net-worth capital.

Encouraged by these growth prospects, the brokerage has initiated coverage on GPIL with a target price of 1,390 per share, representing a record high and signalling a potential upside of 27.52% from the previous closing price of 1,090 per share.
Rider University, a small college outside of Trenton, New Jersey, is trying to raise additional funds to help an ongoing liquidity crunch.

College officials asked bondholders for permission to borrow against the mortgage on the schools main campus in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, according to a bond filing dated Friday. If approved, the move would free up much-needed cash for Rider in the short-term.

In the spirit of good partnership with our current bondholders, we have been in discussion with them regarding this, and we understand that a majority of them are willing to consent to the amendment, said Kristine Brown, a spokesperson for the school.

The proposal shows the mounting challenges for small schools to make ends meet as they contend with declining enrollments and rising costs. Those pressures have driven colleges across the US to close or merge, while pushing others into new lines of business like online education, adult learning and monetizing real estate.

Real estate is typically the largest asset a school owns. Riders primary campus, for instance, was appraised at more than $230 million, according to Moodys Ratings. The school is proposing an amendment to a current loan and mortgage agreement that would allow it to borrow an additional $15 million of debt on parity with liens on the mortgage.

That amount would rise to $20 million if the school is able to sell its Princeton campus, which once housed its renowned choir program. Efforts to offload that real estate have been mired in litigation, though the school is working toward a settlement, Brown said.

Selling campuses can be tricky as a schools closure can devalue real estate, and it can take time to find a buyer. After Cazenovia College shut its doors in upstate New York in mid-2023, its campus was leased to the state, which used the facilities to train police cadets while it searched for a buyer. The campus was still up for sale as of early July.

Additionally, the amendment would allow Rider to borrow $25 million of debt subordinate to the mortgage liens. Utilizing the new borrowing capacity could drastically increase the schools debt. Rider currently has about $109 million of municipal bonds outstanding, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Moodys rates its existing bonds Caa1, seven steps below investment grade. The ratings firm cited ongoing operating deficits, which are expected to continue through at least 2025, and severely limited liquidity in their rationale, according to a January report.

Riders plan to return to budget surpluses lays out some steps the school is taking to rightsize its finances. This ranges from efforts to improve student recruitment, retention and career readiness to new parking fees. In an April call with bondholders, school leadership said the plan is on track, and that applications and admissions improved year over year.

With assistance from Amanda Albright.
Stock market today: On Wednesday's trading session, the domestic benchmark indices, Nifty 50 and Sensex, reached fresh record highs of 23,664 and 77,851.63, respectively, but the Nifty 50 failed to maintain its gains, closing in the red as profit-booking set in at higher levels.

Broader markets also lagged benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap 50 down 0.95% and the Nifty Smallcap Index down 0.46%.

However, according to market analysts, the significant positive takeaway was that short covering and value buying propelled Bank Nifty, which completely outperformed the benchmark Nifty 50 and, more crucially, scaled a new all-time high of 5,1957.

According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, the domestic market has begun on a positive note, owing to an earlier and more accurate monsoon projection. However, due to the current slow pace of the monsoon, the market is taking a break. Meanwhile, the banking sector is outperforming, despite being a laggard year-to-date, thanks to a rebound in FII inflows as the US 10-year yield continues to fall.

Trade setup for Thursday According to Prashanth Tapse, Research Analyst, Senior Vice President of Research at Mehta Equities, Despite Wednesday's profit-booking, the trading theme revolves around markets increasing bets into the narrative that a soft landing in the US is underway.

Nifty 50's immediate goal post seen at its psychological 23,750 mark and then aggressive targets placed at 24,000 mark. The line in the sand is at Nifty 50's make-or-break support at 23,350 mark. Nifty 50's 200 DMA is placed at 21,287 mark, explained Tapse.

Buy or sell stock ideas by experts Stock market gurus Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, and Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi, advised five buy-or-sell stocks for today.

Sumeet Bagadia's stocks to buy today Buy State Bank of India (SBI) in cash at  852.60; Stop Loss at  828; Target Price at  905 State Bank of India is currently positioned at a crucial juncture in its trading dynamics. With a robust support base at 828 levels, near its 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), the stock stands resilient. Trading at approximately 852.60 levels, SBIN exhibits strength by maintaining levels above key moving averages.

The charts unveil a minor resistance barrier at 860 levels, a threshold the stock needs to surpass to pave the way for an upward trajectory. A successful breach of this resistance can potentially propel SBI towards its target price of 905 and beyond. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at a comfortable 57.18 further bolsters the case for strength in the stock.

Investors and traders alike should closely monitor SBI's performance around the noted levels, as a breakout from the resistance can signify a bullish phase, offering potential opportunities for those eyeing upward movements in the stock.

Based on the above technical analysis we recommend buying SBI at CMP of 852.60 with a Stop Loss of 828 for the target price of 905.

Buy Infosys in cash at  1,511.35; Stop Loss at  1,475; Target Price at  1,590 Infosys, currently trading at 1,511.35, has recently broken out above 1,505 and formed a bullish candle on the daily chart. The immediate support is near the 1,475 level which is also close to its short term (20 Day) and medium term (50 Day0 EMA levels, and the current price is exhibiting strong bullish momentum, expected to continue towards the 1,590 level.

Moreover, Infosys is trading above key Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), including the 20-day and 50-day EMAs, indicating robust bullish momentum and suggesting potential for further upward price movement. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is presently at 60.22, showing an upward trajectory and indicating increasing buying momentum. These technical indicators collectively suggest that Infosys may have the potential to reach a target price of 1,590 in the near term.

To manage risk effectively, it is advisable to set a stop-loss at 1,475 to safeguard the investment in the event of an unexpected market turn. A prudent strategy would be to consider buying on dips at levels of 1,505.

Overall, considering the technical analysis and current market conditions, Infosys presents a promising buying opportunity for those aiming for a 1,590 price target, provided that prudent risk management measures are in place.

Ganesh Dongre's shares to buy today Buy Kotak Mahindra Bank at  1,744; Stoploss at  1,720; Target Price at 1,790 At 1,720, the stock found a substantial support level, marking a crucial juncture in its recent trading. Presently, at 1,744, the stock has demonstrated a definitive reversal in price action, suggesting a potential continuation of its upward momentum. Traders keen on seizing this opportunity could consider buying and holding the stock, setting a prudent stop loss at 1,720. The anticipated target for this trade is 1,790, representing the next significant resistance level. This strategy positions traders favourably to capitalise on the stock's anticipated rally in the weeks ahead.

Buy Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd at  1,450; Stoploss at  1,420, and Target Price at  1,490 In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests that there could be a temporary retracement in the stock's price, possibly to around 1,490. Currently, the stock is holding a crucial support level at 1,420.

Given this scenario, there is potential for the stock to rebound towards the 1,490 level in the near future. Traders are advised to consider taking a long position, with a strategic stop loss set at 1,420 to manage risk effectively. The target price for this trade is 1,490, reflecting the anticipated upward movement based on the identified technical signals.

Buy Carborundum Universal Ltd at  1,825; Stoploss at  1,800; Target Price at  1,855 The stock has consistently found strong support around 1,800, which is encouraging for its current trajectory. Recently, it has shown a promising reversal pattern near the 1,825 mark, suggesting potential for further upward movement. There's a possibility that the stock could continue its rally towards the next resistance level at 1,855. Traders might consider buying and holding this stock, using a prudent stop loss at 1,800 to mitigate risks. The target price for this trade is 1,855, with expectations set for developments over the upcoming weeks.
Stock Market News: Information technology (IT) stocks led the way as the domestic benchmark indices, the Sensex and the Nifty 50, opened Tuesday's trading session at all-time highs. These stocks continued to advance on fresh expectations that the US Federal Reserve will decrease interest rates in September. However, indices were driven down from their record high levels to the flat arena within a short period of time in the trade by banking, financial services, and auto stocks.

The 30-share BSE Sensex opened higher by 364.18 points or 0.46% at 79,840.37 level while the Nifty 50 started off at 24,228.75 level, up 86.80 points or 0.36%.

Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist of Geojit Financial Services, claims that after generating 20% gains in 2023, the Nifty 50 has generated 10.4% returns in the first half of 2024. These are rather remarkable results. The absence of a notable correction has been a key characteristic of this bull market, which started with the COVID fall in March 2020 (Nifty 50 at 7511). The Nifty 50 only had a fall of more than 5% on June 4th in reaction to the election results. However, there was a notable rebound the very following day. The effective "buy on dips" approach that domestic investors, both institutional and retail, have been employing is responsible for this market's one-way movement.

Market Review and Outlook - Ruchit Jain Nifty 50 started the day around 24,000 mark and witnessed a gradual up move to end the first session of the week above 24,100 with gains of about half a percent, said Ruchit Jain, Lead Research Analyst at 5paisa.

Nifty 50 continued its move in the direction of the primary trend, and although no major move was seen on the index the stock specific momentum was robust with outperformance seen from the IT sector. The RSI readings are hinting at a continuation of the momentum while the buying interest of FIIs is leading the markets higher. Although the FIIs positions in the index futures are long-heavy, there are no signs of unwinding yet and hence until there are any signs of reversal on charts or in data, traders should continue to trade with a positive bias. The immediate support for Nifty 50 is placed around 23,900 followed by 23,700 while the index has potential to rally towards 24,600 in the near term as per the retracement levels.

Stocks in focus today - Ruchit Jain On stocks in focus on Tuesday, Ruchit Jain recommends buying two stocks - SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd, and ACC Ltd.

SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd Ruchit stated that the stock has seen a corrective phase in last few months, but has managed to recover from the lows and have recently given a breakout above a falling trendline resistance. Post the breakout, the prices consolidated in a range above its 20 DEMA support and the RSI oscillator hints at a positive momentum.

Thus, we expect the stock to resume its uptrend and move gradually higher. Hence, short- term traders can look to buy this stock in the range of 1,505-1,490 for potential targets around 1,570 and 1,600. The stop loss on long positions should be placed below 1,440.

ACC Ltd Jain explained that the cement stocks are showing a positive momentum since last few days and this stock has managed to give a breakout from a long consolidation phase. The volumes are rising while the RSI is hinting at a positive momentum.

Positional traders can buy the stock in the range of 2,750-2,740 for potential targets of 2,900 and 3,000. The stop loss on long positions should be placed below 2,610.
The growth story of the Indian stock market is expected to continue in the long-term. However, with current valuations offering a limited scope for further expansion, an increase in corporate earnings will be the primary driver of the market returns moving forward, analysts said.

Hence, according to Axis Securities, bottom-up stock picking with a focus on growth at a reasonable price and Quality would be keys to generating satisfactory returns in the next one year.

In its base case, Axis Securities maintained its Nifty 50 target of 24,600 for March 2025. It foresees Nifty earnings to post growth of 16% CAGR over FY23-26. Financials are expected to remain the biggest contributors for FY25/26 earnings.

Also Read | Stocks in focus: Ruchit Jain of 5paisa recommends buying these two stocks today

While the medium to long-term outlook for the overall market remains positive, we may see volatility in the short run with the market responding in either direction. Keeping this in view, the current setup is a Buy on Dips market. Hence, any market correction on account of global challenges will be an opportunity to add to the equity investment, Axis Securities said.

It recommends investors to remain invested in the market and maintain good liquidity (10%) to use any dips in a phased manner and build a position in high-quality companies (where the earnings visibility is quite high) with an investment horizon of 12-18 months.

Also Read | From Birlasoft to REC, Chandan Taparia suggests three stocks to buy today

In its bull case, Axis Securities values Nifty at 22x, which translates into a March 2025 target of 27,000. While its bear case target for Nifty is 19,700.

In its top picks, Axis Securities has recommended 10 largecap stocks to buy, 3 midcap stocks and 3 smallcap stocks. Below are Axis Securities top stock picks:

Largecap stocks recommendations ICICI Bank | Target Price: 1,325

Coal India | Target Price: 550

Nestle India | Target Price: 2,880

State Bank of India | Target Price: 1,010

Varun Beverages | Target Price: 1,830

Bharti Airtel | Target Price: 1,650

TVS Motor Company | Target Price: 2,700

Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company | Target Price: 1,575

HCL Technologies | Target Price: 1,650

Also Read | HDFC Bank shares may jump 10-15% on potential MSCI index weight increase

Midcap stocks recommendations Aurobindo Pharma | Target Price: 1,330

Lupin | Target Price: 1,785

Federal Bank | Target Price: 205

Smallcap stocks recommendations CIE Automotive India | Target Price: 630

Westlife Foodworld | Target Price: 980

J Kumar Infraprojects | Target Price: 920
Asset management companies (AMCs) in Gift City, Ahmedabad, are set for a major boost following a crucial regulatory change by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). By eliminating the restrictive 50% cap on investments from Indians abroad in India-focused funds, Sebi has removed a significant hurdle that has long impeded the growth potential of these funds.

For years, AMCs faced a stringent requirement: for every dollar accepted from non-resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas citizens of India (OCIs), an equivalent dollar had to be sourced from foreign investors.

This rule, embedded in Sebi's foreign portfolio investor (FPI) regulations, was designed to maintain a balanced investment pool but often proved a stumbling block. Consequently, if foreign investors reduced their contribution, AMCs were compelled to offload NRI investments to preserve the mandated 50:50 ratio.

Read This | Why Gift City is seeking tax parity with domestic mutual funds

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or Gift City, treated as a foreign jurisdiction under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), required its funds to operate with an FPI licence, thus subjecting them to these regulations. This placed Gift City funds on par with other offshore entities from Singapore, Mauritius, and the Cayman Islands, all struggling under the same restrictive regime.

However, in a notification on 26 June, Sebi revised its stance. The regulator announced a relaxation of the 50% foreign investment requirement for entities regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and based in Gift City. NRI/OCI investments can now go up to 100%.

While the cap on individual NRI contributions remains at 25%, the overall easing of restrictions is a game-changer.

Foreign institutions look at fund size in addition to fundamental criteria like fund philosophy, investment process, performance etc," said Krishna Prassad, chief executive, Unifi Investment Management, an AMC. The new regulatory change will enable commingling of funds from NRI/OCIs and foreign family offices, endowments, etc. in a flexible and unconstrained manner."

More Here | Why startups arent chuffed about listing on Gift City exchanges

This helps the AMCs to go to market faster as we do not have to now wait for that first investor", which had to be a foreign investor, which is not always that easy to get. This is certainly another step towards ease of doing business," said Jay Kothari, Global Head  International Business, DSP Asset Managers.

Competitive edge for Gift City funds

The removal of the cap not only simplifies the operational landscape for AMCs but also provides a competitive edge to Gift City-domiciled funds over their counterparts in other jurisdictions.

This change only affects Gift City funds. So NRI participation in Gift City funds may increase," said Harshad Bhuta, a chartered accountant specializing in NRI clients.

From the perspective of overseas Indian investors, the benefits are equally compelling. This is equally beneficial for NRIs as they can now participate in USD (US dollar)-denominated strategies even on day one which was a constraint to an extent. This also increases the options for NRIs, which is always welcome. NRIs have started preferring to invest in USD-denominated funds as it reduces the paperwork from their perspective," explained Kothari.

In conclusion, Sebi's regulatory relaxation is poised to unlock significant growth for Gift City funds, aligning them more closely with the needs of overseas Indian investors while removing operational hurdles for AMCs. This move promises to enhance the appeal and competitiveness of India-focused funds on the global stage, fostering a more dynamic and inclusive investment environment.
Bajaj Allianz Life introduced the Bajaj Allianz Life Nifty Alpha 50 Index Fund, which will be accessible to customers who currently own or plan to purchase unit-linked insurance products (ULIPs). For those unfamiliar, this is a market-linked index fund designed to replicate the performance of the Nifty Alpha 50 index. This index comprises 50 large-cap stocks known for high alpha (potential for excess returns) and low volatility.

Investors can leverage this new fund to tap into the growth potential of high-alpha stocks, diversify their portfolios, and gain from an index-based investment strategy, all while securing a life cover. This fund operates on a passive management strategy where the fund manager aims to mirror the Nifty Alpha 50 index by investing in its constituent 50 stocks in proportion to their respective weights within the index. The net asset value (NAV) of the fund throughout the New Fund Offer (NFO) period (July 01-15, 2024) stands at 10.

Commenting on the launch, Sampath Reddy, Chief Investment Officer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, said, Indias economic growth story continues to be robust, presenting numerous opportunities for investors. As investors seek to capitalize on this growth journey, they realize the importance of diversifying their portfolios across different market cap segments. The Bajaj Allianz Life Nifty Alpha 50 Index Fund is designed to capture high alpha returns by investing in top-performing stocks across market segments. A historical study of the past four years suggests that the Nifty Alpha 50 Index has been mid-cap and small-cap oriented, as most of the alpha has come from companies in these segments. Over the medium to long term, the Nifty Alpha 50 Index has generated significantly better returns compared to the broader market.

The Nifty Alpha 50 index focuses on companies that exhibit high alpha scores. It identifies the top 50 large-cap stocks with the highest Jensen Alpha over the previous year, targeting those poised for potential excess returns. For those unfamiliar, the Jensen Alpha () quantifies a stock's performance relative to what the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) anticipates based on its beta (volatility). A positive alpha signifies the stock has surpassed expectations, whereas a negative alpha indicates it has fallen short. Therefore, the Nifty Alpha 50 utilises Jensen Alpha as a methodology to identify high-performing stocks and construct an index that monitors their combined performance.

The Nifty Alpha 50 index has consistently outperformed broader market indices over the medium to long term. It exclusively targets the top 50 companies based on their alpha values. The Bajaj Allianz Life Nifty Alpha 50 Index Fund provides significant advantages by investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks spanning various sectors.

Also Read | Invesco Mutual Fund launches two new target maturity index funds
As the 31 July tax filing deadline approaches, individuals and small businesses are rushing to navigate the income tax website to select the correct income tax return (ITR) form.

Despite some guidance provided by the website, errors in filing can occur. Submitting the wrong form may result in the IT department rejecting it as invalid. In such cases, a revised return with the correct details can be submitted by 31 December to avoid income tax notices or penalties.

Missing the 31 July deadline can, however, result in significant consequences.

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Failure to submit the ITR form on or before the deadline can incur a late payment penalty of 5,000, said Prakash Hegde, a chartered accountant (CA). The penalty could be 1,000 if total income is less than 5 lakh.

If there is a pending tax liability, an interest of 1% per month will be applied for late filing, in addition to 1% per month for late payment until it is settled. Additionally, losses, other than those from house property, will not be allowed to be carried forward.

Moreover, taxpayers will not be allowed to opt for the old tax regime. If the ITR is not filed by 31 December, the filer may face a much higher tax liability when filing an updated ITR.

Choosing the correct ITR form is crucial in tax filing. Heres a guide, using fictional characters for illustrative purposes, on which ITR form to file. Note that this should not be treated as a substitute for professional advice from a chartered accountant.

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A software engineer who earns  7 lakh per annum

For an engineer who started working last year: as it's her first job and she may have spent a portion of her income on gadgets and gizmos, with some contribution to mutual funds, without selling any units yet, which ITR form should she use?

She should ideally file an ITR-1 considering that shes an Indian resident and her annual income is less than 50 lakh. Simply put, ITR-1 can only be filed if the taxpayers income is less than 50 lakh and if she does not have more than one house property.

She may have income from other sources such as interest and dividends, (but not income chargeable at special rates like online gaming, lottery, and racehorses or losses)," said Hegde. Non-residents cannot file ITR-1.

However, there are certain exceptions to this. Even if the taxpayers income is less than 50 lakh, she cannot file ITR-1 if she makes any profit with virtual digital assets such as cryptocurrencies, as it will be reported as capital gains," said Nitesh Buddhadev, a CA and founder of Nimit Consultancy. She also cannot file ITR 1 if she has unlisted shares or has assets or income overseas."

A salaried teacher who booked capital gains from MFs

For a teacher with an annual income of 10 lakh, who sold some of her mutual fund holdings to refurbish her house, and realised a capital gain of 3 lakh from these investments: which ITR form should she file?

Considering she has no business income or side gigs, she should file ITR-2. ITR-1 does not allow reporting of capital gains, hence, she is not eligible for it. However, trading in F&O is considered business income and falls under ITR-3.

Even if long-term capital gains from equity mutual funds are below the taxable threshold of 1 lakh, they must still be reported in ITR-2. Therefore, in this case, if the salaried teacher's capital gains are below 1 lakh, and she has no other income, she must still file ITR-2.

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A loss-making F&O trader

The Income Tax Act categorizes F&O income under business activities and, hence, a person dabbling in this segment needs to file the more complicated ITR-3 or ITR-4 forms, catering to business and professional income.

ITR-4 is specifically for those earning income from business or profession, opting for the presumptive income scheme.

In FY22, the markets regulator reported that nine out of 10 traders incurred losses in options trading. Does this mean that your friend who is also making losses in F&O trading does not need to report them in their ITR? The answer is 'No'.

A homemaker who earns rental income

If a homemaker's total rental income in FY24 exceeded 2.5 lakh, which is the income tax filing exemption limit, she must file ITR-1. This applies to rental income from only one property. If she earns rent from two or more properties, she must file ITR-2.

Note that under the new tax regime, the tax filing exemption limit is 3 lakh.

Income tax filing for professionals

Consider the case of a lawyer or other professionals, such as chartered accountants, doctors, or architects, who earn from clients and need to file ITR. Since they do not earn a fixed salary, they are not eligible to file ITR-1 or ITR-2.

If their annual income is less than 50 lakh, they can choose between filing ITR-3 and ITR-4, as their income falls under the category of 'income from business or profession'. Opting for presumptive taxation requires filing ITR-4. Similarly, firms with a total income of less than 50 lakh can also use ITR-4 for filing their returns.

NRIs owning a property in India

Many NRIs own house properties in India, intending to return to their motherland. What happens to the rental income when they are not around? Are they required to file returns on their rental income?

The answer is Yes if the annual rental income exceeds 3 lakh under the new tax regime, and more than 2.5 lakh under the old regime.

NRIs can file ITR-2 and report this income under 'income from house property'. In some instances, the IT department has issued notices to NRIs for failing to declare interest earned in Non-Resident (External), or NRE accounts, even when it is tax-exempt.

In such cases, the authorities might not have had sufficient data to recognize it as exempt income, therefore, it is advisable to file an ITR, Hegde said.

Freelance content creator

If you're employed during the day, and create content as a freelancer at night, you must file ITR-3 because your freelance income qualifies as business income.

Experts classify income from content creation as income from business or profession. If you opt for presumptive taxation, you should file ITR-4.

Conclusion

Filing your ITR on time is crucial, but choosing the correct form is equally important. For taxpayers earning over 50 lakh, declaring assets and liabilities in the Assets and Liability (AL) Schedule, and reporting foreign assets are also critical.

Even minor omissions in reporting foreign stock holdings can trigger scrutiny under the Black Money Act. Seeking professional assistance can ensure compliance and prevent penalties. Don't procrastinate; file your returns promptly to safeguard your financial well-being.

Also read | We need tax reforms to support Indias expenditure path
(Bloomberg) -- Port congestion in some of Asias busiest trade hubs may persist into August, as ships diverting away from the regions most clogged maritime gateways cause bottlenecks at others.

Singapore, the worlds busiest transshipment center, for weeks has dealt with longer-than-usual lines of vessels waiting for berth space. Among the reasons: ships sailing the long way around Africa to and from Europe  avoiding Houthi attacks in the Red Sea  are stopping at fewer Asian ports and processing more cargo through Singapore.

The pileup in Singapore has eased somewhat but only because vessels are omitting calls at the port, according to Tan Hua Joo, a container market analyst at Linerlytica. Some were diverted to Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia and this has shifted part of the congestion there, he said in an email.

Overall, the congestion issues have eased slightly since mid-June but the problem will take a least one more month to be resolved, he said.

Asias ports remain the biggest hot spots for traffic backups, according to Linerlytica. Of the idled container capacity globally thats waiting to dock, 23% is in Southeast Asia, 20% is in the Middle East and 11% is in the Indian subcontinent.

In addition to Singapore, Malaysias Port Klang is struggling to keep up, as is the Chinese port of Shanghai.

According to figures released Tuesday by Hapag-Lloyd AG, the worlds fifth-largest container carrier, the wait for berth space in Port Klang has increased to as long as five days, more than double the wait posted June 12. Shanghai is showing waits of as long as three days, down from four days.

Ships trying to visit Colombo, Sri Lanka, or Dubai are looking at delays of as much as three days, according to Linerlytica.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Brevan Howard Asset Management cut fees for its biggest fund to make up for technology, infrastructure and talent expenses that pushed pass-through costs too high.

The firm is scrapping the 1% management fee for its Alpha Strategies fund until the new year, according to people familiar with the matter. Brevan earlier this year let go of about 100 employees in a second round of cuts that were part of a broader restructuring to manage expenses.

Many multistrategy funds have faced fierce competition for talent, forcing them to pay up for new hires and contributing to rising fees that have weakened investor demand. A recent BNP Paribas SA report found that the most expensive multistrategy funds are now keeping most of the profits they generate, while clients shoulder their costs.

In January, the Alpha Strategies management fee at Brevan will rise to 0.5% for one quarter, before reverting back to 1% in April. The firm believes its expenses will have dropped before then, one of the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. The fund also charges a 20% performance fee and passes through various expenses to clients.

At $12.2 billion, Alpha Strategies  which lost 3.6% this year through May  is the firms biggest pool. Close behind is its $11.9 billion flagship fund, Brevan Master.

A representative for the firm, which manages about $35 billion, declined to comment.

Brevan told investors about the fee adjustment earlier this year, during the firms restructuring, and they came into effect July 1.

--With assistance from Shelley Robinson.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and founder of SpaceX, has criticized US Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of spreading lies about former President Donald Trump's stance on abortion.

In a direct attack on Harris via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk posted a screenshot of Harris's comment and said, When will politicians, or at least the intern who runs their account, learn that lying on this platform doesnt work anymore (SIC)?

Republican Party presumptive nominee Donald Trump is running against Democratic Party presumptive nominee Joe Biden in the upcoming November 5 US Presidential elections.

Harris had claimed in her post, "Donald Trump would ban abortion nationwide," a statement that drew scrutiny and was flagged by both social media users and a fact-checking feature called Community Note on X, which allows users to add context to potentially misleading posts collaboratively.

Introduced after Musk assumed control in 2022, the Community Note highlighted that "President Trump has repeatedly stated he would not sign a national abortion ban" and provided supporting references.

Meanwhile, the post further reads, President Joe Biden and I will do everything in our power to stop him and restore women's reproductive freedom.

The Tesla chief charged at Kamala Harris and commented that Donald Trump "clearly said he would not do so" in the US Presidential debate with Biden last week.

Following the 2022 decision by the US Supreme Court, abortion regulation was delegated to the individual states, overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that previously safeguarded abortion rights across the nation.
After a stampede at a religious gathering left 107 people dead and several others injured in Pulrai village of Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, the man for whose 'satsang' they were gathered for is now under lens.

Bhole Baba, the self-proclaimed godman, had organised the 'satsang' under Hathras SDM's permission to organise a 'private event'.

But who is Bhole Baba? Bhole Baba alias Narayan Sakaar Hari or Sakaar Vishwa Hari, is a godman with followers across several states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, among others.

He is said to have several political connections and has been seen with several leaders on various occasions.

Baba hails from Etah district in Uttar Pradesh. After completing his education, he claims to have joined the Intelligence Bureau (IB). However, there are no proofs of that as such.

Also Read | UP official explains primary reason behind Hathras stampede

It is said that he resigned from his government job in late 1990s and turned towards spirituality. He then started giving religious discourses.

Baba does not have a social media account, nor does he wear the usual saffron robes or any such attires, but reports claim he has "millions" of followers.

Baba had also gained limelight for his large congregations during the Covid-19 pandemic. India TV, in a report, cited sources as saying that he has several criminal cases registered against him.

LiveMint, however, could not verify the claims.

Financial assistance for the dead After the news of the stampede surfaced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow and announced 2 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of the dead and 50,000 for the injured.

It is being said that most of those dead are women.
Hyatt Regency Hotel's roof collapse: A portion of a shed near a swimming pool at Hyatt Regency Hotel in southwest Delhi partially collapsed on Monday night, injuring a couple from Punjab, Delhi Police said. This incident comes just days after the roof of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport collapsed, killing one person and injuring multiple others.

Delhi Police said the incident took place on Monday night when a temporary shed near a swimming pool at the Hyatt Regency Hotel collapsed. Two people suffered minor injuries due to the incident after they were trapped in the debris.

"A PCR call was received at around 8.56 pm (on Monday) in PS (police station) RK Puram about caving/falling of roof and injury to husband and wife, who were staying at Hyatt Regency," Delhi police said in a statement.

Delhi police further said Amit Jain (42) and his wife Reva Jain (32) were standing near the swimming pool  located on the ground floor of the hotel  when a portion of a shed collapsed and fell on them, leaving them with minor head injuries.

"When a police team reached the spot, it found that the injured had already been shifted to Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj," Delhi Police added.

"The scene was forensically examined, exhibits were lifted and videographed as per procedure. The couple has not filed a complaint yet. Further necessary actions will be taken as per the law," they said.

The couplewho hails from Ludhiana in Punjab and runs a business in Chandigarhwas discharged from the hospital after receiving first aid.
A woman who was allegedly assaulted in Cooch Behar district on Tuesday met West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to voice out her grievances. After the meeting, she expressed confidence that she would get justice.

The victim alleged that Trinamool Congress (TMC) members had beaten her up and stripped her as she was associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to ANI, the victim said: TMC people beat me up. I was stripped and thrashed. I don't trust Mamata Banerjee and the Police. I am associated with the BJP.

I am confident, she said when asked how confident she is of getting justice after meeting the West Bengal governor.

The incident happened on June 25 in Cooch Behar districts Mathabhanga. The BJP's woman leader was allegedly stripped and tortured by a group of people.

Meanwhile, protesting against an assault on a couple in North Dinajpur district and the alleged assault on the BJP woman leader in Cooch Behar, four BJP women legislators staged a demonstration outside the West Bengal assembly for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

The BJP MLAs are demanding punishment for those involved in the incidents.

We are protesting outside the assembly to let people know about the atrocities carried out on women in West Bengal. Women are not at all safe in the state, BJPs Asansol MLA Agnimitra Paul said.

Governor Ananda Bose met victims of the alleged flogging incident in Cooch Behar, PTI reported, citing sources.

Also Read | 2 TMC MLAs fail to take oath as West Bengal Governor leaves for Delhi

At the moment, the Governor is interacting with the victims at the Cooch Behar circuit house and gathering details from them, an official told PTI.

On Monday, Bose sought a report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the couple's alleged flogging in North Dinajpur district.
A Lufthansa aircraft on Monday night experienced fire in one of the wheels during landing at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), according to a report by news agency PTI.

The wide-body A380 aircraft, which operated flight LH 762 from Munich, landed safely at the Delhi airport.

Also Read | Man dies mid-air on Lufthansa as officials opt to fly despite declining health

The report, citing sources, said the fire was noticed in one of the wheels of the Lufthansa aircraft during landing.

The reason behind the fire is not known yet.

Around 490 passengers were on board the Lufthansa flight, which made a controlled landing at the airport.

While LH762 landed safely in Delhi, a short term technical deregistration of the aircraft was required due to the lack of availability of spare parts after a controlled landing. Safety is our top priority at Lufthansa, a spokesperson of the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.

Also Read | Flight turbulence throws passenger into overhead luggage compartment

Since the plane had to undergo checks and spare parts were not immediately available, the return flight LH 763 to Munich was cancelled, the report said.

Lufthansa said the aircraft DAIMC is scheduled to operate flight LH 763 from the national capital to Munich on July 3.

The return flight was cancelled after the boarding passes were issued to the passengers.

Also Read | IndiGo bomb threat: Viral video shows woman walking on wing

Last month, an Air Canada plane with 389 passengers and 13 crew members on board had caught fire just minutes after taking off.

The flight was en route to Paris from Toronto on June 5.

The incident was caught on camera.

Videos showed fire shooting from one of the engines of the Boeing 777 jet as it was still climbing altitude.

Later, the aircraft returned safely to Toronto airport with no injuries or casualties reported.
A Mumbai college has implemented a new dress code for students, prohibiting wearing ripped or torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing attire, and jerseys.

The decision by the Acharya Marathe College in Chembur comes days after the Bombay High Court dismissed a student plea challenging the institute's ban on wearing Hijab.

According to The Indian Express, students wearing jeans and T-shirts were denied entry to the college campuses on Monday.

Recently, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition filed by college students challenging the institution's dress code implemented last year.

The previous dress code issued by the Mumbai college stipulated that burqas, niqabs, hijabs, or any religious identifiers such as badges, caps, or stoles will not be permitted inside the college.

The college's principal, Dr. Vidyagauri Lele, told The Indian Express that students were informed of the dress code at the time of admissions, and she cannot fathom why they should raise concerns about it now.

Out of 365 days of the year, students hardly have to be in college for 120-130 days. What problem should they have to adhere to a dress code for these days? she asked.

Acharya Marathe College's new dress code According to a report published by The Indian Express, a college notice titled dress code and other rules, dated June 27, and signed by the college principal, Dr. Vidyagauri Lele, stated:

-Torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses and jerseys are not allowed.

-Students should wear (a) formal and decent dress while on campus.

-They can wear a half-shirt or full-shirt and trousers.

-Girls can wear any Indian or Western outfit.

-Students shall not wear any dress which shows religion or cultural disparity.

-Naqab, hijab, burkha, stole, cap, badge, etc. shall be removed by going to common rooms on the ground floor and then only they can move throughout the college campus.

Also Read | Karnataka elections result 2023: BJP MLA who imposed Hijab ban defeated by Cong

The principal revealed to The Indian Express that the reason for the renewed dress code for the students in the Mumbai college is an effort by the college administration to prepare them to be ready for the corporate world.
Tripuras Transport Department has issued a ban on registration of all types of three-wheeler passenger and goods vehicles in the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area of West Tripura District from July 10 to reduce traffic congestion.

The move aims to reduce traffic congestion and promote alternative transportation systems in the civic body areas, Agartala Municipal Corporation officials said.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 115 of the MV Act 1988 and for the interest of promoting sustainable urban mobility, the Transport Department, Government of Tripura hereby imposes ban on registration of all types of three-wheeler passenger and goods vehicles on and from 10th July 2024 in Agartala Municipal Corporation area of West Tripura District," Deputy Secretary of the government of Tripura in a notification said.

Also Read | PM Modi in Lok Sabha Live Updates: PM to speak in Lok Sabha shortly

The notification clarified that all the three-wheeler passenger and goods vehicles include e-rickshaws, e-carts, e-autos, petrol autos, diesel autos, CNG autos and vehicles driven on bio-fuel (methanol and ethanol).

This notification aims to manage traffic congestion & ensure public safety and convenience, to promote alternative transportation methods by banning the registration of said passengers & goods vehicles in greater public interest. Therefore, any such vehicle as specified above shall not be registered on or after 10th July, 2024 in the territorial limits of Agartala Municipal Corporation area, West Tripura District.

The Transport Commissioner and DTO, West are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance of the same. The Transport Department, Government of Tripura shall review the effect of this restriction on the urban mobility from time to time and shall have right to review and amend this notification as per need, the notification reads.
Several prominent Democrat leaders have suggested that US President Joe Biden is brain-damaged, claimed former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Biden is done. Bet on it. Too many prominent Democrats have suggested he's brain-damaged," he said.

"They can't walk that back. They have to remove him, and they will. The only question is when. If they're smart, they'll do it immediately. If Kamala's going to be the nominee, she might as well be the president first, Carlson said as quoted by ANI.

Also Read | Why Joe Biden wont go

That leaves the question of Trump, and his sentencing on July 11. Biden's collapse makes this a much more perilous moment than it was. At this point, Trump is not just the Republican candidate, but effectively the presumptive president, the television host said as quoted by ANI.

Tucker added, If you're going to put him in jail, it had better be for a very serious crime that everyone agrees he committed. Otherwise, you risk destroying the system completely and forever. We're in legitimate danger. Democrats need to pull back.

His remarks came after a heated debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, aired live on CNN. The significant age gap between the 81-year-old current US President and his 78-year-old opponent was evident throughout the evening. Biden's hoarse voice and limited vocal range highlighted his struggle to differentiate himself from Trump at times clearly.

Key prominent US Democratic leaders have strongly supported Biden, dismissing calls for him to drop his 2024 bid for a second term in the White House despite his faltering and disorganized debate performance last week against former President Donald Trump.

Also Read | Democrats reject calls to replace Joe Biden post disastrous debate with Trump

Biden's Democratic allies openly recognized the 81-year-old president's challenges during the nationally televised 90-minute debate. During the debate, he sometimes struggled to finish sentences and mistakenly claimed he had eliminated Medicare, the government's health insurance program for seniors.

Biden-Obama relations Carlson noted that relations between the Bidens and Obamas have never been warm. However, he said, the ties between the two families have further deteriorated "mostly due to Jill Biden."

From an unusually good source: Obama's tweet supporting Joe Biden was disingenuous. In private, Obama is telling people Biden can't win, and he is therefore in favor of an open convention. Obama will not say whom he supports, nor as of yesterday afternoon had he met personally with Biden to deliver the message. Relations between the Obamas and the Bidens have never been warm. At times they've been hostile, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

"But recently they've deteriorated further, mostly due to Jill Biden. In the hours and days after the debate, she kept her husband cloistered away from anyone who might convince him to drop out. Jill Biden is the driving force behind her husband's reelection campaign, just as she was in 2020, when other members of the family (including Biden's sister Val) considered him too impaired to run," he added.
As the Ambanis gear up for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's grand wedding on 12 July, the family on Tuesday hosted organised 'Samuh Vivah' or a mass wedding for over 50 underprivileged couples in Mumbai.

The mass wedding, a display of Ambani family's moto Manav seva hi Madhav seva (Service to humanity is service to God), was hosted for underprivileged couples from the Palghar area at the Reliance Corporate Park. Nearly 800 people, including family members of the couples, local social workers, and community representatives attended the event.

To add a personal touch to the event, the Ambani family was present at the occasion and personally extended their best wishes to each couple.

Mukesh and Nita Ambani at Samuh Vivah

Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani were accompanied by their son Akash Ambani and his wife Shloka Mehta, and their daughter Isha Ambani with her husband Anand Piramal.

Also Read | Ambani threat case: Mumbai crime branch files chargesheet against 2 students

On the occasion, the Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani said she feels extremely happy seeing the newlywed couples.

"I give my blessing to all these couples. The 'Shubh-lagna' ceremonies of Anant and Radhika begin today with today's mass wedding event," she added.

Nita Ambani extends best wishes to the bride

As a gesture of goodwill and to facilitate the start of their new journey together, the Ambani's bestowed each couple with significant gifts.

The brides were gifted gold ornaments, such as Mangalsutras, wedding rings, and nose rings, as well as silver ornaments like toe rings and anklets. Additionally, each bride received a cheque for Rs. 1.01 lakh as her 'streedhan,' representing her personal wealth.

Also Read | Nita Ambani stops at chaat shop during Kashi Viswanath Temple visit | Watch

The couples were also gifted essential grocery and household items sufficient for a year, along with appliances and bedding essentials.
(Adds details in paragraphs 2 and 3 and background in paragraphs 11 and 12)

July 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy said on Tuesday five companies including British oil giant BP and Swiss commodity trader Vitol have been awarded contracts for the sale of 1 million barrels of gasoline from the U.S.-managed stockpile in northeastern states.

The sale will help in lowering prices ahead of the U.S. Independence Day holiday, as per the DoE.

Five companies responded to invitation for bids announced in May and all of them were awarded the contracts. The remaining winning bidders were George E. Warren LLC, Freepoint Commodities and Irving Oil.

CONTEXT

The energy department had created the supply reserve for the Northeast in 2014 after Superstorm Sandy created a supply shortage for gasoline. But closing of the reserve was mandated by the bipartisan legislation signed by President Joe Biden, as storing refined fuel is costlier than storing crude oil.

East Coast gasoline prices were up about 3 cents compared to last week at $3.39 per gallon after the week ended July 1, according to the Energy Information Administration data.

BY THE NUMBERS

The American Automobile Association expects a record 60.6 million people to travel by car during the Independence Day week

this year, a 4.8% rise compared to 2023.

The energy department said the barrels were sold at an average price of $2.34 per gallon to five companies, with BP getting 500,000 barrels, Vitol buying 200,000 barrels and Freepoint Commodities, Irving Oil and George E. Warren purchasing about 100,000 barrels each.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

Gasoline prices are likely to be under a microscope this year as the United States prepares for presidential elections in November, with both the Democrats and the Republicans trying to use the issue to their advantage. Democrats have claimed the reserve sale will ensure sufficient supplies, while Republicans say it is a political move.
Argentina is preparing corn shipments to China that will be the first in 15 years, the latest move by the two countries to expand agricultural trade.

Cargoes that Cofco International Ltd. has been putting together could be the first since China re-opened its doors to Argentine corn following drawn-out diplomatic talks, said Gustavo Idigoras, head of Ciara-Cec, a national crop-export group whose members include the major agricultural trading houses.

Argentina completed steps a few weeks ago to get approval from Beijing to open the Chinese market for its corn, after striking an agreement on sanitary requirements last year. Argentinas corn harvest is in full swing, with 55% of the crop collected through June 26.

Corn shipments to China would show that the two countries are likely to maintain a robust trade relationship under the leadership of Javier Milei, who once vowed to curb ties with Beijing if he became Argentinas president. He took office in December. Chinese trade and investment drive swaths of Argentinas economy, ranging from commodities and energy to banking.

In January, Chinese customs authorities also authorized traders in Argentina to export wheat for the first time.

China is the worlds biggest importer of corn for livestock herds. Traditionally, the Asian giant has sourced the grain from the US, but has increasingly turned to Brazil after giving the green light for supplies from the country in 2022.

Chinas farmers are continuing to grapple with extreme weather from flooding to drought, threatening crops including corn and placing pressure on the nations leaders who are promoting food security. Dry conditions in the north have damaged the wheat harvest, and delayed planting of corn and soybeans.

Syngenta AG has chartered the MSXT Echo tanker to send 66,000 metric tons of soybeans to China, one of several routine Argentine soy shipments to Asia. A ports lineup published by the Nabsa shipping agency earlier incorrectly listed the cargo as corn.
President Joe Biden this week plans to meet with Democratic governors and lawmakers, travel to two battleground states and sit for his first televised interview since his disastrous debate performance in an attempt to reassure anxious supporters.

The peril Biden faces as he presses on with his reelection bid only heightened on Tuesday, when Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting US House Democrat to call on him to exit the race and new polls showed the presidents support fading. That underscored the need for Biden to do more to close his partys ranks.

Bidens meeting Wednesday with governors is expected to be held virtually, with many joining via video call, according to people familiar with the matter. ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos will interview Biden on Friday.

Biden plans to travel on Friday to Wisconsin and to Philadelphia on Sunday then hold a press conference next week at the NATO summit in Washington, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced Tuesday. The president is also expected to speak with leaders on Capitol Hill, she said.

Were going to turn the page. Were going to get out there across the country. Americans are going to see him for themselves, Jean-Pierre told reporters.

The effort is meant to counter brewing discontent among leading Democratic donors, aides and elected officials over Bidens debate performance, which has deepened their fears that former President Donald Trump will return to the White House.

Three quarters of US voters said Democrats would have a better chance of retaining control of the White House if someone else was atop the ticket, according to a CNN poll released Tuesday. Biden polled worse in head-to-head match ups than other prominent Democrats  including governors like Californias Gavin Newsom and Michigans Gretchen Whitmer  who are expected to be on Wednesdays call. Prominent Democrats have begun to wonder aloud about Bidens mental state.

It is a legitimate question to say, is this an episode or is it a condition? former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday on MSNBC. So when people ask that question it is legitimate, of both candidates.

The governors meeting, reported earlier by CBS News, is a chance for Biden to persuade them he should remain the partys standard bearer as some privately harbor concerns about Bidens viability. Whitmer said Monday she stands behind the president, pushing back against suggestions there were tensions between her team and Bidens.

Despite the fears about Bidens candidacy in many corners of the Democratic Party, no top lawmakers, governors and Cabinet officials have publicly said the president should end his campaign. Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have also issued statements that are supportive of Biden.

Too Much Is at Stake

News of the meeting with Biden came a day after Democratic governors held their own call, during which some expressed concern about the president and said they wanted to speak to him, CNN reported. Bidens team was in touch with the governors and their staffs about Mondays meeting, according to a Democratic official.

Vice President Kamala Harris also plans to have lunch with Biden on Wednesday, according to a White House official. The two have shared midday meals on a semi-regular basis but the sit-down comes at a time when she has also been mentioned as a possible stand-in for Biden.

Biden, however, received unwelcome news on Tuesday when Doggett released his statement saying Democrats should not assume that what could not be turned around in a year, what was not turned around in the debate, can be turned around now.

Too much is at stake to risk a Trump victory, Doggett said.

The president and his team have sought to shift the publics focus away from his mental fitness and onto Trumps conduct following the Supreme Courts decision that the former president is partially immune from criminal prosecution. That argument represents Bidens narrow path to victory, but thus far his case has fallen flat with voters.

The president in a Monday speech at the White House called on voters to render a judgment on whether the presumptive Republican nominees involvement in his supporters Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol makes him unfit for public office.

Blame Game

Bidens team also touted his $127 million June fundraising haul to counter post-debate angst. Thats $15 million more than Trump raised last month, though the Republican now has a cash advantage. Campaign officials, including chairwoman Jennifer OMalley Dillon, on Monday held a question-and-answer session with donors aimed at reassuring them that Biden has a path to victory, according to people familiar with the call.

After acknowledging the debate went poorly, Bidens campaign went on the offensive against party figures and media personalities who have called on him to drop out of the 2024 race, labeling them disloyal bed wetters.

Members of Bidens family and donors have also blamed the presidents close-knit circle of advisers for last Thursdays debacle against Trump. But Bidens apparent refusal to even consider a campaign shake up has rattled outside Democrats who are calling for a course correction.

The Democratic National Committee is considering formally nominating Biden as soon as mid-July, according to people familiar with the matter. The move is intended to ensure that Biden makes the ballot in all 50 states this November, but it could also help stamp out talk about replacing him. A potential date for Bidens nomination is July 21 when a key party panel is scheduled to meet virtually, the people said.

Democrats already planned to nominate Biden before the partys convention in August to meet a ballot certification deadline in Ohio. But the timing is fortuitous in that it allows the party to officially close ranks around the president within the next three weeks.

With assistance from Billy House and Nacha Cattan.
Chinese and Russian companies are developing an attack drone similar to an Iranian model deployed in Ukraine, European officials familiar with the matter said, a sign that Beijing may be edging closer to providing the sort of lethal aid that western officials have warned against.

The companies held talks in 2023 about collaborating to replicate Irans Shahed drone, and started developing and testing a version this year in preparation for shipment to Russia, said the officials, who asked not to be identified to discuss private information. The Chinese drones have yet to be used in Ukraine, they said.

Providing Russia a Shahed-like attack drone would mark a deepening of Beijings support for Russia despite repeated warnings from the US and its allies. President Xi Jinping has sought to portray China as neutral in the conflict in Ukraine even as western officials say its provided components and other support for President Vladimir Putins forces.

At the same time, US officials have said China is holding off directly providing weapons and artillery, something that would signal an unprecedented escalation and almost certainly trigger more forceful action  such as sanctions  against the worlds second-biggest economy.

Some nations believe that providing Russia with drones for attack purposes would cross the line into lethal aid, two of the officials said. One person familiar with the matter said the US assessment is China is weighing whether to send fully built unmanned aerial vehicles, but in the meantime is sending kits that can be converted into attack drones. The US still doesnt conclude that China is sending lethal aid to Russia, the person said, while acknowledging that other nations may have a different interpretation.

China doesnt provide weapons to the parties of the Ukraine conflict and strictly controls exports of dual-use articles, Liu Pengyu, the spokesman for Chinas embassy in the US, said in a statement.

On the Ukraine crisis, it is quite clear to the international community who is calling for dialogue and striving for peace, and who is fueling the fight and inciting confrontation, Liu said. We urge the relevant countries to immediately stop fueling the fight and inciting confrontation.

Read More About the Shahed Drone: How and Why Russia Is Using Iranian Drones in Ukraine: QuickTake

Russias defense and foreign ministries didnt immediately reply to requests for comment.

Russia has used thousands of Shahed drones against Ukraine since the beginning of the war, even building a factory to mass-produce the Iranian-developed technology, which is relatively cheap to build but costly to defend against.

But Russia still relies on countries like North Korea and Iran for supplies, and on China for critical parts and components. One worry is that China could produce a drone similar to the Shahed at a far greater rate than Iran or Russia, the officials said.

The officials didnt identify the drone under development, but Chinese defense websites and several media outlets have reported the country is developing a kamikaze attack drone called the Sunflower 200, which is described as similar in appearance to the Iranian Shahed 136 drone.

Bloomberg News reported in April that China was providing Russia with satellite imagery for military purposes, microelectronics and machine tools for tanks, as well as a swath of technologies used in weapons or needed to produce them.

China takes every effort, every chance it can get to argue that somehow its a neutral player in this war in Ukraine, but in reality the PRC is providing a long list of dual-use components, things like machine tools and microelectronics that are enabling Russia to pursue this war of aggression in Ukraine, US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith told Bloomberg Television on Tuesday, referring to China by its official name, the Peoples Republic of China.

Here inside NATO, were making sure that we can expose the fact that the PRC is no longer a neutral player and warn China about the risk of getting behind Russia in this unprovoked war of aggression, she said.

Back in May, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps provoked a tiff with Washington when he suggested that China was working to provide Russia with lethal aid. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that to date, the US hadnt seen China providing weapons directly to Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at the G-7 summit that President Xi had given him his word he wouldnt provide Russia with weapons.

With assistance from Andrea Palasciano and Kriti Gupta.
When thieves in central Gaza stole the battery out of Muhammed Abu Karshs car in March, he chased them down a dark road and was shot dead in the head.

Relatives called the police, who inspected the crime scene in rural Deir al-Balah, but that was about all they could do.

They said they dont have a prison anymore and that if they find the perpetrator, his family might attack them as well," said his cousin, Mahmoud Fuaad. We see fights between families on a daily basis. People know that they wont be punished for anything they do."

Nearly nine months into the war between Israel and Hamas, crime and violence among Gazans is on the rise, from robbery and killings to smuggling and protection rackets. The trend is taking more Palestinian lives, endangering already fragile international aid operations and drawing warnings from American and Arab officials who worry Gaza could suffer a complete failure of governance for years to come.

Israel has broken Hamass grip on public order but hasnt filled that void itself or allowed entry by the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to restore basic services, saying it wants to work with politically unaffiliated Palestinians.

In northern Gaza, from which most of the population has fled, abandoned homes that havent been bombed by Israel are susceptible to the pillaging of furniture, solar panels and gas cylinders. Residents who have stayed behind and tried to secure neighbors homes say looters have grown more brazen, claiming that the suffering imposed by war gives them license to steal whatever they need.

Most of Gazas population is now crowded into tent camps and bombed-out urban centers in south and central areas, without enough food, water or medicine. Violent disputes over basic supplies break out daily, and the Hamas-controlled police force is either absent or powerless, according to residents.

The police are now working according to emergency plans and imposing safety and security in the places where they can," including trying to prevent looting, pursue thieves and return stolen goods to their owners, said the head of Gazas government media office, Ismail al-Thawabta.

Thawabta said Israel had targeted dozens of police stations and killed hundreds of police officers since the start of the war, undermining the forces ability to operate at full capacity. The Israeli military campaign aims to sow chaos, disrupt safety and security in the Gaza Strip and create an administrative and governmental vacuum," he said.

After the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel led by Hamaswhich the U.S. has designated a terrorist organizationIsrael set out to destroy the group in the enclave. Israels military said that it is working to dismantle Hamass military and administrative capabilities and that it takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm, in line with international law.

The Israeli prime ministers office declined to comment on the lawlessness in Gaza.

In one recent incident, a dispute between teenagers from two families in central Gazas Nuseirat camp eventually drew in their adult relatives. One man killed another man, crushing his head with a concrete block, according to a witness.

The victims family took revenge by setting fire to the other familys apartment building, the witness said. Firefighters contained the blaze and the police dispersed the crowd that had gathered, but the arguments continued, he said.

I hate Hamas and never supported them, but I wish they were back to control Gaza due to the lawlessness we have," the witness said. Its becoming so scary."

Before the war, police patrolled the streets, which Gazans considered relatively safe, with little petty crime and harsh punishment meted out to criminals.

The war began with the Oct. 7 assault on Israel in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, according to Israel, and more than 240 hostages were taken into Gaza. In Israels military response, around 38,000 people in Gaza have been killed, mostly civilians, according to Palestinian officials who dont say how many of the dead were combatants.

The police presence across Gaza these days is sporadic. Police stations have been bombed and prisons abandoned, so locking up criminals isnt an option. Many police officers have been killed; others have been displaced and are occupied trying to secure food and other basic supplies for their families.

Police who still work are overwhelmed and understaffed, telling robbery victims that if they tried to track down every stolen good they wouldnt have time to do anything else. Gazas fuel shortage and intermittent communications mean they cant drive police cars and there is no dispatch, so they patrol on foot and cant call for backup.

They usually dont wear uniforms or carry weapons for fear of being targeted by Israel. They are also at risk of getting in the middle of cycles of retaliatory violence and becoming targets themselves. Some cover their faces to hide their identity to avoid retaliatory attacks.

Hamass military capabilities have been degraded," said a U.S. official involved in aid operations. So, too, have its capabilities to enforce law and order, so absolutely nobody should be surprised that this is the situation inside of Gaza right now."

The level of insecurity, between crime and Israeli airstrikes and raids, has reached a new high in recent months, Palestinians say. Many report no longer feeling safe on the street late at night for fear of being held up at gun or knife point.

Lawlessness has enabled the growth of cigarette smuggling on aid trucks entering Gaza from Israel, and protection rackets targeting warehouses where such goods are stored, according to residents and aid workers.

These criminal enterprises endanger the lives of aid-truck drivers and obstruct the delivery of essential goods, prompting humanitarian groups to pause some operations and reconsider whether they can continue to operate in Gaza.

The war and a near-total blockade have crippled basic infrastructure in the tiny enclave, sparking hunger and disease that have pushed desperate Palestinians to loot aid trucks and warehouses. In February, more than 110 people were shot or trampled to death when thousands of Palestinians surrounded an aid convoy in Gaza City and Israeli troops opened fire. Israeli officials said Palestinian gunmen also opened fire, resulting in some of the deaths.

The overall breakdown of law and orderis a huge operational constraint for everybody in Gaza," William Schomburg, head of sub-delegation in Gaza for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said in late June. We see very high instances of looting, which is at least in part driven by the desperation of civilians."

Israels reluctance to take responsibility for civil administration and refusal to allow Hamas or the Palestinian Authority any leeway to run basic civil services has created a dangerous power vacuum. That is adding to U.S. concerns as Israel prepares to wind down major combat operations in Gaza without a clear plan for what comes next.

U.S. officials, concerned about the breakdown in law and order impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid, have been working with Israel and the United Nations to resolve the issue, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said last week.

Right now, in the places where Israel has conducted military operations but no longer is there on the ground, you do see this anarchy," Miller said. He said it was the responsibility of the Israeli military to work with the U.N. to fix the problemadding that the best solution would be a cease-fire and a plan for postwar governance, security and reconstruction.

When an incident occurs, civilians usually ask around the neighborhood to track down the police. But officers are rarely able to do more than to restore a margin of order to the scene, allowing cycles of revenge to persist.

On June 25, the children of two families sheltering in tents near the beach in Deir al-Balah began squabbling over who would be first to fetch water from a communal faucet. The dispute escalated and the childrens parents exchanged gunfire for about 10 minutes, witnesses said.

Suhail Badwan, a father in his 40s, was caught in the crossfire and died, said a cousin and a neighbor. Police arrived and sent the gunmen away, then left after half an hour without making any arrests.

Saleh al-Batati and Fatima AbdulKarim contributed to this article.

Write to Stephen Kalin at stephen.kalin@wsj.com
Donald Trump raised $331 million in the second quarter, a fundraising haul that leaves him with more cash on hand than President Joe Biden, a development likely to intensify Democratic anxiety about the incumbents campaign.

That amount, raised by Trump and the Republican National Committee, surpasses the $264 million Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised in the quarter. The campaign said it now has nearly $285 million cash on hand compared to the $240 million reported by Biden  a stunning reversal in a fundraising fight that saw the presidents war chest crush his rivals for months.

Winning this quarter brought us a cash on hand advantage, said top Trump campaign officials Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles in a joint statement, jabbing at a Biden burn rate that grows while yielding no tangible results for them.

Trump outraised Biden in the months of April and May, the first time he won the monthly money race. But the presumptive Republican nominee fell short in June, with Biden raising $127 million to his $112 million.

Trumps cash advantage, though, deals a blow to Biden at a time when his campaign is facing intense scrutiny from fellow Democrats in the wake of a calamitous debate that has spurred calls for him to step aside and let another candidate run.

Bidens campaign has reacted angrily to calls from party members, lawmakers and media personalities calling for him to not seek reelection. Biden at fundraisers over the weekend sought to reassure donors that he is able to beat Trump and he plans to speaks with Democratic governors on Wednesday.

His campaign on Monday released their June and quarterly fundraising totals in a bid to show strength and ease donor anxiety. Officials said that Biden had enjoyed his best fundraising month yet and that the reelection team managed to build up their cash even as they made investments in paid media and staffed offices in battleground states.

Earlier: Biden Touts $127 Million June Haul to Counter Post-Debate Angst

Bidens campaign said it raised $38 million in the four days starting on June 27, the day of the debate. Trumps campaign said it raised $8 million on the day of the event, but didnt release updated totals.

Trump, for his part, has erased Bidens fundraising advantage by ramping up appeals to deep-pocketed donors and harnessing Republican anger over his May 30 conviction in a Manhattan trial for hiding hush-money payments. The campaign said Trump raised $52.8 million online in the 24 hours after the verdict making him the first former US president in history found guilty of a felony.

Trumps financial situation was weaker earlier in the campaign, when his coffers were drained by legal challenges and a contested primary that drew more than a dozen challengers.

Some of the partys biggest donors have opened their checkbooks for Trump. Crypto billionaires Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss each made donations in Bitcoin worth $844,600 to the Trump 47 Committee, which raises money for his campaign and the Republican Party. Billionaire Miriam Adelson of Las Vegas Sands and Blackstone Inc. Chief Executive Officer Steve Schwarzman both donated to it in May.
The Indian labour market can often seem bewildering. One recent example is the chairman of a leading engineering company saying earlier this month that his firm is facing a shortage of workers and engineers in several of its business divisions. The total gap estimated by S.N. Subrahmanyan of Larsen & Toubro is 45,000.

His statement comes against the backdrop of a growing national debate about the lack of quality jobs for a young population. Surveys conducted before the recent national elections showed that inadequate employment opportunities were one of the major concerns as voters prepared to elect a new Parliament.

It is not uncommon to hear employers say that they are unable to find labour for their projects. Neither is it uncommon to hear stories of young people desperately seeking jobs. One answer to this paradox is well knownthe skills gap.

Too many youngsters coming out of colleges and universities across the country do not have the skills that companies seek. A lot of attention has been focused on this problem, even though not much has changed on the ground as yet.

However, the curious coexistence of labour shortages in a labour surplus economy is not just a matter of skills. This is especially true in the case of an unorganized labour market such as ours. Economists have in recent decades studied situations in which buyers and sellers do not automatically find each other because of a variety of search frictions." Search is imperfect. It involves costs. There are risks involved as well.

The standard model that we learn in any basic economics course tells us that buyers and sellers seamlessly meet in a market. Transactions are finalized at an equilibrium price. This works very well in most situations, especially when undifferentiated products are involved. The situation is more tricky when the same product comes in many different variants. Labour markets are a classic case of a setting in which searching for the right supplier or buyer is costly. So are housing markets.

Three economistsPeter A. Diamond, Dale T. Mortensen and Christopher A. Pissarideswere awarded the Nobel Prize in economics in 2010 for their analysis of markets with search frictions."

In its press release announcing the award, the Nobel Foundation said something that should resonate in contemporary India as well: On many markets, buyers and sellers do not always make contact with one another immediately. This concerns, for example, employers who are looking for employees and workers who are trying to find jobs. Since the search process requires time and resources, it creates friction in the market. On such search markets, the demands of some buyers will not be met, while some sellers cannot sell as much as they would wish. Simultaneously, there are both job vacancies and unemployment on the labour market."

There are several ways in which search costs are brought down. One interesting response in India, especially when informal jobs are being sought, is the use of social networks. For example, one person moves to the city in search of a job, gradually builds credibility with his employer, and then brings in others from his village or caste group to work with him. In effect, the cost of searching for a new employee to work in a restaurant or at a construction site is reduced.

However, the rapid spread of digital public infrastructure (DPI) in India offers a different opportunity. A whole range of such platforms has reduced transaction costs for citizens in several areas. The United Payments Interface, for example, has been a huge success. There have also been other examples such as the Open Network for Digital Commerce, which is trying to connect small businesses in the country with consumers.

The hope is that even a small neighbourhood business can sell to consumers in different parts of India. There is a strong case for building a similar digital platform that will connect employers with potential workersa DPI provision for the Indian labour market. I had earlier written about a variant of this idea in May 2020, when the big question was how India should get its economy back on track after the first lockdown of the pandemic (bit.ly/4cGpo6L).

Contemporary labour economists such as David Autor at Harvard University have shown that low-wage workers often take the first job that comes their way, either because of a lack of information or an inability to take risks, which implicitly means a loss of bargaining power.

The question then is whether a public digital platform that helps match workers with employersand perhaps to key welfare schemes as wellwill boost wages and productivity. Autor recently wrote a paper with Arindrajit Dube and Annie McGrew on how the pandemic first led to job losses, followed by a churn as workers found better-paying jobs during the recovery.

They argue that relief cheques given to families by the US government also helped. The result is that the wage gap in the US has narrowed in the past three years.

India has a massive task of job creation in the coming years. It also has a more immediate problem of weakening consumer spending because of weak wage growth. A DPI set-up that makes the Indian labour market more efficient would help in these circumstances.
In September 2023, stock brokerage Kotak Institutional Equities (KIE) issued a research note saying, The steep increase in stock prices simply reflects the irrational exuberance of investors in the mid-cap and small-cap parts of the market." Also that there is no meaningful change in the fundamentals of most companies; in fact, they have worsened in many cases."

In a recent research note written in a tongue-and-cheek manner, the brokerage reiterated what it said in September: The pond [that is the stock market] seems to have overheated of late, visible in the bubbles in the water." However, many investors remained oblivious to these bubbles in the stock market, KIE said.

Some of this overheating was because of a monthly plan". This is in reference to systematic investment plans (SIPs) which are used by many retail investors to invest regularly and largely in equity mutual funds (MFs), which invest mostly in stocks. Monthly flows into SIPs have been growing every month, with close to 21,000 crore invested in May.

All this money, the brokerage said, has led to the water in the pond reaching higher and higher levels." This refers to all the new money driving stock prices to newer highs. KIE analysts further said that the ponds water could be at risk of turning into steam and disappearing altogether," but investors are busy rolling in the lucre."

So, is this an escalation of commitment on KIEs part in order to defend what it said in September? Or is it just unhappy about how stock prices have continued to rise fast after its bearish call that month? Or is the stock market really irrationally exuberant?

Any stock brokerage that makes a bold call against the prevailing trend needs to keep defending what it has said. Now, given that the BSE 500 index, a very broad representation of the overall stock market, has risen by more than 27% from 11 September, when KIE made its call, till last Friday, its recent writings might seem like an escalation of commitment.

Nonetheless, the stock market is clearly overvalued. The prices of many stocks are significantly higher than what their current earnings and prospects of future earnings justify. As this writer has mentioned in the past, in 2024-25, the price-to-book ratio (a valuation measure) of BSE 500 stocks has so far been the highest since 2007-08.

Further, a recent news report in Mint quoting data from Prime Database points out that in the first six months of 2024, promoters or owners of businesses have sold stocks worth 62,000 crore. This is the highest in the last six years, for which the report shared data, and only half the year has gone by.

Promoters are the ultimate insiders. The kind of information access they have about their own companies, no one else does. And when so many of them sell at the same time, what it basically tells us is that they feel their share prices are overvalued, and that they dont expect the future earnings of their companies to rise at a pace that justifies the rise in share prices, and so there is money to be taken off the table, and this is why they are selling. They may have reckoned they could buy back their holdings later, at a lower price.

In fact, this is a point that economic historian Charles Kindleberger made in his all-time classic Manias, Panics and Crashes: A History of Financial Crises, which was first published in 1978: As the boom continues the purchases of securities by outsiders [read retail investors] mean that the insiders [read promoters]those who own these assetssell them and realize profits; if the outsiders are buyers, then the sellers must be insiders."

If we look at a specific example, a loss-making and over-leveraged company, Vodafone Idea, recently decided to raise 2,458 crore via a preferential issue of shares to its vendors in order to clear a portion of what the company owes them. Analysts feel that the company could use this modus operandi in the future as well.

It is able to do this simply because its stock prices have rallied by 140% in the last one yeardespite a lack of earnings. This is again a great example of insiders using outsiders to take some money off the table.

So, where does that leave KIE or everyone else who believes that the stock market is overvalued? Its worth remembering a line often attributed to economist John Maynard Keynes, but actually said by another economist Gary Shilling: Markets can remain irrational a lot longer than you and I can remain solvent."

Indeed, its also worth remembering something that Chuck Prince, the then chief executive of Citigroup, told the Financial Times in July 2007: When the music stops, in terms of liquidity, things will be complicated. But as long as the music is playing, youve got to get up and dance. Were still dancing."

Which is why when it comes to institutional investorsbe it stock brokerages, mutual funds, private equity firms or insurance companiesthose who run them are always bullish. In public, they always believe that markets can only go up. They just cant stop dancing.

KIE has stopped dancing. This brokerage might eventually turn out to be right. But right now, it is looking wrong. Indeed, terribly wrong.
When cameras captured California Governor Gavin Newsom walking into CNNs spin room last Thursday, flashing his Hollywood smile before the presidential debate in Atlanta, a few political observers in his home state rushed to social media with some version of the same annoyed question: Why is he there?"

He was there to cheer on President Joe Biden before his debate with former President Donald Trump. Biden is confident," Newsom told reporters. Hes got a record and hes got a vision for the future."

A couple of painful hours later, after a debate in which Biden, his voice raspy and halting, looked every bit of his 81 years, that vision for the future seemed cloudy. Bidens frail appearance led to immediate and widespread speculation that he would be pushed to decline the Democratic nomination. And that kind of talk, in turn, leads quickly to Newsom.

Of the many prominent Democrats with aspirations for higher office, Newsom is arguably best equippedin fund-raising, messaging and campaign infrastructure, to step up in an emergency. And this is, by all indications, one for the party.

The 90 minutes that Biden spent on stage with Trump, live before millions of viewers, served to reinforce what polls have indicated since Biden decided to run for re-election: Most voters believe he is too old to be president.

The panic among Democratic Party insiders could ease in coming days if post-debate polling doesnt turn out to be as dire as many suspect. But if the party is looking for a replacement, Newsom is an obvious choice. Fellow Californian Vice President Kamala Harris could do the job, of course.

But polling typically shows Harris with high unfavourable numbers and, if Bidens candidacy goes south, her ties to the president may be more trouble than help.

Meanwhile, Newsom, governor of the most populous US state, has long appeared to be running a sort of shadow campaign as Bidens backup. He has emerged as one of the presidents most effective and telegenic surrogates, a frequent presence on cable news and aggressive on social media.

Newsom hasnt shied away from the culture wars, winning fans in some Democratic circles. For example, in a splashy debate last fall on Fox News against his favourite Republican opponent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Newsom called out DeSantis for his policies banning books, whitewashing African-American history and targeting transgender student athletes. You attack vulnerable communities," Newsom told DeSantis. Youre nothing but a bully. I understand that intimidating and humiliating people, thats your calling card."

Now in his second and last term as governor, Newsom also has campaign cash and access to more. He has used his fund-raising prowess to support Democratic candidates running in red Republican states and to push solidly liberal causes, such as abortion rights.

Newsom also has been raising his profile overseas, much to the aggravation of many who want his attention in California. Last month, he was at the Vatican to talk with Pope Francis about climate change. Last year, he met Chinese leader Xi Jinping and also visited Israel. Closer home, he has been back and forth to the White House. Hes doing that thing that all presidential hopefuls do: He is working on a memoir.

Newsom has dismissed speculation that he is running for president. At the debate, he didnt change his tune.

Cornered by a scrum of reporters, he was asked if he was ready to replace Joe Biden." Newsom called the idea a non sequitur." Asked whether he would urge Biden to reconsider running. Absolutely not," Newsom told them. I have his back 100 percent."

Its a measure of the press frenzy caused by the debate that, a few minutes after that, Newsom was asked yet again, this time on MSNBC, whether the debate had shaken the presidential race. Newsom shook his head angrily. Weve got to go in and got to keep our heads high," he said. Weve got to have the back of this President. You dont turn your back because of one performance.

And what kind of party does that?" A better questionand one that Newsom should consideris what kind of party nominates a candidate who most Americans are convinced is too old to handle the pressures of the presidencyand a candidate who could very well lose to a would-be autocrat who traffics in lies?

The stakes are too high.

Newsom on Thursday told reporters that its unhelpful to our democracy to go down these rabbit holes" about replacing Biden. But then he added: This country, the world, they need us right now to step up and thats exactly what I intend to do."

Many Democrats would no doubt be relieved if he did. bloomberg
As Thursdays presidential debate reverberated through American politics, most attention focused on President Bidens faltering performance. But there is another dimension to the story. The debate moved foreign policy to center stage in the presidential race even as it raised the temperature of world politics and increased the chances of more international crises as the U.S. election approaches.

American presidential debates typically revolve around domestic issues like fiscal policy and culture wars, but last weeks shocker was an exception. Donald Trump has decided that foreign policy is a crucial weakness of the Biden presidency, and he hammered relentlessly at a theme he believes will work for him.

Throughout the entire world, were no longer respected as a country. They dont respect our leadership. They dont respect the United States anymore," Mr. Trump said. He returned to this idea repeatedly during Thursdays debate. He said Vladimir Putin wouldnt have invaded Ukraine if we had a real president . . . a president that was respected by Putin."

For those who have been paying attention, this shouldnt come as a surprise. Mr. Trump has been emphasizing this idea on the campaign trail. On June 18 he told a rally in Racine, Wis., that Joe Biden is humiliating our country on the world stage . . . I will prevent a thing called World War III." The crowd began cheering and continued as he said: You are closer to it than you have any idea. Bidens weakness has put us in grave danger."

Mr. Trumps rallies have long served as focus groups. The former president throws out ideas and concepts; when his audience responds enthusiastically, he doubles down. The idea that World War III is approaching and only new leadership can prevent it resonates with his supporters. At a June 22 rally in Philadelphia he said that under Mr. Biden, the world is in flames. Our border is overrun. . . . Europe is in chaos. The Middle East is exploding. Iran is emboldened. China is on the march. And this horrible, horrible president is dragging us toward World War III."

Mr. Bidens debate performance also sent shock waves through the international system. Politico quoted a European diplomats text: Internationally this isnt a great look for America, at the risk of stating the obvious."

For European leaders, almost all of whom vastly prefer Mr. Biden to his challenger, the presidents halting delivery confirmed existing fears. Based on Mr. Bidens uneven performance in meetings with European and world leaders, doubts about his ability to win re-election or carry out the duties of office were already widespread. At this point almost the entire Continent is battening down the hatches for what European leaders believe to be a near-inevitable Trump return to the White House.

Mr. Bidens political and personal vulnerability comes amid a leadership crisis in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron is licking his wounds after a stinging defeat in the first round of parliamentary elections. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz presides over a weak, divided and unpopular coalition. Viktor Orbans Putin-sympathizing Hungary has just assumed a six-month presidency of the European Union. Rishi Sunaks Conservatives appear on the verge of a landslide defeat in Thursdays election.

The contrast with a resurgent Russia, where Vladimir Putin seems to have stabilized his domestic political position while strengthening relations with supporters like Iran, China and North Korea, is disquieting.

While the presidents political allies and aides struggled to extinguish the domestic firestorm sparked by the debate, Team Bidens foreign-policy strategists face an even more complex task. The weak debate showing undermines confidence in both the durability of the Biden administration and the competence of its leadership. Can either Israel or Hamas trust commitments made by this administration when it looks as if Donald Trump will return to power next January? Will China see opportunities as a weakened American administration under an elderly leader fights for its political life?

In a worst-case scenario, the perception of presidential weakness would lead foreign leaders to challenge U.S. power at a time of seeming American vulnerability. Mr. Putin chose to attack Georgia in 2008 while an unpopular George W. Bush administration was dealing with the financial crisis. In 2024, Mr. Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un or Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could choose this moment of American political disarray to make a dramatic move. Two or more of them could coordinate actions, presenting a distracted and weakened Biden administration with the most dangerous and complex international challenge since the 1940s.

As Team Biden works to keep the world calm, it can be sure of one thing. Any foreign-policy failures between now and November will become prominent features of Mr. Trumps no-holds-barred assault on President Bidens fitness for office.
Ram Nath Thakur, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Janata Dal (United) and a prominent leader belonging to the extremely backward community, has been sworn in as a member of the new Union cabinet.

The 74-year-old is a significant figure in Bihar's politics and is considered a key confidant of chief minister Nitish Kumar. He was among the many leaders invited for high tea with prime-minister-designate Narendra Modi on Sunday morning.

Also read: From zero to hero: The rise of Chirag Paswan Born on 3 March 1950, Thakur is from Samastipur in Bihar and belongs to the socially deprived Nai (barber) community. He is the son of former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, who was was posthumously honoured with Bharat Ratna by the previous government days before the Lok Sabha poll dates were announced.

Follow live updates: Modi takes oath as PM for 3rd term; JP Nadda, Chirag Paswan among new ministers Ram Nath Thakur joined politics after his father passed away in in 1988. He became a member of the Bihar legislative council and served as minister of sugarcane industries in Lalu Prasad Yadav's first cabinet.

From November 2005 to November 2010, he was the minister of revenue and land reforms, law, information and public relations in the Nitish Kumar government. However, he lost in the 2010 assembly elections despite the Nitish-led NDA securing 206 of 243 seats in the Bihar assembly.

Also read: Rajeev Ranjan Singh: First-timer known for his political acumen After this defeat, Thakur remained relatively inactive for a while. He was later nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the JD(U) before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and again in 2020.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress on Tuesday and accused the Opposition party of conspiring to spread economic unrest in country. The PM claimed that the INDIA bloc member had become a parasitic party during the recent polls with its tally of 99 largely due to its allies.
NATO will station a senior civilian official in Kyiv, among a raft of new measures designed to shore up long-term support for Ukraine that are expected to be announced at the summit in Washington next week, U.S. and alliance officials say.

The steps seek to buttress Ukraines prospects to eventually join the alliance without offering it membership. They come amid a right-wing political surge across Europe and the growing possibility that Donald Trump could return to the White House and reduce American support for Ukraine.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is also establishing a new command in Wiesbaden, Germany, to coordinate the provision of military equipment to Kyiv and the training of Ukrainian troops.

Dubbed NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, the operation will be staffed by nearly 700 U.S. and other allied personnel from across the 32-country alliance. It will take over much of a mission that has been run by the American military since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The new initiatives have been in development for months, but they take on new urgency following President Bidens weak performance in his televised debate with Trump on Thursday and Trumps complaints about the money the U.S. has spent on Ukraine.

A big reason for the change is to Trump-proof the assistance effort to Ukraine," said Ivo Daalder, who served as the U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013. Rather than having Washington in charge of managing the training and assistance, NATO will be in charge. So even if the U.S. reduces or withdraws support for the effort, it wont be eliminated."

With far-right parties gaining voter support in France, the Netherlands and across the European Union, the institutionalization of NATOs role could also make military assistance to Ukraine less vulnerable to policy swings among alliance members.

It does provide for durability in the face of potential national political changes, whether it is as the result of elections in the United States, France, the U.K. or even in the European Union," said Douglas Lute, a retired three-star Army general who served as the U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2013 to 2017.

Current and former U.S. officials said that the steps would enable the alliance to better coordinate Western countries efforts to provide Ukraine with military support, in what has become a protracted test of wills between Moscow and the West on NATOs border. The plan also aims to make Ukraines military more like those in NATO.

Alliance members hope that the summit will also agree on an annual financial pledge of military support to Ukraine, although terms are still under negotiation, NATO diplomats said. Recent discussions among alliance members have included setting a goal of roughly $40 billion annually and increasing the value of many countries contributions, though the U.S. would likely continue to be a major donor.

While many NATO members say that the alliance should invite Ukraine to join, initiating a process that could take years, the U.S. and Germany oppose taking such a step at next weeks summit.

In an effort to paper over differences within the alliance, officials say, NATO is likely to describe Ukraines bid to join NATO as irreversible," building on language in an alliance communique last year that Ukraines future is in NATO" and a 2008 communique that said Ukraine would become a NATO member one day.

Under the initiatives already agreed for final approval at the summit, staff from non-U.S. members will work alongside Americans at the new NATO command to align military-equipment donations with Ukraines needs and coordinate deliveries. They will also coordinate training for Ukrainian troops, to ensure what is being offered meets Kyivs needs. NATO staff wont themselves do any training, officials said.

The shifts are aimed at building institutional momentum and spreading knowledge of the nitty-gritty logistics involved in channeling provisions from dozens of countries to Ukraines borders. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last month in Brussels that the changes would put alliance support to Ukraine on a firmer footing for years to come."

While the change will broaden NATO involvement, the U.S. will continue to provide most of the staff, which will report to Army General Christopher Cavoli, who serves as NATOs top commander.

The senior civilian official in Kyiv would focus on Ukraines longer-term military modernization requirements and nonmilitary support, linking to both the planned Wiesbaden command and NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The new steps also signal an important shift in alliance posture. NATO initially kept its distance from Ukraines military campaign to avoid accusations it was a party to the conflict. The organizational changes means it is now prepared to take a more substantial role in helping Kyiv fight Russia.

Since NATO allies have provided over 90% of total security assistance to Ukraine, NATO is the natural place to coordinate assistance to ensure Ukraine is more capable of defending itself now and in the future," said a senior State Department official.

NATOs summit comes at a pivotal time in the American political scene. Biden has touted his role in mobilizing the alliances support to Ukraine as one of his cardinal foreign-policy accomplishments, as the White House has sought to help Ukrainian forces stand up to Russias attack while limiting the risk that the conflict might escalate into a direct U.S. and Russian clash. Biden also said that halting Russian forces in Ukraine is vital to stopping Moscows aggression elsewhere in Europe and even beyond.

I got 50 other nations around the world to support Ukraine, including Japan and South Korea," Biden said during the Thursday debate. No major war in Europe has ever been able to be contained just to Europe."

Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the greatest salesman ever" for persuading the U.S. to provide military support to Kyiv and said that the conflict there was more of a security problem for European nations than the U.S. because we have an ocean in between."

Trump also vowed to negotiate a diplomatic agreement between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin before he was sworn in as president. Trump didnt explain what the terms of such a settlement might be, but said that Putins demand that Moscow keep four provinces in Eastern Ukraine while Kyiv drop its bid to join NATO was unacceptable.

I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelensky as president-elect before I take office on January 20," Trump said.

Write to Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com and Daniel Michaels at Dan.Michaels@wsj.com
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack against the ruling BJP on Monday, telling the Lok Sabha that Hinduism was not about spreading fear, hatred and falsehoods. The Leader of Opposition also accused the BJP of launching systematic attacks on the Constitution and the fundamental idea of India.

The LoP engaged in a war of words with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday who noted that it was a serious matter to call the entire Hindu society violent.

Opposition leaders also staged a walkout after seeking sought a clear assurance from the government on the NEET issue. They demanded a separate one-day discussion on the paper leak matter during the ongoing Lok Sabha session.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Himachal's Mandi Kangana Ranaut on Monday launched a scathing attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his Lok Sabha speech, suggesting the Congress leader should immediately seek some therapy sessions.

Calling his statements irresponsible, Kangana stated many psychologists agree that pressure from the family to be someone else has given him (Rahul Gandhi) an identity crisis. She mocked the Congress leader's statement, which mentioned that not one Rahul exists; rather, there are two of him.

Apart from all the irresponsible statements that Rahul Gandhi ji made in his first speech as the leader of opposition, he also mentioned that he is not one Rahul infact there are two of him, one will now live for the constitution and the other one . The other one he has KILLED, the Mandi MP wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

This is not funny, Rahul ji should immediately seek some therapy sessions. A lot of psychologists would agree that the pressure from the family/mother to be someone else other than who you want to be can give one such identity crisis, she recommended.

She added, There is lot of paradox, conflict and pain in that statement of Rahul ji. Rahul ji told Honourable Defence minister ji also that he sees two of him as well. Such statements are absolutely alarming and I cant stop thinking about the psychological under current of such behaviour in the parliament.

Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha speech During the Lok Sabha session on Monday, the Congress leader accused the BJP of launching systematic attacks on the Constitution and the fundamental idea of India.

It is not just one religion that talks about courage. In fact, all our religions talk about courageShivji says daro mat, darao mat, shows the abhay mudra (the right hand held upright with the palm facing outwards), talks about ahimsa..," Gandhi said.
WASHINGTONVice President Kamala Harris is under a fresh spotlight as Democrats buzz about who should replace President Biden were he to drop his re-election bid.

So far, Biden has shown no interest in exiting the race following a halting debate performance that raised questions about his age and abilities. But while some Democrats ponder a variety of governors or lawmakers that could step in as nominee, the likeliest alternative to the current ticket remains one led by Harris.

While that path carries risk because Harriss poll numbers are as lackluster as Bidens, she is popular enough among Democratsparticularly among women and Black votersthat casting her aside could cause resentment and division within the party.

This lady is ready to be president. She really earned her stripes," said Keith Williams, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus. I would be angry if you try to leapfrog over a vice president."

Since the debate, Harris has emerged as Bidens strongest public defender. Immediately after Bidens poor performance against former President Donald Trump, she did several interviews trying to tone down the panic quickly spreading among Democrats. She then embarked on a cleanup tour on behalf of Biden, telling voters, donors and some celebrities to look past the debate and judge the president on his record.

The election wouldnt be decided by one night in June," she told voters in Las Vegas, giving a lengthy defense of the president. In a real leader, character matters more than style," she said. Trump does not have the character to be the president."

Harris also countered Trumps debate responses on abortion rights and the Jan. 6, 2021, riots in a clearer way than Biden did at the debate, while vouching for the presidents abilities. In the Oval Office, negotiating bipartisan deals, I see him in the situation room keeping our country safe," she said.

Biden and his team have made clear he plans to stay in the race. President Biden is our nominee, Vice President Harris is our running mate, and we will win this November," said campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz.

Top campaign officials briefed donors in a call Monday evening. A person familiar with the call said the campaign stressed that Biden knows he needs to do better after the debate and that they plan to have him out more. They pledged to stay the course, arguing that voters still care about issues like abortion and democracy and dont want a return to Trump. Asked how they would respond if polls dip, the person said there wasnt much of an answer beyond noting that polls fluctuate. Several donors on the call said they werent reassured.

Harris and her allies, meanwhile, are being careful to show their loyalty to the president, according to people close to Harris. The vice president will maintain her travel schedule and make the case for Biden, addressing any concerns about the debate, at every stop.

The Democratic National Committee intends to formally nominate Biden as their partys presidential nominee with the help of a virtual roll call weeks before their Chicago convention in August, a move that would allow the president to appear on the ballot in Ohio.

If Biden were to exit from the race before the nomination, Harris would have some advantages in the field of Democrats who are seen as contenderswhich includes names such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Sens. Raphael Warnock, of Georgia, and Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota.

As Bidens running mate, Harris would be able to use the money already raised by Bidens campaign committee. The vice president would also have some key endorsements, including from influential Rep. Jim Clyburn (D., S.C.).

Im a Biden-Harris person, OK?" Clyburn said after Thursdays debate. So Im not getting away from that. Im going to be for Biden, if Harris aint there, and Ill be for Harris, if Biden aint there."

Donna Brazile, political strategist and former interim DNC chair, also said that if there were an effort to bypass Harris, there would be an uproar."

Joe Biden placed her on the ticket for a reason and they won in 2020," she said. Any attempt to try to change a horse after the voters have selected the team they want to see on the team, there would be total chaos."

Not many pollsters have released surveys testing Harriss strength against Trump. But Harris garners similar support to Bidens as a Democratic nominee in the surveys that are available. A New York Times/Siena College poll in February found Harris trailing Trump by 6 percentage points, 42% to 48%, compared with a 4-point deficit when Biden was matched against Trump.

In a Fox News survey last November, Trump led Harris by 5 points, in line with his 4-point lead over Biden.

Similarly, Harris and Biden are viewed about equally in Wall Street Journal polling when asked if voters see them in a positive or negative light. Some 36% viewed Harris favorably in the Journals February poll, with 56% viewing her unfavorablya 20-point gap that was similar to the 22-point gap in views of Biden. Republicans almost universally held a negative view of Harris, as did 61% of independents and 14% of Democrats.

Liano Sharon, a DNC member from Lansing, Mich., who identifies as a progressive Democrat, said he would like to see Biden step aside for an open process at the convention. I think if Biden throws his support behind her that will make for a very divisive convention," he said of Harris. Its ridiculous were having this conversation about how difficult this is to do. This is what a party is for."

If the president stays on the ticket, Harris will be under even more pressure to prove to voters she is ready to serve if needed, given the growing concerns about Bidens age in the aftermath of the debate.

Trumps campaign has already featured Harris in a TV ad emphasizing the presidents age. You know whos waiting behind him, right?" the narrator asks in the ad, with a video of Harris on the screen.

The vice president said in an interview earlier this year: I am ready to serve. Theres no question about that," Harris responded bluntly. Everyone who sees her on the job, Harris said, walks away fully aware of my capacity to lead."

Harriss aides say the vice president doesnt need to do anything differently to show voters shes ready for the job.

But in recent months, she has taken more of a public role in the administration, including a greater involvement in adding to her national security portfolio. Harris has joined Biden on calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, given major speeches on the conflict, and pushed administration officials to articulate more empathy for Palestinians and to focus on a postconflict Gaza plan.

Write to Catherine Lucey at catherine.lucey@wsj.com and Tarini Parti at tarini.parti@wsj.com
In a critical reaction to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhis speech, former Haryana minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anil Vij on Tuesday alleged that it was a deep conspiracy to create a fight among people of different religions as the Congress leader wants another partition of India.

The BJP leader also said that Rahul Gandhis speech should be ignored for the peace of India.

According to ANI, Anil Vij said: ...It was a deep conspiracy to create a fight between people of different religions. He wants another partition of India. Partition is in the DNA of the Congress party...

He wants to divide castes into different parts...The speech of Rahul Gandhi should be ignored for the peace of the nation.., he added.

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday witnessed a massive uproar in the House over Rahul Gandhis speech and comments pertaining to the Hindu community.

The saffron party has accused the Congress leader of insulting the Hindu community.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi writes to Modi, asks PM to lead Parliamentary debate on NEET tomor

Targeting the BJP-led government, Gandhi said that there has been a systematic attack on the idea of India.

There has been a systematic and full-scale assault on the idea of India, the Constitution and on the people who resisted the attack on the Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the leaders are still in jail. Anyone who resisted the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression on poor and Dalits and minorities was crushed. ..I was attacked by the order of the Government of India, by the order of the Prime Minister of India...The most enjoyable part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by ED..., he said in his speech on Monday.
The Supreme Court gave former President Donald Trump a sweeping amount of protection against criminal prosecution, ruling that a president cant be charged for doing the job as outlined in the Constitution and has the presumption of immunity for other actions he takes while in office.

In its decision in Trump v. United States, however, the court said a president can be prosecuted for unofficial acts, and in Trumps case related to the 2020 election, the trial judge must now sort out what constitutes official and private conduct.

Why did the Supreme Court grant the immunity?

The court said a president needs broad protection so he can execute the duties of his office fearlessly and fairly" and so that his decision-making isnt distorted" by the threat of prosecution. Criminally prosecuting a president for an official act would intrude on the executive authority he has under the constitutions separation of powers, the court said. The court ruled 6-3, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the majority and Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing a fiery dissent.

Such an immunity is required to safeguard the independence and effective functioning of the Executive Branch," the opinion said.

What is the difference between official and unofficial acts?

It is a little murky. The court said a president is absolutely immune from actions in his core constitutional authoritywhich includes activities such as granting pardons, appointing cabinet officials, engaging in foreign relations and acting as commander in chief. Everything else is presumptively privileged if it can be characterized as falling within the outer perimeter of his responsibility as president. The same broad standard gives presidents protection from civil lawsuits.

But a court could determine that some conductsuch as campaign speech or fundraisingconstitutes an unofficial act, for which there is no immunity.

What doe it mean for the Jan., 6 case against Trump?

The case is in serious jeopardy. The court threw out parts of special counsel Jack Smiths case against Trump, including that he improperly tried to use the Justice Department to advance his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

For other allegations at the core of the indictment, including Trumps efforts to pressure former Vice President Mike Pence to alter the election results, the high court said the trial judge needed to determine whether any of the charges could continue or should be dismissed because they are based on his official acts.

Whenever the President and Vice President discuss their official responsibilities, they engage in official conduct," the opinion said.

That alone could stall the case for several months, and the court added so many new conditions for prosecutors that a trial is unlikely before Novembers election. The court said that the judge cant ask about Trumps motives in determining whether an action is official or not, and prosecutors cant use official acts as evidence that Trump committed a crime through unofficial ones.

This explanatory article may be periodically updated.

Write to Sadie Gurman at sadie.gurman@wsj.com
The universe is a mystery, and space agencies like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) help us understand it better. The US space agency constantly shares images and videos from space to bring common people closer to celestial objects and other bodies.

Here are top 10 NASA images that will provide you a rare glimpse of space to unlock its mysteries:

NASA's Chandra X ray observatory captured the image of the pulsar, a fast-spinning dense neutron star.

In 1895, Wilhelm Rontgen discovered X-rays and used them to image the bones in his wifes hand, kicking off a revolutionary diagnostic tool for medicine. Now two of NASAs X-ray space telescopes have combined their imaging powers to unveil the magnetic field bones of a remarkable hand-shaped structure in space. Together, these telescopes reveal the behavior of a dead collapsed star that lives on through plumes of particles of energized matter and antimatter.

NASA captured this stellar explosion in ultraviolet by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus.

Wispy tendrilsof hot dust and gas glow brightly in this ultraviolet image of the Cygnus Loop nebula, taken by NASAs Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The nebula lies about 1,500 light-years away, and is a supernova remnant, left over from a massive stellar explosion that occurred between 5,000 to 8,000 years ago. The Cygnus Loop extends over three times the size of the full moon in the night sky, and is tucked next to one of the swans wings in the constellation of Cygnus.

NASA has recently shared an iconic image of the Pillars of Creation

The Pillars of Creation have fascinated humans for decades, and the credit goes to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, which captured this ethereal beauty present in the heart of the Eagle Nebula for the first time in the 1990s.

The 3D video of the Pillars of Creation would enable viewers to fly past these pillars and experience their existence as a three-dimensional structure. The visible light images of the Pillars of Creation have been captured by NASA's Hubble telescope, whereas, infra-red photos have been captured by NASA's Webb Telescope.

NASA has recently shared an image of Phobos moon of Mars which is on its course to collide with the planet.

Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is the remnant of a massive star that exploded about 300 years ago. The X-ray image shows an expanding shell of hot gas produced by the explosion.

NASA captured the image in visible and infrared light by the Digitized Sky Survey and Spitzer Space Telescope of North America nebula, aka Caldwell 20

While the spiral feature in the upper portion of this Hubble image may resemble the arm of a galaxy or the heart of a cosmic storm, it is actually a small portion of Caldwell 20 (NGC 7000), or the North America Nebula. Discovered by William Herschel in 1786 and nicknamed for its resemblance to the continent of North America, Caldwell 20 is located roughly 1,800 light-years from Earth and occupies a space in the constellation Cygnus that appears more than three times larger than the full moon.

Gigantic jets over Himalayan mountains.

NASA's captivating image reveals gigantic jets soaring from a thunderstorm towards the Himalayas in China and Bhutan. The image captures four gigantic jets occurring only minutes apart. These phenomena, documented only in this century, are lightning discharges between certain thunderstorms and the Earth's ionosphere high above them.

NASA Hubble captured the sight of a distant star named V838 Monocreotis.

V838 Monocreotis is a distant star located around 20,000 light-years away from Earth at the outer edge of the Milky Way Galaxy. The expanding illumination of never-before-seen spirals of dust is called a light echo.

Westerlund 2, a giant cluster of 3,000 stars, resides in a raucous stellar breeding ground known as Gum 29.

Westerlund 2, a giant cluster of 3,000 stars, resides in a raucous stellar breeding ground known as Gum 29. The Hubble Space Telescope pierced through the dusty veil shrouding the stellar nursery by observing near-infrared light, giving astronomers a clear view of the nebula and the dense concentration of stars in the central cluster. The cluster measures between 6 to 13 light-years across. The giant star cluster is only about 2 million years old and contains some of our galaxy's hottest, brightest, and most massive stars.

NASA shares stunning image of spiral galaxy named after Egyptian queen- Bernices Hair

This cosmic portrait  captured with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescopes Wide Field Camera 3  shows a stunning view of the spiral galaxy NGC 4571, which lies approximately 60 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Coma Berenices. This constellation  whose name translates as Bernices Hair  was named after an Egyptian queen who lived more than 2,200 years ago.

Image of star-forming region Herbig-Haro 46/47 by NASA Webb
Now heres a shocker. The highly credentialed and highly compensated nonprofit executive who tells businesses to stop focusing on the needs of shareholders doesnt seem to be a very nice boss. In fact he may treat his employees even worse than he wants businesses to treat their owners and customers.

Regular readers know Klaus Schwab as the World Economic Forum founder who hosts a celebrated annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The event is sometimes cast as a gathering of world capitalism. More precisely, its an annual opportunity for global politicians and activists to persuade American CEOs to stop being capitalists.

Mr. Schwabs regular shtick is to tell CEOs that people have lost trust in large institutions like theirs. Then he tells them that to help rebuild such trust, they must stop focusing on the needs of shareholders and instead serve a larger universe of stakeholders" like him, who may have no stake in the businesses but do have strong opinions about climate and diversity.

Of course if shareholders, customers and voters trusted such policies there would be no need for the Schwab sales pitch. And its becoming increasingly clear that American CEOs have no need for his management advice.

The Journals Shalini Ramachandran and Khadeeja Safdar report on what happened a few years ago when Mr. Schwab decided his organization needed a youthful makeover:

So he singled out a group of employees over 50 years old and instructed his human-resources chief to get rid of them all, according to people familiar with the matter. This, he explained, would lower the average age of the workforce. The HR chief, a seasoned former World Bank executive named Paolo Gallo, declined, pointing out that there has to be a reasonable explanation for firing somebody, such as poor performance. Not long after, Schwab fired Gallo.

It wasnt the only example of Schwab engaging in behavior that would violate standard workplace policies of the Forums leading corporate partners. One episode still making the rounds among staffers is the time in 2017 he tapped a young woman to lead an initiative for startups. She had discovered she was pregnant, and during her first few days on the job went into Schwabs office in Geneva to tell him.

Schwab grew upset that she wouldnt be able to continue working at the same pace, people familiar with the incident said, and told her she wasnt suited for her new leadership role. She was pushed out after what the Forum said was a brief trial period.

What would we do without experts like Klaus Schwab? The Journal reporters have more on the culture of his organization:

At least six female staffers were pushed out or otherwise saw their careers suffer when they were pregnant or returning from maternity leave. Another half dozen described sexual harassment they experienced at the hands of senior managers, some of whom remain at the Forum. Two said they were sexually harassed years ago by VIPs at Forum gatherings, including at Davos, where female staff were expected to be at the delegates beck and call.

In two more recent incidents, employees registered internal complaints after white Forum managers used the N-word around Black employees. Black employees also raised formal complaints to Forum leaders about being passed over for promotions or left out of Davos.

The Forum declined to make Schwab available for an interview. Forum spokesman Yann Zopf said in a statement that this article would mischaracterize our organization, culture and colleagues, including our founder."

In written responses to the Journal, the Forum said it holds itself and its employees to a high set of values, with confidential reporting channels and a thorough investigation process. It said Schwab never created an age limit for employees and that he collaborated with the HR chief to make it possible for people to work beyond the normal retirement age.

It disputed the Journals characterization of events and said the organization has zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination and has responded appropriately to any complaints received. It said there have been three reported allegations of racial discrimination since 2020 and that each has been thoroughly investigated and appropriate action was taken.

The Forum added that many of the episodes described by the Journal, including those alleging pregnancy discrimination, involved former employees who had been dismissed for performance reasons or as part of restructurings. A Forum spokesman said women dont face a higher rate of turnover after parental leave and that at least 150 employees returned from leave to the same or a better job during an eight-year span.

In a memo to staff on May 21, Schwab announced that he planned to step aside as executive chairman, which he indicated was part of a long-planned transition. He said he will stay on as nonexecutive chairman of the board of trustees. The announcement came after Schwab sent a letter to the Journals publisher and editor in chief to share concerns about the reporting for this article.

Whether or not one chooses to credit the denials from Mr. Schwabs organization, lets hope that his successor will react calmly to public health challenges and not seek to exploit them to advance political agendas.

In June of 2020 Mr. Schwab wrote:

COVID-19 lockdowns may be gradually easing, but anxiety about the worlds social and economic prospects is only intensifying. There is good reason to worry: a sharp economic downturn has already begun, and we could be facing the worst depression since the 1930s. But, while this outcome is likely, it is not unavoidable.

To achieve a better outcome, the world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions. Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. In short, we need a Great Reset" of capitalism.

There are many reasons to pursue a Great Reset, but the most urgent is COVID-19.

Beware nonprofit types calling for a transformation of the for-profit engines that power all of society. Perhaps there will now be a modest little reset as U.S. executives cancel their attendance at future Schwab events.

***

James Freeman is the co-author of The Cost: Trump, China and American Revival" and also the co-author of Borrowed Time: Two Centuries of Booms, Busts and Bailouts at Citi."

***

Follow James Freeman on Twitter.

Subscribe to the Best of the Web email.

To suggest items, please email best@wsj.com.

(Lisa Rossi helps compile Best of the Web.)

***
China is so dominant in the market for the batteries powering electric vehicles and green tech that it would take a technological upheaval to change that. One might be coming, but Beijing isnt asleep at the wheel.

With a booming electric-vehicle market at home, Chinese battery makers are the giants of the industry. In the first four months of this year, just two companies from the countryContemporary Amperex Technology, or CATL, and BYDalready have more than half of the global EV battery market between them, according to SNE Research. More crucially, Chinese manufacturers also dominate the supply chain for battery materials. China accounted for nearly 90% of cathode active material capacity globally and more than 97% for anodes, according to the International Energy Agency.

For countries such as the U.S. that wish to break Chinas dominance in the automotive and power technology of the future, the only hope would be a scientific breakthrough that could rejig the battery supply chain with different materials and components. New technology wouldnt replace existing lithium-ion batteries, which have been around for five decades, but could provide alternative options.

There are a few potential candidates. Sodium-ion batteries look like the most viable alternative, but CATL and BYD have already massively ramped up their capacity. More than 90% of new supply announced through 2030 will come from China, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. That is despite the fact that the utilization rate of sodium battery plants is still fairly low.

One advantage of sodium over lithium is that it is far more abundant. When lithium prices went ballistic two years ago, sodium batteries looked like they also would provide a cheaper alternative. With lithium prices having fallen back to earth, sodiums cost advantage might have disappeared. Nevertheless, sodium offers a potential choice to hedge against volatile lithium prices. However, sodium batteries have lower energy density and might not be suitable for longer-range EVs. They might be a better choice for energy storage systems or low-end EVs. That is especially important for China, where smaller EVs with lower ranges have been popular with consumers.

Another option to boost energy density is to replace graphite anodes with silicon, making batteries lighter and able to store more energy. That could potentially challenge Chinas dominance in graphite. Japans Panasonic said this past year it would purchase silicon anode materials from U.K. startup Nexeon. U.S. startup Group 14, backed by Microsoft and Porsche, also has a joint venture with Korean battery maker SK Group. Benchmark expects silicon anode capacity to more than triple this year.

But the technological Holy Grail has to be solid-state batteriesseemingly always a few years away. They replace liquid electrolytes with solid materials, which could make them safer, faster-charging and able to store much more energy than lithium batteries.

The technology still isnt there, but it is getting closer. Startups QuantumScape and Solid Power, for example, have started the qualification process with automakers, which could take four to six years. These companies went public with much fanfare a few years ago, but their share prices have dropped 90% or more from their peaks. Solid-state batteries offer many advantages over lithium ones. They will likely cost much more, thoughespecially at the outset.

And China isnt sleeping on this opportunity. Beijing will provide 6 billion yuan, equivalent to nearly $830 million, to companies including CATL and BYD to research and develop solid-state batteries, according to domestic media. EV maker NIO said it plans to produce cars using semisolid state technology, which might still contain liquid electrolytes.

Chinas battery supremacy looks secure for now, but new technology could throw in a wild card for Western companies seeking to catch up.

Write to Jacky Wong at jacky.wong@wsj.com
Amazons Kindle has become the gadget of choice among TikToks community of book lovers. Self-anointed Kindle girlies" post about their reading listsand show off their e-readers bedecked with stickers, PopSockets and remote-control page-turners.

Kindle sales have grown in double-digit percentages for each of the past two years and are on track for similar gains this year, says Kevin Keith, vice president of Amazon Devices and Services. People under 45 are Kindles fastest-growing customer segment. The company wouldnt disclose unit sales or revenue numbers.

That a hot gadget of the late aughts has newfound relevance with a crowd of younger readers might not surprise anyone whos scrolled through social medias bookish corners. BookTokkers share reading habits, book clubs, book challenges, library cards and peoples reading setups.

Borrowing boom

Print books are still the most popular format for reading, according to Pew Research. Print and ebook sales rose during the pandemic but have declined since, according to market-research firm Circana.

Digital-book borrowing caught on widely, tooand kept growing. Library checkouts have jumped 75% since 2019, reaching 370 million ebooks last year, according to OverDrive, maker of Libby, an e-reading app used by schools and most North American public libraries.

Almost every month, were seeing new records of utilization of the digital libraries," says Steve Potash, the companys chief. As library ebook checkouts have grown, so has Libbys Send to Kindle feature, OverDrive says. People can link their Amazon accounts with Libby and send titles to their e-readers.

Kindle Unlimited, Amazons $12-a-month subscription service allows customers to borrow more than four million digital books.

And BookTok has helped authors such as Colleen Hoover and Sarah J. Maas develop massive fan bases and reach the top of bestseller lists. Barnes & Noble and other bookstores have sections in stores and online dedicated to titles popular on TikTok. The hashtag #BookTok has over 34 million posts.

Kindle newbies

Gillian Payne, a 23-year-old supply-chain analyst in Trenton, Mich., read as a child but lost interest during high school. She regained her reading habit during the pandemic, buying a Kindle in 2020. She set a goal to read 35 books in 2021; she read 50.

Now, she owns a Kindle Paperwhite and a basic Kindle and says shes on pace to read 130 to 140 books this year as she totes a Kindle with her everywhere. (The current Paperwhite costs $150, and the basic Kindle is $100.)

Instead of scrolling my phone or social media, I usually reach for a book," Payne says.

Lots of current Kindle buyers are first timers, with about 60% of Kindles sales growth coming from people whove never owned one of the devices before, says Amazons Keith.

Other e-readers are also seeing higher demand. Nook sales have been rising in the past two to three years, says Shannon DeVito, senior director of books at Barnes & Noble. She didnt provide specific sales numbers.

Nathan Latil, a 45-year-old digital asset manager in Memphis, Tenn., got his first Kindle a year ago. He pointedly collected printed books, often buying first editions or other titles he thinks friends would enjoy.

He bought his wife a Kindle Paperwhite, saw how much she loved it and tried it on a vacation. Latil blew through a book and then promptly bought himself one. He still collects physical books, but Latil now is rarely found without his emotional-support Kindle," as his wife calls it.

Im reading probably twice as much as I have before," Latil says.

E-reader as accessory

Among the Kindle girlie set, much like the Stanley cup fan base, having just an e-reader isnt enough. They also need page turners, stands, remotes and other Kindle accessories.

Myles Zernik-Traxler read more than 20 books within three months of her first Kindle purchase last year, and began looking for a special bag for her e-reader. Unable to find what she wanted, the 29-year-old in Cincinnati started her own line of accessories, Hello Clio.

The companys $58 Kindle belt bag comes with a lip-balm slot and two pocketsrecommendations from people on BookTok.

Sara Ribeiro has purchased numerous accessories for her two-year-old Kindle. The 24-year-old call-center supervisor in Coral Springs, Fla., started simple with stickers on the back. Next came a Bluetooth-operated page turner that hooks onto the Kindle and taps the button to advance pages. She also got an adjustable holder that attaches to her beds headboard.

She compares her reading setup to what film fans may do to set the mood for movie night. The Kindle gooseneck stand and the remote and the extraness of that?" she says. Thats my equivalent to the movie buffs."

Catherine Miller used to consider herself a member of the anti e-readers club" and refused to buy a Kindle. That is, until TikToks algorithm started feeding her videos of people gushing about their e-readers.

Miller, who works in social-media marketing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., bought her first Kindle, a Paperwhite, in May. The 29-year-old decorated it with stickers and a PopSocket to make it easier to hold, and is reading more than ever before, including in store lines.

Little moments where it would be weird to pull out a physical book, I can pull out my Kindle," she says.

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Write to Ann-Marie Alcantara at ann-marie.alcantara@wsj.com

View Full Image Who Are All These 20-Somethings Buying a Kindle?

View Full Image Who Are All These 20-Somethings Buying a Kindle?
Debris flows caused by storms that passed over central Idaho on Sunday blocked the road between Cove Creek and Colson Creek. Crews are working to clear the debris and reopen the road, according to a news release from the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

The Salmon River Road starts at North Fork and follows the Salmon River as it flows from east to west across the center of the state. But the road, which provides access to boat ramps used by rafters and power boaters, ends at Corn Creek. The river remains largely roadless for the next 80 miles as it continues westerly through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness before emerging at Vinegar Creek about 25 miles east of Riggins.
PD Explainer | EU protectionism contradicts European Green Deal

(People's Daily App) 15:55, July 02, 2024

The European Commission on June 12 unveiled provisional tariffs ranging from 17.4 to 38.1 percent for Chinese battery electric vehicle (EV) makers. China's Ministry of Commerce announced on June 22 that China and the EU would start negotiations on the EU's anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese EVs. What impact will the EU tariffs have on the EV sector in China and EU? Are the so-called "China overcapacity" narratives solid? This explainer video seeks answers including through an in-depth interview with Professor Cui Fan of the University of International Business and Economics.

(Produced by Han Xiaomeng, Song Ziyu, Di Jingyuan and Shan Xin)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
That is the primary benefit of Goliks decision. He notes that his office sent information from a 2021 shooting by the Clark County Sheriffs Office to an outside panel, but the review has not been completed.

Dave Makin, a criminal justice professor at Washington State University in Pullman, told The Columbian that in-house reviews are becoming more common. When you have body-worn camera video, and theres not a claim of misconduct or excessive force, thats where were seeing more prosecutorial offices make that determination to say,  ... We are comfortable we can be impartial. We can review this internally and reach a fair conclusion,  he said.

That can be a slippery slope. There are countless examples throughout American history of police officers and prosecutors obfuscating facts surrounding the use of force.

In 2020, after George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police, the initial police report included, Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. There was no mention that an officer knelt on Floyds neck for nine minutes; that officer was later convicted of murder, largely because of facts revealed in a video taken by a 17-year-old bystander.

That incident provides one example of the need for continued scrutiny. State Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, said: Transparency is important, and independence is important. Body cameras certainly helped with the transparency, and I dont discredit that at all. I just think that the use of body cameras does not dampen the need for an independent prosecutor process.

But for an independent process to serve the public interest, it must be timely as well as transparent. Allowing a review of a police shooting to languish for years does not bolster confidence in the process.

Indeed, there are concerns with the prosecuting attorneys office deciding whether there is a conflict of interest. And ideally, lawmakers will come up with an effective statewide review system. But for now, Golik has settled on the best possible solution.

TNS
WASHINGTON, D.C.  The Supreme Court on Monday kept on hold efforts by Texas and Florida to limit how Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube and other social media platforms regulate content posted by their users in a ruling that strongly defended the platforms free speech rights.

Writing for the court, Justice Elena Kagan said the platforms, like newspapers, deserve protection from governments intrusion in determining what to include or exclude from their space. The principle does not change because the curated compilation has gone from the physical to the virtual world, Kagan wrote in an opinion signed by five justices. All nine justices agreed on the overall outcome.

The justices returned the cases to lower courts for further review in broad challenges from trade associations for the companies.

While the details vary, both laws aimed to address long-standing conservative complaints that the social media companies were liberal-leaning and censored users based on their viewpoints, especially on the political right. The cases are among several this term in which the justices are wrestling with standards for free speech in the digital age.

The Florida and Texas laws were signed by Republican governors in the months following decisions by Facebook and Twitter, now X, to cut then-President Donald Trump off over his posts related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.

Trade associations representing the companies sued in federal court, claiming that the laws violated the platforms speech rights. One federal appeals court struck down Floridas statute, while another upheld the Texas law. But both were on hold pending the outcome at the Supreme Court.

While the cases are complicated, said First Amendment expert and Notre Dame Law School professor Richard W. Garnett, the justices were clear on two things:

First, the First Amendment protects what we choose to say, but also what we choose not to say, support, or endorse. That is, the freedom of speech includes editorial judgment. This is true whether the speaker is a lone individual or a large media company, he said. Second, the government is not permitted to regulate speakers simply to produce what the government thinks would be a better, or more diverse, marketplace of ideas. Whats on offer in that marketplace is, in the end, up to us.

In a statement when he signed the Florida measure into law, Gov. Ron DeSantis said it would be protection against the Silicon Valley elites.

When Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Texas law, he said it was needed to protect free speech in what he termed the new public square. Social media platforms are a place for healthy public debate where information should be able to flow freely  but there is a dangerous movement by social media companies to silence conservative viewpoints and ideas, Abbott said. That is wrong, and we will not allow it in Texas.
Biden issues a warning about the power of the presidency  and Trump  after Supreme Courts immunity ruling
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Congratulations to Mike Magan, Killashee, who was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by UCD for his contribution to veterinary medicine.

The Longford Dairy Farmer, Irish Agri-Sector Leader and former Chair of Animal Health Ireland Mike Magan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the university.

The award is a wonderful acknowledgement of a lifetime of hard work and dedication to farming and the farming community.

PICTURES: Longford families flock to entertaining and top class Streete Vintage Show

Magan was awarded the exceptional honour due to his "extraordinary contribution" to the Irish dairy industry, to Animal Health Ireland (AHI), to UCD, and to Irish society more broadly.

Mike has represented Longford to the highest degree, previously chairing a Fodder and Food Security Committee to address national food and energy supply issues at the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Also read: A wedding and a garda! Memorable week for two Longford brothers

Mike was central to the establishment of AHI in 2009 and, serving as Chair until 2021, and created the opportunity for a partnership approach to animal health in Ireland, bringing together farmers, processors, animal health advisors, and government.

Ireland exports 85-90% of beef and dairy production each year, to a combined value of 9.2 billion in 2023. To remain competitive in a global market, there has been an ongoing need for continuous improvement in product quality, including the health and welfare of Irelands food producing animals.

Also read: Longford farmer leads group tackling supply issues created by war in Ukraine

AHI has fundamentally changed the animal health landscape in Ireland and in his 13 years as AHI Chair, Mike Magan utilised all of his skills, as leader, team player, and consummate communicator, shaping the strategic direction of the organisation, and consistently pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible.

At Mikes retirement as AHI Chair in December 2021, Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, noted: Mike Magan has been and will continue to be one of the great leaders of the agri-sector. Mikes leadership in the space of animal health has ensured our sector is better placed to face the challenges we will encounter in the future.

Throughout his professional career, Mike Magan has also substantially impacted both the curriculum within the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and the work undertaken by private veterinary practitioners.#

Also read: Longford's farming sector facing immense challenges due to persistent bad weather

In particular, there has been a fundamental shift towards preventive herd health, underpinned by the AHI programmes, and this is strongly reflected in teaching and learning of veterinary undergraduates in the area of food animal production. Mike continues to impact the future of the School of Veterinary Medicine as a member of its External Advisory Board.

Mike has also served as Chair of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association, Chair of Agri Aware, has been a board member of the the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, and the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society, and Chairman and board member of Lakeland Dairies. He also sits on the Board of the Agricultural Trust (Farmers Journal).

Also read: Longford and Lanesboro mourns the death of Fabian Walsh, a giant of our community

Mike is also well known for his charitable activities. Notably, in 2020, he coordinated dairy cooperatives nationwide to arrange collection of over 300,000 in donations from dairy farmers for the Red Cross Appeal for Yemen.
Young staff working at city centre shops are afraid to take out bins due to the threat of encountering drug addicts, dealers and beggars.

Thats according to a local trader who addressed a special meeting organised by Limerick gardai.

Another businessman said the city centre is like zombie land early in the morning, with drug addicts wandering around aimlessly.

One trader said some beggars are pulling knives, scissors and needles on people" when they are being asked to move out of doorways.

Another went further, saying that when staff ask people to leave outdoor seating areas, threats are being made on their lives.

A city centre store manager said he has been physically assaulted twice in his shop - and even when he was on a night out with his partner.

One retailer, with more than 30 years experience in the city centre told the meeting - which drew over 50 traders - that things are at an all time low in Limerick.

Limerick Live, which originally reported the story, was asked not to disclose the names of the traders who addressed the event.

This was in order to allow them to speak openly without fear of repercussion.

Supt Andrew Lacey, Henry Street garda station said officers are under no illusion in terms of the scale of the problems facing the city centre.

He said that from next month, 200 body cameras will be deployed on front-line gardai in the city.

But a number of retailers admitted they no longer contact the gardai when problems arise, given the length of time it takes them to respond.

Supt Lacey admitted that Operation Feabhsaigh, set up to tackle the sale and supply of drugs in Kings Island had pushed the issue of dealing in illegal substances from there to the city centre.
Two men have been jailed for six years each for a Dublin post office robbery in which a customer had to dive on her three-year-old grandchild to protect him.

Both men pleaded guilty to the robbery of a post office on Decies Road, Ballyfermot on November 11, 2023. They also pleaded guilty to having an imitation firearm that looked like a handgun.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Mark OGrady had the imitation firearm and Paul Bradley had a metal wheel jack when they were driven to the post office by a third man, who has previously been jailed for six years for the crime.

There was one customer in the shop with her three-year-old grandchild at the time. There were also three female staff members behind counter.

OGrady (35), with an address at Bridge Street Lower, Dublin 8, stood at the door with the imitation firearm and prevented people entering and leaving, while Bradley (43), with an address on Meath Place in Dublin, went inside with the third man.

This man, Lee Conlon (44), who drove the gang to and from the scene in a stolen car, used a large scaffolding pole or rammer to smash the protective glass on the counter.

The three tellers then fled to a backroom, and Conlon went behind the counter and took 20,000 in cash, handing some to Bradley.

The postmaster and other witnesses managed to note the registration number of the getaway car and, within five minutes, the gardai had it under observation near St James Hospital.

Conlon crashed into another vehicle at a red light. All three fled, but were arrested within minutes, and all of the money was recovered.

Judge Martin Nolan heard that the postmaster was working in the shop beside the post office when he heard the commotion.

He tried to enter the post office, but OGrady pointed the imitation gun in his face. A supervisor also said a gun was pointed at her.

The woman with the three-year-old child said that she had to dive on her grandson to protect him when she heard a bang, and that she was shouted at to keep down.

Dominic McGinn SC, defending OGrady, said that his client had a very sad upbringing, with both his parents dead by the time he was eight, his father having been murdered in 1996. OGrady had been living on the streets since the age of 14, except when in prison and has spent most of his time incarcerated.

Since his teenage years, he had suffered from drug addiction, which was the root cause of his offending. Garret Baker SC, defending Paul Bradley, noted that his client pleaded guilty to the firearms offence on a joint enterprise basis, but was not the one with the firearm or the one who smashed the glass.

He also noted that his client was so intoxicated at the time that he was not fit for garda interview.

He has spent the majority of his adult life in custody. His life has been plagued by rampant drug addiction, he said. In his garda interview, he referred to a time when he had more potential. He had a trial for Luton Town FC in London.

Bradley told gardai that drugs had ruined him.

Judge Nolan said all men were equally culpable.

I gave Mr Conlon six years, he recalled. I can see no reason to depart from that sentence here. He imposed six years on the robbery count on each man, and five years concurrent on the firearms charge.

The court previously heard that Conlon had also been involved in the burglary of the Hugo Boss shop on Grafton Street on January 18, 2023, in which a car was reversed into the front of the shop, causing 51,000 of damage to the door and windows.

Conlon, of Meath Place, was one of three men who then stole clothing worth over 7,100 from the shop. He received an 18-month sentence for that burglary.
Hollywood star Russell Crowe said he decided to invest in a Co Donegal liquor company after being drawn to its fantastic origin story.

The Gladiator and LA Confidential actor attended the formal opening of the new home for The Muff Liquor Company, along with broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and former Boyzone member Ronan Keating.

Crowe and Keating are among the investors in the company, which has recently signed a distribution deal for the US market.

Crowe said he was thoroughly impressed with what Ive seen at the new building.

Hopefully this is the beginning of a long series of successes for you, for your company, he told chief executive of the company Laura Bonner.

Crowe said he was first attracted to the company because he loves a great story.

Ms Bonners grandfather Philip, a potato farmer, began experimenting with making vodkas and gin using his own recipe.

After first trying it out on family and friends, it developed to the stage that every Friday afternoon a queue of locals would pass through his farmhouse to pick up a jar of his spirits before the local dance.

When I heard the story of old Phil and what would happen on a Friday afternoon, I just got really attracted to it, Crowe said.

And then I tried the product, and that really sealed the idea for me that I had to get involved.

It is a great product and the story is a fantastic story that will travel from place to place, from country to country. And I just wanted to be part of that.

He added: Its a romantic idea, isnt it? A potato farmer looking at what he can do with his rotten potatoes, comes up with a recipe for a drink that appeals to people, and on a Friday afternoon a few drop in and fill up their receptacles, I just think its a brilliant story of community, he said to laughter.

Tubridy, who hosted the opening, became friends with Crowe through interviewing him as the former host of RTEs The Late Late Show.

He said: We wouldnt pedal muck, this is good stuff. I think people like the fact that theres a story with it, its not just a drink. So I like that too.

Keating said: Russell and I had been chatting for quite some time about getting involved in different liquor brands, it had become a trendy thing.

I got a call one day, he was here in Ireland shooting a film, and he just said Ive found it.

Found what? I found what weve been looking for.

The Muff men was created and its been a hell of a lot of fun. When Rusty calls, we step up to the plate.

To see this come to fruition, weve been talking about it for nearly three years now, to see what the Bonnar family have done.

Crowe also took time to pose for photos with locals gathered outside the new building.
Teenager Critically Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash and Airlifted to Hospital

Local News

By Long Island Published: July 02 2024

Acosta, 17was airlifted via police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition.

Suffolk County Police Third Squad detectives are investigating a single-vehicle crash that critically injured a teenager in Central Islip last night.

Jason Acosta was driving a 2010 Honda Civic northbound on Lowell Avenue, between Satinwood and East Sycamore Streets, when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed into the southbound lane, went off the roadway, and struck a utility pole at approximately 10:15 p.m.

Acosta, 17, of Central Islip, was airlifted via police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition.
Tragedy in Manorhaven: Young Worker Killed, Another Injured as Concrete Wall Collapses During Demolition

Local News

By Long Island Published: July 02 2024

A tragic incident in Manorhaven left a young worker dead and another injured after a concrete wall collapsed during a demolition.

The Homicide Squad report the details of an incident that occurred on Monday, July 1, 2024 at 11:43 am in Manorhaven.

According to detectives, officers responded to a residence located at 56 Kirkwood Road for two workmen that suffered injuries during the demolition of the home when a concrete wall collapsed on the two men.

A 56-year-old male victim was transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. The second victim, a 20-year-old male, suffered a cardiac arrest while being transported to the hospital and was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: July 02 2024

Brian Soltan, 62, and Gerald McCrystal, 51, were each sentenced after pleading guilty to grand larceny on separate cases for stealing sales tax money from New York State.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Brian Soltan, 62, of West Islip, owner of several East Islip auto body businesses, and Gerald McCrystal, 51, of Dix Hills, owner of Farmingdale-based furniture stores, were each sentenced after pleading guilty to grand larceny on separate cases for stealing sales tax money from New York State.

The deliberate theft of tax dollars is a serious offense that undermines the integrity of our tax system and places an unfair burden on law-abiding citizens and businesses. Both defendants collected sales tax from customers, fraudulently underreported taxable sales on dozens of returns, and then failed remit that money to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, said District Attorney Tierney. These cases serve as clear reminders that tax fraud will not be tolerated, and those who attempt to cheat the system will be held accountable for their actions.

According to Soltans admissions during his guilty plea allocution, between January 2011 to November 2015, Soltan failed to report approximately $2,817,951 in taxable sales from several businesses he owned in East Islip including Long Island Auto Body, Inc., Long Island Auto Collision, Inc., Long Island Towing & Auto Body, Inc., Long Island Towing & Collision, Inc., East Islips Auto Collision, Inc., East Islip Collision, Inc., and High End Collision, Inc., resulting in $244,799 in stolen sales taxes.

According to court documents and McCrystals admissions during his guilty plea allocution, between February 2008 to November 2015, McCrystal failed to report $8,979,157 in taxable sales from his Farmingdale-based businesses, including Levetz, Inc., Roma Fli Corporation, and Roma New York, Inc., resulting in $744,865 in stolen sales taxes.

Both defendants admitted to intentionally failing to remit funds collected on behalf of New York State.

On September 18, 2019, Soltan pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony before Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen Braslow. As a condition of his plea, Soltan was required to pay $250,000 in restitution prior to his sentencing on June 26, 2024. He was represented by Robert Macedonio, Esq.

On June 26, 2024, McCrystal pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, before Justice Braslow and was sentenced immediately thereafter. As a condition of his plea, MyCrystal was required to pay $745,000 in restitution. He was represented by Matthew Rosenblum, Esq.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sacks of the Financial Crimes Bureau. The investigation on Soltans case was conducted by Senior Detective Investigator George Bean of the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance assisted in both cases.
Bill and Will Selber are joined by Lieutenant General Sami Sadat who among many other roles served as deputy commander of the Afghan ground forces and later the deputy chief of staff of the Afghan National Army. Now, he leads the Afghan United Front. They discuss Americas role in giving the Taliban the upper-hand that ultimately led to the collapse of Kabul; the vital role of morale during war; just how established Al Qaeda is inside Afghanistan and whether the Taliban-Al Qaeda relationship got stronger after U.S. withdrawal; and more.

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Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
The most budget-friendly hotel brand, as determined by USA Todays list of the 10 best hotel chains that offer quality and affordability, has seven locations in Massachusetts.

Motel 6, which topped USA Todays ranking for its clean, friendly, dependable, and most importantly, affordable reputation, has locations in Brockton, Chicopee, Danvers, Framingham, Leominster, Seekonk and Tewksbury.

Expanded cable TV and pet-friendly rooms make this hotel a good choice for those looking to stay within their budget, USA Today wrote about Motel 6. Free coffee in the mornings makes getting up and going a pleasure.

During the month of July, a one-night stay at a Motel 6 in Massachusetts will run guests $95 to $125 on average, according to the brands website.

Despite high praise for affordability, not all Motel 6 locations in Massachusetts have the best online ratings.

Looking at Tripadvisor reviews, Motel 6s in Danvers, Brockton, Chicopee, Leominster and Seekonk all have a 2.5 out of 5 bubble rating. The Framingham location has a 3 out of 5 bubble rating, while the Motel 6 in Tewksbury was the lowest, at 2 out of 5.

USA Todays full list of the most budget-friendly hotel brands is as follows:
Connecticut State Police have issued an arrest warrant for Massachusetts stabbing spree suspect Jared Ravizza, the police department confirmed to MassLive on Tuesday.

State police did not immediately say what the arrest warrant was for or when it was issued, but the department previously confirmed that Ravizza was a suspect in the murder of 70-year-old Bruce Feldman, who was killed at a home in Deep River just hours before the stabbing spree on May 25. The Marthas Vineyard Gazette reported Monday that the arrest warrant was on charges of murder, criminal mischief and two counts of animal cruelty.

Ravizza, a 26-year-old Marthas Vineyard resident, was Feldmans short-term roommate, and they were seen relaxing outside together with their poodles the day he was killed, according to Boston.com. A short time later, a neighbor called police to report that Ravizza had thrown a shovel through their front door window pane.

Officers soon discovered a grisly scene at Feldmans home that disturbed first responders, Boston.com reported. Feldman  an inventor from West Hartford  was found dead outside the home, and the dogs were also found dead, but it is unclear how they were killed.

Ravizza and Feldman knew each other long before Feldman was killed, according to reporting by The Marthas Vineyard Times. While staying on Marthas Vineyard on Christmas Day last year, Feldman called 911 to report that Ravizza was on drugs in what appeared to be a nonsensical rant.

That day, Ravizzas father, Jason Ravizza, told police that Feldman and his son have had issues in the past, and that Feldman has been found staying at their house when they are not home and when he is not welcome, The Marthas Vineyard Times reported.

Ravizza is in the midst of court proceedings in Massachusetts, as he is accused of stabbing four girls at AMCs Braintree location and two employees at a Plymouth McDonalds the night of May 25. He was arrested later that evening on Cape Cod after he crashed the vehicle he was driving.

All six victims survived the apparently random and unprovoked attacks, which happened about an hour apart, authorities said previously. Ravizza is facing one count of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of indecent exposure out of Plymouth District Court and four counts each of armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon out of Quincy District Court in connection with the stabbings.

Ravizza would have to be extradited to Connecticut to be charged there, so given his active cases in Massachusetts, it is unclear when that would happen, Connecticut State Police told MassLive. Their investigation into Feldmans death is active and ongoing.

Ravizza has been detained at Bridgewater State Hospital since May 28 when a Plymouth District Court judge ordered him held while mental health professionals determine whether he is competent enough to stand trial. On Monday, a Plymouth District Court judge again ordered that Ravizzas mental health evaluation be extended and that he be held at Bridgewater State Hospital while this continues, court records show.

The court is set to review Ravizzas detention status and criminal competency again later this month.
This story was updated at 9:41 a.m. on July 16 to correct Dan Conleys title at Mintz. He is an attorney there.

Jury deliberations in the murder trial of Karen Read lasted five days before Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial, despite testimony stretching more than eight weeks and hundreds of exhibits introduced into evidence. Yet, experts say, five days represents significant deliberations on the part of the jury.

Dan Conley, a former Suffolk County District Attorney and now an attorney at Mintz, said he has seen jury deliberations get longer and longer  even in cases with far less complexity than that of Read.

Longer deliberation is becoming more and more the norm rather than the exception, he told MassLive in an interview on Monday.

In 1984, when Conley became a prosecutor, he said deliberations often lasted only a day or a day and a half. But, by 2018, when Conley left his role as district attorney, he said he often saw deliberations go for three or four days.

In the Read case specifically, Conley said he was not surprised the deliberations took as long as they did.

The fact that this went five days or so, I think its not all that unusual considering the length of the trial, he said. It took a while. They had to really work through an awful lot of evidence and then apply the law to that evidence that they heard over weeks and weeks. It was not an unusual amount of time.

This was obviously a very complicated case with a lot of witnesses, a lot of very conflicting evidence, Conley added. I didnt think it was an outlier at all that it went as long as it did.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John OKeefe, 46. Prosecutors accused her of intentionally hitting OKeefe with her SUV after an argument following a night of drinking.

Her attorneys argued instead that others were responsible for OKeefes death and Read was the victim of a law enforcement conspiracy.

Maureen Boyle, a professor at Stonehill College and a longtime crime reporter, said she wouldnt have been surprised if deliberations went longer than five days.

If anything, I would say it was kind of short, Boyle said Monday. A jury in the retrial may come back in two days, it may come back in two hours. No one can predict a jury. Anyone who claims that they can read or predict what a jury is going to do doesnt understand juries.

Jurors told Cannone on Friday and again at about 11 a.m. Monday morning they were unable to reach a unanimous decision. Cannone gave them a Tuey-Rodriguez instruction, which is given when a jury isnt able to come to a verdict as a last-ditch effort and is also usually a precursor to a hung jury, according to Daniel Medwed, a law professor at Northeastern University

Medwed said he thought the time  2 hours  between when jurors were given the Tuey-Rodriguez instruction and when a mistrial was declared was quick but said five days represented substantial deliberations.

Beyond the formal deliberations, Medwed noted jurors had been considering the evidence for months before deliberations even began.

In a long trial like this, they have been processing the evidence at a very high level for months, Medwed said, adding the jury had been consumed by this for months.

Theyve also spent a lot of time thinking about some of the fundamental issues in the case, whether she did or didnt do it, he continued. Its not just that they deliberated for five days. Its also that they took part in a two-month trial where they were breathing this case.

The Norfolk County District Attorneys office announced shortly after the mistrial was declared that it would re-try the case. Cannone could set a new trial date as soon as a status conference scheduled for 2 p.m. on July 22.

If a retrial is ordered, it must begin within a year of that date, said David Traub, the Norfolk District Attorneys spokesman, citing Rule 36D of the Rules of Criminal Procedure in Massachusetts.
Gov. Maura Healey on Tuesday said Massachusetts State Police made the right decision in relieving Trooper Michael Proctor of his duties following the conclusion of the Karen Read murder trial, which was declared a mistrial on Monday after five days of jury deliberations.

When he took the witness stand in Reads trial, Proctor, the lead investigator in Reads case, admitted to sending unprofessional and derogatory text messages about Read, in which he called her a whack job and told his sister he hoped Read killed herself.

Hours after the Read trial ended with a hung jury, acting State Police Colonel John E. Mawn Jr. announced Proctor would also be transferred out of the detectives unit at the Norfolk County district attorneys office. An investigation into serious misconduct by Proctor that emerged in testimony at trial is ongoing.

Healey, the states former attorney general, condemned Proctors comments when they were revealed during the trial. She said she fully supported Mawns decision.

This was the right move to remove him, Healey said, according to The Boston Globe. Theres no tolerance for that behavior, frankly, with anyone in law enforcement, with anyone in public service.

A State Police spokesman Monday said Proctor remained employed by the department but could no longer work cases or function as a trooper.

Our focus remains on delivering the highest level of police services with professionalism and integrity, Mawn said in a statement announcing the discipline against Proctor.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury or death.

Prosecutors accused her of intentionally backing her SUV into OKeefe, her boyfriend and a Boston police officer, after a night of drinking amid turmoil in their relationship.

Alan Jackson and David Yannetti, Reads attorneys, argued during the trial that she is the victim of a law enforcement conspiracy and that others are responsible for OKeefes death.

After five days of jury deliberations, Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial in Reads case when jurors said they could not reach a verdict.

In the statement, Mawn remembered OKeefe as a man who lived a life of honorable service  both to the City of Boston and the children entrusted to his care after the unexpected death of his sister and brother-in-law.

We cannot imagine the way in which this result has heightened the OKeefe familys immeasurable grief, heartache and sense of loss, Mawn said.
A Haverhill man was charged in connection with an explosive device found in a neighborhood, resulting in an evacuation of the area and the detonation of the device, a spokesperson with Essex District Attorney Paul Tuckers office told MassLive.

David Farnsworth, 63, was held without bail after his arraignment in Haverhill District Court on Monday, Tuckers office said. Farnsworth was charged with throwing/placing explosives, possessing explosives, possession a firearm without a license, possession of a large-capacity firearm, making terrorist threats and disturbing the peace.

Farnsworth pleaded not guilty to his charges and was ordered held without bail, Tuckers office said. He will appear again in court on July 19.

At around 8 a.m. on June 28, Haverhill police were tipped off about an item of concern at 5 Rosebud Avenue, Davines office said in a statement. Haverhill police and firefighters arrived at the address and requested help from the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit from State Fire Marshal Jon Davines office.

Residents nearby were evacuated while bomb squad workers assessed any potential hazards, Davines office said. With the help of robotic platforms and other tools, bomb squad technicians determined the device posed a significant danger and could not safely be transported, Davines office continued.

Through a controlled detonation, the device was no longer a threat to the area, leaving no one hurt, Davines office said. Residents in the area were allowed to return home, though Rosebud Avenue stayed closed for a short time until emergency vehicles cleared the area.

A resident at the Rosebud Avenue address was found driving a Freightliner on Route 495 in Wrentham, with state police stopping the Freightliner and arresting the driver, the fire marshals office said. State police shut down Route 495 and swept the Freightliner for any hazards.
It took 45 minutes for firefighters to get a 35-year-old man out of a heavily damaged car following a car crash on Saturday, officials said. The mans injuries were extensive, with low blood pressure, shock and internal bleeding.

Quickly, firefighters and paramedics decided to try a new lifesaving method starting at the crash site: whole blood transfusion.

The method had never been done in Massachusetts before, according to the Canton Fire Department. However, in March, the Canton Fire Department and 25 other cities and towns in Massachusetts worked with Boston Medical Center to launch the first pilot program in Massachusetts history for administering whole blood before a patient reaches the hospital, the press release stated.

On Saturday, the fire department put it into action.

The crash happened in Braintree during the early morning hours, officials said. The Braintree Fire Department and Brewster Ambulance paramedics swiftly put in a request to the Canton Fire Department for the whole blood transfusion.

Paramedics put the 35-year-old in the ambulance where Canton Fire Field Transfusion Paramedic Michael White and EMT Jonathan Buckley started the transfusion. On his way to Boston Medical Center, the mans vital signs improved, according to officials. Once at the hospital, he was taken to surgery.

This groundbreaking program represents a significant advancement in prehospital care and has already proven its worth in it first use, said Fire Chief Wendell Robery. The successful administration of whole blood in the field is a testament to our paramedics and EMTs training, preparedness and dedication. We are grateful for the collaboration with Boston Medical Center and the support of our neighboring communities.

Transfusions with specific blood components are common in hospital settings and are often used for trauma but whole blood might be becoming more common.

The leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. is massive bleeding caused by a traumatic injury, U.S. News and World Report wrote. Most of the deaths occur within six hours.

In an article by the Boston University School of Medicine, it pointed to a new study that suggested a person who receives whole blood transfusion for severe traumatic bleeding earlier has a greater chance of survival.

However, if this transfusion is delayed by as little as 14 minutes after arriving at the hospital, the survival benefit is significantly reduced, the university wrote.

Crisanto Torres, assistant professor of surgery at the school, said in the article that there was a decrease in survival probability for each minute delay in whole blood transfusion.

He said he hopes this encourages more hospitals to use whole blood as a standard emergency transfusion product and more consideration for it to be used at the scene of an injury or during transport to the hospital.
A cadre of Massachusetts state lawmakers has called on the Healey administration to review the number of migrants in the state shelter system brought to the U.S. by private sponsors  and to make them reimburse the taxpayers for the public money spent on their behalf.

In all, 11 state senators, led by Sen. Michael O. Moore, D-2nd Worcester, and Senate Minority Bruce E. Tarr, R-1st Essex/Middlesex, signed the June 25 letter sent to Gov. Maura Healey and state Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus.

While the Commonwealth has stepped up and contributed substantial financial aid and logistical resources to accommodate these migrants, two groups appear to not be fulfilling their obligations: The federal government and certain individuals who have certified that they will provide financial support to migrants as part of the application under the Humanitarian Parole Program, the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers said they [appreciated] the ongoing pressure you have placed on the federal government.

Now, they added, its time for the Democratic administration to also seek to hold to account those who have legally committed themselves to provide financial support for these migrants.

Last fall, faced with rising costs, and an ongoing influx of migrants, Healey imposed a 7,500-family cap on the shelter system. State lawmakers have since authorized, and Healey has opened, overflow sites across the state.

Lawmakers also have approved hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding for the system, about half of whose residents are migrants.

Competing budget proposals now before a joint House and Senate conference committee also would offer a fresh infusion of cash.

Given that burden, which is expected to soar past $900 million a year for the next two years, the coalition of lawmakers argued that its critically important that financial sponsors meet their obligations under the law.

One would expect that these financial sponsors, having certified under penalty of perjury that they are willing and able to provide that financial support and that they are aware of their responsibilities, will be amenable to reimbursing the Commonwealth, they wrote.

And if theyre not, then Healey should evaluate all legal options, whether independently or in conjunction with the federal government, to recover these funds, they added.

A Healey spokesperson told MassLive that the administration is reviewing the letter, and that there very few families who entered the country under the federal Humanitarian Parole Program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans the lawmakers cited.

Last week, Healeys office sent a delegation to the southern border to meet with federal officials and aid groups in an attempt to underscore the states challenges.

Speaking to reporters on June 26, the Democratic governor repeated her call for Congress to act.
A judge has ordered that the suspect in a Memorial Day weekend stabbing spree continue being held at Bridgewater State Hospital while an evaluation of whether hes competent enough to stand trial is extended, court records show.

Marthas Vineyard resident Jared Ravizza, 26, is accused of stabbing four girls at AMCs Braintree location and two employees at a Plymouth McDonalds the night of May 25, authorities said previously. He was arrested later that evening on Cape Cod after he crashed the vehicle he was driving.

All six victims survived the attacks, which happened about an hour apart, but Connecticut State Police have also named Ravizza a suspect in the murder of 70-year-old Bruce Feldman, who was killed at a home in Deep River a few hours before the Braintree stabbing. Connecticut State Police said previously that charges against Ravizza in Feldmans death are pending, and the Marthas Vineyard Gazette reported Monday that he will face a murder charge.

Ravizza is already facing one count of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of indecent exposure out of Plymouth District Court and four counts each of armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon out of Quincy District Court in connection with the Massachusetts stabbings.

Ravizza has been detained at Bridgewater State Hospital since May 28 when a Plymouth District Court judge ordered him held while mental health professionals determine whether he is competent enough to stand trial. On June 13, a judge extended Ravizzas detention and mental health evaluation, court records show.

On Monday, a Plymouth District Court judge again ordered that Ravizzas mental health evaluation be extended and that he be held at Bridgewater State Hospital while this continues, court records show. The court is set to review his detention status and criminal competency again later this month.

Over a month before Feldmans death and the stabbing spree, Ravizza attacked his father, Jason Ravizza, by beating him and throwing furniture during a mental break, according to court records. Marthas Vineyard police described him as clearly intoxicated, saying nonsensical things such as the deep state and frothing at the mouth. After the attack, officers brought Ravizza to a hospital for a mental health evaluation with the potential of an involuntary inpatient stay, but hospital staff decided not to have him committed.

Both stabbings in Massachusetts appear to have been random and unprovoked, according to authorities. The mother of three of the four girls who were stabbed told WCVB previously that her daughters said Ravizza was laughing when he came up behind them and stabbed them.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Inc., Massachusetts largest biotech company, announced a second round of layoffs late last month bringing the total number of employees affected to 861 in 2024, according to a state database.

The company, which specializes in medications to treat rare diseases and cancer, employed 6,290 employees in the commonwealth as of 2022. It is among the top 14 largest biotech companies in the United States, according to Takeda. The layoffs represent about 13.6% of the companys workforce.

Takeda filed its first Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice in May announcing 641 employees in Massachusetts would be laid off between July and March 2025  495 of which are based in Cambridge and 146 in Lexington.

The company filed for a second round of layoffs on June 28, announcing 189 more employees in Cambridge and 31 more employees in Lexington would be affected by layoffs between August and March 2025.

The layoffs come after the company shuttered a San Diego research center earlier this year affecting 340 full-time employees, according to Endpoint News.

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the company said Takeda is prioritizing increasing organizational agility, improving procurement savings, and strengthening how we leverage data, digital and technology across Takeda, Endpoint News reported.

The company previously said the layoffs were not an initiative to reduce staff but instead are a way of reallocating resources, San Diego Biotech Networks reported.
This story was updated at 9:41 a.m. on July 16 to correct Dan Conleys title at Mintz. He is an attorney there.

When a second trial for Karen Read begins, several pieces of evidence from Reads first trial, which ended in a mistrial on Monday after five days of jury deliberations, will play a key role as both prosecutors and Reads defense attorneys hone their strategies in the hopes of a definitive verdict, legal experts said.

Among those is the transcript of Reads first trial itself, which Dan Conley, a former Suffolk district attorney and an attorney at Mintz, said would be coveted by both sides.

Attorneys on either side of the case would get the chance to refine their direct or cross-examination based on the testimony witnesses gave the first time they took the stand.

The transcript could potentially aid Reads defense more than prosecutors because of the sheer number of witnesses called by the commonwealth in the case.

While defense attorneys may have had an inkling what witnesses were going to say when they took the stand, having the actual testimony at hand would allow them to refine their cross-examinations, Conley said.

That transcript is a treasure trove, he said in an interview Monday. Its a roadmap for the next trial.

Daniel Medwed, a law professor at Northeastern University, pointed to two factors from the first trial that could complicate prosecutors case a second time around.

Specifically, Medwed singled out the admittedly unprofessional text messages sent by State Police trooper Michael Proctor, who was relieved of duty hours after Reads trial concluded, and pathologist testimony that John OKeefes injuries were inconsistent with being hit by a car would be difficult for prosecutors to overcome in a second trial.

There are certain flaws in the case that are just inherent, he said Monday. I think theyre just certain aspects of this case that might be inherently difficult for the prosecution to overcome.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury or death.

Prosecutors accused her of intentionally backing her SUV into OKeefe, her boyfriend and a Boston police officer, after a night of drinking amid turmoil in their relationship.

Alan Jackson and David Yanetti, Reads attorneys, argued during the trial that she is the victim of a law enforcement conspiracy and that others are responsible for OKeefes death.

To Medwed, a different group of 12 jurors could just as easily find themselves split in a second trial.

It remains to be seen whether the hung jury here was a result of something that they could correct or is it a result that reflects some intrinsic weaknesses in the case, Medwed said.
This story was updated at 9:42 a.m. on July 16 to correct Dan Conleys title at Mintz. He is an attorney there.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor being relieved of duty Monday just hours after the murder trial of Karen Read ended in a mistrial after five days of jury deliberations does not in and of itself present an insurmountable obstacle for prosecutors who intend to retry Reads case, experts said.

When he took the witness stand in Reads trial, Proctor admitted to sending unprofessional and derogatory text messages about Read in which he called her a whack job and told his sister he hoped Read killed herself.

Hours after the Read trial ended with a hung jury, acting State Police Colonel John E. Mawn Jr. announced Proctor, the lead investigator in the case, would also be transferred out of the detectives unit at the Norfolk County district attorneys office. An investigation into serious misconduct by Proctor that emerged in testimony at trial is ongoing.

Proctor shared details of the investigation into the death of Reads Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe with friends and family, a fact that former Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley said is perhaps more troubling than the derogatory texts.

Conley, now an attorney at Mintz, said the discipline for Proctor provides additional fodder for Reads defense attorneys in a potential second trial. The discipline certainly damages Proctors credibility as the lead investigator in the Read case.

But, Conley said prosecutors likely have no choice but to call Proctor to the stand again, and noted that it was during direct examination by Norfolk prosecutor Adam Lally that the text messages were read to jurors.

I dont know how you get around trying the case without Michael Proctor being a witness, he said, adding if prosecutors did not call Proctor to the stand, Reads attorneys assuredly would.

In his own experience as a prosecutor, Conley said he often had to rely on testimony from gang members or witnesses with long criminal records and was able to win convictions despite the flaws of the witnesses.

Our job is to put facts in front of you, he said. Not everybody is a moral and ethical character.

It is still possible even with a deeply flawed witness that a prosecutor can win a conviction, Conley added.

Maureen Boyle, a professor at Stonehill College and a longtime crime reporter, echoed Conleys sentiments.

To Boyle, it will be difficult for prosecutors to win a conviction with Proctor as a witness in a second trial for Read, but not insurmountable. Now that prosecutors have the chance to refine their arguments, they could approach Proctors testimony differently and introduce the texts into evidence in a different way.

A good prosecutor will look at what worked, what didnt work, and move on from there, she said in an interview Tuesday morning. There is no ideal case, theres no ideal witness, whether its a civilian witness or a law enforcement witness.

One way Boyle suggested prosecutors may try to lessen the blow to jurors belief in their case is by calling more investigators to the stand to supplement the facts laid out in Proctors testimony.

The more people and voices prosecutors are able to present to a jury, the better their case might be, she said.

On Tuesday, Mawn once again forcefully condemned the comments made by Proctor, saying misconduct will not be tolerated in the departments ranks.

Those comments were not reflective of the state police and not where we want to be as an organization, he said.
Two major car crashes happened on I-195 in Seekonk on Tuesday, according to local news stations.

The first crash happened on the eastbound side of the road around 7:20 a.m., according to WJAR. Seven cars were involved, and five people were taken to a hospital with minor injuries as a result of the crash.

The second crash happened Tuesday afternoon sometime before 2 p.m., WLNE reported. It involved a box truck and a car, and both vehicles caught fire as a result of the crash.

Photos of the scene show that the box truck bore the logo of Cintas Corportation  an Ohio-based business services company. Cintas Corporation did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

It is unclear if anyone was injured or killed in the afternoon crash. Massachusetts State Police did not respond to a request for information about the crashes Tuesday afternoon.
Is former Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Scott Brown planning a return to public life?

It sure looks that way.

In a radio interview that aired Monday, the Republican, who served from 2011 to 2013, said hes thinking about whether there is a run sooner or later.

I believe I have one more run, Brown, who also served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand under former President Donald Trump, told WBURs Radio Boston program.

I think about the state of the country now. Im sad, and Im mad, and Im angry, Brown told the station in a conversation that was recorded last Friday  the day after the first presidential debate.

Brown, who lost reelection to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and made an unsuccessful GOP Senate bid in New Hampshire in 2014, did not attach a timeline to his potential ambitions.

Its not going to be [2024], he said. I will take everything into consideration for some time thereafter.

That decision could be predicated on personal wants and needs, said Brown, who also pointed to his reputation for bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.

Brown told the station he was saddened by Bidens faltering performance at last weeks nationally televised face-off against Trump.

In the days since, some Democratic activists have suggested replacing Biden at the top of the ticket.

I know Joe Biden. I spent a lot of time with him, Brown, whose tenure on Capitol Hill overlapped with Bidens tenure as vice president, said. Ive been to his house. Ive been to his office. Thats not the Joe Biden I know.

We all know people who [are] suffering from diminished capacity, whether through Parkinsons or Alzheimers [diseases]. Hes clearly on his way. And its sad, Brown told the station.

In May 2021, Brown told CNN that he believed Trump absolutely bore responsibility for the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, where the former presidents supporters violently attempted to disrupt Congress certification of the 2020 election results.

Absolutely, I mean he bears responsibility. I think his presidency was diminished as a result of this, and I think hes paying a price. Hes been impeached twice. He was impeached for those actions, Brown told the cable news network.

Speaking to WBUR, Brown said he intended to support Trump notwithstanding his actions during the violence at the Capitol, which led to the deaths of nine people, and left dozens more injured.

Trump now faces a federal criminal indictment in connection with the violence. But a historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has likely has delayed the trial in that case until after Election Day, NBC News reported.

Brown told WBUR that his former bosss record on such issues as the economy and immigration, in addition to his overall fitness, made him better suited than Biden.

"Ive always felt that what you see is what you get [with Trump], he said. Its an amazing juxtaposition of them being three years apart ... If these are the two people were dealing with, Im voting for President Trump. Im concerned about the diminished capacity.
Some Fourth of July celebrations have already been dampened by rain, rescheduling firework shows in some cities and towns across Massachusetts. So, what does the Independence Day forecast look like?

There is a chance of rain on Thursday afternoon and evening for a majority of the state, the National Weather Service said. However, its a 20-30% chance. There is also a chance of thunderstorms in the Berkshires Thursday afternoon.

Most of the day is expected to be partly sunny with a high near 87 degrees.

Rain isnt expected on Cape Cod until the early morning hours on Friday. The Fourth of July for this area is expected to be partly sunny with a high near 79 degrees.

In May, the long-range weather prediction for Farmers Almanac said Fourth of July weekend is expected to be generally pleasant with fair skies. This includes July 4-7.

It is the only few days the Farmers Almanac isnt predicting rain in July.
THE appointment of a new Project Manager of the SDZ at Ireland West Airport signals a major step forward for the airport and the entire region, according to Mayo Minister of State, Dara Calleary.

The Steering Committee of the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Ireland West Airport Knock announced that Dominick Healy will be the first Project Manager. When he takes up his role with Mayo County Council on August 22, his first priority will be to prepare a roadmap and programme for the development of the SDZ, working with the multi-agency Steering Committee established by the Government.

The appointment was announced by Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, and welcomed by Ballina-based Mayo TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary.

The vision for Ireland West Airport is that of a dynamic regional airport and business campus that will become an economic gateway to the west and northwest, he said. The appointment of a project manager is a major step forward for the airport and presents an opportunity to drive investment and employment at a key strategic location in the region; this will help to deliver on a key Government priority in terms of more balanced and sustainable regional development. I wish Dominick every success in his new role, Minister Calleary said.



Jobs promise

Last year the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment allocated 200,000 per year for two years to Mayo County Council to enable the employment of a dedicated project manager and the engagement of external expertise to develop a roadmap for the SDZ site, which has the potential to deliver over 4,000 jobs.

If built out to full capacity, the site could deliver 95,025 square metres of commercial, business and enterprise space, along with 44,000 square metres of aviation economic development and services, and 11,000 square metres of hotel accommodation and conference floor space.

Mr Healy has extensive experience as a civil engineer in the construction industry, having worked for more than 15 years in both the private and public sectors. He brings experience of client-side delivery on several large capital public projects as project manager, project coordinator and director, including most recently as Director of Construction and Infrastructure with the Grangegorman Development Agency on the mixed-use Grangegorman Strategic Development Zone project.

Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council is looking forward to working closely with him. I am delighted to make this announcement and to welcome Dominick Healy to our team. This is an important appointment, and his leadership and experience will play a vital role in charting the vision and future for the SDZ at IWA, he said.



Unleash potential

Mayo Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Planning and Local Government Alan Dillon said he hoped the appointment of Mr Healy will lead to the SDZ to become a viable alternative for future investment.

We need to make Mayo a more attractive place for investment and to do that we must unlock the potential at Knock Airport and ensure we have a viable proposition to any future investors. We need certainty around planning and access to critical infrastructure and the designation of the SDZ to be more appealing to those in sectors that possibly wouldnt be able to set up in this county without the additional support which the SDZ will provide for them.

We have seen success in other regions like the Shannon Free Zone, and we need to replicate something similar and unleash the potential the Atlantic Economic Corridor presents. Now with the revision of the National Planning Framework and how it seeks to provide better balanced regional development, this SDZ project can build momentum and this appointment gives it a significant boost, Minister Dillon said.



National importance

The decision to approve the Ireland West Airport Knock Strategic Development Zone was agreed at Enda Kennys last cabinet meeting in May 2017.

Strategic Development Zones are designated parcels of land that are considered of strategic national importance, to be fast tracked through the planning process. They cannot be referred to An Bord Pleanala.

There are ten areas in the state designated as SDZs, but the Knock Airport SDZ will be the only one located outside an urban area in Ireland. Its designation has the potential to significantly enhance the airports role as a driver of regional economic development.

The Government decision to fund the employment of a dedicated project manager is overseen by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is chaired by Mayo County Council and includes representatives of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, IWAK, Western Development Commission, North and Western Regional Assembly, Atlantic Technological University and the Programme Manager for the West Regional Enterprise Plan.






A Westport councillor has questioned why nobody has been fined for the continuing pollution of the bay off Newport and accused the EPA of washing their hands of the problem.

Fianna Fail councillor Brendan Mulroy called on Uisce Eireann to attend a meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District and give a detailed breakdown on the delivery of Newport Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Cllr Mulroy said he understands the earliest date for the delivery of the new treatment is 2030 and questioned why Uisce Eireann, formerly known as Irish Water, has not been fined for continuing to pollute the bay with raw sewage.

I really think there is an onus on Mayo County Council to step up to the mark along with the EPA. If my septic tank was flowing anywhere I was putting raw sewage into the tide I would get fined but we are standing by and allowing raw sewage to flow into the bay in Newport.

It is a case that the EPA seem to have washed their hands of it and are not going near it and the environment section of Mayo County Council say it is the EPA who needs to be dealt with and Irish Water seem to be a law amongst themselves.

There are fines out there for littering but we are standing by and letting the bay in Newport be polluted on a daily basis. People in Newport would have no difficulty if a date was set for completion in 2030 but we have been at this since 2017 when we were told there was no sewerage going into the bay.

This is the sort of environmental protection we have in Ireland. I cannot understand how nobody is getting fined here when people are being charged left right and centre in relation to the polluter principle and rightly so but people of Newport deserve better. I will be asking Irish Water to come in here and explain bit by bit where they will deliver this treatment plant, he said.

Scandal

He was supported by fellow councillors John O'Malley and Paul McNamara who said that the continuing pollution of the bay was a scandal.

A young man bought a boat and brings people out on the bay but he is embarrassed to go out on a low tide because of the sewage, said Cllr O'Malley.

That is not good enough. If any of us did any bit of pollution we would be stopped immediately and fined and farmers payments would be stopped and we would get jail if we continued doing it. But they keep doing it and it is not on, he added.

Cllr McNamara said the absence of a treatment plant was holding back the development of Newport and he too could not understand how nobody has been fined for polluting the bay.
Officials from the Department of Education have been invited to the next meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District to outline the vision for Holy Trinity NS as well as education as a whole in Westport.

The invitation officials was proposed by Cllr Peter Flynn, who said that the saga involving the future of the Holy Trinity school building was one of a number of issues facing the wider education sector in the west Mayo town and its environs.

I propose that we invite someone from the department of education to our meeting in July setting out what their thought process lies and ask them where they see the vision for both primary and secondary schools in westport and the catchment area. I want this discussion dealt with in a public manner rather than being lost in a vacuum, which it has over the years, he said.

The Fine Gael councillor added that the future of second-level education in Westport is the elephant in the room which needs to be resolved and for the two secondary schools in the town to sit down together and decide what direction they need to go down.

Blocking accusation

His proposal was seconded by Cllr Brendan Mulroy, who accused the Department of Education of discriminating against Holy Trinity NS and the Church of Ireland community for blocking the proposal to locate their new school at the old Scoil Phadraig site on Altamount Street in Westport. The site had been earmarked for the new Holy Trinity school but officials now plan to use the site as temporary classrooms for the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Westport.

If the Catholic community were in a situation where the Church of Ireland community are in now I dont think they would be in this situation. I hate to say it but it is absolutely discrimination against that community. They are a minority community within this town and I for the life of me understand how this situation has been left to boil and go so far down the road.

Under the terms of a Good Friday Agreement we will eventually have a vote for a united Ireland. If you looked at the way the Church of Ireland community is being treated by the department of education and our government, it would be very hard to vote for a united Ireland, he said, and called on Minister for Education Norma Foley to support the Holy Trinity community.

I would be a poor public representative if I did not highlight this again today because it came up on numerous doorsteps. People are incensed about what is going on. We in this town have always worked together in partnership and we need to treat all communities equally. I am calling on Minister Foley to step up to the mark and give Holy Trinity their school, the Fianna Fail councillor said.

Not fair

He was supported by Independent councillor John OMalley, who said the Department of Education would not have the site had it not been gifted by the Sisters of Mercy to allow Holy Trinity to have their school.

It is not fair, and nobody should allow this to happen to Holy Trinity. It is discrimination and there is no question about it. It is time for the department cop on. We are supposed to be open to let other people in and we are treating our own people like outsiders Its time the department cop themselves on and do what is right and proper, he said.

Director of Services, Catherine McConnell confirmed that the Department of Education has not been in contact with the council in relation to providing land for education in Westport.






Family Resource Centres (FRC) in Mayo have called on the Government to put community services at the heart of Budget 2025.

Representatives from Tacu Ballinrobe Family Resource Centre in Mayo met with members of the Oireachtas at a briefing event in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, to urge them to adequately fund community services in Mayo in this years Budget.

The centres require adequate funding so that they can provide the level of support services that are desperately needed in local communities.

The event was run by the FRC National Forum (FRCNF), the national representative body for FRCs, to officially launch its Budget 2025 submission.

The FRC programme is the largest community-based family support programme in Ireland. Through a network of 121 FRCs, it supports families in communities experiencing poverty and disadvantage.

Increase in core funding

The primary call on Government, as part of the submission, is for an increase in core funding for all 121 FRCs, to 240,000.

Earlier this year, Minister Roderic OGorman raised the minimum level of core funding to 160,000 per FRC. However, this figure was identified six years ago as the basic level of funding for new FRCs.

For Budget 2025, the FRCNF has identified the required level of funding per FRC as 240,000, for them to be able to adequately provide the services required of them.

Commenting on their pre-Budget submission, Fergal Landy, CEO of the FRCNF, called Budget 2025 a key opportunity for Government to maximise the potential of the FRC National Programme.

The current level of funding of 160,000 per FRC is intended to cover the salary of three full-time staff members, operational costs and the running of services in the centre. This is just not realistic nor sustainable.

The shortfall in core funding is leading to a recruitment and retention crisis of suitable, qualified staff and difficulties in maintaining appropriate premises to deliver the high quality supports our FRCs have become known for, added Mr Landy.

Additional Key Asks

In addition to the increase in core funding, the FRCNF is also calling for no new centres to be introduced until existing FRCs are adequately funded. They also wish for involvement in the decision-making process, when the programme is expanded, to ensure alignment to the existing FRC programme approach.

Additionally, they want to ensure consistent, long-term funding for counselling and therapeutic support in FRCs nationwide as well as the development and introduction of a dedicated capital funding stream.

Last year, over 70,000 therapeutic support sessions were provided to adults and children in FRCs across Ireland. As a result of these services being made available, 71 percent of FRCs reported a decrease in their waiting lists for services like play therapy, one-to-one psychotherapy, and parenting workshops, continued Mr Landy.

The CEO said the impact of the funding made available for these showed the potential of what could be achieved if provided long term.

In every corner of the country, the FRC National Programme plays a vital role in providing services for its community. However, FRCs have long experienced a reduced level of core funding, in comparison to similar organisations, and we are now urging the Government to put communities at the heart of Budget 2025 and invest where it is needed most, he concluded.

Further information about the FRCNF is available here on their website.
The Ballinrobe Neighbourhood Watch (BNW) is urgently calling upon all residents to contribute vital information as part of a community-wide effort to advocate for increased Garda presence in the area. This initiative aligns with Theme 2, Priority 5 of the recently published Community Futures action plan for Ballinrobe.

At a BNW meeting last week, the group highlighted the importance of gathering information from a wide range of individuals in Ballinrobe and surrounding areas. This data collection is critical for presenting a comprehensive community perspective on local policing issues. The Ballinrobe Community Development Council (CDC) has already obtained written signatures from town businesses, documenting their concerns and support.

Locals are invited to send their views on a number of issues by emailing ballinrobeneighbourhoodwatch@gmail.com. The committee would like people to specifically focus on the following questions:

- How can we improve community safety in terms of anti-social behaviour issues; crime and criminal behaviour; drug intimidation and drug dealing?

- Are you happy with the opening hours and staffing levels at Ballinrobe Garda station?

- Do older and vulnerable people feel safe in their community and, if not, how might that be improved?

We need every residents input to ensure the collective voice of Ballinrobe is heard. This is the grassroots effort that will drive meaningful change, said a spokesperson for the committee.

Attendees at the meeting also learned about the Neighbourhood Watch programme and its potential. Although the committee was delighted to welcome a new coordinator for one area in Ballinrobe, they continue to seek additional coordinators to strengthen the community safety and crime prevention network.

The information gathered will be compiled into a report, aimed to be ready by this Thursday, July 4, in preparation for a crucial meeting with local and regional representatives, Mayo County Council, and Garda officials. Although the meeting date is yet to be confirmed, the BNW is coordinating with the CDC to finalise it.
AUDITIONS

MCLA Theatre

Mainstage

We will be auditioning for both the fall and spring Main Stage shows this semester.

Fall 24: Measure 4 Measure

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Laura Standley, Professor of Theatre

Friday, November 8 at 10am and 8pm

Saturday, November 9 at 8pm

Sunday, November 10 at 2pm

Tech begins: Saturday, November 2

First Rehearsal: Monday, September 9

Rehearsals: MTWTh evenings 7-11pm, and Sundays 1-4 or 2-5pm.

Enroll in: 60314 THEA-379-80 THEA Prod: Com

To enroll, click HERE for Course Override Form.

Spring 25: The LIttle Prince

Adapted by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar

from the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Directed by Jeremy Winchester, Professor of Theatre

Friday, April 4 at 10am and 8pm

Saturday, April 5 at 8pm

Sunday, April 6 at 2pm

Tech begins: Saturday, March 30

First Rehearsal: A mix of class and evening rehearsals, schedule TBA.

Enrollment information to come.

INITIAL AUDITIONS

MEASURE 4 MEASURE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th 6-10pm

Venable Theater

THE LITTLE PRINCE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th 2-5pm

Venable Theater

CALL-BACKS

MEASURE 4 MEASURE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th

Venable Dance Studio

Audition Requirements

Measure 4 Measure

For Measure 4 Measure, the initial audition will consist of one prepared verse monologue from the plays of William Shakespeare. At least 12 lines. Returning students must be memorized.

Call-backs for Measure 4 Measure will consist of cold readings from the show and a brief group movement audition.

No experience necessary. This audition process not only helps us determine your fit for casting, but also helps you determine whether this project is right for you.

The Little Prince

The Little Prince will host one open call for all interested, no material prep needed, wear loose clothes.

Incoming students are strongly encouraged to attend the Audition Workshop held Thursday, September 5th to get comfortable with the audition process. At the audition workshop, we will cover all your questions and help you feel more confident about auditioning.

Call-back invitations will be sent by email following the initial audition.

Preparation. Prepare your monologue ahead of time. Know the lines and analyze what your character says and figure out why they say it. Make choices about how your character is going to do what they do. Then practice out loud and on your feet, so that you can make it all the way through performing the monologue in the way that you planned without stopping.

Clothing. What to wear? Look your best. Plain, simple clothing in neutral colors is best. Wear what you feel comfortable in, thats appropriate, and that wont be distracting.

Verse. Shakespeares plays are written in a combination of Prose and Verse. Prose is a conversational way of speaking which doesnt have a set rhythm or structure. Verse always has a set rhythm and structure. Verse lines look different on the page because of the structure. The lines of text are usually shorter than the lines of prose.

Cold reading. A cold reading is when you are handed a script and asked to perform a scene. Actors are given a side (an excerpt of material from the show), paired with a partner, and allowed a short amount of time to rehearse together. To prepare for cold-readings, be familiar with the show and study the characters.

Group movement audition. A group movement audition involves physical activity that works with your bodies own abilities, whatever they are. If asked to attend a group movement audition, please wear clothing appropriate for active movement such as dancewear or sportswear.

How to sign up. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the Theatre Program call-board. The callboard is located on the 2nd floor of Venable Building across from Venable Theater.

Day of Auditions. It is recommended that you show up early enough to fill out an audition form. Once we start the event, we want to begin right away.

Evaluation. The audition will be evaluated based on the following areas:

Ability to learn lines

Ability to follow directions

Ability to speak from memory

Emotional honesty

Vocal strength and variety

Ability to distinguish between personal and general space

Enthusiasm and focus

Creative and social cooperation with other performers

Ability to improvise (make it up as you go along, go with the flow)

Coordination, sustained movement, and ability to take risks onstage

*Please note that all roles are open to all ethnicities, identities, and abilities.

NOTE. All auditions are private. We find that students do their best and most honest work when parents and guests are not watching. In the room will be the directors, Laura Standley and Jeremy Winchester.

GENERAL INFORMATION

MCLA Theatres season offers hands-on, real-world experience making theatre productions in a faculty mentored, professional setting. Students who audition and are cast participate as actors, while students who interview are assigned backstage crew or production area positions. While this course is required of theatre program students, it is also recommended for anyone interested in making theatre. This course may be repeated.

Any MCLA student may audition. Actors participating in the MCLA Theatre season must enroll in 3 credits of THEA 379.

The Theatre Program is committed to inclusive casting which promotes diversity in the casting of roles where race, ethnicity, gender, age, and the presence or absence of a disability is not essential to the development of the play or characters. All students are encouraged to audition.

Theatre Program students are not given preference in casting decisions. The audition process is part of the students theatre training. All best efforts will be made to inform students of the directors process, and to encourage them to maximize their preparation and participation. The aim of casting is to select the most able student for a particular role, while also taking into consideration the relevance of the nature of the role to the students continuing development as an actor.

Guest artist actors are occasionally used in some roles and are always pre-cast. Guest artist actors enhance the training process by providing professional level models for students to learn from through observation.
THEA 110  Introduction to Stage Crafts (3 credits)

Provides a foundation in the practice of technical theatre, preparation for work in scenery, lighting, and costumes. Class projects are designed to reinforce specific technical skills discussed and demonstrated in class. Additionally, the required lab time outside of class provides hands-on experience. Prerequisite: None

THEA 120  Introduction to Performance (3 credits)

Introduces the fundamentals of stage performance. Improvisation, relaxation, and character exercises build awareness of skills necessary for successful live performance. Presents basic acting vocabulary/theory. Develops confidence performing in front of others. Includes readings, plays in context, viewing of live theatre, and short writing assignments. Fosters more informed observers of performance experience. Course attributes: CCA Prerequisite: None

THEA 200  Introduction to Theatre (3 credits)

Surveys historical development of world theatre emphasizing western dramatic tradition. Introduces a broad range of theatrical literature and theory within its historical context. Includes class discussions and writing assignments, as well as viewing of live theatre, panel discussions, and critical response sessions. Course attributes: CCA Prerequisite: None

THEA 210 - Drawing for Theatre (3 credits)

Familiarizes students with basic materials and techniques of graphic presentations and scenic, costume, and lighting design for theatre. Students will be introduced to the basic vocabulary of drawing, rendering, and drafting techniques used as communication tools for theatre design and production. Focuses on technical drafting skills, perspective and drawing the figure. Prerequisite: None

THEA 220  Beginning Acting (3 credits)

Sets foundation for the integrated voice, movement and acting training sequence. Draws from diverse sources to develop the actor's instrument and its potential for stage performance. Beginning with non-verbal exploration and movement study, students progress to character exercises with text. Designed to increase body awareness, expand flexibility and control, reinforce acting vocabulary and theory, and promote understanding of the demands of creating dynamic characters for stage performance. Prerequisite: THEA 120

THEA 230- Stagecraft II: Scene Construction (3 credits)

Provides the student with basic knowledge of stage construction. Familiarizes students with the methods, materials, equipment, concepts and processes involved in the construction of scenery for the theatre. The emphasis of the course will be on the physical process that results in the production of scenery through construction techniques. Hands-on experience will be gained by completing lab hours in the scene shop: assisting in the construction and installation of theatre program season. Prerequisite: THEA 110

THEA 240 - Stagecraft II: Costume Construction (3 credits)

Provides basic knowledge of costume construction. Familiarizes students with the methods, materials, equipment, concepts and processes involved in the construction of costumes for theatre production. The emphasis of the course will be on the physical process that results in the production of costumes through construction techniques. Hands-on experience will be gained by completing lab hours in the costume shop: assisting in the construction and installation of theatre program season. Prerequisite: THEA 110

THEA 250 - Fundamentals of Theatre Design (3 credits)

Explores the creative process and principles of tool design as they apply to theatrical production. Emphasis will be on script analysis, graphic techniques, and research for and of design. Introduces the student to the vocabulary, fundamental elements and principles of design and how they apply to the theatre experience of scenery, costume and lighting design to include discussion, appreciation and evaluation of theatrical design. Prerequisite: None

THEA 260  Intermediate Acting (3 credits)

Continues the integrated voice, movement & acting training sequence from Beginning Acting, emphasizing on character building. Students explore the acting instrument in greater depth. Movement study connects the voice to the body & then progresses to play analysis from the actors point of view, followed by more formal text work. The goal of the course is to gain greater flexibility & control over the instrument & expand understanding of the demands of creating dynamic characters for stage performance. Prerequisite: THEA 220



THEA 271  Play Analysis (3 credits)

Introduces the basic principles, techniques and challenges of analyzing plays for theatrical production. Focuses on the process of reading and analyzing plays while developing basic vocabulary of dramatic styles. Develops basic knowledge of principles of dramatic structure through readings from a diverse range of theatre texts from the western canon. Goal is to discover what the playwright has dramatized and how best to realize it on stage clearly, imaginatively and powerfully. Prerequisite: THEA 200

THEA 280  Stagecraft II: Topics

Builds on the foundational skills learned in Intro to Stage Crafts. Familiarizes students with methods, materials, equipment, concepts & processes resulting in the creation of some aspect of theatre production. Hands-on experience will be gained by completing lab hours in a production shop; assisting in creation of Theatre Program productions. Rotating topics may include: Stage Electrics, Stage Properties, Intro to Sound. Students may repeat enrollment for credit, but may not repeat topics. Prerequisite: THEA 110



THEA 290 - Stage Makeup (3 credits)

Introduces students to basic make-up vocabulary, materials and techniques. Students will work toward a proficiency in the principles and skills of makeup application including basic corrective/straight makeup, old age, and character makeup in order to communicate aspects of a character to an audience certain information. Prerequisite: None

THEA 310  Design for Theatre (topic) (3 credits)

Studies the process of designing for theatre through play analysis, research, color theory, composition, and the examination of design elements and principles for stage. Design concepts are demonstrated through rendering techniques, drafting or modeling to communicate ideas, cultivating a design aesthetic. Rotating topics may include: Costume Design, Scene Design, Lighting Design and Sound Design. Students may repeat enrollment for credit, but may not repeat topics. Prerequisite: THEA 200, THEA 250

THEA 360  Advanced Acting (topic) (3 credits)

Builds on the foundational skills & concepts acquired from the integrated voice, movement & acting sequence. Students will choose further study to inform their individual development as actors. Topics are offered on a rotating basis & focus on a specialized aspect of acting technique while incorporating advanced research & dramatic analysis. Topics include Shakespeare, Musical Theatre, Realism/Naturalism, and Experimental/Alternative. Students may repeat enrollment for credit but not topics. Prerequisite: THEA 120, THEA 220



THEA 370  Collaboration (3 credits)

Develops practical studio in theatrical collaboration designed for both performance and production students. Develops skills in collaboration across artistic disciplines, offering effective strategies for communication as students create and perform short projects. Offers direct, real-world experience in theatrical collaboration and leadership, allowing the individual to test skills talents and creative ideas in an environment conducive to both individual and collective artistic growth. Prerequisite: THEA 200, THEA 250, THEA 271

THEA 372  Theatre Practicum (1 credit)

Provides a setting for the practical application of theatre skills. Involves participation in Theatre Program Season. Course may be repeated. Prerequisite: By audition or interview only



THEA 379  Topics in Theatre Production (3 credits)

Studies in depth a specific aspect of theatre production. Designed to provide advanced work in materials, techniques and design. Topics are offered on a rotating basis, and focus on a specialized aspect of production technique. Topics may include: Historical Patterning, Computer-Aided Drafting, Advanced Lighting Technology, or Stage Management. Students may repeat enrollment for credit, but may not repeat topics. Prerequisite: THEA 110, THEA 230 or THEA 240

THEA 380  Audition Technique (3 credits)

Introduces the specific techniques and skills necessary to audition for the professional stage with confidence and artistic honesty. This course will focus on the development of audition material from a wide range of styles and genres as well as mastery of cold reading techniques, and practical preparation for the professional world and the business of acting. For the student contemplating a professional theatre career. Prerequisite: Junior/Senior Status, Theatre concentration, THEA 220

THEA 381  Theatre History I: Beginnings to 17th Century (3 credits)

Traces the evolution of Western theatre in its social/political context from ancient Greece through the Renaissance. Theatre architecture, styles of staging, and works of dramatic literature are studied in relation to the social and intellectual history of each major era. Prerequisite: THEA 200

THEA 383  Theatre History II: 18th Century to Present (3 credits)

Traces the evolution of Western theatre in its social/political context from the 18th century to the Post-Modern Period. Theatre architecture, styles of staging, and works of dramatic literature will be studied in relation to the social and intellectual history of each major era. or artist style Prerequisite: THEA 200

THEA 470  Directing (3 credits)

Explores the fundamentals of direction for the stage, including analysis, composition and staging. Begins with play analysis from a directors point of view, followed by exploration of stage composition, then progresses to staging and working with actors. The various exercises culminate in the direction of a short play for public performance. The goal is to increase understanding of the many roles and responsibilities required of the theatre director as artist and collaborator. Prerequisite:THEA 120, THEA 200, THEA 271, THEA 250, THEA 370

THEA 479  Topics in Theatre Performance (3 credits)

Studies in depth a specific aspect of theatre performance. Provides advanced work in analysis, interpretation, and research. Primarily for majors in their junior or senior year. Includes topics such as: Accents and Dialects for the Stage, Advanced Directing, Clowning and Commedia, Collaborative Theatre Ensemble, Contact Improvisation, Hip Hop Theatre, Improvisation, Mask Performance, Melodrama, Period Dance for Stage, Physical Comedy, Puppetry, Spoken Word, Stage Combat, etc. Prerequisite: Instructor Approval
by Ray Schultz , July 1, 2024

Terence Samuel, who was named as editor in chief of USA Today barely a year ago, is stepping down.

The newsroom was informed on Monday that Samuel would be leaving effective today, wrote Monica Richardson, senior vice president of USA Today, The New York Times reports.

Replacing Samuel as interim editor is Caren Bohan, the executive editor of politics. The publication will conduct a national search for a replacement, Richardson wrote.

No reason was given for the change, and Samuel only told the Times that it was sudden.

Samuel was brought on last July, not long after Nicole Carroll departed as editor after five years in the role.

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Previously, Samuel was vice president and executive editor of NPR News, and has also served in senior editorial positions at The Washington Post and National Journal.

The new job entails shaping content that serves over 75 million readers.

With his reputation of leading award-winning newsrooms and fostering cultural change, Terry will be instrumental in the next phase of growth at USA Today, said Kristin Roberts, chief content officer, at the time of the hire.

Richardson issued this statement to the Times, Terry Samuel has been a valued colleague during his tenure at USA Today. We sincerely wish him well and thank him for his contributions.
by Teresa Buyikian , July 1, 2024

Ah, The O.C. The quintessential 2000s show, (fictionally) depicting Orange County, Californias insanely drama-filled, young, beautiful and rich inhabitants. Even those who werent fans loved to hate it.

Now the originators of the show -- creator Josh Schwartz and executive producer Stephanie Savage -- and their production company, Fake Empire, have been tapped to bring back The O.C. (along with the drama) in a new series of ads for 21Seeds Tequila.

The female-founded, infused tequila brand also brought in original The O.C. star Rachel Bilson, who is reprising her character of an adult Summer Roberts, for the ads, which also commemorate the 21st anniversary of the show.

The idea for this campaign came about during the writers strike, which made Josh and Stephanie available to work with us, which they likely wouldnt have been able to do before, Adrienne Cuschieri, business director for 21Seeds, told Marketing Daily. We are so lucky that we had some of Hollywoods biggest thinkers looking at our brand in a creative way tied to some of their most notable work.

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The ads, which use The O.C. theme song throughout, all take place at an epic pool party (where else?) hosted by Summer. In Spicy Delivery she oversees the delivery of 21Seeds infused tequila, where the delivery guy ends up being a bad boy from Summers past. Unfortunately he has his next delivery in Chino, a Los Angeles suburb no one from O.C. would ever set foot in (for many reasons, but mostly because it is OUTSIDE O.C., where the cast rarely tread).

The Paloma Party" shows Summer mixing a Paloma cocktail using 21Seeds Grapefruit Hibiscus, while a woman at the pool has a complete screaming meltdown, complete with throwing a chaise lounge into the pool. Summer says the tantrum-thrower is pissed because she missed her Yogalates class.

It would be impossible for us to ignore the massive wave of Y2K nostalgia and reboots flooding pop culture, Cuschieri told Marketing Daily. We also know fans of The O.C. have been asking for a revival for a long time, so when we realized the iconic show will celebrate its 21st birthday this August, we thought what better way to celebrate than with a fun look into Summers life in 2024.

According to Cuschieri, the Serving Summer campaign is brands biggest creative push since it founded in 2019. The ads launch today and will run on Hulu, Max, Peacock, among other digital platforms, as well as on the brand's official Instagram profile @21seeds.
by Ray Schultz , July 1, 2024

Two Mississippi weeklies have closed, resulting in the loss of 11 jobs.

The century-old Jasper County News and the Smith County Reformer have closed because of financial reasons, Clarion Ledger reports. Both were owned by Buckley Newspapers Inc.

A third Buckley publication called Impact was also closed.

"I'm just kind of taking it day by day," said Kevan Lindsey, former general manager for Buckley Newspapers, according to Clarion Ledger. "I got a call from our H.R. that we weren't projected to make payroll. I went and talked to our company lawyer and he advised that we close immediately."
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, July 1, 2024

The Lego Group announced today the winner of its 18-month long global media agency review--Publicis One, powered by Starcom, a bespoke agency team just for Lego.

The Billund, Denmark-based company confirmed that the incumbent, Interpublic Groups Initiative, also participated in the review. Initiative won the account in 2017.

advertisement advertisement Lego spends an estimated $450 million annually on measured media, according to agency research firm COMvergence.

A three-month agency transition period begins this month.

Julia Goldin, chief product & marketing officer, The Lego Group, stated, We were impressed with Publicis Ones depth and breadth of expertise  as well as their aligned cultural values. We look forward to working together to further enhance our ecosystem, leveraging their insights and capabilities to create engaging and meaningful experiences for our audiences.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, July 2, 2024

Regulators in Europe have made a preliminary finding that Meta Platforms violates the Digital Markets Act by requiring Facebook and Instagram users to choose between accepting online ad targeting or paying subscription fees for ad-free versions of the services.

Meta's pay-for-privacy model, unveiled last October, falls short of the Digital Market Act's requirements in two ways, the European Commission stated when announcing its preliminary opinion.

First, according to regulators, the approach doesn't allow users to choose an equivalent service that uses less personal data.

Secondly, Meta's model does not allow users to exercise their right to freely consent to the combination of their personal data, the commission wrote.

Users who do not consent should still get access to an equivalent service which uses less of their personal data, in this case for the personalization of advertising, the commission wrote.

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The opinion comes around nine months after Meta said it would charge residents of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland monthly fees for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram on Android or iOS operating systems. Residents of those areas who didn't pay fees could continue to access the services, but only if they accepted personalized ads, Meta said.

A Meta spokesperson said the company's approach complies with the Digital Markets Act and follows the direction of the highest court in Europe, referring to a July 2023 decision by the European Court of Justice.

We look forward to further constructive dialogue with the European Commission to bring this investigation to a close, the spokesperson said.

The European judges said in the 2023 ruling that social networking companies could not deny service to people who didn't consent to the processing of their data, unless the companies offered an equivalent alternative service -- if necessary for an appropriate fee -- that didn't involve data processing.

The decision interpreted the General Data Protection Regulation, which requires companies to have a valid basis to process residents' data. That standard allows companies to process data if people consent, but only if the consent is freely given.

The newer Digital Markets Act, which took effect earlier this year, also broadly requires gatekeepers -- meaning Meta and other large tech companies -- to obtain users' consent before tracking them for ad targeting purposes.

Despite last year's ruling by the European Court of Justice, privacy officials at the European Data Protection Board recently cast doubt on Meta's pay-or-consent approach to data.

In most cases, it will not be possible for large online platforms to comply with the requirements for valid consent if they confront users only with a binary choice between consenting to processing of personal data for behavioral advertising purposes and paying a fee, that board said in a non-binding opinion issued in April.

The board handed down the opinion at the request of Dutch, Norwegian and German authorities who asked the agency to weigh in on whether large platforms can lawfully implement consent-or-pay approaches to behavioral targeting.

The European agency said in its ruling that requiring people to either consent to behavioral advertising or pay for services should not be the default way forward for controllers.

The board added that large online platforms should offer users a free equivalent alternative to accepting behavioral advertising.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, July 2, 2024

Omnicom precision marketing agency RAPP has promoted two executives to chief marketing officer posts in the US and UK.

Ludovic Gougat was tapped for the U.S. and Tracey Barber for the UK.

The agency said the promotions were part of its effort in driving growth and building a more connected global network.

advertisement advertisement Barber, previously SVP of client growth at RAPP U.K., has also held brand management, growth and marketing roles at IBM, Lenovo, and various agencies within Omnicom, IPG and WPP networks.

Gougat was previously president of RAPP West and earlier held CRM media and brand advertising roles at Wunderman, Universal McCann and Ogilvy.

The appointments follow the recent hires of Troy Hitch, global chief creative officer, and Amit Deshpande, chief technology officer.
Highlights: The new Mpox Clade 1b strain has a higher transmission rate and increased fatality rate

Unlike the previous strain, Clade 1b can affect individuals without sexual contact

The new strain poses a significant risk to children, with a mortality rate of 10%

  Trusted Source

'New Mpox Clade 1b worrying, can spread via physical contact, raise mortality rate'



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The new Mpox Clade 1b strain is more transmissible and has higher fatality rates, posing risks to children and adults. Stay informed and cautious. #healthalert #mpox #medindia

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New Strain of Monkeypox is More Fatal

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The new Clade 1b strain of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox ) is concerning because it can easily spread between individuals through physical contact and result in increasing fatality rates, including among youngsters, according to infectious disease experts ().The new strain, which is now isolated to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Central Africa, differs from Mpox clade 2b, which produced a global outbreak in 2022, with 94,707 confirmed cases in 107 countries."The DRC has had such endemic occurrences for a long time. Mpox clade 1, which is more fatal and conspicuous, has existed for decades. But now it has grown more transmissible because of new variants, that is clade 1b," infectious disease expert Dr. Ishwar Gilada said.
Say no to Self-medication:

Consulting Dr. Internet, not a physician, is the most dangerous trend. #selfmedication #selfdiagnosis 

Consulting Dr. Internet, not a physician, is the most dangerous trend. #selfmedication #selfdiagnosis 

Googling Your Prescriptions is Not Safe for Health

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Use of internet for practice of self-medication: We are heading toward an era of internet pharmacy



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Dangers of Self-Medication

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Dangers of Self-Medication



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  Trusted Source

Artificial intelligence and internet influence on drug utilization: Exploring self-medication trends in South Indian pharmacy students



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Use of internet for practice of self-medication: We are heading toward an era of internet pharmacy - ( https://doaj.org/article/ff5c9c0a486c457f89db8af1b7d854fe) Dangers of Self-Medication - (https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/addiction-blog/dangers-of-self-medication/) Artificial intelligence and internet influence on drug utilization: Exploring self-medication trends in South Indian pharmacy students - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949866X24000704)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for self-diagnosis and prescription may put human life at risk, warn healthcare experts.On, they voiced concern over the growing trend of patients depending on Internet search results even for serious ailments. They believe that while there are many advantages of using the Internet, there are no less problems impacting everyday lives because of it. Ease in life and potential risks, both multiplied over the last couple of years, if not more, with the entry of AI and Machine Learning (ML), which are fast overtaking our lives, say doctors.According to them, the Internet has emerged as a primary source of health information, fuelling a rise in unsupervised self-medication practices. AI has introduced a new facet to this trend, which poses significant risks to human life. Engaging in such unchecked behavior presents grave threats and may result in fatal consequences if incorrect medications are consumed due to misjudgement ().Potential dangers of self-medication () include inaccurate self-diagnosis and the misuse of medications, leading to potentially hazardous drug interactions or incorrect dosages, they said. AI works based on data input, and in healthcare data has to be accurate to the last decimal to ensure perfect diagnosis of the ailment to provide best medication or treatment. Hundred percent accuracy is certainly not possible when it comes to providing data by non-healthcare practitioners.The Internet, especially AI, is developed and dominated by the western world, especially the US. Basic information available on AI platforms could be those associated with the geography and demography of the West. Such information may or may not be suitable to people in India , because the information available will only be to the closest and not the most accurate (), said Dr. Gayatri Kamineni, COO, Kamineni Hospitals.. The Internet in general and AI in particular must be seen as a support function and not as a judgment to trust blindly, she said.Dr. B. Kishore Reddy, Chief Ortho Oncologist and Managing Director, Amor Hospital believes that when someone takes medication without consulting a doctor or medical professional, he might be choosing the wrong drug. Additionally,And if you take a substance for a prolonged period, your body may become dependent and need this substance to continue functioning correctly.Sometimes patients may feel some short-term relief and may think taking medication to alleviate symptoms is beneficial. But there is a likely possibility that such medication could mask symptoms of an underlying medical condition, and if proper medical guidance is not sought, that underlying condition could worsen and become dangerous over time.Misusing or overusing medication can also increase the risk of severe medical complications, causing harmful symptoms, including nausea convulsions and even death.Internet, especially Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have eased the lives of healthcare practitioners. We have access to the most advanced treatment protocols, and due to the ease in communication, the risk of making mistakes has reduced a great deal in a hospital setting. However, this advancement is controlled and monitored by experts who have decades of experience in providing best care. It is the combination of experience, expertise, and Internet, which delivers the best outcome for patients., observed Dr. C. Mallikarjuna, Chief Urologist and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Nephrology & Urology (AINU).Source-IANS
Carry forward the millennia-old friendship between China and Kazakhstan

By Zhao Yipu and Wu Shan (People's Daily App) 16:24, July 02, 2024

"China and Kazakhstan are good neighbors, good friends, and good partners with a long history of exchanges between the two peoples and mutual learning between different civilizations along the ancient Silk Road," said Chinese President Xi Jinping in his congratulatory message to the opening ceremony of the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year" in China on March 29.

Paintings are displayed at an art exhibition titled "Kazakhstan-China: A Dialogue Across Millennium" in Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan. (Photo: China Central Television News)

A 1,700-plus-kilometer common border, more than 2,000 years of exchanges, and the ancient Silk Road bind the two countries together.

Xi paid a state visit to Kazakhstan in September 2022. After a welcome ceremony, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited Xi to an art exhibition titled "Kazakhstan-China: A Dialogue Across Millennium."

On display were Chinese and Kazakh masterworks from the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The exquisite Chinese paintings and porcelains and the Kazakh silks and ceramics are vivid testaments to the mutual learning between the splendid Chinese and Kazakh civilizations over the millennium. They also bear historical witness to the friendly exchanges between generations of Chinese and Kazakh people.

The camel bells along the Silk Road are now part of the history. However, the friendly exchanges between the two countries have never ceased.

Kazakhstan, a major stop along the ancient Silk Road, was where Xi unveiled the "Silk Road Economic Belt" to the world. In September 2013, Xi delivered a speech titled "Promote People-to-People Friendship and Create a Better Future" and proposed the idea of jointly building a Silk Road Economic Belt in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Aray Saniyazova, head of International Students and Scholars Services, Nazarbayev University, attended Xi's speech in 2013. Saniyazova said that the audience felt inspired by Xi's proposal of building a Silk Road Economic Belt and believed that Kazakhstan would embrace more development opportunities with this proposal.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, who is in China for the China-Central Asia Summit and a state visit, in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 17, 2023. After the talks, the two heads of state signed a joint statement and witnessed the signing of a raft of bilateral documents on cooperation in areas including economy, trade, energy, transport, agriculture, connectivity, culture, and local affairs. (Photo: Xinhua)

Over the past decade, China and Kazakhstan have achieved fruitful results in various fields of cooperation centered on the Belt and Road Initiative, benefiting the people of both countries and revitalizing the millennia-old Silk Road friendship between China and Kazakhstan. As a Kazakh proverb says, "Friendship is an inexhaustible wealth."

In the southern part of Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, there is a street named after the famous Chinese musician Xian Xinghai  Xian Xinghai Boulevard.

In 1942, Xian was stranded in Almaty. When war broke out between Nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union in 1941, the composer was working on a documentary for the Communist Party of China under the alias of Huang Xun in Moscow. Forced to abort his mission and evacuate, he was left alone in the Kazakh city of Almaty and couldn't return home. At a time when he was alone, ill, and in dire straits, Kazakh musician Bakhitzhan Baikadamov took him in, providing him with food and accommodations.

During his years in Almaty, Xian composed famous musical works such as "National Liberation Symphony," "Holy War," and "Man Jiang Hong." He also created the symphonic poem "Amangeldy," inspired by the deeds of Kazakh national hero Amangeldy, which motivated people to fight against fascism and was widely welcomed by Kazakhs.

In 2019, China and Kazakhstan co-produced the film "The Composer," which documents the great friendship between the Chinese and Kazakh people as exemplified by Xian's friendship with Baikadamov. The film won numerous awards after its release.

Photo shows a monument commemorating Chinese composer Xian Xinghai on Xian Xinghai Boulevard in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Photo: Xinhua)

"Our family helped Xian Xinghai despite our financial difficulties and the risks involved because the people of China and Kazakhstan have a long-standing tradition of mutual assistance in times of hardship," said Baldyrgan Baikadamova, the daughter of Baikadamov, reminiscing about the past. "The historical memory of friendship between China and Kazakhstan has long been written into our genes, passed down from generation to generation."

Amity between peoples holds the key to the relationship between countries. Xi said, "cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation serve as important bridges and bonds for people-to-people connectivity between China and Kazakhstan."

In recent years, China and Kazakhstan have made new achievements in promoting tourism cooperation.

In November 2017, China officially set up a tourism office in Astana, the first one of its kind established by China in a Central Asian country. It has played an active role in promoting cultural and tourism exchanges between China and Kazakhstan.

In November 2023, a mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Kazakhstan officially came into effect, making it more convenient for tourists from both countries to visit each other.

In 2024, which was designated as the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year" in China, more than 35 activities will be held.

Moreover, the two countries are expanding cultural cooperation in various ways. For example, they have signed an agreement to open cultural centers in each other's countries.

Last year, the Kazakhstan Luban Workshop, a vocational training school jointly built by China's Tianjin Vocational Institute and D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University in Kazakhstan, began trial operations in Oskemen, Kazakhstan.

Both countries' youths are also enhancing their exchanges.

Cultural cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has deepened and reinforced, further consolidating the millennia-old friendship between the two peoples.

Two technicians operate a China-made intelligent robotic vehicle in the automotive repair training area of the Luban Workshop in Oskemen, Kazakhstan. The workshop is jointly built by Tianjin Vocational Institute and D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University and began trial operations on December 9, 2023. (Photo: Zhao Yipu/People's Daily)

Looking to the future, Xi has called on both sides to deepen cooperation on tourism, increase cross-border travel, carry forward their friendship to embrace the next "30 golden years" in bilateral ties, and make new contributions to building a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future.

(Translated by Zhan Huilan, Xie Jiahui and Fan Xiaoyu)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, will meet tomorrow, Wednesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg.



Following the expanded talks between the delegations, the two Ministers will deliver joint statements to the Press at 1:20 pm. A working lunch will follow.
An airman was killed and five others injured after a Humvee mishap at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana on Saturday, marking the latest incident with the armored military vehicle at America's nuclear missile bases.

Late Monday evening, the airman was identified as Staff Sgt. Jorge Delgado, 37, assigned to the 341st Security Forces Squadron at Malmstrom. He was killed while traveling to his duty location in the Humvee.

Three airmen also in the vehicle with Delgado were injured, and two first responder airmen were harmed while responding to the incident, the base said in a news release. All five were taken to medical facilities for treatment. As of Monday, two remained in the hospital in stable condition and three had been released.

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Military.com reported earlier this year that the 20th Air Force -- the numbered command that oversees intercontinental ballistic missile operations at Air Force bases such as Malmstrom, F.E. Warren in Wyoming and Minot in North Dakota -- changed the way it was training and using Humvees following airmen deaths in the vehicles. Humvees are used by security forces airmen to make the long treks out to the missile alert facilities scattered through the remote and often treacherous terrain of the American West.

Officials told Military.com, which first learned about the new policy during a visit to F.E. Warren, that it was a "deliberate pause coupled with a reassessment of training, certification and employment."

That change came after one airman died in Colorado in September and another died in Montana in October.

Airman Trinity Reinhart, a 19-year-old security forces member from Oregon, stationed at F.E. Warren, died Sept. 16 in a Humvee incident near Grover, Colorado, the base said at that time.

Roughly one month later, Airman Alton John, a 19-year-old security forces member at Malmstrom, was killed in a vehicle incident Oct. 21, according to the base. Local media outlets at that time, citing Montana Highway Patrol information, stated the Humvee attempted a downhill right-hand curve "at an excessive rate of speed for the vehicle," adding that it crossed into the other lane, spun and then left the road, where it rolled "multiple times."

Officials with Air Force Global Strike Command told Military.com that the policy from late last year modifying Humvee use is still in place at all of the intercontinental ballistic missile bases.

There have been other recent deaths outside of the nuclear missile bases. In 2022, a 19-year-old Air Force ROTC cadet was killed in a Humvee accident at Saylor Creek Range, a part of the Mountain Home Range Complex, in southwestern Idaho.

From 2019 to 2024, at least nine airmen died in government-owned vehicles, according to the latest available data from the Air Force Safety Center.

An investigation into the Humvee incident at Malmstrom is ongoing.

"Team Malmstrom and our surrounding community grieve not only the loss of an outstanding airman, but a family member and a friend," Col. Dan Voorhies, 341st Missile Wing commander, said in a statement. "As we help our impacted airmen and families, I urge us all to spend a little extra time checking in on one another, wrap our arms around those in need, and provide love and support, so we can keep enduring."

Editor's note: This story was updated to correct Delgado's age due to incorrect information originally supplied by Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Related: Humvee Use at Air Force's Nuclear Missile Bases Changed After 2 Airmen Died in Recent Months
Troops at Colorado Space Force Base Will Have to Bring Their Own To-Go Boxes for Dining Hall

While the initiative is aimed at reducing waste on base, the spokesperson added that they hope it will give troops on base...
NORFOLK  The Hampton Roads area could soon see new Navy housing that would provide beds for about 8,000 sailors, area officials announced Monday.

A bipartisan group of state and local elected officials participated in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Navy personnel on federal, state and local investments in the Hampton Roads region. The goal was to bring all levels of government together to ensure a unified approach, including timelines, on revitalizing downtown Newport News around the shipyard.

This is an effort to make Newport News the center for excellence for shipbuilding, Rep. Rob Wittman said during a news conference at the U.S. Navy Tour and Information Office in Norfolk. This is about prioritizing quality of life for our sailors, quality of life for our men and women that work at the shipyard. We know we have to be successful in both those enterprises. If were going to recruit and retain the best in our Navy, we have to take care of them.

Vice Adm. Christopher Scotty Gray said the Navy is looking at creating 8,000 new beds for sailors in Hampton Roads. He said 1,000 to 1,500 beds would likely be in Newport News, although he noted the Navy is still working on specifics. He said he hopes the Navy has worked out a project timeline by the fall.

Earlier this year, the state committed a $40 million treasury loan to support construction of Navy housing downtown. State and local officials previously said the Navy could contribute up to $400 million to house sailors and revitalize downtown.

The effort to improve the quality of life for sailors comes in the wake of a rash of suicides among Hampton Roads-based sailors.

Wittman said other potential ways to improve the quality of life include building eating establishments and more convenient medical care locations.

Gray said the bipartisan effort to improve sailors quality of life in the Hampton Roads region has moved at lightning speed compared to the normal bureaucracy.

Last month, the U.S. Navy and Newport News Shipbuilding announced the construction of a new parking garage that will bring 2,000 new parking spaces to downtown Newport News for use by shipbuilders and sailors assigned to the shipyard.

We remain committed to ensuring that downtown of Newport News is the best place to live, to work and to raise your family, and that includes our Navy partners, said Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com

2024 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Law enforcement is investigating the death of a retired major general whose body was found Saturday at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, officials confirmed to Military.com.

Retired Maj. Gen. William Mullen, 59, a former Marine Corps officer with multiple deployments to Iraq, was found on the installation at Building 1651 over the weekend, according to San Bernardino County Coroner records.

A spokesperson for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service told Military.com on Tuesday that the military law enforcement entity is investigating the death.

Read Next: Airman Killed and Multiple Injured in Humvee Crash in Montana, Marking Latest Incident at Nuclear Missile Bases

"I can confirm that NCIS is conducting a thorough investigation into the death of retired Maj. Gen. William Mullen, as we do in response to any non-combat, medically unattended fatalities involving Navy and USMC equities, service members, and affiliated civilian personnel," said Darwin Lam, a spokesperson for the agency.

When asked, NCIS did not disclose the manner of Mullen's death.

"Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS will not comment further while the investigation remains ongoing," Lam said.

Gloria Huerta, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, told Military.com on Tuesday that the local coroner's office responded to Mullen's death at around 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

She said that the autopsy is ongoing and that the sheriff's department is not directly involved in the investigation with NCIS, only that its coroner's office is "handling the cause and manner of death."

Mullen assumed command of Twentynine Palms in 2016 as a brigadier general. Commissioned as an artillery officer, he served with the Marine Corps in a bevy of roles for 34 years, to include Marine Aide to the President of the United States, according to his official biography. Before retiring in 2020, he served as the commanding general of Training and Education Command.

"Maj. Gen. Mullen's dedicated service to our nation and the Marine Corps will always be remembered," Maj. Gen. Thomas Savage, head of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, said in a statement shared Tuesday with Military.com. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones."

The Los Angeles Times first reported that NCIS is investigating the former general's death. Twentynine Palms is the largest Marine Corps base in the world, according to the installation's website.

In May, Gunnery Sgt. Robert McDonald, a Marine at the installation, was killed when an 18-year-old fired a weapon into McDonald's vehicle while he was sitting with his dog at a park just 10 miles south of Twentynine Palms.

Related: Marine from Twentynine Palms Randomly Gunned Down While Sitting in Car at Park
The founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the first veterans' organization for post-9/11 troops, has a new mission: recruiting politically independent former service members to run for public office.

Paul Rieckhoff, a former Army infantry officer and veterans activist who established IAVA in 2004, announced the creation Tuesday of Independent Veterans of America, or IVA, a nonprofit aimed at recruiting veterans who are registered as independents or are unaffiliated with an established political party and getting them elected.

In a release, Rieckhoff said the push is needed as Americans grow weary of a system that has generated the "same, old, partisan candidates."

Read Next: Airman Killed and Multiple Injured in Humvee Crash in Montana, Marking Latest Incident at Nuclear Missile Bases

"America is hungry for new leadership with independence, integrity and experience," Rieckhoff said in a statement. "Independent Veterans of America will provide a new generation of political leaders who are ready to challenge the duopoly, put country over party, and meet this incredibly challenging moment."

According to a poll conducted by Gallup in January, 43% of American voters identify as independent, while 27% each say they are Democrats or Republicans. More than two decades ago, in 2000, roughly 34% said they were Democrats, 30% described themselves as Republican, and 35% identified as independents.

During an interview Tuesday, Rieckhoff said nearly half the nation's 18 million veterans identify as independents, and some would like to pursue public office but don't see a path to victory, given the predominant two-party system.

The group is planning outreach in all 50 states to recruit independent veterans to run at the local, state and federal level, with a goal to get 250 candidates on ballots for the Nov. 5 election.

IVA, he said, will help with the legwork, getting necessary signatures and obtaining voter files and other information needed by candidates. It will also provide media support and -- for candidates who receive the group's endorsement -- campaign funding.

The past year has seen growing interest in third-party, party-independent and moderate movements, according to a panel of experts brought together last November by the University of Southern California's Center for the Political Future. But potential candidates have been linked at some point in time with one of the two major parties in the U.S.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is mounting a third-party presidential campaign, had been a registered Democrat his entire life before last fall, when he declared his candidacy as an independent.

Other groups, such as No Labels, have been established to foster cooperation between Democrats and Republicans. And the group With Honor aims for its veteran members to heal political polarization by working across the aisle, with veterans pledging to put the good of the nation ahead of partisan politics.

IVA is the first to focus on galvanizing independents, Rieckhoff said.

"George Washington was an independent. [He's] kinda the spirit animal here," Rieckhoff said.

While this year's goal of 250 candidates is ambitious, IVA's interests lie in long-term strategies to change the status quo, Rieckhoff said.

"We're really focused on the farm team and the next generation, and also giving Americans some hope that there is a new generation of leaders willing to step up," he said.

IVA's advisory board is made up of an eclectic mix of military personnel and civilians, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen; author Sebastian Junger; former presidential candidate Andrew Yang; historian Ken Burns; Bonnie Carroll, founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors support network; and Michael Smerconish, a host on Sirius XM's "POTUS" channel and CNN's "Smerconish."

Rieckhoff said the board will help recruit candidates and get the word out about the movement.

"We want to recruit veterans from all over, and folks like Sebastian Junger and Ken Burns, they understand deeply what America is about, and we think they can help us communicate a patriotic message that is bigger than any political party," he said.

Rieckoff himself has made a name as an activist and political firebrand, leading the charge on post-9/11 veterans issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and more.

But while many of his positions could be categorized as progressive, Rieckhoff says he has a track record of 20 years of independence, with views that are "all over the spectrum."

"I'm pretty moderate by today's standards. I think that most people who form the independent community are sick of the extremes on both sides. They see Trump and they see [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], and they want an alternative," he said.

IVA expects to have a list of endorsed candidates by late summer and plans to hold a convention in New York City sometime around Sept. 11, according to Tuesday's announcement. Rieckhoff encouraged interested independent veterans to go to the group's website and see what opportunities may be available.

Most states' filing deadlines are July 31 or Aug. 31.

"This is the moment to answer the call. If you're an independent veteran, or you're an independent-curious Democrat or Republican, we invite you to declare your independence and join IVA this Independence Day," Rieckhoff said.

Related: Uncle Sam Needs You ... to Be a Poll Worker for This Year's Election
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court's ruling Monday in former President Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case makes it all but certain that the Republican will not face trial in Washington ahead of the November election.

The Supreme Court did not dismiss  as Trump had wanted  the indictment alleging he illegally schemed to cling to power after he lost to President Joe Biden. But the ruling still amounts to a major victory for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, whose legal strategy has focused on delaying the proceedings until after the election.

The timing of the trial matters because if Trump defeats Biden, he could appoint an attorney general who would seek the dismissal of this case and the other federal prosecutions he faces. Or Trump could potentially order a pardon for himself.

Trump posted in all capital letters on his social media network shortly after the decision was released: BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

In remarks Monday evening, Biden said the court had done a terrible disservice to the American people, who he says deserved to know the outcome of the case before they head to the polls.

The American people will have to render a judgment about Donald Trump's behavior," Biden said. The American people must decide whether Trump's assault on our democracy on Jan. 6 makes him unfit for public office.

Here's a look at the ruling and what comes next:

The Opinion

The courts conservative majority said former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for official acts that fall within their exclusive sphere of constitutional authority" and are presumptively entitled to immunity for all official acts. They do not enjoy immunity for unofficial, or private, actions.

The ruling means that special counsel Jack Smith cannot proceed with significant allegations in the indictment  or must at least defend their use in future proceedings before the trial judge.

The justices, for instance, wiped out Smiths use of allegations that Trump tried to use the investigative power of the Justice Department to undo the election results, holding that his communications with agency officials is plainly protected from prosecution.

The justices sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who must now carefully analyze whether other allegations involve official conduct for which the president would be immune from prosecution.

Among the issues for further analysis is Trumps relentless badgering of then-Vice President Mike Pence to not certify the electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021. The justices said it was ultimately the Governments burden to rebut the presumption of immunity in Trumps interactions with Pence.

The order also directed additional analysis on the various posts on X, then known as Twitter, that Trump made  as well as a speech he delivered to supporters  in the run-up to the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Determining whether that communication represents official versus unofficial acts, the justices said, may depend on the content and context of each" and thus needs more scrutiny.

The Fake Electors Scheme

The justices required fresh fact-finding on one of the more stunning allegations in the indictment  that Trump had participated in a scheme orchestrated by allies to enlist slates of fraudulent electors in battleground states won by Biden who would falsely attest that Trump had won in those states.

The Trump team had argued that the selection of alternate electors was in keeping with Trumps presidential interest in the integrity and proper administration of the federal elections and cited as precedent an episode he said took place in the disputed election in 1876.

The Smith team, by contrast, portrayed the scheme as a purely private action that implicated no presidential responsibility.

The conservative justices in their majority opinion didnt answer the question as to which side was right, instead saying that determining whose characterization may be correct, and with respect to which conduct, requires a close analysis of the indictments extensive and interrelated allegations.

Unlike Trumps interactions with the Justice Department, the justices said, this alleged conduct cannot be neatly categorized as falling within a particular Presidential function. The necessary analysis is instead fact specific, requiring assessment of numerous alleged interactions with a wide variety of state officials and private persons.

The Dissenters

The three liberal justices  Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson  sharply criticized the majoritys opinion in scathing dissents. Sotomayor gave a dramatic speech as she read her dissent from the bench, at times shaking her head and gritting her teeth as she said the conservative majority wrongly insulated the U.S. president as a king above the law.

Ironic isnt it? The man in charge of enforcing laws can now just break them," Sotomayor said.

The dissenting justices said the majority decision makes presidents immune from prosecution for acts such as ordering Navy seals to assassinate a political rival, organizing a military coup to hold onto power or accepting a bribe in exchange for a pardon.

Even if these nightmare scenarios never play out, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done. The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law, Sotomayor wrote.

In a separate dissenting opinion, Jackson said the majoritys ruling breaks new and dangerous ground.

Stated simply: The Court has now declared for the first time in history that the most powerful official in the United States can (under circumstances yet to be fully determined) become a law unto himself, Jackson wrote.

The majority opinion accused the liberal justices of fear mongering and striking a tone of chilling doom that is wholly disproportionate to what the court actually does today.

What Comes Next

The case will now go back to Chutkan. The trial was supposed to have begun in March, but the case has been on hold since December to allow Trump to pursue his appeal. Chutkan had indicated at that time she would likely give the two sides at least three months to get ready for trial once the case returns to her court.

That had left the door open to the case potentially going to trial before the election if the Supreme Court  like the lower courts  had ruled that Trump was not immune from prosecution.

But the Supreme Court's ruling that Chutkan must conduct further analysis is expected tie the case up for months with legal wrangling over whether the actions in the indictment were official or unofficial.

Trump's Other Cases

Trump was convicted in May of 34 felony counts in his hush money trial in New York and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. The falsifying business records charges are punishable by up to four years behind bars, but there's no guarantee Trump will get prison time. Other possibilities include fines or probation.

It seems almost certain that Trump's two other criminal cases will not go to trial before the election.

An appeals court recently halted Trump's Georgia 2020 election interference case while it reviews the lower court judges ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to remain on the case. No trial date had been set in that case. Trump's lawyers have asserted presidential immunity in that case, though there's been no ruling.

Trump was supposed to stand trial starting in May in the other case brought by Smith, over classified documents found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate after he left the White House. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon canceled the trial date as the case got bogged down with legal issues. She has yet to schedule a new one. That case, too, involves a claim by the Trump team of immunity that prosecutors have disputed.

Last week, Cannon set the stage further delays by agreeing to revisit a ruling by another judge that permitted crucial evidence related to allegations of obstruction of justice by Trump to be introduced into the case.

One of the arguments Cannon has entertained  that Smith was illegally appointed and that the case should be dismissed  got little traction with the Supreme Court.

A separate concurrence from Justice Clarence Thomas concluded that Smith's appointment was improper, but no other justice signed onto that.

_____

Associated Press reporters Michelle L. Price in New York, Kate Brumback in Atlanta and Stephen Groves in Washington contributed.
Rock icons, Heart, just postponed their entire tour after Ann Wilson was diagnosed with cancer. In Michigan, Heart had been scheduled to perform at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on August 21st. They did perform at Little Caesars Arena in May.

Wilson, known for her powerful vocals on songs like Alone and Crazy on You, said she underwent an operation to remove something that turned out to be cancerous. She adds that the operation was successful and she is feeling great, but her doctors advise her to undergo preventive chemotherapy.

And so my doctors are instructing me to take the rest of the year away from the stage in order to fully recover, Wilson said. To the ticket buyers, I really do wish we could do these gigs. Please know that I absolutely plan to be back on stage in 2025. My team is getting those details sorted and well let you know the plan as soon as we can. Thank you all for the support. This is merely a pause. Ive much more to sing.

Fans are encouraged to hold onto their tickets for all upcoming Heart concerts as they will be honored for the rescheduled dates when they are announced.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI  Two people were injured and one was arrested Tuesday after a man crashed the vehicle he reportedly carjacked.

Eastbound Grand River Avenue was down to one lane near Latson Road in Genoa Township while troopers investigated a crash involving a carjacked vehicle, according to a release issued at 4:40 p.m. by the Michigan State police.

A Fenton man reportedly stole an occupied white Chevy pickup July 2 in Stockbridge, implying he had a weapon, police said. After finding the vehicle on Grand River Avenue in Fowlerville, police pursued the vehicle.

Deputies from the Livingston County Sheriffs Department put down spike strips near Owosso Road. Despite having deflated drivers side tires, the car speeded east on Grand River Avenue, police said.

Near Latson Road, which is near Lake Chemung close to Howell, the man driving the Chevy pickup struck an SUV occupied by two people.

Both people were taken to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing with minor injuries. Police arrested the man driving the Chevy on scene, police said. He was taken to the Ingham County Jail after being taken to the hospital for medical clearance.

Authorities will seek charges in both Livingston and Ingham County, police said.

It is unclear when Grand River Avenue will reopen.
FLINT, MI  A jury has convicted a Flint man of a double homicide that took place in 2019 on Dort Highway.

Reggie Lay, 40, was convicted by a jury June 26 on 12 charges including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of reckless driving causing death, two counts of reckless driving causing serious injury, two counts of failure to stop at the scene of accident at fault, and two counts of failure to stop at scene of accident resulting in impairment.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  First Lady Jill Biden arrived in Michigan on Tuesday at Gerald R. Ford International Airport for several events this week, following the first presidential debate of the year.

Biden landed in Grand Rapids around 5:35 p.m. Tuesday, July 2 and was greeted on the tarmac by Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, and her two sons. She will be in Middleville on Wednesday to support programs for child nutrition and military families.

The First Lady plans to visit a YMCA in Middleville to highlight the U.S. Department of Agricultures summer nutrition programs for children, according to her office.

She will also visit a Hidden Helpers summer camp in Middleville to recognize and support military-connected children of wounded, ill or injured service members or veterans, as part of Bidens Joining Forces initiative to support military families.

Biden will fly out to Traverse City later on Wednesday for a community event, although her office did not provide any immediate details about what or where the event is.

She was in another battleground state, Pennsylvania, early Tuesday, where she discussed education and workforce opportunities for the Hispanic community with elected officials in Allentown.

The First Lady does not have any planned events or meetings scheduled on Tuesday night in Grand Rapids, her office said.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump held their first of two planned debates on Thursday, June 29. Bidens poor performance reinforced concerns by some about the 81-year-olds ability to beat Trump and serve another full turn, after appearing confused at times and listless.

There have since been calls for Biden to end his presidential campaign because another Democrat might have a better chance of defeating Trump. Bidens campaign said it was just a bad night. National outlets and pundits have floated possible candidates to replace him at the top of the Democratic ticket.

RELATED: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer floated as potential candidate to replace Biden after debate debacle

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers name has come up on the list of potential replacements. However, the governor has insisted that Biden can still win the election and Michigan, releasing a statement on Monday reaffirming her commitment to the president, the Associated Press reported.

I am proud to support Joe Biden as our nominee and I am behind him 100 percent in the fight to defeat Donald Trump, she said in her statement. Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, I know he can because hes got the receipts: hes lowered health care costs, brought back manufacturing jobs, and is committed to restoring the reproductive freedom women lost under Donald Trump.

Trump and Biden have both recently campaigned in the Mitten State to make their case to key voters. Trump made a campaign stop in Detroit on June 15, while Biden visited Detroit on May 19 for an NAACP dinner.

RELATED: Trump visits Black church in Detroit, attends meeting of MAGA loyalists

The First Lady was last in Grand Rapids in April, when she attended the First Lady Luncheon hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.
GRAND RAPDIS, MI  Mayor Rosalynn Bliss has been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Executive Committee.

Bliss, whose term started June 28 and runs through April 2027, said she was pleased to join the board because economic development is an important priority not only for Grand Rapids but all of Michigan.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A Hudsonville woman was sentenced Tuesday, July 2, to 75 days in jail after police say she ordered her dog to attack a man.

Augustina Villarreal, 37, earlier pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of aggravated domestic violence.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A 32-year-old Kalamazoo man was sentenced Tuesday, July 2, to five years and four months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Juwara Jawan Compton, Jr. was charged last October as the result of a Sept. 2, 2023, incident outside the Thunderbird Bar in Kalamazoo, in which he was in possession of a loaded Glock 23 semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine and a conversion switch that turned the gun into a fully automatic weapon.
ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI  Fennville residents are being advised to avoid any contact with storm drains in the area after a sewer main break occurred on Monday, July 1.

The Allegan County Health Department issued a no-body contact advisory Monday for the Fennville-Billings Drain, which is south of the City of Fennville and runs northeast to M-89 (124th Avenue), according to a news release from the health department.

The no-body contact advisory means residents and pets are encouraged to avoid all contact with the water inside the Pullman-Arnold Drain at this time, the news release said.

Health officials issued the advisory after a sewer main break occurred around noon Monday near Main and Maple Streets in the City of Fennville.

Approximately 2,000 gallons of sewage were discharged into the Fennville-Billings drain, Fennville City Administrator Katie Beemer told MLive/The Kalamazoo Gazette.

City officials were able to intercept the sewage before it reached any surrounding waterways, she said.

Weve been doing significant testing since the spill occurred this morning, Beemer said Monday. The drain does eventually lead to the rivers and the waterways, but we were able to intercept the sewage... along the drain before it reached the waterways.

Drinking water is not impacted by the sewer main break, Beemer noted.

People would only come into contact with the contaminated water through storm drains, Beemer said. While most people would not come into contact with storm drains anyway, the county still has to issue a no-contact advisory because it is considered surface water by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, she said.

Its not surface water that anyone would think to play with, but it is surface water and so thats why the notice has to go out, Beemer said.

A map of all the countys drains can be found here.

It is still unknown what caused the sewer main break, Beemer said.

Crews are on the scene working to fix the problem, the health department said Monday evening. The advisory will be lifted once the break has been repaired and testing determines the water is safe for contact.

E. coli (Escherichia coli), found in raw sewage, causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, although not all cases have symptoms, according to the health department. In some cases, an E. coli infection can cause kidney failure.

The health department advised anyone with signs or symptoms of gastrointestinal illness to contact their primary care physician.

Anyone who has questions or concerns about the no-body contact advisory can contact the Allegan County Health Department at 269-673-5415, or by emailing alleganeh@allegancounty.org.
SAGINAW, MI  On Memorial Day weekend, a Saginaw family gathered for a celebratory get-together. All was going fine until an uninvited guest arrived, all the way from Illinois, at which point chaos ensued.

Brandishing a handgun, the intruder opened fire on the gathering, wounding two people, including a woman he previously dated, Kenya M. Collins.

He told Kenya, B****, come on, Im popping your brains out, said one witness, Keyanna Johnson. In front of everybody he said this.

The assailant kidnapped the bleeding Collins and drove her on a chase through Saginaw and into Buena Vista Township.

Pursued by Collins loved ones and police, the alleged gunman came to stop after crashing into a patrol vehicle. With officers surrounding him, he shot Collins several more times, killing the 50-year-old mother and grandmother.

These details were revealed during the July 2 preliminary examination the man accused of killing Collins, 63-year-old Willie V. Allen. During the hearing, Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Shellbe A. Sanborn called civilian witnesses Johnson and Shakala Foster to the stand. Foster and Johnson are sisters and both affectionately referred to Collins as their auntie, despite not being biologically related to her.

Kenya M. Collins, fatally shot in Saginaw County on May 26, 2024.Cole Waterman

Throughout the hearing, a shackled and bespectacled Allen alternately sat with his arms crossed, scribbled notes on a legal pad, or whispered comments to his attorneys.

The sisters said they were at a house in the 1000 block of Cathay Street on May 26, having a family gathering with about 10 people. While children played on tablets or jumped on a trampoline, adults played cards inside, they testified.

At some point, 51-year-old man Julian A. Jackson arrived, with Collins telling Johnson she was dating him. For several hours, Jackson was having an animated conversation on his cellphone, the witnesses said.

He was very angry, like raging, pacing back and forth, up and down the street, Johnson said.

At 9:26 p.m., Allen showed up in a black Infinity SUV and parked across the street, Jackson testified. Neither Jackson nor Johnson had met Allen before, they said.

People gathered on the front porch of the Cathay Street house as Allen retrieved a handgun from his trunk. While standing in the street, Allen fired a shot at the house, the bullet passing through a wall and landing on the floor.

Allen then continued into the house. About the same time, Johnson fled to her vehicle and fetched her gun.

When I saw his firearm, I grabbed mine and I was gonna use it because Im licensed to carry, Johnson said. I felt like we were in danger.

Johnson pulled the trigger as Allen walked toward the house but the gun jammed, she said. Johnson then ran back into the house as well and hid in a closet with one her daughter.

Inside the house, Allen pointed the gun at Jackson and others, Jackson testified.

He went to go find Kenya, Jackson said. When he came into my house he was yelling, Kenya, where you at? Kenya, Im coming for you.

Allen shot Collins in her arm and Jackson in his leg, the sibling witnesses testified. Holding her wound, Collins ran into the closet containing Johnson.

A short while later, Allen opened the closet door and again pointed his gun at Collins. At this point, he threatened to kill her, Johnson said.

Kenya M. Collins, a Saginaw woman fatally shot on May 26, 2024.Cole Waterman

Allen forced Collins from the house at gunpoint and drove her from the scene in his SUV, the witnesses said.

A few minutes later, Johnson, her mother, and her niece got in a vehicle and pursued Allen.

We basically chased behind Willie, Johnson said. We knew he had Kenya Collins in the vehicle with him.

Johnson called 911 as her mother drove after Allen and relayed information to dispatchers, she said.

Allen briefly stopped at the BP gas station at 3366 E. Holland Road but was struck by a Michigan State Police patrol vehicle as he pulled out of the lot. Allens SUV came to a stop on East Holland near Outer Drive in Buena Vista Township.

Johnson said she heard more gunshots before she even saw police draw their firearms.

Saginaw Police Officer Richard DeLong testified he responded to East Holland and Outer Drive and arrived in time to see Allens SUV collide with the MSP car and come to stop in front of the Popeyes at 3355 E. Holland Road.

DeLong took cover behind the MSP vehicle and could see silhouettes through the SUVs rear window, he said. More police soon arrived.

We pretty much owned the entirety of East Holland that point, DeLong said. As we were behind cover, I heard a muffled gunshot coming from inside the suspect vehicle.

After a brief pause, DeLong heard about three more muffled shots from within the SUV. A trooper beside him fired one shot as well, he added.

Once the shooting stopped, DeLong saw a handgun fly from the SUVs drivers side window. He secured it, finding it empty of ammunition.

Police removed Allen and Collins from the SUV. Allen was uninjured, while Collins had multiple gunshot wounds, DeLong said.

Collins was taken from the scene to an area hospital, where she died.

The hearing ended with Sanborn asking Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens to bind Allens case over to Circuit Court for trial. Defense attorney Matthew M. Evans objected, but the judge granted Sanborns request.

Allen is charged with open murder, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and four counts of felony firearm.

Allen is from Aurora, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago. A drive from Aurora to Saginaw would cover about 329 miles and take about 5 hours.

According to prosecutors, Allen has a criminal record dating back to 1982 in Illinois, including convictions of robbery, carjacking, attempted robbery, assault, larceny and domestic violence.

Collins was survived by three children, eight grandchildren, her parents, and five siblings. Her death was the 14th homicide of the year in Saginaw County and there have been four more since hers. Of the total 18, all but two resulted from gunfire.
Originally published by The 19th

When Jasmine Emery wasnt driving the #400/405 bus, shed use her short breaks to gingerly attach her breast pump under her uniform and hope passengers wouldnt barge in or hear its suctioning over the hiss and clatter of metro Detroit.

The milk went into a cooler, tucked under a frozen water bottle. There was nowhere to clean her pump when she was done. It was 2021, and Emery was just back from maternity leave after the birth of her third child. The bus wasnt an ideal place to pump, but it was the best she could do. What rights did she have anyway? she thought. What choice?

But by the time Emery returned to work in April 2024 after the birth of her fourth child, the world had changed. In December 2022, Congress passed a law called the PUMP Act with strong bipartisan support. It mandated that employers give workers adequate break time and a private space  preferably locked  to pump. It also gave workers a new and very powerful weapon: If their bosses didnt comply, they could sue.

Yet Emerys bosses, she recalls, just suggested she do the same thing shed done in 2021: pump on the bus.

Figure it out, she said a supervisor told her. Youre not the first person to have a baby.

This time, Emery knew she could push for more. A friend had told her the new law could protect her, and a call to the Department of Labor confirmed it. I told myself, Im not going through that again, Emery said. I believe in breastfeeding. I promote breastfeeding. Its my right and I want to exercise it at every point.

For about a month, Emery and her employer, SMART Bus, went back and forth. First, she recalls, they offered to buy her a hands-free pump that she could use on the bus while she wasnt driving, but pumping in a public space with nine cameras watching her every move robbed her of her privacy.

Next, they put her up in a room at the bus terminal that had no lock  and on the first day a male coworker burst in when she was pumping and exposed, she said. Emery suggested stopping to pump at a hospital on her route, but she said she struggled to get access to a private room there, too. Her bosses suggested the state fairgrounds, but her only option there was to pump inside a grimey Porta John.

Every delay only added to her stress. On top of the anxiety and exhaustion that accompanies having a newborn, Emery now had to worry about how shed even feed him.

It affected my quality of life, my happiness, my sleep, Emery said, recalling that time through tears. It hurts emotionally. I would have never thought a company I gave over four years to would do me as such.

Exasperated, this May, Emery sued.

Her case, filed in U.S. district court in Michigan, is one of a swelling number of lawsuits, all filed this year, against employers who are allegedly failing to provide nursing mothers with the time or a space to pump. About a half dozen collective and class action lawsuits have been filed against large national employers, like the U.S. Postal Service, and prominent retailers and restaurants, including McDonalds, Starbucks and Nike.

In the other cases, workers say that they faced similar problems, including insufficient  or non-existent  pump breaks and access only to public spaces where they were often interrupted by coworkers. Workers say they are being instructed to pump in their cars, in bathrooms or in unlocked managers offices.

In her suit, Emery is asking for damages to compensate her for the distress she experienced and lost wages. Most of the others are also asking for damages or injunctions for immediate relief.

SMART Bus spokesperson Katie A. Lauderbaugh declined to comment on the specifics of Emerys case, citing pending litigation, but told the 19th that SMART is dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace for all our employees, including new mothers. We strive to continually improve our workplace environment, and we take employee accommodations seriously.

SMART Bus has denied all of Emerys allegations, saying in court documents that it worked diligently and spent many hours in its attempt to locate appropriate locations for Plaintiff to pump along her bus route. The company says Emery asked for an electrical outlet for her pump the day before she returned to work, and in response they offered to buy her a hands-free pump of her choice, something the company argues satisfied her request.

SMART Bus wrote that it provided a temporary solution until a permanent solution could be found by allowing her to pump in the unlocked room at the terminal. It was only after the hands-free pump was purchased that Emery provided the required 10-day notice that her employer comply with the PUMP Act, the company argues.

SMART Bus court filing also details its efforts to contact the local hospital and the university on Emerys route to secure a lactation space. The company contends it was not aware until later that Emery had struggled to pump in those locations.

This complex debate between Emery and her employer illustrates a thorny problem: Workers who choose to pump need support from their workplaces in order to do it, and while the law requires that companies work to accommodate them, its not always easy. Some businesses that are used to functioning with limited staff every shift or within a small footprint may face more barriers to meet the requirement.

All of that means that parents like Jasmine Emery end up struggling to pump, mid-shift, from the drivers seat of a bus.

Employers have actually been required to offer workers a space and time to pump for the last 14 years. But the law protecting that right, enacted in 2010 and called the Break Time for Working Mothers Law, had no teeth. There were limited ways to enforce it and no option to sue  so many of its provisions went ignored.

The PUMP Act expanded protections to 9 million workers who had been exempt from the original law and added the provision that allows workers to seek restitution.Some states, including California and Washington, already had their own laws covering lactating people at work  and some go further than the federal law with additional coverage, such as requiring more employers to comply, or more rules for what needs to be in lactation spaces.

But the new law expanded protections across the county; state laws that have more protections take precedence over the national law. The recent spate of lawsuits includes ones filed in both state and federal courts.

The fact that we are seeing these lawsuits now is evidence that we needed the PUMP Act, said Liz Morris, the deputy director of the Center for WorkLife Law, which helped draft the model legislation the federal law is based on. Large companies should have policies and practices in place the same way they do when someone needs time off under the [Family and Medical Leave Act] because someone had a baby.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first year of a childs life, a standard that is difficult to meet in the United States because postpartum workplace protections are very limited. The U.S. is one of only a handful of nations that does not guarantee workers the right to paid time off after the birth of a child. (The FMLA only guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave.)

About 95 percent of the lowest-paid workers in the country dont have access to any paid leave at all. Without workplace protections for pumping, only about half of nursing parents are still breastfeeding their children at the six-month mark, according to 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To maintain their milk supply, parents need to be able to pump about every two to four hours on the same schedule that they would nurse their newborns. Go too long without pumping, and they risk their breasts painfully swelling with milk, which could lead to infections and other serious health problems. In the long-term, both issues can cut how much milk their body produces.

How effectively parents who wish to breastfeed are able to do so is directly linked to their wellbeing in the tumultuous months after welcoming a newborn. Providing support in the workplace can help parents adjust back to the workforce while also serving the needs of their children.

Since the passage of the PUMP Act, employers are proactively responding to the needs of workers in many instances, said Elizabeth Gedmark, the vice president of A Better Balance, the lead advocacy organization that pushed for the PUMP Act. There are employers who, because of the new federal law, are updating their policies and procedures, Gedmark said.

Others, she said, have been increasingly receptive to requests from their employees. We are hearing from workers who may be scared to go into a conversation. We educate them about the law, and then [they] are able to have those conversations and are not met with resistance, she said.

Overall, advocates said, the companies that have adapted the most quickly offer white-collar jobs and office-based work. In these spaces, providing accommodation means setting aside an already-existing space for pumping, often an office or conference room. Break time isnt a challenge when workers already have flexible schedules, and potentially options to work remotely.

But low-wage workers in retail and customer service jobs, most of whom are women of color, face the highest barriers. They may be in jobs that require them to be outdoors, or work in tight spaces without private offices or locks on doors. Hourly employees often work jobs with high turnover, where schedules are already inflexible. That makes asking for the accommodation a barrier in itself, especially when employers are known to retaliate or fire workers in favor of someone else who doesnt need adjustments.

Pumping itself requires very high standards of cleanliness, because infants immune systems are still developing. Bottles and pump parts should be cleaned immediately after use and are typically sanitized daily. That is much easier to do in an office with private spaces, and harder at a fast food restaurant or strip mall store where the only available space may be the bathroom.

There really is a racial justice aspect here, Gedmark said. These issues disproportionately affect low-wage women of color whove been pushed into these rigid and inflexible jobs because of sexism and racism.

Its probably no surprise, then, that after the passage of the PUMP Act, calls to attorneys and advocates rose, including to the hotlines at A Better Balance and the Center for WorkLife Law. Workers wanted to ensure that they could exercise this new protection.For years, these two nonprofits have fielded dozens of calls from workers wondering what protections they can access at work. Morris has been closely following the cases, and has been in touch with the attorneys on some, she said.

Often, employees already had ideas about how their workplaces could comply with the law, Gedmark added. Those solutions could be something as simple as a lock on a door, or making a managers office available.Morris has worked with employers that have gotten creative. One agricultural employer created a pop-up tent with a chair, a desk and an extension cord that helped solve the issue for farmworkers. A bus company converted an unused Porta Potty shell into a lactation space and placed it along the route for its workers. Others have bought pods where people can pump or breastfeed privately.

We have heard from workers in essentially all industries that their employer doesnt know how to comply and says its not possible, Morris said. There is always some solution available  you may have to be more creative.

In California, attorney Michael Morrison filed several class action lawsuits this year against major employers, including Nike and Starbucks, under the states version of the PUMP Act. The implementation of the national law has thrust the issue back into the spotlight, Morrison said, and encouraged employees to come forward.

According to the Starbucks suit, plaintiff Luz Iraheta, a shift lead supervisor at two stores in Los Angeles, was routinely denied permission to pump at a time other than her meal and rest periods, leading her to miss several pumping sessions a week. Sometimes, milk would soak through her shirt, she alleges in the complaint, and she had to pump in a back room behind a curtain. At times, other male employees could see behind the curtain, and would stare, the lawsuit alleges, and Iraheta had to give up pumping as a result.

In the Nike case, plaintiff Fantasia McDonald, a department manager at a Nike Factory Outlet Store in Folsom, California, said she was forced to drive 10 minutes to a friends house to pump during her lunch break because there was nowhere for her to do it privately in the store. After her milk supply dwindled, McDonald said, she stopped breastfeeding sooner than she wished to.

In their case against the U.S. Postal Service, three plaintiffs allege that their only options were to pump in a breakroom or a mail truck. And in the McDonalds suit, a manager alleges that she was told to pump in a back office that didnt have a door, so people walked in all the time. When she was the only manager on shift, she couldnt take a break to pump at all.

USPS denied the allegations against it in court documents, saying the plaintiffs pumped in either a break room or a mail truck because they chose to. USPS declined to comment on the specifics to The 19th. Starbucks also declined to comment on pending litigation, and has not yet filed a response in court, but wrote in a statement to The 19th that the company cares deeply about the experience every partner has while wearing the green apron.

Nike and McDonalds did not respond to the 19ths request for interviews and neither has filed a response in court to the lawsuits against them.

Morrison said employers often convey the idea that pumping isnt something companies should get involved in. Its almost like they consider it a personal problem, something that should be handled in private, something that should be managed outside the context of the workplace, he said.

A lack of accommodation for parents in the workforce can affect them financially and professionally, Morrison said: Women who have to make that choice might stop working and lose their place in line, and they fall behind in salary and promotional opportunities.

Those gaps in employment follow people their entire lives. They lead to lower overall pay, driving a bigger wedge between the median pay for men and women. The pay gaps between men and women can be largely attributed to parenthood  they only really start to emerge for women when they have children.

While women experience a motherhood penalty, men experience the opposite phenomenon: They are typically paid more when they have kids, what is known as the fatherhood bonus. Employers, whether subconsciously or not, often believe fathers are typically breadwinners and need more money to support their families.

Rob Howard, an attorney with Cunningham Dalman who is representing Emery in her case against SMART Bus, as well as another mother in a case against a local bar, said the response from employers has revealed a larger ignorance about breastfeeding.

Employers arent aware of their obligations, and frankly, a lot of these businesses, if you get a male-dominated workforce, they may not understand whats the big deal, he said. Like: Just go over there and do it.

While some of the lawsuits suggest simple changes like locks for doors, larger-scale solutions, such as portable lactation pods from brands like Mamava, have been growing in popularity. The smallest version of the Mamava pod resembles a wooden wardrobe: Its a bit over 7.5 feet tall, with an oak finish and an app-activated lock on the outside.

Inside, a 4-by-4 foot space houses a desk, a chair, an outlet, a mirror and a fan for ventilation. Since 2015, Mamavas pods have been placed in more than 750 sites, including stadiums, airports, hospitals and military bases.

Sascha Mayer, Mamavas co-founder and chief experience officer, said inquiries have shot up since the PUMP Act was passed, but it hasnt always translated to new business. The pods cost about $10,000 each, or less if employers buy a large quantity of them for multiple sites.

I think it is a cost issue  but I honestly think its just a design within their space. They just cannot figure out within those small footprints how to make this happen. My guess is maybe theyre waiting for the problem to go away, Mayer said. Its interesting to think that the potential of settling a lawsuit would be less expensive than a more broad solve. Perhaps its just buying time.

In recent months, Mamava has been working on piloting a standalone version of its app-activated lock that it could sell to businesses that just need to turn an existing space into a lactation room. The prototype is currently being tested in 40 sites.

Mayer started working on the pods because she recognized that a human function as essential to life as breastfeeding lacked design solutions in public spaces. And for Mayer, design connotes values.

Gedmark has been thinking of it similarly. Law and policy can drive cultural change. Just the simple act of putting up a sign at a job site that says Lactation Room  one that employees will see often and come to expect as a normal part of the workplace  can change how people think about pumping, even if theyll never need the accommodation themselves, Gedmark said.

What is way too often an activity that is rendered invisible will no longer be invisible, Gedmark said.

Emerys lawsuit against SMART Bus is still ongoing, but about a week after she filed, the company changed her schedule so that she would have two breaks to pump in a private office  with a lock  at the bus terminal.

SMART Bus, via court documents, holds that it consistently attempted to accommodate Emery, and argues that she still went forward with the suit even though the company altered her schedule with additional break times and offered private spaces to pump.

But Howard, Emerys attorney, disagrees. He said hes working to secure damages for the time during which she was not accommodated.

Emery feels damages were done to her health  and to her sons health. Her milk supply plummeted, and she felt uncertainty and mental anguish during her first month back at work postpartum. She started buying formula to supplement her sons meals. There were days that she didnt even have the energy to feed her baby. She couldnt get up from bed to brush her toddlers teeth.

Im trying to fight for myself, she said of her decision to file her suit. But she wishes workers didnt have to fight so hard with their employers: I need back up.
Boss Baby Brody auditions on "America's Got Talent" on Tuesday, July 1, 2024, on NBC.Trae Patton/NBC
Pakistani PM to visit Kazakhstan this week: foreign ministry

Xinhua) 16:56, July 02, 2024

ISLAMABAD, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on July 3-4 to attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Kazakhstan, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

At the SCO summit, Sharif will share Pakistan's perspective on important regional and global issues and underline the importance Pakistan accords to regional connectivity and cooperation with SCO member countries, a foreign ministry statement said.

The Pakistani prime minister would also address the SCO Plus Summit that brings together SCO member states as well as invited dialogue partners, observer states, and international organizations.

"He will share Pakistan's perspective on important regional and global issues and underline the importance of strengthening the organization for the benefit of the peoples of the SCO region," said the ministry's statement.

Sharif, who will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior members of the federal cabinet and senior government officials, will also hold meetings with participating leaders on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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China, Kazakhstan ignite light of fusion of civilizations

People's Daily Online) 10:28, July 02, 2024

With China and Kazakhstan making more solid progress in Belt and Road cooperation, both sides are writing new chapters in cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Join People's Daily Online to discover a multi-faceted framework of people-to-people exchanges in areas including culture, art, education, and health between the two countries and explore how different civilizations live together in harmony.

Belt and Road cooperation enhances people-to-people bond between the two countries

On Sept. 7, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech in Kazakhstan and for the first time proposed building the Silk Road Economic Belt.

Over the past decade, Belt and Road cooperation has grown from scratch, prospered and yielded fruitful achievements.

Trade between China and Kazakhstan surpassed $40 billion for the first time in 2023, reaching $41 billion, a year-on-year increase of 32 percent.

In the Central Asian country, one can see the logos of Chinese tech firm Xiaomi in stores for digital products, Chinese ceramics in markets, and vehicles of Chinese auto brands including Geely, Chery, and BYD on the streets. All these serve as testament to the smooth flow of trade between the two countries.

Just as the ancient Silk Road fostered friendship through trade, today's Silk Road Economic Belt is bringing the people of China and Kazakhstan closer together through trade.

On the streets of Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, Peoples Daily Online reporters met several residents who expressed warm feelings towards China.

"I follow many Chinese car brands, and if I had the opportunity, I would like to travel to Hainan in China," said one local resident.

A ceramic tableware seller in Astana noted, "I sell Chinese ceramic tableware, and the best-selling items are tea sets. With the improvement of China-Kazakhstan relations, more and more customers can go to China to choose products on their own."

A Kazakh businessman said, "I have been to China five or six times because of my timber business. My son is currently learning Chinese, and I believe this is the best investment."

The mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Kazakhstan came into force in November 2023. In 2024, the Kazakhstan tourism year in China was inaugurated. A total of 26 pairs of sister provinces and cities had been established between China and Kazakhstan. Frequent mutual visits between the two peoples further strengthened the foundation of a millennia-old friendship.

China, Kazakhstan pass on friendship forged in times of adversity from generation to generation

The ancient city of Almaty is located on the ancient Silk Road. In Almaty, there is a Xian Xinghai Boulevard, which got its name from a heartwarming story.

In 1941, Xian, a renowned Chinese composer, arrived in Almaty. At that time, he was worn down by poverty and illness. Fortunately, the Kazakh composer Bakhitzhan Baikadamov took care of Xian and provided him with the comfort of a home. It was in Almaty that Xian refined his famous work Yellow River Cantata and wrote Amangeldy, a symphony in honor of the Kazakh national hero, which proved immensely popular with the local people.

In 2019, "The Composer," a movie about the story of Xian and Baikadamov jointly produced by China and Kazakhstan, hit the screens.

"I often ask myself, 'If I were Xian, would I be as strong as him?'" said Sabit Kurmanbekov, art director of the movie, in front of the Abay Opera House, one of the movie's filming locations.

After the movie had finished filming, Kurmanbekov felt he was getting closer to China. "The Chinese crew arrived early and left late, and their diligence, professionalism, and team spirit deeply impacted us," he remarked.

During the war, the Baikadamov family formed a genuine friendship with Xian. A Kazakh proverb goes, "If you save a person's life, the sheep at home will give birth to twins." This sentiment aligns with the traditional Chinese cultural belief that "the benevolent man loves others."

At the China-Kazakhstan Center for Traditional Medicine in Astana, Ismail Daurov, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapist who previously studied TCM in China, was giving Tuina remedial massage to Gulzhina, a patient who was undergoing rehabilitation treatment at the center after a brain surgery following recommendations from her fellow patients. The treatment has improved her mobility.

Since its inauguration in December 2022, the center has treated nearly 8,000 patients and provided remote consultations globally for over 200 patients. Currently, the center employs nearly 10 TCM practitioners from both countries, serving roughly 60 patients every day.

As a part of fine traditional Chinese culture, TCM has gained significant popularity in Kazakhstan, helping strengthen the emotional bonds between the two peoples.

Mutual learning facilitates interactions among civilizations

In Kazakhstan, music and horse culture serve as bridges for the interactions and mutual learning among civilizations.

Clara Hafizova, a sinologist in Kazakhstan, said classical Chinese novels such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" often depict close bonds between heroes and their horses, echoing Kazakh tales of warriors and their steeds.

"Artistic works themed on horses - be they sculptures, paintings, or music - bridge the cultural gap between the civilizations of nationalities living in the Yellow River basin and civilizations of other nationalities, such as nomadic nationalities," Hafizova noted.

The Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments in Almaty is home to dombras, a traditional Central Asian musical stringed instrument, guitars from Western Europe, erhu, a traditional Chinese stringed musical instrument, and Southeast Asian harps, illustrating the harmonious coexistence of different civilizations.

China and Kazakhstan now participate in various forms of cultural exchanges. From late May this year, viewers of Astana TV can watch the dubbed Chinese TV series "The Rebel Princess" on weekdays. In June, another Chinese TV drama began airing in the country.

Through these TV dramas, Kazakhs can observe how Chinese people navigate interpersonal relationships with mutual respect, said program director Asel Nukisheva.

In April this year, a Kazakh film crew came to Hengdian World Studios, a film studio in east China's Zhejiang Province, for filming.

A bookstore in Almaty sells over 1,000 kinds of books on Chinese politics, history and culture, among other subjects. It has reported brisk sales thanks to "Chinese learning fever," said Zhanar Kazhimova, manager of the bookstore.

Gulaina Zhenis, a teacher at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, is a regular at the bookstore, and often recommends books to her Chinese language students. Begzada Sarsenbayeva, a freshman in Kazakhstan, said she developed an interest in Chinese characters as they resemble pictures. Now, she has learned about Chinese radicals, pinyin and the connotation of the pictographs of Chinese characters.

Civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning. From the blending of cultures along the ancient Silk Road to supporting each other during the Anti-Fascist War and the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Kazakhstan have forged a strong bond. As good neighbors, partners, and brothers, the two nations will continue cooperating closely, writing new and exciting chapters in their enduring friendship.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Yves here. Because so much has happened in the last week, between the Biden legitimacy crisis triggered by his poor debate performance, a series of major Supreme Court rulings, and the Ukraine and Israel conflicts (and related jousting), we are behind in drilling into one of these critically importing Supreme Court ruling, the Chevron decision. The article below gives a flavor of how it vitiates a great deal of regulatory authority, and specifically increases the difficulty of limiting greenhouse gas output.

By Charles Price, a writer at OilPrice. Originally published at OilPrice

Bidens strict tailpipe emissions standard has become vulnerable due to the Supreme Court decision on the Chevron Deference.

The ruling adds to already heated debates about whether the EPA has authority to regulate emissions from vehicles.

The U.S. top court ruling will have wide-reaching implications for the oil and gas industry because it will make it more difficult for federal agencies to regulate the environment and public health.

The Biden Administrations new strict tailpipe emission standards have just become particularly vulnerable after the Supreme Court overturned last week a 40-year-old landmark ruling, known as the Chevron deference, which granted federal agencies the authority to interpret ambiguous laws.

The precedent, set in 1984 in a case involving the oil giant, gave federal agencies more power to interpret ambiguous laws. But last Fridays Supreme Court ruling will strip federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from the power of interpreting laws, such as the Clean Air Act, and how to apply them.

The U.S. top court ruling will have wide-reaching implications for the oil and gas industry because it will make it more difficult for federal agencies to regulate the environment and public health, based on their interpretation of ambiguous laws.

The tailpipe emissions limits, which the EPA finalized just a few weeks ago, look especially vulnerable in light of the Supreme Court ruling, environmental law attorneys have told Reuters.

In March, the EPA announced the finalization of new tailpipe emission standards. The agency boasted that these were the strictest standards ever, adding that they would save money, create jobs, and eliminate billions of tons of CO2 emissions.

The ruling adds to already heated debates about whether the EPA has authority to regulate emissions from vehicles, they said.

There have been longstanding debates about whether and to what extent the (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) has the authority to regulate emissions from mobile sources, Sherry Jackman, an environmental litigator and compliance counselor at Greenberg Glusker in Los Angeles, told Reuters.

Even before the Supreme Court ruling last week, the American Petroleum Institute (API) challenged the new tailpipe emissions rules in court.

API sued the EPA over the vehicle emission standards, with Senior Vice President and General Counsel Ryan Meyers saying that EPA has exceeded its congressional authority with this regulation that will eliminate most new gas cars and traditional hybrids from the U.S. market in less than a decade.
Yves here. While NATO plans to further escalate Collective West conflicts that it is too overstretched to win, its not as if the hawks have not repeatedly tried to use these gatherings to scheme against the public at large. With warmongers Biden and Macron both looking wobbly. this gathering may be on too uncertain a political footing for any lasting commitments to be made. Either way, this NATO summit bears watching.

By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies, the authors of War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, published by OR Books in November 2022. Medea Benjamin is the cofounder of CODEPINK for Peace, and the author of several books, including Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nicolas J. S. Davies is an independent journalist, a researcher for CODEPINK and the author of Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq

Anti-NATO protest in Chicago, 2012. Photo credit: Julie Dermansky.

After NATOs catastrophic, illegal invasions of Yugoslavia, Libya and Afghanistan, on July 9th NATO plans to invade Washington DC. The good news is that it only plans to occupy Washington for three days. The British will not burn down the U.S. Capitol as they did in 1814, and the Germans are still meekly pretending that they dont know who blew up their Nord Stream gas pipelines. So expect smiling photo-ops and an overblown orgy of mutual congratulation.

The details of NATOs agenda for the Washington summit were revealed at a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Prague at the end of May. NATO will drag its members into the U.S. Cold War with China by accusing it of supplying dual-use weapons technology to Russia, and it will unveil new NATO initiatives to spend our tax dollars on a mysterious drone wall in the Baltics and an expensive-sounding integrated air defense system across Europe.

But the main feature of the summit will be a superficial show of unity to try to convince the public that NATO and Ukraine can defeat Russia and that negotiating with Russia would be tantamount to surrender.

On the face of it, that should be a hard sell. The one thing that most Americans agree on about the war in Ukraine is that they support a negotiated peace. When asked in a November 2023 Economist/YouGov poll Would you support or oppose Ukraine and Russia agreeing to a ceasefire now?, 68% said support, and only 8% said oppose, while 24% said they were not sure.

However, while President Biden and NATO leaders hold endless debates over different ways to escalate the war, they have repeatedly rejected peace negotiations, notably in April 2022, November 2022 and January 2024, even as their failed war plans leave Ukraine in an ever worsening negotiating position.

The endgame of this non-strategy is that Ukraine will only be allowed to negotiate with Russia once it is facing total defeat and has nothing left to negotiate with  exactly the surrender NATO says it wants to avoid.

As other countries have pointed out at the UN General Assembly, the U.S. and NATOs rejection of negotiation and diplomacy in favor of a long war they hope will eventually weaken Russia is a flagrant violation of the Pacific Settlement of Disputes that all UN members are legally committed to under Chapter VI of the UN Charter. As it says in Article 33(1),

The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.

But NATOs leaders are not coming to Washington to work out how they can comply with their international obligations and negotiate peace in Ukraine. On the contrary. At a June meeting in preparation for the Summit, NATO defense ministers approved a plan to put NATOs military support to Ukraine on a firmer footing for years to come.

The effort will be headquartered at a U.S. military base in Wiesbaden, Germany, and involve almost 700 staff. It has been described as a way to Trump proof NATO backing for Ukraine, in case Trump wins the election and tries to draw down U.S. support.

At the Summit, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg wants NATO leaders to commit to providing Ukraine with $43 billion worth of equipment each year, indefinitely. Echoing George Orwells doublethink that war is peace, Stoltenberg said, The paradox is that the longer we plan, and the longer we commit [to war], the sooner Ukraine can have peace.

The Summit will also discuss how to bring Ukraine closer to NATO membership, a move that guarantees the war will continue, since Ukrainian neutrality is Russias principal war aim.

As Ian Davis of NATO Watch reported, NATOs rhetoric echoes the same lines he heard throughout twenty years of war in Afghanistan: The Taliban (now Russia) cant wait us out. But this vague hope that the other side will eventually give up is not a strategy.

There is no evidence that Ukraine will be different from Afghanistan. The U.S. and NATO are making the same assumptions, which will lead to the same result. The underlying assumption is that NATOs greater GDP, extravagant and corrupt military budgets and fetish for expensive weapons technology must somehow, magically, lead Ukraine to victory over Russia.

When the U.S. and NATO finally admitted defeat in Afghanistan, it was the Afghans who had paid in blood for the Wests folly, while the US-NATO war machine simply moved on to its next challenge, learning nothing and making political hay out of abject denial.

Less than three years after the rout in Afghanistan, US Defense Secretary Austin recently called NATO the most powerful and successful alliance in history. It is a promising sign for the future of Ukraine that most Ukrainians are reluctant to throw away their lives in NATOs dumpster-fire.

In an article titled The New Theory of Ukrainian Victory Is the Same as the Old, the Quincy Institutes Mark Episkopos wrote, Western planning continues to be strategically backwards. Aiding Kyiv has become an end in itself, divorced from a coherent strategy for bringing the war to a close.

Episkopos concluded that the key to wielding [the Wests] influence effectively is to finally abandon a zero-sum framing of victory

We would add that this was a trap set by the United States and the United Kingdom, not just for Ukraine, but for their NATO allies too. By refusing to support Ukraine at the negotiating table in April 2022, and instead demanding this zero-sum framing of victory as the condition for NATOs support, the U.S. and U.K. escalated what could have been a very short war into a protracted, potentially nuclear, war between NATO and Russia.

Turkish leaders and diplomats complained at how their American and British allies undermined their peacemaking, while France, Italy and Germany squirmed for a month or two but soon surrendered to the war camp.

When NATO leaders meet in Washington, what they should be doing, apart from figuring out how to comply with Article 33(1) of the UN Charter, is conducting a clear-eyed review of how this organization that claims to be a force for peace keeps escalating unwinnable wars and leaving countries in ruins.

The fundamental question is whether NATO can ever be a force for peace or whether it can never be anything but a dangerous, subservient extension of the U.S. war machine.

We believe that NATO is an anachronism in todays multipolar world: an aggressive, expansionist military alliance whose inherent institutional myopia and blinkered, self-serving threat assessments condemn us all to endless war and potential nuclear annihilation.

We suggest that the only way NATO could be a real force for peace would be to declare that, by this time next year, it will take the same steps that its counterpart, the Warsaw Pact, took in 1991, and finally dissolve what Secretary Austin would have been wiser to call the most dangerous military alliance in history.

However, the worlds population that is suffering under the yoke of militarism cannot afford to wait for NATO to give up and go away of its own accord. Our fellow citizens and political leaders need to hear from us all about the dangers posed by this unaccountable, nuclear-armed war machine, and we hope you will join usin person or onlinein using the occasion of this NATO summit to sound the alarm loudly.
This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and the Nashville Scene. The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. Visit nashvillebanner.com for more information.

On the eve of foreclosure, Plaza Mariachi filed for bankruptcy.

As of Monday morning, David Anthony, the trustee for the sale, confirmed to the Nashville Banner that the foreclosure was set to go forward as scheduled on Tuesday at 11 a.m. The only things that could have delayed those proceedings were if current owner Mark Janbakhsh somehow found a way to pay off the venues debt or to file bankruptcy.

Anthony confirmed to the Banner that the bankruptcy filing will prevent the scheduled foreclosure, and he will instead be announcing a 60-day continuance of the sale. But he clarified that the announcement is an administrative safeguard for the unlikely scenario that the bankruptcy is quickly dismissed.

In other words, foreclosure is unlikely any time soon.

+2 Plaza Mariachi Faces Foreclosure Sale South Nashville Latino culture hub's property owner has seen federal fraud charges

So far, Plaza Mariachi has filed only the bare minimum paperwork needed to kickstart bankruptcy proceedings, so a full list of debts and other information is not yet available.

Janbakhsh first bought the building, formerly a Kroger, for $1.9 million in 2013, and transformed the Nolensville Pike location into a beloved institution and center for Latino culture and commerce.

Despite the success of the cultural hub, Janbakhsh has run into myriad legal problems over the past few years.

Janbakhsh was the majority owner and CEO of the Tennessee car dealership chain Auto Masters. He and Steven Piper, the CFO, allegedly defrauded banks for millions of dollars, some of which went toward the development of Plaza Mariachi. Janbakhsh was indicted on 18 counts of fraud in 2022 and was set to go on trial in June. That date was recently postponed, and has not been rescheduled.

Janbakhsh took out $11 million in loans from First Financial Bank throughout the development of Plaza Mariachi. Those loans had an original maturity date of Jan. 28, 2023. In early June, First Financial Bank set forth foreclosure proceedings.

The Banner reached out to Janbakhsh through his bankruptcy lawyer but did not receive comment in time for publication.
On Tuesday (2 July 2024) the Transatlantic Quantum Community (TQC) held its inaugural virtual meeting in Brussels. Last September, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for the development of a dedicated network which would enhance Allied cooperation and harness the benefits of quantum technologies to strengthen deterrence and defence. Since that point, NATOs Quantum Technologies Strategy was agreed and the Alliances International Staff collaborated with NATO members to establish the Community.

The Transatlantic Quantum Community is Allied led but participation is voluntary. More than half of Allies are already involved, including the United States, Canada, France, Italy and Czechia and the initiative is championed by Denmark as the first national chair. The Community will bring together quantum experts from national governments, industry, academia, funding bodies, and research institutions and will help encourage Allied innovation enabling NATO protect its technological edge.

The role of quantum technologies in the security environment is growing and the Community will help NATO engage with critical issues. These include funding and technology challenges, talent development and partnership opportunities.

The Transatlantic Quantum Communitys first annual plenary is expected to take place this autumn.




Biden ordered Amazon to hide books criticizing vaccines during COVID pandemic

The House Judiciary Committee and Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government presented evidence this week to show that during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic," President Biden and his regime coerced Amazon into hiding books on its platform that are critical of vaccines.

In obedience to the regime, Amazon reportedly reduced the visibility of certain key titles that the Biden regime considers to be a threat because they expose Big Pharma's vaccine poisons.

Documents show that some of the books had nothing to do with COVID or COVID injections while others were written by medical professionals. Several of the titles are simply reviews of scientific studies that just so happen to address vaccine unsafety and ineffectiveness.

More than 40 books and materials in total were added to the Biden regime's "Do Not Promote" list that Amazon ultimately censored from its platform all throughout the "pandemic" to stop the public from learning the truth.

(Related: If you got "vaccinated" for COVID, you are more likely to die early compared to your unvaccinated family and friends, a new study has found.)

Censorship is Biden's forte

In a series of X posts, Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) publicly revealed some of the internal emails from Amazon employees that show "the impetus for this request," meaning the request to block the books, "is criticism from the Biden Administration."

"Internal emails reveal that Amazon initially added 43 books to its newly created 'Do Not Promote' class of allegedly anti-vaccine books," Jordan wrote in one of his posts.

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.

"These pro-censorship changes were being made 'due to criticism from the Biden people."

Internal emails reveal that Amazon initially added 43 books to its newly created Do Not Promote class of allegedly anti-vaccine books. These pro-censorship changes were being made due to criticism from the Biden people. pic.twitter.com/495klI0Djz  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) June 21, 2024

Even some children's books were censored as part of the sweep because they were deemed to be too "friendly" towards the unvaccinated:

The childrens book said the vaccinated & unvaccinated can be friends. Instead of censoring it, Amazon should have sent the book to Fauci, @GavinNewsom, and @JoeBiden. Remember when they said everyone had to comply with their made-up rules and vax mandates or lose their jobs? pic.twitter.com/32rkxBaqnm  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) June 21, 2024

A number of books aimed at teaching parents how to raise their children also got axed because the Biden regime found that they are too informational and persuasive in convincing parents to avoid toxic vaccines for their precious children.

"There is nothing the Biden Admin and the elites hate more than parents making their own decisions about their children's education, health and values," Jordan said along with a screenshot of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Sears Parenting Library) by Robert W. Sears, MD.

Biden's claim all during this time is that these books were full of "misinformation" that could harm the public, especially as Operation Warp Speed was getting off the ground. The truth, though, is that all of the books on the list are much too eye-opening about the dangers of vaccination for the regime's liking.

The irony is that the Biden regime has repeatedly accused Republicans of engaging in nationwide book "ban" activity. The truth is this: the only side trying to ban books right now is the left.

"Don't let the Biden Admin tell you that their censorship campaign was about concerns of misinformation going viral on social media," Jordan contends. "They were going after BOOKS too. This is  and always has been  about suppressing disfavored views, not purported challenges of new technologies."

If there is one thing the Biden regime is really good at, it is censorship. Learn more at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

Modernity.news

NaturalNews.com
Texas Childrens Hospital forced to temporarily SHUT DOWN transgender program following whistleblower revelations

Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) in Houston has shut down its gender reassignment clinic for minors following recent disclosures in connection with its underage sex-change practices

On Tuesday, June 18, Manhattan Institute journalist and New College of Florida board member Christopher Rufo released a report based on an interview with TCH nurse Vanessa Sivadge, who disclosed the sharp increase in so-called "transgender children" witnessed by the facility beginning in 2021. The children were allegedly encouraged to "transition" rather than treat the underlying problems they displayed.

Sivadge said she found evidence that several children seen by Dr. Richard Roberts and Dr. David Paul were given cross-sex hormones while enrolled in Texas Children's Health Plan STAR, a "no-cost Medicaid managed care plan," even though Texas law prohibits the state Medicaid program from covering any kind of "sex change operations."

On June 20, Rufo featured several signs of TCH's response to the development, along with a temporary closure of its pediatric gender facility, the removal of its press contact page, and video of a doctor having police officers remove journalist Jonathan Choe from the hospital grounds.

"BREAKING: Texas Children's Hospital has temporarily closed its pediatric sex-change clinic, per a source on the ground. The pressure is mounting on the hospital's transgender program, which is now under investigation by the state attorney general for alleged Medicaid fraud," Rufo posted on his X account.

"They've now scrubbed their entire press page. It was up yesterday. They are in a full-blown panic. This is insane. Texas Children's Hospital just trespassed a reporter for asking questions about its pediatric sex-change program."

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.

On June 21, journalist Maddie Rowley reported that a "group of Texas legislators is assembling in Austin to discuss a potential investigation into Texas Children's Hospital's child sex-change program."

Whistleblower charged by the Justice Department for violating HIPAA

That first whistleblower, now recognized to be former TCH general surgeon Dr. Eithan Haim, has since been charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for sharing confidential patient records in violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)  even though the materials he disclosed were not patient charts and were redacted to preserve patients' privacy. Haim is now facing up to 10 years in prison. (Related: Doctor INDICTED for blowing lid on illegal LGBT child transition scheme at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston.)

"Our client is a mandatory reporter of child abuse who reported as a whistleblower to the State of Texas what he had seen in his hospital," stated Marcella Burke, Haim's attorney. "It is our opinion that this is the government going out of its way to prosecute a whistleblower."

In May 2023, Haim shared the documents with Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. Now, the DOJ is accusing Haim of violating the HIPAA, which was passed to protect patient health information.

Nonetheless, according to Rufo, the documents given by Haim contained no information that "identified any individual."

"All the documents were, in fact, carefully redacted," Rufo wrote in a City Journal article published on June 6.

Just days after Rufo received the documents, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton started an investigation into the hospital for "actively engaging in illegal behavior" by giving gender-affirming care to minors.

Follow Gender.news for more stories about transgenderism.

Watch the video below about the new studies showing the serious risks of gender transition.

This video is from the The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden regime unseals indictment of Dr. Eitham Haim, who faces up to 10 years in prison for exposing illegal child gender mutilations at Texas Children's Hospital.

Texas Children's Hospital whistleblower says doctors committed Medicaid FRAUD while performing illegal transgender surgeries on minors.

Whistleblower doctor refuses to be intimidated by gov't after exposing transgender surgeries on minors.

Texas Children's Hospital whistleblower says doctors illegally performing transgender mutilation on children also committing Medicaid FRAUD.

Justice Department charges whistleblower who exposed illegal GENDER SURGERIES at Texas hospital.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com 1

LifeSiteNews.com 2

HoustonPublicMedia.org

City-Journal.org

Brighteon.com
COVID and climate change mutate into single authoritarian VIRUS for swift globalist takeover of the planet

The American Medical Association (AMA) is facilitating the merger of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and climate change, which are morphing together to become a single authoritarian virus, orthat will allow the globalists to seal the deal of their long-planned world takeover.

The AMA published a paper earlier this year called "How curbing climate change can help stop the next viral pandemic," authored by Tanya Albert Henry, that blames the emergence of diseases like COVID on global warming and an allegedly changing climate.

"Nearly 75% of emerging infectious diseases are now zoonotic  think Ebola, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and most recently SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19," Henry wrote in the article, dated Feb. 14, 2024.

"Continued climate change is expected to exacerbate transmission in environments shared among plants, humans and animals."

(Related: Biden has already threatened that if his "green" agenda does not come to pass, he will simply declare a "climate emergency" to lock everyone back down and seize COVID "pandemic"-like dictatorial powers in response.)

AMA pushing "One Health" tyranny as final solution

Henry has a solution, though. She calls it "One Health," and this "new approach" can help to facilitate "national and international collaborative responses to mitigate actions that increase human to animal-transmission risks."

In other words, just give more control to your medical and political overlords so they can come up with new forms of abuse with which to subdue society and control every last detail of people's lives  for the "climate," of course.

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.

Around the time that Henry's article was published by the AMA, the AMA Journal of Ethics released its February issue containing the following propaganda articles pushing the same ridiculous ideas about viral contagions and climate change:

1) "Why Climate Literacy Is Health Literacy"

2) "Five Things Clinicians Need to Know About Zoonotic Viral Spillover and Spillback"

3) "AMA Code of Medical Ethics' Opinions Related to Health Ecology and Disease Transmission"

4) "Top Five Things Health Professions [sic] Students Should Know About Ecology and Waste Management"

You can probably tell from these different titles, especially the first one, that modern-day "science" really has become a parody of itself. It is obviously no longer to be taken seriously.

Even so, the top dogs at the AMA are insistent that One Health is the preferred final solution for viral contagions and climate change. Joost van Herten, PhD, a senior policy officer and veterinarian at the Royal Veterinary Association in the Netherlands, appeared on an episode of the journal's February "Ethics Talk" podcast to discuss One Health and "exactly what a One Health approach to health offers and what it doesn't."

"If the electioneering rigging 'win' of the Marxists succeeds in 2024, this could become a fast reality," warned one of our readers about what the "green" climate cult will do, especially under the leadership of another Biden term, if these schemes are not stopped immediately.

"We have little time before Obama's shadow 4th term in office begins. Yes, I call it. He's the one pulling Biden's puppet strings and I'll bet money on it."

"These climate mentally ill puppets haven't the slightest idea of just how lame their so called 'climate change' scam is," wrote another about how he remembers a time when nobody had ever heard the term "climate change" despite difficult weather from time to time.

"I remember 100 days in a row of over 100 degrees in the 1980s and no one was screaming 'climate change.' It's all about taking away your means of survival you've used for over 150 years unless you comply to their control over you!"

The real virus that needs to be extinguished is globalism. Learn more at Globalism.news.

Sources for this article include:

ClimateDepot.com

NaturalNews.com

AMA-assn.org
Nigel Farage vows to break U.K.s ties to World Economic Forum if his party takes control of British government

Politician and activist Nigel Farage has promised to break the United Kingdom's connection to globalist Klaus Schwab's World Economic Forum (WEF) if his party, Reform UK, takes control of the British government in the upcoming general election on July 4.

"Reform UK will reject the influence of the World Economic Forum and cancel Britain's membership of it," Farage said.

Critics are trying to "fact-check" the Brexit leader, claiming "Britain is not and never has been a member of the World Economic Forum."

This is false, as the British government has sent representatives to WEF summits for decades in Davos, Switzerland and just recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The British government also directly collaborates with the WEF on issues like artificial intelligence, sending a government secondee to its Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to shape AI policy in 2018, for instance. Furthermore, the British government finances WEF projects such as the Blue Food Partnership.

Farage has been criticizing the WEF as the beating heart of globalism for years, contending that "the nation-state, run on democratic lines, is much better than people deciding our futures in Swiss ski resorts on their annual jaunt to Davos, or wherever else it may be." (Related: Farage to Breitbart: I have never seen so many people scared to say what they think.)

On the other hand, Keir Starmer, leader of the left-wing Labour Party and the person who most polls agree will likely become the U.K.'s next prime minister after July 4, noted that he prefers Davos  the WEF's headquarters  to Westminster, leading Farage to criticize him as a "full-on globalist" whose "mask has slipped."

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.

Election could bring unprecedented support to Farage's Reform UK

The upcoming July 4 vote in the U.K. is expected to usher in a Labour Party-led government for the first time in 14 years, with polls indicating that what could be a historic defeat for the current government of the Conservative Party could end up being "an obliteration."

Meanwhile, the election is expected to lead to a massive surge in support for Farage's Reform UK, which started the election campaign averaging around 11 percent of voter support in the polls. With Farage at the helm, the party garnered greater exposure, leading to a rise in its expected vote share, now averaging at around 16 percent.

Should this translate into a similar vote share on polling day, it would be a remarkable success for the party. A prior conservative party helmed by Farage nearly a decade ago, the UK Independence Party (UKIP), only managed 12.6 percent of the vote at its peak in 2015.

In one poll for the Daily Mirror and GB News, Reform UK is even expected to win a higher vote share than the Conservatives at 17 percent  two points ahead of the Conservatives' predicted 15 percent. This same poll involving almost 20,000 voters predicts that Reform UK will win 18 seats. At its peak, UKIP under Farage never won more than one seat in the House of Commons.

The same poll predicts that Labour Party will win a supermajority of 450 seats and the Conservatives will be pushed to third place behind the liberal and centrist Liberal Democrats, who are predicted to win 71 seats, 11 ahead of the Conservatives' predicted 60  down from the 365 the party won in 2019.

Follow Globalism.news for more stories about the World Economic Forum.

Watch the video below about Nigel Farage confirming that the U.K. will leave the World Economic Forum if his party takes control of the British government.

This video is from the gideonsboot channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

British Prime Minister: U.K. teens will be cut off from banks if they refuse national service.

Entire U.K. establishment piles on Nigel Farage for saying "we provoked" Ukraine war.

Big Tech partners with WEF to implement "Global Coalition for Digital Safety" scheme for world domination.

AI candidate running for U.K. parliament to appear on the ballot for general elections in July.

U.K. bringing back mandatory military service as Europe prepares for WAR with Russia.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

TheGuardian.com

Telegraph.co.uk

ElectoralCalculus.co.uk
Former Russian lawmaker wants to pressure NATO into assassinating Putins inner circle, overthrowing Russian government

Former Russian State Duma MP Ilya Ponomarev has declared his intention to pressure NATO leaders into targeting and assassinating members of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and overthrowing the Russian government.

In an interview with the Times, Ponomarev outlined his bold plan to present a document at the 75th NATO summit in Washington next month. This document will justify the use of force against individuals close to Putin.

Living in exile, Ponomarev claims that some current Russian MPs are part of his movement. He stated that the term 'combatant' should encompass "government officials who organize or finance the war [with Ukraine], businessmen who produce arms and propaganda warmongers." He argued that the targeted assassination of such individuals on Russian soil would then be deemed legal.

Ponomarev said he represents Kyiv-backed militant forces responsible for incursions into Russian regions bordering Ukraine before the Russian presidential election in March. These groups have claimed responsibility for the murders of military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky and journalist Darya Dugina.

Moscow has labeled these cross-border raids as terrorist attacks orchestrated by Kyiv, and Russian investigators have accused Ukrainian special services of masterminding the murders of Tatarsky and Dugina. (Related: Russian insider Viktor Bout says nuclear WWIII is IMMINENT.)

Earlier this month, Ponomarev detailed his activities inside Russia to journalist Michael Moynihan of the Free Press. He claimed to have 10,000 sympathizers within the country who engage in more than just posting anti-government messages on social media  a task he dismissed as suited to the followers of the late opposition figure Alexey Navalny.

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.

Ponomarev also pointed to previous actions as evidence of the resistance's capabilities, noting their involvement in several high-profile incidents. He said these militant groups conducted the cross-border raids into Russian territory and were behind the assassinations of figures closely associated with Russia's war efforts.

According to Ponomarev, these actions are part of a broader strategy to destabilize Putin's regime and galvanize internal opposition.

Moscow has vehemently condemned these actions, describing them as terrorist attacks carried out on orders from Kyiv. Russian authorities have launched investigations into the incidents and accused Ukrainian special services of orchestrating the violence, including the high-profile murders.

As NATO prepares for its summit, Ponomarev's controversial proposals are likely to spark significant debate and controversy, highlighting the escalating tensions and the complex dynamics of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Ponomarev's plan to involve NATO in direct actions against Russia is unprecedented

Moreover, Ponomarev's plan to involve NATO in such direct actions against the Russian government is unprecedented. It raises critical questions about the extent to which international alliances can or should involve themselves in the internal affairs of sovereign nations, particularly through means that include assassination and targeted killings.

The former MP's call to classify high-ranking Russian officials and influential businessmen as combatants marks a significant escalation in the rhetoric and strategies employed by the opposition forces.

Ponomarev's claims of a substantial network of sympathizers within Russia suggest a deep undercurrent of dissent that could potentially threaten the stability of Putin's government. However, verifying these claims remains challenging, given the highly secretive nature of such underground movements.

In the broader geopolitical context, Ponomarev's statements and proposed actions underscore the heightened state of conflict between Russia and Ukraine. If NATO were to consider his proposals seriously, it would represent a dramatic shift in the alliance's approach to the ongoing crisis in Eastern Europe.

Ponomarev's rhetoric also raises the stakes for both sides, potentially leading to increased hostilities and a more aggressive posture from the Russian government.

As such, his comments are likely to draw significant attention from policymakers, analysts and international observers in the lead-up to the NATO summit.

Visit UkraineWitness.com for updates on the current situation in the beleaguered nation.

Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams explaining that the U.S. and NATO have already decided to take the American people to war below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Russia unveils new ANTI-DRONE ROBOT named "Wall-E."

Russia informs U.S. ambassador We are no longer at peace in chilling message following Crimea attack carried out with U.S.-made weapons.

Russia blames the U.S. for Ukrainian missile attack on Crimea.

Sources include:

RT.com
Googles Jigsaw expands efforts to combat online toxicity and invest in censorship tools

Googles Jigsaw started out as Google Ideas  and Eric Schmidts idea back in 2010 was for it to serve as a way of researching issues at the intersection of technology and geopolitics.

(Article by Didi Rankovic republished from ReclaimTheNet.org)

But that was a little too open and honest  so fast-forward, and Jigsaw is an Alphabet (Google) division that has rebranded as a way for the tech juggernaut to tackle things like misinformation, toxicity, and create a safer internet.

A new initiative is to identify and mitigate toxicity that frequently reduces participation in online debates and protect online spaces from hate and toxicity.

The promise of more investment in moderation tools at that point almost goes without saying.

In a post on Medium, those behind Jigsaw from the get-go frame this newest push not as a way to, in reality, reduce participation in online conversation (by excluding those branded as propagators of toxicity and hate)  but quite the contrary, to enable more voices to participate.

(Jigsaw/Google doesnt specify, however, if this means more voices in general  or more of a certain kind of voices.)

Either way, the post says this is what Jigsaw (via its Perspective API, powered by machine learning) has been doing since 2017. Its been adopted by as many as 10,000 entities, publishers, and social platforms and is available in 18 languages.

Moderators can use Perspective to quickly prioritize and review comments that have been reported and give feedback to commenters who post toxic comments, Jigsaw brags about the features of its censorship software.

Now, things are getting, if not a little better (if Jigsaw is to be believed) a lot more granular. Perspective, the post said, has expanded in scope to add bridging attributes, a new suite of tools to recognize qualities like reasoning, curiosity, and personal stories that correlate with more constructive contributions and help keep conversations going among disparate groups.

And its only a first step in what Jigsaw calls a shift that will use deliberative technology as a foundation to incorporate (presumably more sophisticated than machine learning) AI, with the end goal of providing a kind of puppeteer input (and subsequent influence).

Like so: Jigsaw will explore how the latest AI technology might enhance and scale these technologies, supporting both conversation participants and community leaders to make sense of and act on the opinions shared.

The plan is to develop the initiative using three paths  a research agenda aimed at developing the tech in question, teaming up with Google DeepMind on large-scale conversations (exploring how sense can be made of those, as the article put it).

And then, as far as Google is concerned, democracy in Europe is in need of finding some resilience. To achieve it, Jigsaw will support an open call for proposals with Google.org to help scale social impact initiatives promoting democratic resilience in Europe.

Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org
Lawsuit: Jeffrey Epstein once boasted of being a MOSSAD AGENT

The late convicted sex offender and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein once boasted of being a Mossad agent just like Ghislaine Maxwell's father Robert, based on the accusations made by a former girlfriend who is now suing his estate.

Epstein, who worked as a financier, socialized with people from high society for years aside from introducing them to dozens of young women, some of whom were underage at that time, and bringing them to his private island in the Caribbean.

A California woman whose name is kept secret and who is referred to in court documents only as "Jane Doe 200" has filed a lawsuit, claiming that he became Epstein's girlfriend shortly after meeting him in Los Angeles in 2000. She claimed to be in a relationship with Epstein until he violently raped her in late 2001.

"Despite being in a committed relationship often spending nearly around-the-clock time together, what Epstein did for work was not clear," said the lawsuit, filed at the Manhattan federal court early this week.

As stated by Doe, both Epstein and Maxwell strongly hinted that he was an Israeli intelligence agent and warned her that "it was not good to be Epstein's enemy." (Related: Epstein and his lover Ghislaine Maxwell were Mossad operatives BLACKMAILING famous personalities with videos of them bedding underage girls, book claims.)

Epstein was "not only extremely wealthy but also suspiciously well-connected, more so than all the other powerful men with whom he associated," the lawsuit said.

After Epstein "violently raped her" in New York, Doe tried to leave him, but he kept contacting her and gave her a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to network with powerful personalities. Doe said she had gone to the event "purely for work purposes."

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.

Doe also claimed that reporting the rape would bring "significant bodily harm or death" because she regarded Epstein as "a Mossad agent with some of the most unique connections in the world."

Jane Doe 200 accusing Epstein estate executors of being complicit in her abuse

The woman has called the co-executors of Epstein's estate Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn as defendants and alleges she suffered battery and deliberately inflicted emotional distress.

Doe said she believed she was in a committed and monogamous relationship with Epstein before he "forcibly raped her."

She said the incident started when he was getting a massage at his mansion and he began kissing the masseuse.

The alleged victim was upset but before she could leave the property, he "physically forced her face down on the massage table and violently vaginally penetrated her," as stated in the lawsuit.

"Given the violence behind the rape, Doe knew at that moment that she had to escape."

However, Doe said she was afraid he would retaliate if she reported him to the authorities, so she chose to break up with him and leave California.

"In addition to Epstein's rotation of victims, there was typically one person who he made believe was his girlfriend, usually completely in the dark about his criminal abuse," Doe's attorney Brad Edwards told The Daily Beast in an interview.

"Jane Doe 200 was that girlfriend during this period of time, which means she learned more information than most other victims," said Edwards. "In the end, Epstein violently raped her in a manner far worse than his usual modus operandi. This victim has lived in a particular fear for a long time, and she deserves justice."

The lawsuit mentioned that while Epstein was "gentle and kind to Doe most of the time" she did observe Epstein's explosive, uncontrollable anger toward others.

When Doe met Epstein, he asked her about her passions and "made it clear that he was a well-connected person and offered to introduce her to world-renowned scientists and other professionals in fields in which [she] was interested."

Doe said Epstein introduced her to his mother, brother and friends and that he took her to dates to auction houses, antique shops and on a helicopter ride to Princeton University.

Follow Epstein.news for more news about Jeffrey Epstein and his rich and powerful connections.

Watch this video of Dr. Steve Pieczenik discussing the connection between Jeffrey Epstein and Mossad.

This video is from the Oldyoti's Home Page channel on Brighteon.com.

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Thrive Time Show: Jeffrey Epstein connected to POWERFUL people, says Liz Crokin  Brighteon.TV.

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Jeffrey Epstein's circle of billionaire 'enablers' includes Tech guru and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman.

Sources include:

RT.com

DailyMail.co.uk

TheDailyBeast.com

Brighteon.com
Supreme Court rules in favor of Jan. 6 defendant, upending hundreds of J6 cases

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Joseph Fischer, a participant in the January 6 Capitol riots who challenged his obstruction conviction in a decision that could upend hundreds of other similar cases  and it may even affect the case against former President Donald Trump.

Fischer, a former Pennsylvania police officer, was charged by the Department of Justice with obstruction of an official proceeding in connection with his behavior on the infamous day and was convicted. However, his lawyers argued in appeals that the federal statute was not applicable to his case and was instead written with evidence tampering cases in mind.

The DoJ argued that his participation was a deliberate attempt to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 election and that his actions fall under the statute criminalizing behavior that "otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do," a charge that comes with up to 20 years behind bars.

The Supreme Court disagreed, upholding a more narrow interpretation of the statute in a 6-3 decision, maintaining that the statute applies to anyone who corruptly "alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding."

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the conservatives on the Supreme Court  Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh  in overturning the case; conservative justice Amy Coney Barrett joined Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan in dissenting.

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.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the courts opinion that the government stretched the definition too far and that there must be proof a defendant tried to destroy or tamper with documents, something that most of the J6 defendants did not do.

He noted that a broad reading of the statute would also criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists to decades in prison.

Our usual approach in obstruction cases has been to resist reading particular sub-provisions to create a coverall statute. Yates, 574 U. S., at 549 (plurality opinion). Nothing in the text or statutory history gives the Court a reason to depart from that practice today. And the Governments interpretation would give prosecutors broad discretion to seek a 20-year maximum sentence for acts Congress saw fit to punish with far shorter sentences, he added.

The case will now be sent back to the D.C. federal appeals court to decide if the obstruction component with the narrower legal standard still applies to Fischer.

Hundreds of other J6 cases could also be affected

This will also have an effect on the hundreds of other defendants facing similar charges, making it more difficult for them to be charged with obstruction. The DoJ could decide to drop obstruction charges for other defendants who are also facing other criminal counts related to their activities on that day or wait until the question is fully resolved by the courts. In cases where obstruction under this statute is the sole charge against a defendant, their prosecution could even be dropped altogether.

So far, around 170 J6 defendants have been convicted of obstruction or conspiring to obstruct the joint session of Congress; others have had their sentencings delayed pending the Supreme Court ruling on this question.

Trump is also facing charges of obstructing an official proceeding in connection with J6; two of the four felony counts against him involve this type of obstruction. However, some legal experts have said that prosecutors may still be able to pursue the obstruction charges because his case is different from those of the other defendants.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

FoxNews.com

APNews.com

Reuters.com
Walgreens to shut down underperforming stores and reduce investment in primary-care businesses

The chief executive of pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance has announced the company's plan to close underperforming stores and reduce investment in the primary-care business.

During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Tim Wentworth, who became CEO last October after a career in managing drug benefits, revealed that Walgreens experienced a 10 percent drop in pre-market trading on June 27 following the announcement of its quarter three earnings, which missed Wall Street's expectations.

According to its Q3 report, Walgreens disclosed earnings per share (EPS) of $0.63, missing the consensus estimate of $0.71. But then, the company's revenue was still slightly higher than anticipated, coming in at $36.4 billion compared to the forecasted $36 billion. As a result, Walgreens adjusted its projected full-year EPS to $2.80 to $2.95, down from the previous estimate of $3.20 to $3.35.

This disappointing earnings report and lowered guidance led Walgreens to be the worst performer in the S&P 500 on June 27, losing nearly $3 billion in market capitalization and down over 53 percent year-to-date.

In response to these headwinds, Wentworth revealed that Walgreens would shutter a quarter of its non-profitable stores, but the exact number of closures is yet to be determined. Walgreens currently has approximately 8,600 locations in the United States.

Wentworth also stated that Walgreens is considering shutting down stores near other better-performing stores to serve consumers more efficiently with fewer locations in specific areas while evaluating stores facing issues such as theft.

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.

Moreover, Wentworth disclosed that Walgreens will reduce its stake in the primary-care provider VillageMD. Walgreens will also reduce the number of brands it offers to focus on women's health and strengthen its loyalty program. However, it will retain other business units, including the overseas pharmacy chain Boots and Shields Health Solutions, a specialty pharmacy firm.

"We recognize where we are is a turnaround," Wentworth said. "We recognize that we need to be focused on what are the parts of the business that we believe are contributing and have a future, and some of those need to change."

Fortunately, Wentworth reassured employees and the market that the reduction in U.S. retail operations would not result in substantial job losses, as the company intends to reassign staff to other roles within its remaining operations.

"We view this as a reduction in our footprint, not a reduction in our workforce," he said.

Walgreens affected by declining demand for COVID-related goods and services

James Kehoe, the executive vice president and global chief financial officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, earlier announced a series of cost-cutting measures. These cost-cutting measures include closing 150 Walgreens locations in the U.S. and 300 more in the United Kingdom by the end of August 2024 as the company grapples with declining demand for services related to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and other economic pressures. (Related: Rite Aid to CLOSE 27 more stores due to ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.)

Plummeting demand for COVID-related goods and services such as vaccinations and testing seriously impacted the company. Former CEO Rosalind Gates Brewer, Wentworth's predecessor, reported an 83 percent decline in vaccinations before stepping down last year.

"We had called out COVID as a wildcard heading into the quarter and have unfortunately seen less patient willingness to vaccinate," she said at the time.

Learn more about the fragile state of the American economy at EconomicRiot.com.

Watch this clip from the "Worldview Report" discussing how bankruptcies in corporate America are once again on the rise after a two-year lull.

This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Americas largest private bus company officially files for BANKRUPTCY.

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Megabus, Americas largest private bus company, files for BANKRUPTCY as Bidens economy falters.

BANKRUPTCY BOOM: U.S. saw 70 major bankruptcies in just 4 months, the third worst start of year since 2000.

Casual dining chain Red Lobster officially files for BANKRUPTCY.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

Investing.com

USAToday.com

Brighteon.com
Bidens debate performance raises alarm among Democrats. Heres why

During one of the most crucial moments of his political career, President Joe Biden faced significant challenges in a debate against former President Donald Trump.

Biden's performance, marked by a raspy voice, wandering eyes, pale complexion and halting delivery, has ignited widespread concerns about his fitness as a candidate. Despite Trump's own issues with falsehoods and bluster, it was Biden's age that became the defining issue of the night. (Related: Biden campaign calls for CENSORSHIP of "disinfo" after video clip of president "wandering off" at G7 summit goes viral.)

The debate, pushed by Biden's team to shift focus onto Trump, seemed to backfire.

Observers noted that Biden struggled to reassure voters about his capability, with his performance often becoming unintelligible. The first debate has concluded, with the second one not scheduled until September 10, leaving Democrats reeling and concerned about the campaign's trajectory.

Political commentators from POLITICO provided their takeaways:

Sam Stein: Biden failed to calm concerns about his age, which was the main objective of scheduling this early debate. His performance ranged from debilitating to ephemeral but is expected to prompt a difficult news cycle for his campaign.

Steven Shepard: Biden's repeated stumbles reinforced voters' concerns about his ability to serve another term. Although Trump had his own flaws on display, Biden's issues were more pronounced. Significant shares of Biden's own voters were already uneasy about his candidacy and the president did little to reassure them. In a New York Times/Siena College poll conducted in the run-up to Thursdays debate, only 51 percent of likely voters who picked Biden over Trump said they wanted Biden to be the Democratic nominee. Nearly as many, 45 percent, said there should be a different nominee. And 53 percent of Biden voters said they "strongly" or "somewhat" agreed that Biden is "just too old to be an effective president."

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Adam Wren: Democratic aides expressed frustration over CNN's handling of the debate, but Biden's performance was poor regardless. Even on critical topics, he missed opportunities to make effective arguments. Near the end of the debate, when he had an opportunity to address concerns about his age, he started talking about microchips instead, which was baffling.

Natalie Allison: Trump summarized the general perception by pointing out that Biden often seemed unclear even to himself. Biden had moments of clarity, particularly when discussing Trump's actions on January 6, but these were exceptions. Trumps pre-debate policy refreshers with friends and advisers clearly served him well and he came across as decisive and energetic. The mic-muting rule certainly helped him. He won by all measures. Bidens unclear and softly spoken responses made it difficult to follow his points.

Elena Schneider: Biden lost the debate within the first 15 minutes, which is likely when the highest number of viewers were watching. While he did land some strong rebuttals later on, many voters may have missed them.

Impact on the campaign

The debate's outcome has led to serious Democratic concerns about Biden's campaign. Some anticipate significant polling dips for Biden and calls for him to reconsider his candidacy. While there is still time before the election, the debate has intensified scrutiny on Biden.

Democratic sources began expressing concern within the first few minutes of the debate, indicating widespread worry about Biden's performance. The reaction ranged from disappointment to suggestions that this was one of the worst nights of Biden's presidency, comparable to the fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Several moments stood out as particularly damaging for Biden, such as his confusing statements on Medicare and abortion. These missteps are expected to be highlighted in future Republican attacks.

The clip of Biden inexplicably saying "We finally beat Medicare" is one that will almost certainly be used by Republicans in ads. Democrats have tried to hit Trump over some GOP officials wanting to cut entitlement programs  an attack that already doesn't stick, because Trump has maintained he is against doing so  but Bidens nonsensical comment now gives them a way to try to go after Biden on it. While also mocking his cognitive condition.

The latest news about the 2024 presidential election can be found at BigGovernment.news.

Watch this video of the presidential debate between Trump and Biden.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

Politico.com
Biden will not withdraw from presidential race despite calls for a replacement candidate from the Democratic Party

Joe Biden will not withdraw from the 2024 presidential race despite calls from within his party for a replacement candidate after he was largely panned in his debate with Donald Trump.

According to reports, the Democratic Party panicked when the 81-year-old Biden grappled with a hoarse voice and stumbled over words and moments during the presidential debate on June 27. Democrats were alarmed that Biden even struggled to maintain coherence against Trump. (Related: Bidens cognitive decline is now painfully obvious to the world, yet Dems continue to deny it.)

"Democrats just committed collective suicide," said a party strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns. "Biden sounds hoarse, looks tired and is babbling. He is reaffirming everything voters already perceive. President Biden cant win. This debate is a nail in the political coffin."

"It's hard to argue that we shouldn't nominate someone else," a Democratic consultant who works on down-ballot races said.

"He's a good man, he loves his country, he's doing the best that he can," said Van Jones, a one-time adviser to then-President Barack Obama and a strong supporter of Biden. "But he had a chance tonight to restore confidence of the country and of the base, and he failed to do that. And I think there are a lot of people who are going to want to see him take a different course now."

"No one expected this nosedive," one senior Democratic adviser told the outlet. Biden "was bad on message, bad on substance, bad on counter-punching, bad on presentation, bad on non-verbals. There was no bright spot in this debate for him."

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.

All this backlash resulted in the discussion of potential alternatives for the Nov. 5 ballot. Major Democratic donors have also voiced their concerns. One donor even labeled Biden's debate performance as "the worst in history" and suggested he withdraw from the race.

But Biden's campaign spokesperson, Seth Schuster, announced that Biden is "not dropping out" of the election. Another campaign member echoed a similar statement, claiming that Biden will stay in the race because he is "the only person who has ever beaten Donald Trump. He will do it again."

Biden's campaign remains in denial about his cognitive decline

Biden's campaign remains in denial about his poor debate performance. Some members of his campaign blamed his faltering display to over-preparedness.

"He was over-prepared and relying on minutiae when all that mattered was vigor and energy," a Biden adviser said. "They prepared him for the wrong debate. He was over-prepared when what he needed was rest. It's confounding."

A Biden aide also told media outlets that the hoarseness of his voice was due to a cold, which a doctor who examined him before the event confirmed.

But his campaign team cannot hide the obvious during the debate: Biden can't serve another term due to the extent of his cognitive decline.

The latest news about the 2024 presidential election can be found at Rigged.news.

Watch this video of the presidential debate between Trump and Biden.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

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Majority of Americans doubt Biden can still serve another term after a report revealed the extent of his COGNITIVE DECLINE.

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Sources include:

RT.com

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China hires Western military aviators to prepare for Taiwan invasion

The Five Eyes (FVEY) alliance, comprising the intelligence agencies of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, has taken significant steps to curb China's efforts to recruit Western military aviators for training purposes, especially targeting capabilities deemed essential for potential military actions against Taiwan.

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), acting on behalf of the FVEY, issued a joint bulletin on June 5 about the ongoing attempts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to enlist current and retired Western service members.

The goal, as outlined by NCSC Director Michael C. Casey, is to shore up the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) aerial combat skills through covert recruitment channels operated by private firms with obscured ties to the PLA.

These efforts involve offering substantial financial incentives to attract Western military talent, crucial for enhancing China's military capabilities.

To counter this strategic threat, the United States and its allies have implemented a series of measures. These include imposing commercial restrictions on entities like the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), known to facilitate training for Chinese military aviators.

Additionally, regulatory changes have been enacted to prohibit former military personnel from engaging in post-service employment that involves imparting military knowledge or training to Chinese entities.

Military expert Tony Xia highlighted the stark reality that China's fighter pilot corps lacks substantial combat experience, which contrasts sharply with the extensive operational histories of its Western counterparts.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

He emphasized that by recruiting experienced Western aviators, the CCP aims to bridge this critical gap and absorb advanced training methodologies and operational insights from Western military doctrines.

Former Taiwan Air Force deputy commander Zhang Yanting, now a professor at Taiwan's National Defense University, underscored the strategic implications of CCP recruitment efforts. He noted that acquiring firsthand combat experience from Western pilots is crucial for China's preparations in any potential conflict scenarios, particularly concerning Taiwan. (Related: Taiwanese president warns military cadets about Chinas relentless threat to Taiwans national sovereignty.)

CCP also wants to gain intelligence and operational insights from Western military personnel

Qi Leyi, a well-regarded military commentator from Taiwan, pointed out that the CCP's recruitment strategy targets not only technical skills but also valuable intelligence and operational insights from seasoned Western military personnel.

This approach underscores the CCP's concerted efforts to enhance its military capabilities through illicit means.

Recent revelations have brought specific cases into focus, such as the TFASA in South Africa, which faced sanctions from the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2023 for its involvement in training activities for Chinese military personnel.

Reports have also highlighted instances where former U.S. and British military pilots were engaged in training Chinese counterparts, including specialized skills related to carrier-based aviation operations.

In France, similar concerns have arisen regarding CCP efforts to recruit skilled instructors capable of training Chinese pilots in carrier operations, a domain where Western expertise remains highly sought after due to its strategic significance and complexity.

Overall, analysts caution that the CCP's recruitment of seasoned Western military personnel is part of a broader strategy to advance its military capabilities and gain access to sensitive military technologies and operational practices.

Read more stories about a potential armed conflict between China and Taiwan at WWIII.news.

Watch this video to learn more about the conflict between China and Taiwan and to know how the Chinese are threatening Americans for defending Taiwan.

This video is from The Voice from the Car channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

Brighteon.com
Leftists call for Biden to order U.S. military to ASSASSINATE Trump before he wins November election

The political left in the United States is suffering a collective meltdown after the Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump and all other ex-presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for all "official acts" they committed while they were public servants.

A parody image tweeted by "Max Kennerly" (@MaxKennerly) depicted the editorial board of the New York Times calling for Joe Biden to "serve his country" by launching a "drone strike" on Trump  "In full compliance with the Supreme Court's ruling," Kennerly captioned the image.

Another X user by the name of "Bradley P. Moss" (@BradMossEsq) announced to his followers and ultimately to the world that the Supreme Court ruling "just gave Biden unequivocal immunity to order the military to take action against Trump ... Today. Right now."

Then there was "Aaron Rupar" (@atrupar) who tweeted that Biden should simply cancel the election and order the U.S. military to keep himself in power as that would constitute an "official act."

How about "Dash Dobrofsky" (@DashDobrofsky) who "strongly" encouraged Biden on X "to take advantage of his absolute immunity (as) lawfully granted by Trump's Supreme Court Justice ... to do whatever 'official acts' he needs to do in order to prevent Donald Trump from becoming President."

"Harry Sisson" (@harryjsisson) actually called on Biden to send Seal Team 6 "to take all of them out," referring to Trump and his friends and supporters.

"[Biden] could send in the military to take out Trump," Sisson added. "He has 'immunity' for official acts now!"

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.

"David Aaronovitch" (DAaronovitch) flat-out called for the assassination of Trump:

"If I was Biden I'd hurry up and have Trump murdered on the basis that he is a threat to America's security #SCOTUS."

(Related: Steve Bannon claims that if reelected this fall, Trump will declassify all assassination documents on JFK, RFK, Malcolm X and MLK Jr.)

Will the three-letter agencies pay these keyboard warriors a visit?

All of these threats of insurrection and even assassination against former President Trump are clear-cut cases of potentially pre-meditated crimes that warrant investigation by the FBI, CIA and whichever other three-letter agencies typically deal with such things.

Were this the other way around with Trump supporters having called on Trump during his White House tenure to stay in office and prevent Biden from assuming office, you can be sure the deep state would have been all over it. Threats against Trump, conversely, seem to go unaddressed.

"Will the three-letter agencies pay a visit to these people who are threatening a former president or are they still too busy rounding up patriots from the J6 witch hunt?" asked "Cyndexia America Truther" (@TrutherAmerica) on X.

Another wrote that all of the above-quoted posts from X should have warranted the Secret Service at the very least paying them a visit for questioning.

"Arrest those making those threats," wrote another.

"This just shows how pathetically they've been trying to come after Trump this entire time under the radar," suggested another. "Now, they're getting bolder with their wickedness and letting their true colors show."

"They don't want this country to be well or to prosper. They want to WIN an election for power  power to take out their opponents. This is so sick and twisted."

With Elon Musk now in charge of private Twitter, one wonders what actions the electric vehicle (EV) guru is taking to have each and every account that is threatening the former president held to account.

"Death threats to anyone protected by the Secret Service (which includes former presidents) are a felony," said another about the situation.

The latest news about the 2024 U.S. political circus can be found at BigGovernment.news.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

NaturalNews.com
Loudermilk to submit an amicus brief to SCOTUS to invalidate J6 report against Steve Bannon

House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Barry Loudermilk said he will submit an amicus brief to the Supreme Court to nullify the January 6 Select Committee's report against former White House Strategist Steve Bannon.

The representative from Georgia's 11th congressional district asserted that the J6 committee failed to follow House rules, which mandated consultation with the "ranking member of the minority" for depositions. Bannon's attorneys argued the committee wasn't legitimate, partly because it only had two Republican members, and the House, which was then under Democratic control, defended itself in a 2022 brief. Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, acting as vice chairman of the committee, does not meet the legal requirement for consultation with a ranking member since former Speaker Nancy Pelosi selected her, Loudermilk argued.

The House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight is also crafting legislation to nullify all the work conducted by the J6 Select Committee. This development follows Bannon's request to the Supreme Court for a delay on his four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress, which he has been directed to commence by July 1.

"Over the past year and a half, my committee has extensively reviewed and investigated the operations of Vice-chair Liz Cheney and Chair Bennie Thompson's Select Committee on January 6th," Loudermilk said. "We have discovered they were not entirely forthright with the American people and exhibited a disregard for House rules and transparency."

Bannon defied a subpoena from the bipartisan House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack. The Justice Department prosecuted former President Donald Trump's top adviser for contempt of Congress and a jury found him guilty when he failed to turn over documents or appear for a deposition to the committee, citing executive privilege.

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.

BREAKING Mike Johnson just announced that he has authorized the House to submit a congressional Amicus Brief on behalf of Steve Bannon to the Supreme Court and Justice Roberts. Finally some positive momentum for Bannon.pic.twitter.com/gH9mR2XI8Y  Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 26, 2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson explained to Sean Hannity on Wednesday night that the J6 committee's work was tainted and used "nefarious" tactics to target political opponents such as Bannon and another Trump aide, Peter Navarro.

Additionally, Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana urged Johnson to support Bannon's legal defense and file an amicus brief in support of Bannon's pending appeal to the Supreme Court. Banks emphasized his backing for this action to delay Bannons incarceration.

Please click the link and read @RepJimBanks excellent letter to Speaker Johnson supporting Steve Bannon's call for a BLAG amicus brief to be filed to support Steve at the Supreme Court.https://t.co/LkKH04FdBx pic.twitter.com/DjDn9Hz8TA  Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) June 25, 2024

Meanwhile, Bannon has asked the Supreme Court to delay his prison sentence last week while a lower court works out his appeal. If the court declines to do so, he's supposed to turn himself in this week. (Related: Judge orders Steve Bannon to report to prison on July 1 to begin serving sentence for ginned-up "crime" for which no Democrat is ever prosecuted.)

Republicans push to keep Bannon out of jail

Bannon appreciates House Republicans for supporting his emergency appeal to the Supreme Court to stay out of prison. Republicans have previously pushed back in a report that Democrats labeled as "dishonest" on the work of the select committee investigating the U.S. Capitol riot for its focus on former president Trump, which Johnson on Tuesday described as "tainted."

Republicans are also demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) respect their subpoena for the recording of President Joe Biden's interview with former special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden's mishandling of classified documents after he left the vice presidency. The DOJ gave lawmakers a transcript of the interview but refused to hand over the audio.

Johnson also announced the House would sue the DOJ. "Theres been an admission that they edited the transcript in some ways and we need to know in what ways," Johnson said Wednesday at a press conference.

In a court filing in a separate case seeking the audio, the DOJ claimed that the transcript was accurate but that "filler" and repeated words were omitted by the "trained professional court reporter" who made the transcript, not an administration official. The transcript showed that at one point during the interview, Biden seemed unable to recall what year his son Beau died of brain cancer without prompting from aides, reinforcing concerns about Biden's age. The White House has said Republicans only want the audio to make attack ads, while Republicans have suggested the DOJ edited the already embarrassing transcript to protect Biden somehow.

Some of the Congress Republicans also support a resolution by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) to revive the House's long-dormant "inherent contempt" power, which has been used in the past to arrest administration officials for defying subpoenas.

HuffPost asked House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who also refused a Jan. 6 committee subpoena, if it was odd for Republicans to dismiss Bannon's subpoena while insisting Garland obey their own. "No, because the Jan. 6 committee was such a joke," Jordan said.

Check out VoteRepublican.news for more stories about the political ping pong going on in Congress.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Malaysia.News.Yahoo.com

Axios.com
CORRUPT Pentagon fails to account for $62M in U.S. weapons aid to Ukraine

United States weapons aid to Ukraine amounting to $62 million had been unaccounted for , according to a recent report by the Department of Defense (DOD).

According to the DOD Office of Inspector General (OIG) report released on June 26, the department was unable to trace the said amount of artillery that was supposed to be sent to and used in Ukraine to fight Russia. The weapons, designated for end-use monitoring (EEUM), have gone unaccounted for due to gaps in reporting and tracking by both the U.S. and Ukrainian forces.

"We concluded that the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC)?Ukraine did not consistently obtain timely or complete loss reports following the Security Assistance Management Manual, the Concept of Operation (CONOP) and the EEUM control plan submission standards," the OIG report indicated. "The average time from initial defense article loss to final loss report was approximately 10 times longer than the reporting requirement in the Security Assistance Management Manual."

The report also pointed out that this occurred because reporting timelines and information requirements were inconsistent, the management manual did not provide sufficient guidance for partner nation self?reporting and the timelines and requirements did not always provide adequate time for the UAF to investigate EEUM losses. The absence of timely and complete loss reports, along with the lack of thorough analysis hindered the Pentagons ability to detect potential violations involving EEUM-designated defense articles.

The report, however, could not confirm whether U.S. weapons assistance had been diverted, stating that the OIG "continues to investigate allegations of criminal conduct regarding U.S. Security assistance to Ukraine."

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.

Independent news outlet Your News reported that the Pentagon has already faced issues with tracking U.S.-provided weapons to Ukraine. As per a January investigation, U.S. defense and diplomatic officials had improperly tracked more than $1 billion in weapons aid, representing about 69 percent of the $1.6 billion allocated for end-use tracking.

"Achieving a complete picture of EEUM-designated defense articles in Ukraine will be difficult as the inventory continues to change, and accuracy and completeness will likely only become more difficult over time," the January report stated.

It is public knowledge that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky relies heavily on Western allies for military support as it is less advanced when it comes to defense industrial base compared to Russia's. Since the onset of the war with Russia in 2022, the U.S. has sent more than $51.2 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.

Biden to send $150 million worth of weapons and ammunition in next aid package to Ukraine

Despite the obvious corruption, the Biden administration continues to assist Ukraine. Weapons and ammunitions amounting to $150 million will be included in the next aid package.

Ukraine has reportedly requested additional air defense support as Russia has pounded Ukrainian energy facilities in recent weeks via aerial attacks. The package includes HAWK interceptors and 155-millimeter artillery munitions, a source familiar with the matter said.

According to Reuters, the U.S. began shipping HAWK interceptor missiles to Ukraine in 2022 as an upgrade to the shoulder-launched Stinger air defense missile systems, which is a smaller, shorter-range system. (Related: ESCALATION: Biden to officially deploy American military contractors to Ukraine as WWIII looms.)

The MIM-23 HAWK was introduced in the 1950s and upgraded over the years to deal with jamming and other countermeasures. It was eventually exported to more than a dozen countries, according to the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command.

The package will come from the Presidential Drawdown Authority, a mechanism that allows the president to quickly transfer defense articles and services from U.S. stocks to support allies.

Meanwhile, to further "strengthen" their armed forces, Ukraine will release convicts, including murderers in exchange for their service in the war against Russia. Those convicted of rape, sexual assault, murdering two or more people, or crimes against Ukraine's national security aren't eligible.

Journalists from the Associated Press visited a rural penal colony in southeast Ukraine, where they saw several convicts assembled next to a barbed wire fence to hear an army recruiter present the offer of parole. "You can put an end to this and start a new life," said the recruiter. "The main thing is your will because you are going to defend the motherland. You won't succeed at 50 percent, you have to give 100 percent of yourself, even 150 percent." Prisoners can qualify for their conditional release after an interview, medical exam and a review of their conviction.

This comes as Ukraine expands its military draft criteria to cope with mounting losses, battlefield shortages and the need for rest for frontline troops.

Bookmark UkraineWitness.com to read about the current situation in Ukraine.

Watch the video below that talks about NATO-Ukraine losing a trainload of military equipment.

This video is from the Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Pentagon is silent on deadly Ukrainian attack on Crimean beach that killed four  including two children.

Former Pentagon official says U.S. arming of Ukrainian neo-Nazi Azov Brigade a sign of desperation.

U.S. quietly sent Ukraine long-range missiles following a secret directive from Biden.

U.S. considering sending more military personnel to Ukraine.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Media.Defense.gov

State.gov

Reuters.com

News.Sky.com

Brighteon.com
Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 PLUNGES to less than 500 feet above the ground, terrifying Oklahoma residents

A Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft plummeted to less than 500 feet off the ground over Oklahoma, leaving residents terrified.

According to flight data, Southwest Airlines Flight 4069, which was on the way to Oklahoma City from Las Vegas, flew as low as 450 feet above Yukon while on a final approach to Will Rogers World Airport just after midnight on June 19.

Doorbell camera footage caught the Boeing 737 hovering above several houses in the area before it flew out of frame.

FAA investigates the incident

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident, and Southwest Airlines has confirmed that it is cooperating with the FAA to address any "irregularities."

"It woke me up and I thought it was gonna hit my house," wrote one resident on the Yukon Happenings Facebook page.

Because of the sudden descent of the Boeing 737, air traffic control immediately called the pilot and checked on the status of the flight. In an audio archive of the transmission, the air traffic controller could be heard saying "Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there?"

The pilot of the commercial flight then confirmed that there was no issue with the aircraft.

The pilot then circled back around, quickly regaining altitude from around 450 feet to more than 1,000 feet as it passed over Yukon High School. The Boeing 737 landed safely at the airport.

Air Traffic Control personnel confirmed that there were no problems with the Boeing 737. However, the low approach and the late hour alarmed some of the residents in the city.

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 an interview, Spencer Basoco, who lives several blocks away from the school, said he was "halfway in between sleep, being awake" when he heard a loud "WHOOSH. Basoco added that he first thought the noise was caused by "a storm blowing in because it sounded like a wall of wind."

But when Basoco looked out a window to where the sound was coming from, he saw the plane from several blocks away near the high school. He added that the shocking scene "wasn't normal." (Related: TERRIFYING: Mid-air blowout leaves gaping hole on the side of Boeing 737 Max 9.)

Southwest Airlines officials reported that they are working with the FAA to investigate the cause of the sudden descent.

In a statement, Southwest Airlines said that it is "following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the FAA to understand and address any irregularities with the aircraft's approach to the airport."

"Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees," concluded the company.

Boeing under fire for other safety issues

This isn't the first time that Boeing has made headlines for troubling issues.

Boeing has been criticized for various issues such as broken landing gears, doors being torn off mid-flight and defective software systems. These issues have resulted in tragic crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019. Both incidents resulted in several deaths.

Boeing's struggles in 2024 began in January when a panel called a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max shortly after it took off from Portland, Oregon.

Earlier in June, a Boeing plane experienced a rare Dutch roll, a combination of a yawing motion when the tail slides and an aircraft rocks from wingtip to wingtip. The maneuver can be caused by "wind or pilot input."

Additionally, several current and former Boeing employees have accused the company of taking safety shortcuts. The company is currently being investigated by the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Department of Justice.

Visit Disaster.news to read more stories about accidents and disasters in the U.S. and around the globe.

Watch the video below as both Boeing and Airbus are accused of using fake titanium parts to build their aircraft.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Gender reveal stunt kills two people as plane crashes into Nichupte Lagoon.

Buzz Patterson: 5G is a flying hazard, poses threat to airplane safety  Brighteon.TV.

Car insurance rates hit highest levels in 30 years due to more accidents, higher repair costs, bigger medical bills and increased litigation.

Whats going on? Unusual number of private plane, helicopter crashes kill nearly two dozen in two weeks.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

KFOR.com

Oklahoman.com

FoxBusiness.com

Brighteon.com
Investigation identifies tech entrepreneur behind pro-Israel hate network: Report

A tech entrepreneur living in Florida is a prime mover behind a pro-Israel disinformation network seeking to shape public opinion about the Gaza conflict, an investigation by the Guardian newspaper has found.

(Article republished from MiddleEastEye.net)

The investigation alleged that Daniel Linden, who co-wrote a guidebook for OnlyFans users, is one of the main hands behind the "Shirion Collective", an organisation that has harassed pro-Palestinian activists and offered cash for anyone who could publicly reveal online identities.

The organisation is also responsible for spreading conspiracy narratives centred on figures like George Soros. It has boasted about an AI-surveillance platform but has not offered many concrete details of how the alleged technology functions.

The Guardian said its investigation used public records and open source materials "to corroborate information originally provided by the White Rose Society, an Australian anti-fascist research collective".

Shirion Collective seeks to spread disinformation in the US, UK and Australia.

Linden set up Shirions crowdfunding efforts and appears to play a central role in operating the networks social media accounts, including the coordination of the groups efforts on a 885-member Telegram channel, the Guardian reported.

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 said that it had 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.

Shirion has been criticised in the US congress and attracted media attention around the world through its attempts to shut down criticisms of Israels conduct in Gaza.

Shirion organised two GoFundMe fundraisers in April and May of 2024 for an operation in which trucks with big-screen monitors near universities in various US cities showed footage of the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel.

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.

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 characterised as antisemites.

Online, the group 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.

Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net
Tennessee state secretary asks thousands of voters for proof of citizenship ahead of November elections

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has asked thousands of voters to provide proof of citizenship ahead of the November elections, a move that infuriated the Democrats in the Volunteer State.

According to InfoWars, Hargett's office confirmed that the Tennessee Elections Division sent out more than 14,000 letters questioning the citizenship status of certain individuals in June. It offers bona fide U.S. citizens a prepaid mailing option to submit proof of their citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate.

"Our office has received information that appears to indicate your voter information matches with an individual that may or may not have been a U.S. citizen at the time of obtaining a Tennessee driver's license or ID card," the letter stated. It also stressed that illegal voting is a felony punishable by two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

"Accurate voter rolls are a vital component to ensuring election integrity, and Tennessee law makes it clear that only eligible voters are allowed to participate in Tennessee elections," said a statement issued on behalf of Tennessee Elections Coordinator Mark Goins and the Secretary of State's Communications Director Doug Kufner.

It continued: "[Even though] the person could have been naturalized since applying for a driver's license, [they] likely did not update their records with the Department of Homeland Security."

But Hargett's actions of ensuring election integrity ahead of the November elections did not sit well with Democrats, who accused Hargett of attempting to intimidate voters. Democrats in the Tennessee House of Representatives called for an investigation into the secretary of state for his actions.

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.

"On its face, this letter is 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," Democratic State Rep. John Ray Clemmons said in a statement.

TN state secretary lauded by conservatives

Democratic State Rep. Jason Powell meanwhile remarked that the letters dated June 13 burden voters with "re-proving their own eligibility" while being "threatened with imprisonment in a scare tactic reminiscent of Jim Crow laws." According to him, Goins  who oversees elections in the Volunteer State  "needs to cease with these threatening letters immediately and refrain from purging anyone who is eligible to vote from the voter rolls."

But Hargett's GOP colleagues and other conservatives came to his aid. U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) praised the secretary of state and took swipes at Democrats' lack of initiative to secure the election. (Related: Outraged over vote fraud? Contact your state legislature and insist they protect voting integrity.)

"If an outstanding secretary of state's office like we have in Tennessee has identified and is taking action on 14,375 potential non-citizens who may have registered to vote, imagine what blue state officials aren't doing or won't do," Hagerty posted on X.

Conservative radio host Steve Gill also agreed with Hargett, saying that mandating proof of citizenship is the way that it should be to ensure a fair election. "I don't think they should feel offended, particularly if there is a gap between which people come to the country and later become citizens," he remarked.

InfoWars continued that the calls to investigate the Tennessee secretary of state come as government agencies in 49 states provide voter registration forms to illegals without requiring proof of citizenship. It added that at least 19 states and the District of Columbia also allow illegals to obtain driver's licenses. "These insecure and easily exploitable Democrat policies have led Republican [officials] like Hargett to take steps to ensure a fair election."

Head over to Rigged.news for similar stories.

Watch this clip of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sounding the alarm on illegals voting in the November elections.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Minnesota passes law allowing all voters to join permanent ABSENTEE VOTING list.

Numerous loopholes now make it easier for illegal aliens to vote in US presidential elections.

Big win for election integrity in PA as court confirms improper absentee ballots won't be counted.

Millions of people in 3 crucial swing states have registered to vote without photo ID this year, warn observers.

Musk: 2024 election will be the LAST ELECTION decided by U.S. citizens because of unrestrained illegal immigration.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

MSN.com

Tennessean.com

Brighteon.com
As it got near the Windward Islands on Sunday, Beryl, which was the first hurricane in the 2024 season, actually evolved into quite a hazardous Category 4 hurricane, producing wind blasts in excess of 130 miles per hour.

Hurricane Alert Raised

The center of the hurricane is most likely to hit Grenada, St. Vincent, or the Grenadines starting early Monday.

As it makes its way through the Windward Islands on Monday and into the Caribbean early this week, Beryl is predicted to maintain her hurricane strength.

The National Hurricane Center said that in areas of onshore flow close to where the eye makes landfall in the hurricane warning area, a potentially fatal storm surge could raise water levels by up to 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels. The storm surge could also bring large, destructive waves close to the coast.

Beryl stands as the first and only Category 4 hurricane to ever be registered in the Atlantic Ocean during the month of June. Beryl has the potential to be the strongest storm to hit the region since Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

The hurricane is forecast to deposit three to six inches of rain on Barbados and the Windward Islands until Monday, according to the weather center.

A red-level warning, which is the ultimate public alert level, was released for Tobago by the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service on Sunday night. The warning gives the island's citizens instructions to act right away to safeguard their property, lives, and means of subsistence.

The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a tropical storm watch that extends westward from Punta Palenque to the border with Haiti.

A tropical storm watch has also been issued for the whole south coast of Haiti, extending from the Dominican Republic border to Anse-d'Hainault. Martinique is still under a tropical storm watch, and Dominica and Trinidad are under a tropical storm warning.

As Beryl moves closer, some airports in Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia will close on Sunday night.

The Maurice Bishop International Airport in Grenada also closes and is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. The official mentioned that the hours could change based on the circumstances.

The Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados is also said to have been closed until further notice.

Read Also: Hurricane Category 3 Origin: What Are Its Impact to Humans and the Environment?

Unusual Intensification

In the Atlantic, Hurricane Beryl became the first major storm to reach the power of a Category 3 storm or higher in 58 years.

Experts noted that the storm's quick intensification is quite unusual this early in the hurricane season. Only a small number of tropical systems, especially powerful ones, formed in the central Atlantic east of the Lesser Antilles in June, based on NOAA data.

Beryl is already the third-earliest significant storm in the Atlantic Ocean for this hurricane season. The first was Hurricane Alma on June 8, 1966, and the second was Hurricane Audrey on June 27, 1957.

By breaking the previous mark set in 1933, the storm has already broken the record for the easternmost hurricane to form in the Tropical Atlantic in June.

August is often a more active month in the middle and eastern Atlantic, partly due to the ocean's ability to warm and support emerging systems.

Related Article: Hurricane Beryl to Bring Storm Surge, Strong Winds to Caribbean
Greece is now dealing with a string of destructive wildfires on what has been called the most difficult day of the year.

The country is experiencing an extraordinary early summer temperature as a result of the fires, which started close to the capital city of Athens.

A State of Alarm



Firefighters have been deployed to control the infernos, areas of residence, and critical green areas where temperatures soared to a sizzling 44 degrees Celsius.

Fires, fanned by strong winds, have caused evacuations in several areas. Residents were warned to take cover and stay clear of hazardous smoke.

The Greek emergency services are working nonstop and battling the fires with all their might, while the government has been put on red alert.

Not just the flames, but the winds intensified the fires and made it highly impossible to extinguish them as well. There are already claims that many vehicles and several houses have been damaged due to the fire.

The Cost to Humans and the Environment

Among victims of wildfires, a 45-year-old man died of cardiac arrest while trying to flee the fire.

As such, the environmental consequences are also extremely serious since huge tracts of forests have been destroyed, including Mt. Parnitha, referred to by some as "the lungs of Athens.".

The Greek government and firefighting teams are still on high alert, with ground forces stationed at every corner of the area to survey possible reignitions.

This unusually early heatwave, followed by wildfires in the nation, has made people realize the threats from climate change.

Also Read: Greece Wildfire: No Injuries Recorded As Wildfire Triggers Massive Explosion On Ammunition Depot

International Efforts to Assist Greece

Greece has been greatly helped by international assistance during the wildfire catastrophe. Sweden and Cyprus, among others, have led the way in offering emergency firefighting assistance.

Cyprus provided 40 emergency responders and a military C-130 aircraft outfitted with fire vehicles. Sweden sent out a specialist firefighting squad in the interim.

Many other countries have also contributed significantly by deploying firefighters and fire trucks, including France, Croatia, Romania, Spain, and several others.

This coordinated worldwide response highlights the cooperative spirit and the common commitment to tackling environmental concerns on a global scale.

Long-term Recovery Plans for Greece

Greece has extensive and varied long-term recovery efforts following the wildfires. The government has redesigned its wildfire response plan, emphasizing the improvement of forest firefighting units and the more efficient use of firefighting resources.

Forest fuel management and other fire protection initiatives now receive a sizable percentage of the budget.

Further, there are reforestation projects in the piping, for which associations and private companies are encouraged to participate in the process of "adopting" trees.

At the same time, the recovery plan of Greece, with its various investments and measures aimed at mitigating the economic and societal impacts of wildfires, has been approved by the European Commission.

As indicated by these programs, the goals set before the government's measure have been the establishment of a more fire-resilient Greece but also the recovery of damaged ecosystems.

All things considered, the situation that Greece finds itself in today demands comprehensive approaches to combating and reducing these extreme weather events.

The nation's emergency services and citizens are tough and dedicated in the face of extreme adversity as they battle the raging wildfires.

Related article: Greece To Purchase Assets And Equipment To Strengthen Capability To Fight Climate Change, Invest 2 Billion
A study reveals that women make up 80% of those who are displaced by a natural disaster and are 14 times more likely to die in one.

Violence Against Women

Women's Environmental Leadership Australia's research highlighted the social disadvantage of women during the crisis as they got less security and fewer resources.

The report stated that violence against women usually increases because of entrenched traditional gender norms further solidified after a disaster.

Women do much more caring work in comparison to the disproportionate representation of men carrying out heroic activities such as water rescue, firefighting, clean-up and reconstruction.

Emergency worker Steve O'Malley educates first responders on how gendered norms can normalize violence amid extreme situations.

O'Malley said that according to research, there was a belief that the males who committed acts of violence and responded to the calamity should be pardoned.

People did not pay attention to how much influence the men had in the community because of all the trials they went through.

He added that stopping gender-based violence should be the 'core business' of the emergency sector, which is normally male-dominated.

It has been over 10 years since the release of the first study showing a spike in gender-based violence cases after some natural disasters, including domestic violence cases reported during the Victorian bushfires on Black Saturday in 2009.

Since then, studies established that there were sharp surges in domestic violence during the millennium drought, in COVID-19 lockdowns, and following the disastrous floods in the Northern Rivers of NSW in 2022.

According to a post-disaster report by peak organization Domestic Violence NSW, case workers were forced to call women using tiny antennas linked to generators in their cars because communications were destroyed during the floods.

In India, studies on female farm laborers have found a strong association between hysterectomies and displacement brought on by drought.

Due to the physically demanding nature of their work-which involves 16-hour shifts-many female laborers experience crippling menstruation cycles. Financial penalties for missing work are a feature of exploitative informal contracts, which makes women feel as though they have no choice except to have their wombs removed in order to stop having periods.

Read Also: Swiss Women Won The First Ever Climate Case Victory In EU Court of Human Rights

Climate Policies

Australian researchers claim policies related to the environment and climate change continue to fail in acknowledging the increased risks that women face during and after disasters even after years of accumulating evidence.

According to Dr. Pascoe Leahy, leader of a project researching women who lead, for the purposes of ensuring better protection of vulnerable populations, it is important for environmental policies to take into account gender considerations.

"We've got fabulous research in the Australian context that policymakers can use to start to respond to this. It needs to get on their radar," she added.

At the mid-year conference of the United Nations in Bonn this month, government officials did not address the problem of gender equality any more than before.

The UN's major gender project, the Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWP), was anticipated to gain more strength by the time advocates left the German city. Due to tense and slow deliberations, the LWP, however intended to be renewed by 2025, will instead be finalized in November during the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan.

The LWP has made it possible to comprehend "what is prohibiting women and other genders from being in [UN negotiating] spaces better," according to Claudia Rubio, the head of the gender working group for the UN's Women and Gender Constituency.

Related Article: Women In Rural Areas Suffers More From The Impact of Climate Change Than Men, UN Study Says
Severe thunderstorms are threatening the states of Nebraska and South Dakota as of Monday, July 1, potentially bringing damaging winds and sporadic hail, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Severe weather hazards such as isolated tornadoes and flash flooding due to heavy rain are also possible over the affected region, which may experience localized travel disruption starting Monday.

Meanwhile, the NWS also issued heat wave alerts for at least 50 million Americans across the southwestern United States. The weather authority described the looming extreme weather event as a "dangerous heat" that can potentially impact the south-central parts of the country and portions of the West Coast.

Hot temperatures and elevated humidity levels may also increase wildfire risks, the US weather forecast says.

The intense heat indexes recorded across the country over the past month confirm previous summer forecasts by US meteorologists. In May 2024, AccuWeather experts forecasted an above-average summer season this year, with exceeding temperatures by at least 2 degrees from historical averages.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also made similar forecasts earlier this year.

Severe Thunderstorm Forecast

In its recent short-range forecast, the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) at 4:09 a.m. EDT (local time) on Monday warned of the lingering severe thunderstorms and heavy rain over the northern Great Plains and Midwest regions. The WPC's severe thunderstorm forecast centers around Nebraska and South Dakota, as well as their surrounding states which could experience the mentioned severe weather hazards.

The thunderstorm forecast highlights the potential for significant flooding caused by torrential rain and swollen rivers, especially for the upper Mississippi Valley. The stormy weather is caused by approaching frontal boundaries which can bring multiple severe storms and increased heavy rainfall events across the northern Plains and upper Midwest starting Monday.

Also Read: Thunderstorm Forecast Update: Strong to Severe Thunderstorms May Bring 'Excessive Rainfall' to Southern US on Saturday [NWS]

Heat Wave Alerts

In addition to the severe thunderstorm forecast, the NWS warned about an ongoing heat wave spanning southern Oregon to southeast California. This extreme weather event has resulted in the issuance of heat wave alerts, including excessive heat warnings, watches, and advisories. They will take effect as early as Tuesday, July 2. Furthermore, scorching temperatures may continue until the end of the week, the US weather agency says.

Back in May, AccuWeather's Paul Pastelok predicted that the US summer season 2024 would involve heat waves for multiple areas across the Great Plains to the Northeast US regions. This means extreme temperatures may hit many states, ranging from Texas to Maine until August 2024.

Before the current season, meteorologists hinted certain conditions for an above-average US summer. In February 2024, the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) reported that drought conditions were detected in large portions of the Southwest, Plains, and Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, the agency forecasted a rainy summer season or increased precipitation for the Northeast.

Related Article: Kansas, Colorado Forecasts: Severe Thunderstorm Risk to Unleash Damaging Wind Gusts, Large Hail This Late Week
Chagas disease is known for infecting millions and killing thousands of people worldwide, with symptoms including fever, headache, and abdominal or muscle pain. Recently, scientists detected black and orange insects carrying the tropical parasitic disease in Delaware. Reports of the possible outbreak in the state came after a resident found a large insect, which potentially carries the disease, on their pillow.

In their recent case study, scientists issued a warning to Delaware concerning the public health threat posed by Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis. The study described the case in New Castle County, Delaware, as unusual since the insects carrying the parasitic disease are rare in the northern part of the state. Health authorities previously detected related Chagas cases in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Delaware Chagas Disease Warning

In late June 2024, it was reported that scientists issued a Chagas disease warning for Delaware after a resident in New Castle County found in their home a potential insect carrier of the disease. In previous years, the insect dubbed "kissing bug" carries the said infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.

The kissing bugs appear to have a black and orange pigment on their body, resembling other blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes. However, the Chagas-carrying bugs belong to the species eastern bloodsucking conenose (Triatoma sanguisuga).

In their study published in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, scientists from the University of Delaware and the University of Georgia reported the first Chagas disease case carried by T. sanguisuga, infected with T. cruzi, in Delaware. The research paper identifies not only one but two cases of kissing bugs discovered in New Castle County, spanning between July 2023 and October 2023.

According to the paper, the first bug was found by a New Castle County homeowner in his bedroom last July 7. Meanwhile, the second specimen was found on a cookie sheet in the kitchen in the same county last October 22. It is unclear how the insects got inside, but one of the homeowners said they were likely able to enter through the crevices of the house.

Also Read: Chagas: U.S. and Mexico Should Fight Serious Disease, Says Report

What is Trypanosoma Cruzi?

Based on previous research, scientists described Trypanosoma cruzi as a protozoan and a "haemoflagellate intracellular parasite" which feed on blood of another organism. This is likely the reason why T. cruzi causes Chagas disease, which can result in severe heart problems and even death if left untreated.

The disease can be transmitted to humans mainly through vector-borne infections, including by insects such as T. sanguisuga. However, they can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, consumption of contaminated fruits, and even through congenital means, according to researchers in a 2015 study.

The American trypanosomiasis, mainly transmitted by a triatomine bug, infects approximately 6 million to 7 million people across the globe, especially in Latin America, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Chagas disease kills around 12,000 people annually. Currently, around 75 million worldwide are at risk of getting infected by the deadly parasite, the WHO estimates.

Related Article: Chagas Disease: Texas Faces New Deadly Outbreak Amidst the Covid Pandemic
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With the growth of artificial intelligence in data centers of all types comes not only requirements for applications and services, but the need to cool the power-hungry systems that run those workloads. With that in mind, Lenovo has announced some new enterprise hybrid AI solutions, and cooling technologies to deal with the heat they generate.

AI workloads in particular are driving up data center densities, with power consumption now topping 20 kilowatts per rack. Air-cooling systems struggle to keep up at this point, so data centers are increasingly turning to liquid cooling  almost one-quarter now have at least some workloads cooled this way.

Lenovo has offered such technology for a while, now, and has just introduced the sixth generation of its liquid cooling platform, Neptune. This now extends its reach through its ThinkSystem V3 and V4 server portfolios with options for direct open-loop water cooling for CPUs. The new generation also adds a new cold plate design for CPUs and accelerators to maximize heat extraction, new on-memory cooling for high performance computing systems, and warm water cooling that allows hot water reuse in a facility.
Wimbledon 2024: Osaka battles past Parry; top 10 seeds Sakkari, Paolini advance, Sun upsets Zheng

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eturning to Wimbledon after a gap of five years, former World No.1 Naomi Osaka came through a difficult battle before reclaiming her winning ways on the lawns of London as she got the better of the 53rd-ranked Diane Parry of France in the first round of women's singles here on Monday.

Top 10 players Maria Sakkari and Jasmine Paolini also kicked off their campaigns with first-round straight-sets wins on Monday. But Zheng Qinwen was the first Top 10 player to suffer a defeat this fortnight, losing to qualifier Lulu Sun of New Zealand.

Playing the grass-court major for the first time since 2019, Osaka posted a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Parry. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka of Japan needed 1 hour and 32 minutes to hold off Parry and book her spot in the second round.

Osaka was down a break on two separate occasions in the third set before squeaking out the victory in her first career meeting with former top-ranked junior Parry. Osaka made her winning return one day before her daughter's first birthday.

Osaka will have to wait until the end of the day to find out who her second-round opponent will be. She will meet the winner of the clash between No.19 seed Emma Navarro of the United States and former Top 15 player Wang Qiang of China.

Coming into this year, Osaka had only collected four main-draw wins at Wimbledon, her lowest total at any of the four majors. Osaka reached the third round in 2017 and 2018 but lost to Yulia Putintseva in the 2019 first round.

But Osaka, who returned to tour in January after being on maternity leave in 2023, had a solid grass-court showing ahead of this year's Wimbledon. Osaka made the 's-Hertogenbosch quarterfinals three weeks ago before narrowly losing to fellow US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in a third-set tiebreak.

World No.123 Sun collected a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over No.8 seed Zheng, this year's Australian Open runner-up. Sun took 1 hour and 57 minutes to fight back from the loss of the first set and clinch a spot in the second round.

It was a breakthrough victory for Sun in many ways. Not only was it the first Top 10 win of her career, it was her first win over a player ranked inside the Top 50. This was also her first Grand Slam main-draw victory, in just her second major main-draw appearance.

Additionally, Sun was nearly eliminated in qualifying last week. She had to save a match point in the second round of qualies before defeating Gabriela Knutson in a final-set 10-point tiebreak. The 23-year-old Sun is the first woman representing New Zealand to reach the second round of a Grand Slam since Marina Erakovic's run to the Wimbledon third round in 2016.

Earlier, No.9 seed Sakkari of Greece clinched her spot in the second round with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over American qualifier McCartney Kessler. Sakkari needed 1 hour and 11 minutes to oust World No.119 Kessler.

It was an important Grand Slam victory for Sakkari. The Greek has already won 20 matches at the tour level this year, but she had lost in the first round at four of the last five Grand Slam events.

Sakkari is now a win away from making the third round of a Slam for the first time since the 2023 Australian Open. Her next opponent is Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands, who reached the second round of Wimbledon for the first time since 2012 by beating Yuan Yue 6-2, 6-3.

In another match, No.7 seed Paolini of Italy posted her first-ever main-draw victory at Wimbledon by defeating Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5, 6-3.

Roland Garros runner-up Paolini had lost in the first round of Wimbledon the last three years running, but she broke that duck by toppling 55th-ranked Sorribes Tormo in 1 hour and 37 minutes.

Coming into this year, Paolini had never won a main-draw match at any grass-court event on the Hologic WTA Tour. But the Italian carried her Roland Garros momentum into Eastbourne last week, where she won two matches on grass before falling to eventual champion Daria Kasatkina.

In Monday's match, Paolini ground out a nearly hour-long first set, then built a 4-0 lead in the second set. Sorribes Tormo battled back on serve at 4-3, aiming to deny Paolini a maiden victory in London, but Paolini regrouped to win the next two games and advance.

Paolini's next grass-court challenger will be Greet Minnen of Belgium after World No.80 Minnen ousted British hope Heather Watson 7-5, 6-4 on Monday. It will be the first meeting between Paolini and Minnen.

 Wimbledon 2024: Osaka battles past Parry; top 10 seeds Sakkari, Paolini advance, Sun upsets Zheng

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Jamie Foxx opens up on fugue state, says he doesnt remember anything from days in hospital

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ollywood star Jamie Foxx, who is known for 'Django Unchained', has addressed his hospitalisation last year, suggesting in footage shared on social media that he doesn't "remember anything" from a period of days.

The actor experienced something akin to a fugue state.

Foxx was hospitalised in April last year after experiencing what his daughter Corinne Foxx, 29, referred to as a "medical complication," reports Mirror.co.uk.

He is later thought to have spent time in a physical rehab centre and has spoken about his health on a few occasions.

The actor is now believed to have further discussed the situation while speaking to a crowd in downtown Phoenix, in the US, recently.

According to Mirror.co.uk, footage shared by the outlet The Art Of Dialogue on X shows him saying, "(I had a) bad headache. Asked my boy for an Advil." Jamie then snapped his fingers before telling the crowd, "I was gone for 20 days. I don't remember anything."

He continued, "So they told me ... I'm in Atlanta ... they told me ... my sister and daughter took me to the first doctor. (They) gave me a cortisone shot."

Pointing at his head, he added, "The next doctor said, '(There's) something going on up there'. I won't say it on camera. Yeah, I don't want to say it on camera."

This isn't the first time the actor has addressed his experience.

He shared a video message with his fans on Instagram in July last year, in which he dismissed some speculation about his health.

Jamie said at the time that he hadn't shared an update earlier because he didn't want fans to see him "with tubes running out of (him) and trying to figure out if (he) was gonna make it through."

He said that his family "didn't let anything out" either but added that it meant people speculated.

 Jamie Foxx opens up on fugue state, says he doesnt remember anything from days in hospital

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India says priorities at SCO Summit shaped by PM Modi's SECURE vision

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ndia on Tuesday said that its priorities at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit being held in Astana this week under the presidency of Kazakhstan are shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of SECURE, which stands for Security, Economic development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the 24th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State which will be held on Thursday.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the leaders attending the summit are expected to review the organisation's activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation.

Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed at the meeting.

The principle of SECURE reflected the theme of India's first-ever presidency of SCO, as was asserted by PM Modi during the virtual SCO Summit hosted by New Delhi on July 4, last year.

More than 140 programmes, conferences, and meetings within the SCO were held and five new pillars of cooperation within the SCO - Startups and Innovation; Traditional Medicine; Youth Empowerment; Digital Inclusion, and Shared Buddhist Heritage - established under India's chairmanship.

It was also under India's presidency that Iran joined the SCO family as a new member and the signing of the Memorandum of Obligation for Belarus' SCO membership took place.

"The SCO represents approximately 40 per cent of the world's population and nearly one-third of the global economy. Therefore, it is our shared responsibility to understand each other's needs and sensitivities. To resolve all challenges through better cooperation and coordination, and make constant efforts for the well-being of our people," PM Modi had remarked at the 23rd SCO Summit, last July.

 India says priorities at SCO Summit shaped by PM Modi's SECURE vision

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Shabana Azmi reveals Mithun Chakraborty was insecure about his complexion

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eteran actress Shabana Azmi, who recently celebrated 50 years in cinema, revealed that actor Mithun Chakraborty was very insecure about his complexion during his early days in the industry.

The actress recalled how he would come to her house, and her mom would instil confidence in Mithun.

Shabana appeared on the episode of the streaming chat show The Invincibles with Arbaaz Khan by Bollywood Bubble and shared anecdotes about Mithun Chakraborty visiting her home and expressing concerns about his skin tone and teeth.

The actress told the show host, Arbaaz Khan: "Mithun Chakraborty, who was my junior back then would come to our house and tell us that he doesnt have a fair complexion or his teeth were different. Mom used to hug and tell him that you shouldnt worry about all these things. You are such a great dancer. We all used to get confidence from this kind of affirmation coming from her."

Reflecting on her iconic film Arth, Shabana expressed how none of the artists involved in the project anticipated its eventual cult status over the years.

The actress, who won the National Award for her role in the film, said that the film triggered a societal change.

During the episode, she also candidly discussed her husband, the legendary screenwriter Javed Akhtar, and his struggle with alcoholism.

She recounted a pivotal moment, saying that one day when they were in Paris, Javed was reeking of alcohol, and that was the moment he decided to give up drinking. She lauded her husbands willpower and said she couldnt understand how he gave up drinking just like that with no withdrawal.

 Shabana Azmi reveals Mithun Chakraborty was insecure about his complexion

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Namish Taneja visited travel agency in Mathura as client for his role in 'Mishri'

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ctor Namish Taneja, who is all geared up for the release of his new show 'Mishri', shared about the special preparations that he underwent for his role of Raghav, while shooting for the drama in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

The show stars Shruti Bhist as Mishri, Namish as Raghav, and Megha Chakraborty as Vaani.

Speaking about the preparations for the role, Namish told IANS: "My character, Raghav, is very honest and runs a business of tours and travels. He is very positive, and his family is his priority. He spreads positivity everywhere, remains happy, and understands relationships."

"We stayed with a family in Mathura, where we learnt about the daily routine of people, how people talk to each other and their language. Since my character runs a tours and travel business, so I went to a tours and travel shop there. I first went there as a client, and then as an owner. So all these preps I did for my role," said Namish, who last featured in the show 'Maitree'.

Talking about any special memory from the shoot of the project, Namish said: "I did parikrama of Barsana in Mathura, so that is the special memory I want to share. And I have deliberately left six kms deliberately so that I can go there once again and complete it."

He further shared that he shares a wonderful bond with Megha. "Our thoughts match, she is mature and understanding," said Namish.

On the relatability factor with his role, Namish added: "Raghav is the same as Namish, but Namish is three-four years older than Raghav. So both are the same, understanding relationships, and families. So it's almost the same."

Residing in Gangapur near Mathura, Mishri is a living talisman, bringing luck to every occasion she attends. However, her own life is replete with challenges as she fights against her 'kismet ki lakeerein'. Forced to wed her middle-aged uncle by her scheming aunt, Mishri is unexpectedly rescued by Raghav, who reluctantly marries her instead, but his heart belongs to Vaani.

Produced by Square Productions, Mishri will premiere on July 3 on Colors.

 Namish Taneja visited travel agency in Mathura as client for his role in 'Mishri'

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Harold Poulter's niece, Lynn Graves of Greenup, never had the chance to meet her uncle but finds it extraordinary that after 79 years he is finally coming home, and it is a comfort to know he will now rest near his family.
Multiple myeloma is one of the most common forms of cancer of the immune cells in the bone marrow. It is considered incurable. Even when patients respond to treatment at first, the cancer comes back. To be able to intervene faster and on a more targeted basis, researchers at Charite  Universitatsmedizin Berlin, the Berlin Institute of Health at Charite (BIH), and the Max Delbruck Center teamed up with other partners for a comprehensive study of this disease at the molecular level. The team now describes how highly aggressive types of tumors can be detected early on in an article published in the journal Nature Cancer. They show how changes in genetic material affect the protein profile of the tumor cells, and thus the mechanisms involved in the disease.



Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer in which the immune cells in the bone marrow, known as plasma cells, mutate and become cancerous. Plasma cells are responsible for producing antibodies. All humans have many different kinds of plasma cells that form large numbers of different antibodies. This allows the body to recognize and fight various pathogens. In multiple myeloma, a single plasma cell mutates into a tumor cell. That cell reproduces unchecked, forming a monoclonal cell population. This means many cells are formed, all of them exactly the same and genetically identical at first. The mutated cells often also produce large volumes of antibodies or fragments of them  but they do not function properly.



Over the course of the disease, most patients develop tumors at various locations in the bone marrow, hence the "multiple" in the disease's name. Immunodeficiency, kidney failure, bone loss, and bone fractures are just some of the consequences of this uncontrolled cell growth. Despite advances in treatment and the introduction of new gene and cell therapies, there is no cure for multiple myeloma at present. With this issue in mind, a team of researchers led by Jan Kronke from the Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology at Charite and Dr. Philipp Mertins, head of the Proteomics technology platform of the Max Delbruck Center and BIH, set out in search of new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

What path does the tumor take?

No two cases of cancer are alike, and multiple myeloma is no exception. Tumors develop differently in different individuals, including at different rates. This makes it more difficult to predict how the disease will progress and choose the optimum treatment. While the mutated plasma cells do not spread much in some cases, in others they are extremely aggressive, leading to a poor prognosis.



But what causes so much divergence in the course of multiple myeloma? In cooperation with protein analysis experts from the Max Delbruck Center and BIH, the researchers conducted a detailed study of genetic and molecular changes occurring in the tumor cells in a group of more than one hundred patients. The study included data from patients in the German Multiple Myeloma Study Group (DSMM), which is coordinated by the University Hospital of Wurzburg. This allowed the researchers to include clinical data on patients who had received standardized treatment over a period of eight years or more following initial diagnosis.

Systems medicine and big data

While changes in the genome and their effects on the proteome are already well described for other types of cancer, this is the first detailed proteo-genomic study of multiple myeloma.

"Genetic data alone is insufficient to explain the mechanisms involved in this disease," Mertins says. "We wanted to know the consequences of genetic changes at the protein level and compare this molecular biology data against the actual course of the disease in patients." The team was supported in collecting and analyzing the large volumes of data by experts at Charite, BIH, and the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK).



Cutting-edge mass spectrometry methods made it possible to map the protein profile of mutated plasma cells and compare it against that of healthy plasma cells in people without the disease. The researchers found that both genetic changes and changes in signaling pathways lead to uncontrolled activation of cancer cells. Regulatory processes at the protein level had the stronger influence. The researchers identified a protein constellation that suggests the disease will take a particularly aggressive course, regardless of other known risk factors.

Unlocking new therapies

"Our findings will help subcategorize patients more effectively going forward, personalizing their treatment," Kronke concludes. "We've identified key proteins and signaling pathways that can serve as the basis for even more effective, better tolerated treatments for multiple myeloma, for example for immune therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy." In further steps, the researchers plan to study which of the target structures they have identified are in fact good candidates for new therapeutic approaches.



The study is a crucial resource for research and applied development, says Dr. Evelyn Ramberger, first author of the study: "To make the complex data set manageable, we programmed an interactive, freely available online tool." This has given cancer researchers easy access to the results, so they can use the information to develop new therapies and tests to help guide treatment. For example, it may be possible to treat patients with an especially aggressive form of multiple myeloma with more intensive therapies right at the outset.
Implementing patient-centered palliative care therapies, including prescribing, adjusting or discontinuing medications as needed, may help control symptoms and improve quality of life for people with heart disease, according to "Palliative Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disease," a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published today in the Association's journal, Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

The new scientific statement reviews current evidence on the benefits and risks of cardiovascular and essential palliative medications. The statement provides guidance for health care professionals to incorporate palliative methods as part of holistic medication management at all stages of a patient's health conditions, emphasizing the importance of shared decision-making and goal-oriented care.

Palliative care is specialized medical care that aims to relieve symptoms and enhance quality of life for people experiencing health-related issues due to serious illnesses. This approach may benefit patients with cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension and heart failure. These conditions significantly reduce quality of life, require ongoing treatment, are usually progressive and are associated with high mortality rates. The progression of many conditions, from chronic to advanced and end-stage, may be unpredictable and marked by worsening symptoms that result in recurrent hospitalization.

Palliative care complements standard cardiovascular care by reducing physical symptoms, managing emotional distress and assisting patients in making decisions that coincide with their goals of care. A palliative approach can be integrated into the medication management of patients at any stage of heart disease, from chronic, stable heart disease to advanced and end-stage cardiovascular disease. And, importantly, palliative care supports a more goal-oriented, patient-centered approach to treatment.

Previous studies have found that adding palliative care interventions to evidence-based care improved patients' quality of life, functional status, depression, anxiety and spiritual well-being and reduced the risk of hospital readmission for patients with advanced heart disease compared to clinical care alone. Despite these benefits, fewer than 20% of people with end-stage heart disease receive palliative care.

In addition, despite significant progress in cardiovascular care, disparities in care and outcomes related to race, ethnicity, gender and social determinants of health persist. People with heart failure who are referred to palliative care are predominantly white, have higher socioeconomic status and are more likely to receive care at academic medical centers. Patients from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are less likely to receive palliative care, which contributes to poorer outcomes and increased risk of early mortality.

It is critical for patients to be fully informed about their diagnosis and how medication management may change throughout the disease progression so they have ample time to set and share their goals. These goals often include reducing symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and pain as well as improving sleep, mood and appetite." Katherine E. Di Palo, Pharm.D., M.B.A., M.S., FAHA, Chair of the statement writing group, senior director of Transitional Care Excellence at Montefiore Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City

To achieve these goals, cardiovascular medications that provide symptom relief, such as diuretics to manage fluid retention in heart failure, should be prioritized in patients with advanced heart disease. Adding palliative medicines to evidence-based cardiovascular therapies can be complementary to manage symptoms and optimize quality of life. Examples of common palliative medicines include antidepressants, opioids for pain relief and difficulty breathing, and anti-nausea medications.

"Given the complexities of medication management in people with heart disease, a team-based approach is urged. Collaboration between multidisciplinary clinicians across primary care, cardiology and palliative care is needed to deliver effective, person-centered care," said Di Palo.

Because the health status of patients can change rapidly, it is crucial to have ongoing discussions to ensure that treatment plans align with the patient's preferences and priorities. Clinicians should routinely evaluate -; and clearly communicate -; to patients and their families about the potential risks, benefits and expected time to benefit of each medication.

Deprescribing and de-escalating medications are also essential components of palliative medication management for people with heart disease. Deprescribing involves tapering, withdrawing or discontinuing a medication to improve outcomes. De-escalating medications focuses on reducing the dose or switching to another medication based on the patient's response to the medicine.

"Deprescribing that targets medications with limited benefit or increased risk of adverse events can be done safely with patient permission," Di Palo said.

The statement provides several examples where deprescribing medications may be appropriate to consider, such as when the time to benefit from the medication may be longer than the patient's life-expectancy. Anti-clotting medications (also known as anticoagulants) may be prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots. However, some of these medicines may increase the risk of bleeding, especially in older patients over the age of 75 who are at increased risk of falls. Discontinuing non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) may also be considered in patients with end-stage heart disease due to increased risk of bleeding and fluid retention. Although beta-blockers are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and heart failure, they may contribute to fatigue and functional decline in end-stage heart disease. A slow-tapering schedule can help to reduce the risk of rebound high blood pressure or withdrawal when large doses are abruptly stopped.

Other reasons to consider deprescribing medications include polypharmacy, defined as taking five medications or more daily. This increases the risk of adverse reactions or side effects, not taking medications as prescribed, hospital readmission and mortality. Excessive out-of-pocket medication costs may also prompt the need to deprescribe certain medications.

Future research is needed to determine the best ways to provide timely and targeted access to palliative medication management, particularly for patients with advanced heart disease from under-represented racial and ethnic groups who are less likely to receive palliative care or may face barriers to care.

This scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Association's Clinical Pharmacology Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, and the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. American Heart Association scientific statements promote greater awareness about cardiovascular diseases and stroke issues and help facilitate informed health care decisions. Scientific statements outline what is currently known about a topic and what areas need additional research. While scientific statements inform the development of guidelines, they do not make treatment recommendations. American Heart Association guidelines provide the Association's official clinical practice recommendations.
A large international study conducted at the University of Turku in Finland found that most adolescents do not seek professional help even when they have a high level of mental health problems. This unmet need was prevalent across all eight Asian and European countries involved in this study but especially in lower-income countries.

A new study revealed that even though many adolescents consider getting help or seek help from informal sources for their mental health problems, very few seek help from formal sources.



Doctoral Researcher Yuko Mori from the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry at the University of Turku, Finland, and the lead author of the study, tells that when adolescents attempt to get external help to deal with their mental health problems, there are two main types of help-seeking sources: informal and formal sources of help.

Adolescents may get help from informal sources such as friends, teachers, and family members and/or formal sources such as school nurses, psychologists, and counselors for professional assistance. Where they seek help from depends, for example, on the availability of services, cultural background, and stigma associated with mental illness." Yuko Mori, Doctoral Researcher from the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Finland

Less than 1% of adolescents in middle-income countries seek professional help

The study included 13,184 adolescents aged 13 to 15 who completed self-administered surveys between 2011 and 2017 across eight Asian and European countries: China, Finland, Greece, India, Israel, Japan, Norway, and Vietnam. The study was conducted as part of the Eurasian Child Mental Health Study (EACMHS), a school-based cross-national study into the well-being and mental health of adolescents.



In middle-income countries, less than 1% sought help from professional sources while in high-income countries, this rate is slightly higher, between 2% and 7%. Girls are generally more likely to seek help for mental health problems than boys.

Only 1-2% of adolescents with a high level of emotional and behavioural problems in middle-income countries (India, Vietnam, China) sought formal help. In other words, 98- 99% of those who suffer from a high level of problems do not seek formal help. In high-income countries, the rate was significantly higher but still limited, 6-7% in Greece, Israel, and Japan and 21-25% in Norway and Finland respectively.



"Interestingly, significant difference between girls and boys on the unmet need were found only in Norway and Finland where girls were more likely to seek formal help than boys", Mori notes.

Global need for mental health awareness and literacy programs

The study also revealed that informal sources of help are widely used among adolescents and are the key sources of help in many countries, particularly in lower-income countries.



The leader of the EACMHS, Professor Andre Sourander, MD says that the widely used informal sources of help especially in lower-income countries highlight a global need for mental health awareness and literacy programs.

"Cross-cultural studies on adolescent mental health such as the present study are important because almost all mental health research comes from high-income Western countries. There is a huge knowledge gap because most research represents less than 10% of adolescent population. Maybe the most striking result was how important informal sources of help such as teachers, friends and parents were. This indicates worldwide importance of promoting culturally sensitive mental health awareness and literacy programs", says Professor Sourander.
For patients with severe obesity undergoing knee or hip replacement, commonly obtained laboratory values  including markers of anemia and inflammation  are independent predictors of the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), reports a study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Hemoglobin level, platelet count, and several markers of systemic inflammation may be relevant to the elevated rates of PJI following total joint arthroplasty among patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m2 or higher, according to the new research by Nathanael D. Heckmann, MD, and colleagues of Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. "These findings may help surgeons risk-stratify morbidly obese patients, who represent a growing high-risk TJA population," the researchers write.

New data on laboratory predictors of PJI in morbid obesity

An increasing proportion of patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty have morbid obesity. Many studies have found that these patients are at an elevated risk of PJI, up to five times higher than in normal-weight patients. Dr. Heckmann and colleagues sought to identify preoperative laboratory markers associated with an increased risk of PJI among patients with morbid obesity.

The analysis included 6,780 patients with a BMI of 40 or higher who underwent total knee or hip arthroplasty, as identified with use of data from a national insurance claims database. The analysis focused on laboratory values relevant to proposed mechanisms of increased PJI risk associated with morbid obesity.

Several laboratory values were associated with increased rates of developing PJI within 90 days postoperatively. Compared to an overall rate of 0.69%, PJI developed in 1.69% of patients with hemoglobin levels indicating anemia and in 2.14% of patients with abnormal (high or low) platelet counts.

'Critical importance' of assessing anemia before arthroplasty

Elevated levels of certain complete blood count (CBC)based ratios indicating systemic inflammation were also linked to increased risk of PJI, including 1.11% for an increased neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, 1.69% for an increased platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and 1.05% for an increased systemic immune-inflammation index.

After adjusting for potential confounders, all of these preoperative laboratory markers were independently associated with PJI risk. Odds ratios were 2.62 for hemoglobin, 3.50 for platelets, 2.38 for neutrophil-lymphocyte, 4.86 for platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and 2.44 for systemic immune-inflammation index.

Several comorbid conditions were more common in patients with PJI, including chronic pulmonary disease, complicated diabetes, and complicated hypertension. In contrast with previous reports, albumin and glycated hemoglobin levels were not associated with PJI risk.

Within the limitations of the retrospective study, the findings help to address the "paucity of data" regarding factors contributing to the elevated risk of PJI associated with morbid obesity. Added to previous studies, the findings suggest that the association between anemia and PJI is even stronger among patients with severe obesity, compared with the general population. "This heightened risk signifies the critical importance of identifying anemia in morbidly obese patients to effectively assess PJI risk prior to TJA," the researchers write.

However, more research will be needed to confirm the impact of preoperative platelet count and complete blood countbased ratios on PJI risk. Dr. Heckmann and coauthors conclude: "Additional prospective studies should be conducted to validate the clinical utility of these laboratory markers to help risk-stratify morbidly obese patients prior to elective TJA."
Taxing certain antibiotics could help efforts to tackle the escalating threat of antibiotic resistance in humans, according to a new study by the University of East Anglia's Centre for Competition Policy, Loughborough University and E.CA Economics.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global risk, causing an estimated 700,000 deaths annually. A key AMR report previously warned that if unchecked, it could endanger 10 million lives a year and result in $100 trillion in lost economic output by 2050.

Human use of antibiotics is the primary driver of AMR, with the majority in the UK prescribed via GPs. Classified as narrow or broad-spectrum, narrow-spectrum drugs target specific bacteria, helping slow AMR but require knowing the organism causing the infection. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used more generally when the organism is unknown, exacerbating AMR.

The UK government report, published in 2016, recommended testing for pathogens before prescribing and using narrow-spectrum drugs when appropriate, with costly or time-consuming testing leading to overprescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics and contributing to AMR levels.

In this new study, economists examined the feasibility of 'taxing' GP surgeries for using particular broad-spectrum drugs  the idea being that when they prescribe them, the amount charged to their drug budget would be higher by the amount of the tax.

Writing in the International Journal of Industrial Organization, they argue that because GPs can choose which drug to prescribe this could encourage greater use of narrow-spectrum drugs as well as aim to reduce testing time and costs. It could also potentially help manage the demand for antibiotics by adjusting the relative pricing of the drugs.

Antibiotic resistance is an important issue and a priority for UK health policy. It's possibly the next ticking time bomb in the healthcare system. In our analysis, the financial burden of the tax is not on the patients but rather on the GP practices who may be overprescribing in some cases. Our findings show that switching from broad to narrow-spectrum is possible via changes in relative prices brought about via taxation, but it has implications - in terms of the total cost to society. While the alternative tax regimes we consider differ in how much demand will shift, our estimates suggest that these policies can be highly effective in managing that demand." Co-author Prof Farasat Bokhari, previously of UEA's School of Economics and now at Loughborough University

The researchers stress that such tax policies should not be implemented without allowing for exemptions based on the severity of the disease, which the physicians could certify. They also acknowledge that if decisions are time-critical and it is not an option to wait for a precise diagnostic test to know which narrow-spectrum antibiotic to prescribe, this may slow the switch from broad to narrow-spectrum.

The study draws on 10 years of monthly sales data for antibiotics dispensed in UK pharmacies and uses economic models to assess substitution patterns between different antibiotics, together with the impact of prices, seasonality, spectrum, and other characteristics of a drug on its demand.

It looked at the impact of two types of taxes on different groups of drugs. Firstly, a percentage tax (5% or 20%) on all antibiotics, all broad-spectrum antibiotics, and specific broad-spectrum antibiotics known to contribute most to antibiotic resistance (co-amoxiclav, quinolones, and cephalosporins). Secondly, a fixed amount of tax per unit of the drug.

A 20% tax on all antibiotics reduces total antibiotic use by 12.7%. However, it only reduces the use of the most problematic broad-spectrum antibiotics by 29.4%. This tax results in a consumer welfare loss, that is, the difference between what an individual is willing to pay and what they actually pay, of 322 per 1000 people, which amounts to about 19.9 million a year in the UK.

However, if the same 20% tax is applied only to the broad-spectrum antibiotics that contribute most to antibiotic resistance, their use drops by 37.7%, and the overall antibiotic use drops by only 2.38% because most patients switch to narrow-spectrum drugs. This more targeted tax results in a smaller consumer welfare loss of 78.2 per 1000 people, or 4.8 million a year.

Lead author Dr Weijie Yan, at E.CA Economics, said: "The consumer welfare loss and overall welfare loss from taxing these antibiotics are significant, however they are relatively small compared to the predicted societal costs of antibiotic resistance in terms of deaths and economic losses.

"While our simulations show how much demand is shifted from broad to narrow-spectrum, and at what cost, it does not calculate the long-term benefits of switching to drugs with a lower AMR footprint.

"It is also clear that the estimated loss in welfare is much smaller than previous estimates of worldwide costs, and so it may be well worth considering such remedies to shift demand to narrow-spectrum drugs."

'Antibacterial resistance and the cost of affecting demand: the case of UK antibiotics', Farasat A.S. Bokhari, Franco Mariuzzo, Weijie Yan is published in the International Journal of Industrial Organization.
In a recent study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, researchers in Alaska, United States of America (US) reported a natural infection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) or bird flu virus in a young, free-ranging polar bear that was found dead in Alaska in 2023. They highlighted the significance of continued wildlife health surveillance by the community as well as by hunters in the Arctic.

Dispatch: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Infection in Free-Ranging Polar Bear, Alaska, USA. Image Credit: Alexey Seafarer / Shutterstock

Background

First detected in October 2020 in Europe, the HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus has since often infected various mammal species globally ever since. In North America, natural bird flu infections have been observed in several bear species, including Asiatic black bears, American black bears, grizzly bears, and Kodiak brown bears. Animals in captivity, including sloth bears, Asiatic black bears, and giant pandas, have been reported to contract other influenza A(H1N1) viruses. Additionally, antibodies against H3 and H6 influenza subtypes suggest previous natural exposures to bird flu viruses. Notably, seroconversion has been noted in Barent Sea polar bears and Alaskan brown bears but not in the southern Beaufort Sea polar bears.

Interestingly, genome analysis of Alaskan wildlife influenza viruses has both unreassorted and reassorted strains. The HPAI virus genotype A3 was likely introduced into Alaska via the East AsiaAustralia Flyway in November 2021. Since then, it has been detected in various wild birds, including California condors in Arizona, and mammals such as red foxes, fishers, martens, raccoons, and brown bears along the Pacific Flyway.

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are classified as a threatened species under the US Endangered Species Act. Understanding their health threats is crucial for conservation efforts and developing effective management strategies. In the present study, researchers report the case of a male polar bear naturally infected with the HPAI H5N1 virus that succumbed to the infection.

About the study

The North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management (NSB DWM) in Alaska researches wildlife health and maintains programs for monitoring the harvest of marine mammals, including polar bears, by the community. The Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian oversees wildlife surveillance for the presence of notifiable infectious diseases. After identifying HPAI H5N1 in birds of prey and a red fox in April 2022, the Office of the State Veterinarian began collaborating with NSB DWM for surveillance testing of avian influenza in birds and other wildlife.

Local residents reported finding a dead polar bear near Point Barrow, Alaska, in August 2023. A postmortem examination was conducted. The bear was found to be a 120 cm-long juvenile male in a condition of moderate to advanced decomposition. After a gross examination, tissue samples were collected and fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histopathologic examination. Swab samples were also collected and stored at 50C. They were processed for routine histopathologic examination with eosin and hematoxylin staining. Swab specimens were tested for the influenza virus matrix gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Immunohistochemistry was performed using an influenza A virus polyclonal antibody. Further, molecular confirmation and virus genome characterization were carried out.

Results and discussion

Gross examination revealed liver and lung congestion, ulcerative skin lesions, sanguinal effusion, cerebral swelling and congestion, and an empty stomach. The major histopathologic findings were granulocytic and mononuclear meningoencephalitis with microgliosis, neuronophagia, vasculitis, neuronal necrosis, and parenchymal rarefaction. Additionally, the researchers identified focal lipid pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and multifocal ulcerative dermatitis. Swab specimens were found to be negative for the influenza virus matrix gene. Despite negative PCR tests, immunohistochemistry detected influenza A virus antigen in neurons and microglial cells. Molecular analysis identified HPAI virus genotype A3, a Eurasian influenza virus. The virus was first detected in Alaska in April 2022 and was the most detected genotype in the region during AugustDecember 2023. Full genome sequences for the virus infecting the polar bear were deposited in GenBank and GISAID (short for global initiative on sharing all influenza data).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the discovery of HPAI H5N1 in a polar bear indicates the virus's ability to spill over into various mammalian species, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring (both community- and hunter-based) of wildlife health to detect emerging pathogens early. The successful detection of the virus through collaborative efforts between wildlife management departments and state veterinarians highlights the importance of integrated surveillance systems in monitoring and responding to wildlife health issues. Since polar bears and other wildlife are integral to the subsistence lifestyle and food security of Indigenous communities in the Arctic, detecting HPAI H5N1 highlights potential zoonotic risks. This calls for strategies to mitigate the impact on traditional food sources and safeguard public health. The findings provide valuable data on the spread and impact of HPAI H5N1 in the Arctic region, contributing to the broader scientific understanding of influenza virus ecology and cross-species transmission dynamics.
Currency fluctuations are a pivotal factor in the import and export business. Economies with a surplus of goods can export them to other countries, while those needing specific products must import them. However, the primary challenge in this trade cycle is navigating currency fluctuations. These fluctuations directly impact the revenue and profitability of companies engaged in international trade, influencing their share prices and, consequently, your investment portfolio.

Also Read: Heres Top Priority of Investors When Selecting A Mutual Fund, Report Reveals Common Myths

The exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar plays a crucial role in this dynamic, determining the financial outcomes for businesses and investors alike.

How Rupee Appreciation Impacts Shares of Indian Companies

Information Technology: Indian IT firms generate a substantial portion of their revenue from exporting software services. Therefore, rupee appreciation negatively affects their profitability and share prices.

Indian IT firms generate a substantial portion of their revenue from exporting software services. Therefore, rupee appreciation negatively affects their profitability and share prices. Pharmaceuticals : Indian pharmaceutical companies rely heavily on exporting products to markets like the USA and Europe. Rupee appreciation reduces their profitability, leading to a decline in their share prices.

: Indian pharmaceutical companies rely heavily on exporting products to markets like the USA and Europe. Rupee appreciation reduces their profitability, leading to a decline in their share prices. Automobile and Engineering: Companies in the auto and engineering sectors also export a significant portion of their output. Rupee appreciation negatively impacts these sectors stocks.

Companies in the auto and engineering sectors also export a significant portion of their output. Rupee appreciation negatively impacts these sectors stocks. Oil and Gas: Cheaper imports benefit companies in the oil and gas sector by lowering input costs and increasing profit margins, resulting in higher share prices.

Cheaper imports benefit companies in the oil and gas sector by lowering input costs and increasing profit margins, resulting in higher share prices. FMCG: For fast-moving consumer goods companies, rupee appreciation makes imported raw materials cheaper, lowering costs and improving profit margins, leading to a rise in share prices.

How Rupee Depreciation Impacts Shares of Indian Companies

I nformation Technology: With revenues in dollars, rupee depreciation boosts the profitability of IT companies, positively impacting their stock prices.

With revenues in dollars, rupee depreciation boosts the profitability of IT companies, positively impacting their stock prices. Pharmaceuticals: The competitiveness of Indian drugs in foreign markets increases, boosting exports and profitability.

The competitiveness of Indian drugs in foreign markets increases, boosting exports and profitability. Automobile and Engineering: Depreciation of the rupee makes exports more lucrative, enhancing profitability and raising stock prices over the long term.

Depreciation of the rupee makes exports more lucrative, enhancing profitability and raising stock prices over the long term. Oil and Gas: Increased import bills for crude oil and natural gas due to rupee depreciation squeeze profits, resulting in declining share prices.

Increased import bills for crude oil and natural gas due to rupee depreciation squeeze profits, resulting in declining share prices. FMCG: Imported raw materials become more expensive, escalating costs for FMCG companies and hitting profit margins, which drags share prices down.

Managing Currency Volatility in Your Portfolio

To build long-term wealth, investors need to create a diversified portfolio. Balancing between exporters and importers helps manage currency risk.

When choosing stocks, focus on companies with solid businesses, global operations, and national currency hedges.

Equity-oriented funds offer diversified portfolios that moderate currency risk. Adding international mutual funds brings geographical diversification beyond Indian currency risk. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) also provide exposure to indices less impacted by currency fluctuations.

Should Investors Worry About Currency Fluctuations?

Currency fluctuations are normal and should not overly concern investors. Proper research and investment in large-cap companies with valuable products and growth opportunities can mitigate the impact of short-term currency volatility. Creating a diversified portfolio and holding investments long-term can help hedge risks.

Conclusion

Currency fluctuations are common and can impact an investors portfolio. However, diversification helps minimise risk. While rupee appreciation negatively affects export-focused sectors, those reliant on imports benefit from reduced input costs.

-The author is the CEO of Bigul. Views expressed are personal.
Petrol, and Diesel Prices On July 2, 2024: Oil marketing companies have announced updated petrol and diesel prices on Tuesday, July 2. The countrys Petrol and diesel prices depend on crude oil prices internationally. Fluctuations in crude oil prices lead to changes in fuel prices in India. Check the latest petrol, and diesel prices to know if there is an increase in the amount customers will have to shell out for a litre.

Government oil marketing companies release the latest petrol and diesel prices daily at 6 am in the country.

The prices have remained unchanged in most parts of the country since March 2024 when the central government cut petrol prices by Rs 2. Before that, the fuel prices remained steady since May 2022, following a reduction in fuel taxes by the central government and several states.

Companies like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Indian Oil Corporation of India release the prices of petrol and diesel on their websites. Let us know the latest fuel prices.

Petrol Diesel Price Today In India (Check city-wise rate table below)

Check city-wise petrol and diesel prices on July 2;

City Petrol Price (Rs/litre) Diesel Price (Rs/litre) Delhi 94.72 87.62 Mumbai 103.44 89.97 Chennai 100.85 92.44 Kolkata 103.94 90.76 Noida 94.66 87.76 Lucknow 94.65 87.76 Bengaluru 102.86 88.94 Hyderabad 107.41 95.65 Jaipur 104.88 90.36 Trivandrum 107.62 96.43 Bhubaneswar 101.06 92.91

Factors Affecting Petrol And Diesel Prices In India

Crude oil price: The primary raw material for the production of petrol and diesel is crude oil; as such, its price directly influences the ultimate cost of these fuels.

The exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar: As a major importer of crude oil, Indias petrol and diesel prices are also influenced by the exchange rate between the Indian and US dollar.

Tax: Various taxes on petrol and diesel are imposed by both the central and state governments. These taxes may differ across states, exerting a notable influence on the ultimate prices of petrol and diesel.

The cost of refining:

The final price of petrol and diesel is additionally influenced by the expenses incurred in refining crude oil into these fuels. The refining process can be costly, and the refining expenses may fluctuate based on factors like the type of crude oil utilised and the refinerys efficiency.

The demand for petrol and diesel: The demand for petrol and diesel can also affect their prices. If demand for these fuels increases, it can lead to higher prices.

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.
On Monday, July 1, Indias central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) joined hands bilaterally with various countries for seamless cross-border payments. The RBI will link the countrys Fast Payments System (FPS) and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for cross-border Person to Person (P2P) and Person to Merchant (P2M) payments. The RBI has joined Project Nexus, which is a multilateral international initiative to ensure instant cross-border retail transactions. Indias UPI and FPS of Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will be linked through Nexus. This can further be extended to more countries later. The multilateral approach of Project Nexus will help in enhancing the international reach and efficiency of Indian payments systems.

Project Nexus is conceptualised by the Innovation Hub of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). It is designed to interlink the domestic FPSs of its founding member countries that are Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India and the Philippines.

After signing the agreement, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das shared in an interview that in his opinion the biggest benefit of the project is that it will make cross-border payments much faster and less expensive. He believes it will also lead to greater international cooperation between countries to speed up cross-border digital transactions at a lower cost. He has further expressed hope for the reduction of costs in line with the World Banks assessment. This initiative involves BIS Innovation Hub which aims to collaborate multi-laterally to increase payment efficiency and speed. This will result in benefits for person-to-person and person-to-merchant transactions.

On June 30, the founding member countries signed an agreement in Basel, Switzerland which marks the official launch of the project. The participating central banks are Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Bank of Thailand (BOT), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The initiative is slated to go live by 2026 when the platform will revolutionise cross-border retail transactions by making it faster and efficient. In the near future, the platform will further accommodate other countries as well to expand its reach.
Stocks To Watch On July 2: Domestic markets opened on a flat note but soon bulls took over and brought some gains to start the week on a high. In todays trade, shares of Patanjali Foods, IOL Chemicals, Carysil, Tata Steel, Coal India among others will be in focus due to various news developments.

Patanjali Foods: Enters into a business transfer agreement with Patanjali Ayurved to acquire the non-food business undertaking or hair care, skin care, dental care and home care business of Patanjali Ayurved, including all movable assets, immovable properties, contracts, licences on a going concern basis through a slump sale. The acquisition falls under the ambit of a Related-Party Transaction. Total consideration for the acquisition is Rs 1,100 crore, which will be paid in five tranches.

CSB Bank: CSB Bank recorded a 17.8 per cent YoY growth in gross advances to Rs 25,099 crore. Total deposits up 22.2 per cent to Rs 29,920 crore. CASA deposits down 1.3 per cent. Term deposits up 32.7 per cent to Rs 22,471 crore. Advances against gold and gold jewellery up 24 per cent to Rs 12,487 crore.

Hero MotoCorp: Total June sales rose 15 per cent YoY to 5.03 lakh units. Domestic sales up 16 per cent to 4.91 lakh units. To expand its EV portfolio with new products in the mid and mass segments in CFY. Global business sales up 44 per cent during the June quarter led by expansion of Nepal operations, growth in Columbia and Mexico and increased market penetration in Turkey. Exports in June fell to 12,032 units from 14,236 units last year.

DCX Systems: Gets order worth Rs 1,250 crore from L&T for the manufacture and supply of electronic modules. The order has to be executed over a three-year period.

IOL Chemicals: Gets Chinas drug regulatory authority NMPAs nod for Fenofibrate, allowing the company to export it to the Chinese market. Fenofibrate is used in the treatment of high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

Eicher Motors: Royal Enfield sales down 5 per cent in June YoY to 73,141 units. Exports down 27 per cent to 7,024 units. Sale of models with engine capacity up to 350 cc down 10 per cent to 61,465 units. Sales of models with engine capacity exceeding 350 cc up 38 per cent in June to 11,676 units.

Tata Motors: Total domestic sales down 8 per cent YoY to 74,147 units. Total CV sales down 7 per cent, while total PV sales down 8 per cent to 43,624 units. Exports increased by 13 per cent to 1,457 units.

TVS Motor: Total Auto sales at 3.34 lakh units YoY. Total 2W sales up 6 per cent to 3.22 lakh units. Domestic 2W sales rose 8 per cent to 2.56 lakh units. EV sales up 10 per cent to 15,859 units. Exports down 3.9 per cent to 76,074 units.

Carysil: Launches QIP to raise funds. Floor price of Rs 837.89 is higher than the stocks closing price on Monday. The company, at its discretion, can offer a discount of not more than 5 per cent on the floor price.

NMDC: Total production in June at 3.37 MT from 3.48 MT last year. Total sales at 3.73 MT from 4.1 MT last year. Lump ore prices were cut by Rs 500 to Rs 5,950 per tonne. Fines prices too cut by Rs 500 per tonne to Rs 5,110.

Coal India: State-owned CILs coal production rose 8% to 189.3 million tonnes (MT) in the first quarter of the ongoing financial year.

Tata Steel: Tata Steel said its Bhubaneshwar Power stands dissolved without being wound up, effective July 1.
The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, 2022, was rolled out to recruit youth in the armed forces between the age of 17-and-a-half and 21 years for four years. The scheme has been a serious bone of contention in recent times with the Leader of the Opposition and Congress Member of Parliament (MP), Rahul Gandhi launching a scathing attack on the government on this issue yesterday. Responding to it, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh countered Rahuls claims by stating that the government offers an amount of Rs 1 crore to the family of Agniveers who are martyred during duty.

Here is all you need to know about the much-discussed Agnipath scheme.

The Agnipath scheme provides induction of the Agniveers into the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy for four years of service, including the training period. After four years, 25 per cent of Agniveers are permanently recruited in the Indian Army.

How much salary do Agniveers get?

Agniveers are stipulated to earn a package of about Rs 4.76 lakhs in the first year. It goes up to around 6.92 lakhs in the fourth year. Every Agniveer has to contribute 30 per cent of his monthly salary to the service fund. The same amount is contributed by the government as well.

Agniveers will have 30 per cent of their salary deducted as Seva Nidhi. This means that if an Agniveer earns Rs 30,000 he will obtain Rs 21,900 of the salary. In the next year, he will receive an amount of Rs 23,100 in hand and Rs 25,550 in the third year. The in-hand amount will turn out to be Rs 28,000 in the fourth year.

First-year  Rs 30,000/ per month

Second year  Rs 33,000/- per month

Third year  Rs 36,500/- per month

Fourth year  Rs 40,000/- per month

Agniveers have a non-contributory life insurance cover which amounts to Rs 48 lakhs. Along with these, an additional ex gratia amount of Rs 44 lakhs is dispensed in case of death during an Agniveers service. The family of the Agniveer will also receive the amount deposited as a service fund in such a scenario.

The family of an Agniveer will be paid the salary for the remainder of his duty, in addition to the insurance money, if he faces an injury during his four-year duty period.

 Insurance- Rs 48 lakhs

 Army Women Welfare Association- Rs 30,000

 For funeral  Rs 9,000

,  Army Central Welfare Fund  Rs 8 lakhs

 Ex-gratia- Rs 44 lakhs

Several states have already announced financial assistance for the families of the martyred Agniveers. Moreover, an Agniveer is eligible to get compensation if he faces any kind of disability during service. The compensation will be calculated based on a percentage of the disability determined by the medical authorities.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
Over 13 Lakh Students Await CUET UG 2024 Result The CUET UG 2024 test was held in a hybrid format on May 1524, as well as May 29. A total of 13.48 lakh candidates sat the test in 379 cities, including 26 overseas locations.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: NTA Currently Under Scrutiny The NTA is being investigated after claims of anomalies in the NEET-UG and UGC-NET were made public. The Centre has formed a panel to guarantee that the NTAs exams are transparent, smooth, and fair, with the goal of restoring faith in the agencys operations.

Steps to Check CUET UG Results 2024 Step 1: Visit the official website  exams.nta.ac.in. Step 2: On the homepage, click on the CUET UG result link once it is available. Step 3: Log in with your application number and date of birth. Step 4: The results will appear on your screen. Step 5: Download and save for further use.

Allahabad University To Take 2024-25 UG Admissions Through CUET Allahabad Central University will be providing admission in the academic session 202425 for the undergraduate courses through the CUET UG. This decision was taken in the meeting of the Executive Council of the University. The process of applying for CUET started on February 27 and will continue until March 26. The decision to hold CUET UG for all courses was made public by university professor Jaya Kapoor Chaddha. Read full Article

Why Were CUET Answer Sheet Boxes Kept Outside Exam Hall? What NTA Said The CUET boxes kept outside the hall on its campus are, in fact, empty and do not contain any sensitive material and such boxes are guarded by sufficient security personnel, said NTA. These are empty boxes kept outside the hall at NTA and do not have any sensitive material inside them. Never did we keep these boxes in open, as being reported by the media. Also, we have sufficient number of security personnel deployed at the place where boxes are kept. pic.twitter.com/QBFukSEHG3  National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) June 27, 2024

NTA Website Hacked, CUET Boxes Not Stored in Open: PIB Two videos about the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) have gone viral, which were debunked and labelled as fake by the Press Information Bureau while the examination body also issued a clarification on its social media handle. One video claimed that the website of the National Testing Agency (NTA) was hacked till June 18 with its data sold on the Darkweb. The other claimed that boxes for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) were being stored out in the open with their seals brokenread more

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Two Subjects Added by NTA NTA had added two new subjects in the CUET UG exam this year. In CUET (UG)  2024, a candidate may take a maximum of 06 subjects from 63 Subjects/Languages. Two new subjects Fashion Studies and Tourism have also been added, reads the official notice.

BHU to Start Four-Year UG Programme From 2024-25 Academic Year The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) will implement a four-year undergraduate curriculum called UG Honours and UG Honours with Research, beginning the academic year 20242025, in a significant change that is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Based on merit, only 10 per cent of admitted students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 7.5 or above will be qualified. Students can graduate straight into PhD courses with this plan, negating the need for a separate masters degree, by integrating research possibilities into the four-year undergraduate course.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Number of Exam Days Reduced to 8 From 34 Last Year Sadhna Parashar, senior director, NTA said that the agency reduced the exam duration from 34 days last year to eight days this year. Last year, the exam schedule was stretched for over a month because of the unavailability of as many computer labs at all locations and, hence, it was decided to conduct the exam in the hybrid mode this year, she had said.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Exam Held in 13 Languages CUET UG 2024 was held online in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Assamese, Odia, Malayalam, Kannada, and Urdu.

UGC Mulling JEE-like Common Counselling for UG Admissions Through CUET Scores UGC is exploring the idea of conducting a common counselling for undergraduate admissions based on CUET scores on the lines of medical and engineering courses, according to sources. The UGC has formed a committee with officials from different universities to discuss the idea and five renowned universities have been roped in for a pilot run, they added. However, there is no clarity on when the idea will be implemented if the committee finds it feasible. A panel has been formed to study the idea and the pilot will be conducted internally to study the pros and cons. Such a system will provide a single window for admissions and students can give their choices on a single portal instead of applying separately to universities, a source told PTI.

Assam UG, PG Admission 2024 via CUET Revised Schedule Released For CUET-based admission, applicants can take admissions until July 31. The preparation and publication of the 1st merit list are on July 9, the 2nd merit list on July 12, and the 3rd merit list on July 16. The spot admission will be conducted from July 19 to July 20, and the final spot admission (for both CUET and non-CUET) will take place from July 29 to July 31read more

Meghalaya, Nagaland Students Exempted from CUET in State The Central Government has exempted undergraduate students of Meghalaya and Nagaland seeking admissions to colleges affiliated to central universities in the two states from CUET, officials said. The North Eastern Hill University in Meghalaya and Nagaland University in Nagaland are central universities. Happy to inform our students that admissions to affiliated colleges to Central Universitys in Meghalaya have been exempted from CUET for this academic year. I thank @dpradhanbjp ji for his continuous support and understanding, the Meghalaya CM said in a post on X.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Wrong Question Papers Distributed at Kanpur Centre? The National Testing Agency had earlier said that wrong question papers were distributed at a CUET-UG exam centre in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur. A re-exam was conducted on May 29. The exam will be conducted on May 29 for over 220 students at an exam centre at Maharana Pratap Group of Colleges in Kanpur. This decision was taken after a wrong question paper was distributed on May 15, a senior NTA official had said. There was no paper leak, the invigilators mistakenly distributed English medium question papers to Hindi medium students, the official added.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Number of Students Around 13.48 lakh students appeared for the exam this time. The first day of CUET-UG comprised 44.71 per cent of the total scheduled slots for students registered in the pen-and-paper mode.

CUET UG Results 2024 Date The final result for the CUET UG 2024 exam was initially scheduled to be declared on June 30. However, amid the NEET UG paper leak row, the results have been delayed. A new result date is expected to be announced soon.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Exam Postponed on Very First Day, What Happened? The CUET UG 2024 for Delhi NCR, which was originally scheduled for May 15th was postponed to May 29th due to unavoidable reasons, as per NTA. The exam covered four test papers- Chemistry, English, Biology and General Test. It was conducted across various centres in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: How to Download Provisional Answer Key? Step 1. Visit the official website at exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG. Step 2: On the homepage, look for the CUET UG 2024 Answer Key link and click on it. Step 3: Enter your login credentials. Step 4: The CUET UG 2024 answer key will be displayed on the screen in PDF format Step 5: Download the answer key and compare it with your answers on the response sheet.

CUET UG Results 2024 LIVE: Marking Scheme Each question in CUET UG carries five marks, while one mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. Unanswered questions will be awarded zero marks.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a debate on the NEET issue in the Parliament. This comes after the Oppositions request for a debate on this issue has been denied by both Houses of Parliament on June 28. During todays Parliament session, the Opposition raised slogans in the Lower House asking PM Modi to speak on the NEET paper leak issue. Speaker Om Birla asked LoP Rahul Gandhi to maintain the dignity of the House.

In his letter, Gandhi requested the Prime Minister for a debate on the NEET UG paper leak issue and posted on X saying, I believe that it would be fitting if you were to lead this debate.

Our aim is to engage constructively to find a way forward. At this moment, our only concern is the welfare of 24 lakh NEET aspirants across India. Lakhs of families have made tremendous personal sacrifices to support their children. For many, the paper leak is a betrayal of a lifetime dream, reads the letter.

The NEET examination deserves immediate attention because it has exposed our higher education system, the letter added. The Congress MP also stated that the governments move to defer other exams and replace the NTA DG is a move to cover up the systematic breakdown of our centralised testing system adding that the past seven years have seen over 70 paper leaks, affecting over 2 crore students.

Dear Prime Minister,I am writing to request for a debate in Parliament on NEET tomorrow. Our aim is to engage constructively in the interest of 24 lakh NEET aspirants who deserve answers. I believe that it would be fitting if you were to lead this debate. pic.twitter.com/PXqV8LnYVO  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 2, 2024

Meanwhile, earlier Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said that Congress doesnt want a discussion of the NEET UG 2024 issue, they only want chaos and obstacles in the functioning of the parliament. 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 told ANI.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
If you are willing to put in a lot of study time during the first few years and have a strong memory over an extended period, being a lawyer is an intriguing career choice.

As per 2022 statistics, there are 1721 law colleges in India. Both public and private law schools fall under this category. There has been a rise in the enrollment of students in law courses such as LLB and LLM in recent years. To get admission to an Indian law college, one must pass the CLAT exam. The IIRF Ranking 2024 contains a list of the best law schools.

According to the Bar Council of India, in India, there are more than 15 lakh registered lawyers. Each year, over 5 lakh students apply to law schools. Over 70,000 recent law graduates enter this field each year. You can get admission to the nations best law colleges by looking up the IIRF Ranking 2024 (Best Law Colleges in India). You can visit iirfranking.com, the official website of IIRF, to view the list of top law schools in India.

To get admission into one of Indias top law schools, one must score high in the CLAT exam. Following is the list of the top 10 law colleges in India prepared keeping in mind the IIRF 2024 ranking and eligibility required:

National Law School of India University -Bangalore, Karnataka National Law University-New Delhi, Delhi NALSAR University of Law-Hyderabad, Telangana The WB National University of Judicial Sciences-Kolkata, West Bengal Government Law College-Mumbai, Maharashtra Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia-Delhi, Delhi Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur-Kharagpur, West Bengal Dr Ambedkar Government Law College-Chennai, Tamil Nadu Faculty of Law University of Delhi-Delhi, Delhi Dr BR Ambedkar College of Law-Bangalore, Karnataka

The National Law College admissions process involves the CLAT exam. It is known to be one of the hardest exams. In the IIRF Ranking 2024, the Aligarh Muslim Universitys Faculty of Law is rated 11th, followed by the National Law Institute University in Bhopal at number 12, the National Law University and Judicial Academy in Guwahati at number 13, the National Law University in Jodhpur at number 14, and ILS Law College in Pune at number 15.

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Starting now, schools will require the submission of Aadhar cards and bank account details for children at the time of admission. It applies to both private and government schools in Patna, from class 1 to 12. Children without an Aadhar card or bank account cannot access government schemes. To facilitate, camps will be organised to create Aadhar cards for students.

According to the District Education Office, 16,134 childrens Aadhar cards were made in the past month. There are 46 centres in the district dedicated to creating Aadhar cards for children, with 27 centres currently active. The goal is to have two Aadhar centres in each block of the district.

Linking the Aadhar card to a bank account is essential for students in government schools to benefit from various schemes. When uploading childrens data on the MIS portal, complete information on their Aadhar card and bank account must be included.

Aadhar cards for children without them are being made free of cost. If there are errors in existing Aadhar cards, parents will need to pay a fee of Rs 50 to Rs 100 for corrections. The District Education Office has received complaints about operators charging parents for creating Aadhar cards. Therefore, school headmasters have been instructed to oversee the process and report any demands for money to the responsible officers.

Uploading all details of the Aadhar card and bank account ensures that funds from any scheme will be directly deposited into the childrens bank accounts. This process allows children to directly benefit from government schemes, including those for bicycles, dresses, napkins, and scholarships. Consequently, at the time of school admission, children must provide their Aadhar card, bank passbook, photo, and other necessary information.

This new requirement aims to streamline the delivery of government benefits directly to students, ensuring transparency and efficiency. The initiative reflects the governments commitment to improving the welfare of students and ensuring that they receive the support they need to continue their education.

By mandating Aadhar and bank details, the government seeks to eliminate fraud and ensure that the benefits reach the intended recipients. This process is a significant step towards integrating digital identification with educational and welfare systems, ultimately aiming to provide better opportunities for the students of the district.

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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 full Article

NEET 2024 Live Updates: Govt Serious On Paper Leak Issue, PM Modi Says 'Nobody Will Spared' Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Tuesday that those responsible for the paper leak will face consequences, emphasizing the governments commitment to addressing the issue. During his response to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, he underscored the enactment of laws aimed at tackling paper leaks and highlighted ongoing efforts to fortify the education systemread more

NEET 2024 Live Updates: TN Assembly Passes Resolution Again Urging Centre to Exempt State from NEET The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution earlier last week urging the Union Government to provide its assent to the Bill for exempting Tamil Nadu from NEET and also to amend the National Medical Commission Act to give up this selection process at the national level, CM said, reported PTI. The DMK has consistently been opposing NEET since it was made mandatory in 2017 and had even launched a massive signature campaign aiming to abolish the test, he added.

NEET-UG Row LIVE: What is The Hazaribag Case? Bihar Polices Economic Offences Unit (EOU) which was investigating the case earlier found burnt question papers of NEET-UG during a raid at a hideout of the solver gang, officials said. The EOU had claimed the leaked NEET-UG question paper was allegedly obtained from the Oasis School in Hazaribagh by the notorious Sanjeev Kumar alias Lutan Mukhiya gang. It had said the investigators had matched a partially burnt question paper found from the Patna safe house with the reference question paper provided by the NTA, confirming the leaks origin, reported PTI. However, it could not clearly establish who was behind the alleged paper leak, officials told the news agency.

'Deep Rot in Our Higher Education System': Rahul Gandhi Writes to PM Modi The Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has written to PM Narendra Modi, demanding a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament. This follows the Oppositions request for a discussion on this matter being refused by both Houses of Parliament on June 28. In his letter, Gandhi asked the Prime Minister for a discussion on the NEET UG paper leak problem and wrote on X, I believe that it would be fitting if you were to lead this debate. read more

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud Scheduled to Hear NEET UG Appeals on July 8 According to LiveLaw, on July 8, NEET-UG cases are scheduled to be heard by a Supreme Court panel that includes Justices JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, and CJI DY Chandrachud.

NEET 2024 Live Updates: DYFI protest in Trivandrum Against Irregularities in NEET On Tuesday, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of Keralas ruling CPI(M), organised a march to the office of the Accountant General (AG) in protest against irregularities in the NEET entrance exam, as reported by PTI. Protesters held signs stating NEET is not very neat and stop playing with students lives. Protesters asked for a probe into the discrepancies and demanded that the Union Education Minister put in his resignation.

NEET 2024 Live Updates: Rahul Gandhi Calls for Debate on NEET in Parliament Tomorrow Dear Prime Minister, I am writing to request for a debate in Parliament on NEET tomorrow. Our aim is to engage constructively in the interest of 24 lakh NEET aspirants who deserve answers. I believe that it would be fitting if you were to lead this debate. pic.twitter.com/PXqV8LnYVO  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 2, 2024

NEET 2024 Live Updates: How to Check NEET PG 2024 Revised Dates Once Released? Step 1: Go to the official website of NBE, natboard.edu.in. Step 2: Select the NEET PG 2024 option. Step 3: Now, click on the corresponding notifications. Step 4: A PDF with the exam date, time, and other information will display on the screen. Step 5: Download the updated NEET PG 2024 dates and save them for future reference.

NEET 2024 Live Updates: NEET PG 2024 Exam Date Not Releasing Today The revised test date for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate Courses (NEET PG) 2024 will be announced later this week. The official release dates have not yet been announced, however, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is expected to release them in the coming week. Read full Article

'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.

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

NEET Row 2024 Live: Students End Indefinite Sit-in at Jantar Mantar Following Exam Protest The indefinite sit-in protest by students at Jantar Mantar, aimed at highlighting irregularities in NTA-conducted exams such as NEET UG, PG, and UGC NET, concluded on Monday. The protest, organized under the banner India against NTA, began last Wednesday in response to alleged exam rigging reports.

NEET 2024 Live Updates: NEET PG Postponed, NBE to Issue Fresh Admit Cards The NEET PG test was postponed by the government due to mounting concerns over suspected anomalies in the NEET-UG and other exams. As a precautionary step, the Health Ministry postponed the NEET PG examination one day before its planned date. With the test postponed, the NBE is anticipated to issue fresh admit cards with the new exam date. More information will be provided in the announcement, which will be published on natboard.edu.in.

NEET 2024 Live Updates: SC Raises Eyebrows Over Filing of Plea by Coaching Institute On June 27, the Supreme Court voiced doubts over a writ petition filed by a coaching institute alleging anomalies in the NEET-UG exam, according to IANS. What fundamental rights of yours are violated to enable you to maintain a writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution? questioned a vacation bench headed over by Justice Manoj Misra to the senior counsel representing Xylem Learning, a coaching institution that assists NEET students.

NEET 2024 Live Updates: TN CM Stalin Urges PM Modi to Abolish NEET Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, has again urged the Centre to abolish the NEET medical entrance exam nationwide and exempt the state from its requirements. In this context, our Legislative Assembly unanimously approved a bill exempting Tamil Nadu from NEET and allowing medical admissions based on 12th standard grades. Stalin stated in the letter that This has been sent for Presidential assent but the assent is still pending.

NEET 2024 Live Updates: 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 2024 Live Updates: Former ISRO Chief to Lead Expert Panel for Reforming NTA Exam Processes A high-level expert group chaired by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan has been established by the Ministry of Education to guarantee the fair, transparent, and seamless administration of exams administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). According to the Ministrys Department of Higher Education, the seven-member group will offer recommendations for changes to the NTAs organisation and operations, data security standards, and examination process mechanism.

'We Need Permanent Solution,' Says Mayawati on NEET UG, PG Controversy 1.   -                -              ,      ,           Mayawati (@Mayawati) July 1, 2024
In the wake of relentless downpours, the administration in Bageshwar, a town based in the state of Uttarakhand, issued an order to keep all schools closed on July 2. A report published by news agency ANI claimed that in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, a holiday was declared in all Anganwadi centres and schools from classes 1 to 12.

The report went on to state that the weather agency had issued an orange alert till July 5 for states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Goa. The Uttarakhand Meteorological Department had issued a red alert for districts such as Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital and Bageshwar.

A holiday has been declared for Tuesday, July 2 in all government, government-aided, private schools and Anganwadi centres from class 1 to 12 in the Bageshwar district.

As per the ANI report, Naresh Kumar, an IMD scientist, confirmed that the monsoon is right now in an active phase and significant precipitation is expected in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim. Kumar even predicted that conditions could turn out to be favourable with the further development of the monsoon. Rain has already done massive damage in Kapkot, a village located in Bageshwar, with several houses facing the brunt of extreme weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the administration of Bageshwar is understood to be focused on the opening of roads that were closed due to adverse weather. The closure of the roads had impacted local people who even suffered financial losses due to this. District Disaster Management Officer Shikha Suyal said many rural roads, including the Munar-Gasi and Kapkot-Toli streets, have been heavily damaged.

The heaviest rain of 20 mm in the district was recorded in the Kapkot area on Monday morning. The initial monsoon rain has severely damaged several rural roads, with the Munar-Gasi and Kapkot-Toli streets completely washed out, Shikha Suyal was quoted as saying by The Times of India. As per reports, some houses in the locality have been destroyed and news of animals being trapped under cowsheds are also coming in.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
After banning students from wearing hijab, Acharya and Marathe College in Chembur issued a new dress code on Monday banning students from wearing jeans and T-shirts. This comes days after the Bombay High Court dismissed a plea filed by nine students of the college, challenging the colleges dress code banning hijab which was issued last year, reported Indian Express.

According to the new dress code and other rules issued by the college, torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses, and jerseys are not allowed inside the college premises and the notice has been issued following several cases of indecent behaviour being reported on the campus by students, the principal told the news agency.

As per the report, the notice, signed by the principal of Acharya and Marathe College, Dr. Vidyagauri Lele, reads, Students should wear formal and decent dress while on campus. They can wear a half-shirt or full-shirt and trousers. Girls can wear any Indian or western outfit. Students shall not wear any dress which shows religion or cultural disparity. Nakab, hijab, burkha, stole, cap, badge, etc shall be removed by going to common rooms on the ground floor, and then only they can move throughout the college campus.

The principal further added that the administration just wants the students to wear formal clothes as that is how they should be dressing once they get employed. have asked them to wear formal Indian or western clothes. After all, they will be expected to wear those once they are employed, the principal told the news daily.

Dr. Lele also added that the students were informed about the dress code at the time of admission. Students attend college for around 120-130 days out of 365 days a year so, what problem should they have to adhere to a dress code for these days? she told the news agency.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhis speech in Lok Sabha on Monday made several references to Hindu Gods, NEET controversy and Agnipath scheme, which have been expunged from the records of Parliament on the orders of Speaker Om Birla.

In his speech, Rahul Gandhi during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmus address accused the BJP and RSS of spreading violence and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh had to stand up to express their resentment and rebut Rahul Gandhis remarks. They accused the Congress leader of spreading lies about the Hindu community.

Among the portions of Rahul Gandhis Lok Sabha speech that got expunged were his accusations against the BJP, stating that the party was treating minorities unfairly and perpetrating violence. Some comments made by BJP MP Anurag Thakur and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra too were expunged.

Expunging refers to the removal or deletion of inappropriate words from Parliaments official records.

What is the Procedure for Expunging Words?

According to the Rule 380 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, it is up to the Speakers discretion to expunge any word or expression used in a debate that are considered defamatory, indecent, unparliamentary, or undignified. Under Rule 381, the expunged words are removed from the official records of Parliament archives.

The Rule 381 also states that expunged portions of proceedings will be marked with asterisks, accompanied by a footnote indicating Expunged as ordered by the Chair.

What are Unparliamentary Words?

What constitutes unparliamentary language has been complied by a comprehensive volume titled Unparliamentary Expression, published by the Lok Sabha secretariat.

These words were derived from debates spanning various assemblies, and have been labeled un-parliamentary by different legislative bodies, including the Constituent Assembly, state legislatures and Commonwealth Parliaments.

There have been words, which have defied logic and have been expunged, such as anyay (injustice) and referring to Indira Gandhi as Bua. This may change soon.

Does This Work in the Age of Social Media?

Although the rules in Parliament officially remove the indecent and defamatory words or expressions from its archive, but people can still access them on social media, Google and YouTube.

In 2023, during President Droupadi Murmus speech, Rahul Gandhi had made comments on corporates and accused PM Modi of colluding with them. The comments were expunged, with the Congress MPs protesting. But the portions of Rahul Gandhis speech were still available on Google and YouTube.

Search engines and social media have the videos or speeches stored in their records and algorithms, which are accessed by viewers. They can only be removed by YouTube or other social media platforms upon specific requests, which are seldomly followed up, as per sources in Parliament.

What are Privileges of Members of Parliament?

Interestingly, the Section 105 gives unbridled rights to MPs and legislators on freedom to speak. But this is now tempered by the right to expunge given to the Speaker. In extreme cases, some comments can be taken to the ethics committee, which can rule after deliberation that a member found guilty can be suspended.

Article 105(2) of the Constitution of India safeguards MPs from court proceedings for their words or votes inside Parliament. However, Rule 380 of the Lok Sabha also stresses upholding good sense of members remarks and the Speakers supervision over the proceedings.

But Parliament sources say the idea of expunging is only to ensure that it is not found in the archives. It is more of a bureaucratic decision.

Sources in Parliament also told CNN-News18 that when comments get expunged in Parliament, there will be a possibility that social media platforms and search engines like YouTube may be requested to pull down the expunged comments. But this could take a while.

(with inputs from Agencies)
Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari mentioned scholar warriors in his speech at an event last week. At the third Warfare & Aerospace Strategy Program (WASP), Chaudhari stressed the importance of developing scholar warriors within the army and highlighted the 15-week programmes role in refining the concept.

The WASP was started in 2022 and is conducted by the India Air Force with the College of Air Warfare and Centre for Air Power Studies. It seeks to provide participants a deep understanding of geopolitics, grand strategy and comprehensive national power and to nurture critical thinkers who can blend cross-domain knowledge to generate policy-driving ideas at the strategic level.

Modern warfare is a dynamic and ever evolving landscape. It is no longer solely physical domain. It is increasingly influenced by complex data networks and advanced cyber technologies. As leaders you all need to adapt, innovate and leverage technology effectively for proving decisive in winning wars, the Air Chief Marshal had said.

Who is a Scholar Warrior?

Chaudhari said a scholar warrior is a military professional who combines intellectual acumen with combat prowess in todays increasingly complex and dynamic security environment.

In todays complex and dynamic security landscape, this concept is considered integral to many major militaries worldwide.

Through scholar warriors, the goal is to create well-rounded officers who possess academic knowledge, understand statecraft, and maintain their core war-fighting skills.

The IAF believes that scholar warriors are the next generation of military leadership, who will be adept in warfare strategies and real-world combat scenarios.

Lt Gen Raj Shukla (retd), who led the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) and is a member of the UPSC, said the concept looks at promoting heavy strategic thinking in the military, while creating the best thinking minds adept academically, in statecraft, and in tactical and strategic knowhows of warfare, The Indian Express quoted him as saying.

Lt Gen Shukla drew parallels to ancient Indian epics like the Mahabharata, citing figures like Arjun and Krishna as examples of warrior-scholars who possessed both intellectual depth and combat skills.

What are the Skills of Scholar Warriors?

Scholar warriors are expected to have interdisciplinary expertise, encompassing knowledge of other military branches as well as in-depth understanding of artificial intelligence, cyber and space operations, and international relations. This diverse skill set can be leveraged to enhance the militarys operational capabilities and maintain an advantage over adversaries, as per article written by Captain (retired) MS Chatterji.

Scholar warriors are trained in warfare strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and strategic relations with other nations. This equips them to decipher complex situations, think critically, anticipate threats, and formulate unique responses. Their adaptability to different operational scenarios is also a critical asset.

What is the Need for Scholar Warriors?

The concept aims at promoting innovative thinking to evolve unique warfare scenarios, which could include both traditional battlefield methods as well as new tactics of warfare.

Their skills are required in deep military knowledge in artificial intelligence, cyber and space operations and international relations.
Mukesh and Nita Ambani on Tuesday organised a Samuhik Vivah (mass wedding) for over 50 underprivileged couples from Palghar, around 100km from Mumbai, marking the start of the wedding functions of their son Anant Ambani with Radhika Merchant.

ALSO READ | Nita Ambani: Extremely Happy With Mass Weddings, Anant-Radhikas Shubh Lagna Ceremonies Begin Today

The Ambanis, accompanied by their family members, including son and Reliance Jio Infocomm chairman Akash and daughter-in-law Shloka Ambani, and daughter Isha Ambani, who heads Reliance Retail, and her husband Anand Piramal, attended the function and extended their heartfelt wishes to the couples, adding a personal touch to the auspicious occasion.

The function was held at the Reliance Corporate Park and was attended by around 800 people representing families of the couples. Starting with this function, the family pledged to continue supporting hundreds more of such weddings across the country during the upcoming wedding seasons.

Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries Limited Chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani and chairperson and founder of the Reliance Foundation Nita 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.

COUPLE GIVEN ORNAMENTS, Rs 1.01 LAKH STREEDHAN, GROCERY & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

The Ambani family upholds the timeless dictum, Manav seva hi Madhav seva Service to humanity is service to God. In the spirit of this principle, they have a tradition of beginning every major family occasion by providing for and serving others, reinforcing their commitment to the community.

As a gesture of goodwill, each couple was presented with gold ornaments, including Mangalsutra, wedding rings and nose rings. They also received silver ornaments, such as toe rings and anklets. In addition, each bride was presented a cheque of Rs 1.01 lakh as streedhan. Each couple was also gifted with grocery and household items sufficient for one year, including a variety of 36 essential items and utensils, appliances such as gas stove, mixer and fan, as well as mattress and pillows.

The wedding ceremony was attended by family members of the brides and grooms, local social workers and members of the community. Following the ceremony, a grand dinner was organised for all attendees, furthering the spirit of celebration and togetherness.

Attendees were also invited to witness the traditional Tarpa Dance performed by the Warli Tribe, adding a rich cultural experience to the evening.

The Ambani familys initiative not only celebrated the union of the couples, but also highlighted their commitment to social welfare and community support.

In this way, the family is also able to share their happiness and joy with the larger community and seek their blessings.

In the past too, during the occasion of weddings in the family, the Ambanis have run food service or Anna Seva for people in the nearby communities and with NGOs. In February, as part of Anant-Radhika pre-wedding festivities, an Anna Seva was held at Jogwad village near the Reliance Township in Gujarats Jamnagar. Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani and other members of the Ambani family, as well as Radhika Merchant, served traditional Gujarati food to around 51,000 villagers.

I bestowed the invitation card for the wedding of my son Anant in Babas feet, sought blessings at Kashi Vishwanath temple: Nita Ambani #NitaAmbani #AnantAmbani #MukeshAmbani #varanasi #KashiVishwanathTemple pic.twitter.com/y53KxFzRqQ News18 (@CNNnews18) June 24, 2024

Nita Ambani last Monday offered her son Anants wedding invite at Varanasis Kashi Vishwanath Temple. After the darshan, she told the media, 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
In a significant order, a UAPA Tribunal has ruled that asking for Plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir or advocating for the Right of Self-Determination is a secessionist activity and an offence under the anti-terrorism law.

The UAPA Tribunal has said this in a 148-page judgement on June 22 while upholding the ban on terrorist Masrat Alams organisation  Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masrat Alam faction). The Centre had banned the organisation in December last year and Alam has been lodged in Delhis Tihar Jail. Alams organisation contested the ban before the Tribunal, saying it only fights for self-determination of people and J&K and a plebiscite as per the UN resolutions of 1948. The UAPA tribunal has, however, rejected the contention.

The Tribunal has ruled that no one can take refuge behind the UN resolutions of 1948 as the said UN resolution is in a peculiar historical context and susceptible to various interpretations. The order further said that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India is inviolable, and the same cannot be rendered violable in the guise of any demand for a so-called plebiscite. The ruling also said the contention that the peculiar background or circumstances of Kashmir legitimises the aforesaid objects or actions of Alam, cannot be accepted.

Over decades, most separatist leaders in J&K like the late Syed Ali Shah Geelani have justified their activities for the sake of a plebiscite in J&K and on the issue of self-determination. However, the Home Ministry told the Tribunal that the only natural corollary of demand of plebiscite is to have secession of territory of Jammu & Kashmir from India through plebiscite so that it can merge with Pakistan. The Centre said advocating right of self-determination is nothing but camouflage and a facade to advocating secessionism and cessation of part of the territory of Union of India, the judgement has recorded.

Tribunal Draws the Red Line

The Centre cited chargesheets filed by NIA which clearly mention the speeches and slogans made by Masrat Alam advocating merger of the territory of Kashmir with Pakistan. The Tribunal leant on the same to say that demand for a so-called plebiscite is nothing but a devise or a mechanism to undermine the territorial integrity of India and to encourage secession of part of the territory of India. The attempt on the part of the association to legitimise the same cannot be countenanced in law. Moreover, the views that may have been expressed by authors/political personalities in the years immediately following independence, cannot impart any legal basis to propagate secessionism, the ruling said.

The Tribunal said that it is also impermissible for the association to take refuge behind the UN resolutions of 1948 or any international treaty etc. for the purpose of their unlawful activities. The said UN resolution is in a peculiar historical context and susceptible to various interpretations. However, it has been judicially recognised that the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India is inviolable and is a basic feature of Indian Constitution, the ruling said.

The Centre told the Tribunal that had the intention of Alams organisation been to bring political reform in the territory of Jammu & Kashmir while it being a part of India, it would not have advocated plebiscite as per UNCIP. Since the territory of J&K is an integral part of India as per Article 1 read with Schedule I of Indian Constitution, the only natural corollary of demand of plebiscite is to have secession of territory of Jammu & Kashmir from India through plebiscite so that it can merge with Pakistan, the Centre said in an affidavit before the Tribunal.

The Tribunal in its ruling has clearly put out that the contention on behalf Alam that seeking of a plebiscite does not amount to an unlawful activity within the meaning of Section 2(o) of the UAPA, is thoroughly misconceived.
The flood situation in Assam has escalated to critical level, with over 6.44 lakh people affected across 19 districts, according to an official bulletin from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). Eight rivers are currently flowing above the danger mark, including the Brahmaputra, which has breached its highest flood level at Nematighat in Jorhat district.

In a press conference held in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the situation as chaotic and critical. Very critical state awaits for Assam. We have been hit by massive floods. Lakhs of people have been affected until now and the numbers will increase in the next one week. Our rescue teams are on standby, ready to be deployed as necessary, said Sarma.

He also said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah called me and promised all help to deal with the situation.

#WATCH | Morigaon, Assam: The flood situation deteriorated on Monday after the waters of the Brahmaputra River spread to villages pic.twitter.com/qxNT1jgt1q ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

The Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses, has been severely impacted. Nearly 95 forest check posts are submerged, forcing wildlife, including the endangered species, to migrate to nearby hills in search of safety.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall for the next two to three days, raising concerns about further deterioration of the flood situation.

As of now, a total of 6,44,128 people across the districts of Kamrup, Golaghat, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Karimganj, Cachar, Dhemaji, Morigaon, Udalguri, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Darrang, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Biswanath, and Jorhat are affected by the deluge. The ASDMA bulletin also noted that 2,70,628 people in 14 districts, including Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, are severely impacted.

Over 7,000 inmates are now in relief camps, and number of inmates not staying in relief camps is over 55,000.

CM Sarma said PM Modi will visit Assam to inspect the flood situation only if gets out of the hands of the chief minister.

Rescue operations are being carried out by multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the army, the air force, and local administration. Coordinated efforts are focused on evacuating affected individuals, providing essential supplies, and ensuring the safety of the vulnerable populations.

The government has urged people in affected areas to remain vigilant and follow instructions from authorities to minimize the risk of casualties and further damage.

Guwahati | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, From last night the flood situation in Assam has deteriorated. The water level of the Brahmaputra River is flowing above the danger level mark at Neamatighat, and Tezpur and other rivers are also flowing above the danger level mark pic.twitter.com/AaMqI6e8y4 ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2024

FLOOD IMPACT

Meghalaya: Heavy rain has led to severe flooding and landslides across several districts. The East Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills are among the worst affected. Landslides have blocked roads, isolating villages and hampering rescue efforts. The state government has mobilized emergency response teams to clear debris and restore connectivity. Relief camps have been set up to shelter displaced families.

Manipur: The Imphal River and other water bodies have overflowed, flooding residential areas and farmlands. The districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Imphal East are experiencing significant waterlogging. The state disaster management authority is working with the central government to provide relief and support to the affected populations. Rescue teams are on alert, and essential supplies are being distributed to those in need.

Mizoram: Incessant rain has caused the Tlawng, Tut, and Khawthlangtuipui rivers to swell, inundating several low-lying areas. The capital city, Aizawl, and the districts of Lunglei and Serchhip are facing severe flood conditions. The state government has issued warnings to residents in vulnerable areas and is coordinating with the NDRF for evacuation and relief operations.

Tripura: The state is witnessing heavy rainfall, leading to flooding in the Gomati and Khowai districts. The overflowing rivers have submerged vast areas of agricultural land and residential zones. The state administration is closely monitoring the situation and has deployed disaster response teams to assist affected residents. Relief materials, including food, water, and medical supplies, are being distributed to flood-hit areas.

Assam: Addl District Magistrate, Kalibor issues order as heavy rainfall and flood situation maroons animals creating of possibility of injury and death due to vehicular hit.Speed of vehicles of any type must not exceed 20 or 40 km per hour as and where the same has been pic.twitter.com/DhpMhjQkEZ  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

COORDINATED EFFORTS AND ONGOING CHALLENGES

The ongoing monsoon has placed immense pressure on the infrastructure and resources of these northeastern states. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with efforts focused on minimizing casualties and providing relief to those impacted by the floods. The central government remains in close contact with state administrations to ensure a coordinated response to this widespread natural disaster.

With the situation still evolving, residents are advised to stay informed and heed warnings from local authorities. The collaborative efforts between state and central agencies aim to mitigate the impact of the floods and support affected communities during this challenging time.
A riposte to Rahul Gandhis fiery speech in the Lower House, anecdotes, and a fresh assault calling the Congress party a parasite. Thats how Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into his political opponent in his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, a day after Gandhis speech triggered a massive controversy.

The PMs message: accept the mandate of the Lok Sabha elections and introspect, instead of claiming moral victory with just 99 of Indias 543 Lok Sabha seats in kitty. To drive his point home, he used data, relied at times on humour, issued sombre warnings in the same breath against what he called attempts to spread anarchy and misinformation, and also launched a direct attack on Gandhi.

He criticised what he called balak buddhi [child-like intelligence] of Gandhi without mentioning his name. Yesterday, we saw childish behaviour in the House, PM Modi continued, Speaker siryou endure everything with a smile, but something has to be done about yesterday [Mondays speech by Gandhi]. Otherwise, it will not be good for Parliamentthese attempts should not be ignoredThere is a deeper conspiracy.

PM Modi said the nation would want strict action against these lies spread by Gandhi, calling out the Congress leaders statements on MSP for famers as well as the Agniveer scheme for military recruits. Parts of the speech by Gandhi, the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, were expunged later.

PM Modi also accused Gandhi of creating drama for sympathy. The Congress has made lies the weapon of its politics and they have tasted blood, PM Modi said, alleging that the Opposition was spreading lies about the reliability of electronic voting machines, Rafale deal, and other reforms measures.

He then touched upon the 2024 election results. Its a first for the Congress, PM Modi said, that they couldnt touch 100 seats in three continuous elections. In the bitterly fought polls, the PMs Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 240 seats  32 short of majority. But the National Democratic Alliance, of which the BJP is a part, won a comfortable majority with 293 seats, paving the way for a historic third term for PM Modi. The Congress and its allies claimed moral victory after an improved performance in comparison with their showing in the 2014 and 2019 elections.

In his speech, the Prime Minister shared an anecdote: that when a child falls from his bi-cyle, elders console him saying you are a great cyclist and no big deal, its just an ant that has died in the fall. Modi said the Congress and its ecosystem were now busy doing the consoling job. He continued with another anecdote: that a child was distributing sweets after getting 99 marks in an exam, but did not reveal that he got 99 out of 543, and not of 100. Then, there was another story: that a child came back from school crying because he was beaten up, but didnt tell his worried mother that he was the one to steal tiffin from others.

Modi also addressed the political allies of the Congress, which he said flourishes at the expense of others. Have they done any analysis? Now, from 2024, the Congress is a parasite party, PM Modi said, adding most of the Congress seats were gifted to them by their allies.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals plea challenging his arrest by the central investigation agency in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

The matter was heard by a bench headed by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna. The court issued the notice to CBI seeking a response within 7 days.

The high court said Kejriwals counsel may file rejoinder, if any, within two days thereafter. It listed the matter for arguments on July 17.

On Monday, Kejriwal challenged in Delhi High Court his arrest by the CBI in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor also challenged a June 26 order of the trial court by which he was remanded in the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) custody for three days.

On June 29, Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody till July 12 in the corruption case by the trial court, which said his name has surfaced as one of the main conspirators and as the investigation is still in progress, his further custodial interrogation may be required.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 from the Tihar jail, where he was in judicial custody till July 3 in a related money-laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The CBI had claimed before the trial court that the AAP chief did not cooperate with the investigation and deliberately gave evasive replies. The federal agency had also expressed apprehension that Kejriwal might influence witnesses.

While sending Kejriwal to the CBIs custody for three days on June 26, the trial court had refused to declare his arrest illegal, as sought by the defence counsel, saying The timing may be circumspect but it is not the clear criterion for declaring an arrest illegal.

Investigation is the prerogative of the investigating agency, however, there are certain safeguards provided in the law and at this stage, on the material on record, it cannot be said that the arrest is illegal. The agency, however, should not be overzealous, the trial court had said.

Kejriwal, who was arrested by the ED on March 21, was granted bail by the trial court in the money-laundering case on June 20. However, the trial courts order was stayed by the high court.

The excise policy was scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and corruption involving its formulation and execution.

According to the CBI and ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours extended to the licence holders.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested an Indian air passenger and seized ganja worth Rs 5 crore from him at the Mumbai international airport, an official said on Tuesday.

Based on specific intelligence, officials of the DRI (Mumbai Zonal Unit) intercepted the passenger when he arrived from Bangkok at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday, he said.

During a search of his bags, the DRI officials found nine vacuum packed silver coloured packets having different fruit markings on each bag. The packets were found to contain a greenish substance in lump form weighing 5.34 kg, he informed.

After examining the substance with a field NDPS (narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances) test kit, it came positive for ganja (cannabis), the official said, adding it was valued at Rs 5 crore.

The seized contraband is hydroponic weed (ganja) and that is why its value is so high, he explained.

The substance was confiscated, the passenger was arrested under provisions of the NDPS Act and remanded to judicial custody by a local court, he added.
Vishal Agarwal, father of the 17-year-old involved in the Porsche crash incident in Kalyani Nagar here, has been arrested by the Pimpri Chinchwad police in the district in a case of cheating related to one of his real estate projects.

Police took his custody from the jail where he was lodged in judicial custody, and produced him before a court which remanded him in fresh police custody for two days, said an official.

Vishal Adsul, chairman of Nancy Brahma Residency, a project constructed by Agarwals firm in Bavdhan area near here, had filed a complaint against him and four others earlier this year.

A case was registered against them under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust) and provisions of the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act.

The construction firm allegedly did not provide enough open space to the project and gave only one open space to three buildings by altering the plans, and also did not take the housing societys permission while constructing two 11-storied building on its land, a police official said.

Earlier in the day, a court in Pune granted bail to Vishal Agarwal and his father Surendra Agarwal in a case where they are accused of kidnapping and wrongfully confining their family driver after the fatal accident of May 19.

The two are accused of trying to put pressure on the driver to take responsibility for the accident in which two persons were killed, and thus shield Vishal Agarwals son who was allegedly driving the Porsche when it hit the victims motorbike.
A housewife in West Bengals Jalpaiguri district died by suicide allegedly after being harassed by a group of people over her extramarital affair, police said on Tuesday.

Four people, including two women, were arrested in connection with the incident which occurred amid the ongoing furore over the public flogging of a couple over an alleged illicit relationship at Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district.

According to the police complaint lodged by the husband of the deceased, she was publicly heckled by a group of women in the Dabgram-Fulbari area, accusing her of having an extramarital relationship.

The victim had been missing for a week, and upon her return on Monday, the local women verbally abused and beat her in public, casting aspersions on her character.

When the husband attempted to intervene, he was also assaulted by the group. Late on Monday night, unable to bear the humiliation, the woman ended her life by consuming pesticides, according to the complaint.

Deputy Commissioner (East) Dipak Sarkar said, We have arrested four persons for their alleged involvement in the case.

This incident has added to the ongoing outrage over the recent public flogging of a couple in Uttar Dinajpur district.

Governor CV Ananda Bose has sought a report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while the BJP has accused the ruling TMC of unleashing Taliban rule in the state.
Bhole Baba Will Cooperate In Investigation In All Possible Ways: Advocate AP Singh According to reports, advocate AP Singh is representing Bhole Baba. He is the same advocate who represented the four convicts of the Nirbhaya case, who were hanged till death. On behalf of Bhole Baba, his advocate, AP Singh said, We will make sure the victims are short of no resources, be it medicine, healthcare, or treatment. We condemn allegations that a stampede happened while women tried to touch his feet. He never allows such an act. Bhole Baba aka Narayan Sakar Hari will cooperate in the investigation in all possible ways, Singh added.

In First Reaction On Hathras Stampede, Bhole Baba Claims Anti-social Elements Behind Tragedy Bhole Baba, aka Narayan Sakar Hari aka Suraj Pal on Wednesday reacted for the first time on the stampede during his satsang that claimed 121 lives and left several injured on Tuesday. Through his lawyer, Bhole Baba expressed condolence to the bereaved families of the deceased. He claimed that the stampede was carried out by anti-social elements. He also stated that he had left before the incident took place. According to reports, advocate AP Singh is representing Bhole Baba. He is the same advocate who represented the four convicts of the Nirbhaya case, who were hanged till death.

Bhole Baba's First Reaction After Hathras Stampede That Killed 121 Bhole Baba, in the first reaction to the Hathras stampede that claimed 121 lives, expressed condolence to the bereaved families of the deceased. He claimed that the stampede was carried out by anti-social elements. He also stated that he had left the place where the satsang was held before the incident took place.

NCW Chief Rekha Sharma Demands FIR Against Bhole Baba In Hathras Incident NCW chief Rekha Sharma said, I have heard that all the irregularities were caused by the sevak. I spoke with the Police and they too said that they have registered an FIR against. I have said that whoever that Guru was, an FIR should be registered against himHe didnt click photos so that he couldnt come to the front and no evidence could come up. He used to make people deposit their phones. So, there is certainly something wrong. Police will investigate and find out if it was a pre-conceived scheme. It is a matter of concern that most of the deceased were women. It was easier to mislead these women as they were illiterate. We need to make women aware of such GurusWe will counsel women in the time to come to beware of such so-called godmen. We have sought a detailed report of the action taken from Administration

National Commission For Women (NCW) Chief Rekha Sharma Visits Hathras Stampede Site National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma on Wednesday visited the site of Hathras stampede incident, in which 121 people lost their lives and 28 sustained injuries during a Satsang on Tuesday.

Yogi Forms SIT For Hathras Probe, Says 'Sevadars' Should've Managed Crowd As Stampede Kills 121 From 4 States Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Wednesday a judicial probe into the Hathras stampede, a day after the tragic incident resulted in a death toll of 121, with most victims being women and children. Yogi said that among those killed, six were from other states: four from Haryana, and one each from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Along with the organisers, the UP CM held the sevadars (helpers) responsible for the death of devotees. They (sevadars) should have helped manage the crowd. But what happened instead was devotees died one by one as the sevadars eloped from the stampede site, he said.

'First, Baba Ji Will Go': Hathras Stampede Eyewitnesses Say Their Pleas to Let People Move Out Fell On Deaf Ears It was the mad rush to collect Bhole Babas feet dust (referred as raj in local parlance), a bid to escape suffocating and extreme humid surroundings and absent-minded decision of Babas army to block the exit without giving a second thought to the consequences, that led to the deadly stampede at the religious event at Hathras on Tuesday. The stampede at the religious event organised in Phulrai village of Sikanda Rau tehsil of Uttar Pradeshs Hathras district left more than 100 people, including women and children, dead and over 250 grievously injured.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Sends Message Of Condolence Over Hathras Incident Japanese PM Fumio Kishida sent a message of condolence over Hathras stampede incident. I am deeply saddened to learn that many precious lives were lost in the stampede that occurred in Indias northern state of Uttar Pradesh. On behalf of the Government of Japan, I pray for the souls of the victims and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I would also like to express my sincere wishes for the swift recovery of the injured, he said.

Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala Cllaims 'There Was No Proper Arrangement' At Hathras 'Satsang' Site Hathras stampede incident, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said, This is a very sad incident that has happened in Hathras. A large number of people came there but there was no proper arrangement for themThis shows the Law and Order of the stateAction should be taken in this matter.

Russian President Putin Sends Condolences Over Hathras Tragedy Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a condolence message to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the tragic accident in Uttar Pradesh. Kindly accept the most sincere condolences over the tragic accident in Uttar Pradesh. Please convey words of sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased as well as wishes for a speedy recovery of all injured, Putin wrote.

Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya Says Politics Should Not Be Done On Hathras Incident Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya called the Hathras stampede, in which over 100 people lost their lives, a sad incident and urged that no politics should be done over it. This is a very sad incident and politics should not be done on thisThe government should make sure that this type of incident should not be repeated and the opposition should not this incident with a political view he said.

People From Haryana, UP, Rajasthan And MP Lost Their Lives, Says CM Adityanath On Stampede

Yogi Adityanath Briefs Media On Hathras Stampede

What SDM's Report Says About Stampede A large number of people had gathered at the GT Road divider, and many jumped from the divider to get a closer look at Baba. To stop the crowd from reaching Baba, security personnel and Sevdars started pushing the crowd. This caused some people to fall, resulting in a stampede.

Ex-Cop, Intel Officer & Farmer: Bhole Baba Donned Many Hats Till 'Divine Encounter' Changed His Life It was the 1990s when Narayan Hari decided to retire from the police force and tread the path of spirituality after divine intervention. Within a few years, Hari  having christened himself Bhole Baba  earned a massive following and was known for his influence across several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Unfortunately, it was this outpouring of devotees that triggered a stampede in UPs Hathras on Tuesday in which 121 people died. Read full Article

Where Were The Bodies Sent Total Number Of Bodies Sent to Hospitals  Agra 21  Etah 28  Hathras 34  Aligarh 38  Total 121

UP Police FIR Says 2.5 Lakh People Attended Satsang

VVIP Treatment For 'Baba' But No Proper Exit: Police Probe Into Stampede Finds Lapses Several lapses have been found in the manner in which the entire religious event in Hathras was organised, leading to the tragic stampede that has left 121 people dead and several injured on Tuesday. From no entry-exit points to lack of emergency routes, the Uttar Pradesh Police sources have pointed out at grave errors that led to the tragedy even as VVIP arrangements were made for the religious preacher Bhole Baba. Read full Article

Hathras Stampede: FIR Says Organisers Hid Evidence, Flouted Conditions The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday lodged an FIR against the organisers of the religious congregation in Hathras where 121 people died in a stampede, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people gathering for the event in which only 80,000 were permitted. However, the congregation or satsang conductor Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari has not been named in the FIR though his name is in the complaint. The FIR alleged that the organisers hid the actual number of devotees coming to the satsang while seeking permission, did not cooperate in traffic management and hid evidence after the stampede, which broke out after people gathered there stopped to collect mud from the way the babas vehicle was passing. The FIR apparently gave a clean chit to the police and administration, saying they did whatever possible from the available resources. Mukhya sevadar Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named in the first information report (FIR) filed at the Sikandara Rao police station late Tuesday, a senior officer told PTI.
A stampede during Bhole Babas satsang in Hathras on Tuesday, July 2, resulted in a devastating loss of life, with about 87 people tragically killed and over 100 others injured. The incident occurred during the culmination of the religious gathering at Phulrai village of Sikanda Rau police station area in Uttar Pradesh.

Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari, whose real name is Suraj Pal, is a former government employee turned spiritual leader with a significant following across UP and neighboring states. During his sermons, he claimed that he had previously worked in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and also served in the Uttar Pradesh Police, asserting that he retired from service and then became a spiritual leader. He hails from Bahadur Nagari village in Patiyali tehsil of Etah.

He quit his government job 26 years ago and began delivering religious sermons in various villages and towns across Uttar Pradesh. He had initiated his sermons during his tenure and later resigned and established an ashram in Patiyali. Bhole Baba has millions of followers across the country, including Western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

The stampede reportedly occurred when devotees rushed to seek blessings from Bhole Baba after his sermon concluded on Tuesday afternoon, leading to chaos and tragic consequences.

Expressing profound grief over the accident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased person and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He is closely monitoring the situation and has dispatched two ministers, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police to the site. Additionally, an investigative team led by ADG Agra and the Commissioner of Aligarh has been tasked to probe the causes behind the stampede.

Authorities have confirmed that an FIR will be filed against the organisers of the event, highlighting inadequate arrangements despite prior permission. Posters in Hathras attributed to the Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavana Samagam Samiti bear the names of several organisers involved in the program.

The state government is gearing up for substantial action in the aftermath of this unfortunate incident, aiming to ascertain accountability and prevent such tragedies in the future.
The deadly stampede in Hathras on Tuesday that claimed over 100 lives occurred at a congregation of Baba Narayan Hari alias Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, a former policeman who turned into a religious preacher and gained a following, especially in western Uttar Pradesh.

The real name of Bhole Baba is Surajpal. He is a native of Bahadur Nagar in Kasganj district, a retired IPS officer said.

Circle Officer (CO) of Patiyali Vijay Kumar Rana told PTI that Surjpal left his job as a policeman in the late 1990s and turned to spirituality. He started conducting satsang (religious sermons).

One of Surajpals three brothers died and he set up a Trust and appointed a caretaker for his property in Bahadurgarh where his ashram is located, the CO said.

He has no children and takes his wife along with him to satsang. Surajpal belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. After he established his ashram in Bahadur Nagar, Bhole Babas fame grew rapidly among the poor and deprived sections and lakhs of people became his followers, according to locals.

A person from Hathras said, Baba conducts sermons and keeps his own volunteers for security who take care of the arrangements of his satsang. The stampede, which occurred as people headed home after a satsang in the districts Phulrai village conducted by Bhole Baba, killed 116 people on Tuesday, in the worst such tragedy in recent years.

According to Sikandra Rao sub divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the tragedy occurred when devotees tried to get a glimpse of Bhole Baba as the event ended. They also wanted to collect some soil from around the Babas feet.

District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said the satsang was a private function for which the sub-divisional magistrate had granted permission. The local administration provided security outside the venue while the arrangements inside were made by organisers, he added.
Two unidentified youths robbed a shop for lakhs of rupees after they managed to divert its sole employee Gaurang Ghoshs attention. According to Local 18 West Bengal, this incident occurred in the grocery wholesaler Sandeep Bhagats shop on June 30, Sunday. His shop is located in the Sheoraphuli, Hooghly zone, West Bengal.

On June 30, Sandeep was not in the shop and his employee Gaurang was managing the business. In the afternoon, a young man entered the shop with his face covered with a mask. His accomplice was waiting outside. The man, with a mask on his face, asked Gaurang to help him with a sum of Rs 500. When the shop employee was busy taking out the cash box, the two miscreants took advantage of his distraction and managed to steal a huge sum worth lakhs of rupees.

The nearby traders are terrified of such an incident happening in a crowded market. After this mishappening, the businessman contacted the police personnel. After examining the CCTV footage, the police personnel of Serampore police station have started an investigation.

Gaurang said that he was still not able to get over the robbery because such an incident had never happened in the Sheoraphuli market before. According to him, both robbers didnt even have a motorbike to make a timely escape after the theft. The shop owner Sandeep has also expressed similar concerns and hoped that the police will help them recover money as soon as possible. The grocery wholesaler pointed out the loopholes on the part of the administration saying that they perform no strict vigilance of the market. He requested the police personnel to take some security measures to protect the shopkeepers.

Besides this incident, a couple of days ago, two robbers robbed a gold shop in Chanditala, Hooghly, and stole jewellery. According to the reports, on June 29 evening, two youths entered a jewellery shop located in the Bartajpur area in Chanditala. They pretended to buy silver ornaments. While one of the two thieves was pretending to see the ornaments, the other one was waiting near the door. The one who was checking on the ornaments reportedly asked the shopkeeper to bring out several pieces of jewellery as he wanted to look at those for buying.

Suddenly, the duo picked up a few ornaments and fled.
Indians are driving a surge in demand for health and wellness check-ups, reflecting an increase in awareness of their well-being post-pandemic, a top official leading Indias second-largest diagnostic chain Metropolis Healthcare told News18.

Surendran Chemmenkotil, chief executive officer at Metropolis Healthcare, told News18 in an exclusive conversation that there is a significant increase in the demand for preventive care health packages post-Covid-19. Our share in this market has grown from just 5% before the pandemic to 16% today.

He said one of the aftereffects of Covid-19 is that Indian consumers have become increasingly concerned about their health. They want to keep their health as a priority and they are willing to spend money to have the right health checkups.

The average price for wellness packages stands at around Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 and the company claims to be growing more than 20% year-on-year in this segment. In the next few years, this will become more sizeable.

Dr Lal Path Labs is Indias largest diagnostic service provider followed by Metropolis Healthcare and Vijaya Diagnostics when it comes to market capitalisation.

Entry of Health Tech Players & Price Correction

Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)-listed firm Metropolis has seen a lot of health-tech players coming into the industry and offering very deeply discounted pricing, the CEO said.

According to Chemmenkotil, who was a managing director and CEO for telecom giant Airtel in Nigeria before joining Metropolis, such entities were putting serious pressure on the industry when it came to the pricing.

All these players were offering deeply discounted prices, online services, and home visits. During Covid, they saw the revenues on the high and the EBITDA margins (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) were good. So everyone thought this is a bright place and the entry barriers are almost nothing.

Not just health tech, several hospitals plunged into the diagnostic industry and then, they wanted to establish their own diagnostic chains.

Further, he said, a lot of pharmaceutical companies also came into the diagnostic industry. (While he refused to name firms, some examples include Mankind Pharmas Pathkind labs and Lupins Lupin Diagnostics).

The diagnostics industry was flooded with competition. Everybody was playing with the price, Chemmenkotil said.

However, he said, by now health-tech players have realised that they can only attract wellness customers. When someone fell ill, they dont rely on various offline or online offers. Instead they consult their doctor and visit the recommended diagnostic centres. This is where Metropolis truly excels.

He said that now these players have realised that the prices they were offering were not sustainable. So last year, all the health-tech players took the price up by 50-60%.

They have increased the price by 50-60% because their investors started asking questions, Chemmenkotil claimed, adding that Metropolis has also revised its prices after a gap of two years.

Expansion Beyond Tier III on Cards

With the target of bringing 24 new labs, 500 more collection centres and entry in 600 more towns, the chain aims to be present in at least the top thousand towns of India in the next two years. This is largely tier two, tier three, and sometimes even beyond tier three.

While the chain is already present in the majority of tier 1 cities, it aims to expand further in tier 2 and majorly in tier three. And then, we may go to much smaller tier four, at least covering up to all district headquarters. India has got some 650-odd districts which are on our target.

The company is also hunting aggressively for merger and acquisition opportunities and is already in talks at multiple locations.

Future Lies in Specialty Testing & Artificial Intelligence

The company aims to strengthen its specialty portfolio, including genetics, molecular biology and next-generation sequencing technology. The next-generation sequencing can happen on every segment, whether it is in oncology or neurology, nephrology, the officer said, adding that the company is trying to further expand its specialty portfolio which is presently around 35% of the companys revenue.

Also, the role of artificial intelligence in diagnosis is very important now, he said.

AI can be used to predict the results much superior to what otherwise you could predict through human intervention. Even machine learning can pick up a lot of clinical notes and patient data to predict a disease ahead of time.

Chemmenkotil said that anybody who does not embrace AI will fall behind. We are committed to making the right set of investments for AI. He predicted that in coming years, the industry will see the rise of remote diagnostics.

Remote diagnosis is also going to be an important element in the days to come, even if you want to consult a doctor in the other part of the world and you can give the sample here (in an Indian city), your doctor will be able to access diagnostic reports easily.
The Chopra incident, where a man and a woman were beaten up mercilessly, is another incident of mob assault after more such cases were reported in West Bengal over the past few days.

On June 22, a woman from Barasat was assaulted by a mob on the suspicion of being a child-lifter in North 24 Parganas. At least 15 people were arrested following the incident. On the same day, a Toto driver got beaten up with suspicion that that he was thief in Jhargrams Jamboni. He died on Sunday and two persons were arrested.

Last week, in Kolkata, one person named Irshad Alam was lynched at a hostel apprehending that he has lifted a mobile, following which 14 people were arrested. In Saltlake one person was beaten up apprehending that he was thief.

More than five such cases of mob attacks have taken place in different parts of Bengal over the past two weeks. Sources in the administration have told News18 that they have sent guidelines of the Supreme Court and other instructions to look into such incidents very seriously to senior police officers of all districts.

What Supreme Court Guidelines Say on Mob Assault

The police has to immediately lodge an FIR when such incident takes place, the apex court guidelines say. Messages that are circulated instigating such an act should be pulled down from all platforms.

The guidelines say the victim should be informed about the progress of the case. They say all districts should have a nodal officer not below the SP rank who will keep an eye on this.

The state government is also required to compensate the family of the victim in such cases. The court said that the state and Centre should come up with an appropriate law against mob violence.

In West Bengal, one such law has been passed in the Assembly but has been waiting for the Governors signature, sources said.

Mob lynching has been covered under the new criminal laws that came into effect on July 1. The new law penalises mob lynching at par with murder. Since IPC did not provide a separate provision for murder by a mob, the accused in such cases were tried and punished under Section 302 (murder).

More Campaigns Needed

Fact check expert Jaydeep Dasgupta told News18, Peoples dependence on social media posts and WhatsApp messages as their primary sources of information often leads to blind trust in the content they receive. Without anyone encouraging them to verify the information, and lacking the habit of exercising critical thinking, many individuals react impulsively. This can result in violent actions, such as mob lynchings, creating severe law and order situations. To combat this, more media literacy campaign is required.

Politics Over The Incidents

Politics has been on with these incidents on the rise in the state. Speaking to News18, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said, Law and order situation is bad, these dadas, they know nothing will happen to them, that is why they are getting more encouragement to do all this.

On the other hand, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, Lynching is a social problem, we dont support this. If somebody has done something wrong, give them to the police. Why will they do this? This has no relation with politics.

A more aggressive campaign may help in curbing this menace, but strict punishment for culprits is also required to generate fear among people.
Priests in Ayodhyas Ram Temple would now be seen in a new attire following a change in the dress code. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, which manages the temple, has introduced bright yellow-coloured safa (headgear), chabandi (kurta) and dhoti for the priests, replacing the traditional saffron robes.

Besides, the trust has also barred the priests from carrying smartphones inside the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) and has redefined some other dos and donts for the priests.

Sources privy to the developments said the measures are part of an effort to maintain uniformity among the priests and make them distinct from others on the premises.

A new dress code has been implemented for the priests at the Ram Temple. Now the priests, including the chief priest, four assistant priests and 20 trainee priests, will sport safa to be wrapped around the head, chaubandi (full-sleeve kurta) and dhoti, all in yellow colour, said Santosh Kumar Tiwari, assistant priest at the Ram Temple.

Earlier, majority of the priests at the temple donned saffron attires. Some of the priests used to come in yellow attires, but it was not mandatory, added Tiwari.

He further said that as per the Sanatana Dharma, priests should be in clothes that are worn head and hands first and that the newly introduced dress code adheres to the same.

The trust has also imposed restrictions on priests carrying smartphones inside the garbhagriha. The trust has stated that the restrictions on carrying mobile phones have been imposed due to security reasons, but sources say the decision was taken following the water leakage controversy.

Water Seepage at Ram Temple

Recently, Acharya Saytendra Das, head priest of the Ram Mandir, pointed out that the recent monsoon showers had led to water leakage in the temples garbhagriha. With the first rains, water leakage has started in the temple where Ram Lalla is seated and the areas near it. Water has collected inside. It must be found out what is lacking in the construction in the part of the temple already built. What is causing the water leakage?, Das had said in a statement.

Nripendra Misra, the chairperson of the Ram Mandirs management trust, carried out a spot inspection and stated that there was no flaw in the construction of the temple and stressed that there was no water accumulation in its sanctum sanctorum. He explained that rainwater traveled from the pipes that were fixed to install electric wires.

On June 26, the Ram Temple trust had stated that not a single drop of water had dripped from the roof of the sanctum sanctorum where the idol of Lord Ram was kept, nor has water entered the sanctum sanctorum from anywhere.

However, some pictures purportedly showing water leakage in the sanctum sanctorum had surfaced from inside the Ram Temple complex.

Other rules introduced include setting five-hour shifts for the priests. Sources said that as per the new dos and donts, the chief priest would be assisted by four assistant priests while each assistant priest would be assisted by five trainee priests whose shifts would start from 3:30pm and would last till 11pm.
Hello, readers! In todays noon digest, News18 brings you the latest updates on details of Swati Maliwals FIR against Bihav Kumar, Patna protests over a 4-year-olds death, Air India flights collision, Amit Shahs big bottles jibe on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, and other stories.

Swati Maliwal News LIVE: Bibhavs Wife Didnt Accept NCW Notice; Delhi Cops to Obtain CCTV Footage from Kejriwals House

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal by an aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Maliwal underwent a medical examination at Delhi AIIMS as per protocol. Meanwhile, Bibhav Kumar, the personal assistant of Kejriwal, has been named as an accused in the case. He has been summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday over the matter. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES

Slapped, Hit On Stomach, Kicked: Swati Maliwals FIR In Assault Case Against Kejriwal Aide

Details of an FIR emerged on Thursday after AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal spoke out about the alleged assault on her, revealing that she has recorded her statement with the Delhi Police. READ MORE

3-Year-Old Found Dead in Patna School Drain, Protesters Storm Premises

Protests erupted in Patna after the body of a three-year-old child was found in a private school in the city. A group of protesters stormed the school and tried to burn it after the body of the child was found in the drainage of the school. READ MORE

Delhi-Bound Air India Flight Collides with Tractor While Taxiing, Over 200 Passengers Stranded At Pune Airport

Around 200 passengers were stranded at Pune Airport on Thursday after a Delhi-bound Air India flight collided with a luggage tractor while taxiing towards the runway. READ MORE

They Come To Make Reels: Darul Uloom in Uttar Pradeshs Deoband Bans Entry Of Women

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Kerala Doctor Operates On 4-Year-Olds Tongue Instead of Finger, Suspended After Outrage

In a shocking and bizarre case of medical negligence, a doctor at Kozhikode Medical College in Kerala operated on a four-year-olds tongue instead of finger. He was suspended after he operated on the tongue of the girl who was supposed to undergo surgery for the removal of her sixth finger. READ MORE

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Casts A Spell On The Cannes 2024 Red Carpet; Gold Flowers Steal The Show

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Headed For DIVORCE, Former Moves Out of J-Los House: Report

Looks like Jennifer Lopez and Ben Afflecks relationship has hit a rough patch. If a recent report is to be believed, the couple is heading for divorce. Reportedly, the Gone Girl actor has already moved out of J-Los house. READ MORE

UK Man Accused Of Choking Dancer Girlfriend To Death In Sex Game Gone Wrong

In February 2022, a sex game gone wrong led to the death of a 26-year-old professional UK dancer and subsequently the suicide of her boyfriend. Georgia Brooke died after her 31-year-old boyfriend, Luke Cannon, choked her during a sexual encounter at his home in West Yorkshire. READ MORE

Ex-Infosys Techie Says He Fell Victim to Silent Layoff But People Are Doubting His Viral LinkedIn Post

A former Infosys employee recently took to LinkedIn to share his frustration, claiming that he was a victim of silent layoff in the company and was let go from the company without warning or support for his future career. Kumar Shubman, the employee in question, outlined the events leading up to his dismissal. READ MORE

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Hathras Stampede Live Updates: Toll Rises To 87; PM Modi Dials Yogi, Expresses Condolences

Over 50 people including children are feared dead and several have been injured in a stampede during a religious congregation at Uttar Pradeshs Hathras on Tuesday. Senior Superintendent of Police, Etah, Rajesh Kumar Singh said the incident occurred at a satsang in Pulrai village. READ MORE

50k Attendees, 72 Cops On Duty, High Casualties Among Women: What We Know So Far About The Hathras Tragedy

Over 50 people, including multiple women and three children, are feared dead in a stampede that broke out during a religious congregation at Uttar Pradeshs Hathras on Tuesday. The incident took place during a satsang (prayer meeting), in honour of a local guru, Bhole Baba aka Vishwa Hari, and was attended by around 50,000 people. READ MORE

PM Modi Terms Rahul Baalak Buddhi, Attacks Hindu Remark, Says Voters Put Congress in Oppn Thrice | 5 Big Messages

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into the Congress and its MP Rahul Gandhi without naming him during his over two-hour-long address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, saying the opposition party had misread the general election verdict and termed the Raebareli lawmaker Baalak Buddhi (child). This came a day after Gandhis fiery speech directed at Modi in Parliament. The PM also lambasted the Congress leader over his remarks, saying that the insult of Hindus will not be forgotten for centuries. READ MORE

Mausi, Mai Hero Toh Hoon Naa: Modis Sholay Twist To Attack Rahul Gandhi Over Moral Victory In LS Polls | Watch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his moral victory in the Lok Sabha elections and referred to him as a child who is happy his performance. Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister also twisted Bollywood iconic movie to slam the Leader of Opposition. READ MORE

Bishnoi Gang Planned to Kill Salman Khan The Moose Wala Way, Gave Rs 25 L Contract, Suggests Police Charge Sheet

Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi issued a Rs 25 lakh contract to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan, a Maharashtra Police charge sheet says. According to a police official, the accused had planned to attack the star during a film shoot. READ MORE

Who Is Bhole Baba, Spiritual Leader At Whose Congregation In Hathras A Stampede Broke Out?

Over 50 people died and several others were injured in a stampede at a spiritual congregation in Uttar Pradeshs Hathras on Tuesday. The congregation was organised by Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavana Samagam Committee and was being led by a spiritual leader who is known as Bhole Baba aka Narayan Sakar Hari in Hathras Phulrai Mugalgadhi village. READ MORE

Those Playing With Youths Future Will Not Be Spared: PM Modi Says Govt Serious On Paper Leak Issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that those involved in paper leak will not be spared and the government is serious about the issue. Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said a law is made to address the paper leak issue and necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the education system. READ MORE

Delhi HC Issues Notice To CBI Over Arvind Kejriwals Plea Against Arrest, Seeks Response In 7 Days

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals plea challenging his arrest by the central investigation agency in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam. READ MORE
'Nobody Will Be Spared': PM Modi Says Govt Serious On Paper Leak Issue Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that those involved in paper leak will not be spared and the government is serious about the issue. Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said a law is made to address the paper leak issue and necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the education system.

PM Modi Expresses Condolence To Victims Of Hathras Stampede Tragedy There are reports of many people dying in the stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. I express my condolences to those who lost their lives in this accident. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The administration is engaged in relief and rescue work under the supervision of the state government. Senior officials of the central government are in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. I assure everyone through this House that the victims will be helped in every way, said PM Modi in Lok Sabha.

370 Has Fallen: PM Modi Reminds Opposition How Removal Of J-Ks Special Status Helped Stabilise Region Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday reminded the opposition benches that it was the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) government that ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and made sure that the whole state trusted the Indian tricolour and the Constitution. He also said that after the abrogation of Article 370 stone-pelting has stopped. It was the era of 370 when stone pelting used to happen. Today the wall of 370 has come down. Stone pelting has stopped and the whole state has trust in Indias flag and Constitution, PM Modi said, amid opposition sloganeering.

Congress Made All Possible Attempts To Create A Divide On Basis Of Language: PM Modi In Lok Sabha This is the nations bad luck that Congress, which ruled for six decades, is busy spreading anarchy. They go to the South and speak against the people of the North; they speak against the South when they go to the North. They have made all possible attempts to create a divide on the basis of language. The leaders who advocated the separation of a part of the country, the Congress gave them Parliament ticket, said PM Modi in his reply to Motion of Thanks on Presidents Address.

Necessary Steps Being Taken To Strengthen Education System: PM Modi On NEET Paper Leak Necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the education system and a law is already made regarding this, PM Modi said on the NEET paper leak issue, adding that arrests are also being made throughout the county in the matter.

Congress Can Never See Indian Army Getting Stronger: PM Modi Congress can never see the Indian Army getting stronger. During Nehrus rule, the Indian Army was so weak. They did jeep ghotala, bofors ghotala, these scams hampered the Armys strength, PM Modi said in Lok Sabha.

PM Modi Accuses Oppn Of 'Insulting Our Gods' In The Parliament

Nation Will Never Forgive: PM Modi On Rahul Gandhi's 'Hindu Violence' Remark In Lok Sabha Whatever happened yesterday (in Lok Sabha), the nation will never forgive, PM Modi said in response to Rahul Gandhis Hindu violence remark in the House on Monday.

PM Modi Urges Speaker To Take Action Over 'Lies' About Agniveer Spoken In Parliament Yesterday, an attempt was made to mislead the parliament. Lies were spoken regarding the Agniveer scheme and MSP. When seasoned leaders like him (Rahul Gandhi) choose this path of anarchy this shows that the nation is headed for trouble, PM Modi said. Speaker siryou endure everything with a smile but something has to be done about yesterday otherwise it will not be good for the parliament. These attempts should not be ignored by calling them balakbuddhi. There is a deeper conspiracy, added PM Modi.

'Maintain Dignity Of The House': As PM Modi Speaks In Lok Sabha, Speaker's Message To Rahul Gandhi Amid Ruckus Opposition politicians shouted slogans in the Lok Sabha even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address on Tuesday, prompting a rebuke by Speaker Om Birla. This is not right, you are directing your MPs to come into the well [of the House], Birla told Congress parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition of in the Lok Sabha. Please maintain the dignity of the House, Birla said amid sloganeering by Opposition members.

'Mausi Hero Toh Hai Naa': Modi's Sholay Twist To Attack Rahul Gandhi Over 'Moral Victory' In LS Polls | Watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his moral victory in the Lok Sabha elections and referred to him as a child who is happy his performance. Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister also twisted Bollywood iconic movie to slam the Leader of Opposition. A small kid has taken out his cycle and if he falls and starts crying. An elder comes and say that you have not fallen. It is just an ant which has died. The elder just tried to divert the mind of that kid. This is being done right now, he said

PM Modi Compares Congress' Performance In Lok Sabha Polls 20204 To A Child Who Scored 99 Marks Out Of 543 Lets remember the elections of 1984. Following those elections, 10 Lok Sabha polls were held in this country, but Congress couldnt even cross the 250-mark even once. This time the Congress somehow bagged 99 seats. This reminds of a child who was telling everyone that he received 99 marks. Later, that childs teacher told that the child had received 99 marks out of 543, and not out of 100. Theres no one to make that child understand that he has made a new world record in failing, said PM Modi.

Congress Working To Create Economic Anarchy In India: PM Modi In Lok Sabha Congress is working towards creating economic anarchy in India. The kind of steps taken by Congress in terms of economy are trying to make their states a burden on the national economy, PM Modi said.

This Election Was A Message For Congress Allies: PM Modi In Lok Sabha I dont know if the allies of Congress have done any analysis. This election was a message for them. Now, from 2024, Congress is a parasite party. Congress should not do this fake celebration of victory. Come out with honesty and understand this mandate, PM Modi said.

People Gave Us Mandate For Stability & Continuity: PM Modi In Lok Sabha People gave us the mandate for stability, continuity, NDA scored unprecedented success in 4 state polls as well, PM Modi said in Lok Sabha.

Instead of Conceding Defeat, Congress Is Trying To Build A Narrative That They've Beaten Us: PM Modi In Lok Sabha This is the first time that the Congress party has not crossed 100 seats for three consecutive times. Instead of conceding defeat, they are being arrogant. They are trying to build a narrative that they have beaten us, PM Modi said.

When You Don't Have Anything To Say, You keep Shouting: PM Modi Takes a Dig At Oppn The voters have given a mandate to Congress that you have to sit in opposition, and when you do not have anything to say, you just keep shouting, PM Modi said.

Those Who Dance With Constitution On Their Head Did Not Dare To Implement It In J-K: PM Modi In Lok Sabha Those who dance with the Constitution on their head did not dare to implement it in J-K, they insulted BR Ambedkar, PM Modi took a jibe at the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

We Will Fulfil Resolution Of 'Viksit Bharat' With Full Dedication & Honesty: PM Modi In Lok Sabha PM Narendra Modi said, I assure the countrymen that we have taken the resolution of Viksit Bharat and we will make efforts to fulfil that resolution and we will do it with full dedication and honesty and we will spend every moment of our time to fulfil this resolution
A video surfaced on social media which showed moments before tragedy struck a gathering of about 50,000 people at a satsang (prayer meeting), in honour of a local guru, Bhole Baba aka Vishwa Hari in Uttar Pradeshs Hathras earlier in the day. At least 116 people, including multiple women and children, were killed during a stampede at Bhole Babas satsang in Pulrai village.

Follow Hathras Stampede Live news here

#Hathras #Tragedy Thousands of people were seen packed there, satsang scene just before the tragic stampede.District administration failed to provide assistance, altogether a sad state of affairs. pic.twitter.com/HLzoe7xKyf Rishi Gupta. (@rishi9g) July 2, 2024

What Caused Hathras Stampede?

According to reports, after the satsang was over, the crowd that had started leaving was stopped just as Bhole Babas envoy was passing. As soon as the convoy passed, the crowd was suddenly released due to which, the crowd from behind moved forward, trampling people in the front, causing a stampede.

An eyewitness, on the other hand, said that people started walking outside after the satsang ended and fell into a drain located at the edge of the road built at a height, which caused panic and chaos.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and the injured would be given Rs 50,000 each.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said, The state government will get to the bottom of this entire incident, whether this is an accident or a conspiracy, we will get to the bottom of it. Doing politics instead of expressing condolences on such an incident is extremely unfortunate and condemnable. The government is already sensitive in this matter and the government will get to the bottom of this matter and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible for this incident.
A 57-year-old woman rag picker died after a tree fell on her in Mumbai on Tuesday morning, civic officials said, in the second such incident in two days.

As per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) disaster management department, the woman got trapped after a tree suddenly came crashing down on her at Sayani Road opposite Parel ST bus stand in the island city at around 10 am.

Local residents rescued the woman, Varsha Kantilal Mestri, and rushed her to nearby civic-run KEM Hospital, where she was declared dead, an official said.

Mestri depended on rag-picking to earn a living, he said.

On Monday, a 45-year-old man, Amit Jagtap, died when a roadside tree fell on him in Worli, central Mumbai.
Arun Kathare, a Bengaluru-based social media influencer, has been arrested by the Kothanur Police for allegedly roaming with fake guns, resembling AK-47s and bodyguards in public places, creating a sense of fear among the residents.

Last month, on June 9, Kathare, a resident of JP Nagar, was seen walking around a hotel in Chokkanahalli with some people dressed like bodyguards carrying fake guns. After receiving several complaints from the residents, the police arrested the 26-year-old influencer.

After his interrogation, the Kothanur police registered a case against Kathare for causing public disturbance under the Arms Act and Section 290 of IPC (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita). He has been sent to judicial custody.

The Police officials said that Kathare often posts videos on his Instagram account wearing false jewellery and posing with fake guns, luxurious cars and motorcycles to get fame on social media. Some footage also depicted the guy posing with girls.

According to the Times of India, the influencer informed the police officials that he rents luxurious cars and toy guns and wears gold-plated ornaments to make reels on Instagram. On June 9, he was stopped shooting a reel video near a hotel after which he went near a park in the Bharatiya City to make the video. He told police that he earns around Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per month by uploading reels.

For the Bhartiya City video, he rented toy guns for Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 and a Mercedez Benz car for 8 hours for Rs 10,000.

Arun Katahre enjoys a massive fan base on social media with around 2.95 lakh followers on Instagram.

After arresting the influencer, the Bangalore police shared a video of Kathare on their official X handle and wrote, That moment when likes turn into cuffs. Bengaluru City Police doesnt just watch; we act #WeServeWeProtect.

That moment when 'likes' turn into 'cuffs'. Bengaluru City Police doesn't just watch; we act#WeServeWeProtect pic.twitter.com/YKMTefvxvl    BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) July 2, 2024

Well, this is not the first time an influencer has been arrested for creating videos. Earlier in March this year, a 25-year-old YouTuber was arrested for performing stunts with his SUV on a busy flyover in the national capital and setting up a Delhi Police barricade on fire in an attempt to make reels on social media.

Identified as Pradeep Dhaka, the influencer was arrested from his house and was also issued a fine of Rs 36,000 for violation of traffic rules and regulations.
Famously called the Challenging Star, Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his partner Pavithra Gowda and eleven others were recently arrested in a murder case that unfolded a month ago. Both actors, along with 11 others, Pavan, Vinay, Pradosh, Nandeesha, Deepak, Lakshman, Nagaraju, Karthik, Nikhil, Keshav Murthy and Raghavendra were sent to police custody by a city court.

The silence of some of Darshans close friends, including Sumalatha Ambareesh, actors Abhishek Ambareesh and Dhanveer, during his recent troubles, sparked considerable speculation. Netizens are particularly intrigued by the lack of public support from Sumalatha Ambareesh, who has often referred to Darshan as her elder son, yet refrained from commenting directly on his situation.

Amidst this mess, a post by Sumalatha on her Instagram has drawn attention. She wrote on Instagram Stories a Lord Krishna verse that reads, A lot goes wrong before everything goes right. Just have faith. Many believe that this message was subtly directed at supporting Darshan during his downfall. Screenshots of this post are now circulating widely online.

After Darshans murder case, none of his celebrity friends publicly advocated for him, which left his fans deeply concerned. During this period, Darshans wife Vijayalakshmi reached out via Instagram, reassuring fans of Darshans affection for them and acknowledging their mutual affection.

She explained the importance of patience and peace during this challenging time, reassuring them that she had communicated their concerns to Darshan. She expressed trust in the justice system and invoked divine protection against those maligning Darshan in his absence, hopeful for a return to better times.

Besides, Kannada filmmakers have approached the film chamber to register titles for a movie based on the Renukaswamy murder case, involving Kannada actor Darshan. However, as per reports, these titles have been turned down as the case is still ongoing.

As per a Times of India report, filmmakers have sought to register titles like D-Gang, Pattanagere Shed and Khaidi No 6106. D-Gang refers to Darshans title D-Boss and Pattanagere Shed where the murder allegedly took place. Khaidi No 6106 is the under-trial prisoner number assigned to Darshan in Parappana Agrahara Prison. However, the report mentioned that the film chamber has turned down these requests.
Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has opened up about facing colourism and unfair treatment in society. In an interview with News18 Showsha, he shared that people have always told him hes unattractive, and sadly, hes started to believe it. Despite this, Nawazuddin said that he is grateful to the film industry for giving him respect and diverse roles. The actor said its unfortunate that people like him face discrimination, but hes thankful for the opportunities hes had in Bollywood.

Speaking of the unfair treatment, he said, Pata nahi shakalo se humari nafrat kyun hai kuch logon ko. Kyunki shakal hee aisi hai  itne badsurat hai humlog. Humein bhi lagta hai jab apne aap ko aaine mein dekhte hai. Hum bhi bolte hai apne aap ko kyun aa gaye film industry mein itne gande shakal leke? (I dont know why some people hate the way we look. Maybe its because were just that ugly. Even I feel it when I look at myself in the mirror. I question why I came into the film industry with such a bad appearance).

He went on to add, Im the ugliest actor  physically  in the film industry. Main toh yeh maanta hoon. Kyun ki main shuru se yeh sab sunte aa raha hoon aur abhi maanne bhi laga hoon (I have been hearing it for so long that Ive started to believe it. I have no complaints about the film industry).

Nawazuddin, however, thanked Bollywood for giving him his due. Film industry say mujhe koi shikhayat nahin hai. I want to thank all the directors that have given me variety of characters. Agar aapke andar thora saa bhi talent hai toh industry bahut kuch deti hai. Society mein discrimination hai, industry mein nahi (If you have even a bit of talent, the industry offers you a lot. Theres discrimination in society, but not in the industry).

The actor, who played a pivotal part in Anurag Kashyaps Gangs in Wasseypur, opened up on the love he continues to receive for the film. For five months after the release of Gangs of Wassepur, wherever I went, people would tell me, Sir, we have watched the film 25 to 30 times. I thought they were just joking and making fun of me. For 3-4 years, I believed these were all lies. Mujhe laga log maza uda rahe hain  main samne padh ja raha hoon isliye bol rahe hain. It was much later that I started believing that the movie had become a big deal and people must have watched it many times!

Nawazuddin Siddiqui will soon be seen in Zee5s thriller, Rautu Ka Raaz.
Richa Chadha and Ali Fazals production continues its unstoppable journey through the international film circuit. The critically acclaimed film Girls Will Be Girls, directed by Shuchi Talati and produced by Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, has added yet another prestigious accolade to its growing list of achievements. The film has won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA), further cementing its status as a standout piece in global cinema. This is a hattrick for the film having recently won Grand Jury prizes at Transylvania International Film Festival in Romania and Biarritz Film Festival in France.

Following its tremendous success at the start of the year Sundance Film Festival where it won two major award, the film has since on a dream run internationally. Starring Kani Kusruti and Preeti Panigrahi, Girls Will Be Girls continues to capture the hearts and minds of audiences and critics worldwide. The films unique narrative and compelling performances have garnered numerous awards, showcasing the talent and vision behind its creation.

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal Share Their Excitement, expressing their elation over the recent win at IFFLA, Richa Chadha stated, Winning the Grand Jury Prize at IFFLA is an incredible honor. Its gratifying to see the hard work and dedication of our entire team being recognized on such a prestigious platform. Girls Will Be Girls is a story close to our hearts, and we are thrilled that it continues to resonate with audiences globally. This is a third win for the film this month which is huge. The response has been overwhelming and the love the film is getting is truly exceptional. We couldnt be more happy with a better debut as producers.

Ali Fazal added, This journey has been nothing short of magical. From Sunburn to Cannes and now IFFLA, each accolade reaffirms our belief in the power of authentic storytelling. We are grateful for the support and love weve received, and were excited to see where Girls Will Be Girls will go next.

Girls Will Be Girls is a coming-of-age drama about 16-year-old Mira, portrayed by Preeti Panigrahi, and her tense relationship with her mother. Set in a strict boarding school in the Himalayas, the film explores Miras journey of teenage love through the lens of societal judgment of female desire. Themes of mother-daughter affection and rivalry, bodily autonomy, and generational female awakening are poignantly portrayed in this narrative. Girls Will Be Girls is an Indo-French co-production between Indias Pushing Buttons Studios, Crawling Angel Films, Blink Digital and Frances Dolce Vita Films.
Shabana Azmi was recently asked about her writer-husband Javed Akhtar and Salim Khans association that lasted until 1982, when both decided to split after which Javed moved into writing lyrics. The duo, best known as Salim-Javed, had penned scripts for several blockbuster movies. These included Sholay, Zanjeer, Deewar and Don to name a few. In a new interview, Shabana opened up about their split and said that she is still clueless about why the two parted ways.

The five-time National Film Award-winning actor addressed the topic while appearing on Salim Khans son, actor Arbaaz Khans talk show, The Invincibles. Salim-Javed was at the peak of their career, Arbaaz recalled in a teaser for the upcoming episode. Till today, I do not know why Salim-Javed split up, Shabana responded.

Shabana Azmi also opened up about dealing with Javed Akhtars alcoholism, emphasising that it was difficult. In the episode, Shabana will also discuss her relationship with Javeds first wife Honey Irani and their children Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar.

During an interview with Mojo Story earlier this year, Javed Akhtar reflected on his and Salim Khans separation. He said, When we began, both of us were nobodies, we only had each other. So, we would spend a lot of time together, sit by the sea, talk about stories. He would come to my room, I had one paying guest room, or I would go to his house, which was a small one. But when you become bigger, more successful, many more people enter your life. Then all those desires which were dormant, all those interests which were dormant The moment you have done something which was the main issue of your life or the main interest, you reach a satisfactory position and then all the other interests start emerging.

He clarified that their split had nothing to do with money or credit. You start meeting different kind of people and then gradually you become different people and that is what happened. We did not fight, there was no issue about credit, there was never any issue about money, there was nothing. We just grew apart. One realised that relationship is no longer there, that we now dont sit together in the evening, we have our own set of friends. Gradually that happened and the rapport weakened, and it was reflecting on our work also, he added.
Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured at the Locarno Film Festival with its Honorary Leopard Achievement Award. The award will pay tribute to his remarkable career in the Indian cinema consisting of more than 100 films in a breathtaking multitude of genres.

Popularly known in India as King Khan  the emperor (Baadshah) of Bollywood  Shah Rukh Khan has become a living symbol portraying the vibrance and vitality of Indian cinema. The actor will receive the award on the evening of Saturday, August 10 at Piazza Grande. In addition, a key film from Khans career  Devdas (Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 2002) will be screened during the Festival, and SRK will appear at the Forum @Spazio Cinema for a conversation open to the public on Sunday, August 11.

Talking about SRK being honoured, Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director, said, To welcome a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan to Locarno is a dream come true! The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented. Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him. This brave and daring artist has always been willing to challenge himself while remaining true to what his fans all over the world eagerly expect from his films. A true peoples hero, sophisticated and down to earth, Shah Rukh Khan is a legend of our times.

Many of Shah Rukh Khans films are loved globally and have made him a hugely popular name amongst audiences around the world, leading him to represent his country and many of his films across numerous prestigious film festivals across the globe.

Khan has given some of his most acclaimed and breakout films spanning his over 30-year journey in Indian cinema. In the romantic thriller Baazigar (1993), SRK starred as a murderous but sympathetic anti-hero on a quest for vengeance. A few years later he would be propelled to superstar status on the back of a timeless romantic drama, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and a love story across timelines, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). At the same time, the enormity of this newfound fame did not deter Khan from taking on roles that were different and much ahead of their times, such as Rahul in Darr (1993) a romantic psychological thriller directed by Yash Chopra, a journalist who falls in love with a terrorist in the epic Dil Se.. (1998) by Mani Ratnam.

Shah Rukh Khans recent releases  Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki were also huge commercial successes and garnered immense appreciation from global audiences.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time that Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured at a global level. He was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2007 and the Legion dhonneur in 2014 by the French government.
Veteran actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has finally addressed the rumours surrounding his health after he was admitted to Kokilaben hospital in Mumbai over the weekend. Sinha denied reports of him falling off a sofa and going through surgery.

Speaking to Times Now/Zoom, he said, Arrey bhai, mujhe surgery hui aur mujhe khud nahin maloom (If I had surgery, wouldnt I know?) When asked about the reason behind his hospitalisation, Sinha said, Just for annual routine full-body checkup. I recommend it for everyone over 60. Ive been travelling for my election campaigning nonstop for three months. Then right after my daughter got married. Im no longer that hot-blooded energy-driven young man who could do three shifts a day and still have the energy to party all night. I need to slow down.

Sinha further said that he is happy that his daughter Sonakshi is finally married. It all went off well. Thanks to the Almighty, my daughter is happily married now. As for the naysayers who are not happy, I have nothing to say to them, he added.

Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha married longtime boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal in a private ceremony at her Bandra apartment in Mumbai June 23. After the civil marriage, the newlyweds hosted a grand reception at Bastian, Dadar. The actress has been facing immense trolling for her inter-faith marriage with Zaheer. The newlyweds have even switched off comments on their wedding photos on Instagram to avoid unwarranted hate during their special occasion.

Earlier reacting to the trolls, Sinha told Times Now, Every father waits for this moment when his daughter is given to her chosen groom. My daughter looks most happy with Zaheer. Unki jodi salamat rahe.

44 years ago, Shatrughan Sinha married a very successful, very beautiful, very talented girl of his choice, Poonam Sinha. Now it is Sonakshis turn to marry the boy of her choice, he added.
Hours after Luv Sinha confirmed that he skipped Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbals wedding on June 23, Shatrughan Sinha called them a made-for-each-other couple. Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha took to the microblogging site, X, to thank certain esteemed guests for their congratulatory messages and wishes for his family.

Shatrugha Sinha wrote, Thanking everyone for their blessings love & warm congratulatory messages. But most touched to have received extremely heartwarming affectionate wishes from most learned, intellectual par excellence the great #ArunShourie elder brother, statesman #YashwantSinha & of course the most deserving, Magsaysay Award winner #RavishKumar for the made for each other couple #SonakshiSinha & #ZaheerIqbal. #SinhaParivar.

Thanking everyone for their blessings love & warm congratulatory messages. But most touched to have received extremely heartwarming affectionate wishes from most learned, intellectual par excellence the great #ArunShourie elder brother, statesman #YashwantSinha & of course the Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) July 2, 2024

Earlier today, Luv Sinha shared a news report on X about his absence from the wedding and confirmed the rumours. Along with the article, he wrote, Why I chose not to attend. Running an online campaign against me on a false premise wont change the fact that for me my family will always come first.

The reasons are very clear as to why I didnt attend, and would not associate with some people no matter what. Im glad a member of the media did their research instead of relying on creative stories being put out by a PR team. Luv S Sinha (@LuvSinha) July 1, 2024

He shared an excerpt from the article which read, With carefully curated news stories about his family business, nobody tread grey areas like the grooms fathers proximity to a politician whose ED enquiries had vanished in the washing machine. Nor was there a whiff of the grooms fathers stint in Dubai.

Luv added, The reasons are very clear as to why I didnt attend, and would not associate with some people no matter what. Im glad a member of the media did their research instead of relying on creative stories being put out by a PR team.

After a seven-year courtship, Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal sealed their love with a wedding ceremony on June 23. The intimate registered marriage was succeeded by a lavish reception graced by numerous Bollywood personalities like Salman Khan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kajol, Tabu, as well as Huma Qureshi alongside her brother Saqib Saleem, Aditi Rao Hydari with her fiance Siddharth, and many others.
Veteran actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has been discharged from Mumbais Kokilaben Ambani Hospital after his annual routine check-up. Sinhas hospitalisation came a few days after his daughter Sonakshi Sinhas wedding with Zaheer Iqbal.

Sinhas close family friend Pahlaj Nihalani confirmed to Times Now.com that he is back from the hospital. Yes, Shatru has returned from the hospital. Im overjoyed, Nihalani said. Sinhas sons Luv and Kussh and his wife Poonam brought him home from the hospital. Sinhas daughter, Sonakshi Sinha, on the other hand, is currently spending a romantic getaway with Zaheer. There are reports doing the rounds that all is not well between Sonakshi and her brother Luv who is apparently not happy with her nuptials with Zaheer.

Meanwhile, Sinha finally addressed the rumours surrounding his health after he was admitted to the hospital last week. Sinha denied reports of him falling off a sofa and going through surgery.

Speaking to Times Now/Zoom, he said, Arrey bhai, mujhe surgery hui aur mujhe khud nahin maloom (If I had surgery, wouldnt I know?) When asked about the reason behind his hospitalisation, Sinha said, Just for annual routine full-body checkup. I recommend it for everyone over 60. Ive been travelling for my election campaigning nonstop for three months. Then right after my daughter got married. Im no longer that hot-blooded energy-driven young man who could do three shifts a day and still have the energy to party all night. I need to slow down.

Sinha further said that he is happy that his daughter Sonakshi is finally married. It all went off well. Thanks to the Almighty, my daughter is happily married now. As for the naysayers who are not happy, I have nothing to say to them, he added.

Sonakshi Sinha married longtime boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal in a private ceremony at her Bandra apartment in Mumbai June 23. After the civil marriage, the newlyweds hosted a grand reception at Bastian, Dadar. The actress has been facing immense trolling for her inter-faith marriage with Zaheer. The newlyweds have even switched off comments on their wedding photos on Instagram to avoid unwarranted hate during their special occasion.
Mirzapur is gearing up for its third season premiere on July 5. The series features a talented cast including Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rasika Duggal, Shweta Tripathi, and Vijay Varma. As fans speculate on whats in store, one of the top assumptions is a crossover with other Prime Video shows. In an interview with ANI, Ali Fazal unintentionally revealed that Jitendra Kumars character Sachiv Ji from Panchayat will make a cameo appearance in Mirzapur 3.

He said, Thats cross-promotion. We have done that. The agency also mentioned that Jitendra Kumar will appear in two episodes as Sachiv Ji, dealing with paperwork related to Kaleen Bhaiyas (Pankaj Tripathi) death.

Spilling beans on the upcoming season of Mirzapur, Ali Fazal told The Free Press Journal that it has taken a different route with more grip on drama. Interestingly, we have introduced hand combat. We lose some important characters, but we gain some new ones. I underwent a different kind of preparation, which was fun, he added. Ali also acknowledged that his character in the Mirzapur franchise turned out to be a career-defining role, holding significance for the industry. He also admitted that the show gave him more opportunities and expanded his horizons, further explaining that its impact was very different from typical shows, affecting the trajectory of his Hollywood journey.

The trailer for the show was recently unveiled, promising more drama, blood and power play. It features Guddu Bhaiya striving to impose his influence over Purvanchal, while Rasika Duggals character switches sides to join him.

Unfortunately, this time, fans of Mirzapur will miss the beloved character Munna Bhaiya, played by Divyenndu, which has left them somewhat disappointed. Despite Munna Bhaiyas death at the end of Mirzapur 2, fans had hoped the makers might bring him back, given the strong connection audiences had with his character.
With three new criminal laws now in effect as of July 1, Indias courtrooms are navigating a landmark shift. The transition was supported by extensive preparation from lawyers and judges, including orientation sessions and the provision of free reading materials. The summer of 2024 is brimming with anticipation because of the transformative legal reforms in the Indian criminal justice system.

Lawyers, police officers, and judges across India are immersing themselves in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS); the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS); and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). These new statutes, which replaced the colonial-era Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Indian Evidence Act (IEA) on July 1, mark a new era for Indias criminal justice system.

Introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2023, during Parliaments Monsoon Session, Indias three new criminal laws were passed in December 2023 after extensive debate during the Winter Session. These laws aim to modernise and decolonise the Indian legal system, embracing technological advancements and replacing outdated British-era legislation with provisions tailored to contemporary Indian society and values.

The BSAs emphasis on adapting to digital innovations highlights its role in bringing Indias criminal justice system into line with modern technological realities. This shift is more than just a legislative revision; it represents a dramatic stride towards modernising the system to reflect contemporary challenges, particularly those of the digital age.

The Indian Evidence Act (IEA) of 1872, ground-breaking for its time, established a comprehensive framework for evidence admissibility. It defined admissible evidence, differentiated primary and secondary evidence, and emphasised witness testimony. However, as technology progressed and societal norms shifted, the IEA struggled to keep pace, particularly with the complexities of electronic evidence.

Key Updates in BSA

The BSA keeps much of the Evidence Acts framework while introducing necessary modifications to handle current concerns. One of the most notable changes is the broadening of secondary evidence to incorporate electronic data. This acknowledges the expanding use of digital communication and commerce in everyday life. Under the BSA, electronic records such as emails, server logs, and digital documents are now officially recognised as admissible evidence, giving a more defined framework for their use in court proceedings.

The BSA has expanded the definition of documentary evidence to encompass electronic records. This shift is critical, given the growing reliance on digital documentation in both personal and professional settings.

Electronic records and video recordings are now clearly included as primary evidence, while oral and written admissions and testimony from document examiners are considered secondary evidence. This transition guarantees that the law keeps up with technological advancements, allowing judges to deal with digital evidence more effectively.

The BSA addresses the admissibility of electronic records, with an emphasis on their integrity. It allows electronic recordings kept or processed by computers to be accepted as evidence, as long as they meet certain authenticity requirements. The Act establishes the use of hash algorithms and expert certification to ensure the reliability of digital evidence, lowering the danger of tampering and fraud.

Another important shift is the ability to provide oral evidence electronically. This allows witnesses, accused persons, and victims to testify online, which is a significant advancement in an age where distant communication is common. This change not only increases the accessibility of the court process, but also protects vulnerable witnesses who may find it impossible or perilous to appear in court physically.

The BSA also specifies the provisions for joint trials, especially when one of the accused has fled or failed to respond to an arrest warrant issued against them. This guarantees that the trial process is not excessively delayed or jeopardised, demonstrating a practical approach to dealing with complex criminal matters.

Concerns and Suggestions

While the BSA provides much-needed clarity and modernisation, it also raises some concerns, most notably about the integrity and admissibility of electronic records.

The vulnerability of digital evidence to tampering and alteration is a serious concern. Permitting electronic evidence does raise concerns about tampering, much like it does with traditional evidence. However, the nature of electronic evidence creates particular issues because it may be edited or erased with minimal traces, sometimes without the tangible marks of tampering that are visible with traditional evidence, such as documents or physical objects.

Furthermore, advanced technology enables sophisticated tampering tactics, which might be more difficult to detect than physical evidence alteration. In Anvar P.V. v. P.K. Basheer & Others (2014), the Supreme Court of India had addressed these dangers, emphasising the importance of strong protections to prevent miscarriage of justice.

To address these problems, the BSA authorises courts to consult with an Examiner of Electronic Evidence to establish an opinion on the authenticity of electronic documents. This rule ensures that digital evidence is subject to expert assessment, which increases its trustworthiness. However, the practical application of this rule necessitates significant investments in training and infrastructure. Law enforcement and the judiciary must be equipped with the appropriate tools and knowledge to properly manage and evaluate electronic evidence.

Incorporating international best practices can help to strengthen the BSA. The European Unions Draft Directive Proposal on Mutual Admissibility of Evidence and Electronic Evidence in Criminal Proceedings 2020 provides useful insight on how to have better implementation of the BSA.

Firstly, it is critical to implement strong authentication criteria. Cryptographic technologies and hash algorithms can be used to verify that electronic evidence produced in court is verifiably authentic and unaltered. Secondly, involving IT professionals in the forensic analysis process is critical. These specialists play an important role in evaluating digital evidence and delivering expert views on its integrity, in line with worlds best practices. Finally, establishing a robust chain of custody for electronic evidence is critical. This involves meticulous documentation of its secure management, storage, and transfer of electronic evidence to prevent unauthorised access or tampering, ensuring its admissibility.

The BSAs successful implementation demands a comprehensive approach, encompassing thorough training for law enforcement, judges, and legal practitioners. Awareness campaigns and workshops can familiarise stakeholders with the new provisions, fostering a seamless transition. Equally crucial is the development of robust infrastructure to support this digital transformation within the legal system. This includes equipping courtrooms with the technology to handle electronic evidence effectively, ensuring secure storage facilities for digital documents, and bolstering cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data.

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) marks a watershed moment in Indias road to a modern and robust criminal justice system. By revising the requirements of the Indian Evidence Act to match the reality of the digital age, the BSA closes important gaps and provides much-needed clarity and flexibility. However, the effectiveness of this new regulation is dependent on its proper execution. Ensuring the integrity and legitimacy of electronic evidence, protecting against coercion and custody abuse, and investing in the required infrastructure and training are all critical measures.

By accepting these changes and fully preparing for their implementation, India can ensure that its criminal justice system is ready to face the challenges of the 21st century while providing justice efficiently and equitably.

The author is Research Fellow at India Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
On July 1, 1921, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was officially established as both a political entity and a revolutionary movement, declaring its ultimate goal of building socialism in China. The CCPs victory over the Nationalist Kuomintang Party in 1949 and the subsequent establishment of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) under Mao Zedong cemented the CCPs position as the sole governing party in China, a status it maintains to this day. With approximately 98 million members as of 2022, making it the worlds second-largest political party, China has gained global significance for its ambitions, particularly its goal of national rejuvenation. The political system currently envisioned in China, under the CCP, is described as socialism with Chinese characteristics.

As we mark the 103rd anniversary of the CCPs foundation, it is important to revisit the landmark events that solidified the partys position in the country and examine its relevance in the contemporary context.

Following a brief alliance (1924-27) with the Nationalist Kuomintang Party, the CCP was forced to go underground when the former, under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, violently expelled the latter from Shanghai in 1927. In response, CCP leaders Mao Zedong and Zhu De established the partys base, known as the Chinese Soviet Republic, in Jiangxi Soviet in south-eastern China in 1931, with support from the rural peasantry. However, this base soon faced military encirclement campaigns by the Nationalist Kuomintang.

The last of these campaigns, aimed at annihilating the CCP base, succeeded in 1934, prompting the CCP troops to relocate. This led to the historic Long March, a year-long trek from 1934 to 1935, during which approximately 86,000 CCP troops marched from Jiangxi Soviet to Yanan in Shaanxi, covering a distance of about 6,000 to 12,900 km.

Following this relocation, the CCP remained in Yanan throughout the Sino-Japanese War (1937-45), allowing them to establish a base outside the Nationalist Partys direct control. In Yanan, the CCP not only grew in strength but also ultimately gained control over mainland China by defeating the Nationalists in 1949. The political significance of this historic event lies in the transformation of the CCPs fortunes and the elevation of Mao Zedong as the undisputed leader of the CCP, who later served as the longest-reigning Chairman of the CCPs Central Committee until his death in 1976.

Since the establishment of the PRC, the Long March has been commemorated as a symbol of uniting the CCP with the common Chinese people. Glorified as a great heroic victory, the CCP, under Maos leadership, propagated the Long March as a landmark event that changed the course of Chinese history. However, many details of the march have been omitted, allowing the CCP to amplify the events significance and make it appear more grandiose than it was.

For decades, research on the Long March, including interviews with its survivors, has been prohibited, enabling the Chinese government to rewrite history to fit its narrative, thereby making it impossible to verify the facts of this historic event. Nonetheless, researchers have raised questions about the CCPs version of history. First, scepticism remains regarding the actual distance covered by the CCP troops during the march. While the CCP claims the distance to be 12,900 km, others estimate it to be around 6,000 km, with the most cited estimation being around 9,000 km.

Second, the CCP troops, known as the Red Army, faced violent attacks by the Nationalist Kuomintang forces, which resorted to air and ground assaults during the initial months of the march. This led to the disastrous loss of more than half of the Red Army. Only 8,000 members who travelled with the First Red Army survived, enduring not only attacks by Nationalist forces and local landlords loyal to the Nationalists but also disease, desertion, starvation, and brutal climatic conditions.

Third, Mao Zedongs rise as the undisputed leader was not a natural course of CCP history. Before the march, Mao was removed from his leadership position by the CCPs Central Committee. It was actually Zhu De who organised the escape trek from Jiangxi. However, Mao Zedong took advantage of discrepancies within the party and exploited party opponents to manoeuvre himself into the position of undisputed leader during the march. The portrayal of the Long March as a fully successful event is, therefore, an exaggeration aimed at legitimising the CCP and Maos leadership.

After the Communist Party of China (CCP) began ruling mainland China in 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong announced the launch of the Cultural Revolution in 1966. The revolution was portrayed as the CCPs effort to eradicate the evil habits of old society, namely old customs, old ideas, old habits, and old culture. However, the real intent was Maos attempt to eliminate his enemies both within and outside the CCP. This is evident in the circular issued in May 1966, which outlined Maos vision for the Cultural Revolution and claimed that the CCP had been infiltrated by counter-revolutionary revisionists plotting to establish a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie.

Maos message was widely welcomed by youth, especially students, who were co-opted by the CCP into the Red Guards, a paramilitary unit tasked with carrying out the revolution. Consequently, the Red Guards wreaked havoc on those deemed counter-revolutionary revisionists or political enemies, leading to widespread public humiliation and many being driven to suicide. The Red Guards also engaged in physical assault, torture, and murder, as well as the destruction of cultural relics and historical sites.

The chaos unleashed by the Cultural Revolution eventually led to insurgencies within the CCP. As the Red Guards became uncontrollable, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) intervened, further aggravating violence and civilian killings. Mao then called for the re-education of about 16 million urban youth in an attempt to end the violence stemming from the Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution officially ended with Maos death in 1976. This decade-long revolution successfully established the CCP as the sole legitimate political establishment in China through the sheer use of force.

While the CCPs official estimate (1980) claims that nearly 1,800 people died in Beijing alone, Stanford sociologist Andrew Walders study reveals the actual death toll to be about 1.6 million.

It would be incorrect to assume that the Cultural Revolution was a singular instance of the CCP consolidating its power in China since the establishment of the PRC. A little over a decade after the end of the Cultural Revolution, China faced another horrific event at the hands of the PLA, known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989. The brutal repression of a student-led, non-violent civilian protest by the military might of the CCPs military wing, the PLA, stands as one of the darkest historical events in Chinas history. The PLA serves the political interests of the CCP, making it a crucial component in sustaining the partys political legitimacy.

Deng Xiaoping, who succeeded Mao Zedong as the CCPs leader, launched a military modernisation campaign in the 1980s to exert greater political control over the PLA. However, the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989, which arose in response to growing corruption within the CCP and demanded greater political freedom and transparency, was perceived as a threat to the CCPs legitimacy and leadership. This perception is evident in the partys ultimate response to the protest  suppression via military action.

Labelling the protesters as counter-revolutionaries during the Cultural Revolution, the CCP ordered the PLA, with around 20,000 troops stationed around Tiananmen Square, to use tanks and arms against the protesters on June 4, 1989. Deng Xiaoping later hailed this massacre as a truly Great Wall of iron and steel around the party and country. While the CCP claimed that about 200 civilians died, a UK document released in 2017 revealed the number of casualties to be at least 10,000.

This massacre marked the first instance of military onslaught on civilians in Chinese history since the establishment of the PRC. Corruption within the PLA persisted, with those showing defiance facing repercussions and those complying with the CCP being rewarded with powerful positions. The Tiananmen Square Massacre thus became a watershed moment, further politicizing the PLA under the CCPs control.

The aforementioned historical events have had far-reaching consequences in China, particularly regarding the state of human rights in contemporary times. Since Xi Jinping assumed leadership in 2012, there have been increasing efforts to consolidate control over the CCP, ensuring his leadership remains unchallenged in his quest to make China a global power. The CCPs capability for political repression in maintaining the countrys political order is now well established.

This is evident in the CCPs systemic suppression of dissenters, minorities, human rights defenders, media freedom, and civil society groups  essentially rendering China a surveillance state. Human rights violations have deepened under Xis rule, with an expanded list of political targets and tightened social control.

Moreover, Chinas belligerent behaviour has escalated beyond its territory, particularly in its territorial claims. The series of military drills around Taiwan, aggressive involvement in the South China Sea dispute, the repressive political climate in Hong Kong, and increasing use of global cyber surveillance and surveillance vessels in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea are all part of Chinas efforts to intimidate perceived enemies into conceding to Chinese interests.

Border encroachment attempts and disputes with neighbouring countries, mainly India, have also become more frequent in recent years. These developments, coupled with Chinas wolf-warrior diplomacy in response to international criticism of its domestic policies, have contributed to the countrys growing negative global image. This was reflected in the recent G7 Summit hosted by Italy, where countries referred to China as a malign force, despite its absence from the summit.

There is little doubt that the Chinese Communist Party has achieved a monopoly on power in the country more through force than through its claimed benevolence. On the CCPs 103rd anniversary, it is imperative to remember the historical events that laid the partys foundational base in China to comprehend the present state of affairs involving the country.

The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are set to tie the knot on July 12, 2024. Ahead of the grand festivities, the Ambanis hosted a mass wedding for 50 underprivileged couples at Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai today. The samuhik vivah marks the start of the wedding festivities of the youngest Ambani heir. Scroll ahead to take a look at the celebration.
In 2005, Kadare was awarded the first Man Booker International Prize and was lauded by the judges as a universal writer in the tradition of storytelling that goes back to Homer. (Illustration: Santan)
At least 116 people were killed on Tuesday in a stampede that broke out at a religious event in Uttar Pradeshs Hathras. The tragic incident took place at a satsang event in Pulrai village where people had gathered in large numbers.

All the victims were immediately brought to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre in trucks and other vehicles. The bodies were laid outside the health centre as people milled around them.

Soon after the mishap, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke to the concerned officials and announced that all possible help would be provided to the victims. He also announced compensation for those involved in the accident.

The chief minister also said that he will visit Hathras on Wednesday to take stock of the situation and is likely to meet the injured as well.

Amit Shah Speaks to CM Yogi Adityanath

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and assured him of all possible Central help to deal with the situation arising after a stampede at Hathras.

The chief minister also apprised Shah about the tragic incident which claimed more than 100 lives.

Earlier, the home minister expressed his grief over the stampede at a religious congregation at Hathras and offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

UP CM Orders Strict Probe, Panel Formed

An FIR will be registered against the organisers of the event, a state government statement said.

According to officials, a team comprising the Agra additional director general of police and the divisional commissioner of Aligarh will probe the incident.

#WATCH | Hathras Stampede | Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar says, 116 people have died in the incident. All things are under investigation and we do not want to affect the process by jumping on to conclusions. The matter will proceed based on the findings of the pic.twitter.com/1lwFnHKEYv ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

The statement also said the chief minister is holding a meeting with senior officials at his residence.

Adityanath is in constant touch with three ministers, the chief secretary and the DGP, and sent them to the spot, it said.

Govt Announces Compensation For Victims

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

Similarly, Prime Minister Modi also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Hathras. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.

Political Leaders React To The Tragedy

President Droupadi Murmu expressed condolences over the tragedy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Lok Sabha speech on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Hathras stampede tragedy and paid his condolences to the families of the victims.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed shock over the incident and instructed officials to reach the accident site and carry out relief measures. Union Minister Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh also condoled the demise of over 100 people in the mishap and directed the state government to provide all possible help to the victims.

Akhilesh Raises Question on Govt; Mayawati, Rahul Condole Death of Victims

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav raised questions about the Uttar Pradesh governments preparedness for the religious congregation in Hathras and said they must provide immediate assistance to the victims.

There is a need to assess the human errors that occur in such events and also learn lessons for the future. A thorough investigation and action taken based on it can prevent the recurrence of such accidents in the future, wrote Yadav on X.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said, It is very sad that a large number of people died and many were injured in a stampede during a religious gathering in Hathras district of UP and a young man was killed during a Buddhist/Bhim Katha in Agra.

Urging the state government to provide all possible assistance to the victims and their families, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, The news of the death of many devotees due to the stampede during the Satsang in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Two interventions the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as many by Home Minister Amit Shah, and a strong counter-attack on facts by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju  all this during Rahul Gandhis debut speech as the Leader of Opposition Party (LoP) in the Lok Sabha gave a glimpse of the combative times ahead in Parliament.

The BJP top brass has a clear strategy here  expose Rahul Gandhis lies on the floor of the House and portray him as a politician who is diminishing the stature of the LoP post by his irresponsible utterances, say party insiders. This reflected in how Prime Minister Modi chose, in a rather unprecedented way, to intervene twice during Rahul Gandhis speech. Once to underline how the LoP post carried seriousness and on another occasion to highlight a remark of Gandhi that was subsequently expunged from Parliament records.

Clearly, the government wont allow Rahul Gandhi to run amok as the LoP, a position that allows him far greater liberty to speak in Parliament.

Home Minister Amit Shah made it a point to insist upon Speaker Om Birla to not give the long rope to Gandhi, and asked the Speaker to direct the Congress MP to authenticate the claims that he had made on the floor of the House. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan similarly questioned Gandhis claim on particular schemes, doing a quick fact-check, while Rijiju cited the Parliament rulebook to highlight violations by Gandhi of the same.

Two Union Ministers, Ashwini Vaishnav and Rijiju, later held a press conference in Parliament to highlight various untruths of Rahul Gandhi. Major portions of Gandhis speech were expunged by the Speaker.

While the Congress claims such a counter-attack from the Treasury Benches shows the government is rattled by Rahul Gandhi, the BJP is clear that it wont sit quiet or be on the back-foot in Parliament when Rahul Gandhi speaks. With the opposition camp claiming a moral victory in the Lok Sabha elections after reducing the BJP to 240 seats, the government is determined to bust the notion that it is weak or will succumb to an Opposition that has a spring in its step.

A senior Union Minister told News18 that it was surprising how the Congress camp had celebrated Rahul Gandhi becoming the LoP while the party had failed to cross the two-digit mark in the elections and Narendra Modi was the PM again.

PM Narendra Modi in an interview to News18 before the elections had said that he misses having a strong Opposition which keeps the government on the swords edge and on its toes. He was responding to a question on whether he thought Rahul Gandhi had not matured as a politician.

Modi then had also highlighted that in a big democracy like India, there should be a strong opposition, an aware Opposition, an active opposition, one that is well-read and well-informed.

While the government in its third term has finally got a strong Opposition with bigger numbers, what BJP now seems to be highlighting that an aware, well-read and well-informed Opposition is still missing, and the BJP wont leave any stone unturned in Parliament to expose it. Interesting times lie ahead.
Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, was suspended on Tuesday for five days over allegations of misbehaviour in the House. The suspension came after BJP legislator Pravin Darekar accused Danve of using foul language during a session on Monday evening while responding to a discussion about Congress leader Rahul Gandhis remarks, which have since been expunged from the Lok Sabha records.

The incident began on Monday when BJP legislator Prasad Lad raised Rahul Gandhis comments in the council, seeking a resolution to condemn them. Danve objected, arguing that Gandhis comments were irrelevant to the councils proceedings. This disagreement quickly escalated into a heated argument, during which Danve allegedly used an abusive word. Gandhi had earlier criticised the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha, accusing them of promoting violence and hate despite calling themselves Hindus.

When the House reconvened on Tuesday, Darekar demanded a discussion on Danves alleged foul language. Neelam Gorhe, the councils deputy chairperson, requested that the discussion be postponed until after the Question Hour, emphasising the importance of maintaining the legislative councils decorum, particularly by its leader of the opposition. Gorhe stated that the issue was serious and needed to be resolved after reviewing video footage of the incident and gathering more information.

Reading the suspension order, Gorhe said, Leader of opposition Ambadas Danve demonstrated indiscipline and used foul and abusive language towards legislator Prasad Lad. The order further noted that Danves behaviour had tarnished the image of the council and, if ignored, could set a harmful precedent. Consequently, the House proposed a five-day suspension and barred Danve from entering the Vidhan Bhavan premises during this period.

Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Anil Parab tried to advocate for Danve, requesting that he be allowed to present his side of the story, but this demand was not accepted. In protest, the opposition members staged a walkout, shouting slogans against Gorhe.

The incident underscores the ongoing tensions and political rivalries within the Maharashtra legislative council. It also highlights the challenges in maintaining parliamentary decorum and addressing misconduct allegations. As the suspension of a prominent opposition leader like Danve is rare and significant, it has attracted considerable attention and controversy, further polarising the political landscape in Maharashtra.

Reacting to the suspension, Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray said, Ambadas Danve, being the leader of the opposition, was not allowed to explain his actions. This was a planned action by those in power, and they didnt even discuss the issue further. As the party chief, on behalf of Ambadas Danve, I tender an apology to all the women of Maharashtra.
Opposition politicians shouted slogans in the Lok Sabha even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address on Tuesday, prompting a rebuke by Speaker Om Birla.

This is not right, you are directing your MPs to come into the well [of the House], Birla told Congress parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition of in the Lok Sabha. Please maintain the dignity of the House, Birla said amid sloganeering by Opposition members.

As PM Modi continued his speech, harping on his vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047, Opposition thundered: hume nyay do. The Hindi slogans turned to English  We want justice  but they were relentless. As PM Modi underlined his governments efforts crack down on corruption, slogans raking up the NEET examination fiasco and Manipur hung in the air.

NEET par bayan do [give a statement on NEET], Manipur ko nyay do [give justice to Manipur], the Opposition shouted, referring to the paper leak in the NEET medical entrance examination and conflicts in the northeastern state of Manipur.

Nyay, or justice, was the underlying theme of the Congress partys campaign in a bitterly fought election.

In his speech, PM Modi also said that the country had long seen appeasement politics, while his government put emphasis on satushtikaran ke vichaar [thought of satisfaction of the people]. He also stressed that the mature electorate of India chose his government for a record third time, and added that he could understand the pain of the Opposition who could not win the elections despite spreading lies.

Amidst the sloganeering  and the Opposition coming down to the well, the Speaker had to interject more than once. The next five years cant be like this, he said, as the disruptions continued.
As the Opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi could have intervened to set the house in order and restrain the opposition, but he chose not to. This is the new Congress. The new, brazen and possibly reckless Congress. Gone is the restraint and cautious approach of Gandhi and his supporters when it came to dealing with PM Narendra Modi.

Earlier, many felt that he should not take the PM head-on as it would hurt him and make him look weak. Which is why despite goading by many in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Gandhi used to avoid any direct confrontation with the PM or not even match eye-to-eye. All this has changed now. Why?

LESSONS FROM AAP

When the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) first came to power in New Delhi, despite the bitterness of the Congress for having lost the polls, Gandhi had said, We need to learn some things from the AAP.

They are friends now, but the lesson Gandhi wanted to learn from them then, he has learnt now. The AAP is known to be reckless, combative and as its critics say shoot and scoot. Thats what Gandhis Congress wants to do now.

Armed and emboldened with a better performance than last time, along with the setback to the BJP in its stronghold of Uttar Pradesh and defeat in Faizabad (Ayodhya), Gandhi is convinced that it is time to shoot and scoot.

Dear Prime Minister,I am writing to request for a debate in Parliament on NEET tomorrow. Our aim is to engage constructively in the interest of 24 lakh NEET aspirants who deserve answers. I believe that it would be fitting if you were to lead this debate. pic.twitter.com/PXqV8LnYVO  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 2, 2024

A NEW GANDHI & APPROACH

Shoot at the BJP and PM and then run off and dont back off. Be brazen, look the PM straight in the eye. Thats what Gandhi did with the PM. Looking him in the eye. Naming him, instead of addressing him as the PM and accusing him of many things. This is a different Gandhi from what he was before the Bharat Jodo Yatra and became the Leader of Oppostion (LOP). This the new Congress, which, under Gandhi, wants to do away with any protocol and ensure its voice is raised and heard inside and outside parliament.

Even if it invites criticism and attacks, Congress leaders have made up their minds. Shriek, shout and make yourself heard at every point and stage. Make the point that the opposition has arrived and its voice cannot be silenced.

Said a senior Congress leader close to the Gandhi brigade, We came under pressure and asked many of our leaders to resign. Does the BJP do this? So why should we be meek? Enough is enough.

The new Gandhi-led Congress doesnt want to turn its other cheek to the BJP if hit on one.

So, in days to come, one will see the Congress and opposition leaders raise their decibels even more. Can this boomerang?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, in his address to NDA MPs at the parliamentary party meeting, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhis comments should be countered with facts and MPs should not behave like him. He told them to follow parliamentary rules and conduct, and learn from senior members about the best practices.

His comments came a day after the ruling alliance accused Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, of making a most irresponsible speech. Sources said he told the MPs that the opposition is upset as for the first time a non-Congress leader, that too a chaiwala, has become prime minister for a third straight term.

Highlighting his humble origins, he took a swipe at the Nehru-Gandhi family and said they captured the PMs chair for decades but the government under him has given due respect and tribute to all the leaders of the country through the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, or the Prime Ministers Museum.

Modi advised new MPs to visit the Prime Ministers Museum, sources said. He told the new members that there is no better place to learn than in Parliament and they must visit the Prime Ministers Museum to know about the great journey of these leaders and learn from their experience, sources added.

His speech at the NDA parliamentary party meeting comes ahead of his much-awaited reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Presidents address later in the evening. On Monday (July 1), Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a no-holds-barred attack against the BJP in his first speech as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, who arrived with the PM for the meeting, said Modi gave the MPs an all-important mantra on service to the nation, which must be their first responsibility irrespective of the party they belong to.

Today, PM gave us a mantra which is very important. He said every MP has been elected to the House to serve the nation. Irrespective of the party they belong to, service to the nation is our first responsibility. Every NDA MP has to work by prioritising the country, this is what the PM urged, Rijiju told news agency ANI.

The union minister further said Modi asked the first-time MPs to develop expertise in major issues like water, environment and social affairs among others as well as to be aware of all the House rules regarding conduct.

Secondly, the PM guided us well regarding the conduct of MPs. He said that every MP should present the matters of their constituency in the House very well as per rules. He also told us to develop expertise in other major issues of interest  be it water, environment, social area. So, PM told us to develop expertise in those areas. PM urged NDA MPs to follow rules of the Parliament, Parliamentary democracy system and conduct which is essential to becoming a good MP I think this guidance by the PM is a good mantra for all MPs, especially the first-time MPsWe have decided to follow this mantra Rijiju added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his moral victory in the Lok Sabha elections and referred to him as a child who is happy his performance.

Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister also twisted Bollywood iconic movie to slam the Leader of Opposition.

A small kid has taken out his cycle and if he falls and starts crying. An elder comes and say that you have not fallen. It is just an ant which has died. The elder just tried to divert the mind of that kid. This is being done right now, he said.

A kid was roaming around with pride that he has got 99 marks. People were also congratulating him. Then his teacher came and said he got 99 marks out of 543, not 100, the PM added.

Modi also highlighted that this is the first instance in recent times when Congress has failed to reach the 100-seat mark for three consecutive terms.

The statements of Congress leaders have surpassed even the film Sholay. You all must remember Mausi ji from the film Sholay. Teesre baar toh haare hain lekin Mausi, moral victory toh hai naa. (We have lost third time but Mausi ji, it is a moral victory) Are Mausi ji 13 Rajyon me zero seat aayi hai to kya hua hero to hai na.. (Mausi, we got zero seat in 13 states but I am a hero, he said.

Delhi: The statements of Congress leaders have surpassed even the film Sholay. You all must remember Mausi ji from the film Sholay Are Mausi ji 13 Rajyon me zero seat aayi hai to kya hua hero to hai na says PM Modi(Video Courtesy  Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/8wlxrJwkyk  IANS (@ians_india) July 2, 2024

The Prime Minister said that the Congress party will be known as the Parjeevi Congress party from 2024.

Im not sure if the allies of Congress have analyzed this election or not, but this election is also a message for these allies. From 2024 onwards, the Congress party will be known as the Parjeevi Congress party, he said.

Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi over his speech in Lok Sabha, the PM said, Yesterday, an attempt was made to miled the Parliament. Lies were spoken about Agniveer and MSP for farmers. When seasoned leaders like him choose this path of anarchy this shows that nation is headed for trouble. To treat such things as balak buddhi, it should not be ignored.

The Prime Minister said Rahul Gandhi is out on bail in corruption case, convicted for insulting OBC community and, facing several defamation cases.

PM Modi said India has reached a point today where we need to break our own past records and elevate our developmental journey to the next level.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his remark on Hindus, saying people will not forgive him for centuries.

Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said, People will not forgive (them) for centuries Hindu is tolerant. A conspiracy was hatched to falsely accuse Hindus. It was said that Hindus are violent. This is your character, thinking and hatred.

The Prime Minister said that citizens are hurt by display of photos of the God, apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi showing photos of Lord Shiva, Jesus Christ, and Guru Nanak.

They have insulted our gods. Jinke darshan hote hain, unke pradarshan nahi hote, he remarked.

After seeing yesterday, Hindus have to think if this is a coincidence or an experiment, he added.

Delhi: Every child of this country knows that every form of God is meant for viewing. No form of God is displayed for personal gain. Insulting our gods and goddesses is hurting the country says PM Modi(Video Courtesy  Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/LDEgNgUugd  IANS (@ians_india) July 2, 2024

Attacking Rahul Gandhi, the PM said, A trend has begun to gain sympathy. I would like to tell about a child who had returned from school and complained her mother that he was beaten in the school. The child didnt reveal that he had abused someone in the school, tore a childs book and stole someones tiffin. Yesterday, we saw a childish behaviour in the House. This was to gain sympathy.

However, the nation knows that this person is out on bail in a corruption case, he has received punishment for calling an OBC person a thief and he has a case registered against himself for insulting Veer Savarkar, he added.
In his response to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his governments commitment to reforming the Indian military.

The Prime Minister underscored initiatives such as the upcoming introduction of theatre commands within the Indian military framework and efforts to enhance reliance on domestically produced arms, weapons, and other military technology.

He also highlighted crucial aspects of Indias defence forces and outlined the governments efforts to streamline and bolster the effectiveness of the armed forces in confronting contemporary warfare challenges.

Addressing the issue of One Rank, One Pension (OROP), the Prime Minister said, There have been attempts to mislead our courageous soldiers regarding OROP. The OROP system was abolished by Indira Gandhi. For decades, the Congress did not allow its implementation, but during elections, they tried to mislead army commanders by promising Rs 500 crore.

In contrast, the NDA government successfully implemented OROP. Despite Indias limited resources and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Rs 1.20 lakh crore was allocated for One Rank, One Pension.

PM Modi also criticised the Congress on the Agnipath scheme for recruitment of Agniveers into the armed forces, saying, Congress opposes every reform aimed at strengthening our armed forces. They have now realised the significance of youth energy as a vital asset for our military.

Falsehoods are being spread about army recruitment to dissuade our youth from joining. I ask this House: For whom does the Congress wish to weaken our armed forces? Whose interests are served by spreading such misinformation? We are committed to modernising our armed forces to ensure they are prepared to face any challenge and respond effectively. Our reforms are designed to enhance our troops readiness for combat.

The Prime Minister also delivered a scathing critique of the opposition Congress for challenging the military reforms undertaken by his government.

Consider the mindset of these individuals  they once mocked the armed forces by playing with small toy models of Rafale jets. However, in recent years, substantial changes have taken place. The establishment of the Chief of Defence Staffs (CDS) post has significantly enhanced integration among our armed forces.

Today, Congress is spreading misinformation and actively seeking to undermine our efforts towards defence reform. It is evident that Congress members are unwilling to witness the strengthening of the Indian armed forces, Prime Minister Modi said.

Sharpening his attack on the Congress, the Prime Minister said the army was weakened during Jawaharlal Nehrus tenure.

He pointed to numerous scams worth lakhs of rupees that occurred under Congress regimes, citing examples such as the Jeep, submarine, and Bofors scams.

The Prime Minister also highlighted deficiencies like the absence of bulletproof jackets during Congress rule.

Accusing the Congress of consistently undermining the military, both during its tenure and now as the opposition, PM Modi alleged that it neglected the purchase of fighter jets. Furthermore, he claimed that when his government attempted to procure fighter jets, Congress obstructed the efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into the Congress and its MP Rahul Gandhi without naming him during his over two-hour-long address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, saying the opposition party had misread the general election verdict and termed the Raebareli lawmaker Baalak Buddhi (child). This came a day after Gandhis fiery speech directed at Modi in Parliament. The PM also lambasted the Congress leader over his remarks, saying that the insult of Hindus will not be forgotten for centuries.

The opposition lawmakers interrupted the Prime Minister throughout his speech, raising slogans on the issue of the NEET controversy and Manipur violence, even as Speaker Om Birla pulled up Rahul Gandhi for directing MPs to come to the well of the House and protest while Modi was speaking. The PM appealed to Birla to take strong action against Gandhi for his speech, saying lies were spoken by him on the Agnipath scheme and MSP issue on the floor of the House. The Prime Minister also commented on the issue of paper leaks, promising strong action.

1. Baalak Buddhi jibe

There was a kid, who was very happily celebrating his score of 99 But one of his teachers wondered and asked, Why are you distributing sweets, why are you celebrating? The teacher wanted to say that there was nothing to celebrate The 99 points he secured werent out of 100, but out of 543! But who could make a Baalak Buddhi understand that, after all? Yesterday we saw a childish attitude in Parliament and Baalak Buddhi vilaap (child-like crying), Modi said in the Lok Sabha.

Modi ostensibly singled out Rahul Gandhi for his conduct in Parliament. The Baalak Buddhi is out on bail. His new drama has started to gain sympathy. But the country knows the truth that he is out on bail in a case of fraud worth thousands of crores of rupees. He has been convicted for calling people of the OBC category as thieves. He had to apologise after making an irresponsible statement on the countrys Supreme Court. There is a case against him for insulting a great personality like freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. A case is going on against him for calling the president of the countrys biggest party a murderer, the PM said.

Modi said that a child-like mind neither has the sense to speak on an occasion, nor a sense of behaviour. When this childs intelligence takes over completely, they start attacking anyone in the house. When these childrens intelligence loses its limits, then they wink while sitting inside the House. Now the whole country has understood their truth. That is why today the country is telling them  you will not be able to do it (tumse na ho payega), he said.

2. Strong attack on Hindu row

Modi reserved his strongest remarks for Rahul Gandhi and slammed him for his comment on Hindus and for showing pictures of Hindu deities, saying Ishwar ka darshan hota hai, pradarshan nahin (deities are meant to be prayed to, not shown around).

Today there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus, a serious conspiracy is being hatched. It is being said that Hindus are violent These are your sanskars, this is your character, these are your thoughts, these are your hatred. These are the deeds of Hindus of this country? This country is not going to forget this for centuries, the PM said.

The Prime Minister said the Congress had tried to coin the term Hindu terrorism. This country will never forgive their fellow Indians if they compare Hinduism with words like dengue, malaria, etc. As part of a well-planned conspiracy, their entire ecosystem has made it a fashion to belittle, insult, and mock Hindu traditions, the PM said. He added that whatever happened a day ago in Parliament, millions of countrymen of this country will not forgive it for centuries to come. 131 years ago, Swami Vivekananda said in Chicago that I am proud that I come from a religion which has taught tolerance and global acceptance to the entire world, the PM said.

3. Congress misread verdict

Modi said the Congress had misread the Lok Sabha election verdict, as the people had chosen to put the Congress in the opposition. For the first time in history, the Congress party was not able to cross the 100-seat mark in three consecutive elections. They should have accepted their defeat and introspected. They have made a world record in failing. But the Congress and its ecosystem are trying to tell the people that they have defeated us. Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai (this is all being done to please a child), PM Modi said.

Modi advised the Congress to not indulge in fake celebrations and rather understand the verdict. He cited statistics to show how the Congress would have fared far worse if it was without its allies. In straight contests with the BJP, their strike rate was only 26%. But in states where they were junior partners, their strike rate was 50% In most of the 99 seats; their allies made them win. It is parjeevi (feeding on others) Congress. In 16 states where the Congress fought alone, its vote share has plunged, the PM said.

Modi said the opposition spoke lies in the election campaign, but people chose the BJP after seeing its 10-year track record. The people of the country have given us this mandate after testing us on every criterion, the PM said. He said the BJP had won four states along with the Lok Sabha elections, and just six months ago, the party had won three state elections too.

4. BJPs record vs Congress corruption

The PM also used the occasion to cite his governments record, saying it had done santushtikaran and not tushtikaran, which means saturation of every scheme and reaching the last person. We have been walking the path of justice to all, appeasement to none. After testing us on every criterion, 140 crore Indians have reposed their faith in us and have given us the opportunity to serve them for the third time. In 2014, the words that were heard were iss desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta but we changed that perception. We did surgical strikes, and the people of the country know that for the nations security, we can do anything. We are making our troops battle-ready, the PM said.

He said the Congress on the other hand had created a tradition of corruption since the country gained independence. Be it the Jeep scam, the submarine scam, or the Bofors scam, all these scams have prevented the strength of the Army from increasing. There was a time when during the Congress regime, our forces did not even have bulletproof jackets. While in power, the Army was weakened and even after going to the opposition, continuous efforts were made to weaken the Army. When the Congress was in power, they did not procure fighter jets and when we tried, the Congress resorted to all kinds of conspiracies. Every possible conspiracy was hatched to ensure that the fighter jets could not reach the Air Force. Who was the Congress trying to help? the PM asked.

5. Assurance on paper leak, warns Congress ecosystem

Modi gave a strong assurance on the paper leak issue, saying the government is taking strong steps to address the matter and a law has already been made operational. The opposition has been cornering the government over the issue of irregularities in NEET and UGC competitive examinations. I want to assure every student and youngster that the government is extremely serious about stopping such incidents and is working on a war footing. Those who play with the future of youngsters will not be spared. In NEET issue, arrests are happening across the country, the PM said in the Lok Sabha.

Modi concluded his speech, warning the ecosystem of the Congress that it will get a reply in the same coin as its activities which are harmful to the nation.
Famous for its beautiful lacquer toys, Channapatna in Karnataka is seeing a different game being played out on its land  a political power play between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Whats new in it? In the months to come, it will be a prestige battle for Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to regain what he lost, the control over Old Mysore region.

The Channapatna fight becomes crucial given that the Bengaluru Rural seat, where his brother and four-time MP, DK Suresh, was trounced by BJP-led National Democratic Alliances (NDA) first-time candidate Dr C N Manjunath.

The bypoll in Channapatna was necessitated after Janata Dal Seculars (JDS) HD Kumaraswamy, now Union Steel Minister, who was elected from this seat in the assembly polls and won from the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, vacated it.

Shivakumar has already swung into election mode again even before the by-poll dates have been announced. He has visited the assembly segment four times, including today, in less than a month after the Lok Sabha results to get a feel of the ground in an attempt to wrest the Channapatna seat held by the JDS.

REGULAR VISITS, VOKKALIGAS AND OLD MYSORE

This fight is about regaining control in the Old Mysore region and claiming the trust of the Vokkaligas, a community that the JDS prides itself on representing. Shivakumar had tried to become the face of this community, a strategy that hurt the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls.

He is now toying with the idea of contesting from this seat as the Congress finds itself in a fix; as of now, the party does not have a winnable candidate to contest from this seat. Suresh has refused to contest, and a faction of the Congress has been putting pressure on Shivakumar to run.

    "  ,   "       .    5  .         .  pic.twitter.com/l8qtk3Wwn4 DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) July 1, 2024

Channapatna has always been in my heart as it was part of the erstwhile Sathanur Assembly constituency, the seat which I represented and started my political career. The people of Channapatna have been with me through tough times and I have a debt to repay. My visit to temples here and meeting local leaders is to get a sense of what they want, and I will decide on contesting later, Shivakumar said last week.

Many senior Congressmen have advised him against contesting from Channapatna.

A dark horse, hardworking and popular face can be pitched. DK should facilitate that persons win, not contest himself, said a Congress leader from the region.

Sources close to Shivakumar say that internal analysis on the loss of seats by the Congress, especially in the Old Mysore region, attributed the losses to the fact that the DCM did not campaign enough in the region. Shivakumar himself admitted on the day of the results that had he campaigned more in Bengaluru Rural among other seats, the Congress could have gained more.

If DK had campaigned vigorously in the last few days in the Old Mysore region during the parliamentary elections, where the stakes were higher, the Congress could have won a couple more seats comfortably. This time, we are asking him to consider Channapatna as there is a general feeling that only if DK stands, will the seat be won by the Congress, or else it is a foregone conclusion, said a senior Congress leader on condition of anonymity.

SHIVAKUMARs FIGHT, OPPORTUNITY FOR BJP

The BJP sees this as a perfect opportunity to prove the strength of their alliance with the JDS. The BJP has been steadily gaining ground and support in the Old Mysore region, which it earlier did not have much hold over. The BJP has been gaining confidence in its ability to breach the Vokkaliga fortress and southern Mysore region, including Mandya, with the win in the KR Pete by-election in 2019. Having the JDS, the party that makes no bones about calling itself the representative of the Vokkaligas in Karnataka, also on its side, the alliance partners believe they can further win the three seats that are going to by-elections  Mandya, Sandur and Shiggaon.

For Shivakumar, who is keen to emerge as one of Karnatakas strongest and most influential Vokkaliga leaders, a title that has been with JDS patriarch H. D. Deve Gowda and his party, it is crucial to win the three seats as it would be a crucial contribution towards his ambition of occupying the Chief Ministers post, one that he has been lobbying hard to get. An unwritten pact was arrived at, it was said by the Congress high command, of a change of guard after the Lok Sabha polls and giving the CM seat to DKS. However, with the results not up to the Congress high commands mark, Shivakumar has been asked to wait a little longer for his turn.

If Shivakumar wants to contest, it is his call. The party and the workers will wholeheartedly support him and work towards his win, said senior Congress minister Santosh Lad on the question of whether the DCM should contest from the seat.

An internal report of the Congress indicated a slight shift in the Vokkaliga community votes towards the BJP, one that was prominently seen during the Lok Sabha polls, where the BJP-JDS parliamentary alliance bagged more votes, which the party finds quite concerning.

Winning all three seats may be beneficial to firm his claim to the CM seat. The Congress gave seven Vokkaliga leaders tickets in the parliamentary elections, all were DKs choice of candidates. But only one won, observed the senior leader.

The Deputy Chief Minister is also keen on settling political scores for the defeat of his brother in the Lok Sabha election by ensuring the victories of the party candidate in the by-elections in all three seats.

JDSs CANDIDATE

If the BJP plans to field actor-turned-politician C. P. Yogeshwar, who has been elected five times from the segment (once as an Independent, twice from the Congress, once from the BJP, and once from the Samajwadi Party), then the partys alliance partner JDS will not be able to field Kumaraswamys son, Nikhil. In the LS polls, as part of the seat arrangement with the BJP-JDS, the latter gave up the Bengaluru Rural seat to allow Dr. Manjunath of the BJP to contest.

This time, the JDS may put its foot down and demand that the Channapatna seat, which was earlier held by Kumaraswamy himself, should be allotted to Nikhil or the JDSs choice. Nikhil contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Mandya as well as the 2023 Assembly election from Ramanagara constituency and lost both elections.

Yogeshwar has been given an offer to contest from Channapatna on the JDS symbol, we will have to see what his plans are, said a JDS leader. It is learnt that Yogeshwar has refused the offer and has asked to contest as a BJP candidate. Will Yogeshwar step aside if the JDS seeks to put its candidate as part of the understanding between the BJP and JDS? Yogeshwars aides say no.

The Congress is faced with the challenge of not having a winnable candidate, while the BJP is faced with a problem of plenty. Traditionally, the Congress and JD(S) have always been political rivals in the Old Mysore region and the Channapatna seat is not an easy one to win. Having seen several closely contested battles between the JDS and the Congress, both parties have won from the assembly segment five times each. Both Yogeshwar and Kumaraswamy are strong Vokkaliga leaders and in the 2023 assembly polls, Kumaraswamy won with a margin of about 15,000 votes, a thin margin, especially in the Vokkaliga bastion.

BJP spokesperson N. Ravikumar said that the alliance partners are confident of winning all three assembly by-polls, including Channapatna, with a good margin.

Just as we won Bengaluru Rural seat with a handsome margin, we will win Channapatna as well with our alliance strength. The Congress is so scared that they will face a miserable defeat that they are now thinking of launching their top state leadership like Shivakumar to contest. It will be a keenly fought and watched contest, he said.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Presidents address, the government versus opposition battle over Congress leader Rahul Gandhis fiery attack continued well into the second day of the ongoing Parliament session. Parts of the leader of oppositions speech, including his remarks on religion and Agnipath scheme, were expunged from records even as many NDA leaders demanded that all of it should be removed.

Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, wrote to Speaker Om Birla over parts of his speech being expunged, requesting that they should be restored. Shocked to note the manner in which considerable portions of my speech have been simply taken off from the proceedings under the garb of expunction Taking off from records my considered remarks goes against the very tenets of parliamentary democracy he wrote in his letter, adding that such selective erasures defy logic.

In his letter, the Congress MP further alleged that Birla was biased towards BJP MP Anurag Thakur, whose speech he said was full of allegations but only one word was removed. Gandhis claims were backed by Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, who said: The letter is with the Speaker. We think that the Speaker will act upon it.

Venugopal also raised the matter of expunction and that Thakurs speech was treated differently from Gandhis. But, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said: If opposition feels someone from our side has said something, they can issue notice. They are free to issue notice if they feel something is not as per the rules.

In the Lok Sabha, Venugopal launched into another similar attack and said he is challenging the prime minister to inquire about the electoral bonds, which he alleged was one of the biggest scams.  Delhi Airport roof collapsed, Jabalpur Airport roof collapse, Rajkot Airport canopy collapse, conditions of roads in Ayodhya is bad, leakage in Ram Mandir, cracks in Mumbai Harbour link road, three new bridges collapsed in Bihar, Pragati maidan tunnel submerged, all these constructions during the NDA period have collapsed. Under their rule, every building is under the threat of collapsing I am challenging the Prime Minister to inquire about the electoral bonds One of the biggest scams the country ever saw is the electoral bond scam  he said in his reply to the Lok Sabha debate.

Later, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj moved a notice under Direction 115 in Lok Sabha over Gandhis speech. LoP Rahul Gandhi made several inaccurate statements in his speech yesterday she said.

The above-mentioned statements made by LoP in the Lok Sabha are factually incorrect and misleading in nature and hence appropriate proceedings ought to be initiated as provided under Rule 115. I, therefore, pray that you kindly take cognizance of the deliberate inaccuracies made by Rahul Gandhi and take necessary action, the notice read.

But, what exactly did Rahul Gandhi say in his speech that was expunged?

Hours after the expunction took place, Gandhi said truth can be expunged in the world of Modi. Whatever I had to say, I have said and that is the truth. They can expunge as much as they want, but the truth will prevail, he told reporters in Parliament complex. Truth can be expunged in the world of Modi ji, but in reality truth cannot be expunged.

Gandhis no-holds-barred attack on the BJP on Monday (July 1) drew massive protests from the treasury benches and a rare intervention from the prime minister, who slammed the Congress leader for his irresponsible speech and for calling the entire Hindu community violent. However, parts of his speech that the leaders of the ruling party are not Hindus as they engage in violence and hate round the clock, were expunged. His criticism of the central governments Agnipath scheme for the armed forces and alleged discrimination in paying compensation and pension to Agniveers, was also removed as were some other parts in which he referred to indistrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.

There was much uproar in the Lok Sabha as Union home minister and defence minister Rajnath Singh also interrupted Gandhi in retaliation to his comments about Agnipath, as well as farmers and farm laws.

On Gandhis not Hindus comment, the PM accused him of calling the entire Hindu community violent. It is a great crime to call all Hindus violent. Hindu samaaj ko hinsak kehna galat hai, he said. Shah also sought an apology from Gandhi to the House and the country for hurting the feelings of crores who take pride in identifying as Hindus.

On Agnipath, Rajnath Singh demanded that Gandhi should provide facts about his allegations on Agniveers compensation in the case of their death. He countered Gandhi by saying he should not try to mislead the House by making wrong statements, as financial assistance of Rs 1 crore is given to the family of the Agniveer who sacrifices their life while protecting our borders or during war.

(With PTI inputs)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said he will not trust EVMs even if he wins all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Taking part in the Lok Sabha debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Presidents address, he said these machines will no longer be used if the INDIA bloc comes to power.

I did not trust EVMs yesterday, I dont trust them today. And even if I win all 80 seats, I will not trust EVMs, he said, adding,  the issue of EVMs is not dead, and we Samajwadis will remain adamant on it.

Like Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Yadav also raised the Agnipath issue claiming that even those in the armed forces acknowledge that the scheme has compromised national security. Agnipath issue is of concern. I am a military school alumna I speak to seniors in the armed forces, who acknowledge that Agnipath has compromised national security, he said.

Coming to the topic of the alleged paper leak in the NEET-UG 2024, he asked who will take responsibility for the losses. In UP, whenever an aspirant gave a government job exam, next day report came that paper leak has happened; all papers were leaked in UP. The government is allowing paper leak because it cannot give jobs, he alleged.

Referring to irregularities in the all-India medical entrance examination, Yadav further alleged that the paper of the most valuable test of the country was leaked. When did this government give guarantee that paper leak will not happen? he asked.

In an apparent reference to the Election Commission, Yadav said: When the Model Code of Conduct was imposed, the government and the commission were favouring some people. I do not want to go into details. Somewhere a question has been raised on that institution as well.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla later said it would be better if questions were not raised on the impartiality of the Election Commission.

(With PTI inputs)
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2024 is confirmed for July 10 in Paris. The companys latest edition of the Unpacked will feature the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6 models, along with other ecosystem products like the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and the Galaxy Watch 7 series among others. Were still more than a week away from the big launch event but that doesnt stop the rumours and leaked details from spilling through.

Thanks to reliable tipster Evan Blass, we have got our first set of leaks that preview the upcoming devices from Samsung in full glory. Samsung has mostly just talked about the products in some form and also highlighted its own AI push into the segment. But the leaked details look to get people excited even before the official revealing is done.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 And Z Flip 6 Leak

Blass has shared the images of the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 models. These are effectively Samsungs sixth-gen foldable products in the market, the most any brand has ever had from the industry. However, these renders dont really get us excited about the new Folds primarily because of their resemblance to the previous versions. In fact, the design layout and even the camera module see incremental changes once again.

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks no different in the renders and compared to other brands, we are hardly seeing major changes from Samsung. The company seems fairly comfortable in its position mostly because of its one horse race setting for the longest time. But things are changing now, and we are hoping these renders are not the final deal.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro  Et Tu AirPods?

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro would usually be a regular news but the leaks from Blass suggest the company is taking the AirPods route this year with a stem design in play. The grey finishing is also a new development but the decision to bring stem on the Buds is a change that most did not expect.

It seems Samsung wants to differentiate the look and features of the Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro model as they serve varied price ranges.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Series

And one of the last Galaxy products to be revealed by Blass are the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Watch 7 Ultra models. The former has already been announced by the company but we still dont know much about the Ultra moniker, its first in the lineup.

We still need more details about the Galaxy Ring which will also be part of the launch event and we are hoping it doesnt cost anywhere near the rumoured Rs 35,000 that we have come across through reports earlier.
A 12-year search has finally led PhD graduate Gouming Martens to his birth parents. He was adopted at the age of four from a Chinese orphanage by a Dutch couple. Many on the internet have been moved by his journey to seek his origins.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Gouming Martens got lost while travelling with his parents from their home in eastern Chinas Jiangsu province to his mothers hometown in southwestern Sichuan province when he was only three years old in 1994. He was adopted by Jozef and Maria Martens, a Dutch couple, in 1996 after being sent to an orphanage by a few kind-hearted individuals.

The orphanage gave him the name Gouming, which the Dutch couple decided to keep. His adoptive parents encouraged him to find his real parents, and the family returned to China in 2007 to explore for clues, but the orphanage was no longer there. However, Gouming Martens kept looking. He spent five years relearning Mandarin and working part-time to finance three trips to China during his university years.

Gouming Martens registered with the volunteer organisation Baobeihuijia (Baby Come Home) in 2012, which helps people locate missing families. With the assistance of volunteers, he located his biological parents.

Last year, Gouming Martens got some good news: volunteers informed him that his DNA matched that of his birth mother, Wen Xurong. According to SCMP, his birth parents never gave up seeking the child they called Gao Yang. Also, their narrative, nevertheless, was heartbreaking.

According to the South China Morning Post, Gouming Martens birth father lost sight of his wife, Wen Xurong, while at a railway station. He then got into an altercation with a group of hooligans while looking for his wife and lost Gao Yang.

Wen was duped into going home with a vagabond, who forced her to have a son. After giving birth, the tramp abandoned her. Wen Xurong returned to her hometown, but she was dealing with mental health issues. She remarried and gave birth to a daughter.

According to the media outlet, Gao senior walked from Sichuan to Jiangsu province, 1,700 kilometres away, begging for food and frantically looking for Gao Yang. He died in the year 2009. Then, in 2017, Gao seniors brother approached Wen Xurong and requested she register her DNA with the authorities and post her sons details on Baobeihuijia.

A DNA test later revealed this happy coincidence. On the Chinese agricultural calendar, Gouming Martens actual birthday was October 12, the day volunteers informed him of the success of his 12-year hunt. However, Gouming Martens adoptive mother passed away before the happy news reached them. He stated that his adoptive father was thrilled for him.

During the Spring Festival holiday in February, Gouming Martens reconnected with Wen Xurong and his half-siblings in Sichuan, southwest China.
A US travel vlogger recently made a video in which she spoke about being blown away by the affordability and quality of Indian healthcare. Mackenzie, who is one half of the vlogging couple UNSTUK with Mac & Keen, shared in an Instagram video that during their trip in India, her boyfriend got super sick. The vlogger added that based on her familiarity with the healthcare system in the US and UK, she was expecting that Indian healthcare would be very expensive and time-consuming. However, her local Indian friend helped her book blood tests for her boyfriend in just minutes.

Mackenzie was first surprised when her friend told her the nurse would come to their house to take the blood sample and that they had the liberty of picking the time of the blood test. Additionally, the blood report would come the next day, and based on the results the doctor would prescribe the treatment. Mackenzie thought all of this would cost them a ton of money, but to her surprise, they only spent $14 ( 1,100 approximately) on blood tests and doctors consultations.

While sharing this culture shock anecdote in an Instagram video, she wrote, I guess this is how India keeps 1.4 billion people alive! Her video had footage of the nurse who arrived at their home to take the blood sample. The nurse was from a private medical diagnostic lab. This video has so far gathered over two lakh likes. The video also prompted a debate about whether the healthcare system is accessible to the majority of Indians or not.

An Instagram user commented, I love India and for me London NHS was a cultural shock but later I realised its very superficial understanding of the entire situation. This facility we enjoy in India comes at the cost of poor exploitation where we run a parallel medical system according to who can afford what. While the NHS ensures that the lowest on the rung can access the same level of medical facilities.

Someone else wrote, I am saying this for the 100th time. Indias healthcare system is better than the US. We just need a bit of organizational skills and a few advanced technologies.

Highlighting the medical tourism in India, an Instagram user remarked, I mean people from all over the world do come here for cheap & efficient medical treatment. Theres medical tourism too.
A simple souvenir shop inside the Chennai airport has been revealed as a front for gold smuggling. On Thursday, the Air Intelligence Unit of the customs department arrested nine people on the suspicion that they worked with an international gold smuggling syndicate. Among the arrested are the shop owner Sabir Ali who also runs a YouTube channel  shoppingboyz, his shop workers and two transit passengers. In just two months, the accused are believed to have smuggled 267 kg of gold, which was worth Rs 167 crore. For this, they earned a commission of Rs 3 crore.

Sabir Ali reportedly got Rs 70 lakhs from a drug dealer residing in the United Arab Emirates so that he could set up a shop at the airports departure lounge. Sabir Ali rented the shop paying a huge sum to Vidvedaa PRG, the third-party agency engaged by Airports Authority India (AAI), two months ago. He set up a souvenir shop as a front and employed seven youngsters to manage the shop, The Times of India quoted R Srinivasa Naik, principal commissioner of customs, Chennai airport as saying.

A few days ago the Air Intelligence Unit of the customs department arrested one of Sabir Alis employees after they found him with one kg of powdered gold. Initially, it was suspected that the employee was the only one involved in the gold smuggling. However, further investigation revealed the whole nexus that included the shop workers.

As per TOI, the souvenir shop employees would bring the gold inside the airport. Since they carried the identity cards provided by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), they would often skip the security check. They would then give this money to other smugglers who would disguise themselves as passengers. A customs official told the publication, The workers have been trained to hide gold in powder form in their rectum so as to avoid getting caught by the scanner. It is a well-oiled network and well executed plan.

Based on their phone conversation, customs officers confirmed that the gang had smuggled 267kg of gold and that the gold arrived from Gulf countries as well as Singapore. The News Minute reported that a probe has been initiated to understand how the group managed to get their hands on the BCAS identity cards.
Scarborough City in North Yorkshire is one of the most dangerous medium-sized towns in the county of North Yorkshire in England. Despite the rise in crime, the seaside town of Scarborough still attracts crowds as it is the second most-visited destination in England by British holidaymakers. Due to dangers looming in the dark in this city, the locals and tourists prefer to avoid going out at night. According to a report, the crime rate in Scarborough is 34 percent higher than in Yorkshire and Humber. Not only this, it is 80 percent higher than the combined figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Local police claim that they are doing everything possible to deal with crime in the city centre, including banning drinking alcohol on the streets.

The probable reasons for the rising crime include drinking, begging and homelessness. 37-year-old Louis Stringer, who works at Mick Grime Shellfish, a seafood restaurant on the seashore, lives in the city with his wife and child. He said in an interview that he never allows his family to go to the city centre at night. According to Louis, Scarborough used to be a good, prosperous city, but now the crime rate has increased. Finding stranded strangers at night, the criminals tend to rob them and sometimes kill them with knives.

Business owner Jonathan Thompson said in an interview that Scarborough is at the far end of the UK and attracts a lot of people. But people tend to get into a bad situation in the town. The whole town is not bad, added Jonathan Thompson. There is a lot of drinking in the centre of the town which leads to crime, but the rest of Scarborough is pretty good, said Jonathan Thompson.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: The police work closely with North Yorkshire Council to tackle crime and disorder in Scarborough and make it a safe place for residents, businesses and tourists. This may be responsible for the crime reduction.

The overall crime rate in Scarborough in 2023 was 152 crimes per 1,000 people. In January 2024, Scarborough was the worst medium-sized town in North Yorkshire for anti-social behaviour, with 140 crimes reported and a crime rate of 2.9 per 1,000 daytime population.
We come across various news of lesser-known places. But do you know where is the loneliest place on our Earth? If you think that it is a jungle or a desert then you are wrong. It is a part of the ocean. This place is so remote that the closest place to have human habitat is the International Space Station. This specific place we are talking about today is known as the loneliest place on earth. This place is so isolated that only one person has ever reached here. There are more interesting facts about this place. It is said that several countries have dumped dozens of satellites here. Let us know in detail:

The place we are talking about today is named Point Nemo. According to a report by BBC, Point Nemo is a location in the South Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Chile. It is not an island or any landmass, but a part of the ocean considered the farthest from any human habitat. This place is around 2688 Km away from any land. As per the reports, it is very tough to reach this place. The most astonishing part is that this place is around 415 km away from the International Space Station. Out of curiosity, one man along with a team decided to travel to that point and explore the place.

Chris Brown, a 62-year-old man from North Yorkshire, England, decided to travel to this place along with his 30-year-old son. The man, with his crew, started the journey on a ship on March 12. He reportedly started his journey from Puerto Montt, Chile. They reached the spot on March 20. After reaching the least visited spot, Chris and his crew members decided to swim in the ocean where the temperature of the water stays around 7 degrees Celsius. Chris claimed that no one had reached this spot before him. The team returned to land on March 31.

According to the BBC, this spot is known by the name of Spacecraft Cemetery. Between 1971 and 2008, global space powers like the USA, Russia, Japan and Europe have dumped around 263 space objects here. The most recent case was a capsule rocket dumped in this place by SpaceX.
Jonathan Kaye, a wealthy banker at Moelis & Co, made headlines after he was embroiled in a shocking incident in Brooklyn, USA. During a Pride and anti-Israel event, Kaye was caught on camera punching a woman in the face, due to which she fell and suffered injuries. The video quickly went viral, leading Kaye to resign from his job and surrender himself to the police. The 38-year-old woman, who was attacked, claimed she had a broken nose, cuts and a black eye from the assault. A report by New York Post suggests that Kaye was buying ice cream for his children when a group of six people began insulting him and even threw liquid on him, which led to the altercation.

A spokesperson to Kaye said, He was in fear for his physical safety when he was surrounded by an angry mob of agitators who encircled him, physically assaulted him and threw unknown liquids on him. He could not identify any of these individuals and was left bloodied from the attack. Given the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, any Jewish person in this situation would naturally feel threatened and feel the need to defend themselves and return safely to their family.

JUST IN: Full footage released of the NYC banker who went viral last month for hitting someone from a pride event.Jonathan Kaye went viral after a short clip showed him KO'ing a person in Brooklyn, however the video didn't show the full story. On Monday, Kaye turned himself in pic.twitter.com/z5vZCxJkMw  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 1, 2024

Following his surrender, the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office has confirmed that the criminal investigation is in process. Jonathan Kaye is facing charges of assault and menacing in the third degree, misdemeanours, along with second degree harassment, classified as a violation. After appearing at Brooklyn Criminal Court, Kaye and his attorney faced angry protesters who heckled and followed them. One protester even ended up pushing and confronted Kaye on the street.

Jewish banker Jonathan Kaye was accosted by a mob of violent far-left agitators when leaving the NYC courtroom today after he turned himself in.They shouted antisemitic slurs, shoved him and his lawyer, poured a liquid on him, and prevented him from leaving. Source: @nypost pic.twitter.com/TH863nVpZF  Antisemite Stopper (@StopChiAntisems) July 2, 2024

As per Kayes attorney, Danya Perry said, Hes a law abiding man, a middle aged guy with zero history of violence. He was attacked by a group of violent protesters and defended himself to get home to his family. So, you know, we will be presenting more and more evidence to the DA that this was nothing more than self defense. Mr Kaye managed to act in self-defense to escape the situation and return safely to his family.

Fox News Digital reported that the dispute started when Jonathan Kaye, who is Jewish, told protesters they were on the wrong side of an anti-Israel protest. Following his comment, four people from the group allegedly surrounded him and threw liquid at him, which left him agitated. Before the incident took place, Kaye worked as a managing director at Moelis & Co, a Manhattan based investment bank.
During the summer break, children look forward to enjoying a much-needed respite from the scorching heat. It is also common for teachers to assign homework and projects to students during this vacation time. In a recent video, a mother expressed her frustration with the concept of assigning holiday homework to the children, sparking a lively discussion among social media users.

In the viral clip, she pointed out that many teachers assign projects and assignments to children that they are incapable of completing themselves, often leaving parents to finish them instead. As the video continues, she urges teachers to consider assignments that match students abilities ensuring they can complete them independently without relying on their parents.

The viral footage was shared on X by Eminent Woke. The caption shared along with the video read, Education system is doing this to parents.

Education system is doing this to parents  pic.twitter.com/0UthwtwHyN Eminent Woke (@WokePandemic) June 30, 2024

Shared on June 30, the video garnered significant attention online, racking up over 6.6 lakh views. The mothers plea ignited a wave of reactions among viewers.

In the comment section, one user wrote, This is the only Industry that Blames the Customer if the Product goes Bad.

This is the only Industry that Blames the Customer if the Product goes Bad      (@poet_pratik) July 1, 2024

Another proposed, If I were the Education Minister, I would ensure that students up to Class 8 have no homework.

If I were the Education Minister, I would ensure that students up to Class 8 have no homework. Sathish Kumar (@Saatiish99) July 1, 2024

A viewer pointed out, Then, theyll leverage this in their marketing to show how great their schools are for new parents to enrol their kids. Its a funnel.

https://x.com/ommagpie/status/1807709614021960079

A parent in agreement wrote, School has to give homework based on class level capacity. My son got homework like Draw human body parts. How can 2nd class students draw human body parts? while another added, Im also doing my daughters Summer Vacation HW that is a 3D model to show longitudes.

School has to give homework based on class level capacity. My son got homework like "Draw human body parts".How can 2nd class student can draw human body parts? Anesh(Modi ka Parivar   ) (@Aneshragi) June 30, 2024

I'm also doing my daughter's Summer Vacation HW that is 3 D model to show longitudes.  pic.twitter.com/5kE6xKEHEX Sangeeta S Bhardwaj (@LearnYoga1) July 1, 2024

In contrast, a person defended, Parents dont want to spend time with their child. Why does a creative activity suddenly become a burden? You are supposed to sit with the child and make it fun for them, to make sure the child doesnt get out of touch with the practice of learning.

Parents don't want to spend time with their child.Why does a creative activity suddenly become a burden? You are supposed to sit with the child and make it fun for them, to make sure the child doesn't get out of touch with the practice of learning. https://t.co/oXgucUHLx8  Alambusha Shukla (@AlambushaShukla) July 1, 2024

Another sharing their experience wrote, I used to do all my homework myself while my dad only gave guidance. The point of these projects is to learn . you should ask your child to distribute the time evenly for playtime and hm ..the main reason for homework is that when a child enters school again he hasnt forgotten everything!

I used to all my homework myself while my dad only gave guidance the point of these projects is to learn . you should ask your child to distribute the time evenly for playtime and hm ..main reason of homework is that child when enters school again he hasn't forgotten everything! https://t.co/bfAdz3XuUf Raina (@Ainvayipanga) July 1, 2024

A person shared, This is the strangest one in India. Its very common knowledge that much homeworks could only be done by parents only & yet its routine

This is the strangest one in India. It's very common knowledge that many homeworks could only be done  by parents only & yet it's routine. https://t.co/9X02tfKj6C Mouna (@kw841) July 1, 2024

What do you think of the mothers opinion?
A recent incident at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru took a heartwarming turn when a woman, who had misplaced her precious diamond ring, was relieved to find it at the airport premises. Quick action by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), particularly officers Rajesh Singh and Vinay Kumar Rai, ensured the safe return of the expensive item to her. Expressing gratitude for their assistance, the woman shared her story on social media, where it quickly gained attention. CISF acknowledged her appreciation publicly and affirmed that her message had been conveyed to the officers involved.

Sharing the pictures of officers name batch on X (formerly Twitter), the woman wrote, Today at Kempegowda International Airport, I lost my diamond ring. But with the help of Mr Rajesh Singh & Mr Vinay Kumar Rai from CISF, I was able to find my ring. All thanks to their coordination and helping nature. Your help is highly appreciated. Since the post was shared on X, it has garnered over 23,000 views.

Today at Kempegowda International Airport (@kempintairprtps) I lost my diamond ring.But with the help of Mr. Rajesh Singh & Mr. Vinay Kumar Rai from @CISFHQrs , I was able to find my ring. All thanks to their coordination and helping nature. Your help is highly appreciated. pic.twitter.com/SVGtHp6gLt  Aakanksha Singh (@fair_enough_ugh) June 30, 2024

Responding to her message, Central Industrial Security Force replied, CISF is always there to help & ensure your travel safe, secure and smooth. Thank you for your valuable feedback. It has been forwarded to CISF officers at the airport.

Warm greetings from @CISFHQrs . CISF is always there to help & ensure your travel safe, secure and smooth. Thank you for your valuable feedback. It has been forwarded to CISF officers at the airport. CISF (@CISFHQrs) June 30, 2024

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, We hope next generation learn some good lesson of this positive ending incident.

I can definitely sense the sigh of relief by author of this X post.Bravo!!! We hope next generation learn some good lesson of this positive ending incident. We also urge CISF top management to reward these men financially.@narendramodi @AmitShah @AmitShahOffice @PMOIndia  Complex Lives (@ComplexLives) July 1, 2024

Another shared, Thanks for doing and so pleased you found it.

Such stories are for sharing Thanks for doing and so pleased you found it   Dr Andrew Fleming   (@Andrew007Uk) July 1, 2024

An individual shared, Wow. All this propaganda on my timelines so happy to see this positive post.

Wow. All this propaganda on my timelines so happy to see this positive post! We need more of such news with no agenda. Good job CISF team! WeirdGuy (@ShoutAtSight) July 1, 2024

One more added, CISF at airports area really some nice people out there from security forces.

CISF at airports area really some nice people out there from security forces. Samantha Ruth Prabhu (parody) (@iyertina) July 1, 2024

In an earlier incident at Bengaluru Airport, an Indigo passenger found himself stranded without his bag containing valuables worth Rs 80,000, crucial documents and ID cards. The 60-year-old traveller had flown to Bengaluru for work and was returning to Delhi when he realised his mistake. Reports indicate that he had two bags but inadvertently left one at the security check. Upon boarding, he noticed the missing bag and promptly alerted airport authorities. His daughter then contacted the Lost and Found department at Bengaluru Airport and filed a complaint regarding the misplaced belongings.

After reviewing security footage, airport officials located the misplaced bag; however, initially, the cash inside was missing. When the passengers daughter complained about the lost money, it was later discovered deep inside the bag. In the following days, a family friend visited Bengaluru Airport and successfully retrieved the bag, ensuring all belongings, including the cash, were safely returned.
US President Joe Biden on Monday rebuked the US Supreme Courts landmark ruling on presidential immunity, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent" for his presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, to exploit if elected in November.

The top court ruled earlier that day that all US presidents enjoy absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution for official acts" taken while in office, but can still face criminal penalties for unofficial acts." During his White House address, Biden concurred with liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who said, In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law."

NOW  Biden, on the U.S. Supreme Courts immunity ruling: The president is now a king above the law end of quote." pic.twitter.com/WoQhXH49RA Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 2, 2024

This ruling comes as Trump is facing criminal charges over his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, but that trial had been put on hold while the Supreme Court considered his immunity claims. For all practical purposes todays decision almost certainly means there are no limits to what a president can do. This is a fundamentally new principle, and its a dangerous precedent," Biden said in a speech at the White House.

The 6-3 ruling on Monday, split along ideological lines, is set to further delay proceedings in Trumps case as lower courts work through myriad questions raised in the Supreme Court decision. With only four months left until the presidential election, the delays likely mean the case will not reach trial before voters head to the polls. The American people must decide if they want to entrust once again, the presidency to Donald Trump, now knowing hell be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it," Biden said.

Happening Now: President Biden delivers remarks on the Supreme Courts immunity ruling. https://t.co/fRmKLnFgN5 The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 1, 2024

Absolute immunity

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, said a president is not above the law" but does have absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while in office. The president therefore may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers," Roberts said.

As for a Presidents unofficial acts, there is no immunity," the chief justice added, sending the case back to a lower court to determine which of the charges facing Trump involve official or unofficial conduct. The 78-year-old former president is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States as well as obstruction of an official proceeding  when a violent mob of his supporters tried to prevent the January 6, 2021, joint session of Congress held to certify Bidens victory.

Three liberal justices

The three liberal justices dissented from Mondays ruling with Justice Sonia Sotomayor saying she was doing so with fear for our democracy." Never in the history of our Republic has a President had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law," Sotomayor said. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law." Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune," she said.

Trump, in posts on Truth Social, welcomed the decision calling it a big win for our Constitution and democracy." Todays Historic Decision by the Supreme Court should end all of Crooked Joe Bidens Witch Hunts against me," he said. Trumps original trial date in the election subversion case had been March 4. But the Supreme Court  dominated by conservatives, including three appointed by Trump  agreed to hear his argument for absolute immunity, putting the case on hold while they considered the matter in April.

(With agency inputs)
The United States is deepening its relationship with India in several key areas, including economic and security cooperation, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said Monday, as he reaffirmed strong ties between the two democracies.

This is something you have  this should be not new to you, Goyal (reporter), that India is a country in which we are deepening our relations with in a number of key spaces, especially as it relates to deepening our economic ties, deepening our security cooperation, Patel told reporters at his daily news conference, in response to a question on India-US relations.

The president had the opportunity to briefly see Prime Minister Modi in the margins of the G7 a couple of weeks ago, he added. Patel said that he imagines there will be a number of additional areas where the two countries could continue to deepen cooperation.

India is a country in which we are deepening our relations with in a number of key spaces, especially as it relates to deepening our economic ties, deepening our security cooperation: state dept pic.twitter.com/GstCDbhQfl Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) July 2, 2024

National Security Adviser Sullivan just had a visit to Delhi a number of weeks ago as well, he said. Responding to a question on Pakistan, Patel, though he denounced terrorism, said Ultimately, this is between India and Pakistan. Broadly, of course, we welcome any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours. But as it relates to this specifically, I just, I dont have anything to offer, he added.

The Indian government has, time and again, stressed that it desires normal neighborly relations with Pakistan. Indias consistent position is that issues, if any, between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally and peacefully, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence. The onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive environment, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Embattled Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has decided not to resign from the post despite an agreement reached between the countrys largest parties  Nepali Congress and CPN-UML  to form a new coalition government.

In a meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) office-bearers held in Baluwatar on Tuesday, Prime Minister Prachanda said he would rather face a vote of confidence in Parliament than resign from the post, the party Secretary Ganesh Shah told PTI.

The Prime Minister has decided to seek a vote of confidence, said Shah.

Prachanda, 69, has won three votes of confidence in Parliament during his one-and-a-half-year term.

The development came after Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) inked a midnight power-sharing deal to form a new national consensus government to replace the Prachanda-led coalition government.

Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives (HoR) has 89 seats at present, while CPN-UML has 78 seats. The combined strength of the two large parties is 167, which is sufficient for a majority of 138 seats in the 275-member HoR.

Deuba, 78 and Oli, 72, agreed to share the Prime Ministerial position on a rotation basis for the rest of the term of the Parliament.

Meanwhile, the talks between Prime Minister Prachanda and CPN-UML chief Oli to save the current coalition also failed, according to Maoist sources.

Quoting Prachanda, Shah said that a conspiracy has been hatched to topple the coalition government and create instability in the country.

The conspiracy came at a time when the government focused on ending corruption and introducing good governance, he said.

As per the constitutional provision, the prime minister will have 30 days to seek a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, which would give Prachanda some time for political manoeuvring.

We will engage in discussions with various parties, including the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress, and CPN-UML, so as to save the coalition, Prachanda was quoted as saying.

Nepali Congress President Deuba briefed party officials about the agreement with the CPN-UML during a meeting of office bearers at his residence in Budhanilkantha on Tuesday morning, according to party sources.

Deuba discussed the initial power-sharing deal reached with CPN-UML, explaining that the leadership of the government formed under this agreement would alternate between the two parties.

In the meantime, the RSP, one of the key ruling coalition partners, has decided not to participate in the new alliance between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.

During a secretariat meeting on Tuesday, the party also decided to withdraw from the current government, party sources said.

The party currently enjoys 21 seats in the House of Representatives.

Nepal has had 13 governments in the last 16 years, indicating the fragile nature of the Himalayan nations political system.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans detention is arbitrary and in violation of international law, a UN human rights working group said on Monday, asking for immediate release of the jailed leader.

The appropriate remedy would be to release Mr. Khan immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law, according to the Geneva-based U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

The UN Human Rights Councils Working Group on Arbitrary Detention calls for the immediate release of Imran Khan, payment of reparations to him, and urges the government to take measures against those responsible for depriving him of his rights.Link: https://t.co/h0dCFiA5yR pic.twitter.com/EuHIVt9luN  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 1, 2024

The U.N. working group said Khans legal woes were part of a much larger campaign of repression against him and his Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) party. It said that in the lead up to the 2024 elections, members of Khans party were arrested and tortured and their rallies were disrupted. It also alleged widespread fraud on election day, stealing dozens of parliamentary seats.

The Pakistani embassy in Washington had no immediate comment. Pakistans election commission denies that the elections were rigged. Khan has been in jail since last August and was convicted in some cases ahead of a national election in February. He is also fighting dozens of other cases which are continuing. Khan and his party say the charges were politically motivated to thwart his return to power.

Legal Woes

Pakistani courts in recent months have suspended Khans jail sentences in two cases about the illegal acquisition and sale of state gifts, and also overturned his conviction on charges of leaking state secrets. However, he has remained in prison due to a conviction in another case in which a trial court ruled that his 2018 marriage was unlawful.

Khan also faces a trial under anti-terrorism charges in connection with violence in May last year. Khan came to power in 2018 and was ousted in 2022 after falling out with Pakistans powerful military. He alleged the U.S. and Pakistani military played a role in his ousting through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Both deny the accusations.

Legal cases were brought against Khan after he was ousted which disqualified him as a candidate in Februarys election. Despite not running himself, candidates backed by Khan secured the highest number of seats. However, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) formed a coalition government.

(With agency inputs)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu here and discussed expanding Strategic Partnership and Indias increasing engagement with Central Asia in various formats.

Jaishankar, who arrived here earlier in the day to represent India at the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on July 4 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to skip it, also exchanged views on regional and global issues with Nurtleu, who also holds the portfolio as Foreign Minister.

Delighted to meet DPM & FM Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan in Astana today.Thanked him for the hospitality and arrangements for the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit. Discussed our expanding Strategic Partnership and Indias increasing engagement with Central Asia in various pic.twitter.com/0Z6t3SyPxG  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 2, 2024

Delighted to meet DPM & FM Murat Nurtleu of Kazhakstan in Astana today. Thanked him for the hospitality and arrangements for the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit, Jaishankar posted on X.

Discussed our expanding Strategic Partnership and Indias increasing engagement with Central Asia in various formats. Also exchanged views on regional and global issues, the minister added.

Earlier, Jaishankar was welcomed by Kazakhstans Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev upon his arrival at the airport here. He was greeted by the prominent members of the Indian community when he reached his hotel.

The situation in Afghanistan, the Ukraine conflict and boosting overall security cooperation among the SCO member countries are expected to figure in the summit.

Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation to Astana for 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 trans-regional international organisations.

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 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.
India is in talks with Africa as well as Latin America to get critical mineral blocks on a government-to-government basis, Veena Kumari Dermal, joint secretary of the Ministry of Mines, said on Tuesday.

Critical minerals such as lithium are essential components in many of todays rapidly growing clean energy technologies, including wind turbines, electricity networks, and electric vehicles.

We are having lots of discussions with many other resources-rich countries both in Africa as well as in Latin America for getting a block on a G2G basis or on a priority basis, Dermal said at India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2024 organised by India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA).

The mines ministry, she said, is giving more and more importance to the exploration of critical minerals in India.

At the domestic front, the government has successfully auctioned one lithium block in Chhattisgarh, the joint secretary added.

She said the Chhattisgarh government will take steps to start the exploration and production from the lithium block at the earliest.

Maiki South Mining Pvt Ltd had last month bagged the countrys first lithium block in Chhattisgarh that was put up for sale.

Meanwhile, the government cancelled the auction of 14 critical minerals that were on offer in the second round of auction.

In June, the government had put on sale 21 blocks in the fourth round of auction of critical and strategic minerals.

The government received 56 physical bids and 56 online bids for 18 of the 20 blocks offered during the first tranche of the auction, which began on November 29, 2023.

However, the auction for 13 of the 20 blocks was cancelled due to a lukewarm response.

Seven of these cancelled blocks were re-notified for auction in the third round.
An Indian American physician from the Chicago area has pleaded guilty to a federal healthcare fraud by billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent services, according to the US Justice Department.

Mona Ghosh, 51, who owns and operates Progressive Womens Healthcare, specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology services, pleaded guilty to two counts of health care fraud. Each count is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. US District Judge Franklin U Valderrama has set sentencing for October 22.

Federal prosecutors allege that GhRosh is accountable for at least $2.4 million in fraudulently obtained reimbursements. She admitted in her plea agreement that she was accountable for more than $1.5 million of such fraudulently obtained reimbursements.

MONA GHOSH owned and operated Progressive Womens Healthcare, S.C., a medical office in Hoffman Estates, Ill., specializing in obstetrics and gynecology services. From 2018 to 2022, Ghosh submitted and caused her employees to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid, TRICARE, and numerous other insurers for procedures and services that were not provided or were not medically necessary, some of which were performed without patient consent, the US Justice Department said.

Ghosh also fraudulently overstated the length and complexity of in-office and telemedicine visits and submitted claims using billing codes for which the visits did not qualify in order to seek higher reimbursement rates, her plea agreement states. Ghosh admitted in the plea agreement that she prepared false patient medical records to support the fraudulent reimbursement claims, the statement added.

The final amount will be determined by the court at sentencing, a media release said. According to court documents, from 2018 to 2022, Ghosh submitted, and caused her employees to submit, fraudulent claims to Medicaid, TRICARE, and numerous other insurers for procedures and services that were not provided or were not medically necessary, some of which were performed without patient consent.

Ghosh also fraudulently overstated the length and complexity of in-office and telemedicine visits and submitted claims using billing codes for which the visits did not qualify in order to seek higher reimbursement rates, her plea agreement states. She admitted that she had prepared false patient medical records to support the fraudulent reimbursement claims.
US President Joe Biden has released a new 60-second advertisement as part of his re-election campaign, aiming to address concerns following his recent underwhelming debate performance.

The ad, titled I Know, will be broadcast in key battleground states, focusing on reaching younger voters.

Folks, I know Im not a young man. But I know how to do this job. I know right from wrong. I know how to tell the truth. And I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up, says the 81-year-old Biden in the ad.

Folks, I know Im not a young man, but I know how to do this job.I know how to tell the truth. Donald Trump does not. Watch our new ad. pic.twitter.com/xhOD1KfGfO  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 1, 2024

Bidens recent debate with Republican opponent Donald Trump has led to criticism from Democratic allies, donors, and aides, who highlight poor decisions by his senior advisers.

The US Presidents remarks in the new ad are drawn from his post-debate rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he appeared much more energetic than he did during the debate with Trump, as per Hindustan Times report.

While the ad omits footage from the debate, it includes clips of Trump on stage and references his actions related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Did you see Trump last night? I mean this sincerely  the most lies told in a single debate, Biden states.

He lied about the great economy he created. He lied about the pandemic he botched. And then his biggest lie: He lied about how he had nothing to do with the insurrection on January 6, he adds.

Shaky debate performance

Despite his shaky debate performance, Biden shows no sign of withdrawing from the race. During the debate, Trump, 78, repeated numerous falsehoods, including the claim that he won the 2020 election.

Biden failed to refute them, and his fumbling, halting performance has prompted calls from Democrats for him to end his quest for a second term and for soul-searching or resignations among his top aides.

My only request was to make sure hes rested before the debate, but he was exhausted. He was unwell, said one person who appealed to Bidens top aides in the days before, to no avail. What a bad decision to send him out looking sick and exhausted.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Singapore is prepared in principle to recognise Palestine as a state and will make this move at an appropriate time, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in Parliament on Tuesday, emphasising that the country has advocated a negotiated two-state solution, consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to achieve lasting peace.

In particular, there needs to be an effective Palestinian government that accepts Israels right to exist and categorically rejects terrorism, Dr Balakrishnan said. Both sides have legitimate rights, and both peoples have a right to live in peace and dignity within secure borders, The Straits Times quoted the Singapore minister as saying. He was responding to questions from parliamentarians on Singapores May 10 decision to vote for a United Nations resolution backing the admission of Palestine as a member of the world body, which it said was made after serious and careful consideration.

Dr Balakrishnan urged both sides to seize the moment to take steps towards a long-lasting peace and put an end to the suffering that has gone on for too long. Ultimately, Israelis and Palestinians would need to exercise leadership and would have to work together to forge a better future for their people. As Singapore is a friend to both, Singapore will continue to offer our encouragement and our tangible support to both Palestinians and Israelis, he said.

The minister also reiterated the principles guiding Singapores position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He pointed out that Singapore has consistently advocated a negotiated two-state solution, consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as a way for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace and security. This is the only viable path for achieving a comprehensive, just, and durable solution to this conflict, the broadsheet had Dr Balakrishnan as saying in the House.

Answering a question about the thresholds that need to be crossed for Singapore to recognise the state of Palestine, Dr Balakrishnan said it depends on whether there is an effective Palestinian government or leadership that represents all Palestinians. This authority should have effective control over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the mandate and authority to negotiate with the Israelis on behalf of the Palestinians, he said. So, I would say that we are not going to lock ourselves into a specific time, or to whether or not other countries have made decisions in parallel on the same fundamental question, he added.

Dr Balakrishnan said that Singapore has consistently supported the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland. On April 18 this year, a UN Security Council resolution that recommended that Palestine be admitted to the United Nations was vetoed. On May 10, the General Assembly took up a resolution expressing support for Palestines membership in the UN and recommending that the Security Council reconsider this matter favourably.

Singapore had voted in favour of this resolution. The vote in the UN General Assembly was supported by 143 members and opposed by nine  including the United States and Israel  while 25 members abstained. Singapore voted in favour of this resolution after very careful consideration, and this reflected our hope to encourage both Israel and Palestine to resume direct negotiations towards a two-state solution, at a time when in fact, the prospects for such negotiations were increasingly bleak, said Dr Balakrishnan.

He added: We therefore decided to join the majority of the international community in supporting this resolution, which is also in line with our longstanding support for the principles of international law, and for the implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions. Responding to questions about Singapores plans to provide technical assistance to Palestinian officials and help them with reconstruction efforts after the conflict, Dr Balakrishan said Singapore will continue its engagement with the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Singapore continues to implement its SGD 10 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package (ETAP) to help the PA build capacity and prepare for eventual statehood. To date, Singapore has trained more than 750 officials in areas like diplomacy, water management, economic development, and urban planning  important areas that any government will need expertise in, Dr Balakrishnan said.
These photos, provided by the National Parks Service, show Theodore Roosevelt's favorite pocket watch that was stolen in July 1987 while on display in Buffalo, NY. The watch turned up at an auction house and was returned this week to the Sagamore Hill national historic site in New York. (Jason Wickersty/National Park Service via AP)
China's Chang'e-6 mission achieves complete success

14:52, July 01, 2024 By Yu Sinan, Liu Shiyao ( People's Daily

On June 25, the return capsule of China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe landed precisely in the designated area in Siziwang banner, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, operating normally. It marked a complete success of the mission.

After its launch, the Chang'e-6 mission went through 11 flight stages in 53 days. It made key-technology breakthroughs in such areas as lunar retrograde orbit design and flight control, intelligent and rapid sampling, and takeoff and ascent from the far side of the moon. It also brought back samples collected from the moon's far side for the first time in human history, marking another milestone in China's space exploration endeavors.

The return capsule of the Chang'e-6 probe touches down on Earth in Siziwang banner, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, June 25, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Xiaobo)

What guaranteed the safe return of the Chang'e-6 probe was a series of technologies.

A researcher with the China Academy of Space Technology said that the return capsule of the Chang'e-6 travels at a very high speed from the moon to Earth. During the return process, it is necessary to moderate the deceleration of the capsule and ensure it exits the atmosphere at a specific location.

To this end, researchers conducted a large number of flight simulations and modeled millions of flight paths to refine the guidance, navigation, and control system. This ensured a smooth process and high precision in the return.

In addition to deceleration, the return capsule of the Chang'e-6 also had to tackle the challenge brought by high temperatures.

According to the researcher, despite its small size, the return capsule is exposed to high temperatures due to its fast entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

To ensure that the return capsule is resistant to both heat and erosion, the development team tailored a "super protective suit" for the capsule, drawing on the experience of the Chang'e-5 mission.

As planned, after the necessary ground processing work was completed, the recovered Chang'e-6 returner was airlifted to Beijing to extract sample containers and payload. The samples were handed over to the Chinese research teams at a ceremony held by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The researchers will carry out the storage and processing of the lunar samples as planned and initiate scientific research work.

Following its contribution to the Chang'e-6 mission, the Queqiao-2 relay satellite will choose appropriate times to carry out scientific detection work. Its payloads, including an extreme ultraviolet camera, an array neutral atom imager and an Earth-moon very long baseline interferometry experiment system, will collect scientific data from the moon and deep space.

The Chang'e-6 mission carried four international payloads, including the lunar surface negative ion analyzer of the European Space Agency, France's lunar radon detector, Italy's laser retro-reflector, and a cube satellite from Pakistan. China has received high recognition from the international community for its practical and effective international cooperation.

Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, said that exploring the vast universe is a common dream for all of humanity, and only open cooperation is the right path. China's space endeavors will adhere to the principles of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful utilization, and inclusive development.

"We will continue to embrace openness and expand international cooperation channels. We will organize and carry out future major projects and missions, striving to expand human understanding and improve the well-being of humanity," he added.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
The head of Shifa hospital in Gaza said Monday that Israel tortured him "almost daily" during the seven months of his detention. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, who made the accusation on Monday when he returned to Gaza after being released, said others in prisons and detention centers in Israel received the same treatment, the Guardian reports. "What the prisoners are going through now has not happened in the history of the prisoner movement," Salmiya told NBC News . He was arrested in November but never charged.

The doctor was removed from a UN convoy in November as it was taking wounded civilians from the besieged hospital compound, which Israeli officials called a command center for Hamas, per the Washington Post. On Monday, he walked through the enclave with 54 other released Palestinians, some in gray prison clothes, as they reunited with family members. The doctor said he was held in multiple prisons in Israel. Asked about conditions, he said, "When you seek treatment, you are tortured by the nurse and doctor, and this is against international conventions." The mistreatment included physical and psychological humiliation, deprivation of food and medicine, and assaults with batons and dogs, Abu Salmiya said.

He was held under a 2002 law that allows Israeli's military to hold Gazans for extended periods without charging them and classifying them as prisoners of war. The release Monday drew criticism in Israel and stirred accusations of blame among officials. Benny Gantz, a rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said those freed included militants who helped carry out Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people. "Whoever made the decision lacked judgmentand should be fired today," he posted on Telegram. (More Israel-Hamas war stories.)
Nine people were killed Monday evening when a car slammed into pedestrians waiting at a traffic light in South Korea's capital. At least four other people were hospitalized after the driver, a man in his 60s, hit the crowd at an intersection near Seoul's city hall, the BBC reports. According to local media, the car went in the wrong direction and hit two other vehicles before plowing into the pedestrians, the AP reports. The driver reportedly told police that his vehicle suddenly accelerated. Officials say they are investigating whether the man was drunk or on drugs, reports the New York Times. (More Seoul stories.)
"To continue to deliberate would be futile," the foreman of the jury in the Karen Read murder case said in a note to the judge on Monday. Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial after five days of jury deliberations, NBC Boston reports. The jury foreman said that different factions in the "starkly divided" group had very strongly held positions and that it would be impossible to reach consensus, according to the note sent to the judge. "The deep division is not due to a lack of effort or diligence, but rather a sincere adherence to our individual principles and moral convictions," the note said, per CBS News .

During a trial that lasted nine weeks, with testimony from 74 witnesses, prosecutors said Read killed her boyfriend John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer, by hitting him with her vehicle outside a party at the home of another officer in January 2022. Defense lawyers argued that O'Keefe was killed in a fight at the officer's home and that Read was framed. Prosecutors said they intend to retry the case, the AP reports. Read, whose supporters gathered outside the Dedham, Massachusetts, courthouse on Monday, is due back in court in three weeks for a discussion of next steps in the case.

Experts say that if prosecutors make good on the promise to retry Read, 44, it could be months before a new trial begins. "If this case has to be retried, we're going back to the same pool of people, the same Norfolk County jury pool and we're again going to have to try to find a subset of people that really know nothing about this case," says legal analyst Jennifer Roman, per CBS. "It's going to be extraordinarily difficult." (More murder trial stories.)
President Biden plans to speak to the nation Monday night about the Supreme Court ruling on prosecutorial immunity for Donald Trump. The president has returned to the White House from Camp David and will speak from Cross Hall, officials said. Biden spoke at fundraisers over the weekend, but the Monday night appearance will mark his first public remarks since he debated Donald Trump on Thursday night in Atlanta, per the New York Times. The speech is scheduled for 7:45pm EDT, per NPR, which will carry it here. (More President Biden stories.)
President Biden told the nation Monday night that the Supreme Court's immunity ruling issued earlier in the day means "there are virtually no limits" now on a president's actions. In brief remarks from the White House, Biden said the court majority enacted "a fundamentally new principle," per CBS News , which he said set "a dangerous precedent, because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court of the United States."

The address constituted the first public remarks by the president since he debated Donald Trump on Thursday night. Biden referred to his opponent on Monday night, per CNN. "I know I will respect the limits of the presidential powers I've had for 3 years, but any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law," he said. "There are no kings in America," Biden said, a point also made in a blistering dissent by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. He echoed her closing line, as well: "With fear for our democracy, I dissent." (More President Biden stories.)
Three people were shot and killed and two were wounded near the University of Cincinnati campus early Monday, police said. Two people were taken into custody, including one of the wounded, the AP reports. Police who were in the area heard multiple gunshots and then found four males who had been shot on a street about a half-mile from the campus, said Cincinnati police Capt. Mark Burns. A fifth person who was shot went to the hospital on his own. The university's public safety department posted on the social platform X that police were responding to an emergency shortly before 3am. The department later posted it was a shooting and said: "Be observant/take action as needed."
Jamie Foxx's specific diagnosis during his mysterious medical emergency last year still has not been made public, but details continue to trickle out slowly. In a video posted to X by a celebrity interview account called The Art Of Dialogue , Foxx is seen talking to a group of people at what appears to be an outdoor cafe in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, about the health scare, which landed him in the hospital for weeks in 2023, People reports. "Look, April 11th last year. Bad headache. I asked my boy for an Advil," the 56-year-old actor says before snapping his fingers to indicate what happened next. "I was gone for 20 days. I don't remember anything."

"So they told meI'm in Atlantaso they told me my sister and my daughter took me to the first doctor," Foxx said. (He's previously credited his sister and his daughter with saving his life.) "They gave me a cortisone shot," he says; per the Mayo Clinic, such an injection could be used to relieve pain, swelling, or irritation. "The next doctor said something's going on up there," Foxx continued, pointing to his head. "I won't say it on camera, but it was" he says before trailing off. (Foxx has also revealed there was a time he "couldn't actually walk" amid the health crisis.)
Hundreds of thousands of people cross the Darien Gap each year, a perilous 66-mile stretch of jungle connecting the South American country of Colombia and the Central American country of Panamamany of them on their way to the United States. Now, Panama's new leader is vowing to shutter the route, while the US has agreed to take care of the costs of repatriating migrants who cross into Panama illegally, reports the Guardian . "We cannot continue financing the economic and social costs that massive illegal immigration generates for the country, along with the consequent connection of international criminal organizations," newly elected President Jose Raul Mulino said Monday, right before his country's foreign minister inked a "memorandum of understanding" that was also signed by US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Sources say that, per the agreement, Homeland Security workers will be on the ground in Panama to help train officials there on how to determine which migrants need to be sent back to their own countries. The US will fork over the money to pay for charter or commercial flights back home for migrants who are removed. In 2023, 520,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap; this year so far, nearly 200,000 have. Most of those making the trip originate from Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and even China. Panama, meanwhile, in a statement promises to "comply with all international agreements and conventions on the rights of immigrants and those in refugee status," per CNN.

But "Panama will no longer be a transit country for illegals," Mulino told a cheering crowd on Monday, calling the number of people passing illegally through the Darien Gap "shocking." Mulino said he was especially concerned about the effect such massive migration was having on Panama's environment and biodiversity. "The Darien must continue to be a great green lung, not only for us but for the entire region," he said. "We must defend it and take care of it." The joint move comes as President Biden continues to struggle with perception that he's not doing enough to handle illegal immigration and border security at its southern border with Mexico. "Irregular migration is a regional challenge that requires a regional response," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement, per the AP. (More Panama stories.)
While many countries are testing a four-day workweek , Greece is going in the other direction. The southern European country on Monday introduced a six-day workweek for some businesses as laid out in a package of labor laws passed last year, per CNBC . "Employees of private businesses that provide round-the-clock services will reportedly have the option of working an additional two hours per day or an extra eight-hour shift," for a total of 48 hours per week, instead of the typical 40 in a five-day workweek, according to the outlet. Workers who toil for these extra hours will be "rewarded with a top-up fee of 40% added to the daily wage," per the Guardian .

Various trials of four-day workweeks have shown increased levels of productivity and better focus. Moving the other way, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' pro-business government has touted a six-day workweek as "deeply growth-orientated" and "worker-friendly." It's meant to address the issues of undeclared labor, improperly compensated overtime work, a shortage of skilled workers, and a shrinking population. But labor unions decried the move as "barbaric," per the Guardian. "Critics contend the reform ultimately sounds the death knell of the five-day working week" in part because private employers can decide whether a sixth day of work is required, notes the outlet.

"It makes no sense whatsoever," says Akis Sotiropoulos of the civil servants union Adedy, per the Guardian. "Better productivity comes with better work conditions, a better quality of life [for employees], and that, we now know, is about less hours, not more." Jens Bastian, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, says workers may be fired for refusing to work longer hours, per Deutsche Welle. Giorgos Katsambekis, a political researcher at the UK's Loughborough University, adds it's "a major step back" for a workforce already working the longest hours in the European Union, per CNBC. Greek employees worked 1,886 hours on average in 2022, more than the EU average of 1,571 hours and the US average of 1,811 hours. (More Greece stories.)
The Supreme Court's blockbuster ruling that presidents have immunity for "official" actions continues to resonate, with all kinds of analysis on what it does and doesn't mean.

Carte blanche: In the view of Elie Mystal at the Nation, the ruling means that a sitting president can go on a crime spree that includes everything from rape to murder without being held accountable. Court defenders will say that's not the case, because presidents can still be prosecuted for "unofficial" acts, he predicts. "But they will be wrong, because while the Supreme Court says 'unofficial' acts are still prosecutable, the court has left nearly no sphere in which the president can be said to be acting 'unofficially.'" Read his full essay, headlined "The President Can Now Assassinate You, Officially."
Pal Enger, a talented Norwegian soccer player turned celebrity art thief who pulled off the sensational 1994 heist of Edvard Munch's famed The Scream painting from the National Gallery in Oslo, has died. He was 57. Tina Wulf, press officer at Valerenga Fotball, an acclaimed Oslo soccer club for which Enger played as a teenager, told the AP on Tuesday that he died Saturday evening. Wulf said he'd been in touch with Valerenga earlier this summer. Citing family sources, Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet said Enger died in Oslo. Enger served his first prison sentence at the age of 19, before he kicked off a long string of art and jewelry thefts in 1988 when he climbed into a window at the Munch Museum in Oslo and stole the artist's painting Love and Pain.

More dramatically, on Feb. 12, 1994the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, NorwayEnger managed to steal the The Scream from the National Gallery. In the 50-second theft, videotaped by a security camera, two thieves climbed a ladder, broke a window, and emerged with the painting, then valued at at least $55 million. They left a postcard saying: "Thanks for the poor security." News of the theft made headlines around the world, and after his capture, Enger became an instant national celebrity in Norway, with documentaries and an international TV series made of his story. The painting was recovered undamaged after Enger confessed that he'd hidden it in a secret compartment located in a living room table at his family's home.

Enger was repeatedly convicted of art and other thefts and drug crimes over the decades. In 1999 he absconded while on an outing from a minimum-security prison and tormented police by turning up in a cafe frequented by celebrities in Oslo and granting interviews. He was later rearrested after attracting attention by wearing sunglasses at night. The self-confessed art aficionado also didn't stop stealing. In 2015, he was charged with swiping 17 paintings from an Oslo gallery. Per Norwegian media, police arrested him after he left his wallet and ID card at the scene. Former lawyer Nils Christian Nordhus, cited by Dagbladet, described Enger as a "gentleman" thief whom "many will miss" in his home country.

(More The Scream stories.)
A first-of-its-kind US law allows authorities in Tennessee to track violent domestic offenders with GPS monitoring. The law that went into effect Monday stems from the 2021 murders of Marie Varsos and her mother Debbie Sisco. Varsos had been staying with Sisco near Nashville after her estranged husband, Shaun Varsos, was jailed for allegedly strangling his wife and threatening her with a gun. Released on bail, Shaun Varsos showed up at Sisco's home before killing the two women and himself. A judge had declined to make GPS tracking a condition of his bail, reports CBS News . The decision "infuriates me," Marie's brother and Debbie's son Alex Youn tells the outlet. "Two people that I love dearly were just quickly ripped out of my life."

Youn went on to advocate for mandatory GPS tracking of aggravated assault offenders in domestic violence cases. Signed by Gov. Bill Lee in May, the Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act gives courts the authority to require people arrested for stalking, assault, kidnapping, and rape to wear GPS tracking devices as a condition of bail and pay for the devices themselves, per WBIR and WSMV. It also requires that a victim receive an electronic notification when an offender violates an order of protection, say by leaving their home or coming within a certain distance of the victim, per CBS. And any offender who violates an order of protection will automatically be required to wear a tracking device, per WSMV.

The law gives victims "more tools," says Youn. In case of a breach, "they can position themselves in a safe place, lock themselves in a place where they have the opportunity to call 911 and to get help dispatched to them immediately," adds Ray Gandolf, director of business development for Tennessee AMS. Meanwhile, a monitoring center will alert law enforcement to any breach. The law "could potentially be the difference between life and death," reports CBS. "When there's firearms at play, when there's strangulation, when there's elevated stalking, [offenders] are more likely to do it again," Jennifer Waindle of the Battered Women's Justice Project tells the outlet. Youn says he hopes other states follow Tennessee's lead. (More Tennessee stories.)
AFP | London, United Kingdom

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Passengers and crew of a British Airways flight who were taken hostage in Kuwait in 1990 have launched legal action against the UK government and the airline, a law firm said yesterday.

People on BA flight 149 were taken off the Kuala Lumpur-bound plane when it landed in the Gulf state on August 2 that year, hours after Iraq's then leader Saddam Hussein invaded the country.

Some of the 367 passengers and crew spent more than four months in captivity, including as human shields against Western attacks on the Iraqi dictator's troops during the first Gulf war.

Ninety-four of them have filed a civil claim at the High Court in London, accusing Britain's government and BA of "deliberately endangering" civilians, said McCue Jury & Partners.

"All of the claimants suffered severe physical and psychiatric harm during their ordeal, the consequences of which are still felt today," the law firm added.

The action claims that the UK government and the airline "knew the invasion had started" but allowed the flight to land anyway.

They did so because the flight was used to "insert a covert special ops team into occupied Kuwait", the firm added.

"We were not treated as citizens but as expendable pawns for commercial and political gain," said Barry Manners, who was on the flight and is taking part in the claim.

"A victory over years of cover-up and bare-faced denial will help restore trust in our political and judicial process," he added.

British government files released in November 2021 revealed that the UK ambassador to Kuwait informed London about reports of an Iraqi incursion before the flight landed but the message was not passed on to BA.

There have also been claims, denied by the government, that London knowingly put passengers at risk by using the flight to deploy undercover operatives and delayed take-off to allow them to board.

The UK government refused to comment on ongoing legal matters. British Airways has always denied accusations of negligence, conspiracy and a cover-up.

The airline did not respond to a request for comment from AFP but said last year that the records released in 2021 "confirmed British Airways was not warned about the invasion".

McCue Jury & Partners had announced in September its intention to file the suit, saying then that the hostages "may claim an estimated average of 170,000 ($213,000) each in damages".

In 2003, a French court ordered BA to pay 1.67 million euros to the flight's French hostages, saying it had "seriously failed in its obligations" to them by landing the plane.
Multiplatform campaign features new selection of authentic stories as told by real passengers, partners and employees of Toronto's downtown airport

TORONTO, July 2, 2024 /CNW/ - PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, today launched the latest edition of It's My Airport, an award-winning multiplatform campaign featuring genuine, candid experiences shared by real passengers and employees of Toronto's downtown airport. This campaign spotlights the benefits of the airport as a convenient travel hub and important piece of infrastructure for the City of Toronto.

Its My Airport features genuine, candid experiences shared by real passengers and employees of Torontos downtown airport. (CNW Group/PortsToronto) Its My Airport, the campaign depicts actual passengers and employees recounting their travel experiences and providing the reasons why they choose to fly to/from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport or work at the airport. (CNW Group/PortsToronto)

With the tagline It's My Airport, the campaign depicts actual passengers and employees recounting their travel experiences and providing the reasons why they choose to fly to/from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport or work at the airport. Participants were not paid and were not scripted.

Themes emerging from candid interviews with the passengers and staff included the airport's proximity to downtown, the ability to walk or bike to the airport, friendly customer service, the airport's sustainability practices, economic impact, community investment, career opportunities and how the airport provides a vital link to northern and remote communities providing emergency resources and support.

An earlier version of the campaign launched in the fall of 2023, and it was recognized with a Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Toronto Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Award for Marketing Communications Campaign of the Year. The campaign creative included a QR code for people to connect and submit their own stories about why they choose Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. It was these submissions that formed the basis of the current campaign.

The campaign will run for 7 weeks, with a provision to extend on certain platforms, and includes social media, print, out-of-home (OOH), and online. The digital OOH screens in the airport will also be incorporated.

Quote

"In this latest edition of It's My Airport, we hear from Marc  a nurse who travels to the northern reaches of Ontario to provide essential medical care; from Ann and Jay  a couple that connected through the airport during the long-distance phase of their relationship and were engaged at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport; and Armin who was inspired to become a pilot by visiting the airport during its annual Doors Open event" said Deborah Wilson, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. "These stories are genuine, authentic and moving. Who better to speak to the benefits and experience at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport than the passengers, partners and staff who use this airport. We are thrilled to be able to share these stories."

See more of the campaign, or submit your own It's My Airport story here.

About Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)

Offering service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the U.S., with connection opportunities to more than 100 international destinations via our airlines' networks, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an important international gateway that will offer US Preclearance in 2025. The airport is a key driver to Toronto's economy, generating more than $2.1 billion in total economic output and supporting 4,450 jobs, including 2,080 directly associated with the airport's operations. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has served its community for 85 years from its iconic location on the Toronto waterfront, where it facilitates healthcare for Ontarians by providing a base for medevac services connected to local hospitals. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is committed to achieving its vision of cleaner, greener and quieter operations, and is renowned for its unique travel experience, efficiency, and customer service, having won a host of passenger-driven and environmental achievement awards. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is owned and operated by PortsToronto.

SOURCE PortsToronto

Media Contact: Jessica Pellerin, Senior Manager, Communications, PortsToronto, Cell: (647) 298-0585, E-mail: [email protected]
Company now focused on activities leading to faster commercial status

MONTREAL, July 2, 2024 /CNW/ - ChitogenX Inc., (CSE: CHGX) (OTCQB: CHNXF) ("ChitogenX" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company, today reported its financial results and highlights for the first quarter 2025 ended April 30, 2024.

''Our main priorities for fiscal 2025 remains securing the required capital to fund our operations and delivering on the anticipated corporate milestones. We believe our two latest programs, burn healing and skin repair will play a key role in facilitating the achievement of these objectives", said Pierre Laurin, President, and interim CEO. "We are currently evaluating opportunities for fast-track regulatory programs with potential 510(k) pre-market submissions in the US and commercial readiness in other jurisdictions. We look forward to providing more details on our plans to take full advantage of the broad clinical and commercial opportunities now available to the Company''.

Commenting on the first quarter 2025 results, Luc Mainville, ChitogenX' Senior Vice-President, and Chief Financial Officer, said; "The Company continued to reduce its spendings during the first quarter of the new fiscal year to further preserve its financial resources. Both the R&D and administrative expenses were once again significantly lower when compared to last year's first quarter, which resulted in an overall nominal net loss for Q1-25. We remain focused on securing both development or commercial partnering to attract non-dilutive financing as well as more traditional financing avenues to help us deliver on our anticipated milestones.''

First Quarter 2025 Financial and Corporate Highlights

During Q1-25, the Company generated a $0.2 million loss compared to a profit of $0.1 million for Q1-24.

loss compared to a profit of for Q1-24. EBITDA for Q1-25 was positive at $14,000 compared to an EBITDA loss of $1.05 million in Q1-24.

compared to an EBITDA loss of in Q1-24. Cash Used for Operating Activities was $0.1 million for Q1-25 compared to $0.2 million for Q1-24.

for Q1-25 compared to for Q1-24. In March 2024 , the Company received a grant of $53,000 to support its development program;

, the Company received a grant of to support its development program; In March 2024 the Company secured a $75,000 unsecured note from a shareholder, bearing interest at 15% per annum and repayable on March 6, 2026 ; and

the Company secured a unsecured note from a shareholder, bearing interest at 15% per annum and repayable on ; and In February 2024 , the Company announced the resignation of Mr. Philippe Deschamps from his CEO and Board of Directors' position with Mr. Pierre Laurin , who served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, stepping as interim CEO.

, the Company announced the resignation of Mr. from his CEO and Board of Directors' position with Mr. , who served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, stepping as interim CEO. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On June 28, 2024 , the Corporation granted an aggregate of 1,330,252 DSUs and 2,664,498 options to Directors and Officers of the Company, in lieu of cash remuneration.

First Quarter 2025 Financial Statements and MD&A

ChitogenX's financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three-month period ended April 30, 2024, is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.

About ChitogenX Inc.

ChitogenX Inc. is a clinical stage regenerative medicine company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutic tissue repair technologies to improve tissue healing. The Company is committed to the clinical development of its proprietary Chitosan Based Biopolymer technology platform, a proprietary muco-adhesive scaffold, specifically designed to be combined with therapeutics to improve tissue repair.

Other formulations are being developed to leverage the technology's performance characteristics such as tissue adhesion, pliability, and ability to deliver biologics or therapeutics to various tissues damaged by trauma or disease. Further information about ChitogenX is available on the Company's website at www.chitogenx.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding the Company's expectations for future events. Such expectations are based on certain assumptions that are founded on currently available information. If these assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, amongst others, uncertainty as to the final result and other risks. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by security laws.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE ChitogenX Inc.

Contacts: Company: Pierre Laurin, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, 514-475-2588, [email protected], or; Luc Mainville, Senior Vice-president and Chief Financial Officer, 438-826-1426, [email protected]; or Investors: Frederic Dumais, Director Communications and Investor Relations, (514) 693-8847, [email protected]
Partnership allows building owners to reduce carbon emissions in existing buildings

The CIB is providing a $100 million loan to finance sustainable building retrofits.

to finance sustainable building retrofits. GDI's subsidiaries Ainsworth and Energere to provide turnkey design/build retrofit services .

. Each building is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 30% annually, for an average of 37% across the project portfolio.

Expected to support approximately 500 jobs in the trades sector.

TORONTO, July 2, 2024 /CNW/ - The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has reached financial close on a $100 million investment with GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc. (GDI). The financing supports deep energy retrofits in aging buildings across Canada to help reduce their environmental impact.

Commercial buildings to undergo retrofits. (CNW Group/Canada Infrastructure Bank) GDI logo (CNW Group/Canada Infrastructure Bank)

GDI has formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to finance the capital costs of the retrofits which will include the CIB's investment with the remainder funded through an equity investment by GDI and third parties. GDI's wholly owned subsidiary Ainsworth (Ainsworth) and its subsidiary, Energere will source energy projects and provide complete turnkey design/build services. The companies will offer initial energy audits, energy modelling, system design, installation, commissioning, measurement and ongoing energy management, data analytics and energy optimisation.

Ainsworth, GDI's technical services business segment, alongside Energere, a leading energy services company have the capacity and experience to provide their clients with tangible solutions to accelerate the decarbonization of buildings.

Each project carried out by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will vary in scale and approach. Ainsworth's turnkey energy services will provide their clients with deep energy retrofit solutions to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. Carbon reduction measures include fuel switching, HVAC upgrades, transitioning to clean and renewable power sources like solar generation, electrical vehicle charging and energy storage facilities.

Once all retrofits are complete, it is estimated that approximately 44,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) will be reduced per year. In addition, the projects are expected to support approximately 500 jobs in the trades sector.

This investment is part of the CIB's Building Retrofits Initiative which has committed over $1.2 billion towards financing sustainable retrofits. Buildings account for around 18 per cent of Canada's total GHG emissions. Investments from the CIB help to prioritize and accelerate building retrofits to help meet Canada's climate change goals.

Endorsements:

No one can reduce the environmental impact of aging buildings across the country on their own. This requires the public and private sectors coming together. We are proud to announce this agreement today that is a shining example of such a partnership, and is one that will help Canada reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities

The CIB's Building Retrofit Initiative is further bolstered by an additional $100 million loan to a leading energy services company in GDI. This partnership will enable GDI to accelerate the implementation of turnkey retrofit solutions designed to improve the efficiency of our country's inventory of aging buildings which is key to making communities more resilient and sustainable.

Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank

We are very excited to work with CIB on their financing program that we can offer to our clients across Canada. These investments will enable our clients to reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions and will contribute to the mitigation of climate change effects in Canada and the world. We will be performing turnkey solutions for clients' buildings to reduce the carbon footprint and while enhancing overall energy efficiency.

Claude Bigras, President & CEO, GDI

Learn More:

Canada Infrastructure Bank

GDI is a leading integrated commercial facility services provider which offers a range of services in Canada and the United States to owners and managers of a variety of facility types including office buildings, educational facilities, distribution centers, industrial facilities, healthcare establishments, stadiums and event venues, hotels, shopping centres, airports and other transportation facilities. GDI's commercial facility services capabilities include commercial janitorial and building maintenance, energy advisory and system optimization, the installation, maintenance and repair of HVAC-R, mechanical, electrical and building automation systems, as well as other complementary services such as janitorial products manufacturing and distribution. GDI's subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: GDI).

Ainsworth is one of the largest multi-trade services providers in North America, with over 3,500 employees including more than 2,700 tradesmen providing HVAC-R, building automation, mechanical, electrical, energy management, power system and transmission line services to the commercial, institutional, and industrial markets with operations in all Provinces in Canada and five U.S. States.

Energere is a leading energy services company and well experienced in the building retrofits space. Since 1997, they have completed over 600 energy efficiency projects ranging from small scale upgrades with independent businesses to large-scale campus and institutional retrofits.

SOURCE Canada Infrastructure Bank

Media contacts: Canada Infrastructure Bank, [email protected]; GDI, [email protected], 403-520-7777
The Shiibaashka'igan  Jingle Dress is a sacred Anishinaabe women's dress and dance tradition

GATINEAU, QC, June 26, 2024 /CNW/ - National historic designations are a way to acknowledge and to learn about the full scope of our shared history, including the difficult periods that are part of our past. Understanding the events that have led to the Canada of today helps us reflect on how to build a more inclusive society now and for future generations.

Powwow from the Timiskaming First Nation, ObadjiwanFort Temiscamingue National Historic Site, June 21, 2017  Parks Canada (CNW Group/Parks Canada (HQ))

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the designation the Shiibaashka'igan  Jingle Dress as an event of national historic significance. The Shiibaashka'igan  Jingle Dress is a sacred Anishinaabe women's dress and dance tradition. When the dress is worn, the jingles, which are made of metal cones, make a rhythmic jingling sound when they touch each other as the dancer moves to the tempo and beat of the dance drum and traditional songs of the drum group.

Many oral traditions trace the origins of the Jingle Dress, dating it from the early 20th century. This was a time of extreme hardship caused by the influenza pandemic (1918-1919) and the heightened implementation of assimilative policies by the federal government, including the continued prohibition of First Nations' cultural and spiritual ceremonies and practices. Handed down by Gichi Manidoo (Creator) in a dream and drawing upon Anishinaabe spiritual practices and traditions, Shiibaashka'igan has become a popular and highly esteemed dance style and means of healing, reclaiming culture, and asserting identity. One of the most widely circulating oral traditions traces an origin of the Jingle Dress to the late Maggie White (19221991). When eight-year-old Maggie became seriously ill, her grandfather Pinasse received a series of dreams in which he was instructed to make a special dress adorned with shiny metal cones for his granddaughter. He sewed the dress, asked his very weak granddaughter to wear it, and taught her a dance that he had received in his dreams. Despite her illness, the young girl managed to dance, and she was cured. Later in life, Maggie White became known as the "First Lady of the Jingle Dress Dance" because she popularised the Jingle Dress and dance tradition at powwows throughout Canada and the United States from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Today, the Jingle Dress Dance revered at both competition and traditional powwows across North America where new generations of women and Two-Spirit individuals continue to share the dance.

The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped Canada. Sharing these stories helps foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present.

The designation process under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,240 designations have been made nationwide. To nominate a person, place or historic event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/proposer-nominate.

Quotes

"The Jingle Dress is a sacred garment and traditional dance which continues to be a source of healing for individuals, families, and communities. By commemorating the national historic significance of the Shiibaashka'igan  Jingle Dress, we encourage all Canadians to learn more about the perspectives, cultures, and traditions of Indigenous Peoples and help to foster better appreciation, awareness and understanding."

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault

Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

"The jingle dress symbolizes the spirit of healing. The spirit of dance, drum and the connection to family, community, and the connection to the spiritual. These connections have helped maintain the sacredness of life, to live in a good way: the original way of how creator wanted us to live."

Mr. Randy White, grandson of Maggie White

"Today's recognition of the Shiibaashka'igan  Jingle Dress is an act of deep respect for the cultural heritage and healing traditions of Anishinaabe communities. As we embrace the significance of the Jingle Dress, we also advance our journey towards reconciliation. Let the sound of the dress remind us of our commitment to healing past wounds, fostering understanding, and building a future rooted in respect, unity, and shared purpose."

The Honorable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Indigenous Services

Quick Facts

The Jingle Dress dance is an official powwow dance category.

Oral traditions place one of the origins of the dress and dance in the early 20th century in the Anishnaabe community of Naotkamegwanning First Nation (also known as Whitefish Bay) in the Lake of the Woods region of northwestern Ontario and another in the Mille Lacs Ojibwe community of north-central Minnesota .

region of northwestern and another in the Mille Lacs Ojibwe community of north-central . The Jingle Dress has evolved from early examples of the 1920s, which were simple in design and fabric and embellished with rows of metal cones sewn across the bodice and ankle-length skirt, to the later introduction of synthetic fabrics in vibrant colours with embellishments and the cones sewn in straight rows or in geometric patterns.

Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked Canada's history. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration and these important stories are shared with Canadians.

advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked history. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognized under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration and these important stories are shared with Canadians. Parks Canada is committed to working with Canadians in our efforts to tell broader, more inclusive stories in the places that it manages. In support of this goal, the Framework for History and Commemoration outlines a new, comprehensive, and engaging approach to sharing Canada's history through diverse perspectives, including shedding light on tragic and difficult periods of Canada's past.

Related Document

Backgrounder: Shiibaashka'igan | The Jingle Dress

Related Links

SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)

Contacts: Kaitlin Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-230-1557, [email protected]; Media Relations, Parks Canada, 855-862-1812, [email protected]
Leading Global Integrated Mining Company Joins First Nations Major Projects Coalition's Sustaining Partners Program

COAST SALISH TERRITORY, BC, July 2, 2024 /CNW/ - The First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) welcomes Vale Base Metals as the newest member of its Sustaining Partner program in Canada. The program furthers FNMPC's ability to advance relationships between its members and the private sector on issues of mutual interest. Vale Base Metals, along with existing program members, benefit from an exclusive relationship with FNMPC that is focused on advancing progressive First Nation partnership and reconciliation initiatives to the benefit of all parties involved.

In working with these companies, FNMPC advances strategies that promote meaningful First Nation inclusion in major developments and articulate First Nation perspectives concerning environmental, ESG investment standards, and participatory and sustainable business practices generally.

"Vale's commitment as a Sustaining Partner underscores the importance of Indigenous leadership in advancing critical mineral projects," says Fort Nelson First Nation Chief Sharleen Gale, Chair of the FNMPC's Board of Directors. "Our collaboration aims to foster meaningful Indigenous inclusion, ensuring that our communities benefit economically, socially, and environmentally from these developments. Together, we are paving the way for a future where Indigenous perspectives drive sustainable and responsible resource development."

"Vale Base Metals is honoured to join the FNMPC Sustaining Partner Program," said Emily Olson, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Vale Base Metals. "We are looking forward to learning more about what we can do to improve relationships with First Nation communities. We also look forward to collaborating with FNMPC to further support First Nation participation in critical mineral projects and mining operations."

As a Sustaining Partner, Vale will work with FNMPC to advance stronger business relationships with Indigenous communities.

For more information on the program, please contact Niilo Edwards, FNMPC's Chief Executive Officer, at: [email protected].

To learn more about how Vale builds meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities across Canada, visit: www.vale.com/canada.

About FNMPC

The First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) is a non-profit organization comprised of 170+ Indigenous communities that span across Canada. FNMPC members recognize that we are stronger together and was established to promote the shared interests of our members. Advancing major projects is the core of FNMPC's service delivery. FNMPC's technical team is active in supporting our member communities with tools, capacity supports, and advice related to corporate structures and benefit sharing models, as well as tools to promote environmental protection and impact assessment. Learn more about FNMPC at: www.fnmpc.ca

About Vale Base Metals

Vale Base Metals, the holding entity for Vale's energy transition metals business, is one of the world's largest producers of high-quality nickel and an important producer of copper and responsibly sourced cobalt. With a corporate presence in Toronto, Canada, and operations in Newfoundland & Labrador, Ontario, Manitoba, Indonesia, Brazil, the UK and Japan, the business delivers critical building blocks for a cleaner, greener future.

SOURCE Vale Canada Limited

Media Contact: Steve Saddleback, E: [email protected], P: 403-828-8273
Dear Lizzy,

Several years ago I sent my mother-in-law and father-in-law (a Baptist minister) a check to contribute to our family reunion fund. This check was expected to help cover the costs of flying our family to the next get-together. A few months later I received a thank you letter from a right-wing Christian college thanking them for my donation. I wrote back to the organization stating that I NEVER would have given them money and to take me off their supporters list (I did not use kind words).

After a hey moment I realized that my check to my in-laws had been turned around and used as a donation to a cause that I, as a mother of a transgender child, would never, ever support. I have never confronted them and have continued sending checks to the reunion fund with notes that the money should ONLY be used to pay for reunion costs. The problem is that every time I get together with them I am upset with myself for never confronting them over their usage of my money.

I am hoping to find a way through this as it has been several years now. My question to you is what can I do at this point? Has it been too long to bring it up? If I do bring it up, what proof do I have? My husband knows about what happened, as is his way, he has decided to ignore it.

Donation Consternation

Dear Donation Consternation,

Wow, that is very obnoxious! I would certainly be mad about something like that.

Worst case scenario here is that your in-laws donated money in your name to a cause they knew you fundamentally disagree with, and that is awful, and so passive-aggressive.

There are other possibilities though  they made a mistake and sent the wrong check or it was some other kind of mistake or someone else entirely donated money in your name.

The fact that it only happened one time, several years ago, means they may have realized they had done something terrible or it was a mistake, so I have a few questions that I suggest you consider before deciding what, if anything, to say to your in-laws.

First, do you think they are OK? Its pretty weird to be signing checks that are for something you ostensibly need to pay for over to a charity, right? Do you think your husbands parents could be being taken advantage of in some way? Are they starting to slip at all mentally?

If yes, this is a health and safety issue that your husband needs to address with them.

Now, say they are mentally well. Are your in-laws supportive of and kind to your child?

To me, this is the biggest question: Not whether they sent your check to a hateful cause, but do they, in the current moment, treat your child the way they deserve to be treated?

If they treat you and your child with love and respect, I think you should let it go. You dont have all the information for one thing and, for another, the statute of limitations has passed on the check.

But, if your in-laws are not kind and loving and supportive of their grandchild, a conversation is warranted  not about the donation, but about that treatment, which is a much bigger issue that actually impacts your child today.

That is a conversation your husband should have with his parents, making it clear that if they want to remain in your lives and continue to have all these family reunions, they will need to accept your child.

As far as the check, well, once you send someone money it belongs to them. While you can definitely ask that your specific check doesnt go to a cause you disagree with, once the money goes into the bank, each individual dollar isnt marked for where it can and cant go. If you want to avoid the possibility that a single cent you send goes to an anti-trans cause, I suggest you just pay your own way on these trips, or you accept that your money in this case is not your money at all.

If the mystery is really getting to you though, you could have your husband just casually ask his parents, Hey, did you one time donate money in our name to a Christian college?

Then at least youd know. Good luck!

Lizzy

Have a burning question? Send me an email at lacker@oregonian.com or tweet @lizzzyacker! Or, if you want to ask me a question with total anonymity, use this Google form.

Read and listen to more Why Tho? here.
A Camden County man was arrested and charged with hurling over 25 explosives from his car in the area of a railroad bridge in South Jersey and possessing a stockpile of explosives and high-capacity magazines, Winslow Township police said.

Kenneth Baldino, 71, of Winslow Township was arrested on July 1 and charged with three counts of second-degree risking widespread injury, possession of destructive devices and possession of explosive devices, among several other third- and fourth-degree charges.

Police in Winslow Township started investigating the area of Fleming Pike near Hammonton in early April after residents reported hearing large explosions near a railroad bridge, investigators wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.

Through police surveillance of the area, Baldino was identified as detonating over 25 explosive devices near the bridge, police said in charging documents. Authorities allege Baldino detonated the explosives in the area of the railroad bridge while driving down Fleming Pike.

Winslow Township police, along with the Camden County Sheriffs Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, executed a search warrant at Baldinos property on Monday and found 118 M-Class explosives, thousands of aerial type fireworks, six Magpul brand 30-round magazines and one 60 round magazine, charging documents show.

Baldino was arrested and remanded to the Camden County Jail, according to police.

A public defender was not listed for Baldino on Tuesday.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
A man who admitted earlier this year he sexually assaulted five children has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Jesus Figueroa, 58, of Vineland, was sentenced on Friday to five 10-year terms, which will all run concurrently, the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office said in a news release. He pleaded guilty to all five counts of second-degree sexual assault on Feb. 21.

He was charged with the crimes in 2022 after it was alleged that he sexually assaulted five girls over a ten-year period. All of the victims were under the age of 13 at the time of the abuse, prosecutors said.

Under the No Early Release Act, Figueroa will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. After he is released, he will have to register as a sex offender and will be subject to parole supervision for life.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Emma Roberts launches herself into a competitive astronaut training program in the new Amazon movie Space Cadet.

Roberts plays hopeful space traveler and Florida woman Tiffany Rex Simpson in the comedy, which filmed in New Jersey and will be streaming on Prime Video starting Thursday, July 4.

Rex seems to have little chance of making her childhood astronaut dreams a reality. But she gets there with the help of her friend Nadine  played by Poppy Liu of Hacks  who fudges her application.

Gabrielle Union and Tom Hopper (The Umbrella Academy) play NASA program directors in the film (see trailer below), written and directed by Liz W. Garcia (Purple Hearts, P-Valley).

Space Cadet filmed in New Jersey from August to October 2022 (see locations below) and spent an estimated $14 million in the state, Jon Crowley, executive director of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, told NJ Advance Media.

Roberts filmed the movie down the Shore and in North Jersey.Eric Liebowitz | Amazon Prime Video

Crowley is a councilman in Atlantic Highlands, a town where Roberts filmed. Scenes set at the Cocoa Beach, Florida Marriott were filmed at the Shore Casino banquet hall.

I remember the local kids were ecstatic to meet Emma, who was great with all of them, Crowley said.

Union Beach also played Cocoa Beach, with filming locations including JakeaBobs Bay bar and restaurant, said Joe Marra, project officer with the state film commission.

Marra says Essex County Airport in Fairfield served as Cape Canaveral, home to the Kennedy Space Center, and Bell Works in Holmdel was NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Jersey even subbed in for outer space.

Emma Roberts and director Liz W. Garcia on the "Space Cadet" set.Eric Liebowitz | Amazon Prime Video

Roberts, 33, whose big-screen credits include Were the Millers, The Hunt, Holidate, Maybe I Do, and Madame Web, filmed space scenes at Palisade Stages in Kearny.

Other Space Cadet scenes were filmed at the 19th-century Ryer House in Matawan, a warehouse on New County Road in Secaucus, The Rock cafe in Keyport and Signature Fitness in Belleville.

Roberts and Garcia served as producers on the film.

The cast includes Dave Foley, Sam Robards and Kuhoo Verma (Plan B) as well as Desi Lydic and Troy Iwata from The Daily Show, Colombian pop star Sebastian Yatra, Yasha Jackson (The Flight Attendant), Andrew Call (FBI: International), Josephine Huang (Billions) and Joshua Harto (Iron Man).

Space Cadet, which will be released on Amazon Prime Video Thursday, July 4 (3 a.m. ET), is rated PG-13 and runs 1 hour and 50 minutes.

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
Renauld White, a model and actor from New Jersey and trailblazer in the world of fashion, has died.

White, 80, was the first African American male model to cover GQ magazine in 1979.

The Newark native worked with designers including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Jeffrey Banks, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan and Bill Blass and could be seen on many a cover throughout his career.

He died June 26, according to an obituary published by Newarks Whigham Funeral Home.

In addition to maintaining a striking look on runways and magazine covers, White played William Reynolds in the soap opera Guiding Light starting in the 1980s. His obituary says he also appeared in General Hospital and One Life to Live.

Whites modeling agency, Bella Agency, remembered him on Instagram Monday, sharing his GQ cover. He also covered Jet, Ebony and Essence magazines.

Bella Agency mourns the passing of a great man, the agency said in its post. Kind, Compassionate and Elegant. Renauld White was a pathbreaker in the fashion industry, paving opportunities for a younger generation of models. We were proud to be your agent and your friend. Rest in Peace, Renny.

White attended West Side High School and Rutgers University in Newark. He also lived in East Orange.

In a 2011 interview, he spoke about his efforts to become a fashion industry change agent, as reported by Womens Wear Daily.

I really confronted the establishment about why there were not more Black male images, White said. At first, I thought I was going to get thrown in jail and beaten up because of my approach. But then they realized that they were wrong and that they were behind society and behind the times, and that they had to listen to me.

Designer Jeffrey Banks told the outlet that White was in hospice care at New Yorks Lenox Hill Hospital when he died.

Modeling for me from the very start of my career RENAULD was always the perfect gentleman and a great ambassador for my brand, Banks said in an Instagram post. When first introduced to my Mother she claimed instantly that he was my older brother. I only wished that was so. I shall miss our talks and times together, but will always remember the barriers you broke in the fashion industry and the love you shared as a trusted friend. Good night sweet Prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Whites achievement in fashion was rooted in his parents, the obituary says  his mother was a hat model in the 1950s and he was inspired by the way his dapper father wore suits.

The Jersey talent became the first African American male model to endorse Vitalis hair products. He was also known for his passion for theater, having performed in off-Broadway plays like Anthony and Cleopatra and Twelfth Night.

There will be a funeral service for White Friday, July 12, 11 a.m. at Whigham Funeral Home (580 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Newark), followed by burial at Fairmount Cemetery in Newark.

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
An Essex County man admitted that he carjacked a woman in late 2020 and then robbed two Newark restaurants at gunpoint a few days later, officials said.

Deion Nance, 28, pleaded guilty on June 27 to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of carjacking, and two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey announced Monday.

On Dec. 30, 2020, Nance pointed a gun at the driver a 2016 Toyota Corolla in Hudson County, pulled her out of the car and pushed the gun into her face, the office said. He then got into the drivers seat and drove off in the vehicle.

On Jan. 4, 2021, he drove up to the window of a Taco Bell on Broad Street in the Newark at 2:40 p.m., pointed a loaded Smith & Wesson .380-caliber revolver at an employee and demanded cash, authorities said. The employee handed over $176 in cash, and Nance drove away from the scene.

That same day, he attempted to rob another restaurant by threatening an employee and pointing a firearm, federal prosecutors said. It was unclear if he made off with any money from the second, unidentified restaurant.

Nance was scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29, according to the release.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The men from the government came to the Menendez house one day in pre-revolutionary Cuba and searched the place, overturning things as they looked for money, the sister of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez testified during his federal corruption trial on Monday.

Bob Menendez wasnt born yet, but Caridad Gonzalez, now 80, told jurors the four officers and a man dressed in black never found the money stashed in the false bottom of patriarch Mario Menendezs grandfather clock.
The grandson of the 80-year-old woman found dead in a Perth Amboy home on Sunday has been charged with her murder, prosecutors said Monday evening.

A family member called police after finding the body of the victim, Awilda Verrette, at her residence on State Street at about 1:15 p.m., officials said. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

Her cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said.

Authorities on Monday arrested Raymond Maldonado, 34, of Perth Amboy. He has been charged with first-degree murder and fourth-degree contempt for violating a restraining order, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said in a news release.

Officials did not say how he was identified as a suspect, but did say Verrette was Maldonados grandmother.

The Middlesex County Prosecutors Office is asking anyone with tips in the investigation to call Detective Jose Rosario at 732-324-3800.

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A man armed with a running chainsaw who was shot and critically injured by Keansburg police died weeks later, officials said.

The state office of the Attorney General on Monday identified the man as Willem Roman, 46, of Keansburg.

The shooting took place minutes after police were called to a home on Seabreeze Way at about 1:10 p.m. on May 27 to check on Romans welfare. When patrolmen John Swartz and Tyler Manges entered, Roman approached the officers with the chainsaw running, officials said. Roman also had numerous other weapons nearby, authorities said

Swartz deployed his taser whle Manges shot Roman.

Emergency workers brought Roman to an area hospital, where he remained in critical but stable condition until he died of his injuries on June 14.

The state office of the Attorney General investigates when someone is shot and killed by police. The case will be presented to a grand jury to determine if the officers will be charged.

Manges was hired in 2022, while Swartz has been a public employee since 2015, according to state pension records.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com
A New Jersey State Police trooper contacted a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl and asked her for sexually explicit pictures and said hed pay for a sex act, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office announced Tuesday.

The girl was actually a prosecutors detective monitoring the social media app Whisper, and the office says the requestor was Shane Dempsey, a state trooper.

Dempsey, 31, of Brick, is charged with attempted endangering the welfare of a child via permitting the child to engage in child pornography (now called child sexual abuse materials, or CSAM), and attempted prostitution, attempted luring, attempted sexual assault and a second endangering child related to sexual conduct, the prosecutor said.

Authorities arrested him Monday at his workplace in Ewing. He was taken to the Monmouth County jail in Freehold Township to await a court appearance and remains there Tuesday, records show.

The New Jersey State Police declined to comment beyond confirming Dempsey is suspended from his job without pay. His lawyer, Charles Uliano, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Dempsey has been in the state police pension system since June of 2017 and currently earns $80,704 annually, records show.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
Nearly a half-dozen pets were found dead at a South Jersey home, including three in a kitchen freezer, while police investigated an animal neglect tip and searched the home on Monday, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, the homes resident, identified as Nancy Santos, 57, was arrested and taken to the Atlantic County jail, Galloway Township police said Tuesday.

Attorney information for Santos was unavailable on Tuesday, but records show an application for a public defender was filed in her case. She is charged with 43 counts of animal neglect, police said.

An investigation began into Santoss home in the 300 block of Cresson Avenue, near the townships border with Absecon, after authorities received tips about animals living under inhumane conditions, officials said.

Two adult dogs and one cat were discovered dead in a freezer, but police did not say where the appliance was kept on the property. Four kittens were also found dead at the home, police said.

Meanwhile, seven dogs and 29 cats were rescued during the search. Kimmys Safe Haven Rescue, a private animal sanctuary in nearby Egg Harbor City, and Atlantic Countys animal shelter are caring for the rescued pets, police said.

Police described in an affidavit of probable cause that the home was littered with animal feces and urine. Many animals had open wounds, were infested with fleas and overgrown nails, the document states.

Atlantic County officials told NJ Advance Media its shelter is caring for 13 cats found in the home. An evaluation did not find any of them to be ill, and none were being quarantined, officials said.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A Korean war soldier from New Jersey who was killed in action 74 years ago was given a full military funeral Friday at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown.

A large escort of over 200 people, including Veterans of Foreign Wars members, traveled from Maxwell Funeral Home in Little Egg Harbor to attend the burial.

U.S. Army Pfc. Anthony John Lopa, from North Arlington, was killed on Aug. 31, 1950, after being taken prisoner just weeks into his deployment. He was only 17, and his body was placed in a grave with five other soldiers.

Fridays service included the playing of Taps, a three rifle volley and the presentation of an American flag to his family.

23 1 / 23 Remains of Korean War veteran laid to rest

Kelly Domitrowsky, Lopas niece and one of his last remaining blood relatives, was first contacted by the Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Division at U.S. Army Human Resources Command in Fort Knox, Kentucky, around 25 years ago to provide a DNA sample that could be used to find a match to her uncle. It was only until last year she learned his body had been identified.

This has been probably the single most amazing experience of my life, said Domitrowsky, sharing her gratitude for the overwhelming level of support from community members who attended the funeral. I can honestly tell you I was able to pay honor to this man that gave everything. By the response today, nobody forgot him.

Domitrowskys mother, before she passed away, had told her she wished for her brothers legacy to be remembered.

She said just whatever you do, dont forget about him, said Domitrowsky. I always carry that with me even though Ive never had the chance to meet him. I kept faith that this was going to happen.

Lopas remains were returned back to Domitrowsky, along with her husband and daughter, at the Philadelphia International Airport on June 25. Before this, his body was held in Hawaii after being returned to the United States from the grave site located in South Korea in 2018.
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 Toms River woman who was arrested and charged with three separate crimes that occurred over an eight-month period in 2023 has been sentenced to 11-and-a-half years in state prison following a guilty plea, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced Monday.

Superior Court Judge Guy Ryan on Thursday sentenced Olivia Paige, 35, to three concurrent prison terms, one for seven years for a robbery in Lakewood Township on Aug. 29, one for three years for possession of cocaine, and one for 18 months for aggravated assault. Paige pled guilty to all charges on April 22, the prosecutors office said.

According to a news release, Paige approached a woman sitting in her car on Clifton Avenue in Lakewood on Aug, 29, 2023, and demanded money while waving a knife. She fled after being given money and was found by police at an area restaurant. She was found in possession of a 5-inch utility knife and charged with robbery.
Our nation is going to commemorate its declaration of independence from a king Thursday, but the Supreme Court apparently believes that this is a good time to restore the monarchy.

The conservatives on the court have awarded the president a special monarchal privilege, specifically the power to engage in corrupt, treasonous, and even violent acts without the fear of prosecution for his crimes, as long as these acts conform with his official executive duties, which remain undefined.

Without any textual basis in the Constitution, the six Justices have ruled that a president might accept bribes in exchange for pardons, assassinate a political rival, or share intel with a hostile foreign adversary  all without consequence, because he is acting officially, and his motives cannot even be questioned.

More purposely, their intention was to protect Donald Trump from being tried for his actions related to undermining the 2020 election, a deranged ruling that gives no consideration to its appalling consequences  including the likelihood that a Trump victory in November will cause the wheels to come off our democracy.

District Judge Tanya Chutkan has been instructed to review the steps the former president took to subjugate Joe Bidens victory and determine whether Trumps actions were official  which would warrant full immunity -- or whether the actions were unofficial, which makes him culpable. Each one of her decisions is expected to be appealed by the defense team  back to the Supremes, of course -- which eliminates the possibility of a trial before the election.

And if Trump wins that election, it will be moot: He will order the Department of Justice to abort the prosecution.

The unfolding scenario is Orwellian. Throughout Trumps string of indictments, he has claimed that he is above the law, and Chief Justice John Roberts has essentially affirmed it.

In a decision filled with gauzy rhetoric about the importance of having an energetic executive who must work without undue caution about getting prosecuted after retirement, Roberts wrote -- without any constitutional basis -- that the nature of presidential power entitles a former president absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority.

The notion of Trump returning to the presidency was already terrifying, even if many Americans rolled their eyes when he said he would be dictator for only one day, even when he campaigns on a revenge platform, or even when he vows to send Liz Cheney up before a military tribunal for treason.

But now this convicted felon is emboldened by a ruling that he is immune from prosecution for crimes committed in office, which is an existential danger to our democracy.

This is the part that always makes me especially sad. Republics have fallen for charismatic bastards, war heroes, talented propagandists. And yet millions of Americans have fallen for an outer borough mook who has the mind of a disturbed child. https://t.co/t44ZjXY9fq  Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 1, 2024

Clearly, we have come a long way in 246 years, when this country was largely founded on the principle that our laws apply to everyone without exception. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor put it, the Court has made the president a king above the law, and the potential effects of Trump Unchained are positively chilling.

Sotomayors dissent said the courts majority effectively creates a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding. This immunity now lies about like a loaded weapon for any president that wishes to place his own interests, his own political survival, or his own financial gain, above the interests of the nation.

Her extraordinary dissent, indeed, read like a requiem for democracy.

When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution, Sotomayor wrote. Orders the Navy SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival. Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold on to power. Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon. Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

Let the president violate the law. Let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain. Let him use his official power for evil ends, because if he knew that he may one day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be. That is the majoritys message today.

That message, delivered in the spirit of partisan hackery, is the official launch to what could be the Mad King 2.0 phase of our history.

Part of the presidents oath is to maintain domestic tranquility, but that is not part of any agenda for Trump or the court he has fashioned in his image.

In other places and other eras, exiled generals, banished princelings, and disgraced nobles conspired to raise armies that might overthrow a dynasty. Americans were supposed to be more civilized: We settle our arguments in court, which is the best way to maintain domestic tranquility.

That was then, this is now. Our highest court has decided that one man can be shielded from accountability, even a convicted felon who openly shares his dictatorial ambition. This is Trumps America. This is not a drill.

Democrats should go to war with the Court. The public is on their side on the issuesincluding abortion, immunity, environmental regulations, etc. They should make opposition to the Republican Court the organizing theme of the November election.  Josh Chafetz (@joshchafetz) July 1, 2024

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I'd like to thank the Supreme Court for granting Joe Biden godlike official powers.



I think his first step should be to declare all Trump golf courses as protected Federal wildlife preserves and seize them by eminent domain...it's an official act, so it's cool, right?  Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) July 1, 2024

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Imagine if we turned off the air conditioning in the Statehouse last week, with temperatures in the 90s: You can bet legislators would come to consensus, in record time, that the situation is untenable.

Yet we did not see the same urgency to pass a measure to protect low wage workers from extreme heat before the Legislature left for summer break last week. Its every fruit picker for themselves, apparently.

You might assume people working outside in the hot sun, or in some sweltering warehouse, would at least get water breaks, time in the shade or a cool-down area, so they dont die of heat stroke. But not necessarily in New Jersey. While Gov. Murphy was urging us all to limit time outdoors and visit cooling stations, for many, this is left to the whims of their employers  some of whom are negligent.

No federal rules exist to keep workers safe from the heat, and our state has none either; unlike California, for instance, where farm workers get breaks every two hours when its hotter than 95 degrees. And now, because legislative leaders failed to act before the recess, were facing yet another summer of intense heat without proper worker protections.

We are living in the hottest years in the history of the Earth, and the idea that we dont make any adjustments in terms of workplace safety just seems to defy imagination, said Sen. Joe Cryan, who was pushing for a final vote on his proposed reform.

The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Linda Greenstein, emulates states like California, Washington, Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado, as well as the U.S. military, all of which have heat standards in place already. It would kick in once it hits 85 degrees: Employers would have to provide water, breaks in the shade or a cool-off area, and a heat prevention plan with options like stopping nonessential work, or putting it off until later in the day when its cooler.

Thats just common sense. Concerns that the original version was too prescriptive are reasonable: Lifeguards can sit under an umbrella or jump in the pool to cool off, for instance, while farm hands cant, so rather than requiring a one-size-fits-all solution like hiring more workers so they can take breaks, the state Department of Labor could come up with regulations specific to each industry once the bill becomes law.

Its been amended already in response to feedback from the business community, Cryan tells us; these objections arent insurmountable. The good actors here have nothing to worry about, he says. Its those that maybe have a little less-than-stellar records that might have some concerns.

Many workers are too fearful of losing their jobs to complain, so its high time we cracked down. At least 2,000 Americans die on the job each year, and 170,000 are injured in heat-stress-related accidents, according to Public Citizen.

Being overworked and overheated can trigger cardiac arrest, exacerbate asthma and kidney failure. On hot days, I get calls all day from drivers or warehouse workers who were struggling in the heat, Gerry Cortez, a UPS driver and union worker, testified recently. I tell them to find a shady spot, drink water, and rest. But too often the managers are calling them or me, asking when they are going to get back to delivering packages, and we have to collectively push back.

The bills opponents argue that we should wait for the feds to establish a heat standard, but thats unlikely to take effect anytime soon. In a letter to the Biden administration calling for worker protections from extreme heat, state Attorney General Matt Platkin noted the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administrations proposed rule is years away.

And if Donald Trump wins in November, the proposed OSHA heat rule would very likely be shelved and ignored, the New York Times reported. After all, Republican governors just signed laws in Florida and Texas that actually ban local governments from mandating protections like breaks for outdoor workers in extreme heat: Let them get heatstroke.

Never mind that the temperature increase globally is off the charts, the U.S. is warming 60% faster than the world is, and New Jersey is warming faster than the rest of the Northeast.

Our own Interagency Council on Climate Resilience, made up of 22 state agencies, has acknowledged that our safety protections against extreme heat are inadequate to protect the most vulnerable and highly exposed workers. Why should they continue to risk their lives, for those bosses that only care about the bottom line?

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Workers shouldn't have to risk their lives to earn a living. From rest breaks to emergency response plans, the new OSHA rule addresses the very serious threat posed by extreme heat and is a vital protection for our workforce. https://t.co/O0wZPznEO8  Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie) July 2, 2024

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Karen Read (R) smiles as defense attorney David Yannetti (L) speaks to reporters in front of Norfolk Superior Court after the judge declared a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a verdict following a two-month trial, in Dedham, Mass., on July 1, 2024. (Steven Senne/AP Photo)

DEDHAM, Mass.A judge declared a mistrial Monday after jurors deadlocked in the case of Karen Read, a woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by striking him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm.

Prosecutors said in a statement that they intend to retry the case.

Ms. Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, faced second-degree murder and other charges in the death of Officer John OKeefe, a 16-year member of the Boston police who was found outside a Canton home of another Boston police officer in January 2022. An autopsy found OKeefe died of hypothermia and blunt force trauma.

Prosecutors said Ms. Read and OKeefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away.

The defense sought to portray Ms. Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually had been killed inside Mr. Alberts home and then dragged outside and left for dead. They argued that investigators focused on Ms. Read because she was a convenient outsider who saved them from having to consider other suspects, including Mr. Albert and other law enforcement officers at the party.

On Friday, a jury foreperson told the judge that they hadnt reached a unanimous verdict despite an exhaustive review of the evidence. The judge told jurors to keep trying. On Monday morning, jurors said they were at an impasse, but the judge asked them to continue deliberating. In the afternoon, they said it would be futile to continue.

The deep division is not due to a lack of effort or diligence but rather a sincere adherence to our individual principles or moral convictions, the jury said in a note read by the judge in court.

OKeefes mother cried after the mistrial was declared, while Ms. Read hugged her father and other relatives.

The Norfolk County district attorneys office said in a statement: First, we thank the OKeefe family for their commitment and dedication to this long process. They maintained sight of the true core of this caseto find justice for John OKeefe. The Commonwealth intends to re-try the case.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson said he and others representing Ms. Read will keep fighting.

They failed. They failed miserably, and theyll continue to fail, he told reporters outside court. No matter how long it takes, no matter how long they keep trying, we will not stop fighting.

Testimony during the two-month trial focused on shoddy police work and relationships between the parties. Police acknowledged using red plastic cups to collect blood evidence and a leaf blower to try to clear away snow to reveal evidence. The lead investigator acknowledged making crude statements about Read in texts from his personal cellphone.

Experts disagreed on whether OKeefes injuries were consistent with being hit by Ms. Reads luxury SUV, which had a broken taillight. The defense contended the injuries were caused by an altercation and the Mr. Albert familys aggressive dog.

While the drama played out in a courtroom, dozens of Ms. Reads supporters dressed in pink gathered each day outside, carrying Free Karen Read signs and mobbing her when she arrived each day. Motorists honked their horns in support. A smaller group of people who wanted Ms. Read convicted also turned up.

Another lawyer representing Read, David Yannetti, said he was in awe of his clients strength and courage and praised those who have backed her before and during the trial.

Your support was invaluable, he said. We are touched and we ask for your continued support.

Rita Lombardi, one of those supporters, said she had mixed feelings about the outcome.

Its not the verdict we were hoping for, we were hoping for a not guilty verdict. That is what this jury should have returned with the evidence that was presented, she said. But we accept the hung jury, we accept the mistrial.

Aidan Timothy Kearney also said hed hoped for full vindication.

But in my mind, the fact that so many people in that jury clearly are aware, the majority clearly is with Karen Read, he said outside the courthouse. Its a small minority that is just stubborn and wont look at the facts and wont be impartial and its just judging her based on not liking her.

Prosecutors relied on several first responders who testified that Ms. Read admitted that she hit OKeefesaying I hit himas well as evidence that Ms. Read was legally intoxicated or close to it eight hours later, after she returned to the house with friends and they found the body.

Several witnesses testified the couple had a stormy relationship that had begun to sour. Prosecutors presented angry texts between the couple hours before OKeefe died. They also played voice messages from Ms. Read to OKeefe that were left after she allegedly struck him, including one left minutes afterward saying, John I [expletive] hate you.

Defense attorneys sought to poke holes in the police investigation, noting that Mr. Alberts house was never searched for signs of a fight involving OKeefe and that the crime scene was not secured. They suggested that some evidencelike pieces of her SUVs cracked taillight, a broken drinking glass and even a strand of hairwas planted by police.

A turning point in the trial came when lead investigator, State Trooper Michael Proctor, took the stand. He acknowledged sending offensive texts about Ms. Read to friends, family, and fellow troopers during the investigation. He apologized for the language he used but insisted they had no influence on the investigation.

In his texts, he called Ms. Read several names, including whack job. At one point, he texted his sister that he wished Ms. Read would kill herself, which he told jurors was a figure of speech. And despite having relationships with several witnesses, he remained on the case.

Two expert witnesses hired by the U.S. Department of Justice during an investigation of police handling of the case testified for the defense, providing a scientific analysis for their conclusion that OKeefes injuries and the physical evidence didnt sync with the prosecution theory that he was struck and injured by Ms. Reads 7,000-pound (3,175-kilogram) vehicle.

OKeefe had a significant head injury and other injuries but lacked significant bruising or broken bones typically associated with being hit by a vehicle at the speed indicated by GPS and the SUVs onboard computer.

By Michael Casey
The party was fun while it lasted.

Two Region craft breweries have poured their last pints.

Windmill Brewing in Dyer and Four Fathers in Valparaiso both closed during a period of contraction for the once-rapidly growing craft brewing industry.

A record 385 breweries closed last year, according to the Brewers Association. That's more than in 2020, when coronavirus pandemic restrictions forced many breweries to close their doors or limit capacity.

Both Windmill and Four Fathers were founded by passionate home brewers about a decade ago, when the craft beer industry was exploding across Northwest Indiana, before craft beer was nearly ubiquitous on supermarket shelves and on taps at bars. Around two dozen craft breweries popped up around the Region, but that growth has since fizzled out.

The Dutch-themed Windmill Brewing at 2121 Gettler St., just outside Franciscan Health Dyer, turned off the lights the final time Saturday night. Founded by two home brewers of Dutch ancestry, it made a wide variety of beer styles, including extra special bitters, agers, sours, schwarzbiers, wheat beers, goses, rye pale ales and various India Pale Ales.

It shuttered in anticipation of a month-long road construction project cutting off access to its taproom, which doubled as a coffee shop in the daytime.

"First wed like to thank you for the outpouring of support over the last few days in light of our closing announcement," the brewery posted on social media. "We are humbled by your kind words and patronage."

Windmill Brewing was home to the social media celebrity Luther, a house cat that started out warding off rodents looking to eat the grain in the brewery area. He started to mingle with guests and soon became the face of the brewery, getting beers named after him and getting his likeness splashed on T-shirts, glasses and other merchandise.

Four Fathers Brewing in Valparaiso opened in a cramped taproom in 2014 and expanded to a much larger 5,000-square-foot taproom across town five years later.

Named after the "four fathers" of beer  water, yeast, malt and hops, it made India Pale Ales, sours, stouts, German beers, lagers, English styles, lagers and traditional cask ales that rotated weekly.

It recently shut down after a decade in operation.

"We want to say thank you. Not only to all of you FFB loyalists, but also to every single person who has worked for us in any capacity, our volunteers, our vendors, and the friends weve been fortunate enough to make in the brewing industry," Four Fathers posted on social media. "Everyone talks about competition or rivalry, et cetera, but our experience was one of support and respect. Theres nothing like the NWI brewing community and we are so incredibly proud to have been a part of it for the past 10 years."

The craft brewing industry was once one of the hottest around but has cooled off, with beer production falling by 5% last year, according to the Brewers Association. Craft beer sales declined by 1% after years of double-digit growth.

Several Northwest Indiana craft breweries have closed in recent years, including Sour Note, Malt Brothers, 9ATE5 Brew Pub, Viking Artisan Ales, Devil's Trumpet and Cognito Brewery. The Beer Geeks, Brewfest and Bone Dry craft beer bar all also recently shut down.
The Congressional Steel Caucus is voicing concerns about a potential trade status change for Vietnam that could lighten steel tariffs.

Vietnam filed a request with the U.S. Department of Commerce that it be labeled a market economy for trade and tariff purposes. The federal agency is now reviewing that request and may soon reach a determination.

Congressional Steel Caucus members, including Vice Chairman Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging the United States to continue treating Vietnam as a non-market economy when it comes to antidumping tariffs.

The livelihoods of steelworkers and their families are dependent upon the full and fair enforcement of our U.S. trade laws, and we must do all we can to hold bad actors around the world accountable for unfair trade practices," Mrvan said. "As Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, I look forward to continuing to partner with all my colleagues to ensure that workers in steel-producing communities throughout our nation can compete on a level playing field.

The Congressional Steel Caucus argued that Vietnam still has a "top-down, government-controlled economy" and still dumps steel in the United States, dampening domestic production. It contends that Vietnam violates international trade laws by heavily subsidizing steel exports, and that it helps China circumvent U.S. steel tariffs.

"Vietnam has been injuring the American steel industry for years through unfair trade practices," Chairman Rick Crawford said. "Our government has a duty to protect American businesses and workers, and the Department of Commerce must reject Vietnams request. To grant Vietnam market economy status would be rewarding bad behavior and is a thumb in the eye to American steel.

The United Steel Workers, Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports, Steel Manufacturers Association, American Iron and Steel Institute, Coalition for a Prosperous America, Alliance for American Manufacturing and the Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association also are urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to leave the current trade designation in place.

The SMA applauds the Congressional Steel Caucus for highlighting the devastating effect that granting Vietnam market economy status would have on American workers and American steel production," said Philip K. Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association. "Americas industrial might relies on fair trade. If countries such as Vietnam, which has turned into one of the most harmful steel traders in the world, are granted market economy status, that puts American jobs and livelihoods at risk. It also destroys secure domestic supply chains in favor of countries that only succeed through government intervention or serving as a key cog in Chinas belt and road initiative. We stand with the bipartisan members of the Congressional Steel Caucus in calling for Vietnam not to be granted market economy status.
Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, chair of the Senate health committee, called on a government watchdog to investigate why insurance companies are still charging women for birth control  a move that thrust access to contraceptives back into the spotlight.

In a letter to the Government Accountability Office, the senator noted that insurance companies were charging Americans for contraceptives that, under federal law, should be free  and that they were also denying appeals from consumers who were seeking to have their contraceptives covered. Some experts estimate that those practices could affect access to birth control for millions of women.

Since 2012, the Affordable Care Act has mandated that private insurance plans cover the full range of contraceptives for women approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including female sterilizations, emergency contraceptives and any new products cleared by the F.D.A. The mandate also covers services associated with contraceptives, like counseling, insertions or removals and follow-up care.

That means that consumers shouldnt have any associated co-payments with in-network providers, even if they havent met their deductibles. Some plans might cover only generic versions of certain contraceptives, but patients are still entitled to coverage of a specific product that their providers deem medically necessary. Medicaid plans have a similar provision; the only exception to the mandate are plans sponsored by employers or colleges that have religious or moral objections.
Nowhere is safe. Not a cafe, not a train and not a plane.

Unwittingly and without your consent, at any moment you could become social medias main character of the day  not the good kind.

Such was the case for two people this week, when a woman posted several videos to TikTok of a man and a woman on a flight from Houston to New York City, claiming that they were having an affair and calling them out by name. (The videos have since been deleted.)

The man, she said in the videos, was wearing a wedding ring while the pair flirted and drank throughout the flight. She said they were talking loudly enough that she could hear their first names, which she included in the videos caption. In the one video, she included an image of the pairs empty seats. They were making out and ended up in the bathroom, she wrote in a caption.

Some TikTok users applauded the original poster, leaving comments that praised her for helping another woman learn what they believed to be the truth about her husband. Others were more skeptical, and many took issue with what appeared to be a growing trend in the way people use social media.
Carlos Watson, a co-founder of the digital media start-up Ozy Media, testified on Monday at his fraud trial that he had not conspired to trick investors.

Instead, he said, his young media company employed strategies to build partnerships, secure advertising revenue and draw in investors.

We really thought we had a chance to do something special that could be around a long time, Mr. Watson told the jury.

Mr. Watsons testimony is the center of his defense against charges that he misrepresented his companys financial results, fund-raising and audience data to investors and lenders from 2018 to 2021. The prosecution has called a variety of witnesses, including prospective investors who testified that Mr. Watson had misled them about the company in an attempt to secure funding.
Major components of President Bidens student loan repayment plan can continue to operate as lawsuits challenging it wind through the legal system, a federal appellate court ruled on Sunday. That frees the administration to cut certain borrowers payments by as much as half, a benefit that had been previously scheduled but blocked.

The order, from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver, is the latest twist in a saga that began to unfold last week after two federal judges temporarily suspended parts of the plan known as SAVE. That program, which has about eight million enrollees, ties borrowers monthly payment amounts to their income and household size.

Two judges, one in Kansas and another in Missouri, last Monday issued separate preliminary injunctions, which are tied to lawsuits that were filed in the spring by two groups of Republican-led states that seek to upend the SAVE program.

The Kansas order suspended parts of the program that were not yet in place, including a big decrease in monthly payments for people with undergraduate debt  to 5 percent of their discretionary income from 10 percent  which was to take effect on July 1. The judge in Missouri blocked new debt cancellation through the SAVE program, though legal experts initially said it wasnt clear how widely that ruling should be interpreted.
A federal judge on Monday ordered the Biden administration to resume issuing permits for new liquefied natural gas export facilities after the government had paused that process in January to analyze how those exports affect climate change, the economy and national security.

The decision, from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, comes in response to a lawsuit from 16 Republican state attorneys general, who argued that the pause amounted to a ban that harmed their states economies. Many of those states, including Louisiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming, produce significant amounts of natural gas.

The judge, James D. Cain Jr., who was appointed by President Donald J. Trump, wrote in his decision that the states had demonstrated that they had lost jobs, royalties and taxes that would have flowed had permits for gas exports continued.

Texas, for example, projected that it would lose $259.8 million in tax revenues associated with natural gas production over five years as a result of the pause of permitting.
Though Joe Bidens debate performance last week was among the most painful things Ive ever witnessed, it at least seemed to offer clarity. Suddenly, even many people who love this president realized that his campaign has become untenable.

For years, loyal Democrats have been suppressing their private anxiety about Bidens decline. In the debates miserable aftermath, there was finally space to acknowledge the obvious: Biden is too old for this. Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced, James Baldwin wrote. The Democratic Partys predicament is an awful one, but there was a cold, flinty relief in being forced to reckon with it.

Since then, however, the Biden campaign has quickly moved to squash that reckoning, framing the divide in the Democratic Party as one between naive, hysterical outsiders and savvy, resolute insiders. Biden surrogates fanned out to discount the debate as a single bad night. A campaign email slammed those calling on the president to step aside as the bed-wetting brigade, and offered tips for responding to your panicked aunt, your MAGA uncle, or some self-important podcasters, an apparent reference to the former Obama officials who host Pod Save America. On Monday, I listened to a recording of a Zoom meeting with Bidens national finance committee in which his deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, accused the media of blowing the debate out of proportion, and his campaign manager, Jen OMalley Dillon, compared it to Barack Obamas lackluster performance against Mitt Romney in 2012.

Some allies of the president have even suggested that Democrats learn from Donald Trumps unswerving followers. If Republicans are standing lock step with the 78-year-old disgraced criminal Trump, said the MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart, then Democrats damn well should be standing lock step with their ethical and morally decent 81-year-old president.
France held the first of two rounds of parliamentary elections on Sunday, and its far right party won big. I put that in quotes because right-wing parties in Europe can differ from the American far right  the immigrant-scapegoating ethnonationalism is just as ugly, but the economic policies are less hypocritical. Ill get to that shortly.

Before I go there, however, what are the implications of the strong showing by the National Rally (or R.N., for Rassemblement National) party? As I understand it, its still unclear whether the R.N. will gain a majority of seats and if it will be able to form a government, and in general very unclear how France will function given the diminishment of Emmanuel Macron, who will still be president. Ill leave speculations about such matters to people who are actual experts on French politics  not, I suspect, that they know, either.

Instead, let me be a typical American and explore what events in France may portend for the United States.

The first thing to say is that the French election results probably have less to do with ideology than you may think. French voters, like voters across the wealthy world, are in a sour mood and directing their ire against the politicians currently in power, be they on the right, the left or the center. Britain, for example, will be holding its own election on Thursday, and unless the polls are way off, the Conservative Party, which has ruled the nation for 14 years, is headed for an even more crushing defeat than Macrons centrists.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, said he was surprised and horrified by President Bidens frail appearance in his debate against former President Donald J. Trump and pleaded with Mr. Biden and his campaign to be candid about his current condition.

In an interview with WPRI, a television station in Providence, Mr. Whitehouse, who in March defended Mr. Biden as the only option that we have to defeat Mr. Trump in the election, expressed alarm and said that he had never seen Mr. Biden in that kind of condition before.

Like a lot of people, I was pretty horrified, Mr. Whitehouse said Monday, adding that he wanted the president and his team to be candid about his condition, that this was a real anomaly and not just the way he is these days.

Mr. Whitehouse was joined in his concerns by Representative Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat in a deep blue district that encompasses Ann Arbor. Ms. Dingell criticized the Biden campaign for reports that its leaders were going to stick to their strategy and were considering holding some kind of interview or news conference to allay concerns about the president.
Former President Donald J. Trump over the weekend escalated his vows to prosecute his political opponents, circulating posts on his social media website invoking televised military tribunals and calling for the jailing of President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer and former Vice President Mike Pence, among other high-profile politicians.

Mr. Trump, using his account on Truth Social on Sunday, promoted two posts from other users of the site that called for the jailing of his perceived political enemies.

One post that he circulated on Sunday singled out Liz Cheney, the former Wyoming congresswoman who is a Republican critic of Mr. Trumps, and called for her to be prosecuted by a type of military court reserved for enemy combatants and war criminals.

Elizabeth Lynne Cheney is guilty of treason, the post said. Retruth if you want televised military tribunals.
A woman held a baby as she detonated a bomb over the weekend in northern Nigeria, killing them both and at least half a dozen others, the local authorities said, putting an abrupt end to a rare lull in the violence that has plagued the region for over a decade.

She was joined by two other female suicide bombers in Nigerias Borno State who killed at least 32 and wounded dozens more in a series of bombings, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima. The attacks, experts said, demonstrated the complex and deadly role women can play in terrorist insurgencies like Boko Haram.

The attackers struck three locations  a wedding celebration, an area near a hospital and a funeral service for the victims of the earlier bombing, said Barkindo Saidu, the director general of Borno States emergency management agency. The attacks took place in Gwoza city, an area formerly controlled by Boko Haram for 15 years.

Though no organization has yet claimed responsibility, the attacks are similar to previous suicide bombings carried out by Boko Haram, an Islamist group responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of over two million people in the region. Boko Haram made headlines in 2014 after kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls.
Severe turbulence on an Air Europa flight to Uruguay from Spain on Monday injured more than two dozen passengers, officials said, leaving several with neck and skull fractures, in at least the second case of severe injuries from turbulence worldwide in two months.

Flight UX045 made an emergency landing early Monday in the seaside city of Natal, Brazil, after experiencing turbulence more than four hours into the flight from Madrid, according to flight data.

Some passengers hit their heads during the turbulence, resulting in head, neck and chest injuries, according to Brazilian public health officials. Thirty-six passengers were treated for injuries and 23 were taken to a hospital, according to health and airport officials.

Some of the passengers who received treatment were suffering from shock but no physical injuries, officials said. By Monday evening, five passengers were still hospitalized, four of them in intensive care, officials said.
Israel released the chief of the Gaza Strips largest hospital on Monday after more than seven months of detention, Palestinian health officials said, a move that drew an immediate outcry in Israel even though no charges against him have been made public.

Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, was taken into custody in late November as he took part in an effort to evacuate patients from the hospital, which at the time was under siege by the Israeli military. The military said he was taken for questioning about Hamas operations at the hospital.

Reaction to Dr. Abu Salmiyas release underlined divergent views of the war both inside and outside Israel. Human rights groups said his prolonged detention without charge was a sign of Israeli mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners, many of them held for long periods with no charges or trials, while some Israeli officials on Monday denounced the decision to release him as an example of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus mismanagement of the war.

Speaking at a news conference at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after his release, Dr. Abu Salmiya, visibly frail, said that he had been released and returned to Gaza along with nearly 50 other Palestinian detainees, including other doctors and health ministry staff members.
It has not had the impact of Anne Franks classic journal, but another teenagers diary from World War II has long provided a vivid picture of the miseries of life in a Jewish ghetto and the striking ways its doomed inhabitants endured.

Now, beginning on July 17, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in Manhattan will focus attention on the diary of the teenager, Yitskhok Rudashevski, by making it the second installment in what the institute calls its online museum of Jewish history.

In June 1941, at age 13, Yitskhok, began chronicling daily life in Vilnius, Lithuania (Vilna in Yiddish). He recorded the German armys takeover of the city from its Soviet occupiers, depicting the confinement of Vilniuss 55,000 Jews into two ghettos and documenting the first reports of systematic massacres at the forested suburb of Ponar, where ultimately 70,000 Jews, 8,000 Soviet prisoners of war and 2,000 Polish intelligentsia were shot or machine gunned to death by Nazi einsatzgruppen killing squads and Lithuanian volunteers.

Yitskhok was murdered at Ponary in October 1943. His cousin located the diary, written in Yiddish, in an attic hideaway and gave it to the poet Abraham Sutzkever, who had rescued scores of precious books, manuscripts and letters from YIVOs original library in Vilna. The diary has been exhibited before, most prominently in a Hebrew translation at Yad Vashem in Israel, but not in a complete English text and not with a new translation by Solon Beinfeld.
Historians try to be precise, so it is awkward to admit that I cant recall exactly when I first noticed the existence of an opera by Carolina Uccelli. At some point, maybe about six years ago, the name jumped out at me from a list. I do recall my reaction. A female composer got an opera onto the stage in 1835? With an all-star cast? She must have been extraordinary!

That was the start of a journey that culminates this month with the modern premiere of Uccellis Anna di Resburgo by the Teatro Nuovo company, in Montclair, N.J., on July 20 and in New York on the 24. Uccelli was indeed extraordinary, and so is the single surviving opera by which we can assess her abilities. Behind it lies a human story, touching and somewhat sad, to which there is now a chance to add a happy postscript.

Italian opera was the single most competitive and economically significant branch of music worldwide in the early 19th century. No female composer ever established herself in it. Success for women, at the time, meant publishing miniatures for the salon, and Uccelli achieved that while still in her teens. But conceiving whole music-dramas and wrangling them through the marketplace was a gritty, cutthroat business; nobody could imagine a woman pursuing it.

The brave youngster who tried to make herself an exception was born Carolina Pazzini, in 1810, to an upper-class Florentine family. She had thorough musical training and gained a precocious local reputation for her singing and keyboard improvisations. Around 1827, when Italys leading publisher issued an album of her ariettas, she married the widower Filippo Uccelli, a celebrated and sometimes controversial physician who was supportive of her improbable ambitions. He passed along to journalists a letter from Gioachino Rossini in praise of her first opera, Saul, produced in Florence in 1830. He probably also paid some of its costs; one of Filippos students later wrote disapprovingly that the good doctor had squandered what should have been his sons inheritance on the caprices of their young stepmother.
Like many other 81-year-old men, President Biden has sometimes mangled a sentence or mixed up a fact during his three and a half years in office. But in recent weeks, people who have spent time with the president said that his lapses appeared to have grown more frequent, more pronounced and more worrisome.

My colleagues interviewed current and former officials and others who have encountered Biden behind closed doors over the last few months. They found that Bidens moments of disorientation had generated concern among some advisers and foreign allies.

Those worries became increasingly urgent last week after Bidens debate against Donald Trump. Advisers and officials who see him regularly but not every day or week said they were stunned by his debate performance because it was the worst they had ever seen him.

By many accounts, Biden is not the same today as he was in 2021. One European official said he appeared out of it at meetings last month. His trips to Europe were marked by moments of sharpness  including in a complex session on diverting income from Russian assets to aid Ukraine  mixed with occasional blank-stared confusion, according to people who met with him.
Few auto executives are as closely identified with the companies they manage as Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, is. And probably none are more prolific in broadcasting their political views on social media.

But as Mr. Musks public persona has become increasingly right wing, Tesla appears to be paying a price in sales, especially to liberal and left-leaning customers who are much more likely to buy battery-powered cars than conservatives are, according to analysts and many car owners who responded to a questionnaire on The New York Timess website about whether his behavior affected their views of Tesla.

His image as an erratic, impulsive manager appears to have rubbed off on the cars, raising doubts in some peoples minds about their quality and helping to explain why Tesla sales have been falling. On Tuesday, the company reported that its global sales in the second quarter fell 4.8 percent from the same period a year earlier, after an 8.5 percent drop in the first three months of the year.

Musk is a true lightning rod, said Ben Rose, the president of Battle Road Research, which has a generally positive view on Teslas stock. There are people who swear by him and people who swear at him. No question, some of his comments are a real turnoff for some people. For a subset, enough to buy another brand.
President Biden on Tuesday called denying the effects of climate change really, really dumb and said that extreme heat and other weather disasters fueled by rising global temperatures have cost billions of dollars and thousands of American lives.

Ignoring climate change is deadly and dangerous and irresponsible, Mr. Biden said. He warned that temperatures have already shattered records this summer, and are expected to climb, as he proposed new protections for workers exposed to dangerous heat on the job.

Mr. Biden spoke at the District of Columbias emergency operations center, where he and cabinet officials were briefed on extreme weather developments across the country. His remarks were some of the most forceful hes given on climate change, and he used the moment to denounce Republican lawmakers who oppose his policies.

How can you deny climate change for Gods sake? Mr. Biden said. They must be living in a hole somewhere.
On Friday, the Supreme Court sharply limited the regulatory authority of federal agencies, upending 40 years of legal precedent in a ruling with broad implications for the environment.

The court threw out the so-called Chevron deference, one of the most cited precedents in American law, which has guided courts to defer to the expertise of federal agencies when interpreting unclear laws. Instead, the justices ruled, courts should have more power to interpret these statutes.

As our Times colleagues wrote, environmentalists fear that the decision could lead to hundreds of rules being weakened or eliminated, particularly Environmental Protection Agency limits on air and water pollution, regulations on toxic chemicals, and policies to tackle climate change

The ruling represents a significant win in a decades-long push by conservative organizations to roll back the federal governments regulatory powers. Mandy Gunasekara, who served as chief of staff at the E.P.A. under President Trump and is a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, celebrated the courts decision. It creates a massive opportunity for these regulations to be challenged, she told The Times. And it could galvanize additional momentum toward reining in the administrative state writ large if the administration changes in November.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

I never expected to become a real reporter. While the other students in my first journalism class could go out into the community to interview sources, my options were limited. As an inmate, the only people I could interview were other prisoners and the guards.

It was 2010, and I was a 28-year-old alcoholic with a crack habit serving a yearlong sentence in a Wisconsin county jail. Id been convicted of burglary after breaking into a bar and walking out with a bottle of liquor. It was a felony, and it was right on time  the culmination of wrecked cars, lost jobs and alcohol-fueled arrests. When the judge sentenced me, he said I exemplified a waste of a human life. He wasnt wrong.

During those first months behind bars, there was no sun, no night sky. I measured time by the opening and closing of the steel cell doors. But midway through my sentence, as is typical in many cases, the judge granted me the option to work or take classes during the day at a nearby university.

I took a janitorial job in the community, elated to be out of my cell. One morning as I vacuumed, I grabbed a Rolling Stone magazine from a coffee table. Out slipped a flier for a college journalism contest; winning entries would appear in the magazine. Only college students could enter.
Gov. Kathy Hochul shocked many New Yorkers  and pleased some in the suburbs  when she pulled the plug on congestion pricing on June 5.

Hochul paused the plan indefinitely because she said it could hurt the economy, but her last-minute decision blew a multibillion-dollar hole in the budget of the states long-suffering Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Things are not going according to plan. Three weeks ago, President Emmanuel Macron of France called a snap vote hoping to regain political control after a crushing defeat in the European elections. On Sunday, in the first round of voting, the far-right National Rally topped the poll, and the left-wing New Popular Front coalition finished second. Mr. Macrons Renaissance party came in a distant third.

Now, after taking about 33 percent of the vote, the far right is on course for a stunning victory in Sundays second round. If National Rally secures an absolute majority in the National Assembly  taking 289 seats or more  Mr. Macron will have to invite Jordan Bardella, the partys 28-year-old leader, to form a government. Under a system of cohabitation with the president, National Rally would be in power, free to carry out its hard-line anti-migrant agenda. For the first time since the Vichy regime, France would be in the hands of the far right.

The more likely scenario, however, is that National Rally falls short of a majority, leaving France with a hung Parliament. Things would quickly become messy. As the biggest party, National Rally would still try to gather the support of other parties to pass legislation  but no one, perhaps besides a few defecting deputies from the right-wing Republicans, will want to enable the far right to govern. With a weakened Mr. Macron atop a fractious and uncooperative assembly, France would enter a profound political crisis with no remedy in sight.

In the event of a hung Parliament, Mr. Macron would have very few options. No modern French president has faced a situation of such political and institutional blockage. His only option would be to attempt to bring about a so-called national unity government, comprising deputies from Renaissance, the Republicans and possibly some moderate deputies from the New Popular Front. But its doubtful that such an opportunistic gathering would reach a majority.
A better Israeli prime minister than Benjamin Netanyahu would immediately hold an election. Israelis deserve a government they believe can bring them out of crisis, not one that got them into this crisis. If that government is still led by Netanyahu, at least he would have an honest mandate, and dissenting Israelis would have fewer reasons to protest him. It would also give the prime minister more authority over a military that seems to think that it can openly oppose the views of its civilian masters.

A better Israeli prime minister would declare the following policy on a Palestinian state: Israels government will work toward one that looks like Costa Rica or the United Arab Emirates. It will oppose and obstruct one that is likely to look like Yemen or Afghanistan. If the character of a Palestinian state would be moderate, not militant, committed to the prosperity of its people, not to the destruction of its neighbors, then the likelihood of its creation would be far greater.

A better Israeli prime minister would create long-term safe zones within Gaza  at least while Israel remains in the territory  for women, children, the elderly and the sick. These would be monitored and financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development and its European counterparts, open to foreign journalists, and well provided with food, shelter and medicine. The zones would alleviate humanitarian distress, put fewer civilians in harms way, end the constant displacement of Gazans from one part of the territory to another, simplify Israels efforts to strike terrorists, and deprive Hamas of some of its frequent propaganda victories in the battle of images.

A better Israeli prime minister would offer a postwar vision for Gaza: No Israeli occupation of any part of the territory in exchange for a 10-year Arab mandate for Gaza. It would be led by Arab states that have diplomatic relations with Israel, preferably including Saudi Arabia, with the goal of providing Gazans with security and governance while ensuring that Hamas does not remain in power. Norway, Ireland, Spain and other governments that recognize Palestinian statehood should put their money where their mouths are by providing reconstruction assistance. If it succeeds, it can become a model for the West Bank.
On March 31, 1968, Lyndon Johnson used a nationally televised address from the Oval Office to announce that he would no longer seek, and would not accept, his partys nomination for the presidency of the United States.

After his catastrophic performance at last weeks debate, President Biden is under growing pressure to do the same. Its tempting to think of the comparison as pure political tragedy: two proud men coming to the end of their often-distinguished careers, forced to face that they were deeply wounded candidates heading toward humiliating defeats they could avoid only by surrendering the second terms they were sure they deserved.

To see the moment only in those terms, though, misses the importance of what Johnson did in 1968. Yes, his candidacy had been severely damaged. His decision to drop out of the campaign was tangled up in all sorts of political, psychological and emotional issues. What is forgotten about Johnsons decision is the number of other factors the president was weighing.

More than anything else, he was hoping that by ending his campaign he could defuse an existential threat to the nation. The details may be different, but thats the situation Mr. Biden is facing, too.
The Supreme Courts radical decision handing the president broad immunity from criminal prosecution on Monday will rightly be understood as enormously increasing the power and enormously reducing the accountability of the president.

But it should also be understood as a decision about the courts own power and accountability. In casting aside the text, structure and history of the Constitution in favor of gauzy concerns about the need to safeguard the independence and effective functioning of the executive branch and to enable the president to carry out his constitutional duties without undue caution, the court reveals that it will rule  and rule us all  based on its own free-floating and distorted vision of an optimal constitutional order.

It is increasingly clear that this court sees itself as something other than a participant in our democratic system. It sees itself as the enforcer of the separation of powers, but not itself subject to that separation.

Most immediately, the decision continues to shield Donald Trump from meaningful accountability for his actions before and on Jan. 6, 2021. The court had already given Mr. Trump a decisive win in the form of its monthslong delay in deciding this case  his federal criminal trial for election interference, originally scheduled to begin on March 4, appears less and less likely ever to come to pass.
The First Amendment was written in the 18th century with the noble and vitally important goal of ensuring robust political debate and a free press. For much of American history, First Amendment cases involving speech typically concerned political dissenters, religious outcasts, intrepid journalists and others whose ability to express their views was threatened by a powerful and sometimes overbearing state. The First Amendment was a tool that helped the underdog.

But sometime in this century the judiciary lost the plot. Judges have transmuted a constitutional provision meant to protect unpopular opinion into an all-purpose tool of legislative nullification that now mostly protects corporate interests. Nearly any law that has to do with the movement of information can be attacked in the name of the First Amendment.

Mondays Supreme Court decision in the two NetChoice cases greatly adds to the problem. The cases concern two state laws, one in Florida and one in Texas, that limit the ability of social media platforms to remove or moderate content. (Both laws were enacted in response to the perceived censorship of political conservatives.) While the Supreme Court remanded both cases to lower courts for further factual development, the court nonetheless went out of its way to state that the millions of algorithmic decisions made every day by social media platforms are protected by the First Amendment. It did so by blithely assuming that those algorithmic decisions are equivalent to the expressive decisions made by human editors at newspapers.

Even if one has concerns about the wisdom and questionable constitutionality of the Florida and Texas laws (as I do), the breadth of the courts reasoning should serve as a wake-up call. The judiciary needs to realize that the First Amendment is spinning out of control. It is beginning to threaten many of the essential jobs of the state, such as protecting national security and the safety and privacy of its citizens.
In 1977, nearly three years after leaving office in disgrace, President Richard Nixon gave a series of interviews to David Frost, a British journalist. Of their hourslong conversations, only one part would enter history.

When the president does it, Nixon told Frost, defending the conduct that ended his presidency, that means that it is not illegal. He went on to add that if the president approves an action because of the national security  or in this case because of a threat to internal peace and order of significant magnitude  then the presidents decision in that instance is one that enables those who carry it out to carry it out without violating a law. Otherwise, Nixon concluded, theyre in an impossible position.

Yesterday, in a 6-to-3 decision along partisan lines, the Supreme Court affirmed Nixons bold assertion of presidential immunity. Ruling on the federal prosecution of Donald Trump for his role in the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, Chief Justice John Roberts explained that the president has absolute immunity for official acts when those acts relate to the core powers of the office.

We conclude that under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power requires that a former president have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office, Roberts writes. At least with respect to the presidents exercise of his core constitutional powers, this immunity must be absolute. As for his remaining official actions, he is also entitled to immunity.
The handsome interiors at this new 32-acre escape in Texas Hill Country look more like hotel rooms than canvas glamping tents. All have king-size beds (some also have additional twin beds) and en suite bathrooms with rain showers, robes and bath products from San Saba Soap Company in nearby Fredericksburg. Created by Outdoorsy, the peer-to-peer R.V. rental company that branched out into travel endeavors, including high-end outdoor accommodations, the property has 22 climate-controlled tents that sleep two or four people, and have wraparound decks, fire pits, kitchenettes and minibars. If you prefer for someone else to make your favorite drink, head to the outdoor bar for local wines, beers, seasonal cocktails and snacks. Theres also a cafe for light bites. When you need provisions like, say, a steak to grill, pop into the country store by the check-in area.

The property is in the midst of Hill Countrys trails and wineries, and is a short drive to the dance halls of Luckenbach and Albert. Its also less than a half-hour drive to Fredericksburg, with its boutiques and eye-catching 19th-century buildings. Prefer to stay in? Catch a movie night or play shuffleboard, darts and other games. Prices from $300 a night.
The Supreme Courts momentous ruling Monday on presidential immunity will reshape the prosecution of Donald J. Trump in Georgia.

But not any time soon.

The election interference case against Mr. Trump and 14 of his allies is largely frozen in place while the Georgia Court of Appeals considers whether to disqualify Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney leading the prosecution. Earlier this year, Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton County Superior Court allowed Ms. Willis to keep the case after revelations that she had a romantic relationship with the lawyer she hired to manage it.

But the appeal of that ruling is likely to take at least several months, and the efforts by Mr. Trump and other defendants to get Ms. Willis removed from the case may not ultimately be decided until early next year.

Once that is resolved, the Supreme Courts finding that presidents are immune from prosecution over official actions will be sharply felt in the Georgia case, where it will inform Judge McAfees own eventual ruling on a Trump motion seeking immunity from the state prosecution. Mr. Trumps legal team in Georgia filed the immunity motion in January, but all sides had been awaiting the Supreme Courts ruling for guidance.
A Native American activist who was convicted of killing two federal agents nearly 50 years ago has once again been denied parole, the U.S. Parole Commission announced on Tuesday. The decision came despite decades of complaints from supporters that the activist, Leonard Peltier, did not get a fair trial and was unjustly convicted.

Mr. Peltier, 79, was given two life sentences for his role in a shootout between activists and F.B.I. agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975 that left two agents and an activist dead. His health has greatly declined in recent years, after multiple bouts of Covid-19, a stroke and an aortic aneurysm.

Mr. Peltiers supporters  who over the years have come to include members of Congress, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, former members of the prosecution and the judge who originally sentenced him  say that F.B.I. agents coerced witnesses in the case and that prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence.

Obviously, they deserve justice, Justin Mazzola, deputy director of research at Amnesty International USA, said of the families of the federal agents who were killed. But keeping Mr. Peltier in prison, he said, is not justice.
President Biden will sit for an interview on Friday with the ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, his first in-depth appearance with a journalist since his shaky debate performance last week raised alarms among Democrats about his continued viability as a candidate.

Mr. Stephanopoulos, who has interviewed Mr. Biden before, is expected to tape the interview on Friday, when the president will be traveling on the campaign trail. The network said it would broadcast portions of the interview on its evening newscast.

Advisers to Mr. Biden have come under considerable pressure from Democrats and other major supporters to make the president available to answer questions, in an unscripted environment, about his performance at the debate. Representative Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, said on Tuesday that Mr. Biden ought to speak with journalists, and Mika Brzezinski, the MSNBC host who is a stalwart Biden ally, has urged the same.

In the days after the debate, where Mr. Biden struggled to complete sentences and often appeared dazed onstage, he has spoken at rallies and private fund-raising events using a teleprompter. On Monday, he addressed reporters at the White House about the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, but he departed without answering inquiries about his health and the future of his candidacy.
The White House is discussing holding a meeting with Democratic governors on Wednesday and having President Biden travel to the battleground states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania this week, as he and his advisers seek to shore up support and move past his calamitous debate performance, according to two people briefed on the matter.

The meeting on Wednesday would feature governors attending in person at the White House and virtually, according to one of the two people and another person briefed on the planning. It would come two days after the governors, who have been some of Mr. Bidens staunchest supporters throughout his presidency but whose ranks also include his possible replacements, held their own virtual meeting on Monday.

A number of those governors expressed frustration with the current set of circumstances  and the lack of contact with Mr. Biden directly  on their call on Monday, according to a person briefed on what took place. That meeting ran roughly an hour and did not include staff. Some of the elected officials who have been supportive of Mr. Biden have complained privately that he is being kept in something of a bubble, one that is making the current anxieties about the situation the Democrats are facing worse.

And while a handful of governors have interacted with him at events like fund-raisers held over the weekend, most have said they have not.
Follow the latest 2024 presidential polls.

Democratic anxiety over President Bidens fitness to run for re-election erupted into the open on Tuesday in a spike of panic, as the first sitting member of Congress called on Mr. Biden to withdraw and a slew of other prominent officials who have backed the president vented their concerns.

One Democratic senator openly asked for assurances from the White House about Mr. Bidens condition  that this was a real anomaly and not just the way he is these days, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island told a local television station, where he said he had been horrified by the presidents debate performance.

Another, Senator Peter Welch of Vermont, scolded the Biden campaign for a dismissive attitude towards people who are raising questions for discussion, in an interview with Semafor.

And later on Tuesday, Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, a veteran progressive lawmaker, issued a statement saying that Mr. Bidens debate performance, which he had hoped would give the president momentum to make up for his weakness relative to former President Donald J. Trump, had instead disqualified him from running again.
The Pentagon has airlifted U.S. officers to serve on military commissions panels at Guantanamo Bay twice this year. The first time was in January, to decide a sentence for two Malaysian prisoners who were convicted in the 2002 Bali bombing conspiracy. Then, an 11-member panel deliberated a sentence for Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, a former battlefield commander for Al Qaeda in Afghanistan in the 2000s.

The military judges have told the jury pool members, including those who were selected to serve on a panel, that they are free to publicly discuss their observations and experiences but that they cannot identify other officers on the panel or discuss internal deliberations.

We are interested in interviewing members within those guidelines. We are also interested in your experience in the new housing accommodations that were opened for panel members, and whether you followed the news on what became of the case.

For example, in late 2021, we interviewed the foreman of the jury that had recommended clemency in a sentencing case. He agreed to be publicly identified.
Many of the questions confronting the future of prison operations at Guantanamo Bay converged in the sentencing case of a confessed commander of Al Qaeda, from its aging population to secret plea deals.

At a hearing last month the prisoner sat in a padded hospital chair, with a four-wheeled walker and grab stick in reach, barely resembling the revered commander of insurgents he once was in Afghanistan. A paralyzing spine disease has left him disabled, and his lawyers say he is in constant pain.

In the jury box opposite the prisoner, Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, 11 U.S. military officers looked fit and polished in their service uniforms. The panel sentenced him to the maximum possible punishment, 30 more years in prison, unaware that his fate had already been determined in a secret plea deal two years earlier.

Mr. Hadi, who was captured in 2006, is now one of just four convicted prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. But like most of the 30 detainees there, he has theoretically been approved for transfer to a stable, trusted U.S. ally. At 63, he is also the oldest prisoner and among the sickest in the offshore operations aging and ailing population.
Democratic anxiety over President Bidens fitness to run for re-election broke out into the open on Tuesday in a spike of panic, as the first sitting member of Congress called on Mr. Biden to withdraw and a slew of other prominent officials who have backed the president vented their concerns.

One Democratic senator openly asked for assurances from the White House about Mr. Bidens condition  That this was a real anomaly, and not just the way he is these days, said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who told a local television station he had been horrified by Mr. Bidens performance.

Another Democratic senator, Peter Welch of Vermont, scolded the Biden campaign for a dismissive attitude towards people who are raising questions for discussion.

And later on Tuesday, Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, a veteran progressive lawmaker, issued a statement saying that Mr. Bidens debate performance had disqualified him from running again.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s independent presidential campaign is spending heavily, amassing steep debts and resorting to layoffs as it becomes almost singularly focused on the costly effort of placing his name on state ballots.

The troubles, laid bare in federal filings and interviews with nine people with knowledge of the campaigns activities, have left little money for events and other traditional campaign priorities, leading to a growing sense of alarm among some staff members and longtime supporters. Fund-raising has slowed, and the campaign has become reliant on Mr. Kennedys wealthy running mate, Nicole Shanahan, who last month put $2.5 million more into their campaign.

As the campaign struggles, allies of Mr. Kennedy have been quietly raising money into a new organization to support legal challenges to ballot access, according to records and interviews, effectively creating a separate financing operation.

The ballot litigation group  called the Ballot Freedom Fund and set up in May in Delaware by a lawyer with ties to Mr. Kennedys campaign  could ease the financial pressure on the campaign, which otherwise would have to foot legal bills itself. The group, a tax-exempt political organization, can raise unlimited amounts of money but is not allowed to coordinate with the campaign.
Over the dissents of its three liberal members, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday that it would not hear an appeal from a juvenile offender in Arizona who was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

As is its custom, the court gave no reasons for turning down the case, which could affect dozens of prisoners.

The case concerns Lonnie Bassett, who was convicted of two murders committed in 2004, when he was 16. Mr. Bassett was riding in the back seat of a car when he shot the driver and a passenger.

When Mr. Bassett was sentenced in 2006, Arizona law did not give the judge the option of sentencing him to anything but life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A few weeks before Yale announced that Maurie McInnis would be its new president, she narrowly avoided censure at Stony Brook University, which she led for four years.

The university senate criticized Dr. McInniss decision to call in the police on May 1 to take down a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on the Stony Brook campus on Long Island.

The arrests marked the culmination of growing discord between Stony Brooks faculty and its soon-to-be-departing president over policing and free speech, issues that she is likely to confront again at Yale, where she took over as president on Monday.

When her appointment at Yale was announced, Dr. McInniss supporters cited many accomplishments at Stony Brook, including her success in raising the public universitys profile, attracting millions of dollars in donations and deftly leading the school, a flagship of the State University of New York system, through the Covid pandemic. A former provost at the University of Texas, Dr. McInnis is known academically for her research on the history of early American art, with a particular focus on art depicting the slave trade.
For two years beginning in 2021, hundreds of patients received online therapy from someone they mistakenly thought was Peggy Randolph, a licensed social worker. As it turns out, state records show, the person hearing their innermost thoughts was actually Ms. Randolphs wife  a person identified in court records only as T.R.

The discovery that this was happening came only after T.R.s death in February, when a client saw the purported therapists picture and realized that she wasnt Ms. Randolph, according to health officials in Florida and Tennessee who looked into the patients complaint.

The patient, a woman, discovered through social media that she was being treated by Ms. Randolphs wife, according to an investigative report published by the Florida Department of Health in March 2023. The patients complaint included photographs of her speaking to the woman posing as a therapist.

Patients like the complainant believed they were receiving therapy from Ms. Randolph, a licensed social worker in Tennessee and Florida who was employed to host sessions with hundreds of clients on video calls from 2021 to 2023, according to a settlement agreement in February between Ms. Randolph and the Tennessee Department of Health.
When North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, met with his ruling Workers Party in the past week, he had some good news. The country, which has long struggled with hunger, was expecting a fairly good harvest this year, he reported, and had recently signed a mutual defense treaty with Russia.

The bigger news, though, might be what officials were wearing at the meeting in Pyongyang, the capital: chest pins bearing Mr. Kims image, according to photos released through state media.

Mr. Kims family has led North Korea since its founding in 1948 and has long indoctrinated its people to worship the Kims like godlike figures. Every home and office building has portraits of Mr. Kims grandfather, Kim Il-sung, and his father, Kim Jong-il, hanging on walls. Every North Korean is required to wear a pin bearing the image of either of the two senior Kims or a double-image badge on their chest.

By introducing a pin of his own image, Mr. Kim is elevating his idolization and the personality cult surrounding him to match the level reserved, until now, only for his grandfather, who ruled from 1948 until his death in 1994, and his father, who succeeded him and ruled until 2011, according to South Korean officials and analysts. Its introduction means that North Koreans now have three pins and images to choose from for wearing.
North Korea said on Tuesday that it had tested a new ballistic missile with a super-large warhead, the most recent development in an arms race with South Korea as the countries vie to introduce weapons of increasingly destructive power.

Two of the new missiles, known as the Hwasong-11Da-4.5, were launched on Monday, each with a dummy warhead that weighed 4.5 tons, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said. Ballistic missiles often carry warheads that weigh less than a ton.

South Korea already has similar missiles that can deliver large warheads. Col. Lee Sung-jun, a spokesman for the Souths military, said the Norths Hwasong-11 series missiles were believed to be capable of carrying payloads of half a ton to 2.5 tons, but that it was theoretically possible to modify them to deliver a 4.5-ton payload.

But Colonel Lee accused North Korea of deceptively exaggerating its capabilities in the Tuesday report. One of the two missiles the North launched on Monday crashed in an empty field after an abnormal flight, he said.
Russia arbitrarily arrested the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to punish him for his reporting on the war in Ukraine, a United Nations panel said in a statement released on Tuesday, adding to a chorus of public condemnation of his continued detention.

In its statement, adopted in March but released on Tuesday, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, said that Mr. Gershkovich, who appeared in a secret court hearing last week to face an espionage charge that he denies, must be released immediately.

Mr. Gershkovichs arrest was conducted under the pretextual label of espionage but was in fact designed to punish his reporting on the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the group said. It said that it had requested that Russia clarify the legal provisions justifying Mr. Gershkovichs detention but that it did not receive a response.

In a statement, Almar Latour, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, said the groups opinion recognized that Russia is violating international law by imprisoning Evan for his journalism.
The judge in the city of Halle found that Mr. Hocke had deliberately directed a crowd of supporters to complete the slogan, which was carved into the knives of the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party.

When I see what is happening in Europe, it is still essential that we counter the danger of old Nazi-era symbols from becoming acceptable again, Judge Jan Stengel said in delivering his verdict, according to local news reports. Still, the punishment fell short of the suspended prison sentence and a two-year ban on political posts that prosecutors had sought.

Specific phrases, greetings, uniforms, and symbols associated with the Nazis are banned in Germany.

While Mr. Hocke and his lawyers unconvincingly denied knowing of the phrases dark past during his first trial in Halle, his defense this time had argued that the phrase should not be banned. And despite a video presented as evidence of Mr. Hocke gesturing to the crowd to complete the phrase, his lawyers also argued that the crowds reaction was unexpected.

In his half-hour closing statement, Mr. Hocke, one of the most extreme voices in the far-right party, said the trial was politically motivated and designed to muzzle his political speech. He also called on his party to launch parliamentary investigations into the state justice system.

The AfD made solid gains during elections for the European Parliament, which have no direct consequences on federal or state governments in Germany but are seen as a barometer of the mood in the country. The far-right party won 15.9 percent of the vote across Germany. In the state of Thuringia, where Mr. Hocke leads the party, it garnered 30.7 percent  7.5 more than its closest mainstream competitor, and the AfD is poised to make significant gains in state elections in September.
He stood alone for months in blocking a European aid package for Ukraine worth $52 billion but then meekly folded. He refused to accept Sweden as a new member of NATO for more than a year before eventually bowing to pressure from bigger countries and giving his unconditional assent.

The same pattern repeated itself on Tuesday when Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, taking a path well trodden for more than two years by other European leaders but previously shunned by Mr. Orban.

Hungarian officials explained the previously unannounced trip as an effort to promote peace  Hungarys euphemism for a settlement built on Ukrainian capitulation to Russian demands. Many observers saw it instead more as a move by Mr. Orban to try to end his isolation over Ukraine on the European stage.

Zsomber Zeold, a former Hungarian diplomat and foreign policy expert in Budapest, said the visit had come as a complete surprise to me and many others given that Mr. Orban has staked out such a hostile position toward Ukraine for so long. The most plausible explanation, Mr. Zeold said, is that he wants to build up some kind of credibility within the European Union as not just a one-sided, pro-Russian actor.
Swedish grandparents became eligible for paid parental leave this week after the country enacted a trailblazing new law aimed at extending child care benefits beyond a childs immediate family.

Under the change, which took effect Monday, parents are able to transfer a portion of their parental leave days to other caretakers, cementing Swedens reputation as a global trendsetter in progressive parental leave policies.

The law enables single parents to transfer up to 90 days of paid leave to other caregivers and a parental couple to transfer up to 45 days, according to the Swedish governments Social Insurance Agency.

The law was approved by the Riksdag, Swedens 349-seat parliament, last December.

Leo Gullbring, 65, a freelance copywriter based in Lund, Sweden, who is expecting his second grandchild in August, said he anticipates stepping in to help his son in the nearby city of Malmo with child care.
The release on Monday of the director of Gazas largest hospital, who was held in Israeli detention for more than seven months without charges, was welcomed by Palestinian and rights groups but set off an uproar across the Israeli political spectrum and exposed growing tensions among officials in the government.

Mohammad Abu Salmiya directed Gaza Citys Al-Shifa Hospital, an early focus of Israels invasion of Gaza. He was taken into custody in late November while traveling with a U.N. convoy of ambulances evacuating patients from the hospital to southern Gaza, and was stopped at an Israeli checkpoint, according to the Gaza health ministry and the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

The Israeli military later publicized some evidence to support its case that Hamas operated from within the Shifa complex, including by showing reporters a fortified tunnel constructed underneath its grounds. An investigation by The New York Times suggested that Hamas had used the site for cover and stored weapons there.

Dr. Abu Salmiyas release appeared to stun Israeli officials. Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right minister charged with national security, called the doctors release security negligence, and blamed Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and the chief of the intelligence agency Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, for policies that he said contradicted the governments decisions.

Mr. Gallants office deflected responsibility, issuing a statement saying the release of detainees is not subject to approval of the Minister of Defense. The Israeli Prison Service said in a statement that the decision had been made by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet, but the military said Dr. Abu Salmiya had not been in its custody.

Even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from the decision. In a statement on Monday, he called the release of the hospital director an egregious error and a moral failure, saying that he and other key authorities were not informed and that whoever is responsible should themselves be incarcerated.
A senior White House official met with French officials in Paris on Wednesday to discuss ways to defuse the escalating border fire between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, a conflict that Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said this week had caused Israel to lose sovereignty in its north.

The trip by the official, Amos Hochstein, the special presidential coordinator for global energy and infrastructure, was confirmed by a person close to the talks, who spoke on the condition on anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

Mr. Hochstein has become President Bidens de facto envoy in the quest to resolve the border conflict. He met with Jean-Yves Le Drian, President Emmanuel Macrons special envoy to Lebanon, and Anne-Claire Legendre, a senior adviser to Mr. Macron, according to another person close to the talks.

Lebanon was a French protectorate after World War I; France still has some influence there and has offered proposals to halt the fighting. The White House had no immediate comment about Mr. Hochsteins visit.

U.S. officials have worked for months to prevent a war between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and has launched rocket attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas, the armed group that governed Gaza and started the current war when it attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
Israels top generals want to begin a cease-fire in Gaza even if it keeps Hamas in power for the time being, widening a rift between the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has opposed a truce that would allow Hamas to survive the war.

The generals think that a truce would be the best way of freeing the roughly 120 Israelis still held, both dead and alive, in Gaza, according to interviews with six current and former security officials.

Underequipped for further fighting after Israels longest war in decades, the generals also think their forces need time to recuperate in case a land war breaks out against Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia that has been locked in a low-level fight with Israel since October, multiple officials said.

A truce with Hamas could also make it easier to reach a deal with Hezbollah, according to the officials, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters. Hezbollah has said it will continue to strike northern Israel until Israel stops fighting in the Gaza Strip.


Las Cruces Plans to Hire Travel PR Partner Wed., Oct. 9, 2024 Visit Las Cruces, which is the convention and visitors bureau of New Mexicos second largest city, wants a PR firm to help position it as a premiere tourism destination.
Scott Widmeyer

Scott Widmeyer, founding managing partner and chief strategy officer at Finn Partners, is among the founders of The Overlook media platform.

The reader-supporter non-profit news site promises to be laser-focused on news in the New York Catskills communities on Saugerties, Hunter, Hurley, Olive, Shandaken and Woodstock, where Widmeyer resides.

Widmeyer launched Widmeyer Communications (education PR specialist) in 1987 and sold it to Finn Partners in 2013.

The Overlook team includes Jackie Kellachan, (owner of the Golden Notebook Bookstore), William van Rhoden (NYU design professor), and Elliot Toman (website developer).

They launched The Overlook, which will cover cultural, political, education and environmental issues, due to their concern about the decline of media and the future of journalism.

The Overlook was recently approved as an member of the Institute for Non-Profit News, which serves as its 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.

The site is currently looking to hire a founding editor-in-chief.
As the trend towards the international dispersion of certain value chain activities produces challenges, discover policies to meet these
Bishop Fintan Monahan recently announced his diocesan changes for the coming Pastoral year and included was the appointment of Fr. Arnold Rosney to the Brendan Pastoral area.

For Rosney will reside at the Presbytery, John's Place, Birr and work in the four parishes of the Brendan Cluster.

A native of Birr, Fr Rosney was ordained 27 years ago.

He told a newspaper a couple of years ago that entering the priesthood is a major and possibly daunting commitment, but when he started his studies in Maynooth in the early '90s, he realised that he had made the right choice. Im not sure it (becoming a priest) was something I always wanted to do," he explained, "but I always thought it was something worthwhile doing. I saw it as a good way to spend my life."

After being ordained to the Deaconate, Bishop Willie Walsh asked him to go to Rome to continue his education, and after coming back to the Diocese in 1999 he spent a couple of years in Ennis, before arriving in Shannon. In September 2001 the Bishop asked would I come to Shannon to replace Father Mickey Mac as teacher chaplain in St Patricks Comprehensive," Fr Arnold told the media. "I came to Shannon then." After many years he left Shannon in January 2024 and returned to Birr, the town he grew up in.

One of the things I remember Bishop Willie saying the day of our ordination," he commented, "was that you have the privilege of being with parents at happy times, baptisms, first communions, confirmations, wedding days, sharing in anniversaries, but also the privilege of being with parents and families at sad times, funerals, loss, challenges, Ive had that experience.

Bishop Monahan's announcement in June that Fr Arnold had been appointed to the St Brendan's cluster of parishes has been warmly welcomed by many.

Fr Arnold replaces Fr Antony Sajeesh. Fr Antony was a popular priest during his five years in Birr, whose affable, hard-working nature endeared him to many. He flew back to his home province of Kerala, India in December.
An average of 44,000 new housing units are needed every year to keep up with population growth, new research shows.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (Esri) published a report, funded by the Department of Housing, which estimates the number of housing units needed based on projected population growth at a local authority level.

The research presents a range of scenarios for future structural (demographic) housing demand.

The report considers a range of population projections based on mortality, fertility and various international migration assumptions.

It then estimates future housing demand based on these population projections, as well as a range of assumptions regarding Irelands typical household size and the obsolescence rate of the housing stock.

The authors of the report said the total housing demand includes the structural element as well as what is referred to as pent-up demand.

Taking the average over all 12 scenarios, structural housing demand is projected to be around 44,000 per year from 2023-2030, and around 40,000 per year over the 2030-2040 period.

This is well above the Governments housing target to build 33,450 units this year, 36,100 units in 2025 and 36,900 in 2026.

In the baseline population scenario, estimated structural housing demand in the period 2023-2030 ranges from around 38,000 to 50,000 per year depending on assumptions around household size and obsolescence rates.

The Department of Housing will consider the research when revising Irelands housing targets.

Housing Minister Darragh OBrien said: The research published today is a valuable contribution to our understanding of future housing demand, the findings of which are based on data from Census 2022 and international trends.

It does not include latent demand and that is why my department will now take this piece of work, and having regard to analysis already undertaken and the forthcoming update to the National Planning Framework, provide an overall average housing delivery target which will take effect from next year.

Preliminary estimates put this figure at approximately 50,000 but as committed to, we will publish this and our revised Housing for All targets in the autumn.

As international migration is the key driver of population growth in Ireland, additional scenarios are also explored that incorporate higher and lower international migration assumptions than in the baseline scenario.

In a high migration scenario, the estimates range from around 41,000 to 53,000 per year.

In a low migration scenario, the estimates range from 35,000 to 47,000 per year.

In the baseline population scenario, the population is expected to increase by 922,000 between 2022 and 2040, resulting in a total population of more than 6.1 million people by the end of the period.

This implies significant overall population growth of 1% on an annual average basis, according to the report.

In the near term, in the baseline population scenario, the population is expected to increase by 516,000 between 2022 and 2030 or to grow by 1.3% per annum.

In a high international migration scenario, the population grows by an average of 1.2% per year, reaching 6.3 million by 2040.

In contrast, under a low international migration scenario, the population grows by 0.8% per year, resulting in a population of around 5.9 million by 2040.

While population growth is anticipated in all regions, the Eastern and Midland region is expected to see comparatively higher population growth concentrated in Dublin and the Mid-East, while the Northern and Western, and Southern regions are anticipated to see comparatively lower growth.

The research also found that 46.4% of the housing demand over the 2023-2030 period will come from Dublin, across Dublin City, Fingal, Dublin-South and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, as well as Cork City and county.

Housing demand for Clare, Donegal, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Galway County, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wexford is higher than the population share in those regions, although the differences are small.

Adele Bergin, an author of the report and an associate research professor at Esri, said: Housing demand, both now and in the future, has significant implications for housing policy in terms of the number of housing units required and the areas they are needed.

Our research shows that, on average, across a range of scenarios, around 44,000 new units a year are necessary to keep up with population growth.

Paul Egan, another author of the report and a research officer at ESRI, said: Projections of structural housing demand are sensitive to assumptions including international migration, household size and the obsolescence rate of the housing stock.

Owing to the uncertainty in any projection exercise, the research considers a range of assumptions.

It should also be noted that all scenarios relate to future demographic housing demand and do not factor in current pent-up demand.

Mr OBrien added: The targets we have under Housing for All have only ever provided a base of which to work from, theyve never been a limitation to our ambition as has been proven twice now with overall targets being surpassed in both 2022 and 2023.

The Government has always been very forthright about capacity constraints and more importantly what we intend to do about them. The largest overhaul of the planning system is proceeding through the Oireachtas at present, a recruitment drive for workers is underway, the draft revised NPF will soon be published and avenues for private finance are being explored.

Regardless of what our targets are, this Government will continue using every tool available to us to reach and exceed them where possible.
TV viewers have expressed huge concern for a woman who collapsed mid-interview on RTE News.

Shirley Scott of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre was speaking on Six One yesterday (July 1) about rape survivor Blaithnaid Raleigh when the incident occurred.

Raleigh bravely waived her anonymity to publicly name Johnny Moran, who has been jailed for eight years for raping her with a bottle in a shed in Galway.

Scott was in the middle of speaking about Raleigh's comments outside court when her eyelids began to flutter and she collapsed.

RTE News presenter, Carla O'Brien, immediately said, "We just apologise there, we'll make sure Shirley Scott is okay, she's after having an incident there, we will make sure she is okay in that regard."

Concerned viewers took to social media to express their concern, with one X user stating, "I hope Shirley Scott is doing OK having collapsed a little while ago on RTE News. Maybe RTE will give us an update soon that she's alright."

Another viewer described watching her fall as "quite scary".

Another X user commented, "Fingers crossed it was just a fainting incident and nothing more serious; I hope she didnt hurt herself when she fell. Scary moment indeed."

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre issued a statement on X shortly after the incident, which reads, "Thanks to everyone for your messages of concern about our lovely Shirley - she is good hands being looked after now.

"Our sincere thanks to RTE cameraman Gordon who came to her immediate assistance."

Meanwhile, a number of fringe social media users have blamed the Covid-19 vaccine for the incident despite there being no evidence for this.

An X user wrote, "Nut job conspiracy theorists piling on with theories about why some poor woman fainted live on RTE News" while another commented, "Hopefully she is ok. Who remembers before the experimental mRNA injection roll out when people rarely ever used to collapse live on TV?"
GREEN Party members will begin voting on Thursday on their preferred candidate to lead the party.

Voting, which will be done online, will then continue until Sunday and the result will be announced on Monday, July 8.

In a major appeal to party members in the second leadership hustings, Offaly contender Pippa Hackett conceded that people were "hurt" when the party implied they were leading bad lives by burning turf, using their car, eating meat, taking a flight and being a certain type of farmer.

That has to stop. We have to get back to the people, and understand their specific worries and concerns, said Minister Hackett.

The Offaly-based senator was speaking online to Green Party members during the second hustings in the ongoing leadership contest.

Minister Hackett is opposing Minister Roderic O'Gorman for the position following the announcement by Minister Eamon Ryan last month that he is stepping down.

The Offaly farmer listed some words she had heard recently about the Green Party, including 'Out of Touch', 'Preachy', 'Judgemental', 'Dublin Centric' and 'Disconnected'.

She commented: And these are not the words from right or left-wing extremists, these are the words from ordinary everyday people - across this country.

'Sure, you couldnt vote Green' was another expression I heard frequently in the run up to the local and European elections.

Despite the excellent characteristics and commitment from candidates up and down the country, people couldnt see beyond the logo and the name, and so, many of our election candidates didnt stand a chance.

Theres a quote attributed to Albert Einstein that says: 'We cant solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.'

We have created an image problem, and anyone watching online who thinks otherwise is deluded.

And yes, while many of the tropes that are out there are misinformed, unjustified, lazy characterisations of who we are and what were about, the fact is theyre out there and we have to oust them.

Simply dismissing these negative impressions with an eyeroll will not dispel them, it will only harden them.

She said she wanted to be leader to rebuild bridge and believed her lived experience will help her do that.

I want to work collectively to dispel that air of defeatism about our electoral prospects, and replace it with a sense of renewed hope, energy and momentum, said the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture.

If we dont heed our critics, if we dont listen, then we cannot move the party onto a stronger footing for the remainder of this decade and beyond.

Breaking into the Irish language, she went on: Ni bheidh todhchai againn ar an talamh seo muna theimid i ngleic le hathru aeraide agus cailliunt an naduir.

Ni feidir linn neamhaird a thabhairt air a thuilleadh  agus sin an fath go bhfuil me ag seasamh mar cheannaire an Chomhaontais Ghlais.

She said addressing climate change and biodiversity loss is fundamental to the future of the earth and that is what is motivates her to run for the leadership.

She warned: But we will achieve little if we dont bring communities with us. At this period in time, I believe we need more focus on people, and less on policy.

The policies are there, weve done extraordinary work to put them there, and now we have to make them work for people. Because not everyone is seeing or feeling their benefits.

The Governments Framework for Womens Health in Ireland uses three simple words to describe how it will achieve its aims Listen  Invest  Deliver.

The Green Party must do the same. Listen to communities  invest in communities  deliver for communities.

In parts of the country, people cant see past turf. In other parts, its cycle lanes.

There are bridges to be built across the whole of this island. I am as comfortable chatting to a farmer at the mart as I am with a woman going through the menopause.

Whether its at the start or the finish line of a 5k race in Dublin or in the Midlands, on the GAA terraces for the Offaly under 20 hurlers incredible All Ireland win this summer; or in negotiations with Commissioners Timmermans and Sinkevicius over our Forestry Programme last year, I have the ability to connect, to listen, and to come up with practical solutions.

If we want people to make change in their lives, we need to be relatable, and the change needs to be easy and affordable.

Relatability is key for the Green Party in the future  because as I said the other day, there is no Green Transition without a Just Transition. If people feel unfairly targeted or blamed, then progress will be too slow, and it will be too late for us to turn the tide on climate change and nature loss.

She concluded: We cant wait five or 10 years for the next Green wave to make us relevant again  we need to be relevant now, and I believe I am the person to do that.

Minister Hackett and Mr O'Gorman, who is the Minister for Children and Integration, are the only two candidates in the contest for the position of leader.
The Supreme Court just gave convicted felon Donald Trump everything he wanted. In a 6-3 decision issued Monday, the courts six conservative justices granted him sweeping immunity from key elements of the federal Jan. 6 case against him, all wrapped up in a flimsy conceit that the lower courts need to take it back to reconsider precisely what conduct he can be prosecuted for. More than that, however, the six conservatives just upended democracy.

Its a five-alarm fire, Justice Sonia Sotomayor essentially says, in what Slates Mark Joseph Stern calls one of the most terrified and terrifying pieces of judicial writing I've ever encountered.
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This is Chapter 14/Section 2 ("The History"), of the 2024 Serialization of the Second Edition (2013) of the book by Steven Jonas: "The 15% Solution: How the Republican Religious Right Took Control of the U.S., 1981-2022." The book was first published in 1996. This 2nd Edition is available in Kindle on Amazon. A third, printed, edition of the book is currently in preparation and should be in publication sometime this month.

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Author's Commentary

The Act terminated the National Parks and National Forests systems (as early as 1995 closing the national parks had been for instance advocated by Republican Congressman James Hansen of Utah [Sher]). [1] It turned the parks, forests, and other designated wilderness areas over to proprietary interests (a greed"'gratifying process called "privatization" in those days); repealed the remnants of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, in the process finally shut ting down completely the long"'crippled Environmental Protection Administration.

Finally, it removed all remaining governmental regulations and limitations on oil exploration and production, lumbering, and mining on all lands that were part of the White Republic of the NAR (the old "Endangered Species Act" having already long since departed the legislative playing field). The Act's public premise, to the extent that a pub lic premise was needed in a country governed by a dictatorship (see Chapter 15), was the further glorification of the "Free Market" as the ideal public policy-maker and economic re source allocator.

The institution of "Resource Based Economy" (RBE) (see below), that was both the motivation for and the result of policies instituted pursuant to this Act, as we know ultimately failed. We are still re covering from the massive environmental destruction caused by the RBE. The RBE experience did, how ever, offer the final proof, if any more were needed after the deindustrialization of the old U.S. that lead to its adoption, that the "Free Market" was indeed any thing but the ideal public policy"'maker and economic resource allocator it was cracked up to be.

The Right"'Wing Reactionary Environmental Agenda

With the passage of The Natural Resources Access Act, Right"'Wing Reaction finally achieved in full the goals for environmental protection and energy policy they had set back in the mid"'Transition Era. At that time, one of the leaders of what some called the environmental destruction movement, Ron Arnold, had put it succinctly (Stapleton): "Our goal is to destroy, to eradicate, the environmental movement."

The environmental goals of Right"'Wing Reaction were laid out in more detail in, for example, The Wise Use Agenda (Gottlieb) and the 1992 Republican National Platform (pp. 46"'56). Even the self"'styled "environmental President" George Bush had proposed in 1992 to allow surface "strip"'mining" for coal in National Parks (Schneider). The so"'called "Wise Use" agenda had included (Stapleton):

-- Breaking up the National Park Service.

-- Opening all national parks and wilderness areas to mineral and energy [resource] production.

-- Clear cutting all ancient forests, using the bizarre argument that 'decaying and oxygen-using' old-growth contributes to global warming.

-- A major 20-year construction program to build [privately owned] lodging and concessions in national parks.

-- A public land giveaway: redefining grazing rights to 'recognize [that] these ranches are not public lands but split-estate lands, co-owned by government and the rancher.'

-- Gutting the Endangered Species Act.

-- Constructing wilderness trails for off"'road vehicles.

-- Immediately developing petroleum resources in Alaska's pristine Arctic Wildlife Refuge (ANMWR)."

Building on the record of legislative success of the "Wise Use" movement that had begun following the election of the 104th Congress in 1994, this Act of 2013 consolidated and codified the gains that Right-Wing Reaction had made under the Republicans, the Republican-Christian Alliance, and the American Christian Nation Party alike.

In the 104th Congress, in addition to many elements of the "Wise Use" agenda, the Right-Wing Reactionary environmental destruction shopping list was designed to (Lewis, [a]):

-- Prevent the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) from keeping possibly toxic fill out of lakes and rivers.

-- Deprive the EPA of funds to keep raw sewage out of rivers and away from beaches.

-- Cut by two-thirds, from 300,000 acres to 100,000 acres, the wetlands to be bought from farmers by the Agriculture Department for a preserve.

-- Increase logging in the Tongas National Forest, a remarkable rain forest in Alaska."

Lewis went on to note that: " 'Congress has set up a virtual environmental exemption bazaar,' Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon (Democrat) said the other day, 'granting special interest after special interest exemption.' "

The "special interests" that Gov. Kitzhaber referred to were almost invariably major contributors to the campaign funds of the Republicans who championed these proposals in the Congress.

At the same time, at the state level, similar initiatives were being taken elsewhere (Schuchat):

-- In California, Gov. Pete Wilson pushed for a bill to gut the state's Environmental Quality Act. . .

-- Maine's Legislature slashed financing for the state's most important water quality program . . .

-- The people of Arizona no longer have the right to sue a company for polluting private or public property. . .

-- Oregon legislators have denied local communities the right to set stronger restrictions on pesticides than the state does, even though some towns' water supplies have been contaminated by state-sanctioned use of pesticides. . . .

-- In Wisconsin, lawmakers drastically cut back the state Department of Resources public advocate, an office that had acted as an environmental watchdog, and prohibited it from taking legal action against other state agencies."

Right"'Wing Reactionary Environmental Rhetoric and Tactics

In carrying out their campaign, the environmental destructionist forces were not exactly tactful. Ron Arnold stated their substantive goals bluntly (Gleeson): "We want you to be able to exploit the environment for private gain, absolutely. And we want people to under stand that is a noble goal."

Reflecting the "cultural, religious war" rhetoric of certain Right-Wing reactionary leaders of the time, Charles Cushman of the National Inholders Association (an organization of owners of private property lying within the boundaries of national parks, forests, and wilderness areas), said (Gleeson): "It's a holy war between fundamentally different religions. . . The preservationsts [environmentalists] are worship ping trees and sacrificing people. . . ."

Indeed the Religious Right itself weighed in on the issue, invoking old Red-scare tactics. Listen to the well-known Fundamentalist Minister Tim LaHaye (Gleeson):

"The phony environmental crisis is a socialist plot to create so much bureaucratic control of business in the name of saving the environment that it will cost billions of dollars and thousands of lost jobs during the next ten years."

But the Red-scare tactic was not the property only of the Religious Right of the time. Representative Don Young, Republican of Alaska, said (SCLDF):

"If we lose the private-land concept in this country, let us all become Communists. That is what communism is all about, that in the national interest we shall do what is right. But the basis of our democracy has been based upon the individual rights of that one person, not in the national goodness."

Personal attacks and threats were also part of the environmental destructionist arsenal during the Transition Era. For example (Helvarg):

"On November 14, 1994, Ellen Gray, an organizer with the Pilchuk Audubon Society in Everett, WA, had just finished testifying at a County Council hearing in favor of a land-use ordinance to protect local streams and wetlands when a man stood up in front of her with a noose and said, 'This is for you.'

"We have a militia of 10,000,' another man told her, 'and if we can't beat you at the ballot box, we'll beat you with a bullet.' "

(It is fascinating to note, among other things in this statement, the rejection of constitutional democracy, whether by the threatened or actual use violence as in this case or other means, that was so common to so much of Right-Wing Reactionary thinking.)

What Had Been Done

In the almost two decades from the commencement of the 104th Congress in 1995, much had been accomplished in dismantling the series of environmental, wildlife, wilderness, natural resources, and commercial animal protections that had been enacted by the Congress, under both Republican and Democratic Presidents since the first term of Richard Nixon (1969-73). But, by and large, this dismantlement had been undertaken in piecemeal fashion.

The effort had left behind a hodgepodge of laws and programs, of partial repeals and draconian spending reductions, of full"'throated rhetoric and half-hearted measures, primarily slanted in favor of resource exploitation and economic development, but with some throwbacks, quirks, and internal contradictions. As noted, the Natural Resources Access Act was in tended to deal with such problems and establish a single, consistent national policy, not only on natural resources, but also on environmental protection, commercial and wild animals conservation and preservation, and undeveloped areas.

To do this, the Act set a single national standard to be applied to policy"'making in all of these related arenas. As succinctly stated by "Wise Use Movement" leader Ron Arnold and Republican Congress man Don Young (quoted above), the new national standard held that the "free market" was to be the primary determinant of policy and that the fundamental right to be protected was that of private property owner ship and its benefits to the owners. In supporting its position, the "Wise Use Movement" often quoted part of an opinion handed down as part of a 1972 Supreme Court decision (The Private Sector):

"The dichotomy between personal liberties and property rights is a false one. Property does not have rights. People have rights. The right to enjoy property without unlawful de privation, no less than the right to speak or the right to travel, is in truth, a 'personal' right, whether the property in question be a welfare check, a home, or a savings account. In fact, a fundamental interdependence exists between the personal right to liberty and the personal right in property. Neither could have meaning without the other."

For a movement that had little concern with the personal rights of, say, thought, expression, and protection against arbitrary search and seizure, it was odd that Right"'Wing Reaction showed so much concern for this one personal right in particular. But then again, a money value can be placed on property. One cannot be placed on liberty and freedom.

Why At That Time?

As previously noted, over the previous 25 years the economic decision"'makers of the old U.S. had consciously implemented the policy of diminishing public and private investment in productive resour es, coupled with economy-wide computerization/robotization and disaccumulation of labor around productive resources. The resultant deindustrialization had led to the then current state of affairs, privately recognized even by the Right-Wing Reactionaries as a problem.

They did not regret the outcomes of their economic policies for a moment, because those outcomes had led to huge profits and a highly luxurious lifestyle for themselves. But they recognized that as a natural result, the economy could less and less be supported by industrial production of goods and services. More and more, continued prosperity for themselves would require the unfettered harvesting and production of agricultural products and natural resources for ex port. Thus, to the greatest extent possible, any remaining limitations (and there were not too many) on environmental exploitation needed to be removed, regard less of any immediate or longer"'term negative consequences.

During the Transition Era, many scientists and liberal policy-makers had predicted that following the Right-Wing Reactionary economic, energy, and environmental policies of the time would in the old U.S. eventually lead to a gradual decline to Third World Nationhood, albeit a heavily armed and fairly wealthy one (see Chapter one). And that is precisely what happened. To this major reconstruction of the economic base of the country, the Hagueites gave that grand sounding name "Resource"'Based Economy." We will return to a consideration of its nature.

Let us turn now to the brief speech President Jefferson Davis Hague made in presenting the legislation to the Congress which he had called back into session for the single purpose of considering (and of course passing) it.

Speech by Jefferson Davis Hague, upon the Introduction of the Nat ural Resource Access Act, made on Arbor Day, Monday, April 15, 2013[2]

"Americans are becoming outraged to discover that their home is no longer the land of hope and optimism, the one nation in the world where anything might be possible.

"Something is wrong, dreadfully wrong. Our nation's strength is being sapped. Somebody, as our English friends would say, has put a spanner in America's works, and the assembly line is shutting down.

"But who would do such a thing? And how did we let it hap pen? The answer is a stunner: the Spanner Crew is the old environmental movement. And by trusting our government too much, we let it happen.

"In every act of 'environmental protection' there is an economic decision. For example: protecting old growth trees rather than allowing them to be converted into homes for people, banning off-shore oil exploration in so-called "sensitive areas" while driving up the price of heating homes and driving cars, expanding a national park by knocking down homes and businesses, protecting so-called "wetlands" which aren't even wet most of the time.

"Putting harsh restrictions on business was the way many of these laws worked: infringing on private property rights by confiscatory regulation, putting resource-rich Federal lands off-limits to private enterprise, taking over private property for so-called "nature reserves."

"The environmentalists have cost us money out-of-pocket, they have prevented economic growth, they controlled land-use against development. They have destroyed private property rights on a massive scale.

"But it is private property and property rights which have been one of the cornerstones of our historic prosperity.

"Land is the fundamental source of that which keeps us alive. Industry is the fundamental instrument we have to get the materials out of the ground that can be made into the goods we need to survive and prosper. And what has the environmental movement done? Nothing but trash, bash, and try to stash industry away.

"And so now, finally, we are going to get government out from between you and industry, out from between industry and the good it can do for you, out of the way of industry so that it can concentrate on doing what it does best, making life better and better for each and every one of us.

"As we accomplish this good for the American people on what used to be income tax day and is now National Arbor Day [3], please recall which Party it is that has substituted trees for taxes for you.

"Thank you. And please, do plant a tree today."

Oakwood Transcript, April 16, 2013

Well good afternoon ladies and gentlemen here in the East, and good morning to those of you still residing out on the Left Coast. Did you hear the President's speech yesterday? I mean, did you hear it? You didn't? Well you should have.

Ah the sound of chain saws and the smell of two-cycle fuel exhaust in the morning. Could anything be better? They make a true outdoorsman's heart beat faster. And that's what Mr. Jeff's speech did for me.

Let me tell you. He gave it to those environmental-wackos, whatever's left of them. Boy have they done a job on this country. You know, people really forgot how rich in natural resources the American Continent really is. Or they knew, but wouldn't let us exploit our God-given natural wealth the way God meant for us to exploit it. After all, if He hadn't meant for us to use it, He would n't have put it here for us in the first place, would He?

But those liberalniggerlover-envirofascists just kept holding us back. You couldn't drill here, couldn't mine there, couldn't burn that kind of fuel here, couldn't cut down those trees there. They just stood in the way of development and progress. And of course, they prevented us from building any decent nuclear energy capacity at all.

Well, the coming end of the towel"'heads' oil has taught us all a good lesson. Soon there's not gonna be no more oil from there, as they say. The Japs and the Euros have been able to meet some of their need because with the divvying up of Russia between them, they have taken over the Russkies' oil.

But where does that leave us? Nowhere. So we have to turn to our selves. And when we get back to 54-40 we'll be in even better shape. [4] Between the Canucks and us there's coal, timber, oil, and natural gas aplenty. And now with this new Act, there will be no more restrictions on mining, drilling, lumbering, anywhere. We just did away with them. The free market, self-responsibility, people making their own decisions about cutting down a tree or saving an owl. That's the American Way.

And, of course, we're going nuclear again. But this time we're doing it the smart way. We're putting our new plants just inside the borders of the n-word and Redskin Republics, wrapped around by Protective Fences, of course. So there's no danger to the White race if there's an accident every now and again. And I have to admit, since we're honest over here, that they do happen. And we dump the nuclear wastes in those Republics too, right along with all the rest of garbage. [5] After all, garbage loves garbage, doesn't it? But we are letting those lesser lights have some light from the plants-- if they can pay for it.

But, you tell me, there are always those yammerers about the future. Well, we're using sulfured coal again-- there's plenty of it, and we wouldn't want it to go to waste now, would we? And we're letting cars burn just about anything. And we're getting along just great.

We've finally learned we just don't have to worry about the future. It will take care of itself. It's that kind of liberal-niggerlover-environmental wacko thinking that got us into trouble in the first place. Just look at how prosperous we are now. And this new Act is going to make us even more prosperous. Just you wait.

Author's Commentary

On the Hague Speech

The Hague speech was remarkable for what it didn't say as well as for what it did say. First as to the latter. This speech was a classic Right-Wing Reactionary diversionary tactic dating from the Transition Era. By this time, they had used it so many times that they probably no longer realized what they were doing. (When they started using it, as far back as the pre-Transition Era politics of President Richard Nixon, it was apparent that they knew precisely what they were doing, and did it consciously.)

It was the old formula. Identify a problem (in this case loss of jobs specifically in the energy and natural resources sectors, and more gen er ally in the economy as a whole). Create an enemy, one that is easily identifiable from your side. Make sure that the identified enemy is in no way related to the real causes of the identified problem so that no linkages can be made. (In this instance, the real causes were national investment and energy policies generally, and private timber and coal industry practices in particular.)

If the identified enemy is non-existent, weak, or long-gone from the scene, even better. Then it cannot defend itself against your attacks and is ill"'equipped to identify and educate people about the real causes of the problem(s). In this case, the problems were real enough, and highly threatening to the whole fabric of the economy. But the supposed cause identified by Hague, the "environmental movement," had long since departed the scene.

The environmental movement was one of the earliest victims of the late Transition Era Right-Wing Reactionary policy of "defunding the Left" by arranging to end the Federal income tax deductibility of voluntary monetary contributions to it. At the same time, the policy severely limited the ability of all sorts of voluntary agencies such as the Amer i can Red Cross and the Boy Scouts even to speak out on pub lic issues (Crowley; Lewis, [b]). Of course, with the repeal of the income tax, all tax deductibility disappeared any way, and the rich who benefited from the effective tax reduction were highly unlikely to be contributors to organizations devoted to protecting the environment.

The operation of the "free market" in timber and energy policy had led, for example, to the destruction of thousands of square miles of forest and range land (through strip mining for coal). That process was already well underway by the mid"'Transition Era (see, for example, Egan). That was why the NAR, in developing the RBE, would have to expand into the as yet unspoiled wilds of Western Canada (see below, and Chapter 16).

Overfishing had led directly to the destruction of the food fish populations of the Georges and Grand Banks off the eastern coast of the U.S. and Canada. It was certainly feasible to achieve sustainable use of these renewable resources through careful management and planning (Rosenberg, et al). That was never done; it would have been a Young-like "Communist plot" and "interference with the free market."

Further on fishing, it was over-harvesting and the destruction of the Western rivers by damming and the despoliation of the land by timber over-cutting leading to soil-erosion and its consequences that virtually destroyed the salmon industry in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. Nerertheless, according to Hague and his forebears it was the "envirofascists" who did all the damage. Little had been done to correct that false message when it first made its appearance during the Transition Era. With control of the media completely in Hagueite hands, it was of course impossible to do anything about it in 2013.

As to Hague's point about the environmental movement and job-loss, many more jobs had been lost because of industry policies and practices than because of environmental regulation and protection. For example, in the timber industry, most job"'loss occurred be cause of clear"'cutting and the closure of private lumber mills as industry sales and marketing practices changed (Durning; Egan; Johnson; Linden). "Interference" from the environmental protection movement was not a primary cause of job-loss.

In fact, it had already been shown in the 90s that environmental protection could actually create jobs in areas that private timber companies had already over-harvested (Glick; Seagar). At the same time, in the then two principal economic rivals of the old U.S., Germany and Ja pan, "environmental protection [was seen] as an opportunity for economic development, not a barrier to growth" (Moore). Much of the advantage that they quickly achieved in the field of environmental preservation technology was based on methods and systems that had been originally developed in the old U.S., but never exploited there, either by government or private industry.

On the Oakwood Transcript

Note the casual prejudice ("the towel-heads' oil") that was so much a part of the Oakwood presentation. Note too the casual manner in which he alluded to the end of the oil supply from the Middle East, something that had been warned against by energy-supply experts for decades. However, profits not prudence had ruled the utilization of those re serves.

In the 1970s the oil-rich countries surrounding the Persian Gulf had nationalized their own petroleum reserves. Subsequently, the only way the large American oil companies which had previously owned the stuff could make money was by acting as the middleman and selling large quantities of it on the retail market. The more oil they sold, the more money they made. But they could no longer make money simply by owning the oil reserves and seeing their value rise over time.

The oil companies wanted nothing to interfere with their short-term profit-making potential, so they made sure that any oil-conservation or conversion programs were muzzled. Ironically, if they had owned the reserves, they might have been interested in conservation to make the petroleum"'basis of the economies of the industrialized countries last longer into the future, when the resource would be more expensive.

In fact, the Reaganite destruction of the American domestic oil industry (in which many relatively small companies were factors) during the early Transition Era was prompted by the need the large oil companies had for maintaining American dependence on foreign supplies, sold in America at high profits, by those self-same companies.

The Reaganites also virtually shut down the nascent industry in alternative energy sources, such as solar. These policies were all undertaken at the behest of Big Oil, major benefactors of the Reaganite Republicans. After President Clinton had overseen a modest re"'start in alternative energy resource research and development in 1993, the Re publican-controlled 104th Congress moved smartly to shut it down.

The reference to the siting of both the nuclear power and the nuclear waste "disposal" industries on the borders of the Negro and Indian Republics needs no comment. As to the "don't worry about tomorrow" message, that was an old one for Right-Wing Reaction, dating back to the early Transition Era and President Ronald Reagan.

On the "Resource Based Economy"

Hague did not discuss the "Resource-Based Economy" (RBE) in this speech. But it was the Natural Resources Access Act that led directly to its development. Indeed the Act was needed if the RBE were to be developed. With the continued relative decline in American industrial capacity, and the coming severe limitations on petroleum supplied from the Middle East, the economic decision"'makers had determined that America would live on its natural resources, and eventually those of its neighbor to the north.

The aim was to make the NAR one of the two major energy sources for the industrialized world (the other being the now-divided nation of Russia). The NAR would more and more meet its own energy needs from the unfettered use of nuclear power, now that plant siting and nuclear waste dumping were to be considered "No Problem."

Domestic petroleum reserves were fast disappearing, even from the Arctic areas and the continental shelf. However, with the reintroduction of the use of sulfured coal and the end of any restrictions on strip mining, the NAR's coal reserves were numbered in the several hundred years. Nevertheless, the NAR was using up its own trees rapidly, even with the new technologies that made energy extraction from them much more efficient. Thus the drive to take over Western Canada and its seemingly countless trees intensified. (It had coal, oil, and natural gas reserves too.) This policy had been advocated during the Transition Era by certain Right-Wing Reactionary figures such as Patrick Buchanan (c. 1989). (There is no indication, however, that Buchanan would have endorsed the specific policies followed by Hague and the NAR.)

Responding to the long-standing economic depression in Canada, and using the economic advantages afforded by the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994 and other similar pacts with Canada, American resource capital had moved ever-more strongly into the four Western Canadian provinces during the early Fascist Period. The larger and larger American economic presence supported the political drive. The latter eventually culminated in the dismemberment of Canada and the Legitimation Treaty of 2017 (see Chapter 16).

Thus the passage of the Natural Resources Access Act, which led to the massive despoliation of the environment from which we have yet to recover, was a pivotal event for the history of the whole of North America. It also marked a major step down the road towards world wide environmental destruction and its consequences that Dino Louis had described in an unpublished commentary on the Earth Summit of 1992 held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The essay had apparently been written at the request of a friend of Louis' who was an international authority on epidemiology. It responded to a general question the friend had posed: "What are the world's five major health problems, as you see them?" This brief essay is re produced here.

Five Major Health Problems (Plus One)

by Dino Louis

June 8, 1992

In opening the Earth Summit of 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, Bra zil, Maurice Strong of Canada, Summit coordinator, said (New York Post):

"We have been the most successful species ever. . . . We are now a species out of control. Our very success is leading to a dangerous future. . . . The wasteful and destructive lifestyles of the rich cannot be maintained at the cost of the lives and the livelihoods of the poor and of nature. We are either going to save the whole world or none of it."

That's the number one health problem: the future of the human species, and perhaps of all life on Earth. That problem is also two, three, four, and five.

Another way to characterize the present situation is by listing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:

" Pestilence

" Famine

" Flood

" War

One would only need to add one more Horseman that the conceivers of the Four could not have thought of: Overpopulation, the health problem which underlies and is a major factor in each of the first four.

(If overpopulation had been an even barely perceptible future occurrence at the time the original Horsemen were conceived of, there surely would have been Five of them to begin with. But human over"'population was far beyond anyone's ken 2000 years ago. It has become possible only in our era, when dogma has failed to keep up with science.)

When done correctly, after description, the Public Health Method of problem solving moves on to causal analysis. Many books have been written on the present predicament facing life on earth, and it is a high ly complicated one. But "the wasteful and destructive lifestyles of the rich" are certainly the most prominent of those causes. Major responsibility for the parlous state of the world does lie with the industrialized countries and the political, social, and economic policies they have fol lowed over the last 300 years or so.

Currently, the major factors in the imminent environmental disasters that await us are:

" The heavy reliance on carbon dioxide"'producing fossil fuels for energy, especially by the United States.

" The exploitation of natural resources around the world by the industrialized countries, without regard for the ultimate outcomes of that exploitation.

" The use of chloro-flurocarbons for a variety of purposes, many of them frivolous.

" Destruction of the forests around the world for profit, as well as for fuel and the creation of arable land to support the rapidly burgeoning population.

" The active opposition to population control, for ideological/political reasons on the part of the Eurocentric Roman Catholic Church, and for domestic political reasons by the Reaganite/Bushist Administra tion in the United States.

" Underlying all of the above is production for profit rather than use, which has produced the enormous human, biological, economic, solid, and toxic wastes that now burden us.

Solutions to the problems represented by the Four Horsemen Plus One require very significant political, economic, and social policy changes on the part of the industrialized countries, especially the United States, as was borne out on an almost daily basis during the Rio Sum mit. The solutions require policy changes on the part on the "developing" countries as well, but without action by the former, action by the latter will mean nothing.

Present policy changes agreed to by the industrialized countries, especially the United States, will make only minor alterations in the present downward course toward the Apocalypse. To change them significantly will require major political shifts in those countries. In my view, that is one of the most important tasks to which public health authorities in those countries should currently be lending a hand.

However, looming on the horizon is an even more serious threat to human existence than present industrialized country policy: the threatened takeover of the governments of a number of the industrialized countries, not in the least the United States, by far right"'wing, authoritarian, sometimes theocratic, political parties. We have already experienced more than a whiff of what this would mean for the future of the world in the present Reaganite/Bushist policies that were most recently played out by the American approach to the Rio Summit.

The advent of such authoritarian governments would virtually ensure the end of civilization as we know it, if not of human the species itself, because of their known policies on: the use of petroleum and other fossil fuels, global warming, ozone depletion, population control, the use of force backed up by thermonuclear weapons to achieve political and economic objectives not obtainable by other means, and the belief of their religious Fundamentalist wings in the inevitability (to some of them the desirability) of the Apocalypse in any case. Thus, in my view, the number one health problem facing those of us living in the industrialized nations is changing the course our governments are taking and, for those of us living in countries threatened by authoritarian take"'over, the fight to prevent that catastrophe from occurring.

Author's Comment

Unfortunately, in this essay Louis was nothing if not prescient.

References:

Arnold, R. and Gottlieb, A. Trashing the Economy: How Runaway Environmentalism is Wrecking America, Bellevue, WA: Free Enterprise Press, 1993. 1 "'74.

Buchanan, P., Patrick J. Buchanan . . . From the Right, fund-raising letter, c. 1989.

Chernow, B.A. and Vallasi, G.E., Eds., The Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition, "Oregon," NewYork: Columbia University Press, 1993, p. 2021.

Crowley, M., "Mistook Istook," The New Republic, November 27, 1995.

Durning, A.T., "Saving the Forests: What Will It Take?" Worldwatch Paper 117, December, 1993.

Egan, T., "A Land Deal Leaves Montana Heavily Logged and Hurt ing," New York Times, October 9, 1993.

Gleeson, K., "Patriotic Games," The ZPG Reporter, November, 1992, Vol. 24, No. 5.

Glick, D., "Having Owls and Jobs Too," National Wildlife, Au gust/September, 1995, p. 9.

Gottlieb, A.M., The Wise Use Agenda, Bellevue, WA: The Free Enterprise Press, 1989.

Helvarg, D., "The Anti-Enviro Connection," The Nation, May 22, 1995.

In Brief, "And Justice for All," Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund News letter, Summer 1993, p. 1.

Johnson, R., Sierra Club Northwest Office, Personal Communication, Septem ber 30, 1992.

Lewis, A., "On Another Planet?" New York Times, September 29, 1995, (a).

Lewis, A., "A Menacing Vendetta" New York Times, October 2, 1995, (b).

Linden, E., "The Green Factor," Time, October 12, 1992.

Moore, C., "Bush's Nonsense on Jobs and the Environment," New York Times, September 25, 1992.

New York Post, "U.S. Likely Scapegoat as Earth Summit Gets Underway," June 4, 1992, p. 15.

Rosenberg, A.A., "Achieving Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources," Science, Vol. 262, November 5, 1993.

Schneider, K., "Bush Strip-Mining Plan for Parks is Blocked," New York Times, October 3, 1992.

Schuchat, S., "Unfit Stewards," New York Times, September 20, 1995.

SCLDF: Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, "Was the Election as Horrific as it Seemed?" In Brief, Winter 1994-95, p. 2.

Seager, S., "The Other Logging Dispute Rages in the Forest Primeval in New England," New York Times, November 27, 1995.

Sher, V., "Lawless America?" In Brief, Summer, 1995.

Stapleton, R.M., "Greed vs. Green," National Parks, November/December, 1992, p. 32.

The Private Sector, "Governing," Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring, 1995, p. 3

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Notes:

[1] There is no indication or evidence that James Hansen, Alan Gottlieb, Ron Arnold, any other member or associate of the "Wise Use Movement" or related organizations, John Kitzhaber, Pete Wilson, Tim LaHaye, Don Young, or any of the other historical personages or organizations mentioned or alluded to in this chapter or else where in this book in a similar manner, would have supported or approved in any way of the passage of the "Natural Resources Access Act," or any of the regulations, policies, or procedures created or implemented pursuant to it in or by the New American Republics at any time in the future, subsequent to its passage and the implementation of the policies carried out pursuant to it.

[2] The reader may recall that President Hague had trouble finding writers who could prepare original speeches. For example, as Connie Conroy revealed (see Chapter 6), his First Inaugural was drawn largely from the work of Transition Era Right"'Wing Reactionary leaders. It has been discovered that this Arbor Day speech was based in large measure (with a great deal of cutting, some direct quotation, a good deal of para phrase), on the writings of two leaders of the Transition Era Right-Wing Reactionary "Wise Use" movement, Ron Arnold and Alan Gottlieb, that appeared in their book Trashing the Economy: How Runaway Environmentalism is Wrecking America, Belleville, WA: Free Enterprise Press, 1993, pp. 1-74. There is no indication any where, however, that either Arnold or Gottlieb would have endorsed the Hagueite ideology or mode of government in any way.

[3] It is not known whether or not Hague was struck by the irony of his making such a speech as this on Arbor Day. It was formerly a locally determined holiday celebrating tree planting. Hague happened to have made it into a national holiday celebrating an Act that would bring about, among other things, the wholesale slaughter of trees on the North American continent.

[4] The "54-40" reference is to a mid-19th century slogan of settlers in the U.S. Northwest, "54-40 or fight." It encapsulated a territorial goal of the time which, if achieved, would have incorporated into the United States much of what later became the four Western Provinces of Canada (Chernow and Vallasi). Subsequent events would see that goal achieved for the NAR (see Chapter 16).

[5] "Racial dumping" of toxic wastes had been wide ly practiced in the old U.S. for many years (In Brief).

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Democrats might want to consider stepping back from that steep ledge. The first "debate" between President Joe Biden and the 45th president, Donald Trump, is over, and at first glance, was a total disaster for Biden and the Democrats.

But at second glance, maybe not so much. Anybody who watched the debate could see President Biden looking every day of his 81 years, maybe more like 91. He appeared lost and confused, not at all like the guy we saw months earlier, at his State of the Union Speech. Chalk it up as a big loss.

But what about Donald Trump-- did he win the "debate"? Maybe not. Trump has his solid base of Republican cultists, millions of them. To them, he is a divine gift from God, and can do no wrong-- ever.

Still, his supporters do not make up the majority of the American electorate. Trump will still need Republican moderates (we will assume there are some) and independents to win the presidency. They are not in the bag yet.



One debate done one more to follow

(Image by Elvert Barnes) Details DMCA



While Biden lost the debate, it is less than clear that Donald Trump won. Those Republican moderates and independents had to have seen the blustery, negative, vindictive, lying and unhinged man we know all too well. I sincerely doubt he "won" many of those undecided voters, and he likely turned off more than a few.

Perhaps the debate was not a total disaster for Democrats. They still have to decide if they stick with Biden, or let a younger, more vibrant Democrat carry the mantle. The Democratic Party is split right now on that issue, and it will not be easy to fix the problem.

Fortunately, there are ways, and there is time. November 5 is more than four months away.

I believe Biden's physical and mental health has to be a major part of the decision to continue having him run. There are plenty of signs he has lost a lot off his fastball, and it will have to be determined if that is the normal aging process or some unspoken, undisclosed disability. If it is the latter, a change in candidates is imperative.

Donald Trump has plenty of his own issues. Despite his insistence that he is a genius, nobody really believes that. His numerous verbal gaffes and bizarre, unintelligible rants are signs his mind is slipping even faster than usual. (It should not be overlooked that his father, Fred Trump, had Alzheimer's Disease.)

As I noted in a previous commentary: several prominent mental health professionals have expressed concern about Trump's deteriorating brain function. Dr. John Gartner, a former professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, has been vocal about his professional analysis of Trump, asserting a stark difference between the candidates: "Biden is aging. Trump is dementing."

Dr. Elisabeth Zoffmann, a forensic psychiatrist and an Associate Clinical Professor of Forensic and General Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, believes that Trump is displaying a range of behaviors that suggest cognitive challenges if not impairment. She concludes Trump appears to be suffering from Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia (BvFTD), which drastically affects personality, behavior, and social interactions.

And let's think for a moment about expectations. For Biden, if he stays in, his bar is set very low, which could work to his advantage in a second debate. That assumes Biden doesn't step down, allowing a stronger candidate to take his place.

No matter what, Trump's clueless base and the moronic Republican leaders like Lindsay Graham, Ted Cruz, Speaker Mike Johnson, plus all the ones who lust for the chance to be his V.P., are going to stick with the guy, as will Fox News and the rest of the right-wing media propaganda machine.

But just as Biden cannot hide his aging issues, Trump will not be able to hide his numerous deficiencies, falsehoods, advancing dementia, and serious personality flaws. His obvious craziness will be on display for four more months, and that should give Democrats a fighting chance to win the presidency and importantly, Congress.

So, Democrats, walk away from that ledge. Donald Trump's lunacy gives voters a chance to salvage American democracy.

Yes, there is actually hope.
Reading Tod Stevens' front page article about "a new chapter" for nuclear energy in Richland, WA, you'd think no one had ever read "Atomic Days," a detailed account of the devastation and delayed cleanup of Hanford's tortured historical connection to the ugly pollution of that sacred site.

We even have the enthusiastic commitment from May Richardson for a "clean nuclear energy" future, which can never, ever happen due to contamination for hundreds of thousands of years of the land. There are places at Hanford where even robots fear to tread.

The ED of Energy Forward Alliance, recently with the Washington Policy Center, Sean O'Brien, tried to separate the power project from the legacy of Hanford, a futile attempt what with radioactive elements downriver to Astoria and downwind to Spokane, as well as residuals of plutonium found on every continent.

Small Modular Reactors, some types which produce plutonium, are still in the experimental state. The Environmental Defense Institute reports that "Of numerous designs, the improved safety of a single SMR is unlikely to compensate for the higher risk of multiple units, each capable of meltdown. SMRs will be susceptible to accidents, terrorist acts, and do not address the spent fuel storage problem."

A media release from the Nuclear Energy Information Service reports: PRESS RELEASE: Small modular reactors are still too expensive, too slow, and too risky.

Additional key takeaways state: "Investment in SMRs will take resources away from carbon-free and lower-cost renewable technologies that are available today and can push the transition from fossil fuels forward significantly in the coming 10 years. Experience with operating and proposed SMRs shows that the reactors will continue to cost far more and take much longer to build than promised by proponents."

The World Information Service on Energy reports that Carbon Dioxide is generated throughout the nuclear industry: "The view that nuclear power is free of CO2 emissions turns out to be a fallacy, originating from disregarding construction, operation, maintenance, upstream processes and downstream processes of a nuclear power plant."

Dr. Mark Cooper, senior research fellow for economic analysis at the Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School, writes about the small modular reactor (SMR) 'hype cycle' and concludes: "Today, they emphasize small size and speed to market, characteristics on which the alternatives are vastly superior. At the same time they ignore the innovation that has sharply increased renewable load factors and the dramatic advances in information and control technologies that have improved the ability to forecast and integrate renewables."

With Joshua Frank speaking, we hear the words that will live at Hanford for a million years :

"If we are to learn anything from Hanford, it's that nuclear technology, in all its forms, is a clear and present danger to all living things."
The Supreme Court's decision in "Trump v. United States," using its "review for Constitutionality" power, precisely enables the establishment, through the manipulation of the law, of a future fascist-in-practice dictatorship (which of course would destroy Constitutional government in the United Sates). In its light, I am republishing here the [fictional] "decision" by the [fictional] "Chief Justice Steps" from my book "The 15% Solution," that overturned the 1803 Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison, written by Chief Justice John Marshall. In this fictional decision the Court removed from itself the power of Constitutional review which Marbury v. Madison had established. This column is an excerpt from Chapter 5 of my book, presenting that fictional decision. (That chapter was republished in full in this space on April 29, 2024.)

(By the way, the "Holding" in Trump v. U.S., which is the formal, brief summary of the primary finding of the Supreme Court's decision, is absolutely terrifying to anyone who believes in the Rule of Law: "The nature of presidential power entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority; he is also entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts; there is no immunity for unofficial acts." OMG [even though I don't believe that such a being exists, anywhere]. And a further "by the way." Isn't "Trump versus the United States [of America]" just a perfect name for this decision?)

As I tell the story in my book (which was first published in 1996), according to a then-future Republican Supreme Court operating under a formerly Republican, now Fascist, President/Dictator, that personage simply wants to get the Supreme Court, any Supreme Court, out of his way. In Chapter 5 of my book "The 15% Solution," in a decision entitled "Anderson v. Board of Education," (republished in this serialization on April 29, 2024,) I had a fictional Chief Justice "Steps" (Scalia, get it?) write the opinion for a majority Supreme Court decision overturning Marbury v. Madison (1803). It was in that case, plus several subsequent ones, which in my view (and certainly that of numerous others over time) out of whole cloth, established the Court's Constitutional review power. For, as it happens, that power nowhere appears explicitly in the Constitution.

Summary of the Decision (Supreme Court Bulletin)

"Supreme Court Has No Constitutional Review Authority"

Anderson v. Board of Education, Ce tiorari to United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

No. 101"'11. Argued October 31, 2002-- Decided May 13, 2003.

Petitioner, a parent acting on behalf of her minor child, brought a civil action against the Board of Education of the state of New Jersey seeking to pre vent it from enforcing a law passed during the 2001 session of the State Legislature mandating voluntary prayer in the public schools of that state. Both the trial and appeals courts in the state of New Jersey found for the respondent. Petitioner appealed to the Supreme Court. Without arguing the merits, respondent filed a brief claiming that under 28 U.S.C., Chap. 81, para. 1260, generally known as the "Helms Amendment [1]," the U.S. Supreme Court did not have jurisdiction in this case. [That fictional law, named after Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, who promoted such legislation, upheld the Constitutionality of prayer in public schools.}

Held: Under the cited section of the U.S. Code, the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to review appeals of state school prayer statutes. Further, there can be found in the Constitution of the United States no grant of authority to the Supreme Court to review the action of any other branch of the Federal Government or any branch of any state government for its "constitutionality."

(a) Article 3, Section 2 of the Constitution defines the authority of the Federal judicial power: "The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made under their authority; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies to which the United States shall be a party; to controversies between two or more states."

(b) It is clear that the plain language of this article supports the holding of the Court. Under the Doctrine of Original Intent, by which the Constitution should always be interpreted, it is clear that the Constitution means only what it says, not what any individual judge or group of judges collectively think that it ought to say or would like it to say. It thus be comes clear that the series of decisions handed down by Chief Justice John Marshall and his colleagues in the first quarter of the 19th century which established the theory of Supreme Court "judicial re view" for "constitutionality" were based on faulty legal reasoning.

(c) In the first of these cases, Marbury v. Madison, the Court invalidated an "Act of Congress giving the Court jurisdiction to hear original applications for writs of mandamus, because in such cases the Constitution limits the Supreme Court to appellate jurisdiction" (Cox). While that opinion may be valid, nowhere does the Constitution give the Court the power to apply it with the force of law. Rather, as in Great Britain, the legislative branch, through the will of the majority, is the only appropriate judge of the "constitutionality" of its own acts. In his written opinion, the Chief Justice stated that if "the courts lacked the power to give sting to constitutional safeguards . . . , the Legislative and Executive Branches might too often override the Constitution" (Cox). That may well be true. But if the Founding Fathers had wanted to give the Federal judiciary that "protective" function, they would have clearly writ ten it into the Constitution. Chief Justice Marshall was reading into the Constitution words that he wanted to see -- but were not there.

(d) In Martin v. Hunter's Lessee, Justice Joseph Story expanded the Supreme Court's review powers to include decisions made by the State courts (Cox). Like Chief Justice Marshall, Justice Story was reading into Article 3, Section 2 of the Constitution what he wanted to see there. In Cohens v. Virginia Chief Justice Marshall affirmed Justice Story's conclusion in Martin, using the same faulty reasoning (Cox).

(e) Finally, in McCulloch v. Maryland, Chief Justice Marshall not only reaffirmed the Court's review authority, unstated in the Constitution, but found in it other "implied powers," giving the Congress authority to undertake actions not otherwise specified by the Constitution (in this case renewing the charter of the United States Bank which it had originally established in 1791) (Cox).

(f) After extensive review of the opinions and reasoning in the decisions made in the aforementioned cases, careful review of the language of the Constitution itself, and a consideration of the available evidence on Original Intent, the Court was able to find no basis for the conclusions on "implied powers" that Chief Justice Marshall and his colleagues drew in those decisions referable to the authority of either the Supreme Court or the Congress. Thus, the Court held, the precedents established by those cases and all their successors down through the years were based on faulty reasoning and a reading of the Constitution not in accord with the Doctrine of Original Intent. Thus, those faulty precedents must be abandoned. Since the specifics of Marbury, Martin, Cohens, and McCulloch had long since become moot, the Court chose not to reverse those decisions. However, it did reverse the holdings made in those cases that the Supreme Court had any power to review the actions of the Federal Executive and Legislative branches or any State courts for their "constitutionality."

11 F. 11th 111, Affirmed. Chief Justice Steps delivered the opinion of the Court; seven justices joining, one dissenting.

Author's Commentary (that is the fictional future author of "The 15% Solution," writing from the perspective of 2048, in a re-established United Sates of America)

Anderson v. United States was the most significant decision handed down by the Supreme Court in the old United States since Marbury v. Madison, referred to in the decision summary reproduced above. In that case, Chief Justice John Marshall had established the power of the Supreme Court to review actions of the two other branches of the Federal government. As correctly noted by Chief Justice Steps that power is no where clearly grant ed to it by the Constitution itself. Nevertheless, Mar shall said, if the Supreme Court found such actions to be unconstitutional, they were null and void. His reasoning went as follows (Cox):

"The Constitution is either a superior paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means, or it is on a level with ordinary legislative acts, and, like other acts, is alter able when the legislature shall please to alter it. If the former part of the alternative be true, then a legislative act contrary to the Constitution is not law; if the latter part be true, then written constitutions are absurd at tempts, on the part of the people, to limit a power in its own nature illimitable."

Marshall, of course, held that the "former alternative" was true, its truth found in the fact of the Constitution itself. He then drew the defensible conclusion that the body given the power to adjudicate disputes arising under the Constitution, and Article 3 Section 2 surely did that, indeed had the power to review the actions of the other two governmental branches for their constitutionality. That authority was extended to the appellate review of state court decisions having constitutional implications under the defensible conclusion that by ratifying the Constitution in the first place, the states had ceded to the Unit ed States that appellate jurisdiction, which is clearly contained in Article 3 Section 2 (see the decision in Cohens).

Once the Court under Marshall's leadership had made those judgments, the full American power structure quickly came to agree with him. The Jeffersonians did make several modest attempts to undermine the independence and authority of the Supreme Court, but failed and ultimately gave up. From that time onwards, American jurisprudence came to be firmly established in the legal structure that Chief Justice Marshall had constructed on the Constitution's base, as he interpreted it.

One very important principle set forth by Marshall, and subsequently accepted by all parties to American government down to the Transition Era, was that the Constitution was a document that meant more than it explicitly said, that was open to interpretation, and held within itself "implications." And by implication that meant the Constitution was a document that could grow and change with changing times and circumstances, that it was indeed designed to grow and change with changing times and circumstances.

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End of the excerpt, here. Of course in "Trump v. United States" this Republican Supreme Court went full force the other way, interpreting the Constitution to, as noted, enable the subsequent establishment of a dictatorship --- whichever crimes (and of course the Court would decide the "criminality" question) a President might commit in his/her "official capacity," are not "crimes." See ya at the Reichstag, on "Enabling Act" day.

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

Though I was never in the U.S. military, my life experience has been American wars, wars, wars, and more wars. I was born during World War II. I was in grade school when the Korean War took place. I still have a faint memory of a photo of a gleaming American soldier's face from that unsettled conflict. (It might have been on the cover of LIFE magazine.) I was a protesting youth in the disastrous Vietnam War years. And that was just the beginning. Skipping over events like the invasions of Panama and Grenada and the first Gulf War of the 1990s, in my years running TomDispatch, I've dealt with a seemingly never-ending series of all-American wars (which, by the way, never -- no, never -- turn out "successfully"). From Afghanistan and Iraq to Africa, America's post-9/11 war on terror proved to be a genuine hell on Earth. If you don't believe me, just check out the figures on deaths, direct and indirect, from those decades of horror that the invaluable Costs of War Project has put together.

And what lessons have been drawn from all of that? Only that this country should pour ever more staggering sums into a Pentagon budget that's already larger than those of the next nine countries combined and still rising, support military bases across the planet, and" well, you get the idea, right?

And it never really ends, does it? In fact, as Tomdispatch regular Juan Cole, creator of the must-read Informed Comment website, points out today, this country could well be on the verge of -- yes! -- yet another conflict from hell, this one in -- would you even believe it? -- the Red Sea area. After all, almost unnoticed here, American planes have been unsuccessfully striking at the Houthi rebels in Yemen for months now, while American naval ships continue to patrol that sea (as the disaster in Gaza only grows ever worse). As retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and historian Bill Astore wrote recently at his Bracing Views substack, "How would I feel as a Navy officer covering the flanks of Israel so that the IDF [the Israeli military] can concentrate its forces in murderous assaults on Gaza?" How, indeed? It's possible that, if things go as they so often have in these years, all too many American naval officers will indeed find out. Now, let Cole take you into another world about which most Americans know next to nothing where, in the months to come, we might indeed find ourselves at war. Tom

Turning the Red Sea Redder

Will America's Backing for Israel's War in Gaza Torch the Red Sea Region Too?

By Juan Cole

In mid-June, the Associated Press announced that the U.S. Navy had been engaged in the most intense naval combat since the end of World War II, which surely would come as a surprise to most Americans. This time, the fighting isn't taking place in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans but in the Red Sea and the adversary is Yemen's -- yes, Yemen's! -- Shiite party-militia, the Helpers of God (Ansar Allah), often known, thanks to their leading clan, as the Houthis. They are supporting the Palestinians of Gaza against the Israeli campaign of total war on that small enclave, while, in recent months, they have faced repeated air strikes from American planes and have responded by, among other things, attacking an American aircraft carrier and other ships off their coast. Their weapons of choice are rockets, drones, small boats rigged with explosives, and -- a first! -- anti-ship ballistic missiles with which they have targeted Red Sea shipping. The Houthis see the U.S. Navy as part of the Israeli war effort.

The Gate of Lamentation

In a sense, it couldn't be more remarkable, historically speaking. Modest numbers of Yemenis have managed to launch a challenge to the prevailing world order, despite being poor, weak, and brown, attributes that usually make people invisible to the American establishment. One all-too-modern asset the Houthis have is the emergence of micro-weaponry in our world -- small drones and rockets that, at the moment, can't be easily wiped out even by the sophisticated armaments of the U.S. Navy.

Another is geographical. The Houthis command the Tihamah coastal plain, the eastern littoral of the Red Sea. It stretches from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (the entry point to that sea from the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean) to the Suez Canal, which connects the shipping in those waters to the Mediterranean, and so to Europe. The Bab el-Mandeb, known for being treacherous to navigate even in the most peaceable of times, is said to mean "the Gate of Lamentation," and these days, it's living up to its name. Keep in mind that 10% of world seaborne trade flows through the Suez Canal and, perhaps even more importantly, 12% of the world's energy supplies.

What we might call the Battle of the Tihamah has already lasted seven months and, surprisingly enough, given the opponents, its outcome remains in doubt. The Associated Press quotes Brian Clark, a senior fellow at the neoconservative Hudson Institute and a former Navy submariner, as expressing concerns that the Houthis are on the verge of penetrating American naval defenses with their missiles, raising the possibility that they could inflict significant damage on a U.S. destroyer or even an aircraft carrier. Repeated American and British air strikes against suspected Houthi weapons sites in and around the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, have so far failed to halt the war on shipping. Even high-tech American Reaper drones are no longer assured of dominating Middle Eastern airspace since the Houthis have shot down four of those $30 million weapons so far.

Idling the Suez Canal

Given how little Americans generally know about Yemen, some historical background is perhaps in order. The Houthi movement has its roots in Zaydi Shiism, which took hold in northern Yemen in the 890s. (Yes, the 890s, not the 1890s!). Today's Zaydis are upset by Israeli atrocities in Gaza. Last December, large crowds of them came out in the Zaydi stronghold of Saadeh and other northern Yemeni towns to protest Israel's intensive bombing of that 25-mile strip of land. Waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags, they pledged support against "the armies of tyranny," shouting, "We closed Bab el-Mandeb, O Zionist, do not approach!" and "The Yemeni response is legitimate, and the Red Sea is forbidden!"

The Houthis have indeed struck commercial container ships in the Red Sea, even seizing one, the Galaxy Leader (which, believe it or not, they turned into a tourist attraction). They also sank two cargo ships, killing three crew members. Although they maintain that they are only hitting Israeli-owned vessels, most of their attacks have, in fact, targeted the vessels of unrelated third parties like Greece. Their strikes have, however, caused a major disruption in world trade.

The Houthis have also fired large numbers of ballistic missiles at the Israeli Red Sea port of Eilat, idling it since November. Some five percent of Israel's imports once arrived through Eilat. Now, such trade has been rerouted to Mediterranean ports at a distinctly higher cost, while southern Israel's economy has taken a big hit. Gideon Golber, the CEO of the Port of Eilat, demanded that the United States intervene. And Israel is anything but the only country to suffer from such attacks. Ports such as Massawa, Port Sudan, and Berbera in the Horn of Africa have also become ghost towns, while the traffic through the Suez Canal is now so light that Egypt, which collects transit tolls, is suffering significant economic damage.

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Dear Annie: I get my car detailed at a business near the beach in Los Angeles. When I took my car there, I meant to move the spare change that I kept for parking meters and laundry out of the car, but I did not. I forgot.

When I got my car back, there were about $8 in quarters missing, but dimes, nickels and pennies were left behind. I emailed the owner the next day.

The owner called me and apologized and refunded the full price of my car detail. I told him the full refund was not necessary and that I wanted to let him know what had happened. Because I had used the word steal in my email, he took offense to that.

I replied on the phone that the money was gone after I got my car back.

He said he wished me well and I replied, Are you saying you dont want to do business with me anymore?

Now I feel bad in a situation where I did nothing wrong and was trying to alert him to a problem with his workers at his business.

What do I do now, or what should I have done earlier, in this situation? -- Suffering While Trying to Help

Dear Suffering: Im not exactly sure why you declined his refund for your car detailing. It sounds like the owner of the business just wanted the facts of what had happened -- and not your opinion about how the employees should be dealt with. The next time you have your car detailed, I would recommend thanking the owner for the way he handled the missing quarters and then letting it go.

Dear Annie: We are parents of four and grandparents of nine. Yes, certainly our grandchildren are much busier than ever. I felt eating nutritious meals together as a family was more important than running around all the time. We did limit activities and did not believe they had to sign up for everything. While we truly enjoy being part of our grandchildrens lives, we still have other obligations. Yes, we do help with childcare and are very involved. We have learned to say no sometimes, and our children are OK with that.

Dear Boundaries: Im printing your letter because Im a huge advocate for honest communication and everyone setting their own personal boundaries. In the end, it will make relationships more harmonious.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM
Ellen Edwards says she mysteriously began shedding pounds four days ago. It all started last Thursday when the 60-year-old, who lives in Alaska, inexplicably lost her appetite and energy.

Edwards finally understood why on Saturday, she said. She received a call from detectives in Portland, Oregon. Sean Smeeden, the nephew she had raised as a son during his early adolescence, had been shot to death Thursday evening, the detectives told her.

Her soul already knew, she believes.

When Seans soul left this earth, a little bit of me went with him, Edwards said.

Officers found Smeeden, 39, dead on a MAX train platform at North Interstate Avenue and Prescott Street at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday. His killing was one of two fatal shootings in Portland that night, police reported. A suspect in Smeedens killing, Moyasar Osman Mohamed-Ahmed, 29, is in custody, according to police.

Edwards remembers Smeeden, born in Anchorage, as the happy, energetic 10-year-old who came to live with Edwards and her now late husband. Smeedens mother, Edwards sister-in-law, suffered from drug addiction and his father wasnt in the picture, Edwards said.

For a while, Smeeden thrived, attending school regularly after rarely doing so for years.

That kid was so incredibly smart, Edwards said.

He also took part in track and field and wrestling, enjoying the chance to be active and a part of something, she said.

But then, when Smeeden was around 14, his mom stepped back into his life. Edwards had no choice but to let him go.

I had to release him from safety, to her, Edwards recalled.

When Smeeden was 17, his mother died of an overdose  but he only returned to Edwards home for a few days. He began couch surfing, and he and Edwards fell out of touch, she said.

Sheri Johnson, Smeedens cousin, remembered Smeeden as a free spirit who lived life on his own terms.

The cousins were only one year apart in age and grew closer after Smeedens mother died.

We probably bonded the most over music, Johnson said, remembering how Smeeden introduced her to artists like the heavy-metal band Pantera when they were growing up together in Alaska.

About 10 years after his mother died and he left Edwards house, Smeeden reconnected with his aunt.

Aunty Ellen, that was the worst decision I ever made when I walked out of your property, Edwards remembered him telling her.

From then on, Smeeden called Edwards sporadically. She learned he was struggling with mental-health issues and addiction, and she tried to direct him to support, but it was impossible for her to know where Smeeden would be next or when he would call.

Johnson described going years without hearing from Smeeden, then bumping into him in Anchorage or him showing up at her door. No matter what hardships he went through, he was always a breath of fresh air and maintained a positive outlook, she said.

Edwards last heard from her nephew three or four years ago. He called her from Michigan and asked for a bus ticket.

She hoped he was OK out there, traveling about. But then the Portland detectives called, notifying Edwards that the beaming boy she had raised for a few years had been shot to death.

I was totally blindsided, she said. I didnt even know he was in Portland.

As she grieves, Edwards holds on to memories of his boyhood. He had a harder life than most but was capable of amazing things, she said.

He was a good person, she said. He was a good person who struggled.

 Sujena Soumyanath is a reporter on The Oregonian/OregonLives public safety team. You can reach her at 503-221-4309 or ssoumyanath@oregonian.com.
A Portland man who raped a mortgage broker he lured to his mothers apartment under false pretenses has been found guilty for the second time  17 years after his original conviction.

First found guilty by 11 out of 12 jurors during a 2007 trial, Daniel Bluestein had already finished his 11-year prison sentence by the time the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed non-unanimous jury verdicts in 2020.
Update: The suspect turned himself in to police Monday evening, shortly after police said they suspected he had fled the area. Police havent explained why they thought he had fled.

Police said Monday they have identified a suspect in last weeks fatal shooting on a MAX platform in North Portland and want the publics help in locating him.
Reports of hateful acts committed against Oregonians because of their religion last year rose the most out of all categories reported to the states Bias Response Hotline.

And within that category, Jewish and Muslim Oregonians were the most often targeted, as both Jews and Muslims in Oregon and across the U.S. say theyve experienced increased hostility since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.
The 29-year-old man that Portland police suspect fatally shot another man on a MAX train platform last week is in custody, police reported.

Moyasar Osman Mohamed-Ahmed turned himself in to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office Monday evening, after Portland police, fearing Mohamed-Ahmed might have fled the country, asked for the publics help in locating him.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting at the train platform at North Interstate Avenue and Prescott Street around 8:30 p.m. last Thursday. They arrived to find Sean K. Smeeden, 39, dead at the scene.

Police on Monday identified Mohamed-Ahmed as a suspect in the shooting and released what appears to be surveillance-camera footage of him on a MAX train platform.

Mohamed-Ahmed had previously been arrested for disorderly conduct and driving under the influence of intoxicants, according to Multnomah County court records. He pleaded guilty or no contest to those charges.

His driver license was suspended for three years after he pled guilty in February to intoxicated driving and recklessly endangering another person, according to court records. Mohamed-Ahmed also has previous arrests in Washington state and Nevada.

Mohamed-Ahmed is being held in the Multnomah County Detention Center and faces one charge of murder in the second degree, according to the police statement.

His arraignment will take place at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting on the MAX platform to contact Det. William Winters at William.Winters@police.portlandoregon.gov or Det. Calvin Goldring at Calvin.Goldring@police.portlandoregon.gov.

 Sujena Soumyanath is a reporter on The Oregonian/OregonLives public safety team. You can reach her at 503-221-4309 or ssoumyanath@oregonian.com.
Brenda Meade

Meade is chair of the Coquille Indian Tribe.

For any Native American tribe, reckoning with history means reckoning with pain, greed and misinformation. Lies about our humanity enabled policies designed to eliminate our culture. Lies about our presence led to termination and dispossession of our homelands and lifeways.

These painful memories cut even more deeply as we honored last week the 35th anniversary of the Coquille Indian Tribes restoration and our decades-long fight for dignity and recognition. Although some things have improved for us, ignorance still leads to ongoing attacks on our rights and sovereignty.

Sadly, such attacks can come even from other tribes.

Recently, a handful of tribes in California and Oregon who oppose the Coquille Indian Tribes plan to build a new casino in Medford have claimed we are reservation shopping and looking to add land to which we are not justified  an unfair and inaccurate accusation. These tribes apparently fear that our proposed casino would disrupt their entrenched monopoly on gaming in the region.

But with this accusation, they are creating a reckless and baseless precedent for political attacks against hundreds of tribes like ours who have worked to legally rebuild our reservations while carefully following layers of laws and regulations. And it hinders our ability to fund essential services like health care and education through gaming.

For many Americans, the word reservation suggests a large and contiguous geographic area, with a border in which all land falls under tribal jurisdiction. But thats often not the case. For the Coquille  and most tribes in Oregon  restoration of our federal recognition did not come with a set aside reservation. Instead, Congress identified a specific area where land could be taken into trust and become part of our reservation.

In 1989, Congress ended its shameful termination of my tribe by passing the Coquille Restoration Act. The act established a five-county service area for us to build a reservation. This area, which includes Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, and Lane counties, was not chosen arbitrarily. Congress studied where our people lived, traded and worked, both historically and during termination. It learned that its own policies had caused us to disperse across the landscape. Much of our development has taken place in the 6,512-acre area already in trust in Coos County, but  under Congresss direction  we own and operate businesses, support our citizens, and fund community organizations in all five counties, and have since our restoration.

In 2012, we followed this congressional road map and applied to take land into trust in Medford part of our service area  for a new on-reservation casino. Medford had the second highest concentration of Coquille citizens at our restoration, and we have worked with community leaders in the decades since to bring new businesses to the city and support organizations that provide health care, housing and other services. A new casino  while small  would allow us to expand those services and meet the growing needs of our citizens as well as their families, neighbors and communities.

But Medford also falls along Oregons I-5 corridor, where gaming has been dominated by wealthier California and Oregon tribes. They have spent the last decade claiming our proposal would set a new precedent for off reservation gaming and have taken advantage of widespread ignorance about tribal land to make that a core point in a massive lobbying campaign.

To those who follow Native American affairs  or simply read the Coquille Restoration Act that is, of course, nonsensical. But backed by millions of dollars in lobbying and advertising, this misinformation has spread, prompting calls on Congress to prohibit supposed reservation shopping.

Id like to ask my fellow tribal leaders  and anyone who supports tribal rights  if throwing tribal sovereignty under the bus is worth maintaining a monopoly on gaming. When a sister tribe sought to open a casino just three miles from our own in Coos Bay, we also had concerns about competition but knew that supporting tribal rights was both more important and more consistent with what our ancestors taught and believed. In the years since, we have both thrived. I would be happy to speak with any tribal leader on how to balance concerns about competition in a way that lifts us all while protecting Oregons economy and environment.

No tribe should exploit public ignorance about reservations to score a political win. We are looking at a future in which any tribal restoration will be met with years of litigation and millions of dollars wasted on lobbying. Thats not good for tribes and its not good for Oregon.

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I have seen a lot of media discussion of Donald Trumps record of criminal and civil violations and his threat to our democracy. He has been found liable for fraud in a New York civil suit. He was found liable for sexual assault and defamation in the two E. Jean Carroll cases. And he was found guilty on 34 felony counts in his scheme to cover up hush money payments to a woman with whom he had sex, falsifying his business records to keep it out of public view prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Trump continues to face many other charges: 37 felony counts for allegedly mishandling of classified documents from the White House; a racketeering case in Georgia charging him with a conspiracy to steal the 2020 election; and special counsel Jack Smiths indictment on four federal felonies in connection with his attempt to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. In addition, many states are pressing charges in Trumps fake electors plot.
A jury did not award any damages Monday to former legislative aide Laura Hanson, finding that her boss, state Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, and the Oregon Legislature did not retaliate against her due to her disability.

The unanimous verdict by seven jurors followed a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Portland. One of the original eight jurors was dismissed during trial for not following a judges order to not discuss the case during trial.
The chances of hot weather moving into the region by the end of the week have increased and the National Weather Service now has placed Portland under an excessive heat watch beginning Thursday afternoon.

The weather service issues a watch when the risk of a heat wave has increased but its occurrence and timing is still uncertain. By Tuesday, the likelihood is very good, but the exact temps are still in flux.

But before we get to the watch, which is in effect from Thursday through Sunday, weve got a couple of really nice days in which temps will be seasonable and residents can get prepared for the upcoming heat.

Tuesday will start with some high clouds in Portland and then skies will gradually clear through the afternoon. The high should reach about 77 degrees.

Wednesday will be much the same with mid-morning clearing and a bit more heat. The daytime high temp will reach about 83 degrees.

Now is the time to plan on ways to cool your living space, or where you might go when temperatures move into the 100s. Metro area counties will generally open cooling shelters during high heat events, but those plans have not yet been announced.

By Thursday the ridge of high pressure moving into the region will be intensifying over the entire West Coast. The weather service says much of northwest and west central Oregon and southwest Washington will be dangerously hot, especially for those with health conditions exacerbated by the heat.

Temps of up to 110 degrees are possible. As of Tuesday morning, Salem seems to be an epicenter of heat with many models showing high probabilities of reaching 100 by Friday. One model shows a 36% chance of Salem reaching 110 degrees on Saturday.

On the Fourth of July temps will be hot, but likely the coolest well see through Sunday. Highs in Portland should reach about 94 degrees.

By Friday, sunny and hot will be the words with highs reaching 100 in most metro locations. Overnight lows will cool to about 64, which will offer some relief, but some areas may not cool that low and those without cooling appliances will be affected.

Currently, Saturday comes out as the hottest day of the run with temps nearly 104 in Portland and a 20-40% chance of temperatures at or above 110 along the Interstate 5 corridor and especially near Hillsboro.

Current long-range forecasts show some cooling beginning Sunday with temps moving back down to the high 90s.
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - Unidentified armed men in Sudan on Sunday attacked UN World Food Programme (WFP) trucks carrying food assistance meant for thousands of civilians in need in central Darfur, the agency reported
A U.S. appeals court has permitted President Joe Biden's administration to advance with an important part of a new student debt relief plan aimed at lessing monthly payments for millions of Americans.

10th Circuit Temporarily Lifts Injunction on Education Department Debt Relief

On Sunday, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver briefly lifted a decree from a Kansas judge, which had been appealed by Republican-led states contending that the debt relief plan from the U.S. Department of Education was unlawful.

As an outcome, the Education Department declared it would persist in lessening undergraduate loan payments and instructed loan servicers to achieve the plan's changes.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona stated that the court's decision supported student loan borrowers benefiting from the SAVE Plan, described as the most affordable repayment plan in history. This plan allows more positive terms than former income-based compensation plans, reducing monthly payments for qualified borrowers and forgetting debt after 10 years for those with original principal balances of $12,000 or less.

On June 24, U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree in Wichita, Kansas, ruled that the Higher Education Act of 1965 did not allow the "unprecedented and dramatic expansion" of income-based repayment plans proposed. He sided with state attorneys general from South Carolina, Texas, and Alaska who challenged the plan, restricting only parts of the SAVE Plan that were not yet in effect.

However, in a brief to the 10th Circuit, the administration argued that Crabtree's ruling was only "technically prospective," implementing it would require reprogramming complex software, which would take months.

The U.S. Department of Justice argued that during this period, numerous borrowers in the SAVE Plan would require forbearance until their loans could be appropriately managed.

Read Also : Federal Student Loans are Set to Reach Their Highest Level in Over a Decade

Millions Benefit from SAVE Plan, Forbearance and Interest Waivers Implemented

The Education Department noted that around 3 million borrowers would be placed into forbearance under SAVE and would not accrue interest during this period.

The White House has indicated that more than 20 million borrowers could benefit from the SAVE Plan, with 8 million already enrolled and 4.6 million having their monthly payments reduced to $0.

Although the administration sought to halt Crabtree's ruling, it did not ask for a similar delay regarding another injunction by a federal judge in Missouri that blocks additional loan forgiveness under the SAVE Plan. The administration has placed some borrowers in forbearance while legal issues are resolved.

Natalia Abrams, president of the Student Debt Crisis Center, expressed frustration with ongoing legal challenges aimed at limiting borrower relief but welcomed the Department of Education's swift action in placing 3 million borrowers in administrative forbearance.

After its implementation in the fall, around 8 million Americans enrolled in the SAVE plan, part of President Biden's broader efforts to provide relief to student loan borrowers.

In October, the plan increased the amount of income protected from 150 percent above the federal poverty guidelines to 225 percent. It also ensures that borrowers who pay their loan principal monthly are not penalized for unpaid interest growth.
DoorDash has introduced a new initiative allowing SNAP recipients to utilize their benefits on its platform in a pioneering effort to aid low-income families.

This progress, stemming from a strategic collaboration with payment expert Forage, enables customers to make payments for their purchases with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

Since being introduced, SNAP benefits expanded to more than 1.1 million individuals who have included their SNAP/EBT cards as a payment choice, demonstrating the program's effectiveness.

DoorDash Partnership With Forage

The collaboration between DoorDash and Forage aims to simplify the USDA approval process for merchants, cutting down the time needed to begin receiving SNAP payments.

This program expands the variety of stores providing SNAP-eligible food items through DoorDash. The company is dedicated to increasing food availability for SNAP beneficiaries through this partnership.

Ofek Lavian, the co-founder and CEO of Forage, showed excitement regarding the collaboration.

Lavian expressed their excitement about teaming up with DoorDash to enhance on-demand grocery delivery for SNAP beneficiaries.

Their mission centers around collaboration, and they take great pride in helping to eliminate obstacles in order to improve food access for low-income Americans.

DoorDash expects that this effort will help more than 14 million individuals in food deserts and over 40 million people in areas where one out of every ten households currently receive SNAP benefits.

Using EBT Cards on DoorDash as Payment

Fuad Hannon, Vice President of New Verticals at DoorDash, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in helping communities in need. Hannon claimed that teaming up with Forage demonstrates their dedication to expanding food access for at-risk communities.

Increasing the use of SNAP/EBT payments can assist families in fulfilling childcare and work responsibilities, ease the burden on seniors who may find it challenging to shop for groceries, and provide assistance to individuals with disabilities experiencing mobility limitations.

The increase in SNAP benefits available through DoorDash is particularly important considering the difficulties experienced during the pandemic, resulting in the shutdown of numerous stores that catered to marginalized communities.

Alex Beene, who is a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, commended the partnership for being a forward-thinking step. He stated that there will always be individuals who mock SNAP benefits in general and who will be upset by any attempts to make it easier for eligible individuals to access them.

Nevertheless, this is a reasonable move for individuals receiving SNAP benefits in today's economy. Beene thinks that eventually other apps will also adopt this idea.

Broader Impact on Low-Income Families

Accessing SNAP benefits through DoorDash can significantly benefit low-income families by providing nutritious meals without the burden of transportation costs.

Lavian noted that on-demand grocery delivery reduces barriers faced by low-income families who rely on SNAP. Many of these families cannot visit physical stores due to various constraints.

Data shows that among the 42 million Americans receiving SNAP, one in five is disabled, one in eight is elderly, and over 17 million live in food deserts.

Lavian explained that traditional in-store shopping is often very difficult due to these factors, such as conflicting work schedules and childcare responsibilities.

As SNAP benefits expanded through new EBT card payments, DoorDash and Forage are making significant strides in supporting low-income families, alleviating barriers to food access, and enhancing the convenience of grocery shopping for vulnerable communities.

: SNAP July Benefits Distribution: State-Specific Payment Dates and Details
You might enjoy this seven-minute video: Behind The Scenes | The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. It provides background for Episode 5 of the video series A Marvelous Work: Who Actually Saw the Gold Plates? | A Marvelous Work Episode 5

On a closely related note: Interpreter Radio Show  June 23, 2024

For the 23 June 2024 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, the hosts were Steve Densley and John Thompson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 29 and, with Executive Producer and Director James Dalyrymple and Associate Producer Jonathan Farrell, Who Actually Saw the Gold Plates?, Episode 5 of A Marvelous Work from Scripture Central. Having been edited to remove commercial breaks, their conversation is now available to you at your convenience and at no charge. The Book of Mormon in Context portion of this show, for the Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 29, will also be posted separately on Tuesday, July 9. The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard each week on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640. Or you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com.

Ive just come across this criticism again. So its time, again, to post a response to it:

Later estimates of the weight of the gold plates of the Book of Mormon (by those who had briefly held them, such as the official witness Martin Harris and the unofficial witness William Smith) put that weight at somewhere in the range of forty to sixty pounds. Some critics, accordingly, have contended that Joseph Smith could not have carried them for any significant distance, let alone run with them through the woods as he claimed to have done. The plates  if they actually existed and if they weighed as much as the witnesses say they did  were simply too heavy. Thus, these critics argue, at least that portion of his story must be fraudulent.

With that argument in mind, I call your attention to a scene near the beginning of the Interpreter Foundations 2021 film Witnesses that depicts Joseph Smith, played by Paul Wuthrich (who was recently featured as Elder Seibold in T. C. Christensens highly successful movie Escape from Germany and who reprises his role as Joseph Smith in the forthcoming Interpreter Foundation film Six Days in August), being chased by money diggers while hes carrying the plates.

I was not present on the outdoor set for that days filming, but heres some background on the scene that is directly relevant to the critics argument. Its based on communication with Russell Richins and James G. Jordan, who were, respectively, the producer and associate producer of Witnesses:

The metallurgist and experienced metalworker Dave Baird had created two prop sets of plates based on his own careful research. Somewhat amusingly, one set came to be called the non-hero set. They weighed somewhere between thirty (30) and thirty-five (35) pounds. Were more certain of the weight of the other set  unsurprisingly labeled the hero set  because Russell Richins weighed them himself. They came in at forty-five (45) pounds. In other words, at roughly the weight of the historical plates themselves.

Filming Joseph Smith with the plates, and running from and interacting with the attackers, took a considerable amount of time. Knowing that the scene would require several hours, Paul Wuthrich was presented with the option of going with something lighter as a prop.

During the relevant filming day, the two sets were switched out at various times. Sometimes the secondary or non-hero prop was used, and sometimes the hero set. But Paul often opted for the heavier set, knowing that he would run differently with the lighter set. At all times, comments Russell Richins, when you see Paul Wuthrich running or using the plates in the scenes, he is using one of these two sets. Bottom line, Paul was in very similar circumstances that Joseph Smith faced except for this one exception   Paul Wuthrich did it over and over and over again throughout the day. Yes, he was exhausted, but he did it. A whole crew witnessed it.

Those who have not been involved with filming of this sort would, I think, be astonished at how many takes and re-takes need to be done for even relatively simple indoor scenes. Paul Wuthrich ran down the hill repeatedly, carrying the plates, jumping over rocks and logs, trying to avoid low branches. He did it many times, for different takes, so that filming could be done from a variety of angles and until the director and the cameramen felt that they had it right. He had to run down the hill with the plates, then climb up the hill once more with the plates, then run down the hill, then climb up the hill again.

I like Russell Richinss summary statement:

Whether they want to accept it or not, people are going to have to face the fact that Joseph Smith, used to day labor and a very fit individual known for his strength, was fighting for his and the plates safety, perhaps even his life. Additionally, this claim would have been quite achievable for many young men of his time. Even Martin Harris lifted the plates, as did eight other rural Americans. People must remember that Martin Harris was older, but a farmer used to working physically. This was very common. Another interesting tidbit is that Annie Passman, about 16 years of age and playing Joseph Smiths sister Katherine, lifted the hero, 45 pound, set of plates from the floor to the table throughout the entire day as we ran that scene many, many times while filming. Was it tiring? Yes. Was it doable? I think we have proven that clearly, in both cases.

And were not even invoking supernatural or divine aid, which, if it was present, would surely alter the equation.

Posted from Newport Beach, California
Just a little over a week ago, the US government announced a ban of Kaspersky antivirus softwarewhich will soon leave its remaining users without a functional program. Starting July 20, Kaspersky must discontinue sale to new customers and entering third-party partnerships, and on September 29, virus definitions, app updates, and operation of the Kaspersky Security Network cease (as do reselling, integrations, and licensing).

If youre still using Kaspersky, you can use the software without legal penalty, but getting onto an alternative before your virus definitions go out of date is paramount. You dont want to leave your PC vulnerable.

Heres how to uninstall the programand what you can do next to protect your computer.

How to uninstall Kaspersky in Windows 10

Open the Start Menu or system search, then type apps. Choose Apps & Features. Scroll down to Kaspersky in the list, then click on it. Click on the uninstall button, then approve any dialog windows that appear. If the system doesnt automatically prompt you to do so, reboot your PC.

How to uninstall Kaspersky in Windows 11

Open the Start Menu or system search, then type apps. Choose Add or remove programs. Scroll down to Kaspersky in the list and click on it. Click on the three-dot icon on the far right of the entry, then choose Uninstall. If your PC doesnt automatically prompt you, reboot your computer.

Which antivirus you should install next?

If you havent yet decided on an alternative to Kaspersky, youre in luck: You dont have to make a decision right away. When you uninstall a third-party antivirus program, youre not left unprotected. Windows automatically reactivates the necessary components of the Windows Security suite (including the Microsoft Defender antivirus engine and Windows Firewall).

You can then stay with Windows Security, or pick a new alternative. If you go the latter route, our list of the best antivirus software can help you narrow down your choicethough should you want a fast suggestion, our current top pick packs in features without costing a ton.
The Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has urged global energy leaders and experts to invest in Ghana's energy sector, which is being developed to support economic growth, enhance citizens' quality of life, and lead in sustainable energy in the sub-region and beyond.



Speaking at the 2024 Africa Energy Forum (AEF) in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Dr. Prempeh highlighted Ghana's potential for renewable energy, energy access, and grid modernization, which require massive investment for clean energy to meet the demands of the growing population, business hubs, and industry.



He shared insights on the future of energy in Ghana and the entire African continent, emphasizing the enormous potential in Ghana's energy sector.



"We need your investment to unlock them, accelerate our economic growth, improve energy security, and enhance the quality of life of our citizens," he appealed to the global energy leaders and experts.



At a Ministerial Roundtable, Dr. Prempeh joined African Energy Ministers to discuss "Energy Systems for the Future," focusing on balancing Africa's needs with global goals.



He also met with the UK Trade Commissioner for Africa and energy sector heads to strategize on positioning Ghana's energy sector for investment, particularly under the Powering Africa program.



On the sidelines of the AEF, Dr. Prempeh held a meeting with senior officials of the World Bank to discuss the importance of consolidated efforts towards achieving a stable, efficient, and sustainable energy sector that can drive Ghanas economic growth.



Additionally, he took part in a panel discussion on Building Cohesive Gas Value Chains and Developing Future Infrastructure. During this session, the Energy Minister emphasized that Africas industrialization will heavily depend on the expansion of natural gas usage, as it is the most viable fuel for power generation and other industrial processes amidst the global energy transition agenda.



The minister's engagement at the AEF aims to position Ghana as a prime destination for energy investment, leveraging the country's strategic location, favorable business environment, and growing demand for energy.



By leveraging its renewable energy resources and expertise, Ghana seeks to become a beacon for sustainable energy development in Africa, creating a model for other countries to follow.



The Africa Energy Forum is a premier platform for energy stakeholders to share innovations and best practices. Dr. Prempeh's participation demonstrates Ghana's commitment to building a robust energy sector that benefits its citizens and contributes to global sustainable energy goals.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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Kobina Tahir Hammond, Ghanas Trade Minister is set to lay before parliament the Legislative Instrument that seeks to regulate the escalating prices of cement.



A meeting was scheduled between the Ministry of Trade and the manufacturers of cement on Monday, July 1, 2024. The meeting, which, according to the manufacturers, was supposed to be in a closed door, eventually saw the presence of the media at the premises of the Trade Ministry.



Representatives from major cement manufacturers, including GHACEM, Dangote, CBI, CIMAF, and Diamond Cement, boycotted the stakeholder meeting after the Minister of Trade, Hon. K.T. Hammond insisted that the media be present at the meeting.



There have been grave concerns over the rise in prices of cement, with a bag selling at an average price of GH105. In order to curb this situation, the government, through the ministry of Trade decided to enact a Legislative Instrument (L.I.).



The decision to control the prices of cement was disagreed on by the manufacturers and stakeholders in the cement manufacturing industry. They argued that the cost of production have increased hence, leading to the increase in the cost of a bag of cement.



The representatives who were present at the meeting on Monday, July 1, 2024, stated that the meeting was intended to be a closed-door session. They expressed their surprise and dissatisfaction with the ministers decision to invite the media without prior notice, leading them to walk out of the engagement.



The sector Minister, despite the boycott by the manufacturers, emphasised his commitment to protecting the interests of the state by introducing the L.I to control the prices of cement.



The announcement of the L.I has generated several backlashes from the public space including the largest opposition party who describes the intended bill as a reflection of the wickedness in President Akufo Addos government.



Consumer Protection Organisation, Cuts International also criticised the LI and urged Parliament to reject when it is laid.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Blue Ocean LPG Bottling Plant has partnered with Puma Energy Ghana, a leading oil marketing company to support the government of Ghanas clean cooking initiative and the safe transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by distributing more than 1,025 cylinders to six local communities as part of the plan to distribute over 15,000 cylinders by December 2024.



In sub-Saharan Africa, LPG is considered an essential component of the energy mix, where according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), an estimated 970 million people are without access to clean cooking fuels and technology and rely heavily on wood, charcoal and kerosene. These contribute to poor air quality and environmental degradation including deforestation.



According to the DGB Group, wood remains the primary source of energy for cooking and heating in many rural areas of Ghana. The high demand for fuelwood has led to the indiscriminate cutting of trees, particularly in areas with low forest coverage causing deforestation. In Ghana the use of burning biomass for cooking has led to increase in childhood pneumonia and asthma resulting in lower respiratory tract infection, which is associated with inhaling smoke from traditional fuels, and the third leading cause of death in Ghana, according to the Environmental Markets Lab (mLab).



The partnership between Puma Energy and Blue Ocean is to foster access to clean cooking providing innovative solutions to low-income households that would not otherwise have access to LPG. These initiatives aim to improve the health and environmental welfare of citizens by transitioning them from traditional fuels like wood and charcoal to cleaner, more efficient LPG.



According to the Ghana Statistical Services' 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) report about 25% of households in Ghana use clean fuel and technologies for cooking. The government is therefore actively promoting LPG use and aims to reach a 50% penetration target by 2030.



Blue Oceans cylinder distribution process aligns with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA)-led Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) project to increase access to clean energy for cleaner cooking.



Its state-of-the-art bottling facility guarantees efficiency and safety. An automated, telescopic conveying channel moves empty cylinders through the many phases of the bottling process which includes everything from degreasing and pressure washing to weight checking, programming, leak detection and shrink-wrapping. The automated 18-head carousel fills 1200 cylindersincluding 3, 6, 12.5, and 14 kgper hour. Additionally, the plant contains a manual filling installation that can fill 36 and 52 kg cylinders and acts as a standby should the automated system fail, always ensuring 100%operability.



Over 60 Puma Energy retail outlets and fourty (40) community exchange centres will serve as distribution centres to deploy over 15,000 filled cylinders of various sizes. Currently the filled cylinders have been deployed to Puma Energys retail service stations in Nmai Dzorn, Adentan, Kissehman, amongst other places. Further distribution is expected to be carried out across communities in rural and urban areas in 11 regions by the end of 2024.



Zwelithini Mlotshwa, General Manager of Puma Energy Ghana, an affiliate of Blue Ocean Investments, emphasized the value of the partnership and the contribution of the partnership to enabling Puma Energys commitment to the clean cooking initiative. "As partners in this programme, we are committed to enabling access to clean cooking to improve the well-being of unserved communities. We believe that by reducing household reliance on harmful traditional cooking fuels, we can make a positive impact on both peoples health and the environment," he said.



The plant guarantees safety and accessibility, it is a welcome boost to energy efficiency in Ghana and makes it possible to implement the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) project, said Michael S. Kyeremanteng, the Operations Manager, Blue Ocean LPG Bottling Plant.



The Puma Energy Clean Cooking Initiative seeks to drive the National Petroleum Authoritys low-income African communities access to affordable, accessible and clean cooking alternatives. The programme aims to increase LPG accessibility especially and raise knowledge of the advantages of clean cooking.



Alongside governments, private sector companies, international organizations and civil society, Puma Energy joined the Clean Cooking Declaration at the International Energy Agency (IEA)s Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa in Paris in May 2024, a commitment to making 2024 the pivotal year for clean cooking.



By participating in the declaration, Puma Energy pledged to take concrete steps towards advancing the clean cooking agenda, through action on the ground, raising awareness, and fostering greater collaboration among the key stakeholders.



With our partner Blue Ocean, Puma Energy is proud to advance clean cooking solutions in Ghana too, added Zwelithini Mlotshwa, General Manager of Puma Energy Ghana We believe that LPG for clean cooking is a critical solution to Africas energy transition offering healthier and cleaner cooking alternatives that benefit both people and the environment.









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

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Shortly after the Supreme Court issued its decision on his claim of presidential immunity, Donald Trump took to social media to celebrate.



Big win for our constitution and democracy, he posted on Truth Social. "Proud to be an American!



While Trump did not get the sweeping protections that he and his lawyers had sought, he got more than enough to achieve his immediate objective of delaying another trial until after November's election.



The ruling from the six conservative justices dealt a serious blow to the federal criminal case against him on charges of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.



Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and his team will have to significantly restructure their case against the former president, and the evidence they can rely upon to support it if they want to continue. The trial was put on pause pending this decision.



Monday's 6-3 ruling guarantees any prosecution that emerges from this decision will be delayed well past Novembers presidential election, as the trial court sorts through the Supreme Courts guidance.



In effect, the six conservative justices have set an extremely high bar for Mr Smith and his team to meet.



Trump, the court held, has total immunity for official acts as president related to his core constitutional duties. That includes the communications he had with Department of Justice officials about allegations of election fraud. And so, that portion of the indictment against Trump is effectively dead.



Beyond that, the six justices said there is a presumption of immunity for any other official acts. In practical terms, that means prosecutors will have to work much harder to bring a case against Trump.



The court added, however, that presidents do not have immunity for non-official actions.



Chief Justice John Roberts, in his opinion, went on to apply this standard specifically to the former president  guidance that could be particularly damaging to the prosecution in the election interference case.



Trumps attempts to pressure Vice President Mike Pence not to certify Joe Bidens election victory  a key part of Jack Smiths case  is the kind of official action subject to that higher standard of legal review.



The former presidents comments on 6 January 2021, which are alleged to have incited the Capitol attack, are also likely to be deemed official actions.



The chief justice also said testimony or private records of the president or his advisers are not admissible in court. This greatly limits the kinds of evidence prosecutors can introduce to support their case, even in instances involving non-official actions.



Meanwhile, Trumps contacts with private citizens will have to be considered by the trial court as to whether they are unofficial actions.



Justice Roberts explained that presidents need such broad immunity for official actions because the threat of criminal prosecution  and the peculiar public opprobrium that attaches to criminal proceedings - might distort presidential decision-making.



The president is not above the law, he wrote. But Congress may not criminalize the presidents conduct in carrying out the responsibilities of the executive branch under the Constitution.

Source: BBC









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Ghana's reputation as a hub for African American heritage has received a further boost as a leading American Bar Association announced its 40th anniversary celebrations in Accra.



The Metropolitan Black Bar Association (MBBA) is a unified, citywide association of Black and other minority lawyers in the New York metropolitan area, with members in all five boroughs. Founded on July 5, 1984, the MBBA was created from the merger of the Harlem Lawyers Association and the Bedford Stuyvesant Lawyers Association.



As one of the largest organizations of Black attorneys in New York State, the MBBA continues the rich legacy of its two predecessor organizations by providing a voice for Black legal professionals in the communities it serves. In 2017, the Bronx Black Bar Association merged with the MBBA, strengthening its reach and impact in the borough.



Today, the MBBA comprises mostly Black and minority attorneys in large and small law firms, solo practitioners, all levels of government, academia, corporations, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and the judiciary.



Speaking to this reporter about the trip, Mr. Carl Forbes Jr., President of the MBBA, said, "We chose Ghana to mark our 40th anniversary celebration as a mark of respect and commemoration of our heritage, giving our members a chance to connect with our roots.



This trip has become a pilgrimage of sorts and allows us to also celebrate Ghana's unique link with the United States and African Americans. After all, we know that the founding President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, was heavily influenced by his time in the United States, including significant periods in Harlem. So far, we have enjoyed the legendary hospitality of Ghana."



Ms. Tanya Blocker, coordinator of the trip, mentioned that the Association will visit several points of interest in Ghana, with the delegation especially looking forward to their time in Cape Coast. The association will also commemorate its 40th anniversary milestone, to the day, on the 4th of July with a cocktail event with Ghanaian lawyers and jurists.



Ghana is regarded a key destination for tourism from the African Diaspora. It is particularly popular with African Americans seeking to connect with their heritage, on account of it preserved historical artefacts.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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In a bid to restore Accra's cleanliness, the Ga Manste, HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, joined forces with the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Titus-Glover, the Mayor of Accra, Madam Elizabeth Sackey, and other leaders to clean the capital city.



Sempe Manste, Nii Adote Otintor II, speaking on behalf of Ga Manste, expressed gratitude to his subjects for coming out to support the exercise.



He was, however, unhappy that Greater Accra is being engulfed with filth but added that with the participation of the traditional authorities and the indigenes, Accra will be clean again.



"Diseases do not discriminate against anybody therefore, everyone should partake in thus exercise" he urged.



The Greater Accra Regional Minster, Hon. Daniel Nii Titus-Glover expressed gratitude to the participants and urged everyone to contribute to making Accra clean again.



He emphasized that this exercise was different from previous ones, as it would be ongoing until after the Homowo festival, promoting a culture of cleanliness and civic responsibility.



Madam Emma Adwoa Appea Osei-Dua, Communications and Corporate Affairs Director of Zoomlion, explained that Zoomlion, being a giant in waste management, decided to join the initiative by providing logistics and men to make it effective.



"This is significant to us because we want to rid Accra and Ghana of filth," she emphasized.



Mr. Ernest Morgan Acquah, Public Relations and Corporate Affairs Manager of Zoomlion, emphasized the importance of proper waste disposal and announced stakeholder engagements and training for Asoafoatsemei to support the exercise.



He warned individuals about the health hazards of not properly disposing of waste and highlighted the importance of keeping homes and surroundings clean.



The Homowo Clean-Up exercise, which took place across six zonal areas, targeted five clan areas: Samba, Gbese, Abola, Asere, Soho beach, and surrounding areas.



The "Clean to Celebrate Homowo" campaign is an initiative under the auspices of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and supported by Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, and aims to restore Accra's cleanliness and promote a culture of sustainability and civic responsibility.



The event saw a massive turnout of residents, traditional leaders, and government officials working together to clean the city's streets, markets, and waterways.



The campaign's significance is marked by the involvement of the GA Traditional Council, demonstrating their commitment to the well-being of the Ga people and the city's development.



The leaders' united effort aims to make Accra a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful city for its residents, extending beyond the Homowo festival.



The ministries of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, and other stakeholders have also pledged their support for the campaign, demonstrating a united commitment to a cleaner and better Accra.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Nana Ohene Ntow has implored Christian leaders to teach their members to desist from physically attacking people accused of witchcraft.



The former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party noted that if indeed one is a witch, the right approach is to deal with the witchcraft in a spiritual court.



He wondered how some people believe their mother or guardian is a witch and would mete out corporal punishment on such a person.



Nana Ohene Ntow, contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, advised the religious leaders to inculcate the right doctrines in their congregation stating "I am a Christian, so I believe in the spiritual but when you read the Bible, the Bible says the weapons of our warfare are not physical".



"Imagine someone is indeed a witch and spiritually tormenting but you go to slap her physically, how do you deal with the issue? It just doesn't even make sense; it's foolishness...Spiritual things are spiritual; physical things are physical," he concluded.



He added that assaulting someone is against the laws of Ghana and perpetrators will face prosecution.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has absorbed the cost of the issuance of the cards for an estimated three million children in the country to enable them to link up with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to access primary health care.



Consequently, the NHIA will pay GH245 million to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to provide the Ghana Cards to children in that age bracket. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NHIA, Dr Da-Costa Aboagye, who disclosed this at a workshop for journalists and other stakeholders in Kumasi last Saturday, said the intervention formed part of measures by the authority to ensure universal health coverage (UHC) for all.



Currently, those between the ages of zero and five years are expected to be issued with the Ghana Card at birth. Members on the NHIS from 15 years and above are already being issued with the Ghana Card, enabling the NHIA to link their NHIS cards to it.



Nearly 900,000 out of the one million active SSNIT contributors on the NHIS have also been linked to their Ghana Cards, again allowing the NHIA to use the Ghana Card to authenticate their identity.



The records of an additional 1.3 million SSNIT contributors not enrolled on the scheme are going through the necessary data cleaning with the Ghana Card database.



Improving membership

Dr Aboagye pointed out that the provision of the Ghana Card to children below 15 years would help improve membership data through the linkage to the NIA database. Besides, it would enhance the membership integrity of the NHIS and save the cost of procuring biometric cards for them, the NHIA CEO said.



The NHIS cards cost between $4 and $6, while the Ghana Card costs between $6 and $7. The NHIA believes it is not financially prudent to have two cards printed for the same person at that cost when they could easily link both databases.



The NHIA Board, therefore, decided to hand over the printing of cards to the NIA to provide NHIS subscribers with the Ghana Card, which would be linked with the NHIS subscriber numbers to ensure that only the national identification card would be used to access primary health care offered under the NHIS.



Preventive health care

Meanwhile, the NHIA boss said there was a proposal to introduce preventive healthcare programmes to help the nation attain objectives under the UHC by 2030. Expected to be rolled out this month, he said the programmes would focus on three key areas, namely hypertension, diabetes and body mass index check-ups.



Dr Aboagye added that wellness centres and clinics would be established to assist subscribers in checking their fitness and health. He explained that the authority had plans to send text messages to NHIS members annually on their birthdays to check on their health status at government hospitals in the country at the schemes expense.



Non-resident Ghanaians

On the issuance of NHIS cards for non-resident Ghanaians who visited the country, Dr Aboagye said the authority was seeking the advice of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and subsequent approval of Cabinet to introduce it.

The Board Chairman of NHIA, Dr Ernest Quarcoo, stated that health insurance was key to national development and, therefore, called for media support to improve the scheme, particularly, for the benefit of the vulnerable in society.



The Deputy Director of Quality Assurance, NHIA, William Omane-Adjekum, said the nation saved GH9.5 million from fraudulent claims last year. He said the digital platform for payments had made it possible for the NHIA to expose fraud and identity errors and abuse, saying, "We are employing Artificial Intelligence to determine outliers and trends in real time regarding insurance claims."



The Deputy Director in charge of Claims, NHIA, Theophilus Owusu-Ansah, said the authority received between GH20 million and GH30 million volumes of insurance from service providers annually.



The claims, he said, covered free maternal care, breast/cervical cancers and family planning, among other diseases. Mr Owusu-Ansah stressed that hypertension, diabetes and maternity care were the largest cost drivers of the scheme.



The Deputy Director of the Information Management System of NHIA, Joseph Annor, said 30 million Ghanaians were currently enrolled on the NHIS. He said 17.9 million were active members.



Mr Annor added that the scheme had gone through various modes of system from the issuance of booklets to laminated cards, magnetic cards and the use of smart biometric cards currently.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The special committee of inquiry set up to probe the conspiracy to remove the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) from office has referred two of the high-ranking police officers involved in the matter to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for appropriate action.



The committee said the two officers acted in contempt of Parliament, an act that sought to undermine the authority of the House when they appeared before it and lied under oath.



The two officers are Superintendent George Lysander Asare and Superintendent Eric Emmanuel Gyebi. Together with the Commissioner of Police (COP) George Alex Mensah, they were allegedly captured in an audio recording plotting to remove the IGP, Dr George Akuffo-Dampare, from office.



The referral was one of the key recommendations contained in the report of the committee.



Contempt

In the view of the committee which was chaired by the NPP MP for Akyem Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, the three officers engaged in acts that sought to undermine the authority of Parliament.



It said Supt Gyebi, during his testimony under oath on August 31, 2023, denied ever speaking to Chief Bugri Naabu directly on his phone or on the phone of Supt Asare. However, when he appeared before the committee again on October 10, 2023, he changed his earlier testimony and affirmed that he indeed spoke to Chief Bugri Naabu on phone.



Supt Asare, the report said, while answering a question under oath posed by a member of the committee, Peter Lanchene Toobu, on September 4, 2023, on whether he was present when Chief Bugri Naabu spoke to Supt Eric Emmanuel Gyebi on phone, also responded in the negative.



However, he changed his initial response to this question to the affirmative when he appeared before the committee on October 10, 2023. In this instance, he said: Hon Chairman, I want to change my answer to I was there when they spoke because that time the question was not all that straight forward."



The committee is of the view that Supt Asare and Supt Gyebi appeared to have acted in contempt of Parliament pursuant to Order 30 of the Standing Orders of Parliament (2000) as revised by Order 31 (f} of the Standing Order of Parliament (2024).



Order 30 states that Any of the following acts or conduct constitutes contempt of Parliament or breach of parliamentary privilege: submission of false, perverted, misleading, distorted, fabricated or scandalous statements in Parliament or before a Committee of Parliament.



During the probe, the committee received as evidence two audio recordings that contained the conversation among Bugri Naabu and the three police officers. Per the report, the first audio recording before the committee which gained widespread public attention after going viral was not the full rendition of the conversations that took place among Chief Bugri Naabu, CoP Mensah, Supt Asare and Supt Gyebi.



There was a second audio recording/tape which was a continuation of the first audio recording/tape which together with the first audio contained the full conversations that transpired among Chief Bugri Naabu and the officers.



2nd audio

The second audio recording was provided to the committee by Bugri Naabu on a flash drive. The testimonies of Bugri Naabu, CoP Mensah and Supt Asare authenticated the audio recordings/tapes, the report said.



There was an attempt by CoP Mensah, Supt Asare and Supt Gyebi to conspire and cause the removal of the IGP for which they, CoP Mensah and Supt Asare, solicited the assistance of Chief Bugri Naabu to have the President act in that regard, it said.



It said the conspiracy by Bugri Naabu, CoP Mensah, Supt Asare and Supt Gyebi to remove the IGP, based purely on partisan considerations, could undermine free, fair and transparent elections and, ultimately, the sanctity of Ghanas democracy.



The act of conspiring to replace the IGP by CoP Mensah, Supt Asare and Supt Gyebi was political, unprofessional and an act of indiscretion as serving officers.



Undermining of Parliament

In the view of the committee, the following actions sought to undermine the authority of Parliament. The committee is of the view that Supt Asare and Supt Gyebi appeared to have acted in contempt of Parliament pursuant to Order 30 of the Standing Orders of Parliament (2000) as revised by Order 31 (f} of the Standing Order of Parliament (2024) which states that Any of the following acts or conduct constitute contempt of Parliament or breach of parliamentary privilege: submission of false, perverted, misleading, distorted, fabricated or scandalous statements in Parliament or before a Committee of Parliament.















Source: graphiconline.com









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The Electoral Commission will reopen the voter's register from Wednesday, July 3 to Friday, July 5, 2024, for voter transfers to enable prospective voters who could not do so during the first window of applications to do so.



This was agreed at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Monday, July 1, 2024.



This will be especially targeted at prison inmates, security personnel and students.



The EC will also within the same period give an opportunity for the application for special voting as well as proxy voting.



The Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman Asare briefed Graphic Onlines Samuel Duodu after the IPAC meeting on Monday.

Source: graphiconline









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Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has warned that recent events in Kenya must serve as a wake-up call to Ghanaian leaders especially as the country prepares towards a crucial election on December 7.

The Speaker said the situation in Kenya is not too different from Ghanas and urged leaders including Members of Parliament not to take things for granted in ensuring free, fair and transparent elections.



Mr Bagbin said he has reached out to key stakeholders including chairpersons of the Electoral Commission and the National Commission for Civic Education, traditional authorities, and the Chief Justice and will engage with President Akufo-Addo as part of efforts to ensure a violent-free electoral process.



Speaking during an engagement with journalists in Kumasi, Bagbin emphasised the need for preemptive measures to be taken to safeguard Ghanas democracy ahead of the 2024 elections.





People sometimes take so many things for granted including my colleagues in Parliament but we all can bear witness that what happened in Kenya is now in Tanzania it could be in Ghana and I am not saying it will be in Ghana.



We are not different from our brothers and sisters in Kenya and so we have to take preemptive measures to prevent that from happening and so we must do all we can to make sure that the right person that Ghanaians want to lead the country, leads the country and so in this matter, I will do all I can so that nobody reads partisanship in whatever I do.

Source: citinewsroom.com









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Free SHS Bill: Government to cancel BECE, extend SHS to 6 years - Report





The proposed Free SHS bill, which is yet to be brought before parliament, aims to eliminate the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as a requirement for entering secondary school. This is according to a report by Graphic.com.gh.



The bill seeks to restructure the education system by separating junior high school (JHS) from basic school and integrating it into a six-year secondary education framework. Instead, the BECE will be used solely for school selection purposes.



Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum explained that upon passing the bill, SHS certification will become the first formal academic qualification in the country, replacing the current BECE certification.



The minister emphasized that this restructuring would ensure a continuous six-year secondary education, with new schools co-locating JHS and SHS students on the same campuses. Existing schools with both JHS and SHS students will continue this practice, similar to the old system where students from ordinary and advanced levels studied together.



Dr. Adutwum noted that the bill seeks to revive a system akin to the old Middle School and Secondary School relationship, where the Common Entrance Examination was used for school selection, and the Hall Examination served for certification for either employment or further education.



Why Legislation?



During an interaction with journalists, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum highlighted the importance of legislating Free SHS. He noted that while the current policy is not mandatory, future governments might discontinue it if they deem it unnecessary.



We need a law that ensures free, compulsory universal secondary education. This means the minimum education for Ghanaians should be senior high school, not junior high school, he stressed.



The 1992 Constitution already guarantees free compulsory universal basic education (FCUBE). The proposed bill aims to extend this guarantee to secondary education, aligning with Article 38, which mandates the state to provide educational facilities at all levels and ensure access for all citizens.



Dr. Adutwum pointed out that due to the Free SHS policy, more than 505,000 students enrolled in their first year this year, marking the highest enrollment in the countrys history. However, he expressed concern that some students, not yet of working age, opt out of continuing to SHS. The minister argued that mandating secondary education would prevent such students from becoming vulnerable to crime and other societal issues.



The minister praised the positive impact of Free SHS in the northern regions, where transition rates from JHS to SHS are significantly higher than in the southern regions. For instance, the Northern Region has a 95% transition rate, compared to the Volta Regions 66%.



Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin challenged the Minority in Parliament to clarify their stance on the Free SHS legislation.



He announced that the Free SHS Bill had received Executive approval and would soon be introduced to Parliament.



In response, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated that the Minority Caucus has not opposed the bill and urged the government to expedite its presentation to Parliament.



Dr. Forson reiterated that the Minority supports policies aimed at sustaining and improving the Free SHS initiative.



While the Free SHS policy has benefited over 3.04 million students since its inception in 2017, it has also faced criticism regarding issues such as feeding, accommodation, long vacations, and uncertainties in the SHS academic calendar.



Some educationists and think tanks have called for a review of the policy to address these challenges and ensure sustainable funding.

Source: ghanaweb.com









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The National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has addressed reports alleging that he spent thousands of dollars of the partys funds on a lavish trip to Miami, USA, with his wife.



In an interview on Adom TVs Badwam programme on Monday, July 1, 2024, Gyamfi clarified that the video being used as evidence against him is old. He acknowledged having visited Miami in the past but denied familiarity with the hotel he is accused of spending $3,000 per night at and denied receiving $42,000 from the party.



Gyamfi refuted the claim that he would be in Miami for two weeks, noting that he has not left Ghana recently.



"On Saturday, I was at Holy Spirit Cathedral for Mawuena Trebarhs funeral. So, how could I have been chilling in Miami? On Sunday, I was at Suame for the regional organizer for Ashanti, Chairman Alhassans mothers funeral. Even before that, on Wednesday, I was in Accra hosting NDC 360 from our studios. Everyone watched me. I was on set with Honourable Jinapor discussing the power sector and Free SHS. On Thursday, I was in the High Court supporting my good brother and friend, the minority leader, Honourable Ato Forson. So, when could I have been in Miami at an expensive hotel?" Gyamfi asked.



He dismissed the allegations as "ridiculous" and "nonsensical," stating that no sane person would believe them. Gyamfi stressed that he had never stayed at the hotel mentioned and had not been in Miami for two weeks. He confirmed that the video circulating was from a past trip to Miami with his wife shortly after their marriage.



The NDC communications officer claimed that the story was an attempt to tarnish his reputation due to his criticisms of the government. He announced plans to take legal action against the media houses that published the story.

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Government has successfully restructured $1 billion in legacy debt owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) marking a significant milestone in the country's energy sector reform efforts.



This announcement was made by Finance Minister, Mohammed Amin Adam during a joint press conference held on July 1, 2024, alongside the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).



We have successfully concluded negotiations with several IPPs to restructure over $1 billion in legacy debt," Minister Adam stated. "This agreement not only provides fiscal relief but also sets the stage for a more stable and reliable electricity supply across Ghana."



The negotiations, which spanned several months, focused on restructuring Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and clearing arrears accumulated over years of financial strain in the energy sector.



In his address, Minister Amin Adam highlighted the strategic importance of these agreements in revitalizing Ghana's energy infrastructure and bolstering economic growth.



"The restructuring of PPAs with IPPs like AKSA, Amandi, CENIT, Cenpower, Karpowership, Early Power, and Sunon Asogli will alleviate financial pressures and enhance operational efficiencies. This initiative underscores our commitment to resolving longstanding challenges in the energy sector while promoting sustainable development goals," he stated.



Key components of the agreement include revised payment terms and adjustments to contractual obligations, aimed at ensuring IPPs receive timely payments and continue to contribute to Ghana's energy needs without interruptions. Minister Adam noted that some agreements, such as those with Amandi, Cenpower, and Early Power, will require parliamentary approval to finalize amended terms.



The restructuring efforts, he said are part of Ghana's broader Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP), designed to address systemic challenges and enhance sectoral resilience. This, the Minister expressed confidence in the transformative impact of these reforms on Ghana's economic stability and growth trajectory.



"With these agreements in place, we anticipate improved financial health for the energy sector, reduced operational risks, and enhanced investor confidence. This marks a significant step forward in our journey towards sustainable energy provision and economic prosperity for all Ghanaians," he added.



He said the restructuring deal with the IPPs is expected to significantly boost investor confidence and provide a solid foundation for Ghanas economic recovery, setting the stage for sustained growth and development in the coming years.

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The Founder and Leader for the independent party, the Movement for Change (M4C), John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has indicated that, his government, if elected into office as President, will replace the office of the Special Prosecutor with an anti-corruption overlord.



Alan Keyerematen posited that, the fight against corruption has not been tackled properly by the previous government due to a lack of tactful leadership adding that his government will deepen the fight against the menace of corruption that has allegedly swallowed up the Ghanaian system.



The leader for the Movement for Change maintained that all fragments of existing anti-corruption laws will be put together into a single document which will be overseen by an anti-corruption overlord.



The leader for the Movement for Change launched the Great Transformation Plan (GTP) to highlights the vision of the next government led by Alan Kyerematen to transform the economy through Industrial revolution.



The GTP is designed to give Ghanaians and businesses in Ghana a conducive environment to do business and to live comfortably as best fit for citizens of a nation.



According to him, the manifesto has been carefully crafted to feature prominently the needs of the vulnerable in society; lifting them from state of abject poverty to a state of economic and financial independence.



He said, It is very important that we review the existing programmes. Governments will say we have programmes for persons living with disabilities but how far has this programmes helped them?



The founding member of the New Patriotic Party, who fell out to form his political movement was also not happy about the inability of District Assemblies to release a percentage of their Common Fund to Persons Living with Disability.



The former Trades and Industry Minister remained optimistic that fighting corruption through the replacement of the Office of the Special Prosecutor with a new body he termed Anti-corruption Overlord is the surest way to win the fight against corruption.



He indicated that the Anti-corruption Overlord portfolio will not gain its authorities from the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice but will remain a powerful independent body that will be resourced to carry out its functions as mandated by the constitution.

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Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of Ghana and the flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reposed his confidence in the Ghanaian youths, stating that, the Ghanaian youths will ensure that the country experiences an incident free Presidential and parliamentary elections.



Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia stated that the youth of God will maintain the peace and stability of Ghana before, during, and after the 2024 general elections.



According to him, the Ghanaian youths have always demonstrated, beyond reasonable doubts, their deepest love for their country, and will do everything possible protect the peace and stability the country has been enjoying over the years.



Dr. Bawumia posted on his official Facebook page after serving as the reviewing officer during the 70th Anniversary of the National Cadet Corps and Cadet Youth parade at the Black Stars Square.



He said, I underscored the significant role the Cadet plays and made the advocacy that it is time for various security agencies to take a critical look at unearthing brilliant talents from the National Cadet Corps and other sister volunteer youth groups by giving them some quota and the opportunity when it comes to recruiting and enlisting into the various security services."



I also expressed confidence that the youth of Ghana as they have done in the past will maintain the peace and stability of Ghana before, during, and after the 2024 General elections.



According to Dr. Bawumia, the discipline and knowledge cadets acquired from their training was rich and could be used for the benefit of the nation adding that a minimum of 10 per cent quota should be offered them as against a two per cent quota requested by the leadership of the cadet corps last year.



Dr. Bawumia said, Ghanas youth of today tell us the future of our Republic. The discipline embedded in them tells us how the future will be when most of us are no longer in leadership.

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We are now weeks  an eternity in social media time down  the road from the Hawk Tuah girl first blowing up and  well, she is still a dominating force on whatever platform you might frequent.

If you dont know who the heck the Hawk Tuah girl is, congratulations because you have a life outside of social media. But if you are on social media, even just a little here and there, chances are you know well about the Hawk Tuah girl because the summer has belonged to her so far there.

She is evolving outside of social media and into the mainstream, though. For instance, she took the stage alongside country music star Zach Bryan at a recent concert.

And then she set the political world on fire on social media on Monday with an appearance on Barstool Sports Brianna Chickenfrys Plan Bri podcast.

Chickenfry played a game with the Hawk Tuah girl, whose real name is Hailey Welch, and asked her if she would  well, she asked her about the line she is now famous for and how she might relate that to certain celebrities.

Be warned, if you dont know what the Hawk Tuah line is and you Google it, it is adult in nature.

Anyway, one of the names Chickenfry threw out was Donald Trump.

Its a no from me, Welch replied.

And that had folks losing their mind on social media.

It should be noted that this didnt appear to be a question about political preference. It didnt matter.

BREAKING: The Hawk Tuah girl, AKA Hailey (Welch), has come out AGAINST Donald Trump in her first-ever interview, Meidas Touch posted on X.

Trump supporter Laura Loomer retweeted the video and called her a degenerate.

Stop giving skanks attention, she wrote before getting decidedly more graphic before calling her a typical Biden supporter.

There were plenty more back-and-forth from the two sides of the political spectrum on this one, and at least one account that couldnt believe that this was considered breaking news.

That person has a great point.
It was about a week ago when reports surfaced concerning hundreds of delays and cancelations occurring at a Pennsylvania-based airport.

This week, the same thing is happening.

NBC 10 reports how hundreds of delays occurred at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday while over 150 were canceled. These changes were affecting people into the next day.

According to the many passengers these flights affected, continues NBC 10, they were informed that these delays and cancelations were brought about due to severe storms. This incident almost exactly echoes what happened at the airport last week, when weather was also to blame for a series of delays and canceled.

You can listen to this story  as well as others important to Pennsylvania  on the Today in Pa. original PennLive podcast below:

CBS Local Philadelphia continues to report that  also just like last week  many passengers claimed to have been left waiting on the tarmac for hours without food or water  or answers as to what was happening  before finally being told to exit the plane.

However, the same CBS Local report states how while the passengers were able to get off, their luggage never came with them. NBC 10 adds that dozens of carts containing bags were left waiting to be claimed.

These issues were exacerbated by the fact that a number of flight crews were timed out due to federal regulations, states NBC 10. Many people were left stranded at the airport for as long as 24 hours waiting for another flight.

We still have not gotten our bags yet, told one traveler to NBC 10. No one is coming to talk to us, we havent heard anything about whats going on with our luggage.

And its horrible. You hear them chanting, theyre like free our bags! Why wont they let us know where our bags are.

CBS Local Philadelphia explains how the majority of these flights were run by America Airlines, the largest operator out of PHL.

Said an American Airline spokesperson via statement of the issue: Our team members have been working around the clock to reposition aircraft and crews, as well as assist customers whose travels were impacted. We continue to work through that recovery today.
Green Day.

Smashing Pumpkins.

Rancid.

The Linda Lindas.

Four bands all in the same place and punk rock fans dont want to miss it.

The bands will take the stage on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at Hersheypark Stadium.

Fans can buy tickets here (prices are as of the time of this publication):

If you cant make that, they also will perform on Friday, Aug. 9, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Fans that dont want to wait that long can see them on Monday, July 29, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

Green Days 14th album, Saviors, was released in January of this year. Some of the songs, the band is known for include Wake Me When September Ends, Basket Case and American Idiot. Green Day has four Grammy Awards.

Smashing Pumpkins has two Grammy Awards and is known for such songs as Zero, 1979 and Cherub Rock.
Taylor Swift is performing on her Eras Tour this week in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She will perform on Thursday, July 4; Friday, July 5; and Saturday, July 6, at Johan Cruijff Arena. (Ticket prices start under $200).

The wildly popular tour next heads to Zurich, Switzerland, for concerts on Tuesday, July 9, and Wednesday, July 10.

The pop star will eventually be back in the United States for nine more concerts - three each in Florida, Louisiana and Indiana - before finishing out the tour in December in Canada.

Fans that dont want to travel overseas to catch the tour (although ticket prices are much cheaper), can find tickets to her U.S. concerts here (prices are as of the time of this publication):

Friday, Oct. 18 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida

Saturday, Oct. 19 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida

Sunday, Oct. 20 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida

Friday, Oct. 25 - Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Saturday, Oct. 26 - Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Sunday, Oct. 27 - Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Friday, Nov. 1 - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Saturday, Nov. 2 - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Sunday, Nov. 3 - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

The final concert in the tour, which started in March 2023, will be on Sunday, Dec. 8, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. (Prices on Stubhub for that concert start at $1,596).
By Mohammad Jahjouh, Samy Magdy and Julia Frankel, The Associated Press

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip  The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strips second-largest city.

The order suggests Khan Younis will be the latest target of Israels raids into parts of Gaza it had previously invaded in the war, as it pursues regrouping Hamas militants. Much of Khan Younis was destroyed in a long assault earlier this year, but large numbers of Palestinians had moved back to escape another Israeli offensive in Gazas southernmost city, Rafah.

The evacuation came as Israel released the director of what was once Gazas largest hospital after holding him for seven months without charge or trial. Israel alleged the hospital had been used as a Hamas command center, which he and other Palestinian health officials have denied. The doctor said he and other detainees were held under harsh conditions and tortured.

The decision to release Mohammed Abu Selmia raised questions over Israels claims surrounding Shifa Hospital, which Israeli forces have raided twice since the start of the war with Hamas. The hospital was left severely damaged after the raids.

Abu Selmias release triggered an uproar across Israels political spectrum. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office called it a grave mistake. Government ministers and opposition leaders expressed outrage and insisted Abu Selmia played a role in Hamas alleged use of the hospital  although Israeli security services rarely unilaterally free prisoners if they have a suspicion of militant links.

Khan Younis evacuation

Mondays evacuation order covered the eastern half of Khan Younis and a large swath of the Gaza Strips southeast corner. Earlier in the day, the army said a barrage of rockets out of Gaza was fired from Khan Younis.

As night fell, streams of civilians trudged on foot beside a steady flow of vehicles as people began making their way out of the evacuation zone. A woman dragged a rolling suitcase with a little girl riding on top. Others carried a few crucial belongings  mattresses, clothing, plastic buckets for washing, an electric fan. Trucks were piled high with possessions and furniture.

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip flee from parts of Khan Younis following an evacuation order by the Israeli army to leave the eastern part of Gaza Strip's second largest city on Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)AP

We received a message on our mobile phones to evacuate, said one displaced woman Zeinab Abu Jazar, holding back tears. Look at these children, how they walk. We did not find a car to ride in.

Israel told people to move to Muwasi, a coastal area designated by the Israeli army as a safe zone and which has become filled with crowded and unsanitary tent camps.

The order suggested a new assault into Khan Younis was imminent. Israeli forces fought for weeks in Khan Younis earlier this year and withdrew, claiming to have destroyed Hamas battalions. But in other places where the military has made similar claims, renewed raids have underscored Hamas capabilities.

Last week, the military ordered an evacuation from the north Gaza district of Shijaiyah, and intensive fighting has followed.

Netanyahu said Monday that the military was making progress toward ending the phase of the destruction of Hamas terror army. But he said forces will continue to target their remains going forward.

More fighting in the Khan Younis area could further hamper Palestinians access to much-needed potable water. Included in the evacuation zone is a water line that Israel installed following criticism over its cutoff of water to the strip early in the war.

Also in the zone is the area surrounding the Kerem Shalom crossing, the major aid crossing to southern Gaza, and an aid route inside the territory that Israel has said it would safeguard.

Most of Gazas population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, with many displaced multiple times. Israeli restrictions, fighting and the breakdown of public order have hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid, fueling widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the new evacuation order just shows yet again that no place is safe in Gaza for Palestinian civilians. Its another stop in this deadly circular movement that the population in Gaza has to undergo on a regular basis, he said in a statement calling for a cease-fire.

Shifa Hospital directors release

The decision to release Abu Selmia and 54 other Palestinian detainees back into Gaza appeared to be meant to free up space in overcrowded detention centers. Since the start of the war, Israeli forces have detained thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Many are being held without charge or trial in what is known as administrative detention.

Palestinians inspect the destruction following an Israeli operation in Nur Shams refugee camp, near the West Bank town of Tulkarem, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)AP

Our detainees have been subjected to all kinds of torture behind bars, Abu Selmia told a news conference. There was almost daily torture.

He said guards used batons to beat detainees and terrorized them with dogs. He said some detainees had limbs amputated because of poor medical care. He said a beating caused his head to bleed and guards broke his finger.

The allegations could not be independently confirmed but matched other accounts of Palestinians who have been held in Israeli custody. There was no immediate response from the prison service, which has denied similar accusations.

Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital in November, alleging that Hamas had created an elaborate command and control center inside. Abu Selmia and other staff denied the allegations and accused Israel of recklessly endangering thousands of patients and displaced people sheltering there. Abu Selmia was detained on Nov. 22.

After its first raid on Shifa Hospital, the military uncovered a tunnel beneath it leading to two empty rooms, as well as evidence that militants had brought wounded hostages to the facility. But the evidence fell short of showing an extensive base as claimed. Israel has since raided other Gaza hospitals on similar allegations, forcing them to shut down or dramatically reduce services.

Amid the uproar over Abu Selmias release, the various Israeli state organs responsible for detentions scrambled to shift blame.

Netanyahus office said Abu Selmia belongs in prison and that the prime minister had ordered a thorough review into how the release happened. It said the decision was made without the knowledge of the political echelon or the heads of the organizations.

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israels far-right national security minister who controls the countrys police and prison service, blamed the Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallants office said prisoner releases are the responsibility of the prison service and the Shin Bet internal security agency. The prison service said the decision was made by the Shin Bet and the army, and released a document ordering his release that was signed by an army reserve general.

The Shin Bet said Abu Selmia had passed a risk assessment, compared to other detainees. It said the government had decided against its advice to release detainees determined to be less of a threat to free up space.

Israel launched its offensive after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people across southern Israel and took another 250 hostage. In its campaign, Israel has killed at least 37,900 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or fighters.

Magdy reported from Cairo and Frankel from Jerusalem. Associated Press correspondent Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
CHARLESTON, W.Va.  The former Cleveland police officer who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014 has resigned from a police force in West Virginia, the third time in six years he left a small department amid backlash shortly after he had been hired.

White Sulphur Springs City officials said Timothy Loehmann resigned Monday afternoon as a probationary officer.

In a statement issued to WVVA-TV , Mayor Kathy Glover said Loehmann had been hired at the recommendation of White Sulphur Springs Police Chief D.S. Teubert.

Since this is an employment matter, I will have no further comment, Glover said.

It wasnt immediately clear how long Loehmann had been on the force.

Subodh Chandra, a Cleveland-based attorney for Rices family, said that while its a relief that Loehmann is no longer a police officer in White Sulphur Springs, there must be accountability for the atrocious judgment of the police chief and any other officials involved in having hired him.

A call to Teuberts office went unanswered. The Associated Press left a telephone message Tuesday for Glover. A phone number for Loehmann could not be located and an attorney who formerly represented him wasnt immediately available to comment.

White Sulphur Springs is home to the posh Greenbrier resort, owned by Republican Gov. Jim Justice in southeastern West Virginia along the Virginia border.

Rice, who was Black, was playing with a pellet gun outside a recreation center in Cleveland on Nov. 22, 2014, when he was shot and killed by Loehmann seconds after Loehmann and his partner arrived. The officers, who are white, told investigators Loehmann had shouted three times at Tamir to raise his hands.

The shooting sparked community protests about police treatment of Black people, especially after a grand jury decided not to indict Loehmann or his partner.

Cleveland settled a lawsuit over Tamirs death for $6 million, and the city ultimately fired Loehmann for having lied on his application to become a police officer.

Loehmann later landed a part-time position with a police department in the southeast Ohio village of Bellaire in October 2018 but withdrew his application days later after Tamirs mother, Samaria, and others criticized the hiring.

In July 2022, he was sworn in as the lone police officer in Tioga  a community of about 600 in rural north-central Pennsylvania  but left without having worked a single shift amid backlash and media coverage over his hiring.
By Jack Panyard and Olivia M. Miller, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

Ephrata Community Pool reopened after a weekend shooting threat closed the facility Saturday.

A caller told Ephrata Police on Friday night that someone had posted a threat on the social media app Snapchat that there would be a shooting at the pool Saturday, according to police Sgt. Ken Lockhart.

The pool announced Saturday over social media that it would close for the day in an abundance of caution.

Police identified a suspect Saturday night and determined they did not live in Pennsylvania and that the threat was baseless. Lockhart said the suspect lives in the United States, but he has not released any additional information.

The pool returned to normal operating hours Sunday. Police increased security around the pool over the weekend and had not pressed charges as of Monday afternoon.

Lockhart said part of the investigation is figuring out why someone who does not live anywhere near the pool would make threats against it.

All police departments take these threats very seriously and use an abundance of resources to investigate it fully ... until they come to a clear solution, Lockhart said Saturday.
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer

Hurricane Beryls explosive growth into an unprecedented early whopper of a storm shows the literal hot water the Atlantic and Caribbean are in right now and the kind of season ahead, experts said.

Beryl smashed multiple records even before its major-hurricane-level winds approached land. The powerful storm is acting more like monsters that form in the peak of hurricane season thanks mostly to water temperatures as hot or hotter than the region normally gets in September, five hurricane experts told The Associated Press.

Massive storm earlier than usual

Beryl set the record for earliest Category 4 with winds of at least 130 mph  the first-ever Category 4 in June. It also was the earliest storm to rapidly intensify with wind speeds jumping 63 mph in 24 hours, going from an unnamed depression to a Category 4 in 48 hours.

Late Monday, it strengthened to a Category 5, becoming the earliest hurricane of that strength observed in the Atlantic basin on record, and only the second Category 5 hurricane in July after Hurricane Emily in 2005, the National Hurricane Center said. Category 5 storms have winds exceeding 157 mph.

Beryl is on an unusually southern path, especially for a major hurricane, said University at Albany atmospheric scientist Kristen Corbosiero.

It made landfall Monday on the island of Carriacou with winds of up to 150 mph, and is expected to plow through the islands of the southeast Caribbean. Beryl may stay near its current strength for another day before it begins weakening significantly, according to the late Monday forecast.

Beryl is unprecedentedly strange, said Weather Underground co-founder Jeff Masters, a former government hurricane meteorologist who flew into storms. It is so far outside the climatology that you look at it and you say, How did this happen in June?

Get used to it. Forecasters predicted months ago it was going to be a nasty year, and now they are comparing it to record busy 1933 and deadly 2005  the year of Katrina, Rita, Wilma and Dennis.

This is the type of storm that we expect this year, these outlier things that happen when and where they shouldnt, University of Miami tropical weather researcher Brian McNoldy said. Not only for things to form and intensify and reach higher intensities, but increase the likelihood of rapid intensification. All of that is just coming together right now, and this wont be the last time.

Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach called Beryl a harbinger potentially of more interesting stuff coming down the pike. Not that Beryl isnt interesting in and of itself, but even more potential threats and more  and not just a one off  maybe several of these kinds of storms coming down later.

Hurricane Beryl strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph winds late Monday. It's the earliest Category 5 storm on record in the Atlantic Basin. Beryl moved through the Windward Islands earlier on Monday with 150 mph sustained winds. Beryl's forecast track takes the storm through the Caribbean and toward Jamaica by Wednesday. Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula could be hit on Friday -- and then Beryl could head into the Gulf of Mexico. It's still uncertain if Beryl could affect the U.S.National Hurricane Center

Warm water is great if you are a hurricane

The water temperature around Beryl is about 2 to 3.6 degrees above normal at 84 degrees, which is great if you are a hurricane, Klotzbach said.

Warm water acts as fuel for the thunderstorms and clouds that form hurricanes. The warmer the water and thus the air at the bottom of the storm, the better the chance it will rise higher in the atmosphere and create deeper thunderstorms, said the University at Albanys Corbosiero.

Sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and Caribbean are above what the average September (peak season) temperature should be looking at the last 30-year average, Masters said.

Its not just hot water at the surface that matters. The ocean heat content  which measures deeper water that storms need to keep powering up  is way beyond record levels for this time of year and at what the September peak should be, McNoldy said.

So when you get all that heat energy you can expect some fireworks, Masters said.

This year, theres also a significant difference between water temperature and upper air temperature throughout the tropics.

The greater that difference is, the more likely it becomes that storms will form and get bigger, said MIT hurricane expert Kerry Emanuel. The Atlantic relative to the rest of the tropics is as warm as Ive seen, he said.

A tree lies on the roof of a house in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, after Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucanus Ollivierre)AP

Climate change

Atlantic waters have been unusually hot since March 2023 and record warm since April 2023. Klotzbach said a high pressure system that normally sets up cooling trade winds collapsed then and hasnt returned.

Corbosiero said scientists are debating what exactly climate change does to hurricanes, but have come to an agreement that it makes them more prone to rapidly intensifying, as Beryl did, and increases the strongest storms, like Beryl.

Emanuel said the slowing of Atlantic ocean currents, likely caused by climate change, may also be a factor in the warm water.

A brewing La Nina, which is a slight cooling of the Pacific that changes weather worldwide, also may be a factor. Experts say La Nina tends to depress high altitude crosswinds that decapitate hurricanes.

La Nina also usually means more hurricanes in the Atlantic and fewer in the Pacific. The Eastern Pacific had zero storms in May and June, something thats only happened twice before, Klotzbach said.

Globally, this may be a below average year for tropical cyclones, except in the Atlantic.

On Sunday night, Beryl went through eyewall replacement, which usually weakens a storm as it forms a new center, Corbosiero said. But now the storm has regained its strength.

This is sort of our worst scenario, she said. Were starting early, some very severe storms. .. Unfortunately, it seems like its playing out the way we anticipated.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) pointed out that the conservative Supreme Court majority gave President Biden immunity to use the military to take them out.

Rep. Lofgren said on MSNBCs Deadline: White House:

Well, hes been very open about what he intends to do and thats retribution. He himself said last December, he intends to terminate parts of the constitution. Uh He didnt say which parts, but apparently the court is going to give him wide range to terminate whatever he wants.

You know, he summoned a mob to Washington knowing they were armed, he sent them to the Capitol to try and prevent the peaceful transfer of power if thats ok. Weve got a problem in this country, and certainly in the debate the other night, he would not commit to accepting the election results this November unless he won.

So weve got a problem here if, if he cannot be accountable, if any president cannot be held accountable under the laws that exist, thats a complete departure from our history, I guess, you know, theoretically, President Biden, acting within the scope of his official duties could dispatch the military to take out the conservative justices on the court and hed be immune.

Video:

Rep. Zoe Lofgren says under the SCOTUS ruling, Biden could have the conservative justices taken out, "Theoretically, Biden, acting within the scope of his official duties, could dispatch the military to take out the conservative justices on the court, and he'd be immune." pic.twitter.com/vbz4EJI6la  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) July 1, 2024

That is the true farce of the conservative Supreme Court majoritys decision. A president could have Congress and the Supreme Court rounded up by the military and executed and according to the courts decision, that president would be immune from prosecution.

This ruling ends all accountability for potentially lawless presidents. Instead of celebrating, as Rep. Lofgren points out, Republicans should be horrified because this new immunity applies to both Democratic and Republican presidents.
Every school in the Aiken County Public School District is expected to be ready by Wednesday, Oct. 9, for the return of the districts 23,000 students from fall break on Monday, Oct. 14, Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy told the Aiken County Board of Education at its regular meeting on Tuesda Read moreAll Aiken County Public Schools will be ready for students after Helene, superintendent says
With a deal for the possible relocation of the House of Raeford to Aiken County having recently collapsed, the chicken processing facility will remain sitting on the banks of the Congaree River right in the middle of everything in the downtown Columbia/West Columbia riverfront area.

Well still ride by it as we come and go across the river, still see hardworking employees who have to dart across a busy road to enter the plant, still see an old and now out-of-place industrial facility sitting adjacent to the landmark Gervais Street bridge and the expanding Riverwalk  and still sometimes smell the reality of what it takes to process chickens into chicken dinners.

We will, that is, until our local and state governments get it together and treat this as the major Midlands matter that it is, rather than just being West Columbias problem.

In terms of the downtown areas on both sides of the river, as well as the Congaree itself, the Riverwalk and all that has been, is being and will be built along the riverfront as the Midlands region further develops, everyone wins if the chicken plant is relocated to an appropriate site in a rural/agricultural area.

So dont be chicken, lets get on with it. Form a working group of both elected officials and knowledgeable citizens with agricultural, business and environmental backgrounds to identify possible sites to relocate the House of Raeford facility in the Midlands.

While we should want that to happen for the greater good of greater Columbia, we should also want the House of Raeford to stay in this area as it provides hundreds of jobs and has long been a good corporate citizen.

That said, they are indeed a corporate citizen, with a responsibility to both their owners and employees to make wise decisions and good deals for the future of the company.
Uncertainty and fear generated by Hurricane Helene has pushed folks to social media  a breeding ground for misinformation. For those who are skeptical about the recovery and government response to Helene, we have compiled a list of answers to top questions to set things straight. Read moreFact-check: Skeptical about Hurricane Helene recovery and FEMA aid? We answer your questions.
CONWAY  The top position in Horry County government will go to a longtime lieutenant who has spent years crafting the countys budgets.

Assistant County Administrator Barry Spivey will be promoted after Administrator Steve Gosnell retires at the end of the year, county leaders said. The council on July 2 unanimously voted to place Spivey in that role. Spivey will lead more than 3,000 county employees.

Im a servant, Spivey said. What weve accomplished as team, I think, has been tremendous here at the county. Our employees are our greatest resource, and we want to do everything to encourage them to continue the excellent service that theyve done.

Spivey was one of three senior county employees to pursue the position. Last week, council members interviewed Spivey, Assessor Larry Roscoe and Randy Webster, the assistant administrator over public safety. The only other finalist was former Myrtle Beach City Councilman Wayne Gray.

Any of those candidates would be fantastic for this job, Horry County Council Chairman Johnny Gardner said.

Its the most important job in the county. ... Unfortunately, we can only have one.

Spivey has worked for the county for more than 13 years. He became the countys finance director in 2011 and was promoted to assistant administrator in 2019 after his predecessor Justin Powell left for the S.C. Department of Transportation, which Powell now leads.

Before he came to the county, Spivey worked in the private sector. He spent most of his career  over 22 years  with the real estate investment trust Burroughs & Chapin, according to his LinkedIn page. Spivey came to B&C in 1986. He holds a masters degree in business administration from Coastal Carolina University.
Next month, Myrtle Beach and Horry County leaders plan to revisit their beach ordinances, specifically to discuss rules related to wind-driven shading devices. Myrtle Beach allows the canopies in the offseason. The county doesn't allow them at any time. That could change. Read moreWill SC's busiest beaches allow Shibumi Shade? Some Grand Strand leaders are considering it.
COLUMBIA  Its been said South Carolina congressman Jim Clyburn is the reason Joe Biden became president by helping deliver the Palmetto States crucial Black vote following three crushing defeats in the 2020 Democratic primaries.

Now Clyburn  longtime friend and close adviser to the sitting president  has a new challenge: saving Bidens presidency following a disastrous debate performance last week that has left much of the Democratic establishment panicked over Bidens ability to defeat former President Donald Trump this November.

In a nationally televised debate June 27, Biden, 81, showed his age often, regularly failing to complete thoughts or effectively describe his administrations own policies, prompting a tidal wave of calls from pundits and the liberal establishment to replace him on the top of the ticket.

One sitting U.S. congressman  77-year-old Texas Democrat Lloyd Doggett  already has called for Biden to leave the race, while the editorial boards of several major U.S. newspapers, including The New York Times, have issued their own appeals for Biden to clear the way for a new generation of leadership. On July 2, CNN reported a consortium of Democratic governors were eagerly seeking a sit-down with the presidents team amid concerns over Bidens long-term viability in the race.

In the days since, one of the strongest voices in Bidens corner has been 83-year-old Clyburn, whose endorsement of the former vice president in 2020 was considered key to cementing Bidens victory in South Carolinas critical, First in the South primary.

In the swing state of Wisconsin on June 30, Clyburn delivered a speech to parishioners at a predominantly Black church urging them to stick with Biden. Clyburn rallied with community leaders the following day in Milwaukee, insisting in public remarks that nothing is wrong with Bidens brain. And on the television circuit, Clyburn has stuck to the script, maintaining there is nothing wrong with Biden and that he was merely overprepared for a debate most agree he lost.
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TORRANCE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / In the competitive landscape of business management and brand innovation, there are individuals who stand out not just for their professional accomplishments, but for the positive impact they have on those they work with. Arturo Hernandez, the Managing Partner for Hiero Inc., is just such an individual. Leading the company's efforts over the East LA and Inland Empire markets, Hernandez's story is one of dedication, growth, and transformation.A Californian at his core, Hernandez honed his communication skills with a B.A. from California State University, Long Beach. Like many enterprising individuals, his path wasn't paved with gold from the start. It involved hands-on learning experiences in customer service and industrious days working alongside his father washing cars and cutting grass. With these varied experiences, Hernandez built the tenacity and diligence that would mark his ascent within Hiero Inc.Climbing the ranks over almost three years at the company, Hernandez embodies Hiero's core principles of proactivity, perseverance, and interpersonal development. "I learned to have more confidence in myself," Hernandez reflects, "and not to give up when things get difficult." Being under the mentorship of Needa Onechanh and Leah Young, he appreciates the culture of motivation and the open-door policy that Hiero champions.Hernandez has not ascended Hiero Inc.'s ranks unaccompanied. Among his various roles, he took under his wing a team member named Robert, guiding him through the intricacies of cutting and programming car keys and fine-tuning the logistics of customer interactions. Leaders like Hernandez understand that mentoring is not just about instruction; it's about fostering confidence and opening doors to new possibilities for their team members.Hernandez's tenure at Hiero Inc. is marked by clear milestones and achievements. His leadership as the Executive Regional Manager for Car Keys Express is one highlight, wherein he managed operations across several wholesale clubs and played a pivotal role in expanding the company's presence and services in East LA. Under his stewardship, clients save significantly on car-related essentials while receiving top-notch service - a testament to his commitment to community and business growth alike.Balancing efficiency with empathy, Hernandez is drawn to the opportunity Hiero Inc. provides, both for community service and professional advancement. The environment, characterized by its positive culture, is a key element that keeps the work gratifying. According to Hernandez, it's about giving back while moving forward.To the new hires and anyone seeking to carve out their luck in the business world, Hernandez offers words of wisdom forged from his own experiences: remember your motivation, remain thankful, and avoid the pitfalls of comparison. He stresses the individuality of each personal and professional journey and emphasizes the importance of focusing on one's own narrative to script a successful ending.Hiero INC., led by visionary Needa Onechanh, celebrates 12 years of innovation in the business consulting arena come July 2024. Known for its modern approach and multi-disciplinary strategies, Hiero Inc. has etched its name as a paradigm of progressive business practices.In the competitive world of consulting, an edge is necessary for attracting and retaining customers. Hiero recognizes this need and addresses it head-on with highly interactive, customer-oriented campaigns and outreach programs that directly stimulate new consumer engagements. Their innovative approach has not only resonated with a diverse set of clients but also has set new benchmarks in the industry.The firm's prowess is further complemented by its team of branding specialists - shrewd, savvy, and empathetic professionals who craft impeccable narratives for their clients. These experts meticulously craft business identities and foster long-lasting relationships with consumers, generating quick wins and securing sustainable growth.Hiero Inc. celebrates the growth of its employees like Hernandez and looks to the future with the aim of welcoming new talent to their fold. Known for disrupting the status quo with innovative business strategies, Hiero remains committed to evolution and excellence. The future seems bright for Hiero Inc., not least because of impassioned and effective leaders like Arturo Hernandez, who continue to write new chapters in both their success stories and that of the organization.CONTACT: https://hieroinc.com/contact-us/ 310-370-2623 INFO@ HIEROINC.COM SOURCE: Hiero Inc.
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The new partnership offers high-quality cabinets of durable construction and sought-after designs for kitchen and bath home improvements.PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 /AAA Distributor and Cubitac Cabinetry have joined forces to offer stylish and durably constructed cabinetry for homeowners, wholesalers, and kitchen and bath dealers. Known for its exquisite design and high-quality material sourcing, Cubitac Cabinetry brings its artfully crafted collections and shared vision for personalization to AAA Distributor, a leading provider of home improvement products for kitchen, bathroom, and flooring.AAA Distributor The new partnership recognizes the need for individuality in modern home design and allows clients to incorporate their personal tastes into their kitchens and bathrooms. With Cubitac's unique collections at AAA Distributor, homeowners can add stylish designs to their homes and increase the appeal and value of their property."I am thrilled to introduce our partnership with Cubitac, blending AAA's commitment to quality and Cubitac's expertise in cabinetry," said Michael Neal President of AAA Distributor. "Together, we aim to offer our customers not just products but solutions that elevate their spaces and endure through generations." Research shows that homeowners who invest in high-quality cabinetry increase the resale value of their homes by an average of 15%. A recent study found that consumers are expected to spend $75.66 billion for kitchen cabinets in 2024, and spending is projected to reach $96.05 billion by 2029.Over the years, new designs like open kitchen areas have transformed the space from its traditional role into a true social hub for the household. Customization is becoming more popular as the market for kitchen cabinets continues to expand due to several factors, including evolving lifestyles and the construction of residential structures where there is a need for adequate storage.The AAA Distributor and Cubitac partnership emphasizes a unique blend of aesthetic, durably constructed, and artfully designed cabinetry focused on creating inviting spaces that cater to individual tastes and enhance the value and appeal of homes."The People's Kitchen by the Kitchen People" reflects Cubitac's commitment to prioritizing quality without losing focus on personality. With decades of experience and expertise, Cubitac offers durable and stylish cabinetry designs infused with personality, such as the Artisan Silk cabinetry featuring a unique single-piece look and premium Blum Blumotion soft-close clip-on hinges and slides.AAA Distributor, headquartered in Philadelphia, is a major distributor, wholesaler, and retailer of kitchen, bathroom and flooring home improvement and remodeling products. AAA Distributor designs and imports its own proprietary product line, LessCare, which includes cabinetry, vanities, bath furnishings, plumbing supplies, flooring and fixtures.As a leader in the kitchen and bath industry, AAA Distributor uses its industry expertise, considerable product range, and priority service at its four locations: Philadelphia has served the city's northeast area since 1990, Dallas offers products from Fabuwood and J&K Cabinetry - also available online - Atlanta features a new showroom in the boutique historic town of Roswell - and Spokane specializes in custom interior and exterior doors. The four AAA Distributor locations have more than a half-million square feet of in-stock products open to the public.For more information on AAA Distributor, please visit https://aaadistributor.com About AAA DistributorAAA Distributor is a distributor, wholesaler, and retailer of kitchen, bathroom and flooring home improvement and remodeling products. Headquartered in Philadelphia, its large showroom (120,000 square feet) in Philadelphia offers samples, displays, and free 3D design services with the assistance of 12 full-time interior designers. AAA designs and imports its own proprietary product line, LessCare, which includes cabinetry, vanities, bath furnishings, plumbing supplies, flooring and fixtures. AAA Distributor also has locations in Atlanta, Dallas and Spokane.Contact InformationBuse KayarMedia and Content Managerbuse.kayar@issuerdirect.com Related ImagesAAA DistributorArtisan MossBolt NaturalBolt Denim - LaceMontclair Sapphire - CashmereMadison DuskSOURCE: AAA DistributorView the original press release on newswire.com
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US-based Lessor's 737-NG Fleet Expansion ContinuesCHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Aircraft Engine Lease Finance, Inc ("AELF") announced it has leased a Boeing 737-800 to South Africa's FlySafair. The aircraft, MSN 36548, marks the latest addition to FlySafair's fleet, which is comprised heavily of this type.737-800 Leased by AELF to Flysafair "We're thrilled to see this aircraft in operation with FlySafair. My team and I closely oversee every step of the pre-delivery maintenance process and we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality aircraft to our valued lessees," said Jim Nazarkewich, Head of Technical Services for AELF.Recently acquired from Airborne Capital Limited, the aircraft is one of several 737-800s recently acquired and leased by AELF as the company actively expands its new-gen fleet."Expanding our presence in the 737-NG market is precisely in line with our strategic objectives," said Joe Cirillo, Head of Global Marketing for AELF. "We look forward to a broader cooperation with the great group at FlySafair." "Structuring the right leasing deals is imperative to maintaining our cost advantage in the markets we contest. We've appreciated AELF's efforts to align with our needs," said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer for FlySafair.About the AELFAircraft Engine Lease Finance Inc. ("AELF") is an experienced leader in commercial aircraft leasing. Based in Chicago, AELF offers customized and flexible financing solutions to airlines and commercial aircraft operators worldwide. AELF has been in operation for almost a decade and owns a fleet of A330-200s and 737-800s as well as an engine portfolio. The company is strategically expanding its presence in the 737NG market.About FlySafairFlySafair, South Africa's leading international low-cost carrier, is a trade name for Safair Operations, based in Kempton Park, South Africa. The airline flies to 15 destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa. FlySafair, which uses the slogan For The Love Of Flying, is the most on-time, low-cost airline in the world.# # #Contact InformationHelena Padilla SilesCommunications Managerhpadillasiles@ aelf-flightservice.com SOURCE: Aircraft Engine Lease Finance IncView the original press release on newswire.com
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 /Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:ARK) ("Arras" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced an Induced Polarization ("IP") survey on its 531 square kilometer Elemes project in northeastern Kazakhstan ("Elemes" or the "Project"), to help further define the most prospective drill targets.Highlights125km long Pole-Dipole Induced Polarization survey covering the entire Berezski 8.8km x 1.5km NE-SW trending long copper ("Cu") soil anomaly (+150ppm Cu).Initial focus of the survey will be the 2.8km x 1.6km coherent Molybdenum ("Mo") bulls-eye anomaly (> 5ppm Mo) interpreted to be the core of untested porphyry copper-gold system.The survey will also extend over the 3km x 2.2km Novi arsenic ("As") anomaly (>25ppm As) thought to be associated with a large high-sulphidation epithermal above a preserved porphyry deposit.The commencement of the IP survey works follows the recent closing of an upsized financing in which the Company successfully raised C$5.2 million to support ongoing exploration activities on the Company's copper-gold projects in Kazakhstan.The IP survey will cover the extensive Berezski copper anomaly, associated with highly altered diorites, that displays remarkably similar geological and structural characteristics to the Bozshakol copper-gold mine located approximately 60 km northwest.Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals, announced, "With the recent completion of the C$5.2 million equity financing, we are well-positioned to advance our exploration programs on our key copper-gold projects across a number of targets areas. The start of the IP survey at the Berezski target on the Elemes project will assist with further defining high-priority targets ahead of drill testing in the following months this summer and fall." Figure 1. The 8.8km Berezski copper soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.Figure 2. The 8.8km Berezski molybdenum soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.Figure 3. The 8.8km Berezski arsenic soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.Induced Polarization (IP) SurveyThe IP and resistivity surveys are being undertaken by Aurora Geophysics of Astana, Kazakhstan. The survey includes 125km of survey lines and will utilize a poledipole array with an electrode spacing of 200m, and an average line spacing of 500m. The survey is designed to measure to a depth of ~250m.Mineralization in porphyry deposits is associated with sulphide minerals, predominantly pyrite and chalcopyrite, which makes the IP survey an important tool in targeting sulphide mineralization at depth and enhancing the definition of drill targets. Additionally, the resistivity function of the survey will assist in identifying silica enriched zones, another import vector tool for future drill planning.The Berezski Target is located within the 531 square kilometre Elemes/Aimandai license area ("Elemes Project"). The property benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 kilometres ("km") from Arras' operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, Pavlodar. A paved highway runs through the license, and within 5 km of the Berezski target. 1100 KVA power lines and heavy rail all lie within a 15-kilometer radius of the project.The Elemes Project is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals' Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (2022 production 102kt Cu and 113Koz Au 2 ) approximately 60 km to the northwest.Figure 4. Arras's License Package showing Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance Areas as "Package A" and "Package B" as well as the Elemes, Aimandai, Stepnoe, Ekidos and Tay licences which are 100% owned by Arras.Qualified Person: The scientific and technical disclosure for this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Matthew Booth, Vice President of Exploration, of Arras Minerals Corp., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Booth has over 19 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Qualified Person member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG 12044).On behalf of the Board of Directors"Tim Barry"Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo) Chief Executive Officer and DirectorINVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 info@ arrasminerals.com Further information can be found on the Company's website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp.Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue). In December 2023, the Company entered into a strategic alliance with Teck Resources ("Teck") in which Teck will sole fund a US$5 million generative exploration program over a portion of the Arras license package in 2024-2025 focusing on critical minerals. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol "ARK".Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of
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MOUNT VERNON, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Travis Seeger, a visionary artist based in Austin, Texas, is a metal sculptor who specializes in designing, fabricating and installing life sized kinetic tree sculptures. His latest masterpiece is a captivating piece crafted from Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc.'s (Ball Chain) quarter-inch stainless steel ball chain. Made from thousands of feet of gently swaying ball chain, the trees are in perpetual motion, responding to every breeze or gust of wind. This remarkable artwork not only exemplifies Mr. Seeger's artistic ingenuity but also showcases the innovative potential of stainless steel ball chain in contemporary sculpture.Kinetic tree sculpture Life size kinetic tree sculpture crafted from Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc.'s (Ball Chain) quarter-inch stainless steel ball chain. Photo  Travis Seeger and Foster Talge 2024Mr. Seeger's decision to utilize over 2 miles of stainless steel ball chain highlights its unique properties that perfectly complement his artistic vision. When asked about his choice of material, Mr. Seeger explained, "The stainless steel ball chain's ability to remain untangled and its unmatched quality and consistency were pivotal in bringing this sculpture to life. Its smooth movement adds a dynamic element that enhances the overall aesthetic." The kinetic tree remained untangled as it was transported in an open trailer going over 70 miles per hour. This shows how impressive the stainless steel product from Ball Chain really is," said Mr. Seeger.Interestingly, Mr. Seeger discovered the ideal supplier for his ball chain needs through an online search. "I found exactly what I needed and connected with Bill Taubner," Mr. Seeger shared. "Little did I know, Bill was the President of Ball Chain. I was thoroughly impressed with the exceptional customer service and expertise provided." Developers, homeowners, landscapers, and architects will find inspiration in Mr. Seeger's kinetic sculpture, which seamlessly integrates artistry with functionality. The sculpture's fluid movement and meticulous craftsmanship underscore the versatility of stainless steel ball chain, making it suitable for a wide range of creative and practical applications.Mr. Seeger's kinetic metal sculpture represents a testament to his innovative spirit and commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. Through his collaboration with Bill Taubner and Ball Chain, Mr. Seeger has demonstrated the transformative potential of materials in contemporary sculpture, inspiring audiences worldwide. "Their dedication to delivering high-quality products and meeting timelines was instrumental in this process from beginning to end," explains Mr. Seeger.Ball Chain's metal curtain products are already used as architectural design elements under the product line ShimmerScreen. Capturing light and defining space, ShimmerScreen is available in a variety of colors, shapes and finishes. Our motto is "Create Something New!" and many renowned architects have brought this vision to life using our ShimmerScreen line of ball chain. All Ball Chain products, including ShimmerScreen, are proudly made at the company's factory in Mount Vernon, New York, USA.About Travis Seeger:Based in Austin Texas, Foster Talge and Travis Seeger are metal sculptors that specialize in designing, fabricating and installing life-sized kinetic tree sculptures. Our trees are made of mild steel with the outer branches and tree canopy formed in stainless steel. Made from thousands of feet of gently swaying ball chain. Our trees are made of mild steel with the outer branches and tree canopy formed in stainless steel and thousands of feet of gently swaying ball chain.About Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc.:Bill Taubner, the current company President, honors his great-grandfather and grandfather who started Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc. in a small garage behind their home in the Bronx, NY. The company has been family-owned and operated since 1938. Ball Chain is now the world's largest manufacturer of ball chains, seen on military dog tags, ceiling fans, handbags, and light pulls, among many other goods. The company manufactures more than 4 million feet of product per week at its Mount Vernon, New York, factory (all ball chains are made in the USA).About ShimmerScreen Products:ShimmerScreen is BCM Architectural's premier product line. Businesses and individual homeowners all over the world use our customizable metal ball chain for applications such as room dividers, window treatments, art installations and lighting fixtures, ShimmerScreen is currently on display in renowned restaurants, five-star hotels, fortune 500 corporate lobbies and celebrity residences.Contact InformationBill TaubnerPresidentbill@ ballchain.com 914-664-7500 ext 120Justin MartoranoDirector Of Marketingjustin@ ballchain.com 9177314646SOURCE: Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Capital.com , the high-growth global trading platform and fintech group whose trading volumes surpassed USD$1trn in 2023, has announced its partnership with TradingView, the world's leading provider of charting and analytical tools. Through this partnership, Capital.com's clients will be able to benefit from TradingView's comprehensive financial visualisation tools and have access to enhanced drawing tools, customisable charts and an exhaustive list of indicators to support and enhance their trading experience.Dana Massey, Chief Product Officer, Capital.com , said:"As a platform known for its exceptional UX and responsive technology, we are always looking for ways to enhance our clients' trading experience and decision-making. Through our partnership with TradingView, our clients will have access to the best charting tools in the market without having to navigate away from the Capital.com platform. This not only gives our clients added convenience and a seamless user experience but also helps them save precious time when they are in the middle of a trade." Pierce Crosby, General Manager, TradingView, said: Capital.com continues to deliver on top-notch product deployments for their users - and ours! We have been in partnership with their team for some years now and we are continually impressed by their consistent upgrades and rollouts. The latest upgrade allows clients to access the best of what our charting libraries has to offer, with the Capital.com product ecosystem. This complements the existing trading integration we have established to bring Capital.com's trading capabilities to the TradingView ecosystem." Highlights:Access to popular analysis tools including Fibonacci, Gann, and Elliot analysis tools30+ additional indicators for the most popular trading strategies35+ drawing tools to plan trades, plus ruler and emojisThe ability to monitor price action across multiple markets simultaneouslyA comprehensive visual upgrade enabling customised colours and layoutsImproved navigational and toolbar functionalityThe ability to save indicator templates and layouts across web and mobile Capital.com enables clients to trade derivatives on more than 3,000 of the world's most popular indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies (crypto trading is not available to retail clients in the UK), shares and currency pairs. In addition to its web and mobile-based platforms, Capital.com also provides clients with access to free education and trading tools to help them hone their trading knowledge.As a global fintech company with offices in London, Dubai, Limassol, Melbourne, Warsaw and Vilnius, Capital.com is guided by a sustainability-led startup framework, prioritising smart partnerships with the public and private sector to help drive progress and sustainable growth.For information about Capital.com's partnership with TradingView and its enhanced charting tools, visit : (Global) https://capital.com/capital-charts-upgradeor (UK) https://capital.com/en-gb/analysis/capital-charts-upgrade ENDSNotes to EditorsAbout Capital.com Capital.comis a high-growth fintech company empowering people to participate in financial markets through simple and innovative online trading platforms. Launched in 2016, its intuitive award-winning platform -available on web and app -enables investors to trade thousands of world-renowned markets. To help investors trade with confidence, the platform is fitted with robust risk management controls, transparent pricing and extensive educational content to support clients in their investment journeys. Capital.com has a global network with offices located in Cyprus, UK, the UAE and Australia. Capital Com (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under registration number 793714. Capital Com SV Investments Limited is Authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), under licence number 319/17. Capital Com Australia Pty Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under AFSL Number 513393. Capital Com Online Investments Ltd is a Company registered in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and authorised to carry out Securities Business by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas with licence number SIA-F245. Capital Com Mena Securities Trading LLC is authorised and regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), under license number 202000176.To find out more, please visit: www.capital.com About TradingView, Inc.TradingView is the world's most popular charting platform for traders and investors. Powered by global real-time data, TradingView's market-leading visuals and data analysis software is used by more than 50 million traders. Visitwww.tradingview.comor download the free TradingView mobile apps for iOS and Android to discover over 200 markets right at your fingertips. For other companies looking to enhance their technology, visit https://www.tradingview.com/widget/ This press release is for media use only. It's not intended for individual investors, and doesn't include personal advice or recommendations.DISCLAIMERCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 84.01% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading 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. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading involves risk.Crypto Derivatives are not available to Retail clients registered with Capital Com (UK) Ltd. Spread bets are available only to UK clients.The value of shares and ETFs bought through a share dealing account can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.Capital Com (UK) Limited ("CCUK") is registered in England and Wales with company registration number 10506220. CCUK is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), under registration number 793714. Capital Com SV Investments Limited ("CCSV") is registered in Cyprus with company registration number 354252. CCSV is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under licence number 319/17. Capital Com Online Investments Ltd is a limited liability company (company number 209236B) registered in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and authorised to carry on Securities Business by the Securities by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas ("SCB") with licence number SIA-F245. Capital.com is an execution-only brokerage platform and the content
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Temporary toll pass for visitors provides up to 80% savings in rental car toll feesORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2024 / The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) announces expanded distribution of its Visitor Toll Pass at Orlando International Airport (MCO) with additional pick-up and drop-off locations in Terminals A, B and C. An alternative to costly rental car toll programs, Visitor Toll Pass is a free temporary toll pass for rental car customers traveling roundtrip through the airport.Visitor Toll Pass Kiosk at Orlando International Airport VTP KioskWith Visitor Toll Pass, drivers always pay the lowest toll rate throughout Florida with no hidden or extra fees, saving as much as 80% compared to rental car toll programs.Reservations can be made from anywhere in minutes by downloading the free Visitor Toll Pass app on Google Play and the Apple App Store, following easy on-screen instructions and providing trip and rental car information. When setting up a Visitor Toll Pass reservation on the app, customers can enable notifications to receive trip and toll activity updates and notices.Visitors can pick up their pass at any of the six locations in MCO's Terminal A, B or C and will need to decline the rental car company's toll program. Next, Visitor Toll Pass customers just add their rental car license plate number in the app, hang it on the rental car rearview mirror and leave the airport ready for non-stop travel. At the end of their trip, customers simply return the toll pass to one of 14 return drop boxes located throughout the airport. All tolls will be billed to the customer's credit card associated with the pass with no additional fees or charges.Visitor Toll Pass is the first of its kind in the U.S. and was created to enhance the visitor experience in Central Florida, the No. 1 travel destination in the country with more than 200 miles of local toll roads.Contact InformationBrian HutchingsManager of Community Engagementbrian.hutchings@cfxway.com 407-413-2391SOURCE: Central Florida Expressway AuthorityView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 13:00:22

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Condor Resources Inc. ("Condor" or the "Company") (TSXV:CN) is pleased to provide an update on four of its exploration projects in Peru.PucamayoFollowing the release of the assay results from the 2023 drill program at Pucamayo on February 12, 2024, the exploration team performed an analysis of these results in the context of the exploration model. Overall, the drill program was successful in confirming the geological interpretations made to date based on prior work, and the project remains highly prospective for a gold-bearing epithermal deposit. The drill results of the program validate the thesis of at least one hydro-magmatic centre, with mineralization of gold, silver, and associated elevated values for lead, zinc, copper. The mineralization discovered to date in drilling is confirmed as high to intermediate sulfidation classification with mineralization consisting of Au-Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, within ledges of hydrothermal breccias, with halos of crackle breccias, and quartz and carbonate vein fillings in associated structures. Also identified in the drilled area are distal assemblages of an intrusive porphyry that support the interpretation of a magmatic intrusive centre below the epithermal mineralization, all hosted in Tertiary-aged ignimbrites, andesitic lavas, and hypabyssal porphyries.In April, an updated drone supported airborne magnetics survey was completed over the exploration area of interest resulting in the identification of two obvious magnetic anomalies suggesting two hydro-magmatic centres. One of these centres is within the area drilled to date. and the second magnetic anomaly is located within Pucamayo South East Extension area ("South East Target") indicating a second interpreted hydro-magmatic centre associated with the 3 x 2 km area of the outcropping high sulfidation lithocap alteration. Both targets are associated with IP-related geophysical anomalies identified in earlier surveys.The Company was provided notice from the Ministry of Energy and Mines that a separate DIA will be required for the South East Target, and the application process has been initiated. The community remains supportive of the Company's exploration efforts including expansion of drill plans to include an additional 40 drill holes in the South East Target. The Ministry will need to confirm this support in a community meeting as part of this DIA application. The Company is proud of its efforts to engage the community and in particular significant progress has been made in the construction of a community centre funded by the Company. Please visit our website to see the progress photos.SoledadUnder the terms of the agreement with Chakana Copper Corp. ("Chakana"), Chakana was scheduled to complete a US$1,000,000 payment and issue CAD$200,000 worth of Chakana common shares at a price not less than $0.145/share to Condor on June 22, 2024 to maintain its option. This payment has not yet been received and the companies are in active discussions on the matter.Huinac PuntaThe Company continues to make progress with community discussions through the Consulta Previa process. The Social Management Directorate of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (DGS MEM)) and the president of the local community will plan for the required community meeting to take place, and this is currently anticipated to be in July. Upon completion of this meeting, the next step in the process would be the Initiation of Activities, during which the Company would be able to initiate a drill program on this highly prospective high grade silver project.AndreaAfter a number of dormant years at the Andrea project, which is in proximity to the Breapampa mine formerly owned by Newmont Corporation, the Company is in constructive discussions with the leaders of the local community. Our team is planning a comprehensive overview of Condor's activities in Peru and the available benefits to the local community. The resumption of activity at this highly prospective property is very encouraging, and we look forward to re-engaging with the community.Technical Disclosure/Qualified PersonThe scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Quinton Hennigh, (P.Geo., PhD), a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and a Director of Condor Resources.About Condor Resources Inc.Condor Resources is a precious and base metals exploration company focused on its portfolio of projects in Peru. The company's flagship project, Pucamayo, is an 85 km2 property containing a high sulfidation epithermal system with disseminated precious metals mineralization with a large lithocap alteration visible at surface. The company has optioned several large projects to partners who continue to advance these projects, and has a number of priority and prospective projects warranting further exploration by Condor. The Company's award-winning exploration team in Peru has a long history of success in discovering and advancing high quality exploration projects and managing the social aspects of its exploration activities.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDChris Buncic,President & Chief Executive OfficerFor further information please contact the Company at 1-866-642-5707, or by email at info@ condorresources.com Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.SOURCE: Condor Resources, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 18:15:14

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Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating claims regarding data privacy violations by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago.NEWTOWN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / The law firm of Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating claims regarding data privacy violations by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago ("Lurie Children's Hospital"). Lurie Children's Hospital learned of suspicious activity on or about January 26, 2024. To join this case, goHERE .About Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagoLurie Children's Hospital is a pediatric acute care facility in Chicago, Illinois.What happenedOn or about January 26, 2024, the Lurie Children's Hospital discovered that its computer network was breached by a ransomware group known as Rhysida, which claims to have sold data obtained in the attack. Later, it was determined that highly sensitive personal data had been compromised. At least 791,784 individuals have been affected by this cyber-attack.How can I protect my personal data?If you receive a data breach notification, you need to understand the risks of possible misuse of your personal information, including identity theft, and your legal options for mitigating such risks.Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating bringing a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies on behalf of customers who may have had their sensitive personal and patient data compromised by the Lurie Children's Hospital data breach.For more information, please contact:Marc H. Edelson, Esq.Eric Lechtzin, Esq.EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP411 S. State Street, Suite N-300Newtown, PA 18940Phone: 844-696-7492 or 215-867-2399 ext. 1Email: medelson@ edelson-law.com Web: www.edelson-law.com About Edelson Lechtzin LLPEdelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving data breaches, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft and unpaid overtime, consumer fraud, and dangerous and defective drugs and medical devices.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. No class has been certified in this case, so you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point.SOURCE: Edelson Lechtzin LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 18:03:21

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Acquisition of a North Shore CompanyITASCA, IL / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Design First Builders, LLC, has announced the acquisition of DDK Kitchen Design Group, with offices in both Glenview IL and Wilmette IL. As a two-generation family-owned business, DDK Kitchen Design Group has built a strong reputation for excellence in kitchen remodeling over four decades.Design First Residential Remodeling Logo BuilderDan Thompson, the founder of DDK Kitchen Design Group, expressed his excitement about the acquisition, stating: "I am delighted to join the Design First Builders family. Their commitment to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with the values that have defined DDK Kitchen Design Group. I am thrilled at the expanded services and possibilities they will bring to the North shore homeowners." Design First Builders, known for their design expertise, premium quality and excellent client satisfaction, see the transaction as a perfect match to continue DDK Kitchen Design Group's two-generation legacy, and expand service offerings in the Northern Chicago neighborhood. Design First Builders CEO Jordan Zhu remarked: "DDK and Design First teams have a lot in common: we always put customer experience at the front and center, caring for employees and partners, and focusing on quality, innovation and continuous improvements. We are very excited for this partnership, and the added services we could bring to the Northern communities in the Chicagoland area." The acquisition of DDK Kitchen Design Group by Design First Builders, LLC completed in June 2024. Both companies are working closely to ensure a smooth transition for clients and employees alike.Contact:Heather Hudsonhhudson@ d1builders.com 630-250 -7777About Design First Builders:Design First Builders is a long established residential remodeling company known for its commitment to integrity, innovation, and superior craftsmanship, consistently surpassing client expectations across various projects including new custom homes, kitchens, additions, basements, and bath designs in many neighborhoods like Elmhurst, Naperville, Hinsdale, Park Ridge and Arlington Heights. Their comprehensive services include an In-house Project Management System for accurate estimating, smooth transitions to architecture & interior design, and effective production and contractor management alignment. Additionally, their Custom Cabinet Manufacturing division offers extensive customization, significantly reduces lead times, maintains premium quality, and integrates a Standardized Communication Tool, providing clients with a customized portal for real-time job calendars, order tracking, and seamless communication. Design First Builders stands as a trusted partner in bringing architectural visions to life in the greater Chicagoland area.About DDK Kitchen Design Group:DDK Kitchen Design Group is a respected provider of premium kitchen design services known for creativity, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional customer service. DDK consistently exceeds client expectations, reflecting their unique vision and lifestyle. Clients in Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park, Glencoe and Glenview allow us to capture their vision and bring it to life. Their passion for expert design and client satisfaction have made them a leader in the industry. DDK continues to set the standard for innovative yet personalized kitchen designs.Contact Information:Heather HudsonDirector of Marketinghhudson@ d1builders.com 6302507777SOURCE: Design First BuildersView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 11:01:21

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Harbor Diversified, Inc. ("Harbor Diversified" or "the Company") (OTC PINK:HRBR) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Harbor Diversified securities between May 10, 2022 and March 29, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR Case Details:According to the Complaint, Harbor Diversified describes itself as "a non-operating holding company that is the parent of a consolidated group of subsidiaries, including AWAC Aviation, Inc. (AWAC'), which is the sole member of Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC (Air Wisconsin'), a regional air carrier. Harbor is also the direct parent of three other subsidiaries: (1) Lotus Aviation Leasing, LLC (Lotus'), which leases flight equipment to Air Wisconsin, (2) Air Wisconsin Funding LLC (AWF'), which provides flight equipment financing to Air Wisconsin, and (3) Harbor Therapeutics, Inc. (Therapeutics'), which is a non-operating entity with no material assets." The Complaint alleges that Harbor Diversified made materially false and/or misleading statements because the Company misrepresented and failed to disclose the following adverse facts pertaining to the Company's business, operations, and prospects, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:(1) Harbor Diversified's financial statements from May 9, 2022 to the present were misstated due to improper revenue recognition;(2) Harbor Diversified lacked adequate internal controls; and(3) as a result, Harbor Diversified's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times.The truth began to emerge, according to the Complaint, on March 29, 2024, when Harbor Diversified filed with the SEC a current report on Form 8-K in which it announced that certain of its previously-issued financial statements would need to be restated as a result of improper revenue recognition. Further, Harbor Diversified disclosed a material weakness in its internal controls that has the company's management evaluating "appropriate remediation actions." On this news, according to the Complaint, the price of Harbor Diversified stock fell by $0.28 per share, or14.25% , to close at $1.73 on April 1, 2024.Therefore, the Complaint further alleges that as a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Harbor Diversified's common shares, investors have suffered significant losses and damages.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Harbor Diversified you have until July 8, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller,332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 15:01:46

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / 1933 Industries Inc. (the "Company" or "1933 Industries") (CSE:TGIF)(OTCQB:TGIFF), a Nevada-focused cannabis cultivator and producer, is pleased to announce its unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 ("Q3 2024"). All amounts expressed are in Canadian dollars.The Company owns 91% of Alternative Medicine Association (AMA), the Company's cultivation and production subsidiary centred on the medical and adult-use cannabis market. Focusing on quality and value offerings, the Company wholesales cannabis flower, pre-rolls and boutique concentrate products under its proprietary AMA brand to retail accounts in the state of Nevada. AMA branded products consistently rank as top sellers based on volume in the state and the Company is a key supplier in the Las Vegas market.Q3 2024 Financial HighlightsTotal revenues of $4.9 million for Q3 and $15.1 million YTDGross profit of $2.3 million and $5.4 million YTDNet profit of $0.1 million compared to a net loss of $3.3 million in 2023Adjusted EBITDA was an income of $0.7 million YTD compared to a loss of $2.6 million in 2023Top selling cannabis brand in Nevada [1]#1 Flower rank#1 Concentrate rank#3 Pre-Roll rankManagement Commentary"The increase in revenue, gross margin, and net profit this quarter is a direct result of the strategic measures undertaken over the last year to optimize our cultivation and drive operational efficiencies. While there are always challenges affecting the overall cannabis industry, the Company continues to work towards achieving sustainable profitability, and this quarter was a reliable indication that we are on the right track", said Mr. Paul Rosen, Chairman and CEO of the Company."The AMA brand continues to enjoy robust sales in Nevada, with strong brand presence and consumer loyalty. We have been able to achieve this by building trusted relationships with both our customers and our retail clients over the years, and by providing a strong value proposition based on quality, consistency, and high touch customer service", stated Ms. Ester Vigil, President and Director of Sales at 1933 Industries.According to Headset, a business intelligence aggregator for cannabis retailers, AMA "has shown remarkable consistency and dominance in the Nevada market, particularly in the Concentrates category, where it has maintained the top rank for four consecutive months. This consistency in ranking suggests a strong brand presence and consumer loyalty in this category. In the Flower category, the brand experienced a notable improvement, climbing to the number one spot in April 2024 before settling back to the second position in May 2024. This fluctuation indicates competitive dynamics in the Flower market but also highlights the brand's ability to lead in high-demand categories. In the Pre-Roll segment, AMA has maintained a steady third position from February to May 2024, reflecting a stable performance" [2] .Q3 2024 and Q3 2023 Consolidated Operating HighlightsRevenuesIn Q3 2024, total revenues were $4.9 million compared to $4.1 million for Q3 2023. The increase in revenues is attributed to the strength of the AMA brand in Nevada, to the upgrades and improvements to the cultivation facility completed in Q4 2023, and to the fair market valuation of biological assets. For the nine months ended April 30, 2024, the Company recorded revenues of $15.1 million compared to $13.3 million during the same period in 2023.Gross ProfitThe Company generated gross profit of $2.3 million in the current period compared to gross loss of $1.6 million recorded in the prior year comparable period, indicating stable production costs against revenues. Gross margin was 47% in Q3 2024 and a negative gross margin of 39% in Q3 2023. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to a more efficient operation, the upgrading of plant equipment and facility improvements and the fair market value adjustments of biological assets. Gross profit for the nine months ended April 30, 2024 was $5.4 million, compared to a gross loss of $1 million during the same comparable period in 2023.ExpensesDuring the reporting period, expenses were $2.2 million for Q3 2024 compared to $1.8 million for Q3 2023. The increase from the prior year comparable period was primarily due to additional license, taxes and insurance costs in Q3 2024, as well as legal and professional fees, wages and benefits resulting from higher cultivation and production wages. Overall, the Company has made significant progress in reducing operating expenses compared to the prior year comparable period by decreasing general and administration expenses, management and consulting fees and lower share-based compensation.Net Profit/LossCompany-wide, Q3 2024 net earnings were $0.1 million for Q3 2024 and comprehensive loss was $31,189. Net loss was $3.4 million and comprehensive loss was $3.2 million in the prior year comparable period. For the nine months ended April 30, 2024, Adjusted EBITDA was an income of $0.7 million compared to a loss of $2.6 million during the same reporting period in 2023. The Company continues to improve margins and control costs, without compromising quality, and will remain focused on revenue growth.Q3 2024 Key DevelopmentsOn December 29, 2023, the Company announced the renegotiation of its convertible debentures with an original maturity date of December 31, 2023. Of the total principal of $3,114,000, holders of $3,073,000 agreed to be issued replacement debentures and holders of $41,000 of the convertible debentures were repaid in cash during February 2024. The renegotiated debentures accrue interest at 10% per annum, may be converted into units of the Company and mature on December 31, 2025. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.05 for a period of five years from the date of issuance of the new convertible debentures. Interest in arrears resulting from the original debentures remains payable in cash or may be settled through the issuance of units of the Company at $0.05 per unit.The Company suspended its Canna Hemp CBD consumer packaged goods subsidiary while it assesses the viability of the CBD market going forward. The market demand for hemp-infused CBD products has continued to decrease since the COVID pandemic, primarily due to increased competition, the closure of brick-and-mortar stores, and customers exiting the CBD category. The lack of federal rules on CBD products, and the grey area surrounding the introdu
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 21:03:06

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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. ("Arbor" or "the Company") (NYSE:ABR) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Arbor is the subject of a report issued by Viceroy Research November 17, 2023, titled, ""Arbor Realty Trust - Slumlord Millionaires." According to the report, "Arbor's high-risk multifamily bridge loans, which comprise substantially all of its asset book, are going bad fast The end is near." Viceroy Research then issued a follow up report on December 5, 2023, titled "Arbor - Jacksonville Case Study." In the second report, Viceroy Research claims that the Company's "entire loan book is distressed and underlying collateral is vastly overstated." Based on this news, shares of Arbor fell by more than 5% over the next two trading sessions.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 05:31:34

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TOKYO & TAIPEI, July 2, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., Japans only international payment brand has announced the launch of the new JCB Apollo Card in collaboration with Taishin Bank, a leading bank in Taiwan. The new JCB Apollo Card will be available starting July 1, 2024.Celebrating the launch of this card, JCB and Taishin Bank will be offering a promotion targeting card usage in Japan and South Korea.Taishin Bank is a major player in Taiwan with more than 6.5 million credit card members. The bank combines its payment functions with its own points reward system to promote the growth of its economic ecosystem. The newly launched JCB Apollo Card offers up to 3.8% reward points under the "Swipe Everyday, Swipe Big" program. This service offers a base 0.3% points redemption with an additional unlimited 3.5% redemption at selected merchants in Taiwan and internationally (Japan, South Korea, EU, UK and US).Celebrating the launch of this card, JCB will be running a promotion focusing on card usage in Japan and South Korea. From July 1 to September 30, 2024, JCB will offer 5% reward points of the amount spent in Japan or South Korea.For more detail, please visit: https://mkp.taishinbank.com.tw/s/2024/TSRoseApolloCard/index.html#prize (Traditional Chinese only)About JCBJCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 49 million merchants around the world. JCB Cards are now issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 158 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/ Contact: Kosuke Ochiai, Corporate Communications, Tel: +81-3-5778-8353, Email: jcb-pr@ info.jcb.co.jp
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 04:40:10

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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 12, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW), if they purchased the Company's shares between July 25, 2023 and April 3, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Lamb Weston and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-lw/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byAugust 12, 2024 .About the LawsuitLamb Weston and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On April 4, 2024, the Company disclosed that it had experienced significant problems with its transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") software system, which caused the Company to lose $135 million in sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and necessitated a $330 million reduction to its sales guidance for the full fiscal year.On this news, the price of Lamb Weston's shares fell by $19.59 per share, or over 19%.The case is Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund v. Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., No. 24-cv-282.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 18:16:30

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Signature Performance, Inc. has disclosed a data breach affecting the personal information of consumers. The breach impacted numerous individuals who entrusted their sensitive personal information to Signature.WHAT HAPPENED? In early February 2024, Signature detected that an unauthorized third party gained access to its IT network. On June 10, 2024, Signature began sending notice letters to individuals impacted by the data breach.WHAT INFORMATION WAS IMPACTED? The following types of sensitive personal information may have been exposed as a result of the data breach:Full nameDate of birthSocial Security numberHealth insurance informationMedical informationWHAT'S THIS ABOUT? Compensation may be available for Signature Performance clients who received notice that their personal information had been breached.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION? Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers break into networks to steal your personal information to sell it on the dark web or commit identity theft, financial theft, or other frauds. The company may be liable for failing to secure your privacy.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED? If you received a data breach notification letter from Signature Performance, you are affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:ABOUT LEVI & KORSINSKYLevi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-02 18:16:47

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (Lurie Children's) has disclosed a data breach affecting personal information of its patients and other individuals. The breach impacted over 791,000 individuals, exposing sensitive personal information including full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health insurance information and medical information.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Compensation may be available for Lurie Children's patients and individuals who received notice that their personal information was impacted by the data breach.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION? Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers break into networks to steal your personal information to sell it on the dark web or commit identity theft, financial theft, or other frauds. The company may be liable for failing to secure your privacy.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Lurie Children's, you are affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected customers are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:ABOUT LEVI & KORSINSKYLevi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 /Newswire, an industry leader in press release distribution services, including content production, strategy, planning, and media technology, earned 28 badges, 11 of which were Leader badges in G2's Summer 2024 report.Newswire - Summer 2024 G2 Badges Picture of three G2 Badges Newswire earned including Leader (Summer), Best Est. ROI (Small Business), and Momentum Leader (Summer). G2, the leading provider of business software and services reviews, uses its community's knowledge to help others make informed software and service decisions for their business.For nearly 20 years, Newswire has provided companies around the world with services to distribute the right message to the right audience at the right time. These industry-leading solutions include:Media Suite- Newswire bundled its most powerful media outreach products into one solution to give brands access to the most accurate Media Database, personalized Media Pitching, extensive Media Monitoring, and a Media Room to share their news.Press Release Distribution- Global distribution channels and industry-specific publications help companies share and amplify their news. With every press release purchase, customers gain complimentary access to AImee, Newswire's AI writing assistant who expertly writes or optimizes press release content.Press Release Optimizer- Companies can collaborate with Newswire's expert strategists through this full-service program to develop newsworthy press release content and gain earned media coverage."Earning the number one spot in G2's Grid Report for Press Release Distribution is an honor and a vote of confidence in our press release distribution services' ability to help companies amplify their messaging," said Jennifer Hammers, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Issuer Direct. "We're so proud of these badges and our team is even more motivated to deliver outstanding experiences and results for our customers." For G2's Summer 2024 report, Newswire proudly earned 28 badges including:Best Meets Requirements (Mid-Market) - Press Release DistributionBest Results (Mid-Market) - Press Release DistributionLeader (Mid-Market) - Press Release DistributionHigh Performer (Enterprise) - Press Release DistributionLeader (Summer) - Press Release Distribution, PR Analytics, Media and Influencer Targeting, and Media MonitoringHigh Performer (Enterprise) - Press Release DistributionLeader (Summer) - Press Release Distribution, PR Analytics, Media and Influencer Targeting, and Media MonitoringMost Implementable (Mid-Market) - Press Release DistributionBest Usability (Mid-Market) - Press Release Distribution and PR AnalyticsEasiest to Use (Mid-Market) - Press Release Distribution and PR AnalyticsLeader (Small Business) - Press Release Distribution, PR Analytics, and Media and Influencer TargetingBest Relationship (Mid-Market) - Press Release DistributionLeader (EMEA) - Press Release DistributionHigh Performer (Mid-Market) - PR Analytics, Media and Influencer Targeting, and Media MonitoringMomentum Leader (Summer) - Press Release Distribution, PR Analytics, and Media and Influencer TargetingBest Est. ROI (Small Business) - Media MonitoringEasiest to Use (Small Business) - Media MonitoringEasiest Setup (Small Business) - Media MonitoringUsers Most Likely to Recommend (Mid-Market) - PR AnalyticsHigh Performer (Small Business) - Media MonitoringUsers Love UsTo learn more about Newswire's press release distribution services, visit newswire.com About NewswireNewswire is a media technology company that provides its clients with the Press Release Optimizer, which consists of press release distribution, media databases, media monitoring, and online media rooms that power the Media Advantage: greater brand awareness through earned media, increased online visibility through content strategy and planning as well as greater SEO recognition.Through its disruptive Press Release Optimizer, relentless commitment to customer satisfaction, and passion for customer performance, Newswire is automating media and marketing communications for large and small businesses seeking to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time for the right purpose.To learn more about Newswire and its Press Release Optimizer, visit Newswire.com and discover why our customers have named us #1 for Customer Satisfaction and Ease of Use for four years in a row. For more information, visit http://www.newswire.com Newswire is a wholly owned subsidiary of Issuer Direct, a leading communications and compliance company, providing solutions for both Public Relations and Investor Relations Professionals. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com Contact InformationJennifer HammersExecutive Vice President of Sales and Marketingjennifer.hammers@issuerdirect.com 919.481.4000SOURCE: Newswire
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Partnership to Empower QUAKEY Community with Exclusive Benefits on BlockQuake's Innovative Trading PlatformNEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / The QUAKEY Memecoin Community is pleased to announce a transformative partnership with BlockQuake, a New York based future leading global cryptocurrency exchange and fintech company. This collaboration signifies a significant milestone for the memecoin community as QUAKEY, built on the Solana (SOL) network and blockchain, gains substantial utility through exclusive benefits on BlockQuake's upcoming exchange platform.BlockQuake, known for its commitment to transparency, compliance, innovation, security and overall customer protection, has strategically partnered with QUAKEY due to its robust community support and promising market outlook. Through this alliance, QUAKEY holders will enjoy many perks to be determined by the community, including significant trading fee discounts and rebates, future airdrops of new projects, and more, bolstering liquidity and accessibility across BlockQuake's ecosystem."We are excited to join forces with BlockQuake," said Dilan King, Co-Founder of QUAKEY Memecoin. "This partnership represents a pivotal moment for our community-driven project. We believe in QUAKEY's potential to become a multi-billion dollar iconic memecoin like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and Pepe, but with long-term sustainability due to QUAKEY being the FIRST OF ITS KIND utility based memecoin partnering with what will be a top tier global crypto exchange. Integrating with BlockQuake's platform not only enhances our utility but also validates our vision of empowering memecoin enthusiasts worldwide." King also stated, "We loved the vision of BlockQuake to be the safe space for crypto traders everywhere and that is why we approached them. This partnership will also allow BlockQuake to satisfy its remaining funding needs so they can truly be an exchange that is built by the community, for the community." Antonio Brasse, CEO and Co-Founder of BlockQuake, echoed these sentiments: "Our collaboration with the QUAKEY team underscores our dedication to supporting innovative tokens that bring real value to users. By partnering with the QUAKEY community, we aim to provide these future users with enhanced trading opportunities and rewards, contributing to the evolution of memecoins in the cryptocurrency space. Plus BlockQuake will benefit from a large built in user base on Day 1, creating a win-win for everyone involved." The partnership between QUAKEY and BlockQuake marks a significant step towards mainstream acceptance and adoption of memecoins in the digital asset landscape. QUAKEY's integration into BlockQuake's exchange platform solidifies its position as a pioneering memecoin and sets a new standard for community-backed tokens seeking sustainable growth and utility."We are thrilled to be recognized alongside prominent memecoins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu," added King. "This partnership with BlockQuake is a testament to our community's dedication and belief in QUAKEY's potential. Together with BlockQuake, we look forward to expanding our reach and offering tangible benefits to our holders." The QUAKEY Community intends to have in person activation and community events in different cities where the global community exists, including BlockQuake's base of New York City.King finally emphasized, "QUAKEY is truly a community-driven project and has the potential to soar. In addition to having real world utility with more partnerships to be announced, it is a very low supply coin with under one billion tokens. The teams on all sides are fully doxxed and almost 100% of the supply is already in the public's hands with locked liquidity." BlockQuake's advanced trading features and robust security protocols will provide QUAKEY holders with a secure and seamless trading experience. Furthermore, this collaboration underscores BlockQuake's endorsement of QUAKEY's long-term viability and its commitment to fostering innovation within the cryptocurrency market.As QUAKEY prepares to leverage BlockQuake's platform, both teams are committed to transparency, innovation, and community engagement. Together, they aim to redefine the narrative surrounding memecoins by offering real-world utility and empowering users with enhanced trading capabilities.For more information about QUAKEY Memecoin, how to purchase it, its partnership with BlockQuake, how to join the official telegram community and more, visit the community's LinkTree ( https://linktr.ee/quakeyofficial) About QUAKEY Memecoin:QUAKEY Memecoin is a first of its kind token within the memecoin community on the Solana blockchain, dedicated to providing utility and value through innovative applications and community-driven initiatives.About BlockQuake:BlockQuake ( https://www.blockquake.com/) is a future next-generation cryptocurrency exchange platform committed to offering a secure, transparent, and user-centric trading experience. With a focus on regulatory compliance and cutting-edge technology, BlockQuake aims to elevate the standards of cryptocurrency trading globally.Contact:Media RelationsQUAKEY Memecoin TeamEmail: quakeyofficial@ gmail.com SOURCE: QUAKEY Community
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The show connects top global leaders and offers more than 170 education sessions.LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / July 1, 2024 /ISSA Show North America, the largest and most comprehensive event dedicated to the worldwide industrial, commercial and residential cleaning and facilities industries, opens registration for the upcoming annual gathering (November 17-21 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas).ISSA Show North America, organized by Informa Markets and sponsored by ISSA, convenes over 600 exhibitors from across the entire cleaning ecosystem to showcase the newest products, tools, equipment and technologies. The event addresses the critical need to enhance safety, sustainability and efficiency in global sectors including food and dining, hospitality, healthcare and more.The annual gathering, held in conjunction with the Building Service Contractors Association International's (BSCAI) Contracting Success Conference, will bring a projected more than 14,000 registered professionals from over 80 countries, with first-time attendance expected to near 30 percent as observed at the 2023 event. The expansive reach and continued growth underscores ISSA Show North America as a vital touchpoint to gain hands-on experience and education on new innovations, trends and regulations in one of the most critical and indispensable industries in the world to better utilize resources to advance cleanliness."One of ISSA Show North America's greatest values to the market is the ability to deliver highly qualified business opportunities across a variety of market sectors every year," remarks Ed Nichols, Show Director of ISSA Show North America. "Our industry partnerships allow us to bring a unique blend of distributors, suppliers and trusted brands together to utilize the most science-backed technology, research and data, to source all kinds of solutions to regulatory, labor, sustainability and operational efficiency challenges." North America has become the world's largest cleaning industry market, significantly contributing to the international market, which is forecasted to reach USD 729.47 billion worldwide by 2033. As this space expands, software continues to optimize automated processes to meet demand. New technologies showcased at the ISSA Show North America, such as artificial intelligence (AI) assisted clean tech, autonomous AI-integrated service robots and automated maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) programs, are enhancing performance.The surplus 170 educational sessions, covering business development, sustainability, career development and facility operations and management will provide valuable insights for the hospitality, healthcare, residential, commercial and industrial cleaning sectors. These sessions will share best practices, solutions and success strategies to deliver high-quality services, tailored to each sector. Specialized courses for facility service professionals, housekeeping management, facility supply sales and residential cleaners will also address labor law compliance, informing the industry about regulations impacting cleaning companies, improving the quality and safety of cleaning services."ISSA Show North America is the single most important event in the cleaning and facility solutions industry," said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. "We're excited to build on last year's successful show and welcome back the entire industry to the fantastic Mandalay Bay Convention Center this November to elevate their knowledge, expand their network and explore the latest innovative cleaning products and solutions." Top-tier leading brands confirmed to attend include 3M Commercial Solutions Division, AmerCare Royal, Aztec Products, Bissell BigGreen Commercial, Clorox Pro, Ecolab Inc., Georgia-Pacific Pro, Kimberly-Clark Professional, Nilfisk, Procter & Gamble Professional, Rubbermaid Commercial Products Inc., Sanitaire, SC Johnson Professional, Sofidel Group, Spartan Chemical Co. Inc., Sunbelt Rentals and Tork, an Essity brand.ISSA Show North America registration is open now. To attend the much-anticipated show this November, please registerat www.issashow.com About ISSA Show North AmericaIn partnership with ISSA trade association, ISSA Show North America offers an unmatched conference program featuring over 100+ education sessions, workshops, panels, training and certification courses over four days. The event and the association are committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line.For more information about ISSA Show North America, visit www.issashow.com. Follow ISSA Show North America on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.About ISSAWith more than 10,500 members-including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members-ISSA is the world's leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.About Informa MarketsInforma Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio comprises more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.com Media Contact: Informa Markets Infrastructure and Construction PR ConstructionPR@inform
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Introducing the Dimension4 RTK-Tag: Precision Tracking for Enhanced Efficiency in Transit Depots and Heavy ManufacturingCAMBRIDGE, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Ubisense, a leader in spatial awareness and precision real-time location systems, is today announcing the general availability of its new dual-technology tracking tag. The Dimension4 RTK-Tag uses both Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and signal-corrected RTK-GPS to simultaneously track assets across both indoor and outdoor areas with up to 5cm accuracy, promising to revolutionize operations in industries such as mass transit and heavy manufacturing.Ubisense - RTK-GPS In densely packed transit depots, knowing the real-time location and movement of vehicles across wide areas is a critical requirement to support digitization programs and can significantly improve daily operational performance and overall efficiency.The new RTK-Tag supports both Ubisense and third-party Transit Yard Management solutions that address common industry challenges such as space constraints, parking strategies that enable on-time dispatch, and the increasing complexity of maintenance and charging operations with the electrification of fleets.With this new device, Ubisense extends its leadership in indoor tracking capabilities, which have been well-established in the Transit Industry with multiple deployments globally. "The real-time location ultra-wide-band (UWB) technology from Ubisense is the key to our operational organisation; we couldn't operate our network without this technology. It is the only truly suited technology for indoor and underground depot bus location. I strongly appreciate the competence and expertise of all involved Ubisense staff. Also, the quality of support and installation documentation is excellent. I'm looking forward to working with Ubisense on extending the solution to more of our depots." - Mr Gregoire Ramuz, Head of Digital Solutions for Mobility, TPF.Casey Riva, Technical Account Manager, Ubisense said, "At Ubisense, we are proud to introduce our Dimension4 RTK-GPS technology as part of our SmartSpace Transit solution. Our customers benefit from outstanding performance with minimal hardware requirements. Traditionally, covering outdoor transit and rail yards required numerous devices, cables, poles, and many sensors. Now, with our new RTK-GPS tags, we achieve superior performance using significantly fewer sensors that can be mounted on existing building infrastructure. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also provides a compelling return on investment for both transit depots and rail yards." The Dimension4 RTK-Tag has already been deployed at several sites in the US and UK. To discover more about how Ubisense technology is setting new standards in transit yard management, please visit Ubisense.com About UbisenseUbisense gives people and software systems intelligence about what's actually happening in the real world by capturing the location, movement and interaction of things. We do this with industry-leading sensors and open software platform that business users can easily configure for planning, monitoring and controlling physical process flows. Headquartered in Cambridge UK, Ubisense operates globally with more than 1000 customers, transforming their physical space into SmartSpace. For more information, visit: https://ubisense.com/ Contact InformationVicky HaydenAccount Director - Berkeley Communicationsubisense@ berkeleypr.com 01189 090909SOURCE: UbisenseView the original press release on newswire.com
The Federal Government has approved a new, business-friendly withholding tax regime, Taiwo Oyedele, the chairman of the presidential fiscal policy and tax reforms committee, has said.

Announcing the approval via his official X handle, he highlighted key changes designed to ease the compliance burden on businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and farmers.

According to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Withholding Tax (WHT) serves as a prepayment of Income Tax, deducted at rates between 5 per cent and 10 percent depending on the transaction.

Returns are due by the 21st of the next month, with late filings penalised at N25,000 for the first month and N5,000 for each subsequent month.

Withholding tax had been introduced into Nigerias tax system in 1977 as an advance payment of income tax on specified transactions.

Mr Oyedele said while it provided the government with a steady revenue stream and helped curb tax evasion, the regime had expanded over time, becoming increasingly complex and burdensome.

According to him, the complexity led to ambiguities regarding compliance, eligible transactions, applicable rates, and the timing of remittance.

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Small businesses, in particular, faced excessive compliance burdens, straining their working capital.

He said the newly approved regime aimed to address these challenges and introduce several key changes.

SMEs are now exempt from withholding tax compliance, reducing their administrative burden and allowing them to focus on growth.

As part of the ongoing fiscal policy and tax reforms, a new withholding tax regime has been approved. The key changes introduced are to address the identified challenges and specifically include: Exemption of small businesses from Withholding Tax compliance, he said.

Businesses operating on low margins will also benefit from reduced withholding tax rates, easing financial pressures.

He also said the new regime included specific exemptions for manufacturers and producers, such as farmers, supporting the agricultural sector.

He said measures are also introduced to curb evasion and minimise tax avoidance, ensuring a fairer tax system.

The reforms will also simplify the process for businesses to obtain credit and utilise tax deducted at source, improving liquidity.

READ ALSO: Farmers cry for help as worms destroy crops in Katsina

He said the changes also addressed emerging issues and aligned with global best practices, ensuring the tax system remained contemporary and effective and provided clarity on the timing of deductions and the definition of key terms.

Mr Oyedele said the approved regulations are expected to be published in the official gazette in the coming days.

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Experts in the oil and gas industry are calling on the Nigerian government to ensure the effective implementation of local content law to protect indigenous companies in the sector.

The stakeholders made the call while speaking during a panel session titled Exportation of Local Capacity: Maximising Regional Opportunities at the ongoing 2024 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja on Monday.

Speaking during the panel session, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, Chairman of Nestoil Limited, said countries, including Nigeria, need to enact enforceable laws. He said the lack of enforcement leaves local companies undeveloped while foreign investors repatriate investments to their countries.

I want to tell you that if you want your local content or if you want your capacity to grow, you have to enact local content laws that are enforceable. Making law is one thing. The other one is enforcing it, administering it, and making sure that it works.

If you do not do that, what you are going to see is a typical example where investments come to a country, stay, and the country becomes a major producer for 50 years, and the whole money will just be drained out of that country. The locals will not be able to develop, Mr Azudialu-Obiejesi said.

He said Nigeria has built quite a lot of capacities within the country and one of the areas where the country can be proud of itself is in the oil and gas sector.

We know that some of these capacities, we cant export them, but the ones in the oil and gas, we can export to other countries. And exporting them means we need laws to make sure that those companies that are in Nigeria are already developed, he said.

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He noted that there are setbacks in the sector, affecting the growth of local companies.

One of the setbacks, according to him, is the bidding process, noting that the local companies are not doing well due to the poor bidding process in Nigeria.

And there are a lot of people who are briefcase contractors who dont have capacity, but they will tell you they have connections and because of that, they go and bid for jobs they cannot do. So these things have to be checked so that when you are bidding for a job in the oil and gas industry, you compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

So people of the same technical capacity can bid for a job. And when they are given that job, they will be able to do the job timely and within budget, he added.

According to him, addressing the barriers to effective trade among countries is part of the mandates of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Those are things we are trying to advocate. And by the time Nigeria has entrenched itself with all this capacity, very well as we have done, we can then go to other countries and then start helping them. Start making money by bringing those experiences to all those countries.

And that is what the African continental free trade zone is trying to achieve so that they will break up the barriers, break up all the things that are inhibiting other countries from going to other countries to do business, he noted.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Olusegun Awolowo, urged indigenous companies to leverage on AfCFTA to strengthen available capacities in the sector.

He added that AfCFTA is guided by protocols which are aimed at promoting local content within the region.

In his remarks, Abdulmalik Halilu, director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), said the board has continued to ensure that the necessary procedures are in place to accelerate approvals for contracts to be awarded to qualified Nigerians.

He reiterated the boards commitment to giving Nigerian companies, regardless of their type, first consideration while ensuring that local content is not compromised based on standards.

So we have pushed the discussion around standardisation by making sure that the Nigerian content equipment certificate that you need to obtain for you to be able to participate in the industry has elements of certification, be it ISO certification, process certification, and so on. To enable us to ensure that all these companies operate in global standards, and that is why you can see that they are able to operate in countries like India, US and so on.

Finally, all of us as Nigerian investors must have faith in the law. We have been very lucky, today we have a president that also supports local content and that is why there is a push with the enabling executive orders. Beyond that, we also have enabling business efforts by the government to ensure that all regulators, not just NCDMB, ensure that they make life easy in terms of business enablement.

So all these point to the fact that we must build capacity before talking about exporting capacity, and that is why we are having this discussion, he said.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a directive mandating all Deposit Money Banks, authorised forex dealers and the public to accept old series and lower denominations of United States Dollar (USD) notes from their customers.

According to the bank, the move comes in response to consumer market intelligence revealing continued rejection of these denominations by banks and authorised forex dealers.

In a circular dated 27 June 2024, signed by Solaja Olayemi, acting director of the currency operations department, the CBN reminded all relevant parties of a previous circular issued on 9 April 2021, which explicitly discouraged the selective acceptance of deposits.

The CBN reiterated that this policy remains in force and must be strictly adhered to.

The outcome of the consumer market intelligence conducted by the Bank revealed the continued rejection of old/lower denominations of United States (US) Dollar bills by Deposit Money Banks (DMBS) and other authorized forex dealers.

ALSO READ: CBN directs all BDCs to reapply for licenses

Kindly be reminded that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) circular referenced COD/DIR/INT/CIR/001/002 and dated 9th April 2021 which explicitly frowned at this selective acceptance of deposit is still in force and must be adhered to and complied with by all relevant parties, it said.

The circular also emphasised the CBNs resolve to enforce compliance.

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The bank warned that it would not hesitate to sanction any commercial bank or authorised forex dealer that refuses to accept old series or lower denominations of US Dollar bills from customers.

It also advised all authorised forex dealers to refrain from defacing or stamping US Dollar banknotes, as such notes tend to fail authentication tests during processing and sorting.

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On Monday, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), caused a social media buzz by donning a 1,499 Versace logo-patch denim midi coat.

He paired the coat with blue jeans, shoes, and a cream-coloured hat, looking stylish and fashionable.

The occasion was Mondays flag-off of the Mabushi Bus Terminal in Abuja.

Some of the dignitaries at the event included Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State, FCT, and Tajudeen Abass, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The outfit

The Versace denim midi coat is a chic blend of classic and contemporary.

Checks by Premium Times online reveal that the designer coat costs 1,499 or about N2.9 million according to official exchange rates.

The former Rivers State governors luxurious outfit has ignited a flurry of responses from Nigerians on social media, with opinions ranging from admiration to criticism.

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Nigerian music star Omah Lay donned a similar outfit in September 2023 when he featured in Wonderlands Autumn/Fall 2023 issue.

In another social media video, Mr Wike was spotted amidst friends dancing to Flavours 2023 hit Big Baller in the stunning Versace outfit.

Politics

At the road construction flag-off, Mr Wike addressed his displeasure at Ireti Kingibe, a Labour Party senator representing the FCT, who voiced her ongoing dissatisfaction with the current administrations performance.

He said, I overheard somebody on Arise TV this morning. Unfortunately, I hear the person is a member of the National Assembly, and it is unfortunate that I say so. With all due respect, what you dont know, you dont know, what you see, you know, and the good thing for you is to tell people you dont when you dont know, then people will educate you.

The Honourable Minister of State and my humble self have not been in office for more than 11 months, and the person is angry that they are praising us. If you dont want to or are angry about that, hang yourself on a transformer. If we have done well, we have done well. If we havent done well, we havent done well. I am proud to say that we have done well in the short time Mr. President appointed us.

You said there are no hospitals, and there are no hospitals. You, as a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sector?

READ ALSO: Zamfara governor backtracks on federal permanent secretary just appointed by Tinubu

I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular in 2027, come and run under Abuja, we will fail you. Do you think that what happened last time will happen again? It will not happen again. Luckily for me, I am the FCT Minister now. So that is my territory, and Im not afraid of it.

So, people should be able to come out and accept the truth. We are not begging for anybody to become our friend; we have so many friends we cannot carry along. So how can we go and beg people to become our friends? We are not interested in that.

If you are angry that people are praising us, by next year, your BP level will go very high because the praises you would see would be too much.

Ms Kingibe had castigated the Wike-led administration on the television programme.

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Jeremiah Fufeyin, founder and head prophet of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry (CMDM), has sparked debate online by launching a new line of faith-based merchandise.

On Sunday, social media buzzed with Mr Fufeyins video showcasing a miracle soap, perfume, spiritual shirt, and mustard seed. Widespread discussion and controversy followed the unveiling of the new faith-based products.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the footage causing a stir on social media was excerpted from the pastors live video on Friday.

During the Facebook live session titled The importance of spiritual items of God, Mr Fufeyin and his wife, Anthonia, discussed Gods words before unveiling the faith-based products.

Miracle soap

The 52-year-old said the soap is powerful and can cure any disease, noting that he unveiled it for people suffering from disappointment, failure, and delays in achieving their life goals.

He mentioned that some people struggle while many attend church without understanding Gods teachings.

Mr Fufeyin pointed out that miracles and testimonies often intertwine.

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He said: This soap, I call it miracle soap. In the book of Psalm 50, verse 7 says that there are some people who, when they visit their helpers houses, after entering, the helpers soon avoid them. When a baby is born, it emits a more pungent smell than anything else. Our mothers traditionally use water and oil to cleanse them, which is physical cleaning, but they overlook the spiritual aspects.

He added that he unveiled the soap to help people with spiritual afflictions that cause an odour, allowing them to cleanse themselves spiritually.

He said that the lack of spiritual cleansing causes many people to emit an unpleasant odour to their potential helpers, resulting in them being denied assistance.

The pastor added that the lack of spiritual cleansing caused many to grow old without finding help.

When somebody has body odour, you dont like to stay with the person. People are now being rejected by their helpers because they have never considered the spiritual aspect of washing their bodies. Now, with this soap (miracle soap), all you need is to back it up with the word of God. The handkerchief, the olive oil you see that people were using, and the word of God that backs it up matter a lot. So, some people need to wash their bodies, which smell against their destinies. Many people use all kinds of creams but still emit an odour spiritually.

Perfume

During the live session, Mr Fufeyin also unveiled a perfume that he claimed breaks the barriers to failure.

There are some people who, despite all their efforts in life, cannot progress beyond a certain level. Some people are watching me from various places. There is a limit when they check their accounts; no matter how hard they struggle, their money cannot surpass that level but decreases. Those people need a favour from man. There are small things that contribute to their success, which they are unaware of, and there are also small things that cause their downfall.

So, how will you overcome it? The Bible says in Genesis 27, verse 27, that his eyes had grown dim before Isaac, the father of Jacob and Esau, could speak. I want to bless you, my son, before you go and make sacrifices for me and prepare a good one for me. When Jacob goes and kneels for his father to bless him, Isaac says certain things, but Im not going there. Im just saying the secret things because he said kiss me, number onesecond, he said, Smell the smell of my clothes.

He claimed that specific individuals emit a spiritual aura that can cling to others, obstructing their success.

When our mothers give birth to us, there is a smell from the mother that follows the baby. Thats why they use oil and water to wash the baby. You need to meet somebody who will have the smell of prosperity. You need that smell, somebody who will have the scent from Gods favour.

The pastor noted that the perfume was exceptionally potent and could dispel lingering generational odours.

Mustard seed

Moreover, the Delta-born prophet unveiled a mustard seed, which he claimed was a gift from God.

According to him, the mustard seed can overcome obstacles faced by those who have purchased land but cannot build due to unforeseen circumstances.

People ask, Jeremiah is a living witness that started yesterday. Today, Jeremiah is everywhere. It is not by my power. Its the power of the Holy Spirit. You know, some pastors have been there before I came. There are millions, hundreds of thousands of pastors who were there before I came, but here I am, and I am not the best, but God has revealed the deeper things, the secret things for me to follow up. Thats why you can see Papa J (Jeremiah Fufeyin) is now expanding all over the world, Mr Fufeyin said.

He maintained that many struggle to realise their housing dreams because they lack an understanding of spiritual tools.

Believing that one day I will build it, I built it. Later, the enemies came and sold their lands at auction. Even the money they used to buy did not fetch that amount, and later, they began to cry. Why am I telling you all these things? These unique items must be backed up with the word of God. When the word of God comes and directs a man, and he follows the things of the spirit, that person begins to establish. So, you must have seen all the Mercyland cities. If I ask you how many houses there are in Mercyland City, you cant count them. When I entered Mercy City, one of the most prominent landmarks in Nigeria,

We have built a path. When I wanted to enter Mercy City, there was a secret. When I looked around, the Lord said, My son, you think you have nobody to help you. I am the God who provides. So, I listened to God. I said, God, what am I going to do? He said, Come, go and get the mustard seed. God gave me the Israel seed (mustard seed) when I was in Israel. So He said, Keep this seed. When the time comes, I will make you use it. So, when the time came, I looked at the place. What should I say? It was a swamp all over. Water everywhere. If Im as tall as I am and enter Mercy City, the water will swallow me. So, thats how it was, and I entered the city. In the centre of the city, the Lord said, Take a mustard seed there, dig a place, speak a word unto the mustard seed, bury it there, and I will bury it right in Mercy City.

He said that if he gave the mustard seed to anyone who believed in it, their business would flourish.

So, its a secret that when I started building it after I constructed it, and then after I buried it, I prayed peacefully, asking God to bless it from everywhere. So, in Nigeria, you must call any time, any hour. If you talk about churches, you speak about Mercy Land. So, this is now a secret; it was a backup.

T-shirt

However, he unveiled a T-shirt he claimed was anointed, which works through spiritual matters, defends, and brings blessings.

The t-shirt Im referring tonow listen carefullyis something I want you to understand. Thats why the Bible mentions Zechariah 3. The angel appeared to Joshua and instructed him to remove his filthy garment. Though the garment Joshua wore appeared clean physically, spiritually, it was deemed dirty.

Mr Fufeyin said that he could not worship Jesus Christ and suffer, emphasising that if Christians suffered, nobody would glorify God.

He also disclosed that numerous pastors criticise their peers out of jealousy. He added that an evil spirit influences any pastor who condemns another.

He said, This behaviour is not new. As the Bible says, By their fruit, you will recognise them. I pose one question to pastors worldwide: Should we disregard the passage where Jesus proclaimed that we have only one judge?

Mr Fufeyin announced that mustard seeds, T-shirts, perfume, and soap will be available at his upcoming programme, Break the Limit, scheduled for 14-17 August.

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The Nigerian government said on Tuesday that the death toll from the rampaging cholera outbreak has risen to 63, and 2,102 suspected cases.

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Jide Idris, disclosed this while giving the situation report on the infectious disease, even as he said cases have now been recorded across 122 Local Government Areas in 33 states of the countrys 36 and the Federal Capital Territory.

Mr Idris added that about 90 per cent of the cases were recorded in 10 states of the federation, with seven of them in the southern region.

Of the top 10 states, Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta that contribute about 90 per cent of the cases, seven of them are southern states, Mr Idris said.

He attributed the outbreak to the ingestion of contaminated food and water, even as he expressed the countrys capacity to curtail further spread despite the challenges posed by the culture of open defecation.

Activation of Emergency Operation Centre

Earlier, Mr Idris had said his agency had already activated the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate what he described as a robust response to nationwide cholera cases.

He said the agency activated the EOC after conducting a dynamic risk assessment.

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He said: In response to the rapidly increasing cholera cases, a dynamic risk assessment was conducted by subject matter experts on the cholera outbreak situation in Nigeria last week.

The subject matter experts were drawn from relevant Ministries (Health, Environment, Agriculture, Water Resources, etc.), Departments, Agencies, stakeholders, and major partners. The outcome of the risk assessment placed the country at High Risk of increased risk of cholera transmission and impact.

Identified challenges

While addressing the president, the DG highlighted some of the challenges faced in the fight against cholera, including open defecation, inadequate toilet facilities, and poor sanitation.

He said the government has demonstrated strong political will to control the outbreak despite these challenges, with an inter-ministerial cabinet committee established to support the response efforts.

He said: Only 123 (16 per cent) of 774 LGAs in Nigeria are open defecation free, with Jigawa being Nigerias only open defecation-free statemore than 48 million Nigerians practice open defecation. Inadequate and existing toilet facilities are not well maintained, even in many government facilities.

Inadequate safe water and poor sanitation: 11 per cent of schools, six per cent of health facilities, four per cent of motor parks and markets, have access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services.

He also listed other challenges, including waste management practices, food, environmental and personal hygiene practices, and the capacity gap among healthcare workers at the state and LGA levels.

Weak regulation on the construction of soak-away and boreholes (some sunk close to a water source and boreholes sunk in the wrong location). Inadequate implementation and enforcement of public nuisance law and other relevant public health laws are some other challenges, he added.

Mr Idris further noted that the inadequate state-level capacity leads to delayed disease reporting and response at state and local levels.

Additionally, poor regulation of food vendors and commercial water supply compromises hygiene standards, while weak regulation allows boreholes and wells to be situated near sewage or toilet pathways, he added.

He emphasised that low knowledge and practice of basic hygiene practices, such as hand washing and the exacerbating effects of climate change and flooding, are hindering efforts to contain the outbreak.

Global re-emergence of cholera

In June, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the re-emergence of cholera cases across countries in Africa, East Asia, America, Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Data made available by the organisation showed that about 195,00 cholera cases have been reported in the five regions between January and May.

Africa was ranked the region with the second-highest cholera cases, with 92,789 cases from 14 countries. It closely followed the Eastern Mediterranean region, with the highest number of cases, more than 98,000 cases from seven countries.

For deaths recorded, Africa ranks highest with 1,698 deaths. The Eastern Mediterranean region, on the other hand, had 256 deaths.

This data, WHO said, combines both suspected and confirmed cases of the disease.

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Cyril Hart, a member of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, accused Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu of marginalising first-timers during debates on the floor of the House.

Mr Hart, a first-timer representing Bonny/Degema federal constituency of Rivers State, made the allegation against Mr Kalu during a debate on the recent suicide bombings in Borno State.

The motion on the suicide bombings was moved by Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno).

During the debate on the motion, Mr Kalu allowed the former Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, Chairman of the Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, and Chairman of the Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, to make contributions.

Despite several indications from members wishing to speak on the motion, Mr Kalu said that he could not allow further debate due to time constraints.

But when he was about to put the motion to vote, Mr Hart raised a point of order.

Citing personal explanation, Mr Hart accused the deputy speaker of bias against new members. He stated that only senior members were given permission to speak on the motion.

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He claimed that it had become a pattern whenever Mr Kalu is presiding to give preference to senior members.

You dont give preference to first-timers you dont, Mr Hart said while some lawmakers on the floor cheered him.

This is what you always do. You need to allow for first-timers, he said.

In response to the allegation, Mr Kalu said, There is no discrimination in the parliament.

Not satisfied with the ruling, Mr Hart continued to speak despite his microphone being switched off by the presiding officer and stormed out of the chamber in protest.

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The Auditor General of the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, says there is an ongoing move to end the late submission of audited reports.

Mr Chira stated that the ongoing reform in the agency would ensure the timely submission of audited reports to the two Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly, as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.

The AuGF spoke on Monday at a workshop organised by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee in collaboration with the OAuGF in Lagos.

On my part as the Auditor-General for the Federation (AuGF), I am pleased to announce that I have initiated a series of reforms since assuming duties, aimed at repositioning the OAuGF for efficient service delivery.

At the centre of these reforms is the timely submission of quality audit reports to the National Assembly (NASS), enabling them to perform their oversight as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

In view of this objective, it was very easy for the Chairman of the PAC (House of Representatives) and me to agree on the need to organise this workshop to further entrench a culture of prudent management of our nations financial resources, Mr Chira said.

Section 85 of the Constitution provides that the Auditor General shall submit audited reports to the National Assembly.

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There shall be an Auditor General for the Federation who shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 86 of this Constitution.

The public accounts of the Federation and of all offices and courts of the Federation shall be audited and reported on to the Auditor-General who shall submit his reports to the National Assembly; and for that purpose, the Auditor-General or any person authorised by him in that behalf shall have access to all the books, records, returns and other documents relating to those accounts, section 85 of the Constitution reads.

However, in the past couple of years, the OAuGF had submitted its reports late to the National Assembly.

The last audited report submitted was that of 2019. It was submitted in 2021. The 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 reports have not been submitted.

Were committed to quality audited reports-AuGF

Speaking on the importance of the workshop, Mr Chira said he will ensure that quality audited reports are delivered by his office.

It is on this premise that I see this workshop as a win-win situation for key stakeholders who are desirous of strengthening our public accountability.

Further to the submission of high-quality audit reports, it is also my determination to make the OAuGF a model institution that will earn public confidence through professional conduct of its audits/periodic checks as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and other extant regulations.

I came to this position because I was well aware of the general concerns of the auditees, being a person that rose through the ranks to become the Auditor General for the Federation (AuGF).

We must comply with global best practicesExpert

Victor Oluwafemi, the executive director of the African Development Studies Centre (ADSC), one of the facilitators of the workshop, called for strict adherence to international standards of public financial management to uphold public trust.

Mr Oluwafemi emphasised the need to adopt informed and innovative practices in financial management.

Our aim is to ensure that our financial management systems are up-to-date with current trends and best practices and adhere to international standards.

By staying informed and adopting innovative practices, we can significantly enhance the transparency and accountability of our public sector financial management.

This, in turn, will build public trust and contribute to our nations overall development and progress.

Together, we can build a better Nigeria where public resources are managed with integrity and efficiency, and accountability and transparency which are the cornerstones of our governance, he said.

He urged participants to actively participate, share experiences, and collaborate with one another for success.

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The State House on Monday recognised and rewarded 38 State House staff from various departments for their hard work and rewarding dedication to duty.

The awards were divided into two categories: senior and junior staff.

At the ceremony, a clerical officer in the Transport Department, Innocent Ekhobhiye, won the Vice Presidents award of N1 million for productivity.

Permanent Secretary, State House, Olufunso Adebiyi, announced that among the eight newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service by President Bola Tinubu, three are from the State House Clinic.

He noted this appointment is testament to the high level of commitment and dedication of the State House staff.

The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries from the State House are: Obi Vitalis, Keshinro Ismaila and Emanso Okop.

On the Productivity/ Recognition /Staff Reward Ceremony, the permanent secretary reiterated the commitment of the State House Management to acknowledge and reward staff members who demonstrate hard work, dedication to duty and value addition in service delivery.

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He stated that the reward system was a means of encouragement and motivation for other staff to strive for excellence.

Mr Adebiyi pledged continuous training and retraining of staff, adding that under the State House digitalisation programme all members of staff would receive necessary training to enhance service delivery.

We have already trained no fewer than 500 staff on the digitalisation programme, and in the coming days, every staff from grade level 8 and above will receive further training in groups of 50.

We just completed our manpower defence at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and it went excellently well.

Better training and better allowances are coming your way. However, better services are required from you.

Mr Adebiyi also appealed to the staff to take their health very seriously as their productivity depended heavily on that.

The State House Medical Centre is highly rated among healthcare facilities of MDAs in the country. Please, let us take care of our health. Why must we go through avoidable health challenges? Let us avail ourselves of the health facilities available to us, and they are available, the permanent secretary counselled staff.

Deputy Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Hadejia, congratulated the award recipients and expressed State House Managements appreciation for the invaluable contributions of every staff member.

He explained that the financial reward from the Office of the Vice President was meant to further encourage staff to add value to their job schedules.

READ ALSO: State House top official urges staff to imbibe highest ethical standards

It is very wonderful to meet the men and women who form the backroom and operations of State House. Most times it is only the political appointees that are visible, but those who do the heavy lifting behind the scenes are not known and recognised.

I thank the permanent secretary for creating this opportunity for staff to be recognised, and I trust this is something that we can do from time to time to keep up your spirits, and keep you motivated.

We absolutely appreciate the work you are doing in State House he said.

After the 38 awardees received their certificates and a wrapped gift from the State House, they each picked a wrapped note from a basket.

The staff member who picked the note with yes won the N1 million prize money.

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Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has ordered security agents to launch a massive manhunt for perpetrators of Sundays kidnapping along the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode expressway.

A yet-to-be-ascertained number of people were reportedly kidnapped in multiple incidents around the Police Area Command and Ilishan City Gate on the ever-busy road by gunmen who ambushed them at about 9 p.m.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the kidnapping was an insiders job as all the victims were foreign nationals who arrived in the country the same day the incident occurred and that they were probably trailed to the location where the incidents took place.

But in a statement on Tuesday, Mr Abiodun said Ogun State will not be allowed to become a den for kidnappers. He promised that the perpetrators would be smoked out and punished.

The governor disclosed that all the security agencies, including the police, army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), Amotekun, So Safe Corps and local hunters are on the trail of the kidnappers with arrays of security gadgets, including drones.

He assured the people that their security is guaranteed as the present administration has committed so much to secure the state.

Following Sundays kidnapping incidents that occurred in Ilishan, we want to reassure all residents that decisive action is being taken to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the safe return of the victims.

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The security forces have launched a comprehensive manhunt and are working tirelessly to track down the kidnappers. Additional security measures and patrols have also been deployed to the affected area and across the state to prevent any further incidents.

We understand the concerns and anxiety this incident has caused, but we want to emphasise that Ogun State remains a safe place to live, work, and visit. The government is committed to maintaining law and order and will not relent in its efforts to protect the lives and property of all citizens, Mr Abiodun said.

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An International Conference for the Eradication of Colonialism worldwide is scheduled to hold in Abuja, the Nigerian capital from 12 to 13 August.

The Society for International Relations Awareness, (SIRA), an African-based think tank on international relations is convening the conference in line with the United Nations (UN) Agenda to end worldwide colonialism by 2030.

The conference is also in furtherance of the United Nations General Assemblys Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of 14th December, 1960).

The Declaration acknowledges that: all peoples have an inalienable right to complete freedom, the exercise of their sovereignty and the integrity of their national territory.

It also solemnly proclaims: the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end colonialism in all its forms and manifestations.

The UN declares these colonies as Non-Self-Governing: territories whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government It formally acknowledges the existence of 17 such territories.

The world body states that since its 1945 establishment:  more than 80 former colonies comprising some 750 million people have gained independence increasing its original 51 members to 193.

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The conference is designed to bring together representatives of affected territories, countries administering and superintending these territories, UN representatives, experts, diplomats, advocacy and international organisations.

The primary objectives of the conference are to make programmatic contributions towards achieving the UNs subsisting declaration for the Eradication of Colonialism by 2030.

The conference, which will hold at the Top Rank Hotels Galaxy, Utako, Abuja, is titled The Forgotten Peoples: International Conference to Decolonise the World.

The event will be chaired by Ibrahim Gambari, a former president of the UN Security Council, ex- minister of foreign affairs, the last Chair, UN Special Committee Against Apartheid, and erstwhile U.N. Special Envoy on Cyprus, Zimbabwe and Myanmar.

The opening address is to be delivered by Oscar Riveria, leader of the Puerto Rico Independence Movement, who spent 38 years in prison.

The keynote address will be given by Oubi Bachir, representative of the POLISARIO Liberation Movement in Europe and former dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria.

Also, representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories and countries administering and superintending these territories are invited to make statements at the conference.

Organisations, Human Rights, Social, Peace and Development Movements are also expected to make submissions at the conference.

Already, a number of countries and international organisations have indicated their readiness to attend the conference.

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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Works to revoke the contract for the construction of the flooded East-West Road awarded to Rock Result Nigeria Limited.

The call was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Oboku Oforjil (PDP-Bayelsa) at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

The lower chambers recommended that the contract be revoked and re-awarded to another company with the expertise and capacity to do the job.

Moving the motion earlier, Mr Oforjil said that the East-West road is one of the important roads in the federation with significant contributions to the countrys economic and social development.

The lawmaker explained that the road connects major regions, facilitating trade, commerce, and cultural exchange while improving access to markets, industries, and social services.

He said that the Federal Ministry of Works awarded the contract for the construction of the box culverts for repairs of the flooded section of the East-West Road (Kaiama-Ahoada Section) to Rock Result Nigeria Limited.

According to him, the company had failed to execute the contract, causing traffic disruptions, loss of lives and fatalities.

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Recall that on 11 April, 2024 the current minister of works during an inspection tour at East-West road, praised Rock Result Nigeria Limited, but till date, nothing has been achieved.

The lawmaker said it is worrisome that East-West road has been in a dilapidated state for years particularly at Iheke in Ahoada East Local Government of Rivers, Aven in Patani and Umeh in Isoko South Local Government Areas of Delta, connecting Bayelsa to Rivers and Delta among other parts.

It is worrisome that the federal government has prioritised the coastal road over the crucial East-West road, which is vital for the countrys economic survival, he said.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, mandated the Committee on Works to ensure compliance and report back for further legislative action.

(NAN)

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Police in Akwa Ibom State have confirmed the abduction of an entrepreneur, Benjamin Unwuka, in Eket Local Government Area of the state.

Timfon John, the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Eket.

Ms John, an assistant superintendent of police, said that the victim was abducted on Sunday night.

The victim, according to the police, is from Anambra State, and owns Obico Shoppers Mall at Uqua Road, Eket.

Ms John said that police have deployed operatives to strategic locations to secure the release of the victim unhurt and arrest his abductors.

A family source, who did not want his name mentioned, said that the victim was abducted at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, 30 June, on his way back from his shop.

According to him, the gunmen, driving a black, unregistered Toyota Corolla car, trailed the victim from Uqua Road, accosted him on Afaha Eket Road and whisked him away at gunpoint to an unknown destination.

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He said that abductors were yet to establish contact with members of the family.

There has been an increase in abductions for ransom lately in Akwa Ibom, with some of them resulting in fatality.

A traditional ruler and a retired school principal are some of the latest victims of kidnapping in the state once considered to be one of the most peaceful and safest in Nigeria.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) records between 4,000 and 5,000 commuters daily.

Mr Wike disclosed this at the inauguration of the construction of the Kugbo Bus Terminal in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) recalls that President Bola Tinubu had on 30 May inaugurated the commercial operations of the ARMT and announced free ride until 30 December.

As I speak to you today, we are recording not less than 4,000 to 5,000 passengers, who are using that train service to the various communities along the airport rail line.

That tells you that the Renewed Hope Agenda is working, he said.

Commenting on the train service, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, recalled riding on the train with President Bola Tinubu and commended the president for approving the free ride.

We are now confirming that over 4,000 people are being carried on a daily basis.

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This on its own, is a major palliative awaiting the minimum wage we are discussing, he said.

Mr Akpabio congratulated Mr Wike for the achievements so far and advised him to ignore distractions and focus on his work.

Be rest assured that no matter what you do, not everybody will praise you. Others will try to find fault.

Some will say why Wike alone, but look at where we are now, we are about to inaugurate a major infrastructure that will touch the lives of people, Mr Akpabio said.

He commended Mr Tinubu for having the eyes for those who can perform and bringing them onboard.

(NAN)

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An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Idi Musa, testified on Monday against a social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, charged with six billion Naira money laundering.

Mompha, still at large, is standing trial alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts of money laundering.

On Monday, Mr Musa, the sixth prosecution witness, was led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Suleiman Suleiman.

He told the court what he learned about Mompha and his company and the details of the allegations against them during an investigation.

He said that in 2019, the commission received intelligence information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that Mompha and his company led a conspiracy to commit cybercrime offences in the United States of America.

The intelligence information indicated that the first and second defendants belong to a syndicate operating between Nigeria and across borders, defrauding some internet users.

In the course of the investigation, some letters were written to Zenith Bank requesting the account statement of the second defendant and to the other banks linked to the first defendant, which include Fidelity Bank. The account statement received was analysed.

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During the analysis, we discovered N30 billion inflow through the account of the first defendant in Fidelity Bank and about N5 billion in Zenith Bank account, he said.

The witness further said letters were written to the FBI and the Special Fraud Unit of EFCC regarding the defendants claim that he was carrying out Bureau De Change (BDC) business.

He added that the letter was written to the Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant agencies.

The witness said that the investigation revealed that the first defendant did not reside in Nigeria, and efforts to get across to him proved abortive.

A letter was written to the Nigeria Immigration Services on 16 October 2019 to arrest the defendant anytime he arrives in Nigeria.

On 18 October 2019, the first defendant got the information that the commission was looking for him while he was in Nigeria. He quickly got to the airport and boarded a flight in order to escape arrest.

The team got the information through immigration at the airport, but Mompha had already boarded the flight.

He was arrested along with his properties and handed over to the EFCC, he said.

Mr Musa told the court that over N30 billion was discovered in Momphas Fidelity Bank account. According to the EFCC investigator, the defendant claimed he was carrying out Bureau de Change business. The witness said the claim was false.

He added that the commission concluded an investigation on offences bordering on money laundering, operating BDC without a licence, in which Mompha was still standing trial before a Federal High Court judge Ikoyi.

The combination of the FBI and an investigative report on Momphas iPhone revealed that Momphas iPhone was used to send account details to a United Arab Emirates telephone number he used to search for swift codes of a bank.

During the course of his arrest, all the properties recovered were registered with exhibits keeper in the EFCC office, and most of the properties were released to him on bond, except his iPhone 8, which was still with the commission.

All the items are proceeds of crime because when he was given assets declaration form to declare his assets, he did not include those items, the witness said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prosecution tendered two documents: the bank account statement of the first defendant and the asset declaration form, which the court admitted as exhibits and labelled exhibits P5 and P6.

The trial judge, Mojisola Dada, adjourned the case until 8 October for continuation of trial.

(NAN)

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The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja ordered on Monday the release of a man, Kazeen Adeshina, after spending 15 years in prison without trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge, Oyindamola Ogala, ordered the detainees release in a judgement on his fundamental rights enforcement suit marked No: D/16997MFHR/24. His lawyer, Ben Okeke, filed the suit on his behalf.

The judge held that detaining Mr Adeshina in prison without charge or trial was unjustifiable.

Mrs Ogala also held that the arrest and continued detention of Mr Adeshina in the custody of the Medium Correctional Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, without a trial was wrong, illegal and unjustifiable.

She added that it was a gross violation of the applicants fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification Enforcement) Act.

As afore-stated, there is an unchallenged fact that this applicant has remained in custody for about 15 years and is yet to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The presumption of innocence enshrined in our constitution remains sacrosanct, and it is indeed a travesty of justice for this to occur without administration of criminal justice, no matter where the delay emanates from.

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Counsel for the first respondent has exhibited a correspondence to the police to transfer the suspect for arraignment since 2003, which has remained unattended to, and it appears that this applicant has fallen through the cracks and thus remained in custody for such years without trial.

The presumption of innocence in our constitution remains sacrosanct, and it is clear to this court that no good cause has been exhibited necessitating the continued remand of the applicant, and therefore, this court finds that the applicant is entitled to the declaratory order sought, she said.

After that, the judge ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the applicant from the custody of the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre.

The applicants counsel, Mr Okeke, had filed the suit against the Lagos State Attorney-General, the Commissioner of Police, the Controller, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and the Lagos State as the first to the third respondents, respectively.

The suit prayed the court to declare that the arrest and continued detention of Mr Adeshina in custody without a formal charge or trial was wrongful, illegal, unjustifiable and a gross violation of the applicants fundamental human rights.

The applicants counsel also sought these prayers: An order directing the immediate and unconditional release of the applicant from the custody of the third respondent, Medium Correctional Centre, Kirikiri Lagos.

An injunction restraining the respondents, their agents or privies from further breach of the applicants fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.

An order admitting the applicant to bail pending his arraignment in court and for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

The applicant filed in support of the application an affidavit of urgency of six paragraphs as well as a supporting affidavit of 15 paragraphs deposed to by Joe Ameh, the Executive Coordinator in the office of Zarephath Aid.

The applicants counsel referred the court to the provisions of section 35 (1) of the Constitution and submitted that it was inferable that whenever a deprivation of the right to personal liberty is sought pursuant thereto, such deprivation must satisfy two conditions to meet the approval of the Nigerian constitution.

(NAN)

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Lucky Okodeh, a former caretaker chairperson, Southern Ijaw Local Council of Bayelsa State, has sued the Nigerian army for allegedly publishing his photograph among those wanted in connection to the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama, Delta State.

Mr Okodeh, in the suit filed before Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court, Abuja by his lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, prayed the court to award a N2 billion in damages against the respondents for alleged violation of his rights to personal liberty and dignity.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr Falana, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/590/2024 dated and filed on 3 May, sued the chief of defence staff and chief of army staff as 1st and 2nd respondents.

The applicant prayed the court to set aside his declaration and award the fine as compensation for damages suffered over the action of the Defence Headquarters Abuja.

Mr Okodeh averred that the action had affected his political career and made him go into hiding.

Suspected residents of the Okuama Community, on 14 March, ambushed and murdered the commanding officer of 181 Army Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain and 13 soldiers, causing the Defence Headquarters Abuja to declare eight persons wanted over the incident.

Although Mr Okodehs name was not published in the list of the wanted persons, his photograph was posted on a name which was not his, which he also said no member of his family or extended family bears.

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Mr Okodeh, who was a chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 11 April local elections in Bayelsa, reportedly had his name replaced with another following the publication of his photograph in the wanted list.

The matter was fixed for mention on Monday, but the case could not proceed due to the absence of Justice Nyako in court.

The judge was said to be on another official assignment.

Mr Okodehs lawyer, Mr Falana, and the respondents counsel, Mike Ebah, were in court.

The matter was, therefore, adjourned to 17 October for mention.

Mr Okodeh is also asking the court to restrain the army authorities from arresting him as he is a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria who had never had any criminal record.

He is also asking the court to order the army authorities to apologise to him using both print and electronic media.

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The Nigerian government has established an Advisory on Malaria Elimination (AMEN) structure and a Ministerial Task Force to intensify efforts towards malaria elimination.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Senior Adviser on Media and External Relations to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, Tashikalmah Hallah.

Mr Pate, while inaugurating AMEN and the Ministerial Task Force, highlighted the devastating impact of malaria on Nigeria, citing alarming rates of mortality, morbidity, lost work hours, out-of-pocket expenses, and government investments in treatments and interventions.

The minister noted that despite being preventable and treatable, malaria continues to be a major challenge for the country.

Setting up AMEN

Mr Pate stressed that malaria remains a pressing concern for Nigeria, emphasising the need for sustained efforts and collective action to address this persistent public health challenge.

Therefore, we need a paradigm shift from the standard approach to a more proactive and result-oriented method of defeating this disease, he said.

On this premise, we invited academics, malaria programme experts, development partners, private sectors, civil societies, business enthusiasts, policymakers, as well as the political class to a roundtable discussion to rethink the countrys approaches and strategic views on malaria, which culminated in the setting up of AMEN among other things, and the Ministerial Task Force on Malaria in Nigeria..

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AMEN is chaired by Rose Leke, a professor at the University of Yaounde, Cameroun.

Other members are Dyann Wirth of the Harvard School of Public Health, Soji Adeyi, President of Resilience Health System, Ibrahim Abubakar of the University College, London, and Peter Piot of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The minister stated that the advisory team will provide expert guidance on malaria elimination.

He said: They will offer evidence-based advisory services and meet regularly to review programme evidence and provide guidance on aligning with best practices for malaria elimination. They will also collaborate with the CMH & SW, and HMSH to review implementation when necessary. The team will meet every six months (twice a year).

According to him, the Ministerial Task Force will comprise Nigeria-based stakeholders with in-depth knowledge and experience in malaria control and elimination efforts in the country.

Task force

He said the task force will ensure the effective implementation of AMENs recommendations, working in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, development partners, donor agencies, and other stakeholders to drive malaria elimination efforts in Nigeria.

The minister added that the team will support the National Malaria Elimination Programs (NMEP) goal to reduce malaria incidence and improve intervention impact through coordinated prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and awareness efforts.

The task force is co-chaired by Mr Pate, with the Chairman of the Malaria Technical Working Group in Nigeria serving as Vice Chairman, providing strategic leadership and technical expertise.

The National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Godwin Ntado, serves as Secretary, responsible for facilitating task force operations.

The team will convene every six to eight weeks, with additional meetings as scheduled, stating that membership will undergo biennial review for renewal or replacement, ensuring optimal performance and fresh perspectives.

Malaria burden

In February, the Minister decried the countrys persistent malaria burden despite decades of elimination efforts.

He urged a strategic review, noting that Nigeria still accounts for 30 per cent of global malaria cases, with 68 million cases and 190,000 deaths reported in 2021 alone.

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Traditional rulers in Rivers State have urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of the Forum of Chairpersons Local Government Area Council of Traditional Rulers in the state held on Monday in Port Harcourt.

The communique was endorsed by all the 23 local government chairpersons of the forum except that of Emohua Local Government Area, Sergeant Awuse, who was recently removed as chairperson of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Governor Fubara, after removing Mr Awuse last month, announced Chike Worlu-Wodo, a traditional from Obio/Akpor, another Ikwerre-speaking local government area of the state, as his replacement.

The political crisis rocking the oil-rich Rivers State last month turned violent following the refusal of former elected local council chairpersons in the state to vacate office after the expiration of their three-year tenure.

The former council chairpersons are loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, the current minister of FCT, who is at loggerheads with his successor, Mr Fubara.

Violence broke out, resulting in the death of two persons, including a police officer, after suspected supporters of Mr Fubara stormed various council secretariats in the state and demanded that the former officials vacate office.

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The police, to prevent further breakdown of law and order, ordered their operatives to take over the 23 council secretariats in the state, pending when the Court of Appeal will deliver judgment on an appeal by pro-Wike lawmakers.

In the wake of the violence, Tony Okocha, the chairperson of the All Progressives Congress caretaker committee in the state, called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the state, claiming that there is a full-blown war, Punch newspaper reported.

Rivers State is at war. And the dramatis personae who are responsible for the mayhem that has claimed lives are known, Mr Okocha said at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on 19 June, hours after Mr Fubara inaugurated caretaker committees for the 23 councils in the state.

The governor is helpless. The APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency in Rivers State as a way of taming the mayhem and the upsurge that is going on in the state.

I call on the federal government to act fast in this regard, Mr Okocha, an ally of the FCT minister, said.

Ignore calls for state of emergency

The traditional rulers in the state at a press briefing, the first after the assumption of office of the forums new chairpersons, said the call for a declaration of a state of emergency in the state by disgruntled elements was unjustifiable. They, therefore, urged President Tinubu to ignore such calls.

Council calls on President Tinubu to ignore the call for a declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as such a call cannot be justified in a state that is peaceful and has continued to host several international seminars, symposia and workshops with a record of peaceful nightlife.

(Council) condemns in strong terms, the instigation of violence in our different communities and kingdoms by some overzealous politicians, as a way of preparing the ground for anarchy, bloodbath and complete breakdown of law and order as a precursor to the call for a state of Emergency, the communique states in parts.

The traditional rulers called on the police authorities in the country not to be bias in the politically instigated crisis in the state but to deal with it professionally. The traditional rulers added that they are cries that the police in the state have taken sides in the issues.

The traditional rulers urged Governor Fubara to remain steadfast in his delivery of good governance to the people of the state and not be detracted by the attempts from certain individuals and groups to derail his vision for the state.

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A former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, who is facing trial at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, in Abuja, has requested permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The court seized Mr Agunloyes passport to grant him a N50 million bail after his arraignment on fraud charges in January.

On Monday, he urged the court to release the passport so he could travel abroad on health grounds, promising to return to Nigeria to continue facing his trial after his treatment.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the agency prosecuting him, opposed the application at Mondays hearing before the trial judge, Jude Onwuegbuzie.

Mr Agunloye, who served in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is facing prosecution for alleged fraud regarding the failed $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

The EFCC charged him with seven counts, including fraudulent contract award, forgery, disobedience of a presidential order, and corruption.

Mr Agunloye, 75, denied all the seven counts.

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Medical trip

EFCCs Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, summarised in a press statement Mondays proceeding where parties argued Mr Agunloyes application for a medical trip.

According to the statement, Mr Agunloyes lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, a

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said his client needed urgent medical attention abroad.

However, the specific details, such as the destination of the planned trip and the medical conditions Mr Agunloye intends to treat abroad, were not mentioned in EFCCs statement.

The defence lawyer presented five documents supporting his clients overseas medical treatment application.

The documents, marked Exhibits A to E, included medical reports from University College Hospital, Ibadan in Oyo State, and the NISA Premier Hospital, Abuja.

They also included a letter from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and an invitation from a foreign medical analyst requesting him to travel abroad for an urgent medical evaluation and attention.

The defence counsel maintained that Mr Agunloye required urgent and specialised medical attention, which is unavailable in Nigeria.

EFCCs opposition

However, the EFCCs prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, opposed the application.

He presented a counter-affidavit deposed to by Hussain Babangida, a prosecution witness and an investigator with the EFCC, urging the court to refuse to grant the application because Mr Agunloye could be a flight risk.

He alleged that during the investigation of the case, Mr Agunloye demonstrated unwillingness to present himself for trial until he was declared wanted.

EFCC declared Mr Agunloye wanted in December 2023.

Mr Agunloye, who surrendered himself for interrogation on 13 December 2023, a day after he was declared wanted, said he had not received any formal invitation from the commission.

In January, Mr Agunloyes lawyer also denied the allegation of the former ministers tendency to evade trial when the prosecution raised the same point to oppose his bail application after his arraignment.

The defence lawyer said at the time that it was a notion of the prosecution that was borne out of misconception and communication barrier.

The judge granted him bail on some conditions, including the seizure of his passport and a N50 million bail bond.

EFCCs lawyer maintained at Mondays hearing that releasing Mr Agunloyes passport to enable him to travel abroad could impede justice, given the severity of the charges and the potential risk of the defendant absconding.

The EFCCs lawyer concluded his submission, We are expecting our noble lord to dismiss the defendants application on the credit of the complainants counter affidavit.

The judge fixed 17 July for ruling on the former ministers application.

The case

Lying at the heart of the case is the failed $6 billion hydropower contract, which dates back to May 2003.

The project, intended to generate 3,960 megawatts of electricity, was designed to be executed on a build, operate, and transfer basis.

Mr Agunloye is standing trial on charges stemming from the manner in which he awarded the failed contract and favour he allegedly received from the beneficiary of the contract.

In one of the seven counts filed by the EFCC, the commission accused him of awarding the contract in May 2003 for the construction of 3,960 megawatts (MW) Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.

EFCC said the award of the contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) constituted an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

READ ALSO: EFCC chairman orders arrest of officers for assaulting woman during hotel raid

It also charged Mr Agunloye with corruptly receiving N3.6 million from Sunrise Power company in August 2019, years after leaving office, for the purported approval of the federal government for the award of the contract to the company.

EFCC said this act is also contrary to and punishable under Section 8(1)(a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In March, the Federal High Court in Abuja, a court with coordinate jurisdiction as the FCT High Court where Mr Agunloye is facing prosecution, dismissed his suit alleging abuse of his fundamental rights and seeking to be shielded from investigation and trial.

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An Iyaganku Magistrates Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of two siblings: Latunde Alayemi, 50 and Ayoola Alayemi, 54, in a correctional facility over the alleged killing of a 49-year-old man.

The duo, whose addresses were not provided, were charged with conspiracy and murder.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Magistrate, Kausarat Ayofe, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.

Mrs Ayofe directed the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

She, thereafter, adjourned the case till 2 September for mention.

The Prosecutor, Toyin Ibrahim, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on 23 June at about 12.45 a.m. at Moniya area of Ibadan.

READ ALSO: Tinubu approves upgrade of Ibadan airport

Ms Ibrahim said that the defendants unlawfully caused the death of one David Olagoke, 49, by matcheting him all over his body.

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He said that the offences contravened Sections 516 and 324 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)

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A bill to create Etiti State has been introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives and passed for first reading.

The bill, sponsored by Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), Miriam Onuoha (APC, Imo), Kama Nkemkama (LP, Ebonyi), Chinwe Nnabuife (YPP, Anambra), and Anayo Onwuegbu (LP, Enugu), was introduced on Tuesday during plenary.

The constitution alteration bill seeks to carve out a new state from the five South-east states of Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo.

According to the synopsis of the bill, it seeks to alter three sections of the 1999 constitution. First, to delete the word 36 and replace it with the word 37. Secondly, to insert the word Etiti immediately after Enugu in the list of states contained in the Constitution.

It also seeks to alter the listing of local governments according to states and transfer the 11 local government areas from their current states to the new state.

The local governments to be affected are Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi (Abia), Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra), Ivo and Ohaozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Agwu and Oji River (Enugu), as well as Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).

This is not the first time this bill has been introduced on the floor of the House. It was one of the bills introduced in the 8th Assembly but failed to scale the constitutional hurdle.

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The South-east region has the least number of states out of the six geopolitical zones. The region has five states. While South-south, South-west, North-east, and North-central have six states each, North-west has seven states.

Division over extra state in South-east

Meanwhile, there is another bill seeking to create a new state in the South-east. The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere, aims to create Orlu State from Abia, Imo, and Anambra State.

Mr Ugochinyeres bill has polarised the South-east caucus in the House, with some members openly opposed to the proposed Orlu State.

Peter Uzokwe, who represents Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo federal constituency of Anambra State, recently told journalists that Mr Ugochinyere did not consult the caucus before introducing the bill.

What my colleague did was to take the Imo map and the Anambra map and start carving out places as he pleases. He did it just to embarrass me because this is my local government. Could he have done that to Nnewi? He dare not.

I would have loved him to carve out Nnewi. State creation is a permanent thing that can bring war, that can bring border issues. Tomorrow, you will hear that Igbos are killing themselves because they dont have blood ties, Mr Uzokwe said during the interview.

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Ahmed Jaha, a member of the House of Representatives, says the recent suicide bombings that rocked Borno State occurred due to complacency by security agencies and the communities.

Mr Jaha, who represents Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency of Borno State, stated this on Tuesday while leading a debate on a motion to investigate the recent twin bombings that rocked the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the explosions allegedly detonated by female suicide bombers suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

Speaking on the recent attacks, Mr Jaha said both the people and the security services became complacent in the face of a false sense of security and stopped taking the necessary precautionary measures.

We cannot continue to be complacent. Complacency is one of the reasons why this thing happened in my constituency, he said.

Mr Jaha said the suicide bombers could have been spotted because they wore the same clothes on that day.

I want us to know that the suicide bombers, after identifying their faces, it was discovered that they were recruited, brainwashed, and imported to Gwoza from somewhere to cause this issue.

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They came in uniform. They were wearing the same colour of uniform. So, it is a wake-up call for everybody in the country. If you see this kind of thing, they are more or less a security threat.

There is a pressing need for our security agencies to enhance their intelligence-gathering capabilities and engage more effectively with local communities to prevent the reoccurrence of such tragic incidents in the future.

Intelligence gathering is a critical tool in the fight against terrorism, and it is essential that our security forces have the necessary resources and support to gather timely, actionable intelligence to prevent attacks before they occur, he said.

Tinubu should sack his appointees in security sector  Dasuki

Speaking on the motion, a member of the House, Abdussamad Dasuki, said President Bola Tinubu must take action on his political appointees in the security sector.

He said many of them have failed to deliver despite being from the northern part of the country.

In the last year that we got inaugurated into this House, there have been too many incidents.

We had a jailbreak, nobody has been sacked. People are killed, nobody has been sacked. It is high time we found somebody responsible.

The earlier we look for a scapegoat, which is justifiable, the better. These guys have not lived up to expectations. Every single day, we have a minimum of three security motions and lives are lost. Its high time we came up with a resolution. We have a lot of these resolutions.

I think more than 50 per cent of the resolutions of the 10th Assembly are security-related. So, lets find the culprit. We have our committees that are living up to expectations. They can research this. They can look at those who have not done what is expected of them, and somebody should be held responsible, he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, said the only solution is state police.

All society strategies should be used to detect this type of action before they happen.

That is why I would always suggest that the committee which you (deputy speaker) chair on constitutional review should please prioritise state police.

The number of men and women we have in uniform is not commensurate with the number of personnel we need, he said.

Others who spoke on the motion included the Chairman of the Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi and former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase.

Following the debate, the House resolved that the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence should investigate and report to the House in two weeks.

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The Jigawa State Government on Tuesday signed a 6 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bank of Industry which aims to boost economic growth and development in the state.

At the signing ceremony held at the Government House, Dutse, Governor Umar Namadi, said the partnership would provide medium and small-scale businesses in the state with access to soft loans.

Mr Namadi highlighted the imperative of the partnership saying that its aligned with his administrations determination to address poverty, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth in the state.

The occasion is a milestone in our journey towards poverty eradication, job creation, and development. Empowering people through their own business of choice is a strategy we have adopted for accelerating growth and development in Jigawa State, and the Bank of Industry is a key partner in achieving this goal.

With this MOU, we are now committed to joining hands with the BOI to facilitate access to soft loans for our small, medium, and even large-scale businesses in the state. We are very happy today to have a BOI branch in our state, and all relevant state government agencies are fully engaged to enlighten Jigawa citizens and support them in accessing the opportunities provided by the bank, Mr Namadi stated.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) at the Bank of Industry, Shekarau Omar, described the MoU as historic and first of its kind.

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Mr Omar said the partnership with the Jigawa government is the biggest ever MOU signed with any state government since the inception of the bank.

In the last 13 years, we have been advocating for the establishment of the bank in Jigawa State, but there was no positive response. However, within six months of engagement with Governor Umar Namadi, our dream has become a reality.

Governor Namadi is a man of his word and has shown indefatigable commitment to empowering the people of Jigawa for poverty eradication, job creation, growth, and sustainable development. As we sign this MOU and commission our Dutse branch today, we assure the Jigawa State Government of our commitment to work at any level to achieve the desired goals, Mr Omar said.

He said the establishment of the BOI branch in Dutse is expected to provide significant support to local businesses, drive economic progress and improve the livelihoods of Jigawa state residents.

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The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the prosecution of Polaris Bank and a staff member, Chinenye Duru, for alleged N16.5 billion fraud.

The office of the Inspector General of Police, which filed the case in December 2023, accused Polaris Bank and Mr Duru of fraudulently diverting over N16.5 billion from a customers various accounts within nearly eight years.

The police identified the bank customer and the victim of the alleged crime as Onukogu Victor Hezekiah, the spiritual head of the Living Christ Mission Church, Onitsha, Anambra State, South-east Nigeria.

According to the prosecution, the defendants diverted the money from Mr Hezekiahs accounts between 2017 and 2023, while Mr Duru served as the customers account officer. Mr Hezekiah is fondly called Daddy Hezkiah by his followers.

A lawyer from the AGF office, V.J. Alma, informed the trial judge, Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that Mr Fagbemi directed the takeover of the case from the police in the exercise of his powers as the AGF under Section 174(1)(b) of the Nigerian constitution.

Mr Alma did not give any reason for the AGF offices decision to take over the case.

We have written a letter to the Nigerian police notifying them of this position and requesting the original case file in a letter dated 29 May 2024, the lawyer said. We are still waiting for the original case file.

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Mr Ekwo asked Mr Alma if the AGF office had written to the court about the development, and the lawyer responded in affirmative.

Mr Alma urged the court to fix the matter for trial on a date after the about-to-commence annual vacation of judges.

The judge then told Mr Durus lawyer, Chidi Ezenwafor, to advise Polaris Bank, the 1st defendant in the case, to engage a lawyer to represent it in the case.

Mr Ekwo postponed the hearing in the case till 18 and 19 November for trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Inspector-General of Police arraigned Mr Duru on 11 counts on 19 January.

He pleaded not guilty to the counts.

The judge remanded Mr Duru in a correctional facility pending the hearing of his bail application.

Polaris Bank Plc and Mr Duru are the first and the 2nd defendants in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/603/2023.

Charges

In the charges, the prosecution accused Polaris Bank and Mr Duru of fraudulently withdrawing N16.5 billion from Mr Hezekiahs account numbers 1040495455 and 1060104735 between 17 November 2017 and 14 August 2023.

Within the same period, the prosecution alleged that the defendants also fraudulently withdrew N75.534 million from the customers other account, 4010023601.

According to the prosecution, the defendants also fraudulently withdrew N13.3 million from the customers account number 40910106770 and N16.3 million from his other account number 411054152 within the same period.

The charges said the defendants withdrew the money without authorisation from the owner of the accounts with the intent of converting it for their personal use.

The police charged the offences under sections 18 (2) and 21 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. Some of the offences are punishable under section 18(3) of the money laundering law, the police said.

(NAN)

.

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The youths of Kenya have taught their leader a very strong lesson: that the people own the government, not the other way round. The usual tricks of divide-and-rule, through ethnicisation of all matters political, did not work this time around in Kenya. Neither the ethnic nor the class card could be played against the youths. In Eldoret, Rutos home town, and among his kith and kin, the Kalenjin, there are ongoing protests. To worsen President Rutos agony, his own Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, does not seem to be on the same side with him.

There is something eerily familiar about the protests that engulfed Kenya last week. Many Nigerians would easily recognise the parallels between this and the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria in 2020. Four years ago, confronted with a police force that had become notorious for corruption, accidental killings, torture and brutality, the youths of the country trooped into the streets in protest. They gathered at the tollgate in Lekki, Lagos, waving flags, singing the national anthem but the #EndSARS protest, also involving ladies, students, even children, soon became a riot, acquiring a life of its own, and spreading to other parts of Nigeria. The angry youths were labelled the Soro-Soke generation, and indeed, they spoke up, demanding accountability from Nigerian leaders and psychiatric tests for members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), and other policemen as well. The protesters had no single leader; they were driven by their youthfulness and anger. Things eventually got violent and bloody. People died. Thousands were arrested or intimidated. Many of the youths fled into exile. Some of the youths who participated in the protests are still in detention. Not much has changed since then.

Kenya has just experienced its own version of #EndSARS, further exposing the alienation between the leaders and the young people of Africa. The population of Africa is predominantly young, a strategic demographic that is often projected as the engine room of the future, but this is a category that is poorly served and hence it is angry and disillusioned. In Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana, we have a growing population of young people: they are educated but have no jobs, their parents once lived in a country that prospered but which has been mismanaged, basic infrastructure for the healthy living has collapsed, the cost of living is high. While the older generation may have resigned to their fate, for the most part the youth are finding their voice, and they are speaking up, and as they are,doing, they are making sure that their voices are loud and clear, and that they are heard. They are no longer silent voices, but a loud majority.

The trigger for the youth revolution in Kenya is the Finance Bill of 2024. Last year there had been protests over the same Bill, resulting in the death of about six persons. But this year, Kenyas parliamentarians returned to the same piece of legislation. The story is that Kenya had been advised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to increase its tax to GDP ratio from 13.5 per cent to at least 20 per cent. This is supposed to generate about $2.3 billion and help reduce the fiscal deficit. Kenya is a heavily indebted country, with 68 per cent of its GDP  about $80 billion  in domestic and foreign debts. When President Ruto was invited on a state visit to the United States in May, one of the major gains of the trip was the pledge by the Biden administration to assist the country with part of its debt. But even that was not enough. Kenya owes China alone over $5.7 billion, a victim obviously of Chinas debt trap diplomacy. The country was left with no option to avoid default, and raise revenue, but to take IMFs advice. IMF prescriptions may be fine on paper, but they do not often align with the psychology of the streets in developing countries.

Kenyas parliament tabled the Finance Bill in May/June, and all hell broke loose, first on social media, with young Kenyans actively protesting with #RejectFinanceBill. Kenyas leaders underestimated the anger of the youths. They dismissed their protest as the rantings of over-pampered youths, with a sense of entitlement. The Bill, as proposed, has a long list of taxes: 16 per cent value added tax (VAT) on bread, eggs, onions, potatoes and all petroleum products; 15 -20 per cent tax on mobile money transfer charges; and similar additional taxes to widen the countrys tax base. In the face of the protests, Kenyas parliament, on 18 June modified parts of the Bill, and removed other parts completely and quickly passed the Bill. The angry youths of Kenya were inconsolable. They did not want any modification. They want the entire Bill dropped. They took to the streets in protest, and from the capital, Nairobi, the voices of dissent were echoed in 35 of the 47 counties. Last Tuesday, President Ruto reportedly said those on the streets were criminals, and they would be dealt with. On 24 June, the lawmakers passed the Bill to be sent for President Rutos assent. It was a grave miscalculation.

On 26 June, the people took their physical anger to Parliament, with the slogan #tupataneThursday  see you on Thursday. Many of the lawmakers took to their heels. Not even the cafeteria was spared. Outside, Kenya burned. The fire of the peoples anger raged like wildfire. President Ruto did not wait for Thursday, penitently he quickly announced that he would not sign the Bill and that he would respect the will of the people. He further announced austerity measures in government spending and promised to hold a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder consultation process with the people. On Thursday, as promised, the protests continued. The Presidents promise not to sign the Bill was not enough. The chant had become #RutomustGo.

first, President Ruto needs to rebuild trust with the young people of Kenya who, as recently as 30 June, were besieging hospitals to donate blood for their colleagues who were shot by the police. What Ruto has done, as of yesterday, was to scrap the office of the First Lady, Rachel Ruto, and the Second Lady, Dorcas Rigathi Gachagua, from the new budget. The Office of the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) has also been scrapped. Ruto has also promised to halt opulence and extravagance among Kwanza leaders. He will need to do more.

The youths of Kenya have every justification to express personal disappointment with their President. They believe it is Ruto himself that is behind the Finance Bill, using members of his party to see it through parliament. And yet this is the same President who, while looking for the job, told the people that he came from a low background like most of them, and even described himself as a hustler, and a champion of the poor and the downtrodden. I sold chicken at a railway crossing near my home as a child he said. I paid fees for my siblings. God has been kind to me It is the same Ruto who wants to tax the people? After the fact, he now wants to consult the people, after calling the youths criminals; his arrogance is his undoing. The consultation should have been the first thing to do. Kenya is one of Africas richest economies, but the people have seen their country mismanaged. Even if Kenya wants to take a credit facility from the IMF, the people have the right to know what has been done with all the debts that their government accumulated over the years.

Ruto cannot exonerate himself. He was Vice President for 10 years. He has been President since 2022. The youths of Kenya have taught their leader a very strong lesson: that the people own the government, not the other way round. The usual tricks of divide-and-rule, through ethnicisation of all matters political, did not work this time around in Kenya. Neither the ethnic nor the class card could be played against the youths. In Eldoret, Rutos home town, and among his kith and kin, the Kalenjin, there are ongoing protests. To worsen President Rutos agony, his own Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, does not seem to be on the same side with him. It is not only the IMF that he has to worry about. He has his Deputy and the angry youth too, making three sources of headache. Gachagua has openly picked a quarrel with members of the cabinet and he recently accused the Director of the National Intelligence Service of causing the protests because of his incompetence. The Kenya Kwanza Alliance of 2022 seems to be unravelling.

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Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga must be chuckling. But first, President Ruto needs to rebuild trust with the young people of Kenya who, as recently as 30 June, were besieging hospitals to donate blood for their colleagues who were shot by the police. What Ruto has done, as of yesterday, was to scrap the office of the First Lady, Rachel Ruto, and the Second Lady, Dorcas Rigathi Gachagua, from the new budget. The Office of the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) has also been scrapped. Ruto has also promised to halt opulence and extravagance among Kwanza leaders. He will need to do more. His government must ensure that all the wounded persons who are currently in hospital have their bills picked up by the government and the families of the dead compensated.

Like the youths of Nigeria in 2020, Kenyan youths are insisting that they have no leader who is dictating the pace of the rebellion; they are united by their resolve that the people of Kenya deserve good governance. President Ruto must also take steps to ensure that justice is done. Kenyan policemen behaved exactly like their Nigerian counterparts: firing tear gas canisters, water cannons, cracking skulls and shooting live bullets into the crowd, and lying about their brutality, with their faces hidden behind masks. They simply helped to drive a wedge between the people and President Ruto. They must not be allowed to get away with their folly. In 2020, Nigerian youths demanded that the policemen must undergo psychiatric tests. It is an option that the Kenyan government should consider. President Ruto must move swiftly and sack all sycophants around him, in uniform or not. Besides, all the protesters who were abducted and are languishing in detention centres across the country must be released. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority is said to be investigating the conduct of the police. Their report should be made public, and the President should stop saying that he is pleased with the conduct of the police, until a proper inquiry is carried out. Many innocent Kenyans lost property running into millions of shillings. They deserve to be compensated.

One preliminary lesson that Nigerian leaders can take away from the Kenya situation is to avoid the error of careless talk that often gives the impression that they are insensitive. This is certainly not the time for any Nigerian leader to keep saying there is no money to pay Nigerian workers and pensioners a minimum wage. Or that the people should be ready to make sacrifices. The people want better pay, and if there is no money, the leaders should be the ones to take a pay cut.

Other African leaders must learn from the Kenyan debacle. Leadership must be driven by respect for the people. The youths of Kenya have set an example that would inspire other young persons in the continent. Already in Ghana, young persons have gone to X (formerly Twitter) to ask questions about the sale of SSNIT hotels (#HandsOffOurHotels) and they are asking President Nana Akufo-Addo to take note of what is happening in Kenya. Here in Nigeria, not a few commentators have been using the Kenyan situation to illustrate how African leaders take their citizens for granted and the risks that they run in doing so.

Youths in Kenya share a lot in common with their Nigerian counterparts, especially in a post-COVID season. Kenya is in debt. Nigeria is also heavily indebted, and the government at the centre is reportedly trying to run four different budgets in one year, creating room for suspicion and doubt. In 2023, President Tinubu promised Nigerians e lo fokan bale, emi lo kan. We were told that he has done it before in Lagos, at the centre, he would even do better. He became President in 2023. But there is hunger in the land, with the people shouting ebi n pa wa or as Eedris Adulkareem, the musician puts it, ebi lo kan. The cost of living is high in Kenya, so it is in Nigeria. Food has become so expensive around here, people who live in communal spaces have learnt to avoid that old practice of leaving their pot of soup on fire to go and pick something in the room. Your pot of soup could get stolen before you get back. In the past, if you went to visit a friend and you met him eating, you were likely to be told to come and join me, lets eat. Not many Nigerians can offer free food again.

There is insecurity in the land and it keeps getting worse. Only last weekend, female suicide bombers wreaked havoc in the Gwoza and Monguno areas of Borno State, at a wedding, a funeral, and a hospital. It is not even safe to get married or fall sick or go to a hospital in Nigeria. Not too long ago, Nigerians were told that terrorists had been decimated, and that the government was winning the war. But it looks like the Boko Haram terrorists are back with greater ferocity. It is frightening. The Tinubu administration has been careful not to tell Nigerians that they would raise taxes. One of the officials has also said Nigeria is not considering asking the IMF for a loan, even if there is widespread suspicion that the government is unusually friendly with the IMF/World Bank.

One preliminary lesson that Nigerian leaders can take away from the Kenya situation is to avoid the error of careless talk that often gives the impression that they are insensitive. This is certainly not the time for any Nigerian leader to keep saying there is no money to pay Nigerian workers and pensioners a minimum wage. Or that the people should be ready to make sacrifices. The people want better pay, and if there is no money, the leaders should be the ones to take a pay cut. Nigerian leaders cannot ask the people to make sacrifices, and they would be talking about buying new jets, SUVs and building new houses, with taxpayers money. Nigerians dont want to be told by members of the National Assembly that any request that the Executive brings to the Assembly will be granted automatically and there is nothing any citizen can do about it. What Nigerians want to hear are words of hope, reassurance and clear, meaningful attempts to make their lives better. African leaders like to talk loosely. Once they get to power, they forget all the promises that they made, and begin to blame other people for their omissions. President Ruto of Kenya called the youth treasonous criminals. He got the answer he did not expect. We can only hope that he has learnt his lesson.

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.

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I believe the DIA is an invaluable asset to Nigeria, and it must be allowed to continue its vital work without unnecessary distractions. The countrys ongoing struggles with non-state actors require the unwavering support and collaboration of all national security institutions, and the DIAs contributions in this regard are indispensable.

A couple of years ago, I was on the verge of accepting an offer to join the ranks of Nigerias premier intelligence agency, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), when I received an admission letter to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies (MPhil DSS) at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State. This dilemma between a career in intelligence and further academic pursuits was a difficult one, but ultimately, I decided to focus on my studies  a decision that has proven fruitful.

It was during the tenure of the immediate past Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel A. Adebayo (rtd.) that I was invited for the job interview. This experience allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the DIAs inner workings, and I was struck by the agencys commitment to clandestine yet successful military operations, which were rarely publicised. This discretion is, in my opinion, a testament to the professionalism and discipline that permeates the DIA.

The DIAs premises were impressive, with state-of-the-art structures and comprehensive security measures in place. The presence of both human and technological tools to screen visitors further reinforced the agencys dedication to safeguarding critical information and assets. The conduct and attitudes of the military and civilian staff were equally commendable, as they exhibited a remarkable blend of professionalism, humility, and vigilance.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to interact with the DIA on a more intimate level. Following the recent appointment of Major General Emmanuel Packer Undiandeye as the new Chief of Defence Intelligence by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I was invited to serve as a participant and member of the technical team for the maiden five-day National Security Course on Psychological Operations and Strategic Communication (NSCPOSC-1) organised by the DIA.

In the realm of intelligence, the DIA has significantly improved its coverage of the country, providing proactive intelligence support to military and security operations. This has led to the elimination and arrest of major terrorist and bandit leaders, as well as the disruption of numerous criminal syndicates of kidnapping and other crimes around Abuja and other parts of the country.

This training programme, which brought together government officials, members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), intelligence communities, security services, communication specialists, community leaders, civil society advocates, and the media, underscored the DIAs commitment to utilising non-kinetic approaches in addressing security challenges. In my opinion, this holistic approach to national security is a testament to the agencys strategic vision and its understanding that effective security solutions require the active engagement of all stakeholders.

Through my interactions with the DIA staff and operatives during the course and guided tours, I gained valuable insights into the agencys open and covert efforts to ensure peace, safety, and security across Nigeria. The achievements recorded by the DIA in the past year, which spanned various development sectors, have been truly impressive and a testament to the leadership of General Undiandeye.

In the realm of intelligence, the DIA has significantly improved its coverage of the country, providing proactive intelligence support to military and security operations. This has led to the elimination and arrest of major terrorist and bandit leaders, as well as the disruption of numerous criminal syndicates of kidnapping and other crimes around Abuja and other parts of the country. The DIAs heightened collaboration with neighbouring countries and international partners through intelligence and information sharing has been a crucial factor in achieving these successes.

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On the infrastructural front, the current Chief of Defence Intelligence has overseen the completion of the DIA complex, the expansion of regional centres across the country, and the upgrade of medical facilities and staff accommodations. These investments in the agencys physical and human resources are a clear indication of the Nigerian governments commitment to strengthening its intelligence capabilities.

In my opinion, the DIAs achievements and the crucial role it plays in Nigerias national security efforts deserve recognition and support from all stakeholders. It is unfortunate that some individuals who lack understanding of the agencys modus operandi tend to dismiss its accomplishments. The DIAs discreet approach to its work should not be mistaken for a lack of efficiency or dedication.

Moreover, the DIA has made significant strides in the educational domain, funding the relocation and construction of the NAOWA primary school, obtaining land for the expansion of the Defence Intelligence College, and signing an MoU with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to award degrees in security-related disciplines.

The recent press briefing by the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC), under the auspices of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), provided a glimpse into the intelligence services role in the ongoing counter-terrorism and insurgency operations. The disclosure by the Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, of the neutralisation of 9,303 insurgents, the arrest of 6,998 individuals, the rescue of 4,641 hostages, and the surrender of 9,562 Boko Haram/ISWAP combatants and their families is a testament to the intelligence-led nature of these successful military operations.

In my opinion, the DIAs achievements and the crucial role it plays in Nigerias national security efforts deserve recognition and support from all stakeholders. It is unfortunate that some individuals who lack understanding of the agencys modus operandi tend to dismiss its accomplishments. The DIAs discreet approach to its work should not be mistaken for a lack of efficiency or dedication.

As a young writer and researcher, I believe the DIA is an invaluable asset to Nigeria, and it must be allowed to continue its vital work without unnecessary distractions. The countrys ongoing struggles with non-state actors require the unwavering support and collaboration of all national security institutions, and the DIAs contributions in this regard are indispensable.

Mukhtar Yau Madobi is an NDA research student and the author of National Security Strategies: A Young Writers Perspective. Email: ymukhtar944@gmail.com

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The latest Global Terror Index shows Nigeria has made unprecedented progress in addressing insecurity. Let us help democracy by not rewarding Boko Haram with doom-and-gloom media coverage of this latest episode Rather, balance coverage of this tragedy by reporting the truth of how the tide has turned and the terrorists are on their last legs.

This weekends suicide bombing at a wedding in the community of Gwoza, Borno State, in North-East Nigeria, was a desperate act of a defeated and discredited movement. While this is no consolation to families and friends of the victims, there is hope in the midst of this tragedy.

Horrible as it was, it shows that great progress has been made in the past year under the new administration of President Bola Tinubu. The fact that Boko Haram has resorted to soft opportunistic targets, using women and children, is a sign that this is the last kick of a dying horse.

I have been to Nigeria 14 times since 2010, and my last trip just ended a few weeks ago. My organisation serves IDPs from Gwoza, and I know many of them personally. I have spent years investigating, first-hand, the issues of persecution and violence, and can say without any equivocation that Nigeria is a different country than what it was a year ago. The spirit of oppression has lifted, and there is a growing sense that things are on the right track. People now drive from Abuja to Kaduna without a single incident of abduction. The light is shining.

I have personally spoken with Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser under the current administration, and found him to be capable, focused and passionate about restoring peace and security to Nigeria. Since he came on board, Boko Haram has been unable to launch the frequent raids on military bases they used to undertake under the eight dark years of General Buharis government.

Under Ribadus leadership, these terrorists have been driven from Sambisa forest, their long-time safe haven, which is no mean feat, considering that Sambisa is larger than Belgium.

As their support has been pounded to insignificance, these groups are trying desperately to remain relevant. This recent evil act was clearly an attempt to regain global headlines, so they can once again raise funds from outside Nigeria, and kickstart recruitment.

The Nigerian military has successfully routed Boko Haram and ISWAP to the extent that today they have no effective leadership, and no central command and are now little more than a scattered and tattered group of misfits, who have no ability beyond attacking soft targets.

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As their support has been pounded to insignificance, these groups are trying desperately to remain relevant. This recent evil act was clearly an attempt to regain global headlines, so they can once again raise funds from outside Nigeria, and kickstart recruitment.

I, therefore, appeal to the international media not to give them the attention they seek by overblowing this recent attack. That is what they want. Please, dont give it to them.

The latest Global Terror Index shows Nigeria has made unprecedented progress in addressing insecurity. Let us help democracy by not rewarding Boko Haram with doom-and-gloom media coverage of this latest episode.

Rather, balance coverage of this tragedy by reporting the truth of how the tide has turned and the terrorists are on their last legs. Nigerians have legitimate reason to hope. Thats the real story here.

Mike Arnold is mayor of Blanco, Texas and founder of Africa Arise International; www.IDPJustice.org.

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AFD unveils renewed strategic partnership pillars for Nigerias operations

Having made humongous sustainable impacts in the last 15 years in Nigeria with investment worth about N5.5 trillion (3.3 billion euros) in over 57 projects, the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) Group has unveiled a renewed strategy for the next decade.

Speaking during the groups 15th anniversary held at Wells Calton Hotel in Abuja on Thursday, Xavier Muron, AFDs Country Director in Nigeria said: The three pillars underpin this renewed partnership on promoting low-carbon and resilient infrastructure, supporting youth employability and developing quality jobs and; contributing to the improvement of governance to promote social cohesion and human rights.

He said, 100% of AFDs future projects will be socially inclusive and aligned with the Paris Agreement. AFD will work hand-in-hand with other Development Partners to better coordinate and maximize its impact for the benefits of Nigerians.

Mr Muron emphasised that It is a great source of pride for the entire AFD team to have traveled these 15 years alongside Nigerians. This exciting journey continues for the next 15 years, and far beyond, with maturity and renewed enthusiasm and motivation

The 15th AFDs anniversary in Nigeria was attended by the Minister of Budget & Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Presidential Envoy on Climate Change & Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Acting French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jean-Francois Hasperue, Executive Director, AFDs Global Clients Solutions, Laurent Biddiscombe, Lagos State Governor represented by Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, Director-General, National Council on Climate Change, Nkiruka Maduekwe, Executive Director, Geographies, AFD, Philippe Orliange, Divisional Head Service Industries, Bank of Industry, Isa Omagu, and other distinguished guests.

AFDs 15th anniversary ceremony highlighted the groups activities in Nigeria and celebrated various partnerships. The event featured panel sessions that discussed Nigerias Path to Net Zero: Linking Research, Policy and Financing for Innovative Climate Solutions and Enhancing Skills Development for Improved Employability: Supporting Nigerias Cultural Industries for Global Impact.

Supporting Nigerias shift to green economy, digital innovation, the Acting French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jean-Francois Hasperue, reiterated Frances commitment to supporting Nigerias green industrial vision, particularly in climate action, sustainable development, and job creation.

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We aim to create more stable jobs for the new generations entering the workforce. Nigeria is also rapidly emerging as a key player in the digital economy, and we are proud to see more and more French and Nigerian people wanting to engage in joint projects, he said.

Climate change in Nigeria has led to rising temperatures, especially in the north. Other adverse effects include increased rainfall in coastal areas, decreased rainfall in inland regions, droughts, heatwaves, desertification, land degradation, flooding, erosion, rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, extreme weather events, food shortages, health challenges, and impacts on ecosystems. This phenomenon has also been linked to persistent farmer-herder clashes in the country.

The Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Mr Ngelale, acknowledged the transformative impact of the French Development Agencys collaboration with Nigerian government institutions, particularly in climate action.

We value the increasing investments from French companies like Total, who have demonstrated leadership while others may have hesitated, Mr Ngelale said.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Bagudu recognised Frances support, emphasising critical areas such as climate action, digital economy, creative economy, sports, and food security.

We share a vision of rule of law, democracy, and inclusion for all. We appreciate the French governments backing, especially as we undertake challenging yet essential macroeconomic reform programs, he remarked.

The minister underscored the importance of international partnerships in achieving sustainable development and climate action goals. Accordingly, continued collaboration between Nigeria and France is anticipated to drive economic growth, foster job creation, and address the countrys unique challenges.

In the last 15 years, 23 states in Nigeria have benefited from AFDs financing which have tangible impacts for Nigerians: 2.2 million people benefitted from permanent access to basic services and resilient infrastructure, one million people from improved access to drinking water, 300, 000 jobs were created or supported, and 500, 000 tons of CO emissions are saved every year through AFD-funded projects. AFDs activities have grown significantly in recent years, mostly across the energy, urban mobility and education sectors, while the number of partners has also increased.

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A Nigerian senator has been sued by his former driver for allegedly orchestrating his illegal detention by the police.

Oliver Abele has reportedly been detained by the police in Abuja since 18 June following a complaint by the senator, Titus Zam (APC- Benue North-West).

In a suit filed by his lawyers at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Mr Abele, who is also the senators nephew, is demanding to be paid N100 million for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

In the originating motion filed by his lawyers, Matthias Ikyav and Hellen Gbor of MAL Ikyav & Co, Mr Abele sued the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the divisional police officer for Galadima police post, Gwarinpa, as the first and second respondents. He joined the senator as the third respondent.

Mr Abele is also seeking public apologies from the three respondents and N1.5 million as the cost of the suit.

A relation of the applicant, James Akatu, deposed to an affidavit supporting the suit.

In the affidavit, Mr Akatu said Mr Abele had worked for the senator for about six years, starting even before he became a member of the National Assembly.

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He said sometime in 2023, Mr Abele introduced someone to Mr Zam, who sold a used Range Rover SUV to the senator for N4 million.

Mr Abele said he was able to do that because he was a motor mechanic, too.

After a few months, however, he said the cars engine became bad and had to be changed.

Therefore, the senator bought a new engine for the car but it also became faulty shortly afterwards.

The unfortunate situation compelled the 3rd Respondent to abandon the car in his house at Makurdi, Benue State, Mr Akatu deposed in the affidavit. He said Mr Abele later left the senators service.

Sometime in February 2024, (months after he stopped working for the 3rd Respondent) he contacted him as his uncle, asking for support to enable him invest in business.

Based on this, the 3rd respondent gave him the said Range Rover together with the car papers with the instruction that he should repair and sell same.

He used his resources to repair the car and subsequently sold same at the rate of N2.8 million plus another car, which the buyer traded for the Range Rover.

Unfortunately, he used the proceeds of the sale to invest in farm business without the consent and approval of the 3rd Respondent.

Peeved by the above development, the 3rd Respondent lodged a criminal complaint against him at the Galadima Post of the Nigeria Police at Gwarinpa, Abuja whereupon he was arrested on Tuesday, 18 June, 2024 and has since been in detention.

All efforts to get him on bail have proved abortive, Mr Akatu deposed in the affidavit.

The court has not fixed a date for the hearing of the suit.

Mr Zam is the chairman of the Senates Business and Rules Committee. He was elected to the Senate in the 2023 general elections, defeating the then-sitting governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom.

Court papers

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The Kano State House of Assembly has not reopened for plenary sittings, three weeks after members were due to resume from a two-week recess.

Sources said the delay was because of a warning by the police of a plot by miscreants to bomb the assembly complex.

The warning came amid a crisis in the state over the scrapping of four emirates and deposition of all the emirs in the state.

The crisis began after the lawmakers repealed the State Emirate Council Law 2019 under which former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje created the four emirates.

The lawmakers proceeded on the two-week recess on 23 May, the same day they scrapped Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye emirates.

Governor Abba Yusuf, also on the same day, assented to the bill and reinstated Lamido Sanusi as the sole emir of Kano the following day.

However, one of the dethroned emirs, Aminu Ado-Bayero, has challenged his removal in court and relocated to the mini palace of Kano at the Nasarawa GRA.

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PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the lawmakers have not resumed from the recess since 23 May because of the security report.

The former police commissioner in the state, Hussaini Gumel, had on 26 May said security agents had intelligence report that some miscreants were planning to bomb the assembly complex.

Some are trying to unleash terror in the state by embarking on targeted attacks at locations, particularly the House of Assembly; as well as some prominent locations within the state capital. This Intelligent report had been verified by so many sources.

We have mentioned that anybody who want to test the ground, the security agencies in the state have the capacity to dealt ruthlessly with these enemies of the state, the miscreants.

The issue of chieftaincy affairs, its an issue that has been perfected by the executive arm of the government, anybody who disagree with the decision should approach the court. We are standing by the law and we are going to enforce the existing law, the police chief said while assuring of adequate security at the State Assembly.

Reporters covering the assembly have been asked to stay away until the return of the lawmakers.

We were told that the lawmaker representing Dala Local Government Area, Lawan Hussaini, who sponsored the bill for the scrapping of the emirates, has gone into hiding amidst backlash.

Other lawmakers under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party ((NNPP) from the scrapped emirates are avoiding their constituencies in fear of attack, a source at the Assembly, said asking not to be named for fear of victimisation.

However, the Assemblys spokesperson, Kamaludden Shawai, on Monday, said the absence of the lawmakers has nothing to do with the bomb scare.

He said the security issues raised by the police had been addressed and the lawmakers will soon resume for plenary.

Mr Shawai said the assembly has not resumed because most of the lawmakers travelled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

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Terrorists have killed another university lecturer in the banditry-prone Nigerian North-west region.

Tiri David of the Federal University, Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina State was killed on Tuesday by bandits who also kidnapped two of his children during the attack

The deceased was the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension, and Rural Development at the university.

Residents said Mr David was killed at about 1:30 a.m. at his residence in Yarima Quarters, a housing estate in Dutsinma Local Government Area.

They said the terrorists invaded the community, shooting into the air with sophisticated weapons as they moved straight to Mr Davids residence where they killed him and abducted two of his children.

The police spokesperson in Katsina, Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the incident to reporters but said he could not immediately provide details.

The incident in Katsina was the second time in less than 10 days that terrorists killed a university lecturer in Nigerias north-west.

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PREMIUM TIMES reported how the terrorists, locally known as bandits, killed Yusuf Saidu, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and deputy vice-chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.

Mr Saidu and his driver were waylaid on a terror-ravaged highway linking Zamfara and Kaduna states, according to sources in the university.

Attacks by terrorists are frequent in some states in the North-west including Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Terrorists have turned several parts of the states into a war zone and made lives difficult for residents, mostly agrarian farmers, with impudent attacks on roads, farms and homes.

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Workers of a Kano-based tea company, Z&Y Black Tea, on Monday staged a protest at Government House, Kano, over alleged sabotage of the companys business by a multinational rival, Promasidor Holdings.

The protesters begged Governor Abba Yusuf to intervene and stop the alleged intimidation of the workers by the bigger company.

The General Manager of B&Y Black Tea, Abubakar Dahir, said the company organised the protest to seek Governor Yusufs intervention in the security agents arrest of its workers.

Mr Dahir said his companys production was being disrupted by the constant harassment of its workers by security agents from Abuja.

The makers of Top Tea are alleging that the design of our product is similar to their own, but instead of them going through normal channels, they are intimidating us with security agents.

We have all our documentation, including the trade mark of the design of our product by all the relevant agencies, Mr Dahir said.

Mr Dahir alleged that the multinational tea company was trying to undermine his companys business by frequently arresting its staff members.

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With over 500 workers, we legally registered our trade mark. Despite this, our rival has continued to intimidate us, using security agents after we won our cases in court.

The police have arrested our staff, levelled baseless accusations against them and took them to Abuja. These have been happening, frustrating our efforts and diverting our attention from continuing production.

The foreign company is using the security agents to intimidate us. We are here to beg the governor to intervene and allow the company to survive and sustain its production and workforce.

Let the government investigate the intimidation by the foreign company against our staffers using security agents, Mr Dahir, who led the protest, said.

The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Shehu Wada, received the protesters and assured them that the government would intervene in the matter.

We have received your complaints, the government will not allow unwholesome practices in the state. I am happy that you have registered your trademark with certification from the Corporate Affairs Commission.

I will assure you that the government will do everything possible to support the small, medium and even the large industries operating in Kano, Mr Wada said.

Promasidor Nigeria Limited could not be reached immediately to respond to the allegation. The contact numbers on the companys website did not connect Tuesday afternoon, and its customer care contact rang several times without a response.

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The police in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria, have declared eight crime suspects wanted over alleged murder and terrorism in the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Monday night.

Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, identified one of the suspects as 47-year-old Uche Asogwa, a retired police officer.

He said Mr Asogwa hails from Ovoko, a community in the Igbo-Eze South Council Area of Enugu State, but resides in Igga, another community in the Uzo-Uwani Council Area of the state.

The spokesperson named the other suspects as Gabriel Emebe, 41; Ogechukwu Ogbonna, 26; Chimezie Ugwu, 21; Chizoba Ogbuabor, 36; and Evarestus Eze, 43.

Two others  Jude Nebeolisa, 27, and Chitor Okechukwu, 28  were also among the suspects declared wanted by the police.

All the suspects are males and residents of Igga Community in the state, the police said.

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The police attached the photographs of the suspects in the statement.

The above-named persons in the attached photographs and respective descriptions, have been declared wanted by the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force in the case of conspiracy to wit: murder, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, arson, and unlawful possession of firearms, Mr Ndukwe said in the statement.

The spokesperson asked Nigerians to arrest and hand over to the police any of the wanted suspects seen around their neighbourhood.

He dropped some mobile phone numbers and urged Nigerians to contact the police for any information that would assist them in tracking down the wanted suspects.

A handsome monetary reward will be given for credible information received on each of them, he said.

Killing of security operatives

Mr Ndukwe did not give details of the alleged crimes committed by the suspects.

But PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the declaration was connected to the recent killing of two police operatives and three vigilante members in Igga Community in early May.

This newspaper learnt that the traditional ruler of the Igga Community, Herbert Ukuta, and seven other community leaders were subsequently arrested and detained by the Enugu State Police Command over the attack.

Mr Ukuta and others were, in June, arraigned before Enugu North Magistrate Court 1 on a 10-count charge, including conspiracy, membership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and murder of the five security personnel.

The court later remanded them at the Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre.

IPOB, a group seeking the independent state of Biafra to be carved out of the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria, has been linked to some deadly attacks in the regions.

However, the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

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Governors of the five states in the South-east and other leaders in the region have begun a closed-door meeting in Enugu State.

The governors and leaders arrived at the Enugu State Government House on Tuesday for the meeting.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that governors of Imo (Hope Uzodinma), Ebonyi (Francis Nwifuru), Abia and Anambra (Charles Soludo) were all received by their Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, the host governor.

Apart from the governors, the Chairperson of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council and the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, is also attending the meeting.

A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, briefly met with the governors before leaving at exactly 2:04 p.m.

The meeting by the South-east governors and leaders commenced shortly after Mr Obasanjos departure from the venue.

The reason for Mr Obasanjos brief meeting with the governors was not clear as of the time of filing this report.

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Like Mr Obasanjos visit, no reason was given for the ongoing meeting by the South-east governors and leaders.

However, there are indications that the meeting may have been convened to discuss the growing insecurity in the South-east and the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Insecurity in South-east

The insecurity in the South-east worsened last week, with multiple attacks and killings by gunmen in the region.

Last Friday, gunmen killed two police operatives in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

The development occurred barely 48 hours after gunmen killed six people in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo, 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 where five people were confirmed dead.

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The South-east Governors Forum has resolved to meet President Bola Tinubu to seek the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the forums closed-door meeting at the Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday.

Mr Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court, Abuja, has been in detention since he was rearrested in June 2021 and repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya under controversial circumstances.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the governors of Imo (Hope Uzodinma), Ebonyi (Francis Nwifuru), Abia (Alex Otti) and Anambra (Charles Soludo) attended the meeting which was hosted by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State.

The Chairperson of the forum and Governor of Imo State, Mr Uzodinma, who read the communique to reporters, said the forum also resolved to tackle insecurity in the South-east.

The forum resolved to visit Mr President (Tinubu) to discuss pressing issues concerning the South-east region.

The forum also resolved to interface with the federal government to secure the release of Mr Nnamdi Kanu, he said.

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The governors did not indicate when they will meet with Mr Tinubu over the release of the IPOB leader.

Obasanjos solidarity visit

Mr Uzodinma said the forum received a delegation comprising former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku and the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, during their Tuesday meeting.

He said the delegation came on a solidarity visit to the forum.

Insecurity in South-east

The chairperson said the forum deliberated on the reviewed report of the South-east Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri, Imo State, on 28 September 2023.

The governor said they have agreed to implement the part of the report pertaining to security and economic integration in the South-east

He added that they also affirmed their desire to put actionable plans on the key issues agreed in the report.

Ogbonnaya Onus burial committee

Mr Uzodinma also said the forum commiserated with the governments and people of the South-east over the loss of a former Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu.

He said the burial committee of the former minister, which has been constituted by the forum, will be headed by a former Senate President, Pius Anyim, while a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, will serve as secretary.

First time

This is the first time the South-east Governors Forum would publicly announce a plan to seek the release of Mr Kanu since he was rearrested and repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya.

Meanwhile, several South-east leaders, including Governors Soludo and Mbah, have repeatedly asked for the release of the IPOB leader. But their requests were ignored by the Nigerian government.

Mr Kanu was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on 13 October 2022, held that the IPOB leader was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and that the action was a flagrant violation of the countrys extradition treaty and also a breach of his fundamental human rights.

The court, therefore, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the facility of the SSS.

However, about one week later, the government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order at the Supreme Court staying its execution.

Delivering judgement on the appeal on 15 December 2023, the Supreme Court reversed the acquittal granted to Mr Kanu by the lower court and consequently ordered continuation of his trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

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Tenured dealerships to provide comprehensive access and services for farmers to popular AGCO brands throughout the Buckeye State.

DULUTH, Ga., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, today announced the transformation of its Ohio dealership network. Several of AGCO's well-established dealerships will grow to provide expanded services within the Buckeye State. Lowe & Young, Mayer Farm Equipment and North Star Hardware & Implement  all current AGCO dealers in Ohio  will expand their product offerings and services in their existing territories. AgRevolution  a rapidly-growing AGCO-owned dealership with locations in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky  will be expanding its operations into the state with brick-and-mortar locations and mobile services to provide AGCO's full product lineup to farmers in northern Ohio.

AGCO announced the transformation of its dealership network in Ohio, which will see experienced dealers expand access to the manufacturer's popular brands throughout the Buckeye State. Current Ohio dealers Lowe & Young, Mayer Farm Equipment and North Star Hardware & Implement will expand their services in current territories. AGCO-owned AgRevolution will enter the state with brick-and-mortar locations and mobile services to provide AGCOs full product lineup to farmers in northern Ohio. (PRNewsfoto/AGCO Corporation)

AGCO and its dealer network will implement a comprehensive care plan over the coming months to inform customers of transition plans, introduce them to new dealer teams and answer questions. "There's no such thing as 'down-time' in farming, and our dealers will ensure seamless sales and support services to all AGCO farmers," said Ruchir Patel, AGCO Vice President, Global Distribution Management.

The dealerships intend to offer AGCO's full brand portfolio, including Fendt, Massey Ferguson and PTx products and services. Lowe & Young, Mayer Farm Equipment, and North Star Hardware and Implement will continue operating in their current geographic areas with expanded product lines and services. AgRevolution is expected to open multiple new locations across northern Ohio while also offering commercial application retail services throughout the state.

"Ohio farmers are essential to AGCO's farmer-first purpose, and this transformation promises expanded access to our brands in the state," said Patel. "These dealers offer some of the best customer experiences in the industry, and we're excited to roll out their capabilities to a wider Buckeye audience."

For more information, contact AgRevolution, Lowe & Young, Mayer Farm Equipment and North Star Hardware & Implement.

Fendt, Massey Ferguson and PTx are registered trademarks of AGCO. AgRevolution is a trademark of AgRevolution LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGCO.

About AGCO

AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. AGCO delivers value to farmers and OEM customers through its differentiated brand portfolio including core brands like Fendt, GSI, Massey Ferguson, PTx and Valtra. AGCO's full line of equipment, smart farming solutions and services helps farmers sustainably feed our world. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $14.4 billion in 2023. For more information, visit www.agcocorp.com. For company news, information, and events, please follow us on X: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on X, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR.

SOURCE AGCO Corporation
Industry Leaders with Common Mission to Protect Customers Collaborate to Deliver Added Peace of Mind Through DIY Smart Home Security Solutions

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arlo Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ARLO), a leading smart home security brand, announced today a strategic partnership agreement with Allstate . With a shared mission to deliver peace of mind to customers, Arlo and Allstate will collaborate to offer protection solutions that bring more value to Arlo customers and Allstate policyholders.

Kicking off the new partnership, Arlo will soon offer their customers Allstate Protection Plans for their Arlo.com purchases, enabling customers to extend protection to three years from date of purchase.

"Arlo and Allstate have a shared mission to protect what people care about the most, as well as a well-established history of driving innovation in the market that adds meaningful value for our customers," said Matthew McRae, CEO of Arlo Technologies. "We are excited to bring our teams together to make it even easier for customers to feel safe and secure through a seamless experience powered by our respective technology and service expertise."

Allstate Protection Plans offers product protection with seamless, award-winning service and support and are available for all of Arlo's award-winning DIY security products, including cameras, video doorbells, floodlights, and home security systems.

"People have an emotional attachment to their homes. It's their sanctuary and most valuable asset," said Suren Gupta, President, Protection Products and Enterprise Services, at Allstate. "With our shared commitment to protection, we look forward to working with Arlo to ensure our customers' peace of mind."

Additional details of Arlo's partnership with Allstate will be announced later this year. For more information on the full range of Arlo smart home security products and services, visit www.Arlo.com. For additional details on Allstate Protection Plans, visit, http://arlo.com/en-us/allstate-product-protection-plan.html.

About Arlo Technologies, Inc.

Arlo is an award-winning, industry leader that is transforming the ways in which people can protect everything that matters to them with advanced home, business, and personal security solutions. Arlo's deep expertise in AI- and CV-powered analytics, cloud services, user experience and product design, and innovative wireless and RF connectivity enables the delivery of a seamless, smart security experience for Arlo users that is easy to set up and interact with every day. Arlo's cloud-based platform provides users with visibility, insight, and a powerful means to help protect and connect in real-time with the people and things that matter most, from any location with a Wi-Fi or a cellular connection. Arlo has recently launched several categories of award-winning connected devices, software, and services. These include wire-free, smart Wi-Fi and LTE-enabled security cameras, video doorbells, floodlights, security system, and Arlo's subscription services: Arlo Secure and Arlo Safe.

With a mission to bring users peace of mind, Arlo is as passionate about protecting user privacy as it is about safeguarding homes and families. Arlo is committed to implementing industry standards for data protection designed to keep users' personal information private and in their control. Arlo provides enhanced controls for user data, supports privacy legislation, keeps user data safely secure, and puts security at the forefront of company culture.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "will," "may," "should," "estimate," "project," "outlook," "forecast" or other similar words are used to identify such forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements represent Arlo Technologies, Inc.'s (the "Company" or "Arlo") expectations or beliefs concerning future events based on information available at the time such statements were made and include statements regarding lowering the barrier of entry and broadening the market for DIT security and Arlo cameras, Arlo video doorbells, Arlo Secure, Arlo Secure Plus, and future Arlo products. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the following: future demand for the Company's products may be lower than anticipated; consumers may choose not to utilize payment plans or to adopt the Company's new product offerings, or may adopt competing products; and product performance may be adversely affected by real-world operating conditions. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect Arlo and its business are detailed in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risk factors described in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these circumstances, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Arlo undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About Allstate Protection Plans

For over a decade, Allstate Protection Plans has transformed the extended warranty industry with service innovation and an obsessive focus on customer experience. Today, Allstate Protection Plans is trusted by over 140 million customers in addition to major retailers and mobile operators in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Allstate Protection Plans is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation.

SOURCE Arlo Technologies, Inc.
100% Electric Luxury Convertible Created in Collaboration with Marchesi Antinori in Celebration of Tignanello Wine's 50th Anniversary

NAPA, Calif., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As a centerpiece of Festival Napa Valley's Arts for All Gala, taking place July 14, 2024 at Nickel & Nickel Winery, the Festival is auctioning off a bespoke all-electric Maserati GranCabrio Folgore "Tignanello". The luxury automobile was created for Marchesi Antinori exclusively for Festival Napa Valley's Arts for All Gala and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Tignanello wine, one of the most influential red wines acclaimed for being ahead of its time.

The auction package includes an invitation as Maserati's guest to the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille in France in September 2024 where the car will be unveiled, a behind-the-scenes immersive visit to Maserati's headquarters in Modena, Italy, and a custom Antinori experience in Tuscany with all-inclusive experiences at Tenuta Tignanello, Antinori nel Chianti Classico, Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Bolgheri), and Palazzo Antinori in Florence.

Festival Napa Valley Introduces a one-of-a-kind Maserati masterpiece, benefiting its Arts for All mission. Post this

"This one-of-a-kind model, inspired by Tignanello for its 50th anniversary, is a car with great identity and recognizability, just like our wine. It's an initiative that makes our family particularly proud: this special GranCabrio Folgore will be auctioned at Festival Napa Valley's 2024 Arts for All Gala, with the proceeds donated to charity," said Piero Antinori.

This custom edition of the first 100% electric luxury convertible, the fastest on the market, epitomizes the characteristics and values of Marchesi Antinori and Tignanello. In homage to the Florentine family of winemakers, the colors, shades, innovative materials and refined artisan details present an ode in motion to the prestigious Tignanello vineyard.

Bidders will have the chance to win the bespoke Maserati and other once-in-a-lifetime luxury travel, wine, and performing arts experiences in a fast-paced live auction. Bids by proxy are accepted by contacting [email protected] or calling 707-927-3874.

International superstar Lionel Richie will headline the Gala, and chef Elliot Bell, owner of Charlie's in St. Helena, will prepare an elegant dinner paired with single-vineyard wines provided by Nickel & Nickel Winery. The event takes place at their historic farmstead property in the heart of Oakville.

Festival Napa Valley's Arts for All Gala has raised over $24 million since its inception to support free and affordable access to performances, inspiring education programs, and scholarships for students and emerging musicians. For more information, visit https://festivalnapavalley.org/calendar/arts-for-all-gala/ or call 707-927-3874.

Festival Napa Valley's summer season takes place July 6-21, 2024 at venues throughout Napa Valley. Visit www.festivalnapavalley.org .

About Festival Napa Valley

Festival Napa Valley engages audiences with innovative programs that uplift and inspire. Napa Valley's flagship festival presents international stars and emerging talent during the summer season in Napa and year-round on iconic stages in California and beyond. With inspiring education programs for youth and seniors, tuition-free academies for vocalists and instrumentalists, and scholarships for talented students, Festival Napa Valley plays a vital part in creating a thriving, healthy, and engaged community.

www.festivalnapavalley.org

Marchesi Antinori

The Antinori family has been committed to winemaking for over six centuries: since May 1385, when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member of the Florentine Guild of Winemakers. Throughout its long history, across 26 generations, the family has always managed its business directly with innovative and sometimes courageous choices but has always maintained respect for traditions and its local area. These days, the company is led by Albiera Antinori, supported by her two sisters Allegra and Alessia, who are personally involved in the business. Their father, Marchese Piero Antinori, is currently the company's Honorary President. The family's historical heritage lies in their estates in Tuscany and Umbria, however over the years they have invested in many other areas, both in Italy and abroad, well known for producing high quality wine, opening up new opportunities to appreciate and develop unique new terroirs with great winemaking potential.

www.antinori.it

SOURCE Festival Napa Valley
The reimagined BLANCOCULINA II suite has seamlessly blended the iconic semi-pro design with contemporary enhancements. Post this

Iconic Design Reimagined

BLANCO's international product design team, spearheaded by Marcel Moritz, revisited the iconic design of BLANCOCULINA and modernized the look, feel and functionality to appeal to the evolved home chef. The faucet's form is sleeker, slimmer and taller than before, with triple coil hose protection for professional-grade handling and anti-sagging properties. The classic semi-professional handspray has a magnetic docking system that securely locks into place when not in use and a sleek dual-spray button to easily switch between powerful spray and laminar flow. Constructed in solid brass, the BLANCOCULINA II features a longer, more ergonomic handle and unique black inlay design detail that visually connects the full suite.

"With the reimagined BLANCOCULINA II collection, we have seamlessly blended our iconic semi-professional design with contemporary enhancements. Our goal was to honor the pioneering spirit of the original while introducing innovative features that cater to the modern home chef," stated Edyta Drutis, Vice President of Brand Marketing for BLANCO North America. "The new BLANCOCULINA II faucets not only offer superior functionality but also elevate the aesthetic appeal of any kitchen with their sleek lines and stunning finishes."

Dual Sensor Technology

To further modernize the BLANCOCULINA II semi-pro faucet, the new collection includes motion-sensor technology in two faucet models to assist with meal prep and cleaning workflows. Sensor capabilities include two intuitive access points: the pot filling sensor on the semi-pro's arm and the handwashing sensor on the body to prevent spreading mess. The pot filling sensor is motion activated with infrared light, while the handwashing sensor automatically shuts off after 90 seconds. Set the ideal water temperature and flow with the handle via the digital cartridge and use the cleaning lock to pause the sensors when needed.

The BLANCOCULINA II sensor versions are available in the full and mini semi-pro sizes in Chrome and PVD Steel finishes.

Expanded Suite

The BLANCOCULINA II collection has expanded to the largest faucet suite available at BLANCO to outfit the full kitchen, including the semi-pro, mini semi-pro for compact kitchens and bars, the beverage faucet that connects to BLANCO's new water filters and pot filler. Each handle in the portfolio showcases the circular black inlay design detail. Available in six beautiful finishes, homeowners can perfectly match their kitchen faucet to their pot filler, beverage faucet and soap dispenser. The BLANCOCULINA II finishes include Matte Black and Chrome, as well as four PVD finishes; Satin Gold, Satin Dark Steel, Steel and Satin Platinum. Each faucet boasts a 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM) flow rate for water-saving benefits, and the beverage faucet ranges from .5 to 1.5 GPM depending on the filter. Products are available at kitchen and bath showrooms and online retailers.

To complete the sink station, pair the BLANCOCULINA II semi-pro faucet with a BLANCO sink, accessories and under-cabinet organization for a highly functional, showstopping BLANCO UNIT.

About BLANCO

BLANCO offers system solutions for the water place in residential kitchens. The BLANCO UNIT is synonymous with functional systems in complementary designs, consisting of sinks, high-end faucets, meal prep accessories, and below the sink water filtration, waste and base cabinet organization systems. The wide range of functions and the variety of designs, colors and materials ensure flexibility for retailers and kitchen planners and give consumers a wide choice to suit every taste.

Founded in 1925, the company is now an internationally established premium brand for the kitchen water place. With subsidiaries in Europe, North America and APAC, together with its trading partners, the BLANCO brand has a presence in around 100 countries and offers a portfolio that is perfectly tailored to the respective needs of consumers. In addition to the company headquarters in Oberderdingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany), there are various production and logistics locations in southwest Germany and in the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, USA, Canada, Australia and China.

Established by Heinrich Blanc, today BLANCO is part of BLANC & FISCHER Family Holding and has won multiple employer awards. BLANCO America and BLANCO Canada have proudly served the North American market for over 30 years. BLANCO.com

Connect with us on social:

BLANCO America Instagram | BLANCO America Facebook | BLANCO America LinkedIn

BLANCO Canada Instagram | BLANCO Canada Facebook | BLANCO Canada LinkedIn

SOURCE BLANCO
GREENVILLE, S.C., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Canal Insurance Company, a leading provider of commercial trucking insurance, is pleased to announce the formation of its new holding company, Canal Financial Group (CFG). This strategic initiative represents a significant milestone in Canal Insurance Company's history, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, fostering innovation, and maximizing shareholder value.

The establishment of Canal Financial Group will serve to streamline Canal Insurance Company's corporate structure while enabling management to explore opportunities for growth, innovation, and continued value creation for shareholders.

"As Canal Financial Group beings its journey, Canal Insurance Company remains steadfast in our commitments to customers and business partners, driven by a dedication to both operational excellence and innovation," said Paul Brocklebank, Chairman of the Board and CEO. "This strategic move will enable us to pursue new opportunities with agility and focus while leveraging our core strengths in the commercial transportation space."

About Canal Insurance Company

Rated A- by A.M. Best, Canal Insurance Company has specialized in providing insurance to commercial trucking and specialty transportation insureds through selected professional agents for more than 80 years. Visit canalinsurance.com for other news and information.

SOURCE Canal Insurance Company
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The following article was published today by China Daily:

"Dear Grandpa Xi Jinping, Welcome to Astana, Kazakhstan," Daria, a 10-year-old Kazakh girl, told the Chinese president in Mandarin shortly after his arrival on Tuesday. "We are honored to meet you, and we like you!"

The interaction at the Astana airport came after a dozen Kazakh children sang the popular Chinese song Ode to the Motherland in front of President Xi and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who welcomed him at the airport.

Xi, smiling, praised the children for their Chinese and asked where they learned it.

Speaking in fluent Mandarin, Daria told Xi that she wants to study at prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing in the future.

"We welcome you to study in Chinese colleges in the future," Xi said.

This was part of the heartfelt gestures and diplomatic goodwill extended by President Tokayev to welcome Xi on his fifth visit to the Central Asian country and on his attendance at the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Tokayev expressed warm welcome to Xi in Mandarin at the stairway of his plane, which was escorted by three Kazakh Air Force fighter jets upon its entry into the nation's airspace.

At the airport, Tokayev hosted a welcoming ceremony that involved an honor guard of more than 100, and 100 Kazakh children waving flags of the two nations and enthusiastically greeting the Chinese president.

After the ceremony, Tokayev presented Xi with a copy of the newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, which carried President Xi's signed article published ahead of his visit.

The warm reception epitomized the close personal bond between Xi and Tokayev and the vitality of ties between the two neighboring countries.

"Over the past 32 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Kazakhstan have withstood the tests of time and international changes, forging a unique and enduring permanent comprehensive strategic partnership," Xi said in written remarks delivered at the airport.

"The enduring friendship between our two nations has grown stronger over generations, setting a model for neighboring countries by exemplifying mutual support, win-win cooperation and shared achievements."

Two-way trade between China and Kazakhstan registered a record high of $41 billion in 2023, with China now being Kazakhstan's largest trading partner and its top export destination.

The unique and high-level nature of the bilateral relationship was also exemplified in September 2022 when Xi chose Astana as the destination of his first trip overseas since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trip saw Xi being conferred the Order of the Golden Eagle, the highest honor of Kazakhstan, by Tokayev.

"A genuine great leader," Tokayev said of the Chinese president while bestowing the order, underscoring the historic role and immense contribution from Xi in consolidating friendship between the two nations and strengthening bilateral ties.

"I treasure this medal deeply, a symbol of the enduring friendship between our peoples. With our combined efforts, I am confident that China-Kazakhstan relations will soar like a golden eagle, reaching new heights and bringing even greater benefits to our nations," the Chinese president said at the conferring ceremony.

Another quintessential moment of the camaraderie between the two leaders took place in May 2023, when Tokayev was in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, for a state visit and the China-Central Asia Summit.

The visit coincided with the Kazakh leader's 70th birthday, and after the formal state activities, the two leaders shared a dinner that featured local performances and steaming bowls of Shaanxi longevity noodles, complete with warm birthday wishes.

"On this special occasion, your visit speaks volumes about the strength of our bilateral ties and reaffirms your unique bond with China," Xi told Tokayev.

Zhao Huirong, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said the mutual trust and strong emphasis of both leaders on bilateral relations has kept taking ties to historic high levels.

The interaction between Xi and the Kazakh children mirrored the increasingly robust public support for the strengthening of ties between the two nations, she added.

Mutual visa-exemption arrangements have spurred people-to-people exchanges, and Sino-Kazakh pragmatic cooperation has delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples, she said.

President Tokayev, who is highly knowledgeable about China and speaks fluent Mandarin, has demonstrated a keen interest in and high expectations for China-Kazakhstan cooperation, and he is optimistic about the future prospects of this partnership, Zhao said.

"We have every reason to believe that, led by head-of-state diplomacy, the mutual trust and cooperation between China and Kazakhstan will surge to higher levels and broader scopes, setting an example for ties between China and countries in the region," she said.

By XU WEI and REN QI

SOURCE China Daily
PARIS, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- COOFANDY, the modern men's essentials designer brand, recently participated in the Bonjour Brand Forum 2024 in Paris, an event that took place at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on June 21st. COOFANDY's involvement in this forum highlights its dedication to enhancing the standing of brands on the global stage, demonstrating a firm commitment to expanding its international influence and furthering the globalization of its brand.

COOFANDY Showcases Global Vision at the 10th Bonjour Brand Forum 2024

The Bonjour Brand Forum is a prestigious platform for international brands to engage in dialogues, cooperation, and cultural diversification. This year's forum, co-organized by Oriental Pairs and with support from various organizations such as the Fondation Prospective & Innovation (FPI), the Comite Colbert, and the Institut Francais du Design (IFD) has gathered more than 500 attendees including political and business leaders, CEOs and CMOs of global head brands, creatives, designers, and opinion leaders.

The forum commenced with an opening speech by Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the former Prime Minister of France and President of FPI. He said, "Design acts as a brand's promise, embodying the brand's unity and serving as a conduit for cross-border exchanges and enhancing the brand's value. It facilitates international communication, underscoring the pivotal role of design in branding. Design is not just aesthetics; it is culture, and branding is fundamentally about communication."

This emphasis on the importance of design for brands aligns with the philosophy of COOFANDY, which is evident in its popular men's linen shirts and men's linen pants. COOFANDY's product design has always prioritized globally applicable elements such as comfort. Also, the attention to detail has been a key factor in the brand's popularity among consumers.

During the forum, Bojun CHEN, Brand Marketing Director at COOFANDY joined several business leaders of global brands, such as the renowned French luxury jewelry house Boucheron and the distinguished French luxury silverware and home accessories brand Christofle, among others, to delve into discussions on culture-driven innovation, brand globalization, and various other subjects.

"We aim to capture the spirit of France's fashion capital. As a men's clothing brand committed to quality, COOFANDY is eager to collaborate with Paris's local designers and brands. Our goal is to absorb and incorporate the essence of Parisian creative fashion, thereby enhancing our brand. Furthermore, we hope these efforts will help us gain wider recognition and understanding from people everywhere," said CHEN.

COOFANDY's participation in the Bonjour Brand Forum 2024 marked another pivotal move towards achieving its global aspirations. The brand's commitment to providing people worldwide with the best range of fashion was evident in its wide range of products. As COOFANDY continues to grow and evolve, it aims to foster greater global connections and collaborations, further solidifying its position in the international market.

About COOFANDY

Established in 2015, COOFANDY is a brand that offers a versatile range of men's clothing essentials suitable for daily wear. The collection features business dress shirts, suits, casual T-shirts, party tuxedos, and beachwear. COOFANDY aims to simplify the shopping experience for its customers by providing an efficient and hassle-free platform to find the perfect clothing item. The brand's primary objective is to boost your confidence by providing high-quality clothing at an affordable price. COOFANDY is dedicated to offering the best fashion range possible to its customers.

For more information, please visit the COOFANDY website and Amazon storefront, or connect with COOFANDY on Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE Coofandy
Ten children from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago selected as NASCAR driver Christopher Bell's honorary junior crew members

selected as NASCAR driver honorary junior crew members Junior crew members' art will be featured on Bell's No. 20 car for the Chicago Street Race on July 7

This year, CRAFTSMAN will donate $100,000 to the Ace Hardware Foundation in support of CMN Hospitals

to the Ace Hardware Foundation in support of CMN Hospitals Ace Hardware will offer 20% off on over 90 CRAFTSMAN products with 10% of the purchase price to be donated to local CMN Hospitals

CHICAGO, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanley Black & Decker's (NYSE: SWK) iconic CRAFTSMAN brand is once again teaming up with the Ace Hardware Foundation and NASCAR driver Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing to support the 18th Annual Racing for a Miracle program, dedicated to supporting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals).

CRAFTSMAN is once again teaming up with the Ace Hardware Foundation and NASCAR driver Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing to support the 18th Annual Racing for a Miracle program, dedicated to supporting Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals).

"Racing for a Miracle has always been about making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families," said Tony Merritt, Vice President of Sponsorships for Stanley Black & Decker. "We are proud to continue our tradition of supporting Racing for a Miracle and the incredible children joining us as honorary junior crew members. They each exemplify the spirit of resilience and determination we aim to support through our partnership with CMN Hospitals."

Over the past 18 years, Stanley Black & Decker and its brands have contributed more than $1.8M to the Racing for a Miracle program, in partnership with the Ace Hardware Foundation, to fund essential treatments and healthcare services at CMN Hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.

This year, CRAFTSMAN will donate $100,000 to the Ace Hardware Foundation in support of CMN Hospitals during a celebratory tailgate event at Ace Hardware's Corporate Headquarters outside of Chicago on July 2. The tailgate event will also feature appearances by CRAFTSMAN brand ambassador, HGTV host and auto-enthusiast Cristy Lee, and Ace Hardware's resident home expert and TV personality, Lou Manfredini.

Honorary Junior Crew Members to Unveil Bell's Car

This year's Racing for a Miracle program shines a spotlight on ten children from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, who will serve as honorary junior crew members for this year's race alongside Christopher Bell's No. 20 CRAFTSMAN Toyota Camry XSE. During the July 2 tailgate event at Ace Hardware's headquarters, junior crew members will help Bell unveil his car's paint scheme for the upcoming Chicago Street Race (July 7), adorned with unique artwork created by the young crew.

"The CRAFTSMAN Racing for a Miracle paint scheme is one I look forward to every year, it's always such a fun, creative design and I can't wait to see what the kids came up with," said Bell. "It's fun to watch the kids unveil the car and see their artwork come to life. We almost got them a win last year in Chicago, hopefully we can pull it off this year. CRAFTSMAN and Ace Hardware have raised a lot of money over the years for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and I'm proud to be a part of the program."

Ace Hardware Celebrates 100 Years with a Special CRAFTSMAN Promotion

In honor of Ace Hardware's 100th anniversary and the Racing for a Miracle program, Ace Hardware stores are offering customers 20% off over 90 CRAFTSMAN products, with 10% of the purchase price being donated to local CMN Hospitals. This offer is exclusive to ACE Hardware valid now through July 30, 2024 while supplies last.

Visit www.craftsman.com or follow CRAFTSMAN on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for updates on this year's Racing for a Miracle program.

Offer valid only at available participating Ace Hardware store locations on qualifying CRAFTSMAN products purchased 6/26/2024 through 7/30/2024, while supplies last. Your store's local Children's Miracle Network Hospital will receive 10% of the pre-tax price on select CRAFTSMAN V20* products purchased at participating retailers, on acehardware.com, or in the Ace app from 6/26 -7/30/24. See store associate or visit https://www.acehardware.com/racing-for-a-miracle for details.

About CRAFTSMAN

CRAFTSMAN is an American icon that homeowners and auto enthusiasts have trusted since 1927  and today's CRAFTSMAN continues that legacy. With a focus on reliable, high-performance tools, storage and equipment, CRAFTSMAN has revived its long-established pride in superior quality. Now it's easier than ever to get the tools trusted for generations at more places than ever. For more information visit www.CRAFTSMAN.com or follow CRAFTSMAN on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

About Stanley Black & Decker

Headquartered in the USA, Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is a worldwide leader in Tools and Outdoor, operating manufacturing facilities globally. The company's more than 50,000 diverse and high-performing employees produce innovative end-user inspired power tools, hand tools, storage, digital jobsite solutions, outdoor and lifestyle products, and engineered fasteners to support the world's builders, tradespeople and DIYers. The company's world class portfolio of trusted brands includes DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, STANLEY, BLACK+DECKER, and Cub Cadet. To learn more visit: www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.

About Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals was founded more than 40 years ago with the vision to Change Kids' Health, Change the Future. We've raised over $9 billion for 170 children's hospitals by empowering and engaging with local communities and businesses  and we're not done yet. All donations benefit local member hospitals to fund what's needed most, like critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids' and families' minds at ease during difficult hospital stays, and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services. Together, we can change kids' health. Together, we can change the future. To learn about Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and your local member children's hospital, visit cmnhospitals.org.

About Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world with over 5,800 locally owned and operated hardware stores in approximately 60 countries. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries operate an expansive network of distribution centers in the U.S. and have distribution capabilities in Ningbo, China; Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico. Ace also owns Ace Hardware Home Services, a collection of local service companies with experienced professionals dedicated to helping homeowners complete home maintenance tasks. Since 1924, Ace has become a part of local communities around the world and known as the place with the Helpful Hardware Folks. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com.

SOURCE CRAFTSMAN
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- When severe weather strikes, customers count on essential workers to help communities recover, and Duke Energy has been recognized for its efforts during Hurricane Idalia as an Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Emergency Response Award recipient. The Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events.

The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process. The awards were presented during EEI's annual meeting in June.

"America's electric companies work around-the-clock to restore power following severe storms and other extreme weather events," said Dan Brouillette, EEI president and CEO. "Duke Energy's commitment to restoring power in a safe, efficient manner to the communities it serves following Hurricane Idalia is admirable. Duke Energy and its storm response team are extremely deserving of this well-earned recovery award."

On Aug. 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia, a devastating Category 3 storm, made landfall in Florida as one of the most damaging storms to hit the Big Bend. It caused severe flooding, damage and widespread outages that impacted nearly 200,000 Duke Energy Florida customers.

Advanced forecasting, damage modeling and lessons learned from previous storms helped Duke Energy strategically place more than 4,000 lineworkers, tree professionals and damage assessors ahead of the storm to respond as quickly as possible, restoring power to more than 90% of impacted customers within 24 hours of the storm exiting the company's service territory.

"It is our job to have an effective plan in place to respond to restore power quickly after a major storm, and I am proud of the efforts of the thousands of men and women who engaged in this response," said Scott Batson, Duke Energy chief power grid officer. "It is an honor to be recognized for this work by our peers and to have the opportunity to serve our customers and communities following a major storm when they count on us most."

"When catastrophic storms strike, Duke Energy and others in our industry come together to do what we do best: restore power as quickly and safely as possible," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "Our storm response plan is built upon decades of experience and improvement, but most importantly, close coordination with first responders, emergency management teams, co-ops, municipal utilities and peer electric utilities. We are grateful for this collaboration during Idalia, which helped shorten response times and get communities back on their feet faster."

EEI

EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for nearly 250 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S. members, EEI has more than 70 international electric companies, with operations in more than 90 countries, as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Audrey Stasko

Media line: 800.559.3853

Twitter: @DE_AudreyS

SOURCE Duke Energy
EQ Bank chooses Adoreboard's AI-generated predictive insights to target an increase in customer trust.

EQ Bank adopts AI platform for text and emotion analysis whilst eliminating manual analysis of survey comments.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new way to quantify and improve consumer trust by leveraging the latest innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) is being pioneered by EQ Bank, the digital platform of Equitable Bank, Canada's Challenger Bank and seventh largest bank by assets.

EQ Bank receives thousands of feedback comments from customers, and extracting insights on how to improve digital customer experience was previously manual and time consuming.

Cathy Ly, VP marketing, EQ Bank says "with Adoreboard, were now able to hear what our customers are saying more intimately and faster than ever, while also translating these findings into discernible business results.

Adoreboard, the leading AI platform that aims to build trust for better customer retention, is being deployed to remove manual analysis and instantly predict what areas to focus on that will lead to the greatest improvement in customer trust.

The platform uses AI to automatically detect the intensity of emotion expressed in each text comment to quantify drivers of trust. Developed by data scientists at Adoreboard, a spin-out of Queen's University, the Trust Metric serves as a barometer for understanding trust by quantifying levels of emotional intensity in customer feedback. Between May 2023 and May 2024, EQ Bank saw their Trust Metric score increase by 8% in its bi-annual customer survey.

By measuring digital experiences ranging from onboarding experience to mobile satisfaction, EQ Bank has been able to predict the impact of resolving key issues on its Net Promoter Score (NPS) across different feedback touchpoints. NPS helps companies understand customer loyalty and satisfaction based on their likelihood to recommend its product or service to others. By taking action to resolve customer concerns, EQ Bank increased its NPS score by 5% since October 2023.

"EQ Bank is a customer-obsessed organization, so partnering with Adoreboard to bring our customers' insights more readily to the forefront was a natural choice," said Cathy Ly, VP marketing, EQ Bank.

"Verbatim comments left by customers are a critical way to build challenger banking products that drive trust and satisfaction. With Adoreboard, we're now able to hear what our customers are saying more intimately and faster than ever, while also translating these findings into discernible business results."

EQ Bank's focus on measuring and improving customer trust is matched by a rising consumer expectation of better digital experiences when it comes to finances.

It comes as a new survey finds that 60% of Canadians expect to use their smartphones to increase the number of purchases in the coming year.

With an increase in mobile payments, unsurprisingly, 65% of Canadians would consider switching banks if they received a poor digital experience.

And it's not just confined to mobile or digital banking  changing consumer attitudes on financial literacy show that 52% of Canadians would be happy to use AI to help improve how they manage personal finances, including spending.

Chris Johnston, Chief Executive of Adoreboard, said that EQ Bank is a real pioneer within Canadian banking and an innovator across the financial services sector by adopting AI as part of their Voice of Customer programme.

"We are supporting EQ Bank to unlock new insights by identifying their next best action. The result is an upgraded digital experience for customers and a tangible business impact in terms of customer increased trust and retention."

Adoreboard, a Gartner Cool Vendor in Customer Analytics using Artificial Intelligence, is used by some of the world's most well-known brands including Procter and Gamble, Allstate and Amazon.

NOTES TO EDITOR

Context

Trust Metric is based on a calculation of emotional intensity of drivers in 8 emotional indexes ranging from Joy to Anger.

Predicted Improvements based on average of results of 6 EQ Bank customer surveys carried out bi-annually.

Trust increase of 8% was based on May 2024 results analysed using the Adoreboard platform.

results analysed using the Adoreboard platform. EQ Banks satisfaction surveys collect data from a range of channels including Website Engagement, Mobile Engagement, Onboarding Satisfaction

Research on Artificial Intelligence

A total of 507 people were surveyed Q1/2024 across Canada based on a random sample using Onepulse, an online market research firm. The demographic surveyed included 45% males, 55% females.

based on a random sample using Onepulse, an online market research firm. The demographic surveyed included 45% males, 55% females. Questions asked in the survey were: 1. In 2024, do you expect to use your mobile phone or apps to make more purchases? (60.36% yes/ 39.64% no) 2. Would you consider switching Banks if you had a poor digital experience? (65.29% yes/ 34.71% no) 3. Do you think you will use AI in 2024 to help improve how you manage your personal finances or spending? (51.68% yes/ 48.32% no).

About EQ Bank

Equitable Bank has a clear mission to drive change in Canadian banking to enrich people's lives. As Canada's Challenger Bank and seventh largest bank by assets, it leverages technology to deliver exceptional personal and commercial banking experiences and services to over 639,000 customers and more than six million credit union members through its businesses. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of EQB Inc. (TSX: EQB and EQB.PR.C), a leading digital financial services company with $123 billion in combined assets under management and administration (as at April 30, 2024). Through its digital EQ Bank platform (eqbank.ca), its customers have named it one of the top banks in Canada on the Forbes World's Best Banks list since 2021.

To learn more, please visit eqb.investorroom.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

About Adoreboard

Adoreboard is a leading text analytics SaaS platform for customer and employee experience teams. Through automatic theme generation and in depth emotion analysis, Adoreboard's platform is able to quantify customer or employee trust and recommend next best actions for a company looking to drive satisfaction metrics like NPS or eNPS. Adoreboard is able to correlate the resolution of certain issues to tangible business value.

Originating as a spinout from Queen's University, Belfast, their experience management experts provide companies with AI-generated emotion analytics and the Trust Metric to assist them in measuring, monitoring and building trust amongst customers and employees.

Adoreboard's customers include Amazon, Allstate, and P&G. Furthermore, Allstate Insurance experienced a 16.6% improvement in customer satisfaction since using the Adoreboard platform.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2452235/Adoreboard.jpg

SOURCE Adoreboard
SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the Personal Finance Education bill ( Assembly Bill 2927 ), establishing a new law guaranteeing that all California high school students will receive personal finance education. The measure was passed by the Senate and the Assembly last week with unanimous bipartisan support and was supported by leading education and business organizations.

The law provides that all California public high school students will have access to a stand-alone personal finance course by 2027, and that completion of the course will become a graduation requirement by 2031. California is now the 26th state in the nation to guarantee a standalone personal finance course for high school students. Nationally, 64% of students will attend schools that now require a personal finance course or will in the near future.

Governor Gavin Newsom said of AB 2927, "We need to help Californians prepare for their financial futures as early as possible. Saving for the future, making investments, and spending wisely are lifelong skills that young adults need to learn before they start their careers, not after."

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), author of AB 2927 said, "Many young Californians are entering college and the workforce without a baseline understanding of personal finance. This is at a time when they're being hounded by credit card ads and student loan applications. Personal finance equips youth to make informed decisions about saving, investing, and managing debt, leading to better financial stability in adulthood. I am proud to have AB2927 signed by the Governor, ensuring all California students will be able to benefit from a personal finance course."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said, "Our young people need and deserve a clear understanding of personal finance so that they can make educated financial choices and build stable, successful futures for themselves and their future families. By adding personal finance to our high school graduation requirements, we acknowledge that managing household finances and building financial stability are essential life skills. Every child should have the opportunity to build these essential skills before navigating adult financial choices, not just those who happen to have the opportunity to learn these concepts at home or through an elective."

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma said, "I commend Governor Newsom, Legislative leaders including Assemblymember McCarty, and Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance, for their rock-solid dedication to personal finance education. This game-changing legislation is a huge leap forward for our state, equipping every high school student with the tools for financial independence and stability."

California State Controller Malia Cohen added, "Today is a fantastic day for California students! Thanks to an agreement between Governor Newsom, Assemblymember McCarty, and the NGPF Mission 2030, AB 2927 (McCarty) made it across the finish line and will make it possible for Californians to prepare for their financial futures. As the state's chief fiscal officer and early supporter of this bipartisan measure, I believe that AB 2927 will serve as one of the building blocks that will put children of future generations on a path to financial success."

Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance and lead proponent of the Californians for Financial Education initiative campaign, said, "We deeply appreciate the unwavering support from California's top educational and finance leaders, as well as the leadership of Governor Newsom, Senate President pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas, Assemblymember McCarty, and the bill's co-authors. Guaranteeing personal finance education to every California student will be a positive game changer for individual California students and our state as a whole."

A recently published report, Investing in Tomorrow: Lifetime Value of Financial Education in High School , found that the lifetime benefit of California students taking a high school personal finance course is $127,000. The report also illustrates that guaranteeing personal finance education in high school can positively impact a state's economic development and shape the financial landscape of future generations.

The report was conducted by Tyton Partners, a strategy consulting and investment banking firm focused on the education sector, in collaboration with Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), the leading financial education non-profit in the United States. NGPF provides curriculum and teacher professional development at no cost to more than 96,000 educators nationwide, including more than 6,000 in California.

California currently lags far behind the rest of the nation when it comes to personal finance education. Less than 1% of California high school students are guaranteed to take a course in personal finance, compared to 53% nationally. With the enactment of the Personal Finance Education bill, California now takes its rightful position as a leader on financial literacy education.

Paid for by Californians for Financial Education Committee Top Funders Timothy Ranzetta Bill Gurley Funding Details at www.fppc.ca.gov



Contact: Roger Salazar

[email protected] / (916) 284-1255

SOURCE Californians for Financial Education
WILMINGTON, Del., July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO), a full-service, boutique global CRO, is excited to announce its latest strategic move with the successful acquisition of DeltaMed Solutions, an emerging CRO with a robust foothold in the US. The acquisition, advised by Evercore as financial advisor, marks HiRO's third CRO acquisition since its establishment in 2020.

Following the acquisitions of ANZ-based PharmaSols in 2021 and US-based Courante Oncology last year, HiRO's global expansion continues with the integration of DeltaMed Solutions. With its established footprint in the US, Ireland, Mainland China, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines, HiRO solidifies its position as a comprehensive provider of end-to-end clinical research solutions on a global scale.

DeltaMed Solutions, headquartered in New Jersey, boasts a team of highly skilled industry professionals with 15-30 years of expertise in serving large to mid-sized pharmaceutical and biotechs. The leadership team also brings a wealth of experience in FDA and EMEA submissions. DeltaMed Solutions is widely recognized for its extensive experience and flexible service models in data management, biostatistics, programming, RWE solutions, PK/PD analysis, regulatory and medical affairs. The company has earned recognition from clients and partners for its outstanding track record of excellence and service quality.

The full integration of DeltaMed Solutions into HiRO's operations will foster a powerful alliance, leveraging the expertise of both companies in key therapeutic areas and service offerings. This broadens HiRO's network of clients and partners, and enhances its ability to deliver capital-efficient, expedited, and customized clinical trial solutions, addressing the unmet R&D needs of pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide.

Dr. Karen Chu, Founder and CEO of HiRO, expressed her confidence in the acquisition, stating, "We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to DeltaMed Solutions. This acquisition aligns seamlessly with HiRO's growth strategy, enhancing our capability to continue delivering exceptional services that exceed industry standards. By combining our resources and expertise, we are strongly positioned to become our clients' trusted partner in advancing patient treatments and making a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape. This collaboration leverages our collective strengths, ensuring optimal efficiency and effectiveness in conducting clinical trials across a wide range of therapeutic areas in the US, Asia-Pacific, and beyond. This sets us apart as a pioneering force in the highly competitive CRO industry."

Dr. Sam Liang, President of DeltaMed Solutions, added, "We are thrilled to become an integral part of HiRO and contribute to their continued success. This opportunity allows us to harness our scientific expertise and well-established presence in the US. Working together, we will offer an enriched, globally integrated suite of services to our clients, driven by our shared dedication to quality, innovation, and patient-centric research. This collaboration will streamline processes and accelerate the development of groundbreaking treatments."

With this strategic acquisition, HiRO and DeltaMed Solutions join forces to provide an unparalleled range of services, delivering bespoke and efficient clinical trial solutions that effectively navigate market-specific complexities globally. Their shared vision and commitment to excellence in clinical research uniquely position them as key contributors to advancements in healthcare and pharmaceutical innovation.

About Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO)

Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO) is a globally oriented, innovative clinical research organization (CRO). With global operations and integrated capabilities, HiRO provides a full range of cross-border solutions and services to its clients, including early pre-clinical strategic planning, clinical trial design, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, statistics, data management, end-to-end project management, and clinical and medical monitoring services.

As an emerging global CRO, HiRO strives to become a market-leading, integrated global clinical research organization that works collaboratively with biotech and pharmaceutical companies to bring new products from the laboratory to the market, providing more effective solutions for patients worldwide. For more information on HiRO, please visit www.harvestiro.com.

About DeltaMed Solutions

DeltaMed Solutions is a global life sciences CRO. The company excels in building strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and CROs. By fostering these collaborations, DeltaMed Solutions remains at the forefront of innovation, driving advancements in clinical research and drug development.

With a focus on flexibility, DeltaMed Solutions offers a range of service models tailored to meet diverse needs, all backed by a team of experienced professionals. Their commitment to excellence ensures the delivery of exceptional quality products, including CSRs, regulatory submissions, and publications. DeltaMed Solutions leverages their extensive expertise and experience to accelerate the market entry of innovative therapies, resulting in significant reductions in time and cost. For more information on DeltaMed Solutions, please visit www.deltamedsolutions.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO)
WESTCHESTER, Ill., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate are doing more than hosting one of the biggest DNC parties of the year. They are also bringing together Speakers from across the country to party with a purpose launching the 501(c)(4) Black Excellence in Bleu.

Black Excellence in Bleu is the theme of the Speakers' DNC celebration hosted by all seven of the first Black Speakers of the House across the country including Speaker Carl Heastie, New York; Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, Maryland; Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, Maine; Speaker Joanna McClinton, Pennsylvania; and Speaker Don Scott, Virginia.

Excellence in Bleu is the Speakers' DNC celebration hosted by all seven first Black Speakers of the House across the US. Post this

All of the Speakers and members of the caucuses will gather in celebration at Black Excellence in Bleu, which will take place on August 21, 2024, at Revel Motor Row.

"There will be a lot of gatherings during the DNC," said Speaker Welch. "This one is truly special in that it honors so many groundbreaking legislators who are working to pave the way for others. Through Excellence in Bleu, we will continue to walk in our purpose, build our communities, uplift and celebrate one another, and create a network and platform of support. We are making history. This is excellence personified."

Led by political strategist and Executive Director of Democrats for the Illinois House TaQuoya McConnico, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (the first Black Speaker in Illinois history), and House Speaker Joe Tate (the first Black Speaker in Michigan history), Excellence in Bleu will continue working beyond the DNC to promote civic engagement, community outreach, and the advancement of sound fiscal, educational, and economic policies for the common good and welfare of communities.

Registration is now open for event sponsors. The portal for event guest registration will open on July 26, 2024. For questions or to become an event sponsor visit ExcellenceinBleu.org.

SOURCE Excellence in Bleu
SINGAPORE, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of a more efficient and user-friendly DeFi market, HTX Ventures, the global investment arm of the cryptocurrency exchange HTX, has announced a strategic investment in RedStone . RedStone is one of the fastest-growing modular oracles in 2024 that delivers diverse, high-frequency data feeds to EVM Layer1, Layer2, Rollup-as-a-Service networks, and beyond, including Starknet, Fuel Network, and TON.

RedStone's modular nature enables it to provide data feeds that are unavailable elsewhere, specializing in yield-bearing collateral for lending markets, especially LSTs and LRTs. Its modular pricing engine ensures the highest accuracy and relevance by consistently updating. Moreover, RedStone is chain-agnostic, meaning it can push data to numerous EVM and non-EVM ecosystems, rollups, and various app chains. This makes it an ideal partner for Rollup-as-a-Service providers and Eigenlayer AVSes. Currently, RedStone's Total Value Secured (TVS) has grown to $4 billion, expanded to over 60 chains, and served more than 100 clients such as EtherFi, Pendle, Morpho and Ethena.

RedStone recently closed its $15 million Series A round, led by Arrington Capital. The funds will be used to expand the Marketing and Business Development divisions, fueling an extensive Q3/Q4 growth pipeline. RedStone is currently testing Oracle Extractable Value (OEV) implementation, scheduled for trial with customers in the coming months, and preparing for the launch of its native token later this year.

"RedStone is introducing an exciting advancement to DeFi with its modular design," said Edward, Managing Partner at HTX Ventures. "DeFi users will benefit from new and precise data feeds, as well as push and pull data services. RedStone's chain-agnostic feature allows it to provide services across various layers. At HTX Ventures, we are thrilled to witness new innovations within the oracle space and are eager to collaborate on building better infrastructure and tools for DeFi."

Jakub Wojciechowski, CEO of RedStone Oracles, commented, "This Series A round gives us ample financial runway to broaden our suite of services while bringing reliable real-world data to a host of blockchain-based protocols. Sincere thanks to our investors and community for their fervent support, and believe me when I say - we are just getting started."

RedStone is also preparing for the upcoming launch of Season 2 of RedStone Expedition  an interactive community engagement initiative giving participants the chance to accumulate RSG (RedStone Gems) points through a diverse array of activities. Interested parties can sign up here: RedStone Expedition .

About RedStone

RedStone is a modular oracle delivering diverse, high-frequency data feeds to EVM Layer1, Layer2, Rollup-as-a-Service networks, and beyond, i.e., Starknet, Fuel Network, or TON. By responding to market trends and developer needs, RedStone can support assets not available elsewhere. The modular design allows for data consumption models adjusted to specific use cases, i.e., capital-efficient LSTfi and early support of LRTs. Trusted by Pendle, Morpho, Venus, Ethena, ether.fi & more.

About HTX Ventures:

HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice.

HTX Ventures currently backs over 300 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most active Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including Dragonfly, Bankless, Gitcoin, Figment, and Animoca. Visit us here.



Contact Details

EE

[email protected]

Company Website

https://www.htx.com/ventures

SOURCE HTX
The operation was held in Ecuador and hosted by ICMEC, with Clearview AI providing its facial recognition technology as a main resource. Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, and the Dominican Republic were among the international law enforcement agencies who worked together on hundreds of cold cases involving previously unknown victims of online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Through the use of specialized technologies and collaborative work between the HSI offices of the countries, the police, the prosecutor's office and the judges of some of the countries, important results were achieved.

ICMEC and Clearview collaborated with Child Rescue Coalition, Inc., and The Jensen Project for working together within the framework of the Child Digital Guardians Task Force. Collaboration between actors, including civil society and law enforcement, is essential to achieve satisfactory results.

"As we continue to pursue justice for survivors worldwide, our recent operation in Ecuador highlights the importance and transformative impact of collaborative efforts to identify victims. Each identification serves as a beacon of hope, guiding us toward a safer world for vulnerable children. Our success in this operation owes much to the invaluable support of Clearview and the effectiveness of their technology." said Guillermo Galarza, Vice President, Partnerships & Law Enforcement Training of International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children.

"It is gratifying for us to be able to assist law enforcement in identifying missing and exploited children," said Hoan Ton-That, Founder & CEO of Clearview AI. "Clearview AI is committed to continuing our work with law enforcement partners to identify and rescue victims while bringing to justice those criminals who exploit children."

Law enforcement partners of ICMEC analyzed 2,198 photos and 995 videos from 74 confiscated devices related to child exploitation cases. These files contained previously seized unidentified images and video series depicting child sex abuse material. The objective was to identify both the victims and offenders, as well as determine the locations where the abuse occurred.

Through the use of specialized technologies and collaborative work between the HSI offices of the countries, the police, the prosecutor's office and the judges of some of the countries, important results were achieved.

The operation resulted in the identification of 110 missing or abused children and the arrest of 8 perpetrators of child abuse.

Images obtained from a governmental database of international missing and exploited children were searched through Clearview AI which was used to generate leads. These investigative leads were followed up with investigative work and then the results were disseminated globally to the corresponding law enforcement agencies.

ICMEC

The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) is a non-governmental organization working to make the world a safer place for all children by defending against child sexual exploitation, abuse, and the risk of going missing. ICMEC provides training and technology to law enforcement partners globally to help combat child exploitation.

To date, ICMEC has provided such training to more than 16,000 individuals from 128 countries.

Clearview AI

Clearview AI's mission is to help reduce crime, fraud and risk, to create safer communities, ensure secure commerce, and enhance our national security and military defense. TIME Magazine named Clearview AI one of the world's "100 Most Influential Companies."

CONTACTS:

For Clearview AI: Lisa Linden, Resilere Partners [email protected]

FOR ICMEC: Guillermo Galarza [email protected]

SOURCE Clearview AI, Inc.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON RESIDENT AND/OR LOCATED IN, ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IS UNLAWFUL

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SECURITIES.

NEW YORK, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconix International Inc. ("Iconix") today announced that it has extended the offering period (the "Extension") of its previously announced cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $75 million of (i) the outstanding Series 2012-1 4.229% Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the "2012-1 Notes") issued by Icon Brand Holdings LLC, Icon DE Intermediate Holdings LLC, Icon DE Holdings LLC, and Icon NY Holdings LLC (collectively, the "Co-Issuers") and (ii) the outstanding Series 2013-1 4.352% Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the "2013-1 Notes" and, together with the 2012-1 Notes, collectively, the "Class A-2 Notes") issued by the Co-Issuers, in each case from holders thereof (each, a "Holder" and collectively, the "Holders"), which was previously set to expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 2, 2024 (the "Original Expiration Time"), to 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on July 30, 2024 (the "Expiration Time"). The Tender Offer is otherwise being made on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated June 3, 2024 (the "Offer to Purchase").

Kroll Restructuring Administration LLC d/b/a Kroll Issuer Services (US) ("Kroll"), the tender and information agent (the "Tender and Information Agent") for the Tender Offer, has advised Iconix that as of the Original Expiration Time for the Tender Offer, no Class A-2 Notes have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn. Holders who have already tendered their Class A-2 Notes do not have to re-tender their Class A-2 Notes or take any other action as a result of the extension of the Original Expiration Time. Class A-2 Notes tendered in the Tender Offer and accepted for purchase by Iconix pursuant to the Tender Offer will remain outstanding after the Expiration Time and will not be contributed to the Co-Issuers for redemption. Holders are urged to read the Offer to Purchase carefully before making any decision with respect to the Tender Offer.

Prior to the Extension, in addition to the considered offered for the Class A-2 Notes, all Holders of Class A-2 Notes accepted for purchase would have also received accrued and unpaid interest from the April 25, 2024 interest payment date up to, but not including, the date on which Iconix makes payment for such Class A-2 Notes, which date was anticipated to be July 5, 2024. In connection with the Extension, the new date on which Iconix expects to accept for purchase all of the Class A-2 Notes validly tendered, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the Tender Offer, and make payment for such Class A-2 Notes, is July 31, 2024 (the "New Settlement Date"). All Holders of Class A-2 Notes accepted for purchase will receive accrued and unpaid interest from the July 25, 2024 interest payment date up to, but not including, the New Settlement Date. For the avoidance of doubt, interest will cease to accrue to the Holders of Class A-2 Notes on the New Settlement Date for all Class A-2 Notes accepted in the Offer.

As a result of the Extension, Class A-2 Notes validly tendered prior to the Expiration Time may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on July 30, 2024, but not thereafter, unless required by applicable law or extended by Iconix in its sole discretion (the "Withdrawal Deadline"). Class A-2 Notes validly tendered at the Withdrawal Deadline may not be withdrawn or revoked thereafter, unless required by applicable law. Iconix reserves the right to amend or waive any conditions of the Tender Offer, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion.

In connection with the Tender Offer, Iconix has retained Ducera Securities LLC as its financial advisor (the "Financial Advisor"). Copies of the Offer to Purchase are available via the Tender Offer website at https://deals.is.kroll.com/iconix or by contacting the Tender and Information Agent via telephone at (646) 777-2609 (banks and brokers) or (833) 307-3523 (all others).

Other Information

None of Iconix or its affiliates, their respective boards of directors, the Co-Issuers, the trustee under the indenture governing the Class-A Notes, the Tender and Information Agent, or the Financial Advisor makes any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender, or refrain from tendering as to all or any portion of the principal amount of their Class A-2 Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer. Holders must make their own decisions as to whether to tender any of their Class A-2 Notes, and, if so, the principal amount of Class A-2 Notes to tender.

This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the Class A-2 Notes, nor is it a solicitation for acceptance of the Tender Offer. Iconix is making the Tender Offer only by, and pursuant to the terms of, the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offer is not being made in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.

About Iconix International, Inc.

Iconix is a Delaware corporation and is the parent company of the Co-Issuers. Iconix is a brand management company and owner of a diversified portfolio of global consumer brands across the women's, men's, home, and international segments. Iconix's business strategy is to maximize the value of its brands primarily through strategic licenses and joint venture partnerships around the world, as well as to grow the portfolio of brands through strategic acquisitions.

About Iconix Brand Holdings LLC, Icon DE Intermediate Holdings LLD, Icon DE Holdings LLC, and Icon NY Holdings LLC

Each of the Co-Issuers is a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware and is a limited-purpose, bankruptcy remote, wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiary of Iconix.

Forward-Looking Statements and Important Disclosure Notice

Except for historical information, certain matters contained in this press release or the Offer to Purchase are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "will," "may," "designed to," "believe," "should," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "intend," "estimate" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. Because these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Iconix's control, actual results could differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements include the risks identified under the sections captioned "Investment Considerations Regarding the Co-Issuers" and "Risk Factors Relating to the Tender Offer" in the Offer to Purchase. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to Iconix on the date of this press release, and Iconix disclaims any obligation to revise or update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact Information:

John T. McClain

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

(646) 777-2609 (banks and brokers) or (833) 307-3523 (all others)

SOURCE Iconix International Inc.
The identity as a service market is expected to witness notable growth owing to an increase in the number of identity frauds, increase in the adoption of cloud computing, and other connected technologies, and enhanced integration with IoT devices.

NEW CASTLE, Del., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Identity as a Service Market by Component (Provisioning, Single-Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Audit, Compliance and Governance, Directory Services, and Password Management), Deployment Type (Public Cloud, Private Cloud, and Hybrid Cloud), Enterprise Size (Large Enterprise, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprise), and Industry Vertical (BFSI, IT and Telecom, Manufacturing, Government and Public Sector, Energy and Utilities, Healthcare, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2032". According to the report, the identity as a service market was valued at $6.2 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach $54.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 27.5% from 2024 to 2032.

Prime determinants of growth

The identity as a service market is expected to witness notable growth owing to an increase in the number of identity frauds, increase in the adoption of cloud computing and other connected technologies, and enhanced integration with IoT devices. Moreover, the integration of evolving technologies is expected to provide a lucrative opportunity for the growth of the market during the forecast period. On the contrary, data privacy issues involving consumer information and critical application outsourcing limit the growth of the identity as a service market.

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Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20242032 Base Year 2023 Market Size In 2023 $6.2 Billion Market Size In 2032 $54.1 Billion CAGR 27.5 % No. of Pages in Report 337 Segments Covered Component, Deployment Type, Enterprise Size, Industry Vertical and Region Drivers Increase in the Number of Identity Frauds Increase in the Adoption of Cloud Computing and Other Connected Technologies Enhanced Integration with IoT Devices Opportunities The Integration of Evolving Technologies Restraints Data Privacy Issues Involving Consumer Information Critical Application Outsourcing

Buy this Complete Report (337 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at:

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The provisioning segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By component, the provisioning segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than one-fourth of the identity as a service market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The growing need for a high level of automation is one of the primary reasons enterprises are increasing their investment in identity provisioning solutions. However, the single-sign-on segment is expected to witness the largest CAGR of 31.3% from 2024 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period.

The public segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

By deployment type, the public segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to more than two-fifths of the identity as a service market revenue, an increase in the need for secure and reliable data within the organization is fueling the market growth for public cloud-based identity as a service solution. However, the private segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 30.1% from 2024 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. It provides several advantages such as reducing costs, supporting business, and effectively controlling the business environment in the organization.

The large enterprises segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on enterprise size, the large enterprises segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to more than three-fifths of the identity as a service market revenue, owing to increase in the adoption of IDaaS devices and cloud computing by enterprises, which significantly aids in market growth. However, the small and medium-sized enterprises segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 30.4% from 2024 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. owing to the expansion of "bring your own device" (BYOD) policy usage and the demand to uphold compliance standards.

The IT and telecom segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

By industry vertical, the IT and telecom segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to more than one-fifth of the identity as a service market revenue, owing to the increasing need to secure telecom procedures, which drives the demand for effective identity management solutions. However, the healthcare segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 32.6% from 2024 to 2032 and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. The extensive adoption of electronic health records supplemented with constant monitoring reform has encouraged healthcare organizations to implement effective technological solutions.

North America region to maintain its dominance by 2032

By region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, accounting for more than one-third of the identity as a service market revenue. The increase in the usage of identity as a service solution in businesses to improve businesses and the customer experience is anticipated to propel the growth of the market in this region. However, Asia-Pacific is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 31.1% from 2024 to 2032. Countries such as China, India, and South Korea are at the forefront, embracing digital technologies to enhance their effectiveness and competitiveness, which is further expected to contribute to the growth of the market in this region.

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Leading Market Players: -

CyberArk

Google LLC

IBM Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

Okta

OneLogin, Inc.

Oracle Corporation

JumpCloud, Inc.

SailPoint Technologies

Thales

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the identity as a service market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different countries. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports Insights" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

David Correa

1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
New E-Book Marks Fifth Book in IEEE-USA's Famous Women in Engineering Series

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It is no secret that women represent a far smaller percentage of the engineering workforce than their male counterparts. While some 35% of environmental engineers are women, they make up only 18% of chemical engineers, 10% of electrical engineers, and 9% of mechanical engineers.

IEEE-USA empowers female engineers, telling their stories and bridging the gender gap in tech. #WomenInEngineering Post this IEEE-USA E-Book: Famous Women Engineers in History - Book 5: Judith Resnik - Engineer, Astronaut, American Hero. Free to IEEE members, $2.99 for Non-Members. Fig. 1. Student Interest in Engineering Demographic Breakdown. Students were asked, "How interested are you in pursuing a career in the field of engineering?" Source: Discover Engineering's 2023 Executive Summary.

According to DiscoverE's 2023 Executive Summary , when high school students were asked how interested they were in pursuing a career in engineering, female students' interest paled in comparison to male students' interest. Why? Data shows that this is largely due to the "concrete" image (and visible gender divide) that exists in engineering fields today.

IEEE-USA is taking steps to bridge that divide by amplifying female engineers' voices and telling stories highlighting women's impact in the engineering profession. As female students gain more exposure to women in engineering roles, the chances increase that future generations will wholeheartedly embrace this field.

IEEE-USA's recent June E-Book features the story of Judith Resnick - a member of the Challenger's crew. There have only been a few times, when nearly everyone can remember where and how they heard the news. For example, the end of WWII, the assassination of President Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., Princess Diana's death, and the Challenger disaster. The Challenger disaster was different than the others, however; because, somewhat like 9/11 (just 15 years later), people didn't just hear the news  they saw it happen. This story is about one member of the Challenger's crew  Judith Resnik. She often said she didn't want to be seen as a woman astronaut, or a Jewish astronaut, just as an astronaut. So, this story is about Judith Resnik  engineer, astronaut and American hero. This is the fifth book in IEEE-USA's award-winning "Famous Women Engineers in History" series.

In the fourth book of the IEEE-USA's award-winning "Famous Women Engineers in History" series, author Paul Lief Rosengren tells the story of Kate Gleason, who did not conform to the stereotypical image of women in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Gleason felt as comfortable in overalls as fancy dresses and hats; became the first woman enrolled in Cornell University's Engineering program; was chosen as the first woman member of both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Concrete Institute; and made a name for herself in sales, business and engineering.

Friends with Susan B. Anthony, Henry Leland, Lillian Gilbreth (a successful engineer and businesswoman in her own right) and Henry Ford, Gleason made her mark on the world in countless ways. To name a few, after WWI, she used her wealth to help rebuild a French town and generously supported her hometown, Rochester, N.Y. Her significant gift to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) led to the renaming of the engineering school in 1998 as "The Kate Gleason School of Engineering." In 2003, RIT established "The Kate Gleason Endowed Chair" given to a professor who, among other qualities, motivates women in engineering activities and builds "upon the tradition of Kate Gleason as a role model for women in engineering." Gleason's legacy embodies determination, hard work, and creativity, as praised by former RIT President Albert Simone.

Since 2014, IEEE-USA has published 36 e-books on Women in Engineering  all written by IEEE members, and each featuring a different woman's journey through life and career in her own words. The individual books and compilations can be found in the IEEE-USA Shop .

IEEE-USA also sponsors a number of regional IEEE Women In Engineering (WIE) events across the country  such as the International Leadership Summits  which provide a forum for women students, researchers, educators, engineers, leaders and innovators to discuss a wide variety of relevant topics in the fields of engineering, science and technology.

One such upcoming event is the IEEE WIE Forum USA East, to take place on 7-9 November 2024 in Stamford, CT. This year's event, themed "Own Your Power Skills," focuses on developing leadership skills for all career stages, featuring talks by successful leaders from IEEE Northeast and demonstrations of emerging technologies to inspire STEM outreach ideas. For IEEE-USA, promoting and engaging in events like this is key to disseminating the knowledge and information necessary to enhance the recruitment and retention of women in technical fields worldwide.

Through July only! Use discount code FWEJUL24 and get Compilation Vol.1 (Books 1-4) of the IEEE-USA Women in Engineering series FREE (members AND non-members).

Also, be sure to explore the IEEE-USA Famous Women Engineers in History series or the award-winning IEEE-USA Women in Engineering series today. Both are FREE for IEEE members.

About IEEE-USA:

IEEE-USA serves the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of 150,000 engineering, computing and technology professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization. Visit us online at ieeeusa.org , follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram, LinkedIn , or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Contact:

Leah Laird

Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, IEEE-USA

202-530-8328 | [email protected]

John Yaglenski

Director of Communications, IEEE-USA

202-530-8359 | [email protected]

SOURCE IEEE-USA
Paul Rieckhoff Announces Groundbreaking New Effort to Organize and Elect Independent Veterans to Political Office Nationwide

Admiral Mike Mullen, Mayor Yemi Mobolade, Michael Smerconish, Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, Bonnie Carroll, Eric Bronner, John Opdycke, Andrew Yang, Sebastian Junger and others serve on advisory committee

NEW YORK, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, in the wake of a nationally demoralizing presidential debate, and in advance of July 4th, Independent Veterans of America (IVA) announced its formation with an urgent mission to organize and elect independent veterans to public office across America.

Watch the IVA launch video here

The organization is the first in America to focus specifically on recruiting and electing independent and unaffiliated veteran candidates. All details about IVA can be found at www.IndependentVeteransOfAmerica.org .

Launched around Independence Day, IVA's 50-state outreach plan will find, recruit, engage and train tens of thousands of independent veterans to stand up and lead at the local, state and federal level, support independent reform, and inspire their communities to come together to put country over party.

IVA will support independent veteran candidates at all levels  from local school boards to the US Senate.

IVA will support endorsed candidates in a variety of ways to include:

Galvanizing a community of independent vets and allies nationwide to add support locally

Providing free online campaign-in-a-box resources from GoodParty.org designed specifically for IVA candidates powered by cutting-edge AI

powered by cutting-edge AI Delivering voter files that are too costly to get on their own

Media and technology training

Leadership and media opportunities

An opportunity to apply for IVA endorsement in the 2024 election cycle

Funding to win

Paul Rieckhoff created the vision for IVA and will serve as CEO. He is a renowned social entrepreneur, author, politics and national security analyst for NewsNation, MSNBC, CNN and others, Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Co-Founder of American Veterans for Ukraine, host of the Independent Americans podcast, and a leading voice from the American veteran community for more than 20 years.

"Independent Veterans of America (IVA) is the first organization in America to identify and empower the millions of politically independent/unaffiliated American veterans to defend and strengthen our democracy. Built around the unique power and potential of veterans, IVA will grow, deploy and elect a new generation of leaders who will protect the soul of the country we love, defend the values we hold dear, and improve our nation for generations to come. This is the moment to answer the call. If you're an independent veteran, or you're an independent-curious Democrat or Republican, we invite you to declare your independence and join IVA this Independence Day," Rieckhoff said.

"Especially after the abysmal recent presidential debate, Americans are disgusted and exhausted by the two parties and by the same, old, partisan candidates. America is hungry for new leadership with independence, integrity and experience. Independent Veterans of America will provide a new generation of political leaders who are ready to challenge the duopoly, put country over party, and meet this incredibly challenging moment."

SOURCE Independent Veterans of America
STOCKHOLM, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boliden will announce its Interim Report for the second quarter 2024 on Friday July 19 at 07:45 (CEST). A press and analyst conference will be held on the same day at 09:30, which can be followed via webcast and telephone. The report will be presented by Boliden's President and CEO Mikael Staffas, and CFO Hakan Gabrielsson.

To participate in the webcast, please use the link below:

https://boliden.videosync.fi/2024-07-19-q2report2024

To participate in the telephone conference, please register 5 minutes before the opening of the conference via the link below. After the registration you will be provided with phone number and a conference ID to access the conference. If you wish to ask a question, please dial *5 on your telephone keypad to enter the queue.

https://service.flikmedia.se/teleconference/?id=100417

After the call, presentation material and the recorded webcast will be available on our website: https://www.boliden.com

For further information, please contact:

Olof Grenmark

Director Investor Relations

+46 70 291 5780

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/boliden/r/invitation-presentation-of-boliden-s-q2-2024-report,c4007605

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Boliden
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To help people stay safe this July 4th, James Horne Law is happy to announce a Sober Rides Campaign. If individuals decide to celebrate this holiday by drinking, the firm will reimburse them for any ride they take to a safe destination, whether that is a taxi or rideshare service. The goal of this campaign is to help reduce the risk of drunk driving accidents in Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding area.

Florida Drunk Driving Statistics

Sober Rides Campaign James Horne

When it comes to drunk driving, Florida has some troubling statistics. According to data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were 5,071 crashes involving alcohol impairment in 2023. While these types of accidents account for only around 1% of all crashes, they cause around 15% of all accident fatalities in the state.

The outlook for Lakewood Ranch and surrounding areas in Sarasota County doesn't look much better. In 2023, the county had 148 alcohol-related crashes, causing 6 fatalities and 66 injuries. Drunk driving accidents were highest during holidays, such as July 4th.

How to Get a Free Ride in Lakewood Ranch

Participating in the Sober Rides Campaign is very simple. If individuals go out and drink, they simply take a ride with a taxi or rideshare to a safe destination within or near Lakewood Ranch, FL. Next, they should take a screenshot of their receipt and email it along with their photo ID and mailing address to [email protected].

Eligible rides must be taken from 8 PM on July 3, 2024 until 10 AM on July 5, 2024. Keep in mind that these rules and regulations also apply:

Ride must begin or end in Lakewood Ranch, FL , or a surrounding area;

, or a surrounding area; Maximum reimbursement is $30 including tip;

including tip; Participant must be 21 years of age or older;

Reimbursement limited to the first 25 submissions; and

Requests must be submitted within 7 days of the holiday.

If there are any questions about the July 4th free ride program, please contact James Horne Law for more information.

About James Horne Law:

James Horne Law is a premier medical malpractice, personal injury, and family law firm in Lakewood Ranch. Founded by Attorney James M. Horne, the firm has helped clients all over Florida fight for the best possible results in their case. With over $12 million recovered and recognition as an AV Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell for professional excellence, James Horne knows what is at stake for clients. No case is too complex, and every case deserves the full, undivided attention of an experienced attorney. To schedule a free consultation, call us or visit our website.

Contact Information:

James Horne Law

9040 Town Center Pkwy

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

(941) 210-6000

SOURCE James Horne Law
ASHLAND, Mass., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kidde-Fenwal, Inc. (KFI), a world leader in designing and manufacturing industrial and commercial fire suppression systems and safety controls, has closed on the sale of substantially all of its assets to an affiliate of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners (PACP). The transaction was previously approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on April 2, 2024. Under PACP's ownership, the business will go to market as "KiddeFenwal".

KFI was a separate corporation that operated independently from its ultimate corporate parent, Carrier Global Corporation. There is no affiliation with the ongoing sale of Carrier Global's Commercial and Residential Fire business.

The sale of KFI was led by its independent directors and their advisors.

About KiddeFenwal

KiddeFenwal is the global market leader in designing and manufacturing innovative industrial and commercial fire suppression systems and safety controls with proprietary, fully certified offerings that save lives, protect property and minimize business interruption. The company's Kidde Fire Systems and Kidde Fire Protection brands produce highly engineered fire suppression, detection and control systems in the industrial, commercial and marine end markets, while Fenwal Controls serves OEMs in diverse end markets with products for gas ignition, temperature control, and fire and overheat detection. KiddeFenwal is headquartered in Ashland, Massachusetts and has facilities in the U.S., United Kingdom and India. Learn more at www.kiddefenwal.com.

KFI's Advisors

Guggenheim Securities, LLC acted as KFI's investment banker. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as KFI's legal advisor. AP Services, LLC, an affiliate of AlixPartners, LLP, served as KFI's restructuring advisor, acting in interim officer roles of Chief and Deputy Transformation Officers, Secretary and Treasurer.

Contact

Tucker Elcock

Teneo

[email protected]

917-208-4652

SOURCE Kidde-Fenwal, Inc.
PORTLAND, Maine, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kit NA Brewing, an award-winning non-alcoholic beer beverage brand, is proud to announce the launch of its summer program, "Have A Kit, Share A Kit." The "Have A Kit, Share A Kit" program encourages individuals to have a beer that is true to them and to share that experience with friends and loved ones all summer long.

Award-Winning Non Alc

For the months of July and August, consumers are provided the unique opportunity to purchase a 6-pack or 12-pack of Kit NA Brewing's non-alcoholic Blonde, Wheat, or Hazy IPA beer, and receive an additional 6-pack or 12-pack to share with friends and family, completely free of charge. Staying true to the brand's commitment to authenticity and community, this initiative encourages consumers who want to enjoy the complex flavors and memorable social aspects of beer without the alcohol, to embrace life's moments with a beer that requires no excuses. "Have A Kit, Share A Kit" invites consumers to not only fully enjoy the beer, but also to create shared memories and connections with friends and family over these experiences.

Kit's Director of Marketing, Jayme Brown, comments: "We believe that everyone deserves to have a beer in a way that's true to them. Unapologetically. With no "buts." And that having a beer isn't merely drinking one; it is experiencing one. With people you care about. In moments you're immersed in. With "Have A Kit, Share A Kit," we want to encourage our customers to share that joy with the people that matter most to them."

The "Have A Kit, Share A Kit" program will be implemented through digital campaigns and digital coupons that are redeemable at any retailer nationwide. Consumers can also buy & share Kit through a loyalty and referral program on Kit's website, e-commerce promotions including Amazon, direct-to-consumer channels, and Instacart, as well as at special events throughout the summer.

For more information on Kit NA Brewing, please visit https://www.kitna.beer/ . Follow Kit on Facebook and Instagram at @kitnabrewing, and join the newsletter to be the first to know about programs, future collaborations, and updates.

About Kit NA Brewing:

Kit NA Brewing, founded in 2021 by co-founders Rob Barrett and Will Fisher, makes 6x award-winning, crushable, craft-brewed non-alcoholic beer for everyone and every occasion. Available in 3 different flavors: Blonde, Wheat, and Hazy IPA, Kit NA Brewing's mission is to offer high-quality craft beer without the buzz, that does not compromise on taste or quality. #HaveAKit

Contact:

Jayme Brown

2077492474

[email protected]

SOURCE Kit NA Brewing
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Easy Ice, LLC, the nation's largest provider of managed commercial ice machine rentals, continues a year of significant growth with yet another acquisition in New Mexico. With this purchase, Easy Ice will take over operations of the ice machine division at Ed's Refrigerationwhich has provided service out of Albuquerque, New Mexico since 1973.

Over their decades of serving a diverse variety of businesses in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and other surrounding areas, Ed's Refrigeration has developed a reputation for consistent, professional, and on-time servicea legacy that aligns perfectly with how Easy Ice operates and will serve their new customers.

"Ed's Refrigeration increases our density and compliments the recent investment Easy Ice made in New Mexico. We're also excited to enhance our service offerings and improve the customer experience as we establish ourselves as the market leader throughout the Southwest."

-Darren Boruff, Chief Acquisitions Officer

Ed's Refrigeration is currently under its second generation of family ownership, serving businesses like restaurants, bars, hotels, offices, and moreprimarily using Hoshizaki ice equipment. With combined decades of experience with Hoshizaki, the Easy Ice team expects the transition to be smooth for both Ed's Refrigeration's current customers as well as their employees.

As temperatures rise this summer, Easy Ice couldn't be more thrilled to keep the ball rolling in the Southwest and get more ice to their customers living in this hotter climate!

About Easy Ice

Founded in 2009, Easy Ice has changed the way businesses manage their ice supplymoving them away from ice machine ownership and toward a managed rental solution. With over 33,000 machines under their management across 47 states, they've made affordable ice machine rentals available to customers all over the US. For more information, please visit easyice.com.

SOURCE Easy Ice
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.
Companies expect cost savings of up to 30 percent through AI

- Increasing complexity of the IT landscape makes seamless integration and communication between SAP and non-SAP applications a central concern for respondents.

- Cloud is the trend: Over 70 percent of the surveyed companies opt for the latest version of SAP S/4HANA, preferably in the cloud.

- High demands on SAP partners: Competencies in the security of SAP systems and smooth operation are among the must-have criteria at 77 percent.

BIELEFELD, Germany, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To better understand the current status quo and future developments in SAP operations, the analyst firm PAC, commissioned by the global IT service provider NTT DATA Business Solutions, surveyed 200 SAP and IT managers in Europe and the USA. The results of the study "SAP Application Management in Europe and the USA", conducted between January and March 2024, highlight the impacts and opportunities presented by innovative technologies. It provides insights into how companies manage their software applications and what challenges they face using SAP S/4HANA and developments in the areas of Cloud, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other innovative topics.

Innovative technologies such as Cloud Computing, Automation and AI are transforming SAP Application Management (AM) by providing new possibilities for efficiency and performance optimization. Simultaneously, the complexity of the evolving IT landscape is increasing, leading to new expectations for IT service providers: They must be knowledgeable about the latest technologies but also able to integrate and manage them effectively. The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) will play a crucial role as the technological foundation, creating a central platform for implementing various technologies and systems.

New technologies open new opportunities

In the international sample, most respondents (>70%) indicated they chose the latest version of SAP S/4HANA, with the majority preferring a Cloud version. The decision for the public Cloud is accompanied by a choice of RISE with SAP for 67 percent. The use of SAP software outside Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is particularly strong in Customer Relationship Management and Customer Experience (CRM/CX), Human Capital Management (HCM) and Supplier Relationship Management and Procurement (SRM). With a share of 72 percent, Software as a Service (SaaS) models are mainly used to support individual business processes, such as SAP SuccessFactors for optimal management of all aspects of the employee lifecycle in Human Capital Management (HCM).

In addition to SAP systems, many organizations use other software products from other leading platform providers like Microsoft (35%), Salesforce (30%) and Adobe (26%). However, the variety of business applications companies use alongside the core SAP system presents new challenges. "Seamless integration and communication between SAP and non-SAP applications are essential for operating both systems in parallel long-term," explains Ulrich Kreitz, Executive Manager at NTT DATA Business Solutions Germany and Head of Managed Services. "This often requires special interfaces, data integration strategies and tools, as well as solutions for managing user identities and access rights. Complex orchestration solutions must be implemented to monitor and control the performance, availability and security of on-premise and Cloud-based resources."

Strong SAP partners are crucial for SAP system integration

Collaboration with external partners, particularly in SAP consulting and system integration, plays a crucial role for many companies as system complexity increases, especially when it comes to cloud solutions. The respondents set high demands for an SAP partner: expertise in SAP system security and smooth operations are must-have criteria for 77 percent.

IT partners such as NTT DATA Business Solutions offer expertise and support companies in the implementation, management and optimization of SAP systems in the cloud. "We know the best practices, tools and methods that support, automate and accelerate Cloud migration. Additionally, we offer our own frameworks that can partially or fully automate tasks such as system monitoring, troubleshooting or patch management," adds Ulrich Kreitz. "The IT market is experiencing increasingly shorter innovation cycles. Soon, AI will take a firm place in SAP's products and the entire portfolio. SAP users expect their partners to act proactively and inform them about the benefits, opportunities and risks of new technologies, going far beyond ensuring smooth, secure operations."

Focus on Automation and AI

Respondents see significant potential in automated processes in SAP AM. The study found that the degree of automation is highest in the areas of Service Desk (31%), Security (37%) and Testing (46%). Automation not only increases efficiency but also reduces error susceptibility and identifies potential threats more quickly. Manufacturing companies particularly benefit from this, as operational interruptions are minimized and production continuity is ensured.

The majority of respondents expect further efficiency gains and cost savings of up to 30 percent from integrating AI into AM, especially in Monitoring (71%), Documentation (79%) and System Administration (76%). The results show that SAP BTP will form the technological foundation for all SAP cloud products in the near future, as well as for all functional extensions and innovations of SAP S/4HANA. It provides the ability to complement, extend and integrate solutions from SAP or SAP partners using the same data model. These help to develop innovations faster with traditional tools, no-code/low-code solutions, preconfigured analysis models and self-service analytics. As companies increasingly switch to the Cloud-based S/4HANA edition, the demand for SAP BTP also rises, as custom extensions need to be developed and integrated.

How complex digital transformation is for companies and what challenges it presents were highlighted by NTT DATA Business Solutions together with their subsidiary Natuvion GmbH in the recently released Transformation Study 2024: 1,200 CEOs, CIOs and IT decision-makers from 15 countries shared their experiences with and requirements for the transformation process.

About NTT DATA Business Solutions

NTT DATA Business Solutions is a leading global IT service provider focused on SAP with a powerful ecosystem of partners. With more than 35 years of in-depth experience, we enable companies worldwide to become Intelligent Enterprises. We deliver end-to-end solutions that accelerate sustainable growth and success  from strategic consulting and implementation to managed services and beyond. As a global strategic SAP partner, we drive innovation and leverage the latest technologies to support our customers individually and across all industries. Our more than 15,300 dedicated employees in over 30 countries work passionately every day to make it happen.

NTT DATA Business Solutions is part of NTT DATA, a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services headquartered in Tokyo. As One NTT DATA we serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping customers innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group.

Press Contact NTT DATA Business Solutions

Jasmin Straeter

Head of Global Communications

NTT DATA Business Solutions AG

Konigsbreede 1, 33605 Bielefeld, Germany

Phone: +49 521 9 14 48 108

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE NTT DATA Business Solutions AG
NEW YORK, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global load monitoring systems market size is estimated to grow by USD 820.9 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 4.34% during the forecast period. Increasing use of load monitoring systems in healthcare sector is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing number of strategic alliances. However, compliance with strict regulations poses a challenge. Key market players include Airtec Corp., Dynamic Load Monitoring UK Ltd., Eilersen Electric Digital Systems AS, Euroload, FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc., Indutrade AB, Interface Inc., James Fisher and Sons Plc, JCM Load Monitoring Ltd., Load Monitoring Systems, Mantracourt Electronics Ltd., Mettler Toledo International Inc., Precia SA, Spectris Plc, Standard Loadcells, Strainsert Co., Thames Side Sensors Ltd., The Crosby Group LLC, Vishay Precision Group Inc., and WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE and Co. KG.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global load monitoring systems market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report

Load Monitoring Systems Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.34% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 820.9 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.09 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution Europe at 32% Key countries US, China, Germany, UK, and Canada Key companies profiled Airtec Corp., Dynamic Load Monitoring UK Ltd., Eilersen Electric Digital Systems AS, Euroload, FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc., Indutrade AB, Interface Inc., James Fisher and Sons Plc, JCM Load Monitoring Ltd., Load Monitoring Systems, Mantracourt Electronics Ltd., Mettler Toledo International Inc., Precia SA, Spectris Plc, Standard Loadcells, Strainsert Co., Thames Side Sensors Ltd., The Crosby Group LLC, Vishay Precision Group Inc., and WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE and Co. KG

Market Driver

The global load monitoring systems market is highly competitive, with vendors responding through mergers and acquisitions and strategic alliances to expand their customer base and market reach. In May 2022, Spectris Plc acquired Dytran Instruments Inc., an example of this trend. The increasing number of strategic partnerships among rivals enhances operations and broadens geographic presence, driving market growth.

The Load Monitoring Systems market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for efficient and reliable technology solutions. Technology companies are focusing on developing advanced systems that can provide real-time monitoring and analysis of system performance. These systems help businesses prevent downtime, optimize resource utilization, and ensure high availability. The use of cloud technology and machine learning algorithms is becoming increasingly popular in this market. Additionally, the integration of predictive analytics and automation capabilities is expected to drive further growth in the coming years. Overall, the Load Monitoring Systems market is a dynamic and innovative space, with new developments and trends emerging regularly.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

Load monitoring systems vendors face challenges in complying with international standards like OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO 9001:2008. These regulations prioritize employee safety and quality management, respectively. While essential for business growth, they increase operational costs and impact profit margins. Non-compliance can lead to penalties, including license suspension and prohibition from future operations. Thus, strict regulations pose significant hurdles for the expansion of the global load monitoring systems market.

Load monitoring systems are essential for ensuring optimal performance of IT infrastructure. However, implementing these systems comes with certain challenges. One major challenge is the complexity of identifying and prioritizing which applications and services require monitoring. Another challenge is the vast amount of data generated by these systems, making it difficult to analyze and gain meaningful insights. Additionally, integrating load monitoring systems with other IT management tools can be complex. Furthermore, ensuring security and compliance with data protection regulations is a significant challenge. Lastly, the cost of implementing and maintaining load monitoring systems can be high, making it important for organizations to carefully evaluate their needs and budgets.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

This load monitoring systems market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Product

1.1 Load cell

1.2 Indicator and controller

1.3 Data logging software

Technology

2.1 Analog

2.2 Digital

Geography

3.1 Europe

3.2 North America

3.3 APAC

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa



1.1 Load cell- Load Monitoring Systems are essential tools for businesses to optimize energy usage and prevent equipment damage. These systems measure real-time power consumption, ensuring efficient energy management and cost savings. By monitoring and analyzing load data, businesses can identify trends, predict power demands, and prevent overloading, enhancing overall operational efficiency.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Learn and explore more about Technavio's in-depth research reports

The global traffic lights market is poised for substantial growth, driven by increasing urbanization and infrastructural development worldwide. Demand is bolstered by stringent traffic management regulations and the need for advanced safety solutions. Concurrently, the electrical protective equipment market is expanding, fueled by heightened awareness of workplace safety norms and technological advancements in protective gear. Both sectors benefit from robust research and development efforts, ensuring innovative solutions to meet evolving consumer needs. As senior research analysts, navigating these dynamic markets requires a blend of comprehensive market analysis, strategic foresight, and adept data interpretation to drive informed decision-making.

Research Analysis

The Load Monitoring Systems market encompasses advanced technologies designed to monitor mechanical forces in various industries. These systems are integral to the automotive industry, where load cells and force transducers are used to ensure vehicle safety and efficiency. In transportation and logistics, load monitoring is crucial for optimizing cargo capacity and reducing energy consumption. Autonomous vehicles and e-commerce also benefit from real-time load monitoring to ensure efficient operations. The aerospace and defense sector, mining, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, and energy consumption industries similarly rely on load monitoring systems for optimal performance and safety. Dialysis machines and IV bags in healthcare products also utilize load monitoring to maintain consistent pressure and ensure patient safety.

Market Research Overview

The Load Monitoring Systems market encompasses solutions and technologies designed to measure and manage the performance of IT infrastructure, networks, and applications. These systems enable organizations to optimize resource utilization, ensure system availability, and prevent downtime. Technologies such as real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and automation play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of load monitoring systems. The market is driven by the increasing adoption of cloud computing, the proliferation of IoT devices, and the growing demand for digital transformation. Additionally, the need for businesses to maintain high levels of application performance and user experience is fueling the growth of the load monitoring systems market.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Product

Load Cell



Indicator And Controller



Data Logging Software

Technology

Analog



Digital

Geography

Europe



North America



APAC



South America



Middle East And Africa



7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
HOUSTON, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting and a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE:MMC), today announced the completion of its acquisition of Veritas Total Solutions, a commodity trading advisory firm with deep technical expertise in risk, systems, analytics, and AI.

The combination of Oliver Wyman and Veritas will provide commodity trading businesses with an unparalleled level of trading optimization expertise. With market complexity transforming the industry, today's commodity trading businesses need to leverage the latest insights and technologies to remain competitive. Veritas extends Oliver Wyman's capabilities to provide end-to-end trading advisory and systems implementation.

Members of the Veritas team will join Oliver Wyman and will be based in Houston, Texas, a key energy sector hub. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For more information, visit www.oliverwyman.com, and for additional information about Oliver Wyman's Energy and Natural Resources practice visit Trading and Risk capabilities.

About Veritas Total Solutions

Veritas Total Solutions is a full-service, management consulting firm focused on the energy industry. We add business value by using our deep energy industry knowledge, agile methodology and unique embedded change management approach to solve our client's most difficult problems. For more information, call 1.855.411.8783 or email at [email protected].

About Oliver Wyman

Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting. With offices in more than 70 cities across 30 countries, Oliver Wyman combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organization transformation. The firm has 7,000 professionals around the world who work with clients to optimize their business, improve their operations and risk profile, and accelerate their organizational performance to seize the most attractive opportunities. Oliver Wyman is a business of Marsh McLennan [NYSE: MMC]. For more information, visit www.oliverwyman.com. Follow Oliver Wyman on X @OliverWyman.

SOURCE Oliver Wyman
IRVINE, Calif., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total June sales of 35,696 vehicles, an increase of 19.8 percent compared to June 2023. Year-to-date sales totaled 202,486 vehicles sold; an increase of 10.2 percent compared to the same time last year. With 26 selling days in June, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted an increase of 19.8 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 6,241 vehicles in June, an increase of 20 percent compared to June 2023.

June 2024 sales highlights include:

Second-best June sales ever with 35,696 vehicles sold.

Best-ever sales of CX-50 with 7,798 vehicles sold.

Best-ever June sales of CX-90 with 4,682 vehicles sold.

Best-ever June sales of CX-30 with 6,772 vehicles sold.

Second-best June in CPO program history.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported June sales of 9,067 vehicles, an increase of 64 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 44,394 vehicles sold; an increase of 29 percent compared to the same time last year.

About Mazda North American Operations

Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at news.mazdausa.com.

Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Threads.















































Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date

























June June YOY % % MTD

June June YOY % % MTD



2024 2023 Change DSR

2024 2023 Change DSR























Mazda3 2,670 2,745 (2.7) % (2.7) %

17,827 15,127 17.8 % 16.3 %

Mazda 3 Sdn 1,603 1,503 6.7 % 6.7 %

10189 7,682 32.6 % 30.9 %

Mazda 3 HB 1,067 1,242 (14.1) % (14.1) %

7638 7,445 2.6 % 1.3 %























Mazda6 0 0 - -

0 0 - -























MX-5 Miata 776 866 (10.4) % (10.4) %

4,004 5,513 (27.4) % (28.3) %

MX-5 453 471 (3.8) % (3.8) %

1746 3,013 (42.1) % (42.8) %

MXR 323 395 (18.2) % (18.2) %

2258 2,500 (9.7) % (10.9) %























CX-3 - 0 - -

- 0 - -

CX-30 6,772 6,612 2.4 % 2.4 %

51222 38,527 33.0 % 31.2 %

CX-5 12,120 12,861 (5.8) % (5.8) %

70214 80,021 (12.3) % (13.4) %

CX-9 - 863 - -

4 17,359 (100.0) % (100.0) %

CX-50 7,798 3,532 120.8 % 120.8 %

35197 21,466 64.0 % 61.8 %

MX-30 0 16 (100.0) % (100.0) %

- 66 - -

Cx-70 878 0 - -

1059 0 - -

CX-90 4,682 2,291 104.4 % 104.4 %

22959 5704 302.5 % 297.3 %

CARS 3,446 3,611 (4.6) % (4.6) %

21,831 20,640 5.8 % 4.4 %

TRUCKS 32,250 26,175 23.2 % 23.2 %

180,655 163,143 10.7 % 9.3 %























TOTAL 35,696 29,786 19.8 % 19.8 %

202,486 183,783 10.2 % 8.7 %













































*Selling Days 26 26





154 152



















































SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
Data presented at the 2024 FMF (Fetal Medicine Foundation) World Congress in Lisbon, Portugal shows the potential for an automated system to deliver genomic profiles of fetal cells that is highly concordant with the genomic analysis obtained from invasive procedures. Results of a large clinical validation study show that Menarini Silicon Biosystems' fetal cell based noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPT) technology can accurately detect both fetal genome-wide pathogenic copy number variants greater than 400Kb in size and the commonly screened trisomy conditions.

BOLOGNA, Italy and HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --The Reproductive Precision Medicine Unit of Menarini Silicon Biosystems (MSB) presented last week, at the 21st World Congress of the Fetal Medicine Foundation meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, results of a large multicenter study describing their next generation non-invasive prenatal testing technology using fetal cells isolated from maternal blood. The genomic analysis of these fetal cells showed a high concordance with the analysis of fetal cells obtained from invasive diagnostic procedures. Moreover, MSB's cell-based test, under development, demonstrated its potential validity for screening genomic conditions not easily found with currently available, state of the art, non-invasive screening technologies based on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis.

This large study, which enrolled over 1,000 women, was centered on isolating individual fetal (trophoblast) cells from maternal blood and analyzing them for both common trisomic conditions and genome-wide microdeletions and microduplications, called pathogenic copy number variants (pCNVs), that account for significant perinatal morbidity and mortality. The results presented showed that MSB's fetal cell based NIPT could deliver information beyond core "common" trisomies detected by standard non-invasive cfDNA analysis, as well as detect with a high level of accuracy and granularity genome-wide microdeletions and microduplications down to a size of at least 400Kb. The cell-based test was compared with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and karyotype from chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, the clinical gold - standard fetal diagnostic methodologies to detect genomic chromosomal abnormalities in the prenatal setting.

According to Professor Jon Hyett, Head of Maternal and Fetal Medicine at Liverpool Hospital and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Western Sydney University, who looks after pregnancies that have a high risk of complication  either for the mother, or for the fetus: "This data is exciting because it shows the potential to deliver clinically relevant and actionable information about fetal genomic abnormalities at higher resolution and accuracy than existing screening tests and at an early gestational age when almost no pCNVs are currently detected." Menarini's new study thereby opens the door to a whole new paradigm in prenatal screening.

For Thomas Musci, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Head of Menarini Silicon Biosystems' Reproductive Precision Medicine Business Unit, who presented the results of the study, "Isolating intact fetal cells from maternal blood for prenatal screening has long been perceived as an extremely challenging goal. Our highly automated system for the isolation and singlecell analysis of circulating extravillous trophoblasts (cEVTs) supports the feasibility of a cellbased NIPT for fetal genomic profiling that can lead to more informed decision-making at all levels."

Menarini has been actively investing to advance single cell analysis and sequencing in the field of reproductive care. For Fabio Piazzalunga, President of Menarini Silicon Biosystems, "The results of this study, which confirmed the potential ability of our cell based NIPT to identify fetal abnormalities with high sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity, show the potential of Menarini to significantly impact women's health. Our continuous commitment and efforts to advance our scientific findings in this field aim to provide, in the future, a potentially revolutionary solution that brings more information to women and their doctors". These new activities fully support the company's vision to become a leader in minimally invasive cell-based applications that can allow for easier, faster, and more precise diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in multiple therapeutic areas.

About Menarini Silicon Biosystems (MSB)

MSB offers unique rare cell technologies and solutions that provide clinical researchers with access to unparalleled resolution in the study of cells and their molecular characterization.

Menarini Silicon Biosystems , based in Castel Maggiore (Bologna, Italy), and Huntingdon Valley, PA., U.S., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group, a multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics company headquartered in Florence, Italy, with more than 17,000 employees in 140 countries.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2452172/Menarini_Silicon_Biosystems_Logo.jpg

Contact:

PAVY Consulting

Linda PAVY

[email protected]

SOURCE Menarini Silicon Biosystems
RALEIGH, N.C. and SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned Scholar, Michael John Williams, Director of the Carnegie-Maxwell Policy Planning Lab and Associate Professor of International Affairs at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, has signed with Odin Frigg LLC.

Leading authority in international affairs signs with Odin Frigg Post this Michael John Williams

Williams is an expert on international security regionally focused on NATO, Europe, and Russia. He holds a Senior Non-Resident fellowship at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington. He is an author and commentator, with publications in several academic journals and appearances on global media outlets including CNN, BBC and MSNBC. His most recent book, Law, Science and Liberalism in the American Way of War, published by Cambridge University Press, delves into the complex intersection of law, technology, and morality within contemporary warfare. Williams is working on his next book focused on how NATO will defend against further Russian aggression. As Director of the Policy Planning Lab, he works with next generation policy makers to devise creative solutions to pressing global challenges.

"As leading authority in international affairs, Professor Williams is deeply knowledgeable on highly relevant topics, including international security, NATO, and ethical governance. We are incredibly proud that he has joined the Firm," stated Christine D. Gagnon, Chief Executive Officer of Odin Frigg.

"I am delighted to be represented by Odin Frigg. Christine's passion for her work and for her clients is clear; she is an innovator in her space. I take deep pride in helping global audiences make sense of international affairs; I am very much looking forward to formalizing and deepening our partnership," Williams said.

About Odin Frigg

Odin Frigg LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CDG Holdings Group Inc., is an international boutique agency and advisory firm serving clients across industries. Visit: https://www.odin-frigg.com or https://www.christinedgagnon.com for more information.

To learn more about Michael John Williams: https://www.mjwilliams.com.

For media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

SOURCE CDG Holdings Group Inc.
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager) mission.

The firm-fixed-price contract has a value of approximately $69 million, which includes launch services and other mission related costs. The COSI mission currently is targeted to launch August 2027 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

This wide-field gamma-ray telescope will study energetic phenomena in the Milky Way and beyond, including the creation and destruction of matter and antimatter and the final stages of the lives of stars. NASA's COSI mission will probe the origins of the Milky Way's galactic positrons, uncover the sites of nucleosynthesis in our galaxy, perform studies of gamma-ray polarization, and find counterparts to multi-messenger sources. The compact Compton telescope combines improved sensitivity, spectral resolution, angular resolution, and sky coverage to facilitate groundbreaking science.

The mission is a collaboration between the University of California, Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory, the University of California, San Diego, the Naval Research Laboratory, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and Northrop Grumman.

The COSI principal investigator-led project management team is located at the University of California, Berkeley. NASA's Astrophysics Explorers Program at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, supports development of the project for the Astrophysics Division within NASA's Science Mission Directorate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is responsible for program management of the launch services.

For more information about COSI, visit:

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cosi/

SOURCE NASA
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected 23 minority-serving institutions to receive $1.2 million to grow their research and technology capabilities, collaborate on research projects, and contribute to the agency's missions for the benefit of humanity.

Through NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Partnership Learning Annual Notification (MPLAN) award, selected institutions will receive up to $50,000 each for a six-month period to work directly on STEM projects with subject matter experts in NASA's mission directorates.

A photo of MPLAN principal investigator awardees from various minority-serving institutions at the 2023 NASA Better Together conference in San Jose, California. Credits: NASA

"As NASA looks to inspire the next generation, the Artemis Generation, we are intentional in increasing access for all," said Shahra Lambert, NASA senior advisor for engagement and equity. "It's a daring task to return to the Moon then venture to Mars, but NASA is known to make the impossible possible. By funding partnerships such as MPLAN, and tapping into all pools of STEM resources, including MSIs, we are ensuring the future of our missions are in good hands."

The awards will contribute to research opportunities in preparation for larger funding programs such as NASA's annual Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer solicitation, the Space Technology Research Grant Program within the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate, the University Leadership Initiative within the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, and the Human Research Program within NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate.

"These awards will help unlock the full potential of students traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research and careers," said Torry Johnson, deputy associate administrator of STEM Engagement Projects at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Through this award, universities receive support, resources, and guidance directly from NASA experts, which can be a game changer for the work they do to develop technological innovations that contribute to NASA missions and benefit all of humanity."

The awardees are as follows:

Arizona State University

Drones for Contact-inclusive Planetary Exploration

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Bioinspired Surface Design for Thermal Extremes

California State University-Fresno

Human-Centric Digital Twins in NASA Space Missions

California State University-Northridge

Repurposing Lander Parts into Geodesic Assemblies

California State University, Monterey Bay

Crafting Biofuels via Molecular Insights

CUNY New York City College of Technology

Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate for Seed Growth: Microgreens in Space

Delgado Community College , New Orleans, Louisiana

Freshmen Access to CubeSat Education

Fayetteville State University , Fayetteville, North Carolina

New Tech for Storm Tracking with Machine Learning

Hampton University , Hampton, Virginia

Sustained Approach for Energetic Lunar Operation

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Information-Theoretic Multi-Robot Exploration

Portland State University , Portland, Oregon

Robot Leg Design for Lunar Exploration

Regents of New Mexico State University

Extreme Aerodynamics Over Small Air Vehicles

San Diego State University

Enhanced Aero-Composites: Reinforcement Innovation

San Francisco State University

Early Non-invasive Diagnosis of Heart Diseases

San Jose State University

Designing Resilient Battery System for Space

Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

X-Ray 3D Printing of Nanocomposites for AME

Plant Antimicrobial in Space Exploration using AI

Spelman College , Atlanta, Georgia

Non-contact Optical Sensor for Biomedicine

The Research Foundation of CUNY on behalf of City College, New York

Soft Tendril-inspired Robot for Space Exploration

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Hydrodynamic Stability of Jets via Neural Networks

Low-SWaP Water Electrolyzer for Lunar/Martian In-Situ Resource Utilization

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Tuneable NanoEnergetic Microthruster Cartridges

University of California, Irvine

Flexible Modular Robots for Extreme Access

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Ultrasound methods for monitoring carcinogenesis

University of New Mexico

All-climate and Ultrafast Aluminum Ion Batteries

The awarded institutions and their partners are invited to meet with NASA researchers and MUREP representatives throughout the remainder of 2024. The meetings serve as training sessions to pursue future NASA opportunities. These trainings focus primarily on fostering collaboration, enhancing technical skills, and providing insights into NASA's research priorities to better prepare participants for future opportunities.

To learn more about MPLAN, visit:

https://go.nasa.gov/49gsZ9X

SOURCE NASA
CeraVe Reveals New Data and Sparks a Movement of Dermatologist Changemakers in Recognition of World Skin Health Day, A Global Initiative Led by the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD)

NEW YORK, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Timed to World Skin Health Day on July 8, CeraVe, the #1 dermatologist-recommended skincare brand in the US*, reveals new survey data that reinforces the need for more skin health education and exposes the barriers that prevent American adults from receiving proper care and treatment. According to the survey conducted among 1,000 adults within the United States, not only do 80% experience skin concerns, but 1 in 4 report experiencing a more serious skin condition. Yet, only 40% visit a dermatologist once a year for an annual skin check. This World Skin Health Day, CeraVe is joining the founders of the annual day of awareness, the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD), to spark a movement within the global dermatology community to increase awareness, education and access to skin health in underserved communities.

CeraVe for World Skin Health Day

To reinforce its commitment to providing access to skin health for all, CeraVe has become the first official corporate partner of World Skin Health Day, leveraging its vast network of dermatologists to help the ILDS and ISD spark a movement for change. As part of its World Skin Health Day initiative, the brand is sponsoring events in North America, Argentina, Malta, Tanzania, Nepal and Australia that are driving education around the importance of equitable skin care access and helping to connect dermatologists with patients most in need. Activations in each country include training frontline hospital workers, advocacy outreach to local government and specialty care offerings for patients experiencing various skin health conditions.

Within the United States, CeraVe has called on dermatologists to take action by becoming a "Derm Changemaker" and offering free skin checks in their local communities. Through the brand's existing partnership with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC), CeraVe and NAFC are welcoming dermatologists on July 8 in select clinics nationwide to make skincare more accessible to the patients and communities they serve.

Providing skin checks and products to these programs are imperative steps being taken to help address a clear disparity in skin health access, as the survey also revealed:

When asked about their barriers to dermatological care, respondents cited long wait times (27%), lack of insurance (20%), and limited availability of dermatologists (18%) as the primary challenges.

Additionally, one-third of Americans say they cannot afford dermatological care.

More than half (54%) visit general healthcare providers for skin health issues, which may suggest a lack of specialized care for skin conditions.

"CeraVe is committed to increasing access to therapeutic skincare for all people, particularly those in underserved communities where there is a real gap in access to skin health resources," said Tom Allison, Senior Vice President of Medical Dermatology Marketing at L'Oreal. "We work alongside our partners who are leading change, like the NAFC, ILDS and ISD, by offering training, mentorship, grants and in-kind products to help close this skin health gap and ensure everyone can access the care that they need."

Joining this movement is one of the most-followed board-certified dermatologists on social media, Dr. Dustin Portela, who will volunteer his time at his local NAFC clinic, The Marie Blanchard Friendship Clinic, in Boise on July 8th.

"When I was in medical school, I treated a patient experiencing homelessness, and I knew in that moment that I wanted to provide free care to people who needed it," said Dr. Portela. "My goal as a doctor has always been to give care to those who need it most. Volunteering with NAFC and CeraVe on World Skin Health Day is one way I'm living that commitment to make sure that I'm offering care beyond those who see me in the office so that I can give back to my community and make a lasting impact on skin health, and hopefully, inspiring other dermatologists to become changemakers alongside us."

Patients who would like to visit an NAFC clinic on World Skin Health Day can visit CeraVeForWorldSkinHealth.com/MySkinHealth to find the nearest location offering skin checks. For those in the New York metro area, CeraVe employees will also be volunteering alongside dermatologists at the Brooklyn Free Clinic at the University Hospital of Brooklyn. CeraVe is offering educational training to the clinic volunteers on World Skin Health Day to help encourage long-term skin health care. Consumers can visit between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM EST for free skin check appointments, skin health education, and fun games and prizes.

About CeraVe

Founded in 2005 with a mission to provide therapeutic skincare for all, CeraVe creates products developed with dermatologists to restore and maintain the skin's natural barrier. All CeraVe formulas are enriched with three skin-identical ceramides (ceramides 1, 3, and 6-II), with select products featuring MVE Technology for controlled, long-lasting hydration. CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist-recommended skincare brand in the US* and is now available in over 60 countries worldwide. Find CeraVe on Facebook (@ceraveusa), Instagram (@cerave), TikTok (@cerave), X (@cerave) or visit www.cerave.com.

About World Skin Health Day

World Skin Health Day is a joint project of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD). Since 2013, World Skin Health Day has been taking place across the world to raise awareness of and treat a diverse range of skin conditions. In 2024, for the first time, World Skin Health Day will be celebrated annually on July 8th.

About National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC)

The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of medically underserved people throughout the U.S. and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies that serve them. NAFC programs provide a wide range of support to our members and in turn patients through funding, education and training, advocacy, standards, disaster relief and more.

 Survey Methodology: This survey was conducted online by Material among 1,002 US adults ages 18+ May-June 2024

* IQVIA, ProVoice Survey, 12 months ending October 2023

Contact:

Coyne PR

[email protected]

Christine Alkhawam

[email protected]

SOURCE CeraVe
LEUVEN, Belgium, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- P95 BV ("P95"), a global leader in clinical and epidemiology research solutions, with a focus on vaccines and infectious diseases, is excited to announce the strategic acquisition of 4Clinics, a Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing Data Management, Biostatistics, Scientific Writing, Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Operations services for clinical and epidemiological studies with expertise in vaccines, immunotherapeutics and medical devices. P95 is a portfolio company of private equity firm Ampersand Capital Partners ("Ampersand"). Commencing on 1 July 2024, the 4Clinic's team and operations will be fully integrated into the P95 group.

Thomas Verstraeten, CEO of P95, comments, "I am very excited to have the 4Clinics team as part of the P95 group. 4Clinics has a long history of supporting a wide range of customers across the globe, and like us, is well known for its expertise in vaccines and infectious disease. The knowledge and experience they bring, particularly in biometrics and medical writing, will significantly strengthen our capacity and enhance our ability to provide full-scale CRO services to our customers. Establishing ourselves in France will also enable us to better serve our Francophone clientele."

The President of 4Clinics, Fabrice Degrez remarks, "We are thrilled to start this strategic partnership in a competitive market where consolidation is key. By joining forces with P95, a like-minded partner sharing our Belgian roots, we are setting a robust foundation for innovation and enhanced capabilities. This collaboration underscores our commitment to excellence and ensures continuity and improved services for our customers. Together, we are dedicated to sustaining long-term advancements in our field."

"Under P95's leadership, numerous strategic programs have been initiated, showcasing impressive progress towards building a leading Infectious Disease & Vaccine CRO with both observational and clinical capabilities. Ampersand is proud to support a company that significantly contributes to improving access to life-saving drugs and medicines for patients worldwide," adds Benoit Bouche, Board Chairman of P95 and Ampersand Operating Partner.

About P95

P95, an Ampersand portfolio company, is a leading global provider of clinical and epidemiology research solutions with a specialty focus on vaccines and infectious diseases. With headquarters in Belgium, and regional hubs in Africa (South Africa), Latin America (Colombia), North America (USA), and Southeast Asia (Thailand), P95's full-service CRO solutions span across 5 continents with staff in over 25 countries. P95 offers a wide range of solutions including phase I-IV clinical studies, epidemiology, and RWE studies, in addition to scientific and clinical development consulting, P95 provides end-to-end services including study start-up, clinical monitoring, sample management, medical monitoring and pharmacovigilance, qualitative research, medical writing, data management, biostatistics, and IT.

About 4Clinics

4Clinics is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing Data Management, Biostatistics, Scientific Writing, Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Operations services for clinical and epidemiological studies with a particular expertise in vaccines, immunotherapeutics and medical devices. 4Clinics serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices companies as well as NGOs, hospitals and researchers with tailor-made services including remote biometry and medical writing platforms. 4Clinics has offices in Belgium, France, and Morocco.

About Ampersand Capital Partners

Founded in 1988, Ampersand Capital Partners is a middle market private equity firm with $3 billion of assets under management dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector. With offices in Boston, MA and Amsterdam, Netherlands, Ampersand leverages a unique blend of private equity and operating experience to build value and drive long-term performance alongside its portfolio company management teams. Ampersand has helped build numerous market-leading companies across each of the firm's core healthcare sectors. For additional information, visit ampersandcapital.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE P95 BV
Melbourne real estate agent Noah Rezaie's new advertisement has got Australians from all over talking  just as he'd hoped.

A real estate agent's tongue-in-cheek advertisement offering the services of the "best looking agent" throughout his local suburb has left Australians in hysterics  and has had the intended result of boosting business, he claims.

Sometimes in Australia, real estate agents get a bad wrap. In the middle of one of the worst housing crises on record, many have been blasted for what's been described as "tone deaf" and "concerning" behaviour, particularly when it comes to boasting about profits amid a well-documented cost of living emergency.

On the other hand however, there are times when they've also been celebrated for their "clever" techniques in getting people through the door.

While one Melbourne agent's ad was met with criticism from some who thought it was "fairly cringe", others found the approach "actually funny" and reflective of his "good sense of humour".

Rezaie's strategy left some on the internet in hysterics, while others less so. Source: Reddit

Agent responds to 'successful' advertising campaign

Noah Rezaie of P&G Real Estate spoke to Yahoo News Australia about the viral advert, which has been plastered from top to bottom on the back of one public bus and since re-shared all over social media. It reads: "Voted #1 best-looking agent in Narre Warren South  *as voted by my mum", beside a metres-long image of Rezaie.

According to the Melburnian, "the response has been really good" since the ad started out about a week ago and "weve got a lot of people reach out to us [since then]". "Theres been an increase in clients reaching out to me," Rezaie told Yahoo News Australia. "It has definitely made a big difference to my business, taking the light-hearted approach.

"We at P&G real estate pride ourselves as being different so we decided to take a different approach of advertising.

"My mum and the girls at the office always call me the best-looking in the area, so we thought it would be a good idea to use it as an advertisement," he joked.

Australians weigh in on viral real estate ad

Online, many saw the humour.

"I think its quite cute. Posting about it was exactly what he wouldve wanted," a person said in response. "The advertising worked," another said.

"This is going to be an unpopular opinion: But an REA's job is to get your house seen, talked about, and sold. You're all talking about him, this guy knows his sh*t," said another.

"You know what? That's actually funny. Good on him," wrote a fourth. "Honestly this kind of advertisement would get me to see the person. Good sense of humour and doesn't take themselves too seriously."

Meanwhile, others were critical of the strategy, but conceded the asterisk point "saved it". "Eh, it's fairly cringe, but the joke about his mum kinda salvages it somewhat," a responder commented.

Real estate ads not always well-received

Last month, Yahoo News Australia reported on a Queensland agent who appeared to mock people sleeping rough on social media.

The agent wrote beside an image of a rough sleeper in a park: "Tell me how [you] would market this", urging respondents to join in on the "joke", prompting people to share their thoughts with multiple laughing emojis.

As demand for social homes skyrockets, and at a time when tenants are paying increasingly high prices in rent, it's "concerning" to see "anyone making light of people in tents", one anti-homelessness advocate lamented to Yahoo News.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- When Adena Health pediatrician Lois Jetty, MD, was diagnosed last fall with breast cancer, some asked if she would be going to Columbus for treatment.

Her answer, every time, was absolutely not. She would trust her care to her colleagues at Adena.

"We have such a wonderful cancer center at Adena, so I always say I want to be here," Dr. Jetty said. "I am thankful to the Lord that we have this state-of-the-art cancer center right here in Chillicothe and I am so thankful for the strength He has given me and my family as we walked through this journey."

Dr. Jetty, who recently returned to work providing well-child visits during her recovery, was serving on the hospital board when Adena opened the cancer center in 2012. She certainly never thought she would end up being a patient at the facility. Her experience as a patient, however, has only solidified her belief in the center's importance to members of the community.

"People don't realize what a real jewel we have here. It's just so welcoming the minute you walk in," she said. "You feel like you are going into a place where everybody is going to take care of you. You're treated so special, it just helps you forget everything."

Dr. Jetty, as a patient, took comfort in how quickly the process to address her condition kicked into gear from the point October 31 that she was called back in to further explore something that appeared on her initial mammogram. She said Bryan Borland, MD, and the staff in radiology quickly got her follow-up screening completed and a biopsy done that came back positive for cancer.

There wasn't time to dwell on the diagnosis, because she was quickly contacted by surgeon Christin Spahn, MD, to review her case and discuss surgical options.

"It's amazing how quickly everything started," Dr. Jetty said. "When you have a diagnosis of cancer, sometimes it can make you feel like the world is falling apart, but it wasn't like that here."

The timely manner at which things were moving was just one of the factors Dr. Jetty found reassuring. Among several others was the ability of the physicians, nurses, and nurse navigator to explain each step of the process and answer questions in a way anyone could understand. Even though Dr. Jetty and the members of her family are physicians, their expertise is not in cancer care.

Dr. Jetty's original treatment plan involved six cycles of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. With each of her infusions, she said Jeffrey Rose, MD, was very attentive and compassionate when meeting, asking how she was tolerating the treatment to see if any changes were needed.

Based on her response to the chemotherapy and what was being seen in screenings, the decision was made to go forward with a mastectomy performed by Dr. Spahn.

"Dr. Spahn is such a wonderful surgeon," Dr. Jetty said. "She is so compassionate and so thorough with explaining everything and helping make the decisions. It wasn't so much telling us what needed to be done, but helping us make the decision and then being OK with the decision."

Dr. Jetty recovered well from the surgery performed in mid-April, but will remain on a treatment plan of immunotherapy and chemotherapy until February. Expressing appreciation for all the help provided by her Adena work family, she has been thrilled with her return to providing well-child visits.

Speaking from her experience as a patient, Dr. Jetty said the quality of care that she received and the convenience of being able to stay close to home to receive it should make Adena a destination of choice for both her fellow caregivers and members of the public alike.

"I would definitely trust all of those providing care here," she said. "Plus, your family is not being disrupted by having to drive all the time to Columbus or elsewhere. Exceptional care close to home, that's something that I know from my experience is really, really important."

For more information on the providers and services available at Adena Cancer Center or to request an appointment, visit Adena.org/cancer or call 740-542-3030.

Adena Health

Adena Health is an independent, not-for-profit and locally governed health care organization delivering on its mission, "called to serve our communities," for more than 125 years. A regional economic catalyst, Adena Health is composed of more than 4,200 employees  including more than 200 physicians and 150 advanced practice providers. With hospitals containing a total of 341 beds, regional health centers, emergency and urgent care services, and primary and specialty care practices, Adena Health serves more than 400,000 residents across nine counties in south central and southern Ohio through its network of more than 40 locations. Its hospitals include the 266-bed Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe and three 25-bed critical access hospitalsAdena Fayette Medical Center in Washington Court House; Adena Greenfield Medical Center in Greenfield; and Adena Pike Medical Center in Waverly. Adena Health specialty services include orthopedics and sports medicine, heart and vascular care, pediatric and women's health, and oncology services.

SOURCE Adena Health
SAN FRANCISCO, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating a data breach impacting the private information of at least 751,895 customers of Frontier Communications Parent, Inc., a Texas-based Internet provider.

On or after June 6, 2024, Frontier announced that a cybercrime group had gained access to its systems and downloaded its customers' private information. Two days earlier, the RansomHub extortion group apparently claimed credit for the attack and threatened to leak five gigabytes of stolen customer data on the Dark Web.

RansomHub claims that the dataset includes the stolen private information of over two million Frontier customers, including full names, physical addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, and credit scores.

If your private information was impacted by this incident, you may be at risk of identity theft, financial fraud, and other serious violations of your privacy. As a result, you may be entitled to money damages and an injunction requiring changes to Frontier's cybersecurity practices.

If you received notification of this data breach or are or were a customer of Frontier Communications and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.classactionlawyers.com/frontier.

About Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP

Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide.

Contact

Amber L. Schubert

Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP

[email protected]

Tel: 415-788-4220

SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP
ATLANTA, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pye-Barker Fire & Safety  the largest fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety and security services provider in the United States  has acquired one of the Southeast's top fire protection companies, Cox Fire Protection. With three locations in Florida, Cox Fire Protection has synergies with Pye-Barker's nearby branches, enhancing the company's ability to provide long-term service and maintenance to commercial customers.

"I'm proud to follow in the footsteps of other family-built businesses who have chosen to join Pye-Barker." Post this Matt Hammon, President of Pye-Barker's Sprinkler Division, and Rod DiBona, COO of the Sprinkler Division, meet with Tera and Scott Cox in Florida.

Pye-Barker continues bringing together the nation's best life safety companies and the families that run them. Cox Fire is one of those companies. Founded in 1984 by Ron and Linda Cox and led today by their son Scott Cox, Cox Fire Protection works from its branches in Tampa, Ocala and Jacksonville, Florida to provide end-to-end installation, service and inspection for fire sprinkler, fire suppression and fire alarm systems. The company also protects businesses through 24-hour monitoring and fire extinguisher service.

"I'm proud to follow in the footsteps of other family-built businesses who have chosen to join Pye-Barker," said Scott Cox, President at Cox Fire. "Through Cox Fire's four decades of service, we've grown to become a leading fire protection company in our area and work on some of Florida's most iconic buildings and projects. I'm excited to see how Pye-Barker's support will fuel us to even bigger projects in the future."

"Pye-Barker's growth is inspired by teams like Cox Fire  one that has been successful in its market, embodies an entrepreneurial spirit, has a fantastic culture and is ready to continue to grow with our support," said Bart Proctor, Pye-Barker CEO. "The entire team here will now be part of our industry's biggest family business, Pye-Barker, where we honor the legacies of those who came before us and invite our team members to define their own legacies."

The highly skilled Cox Fire team will continue to serve customers in the Southeast.

About Pye-Barker Fire & Safety

The U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety provides complete fire protection and security systems nationwide. With over 200 locations and 6,000 team members nationwide, Pye-Barker ranks No. 954 on the Inc 5000 and No. 8 on the SDM 100.

Pye-Barker remains actively engaged in exploring strategic acquisition opportunities. We welcome the opportunity to share why we're the acquirer of choice. Visit pyebarkerfs.com/acquisitions.

Contact:

Rod DiBona

COO, Pye-Barker Sprinkler Division

605.348.2342

[email protected]

Media:

Alycia Volpe

[email protected]

SOURCE Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
WARSAW, Poland, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark move to strengthen individual rights within the European Union, Mr. Robert Szustkowski has issued the Open Letter to the European Commission, advocating for the expansion of the EU's "Right to be Forgotten" law. This proposal seeks to classify news media outlets as data controllers responsible for managing personal information, a change that could transform digital privacy and reputation management.

Addressing Executive Vice-President Jourova and Commissioner Reynders, Mr. Szustkowski highlights the need for updated regulations to protect individuals' personal rights in the digital age. The original "Right to be Forgotten" law, introduced by former European Commissioner Viviane Reding in 2012, was a pioneering step in data protection. However, with the rapid growth of digital information sharing, Mr. Szustkowski calls for extension of the law to news media outlets.

The primary goal of Mr. Szustkowski's initiative is to introduce procedures for safeguarding the European Union Community against disinformation by giving individuals additional tools to protect their image.

Mr. Szustkowski draws on his own experiences as a victim of continuous media "lynching" in Poland that tarnish his reputation, despite multiple court rulings in his favor. These relentless attacks highlight a significant gap in current regulations, where media outlets often hide behind claims of editorial independence and press freedom to justify publishing defamatory articles.

Mr. Szustkowski advocates respect for both the protection of personal rights and freedom of speech, arguing that individuals should have the right to remove false, undocumented or irrelevant information from the media that harms their reputation. This could be achieved by categorizing media entities as data controllers, making them responsible for the accuracy and rectification of information connected to personal data they publish. Furthermore, the initiative calls on the European Commission to establish clear guidelines for media publishers, including legal liability for breaches of the Directive. In this regard, media outlets should establish documented rules for approving sensitive articles to ensure accuracy and prevent damage to individuals' reputations. Finally, information about personal data breaches should be widely available, raising public awareness and ensuring media accountability.

Extending the "Right to be Forgotten" law to news media outlets is essential to create tools to protect the reputation of EU citizens and help prevent disinformation across the European Union, says Szustkowski.

Open letter: https://szustkowski.ch/en/open-letter-to-the-european-commission/

Press office

[email protected]

+48792356056

SOURCE Public Dialog representing Robert Szustkowski
The global contextual advertising company enters the Australian market with acquisition of JustEggs, expanding its footprint in the APAC region

NEW YORK , July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Seedtag , the global leader in contextual advertising, announced today that the company has acquired JustEggs , an Australian-owned creative intelligence business that drives measurable digital solutions for brands and advertisers. The acquisition is a strategic move to support business growth across the APAC region by introducing Seedtag's proprietary contextual AI technology, Liz, to the Australian market.

Seedtag acquires JustEggs

Founded in 2013, JustEggs specializes in leveraging its innovative digital solutions to create engaging campaigns that offer true value for brands and advertisers. Starting in July, JustEggs will integrate Seedtag's privacy-first targeting technologies into its offering to further enhance its advertising solutions, providing more targeted and effective campaigns for its clients through the power of contextual AI. To ensure a smooth integration of both technologies, Seedtag and JustEggs will work closely together while delivering a seamless experience to their partners. JustEggs' CEO and Founder, Nik Kontoulas, will remain with the company, assuming the role of Managing Director ANZ.

The number of internet users in Australia is expected to exceed 23.3 million by 2025, achieving an impressive internet penetration rate of over 89% - according to Statista. For Seedtag, entering the Australian market was a natural step toward fulfilling its mission of becoming the contextual partner for brands, agencies, and publishers. Australia will now benefit from privacy-first advertising that reaches consumers through their real-time interests at scale. This launch follows Seedtag's successful market entries in India and Peru in 2023 and Canada in 2024.

For over a decade, Seedtag has been developing its in-house contextual AI technology, Liz, to meet the ever evolving needs of the adtech industry. In 2024, Seedtag was awarded "Best Contextual Targeting Offering" at Digiday Media Awards. The acquisition of JustEggs increases Seedtag's presence to a total of 17 markets.

"The acquisition of JustEggs is a clear example of Seedtag's willingness to continue its international expansion into the APAC region," said Albert Nieto, Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Seedtag. "We are very excited to partner with one of the best teams in our industry to bring contextual intelligence to new heights."

"Teaming up with Seedtag thrusts us into a fresh era of digital advertising innovation for the ANZ market," said Nik Kontoulas, founder of JustEggs. "With their proprietary tech and global reach, we're geared up for success in a cookieless world and beyond. It's an exciting journey ahead."

"Australia is a very sophisticated, data and technology-led market, and we have much to contribute to this local digital advertising industry," said Dal Gill, VP of New Markets at Seedtag. "Following our successful entry into India, this is the second market we have opened in the APAC region. I'm confident that our unique contextual advertising solutions will greatly benefit Australian brands and publishers in achieving their advertising goals while meeting the demand for privacy-first, scalable targeting."

About Seedtag

Seedtag is the leading contextual advertising company that creates highly impactful and engaging digital ads within relevant premium content, powering targeting and returns for top publishers and the finest brands. The company's contextual AI, Liz, allows brands to engage with consumers within their universe of interest on a cookie-free basis.

Seedtag was founded in Madrid in 2014 by two ex-googlers who wanted to get the most out of editorial images. Today, it is a global company with more than 600 employees and a significant international presence, with offices in Spain, France, Italy, UK, Benelux, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, UAE, Peru, Canada, US, India and Australia.

About JustEggs

Founded in 2013 JustEggs specialize in the convergence of creative, media and data, helping 100+ brands drive customer acquisition and retention.

The mission always remains to evolve the digital ad market with effective and measurable digital ad solutions that drive relevancy for consumers and real world results for retail marketers.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2451891/Seedtag.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2276718/Seedtag_logo.jpg

SOURCE Seedtag
ORLANDO, Fla., July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In an audacious move that marries humor with drama, Shapellx, a leading women's shapewear brand, has launched a captivating new branding campaign that features Lady Liberty, the quintessential symbol of American independence. This creative endeavor, meticulously crafted for the American audience, underscores the brand's commitment to empowering women to boldly express themselves and embrace the confidence that comes with high-quality shapewear.

At the heart of this campaign is a video under the theme "Feel the Difference, Trust in Shapellx." By portraying Lady Liberty behind the scenes, Shapellx emphasizes that both confidence and comfort are accessible to every woman, every day with the brand's shapewear.

The video offers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at Lady Liberty's routine, showcasing Shapellx as the ultimate solution for accentuating body curves while prioritizing comfort. It underscores the brand's commitment to providing unparalleled support, enabling every woman, including Lady Liberty, to navigate through their day with ease. The narrative highlights the effortless fusion of Shapellx shapewear into daily life. So meticulously crafted and comfortable is Shapellx's range, that it suggests that one could easily drift into a peaceful slumber without a hint of discomfort, embodying the ultimate testament to its wearability and the freedom it offers.

In the video, Shapellx's shapewear stands out for its remarkable functionality, comfort, and suitability for everyday wear. Thanks to the innovative design and advanced fabric technology, it offers a bum-lifting effect and unparalleled comfort. This ensures that wearers not only look stunning but also feel at ease throughout the day.

Beyond the innovative design and exceptional comfort, Shapellx stands as a beacon of inclusivity, embracing individuals of all sizes, ages, and backgrounds. This ethos is deeply woven into the very fabric of the brand, alongside a relentless pursuit of innovation that drives continuous improvement in design and technology. Shapellx's dedication to quality and reliability further cements its status as a trusted partner in enhancing the consumer experience.

As Shapellx unveils this bold campaign, it extends an invitation to explore and experience the difference firsthand. This is an opportunity to discover the latest in shapewear innovation and to embrace the values of freedom, confidence, and independence that the brand stands for.

For more information about Shapellx and its shapewear collection, visit the official website, or engage with the Shapellx community on Instagram @shapellxofficial.

About Shapellx

Shapellx is a leading brand specializing in shapewear and body shaping products. With a focus on creating sustainable products and processes, Shapellx offers a range of high-quality, comfortable, and stylish solutions that enhance natural beauty while minimizing environmental impact. With innovative designs and a customer-centric approach, Shapellx continues to redefine the shapewear industry, helping women worldwide embrace their curves and feel confident in their own skin.

CONTACT: Olivia, [email protected]

SOURCE Shapellx
Snuggle brand, known for making the world a cozier place for over 30 years, premieres campaign to showcase new brand messaging across national TV & multiple digital and social platforms.

STAMFORD, Conn., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Snuggle brand announces the premiere of their new campaign, launching on July 1, 2024, to mark the debut of its new brand messaging. With a new national television commercial as well as digital and social media content running across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, it aims to engage Snuggle brand consumers in a dynamic and impactful manner, showcasing the brand's commitment to bringing the comfort of home to families everywhere.

Henkel Logo (PRNewsfoto/Henkel)

This campaign not only emphasizes how Snuggle products enhance comfort with its collection of liquid fabric softeners, dryer sheets and scent booster crystals, but also underscores the role of scent cues in evoking the familiar feeling of home. The digital content crafted for this campaign is designed to resonate with a broad audience through compelling storytelling and creative visuals. The content celebrates the range of products designed to appeal to all, emphasizing the joy of embracing both softness and freshness after every wash.

""We are excited to launch this new Snuggle campaign, centered around the powerful connection between scent, softness, and the feeling of home. This initiative celebrates the cherished familiarity of Snuggle product's beloved scents while highlighting the comforting touchpoints of softness that evoke a sense of home. Whether near or far, Snuggle products remind consumers that the feeling of home is always within reach, making every moment more comfortable." - said Allison Feldman, VP Marketing - Fabric Softener & Personal Care Brands at Henkel

The new Snuggle TV commercial evokes a sense of home and nostalgia, highlighting the brand's core values. Highlighting Snuggle Blue Sparkle Crystals, Blue Sparkle Fabric Softener, and Blue Sparkle Dryer Sheets, the commercial showcases the products being infused in everyday home settings to authentically connect with viewers. Of course, the beloved Snuggle Bear also makes a heartwarming appearance.

Consumers can catch the television commercial nationally, on Connected TV and Amazon Prime TV; additional digital content will premiere on YouTube, Meta (Instagram & Facebook) and TikTok all on July 1st. For more information please visit www.snuggle.com and visit us on Instagram @snuggle_bear, Facebook @snuggle, X @snuggle, and YouTube @snuggle.

About Snuggle

Snuggle fabric softener has been making the world a softer place for over 30 years, providing the ultimate in Snuggly Softness and long-lasting freshness to loads of laundry. The Snuggle line offers a variety of high-quality fabric conditioning products, including liquid softeners, dryer sheets, and in-wash scent boosters that make clothes snuggly soft while providing long-lasting freshness. See www.Snuggle.com for full details .

About Henkel in North America

Henkel's portfolio of well-known brands in North America includes Schwarzkopf hair care, Dial soaps, Persil, Purex, and all laundry detergents, Snuggle fabric softeners as well as Loctite, Technomelt and Bonderite adhesives. With sales close to 6.6 billion US dollars (6 billion euros) in 2023, North America accounts for 28 percent of the company's global sales. Henkel employs around 8,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.henkel-northamerica.com and on Twitter @Henkel_NA.

SOURCE Snuggle
Through September 30th, Wash Club members can visit, collect and win  all to celebrate

Magic Graphene  the new, elite car-protection technology in Soapy Joe's premium product line!

SAN DIEGO, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Soapy Joe's Car Wash, the family-owned car wash with locations across San Diego County, today announced the launch of its newest promotion for Wash Club members: Build a Ballpark, featuring San Diego Padres' pitcher, Joe Musgrove. Now through September 30th, Wash Club members can visit all 24 Soapy Joe's locations to collect exclusive Joe Musgrove air fresheners and qualify to win swag and cash prizes. The promotion celebrates the newest elite car-protection technology that is now available to Magic Joe-level members: Magic Graphene.

San Diego Padres' pitcher Joe Musgrove teams up with Soapy Joe's to celebrate the launch of its newest car wash technology, Magic Graphene. Wash Club members can visit all 24 locations, collect exclusive Joe Musgrove air fresheners and win prizes.

Composed of pure carbon, graphene is a single-layer, hexagon-bonded graphite shield, whose discoverers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010. Its applications are broad and include medicine, energy, electronics  and car protection! Used during a wash, graphene provides cars with a glossy finish, durability and excellent water and dirt repellent. It also protects against harmful UV rays and contaminants, making it a strong, carbon-based material for vehicle care.

Each of Soapy Joe's 24 locations have a limited-edition Joe Musgrove air freshener that members can collect. The "Musk-grove"-scented air fresheners are a singular piece to a larger image puzzle that, together, create one large picture of Petco Park and Joe Musgrove himself! As members visit each site to collect their air fresheners, they'll have the chance to score Soapy Swag and other prizes. For a full list of prizes, visit soapyjoescarwash.com/collect.

"Soapy Joe's Car Wash is a hometown staple," said Joe Musgrove, who was born and raised in El Cajon, California and joined the San Diego Padres in 2021, serving as one of their top starting pitchers. "I'm honored to represent the Soapy Joe's team this summer to help them generate excitement for Magic Graphene and help their members have some fun and maybe even score some great prizes. Everybody loves to win!"

Wash Club members at any level can take part in Soapy Joe's Build a Ballpark promotion and win prizes. Members must have a valid email address on file no later than September 30th and can check or update their email on their account page.

Non-members can pick a wash plan to get in on ALL the action AND can even compete to win a 3-month membership regardless of their Wash Club status. The first 10 people to share their 24-piece air freshener collection on Instagram and tag @soapyjoes with the hashtag #MagicJoeMusgrove will win a year of unlimited Soapy Joe's washes!

About Soapy Joe's

Soapy Joe's Car Wash is a locally owned family business with over 20 locations serving San Diego County. Soapy Joe's prides itself in its commitment to the environment, using advanced water reclamation systems, and earning the International Carwash Association's Water Savers designation. Over the past 12 years, Soapy Joe's has donated more than $2 million and 120,000 free washes, benefiting communities such as veterans, healthcare workers, schools, hospitals, firefighters and more. For more information, current brand news and updates please visit www.soapyjoescarwash.com and follow Soapy Joes on Instagram @soapyjoes.

Media Contact

Angela Stanley, 919-480-7937, [email protected]

SOURCE Soapy Joe's Car Wash
CHICAGO and ROCKVILLE, Md., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SpineCraft, a leading spinal surgery implants and instruments developer and manufacturer, announces a strategic partnership with Spartan Medical Inc., a veteran-owned and operated medical solutions company, focused on providing innovative products to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), civilian hospitals, and Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) across the United States. This partnership announcement furthers an existing relationship and collaboration between the two organizations, expanding access to SpineCraft's portfolio to physicians and patients at VA and DoD medical facilities worldwide.

SpineCraft Elegant Solutions for Spine Surgery

"As the spinal industry has evolved, we've seen an exponential race to the bottom driven by lower cost demands from hospital systems and group purchasing organizations (GPOs)," said Vince Proffitt, Founder & President of Spartan Medical. He adds, "to maintain profit margins, many companies in this space look to outsource manufacturing which has the potential to affect product quality and durability. Through our firm, fixed, fair pricing on two nationwide federal contracts, coupled with 16 years of independence through private ownership, we aren't held captive to the same market pressures, allowing our organization to stay laser focused on sourcing best-in-class solutions for veterans and our service men and womenproudly made right here in America!"

Wagdy Asaad, MD, President & CEO of SpineCraft expressed similar enthusiasm for the strategic partnership with Spartan, stating "we are excited to further grow our relationship with Spartan Medical in the federal government."

Brian Oliver, VP of Sales & Marketing added, "we value Vince and the Spartan team and are excited to further focus and expand this important segment of our business. This collaboration underscores SpineCraft's commitment to delivering elegant solutions to surgeons and hospitals through Spartan's contracts."

About SpineCraft

SpineCraft is a leading developer and manufacture of spinal implants and instruments, focused on providing innovative and thoughtful solutions for spine surgeons and on helping patients lead more active and productive lives. The company focuses on research, education, quality, while still placing great value in relationships, customer experience, and corporate culture. SpineCraft constantly strives to be the best and deliver on top quality over quantity.

About Spartan Medical Inc.

Spartan Medical is a veteran-owned-and-operated government contractor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and other local, state, and federal agencies. All senior executives have held leadership positions in both the public and private sector and employ the core strengths of solving complex problems through creative thinking, innovative solutions, and highly skilled flexible teams. Spartan Medical maintains its vanguard position by providing medical facilities with A-to-Z solutions that improve patient care and outcomes, especially for America's military and veteran communities.

For ordering, specification, or further information, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 888-240-8091.

SOURCE Spartan Medical Inc.
SOLON, Ohio, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Swagelok Company has been named by the Ohio chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as Employer of the Year for its efforts in hiring and retaining veterans. The award is given to one employer annually who stands out for their programs and benefits designed to recruit and retain veterans.

Veteran and Swagelok associate, Lawrence Walton accepts the VFW Employer of the Year award on the company's behalf.

"Swagelok has a long history of supporting the veteran community," said Jim Cavoli, Swagelok President and U.S. Army veteran. "The innate skills of veterans align with our values of integrity, quality, and respect for the individual. We're proud to be recognized as an employer of choice to support these associates who have served our country."

Swagelok's commitment to the veteran community includes key partnerships with national organizations. Swagelok is a proud participant in the Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge program and provides fellowship and job shadowing opportunities to transitioning service members. Swagelok is also a DoD Military Spouse Employment Partner, supporting military spouses in finding meaningful employment. Additionally, Swagelok partners with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

Swagelok has an active associate resource group dedicated to networking, professional development, and mentorship amongst the veteran community. This group promotes team building activities through participation in community events and supporting local and national charities.

"Our commitment to veterans both internally and within the community makes Swagelok an attractive place for veterans like myself to call home," said Lawrence Walton, Veteran Talent Pipeline Specialist and Veteran's Network Community Engagement Chair. "Our commitment to quality and process aligns to military training and many of the jobs we're looking to fill align with the jobs our military forces do every day."

For more information on Swagelok's commitment to the veteran community, visit jobs.swagelok.com/us/en/military.

About Swagelok

Swagelok is a worldwide leader in industrial fluid systemsfounded in 1947 on the merits of its revolutionary, leak-tight tube fitting. With customer-focused solutions and a passion for making high-quality products, the company serves industries requiring safe and efficient movement of liquids and gases. An approximately $2 billion company headquartered in Northeast Ohio, Swagelok operates more than 20 manufacturing facilities, and customers rely on local fluid system expertise through nearly 200 authorized sales and service center locations around the globe. Swagelok's values shape its dedication to customers, associates, and the community, and the company is consistently recognized for workplace excellence.

SOURCE Swagelok Company
Scenes like this are giving the EV charging community a bad reputation with some calling out the 'inconsiderate' behaviour.

An electric vehicle motorist has been slammed for using a charger at one station, while parking over another, and two separate motorcycle bays. Source: Facebook

An Australian electric vehicle driver has been blasted for the "unbelievable" way they parked their car at a charging station, with some lost for words over the motorist's "inconsiderate" move.

Across the country, a shortage of charger stations has been a concern for many, with EV drivers urging road authorities to urgently install more of the bays to catch up to the soaring rate of electric vehicle uptake among environmentally-conscious Aussies.

Though the government has pledged to do just that, it's not uncommon for queues to form as motorists desperately wait for a spot to charge, making it all the more annoying when a person decides to not only hog one bay, but a second as well.

Aussies regularly frustrated by charging manoeuvres

Such was the case in Tasmania this week, where an unhappy local snapped a BYD driver parked horizontally across two separate charging spaces in Howrah, Hobart, restricting access to anybody else hoping to nab a spot  and spilling over into two nearby motorbike bays.

"Congratulations to this person yesterday who managed to connect to the charger on the right, while parking sideways across the charging bay on the left, AND a couple of bonus motorbike parking bays," a frustrated man wrote online after witnessing the scene.

Unsurprisingly, the photo prompted an outpouring of frustration from both EV drivers and from Australians who used the image to cement their distaste of the "electric vehicle community in general".

EV motorists around the country have been forced to run cables from their homes onto the street in a bid to charge their cars. Source: Facebook

"They should put cameras on the charger and if they park like this it starts to drain the battery instead of charging it," one man suggested. "Give me a crack at parking, I'd do better  even with my cane," a woman wrote.

"I officially give up trying to defend the EV community," somebody else said. "I honestly have no words," wrote a fourth. One other person said the act was in stark contrast to the unspoken rules of Australia's "charging etiquette".

EV 'etiquette' a heated topic of debate

It's this etiquette that's been the topic of heated debate in recent times, with EV drivers frequently photographed taking unique  and sometimes unsafe  avenues just to get their cars to charge.

We have in recent times seen drivers park over footpaths, mount kerbs at petrol stations and try to squeeze into spots that simply don't exist.

Electric vehicles here to stay

Experts say EVs are certainly the way of the future, telling Aussies that they can expect to see more of them on our roads with each passing day.

"People who drive electric vehicles, most of them say 'there is no going back' because it's so different, in a good way. Particularly when it comes to the technology inside and the energy management systems," EV expert Professor Hussein Dia told Yahoo News last month.

"Earlier this year, the government passed the new vehicle emission standards, and there's going to be penalties put on companies that sell a lot of polluting vehicles," he said.

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

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

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Local Texas Family Expands Legacy with Houston-Based Fast-Casual Brand

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe , the ultra-popular restaurant brand specializing in sweet and savory crepes, hot drinks and more, announces a signed agreement that will bring a new location to Southlake, Texas, and four additional locations to the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. Through a multi-unit deal with Strategic Partners, Edward and Cynthia Hymes and their son Edward, Sweet Paris will open the first location by the Fall of 2024. The brand new creperie will be located in the heart of Southlake Town Square at 228 State St, Southlake, Texas. The four additional locations are in various stages of development in the DFW area, with the second location expected for 2025.

Sweet Paris will bring a new location to Southlake, Texas, and four additional locations to the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Edward and Cynthia Hymes along with their son Edward, have been Texas residents for the past 26 years. Prior to joining Sweet Paris, Cynthia spent her early career within restaurant ownership and operations, while Edward Sr. has over 35 years of business leadership experience in notable executive roles for world-class companies including CEO of Eagle Point Lending, President and COO of Planet Fitness, CEO of Jiffy Lube International, and roles at Shell and Kmart. Their son boasts restaurant, retail, and project management experience. After many years of success, the Hymes family was ready to create a family legacy that combined their backgrounds and passions in the food and beverage industry.

The family decided to embark on a new entrepreneurial journey together. Being avid visitors to multiple Sweet Paris locations across the state and admiring the brand for years, they knew Sweet Paris was the perfect opportunity to kick-start their commercial dreams. Impressed not only with the unique concept, but committed corporate team, inviting ambiance and more  they were confident that Sweet Paris was the right partner for them.

"Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe is truly a one-of-a-kind brand that our entire family feels connected to," said Edward Hymes Sr. "We are committed to bringing a truly excellent and fresh dining experience to the community and could not think of a better place than Southlake for the first of several locations we plan to open."

Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe boasts 17 stores in operation located in Austin, College Station, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio, Texas, Doral and Coral Gables, Florida, the Twin cities in Minnesota and resort locations in Mexico.

"The Hymes family is an excellent partner for the brand as they bolster our presence in Texas and bring a new flavor to the Southlake and Dallas-Fort Worth community," said Allison Chavez, co-founder of Sweet Paris. "With their vast experience operating restaurants and activating high-level business strategy, they are sure to build a legacy with this partnership."

The success of Sweet Paris has not gone unnoticed as the brand was mostly recently ranked on Restaurant Business' 2023 Future 50 , and has been featured on Entrepreneur Magazine's Top New and Emerging Franchises. Also, co-founders Allison and Ivan Chavez landed on Global Franchise Magazine's 10 Emerging Leaders to Watch , and Allison was included in Nation's Restaurant News' annual Power List , an exclusive group of 50 leaders who are identified as the most innovative and inspiring people in the restaurant industry.

Sweet Paris is looking to partner with qualified and engaged individuals seeking multi-unit opportunities through its strategic partnership model. The brand offers a highly scalable opportunity with strong profit-potential.

For more information on Strategic Partnership opportunities, please visit www.sweetparisfranchise.com .

ABOUT SWEET PARIS:

Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe is a fast-growing restaurant franchise specializing in sweet and savory crepes, waffles, salads, hot drinks and more. On a mission to "Revive the Art of Eating Crepes" one creperie at a time, Sweet Paris is seeking qualified Strategic Partners, especially those with a background in hospitality, to expand the concept in new markets. For more information about the brand, please visit www.sweetparis.com , and for more information on Strategic Partnership Opportunities, visit www.sweetparisfranchise.com .

SOURCE Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe
Exemplifies the company's long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative docking and tech solutions that meet the evolving needs of the modern workplace

ANAHEIM, Calif., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Targus, the number one third-party docking station and laptop bag brand in the US1 and a leader in laptop cases and mobile computing accessories, today announced that it now offers an industry-first five-year warranty with new reduced pricing on its best-in-class universal docking stations - specifically DOCK310, DOCK315, and DOCK430  purchased after July 1, 2024.* The extended five-year warranty on these select models further demonstrates the company's long track record of delivering superior quality tech solutions that boost workers' productivity, performance, and connectivity, anywhere.

New Targus Five-Year Extended Warranty Keeps Customers Covered to Meet or Exceed their PC's Average 3-5 Year Lifecycle.

"As an industry leader in universal docking stations, our company has a long track record of delivering the highest quality solutions to our enterprise and business customers that equip their workers with the right connectivity and productivity tools to perform at their best," says Ron DeCamp, MBA, Vice President, Global Product Management and Development, Targus. "Our new unprecedented five-year warranty is a testament to the superior quality, commercial-grade products that the Targus brand is known for."

This new extended warranty is now being offered with unbeatable pricing on three of its latest universal docking stations compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, Chrome OS, and other major operating systems, to ensure business customers are covered with the best warranty in the industry that will meet or exceed the expected three- to five-year lifecycle of their PCs.

The Universal USB-C DV4K Docking Station with 65W Power Delivery (DOCK310) is a sleek and powerful dock packed with all the necessary ports and power needed in a single dock to create a convenient, productive workstation. This universal docking station connects two 4K displays to multiple hosts and peripherals for a dual ultra-high-definition video experience with power delivery 3.0 up to 65WDC. Three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port make it simple to add the latest keyboards, exterior hard drives, and other peripherals to customize the workspace experience.

The Universal USB-C DV4K DP Docking Station with 65W Power Delivery (DOCK315) is the ultimate universal docking station to expand a workstation and connect to nearly any laptop with a single cable. This dual monitor docking station delivers crisp and clear 4K video outputs while supporting a connection up to two displays via DisplayPort to multiple hosts and peripherals for a dual ultra-high-definition video experience. This powerful dock supports single 5K and dual 4K UHD HDR at 65WDC, offering video performance up to 4096x2160 p60 for dual displays. Users can also connect their favorite accessories with a combination of USB-A (3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports) and USB-C (1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C), plus Ethernet and audio ports.

The USB-C Multi-Function 202DisplayPort Alt. Mode Triple Video Docking Station with 85W Power (DOCK430) is a sleek and powerful Alternate Mode dock which packs all of the ports and power needed in a single dock to create a more powerful, productive workstation. Enjoy crisp, clear native video while supporting a connection up to three monitors. With two DisplayPort 1.4 ports and one HDMI 2.0 port, this dock supports three monitors (1920x1080 p60), two monitors (2560x1440 p60) or one monitor (3840x2160 p60) and various lower resolutions. Plus, users can connect to all of their favorite accessories with a combination of USB-A (4 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports, 1 fast-charging) and USB-C (1x 3.2 Gen2), plus Ethernet and audio ports.

All three of these Targus universal docking stations, which come with the new extended five-year warranty, are available for sale at Targus.com and through participating resellers and distributors worldwide. Visit Targus.com for additional product details, pricing, and availability.

About Targus



For more than 40 years, Targus has been revolutionizing mobile computing accessories for large enterprises and consumers, alike  connecting people and technology in meaningful ways. From laptop bags to tablet cases, to peripherals and universal docking stations, we persistently conceive, design, and produce innovative, productivity-boosting solutions that make the complex, simple; and seamlessly integrate into the lifestyles of mobile professionals wherever they work  at home, in the office, or wherever they go. We cross categories, regions, industries, and lifestyles with a breadth and depth of products that provide you with the solutions you need to live, dream, and do.

A global leader in docking, Targus has deployed more than 3 million universal docking stations around the world in more than 12,000 organizations  with more than 90% of Fortune 1000 companies using Targus products and maintains the number one spot in US B2B Universal Docks (3rd party only)2.

Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Targus has global operations in more than 24 offices and distribution in more than 100 countries. Discover Targus at Targus.com and on our blog, and connect with us on social media: Podcast, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

1Source: Circana, US/Canada Retail and US B2B Reseller in Unit Sales, ending December 2023 (Laptop Bag case type = Briefcase, Sleeve, Attache, Slipcase, Messenger Bag)

2Source: Circana, US B2B Reseller, Docking Stations Unit Sales, ending December 2023

*Five (5)-year warranty applies only to new Targus DOCK310, DOCK315, and DOCK430 docking stations purchased after July 1, 2024; warranty is valid for five (5) years from the date of original purchase. All other Targus docking stations include a standard warranty of three (3) years from the date of original purchase.

Targus is a registered trademark of Targus International LLC in the US and in certain other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE Targus
Anthony Edwards , Sophia Smith , Taylor Fritz , Sara Hughes , and Jagger Eaton will have their favorite orders featured on the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com as limited-edition menu items

, , , , and Jagger Eaton will have their favorite orders featured on the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com as limited-edition menu items Chipotle has also launched new episodes of its "Unwrapped" series featuring behind-the-scenes content with each athlete

Starting July 25 , the brand will bring back gold foil burritos in the U.S. and serve gold foil burritos for the first time at its restaurants in France

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced it is celebrating American athletes with digital menu items exclusively on the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com and new episodes of its popular "Unwrapped" video series. The brand will also launch gold foil nationwide for a limited time in the U.S. and France on July 25.

As members of Team Chipotle, Taylor Fritz, Sara Hughes, Anthony Edwards, Sophia Smith, and Jagger Eaton will have their favorite orders featured on the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com as limited-edition menu items. Starting July 25, Chipotle will bring back gold foil burritos in the U.S. and serve gold foil burritos for the first time at its restaurants in France.

Introducing Team Chipotle 2024

Starting today, fans can eat like top athletes in the U.S. through a series of digital menu items. Chipotle's Real Food for Real Athletes platform focuses on helping athletes across all levels perform their best by providing proper nutrition through real food and fresh ingredients. The new menu items include:

The Anthony Edwards Bowl Half chicken, half steak, brown rice, fresh tomato salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa, and lettuce

The Sophia Smith Burrito Chicken, brown rice, light black beans, light pinto beans, fresh tomato salsa, tomatillo-red chili salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa, sour cream, and cheese

The Taylor Fritz Bowl Double chicken, white rice, sour cream, cheese, and guac

The Sara Hughes Burrito Double steak, white rice, black beans, cheese, and lettuce

The Jagger Eaton Burrito Chicken, white rice, black beans, tomatillo red-chili salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa, cheese, guac, and lettuce



Behind-the-Scenes with Team Chipotle

Chipotle worked with its partner athletes to launch behind-the-scenes training content as part of its "Unwrapped" series. The "Unwrapped" videos profile each athlete superfan and what it takes to compete at the highest level of their respective sports.

Anthony Edwards : https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7PxvkcAPjJ/

: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7PxvkcAPjJ/ Sophia Smith : https://www.instagram.com/p/C82V7Bmuh10/?hl=en

: https://www.instagram.com/p/C82V7Bmuh10/?hl=en Taylor Fritz : https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7W06GYCxg9/?igsh=NDJlbGVkcG9iMHE4

: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7W06GYCxg9/?igsh=NDJlbGVkcG9iMHE4 Sara Hughes : https://www.instagram.com/p/C7OtDWNNRf_/?hl=en

: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7OtDWNNRf_/?hl=en Jagger Eaton: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8DO-6PStag/

All Chipotle "Unwrapped" videos can be viewed here: www.chipotle.com/teamchipotle.

"Every one of our Team Chipotle athletes has had a unique journey," said Chris Brandt, Chief Brand Officer at Chipotle. "By highlighting their stories and how Chipotle has been a key component of their training regimens, we hope to inspire and fuel the next generation of great American athletes."

Gold Foil's Comeback at Chipotle

Starting July 25 for a limited time, Chipotle will serve gold foil-wrapped burritos for all in-restaurant and digital orders at participating U.S. locations. The brand last celebrated American athletes with gold foil in the summer of 2021.

Chipotle will also serve gold foil burritos at its six restaurants across Paris and one restaurant in Lyon for the first time.

About Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There are nearly 3,500 Chipotle restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Kuwait and it is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on Fortune's Most Admired Companies 2024 list and Time Magazine's Most Influential Companies. With over 120,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM.

SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill
NILES, Ill., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Beautiful, charming, and caring, Catherine Middleton seemed born to be a princess. She met Prince William at university, and their fairy-tale romance of prince and commoner captured the hearts of millions. Married at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011, she became the Duchess of Cambridge, thanks to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The 24-Karat Gold plated coin highlights an image of Catherine - Princess of Wales in her Coronation Day dress. The reverse (on left) features a fully sculpted profile of Princess Catherine wearing the "Lovers Knot" tiara. This non-monetary commemorative coin measures 39mm (1 1/2 inches) in diameter. Minted in the United Kingdom.

This new royal swiftly made an impact on British and American fashion and culture. She became a 3X honoree of Time Magazine's Most Influential People. In 2022, when William was named Prince of Wales by King Charles III, Catherine became the new Princess of Wales. She is the first to bear the title since William's mother, Princess Diana. While her title may have changed, Princess Catherine's inspiring words and actions continues to influence millions of people worldwide.

Widely popular, Princess Catherine is devoted to her young family and improving children's lives everywhere. In 2024, she revealed her strength and character sharing her health challenges. Still continuing treatment, she was warmly welcomed at the recent Trooping of the Colour ceremonies which was her first public appearance since her illness was made known.

Now, The Bradford Exchange Mint, the stewards of commemorating historic events announce the release of The Catherine Princess of Wales Proof Coin. As Bradford Exchange's Chief Numismatist Walter J. Kole remarks: "This 24K Gold plated and non-monetary tribute honors the new Princess of Wales' inspiring spirit and service." She appears in the splendor of her Coronation Day regalia and royal cypher privy mark. Her sculpted portrait appears on the reverse and is graced by the "Lovers Knot" tiara.

Minted in the United Kingdom by The Commonwealth Mint of Birmingham, specially-polished coining blanks are struck multiple times to create the Proof finish's raised frosted details and mirror-like background  the highest level of minter's art.

In support of Catherine's focus on raising awareness, The Bradford Exchange Mint has made a donation to Cancer Research U.K.

ABOUT THE BRADFORD EXCHANGE MINT: a division of The Bradford Exchange, The Bradford Exchange Mint is a trusted resource for coins of enduring value worldwide. In the U.S. to acquire this new and exclusive commemorative celebrating the Princess of Wales, please go to: https://bit.ly/PrincessOfWalesProofCollection.

For Canadian residents, please go to: https://bit.ly/CAPrincessOfWalesProofCollection

SOURCE The Bradford Exchange Mint
LIVONIA, Mich., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Vivek Anil Chitte, DMD is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to Elevating Dental Surgery.

Dr. Chitte, a highly skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeon, is making significant strides in enhancing oral healthcare within the local community. With a strong educational background and dedication to his craft, he has become a trusted name in dental surgery.

Dr. Chitte's expertise encompasses a wide range of oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures, including wisdom teeth extractions, pre-prosthetic surgeries, dental implants, and patient education. As the head of a thriving private practice, he is deeply committed to providing high-quality care to his patients.

His educational journey has been marked by excellence. Dr. Chitte earned Bachelor of Science degrees in general sciences and commerce from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. He then pursued his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) at Boston University's School of Dentistry. To further hone his skills, he completed a general practice residency, oral surgery internship, and oral surgery residency at the Detroit Veteran's Administration Hospital.

Dr. Chitte's dedication to his profession is exemplified by his active affiliations with prestigious dental associations. He is a proud member of the American Dental Association (ADA), Michigan Dental Association, Michigan Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Beyond his dental practice, Dr. Chitte believes in giving back to the community. He serves as a volunteer for the Windsor Rotary Club, contributing to philanthropic efforts that benefit the community at large.

Dr. Chitte attributes his success to the unwavering support of his family, including his parents, Anil and Vijaya Chitte. He has been happily married to Ami Patel for a decade, and together they are proud parents of two children.

As Dr. Chitte continues to provide exceptional oral and maxillofacial surgical care, his vision for the future is to further advance dental surgery practices in the local community, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
The medical sector is showing significant potential demand for tie layer resins due to several critical factors. The need for high-performance medical packaging is paramount to ensure the safety, sterility, and longevity of medical products. Tie layer resins play a crucial role in multi-layer packaging by providing strong adhesion between different materials, enhancing the barrier properties against contaminants, moisture, and oxygen. This is particularly important for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and sterile supplies. Additionally, the medical sector is increasingly adopting advanced polymer-based products, such as catheter tubing and flexible medical films, which require reliable bonding solutions that tie layer resins offer. The growing demand for minimally invasive medical procedures also drives the need for complex multi-layer structures, where tie layer resins ensure the mechanical integrity and performance of medical components.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Tie Layer Resin Market"

170  Tables

65  Figures

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Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=61986367

"The flexible application segment is expected to account for one of the largest shares in 2023"

Flexible packaging holds a prominent market share in the tie layer resin market due to its inherent versatility and ability to cater to diverse industry needs. This type of packaging is particularly favored for its customization options, allowing it to be tailored into various shapes and sizes, which is essential for sectors like food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. The multi-layer structure of flexible packaging, enhanced by tie layer resins, provides superior barrier properties, protecting products from moisture, oxygen, and contaminants, thus preserving freshness and extending shelf life.

Moreover, the lightweight nature of flexible packaging reduces transportation costs and environmental impact. It also requires fewer raw materials, making it a cost-effective solution for manufacturers. The emphasis on sustainability has further boosted its market share, as tie layer resins facilitate the production of recyclable and eco-friendly packaging, meeting global environmental standards. Additionally, the rise in e-commerce and changing consumer lifestyles have increased the demand for convenient packaging solutions that flexible packaging offers, such as reseal ability and easy portability.

"The food & beverage end-use industry segment is expected to account for one of the largest shares in 2023"

The food and beverage industry maintains a dominant market share in the tie layer resin market due to its critical need for high-performance packaging solutions. These solutions ensure product safety, freshness, and extended shelf life by offering superior barrier properties against moisture, oxygen, and contaminants. The industry's shift towards convenience and portable packaging, driven by urbanization and changing consumer lifestyles, further fuels this demand. Additionally, stringent regulatory standards and a focus on sustainability necessitate the adoption of advanced, recyclable packaging materials enabled by tie layer resins. This industry's continuous innovation and demand for product differentiation amplify the necessity for these resins, solidifying their prominent market position.

Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=61986367

"Asia Pacific is expected to account for the largest share in 2023"

The growth of the tie layer resin market in Asia Pacific is significantly supported by the region's rapidly expanding economies. Rapid industrialization in countries such as China, India, and Southeast Asian nations boosts the demand for advanced packaging solutions across various sectors, including food and beverage, automotive, and electronics. Urbanization and rising disposable incomes lead to greater consumption of packaged goods, which in turn necessitates high-performance packaging provided by tie layer resins. Additionally, the e-commerce boom in Asia Pacific fuels the need for durable and efficient packaging to ensure the safe delivery of products. Government initiatives promoting sustainability and environmental regulations also drive the adoption of recyclable and eco-friendly tie layer resins, further propelling market growth. The region's strong manufacturing capabilities and ongoing investments in research and development support innovation and the production of advanced tie layer resin solutions.

The key players profiled in the report include LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. (UK), Westlake Corporation (US), Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Japan), Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), Dow (US), Polyram Group (Israel), Zeus Company LLC (US), The Compound Company (Netherlands), and Allnex GmBH (Germany).

Browse Adjacent Market: Coatings Adhesives Sealants and Elastomers Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Barrier Resins Market - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2026

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BEVERLY, Mass., July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tobin Scientific, a leading provider of cold chain, ambient storage, and transport & logistics services for the life sciences industry, announced today that it has acquired BioRepository Resources LLC (BRR), a leader in biological sample storage and management solutions, located in New Providence, New Jersey. This strategic acquisition enhances Tobin Scientific's capabilities in biopharmaceutical storage and expands its footprint in the life sciences industry.

Tobin Scientific is well regarded for its comprehensive cold chain solutions and laboratory relocation services and serves a diverse clientele across the life sciences, academic, and government sectors. With over 300,000 square feet of ambient warehouse space and a robust portfolio of specialized transport and storage services, the company is poised to integrate BioRepository Resources' assets and expertise seamlessly into its operations.

"We are excited to welcome BioRepository Resources to the Tobin Scientific family," said Brian Tobin, CEO of Tobin Scientific. "This acquisition aligns with our mission to provide unmatched storage and logistics solutions to our clients. Our combined capabilities will allow us to offer even more comprehensive services to our customers, ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, and reliability for temperature-sensitive products."

BioRepository Resources, known for its state-of-the-art biorepository facility located in New Providence, NJ, brings extensive experience managing and storing biological and pharmaceutical materials to the Tobin portfolio. This acquisition will add over 2 million samples to Tobin's already substantial inventory and will enhance the company's biorepository services with state-of-the-art, GXP-compliant long-term biological and retention sample storage.

"Our clients can expect the same level of excellence they have come to know and trust from BioRepository Resources, now backed by the extensive resources and expertise of Tobin Scientific," said Glenn Bullett President of BioRepository Resources. "We look forward to this new chapter and the opportunities it brings for our employees and clients".

Tobin Scientific remains committed to its core values of quality, integrity, and innovation. The company will continue to invest in advanced technologies and infrastructure to support customers' evolving needs and views today's acquisition as an important step in strengthening its position as a leader in the biopharma logistics industry.

For more information, please visit Tobin Scientific or contact our VP of Sales, Nikky Sunyar, at [email protected].

About Tobin Scientific Tobin Scientific is a trusted leader in biopharma cold chain, ambient storage, and transport & logistics services. With a national footprint and decades of experience, Tobin Scientific offers a wide range of services, including laboratory relocation, ULT transport, and cGMP warehousing. The company is dedicated to ensuring the safe and reliable transport and storage of temperature-sensitive products.

About BioRepository Resources BioRepository Resources specializes in the storage and management of biological samples, providing state-of-the-art facilities and services to the biopharma industry. The company is known for its commitment to quality and customer service, ensuring the highest standards in biorepository operations.

SOURCE Tobin Scientific
CHICAGO and SINGAPORE, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT), a global capital markets technology platform provider, announced today that it is now offering its clients access to Abaxx Exchange, a global commodity futures exchange and clearinghouse based in Singapore. The market launched on June 28, with the first trade executed through the TT platform by StoneX Financial. Clients are able to use TT to trade the exchange's energy and carbon derivatives contracts.

Products currently offered on Abaxx include five new commodity benchmark futures contracts. These first-of-their-kind, centrally cleared, physically deliverable contracts better enable market participants to execute their energy transition strategies, providing improved price discovery and enhanced risk management tools in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and carbon markets, to be soon followed by solutions for battery metals.

Alun Green, EVP Managing Director, Futures & Options for TT, said: "Trading Technologies offers the world's leading financial institutions and professional traders access to all major listed derivatives markets globally, and we're delighted to bring our clients access to this unique new marketplace from day one of trading. We're also a trusted partner to global and regional energy suppliers and commodity firms looking to hedge their risks in both physical and derivatives markets. Abaxx will bring new risk management capabilities with the option of physical delivery or offset through the sale of the contracts before delivery."

Dan McElduff, Abaxx Exchange President, Strategy & Development, said: "We are thrilled to partner with Trading Technologies to offer our clients seamless access to smarter markets. By combining the advanced TT platform with our industry-leading, physically deliverable commodity futures contracts, market participants can now leverage our shared expertise and resources to access the price discovery and risk management tools essential for meeting the commercial needs of the energy transition and unlocking the investment capital required for a low-carbon economy."

TT recently announced connectivity to the European Power Exchange (EPEX SPOT), the largest power exchange in Europe, through the TT platform. The connection gives clients the ability to trade the European physical power markets for the first time on TT. In collaboration with a large European energy supplier, the firm offers the new continuous intraday power trading capability to clients globally as a fully co-located service.

About Trading Technologies

Trading Technologies ( www.tradingtechnologies.com ) is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology platform provider to the global capital markets industry. The company's award-winning TT platform connects to the world's major international exchanges and liquidity venues in listed derivatives alongside a growing number of asset classes, including fixed income, foreign exchange (FX) and cryptocurrencies. The TT platform delivers advanced tools for trade execution and order management, market data solutions, analytics, trade surveillance, risk management, clearing, post-trade allocation and infrastructure services to the world's leading sell-side institutions, buy-side firms and exchanges. The company's blue-chip client base includes the Tier 1 banks as well as brokers, money managers, hedge funds, proprietary traders, Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs), commercial hedgers and risk managers. These firms rely on the TT ecosystem to manage their end-to-end trading operations. In addition, exchanges utilize TT's technology to deliver innovative solutions to their market participants. TT also strategically partners with technology companies to make their complementary offerings available to Trading Technologies' global client base through the TT ecosystem.

About Abaxx Exchange

Abaxx ( www.abaxx.exchange ) is building Smarter Markets: markets empowered by better tools, better benchmarks and better technology to drive market-based solutions to the biggest challenges that we face as a society, including climate change and the energy transition.

Abaxx Commodity Futures Exchange and Clearinghouse (Abaxx Exchange) introduces centrally cleared, physically delivered futures contracts and derivatives to deliver better price signals, better risk management and an enhanced market ecosystem enabling energy and commodity markets to accelerate the energy transition.

Licensed as a Recognised Market Operator (RMO) and an Approved Clearinghouse (ACH) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Abaxx Exchange is majority owned by Abaxx Technologies (NEO:ABXX)(OTCQX:ABXXF), and its initial focus is global LNG and Carbon and Nickel benchmarks followed by continued solutions for Battery Metals.

SOURCE Trading Technologies
Zealous Advocacy event is July 11  July 12

HOUSTON, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Juvenile defense attorneys will sharpen their advocacy skills at the Zealous Advocacy: Helping Youth and Attorneys Become Better Advocates conference, happening on July 11-12 at the University of Houston Law Center.

"We believe children's voices are important, and youth have better outcomes for themselves and the community when they are involved in the process. For attorneys to zealously advocate for their young clients, they need to listen to their clients' voices, and youth need to understand how to work with their attorneys and help advocate for themselves. That is why we are focusing on making attorneys and youth better advocates," said Ellen Marrus, director of the Center for Children, Law & Policy and founding board member of Generation to Generation.

Organized by the Center for Children, Law & Policy at the University of Houston Law Center, The Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy at TSU School of Law, and Generation to Generation: Shaping Children's Futures, the event aims to empower attorneys with the latest strategies and knowledge for representing youth in conflict with the law.

The topics covered will include:

Detention Advocacy

School Advocacy

Training Youth Advocates

Looking to the Future

Viewing other systems for Holistic Representation

The conference will be in-person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central on Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12 at the University of Houston Law Center, 4170 Martin Luther King Blvd. Participating attorneys will earn 14 hours of Texas Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credits, including 3 hours of ethics.

Sign up to attend the conference by July 5 for the early registration rate of $60. The fee includes access to both conference days, Continuing Legal Education (CLE), breakfast, lunch, and parking.

Click here for more information and to register.

University of Houston Law Center media contacts: Carrie Anna Criado, UH Law Center Assistant Dean of Communications and Marketing, 713-743-2184, [email protected]; Bonnie Buffaloe, Communications Manager, 713-743-9137, [email protected].

About the University of Houston Law Center

The University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) is a dynamic, top-tier law school located in the nation's 4th largest city. UHLC's Health Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Part-time programs rank in the U.S. News Top 10. It awards Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees, through its academic branch, the College of Law. The Law Center is more than just a law school. It is a powerful hub of intellectual activity with more than 12 centers and institutes that fuel its educational mission and national reputation. UHLC is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with an enrollment of more than 47,000 students.

About the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy at TSU School of Law

The Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law was established in 1992, as an independent 501(c)(3) organization, to serve as a research and writing think tank to assist Thurgood Marshall School of Law students with their research and writing skills. The Institute was named in honor of Professor Earl Carl, a founding faculty member of the law school. The Institute seeks to empower underserved and disenfranchised populations by addressing systemic social issues through legal representation, research, education, and advocacy.

Generation to Generation: Shaping Children's Futures

Generation to Generation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in all areas including education, health, family, housing, immigration, and the justice system by providing classes, mentorship, support, and development of policies that will positively affect children's lives.

SOURCE University of Houston Law Center
The projects, EMISSARY and STAALION, are to be kicked off in 2025 and are geared towards augmenting Space Domain Awareness in Europe

The projects unite several industry partners in the two consortia

The two awarded contracts amount to over 2 million Euros

MUNICH, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vyoma, a Germany-based company providing Space Domain Awareness capabilities, has been awarded two contracts by the European Defence Fund (EDF) programme of the European Commission. Specifically, the EMISSARY and STAALION projects seek to augment European intelligence sovereignty and enhance threat response capabilities. These contracts represent a significant milestone in Vyoma's mission to empower the defence sector with independent space domain awareness capabilities, thereby contributing to European geostrategic autonomy and the protection of critical infrastructure security in the continent.

The founding team (from left): Christoph Bamann, Dr. Luisa Buinhas and Dr. Stefan Frey

EMISSARY proposes to develop a network of ground- and space-based sensors that feed a European Space Command and Control (SC2) centre. The SC2 processes the data and disseminates it to national defence entities with the sole purpose of generating a harmonised picture of threats in space across participating Member States. Among others, Vyoma's contribution includes the development and testing of the scheduling module for space-based sensors. The scheduling strategy shall consider, for instance, operational processes to improve the efficacy of onboard operations and data retrieval by the SC2 centre EMISSARY will demonstrate and qualify technologies of predecessor projects (incl. INTEGRAL, where Vyoma was also a participant) completed in the frame of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) calls, in 2020. Leonardo will lead this 100 million EMISSARY project, which will span 4 years and involve over 40 partners from 13 EU countries, including diverse SMEs and major enterprises.

STAALION, headed by Nurjana Technologies, is backed by a 6 million budget spanning 2 years and aims to design a system that protects strategic European assets via in-situ detection and characterisation of threats, from LEO to GEO. Ultimately, the system shall be designed to provide a fast and reliable detection-to-action process, through a decentralised onboard processing network and an optimised communication architecture. Crucially, Vyoma is responsible for developing the LEO space segment of the constellation (orbital design, pointing strategy and operations concept, mission analysis, etc.) and implementing the detection and identification software.

Vyoma's involvement in both EMISSARY and STAALION underscores its dedication to fortifying European defence capabilities by providing cutting-edge space domain awareness and management systems. The award of these projects highlights Vyoma's expertise and leadership in advancing space technologies that align with European strategic and security goals. Vyoma is honoured to continue contributing to the safeguarding of Europe's autonomy and sovereignty in space intelligence.

About Vyoma:

Vyoma is a Munich-based company that leverages ground-based and soon, space-based data to empower automated satellite operations and increase domain awareness in space. Founded in August 2020, Vyoma enables real-time space surveillance and traffic management of orbits around Earth. While space is becoming increasingly crowded, Vyoma provides safe, secure, and automated satellite operations services, drastically reducing mission costs for its customers. Vyoma tenders to satellite operators, reinsurers, space agencies, and intelligence officers. As a participant in the EU Commission and ESA programs for SDA technology development, Vyoma relies on a specialised workforce of 35+ engineers and scientists.

Press contact

Arti Dhole

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: https://vyoma.space/

+49 (0)17679785534

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450260/Vyoma_Founding_Team.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450254/Vyoma_Logo.jpg
Around 844 metres of illegal nets were being secretly used by the commercial fishermen, and their prohibited routine was eventually stopped by authorities.

An illegal cache of nets was discovered during a routine patrol along Victoria's Port Phillip Bay. Source: VFA

Two Aussie fishermen have been slapped with almost $16,000 in fines after their illegal stash was discovered hidden in coastal scrub.

Inside a handful of blue tubs, fisheries officers found hundreds of metres of fishing nets  equipment banned on the western side of Victorias Port Phillip Bay to free up more catch for recreational anglers. Commercial fishermen who used them were financially compensated after they were forced to change to long-lines in 2022.

But two commercial fishermen aged 43 and 78 developed a plan to continue to secretly use nets to trawl the bay for snapper, gummy shark, and bream. Their haul was then laundered at a wholesale fish market.

The men stashed their nets along the coast at Point Wilson, west of Melbourne. Source: Google Earth, Landsat, Copernicus, Data SIO, NOAA

Fishermen blissfully unaware of surveillance operation

For six months, the father and son commercial fishing team from Altona Meadows were unaware they were subject to a covert investigation by the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA).

We had surveillance cameras set up until we finally got good enough photos where we could identify which boat it was, and this led us to identify the fishers involved, VFA director of enforcement Ian Parks told Yahoo News.

The illegal activity was documented around Point Wilson, close to Melbournes Avalon Airport, and the internationally recognised Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site which has six distinct wetland areas.

VFA observed the men dangerously travelling without navigation lights visible at night. The pair were licensed to fish using lines, but after their vessel was launched they would secretly collect nets hidden along the remote shoreline, catch fish, then stash the nets before returning to the boat ramp.

Around 844 metres of nets were collected and taken to the VFA's offices at Queenscliff. Source: VFA

Warning to illegal fishermen: 'There's always someone watching'

After gathering evidence of the crime, officers apprehended them in November 2023, seizing around 844 metres of net and the commercial fishing vessel used to commit the offences.

On Friday the men pleaded guilty to charges including unauthorised use of commercial fishing equipment, illegally selling fish, and dealing in the proceeds of crime. The younger of the two was fined $10,300, while the older man will be forced to pay out $5,500.

Following the conviction, VFA is reviewing whether the men could still be considered fit and proper people fit to hold commercial fishing licenses.

Parks believes the majority of commercial fishermen do the right thing, and the illegal activity his team uncovered is unfortunate and unusual. He hopes the conviction and fines will serve as a warning to anyone else who thinks the rules don't apply to them.

Your chances of getting caught are really strong. Not only do we have fisheries officers patrolling at all hours of the day or night to detect this activity, weve got a great community that are also watching all the time, he said.

Theres always someone watching. It could be the person in the boat next to you.

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This partnership increases Wealth Enhancement Group's presence in the Lone Star State and brings the firm's total client assets to more than $85.3 billion.

MINNEAPOLIS, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wealth Enhancement Group, a national independent wealth management firm with over $85.3 billion in client assets, announced the acquisition of Starfox Financial Services, LLC, an independent RIA in The Woodlands, Texas. The team manages over $254 million in client assets and is led by Founding Partner & Wealth Advisor, Jose Palafox and Partner & Wealth Advisor, Bill Friebel.

Jeff Dekko, Chief Executive Officer of Wealth Enhancement Group, said, "I'm pleased to welcome Jose, Bill, and their team to Wealth Enhancement Group. The team at Starfox Financial Services treats their clients like family and cares deeply for their community. The level of dedicated, personal attention and care they provide makes them a great fit for our firm, and I'm glad they chose to join us."

Founded in 2006, Starfox Financial Services's motto has always been "Faith, Family, Finance." The Starfox team provides comprehensive wealth management including financial planning, retirement planning, college planning, investment management, and retirement income planning. They also work with businesses to manage their retirement plans and increase the financial literacy of their workforce. The team serves professionals, business owners, retirees and their families to help them plan for and maintain their financial independence.

Jose Palafox, Founding Partner & Wealth Advisor of Starfox Financial Services, said, "We are thrilled to join Wealth Enhancement Group. This strategic partnership aligns with our philosophy of prioritizing client focus and continuous growth. We anticipate enhancing the resources for our clients, particularly in the areas of estate and tax planning. Our experience with the entire Wealth Enhancement Group team has been highly impressive."

Jim Cahn, Chief Strategy Officer of Wealth Enhancement Group, said, "The advisors at Starfox are highly credentialed, educated, and experienced, and they take a collaborative wealth management approach to financial planning and investment management. We're excited to bring them on board, so they and their clients will have access to even more resources through our Roundtable team of specialists."

The addition of Starfox Financial Services marks Wealth Enhancement Group's sixth location in Texas.

About Wealth Enhancement Group

Wealth Enhancement Group is an independent wealth management firm with an endless passion for enriching the lives of our clients. We continually seek to perfect our craft of personalized financial planning with our team-based Roundtable and UniFi processes that go far beyond the standard approach. We proudly provide tailored financial plans and investment management services to serve the unique needs of over 61,000 households from our 115 offices - and growing - nationwide. Since 1997, Wealth Enhancement Group has tirelessly raised the standard of wealth management with specialized knowledge and more attentive service that helps every client craft their future. For more information, please visit www.wealthenhancement.com.

Advisory services offered through Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC (WEAS), a registered investment advisor. Certain investment advisor representatives of WEAS are also registered representatives of and offer securities through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Wealth Enhancement Group and WEAS are separate entities from LPL.

Wealth Enhancement Group and its Registered Investment Advisor, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, had $84.8 billion in client assets, including $4 billion of brokerage assets held at LPL Financial, as of May 31, 2024. Starfox Financial Services, LLC had approximately $254 million in client assets as of February 13, 2024. With the addition of previously announced acquisitions and the addition of Starfox Financial Services, LLC's assets under management, Wealth Enhancement Group has more than $85.3 billion in client, advisory, trust, and brokerage assets.

Media Contacts

Marianne Gebhardt

Integrated Marketing Communications Manager

[email protected]

Prosek Partners, on behalf of Wealth Enhancement Group

[email protected]

SOURCE Wealth Enhancement Group
In the first half of 2024, the NBN recorded over $2 billion in revenue.

Sydney locals have slammed the NBN for quoting them $10,000 for a service upgrade some of their neighbours have been offered for free. Source: NBN

Aussies quoted $10,000 to sign up to the NBN's new fibre rollout have blasted the "absolutely crazy" price in the middle of one of the worst cost of living crises on record  especially given some of their neighbours have been offered the service for free.

Locals in Sydney's west say that some homes have qualified for the new fibre upgrade, while others merely metres away have missed out and have been told to cough up out of their own pocket.

It's prompted a Federal MP to call for a review into the scheme, particularly in light of the NBN recording a revenue of $2.75 billion in the first half of 2024  up five per cent on last year, according to NBN Interim Chief Executive Philip Knox.

Western Sydney residents Leon, left, and Ash, right, have not qualified for a free NBN upgrade and have been told to fork out $10,000. Source: ACA

'Absolutely crazy' price in middle of economic crisis

Glenmore Park resident Ash slammed the bizarre saga, branding it "absolutely crazy". The IT specialist, who regularly works from home, said he went online to sign up and was quoted $10,000.

"That's what NBN wants me to pay to provide fibre to my house when it's available three houses away," he told A Current Affair. Another resident, Leon, who lives less than 20 meters from the connection point, also has to pay despite neighbours both behind and beside his house qualifying at no cost. Others in similar boats have labelled the scenario "unfair" and "ridiculous".

Penrith MP Melissa McIntosh said when Aussies catch wind of what's going on, it's "not going to sit well".

"Getting told they've got to pay $10,000 to a company that is making profits, I don't think that is going to sit very well," she said. "There's so many people across Western Sydney doing it so tough right now in this cost of living crisis.

"The people of Glenmore Park are not asking for a handout, they're just asking for a decision by the NBN to be fair and balanced."

Have your say

NBN says 'it can't be free for everyone'

According to the NBN, it's simply "uneconomical" to provide free access to all Australians, a decision that came down to "the pit and pipe infrastructure that's available", it said at a recent Senate Estimates.

A spokesperson for the NBN said cost was only one factor in a whole host of variants making up the decision in who has to pay and who does not.

"Locations which are eligible for a free fibre upgrade are based on a range of factors, including cost," the spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.

"This approach enables NBN to deliver fibre upgrades to as many homes as possible. While most homes in our fixed line footprint will be eligible for a fibre upgrade, there are some locations, such as small parts of Glenmore Park, that are not included in the upgrade footprint at this time."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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The mother of missing British teen Jay Slater has shed light on where the funds raised during his search will end up.

More than $85,000 has been raised since the 19-year-old disappeared on the Spanish island of Tenerife, gripping the UK and millions more around the world.

Police on the island have ended their search with no trace of Slater found however members of the community, friends and family as well as experts who have come to the island as part of the search continue to look for the teen.

Jay Slater and his mother Debbie Duncan.

Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, has said the funds will be put towards accomodation with the family set to remain on the island as they search for Slater.

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," she wrote online.

She previously said some of the fund had been used to fly "loved ones" to the island.

The funds have been heavily scrutinised as a series of unfounded conspiracies circulated online, one which claimed the money raised was to be used as a ransom payment to free Slater following involvement in organised crime. Police never put forward such a theory.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Budapest/Vienna, July 2 : Hungary has taken over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) for six months, with its focus on enhancing EU competitiveness.

On Sunday, the day before Hungary started its EU presidency, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced in Vienna the creation of "Patriots for Europe," a new far-right alliance, in the European Parliament as reported by Xinhua news agency on Monday.

He presented the alliance with Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), and Andrej Babis, leader of the main Czech opposition party Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO).

Orban said the alliance, comprising his right-wing populist Fidesz party, FPOe, and ANO, would soon become the "largest group of the European right". Yet it would need to attract lawmakers from at least four other EU member states to form a group in the European Parliament.

Austrian broadcaster ORF raised the question of how the National Rally (RN) of the French right-wing populist Marine Le Pen and Germany's AfD party would react to the new alliance. The RN and AfD were recently excluded from the right-wing Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament.

On Monday, Hungary's European Union Affairs Minister Janos Boka outlined the seven top priorities during Hungary's presidency, including enhancing the EU competitiveness, reinforcing European defence policy, EU enlargement, stemming illegal migration, shaping the future of a cohesion policy, formulating a farmer-oriented EU agricultural policy and addressing European demographic challenges.

Boka said these priorities reflect the will of European voters, stressing that the recent European parliamentary elections sent a clear political message that "Europe needs change".

The Minister stressed EU competitiveness and European security and defence policy in particular.

"Strengthening Europe's peace and security are of paramount importance," Boka added.

The motto of Hungary's EU Presidency is "Make Europe Great Again".

Zoltan Kiszelly, Director of the Center of Political Analyses at Hungary's Szazadveg Institute, told Xinhua that the central European country is expected to play a significant role in setting the agenda and topics for meetings and negotiations due in the coming months.
Jerusalem, July 2 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that his country is in "the final stage" of eliminating Hamas' armed force in the Gaza Strip.

"We are advancing towards the completion of the elimination" of Hamas, he said on Monday during a meeting with cadets from Israel's National Security College, according to a statement released by his office as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Netanyahu's estimate came a day after he toured the Gaza division and held a security assessment meeting, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and the army's senior command, on Israel's nine-month-long offensive in Gaza, "with emphasis on the fighting in Rafah, as well as the continuation of military pressure on Hamas," according to Netanyahu's office.

On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces ordered a mass evacuation of civilians from the eastern Khan Younis, signalling that ground forces might soon resume their offensives in the southern Gazan city, presumably to fight Hamas forces that have regrouped in the area.

Israel completed a large-scale attack in Khan Younis in early April and subsequently withdrew most of its forces.
Brittany Conway was just three years old when she died from accidentally ingesting a button battery. Now her family has suffered a new blow.

One of Brittany's beloved tiaras was placed inside a locked glass-front box attached to her grave and sat alongside her for years until somebody had cruelly snatched it. Source: 7News

Brittany Conway was just three years old when she died, with the toddler forever remembered for her love of "pretty dresses, tiaras and high heels". The Gold Coast child passed away almost four years ago after accidentally swallowing a button battery and, in memoriam, her family left a "precious" keepsake above her gravesite  something she'd cherished during her time alive.

One of Brittany's beloved tiaras was left inside a locked glass-front box attached to her grave, and sat alongside her for years until this week, her "angry and hurt" parents realised the unimaginable, that somebody had cruelly stolen it.

With the four-year anniversary of Brittany's death looming, her parents are urging whoever is responsible to do the right thing and "bring it back to Brittany where it belongs".

Brittney's parents are urging whoever is responsible to do the right thing and 'bring it back to where it belongs'. Source: 7News

Unimaginable crime at toddler's grave

"She was a vivacious little girl, there was a sparkle in her eye," Brittanys mother Lorraine told 7News. "She was a very loving, gentle, funny character. Brittany loved wearing big bows and pretty dresses, she loved the tiaras and high heels."

"We just wanted her to know she was our little princess."

Parents' message to thief

Lorraine said she was "so angry to think someone had taken something so precious", snatching it "out of somewhere so sacred". "Im still angry, Im hurt, but my main thing now is to get [the tiara] home, and bring it back to Brittany where it belongs," she said.

"They havent thought about how much of an impact it has had on the family. If youre watching this, and youve taken it, I dont hate you  just take it back to her."

The local Gold Coast community has rallied around the family, offering to replace the tiara and even provide a reward for its return. Brittanys parents remain hopeful, insisting that they "do not hate" the thief, urging them to return the cherished item.

When contacted by Yahoo News, a Queensland Police spokesperson said they are aware of the incident, but as of Tuesday morning, no arrests had been made.

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Moscow, July 2 : Russia issued a permanent entry ban on 99 Canadian citizens as a countermeasure, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"Russia imposes a permanent entry ban on 99 Canadian citizens, who are involved in the elaboration and implementation of Ottawa's anti-Russia policies, as a countermeasure," the Ministry said on Monday in a statement as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The Ministry added that the ban was not targeted at ordinary Canadian people, because it can distinguish the current political elite of Canada from the Canadian people.
Seoul, July 2 : Unionised workers of Samsung Electronics will stage a three-day general strike next week as their negotiations with the management over wages and working conditions fell through.

The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), the biggest labour union with 28,000 members, declared the strike will start next Monday for three days.

The number accounts for approximately 22 per cent of Samsung Electronics' total workforce of about 125,000, reports Yonhap news agency.

The actual number of union workers participating in the strike remains uncertain, and the likelihood of major production disruptions could be low.

"We will fight with a full strike, without pay and without work, until our demands are met," said Son Woo-mok, president of the NSEU.

Since January, the two sides have held several rounds of talks, but have been unable to narrow their differences over the wage increase rate, vacation system and bonuses.

The union has demanded a one-day vacation for all employees and a significant salary raise for the 855 members who did not sign the 2024 salary negotiation agreement.

Also, the union demanded the company offer more paid leave and compensate for economic losses incurred during unpaid strikes.

In June, unionised workers at Samsung Electronics went on a one-day strike, marking the first labor walkout at the company.
New Delhi, July 2 : The government aims to develop indigenous high-performance computing (HPC) processor, known as AUM, as part of complete indigenisation and become a global leader in supercomputing, said S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) The government aims to develop indigenous high-performance computing (HPC) processor, known as AUM, as part of complete indigenisation and become a global leader in supercomputing, said S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).

He was speaking at an event in the national capital where the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) partnered with MosChip Technologies, and Socionext Inc. for the design and development of the indigenous HPC chip.

The HPC processor is based on the Arm architecture and built on TSMC's (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) 5nm technology node.

"The announcement is a significant achievement in chip design. It demonstrates India's capability in indigenous development in the field of high-performance computing. These ventures in consortia mode in partnership with industry are the need of the hour," said Dr Praveen Kumar S., Head of Scientific Divisions (HOD) at the Department of Science and Technology.

C-DAC is designing an indigenous HPC processor called AUM where Keenheads Technologies, an Indian startup, has been engaged as a programme management consultant (PMC) for the project.

"Our indigenisation efforts have reached more than 50 per cent with server nodes, interconnects, and system software stack. Now for complete indigenisation, we are aiming to develop indigenous HPC Processor AUM," Krishnan noted.
Mumbai, July 2 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a show-cause notice to Hindenburg Research, Nathan Anderson and the entities of Mauritius-based foreign portfolio investor (FPI) Mark Kingdon for trading violations in the scrip of Adani Enterprises Ltd, leading up to Hindenburg report and thereafter.

In the 46-page show-cause notice, The markets regulator has alleged that Hindenburg and Anderson violated regulations under the SEBI Act, SEBIas Prevention of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices regulations, and its Code of Conduct for Research Analyst regulations.

Meanwhile, FPI Kingdon has allegedly violated SEBI Act, SEBIas Prevention of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices regulations and SEBIas Code of Conduct for Foreign Portfolio Investors, according to the show-cause notice.

The markets regulator pointed out that the Hindenburg and the FPI entities undertook a misleading disclaimer that the report was solely for the valuation of securities traded outside India when it clearly pertained to listed entities in India.

The regulator said Kingdon aided Hindenburg to indirectly participate in Adani Enterprises by collaborating with the short seller to trade in the company's futures in the Indian derivatives market and shared profits with the research firm.

Hindenburg continues to defend its report that came out in January 2023.
Los Angeles, July 2 : Oprah Winfrey has reminisced about how host Joan Rivers on 'The Tonight Show' commented about the television personality's weight, which made her feel like she should be "shamed." Los Angeles, July 2 (IANS) Oprah Winfrey has reminisced about how host Joan Rivers on 'The Tonight Show' commented about the television personality's weight, which made her feel like she should be "shamed."

Winfrey, who felt she had just lost a role in 'The Color Purple' due to her weight, said on The Jamie Kern Lima Podcast that she appeared on 'The Tonight Show' in 1985 to discuss her programme titled 'A.M. Chicago'. However, the conversation turned to Winfrey's size, reports People.com.

"Joan Rivers turns to me and says, 'Tell me, why are you so fat?'" Winfrey recalled.

"On national television, I didn't know what to do with that. I just said, 'Oh, I just love potato chips, Joan'," she added.

Winfrey shared that Rivers, who passed away in 2014, told her, "Shame on you."

Winfrey said: "I agreed with Joan Rivers, who told me, 'I'll let you come back if you lose 15 lbs. You need to lose 15 lbs (6 kg).'"

"She said to me on national television," Winfrey continued.

"And I accepted it. I accepted that I should be shamed, because how dare I be sitting up here on The Tonight Show."

Winfrey said she and Rivers "agreed that I was going to go away and lose 15 lbs. And of course, I didn't lose the 15 lbs. I went and ate my way to another 10 lbs (4 kg)."

Winfrey shared that she had gone away to "this health retreat," which at the time was called a "fat farm," to lose weight.

Winfrey then shared that she was working on accepting that her weight had cost her a role in the 1985 film 'The Color Purple'. She later received a call that changed everything for her.

The call was from producer Steven Spielberg, who told Winfrey, "I hear you're at a fat farm."

"'You lose a pound,' he told her, 'you could lose this part.'"

Winfrey shared that the phone call was a full-circle moment for her because she had to finally "let go" of the part.

"The instant I let it go was the greatest life lesson I have ever received because I physically felt the release," said Winfrey.

"The second I did that, it changed," she said. Winfrey later got the role of Sofia in the same film, which earned her an Academy Award nomination.

"That became my grounding teaching for the rest of my life and career. Do everything you can, work as hard as you can, and then let it go."
Patna, July 2 : The Bihar government has initiated a departmental inquiry against 36 officers of the Land Reforms and Revenue Department over alleged irregularities and corruption.

This decision follows numerous complaints concerning the mutation of lands, flats, and other properties.

Dilip Jaiswal, the Land Reforms and Revenue Minister confirmed the development, stating, "We are receiving complaints against Circle Officers (CO) and their subordinates for their alleged involvement in corruption and irregularities. Hence, we have initiated a departmental inquiry against 36 officers and also taken action against some of them."

Jaiswal further said, "Following the findings of the inquiry, we have directed the department to suspend a circle officer named Prince Raj with immediate effect. Prabhash Narayan Lal, who retired earlier, will also face departmental action. Besides them, the subordinate officers, who were involved in the irregularities of mutation of land, were also suspended."

"The department will investigate the properties of the alleged officers and if needed, the help of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) will also be taken," the Minister said.
Kolkata: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose during an interaction with the media in connection with the arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan, the prime accused in Sandeshkhali case. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, July 2 : West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose is all set to be in full action mode on Tuesday over the cases of assault on women in Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar and Chopra in North Dinajpur district.

Raj Bhavan sources said the Governor is slated to reach Bagdogra Airport in the Darjeeling district from Delhi and from there he will be going by road to Chopra where a woman was recently beaten up severely and publicly in a Kangaroo Court by a local Trinamool Congress leader who is in police custody now.

Sources said that the Governor will interact with the victim and her family members to have a clear idea of what exactly happened on that day. At the same time, Raj Bhavan sources added the Governor is also expected to interact with the local police administration and review whether proper security of the victim and her family members has been ensured or not.

Bose has already sought a report from the state home department on the actions taken by the administration in the matter.

If time permits, the Governor might also go from Chopra to Mathabhanga in the Cooch Behar district where the woman BJP activist was allegedly assaulted and stripped in public by a group of Trinamool Congress women activists.

However, instead of returning to Kolkata from there, insiders said, the Governor would fly back to Delhi. He is expected to submit a detailed report to the Union Home Ministry about his on-ground findings in the two cases.

Raj Bhavan insiders further said that it is uncertain when the Governor is expected to return to Kolkata again. This means that uncertainties and confusion looming over the swearing-in ceremony of two newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs namely Sayantika Banerjee from Baranagar and Reyat Houssen Sarkar from Bhagawangola will continue unless the Governor sends any specific instruction on this count in the interim period.
Los Angeles, July 2 : Hollywood star Jamie Foxx, who is known for 'Django Unchained', has addressed his hospitalisation last year, suggesting in footage shared on social media that he doesn't "remember anything" from a period of days.

The actor experienced something akin to a fugue state.

Foxx was hospitalised in April last year after experiencing what his daughter Corinne Foxx, 29, referred to as a "medical complication," reports Mirror.co.uk.

He is later thought to have spent time in a physical rehab centre and has spoken about his health on a few occasions.

The actor is now believed to have further discussed the situation while speaking to a crowd in downtown Phoenix, in the US, recently.

According to Mirror.co.uk, footage shared by the outlet The Art Of Dialogue on X shows him saying, "(I had a) bad headache. Asked my boy for an Advil." Jamie then snapped his fingers before telling the crowd, "I was gone for 20 days. I don't remember anything."

He continued, "So they told me ... I'm in Atlanta ... they told me ... my sister and daughter took me to the first doctor. (They) gave me a cortisone shot."

Pointing at his head, he added, "The next doctor said, '(There's) something going on up there'. I won't say it on camera. Yeah, I don't want to say it on camera."

This isn't the first time the actor has addressed his experience.

He shared a video message with his fans on Instagram in July last year, in which he dismissed some speculation about his health.

Jamie said at the time that he hadn't shared an update earlier because he didn't want fans to see him "with tubes running out of (him) and trying to figure out if (he) was gonna make it through."

He said that his family "didn't let anything out" either but added that it meant people speculated.
New Delhi, July 2 : A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's controversial speech in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs to "follow the rules" of Parliament.

During the meeting at the Balyogi Audotortium in Parliament, the Prime Minister also advised the NDA MPs to ensure that their behaviour on the floor of the House is exemplary.

The Prime Minister cautioned NDA MPs that many people can try to come in close contact, but proper verification should be done before allowing them access.

He advised the MPs "not to give unnecessary statements to the media, to devote time to their constituencies, and come to the Parliament with proper preparations."

The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Dharmendra Pradhan, J. P. Nadda, Pralhad Joshi, Chirag Paswan, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, Ramdas Athawale, Jitan Ram Manjhi along with many other cabinet ministers attended the meeting.

It is the first Parliamentary Board meeting of the NDA after PM Modi's third win in the Parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to respond to the Motion of Thanks on Tuesday afternoon on the President's address in the Lok Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks drew strong protest from the BJP MPs.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sought an apology from the Congress MP.
Ulan Bator, July 2 : A total of 126 newly elected legislators took the oath of office in the inaugural session of the new parliament at the State House on Tuesday, following the ninth parliamentary elections held last Friday.

Their oath was administered by Duger Regdel, who is 72 years old. He is also the oldest member of the State Great Khural, the country's parliament, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the 126-seat parliament, the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) won 68 seats, while the opposition Democratic Party got 42 seats.
When they looked at the rock under a microscope the creatures fossilised inside were like nothing else researchers had seen.

A small black rock souvenired by a student during an outback study trip in Western Australia has been cracked open to reveal the remains of 2.4-billion-year-old creatures inside.

Whats remarkable about these microfossils is they appear to be more intricate than anything known to exist at the time. Not just by a few years, but by 750 million.

They appear to belong to a domain of complex life called eukaryotes  a domain that includes animals, plants and fungi. It had previously been thought all that existed was single-celled bacteria-like life called prokaryotes.

While the texture of the fossils is extremely good, the chemical information has been degraded and that makes proving the hypothesis difficult. But given the random series of events that led to the find, the researchers are committed to keep studying this mysterious find.

Related: Ultra-rare merging of two lifeforms sparks exciting evolutionary prediction

Looking through a microscope at the rock, the researchers discovered a creature that appeared to be multi-celled. Source: UNSW

Chance event leads to discovery of microfossils inside rock

The layered limestone rock, known as a black chert, was found by geologist Dr Erica Barlow in the Pilbara and taken home as a keepsake. Shed been pursuing a different line of research as a student at University of NSW before her supervisor Professor Martin Van Kranendonk spotted it on her desk.

The particular type of rock that Erica had on her desk is well known to contain samples of microfossils, Van Kranendonk told Yahoo News. I'd seen some of those types of rocks, but this particular sample looked extraordinarily glassy.

Although the pair were studying in a geology lab, the chances of anyone knowing the significance of the black chert were low. Maybe a couple of dozen people throughout the world would recognise it.

The odds of discovering the rock were also slim. It was literally a needle in a haystack, Van Kranendonk said.

Several pieces of black chert have now been retrieved from the Pilbara. Source: UNSW

Ancient landscape where microfossils discovered

To get to the remote Western Australian Pilbara town where it was located requires travelling down a long and bumpy dirt road.

Its fiercely hot in the summer. But its beautiful wilderness  it's still a very pristine part of the world in the southern part of the Hamersley Ranges, Van Kranendonk said.

There are broad open valleys that are filled by gum trees along the river course. And then these dark red ranges with all the iron. It's spectacular.

Why the rock is so important

The period the rock was dated to is significant because its when the Great Oxidation Event occurred  a tipping-point that marks the rise of oxygen in the early Earth's atmosphere.

Dr Erica Barlow thinks the creatures inside her rock could rewrite our understanding of life on Earth. Source: UNSW

The event had theoretically been linked to a jump in the complexity of life but physical evidence had been lacking.

When the researchers looked at the fossils inside they didnt resemble anything theyd seen before. Its the first fossil of its kind known to the geological record.

Since the original discovery of the rock, Barlow has returned to the site and found an entire rock wall embedded with black chert for kilometres. Several small pieces have been removed and taken back to the lab for further study.

Van Kranendonk is hopeful that as technology develops, it will become possible to create a more definitive analysis of the microfossils that will enable them to pinpoint whether the creatures inside are eukaryotes.

During this research project Van Kranendonk was a Professor at the University of NSW. He is now the Curtin Universitys new Head of School of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Helsinki, July 2 : The Finnish parliament has approved the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the US, announced the parliament.

According to Finnish national broadcaster Yle, under the agreement, Finland will open 15 of its military bases for potential use by the military forces of the US and will also allow the US to bring defence equipment, supplies, materials, and soldiers to Finland, reports Xinhua news agency.

In addition, the agreement will authorize the establishment of certain military zones, which will include facilities accessible only to the personnel of the US.

The agreement creates a framework for the activities of the United States and a more permanent presence in Finland, noted Yle.

Anna Kontula, a Left Alliance lawmaker, has submitted a proposal calling on legislators to reject the agreement. "Generally, it is not a good idea to allow soldiers and weapons of a foreign country to settle. If this is done, it is usually not wise to give them the free right to operate in the country," Kontula was quoted by Uusi Suomi, a Finnish online news service.

The lawmaker emphasised that in the DCA, Finland significantly cedes its sovereignty to a foreign state, according to Uusi Suomi.

The negotiations for the DCA started in August 2022, three months after Finland applied for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership. After a total of five rounds of negotiations, the agreement was reached at the end of October 2023.

Finland and the US signed the DCA in Washington on December 18, 2023. The Finnish government submitted the proposal for the agreement to the parliament for approval at the end of May 2024.
Bengaluru, July 2 : AI-enabled talent assessment and hiring platform HireMee on Tuesday said it has joined US-based Rockefeller Foundation's Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) to bridge the gap between graduation and first career jobs for young graduates from diverse communities in India.

The GMI programme connects students with mentors who provide guidance and business skills in preparation to enter the job market after graduation, thereby enhancing their employability quotient.

With over 5,000 mentors in 120 countries, GMI's mentors come from leading organisations such as Microsoft, LinkedIn and Genpact, among others.

"Our partnership with GMI will select HireMee assessed youth to be mentored by volunteers from top global brands and enhance their employability quotient," said Venkatraman Umakanth, SVP and Head, HireMee.

The MoU between GMI and HireMee will make the GMI Programme available for free to the youth across the country.

"We are delighted to make the Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) programme available to the youth across India and enhance their employability quotient even further," said Jon Browning, CEO, Global Mentorship Initiative.

HireMee said it will initiate an outreach programme for students who are in the last two years of their undergraduate course and between the age of 20 and 25 years to take up iys free employability assessment.

For students enrolling in the GMI programme, there has been a 37-point average increase in career confidence and skills after mentorship (from 53 to 90), 74 per cent of student mentees globally had a job within six months of graduating, and 82 per cent of the respondents said that the GMI programme was crucial in helping them get hired.

HireMee has helped over 720,000 talented small-town youth get assessed at no cost and connecting them with companies, big and small, that value diversity and inclusivity.
Mumbai, July 2 : Actor Aditya Seal will be seen featuring alongside Kajol and Prabhu Deva in the upcoming film 'Maharagni - Queen of Queens', directed by Charantej Uppalapati, and he said it is a dream come true for him.

The actor expressed his excitement, emphasising how significant this opportunity is for him.

"It's a dream come true for me," Aditya said.

Aditya, who is known for his roles in films such as 'Student of the Year 2', 'Indoo Ki Jawani', 'Purani Jeans', and 'Tum Bin 2', called it a surreal experience working with Kajol.

"I have literally grown up watching Kajol. I'm sure every actor of my generation would say that they have dreamt of working with her. To now be working with her in a movie is so surreal for me," he said.

Talking about Prabhu Deva, he said: aAnd what do I even say about Prabhu Deva, as a kid, we all tried to emulate his incredible dance moves. And now sharing screen space with him is truly a dream come true for me."

"The film is an amazing opportunity for me to work and share screen space with these icons."

'Maharagni - Queen of Queens', an action thriller, marks the collaboration between Kajol and Prabhu Deva after 27 years. The film also features Samyuktha, Naseeruddin Shah, Jisshu Sengupta, Chhaya Kadam, and Pramod Pathak.

Aditya, who is a black belt in taekwondo, made his debut in 2002 with 'Ek Chhotisi Love Story' starring Manisha Koirala. He was then seen in 'Purani Jeans', 'Tum Bin II', 'Namaste England', '99 Songs', and 'Rocket Gang'.

In his upcoming slate of work, apart from 'Maharagni - Queen of Queens', Aditya also has 'Khel Khel Mein' starring Akshay Kumar.
Mumbai, July 2 : The ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi came in direct confrontation outside the Maharashtra Legislature on Tuesday over Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's statements in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Legislators from both sides shouted slogans against each other, with Mahayuti members carrying placards condemning LoP Rahul Gandhi's speech, demanding an apology to all Hindus and raising Hindutva slogans.

On the other side, MVA legislators shouted slogans defending MP Rahul Gandhi and against the BJP for its alleged "false Hindutva to divide people and grab Hindu votes."

The Congress' Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar and the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve slammed the Mahayuti in Maharashtra and the ruling NDA at the Centre.

"The BJP, which had suspended 150 MPs from the Lok Sabha has no authority to teach Uddhav Thackeray or me about Parliamentary rules and laws," said Danve.

Making a spirited defence of the Congress leader, Wadettiwar said that Rahul Gandhi's speech was on the Constitution and "he did not utter a word against Hindutva", but the "BJP was creating a fake narrative to point fingers at others."

Referring to demands for his resignation from the Mahayuti legislators, Danve said that "they are free to ask the (Legislative Council) Chairperson for the same", or approach the courts.

Recalling Rahul Gandhi's speech Wadettiwar pointed out that "violence was not a part of Hindu culture nor was it the BJP's monopoly and while Hinduism teaches tolerance, equality for all, the BJP is creating religious and social divides to grab Hindu votes."

On the expletives hurled by him in the House on Monday, Danve said that suddenly the BJP leaders have remembered rules and laws, and retorted by asking "what do they know about Hindutva and how do they claim to give lessons on Hinduism to others?"

"I am a Shiv Sainik and I reply in a Shiv Sainik style Let them do whatever they want" declared Danve, on the clamour for his apology and sacking as LoP.

Wadettiwar added that the BJP was rattled because Rahul Gandhi exposed them and the RSS' Manusmriti to achieve the objectives of making communities fight and grab Hindu votes, though it is against Hindutva tenets.

In New Delhi, SS(UBT) MPs Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi put up a strong defence of LoP Rahul Gandhi and said that "he proved to be 'bhaari' for the PM and eight other BJP heavyweights" in Parliament on Monday.
Seoul, July 2 : The Missile Administration of North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), successfully conducted a test-fire of a new-type tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11Da-4.5, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday.

The new-type tactical ballistic missile can carry a "4.5 ton-class super-large warhead," according to a report by KCNA, reports Xinhua news agency.

By using a missile tipped with a simulated heavy warhead, the test-fire was designed to verify its flight stability and hit accuracy at a maximum range of 500 km and a minimum range of 90 km, the report said.

The DPRK Missile Administration will further test-fire the new-type tactical ballistic missile this month, in a bid to verify its flight characteristics, hit accuracy and explosion power of super-large warhead at a medium range of 250 km, the report added.
New Delhi, July 2 : India on Tuesday said that its priorities at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit being held in Astana this week under the presidency of Kazakhstan are shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of SECURE, which stands for Security, Economic development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the 24th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State which will be held on Thursday.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the leaders attending the summit are expected to review the organisation's activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation.

Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed at the meeting.

The principle of SECURE reflected the theme of India's first-ever presidency of SCO, as was asserted by PM Modi during the virtual SCO Summit hosted by New Delhi on July 4, last year.

More than 140 programmes, conferences, and meetings within the SCO were held and five new pillars of cooperation within the SCO - Startups and Innovation; Traditional Medicine; Youth Empowerment; Digital Inclusion, and Shared Buddhist Heritage - established under India's chairmanship.

It was also under India's presidency that Iran joined the SCO family as a new member and the signing of the Memorandum of Obligation for Belarus' SCO membership took place.

"The SCO represents approximately 40 per cent of the world's population and nearly one-third of the global economy. Therefore, it is our shared responsibility to understand each other's needs and sensitivities. To resolve all challenges through better cooperation and coordination, and make constant efforts for the well-being of our people," PM Modi had remarked at the 23rd SCO Summit, last July.
Bengaluru, July 2 : Karnataka State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday said that Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi used the Parliament to "humiliate" Hindus.

Bengaluru, July 2 (IANS) Karnataka State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday said that Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi used the Parliament to "humiliate" Hindus.

"Rahul Gandhi used Parliament to humiliate Hindus. He must answer who triggered the Sikh massacre in 1984. He should also explain whether Congress leaders are responsible for Sikh atrocities?" Vijayendra told media persons at party headquarters in Bengaluru.

He said that the same Congress which clamped down on the nation with an Emergency and unleashed atrocities on innocent people is now denigrating Hindus.

"Attacking Hindus is unpardonable," he said.

He said that Congress has a habit of making derogatory remarks against Hindus. "P. Chidambaram called Hindus terrorists in 2010, Susheel Kumar Shinde also spoke against Hindus in 2013, and now Rahul Gandhi in 2024 has done the same," he said.

Vijayendra also accused LoP Rahul Gandhi of lying and insulting Agniveers and spreading misinformation about the Ram Temple during his Parliament speech.

"In Monday's speech, Rahul Gandhi revealed what is on his mind again," Vijayendra said.

He said that Rahul Gandhi's conduct in Parliament was contrary to the rules. "Instead of upholding the dignity of his position, he brought disrepute to the august House," Vijayendra said.

He said LoP Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, which couldn't even cross the 100 mark in the Lok Sabha election, is using Parliament for LoP's whims and fancies.

--IANS

mka/dan
Guwahati, July 2 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday rescued 13 fishermen, who were stranded on a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra in Assam's Dibrugarh district since June 28, State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said.

The ASDMA had requested the IAF to help rescue the fishermen from the Hatia Ali area in the district.

The IAF in a post on the X said: "IAF rescued 13 marooned survivors from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra, north of Dibrugarh in Assam."

"On 02 Jul 24, after a sunrise takeoff, a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions and undertook rescue ops from a marshy piece of land. The coordinated efforts of Pilot and Flt Gunner ensured prompt and safe boarding of 13 survivors. Emergency First Aid was provided by the Indian Air Force after the rescue," the IAF said in the post.

The fishermen had been stranded since June 28. An ASDMA official said that national and state Disaster Response Force and Inland Water Transport boats tried to reach the marooned people but had to abandon efforts due to rising water levels and extreme currents of the river.

Dibrugarh district has been severely affected by the second wave of flood with most localities in eastern Assam inundated for the past week.

The IAF had rescued eight State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and a revenue official on Sunday from Jonai in Dhemaji district when they were stranded in another sandbar area during relief operations for the flood-hit people.

The flood situation in Assam has turned serious since Sunday following incessant rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh. A population of over 6.44 lakh has been affected in 19 districts.

The death toll in floods has risen to 35 so far this year while many other people died in storms and landslides in different parts of the state.

The flood-hit districts are Kamrup, Golaghat, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Karimganj, Cachar, Dhemaji, Morigaon, Udalguri, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Darrang, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Biswanath and Jorhat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in a phone call discussed the flood situation in the state with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

CM Sarma in his post on the X said: "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam."

"I explained to him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts. I also briefed him about the relief measures undertaken by the state government. He assured me of full cooperation from the Government of India in this hour of crisis," the Chief Minister had said.
Mumbai, July 2 : Veteran actress Shabana Azmi, who recently celebrated 50 years in cinema, revealed that actor Mithun Chakraborty was very insecure about his complexion during his early days in the industry.

The actress recalled how he would come to her house, and her mom would instil confidence in Mithun.

Shabana appeared on the episode of the streaming chat show aThe Invincibles with Arbaaz Khana by Bollywood Bubble and shared anecdotes about Mithun Chakraborty visiting her home and expressing concerns about his skin tone and teeth.

The actress told the show host, Arbaaz Khan: "Mithun Chakraborty, who was my junior back then would come to our house and tell us that he doesnat have a fair complexion or his teeth were different. Mom used to hug and tell him that ayou shouldnat worry about all these things. You are such a great dancera. We all used to get confidence from this kind of affirmation coming from her."

Reflecting on her iconic film aArtha, Shabana expressed how none of the artists involved in the project anticipated its eventual cult status over the years.

The actress, who won the National Award for her role in the film, said that the film triggered a societal change.

During the episode, she also candidly discussed her husband, the legendary screenwriter Javed Akhtar, and his struggle with alcoholism.

She recounted a pivotal moment, saying that one day when they were in Paris, Javed was reeking of alcohol, and that was the moment he decided to give up drinking. She lauded her husbandas willpower and said she couldnat understand how he gave up drinking just like that with no withdrawal.
Mumbai, July 2 : Maharashtra Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve (Shiv Sena UBT) on Tuesday was suspended for five days (till July 8) for allegedly using "derogatory" and "abusive" language against the BJP legislator Prasad Lad during the legislative business.

Mumbai, July 2 (IANS) Maharashtra Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve (Shiv Sena UBT) on Tuesday was suspended for five days (till July 8) for allegedly using "derogatory" and "abusive" language against the BJP legislator Prasad Lad during the legislative business.

The Legislative Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil moved a resolution which was passed by a voice vote.

Earlier, Lad had demanded Danve's resignation for using "abusive" and "derogatory" language against him.

The confrontation took place after LoP and Lad adopted aggressive stands allegedly using unparliamentary language at each other.

BJP legislators had demanded a resolution be passed condemning the LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's statement against Hindus.

Lad had raised the issue of Rahul's speech in the Lok Sabha in the Council and initiated the debate by condemning his remarks.

Lad along with BJP legislator Pravin Darekar accused the LoP Rahul Gandhi of "insulting" Hindus which was strongly objected by Danve, Congress legislators Bhai Jagtap and Abhijit Wanjari among others which led to a series of disruptions and adjournments. This was followed by the state council being adjourned for the day.

Lad alleged that Danve started misbehaving with him while he was speaking. He demanded that Lad should apologise.

However, Danve later clarified that he did not lose his balance. "I am a Shiv Sainik and capable of chopping the fingers of those who point fingers at me. Lad was gesturing at me while speaking on a topic that was unrelated to the House," he said.
An estimated seven million people touch down here every year, and many are stunned by unique Aussie features, as was the case this week.

A Canadian man touring Australia has revealed his 'amazement' at the amount of 'free' public amenities we have such as barbecues. Source: TikTok/Getty

Learning how other cultures do things is one of the great pleasures of travelling. In Australia, we see an estimated seven million people touch down on our shores each and every year, and that number continues to swell.

Though we're not quite at the level we were prior to the pandemic, tourists are again flocking Down Under to experience the Aussie way of life, and see all the wonderful things we've got on offer.

One such traveller, a Canadian national touring Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, was amazed to find a "cool" facility along the beachfront that he'd never heard of, but for Australians, it's part of our national identity  the humble public barbecue.

The traveller said he'd toured other countries and comparatively 'Australia looks after their people'. Source: TikTok

Canadian impressed Australia's 'cool' public amenities

Posting a video online, Josiah Hein boasted to his followers how locals "are really being taken care of" in Australia, describing all the "free ammenities" we're given in public spaces. "In Australia, they provide free barbecues for people, they can just press a button and it's like an electric barbecue," Hein began in his vlog.

"I'm at the beach right here, there's waves and stuff and you literally just press the button and it turns on, heats up and you can cook your meat on that surface. Picnic tables  even hot water. They're providing free hot water!"

There are almost 500 public barbecues around the Gold Coast. Source: Meat In A Park

Clearly astonished, Hein went on to explain that he found our public amenities "kinda cool" , particularly in comparison to other countries he'd toured.

"Cruising down the Californian coast a year ago, it felt like there was none of that," he said. "Australia is really taking care of the public I think, in these parklands and beachlands (sic)  it's pretty amazing here, bro, damn."

Have your say

Gold Coast mayor weighs in

Not the only one fond of Surfers Paradise and it's public amenities, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate also weighed in, echoing many of Hein's views. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Tate said there are almost 500 free barbecues across the city.

"With our fantastic weather why wouldn't Gold Coasters and visitors want to do everything outdoors including cooking up snags for lunch," he told Yahoo. "It seems un-Australian to charge our community to use them. We have almost 500 barbecues across the City and they are serviced 7 days a week to keep them sparkling every day."

While it's true Australians love to make the most of public facilities, many online respondents to the video pointed out it's what our council rates and tax dollars are put towards.

"Nothing is free in Australia, we pay council rates," one person said. "We may have high taxes/rates but the amount of things that we get in return is well worth it in comparison to other countries," another argued.

A third person joked that it gets so hot here "you don't even need to turn barbecues on" to use them.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Beirut, July 2 : A Hezbollah member was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the village of Aitaroun in southern Lebanon, said Lebanese military sources.

An Israeli warplane fired two air-to-surface missiles at a house in the center of Aitaroun, killing a Hezbollah member on Monday, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua.

The military sources added that Israel launched seven airstrikes on five towns and villages and fired 45 shells on ten border towns and villages in southern Lebanon during the day.

For its part, Hezbollah announced that it attacked several Israeli sites, including Al-Samaqa, Dovev, and Ramot Naftali.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel "in solidarity" with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

Since the start of the confrontations with Israeli forces on the border, 357 members of the Lebanese armed group have been killed, according to Lebanese security and medical reports.
Mumbai, July 2 : Actor Yogesh Tripathi shared about his cherished monsoon delicacies, revealing that 'kachoris' are a must-have in his household, adding that aloo tikki is also his favourite.

With the arrival of the monsoon showers, many of us crave our favourite seasonal treats.

Yogesh opened up about his cherished monsoon delights, each with a personal connection and story.

Speaking about the same, Yogesh, who essays the role of Daroga Happu Singh in the sitcom 'Happu Ki Ultan Paltan', said: "Monsoon in Uttar Pradesh is a time of joy, and food is central to this experience. Each dish connects me to my roots and childhood memories of enjoying these treats with family and friends. Kachoris are a must-have monsoon in my household. These flaky, stuffed pastries filled with spiced lentils or peas are incredibly satisfying, especially when served with tangy tamarind or spicy green chutney."

"Another favourite is aloo tikki -- the spiced potato patties that are a popular street food in the northern region. During the monsoon season, I love making them at home at my wifeas request, adding my twist with various chutneys and toppings. The crispy exterior and soft, spiced potato filling inside make aloo tikki an irresistible treat. Even in Mumbai, I enjoy these flavours whenever it rains, turning each monsoon into a culinary celebration filled with nostalgia," shared Yogesh, who hails from Rath, UP.

'Happu Ki Ultan Paltan', produced under Edit II Productions, is a spin-off of the popular sitcom 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai'.

The show features Geetanjali Mishra as Rajesh Singh, Himani Shivpuri as Katori Singh, Sapna Sikawar, Charul Malik, and Sohit Soni.

'Happu Ki Ultan Paltan' airs on &TV.
Kolkata, July 2 : Even after reaching Bagdogra Airport on the outskirts of Siliguri in Darjeeling District of West Bengal, Governor CV Ananda Bose cancelled his trip to Chopra on Tuesday at the last minute.

Governor Bose was supposed to reach North Dinajpur District to interact with the victim of a Kangaroo Court, who was beaten up allegedly by a local Trinamool Congress leader.

Instead, Bose decided to go back to New Delhi from where he had arrived on Tuesday morning.

In his interaction with media-persons at the Siliguri Circuit House, Bose said, "A virtual bloodbath is going on in West Bengal. I wonder whether there is any police minister in the state at all. Is it not the duty of the police to prevent such events? It seems that all the sinners have vacated hell and gone to West Bengal. People are being beaten up or even killed out of sheer adventure. This cannot continue. The state government should take responsibility."

The Governor was supposed to reach Chopra by road following the press conference and accordingly a huge police contingent was deployed there to ensure his security.

However, at around 1.30 P.M. information surfaced that the Governor had decided to go back to New Delhi instead of going to Chopra.

Instead, the Governor spoke to the woman via phone.

Although Raj Bhavan insiders confirmed the development, no reasons were given.

However, sources said that Bose's Chopra trip was cancelled because of Intelligence inputs of the likelyhood of the Governor facing protests by locals.

Reacting to the development, Trinamool Congress legislator from Chopra Assembly constituency, Hamidul Rahman, said it would have been better had the Governor come and taken stock of the situation.

"Only he can say why he changed his plans?" Rahman said.
New Delhi, July 2 : The electronics industry on Tuesday urged the Central government to look into lowering tariffs on inputs in the upcoming budget and scale up local manufacturing to further beat China and Vietnam.

The recommendations by the electronics industry, aimed at attracting Global Value Chains (GVCs) to India, are based on a detailed seven-country "Tariff Study" on input tariffs for smartphones, examining the impact of high tariffs on India's mobile phone manufacturing and export competitiveness.

India's simple average most favoured nation (MFN) tariff for inputs is 7.4 per cent, compared to China's effective zero tariffs offered in bonded zones and Vietnam's 0.7 per cent FTA-weighted average tariffs.

"Sustaining the tremendous growth in mobile phone production and exports requires matching the competitive tariff regimes of China and Vietnam," said Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA).

"Current high tariffs increase manufacturing costs in India by 7-7.5 per cent on the bill of materials (BoM), deterring local ecosystem development, hampering exports, and adversely impacting job creation," Mohindroo added.

The study recommends a glide path for reducing India's input tariffs to match the competitiveness of China and Vietnam.

"Any revenue foregone under this tariff reduction would be more than compensated by the additional revenue generated from higher affordability, increased production, sales of smartphones and higher economic activity following job creation," the findings showed.

The industry recommended that all tariff lines that increase costs significantly, including components of complex subassemblies, should be brought down to zero.

"India's seven tariff slabs for the mobile sector should be reduced to 3+1 slabs - 0 per cent, 5 per cent, 10 per cent and 15 per cent by 2025," they said.

The reduction in duty from 20 per cent to 15 per cent on printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), charger adapters and mobile phones and the reduction in duty on mic/receiver from 15 per cent to 10 per cent "will have no impact on current domestic manufacturing".

India's electronics manufacturing output has reached a record-breaking $115 billion in FY24, with $29.1 billion in electronics exports, making electronics the fifth-largest export category from India.

Mobile phones alone contributed over 54 per cent of this export, with production out of $51 billion in FY24.
New Delhi, July 2 : Strengthening its brand presence pan India, Storii by ITC Hotels made its foray into West Bengal with Storii Devasom Spa & Resort, Kolkata.

Spread across 3 acres, this resort is the perfect getaway for a relaxing staycation or a spa holiday.

Anil Chadha, Chief Executive, ITC Hotels, said, "Brand Storii has arrived in the City of Joy! The launch of Storii Devasom Spa & Resort in Kolkata strengthens our presence in eastern India and is a significant addition to our bouquet of offerings in West Bengal. Each of our distinctive brands and hotels, be it ITC Sonar, ITC Royal Bengal, or Brand Fortune, offer a diverse selection of experiences for our guests. Storii Kolkata too shall tell its own unique story. The launch of this property embodies our commitment to enhancing the state's tourism landscape."

Speaking on the launch, Ravi Todi, Director, South City Group, said, "The prime location of Storii Kolkata offers the perfect retreat for relaxation and revitalisation. Yet another magnificent development by South City Group. We have chosen ITC Hotels to manage the property given their excellence in hospitality."
Mumbai, July 2 : Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, who was recently admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai, has called his daughter Sonakshi and her husband Zaheer Iqbal a 'made for each other' couple.

The actor-politician took to his X on Tuesday and expressed gratitude to his followers for their support with a heartfelt note.

He tweeted: "Thanking everyone for their blessings, love & warm congratulatory messages. But most touched to have received extremely heartwarming affectionate wishes from most learned, intellectual par excellence the great #ArunShourie elder brother, statesman #YashwantSinha & of course the most deserving, Magsaysay Award winner #RavishKumar for the 'made for each other' couple #SonakshiSinha & #ZaheerIqbal. #SinhaParivar."

Earlier, Shatrughan Sinha secured victory from West Bengal's Asansol constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on a TMC ticket.

He expressed gratitude to the people of Asansol for their support, winning by a margin of 59,564 votes against BJP candidate Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia.

Meanwhile, Sonakshi and Zaheer tied the knot on June 23 in Mumbai after dating for seven years.

The couple first met at a party hosted by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

Interestingly, both Sonakshi and Zaheer began their careers with Salman.

Sonakshi debuted opposite Salman in the box-office hit 'Dabangg', while Zaheer made his debut in Salman Khan's home production 'Notebook'.
Moscow, July 2 : The Russian armed forces launched a missile strike on an airfield in Ukraine's Poltava region, destroying five Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The attack by an Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system targeted the aircraft parking area at the Myrhorod airfield, the ministry said via its official social media channel.

It destroyed five Su-27 fighter jets belonging to the Ukrainian armed forces and damaged two more undergoing repairs at the time, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ministry also released video footage of the strike. Ukrainian authorities have issued no immediate response.
Tashkent, July 2 : Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss support for reforms in the country and the UN, said the presidential press service.

"The current visit, which is Antonio Guterres' second visit to the republic, testifies to the UN's full support for the ongoing irreversible reforms within the framework of the 'Uzbekistan-2030' strategy," said the statement.

During their talks on Monday, the two leaders discussed a range of topics, including promoting global and regional security, stability, and sustainable development, reports Xinhua news agency.

They also focused on expanding multifaceted cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UN and reviewed the progress of joint projects aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Additionally, both leaders exchanged views on current national and regional situations. The president expressed support for the secretary-general's initiatives on promoting international security and stability, reforming the UN and its principal organs, and organising the Summit of the Future in New York later this year.

According to the UN press service, Guterres is currently on a tour of Central Asian countries from June 29 to July 7. As part of the tour, he will attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana on Thursday.

Guterres last visited Central Asia in 2017.
Kolkata, July 2 : A single-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday, extended the stay on coercive police action, including arrest, against 47 BJP workers at Nandigram against whom FIRs have been registered.

Earlier, on June 26, the single-judge Bench of Justice Amrita Sinha had barred the state police from adopting any coercive action against these 47 BJP cadres till further court orders and the next date of hearing.

The matter came up for hearing at her Bench on Tuesday afternoon and at the end of the hearing, Justice Sinha extended the stay on coercive police action by another three weeks.

During the hearing, Justice Sinha observed that prima facie it seems that the same charges have been brought against all 47 BJP workers in the FIRs filed against them by the police in East Midnapore District.

She also observed that there is a necessity to examine the authenticity of the charges in the FIRs.

The 47 FIRs were in relation to police investigation on post-poll violence at Nandigram, where the elected BJP legislator is the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari.

Suvendu Adhikari alleged that at Nandigram the police were booking the victims of post-poll violence.

On Tuesday, Justice Sinha asked all the parties concerned in the case to file their respective affidavits following which the matter will come for hearing again.

BJP's state General Secretary, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, claimed that not just at Nandigram but elsewhere in the state also the police were implicating the BJP cadres in false cases.

"That is why we have to approach the court again and again," he said.
Islamabad, July 2 : Nine "terrorists" were killed in two separate operations of the security forces in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the military said.

The security forces conducted intelligence-based operations in Khyber and Lakki Marwat districts of KP, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement, reports Xinhua news agency.

"During the first operation, seven terrorists, including two terrorist commanders, were killed in the Tirah area of Khyber district," according to the ISPR statement, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ISPR said that weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered during the operation, adding that the killed "terrorists" were wanted by the security forces.

In a separate operation in Lakki Marwat district, security forces killed two "terrorists".

Sanitation operations are being carried out to eliminate any other "terrorists" found in the area.
Thiago Mizutani says his belongings were stolen after an unknown offender broke into his car, damaging it in the process.

Thiago Mizutani said he was shocked to find his 4WD had been broken into while recently visiting Eleven Mile Beach in Esperance, WA. Source: Supplied

A tourist is urging authorities to do more to protect travellers around the country after his 4WD was broken into while making a short pitstop at a popular beach.

Thiago Mizutani is driving a lap around Australia with his wife, Lidia, who are both from Brazil, but their plans went awry on Sunday when the couple returned to their car after going a walk for 30 minutes and found it full of broken glass and their belongings stolen near Eleven Mile Beach in Esperance, Western Australia.

A bunch of our stuff was stolen diving gear, cables, hard drives, a gallon of petrol we carry and our wallets with all our documents and credit cards, he told Yahoo News, claiming $800 worth of items were taken, as well as precious pictures saved on their hard drives.

We left Melbourne to do the lap so basically the car is our home now, its the feeling like someone is breaking into your home my wife just started crying, we were shocked, he said.

Thiago reported the incident to WA Police, however, they declined to share details when contacted by Yahoo News.

Thiago Mizutani said $800 worth of items were taken from his 4WD, as well as precious pictures saved on the couple's hard drives. Source: Supplied

Tourist believes more 'deterrents' are needed to safeguard travellers

There are some parts of the country Thiago says he feels are better equipped for travellers than others, being full of praise for National Parks which are regularly monitored by rangers. However, he believes more deterrents are needed to stop people from targeting tourists, which he questioned may have been the case on Sunday.

With remote sites like the Great Ocean Drive that are pretty popular, more needs to be done to monitor spaces and keep people safe. Theres no cameras for example they help to deter, he said.

He claims to have spoken to a local at the petrol station after the break-in who said there is increasing tension from some locals towards tourists, with some feeling disdain that car parks are filled overnight with people passing through, and roads and public spaces are becoming crowded.

Thiago said he believes more 'deterrents' are needed to stop people from targeting tourists. Source: Supplied

In recent years, councils across the country have introduced 'no overnight parking rules to combat tourists lingering in public car parks and sleeping overnight in their vehicles in Perth, Sydney and Sunshine Coast.

The local reportedly told Thiago they fear this tension will only worsen and possibly heighten over peak times, like during the school holidays.

You never expect this would happen here, the Brazilian told Yahoo. I feel invaded, like Im not safe anymore.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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New Delhi, July 2 : The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), which comes under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, has warned users of multiple vulnerabilities in Google Chrome OS and GitLab, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system.

LTS channel for Google ChromeOS versions prior to 120.0.6099.315 is the affected software.

On the other hand, the affected software in GitLab include -- GitLab Community Edition (CE) versions prior to 17.1.1, 17.0.3 and 16.11.5 and GitLab Enterprise Edition (EE) versions prior to 17.1.1, 17.0.3 and 16.11.5.

"Multiple vulnerabilities have been reported in LTS channel for ChromeOS which could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system," said the CERT-In advisory.

As per the cyber agency, these vulnerabilities exist in Google Chrome OS due to Heap buffer overflow in WebRTC and Use after free in Media Session.

An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by persuading a victim to visit a specially crafted web page.

The vulnerabilities reported in GitLab exist in various components of GitLab community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE).

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive information, cause cross-site scripting, bypass security restrictions and cause denial of service condition on the targeted system, according to the cyber agency.

CERT-In has suggested users apply appropriate security updates as recommended by the companies.
New Delhi, July 2 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy scam.

The bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna asked the central agency to file its response by July 17 in the matter.

CM Kejriwal, who is presently in 14-day judicial custody (till July 12) in the corruption case, assailed the validity of his arrest by the CBI and subsequent custody of the agency.

On June 26, Kejriwal was formally arrested by the CBI when he was produced before Rouse Avenue Court. Subsequently, he was sent to three-day CBI custody for interrogation.

Permission was granted to the CBI to produce CM Kejriwal in the special court after he was questioned by the central agency in Tihar Jail last week.

Recently, the Delhi High Court stayed a trial court order granting bail to Kejriwal in a money laundering case saying that the documents and arguments were not appreciated by the lower court.

The Supreme Court, in May, had reserved its verdict on the petition filed by CM Kejriwal challenging his arrest and subsequent remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case. However, the apex court had ordered him to be released on 21-day interim bail in view of the general elections.
Kathmandu, July 2 : Seven people were killed when a jeep fell off the road in Rolpa district of western Nepal, local police said on Tuesday.

The accident happened on Monday after the driver tried to reverse the jeep as the road was blocked over a landslide, said Rohit Kumar Shahi, spokesman for the district police.

The jeep was carrying 15 people, and five succumbed to their injuries en route to a hospital, while two others died during treatment, Shahi told Xinhua news agency.

Eight people were injured in the accident, and one was in critical condition, Shahi added.

Investigation is underway.

Further details are awaited.
Mumbai, July 2 : Maharashtra Housing Minister Atul Save on Tuesday announced in the Assembly that the government will come up with an amnesty scheme to ensure that names of new owners buying huts from existing dwellers get registered in Annexure 2 of Slum Rehabilitation.

He said that a high-level meeting will be convened in this regard when the House is in session.

Annexure II comprises a list of eligible and ineligible slum dwellers.

According to the existing practice, the names of the new owners would not get registered in Annexure 2, thus leading to major confusion in various Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects across the city. But now, this will be resolved.

Minister Save was replying to a question raised by BJP legislator Ashish Shelar during a calling attention motion.

Shelar brought to the minister's notice that many slum rehabilitation projects by SRA have been stalled for over two decades in Mumbai.

"After the promulgation of Annexure 2, there was no provision to accept transfer of hutments in the name of the new owner. Even in case of death of a slum dweller, the heirs had to apply to the SRA for an inheritance certificate.

"After the Annexure 2 is promulgated by a competent authority, transfers are not accepted because it is made after taking into consideration all the objections and suggestions and even the competent authority does not have the right to alter it.

"Many schemes in Mumbai have been stalled for more than 20 to 25 years. Many people had to sell their hutments for personal reasons but the hutments have not got registered in the names of the new owners,'' he said.

Shelar questioned that if the hutment could be sold before finalising Annexure 2 and it can also be sold after completion of the scheme, why can it not be sold when the work is in progress.

"What is the fault of the slum dweller if the project gets delayed," he questioned and demanded that the government change this rule.

Other legislators Atul Bhatkhalkar, Amit Satam, Yogesh Sagar, Tamil Selvan and Ram also participated in the discussion.

Minister Save assured the House that the government would look into the matter positively.

"Very soon, a high-level meeting under the leadership of chief minister and deputy chief ministers will be convened and a decision will be arrived at, thus providing a major relief to the slum dwellers in Mumbai," the minister said.
New Delhi/Srinagar, July 2 : A Delhi court on Tuesday granted two-hour parole custody to incarcerated Baramulla MP-elect Engineer Rashid so that he can be sworn in as Lok Sabha member on July 5.

Engineer Rashid, presently lodged in Delhias Tihar Jail in connection with a money laundering case linked to terror funding, had moved the Patiala House court for interim bail or parole custody so that he could be sworn in as a Lok Sabha member.

Counsel for the National Investigation Agency on Monday told the court that the agency had no objection if Engineer Rashid is permitted by the court to be sworn in as a Lok Sabha member. The agency, however, demanded some restrictions to be imposed on him, including that he would not speak to the media.

Engineer Rashid defeated National Conference Vice President and former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency by a huge margin of over 2 lakh votes.
New Delhi, July 2 : Speaking on the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of the Parliament, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, asserting that the party's electoral success came largely due to its Hindutva stance and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Speaking on the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmuas address to the joint sitting of the Parliament, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, asserting that the party's electoral success came largely due to its Hindutva stance and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

"I would like to tell the opposition parties that it is not your victory, but a victory of majoritarianism. Everyone should contemplate and do introspection. Why is it that the OBCs and the upper castes are getting more representation while Muslims are getting ignored? Are we only here to vote for you and not to get elected," Owaisi asked.

He also lamented the underrepresentation of Muslims in the Parliament, emphasising that despite a significant Muslim population in the country, only 4 per cent of Muslim representatives win seats in the House.

"This discrepancy undermines the inclusive vision of India's founding fathers, who saw the Constitution as a book of dreams for all communities," Owaisi said.

Reflecting on the formation of the Constitution, Owaisi said, "When the Constitution of India was being formed, and ideas of a separate voter list and Intikhabi reservations were mooted, our founding fathers, both Hindus and Muslims, deliberated on this issue and decided that they would not agree with it. They said the majority community must see to it that the minorities are elected in representative numbers."

Owaisi also urged those who profess love for the Constitution to revisit the thoughts of leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, S.C. Mukherjee, and Sadar Hukam Singh regarding minority rights during constitutional debates.

The AIMIM MP from Hyderabad expressed concern for the marginalised groups, saying, "Today, I am talking about those who are seen, but no one talks about them, those whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi labelled as intruders, those women who have 'many children', those youth who become prey to mob lynching, those parents whose kids are rotting in jail because of the wrong laws."

He also questioned the future of India under the BJP, claiming that the party's agenda marginalises Muslims, relegating their role to mere voters rather than elected representatives.

He pointed out that while OBC MPs have gained representation equivalent to the upper caste MPs, Muslims have been significantly underrepresented.

Highlighting instances of mob lynching and demolition of Muslim properties, Owaisi attacked the opposition parties and warned that even mentioning the term Muslim might soon be prohibited.

Owaisi also spoke on unemployment, accusing the NDA government of ruining the lives of job aspirants through repeated exam paper leaks.

He criticised the government for encouraging Indian youth to seek employment abroad under dangerous conditions and for supplying weapons to Israel, which he claimed tarnished India's image given the significant Indian workforce in the Gulf countries.

"Twenty-seven tonnes of weapons are being supplied to Israelis when over nine million Indians are working in the Gulf countries. What impression would it make? Around 47,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel," Owaisi said, as he questioned India's policy of supplying weapons to Israel.
New Delhi, July 2 : The European Union (EU) must start discussing the economic dimension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), said experts here on Tuesday.

The CBAM by the EU is designed to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

L Satya Srinivas, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted that the twin aspects of design and implementation modalities are important for consideration when discussing CBAM and its impact.

He was speaking at CII's Session on the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism CBAM: Rationale for Climate Policy and Implications for Indian Companies.

Srinivas noted that while the environmental dimension of the design of CBAM is clear, the EU needs to be open for discussion on the economic dimension of design as it advocates the introduction of a "clean and competitive" policy.

"The audit of process and carbon embedded emissions will increase the costs for industry and this transition won't be uniform for industries. The transfer of cost from the EU to the exporting economies is the issue in the design aspect of CBAM and how to mitigate this transfer is what needs to be addressed," he added.

According to R Mukundan, Vice President, CII and Managing Director & CEO, Tata Chemicals, CBAM could be beneficial in the Indian industry context, particularly for the iron and steel, aluminum, and hydrogen industries.

However, there are some concerns around the impact on MSMEs and reporting, in addition to the added burden related to standardisation and certification of emissions data that will affect the cost of doing business as well as ease of doing business.

He further reiterated the need to be open for change in the direction of moving towards a carbon-free world.
Panaji, July 2 : BJP's Yuva Morcha on Tuesday burnt the effigy of Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi for his Hindu remarks in the Parliament.

The protest was held right in front of the Congress office in the capital city, wherein BJP youths were present in large numbers along with their MLAs.

MLA Ulhas Tuenkar said that everyone loves their religion and hence they condemn the statement of LoP Rahul Gandhi against Hindus.

"People of all faiths live in this country. We are working together with all of them. However, we are hurt by the statement of Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha. The public will teach him a lesson at the right time," he said.

Besides shouting slogans against the LoP Rahul Gandhi, they also burnt his effigy.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday demanded an apology from LoP Rahul Gandhi for his remarks.

"This is INC's Nafarat ki Dukan! calling Hindus 'Hinsak' is a brazen insult, disrespect towards Hindus. LoP Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the House and crores of Hindus all over the world," Sawant said.

Addressing the House, LoP Rahul Gandhi said: "All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fearBut, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth Aap Hindu ho hi nahi (You are not even Hindu)"

Starting off his speech, the LoP waved a copy of the Constitution and also the photo of Lord Shiva while launching a broadside at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideologue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Lucknow, July 2 : The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in Lucknow has sought a report about the stampede that led to the death of at least 27 persons during a religious event in UP's Hathras district on Tuesday.

Official sources said the death toll could be higher but there was no confirmation of the same yet.

According to reports, a 'satsang' of Lord Shiva was being held in Ratibhanpur for which a huge crowd had gathered to listen to the religious discourse.

"Suddenly, the atmosphere became very humid and some people tried to move out of the pandal while others tried to push them back. This led to confusion and then the stampede," said a local source.

The Chief Minister's Office has sought a detailed report about the organisers of the 'satsang', stating that strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

Meanwhile, senior officials, including Agra ADG Aparna Kulshretra, have reached the site of the incident to supervise the rescue operations.

Additional police force from the adjoining districts has also been called in.
New Delhi, July 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack at the Congress in Lok Sabha over its 'third worst' performance in the Parliamentary elections, while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.

PM Modi's criticism of the Congress came amid loud protests and chaos by the Opposition benches, even drawing warnings from Speaker Om Birla.

During his speech, PM Modi said this was the third biggest defeat for the Congress as it failed to cross the 100-seat mark for the third time, but that hasn't opened its eyes.

"Instead of doing self-introspection over subsequent poll debacles, they are more interested in doing 'Shirshashan'," PM Modi said, poking fun at Congress.

He added that a brazen attempt was underway by the grand old party to portray the poll results as its victory over the BJP.

PM Modi said the Congress and its whole ecosystem are now engaged in making a 'kid' happier over poll results, in an apparent reference to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

He also mentioned the story of a student and cited a character from the film 'Sholay' to deride the Congress and the Leader of Opposition.

"People used to commend a student with 99 marks moving around with arrogance. His histrionics were called out when his teacher came and called out his bluff. The student fetched 99 out of 543 marks and not out of 100," he said, eliciting cheers from the treasury benches.

Citing the 'Mausi' character from the cult Bollywood film 'Sholay', PM Modi said, "The statements of Congress leaders have surpassed even the film Sholay. You all must remember Mausi ji from the film 'Sholay'. Arey Mausi, we have lost for the third time but it is a moral victory. Arey Mausi, we have got 0 seats in 13 states, but I still am the hero."

Though the Prime Minister didn't name Rahul Gandhi, the focal point of his criticism was centred around the Congress MP as the grand old party has been crediting Rahul Gandhi for the party doubling its tally in the 2024 elections.

PM Modi also said that the House witnessed 'Baalak Vilaap' on Monday, the day when Rahul Gandhi spoke for about 90 minutes, lashing out at the NDA dispensation.The Prime Minister also lambasted the Congress for its repeated attempts to 'create anarchy' and take the nation for a ride by spreading falsehood.

He said that after 2024, Congress will be known as 'Parjeevi Congress'. Explaining the meaning of 'Parjeevi', he said the Congress has eaten the votes of its allies, whomsoever it has collaborated with.
Kolkata, July 2 : West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, on Tuesday confirmed that he has filed a defamation suit against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Calcutta High Court, allegedly for some slanderous comments made by her against him.

"Anyone who will hurt my self-respect, he or she will have to face the consequences. She is my constitutional colleague. I give her respect for that. But since my self-respect has been questioned I have filed a defamation case," Governor Bose said at Siliguri on Tuesday afternoon before leaving for New Delhi.

However, in his entire conversation with media persons, Bose did not utter the words chief minister or Mamata Banerjee even once.

Meanwhile, insiders from the Calcutta High Court also confirmed the filing of the defamation suit.

The matter is expected to come up for hearing at the Bench of Justice Krishna Rao on Wednesday.

Earlier on June 28, the office of the Governor issued a strongly-worded statement reacting to some comments made by the Chief Minister about women being scared to go to Raj Bhavan.

On June 27, the Chief Minister made this comment while expressing her displeasure over the confusion regarding the oath-taking ceremony of two newly-elected party MLAs namely Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Sarkar.

She had backed their decision of not accepting the Governor's invitation to go to Raj Bhavan and attend the oath ceremony there.

"They are right. Either the Governor should nominate the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker for administering the oath or he should himself go to the Assembly for that purpose.

"Why will the two newly-elected MLAs go to the Raj Bhavan? As it is, after what has happened at Raj Bhavan, women are scared to go there. I have received complaints" the Chief Minister said on June 28.
Baghdad, July 2 : The Iraqi military said Tuesday that three Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in an airstrike carried out the day before in the eastern province of Diyala.

Based on intelligence reports, the Iraqi warplanes carried out an airstrike on Monday on an IS hideout in the al-Adhaim area in the northern part of the province, destroying the hideout and killing all the militants inside, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.

The statement stated that earlier on Tuesday, an army force was sent to the scene and found three bodies, including the body of an IS leader, reported Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, a security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the killed IS leader is an Iraqi national and is wanted by the security forces for crimes of killing civilians and security personnel.

The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.
Bengaluru, July 2 : Karnata Minister for Social Welfare H.C. Mahadevappa on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah enjoys the support of the majority of the MLAs.

"Majority is important in a democracy and the Chief Minister enjoys the support of the majority of MLAs. To say that the post of CM should be given to anyone is wrong. The top post is not a thing to play with. It is not in my hands or in the hands of religious seers to decide on the post. Siddaramaiah has become the Chief Minister by having the support of all the MLAs," he said.

He said that in the 2023 assembly election, the people elected 135 legislators of the Congress. "The high command had sent observers and elected the leader. In the meeting, every legislator supported Siddaramaiah for the top post," he said.

On change in the state President, Mahadevappa said that the high command has the policy of 'one man, one post' and they will take a decision appropriately.

Meanwhile, P.M. Narendraswamy, Congress MLA from Malavalli in Karnataka's Mandya district, has said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was not directly appointed by the party but was made the Chief Minister after the party collected opinions from MLAs.

The statement from the Congress leaders came even after the Deputy Chief Minister and Congress Karnataka President D.K. Shivakumar had instructed the party leaders not to talk about the change in the top two posts of the state publicly.

--IANS

mka/dan
Seoul, July 2 : South Korea will focus on the conservation of marine environment and biodiversity as the Asian economy cannot keep growing without a preserved environment, the country's oceans and fisheries minister said on Tuesday.

"Without a preserved environment, it's not easy to build economic wealth. Unless the environment for dwelling, forest and agriculture, as well as the marine environment, are properly preserved, the balance will be broken," Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung told a press conference with foreign correspondents in Seoul, reported Xinhua news agency.

Kang vowed to make his best efforts to conserve the marine environment and ecosystem diversity as biodiversity restoration and carbon dioxide reduction cannot be achieved without a preserved ocean.

To conserve marine biodiversity, the ministry planned to designate 30 per cent of the country's ocean as protected marine areas while pushing for enactment of the Protected Marine Area Act.

It was in line with the global trend, in which the international community set the goal of designating 30 per cent of their land and ocean as protected areas by 2030, Kang noted.

To tackle climate change challenges, the ministry planned to scale up blue carbon, or the carbon absorbed by the marine ecosystem such as marine organisms and algae.

Under the plan, it aims to absorb about 1.36 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2050. It is known that about 23 per cent of the globally produced greenhouse gas emissions are absorbed by the ocean.

For the reduction of marine plastic pollution, the ministry launched a so-called fishing gear deposit system this year, in which fishermen pay a certain amount of money, or deposit, when purchasing fishing gear and receive back the deposit after returning the used fishing gear.

Of the country's marine-produced waste estimated at 50,000 tonnes per year, discarded fishing gear and aquafarm waste accounted for 75.5 per cent and 12.8 per cent, respectively, according to the ministry.

The country has developed and distributed biodegradable fishing gear to local fishermen since 2007, supplying more than 30 million units of eco-friendly buoy since 2015.

Through the marine environment policies, the country will create a healthy marine environment that can be enjoyed by future generations, Kang stressed.

South Korea will host the 10th Our Ocean Conference in the southeastern port city of Busan in April next year.

About 1,000 people, including government officials from some 100 countries and representatives of some 400 non-profit and international organisations, are expected to attend the conference where issues on protected marine area, marine pollution, climate change, sustainable fishing, marine economy and marine security will be discussed, Kang added.
Hyderabad, July 2 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday ordered a probe after a farmer in Khammam district died by suicide, after alleging revenue and police officials failed to act on his complaint that some people had damaged his agricultural field.

B. Prabhakar, 45, of Poddutur village of Chintakani mandal, made a video on before consuming pesticides.

Taking serious note of the incident, the Chief Minister directed officials to conduct a thorough probe and take action against those responsible.

In the video, widely circulated on social media, the farmer said officials failed to act on his complaint that some villagers had damaged his agricultural field with earthmovers.

Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao also directed revenue and police officials to immediately conduct an inquiry and take action against those involved. The minister asked officials to submit the inquiry report to the government. He appealed to farmers not to end lives over disputes and assured them that they would get justice under the Congress rule.

Earlier, BRS MLA Harish Rao showed the farmeras selfie video at a press conference. He alleged that instead of filing cases against encroachers based on the dying statement of the farmer, police were trying to file cases against the person who took the video of Prabhakar's suicide. He alleged that the farmer did not get any help from police or revenue officials.

The former minister said the farmeras complaint was not registered at the police station which reflects the deteriorating law and order situation in Telangana.

Harish Rao demanded Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia for the farmeras family and a government job for a family member.

Prabhakar, in his video, named five persons in his village who damaged his agriculture field spread over three acres by digging up the soil using earthmovers. He said he had complained to the local Sub-Inspector and Tahsildar, but they failed to solve his problem. He went to Khammam on Monday to bring the matter to the notice of the District Collector but as the grievance cell meeting was over, he could not do so.

After consuming the pesticide, he called his family. They informed the police and by the time his kin could reach the spot, Prabhakar was found dead.
Kolkata, July 2 : Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday filed a chargesheet at a special court of CBI in Kolkata in the multi-crore recruitment case in different municipalities in West Bengal.

Sources said that in the chargesheet the central agency informed that as many as 1,829 recruitments were made in 17 municipalities in the state through an outsourced private entity owned by Ayan Sil, who again is currently in judicial custody in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-school job case.

On Tuesday, the CBI counsel informed the court the central agency officials had raided 42 places while probing the municipalitiesa recruitment case, from where they had seized several crucial documents.

He also made a submission at the court that the CBI officials now need to interrogate Sil in connection with the documents by them.

The link between Silas company with the municipalitiesa recruitment case was first unearthed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March last year while they were conducting raid and search operations at Silas residence in connection with the school job case.

During that raid, the ED officials accessed a 28-page document that revealed the involvement of Silas company with the municipalitiesa recruitment case.

Later CBI also started a parallel investigation besides conducting raid and search operations at different places, the CBI officials also interrogated several Trinamool Congress leaders linked to the case.

Investigation revealed that recruitments against cash were done in several municipalities for a variety of posts which included medical officers, ward masters, clerks, drivers, helpers and cleaning assistants, among others.
Bengaluru, July 2 : The Karnataka BJP has decided to lay siege to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence in Bengaluru on July 3 over the handling of the multi-crore tribal welfare Board case.

The BJP will demand the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah over the issue.

Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka stated on Tuesday that former minister B. Nagendra was being made a scapegoat in the scam, and by making him resign, an attempt was being made to protect political heavyweights.

"Until the scam is taken to its logical conclusion and CM Siddaramaiah resigns, the BJP won't stop agitating," Ashoka emphasised.

"On July 3, I, along with state President BY Vijayendra and party workers, will lay siege to the CM's residence. The protest march will begin at 9:30 A.M. from Kumara Krupa Guest House and will culminate at the CM's residence," Ashoka stated.

"CM Siddaramaiah is directly involved in the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Board's multi-crore scandal. He should tender his resignation, taking moral responsibility.

"If CM Siddaramaiah doesn't resign, the agitation will grow stronger. The role of former minister B. Nagendra is minuscule. CM Siddaramaiah is directly behind the scandal. It's impossible for the Rs 187 crore scam to occur without CM Siddaramaiah's knowledge," Ashoka stated.

"CM Siddaramaiah handed over the money to Rahul Gandhi and company to save his chair," Ashoka alleged.

Ashoka alleged that the money was also transferred into fake IT companies' bank accounts.

"Authorities have seized Rs 14 crore from the accused and Rs 10 crore from bank accounts. Will the rest of the money come from CM Siddaramaiah's pockets or the Congress party's account? The lost money belongs to Dalits. The government needs to answer how they will recover the money," Ashoka stated.

He questioned, "Where did the rest of the money go? Has it been looted away? The Board's money was deposited into hundreds of accounts of gold shops, liquor shops, and other establishments in Telangana at the end of March. Why is the government hesitant to hand over the case to the CBI?

"Is the fear of getting exposed regarding the connection of the scandal and elections in Telangana stopping CM Siddaramaiah?"

"The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has not questioned minister Nagendra yet. The police have not questioned CM Siddaramaiah who holds the finance department," Ashoka stated.
New Delhi, July 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address on Tuesday, took strong objection to the portrayal of Hindus as a "violent community" by the Congress and said that such adventurism will go down in the history as a blot on part of the grand old party.

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address on Tuesday, took strong objection to the portrayal of Hindus as a "violent community" by the Congress and said that such adventurism will go down in the history as a blot on part of the grand old party.

Lamenting Monday's proceedings in the Lower House as 'Balak Vilaap', the day when the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Centre, PM Modi said that a "fake conspiracy" and "narrative" was being hatched against the Hindus.

PM Modi, referring to Swami Vivekanand's speech in Chicago (US), said that 131 years ago, the Indian icon told the global community that he comes from a religion that teaches tolerance but today, blatant "false" campaigns are underway to "undermine and sully" the community.

Voicing strong concerns over Rahul Gandhi's "violent Hindus" remark, PM Modi said that for centuries to come the country won't forget and forgive such "grave adventurism".

He also referred to the Congress leader's "fight against Shakti" remark and stated that it is the same party which coined the term "Hindu terror".

In further takedown at the grand old party, PM Modi said, "Days ago, the party and its allies equated Hinduism with dengue and malaria. Today, the whole ecosystem has made it a fashion to mock Hinduism and the Hindu faith."

Prime Minister, objecting to flaunting of posters of Hindu deities in the House, said that God's every form is for paying obeisance and worshipping and not for serving personal interests.

"Jinke darshan hote hain, unke pradarshan nahin hote (invisible God is not meant for brandishing)," PM Modi, referring to the incident when LoP Rahul Gandhi waved Lord Shiva posters while replying to the Motion of Thanks to President's address in Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister further said that the nation won't forgive such an act of the Congress party and added, "The Hindu community will now have to think and judge, whether it was a coincidence or pre-meditated plan to target them."
Lucknow, July 2 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's first speech in the Lok Sabha as the Leader of Opposition on Monday, during which he launched a scathing attack against the BJP and the RSS, has triggered a major political uproar in the country.

While sections of Rahul Gandhi's address have now been expunged, the scorching speech prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rise twice and rebut the Congress leader's claims.

While most leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc led by the Congress are backing their leader's comments, Rahul Gandhi has been facing a backlash from all corners of the ruling dispensation -- from Union Ministers in Delhi to BJP workers in the rural interiors of Uttar Pradesh.

Referring to the Emergency and 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Rahul Gandhi didn't have the right to speak about non-violence, as he demanded an apology from the Congress leader.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also slammed Rahul Gandhi for his claims on the Agnipath scheme to recruit Agniveers into the armed forces.

"I met the family of an Agniveer. I call him a martyr. There is no pension for him, there is no status of a martyr. You are creating differences between soldiers," Rahul Gandhi said on Monday.

Rebutting the claim, Rajnath Singh said, "The LoP should not mislead the House by giving false speeches. If an Agniveer dies during war or at the border, his family gets Rs 1 crore (as compensation)."

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised Rahul Gandhi's remarks, saying, "We have made a request to the Speaker to pass a direction that if we have made any unverified statement, we are ready to take a corrective course.

"But if the Leader of Opposition has lied in the House, he will have to face the rules and regulations of the House. He (Speaker) has already assured the House that he will give necessary and appropriate directions in this regard."

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Rahul Gandhi's false statements made in the House are condemnable and shameful. Everyone knows who deprived Ayodhya of its identity. Today, when Ayodhya is re-establishing its glory and attracting the entire world, how can the Congress consider it as good?"

While Rahul Gandhi's speech was marked by the same aggression that characterised many of his addresses during the recent Lok Sabha elections, he forgot that this time he was speaking in the Parliament as the Leader of Opposition, and not to a motley crowd of people comprising mostly of Congress supporters.

A senior Congress leader told IANS on condition of anonymity, "The problem with Rahul Gandhi is that he thinks in English and speaks in Hindi. It is not his fault entirely, because he has studied in English medium and has lived in a household where English was the preferred spoken language.

"Though he has overcome this problem to a large extent in the past few years, he still has a lot to learn. Another problem with him is that he is too straightforward and does not know how to sugarcoat his statements."

Stating that the BJP also has an army of excellent orators, the Congress leader said, "BJP leaders speak in one language and one pitch while the opposition takes time to gather its wits and by then, the damage is done."

A senior Samajwadi Party leader, who did not wish to be named, said, "Rahul Gandhi carried too much on his plate  he included almost every topic he could find, and as a result, things spilled over. As the opposition, we must be careful because the BJP is better equipped to deal with such onslaughts."

Congress MP from Faizabad, Awadhesh Prasad, however, defended Rahul Gandhi and said that he did not make remarks against any community.

"Rahul Gandhi spoke about the mindset of the BJP and the ideology of the RSS. His remarks were targetted at the BJP and RSS," he said.
Moscow, July 2 : Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said that preparations for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia are in the "final stages", and the dates will be announced soon.

"We will announce this visit officially a little later, by agreement with our Indian friends. I can only confirm to you once again that the visit is in the final stage of preparation," Peskov was quoted as saying by local media during a Press briefing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's Press Secretary also stated that PM Modi's visit, widely expected to be around July 8, is a "very important" event.

In New York on Monday, the first day of the Russian Presidency at the UN Security Council, Russia's Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia highlighted the special privileged strategic partnership between the two countries and asserted that "serious messages" will come out of PM Modi's visit to Moscow.

"India is a longtime friend of Russia. We cooperate in so many areas, and I think there will be substantive conversations on the whole range of issues that our countries cooperate on," he told reporters.

"I'm not aware of what kind of documents will be the result of that visit, but I'm sure that there will be serious messages coming out of it, and, I presume, in the form of joint documents as well. I expect Russian-Indian relations to blossom even better," added the Russian diplomat.

Prime Minister Modi last visited Russia for the 20th India-Russia Bilateral Summit held on the sidelines of the 5th Eastern Economic Summit - where he was the guest of honour - at Vladivostok in September 2019.

The visit acted as a game-changer as far as India's focus on the Russian Far East was concerned and paved the way for New Delhi's larger cooperation with Moscow in the fields of oil and gas, road transport, Defence, trade and investment sectors.

PM Modi, who will not be attending the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting being held in Astana on Thursday, last paid an official visit to Moscow in 2015.
Mumbai, July 2 : Days after the announcement of Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana in the additional budget for 2024-25 proposing monetary assistance to women in the state every month, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday declared relaxation in the collection of applications till July 15 and increase in the age limit to 60 years.

In his reply to the debate on the Governor's address in the state assembly, Shinde announced that although the scheme proposes transfer of Rs 1,500 into the bank accounts of eligible women from July 1, considering the overwhelming response and the turnout of women in districts the applications will be collected till July 15.

The scheme will be applicable in the age group of 21 to 60 every month but Shinde announced an increase in the limit up to 60 years. The scheme is expected to cost the Maharashtra government Rs 46,000 crore annually.

Chief Minister took a swipe at the opposition for questioning the government's intent and the viability of the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, saying that the government is committed to effective implementation as it aims to ensure the financial independence of women, improve their health and nutrition and strengthen their pivotal role in the family.

"District Collectors have been given clear instructions to accord the highest priority to complete the collection of applications and later implement the scheme smoothly for eligible women," the Chief Minister said.

He also warned that the government will suspend those who demand money from eligible women to get the benefits under the scheme. He strongly defended the government's move to provide three free cylinders to women and free education to girls pursuing higher education.

The Chief Minister also targeted the Maha Vikas Aghadi accusing it of spreading a fake narrative in the Lok Sabha elections and creating misunderstanding among people that if BJP voted to power the Constitution would be changed.

"MahaYuti will give a befitting reply to you (Maha Vikas Aghadi) for your fake narrative with a slew of works. Our government has introduced schemes for farmers, youth and senior citizens," he said.

He further cornered the opposition saying that despite PM Modi bashing he has become the Prime Minister for the third time in a row.

"Congress, which could not even cross 100 seats, will need 25 years to win 240 seats which BJP has bagged," the Chief Minster said.

While showering praise on PM Modi's leadership said that PM Modi stopped the war for two hours to rescue the Indian students stuck in Ukraine after Russia's attack.
Hathras: Bodies of victims from a stampede at a religious event in UP's Hathras are seen outside a hospital. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, July 2 : As the death toll continued to climb in the Hathras stampede tragedy on Tuesday, Samajwadi Party President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav slammed the state government for not taking enough safety measures as a religious congregation was organised in the district.

More than 100 people, including women and children, are feared dead during the stampede at the Hathras event.

"We were inside the Parliament when we got the information about the tragic incident. How can so many people die, what was the government doing? If such a huge gathering was being organised then the government should have made proper arrangements right from the start of the event. The state government is responsible for this and should now help families of the victims and take care of the injured," Akhilesh Yadav said after coming out of the Parliament building.

Leader of the Opposition, Congress' Rahul Gandhi also offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the stampede.

"The government should sensitively help people. I offer my condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones," he said after attending the ongoing Lok Sabha session.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding the tragic incident. "The UP government is engaged in providing all possible help to all the victims. My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured," he posted on X after the phone call.
Hyderabad, July 2 : Telangana has registered 1,982 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the first half of the calendar year, indicating the rising drug menace in the state.

A total of 3,792 accused were arrested and contraband worth Rs.179.3 crores were seized, said Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGNAB).

It also freezed properties worth Rs.47.16 crore of the narco offenders and their henchmen in five cases.

TGNAB officials said 679 cases involving 42,190 kgs of drugs worth Rs.102.41 crores were disposed of.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday visited the Telangana Command & Control Centre (TGCCC) on Tuesday and chaired an interaction meeting with law and order officers of the Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda commissionerates.

The Chief Minister stated that the government is committed to make Telangana a drug-free state. He called for tackling the drug menace with an iron hand.

The Chief Minister flagged off vehicles for TGNAB, which was established last year. The Bureau is receiving all support and funds from the government.

The government has provided Rs 50 crores to the Bureau and released the budget for providing new vehicles to its offices. A total of 20 Innovas, 7 Boleros and 59 motorcycles have been provided.

The Bureau is making preparations to set up seven regional anti-narcotics centres across the state along with four narcotic police stations in the next one or two months.

The Chief Minister said that the government is determined to make the Officers of TGANB available with the latest technology used in the country and abroad and provide advanced training to make them proficient.

TGANB has established seven narcotic labs with the latest technologies to detect/trace drug trafficking, distributors and registering the cases.

The government also sanctioned 170 additional staff for the Bureau. It decided to encourage the Anti-Narcotic Bureau personnel who are working hard in drug prevention by providing 60 per cent additional allowance.

TGNAB officials are carrying out extensive raids in cities like Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Chennai and Goa to arrest the drug suppliers who are expanding across the country. It claimed that due to the raids, the gangs operating in the state are shifting to neighbouring states.

The main criminals who have links with international crime empires were arrested and the dark network of kingpins was broken.

Drug orders are being monitored through online, shopping apps, food apps, etc. and legal action is being taken.

The officials said with the permission of courts, 36,662 kg of cannabis worth Rs 84.6 crores were burnt through non-polluting and environment-friendly methods.
Srinagar, July 2 : A terror associate linked with LeT/TRF was arrested in J&K's Baramulla district on Tuesday and arms & ammunition were recovered from him, police said.

A police official said that a team of state police and the army's 46 Rashtriya Rifles arrested the terror associate at Eco Park Crossing in Baramulla.

"Acting on a specific input about terrorist movement in the Eco Park Crossing area, a joint patrol was conducted by Baramulla police and 46 RR. During the patrol, a suspicious person was observed approaching on foot. When the suspect saw the security forces, he attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended. Preliminary questioning identified the suspect as Shakir Ahmad Lone, son of Abdul Rashid, resident of Dangerpora Sheeri in Baramulla district," the official said.

On his personal search and disclosure, a pistol, a magazine, 8 pistol rounds, and 3 hand grenades were recovered.

"The accused also revealed that he is in touch with a Pakistan-based terror handler and was planning to carry out a terrorist attack in Baramulla town. A case under sections of the UAPA and the Arms Act has been registered at police station Baramulla and further investigations are going on," the official said.
Panaji, July 2 : While cracking down on the International Job Scam, Goa Police has arrested two persons for allegedly promising lucrative jobs in Thailand, and Cambodia and then forcing job seekers to commit cyber frauds.

Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta said that police have registered a case against multiple individuals involved in an elaborate international job scam linked to cybercrimes.

He said that the scam spanned across various countries, including India, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Providing information about one of the cases, he said that one woman accused from Quepem-Goa, lured two victims with the promise of lucrative job opportunities in Thailand, offering a monthly remuneration of rupees sixty thousand, however, upon arrival, they were taken to Cambodia and placed in a call centre job instead of the promised casino job.

Police are yet to trace the accused woman.

"In another incident, accused Nashir Ahamad Tigadi from Karnataka, and Mohammad Haji, who runs 'Excellent Services' recruitment agency in Mumbai, assured one victim a high-paying job in Cambodia with a monthly salary of rupees one lakh. Upon his arrival at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he was taken to 'Dana Technologies' a company involved in fraudulent activities, including creating fake social media accounts to lure potential victims into cryptocurrency trading scams," he said.

Police initially apprehended Nashir Ahamad Tigadi from Belgaum and based on his disclosure apprehended another accused Mohammad Haji from Vijayapur Karnataka.

"We request all family members of individuals working in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam to verify the whereabouts of their relatives. Those engaged in cybercrimes in these countries are advised to return immediately. Failure to do so will result in legal action initiated by the Goa Police," senior police said.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 2 : Notching a major detection success, the Mumbai Police have tracked down and re-arrested an absconder in the 1993 riots, who jumped bail and remained absconding for 31 years, from Sewri in south Mumbai, an official said here on Tuesday.

The accused is identified as Sayed Nadirshah Abbas Khan, 65, who was arrested for his alleged role in the two-phased riots that erupted in Mumbai in December 1992-January 1993 after the demolition of the Babri Mosque on December 6, 1992.

The Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg Police Station Senior Police Inspector Satish Pawar said that Khan had been arrested 30 years ago in cases of unlawful assembly and an attempt to murder, and was later released on bail.

"After stepping out of judicial custody, he jumped bail and disappeared. The police had been searching for him for years, later he was proclaimed as a wanted accused and the court had even issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against him, but he remained untraceable," Pawar told IANS.

Police teams were keeping discreet tabs in the vicinity of his known address in Sewri but he remained elusive and then a special team which handles such cases managed to trace him after nearly five years of investigations, added Pawar.

Tracking the mobile phone records of Khan's relatives, the special team learnt that he was planning to visit his home last Saturday and they set a trap for him.

He walked into the trap and has been re-arrested in the same old case, the officer said.

Since the original charge sheet has already been filed, Khan will now face the same charges at the court hearings in the case and police are optimistic that the verdict will be pronounced in due course.
Islamabad, July 2 : A security person was killed and four others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, police said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred when roadside-planted explosives hit a vehicle of the security forces in the Kalat district of the province, police sources in the area told Xinhua news agency.

The forces' vehicle was on a routine patrol in the area when the explosion happened, said the police sources.

After the explosion, police and security forces rushed to the site immediately. Police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in the surroundings to arrest the culprits.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Bengaluru, July 2 : Karnataka has witnessed a rise of 42 per cent in dengue cases as compared to last year, Minister for Health Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Tuesday.

He also directed the officers to take up awareness programmes by carrying out the door-to-door campaign in the capital city of Bengaluru.

Rao said 6,187 positive cases of dengue have been detected in the state while six persons have died since January.

He said that cases have been also reported from Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Haveri, Chitradurga, Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada districts.

"Health officers have been directed to fix prices for private hospitals for testing. Deaths can only be prevented when the dengue is detected at an early stage. The officers are instructed to act and be vigilant in this regard," Minister Rao said.

He said that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officers and Asha workers should carry out door-to-door campaigning in Bengaluru and create awareness about dengue in Bengaluru.

"The medical officers of primary health units in rural areas should pay a compulsory visit to schools and children should be made aware of dengue. The science teachers have already been trained regarding the destruction of larva and dengue," the minister said.

He said that the government will also start a campaign on Friday over the containment of dengue.
Pune : , July 2 (IANS) A Pune Magistrate granted bail to Pune builder Vishal S. Agarwal and his father Surendrakumar B. Agarwal in one of the cases pertaining to their minor kin who was detained in the sensational Porsche car hit-and-run case of May 19 that left two dead, here on Tuesday.

The accused 17-year-old boy was ordered to be released by the Bombay High Court on June 25 after a case was filed by his paternal aunt Pooja G. Jain, and handed over in her care and protection.

The Pune Police produced the Agarwals before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) N. S. Bari, granted bail to the boyas father and grandfather who were in custody for around a month.

They were arrested in the case pertaining to the alleged abduction and illegal confinement of their family driver Gangadhar S. Harikrub and forcing him to take the blame for the fatal accident on his head in return for money, but he refused.

Subsequently, even the boyas mother Shivani V. Agarwal was arrested in another case pertaining to the swapping of blood samples of her son and is currently in custody.

Opposing the bail, the public prosecutor argued that the Agarwals had tampered with the CCTV footage of their house in Brahma Suncity where the driver was forcibly confined, and they had recovered the accused minor boyas clothes from the May 19 accident from there.

However, after the Agarwalsa lawyer Prashant Patil assured the court of their full cooperation and abiding by all the bail conditions, the JMFC Bari granted the bail.

Earlier in June, Vishal Agarwal was granted bail in another case related to the Motor Vehicles Act and Juvenile Justice Act for failing to do his duty as a guardian by allowing his minor son to drink and drive the vehicle without a license.

In a related development, the Pune Police plan to move the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order releasing the minor boy from juvenile detention.

On May 19, around 2.30 am, the minor boy had zoomed at a speed of over 200 kms and crashed into a motorcycle in Kalyani Nagar area.

Two IT engineers riding the motorcycle, Ashwini Koshtha and Aneesh Awadhiya, were killed instantly, sparking a nationwide furore, leading to the arrest of almost the entire Agarwal family, even as other skeletons tumbled out in the investigations.
Bhubaneswar, July 2 : Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress workers on Tuesday came to blows at the Master Canteen area of the city here during a protest by the former over the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the Parliament.

The police personnel deployed at the spot seemed helpless as the bustling area turned into a battlefield with both groups raining stones at each other.

Sources claimed that around 30 to 40 BJP workers were holding a protest near the Congress Bhawan at Master Canteen here on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a heated argument erupted between the workers of BJP and Congress when some of the protestors started throwing cow dung at the hoarding of LoP Rahul Gandhi near the Congress Bhawan.

The argument soon turned violent as both groups engaged in a brawl and started hurling stones at each other. Sources revealed that as many as seven persons including workers of both BJP and Congress have sustained injuries in the fight.

"Everyone has the right to protest. But, the BJP workers hurled cow dung, stones and attacked us with sticks in the presence of Police before the office of a national party which indicates that BJP is trying to begin a politics of violence in the land of Lingaraj and Jagannath," said Yasir Nawaz, Congress President.

Nawaz warned that the Chief Minister and other leaders of the BJP wouldn't be let travel on the streets by the student wing of Congress if police fail to take any action in the case.

BJP workers have filed a complaint at the Capital police station accusing Congress of hurling stones at the party workers during the protest against the alleged anti-Hindu remarks by LoP Rahul Gandhi. A separate complaint has been filed by Congress workers too.

--IANS

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Four smoke shops in the Auburn area have been shut down by the state for selling cannabis to minors, and without a license, after a collaborative effort with city and county officials.

Blue Smoke and More at 30 E. Genesee St., O-Exotic Smoke Shop at 62 Owasco St. and Lucky Seven Mini Mart at 213 State St., all in the city, as well as Panda Smoke Shop at 1626 Clark St. Road in Aurelius have been padlocked by officials with the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

The office announced the operation at a press event at Blue Smoke on Tuesday afternoon. Its director of enforcement, Daniel Haughney, said Blue Smoke sold some cannabis items meant to attract minors, holding up examples with imagery from "Rick and Morty" and "Winnie the Pooh." Another item he held up had packaging that indicated its cannabis was from California.

"When you purchase from these shops, you don't know what you're buying," he said. "These products are typically filled in the back room of these stores with product that there's no background on."

Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino said at the event that he was contacted months ago by a local mother whose son was purchasing cannabis products at Blue Smoke. She came to the mayor after going to the shop and asking its staff to stop selling to her son, only to be told to leave.

Giannettino then reached out to Auburn Police Department Chief James Slayton, and they worked with the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office and district attorney's office, as well as the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force, to bring the issue to the state's attention.

"This is the result of a collaborative effort that I'm very appreciative of," said Giannettino, who noted that Blue Smoke has been a source of aggravation for neighboring businesses like Gretchen's Confections and Cafe, which moved to Marcellus last month.

"Hopefully, with this action today, future shops that think they can come here and take root in Auburn will realize it's not going to happen," the mayor continued.

City Corporation Counsel Nate Garland told The Citizen that local officials felt the Office of Cannabis Management would be an effective partner in dealing with Blue Smoke and the other smoke shops due to its ability to swiftly padlock businesses for selling cannabis to minors, or without a license.

The office took the same action last summer against I'm Stuck, a regional chain of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries with a location down the block at 9 E. Genesee St.

The city gave the office its case files on local smoke shops, Garland said, and weeks later the state's unlicensed cannabis task force staged an operation from the Aurelius state police barracks.

Haughney said the padlocked shops, and the owners of the properties where they operated, will eventually face fines as well. I'm Stuck was fined more than $15 million by the state in May.
New Delhi, July 2 : While replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress has consistently treated Dalits and backward classes unfairly.

He also accused the Congress of spreading misinformation regarding reservation policies. Additionally, the Prime Minister presented several factual points in the Lower House to support his assertions on these matters.

PM Modi recounted a historical incident to illustrate why Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution and a Bharat Ratna recipient, resigned from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's Congress-led Cabinet.

According to PM Modi, "Dr. Ambedkar resigned due to the Congress party's injustice towards Dalits and backward communities. This injustice led him to step down from Nehru's Cabinet."

Further intensifying his attack, PM Modi said, "Dr. Ambedkar exposed Nehruji's unfair treatment of Dalits and backward classes. When he resigned, he pointed out that the Cabinet mirrored the Congress' ethos, stating he could no longer suppress his indignation."

PM Modi continued his critique, alleging that Nehru made concerted efforts to undermine Ambedkar's political career, strategically engineering his defeat in elections.

He also accused the Congress of celebrating Ambedkar's electoral losses.

Moving on, PM Modi claimed that the party denied Jagjivan Ram, another influential Dalit leader, his rightful opportunity to become the Prime Minister after the Emergency.

He cited a book quoting Indira Gandhi's alleged statement that Jagjivan Ram should not ascend to the PM's office because he would refuse to step down once appointed.

PM Modi further asserted that Congress mistreated leaders like Charan Singh and Sitaram Kesri, as he accused the party of historically opposing reservations for backward classes.

He referenced instances such as Jawaharlal Nehru's letters to chief ministers urging them to oppose reservation, Indira Gandhi's shelving of the Mandal Commission report, and Rajiv Gandhi's lengthy parliamentary speech against reservation, which he claimed was the longest speech of the former PM available on Parliamentas record.

With Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's recent focus on reservation and caste census during his election campaign, PM Modi's remarks labelling Congress as anti-Dalit and anti-reservation are being seen as significant.

PM Modi's remarks also hold implications for Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, whose political strategy centres around the PDA alliance (Pichchde - backward classes, Dalit, Alpsankhyak - minorities). Samajwadi Party is currently allied with the Congress.
Bengaluru, July 2 : The Karnataka government on Tuesday celebrated a milestone of producing 1 crore litres of milk daily by performing a special worship ceremony for the cow (gomata) and its calf in Bengaluru.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who performed the worship, expressed happiness over the development, stating it was a significant milestone in the history of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).

"Last June, our daily milk production was 90 lakh litres. Now, we have reached 1 crore litres per day," the Chief Minister said.

He said that the KMF is receiving 1 crore litres of milk daily which is a historic milestone.

"As the former Animal Husbandry minister, I took measures to hand over milk unions to dairy farmers. KMF is a farmers' organisation," the Chief Minister said.

He said that there are 16,000 societies and 15 unions which sell milk in the state.

"To commemorate the achievement of production of 1 crore litres daily, 50 ml of additional milk is being provided to customers in every packet of Nandini milk sold," the Chief Minister said.

He added that the government cannot refuse to purchase milk from farmers, and the increased quantity is aimed at supporting them.

"The opposition, without understanding this, claims that milk prices are being hiked. I believe they don't stand for the farmers' interests," the Chief Minister said.

He added that the government provides a subsidy of Rs 5 for every litre of milk, amounting to Rs 5 crore daily, Rs 150 crore monthly, and Rs 1,800 crore annually.

"This subsidy was increased from Rs 2 to Rs 5 during my tenure to help farmers. If milk prices are hiked, it will benefit farmers. Karnataka's milk prices are lower than all other states, and we provide milk at a cheaper price," the Chief Minister said.

He also mentioned that the previous BJP government had pending milk subsidies of Rs 700 crore for farmers and is now blaming the Congress government.

--IANS

mka/dan
Hathras : , July 2 (IANS) The death toll in the stampede at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district on Tuesday has mounted to 116, including several women and children, officials said.

Aligarh Range IG Shalabh Mathur told mediapersons: "So far, 116 deaths have been confirmed. Twenty-seven bodies are at a mortuary in Etah, while the rest are in Hathras. The bodies are being sent for post-mortem to different hospitals.

"The administration is working hard to ensure that the injured get the best possible treatment. An FIR has been registered and the names of the organisers of the event will be added to it. It appears prima facie that there were more people than the permissible limit at the 'satsang'."

The 'satsang' of Lord Shiva, organised by the Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam Committee, was being held in Ratibhanpur where a huge crowd had gathered to listen to religious preacher Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba.

As per local sources, the stampede occurred as the event concluded when some people tried to move out of the pandal amid the humid conditions while others tried to push them back, leading to confusion and chaos.

The sources added that the servitors of Bhole Baba reportedly stopped people from leaving the venue amid the heat and humidity, so that the preacher and his retinue could leave first.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to those injured in the incident.

The Chief Ministeras Office has sought a detailed report about the organisers of the 'satsang', stating that strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

Additional police force from the adjoining districts has also been called in to help in the rescue operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to Yogi Adityanath regarding the tragic incident.

"The UP government is engaged in providing all possible help to all the victims. My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured," he posted on X after the phone call.

Reacting to the tragic incident, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav slammed the state government for not taking enough safety measures for the religious congregation.

"We were inside the Parliament when we got information about the tragic incident. How can so many people die? What was the state government doing? If such a huge gathering was planned, the government should have made proper arrangements right from the start of the event. The state government is responsible for this and should now help the families of the victims and take care of the injured," Akhilesh Yadav said after coming out of the Parliament.

According to locals, Suraj Pal, or Bhole Baba, as he is called by his followers, hails from Bahadur Nagar in the Patiyali area of Kasganj district. He left his job in the state police 17 years ago to become a preacher.

According to a devotee, Bhole Baba had no religious mentor and soon after he took voluntary retirement from service, he had a 'vision' of the deity and since then he became inclined to spiritual pursuits. He used to hold his 'satsangs' every Tuesday and before Hathras, he held a similar event in Mainpuri district last week.

He courted controversy during the Covid pandemic period when he sought permission for a satsang in Farrukhabad district in May 2022 to be attended by only 50 people. However, the congregation grew to over 50,000, causing a major headache for the local administration.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 2 : The Kerala Police, following the receipt of an anonymous letter revealing crucial information about the case of a married woman from the Alappuzha district who went missing 15 years back, have reopened the case and took four people into custody on Tuesday.

Kala, 20, went missing from Mannar 15 years back and a missing person case was registered. However, despite efforts by the police, nothing came out and her husband Anil later remarried.

The case came up again when the local police received an anonymous letter last month with information about Kala's disappearance.

On Tuesday, four relatives of Anil were taken into custody and in the evening, the police arrived at Anilas house and opened a septic tank for checking. It is being emptied out under police supervision to find out if any human remains are there. Meanwhile, Anil, who is presently working in Israel, has been asked by the police probe team to return.
Kolkata, July 2 : The Assam Regiment and Assam Rifles on Tuesday mourned the death of Sepoy Shwensinlo Semp from the Assam Regiment in a tragic accident in Nagaland.

Semp, who was on leave, displayed exemplary courage and rescued a friend from a lake before getting entangled in weeds and bogged down in mud in the lakebed.

His body was fished out of the depths on Monday.

Army's Eastern Command said that the incident occurred at the Nsonji Lake in Tsimenyu, Nagaland, close to which Semp and his friends were enjoying a picnic.

"A friend stepped into the water but was dragged in due to the eddies. Without caring for his own safety, Semp jumped into the water and succeeded in pulling out his friend. He was unable to surface though as his feet had been rendered immobile," the army said.

Army said that the heartfelt incident underscores the profound commitment of soldiers to protect and serve, even at great personal risk.

"Sep Shwensinlo's sacrifice serves as a poignant reminder that their readiness and valour have no limits. His courageous act exemplifies the spirit of selflessness and bravery that defines our armed forces, inspiring us all," the army said.

Assam Rifles collaborated with civil authorities, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to recover the soldier's body from the lakebed.

"In this time of profound loss, The Assam Rifles extends its deepest condolences to Sep Shwensinlo's family and loved ones. We mourn the loss of a true hero whose actions exemplified the highest ideals of military service. Sep Shwensinlo Semp's legacy will forever be honoured and remembered for his unwavering commitment to duty and his comrades," the Assam Rifles, which conducted the wreath-laying ceremony, said.
Imphal, July 2 : Leading Meitei and Naga community organisations on Tuesday jointly urged Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state to curb infiltration from across the border and protect the indigenous people.

Raj Bhavan officials said that leaders of the Coordinating Committee for Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and the United Naga Council (UNC) jointly urged the Governor to implement the NRC with a base year of 1951.

COCOMI Coordinator Thokchom Somorendro and UNC President N.G. Lorho led the joint delegation, which also submitted a memorandum to the Governor.

COCOMI is the apex body of the Meitei community in Manipur while the UNC is the leading organisation of Nagas in the state.

Somorendro and Lorho informed the Governor that NRC implementation in Manipur is extremely vital to curb the influx of illegal immigrants, which they claimed, "shattered the demographic imbalance" of the northeastern state.

"Illegal migrants have already caused serious uncertainties and political insecurities to the native population of the state," the memorandum said.

The COCOMI and UNC leaders have urged the Governor that NRC should be implemented at the earliest so that scientific method of identification may be applied to detect illegal immigrants and ensure that no further infiltration occurs in the state henceforth.

"Random village recognition without verification must be stopped. They further mentioned that the abnormal increase of villages in specific districts should be examined and corrective measures must be taken up," they said.

Raj Bhavan officials said that the Governor assured the leaders of the two prominent organisations that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the NRC was implemented in the state and it is just a matter of time.

"The Governor said the matter has been discussed with the President, Union Finance Minister, and Union Home Minister during her recent visit to Delhi. The Central government is aware of the situation in the state. She also assured the delegation that all necessary action would be taken up in the best interest of the people of Manipur," a Raj Bhavan official said.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh often said that due to illegal migrants from Myanmar, a demographic imbalance is taking place in the state, adding it is a threat to the security of the nation as well as the indigenous people in the state. He claimed that the influx of illegal migrants from Myanmar led to the emergence of 996 new villages in the state in the last 18 years, and since 2006, massive deforestation occurred to establish settlements and carry out poppy plantations while these illegal immigrants started encroaching on the resources, job opportunities, land, and rights of the indigenous people.
New Delhi, July 2 : The Bihar government has moved the Supreme Court against the Patna High Court's decision to strike down the law introduced to enhance the reservation from 50 per cent to 65 per cent for Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the state.

The quota hike, brought into effect last year, was applicable in jobs and educational institutions in Bihar.

However, in a major blow to the state government, a high court division bench, headed by Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran, in its June 20 judgment, set aside amendments passed by the Bihar Assembly in 2023, saying that they violated the equality clause under Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution.

The quota was raised by the Bihar government after it carried out a caste survey in the state. In a notification issued in November 2023, it sought to amend the existing reservation laws.

Several petitions were filed in the Patna High Court challenging the decision of the Nitish Kumar government. The pleas contended that as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court judgments, the reservation can't extend beyond 50 per cent. The impugned law would have brought the quota to a total of 75 per cent in the state, which included 20 per cent for SCs, 2 per cent for STs, 25 per cent for Extremely Backward Classes, 18 per cent for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10 per cent for Economically Backward Classes.
New Delhi, July 2 : Addressing the concerns over the recent paper leaks, particularly the NEET incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the government is adopting a proactive approach akin to wartime measures to apprehend those responsible for the incidents.

Responding to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address to a joint sitting of the Parliament, the Prime Minister also emphasised the government's commitment to taking stringent action against the culprits, noting the ongoing arrests and the enactment of robust legislation aimed at preventing such occurrences.

"The government is extremely concerned about the NEET issue and is working on a war footing to fulfil its responsibilities. Those involved in this will be dealt with sternly... People are being arrested continuously. We have already made a strong law in this regard," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister assured every student and youth in the country of the government's unwavering commitment to combat paper leaks and the NEET issue.

He emphasised a resolute approach, likening it to a wartime effort, to fulfil the responsibilities diligently.

PM Modi also underscored that those jeopardising the future of the youth will face severe consequences.

He highlighted the enactment of stringent legislation and ongoing efforts to fortify the examination system comprehensively.

"The President voiced concerns about paper leaks in her speech. I want to reassure the students and young people that the government is dedicated to addressing such incidents seriously, and we are taking continuous and decisive actions with a sense of urgency to fulfil our responsibilities," he said.

"Those who manipulate the future of young people will face the consequences; arrests are being made nationwide in the NEET matter. The Central government has already enacted stringent laws, and significant measures are underway to enhance the entire examination system," the Prime Minister said.
New Delhi, July 2 : In his response to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his government's commitment to reforming the Indian military.

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) In his response to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidentas address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his governmentas commitment to reforming the Indian military.

The Prime Minister underscored initiatives such as the upcoming introduction of theatre commands within the Indian military framework and efforts to enhance reliance on domestically produced arms, weapons, and other military technology.

He also highlighted crucial aspects of Indiaas defence forces and outlined the governmentas efforts to streamline and bolster the effectiveness of the armed forces in confronting contemporary warfare challenges.

Addressing the issue of 'One Rank, One Pension' (OROP), the Prime Minister said, "There have been attempts to mislead our courageous soldiers regarding OROP. The OROP system was abolished by Indira Gandhi. For decades, the Congress did not allow its implementation, but during elections, they tried to mislead army commanders by promising Rs 500 crore.

"In contrast, the NDA government successfully implemented OROP. Despite India's limited resources and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Rs 1.20 lakh crore was allocated for One Rank, One Pension."

PM Modi also criticised the Congress on the Agnipath scheme for recruitment of Agniveers into the armed forces, saying, "Congress opposes every reform aimed at strengthening our armed forces. They have now realised the significance of youth energy as a vital asset for our military.

"Falsehoods are being spread about army recruitment to dissuade our youth from joining. I ask this House: For whom does the Congress wish to weaken our armed forces? Whose interests are served by spreading such misinformation? We are committed to modernising our armed forces to ensure they are prepared to face any challenge and respond effectively. Our reforms are designed to enhance our troops' readiness for combat."

The Prime Minister also delivered a scathing critique of the opposition Congress for challenging the military reforms undertaken by his government.

"Consider the mindset of these individuals -- they once mocked the armed forces by playing with small toy models of Rafale jets. However, in recent years, substantial changes have taken place. The establishment of the Chief of Defence Staff's (CDS) post has significantly enhanced integration among our armed forces.

"Today, Congress is spreading misinformation and actively seeking to undermine our efforts towards defence reform. It is evident that Congress members are unwilling to witness the strengthening of the Indian armed forces," Prime Minister Modi said.

Sharpening his attack on the Congress, the Prime Minister said the army was weakened during Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure.

He pointed to numerous 'scams' worth lakhs of rupees that occurred under Congress regimes, citing examples such as the Jeep, submarine, and Bofors scams.

The Prime Minister also highlighted deficiencies like the absence of bulletproof jackets during Congress rule.

Accusing the Congress of consistently undermining the military, both during its tenure and now as the opposition, PM Modi alleged that it neglected the purchase of fighter jets. Furthermore, he claimed that when his government attempted to procure fighter jets, Congress obstructed the efforts.
Bhopal, July 2 : At least four children have died while several others have been hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning at a shelter home in Indore on Tuesday.

The first case was reported on Tuesday morning when a child was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died during treatment. Following this, some more children fell ill who had to be rushed to the Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitshalaya in Indore.

By the time the police and the district administration swung into action, three more children lost their lives, all orphans aged between 5 and 15 years.

The children were all inmates of the Bal Ashram of Shri Yugpurush Dham in the Malharganj police station area.

Taking serious note of the matter, District Collector Ashish Singh has transferred three officials, including a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM).

A committee has been formed to probe the matter under the supervision of a senior IAS officer, which will submit its report soon.

"The exact reason behind the deaths is not known yet. Things will be clear once the post-mortem reports are received," a senior official told IANS.
Hyderabad, July 2 : The Telangana government has granted special remission to 213 convicts, including 205 who were given life sentences, on the basis of their good behaviour, as per a Government Order issued on Tuesday.

These convicts will be released from Cherlapally Jail on Wednesday.

According to the government, families of these convicts had submitted petitions to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy during the Praja Palana programme for their remission.

Acting on these requests, he had directed officials to study the possibility of remission as per the guidelines of the Central and state governments.

After going through the applications, senior officials prepared a list of eligible convicts and sent the same to the high-level committee for scrutiny. The committee placed the list of eligible convicts to the Cabinet, which gave its approval.

The Governor also gave his consent, thus clearing the decks for the remission of 213 convicts.

The Home Department on Tuesday released the list of convicts granted remission. Apart from 205 life convicts, there were eight who were sentenced to lesser terms. All these convicts were trained in different skills during their jail term. They were also given counselling so that they could once again integrate with society through good conduct.
Agartala, July 2 : At least eight girl students protesting against the transfer of a school teacher in the North Tripura district were hospitalised on Tuesday after a few members of the school management committee (SMC) reportedly assaulted them, students and guardians said.

Guardians of the students alleged that the SMC members involved in the incident were local BJP leaders, even though the ruling party has distanced itself saying that it doesn't have any information of the incident.

Protesting girl students, however, claimed 15 of them were injured after the SMC members assaulted them.

BJP state spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee said that his party didn't have any information about the incident.

"If there was any such incident where anyone assaulted the girl students, they should go to the police. Police would take appropriate actions as per law, irrespective of party affiliation," he told the media.

According to the guardians, teacher Brajalal Nath joined the government-run Jiban Tripura Higher Secondary School in the North Tripura district just three months back and recently transferred to another school as he objected to some "unauthorised" activities on the premises of the school.

Students started protests on Monday against his transfer as the students found his lessons very helpful for them. Nath was learnt to conduct online remedial classes apart from other student-friendly initiatives that made him popular among the school children.

The aggrieved students blocked the Dharmanagar-Kailashahar highway demanding the teacher's transfer be cancelled. Though the students' protest began on Monday, it intensified as they locked the school's main gate while also blocking the adjoining main road. Police rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.

In the meantime, a group of local people and SMC members intervened, asking the students to withdraw the road blockade.

Later, eight girls were taken to the Dharmanagar District Hospital after they were rescued from the spot by fire and emergency service personnel. Guardians and the students named some people, who they said were members of the SMC and alleged that they tried to intimidate the students, verbally abused them, and even physically assaulted them.
United Nations, July 3 : Calling for a reform of the UN Security Council, India has cautioned against its peacekeeping mandates as "not representative of current realities".

Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka said: "We call for caution on any activity that is rooted in authorisation from a Security Council that is not representative of current realities."

In his address at the UN Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS) here recently, he said that because it is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, "it is important that the Security Council is a reformed body with an expansion of membership in both the permanent and non-permanent categories".

He pointed out the imbalance in the regional imbalance in its membership "given that more than half of the Security Council's work is focused on Africa".

India, he said, has been consistently calling for greater representation of Africa in line with the African Union's two signature documents, the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, that demand increasing the continent's membership of the Council in the elected category and giving it at least two permanent seats.

He said that the nature of armed conflicts where peacekeepers operate changed with the involvement of "non-State Armed Groups"  diplomatic speak that includes terrorists.

Their involvement has "increasingly exposed peacekeeping operations to regional and global dynamics that undermine their efforts to implement their mandate", he said.

Deka criticised the current peacekeeping system where the mandates from the Council are not clear, the resources given to peacekeeping operations are inadequate, and there are no definitive exit strategies for ending missions, endangering the safety of peacekeepers.

"There are divergences in interpretation of mandates between various stakeholders, which results in inadequacy of mandate delivery as well as a threat to the safety of our peacekeepers," he said.

Deka added that it is "extremely important that there is continuous and effective coordination between the UN leadership, host nation as well as Troop/Police Contributing countries" from the drafting of the Council mandates till ending missions with an exit strategy.

The peacekeeping operations should also be given adequate resources, he said.

There were 151 Indian police in UN peacekeeping operations, while 5,384 troops were deployed, according to UN statistics.

Historically, India has been the biggest contributor of personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.

Deka, who was given a year's extension in the top Intelligence Bureau position last month, criticised "the fallacy of solutions being imposed from outside" and said: "India has always stressed that there can be no substitute for national efforts in creating an environment where civilians are secure."

"The eroding support of host nations to the presence of peacekeepers is a reflection of the failure to address the root causes of conflict," he added.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Patna July 3 : The Bihar government has decided to offer MBBS course to students in Hindi starting the next academic session, state Health Minister Mangal Pandey said on Tuesday.

With this, Bihar will become the second state in India after Madhya Pradesh to offer medical studies in Hindi.

"The Health Department of Bihar, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has taken this historic step after thorough discussions on the necessary aspects, including the availability of Hindi textbooks for the MBBS course. This decision aligns with the government's goal of promoting Hindi and making it a global language," Pandey said.

The new provision is based on the recommendations of a nine-member committee, which will be implemented in accordance with the AIIMS Delhi syllabus for students clearing the NEET-UG 2024.

The students will have the option to study in Hindi or English medium. The idea is to simplify medical education and support meritorious students from Hindi medium backgrounds.

The state has approximately 85,000 government schools, where Hindi medium is the preferred mode of imparting education.
Jaipur, July 3 : A day before the start of the Assembly session in Rajasthan, several significant decisions were taken in Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma-led Cabinet on Tuesday which included the building of a Greenfield airport in Kota and an aerocity project in Jaipur.

State Industry Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said: "Aerocity will be built in Jaipur. Cargo service will be started at many airports in the state. Greenfield Airport will be built in Kota for which an MoU will be signed in August. Rajasthan will be made self-reliant in power generation," he said, adding that investments of Rs two lakh crore will be received by the state.

New technology will be developed for solar energy, he added.

He said that production will be done on a vast area of 2.5 acres instead of three acres and land will be given at 7.5 per cent DLC.

Three flying schools will be opened in the state in Kishangarh, Bhilwara and Jhalawar, which will generate employment opportunities.

Besides Rajyavardhan Rathore, Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel gave information on the decisions taken by the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government in the Cabinet meeting.

Deputy Chief Minister Bairwa said that the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government is constantly trying to make Rajasthan a developed state.

Minister Jogaram Patel said that former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had demanded to open Gandhi Vatika for the people soon during his meeting with Chief Minister Sharma.

"We will open Gandhi Vatika soon. Many flaws in the Trust were formed for its operation. Despite having a Chairman in the trust, the Vice-Chairman was given unlimited powers. How can a person be given the right to sell government land? In such a situation, the Cabinet has decided to cancel it."
Jill Baguchinskythe author of contemporary YA novel Mammothgoes dark and moody in So Witches We Became, a supernatural YA horror novel that tackles issues of female friendship and healing from assault. Nell and her best friend Harper have been growing apart. So, when Harper invites Nell to vacation with her on a private Florida island, Nell jumps at the opportunity to rekindle their relationship, but things take a turn when Harpers antagonistic boyfriend Gavin arrives. As Nell navigates these fraught dynamics, a more sinister force comes into play in the form of a mysterious and toxic haze that encompasses the island and blocks off all the exits. In a conversation with PW, Baguchinsky spoke about disaster prep, Dirty Dancing, and her advent to the horror genre.

This is your first horror YA. What brought about this pivot?

Horror has always been my home. I have that origin story that most horror writers seem to: I grew up reading Stephen King way too early. My first YA, Spooky Girl, which skewed a lot younger than So Witches We Became, was a paranormal fantasy, so it had some horror elements, but it was a very gentle, light story. And while I was drafting So Witches We Became, I sold a couple of horror short stories to various outlets and anthologies.

Its nice that genre-hopping isnt such a taboo thing in the industry these days. When I started trying to get into the business, people would say, You have to pick your lane, and you have to stay there. Im so glad that I was able to jump into contemporary to write Mammoth, which is a story thats very close to my heart and was very fun to research. But it was great to settle back into the spookier stuff. It was like horror was welcoming me home.

How much research did you have to do for So Witches We Became?

It has a ton of hurricane information in it, like hurricane prep and how the storms work. About 90% of that just came from my own experience, because I grew up in Florida, and Ive been through so many tropical storms. That was much easier to settle into than Mammoth was, because I had to research paleontology and learn how to do some of that.

I did work with a therapist for a bit for So Witches We Became because it contains some dark subject matter and I wanted to make sure I was handling that in a sensitive and realistic manner. So my research went more in that direction.

Can you talk about how these dark themes show up in the novel and how they impacted your writing process?

What really got me thinking about writing this book was going through Hurricane Irma, which hit Marco Island directly in 2017. Ive been through a ton of hurricanes, like I said, but when I was younger, I always had my father around to give me guidance. He was really good at staying calm during storms. He was also a contractor, so he knew if a house was built well enough to withstand a storm. It was always reassuring to have him around.

He passed away in May 2017, and then we got hit directly by a strong category three hurricane that September. Without having him around to reassure me and my mother, it was just a whole new level of trauma and anxiety. I really wanted to write a hurricane story to work through some of that and process some of it, just for myself.

I was originally going to write a disaster thriller, with the teens trying to survive this horrible hurricane or something. But then I realized, as I was starting to draft the following year, that I didnt really want to write a story where the hurricane was the villain because hurricanes arent villains. Theyre not good or bad. Theyre just forces of nature, theyre things that happen. I realized that I wanted to write about a different sort of bad guy.

At that point, as I was trying to figure out what I was doing, there was so much discussion and discourse going on about things like locker room talk and boys will be boys. I grew up hearing some of that, and then hearing so much of it so publicly, and seeing so many things get dismissed, ignited a lot of rage in me. Thats how I came up with the idea that the real villain is going to be someone who embodies those behaviors.

What themes or experiences did you hope to highlight when creating Nell, Harper, and Gavins dynamic?

Its important to recognize, especially for teenagers, that as you grow older and youve had a certain friend for a while, maybe you go off in different directions, and your friendship has to kind of evolve with it. And that can be very, very tough, especially when maybe one of them gets into a relationship. That can be overwhelming for everybody involved. Its not only young people who go through that; Ive had adult friends who, once they get into a relationship, you dont hear from them again for a couple of months. Its frustrating when you always thought you were connected in certain ways. I think that will probably speak to a lot of readers.

How does Nells developing romance with island local Tris come into play regarding Nell and Harpers shifting friendship?

Tris and Nells romance came across very naturally for me. I wanted to have one character who was local to the area and who had been through hurricane warnings and knew how that kind of thing worked. So I came up with Tris, whose full name is actually Tristan Castle because I was watching Dirty Dancing and I noticed that Johnny Castle was the local who knew how everything worked, and I wanted something like that. But I wanted it to be a queer romance.

Nell is kind of hesitant about being in a relationship. She hasnt moved along as far as Harper has, in terms of romance. She just hadnt really had that much interest in forming those kinds of bonds until she met Tris. And even then, its almost too difficult for her to navigate. Shes constantly asking herself, What is that? What am I feeling? Whats going on? It was fun to write that.

What other books or writers have had an influence on your work?

Definitely Misery by Stephen King. I read it as a love story to writing, which is probably very bizarre for anybody who knows what its about. Also, YA horror like Shea Ernshaws The Wicked Deep, Tiffany Jacksons White Smoke, and Katrina Lenos horror novels.

Its interesting to see how far horror has come because when I was a kid, I didnt really have much to read in the way of horror. There was Christopher Pike, of course, and R.L. Stine, but that was pre-Goosebumps, thats how long ago it was. And I read those, and I liked them, but they were so short, and they didnt get into a lot of deep issues. So its great to read horror now thats written for teenagers, and gets into some deeper, more interesting issues. Its a way for young readers to process some of these darker experiences and feelings.

So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky. Little, Brown, $18.99 July 23 ISBN 978-0-316-56880-7
Here we round up new and forthcoming childrens titles, including a middle grade novel about tweens attending a school for students with special powers, a picture book following a child who loves to win, a picture book biography of a musical icon, and more.

The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Caridi by Johnny Marciano, illus. by Ashley Mackenzie. Penguin Workshop, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-66094-2. Thirteen-year-old Frankie and her brother Lucie attend the isolated Pythagorean Institute, a school for students with genetic powers. When Frankie is plagued by strange dreams that feel like memories, shes forced to confront the reality that she may be less normal than she thought.

Bijan Always Wins by Adib Khorram, illus. by Michelle Tran. Dial, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-32530-8. Bijan, a child who proclaims he wins at everything, learns how to appreciate friendship over his successes.

Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples by Mavis Staples and Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Steffi Walthall. Rocky Pond, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-62469-2. Staples and Boston Weatherford collaborate to recount the extraordinary musical life of Staples, tracing her childhood years singing gospel music to her eventual success in Hollywood.

Clever Crow by Chris Butterworth, illus. by Olivia Lomenech Gill. Candlewick, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3542-5. This picture book assemblage of corvid portraits forms a survey of varying crow types. The picture book received a starred review from PW.

The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller. Feiwel and Friends, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-250-84077-6. Chrysantha Stathos must face off against a mysterious stranger who plans to lay claim to her inheritance in the companion novel to The Shadows Between Us.

The Haunted States of America by Ellen Hopkins et al., illus. by Solomon Hughes. Holt/Godwin, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-250-81941-3. Highlighting horrific lore from each state, this anthology invites 52 authors, including Daniel Barlekamp, Ellen Hopkins, Rae Rose, and more to craft haunting stories across the U.S.

How to Die Famous by Benjamin Dean. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-51960-1. Actor Abel seizes the chance to costar in the reboot of the hit teen dramedy Sunset High to investigate the off-set drama. He learns that Sunset Highs makers and players all harbor dangerous secrets that will prove deadly for one teen star.

I Am La Chiva!: The Colorful Bus of the Andes by Karol Hernandez, illus. by Lorena Alvarez Gomez. Dial, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5935-2920-1. Hernandez foregrounds La Chiva, a colorful rustic bus used as public transportation in rural areas of Colombia, as it picks up passengers en route to the mercado in town. The picture book received a starred review from PW.

The Imaginoodles by Christopher Eliopoulos. Rocky Pond, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-9848-8. Anthropomorphized hedgehog Henry learns to come out of his shell with the help of rambunctious chipmunk Chester, who reminds him that play is all about enjoyment.

Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla, illus. by Tania de Regil. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06326-885-2. Isabel Beane doesnt feel like she fits in, a feeling cemented further when she isnt invited to Monicas birthday party.

It's Only a Game by Kelsea Yu. Bloomsbury, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-1335-9. Marina Chan and fellow gamers are invited by an anonymous developer to beta-test a new game. When the CEO of the gaming company is murdered, the teens must beat the new game or risk being charged with the murderor worse.

A Magic Fierce and Bright by Hemant Nayak. Simon & Schuster, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-2181-7. Adya Sachdev, who can communicate with machines using magic, learns that her twin sister Priya is in danger and puts together a rag-tag team to rescue her.

Peach Heaven by Yangsook Choi. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-3743-9130-0. After a storm sends peaches raining down from the skies, young Yangsook finds a way to help farmers who have lost their crops.

Sunrise Nights by Brittany Cavallaro and Jeff Zentner. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-332453-4. High schoolers Florence, a dancer, and Jude, a photographer, meet while participating in the traditional sunrise night, the last day of art camp, and bond over their shared love and conviction for their craft. The YA book received a starred review from PW.

The Tugboat and the Silver Moon by Kersten Hamilton, illus. by Barry Gott. Viking, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5935-2839-6. Strong winds cause a cargo ship to get stuck sideways in a canal, and protagonist Tug awaits the help of the silver moons tide to free the ship.

A Whisper of Curses by J. Elle. Bloomsbury, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-0674-0. In the sequel to A Taste of Magic, Kyana finds herself under a curse and travels to a magical camp to seek help, only to be trapped there.

For more childrens and YA titles on sale throughout the month of July, check out PWs full On-Sale Calendar.
Random House Children's Books has five promotions. Casey Moses has been promoted to assistant art director, from senior designer. Bessa Zenebework has been promoted to senior manager, advertising, from manager. Tricia Ryzner has been promoted to senior manager, advertising, from social media manager, paid promotions. Jordan Bishop has been promoted to senior associate, audience engagement, from associate. Kortney Hartz has been promoted to publishing manager, from publishing associate.

Alison Weiss has left her position as acquisitions editor at Pixel+Ink and can be contacted here.

Ainslie Campbell-Schwartz has been promoted to associate editor at Candlewick Press, from assistant editor.

Makena Cioni has joined Delacorte Press as editorial assistant; previously she was an editorial intern at Macmillan.

Frankie Degiorgio has joined Scholastic as administrative assistant.

Hillary Godwin has joined Stimola Literary Studio as literary agent assistant; she was formerly a submission reader for Roaring Brook Press.

Charlotte Johnson has joined SteelWorks Literary as agency assistant.

Albert Whitman publishing director Sue Tarsky has left the company, and can be contacted here.

KT Literary has one new hire and two promotions. Kait Feldmann has joined as agent; most recently, she was senior editor at HarperCollins. Laurel Symonds has been promoted to senior agent, from agent. Chelsea Hensley has been promoted to agent, from associate agent.

Karen Menzie has joined Candlewick Press, Holiday House, and Peachtree as senior national account manager to Amazon; most recently she was director of sales at Zibby Books.

At Random House Children's Books, senior copy editor Barbara Bakowski will retire on July 3. Lea Lopez has joined as editorial assistant, Random House Brands.

Anuoluwapo Ohioma has joined Disney/Freedom Fire as editor; previously she was associate editor at Penguin Workshop.

MacKenzie Kurtzner has been promoted to planning coordinator at Scholastic, from proprietary planner.

Olivia Blackmer has joined Nosy Crow as marketing assistant.

Astra Books for Young Readers has three promotions. Susan Dobinick has been promoted to assistant publisher, from executive editor. Kerry McManus has been promoted to marketing director, from senior marketing manager. Millie von Platen has been promoted to associate editor, from assistant editor.

Sarah Homer has been promoted to editor at HarperCollins, from associate editor.

Candlewick Press has one new hire and two promotions. Martha Kennedy has returned to the company as assistant art director; most recently she was an art director at Simon & Schuster. Hayley Parker has been promoted to assistant art director, from senior designer. Tif Bucknor has been promoted to book design assistant, from art department administrative assistant.

Kate Renner has been promoted to art director at Viking Books for Young Readers, Philomel, and Flamingo, from associate art director.

Emily Seife has been promoted to executive editor at Scholastic, from senior editor.

Clare Perret has joined Random House Children's Books as a senior copy editor; most recently she was managing editor at Kensington.

Rory Lake has joined Candlewick Press as promotions designer; most recently she was community engagement coordinator at Emmanuel College.
In reality, Lady Jane Grey didnt get a happily ever after. But in the live-action TV series adaptation of Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadowss YA novel My Lady Jane, history gets a rewrite. The eight-episode historical drama is available on streaming now on Prime Video.

My Lady Jane has been a dream in the making. According to the Lady Janies, the pseudonym used by the trio of authors, the book had been optioned for film and TV before it had even published in 2016. When nothing came to fruition, the authors made peace with it. And then they got a call from Gemma Burgess, the author of the Brooklyn Girl series, about an unbelievable twist of New York City fate.

Shed been riding on the New York City subway one day and saw a girl intently reading My Lady Jane and laughing, so Gemma bought a copy and loved it, the Lady Janies told PW in an email interview. Burgess partnered with production company Parkes and McDonald to buy rights and develop the book. In 2022, Amazon greenlit the project. We were, of course, thrilled and excited to have our book come to life in that way, especially since it was so clear that Gemma got the book, the Lady Janies said.

In the live-action adaptation, Emily Bader (Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin) stars as Lady Jane, Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve) is Lord Guildford Dudley, and Jordan Peters (Blue Story) is King Edward VI. Burgess acts as co-showrunner/executive producer alongside Meredith Glynn (The Boys).

The show is so fun and it is so different, Bader said in a statement. To be able to work on something like that, and it being a period piece, that was all my dreams wrapped up in one.

The show follows the trajectory of Jane, a young Tudor woman whose initial feelings about her arranged marriage change once she meets her betrothed. However, the real-life Jane Grey didnt get quite the perfect love story; Lady Jane Grey was queen for nine days before being beheaded.

Were taking one of historys most tragic heroines and were putting her center stage and letting her have a daring, fierce chance to have her own story. Bader said. She is incredibly intelligent and strong-willed, and she has this fiery determination to take control of her own destiny. She is a young woman finding her power and her voice in a world that does not expect her to really have one.

The show is inspired by the historical novel, which was followed by six sequels, rather than a straight adaptation. We were interested in recreating that world as a way to tell a very modern story about a young woman grappling with adulthood, love and power, said Glynn in a statement. We hope the show will appeal to an even wider audience, Burgess said. We wanted love, sex, high stakes, friction, and drama woven into the adult relationships.

With the series available for streaming, the Janies said they were pleased with how much the show captures the overall tone and humor of our book. We hope viewers come away with a sense of empowerment. In the show, and in our book, Lady Jane Grey gets to take control of her own destiny and seek out her own happily ever after. Thats so satisfying as fans of history and lovers of romantasy. The show has such great heart, and we hope it will bring a real sense of joy and fun to the viewers.
A little more than three months after Small Press Distribution abruptly closed, leaving some 400 independent presses without a trade distributor, publishers and distributors alike are moving forward even as damage assessment continues. Approximately 25% of the stranded publishers have found new distributors: Asterism Books has signed about 80 presses, Itasca Books has onboarded 21, and Independent Publishers Group has taken on 11.

An informal deadline of June 30 had previously been set for publishers to remove their inventory from Ingram Content Group and Publisher Storage and Shipping warehouses, to which SPD had sent their books as part of a failed plan to reinvent the distributor. Pam Nuffer, director of sales and marketing for PSSC, said that about 75% of the publishers who have inventory with them have provided PSSC with instructions on where their inventory should be shipped, and that PSSC has already shipped out about half of the books.

This week, Nuffer said that she plans to reach out again to publishers that have not yet provided instructions, or are on the fence about what they want done with their books. Following that effort, Nuffer will begin another attempt to track down publishers who have not responded to PSSCs questions about inventory.

A spokesperson for Ingram said that the company has continued to work with presses to best meet their individual requirements, adding that a few presses signed on to take advantage of the companys distribution and wholesale optionsincluding two who have become Consortium distribution clients. Despite some earlier fears that many books would remain stranded in Ingram warehouses, the spokesperson said that the company doesnt expect to end up with unclaimed inventory, with one or two possible exceptions.

Community Service

Tracking down all the presses that were part of SPD continues to be a challenge, said Mary Gannon, executive director of the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), which has become something of a clearinghouse for news and updates on what is happening to presses abandoned by SPD. To aid the group in gathering and sharing information and developing ideas to help presses move forward, CLMP has hired Lauren Rosemary Hook, former editorial director and interim executive director of the Feminist Press, as project director. (Hook can be reached at lrhook@clmp.org.)

To get a further handle on how presses are faring, CLMP sent out a survey to as many former SPD clients as they could find. While only 39 had responded as of July 1, the answers indicate how greatly the presses have been affected by the distributors bankruptcy. Nearly 36% said they had incurred costs of $1,001$2,500 for processing their inventory, with nearly a similar number reporting they had received some external funding to help cover the costs.

The percentage of respondents to CLMPs survey that said they have found new distribution, 72%, was disproportionately high compared to the overall number of former SPD clients that such distributors as Ingram and IPG have signed, which is closer to 25% of SPDs former list. That same number of respondents, 72%, said that they have received a sales report since the SPD shutdown, but none have received any money. Most respondents, 80%, were optimistic that the bankruptcy will not force them to close their businesses.

CLMP has also begun distributing copies of the form publishers need to file with the California attorney generals office to lodge a complaint against SPD. It isnt clear whether SPD, which previously announced that it was filing for dissolution with the attorney generals office, has actually filed the notice. There are indications that the filing will only come after the August 8 deadline for publishers to submit claim notices with SPDs law firm, Tovella Dowling. Mary Dowling, founder of the firm and its and managing attorney, did not respond to PWs request for clarification on the matter.

To further complicate the issue, almost 20% of respondents to the CLMP survey said that they did not receive the claim letter from Tovella Dowling. Of those that received the letter, 21% had already submitted a claim, while 47% are unsure on how to proceed.

On the funding front, the Poetry Foundation reports that it has fulfilled 31 applications for aid through the $150,000 bridge fund that it established in late April to help poetry presses that had been impacted by the closure. To date, the foundation has distributed about $130,000 in funds, and is in the process of reviewing a 32nd application. The foundation will accept applications until September 1, or until funds run out. In addition, with support from the New York State Council on the Arts, CLMP has given grants of $500 and $1,000 to 21 presses based in New York State.

Asterism Bulks Up

The company that has taken on the most SDP clients, Asterism Books, launched just last year, as a wholesaler and bookstore. Since March 2024, Asterism, founded by Phil Bevis of Chatwin Books and Joshua Rothes of Sublunary Editions, has signed more than 90 publishers, including roughly 80 of those that had been with SPD. Marketing director Laura Paul reported that Asterism has taken more than 65,000 books into its Seattle warehouse since April 1.

To give the new books more exposure, Asterism will host an Open House for its Seattle showrooms grand opening the weekend of July 2628, including a happy hour for booksellers, librarians, and publishers on Friday, July 26. A book sale, which will be open to the public, is planned for July 27 and 28.

To boost sales opportunities for its new clients, Asterism has increased its number of bookseller accounts by 40%, and now has more than 280 stores with active accounts. The company also added its first in-house sales rep in May, and launched an e-book sales channel. Longer term projects include integrating with Bookshop.org as a fulfillment partner by early 2025, Paul said, and the company plans to start production this month for its 2025 print catalogwhich will be Asterisms largest ever.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In June 2024, ZEEKR, the premium electric vehicle brand under Geely Holding, delivered 20,106 vehicles, an 89% year-on-year surge, marking the first time its monthly deliveries surpassed 20,000 units.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

From January to June this year, ZEEKR delivered 87,870 vehicles in total, reflecting a 106% year-on-year growth, with its cumulative deliveries exceeding 280,000 units as of June 2024.

Currently, ZEEKR offers four models, namely, the ZEEKR 007, ZEEKR 001, ZEEKR X, and ZEEKR 009. Among these, the All-New ZEEKR 001, which hit the market at the end of February this year, has become the brand's main sales contributor. In May 2024, sales of the new ZEEKR 001 reached 13,480 units, a 116.62% year-on-year surge and a 19.64% month-on-month growth, with 2,213 more units sold than in April, according to the sales from China Passenger Car Association. It surpassed luxury models like the BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6L, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

In June 2024, ZEEKR signed cooperation agreements with Indonesia's PT Premium Auto Prima and Malaysia's Sentinel Automotive Sdn. Bhd., officially announcing its entry into the Indonesian and Malaysian markets. ZEEKR is currently operating in over 25 major markets worldwide and plans to expand to more than 50 overseas markets this year, covering Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Changan Automobile's wholly-owned brand boast over 61% YoY surge in June NEV sales

Chinese automaker Changan Automobile announced that the sales of new energy vehicle (NEV) under its wholly-owned brands reached around 64,000 units in June 2024, surging over 61% from a year earlier. For the first half of 2024, the brands sold roughly 299,000 NEVs, showing a year-on-year soar of more than 69%.

NEVO A07; photo credit: NEVO

GAC AION sells over 35,000 vehicles in June globally

GAC AION, the new energy vehicle arm under GAC Group, stated that its global sales reached 35,027 vehicles in June 2024.

BAIC Group, Xianglong Company forge strategic partnership

On July 2, BAIC Group and Beijing Xianglong Assets Management Co., Ltd. (Xianglong Company) signed a strategic cooperation agreement. This collaboration spans multiple dimensions, including group-to-group and subsidiary-to-subsidiary interactions, and comprehensively covers cooperation in various fields such as automotive services and trade, modern logistics, corporate and employee vehicle procurement, asset management, commercial services, and industrial capital. Furthermore, both parties will deeply explore cooperation models in automotive finance, aiming to advance and solidify their partnership.

2025 ZEEKR X hits market, starting at 200,000 yuan

On July 1, the 2025 ZEEKR X compact SUV, built on Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), officially hit the market. The new model comes with three trim levels, priced between 200,000 yuan and 220,000 yuan.

Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance delivers 46,141 vehicles in June

In June 2024, Huawei's smart selection vehicle alliance, HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance), delivered 46,141 30,578 new vehicles across its product lineup, representing a 50.9% spike month-over-month.

Geely Automobile posts 24% YoY jump in June 2024 auto sales

In June 2024, Geely Automobile Holdings Limited ("Geely Automobile") sold 166,085 vehicles, marking a year-on-year increase of 24%. For the first half of 2024, Geely Automobile's cumulative sales reached 955,730 units, reflecting a year-on-year surge of 41%.

DEEPAL boasts 107.2% YoY surge in June auto deliveries

On July 1, Changan Automobile's new energy vehicle brand DEEPAL announced that it delivered 16,659 vehicles in June 2024, reflecting a year-on-year surge of 107.2% and a month-on-month growth of 15.9%.

AVATR delivers 4,682 vehicles in June 2024

AVATR, the high-end smart electric vehicle brand jointly backed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, announced that its June auto deliveries reached 4,682 vehicles, soaring 167% year on year.

ZEEKR's monthly deliveries surpass 20,000 vehicles for first time

In June 2024, ZEEKR, the premium electric vehicle brand under Geely Holding, delivered 20,106 vehicles, an 89% year-on-year surge, marking the first time its monthly deliveries surpassed 20,000 units.

Chery Holding's H1 auto sales exceed 1 million units for first time

In June 2024, Chinese automaker Chery Holding sold 200,412 vehicles, marking a 38% year-on-year surge. Among which, 44,851 units were new energy vehicle (NEVs), shooting up 230.6% from a year ago.

Leapmotor refreshes monthly record with 20,116 vehicles delivered in June 2024

In June, Chinese new energy vehicle maker Leapmotor delivered a record-breaking 20,116 vehicles, marking a 52.3% year-on-year surge and a 10.7% month-on-month rise.

BYD's monthly auto sales hit new high in June 2024

BYD, one of the leading Chinese manufacturers of new energy vehicles (NEVs), reported an all-time high monthly sales volume for June 2024.

Great Wall Motor's H1 auto sales rise 7.79% YoY despite drop in June

Great Wall Motor ("GWM") announced its monthly sales dropped 6.55% year on year to 98,080 vehicles in June 2024 with TANK being the only brand to gain a positive sales growth. However, its year-to-date (YTD) performance remained positive, driven by strong growth in the TANK brand and steady performance in HAVAL and WEY.

BYD introduces five NEV models in Tunisian market

On June 27, local time, BYD held a brand revitalization press conference in Tunisia, officially introducing three battery electric vehicle (BEV) models to the Tunisian market: the Tang, Dolphin, and Yuan PLUS (locally known as BYD ATTO 3), as well as two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models: the Destroyer 05 (locally known as BYD KING) and Song PLUS DM-i.
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10 Acres Northwest Reeves County, TX with Easement AccessVacant Land, RV, Camping PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONPeaceful 10 acres located just about an hour northwest of Pecos off Rd 2119. This parcel is reached by taking the lease roads about 3 miles off Highway 2119. There are easements in the southern part of this section which allow access to the land. There are worn dirt tracks and gravel roads out here. One passes right through the property. This is on the edge of the oilfield, and is perfect for RV...

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TRONSEN CREEK GOLD #1 OR106372371 Where are you mining this year? CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING 40-ACRE CLAIM WITHIN A 2-HOUR DRIVE OF SEATTLE! OVER 3000 FEET OF TRONSEN CREEK! This incredible and EXTREMELY rare 40-acre claim sits on Tronsen Creek, which drains into Peshtasin Creek along with Scotty Creek, just north of Liberty WA, the strike that kicked off the few gold rushes in Washington State. Sitting less than a two-hour drive from Seattle, less than thirty minutes from the picturesque town of Cl...

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ATLANTIC PALACEAtlantic City, NJ Bordered by Atlantic Citys deep, spectacular beach and world-renowned boardwalk, this luxurious 31-story resort offers intrinsic oceanic views amidst myriad nightlife venues, casinos, dining offerings and retail shops. Whether being entertained by a headline performer, dancing the night away, shopping, surfing, or solving the crime at a mystery dinner theater, Atlantic City will give you an unforgettable experience Resort Amenities Elevator Beach Salon Game Ro...

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Genesis Teases the X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept

Genesis is teasing automotive enthusiasts with its latest concept car, the X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept, unveiled at the 2024 Busan Motor Show in South Korea. This new model is the fourth vehicle developed by Hyundai's luxury brand specifically for the Gran Turismo racing game, further cementing Genesiss commitment to blending high-performance engineering with digital innovation.

Image Via Genesis

The X Gran Racer VGT Concept is an evolution of last year's Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Concept, boasting an even more aggressive design and a suite of performance enhancements. Sporting a formidable carbon fiber rear wing, fender vents, and a rear central fin, the car's exterior exudes a racing pedigree. The concept also features a mono wiper cutting through the windshield, adding to its aerodynamic efficiency and unique aesthetic appeal.

Image Via Genesis

Under the hood, Genesis has significantly upgraded the hybrid powertrain. The car features a front mid-mounted V6 engine with an electric supercharger, producing an astonishing 870 horsepower and 790 pound-feet of torque, spinning up to 10,000 rpm. Complementing this is a front-mounted electric motor generating an additional 670 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. Together, they deliver a combined output of 1,540 horsepower and 1,051 lb-ft of torque, making this concept a powerhouse on both the virtual and physical tracks.

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The design of the X Gran Racer VGT Concept is not just about raw power. It incorporates advanced aerodynamic features such as a larger front splitter, rear diffuser, and side skirts, all contributing to high-speed stability and performance. The elongated dash-to-axle ratio positions the driver and powertrain towards the rear, optimizing weight distribution and enhancing the cars mid-engine layout.

Image Via Genesis

Inside, Genesis has transformed the cabin into a single-seater cockpit with a carbon fiber bucket seat, a fully integrated roll cage, and a racing yoke. The minimalist interior design, in line with Genesis's 'Beauty of White Space' philosophy, prioritizes essential functions while elevating the driving experience. The Digital Panorama Interface integrates vital vehicle information into a panoramic display, ensuring the driver remains focused and informed.

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The X Gran Racer VGT Concept also showcases Genesiss innovative use of materials. Carbon fiber accents throughout the interior not only enhance the cars aesthetic but also contribute to its overall weight reduction and agility. Quilted padding in key areas provides exceptional comfort and support during intense racing maneuvers, ensuring the driver remains protected and focused.

This concept is part of the Genesis Magma program, highlighting the brands foray into high-performance luxury mobility. The striking Magma color scheme complements the cars carbon fiber elements, adding a touch of exclusivity and refinement. The real carbon fiber rear wing and vertical rear lights integrated into the wing enhance downforce and visibility, even in extreme racing conditions.

The X Gran Racer VGT Concept represents Genesis's relentless pursuit of innovation and performance. With its hybrid powertrain delivering unprecedented power, advanced aerodynamic design, and cutting-edge materials, this concept car is a testament to Genesis's commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering.

Image Via Genesis

Genesis's unveiling of the X Gran Racer VGT Concept at the Busan Motor Show is not just a showcase of technological prowess but also a statement of the brands vision for the future of high-performance luxury cars. As Genesis continues to innovate and expand its lineup, the automotive world eagerly anticipates the next groundbreaking creation from this South Korean luxury brand.

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BLUEGREEN SEAGLASS TOWER Myrtle Beach, South Carolina With a landmark location right on the sand in Myrtle Beach, SeaGlass Tower is the ideal focal point for a beach vacation. The resort is conveniently located minutes from popular oceanfront attractions along the Myrtle Beach boardwalk promenade, such as Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Waves Water Park, the famous Myrtle Beach SkyWheel and so much more. At the end of the day, fire up a resort grill and enjoy dinner al fresco, complete with ocean ...

Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Missouri Property Address: 1400 N Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC Zip/Postal Code: 29577 City: Myrtle Beach State/Province: South Carolina Location: 658**, Springfield, Missouri

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Available Usage Year 2024 Usage Type FLOAT WEEK 7-17, 24-34, 51-52 Bed/Bathroom 1B/1B Week/Points WEEK 17 (APR 26TH) Unit 208-106 Season RED Usage Interval ANNUAL Estimated Maintenance Fee Amount $1121 EVERY YEAR Exchange Affiliate RCI Related Fees Closing Fee (Paid By Seller) $349.00 Resort Transfer Fee (Paid By Seller) $FREE Recording Fee (Paid By Seller) n/a MAINTENANCE FEE STARTS 2025!!! This resort will require your social security number and you will have to sign and notarize a transfer do...

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GLOBAL TITLE GROUP LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THIS RESORT (Due to West Virginia guidelines on purchasing Real Estate; West Virginia Residents will not be able to participate in this Auction) CLUB OCEAN VILLAS II 2 BEDROOM WEEK 18 ANNUAL USAGETIMESHARE FOR SALE Unit: 2 Bedroom / 2 BathroomWeek: 18 FixedUsage: Annual Starting 2025Trading Company: RCIMortgage: Paid in Full, Title is Free & Clear Maintenance Fee: $1,269.00 (Annually) (The Pictures In This Ad Are General In Nature) Guests at Club Oce...

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PRESENTING EL CID VACATION CLUB Membership in El Cid Vacation Club offers the opportunity to travel throughout Mexico without joining an exchange company. El Cid Vacations Club features a vast selection of resorts that are ideal for a family vacation, getaway with friends, or romantic escape. Embark on an extraordinary adventure and allow the staff and management of the participating resorts to treat you to their signature hospitality Property Data Sheet FIRST USAGE IS FOR 2024 Full 505,000 poin...

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VACATION VILLAGE IN THE BERKSHIREHancock, MA There is a romantic mysticism about the Berkshires, and you can soak it all in at Vacation Village in the Berkshires. Spread out in your suite, all of which feature a living room, dining room, kitchen, and furnished patio or balcony). Biking and hiking trails, fishing and swimming are all nearby. During ski season, Jiminy Peak provides an array of slopes to entice any level of skier. The Norman Rockwell Museum as well as many other cultural and histor...

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Photo Credit: Club Shay Shay on YouTube

Last November, Shannon Sharpe made a number of sexualized comments about popular hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion on his Nightcap podcast with Chad Ochocinco Johnson. And on Monday, Sharpe addressed the comments face-to-face with the music star when she appeared on his Club Shay Shay.

When asked about Megan by Ochocinco, Sharpe made a number of inappropriate comments about her regarding her appearance and what would happen in a sexual encounter.

You gotta understand Ocho, said Sharpe. My grandpa used to say, they can look up longer than you can look down. Id have her stretched out like a quarter to three. You know what Im saying Ocho? Dont play with me. Ocho, you better stop playing with me. Three ways, Ocho. Do it to her three ways. Deep, hard, and continued. Thats all I got for her Ocho.

Obviously, it seemed like Sharpe was attempting to make Johnson laugh in this instance. But whatever the context, Sharpe very clearly went overboard in this instance. Especially when you consider the objectification that Megan deals with on a daily basis when it comes to her professional career.

Sharpe admitted as much on Monday when Megan appeared on Club Shay Shay, starting the hour-long podcast by issuing her an apology for his past comments.

Meg, before we go any further I want to apologize to you personally, said Sharpe. I always wanted to sit down and have a conversation with you. I didnt know if that was going to be possible. But I was always hoping that I got an opportunity to bump into you. I made a comment, I think it was September or October. I told a joke, I said it in jest, but I believe the joke would have been just as funny had I left you out of it. So, for any unwanted attention, harm, shame, or embarrassment that I caused you or your family, I want to say as a man as I sit here before you, that I apologize.

"I want to apologize to you personally."  @ShannonSharpe to Megan @theestallion Full episode streaming right now on Club Shay Shay's YouTube! pic.twitter.com/Zw8hOJuXdk  Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) July 1, 2024

Just before Sharpe finished the apology, Meg put her hands over her heart, accepting it and thanking Sharpe.

I appreciate that. Thank you, said Megan Thee Stallion.

Sharpe then proceeded to give her a toast to start the podcast while praising her for all she has done professionally.

Anytime someone comes on the show, we have to toast, said Sharpe. Because you have been amazing and you have an amazing career moving forward.

It seems like any kind of lingering bad feelings about Sharpes past comments subsided quite quickly. Particularly because Meg quite liked the shot of Sharpes personal cognac (hes sending her a bottle).

[Club Shay Shay on X]
Katie Thurston / Instagram

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 07/01/2024



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

Former star Katie Thurston has revealed she was raped and believes the justice system let her down.Katie took to Instagram on Saturday and posted a carousel of images with personal and graphic details about how she had reported her case of sexual assault to police but never felt legally vindicated. She also shared resources for other rape survivors."The justice system continues to let down victims every day," Katie wrote. "I refuse to feel defeated in the strength it took to be an advocate for myself. I hope my experience will help those feel the strength and support they need."She added, "While I'm not ready to share my story, I want to share the valuable resources that saved my life."Katie went on to write that she had called 911 following the alleged rape incident and they sent a police officer to take her statement and transport her to a special medical center for a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) exam."I had two women with me. One was the nurse and the other my advocate. They were kind, nurturing [and] patient," Katie wrote."I felt like a small lost child who was vulnerable and scared. They thoroughly explained the process, asking for consent along the way, and allowing me to decline or change my mind at any time."alum then had her blood drawn to check for "STDs, drugs, and blood alcohol concentration."Katie recalled, "I was given Plan B, Rocephin (a shot for bacterial infections), Azithromycin (to treat possible STI's), and Truvada and nPEP for a month (to treat possible HIV. This was all completed to me at no cost, regardless if I had insurance or not."Katie's rape kit -- including the process of "collecting DNA evidence, sending it to the lab, and then back to law enforcement" -- took four months to complete, and so in the meantime, she sought mental health support.Katie was apparently assigned a therapist who specialized in victims of sexual assault as well as an advocate whom she could contact any time with questions or concerns.The Bachelor alum also gave a shout-out to resources that helped her through the difficult time: The Center for Community Solutions, CA Victims of Crime Board, and the book Know My Name by Chanel Miller."This is where I would submit any financial reimbursement related to crime," Katie explained."This could be loss of income, moving expenses, medical bills, therapy, and more. I was thankful for this as one of my medications would cost me $1,000 out of pocket."Katie's post appeared to suggest authorities decided not to pursue charges against her alleged rapist after completing their investigation."I did everything I should have done as a victim of rape," Katie wrote in one of her slides."'Here are my texts, my calls, my photos, my videos, names, witnesses, locations, social media, time stamps, surveillance footage, DNA, my body,'" Katie recalled."The warning 'a guilty verdict is hard in criminal court' echoed throughout the months, like an annoying parrot you were forced to keep. And as much as I heard it, I still wasn't ready to be stopped. And yet, without warning, I was."She continued, "This is not a loss to me. I am safe. I am loved. I am supported. No, this is yet another loss in a broken system. Change happens in failure. And the justice system failed me. And continues to fail thousands every single day. But do not give up."Katie, who shared that she plans to focus on the positive, reminded her followers that they are valued and strong."Be your biggest advocate... I believe you," Katie concluded.In a subsequent statement to Us Weekly, Katie appeared to also reveal the alleged rape occurred late last year."I've had ample support from my community which allowed me to stay strong over these past seven months," Katie told the magazine on June 29."While the outcome is disappointing, I am at peace and turning any pain into purpose and hope to help other survivors of sexual assault."Katie received a lot of support and well wishes from Bachelor Nation."Katie, I am so so sorry this happened and the justice failed you," Susie Evans wrote. "You are so loved and we support you. Thank you for sharing to help others not feel as alone.""Standing with you if you need anything. You are loved and you are supported," commented Tayshia Adams "I know we have talked offline but just wanted to let you know that sharing this online matters," Kaitlyn Bristowe wrote. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I love you.""You are so strong," Cassie Randolph said. "Thank you for sharing this. You are so so loved and supported."After Katie competed for Matt James ' heart on The Bachelor's 25th, she starred on 's seventeenth season, which aired in Summer 2021.During a group date on Katie's season, she opened up about how she had been sexually assaulted on New Year's Eve about a decade prior to filming .Katie explained to her group of bachelors how she had been "involved in a situation where there wasn't consent" at a party, where she had been drinking alcohol."For a long time I felt responsible for being too drunk, too irresponsible, too stupid," Katie lamented on the episode. "But it's not my fault because consent is important and I did not give it that night."Katie told the men how she had come a long way since then and it's important to give consent, have thorough communication, "not guilt trip somebody for not having enough sex with them," and not guilt trip a person "for not having sex with them in general."Given it appears Katie recently pursued legal action against her alleged rapist, it would seem that the offense described in her June 29 post was separate from the assault over a decade ago.Katie got engaged to Blake Moynes at the end of her season, which aired in August 2021, but they announced their split only a couple of months later in October 2021.Katie then went public with her romance with John, whom she had eliminated during Week 2 of her journey, in November 2021. She was accused of moving on from Blake quickly with "a rebound" and emotionally cheating on her ex-fiance.Katie and John split after less than one year together in June 2022, and Katie expressed on numerous occasions how John had dumped her after she allegedly gave the relationship everything she had. She apparently felt like she was never enough for him.After ending her relationship with John, Katie decided to look for love on FBoy Island because she thought it was a unique opportunity.Katie is now happily dating fellow stand-up comedian Jeff Arcuri.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Its not a stretch to say that were currently witnessing an inflection point in the history of warfare. Cheap, disposable unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones are having as much of an impact on this aspect of the human condition as the advent of the machine gun in the early 20th century, and no specialism be it infantry, armor, artillery or logistics has escaped their presence.

We can say that the US, with our military dominance of the battlespace, will be less affected by this change, and if we head down that route, its a mistake that well pay for in lives.

Since I started covering the war in Ukraine from the front lines, one thing thats been brought home in stark relief is the pace at which this area evolves, with both sides developing tactics, countermeasures, and technology at breakneck speed.

Scrap used to make frag

Of course, weve seen this many times before  better armor on tanks necessitated bigger guns to defeat it. Bigger guns and thicker armor need more powerful engines to move them. Darwin in action.

Heres what Im seeing now: Back in mid-2022, the Ukrainians gained a tactical advantage through the widespread employment of readily available commercial, off-the-shelf drones, such as the Chinese DJI Mavic 2 and 3. Initially used to spot for artillery and provide overwatch for Russian assaults, it wasnt long before they became weaponized, armed with either VOG grenades or improvised free-fall bombs released from 3D-printed saddles.

7 inch rotor FPV drone  1kg load capacity, 5km range

Both sides are supposed to be covered by a sales embargo imposed by DJI and enforced by a no-fly zone embedded in their software, but this is circumvented by reprogramming or spoofing the drones GPS chip to make it believe its flying someplace else. DJI has since imposed sales restrictions in Europe to further frustrate Ukrainian efforts to acquire them, but as far as we know, no such conditions exist in Russia.

The Mavic 3 continues to provide reconnaisiance capabilities to both sides, but its use as a weapon has largely been supplanted by first person view (FPV) drones, as these are cheaper and more easily sourced locally.

Early 2023 saw the widespread Ukrainian use of FPVs armed with RPG7 HEAT warheads which proved to be effective in defeating armored vehicles, as they typically work in top-attack mode, where armor is thinnest.

Building parts and modifications don't require complex manufacturing or CNC. Instead, home-based 3D printers.

For a while, The Ukrainians had the upper hand, as these drones of many different flavors and types were made in local workshops by commercial enterprises and the widespread civilian volunteer network which supports the armed forces.

Rather than use a dispersed approach to R&D and manufacture, Russia opted to choose one or two types, then place massive contracts with a limited number of defense companies and as a result, the numerical advantage enjoyed for a few months by Ukrainian forces disappeared.

Drone controller

There has been additional development by both sides in terms of the types of munitions carried by FPVs since then, and HE, Frag, HEAT and HEDP are part of the inventory. FPVs are much harder to fly than commercial drones, as they lack on-board stabilization, so their operators typically require a longer training period, starting on simulators and progressing to live flights once theyve proven competence.

Counter Drone Warfare

Use of drones in combat is complicated due to the presence of countermeasures. Russians have long been experts in electronic warfare (EW), and have been quick to adapt this prowess to the new field. Drones typically use two radio channels; one for their video feed and the other for flight control.

Jam the video channel and the drone is blind, jam the command channel and it either crashes or hover in place until the battery dies. Of course, counter-countermeaures are in play, and these range from using signal amplifiers and directional antennae to punch through signal jamming, to the use of drone-carried signal repeaters to hop the command and video channels.

Personal drone detector

Due to fielding of EW complexes down to the subunit level, the drone operators are now using a frequency analyzer to determine what, if any channels are being blocked, then program the drone to use an open channel.

Ukrainian forces currently have an advantage in that due to the wider variety of FPVs being built by their various cottage industries, theyre able to quickly adapt to jump on channels outside of the usual range used by COTS drones, and swap out antennae to take advantage of them. Prior experience suggests this advantage will be short-lived, and Russian forces will catch up sooner or later.

Presently, about 90% of infantry casualties in this conflict are caused by either artillery or FPV drones. We in the US must adapt our TTPs to account for the constantly changing world of drone warfare, or risk being left behind as our enemies watch and learn.
Porterville, CA (93257)

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A mix of clouds and sun. High 89F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.
The deal value of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the first half of calendar 2024, despite the rising stock markets, slowed 9 per cent to $38 billion as against $41.74 billion in the same period of 2023.

The Bloomberg data says this is the lowest since 2017, when it had touched $37.48 billion (see chart).

The acquisition of ATC Tower, a telecom tower company, by Data Infrastructure Trust for $2.5 billion is the largest transaction so far in the year.

The number of transactions was, however, 17.3 per cent up in the first half to 1,460 transactions as against the 1,245 in the same period last year.

M&A advisors say deal flows are driven by factors such as scale, market share, distribution network, synergy, and customer access.

There could be different combinations of such factors in different sectors and different scenarios.

The recent actions on cement or in several parts of the financial services sector are examples of such imperatives.

"Given the changing economic landscape, the deal flow is likely to accelerate, said Ketan Dalal, founder and managing director, Katalyst Advisors, a tax and M&A advisory firm.

Bhavin Shah, private equity leader and seals leader, PwC India, a consulting firm, said M&As were expected to pick up in 2024 with a favourable and stable political and economic environment.

The recent acquisitions in the cement industry by Ambuja Cements and Ultratech show M&As are picking up, say bankers.

Bankers said the next wave of transactions would be led by private-equity players sitting on significant dry powder (funds not deployed) for investment.

American private equity majors including Blackstone, KKR, and Bain & Co have announced plans to deploy funds for investment in India and are in talks with companies.

We plan to deploy 20 per cent of our $5 billion for investment in India, Sarit Chopra, partner and head of special situations (Asia), Bain Capital, said in an interview on Friday.

Private-equity players are looking at health care, financial services, consumer retail, and infrastructure for investment.

Officials of Blackstone Inc, the largest investor in Indian companies so far, have said they want to invest an additional $25 billion over five years.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc plans to invest $4 billion over the same period.

For Temasek, the Singapore-based fund, it is $10 billion in the next five years.

KKR & Co is planning to invest a significant portion of its new $6.4 billion Asia-focused fund in the Indian infrastructure sector.
'It was almost as if we were back to 'acche din', when Parliament was a forum where two sides fought ferociously as equals.'

'For that we need to thank Rahul Gandhi,' notes Jyoti Punwani.

IMAGE: Leader of Oppostion Rahul Gandhi speaks during a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha, July 1, 2024. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rahul Gandhi/X

Rarely does a speech by Rahul Gandhi become a milestone. On Monday, the Congress leader's reply to the President's address was one such milestone.

After 10 years, we saw Parliament the way it should be. It's not as if aggressive speeches have not been made in this decade when the Lok Sabha has been swamped by BJP MPs. But in the absence of a Leader of the Opposition, these speeches have been short, individual performances.

This time, for almost two hours, the Leader of the Opposition held forth and remained unsparing. Rarely has such a direct attack been mounted on the prime minister in the House.

Rahul Gandhi's effort to link his own slogan 'Daro mat' with the teachings of all religions, specially with the teaching of 'Shivji' as he kept referring to Lord Shiva, was a bit of a stretch. The Congress' symbol of a hand, recall those of us who grew up under Indira Gandhi, was also interpreted as a hand that slapped you.

For Rahul to link it to 'Abhaymudra' (a gesture that denotes freedom from fear, usually associated with the Buddha), and then claim that from Guru Nanak to Mahavir, everyone displayed 'Abhaymudra', and even the hands raised in prayer during namaz were doing 'Abhaymudra', was absurd.

Yet, what Rahul himself displayed was in fact an example of daro mat and 'Abhaymudra.'

Very early in his speech he ridiculed the prime minister, making fun of his claims of being 'sent by God' and of having had a 'non-biological' birth, as well as his astounding assertion that had it not been for Richard Attenborough's film Gandhi, the Mahatma would have been forgotten by the world.

In Parliament, Opposition leaders have attacked Modi for many things, not least his silence on burning issues. They've accused him of divisive politics, but no one has as yet called him 'ignorant' in the House, that too in his presence.

The PM's many gaffes have been ridiculed on social media. Mainstream media has reported some of them, without making fun of them. Therefore, to hear the Leader of the Opposition use, in Parliament, the very words for the head of government that are used by people on the street, was like a breath of fresh air.

If only the camera had focused on the PM's face at that time!

However, more significant than this was Rahul's attack on the ruling party's brand of 'Hinduism'. 'Those who call themselves Hindus,' he said, indulge all the time in hate, violence and untruth.

Rahul did err in describing Hindutvavadis as 'those who call themselves Hindus'. He should have been more accurate in his description; he could have said 'those who claim to act in the name of Hindus', or, 'self-styled defenders of Hinduism.' Perhaps getting the right phrase in Hindi was tough.

IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi shows a poster of Lord Shiva in the House. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Photo

But his meaning was crystal clear. The long build up to this accusation, during which he dwelt on the ideals of non-violence, courage and truth, that according to him, symbolised the 'idea of India', that inspired the freedom movement, and that were propagated by all religions found in India, and specially by 'Shivji', beloved deity of Hindus, made it clear that he was accusing not all Hindus but the BJP and its supporters of indulging in violence.

He even pointed towards the Treasury Benches while making the charge, added for good effect that a Hindu cannot be violent, and ended with 'You are not Hindus.'

It was expected that the BJP would twist the meaning of his words. In truth, taken in isolation, they do lend themselves to the meaning that the BJP is giving them. But even if one were to omit the build up to the sentence, what he said after that made it clear that he was not referring to all Hindus, but only to the BJP.

'The BJP does not represent all Hindus, Narendra Modi does not represent all Hindus, the RSS does not represent all Hindus,' he shouted, adding 'We here (the Opposition) are Hindus.'

This, more than anything else, needed to be said: That the BJP does not speak for all Hindus, that it doesn't have a monopoly over Hinduism. This has been said a lot over these last 10 years, by journalists, activists, scholars. Politicians have also said this.

Uddhav Thackeray, who inherited the legacy of Hindutva from his father, the original Hindutva icon, has often distinguished his brand of 'Hindutva' from that of the BJP, saying his Hindutva was inclusive, it did not 'use religion to stoke fires and win power'.

So has Arvind Kejriwal, who never hides his belief in Hanuman, and is accused of 'soft Hindutva'. Abusing people and spreading riots was not Hindutva, he said in 2021, adding that 'Hindutva unites, it does not break.'

But the distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva needed to be made in Parliament, which represents the people of this Hindu-majority country; it needed to be made by a leading politician, and by one who identified as a Hindu. It was just fitting that the Leader of the Opposition did it.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi raises an objection during the speech by Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rahul Gandhi/X

There were other milestones achieved on Monday by the Congress leader. Perhaps because of the Opposition's increased numbers; perhaps because of the blunt accusations of partisanship made against him by the Opposition on the first day of Parliament; perhaps because Rahul spoke as a the Leader of the Opposition and not just another MP, whatever the reason, Om Birla today let Rahul dominate the day.

It was sweet justice to see the home minister, who has never failed to put down the Opposition in the House, and whose party MPs have till today got away with bullying Opposition MPs, plead with the Speaker not to be 'one-sided'.

It was almost as if we were back to 'acche din', when Parliament was a forum where two sides fought ferociously as equals. For that we need to thank Rahul Gandhi.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
A new entrant, whether a popular actor or not, has not been able to sweep the polls, as their fans had hoped for.

It should hold true for Vijay as well. Or, something drastically has to happen between now and 2026, asserts N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Actor-Turned-Politician Vijay. All photographs: Kind courtesy Thalapathy Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam/Facebook

To some, especially his hardcore fans, come assembly polls in 2026, and actor Vijay is the next best thing that can happen to 'Dravidian' Tamil Nadu.

To others, he is one more in the long queue of actors who want to make it big in politics, and use it as a peg to promote his career that is expected to sag with the passing of years and of star-fans, who too would have aged alongside.

But there is a difference -- and that is strikingly different from that of most others before him.

Vijay's film career is nowhere near sagging for him to need a political prop-up.

Two, and even more important, he is not looking at extending his career after completing his two ongoing cinematic projects, and intends completing them long before elections 2026.

Thus, there should be no complaints or criticism that possibly like 'superstar' Rajinikanth before him, Vijay is trying to prop up his career even before it hit the inevitable low patch.

Rajinikanth began doing it with his home production Valli in the early nineties, where he tested mouthing socially-relevant political messages, or politically-acclaimed social messages -- and took his famous 'one-liners' to a different level of fan moment and mass acceptance.

More importantly, in this era of pan-Indian cinema, wherein Rajini, the non-starter of a politician, made a huge box-office comeback with his Jailer (2023) and compatriot Kamal Haasan, otherwise a political lightweight, through Vikram (2022), there is nothing that Vijay, reportedly the highest-paid film actor in the Tamil film industry, has to fear.

His pan-India image has not been tested to be proved one way or the other, but his box-office acceptance level across south India has been proved time and again, over the past many years.

It is this decision of his, to quit films all at once to take an active and full-time interest in politics, that has caused people to raise eyebrows and take notice.

Supporters and sympathisers say that it speaks for his sincerity of purpose and dedication to the cause, which he seeks to promote through the political party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), that he promoted and also got registered with the Election Commission, even before approaching the people.

That very day, he stated clearly that he would not field candidates for the Lok Sabha polls that was only months away but would do so only in the assembly elections in 2026.

What was equally welcome was his simultaneous announcement of quitting filmdom way before.

This was possibly to silence critics, who would have been tempted to draw parallels with Rajinikanth, who was talking politics, both in films and outside -- and yet chickened out at the last minute, citing health reasons in the months after the end of Covid.

That was also when Rajini officially confirmed that he had undergone a kidney transplant surgery some years ago, and was medically advised to take greater care than in the normal course.

Sure enough, no one mentioned Vijay and his TVK after the Lok Sabha polls, yes, but he kept himself in the news, by greeting Prime Minister Narendra D Modi on his re-election and Rahul Gandhi after his elevation as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

The Kallakurichchi hooch tragedy has suddenly ended the ruling DMK combine's honeymoon with the voters after the successful Lok Sabha polls, and has also revived forgotten memories of the anti-incumbency factor from the pre-election months. It also has meant that the state is already on election mode for 2026.

It's all only for starters. Vijay made bigger news more recently, when for the second year in a row, he met with district toppers in 10th and 12th standard state board examinations, and gave away gifts and certificates.

The function is being held in two phases, owing to paucity of space in the huge convention centre that the TVK has hired this time, like the last time round. There was a difference. The TVK itself was born only during the interregnum.

At the end of the day, did Vijay talk politics to the invited students and their parents at the first of the two-phase function that alone has passed by? It is a million rupee question for media-persons, some of whom liken it to the 'confusing signals' that Rajini used to send across until he announced his retirement even before entering the fray.

Others are more charitable. As they point out, Vijay was addressing school students, all of them in their teens, and he had to be careful in not putting wrong ideas and priorities into their hearts, heads and minds. Thus, he asked them to focus first on their education, produce 'leaders' in every field, including politics, and stay off drugs and other vices of the kind.

Yet Vijay's declaration that Tamil Nadu has 'not produced sufficient number of good leaders' though 'there are world-class engineers and doctors' has sparked a debate or a controversy, so to say.

Though he quickly clarified that he was talking about 'leaders' in every field, hair-splitting social media activists asks if 'world-class doctors and engineers' are not leaders in those fields, what they are otherwise.

They tend to believe that Vijay was only talking about political leaders but did not want to spell it out lest he should be blamed for 'poisoning' young minds and paying for it by calling them to a honour function from across the state.

The less charitable criticism is that Vijay is looking beyond his current crop of fan followers to tap future/futuristic youth as his lieutenants all across the state -- hence his reference to 'leaders', including politics.

By election time in 2026, Vijay should have honoured three batches of district-toppers (the next one hopefully in 2025).

Those honoured for their Plus-2 marks would hopefully be in some professional course, the first batch from 2023 having completed their third year during election-time.

They need not have to go around sticking wall posters or blaring from microphones, marketing Vijay and the TVK.

After the Jallikattu protests, social media is the favourite campaign platform of political parties in the state, some like the BJP at the national level having excelled in it all since 2014 at the very least.

As much as their contributions in man-hours, if that is what is required, their very presence in their home-] localities could show up the TVK as something different with some people who want to make that difference.

Now, what are TVK's chances in 2026? By conventional wisdom, the party could garner much of the traditional 10-per cent voters-for-change, whatever that change be.

It has happened since the first general elections in the then Madras Presidency in 1952, but became more pronounced when the nascent DMK entered the election scene, five years hence, in 1957, in the linguistically-reorganised state of Madras, now Tamil Nadu.

From then on, this constituency, changing in demography with each passing election, has remained more or less consistent and determined.

Thus in the post-MGR assembly polls of 1989, his widow and failed chief ministerial successor, V N Janaki, mustered it alongside a political ally in Thespian actor, Sivaji Ganesan, with his equally failed electoral entity, which he too wound up, post-poll.

Likewise, in the first half of the nineties, they split between the nascent PMK and MDMK, and came together in the late G K Moopanar-led TMC combine, including two Dalit parties, in the second half.

In the next decade, much of these votes went to the late actor-politician Vijayakanth with his DMDK.

Today, those votes are believed to be with actor-politician Seeman's NTK. The natural/theoretical expectation is that these votes, or much of it, would migrate towards Vijay and TVK. However, questions are being asked if it would happen this way, as Seeman is seen as a 'pan-Tamil' leader with an organic constituency of its own.

But others argue that much of the 10-per cent voters who vote for the inevitable 'loser', is looking only for 'change', and many of them have already been voting for Seeman over the past two decades, and they too may want change.

Incidentally, these voters should not be confused with the conventional 'swing voters', who are not necessarily for 'change' as the 10 per cent but keep shifting between the ruling party and the Opposition -- incidentally, both of the Dravidian hue, thus far in 60 years.

Granting that the TVK garners a substantial share from this 10 per cent, and the 'feel-good' young voters from the school-leavers corps also chip in big-time, where does that leave the party, if it sticks to the decision to contest on its own?

Through his four decades of his acting career -- with a huge slack in for about a decade in between -- Vijay has won a massive fan following among women, particularly rural women. Will they vote for the TVK without further motivating elements?

For instance, the welfare schemes of the incumbent DMK government, comprising free bus ride, Rs 1.000 per month for women and now youth, both boys and girls, and free breakfast for elementary school children in government and aided schools are all a huge draw.

In fact, if the district-toppers whom Vijay and TVK are honouring now are already receiving the monthly assistance from the state government, where will their electoral loyalties lie -- with the DMK or the TVK, or with neither, or with another?

As past experience with and of new political parties has shown, a new entrant, whether a popular actor or not, has not been able to sweep the polls, as their supporters and fans had hoped for.

Given a proven pattern, it should hold true for Vijay and the TVK. Or, something drastically has to happen between now and 2026.

However, such new players, especially Vijayakanth, Kamal and Seeman, did not produce the kind of manifesto that made the difference and showed them up as much more than film actors with an interest in politics  and public service. Can Vijay make that difference, could be among the deciding factors.

For now, however, opinion is also divided that Vijay may after all consider an alliance with 'like-minded parties' that are willing to accept him as their chief ministerial candidate. That should leave out the DMK and the AIADMK, and possibly also the BJP.

The PMK too has to do some thinking, as in assembly elections, they have projected party president Anbumani Ramadoss as chief minister candidate, time and again.

The party, after drawing a huge blank in the BJP's company this time and otherwise earlier, may not want to risk joining another alliance, whose time might not have come -- or, whose time might never come, as insiders perceive it.

There are, of course, the likes of Seeman and the NTK, but the party may have to successfully live down its staunch pan-Tamil image if Vijay's non-fan supporters which the TVK hopes to attract, have to feel comfortable about.

As is known, the BJP was keen on leading an alliance now in the Lok Sabha polls and later in the assembly elections that it snapped ties with the existing AIADMK partner from 2019 and 2021  though both failed, too.

It is another matter that state BJP leaders who have ridiculed Vijay for his Christian identity -- Vijay Joseph is his full name, as they were not tired of recalling, but not anymore -- may have to eat their words, if not outright apologise to his fans.

Yet, the six-plus per cent Christian voters, as per the last Census in 2011, is an attraction that may tempt the BJP, to try and expand its voter-base in Vijay's company in Tamil Nadu, just as it has won many of them in neighbouring Kerala without any such appendage or whatever. But the Christian constituency may not be tempted, or may not approve of any TVK alliance with the Hindutva party.

There is another six-minus Muslim population/vote-share from Census 2011, which may also be shaken, but if and only if Vijay goes on his own, and not certainly with the BJP.

A share from the substantial Dalit constituency is also what Vijay could be eyeing.

All of it aims at targeting the DMK and the ruling party's Congress ally in particular, as things stand now.

Some of the 'minorities and Dalit votes' that may return to the AIADMK camp if the party stays off the BJP in 2026, too, may still go the Vijay way. Or, that is one calculation.

That raises the question: By congratulating Rahul Gandhi, is Vijay wooing the Congress into a new alliance? After all, a decade or so ago, Vijay did meet Rahul in Delhi, and the speculation was that he was asked to join the party and lead the Tamil Nadu unit.

But today, the times are different, after three terms of Modi-led BJP-NDA government at the Centre. And so is politics in Tamil Nadu...

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
'Expunging remarks is within the powers of the Speaker.'

'Nobody can question or challenge the Speaker's decision.'

IMAGE: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi speaks in the House on the motion of thanks to the President's address, July 1, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar expunged certain remarks made by Rahul Gandhi, who is the newly-minted Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress president and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House when the two leaders were speaking on the motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's speech.

Constitutional expert and former secretary general of te Lok Sabha P D T Achary discusses the rules under which such remarks can be expunged from the record during the proceedings of the two Houses of Parliament.

"If you want to raise an allegation against the minister then there is a particular procedure which has to be followed. If you don't do that, the procedure will not allow you to go on record," Achary tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com.

The Lok Sabha Speaker and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha expunged certain remarks made by the LoPs of both the Houses. Under which rule were these remarks expunged and what are the rules that govern such expungements?

Rule 380 (external pdf file) gives the power to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Rule 261 (Page 91 of this pdf file) gives the same power to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to expunge remarks made on the floor of the house if these remarks are derogatory, defamatory, indecent or un-Parliamentary.

Basically, use of un-Parliamentary or abusive language, making allegations without any proof, etc, are normally removed from the record of the proceedings of the House.

If you want to raise an allegation against the minister then there is a particular procedure which has to be followed. If you don't do that, the procedure will not allow you to go on record.

Similarly, if you abuse a person then those abusive terms can also be removed from the record. There are so many un-Parliamentary expressions which have been compiled in a book by the secretariat of Parliament.

If a member uses any of those expressions then it will go off the record.

Then it also depends on the particular context and also the particular expression that has been used in the House by the member.

I'll give one very interesting example of what I mean.

It was in the 1970s. Sardar Swaran Singh (the Congress's four-time Lok Sabha MP from Jalandhar, also a Rajya Sabha MP who held foreign, railways and defence portfolios at different times), a Sikh, was speaking in the House.

When Swaran Singh was speaking, a member from the then Jan Sangh (the BJP's political parent) Hukamchand (Munnalal) Kachwai stood up exactly at 12 o'clock and addressing the Speaker said, 'Adhyaksh Mahoday, 12 baj gaye (Speaker Sir, it is 12 o'clock, time to start the Question Hour)'.

That statement by itself doesn't mean anything. It is not a derogatory expression.

Since Sardar Swaran Singh was speaking when Kachwai made this expression, in that context it has a lot of meaning because that (12 baj gaye) is a pejorative expression (even though used figuratively by Kachwai) used against (to ridicule) the Sikhs.

It was not a proper way and there was no need for (Kachwai) to remind the Chair that it was 12 o'clock when the question hour ends and the zero hour begins.

There was no need for any member to stand up and say these words to remind the Speaker because the Speaker himself was watching the time.

Sardar Swaran Singh raised an objection to this statement being pejorative to the Sikhs and so the Speaker expunged that remark from the record. So, even if the words might sound very harmless, it is the context which makes it important.

What remedial measures are open to MPs whose speeches, or parts thereof, are expunged from the record?

Expunging remarks is within the powers of the Speaker. He has absolute discretion in this matter, that is, nobody can question or challenge the Speaker's decision. Nobody can sit on judgement on such matters.

The MP, though, can make an appeal to the same Speaker or the Chairman and explain his position to make a case for getting her/his remark on the record.

If the Speaker is satisfied and so decides, then such remarks can be taken back on the record.

Otherwise it will remain off the record.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D 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

In your opinion, was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha justified in expunging the remarks of the Leaders of the Opposition in the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament?

I do not know what exactly was spoken by the Leaders of the Opposition in the two Houses.

Now, if the Opposition (leaders) has made an allegation against the prime minister (Narendra Modi) and the prime minister is very much there to reply to that (allegation) and that should end (have ended) the matter. So that need not be removed from the record.

But if it is about an outside person (if the MP against whom allegations are levelled is not present in the House), who is not in the House to defend himself, then that particular allegation or statement will not be retained on record.

Do such expungements violate the freedom to speech of an elected representative?

No.

Article 105 (external link) of the Constitution of India says that there should be freedom in the House subject to other provisions of the Constitution and the rules of procedure of the House.
The Bihar government has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Patna high court verdict that has set aside the amended reservation laws in the state, which enabled the Nitish Kumar government to increase the quotas for Dalits, tribals and backward classes from 50 per cent to 65 per cent.

IMAGE: Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

In its June 20 verdict, the high court declared that the amendments, passed unanimously by the state's bicameral legislature in November last year, were 'ultra vires' of the Constitution, 'bad in law' and 'violative of the equality clause'.

The state's plea has been filed in the apex court through advocate Manish Kumar.

A division bench of the high court had allowed a bunch of petitions challenging the Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Bihar (In Admission in Educational Institutions) Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, while 'leaving the parties to suffer their respective costs'.

In a detailed order running into 87 pages, the high court made it clear that it saw 'no extenuating circumstance enabling the state to breach' the 50-per cent cap on reservations laid down by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case.

"The state proceeded on the mere proportion of population of different categories as against their numerical representation in government services and educational institutions," the high court pointed out.

The amendments had followed a caste survey, which put the percentage of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) at a staggering 63 per cent of the state's total population, while the SCs and STs were stated to have accounted for more than 21 per cent.

The exercise was undertaken by the Bihar government after the Centre expressed its inability to carry out a fresh headcount of castes other than the SCs and STs, which was last held as part of the 1931 Census.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has written a letter to his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy, proposing a face-to-face meeting on July 6 to address unresolved bifurcation issues.

IMAGE: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu receives a warm welcome on his arrival in Amaravati. Photograph: ANI Photo

Naidu proposed to meet at Reddy's place in Hyderabad.

It has been 10 years since bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. There have been multiple discussions concerning issues arising from the Reorganisation Act, which hold significant implications for the welfare and advancement of our states, said Naidu in the letter.

It is incumbent upon the CMs of the Telugu speaking states to foster close collaboration to ensure sustained progress and prosperity of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he said.

He said a face-to-face meeting will provide an opportunity to engage comprehensively towards achieving mutually beneficial solutions.
Police have leveled serious charges, including attempt to murder, assault with intent to outrage the modesty of a woman, and causing grievous hurt, against arrested Trinamool Congress strongman Tajemul Islam in the Chopra flogging case, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Tajemul Islam. Photograph: ANI on X

Islam, who was remanded to police custody for five days by a local court in West Bengal's Uttar Dinajpur on Monday, also has 12 old criminal cases, including a murder case, pending against him.

He was arrested on Sunday after a video surfaced which showed him mercilessly caning a couple in Chopra.

The incident sparked controversy, leading Governor C V Ananda Bose to seek a report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the ruling TMC of 'unleashing Taliban rule' in the state.

Bose is scheduled to arrive in Chopra later on Tuesday, where he plans to meet the victims and local residents and submit a report on his findings to the central government.

"Islam is a known strongman in the locality and has a criminal record. His name came to the forefront in a murder case in Chopra in 2021. Our officers have started grilling him," the IPS officer told PTI.

Islam, a close associate of Chopra MLA Hamidul Rahman, was previously arrested in 2023 for his alleged role in the murder of the Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Mansur Naimul just before the panchayat election.
A court in New Delhi on Tuesday granted two-hour custody parole to Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid to take oath as a Lok Sabha MP on July 5.

Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Abrar Rashid secures his father's winning certificate from the returning officer, June 4, 2024. Engineer Rashid polled 472,481 votes, defeating Omar (268,339 votes) by 204,142 votes.

Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, was elected from Baramulla seat as an independent candidate defeating National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

He was arrested in a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.

Rashid had moved the court seeking interim bail, or custody parole in the alternative, to take oath and perform his parliamentary functions.

Additional sessions judge Chander Jit Singh allowed custody parole for two hours on July 5 to enable him to take oath.

A detailed order is awaited.

On Monday, the NIA's counsel did not oppose Rashid's plea and said his oath taking should be subject to some conditions like not speaking to the media and completing all formalities within a day.

Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail.

The former MLA's name cropped up during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who the NIA had arrested for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir valley.

The NIA had filed a charge sheet against several individuals, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin in the case. Malik was awarded life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Scores of bodies were lying on blocks of ice inside the government hospital in Hathras on Tuesday night in the aftermath of the deadly stampede at a religious congregation, as the wailing relatives of the victims waited outside in drizzle to take mortal remains back home.

IMAGE: A view of the venue where a stampede occurred during a Satsang, claiming the lives of 116 people, in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, July 2, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Officials have put the death toll at 116 -- 108 of them women and seven children.

The victims were part of the crowd of thousands that had gathered near Phulrai village in the Sikandrarau area for the 'satsang' by religious preacher Bhole Baba.

The stampede took place at around 3.30 pm when Baba was leaving the venue.

Meena Devi, who lost her mother Sudama Devi (65), said, "It was drizzling in the area (Sadiqpur) where I live, otherwise I had planned to go to the 'sangat' with my mother."

An inconsolable Devi sat outside the TB department of the Bagla Combined District Hospital where scores of bodies were kept on the ground floor.

"My brother and sister-in-law, their kids had accompanied my mother to the 'Sangat'. In the crowd, my mother got left behind and was crushed over," Meena told PTI.

Vinod Kumar Suryavanshi, who lives in Barse village in the Sasni Tehsil, lost his 72-year-old maternal aunt while his mother luckily survived.

"I have been here for three hours. The body is still here and I have been told it will go for post-mortem now but I am not sure how much more time it will take," he said as he waited for his aunt's son who was arriving here from Greater Noida.

Suryavanshi said his aunt and mother have been following the Baba's sermons for around 15 years now and described the stampede as "unfortunate".

A number of bodies were kept at the district hospital in Hathras.

Some were at the trauma centre in Sikandrarau area near the incident spot while some others were sent to the government hospital in the adjoining Etah district.

"My mother's body is here but I'm unable to get an ambulance to take it for post-mortem," said Rajesh, wearing a face mask as he made frantic inquires with police officials on duty inside the TB department.

Meanwhile, workers and volunteers of the RSS and the Bajrang Dal also remained at the hospital since the afternoon, distributing water packets and offering guidance on medical procedures to relatives of victims, many of whom were in shock and struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

"The number of ambulances was inadequate for the bodies we have seen here today," Aniket, a Bajrang Dal volunteer, told PTI while standing guard at the gate of the TB Department building, drenched in sweat.

Earlier in the day, heartbreaking scenes unfolded outside the district's Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre, where victims, dead or unconscious, were brought in ambulances, trucks and cars.

A woman sat crying among five or six bodies in a truck, urging people to help her get the body of her daughter out of the vehicle.

"There are almost 100-200 casualties and there was only one doctor at the hospital. There was no facility for oxygen. Some are still breathing but there are no proper treatment facilities," an agitated youth said outside the hospital.

Eyewitness Shakuntala Devi told PTI Videos that the stampede took place while people were leaving the venue at the end of the 'satsang'. "Outside, there was a road built on a height over a drain. People fell atop each other," she said.

A second eyewitness, Sonu Kumar, said there were at least 10,000 people at the venue and when Baba was leaving, many of them rushed to touch his feet.

As they were returning, people slipped and fell over one another as parts of the ground had turned boggy with water overflowing from a nearby drain, he added.

Another person who had left the venue before the programme ended said the arrangements made were inadequate for the size of the crowd gathered at the venue.

Outside the mortuary in Etah, Kailash said people fell on top of each other due to the slippery mud and the crowd coming from behind crushed them.

Agra's additional director general of police and Aligarh divisional commissioner are part of a team that would probe into the incident, the state government said.

The team has been asked to give its report in 24 hours.

Speaking to media persons, District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said it was a private function for which the permission was granted by the sub-divisional magistrate.

The local administration provided security outside the venue while the internal arrangement was to be looked after by the organisers, he added.

The Uttar Pradesh government said an FIR will be registered against the organisers of the programme.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha was prima facie one of the main plotters of the criminal conspiracy behind the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, the Delhi high court has said while denying bail to her in two cases of corruption and money laundering linked to the alleged liquor scam.

IMAGE: BRS leader K Kavitha (right) being brought to Rouse Avenue court at the end of her judicial custody period in the Delhi excise policy case, in New Delhi, June 3, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The high court, which perused the material collected by the investigating agencies, said Kavitha was prima facie involved in the payment of kickbacks in various processes and activities relating to proceeds of crime and in the commission of the offence of money laundering.

The high court said no case for grant of regular bail was made for now as the investigation is at a crucial stage.

It rejected her plea for relief on ground of being a woman, saying as a well-educated person and a former MP, she cannot be equated with a vulnerable female and the court cannot lose sight of the "serious allegations" against her.

This court is of the opinion that K Kavitha was prima facie one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy hatched in relation to formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said in an order which was passed on Monday and uploaded late last evening.

While dealing with Kavitha's submission that she, being a woman, be released on bail as she is entitled to the benefit of proviso of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the court said she cannot be equated with a vulnerable woman.

Applicant (Kavitha) is an accomplished and well-educated woman. As mentioned in the contents of the application itself, applicant K Kavitha is a member of the Telangana Legislative Council from the Nizamabad Local Bodies Constituency and has held significant political positions, including Member of Parliament for Nizamabad formerly, it noted.

The high court further said, It is heartening to note that applicant K Kavitha is a highly qualified and well-accomplished person, having made significant contributions to politics and social work as enlisted by her in her pleadings. Her educational qualification and the activities she has enlisted for the betterment of society in the state of Telangana are essentially, one side of herself and are impressive."

However, while deciding the present bail applications, though this court may appreciate these accomplishments, it cannot lose sight of the serious allegations levelled by the prosecution and the evidence collected during the course of the investigation and presented before this court, which prima facie reveal her role in the offence in question.

It said the material collected by the ED pointed out that Kavitha was one of the key conspirators in alleged scam.

Thus, K Kavitha cannot be equated to a vulnerable woman who may have been misused to commit an offence, which is the class of women for whom the proviso to Section 45 of PMLA has been incorporated, as held by the Hon'ble Apex Court. Accordingly, this court is of the considered opinion that K Kavitha is not entitled to the benefit of proviso to Section 45 of PMLA, Justice Sharma said.

Kavitha had challenged the trial court's May 6 order by which her bail applications in the CBI's corruption case as well as the ED's money laundering case were dismissed.

Kavitha's lawyer submitted that of the 50 accused in the excise case, she is the lone woman and urged the court to consider granting her bail as the law keeps women on a different pedestal.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate opposed Kavitha's bail pleas, saying she is powerful enough to influence the witnesses.

Kavitha is in judicial custody in the two cases.

The "scam" pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 that was later scrapped.

The ED arrested Kavitha (46) from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15, while the CBI arrested her in Tihar jail.

In her bail plea in the ED case, the BRS leader, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, had said she had "nothing to do" with the excise policy and there was a criminal conspiracy against her "orchestrated by the ruling party at the Centre with the active connivance of the ED".
The Brahmaputra is flowing over its danger marks in different part of Assam due to incessant rainfall across the state.

IMAGE: An idol of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi at the Chakreshwar temple is seen submerged in the flooded Brahmaputra river in Guwahati on Monday, July 1, 2024. All photographs: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Dark clouds hover over the sky as the water level of the Brahmaputra rises in Guwahati on Monday.

IMAGE: Villagers with their cattle travel in a boat through a flooded area in Morigaon on Monday.

IMAGE: Villagers shift their belongings onto a boat as they move to a safer location in flood affected Mayong village in Morigaon on Monday.

IMAGE: In neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, Assam Rifles personnel rescue stranded civilians and provide relief to the flood devastated villages of Namsai and Changlang as part of 'Operation Saviour', on Monday, here and below.

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Mahipal Soni/Rediff.com
Opposition members on Tuesday said the "arrogance" and "vindictiveness" of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders during elections downgraded the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who now has to depend on alliance partners to provide a stable government.

IMAGE: Congress MP KC Venugopal speaks in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Parliament session, in New Delhi, July 2, 2024 Photograph: ANI Photo

Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the president's address, Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee said the recent Lok Sabha elections had ushered in a change in the country which now has "an unstable government and a strong opposition".

Banerjee said the prime minister now has to use two crutches -- Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United -- to run the government.

Congress leader KC Venugopal said the BJP leaders were not believers in Hinduism, but only used religion to polarise the electorate and win elections.

He said the BJP projected the prime minister as bigger than God, which was the biggest anti-Hindu statement.

"Nobody is bigger than God as per the Hindu tradition. That is why God punished you in this election," Venugopal said.

The Trinamool leader said in the last 10 years he had not heard any soft or sweet words or praise from the prime minister for the opposition or chief ministers in non-BJP states.

"In our state, you hate our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in Tamil Nadu you hate MK Stalin, in Jharkhand you hate Hemant Soren, in Delhi you hate Arvind Kejriwal, in Maharashtra you hate Uddhav Thackeray, in Uttar Pradesh you hate Akhilesh Yadav and in Karnataka Siddaramaiah," Banerjee said.

"If you are arrogant, we do not mind. Today, the time has come to oversee yourself. This arrogance, this hatred and this vindictiveness has downgraded the popularity of Narendra Modi," he said.

Banerjee said the prime minister will now have to move around the country and also abroad with two crutches.

"Earlier, our prime minister had so much confidence in him, today he does not have the same confidence," the Trinamool leader said.

"We don't want anything from you. We will fight and get what we want. But, we want to tell the Prime Minister to be polite towards the opposition. How can he sleep in the night with such vengeance and hatred towards the opposition," Banerjee said.

Venugopal said the mention of the words "stable" and "complete majority" government in the president's address reflected the government's insecurity.

He said the BJP's numbers in the Lok Sabha were reduced from 303 to 240 and alleged that the ruling party could muster the numbers with the clear support of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate and misuse of the election machinery.

"If these would not have helped you, you would have got no more than 140 seats," Venugopal said.

The Congress leader said the BJP headquarters has a washing machine to clean up corrupt people.

"They talked big about the Adarsh scam and irrigation scam. Where are the persons involved in these scams? The washing machine cleaned up all these people. Morally, we have won the election, morally you have lost the election," Venugopal said.

The Congress leader said the BJP lost elections at several places where the prime minister delivered controversial speeches.
Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanjeev 'Mukhiya', an alleged kingpin behind the NEET paper leak, was not only minting money but wanted to become an MP or MLA.

IMAGE: All India Students Association members protest against the NEET controversy and ongoing paper leaks in various exams at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, June 27, 2024. Photograph: Ritik Jain/ANI Photo

Amid the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak scam in Bihar, it turns out that one of the main accused involved in it was not only minting money but had political ambitions as well to become an MLA or MLC, if not MP.

It was more or less similar to the political ambition exhibited by another alleged mastermind behind the question paper leak over one-and-a-half decades ago in the state.

For the Bihar police's Economic Offence Unit, Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanjeev 'Mukhiya', a resident of Nalanda district, is a kingpin behind the NEET paper leak in the state. One of the 20 accused arrested in the case, he is not new to politics.

He is reportedly close to some ruling Janata Dal-United leaders. His wife Mamta Devi was fielded as a candidate by the Lok Janshakti Party, a Bharatiya Janata Party ally, in the 2020 Bihar assembly election from the Harnaut assembly seat in Nalanda.

Mamta Devi was unsuccessful, and was defeated by 29,000 votes.

The EOU probe revealed that Sanjeev 'Mukhiya' was allegedly involved in five more question paper leaks, including the Bihar constable recruitment exam in 2023.

His son was arrested earlier in connection with a question paper leak of the Bihar Public Service Commission's third phase teacher recruitment examination.

IMAGE: All India Students Association members protest against the NEET controversy at Jantar Mantar. Photograph: Ritik Jain/ANI Photo

According to reports, Sanjeev 'Mukhiya' tried his best to get a JD-U ticket for his wife to contest the assembly polls but when he couldn't, she contested as an LJP candidate.

Though it was her first electoral contest, she gave a tough fight to the sitting JD-U MLA and candidate Harinarayan Singh thanks to the resources reportedly used by Sanjeev 'Mukhiya' to mobilise support for her.

Later he reportedly tried twice to make his wife an MLC, from the JD-U or any another party, but failed.

In the 2016 panchayat elections, 'Mukhiya' used his resources to ensure his wife's victory as a mukhiya (village body head) from his native panchayat of Bhuthakhar.

His wife won by 300 votes, defeating two women candidates belonging to a local political family.

IMAGE: Medical Services Centre activists protest against the irregularities in the NEET-UG exam. Photograph: ANI Photo

Sanjeev became locally known as Sanjeev 'Mukhiya' from this point onwards, as his wife won the mukhiya elections, and he formally entered local politics.

In the 2021 panchayat elections, Mamta did not contest for mukhiya.

He fielded the wife of a close aide who won as mukhiya and he continued to play local politics as before.

"Sanjeev may be working as a technical assistant but he is well known in Nalanda and neighbouring districts for years for his powerful clout to ensure government jobs and admission in technical and medical colleges in Bihar and across the country," alleges a neighbour who did not want to be named.

"This established him as a much sought-after man among job aspirants and seekers of admission in technical and medical colleges and their parents," the neighbour added.

Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav posted pictures on social media of Sanjeev's wife with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other JD-U leaders including Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar and JD-U MLC Neeraj Kumar.

IMAGE: Youth Congress members protest against the NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, June 27, 2024. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

Earlier, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal questioned the delay in arresting Sanjeev and raised the issue of who was saving him.

'Is it not true that Sanjeev's wife is a JD-U leader and contested elections under the NDA?' the RJD asked.

IMAGE: Youth Congress members are detained during their protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

In the early 2000s Ranjit Singh alias Ranjit 'Don' from Nalanda hit the headlines for his role as an alleged kingpin behind the question paper leak.

Ranjit 'Don', whose real name is Kumar Suman Singh, had been arrested by the CBI for his alleged role in leaking question papers of CAT, AIIMS and CBSE entrance examinations in 2003.

After being in jail for nearly one-and-a-half years, he unsuccessfully contested the 2004 Lok Sabha polls as an independent from Begusarai parliamentary seat and polled over 60,000 votes.

Ranjit 'Don' then contested the 2005 Bihar assembly elections from Hilsa as an LJP candidate but was again defeated.

In the 2015 Bihar assembly elections, Ranjit 'Don' was fielded by the LJP, a BJP ally, in the biennial elections to the legislative council but was defeated.

IMAGE: A Youth Congress member protests against the irregularities in the NEET-UG exam at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, June 27, 2024. Photograph: Ritik Jain/ANI Photo

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and some JD-U leaders including Minister Sharvan Kumar targeted Tejashwi Yadav for his alleged involvement in the case, alleging that Pritam Kumar, a former close aide of Tejashwi, had links with the accused as he tried to book a room at a guest house for one of the accused in the first week of May.

RJD leaders denied this, saying it appears that ruling National Democratic Alliance leaders are diverting the issue by making such allegations.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Post Graduate (NEET-PG) 2024 is likely to be held mid-August, sources said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Students hold placards as they stage a protest against the re-examination of the NEET-UG exams, in Rajkot, on June 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The revised date for the medical entrance exam is expected to be announced this week.

A meeting was held in the Union home ministry on Monday, in which officials from the health ministry, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), along with its technical partner Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Cyber Cell officials discussed the preparedness for the NEET-PG, which is to be held online.

"Besides the NEET-PG, the meeting was held to evaluate the robustness of the system for the conduct of the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination, which is scheduled for July 6," a source said.

Monday's meeting was held to check the 'robustness' of the system for the conduct of the exam in the coming days, the sources added.

It was learnt that the TCS top brass briefed the meeting about the various aspects of the exam procedure.

On June 22, the Union health ministry postponed the NEET-PG entrance examination, scheduled to be held on June 23, as a 'precautionary measure' in the wake of allegations on the integrity of certain competitive exams.

The health ministry had said it will undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of the processes of the NEET-PG, conducted by the NBEMS along with its technical partner TCS for medical students.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed a war of words on Tuesday when Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar sarcastically said Jairam Ramesh should take the seat of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, in an effort to discipline the Congress MP.

IMAGE: A war of words breaks out between Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge in the upper house of the Parliament. Photograph: TV grab/Sansad TV

Kharge, who is also the president of the Congress, retorted by saying the chairman was trying to bring in the "Varna" (caste) system.

The acrimony started when Dhankhar aksed Pramod Tiwari of the Congress not to state unverified facts. To this, Ramesh said it would be authenticated.

"The senior leadership (Kharge) is here. I think you (Ramesh) should replace (Kharge).... You are so intelligent, so gifted, so talented, you should immediately come and take the seat in place of Mr Kharge because, by and large, you are doing his job," the chairman said.

At this point, Kharge retorted by saying "do not bring in the Varna system...that is why you are calling Ramesh very intelligent ... and I am dull".

WATCH: War of words between Dhankhar, Kharge in Rajya Sabha

An agitated Dhankhar accused Kharge of "twisting" his remark and said he never meant it.

"Never in the history of parliamentary democracy and Rajya Sabha proceedings there has been such a disregard of the chair," he said.

Kharge added that whatever he is today is because of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and the people of the country.

Later, Tiwari continued his speech on the Motion of Thanks to the president for her address to a joint sitting of Parliament.
Given the "very trusting nature" of the relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no topic was off-limits for the two leaders when they meet in Moscow soon, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photograph: ANI Photo

The dates of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Moscow will be announced a bit later but preparations for it are already at their final stages, Peskov said.

Putin and Modi will discuss regional and global security, trade and all other topics on the agenda during their meeting, Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia's state-owned TASS news agency.

"We (Russia and India) jointly take part in integration processes, so regional affairs, regional security and global security are always at the top of the agenda. In addition, of course, our bilateral trade and economic interaction is always a focal point, the Kremlin official said, answering a question about what topics will be discussed at the negotiations between Putin and Modi.

Describing Prime Minister Modi's visit as "very important," the official noted that Moscow and New Delhi have mutual political will to develop cooperation in a variety of areas.

Given the very trusting nature of the relationship between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi, we can expect that there will be an exchange of views on all issues that are on the agenda, and there are many of them, Peskov added.

"We will announce this visit officially later, after coordination with our Indian friends, I can only confirm to you once again that the visit is in the final stages of preparation, he said, replying to a question on the dates of Modi's visit to Russia.

Diplomatic sources in New Delhi had said the Indian prime minister's day-long visit is being planned around July 8, adding there is no finality on the date yet and various options are being explored.

The visit, if it takes place, will be Modi's first trip to Russia in nearly five years. His last visit to Russia was in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in the Far East city of Vladivostok.

If Modi travels to Russia, then he and President Putin are set to hold the India-Russia annual summit after a gap of three years.

The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries.

So far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia.

The last summit was held on December 6, 2021, in New Delhi. Putin, as head of the Russian state, has visited India nine times.
A Pune court on Tuesday granted bail to the father and the grandfather of the juvenile involved in the Porsche car crash, in a case pertaining to alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of their family driver after the fatal accident in May.

IMAGE: The father of the accused 17-year-old boy involved in the Pune Porsche accident case being brought to the crime branch office by the Pune police after being arrested in an alleged abduction case, in Pune, May 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

A judicial magistrate (first class) granted bail to the 17-year-old boy's father Vishal Agarwal, a prominent builder, and his grandfather, who were arrested in May-end and are currently in judicial custody.

While Agarwal, who was arrested on Tuesday by police of the adjoining Pimpri-Chinchwad township in a separate cheating case, would remain behind bars, the teen's grandfather is likely to step out of jail.

According to police, the teen's father and the grandfather allegedly kidnapped their family driver after he left a police station on May 19 at 11 pm, hours after the crash, wrongfully confined him at their bungalow and tried to force him to admit that he, and not the juvenile, was behind the wheels when the accident took place.

A Porsche car driven by the 17-year-old boy allegedly in a drunken state fatally knocked down two motorbike-borne software engineers in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area in the early hours of May 19.

Defence lawyer Prashant Patil informed the media that his clients were granted bail by the court in the alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement case of the driver.

"My clients will cooperate with the investigative agency and shall abide by stringent (bail) conditions of the court," Patil said.

Patil, in his argument on the bail plea of the father-son duo, had told the court that the driver, after leaving the Yerawada police station on May 19, chose to go to the servant's quarter at the Agarwals' bungalow as per his own wish and stayed there till the next day when his wife and son came and took him home.

Patil had refuted the prosecution claim that the driver was kidnapped and confined in the house of the accused.

The defence lawyer argued that when the accident took place, the teen's grandfather was in Delhi.

"Since the registration of the offence against the juvenile, his grandfather was with police and there was no scope for him to kidnap the driver," he submitted.

Last month, a court granted bail to Agarwal, arrested on May 21, in a case pertaining to the Juvenile Justice Act. The builder was booked under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Juvenile Justice Act for failing to do his duty as a guardian'.

On June 25, the Bombay high court directed that the boy be released from an observation home, saying the Juvenile Justice Board's order on his detention was illegal.

After the accident, the boy was detained but granted bail the same day by the JJB. It also asked the boy to write a 300-word essay on road safety.

As the quick bail on lenient terms led to public outrage, the police filed an application before the JJB, seeking amendment of the bail order. On May 22, the board ordered that the boy to be taken into custody and sent to the observation home.

The minor boy's mother, two doctors of the government-run Sassoon General Hospital and three others are in judicial custody in the blood samples swapping case linked to the accident. This case related to the replacement of the juvenile's blood samples with that of his mother to show he was not drunk at the time of the crash.

Meanwhile, trouble mounted for the teen's builder-father as he was arrested by the Pimpri Chinchwad police in Pune district in a case of cheating related to one of his real estate projects.

The police took Agarwal's custody from the Pune jail where he was lodged, and produced him before a court which remanded him in fresh police custody for two days, said an official.

Vishal Adsul, chairman of Nancy Brahma Residency, a project constructed by Agarwal's firm in the Bavdhan area, had filed a complaint against him and four others earlier this year.

A case was registered against them under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust) and provisions of the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act.

The construction firm allegedly did not provide enough open space to the project and gave only one open space to three buildings by altering the plans, and also did not take the housing society's permission while constructing two 11-storied building on its land, a police official said.
Hours after the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha on Monday, some of his statements were expunged from the Parliament.

IMAGE: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi speaks in the House during the Parliament session, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV

Gandhi accused the leaders of the ruling party of dividing people on communal lines, drawing massive protests from the treasury benches, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slamming the Congress leader for calling the entire Hindu community violent.

Most of his remarks were expunged by Speaker Om Birla.

Besides Modi, who intervened twice, at least five cabinet ministers interjected during Gandhi's speech that lasted for about an hour and 40 minutes, with Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an apology from him.

The Congress leader was speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the president's address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

Gandhi quoted Prophet Muhammad to highlight that the Quran talks about fearlessness.

Holding up pictures of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak, and Jesus Christ, he referred to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism to underline the importance of fearlessness. He also cited the attributes of Lord Shiva and teachings of Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Buddha, and Mahavir to state that all religions and great people of the country have said "daro mat, darao mat (do not be scared, do not scare others)".

"Shivji says daro mat, darao mat ... talks about ahimsa..."

As the treasury bench members stood up in protest, Gandhi slammed the BJP, saying, "Aap Hindu ho hi nahi (You are not Hindus). It is clearly written in Hinduism that one should stand with the truth and not back down from the truth or be scared of it," he said.

Modi, intervening into his speech, said, "This issue is very serious. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a serious issue."

Shah sought the Congress leader's apology to the House and the country for hurting the feelings of crores of people who take pride in identifying themselves as Hindus.

He said the ruckus created by the opposition cannot drown the fact that Gandhi had made certain remarks in the House.

Shah spoke of the Emergency and 1984 anti-Sikhs riots to hit back at Gandhi, saying he has no right to talk about non-violence when the Congress had spread "ideological terror" in the country.

In a swipe at Gandhi for alleging that the ministers do not greet him, the prime minister said democracy and the Constitution have taught him to take the leader of opposition seriously.

Gandhi accused the BJP of launching "systematic attacks" on the Constitution and the fundamental concept of India, noting that millions of people have resisted the ideas proposed by the ruling party.

"I was attacked on the orders of Prime Minister Modi and the government. There were 20-plus cases (against me), a two-year jail sentence, (my) house was taken away, (I was subjected to) 55 hours of interrogation by the ED," he said.

As Gandhi held up a picture of Lord Shiva, Speaker Om Birla reminded him that rules do not allow displaying placards in the House.

Gandhi also criticised the Agnipath scheme for short-term military recruitment and said that the government does not even give them the status of a "shaheed" (martyr) and that no compensation is extended to their families in they are killed in action.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh intervened to rebut Gandhi's charge.

The Congress leader also hit out at the Centre over the situation in Manipur, alleging that it has pushed the northeastern state into a civil war.

He slammed the government over farmers' issues, saying it did not want to give a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan objected to Gandhi's remarks and accused him of "misleading" the House. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Bhupender Yadav also intervened at different points of Gandhi's speech.

Later, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Rijiju and BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi, held a press conference to rebut Gandhi's allegations.

Referring to a row involving medical entrance exam NEET, Gandhi said students do not believe in the exam because they feel that it is for the rich people and there is no place in it for meritorious students.

Talking about his new role as the leader of opposition, Gandhi said his job is to represent all parties equally with love and affection.

"So when Hemant Soren or (Arvind) Kejriwal goes to jail, I should be concerned. When you unleash enforcement agencies on them, we should defend them. When you are a constitutional person, your personal aspirations should take a back seat," he said.

In his concluding remarks, Gandhi asked the ruling party not to spread fear or hatred.

"Do not think of the opposition as your enemies... We are ready to discuss anything you want to. Let us work together to take the country forward," he said.

Later, in a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "Narendra Modi has been running the 'reign of fear' for 10 years! By taking control of all the agencies, institutions and the media, the BJP has only worked to spread fear in every section of the society."
Accused involved in the alleged conspiracy to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan had planned to attack him during a movie shoot, a police official on Tuesday said citing a chargesheet filed in the case.

IMAGE: Bollywood actor Salman Khan attends the premiere of web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, in Mumbai on April 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

During an investigation into the case, it came to light that Rs 25 lakh "supari" (contract) was given by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to his gang members to attack the actor, he said.

The gang planned to use sophisticated weapons, including AK-47, from Pakistan for the attack, the official said.

The Panvel Town police in Navi Mumbai submitted the 350-page chargesheet before a magistrate court on June 21 against five arrested accused -- Dhananjay Tapsing alias Ajay Kashyap (28), Gautam Bhatia (29), Vaspi Mehmood Khan alias China (36) , Rizwan Hussain alias Javed Khan (25) and Deepak Hawasing alias John (30), he said.

Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, his brother Anmol Bishnoi, Sampat Nehra and Goldy Brar have been shown as wanted accused in the case, the official said.

The attack was allegedly planned to be carried out during a movie shoot or while the actor was leaving his Panvel farmhouse, the official said.

The chargesheet mentions the detailed plot, attack and escape route. It contains an analysis of the intelligence gathered, mobile phone records of the accused, their WhatsApp chats, audio and video calls and tower locations, he said.

In April, the Panvel Town police unearthed an alleged plot of the Bishnoi gang members to kill the actor, he said.

The plot was uncovered during their investigation disclosing a video call conversation between Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Ajay Kashyap and another accused.

As per the conversation, sharpshooters, trained in modern weapons, were stationed across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Raigad, and Gujarat under the orders of Goldy Brar.

Accordingly, sharpshooters Anmol Bishnoi and Rohit Godara were said to have been instructed by Brar to carry out the attack, utilising minors under 18 years old for the task, officials said last month quoting the First Information Report (FIR).

A man named John was allegedly tasked with providing the vehicle for the operation, as per the FIR.

After the attack, gang members were to regroup at Kanyakumari and then proceed to Sri Lanka via sea route. From there, arrangements were made to send them to other countries, with gangster Anmol Bishnoi, based in Canada, arranging their travel, officials added.

According to police, Lawrence Bishnoi and Sampat Nehra gangs had deployed 60 to 70 members to monitor Salman Khan's movements as part of efforts to conduct recce at his Bandra residence, Panvel farmhouse, and film shooting locations.

Following specific information about the plot to kill Khan, a case was registered against 17 identified accused and others at Panvel Town police station on April 24.

Police discovered a video call between accused Ajay Kashyap and a Pakistan-based individual named Dogar. The call was initiated by Kashyap in the presence of a member, who later become an informer to police, as per the FIR.

Kashyap allegedly discussed procuring weapons, including AK-47s, from Pakistan after depositing a 50 per cent amount in gangster Goldie Brar's account. The remaining amount can be paid after the weapons are delivered.

During the video call, Dogar showed 4 to 5 weapons, including AK-47s and others, to Kahsyap, it added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invoked an iconic scene from Hindi movie Sholay to mock the Congress, saying that despite losing the Lok Sabha polls for a third time, the grand old party's refrain was -- "mausi ji, it is a moral victory after all."

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Parliament session, in New Delhi, July 2, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV

In a scathing attack on the Congress in his address in the Lok Sabha, Modi also called it parjeevi (parasitic) party and claimed that it ate into the votes of its allies.

"The statements of Congress leaders have even surpassed film Sholay. You all would remember mausi ji from the film. Teesri baar toh haare hain par mausi ji, moral victory toh hai na (we have lost third time but Mausi ji, it is a moral victory).

"Arey Mausi 13 rajyon mein zero seat aayi hai par hero to hai na (Mausi, we got zero seats in 13 states but I am a hero)," he said.

"Party ki lutiya toh duboyi hai, arey Mausi party abhi saansein toh le rahi hai (Have sunk the party but it is still breathing)," Modi said.

His reference was to the iconic comic scene from Sholay in which Amitabh Bachchan's character goes to speak with the mausi (aunt) of the character played by Hema Malini.

He seeks Malini's hand for marriage with his friend played by Dharmendra and keeps mentioning the vices of his friend while defending them simultaneously, giving hilarious reasons.

In his address, Modi urged the Congress not to suppress the mandate under the garb of "fake victory celebrations".

"Do not drown the mandate in intoxication of fake victory. Honestly understand and accept the mandate of the people," he said.

"I don't know if the Congress allies have done an analysis of the polls. This election is also a message for these allies. The Congress will be known as the Parjeevi Congress party from 2024," Modi said.

Parjeevi is one who feeds on the body it resides in and the Congress eats up the votes of the party it allies with while prospering at the cost of its ally, the PM said.

"I am calling it parasitic on the basis of facts. Wherever the Congress and the BJP were in a direct contest or where the Congress was the major partner, its strike rate there is 26 percent. But where it was a junior partner, in such states, its strike rate was 50 percent," Modi said.

On most of the 99 seats it won, Congress' allies helped it win that is why it is a parjeevi, the prime minister said.

"In 16 states where it fought alone, its vote share went down. In Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh the Congress fought on its own and won two out of 66 seats. This means that the Congress in these polls had become parasitic and rode on the shoulder of its allies to increase its tally," Modi said.

If the Congress would not have eaten up the votes of its allies, it would have been difficult for it to win even these many seats, he said.
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The National Cyber Security Centres (NCSC) Malware Free Network service has logged 10 million threat disruptions.

GCSBs deputy director-general responsible for the NCSC, Lisa Fong, said the figures included 5.5 million attempts at finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in customer networks, 3.3 million blocks on people accessing phishing links and four thousand attempts to download malware.

Malware Free Networks (MFN) is a threat detection and disruption service that delivers near real-time threat intelligence reflecting current malicious activity.

The NCSC, now merged with CERT NZ, provides the service to a range of private-sector partners, who deliver the service to their clients, scaling the impact of the NCSCs cyber defence capabilities across a broad cross-section of the economy.

MFNs success is driven by a comprehensive threat intelligence feed, curated from a variety of sources including international cyber security partners, coupled with robust internal analysis and research, Fong said.

Notably, 95 per cent of the disruptions originate from indicators identified through the NCSCs own analytics and research.
StrikeReady has signed The Instillery as a reseller and integrator of its AI security operations platform.

The cyber security provider aims to use AI technology to address the growing challenges organisations across Australia and New Zealand face, streamline security operations and improve threat detection and response capabilities.

Jeremy Nees, chief operating officer at The Instillery, said the partnership is one of StrikeReadys first in A/NZ.

We will sell the products and also provide services and expertise to help customers get up and running with the product, he said. The product sale supply chain will be StrikeReady.

Nees told Reseller News the partnership will allow The Instillery to move further into the Australian market.

This continues to expand our services, he said. We have been increasingly providing specialised security services into the Australian market, particularly around Zscaler.
Chinese-language posts have circulated a claim that the United States issued a level 4 travel alert, the highest level, to its citizens traveling to China after four Americans were attacked there in June.

But the claim is false. The U.S. travel alert for China has remained at level 3, the second highest level, since April.

The claim was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, on June 12.

The United States issued a Level 4 travel warning for the assassination of four citizens in the Chinese Communist Party, the claim reads in part.

The claim was shared alongside a screenshot of what appears to be a travel warning issued by the U.S. Department of State.

Users on X and Telegram recently claimed that the U.S. issued a level four travel alert to China following an attack on U.S. citizens in Jilin. (Screenshots/X and Telegram)





The claim began to circulate online after four American teachers were assaulted by a man wielding a knife at a park in the Chinese city of Jilin on June 10.

All of the teachers survived the incident and Chinese authorities took the assailant into custody.

U.S. officials expressed concern over the incident, while the Chinese Foreign Ministry commented that the attack will not affect the normal people-to-people exchanges between China and the US.

The same screenshot with a similar claim was also shared on X and Telegram.

But the claim is false.

U.S. travel advisory on China

The U.S. Department of State issues four levels of travel alerts to citizens, based on the varying levels of risk in different countries. These alerts range from level 1, advising to exercise normal precautions, to level 4, warning do not travel.

In April 2024, the U.S. travel advisory for China was updated to level 3, advising citizens to reconsider travel. This rating remains in effect.

The most recent revision of the U.S. travel advisory for China was on April 12, 2024, following the passage of new national security legislation in Hong Kong. Several English- and Chinese-language media outlets reported on this change at the time.

The advisory urges U.S. citizens to reconsider travel due to the potential for arbitrary enforcement of local laws and the risk of wrongful detentions.

Old alert

Keyword searches found a screenshot of the U.S. travel advisory shared in social media posts in fact taken from the old alert issued on Jan. 25, 2020.

The purported screenshot of a recent advisory was actually an archived image of an unrelated travel alert to China issued following the outbreak of COVID in January 2020. (Screenshots /Google and U.S. State Department Archives)





The Chinese text seen in the screenshot shows that the alert was issued following the breakout of COVID-19 in the city of Wuhan and advised travelers not to enter Hubei province, of which Wuhan is capital.

Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Shen Ke and Taejun Kang.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
The conspiring against the state convictions are another crushing blow to civil society, observer says.

Ten Cambodian environmental activists face prison sentences of between six and eight years after a court on Tuesday convicted them on charges criticized by international observers as politically motivated.

Five activists from the Mother Nature group, which had worked to expose corruption and harmful infrastructure projects, were taken into custody in front of Phnom Penh Municipal Court as crowds of supporters shouted their disapproval.

Western governments and human rights groups slammed the verdicts that showed the shrinking space for peaceful activism in Cambodia. Since 2017, all of Cambodias independent media outlets have been forced to close and most of its political opposition has been crushed through the courts or through intimidation.

The courts decision aimed at a non-governmental organization was another crushing blow to Cambodias civil society, Amnesty Internationals deputy regional director for research, Montse Ferrer, said in a statement.

Mother Nature Cambodia is a renowned activist group that has brought attention to environmental degradation fuelled by long-standing corruption in the country, Ferrer said.

Instead of listening to young leaders at the forefront of the environmental movement, the Cambodian government has chosen to jail those that dare to speak out, he said. The government has shown time and time again that it will not tolerate any dissent.

Violently dragged

The convictions came on charges of conspiring against the state in a case that covered several instances of activism, including the 2021 filming of sewage draining into the Tonle Sap river in front of Phnom Penhs Royal Palace.

Three of the defendants were also convicted of insulting King Norodom Sihamoni. They were sentenced to a total of eight years in prison, while the other seven were given six years behind bars.

Five of the 10 defendants are either in hiding or live outside of the country and were tried in absentia, including the Khmer-speaking founder of the Mother Nature group, Spanish environmentalist Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, who was deported from Cambodia in 2015.

One of the convicted activists, Phuon Keoreaksmey, told supporters that they would refuse to feel dispirited.

So long as they still freely evict our people from their land; so long as they take our land to give it to the powerful; so long as they continue to destroy our forest; so long as they continue to jail us arbitrarily while we have not done anything wrong; this means that we cannot be dispirited, she said.

Another convicted activist, Thon Ratha, told supporters that the verdict was unsurprising.

We knew clearly that we would have this day, he said. We knew clearly that we would lose our freedom at one point of time.

Phuon Keoreaksmey, Thon Ratha and the other activists were then taken into custody by at least 50 police officers and security personnel outside the court and then violently dragged into waiting cars, according to human rights group Licadho.

Nuth Savana, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior's prisons department, told Radio Free Asia that the five were each sent to different prisons.

Deep concern for their safety

Registered with Cambodian authorities in 2013, Mother Nature has worked over the years to protect the countrys environment, exposing irregularities in development and construction projects and helping villagers organize to protect their land.

Gonzalez-Davidson was deported from Cambodia in 2015 after the government refused to renew his visa. Opposition groups and local NGOs said he was expelled to prevent him from organizing against a planned hydropower dam in southwestern Koh Kong province.

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Mother Nature activists in Cambodia refuse to attend trial

Mother Nature activists go on trial in Cambodia

Environmental activists video blog highlights hopes for Cambodias future

Mother Nature suspended operations in Cambodia in 2021 amid a round of criminal charges. Tuesdays convictions and sentencing was related to those charges.

Phuon Keoreaksmey, Thon Ratha and another Mother Nature activist who was convicted on Tuesday  Long Kunthea  petitioned the Ministry of Justice last year to be allowed to travel to Sweden to receive the prestigious Right Livelihood Award for their environmental activism in Cambodia.

The request was denied to the three activists, who at the time were facing charges in the case decided on Tuesday. Their bail conditions stated they couldnt leave the country.

The Stockholm-based Right Livelihood said on Tuesday that there were deep concerns for the safety of the activists, now that they have been taken into custody.

We condemn this unjust verdict and demand #Cambodia release them NOW!, the organization said on Facebook.

Advocacy now an attack against the state

Cambodian human rights group Licadho called the verdict astounding.

Today, the court has ruled that youth activists fighting for environmental protections and democratic principles are in effect acting against the state, the group said.

Cambodian authorities are convicting youth activities who are advocating for clean water in Phnom Penh, protecting mangrove forests in Koh Kong and warning against the privatization of land in protected areas and presenting it as an attack against the state.

Police officers arrest environmental activists outside court, July 2, 2024, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (AFPTV)





Marc Thayre, the United Kingdoms deputy ambassador to Cambodia, called the sentences very disconcerting and noted that Mother Nature activists had raised legitimate concerns over the years about Cambodias environment.

The actions taken against them are disproportionate, he wrote on Facebook. All citizens should be able to engage in subjects that affect their future including the environment without fear of prosecution. Freedom of Expression needs to be protected if Cambodia is to move to the next stage of development.

The European Unions ambassador to Cambodia, Igor Driesmans, said on X that he was deeply concerned about increasing persecution & arrests of human rights defenders in Cambodia.

Translated by Sum Sok Ry. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
No one can trust them further than you can spit, Chris Patten says of Beijing.

Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong speaks during a press conference, June 20, 2022 in London.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is a dictator who broke his countrys 1984 treaty with the United Kingdom about Hong Kong and should not be trusted, the last governor of the former British colony has said.

In a video released by the London-based Hong Kong Watch on Sunday ahead of Mondays 27th anniversary of the July 1, 1997, handover of the territory from British to Chinese control, Chris Patten said Beijing had not lived up to the terms of its deal with the United Kingdom.

Instead of respecting Hong Kongs pledged autonomy and status as a free society for 50 years, he said, Beijing had exported its dictatorship.

What's happened in the years since then is that the Chinese Communist Party, who've made it clear no one can trust them further than you can spit,  trashed a treaty which had been lodged at the United Nations, Patten said in the video posted to X.

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They said it was simply a historic document. It was not. It was a treaty, he said, before acknowledging that for a few years after 1997 things went pretty well, with Hong Kong remaining mostly free.

All that changed with Xi Jinping, China's present  lets not beat around the bush  China's present dictator, who came to power at a time when the Chinese communist leadership were getting increasingly worried about things slipping out of control, he said.

Once ranked the third most free society in the world, Hong Kong has since the late 2010s suffered a descent into tyranny, the U.S.-based Cato Institute said in a report on global freedom released late last year amid Beijings growing assertions of control over the territory.

One country, two systems

Under the 1984 treaty signed by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, Hong Kong was promised continuing autonomy and its British-style legal system under Chinese sovereignty until at least 2047, when the treaty would lapse.

But that did not gel with Beijings shifting political goals, Patten said.

China's President Xi Jinping applauds during a signing ceremony, June 28, 2024, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Photo by Jade Gao/AFP)

Xi and his government, he said, had looked to the growing sense of freedom and autonomy enjoyed by Hongkongers and perceived a threat on their own doorstep to their plans to exert increasing control over their society and export a model of authoritarian governance.

Xi Jinping and his colleagues were having none of it, Patten said.

In particular, they were very worried about the extent to which Hong Kong reflected all those values which they were trying to stamp out: freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of religion, the rule of law, and all those things they don't understand, he said.

The former Hong Kong governor said he regretted how things had turned out given that more than half, and probably two thirds of the territorys population at the time of the handover had arrived there as refugees after escaping communism on Chinas mainland.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told Radio Free Asia that Pattens video statement on Hong Kong is a complete reversal of black and white and smears Chinas leaders.

Hong Kong affairs are purely Chinas internal affairs that brook no external interference, Liu said, calling the implementation of the One Country, Two Systems model since 1997 a clear success.

Hong Kong has actively integrated itself into Chinas development and continues to serve as an important bridge and window between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world, he said.

Patten should have awareness of his role as the last colonial administrator of the Chinese territory and get a clear understanding of the change of time, Liu added, rather than supporting hysterical anti-China elements who attempt to create chaos in Hong Kong.

Exhibition in Taiwan

At an exhibition held in Taipei on Monday to commemorate the handover of Hong Kong to China, attendees told RFA that they saw the anniversary of the handover as a solemn day.

One attendee, who gave only their family name of Chen for fear of arrest in Hong Kong, said the event had to be held in Taiwan because local authorities back home were making examples of anyone who negatively portrayed the anniversary of the handover in public.

Hong Kong police had even arrested more people who took part in the citys 2019 protests, she said, in order to send out a message.

"In these past few days, the Hong Kong government has been arresting people who participated in the protests, Chen said. They especially arrest people on significant days to intimidate everyone from coming out, which has been a tactic they've used for years.

But Hong Kong people are resilient. Like on June 4 just passed, many still came out, she said, referring to the date of the Tiananmen Square massacre. People find their own ways to commemorate, and this spirit of resistance of being water and widespread still persists.

The events organizer, Fu Tang, said the erosion of liberties in Hong Kong was complete, with even simple statements now criminal.

Nowadays in Hong Kong, there's no way to say something they don't like, Fu said. Just the other day, someone said Revolution is not a crime, to rebel is justified, and then the person got arrested.

Over the past 27 years, freedom has been declining, and repression against us has been getting worse, he said. July 1st marks Hong Kong's return, but Hong Kongers feel it's the day of being taken."

RFA Cantonese contributed reporting. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Once part of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan now look east.

Journalists watch the live broadcast of the arrival of China's Xi Jinping, Sept. 15, 2022, to Samarkand in the Summit's press centre.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan on Tuesday morning for the 24th annual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group created by Beijing and Moscow to manage their shared  and competing  geopolitical interests in Central Asia.

Xi touched down in the Kazakh capital of Astana ahead of four days of meetings with leaders of the five primary Central Asian nations  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan  as well as periphery members Russia, Iran, India and Pakistan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will also attend this weeks meetings, with plans to meet with Xi privately for talks. He will also meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will be in attendance as a dialogue partner of the regional grouping.

Members and other leaders attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, Sept. 16, 2022, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. (Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry via AP)

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Xis trip comes as China assumes the rotating presidency of the regional group this year, and that Xi will also pay official state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan during the trip.

China believes that this summit will consolidate more consensus among all parties, chart a new chapter of cooperation, and make positive contributions to promoting security, stability, development, revitalization, Hua said at a press briefing on Monday.

Established in 2001 by China and Russia, this years summit is expected to focus on the economy, trade and energy, but Russias invasion of Ukraine and its ramifications will also be on the table.

Whos backyard?

Central Asia has long been put forward by international relations strategists as a reason that Moscow and Beijing may never be able to forge long-term geopolitical bonds, with any friendship between the two nations said to be not able to withstand a rivalry over the region.

However, with Russias growing economic and diplomatic reliance on its eastern neighbor amid its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow appears to have put its interests in Central Asia on the backburner for now.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to China's President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit, Sept. 16, 2022, in Samarkand. (Sergei Bobylyov/Sputnik/AFP)

Rushan Abbas, executive director of the U.S.-based Campaign for Uyghurs, said that this years meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization comes as China cuts massive diplomatic in-roads into what was once indisputably Russias sphere of influence.

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, China has been aggressively marching into Central Asia, once a Russian backyard, and strengthening its political and economic relations with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Abbas told Radio Free Asia.

These countries, fearing a similar fate like Ukraine, are also increasingly taking a pro-China position, she said.

China has long aimed to expand its influence in Central Asia but had been tied back by the regions lasting cultural and political ties to Moscow given its former life in the Soviet Union, said Anders Corr, the principal of the New York-based political risk firm Corr Analytics.

The region has gas, many minerals, and inexpensive labor, he said. But its not only that: China sees it as semi-strategic, Corr explained, because it could allow rail links and oil-and-gas pipelines to Europe.

For the Central Asian nations, meanwhile, the biggest draw of closer relations with China would be access to its vast market as Russias war economy creates future trade opportunities with their former patron.

Two women wait below a giant screen showing news footage of China's President Xi Jinping speaking virtually to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, which was being held in India, July 4, 2023, at a shopping mall in Beijing. (Greg Baker/AFP)

But Corr said there may be another element at play, with the former Soviet republics looking wearily at Moscows plans for Ukraine.

They may also be trying to use China as a counterweight against Russia in order to solidify their independence  there may be an element of that, he said. They may be thinking that somehow getting closer to China will give them a way to keep Russia at bay.

All roads lead to Europe

Putin will be playing defense while in Astana, as he is probably displeased by Beijings growing influence.

Putin very badly wants to maintain and strengthen his links to those five countries, said William Duiker, a former U.S. diplomat and now professor emeritus of East Asian studies at Pennsylvania State University.

There is absolutely no doubt that there is an element of geopolitical competition and rivalry going on between Moscow and Beijing in this region, he said. Anything that happens in that area related to either of these countries is primarily related to the geopolitical situation.

But while Putins main attentions are focussed on Ukraine, he added, Beijing will be focussed on securing the construction of a key railroad through Central Asia that would link China to the edges of Europe and allow trade to flow there without permission of the Russians.

If completed, this would bypass Russia and go through the Central Asian states, the Caucasus, Turkey, and to the Aegean Sea, he said, referring to an eastern Mediterranean bay.

Chinese leaders see this as an important alternative route for goods going to Europe, especially if their current route through Siberia becomes problematic.

For Abbas of the Campaign for Uyghurs, though, the growing ties between China and the Turkic nations of Central Asia are a concern for Uyghurs facing genocide in China, many of whom in the past have looked west to escape Beijings grip and religious persecution.

The warming ties were leading to China exporting its repressive policies and tightening its grip on the Uyghur population living in these nations, she said, including those who have escaped China.

It is crucial for the U.S.-led free world to pay close attention to Central Asia, Abbas said, and not allow China to corrupt and coerce these countries to support its authoritarian form of governance.

Edited by Alex Willemyns and Malcolm Foster.
The United States has placed trading restrictions on four foreign companies for their ties to a South African flying school where Western ex-military members allegedly trained Chinese fighter pilots.

U.S. companies and nationals will need to apply for a special license  with a presumption of denial  before doing any business with Chinas Global Training Solutions and Smartech Future, South Africas Grace Air and the United Kingdoms Livingston Aerospace.

The firms were blacklisted because of their links to the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) and the training of Chinas military forces using Western  sources, according to a U.S. Department of Commerce federal filing set to be published on Wednesday.

TFASA itself was added to the Commerce Ministrys banned Entity List in June 2023 and is at the center of the former U.S. Marine and now Australian citizen Daniel Duggans high-profile extradition case.

The United States has accused Duggan, who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2016 and now has a family in Australia, of knowingly training Chinese military pilots at the South African school in 2012 in technical skills that included landing on aircraft carriers.

Former U.S. Marines Corp pilot Daniel Duggan, who is facing extradition to the United States for allegedly breaking U.S. arms control law after he trained Chinese pilots, poses for a picture in this undated handout picture. (Warwick Ponder/Handout via Reuters)

Duggan has denied the accusations and says he only thought he was training civilian Chinese pilots. His Australian family says the U.S. military is trying to make an example of him in order to warn other American ex-military members against training Chinese pilots.

In a memo last month, the U.S. military warned Western ex-military against lucrative job offers to train Chinese pilots, with recruitment by firms with ties to Chinas Peoples Liberation Army not always obvious, as companies may not initially promote the PLAs role.

Job locations may be in China, South Africa, or elsewhere, with lucrative contracts and the opportunity to fly exotic aircraft, with vague details on the ultimate customers, the June 5 memo said.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Border officials who took out huge loans to survive the pandemic now cannot repay them.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) inspects an artillery fire competition,March 20, 2020, on the western front in North Korea.

To cut down on rampant bribery, North Korean customs agents checking truck shipments coming across the border from China are now required to wear body cameras, a customs official and a truck driver told Radio Free Asia.

Thats cut off a lucrative source of income for the customs agents, suddenly making it difficult for them to repay high-interest loans they took out to weather the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down trade with China, the customs agent said.

They borrowed at 100% annual interest, so their debt doubles every year, a customs official, from the border city of Hyesan in Ryanggang province, told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

The reason they cannot receive bribes is because of the tiny cameras attached to their bodies, he said.

A North Korean soldier holds a camera as he looks at the South, April 17, 2017, at the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border between North and South Korea. (Jung Yeon-Je/AFP)

Prior to the pandemic, customs officials were able to pad their paltry government salaries with bribes from smugglers who either imported banned items or lied about the volume of imports to hide profits from the government.

But when COVID hit, North Korea closed its borders to trade and the customs officials lost their livelihoods.

To survive, many borrowed money from donju  North Koreas wealthy class  promising to pay them back once trade with China resumed, the customs agent said.

Many border officials took out high interest loans of 30,000 yuan (US$4,100), and some borrowed as much as 150,000 yuan ($20,500).

They were used to living the high life and did very little to reduce their spending during the time that the border was closed, thinking it would be relatively easy for them to repay, the official said.

Unexpected twist

In May, trade resumed, but the border officials never foresaw that authorities would require them to wear body cams  making it nearly impossible to collect bribes.

The reason why cameras were installed on custom officials and security agents bodies was because there were many cases of illegal Chinese mobile phones and SIM cards being smuggled into the country through customs trade channels, the customs official said.

These Chinese cell phones allow people living near the border to access Chinese networks and call outside the country, potentially letting people pass along information North Korean authorities want to keep control of.

This is fundamentally to block the path of internal secrets from being leaked outside the country through illegal mobile phones, the official said.

Meanwhile, the loan sharks are pressing the officials to pay up.

Hyesan customs officials and security agents are unable to go home at night, he said. This is because the donju come to the homes of customs officials and security agents and abusively demand repayment.

A truck driver who used to drive through the border at Hyesan told RFA that it was easy for customs officials to spot smugglers and their smuggled goods.

Customs truck drivers smuggled televisions from Chinese truck drivers until 2019, he said.

He said that since the border reopened, all imported goods come on the backs of Chinese trucks, which are then unloaded into North Korean warehouses on the border.

North Korean workers who load and unload Chinese trucks used to be friendly with the Chinese drivers, sharing cigarettes and having casual conversations with them, but now they are told not to even make any verbal contact.

If they say a single word with them, they will be immediately taken to the State Security Department for an investigation and be kicked out of their work group, the driver said.

A solider films military officers following a mass dance performance, May 10, 2016, in the capital's main ceremonial square in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

In the more unusual cases where North Korean trucks export goods to China, they are allowed to go only 400 meters (yards) into Chinese territory, and once empty back out  and are followed by security guards, he said.

With body cams now a requirement, some of the customs officials are doing whatever they can to transfer to other departments where the bribes might be a little smaller but at more easily accepted, he said.

Security agents who monitor trade cargo do not hide the fact that they have small cameras attached to their bodies, the driver said. They advise cargo loading and unloading workers not to create any problems, as the whole days work is being recorded.

Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
South Korean military casts doubt on the Norths claim of success saying it could be a deception

A man walks past a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on July 1, 2024.

Updated July 2, 2024, 05:28 a.m. ET.

North Korea has successfully tested a new-type of tactical ballistic missile that can fire a 4.5 ton super-large warhead up to 500 km (311 miles), the Norths state-run media reported on Tuesday but South Koreas military doubted that the announcement was true, its media reported.

The missile, the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5, was test fired on Monday, and the result of the test was of great significance, said the Norths Korean Central News Agency.

The test-fire was conducted with a missile tipped with a simulated heavy warhead to verify flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 km [311 miles] and the minimum range of 90 km [55 miles], the news agency reported.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS, said on Monday North Korea fired two ballistic missiles over the sea off its east coast early that day but the second one appeared to have flown abnormally and fallen to the ground.

Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the JCS, told a regular briefing that South Korea was analyzing the Norths launches but it suspected the North Korean announcement was not true, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported.

"[We] are conducting an analysis, while putting weight on the possibility that North Korea's public report is a [form of] deception," said Lee.

"It is extremely rare to conduct a test-launch inland and there is a high possibility that its claim of a success is a lie."

Lee said the South Korean military has assessed that the North's Hwasong-11 rocket could carry a warhead of up to 2.5 tons, but noted that a 4.5-ton warhead was theoretically possible.

The North Korean test came shortly after South Korea, the United States and Japan concluded joint military exercises.

The North, which regards such exercises as preparations by the U.S. and its allies to invade the country, condemned the exercise on Sunday and vowed to take offensive and overwhelming countermeasures to protect its sovereignty.

The North Korean news agency said Mondays test was part of the regular activities of the administration and its affiliated defense science institutes.

North Korea would test the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 this month to verify its flight characteristics, accuracy and explosion power of super-large warhead at the medium range of 250 km [155 miles], the news agency said.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

Updated with South Korean reaction.
Residents in Laos complain about daily power outages, especially during times of heavy rainfall, which some residents find perplexing given the countrys attempt to become the Battery of Southeast Asia.

The country has built dozens of hydroelectric dams on the Mekong River and its tributaries  many with Chinese funding  but the domestic power grid remains outdated and in disrepair, residents say.

And the state-run Electricite du Laos, or EDL, is so burdened with construction debt that it can ill afford improvements, let alone maintenance  even though electricity prices are rising.

The heavy rains during the wet season, which runs from about June to September, also seems to keep the electric grid from functioning properly.

During this years rainy season, it seems as if every time lightning strikes, the power goes out, a resident of the northern province of Xieng Khouang, who like all other unnamed sources in this report requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFA Lao.

The entrance of Houay Ho Hydropower Plant, July 25, 2018 in Sanamxai, Attapeu province, Laos. (Ye Aung Thu/AFP)

She said that the power often stays off all day and all night and s/he does not know why.

The power is down but the power prices are up, the resident said. Right now, Im paying about 9,000 kip (41 U.S. cents) more each month. Everybody is complaining about the power outages, saying that the power is not only more expensive but less available.

She also said that the Lao economy is suffering and the power outages only make it worse.

Affects tourism

When the power is unreliable it drives away tourism, a key source of income for many, an owner of an apartment building in the southern province of Savannakhet told RFA.

She said that this has a ripple effect that worsens the economy.

But our expenses are getting higher and higher, the building owner said. The electricity is not only expensive but also not stable. Its cut off every day, between one and three hours a day. Im urging the government to solve the problem as soon as possible. I pay more than 2 million kip ($100) a month for power.

The building owner said that on the previous day, the power was out between 3 p.m. and 1 a.m.

As soon as it rains or there is thunder, the power is out, she said.

A hospital employee in the northern province of Phongsaly confirmed that power is out for at least two hours per day.

I notice that if its not raining, the power is not out; as soon as it rains, its out, she said. When the power is out, we call the power state enterprise right away so that the outage wont affect our work as doctors and nurses.

An official at EDLs office in Xayaburi province acknowledged that the countrys electricity grid is not up to standard.

The power is out often because we dont have enough human and financial resources to maintain the system, more specifically to help restore power, she said. We have fewer people working in our department.

Another EDL official, in the companys headquarters, told RFA that the utility is handcuffed by massive debt, so it does not have the funds to improve and maintain the grid.

As for rising power prices, EDL cant lower the prices because the enterprise is in need of revenue to pay debt and other obligations, he said. The government doesnt have enough budget for maintenance, for example, even to change light bulbs on the street, we dont have any vehicles, equipment or money to do it.

EDLs debt is about US$4.3 billion, most of which has gone to dam construction. That's about 30% of the countrys total debt.

The countrys Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone last year introduced a plan to reform many state enterprises, including EDL.

Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Eugene Whong.
Some former members of the Arakan National Party, seen with Arakan Army fighters after the AA captured Kyauktaw town in Rakhine state on Feb. 13, 2024.

Myanmar junta election officials have barred an ethnic minority political party from running in the military regimes proposed 2025 elections under a law that excludes groups with suspected links to terrorists, the Election Commission announced.

The Arakan National Party, which represents the interests of the ethnic Rakhine people in western Myanmars Rakhine state, had its application to run as a party rejected, the Union Election Commission announced.

The election organizer said the rejection was based on a section of the political party law that excludes parties if they are declared or associated with terrorist organizations, use resources owned by the state or from foreign governments or misuse religion for political purposes.

Arakan National Party secretary general Khaing Pyi Soe told RFA that denying parties the chance to run in the election showed a lack of commitment to solving the countrys problems.

"Political parties are formed to solve political problems through political solutions. Now, the Union Election Commission has rejected the political party's official application, he said. So, I think that the regime and the commission itself have no intention to solve the current political problem through political means.

Even though the party is not allowed to register it would continue to exist whether the junta recognized it or not, he added.

The Union Election Commission did not respond to RFAs requests for comment.

Myanmars military overthrew a civilian government in a February 2021 coup on the pretext of fraud in a November 2020 general election swept by the National League for Democracy party, led by Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi.

The coup sparked a civil war as ordinary citizens took up arms to fight the junta, forming guerrilla bands of Peoples Defense Forces, which have linked up with ethnic minority insurgent forces fighting for years for self-determination.

The junta has faced setbacks since late last year in several parts of the country. The Arakan Army insurgent group, which draws its support from the Rakhine population, has made significant gains in the western state, seizing more than half of its townships since a ceasefire with the junta ended in November.

The Arakan National Party initially sided with the military junta after the 2021 coup but it resigned from the militarys ruling council three months later.

Suspected links

A political analyst in Rakhine state said the junta may have rejected the partys application because of links some of its old members had in administering areas occupied by the Arakan Army.

"Former politicians of the Arakan National Party are now working in the ULA, said the analyst, who declined to be identified for security reasons, referring to a political organization the Arakan Army fights under.

The political party had withdrawn from the ULA, or the United League of Arakan, but it was not clear if the junta recognized that, the analyst said.

I think they are unaware that they are no longer members of the party, so maybe that's why the junta canceled their application.

The headquarters of Arakan National Party (ANP) in Sittwe city, Rakhine State on November 8, 2020. (RFA)

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Democracy activists say the juntas promised election will be a sham given that the countrys most popular political leader, Suu Kyi, has been jailed for 27 years on charges she denies, and the election commission has banned more than 80 parties.

The juntas Union Solidarity and Development Party is one of 47 parties that have registered since March.

Junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said in March in an interview with the ITAR-TASS news agency, that the first elections since the military seized power would be held if peace and stability can be restored to the country. No date has been set for a vote.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.
Authorities, recently arrived refugees say clashes between Myanmar junta, rebels drove them across the border.

Rohingya are being brought into southeastern Bangladesh by smugglers as fighting between ethnic rebel groups and junta-aligned forces worsens next-door in Myanmars Rakhine state, said officials and border crossers interviewed by BenarNews.

Smugglers are targeting members of the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority who are trying to flee clashes between Myanmars junta and the Arakan Army, one of the most prominent militias, according to interviews with authorities and Rohingya who recently arrived at a refugee camp in Coxs Bazar district.

Police said they had tightened security at the border, but conceded that more people had been crossing over from Myanmar in recent weeks.

As the sound of explosions continued on the Myanmar side, I learned that a part of the Rohingyas are staying in different places on the bank of the Naf river on Myanmars side, Teknaf Municipality Panel Mayor Mujibur Rahman told BenarNews.

Mohammad Yusuf, a Rohingya who recently traveled to Bangladesh from the Buthidaung area of Rakhine, said he stayed in the mountains for 40 days where he survived by eating leaves.

There were 13 members of my family. But suddenly one day, a bomb exploded in my village, and then everyone ran away to save their lives. It is not known where the rest have gone, he told BenarNews. We, two brothers together, walked for three days in the hilly area and swam across the river. We were accompanied by seven other people from other villages on the journey.

While Yusufs group traveled to Bangladesh, he said others worked with brokers to go to Indonesia or Malaysia.

Families who have money are mainly trying to send young people [away from Myanmar] as youths become targets of both the Arakan Army and Myanmar military, he said.

Authorities said smugglers  known as brokers locally  are active on both sides of the Naf, which marks the border between southeastern Bangladesh and northwestern Myanmar.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said over 70,000 Rohingya were trapped in Rakhine as fighting rages.

Community leaders said brokers were collecting money from Rohingya to leave Myanmar, but did not release any details about recent crossings.

Mohammad Amir Zafar, who commands an Armed Police Battalion (APBn) in Bangladesh, said Rohingya who have been forced from their homes are willing to pay to get across the border.

A Bangladeshi stands at the Teknaf-Myanmar Transit Jetty wharf along the Naf river in Coxs Bazar and listens to gunfire in Myanmar where military troops fight with rebels, July 1, 2024. [Abdur Rahman/BenarNews]

The brokers who are involved in this work will be brought to justice, he told BenarNews.

Along with the APBn, members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh are stationed near the border to prevent infiltration.

Route to safety

Many Rohingya walked from their homes in Rakhine state to the Naf river, where brokers sat in boats waiting to collect fees to carry them across the river.

Mohammad Saje, who entered Bangladesh on June 28 ago and took shelter at a camp with a relative, said he and 12 others crossed the river during heavy rain.

My home is at Buthidaung. Everything has been destroyed in the war there. My father was killed by a mortar shell attack, he told BenarNews, adding that the Arakan Army entered his village and ordered everyone leave within an hour.

After that, we left the area with some food. Sixty youths were caught by the Arakan Army  I dont know what happened to them, adding, I saw with my own eyes the scene of the killing of many young men on the way.

Arriving near the river in Maungdaw, he and others took shelter for three days before paying 400,000 kyat (U.S. $190) each for a ride across the river.

People walk through a Rohingya camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, March 9, 2023. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP]

Refugee camps in and around Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh, seen as safe locations, are home to about 1 million Rohingya, including over 740,000 who have fled from Myanmar since a military crackdown in August 2017.

Not all who flee from Myanmar are safe. On June 22, a Rohingya identified as Md. Anwar lost a leg in a land-mine explosion along the border as he tried to cross over from the Myanmar side.

On Tuesday, a Rohingya was killed in a mine blast near the border after crossing into Bangladesh, officials said.

Coxs Bazar police station officer-in-charge Saiful Islam said the man, identified as Mohammad Ayash and who was between the ages of 22 and 25, undertook the border crossing during heavy rain.

He was brought to Coxs Bazar Sadar Hospital with injuries around 3 p.m. But the duty doctor said that he died before he was brought to the hospital, Saiful Islam said.

BenarNews is an online news outlet affiliated with Radio Free Asia.
But both sides say significant differences remain on how to resolve their maritime dispute

Chinese coast guard personnel (left, right) aboard inflatable boats block Philippine navy boats (center) during a confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, in this screengrab from a handout video filmed on June 17, 2024, and released by the Philippine military on June 19.

Manila and Beijing agreed to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea following a tense standoff last month at a disputed shoal, Philippine officials said Tuesday after both sides held bilateral talks on the waterway.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong behind closed doors in Manila for the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The two sides had a frank and constructive discussion on the situation in the South China Sea, the statement said, adding that both affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions.

Lazaro, however, told Chen that Manila would remain relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, the statement said, using Manilas name for South China Sea waters within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Both sides affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions, the statement also said.

Lazaro and Chen, who headed their respective delegations at the talks in Makati, Manilas financial district, committed to implementing a maritime communication mechanism between their countries coast guards and to form a joint committee to discuss such incidents, according to the statement.

It gave no further details on this point, and the two senior diplomats did not hold a joint press conference after their meeting. Similar agreements in the past to set up a South China Sea hotline to quickly address bilateral problems as they arise have not been effective.

There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain, the statement said.

__________________________________________________________________

RELATED STORIES

Troubled Waters: The South China Sea

Scarborough Shoal was a refuge for Filipino fishermen. Then Chinese boats moved in

Tensions simmer near a shoal both China and the Philippines claim

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The talks in Manila followed a dramatic standoff between Filipino servicemen and Chinese coast guard personnel at Second Thomas, or Ayungin, Shoal on June 17, during which a Philippine navy sailor lost a finger.

Last week, Washingtons ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, said that international support for the Philippines was growing in the wake of the incident at Ayungin.

U.S. President Joe Biden has stressed that the South China Sea should be free and open where local fishermen can ply their trade free from coercion from other countries, Carlson told the East-West Media Conference in Manila on June 26.

With like-minded partners and all who support the rule of law, we urge [China] to cease harassment of Philippine vessels lawfully operating in the Philippine exclusive economic zones, to halt its disruption to states sovereign rights to explore, utilize, conserve, and manage natural resources in their territories and EEZs, Carlson said.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, China reiterated its position that Manilas resupply missions to a Philippine military outpost at the shoal violate its jurisdiction, despite the reef being located within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

The root cause of the current situation is that the Philippines infringed on Chinas rights and made deliberate provocations, Mao Ning, the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, said during a news conference.

The Philippines needs to stop those infringement activities and provocations at once, and return as soon as possible to the track of resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.

BenarNews is an online news outlet affiliated with Radio Free Asia.
Manila says it is willing to explore a mutually beneficial solution to South China Sea issues with Hanoi.

Updated July 2, 2024, 9:24 ET

The Philippines says it is willing to hold talks with Vietnam after it called for consultations on a Philippine submission on an extended continental shelf claim in the South China Sea.

We are ready to engage Vietnam on possible ways forward that would help achieve a mutually beneficial solution to South China Sea issues in accordance with international law, particularly the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS], the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The Philippines also welcomed Vietnams recognition of the submission, filed on June 14 with the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, or CLCS, to register the Philippines entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the West Palawan region of the South China Sea.

On June 20, responding to Manilas submission, Hanoi did not protest outright but instead said that while coastal states had the right to determine their outer continental shelf boundaries under UNCLOS, when submitting their claims they must respect the legal and legitimate rights and interests of other relevant coastal nations with opposite or adjacent coasts.

A spokesperson for Vietnam said it stayed ready to hold talks with the Philippines to seek a solution that was mutually beneficial for both countries.

Meanwhile, China has rejected the Philippine submission, saying it infringed upon Chinas sovereign rights and jurisdiction and violated international law.

Beijing says it holds historic rights over most of the South China Sea but an arbitral tribunal under UNCLOS in 2016 rejected all of its claims. The Philippine submission, reinforcing the tribunal ruling, has not named China as a party for negotiations on the continental shelf.

The continental shelf can extend beyond 200nm to a maximum of 350nm from the shore, or baseline. (The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea)





China and the Philippines have recently been involved in tense confrontations over some reefs that both claim but lie within Philippine waters in the South China Sea.

Malaysia also categorically rejects the Philippines submission on the basis that the Philippines continental margin is projected from the baselines of the Malaysian state of Sabah.

This clearly disregards Malaysias indisputable sovereignty over the state of Sabah, said a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the U.N.

Acceptable solution

Nguyen Hong Thao, professor of international law at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, or DAV, noted Manilas willingness to discuss the delimitation of maritime boundaries with the relevant countries.

Vietnam and the Philippines have been maintaining solidarity and cooperation for the common good, he told RFA.

It is unclear when the consultation is expected to begin.

The CLCS said it would look at the Philippine submission in a session between January and March next year.

The extended continental shelf is the stretch of seabed that extends to a maximum of 350 nautical miles (648 km) from the shore of a coastal state, which has exclusive rights to explore it or exploit its natural resources.

Related stories

US official on Vietnam visit warns of irresponsible China

Philippines monitoring Vietnams South China Sea island building

South China Sea dispatch: Excitement, fear fill Scarborough Shoal voyage

However, the Philippine submission may overlap with previous submissions by Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as with a Vietnam-Malaysia joint submission in 2009, against which the Philippines protested.

In a recent opinion piece, DAVs Thao argued that maritime limits, including the overlapping outer limits of the continental shelf in the South China Sea, need to be agreed upon by the countries involved.

He warned of a new battle of note verbales, or diplomatic notes sent to the U.N. secretary-general to express concern, from neighbors of the Philippines.

The CLCS cannot make a determination if another party objects, and that is why in the immediate future, the Philippines may consider withdrawing from its objection to the Vietnam-Malaysia joint submission and negotiating with these two countries to find an acceptable solution, the legal expert suggested.

Edited by Mike Firn and Matt Reed.

This story has been updated from statements made by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the U.N.
A worker walks behind a tractor during the planting of a cotton field, as seen on a government organized trip for foreign journalists, near Urumqi in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, April 21, 2021.

Reversing a previous ruling, an appeals court in the United Kingdom ordered that the countrys National Crime Agency reconsider whether to investigate whether cotton imports from the far-western Chinese region of Xinjiang allegedly use Uyghur slave labor.

Global Legal Action Network, or GLAN, and the World Uyghur Congress, or WUC, won the case in the U.K. Court of Appeal on June 27.

The groups took legal action after a High Court ruling in January 2023 accepted British authorities position that it refused to exercise its powers to investigate whether the imports used slave labor and were therefore illegal.

It is unclear what conclusion the National Crime Agency, or NCA, will reach. But the two groups hope it will lead to commitment from the agency to stop goods made with forced labor from entering British markets.

The ruling is an example of how countries are cracking down on trade with China amid concerns about Uyghur forced labor, part of a series of human rights abuses that have taken place in the region in recent years.

An image posted to the Global Legal Action Networks Facebook page on May 15, 2024, with the caption: 'We're in court representing World Uyghur Congress at the Court of Appeal to ensure that no one in the UK profits from forced labor cotton produced alongside the brutal oppression of the Uyghur people.' (GLAN via Facebook)

It is also significant because it serves as a warning to companies with products made with forced labor in their supply chains that they risk being prosecuted for money laundering or having their criminal products confiscated, according to the two groups.

The High Courts ruling created an untenable situation based on adequate consideration whereby importers were permitted to knowingly acquire forced labor goods, and would not be prosecuted provided they had paid market price, WUC and GLAN, a nonprofit group that pursues legal action involving human rights violations, said in a statement.

It makes it very clear that these companies must clean up their supply chains or risk prosecution or having their goods confiscated as the proceeds of crime, GLAN lawyer Leanna Burnard told Radio Free Asia.

Most Chinese cotton sold by retailers in the United Kingdom is implicated in forced labor, according to GLAN and WUC.

This is the very first successful step towards accountability for Uyghurs, WUC president Dolkun Isa said in a statement.

We hope that moving forward, U.K.-based companies will take adequate caution not trading or importing Uyghur forced labor goods, and that the government will also conduct investigations diligently, he said.

Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
At least 18 people were killed and 92 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.

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.
An independent Belarusian publishing house in exile says the British copyright holder of the Harry Potter books has refused to work with it, citing Western sanctions imposed on the Belarusian government.

Andrey Yanushekvich, who registered a branch of the Yanushkevich publishing house in Poland in early 2023 after he fled Belarus, told RFE/RL on July 2 that he and his colleagues had exhausted all possible means to persuade The Blair Partnership company to lift its ban on publishing four books of the Harry Potter series in Belarusian.

"We were unable to find a common language with the rights holders. They do not want to be associated with anything Belarusian while the Republic of Belarus is under sanctions," Yanushkevich said.

Between 2019 and 2021, the Yanushkevich publishing house in Belarus published three Harry Potter books by British author J.K. Rowling in Belarusian -- Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban.

The launching of Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets in Belarusian was scheduled for September 26, 2020, just weeks after a presidential election that was followed by unprecedented monthslong rallies protesting the official result of the poll, which handed authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has been in power since 1994, a sixth term.

On September 15, 2020, the Belarusian Customs Service requested an official letter from the publisher confirming that "the book does not call for the overthrow of the existing government" in Belarus, which sparked a reaction from protesters, who placed on the Internet pictures of Harry Potter characters challenging Lukashenka.

Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets eventually did get to the bookstores, but in 2022 Belarusian authorities confiscated the Yanushkevich publishing house's equipment and froze its bank accounts, citing financial misdeeds.

The publishing house's own bookstore, Knihauka, was vandalized and shut down in May 2022.

Andrey Yanushkevich himself was sentenced to 28 days in jail, and his colleague, Nasta Karnatskaya, served 23 days in jail on unspecified charges.

After serving the terms, they fled Belarus.

In January 2023, Yanushkevich registered a branch of his publishing house in Poland and a little later opened a Knihauka bookstore in Warsaw. He planned to publish four remaining books in the Harry Potter series -- Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows -- but The Blair Partnership informed Yanushkevich on July 1 of the suspension of their cooperation because of the Western sanctions imposed on Belarus over its support of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

According to Yanushkevich, The Blair Partnership had refused to reconsider its decision despite the fact that his publishing house is registered in Poland.

Contacted by RFE/RL, Blair Partnership officials responded via e-mail that they "need time" to prepare comments on their decision to suspend the publishing of Harry Potter series books in Belarusian via Yanushkevich's company.

"Unfortunately, the British partners see us in a 'crooked mirror' and make decisions that are not in our favor," Yanushkevich said, expressing his hope that the author of the prominent series, J.K. Rowling, might influence The Blair Partnership to revisit its decision if she learns about the situation.
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on two issues: Hungary's turn to hold the EU Presidency and the latest on the top jobs in the EU and NATO.

Briefing #1: Bracing For The Hungarian EU Presidency

What You Need To Know: The European Union is bracing after Hungary took over the EU's rotating presidency on July 1. It could be an awkward six months for the EU leadership, given that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been on a collision course with Brussels, watering down EU sanctions on Russia, preventing military and financial aid for Ukraine, and questioning Kyiv's EU aspirations.

Hungary, a self-styled "illiberal democracy," has been penalized for what officials in Brussels see as backsliding on democracy, with the EU freezing 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion) of funds meant for the Central European country.

Yet despite the thorny relationship, Hungary's stint as president in the second half of 2024 may not be as dramatic and problematic as some may fear.

The rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, one of the main decision-making bodies of the bloc, which comprises government ministers from the member states, is alternately held for a period of six months by each of the member states. Under this arrangement, each member state has the opportunity to shape the council's agenda.

Deep Background: According to several sources in Brussels with knowledge of the issue, the Hungarian presidency isn't causing too many sleepless nights. This is largely due to two factors: the actual role of the presidency and the quirks of the political calendar.

Let's start with the first. The presidencies of the Council of the European Union are not what they used to be. There was a time when the country whose turn it was really did control the agenda, holding proper summits in their capitals and with their diplomats running the show behind the scenes.

This changed in 2004, when it was decided that all important summits should be held in the Belgian capital. The changes went deeper in 2009 with the advent of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, designed to improve the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the EU, which created a number of new functions and essentially concentrated power in Brussels.

The Lisbon Treaty created a permanent president of the European Council, which mainly consists of the heads of state or government of the member states. The post is currently held by Belgian politician Charles Michel, who serves a five-year term and chairs all summits.

The council also has a much-expanded and powerful secretariat staffed by EU officials with expertise across all the policy fields. The Lisbon Treaty also created an EU foreign policy chief, currently held by Spanish politician Josep Borrell, and a diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service, to give the foreign policy position some heft. The main task of this person is to prepare and chair the monthly EU foreign affairs council where the bloc's foreign ministers meet to make decisions.

Drilling Down

How does this affect the Hungarian presidency? Well, it lessens the influence of the two most Brussels-bashing members of Hungary's national-conservative government, Orban and his foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto.

Budapest can, of course, still influence the conversation, as seen with the unveiling of their Donald Trump-inspired Make Europe Great Again (MEGA) slogan for the presidency last week. Hungary's bold move was dismissed as "trolling" by many in Brussels, with the feeling there would be more of that type of thing to come.

While the two men will still preside over informal ministerial meetings and even a summit in Budapest in November, their role will be fairly superficial. Notably, they will also have to face questions at press conferences and from foreign media, which they normally tend to shun.

What is concretely left for Hungary to do? Their other ministers, such as those responsible for agriculture or justice, will still chair council meetings in their fields, and Hungarian diplomats will do the same in preparatory working groups. The whole idea of the rotating presidency is that the incumbents are expected to be honest brokers, seeking consensus among member states.

Rather than causing trouble, Hungary might also decide to play nice. Speaking to officials from various member states, some have pointed out that while Hungary most certainly has an agenda -- and one that is often at odds with the consensus -- Hungarian officials have behaved professionally in the run-up to the presidency, underlining that everything will be done by the book.

The second factor that could curtail Hungarian ambitions to impose its agenda is the political calendar. The reality is that in the next six months, little will happen in Brussels in terms of new legislation. That's because the EU capital will be busy with appointing a new European Commission, the bloc's executive and proposer of new laws, a process that includes time-consuming hearings in the European Parliament to approve new commissioners (one from each member state). That process is expected to take up almost the entire fall, and Hungary has no role to play in the decision-making.

There has also been a frantic and largely successful attempt by the current Belgian presidency to clear the decks before Hungary assumed the role. That has meant signing off on a raft of new initiatives and policies. Another round of sanctions on Russia was passed on June 24; restrictive measures targeting Belarus are also expected to be agreed on June 26.

A green light was also given to Ukraine and Moldova to start accession talks on June 25. The process of screening the two EU candidates' various policy accession chapters is expected to take well over six months, and it's likely Budapest won't have to deal with Kyiv's EU accession at all and that it will be the next president of the EU Council, Poland, that will deal with this in 2025.

While Hungary has spoken out against Ukraine's readiness to join the EU, one of Budapest's priorities for the presidency is to advance the membership prospects of Albania and Serbia and possibly even those of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Georgia. (There probably won't be enough support from the member states to green-light the latter two.)

Ahead of Hungary's presidency, the EU even managed to send 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) worth of military aid to support Ukraine in defending itself against Russia. This money comes from the profits from Russian assets frozen in the EU, and Brussels got around the Budapest veto on this measure by noting that Hungary abstained from the original decision to set aside this money, so legally it didn't have a say in how that money would be used.

This is a good illustration of how the Hungarian presidency might well play out. During the discussions in Brussels on this issue last week, the Hungarian representative stayed silent the whole time, essentially waving through the measure, whereas Szijjarto posted an angry rant on Facebook about the legality of the move to freeze Hungary out. This could be Hungary's game plan: being constructive and compliant in Brussels while screaming bloody murder to its audience at home.

Then there is the question of money and those frozen EU funds earmarked for Hungary. While the 1.4 billion euros for Ukraine was passed, a Hungarian veto is still hanging over seven other tranches of military aid, worth nearly 7 billion euros, for the war-torn country.

Hungary is used to bargaining with Brussels and could attempt to link its support for further military aid to Ukraine to the 6 billion euros of EU funds it wants Brussels to release. If Budapest doesn't comply with the EU's rule-of-law requirements by the end of the year, Hungary will permanently lose 1 billion euros. That's one deal that the Hungarians will be keen on making.

Briefing #2: The New Top Jobs In The EU And NATO

What You Need To Know: Both NATO and the European Union last week finalized who will lead them in the coming years. First, the ambassadors of the transatlantic military alliance on June 26 confirmed what has already been known for a few weeks -- that outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will replace Jens Stoltenberg on October 1.

A day later, in another part of the Belgian capital, EU leaders gave Ursula von der Leyen another five-year-mandate as European Commission president. They also chose former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa to replace Charles Michel as the president of the European Council and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to replace Josep Borrell as the bloc's foreign policy chief. It's not all in the bag yet for von der Leyen and Kallas, as they also need to be confirmed in European Parliament votes. For the former, the vote would take place in mid-July, whereas Kallas will face grueling hearings later in the fall.

So, if approved, what could we expect from these new leaders? First, a disclaimer: While personalities have an impact and their positions certainly carry weight, they are not deciding policy on their own. In the EU, as well as NATO, all important decisions are still made by member states via unanimity on issues such as sanctions and expanding membership.

In many ways Rutte, Costa, and Kallas will be chairing and cajoling an unruly set of leaders (foreign ministers, in the case of Kallas). While they will be the outward face for their respective institutions, their main task will essentially be to forge consensus on important decisions.

Deep Background: Of all of them, von der Leyen is politically the most powerful. The European Commission is the bloc's executive and proposer of new legislation. It can take its member states to court, negotiate trade deals, and police the EU's common market (as U.S. tech firms and Chinese companies have experienced after receiving large fines). The commission oversees a budget worth 2 trillion euros ($2.15 trillion) with considerable freedom of how to disperse and withhold that cash.

There is every reason to believe that von der Leyen will continue to be an influential leader, especially given Europe is facing something of a power vacuum. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to get a battering in the parliamentary elections in July and likely to be something of a lame duck until his term expires in 2027, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will likely be booted out of office by voters next year. The unenviable task of being the bulwark against growing populist forces both inside and outside the bloc may well fall to von der Leyen.

The political leadership in Ukraine will be happy that she is staying on. She has consistently championed Kyiv, helping to secure long-term funding even when "Ukraine fatigue" crept into other parts of the bloc. She was also instrumental in securing EU candidate status for the country, as well as Georgia and Moldova. This year, she also championed a 6 billion-euro plan for EU hopefuls in the Western Balkans.

Drilling Down

An issue for von der Leyen has been her supposedly fractious relationship with outgoing European Council President Michel, which was the source of endless Brussels gossip.

The institutional dysfunction could be a thing of the past, as von der Leyen apparently gets on famously with the incoming Costa, and the Portuguese prime minister appears liked by most EU heads of state and government. Articulate in both English and French, a number of EU officials, speaking on background as they aren't authorized to speak on the record, have told me that the 62-year-old is unlikely to be as fiercely ambitious as his younger predecessor and might even regard this job as his final contribution to high-level politics.

He also enjoys widespread respect in the Global South, and, with his father being half-Goan, half-Mozambican, Costa will be the first ever leader of an EU institution who is non-white.

There are, however, some qualms, notably surrounding his resignation as prime minister last year in the wake of revelations that some of his aides were involved in questionable investment deals for green hydrogen projects. While no longer under investigation, it's seen as a blemish on his record.

And that leads us to Kallas, a Russia hawk who has made it onto Moscow's wanted list. Her dislike of the Kremlin made her, at least in some Western capitals, unsuitable for the job of NATO secretary-general, a position she was also in the running for. Russia aside, she has been vocal about Georgia's democratic backsliding and, while she is an ardent enlargement supporter, it's thought she will be much tougher on Serbia than previous EU top diplomats. Many in Brussels wonder how her outspokenness to date will chime with the staffers of the EU's diplomatic corps. As a precautionary measure, Kallas has moderated her tone in recent months.

Her dislike of the Kremlin made her, at least in some Western capitals, unsuitable for the job of NATO secretary-general, a position she was also in the running for. Russia aside, she has been vocal about Georgia's democratic backsliding and, while she is an ardent enlargement supporter, it's thought she will be much tougher on Serbia than previous EU top diplomats. Many in Brussels wonder how her outspokenness to date will chime with the staffers of the EU's diplomatic corps. As a precautionary measure, Kallas has moderated her tone in recent months. And what about NATO? In many ways, Rutte will be an extension of Stoltenberg, the longest serving secretary-general in the military organization's history. Like Stoltenberg, he is experienced (Dutch prime minister for 14 years) and well-liked by leaders from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He is also known for being able to strike political compromises after heading numerous unwieldy multiparty governments in The Hague. Like Stoltenberg, Rutte is also thought to get on well with Ukraine's leadership and is reported to have the respect of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Looking Ahead

All eyes will be fixed on the second round of the French parliamentary elections on July 7. Most indicators point to a trouncing of Macron's centrist bloc and big gains for both an alliance of left-wing groups and Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN). A hung parliament, rather than an absolute majority for RN, appears to be the most likely outcome.

That's all for this week! Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Rikard Jozwiak

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Kazakh political activist Aidos Sadyqov has died in a hospital two weeks after being shot in Kyiv, according to his wife and Ukrainian prosecutors. In a post on Facebook, Natalia Sadyqova said her husband had succumbed to his wounds and blamed the Kazakh president for his assassination. Kazakh authorities have denied any involvement in his death and said they were working with Ukrainian officials who have identified the suspects.
KYIV -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with a cease-fire proposal aimed at pausing fighting with Russia more than two years into Moscows all-out invasion.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Zelenskiy in Kyiv, Orban gave no details about the contents of the proposal but said he asked Zelenskiy "whether it was possible to take a break, to stop the firing, and then continue the negotiations, adding that a cease-fire "could ensure speeding up the pace of these negotiations."

I am very grateful to the president for his frank opinion on this issue," he added.

The talks, which came one day after Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Union, were notable because of Orbans vocal, persistent criticism of Western military aid for Kyiv.

Orban is also one of the few Western leaders to have met Russian President Vladimir Putin since the invasion.

Zelenskiy did not express his opinion on the proposal during the briefing with reporters, but a spokesman for Zelenskiy said later on July 2 that Zelenskiy gave Orban an opportunity to air his thoughts. Ihor Zhovkva, Zelenskiy's deputy chief of staff, also said Hungary is not the first country to come forth with a potential peace plan.

Zhovkva said Zelenskiy listened to Orban's proposal but stated Ukraine's "quite clear, understandable, and known" position in response.

Ukraine says its "territorial integrity" must be the foundation of any peace agreement -- a notion underscored by 80 countries that participated in the Ukrainian-initiated Global Peace Summit in Switzerland last month.

Zhovkva described the summit as a "tool" to achieve Kyiv's goals and said that Ukraine is preparing for a second summit. He said Zelenskiy spoke with Orban about these preparations during their meeting.

Since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Orban has stood out among leaders from the European Union and NATO for his reluctance to sign onto the massive Western weapons and aid packages for Ukraine.

Last December, he left a room during a meeting of European Union leaders in order to avoid voting against opening EU accession talks with Ukraine.

The EU has since taken a step toward formalizing those talks to put Ukraine on the path to membership.

Russia and Ukraine have not held formal peace talks since the first months after Moscows all-out invasion in February 2022. In recent weeks, Western news outlets have reported on the details of a potential deal that would have met many of Russia's demands while also putting off several major issues for a later date.

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Last month, Putin said Russia would end its war -- which has killed and wounded at least 500,000 soldiers on both sides -- only if Kyiv met certain conditions. Those included renouncing its NATO ambitions and ceding four partially occupied regions that Russia claims in their entirety, in addition to Crimea. Ukraine dismissed the conditions as absurd and said they amounted to capitulation.

Freezing the front lines for a cease-fire now would leave Russia in control of some 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, and analysts warn that a pause could potentially allow Russia to chance to rearm and redeploy troops for a new offensive.

The Guardian, which reported on Orban's visit to Kyiv earlier along with the Financial Times, said the trip came together after lengthy negotiations on the issue of rights for Ukraines Hungarian-speaking minority, who live mainly in western Ukraine close to the two countries border.

During their July 2 appearance before reporters, the two leaders said they had agreed on the establishment of a Ukrainian school in Hungary for refugees from Ukraine, and they said they planned to sign a new agreement on bilateral relations at some point in the future.

"The contents of our dialogue on all today's issues can become the basis for a future bilateral document between our nations, Zelenskiy said. The agreement will allow our people to enjoy all the benefits of unity in Europe.
The United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on July 2 during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart at the Pentagon.

Ukrainian officials have been urging their allies for months to supply more air-defense systems to defend against frequent missile and drone attacks from Russian forces following Moscow's 2022 invasion.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Austin said the latest weapons package for Ukraine would include arms like anti-tank weapons and air-defense interceptors and will allow accelerated procurement of NASAMS and Patriot air defense interceptors.

Russian strikes killed at least four people and wounded more than two dozen others around Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, while more than a dozen people were killed in Russian attacks in the southern city of Kherson, officials said.

Russias Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claimed it destroyed up to five Ukrainian fighter jets in a ballistic missile strike on an air base in central Ukraine. A former Ukrainian military official confirmed the attack on the Myrhorod air base, but said the Russian claim was exaggerated.

In a post on Telegram, Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Ukrainian military administration for Donetsk, said that four people were killed in three separate villages on July 1. Another 27 people were wounded in the strikes, he said.

In Kherson, a southern city recaptured by Ukrainian forces in late 2022, Russian shelling wounded at least five people, the head of the local military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said.

After withdrawing to the eastern, opposite bank of the Dnieper River in late 2022, Russian forces have continued to bombard Kherson and outlying districts, terrorizing the populace and leaving the city in limbo.

After Ukraine's counteroffensive sputtered out earlier this year, Russia has been waging its own, more localized offensive effort in several locations across the 1,200-kilometer front line, including near the towns of Chasiv Yar and Pokrovsk.

In early May, Russian forces launched a new effort north of the city of Kharkiv. That has slowed in recent weeks, as Ukrainian troops redeployed and pushed back the advances, though Russian forces have been digging trenches and making more permanent defenses.

Still, Russias air superiority has allowed its planes to use heavy munitions like glide bombs to devastate Ukrainian positions.

On July 2, the Russian Defense Ministry said it fired Iskander-M missiles at the Myrhorod air base, around 150 kilometers from the Russian border, a day earlier.

"As a result of the Russian military strike, five operational Su-27 multirole fighters were destroyed, and two that were under repair were damaged," the ministry said in a statement on Telegram.

The ministry also published video of what it said was the strike and its aftermath. The video showed gray smoke billowing at the airfield, where some parked planes were visible.

The claim about the planes being damaged could not be immediately verified, though both Russian and Ukrainian war bloggers reported extensively on the strike.

Ukraines military made no statement on the claim. Yuriy Ihnat, who served as a spokesman for the air force until March, confirmed that the air base was hit but downplayed the damage.

"There was an attack. There are some losses, but not the ones the enemy claims," Ihnat said in a post to Facebook.

Ukraines top air force commander, meanwhile, claimed military jets had hit a Russian ammunition depot on the occupied Crimean Peninsula on July 1.

In a post to Telegram, General Mykola Oleshchuk did not specify the exact location but posted a video from a local Telegram channel that purportedly showed the strike on Balaklava, a location near the major naval port of Sevastopol.

In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up aerial and maritime attacks on facilities and equipment in Crimea and its surrounding waters.

Maritime drones have damaged or sunk more than two dozen Black Sea Fleet warships, and Ukraine has used Western-supplied cruise missiles and kamikaze to hit naval repair facilities and even the headquarters of Russias Black Sea Fleet.
One of the prime tools of the US economic strategy these days is foreign trade tariffs. The country that used to be a resolute champion of free trade is now very persistent in protecting its domestic markets from foreign competition. The explicitly protectionist approach to international trade goes back to at least the Donald Trump administration and it has continued throughout the current Joe Biden administration. China remains the main, though not the only, target of this strategy.

Over the last three and a half years, Biden has maintained most of the tariffs imposed earlier by Trump on Beijing, including the existing tariffs on more than $300 billion worth of Chinese goods. Though the most recent May 2024 tariff hikes were relatively modest in their overall size, targeting only $18 billion worth of Chinese imports, these restrictive decisions affected a number of strategic sectors like electric vehicle (EV) batteries, computer chips and medical products.

The odds are that the US trade protectionism will go further, no matter who wins in the forthcoming November presidential election. The apparent assumption in the White House is that since the US remains a lucrative market for all US trading partners, eventually these partners will have to yield to demands coming from Washington. It is indicative that the Biden administration, exactly like its Republican predecessors, does not rely on multilateral trade mechanisms like the World Trade Organization to sort out US trade problems. Moreover, it would not be an exaggeration to argue that Washington acts as a spoiler on many WTO-related matters.

You do not have to be an expert on international markets to see that with its sheer size and its links to other economies, the policies of the US have a significant impact on the world.

However, suppose that the Biden administration or its Republican opponents do not really care about the future of the global economy. Suppose that the US leadership views international trade exclusively through a zero-sum lens, believing that it could and should make full use of its privileged position in the world in order to extract maximum concessions from partners without offering much in return. Can the US achieve affluence and prosperity at the expense of its partners?

The available data shows that it cannot. Higher tariffs do not really help balance the US foreign trade. The most recent data available indicates that in April of 2024, the US trade deficit widened to $74.6 billion, which is the largest monthly increase since October 2022. Looking ahead, the prospects for lowering US trade deficits look dim: Deloitte's baseline forecast predicts that imports will increase 3.1 percent on average in 2024, while exports will rise only by 2.4 percent. Not a particularly bright upshot for the four-year rule of the Democrats!

The global economy in the 21st century is highly interconnected and interdependent and it is clearly not a zero-sum game. If the US government forces American businesses stationed in China to leave the country, in most cases these businesses are not likely to relocate back to the US. Instead, they prefer to move to other geographical destinations, where the investment environment looks more attractive than it does in the US. Infrastructure decay, inferior vocational training quality, excessive costs of legal services, poor work ethic, numerous political uncertainties and many other domestic problems and shortcomings, rather than unfair foreign nations' trade practices, are at the core of the poor health of the US economy. The real wages in the US economy have been stagnant for decades, the social inequalities are sharply increasing, the productivity growth is slowing down and even the life expectancy is declining.

This is not to write off the US as a formidable superpower with huge potential. Still, even a true friend of the US would find it hard to deny that the nation is not in its best shape these days and that launching trade wars is not an appropriate remedy to its multiple structural disorders.

Instead of trying to shift problems from a sick head to a healthy one, the US leaders should meticulously conceptualize and consistently implement a long-term re-industrialization strategy that could once again unite the divided nation around common goals and aspirations. This is exactly what Franklin D. Roosevelt did in the 1930s to combat the Great Depression and to give Americans a sense of a common goal and social justice. A renewed social cohesion rather than high tariffs should make America great again. It seems that today neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump is ready to come up with the next edition of the New Deal calibrated to fit the realities of the 21st century. Let's hope that the incoming generation of US political leaders will fill this gap before too long.
Coillte, in conjunction with Roscommon County Council, has announced plans to develop Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. Currently at the early stages of concept and design, the project has been awarded 1.2m by Failte Irelands Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the EU and the Government under the EU Just Transition fund. The funding will be used to help fund the creation of the development plan to enhance the visitor experience at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.

Among the range of enhancements being considered are: an activity centre for children and adults; new forest experiences to further enhance the existing aerial adventures and tower experiences; an enhanced beach and swimming area at the lake; a meadow/lawn events area; expanded dining and on-site retail facilities offering local artisan foods and crafts; improved parking at the site.

Lough Key Forest and Activity offers 350 hectares of forest, semi-natural woodland and parkland set on Lough Key. It already draws thousands of visitors each year to the aerial forest adventures and electric bike trails, Boda Borg and Adventure Play Kingdom, kayaking and the boat tours on the lake, or simply to experience nature by walking through the woodlands and forest.

Mark Carlin, MD Coillte Forest said: This project is part of Coilltes strategy to create more world class visitor destinations and increase recreation spaces nationally. Investment in enhancing the visitor experience at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park will encourage local, national and international visitors to stay longer and spend more in County Roscommon and Irelands Hidden Heartlands, driving economic and employment opportunities for local communities. It is our intention that the same high-quality standard that we applied to the development of Beyond the Trees Avondale will be brought to this project. We envisage that the investment in enhancing the amenities and facilities will create a truly world class visitor destination for County Roscommon. Were delighted to receive this funding from Failte Ireland which will be used to support our vision for Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.

As we develop the plan for the site, in conjunction with Roscommon County Council, we will seek the views of local stakeholders and communities, and there will be a number of opportunities to take feedback on board before we finalise the plans for the park.

Shane Tiernan, Chief Executive, Roscommon County Council said that the park was an important outdoor recreational facility for Boyle and the wider county, but it is also an important tourist destination which boosts to the local economy. We very much look forward to developing the park further and welcoming more local, national and international visitors as our plans progress.

Paddy Mathews, Head of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands at Failte Ireland noted that the projects being funded under the Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, and which spanned the entire region, would create more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit Roscommon and Irelands Hidden Heartlands. This will generate new opportunities for employment, empower local businesses, and enhance local communities, while strengthening the appeal of the Midlands as a tourist destination for generations to come. We look forward to working with Coillte and Roscommon County Council to deliver this project, he said.
 [  ]  2024-07-02 06:57:57 .

Beat around the bush. Meaning: To avoid talking about what is important. Here is in where I saw this idiom: The Boeing saga has reached a new level of absurdity

New York (CNN)  If youre a PR person, I cant possibly think of a harder job right now than working at Boeing. Its not just clean-up on aisle six, its clean up the entire store, loading dock and parking lot... ... Boeing held a press conference from a factory in Renton, Washington, on Tuesday to talk about quality improvements. But Boeing surely knew that theyd get asked about the door plug that blew off a 737 Max on an Alaska Airlines flight in January. So Elizabeth Lund, senior vice president of quality at Boeing, didnt bother beating around the bush. Lund kicked off the briefing by sharing why the four bolts needed to hold the door plug in place were never installed before the plane left the factory in October: paperwork. The workers who needed to reinstall the bolts never had the work order telling them the work needed to be done. ... You may've noticed I highlighted another phrase, clean-up on aisle six; here aisle 6 is not the literal aisle 6 but another idiom.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says a large fish kill, affecting all species, has occurred at Big Indian Recreation Area south of Wymore.

After the commission received reports from anglers, biologists were sent to the lake on Monday, where they saw many dead fish.

Testing confirmed that extremely low levels of dissolved oxygen caused the fish kill.

Unfortunately, many water bodies are susceptible to summertime fish kills given the right sequence of weather events, Tony Barada, a Game and Parks fisheries assistant administrator, said in a statement.

Recent extreme heat and sunshine at Big Indian probably led a large algal bloom that died when cooler temperatures and cloud cover followed. Bacteria that consume dead algae also consumer oxygen, which is how excessive algae die-offs can cause fish kills.

Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District manages the recreation area and the 77-acre lake.

Staff members from Game and Parks will monitor the situation in the coming weeks to determine future steps for managing the fishery.
July 2, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 02.07.2024, 19:59

Visit. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who on Tuesday made his first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion, urged Volodymyr Zelenskiy to consider a ceasefire as soon as possible, which would allow the acceleration of peace negotiations. For his part, the Ukrainian president insisted on a just peace and on the continuation of European military aid for his country, AFP and EFE agencies report. Hungary, which took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on Monday, has vetoed several community aid decisions for Ukraine. Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, Viktor Orban has repeatedly stated that his country will not participate in the conflict and stressed that NATO accepted this position. Regarding Ukraines accession to the Union, Budapest supports a policy of consistent and merit-based enlargement. There are, however, fears that Hungary could try to slow down Ukraines candidacy, given that Prime Minister Orban has had a tense relationship with Kyiv in the past and maintains closer ties with Moscow.



Consultations. Consultations with the political parties, held for two days by the Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, on the calendar of the presidential and parliamentary elections, have ended. Forta Dreptei supports the organization of the first round of the presidential elections simultaneously with the parliamentary elections, on December 1 or 8. Hold the elections on time  was the message conveyed on Tuesday by the representatives of the Reper party. Following Mondays discussions, it emerged that, while some parties  USR or UDMR  want early elections, in November and December, others  AUR or the Social-Liberal Humanist Party  say they are ready for the presidential elections in September, as the co-ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) would also like. Moreover, the discussions initiated by the Social-Democratic prime minister are taking place against the background of the misunderstandings that have arisen in the ruling PSD-PNL coalition. In a meeting held in parallel with the government talks, the liberal leadership decided, unanimously, that the presidential elections should take place on time, in November after, in the spring, they had agreed to their organization in September. All political forces want a quick resolution with regard to the electoral calendar  this is the conclusion announced by Prime Minister Ciolacu at the end of the consultations. We recall that both local and European parliamentary elections were held in Romania on June 9th.

OSCE. The annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly continues in Bucharest, attended by politicians from over 50 countries. On Monday, the resolutions of the general committees were debated on topics such as security, climate change and environmental protection or the prevention of the use of corruption as a tool in foreign policy, which will be included in the Bucharest Declaration, the final document of the meeting. On the sidelines of the plenary session, Romanian parliamentarians hosted events in which Romanias priorities were brought to attention in areas such as infrastructure connectivity with Central Asian states, energy connectivity, international transport routes or digitization, research and innovation.



Revenues. 6 out of 10 companies in Romania estimate revenue increases this year, according to the results of the latest survey on the quality of the investment environment, presented by the representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania. On the other hand, though, they are dissatisfied with the 1% turnover tax. They say that there should be a clear timetable for waiving this tax, which does not necessarily bring the expected level of budget revenues and creates big problems for players in the economy. The representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania say that the public policies that should be prioritized include investments in infrastructure, accelerating the digitization of public administration, increasing the quality of the education system and making greater use of available European funds.



Statistics. The National Institute of Statistics reports that last year, Romanians interest in reading in libraries and in cultural activities raised. Thus, in 2023, libraries released over 19 million volumes to 2.4 million active users, 54,000 more than in 2022. The Institute also informs that the number of visitors to museums and public collections was over 3 million higher in 2023, compared to two years ago. The same happened with the number of spectators at shows and concerts, which increased by almost 2 million compared to 2022. (MI)
Dozens of passengers aboard an an Air Europa flight were injured in severe turbulence on Monday.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was flying from Spain's capital Madrid to Uruguayan capital Montevideo when the incident occurred.

The Flight UX045 was diverted and made an emergency landing in Brazil.

"Our flight UX045 bound for Montevideo has been diverted to the Natal airport (in Brazil) due to strong turbulence. The plane has landed normally and those who sustained different types of injuries are already being treated," Spanish airline said on X.

Between 30 and 40 passengers were injured, many of them sustaining fractures and injuries to their arms, faces, and legs, reports quoting passengers said.

A video that turned viral shows one of the passengers thrown into the overhead baggage area during the turbulence being pulled down by fellow passengers.

Air Europa said that passengers who were travelling on the ill-fated plane and stranded in Brazil will be taken to their original destination on another plane that left Madrid.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The United States and Panama have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly reduce the number of migrants being cruelly smuggled through the Darien, usually en route to the United States.

Under the MoU, U.S. Department of Homeland Security will begin a new foreign assistance program to address irregular migration in the region. It will help the Panamanian government to remove foreign nationals who do not have a legal basis to remain in Panama.

According to the U.S. Department of State, more than 520,000 migrants transited through the Darien region illegally in 2023.

The program will be funded by the State Department.

Welcoming the Agreement, NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the United States will support Panama's efforts to begin the swift, safe, and humane repatriation of migrants who do not have a legal basis to remain in Panama.

"By returning such individuals to their country of origin, we will help deter irregular migration in the region and at our Southern border, and halt the enrichment of malign smuggling networks that prey on vulnerable migrants," he said in a statement.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Novavax (NVAX) has filed for authorization with Health Canada for 2024-2025 Formula COVID-19 vaccine or NVX-CoV2705 for individuals aged 12 and older. Novavax plans to have its vaccine available in Canada for immediate release post-authorization.

John Jacobs, CEO, Novavax, said: "Our updated COVID-19 vaccine is active against JN.1, KP.2 and KP.3, in addition to other JN.1 sublineage strains."

Novavax noted that it has filed with the FDA and EMA, and is working with other regulatory authorities globally on authorization or approval of its updated COVID-19 vaccine.

For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOG) Google has announced a new bug bounty program, named kvmCTF, to help find vulnerabilities in the Kernel-based Virtual Machine or KVM hypervisor.

The program offers a reward of upto $250,000 for successfully achieving a full virtual machine escape exploit, which refers to a vulnerability in hypervisor that allows malicious code to break free and execute on the underlying host system.

During the program, the participants could reserve time slots to access a guest VM hosted in a lab environment to conduct a guest-to-host attack.

"The goal of the attack must be to exploit a zero day vulnerability in the KVM subsystem of the host kernel. If successful, the attacker will obtain a flag that proves their accomplishment in exploiting the vulnerability," Google explained in a blog post.

The company hopes that the project would help in identifying virtual machine escapes, arbitrary code execution flaws, information disclosure issues, and denial-of-service or DoS bugs, according to Securityweek.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Honda June 2024 Sales  Domestic Dip, Export Surge

Sales performance for Honda Cars India (HCIL) in June 2024 made no ripples. Total sales reached 9,776 units, including 4,804 units in the domestic market and 4,972 units in exports. In comparison, June 2023 saw 5,080 units sold domestically and 2,112 units exported, totalling 7,192 units. This reflects a significant overall increase of 35.93 percent, or 2,584 units, year-over-year.

Domestic sales experienced a decline. With 4,804 units sold in June 2024, down from 5,080 units in June 2023, there is a decrease of 276 units, or 5.43 percent. This downward trend in domestic sales signals potential challenges in the local market, which could be attributed to various factors such as economic conditions, competitive pressures, or shifting consumer preferences.

Promotional Push: Hondas June Sales Drive

Conversely, export performance showed remarkable growth. June 2024 saw HCIL export 4,972 units, a substantial rise from the 2,112 units exported in June 2023. This represents an impressive 135.42 percent increase, highlighting the strategic focus on expanding international market reach. Rise in exports highlights the companys successful penetration into new markets and demand for Honda vehicles overseas.

HCILs marketing strategies in June 2024 have been key. The company rolled out promotional campaigns. The objective was to boost visibility and drive sales.

Hondas Export Focus Offsets Domestic Decline

Analysing sales performance, it becomes clear that HCILs emphasis on exports has paid off. Significant rise in export sales has not only compensated for the domestic market decline but has also contributed to the overall sales growth. This strategic realignment towards exports points to the companys adaptability and foresight in navigating market dynamics.

The automotive industry trends suggest that focusing on export markets can be a viable strategy for growth, especially when domestic markets face saturation or economic challenges. HCILs performance in June 2024 illustrates this trend effectively. The companys ability to adapt to changing market conditions and leverage international opportunities has positioned it well for sustained growth.

Future Focus: Innovation and Growth for Honda

In the years to come, HCILs focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction will be pivotal. The company must continue to enhance its product offerings and expand its footprint in both domestic and international markets. Addressing the challenges in the domestic market while capitalising on the momentum in exports will be key to maintaining a balanced and sustainable growth trajectory.

Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, The market conditions have been challenging to create fresh demand. During June, we rolled out exciting promotional campaigns to make the purchase more rewarding and focused on maximizing retail. On the exports front, we continued to grow, marking a significant leap for the company.
Where rivals are concerned, Kawasaki Ninja 650 locks horns with Aprilia RS660 and the upcoming Triumph Daytona 660

While Royal Enfield is the primary contributor in 500cc+ motorcycle segment, Kawasaki is pretty high up the list, volume wise. The company offers an extensive portfolio of high-performance multi-cylinder motorcycles. The popular middle-weight offering, Ninja 650, is bestowed with an attractive discount for July 2024. Lets take a look.

Kawasaki Ninja 650 Gets Rs 30,000 Discount

The Japanese motorcycle brand, Kawasaki, has been one of the most sought after in the high-performance motorcycles space. Team Green often comes out on top of its rivals where sheer value for money is concerned, as they are priced competitively.

Whenever Kawasaki offers discounts on top, the VFM quotient goes higher. Something similar happened in March 2024 when Kawasaki offered attractive discounts for four of its motorcycles  Ninja 400 with Rs 40,000 discount, Ninja 650 with Rs 30,000 discount, Versys 650 with Rs 40,000 discount and Vulcan S with Rs 60,000 discount.

Kawasaki is now offering the same Rs 30,000 discount for Ninja 650 in July 2024 as well. This discount is offered as Good Times Voucher that buyers can redeem at checkout. The company took to social media to announce the Rs 30,000 discount offered on their middle-weight offering, the Ninja 650.

In the marketing material, Kawasaki India mentioned that Ninja 650 is on sale for an Ex-showroom price of Rs 7.16 lakh and buyers can avail Good Time Voucher of Rs 30,000 on this motorcycle. Taking the effective Ex-showroom price down to Rs 6.86 lakh after the discount is applied.

This offer is likely to last till the current stocks are cleared. For finer details and accurate on-road prices, buyers are advised to visit their nearest Kawasaki dealership. The company didnt announce any discounts on other Kawasaki motorcycles.

The tried and tested!

Kawasaki Ninja 650 is among the most popular middle-weight motorcycles on sale in India. It has been prevalent in India for a very long time and is a staple name among the enthusiasts. Ninja 650 comes equipped with a tried and tested 649cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled motor that is capable of churning out 68 PS of peak power and 64 Nm of peak torque.

Where features are concerned, Ninja 650 gets LED headlights, a TFT instrument screen with a plethora of functions and more. The same 650 platform spawns a street naked motorcycle in the form of Z650, Versys 650 ADV, Z650 RS cafe racer and Vulcan S cruiser. Closest rival to Ninja 650 in India is Aprilia RS660 and the soon-to-launch Triumph Daytona 660.
TVS has registered a 5.84% YoY growth in total two-wheeler sales in June 2024 with 322,168 units sold

TVS Motor Company has released their sales results for June 2024. The company has recorded sales of 3,33,646 units in June 2024 relating to a growth of 5.45% as against 3,16,411 units sold in June 2023. Positive sales were seen across the two wheeler segment while three wheeler sales fell into the red with lower domestic sales and exports.

TVS Motor 2W and 3W Sales May 2024  YoY Performance

TVS Motor has reported a 5.45% YoY growth in total sales (2W+3W) (domestic + exports) in June 2024 to 3,33,646 units, up from 3,16,411 units sold in June 2023. This was a volume increase of 17,235 units. Talking exclusively of its two wheeler sales, TVS Motor with a lineup that includes top selling models such as the Jupiter, Apache, XL, Raider, NTorq, iQube, accounted for 3,22,168 unit sales in June 2024, a 5.85% increase over 3,04,401 units sold in June 2023.

Motorcycle sales far exceeded that of scooter sales with 1,52,701 units sold in the past month, up 3.03% over 1,48,208 units sold in June 2023. The motorcycle segment currently commands a 47.40% share as against a 40.04% share held by scooters. Scooter sales also ended positively last month with 6.28% YoY growth to 1,28,986 units, up from 1,21,364 units sold in June 2023.

Electric scooter (iQube) sales grew by 9.66% YoY to 15,859 units while moped (XL100) sales saw double digit growth of 16.23% from 34,829 units sold in June 2023 to 40,491 units sold last month. Two wheeler domestic sales were up 8.44% to 2,55,734 units while exports fell by 3.11% to 66,434 units.

TVS Motor 3W sales remained in the red both in terms of domestic sales and exports which fell 15.76% and 2.89% respectively to 1,208 units and 10,270 units, thus taking total sales in this segment to 11,478 units. This was a 4.43% YoY decline over 12,010 units sold in June 2023.

TVS Motor MoM Performance June 2024 Vs May 2024

Month-on-month sales of TVS Motors saw a decline across the two wheeler segment. Total 2 wheeler sales (domestic + exports) fell by 10.41% to 3,22,168 units in June 2024 from 3,59,590 units sold in May 2024 relating to a 37,422 unit volume de-growth.

Motorcycle and scooter sales were down 12.05% and 11.23% respectively while e-scooter and moped sales also fell MoM by 15.07% and 0.44% respectively. Total domestic sales dipped 5.68% from 2,71,140 units sold in May 2024 while exports suffered an even greater setback of 24.89% over 88,450 units shipped in May 2024.

Across the 3W segment, while domestic sales fell by 33.19% MoM, global sales were up 20.60% with impressive shipments surging from 8,516 units in May 2024 to 10,270 units in the past month. Domestic sales (2W+3W) also suffered a 5.86% de-growth while exports (2W+3W) fell by 20.90% MoM.
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.

Photos: National Weather Service office in Valley tracks tornadoes for Omaha metro
AMMAN, June 30 (Xinhua) -- A promotion event of Chinese tea culture was held Sunday here in the Jordanian capital with fascinating music and dance performances and ethnic costumes on display featuring the distinctiveness of southern China's Yunnan Province.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong said the Chinese history of making and drinking tea dates back almost 5,000 years, and the spread of tea worldwide has fostered exchanges and fusion between civilizations, including those of the Arab world.

Yang Cheng, deputy director of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, proudly introduced six tea processing techniques and associated social practices of his province, including the traditional Pu'er tea processing techniques and the three-course tea tradition of the Bai ethnic minority.

He noted the six techniques were part of the "traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China" enlisted in 2022 as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, expressing hope that the event will help deepen the understanding of Yunnan's ethnic cultures among the Jordanian people and promote cultural exchanges and collaboration between Jordan and Yunnan, China.

The event, which was held in the China Cultural Center in Amman and runs until July 2, saw its opening attracting more than 300 participants from China, Jordan, and other countries.
A team of scientists from the Swedish Museum of Natural History and elsewhere has described a new species of nightjar living in the tropical forests of Timor and Wetar, Lesser Sunda Islands.

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal instectivorous birds in the family Caprimulgidae and the order Caprimulgiformes.

These birds are found all around the world, with the exception of Antarctica, and certain island groups such as the Seychelles.

Characterized by long wings, short legs, and very short bills, nightjars take flying insects on the wing, usually at night. During the day, they sleep on the ground or perched, usually lengthwise, on a branch.

Nightjars are among the most difficult bird species to study due to their unobtrusive and nocturnal behavior and cryptic plumage, said lead author Dr. George Sangster and his colleagues.

In their research, the authors focused on the nightjars of the Caprimulgus macrurus complex.

This species complex is distributed from Pakistan to Australia and comprises six morphologically similar but vocally distinct species.

Fieldwork on Timor and Wetar, Lesser Sunda Islands, has resulted in the discovery of a seventh species in the complex, which we describe as a new species, the researchers said.

This species has previously been confused with Caprimulgus macrurus, Caprimulgus celebensis and Caprimulgus manillensis but it differs from these and all other species in the complex by at least 13 vocal characters.

Named Caprimulgus ritae, or the Timor nightjar, the new species is not found in other parts of the range of the Caprimulgus macrurus complex.

The bird is a forest specialist that has been recorded from a wide range of tropical forests from tall evergreen to highly deciduous dry forest mostly in the lowlands below 1,000 m, with one record from 1,500 m.

Caprimulgus ritae is the fourth bird species known to be endemic to both Timor and Wetar, the scientists said.

Other species are the Timor imperial pigeon (Ducula cineracea), the Wetar ground dove (Pampusana gallicolumba hoedtii) and the iris lorikeet (Saudareos iris).

Six additional species on Timor and Wetar are otherwise found only on Atauro, Roti and/or Semau. Hence, the distribution of Caprimulgus ritae is mirrored by that of several other bird species.

Wetar is closer to Timor (51 km) than to Alor (76 km), with the stepping-stone Atauro Island only 23 km off Timor and 21 km off Wetar.

The lack of divergence between the cyt b sequences from Timor and Wetar suggests that colonization of Wetar from Timor, or vice versa, was probably very recent.

The study was published in the journal Ibis.

_____

Ben F. King et al. A new species of nightjar (Caprimulgus) from Timor and Wetar, Lesser Sunda Islands, Wallacea. Ibis, published online June 24, 2024; doi: 10.1111/ibi.13340
The Karnataka government, building on the success of the Pavagada Solar Park in Tumakuru, has announced plans to develop another large-scale solar park in the district, specifically in Madhugiri taluk. Energy Minister K.J. George revealed the new initiative during a visit to Tumakuru, emphasizing its potential to strengthen the state's clean energy infrastructure and contribute to environmental sustainability.

"The upcoming Madhugiri Solar Park will significantly boost Karnataka's renewable energy capabilities, enhancing both environmental stewardship and energy security", stated George. The park is set to be developed in collaboration with Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited (THDCIL), a central government entity, which will assist in identifying suitable land parcels and leveraging local expertise to advance the project.

The new solar park aligns with Karnataka's broader renewable energy strategy, aiming to diversify the states energy sources and reduce reliance on conventional power. This strategic partnership with THDCIL reflects the governments commitment to integrating local resources and knowledge in developing large-scale energy projects.

During his visit, George also reviewed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) project at the Tumakuru district commissioner's office. He addressed the persistent issue of unauthorized electricity connections for farmers' pump sets, which have led to transformer damages and power supply disruptions. "The subsidy for free electricity for farmers' pump sets is increasing annually. Despite efforts to regularize these connections, challenges remain. In this context, we are prioritizing the KUSUM B and KUSUM C projects, encouraging the adoption of solar pump sets", George noted.

25,000 per acre. This revenue will be directed to local development, funding anganwadis, schools, and panchayats. The KUSUM C project, part of the PM KUSUM initiative aimed at promoting solar energy in agriculture, requires 4-5 acres of land to generate 1 MW of electricity. George outlined the land acquisition strategy, indicating that government land, if used, will be leased free of cost for 25 years, with lessees paying an annual fee of25,000 per acre. This revenue will be directed to local development, funding anganwadis, schools, and panchayats.

Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department of Karnataka, highlighted the project's role in transforming energy security for Indian agriculture. "We are identifying land around substations for this initiative. So far, 27 substations have been selected, with an additional 12 substations to be chosen in the next phase for Tumakuru district. Work has already begun in some areas, and surveys have been conducted. The goal is to benefit farmers with locally generated electricity", Gupta explained.

The review meeting, focused on advancing Karnataka's renewable energy agenda, was attended by several key officials, including state Home Minister G. Parameshwar, who is also the district in-charge minister, Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna, State Government Special Representative in Delhi T.B. Jayachandra, MLA K. Shadakshari, BESCOM Managing Director Mahantesh Bilagi, and Tumakuru District Collector Shubha Kalyan.
The stock market is expected to continue its positive momentum on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. GIFT Nifty indicates that the Sensex and Nifty indices closed higher on Monday, and the GIFT Nifty futures predict a 43-point increase over the Nifty 50 futures at 24,249 levels. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 is trading flat, slightly up by 0.03 percent, while the Topix is up by 0.55 percent. However, South Korea's Kospi declined by 0.7 percent.

Coal India: On Monday, state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) announced that it had produced 189.3 million tonnes (MTs) of coal in the first quarter ending June FY2025, marking a 7.9 percent growth compared to the 175.5 MTs produced during the same period last year. This represents an increase of 13.8 MTs in volume compared to the corresponding quarter of FY 2024.

OMCs: The Indian government has increased the windfall tax on petroleum crude from Rs 3,250 to Rs 6,000 ($72) per metric ton. According to a recent notification, this increase will be effective as of July 2. It's worth noting that the windfall tax on diesel and aviation turbine fuel remains unchanged at zero.

One97 Communications: One97 Communications Ltd (OCL), the parent company of Paytm, has denied media reports suggesting that the firm has decided to avoid pursuing businesses that require regulatory licenses. The digital payments firm reaffirmed its commitment to building on its core regulated business lines of payments and financial services and stated that there is no change in its operating strategy.

Patanjali Foods: Patanjali Foods announced on Monday that it will acquire the entire non-food business from Patanjali Ayurved for Rs 1,100 crore. As stated in the company's exchange filing, the acquisition will be completed in five tranches.

NMDC: NMDC has announced a reduction in iron prices by Rs 500 per tonne for both lump ore and fines, effective from June 30. Following the price cut, lump ore will be priced at Rs 5,950 per tonne and fines at Rs 5,110 per tonne, as per the company's exchange filing. This decision comes despite NMDC reporting a year-on-year decline in iron ore production and sales for June. The production for the month was 3.37 million tonnes, down from 3.48 million tonnes in the same period last fiscal year. In June, sales totaled 3.73 million tonnes, down from 4.10 million tonnes.

CSB Bank: CSB Banks gross advances increased by 17.8% year-over-year to Rs 25,099 crore in the first quarter of FY25. The bank also reported a 22.2% increase in deposits, amounting to Rs 29,920 crore in the first quarter, compared to Rs 24,476 crore in the same period last year.

Zydus Lifesciences: Zydus Healthcare's wholly-owned subsidiary, Zydus Lifesciences, received an income tax notice demanding Rs 284.58 crore for the assessment year 2023-2024, as per an exchange filing. Zydus Healthcare received an intimation under section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (IT Act), determining a demand of Rs 284.58 crore.

Gandhar Oil Refinery: Gandhar Oil Refinery's foreign subsidiary has been awarded a three-year contract by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. for Distribution PJSC, UAE. Texol Lubritech FZC has signed the contract to manufacture, package, label, and provide the products on a contract basis for Rs 375 crore, to be paid annually. The estimated contract quantity is 30 million liters per year.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Faith leaders and pantry operators had been holding their breath after the mayor proposed $31.2 million in cuts to a city program that serves 22 pantries across the Island, with an emphasis on fresh food.

A last-minute change in the budget last week restored a variety of food funding for struggling New Yorkers.

People who line up at pantries  often keeping their need secret from coworkers and friends  are of all ages and all walks of life: Seniors. Disabled persons. Low wage working families with children.

Hundreds of families rely on the weekly food pantry at El Centro Del Inmigrante in Port Richmond to help feed their families. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome

It is not Gods way for people to be hungry, said Msgr. William Belford, chair of the Staten Island Vicariate for the NY Archdiocese.

Staten Island food pantries are relieved to know that the critical Community Food Connection food funds have been restored in full to the NYC Budget! said Rev. Terry Troia, Chair of the Food for All Campaign of the Staten Island Hunger Task Force.

She enthused, We thank our Councilmembers Hanks, Joseph Borelli and David Carr for their strong support for our 22 Staten Island pantries! We are deeply grateful to them for their fighting for the most in need families in our borough!

How food funds were restored

Staten Islands three council members voted to approve the citys 2025 budget, which passed 46 to 3. Sundays vote came mere hours before the midnight June 30 deadline.

Included in the new budget is also a $2 billion commitment to affordable housing, $100 million for early childhood education; $600 million to K-12 education and cultural and library dollars were restored so branches will be able to stay open on Sundays.

In addition to the lifesaving pantry funding, the budget includes $4.8 million to home food delivery programs to impoverished seniors and other individuals in need.

Staten Island's largest food pantry is in Stapleton off of Broad Street. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Food dollars at work

According to the people who help feed the one in ten Staten Islanders living in poverty, restoring food dollars to the citys budget was non-negotiable, because without enough to eat, nothing else is possible. Dozens of faith leaders and pantry operators had gathered Wednesday on the steps of Borough Hall in a last-ditch effort to save the borough pantries which stood to lose nearly half their funding.

Catholic Charities of Staten Island is one of many food pantries that will be deeply affected if the mayors proposed cuts to the Community Food Connection program were adoptedWe were worried, said Claire Atalla, CEO of Catholic Charities of Staten Island. She said the group provides 136,000 emergency food bags and 28 tons of produce to thousands of borough residents.

Hunger across the city and nation is more prevalent than it was even during the COVID crisis. Last year, more than eight million meals were served on Staten Island, the most in history, according to the Staten Island Hunger Task Force.

The funds are critical in ensuring that vulnerable Staten Islanders  including children and seniors  have enough food on their tables, said Amelia Winter, director of Social and Senior Services at the JCC of Staten Island, which serves over 2,500 food insecure people a month.

The restoration of pantry funds in the city budget is a Godsend for the tens of thousands of Islanders who supplement their food budgets with pantry bags and hot meals from Project Hospitality. The boroughs largest provider of emergency nutrition served more than four million meals last year.

We have children waiting in line at the soup kitchen and food pantry in 90-degree heat. We have seniors calling us crying, desperate, desperate for food, said Alex Hughes, Project Hospitality director of Hunger Prevention and Advocacy.

Hughes further noted, The reduction would have caused massive ramifications in the soup kitchens and food pantries across this city and massive reverberations through the emergency food system and would have been felt most by the people who are most vulnerable.
IN CLASS: This feature is part of an ongoing education column highlighting the various activities that engage school communities.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island students at PS 373R unveiled a new mural called The Buoys Bells and Oyster Shells at their school in New Brighton.

The mural depicts a whimsical view of the New York Harbor as seen from above and under the surface of the water. With the Staten Island Ferry floating by, and paper boats drifting on the waves, happy sea creatures could be seen swimming in the deep-blue world below.

Students at PS 373R in New Brighton quickly tore off the covering to unveil the mural. (Courtesy/PS 373R)PS 373R

The mural was unveiled at the school on June 20.

The project was coordinated by The Noble Maritime Collection museums director of programs Dawn Daniels and the schools arts education liaisons Leah Rubio and Elena Seminara.

The project is inspired by Staten Islands active waterway, the New York Harbor, and explores the work of The Billion Oyster Project. Students studied east coast oysters and the role of the oyster reefs in the cleaning and conservation of New York Harbor.

The students then created art based on what they learned.

The project was coordinated by The Noble Maritime Collection museums director of programs Dawn Daniels and the schools arts education liasons Leah Rubio and Elena Seminara. School teachers taught students about the harbor and more. (Courtesy/PS 373R)PS 373R

The mural features a design by artist Lina Montoya who worked with fourth and fifth grade students from teachers Danielle Creamer, Brittney Hammel, and Ryan Sullivans classes to create the mural in weekly sessions. Montoya also led the students in making the paper boats and oysters while they learned about the ecosystem of Upper New York Bay.

The program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and District 49 Council Member Kamillah Hanks.

The mural was unveiled at the school last month. (Courtesy/PS 373R)PS 373R

DEANS LIST

Students from Staten Island who attend DeSales University made the spring 2024 Deans List. DeSales is located in Center Valley, Penn., is a private university under the leadership of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales.

Founded in 1965, the 550-acre suburban campus is located 50 miles north of Philadelphia and about 90 miles southwest of New York City.

Lauren Bove, majoring in psychology

Madison Celi, majoring in medical studies

Alexa Cocchiola, majoring in nursing

Dylan Doskocil, majoring in criminal justice

Olivia La Grua, majoring in medical studies

Emily Leverock, majoring in biology

Natalie Mahoney, majoring in TV/film

Christopher Matera, majoring in medical studies

Francesca Milazzo, majoring in communication sciences and disorders

Ava Palma, majoring in medical studies

Emma Scotto, majoring in medical studies

Emily Sessler, majoring in medical studies

Nia Tempest, majoring in biology

Joseph Wilson, majoring in sport management

SEND US YOUR STORIES

Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com.
Douglas W. Desterdick, affectionately known as Dougie to those closest to him, died peacefully on June 16 at Silver Lake Nursing Home, after a brief illness. He was 73.

Born on Oct. 29, 1950 in the Bronx, New York, Desterdick was predeceased by his parents, Milton and Maureen, and his sister Janice. He was the loving brother of Carol and her husband George, and is survived by his aunt Patsy, his honorary uncle, Patrick Giblin and his wife Maya, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Desterdick, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair, lived 15 years of his life in state institutions, including 10 of his formative years at the Staten Island Developmental Center (SIDC), formerly known as the Willowbrook State School, infamous for its horrific conditions and mistreatment of its residents. t was ultimately closed and became a symbol of the need for reform in the treatment of individuals with disabilities.

I hate institutions, said Desterdick in a 1985 Staten Island Advance interview, when he was 34. Theyre like a jailhouse. Desterdick entered the former Willowbrook State School in 1963 at the age of 12 because his mother had trouble caring for his medical needs, physical limitations, and impaired speech and motor skills.

At the Willowbrook State School, some children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities were beaten, experimented on, and left to suffer in deplorable, overcrowded, understaffed and squalid conditions.

He left SIDC in 1973, 18 months after the New York Civil Liberties Union and Legal Aid Society filed an historic civil rights lawsuit, challenging the inhumane conditions, like overcrowding (originally designed to accommodate about 4,000 individuals, Willowbrook housed more than 6,000 residents) and reports of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by staff members.

The landmark legal settlement established a standard of care for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities (IDD) and launched the civil rights movement for people with disabilities.

My cousin Dougie was a Willowbrook survivor and martyr, said Giblin. Im 60 years old and what I witnessed personally when visiting Dougie over the years [at Willowbrook] was beyond comprehension as a medic and as a police officer. Ive never seen anything even close to this kind of abuse at this at any scale, absent the Holocaust.

The overcrowding at Willowbrook was relieved by moving its patients out, including Desterdick, who was transferred to Fineson Development Center in Queens, where he lived until 1980.

Eventually, he was moved into a smaller group home operated by United Cerebral Palsy in the Fountains, a co-op on Clove Road in West Brighton, which afforded Desterdick more privacy, day-today normalcy, gentler 24-hour care, and more personal relationships with four roommates, rather than hundreds found in the institutionalized setting.

I was told UCP still has three or four apartments left in the Fountains, but Dougie was moved and lived for many years at a group home at 380 Sharon Avenue run by UCP, added Giblin. His roommates and staff became his family. He had one very special health care attendant, Nicole. Its so refreshing when you meet people that are in the right place doing the right thing for all the right reasons.

In addition to Nicole, Desterdicks legacy of friendship and kindness will be remembered by the UCP team, including James, Shayhu, Kareem, Joy Nicole, Jeanette and Sean, and his longtime roommates Richard, George, Joe, Mike and Cecil.

Richard, George and Joe were with him as residents of Willowbrook, not just survivors, but real heroes, added Giblin. They all outlived that wicked staff. They are all a real testament to human strength, as well as former roommates who shared in the trials and triumphs of surviving the infamous Willowbrook institution. Dougies funeral and repast was probably one of the best attended Ive ever seen.

Having overcome the challenges of Willowbrook, Desterdick flourished in the kinder surroundings of a group home, talking on the phone with friends, and watching tv  especially Law and Order.

We do fundraisers for the group home at our house once a year and a lot of parents of special needs adults come over to volunteer to help with a huge yard sale to raise funds for their recreational needs, added Giblin. All of the proceeds go right from the cash box into their hands.

EXCERPTS FROM OBITUARY OF DOUBLAS WILLIAM DESTERDICK

Douglas W. Desterdicks journey through life was one marked by resilience, joy, and the unwavering support of a community that cherished him. Douglass enduring spirit and the love he shared will continue to guide and comfort those he leaves behind.

His artistic talent was one of his most remarkable attributes. His passion for art was not only a hobby but a true calling. He excelled in painting and drawing, winning several awards for his artwork. His creativity was a source of joy and inspiration to those around him.

He also pursued various technical trade programs throughout his education and his dedication and work ethic were evident in all he undertook, and he was a valued member of every team he joined.

Celebrations and social gatherings were highlights in Desterdicks life, especially holiday parties in general and Chirstmas parties in particular. His infectious smile and sense of humor made him the life of the party.

Dougies love for excitement extended to his many trips to various Connecticut casinos, where his uncanny luck with the one-armed bandit became the stuff of legend among his friends and family.

As we bid farewell to Dougie, we remember a man whose presence could light up a room, whose laughter was contagious, and whose spirit was unbreakable. He lived a life full of moments that touched the hearts of many, leaving behind memories that will be treasured and stories that will be told for years to come.

We celebrate the life of a remarkable man, a cherished brother, a beloved friend, and a true inspiration. Dougies life was a testament to beauty of human connection and the enduring power of love. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched.

Douglas W. Desterdick, seated, affectionately known to many as Dougie to those closest to him, died peacefully on June 16, 2024, at Silver Lake Nursing Home, after a brief illness. He was 73. (Courtesy Patrick Giblin)Courtesy Patrick Gilbin

Douglas W. Desterdick, affectionately known to many as Dougie to those closest to him, died peacefully on June 16, 2024, at Silver Lake Nursing Home, after a brief illness. He was 73. (Courtesy Patrick Giblin)Courtesy Patrick Gilbin

Douglas W. Desterdick, affectionately known to many as Dougie to those closest to him, died peacefully on June 16, 2024, at Silver Lake Nursing Home, after a brief illness. He was 73. His honorary uncle, Patrick Giblin, is dressed as Santa for the holidays, and visited group homes for people with disabilities. (Courtesy Patrick Giblin)Courtesy Patrick Gilbin

Douglas W. Desterdick, affectionately known to many as Dougie to those closest to him, died peacefully on June 16, 2024, at Silver Lake Nursing Home, after a brief illness. He was 73. He is pictured with his honorary uncle, Patrick Giblin. (Courtesy Patrick Giblin)Courtesy Patrick Gilbin
Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo had a pretty scary moment Sunday night when he slipped in his hotel room on the way to the bathroom and cut his forehead, manager Carlos Mendoza said.

Nimmo was not in the lineup for Mondays series-opener against the Nationals, a 9-7 victory for the Amazins (41-41). He was released from the hospital and all tests for a concussion came back negative.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The U.S. Embassy has issued a warning for Americans in the Caribbean.

A notice from the Embassy urged U.S. citizens or visitors in the path of Hurricane Beryl  Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  to closely monitor weather conditions.

We advise U.S. citizens to monitor local and regional emergency management organizations for updates on the situation and for information on emergency preparedness, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA): http://www.cdema.org/ , stated the U.S. Embassys website.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Martinique, and a tropical storm watch is in effect for Dominica.

Beryl is the earliest Category 5 storm to ever form in the Atlantic Ocean. It is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to several areas.

Citizens are also being urged to register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov. It is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Heres what you can do if you enroll in STEP:
Update: All lanes of the Goethals Bridge to N.J. are open following the emergency response, as reported by a Port Authority post on X just before 1:30 p.m.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A tractor trailer fire temporarily closed all lanes of the Goethals Bridge to New Jersey Tuesday afternoon.

The fire broke out on the Staten Island Expressway just before the entrance to the bridge and resulted in a closure persisting for nearly an hour.

The FDNY first received a call reporting the fire around 12:25 p.m.

Video from the scene shows flames charring the rear of the trailer. Black smoke billowed from the blaze as firefighters battled the fire. All the while, vehicles continued to proceed in the eastbound lanes of the Staten Island Expressway.

Notify NYC, New York Citys official emergency notification system, reported that the westbound lanes of the Staten Island Expressway were closed at Western Avenue, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A New York City Department of Transportation camera shows a vehicle fire temporarily closing all westbound lanes of the Goethals Bridge on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2, 2024.(Courtesy of the New York City Department of Transportation)

A post by the Port Authority on X just before 1 p.m. advised taking the West Shore Expressway to the Outerbridge Crossing.

It was just before 1:30 p.m. that the Port Authority reported that all lanes of the Goethals Bridge to N.J. had reopened.

No injuries were reported from the incident, according to the FDNY.

Scenes from the tractor trailer fire on the Staten Island Expressway the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)(Staten Island Advance/Jason Pad

Scenes from the tractor trailer fire on the Staten Island Expressway the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)(Staten Island Advance/Jason Pad

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While controversies follow Australias richest person, Gina Rinehart, around on home soil, the iron-ore magnate has won the admiration of Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia. His majesty bestowed the Royal Order of Sahametrei on Rinehart, the highest award for non-Cambodians, in a recent ceremony.

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The gratitude of the Cambodians received far less publicity than Rinehart attracted after she failed to have Vincent Namatjiras unflattering portrait of her from the artists Australia in Colour series removed from display at the National Gallery in Canberra.

And while she cant avoid the adverse publicity that comes with long-running legal battles with some of her own children, John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart, Gina rarely speaks publicly about her charitable efforts helping kids in Cambodia.

The award from the King comes after she received the Angkor Award back in February from Scott Neeson, founder and executive chairman of the Cambodian Childrens Fund.
CLIFFORD WALLACE: 1952  2024

Cliff Wallace was not the kind of person you expect to see in an environmental protest  let alone putting his beloved farm, Wando, up as the staging post for a forest blockade that made international headlines and lasted two years. But he was a man of enormous courage and generosity and when he and his community were under threat from Whitehaven coal mine in Maules Creek near Narrabri, he acted.

Cliff Wallace on his farm in 2014 where he hosted a protest camp against mining in Leard State Forest. Credit: Nick Moir

Like many communities that have been caught up in the wave of coal and gas expansion projects of years gone by, Cliff didnt choose the conflict, it was forced upon him. His biggest concern was the impact of the vast amounts of water extracted for the mine on groundwater levels in a region that was entirely dependent on it  a fear that has since been more than vindicated.

The plan to make a stand to protect the water supply, forest and sacred sites of the local Gomeroi nation began in June 2013. For several years, the Maules Creek Community Council had been pressing the company, Whitehaven, and the NSW Planning Department to look at underground mining as an alternative  an alternative that was rejected out of hand.
A 14-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed a student at the University of Sydney threatened to carry out a mass shooting less than a year ago but charges were dropped on mental health grounds.

Police are investigating if the teenager, who was wearing camouflage gear when he allegedly stabbed the 22-year-old student at the University of Sydney entrance on Tuesday morning, has extremist links.

CCTV captures an image of a person matching the description of the alleged attacker on Tuesday morning.

The teenager allegedly walked up to the man and stabbed him from behind in the neck with a kitchen knife near the universitys Parramatta Road entrance.

He allegedly fled the scene on a bus. In CCTV footage captured from a nearby shop, a man matching his description was seen walking past shortly after the alleged stabbing, nursing what appeared to be an injured hand.
Gas producers and consumers are furiously lobbying the WA government on whether it should allow onshore gas to be exported to handle a shortage predicted over the next 10 years, but no one is talking about a real risk that the states biggest supplier could leave the market a few years later.

Because of a deal struck in 2003, Chevrons Gorgon gas export project  which now supplies about 25 per cent of WAs needs  could turn the tap off around 2037.

Chevrons Gorgon LNG plant ships LNG to Japan and elsewhere in Asia.

That sounds like a long time away, but the risk that affordable gas supply may not be available is a drag on current investment decisions, which take a long-term view. At stake are both new gas-consuming projects and, more critically, life extensions to old plants that employ thousands.

Successive WA governments have boasted to their east-coast counterparts about their wisdom in requiring gas exporters to reserve 15 units of gas for local use for every 100 units exported, but the reality is less effective.
Next month, Perths nascent cocktail scene will get another boost when the city hosts the inaugural Perth Cocktail Weekend (August 9-10): a city-wide party that sees three bars from the influential Worlds 50 Best Bars list take over three of Perths favourite watering holes.

Theyve also increased training, and the launch of local pre-bottled cocktail brand Idle Hands has tipped the odds of getting a good cocktail while out  or even at home  ever more in drinkers favour.

Veteran bartenders have established platforms to celebrate and educate female bar staff , plus cocktail competitions to help sharpen emerging bar talent; 2024 was the first year that the six Australian finalists in the global World Class bartending competition included two West Australians (Shirley Yeung from Foxtrot Unicorn and Matt Bodycote from State Buildings).

Fact: when it comes to cocktails, Perth is a city that is punching well above its weight. Or at least its population size.

The funsters from Sydneys legendary Maybe Sammy (#15 on the Worlds 50 Best Bars list and the reigning holder of Australias best bar) will take over long-standing cocktail den Mechanics Institute, supported by Sydney tequila bar El Primo Sanchez.

Madrids grungy aquarium-themed Salmon Guru (#16) is taking up residence at CBD favourite Terrarium, while Dubais celestially themed Galaxy Bar (#50) brings its polished drinks and service to Songbird Bar, the rooftop bar at the Ritz-Carlton Perth as well as the workplace of Perth Cocktail Weekend spearhead, Marco Barsotti.

Prior to becoming the hotels beverage and bars manager in 2023, Barsotti opened and operated bars at other Ritz-Carltons throughout South East Asia and has also shaken tins and stirred drinks globally. All this experience has helped him put together quite the little black book of bartending contacts, as well as help him play matchmaker between the visiting bars and the hometown contingent.

Of course, we wanted to find bars that are famous around the world, but they also had to fit in with the concept of each of the bars in Perth, says Barsotti, who was born in Florence, Italy. It wouldnt have made sense if we brought an elegant and sophisticated bar to Mechanics Institute which is more like a party-style bar.

As part of the weekend, each visiting bar will dispatch two team members to Perth (one bartender, one front-of-house) to help the crew at the local bar make drinks and take care of the all-important hospitality aspect. As the saying goes: a good bartender is not there to serve drinks, theyre there to serve guests.
My first hint of Samoa from my cruise ship Regatta is great dollops of cloud and screeching seabirds. Then the island of Upolu heaves low jungly hills out of the emptiness of the Pacific Ocean.

Surf grumbles on its fringing reef. Soon I can pick out churches, then Apias low buildings hunkered under the parasols of palm trees. Im in the middle of a Pacific journey with Oceania Cruises and about to explore two ports Ive never seen before.

Scenic tree-topped rocky outcrops rise from the lagoons of American Samoa. Credit: iStock

Many passengers head off on excursions to Robert Louis Stevensons Museum or the islands scenic outliers. I head for a snorkel at Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, a five-minute walk from the ship.

Then Im back on board for lunch before my afternoons exploration of Samoas capital. Immaculate Conception Cathedral has fabulous timber ceilings and stained glass. Government House is an ugly modern building that resembles a 1970s Las Vegas casino.
It would be easier to accept the tourist price if you could take the excuses on face value. It would be better if you could look at the reasoning from the Tokyo restaurateur who was recently found to be charging tourists more than locals to eat at his place and believe thats all thats going on here.

But do you? It was revealed that Tamatebako, a seafood buffet restaurant in tourist-heavy Shibuya, has been giving Japanese residents a 1000-yen discount ($9.30) off the price of a meal.

A restaurant in Tokyos Shibuya district has made news for charging foreigners more than locals. Credit: iStock

The owner, Shogo Yonemitsu, told the ABC there were a few reasons for this difference: foreign customers have forced him to hire English-speaking staff at higher wages, tourists have a habit of cancelling bookings at the last minute, and foreigners require extra labour to be taught the right manners at Japanese restaurants.

That last excuse, to me, raises a little red flag. Who needs to be taught manners at a seafood buffet? If theres any style of eating foreigners understand, its this. We were made for all-you-can-eat dining. (Admittedly, its considered very bad manners in Japan to take more than you can eat and to waste food, though by the time foreigners have done that at Tamatebako it would be too late for education.)
Lucknow, India: Thousands of people at a religious gathering in India rushed to leave a makeshift tent, setting off a stampede on Tuesday that killed more than 120 and left scores injured, officials said.

It was not immediately clear what triggered the panic following an event with a Hindu guru known locally as Bhole Baba. Local news reports cited authorities who said heat and suffocation in the tent could have been a factor. Video of the aftermath showed the structure appeared to have collapsed.

More than 120 were killed in a devastating stampede at a Satsang, or religious event, in Hathras, in Indias densely populated Uttar Pradesh state on Tuesday. Credit: Getty Images

At least 121 people were killed and 31 were injured, according to state authorities, with the dead including 112 women and seven children.

People started falling one upon another, one upon another. Those who were crushed died. People there pulled them out, witness Shakuntala Devi told the Press Trust of India news agency.
Khan Younis: The Israeli army has ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strips second-largest city.

The order suggests Khan Younis will be the latest target of Israels raids into parts of Gaza it had previously invaded in the war, as it pursues regrouping Hamas militants. Much of Khan Younis was destroyed in a long assault earlier this year, but large numbers of Palestinians had moved back to escape another Israeli offensive in Gazas southernmost city, Rafah.

Palestinians flee parts of Khan Younis after an Israeli evacuation order. Credit: AP

The evacuation came as the Israel Defence Forces released the director of what was once Gazas largest hospital after holding him for seven months without charge or trial. Israel alleged the hospital had been used as a Hamas command centre, which he and other Palestinian health officials have denied. The doctor said he and other detainees were held under harsh conditions and tortured.

The decision to release Mohammed Abu Selmia raised questions over Israels claims surrounding Al-Shifa Hospital, which Israeli forces have raided twice since the start of the war with Hamas. The hospital was left severely damaged after the raids.
Washington: Donald Trumps historic sentencing over hush money payments used to sway the 2016 election has been delayed following the US Supreme Courts explosive decision to grant him broad immunity from prosecution.

In another piece of good news for the former president, Judge Juan Merchan put off next weeks highly anticipated sentencing to September 18  less than two months before the US election.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Detroit in mid-June. Credit: AP

Such a move means Trump will now be able to attend this months Republican National Convention  where he is expected to be named the GOP presidential nominee  without the shadow of a jail term or lesser non-custodial sentence hanging over him.

It is also a significant victory for Trump because the sentencing may be the only moment of criminal accountability he faces before the November 5 election, given his three other trials are unlikely to take place before polling day.
PHILIPSBURG: Nine Political parties submitted their lists on Tuesday to the Central Voting Bureau so that they could contest the August 19th snap elections.

The parties that submitted their list of candidates are:

1. Party for Progress (PFP) with 12 candidates, PFP gained two candidates compared to the January 2024 Parliamentary Elections.

2. The Democratic Party (DP) is the only political party to submit a full slate with 23 candidates.

3. The Soualiga Action Movement (SAM), which will be contesting the snap elections for the first time, submitted a list with 12 candidates. The SAM has to gather 144 signatures on Wednesday at the Civil Registry to be eligible for the August 19th snap elections.

4. Oualichi Movement for Change (OMC) submitted a list of 19 candidates. The OMC, a new political party, must also secure 144 signatures on Wednesday at the Civil Registry to become eligible for the August 19th snap elections.

5. The Nation, Opportunity Wealth (NOW) submitted a list of 16 candidates.

6. The United People's Party (UPP) submitted a list of 18 candidates.

7. Empire Culture Empowerment (ECE) submitted a list of three candidates. The ECE also has to secure 144 signatures to become eligible for the August 19th snap elections. Even though this is the second time the ECE has participated in the parliamentary elections, the party did not secure enough votes to obtain a parliamentary seat in January 2024.

8. The Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM) submitted a list of 15 candidates.

9. The National Alliance, the last political party to submit its list on Tuesday afternoon, submitted a list with 17 candidates.

The turnout on Tuesday showed that all the political parties have lost supporters or candidates for this snap election. While the National Alliance had the largest turnout for their parade, they submitted a list with 17 candidates compared to the 23 in January 2024. The Democratic Party, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, was the only political party that submitted a list with a full slate.

The OMC surprised many with a slate of 19 candidates this time and the ECE with two additional candidates.

Full Video coverage can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/stmartinnewsnetwork/
'Google is broken': How an algorithm tweak cost livelihoods



Paris, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Google made major changes to its search algorithm and spam filters earlier this year to get rid of low-quality content -- but the effects have proved devastating to some smaller websites.

Online businesses have been left considering layoffs and even site closures after Google's massive upgrade in March and April caused catastrophic drops in traffic.

Gisele Navarro is one of the unlucky ones whose website got caught up in Google's dragnet.

The 37-year-old Argentine runs the HouseFresh website with her husband, and they had been building a healthy niche in product reviews for air purifiers since 2020.

There were no ads, no product placements and no soft-pedalling -- if a product was bad, the site's reviewers would say so.

They earned commissions from clickthroughs to Amazon.

But Google's update changed all of that.

"We found that we went from ranking number one -- because we were one of the only people who had actually done a review -- to not even showing up," she told AFP.

HouseFresh used to get around 4,000 referrals from Google search a day, but this has since collapsed to around 200.

The dropoff in business has been so bad that Navarro said she had been advised to shutter the site and start over with a new domain name.



- Updates 'helpful' -



Underpinning the frustration for Navarro and many other sites is the lack of clarity over how Google ranks results.

The US firm is notoriously secretive about its algorithms -- so much so that an entire industry known as "search engine optimisation" has grown up trying to game the algorithm to get more clicks.

The latest update sent SEO experts into a tailspin, desperately trying to unpack why some sites were boosted and others getting downranked.

Google told AFP in an email that its update was designed specifically to give users "fewer results that feel made for search engines".

"The only changes we launch are ones that our experiments have shown will meaningfully improve results for people. And we do believe that these updates have been helpful," Google said.

Yet Navarro showed in a widely shared blog post in May that people searching for product reviews were increasingly being fed ads and content that appeared to be AI-generated or SEO-maximised.



- 'Tough market' -



Other material boosted by Google's update included user-generated content from websites like Reddit and Quora.

Google defended this approach saying "people often want to learn from others' experiences", adding: "We conduct rigorous testing to ensure results are helpful and high quality."

But staff at one European news website said their articles were now being routinely outranked by largely irrelevant content from Reddit.

The site publisher, who asked for anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic, said referrals from Google had plummeted by between 20 to 30 percent since the update -- and cutbacks would be inevitable.

"In an already tough market this is a serious problem for independent publishers like us," they said.

All the businesses AFP talked to said they were now urgently seeking ways to avoid relying on Google search -- whether by writing newsletters, making podcasts or finding other ways to attract audiences.

The boss of a fintech news outlet, who spoke to AFP anonymously fearing adverse effects on their business, said their competitors all employed SEO firms "to buy traffic".

"We don't do that but it's getting harder to hold that position as those sites didn't fall anywhere near as much as ours after this Google update," they said.

Navarro, who has had to reduce her staff drastically, has pivoted to video reviews and newsletters to try to reconnect with her audience.

And despite her experience with Google, she remains an optimist about the web.

She has been heartened by the many messages of support, and an uptick in referrals from alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo.

"The entire knowledge of humankind is on the web -- and that's worth something," she said.

"I don't want to give up on it just because Google is broken."

jxb/cw

GOOGLE
Lebanon says Israeli GPS jamming confounding ground, air traffic



Beirut, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Uber driver Hussein Khalil was battling traffic in Beirut when he found himself in the Gaza Strip -- according to his online map, anyway -- as location jamming blamed on Israel disrupts life in Lebanon.

"We've been dealing with this problem a lot for around five months," said Khalil, 36.

"Sometimes we can't work at all," the disgruntled driver told AFP on Beirut's chaotic, car-choked streets.

"Of course, we are losing money."

For months, whacky location data on apps have caused confusion in Lebanon, where the Hezbollah militant group has been engaged in cross-border clashes with Israel.

The near-daily exchanges started after Hamas, Hezbollah's Palestinian ally, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, triggering the ongoing war in Gaza.

In March, Beirut lodged a complaint with the United Nations about "attacks by Israel on Lebanese sovereignty in the form of jamming the airspace around" the Beirut airport.

Khalil showed AFP screenshots of apps displaying his locations not only in the Gazan city of Rafah -- around 300 kilometres (185 miles) away -- but also in east Lebanon near the Syrian border, when he was actually in Beirut.

With online maps loopy, Khalil said "one passenger phoned me and asked, 'Are you in Baalbek?'" referring to a city in east Lebanon.

"I told her: 'No, I'll be at your location (in Beirut) in two minutes'."

Numerous residents have reported their online map location as appearing at Beirut airport while they were actually elsewhere in the capital.

Since Hamas's October 7 attack, Israel has taken measures to disrupt Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality for the group and other opponents.



- Drones, guided missiles -



The Israeli army said in October that it disrupted GPS "in a proactive manner for various operational needs".

It warned of "various and temporary effects on location-based applications".

Specialist site gpsjam.org, which compiles geolocation signal disruption data based on aircraft data reports, reported a low level of disruption around Gaza on October 7.

But the next day, disturbances increased around the Palestinian territory and also along the border between Israel and Lebanon.

On June 28, the level of interference showing on the site was high above Lebanon and parts of Syria, Jordan and Israel.

An AFP journalist in Jerusalem said her location appeared as if she was in Cairo, Egypt's capital about 400 kilometres away.

The interference has at times extended to European Union member Cyprus, some 200 kilometres from Lebanon, where AFP journalists have reported their GPS location appearing at Beirut airport instead of on the island.

"Israel is using GPS jamming to disrupt or interfere with Hezbollah's communications," said Freddy Khoueiry, global security analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at risk intelligence company RANE.

It is "also using GPS spoofing... to send false GPS signals, aimed at disrupting and hindering drones' and precision-guided missiles' abilities to function or hit their targets," he added.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah has "a large arsenal" of such GPS-assisted weapons, he noted.

The cross-border exchanges have killed more than 490 people in Lebanon -- mostly fighters -- according to an AFP tally, with 26 people killed in northern Israel, according to authorities there.

Fears have grown of all-out conflict between the foes that last went to war in 2006.



- 'Compass and paper map' -



Asked about GPS jamming in northern Israel, where Hezbollah has concentrated its attacks, a spokesperson for Israel's defence ministry told AFP's Jerusalem office that "currently, we are unable to discuss operational matters".

Lebanon's civil aviation chief Fadi El-Hassan said that since March, the body has asked pilots flying in or out of Beirut to "rely on ground navigation equipment and not on GPS signals due to the ongoing interference in the region".

Ground navigation equipment is typically used as a back-up system.

Hassan expressed frustration that "in this technological age, a pilot who wants to land at our airport cannot use GPS due to Israeli enemy interference".

Lebanon is ensuring "the maintenance of ground navigation equipment at all times in order to provide the necessary signals for pilots to land safely," he said.

Avedis Seropian, a licenced pilot, said he had stopped using GPS in recent months.

"We got used to the situation. I don't rely on (GPS) at all... I fly relying on a compass and paper map," he told AFP.

But he said not having GPS, even as a fallback, was disconcerting.

When geolocation data is wrong and visibility is poor, "you can suddenly find yourself in a state of panic", he said.

"That could lead to an accident or a disaster."

lk/jos-lg/aya/ysm/ami
North Korea says tested missile capable of carrying super-large warhead



Seoul, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



North Korea successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead, state media said Tuesday, with analysts suggesting the weapon could be nuclear-capable.

Pyongyang's state media claimed it had successfully launched the Hwasong-11Da-4.5 missile, which it said was capable of carrying a 4.5 ton-class super-large warhead.

"The test-fire was conducted with a missile tipped with a simulated heavy warhead to verify flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 kilometres and the minimum range of 90 km," the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Seoul's military had earlier described the Monday launches as being of two short-range ballistic missiles, one of which they said failed early in flight.

The Monday test launches took place after the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un denounced the latest joint military exercises by Seoul, Tokyo and Washington as an "Asian version of NATO" and warned of "fatal consequences".

A super-large warhead, along with a spy military satellite and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, was on a list of advanced weapons that Kim vowed to develop at a party congress in 2021.

In the KCNA report, the weapon was "described as a 'super-large warhead', deliberately omitting the word 'nuclear'", Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.

"But since it is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, it can be considered a nuclear weapon," he told AFP.

Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with the North ramping up weapons testing while bombarding the South with balloons full of trash.

Pyongyang says those missiles are in retaliation for balloons loaded with anti-regime propaganda leaflets sent northwards by activists in the South.

In response to the North's repeated launches, South Korea has fully suspended a tension-reducing military treaty. It also briefly resumed propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts.

On Tuesday, South Korea's military said it had resumed live-fire exercises at artillery ranges near the border with the North.

At front-line ranges within five kilometres of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that runs through the middle of the DMZ separating the two Koreas, South Korean troops fired around 140 rounds using the K9 and K105A1 self-propelled howitzers, it added.

Last week, South Korea's Marine Corps also resumed live-fire exercises on islands near the western inter-Korean border, the first such exercises since the 2018 tension-reducing military deal with the North was fully suspended in June.

South Korea has also grown anxious over the North's warming relations with its isolated neighbour Russia.

North Korea is accused of breaching arms control measures by supplying weapons to Russia to use in its war in Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit with Kim in Pyongyang last month in a show of unity.
Russia says destroyed 5 Ukrainian jets in strike on air base



Moscow, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Russia claimed Tuesday to have destroyed or damaged five Ukrainian military jets in a strike on an air base, as Kyiv prepares for the arrival of long-awaited F-16 fighters.

Russia's defence ministry said it fired Iskander-M missiles at an air base near the central Ukrainian city of Myrgorod, around 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Russian border.

"As a result of the Russian army strike, five operational SU-27 multirole fighters were destroyed, and two that were under repair were damaged," it said in a statement on Telegram.

The ministry also published footage of what it said was the strike and its aftermath, showing grey smoke billowing at the airfield, where some parked planes were visible, and charred black earth.

AFP could not immediately verify the footage or the claims.

Russian and Ukrainian military bloggers previously reported the strike on Monday.

Ukraine's air force declined to comment when asked by AFP about Russia's claims.

In a social media post, air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said: "Ukrainian aircraft continue to successfully carry out combat missions, conduct missile and bomb attacks on the positions of the occupiers and eliminate important military facilities."

He posted footage of what he said was a Ukrainian attack on an ammunition depot in Crimea, the peninsula Russia annexed in 2014, carried out on Monday.

But Ukrainian military bloggers and analysts said Kyiv had suffered equipment losses in Myrgorod, with some angry at commanders for parking the planes in the open without sufficient protection.

Kyiv hopes the arrival of Western F-16 fighters will enable it to better protect itself from Russian bombardment.

Ukraine has been calling for the US-made jets since the start of the conflict.

Several NATO countries have pledged to supply them and have been training Ukrainian pilots and crews for months.

The first deliveries, including from the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark are expected to arrive in the country imminently.

But recent strikes on Ukrainian airfields have raised questions about Kyiv's ability to protect the multi-million-dollar planes from Russian fire.

"As Ukraine waits for the F-16s, the question of ensuring their safety on the ground remains," the Ukraine-based Defense Express think tank said Tuesday.

Russia has promised to target and destroy F-16s, along with all other Western military hardware shipped to Kyiv.

Ukraine has not said where it will base the F-16s.
Pilot killed in Georgia military plane crash



Tbilisi, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



A Georgian military pilot died on Tuesday when his plane crashed during a training exercise, the Black Sea nation's defence ministry said.

A Su-25 jet "crashed during military training involving air defence components," the ministry said in a statement.

"Air force pilot Kakhaber Zurabashvili tragically perished in the catastrophe," the ministry said, adding that a probe has been launched to determine the causes of the incident.

The Su-25 is a subsonic, single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in 1975 in the Soviet Union to provide close air support for Soviet ground forces.

It began mass production in 1978 at Tbilisi's Tbilaviamsheni aircraft manufacturing plant.

In 2022, a Georgia border police helicopter crashed near the northern winter resort town of Gudauri, killing all eight people on board.
Philippines says Manila, Beijing agree to 'de-escalate' South China Sea tensions



Manila, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



The Philippines and China agreed on Tuesday to "de-escalate tensions" over the South China Sea, Manila said, following a violent clash in the disputed waters.

"The two sides discussed their respective positions on Ayungin Shoal and affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions," the Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement, using the country's name for Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine navy boats near the shoal last month, the latest and most serious in a number of escalating confrontations.

A Filipino soldier lost a finger in the June 17 clash, with Manila also accusing the Chinese coast guard of looting guns and damaging three boats as well as navigational and communication equipment.

Beijing insisted its coast guard behaved in a "professional and restrained" way and blamed Manila for the clash.

The Philippines foreign affairs undersecretary Theresa Lazaro and China's vice foreign minister Chen Xiaodong had "frank and constructive discussions", Tuesday's statement said.

"Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction," the Philippine foreign ministry said, noting that "significant differences remain".

China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.

Chinese forces have used water cannon and military-grade lasers and collided with Filipino resupply vessels and their escorts in previous confrontations.

The two sides signed an arrangement on improving the Philippines-China Maritime Communications Mechanism and agreed to continue discussions between their coast guards.

China and the Philippines launched the consultative meeting in 2017 to promote the peaceful management of conflicts in the South China Sea.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said last week the Manila meeting would look to establish "confidence-building measures" that can create the basis for "more serious discussions".

"We still believe in the primacy of dialogue, and diplomacy should prevail even in the face of these serious incidents, though I admit it's also a challenge," Manalo told a Philippine Senate public hearing on the Second Thomas Shoal confrontation.
Philippines says it agrees with China to 'de-escalate' South China Sea tensions



Manila, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



The Philippines and China agreed on Tuesday to "de-escalate tensions" over the South China Sea, Manila said, following a violent clash in the disputed waters last month.

Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes in the hotly contested waterway but last month's incident was the most serious in a number of escalating confrontations.

Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine navy boats on June 17 during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.

A Filipino soldier lost a finger in the clash, with Manila also accusing the Chinese coast guard of looting guns and damaging three boats as well as navigational and communication equipment.

Beijing insisted its coast guard behaved in a "professional and restrained" way and blamed Manila for the clash.

A handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a rusty warship deliberately grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's claims to the area.

The Philippines foreign affairs undersecretary Theresa Lazaro and China's vice foreign minister Chen Xiaodong had "frank and constructive discussions" on Tuesday, the Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement after the talks.

"The two sides discussed their respective positions on Ayungin Shoal and affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions," the statement said, using the country's name for Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

"Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognised that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction," it said, adding that "significant differences remain".

China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.

Chinese forces have used water cannon and military-grade lasers and collided with Filipino resupply vessels and their escorts in previous confrontations near disputed reefs.

Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters on Tuesday that the June 17 incident was "the most aggressive" in "recent history".

"The reason why we are calling this out is because we don't want any unintended consequence," Trinidad told reporters.

"Basically their actions increase the risk for miscalculation."

The latest confrontation has fuelled concerns that the dispute could drag in the United States, which has a mutual defence pact with Manila.

The Philippine government has said that it does not consider the June 17 clash as an "armed attack" that would trigger a provision in the treaty for Washington to come to Manila's aid.



- 'Diplomacy should prevail' -



The two sides signed an arrangement Tuesday on improving the Philippines-China Maritime Communications Mechanism and agreed to continue discussions between their coast guards.

China and the Philippines launched the consultative meeting in 2017 to promote the peaceful management of conflicts in the South China Sea.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said last week the Manila meeting would look to establish "confidence-building measures" that can create the basis for "more serious discussions".

"We still believe in the primacy of dialogue, and diplomacy should prevail even in the face of these serious incidents, though I admit it's also a challenge," Manalo told a Philippine Senate public hearing on the Second Thomas Shoal confrontation.

Second Thomas Shoal lies about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters around the shoal and has turned several reefs into artificial militarised islands.
Macron's world standing damaged by vote turmoil: analysts



Paris, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Whatever the outcome of France's parliamentary elections, President Emmanuel Macron's influence on the world stage risks being damaged, potentially undermining efforts to unify Western defence policy, analysts say.

France votes Sunday in the decisive final round of the snap legislative polls Macron called after his camp received a drubbing in European polls last month, opening the prospect of the far right taking power for the first time since the occupation by Nazi Germany.

Macron will be watched closely when Western alliance NATO meets next week from July 9-11 in Washington, with members expected to agree on a greater role in coordinating arms deliveries to Kyiv, and demanding long-term pledges from members.

Macron's high-profile role in the response to Russia's war against Ukraine has been seen as crucial, not least as Europe braces for a possible US policy switch should the White House go to Donald Trump after November elections.

But the French president, who has taken an increasingly assertive stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin and not ruled out sending French troops to Ukraine, may soon no longer have the domestic political authority to help further his pro-Ukraine agenda.

His approach of uncompromising support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not shared by the French far-right National Rally (RN).

Its leader Jordan Bardella opposes sending troops or longer-range missiles to Ukraine while insisting he won't allow "Russian imperialism" to absorb the country.

Three-time RN presidential candidate Marine Le Pen also sparked a furore by casting doubt on Macron's capacity to be commander-in-chief of the armed forces if the RN won, saying the function was "honorific".

If the RN wins an absolute majority, 28-year-old Bardella would become prime minister despite having no past experience in foreign policy.

It would be a stark turnaround for Macron, who just a month earlier on June 6 hosted world leaders including Zelensky and US President Joe Biden to mark 80 years since D-Day in World War II.

"The president's authority, already very much shaken by the decision to dissolve the National Assembly, will be further diminished by these poor results," said Yann Wernert, a researcher at the Jacques Delors Institute, a think tank on European policy.

"On the European political stage, his voice is losing much of its impact," he said.



- 'Mass distraction' -



But even if the runoff results in a hung parliament, ensuing political paralysis would amount to what Francois Heisbourg, at the FRS Strategic Research Foundation, called "a weapon of mass distraction".

Macron would be absorbed by domestic politics while almost certainly preparing for fresh elections a year from now, the soonest they could be held under constitutional rules.

The result, Heisbourg predicted, would be a "downgrading" of France's influence abroad, at least in the medium term.

"France would clearly be absent during that time", he said. "It wouldn't be the engine in the organisation of European security policies, and would make no weighty contribution to the European response to November elections in the United States".

Ever since Brexit and the departure from power of German chancellor Angela Merkel, Macron has been seen by many as Europe's figurehead and the sole leader with a bold vision for its future.

But a degree of confusion about French policy would become unavoidable with the president, the prime minister, and the speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate all potentially pulling in different directions, analysts predicted.

"There will be uncertainty on how to read" French foreign policy, said Thomas Gassilloud, an outgoing French MP.

"Our allies will wonder to what extent France can remain committed to its policies over the long term," he said.

Jean-Marie Guehenno, a French diplomat who served as the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said on X "there was only one certainty" after Macron's election debacle.

"Even if the RN is deprived of an absolute majority, France will be severely weakened at a time when it needs to be strong" in the face of challenges which he said included "Russia, Trump, China, climate change and the technology gap".

dt-kol/jh/sjw/rlp
Zelensky says urged Orban to 'join' Kyiv's peace efforts



Kyiv, Ukraine, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said he had urged Hungary's Moscow-friendly prime minister Viktor Orban to join Ukraine's efforts to bring peace after Russia's 2022 invasion.

Zelensky said in his evening address that during talks with Orban he had talked about Kyiv's steps to bring peace in conjunction with international partners, adding: "I invited Hungary and Prime Minister Orban to join the relevant efforts."

Orban made his first wartime visit to Ukraine on Tuesday and standing next to Zelensky, appealed to Kyiv to work towards a "quick ceasefire".

Ukraine has repeatedly rejected calls for a pause in fighting, which it says would just give Russia time to regroup for a fresh assault.

Zelensky noted in a video address posted on social media that Orban was making his first visit "in many years" and said this was a significant trip as it "comes right after Hungary's EU presidency begins".

"This is a clear signal of how important it is for all of us in Europe to remain united and take joint steps," Zelensky said.

Unlike many other European leaders, Orban had not visited Kyiv since Russia invaded in February 2022 and is widely seen as the 27-member bloc's most pro-Russian leader.

The Ukrainian president said that during his talks with Orban, he had thanked international participants in a peace summit in Switzerland last month and talked about preparations for a second one.

"I spoke about what we have already achieved with our partners in the work between the summits, preparing for the second Peace Summit. There are good developments, and there will be even more," Zelensky said.
In recent years, Chinese cars, including new energy models, have become popular in Central Asia thanks to their stylish designs and smart technology. But how did so many cars get there?

Today, Xinhua reporter Daria came to Southwest China's Chongqing, the first departure city of the China-Europe freight train, to explore the "magical" train that transports Chinese cars to many parts of the world.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Philippines says it agrees with China to 'de-escalate' South China Sea tensions



Manila, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



The Philippines and China agreed on Tuesday to "de-escalate tensions" over the South China Sea, Manila said, following a violent clash in the disputed waters last month.

Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes in the hotly contested waterway but last month's incident was the most serious in a number of escalating confrontations.

Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine navy boats on June 17 during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.

A Filipino soldier lost a finger in the clash, with Manila also accusing the Chinese coast guard of looting guns and damaging three boats as well as navigational and communication equipment.

Beijing insisted its coast guard behaved in a "professional and restrained" way and blamed Manila for the clash.

A handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a rusty warship deliberately grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's claims to the area.

Philippine foreign affairs undersecretary Theresa Lazaro and China's vice foreign minister Chen Xiaodong had "frank and constructive discussions" on Tuesday, the Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement after the talks.

"The two sides discussed their respective positions on Ayungin Shoal and affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions," the statement said, using the country's name for Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

"Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognised that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction," it said, adding that "significant differences remain".

China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.

Chinese forces have used water cannon and military-grade lasers and collided with Filipino resupply vessels and their escorts in previous confrontations near disputed reefs.

Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters on Tuesday that the June 17 incident was "the most aggressive" in "recent history".

"The reason why we are calling this out is because we don't want any unintended consequence," Trinidad told reporters.

"Basically their actions increase the risk for miscalculation."

- 'Actions speak louder than words' -



The latest confrontation has fuelled concerns that the dispute could drag in the United States, which has a mutual defence pact with Manila.

The Philippine government has said that it does not consider the June 17 clash as an "armed attack" that would trigger a provision in the treaty for Washington to come to Manila's aid.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said that the United States "would welcome any efforts to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea".

But he added that in dealing with Beijing, "actions speak louder than words".

The two sides signed an arrangement Tuesday on improving the Philippines-China Maritime Communications Mechanism and agreed to continue discussions between their coast guards.

China and the Philippines launched the consultative meeting in 2017 to promote the peaceful management of conflicts in the South China Sea.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said last week the Manila meeting would look to establish "confidence-building measures" that can create the basis for "more serious discussions".

"We still believe in the primacy of dialogue, and diplomacy should prevail even in the face of these serious incidents, though I admit it's also a challenge," Manalo told a Philippine Senate public hearing on the Second Thomas Shoal confrontation.

Second Thomas Shoal lies about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters around the shoal and has turned several reefs into artificial militarised islands.
Russian navy ships dock in Venezuela



Moscow, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Two Russian naval ships docked Tuesday in Venezuela for a stopover of a few days, Moscow's defence ministry said, highlighting the close ties between the two countries.

Russia said the main aim of the ship's visit to the region was to "show the flag and ensure a naval presence in operationally important areas" of the Atlantic Ocean.

It said that the frigate Admiral Gorshkov -- one of Russia's most advanced warships capable of carrying hypersonic missiles -- and oil tanker Academic Pashin, both from its Northern Fleet, docked in La Guaira.

The ships visited Cuba last month along with a Russian nuclear-powered submarine, having completed "an exercise in the use of high-precision missile weapons," according to the Russian defence ministry.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is a strong supporter of Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, whom he has described as "our older brother".

The visit came as Maduro is seeking re-election in a July 28 vote.

Russia is a key ally of Maduro's leftist government, which has presided over the economic collapse of the oil-rich nation and is itself under crippling Western sanctions aimed at forcing Maduro from power.

"The business call will last a few days, after which the Northern fleet sailors will continue carrying out their assigned tasks in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean," the Russian ministry said.

US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said it knew of the possible visit and that it was not a threat.

"We are aware Russian combat vessels would possibly conduct a port call in Venezuela, which is part of their routine naval activities. This latest port visit, because of its scale and character, is assessed to pose no threat to the United States," SOUTHCOM said.
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Baynton, who plays him, is an actor, comedian and musician. Born in 1980, he grew up in Essex and turned to acting young (hes also related to sibling acting duo Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper). As an adult, he, and the other members of the Them There collective, are most famous for appearing in the longrunning childrens show Horrible Histories, which they left in 2014.
The budget-conscious tend to avoid wine country like the plague, but the beauty of Portugals Douro Valley is that some of its most intriguing, family-run wineries and boutique hotels are not too expensive. The affordable wine tasting experiences to book include Quinta da Pacheca, Quinta de la Rosa and Quinta do Tedo, with its panoramic views over the river. For a hike with foodie pit stops, head up to the Miradouro of Casal de Loivos from Pinhao via DOrigem for its olive oil and, at the top, the family-owned Quinta do Jalloto for its superlative port and honey. Its worth loading up on cheese, meats and bread in Pinhaos delis and markets for picnics, although unbuttoned roadside restaurants such as Sais da Foz serve up classic Portuguese food for more-than-modest prices.
The first was that a bomb threat he sent in a text to an off-duty nurse in order to lure people to the car park where he was waiting was not seen for almost an hour, and the full-scale evacuation he had hoped for did not happen.
A Moderna statement said: We are pleased that the UK High Court recognised the innovation of Moderna scientists by confirming the validity and infringement of the EP949 patent and that (the) defendants were not entitled to use Modernas patented technology for any infringing activity after March 7 2022.
I believe Bobby acted as an agent provocateur to try to justify his part in spying on an organisation which had no secrets, due to some misplaced belief that he was trying to do the best for his country, and also a sense of grandiosity, she said.
But really, it is up to the people on the day to listen to the messages that Im giving, to look at what Im promoting in terms of optimism, growth, a voice that can deliver, a voice that will take their seat, and that will promise change and deliver change. Now that will take time, but that is my pledge to the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke is seeking removal from remand on US$400,000 fraud charges, alongside suspended Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society (HMMAS) CEO Everisto Rukasha. Kereke applied without legal representation before Harare regional magistrate Mrs. Marehwanazvo Gofa, arguing that the State lacks evidence against him.Kereke contended that the State's administrative conduct violates lawful and impartial standards and claimed his arrest was unjustified and politically motivated. He highlighted that the matter is already before the Commercial Court and High Court as a civil issue and noted that the hospital sale involved a panel of 15 board members, making fraud impossible.The case was deferred to today, with the State expected to file written submissions. Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti alleges that in 2014, Kereke sold Fotress Hospital to HMMAS for US$400,000, which was fully paid. However, in March 2022, Kereke and Rukasha allegedly misrepresented to HMMAS that the payment was still owed.
Theyre always the ingredients to any solution, to any dispute. Now the question for both parties is, do you wish to do that and save everybody the pain or do you wish to drag this thing out and then end up doing it anyway.
The Lord Provost, Councillor Robert Aldridge, then presented the Keys to the City of Edinburgh to His Majesty, saying: We, the Lord Provost and the members of the City of Edinburgh Council, welcome Your Majesty to the capital city of your Ancient and Hereditary Kingdom of Scotland and offer for your gracious acceptance the Keys of Your Majestys good City of Edinburgh.
On the island of Serifos, firefighters battled to contain a fire that started in low vegetation on Saturday (June 29) and swiftly spread due to strong winds. The fire caused damage to residences and forced the evacuation of many hamlets. The island's mayor, Kostas Revinthis, told Greek television that the blaze damaged holiday cottages and storehouses. The fire had spread across 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) at one point. Officials said by Sunday morning, another fire in the Parnitha mountain forest, which is close to a natural reserve just outside the capital Athens, had subsided.
Many of those people who love British period dramas like Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, The Crown or Call The Midwife will be inspired to visit some of the wonderful sites English Heritage have around the country, where theyll be able to immerse themselves in the past and learn much more about what really happened.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A DEPUTY minister's demands for the transfer from a primary school in Bubi of an early childhood development (ECD) teacher with a Shona name has been met with mixed feelings, underlining the sensitivity created by tribal undertones.This was because the teacher was incapable of teaching the young children in their local Ndebele language, according to Bubi legislator Simelisizwe Sibanda (Zanu-PF).Sibanda is also the Higher and Tertiary Education deputy minister.The move has been met with mixed feelings, with several citizens blasting him, while locals hailed his stance.During a meeting at the school on June 24, Sibanda demanded that Clonmore Primary School head immediately transfer ECD teacher Winnet Mharadze from the school.An audio in which he made the demand has since gone viral on social media.Sibanda accused the ECD teacher of "killing" children's future after he asked her if she knew uqethu (lawn grass) and when she failed to answer the legislator openly blasted her for getting paid for doing nothing.The school is located about 55km from Bulawayo near Gloag High School.Sibanda had gone to donate uniforms to primary school children when he met learners, teachers and parents."Make sure that by Monday, she is gone," Sibanda said.The school head, Sifiso Buhlungu, confirmed the incident to the media, but declined to shed more light, referring the media to the district education authorities.Reacting to the MP's conduct, Progressive Teacher Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said the legislator should apologise to the teacher and the nation."The teacher, who appears petrified in the audio, received a barrage of questions merely because of her ethnic identity. The MP gave the teacher a summary dismissal and ordered the school head to ensure that he facilitates the dismissal forthwith," Zhou said."Worse still, the MP seems to be ignorant of how teachers are transferred by his assumption that he or the head, Sifiso Buhlungu, has power to summarily transfer a teacher in a manner reminiscent of the colonial master and servant scenario."As PTUZ, we want to reiterate that Zanu-PF needs to rein in their rogue and errant MP who lacks educational taxonomy and professional ethics and is a danger to our society at large. The Primary and Secondary Education ministry needs to give this thuggish MP tutorials on professionalism and Ubuntu."Zhou said there were more than 20 languages in Zimbabwe and the "reductionist perception" of just Shona and Ndebele should be thrown outside the window.But Matabeleland political activist Artwell Sibanda supported the legislator's stance."She was not asked to leave due to her Shona surname, but was asked to leave because she is not conversant with the dominant language within the particular society where the school is situated," Sibanda said."She teaches at ECD level, a critical period in the development of a child and that a teacher who develops and nurtures a child must be fluent in the mother tongue of the child for easy learning and communication."Freedom Alliance leader and academic Samukele Hadebe said language issues were very sensitive and could divide the nation if carelessly handled."I do not want to add petrol to raging flames, hence I urge all to handle language issues with great sensitivity. We often debate on languages used here and there as if languages exist autonomously, yet they define a people since they carry a culture and a people's worldview," Hadebe said."What the MP said is not new neither is he the first nor the last to raise the issue on perceived marginalisation and, indeed, short-changing of IsiNdebele learners by teachers who are not conversant with the language."Former Speaker of the National Assembly Lovemere Moyo said devolution policy viewed localisation of social, political and economic development including the education sector as paramount."We believe that people who are conversant with the local culture, local traditions, local language must take the lead in the development in that region, province or area. That is our stand," Moyo said."The same goes to teaching. Our view is that children must be taught in their mother language or that which they understand, especially at infant level," Moyo, who is the leader of the United Movement for Devolution, added.Ibhetshu LikaZulu secretary-general Mbuso Fuzwayo said he thought that an opportunity is being missed to address the issue of concern in the deployment of civil servants."That the matter has been raised by a ruling party legislator and more importantly a deputy minister underlines the gravity of the matter which must not continued to be ignored," Fuzwayo said.
Behind a dream come true there is always a lot of work, perseverance and dedication, says Tudor Chelaru, a 7th grader at the 'Emil Racovita' National Collegiate Highschool in Iasi, winner of the gold medal at this year's Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad held in Antalya (Turkey) between June 25 - 30.

"For me, this performance means a dream come true and the confirmation of the knowledge and effort put in this year. I make my wishes on the go. I mean, I didn't have such high expectations at the beginning, but I had a step-by-step approach and I set myself phased goals as I continued to advance through the stages of the Olympiad tournaments and the knockout tests. And, yes, when I qualified for the Balkan Olympiad, my goal was to secure an as valuable medal as possible. I ended up with gold. For me, the fulfillment of a dream means constant work and not giving up in the most difficult and frustrating moments. And for that, you always need someone by your side," Tudor Chelaru confessed for AGERPRES.

His passion for mathematics became evident in the 3rd grade, the year his parents enrolled him at the Center of Excellence.

"For me, math is an opportunity to solve problems, to think ingeniously, logically, to find solutions even when you are seemingly in a dead end at first. I like it when I ponder a lot on a problem and manage to figure it out, it's a tough nut to crack by applying an interesting idea that I haven't tackled before, an idea that came to me after many hours of work," Tudor Chelaru went on to say, stressing also that he usually works two or three hours a day.

Tudor Chelaru's teacher, mentor and form master Catalin Budeanu also talks about a lot of work, involvement and passion for mathematics. Tudor is his fourth student to win gold at an international mathematics competition (one of them is Ovidiu Avadanei, who is now pursuing a doctor's degree at the US Berkeley University).

Budeanu explained that in such competitions expectations are highest of the more experienced students, who have previously participated in knockout tests, 8th or 9th graders.

"From a 7th grader you expect a gain in experience and to participate with higher chances next year, having a richer knowledge base, having gone through more types of problems, having learned to manage their emotions during an exam. (...) There are children who stand out through their qualities, some of which are obvious: memory, creativity, work power. To reach a top level you need a fairly high percentage of each of these qualities and it seems that Tudor managed to make an extraordinary leap in an extremely short time," said teacher Catalin Budeanu.

Another five Romanian students who participated in the same competition took home silver medals.
A technical dialogue to explore the opportunities regarding the production of blue ammonia in Romania has been initiated, and if we capitalize on the natural gas resources in our country, we will gain from an economic point of view, the Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Stefan-Radu Oprea says.

"I believe that together we can identify projects that will capitalize on Romanian gas! We have thus initiated a technical dialogue to coagulate efforts and to explore the opportunities regarding blue ammonia, based on the expertise of each participant in the discussions. Currently, we observe a macro-economic imbalance in the commercial balance of fertilizers. Moreover, it is known that, for the productions polluted by CO2, including those from the fertilizer industry, additional taxes will be imposed at the EU level, which will make imports more expensive. If we exploit natural gas resources from Romania, our country will gain from an economic point of view. At the same time, we must not forget that we have a historical advantage in the oil industry, hosting the first refinery in the world. Thus, carbon storage could be a viable solution." said Oprea, quoted in a press release of the institution, sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

On Monday, July 1, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, specialists from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forestry gathered in a workshop dedicated to exploring the possibilities of developing a project for the production of blue ammonia at the national level , the Romanian Agency for Investments and Foreign Trade (ARICE) - London Commercial and Economic Promotion Office, the Romgaz company, as well as experts from Fertilizer Industrial Services, namely Dan Cojocaru - Ammonia process safety expert and Bogdan Bretescu - Reliability & Maintenance Advisor.

According to the competent ministry, the discussions started with an exchange of ideas regarding the identification of the best options to exploit, as profitably as possible for Romania, the gases from the Black Sea, and a solution with major benefits can be represented by a project to produce blue ammonia.

According to experts, a potential starting point could be at the chemical plant in Turnu Magurele, where there is already its own port, storage capacities, access to railways and roads, as well as a large area of available land. At the same time, the chemical fertilizer plant, although relatively small (emitting 317,000 tons/year), is ideally located to integrate into the proposed cluster in the southwest.

The development of the project could take between three and five years, and its completion could coincide with the start of gas extraction from the Black Sea.

In this context, a working group will be established, whose activity will be coordinated by the competent ministry. Its composition will include representatives of the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of the Environment and Romgaz, together with Fertilizer Industrial Services consultants.

At the same time, participation invitations will be sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Agency for Mineral Resources, the National Research-Development Institute for Pedology, Agrochemistry and Environmental Protection, CONPET and OMV Petrom.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the national leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), is continuing this morning his consultations with the political parties on a date for the presidential and parliamentary elections.

He announced last Friday that he would invite the leaders of the political parties to discuss the calendar of the presidential election, arguing that "squabbling" on this issue affects the trust between the political partners and must stop.

Attending the talks on Monday were officials of the Save Romania Union (USR), the Alliance for the Unification of Romanians (AUR), the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), SOS Romania, the national minorities group in the Chamber of Deputies and the Social Liberal Humanist Party (PUSL). Consultations continue today with REPER and the Right Force.

The USR delegation said that it wants the law to be obeyed and the elections held on schedule, according to USR national leader Elena Lasconi.

AUR national leader George Simion said that his party was ready for a presidential election on September 15, but Ciolacu "was fooled again", "seems captive to vested interests" and is considering December.

UDMR Senate floor leader Cseke Attila said that UDMR supports the separation of the presidential election from the parliamentary election and that October should be set as the date for the presidential election.

National leader of SOS Romania Party Diana Sosoaca said that she suggested that the presidential election be held on November 10, the first round, and November 24, the second round, and the parliamentary election should be held on December 8.

PUSL voiced support for the presidential election being held on September 15 and 29, according to chair of the party's Executive Bureau Graziela Gavrilescu.

Gathered on Monday in a meeting, PNL's National Political Bureau unanimously agreed that the presidential election should take place on schedule, namely in November, according to the party's national leader Nicolae Ciuca.

Ciolacu said that, given the incumbent PNL-PSD government coalition, it was not necessary to invite PNL to consultations.

AGERPRES
News / National

by Staff reporter

MEMBER of Parliament for Bubi Constituency in Matabeleland North Simelisizwe Sibanda has said he was enforcing Government policy when he called for the transfer of an ECD teacher who could not speak the local languages.Sibanda who is also the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development said he had rolled out initiatives which include distributing learning materials to vulnerable children and building new schools, which are inspired by concerns by parents about poor pass rates posted by schools in the areas every year.His efforts are in line with President Mnangagwa's philosophy of leaving no-one and no place behind.Bubi schools always rank low in the province and in 2021 the schools were the worst performers nationally at all levels.This is also compounded by deployment of non-local language speakers to teach Early Childhood Development (ECD) which the community feel affects children's education foundation hence the poor pass rates.On a visit to the local Clonnmore Primary School Sibanda was told about a teacher that was struggling to teach an ECD class because she could not converse in the local language, a situation that had irked parents.Sibanda encouraged the school head to facilitate the transfer of the female teacher for the beenfit of the ECD learners and his actions were intepreted to be tribally motivated as the teacher rushed to Government education offices in Bulawayo saying she was seeking protection from the deputy minister.The teacher could not speak any language besides Shona and English.It is Government policy that ECD to at least Grade 3 learners should be taught by a teacher that speaks and understands their local language. Government has reiterated that teachers should learn three local languages besides their mother tongue. Introduced in 2018, the policy aims to improve teachers' competency in languages spoken in their deployment regions.According to the new Heritage Based Education 5.0, ECD learners must be taught in their mother tongue, with Government saying the position is binding."Head, can you assist me. Kindly transfer this teacher. Yesterday we had the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, he said he wasn't aware that there is a teacher who doesn't understand a local language who teaches the local language, IsiNdebele. We don't want to waste our children's future," said Sibanda."Kindly transfer this teacher immediately. Let's do it that way, we want teachers to teach children and understand. If she was teaching Grade 6 we would understand, not ECD," he added.In a follow-up interview, Sibanda refuted claims that he was promoting xenophobia and said he would never do that as a leader and citizen."You may be aware that Bubi has been performing badly in school, so we sat down as a constituency and came up with Life With Dignity Trust to support children's confidence through supplying them with learning materials including books and uniforms. Up to date we have distributed uniforms to not less than 30 schools and we have 50 more to give making more than 500 kids."We have put up materials enough for two classrooms to build a secondary school in Mbembeswana. More than 80 percent of schools in Bubi are not registered while I have also started registering schools. All these are efforts to improve pass rate," he said.Sibanda during engagement with parents and community, one of the issues that have come up was deployment that is contrary to Government policy on language. He said parents at Clonnmore school complained about teachers who cannot speak local languages."Mine was just an issue of Government policy on the issue of deployment of teachers and teachers have choices to apply to their preferred areas and are not deployed from nowhere. My encouragement was from that particular community and 40 ECD souls to have someone able to do what should be done, which is teaching."ECDs should be taught in their mother tongue if Government is to achieve what it intends to achieve through Vision 2030. There is no way I can be tribal, that is why I said if she was teaching Grade Six it wouldn't be a problem. I didn't say anything like no Shona speaker is allowed to teach in Matabeleland neither did I make reference to her surname in that regard. There is no way I was going to do that, I don't pursue a tribal agenda because I am citizen of this country and a leader, I cant do that," said Sibanda.He said he would not comment on misinformation and disinformation being peddled on social media by sections of the society bent on causing disharmony among citizens.Sibanda said Government had made a stance for teachers to be recruited in their areas because of the issue of language for minors.Midlands State University is translating science books into local languages which is a sign that Government is committed to making sure local languages are used and respected, explained Sibanda. He said as a leader, it was his duty to represent his people's aspirations and address their concerns."For example I have been working hard to make sure communities get boreholes and schools get computers, and I got 60 computers through Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe for schools. We thank President Mnangagwa because he is the one who came up with this programme. My intervention was based on needs of the community, so I react to what people want solved and we try to address that," he said.He encouraged public servant workers to strive to learn local languages other than their mother tongue to be able to provide effective service as Government commits to make sure all civil servants are well paid for providing services.
Romania will be able to export dairy products and fish products to the Chinese market, as two protocols to this effect were signed on Tuesday in Beijing, the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) informs.

"Two protocols signed today in Beijing will make it possible to export Romanian dairy and fish products to the Chinese market. A delegation from our country is in the Chinese capital between June 30 and July 4 to expand the economic cooperation partnership between the two countries," reads a release issued by the institution.

The ANSVSA head Alexandru Bociu signed the Protocol for dairy products exported from Romania to the People's Republic of China and the Protocol on inspection, quarantine and sanitary requirements for wild aquatic products intended for export from Romania to the People's Republic of China.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of the Joint Declaration for the establishment of a broad partnership of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, ANSVSA announced.

On April 21-22, the head of ANSVSA welcomed a delegation from the People's Republic of China, consisting of representatives of the General Administration of Customs, led by Vice-Minister Lyu Weihong. Discussions, in addition to the main topic of cooperation between the two countries in the customs area, also focused on issues related to sanitary and phytosanitary procedures, respectively market access for agricultural products.

AGERPRES
GODFREY  A couple says they are still awaiting an explanation more than four months after their 3-year-old son returned from day care here with bite marks on his torso.

Ashley and Brittani Balicki say their son, who has autism and is nonverbal was crying when he returned home Feb. 29 from the Early Childhood Center, part of the Alton School District. The parents discovered his injuries, including bite marks on both sides of his torso and a bruise on his eye, and immediately called Alton police.

But they say its been weeks since theyve heard from police, and they never got an explanation from the school district. The child was taken out of the school for the final months of this past school year, but now, the couple are in limbo trying to decide where to send him this fall.

My son is missing out on education that he absolutely needs, said Ashley Balicki. The school has not reached out to us and hasnt told the parents anything about what happened. Theyve done nothing.

Alton School District Superintendent Elaine Kane said the district could not comment on the incident because police were investigating.

We wouldnt be able to comment on a specific situation regarding someones child. Any time an external agency such as Alton PD is conducting an investigation, the district defers to the agency, Kane said.

Alton police confirmed an investigation into the incident is ongoing, but they could not provide further details while it remains open.

Mike ONeill, a lieutenant with the department, said, All parties involved are contacted and are aware of the investigation.

The Balickis said they took their son to a hospital the night they discovered the wounds, and he stayed overnight. He showed signs of distress, Ashley Balicki said, including screaming at the sight of strangers and hiding underneath his hospital bed.

The doctors said there were so many bite marks that they couldnt count, Ashley Balicki said.

In March, police collected DNA swabs from everyone with whom the child had come in contact at the day care center, Ashley Balicki said. The school bus that took the child to school had cameras, she said, but the center itself did not.

The Early Childhood Centers program serves children ages 3 to 5 and is in the 6000 block of Godfrey Road. The center has a special education program in which the Balickis son was enrolled.
JEFFERSON CITY  Top state officials voted Tuesday to sell two downtown St. Louis office buildings and move many of the 600 workers to a facility in Chesterfield.

Members of the Missouri Board of Public Buildings, which includes Gov. Mike Parson, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Attorney General Andrew Bailey, voted unanimously to pursue the sale of the historic Wainwright Office Building at Seventh and Chestnut streets and the Mill Creek Office Building at 220 South Jefferson Avenue.

The reason for the pending moves was described as financial.

A spokesman for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said city officials were not aware of the decision.

There was no prior communication from the governor or any member of the board about the sale of these buildings. We are certainly sorry for the state employees who will be displaced, and are working to learn more about the impact, if any, this could have on downtown St. Louis, the spokesman, Conner Kerrigan, said in a statement.

The process, which could take a year, will allow for the state to consolidate unused or underused office space affecting employees in at least 12 state agencies, including the Department of Corrections, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Department of Labor.

Proceeds from the sale of the two buildings will be used to purchase the facility in Chesterfield, said Brian Yansen, director of facilities management for the governors Office of Administration.

Cost estimates for the sale and possible purchase were not disclosed.

Office of Administration Commissioner Ken Zellers said the state believes it would cost $23 million to maintain and repair the Wainwright, which the state bought 50 years ago during former Gov. Christopher Kit Bonds administration.

The Mill Creek building, which sits on 4 acres near the intersection of Jefferson and Market Street, was built in 1975. A buyer has expressed interest in purchasing the facility, Yansen said.

Not all workers affected by the sales will move out of downtown, said OA spokesman Chris Moreland. Employees in the Missouri Department of Corrections probation and parole division will stay in the citys core, as will some Department of Social Services workers, he said.

There are so many moving parts, Zellers said. We want to do what makes sense.

The 10-story Wainwright building is considered the forerunner of the first skyscrapers in St. Louis when the structure designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler opened in 1892. It is a designated historic landmark.

In 1974, Bond helped pave the way for its purchase as a way to boost downtown St. Louis. At the time, Democratic leaders in the Legislature wanted to buy a building in midtown near St. Louis University to help that part of the city.

In 2019, Parson rejected a request by some state workers to move out of the downtown area because of concerns about crime.

A spokesman said at the time the move was not a priority, but the possibility of an exodus of workers set off alarm bells for downtown boosters and elected officials who represent the area.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant reduction in foot traffic in the area, crime has been a recurring theme in the departure of workers from downtown. Last weekend, a shooting marked the ninth homicide this year in the Downtown and Downtown West neighborhoods, according to city police crime records. There were six all of last year, and nine in 2022.

In addition to the symbolism of Parson moving workers out of the heart of the states economic engine, the move also could cost the city by reducing the amount it receives from its 1% earnings tax on people who work in the city.
The Missouri Republican Party must replace 54 national convention delegates and alternates selected at its chaotic state convention because of alarming irregularities in the process, the Republican National Convention Committee on Contests ruled Friday.

The list of rejected delegates includes two of the major GOP candidates for governor: Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel.

The committee holds that the State Convention was not properly credentialed, and that any slate of delegates and alternate delegates adopted at the State Convention must be discarded, states the report signed by Chairwoman Jeanne Luckey of Mississippi.

The committee acted after investigating complaints from state convention delegates Daniel OSullivan, of St. Louis County, and Derrick Good, of Jefferson County.

They alleged delegates to the state convention were not properly credentialed as the convention was organized, that the rules for selecting the states at-large delegates were improperly changed during the convention and that some delegates were listed on more than one slate of names in violation of the rules.

The committee, after determining that the complaint about credentialing had merit, wrote that it did not need to consider the other complaints and made no ruling on them.

Contestants have provided ample proof of alarming irregularities in the state conventions credentialing procedures, including the absence of names on delegate lists, the distribution of delegate credentials to alternate delegates without confirming who they were replacing, and the failure to ensure alternate delegates were raised from the same counties as the delegates they were replacing, among other things, the report stated.

The committees ruling gives the state party executive committee until 5 p.m. Friday to select a new set of at-large delegates and alternates.

The executive committee will meet that deadline, the Missouri Republican Party said in a statement to The Independent.

The state party had no role in the determination by the national Contests Committee, the statement read.

We understand the urgency and importance of this matter and are working diligently to ensure that all proper procedures are followed within the constrained deadline, the statement read. While this process unfolds, we remain focused on selecting a delegation that will represent Missouri well at the RNC.

OSullivan, who ran for Congress in 1996 and has been a member of the St. Louis County Republican Central Committee for more than 20 years, said the ruling highlights just one set of problems springing from the convention.

They cant produce a list of who was in attendance, OSullivan said. They cant certify who the delegates to the convention were, so the committee cant say that the product of the convention was valid, and they therefore did not even deal with the questions we had regarding things that occurred during the event itself.

OSullivan expects to be on the list of delegates that will be selected to replace those elected at the convention.

So does Good, a Jefferson County attorney who also has been a longtime county committee member.

The State Executive Committee will put together a new delegate list by the end of the week, and Im confident those are folks that are committed and able to participate, Good said.

The main fight at the convention was between people relatively new to the convention process and those who had been party stalwarts with many conventions under their belts. It became clear after the congressional district conventions that the faction that would buck the party establishment had a convention majority.

The projected timeline for the convention was for it to have all delegates seated by 9 a.m., the time it was officially scheduled to begin, and for all business to be completed by 2 p.m. The credentialing process, however, took five hours, and the only business completed by 2 p.m., when the convention took a lunch break, was the election of Sophia Shore, of Camden County, as convention chair over Eddie Justice.

Shore manages Eigels campaign for governor.

The MO GOP, whether it be nefarious intentions or just incompetency, completely botched their one job  credentialing, Shore said in a statement to The Independent. It is asinine that the contest committee would accept a challenge that was orchestrated by the MO GOP on the basis of their own error and then reward them for their incompetence.

Missouri has 54 delegate votes at the GOP national convention in Milwaukee, which is set to begin July 15. Of that number, 24 were elected at eight congressional district conventions in April and 27 were elected as at-large delegates at the state convention on May 4. Three additional delegate slots are reserved for party leaders.

There were also 27 alternates selected at the state convention.

All delegates were elected on slates to fill all available seats but a change in rules during the afternoon session made The Truly Grassroots for Trump slate the only one presented for a vote.

The executive committee should restore the delegation without changes, Shore said in her statement.

The MO GOP should own their mistakes, re-submit the Truly Grassroots for Trump slate elected by the convention delegates, and be done with it, she said.

Many of the delegates selected at the convention have not reserved their hotel rooms in Milwaukee and seem unlikely to attend, Good said. But they would not have been removed as delegates if the rules written before the convention had been followed, he said.

If they just played by the rules, there would be no complaint, Good said. They had the votes. They did a good job of building a coalition going into it.

The delegate slates prepared, but ultimately withdrawn, had the same goal as the now-discarded delegates who were selected, to re-elect Trump, he said.

Theres a place to have these kinds of fights, he said. There are rules to have them under, and then at the end of the day, hopefully we find a way to come back together for the common goals.

The afternoon session was marked by disputes over whether those who left for lunch could re-enter the convention, whether the rules could be changed and how slates of delegates and amendments to the platform had to be presented to be in order.

When the credentialing went to hell, the confidence in the people running the convention was lost, OSullivan said.

After the vote, delegates drifted away and the convention ended, without adopting a platform, when there was no longer a quorum to conduct business.

The event itself was embarrassing, OSullivan said.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption (ZACC) investigating officer into Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu's US$7 million fraud allegations on Monday told the court that the businessmen provided fake address for their bogus Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry company.Sealing her evidence while being led by State prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, Gamuchirai Zimunhu opposed bail the bail application filed by the two.She said she was convinced Mpofu gave her a wrong address.Mpofu gave an address for a house in Greendale which is under construction.Zimunhu said the house is in inhabitable pointing out to a possibility that Mpofu gave false information.Her colleague Henry Chapwanya echoed the same sentiments and told magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa that the house has no doors and windows."We found an unfinished house at the address provided by the first accused (Mpofu)."The house has no doors and windows and doesn't look like anyone stays there."We went around the house and it shows no one stays there," he said.Chapwanya also said the two should remain locked up because their release on bail could spark public disorder."If released on bail, there will be protests which will undermine peace and security in the nation as the country is expecting to host the SADC summit in the next few weeks," he said.The matter was rolled over to Tuesday for continuation of bail hearing.Self-styled cleric Passion Java was a conspicuous figure in the court gallery in solidarity with Chimombe and Mpofu.He chatted briefly with the two after court adjourned before he left under a heavy escort comprising private security and state security agents.A woman believed to be a sister to Mpofu's wife harassed some journalists for filming Java having a chat with Chimombe and Mpofu.She went berserk outside court almost breaking a cell phone belonging to another journalist who was filming outside court.
Air Force Maj. Nathaniel Roesler, right, assumes command of the Warrant Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama on June 28, 2024. (Evan Lichtenhan/U.S. Air Force)

The Air Forces warrant officer training school is open for business, marking a return to the service after nearly 70 years.

The school, which held an assumption of command ceremony Friday at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., aims to address the growing demand for highly specialized technical and tactical experts, a service statement said.

The Air Force disbanded the warrant officer corps in 1958 after the creation of the senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant ranks.

That left the Air Force as an outlier among the other Pentagon services, where warrant officers work in such varied roles as aviation, food safety, special operations and vehicle maintenance.

The Air Force says its future warrant officers are expected to play a crucial role in areas such as technology and cybersecurity.

In an April statement, service chief Gen. David Allvin said the reintroduction of the school is part of larger changes that are essential for maintaining a strategic advantage in an era defined by Great Power Competition.

The changes in force structure come as China continues to modernize and grow its armed forces and as the U.S. seeks to deter Russia from aggression against NATO allies in Europe.

Similar to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the Air Force will undergo a selective application process to designate qualified airmen to attend the school.

The schools opening class of about 30 people is set to begin its eight weeks of training in October.

To attend, the students must be in the pay grade of E-5 or higher, age 42 or younger and in the service for at least five years, among other requirements.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Hayes speaks with 173rd Airborne Brigade soldiers in Vicenza, Italy, on July 1, 2024, about the 2008 Battle of Wanat in Afghanistan. (Jennifer French/U.S. Army)

VICENZA, Italy  The Battle of Wanat began before dawn with a short burst of rapid machine gun fire, followed by continuous volleys of rocket-propelled grenades launched from all sides toward Chosen Companys outpost in the rural Wanat Valley.

Nearly four hours of combat followed. Chosen Companys 49 paratroopers and 24 Afghan soldiers forced approximately 200 Taliban fighters to break contact and withdraw, but not before nine Americans died and many were wounded.

On Monday, two paratroopers who fought in the July 13, 2008, battle shared their recollections as part of discussions designed to keep the 173rd Airborne Brigades history fresh for current sky soldiers.

Col. Matthew Myer and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Hayes said the fight came down to quick decision-making.

One thing tactically that really helped us was we moved our forces ... down to be more accessible, said Myer, who was the companys commander. That helped us have redundant communications.

The second thing was we could resupply ourselves by ground. We set the battlefield and it enabled us to reinforce, and we never lost communications.

Their talk to an audience of around 100 paratroopers was part of the Leaders Legacy series, which has been running since January. Myer and Hayes stressed the importance of training, even when war isnt imminent.

Col. Matthew Myer, center, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Hayes, right, share lessons learned from the Battle of Wanat with members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy, on July 1, 2024, in advance of their Saber Junction training. At left is Capt. Rob Koontz, who was moderating. (Jennifer French/U.S. Army) A 173rd Airborne Brigade soldier asks a question of Col. Matthew Myer and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Hayes during a discussion in Vicenza, Italy, on July 1, 2024, about the Battle of Wanat in Afghanistan. (Jennifer French/U.S. Army) Then-Capt. Matthew Myer and 1st Sgt. Scott Beeson in Parun, Afghanistan, in June 2007. Now a colonel, Myer and Chief Warrant Officer John Hayes shared their experiences during the July 2008 Battle of Wanat with current 173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers on July 1, 2024. (U.S. Army) Troops of Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade in contact with the enemy prepare to return fire at Combat Outpost Bella, Afghanistan, in 2008. Harassment attacks on COP Bella followed the publicized announcement of Bella's closure, prior to the unit's move to Wanat. (U.S. Army) Then-Sgt. Ryan Pitts takes a break from building a traffic control point northeast of Combat Outpost Bella, Afghanistan, spring 2008. Pitts was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Wanat in July 2008. (U.S. Army)

Never underestimate the importance of the service youre in, Myer said. You might think, Were a peacetime army; were just training. Good leaders know how to emphasize how important the job is that we do. The more you can do that, the better youll be prepared.

The presentation served as a prelude to the brigades trip to Germany in September for the biannual Saber Junction training exercise.

Repetition is key to building the experience and confidence needed in combat, Myer and Hayes told the paratroopers. Training is also crucial to identifying informal leaders who can step up in a crisis situation, they said.

During the battle, Hayes was thrown into the role of communicating with unfamiliar people, such as the battalion commander and medevac helicopter crews.

Were about to go on patrol. Im getting my gear ready, then catastrophic destruction occurs, he said. It took a minute to go from complete fear to making decisions.

He suggested that leaders add stressful challenges in training, such as taking away supplies that soldiers would normally have, but not taking that to excess.

We faced overwhelming firepower and mass casualty, Hayes said. But we were tested on a level where we were able to handle it. If you had done that to us in month two of our collective training, it would have been too much.

The unit fought off a much larger Taliban force, but with great sacrifice.

The battles death toll would led to criticism from some parents of the fallen, congressional scrutiny and a 274-page report by the Armys Combat Studies Institute. In 2009, the Army reprimanded two senior leaders and Myer, who was also awarded a Silver Star, which is the third-highest decoration for valor in combat. The reprimands were revoked a year later after a higher-level Army review.

Several members of the company, which is part of 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, were honored for their actions that day at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler. They include Staff Sgt. Ryan M. Pitts, who was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Pitts fought on while grievously injured at an isolated observation post, throwing cooked grenades with little time until detonation at the enemy, while eventually helping Myer guide airstrikes, according to official Army accounts.

On Monday, Myer and Hayes also emphasized the importance of taking the time to build friendships, while enjoying their time in Italy.

If you have a second every now and then, just realize you could be in the good old days right now, Hayes said. It doesnt necessarily feel like that, but all of my big moments as a young adult happened here.

I didnt realize it at the time. When things are not as great as you want them to be, you could still be in some of the best years of your life. Try not to take it for granted.

Both said their bond with others in the 173rd helped them not only during the battle but also in the years after it. Myer called that July day in Wanat the hardest day of his life.

It was the hardest day for a lot of people, he said. I got to be with Chosen Company, train with them, learn through combat with them, and then on the toughest day, see people perform and act with bravery.

But it came at an incredible cost, and its so hard to deal with. You think about it all the time. Its not something that goes away, ever.

holland.rebecca@stripes.com @_RebeccaHolland
Members of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 2028 march at the service academy in New London, Conn. (Matt Thieme/U.S. Coast Guard)

Nearly 70 Coast Guard veterans on Tuesday called on senators investigating the services sexual-assault scandal to force all Coast Guard leaders involved in the services internal investigation to testify in Congress about the yearslong cover-up.

The service veterans, including many former commanders, have bonded together to make the request after a whistleblower said she was told not to provide some sexual-assault victims the documentation needed to get help from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Please support Coast Guard women and men survivors who have borne the scars of their abuse for years without support from past and current Coast Guard leaders, the group wrote in a letter sent to Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., the leaders of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subpanel on investigations. The offices of both senators confirmed they received the letter.

Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. listen during a discussion at a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing in 2015. (Stars and Stripes)

The subpanel began investigating the Coast Guard last year over the cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor  a 2020 report based on a five-year inquiry into the handling of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy prior to 2006.

The Coast Guard only notified Congress about the existence of Fouled Anchor after CNN reporters began digging into it in 2023  three years after the service decided not to disclose the investigative report.

It is well past time for the subcommittee to issue a subpoena to the Coast Guard for all responsive records on Operation Fouled Anchor, according to a statement from Johnsons office. The Coast Guard must be held accountable for covering up its investigation into sexual assaults as well as its obstruction of the subcommittees oversight efforts.

Denise Rucker Krepp, a former Coast Guard attorney who later worked as the Maritime Administration chief counsel, and retired Cmdr. Jennifer Yount, a 1981 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, were the driving force behind the letter.

I dont know how you recover until you start holding people accountable, Yount said.

Retired leaders named in the letter include former commandant Adm. Karl Schultz and his vice commandant Adm. Charles Ray, as well as recently retired vice commandant Adm. Steve Poulin, who was chief counsel to the Coast Guard when the investigation began. Also listed is the former director of the Coast Guard Investigative Service Michael Berkow.

Some names listed of current Coast Guard leaders who could have worked on Fouled Anchor include vice commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday, Vice Adm. Paul Thomas, Vice Adm. Michael McAllister, Rear Adm. Steve Andersen, Rear Adm. Melissa Bert and Cal Lederer, who has been the deputy chief counsel to the Coast Guard since 2002.

Adm. Linda Fagan, who is the commandant now, testified last month before the investigative subpanel about Operation Fouled Anchor and has committed to improving reporting and prevention of sexual assault across the Coast Guard. She also said no one had been disciplined for the cover-up because the services inspector general is still investigating.

Adm. Linda Fagan, commandant of the Coast Guard, testifies June 11, 2024, during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee subpanel hearing in Washington. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

Our failure to share the report with Congress was a mistake that prevented appropriate oversight and further eroded trust, Fagan said during the June 12 hearing. I cannot change the past but as the commandant today, I reaffirm to our workforce past and present that I remain steadfast in my commitment to making lasting cultural change.

The day before Fagans testimony, Shannon Norenberg released a statement alleging the service used her in 2018 to continue the Fouled Anchor cover-up while she worked as a sexual-assault response coordinator at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.

One of the most egregious claims, Yount said, was Norenberg was told not to give victims a form known as CG-6095 to provide to the VA for support as she met with them about Fouled Anchor. Norenberg was also told to tell victims that Congress was aware of the situation to discourage them from reaching out, which she said she now knows wasnt true at the time.

We believe that the Coast Guards determination to not provide the Operation Fouled Anchor victims with their CG-6095s was a deliberate action to further ensure Congress and the public would not become aware of the investigation and subsequent cover-up, the veterans wrote. It was an action that stains the honor of our service. It was an action that delayed recovery for Coast Guard sexual-assault survivors.

The signatures to the letter include men, women, enlisted personnel, officers, civilian personnel and academy graduates dating to 1975.
A worker looks out at Oura Bay near Camp Schwab, Okinawa, in September 2022. (Stars and Stripes)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  The Japanese government halted shipment of landfill material destined for a U.S. military airfield on Okinawa after a truck hit and killed a security guard and injured a protester last week.

Moving material to ports at Awa and Motobu on the island by truck is suspended while authorities consider measures to prevent future incidents, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a video-recorded press conference Monday.

The landfill material is used to reclaim a portion of Oura Bay for a Marine Corps airfield under construction in the rural Henoko region of northern Okinawa. The material is quarried on Okinawa, trucked to the ports and then moved by ships to the airfield site at Camp Schwab.

Work at the site was set to resume fully in August after more than four years delay while Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki fought the project in Japanese courts. The airfield is planned as a replacement for Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in urban Ginowan.

A spokesman for U.S. Forces Japan did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Tuesday from Stars and Stripes.

Around 10 a.m. Friday, security guard Yoshikazu Usami, 47, and an unidentified 72-year-old woman for some reason stepped into the path of a truck turning left from Awa port, Nago city, according to an Okinawa Prefectural Police spokesman that day. 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 police spokesman said.

This accident is very regrettable, and the Ministry of Defense is working to understand the situation, Hayashi said Monday.

Reports indicate the accident occurred during an interaction between a security guard and a protester, Hayashi said. The Okinawa Defense Bureau is working to confirm the details of the accident.

Protesters opposed to the U.S. military presence on the island are a regular presence outside the port.

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki on Friday said the accident is extremely regrettable, a spokesman for the prefectural Henoko Base Construction Countermeasures Division told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday.

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, according to the prefectures spokesman. The Okinawa Defense Bureau notified the prefecture on Friday night that trucks moving the material to the ports would be halted, according to the prefectures spokesman. Some government officials in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

Bureau director Ito Shinya visited the Liberal Democratic Party Okinawa office on Saturday and apologized for the incident, national broadcaster NHK reported that day. The Liberal Democrats are the ruling party in Japan.

Members of LDP Okinawa asked the bureau to take appropriate safety measures and be thorough on risk management, according to a post Saturday on X by Yoshitoyo Arakaki, a member of Okinawas prefectural assembly.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Parks Authority) has shot dead three elephants in the border town of Beitbridge in yet unexplained circumstances although it is believed that they had become rogue.Parks Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said he was yet to get details from Beitbridge.Beitbridge residents yesterday joined rangers to skin the elephants for meat.A contracted safari hunter is believed to have put down the jumbos, common in the border district.Beitbridge is central to two transfrontier parks Gonarezhou and Mapungubwe while the Bubye Valley Conservancy with all Zimbabwean wildlife species is a 20-minute drive from the town.
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, then-commander of U.S. Central Command and head of Afghan troops in Afghanistan, speaks to reporters at the former Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul on July 25, 2021. Now retired, McKenzie published his memoir, The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century. (J.P. Lawrence/Stars and Stripes)

TAMPA (Tribune News Service)  After 42 years in the Marine Corps, Frank McKenzie retired in 2022 as a four-star general and commander of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, where he oversaw the countrys military withdrawal from the 20-year war in Afghanistan.

He stayed retired for a couple of months. Now hes executive director of two organizations at the University of South Florida, the Global and National Security Institute and the Florida Center for Cyber Security.

And he is a newly minted author. His memoir, The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, was published by the Naval Institute Press. Its a richly detailed, highly readable, no-punches-pulled account of his three years as combatant commander at Centcom, which is the nerve center for U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

He focuses the book on two points: the importance of civilian control of the military and the unique role of a combatant commander.

McKenzie, 66, talked to the Tampa Bay Times at his office at USF about the book, his military career, his opinion about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, his reasons for settling in Tampa and more.

Trim and gregarious, he wears a sport coat and medium-length, sandy hair instead of a uniform and Marine haircut. He chats enthusiastically about his favorite restaurants; when he gets a phone call, the ring tone is Journeys Dont Stop Believin.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Youve had a long and varied career. Why write a book, and why focus on your years at Centcom?

I enjoy writing. Writing is easy for me, so theres no effort involved for me to write a book. The decision was based on the fact that in my three years at CentCom I saw a lot of things. I wanted to write from the perspective of a combatant commander at a critical time and place, not as an observer but as a participant.

A combatant commander is unique in that you get to give advice and you get to execute policy. A lot of people give advice and a lot of people execute policy, but only combatant commanders do both. There are only 11 in the whole military, seven geographical, four functional.

I had a long career, but those were three interesting years, of broader interest than just me. Consequential things happened while I was in command there. And of course it also was cathartic for me to write about it.

You begin The Melting Point with a quote from historian Barbara Tuchmans acclaimed book The Guns of August that uses that term to describe the temperament of the individual commander. What does the term mean to you?

What it means in this book is that the personality of the commander is where orders and policy get executed on the ground. The transmutation point. Thats the melting point for me. Its where things get under enormous pressure, get very heated, and thats where the commander lives.

It is a challenging job. The Marine Copy doesnt produce introspective senior leaders. If youre studying your life, youre probably not doing something you should be doing. But there is time to learn, and you do. One of the key ways an officer educates himself or herself is by studying history. There are very few new things; everything has happened before.

One of the most interesting things in the book is your descriptions of strategy, not only military strategy but the strategy involved in dealing with people, especially those on your own side, up to and including those in the Oval Office. Can you talk about that?

The Department of Defense is the largest bureaucracy in the world, so youve got to understand how to maneuver, how to set your goals, execute your goals. Thats an art, its not a science, and its a learned skill  nobody is born with that skill. I certainly wasnt.

My job is to provide options to a decision-maker. The civilian is the decision-maker, and thats how it should be. You want to make sure that you can talk about those options in such a way that decision-makers are informed but not confused, so you spend a lot of time thinking about how you arrange your facts.

Why is civilian control of the military so important to you?

Its important to the country. We have constitutionally arrived at civilians as the people who are in charge. The oath Ive taken 10 times, with each of my promotions, is to the Constitution, not a person. The Constitution provides that duly appointed civilian authorities make the decisions. We never want to be in a situation where the military would challenge that. Its bad for the country. Countries have done that and theyve not ended well.

As former Centcom commander, you give the reader a detailed history of Irans role in the region, stretching back centuries and pivotal today. Is the current war between Israel and Hamas another extension of the wars that Iran has had its tentacles in over the years?

Its part of it, but the Iran problem is larger than that. Iran has three priorities: Protect the regime, destroy Israel, get the United States out of the region. The primary goal is the most important to them. They will go to great lengths to protect the regime.

Of course theyre delighted with what Hamas is doing because it damages Israel, but they have chosen not to become engaged. I keep waiting for that shoe to drop. Its not going to drop. Why not?

Their first objective: once you understand that, you understand what Iran will and wont do. They wont take on Israel unless they see a way to certain victory for them. Theres no way to that (in this situation).

The book also offers an in-depth, first-hand account of our withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war, including your own perspective on the accomplishments and regrets of that process. What do you hope readers take away from that?

What happened in Afghanistan was 20 years in the making. At the end, the men and women who were there were men and women doing the right thing for the country. We should honor their sacrifice. Whatever we think about whether we should get out or shouldnt get out, we shouldnt blame those who were on the ground actually doing the work.

The withdrawal remains controversial, and we have heard, and are likely to hear more, about who is to blame for errors made: former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden. From your very close perspective, whats the answer to that?

We left Afghanistan because two presidents as unalike as any two presidents in our history shared a goal of leaving Afghanistan regardless of the consequences. In every other area of their administrations there was no policy continuity, except in this one area where there was profound policy continuity. Thats the proximate reason. There are other reasons, but in the end there was policy continuity across those two administrations.

Did you disagree with that approach?

I would have stayed in Afghanistan with a smaller footprint. I think leaving was a mistake and were yet to bear the full burden of that, but its coming. Its coming.

There will be attacks inside the U.S. Ive said so in public testimony. The risk of that is greater than it would have been otherwise. ISIS-K carried out a very successful attack in Russia a couple of months ago. They will come after us as well. We have a very limited ability to see and know whats going on in Afghanistan and an even more limited ability to strike them if we needed to. If we had kept a small force, wed be able to sense whats going on, to act there instead of here. Its always better to do it away from your homeland.

What have you been doing since you retired from the Marine Corps?

Im now at USF, a great institution. I stood up a new think tank, the Global and National Security Institute. Were just at our two year mark, but we operate in the policy-technology boundary to provide actual useful, actionable information to policy makers at all levels.

The second thing I do is Im the executive director of the Florida Center for Cyber Security. It was an existing organization. It was actually stood up by the Legislature in 2014. Its designed to position Florida as a leading edge destination for cyber security across the region and the state, to improve our cyber security posture. We do policy alternatives, outreach, education, training.

What is most different about the new job?

I dont work at night. They dont bother me on the weekends much.

Why did you and your wife decide to make your home in Tampa?

We actually made the decision before I knew about this job. For us its a triangle: Tampa, Birmingham, Alabama, where Im from, and Charleston, South Carolina, where Marilyn and I had our first home after we were married.

Ive lived in Tampa three times since 2010. I just really like the city. Its very diverse, it has great people, its a great foodie city, just a lot of things to commend it. Its Old Florida a little bit, I think. Its the same reason I stayed in the Marine Corps for 40 years: Its the people. I just like them.

Whats the most important work youre doing right now?

We just held a conference on hunger as a weapon. I saw it as a Centcom commander, around the world, so Im interested in it. I want to find a larger space for what we do. Were not always talking about the Russians and their nuclear weapons. Eventually something disastrous is going to happen here and well take cyber security seriously.

We dont now?

No, we dont.

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Members of American Legion Post 493 in Little Egg Harbor, N.J., attend the funeral service of Anthony Lopa on June 28, 2024. (American Legion Post 493/Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  A Korean war soldier from New Jersey who was killed in action 74 years ago was given a full military funeral Friday at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, New Jersey.

A large escort of over 200 people, including Veterans of Foreign Wars members, traveled from Maxwell Funeral Home in Little Egg Harbor to attend the burial.

U.S. Army Pfc. Anthony John Lopa, from North Arlington, was killed on Aug. 31, 1950, after being taken prisoner just weeks into his deployment. He was only 17, and his body was placed in a grave with five other soldiers.

Fridays service included the playing of Taps, a three rifle volley and the presentation of an American flag to his family.

Entrance to Brigaider General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, N.J, the burial place of John Lopa. (New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)

Kelly Domitrowsky, Lopas niece and one of his last remaining blood relatives, was first contacted by the Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Division at U.S. Army Human Resources Command in Fort Knox, Kentucky, around 25 years ago to provide a DNA sample that could be used to find a match to her uncle. It was only until last year she learned his body had been identified.

This has been probably the single most amazing experience of my life, said Domitrowsky, sharing her gratitude for the overwhelming level of support from community members who attended the funeral. I can honestly tell you I was able to pay honor to this man that gave everything. By the response today, nobody forgot him.

Domitrowskys mother, before she passed away, had told her she wished for her brothers legacy to be remembered. She said just whatever you do, dont forget about him, said Domitrowsky. I always carry that with me even though Ive never had the chance to meet him. I kept faith that this was going to happen.

Lopas remains were returned back to Domitrowsky, along with her husband and daughter, at the Philadelphia International Airport on June 25. Before this, his body was held in Hawaii after being returned to the United States from the grave site located in South Korea in 2018.

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Cmdr. Yvonne van Beusekom, commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Tromp, stands beside a 127-mm cannon on the ships bow while talking with reporters on June 28, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  Personnel and ships from navies across the Pacific sail into Hawaii every two years for the Rim of the Pacific exercise, but some participants come from much farther away.

The Netherlands is almost literally on the other side of the world, so its very precious for us to be here, Cmdr. Yvonne van Beusekom, commander of the HNLMS Tromp told reporters Friday from the bow of the frigate docked at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

It is the first time a ship from the Netherlands, a European nation that borders the North Sea and lies directly across from Great Britain, has joined the drills.

Two of its European neighbors, Belgium and Germany, are also at RIMPAC, which runs through Aug. 1.

Israel, another notably non-Pacific nation, is also among the 29 participating countries.

The U.S. Navy touts RIMPAC as the worlds largest maritime exercise, and it focuses primarily on developing relationships among the participants and improving their ability to work together in the event of disaster or warfare in the Pacific.

But the benefits go beyond region and thus draws navies from across the globe, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. John Wade, commander of this years RIMPAC, said during a news conference Thursday.

Look, we live in an interconnected world, and what is happening in one area of the world also impacts another, said Wade, who also commands the San Diego-based 3rd Fleet. And its clear, at least to me and my senior leadership, that global security and our future prosperity is absolutely linked to the Indo-Pacific region.

About 80% of the worlds trade by volume flows through the Indo-Pacific, he said.

China is involved in producing and shipping a great deal of that trade, but Beijing has at the same time grown more strident in its goal of dominating the region not just economically but militarily.

So, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific is so vitally important, Wade said. Even though there are nations that are not in the Pacific, per se, their interests do apply to the Pacific, and I would highlight that that is why they are participating.

Rear Adm. Kazushi Yokota of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the exercises vice commander, shortened that thought to a familiar phrase.

Free and open oceans are critically important to every country in the world, Yokota said.

Van Beusekom reminded listeners that the Netherlands is a trading country.

Much of our trade goes to and from Asia so its a vitally important area for us. Being able to train with countries, with the different navies, is very important to us to enhance our cooperation and improve the stability of the region.

Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Tromp arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 26, 2024, for the Rim of the Pacific exercise. (Sarah Eaton/U.S. Navy)

The HNLMS Tromp, a 475-foot-long air defense and command frigate with a vertical missile launching system, arrived in Hawaii on Wednesday.

That was roughly the halfway mark in the ships six-month worldwide deployment that took it through the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, East China Sea, Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

After RIMPAC, it will traverse the Panama Canal, visit the Caribbean and then return home, van Beusekom said.

The frigate came to the Pacific to support the United Nations coalition that oversees enforcement of maritime sanctions against North Korea, she said.

The frigate, which carries a crew of about 200 for the global deployment, conducted maritime operations in May in the South China Sea with the U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Mobile and dry cargo ship USNS Wally Schirra.

While traveling over here  we have visited several ports and seen how important this region is, van Beusekom said.

An incident with a Chinese aircraft in the East China Sea also gave the crew a better understanding of the challenges in maintaining freedom of navigation in the region.

While in those waters during the UN mission, a Chinese Peoples Liberation Army helicopter approached the ships helicopter crew, van Beusekom said.

It was potentially unsafe, she said. The helicopter was very close, but we were able to continue the mission.
Russian sailors stand on the bridge of the Russian Navys Kilo-class submarine Rostov-na-Donu B-237 as it transits the Bosphorus Strait en route to the Black Sea on Feb. 13, 2022, in Istanbul, Turkey. (Burak Kara, Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Russian attack submarines have conducted missions around the Irish Sea twice since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, three people familiar with the matter said, an unprecedented move by the Kremlin that forced the U.K. military to take steps to protect British and Irish waters.

The first deployment of a Russian Kilo-class submarine close to the Irish Sea, which separates the island of Ireland from Great Britain, happened around 18 months ago, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private assessments. The second occurrence took place more recently. The extent of the submarine movements went beyond what U.K. officials had previously seen, they said.

Two of the people said U.S. officials were aware of the sub movements. The U.K.s Ministry of Defence said it doesnt comment on operations. The U.S. monitors Russian naval activity, a senior Biden administration official said. White House spokespeople declined to comment on the latest report, and Russias Defense Ministry didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Kilo-class submarine is a diesel-electric attack submarine capable of firing Russias Kalibr cruise missiles, as well as torpedoes and naval mines. Last month, Russian state media reported that Russian naval vessels, including the Yasen-class Kazan submarine, conducted simulated drills on the Atlantic Ocean ahead of a visit to Cuba.

The deployment of Russian submarines in waters surrounding Britain and western Ireland during the Ukraine war was already known, though it has not previously been reported that they traveled toward the Irish Sea. In 2023, Irish media reported that a British helicopter and warship chased off a Russian submarine outside Cork Harbour, in the south-west of Ireland, acting because the Irish military didnt have the capabilities to counter underwater threats.

And last month, the BBC reported that a Russian submarine had been spotted off the coast of Scotland. It then traveled to Cuba.

A spokesperson for Irelands Department of Defence said the agency doesnt comment on the operations of other countries armed forces. Without linking it to the reports about the Russian submarines, the spokesperson said air and naval assets are conducting enhanced maritime patrolling near offshore energy infrastructure in the Irish Sea.

Cork is also the landing point for an undersea cable, the EXA Atlantic, that also connects to Canada and the U.K. The defense spokesperson said government agencies are also engaging with each other on the protection of the countrys data cables.

Russia deployment of submarines around the U.K. and Ireland could be an attempt to identify potential weaknesses in British and Irish Sea defenses, or to try to intimidate the U.K. in response to its support for Ukraine, the people said.

It would be challenging for a Russian submarine to successfully navigate the Irish Sea in full without breaching international law, due to the complexity of claims to territorial waters, one of the people said. Submarines legally have to transit on the surface of territorial waters. The varying depths of the Irish Sea would make it difficult for a Russian vessel to travel in the waters submerged, the person said.

The U.S. Naval Institute describes the Kilo program as one of the most successful naval programs in modern history. More than 60 Kilo-class submarines remain in service, according to the institute. They have been used in the Black Sea to attack targets in Ukraine.

Kilo-class submarines have a top speed of 17 knots surfaced, or 20 knots submerged, according to a fact-sheet on the U.S. Naval Institute website.

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A 20-year-old American woman is in custody following the fatal stabbing of a 64-year-old man at the Kaiserslautern train station on Saturday. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)

Updated July 3, 2024, 9:50 a.m. Central European Time

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  A 20-year-old American woman is in custody following the fatal stabbing of a 64-year-old man at the Kaiserslautern main train station over the weekend, police said Tuesday.

Military officials with the 86th Airlift Wing said Wednesday that the woman is not affiliated with the Defense Department. Kaiserslautern and the surrounding areas are home to the U.S. militarys largest overseas community.

Video footage from Saturday afternoon shows the man and woman riding the escalator one after the other from the entrance hall down to the platform, according to German law enforcement authorities.

At the end of the escalator, the footage shows the man touching the womans buttocks, which led to a verbal exchange, said Udo Gehring, Kaiserslauterns public prosecutor, in a statement Monday.

The video then shows the young woman unfolding a knife and pointing it at the man, Gehring said.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect and the victim did not know each other prior to the incident, Gehring said.

Witnesses called emergency services shortly before 3:30 p.m. Despite prompt medical attention, the man succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon in a local hospital.

West Palatinate and Kaiserslautern federal police temporarily halted train services Saturday as they searched for the suspect. That afternoon, the 20-year-old woman turned herself in at the Landstuhl police station.

The Kaiserslautern public prosecutor has ordered an autopsy and issued an arrest warrant for the woman on charges of manslaughter. She has exercised her right to remain silent.

The woman, who has not been named under Germanys strict privacy laws, is considered by prosecutors as a flight risk and being kept in custody.

Anyone with information about the incident may contact Kaiserslautern police at 0631 369-2620.
U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO's top military commander, salutes Italian soldiers at a July 1, 2024 ceremony in Solbiate Olona, Italy, where a new NATO quick reaction force was activated. (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe)

STUTTGART, Germany  NATO activated a new quick reaction force this week as part of a move to update defense plans in Europe, alliance military officials said.

The Allied Response Force, which was stood up Monday during a ceremony in Solbiate Olona, Italy, brings capabilities that were absent from the NATO Response Force that it replaces.

The new unit, known as the ARF, includes cyber and space force elements. It also involves more light infantry troops capable of moving out on short notice.

This development is crucial for the deterrence and defense of the Euro-Atlantic area, ensuring NATO is prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to any threat in an evolving security environment, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe said in a statement Monday.

The ARF is part of a broader modernization effort happening at NATO, which is building a force model that involves some 300,000 alliance troops operating at a higher state of readiness.

The ARF also functions as a NATO spearhead element and gives the top military commander, U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, a multinational force that can be deployed on short notice, SHAPE said.

The NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy in Solbiate Olona will lead the ARF for the next three years, SHAPE said.

The ARF can deliver forces, fires and effects within 10 days to either strengthen deterrence or provide strategic dilemma to adversaries, SHAPE said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

PUBLIC APOLOGY TO THE NATION OF ZIMBABWE BY HONOURABLE SIMELISIZWE SIBANDA



2nd of July 2024





I, Honourable Simelisizwe Sibanda, former Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, do hereby express my sincere apologies for the concerns arising from my recent actions. I understand that my approach to addressing the issue of a teacher's language proficiency was misguided and inappropriate, leading to perceptions of tribalism.



I want to assure the public and especially the teachers that my intention was solely to ensure that our children receive quality education, and I was concerned about the teacher's ability to communicate effectively with her students. However, as a national leader, I should have addressed this issue through appropriate channels, avoiding public platforms that may have fueled the tribal connotations.



I take full responsibility for my actions and acknowledge that my approach was wrong. I understand that my actions may have perpetuated tribal divisions, and for that, I truly apologise to the whole teaching fraternity and nation at large. I want to assure the public that my commitment to our nation's unity and development has always been genuine.



I want to express my gratitude to the public, the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, for supporting me during my tenure. I appreciate the opportunity to have served and contributed to the development of our education sector.



I also want to extend my apologies to all the leadership and members of my Party ZANU PF. I understand the party's values of unity and inclusivity, and I regret any harm caused by my lack of judgement. I hope that the party and its members will accept my sincere apologies and recognize my commitment to our nation's progress.



I would like to thank His Excellency, the President CDE Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to serve within the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education,Innovation Scince and Technology Development, and regret that I have let him down.





Finally, I remain committed to the nations progress under the leadership of our visionary leadership of His Excellency CDE Dr E.D Munangagwa as we consolidated the gains we have made as we pursue Vision 2030.



I hope that the public will accept my sincere apologies and recognize my commitment to our nation's unity and progress. I am committed to learning from this experience and growing as a leader.



I thank you all.



Sincerely,



Honourable Simelisizwe Sibanda,



Former Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Scince and Technology Development

Former Higher and Tertiary Education deputy minister Simelisizwe Sibanda who was fired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for doing the correct thing has apologised for doing his job correctly.Sibanda who was implementing government policy, which states that teachers taking lower primary school classes should be familiar with local languages was fired for requesting that a teacher who was incapable of teaching young children in their local isiNdebele language be transferred from an early childhood development centre in Bubi.The deployment of non-Ndebele speaking teachers to teach ECD classes in in the predominantly Ndebele Matabeleland provinces has been a sticky issue in a region that continues to register poor pass rates year-in-year-out.Bubi schools in particular always rank low in the province and in 2021 the schools were the worst performers nationally at all levels.Below is Sibanda's apology:
Zangauker watches tens of thousands of protesters during an anti-government demonstration in Tel Aviv on June 22. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

TEL AVIV  When Einav Zangaukers son was dragged into Gaza on Oct. 7, she trusted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would do everything possible to bring him home.

For two months, she barely ventured outside, refusing to meet with public figures, paralyzed by the fear that voicing her anguish could endanger her sons release.

I thought, Netanyahu is Mr. Security, hes delivered Israel through many wars, she recalled. I thought, I believe in him and I need to give him a chance.

Her patience has long since run out. After months of failed diplomacy aimed at freeing the more than 100 captives still held by Hamas  dozens are still alive, Israeli officials say, though no one knows exactly how many  Zangauker has been at the forefront of swelling anti-government protests, uniting disillusioned hostage families and their supporters. They believe Netanyahu is torpedoing a deal to return their loved ones and end the war in Gaza  and must be driven from power.

The movement plans to ramp up its disruption efforts in the coming weeks, hoping to topple the government before the Israeli parliament ends its summer session on July 28. It is just one in a series of crises converging on Netanyahu, who faces competing pressures from the far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties who make up his coalition. If his government survives, it will not convene again until late October.

Zangauker believes this is the last chance to save her son, 24-year-old Matan. Since his parents divorced at a young age, he has helped his mother run the house and, in recent years, cared for his younger sister, who has a debilitating nerve disease.

This is the mission of my life, Zangauker told The Post on a recent afternoon in a Tel Aviv cafe, near the bridge where she addresses tens of thousands of Israeli demonstrators nearly every Saturday night.

I will do everything possible to take back the mandate that I gave Netanyahu, she said. I have nothing to lose. Zangauker is the face of an unprecedented fissure in Netanyahus base, which has seen him through countless controversies and made him the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history.

The psychological concept in which Netanyahu was considered the only option for head of state has been broken, said Gayil Talshir, a political scientist from Hebrew University, pointing to polls that show a more than 20-point drop among his core supporters since Oct. 7.

Sixty-six percent of Israelis do not want Netanyahu to contest the next elections, including 37 percent from his own Likud party, according to a poll published Friday by Israels Channel 12. A majority also said they believe he is abandoning the hostages.

In a bid to keep his faltering government afloat, critics fear Netanyahu could capitulate to his far-right coalition partners, who are excluded from war decisions but have been lobbying for fringe policies like an Israeli reoccupation of the Gaza Strip.

Such delusional, messianic ideas could further endanger her son, Zangauker believes.

If Sinwar hears this and Matan is next to him, he will slit his throat open, she said, a reference to Yehiya Sinwar, Hamass military chief, believed by Israels military to be in hiding in subterranean tunnels, surrounded by dozens of Israeli hostages.

Zangaukers dark hair frames a gaunt face and sunken eyes. She smokes instead of eating. She hasnt cooked a meal since Oct. 6, when she hosted Matan and his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky, for their weekly Friday night dinner, a family tradition.

Though she struggles each night to shut her eyes, she refuses to take sleeping pills, saying she needs to remain sharp for her mission.

She has met twice with Netanyahu, who has said for months that returning the hostages is a top goal, though not the top goal, which he describes as total victory against Hamas  an objective even Israeli military officials have conceded is out of reach.

When she was face-to-face with the prime minister, she was shocked by his attempts at deception, she said, brushing off her desperate pleas for information. When Zangauker last met him before the Jewish holiday of Passover, she asked if she should set a place for Matan at the table. The state of Israel is doing everything it can to return the hostages, she remembers him saying.

When he refused to elaborate, she erupted in anger. He apologized that she was hurt but said her ire was misdirected, Zangauker said.

Netanyahu did not ask the relatives to tell stories about their loved ones, she said, as they have in meetings with other officials. Instead, he delivered a monologue about his own leadership, about Yoni, she said, referring to Netanyahus older brother, who was killed in an iconic hostage rescue in the 1970s.

She and the other hostage families fumed again at the end of the meeting, when Netanyahus wife, Sara, entered the room and sat quietly, watching. In January, Sara Netanyahu told another group of hostage families that public criticism of her husbands handling of the war undermined Israels leverage against Hamas.

The prime ministers office declined to comment on the meeting.

With Israel close to wrapping up military operations in the southern city of Rafah and the war in Gaza potentially entering a new phase, Zangauker worries Netanyahu will continue to resist a hostage deal in favor of rescue missions.

The IDF has rescued only seven hostages alive during the war, including four last month in a bold and bloody raid in central Gaza.

But it was unrealistic to expect similar missions could rescue the remaining captives, Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said last month, especially since many are believed to have been moved from aboveground homes to Hamass expansive tunnel network.

Will you send 18-year-old soldiers into booby-trapped tunnels, just to be killed? Zangauker wondered, addressing Netanyahu.

Without a deal, youre sentencing the hostages to death.

Netanyahu has always relied on voters like Zangauker: working-class Jews with roots in North Africa and the Middle East who reject liberalism and view themselves as Israeli patriots.

Zangauker is a single mother of Moroccan descent from Ofakim, a southern town built for immigrants that has historically been a Likud stronghold. She always voted for Netanyahu, and she was proud to do it. She bragged when she and her daughter appeared in one of his election campaign live streams.

A year ago, as angry Israelis filled the streets warning that Netanyahus move to undermine the courts threatened the countrys democracy, she sided with the police cavalry, cheering as they hosed down protesters with water cannons.

I thought  they deserved it, Zangauker said. I didnt understand what they were doing. I didnt ask questions. And now Im there - on those same streets, facing off against the same police.

Around 30 hostage family members have joined the anti-government protests; others demonstrate more quietly at the Tel Aviv plaza now known as Hostage Square. Former Likud supporters with children held in Gaza have called to say they are praying for Matan, she said. But they are too afraid to join her.

They dont have the courage, Zangauker said. I tell them, I am not angry at you for not going out.

But she has paid a price for opposing Netanyahu. Old neighbors have accused her of exploiting her son as a political card, of disgracing her people.

Zangauker no longer cares. She has received no information on Matan since the morning of Oct. 7, when she got him on the phone as he held the handle of the door to the bedroom he shared with Ilana. It was also their safe room. In the background, Zangauker said, she heard shooting, the roar of motorcycles and shouts in Arabic as militants overran their kibbutz of Nir Oz.

I love you, please dont cry, Matan told his mother.

Minutes later, as gunmen approached, he and Ilana jumped out of their bedroom window. They were abducted separately. It took 10 days for the Israeli government to declare Zangauker a hostage. Two months later, on Nov. 30, Ilana was among 105 captives released during a week-long cease-fire with Hamas.

Ilana, still recovering from an injured jaw, a broken pelvis and partial hearing loss, has joined Zangauker on the streets.

She makes sure that Matans two sisters - left without a functioning mother, Zangauker said - are fed and taken care of. In January, Zangauker, Ilana and Matans sisters set up a tent in the rain outside Netanyahus private residence in Caesarea. In February, they stood together as police blasted them with water cannons. They have met with, and confronted, politicians in the halls and committee rooms of the Knesset, pleading with them to secure a deal.

During a recent Saturday night demonstration, in her first public speech, Ilana spoke about the horrors of captivity and the agonizing confusion of her return to Israel.

Not a single minister bothered to call and ask about me, she told the crowd. When she finished, shaking, she ran into Zangaukers arms.

The women have plans for when Matan returns home. She and Ilana will go on a long trip abroad, Zangauker laughed. Then Matan and Ilana will get married.

We wont even ask him! she joked.

Her smile faded quickly, though, as she added that she was ready for a long road ahead.

We will be doing this for twenty years, she said, if thats what it takes. We will not allow this to be normalized. Lior Soroka contributed to this report.
Former Army Sgt. Daniel Perry in an undated booking photo. (Austin Police Department)

AUSTIN, Texas  A request by a county prosecutor in Texas to reverse the pardon of a former Army sergeant who was convicted of fatally shooting an Air Force veteran during a racial protest was denied by the states highest criminal appeals court.

Gov. Greg Abbotts pardon of Daniel Perry in May came about one year after he was sentenced in a Travis County courtroom to 25 years in prison for the death of Garrett Foster in downtown Austin on July 25, 2020.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals did not offer an explanation in the document issued last week denying the request. It came about three weeks after Jose Garza, the district attorney of Travis County, filed the request and said the pardon made a mockery of our legal system.

Travis County district attorney Jose Garza speaks at a news conference on June 4, 2024, with Sheila Foster, mother of Air Force veteran Garrett Foster, who was fatally shot by Army Sgt. Daniel Perry in 2020. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Garzas office has not publicly commented on the denial and declined Monday to provide a statement.

The shooting occurred during a Black Lives Matter protest and became a talking point of conservative media. Foster, 28, was carrying an assault rifle in downtown Austin during a Black Lives Matter protest, when Perry, who was working a side job as a rideshare driver, turned his car into a group of protesters. Perry, who was also armed, said he shot Foster because Foster pointed his rifle at Perrys car.

Perry, 37, was convicted of murder on April 7, 2023, and Abbott called for a pardon review within 18 hours of the verdict, citing Perrys right to self-defense.

Perry, who enlisted in 2012, was stationed at Fort Cavazos, about 70 miles north of Austin, at the time of the shooting. Afterward, he was moved to Fort Wainwright in Alaska. He received an other-than-honorable discharge in March, which means he could no longer face military charges.

Garza, who argued the governors pardon exceeded his constitutional authority, announced his request last month during a news conference with Fosters family alongside him.

We had justice for Garrett for 18 hours after waiting three years for a trial, said Sheila Foster, Garrett Fosters mother.
Curtis Brown was handed a four-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of common assault

A bouncer who kicked at the head of a man outside a bar in east Belfast has avoided being sent to prison.

Curtis Brown, 42, was handed a four-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of common assault.

A judge was told he had a temporary, complete loss of self-control following 14 years of unblemished work as a doorman.

Brown, who lost his job because of the incident, was also ordered to pay the victim 500 compensation.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard he was on duty at the premises close to his Upper Newtownards Road home when a row broke out between a number of men just after midnight on November 18 last year.

Police were informed that at one point the doorman allegedly stamped on the injured partys head.

According to a witness, however, the victim was also struck with a glass by one of the others involved in the altercation.

He received hospital treatment for injuries which included cuts to the back of his head and bruising.

Brown, who previously served in the Army, was prosecuted for the lesser offence of common assault on the basis that he was responsible for those wounds to the victim.

It has been made clear that the defendant punched him and either kicked or stamped on his head, but the other males attacked him and inflicted the lions share of the injuries, a Crown lawyer said.

The court was told Brown claimed he was struck first and then punched out at the victim in a bid to free himself while they were on the ground.

Defence barrister Michael Boyd acknowledged: No gloss is being put on this, there was then a kick in the direction of the injured partys (head).

Having viewed footage of the incident, Presiding District Judge Steven Keown stated: A kick might be the most generous term to put on this.

Mr Keown was also told Brown had not been involved in the initial row with two other men outside the bar.

They werent employed as door staff to keep the peace. There might be less duty of care on them, he responded.

The court heard Brown has now lost his licence to work as a doorman.

Hes actively trying to get into other employment, he has a very good employment record and was in the Army as well for four or five years, Mr Boyd added.

It seems this was a temporary complete loss of self-control.

Citing Browns early admission of guilt and previous clear record, the judge decided to suspend the four-month sentence for three years.

But he warned the defendant: If something like this happens again you are looking at between eight and twelve months (custody) for any further violent offending.
Lauren Craig created till refunds and credited them to her own account in more than 100 transactions

A candle shop worker stole more than 4,600 from her employer when she became disgruntled at plans to make her redundant, a court has heard.

Lauren Craig (32) created till refunds and credited them to her own account in more than 100 transactions over several months before the store opened in the mornings.

Adjourning the case, Judge David McHugh told her she would be considered for a restorative justice programme if she paid the shop back.

Craig, of Hillcrest Close, Lucan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to multiple charges of theft between September 2022 and March 2023.

Blanchardstown District Court heard she was working at the Yankee Candle Shop at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre at the time.

A garda sergeant said Craig carried out the offences when she was in the shop before it opened.

She would create refunds on the till register which were credited to her own bank account.

There were more than 100 transactions and the DPP had directed she be charged with sample counts.

She had no previous convictions.

Craig had presented herself voluntarily at a garda station and made a full confession.

At the time, she was in the process of being made redundant.

She decided, wrongly, that due to the financial difficulty and the approach taken by the employer, that she was going to do what she did and take what wasnt hers, defence solicitor Matthew Kenny said.

It was an unsophisticated crime that was easily detected as it led back to her own account.

Craig was remorseful and ashamed of what she did. The judge warned that if the money was not paid, all bets are off.
When gardai arrived they spotted a driver in a black Skoda car who took off at speed

A coked-up father-of-three who fled gardai and then crashed into the back of a trailer has been banned from driving for a year and fined a total of 400.

Stephen Hyndman appeared at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal following the incident on February 15 this year.

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that gardai had received reports of a drunk driver in the vicinity of Letterkenny Shopping Centre at Port Road.

When they arrived they spotted a driver in a black Skoda car who took off at speed.

When he did so he clipped a trailer of another vehicle nearby.

The driver eventually stopped and when tested by gardai tested positive for cocaine.

He was brought to Letterkenny Garda Station where a sample and a reading was taken.

The accused man's solicitor, Mr Rory O'Brien, said his client was a 50-year-old married father-of-three with no previous convictions.

He added that his client, of St James Road in Belfast, was utterly embarrassed and ashamed and was very eager to put this matter behind him.

Hyndman was charged with drug driving and also leaving the scene of an accident.

Judge Deirdre Gearty asked what was the cost of the damage caused to the trailer but was told it was minimal.

She added that leaving the scene of an accident was not very nice and left other people in a very difficult position adding the accused did not have the courtesy to stay at the scene.

Judge Gearty said the substance found in the accused man's blood probably explained his actions.

She fined Hyndman 250 for drug-driving and banned him from driving for one year and also fined him a further 150 for leaving the scene of an accident.
The judge said there was a common thread in the sexual offence cases that come before him of extraordinary recklessness towards consent in sexual matters

A doctor jailed for eight years for the rape of his wife failed to grasp the essentials and basics of consent, according to a judge.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt made the remarks in the sentencing of the 36-year-old Meath resident who was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of a charge of anal rape and false imprisonment.

It happened at the couples then-home on February 14, 2019. The man had pleaded not guilty to the offences.

The court heard that the woman immediately reported the rape to the gardai. She left her home once the man had fallen asleep, along with her young baby and went straight to the local garda station.

The man was arrested the following month and told gardai during interview: I didnt rape my wife. I get it every day for free. I dont need to rape my wife.

Mr Justice Hunt said the remarks the man made to gardai during their investigation seemed to imply he believed marriage carries some kind of blanket consent to whatever he wants to have in terms of sexual activity.

This is not the way marriage works. Consent on a Tuesday does not mean consent on a Wednesday, Mr Justice Hunt said.

The judge said there was a common thread in the sexual offence cases that come before him of extraordinary recklessness towards consent in sexual matters, adding that there is an extraordinary lack of care and respect that seems to exist.

Referring to the mans profession, the judge said the fact that someone in a caring profession would treat someone so close to him in this manner would defy belief.

Mr Justice Hunt set a headline sentence of 10 years after noting the aggravating factors, included that the offences took place in a domestic context. He also noted that the man has not recognised the jurys verdict or the effects of the crime on his wife.

He imposed a sentence of nine years and suspended the final year on strict conditions, including that the man have no direct or indirect contact with the woman for an indefinite period unless she initiates it.

Mr Justice Hunt also ordered that the man engage with the Probation Service for two years upon his release from prison.

A local garda told James Dwyer SC, prosecuting, at an earlier sentence hearing that at the time of the offence, the woman had an interim barring order against the man which had lapsed.

She went to bed that night with the couples baby and woke to find the accused looking in her bedroom door, summoning her to come into another room.

He asked to see the barring order, before he tore it up and told her she was going to be punished.

The man then took the woman to another bedroom and told her to video call a man. He produced a dumbbell and ordered her to take off her top, photograph herself and send it on to this man.

The woman asked to be released so she could go to the bathroom but the man refused and she ultimately urinated on herself.

He laughed at her, insulted her and instructed her to undress and kneel onto the bed before he anally raped her.

During the rape, the man told his wife you should like it. Afterwards, he instructed her to get dressed and make him some food.

He then insisted that she sit beside him on the couch while he watched television. She was still wearing her urine-soaked clothes and was worried about staining the furniture.

The man refused to let the woman change her clothes. He then said they would go to bed and got into bed with her and the baby.

When he fell asleep, she changed her clothes, took the child, left the house and went straight to the local garda station to make a complaint.

Gardai interviewed the man the following month, during which he asked if it was an offence to rape one's wife.

He claimed he had been in a loving marriage with the woman since the previous year and said all activity between them was consensual.

The man said his wife had found out he was having an affair and ever since then he claimed he could not do anything without her calling the gardai.

He told gardai: I didnt rape my wife. I get it everyday for free. I dont need to rape my wife.

The garda accepted in cross-examination from Seamus Clarke SC, defending, that the man is on medication for a recurrent depressive disorder and had previously been diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

A victim-impact statement from the woman was read into the record. She has since left Ireland.

She said there were no words to describe the scars left by him.

No woman should be made feel so unsafe that she feels a need to run away in the middle of the night with her wee baby, she stated, before adding that the man should have protected us.

She said she prayed to the Lord to forgive him before adding that she and her baby forgive him today.

Mr Clarke handed in a booklet of character references and said the case had brought shame on him and on his family.

Mr Justice Hunt interjected and said the mans family had no reason to be ashamed. He has to take responsibility for his own actions, the judge commented.

Mr Clarke said his client had written a letter expressing remorse and asked the court to take into account the consequences for his client of losing his profession.
OConnor, who has more than 65 criminal convictions, visited the gun range during a no-expenses spared holiday to the Czech Republic in 2021.

Gangster Jay OConnor is seen posing with a high-powered rifle at a shooting range in Prague  as gardai closed in on him for his role in a botched gangland hit.

OConnor, who has more than 65 criminal convictions, visited the gun range during a no-expenses spared holiday to the Czech Republic in 2021.

But while OConnor was enjoying his trip in the City of a Hundred Spires, the net was closing in on him in connection with a North Dublin gun attack that left a man fighting for his life.

This week, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Charlie Cooper in December 2016 at the Special Criminal Court.

Mr Cooper was shot 12 times by a masked gunman in front of his kids through a window at the rear of his home in Parslickstown Green, in North Dublin.

OConnor also admitted to facilitating a criminal gang in the failed murder attempt. Now 46-years old and facing a lengthy spell behind bars, OConnor has incredibly spent the last two decades locked in a feud with his former childhood friends.

Jay O'Connor

The long-running dispute has seen multiple murders, non-fatal shootings and stabbings  including the murder of innocent man Keith Walker who was killed in a case of mistaken identity.

OConnor cut his criminal teeth as a teenage joyrider before becoming involved in robberies across the country.

His gang included two brothers, David and Daniel Goulding, also from Clonsilla, who even then were regarded as dangerous and committed criminals by gardai.

All three young men would go on to become members of the Westies gang who controlled the drugs trade in large parts of Blanchardstown, Corduff and Ballymun.

Led by Shane Coates and Stephen Sugg, the Westies became the most feared criminal outfit operating in Dublin in the late Nineties and early Noughties.

The Westies became notorious due to the extreme violence they used to recover drugs debts. However, a gun attack on one dealer by the Westies led to a fall-out with Baldoyle-based drugs trafficker David Lindsay.

In 2003, Sugg and Coates fled to Spain because of the heat they were getting from gardai, rival criminals like Lindsay and splits within their own organisation.

Lindsays gang moved in on their turf and clashed with two criminal brothers  Andrew Madser and Mark Glennon  who also had designs on taking over their patch.

Jason OConnor sided with the Glennons, while David and Daniel Goulding took Lindsays side  splitting the childhood pals.

Gardai at the shooting scene in Parslickstown

In December 2004, Daniel and David Goulding miraculously escaped with their lives when OConnors associates sprayed bullets at them from a machine-gun.

Within six months, both Mark (32) and Andrew (30) would be murdered as part of the bitter dispute.

As tensions mounted on streets of West Dublin, Lindsay was then involved in a brutal attack on OConnor in which he sliced him up with a knife after storming his west Dublin home. Lindsay was later tortured and murdered in 2008.

OConnor was jailed for three in 2005 after he robbed nearly 30,000 from a supermarket in Castledermot, Co. Carlow.

While he was in prison, David Goulding and his pal Michael Micka Kelly took their chance and started to become serious players in the citys underworld.

In February 2009, Goulding was jailed for three years for interfering with the principal prosecution witness in an attempted murder trial. His brother, Daniel, was also jailed for 10 years for the possession of a kilo of cocaine in 2009.

Following his release from jail, David Goulding was injured after being shot in a car in Hartstown, north Dublin in 2012, with associates of OConnor were believed to have been behind the attack.

 This week, OConnor pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to July 30.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Army general says Zanu-PF will rule Zimbabweans forever pic.twitter.com/jTXxwttrZF  Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) July 2, 2024

In a recent and highly controversial video circulating on social media, Zimbabwe's army commander, General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, asserted that the ruling ZANU-PF party would govern the country indefinitely.Speaking at a rally in Manicaland, General Sanyatwe used a vivid analogy, claiming that "Zanu-PF will rule Zimbabweans until a time when donkeys have horns." This metaphor underscores his belief in the unchallenged and perpetual dominance of the Zanu-PF party.General Sanyatwe further elaborated that his remarks were made in his capacity as the army commander, emphasizing that the military would enforce what he termed "Command Voting," regardless of public opinion. This term refers to a process where the outcome of elections is predetermined by the military, effectively undermining the democratic process and ignoring the genuine votes of Zimbabwean citizens. Such an approach relies on coercion and force, starkly contrasting with the principles of fair and free elections.Concluding his speech, General Sanyatwe chanted pro-Zanu-PF slogans and condemned what he referred to as "enemies," a thinly veiled reference to opposition parties and their supporters. His rhetoric reflects a longstanding pattern in Zimbabwean politics, where the military has often acted as an extension of the ZANU-PF party, supporting its grip on power through intimidation and suppression of dissent.The general's statements have sparked outrage among proponents of democracy and human rights, who view them as a blatant admission of the regime's reliance on authoritarian tactics to maintain control. The concept of "Command Voting" symbolizes a broader strategy of subverting democratic institutions and processes, ensuring that power remains concentrated within the hands of a select few.Critics argue that such declarations from high-ranking military officials highlight the deep-seated corruption and lack of accountability within the ZANU-PF party. They call for international attention and intervention to uphold democratic values and protect the rights of Zimbabwean citizens.As Zimbabwe grapples with these challenges, the words of General Sanyatwe serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for genuine democracy and the rule of law in the nation. The international community watches closely, hoping for a shift towards a more inclusive and representative political landscape.
Mr Dobra (36) has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his partner Ioana Mihaela Pacala (30)

A garda has told a murder trial that a security guard who admits strangling his partner to death was "blank, vacant and detached" when they entered his home.

The garda also gave evidence at the trial of Andrei Dobra that the accused told officers at this time that the red marks on his neck were from "making love".

After the prosecution opened the trial of Andrei Dobra this morning, the accused man's counsel Michael Bowman SC told the jury of six men and six women that his client would make an admission to strangling his partner to "alleviate the burden" on the State.

Mr Dobra (36), with an address at Riverwalk Court, Fairyhouse Road in Ratoath has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his partner Ioana Mihaela Pacala (30) in the home they shared on November 12, 2022.

Roxana Devan was the first witness to be called. She told Carl Hanahoe BL, for the prosecution, that she knew Mr Dobra for a number of years through her ex-boyfriend.

Mr Dobra worked in Cappagh Hospital and as a security guard in Temple Bar, she said.

She described Mr Dobra and Ms Pacala as a hardworking couple.

They had moved into their new home three weeks prior to Ms Pacala's death but in the week leading up to the killing, she said Mr Dobra was suffering from stress.

Both he and Mihaela said they heard strange noises in the house, "like some entity or something like that".

Ioana Mihaela Pacala

Ms Devan brought the accused to a GP some days prior to the killing because he was complaining of feeling depressed and unwell.

The day before the killing, Ms Devan noted that Mr Dobra was sweating heavily, "looking kind of weird, very unusual" and was not speaking.

On the day of the killing, Ms Devan received a call from Ms Pacala's family in Romania.

They said Ms Pacala was unconscious and they wanted to get an ambulance to the house. Ms Devan phoned emergency services to direct them and then phoned Mr Dobra.

She asked to speak to Ms Pacala but he told her: "You can't be talking to her because I think she is dead."

When she asked what he meant, he told her he had a dream that he was killing Ms Pacala, that he woke up from the dream next to her and saw she was dead.

Under cross-examination, Ms Devan said it seemed as though there was something wrong with Mr Dobra for about one week before the killing.

She said she had never seen Mr Dobra act like that before. "He is always happy, just a happy person. He was complaining of something weird going on in the house, furniture making noise or moving in the house," she said.

"He seemed weird and didn't look himself."

Gda Michael Fitzpatrick was one of the first to respond to Ms Devan's emergency call at about 6pm.

He met Mr Dobra inside the entrance to his apartment and found him to be "extremely calm, emotionless, just standing at the top of the stairs looking down towards us."

Mr Dobra led gardai into a bedroom where Ms Pacala was lying dead on her back on the bed, fully clothed and with blood in her mouth.

Mr Dobra remained "completely compliant" with a blank, vacant, and detached expression, the garda said.

"He presented as unusual to me considering what I had just found in the bedroom."

When asked what had happened, Mr Dobra told Gda Fitzpatrick: "She gave me tablets to drink and then I don't remember."

Det Sgt Shane Dervin told Sean Guerin SC, for the prosecution, that a garda at the scene also noticed what looked like red rope marks on Mr Dobra's neck.

When asked about the marks, he replied: "Making love."

Det Sgt Dervin confirmed that State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster had examined the deceased's body and found that the cause of death was asphyxia and strangulation.

Bruising to the neck was consistent with a ligature or an arm lock and possible manual strangulation. There were further scratches consistent with an attempt by Ms Pacala to release the pressure during the course of strangulation.

In his opening remarks earlier today, Mr Guerin told the jury that two psychiatrists called by the defence and prosecution will give evidence that Mr Dobra was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the killing.

Mr Guerin said the accused's plea is that he was "suffering from an irresistible compulsion or total absence of reason" that qualifies him for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Mr Guerin also told the jury that under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act a person who intentionally kills another can be found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder on the basis of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright will tell the jury that Mr Dobra was suffering a major depressive episode with psychotic symptoms.

She will say that he believed his life was in danger and that his actions in killing his partner were therefore morally justified.

She will also say that he did not understand that killing Ms Pacala was wrong.

Professor Patricia Casey, who will be called by the defence, will say that Mr Dobra was suffering from schizo-affective disorder and was psychotic at the time.

At a minimum, Mr Guerin said both psychiatrists agree that Mr Dobra's mental disorder was such as to diminish his mental capacities.

While experts give evidence, Mr Guerin said it is for the jury to decide questions of fact and to return a proper verdict in accordance with the evidence.

The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury.
The actions have been brought by Noah Musueni (18) and David Amah (18)

David Amah and, right, Tristan Sherry, who was killed after carrying out a gun attack in a Dublin restaurant last Christmas Eve

Two teenagers charged in relation to the killing of Tristan Sherry in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve have launched High Court challenges aimed at halting their trials until new laws protecting their rights have been enacted.

The actions have been brought by Noah Musueni (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, and David Amah (18), Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, both Dublin, who have both been charged with Mr Sherry's murder, and have been sent forward to trial before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Both were minors at the time of alleged offence. However they both subsequently turned 18.

Mr Sherry, from Finglas was killed after he carried out a gun attack on Jason Hennessy Snr inside Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Mr Hennessy died on January 4.

Tristan Sherry and inset, gardai outside the restaurant

Their High Court proceedings centre on the State's alleged failure to have a sentencing regime in place that allows sentencing judges to take into account that a person convicted of murder was a child at the time of the alleged offence.

Represented by Mark Lynam SC, appearing with Oisin Clarke Bl, the two claim that should they be found guilty of murder they face the mandatory life sentence.

Such an outcome, it is submitted, would amount to breaches of their rights.

It has been recognised that such a grave penalty is not appropriate for children, it is submitted.

In both cases, both will have turned 18 years since the alleged offences occurred and before the two have the opportunity to indicate any plea they may wish to make.

The consequences of this is, if the two are convicted of murder, they will be sentenced as adults.

There would, it has been submitted, no scope for the sentencing judges to impose anything other than the mandatory life sentence.

This it is argued would breach their rights, and deny them, if they were found guilty, the prospect of a sentence review or a determinate sentence.

Judges are entitled to consider imposing such measures on persons who are minors at the time of sentencing.

It is argued that the two applicants have been prejudiced by current legislation, which they say is adversely impacting on their lawyers ability to advise them how to proceed in respect of the charges they face.

It is claimed that the law in Ireland regarding the sentencing of children who have committed offences is "replete with lacunae", due to oversights, leading to much uncertainty, stress, unjust outcomes and a lack of clarity regarding sentencing powers.

Tristan Sherry

Counsel said that his side was anxious that the applications be heard as soon as possible and that the issues raised are ruled on before the point comes where the applicants have to indicate a plea in respect of the charges they face.

This is why they are also asking the courts for orders preventing their trials from taking place until the laws are amended so that judges are given sentencing powers capable of reflecting the fact that they were children at the time of the alleged offences.

In their judicial review proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ireland and the Attorney General the two seek various declarations and orders.

These include that their constitutional rights have been breached due to the States failure to have a statutory sentencing regime in place to allow judges to take into account that a convicted person was a child at the time the offence of murder was committed.

David Amah (Photo: Collins)

The also seek declarations that parts of the 2001 Children's Act breaches their constitutional European Convention rights due to the failure to provide for the imposition of a determinate sentence or a review of a life sentence for a child who was under 18 years at the time a murder was committed, but has reached the age of 18 prior to their sentencing.

They also seek an order that their further prosecutions be put on hold until new laws for sentencing powers which are capable of reflecting the fact that they were children at the time of the alleged offence.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is a notice party to the actions.

The cases came before Mr Justice Garrett Simons on Monday.

The judge on an ex-parte (only plaintiffs represented) basis granted them permission to bring their actions.

The matters will return before the court later this month.
Police allege that the teenager, who was dressed in military clothing, stabbed a 22-year-old student in the neck

New South Wales Police acting assistant commissioner Mark Walton addresses the media in Sydney (Rick Rycroft/AP)

New South Wales state Police conduct search at the scene of an alleged stabbing at Sydney University, in Sydney (Dan Himbrechts/AP)

A 14-year-old boy dressed in military clothing was arrested after police alleged he stabbed a 22-year-old student in the neck on Tuesday at the University of Sydney.

The student was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

The suspect was treated in hospital for cuts and was kept for a mental health assessment, said Mark Walton, acting assistant commissioner for the New South Wales Police.

New South Wales Police acting assistant commissioner Mark Walton addresses the media in Sydney

A motive or ideology importantly has not been determined at this time, Mr Walton told reporters.

The New South Wales Joint Counterterrorism Committee was investigating the matter, but there was no ongoing threat to the community, Mr Walton said.

The ideology that may be related to this young persons activity is unknown, but I would say its likely to be categorised as mixed and unclear ideology, he added.

It is certainly not a religiously related ideology.

New South Wales Police acting assistant commissioner Mark Walton addresses the media in Sydney (Rick Rycroft/AP)

Mr Walton said the boy had worn a camouflage defence force uniform and left a kitchen knife at the scene.

Investigators found no link between the university attack and a 16-year-old boy charged with performing a terrorist act in the stabbing of a Sydney bishop on April 15 while a church service was being streamed online.

Several of his teen associates have been charged with various offences including conspiring to engage in or planning as terrorist act.

The stabbing on Tuesday triggered a major police operation and a lockdown of buildings at Australias oldest university.

The police operation has since ended and all areas of the campus were now accessible, a university statement said.

The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and members of the community are our priority and we continue to work with authorities, the statement said.
A former British army soldier thinks he may have found a clue

Jay Slaters mum Debbie has begged Spanish cops to restart the search for her son in Tenerife.

The family were reportedly left blindsided by the ending of the search on Sunday, according to sources who spoke with the Daily Mail.

Its understood Debbie urged detectives not to give up on Jay, during her most recent meeting with the Guardia Civil.

The family are reportedly in constant contact with the police about the case.

The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after setting off to walk back to his accommodation on the holiday island of on June 17.

It has been reported that a Guardia Civil spokesman said on Sunday: The search operation has now finished, although the case remains open.

On Friday, the force had appealed for volunteer associations, such as firefighters and individual volunteers who are experts in rugged terrain to assist in a busqueda masiva  massive search  on Saturday.

Jay was last seen in the small town of Masca, walking north out of the town, according to an eyewitness.

A local woman claims she saw Jay walking at speed northwards from the small village between 7-8 am.

Jays friend, Brad Hargreaves, says he spoke with his pal a short time later, where the two joked about his predicament.

Brad recalled hearing Jays feet sliding over rocks as he went off road, in what would have been a 14 hour trek home.

Now a former British Army soldier called Chris Pennington (43) who lives in Tenerife, has found a pair of sunglasses which he thinks may have be linked to the disappearance.

Mr Pennington told MailOnline: Ive done a bit of hiking and mountaineering and wanted to help out the family.

They are desperate to find their lad and with my background I thought I could do my bit.

I parked up near the viewpoint near where the phone last pinged and found them on the ground near some bushes and in the area where they have been searching.

I don't know if they are Jay's but as a duty of care I picked them up and told the Guardia Civil about them.

They told me not to touch them if possible and wrap them in paper not plastic and I did and handed them in.

Sunglasses found by British army soldier (TikTok)

They also took my DNA and fingerprints as well. It must be awful for the family  and they haven't had any news for two weeks.

I walked a bit further towards where they said his phone pinged but it was a challenge to get through, it was impossible.

You would have needed a machete to get through all that undergrowth so (if the) phone pinged from there it's because someone threw it in there.

The sunglasses were about 50 metres from the road near a tunnel I wanted to search. I saw them glinting in the sun and picked them up.

A British former detective, Mark Williams-Thomas, is carrying out his own investigation into Jays disappearance.

He has urged the two men who spent the night with Jay to come forward and says he has an image of one of the men which he might release shortly.

His most recent update urges the family to use the GoFundMe cash raised to fly out specialist search teams.

Bar Restaurant Masca, Masca, Tenerife

"Update : Although the police search in the mountains and around Masca has concluded, the police investigation into Jay Slaters disappearance remains ongoing, he said.

In regard to our investigation we have been able to speak to important witnesses and now have a very detailed picture of Jays movements over 16 and 17th along with important background information.

"We still have a number of outstanding actions, but have given the family a preliminary breakdown of findings.

In light of the police search ending. I have suggested the family should use the GoFundMe money to continue the search using experts in searching.

I would appeal again, if you have any direct information having spoken to Jay or anyone that was with him over night 16/17th and have not yet been in contact please do so, he concluded.
A new cabin by Irish start-up Samsu designed to make you reconnect with nature might just be the remedy to burnout, reports Saoirse Hanley

When was the last time you switched off? Not just put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode, not an extended social media hiatus, but a real, intentional moment of relaxation? If, like most of us, the answer is never, a new cabin  aptly named Saoirse  looks set to be the perfect remedy.

Founder Rosanna Irwin (29) was fast approaching burnout when a well-timed trip to Denmark changed not only her outlook on life but the trajectory of her career. After graduating with a degree in business and working at Facebook for three years, she had a quarter life crisis and moved to London to work in documentary filmmaking.

I figured out that that was not what I wanted to do and moved into climate change. I was working for a climate tech company for the past two years, which was amazing. I felt very fulfilled in the work that I was doing, but it was a US-owned company, venture backed, and based in Silicon Valley. When you combine those three things together, it normally means working 14 to 16 hours a day, she says.

Rosanna at the cabin. Photography: Jasmine Hughes.

I was working from the moment I got up to the moment I went to sleep, and then also extremely addicted to social media and TikTok in particular. I got to the point where I basically just broke out and started getting really bad anxiety and panic attacks, it got to the point where I really couldnt continue working for much longer.

Rosanna and her partner went to visit a friend in Denmark and wound up staying on a tiny island called Sams, which she describes as the Aran Islands but in Denmark.

Denmark being Denmark held a competition to figure out how they were going to get to net zero emissions, and Sams won this competition. So since the 90s, it has been the test spot for all of their strategies on how theyre going to get net zero emissions. That means that everyone lives in a very sustainable manner, [with] nature at the forefront of everything there, she explains.

Three days on the island was enough to remind Rosanna of the power of nature, and she started researching the effects of time in nature on our mental health. Its not a new phenomenon. Weve known about this for hundreds of years. Like, W.B. Yeats wrote about it in one of his poems called The Lake Isle of Innisfree, but weve forgotten how to do it because we spend so much time on social media. We dont regularly go out and spend time in nature anymore. When I was there, it basically was like, I think I know what I want to do with the rest of my life. I want to try and emulate this feeling back in Ireland, she says.

Rosanna was inspired by a trip to Denmark. Photography: Jasmine Hughes.

I came home, quit my job, moved back to Ireland, and started Samsu, thats where the name comes from. Its a nod to that little island in Denmark called Sams, she adds with a smile.

The cabin is located just an hour from Dublin and is designed to make you leave your worries at the door. Instagrammable it may be, but thats not what its for. The tagline that we work with is that it has everything you need and nothing that you dont, and within that, its everything that you need to spend time analogue, she explains.

When you arrive, youre greeted with a welcome pack that includes offline items like a film camera and a sleep mask for when you wake up with the sun, and the shelves are stocked with cassette tapes and specially-selected books. Youre also left with a lockbox that you stick your phone into. Its not compulsory, I wont be knocking on the door checking that you lock your phone away, Rosanna jokes.

Inside the Samsu Saoirse cabin. Photography: Jasmine Hughes.

They also provide you with a Light Phone, which is a bare-bones phone equipped with every essential app, but free from any of the distractions of the smartphone in your pocket. It has a phone number that you can share with loved ones before phone lockdown, so that youre still contactable in an emergency.

The whole idea is about getting back to nature, and really mindfully approaching every activity. Even when it comes to feeding yourself. Theres a really nice cast iron pot and pan so that you can spend a bit more time cooking and bring back the ritual of cooking instead of just rushing to meal prep your meals for the five days that you go to the office. Weve also really tried to curate the process of making a coffee, Rosanna explains.

I know when I was at my work, I would be checking my emails while I was pressing the button on the coffee machine, not even paying attention to the coffee being made, she remembers. To make a cabin coffee, youll first need to hand grind the beans.

Samsus cabin is your chance to get back to your roots, but it had the same effect on its maker, too. Rosanna wasnt sure if she would find it difficult to re-adjust to life in Ireland after leaving Londons hectic cityscape, but the change has reminded her of all the reasons to love our little country.

Since the current cabin and the planned future cabins are on local land, one of Rosannas hopes is to be able to offer farmers and landowners an alternative income stream to farming alone  since that can produce a sizable amount of carbon emissions. If the landowners diversify to include a cabin on their land, it will ideally result in the same amount of income, but with a lower carbon footprint. To make that happen, despite being a Meath native herself, Rosanna had to get re-acquainted with the local people.

I lived in Dublin and London for the last 10 years, but I didnt know anyone anymore. I went down to my local mechanic, because he works for the Meath River Rescue, and he put me in contact with this 70-year-old guy that Id never met before. He took me around driving in his Jeep for six hours, introducing me to all of the local farmers and landowners, she says.

Its experiences like that that have reminded her that there really is no place like home. Everyone knows everyone, and I used to find that so annoying because people would know your business but now its actually amazing when youre trying to start something and you need peoples help. I found the reintroduction to Ireland actually really nice, she says.
Michael Gallagher (87), from San Francisco, was visiting family in the Achill area when he lost his life

A man in his 80s who died after a quad bike accident on Sunday may have suffered a medical episode before losing control of the vehicle.

Michael Gallagher (87), from San Francisco, was visiting family in the Achill area when he lost his life after the quad bike he was driving lost control and left the road in the Purteen Bay area of the island.

He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 1.30pm on Sunday. The incident happened just off the R319 near Keel. No other vehicles were involved.

The body of the man was taken to Mayo University Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was due to take place yesterday.

The road where the incident occurred remained closed throughout Sunday while forensic collision investigators carried out a technical examination.

Initial inquiries have indicated the man was observed in some form of physical distress before losing control of the quad bike.

However, the post mortem will confirm if the man suffered a health episode which led to him losing control of the quad bike and it flipping over.

The coroner for Mayo has been notified.

One local man described the incident as terribly sad.

People are very shocked and troubled by this. Its terribly sad and shocking, he said.

Achill has seen more than its fair share of tragedy.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them.

Anyone who may have been in the vicinity of Keel on Achill Island between 1pm and 2pm and who may have camera footage, including dashcam footage, is asked to make contact with gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport garda station on 098 50230 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

It is the second tragedy involving a quad bike in less than a week after a 14-year-old boy died in a crash in Derry last Tuesday.

Isaac Roxborough, from Burnfoot, Dungiven, was fatally injured in the incident outside Eglinton village.

The quad bike he was riding was the only vehicle involved in the crash at the Ballygudden Road.

In April, a man aged in his 20s died when the quad bike he was driving collided with a tractor near Loughrea, Co Galway.

More than 90 people have died on Irish roads so far this year.

Among those fatalities were 20 pedestrians, 33 drivers, 20 passengers and 12 motorcyclists.

John McNamara, health and safety specialist with Teagasc, offered his sympathies to the family of the man who died in Achill and said his advice regarding quad bikes was general in nature and not related to one particular incident.

Mr McNamara said quad bikes are the most dangerous mobile piece of equipment in Ireland in relation to the number of machines and the related fatal accidents.

We would encourage farmers to get training and to always wear a helmet, he said. Older farmers who maybe have an issue with their mobility and they use quads to get around the farm. There are advantages, but then you have older farmers driving quads that require a lot of agility and there are age-related hazards when it comes to managing quads.

You should never have a child on a quad. Absolutely never. You need one driver. You should never have a person with you on a quad. There are a wide variety of accidents that can occur due to the terrain they cover.They (quads) are basically a motorbike they can be throttled up and driven very fast.

Hitting a corner then becomes very dangerous. Speed is crucial to mention in terms of keeping the quad bike under control.
Fatima (19) was born in Ireland and lived in this country for two years before being brought to the Middle East

A mother has said it was "a dream come true" to be finally reunited with her youngest daughter, 17 years after she was brought to Saudi Arabia by her father as a toddler.

Victoria OLeary said her daughter Fatima (19) was born in Ireland and lived in this country for two years before being brought to the Middle East.

She had married a Saudi citizen but he returned to the Middle East and brought Fatima with him.

Victoria believed that they were going on a short holiday but he never returned to Ireland with Fatima.

All connection was lost.

We were supposed to go together as a holiday. He (her husband) went over with Fatima and everything changed. (Our) connection was lost...it was absolutely surreal.

"I went out a few times with the hope that I could get her back but sadly not. I tried to get her out but nothing worked, she told Red FMs Neil Prendeville Show.

Victoria relentlessly campaigned to secure the support of government departments and TDs but she was never able to secure passage of her daughter back to Ireland.

Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to The Hague convention which imposes strict controls on parental custody and obligations on states to honour international agreements in relation to parental access.

However, last August she finally secured a Saudi lawyer who promised to take on the case in the country.

As soon as he accepted the case, within three months a lot of stuff had been done. As a mum you would never give up.

"Her (Fatimas) life in Saudi was quiet. She was close with her cousin. We kept our relationship going with Snapchat and videos. (But) Fatima was very lonely.

"It has been a long road. I spoke to him (her former husband) last Friday. I sat down and we spoke everything out. I was out in Saudi last week.

"I had Fatima in a Saudi apartment for a while. She spoke to her father and said: I want to go home (to Cork) and see my mum.

"I spent time with her during the week. She came to the hotel where I was staying and she knocked on the door. It was surreal. She had a big smile on her face.

Victoria says that she is delighted that Fatima has now been reunited with her Irish family.

Pictured: Fatimas older sister Zahra (left) with Fatima

We are so so happy. The big plan for the weekend is to bring Fatima to the famous Penneys' to get her new shoes and clothes.

"My parents are over the moon. I wanted to make sure they could meet her first yesterday. You could just see the tears in their eyes. They had all the banners outside the door (in Mahon in Cork).

"My father was bawling and crying. My mother gave her a big hug. They havent seen her since she was two years old.

"All her cousins have never met her. She is the unknown cousin. All the photographs and trying to take in the names and faces.

Victoria admitted it will take some time for Fatima to settle back into life in Ireland.

Even things like the Cork slang when you are talking too quickly (for her to understand). Her English is fine. She is doing well.

Fatimas older sister Zahra told the show that she was thrilled to finally be reunited with her sister.

It is absolutely amazing. It was such a wholesome moment being reunited with her in the airport. I couldnt believe it. To see her walking through the doors was amazing. I still cannot believe it.

"We will definitely have a big party. She wants to go roller-blading. It is way too warm out there in Saudi, so it was never practical for her to do it.

"Honestly, no I never thought I would see this day  it feels like a fever dream. We are so happy.
The recording captured Stalford in possession of an imitation handgun resembling a 'Desert Eagle' self-loading pistol

A former Fonacab taxi driver who assaulted and threatened a front seat passenger with an imitation firearm whilst he was under the influence of cocaine was jailed for 10 months today.

Brian Alexander Stalford  who admitted he was acting the hardman  will spend an additional 10 months on licence when is released from custody.

The 49-year-old father-of-two, from Park Avenue in east Belfast, pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and was sentenced by Judge Donna McColgan KC.

During today's hearing, it emerged that Stalford issued the threat to the front seat passenger over a drugs debt.

His barrister Sean Devine said the "supreme irony" of the incident was that Stalford issued the threat to pay off his own drugs debt, and was under the influence of cocaine at the time.

Belfast Crown Court heard that between March and June 2023, Stalford worked as a taxi driver for Fonacabs in Belfast.

On a date between March 1 and June 2, 2023, dashcam footage was recorded in his vehicle of himself driving with two male passengers on board in Holywood.

The recording captured Stalford in possession of an imitation handgun resembling a 'Desert Eagle' self-loading pistol.

During the journey, whilst brandishing the imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, Stalford told the front seat passenger you are lucky I'm not taking your f*****g knees out as that's the mood I'm in.

Stalford also told the male what happens in the car stays in the car and threatened to take his head off.

After making a reference to the male's friend, who was in the back seat of the taxi, Stalford then struck the front seat passenger in the face with the imitation firearm.

Following this, Stalford told the front seat passenger to do what you do and you make up what you f*****g need to make up quickly. You work your f*****g debt off.

This, the court heard, was in relation to a drugs debt.

Revealing how the footage came to be in the public domain was not known, Judge McColgan said Stalford was arrested on June 1, 2023.

During an interview with police, he gave a no comment response but did provide a pre-prepared statement in which he denied being in possession of an imitation firearm and assaulting anyone.

Instead, he made the case that the item he had was a toy, and claimed that the two males in the taxi knew they were being recorded and consented to the actions that took place.

Brian Stalford was jailed for ten months today

Judge McColgan said that whilst the two passengers did not cooperate with the police investigation and did not make statements, they did not consent to what occurred.

Crown barrister Natalie Pinkerton set out several aggravations which included the threat made to the front seat passenger and an assault on the same male with the imitation firearm.

She added that the two passengers were unable to escape from the taxi during the incident.

Defence barrister Sean Devine, instructed by solicitor Mark Austin, branded the case as "highly unusual" and spoke of a "supreme irony".

This, he said, was that the very behaviour Stalford was berating the front-seat passenger about was precisely why he found himself in that predicament  he was working off his own debt due to a "very substantial" cocaine addiction by calling in another debt.

Mr Devine also revealed that due to his actions, Stalford both lost his employment and his long-term employability.

Despite his initial denials, Stalford pleaded guilty to the charge and told a Probation Officer it occurred during a chaotic period in his life.

He told Probation that at the time he was abusing cocaine on a daily basis which made him feel confident and invincible.

Stalford said a friend had left the imitation firearm in his vehicle and that on the day in question he was under the influence of cocaine and used the item in an attempt to intimidate the front-seat passenger to pay money he owed to a friend.

In addition, Stalford told Probation the threatening behaviour was out of character and that he was 'acting the hardman'.

Noting Stalford has 66 previous convictions, Judge McColgan said this included two prior charges for possessing an offensive weapon.

She also noted that Stalford has expressed remorse and regret for his behaviour and has displayed victim empathy regarding the impact his actions will have had on both passengers.

Addressing Stalford as he stood in the dock, Judge McColgan imposed the 20-month sentence and told him this was being split equally between prison and licence.
Lagan Valley candidate Lorna Smyth has written to the companys chief executive, Ken Murphy, and called for an apology

This is the third year of the Tesco offer, although 2024 is the first time it has been extended to veterans (Getty Images)

A TUV election candidate and RAF veteran has accused Tesco of discrimination, after military personnel and veterans in Northern Ireland were excluded from an Armed Forces Day free breakfast.

Lagan Valley candidate Lorna Smyth has written to the companys chief executive, Ken Murphy, and called for an apology from the retailer.

This years Armed Forces Day was held on Saturday.

As a gesture of appreciation for members of the military, Tesco offered the 159,000 regulars and 32,000 reservists a chance to avail of a free hot breakfast from any of its 301 Tesco cafes in GB.

This is the third year of the offer, although 2024 is the first time it has been extended to veterans.

The Royal Irish Regiment and Army Cadets at Armed Forces Day 2024 at Jordanstown Loughshore Park

Rhys Little, chairman of the Armed Forces Network at Tesco, had said: We take great pride in our connection with the armed forces.

Weve received the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme twice now (2016 and 2020) and we were also the first retailer to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in 2014.

However, many have expressed disappointment that Tesco branches here were excluded from the breakfast.

Among them is Ms Smyth, who served for 12 years in the military, at home during Operation Banner and overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She has written to Mr Murphy, questioning this decision.

While she commended the generosity of the scheme, she said the exclusion of those in NI was discriminatory.

TUV candidate Lorna Smyth

She said: I have read the statement which Tesco themselves have put out. In it they say how much they cherish the armed forces, how they were the first employer to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, and the breakfast is their way of thanking all UK armed forces veterans for their service.

I just find it extremely strange and discriminatory that they have excluded Northern Ireland from taking advantage of their very kind and thoughtful gesture.

Armed forces from both NI and the mainland UK served during the Troubles; 1,441 members of the armed forces died during that period, over 700 were killed by the IRA, yet Tesco does not seem fit to honour those who served here or suffered those losses.

As for the reason for the exclusion, only Tesco can answer that.

Northern Ireland is still part of the United Kingdom. I cannot answer to their hows or whys, but I do believe they need to explain their actions and their reasoning why they have excluded NI.

Perhaps an apology would be the most apt thing to remedy this, and a recognition that NI veterans deserve the exact same treatment as veterans who live in England, Scotland and Wales. And if anything like this is offered again, then NI vets arent excluded.

Tesco has been approached for a response.
Bay of Plenty Police are appealing for information following what they say was a violent robbery of an individual in Tokoroa over Matariki weekend.

At around 1pm on Friday, June 28, police received a report of a robbery where an individual was assaulted and a piece of their clothing stolen by a small group of people.

"The three offenders then got into a white Ford Courier ute and left the scene, nearly colliding with a Toyota van at the intersection of Leith Place and Swanson Street," says Detective Sergeant Neale Saunders.

One person received moderate injuries and required medical treatment.

This was a violent attack carried out in broad-daylight, we recognise this would have been distressing for the community and those who witnessed the incident.

Enquiries are ongoing to locate the three offenders, who we are confident we know the identities of."

Detective Sergeant Saunders says it's only a matter of time before they locate and apprehend the offenders.

Police believe this was a gang-related incident, and we do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the wider community," says Detective Sergeant Saunders.

There were a number of people present in the area over the long weekend and we want to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident and have not yet reported it to police.

"Police have a dedicated team investigating and working to locate those involved in this unordinarily violent attack.

Police say if anyone witnessed the assault, have CCTV or video footage not yet provided to Police, or have any information that may assist in locating those involved or in our investigation, to please get in touch.

You can report information to Police by calling 105, or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105.

Alternatively you can report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please reference file number: 240628/8922
The logo of the Adani Group is seen on one of its buildings in Ahmedabad

By Urvi Dugar, Shankar Ramakrishnan and Jayshree P Upadhyay

(Reuters) -Hindenburg Research has denied allegations by India's securities regulator that it colluded with a U.S. asset manager to use non-public information to set up a short bet against Adani Group last year, which if proven would breach the country's rules.

Hindenburg posted a copy of a 46-page "show cause" notice from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) outlining the allegations on its website on Monday, in the latest twist to a saga that began last year when the U.S.-based short-seller alleged improper business dealings by Adani.

The notice said that six entities including Hindenburg, Kingdon Capital Management and a Mauritius-based trading fund set up by Kotak Mahindra Bank violated certain rules under the Prevention of Fraud and Unfair Trade Practices regulation. It was dismissed in a statement by Hindenburg as "nonsense".

Kingdon did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Tuesday. Hindenburg's statement did not mention its relationship with Kingdon and did not respond to an email requesting comment.

"SEBI has neglected its responsibility, seemingly doing more to protect those perpetrating fraud than to protect the investors being victimized by it," Hindenburg said in its statement on the notice, which two sources at SEBI with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to Reuters was authentic.

SEBI said in the notice that it had received information from or through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the course of its investigation.

Adani, which has consistently denied Hindenburg's allegations, suffered a loss of as much as $150 billion in combined market value after the report, but its share price has since recovered to the same levels as before.

SEBI did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday on Hindenburg's statement or the show cause notice. If proven, the alleged breaches could result in financial penalties and the repayment of any gains deemed to have been illegal.

Story continues

Hindenburg said in its statement that it made $4.1 million in gross revenue through "gains related to Adani shorts from that investor relationship" and just $31,000 through its short position of Adani's U.S. bonds. It did not name the investor.

"It was a tiny position," said Hindenburg, whose response sheds some light on its Adani short, which intrigued other investors because Indian securities rules make it hard for foreigners to bet against companies there.

SEBI alleges Hindenburg colluded with its client Kingdon Capital Management by providing a draft of its report on Adani Group before it was released publicly.

Mark Kingdon, the owner and founder of Kingdon Capital, then set up a fund able to trade Indian equities known as K India Opportunities Fund, SEBI alleges. That fund created short positions in Adani group stocks between Jan. 10, 2023, and Jan. 20, 2023, five days before Hindenburg's report was published.

Founded in 1983, Kingdon had $639.2 million in assets under management in January, an SEC securities filing shows.

Kingdon manages two strategies: a global long/short equities strategy, which can also invest in credit, government securities, commodities and currencies opportunistically, and a long/short strategy focused on healthcare, the filing shows.

Hindenburg said a Mauritius registered unit of India's Kotak Mahindra Bank created and oversaw an offshore fund structure used by its "investor partner" to bet against Adani's shares.

Kotak Mahindra Bank said in a stock exchange statement late on Tuesday that neither the K India Opportunities Fund nor Kotak Mahindra International were aware that Kingdon entities had any association with Hindenburg.

The bank said that it has received a notice of allegations from the regulator, adding that no regulatory action had been taken against the fund.

Kotak Mahindra Bank shares fell as much as 3.93% on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Urvi Dugar and Manvi Pant in Bengaluru, Juby Babu in Mexico City and Carolina Mandl in New York: Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri, Stephen Coates, Christian Schmollinger and Alexander Smith)
Fisheries New Zealand is making data about accidental fisheries bycatch more accessible to keep pace with changes to the way data is collected, says Fisheries New Zealand director of fisheries science Simon Lawrence.

"Keeping track of the accidental capture of non-target species is an important part of making sure fisheries are sustainable," says Simon Lawrence.

"The introduction of cameras across more vessels, and the information gathered as a result, has provided a good opportunity to consider the way accidental capture information is presented that is easier to find and more accessible.

"We've taken information currently provided at different times and places and presented it in a clearer and quarterly format so that people can see it in context."

Simon says data about accidental captures is collected from commercial fishers and verified by the Fisheries New Zealand observers and cameras on board fishing vessels, with scientific modelling applied to help build a more fulsome picture of what is happening on the water.

"Fisheries New Zealand and the Department of Conservation respond in near-real time to captures of protected species. Depending on the situation this could range from supporting fishers to make small changes to reduce risk through to formal fishing restrictions and closures.

"Data about captures is also used by people with a stake in our fisheries, including commercial fishers, iwi, Environmental NGOs, researchers, and fisheries scientists. In addition, we know a lot of members of the public care about bycatch and will benefit from the information refresh."

Fisheries New Zealand is committed to ensuring sustainability of fisheries and preventing bycatch.

"One example is new rules coming into effect in October 2024 that will significantly reduce the risk to seabirds, including critically threatened albatrosses being captured in the surface longline fishery.

"These will require all commercial fishers using surface longline fishing methods to either use special hook shielding devices or implement all three seabird mitigations at the same time. These mitigations include: using bird scaring devices called 'tori lines', as well as using weighted lines to sink hooks faster and setting gear at night."

Over the latest quarter, from January 1 to March 31, there were 37,151 reported fishing events and 81,811 tonnes of fish landed (a fishing event is described as each time fishing gear is set and retrieved).

More information from the latest quarter includes data on seabird and dolphin captures and is on MPI's website.

Seabirds and protected marine species caught by commercial fishers
New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Tokyo Food Company Ltd and Wholesale Club in their recall of imported Morinaga brand Manna Bolo baby biscuits because the products may contain animal droppings.

"The concern with these biscuits is that they are marketed at babies and young children, who could get seriously sick from bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella if they swallow animal droppings," says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

"These products should not be eaten. People can return them to the place of purchase for a refund or, if thats not possible, throw them away."

The affected products are imported and have also been recalled in Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. They are sold at ethnic grocery stores nationwide.

Visit New Zealand Food Safetys recall page for more information and photographs of the affected product.

Morinaga brand Manna Bolo

Symptoms of salmonellosis and E. coli infection include stomach cramps, diarrhoea, fever, headache, nausea, and throwing up.

If your child has consumed any of these biscuits and you are concerned for their health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16 for free advice.

New Zealand Food Safety has not received any complaints or notifications of associated illness.

The products have been removed from store shelves and have not been re-exported.

"Japanese food safety authorities are responsible for this matter, and we have not been informed which type of animal dropping this might be," says Vincent.

The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts.

More information on how to subscribe
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Tuesday, 2 July 2024, 13:23 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Manuel Heredia is an industrial engineer with a doctorate in aeronautics. After holding various positions at Airbus, the 49-year-old born in Alcaudete (Jaen), has seen out his first year as CEO of Crisalion Mobility, the Spanish company that recently presented its passenger drone model in Malaga. The company already has an agreement with Malaga-based company iJet to put ten of these aircraft into service by 2030.

Why Malaga?

Malaga has a lot of advantages. It is a city with magnificent climate all year round, with a favourable orography, since on the one hand you have the coast, so the first routes can be done over the sea, which facilitates the permits. In addition, the mountains make road transport difficult, so you can offer a plus. Initially, it will not be within everyone's reach, but there are clients who are willing, especially if you offer them the possibility of arriving at the airport and getting to Marbella, La Zagaleta or the Ascari circuit in 10 minutes instead of 40. Another very important issue is the connection of the Costa del Sol with the Middle East, a region that is soon going to lead the way in this industry. Plus, half of our partners and clients from there spend their holidays here.

What stage are you at?

The aircraft has been designed from the inside out: we started with the cockpit, and then what it takes to make it fly. We have a 15-metre wingspan, for one pilot and five passengers, with a range of 130 kilometres, flying at 180 km/h with a weight load of 400 kilos. We also have incorporated requirements for cargo transport and for emergency services: it is one of the few in which you can put a stretcher. We are finishing a scale model of the final aircraft, which we will fly in July. Next summer we will present the first 1:1 scale model at the International Air Show in Paris. And the next step will be to have a 1:1 scale aircraft in flight, which is planned for 2027. It will first be remotely piloted, and from 2028 with a pilot.

'We are finishing a scale model of the final aircraft, which we will fly this month'

When will we see these aircraft flying in Malaga?

We want to have the aircraft certified and on the market by 2030. We have six years ahead of us but in reality it is just around the corner.

What is missing to make these aircraft possible?

In the end, we have to co-exist, so we are being very active in having partnerships with people involved. In 2030 it is very important that, apart from the aircraft, there are infrastructures.

'The routes to Ronda, and the Ascari race circuit, and to Puerto Banus are interesting, but also the connection with Ceuta'

Vertipuertos? (Vertical airports designed for drones)

That's right. We have to invest in infrastructures because, otherwise, no matter how good the aircraft is, we will be limited in service. In Spain, we have leading companies such as Bluenest, Ferrovial, ACS and all the major construction companies are investing in this. We must also continue to work on air traffic control, with air traffic controllers. If you imagine 300 aircraft flying over Malaga, we have to look at other types of solutions, and in Europe there is the U-Space automated air traffic project. We have to work on all the elements of the ecosystem so that in a few years it will be seen as a natural thing in cities.

In the medium term, it is envisaged that the pilot won't be needed?

That was everyone's initial plan in this sector, because piloting is expensive. But the regulators have been very clear in Europe and the US, and they don't want to hear about putting people in drones without a pilot for at least five to ten years. The industry has to maintain the best safety ratios, and today we are not mature enough to do it without a pilot. In Europe and the US, it will take a long time to see this kind of operation. It is true that China is approaching it differently, and we have to follow closely what happens. It may happen that they start to operate without a pilot and nothing happens, then we will have to rethink it in the West, but it is unlikely. And it may also happen that they have problems and that they will be passed on. Then we will have to be clear and explain to the public the difference, so that we don't generate an unfair reaction.

'The industry must maintain safety ratios, we are not mature enough to fly without a pilot yet'

Is this form of transport going to be for everyone?

The route from Malaga Airport to Marbella, which is one of the most interesting, is about 40 minutes by car, without traffic. In a helicopter it would cost 1,600 euros, about 400 euros per passenger. The same route with our aircraft would cost less than 100 euros per person. Is that affordable for everyone? Not for everyone, but for many. The savings come from the price of the aircraft and the cost of electricity. We are talking about much simpler machines, because they are electric, and they can be used much more because they have less maintenance. At first it will be a bit elitist and then it will become more for everyone.

The agreement with iJet provides for the pre-sale of ten aircraft?

This is the first operation we have announced, and we wanted it to be in Malaga and with iJet. In the coming weeks we will make other announcements, but we wanted to give that signal because Malaga is strategic. The aircraft can carry up to five passengers, and the battery would normally be charged in the range of 20 to 80%. That charge can be done in 20 minutes, at each stop. With that, for the route from Malaga to Marbella, with a cruising speed of 180 km/h, the flight would take 12 minutes, although the landing and take-off time must also be taken into account. With each aircraft, the outward journey, loading and return can be done in one hour.

What other routes will there be?

Ronda, for the Ascari race circuit, and Puerto Banus are other routes, as well as a connection with Ceuta, which today can only be done by helicopter and is expensive. There are routes that are not viable at the moment due to economic or noise issues, which could be possible going forward.

'Is this affordable for everyone? Not for everyone, but for many'

Will the business model be on-demand or with regular schedules?

It depends on the operator, but there are customers interested in both models: a shuttle with fixed schedules, and personalised services on demand. A person arriving at the executive terminal in a private aircraft is interested in being picked up and taken home. And also as emergency services, because we have the only aircraft of this type whose cabin is designed to carry a stretcher; for transporting the sick, emergencies, medical staff, organ transport, etc. In this area there are also many people who come to retire, but it is a place that is regular in terms of communications. The start-up will be progressive, and there are applications such as that of the emergency services that we are committed to because, in addition to maturing the technology and completing certification, there comes social acceptance, transmitting to the public what we contribute, and for that we have to familiarise people with this new solution.

And to other provinces, is it possible? For example, from Malaga to Granada

Malaga to Granada is currently a bit out of our scope. We are focusing more on urban, metropolitan routes. For other, more regional routes, the question arises as to whether the best technology is batteries or other hybrid technologies.

Which other Spanish regions have the same level of possibilities as Malaga?

The Balearic Islands also have an obvious fit, for inter-island connections. Barcelona is a city that could benefit a lot. In general, wherever you see the helicopter market is developed, these are places where it naturally fits. In Madrid, for example, it will take longer to see it.

And at a European level?

We are everywhere. There is a lot of talk on the Cote d'Azur. This is going to catch on and we are going to see it everywhere, although at different speeds. Southern Europe, because of the climate, is going to be easier to implement; but there is also a lot of interest in Scandinavia because there are islands that are difficult to connect to.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Central New York Regional Market Authority voted Monday to fire Executive Director Amanda Vitale, just six weeks after a state audit found poor financial management at the Syracuse market.

Authority board President Anthony Emmi announced the vote to terminate Vitales employment at the authoritys meeting Monday evening, Spectrum News reported. Her firing will take effect in six months because her employment contract requires six-month notice of any termination.

Vitale declined after the meeting to comment on her firing.

It is my sons birthday, so I will be spending the rest of the night with him, she said in a text message to syracuse.com.

Emmi did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment Monday night.

The board also voted to create a new position of chief executive officer who will oversee the markets operations. Former Onondaga County Deputy Executive Bill Fisher was appointed to fill that role on a month-to-month basis at an annual salary rate of $58,468.

A decision will be made following Vitales departure whether to fill the executive directors position.

Vitale was appointed executive director in 2019, succeeding her father, Ben Vitale, who had served in the role for 22 years. She was paid a salary of $106,000.

Board member Jose Berenguer, right, speaks during a meeting of the Central New York Regional Market Authority on June 3, 2024. (Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com)Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com

An audit released in May by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli heavily criticized the authoritys financial management.

Among other things, DiNapoli blasted the authority for paying Vitales father more than $200,000 over three years following his retirement as executive director to handle special projects and other duties such as snowplowing without a clear job description or work hours.

In addition, it said market officials did not adequately monitor and control payroll expenses. DiNapoli also criticized the authority for buying a $2.3 million warehouse on Hiawatha Boulevard that is currently vacant and not generating any income because of roof leaks.

The authority also has an opening in its facilities manager position. Greg Frigon, who held the position for nearly 10 years, announced in a letter to the board that he resigned effective last Friday.

Frigon said in his letter that he was displeased with calls by some board members during recent meetings to cut employees pay and benefits -- cuts that Vitale opposed during heated discussions with the board in recent weeks.

...I have seen the clear lack of value that the Board of Directors holds for the staff here, he said. I have watched as you have pushed for decreases in pay and benefits for our already short staff who are being forced to deal with increasingly difficult working conditions and a significant lack of resources.

Fisher will fill the role of facilities manager, at least temporarily.

Located off Park Street, the market has served since 1938 as a central place for Central New York farmers and food distribution companies to sell their products. It operates a popular farmers market that is open on Thursdays from May through mid-November and on Saturdays year-round.

Read more:

McMahon, NY lawmakers call for changes to troubled Regional Market: Theyve got to step up

State audit finds poor financial management at Central New York Regional Market

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | X | Facebook | 315-470-3148
Champlain, NY Seven U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Upstate New York were charged Tuesday will stealing thousands of dollars from their government jobs and union posts, troopers said.

All seven are executive board members of National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 138 in Champlain.

Three current officers and four former CBP officers were charged with grand larceny, said Trooper Jack Keller, a spokesperson for the State Police.

The board members double billed the union and the federal agency for the same travel trips and took cash advances for their personal benefit, he said.

The seven charged are:

Thomas OKeefe  Grand larceny 3rd (Felony)

Joseph McVey  Grand larceny 4th (Felony)

Jamie Goheens  Grand Larceny 3rd (Felony)

Roy Arndt  Grand larceny 4th (Felony)

Michael Lacey  Grand larceny 4th (Felony)

Craig Mothersell  Grand larceny 3rd (Felony)

David Murtagh  Petit larceny (Misdemeanor)

A person is charged with fourth degree grand larceny when they are accused of stealing property that has a value of $1,000 to $3,000. They are charged with third degree larceny when they steal property that values $3,000 to $50,000.

The case is being prosecuted by the Clinton County District Attorneys Office.

Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.
Update: Police identify 13-year-old boy as motorcyclist who collided with SUV in DeWitt

Original article

DeWitt, N.Y.  Police are asking for help identifying a man who is in critical condition after a fiery motorcycle crash on Monday night in DeWitt.

At 11 p.m. a red and black motorcycle collided with a red Honda SUV as the SUV was turning left onto Watertree Drive from Kirkville Road, said Lt. Jerry Pace, a spokesperson for the DeWitt police. The motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed, he said.

The motorcyclist, who has yet to be identified, was thrown from his motorcycle, Pace said. The motorcycle caught fire and the SUV was spun 180 degrees.

The man on the motorcycle received traumatic injuries to a significant portion of his body, Pace said. He was taken to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.

Police have been unable to identify the man. He had no identifying documents and the motorcycle was unregistered had no insurance and has no identifying features, Pace said.

The man does not have any identifying scars, marks, or tattoos, Pace said. The man appears to be in his late teens or early 20s, is white, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs around 145 pounds. Pace described the man as having dark hair, scraggly facial hair, and thicker eyebrows.

The driver of the SUV was uninjured, he said.

Police ask anyone with information about the mans identity to call them at 315-449-3640

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.
Philidelphia, N.Y.  A North Country man was arrested Monday after troopers said they found an AR-style rifle without a serial number as well as two illegal magazines during a traffic stop.

At 8:55 p.m. Travis R. Waybright, 43, of Alexandria Bay, was driving a F-150 Ford truck with an expired registration on Irish Ave in Philadelphia, said Trooper Jennifer Jiron, a spokesperson for the State Police.
DeWitt, N.Y. -- Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer on Tuesday threw his support behind President Joe Biden, who is facing questions about his re-election prospects after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump.

Im with Joe Biden, Schumer, D-NY, said during a press conference at Inficon in DeWitt to announce $40 million in federal funding for the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub.
Tommy is a Cherokee garage mechanic who denies his past and is uncertain about his future. His world comes to a halt when he and his people are abducted to a menacing mothership orbiting Earth. Tommy taps his latent Cherokee spiritual powers to save himself, his girlfriend, and the planet.

Prey is a first-person shooter in which players enter a living spaceship which enslaves alien races and devours humans for lunch. Built on a heavily modded version of the Doom 3 engine, features include wall walking, gravity flipping, and intense single- and multi-player gameplay.

Minimum System Requirements:

Intel Pentium 4 2.0Ghz or AMD Athlon XP 2000+ processor

512MB System RAM

100% DirectX 9.0c compatible 64MB video card with latest manufacturer drivers

2.2GB of hard drive space

Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP with latest service pack installed

Mouse and keyboard

DirectX 9.0c (included)

Recommended System Requirements:

Intel Pentium 4 2.5Ghz or AMD Athlon XP 2500+ processor or higher

1GB System RAM

ATI Radeon X800 series

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi series sound card

Broadband internet connection

Supported Video Cards:
SpeedFan is a hardware monitor software that can access temperature sensors, but its main feature is that it can control fan speeds  depending on the capabilities of your sensor chip and your hardware  according to the temperatures inside your PC, thus reducing noise and power consumption.

Can SpeedFan control the fan speed of any fan?

SpeedFan is able to control the fan speed of most fan makes and models, but this will ultimately depend on your motherboard's sensor chip and capabilities. Once installed, SpeedFan will automatically detect if your hardware is compatible and advanced features are presented.

What other features does SpeedFan offer besides controlling fan speed?

SpeedFan can also read S.M.A.R.T information from your hard drives, show CPU usage, chipset information, core temperatures, change clock speed, and analyze voltages.

What operating systems are compatible with SpeedFan?

SpeedFan works with Windows 9x, ME, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Windows 7, 2008, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server 2012. Including 64-bit versions.

Features

SpeedFan monitor temperatures from several sources. By properly configuring SpeedFan, you can let it change fan speeds based on system temperatures. SpeedFan can change the FSB on some hardware (but this should be considered a bonus feature).

Several sensors, like Winbond's and the AS99127F support fan speed changing, as well as others from Maxim, Myson, Analog Devices, National Semiconductor and ITE, but the hardware manufacturer must have connected the relevant pins to some additional, yet trivial, circuitry. From one of the very first hardware monitor chips that could be found in standard PCs, the National Semiconductor LM75 (and all of its clones, like the Philips NE1617 and the Philips NE1618 or the Maxim MAX1617) or the Analog Devices ADM1021, such chips have been greatly improved, both in their precision and in their capabilities.

Current chips can monitor fan speeds, voltages and control fan speeds by using PWMs (Pulse Width Modulation). Some chips can even be programmed to vary fan speeds without any additional software intervention. If your BIOS was programmed to setup such chips this way you can still try to use SpeedFan's Advanced Configuration to revert to manual (software controlled) mode. Winbond W83697HF, Analog Devices ADT7463, SMSC EMC6D102, ITE IT8712F, National LM85C and Maxim MAX6650 are very good candidates. Some SuperIO chips include temperature sensors too.

SpeedFan can automatically detect them and use their features. The most used are National PC87366 and all of SMSC LPC SuperIO chips.

SpeedFan can find almost any hardware monitor chip connected to the 2-wire SMBus Serial Interface and to the ISA BUS.

SpeedFan can handle:

Almost any number of South Bridges

Almost any number of hardware monitor chips

Almost any number of hard disks

Almost any number of temperature readings

Almost any number of voltage readings

Almost any number of fan speed readings

Almost any number of PWMs

What's New
Why it matters: An Australian man has been charged with stealing unsuspecting users' data by setting up fake Wi-Fi networks using portable wireless access points in several public places, including airports. He was caught when an airline noticed the suspicious network and summoned authorities. The incident underscores how important it is to remain vigilant about Internet security no matter how impatient you are to log online.

Western Australian national Michael Clapsis from Perth appeared in the Magistrates Court last week. He faces nine charges of cybercrime violations for allegedly setting up fake public Wi-Fi networks at multiple locations across the country to swipe unsuspecting users' data. He had been arrested earlier this spring. After his court appearance, he was released on strict bail conditions.

Clapsis had set up several portable wireless access points to create so-called 'evil twin' free Wi-Fi networks, which raised alarms for a domestic airline that spotted the suspicious network during a flight. The Australian Federal Police searched Clapsis' luggage and seized a number of electronic devices. They also searched his Palmyra home.

When people tried to connect their devices to the free networks, they were taken to a fake website that required them to log in using their email or social media accounts, according to the AFP. Western Command Cybercrime Detective Inspector Andrea Coleman warned the public that when connecting to free public Wi-Fi you shouldn't have to enter any personal details, such as logging in through an email or social media account.

Clapsis allegedly saved the details and may have used them to access more of the users' personal information, including stored images and bank details.

The fake Wi-Fi access points were deployed at airports in Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide, on domestic flights, and at locations linked to Clapsis' previous employment.

The incident highlights the dangers of using public Wi-Fi networks. Typically, evil twin attacks work by the hacker setting up a fake Wi-Fi access point that mimics a legitimate network, using the same Service Set Identifier (SSID) name. They may use devices like smartphones, laptops, or specialized tools like a Wi-Fi Pineapple to create this fake network. Once the user connects, the attacker presents a fake portal to capture login credentials or other sensitive information.

These attacks are particularly dangerous because they're difficult to detect and play on people's need for an immediate Internet connection no matter where they are. In addition, many devices are set to automatically connect to known networks.

To avoid these attacks, never use unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, or if you must, use a VPN to connect. Also, disable auto-connect features on your devices, and only browse HTTPS websites when connected to a public Wi-Fi network.
What just happened? Nintendo's legal actions against attempts to circumvent the Switch's copy protection have intensified lately. Not resting on its laurels after taking down Yuzu in March, the company has launched two suits against people accused of operating major hubs for hacked systems and games.

The operator of the "Modded Hardware" storefront and a moderator of the r/SwitchPirates subreddit are the latest targets of Nintendo's notoriously persistent legal team. The gaming giant filed two lawsuits at a Washington federal court against the individuals last week.

Modded Hardware is a site that mainly ships Nintendo Switch consoles hacked to run pirated games and homebrew software. The store also sells the MIG Switch devices for dumping games and playing them on flash cards inserted through the system's main card slot.

Furthermore, customers can pay to mail in their consoles for modding or buy chips to perform the procedure at home. The site's operator and the target of Nintendo's first suit  Flint, Michigan resident Ryan Daly  openly advertised his services through the Twitter account "Homebrew Homies."

The company warned Daly to close his business in March  an uncharacteristically merciful move  but the Modded Hardware operator continued his activity, prompting the lawsuit. Seeking damages, Nintendo accused Daly of trafficking hacked hardware and implied that he sold products pre-loaded with pirated games. The site remains online as of this writing.

Additionally, Nintendo accused Arizona-based r/SwitchPirates moderator James "Archbox" Williams of being the mastermind behind multiple piracy distribution channels. TorrentFreak reports that some of these shops -- Jack-in-the-Shop, Turtle in the Shop, and NekoDrive -- disappeared following a March cease-and-desist letter, but LiberaShop might still exist on Telegram.

The subreddit Williams helps moderate doesn't directly distribute pirated games or link to ROM sites, but offers extensive advice on circumventing Nintendo's copy protection. Nintendo's lawsuit includes details on how Williams openly admitted to pirating games and refusing to pay $50 for them.

The company hasn't specified how much restitution it wants from Daly and Williams, but established precedent could run the number into the millions. In March, Nintendo famously dismantled the popular Switch emulator Yuzu after its developer agreed to pay the company $2.4 million after admitting that the software primarily existed to circumvent copy protection. The 3DS emulator Citra was another casualty of the case.

Image credit: Modded Hardware
WTF?! Companies like Amazon have spent years trying to get their drone delivery programs off the ground. Today, several drone delivery firms are operating in a number of states, and that's exposed a problem not everyone foresaw: people shooting the drones. In Florida, a 72-year-old man has been arrested after admitting he shot a Walmart delivery drone.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said drone delivery representatives reported the incident. A two-man crew was campaigning in a nearby community, writes Fox 35 Orlando, which included mock deliveries to illustrate the drones' capabilities, to attract potential business.

Deputies say that the crew stood in front of a home located in a cul-de-sac, awaiting the drone's descent. As it began to descend, a rep said he heard what sounded like a gunshot. The rep saw a man at the side of the home holding a gun pointed toward the sky.

The crew returned to Walmart and directed the drone to fly back to the store. Upon inspection, the reps discovered a bullet hole and $2,500 worth of damage to its payload system.

Deputies returned to the home to interview 72-year-old Dennis Winn. He told officers that he had prior experience with drones and believed that the UAV was surveilling him. Winn said he tried to shoo the drone away. When this didn't work, he went inside the home to retrieve his 9mm gun from a safe, came back out, and shot the drone, which was about 75 feet in the air at the time.

"I then told him that he had struck a Walmart drone," the Sherriff's deputy said. "The defendant looked in disbelief and questioned, 'Really?'"

"I fired one round at it," Winn said in bodycam footage. "They say I hit it so I must be a good shot, or else it's not that far away [...] I'm going to wind up having to find a real good defense lawyer."

Winn was charged with shooting at an aircraft, criminal mischief damage over $1,000, and discharging a firearm in public or residential property.

Business Insider notes that the FAA doesn't distinguish between a drone and a passenger jet when it comes to attempts to sabotage a commercial aircraft. It means that shooting a drone is classed as a felony and could see perpetrators fined and sent to prison for up to 20 years.

Walmart says it has completed more than 20,000 safe drone deliveries over the last two years, and that it is expanding its drone delivery program for up to 75% of the Dallas-Fort Worth population, covering an additional 1.8 million homes.

In other recent drone news, more police forces are considering using the UAVs in first responder (DFR) programs, in which they are sent to 911 calls ahead of officers to assess a situation. Digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation warns that while this may sound good in practice, the programs can be used for privacy-invading surveillance and over-policing.
Why it matters: Given the number of proposals to move solar and wind energy between countries, subsea transmission of renewable energy is becoming mainstream. The latest ambitious proposition is a subsea energy interconnector between Europe and North America. Considering the number of countries involved, it will take a high degree of technical expertise and geopolitical finesse to pull off. However, hopes are high that it can happen.

A group of entrepreneurs is proposing to build the world's largest subsea energy interconnector, linking Europe and North America with three pairs of high-voltage cables. The connection would transport renewable energy back and forth between continents, taking advantage of the sun's daily migration across the sky.

"When the sun is at its zenith, we probably have more power in Europe than we can really use," said Simon Ludlam, founder and CEO of Etchea Energy and one of the three Europeans leading the project. "We've got wind and we've also got too much solar. That's a good time to send it to a demand center, like the East Coast of the United States."

It is one of a growing number of global endeavors that seek to ship renewable energy by sea cable. A project called Sun Cable wants to send solar power from Australia to Singapore, which has little room for solar farms.

Another example is the joint venture between India and Saudi Arabia, which plans to connect their power grids under the Arabian Sea. There are also proposals for an undersea cable system to bring 3.6 GW of wind and solar energy from Morocco to the UK. This project could supply about eight percent of Britain's power needs.

These projects are not just pipe dreams. The North Sea Link already connects the UK with Norway, allowing the exchange of wind and hydropower between the two countries. Even longer cables are planned between the UK and Iceland and between the solar farms in Azerbaijan and Hungary, where a 1,100-km cable passes on the bottom of the Black Sea.

Subsea power cables are critical to these endeavors. They are crucial technology for transporting renewable energy across long distances under the oceans. Subsea cables allow plants to transmit renewable energy over vast distances, often connecting remote offshore wind farms or solar installations to population centers.

The demand for this technology is so strong that the submarine power cable market could surpass $32.86 billion by 2032 with a compound annual growth rate of 8.5 percent. As a frame of reference, analysts had the market pegged at $14.6 billion in 2022.

The project that Ludlam and his colleagues are proposing would use cables stretching more than 2,000 miles across the entire floor of the Atlantic Ocean to connect the UK's west with eastern Canada and potentially New York with western France.

According to renewable energy firm Megawatt-X founder Laurent Segalen, these cables could send six gigawatts of energy in both directions at the speed of light  the equivalent of six large-scale nuclear power plants transmitting energy in near real-time.

The group knows that the ambitious project will need buy-in from several countries and a significant sum of money, making the most optimistic timeline for construction the mid-2030s. However, the coalition is determined to get it done.
In a nutshell: Interfacing brains with computers is challenging. It requires decoding complex neural signals, ensuring biocompatibility, and preventing immune responses, to name a few hurdles. Seamless communication between organic and inorganic systems requires advanced algorithms and precise neural mapping. Recent research shows that lab-grown "organoids" might help overcome some of these obstacles.

Chinese researchers from Tianjin University and the Southern University of Science and Technology have created a groundbreaking robot powered by a tiny organoid derived from human stem cells grafted to a neural interface. This breakthrough system allows the robot to learn tasks like obstacle avoidance and object manipulation.

Described as the "world's first open-source brain-on-chip intelligent complex information interaction system," the technology marks a significant advancement in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)  devices that translate between neural and computational signals.

The South China Morning Post notes that the scientists grew the organoids from human pluripotent stem cells, which can develop into various cell types, including neural tissue. These synthetic-organic (pardon the oxymoron) brain cells are linked to the robot's neural interface, enabling communication between the neural tissue and the robot's systems. Although the presented images of pink brain matter are merely mockups (below), the actual organoids are much smaller.

Beyond their immediate application in robotics, researchers aim to use organoids for brain repair through transplantation, potentially aiding stroke victims and others with brain injuries.

"The transplant of human brain organoids into living brains is a novel method for advancing organoid development and function," the study reads. "Organoid grafts have a host-derived functional vasculature system and exhibit advanced maturation."

Despite these promising developments, the research is still at an early stage, and significant questions remain about the feasibility of repairing damaged brain tissues with organoids. Nevertheless, the potential is intriguing. Futurism notes that experiments at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrated that transplanting human neurons into rat brains with damaged visual cortices could revive the affected areas and restore response to stimuli like light.

In their recent work, the Chinese researchers used low-intensity ultrasound to enhance the integration of organoids into host brains. This technique improved the formation of neural networks, suggesting a non-invasive method to aid patients with brain damage. While this ultrasound treatment could facilitate the connection between organoids and computing interfaces, it represents a preliminary step towards the future goal of using lab-grown brain tissue to restore human brain functions.

This research underscores the potential of combining organoid technology with BCIs, paving the way for advanced therapeutic strategies and intelligent robotic systems. It also confirms findings in similar studies, such as Indiana University Bloomington's "Brainoware" research.

Image credit: Maxuser
Ernesto Rosario Alberto, a seasoned expert in the telecommunications and banking sectors, is now leading DITO Telecommunity, the Philippines' dynamic third major telecommunications player.

In his first few years at DITO, Alberto is already steering the newcomer company into a rising star within the Philippines' highly competitive telecom market.

A Transformative Leader

Ernesto Alberto's illustrious career features pivotal roles in the telecommunications industry. He currently juggles responsibilities as Chairman, President, and CEO of Digitel Crossing, Inc., Asia Netcom Philippines Corp., and Cruz Telephone Co.

His prior tenure as President and CEO of ePLDT, Inc. (2013-2019), and executive roles at PLDT Global, Inc. and Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc., highlight his extensive expertise.

Alberto's solid educational background includes a degree from San Beda College and advanced studies at the University of Asia & the Pacific.

Betting Big on DITO

In 2021, DITO launched as a new telecommunications company in a market dominated by established leaders. This challenging start led to poor stock performance in 2022. However, Alberto remained optimistic, envisioning a bright future for the company despite these initial setbacks.

Despite DITO's stock performance challenges in 2022, Alberto remained bullish about the company's prospects. In September 2022, he purchased 150,000 shares at P3.60 each, increasing his stake to 3.5 million shares valued at P12.53 million.

This confidence stands firm despite an 80% drop in DITO's share price from its February 2021 peak and reporting significant losses.

Strategic Leadership and Capital Infusion

In October 2023, Alberto took the reins as CEO of DITO Telecommunity, succeeding Dennis Uy, who continues as chairman. Uy expressed strong confidence in Alberto, citing his extensive experience in senior roles across the banking and telecom sectors.

"His appointment comes at an opportune time as we continue to maintain the Company on a high-growth trajectory," said Uy in a statement at the time.

That same month, DITO CME Holdings, DITO's parent company, secured P3.3 billion from a subscription agreement with Summit Telco Holdings Corp., issuing shares at P1 each.

Additionally, DITO acquired a $3.9 billion loan to propel its nationwide expansion, earmarking $1.3 billion for short-term bridge loan repayments, fueling plans to expand enterprise products and boost subscriber numbers to 10 million.

Impressive Achievements and Ambitious Goals

Under Alberto's leadership, DITO has surpassed expectations. The company's fourth technical audit revealed average broadband speeds of 74.97 Mbps for 4G and 639.32 Mbps for 5G. DITO's goal is to cover 84% of the Philippine population with a minimum average speed of 55 Mbps.

In February 2024, DITO was honored with the Ookla Speedtest Award as the Philippines' top mobile network, outpacing competitors Smart Communications and Globe Telecom with download speeds of 32 Mbps and 302.9 Mbps for 5G.

DITO's efforts were recognized at the 2024 Stevie Awards, where it won five awards for its GalingDITO campaign, among others. The company was also honored at the Asian Telecom Awards for its "Digital Initiative of the Year" and "Mobile App of the Year."

A Promising Future

Under Alberto's leadership, DITO Telecommunity is set to keep growing and improving. The company is making good progress in the tough telecom market in the Philippines.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
A government-backed expert panel in India has recommended the approval of Eli Lilly's weight loss medication, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Reuters reports.

This decision paves the way for the import and sale of the drug in India, offering a new treatment option for millions struggling with obesity (classified by experts as a chronic complex disease) and type 2 diabetes.

Obesity Drug Regulatory Approval Pending Phase 4 Trial and Manufacturing Data

Mounjaro, chemically known as tirzepatide, is part of a class of therapies known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs, including Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic, were initially developed to control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

However, they have gained immense popularity as weight loss treatments due to their ability to slow digestion, helping patients feel full longer and reduce their overall calorie intake.

The approval is contingent upon Eli Lilly conducting a Phase 4 clinical trial to monitor the drug's safety and effectiveness in real-world settings. Additionally, the company must submit manufacturing and control data to meet India's regulatory standards.

According to a notification dated June 19, the committee stated, "After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended for grant of permission for import and marketing" of tirzepatide for chronic weight management, with the condition of conducting Phase 4 clinical trials.

Sheetal Sapale, vice president of the research firm Pharmarack noted, "A recommendation from the subject expert committee is like the penultimate step of the approval."

Expanding Access to Weight Loss Treatments

The Indian Practitioner reports that Eli Lilly has proposed importing and marketing six dosages of tirzepatide in both single-dose prefilled pens and single-dose vials. The company's proposal was supported by India-specific clinical study reports derived from two global studies that included Indian participants.

Notably, the prefilled pen formulation has already been approved in several regions, including the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Kuwait, and Qatar. Additionally, the single-dose vials are approved in the US, EU, and Egypt for chronic weight management.

Eli Lilly's CEO, David Ricks, indicated that the company expects to launch Mounjaro in India as early as next year. Reuters tells us that the global weight-loss drugs market is projected to reach at least $100 billion by the end of the decade, mirroring the growing demand for effective obesity treatments.

Meanwhile, Nature reported in June that Chinese and Indian pharmaceutical companies are developing biosimilars-cheaper versions of existing drugs, such as GLP-1 mimics-that help with weight loss and diabetes management.

This shift could significantly lower costs, potentially expanding the market and increasing access to these treatments. Some companies are innovating beyond biosimilars, developing improved versions of these drugs, which may offer enhanced effectiveness and affordability.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
The European Commission's preliminary investigation has determined that Meta's "pay or consent" offer to Facebook and Instagram users in Europe does not comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Commission stated that Meta's approach forces users to consent to data combination or pay for a subscription, without offering a free, less-personalized alternative.



The DMA, which has been in effect for "gatekeepers" like Meta since March, imposes strict regulations to ensure fair market competition, per TechCrunch. Non-compliance could result in fines up to 10% of global annual turnover, and 20% for repeat offenses. Meta might also be compelled to revise its business model, which relies on user data for targeted advertising.



Privacy and consumer protection groups have argued against Meta's model, claiming it does not align with EU data protection or consumer protection rules. The Commission has echoed these concerns, stating that Meta's binary choice does not offer a genuine alternative for users who opt out of tracking.

Safeguarding Users' Data

Meta's response to the Commission's findings referenced a previous EU court judgment, asserting that their subscription model complies with the DMA. However, the Commission officials emphasized that any fee must be justified and that Meta has not offered a free, contextual advertising option that does not rely on personal data.



The EU aims to enforce a requirement that users who refuse tracking should still have access to a free, equivalent service. The investigation continues, with Meta given an opportunity to formally respond to the findings. The Commission aims to complete the probe by March 2025.



Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy said that the commission's investigation strives "to ensure contestability in markets" where gatekeepers including Meta have been where big tech gatekeepers like Meta have been stockpiling personal data of millions of EU citizens through the years.

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market, stressed the importance of ensuring that Meta is in full compliance with the DMA. He said that the DMA aims to give users the capacity to determine "how their data is utilized and "ensure innovative companies can compete on equal footing with tech giants on data access."

Meta Under Scrutiny in Australia

This news comes after the Australian government asked Meta and other online giants to a public hearing to discuss social media's impact on society, according to a previous report by TechTimes.

At its second public hearing, the social media "influence and impacts" on Australian cultural study will continue. TikTok Australia, Meta, Snap Inc., and Google will discuss the changing sector.



Meta Vice president and head of global safety Antigone Davis told the Joint Select Committee she does not think social media hurts youngsters. Davis said teen mental health issues are complex. She feels it is their business job to guarantee kids can use social media safely and encouragingly, regardless of which applications translate.



Meta strives to make users, especially teens, feel safe and happy, according to Davis.



The committee is also probing Meta's withdrawal from News Media Bargaining Code agreements and its effects on Australian media.
Neuralink Corp., the brain implant company founded by Elon Musk, was scheduled to perform its second implant surgery last Monday. However, the procedure was postponed due to the patient's medical condition, according to Michael Lawton, CEO of the Barrow Neurological Institute.

Medical Condition Causes Delay

As Bloomberg reported earlier, the patient had to withdraw from the scheduled surgery that Neuralink set. The procedure will be vital for the current study of the company.

Based on the report, the patient has health concerns that made them unfit for the surgery. Lawton confirmed that because of this uncertainty, Neuralink needs to find another candidate.

In a phone call with Bloomberg, Lawton said that the new patient would likely undergo the surgery next month at the Barrow facility. Up to this point, Neuralink has not provided a comment on the situation.

"Selecting the right patient for a trial like this is important. Everybody involved, clinically and surgically, wants to get it right," Lawton said.

Early Stages of Clinical Trials

Neuralink is in the initial phases of clinical trials for its brain implant device, which aims to restore functionality to paralyzed patients. Recently, Noland Arbaugh, an Arizona man, became the first human to have the device implanted. Arbaugh, a quadriplegic following a 2016 spinal cord injury, can now play video games using only his thoughts, showcasing the device's potential.

The Barrow Neurological Institute, located in Phoenix, treated Arbaugh during his surgery in January. Known for addressing complex neurological conditions, Barrow has been praised by Neuralink President DJ Seo for their swift and quality care.

In April, Seo commended Barrow for moving "with lightning speed to deliver quality care for their patients."

Challenges with Lou Gehrig's Disease

The patient originally scheduled for surgery this week has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a report from PCMag says. This condition causes nerve cells in the spine and brain to degenerate, ultimately leading to muscle paralysis. Due to patient privacy regulations, further details about the individual cannot be disclosed.

Diverse Testing for Broader Application

Testing the device on patients with various causes of motor impairment is crucial, according to Cristin Welle, an associate professor of neurosurgery at the University of Colorado and former US Food and Drug Administration official.

Welle acknowledged that the process is valuable to see how it works "across different conditions."

Despite the recent setback, Neuralink remains committed to advancing its clinical trials and improving the lives of those with severe motor impairments. The upcoming surgery, rescheduled for next month, will provide another opportunity to test the device's efficacy and expand its potential applications.

Outside the Neuralink report, Tech Times reported that spoon-feeding babies may be bad for their growth. A new study suggests that there's a better alternative to this traditional approach.
Robinhood now taps into artificial intelligence to enhance its investment platform by acquiring Pluto Capital, Inc., an AI-powered research platform.

This move, announced on Monday, July 1, aims to integrate advanced artificial intelligence capabilities into Robinhood's app, providing users with more sophisticated tools to manage their investments (via TechCrunch).

New AI Tools to Enhance Data Analysis and Add Real-Time Insights

With Pluto's advanced data analytics capabilities, Robinhood users will soon benefit from quicker identification of market trends and investment opportunities.

Pluto utilizes large language models (LLMs) with real-time access to both global financial data and users' personal data, enabling it to process and interpret market information more efficiently.

This feature will enable investors to make informed decisions more quickly, optimizing their portfolios for better outcomes. The real-time analysis driven by AI will help balance growth and risk according to individual preferences, enhancing the overall user experience on the Robinhood platform.

Personalized Investment Strategies

One of the standout features of Pluto is its ability to offer highly customized investment recommendations.

By analyzing individual factors such as risk tolerance, investment goals, and historical behavior, Pluto's algorithms can tailor investment strategies to meet each user's unique needs.

This level of personalization is set to help investors make more informed decisions and optimize their portfolios for better outcomes.

Read Also : Apple Intelligence With Google Gemini Potentially Coming in a Few Months

Pluto's Founder Jacob Sansbury Joins Robinhood

Jacob Sansbury, the founder of Pluto, will join Robinhood as part of the acquisition. Sansbury's role will involve accelerating the adoption of AI technologies within the Robinhood platform.

Mayank Agarwal, Robinhood's VP of Engineering, highlighted that Sansbury's expertise in artificial intelligence and dedication to making finance accessible to everyone aligns with Robinhood's mission.

Agarwal stated, "We are thrilled to welcome Pluto and Jacob Sansbury to Robinhood. They have built an impressive platform that is highly regarded in the financial services industry."

Sansbury expressed his enthusiasm for joining Robinhood, saying, "Robinhood is the ideal destination to build products that democratize access to financial services like wealth management and financial planning through state-of-the-art AI. I look forward to innovating at the company which has inspired me and so many others."

Founded in 2021, Pluto quickly made a name for itself in the financial services sector. The company raised $4 million across multiple seed funding rounds, with a pre-money valuation of $12 million, according to Pitchbook.

Robinhood Faces Service Interruptions

In other news, Robinhood experienced a service interruption on Monday, affecting over 3,000 users according to Downdetector, a platform that tracks outages through user reports.

Robinhood acknowledged the issue and assured users that they were working to resolve it as soon as possible. "We're experiencing an interruption in service for some users and are working to resolve it as soon as possible," the company said in a post on X.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Microsoft's head of AI, Mustafa Suleyman, has ignited a heated debate by labeling all publicly available information used to train AI models as "freeware."

Suleyman attempted to draw a line between openly accessible web content and copyrighted material explicitly protected by publishers. However, he admitted the complexity surrounding content that publishers specifically guard against scraping.

The Ethical Debate: Should AI Use Online Content for Training?

During the extensive discussion on AI's current state and its future implications at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Suleyman focused on the necessity for responsible AI development and governance.

The conversation with CNBC tackled the contentious issue of whether AI should utilize content published online for training purposes.

Suleyman stressed the importance of distinguishing between open-source and closed-source AI models and advocated for international cooperation, especially with China, rather than an adversarial stance.

Intellectual Property Concerns

Despite Suleyman's remarks, content creators argue that their intellectual property is being exploited without compensation. Many believe that the unauthorized use of their work endangers their livelihoods and the integrity of generative AI.

Suleyman acknowledged the murky legal boundaries surrounding AI model training, a sentiment reflected in ongoing court cases. Shortly after the interview, the Center for Investigative Reporting filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its major investor, Microsoft, for using the nonprofit's content without permission or compensation.

The organization's CEO, Monika Bauerlein, accused OpenAI and Microsoft of "vacuuming up our stories to make their product more powerful" without seeking permission or offering payment, unlike other organizations that license their material.

Scraping In a Grey Area

Microsoft is under increasing scrutiny over its data handling practices for AI. Despite offering protection for users of its GenAI tools against copyright cases, Suleyman's comments about the robots.txt file stirred further controversy.

He suggested that mentioning "do not scrape or crawl" on a website might place scraping in a "grey area," yet admitted that respecting this basic protocol is more of a courtesy and not something that needs judicial clarification. Nonetheless, various AI companies, including Anthropic, Perplexity, and OpenAI, often ignore robots.txt.

Microsoft's Current Lawsuit Involving Copyrighted Articles

This isn't the first instance of an AI executive making controversial statements. Despite over a year since ChatGPT's launch, the legal framework for training data and copyright remains unsettled. Microsoft and OpenAI face multiple lawsuits from publishers alleging unauthorized use of copyrighted articles to train their language models. These cases have yet to reach conclusions that might provide more legal clarity.

"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. A component of the partnerships is the ability to leverage publisher content using various machine learning and training techniques to help us optimize the display of that content and make it more useful to users," An OpenAI spokesperson told TechRadar.
Google is adding 110 new languages to its Google Translate service, a significant expansion of its 18-year-old free translation tool.

According to the tech giant, this update marks the largest expansion in the tool's history, now encompassing languages spoken by over 614 million people worldwide.

New Google Translate Update Includes Endangered European Languages

As reported by Euronews, among the newly supported languages are several endangered European dialects such as Sicilian, Manx, Breton, and Romani.

Manx, a Celtic language from the Isle of Man, nearly went extinct with the death of its last native speaker in 1974. However, an island-wide revival movement has led to a resurgence, resulting in thousands of new speakers.

Similarly, Breton, a Celtic language spoken in Brittany, France, and Romani, spoken by approximately 4.6 million people in Europe, are now part of Google Translate's extensive library.

Italian dialects have also been added, including Sicilian from Sicily and Venetian from Venice. Additionally, Northern Sami, a language spoken in northern Scandinavia, is now supported, further broadening the tool's European language offerings.

Google Translate Expands Available African Languages

About a quarter of the new languages in the update come from Africa, marking Google's largest expansion of African languages to date. Languages such as Fon, Kikongo, Luo, Ga, Swati, Venda, and Wolof are now available.

Afar, a tonal language spoken in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, received the most volunteer community contributions among the newly added languages.

Read Also : Google Chrome Mobile Introduces New Quirky Ordering Shortcut for Restaurants, Businesses

Google Adds Major World Languages to Translate

Google has also added major world languages like Cantonese, which has long been requested due to its complex overlap with Mandarin in writing. Punjabi (Shahmukhi), the most spoken language in Pakistan, and Tamazight (Amazigh), a Berber language spoken across North Africa, are now included.

AI and Machine Learning Technology Driving Google Translate

The expansion was made possible by Google's advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies. Since 2016, the company has been using neural networks, algorithms inspired by the human brain, to analyze patterns, context, and linguistic structures, delivering natural-sounding translations.

Google's latest PaLM 2 large language model, which features improved multilingual, reasoning, and coding capabilities, played a crucial role in this recent update.

This model allowed Translate to efficiently learn languages closely related to others, such as Awadhi and Marwadi (related to Hindi), and French creoles like Seychellois Creole and Mauritian Creole (creoles are languages developed from a mixture of different languages, typically in situations of cultural blending or colonization.)

Google also utilizes Zero-Shot Machine Translation, a method where the AI model learns to translate a language without ever seeing an example.

This technique was employed in 2022 to add 24 new languages and continues to support Google's goal of eventually covering the 1,000 most spoken languages worldwide.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Long after this patent came out, Tesla robotaxi trials were thought to be possible after Elon Musk visited Beijing.

Now, it's clear that the automaker wants to revolutionize the ride-hailing industry with its new patent, which hints at an advanced automatic sanitation system. According to the report, it was filed on February 21, 2023.

The patent offers intriguing insights into the potential features of Tesla's forthcoming Robotaxi fleet, expected to be composed of Tesla Cybercabs.

Advanced Sensor Technology for Enhanced Safety

When you take a closer look at Figure 5, we can see that the patent showcases a vehicle outline reminiscent of the Cybercab design teased in previous Tesla materials.

In addition to methods using the HVAC system, this patent presents additional sanitation methods:



Figures 7A-7C show methods for thermal management and sanitation of touchscreens and other contact surfaces inside the vehicle. By using active heating elements and passive pic.twitter.com/C4DH1Dbjtu  SETI Park (@seti_park) June 30, 2024

The patent abstract indicates that the automatic sanitation system is intended for vehicles "shared among multiple persons," pointing directly to the Robotaxi application.

This technology can provide the following benefits to Tesla's robotaxi service, scheduled to be unveiled on 8/8:



 Passenger safety: Automatically sanitizing the vehicle interior between each ride reduces the risk of pathogen transmission.

 Efficient operation: Maintaining  SETI Park (@seti_park) June 30, 2024

The Tesla Robotaxi patent outlines a sophisticated sensor system designed to detect temperature, humidity, and the presence of pathogens within the vehicle.

"The sanitation system then obtains and generates a sanitation routine based at least in part on the sensor data. Based on the sanitation routine, the sanitation system causes a component associated with the enclosed space to adjust the current environmental condition toward a target environmental condition, where the sanitation routine specifies the component and the target environmental condition," states the patent abstract.

As Teslarati reports, the patent is here to stay to maintain the cleanliness and safety of the vehicle for the passengers, addressing a critical concern in the shared mobility sector.

Implications for Tesla's Robotaxi Service

Patent researcher SETI Park highlights the significant impact Tesla's automatic sanitation system could have on the robotaxi service.

Park notes that this technology will enhance vehicle sharing convenience and improve the overall user experience, thereby increasing the value of Tesla vehicles.

As Park wrote on X, this patent could be Tesla's Robotax Services' key technology that will provide convenience to the riders, paving the way for their improved user experience.

Anticipation for the Cybercab Launch

Tesla plans to unveil its Robotaxi fleet vehicle, the Cybercab, on Aug. 8. Inspired by the Cybertruck, the Cybercab is expected to be a fully autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel. This design contrasts with the previously anticipated Model 2 (or Model Q), initially slated for the Robotaxi fleet, which was expected to include a steering wheel.

In May, the automaker released a teaser video on X showcasing the Cybercab's design, highlighting its steering wheel-free configuration.

Tesla Should First Solve Issues With its Self-Driving Tech

While the introduction of the automatic sanitation system is impressive, the key challenge remains achieving fully autonomous driving capabilities. Electrek emphasizes that solving self-driving technology is crucial for the success of Tesla's robotaxi fleet.

Electrek's take on the matter reflects a cautious optimism: "This is cool, but obviously, it only makes sense if you have solved self-driving, which Tesla has yet to do. That seems to be the hard part. I'm not saying you shouldn't think about all the other problems to solve once you have a fleet of self-driving Robotaxi. You should. But solving self-driving seems to be the main hurdle."

Despite the impressive progress with Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) version 12, there are still uncertainties about achieving a true driverless system. The journey towards fully autonomous vehicles continues to be a challenging and complex endeavor.

Until now, Tesla has yet to notify regulations regarding the robotaxi venture.
Wise stated that the Evolve Bank and Trust data breach may have affected some of its clients' data. This incident highlights the uncertainty for third-party firms and their users, possibly harming unnamed enterprises and startups.

Wise announced on Friday its 2020-2023 collaboration with Evolve to deliver USD account data on its website. According to TechCrunch, some consumers' personal data may be involved in the Evolve incident.

The company will email customers who "may have been affected by this data breach directly."

Wise gave Evolve US clients' names, addresses, birth dates, contact information, and Social Security or EINs. Non-US clients received another ID number from Wise. The number of impacted clients is unknown since Wise is "actively investigating, the number of affected clients is unknown."

LockBit Involved In The Evolve Bank Data Breach

According to Evolve, an employee opened a malicious link that led to LockBit's ransomware attack in May. The business denied that fraudsters stole user dollars, although they did download customer data between February and May.

Evolve Banks partner financial firms Affirm, EarnIn, Marqeta, Melio, and Mercury are evaluating the breach's impact on clients. A fintech writer, Jason Mikula posted Branch's breach warning on X.

According to Reuters, Evolve Bank and Trust revealed last week that the cybersecurity incident exposed clients' data on the dark web. According to a spokesperson, the Arkansas bank has hired law enforcement to assist with its investigation and reaction.

"All affected consumers will receive free credit monitoring and identity theft protection. The bank's spokesperson stated that concerned parties will receive direct instructions on enrolling in these preventive measures.

The Federal Reserve required Evolve to improve its fintech partnership and anti-money laundering risk management systems earlier this month. The hack highlighted weaknesses in the financial sector.

After claiming responsibility, Lockbit 3.0 posted Evolve Bank data, according to Bloomberg News. Hackers offered the Fed until Tuesday afternoon to pay their ransom to prevent the release of critical data from an alleged central bank breach.

Read Also : Apple Vision Pro's Cheaper Version to Bring Bigger Displays with Lower Resolutions with New OLEDoS

Evolve Bank Refuses to Pay Ransom

Mercury, a financial startup, reported on social media platform X that Evolve's security breach included client account details and deposit balances. Mercury reported that they informed concerned clients about the data protection measures.

In a blog, Evolve Bank noted it refuses to pay the ransom sought by the data leak perpetrators. Following the data breach, the bank took several security precautions, including a global password reset and rebuilding major identity access management components like Active Directory and Stronger firewalls.

The bank is also improving its security response systems, policies, and procedures to detect and respond to suspected events.

Evolve Bank & Trust is investigating a cybersecurity event. To learn more and get up to date information, click the link: https://t.co/KvSSAs1gtU pic.twitter.com/0AEAlsLaYO  Evolve Bank & Trust (@getevolved1925) June 26, 2024

To help affected customers and partners, Evolve Bank will notify each owner of compromised personal information. The bank will provide two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection. On July 8, 2024, notifications will contain information about a dedicated contact center to help with credit monitoring registration and incident inquiries.
The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 are coming next week, and the South Korean tech giant is now offering as much as $1,500 in "savings" to users who pre-order the new foldables. The massive savings may not be suitable for Samsung, but some factors would help give this much in discounts and perks for the new devices.

For users who pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy foldable, various freebies and perks are available, alongside a possible massive discount on its price tag.

Samsung Offers $1,500 'Savings' for Galaxy Z Flip6, Z Fold6

Samsung's pre-order page for the Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 is now leveraging a massive $1,500 savings on pre-orders or reservations for its new foldables. It is important to note that a downpayment or reservation fee is not required for these devices now, and reserving them gives users an instant $50 Samsung Credit.

There are several factors as to how users may receive the $1,500 in savings, with emails sent to customers detailing these, according to 9to5Google.

Pre-orders and reservations or not, users may still get a chance to join the sweepstakes that would reward the winner with $5,000 in Samsung Credits.

Here's How to Avail Samsung's Massive Pre-Order Deal

The first part of the discount was the $50 credits, and the next was the double storage promo on all of its models, with Samsung claiming this is already worth $240. A free one-year Samsung Care+ that costs $156 is also up for grabs.

The biggest discount for device trade-in could be as much as $1,200. The most recent releases, including the Galaxy S24 series and Z Fold 5, offer the highest rates, which may total $1,500 or more.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Foldables Upgrade

Since last year, there have been massive talks behind the massive upgrades and offers from Samsung for 2024's release of its foldable, centering on a new variant apart from the mainline releases. As Samsung looks to catch up to its rivals in the market, it is looking to bring a base or entry-level variant Z Fold device alongside the Z Fold6.

Many leaks and speculators released reports about the foldables' upgrade that will arrive this year, with one of the most complete information centered on the Galaxy Z Flip6 device. It was said to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset alongside a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 50MP rear primary camera, and 12MP ultrawide, with a 4,000 mAh battery.

A 'Fan Edition' or FE version was supposed to be coming for the Z Fold6. However, Samsung reportedly rescheduled it as it is still facing massive challenges in the industry among renowned competitors. This year's release may be for the Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 alone, with Samsung leveraging massive perks and savings, constituting as much as $1,500 for pre-orders made now.
Advancements in neuroscience and robotics have been separate, but this world's first study from Chinese researchers has now been delivered on a robot controlled by human brain cells alone. No, it is not connected to a living person via a brain chip, as it uses the actual grey matter, and is among the earliest breakthroughs in biocomputation.

This development is unique, as it does not need a living person to control it via wireless or wired connections from the brain; only the human organ is needed for the bot's processes.

World's First Human Brain-Controlled Robot Arrives from China

According to a release from China's Tianjin University (via Xinhua News Agency), a scientific research team has successfully developed a new brain-computer interface with an intelligent interaction system called MetaBOC. This was made possible through the collaboration of the Haihe Laboratory team from Tianjin University and Southern University of Science and Technology.

It is also regarded as an "on-chip brain," which consists of an electrode chip and a real human in-vitro brain, making it possible for it to function as a "brain-on-a-chip" device.

Instead of using the human brain alone, this fuses it with the chip to deliver a brain-computer interface (BCI), which is meant to deliver "hybrid intelligence."

Read Also : Neuralink's Second Brain Implant Surgery Postponed Due to Patient Health Concerns

No Need for Humans, Only Their Brains for This Bot

The study did not need to involve humans and implant them with chips to control the robot, as the organ was used to create this new kind of hybrid intelligence for the machine.

The human biological brain created "brain-like tissue" through stem cell culture technology to live outside the body and then uses the chip for scientists to deliver its functions, debug it, and teach the brain knowledge for autonomous bot control.

Neuroscience and Robotics Developments

The two separate fields of science, Neuroscience and Robotics, have been going their own way as both are still complex studies in today's age, but some have looked into fusing both together for more advanced developments. Among the most popular neuroscience-focused companies is Elon Musk's Neuralink, best known for its success in its first human test, with the patient calling it an 'aimbot' for gaming.

On the other hand, robotics has seen massive developments over the years, and it centers on different focuses, including autonomous helpers or factory workers, offering limbs for amputees, and more. However, some developments focused on making robots more human-like, with one study looking to advance humanoid robots with emotion recognition.

While both fields are not exactly exclusive to each study, there have been little developments in fusing both into one technological advancement, with this new research proving that it is possible and has already happened. Tianjin University's recent study successfully used human brain cells to power a robot, calling it 'brain on a chip,' paving the way for the future of biocomputation worldwide.
The Wisconsin Technical Colleges System board will consider two finalists to succeed Morna Foy, the systems retiring president.

The technical college system board selected Robert Griggs and Layla Merrifield as its two finalists after conducting a national search, the board said in a statement Tuesday. The next president will oversee the states 16 public technical colleges, including Madison Area Technical College, which collectively served about 288,000 students during the 2022-23 academic year.

Griggs has been the president of Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for eight years and previously held leadership roles at colleges in Minnesota. Merrifield is the executive director of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association and previously worked for the Wisconsin Fiscal Bureau and as a policy adviser for the technical college system.

The technical college board will hold final interviews for the finalists in August.

This is an important position within Wisconsins educational landscape. The incoming president will steer our states largest higher education system toward a promising next chapter, technical college board President Mark Tyler said in a statement.

Foy, who became the technical college systems first female president in 2012, announced her retirement in March, with the intention of leaving after the system board hired her successor. Foy spent 26 years of her career with the system starting as an administrator in 1998 and executive assistant and vice president of policy and government relations in 2005. Foy is the states longest-tenured higher education official in Madison.
Cybersecurity experts are reportedly warning that artificial intelligence (AI) poses a significant risk to security after they found that AI chatbots could soon easily fool humans. People are increasingly relaxing regarding booming technology.

According to Javvad, the lead security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, people will become accustomed to artificial intelligence. That could make them less defensive, giving AI more ability to control us.

Scientists warned earlier this year that AI had become skilled at "deception" and had discovered how to "cheat" people. Additionally, scientists have told sources that cybercriminals may "manipulate" AI.

Javvad cautions that when individuals become more accustomed to using AI chatbots, they may become more receptive to every response. The cybersecurity advocate said that training, knowledge, and education are necessary to guard against these dangers.

The rapid advancement of AI intelligence is a major contributing factor to the issue. Furthermore, it's challenging for the average person to stay abreast of the advancements and be aware of the threats. According to Javvad, this exposes common people.

AI Bot Scams

Even more worrisome are new reports that indicate AI bots can now obtain a user's login credentials by sending strange calls to their targets. They now know how to go after people who have enabled two-factor authentication.

The perpetrators of these attacks prepare the victim's credentials before the AI call, which allows the bots to intercept and steal the one-time password (OTP).

It was found that dishonest people are participating in fraud by paying $420 weekly for cryptocurrency subscriptions. AI bots are provided to them to handle their calls. Initially, the con artists get an individual's login credentials, which include usernames, email addresses, and passwords.

Subsequently, the malevolent actors would activate a spoofing system that would prompt victims to enter their OTPs over the phone, which would then automatically forward the information to the threat actor's Telegram bot.

AI Hacking and Malware

The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) of the United Kingdom also issued a warning in early 2024, stating that the rate at which AI is developing will probably lead to a rise in cyberattacks, including ransomware attacks and phishing scams, globally in the next two years. AI will make it easier for inexperienced hackers to cause harm online.

According to the report, threat actors' social engineering skills will be primarily enhanced by AI. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can be used to generate convincing papers that fool victims into responding to a phishing email without the requirement for translation, spell check, or grammar checks, which are common signs of online fraud.

In another worrying update, the most recent Blackberry cybersecurity study claims that malware risks are growing alarmingly, with almost 7,500 new types developed daily.

The first quarter of 2024 saw a 40% spike in attacks based on new malware varieties, 5.2 new viruses every minute, or roughly 7,500 attacks daily, based on the company's preliminary telemetry. This, along with the advent of AI-powered deception, is undoubtedly a worrying development for people and cybersecurity.
An upcoming new feature for Google Maps will soon offer collaborative navigation among multiple drivers and bring all users to one destination, allowing them to stay connected along the way. This feature could be used in multiple scenarios, including friends, family, or colleagues going to one destination but having to go in separate vehicles, with Google Maps ensuring a real-time shared experience.

No more getting left behind on a trip, as this latest discovery on Google Maps would allow everyone to join in on a trip in a carpool or convoy.

Google Maps: Collaborative Navigation for Multiple Drivers Coming Soon?

Analysts and insiders Igilta and xleaks (David Kowalski) shared their latest discovery of a Google patent that the company recently filed regarding a collaborative navigation experience for the Google Maps app. This feature, called "Co-Navigate," allows various Google Maps users to join a certain trip on their way to a single destination.

The patent detailed what the new feature would bring for users, and this co-navigation would help connect all the users during the trip despite them not riding in the same car.

Igilta noted that most navigation apps were made for 'solo travelers,' and most get different routes depending on what the app suggests, and this may lead to confusion.

Real-Time Updates, Staying Connected on a Trip with Google Maps

Instead of getting confused when traveling separately, Google Maps' co-navigation would help connect different users or drivers under one route, keeping each other updated in real-time. Google Maps would also allow you to send notifications, share travel progress, add suggested meet-up places, help with parking, and more in the future.

Google Maps and Its Renowned Features Available Now

One of the oldest and most used Google apps among its massive offerings is Maps. Since 2005, the app has seen massive updates and changes that modernized the experience, especially during the smartphone and infotainment system era. Since Google introduced AI with what it has to offer, Google Maps also received generative AI features that now help with suggestions and more.

There are many purposes for Google Maps; some use it to navigate a new country through walking or commuting, while many use it to plan trips to destinations using private vehicles. Earlier this year, Google Maps launched massive new features that help with trip planning needs, which are available for iOS and Android users.

Google Maps is one of the most advanced and extensive, with geographic locations in multiple countries worldwide and accessibility on multiple devices and platforms.

The next feature of Google Maps is a way to co-navigate on a certain trip. This new collaborative feature allows groups to get together more easily without leaving anyone behind.
China is reportedly engineering a new type of aircraft that doubles as a stealth fighter jet, capable of detaching its wings to utilize it as a pair of drones mid-air. Currently, neither a designation nor any potential photos of the new aircraft exist.

The China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre (CARDC) successfully tested the new stealth fighter, according to sources citing a May 2024 article published in the Chinese journal "Advances in Aeronautical Science and Engineering."

It is said that each drone is powered by electric ducted fans. The aircraft and its drones managed to stay in the air despite the drone separation maneuver during the test flight, which allegedly caused flight instability due to the aerodynamic shift.

According to reports, this represents a significant advancement in drone technology and stealth fighter aircraft development. Aerial combat becomes much more difficult when drones can be launched from a fighter, and the potential uses for these devices are practically limitless.

The plane and its drones can operate in tandem while assisting each other on a mission, according to Du Xin, a senior engineer at CARDC's Aerospace Technology Institute. This is made possible by the drone integration.

Detachable Wing-Drones' Advantages

A stealth fighter of the fifth generation is an impressive feat of engineering in and of itself. The same is true of contemporary UAVs, but incorporating them into an airframe that can change and unleash drones might greatly boost the lethality of all three aircraft.

Sources tell Du claims this can successfully address problems like range incompatibility and speed mismatch between human and unmanned aircraft, resulting in complementing advantages.

China's Laser Propulsion Breakthrough

This development only shows how China continues to improve its military arsenal and capabilities. Most recently, Chinese scientists also made a breakthrough in laser propeller efficiency, transforming underwater vehicles' mobility into that of jet engines.

According to sources, the enhancement is caused by laser pulses emitted through the submarine's optical fibers. These pulses are smaller than a human hair and can produce thrust equivalent to 70,000 newtons, just like a commercial jet engine.

Underwater bubbles are produced by "supercavitation," a process that vaporizes saltwater and is facilitated by laser pulses. By reducing water resistance so much, this technique may enable submarines to travel faster than the speed of sound without producing position-indicating mechanical noise vibrations.

The project's coordinator, Ge Yang, an assistant professor at Harbin Engineering University, develops new weapons and equipment for the People's Liberation Army Navy. Nonetheless, the northeastern Chinese institution has been the subject of US blockades and penalties.

Twenty years after Japanese scientists first proposed the concept, it has attracted international interest and research funding, particularly in China. Ge's team tackled issues related to energy loss and propulsion direction control by increasing the laser-to-thrust conversion efficiency by several orders of magnitude.

Though numerous challenges still need to be overcome, the method has enormous promise for military uses, such as nuclear submarine stealth propulsion. These issues include heat dissipation from optical fibers, longevity in high-power and high-salinity environments, and underwater steering and control system adaption.

Despite these obstacles, underwater laser propulsion aligns with the global trend toward all-electric propulsion and has the potential to enhance both military and commercial marine operations, including "green shipping" objectives.
In a quiet neighborhood of Clermont near Orlando in Florida, a 72-year-old man was facing multiple charges after he shot at a Walmart delivery drone. Witnesses saw a bullet hole in the drone, leading them to report it to local authorities on Wednesday. They also pointed authorities to Dennis Winn.

Florida Man Faces Multiple Charges After Drone Encounter in Clermont

The Florida man is accused of shooting at the Walmart delivery drone in Clermont, located approximately 26 miles west of Orlando. The incident was reported to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, who said in a Facebook post that witnesses discovered a bullet hole in the drone's payload.

USA Today reported that Dennis Winn admitted to firing a single shot at the drone using a 9 mm pistol during questioning by police officers. In police bodycam footage, Winn was seen explaining that he attempted to scare away the drone before resorting to shooting it.

He admitted to firing a single shot at the drone after it did not go away when he tried to shoo it. Police then took him into custody, charging him with shooting at an aircraft and criminal mischief damage of more than $1,000. The sheriff's office said Winn was also facing charges of discharging a firearm on public or residential property.

Walmart introduced drone delivery services in 2021 and expanded them to several markets in Texas, Arizona, and Florida by the following year. Initially partnering with DroneUp, Walmart utilized their services for deliveries, catering not only to retail but also to fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A and Wendy's and health clinics.

Read Also : Wing Partners with Walmart for Swift Drone Deliveries in Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area

Walmart Drone Delivery Expansion, Innovation

In January, Walmart announced an expansion of its drone delivery services, incorporating on-demand delivery companies Wing and Zipline into its network.

In its recent updates, Walmart said it has achieved more than 20,000 successful deliveries without any safety issues in over two years of testing drone delivery services. Walmart plans to extend its drone delivery coverage to an additional 1.8 million homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Walmart has been exploring the potential of small unmanned aircraft to transform retail operations and bolster e-commerce expansion. Starting in 2020, Walmart aims to deliver groceries, household necessities, and COVID-19 test kits directly to customers.

This innovative delivery approach extends Walmart's strategy of leveraging its extensive network of physical stores as a competitive advantage in the retail sector.

As Walmart expands its drone delivery services nationwide, the case of Dennis Winn offers a lesson. His attempt to fend off a drone led to legal trouble, illustrating how technology and daily life could clash unexpectedly.

While Walmart broadens its drone network, Winn's case reminds us of the complexities of these technological advances in our daily routines.
Artificial intelligence-powered health screenings by Fujifilm Holdings are now a reality in Vietnam after the Japanese conglomerate reportedly opened a Nura screening location in the Vietnamese capital on Monday (July 1). This marks the third market for Nura centers. In 2021, it was India; in 2023, it was Mongolia.

With its cutting-edge technology, the new center offers cancer and other screenings with artificial intelligence assistance in as little as two hours and feedback on the results.

It can handle up to about 100 patients daily, for a total of 30,000 annually. The 6 million dong ($235) screening fee may seem pricey in a nation where the average monthly salary is 7.5 million dong. Some industry experts, however, maintain that it is still a fair value.

Approximately 180,000 individuals in Vietnam receive a cancer diagnosis annually, as reported by the Ministry of Health. This is a 2.6-fold increase from 2000, when the country's population was aging.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become more health-conscious, and businesses are looking to provide their staff good benefits. Fujifilm expects a significant demand for CT scans and other imaging tests that are useful in identifying cancer.

Cancer-Detecting AI

AI continues to be leveraged in healthcare, with almost every country finding different ways to utilize the booming technology. Last week, reports noted a study suggesting a potential future wherein doctors might harness AI to detect and diagnose cancer in patients, which could lead to earlier intervention.

DNA, the blueprint for life, contains genetic information stored in four base sequences: A, T, G, and C. DNA methylation is the process by which environmental factors add methyl groups to certain bases, changing them.

These changes can impact gene expression and have been observed in cancer cells, which suggests that they may be diagnostic for early detection. Interpreting these complex methylation patterns is difficult, though; it's like attempting to find a particular needle in a big genetic haystack.

DNA-Examining AI

Imperial College London and Cambridge University researchers have now developed an AI model that has been educated in deep learning and machine learning methods.

Their goal is to examine DNA methylation profiles to identify patterns that correspond to 13 distinct cancer types, such as malignancies of the breast, liver, lung, and prostate.

The algorithm, which relies on tissue samples rather than DNA fragments derived from blood, was able to identify between cancerous and non-cancerous tissues with an accuracy of 98.2%, according to the team. Extensive testing on various biopsy samples would be necessary to bring this AI into clinical use.

AI's interpretability, its ability to clarify the reasoning behind its diagnostic predictions, is crucial to understanding the study's conclusions. By deciphering the fundamental processes leading to cancer, AI aims to improve understanding and increase trust in its medical uses.
In Sweden's calm coastal waters, a groundbreaking project is set to transform how the country generates energy. As worries about climate change grow, projects like Skidbladner are shedding light on new eco-friendly ways to power our world.

Skidbladner Offshore Wind Farm in Sweden

Plans are underway for a new floating wind farm in Sweden called the Skidbladner offshore wind farm. It is planned to comprise up to 147 wind turbines, which are projected to reach a maximum height of 360 meters and span an area of approximately 540.5 square miles.

If the Swedish government approves it, the farm will be placed approximately 12.4 miles (20 km) north of Gotska Sandon. Eolus, the company behind the project, estimates it could generate 11.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually, potentially meeting half of Stockholm's power demand.

Interesting Engineering reported that the wind farm is projected to generate electricity far surpassing Gotland's requirements. Turbines will reach up to 360 meters in height, covering an area of approximately 540.5 square miles (1,400 km2). Pending approval, Eolus anticipates the farm will commence operations by 2033.

Eolus CEO Per Witalisson emphasized the importance of gradually expanding offshore wind power to meet Sweden's growing electricity needs. Eolus, founded in 1990, has focused in the past 30 years on developing innovative energy solutions, particularly in renewable technologies like solar and wind.

Read Also : Pope Francis Orders Construction of Solar Farm in Controversial North Rome Site to Power Vatican City

Advancing Energy Independence in Sweden

The company is actively planning the construction of two offshore wind farms, Skidbladner and Herkules, situated in Swedish waters near Gotland. The combined projects aim to provide Sweden with 4.6 gigawatts of installed capacity and generate around 25 terawatt-hours of electricity annually.

Skidbladner represents a significant step forward as the application for government approval has been formally submitted. The wind turbines will be installed on floating platforms securely anchored to the seabed.

Lars Thomsson, coordinator of Energy Island Gotland, highlighted the alignment of initiatives like the Skidbladner offshore wind farm with Gotland's goal of achieving a fully renewable energy system by 2040.

The Skidbladner wind farm site will be located approximately 62 miles (100 km) southeast of Stockholm. Eolus estimates that the planned capacity will generate enough electricity to power millions of households, potentially meeting about half of Stockholm County's current electricity needs.

Anna Lundsgard, who heads offshore wind power at Eolus, noted that one advantage of floating wind power was its ability to be positioned farther from the coast, where wind conditions are optimal and visual impact is minimal. Eolus, a trailblazer in wind power development since the 1990s, anticipates pioneering floating wind power in the Baltic Sea.

The Skidbladner project, initially a partnership with Irish floating offshore wind developer Simply Blue Group, became fully owned by Eolus earlier this year. Sweden boasts one of the largest offshore wind pipelines globally, with a capacity potential reaching 68 gigawatts.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way clients interact with their bankers, according to Sabine Keller-Busse, the head of UBS's domestic business (via Reuters).

Speaking at the Point Zero Forum in Zurich, Keller-Busse emphasized that the Swiss bank is witnessing a significant shift in client behavior, powered by AI technologies like Chat GPT.

Swiss Bank UBS Believes AI Is a Game-changer in Client Interactions

"In our industry, this will happen as well because with Chat GPT there is more data available," Keller-Busse stated. She compared this change to how patients visit doctors with a pre-diagnosed idea of their ailments. Similarly, clients are now approaching bankers with ideas and strategies formulated through AI.

UBS has been proactive in integrating AI into its services and products. Last year, the bank launched a pilot program for instant credit aimed at small and mid-size companies, which often require quick access to liquidity.

This AI-powered service streamlines the credit process by bypassing traditional credit officers, significantly speeding up the approval process for these standard products. Keller-Busse highlighted, "It's just the beginning of what we will see."

Read Also : Fintech Firm Wise Alerts Customers to Potential Data Exposure in Evolve Bank Breach

AI: Largest Investment Opportunity in Human History

Last week, UBS's chief investment office released its mid-year outlook for 2024, noting the impact of AI on corporate profit expectations and market dynamics.

After a strong performance in the first half of the year, largely driven by AI advancements, UBS's CIO stressed the importance of maintaining a diversified investment portfolio.

The bank views AI as one of the largest investment opportunities in human history, advising investors to ensure their portfolios are "AI-enabled."

UBS is particularly optimistic about semiconductor companies, which are currently benefiting from high levels of AI investment. Additionally, the bank sees potential in vertically integrated oligopolies in both the US and China, which are well-positioned within the AI value chain.

However, UBS also cautions that over-investment fears could lead to a market correction in the second half of the year, suggesting that capital preservation strategies could help mitigate this risk.

The Risks of Integrating AI Into Banking

Elisabeth Austad Asser, in her doctoral dissertation at the University of Agder, raised concerns about the potential for AI to exacerbate social inequalities.

Asser's research, which focused on the Norwegian bank Sparebanken Sr, highlights how AI-driven decision-making can categorize individuals and limit their choices, potentially leading to discrimination.

Asser's recommendations for responsible AI implementation in banks include developing clear AI strategies, understanding relevant laws, prioritizing data quality, addressing biases, and involving diverse teams in algorithm development.

She advocates for a transparent and fair approach to AI, ensuring that algorithmic decisions align with the bank's values and include mechanisms for monitoring and auditing AI systems.

Consumer Acceptance of AI in Banking on the Rise

Meanwhile, a report by global digital transformation company GFT shows that US banking customers are increasingly accepting of AI in their banking experiences, provided there is transparency.

According to the Banking Disruption Index, 44% of American consumers are content with AI in personal banking. They favor AI applications in enhancing everyday banking tasks and bolstering cybersecurity measures.

The survey of 2,002 US consumers revealed that 32% of respondents are open to using AI-driven tools for financial planning and savings guidance, such as budgeting and investment strategies.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
California lawmakers are proposing groundbreaking legislation that requires artificial intelligence (AI) companies to rigorously test their systems and implement safety measures to prevent manipulations that could cripple the electric grid or enable chemical weapons production. As technology improves rapidly, such situations may become possible, say experts.



On Tuesday, there will be a vote on this ground-breaking proposal to lessen AI risks. The parent companies of Facebook and Instagram, Meta and Google, strongly oppose the plan. Google, strongly opposes the plan. According to AP News, tech companies argue that the regulations unfairly target developers rather than those who misuse AI systems for malicious purposes.

California Positioning as AI Regulation Pioneer

Authored by Democratic State Sen. Scott Wiener, the bill aims to establish reasonable safety standards to avert "catastrophic harms" from compelling AI models anticipated to emerge in the future. The requirements would apply exclusively to AI systems exceeding $100 million in computing power for training. As of July, no current AI models have met this threshold.



Wiener emphasized during a recent legislative hearing that the matter is "not about smaller AI models" but is "about huge and powerful models that, as far as we know, do not exist today" but will exist soon.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has positioned California as a leader in AI adoption and regulation, highlighting the potential deployment of generative AI tools to alleviate highway congestion, enhance road safety, and provide tax guidance, per The Mirror.

Read Also: Fintech Firm Wise Alerts Customers to Potential Data Exposure in Evolve Bank Breach

Newsom's administration is also considering new regulations to combat AI discrimination in hiring practices. While Gov. Newsom refrained from commenting on the bill, he cautioned that excessive regulation could jeopardize the state's competitive edge.

Tech Companies Express Concerns

AI experts endorse the creation of a state body to monitor AI developers and create best practices. It authorizes the state attorney general to sue for noncompliance. However, a consortium of tech firms claims that new laws will hamper major AI system development and the open-source community.



According to a report from ABC News, Rob Sherman, Meta's vice president and deputy chief privacy officer, expressed in a letter to lawmakers that the legislation will make the AI ecosystem "less safe, jeopardize open-source models" that startups and small businesses rely on depend on "standards that do not exist, and introduce regulatory fragmentation."

The California Chamber of Commerce echoed these concerns, warning that the proposal could drive companies out of the state to evade stringent regulations.



Opponents of the bill advocate for more comprehensive federal guidance. Conversely, supporters argue that California cannot afford to delay, pointing to the mistakes made by not regulating social media companies promptly.



In parallel, state lawmakers are also considering another ambitious measure aimed at addressing discrimination in automation. This measure targets the use of AI models in screening job resumes and rental applications, seeking to ensure fairness in these processes.
Recent satellite images reveal that China may be using replicas of US warplanes as targets for military training exercises in a remote desert area in northwest China.

Captured by Planet Labs PBC on April 19, and obtained by Business Insider, the images show what appear to be mock-ups of Lockheed Martin's F-35 and F-22 fighter jets at a model airfield in China's Taklamakan Desert.

Sattelite Images Suggest China Is Practicing Attack on Mock US Aircraft

The satellite photos depict around 20 aircraft positioned near a building and three more near a runway. While most of these mock-ups are covered, nine are exposed, with six strongly resembling the F-22 fighter jet. Business Insider tells us that other aircraft at the site could be based on the P-8A Poseidon and the U-2 reconnaissance plane.

Chinese PLA Air Force pilots are learning to practice air strikes on American F-35 and F-22 mockups.



Qakilik, Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang. pic.twitter.com/BjTHpgEWQI  Clash Report (@clashreport) June 20, 2024

Notably, the images also show scorch marks and craters around the site, suggesting that the mock aircraft and the area are being used for target practice. Some of the model warplanes appear to be destroyed or partially damaged, indicating direct hits.

Interestingly, these scorch marks and craters were not visible in a previous image from June 28, 2021, which showed only seven aircraft and an unscathed runway area.

Brady Africk (via Business Insider), an open-source intelligence analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, stated that the dummy aircraft seem to be targeted for training.

He noted that this is similar to other mock-ups created by China, adding, "Creating mock-ups of enemy assets seems to be one of China's favored strategies for determining how to neutralize them."





China's Target Practice Drills on US Military Asset Mock-ups

This is not the first time China has constructed replicas of American military assets for target practice. In January, satellite images revealed mock-ups of the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, also located in the Taklamakan Desert.

These replicas were believed to be used for refining China's missile seekers with image-recognition capabilities, potentially improving their accuracy in targeting specific parts of ships where a missile could do the most damage.

The presence of these mock-ups in the desert is significant, as it suggests China is continually working to enhance its military capabilities against its strongest military rival.

In addition to targeting US warplanes and naval vessels, China has also constructed a replica of a crucial area in Taiwan's capital, including the presidential office and other government buildings.

This move has raised concerns that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is preparing for a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, especially as tensions between the two nations have escalated with increased military activity around the island.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Powerful Hurricane Beryl pummels Caribbean islands



Bridgetown, Barbados, July 1 (AFP) Jul 01, 2024



Hurricane Beryl brought devastating winds and heavy rain to several Caribbean islands on Monday as the earliest-ever Category 4 storm churned westward.

Carriacou Island, which is part of Grenada, took a direct hit on Monday morning from the storm's "extremely dangerous eyewall," with sustained winds at upwards of 150 miles (240 kilometers) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Nearby islands, including Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, also experienced "catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge" according to the NHC.

Video obtained by AFP from St. George's in Grenada showed heavy downpours with trees buffeted by gusts.

Posting a video showing large waves, the Office of the Prime Minister of Grenada wrote on Facebook that the tri-island state was "experiencing intense winds and damage."

"This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," the NHC said. "Residents should not leave their shelter and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions."

Experts say that such a powerful storm forming this early in the Atlantic hurricane season -- which runs from early June to late November -- is extremely rare.

It is the first hurricane since NHC records began to reach the Category 4 level in June.

"Only five major (Category 3+) hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic before the first week of July," hurricane expert Michael Lowry posted on social media platform X.

Barbados appeared to be spared from the worst of the storm but was still hit with high winds and pelting rain, as officials reported no injuries so far.

The island's meteorological agency downgraded a hurricane warning Monday afternoon to a wind advisory until 6:00 pm local time (2200 GMT).

Barbados seems to have "dodged a bullet," Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams said in an online video, but nonetheless "gusts are still coming, the storm-force winds are still coming" he said.

The hurricane warning was also lifted in Tobago, the smaller of the two islands that make up Trinidad and Tobago, officials said.

The storm prompted the cancellation of schools on Monday in several of the islands, while a meeting this week in Grenada of the Caribbean regional bloc CARICOM was postponed.

Beryl is expected to remain a "powerful hurricane" as it continues churning westward, the NHC said, with tropical storm warnings or watches announced in Jamaica and in parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The NHC also warned the Cayman Islands and areas on the Yucatan Peninsula to monitor the storm's progress.



- Extreme weather -



Beryl became the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season early Saturday morning and quickly strengthened to Category 4.

A Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale is considered a major hurricane, and a Category 4 storm packs sustained winds of at least 130 miles per hour (209 kilometers per hour).

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 weather phenomenon La Nina in the Pacific for the expected increase in storms.

Extreme weather events including hurricanes have become more frequent and more devastating in recent years as a result of climate change.
EU needs to double investment to meet climate goals: report



Paris, July 1 (AFP) Jul 01, 2024



The European Union needs to double targeted investment to meet its 2030 climate goal, a consortium of research organisations said on Tuesday, warning that the pace of Europe's related action must accelerate.

Delivering on the 2030 objective is pivotal for the EU's ability to achieve an ambitious target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and end its contribution to global warming.

There are "promising signs of progress" in decarbonising electricity generation and industry, and deploying clean technology, said the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO), which tracks the EU's headway towards carbon neutrality.

But "progress is currently still too slow overall", it said in a report.

The group warned that a lack of climate financing is slowing down the transition.

"Without a turn-around on finance and realising the necessary investments, the transition could fail," said a summary for policymakers.

The report draws on data from 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushed the EU into an energy crisis.

That year, the EU recorded an investment shortfall of 406 billion euros ($435 billion) for the energy, building and transport sectors alone compared to what is needed to meet the 2030 climate target, researchers found.

The EU has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

To align with its climate goal, annual investments in those sectors need to double to 800 billion euros.

"That is the next challenge for the EU Commission: a long-term investment plan for how it will address the investment gap," said report co-author Clara Calipel, of the Institute for Climate Economics.

The analysis compared investment needs with what was spent by households, companies and governments in the 27 EU member states in 2022.

The same year, fossil fuel subsidies tripled from 2021 levels to reach 190 billion euros, as governments sought to support households and companies facing hiked energy prices.

Fossil fuel subsidies need to be progressively phased out and redirected towards financing the transition, including through helping households renovate their home, install a heat pump and switch to an electric car, Calipel said.

Picking up the pace of climate action also means accelerating the roll out of renewable energy and the phase out of coal, oil and gas.

To deliver on the 2030 climate goal, the share of renewable electricity must grow 1.4 times faster while the bloc's fossil fuel phaseout must speed up by 1.8 times, with gas phaseout lagging behind, the report said.

chf/giv/bc
Thousands trapped in northern Myanmar flooding



Yangon, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Floods in northern Myanmar have trapped thousands of people in their homes and cut electricity and phone lines, residents and local media said Tuesday, with the state weather office warning of more heavy rain.

After days of heavy rain in Myitkyina, a city in northern Kachin state, the Ayeyarwady river had risen above its "danger level", according to state media.

Images on local media showed inundated buildings and people wading through neck-high water carrying their belongings over their heads.

"Water has been rising very quickly. Many residents are still stuck in their houses," a Myitkyina resident told AFP, adding that electricity and phone networks had been down since Sunday.

"There has been a fuel shortage in town and rescuers are facing a lot of difficulties with reaching people by motor boat."

Another Myitkyina resident said the lower floor of her house was underwater and that she was sheltering with neighbours until rescue teams could reach them.

The waters had receded slightly as of Tuesday morning she said, but it was still raining.

Local media said the floodwaters had trapped thousands of people in their homes, and the state weather office warned of more heavy rain in the coming days.

Downstream in the second city of Mandalay, the Ayeyarwady could rise from six to 10 feet (1.8-3 metres) in the first 10 days of July, it said.

During the June to October rainy season, landslides are a regular and deadly hazard for the thousands of migrant workers who travel to Kachin state to scrape precious metals and minerals from its hills.

Last month, a landslide at a rare earth mine killed five people and left at least seven others missing, a worker at the mine and local media reported.

The deluge comes just weeks after Myanmar baked in a record-setting heatwave, which sent the mercury to 48 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) in some places.

The rainy season typically brings months of heavy downpours to the Southeast Asian country, but scientists say man-made climate change is making weather patterns more intense.
UN climate chief's family impacted by Hurricane Beryl



Paris, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



UN climate chief Simon Stiell has warned that the destructive consequences of global warming are "not a tomorrow problem" after Hurrican Beryl swept across several Caribbean islands.

Stiell hails from the island of Carriacou which took a direct hit early Monday as Beryl barrelled through, dumping heavy rain and unleashing devastating winds.

His late grandmother's home was among those destroyed while his parents' property also suffered damage, Stiell's office said.

Beryl has strengthened into the earliest category 5 storm in the Atlantic on record, according to the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and is hurtling toward Jamaica.

Stiell said whether the hurricane in his homeland or floods and heatwaves elsewhere in the world, climate change was "pushing disasters to record-breaking new levels of destruction".

"This is not a tomorrow problem," the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change said late Monday.

"This is happening right now in every economy... disasters on a scale that used to be the stuff of science fiction are becoming meteorological facts, and the climate crisis is the chief culprit."

The NHC said Carriacou bore the brunt of the storm's "extremely dangerous eyewall" that brought sustained winds at upwards of 150 mph (240 kph).

Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said the island was "flattened" in half an hour and that it wasn't clear yet if anyone had been killed in the trail of destruction.

Stiell said the "colossal climate costs" inflicted by natural disasters had now reached the level of a national security threat "from the smallest islands to the biggest G20 economies".

Wealthy nations have agreed to pay $100 billion annually to help the developing world adapt to climate change and switch to clean energy but experts say trillions will be needed in the years to come.

It is expected a new finance target will be set at the UN COP29 summit in Azerbaijan in November, though divisions over the size and scope of that goal have frustrated negotiations.
Israel says Gaza desalination plant connected to its electrical grid



Jerusalem, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Israel said Tuesday it has connected a water desalination plant in southern Gaza to its electrical grid, in an easing of its siege of the Palestinian territory, but is not yet supplying power.

The Israeli military agency responsible for civilian operations in the Palestinian territories said it could take up to two weeks to start supplying electricity to the desalination plant in Khan Yunis, which is suffering from critical water shortages.

"A new power line from Israel has been directly connected to a water desalination plant managed by UNICEF in Khan Yunis," said a statement from the Israeli army and the COGAT agency, referring to the United Nations children's fund.

A source at Gaza's Electricity Distribution Corporation said the beleaguered utility was "preparing for the possibility of them (Israel) operating the line".

Colonel Elad Goren of COGAT told a press briefing that Israel would provide electricity "once they will fix the lines from the Gazan side... in a week or two."

He said the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority would pay for the electricity, as it did before the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7.

Israel has faced international criticism over the impact of its military assault against Hamas on Gaza's civilian population.

Goren said infrastructure decisions were made at a political level, and that the return of the power line was based on the need to increase the desalination plant's capacity.

UNICEF has welcomed an agreement with Israel to begin supplying the Khan Yunis plant again.

"This is an important milestone, and we are very much looking forward to seeing it implemented", UNICEF spokesman in the Palestinian territories, Jonathan Crickx, told AFP.

Water has been scarce for Gaza's 2.4 million inhabitants since the war erupted with the Hamas attacks on Israel. Sixty percent of the territory's water distribution systems have been damaged, Crickx said.

After the Hamas attack, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced "a complete siege" on Gaza with "no electricity, no water, no gas". Aid groups say Gaza is now gripped by a humanitarian crisis.

"Currently, the plant is only producing 5,000 cubic meters of water a day. With the new power line from Israel, the plant will ramp up production to 20,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day", the Israeli statement said.
Swiss storm death toll rises to five



Geneva, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Swiss authorities found a body Tuesday in the southeastern canton of Ticino, police said, bringing the death toll from storms which lashed the alpine nation at the weekend to five.

Several people are still missing three days after the disaster.

The latest death brings the toll in the Ticino canton to four, making it the Swiss region hardest-hit by the storms.

The victim was found by a military helicopter in the Maggia Valley before being retrieved by the air rescue service Rega, a cantonal police statement said. Ticino is experiencing its worst flooding since 2000 when 13 people were killed in a mudslide which destroyed the village of Gondo.

On Sunday, three German women in their 70s died after a torrential downpour triggered a landslide in the Italian-speaking canton.

The authorities also issued new flood warnings for the Maggia Valley on Tuesday and asked some residents to leave their homes and seek shelter.

In the neighbouring canton of Valais, where hundreds of people were evacuated as a result of overflowing rivers, a man was found dead in a hotel in Saas-Grund.

Police said that he was probably taken by surprise by a sudden rapid rise in floodwater.

Scientists say climate change driven by human activity is increasing the severity, frequency and length of extreme weather events such as floods and storms.
UK Labour set to surpass 1997 landslide in election: poll



London, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



The UK Labour party is 99 percent "certain" to secure more seats in Thursday's general election than when it won a landslide victory in 1997, a major new poll said on Tuesday.

The centre-left opposition party -- out of power since 2010 -- is predicted to claim 484 out of a total of 650 seats in what would be an unprecedented victory in modern British history, pollster Survation said.

Meanwhile, the right-wing ruling Conservatives and the centrist Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) are in a close race to come a distant second and form the country's official opposition, it added.

The prediction is the latest in a series of so-called MRP polls -- which use large national samples to forecast results for every UK constituency -- that estimate Labour will win emphatically on July 4.

Such a scenario would see its leader Keir Starmer replace the Conservatives' Rishi Sunak as prime minister.

Labour has led the Tories in the polls by double-digit margins for nearly two years, and the gap has failed to narrow during a six-week election campaign widely seen as having gone badly for Sunak.

Survation said its data indicated that Labour would win around 42 percent of the overall vote, ahead of the Conservatives on 23 percent.

However, due to the UK's winner-takes-all electoral system in each of its 650 constituencies, that would see the Conservatives capture just 64 seats, with the Lib Dems predicted to claim 61.

Labour's estimated 484 seats would exceed the 418 won by ex-prime minister Tony Blair in 1997, and even top the Tories' landslide haul of 470 in 1931.

The pollster also predicted that Labour would again become the largest party in Scotland, winning 38 of its 57 seats and supplanting the Scottish National Party (SNP), which it estimated would secure just 10 seats.

The pro-independence SNP won 48 Scottish constituencies at the last election in 2019.

The Conservatives are "virtually certain" to win a lower share of the vote than at any past general election, according to Survation.

Meanwhile, it forecasted that Reform UK, the anti-immigration party founded by Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage, would only win a handful of seats despite taking the third-largest overall share of the vote, again due to the electoral system.

The Survation prediction, based on nearly 35,000 electorate interviews, is likely to intensify warnings by Sunak in the final hours of the campaign that voters should be weary of voting Labour and handing it a so-called "super-majority".

Starmer has accused his Conservative rivals of running "an increasingly desperate, negative campaign".
Hurricane Beryl kills five, weakens as it heads for Jamaica



Kingston, Jamaica, July 2 (AFP) Jul 02, 2024



Hurricane Beryl weakened slightly to a category 4 storm as it churned towards Jamaica Tuesday, after killing at least five people and causing widespread destruction across the southeastern Caribbean.

The rare early-season powerful hurricane was expected to pass near Jamaica on Wednesday as a "near-major" storm, bringing life-threatening winds, storm surge, rain and flash flooding, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned.

A hurricane warning was in place for the island nation, according to the NHC.

In Jamaica, preparations were being made for landfall, with emergency shelters stocking up in Montego Bay and construction sites secured in Kingston, according to the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper.

"I urge all Jamaicans to stock up on food, batteries, candles, and water. Secure your critical documents and remove any trees or items that could endanger your property," Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on X, formerly Twitter.

Hurricane warnings were issued in the Cayman Islands, and public playgrounds were closed as a precaution in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, with the storm expected to pass south of the country Tuesday.

But in other areas of the Caribbean, the damage was already done -- at least three people were killed in Grenada, one in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and one in Venezuela, officials said.

Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said the island of Carriacou has been all but cut off, with houses, telecommunications and fuel facilities there flattened by whipping winds.

"We've had virtually no communication with Carriacou in the last 12 hours except briefly this morning by satellite phone," Mitchell told a news conference.

The 13.5-square mile (35-square kilometer) island is home to around 9,000 people. At least two people there died, Mitchell said, with a third killed on the country's main island of Grenada when a tree fell on a house.

The family of UN climate chief Simon Stiell is among the residents of Carriacou. His office said his parents' property was damaged.

One person on the island of Bequia in St Vincent and the Grenadines was reported dead as a result of the storm, and a man also died when swept away by a flooded river in the state of Sucre on Venezuela's northeastern coast, officials there said.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the region, saying on X that his organization "stands ready to support the national authorities with any health needs."



- 'Alarming precedent' -



Experts say it is extremely rare for such a powerful storm to form this early in the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from early June to late November.

Beryl is the first hurricane since NHC records began to reach the Category 4 level in June, and the earliest to reach Category 5 in July.

A Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale is considered a major hurricane.

Oceans are the main drivers of hurricanes, and there are many factors that go into their formation and intensity -- but heat is a significant one.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Beryl "sets an alarming precedent for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season."

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 also cited warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures and conditions related to the weather phenomenon La Nina in the Pacific for the expected increase in storms.



- Climate crisis 'chief culprit' -



Stiell, the UN climate chief, said climate change was "pushing disasters to record-breaking new levels of destruction."

"Disasters on a scale that used to be the stuff of science fiction are becoming meteorological facts, and the climate crisis is the chief culprit," he said Monday.

Beryl had maximum sustained winds of 155 miles (250 kilometers) per hour as it headed towards Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, the NHC said in its latest update from 1800 GMT.

The storm is moving rapidly across the Caribbean Sea at 22 miles per hour.

Tropical storm warnings have also been issued for the southern coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Hurricane force winds extend some 40 miles from the eye of the storm, the NHC said.

bur-st/jgc/sst
Walter Kimbrough is the former president of Dillard University and Philander Smith College and was recently appointed the interim president of Talladega College in Alabama.
St Kildas renowned Tolarno Hotel, famed for its ground-floor restaurant with murals by Melbourne legend Mirka Mora, has been sold to a mystery local buyer.

The price? About $6 million, at the lower end of expectations. The buyer? Undisclosed, until now.

Tolarno Hotel owners Bernard Corser and James Fagan in front of a historic Mirka Mora mural in the hotels restaurant. Credit: Penny Stephens

After nearly 30 years, owners James Fagan and Bernard Corser put the hotel on the market. It was in 1995 that they bought the trophy building for $1.1 million after seeing an advert in The Age.

The property includes some Melbourne history: a ground-floor restaurant made famous by French immigrants Mora and husband Georges, who entertained the 1960s Melbourne elite with ebullient bohemian performances that helped to shape the citys cultural and culinary life.
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested over a string of alleged offences that began with an alleged knifepoint robbery on a train and ended with him allegedly threatening a woman in her home with a metal pole, as well as two kitchen knives.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Perth Childrens Court on Tuesday where he was released on bail, despite prosecutors arguing there was little to no explanation for the alleged offending.

The accused outside court. Credit: Nine News Perth

The Warwick teenager, who fronted court with a black eye, told the court he was being chased by a 17-year-old who punched him, leading to him allegedly putting a knife to a 16-year-olds neck and demanding he hand over his phone.

Police claim the boy was in the company of another teenager on a southbound train between Whitfords and Warwick at the time of the alleged offence around 2.15pm Monday.
The most repeated phrase being used by the British commentariat ahead of this weeks general election is 1997-style landslide  a nod to the last time the UK Labour Party won government after an extended period in opposition.

While some polls project a complete Tory wipeout, others are somewhat more conservative. All, however, accept that come the end of this week, Sir Keir Starmer will be the next prime minister, and that Labour will win by a substantial margin.

Tony Blair on Downing Street following the 1997 election. Credit: AP

It isnt just a return of Labour after 14 years in opposition thats causing Brits to draw rose-tinted comparisons to 1997, when Tony Blair triumphed after 18 years of Conservative Party rule  its a nostalgic longing for things to be like they were back then.

I remember late 90s Britain so well. The pun Cool Britannia caught on because it became acceptable for progressives  not just jingoistic conservatives  to be patriotic again.
Acura Dealers Ranked First in Industry Study for Providing Quick and Easy Service Appointments

MONTEREY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acura was ranked first out of 34 automobile brands in Pied Pipers 2024 PSI Service Telephone Effectiveness (STE) Study, which measured the efficiency and quality of service telephone calls from a customers objective of quickly and easily setting up a service appointment. Following the Acura dealers in the rankings were dealers who service Mazda, Lexus, Infiniti, and Volkswagen.

Well-run service departments focus on increasing customer loyalty, and the first service experience to drive that loyalty is a customers phone call to schedule an appointment, said Fran OHagan, Pied Piper CEO. Vehicle customers who find scheduling service difficult vote with their feet by moving to another dealership or independent shop, or even getting rid of their problem vehicle, said OHagan.

The 2024 Pied Piper PSI-STE Automobile Study (U.S.A.) was conducted between January 2024 and May 2024 by phoning the service departments at 2,716 dealerships nationwide, representing all major automobile brands. STE scores range from 0 to 100 and are calculated from a mix of individually weighted measurements that support the customers mission of quickly speaking with a service representative who can schedule a service appointment within a reasonable amount of time. Sixty-two percent of the total score is determined by efficiency measurements, while 38 percent of the total score is determined by quality measurements, where dealerships provide a proactively helpful experience that goes above and beyond the customers basic expectations.

One in seven (14%) of the studys customers hung up their phone having failed in their attempt to schedule service. These failures occur for reasons such as getting no answer to the call, getting voicemail, a hangup, endless hold, or getting lost in a phone tree. In contrast, 55 percent of the studys customers quickly accomplished their objective, speaking with a service advisor within one minute, and scheduling an appointment within one week. Forty-two percent of the dealerships in the study went further, not only meeting the customers basic expectations, but also providing a proactively helpful experience, achieving STE scores over 70.

Acura, this years top scoring brand, achieved an average STE score of 65, seven points higher than the industry average. Acura customers also reached a service associate faster on average than customers of most competing brands, with only three percent of customers waiting on hold more than two minutes compared to twelve percent for the overall industry. Sixty-two percent of Acura customers on average spoke with a service advisor within one minute and also scheduled service within one week. Customers calling Acura dealerships failed to schedule an appointment only seven percent of the time on average, compared to fourteen percent of the time for the industry overall.

Many measurements had wide variation between brands. For example, ten percent of dealers industrywide offered alternative transportation, while Porsche dealers offered alternative transportation most frequently at 45 percent of the time on average, compared to Mitsubishi dealers at less than one percent of the time on average. Customers were provided an estimate of how long service would take 25 percent of the time, while Ford dealers offered an estimate 38 percent of the time on average, but Polestar dealers provided such an estimate less than one percent of the time on average.

The following are additional examples of performance variation by brand for measurements from the study:
Up more than 12% versus the first half of last year, Mitsubishi Motors' sales mirror recently announced North American business plan, "Momentum 2030"

Strongest first-half sales since 2021

Outlander continues to lead the way as the volume-leader

Outlander, Eclipse Cross, Mirage and Mirage G4 all up year-over-year

"Momentum 2030" long-range North American business plan outlines strong future with new vehicles, new dealerships, new processes.

FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 2, 2024 -- Just six weeks after announcing its new North American business plan, Momentum 2030, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) closed out the first half of 2024 with strong sales of 51,130, up 12.3% over the first half of 2023. This is the strongest first-half sales result for MMNA since 2021. Calendar year-to-date (CYTD) sales of Outlander, Mirage/Mirage G4 and Eclipse Cross were up 1.3%, 85.5% and 38.2%, respectively, showing strong momentum for the brand entering the second half of the year.

MMNA Q2 sales totaled 22,727 units, down 7.6% year-over-year, however, Mirage hatchback sales more than tripled at an increase of 243.4%. Mirage G4 sales also increased 70.3% for the same period, notching a 146% increase for the Mirage lineup collectively.

For more information on the full lineup of Mitsubishi vehicles, visit MitsubishiCars.com .

For more information on MMNA, visit media.mitsubishicars.com .

News and Notes

MMNA announced details of its forward-looking North American business plan, dubbed "Mitsubishi Motors Momentum 2030", in May. Outlining business and product plans through fiscal-year 2030, the plan was first revealed to the company's dealer partners in a national dealer meeting in Nashville, Tenn. , and was met with considerable enthusiasm and excitement. Plan highlights include: Electrification with a blend of powertrains  hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric One new or completely refreshed vehicle to debut each year between fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2030; new vehicles to be introduced across more segments, nearly doubling the number of product offerings Dealer network expansion to cover more sales markets across the U.S.; new-design dealerships to be introduced, reducing the cost of entry for dealer partners and heralding a new way to shop for and buy new cars Technology and innovation will be the hallmark of MMNA's sales, marketing, and customer satisfaction processes

, and was met with considerable enthusiasm and excitement. Plan highlights include: The June reopening of the Port of Baltimore , following the partial collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge, improved vehicle delivery logistics for MMNA and its dealer partners. MMNA resumed operations at the Port of Baltimore on May 25 .

, following the partial collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge, improved vehicle delivery logistics for MMNA and its dealer partners. MMNA resumed operations at the Port of on . Industry-wide challenges associated with the CDK cyberattack impacted approximately one-third of MMNA's dealer partners across the U.S.

During the quarter, MMNA announced the promotion of Katherine Knight to the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer. This new position further aligns key strategic functions within MMNA under Katherine's leadership. She continues to report to Mark Chaffin , President and Chief Executive Officer.

Individual model sales results:



Q2 2024 Q2 2023 YTD 2024 YTD 2023 MIRAGE 4,859 1,974 9,862 5,316 OUTLANDER SPORT 3,324 3,879 7,893 8,492 OUTLANDER 10,645 14,368 24,491 24,182 OUTLANDER PLUG-IN HYBRID 1,374 1,620 2,896 3,217 ECLIPSE CROSS 2,525 2,761 5,988 4,333 TOTAL ALL 22,727 24,602 51,130 45,540

ABOUT MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing, and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. MMNA's recently announced five-year business plan  "Momentum 2030"  outlines the brand's mid-term intentions for product and business transformation. MMNA will expand and refresh its vehicle lineup in the U.S. with one new or completely refreshed model to debut each year between now and 2030. Powered by a selection of advanced-technology internal combustion engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electrics, the product line will nearly double from today's four vehicles. Momentum 2030 also includes a vision for a modernized retail sales model and plans for network expansion and sales growth.

MMNA has its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, and New Jersey.

For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Contact

Jeremy Barnes

Senior Director, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 714-296-1402

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
he Honda brand posted strong June sales over 100,000 units led by balanced sales of light trucks and passenger cars.

Notes

Honda is #1 in sales of manual transmission models this year, and Civic is America's best-selling MT vehicle.

Nearly 1/2 of Top 20 in the 2024 Cars.com American-Made Index are Honda & Acura models; Honda Passport, Ridgeline & Odyssey are in Top 10.
Sharing session on media coverage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation held in Astana

People's Daily Online) 16:48, July 01, 2024

People's Daily and Kazakh media outlets held a sharing session to present the results of their collaborative coverage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan on June 29 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The sharing session was attended by Sarybaev Galiaskar Tulendinovich and Alisher Satvaldiyev, deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Xu Lijing, deputy editor-in-chief of People's Daily, Dikhan Kamzabekuly, Director General of LLP Qazaq Gazetteri, Askar Zhaldinov, Managing Director of "Kazinform" International News Agency, and Liu Hua, counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan.

People's Daily and Kazakh media outlets hold a sharing session to present the results of their collaborative coverage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan on June 29 in Astana, Kazakhstan. (People's Daily Online/Ge Taiyi)

The participants said that the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has yielded fruitful results. They expressed the hope that media outlets in both countries would act as a bridge between the two countries, explore innovative ways of cooperation, effectively tell the story of the Silk Road, and foster mutual growth and prosperity.

A journalist speaks during a sharing session to present the results of their collaborative coverage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan on June 29 in Astana, Kazakhstan. (People's Daily Online/Ren Haoyu)

The sharing session was attended by about 40 representatives from China and Kazakhstan. During the session, People's Daily unveiled its Digital Bulletin Board in the Kazakh language, premiered the documentary "Win-win: The Cultural Silk Road in Kazakhstan," and launched a ceremony to solicit submissions for the second Silk Road Global News Awards.

People's Daily and Kazakh media outlets hold a sharing session to present the results of their collaborative coverage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan on June 29 in Astana, Kazakhstan. (People's Daily Online/Ge Taiyi)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
This calendar shares information about performing arts events presented or screened in the coming week in Charlottesville and Albemarle, Augusta, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson and Orange counties. Items must be received by noon Friday for the next weeks issue. Items must include the time, day and date of the event, any ticket prices or fees and a telephone number the public may call with questions. All events must be open to the public. Political events and religious services are not included. Send your information to jsathe@dailyprogress.com.
Sustainability consultancy launched by Avallen Spirits founders

Avallen Spirits founders Tim Etherington-Judge and Stephanie Jordan-Balmforth (pictured) have launched Avallen Solutions, a sustainability consultancy aimed at the drinks and hospitality industries.

As Avallen Spirits, Jordan-Balmforth and Etherington-Judge are behind sustainable spirits brand Avallen Calvados. Reflecting on the achievements in sustainability of Avallen Calvados, Etherington-Judge said: We know that theres no point being the last tree standing in the forest; we have to ensure the forest thrives. Thats our new dream, and we cant do it alone.

Jordan-Balmforth added: Genuine and authentic sustainability is the most important and interesting area of innovation for every drinks brand, bar, and restaurant around the world. Thats why weve created Avallen Solutions  to share everything weve learned about making drinks that dont give the planet a hangover and accelerate the critically needed change.

Avallen Solutions will provide tailored packages for small, mid-sized, and large drinks and hospitality businesses. The consultancy aims to provide its clients with tools and long-term strategies for implementing sustainable practices, such as through training, reducing carbon emissions, and tackling waste production.

Etherington-Judge concluded: Weve collaborated with some of the brilliant people weve met along our journey to put together a crack team dedicated to making the drinks and hospitality industries more sustainable. With experts in research, hospitality, environmental measurement, and marketing, were here to help revolutionise your business.

2 July 2024 - Lucy Schofield

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Aceo plans Dallas Dhu Distillery's return

Aceo, the spirits company behind Murray McDavid whisky, has announced plans to revive Dallas Dhu Distillery. Built in 1898, the Speyside distillery closed production in 1983. The plans will see Dallas Dhu back in production and a visitor centre opened onsite.

Edward Odim, Aceo managing director, said: Our vision is to make Dallas Dhu one of the leading, must-see whisky distilleries in Scotland, giving visitors a unique, close-up experience of whisky making.

Aceo intends to preserve the distillerys heritage through the revival: The aim is to breathe life back into the distillery by first getting the original equipment working and traditional whisky distilling going once again, says Odim. It will look to strike a balance, however, with modern technologies needed for more sustainable practices.

The plans will include measures to minimise environmental image and protect the sites wildlife and biodiversity. Aceo also plans to embed the distillery into the fabric of the local community through events and educational activity.

Odim continued: Longer term, the plan is for a state-of-the-art visitor centre with exhibition and museum space, and a cafe/restaurant, to be enjoyed by visitors and the local community. There will be a cooperage display, a working malt floor, and an interactive virtual reality whisky experience, exploring Scotlands famous spirit.

But, as well as showing how whisky is made, we intend to shed light on the sometimes hard social and economic history of whisky production in Speyside, Scotlands largest whisky producing region.

The revival of Dallas Dhu follows the recent return of other once-quiet distilleries, including Rosebank, brought back by Ian Macleod Distillers, and Islays Port Ellen, which returned via Diageo.

Odim concluded: We are very excited by the Dallas Dhu Distillery revival project, which has so much potential. So, its time for us to roll up our sleeves and get going on reviving this jewel in the crown of Scotlands whisky distilleries.

2 July 2024 - Lucy Schofield
A Welcome Continuity





THE results of the recent Parliamentary election do have the effect of strengthening Indias democratic state. They made it possible for a stable coalition Government to return to power -- in the absence of any single party securing a majority. India badly needed to have that in the current geopolitical environment. With stability is linked to the factor of continuity that would enable people to further evaluate Prime Minister Narendra Modis Governments performance over its past two terms while providing also an opportunity to Prime Minister Modi of making course corrections if any. Above all, the polls validate the robust character of this countrys electoral democracy built on one man one vote and bring out how an active opposition -- its strength varying from state to state -- helps the citizens in exercising their choices based on the relative appeal of the ruling dispensation compared to those politically opposed to it. In a vast country of diverse socio-political equations like India, it is not surprising that the degree of opposition unity reached in states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra this time did impact the prospect of the ruling party -- which had otherwise gone on to acquire new grounds in States like Orissa, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. State-based parties with caste, communal and regional appeals have been a traditional feature of the Indian political scene which makes it important that the country should have all-India parties working in healthy competition at the national level.

Over the decades after Independence, the Congress once ruled the nation suffered a decline but fortunately, the BJP rapidly rose to become a challenger to the Congress on the strength of its political merit and nationalist appeal. The recent Parliamentary election saw a natural interplay of the two largest national parties and their state-level allies -- its outcome is to be welcomed in terms of the advance of democracy that it represents in India. The BJP is doing well to go into a systematic examination of what caused its tally to fall short of its expectations in certain States. It is only appropriate politically that the Prime Minister should choose to draw strength from the victory of the National Democratic Alliance and express his determination to carry forward the national agenda of governance envisaged by the BJP. It is natural for him to continue with the same Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) as was in existence before and accommodate the allies in the Ministry honourably but without giving in to any pressure from them. India needs to be governed with strong hands with a sense of accountability and effective execution of policies flowing top-down and the Prime Minister promises to do that -- his credibility concerning governance is intact in the eyes of the people and this is his main asset.

His contribution to pushing India up in the comity of nations as the acknowledged voice of reason on issues of global conflicts and also on matters of advancement of humanity is well established and so is his policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and forces threatening national unity and internal security. These are among the major paradigms of successful governance in India and the Prime Minister would be right in pursuing this path undeterred by any other political factors. For him, the legacy of successfully safeguarding national interests during his rule is all that should matter to him at this stage. He is an astute political combatant, is cognisant of the weaknesses in the Opposition camp and is likely to keep NDA rule going as long as this was possible. The first hurdle faced by PM Modis Government in the election of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has been crossed over successfully as amid a noisy backdrop of contest, Om Birla, the candidate of BJP was elected by a voice vote -- the strength of NDA demonstratively holding out against the opposition. Some opposition elements have even endorsed the idea that this mandate should be considered optional. Moreover, Western lobbies hostile to India do not take kindly to a strong nationalistic country asserting its independent stand on issues of war and peace and trying to be self-dependent in the spheres of development and defence.

Prime Minister Modis visit to the G7 summit in Rome, on the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the middle of Cabinet formation, showed the importance he attached to Indias image abroad and could not therefore be faulted. His first policy announcements at home indicated that his political will in running the country was intact. It would do India no good if Prime Minister Modi was looked upon as a leader presiding over a weak Government. In the months ahead political campaigns in the country are likely to get intensified as the Opposition continues to find fault with Prime Minister Modis Government on one count or the other. The appointment of Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition will further add to this trend. The external threats to internal security can also mount largely because of the covert operations of Pakistan and China working in concert against India. Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and the North East apart, it is the communal front that would require a close vigil. The challenge of safeguarding internal security will likely outweigh the task of bringing about economic development in the times ahead and Prime Minister Modis Government will be tested more for its ability to maintain peace at home rather than for advancing the cause of India abroad.
Angry Congressmen stage massive protest





Staff Reporter

In order to vent ire against the NEET and Nursing College scams, hundreds of Congress leaders and workers took to streets and staged massive protest, on Monday. During the demonstration the Congressmen had light scuffle with the police. The police had to use water cannon to restrain the Congress leaders. During the demonstration, the police arrested around 50 Congress workers. To express ire and concerned against the scams, the Congress leaders and workers started march from Town Hall to the Collectorate, but the police stopped them at Ghantaghar Chowk. Witnessing the aggressive protest by Congress, the police used water cannons, after which the Congress workers climbed barricades and began their demonstration. After an hour-long protest, the police arrested the Congress activists.

The Congressmen criticised the BJP Government for the NEET scam. Senior party leaders stated that whenever injustice has been done to students, the BJP Government has sought the support of the police and suppressed the oppositions voice. However, the Congress party will never let its voice be silenced and will always stand for the welfare of students. The Congress leaders alleged that the BJP Government is responsible for the NEET scam, where continuous irregularities are being committed in recruitment exams. Crores of rupees are being accumulated by corrupt individuals leaking question papers, all under the Governments patronage.

City President, Saurabh Sharma expressed surprise that not only financial scandals but also educational scandals are now occurring under the BJP government. The VYAPAM scam had already taken place in Madhya Pradesh, resulting in numerous student suicides. Now, a scam has unfolded in the NEET examination. He said on one hand, unemployment is at its peak, with educated youth struggling for jobs on the other admission exams themselves are marred by corruption. After prolonged protest, Congress leaders submitted a memorandum, designated to the Collector to senior officials.
Didis West Bengal unsafe for women, says JP Nadda





NEW DELHI,

BJP National President J P Nadda on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Government in West Bengal over a chilling video of a man beating up a woman on a street as a crowd watches. The BJP chief said that women were unsafe in the State. In a post on X, Nadda said, A horrific video has come to light from West Bengal, reminding of the brutalities that exist only in theocracies. To make matters worse, the TMC cadre and MLAs are justifying the act. Be it Sandeshkhali, Uttar Dinajpur or many other places, Didis West Bengal is UNSAFE for women. In the video, a man is seen repeatedly hitting a woman and a man at a Kangaroo Court as a crowd watches in silence. The incident occurred in Chopra block in North Dinajpur district.

As per reports, the man is a local TMC worker, identified as Tejemul aka JCB and is known to deliver instant justice for local disputes. Locals claimed that the woman was summoned by JCB over allegations that she was in an extra-marital relationship. The accused was arrested. Trinamool starts distancing itself from accused: TMC has started distancing itself from Tejemul a.k.a. JCB, the main accused of publicly beating up a woman at a Kangaroo Court in Chopra in West Bengals North Dinajpur district after BJP launched a scathing attack against the ruling party. BJP demands CMs resignation: THE BJP called for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees resignation on Monday over a severe deterioration in the states law and order after a video of a man flogging a couple in public in West Bengal surfaced on social media.

The accused, Tejemul alias JCB, was arrested. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia highlighted the flogging incident and questioned the chief ministers commitment to justice and governance. During a press conference, he condemned the act as a grave violation of dignity and fundamental rights and criticised Banerjees silence. NHRC notice to WB Govt, DGP: THE NHRC said on Monday that it has issued notices to the West Bengal Government and the States police chief over reports that a couple was allegedly mercilessly beaten up in a village in Uttar Dinajpur district in full public view by a group of people.
First case registered under new criminal laws





By Bhavana Aparajita

Shukla

First case under the new regime of law has been registered in State capital on Monday. Notably, the Indian criminal justice system, which came into effect on July 1, 2024, has replaced the Indian Penal Code. In addition to this, Police formed Crime Intelligent Unit targeting crime syndicates. Talking to The Hitavada Crime Branch Bhopal official said that in light of new crime laws, Bhopal unit has constituted Crime Intelligent Unit. The unit will target organised crime. In initial 30 days, the unit will prepare data of criminals involved in such activities, their property etc. Their properties will be attached. Through this unit, the police will identify network of gangs active in the State capital and near-by places since last 10 years. As far as FIR under the new regime is concerned, a case reportedly has been registered in Bhopal under Nishatpura Police Station. As per the information, the incident, involving assault and abuse was reported at 12:05 am at the Nishatpura Police Station. An FIR was registered under the new law at 12:20 am in relation to this incident.

According to information, at 12:00 am in the Nishatpura Police Station area, the accused allegedly committed assault, obscenity, and mischief against complainant Bhairav Sahu, leading to the police registering a case under the new law. The station in-charge provided full details, stating that the police in Madhya Pradesh are prepared for the new law. As the new criminal laws came in to effect from Monday (July 1), across the country replacing the colonial-era legislation. The three new criminal laws the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively. These changes are said to mark a move towards a more modern and efficient justice system in the country.

Under the Indian Penal Code IPC, before July 1, 2024, Section 323 dealt with assault, Section 294 with obscenity, and Section 327 with mischief. Now, under the Indian Justice System BNS, assault is covered under Section 115, obscenity under Section 296, and mischief under Section 119. It is pertinent to mention that the three new criminal laws were passed by the Parliament on December 21, 2023, which received Presidential assent on December 25, 2023, and were published in the official gazette on the same day. The Ministry of Home Affairs notified in February that the three laws shall come into force on July 1, 2024. As the new criminal laws are implemented from July 1, all police stations will hold special events to inform women, youth, students, senior citizens, and eminent personalities about the key features of these laws.
Indian Army ready to face all challenges: Gen Dwivedi





NEW DELHI,

THE Indian Army is ready and capable to face all current and future security challenges facing India, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Monday amid the lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh. A day after he assumed charge of the 1.3 million-strong force, Gen Dwivedi said working towards ensuring synergy among the Army, Air Force and the Navy would be one of his priorities. In remarks to the media after inspecting a guard of honour at the South Block in Raisina hills, he said the Army is facing unique operational challenges and to remain prepared for such threats, it is crucial to continue equipping the soldiers with latest weapons. I am fully conscious of the responsibility assigned to me and I assure the country and fellow citizens that the Indian Army is fully capable and ready to face all current and future challenges, he said.

The newly-appointed Army Chief also said that he will encourage induction of indigenously-built military hardware into the force to boost self-reliance in defence. The geo-political landscape is changing rapidly and technology is evolving at a very fast pace, he said. The Indian Army faces unique operational challenges and to remain prepared for such threats and distinctive requirements, it is crucial that we continuously equip our soldiers with state-of-the-art weapons and technology and continue to evolve our war-fighting strategies, he added. General Dwivedi said the Indian Army is on the path to transformation and it aspires to be Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in defence. To achieve this, we will encourage indigenous initiatives and induct maximum war systems and equipment that are manufactured in our country, he said.

General Dwivedi said he would focus on ensuring that the Army is ready operate in the full spectrum of conflict. It will be my endeavour to ensure that the Indian Army is always ready to operate in the full spectrum of conflict, maintaining complete synergy with the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and other stakeholders, he said. This will ensure that Indias interests are secured and we become a major pillar of nation building to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047, Gen Dwivedi said. The Army Chief said it is a matter of immense pride for him to lead the force. This is a moment of immense pride and honour for me to be assigned the responsibility to lead the Indian Army, he said.
Parents take to streets again to protests against education mafia





Staff Reporter

Taking their stand against the education mafia, the parents and guardians assembled at Malviya Chowk under the banner of Parents Association and later reached Collectorate to put pressure against the dictatorship of private school mafia, on Monday. The parents peacefully handed over a memorandum addressing to the Collector to initiate action against the autocratic attitude of the private schools. The private schools make constant attempt to pressurize the district administration by adopting various strategies to continue their dirty business. Associations Sachin Gupta demanded to cancel the schools recognition if they deny to co-operate with the District Administration. The fees fixed by the government should be enforced immediately. The syllabus should remain unchanged for three years.

Students are forced to purchase three separate uniforms by private schools, which should end with immediate effect. Education can also be achieved with just one uniform and parents should be given complete freedom to purchase uniforms from any shop in the city. The fare of school buses should also be checked and its fare should be fixed as per distance. The school bus fees currently being charged are Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per student. This should be stopped immediately and the school should be ordered to return the illegal recovery made so far. The parents further warned to initiate fierce agitation if the private schools refuse to roll back their decision for indefinite closure of schools.
Ushering in a new era: First FIR under new law registered in Kabirdham





Our Correspondent

KAWARDHA,

IN a landmark move marking the dawn of a new era in Indias judicial system, the first FIR under the newly-implemented Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) was registered by Rengakhar Police in Naxal-affected district Kabirdham, following a report of assault. Shortly after implementation of the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) on July 1, the police swiftly acted on a report of assault in Kabirdham. In a bid to provide immediate relief to the victim, the FIR was registered under sections 296 and 351(2) of the BNS. Notably, Rengakhar Police of the district is the first in the State to file an FIR under the new BNS, symbolising the beginning of the implementation of new laws designed to ensure swift justice for ordinary citizens. Itwari Pancheshwar, a resident of Mohantola, reported to the Rengakhar police that Golu Thackeray of Rengakhar assaulted and abused him over a dispute about tractor documents. An FIR was registered against the accused at 12:30 am after a written complaint was submitted by the victim. The new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), along with the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), has replaced the 160-year-old laws enacted by the British: the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act.

The main objective behind the implementation of the new laws is to modernise and make the judicial system more progressive, ensuring fast and transparent judicial processes for every citizen. Superintendent of Police Dr Abhishek Pallav, commenting on the first FIR under the new law, said, The goal of the new laws is to provide swift and fair justice to every citizen. Under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), we have ensured that judicial processes are more effective and transparent. The prompt action taken by the police today in registering the FIR is a clear indication of the effectiveness of our new laws. It shows our commitment to providing justice to our citizens.

This quick action not only ensures timely justice for the victim but also sends a message to society that the law and justice system are always ready to protect their rights and security. Our team's readiness and dedication signify our commitment to taking every possible step towards justice. Registering the first FIR under the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) in a Naxal-affected district is a significant and historic moment.

It demonstrates the effort to improve judicial processes and promote justice and transparency in society. The implementation of these laws marks the beginning of a new era in the country's judicial system, ensuring fair action against offenders and proving the government's commitment to strengthening and securing judicial processes. This new law is a crucial step towards a just, equitable, and safe society for Indian citizens. This historic FIR is a milestone in the reform of our judicial system, proving that under the new laws, every citizen will receive swift and fair justice, leading to a more just and egalitarian society.

NEW LAW BRINGS MAJOR OVERHAUL TO INDIA'S JUSTICE SYSTEM: BILASPUR: THE DAY of July 1, 2024 marks a landmark day for India as it ushers in a significant reform in its legal system with the introduction of new laws aimed at ensuring timely justice and stricter punishments for crimes. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) will now be known as the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will be called Bharatiya Nyay Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 will be renamed Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam-2023. Professor Satish Tiwari, Principal of Kaushalendra Rao Law College, highlighting the changes said, The IPC had 511 sections, whereas the BNS will have 358. Twenty new crimes have been added, 19 sections removed and 33 offences now have enhanced imprisonment terms. Besides, fines have also been increased in 83 offences and compulsory minimum punishments have been introduced for 23 crimes.

The BNSS, with 531 sections, will replace the CrPC. A total of 177 provisions have been replaced, with nine new currents and 39 new sub-sections added. The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will now have 170 provisions, with two new ones and six sub-provisions added, and six removed, he explained. Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh is actively educating the public about the new laws through programmes and workshops in educational institutions. This reform aims to address the deficiencies of colonial-era laws. Notably, the new laws include 111 sections designed to combat organized crime, provisions to curb cyber fraud, and measures to protect rape victims by ensuring their cases are heard by female magistrates. The laws also recognize the third gender under gender equality statutes and facilitate online and zero FIRs.The reforms are expected to enhance efficiency of the justice system and ensure that justice is both timely and firm.
Years ago, I found a tombstone that captured my heart and soul: She believed she could, so she did. And she did what she could. Throughout his years in public service, Joe Biden believed he could so he did, and he did what he could.

President Biden has served our country well over his long and distinguished career. He led us out of the depths of the pandemic and near economic catastrophe. He gave us hope amid the darkness of millions of deaths and deep ideological division. He restored the promise of what our Founders fought so hard for and what rioters threatened in my hometown of Charlottesville: freedom, justice, equality and truth. He has done what he could and even more.

Now, if Joe Biden truly hopes to serve and do what is right and best for his country, he needs to step aside and offer his full support for a new Democratic presidential and vice presidential ticket. Biden and his own political team have maintained that the stakes are too high and our countrys future and our Democracy are at risk if Republicans win in November.

Donald Trump and his cult of followers will only exacerbate the fallout from last Thursdays debate by blasting images of Bidens poor performance across the media. They will continue to tell lies and tout false promises for the future. It will damage, even destroy, what Biden has accomplished these last four years. As Democrats, we have a long and deep bench of promising leaders  as governors and in Congress  who, if running against Trump, would shake the Republican Party and its morally and ethically deprived sycophants to the very core.

For the future of democracy and the United States of America, President Biden should leave the presidency with the dignity, honor and respect he has so rightly earned. The time to act is now. The time for new leadership is the present.
July 2 is the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a landmark bill that seemed to realize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream that his four kids would one day live in a nation where they will not be judged  but by the content of their character.

It was the culmination of his work at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement, but it remains incomplete because veterans, like his best friend Ralph Abernathy, still do not receive the rights they fought for.

That is why we need a new organization like the one Martin and Ralph started in Montgomery but one that does not ignore military communities. Our nation has not fully reckoned with the humiliation visited upon a generation of military families and the great cost of that indignity.

Ralph was a platoon sergeant in WWII, but neither he nor Martin could have known that soldiers and veterans would one day be targets of bias, harassment and discrimination. The New York Times was the first to report on anti-military attacks in 1967.

For example, spitting on someone was not criminalized until 2007, making it easier to dismiss such claims as little more than meritless complaints. That has remained the rule rather than the exception for 50-plus years.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Housing and Urban Development both exclude veterans from their jurisdiction. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights not only excludes veterans, it silences them as well.

Although section 4712 of the Hate Crimes Protection Act created protections for military families, the Commission on Civil Rights did not mention veterans or their family members in its 10-year anniversary report, In the Name of Hate."

When I tried to bring this to their attention during a 2019 public conference call, commission staff terminated the call early, communicating how little dignity and respect with which federal agencies treat veterans.

As I told the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs Advisory Committee at its most recent quarterly townhall, human dignity is the missing ingredient for military suicide prevention.

Military suicide has not decreased meaningfully because its root cause has gone unchallenged; no amount of pills or sessions of therapy can succeed without addressing implicit bias and the danger it poses to military families.

Military civil rights will not end the suicide epidemic, but they must supplement interventions already in place. At the least, they can make good on the promise of the American Dream for those caught in the nightmare of civilian bias, in which stereotypes about soldiers paint military personnel as little more than the villain of toxic pacifists, the victor of religious nationalists, or a victim for civilian saviors.

Before Martin and Ralph worked under the auspices of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, they created the Montgomery Improvement Association. MIA also stands for Missing in Action, as in, our civil rights are MIA.

Montgomery is a military town, home to Maxwell Air Force, and military families were instrumental to the movement Martin inherited. I am calling for a new MIA, the Military Improvement Association, a community organization that will promote human dignity for military families.

Anyone interested in picking up where Martin and Ralph left off is invited to meet at 4 p.m. Thursday (Fourth of July) at Albany First Christian Church, 432 Ferry St. SW. The hourlong meeting will be in the Community Room on the alley side of the church just off Ferry Street.

Editor's note: This column was edited to correct the year the New York Times began coverage of anti-military attacks.
Standing next to the banks of the South Platte River at Abell River Ranch in Lake George, Colorado, former Denver Broncos right tackle Bobby M
Embracing Sharra -Kashar-ot

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Tangkhul's timeless strategy for climate resilience and sustainability

Mitigating Climate Change through Tangkhul Traditional Environmental Adaptation: A Simple Yet Systematic Nature-Friendly Approach for a Sustainable Planet

Addie Chiphang

THE Tangkhul Naga, renowned for their rich culture and traditional heritage, reside in the easternmost border of India, in Manipur's Ukhrul district, which borders Myanmar. Despite the absence of an official written history, their traditions and practices have been passed down through generations via storytelling and life cycle methods. These practices are deeply intertwined with their natural environment of mountains, rivers, thick forests, and abundant wildlife.

In the face of climate change, the Tangkhul community is turning to their traditional environmental practices, 'Sharra'-Kashar-ot', to protect and adapt their region sustainably. This approach, deeply rooted in Tangkhul culture, offers a simple yet systematic method of mitigating climate impacts. By blending ancestral wisdom with modern environmental strategies, the Tangkhul people are fostering a sustainable future. Their commitment to these practices not only preserves their rich heritage but also provides a model for effective climate resilience. Through 'Sharra'-Kashar-ot', the Tangkhul community demonstrates that the path to a sustainable planet lies in harmonizing tradition with innovation.

A Rich Heritage and Its Environmental Wisdom

The Tangkhul Naga's history is preserved in songs called 'Hao Laa.' Their traditional calendar and close relationship with the environment highlight the importance of respecting natural cycles and seasons. This wisdom has become particularly relevant in the face of modern environmental challenges, emphasizing sustainable living in harmony with nature.

Alarming Trends in Global Biodiversity

According to the Census of Marine Life Scientists, the world hosts 8.7 million species, with 0.01 to 0.1% going extinct annuallyequating to 870 to 8,700 species lost each year. Harvard biologist EO Wilson estimates that 30,000 species go extinct annually, driven largely by human activities. The International Union for Conser- vation of Nature reports that 12% of mammals, 12% of birds, 31% of reptiles, 30% of amphibians, and 37% of fish face extinction, endangering global biodiversity.

Climate Change and Practices

Ukhrul has witnessed dramatic climatic change over the past decade, including unpredictable monsoons and an alarming frequency of flash floods. Destructive floods and landslides have become common, and many rivers and rivulets have dried up, leaving previously wet terrace fields fallow and uncultivable. Streams that once swept men away are now shallow, symbolizing a drastic shift in the region's natural landscape.

Traditional Wisdom and Modern Realities

Tangkhuls believe that humans are part of creation, not above it. They have specific narratives, myths, and beliefs guiding how people should behave toward the environment. They perceive humans as the only living creatures with 'shiyan-chikan' where "sharra" plays a pivotal role in protecting ecological and environmental (traditional norms, ethics, or customary), which should extend to all living beings. This perspective emphasizes the interconnected-ness of all life and the need for responsible stewardship of the environment.

Observing the Present Climate Conditions

Through extensive travels and interactions with the people of Ukhrul, it has become evident that the present generation fails to acknowledge the significant changes in climate. This is primarily due to a gap in the knowledge and practices of the present generation with their forefathers. The traditional practices that once ensured sustainable living are now being overlooked, leading to adverse environmental impacts.

Decline of Flora and Fauna

The Tangkhuls once enjoyed abundant house sparrows (Konghii) and swallows around their homes, valuing their presence for the joy and comfort they brought. However, these birds are now rapidly disappearing, a concerning trend noticed by locals, underscoring broader losses in species diversity that remain unexplained.

Once abundant in the Tangkhul region, the Kuirang (Black Panther) has disappeared since the 1990s. Many animals and birds common in Tangkhul tales, like the lion, leopard, elephant, fox, and hornbill, are also gone. The reverberating sound of the hoolock gibbon, locally called uri-ura and the sweet melodious sound of Koktui (Cuckoo) and Sampheirok have been silenced. The changing physical and cultural landscapes are causing rapid flora and fauna loss, significantly reducing fertile land in recent years.

Sharra: The Ethical Prohibition

In Tangkhul culture, sharra encompasses various prohibitions on human actions towards nature, loosely translating to taboo or forbidden, but with no exact English equivalent. The traditional Tangkhuls adhere to sharra, recognizing nature's crucial role in their culture and the consequences of disobeying taboos. For them, virtues like ethics and etiquette extend beyond humans to the environment. Their livelihood relies on nature's bounty, making it unethical to cut trees during their peak growing season and random cutting down of trees or to trap birds while they are laying eggs or hatching chicks, as it endangers young lives.

The Moral Imperative in Environmental Stewardship

Garrett Hardin stated in 1968, "the problem of environmental degradation has no technical solution; it requires a fundamental extension in morality." Hardin meant that technological innovation alone cannot solve the environmental issues we face today. To improve the relationship between humans and nature, environmental laws and regulations must be complemented by environmental ethics and sensibility.

Traditionally Tangkhuls believed in the law of natural ethics, connecting the moral qualities of people to ecological stability. They understood that harmony in nature depends on extending human morality to all living beings. Unfortunately, the pursuit of individual satisfaction and material comfort has eroded this moral fabric.

Balancing Individual and Community Interests

Our duty to preserve the earth's resources for future generations is overshadowed by immediate gratifi- cation. A system focused on self-interest is destined to collapse. Tangkhuls have always prioritized community interests over individual actions, embedding individual freedom within community norms. The decline of traditional moral systems is a root cause of environmental degradation. Preserving envi- ronmental health requires changing user behavior, and institutionalizing long-practiced envi- ronmental ethics could guide us closer to harmony with nature.

Living in Harmony with Nature

The Tangkhuls' environmental ethics stem from centuries of observation, experience, and reflection on their land. Their folktales often humanize animals, reflecting the harmony of coexisting with nature. This relationship is governed by natural law, not consent, believing animals understand human behavior and language. Knowledge of how to propitiate nature is vital for living in harmony with it.

The Tangkhul Naga's traditional environmental ethics provide a profound and sustainable approach to addressing modern climate challenges. By respecting the interconnectedness of all life and extending human morality to nature, we can foster a more balanced and enduring relationship with our environment. Reviving and institutionalizing these time-honored practices could guide us towards a sustainable future, honoring the wisdom of our forefathers and ensuring the well-being of future generations.

Tangkhul Naga's rich cultural heritage and environmental ethics offer valuable lessons in achieving sustainability. By understanding and implementing the traditional wisdom of sharra and other ethical prohibitions, we can address the pressing issue of climate change and its impacts on biodiversity. This holistic approach, which intertwines human behavior with the natural world, serves as a beacon for global efforts to foster environmental stewardship and sustainability. Embracing these practices not only honors the legacy of our ancestors but also ensures a viable future for generations to come.

(This Article is written under the joint initiative of Media Resource Centre,Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, GOM and Ukhrul District Working Journalist Association)
Calling out the indifference of Delhi Chicken Neck Syndrome

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The Chicken Neck Syndrome. This should about sum up the indifference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the tragedy that is Manipur today, a tragedy that unfolded from the evening of May 3, 2023. The failure to look beyond the east of Brahmaputra and the concept of othering which has been perfected to an art form and this is the primary point that one can read into the fiery lecture delivered by Professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam during his maiden speech on the floor of the Lok Sabha. Stretch this a little bit and the jibe of TMC MP from West Bengal Mahua Moitra...There are six themes in the Presidents address. The budget for the North East has increased four times yet the word Manipur is nowhere in the speech. The Prime Minister mentioned Muslim, Madrassa, Mutton, Machhli and Mujra but not Manipur once during the campaigning. We dont need you to Look East or Act East. We need you to Work East and, most importantly Embrace East. Read the stand of the TMC MP with what Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had to say and the concept of othering goes to its logical conclusion. The very line, For Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Manipur is not a part of the India. It is not a State. PM Modi acts like there is no civil war, from Rahul Gandhi should perhaps explain why the BJP candidate lost so abysmally to the Congress in the Inner Parliamentary Constituency as well as the NPF candidate, who was supported by the BJP in the Outer Parlia- mentary Constituency. It should say something significant that first time MP Bimol Akoijam felt the need to define what Nationalism should encompass and this was perfectly underlined in his recall that at least two Army officers have laid down their lives while battling the adversaries in the service of the country-Major Laishram Jotin and Major Ngangom Joydutta who fell while being a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force at Sri Lanka in 1987. If this is not Nationalism then what is the understanding of Nationalism to the saffron party is the unsaid but discernible line of thought echoed by the Professor. The sacrifice of the two Army officers is besides the laurels brought by sportspersons such as Mary Kom, Laishram Sarita, Kunjarani, Mirabai Chanu, recalled the first time MP and he rounded this off by mentioning icons such as Ratan Thiyam and Syam Sharma.

What Manipur, North East India, India and the world should note is that the speech was not delivered on behalf of anyone or in favour of any of the two groups of people at war and talked about the suffering of the people. In short it was about the tragedy that has befallen Manipur, a State in North East India and how New Delhi has always refused to look beyond the Brahmaputra. A point which should jolt the senses of New Delhi for this is perhaps the first time that such a hard hitting statement has been delivered on the floor of the Lok Sabha. This is what Manipur needs, to speak out against the indifference of New Delhi and to bring it to the notice of everyone and not let it be swept under some high sounding words. Take a look at the cold statistics. Over 13 months of mayhem, over 60,000 people still surviving in relief camps, over 200 killed and yet the Prime Minister refuses to acknowledge that here is a tale of human tragedy being scripted and played out right under his nose. This is something that needed to be brought to the sanctum sanctorum of Parliament and the voters of Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency did the right thing in breaking the set precedence of always electing someone from the ruling party and this time backed someone from the Opposition. Not surprisingly the speech of Bimol Akoijam has gone viral on the social media and one hopes it is taken to its next logical step. What that step would be will depend on the conscience of New Delhi and how the Congress takes up from what has been said.
Saudi Arabian telco STC Group announced on Monday that it has deployed an AI-powered self-organizing network (SON) solution from Nokia in its network to automate network optimization.

STC said it implemented Nokias MantaRay SON solution during last months Hajj season, when over a million pilgrims visited Mecca, which created a 40% surge in network traffic. It marks the first time Nokia has successfully deployed the MantaRay solution on a live network.

The MantaRay SON uses self-configuring AI-powered modules to boost network performance and efficiency. The modules can be built and deployed for specific software applications to address specific operational challenges. In this case, stc worked with Nokia to design a bespoke algorithm for Hajj, providing autonomous network optimization every 15 minutes.

According to a statement from STC, the MantaRay system processed over 10,000 actions during the live network implementation, with an increased utilization rate of around 30% on loaded cells and 10% average improvement on user throughput.

STC Group CTO Haithem Al Faraj said the successful implementation reduced manual work, improved network quality, and paved the way for the future of AI automation in telecoms infrastructure.

This technology not only minimizes human error and improves quality but also allows networks to operate autonomously and efficiently, while humans remain essential in guiding and maximizing the outcomes from machine learning," he said.

The MantaRay deployment is the latest AI-powered addition to STCs network. The operator said it has implemented a number of AI solutions to drive digital transformation and sustainable growth.

As an example, STC said, using AI for better energy efficiency has resulted in a 13% reduction in energy consumption across stcs 4G and 5G networks in 2023. STC also said that AI-powered products will cut across over 200 systems by next year, which it says will save around SAR 2 million (just over US$533,000) annually.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated the doctors, nursing staff and health workers of Bengal and the country on the occasion of National Doctors Day. She also mentioned how free treatment in state-run health care establishments and the Swasthya Sathi scheme has helped the people of the state. On the birth and death anniversary of legendary physician and former chief minister of Bengal Dr BC Roy, which is observed as Doctors Day, she wrote on her X-handle: My tribute to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, former chief minister of West Bengal and a legendary physician, on his birth and death anniversary.

She further wrote: My regards and best wishes to all the doctors, nurses and health workers of Bengal and the country on this very special occasion of National Doctors Day for their selfless and dedicated services. It is with continued support of my colleagues in the health sector that our government has been able to revolutionize the sector in Bengal in the last 13 years. Free treatment in government hospitals, cashless and virtually free treatment in private hospitals also under our Swasthya Sathi, many new medical colleges, and health centres and medical services, all these are our tributes to the cause of health. Health for all. Happy National Doctors Day. After coming to power in 2011, Miss Banerjee, who is also the state health minister took several steps to improve the health sector which had been badly hit by 34 years of Left Front regime.

The government hospitals, even in Kolkata, were in shambles. The state government made medical treatment free in the state-run hospitals. The infrastructure of all the staterun hospitals across the state got improved. Forty two super specialty hospitals have come up in the state and the number of state run medical colleges has gone up to 33. The institutional delivery now covers almost 100 per cent. The Swasthya Sathi card has helped people enormously in the state. The card is issued in the name of the senior most woman member of the family. In the private health care establishments, the Swasthya Sathi card holders are getting relief. Difficult surgeries are regularly held in state-run hospitals.

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Trinamul Congress is gearing up to make the Martyrs Day rally on 21 July a grand success.

The day has been observed by the Trinamul Congress since its inception in 1998. Mamata Banerjee, who as Youth Congress president had organized a march to Writers Buildings, the then state administrative headquarters demanding voter identity cards be made mandatory in elections. The Left Front government opened fire to quell the mob killing 13 people.

On this day, meetings are held in every district. Party workers and supporters from far-off districts like Alipurduar and Cooch Behar come to the city to attend the meeting. The party workers from the districts are put up in different places like Central Park in Salt Lake, Rajdanga stadium and Netaji Indoor stadium. 21 July being Sunday, people will not be inconvenienced.

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It was learnt that Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the party will be the key person in bringing party workers to the city. Party leaders in their X handle wrote today: With faith in our hearts and determination in our eyes, with the vision in our minds to conquer the skies. Shri@abhishekaitcs words have proven true as Jonogoner Gorjon, the thunderous roar of the people of Bengal sent shockwaves through the seat of power in Delhi.

Party leaders said the workers have been greatly enthused after the party got more seats and improved its performance in the recently-concluded general election.

There will be a municipal election in 2025. In Kolkata, the BJP is ahead of Trinamul Congress in 59 out of 144 civic wards. The party leaders and workers will wait anxiously for the instruction to be given by party head Mamata Banerjee. She has already instructed the party leaders to pull up socks and ensure better civic facilities to the people.

Asked whether Miss Banerjee will invite leaders of INDIA bloc, the leaders refused to divulge anything on the matter.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has given A+ grade to Chandernagore College, the highest grade achieved so far by any state-run college in the state.

The college has scored 3.46 in the NAAC evaluation.

The college had received B++ in NAAC evaluation in 2007 and 2016.

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Of the 50,000 colleges registered under AISHE, less than 1 per cent colleges have got A+ grade so far.

The college was set up in 1901 as College Dupleix, when Chandannagore was a French colony. From 1908 to 1931, the college had remained closed due to the alleged involvement of the students with revolutionary activities. The college came under the higher education department of the state government from 2 October, 1954. Now, the college offers 19 undergraduate honours courses and three postgraduate courses.

This is the only college in the country that has a museum on Indian revolutionary movement and the history of Chandannagore. The college does rain water harvesting and uses solar power and the administration runs in a paperless manner. The students are engaged in mangrove plantation along a stretch on the Hooghly, which is situated opposite the college. College students offer teaching to the students of primary schools, run by the Chandannagore Municipal Corporation. Recently, a book on the evolution of the college from College Dupleix to the present day has come out. The book is published by the heritage publishing house Dasgupta and Company.
Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Tuesday informed that a delegation of the senior party leaders met the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and submitted a detailed memorandum, demanding Rs one crore compensation for those who lost their lives in the recent rain-related incidents.

The meeting of the delegation of Delhi Congress with the Rights body came a day after the party demanded Rs one crore compensation for the victims stating that Delhi governments compensation of Rs 10 lakh was too little.

The members of the delegation included Chairman of the Communications Department and former MLA Anil Bharadwaj and former Delhi minister Mangat Ram Singhal.

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The Delhi Congress chief said that the delegation also demanded penal action against the officials responsible for the fatalities, as they were in reality murders which happened due to the irresponsibility and inability of the Delhi government officials to make advance preparations to tackle rain-related woes and water-logging.

Yadav claimed that the Commission assured the delegation that it will write to the concerned departments to find out about the lapses and take prompt action against the officials responsible for the tragedies.

The Delhi Congress chief pointed out that the first monsoon downpour had resulted in tragic fatalities, severely impacted traffic movement and submerged the capital.

Yadav asserted these incidents highlight the urgent need to address the persistent issue of water-logging in Delhi.

It was imperative to implement effective drainage systems and safety measures to prevent deaths due the lapses of the officials, he added.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has asked the Vigilance Department to request the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to constitute a special team of Chief Technical Examiners to examine the alleged corruption and violation of procedures related to construction of additional block in Delhi Governments Lok Nayak hospital, sources said.

According to LG office sources, Saxena also constituted a committee to examine the procedural violations that led to the alleged cost escalation to the tune of Rs 670 crore. The committee will also examine all such ongoing projects across different hospitals of Delhi government, sources added.

It is alleged that in the construction of a new building block in the said hospital, the start date was November 4, 2020, with a completion period of 30 months, but even after three and a half years, the current progress of complete work is only 64 per cent, while costs have also gone up.

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The Health and Family Welfare Department of GNCTD had assigned the project to the Public Works Department (PWD), and it attributed the cost overruns to increase in the scope of work.

It is also alleged that the cost overruns did not go to the Finance Department and the Cabinet, and were done at department level.

The LG had flagged the matter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal back in June 2023, and the government brought a Cabinet Note in March 2024, for approval of the cost overruns, but the same is pending, LG office sources added.
Kartik Aaryan is riding high on the success of his latest film, Chandu Champion. But before the applause could fade, hes already shifting gears back to the much-anticipated Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.

On Monday, Kartik took to Instagram to share a nostalgic video clip from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, featuring his dance from the title track. He captioned it, Back to Bhool Bhulaiyaa Mode #BhoolBhulaiyaa3, signaling his return to the beloved franchise. The post was met with enthusiastic responses from fans. One fan commented, Finally after 33 days 15 hours 24 mins  Rooh Baba is back. while another wrote, Rooh baba is coming to rule once again!

Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan)

That same day, Kartik and co-star Triptii Dimri were spotted at Mumbai airport, gearing up for the next shooting schedule of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Directed by Anees Bazmee, the film is slated to release during Diwali 2024 and also features Vidya Balan, who played Manjulika in the original 2007 film.

Kartiks Instagram post welcoming Vidya Balan to the third installment added to the excitement. And its happening. OG Manjulika is coming back to the world of BhoolBhulaiyaa. Super thrilled to welcome @balanvidya. This Diwali is going to be crackling #BhoolBhulaiyaa3 @aneesbazmee @tseries.official #BhushanKumar, he wrote.

Anees Bazmee, who directed Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, returns for the third film, while the first was directed by Priyadarshan and starred Akshay Kumar alongside Vidya Balan. The second film saw Kartik sharing the screen with Tabu and Kiara Advani, cementing his place in the franchise.

Meanwhile, Kartiks portrayal of Chandu in Chandu Champion, directed by Kabir Khan, has been widely praised. The film tells the inspiring story of Murlikant Petkar, Indias first Paralympic gold medalist in freestyle swimming. Both fans and critics have lauded Kartiks performance, appreciating his dedication to bringing the athletes story to life.

Looking ahead, Kartik Aaryan is set to appear in Captain India, further expanding his impressive filmography. For now, though, his focus is firmly on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, where fans eagerly await his return as the enigmatic Rooh Baba.
Telekom Malaysia (TM) announced on Monday that it has clinched a RM1.25 billion (US$265 million) deal with the Malaysian government to develop and operate a new AI-powered next-generation 999 emergency response system.

Under a concession agreement signed with the Ministry of Communications, TM subsidiary TM Technology Services (TM Tech) will design, develop, install, operate and manage the Next Generation Emergency Services 999 (NG999), which will replace the existing Malaysian Emergency Response System (MERS999) sometime next year.

According to TM, NG999 is designed as an integrated digital system that enhances sharing of resources and data between emergency responders and relevant central agencies. NG999 will integrate web-based digital maps, caller IDs, geolocation services and mobile smart apps into emergency incident handling, along with big data analytics and AI, which it says will improve emergency response times and enable more effective emergency responses.

TMs comprehensive role will cover network and platform infrastructure, call management, and other support services, said TM Group CEO Amar Huzaimi Md Deris in a statement.

He also said TM will introduce a new NG999 mobile app that enables registered users to send text, photos and videos to emergency responders. "This will improve communication quality between callers and emergency responders, thereby speeding up service delivery.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching told the Bernama news agency that the concession contract with TM Tech is for 12 years, which includes one year to develop and implement the NG999 system. She also said that the NG999 system will be expanded to over 800 locations across the country, which is double the number of locations using MERS999.

MERS999 is also operated by TM, which was awarded a government concession worth RM334 million in January 2009 to develop and operate it. However, according to Barkwell Holland Group, which did consultancy work on the project, MERS999  which was intended to unify and centralise emergency response services across Malaysia  has been plagued with operational problems and slow response times, with both users and emergency responders being unhappy with the system.

In 2022, according to media reports, the state government in Sabah was so unhappy with MERS999 that it seriously considered setting up its own emergency call centre staffed by locals more familiar with local culture and geographical locations.

Not helping matters is that the system has long been plagued with prank calls, silent calls and non-emergency calls, although Teo said the number of such calls is declining. As of June, MERS999 was fielding 15,000 to 16,000 prank calls per month, compared to 19,000 in 2023 and up to 31,000 in 2022, she said.

According to report from Malaysia Insider in 2014, quoting then-Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, only 2.3% of MERS999 calls were genuine at the time.
Actor Karan Kundrra, celebrated for his versatile performances across film and television, recently indulged in a much-needed London holiday. His Instagram feed became a picturesque diary of this getaway, showcasing memorable moments with fellow actor Tejasswi Prakash. The duos charming snapshots included a standout shot in front of the iconic London Eye, alongside other vibrant photos and videos that painted a vivid picture of their enjoyable escape.

However, the actors return to Mumbai signaled an immediate return to his professional commitments. Karans dedication was on full display as he went straight from the airport to the set of his current project, Laughter Chef. This swift transition underscores his unwavering work ethic, seamlessly moving from relaxation to the rigors of his shooting schedule.

Karan Kundrra was spotted at Mumbai airport early in the morning, exuding casual comfort in a white hoodie paired with blue ribbed jeans. His airport style was a stark contrast to his polished look later on the Laughter Chef set. There, he sported a chic, sporty ensemble featuring loose grey jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a stylish sky-blue bomber jacket. The quick wardrobe change was a testament to his versatility and preparedness for any occasion.

Despite the potential for jet lag and travel fatigue, Karans energy and enthusiasm were palpable. His ability to switch from vacation mode to work mode without missing a beat is a clear reflection of his commitment to his craft. This dedication has endeared him to fans and colleagues alike, proving that his passion for acting knows no bounds.

Karan Kundrras journey from the picturesque streets of London back to the bustling sets of Mumbai is a narrative of dedication and passion. As he continues to entertain and inspire, his fans eagerly anticipate more stellar performances from this committed and talented actor.
The past week proved eventful for K-drama enthusiasts with several gripping shows competing for the top spot in viewership charts. TVNs thrilling romantic drama, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon! starring Wi Ha Joon and Jung Ryeo Won, wrapped with its final episode on June 30.

Despite facing its share of hurdles and controversies, the show managed to end on a strong footing. On the other hand, Netflix and JTBCs latest drama, Miss Night and Day, is going strong, following in the footsteps of the platforms last hit, The Atypical Family.

Midnight Romance kept viewers hooked with the casts captivating chemistry and engaging storyline, despite a few hiccups. According to Nielsen Korea, the series, which aired from May 11 to June 30, achieved an average nationwide rating of 6.6 percent, setting a new all-time high for the show.

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The TVN drama follows the life of a veteran cram school teacher and a mysterious student who reappears in her life after a decade, sparking new emotions and a hidden whirlwind romance.

The series revolves around their relationship and how they navigate their emotions. The penultimate episode of the show also performed significantly well, garnering an impressive nationwide rating of 3.9 percent.

Meanwhile, Miss Night and Day is the new obsession of K-drama fans on Netflix. The show continues to hold the interest of viewers and has recorded its highest rating yet. The Netflix and JTBC collaboration series, starring Jung Eun Ji and Choi Jin Hyuk, reached its peak viewership with its most recent episode, achieving a nationwide average of 7.7 percent.

Miss Night and Day has also secured a spot in the Netflix Top 10 list in the non-English category, holding the sixth spot, while the high-school revenge K-drama, Hierarchy, boasts the third spot.

The popular series follows the life of a girl in her 20s who mysteriously gains the ability to transform into a 50-year-old during the day and becomes her 20-year-old self at night. Miss Night and Day etches her narrative as she is caught between two age groups and lands an internship in the Prosecutors office, where she has to tackle a tough boss.

In related news, Beauty and Mr Romantic clinched the top viewership spot of the evening, amassing a nationwide average viewership of 18.3 percent, maintaining its undefeated position.
Former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in a stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.

Deeply saddened to learn about the loss of so many lives in the stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief and pray for the speedy recovery of those who are hospitalised, Patnaik wrote on X.

Deeply saddened to learn about the loss of so many lives in the stampede in #Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief and pray for the speedy recovery of those who are hospitalised. Advertisement  Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 2, 2024

As many as 116 people, including women and children, were killed and dozens were injured after a stampede broke out at a religious event in Hathras.

Some reports suggested the number of causalities could rise further as officials figures are yet to come.

The tragic incident took place during a satsang and the district administration is investigating the matter.

The injured are being taken to the hospital and people are still being recovered A figure of nearly 50-60 deaths has been reported to me by the doctors, Hathras DM Ashish Kumar said.

However, the toll increased to 116 after several injured succumbed to injuries during treatment.

Mr Kumar further informed that it was a private event and permission was given by the SDM.

A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter The primary focus of the administration is to provide all possible help to the injured and kin of the deceased, he added.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to rush to the spot and ensure all the possible help is provided.

The CM has also directed the ADG Agra and the Divisional Commissioner, Aligarh to rush to the spot and probe the reason behind the incident.

Two UP Ministers  Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan Singh and Sandeep Singh  along with state Chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and DGP Prashant Kumar have reached Hathras.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased.

The news of the death of many devotees, including women and children, in the accident in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured, she said.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday questioned the Uttar Pradesh government on the death of over 120 people following a stampede at a religious gathering in Hathras.

We got this information when we were in Parliament. The question is, what was the government doing when such an incident happened? So many people have lost their lives. It is sad that if the government knew that a large number of people would gather at an event, then what did they do for their safety? he questioned.

Bahujan Samaj Party ( BSP) supremo Mayawati, in her statement, said a large number of people died and many were injured in the stampede during a satsang in Hathras district.

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She also mentioned about the murder of a youth during the Boudh/Bhim Katha in Agra.

Mayawati said the government should investigate these incidents and take appropriate action and provide financial help to the affected families

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also expressed grief over the accident.

He wrote on his X account, The accident that happened in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their loved ones in this accident. Along with this, I wish speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is providing all possible help to all the victims.
The second wave of floods in Assam has wreaked havoc across the state, affecting more than 600,000 people and resulting in the deaths of over 34 people.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has communicated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the dire situation.

On the microblogging site X, Sarma stated that the next few days would be critical, as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted more heavy rains.

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Prime Minister Modi has assured the state of the central governments assistance in managing the crisis. The flood situation has been exacerbated by heavy downpours in neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, contributing to the widespread devastation.

Assam routinely faces significant destruction during the monsoon season due to flooding in its extensive river network.

In 2022, floods displaced over 4 million people and claimed at least 45 lives. This year, the floodwaters have again left a trail of destruction, submerging villages, destroying crops, and wrecking homes in Assam and parts of neighbouring Bangladesh.

The Assam Disaster Management Authority reported that all the rivers in the state had crossed the danger mark at multiple locations, affecting at least 19 of Assams 35 districts. Thousands of people have sought refuge in relief camps across the state.

Assam is experiencing a second wave of flooding due to the heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh and several districts within Assam.

Floodwaters had inundated several areas of Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, forcing animals to migrate to nearby hills.

State and national disaster relief teams are on standby to assist affected residents. The India Meteorological Department has predicted very heavy rainfall in Assam and the neighboring state of Meghalaya until Friday.
Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that BJPs attempts to destabilize the Congress government failed due to internal disagreements within the party.

Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, he claimed that despite efforts by the BJP leadership, they failed to dislodge the Congress government due to internal disagreements within the BJP and lack of support from grassroots workers and party cadres.

Accusing the BJP of resorting to political gimmicks, particularly in their push for bye-polls in nine assembly constituencies, he said that these efforts have not been well-received by the public nor within the BJP itself.

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The Deputy CM criticized the BJP for obstructing initiatives beneficial to the public, such as the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), monthly assistance of Rs 1500 to women, and free electricity.

He claimed that BJP leaders like Jai Ram Thakur have opposed these measures without clearly stating their stance during election campaigns.

Pointing out BJPs defeats in four by-elections and the upcoming bye-elections for three more seats, he said that BJP should apologize for their actions of forcing frequent elections and an attempt to destabilize an elected government.

Agnihotri alleged that the central government had supported BJPs efforts to destabilize the Congress government in the state and provided support to rebel Congress MLAs and the use of central agencies for this purpose.

Despite these efforts, the people of Himachal Pradesh have rejected the BJPs strategies, supporting Congress candidates instead, he asserted.

The Deputy CM further slammed the central government for discriminating against Himachal Pradesh by reducing GST compensation, imposing a lower borrowing limit, and restricting foreign funding.

He argued that these measures have negatively impacted the states economy and hindered development projects.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Tuesday condemned the alleged corruption and nepotism in the allocation of grant of aid for Kanwad camps through the Tirath Yatra Vikas Samiti working under the Revenue Department of Delhi.

The Delhi BJP chief has demanded a thorough high level inquiry into the alleged malfunctioning of Tirath Yatra Vikas Samiti and the Revenue Department.

Sachdeva has claimed that every year complaints of alleged corruption and nepotism emerge with regard to the allocation of the grant aid, and added that this year as well the saffron party has received such complaints from the Kanwad Samitis across the national capital.

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The Delhi BJP chief further said that according to the rule book, for receiving the said grants, socio religious organisations like Kanwad Sewa Samitis and Chath Puja Samitis have to apply for aid to the office of concerned Revenue Deputy Commissioner, who further gets the application examined and approve aid or reject the application.

Sachdeva further alleged stating that, unfortunately CM Arvind Kejriwal led government has totally violated the rules and only the applications recommended or forwarded by the Aam Aadmi Party MLAs to the TYVS, which is headed by their party leader get the approval for the aid.

The BJP leader claimed that the role of DCs has been reduced to an authority who signs on the applications forwarded by the Tirath Yatra Vikas Samiti.

He added that hundreds of Kanwad Sewa Samitis organise camps for helping out the Kanwadiyas in Delhi, but the Delhi government extends financial grant of aids to a small number of them, which are promoted by their own MLAs and party leaders, Sachdeva claimed.

Sachdeva has claimed that it is widely known that only those Sewa Samitis which make AAP MLAs or leaders as their patrons get grants and despite this the office bearers of the Samitis have to give kickbacks through concerned officials posted in DC office.
Senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi met Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu in Delhi requesting direct flight services between Jorhat and New Delhi.

Gogoi took to X and wrote, Air connectivity is a challenge for Jorhat. The absence of direct flights to Delhi results in a lot of inconvenience to people. Moreover, the cost of air travel has shot up due to the limited availability of flights.

He added, I met Honble Minister for Civil Aviation Shri @RamMNK in New Delhi and apprised him of the situation today. I appealed to him to restart the direct daily flight between Jorhat and Delhi. I am positive that he will take prompt action to resolve the woes of citizens and improve connectivity in the region.

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Gogoi, a third-time member of Parliament elected from the Jorhat constituency in the Lok Sabha pollss which concluded last month.
To ease regional air travel connectivity and promote tourism in Rajasthan, the Cabinet on Tuesday approved Civil Aviation Policy, 2024 and decided to develop a Greenfield Airport in Kota and Aerocity in Jaipur.

The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

As per the decision, new hotels, restaurants and other related infrastructure projects would be developed near Jaipur airport.

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Several airports in the state would now provide cargo services and old airstrips would also be revamped to make them operational for flying, Industry Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore told media persons after the Cabinet meeting.

The policy focuses on expansion of training and maintenance facilities for aviation sectors and aerospace activities. As per the proposed policy, three new flying schools would be set up in Kishangarh, Jhalawar and Bhilwara, Rathore said.

The Cabinet gave a nod to several other important decisions for development of infrastructure in aviation and energy sectors.

The Cabinet also proposed amendments in certain state government policies and rules including the decision to abolish the Gandhi Vatika Trust, an agency authorised to manage the Mahatma Gandhi Museum at Jaipur.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Premchand Bairwa and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, who were also present in the press meet, said that the Cabinet approved the proposals to name three government colleges in Churu, Barmer and Bikaner districts in the names of donors, who donated the buildings to these newly established institutes of learning.

The state government is continuously working to make Rajasthan self-reliant in the power generation sector and to achieve this goal, the state government has already signed MoUs worth Rs 2.25 crore in the energy sector, said Rathore.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal for amending the Renewable Energy Policy, 2023 and Rajasthan Land Revenue (Allotment for Renewable Energy Projects) Rules, 2007 making them relevant to the present day requirements, he added.

Accordingly, these decisions would enhance possibilities of investment worth additional Rs 2 lakh crore in the state. As per the proposals, for establishing solar power generation plants lands could now be allotted at 7.5 per cent of the DLC rates.

It was further decided that the operations of Gandhi Vatika museum would continue on the lines of other such museums in the state by the concerned administrative departments, Patel said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his deep concern and grief after 120 people, mostly women, were killed in one of the worst stampedes in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.

In a social media post on X, Modi said that he spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take stock of the situation and informed that all the possible help is being provided to the victims.

Spoke to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji regarding the tragic incident in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. The UP government is engaged in providing all possible help to all the victims. My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured, the PM said.

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President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased.

The news of the death of many devotees, including women and children, in the accident in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured, she said.

The tragic incident took place during the Bhola Baba satsang, a religious event which was being attended by people from several states.

Laxity on the part of the organisers of the Bhola Baba satsang is said to be the cause of the tragedy.

ADG Agra Anupam Kulshreshtha said 120 people have died in the unfortunate incident.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to lodge an FIR against the event organizers and the government officers concerned. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He will visit Hathras on Wednesday, his office said.

Senior ministers Choudhury Laxmi Narayan and Sandeep Singh along with Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and DGP Prashant Kumar are at the spot to take stock of the situation.

The CM has also directed ADG Agra and Divisional Commissioner Aligarh to rush to the spot and inquire about the reasons behind the incident. The officials will submit the report of the incident in the next 24 hours.
Somalia-based operator Hormuud Telecom signed up to the GSMAs Humanitarian Connectivity Charter pledging to provide connectivity in times of urgency and enhancing collaboration with humanitarian organisations.

The operator signed the agreement in Nairobi at a workshop held by the GSMA. It joined 160 telecoms companies in striking the agreement such as Ericsson, Millicom Group and Nokia.

The purpose of the charter is to improve the mobile industrys response to disasters and humanitarian crisis. Its key principles include enhancing coordination among MNOs, scaling and standardising preparedness and response activities, and strengthening partnerships between the mobile industry, government, and humanitarian organisations.

Somalia had been battered by natural disasters including floods, droughts and locust swarms.

Hormuud Telecom aided in efforts against these unfortunate events, an example was when the firm replaced basic ringtones with critical alert messages, provided instructions and guidelines to safeguard the public.

The operator also launched a humanitarian portal in 2019 that it claimed is used by nine out of 10 citizens to collect financial aid from humanitarian organisations. There are 120 such organisations that use this platform.

Hormuud Telecom CEO Ahmed Yusuf said: Weve seen in the last decade, the vital role that telecommunications can play in all stages of disaster response in Somalia. With our 4G network coverage standing at 70%, 5G launched this year, and mobile money usage at 90%, were uniquely placed to reach those Somalis most remote and in the greatest of need.

GSMA Head of Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation, Kimberly Brown added: Disaster preparedness saves lives, just 24 hours notice of an impending hazardous event can cut the ensuing damage by 30%. The GSMAs Humanitarian Connectivity Charter supports our industry for better cooperation in times of emergency and we are pleased to have Hormuud Telecom on board.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday blasted the Congress and its allies for spreading lies and said they would not be able to derail the nations progress for which his government had received a mandate from people for a third consecutive time in the biggest election of the world.

Delivering a nearly two-and-a-half hour reply to the Lok Sabha debate on President Droupadi Murmus address to Parliament, he said amidst continuous uproar by the Opposition, the nation will not forgive what Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi spoke about Hindus being violent, and hoped Speaker Om Birla will take action as per expectations of the nation and the House.

The Prime Minister said the government is serious about stopping paper leaks during examinations, on which the President had drawn attention in her address. He said steps have been taken and arrests have been made in the NEET examination paper leaks at several places. Those guilty would not be spared. The government has already enacted a strong law to deal with the menace of paper leakages, he said.

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The Lok Sabha adopted the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address after rejecting all amendments by a voice vote. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh moved a motion to condemn Opposition disturbances during the Prime Ministers speech and it was approved after Home Minister Amit Shah seconded it. The House was adjourned sine die after this.

Mr Modi said the 2024 election had given a mandate to the Congress to sit in the Opposition, but it was trying to spread the impression that it had defeated the BJP. When you have no arguments, you go on shouting, he said.

In Congress history, he said, it was the first time that it had failed to go beyond 100; it was its third biggest defeat, and third worst performance. The Prime Minister said the Congress should have accepted its defeat and done introspection, but what they look like doing is sheer-shasan.

Wherever there was a straight fight between the BJP and the Congress, the Congress could get a strike rate of just 26 per cent; and most of the 99 seats the party won were the gift of its allies only, Mr Modi said.

Not just the Congress Party, he said the Congress eco-system has also been a challenge for the country after 2014. I want to warn this ecosystem that it thinks it can derail the nations progress, but it will get the reply in its own language. This country will not accept any conspiracy against it, Mr Modi said.

What happened yesterday in the Lok Sabha cannot be taken lightly, the Prime Minister said. Their actions are not simple and their lies create doubts about the power of reasoning of people. They are a big slap on the nations glory and the Speaker has the responsibility to respond, the nation and the House hope he will take effective action. On the Constitution and reservation also, the Congress has always spoken lies, he said.

Mr Modi said 131 years back, Swami Vivekananda said in Chicago that he was proud that he belonged to a religion which taught tolerance to the world. Hindu is tolerant, accepts everyone; Indias diversity flourished only because of that, he said. Today, there is a wrong accusation against the Hindus. It was said Hindus are violent. This is your sanskar, for centuries, this nation will not forget this, he said.

Without naming the Leader of the Opposition, he referred to Mr Gandhi as Balakbuddhi (teen-age wise) and said these people had talked of destruction of shakti when the whole nation worships shakti.

These people had talked of Hindu terrorism also. Their allies had compared Hindus with dengue and malaria. Referring to Mr Gandhis display of divine figures, Mr Modi said never pradarshan (display) is done of those whose darshan (view) only is done.

The Prime Minister said the policy of appeasement had destroyed the nation and before 2014, the nation was sunk in disappointment and had no hope. His government brought the policy of santushtikaran (satisfaction of all) in place of the tushtikaran (appeasement of a particular community), making the nation regain its self-confidence and hope that things could change in the country.

Mr Modi said his government by its policies brought 25 crore people out of poverty, ensuring the saturation of its welfare schemes by reaching all sections of people. The NDA followed the principle of Nation First and treated all people equally in a sarvpanth sambhav sentiment.
Nine devotees, including six women, were killed and four others injured when a SUV in which they were travelling, collided with a stone-laden truck near Dindapura village in Rajasthans Karauli district headquarters.

The SUV, full of devotees, was returning to Khirkan village of Mandrayal after visiting Kailadevi temple at 5:30 pm Monday . It collided with the truck in Karaulis Sadar Police station area, District Collector Neelabh Saxena told The Statesman this morning.

The family of Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh had bought a new vehicle and went to KailaDevi temple for Puja and offerings.

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Four seriously injured devotees were referred to SMS hospital in Jaipur late last night and one of them was still very critical and put on a ventilator, the DM said on Tuesday.

The truck was filled with stones. Nearby villagers rushed to the spot after hearing screaming and shouting at the accident site. The injured and the dead were extracted from the car with a lot of effort. The bodies were shifted to the mortuary of Karauli for postmortem and were being identified till this morning, the collector said.
Police of Uttarakhand and other northern states will keep a hawks eye on Kanwad devotees this season starting from July 20.

As the devotees influx is likely to cross four crore, their movements will be monitored through CCTV cameras and drones while use of DJs will be on police radar in residential areas, near hospitals and schools.

This was decided in the Interstate and Inter Agencies Coordination meeting on Monday evening in Dehradun. Senior police officials from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, CRPF, Railways and Intelligence Bureau have decided to keep a strict watch over the Kawad Yatra and have better coordination and communication in sharing information among interstate police and Agencies.

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Cops in their respective states will monitor the movements of Kanwad pilgrims through CCTV cameras and drones to prevent any untoward incident. Apart from this, social media contents on Kanwad Yatra will also be a focus area for the police in order to take remedial steps against misleading information.

Sharing the details, Uttarakhand police informed that monitoring of social media will be done as its contents at times lead to misleading and false propaganda during Kanwar Yatra.

Apart from monitoring through CCTV cameras and drones, all seven states have been urged to focus on social media monitoring and quick sharing of misleading propaganda and rumours pertaining to the Kanwad Yatra. This was done to verify the authenticity of the contents and take remedial steps, said SSP Haridwar Parmendra Singh Dobhal when contacted.

Dobhal stated that during the Yatra, devotees will have to carry their identity cards as well. He further informed that the number of Kanwad devotees has been increasing hugely every year for the past 15-20 years. This year, it may cross the four crore- mark footfalls in 2023. As a result, the complete Kanwad area has been divided into 14 super zones, 36 zones and 130 sectors.

Nearly 7,000 policemen will be deployed to man the Kanwad Yatra in Haridwar and adjoining areas, added the SSP Haridwar.

Devotees will also not be allowed to carry Kanwads more than seven feet in height or travel on the trains roofs. Cops will also keep track of use of DJs near residential places, especially close to the houses of senior citizens, hospitals and schools.

Police officials stated that a verification drive of the people working in the Kanwar Yatra routes and camps. Kanwad Yatra devotees will also move on separate routes from that of Chardham pilgrimage.

The Interstate Police meet also decided to hold joint checking and tracking of suspicious elements and vehicles along interstate borders and at entry barriers and check posts.
Rahul Gandhis maiden speech as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha generated a lot of political heat on Monday with BJP leaders accusing him of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire Hindu community violent and the Congress hitting back with counter allegations against the Modi government.

The atmosphere was charged in Rajya Sabha also with BJP members repeatedly objecting to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharges remarks as he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of divisive speeches in the Lok Sabha campaign.

The two Houses took up the debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address with PM Modi slamming Rahul Gandhi during his speech. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter, PM Modi said. Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi.

While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhis remarks, Congress also held an evening presser to slam the ruling party at the Centre.

Rahul Gandhi launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP targeting it over its leaders remarks during Lok Sabha campaign, NEET-UG controversy, Agniveer scheme.

As Rahul Gandhi made remarks pertaining to BJP and Hindu community, there was a huge uproar from the treasury benches.

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There has been a systematic and a full-scale assault on the idea of India, the Constitution and on the people who resisted the attack on Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the leaders are still in jail. Anyone who resisted the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression on poor and Dalits and minorities was crushed. ..I was attacked by the order of Govt of India, by the order of the Prime Minister of IndiaThe most enjoyable part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by ED PM Modi is present in Lok Sabha.

Abhayamudra is the symbol of CongressThe Abhayamudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions.All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fearBut, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruthAap Hindu ho hi nahi, he added.

Rahul Gandhi carried an image depicting Lord Shiva to emphasise his point about ending fear. Speaker Om Birla said that displaying images is not allowed in the House and said the manner in which the Congress leader was displaying and then keeping down the image depicting a revered deity is not right.

Home Minister Amit Shah targeted Rahul Gandhi and said connecting violence with any religion is wrong.

The Leader of Opposition has categorically said that those who call themselves Hindu talk of violence and do violence. He doesnt know that crores of people proudly call themselves Hindu. Connecting violence with any religion is wrong. He should apologise, Amit Shah said.

Rahul Gandhi also said the BJP is not the entire Hindu society.

Narendra Modi is not entire Hindu society. BJP is not entire Hindu society, RSS is not entire society, this is not BJPs contract, Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi also alleged that ministers were scared of greeting him in the presence of PM Modi.

The Prime Minister took a dig at Rahul Gandhi and said democracy has taught him to take the democracy seriously.

Democracy and the Constitution have taught me that I need to take the Leader of Opposition seriously, PM Modi said.

Rahul Gandhis remarks pertaining to the Agniveer Scheme were countered by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The Congress leader said the opposition was not an enemy of the government and offered full cooperation and support to take the country forward.

Gandhi said he was the leader of the entire opposition and when the opposition leaders like Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal were in jail, it should disturb him.

Apart from Lord Shiva, Rahul Gandhi invoked Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Budha and Lord Mahavir, saying that he had taken the idea of fearlessness from their teachings.

The Congress leader accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred.

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said that the people of Ayodhya had conveyed the message to BJP by defeating its candidate. He said there was anger and resentment among people in Ayodhya as their houses had been demolished and they had not been provided any compensation. The government countered his allegations and said he was not speaking facts.

Gandhi claimed that PM Modi had wanted to contest from Ayodhya but decided against it based on surveys and that his victory margin from Varanasi had dropped.

He alleged that leaders of various opposition parties were targeted, citing his own example that he was slapped with cases, sentenced to two years imprisonment and his house taken away.

But we are not scared of yourather you are scared of the Congress, he said.

He accused the BJP of targeting minorities and said they are patriots and have represented the country in different spheres of life and made it feel proud.

Referring to the NEET paper leak, he said students had lost faith and alleged that the NEET exam was designed to benefit the rich.

Rahul Gandhi also made remarks pertaining to Speaker Om Birla, saying that he had bowed to greet PM Modi during oath-taking.

There are two structures; one is he (Rahul Gandhi) as an individual and one is the Leader of the Opposition. As individuals, I might have likes and dislikes but I as Leader of Opposition have to suppress them, reduce them and say my the voice of opposition. That is the idea of the democratic system. The people have given me responsibility and that responsibility should overcome my personal likes, dislikes and aspirations. Now Speaker sir why I am saying this and forgive me for saying this but when you were being put on that chair I walked there to help you to walk to the chair and I shook hands with the Prime Minister and you (Om Birla) and them I walked to your chair. You are the final arbiter of the Lok Sabha. You are the final word here. What you say fundamentally defines Indian Democracy. You dont allow us to speak, you allow us to speak, you allow them to speak, you dont allow us to speak, all these things define Indian Democracy, Rahul said.

There is the Speaker of Lok Sabha and there is Mr Om Birla, when Modi ji went and shook your hand and I went to shook your hand, I noticed something, when I shook your hand, you stand straight and shake hand with me and when Modiji shook the hands you bowed down and shook his hands, the Congress leader added.

This remark prompted an immediate response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the chair. Yeh chair ke samane aroop hai, the Home Minister said.

The Speaker responded to Rahul Gandhis remarks, saying his sanskriti, sanskar tell him that he should bow to elders and treat those younger to him inappropriate way.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Leader of the House. Mera sanskar kehta hai ki jo hamse bade hain unse jhuk ke namaskar karo and barabar walo se seedhe khade hoke (My culture teaches me to bow down in front of elders and shake hands with equals by standing straight), Birla said, referring to a cultural norm of showing respect to elders.

The Congress leader reiterated his respect for the Speakers words but maintained his stance on the importance of the Speakers role. I respect your words, but in this House, no one is bigger than the Speaker. Rahul Gandhi said that he, along with the entire Opposition, bowed down to the Speaker.

You are the Speaker and you should not bow down before anyone. You are the final arbiter of the Lok Sabha and what you say, that fundamentally defines Indian democracy, he told the Speaker, adding, we respect you as the Speaker.

Assuring full cooperation to the government, Gandhi said, we are sincerely here to make your work easier as long as you follow the basic principles that we have stated; respect, affection, ahimsa and always standing for truth.

Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of reign of fear for 10 years and said that scaring others and spreading fear is against the spirit of India.

Narendra Modi has been running the reign of fear for 10 years! By taking control of all the agencies, institutions and media, BJP has only worked to spread fear in every section of the society. Farmers fear black laws, Students are afraid of paper leak, Youth fear unemployment, Small traders fear wrong GST, demonetisation and raids, Patriots fear schemes like Agniveer, People of Manipur fear civil war, Rahul Gandhi posted on X.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshi Trivedi held a joint press conference to denounce Rahul Gandhis remarks.

The position of Leader of Opposition is a very responsible positionRahul ji has taken up a responsibility for the first time but despite taking up responsibility for the first time, today he has given very irresponsible statement. He said that no compensation is given to the martyrs, there can be no bigger lie than this. Today, when he was giving his speech, the Defence Minister clarified in the House itself that the martyrs get a compensation of Rs 1 crore. He should look at his facts. It is not that Congress has raised questions on the Army for the first time, Congress has always raised such questions on the Army and tried to mislead the country, Vaishnaw said.

Rijiju said they have made a request to Speaker that if Rahul Gandhi has lied, he should face the rules and regulations of the House

We have made a request to the Speaker to pass a direction that if we have made an unverified statement then we are ready to take a corrective course. But if the Leader of Opposition has lied in the House then he will have to face the rules and regulations of the House. He (Speaker) has already assured in the House that he will give necessary and appropriate directions in this regard

Trivedi said Rahul Gandhi should express regret over his remarks.

On January 20, 2013, the then Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who was also the Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha at that time, had said in Jaipur that violent activities and training camps are being run by the BJP and the RSS and when he was asked a question on the floor of the House, he expressed regret. So Rahul Gandhi ji, when you were in power, was your Home Minister right or when you are in the opposition, you are right? I think that taking a lesson from Sushil Shinde, at least Rahul Gandhi should express regret over this Today you are not only insulting the Hindu society but also proving your government a liar, he said.

The debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address was initiated by BJP member Anurag Thakur in Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha sat late to allow members to express their views. PM Modi will reply to the debate tomorrow.

In his speech in Rajya Sabha, Kharge targeted PM Modi and the ruling BJP on Monday over various issues including the ongoing row over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and arrests of Opposition leaders.

PM Modi embarrassed India. They used to call the Gamandiya alliance, they used to say if there is Modi, anything is possible. But the arrogance of BJP was broken after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kharge also hit out at PM Modi over his remarks during election rallies against Congress over redistribution of wealth, Mangalsutra, reservation and Mujra among others.

He also took a dig at PM Modis ek akela sab pe bhari remark and said Ek akela par aaj kitne log bhaari hei, election ne dikha diya ki desh ka samvidhan aur janata sab par bhaari hei. (Elections proved that Constitution and public weigh over everything).

The Congress chief said that thousands of NEET aspirants were affected by the paper leak. He said that the government initially denied any paper leak then later they clarified and accepted that irregularities happened. The LoP also urged to scrap the Agnipath schemePresident has said we will work together. But the words have been confined to just speech and not in action, he said.

He also criticised the government over arrests of opposition leaders and alleged misuse of central agencies including the Directorate of Enforcement and the Central Bureau of Investigation in an attempt to silence the opposition.

This election witnessed that a major issue was protecting the Constitution. BJP said it will amend the Constitution. But the elections proved that issues keep coming and going but Constitution will thrive, democracy will survive, elections will keep happening and we will also be here, Kharge said.

The common people supported the opposition in this fight. They took a major step towards protecting the Constitution, he added.

The LoP also questioned the relocation of statues of national leaders in the Parliament House complex.

There was no meeting or prior consultation. It was done as though in authoritarian rule, he said. He urged for discussion with the committee that includes LoP, members, and the House Chairman.

However, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar said that it has been done properly and methodically and there should not be criticism for the sake of criticism. He also urged members to visit the new location.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister also objected to Kharges criticism and clarified that statues were not kept at just any location but shifted with proper respect and given appropriate space.

Kharges remarks relating to the RSS were expunged by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The debate on the motion of thanks to the Presidents address started in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Congress leader Pawan Khera addressed a press conference in the evening and accused the BJP of spreading lies on WhatsApp, editing the videos of Rahul Gandhi and making baseless comments about him.

We were defeated in 2014, we were defeated in 2019 too. We introspected, understood and learnt, but the BJP which got everything and now has started losing in 2024, did not learn any lesson, this has become clear today inside and outside the Parliament, he said.

How they ran their business in the last 10 years, by spreading lies on WhatsApp, editing the videos of Rahul Gandhi and making baseless comments about him. It ran for five years and 10 years the people of this country have stopped it, and the Bharatiya Janata Party could not learn this lesson, he added.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday said Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhis speech on religions in Parliament gave an opportunity to the ruling BJP to manipulate his words and do politics.

Taking a dig at both sides, she said both the ruling and the opposition should be serious inside and outside the Parliament.

In a series of posts on X in Hindi, Mayawati said, Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar ensured respect for all religions by making the Constitution on the basis of secularism for the benefit, welfare and brotherhood of crores of people of different religions in the country. Both the ruling and the opposition should be serious inside and outside the Parliament.

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But yesterday in Parliament, whatever the Leader of Opposition said regarding Hindu/Hindutva during the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address, BJP/NDA seems to be trying to take political advantage of it again, she said.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo further asked, How appropriate is it for the Congress to provide them an opportunity to do so? This is something to think about.

Rahul Gandhi debuted as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Monday. His remarks on Hindutva triggered a political firestorm as the Congress leader accused the BJP of spreading violence, hatred and lies, which, he said, were against the basic tenets of Hinduism advocated by Lord Shiva.

The BJP top brass - Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh  dismissed the remarks as the INDIA bloc members rallied behind the Rae Bareli MP, who said that he represents not just the Congress, but the entire Opposition.
Issues of regional and international importance are expected to figure prominently at the 24th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State (SCO Summit) to be held on Thursday in Astana, under the presidency of Kazakhstan, it was officially announced on Tuesday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation to Astana for the summit which will be attended by leaders of all member countries, including China, Russia and Pakistan.

At the summit, the leaders are expected to review the organizations activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation.

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Indias priorities in SCO are shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a SECURE SCO. SECURE stands for Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

India, under its first-ever presidency of SCO, hosted the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in July last year in a virtual format.
With Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu proposing a meeting with his Telangana counterpart on July 6 to iron out differences related to bifurcation, the BRS has asked the latter to demand the seven mandals be returned along with the Lower Sileru hydel power project.

Late evening Naidu had released a letter written to Revanth Reddy on X which spoke about cooperative development between the two states. He also proposed a meeting between the two chief ministers at Hyderabad.

It has been 10 years since bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. There have been multiple discussions concerning issues arising from the Reorganization Act which hold significant implications for the welfare and advancement of our states. It is imperative that we address these issues amicably with utmost diligence and resolve. In light of this, I propose that we meet at your place on 6 July, Saturday afternoon, read the letter to the Telangana chief minister.

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Since Revanth Reddy had been with the TDP in the past before joining the Congress, the two leaders share a warm rapport. After TDPs victory in Andhra Pradesh, Reddy had called up his former leader and congratulated him.

Both governments are now preparing an agenda to be discussed between the two chief ministers. There has been no consensus between the two states on the assets belonging to 23 corporations including the Regional Transport Corporation, State Finance Corporation and others mentioned in the Ninth Schedule of the AP Reorganisation Act.

Similarly, disagreement has existed over the 30 institutions mentioned in the Tenth Schedule including Telugu Academy. There are other thorny issues which also need to be resolved between the two states.

Meanwhile, BRS leader T Harish Rao reminded that Chandrababu Naidu was in a powerful position since his party was a key ally of the BJP.

He said Reddy must demand that Andhra Pradesh should return the seven mandals and the Sileru hydel power project since these were transferred to the neighbouring state in 2014 without the consent of Telangana. These mandals were in the backwaters of Polavaram Dam and hence Naidu had put pressure on the Centre to transfer these mandals to Andhra Pradesh even before taking oath.
Manish Mehrotra is acknowledged as the foremost exponent of Progressive Indian Cuisine. Prateek Sadhu is the new star on the block, having garnered a wall full of accolades during his stint at Mumbais Masque restaurant, and then deciding to relocate to a Himalayan village named Darwa, a 40-minute drive away from Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh, to open his passion restaurant, Naar, in the middle of nowhere.

The two maestros, one seasoned and the other, young, joined forces and pulled off a culinary coup at Indian Accent, first in Mumbai and then in New Delhi (sadly, for only two days in each city). And as we would expect from them, the 12-course tasting menu they laid out was not only a feast for the senses (with certain items, predictably, overshadowing the others), but also an education for the palate.

We found out, for instance, that the sundarkala, presented like a bundle of fine threads in a sinki broth with Ladakhi sausages, are noodles made with mandua atta (finger millet flour) that originated from a village in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. The sinki broth is a Nepali soup prepared with preserved and fermented tap root sections of radishes. Indeed an invigorating combination presented like a work of art  it got our full marks.

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One of the dishes christened by Sadhu as Dirty Toast turned out to be an open sandwich topped up by minimally cooked Himachali trout. The whole wheat bread turned out to be a khambir, which Ladakhis have usually every morning with their favourite butter tea. It only needed the touch of an inventive chef to acquire an elevated profile.

The tasting menu opened for the vegetarians with a slice of tadgola, the fleshy and juicy fruit of the sugar palm tree, which grows abundantly in our coastal regions, sitting in a pool of raw mango panna with Panna pakodis (a tribute to the famous paneer pakodas that have been best-sellers at the shop of Ludhianas Sardar Panna Singh for the past 70 years) and little watermelon roundels.

The combination was seamless; for the non-vegetarians a sliver of hamachi, or yellowtail, a fish that is a favourite of sushi makers, replaced the tadgola, but even diehard carnivores would have loved the ice apple.

Another such surprise was the askalu, a festive dish from Kullu that many compare with idlis. The askalu are made with fermented rice flour slurry in a stone utensil with compartments named askali. Sadhu described the askalu, with their crispy exterior and soft insides, as Himachali donuts.

It came with Mehrotras favourite Calcutta biryani aloo (the chefs theory is that the potatoes that are integral to the Calcutta biryani are sponges that soak up the vibrant flavours of the preparation and therefore deserve a life of their own) and the beetroot dahi vada, which completely blew our mind! Both were like little umami bombs.

The dish that got everyone licking their fingers was the ghee lamb. The meat extracted from lamb shanks was paired with sunchokes (the white and creamy roots of a flowering tree related to the sunflower family that are mistakenly called Jerusalem artichokes) and dal kachori (the vegetarians got pooris stuffed with sattu).

Dal kachori with ghee lamb? Well, it tasted divine when dipped into the thick jus enriched by ghee as well as the gelatinous extract from the lamb shanks that went into making the dish. And how did the sattu-stuffed pooris pair with the vegetarian option  tawa green jackfruit, mustard and coconut? Our vegetarian friend gave a satisfied thumbs up.

The final round of the coup came in the form and shape of the dessert platter  an explosive avant garde interpretation of the Kashmiri delicacy, shufta (dry fruits and lightly fried paneer squares mixed seamlessly with ghee, sugar and spice powders). It was accompanied by a delectable pineapple and ragi cake to ensure no one went back home half-satisfied.

If there was proof needed for why master chefs are so prized in this world, one had only to dig into the sensation Mehrotra and Sadhu laid out for us. Even their little surprises, from Mickey Mouse-shaped roasted mini papads to the byadgi chilli sauce  surprisingly with a hint of natural sweetness and expectedly bright red  accompanying the lemon crab and dried shrimps, left us with a wow feeling.

No wonder, an entire generation of young chefs looks up to Mehrotra for inspiration and even before Sadhu opened his restaurant up in the hills, he had 380 reservation requests sitting in his email account.

Today, Sadhu has patrons flying in from Chennai and Bengaluru to experience his five-hour meals, and the residents of the village, scenting money, are already constructing additional floors on top of their houses to inveigle those who come to the restaurant to spend some days in that little slice of paradise.
Chinas economic data paints a concerning picture for both its manufacturing and services sectors. The manufacturing PMI has remained at 49.5 for the second month in a row, indicating a persistent contraction. Alongside manufacturing, the services sector too has slowed to its lowest point in five months. This dual-sector slump underscores the pressing need for Chinas policymakers to adopt a more robust and nuanced approach to stimulate the economy. The manufacturing sector, traditionally a pillar of Chinas economic might, is struggling despite strong export performance.

The National Bureau of Statistics data reveals that while production managed to stay above the contraction threshold, critical indicators such as new orders, raw material stocks, and employment remain in the negative territory. This imbalance suggests that the current export momentum is not sufficient to drive a comprehensive recovery. The manufacturing sectors woes are compounded by weak external and domestic demand, which prevents a rebound in producer prices. In the services sector, the picture is equally bleak. The non-manufacturing PMI, which includes both services and construction, dropped to 50.5, the lowest since December. The services PMI, in particular, has slipped to 50.2, indicating a significant slowdown. This decline reflects a cautious consumer base and a temporary boost from the Labour Day holiday, which failed to generate sustained growth.

Given these challenges, it is evident that Chinas current policy measures are insufficient. While the central bank has announced a relending programme for affordable housing to address the property market crisis, broader fiscal measures are needed. The reliance on property as a growth engine is increasingly untenable, and new strategies must be developed to invigorate other sectors of the economy. Fiscal policy should take the lead in this recovery effort. With limited room for monetary easing due to currency pressures, the government must consider issuing more debt to fund stimulus measures. However, this approach is not without risks. High local government debt and deflationary pressures pose significant threats to long-term economic stability. Policymakers must strike a delicate balance between stimulating growth and maintaining fiscal health. One potential avenue for sustainable growth lies in fostering new industries. Premier Li Qiang recently highlighted the importance of developing new growth engines to reduce the economys reliance on traditional sectors like property. This strategy is essential for creating a more resilient economic structure that can better withstand future shocks.

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As China approaches the Third Plenum in mid-July, where top Communist Party officials will gather to discuss the nations economic direction, there is hope that more decisive and forward-thinking policies will emerge. The meeting presents an opportunity for China to reassess its economic priorities and implement measures that can drive longterm growth. As the world watches, Chinas policymakers must demonstrate bold leadership to navigate these turbulent times and set the stage for a more stable and prosperous future.
The turmoil within the Democratic Party over President Joe Bidens debate performance against challenger and former President Donald Trump on June 27 has sparked a critical conversation about the future of the partys leadership. This debate performance, marked by stumbles and an overall lack of vigour on Mr Bidens part, has amplified existing concerns about the Presidents ability to lead the party into the next election. The reactions from top Democrats, particularly during a private call with Democratic National Committee (DNC) members, reveal a troubling disconnect between the party leadership and its broader base.

Top Democratic officials, including DNC chairman Jaime Harrison and Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, appear to be dismissing the legitimate concerns raised by party members. Instead of addressing the debates shortcomings and the subsequent wave of criticism, they opted for a positive spin, projecting confidence in Mr Bidens path forward. This approach has left many within the party feeling gas-lighted, as they are being asked to overlook clear signs of trouble. This attitude of dismissing internal dissent is problematic. For a party that prides itself on inclusivity and responsiveness to its base, ignoring such a significant issue is counterproductive. The Democratic Party must recognise that concerns about Mr Bidens performance and stamina are not just media-fuelled hysteria but genuine worries from its core supporters.

Failing to address such issues head-on risks alienating the very people who are crucial to a successful campaign. Moreover, the insistence on maintaining an optimistic outlook, despite clear evidence of struggle, does little to inspire confidence among the electorate. Voters need to see a party that is realistic about its challenges and proactive in addressing them. This means acknowledging Mr Bidens weaknesses and openly discussing potential strategies to overcome them, rather than brushing them under the rug. The call for Mr Biden to step aside in favour of a younger candidate is not an attack on his achievements but a strategic consideration for the partys future. Figures like Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer represent a new generation of leadership that could energise the base and appeal to a broader demographic.

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Their continued support for Mr Biden is commendable, but the party must be willing to have difficult conversations about succession and leadership dynamics. Furthermore, the Democratic Party should not underestimate the political landscapes volatility. While Mr Bidens favorability ratings might not have dramatically shifted post-debate, the perception of leadership weakness can have longterm consequences. The partys strategists and donors are right to be anxious, and their voices should be part of the broader strategic discourse. In the face of these challenges, the Democratic Party has an opportunity to demonstrate resilience and adaptability. This requires more than just cheerleading; it demands substantive engagement with the concerns of its members and a willingness to explore all options for ensuring electoral success. Mr Bidens performance should serve as a wake-up call to him, his family and supporters
Operator MTN Nigeria is widely reported in the African press to be building a 1,500-rack Tier IV data centre in Lagos, which would make it West Africas largest data centre.

As ever, the need for expanded data processing capabilities has been put down to significant growth in data usage and the emergence of new services.

Quoted in the Nairametrics news service, the CTO of MTN Nigeria, Mohammed Rufai, apparently said: Businesses that require data centre capacity can now forgo maintaining their server rooms. Our facility will provide the space and services needed, enabling companies to digitalise their operations and improve efficiency,

He added that the facility will enhance the delivery of content from the likes of Meta and Google, bringing content closer to Nigerian users and improving access speeds.

He also suggested it would enable businesses, particularly MSMEs, to leverage cloud services and other digital solutions, and that MTN is ready to partner with startups and MSMEs.

The data centre will be carrier-neutral for connection to several ISPs and cloud service providers. Other specifications, not to mention completion dates, construction partners and equipment providers, have not yet been shared.

But, of course, the environment was not overlooked in the announcement. Rufai said the data centre signals MTNs commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. The plan is that it will eventually utilise efficient cooling systems and a combination of traditional energy sources, gas and renewable energy, that will significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

The Data Centre Dynamics website says MTN Nigeria already has one data centre in Lagos. It adds that Africa Data Centres, INQ Digital, Medallion Communication, IS Nigeria and MainOne also operate data centres in Lagos, while Airtel and its Nxtra subsidiary began construction on a data centre in the city earlier this year.
Ever since, the employed class in Central government and state governments started feeling the pinch of the new pension scheme, which neither guarantees the principle amount nor the interest thereon at a fixed rate, nor offers a family pension to the deceased pensioner, the political parties that were not in power or craving to be in power promised that they would bring back the old pension scheme that guarantees a maximum fifty per cent of the last salary drawn to employees if they worked for a full term, and a family pension to their spouses after the death of pensioners.

The current pensions system which is also called New Pension Scheme (NPS) is contribution-based, which is invested in the market and returns on which are subject to market risks. That is not in fine print but boldly explained when the NPS was introduced in 2004. State governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh have informed the Central Government/Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA) about their decision to revert to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for their government employees. Rahul Gandhi too sounded a shift to OPS if he was elected to power.

The Andhra Pradesh government is the one that promised to get back to OPS during the 2018 elections but went back on its stand, and now Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, who is an ally of Prime Minister Modi, is doubtful if he could revert to the old system. Historically, with the assurance to offer workers in the informal sector a comprehensive contributory social security vehicle, a new pension scheme was designed with the engagement of private financial companies in January 2004. Instead, it was directly thrust on employees in the Central and State Government, and Public Sector organisations. Two decades after it was introduced, the participants in the scheme are now realising that the NPS is neither social nor secure.

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Neither the government, nor the trade unions, nor even the beneficiaries ~ the employees of state and central governments ~ heeded economists hints and analytical advice at that time. There was a reason why they were silent. The first point was that todays agitators or participants had not raised their voices because the scheme was announced before they joined government service. Then it was specifically stated that the NPS would be applicable only to employees hired on or after 1 January 2004; thus, there was no case for the already employed to agitate for the stoppage of the NPS. There was a reason why the previous employees did not raise their voices. They were promised that their retirement benefits would not be affected by the changes.

The entrants had no voice; they obviously looked only at the government job on offer and not at the retiral benefits. They were neither unionised nor were they in one geographical place to unite and fight, nor were they members of already existing unions. Thus, they became voiceless. The second point was that the central government was under pressure to park its funds in the private money market under the threat that pension payments on a later date would exceed the other commitments of the government because the pensioners were not dying early and the ageing population was a ticking time bomb. The New Pension Scheme was more about politics and confusion than mathematics and actuarial valuations, as it appears to us. The history of the NPS is not appealing to anyone concerned with the old age income and survivor benefits of retired government employees. The evening years of their lives were gradually and quietly dimmed.

How wise the Government of India is incomprehensible even today when it is paying contributions to the new entrants, and pensions to the old cohorts, maintaining individual accounts, investing the funds in the market, observing the market fluctuations, paying commissions to the private fund managers and so on. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, launched Project OASIS (Old Age Social and Income Security) in August 1998, claiming its stake as a provider of old-age security to the population as a measure of social justice. The original mandate and focus of the Project OASIS expert committee was on the ninety per cent of workers who were not covered by any pension scheme in India; however, it made a departure from its mandate and made a paradigm shift in advising reforms to civil service pensions in India on the premise that the governments finances were under pressure due to an ageing civil service.

The project work was assigned to a privately managed economic foundation in Mumbai, with interests in financial and capital market education in India, as well as encouraging private investments and private fund managers. The foundation believed that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment recognised that poverty alleviation programmes aimed at the elderly alone cannot solve their income and social security problems; the problem must be addressed through thrift and self-help, in which the people save for old age during their working lives. The governments role in this endeavour could be to build the necessary institutional infrastructure in collaboration with the private sector to enable and encourage each citizen to take on this task.

Based on the foregoing, the expert committee under Project OASIS proposed an individual contribution-based, non-benefit guaranteed, non-return guaranteed, non-accumulation guaranteed pension scheme for the unorganised sector, to be managed by private fund managers, in which contributions of Rs 5 to Rs 10 per day per worker flowing into the system was expected to generate wealth for their old age. If it were to be accepted and implemented, a major advocacy campaign would be required to rally support from informal workers, collect their shares, invest in the markets, earn profits, and ask them to wait until they reached the age of sixty. Instead, the private foundation targeted government employees across the country, where money could flow into their investment businesses instantly with a single government order; and they were successful in convincing the government to replace the old defined benefit social security pension with contributionbased NPS for civil servants hired on or after 1 January 2004.

The General Provident Fund was abolished and replaced with a voluntary Tier II benefit under the new pension system. The New Pension Scheme would operate on a defined contribution basis and have two tiers. Tier I is required for all government employees who begin their careers on or after 1 January 2004. In Tier I, government employees must contribute 10 per cent of their basic pay, Dearness Pay, and Dearness Allowance, which will be deducted from their monthly salary. The government will make a matching contribution. At exit, he must invest 40 per cent of his pension wealth in an annuity (from an IRDA-regulated Life Insurance Company), which will provide pension for the employee and his dependent parents for the rest of his life. If a government employee leaves the scheme before reaching the age of 60, the mandatory annuity would be 80 per cent of the pension wealth. The quantum of benefit is not defined.

This is a departure from a defined benefit pension scheme. In the old system, government employees knew that their pension would be 50 per cent of their last salary if they served at least 25 years or proportionate to the service. The benefit in NPS is unknown. Neither the return on accumulated capital nor the return on investment is guaranteed. In addition, there is no family pension. According to the original proposals, employee contributions would be invested in the market of their choosing. Employees financial literacy issues were ignored. The funniest part is that under the old system the government paid pensions to employees only after they retired. The burden of all employees was not immediate, and the Government did not feel the burden.

It was treated as deferred wages. In the new system the government pays a monthly contribution to private fund managers under NPS, in addition to regular pension to the old cohorts. The burden on the exchequer has increased rather than decreased. Only the NPS designers know how wise the decision was to carry two burdens at a time under the guise of reducing the burden on the state exchequer. Now as all the old cohorts whose mouths were shut by not including them in the NPS by the then BJP Government are retiring and obtaining the benefits of OPS, and the new entrants under NPS nearing retirements start demanding equity, a time bomb is ticking which will have to be addressed by the current government. Can it do so?

(The writer is former International Senior Advisor, United Nations Development Programme)
In a tragic incident, as many as 116 people were killed and dozens others were injured after a stampede broke out during a satsang of Bhole Baba in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident took place after the satsang was over and people were leaving. They were stopped by the security men to allow the convoy of the religious preacher to leave first.

Seeing the Bhole Babas convoy leaving, people rushed towards him to have his darshan, which led to the stampede. After the incident, Bhole Baba reportedly went into hiding.

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Who is Bhole Baba?

Religious preacher Bhole Baba, who came to Hathras for the programme, is a resident of Bahadur Nagar of Patiali in Kasganj district.

His original name is SP Singh. He worked in the Police Department as a Sub Inspector but resigned 17 years ago to start giving religious sermons.

In fact, some reports suggest that the Baba had started giving religious sermons while he was in police and left his job after his followers started increasing.

Bhole Baba and his followers generally stay away from the media. He has an ashram in Patiali. Over the last few years, especially after the corona lockdown, his followers rapidly grew in number.

Most of his followers are people from poor and marginalised communities. The Baba has followers from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as well. His religious events are mostly organised by his followers, who deliberately avoid media coverage for their events.
Statewide crime statistics in Idaho show there was a 5% decrease in offenses in 2023 from the previous year.

Idaho State Police release its 2023 crime report that showed a decline in group A offenses, which includes crimes such as murder, rape, assault and human trafficking. Statewide, there were 75,639 group A offenses in 2023, the lowest in the last five years.

Other offenses also saw a decrease, including a 2% dip in violent crime, 11% drop in crimes against property and a 3% decrease in crime against persons, which includes robbery, burglary, arson and fraud.

Other areas saw an increase, including a 12% increase in hate crimes and a 2% increase in crimes against society, which includes drug/narcotic offenses, gambling and pornography. There was a 3% increase in drug/narcotic violations offenses, which accounts for 50% of the crimes against society.

There was also a 3% increase in the number of law enforcement officers assaulted, with a total number of 504. Lewiston police reported 14 assaults on officers and Moscow police reported five assaults.

Nez Perce County had the highest arrest rate for the state in 2023 at 5,286. The Nez Perce County Sheriffs Office was the highest sheriffs office in the state with an arrest rate of 9,058. The Lewiston Police Department was 10th in the state for police departments with an arrest rate of 4,456.

In District 2, which includes Nez Perce, Latah, Idaho, Clearwater and Lewis counties, the highest number of offenses was larceny/theft at 749.
The MCC Boyd Tandon School of Business (BTSB) was officially inaugurated on Monday by Dr Paul Wilson, principal of the Madras Christian College. The MCC management and academic staff attended the inauguration.

Though established in 2016, BTSB now has the approval of the All India Council for Technical Education to function as a standalone management school. The school offers a two-year full-time Post Graduate Diploma in Management programme.

The school will prepare future business leaders who are society-, industry-, global-, venture- and impact-ready and are raring to go and face corporate challenges, BTSB said in a release.

BTSB was launched as a tribute to Dr Alexander John Boyd, who was the principal of MCC for 18 years from 1938 to 1956. He was a legend among his students, and his bust graces the foyer in front of the MCC principals office. While a memorial bust in itself does not mean much, the figurine attains special value because it was commissioned by a colossus among Boyds studentsDr Raja Ramanna, former director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre who oversaw Indias first nuclear weapons test in 1974, former head of the Atomic Energy Commission, and former minister of state for defence.

Indian American philanthropist Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon lent her name and financial support to the school. Tandon, a Grammy-nominated musician, and her sister Indra Nooyi, former PepsiCo chief, are alumnae of MCC.

In 2015, Tandon and her husband, Ranjan Tandon, had donated $100 million to the NYU Tandon School of Engineering at New York University.
In January 2023, almost 18 months ago, Hindenburg Research rattled the Adani Group, alleging brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme. Even as the ports-to-power conglomerate denied the allegations, the ensuing sell-off wiped off billions of dollars in market value of its listed entities, although the shares have recovered since then. Now comes a twist in the tale, with Hindenburg pointing fingers at one of India's largest private sector lenders, Kotak.

Kotak Bank created and oversaw the offshore fund structure used by Hindenburg's investor partner to bet against Adani, the US-based short seller alleged on July 1. These claims have been denied by Kotak Mahindra International Limited.

The allegations against Kotak were a part of a wider blog post where Hindenburg disclosed that it had received a show cause notice from markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in the Adani Group matter.

Hindenburg said the letter from the regulator outlined "suspected violations of Indian regulations."

What was the Adani Hindenburg Case?

In January 2023, Hindenburg released a report on the Adani Group, where in it alleged a vast network of offshore shell entities controlled by Gautam Adani's brother Vinod and close associates. As per Hindenburg's allegations, "billions were surreptitiously moved through these entities, into and out of Adani public and private entities, often without related-party disclosures."

The report further claimed how a network of opaque offshore fund operators surreptitiously helped Adani evade minimum shareholder listing rules. A huge sell-off in listed Adani Group stocks followed in the next few weeks.

Adani has always denied Hindenburg's allegations, calling the report malicious, mischievous and unresearched.

Did Hindenburg make millions from shorting Adani stocks and bonds?

Reports had earlier claimed that the research firm had multiple investor partners and they all had made millions of dollars from shorting Adani Group securities. On Tuesday, Hindenburg clarified that it had only one investor relationship in its Adani thesis and that it made only $4.1 million in gross revenue through gains related to Adani shorts.

"We made just $31,000 through our own short of Adani US bonds held into the report. Net of legal and research expenses (including time, salaries/compensation, and costs for a 2-year global investigation) we may come out ahead of breakeven on our Adani short," Hindenburg has claimed.

Latest Allegations against SEBI, Kotak Bank

Hindenburg's latest post follows a show cause notice it says it had received from SEBI.

The firm said to this day, Adani has failed to address its allegations.

Hindenburg went on to target the regulator, who it said instead of "meaningfully pursuing the parties that ran a secret offshore shell empire engaging in billions of dollars of undisclosed related party transactions through public companies while propping up its stocks through undisclosed share ownership via a network of sham investment entities" seemed "more interested in pursuing those who expose such practices."

READ MORE: What Hindenburg said about Kotak Bank after SEBI show cause notice over Adani Group report

Much of the notice seemed designed to imply that its legal and disclosed investment stance was something secret or insidious, or to advance novel legal arguments claiming jurisdiction over it, Hindenburg said.

"While SEBI seemingly tied itself in knots to claim jurisdiction over us, its notice conspicuously failed to name the party that has an actual tie to India: Kotak Bank, one of Indias largest banks and brokerage firms founded by Uday Kotak, which created and oversaw the offshore fund structure used by our investor partner to bet against Adani," said Hindenburg.

Instead, according to Hindenburg, SEBI simply named the K-India Opportunities fund and masked the Kotak name with the acronym KMIL.

What does Kotak say on Hindenburg's allegations?

K-India Opportunities Fund (KIOF) is a SEBI-registered foreign portfolio investor and is regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius, a spokesperson for Kotak Mahindra International said on Tuesday.

The fund, established in 2013 to enable foreign clients to invest in India, follows due KYC procedures while onboarding clients and all its investments are made in accordance with applicable laws, the spokesperson said.

"Kotak Mahindra International Limited (KMIL) and KIOF unequivocally state that Hindenburg has never been a client of the firm nor has it ever been an investor in the fund. The fund was never aware that Hindenburg was a partner of any of its investors. KMIL has also received a confirmation and declaration from the fund's investor that its investments were made as a principal and not on behalf of any other person," the KMIL spokesperson added.

Despite Kotak's clarifications, Kotak Mahindra Bank shares tumbled 2.4 per cent on Tuesday to close at Rs 1,765.75. The broader BSE Sensex closed around 35 points or 0.04 per cent lower.

Adani Group shares ended mixed. While, Adani Enterprises and Adani Power were down around 1 per cent, Adani Ports ended flat. Adani Wilmar, Adani Green Energy, Adani Energy Solutions and Adani Total Gas closed higher.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to respond on Tuesday evening to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. The debate had commenced on Monday morning, which saw Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi give a fiery speech, wherein he took a dig at the BJP, stating those who call themselves Hindus are engaged in "violence and hate" round the clock.

The debate on the Motion of Thanks could not begin on Friday due to repeated disruptions caused by the opposition over the NEET exam paper leak issue.

The Prime Minister's reply is widely anticipated as Rahul's bold speech on Monday generated political heat, with the BJP accused him of 'Hindu hatred and lies'. The Congress, however, clapped back at the BJP, stating that it was distorting Rahul's speech and that the party shouldn't forget that "2/3 of the Hindus voted against it."

In his speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Rahul took a dig at the BJP, stating those who call themselves Hindus are engaged in "violence and hate" round the clock. His remarks drew massive protests from the members of the treasury benches, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said "calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious charge."

Many BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, rallied against Rahul's remarks, calling him to apologise for "hurting" not just the community but the "soul of Mother India". He also accused the Congress leader of defaming UP and Ayodhya.

The RSS too slammed Rahul Gandhi for his "not Hindus" jibe at the ruling BJP, stating it was "unfortunate" that the leader of the opposition linked Hindutva with violence. RSS functionary Sunil Ambekar said people occupying important positions linking Hindutva with violence is unfortunate." "Whether it is the Hindutva of (Swami) Vivekananda or (Mahatma) Gandhi, it is a symbol of harmony and brotherhood," he added.

Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of denigrating the responsible position with his "extremely irresponsible" speech in the Lok Sabha. They also accused Gandhi of inflicting "grave insult" on the Hindus by allegedly linking them with violence and spreading untruth.

However, the Congress hit back at the BJP for "distorting" the speech, saying the ruling party will not be able to sell falsehoods and will have to answer on issues such as the medical entrance exam NEET and Agniveer.

Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said two-third Hindus had voted against the BJP and asserted they are Hindus but know that "you are not Hindu".

Khera also took a swipe at BJP, asking it to "shut down its IT cell as the people were not falling prey to the "misinformation" spread by it. "Shut the IT cell and save money, you will need it as soon you will have to sit in the opposition, not many years, not many months are left," Khera said.
Around 80 people went to Moscows Friendship Square to show their support for libraries on the day a controversial Idaho library law goes into effect.

Monday was the first day libraries must obey Idaho House Bill 710, a new law that prohibits materials in libraries that are deemed harmful to minors.

Those who spoke at Mondays event in Moscow expressed concerns about this law taking away freedom of choice for local libraries and parents. They also said it opens up libraries to costly lawsuits.

HB 710 has the potential to overwhelm our libraries with costly legal battles, said Gretchen Wissner, chairperson of the Latah County Democrats. In fact, every library contains a book that will offend someone within their community.

She mentioned that Donnelly Public Library announced it will be an adults-only library because of the new law. The library later announced plans to allow unsupervised children if their parents or guardians sign a waiver.

Saba Baig, vice chairperson of the Latah County Library Board, said libraries should not be partisan and that patrons should be allowed to make their own decisions about what to read.

(Libraries) are not here to serve one viewpoint or one demographic or one community, she said.

Baig said Latah Countys libraries already have a rigorous collection development policy that filters out obscene materials. This law, however, puts these libraries at risk of lawsuits and censorship.
After Gen Upendra Dwivedi took charge as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff on Sunday, four of the seven Army commandsCentral Command, Southern Command, South-Western Command and Training Commandsaw leadership changes. Besides, Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani succeeded Gen Dwivedi as the new Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

The new VCAS

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen Subramani was heading the Central Command of the Army before assuming charge as the new VCAS.

He attended the Joint Services Command Staff College, Bracknell (the UK) and the National Defence College, New Delhi. Lt Gen Subramani holds a Master of Arts Degree from King's College, London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from the Madras University.

According to the Army, Lt Gen Subramani has a deep understanding of operational dynamics on both the Western and Northern borders.

He was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in 1985, and in a military career spanning more than 37 years, Lt Gen Subramani held a number of key positions, including that of a brigade major of a mountain brigade, assistant military secretary in the Military Secretary Branch, Colonel General Staff at headquarters Eastern Command, deputy director general of Military Intelligence in the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence and Brigadier General Staff in Eastern Command.

Lt Gen Subramani commanded a battalion during 'Operation Rhino' in Assam, an infantry brigade along the international boundary with Pakistan, and a 'Black Cat' division in North East India.

He has been a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service to the country.

The new Central Command

Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, UYSM, AVSM, YSM assumed the command of the #CentralCommand, today. On the occasion, #ArmyCommander paid homage to the #Bravehearts at #SMRITIKA War Memorial in Lucknow and reviewed the Guard of Honour. He exhorted all Ranks to continue working pic.twitter.com/1sOwtTRj2k  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024

Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta replaced Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-In-C) in Lucknow Cantonment on Monday.

He previously commanded the 14 Corps based at Leh. Lt Gen Sengupta was commissioned in the Punjab Regiment in 1987. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

During his career, he commanded an Infantry Battalion in the counter-insurgency environment, and an Infantry Brigade Group in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Army Training Command

Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma, AVSM, SM assumed the command of Army Training Command #ARTRAC, today. The #ArmyCommander reviewed a Military Guard of Honour at #Annandale, #Shimla. He exhorted All Ranks to continue working with utmost zeal and enthusiasm.#IndianArmy pic.twitter.com/bWjnP9nEtC  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024

Lt Gen Devendra Sharma has been appointed as the 25th General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Shimla-based Army Training Command (ARTRAC).

An alumnus of the Mayo College, Ajmer, the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen Sharma is a recipient of the coveted 'Sword of Honour'.

He has held important command appointments in varied sensitive operational sectors, counter-terrorism environments, and high-altitude terrains.

Lt Gen Sharma was conferred with the Ati Vishist Seva Medal for his exemplary leadership and devotion to duty towards the nation, in 2022. He was also awarded the Central Army Commander's Commendation Card and the UN Force Commander's Appreciation.

South Western Command

Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, AVSM, YSM, VSM assumed the command of #SaptaShaktiCommand, today. In a solemn ceremony, Army Commander paid tribute to the #Bravehearts at #PrernaSthal, #JaipurMilitaryStation & reviewed the Guard of Honour. #ArmyCdr exhorted all ranks of South pic.twitter.com/Jl7iOSmUc6  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024

Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh assumed charge of the Sapta Shakti Command on Monday.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lt Gen Singh was commissioned in December 1986.

He commanded his battalion in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, an infantry brigade on the Line of Control, an infantry division as part of the Desert Strike Corps and also the corps deployed on the Line of Control in counter- insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt Gen Singh has been a recipient of Yudh Seva Medal in 2015, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2019 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024.

The new Southern Command

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, AVSM assumed the command of #SouthernCommand of the #IndianArmy today. In a solemn ceremony, #ArmyCommander paid tribute to the #Bravehearts at Command War Memorial & reviewed the Guard of Honour. The #ArmyCdr exhorted all ranks to remain focused pic.twitter.com/0dgRmBHWfA  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 1, 2024

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth took charge as the 51st General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Pune-headquartered Southern Command on Monday.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (Pune) and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth was commissioned into 2nd Lancers on December 20, 1986.

Lieutenant General Seth has attended the Defence Services Command and General Staff Course at Military College, Paris, France, International Defence Acquisition Management Course at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, California, USA, Higher Command Course at Mhow (MP), and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

With PTI inputs
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal charged the Delhi government is systematically dismantling the Delhi Commission for Women after her resignation from the body. The Aam Aadmi Party leader charged the Delhi government is cutting down funds for the body and has taken over the operations of 181 helpline number.



In a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Maliwal said, Delhi government has been systematically dismantling the DCW since my resignation from the position of chairperson in January 2024. It is deeply regrettable that the systems that I had painstakingly built since 2015 are being destroyed by the Government.

Maliwal said the 181 helpline set up by the commission for assisting women was arbitrarily taken over by the governments women and child development department on Monday. The 181 women helpline had a call drop of over 70 per cent when it was being handled by the chief minister's office of the Delhi government in 2016. Due to the same, the helpline was transferred to the DCW. The 181 women helpline witnessed less than 1 per cent call drops under the commission's management. Furthermore, the helpline's robust functioning, with daily call volumes of 2000-4000, has been unmatched across the country. Without a field support system, the efficiency of the helpline will diminish, translating it into a mere referral system. The lack of consultation with key stakeholders raises concerns about the WCD's approach in ensuring optimal efficiency, she said.

Maliwal said the commission faced cessation of funds after her resignation. This funding deprivation over the past six months has crippled the Commission, impeding even essential expenditures on stationery and postage. Furthermore, the dedicated female ground staff members of the Commission, many of whom are survivors of atrocities like acid attacks and sexual assault, have been deprived of their rightful salaries since November 2023, she said. Maliwal added the commissions budget was also cut down by 28.5 per cent.

The AAP MP also added the post of chairperson and two other members including that of a Dalit member has been lying vacant since her resignation. Maliwal sought Kejriwal's intervention in the issue.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals plea challenging his arrest in the liquor policy case.



Hearing the plea, Justice Neena Bansal Krishnaof Delhi High Court directed the central agency to file a reply within seven days and any rejoinder within two days thereafter, Live Law reported. The Court will be next hearing the case on July 17.

The central agency arrested the Aam Aadmi Party leader on June 26 from Tihar jail in a corruption case registered in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. The Court has remanded Kejriwal till July 12 in the case. The Delhi CM is already serving remand in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the scam.

Though a trial court granted bail to Kejriwal in EDs case, it was later stayed by the Delhi High Court observing the trial court did not look into all aspects of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act while granting bail.

The excise policy was scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and corruption involving its formulation and execution.

According to the CBI and ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours extended to the licence holders. BRS leader K. Kavitha and former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia have also been arrested in connection with the case.
The election to Maharashtra legislative council, scheduled to take place on July 12, is going to be an interesting contest as 12 candidates are in fray for 11 vacant seats.

These members of the legislative council will be elected by members of the legislative assembly, the lower house.

The BJP has fielded five candidates while the Shiv Sena and the NCP have fielded two each. The Congress and the Shiv Sena UBT have fielded one each while the Peasants and Workers Party has also fielded one candidate. NCP Sharad Pawar has announced its support to the PWP candidate.

The BJP candidates in fray are former state minister Pankaja Munde, who recently lost Lok Sabha elections from Beed constituency; former state minister Parinay Fuke; former legislator Yogesh Tilekar; former minister Sadabhau Khot and Amit Gorkhe. Of these five, three are from OBC category, one is a Maratha and one is from Matang community in the scheduled castes category.

It is clear that the BJP has made an all out efforts to woo the OBC communities by fielding three OBC candidates including Munde. The BJP generally does not give legislative council or Rajya Sabha tickets to those who lose an election. However, the state leadership of the party has made an exception this time by giving a ticket to Munde who had lost her assembly seat in 2019 and also Lok Sabha seat in the recent parliament elections.

The BJP has the ability to get all its candidates elected as it has 103 MLAs of its own and also has the support of independent MLAs.

To win in this legislative council election, a candidate must get 23 first preference votes from the MLAs.

The Shiv Sena has fielded Krupal Tumane and Bhavana Gawli, both former MPs who were denied tickets for Lok sabha. Both of them can get elected as the party led by Eknath Shinde has adequate number votes from their own MLAs and independents

NCP has fielded Shivajirao Garje and Rajesh Vitekar. Both would require 46 votes to get elected but NCP has 41 MLA votes, so it remains to be seen as to how Ajit Pawar manages the additional 5-6 votes for his candidates.

Congress has fielded Pradnya Satav, wife of late Congress MP Rajiv Satav. The party has the required number of votes to get Satav elected .

The Shiv Sena UBT has fielded Milind Narvekar, a long time trusted aide of Uddhav Thackeray. And, PWP has fielded its president Jayant Patil. PWP has the support of NCP Sharad Pawar so those 15-16 votes will go to Jayant Patil. Similarly, the Shiv Sena UBT has 16 votes which will go to Milind Narvekar. Thus either Patil or Narvekar could fall short of seven votes in order to get elected. The additional votes from Congress can go either to Patil or to Narvekar to make one of them win.

So it will be interesting to see who among Jayant Patil or Milind Narvekar emerges as winner on July 12.
Amid the political slugfest over Rahul Gandhi's maiden speech in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, several portions of his address have been expunged from the record.

These include portions targetting the NDA government, including minorities, NEET row and the Agnipath Scheme. Rahul's remarks on Hindus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS and industrialists Adani and Ambani have also been expunged from the records.



Rahul Gandhi's speech which lasted for about an hour and 40 minutes also stoked controversy, wherein he took a dig at the BJP, stating those who call themselves Hindus are engaged in "violence and hate" round the clock. His remarks drew massive protests from the members of the treasury benches, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said "calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious charge."



#WATCH | On portions of his speech expunged, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "In Modi ji's world, truth can be expunged. But in reality, the truth can't be expunged. I said what I had to say, that is the truth. They can expunge as much as they want. Truth is truth." pic.twitter.com/AcR3xRN6d5  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

To the portions of his speech being expunged, Rahul Gandhi said "truth can't be expunged".



"In Modi ji's world, truth can be expunged. But in reality, the truth can't be expunged. I said what I had to say, that is the truth. They can expunge as much as they want. Truth is truth," he told reporters on Tuesday.

The Congress leader later wrote a letter to Speaker Om Birla, requesting him to restore his remarks. The letter reads, "...Shocked to note the manner in which considerable portion of my speech have been simply taken off from the proceedings under the garb of expunction. Taking off from records my considered remarks goes against the very tenets of parliamentary democracy," Rahul added.

He also cited BJP MP Anurag Thakur's speech, says it was full of allegations but surprisingly only one word was expunged.

Besides Rahul, parts of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's speech were also expunged. Kharge lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday for his poll speeches and also levelled allegations against the ruling BJP's ideological parent RSS.

During his speech in the Upper House of Parliament on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Kharge mentioned comments made by Modi in his election rallies and presented statistics showing the number of times the prime minister referred to minorities and Pakistan.



The Rajya Sabha chairman asked him to authenticate his assertions and refused to accept newspaper clippings that the Congress leader showed to buttress his points. Though Congress leader P Chidambaram asked Dhankar how an opposition MP could authenticate what Modi said other than by citing news reports, the Chair, however, did not accept the arguments and expunged the remarks made by Kharge from the records.' Dhankhar also defended the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calling it an organisation engaged in working for the nation.
Many parts of Central India, including Madhya Pradesh, will continue to receive heavy monsoon showers in the coming days, thanks to a trough line passing from South Gujarat to Central Madhya Pradesh. This comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warn the country could experience above-normal rainfall in July.

According to Bhopal-based IMD scientist V S Yadav, a trough line is passing from South Gujarat to Central Madhya Pradesh due to which a lot of moisture is arriving. "Another trough line is passing from Punjab to Mizoram which is going through Uttar Pradesh. Due to all these systems, good rain is expected in Madhya Pradesh but no heavy rainfall alert has been issued today," he added.

As for the Southwest monsoon, it has advanced into more parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab.

The IMD had also warned that above-normal rainfall indicated a higher probability of very heavy rainfall in certain areas, resulting in floods in the western Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.

According to IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, floods in these regions can have devastating impacts. "This is the region where you can have devastating impacts in terms of cloudbursts, heavy rainfall leading to landslides, floods, etc. Many rivers also originate here. In central India too, we are expecting above-normal rainfall in Godavari, Mahanadi and other river basins. So the probability of floods there is high," Mohapatra said.

Latest Satellite imagery detects convective clouds leading to possibility of:

(i)Light to moderate rainfall at many places (occasional intense spell) accompanied with isolated thunderstorm & lightning over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Northeast Jharkhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal(1/4) pic.twitter.com/4151lDYRCH  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) July 2, 2024

IMD alerts

The IMD has also predicted isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh till July 5. The IMD hinted at the possibility of heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh on July 2, in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan over the next three days.

Delhi weather

The meteorological department has issued an "orange" alert in Delhi for the next two days even as the capital did not receive rain on Monday despite a prediction of showers.

In a post on X, private weather-forecasting agency Skymet said, "The past two days have seen some respite from the downpours in Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region). However, weather experts predict a resurgence in rain activity, likely intensified rainfall over Delhi starting from July 2."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met MPs of the National Democratic Alliance in Delhi, ahead of the Lok Sabha session on Tuesday and said the Opposition is unhappy that a non-Congress leader became prime minister for a third term.

#WATCH | PM Modi welcomed by NDA leaders at the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting in Delhi pic.twitter.com/dRZnJ7yHzv  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

Addressing the MPs, Modi asked MPs to study any issue before making comments on it before the media and said they should stay in touch with constituencies and thank voters for their support.

Modi also asked MPs to visit the prime ministers' museum, noting that it documents the life journey of all prime ministers, something which was not done by earlier governments.

#WATCH | Delhi | BJP MP & Union Minister Amit Shah arrives for NDA Parliamentary Party meeting pic.twitter.com/ILDkIBy72Q  ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

Addressing presspersons after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "PM urged NDA MPs to follow rules of the parliament, parliamentary democracy system and conduct which is essential to becoming a good MP."

Rijiju added Modi did not mention about Rahul Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha yesterday. However, he added, "The manner in which LoP Rahul Gandhi behaved yesterday, turned his back towards the Speaker, spoke out of rules and insulted the Speaker is something that people of our party, the NDA should not do."

The NDA parliamentary party met in Delhi on Tuesday, the first of the current government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed to the meeting with applause.

While the BJP won 240 seats, its allies won 53, leading to the NDA comfortably crossing the halfway mark in the 543-member House. All MPs were notified about the meeting and urged to attend the meeting.

The NDA meeting comes amid discussions going on in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address to a joint sitting of Parliament.


Along with Al-Shifa Hospitals director, 54 other Palestinians were released on Monday by the Israeli forces in order to clear up the overcrowded prisons. Those released shared heart-wrenching accounts of their experiences, recounting the unbearable torture, humiliation, and struggles they faced during their time behind bars.

Al-Shifa Hospital Director Muhammad Abu Salmiya said he was tortured while held in prison. Even those who have been detained for more than 10 years have been deprived of their rights and many were killed under interrogation, said Salmiya.

Salmiya was held in Israeli captivity without proper charges for seven months. Israeli forces alleged that the hospital director had facilitated Hamas to operate a command centre from the hospital. However, Salmiya and other health officials had denied the allegations.

Recalling the horrors in Israeli prisons, Faraj al-Samouni, said he wished none of the detainees had to go through interrogation.

It is nothing but utter torture; total torment. May God help those detainees being interrogated by Israels internal security service. Tortured, battered and our genitals beaten. Verbally and physically abused; only God knows. For Gods sake, set them free and release them from that hell, Faraj al-Samouni was quoted by Al-Jazeera.

He further described the prison conditions as unimaginable. Around 30 detainees were kept in one cell. Cramped, with a bare minimum of food given, diseases broke out in the prison.

We were given only one cup of rice per day, a piece of tomato and a piece of cucumber, with a small loaf of bread, he said.

Another detainee released by Israel said that they used all torture methods during interrogation. At one point I thought it was better to just die rather than suffer unbearable pain away from family and loved ones. We dont even know if anyone we know is still alive with the ongoing attacks, he said.

Many Palestinians released had similar accounts.

Many of the medical staff arrested have been denied food, water and medicine. The Israelis have no red lines. They deal with detainees like theyre objects, not human beings. Even the Israeli medics are involved in the beatings, said Salmiya.

Guards used batons to beat detainees and terrorised them with dogs. Due to poor medical attention, some detainees had their arms and limbs amputated. Salmiya said he suffered a head injury due to a guards beating.

Meanwhile, there was an uproar over the release of Selmiya in the Netanyahu government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said Selmiya belongs in prison and a thorough review had to be done before releasing the detainees.

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's far-right national security minister controls the country's police and prison service. Gvir blamed the Defence Ministry for Selmiyas release. However, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant's office said prisoner releases are the responsibility of the prison service and the Shin Bet internal security agency.

Palestinians evacuate Khan Younis

After Israel's evacuation orders, Palestinians are fleeing from districts in Khan Younis to the east of Gaza's second-biggest city. Israel's order signals the launch of a new ground assault in the Gaza Strip.

Though Khan Younis was attacked earlier, a large number of Palestinians have since moved back when the Rafah offensive began. Many of the Khan Younis residents sought shelter in Rafah when the city was targeted by the Israeli troops.

Claiming to have destroyed Hamas battalions in the city, Israeli forces had withdrawn from the city earlier this year.

Amid the uproar over Abu Selmia's release, the various Israeli state organs responsible for detentions scrambled to shift blame.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has claimed that it foiled a plot aimed at overthrowing the Kyiv government by triggering a riot. The statement posted on Telegram by the domestic intelligence agency said four people have been arrested in connection.

Kyiv had earlier too accused the Kremlin of orchestrating coup attempts and covert campaigns to destabilise the government.



The SBU statement, which did not offer details, said it unearthed a group of conspirators who were planning to spark a riot before taking over the Parliament building and replacing the country's military and civilian leadership, reported Western news media.

Weapons and ammunition, as well as cellphones, computers and other records with evidence of criminal action, were seized, the statement added. They added that the current scheme "would have played in Russias hands."



The Ukrainian officials described the coup organisers as "agents working on behalf of Russia" who were planning to hold "an allegedly peaceful gathering" in the capital. The leader reportedly rented a hall with a capacity of 2,000 people and recruited military personnel and armed guards from private companies to carry out the seizure of parliament.



The SBU alleged that the organiser also sought the assistance of representatives of the community organizations from Kyiv, Dnipro, and other regions.

Artem Dekhtyarenko, the spokesman for the S.B.U, added that most of those who gathered would be unaware of the plan. "Once there were several thousand people, the organisers planned to disseminate information about the unrest in Kyiv through domestic and foreign information resources. In this way, they hoped to undermine the sociopolitical situation inside our country, which would play in favour of Russia," he said in a statement.



Interestingly, the SBU made no mention of the details of the plot, including how they believed the group could seize the heavily guarded Parliament building. The officials also did not reveal the identity of the four accused in custody.



Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy had earlier claimed that his government foiled many coup plots orchestrated by Russia. This includes the one in November 2021, which according to Zelenskuy, happened just over a month before Russia invaded Ukraine. The British government had also reiterated the claims, stating Moscow was developing plans to orchestrate a coup in Ukraine to install a pro-Russian leader.



In May, SBU arrested two military officials, accusing them of taking part in an elaborate plan to kill the president and other top leaders.


Ten environmental activists who campaigned against destructive infrastructure projects and alleged corruption are now facing jail terms in Cambodia. The activists were sentenced on Tuesday to 6-8 years in prison on charges of conspiring against the state.

Three members of the Mother Nature Cambodia group were also convicted of insulting Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. They were sentenced to an additional two years in prison.

Only five of the accused attended the trial. They were arrested outside the court after the verdict. They had marched to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court with supporters in protest against the proceedings.

Phun Keoraksmey, 22, an accused, said that she was prepared to go to prison.

"But I never want to go back to jail because I never did anything wrong. But I will never run from what I am responsible for. I chose this way, I chose this path," she said.

The Cambodian human rights group Licadho termed the verdict as "disappointing".

While ruling, the court pointed out that the youth activists, today, fighting for environmental protections and democratic principles are in effect acting against the state.

Mother Nature group last year was the co-winner of the Right Livelihood Award, which is considered as the Alternative Nobel, issued by a Stockholm-based foundation to organisations and individuals working to safeguard the dignity and livelihoods of communities around the world.

In 2017, Mother Nature was deregistered as a nongovernmental organisation by the Cambodian government. While its members vowed to carry on its work, with some serving jail time in recent years.

Mother Nature has campaigned against environmentally destructive infrastructure projects, exposed corruption in the management of Cambodia's natural resources, and mobilised young Cambodians to defend the country's dwindling biodiversity, it said in a statement.

It noted that Cambodia has one of the world's highest deforestation rates.

Gonzalez-Davidson and two other defendants were charged with defaming the king in statements made during an online meeting.

Cambodia's government has long been accused of using the judicial system to persecute critics and political opponents.

Under former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who held power for almost four decades, the government was widely criticised for human rights abuses including suppression of freedom of speech. His son, Hun Manet, succeeded him last year, but there have been few signs of political liberalisation.
A panel has selected Boise artist Jay Rasgorsheks submission for a mural on the Moscow city building located on Jackson and A streets.

Rasgorsheks proposed mural scored the highest on the panels criteria, which judges the design on its relevance to Moscow, its uniqueness and its craftsmanship. It was selected out of 52 submissions.

The Moscow Arts Commission and the Moscow City Council must also approve the design. If approved by the city council, the mural is slated for installation in September.
Current and former White House aides are still shocked over President Joe Bidens performance during Thursdays debate, leading some to question whether he could fulfill a second term. Aides have carefully shielded Biden from people inside and outside the White House since the beginning of his presidency, which has resulted in intermittent access and a lack of awareness about his abilities  but nothing could shield them from his performance at the debate.

Chandler West, the White Houses former deputy director of photography, wrote on Instagram, Its time for Joe to go They will say he has a cold or just experienced a bad night, but for weeks and months, in private, they have all said what we saw last night  Joe is not as strong as he was just a couple of years ago.

Bidens closest aides, including Jill Bidens top aide Anthony Bernal and deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini, have taken additional steps to limit access to the president, even from White House residence staff. This has led to a sense of division and concern among staff members, according to Axios.

Jill Biden was so protective of the president, and then Anthony [Bernal] just protects her, and they often wouldnt let us do anything for them, one former official said.

The separation between the family and the residence staff was so big, so divided, the official added. Its not supposed to be and usually isnt, even in the Trump White House.

The White House has acknowledged Biden had a bad night during the debate but attributed it to a cold. However, some aides and former staff members have expressed concerns about Bidens ability to serve a second term, citing his obvious decline in strength and ability.

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates defended Biden, saying, President Biden fights hard for families every day, working with a wide range of team members at what he is proud is the most diverse White House ever  and achieving historic results for the American people because of his determination, values, and experience.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In a scathing editorial, The Chicago Tribune has urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, citing his struggling performance in the first debate. The editorial board described Biden as a man now struggling to maintain a line of thought and keep track of complex facts, a man who gets flustered under deadline pressure, a man who has become vulnerable and yet, at the same time, far less self-aware.

The Tribune questioned the loyalty of Democrats who continue to support Biden despite his debate performance, asking why they would pretend he is the partys best choice for four more years. For a party that loves to accuse Republicans of mendacity, its pretty rich, they wrote.

The editorial suggested that perhaps the partys plan was to test Bidens abilities with enough time to make a change before the Democratic National Convention in August. Democrats have a big problem to solve before they come to this city for a convention that theyve been desperately trying to script as precisely as possible, but that is shaping up to be considerably more dramatic than anticipated, the editorial stated.

Meanwhile, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom defended Bidens performance, telling CBS News, I will never turn my back on President Biden. I dont know a Democrat in my party that would do so.

As the dust settles after the debate, polls across the nation are signaling a change in voter perspective. A Fox News poll revealed that 87% of young voters in America believe Biden is too old to be effective as president for a second term. Democratic strategist Al Mottur warned that if Biden decides not to stay in the race, it could lead to chaos at the DNC convention.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon was taken into custody Monday after surrendering at a federal prison to begin a four-month sentence on contempt charges for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack.

Bannon arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, around noon and was formally taken into federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons said.

Speaking to reporters, Bannon called himself a political prisoner, said former President Donald Trump was very supportive of him and slammed Democrats, including Attorney General Merrick Garland.

I am proud of going to prison, Bannon said, adding he was standing up to the Garland corrupt DOJ.

Shortly before he arrived to surrender, a small group of supporters, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, gathered on the side of the road outside the prison. They cheered as Greene and Bannon spoke during a news conference, holding up flags and signs supporting Bannon as a small group of protesters shouted, Lock him up! and traitor!

The crowd was rowdy, often breaking into chants of, USA! A Biden supporter taunted Bannon by yelling traitor while Trump supporters tried to shout her down. Police had to stop traffic to allow the black SUV that Bannon was riding in to pull out of a church parking lot where Bannons supporters had gathered.

A judge had allowed Bannon to stay free for nearly two years while he appealed but ordered him to report to prison Monday after an appeals court panel upheld his contempt of Congress convictions. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected his last-minute appeal to stave off his sentence.

A jury found Bannon guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to sit for a deposition with the Jan. 6 House Committee and a second for refusing to provide documents related to his involvement in the Republican ex-presidents efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Defense attorneys have argued the case raises issues that should be examined by the Supreme Court, including Bannons previous lawyers belief that the subpoena was invalid because Trump had asserted executive privilege. Prosecutors, though, say Bannon had left the White House years before and Trump had never invoked executive privilege in front of the committee.

Bannons appeal will continue to play out, and Republican House leaders have put their support behind stepping in to assert the Jan. 6 committee was improperly created, effectively trying to deem the subpoena Bannon received as illegitimate.

Another Trump aide, trade adviser Peter Navarro, has also been convicted of contempt of Congress. He reported to prison in March to serve his four-month sentence after the Supreme Court refused his bid to delay the sentence.

Bannon is also facing criminal charges in New York state court alleging he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges, and that trial has been postponed until at least the end of September.

(AP)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday insisted that President Joe Biden can still win her state, a key battleground in the 2024 election, even as many national Democrats question whether Biden should move forward after his shaky debate performance.

Whitmers statement comes as many in her party question whether she could step in for Biden and run against Republican Donald Trump this fall. Whitmer and several other top national Democrats have publicly backed Biden since Thursdays debate.

I am proud to support Joe Biden as our nominee and I am behind him 100 percent in the fight to defeat Donald Trump, she said in her statement. Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, I know he can because hes got the receipts: hes lowered health care costs, brought back manufacturing jobs, and is committed to restoring the reproductive freedom women lost under Donald Trump.

The statement comes after Politico Magazine reported on Monday that Whitmer called Biden campaign manager Jen OMalley Dillon on Friday. It cites someone close to a potential 2028 Whitmer rival for the Democratic presidential nomination who said Michigans governor had phoned OMalley Dillon with more of an unambiguous SOS: to relay that Michigan, in the wake of the debate, was no longer winnable for Biden.

An aide to Whitmer, Helen Hare, said that the reported comment was false.

(AP)
The Supreme Court on Monday kept a hold on efforts in Texas and Florida to limit how Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube and other social media platforms regulate content posted by their users.

The justices returned the cases to lower courts in challenges from trade associations for the companies.

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 cases are among several this term in which the justices are wrestling with standards for free speech in the digital age.

The Florida and Texas laws were signed by Republican governors in the months following decisions by Facebook and Twitter, now X, to cut then-President Donald Trump off over his posts related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.

Trade associations representing the companies sued in federal court, claiming that the laws violated the platforms speech rights. One federal appeals court struck down Floridas statute, while another upheld the Texas law. But both were on hold pending the outcome at the Supreme Court.

In a statement when he signed the Florida measure into law, Gov. Ron DeSantis said it would be protection against the Silicon Valley elites.

When Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Texas law, he said it was needed to protect free speech in what he termed the new public square. Social media platforms are a place for healthy public debate where information should be able to flow freely  but there is a dangerous movement by social media companies to silence conservative viewpoints and ideas, Abbott said. That is wrong, and we will not allow it in Texas.

But much has changed since then. Elon Musk purchased Twitter and, besides changing its name, eliminated teams focused on content moderation, welcomed back many users previously banned for hate speech and used the site to spread conspiracy theories.

President Joe Bidens administration sided with the challengers, though it cautioned the court to seek a narrow ruling that maintained governments ability to impose regulations to ensure competition, preserve data privacy and protect consumer interests. Lawyers for Trump filed a brief in the Florida case that had urged the Supreme Court to uphold the state law.

The cases are among several the justices have grappled with over the past year involving social media platforms, including one decided last week in which the court threw out a lawsuit from Louisiana, Missouri and other parties accusing federal officials of pressuring social media companies to silence conservative points of view.

During arguments in February, the justices seemed inclined to prevent the laws from taking effect. Several justices suggested then that they viewed the platforms as akin to newspapers that have broad free-speech protections, rather than like telephone companies, known as common carriers, that are susceptible to broader regulation.

But two justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, appeared more ready to embrace the states arguments. Thomas raised the idea that the companies are seeking constitutional protection for censoring other speech. Alito also equated the platforms content moderation to censorship.

The justices also worried about too broad a ruling that might affect businesses that are not the primary targets of the laws, including e-commerce sites like Uber and Etsy and email and messaging services.

(AP)
A shul and synagogue in Toronto were vandalized on Sunday in what police are calling hate-motivated attacks. The Pride of Israel Synagogue, which is conservative, and Kehillas Shaarei Torah were both targeted, with rocks thrown through their windows and stained glass panels shattered.

The first incident occurred at the Pride of Israel Synagogue, where congregants arrived Sunday morning to find several windows broken and stones scattered on the bimah. The suspect, caught on security camera, was seen getting off a motorcycle and throwing rocks at the building before fleeing the area.

The second incident occurred at Shaarei Torah, which has been targeted twice since April. A vandal threw a rock through a window, and the suspect was seen fleeing the area on a motorcycle.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said that the Hate Crime Unit is investigating both incidents, which are being treated as suspected hate-motivated offenses. The police have increased their presence in the targeted areas.

The Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned the attacks, writing, These two incidents come amid a dramatic upsurge in antisemitism in Canada, including many antisemitic shootings, firebombings, bomb threats, and vandalism attacks on Jewish institutions and businesses since October 7.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the U.S. will soon announce an additional $2.3 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, to include anti-tank weapons, interceptors and munitions for Patriot and other air defense systems.

The announcement came as Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with Austin at the Pentagon. And it marks a strong response to pleas from Kyiv for help in battling Russian forces in the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia had dropped more than 800 powerful glide bombs in Ukraine in the last week alone. And he urged national leaders to relax restrictions on the use of Western weapons to strike military targets inside Russia. In particular, he said Ukraine needs the necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are.

(AP)
PULLMAN POLICE

Friday

10:10 a.m.  A vehicle prowl was reported on the 1600 block of Northwood Drive.

6:03 p.m.  Officers and firefighters extinguished a pine tree that caught ablaze from a lit cigarette on the 300 block of Terre View Drive.

9:30 p.m.  Shoplifting was reported at Walmart.

10:12 p.m.  Police responded to a fireworks complaint on the 1100 block of Grand Avenue.

* A patient was taken to the hospital from the 100 block of True Street overnight.

* Fraud was reported twice in Pullman Friday.

Saturday

10:38 a.m.  A 36-year-old woman was arrested for suspicion of fourth-degree assault on the 600 block of Oak Street.

10:51 a.m.  Trespassing was reported on the 900 block of Providence Court.

3:29 p.m.  Officers arrested a 45-year-old man for alleged third-degree theft on the 1200 block of Grand Avenue.

Sunday

8:15 a.m.  Drugs were reported on the 1100 block of Bypass Drive.

7:31 p.m.  AirPods were reportedly stolen from the 1400 block of Deane Street.

* Police responded to two fireworks complaints in Pullman Sunday.

WSU POLICE

Saturday

8 p.m.  Officers arrested a 43-year-old man for suspicion of third-degree driving with a suspended license on the 1100 block of North Fairway Road.

9:42 p.m.  A 38-year-old man was arrested for alleged third-degree driving with a suspended license on Northwood Drive.

WHITMAN COUNTY SHERIFF

Friday

2:02 p.m.  Deputies arrested a 44-year-old woman on two misdemeanor warrants on Water Street in Tekoa.

4:27 p.m.  Trespassing was reported in Colfax.

9:54 p.m.  A 20-year-old man was arrested for alleged second-degree assault on McKinley Street in Colton.
A heart-wrenching phone call between a mother and her son ended in tragedy last week when Sgt. Eyal Shynes, 19, was shot and killed while serving in the southern Gaza Strip. His mother, Meirav Shynes, was on the phone with him when he was hit by a sniper, leaving her helpless as she listened to his cries for help before succumbing to his wounds.

Meirav recalled the conversation, saying, We spoke for a few minutes And then suddenly I hear that they are shooting him, and thats how the conversation ended. But we still heard everything, and it was terrible. She immediately understood that her son was wounded but didnt think he had been killed.

As she and her husband drove to the Tel Aviv area, they began to suspect the worst when they didnt receive any updates from the army. Meirav said, And then they asked if we were at home; then I really understood.

Sgt. Eyal Shynes was posthumously promoted from corporal and buried near his hometown kibbutz of Afik in the southern Golan Heights. His death brought the toll of slain troops in the ground offensive against Hamas to 316.

Hamass al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing footage showing a sniper hitting Shynes.

The IDF believes the area was relatively safe, which may explain why Shynes wasnt wearing a helmet at the time of the shooting.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared on Sunday that Hamas is on the brink of collapse, unable to recover from the pressure of Israeli operations and cut off from its weapons supply. During a visit to southern Gazas Rafah, Gallant asserted that the Palestinian terror group is a broken force running out of time.

The Israel Defense Forces have returned to areas where they previously operated to confront a re-emergence of Hamas forces, nine months into the war. According to Israeli officials, the army has defeated all but four Hamas battalions in the Gaza Strip, with two in Rafah and two in central Gaza.

Gallant emphasized the significance of the Rafah offensive, stating, The fighting here in Rafah signifies a very important thing. We are actually shutting off Hamass air  Rafah crossing, the tunnels The result is that they have no way of arming themselves, they have no way to equip themselves, they have no way to bring in reinforcements, they have no way to take care of their casualties, and we see this very well.

He continued, Their fighting spirit is broken, and time is not on their side; it is actually working against them We are destroying the tunnels, we are destroying the weapons, and reaching places it never dreamed we would reach, at great depths below ground.

Gallant vowed that the IDF will continue and push until we reach a situation where we choke [Hamass] windpipe, and do not allow it to rebuild its strength. This is the goal of this operation.

In Rafah, the army reported that several terror operatives had been killed, tunnels demolished, and a Hamas site with nine rocket launchers was discovered and destroyed. The IDF also uncovered a tunnel adjacent to a United Nations school, with shafts leading to the underground passages later demolished by the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Knessets Labor and Welfare Committee held a discussion on Monday on denying the National Insurance budgets to a child who is in prison for a terror offense.

During the discussion, the members of the committee were amazed to hear that, absurdly, the Supreme Court overruled a similar law because the judges refused to deprive the budget of a child accused of terrorism and even serving in prison.

Chairman of the committee, MK Israel Eichler, sardonically stated: For now, the Knesset has the right to enact laws as it sees fit, as the messengers of the public. It is true that the Supreme Court later invalidates the laws of the Knesset members but in the meantime, it doesnt prevent them from enacting laws. Indeed, its impossible to know how long it will be until the Supreme Court also denies the right to legislate.

He then commented on the Supreme Courts hypocrisy: I am amazed to hear that the Supreme Court does not allow interference in the denial of allowances of terrorist children but allows the denial of aid allowances and budgets for children whose fathers great sin is that he studies Torah, and for this reason, it is permissible to deny them education budgets, yeshiva budgets, and who knows what else.

He added: On the one hand, Supreme Court judges protect the children of terrorists, and on the other hand they deny daycare subsidies to the children of Chareidi working mothers for the sin of the fathers limud torah. This is incomparable wickedness and disgrace. It is appropriate that all citizens of the country see this shocking hypocrisy.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the release of Shifa Hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya from custody, calling it a severe mistake and ethical failure. Abu Salmiya was arrested in November for allegedly allowing Hamas to use the hospital as a center of operations.

This man, under whose responsibility our hostages were held and murdered, belongs in prison, Netanyahu said. He has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the release, which he claims was made without the knowledge or approval of the political echelon or security agency heads.

The investigation, to be led by Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, will present its findings to the Prime Minister on Tuesday. Netanyahu has also established an interagency body to review and approve the release of prisoners whose interrogation has been completed, comprising representatives from the Defense Ministry, IDF, Shin Bet, and National Security Council.

Abu Salmiya was released Monday morning along with 55 other Palestinian detainees, sparking a blame game among ministers and senior security officials, each denying responsibility for the controversial move.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF announced that its troops located and demolished the largest Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket manufacturing site found to date in southern Gazas Rafah. The site, located in the Tel Sultan neighborhood, was raided by troops from the Commando Brigade, 401st Armored Brigade, and the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit.

According to the IDF, the underground facility was used by Islamic Jihad to manufacture rocket parts and long-range rockets, producing hundreds of projectiles in recent years. The site was identified as the terrorist organizations largest rocket manufacturing hub in the Gaza Strip.

During the raid, IDF commandos and elite combat engineers engaged in intense battles with gunmen both above and below ground. The military utilized drones and guided missiles to neutralize several Islamic Jihad operatives, ensuring the successful destruction of the site.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The mother of Noa Argamani, Liora Argamani, zl, who was rescued from captivity in Gaza last month died on Tuesday morning at the age of 61 in Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.

Lioras death came after a three-year battle with brain cancer.

After her daughter was abducted on October 7th, Liora tirelessly fought for her last wish  for her daughter to be released so she could reunite with her before her death. She wrote letters to US President Joe Biden and appeared on various media outlets.

Sadly, by the time Noa was rescued, Liora was unable to communicate. However, family members and hospital staff believed that she understood that her daughter had returned home. Noa was able to stay at her mothers side in the weeks before her death.

One of the special forces officers who rescued Noa from Gaza later said that Noas first question was: Is my mother still alive?

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
An IDF soldier was killed and another soldier was seriously wounded when a roadside bomb exploded during a counterterrorism operation near Tulkarm on Monday morning, the IDF announced on Monday evening.

The soldier was identified as Sgt. First Class (res.) Yehuda Geto, HYD, 22, from Pardes Chana-Karkur.

Geto, zl, was driving an armored personnel carrier in Nur Shams, a Palestinian refugee camp near Tulkarm, when a large bomb exploded.

Kan News reported that an initial investigation showed that the road they were traveling on had not been scraped by armored bulldozers to uncover hidden explosives, contrary to regulations. The IDF said that there was no suspicion that there were hidden explosives on the route they were traveling on.

The charge, which was activated remotely, was improvised and contained dozens of kilograms of explosives.

Islamic Jihad later claimed responsibility for the attack.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Almost three million ex-students have made a loan repayment in the last year

Nearly 2million people owe between 50,000 and 100,000 in student loan debt, new data has revealed.

Meanwhile, 49 people who have taken out student finance owe more than 200,000.

As many as 61,000 people have a loan balance between 100,000 and 200,000, according to a Freedom of Information request made to the Student Loan Company by the BBC.

The highest debt recorded by the Student Loans Company is 252,000, up from 231,000 just three months ago. It is not clear whether this is the same debt.

Stacking up: The Government is currently owed more than 230bn in student loans

On average, loan holders are in debt to 48,470 when they start to begin repayment, according to figures from the department for education, having increased 9.1 per cent from 45,000 last year.

For students who study multiple or longer courses, their debts can be considerably larger.

Currently, students begin repayments once they earn more than 27,295 on plan 2 if they are started university after 2012.

If they started before 2021, people will repay after they earn 24,990, while those who started after 2021 will repay beyond the 25,000 mark.

Scottish students begin their repayments above 31,395.

Students pay 9 per cent of their earnings above the threshold, and 6 per cent of their earnings above the 21,000 threshold for postgraduate loans.

Postgraduate courses cost around 11,000 per year in tuition, with the Government offering loans of up to 11,295 to cover the costs of postgraduate tuition.

This loan is available for the first two years of postgraduate study.

Ballooning: The total understanding student loan debt pile is 236.2bn compared to 54.4bn in 2013/14

In total, the Government has 236.2billion currently on loan to those who have completed or are enrolled in higher education as of the end of the 2024 financial year, with 2.8million people in the UK having made a student loan payment in financial year.

This figure has risen by almost 15 per cent from 205.6billion in the previous year, and from just 54.4billion in the 2014 financial year.

The Government forecasts this figure to reach 460billion by the mid-2040s.

Of this 236.2billion, almost 75 per cent is liable for repayment, meaning that the borrowers are earning over the income threshold and have passed their statutory repayment due date.

In 2012, tuition fees were increased to 9,000 per year, with further reforms having upped this to 9,250 in 2017.

Before this, tuition cost just over 3,000 per year.

Students can also borrow up to 9,978 as a maintenance loan, or as much as 13,022 if they study in London.

Student loans are currently written off once borrowers reach the age of 65 on plan one, while there is a 30-year repayment period on plans two and four, and a 40-year period on plan five.

The Department for Education said 50.8million was written off in 2024, though it said the majority of this was for 'Access to Higher Education' courses, for which it writes off the debt after someone with an Advanced Learner Loan completed a higher education course.

Do you have a +50k student loan to pay off? Contact: editor@thisismoney.co.uk
Although the Indian stock market experienced a big wobble last month, investment companies still believe the case for investing in the world's most populated country remains as robust as ever.

The correction, which saw equity prices slide by nearly six per cent on June 4, was triggered by the surprise outcome of India's general election  requiring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a coalition government.

Most political commentators had thought the BJP would sail through the election, securing its third term in office since 2014.

Yet, a settling of the dust has resulted in Indian equity prices resuming their upward path with most financial experts believing Modi will continue with policies aimed at growing the economy.

Michael Langham, economist at investment house abrdn, is among them.

He says the Budget later this month should 'reaffirm' the Prime Minister's focus on 'manufacturing and infrastructure development'.

It's a view that Ayush Abhijeet, investment director at Singapore based Whiteoak Capital Partners, shares.

He says: 'Most of the economic reform agenda that Modi has overseen in the past ten years will continue.

'That means better infrastructure, greater defence spending, improved utilities and the development of a competitive manufacturing base.'

Whiteoak is a specialist in managing portfolios investing in emerging markets and in particular India.

In total, it has assets of 5.5billion under its wing.

Among its array of funds is UK listed investment trust Ashoka India Equity. Over the past year, it has delivered shareholders a return of 40 per cent.

Over the past five years, the 433million fund has generated a return of 160 per cent. Other Indian investment trusts include abrdn New India, India Capital Growth (run by asset manager AssetCo) and JPMorgan Indian.

The Ashoka fund has the best five-year record. Abhijeet says Ashoka India Equity managers try not to be distracted by politics.

'The main focus is always on finding great businesses  companies which have scaleability and are run by exceptional management teams,' he says.

'Once we have identified these businesses, we like to buy into them at attractive prices. If we get those two key ingredients correct  quality and price  then we have a potential recipe for investment success.'

Among the trust's big gest stakes are holdings in bank ICICI and food delivery company Zomato.

'We first bought into ICICI in March 2020,' says Abhijeet.

'It has steadily been taking market share from some of the public sector banks.' Food delivery company Zomato, he says, has benefited from its focus on quick-commerce  getting items to customers' doors within 10 to 15 minutes.

Whiteoak's focus on identifying great businesses means a big commitment to research with some 25 analysts hunting down investable companies. 'It's not just about meeting the managers,' says Abhijeet.

'It's also about talking to suppliers, distributors and former employees. It's what we call 360 degrees research.'

Ashoka India Equity's stock market identification code is BF50VS4. Its ticker is AIE.

Annual charges are 1.64 per cent and the trust does not pay shareholders a dividend.
Shell has halted construction on a major biofuels facility in the Netherlands that was to focus on converting waste into jet fuel.

The oil giant said work had been paused at its Rotterdam plant to 'address project delivery and ensure future competitiveness given current market conditions.'

It intends to decrease activity and the number of on-site contractors to 'control costs and optimise project sequencing.'

Pausing: Shell has halted construction on a major biofuels facility in the Netherlands

Shell gave the project the green light in September 2021 as part of its plan to provide more low-carbon fuels for transport and hydrogen across Europe.

Should the facility be finished, it will produce enough renewable diesel to eliminate 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, equivalent to taking more than one million cars off the road.

However, Britain's oil and gas industry has been rethinking its low-carbon energy ambitions, partly motivated by investor concerns over weak returns.

Last week, BP announced it was freezing all new offshore wind power schemes and investment in two biofuel projects in Germany and the United States.

Its chief executive, Murray Auchincloss, said the FTSE 100 business would instead prioritise investment in fossil fuel assets.

His approach represents a stark departure from his predecessor, Bernard Looney, who introduced the company's target to cut emissions to net zero by 2050.

Shell has also been scaling back energy transition projects and targets under its new Wael Sawan, who succeeded longtime boss Ben van Beurden last year.

Although the firm is still aiming for net zero in 2050, it recently ditched a target to reduce the net carbon intensity of its energy products by 45 per cent by 2035.

Regarding the Rotterdam facility, Shell's downstream, renewables and energy solutions director, Huibert Vigeveno, said the pause 'will allow us to assess the most commercial way forward for the project.'

He added: 'We are committed to our target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with low-carbon fuels as a key part of Shell's strategy to help us and our customers profitably decarbonise.

'And we will continue to use shareholder capital in a measured and disciplined way, delivering more value with less emissions.'

Shell shares were 0.3 per cent higher at 2,866.5p on late Tuesday afternoon and have increased by around 21 per cent over the past 12 months.
COLFAX  Whitman County Commissioners believe adopting a moratorium is the last resort for managing the Harvest Hills Wind Project.

Instead, the commission plans to retain and apply local codes to exercise discretion over the endeavor.

The board met during its regular Monday meeting in Colfax to discuss developments regarding the wind farm proposed, where Whitman County Planner Alan Thomson gave the commission recommendations moving forward.

Steelhead Americas, an Oregon-based energy company, wants to build 45 turbines on private land west of Kamiak Butte and south of Washington State Route 272.

The company says the $300 million project would generate 200 megawatts of clean energy, produce $40 million in tax revenue for Whitman County during its 30-year lifespan and create 250 construction jobs and 30 long-term jobs.

Even so, the project has been highly scrutinized by the rural community. Many believe it would disturb farmland and Kamiak Buttes aesthetics, while also threatening irreparable impacts to the region.

The wind farm is allowable under the countys code. Thomson said Steelhead Americas would need to acquire approval from the Washington State Environmental Policy Act and a conditional use permit from Whitman County.

County staff reviewed three options to handle the project, which Thomson said include executing a moratorium to prohibit the company from applying for a conditional use application, implementing a six-month interim zoning ordinance to modify the permits requirements or amending the countys code.

He added a considerable amount of research is needed before any steps are taken. But one thing the commission is sure of is a moratorium will do more harm than good.
Syria is in grave crisis and none of its myriad problems can be sustainably addressed without a political solution, according to the UN. In addition to a failing economy and an ongoing tense and violent security situation, humanitarian conditions remain in sharp decline, compounded by the profound economic crisis.

The Syrian people need unimpeded aid and access through both cross border and cross line delivery. However, too often, aid cannot be delivered because parties across Syria are denying passage to cross-line convoys. The situation is dire, particularly in Rukban camp for the internally displaced in eastern Syria.

The United States remains committed to the UNs provision of humanitarian assistance through all modalities, including cross-border and cross-line, said U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. The Assad regime does not. We see this in southeastern Syria, where the regimes actions  fully and shamefully backed by Russia  have sparked a humanitarian crisis.

For four years, the regime has denied UN access to thousands of civilians in the Rukban camp, leaving them at the edge of disaster. Today, we mark two months since the regime blocked commercial access. That disaster appears closer than ever before, she said.

Now, food and medical supplies are scarce  risking disease outbreak, malnutrition, food insecurity, or worse for thousands of civilians.

The United States calls on the Assad regime to cooperate with UN requests to open commercial access to Rukban and provide cross-line humanitarian assistance to its civilians, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. There is no justification for the obstruction and cruelty that is being carried out. None.

We urge Russia and the Assad regime to stop the stalling and the excuses, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. For years, we have known that a lack of progress toward a solution in Syria would exacerbate conflict risks in the wider region. Now, that risk has become a reality.

Iran and its proxies and partners increasingly use Syrian territory to threaten Israel and traffic dangerous weapons, she said.

Regardless of the talking points the Assad regime deploys in this chamber, Syrians themselves know that Irans militant proxies and partners seek only to advance their own destabilizing agenda  and not to help the Syrian people.

In this dangerous moment, it is important that we work  to reduce tensions and prevent escalation in Syria and neighboring countries, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. The United States will continue to work with our diplomatic partners toward that end.
BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- A symphony concert was held at the Museum of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing on the eve of the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the CPC, which falls on Monday.

Approximately 800 people, including laureates of major national honorary medals and titles, representatives of outstanding CPC members working at the primary level, experts from various fields, and members of the public from all walks of life, attended the concert.

It featured more than 20 musical works reflecting the CPC's endeavors in various stages over the past century and more. Multiple orchestras and institutions, such as the China National Symphony Orchestra, the China National Opera House and the National Ballet of China, participated in the performance.

The concert was co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the China Media Group (CMG), and will also be broadcast in prime time on CMG channels on Monday.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- In cave-dwellings on the Loess Plateau, desks, maps, ink, kerosene lamps and other items are kept the way they were used in the Yan'an period (1935-1948) of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Less than a week after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress in 2022, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, led the members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau to the old revolutionary base in Shaanxi Province, northwest China.

They were attracted to a yellowing photograph showing Mao Zedong welcoming acclaimed educationist Huang Yanpei to Yan'an at a local airport on the wall of Mao's cave residence in Yangjialing, where a well-known "cave-dwelling conversation" happened.

The conversation was mainly about how to escape the historical cycle of government's rise and fall. Mao had offered the first answer -- placing the government under the supervision of the people.

This well-known conversation has been repeatedly invoked by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, as a warning of the complicated and long-term risks faced by the governing CPC, and he offered the second answer -- carrying out self-reform of the Party.

When he assumed the Party's top post in 2012, China had already risen to be the world's second-largest economy and the Party had over 80 million members.

Xi was keenly aware of the increasingly grave dangers facing the whole Party, as noted in a document from the 18th CPC National Congress, including a lack of motivation, incompetence, the risk of being out of touch with the people, and corruption.

Less than 20 days after assuming the Party's top position, Xi spearheaded the formulation of the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct. This move effectively put an end to undesirable practices, such as excessive banqueting and extravagant spending.

Shortly after this initiative, an unprecedented fight against corruption, which Xi said was "the most significant threat" to the long-term governance of the Party, was launched, targeting literally every sector and striking at both high-profile "tigers" and low-ranking "flies."

Xi has emphasized the importance of anti-corruption institutional building. Concrete efforts have been made in this regard since 2012, including the issuing of the Code of Conduct for Intraparty Political Life under New Circumstances and the promulgation of the Supervision Law. He had famously said that "power must be kept in the cage of systemic checks" and "transparency is the best precaution against corruption."

In short, he likens self-reform to "using a surgical knife to eliminate the Party's ailments." "The Party is great not because it never makes mistakes, but because it always owns up to its errors and has the courage to confront problems and reform itself," Xi once said.

Xi leads the Party by example through his actions. During a visit to Guangdong, he insisted on not imposing traffic controls that could disturb the public. In an inspection trip to Hebei's Fuping County, he stayed in a 16-square-meter room, and in Shaanxi's Liangjiahe Village, he paid for New Year's gifts for local villagers out of his own pocket.

Through more than a decade of painstaking efforts, the problem of lax and weak self-governance in Party organizations has been addressed at the root, and a political atmosphere of integrity within the Party has been steadily fostered and developed. By doing so, it has been ensured that the Party will never change its nature, its conviction, or its character.

In retrospect, the Party has counted on external oversight by the people and internal self-reform to maintain its vitality and continuous growth, Xi said.

The Party's over 99 million membership celebrates the 103rd anniversary of the CPC's founding on Monday. On June 27, Xi presided over a group study session of the CPC leadership. The topic was about improving the systems for exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.

"All of us in the Party must bear in mind that full and rigorous self-governance is an unceasing endeavor and that self-reform is a journey to which there is no end," Xi said at the session, urging that the whole Party must remain vigilant and resolute to prepare for tough tests.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
The forecast calls for higher temperatures and, typically, that means rising crime as well.

Accordingly, we remain hopeful that Kansas City will be able to preserve slightly lower crime numbers this year.

However, we still want to keep up with police action, court reports and community outreach.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

More than 100 guns stolen in KC and sold on social media Lamb photo from an arrested in Johnson Co. Kansas in 2021 KANSAS CITY

A judge says she's innocent, but Sandra Hemme's fate still mired in court battle Another set-back in the case of a Missouri woman imprisoned for four decades. Last month, a Missouri judge ordered Sandra Hemme be released or retried within the next 30 days.

Blue Springs police say prosecutor's office urged department to investigate Bobby Hawk claims The Blue Springs Police Department confirmed it was contacted by the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office to look into potential crimes committed by Bobby Hawk.

Stabbing in Shawnee neighborhood leaves two people injured First responders arrived to the scene of a reported armed disturbance late Sunday night.

Olathe business owner pleads guilty to money laundering tied to $4.7M meth, heroin trafficking - Kansas City Business Journal According to federal prosecutors, an Olathe business owner admitted that she sent profits from the sale of heroin and methamphetamine in the Kansas City area to individuals in Mexico.

KCPD investigating double shooting in 5500 block of Euclid Kansas City, Missouri, police are investigating after a double shooting unfolded Sunday afternoon.

A baby died of severe abuse last week in Kansas City. Why hasn't someone been arrested? Kansas City police have not made an arrest, or even named a suspect, in the death of 7-month-old Giovanni Carr. The infant died more than a week ago in what was classified as a suspicious death.

Missouri governor vetoes school safety initiative to fund gun-detection surveillance systems Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has vetoed funding for a school safety initiative using gun-detection surveillance systems.

Families of fentanyl victims 'in support' of Jackson County prosecutor's murder charges Families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses said they are happy to see the Jackson County prosecutor's office bringing charges of this magnitude against an alleged drug dealer.

Former Blue Valley trainer sentenced to 36 months of probation for child sex crimes A former Blue Valley Southwest trainer was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Groups working to help Kansas City domestic violence survivors relieved by SCOTUS ruling The Supreme Court's decision to uphold a ruling that prevents abusers with restraining orders from possessing firearms was good news for Kansas City domestic violence shelters like Rose Brooks Center.

Homicide victim identified in Bannister/Raytown Road shooting The young man found dead in a parking lot at Bannister and Raytown roads has been identified as 16-year-old Tytus Bridgeford.

Woman sentenced to prison for Johnson Co. shoplifting, deadly police chase A woman is sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in a shoplifting case that ended in a deadly police chase in Johnson County.

Man accused of strangling wife at Independence hospital pleads not guilty to murder charge The man allegedly said he killed his wife because he could not take care of her any longer and could not pay the medical bills.

Local group sells inmates' art to raise money and awareness for families impacted by incarceration One group sold incarcerated inmates' artwork Sunday as a part of ongoing efforts to support incarcerated inmates' families.

Developing . . .
In Japan, Mount Fuji has started its climbing season with new rules. To protect the famous trail and manage too many people visiting, officials now charge climbers a fee and limit how many can climb each day.

Mount Fuji Sets Limits to Protect Trail

Starting this Monday, just before sunrise, climbers found a new gate at a station about halfway up the mountain. Here, they need to pay 2,000 yen (about $12) and get a wristband to access the trail. This year, no more than 4,000 people can climb Mount Fuji each day.

These changes were made after problems last year with too many people on the trails, which led to trash, pollution, and unsafe conditions.

According to Reuters, the governor of Yamanashi, where part of Mount Fuji is located, mentioned that these steps are needed to avoid accidents and keep the mountain safe for everyone.

Mount Fuji, a symbol of Japan and a still-active volcano, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It's a popular spot for climbing and a sacred site that has been important in Japanese culture for centuries.

With the Japanese yen at a low point, more tourists are coming to Japan looking for good deals, which has increased the number of visitors to places like Mount Fuji. This has put a strain on local facilities and tested the patience of locals.

The climbing season will go on until Sep. 10, when it becomes too cold and snowy. Officials hope that the new measures will help protect Mount Fuji and make sure it remains a beautiful and safe place for visitors.

Related Article : Mount Fuji's View Blocked as Second Town Battles Tourist Issues

Tragic Deaths Before Climbing Season

Just days before the official climbing season began, a tragic incident occurred at Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. Keita Kurakami, a well-known rock climber and ambassador for Patagonia, lost consciousness while climbing and later died in the hospital.

This sad news was confirmed by local police and reported by NHK, Japan's public broadcaster.

In a separate but equally tragic incident, the bodies of three other climbers were found on Mount Fuji.

As per The New York Times, these climbers, discovered in different spots near the mountain's crater, are believed to have climbed the mountain separately. The discovery of the bodies was also reported on Wednesday by local police.

The climbing community is mourning these losses as Mount Fuji's climbing season draws near.

Shizuoka Prefecture police began a search operation after a Tokyo woman reported losing contact with her 53-year-old husband, who had sent his family a photo from near the summit before going silent. He was later identified as one of the deceased.

As Mount Fuji's popularity increases, so do concerns about safety due to overcrowding and risky climbing practices. To address this, Yamanashi Prefecture has implemented new safety measures, including a daily cap on climbers and a small fee, to manage the flow and ensure climbers' safety.

They have also installed a gate that closes overnight to discourage unsafe nighttime climbs.

Climbers are reminded that outside of the designated summer season, Mount Fuji can be perilous with harsh winds and ice, making climbing extremely dangerous.

Safety measures are critical in preventing accidents like altitude sickness and hypothermia, especially for those attempting to climb without sufficient breaks.
In Boston, a delightful change has swept through the subway system. Commuters are now greeted by trains sporting googly eyes, bringing a touch of whimsy to their daily rides.

This fun initiative, centered on just five trains, aims to lighten the mood for passengers and add a playful element to public transport.

Boston Trains Smile with Googly Eye Designs

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), responsible for managing Boston's public transit, embraced the quirky idea after a group of transit enthusiasts suggested it.

Initially, the enthusiasts had left a pack of plastic googly eyes at the MBTA headquarters with a note.

According to AP News, upon seeing the suggestion, MBTA's General Manager and CEO, Phillip Eng, was amused and saw potential in the idea. However, instead of using the actual plastic eyes, which could detach and pose safety risks, the MBTA opted for safer decals that mimic the wobbly-eyed effect.

Currently, these unique decals adorn four trains on the Green Line and one on a commuter rail line. This small number makes spotting these trains a fun challenge, reminiscent of the "Where's Waldo?" game, but with a local Boston twist.

The initiative arrived when the MBTA faced significant scrutiny due to safety concerns and operational issues. By introducing these googly eyes on trains, the agency hopes to ensure safety and inject some joy and humor into the daily commutes of Boston riders.

Related Article : Massachusetts Takes Action as Bacteria Shuts Down 42 Beaches

New Tunnel Could Transform MBTA

Congressman Seth Moulton, representing Massachusetts' North Shore, is pushing for a major improvement to Boston's public transit system. Moulton has proposed a new rail link that would connect Boston's North and South stations directly.

This project aims to modernize the MBTA Commuter Rail and potentially increase its ridership by millions.

Currently, trains have to stop and turn around between these two key stations, a time-consuming process. The proposed tunnel would allow trains to run straight through, making the system more efficient and faster.

A study from the Harvard Kennedy School estimates the cost of this new tunnel at $7.9 billion and predicts it could attract an additional 86 million riders, NBC Boston stated.

Moulton highlighted that similar projects in cities like Los Angeles have been less costly than anticipated, suggesting that Boston might also be able to manage expenses effectively.

"It goes under the Big Dig, under the Blue Line, the Red Line, it just goes under everything in the city," Moulton explained as per the report, underscoring the project's ambitious scope.

The Congressman also noted that half of the funding needed for this project could come from the already allocated $4 billion for the expansion of South Station, with the remaining costs potentially covered by the revenue generated from the increased ridership.

However, not everyone agrees with this optimistic view.

In a recent op-ed in the Boston Globe, Rep. William Straus, Chair of the Massachusetts House Joint Committee on Transportation, expressed concerns about the project's cost and the extensive construction it would entail.

Straus advocates for prioritizing other projects, like the expansion of South Station itself.

Despite the disagreements, Moulton remains hopeful, believing that this generation has the opportunity to achieve a significant upgrade to Boston's transit infrastructure.
What many don't known is that the Australian city of Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, has an exciting mix of historical and architecture wonders, as well as cool spots that appeal to the younger crowd. This makes Melbourne a must-visit city for all travelers heading down under.

If you so happen to be planning a trip to Melbourne or you just need additional motivation to book that ticket, here are some of the city's best tourist attractions.

AC/DC Lane

Named after Australian rock band AC/DC, AC/DC Lane can be found in the central business district of Melbourne. This laneway was actually known as the Corporation Lane before it was renamed in 2004.

AC/DC Lane is one of the places in Melbourne where street art is actually allowed in a public place. Visitors can expect to find a number of music-themed street art. Foodies also head here to check out the restaurants, cafes, and bar that call it home.

Flinders Street Railway Station

A visit to Melbourne should always include a stop at Australia's oldest railway station. That's none other than the Flinders Street railway station, which was opened in 1854.

It's arched entrance, green dome, and yellow facade have made this railway station a favorite among travelers, especially those who enjoy taking pictures of it. Given its historical and cultural significance, the building has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Register since 1982.

Luna Park Melbourne

If you're a thrill seeker looking for some fun at an amusement park, Melbourne's got you covered as well. Opened in 1912 in the suburb of St Kilda, this amusement park has rides that cater to a wide variety of visitors. From families to hardcore roller coaster fans, there is something for everybody here.

In particular, the world's oldest continually operating roller coaster can be found in Luna Park, which is none other than The Great Scenic Railway.

State Library Victoria

Melbourne is where you can find another one of Australia's oldest, and this time, it's the oldest library. Established in 1854, the State Library Victoria is one of the world's first free libraries.

Visitors can find over two million books within its walls, as well as thousands of maps, manuscripts, and even digital material. This is also where you can find the full armor of Australian bushranger and outlaw Ned Kelly.
A leading expert says pilgrimages' return to popularity is a modern miracle.



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - July 2nd, 2024 - Pilgrims progress: pilgrimages have soared in popularity by 659,000% since the 1970s.

As recently as the early 1980s, Europes pilgrim trails were in danger of being forgotten yet, today, they have become hugely popular with people looking to bring meaning to their travels, according to new research.

Lily Smith, a leading travel expert from Monasteries.com, says: From a low in 1972 of 67 recorded pilgrims officially completing the Camino de Santiago de Compostela  Europes most popular pilgrimage  the number of modern pilgrims finishing the route in 2019 (just before the Covid pandemic) was 347,578. Last year, even that figure was eclipsed, with a record 442,073 people completing the journey.

Theres little doubt many people have recently become more conscious of the age-old attraction of setting out on a pilgrimage. Cementing its popularity, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela has been the subject of The Way, a film starring Martin Sheen, as well as popular books and documentaries.

Similarly, many Brits also undertake the lesser-known but, arguably, even more beautiful Via Francigena pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome. For much of its route, this follows an historic journey undertaken by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 990AD. In 2022, around 50,000 people completed the route.

So who are these latter-day pilgrims? New analysis from Monasteries.com reveals that, in the case of the Via Francigena, the top five nationalities are Italians, French, Americans, Spanish and Brits. Two age groups dominate, with 22% of people completing the walk being 22-34 year olds and 22% 55-64 year olds. Thats a fascinating mix of ages.

It seems the typical profile of modern pilgrims is changing. Just a few years ago, most modern pilgrims travelled in large, predominantly male groups. However, last year, female pilgrims outnumbered males completing the Camino de Santiago, according to the National Catholic Register. They were also about half of Via Francigena travellers, a notable increase even on 2022.

50% of pilgrims say sharing experiences is the main reason for travelling the Via Francigena, according to Via Francigene.org. Thats followed by discovering a new culture (38%) and then tourism and spiritual reasons tie at 35% each. Thats perhaps a surprisingly low percentage undertaking a pilgrimage for mostly spiritual or religious reasons, highlighting just how diverse a group contemporary pilgrims are.

Many people are surprised to discover they are able to stay in monasteries and convents along the route. Booking a stay in an abbey or monastery on the route of the Via Francigena is surprisingly easy. The unique accommodation site Monasteries.com provides a booking platform for European religious orders with stays across mainland Europe, Great Britain and Ireland. Theres much more information about locations along the Via Francigena and how to book at https://www.monasteries.com/en-GB/via-francigena

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In this episode of Morning Edition, we are looking at the political landscape now with Polit
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will hold a meeting at the Pentagon on Tuesday, July 2, to discuss cooperation, the strengthening of partnership, as well as regional security issues.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said this at a briefing on Monday, July 1, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will visit the Pentagon tomorrow to meet with Secretary Austin. This visit underscores the ongoing commitment of the United States to support Ukraine's sovereignty and security," she said.

She added that the parties would discuss the bilateral defense cooperation, regional security issues and ways to strengthen the defense partnership between the United States and Ukraine.
The United States currently has no confirmation that would indicate the sending of North Korean engineering troops to Russia to support Russia's military aggression in Ukraine.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said this at a briefing on Monday, July 1, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"I don't have anything for you on that," she said, commenting on whether the Pentagon sees any signs that North Korea has sent its troops to Russia to support its war effort in Ukraine.

At the same time, Singh stressed that the U.S. is aware that North Korea is supporting Russia's efforts in Ukraine with supplying them with different military support.

In this regard, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that it had yet to observe reporting that suggests that North Korean military personnel intend to participate in combat operations in Ukraine. However, according to ISW analysts, direct North Korean engineering support can free up Russian combat power for operations along the frontline and aid Russian efforts to expand military infrastructure and defensive fortifications in occupied Ukraine.

South Korean TV network TV Chosun, citing a South Korean government official, reported on June 21 that North Korea could earn up to $115 million in unspecified foreign currency each year from Russia if it dispatches three or four engineering brigades to occupied Ukraine. At the same time, it was stated that South Korea expects North Korea to dispatch a large-scale engineering force to occupied Donetsk region as early as July 2024.
Ukraine is doing everything possible to increase electricity imports, and this should be a European solution.

According to Ukrinform, this was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his evening address.

I wish you health, dear Ukrainians!

Today is a busy day.

The visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Ukraine is the first in many years and since the war. And what is important is that it is right after Hungary's EU presidency begins. This is a clear signal of how important it is for all of us in Europe to remain united and take joint steps. There was a lot of talk about the path to peace, and it is to a just peace, a lasting, honest peace. I thanked everyone for participating in the Peace Summit and for supporting the communique. I spoke about what we have already achieved with our partners in the work between the summits, preparing for the second Peace Summit. There are good developments, and there will be even more. I invited Hungary and Prime Minister Orban to join the relevant efforts. There are also good bilateral results. In general, we see that these are completely different relations between Ukraine and Hungary: concrete and taking into account mutual interests. We have agreed on various details - economic and political - that our teams will deal with. And it is very important that we outline our relations and our achievements in a new document - an agreement that will define good neighborliness for Ukraine and Hungary.

That's the second thing today. I spoke with Mark Rutte, and today the government in the Netherlands has already changed. Mark will continue to work in the North Atlantic Alliance. I thanked him for his support over the years: Without exaggeration, the Netherlands has helped save thousands and thousands of lives of our people. Ukraine will always be grateful for this. I also wish the new Dutch government and the new Prime Minister success and truly effective leadership.

There were several important reports today. The head of the Foreign Intelligence Service has just reported. A clear range of questions about what threatens us and the opportunities we can take advantage of. There are good prospects.

There was also a long, very detailed report by the head of the Ukrainian government today. Government officials have now begun to work hard in the regions, including Donetsk. This is what we talked about after my trip to the region. There are a lot of problems there, both social and purely infrastructural: water, reconstruction, and provision of people. Now there are already draft government decisions in various areas - on what is needed and what will be resolved. The government will also continue to work on other regions, all of which have special problems due to the war.

The Prime Minister reported on measures to protect energy facilities: active protection, electronic warfare and everything else. He also reported on reconstruction and our work with European partners to expand electricity imports to Ukraine. We are now fully choosing the volume of imports agreed with the EU, and I am grateful to all our neighbors for this help. We are doing everything we can to increase imports, and this should be a European solution. Our government officials are working on the relevant agreement.

I instructed Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov to present me with an analysis of telecom operators at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers: what is being done to guarantee communication in the face of power outages and which telecom operators are not complying with the relevant decisions. I also instructed the Minister of Energy to inform people on a daily basis about the state of work in the energy sector, about existing deficits and what the country is doing to fill them. The government must also work much more actively to ensure that our people and our companies have more opportunities to purchase, manufacture, and install all the necessary equipment to get through this difficult period. I have also instructed the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, who is currently on a visit to the United States, to obtain specific dates for the delivery of the additional Patriot systems that we have agreed with our partners.

I thank everyone who is really working hard for Ukraine and Ukrainians! I thank everyone who believes in Ukraine, who brings the results Ukraine needs closer!

Glory to Ukraine!

Photo: OP
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jul, 2024) The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia received a visit paid by the CEO of Mitra Aviation Perkasa and Perkasa Flying School of Indonesia, Mr. Septo Sudiro.

His visit to Pakistan aimed to strengthen the civil aviation cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan, including pilot training and pilot supplies, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.

As far as I know, there are currently around 25 Indonesian pilots working in various Pakistani airlines. My company is able to provide highly skilled aviation workers from Indonesia to meet the needs in Pakistan, including pilots and aircraft engineers, Mr. Septo said to the Indonesian Charge dAffaires, Mr. Rahmat Hindiarta and the Embassys Economic Team.

He said that established in July 2013, Perkasa Flying School has an ideal training base in Indonesia located at Tunggul Wulung Airport of Cilacap, Central Java as well as Nusawiru Airport of Pangandaran, West Java. The training base accommodates ground and flight training.

He said the Perkasa Flying School is one of the largest international pilot schools in Indonesia with a PSC - 141 - 017 pilot certificate and focuses on preparing pilot students who are ready to take on roles as commercial pilots.

The Company offers a solution of the pilot possible shortage in Pakistan due to the flight boom and tougher competition among airlines at the global stage. The pilot school fee in Indonesia is considered as reasonable, he said.

Moreover, considering as the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia is definitely suitable for Pakistani students.

Perkasa Flying School is offering a cooperation program to Pakistani airlines to train their cadet pilot in Indonesia, through innovative financial scheme up to 50:50 that will surely create greater number of reliable pilots in Pakistan, he added.

He said given its status as the largest archipelagic country in the world, Indonesia continues to improve its civil aviation sector to increasingly meet safety standards issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other relevant aviation partners.

CEO of Mitra Aviation Perkasa and Perkasa Flying School of Indonesia, said that Indonesia reached the effective implementation score of 80,34 for ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA).

He said that based on this significant achievement, the President of ICAO Council awarded Indonesia the Council President Certificate on 17 May 2018.

Septo Sudiro,previously on August 2016, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) decided to put Indonesia on Category 1 rating after significant improvement shown by the Indonesian Government on IASA Safety Audit. In addition, on June 2018, the European Commission updated the EU Air Safety List which cleared all airlines certified in Indonesia from the list.

He said that prior to his visit to Islamabad to meet his counterparts from Airblue and Serene Air, he visited Karachi to meet the Director General of Pakistan Aviation Authority (PCAA), Capt. (Retd). Saif Anjum and representative of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in Karachi.

Pakistani Airlines business should start to Look to the East, Mr. Septo Sudiro suggested.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur awarded Level II accreditation by the Pakistan Engineering Council

BAHAWALPUR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jul, 2024) Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur awarded Level II accreditation by the Pakistan Engineering Council.

Pakistan Engineering Council has granted three years of accreditation under Level II to the Department of Electrical Engineering, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur for BSc Electrical Power Engineering Batch 2020, 2021, and 2022.

The delegation of the Pakistan Engineering Council that visited IUB included Engineer Dr.

Abdul Sattar Shakir, former Vice Chancellor Punjab Tianjin University of Technology Lahore, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shahzad NUST Islamabad and Engineer Zulqarnain Arif.

They met the faculty members and students in the department and inspected the classrooms and laboratories besides curricular and co-curricular activities. After reviewing all these matters, the Pakistan Engineering Council approved the accreditation. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Naveed Akhtar congratulated the entire department team over this achievement.
(@Abdulla99267510)

Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized that US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, and Ambassador Donald Blome, consistently urged Pakistan to respect its citizens' rights in line with its constitution and international obligations.

WASHINGTON: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-July 2nd, 2024) The US State Department on Tuesday called on Pakistan to uphold fundamental human rights.

This appeal follows a United Nations bodys condemnation of Imran Khan's detention, labeling the charges against him as politically motivated.

Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized that US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, and Ambassador Donald Blome, consistently urged Pakistan to respect its citizens' rights in line with its constitution and international obligations.

Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized that US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, and Ambassador Donald Blome, consistently urged Pakistan to respect its citizens' rights in line with its constitution and international obligations.

Although Patel declined to comment on the pending congressional legislation, he stressed the importance of human rights.

We urge the Government of Pakistan to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and freedom of religion, he stated.

The UN body also reported issues during the 2024 elections, such as arrests, torture of PTI members, disrupted rallies, and allegations of election fraud. The State Department reiterated that Imran Khan's detention is an internal matter for Pakistan. In the case of Khan, youve heard us say this before: This is an internal matter for Pakistan, Patel said, noting that the credibility of Pakistani elections remains a focus for the US, with ongoing discussions with Pakistani partners.

A day earlier, the Geneva-based UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared the PTI founders detention arbitrary and in violation of international law. The group recommended Khan's immediate release and compensation, describing his legal challenges as part of a broader campaign of repression against him and his party.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jul, 2024) Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid vowed on Tuesday

that there would be no compromise on corruption or misconduct towards women beneficiaries of BISP.

BISP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology (MOIT), was developing a digital

payment solution to address fraudulent activities, she told the media while addressing a press conference

here at BISP Directorate General office.

Highlighting her commitment to combating fraud, Chairperson Rubina Khalid reminded the public

of BISP's helpline, 0800-26477, for complaint registration and confirmed that 8171 was the only

official number of BISP.

Rubina Khalid also unveiled a new payment model under which BISP was engaging six banks to

enhance the payment process, adding the model aims to reduce complaints related to POS agents.

"We have established payment campsites for the disbursement of Kafaalat stipend and have

deployed our staff to ensure transparent disbursement," she added.

She reiterated the origins and international recognition of Benazir Income Support Programme,

a visionary initiative of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and she highlighted how Benazir Bhutto

conceptualized Benazir Income Support Programme during her exile in Dubai, with President

Asif Ali Zardari later bringing the programme to execution.

Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized that Benazir Income Support Programme had provided

a unique identity to Pakistani women while empowering them financially.

She noted, "Different political parties have attempted to change the name of Benazir Income

Support Programme in the past, reflecting intellectual dishonesty. Upon assuming the office as

Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, it was President Asif Ali Zardari's clear directive

that financial assistance to women beneficiaries must be delivered with complete transparency

and respect."

She also stressed the importance of skill training for the families of BISP beneficiaries, enabling

them to start their own businesses, contribute to the country's economy, and rise out of poverty.

Senator Rubina Khalid, during her visit to BISP Lahore office, also listened to the problems of

women regarding their payments and assured them for redressing the same.
(@FahadShabbir)

At least 116 people were crushed to death at an overcrowded Hindu religious gathering in northern India on Tuesday, government officials said, the worst such tragedy in more than a decade

Lucknow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jul, 2024) At least 116 people were crushed to death at an overcrowded Hindu religious gathering in northern India on Tuesday, government officials said, the worst such tragedy in more than a decade.

A large crowd had gathered for a sermon by a popular preacher near the northern Indian city of Hathras, but as they were leaving, a fierce dust storm sparked panic.

Many were crushed or trampled, falling on top of each other, with some collapsing into a roadside drain in the chaos.

"The attendees were exiting the venue when a dust storm blinded their vision, leading to a melee and the subsequent tragic incident," said Chaitra V., divisional commissioner of Aligarh city in Uttar Pradesh state, told AFP.

"We... are focusing on providing relief and medical aid for the victims," she added.

Senior police officer Shalabh Mathur said that it appeared "more people had come than permission was asked for".

Several hours after the crush, Chaitra said that "the death toll stands at 116", with at least 18 others injured.

Most of the dead were women, according to state chief medical officer Umesh Kumar Tripathi.

Deadly incidents are common at places of worship during major religious festivals in India, the biggest of which prompt millions of devotees to make pilgrimages to holy sites.

- 'Crushed to death' -

Lines of ambulances rushed the injured to hospitals.

Wailing women and crying men gathered outside one mortuary in the town of Etah, where many of the dead were taken, seeking news of their relatives.

"When the sermon finished, everyone started running out," Shakuntala, a woman who gave only one name, told the Press Trust of India news agency.

"People fell in a drain by the road. They started falling one on top of the other and got crushed to death."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of $2,400 to the next of kin of those who died and $600 to those injured in the "tragic incident".

"My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones... I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured," Modi wrote on social media platform X.

President Droupadi Murmu said the deaths were "heart-rending" and offered her "deepest condolences".

- Grim record -

Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh chief minister who is also a Hindu monk, expressed his condolences to the relatives of those killed and ordered an investigation into the deaths, his office said.

Religious gatherings in India have a grim track record of deadly incidents caused by poor crowd management and safety lapses.

At least 112 people were killed in 2016 after a huge explosion caused by a banned fireworks display at a temple marking the Hindu new year.

The blast ripped through concrete buildings and ignited a fire at a temple complex in Kerala state, where thousands had gathered.

Another 115 devotees were killed in 2013 in a stampede at a bridge near a temple in Madhya Pradesh.

Up to 400,000 people were gathered in the area and the stampede began after a rumour spread that the bridge was about to collapse.

In 2008, 224 pilgrims were killed and more than 400 were injured in a stampede at a hilltop temple in the northern city of Jodhpur.
(@FahadShabbir)

The United States will provide a new $2.3 billion package of security assistance for Ukraine that will include key air defense and anti-tank weapons, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jul, 2024) The United States will provide a new $2.3 billion package of security assistance for Ukraine that will include key air defense and anti-tank weapons, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday.

The announcement comes as Kyiv's weakened and outgunned forces struggle to hold back invading Russian troops, with Moscow regularly claiming the capture of new villages in the eastern Ukraine.

"The United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine," Austin said at the start of a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov.

"This package.

.. will provide more air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons, and other critical munitions" drawn from US stocks, Austin said.

"It will also enable the United States to procure more Patriot and NASAMS air defense interceptors that will be provided on an accelerated timeline," the US defense chief said.

Umerov thanked Austin for Washington's assistance, saying that "with that support, we will stop Russia and stop the aggression."

The United States has been a key military backer of Ukraine, committing more than $51 billion in weapons, ammunition and other security assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Kim Jordan, left, a University of Wyoming masters degree student from Burleson, Texas, who works in the Tarwater Lab, demonstrates how to measure the wing chord of a bird in hand at WYOBIRDs fall migration bird banding station in Laramie. Kylie Schelhaas, middle, a UW junior from Cheyenne and an intern at the fall migration banding station, and Kelly Roberts, a UW masters degree student from Norwalk, Conn., in the Tarwater Lab, observe Jordans technique. UWs WYOBIRD initiative will offer bird tours, crafts and educational activities, research talks and a picnic lunch at the UW-National Park Service Research Station in Grand Teton National Park from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 20. (Erik Schoenborn Photo)

The University of Wyomings WYOBIRD initiative will offer bird tours, crafts and educational activities, research talks and a picnic lunch in Grand Teton National Park Saturday, July 20.

Events will take place from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the renovated UW-National Park Service (NPS) Research Station. The facility is located at the AMK Ranch in Grand Teton National Park. The first 50 people to attend will receive a free Birds of Wyoming book.

WYOBIRD (Wyoming Bird Initiative for Resilience and Diversity) aims to advance knowledge, appreciation and conservation of birds locally and globally. The initiative achieves this by conducting novel research on birds; training a new generation of scientists at UW through hands-on training; and sharing science through networking, public outreach and seminar speakers.

WYOBIRD is excited to connect with the public during the first outreach day at Grand Teton National Park and to provide a day of fun activities where people of all ages can learn about birds and how important they are to our environment, says Corey Tarwater, an associate professor in the UW Department of Zoology and Physiology, the Robert B. Berry Distinguished Chair in Ecology and director of WYOBIRD.

The schedule is:

-- Bird tours, 8-10 a.m.: UW graduate students will lead birding walks suitable for beginners through advanced birders. The multiple tours will cover beginner identification of birds and identifying bird species by song.

-- Crafts and educational activities, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Attendees can join activities about bird nests, research methods, bird art and how to look for birds in backyards. Visits are scheduled at an active field site currently studying pollination and seed dispersal.

-- Picnic lunch, noon-2 p.m.: The UW-NPS Research Station will provide a free lunch, although a $10 donation is suggested.

-- Research talks, 2-4 p.m.: Research being conducted on birds across Wyoming and in the tropics by UW students and faculty members will be discussed. Attendees also will virtually experience the sounds of a tropical rainforest.

For more information, email wyobird@uwyo.edu.
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
President Biden weighs in on Mondays seismic Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity that could shape America for years to come. Hurricane Beryl strengthened on Monday into a "potentially catastrophic" category 5 storm as it moved across the eastern Caribbean and now in the path of Jamaica. Another mass evacuation order for thousands of Palestinians in what could be part of a final push of Israel's intensive military operations in nine months of war. And warnings of a very real threat of starvation in Sudan.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to host talks Tuesday with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in a session the Pentagon says will show U.S. support for Ukraines security.

The talks come a week before the United States hosts a NATO summit where military support for Ukraine to help it defend against a Russian invasion is set to top the agenda.

Secretary Austin and Minister Umerov will discuss the bilateral defense cooperation, regional security issues and ways to strengthen the defense partnership between the United States and Ukraine, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Monday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also is hosting talks Tuesday with Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The United States has been by far the biggest supporter of Ukraine in the more than two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

U.S. military aid is again flowing to Ukrainian forces after stalling for several months amid political gridlock in the U.S. Congress.

Zelenskyy said in a video address late Monday that he expects this month to bring even more strength to Ukraine, particularly in protecting our sky and achieving real security for our country.

Long-range weapons, fighter jets for Ukraineof sufficient quality and quantity, and more air defense systemsare crucial factors affecting the entire course of this war, Zelenskyy said.

Russias daily aerial attacks with missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities have pushed Zelenskyy to seek more missile defense systems and to try to speed the delivery of fighter jets for Ukrainian forces to use.

Ukraine has also sought to bolster its domestic production of attack drones, and has been carrying out its own aerial attacks, especially targeting areas along the Ukraine-Russia border.

Russias defense ministry said Tuesday it shot down four Ukrainian aerial drones over the Bryansk region, four drones over the Belgorod region and three more drones over Russia-occupied Crimea.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod, said the attacks injured two people and damaged a shopping center.

A Russian official in Crimea reported damage to several houses and cars, but no injuries.

Some information for this story was provided by Reuters.


Australias Labor government is facing a backlash from the Muslim community over its suspension of an Afghan-born lawmaker.

Senator Fatima Payman, an Australian Muslim, says she has been exiled after voting against party lines on issues around Palestinian statehood.

Australia advocates a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist within internationally recognized borders. Payman was suspended after voting against her own party to recognize Palestine as a state in federal Parliament.

The Kabul-born lawmaker told reporters that Australia cannot believe in two state solutions and only recognize one.

Payman has promised to defy the government again if the issue is again put to the vote.

The battle between the senator for Western Australia and the governing Labor party revolves around its so-called solidarity rule that requires all its lawmakers to vote as a bloc.

Senator Katy Gallagher, Australias federal Finance minister, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Tuesday that Payman has breached party regulations.

These are decisions that she has taken knowing quite clearly what the consequences would be and, you know, she has continued to make those decisions," Gallagher said. "So, I certainly, and I know a lot of my colleagues, would want her to remain with the Labor caucus but she also has to give a commitment that some of the decisions she has taken in the last week would not be repeated.

There is speculation the suspended senator could quit the Labor Party and stay in parliament as an independent, switch her political allegiance to the Australian Greens or form her own political party.

Reports also suggest she could join a new political organization called The Muslim Vote, which is planning to run candidates on a pro-Palestinian platform in some of the governing Labor party's safest parliamentary seats.

Under Australias voting electoral system, Payman was elected in May 2022 and would serve up to six years in parliament.

The campaign group, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, said in a statement it stands firmly with Payman and urged other lawmakers to follow her example.

The Muslim senator was born in Afghanistan and was a child when she arrived as a refugee in Australia with her family.

Her indefinite suspension from the governing party is a further sign that the war in Gaza is causing political and social tensions in Australia.

Community groups have reported an increase in Islamophobic and antisemitic abuse in Australia since Israels war in Gaza began almost nine months ago.

Australia has said Israel has the right to defend itself after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants.
U.S. President Joe Biden criticized a Supreme Court ruling Monday that granted presidents broad immunity from prosecution for official acts conducted while in office, in a case involving former President Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

No one is above the law, not even the president of the United States," Biden said during an address from the White House Monday evening.

Biden vowed to continue to respect the limits of presidential power but warned that future presidents may not.

"Any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law, Biden said.

Watch related video by Dora Mekouar:

The president said Monday's ruling was the latest in "a series of attacks in recent years on a wide range of long-established legal principles in our nation" by the court, citing rulings against abortion rights and civil rights-era voting laws among decisions that "undermine the rule of law in this nation."

The Supreme Court said that while Trump had immunity for official acts while in office, there was no immunity for unofficial acts. The top U.S. court left it up to lower courts to decide under which instances Trump could be prosecuted.

The 6-3 ruling, on the last day of the courts current term, all but guarantees that Trump will not be tried in the case before the November 5 election in which he is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to face Biden in a 2020 rematch.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing linked to the outcome of the 2020 election but has long falsely claimed that voting and vote-counting irregularities cost him another four-year term in the White House.

If he loses the November election, he could soon afterward face trial in the case linked to the 2020 election, but if he wins, he could direct his attorney general, the countrys top prosecutor, to drop the case.

6-3 ruling

The courts decision broke down along ideological lines, with the courts six conservatives in the majority and its three-member liberal minority dissenting.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said Trump may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled, at a minimum, to a presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.

But Roberts said, The President enjoys no immunity for unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official. The President is not above the law.

The courts dissenting judges vehemently opposed the decision, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing that it makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.

The majority ruling threw out part of prosecutor Jack Smiths case against Trump  the former presidents alleged efforts to use the Justice Department to buttress his claims of election fraud and submit slates of fake Trump electors in states that Biden won.

The President may discuss potential investigations and prosecutions with his Attorney General and other Justice Department officials to carry out his constitutional duty, Roberts wrote. Trump is therefore absolutely immune from prosecution for the alleged conduct involving his discussions with Justice Department officials.

The court instructed the federal trial judge, Tanya Chutkan in Washington, to review Trumps indictment before any trial can occur for charges that must be dismissed because they are based on his official acts, while leaving stand unofficial acts that could serve as a basis for a prosecution of Trump. The court said Chutkan may not inquire into the Presidents motives.

Trump celebrates

Trump was elated with the ruling, saying on his Truth Social platform, Big win for our Constitution and democracy. Proud to be an American.

The high court ruling was the first time the court had ever decided whether a former president could be prosecuted in a criminal case for actions he took while in office, or whether he has immunity from being charged.

A bedrock of U.S. jurisprudence holds that no one is above the law, that everyone has the same freedoms but also that everyone is subject to prosecution for breaking laws.

Trump made a sweeping claim of executive immunity, saying that in trying to upend his election loss four years ago, he was acting officially as president in trying to uphold the integrity of the outcome, insisting that he lost only because of fraud and election irregularities.

Trump lost five dozen court cases claiming he was cheated out of reelection to a second four-year term, and to this day frequently makes the same false claim, only occasionally saying he lost reelection to Biden.

Smith, a Justice Department special counsel, accused Trump in a four-count indictment filed in Washington almost a year ago of plotting to overturn the 2020 election result, engaging in a conspiracy to upend his loss to stay in power.

Smith accused Trump of seeking to get Justice Department officials to help validate his claims that widespread fraud had kept him from winning reelection. The indictment alleged that he and key aides pressured state lawmakers to draft false slates of electors saying that he had won states where vote counts favored Biden.

The indictment laid out how Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to block or delay certification of Bidens victory as Congress considered the final vote count at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In the U.S., the outcome of presidential elections is not determined by the popular vote but by a vote in the Electoral College. The national election is, in effect, a state-by-state vote in each of the 50 states, with the most populous states holding the most votes in the Electoral College.

Other court decisions have ruled that presidents have limited immunity from civil lawsuits contesting the actions they have taken. But Mondays case was the first time the court ruled on presidential immunity as it pertained to alleged criminal actions by a president.

Trump has already been convicted of 34 felony charges in a New York state court. A jury in late May found him guilty of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment to a porn star just ahead of his successful 2016 election campaign to silence her claim  denied by Trump  that she had a one-night tryst with him in 2006.

Trump faces sentencing on July 11 and could be placed on probation or be imprisoned for up to four years.

Aside from the Washington election interference case, Trump also faces two other criminal indictments, one that he interfered with the 2020 election outcome in the southern state of Georgia, where he narrowly lost to Biden, and another accusing him of hoarding national security documents at his Florida estate rather than handing them over to the National Archives as he was required to do when he left office in early 2021.
Britons look set to elect a new government by landslide as the country prepares to head to the polls on Thursday July 4. The vote comes amid weak economic growth and struggling public services, with Russias invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza among the major foreign policy challenges lying ahead for the next administration.

The current opposition Labour Party under Keir Starmer is polling around 20% ahead of the Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservatives, who have been in power for the past 14 years, a period that witnessed Britains bumpy exit from the European Union and a much-criticized response to the coronavirus pandemic.

There is clearly widespread and very deep dissatisfaction with the Conservatives, said Ursula Hackett, a political expert at Royal Holloway, University of London. The question there is the cost of living, but I also think it's a sense of scandal and sleaze, she told the Associated Press.

While Labour is in a buoyant mood ahead of the election, analysts caution that voter dissatisfaction appears to extend across the entire political spectrum  with little evidence of positive enthusiasm for the main opposition or its leader, Starmer.

Voter dissatisfaction

The town of Dartford, east of London, is known as a bellwether constituency. Its voters have picked a candidate from the winning party of every general election since 1964, making it a useful gauge of national political feeling.

Eighteen-year-old Yasmine Nicholls, who volunteers at a local food bank, is preparing to vote for the first time  but is already disillusioned.

The people of England don't actually get to decide on what is going to happen in the country.  We don't really get to have a say in a lot of things that happen, we just have to follow, she said.

Retired store worker Linda Skinner, who is 64, echoed that sentiment. Governments are no longer for the people. To be honest, I haven't voted for a long time. Our votes don't count. The same people basically get in each time, Labour, Conservative, they are all the same, she told AP.

For some, that lack of trust has been driven by recent political scandals.

Across the board. I don't trust any of them. Especially when our (former) Prime Minister Boris Johnson lied. He lied straight across the board. He went to a party when everybody was in lockdown, and then from that point onwards, that's it, that was enough for me, said pensioner Hilmi Hilmi.

Scandal

Johnson  who resigned last year following a series of scandals, including the breaking of COVID-19 lockdown rules  is one of five different Conservative prime ministers over the past eight turbulent years.

Analysts say the current Prime Minister Sunak is struggling to shake off that image amid new investigations by Britains Gambling Commission into Conservative members placing bets on the timing of the upcoming election.

Weak economy

The opposition Labour Party under Starmer is well ahead in most polls. But he would inherit a struggling economy, noted Anand Menon, a professor of international politics at Kings College London.

We have crumbling public services after, in some cases, years of underinvestment. We've got very, very low median wage growth over the last 10 to 15 years. So we've got a public that is increasingly worried about the state of the economy.

At the same time, we have very little in the way of money to address these problems. The tax burden is the highest it's been since the end of the Second World War. Debt repayments are high, and crucially, growth is very, very low. One of the first big questions to face a Starmer government is going to be, how are you going to raise the money to fix our crumbling public services? Menon told VOA.

Global challenges

The next government will also face a daunting list of global challenges. There is uncertainty over future Western military aid for Ukraine, as Kyiv battles to regain lost ground from invading Russian forces.

Amid huge loss of life in Gaza, members of the Labour Party are demanding that Starmer be more critical of the Israeli governments actions. Starmer has said he wants to recognize a Palestinian state as part of a wider peace process.

China continues to pose an economic and geopolitical challenge to the West. But Britains allies shouldnt expect a dramatic change of foreign policy, said analyst Menon.

One of the striking things about British politics at the moment is that over the two big crises of our time, Gaza and Ukraine, there's very little, if any, difference between the positions adopted by the big parties. So, I don't think there'll be much of a change, Menon said.

Small parties

Britains smaller parties could play a big role in deciding the election outcome and the scale of Labours expected victory. The center-left Liberal Democrats have a chance of pushing the Conservatives into third place.

The anti-immigration, pro-Brexit Reform party could also peel off right-leaning Conservative voters. Reform leader Nigel Farage was widely criticized by other parties after saying the West provoked Russia into invading Ukraine, while party activists were recently filmed undercover using racist insults, drawing condemnation from across the political spectrum.
A Cambodian court on Tuesday sentenced 10 environmentalists to between six and eight years in jail for plotting to commit crimes in their activism, the latest legal crackdown on the country's green campaigners.

The campaigners from Mother Nature, one of Cambodia's few environmental activism groups, denied the charges, which they said were politically motivated.

Am Sam Ath, operations director of rights group LICADHO, told AFP the court sentenced the activists to jail terms ranging from six to eight years.

He said three of them, including Mother Nature co-founder Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, a Spaniard deported from Cambodia in 2015, were sentenced to eight years for plotting against the government and insulting the king.

Seven others were sentenced to six years in prison on unspecified plotting charges.

Six of the defendants were sentenced in absentia, while the four who were present were seized by police outside the court and taken away, according to an AFP journalist.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) last month condemned the trial as an attempt to "muzzle criticism of governmental policies."

HRW said Mother Nature had campaigned for more than a decade against damaging infrastructure projects and "exposed corruption in the management of Cambodia's natural resources."

The charges against the 10 activists related to Mother Nature's activism between 2012 and 2021.

The group raised issues around the filling-in of lakes in Phnom Penh, illegal logging, and the destruction of natural resources across the country.

The tussle over protecting or exploiting Cambodia's natural resources has long been a contentious issue in the kingdom, with environmentalists threatened, arrested and even killed in the past decade.

Three of the activists sentenced Tuesday had previously been jailed for organizing a peaceful march protesting the filling-in of a lake in the capital to create land for real estate developments.

From 2001 to 2015, a third of Cambodia's primary forests, some of the world's most biodiverse and a key carbon sink, were cleared, and tree cover loss accelerated faster than anywhere else in the world, according to the World Resources Institute.

Much of the cleared land has been granted to businesses in concessions that experts say have driven deforestation and dispossession in the country.
When Myanmar's junta announced a conscription law to help crush a popular pro-democracy uprising, Khaing knew there was only one way to escape its clutches and she began planning her escape.

Weeks later the former teacher was hidden in a smuggler's van heading into Thailand with little more than some clothes, cash and an ID card, not knowing when she would be able to return.

Now scraping a living in Bangkok without papers, Khaing worries constantly about a tap on the shoulder by Thai police and deportation back to the junta.

She is one of tens of thousands of young people rights groups estimate have fled Myanmar since the military introduced conscription in February to shore up its depleted ranks.

The junta is battling widespread armed opposition to its 2021 coup and its soldiers are accused of bloody rampages and using air and artillery strikes to punish civilian communities.

It says it wants to enlist 5,000 new people, each month, aged between 18-35, but details on how they will be chosen, and where and how they will serve are vague.

Media reports of young men being dragged off the streets and into the army, which the military denies,have further added to the panic.

"The conscription law means we have to kill each other," said Wai Yan, 26, from eastern Karen state, who in May crossed into Thailand.

"We are not fighting a war against foreign enemies," he said from the Bangkok restaurant where he works without documents.

"We are fighting each other."

Smuggled for $220

Shortly after enacting the law, the junta tightened requirements for people crossing Myanmar's land borders, and temporarily halted issuing foreign work permits for young men.

Yangon-based film critic Ngwe Yan Thun, a pseudonym, said he had "no choice" but to leave illegally.

Through friends he contacted a "broker" who said he could be smuggled over the border into Thailand for around $220.

Ngwe Yan Thun sold off all of his belongings, arranged for friends to look after his dog and bought an air ticket to Tachileik on the Thai border.

At the airport, he had to pay "tea money" to officials at the airport who were suspicious of why he was traveling to the remote provincial town.

He was dropped at a safehouse near the border where around 30 others were waiting to be taken into Thailand.

Then, at short notice, he was crammed into a car with 11 others and they set off.

"I didn't feel like a human being, I felt like I was black market goods," Ngwe Yan Thun said from Thailand's Chiang Mai.

'Am I in Myanmar?'

Thailand has long been home to a sizeable Myanmar community, with a bustling market in Bangkok and towns along the border.

The conflict has made it difficult to conduct surveys or verify how many young people had fled abroad to escape conscription, said an official from the International Labour Organization.

But the organization said it had received estimates from ground sources that suggested "hundreds of thousands" had fled the law.

Wai Yan said he was surprised at how many people from Myanmar were in Thailand.

"I even joke with my friends 'Am I still in Myanmar?'"

'Cried every day'

After arriving in Bangkok, Khaing was unable to contact her parents as fighting around her home village cut internet and mobile networks.

"I was worried about getting caught by the Thai police. So, I didn't dare to go outside when I arrived," she told AFP.

"I cried every day in my first month here."

She found part-time work at a friend's shop and returns in the evenings to her sparse room where she sells medicine and beauty products on TikTok.

A large teddy bear gifted to her by a friend who knew she was feeling lonely takes up much of the bed.

The first batch of conscripts finished their training and would soon be sent to their posts, state media reported last week, as fighting rages in the west and north of the country.

Ngwe Yan Thun is grateful he is far away, but is kept up at night wondering what to do next.

"I think about what I should do if I don't get a job and official documents to stay," he said.

"I can't go back to Myanmar. I feel overwhelmed by thoughts and worries all the time."
The Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad basin says several hundred fighters from jihadist groups Boko Karam and Islamic State West Africa Province have fled to Chad and Cameroon after the task force attacked camps and killed more than 70 terrorists Sunday.

The ongoing operation, dubbed Lake Sanity 2, aims to obliterate all terrorist camps around Lake Chad, the task force said.

In a video circulated on social media and broadcast on Chadian state TV, scores of villagers shouted that at least two dozen relatives died in attacks in villages along Cameroons border with Nigeria, and that 12 more people were injured.

The four-nation task force, created to fight terrorism in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, said the deceased seen in the video are some of the more than 70 Boko Haram and Islamic State terrorists neutralized in Sundays attacks.

The joint task force also said many jihadists surrendered in the air and ground operations but did not give a precise number. The troops said they captured many fighters and recovered large consignments of weapons.

None of its ground troops suffered injuries, the task force said.

The task forces operations are targeting terrorist hideouts in border villages, including Mokolo and Waza in Cameroon. Moubi, Menchika and Madagali in Nigeria are also part of the operation.

A release from task force spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi said the goal is to wipe out terrorist camps in villages on the borders of Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria, as well as the portion of the Lake Chad basin shared by the three neighbors.

Midjiyawa Bakari, the governor of Cameroons Far North region, asked civilians to watch for fleeing terrorists because, he said, they are infiltrating neighboring towns and villages. He asked local militias to help in the effort and for people in border towns and villages to report to government troops any strangers or groups of people entering the country.

Bakari, who spoke on Cameroonian state TV on Tuesday, said the porous nature of Cameroons border with Chad and Nigeria makes it difficult for troops to single handedly stop jihadists without the assistance of civilians.

Chad's government said it also has deployed what it says are enough troops to stop terrorists from hiding in its territory. Chad said that within the past two days, its troops had killed or arrested many militants but provided no details.

Boko Haram began launching attacks in Nigeria in 2009. In 2013, Cameroon, Niger and Chad reported that the terror group had launched attacks in their territories. The task force, which was created in 2014 to fight the militants, says it has about 11,000 troops and rescue workers.

The United Nations says the conflict has killed more than 40,000 people, mainly in Nigeria, and forced 3 million to flee their homes.
Israel is studying "some ideas" that Hamas sent to Qatari mediators on Wednesday, and Israel confirmed it is evaluating Hamas response to a peace deal that would include releasing hostages and a cease-fire.

"The mediators of the hostage deal have given the negotiating team Hamas' response to the hostage deal outline. Israel is examining the response and will respond to the mediators," said a statement released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, on behalf of Mossad.

The mediators, Qatar, Egypt and the United States, have worked for months to reach a deal that would free the hostages and cease hostilities. The ideas that Hamas delivered Wednesday involve the three-phase deal U.S. President Joe Biden put on the table in late May.

While Netanyahus government studied the Hamas offering, Israeli forces carried out attacks in the central and southern Gaza Strip as thousands of Palestinian civilians were on the move, seeking new areas to shelter after the latest Israeli evacuation order.

The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas fighters with airstrikes in the southern city of Rafah. In the central city of Deir Balah, another strike killed three people in a car, local officials said.

In northern Gaza, ground operations took place in Shujaiya, an eastern area of Gaza City.

The United Nations has expressed concern over Israels latest evacuation order for large parts of Khan Younis and Rafah governorates, encompassing about a third of the Gaza Strip and affecting up to 250,000 civilians.

An Israeli airstrike on Tuesday killed a prominent Palestinian doctor and eight members of his extended family after they complied with military orders to evacuate their Khan Younis home and move into an Israeli-designated safe zone.

What we saw in the last two days, since Monday afternoon when the evacuation order was issued, we have seen a constant flow of people moving out, said Andrea De Domenico, the U.N.s head of office for humanitarian affairs in the Palestinian territories.

He told reporters in a video briefing Wednesday from Jerusalem that U.N. aid agencies and their partners are having to reset their operations following Israels evacuation order.

Delivering for us is a daily struggle  literally, he said.

Israel has repeatedly told Palestinians to leave certain parts of Gaza, usually ahead of military offensives, in a move Israel says is meant to protect civilians from the war. The evacuations, along with the fighting, have meant people have had to flee multiple times in search of safety.

De Domenico said the U.N. estimates that every 9 out of 10 Palestinians in Gaza has been displaced at least once, and some up to 10 times, since the war started between Israel and Hamas in October.

He said most people on the move this week have headed toward coastal area, where Israel has established a so-called safe zone. De Domenico said the area is overcrowded and overwhelmed, with little clean water, few toilets and limited basic services.

Nowhere and no one is safe in Gaza, De Domenico said. We keep on saying this. We have seen over and over military operations and bombardment happening also in the heart of the humanitarian safe zone declared by Israel.

Stabbing attack in Israel

Meanwhile, in Israel, one person was killed and another wounded Wednesday in a stabbing attack at a shopping mall in the northern city of Karmiel.

The Times of Israel reported that both victims were off-duty soldiers. It said the slain officer, age 19, shot and killed his attacker before he died. The newspaper said security officials later identified the assailant as Jawwad Omar Rubia, an Israeli citizen from the nearby Arab town of Nahf.

According to local reports, neither Hamas nor Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, but both praised it.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza erupted when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed nearly 38,000 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, and left the densely built-up coastal enclave in ruins.

VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this story came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The United States commitment to providing extended deterrence to South Korea is being put to the test, with some South Korean politicians publicly questioning the effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear umbrella after Russia and North Korea reached a new defense pact.

Debate over the U.S. extended deterrence was sparked by Representative Na Kyung Won, a five-term lawmaker of South Koreas ruling People Power Party, who is running for the party leadership.

The deterrence under the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance is currently working, but it does not guarantee the capacity to respond to the future changes in the security environment, Na said in a social media post last week.

The international situation, such as cooperation between North Korea and Russia, is adding uncertainty to the security of South Korea, she added, referring to the stronger military ties between Russia and North Korea, bolstered by the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by Russias President Vladmir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang last month.

The new treaty mandates Russia and North Korea to immediately assist each other militarily if either of them is attacked by a third country. The prospect of quasi-automatic Russian involvement in any future war between the two Koreas is now causing alarm in Seoul.

The credibility of extended deterrence is a frequent topic of conversation in todays South Korea, where citizens must contend with seemingly endless threats and provocations from the North.



Seoul is doing its best to allay citizens fears by invoking the April 2023 Washington Declaration, which reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea through its extended nuclear umbrella as well as robust missile defense and conventional forces.



The Washington Declaration outlined a series of measures, including the establishment of the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), to deter North Koreas use of nuclear weapons.



In the joint declaration, the U.S. additionally vowed to enhance the visibility of its strategic assets, such as a nuclear-armed submarine, around the Korean Peninsula.

The Washington Declarations measures are collectively sufficient to deter aggression from Pyongyang, according to some experts in the U.S.

The joint declaration was unprecedented in its strength and clarity, Evans Revere, a former State Department official who negotiated with North Korea, told VOAs Korean Service on Sunday. And the NCG process is designed to be flexible, creative, and allow for adaptation to a broad range of future contingencies.

Troop presence

David Maxwell, a former U.S. Special Forces colonel who served on the Combined Forces Command of the U.S and South Korea, told VOAs Korean Service on Sunday that a large troop presence on the Korean Peninsula demonstrates Washingtons firm commitment to the defense of its key ally.

How many Russian troops are committed to North Korea? There is no comparison as to the commitment, said Maxwell, who now serves as vice president of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy.

Currently, the U.S. has about 28,500 service members deployed in South Korea.

In contrast, Elbridge Colby, who served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development in the Trump administration, suggested the U.S. might have to go beyond the Washington Declaration to ensure the security of South Korea.

I think we need to take very seriously how dire the threat from North Korea is, and that the Washington Declaration is not a solution, Colby told VOAs Korean Service on the phone last week.



Its been a failure that both North Korea and China are a nuclear breakout. Theyre increasing the size and the sophistication of the nuclear forces. So its very unsurprising that serious people in South Korea are coming to this conclusion.



Bruce Bennett, senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, believes some South Koreans may lack confidence in the Washington Declaration because the NCGs work is not made public.

Because the NCG that it established has carried out most of its work in secrecy and provided little substance to reassure the South Korean people, many of the South Koreans with whom I have spoken are concerned that it is an inadequate means for rebuilding South Korean trust, Bennett told VOAs Korean Service on Sunday.

Responding to an inquiry from VOAs Korean Service, a State Department spokesperson said Thursday that "the U.S. and the ROK are enhancing and strengthening extended deterrence through the Nuclear Consultative Group, established as part of the Washington Declaration.

The spokesperson also stressed that the Washington Declaration is a landmark U.S. extended deterrence commitment to the Republic of Korea. The Republic of Korea is South Koreas official name.

Earlier last week, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell maintained that the series of mechanisms put in place between the United States and South Korea through the Washington Declaration has given us what we need to work with regarding the alliances deterrence posture.

North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles Monday, one of which is presumed to have failed and fallen inland near Pyongyang. The latest missile test came just five days after North Korea conducted a ballistic missile test in which it claimed to have successfully tested its multiple-warhead missile technology. South Korean authorities have dismissed such a claim.

Eunjung Cho contributed to this report.
Two exiled Hong Kong activists say bounties imposed on them last year are causing fear and anxiety as they conduct their advocacy work from U.S. soil amid concerns for their safety.

Anna Kwok expected to face retaliation from the Hong Kong government when she became the executive director of the Washington-based advocacy organization Hong Kong Democracy Council in November 2022. Hong Kong authorities imposed a bounty on her and seven others on July 3, 2023.

Frances Hui, who is the policy and advocacy coordinator for the U.S.-based Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, was one of an additional five who had bounties imposed on them in December.

The 13 are accused of violating a controversial national security law that went into effect in the former British colony in July 2020.

Despite being mentally prepared, Hui and Kwok said they felt shocked when the Hong Kong government issued arrest warrants and bounties worth $127,635 for them and the other overseas Hong Kong activists last year. Hui said the bounty felt like a death certificate as it confirmed she would not be able to set foot in Hong Kong again.

After learning about the bounty imposed against me, I suddenly felt like everything was out of my control because I could no longer get in touch with my family and close people in Hong Kong, she said, adding that the event pushed her life onto a completely different path.

Im officially a wanted fugitive, and whoever in Hong Kong is associated with me will get into trouble, Hui told VOA by phone.

While Hui described the experience as jarring and shocking, Kwok said she didnt realize how the bounties could affect her until her bank account in Hong Kong was frozen.

At first, I was surprised for only 10 seconds and immediately went into work mode, thinking about how to use this incident to advance our advocacy agenda in media interviews, said Kwok.

When I checked my Hong Kong bank account at 11 p.m. on July 3, 2023, I noticed my asserts were frozen and I suddenly realized the real-life implications of the bounty on my head, Kwok told VOA by phone.

These activists betrayed their country, betrayed Hong Kong, disregarded the interests of Hong Kong people, and continue to endanger national security even when abroad, the chief superintendent of Hong Kongs National Security Department, Li Kwai-wah, said at a December 14 press conference.

Eric Lai, a research fellow at Georgetown Universitys Center for Asian Law in the United States, said the Hong Kong government hopes to create a chilling effect that will further disconnect people in Hong Kong from overseas activists by issuing arrest warrants and bounties.

Its a silencing tactic to both people around the bounty holders and the bounty holders themselves, he told VOA by phone, adding that it is part of the Hong Kong governments efforts to surveil, harass and intimidate political dissidents in exile.

In addition to imposing bounties on more than a dozen activists, Hong Kong authorities canceled the passports of overseas activists last month. In the U.K., three men were charged in May with spying on members of the Hong Kong diaspora community on behalf of the territorys intelligence service.

Threat to mental health, personal safety

Apart from targeting overseas activists, Hong Kong authorities have interrogated family members of the activists, including Huis mother and Kwoks brothers and parents.

Hui said the interrogations of her family members made her realize that her activism abroad could affect those who are still in Hong Kong. She said that is one way that Hong Kong authorities have limited her freedom.

Its a very lonely experience to know that whatever I do could be connected to people who are associated with me; but I also know that if I stop my activism now, thats exactly what the Chinese Communist Party would want, to intimidate and silence me, she said.

In addition to the sense of loneliness, Hui said the bounty has increased her fear of threats to her safety.

I have become extra cautious about talking to people, even those in the Hong Kong diaspora community, and my heightened sensitivity toward security issues has also contributed to my increased level of anxiety, she said, adding that she is trying hard not to let fear dictate her advocacy work.

As for Kwok, the fear for her safety became real when she began to receive death threats shortly before leaders convened for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, held in November in San Francisco. At the time, she was planning to attend protest rallies against Chinese President Xi Jinping.

I started receiving death threats and threats of raping me in my inbox, and those accounts are not afraid of using brutal language or insinuating physical harm against me, she told VOA. She said the messages would appear in her inbox in a coordinated fashion.

While she was shocked about the explicitness of those threats, she tried to take steps to rein in her fear, including maintaining regular contact with close friends, playing with her cats or diving into the world of fiction.

These steps help to assure me that things are okay and Im doing something impactful, which is an important realization to me, Kwok said.

Despite their efforts to overcome the fear created by the bounties, Hui and Kwok say the Hong Kong governments efforts to launch transnational repression are a threat to the entire diaspora community.

I think my personal experience shows that there are still many gaps in implementing protection mechanisms against transnational repression in many countries, Kwok said, adding that the moves initiated by Hong Kong authorities are damaging trust within the diaspora community.

While Hong Kong authorities try to isolate some overseas activists, Hui said she will continue to concentrate her advocacy efforts on speaking up for activists who have been imprisoned in Hong Kong.

There is a sense of mission for me, and I hope I can continue to advocate for those who cant, she said.

In response to criticisms made by the activists, the Hong Kong government said the extraterritorial effect of the national security law is fully in line with the principles of international law and common practices adopted by several countries.

Absconders should not think they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong, [because] ultimately, they will be held accountable for their acts constituting serious offences endangering national security and be sanctioned by law, a Hong Kong government spokesperson told VOA in a written response.
Iran is set to hold a second round of presidential elections on July 5 to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19. None of the four candidates secured enough votes to win the first run on June 28. The top two candidates  reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and conservative Saeed Jalili  will face off again on Friday.

The 40% voter turnout on June 28 was a new all-time low for Iran, VOAs Persian service reported, citing contested data.

The United States has no expectation of free and fair elections or fundamental change in Irans direction, Abram Paley, deputy special envoy for Iran, said on June 26.

Irans Foreign Ministry challenged that, with its spokesperson Nasser Kanaani claiming:

The genuine and direct role of the people in determining their political destiny in the Islamic Republic of Iran is an obvious principle and has always been proven in practice.

That is misleading.

Every citizen in Iran can register as a presidential candidate but the ruling theocratic regime chooses who can run.

Irans 12-member Guardian Council controlled by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supervises elections and has the power to approve or disqualify candidates.

The Guardian Council disqualified 74 of 80 people who registered to run for the June 28 poll, approving only the six presidential candidates, reportedly preselected by the Ayatollah.

The Council barred from running former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who increasingly challenged Khamenei during his presidency, the Associated Press reported.

Irans president is constitutionally subordinate to the supreme leader, who has representatives in every sector of government, giving him control over the legislature, executive, judiciary, military, and security forces.

The International Crisis Group reported that even by the Islamic Republics exclusionary standards, this elections raft of candidates is largely limited to conservatives, ensuring their dominance in all the main centers of power.

The Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, said previous elections in Iran have seen record-low turnout, reflecting what it called largely stage-managed races.

The Washington, D.C.-based human rights group Freedom House said that while Iran does hold regular elections, they fall short of democratic standards.

Reporters Without Borders listed Iran among the worlds most repressive countries in terms of press freedom, raking it 177 out of 180.

In 2022 and 2023, the government violently cracked down on mass protests following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman detained by Irans morality police for wearing an improper hijab.

The United Nations said, State authorities in Iran were responsible for egregious human rights violations stemming from protests over Aminis death.
Bjorn Alexander Duben, a German assistant professor at Jilin University's School of Public Diplomacy, was mysteriously dismissed and instructed to leave China after a nine-year tenure, following his participation in an interview with Voice of America (VOA). This dismissal highlights the severe restrictions on free speech imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Duben's troubles began shortly after he commented on Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit to Europe in an article published by VOA Mandarin on May 11. The next day, he received a WeChat message from the university's international secretary, which stated, "It is well known that colleges and universities must be responsible for any form of interviews with domestic and foreign media." This message hinted at the sensitive nature of his comments regarding the Chinese leadership.

On May 15, Duben was informed that his classes for the day were suspended due to all classrooms being occupied. Shortly after, a colleague informed him that not only were his classes canceled indefinitely, but his employment was also being terminated, citing decisions made by "unspecified higher-level authorities." Duben was also told that his China Talent visa, which was valid until 2033, would be canceled unless he chose to resign or face a disciplinary inquiry, both of which would likely lead to his dismissal.

Feeling cornered and fearing repercussions from contesting the decision, Duben chose to resign. Following his resignation, he was told he could retain his visa but had to leave China by May 30 and would be barred from re-entering the country. The university administrator indicated that these were instructions from "above," allowing no room for negotiation.

This incident wasn't Duben's first foray into media commentary. Over the years, he had frequently provided insights on sensitive topics related to China's foreign policy for various international outlets, including Reuters and The Diplomat, a current affairs magazine. However, his comments on Xi Jinping's visit, despite being similar in nature to his previous commentary, triggered unprecedented consequences, possibly due to the current heightened political sensitivities in China.

Eric, who did not provide a last name, is a former agent of the Political Security Bureau of China's Ministry of Public Security who has since fled to Australia. He shed light on the possible internal reactions to Duben's comments. He suggested that such statements could be seen as offensive by Chinese authorities, particularly if they perceive them as undermining the image of the CCP or its leaders. Eric explained, "After your report came out, anyone who sees it, such as Chinese media correspondents stationed abroad or other officials, may report the public opinion involving the number one leader to their superiors... The senior leaders of the superior department will think the situation is serious and initiate countermeasures, such as deciding to expel the person mentioned in the article from the country."

Furthermore, Duben commented on the Russia-Ukraine war in the VOA story, noting that "Russia has long been short of basic ammunition, but now many supply loopholes have been plugged," and "Russia currently needs the most parts that China can provide but is difficult to track specific dual-use parts." Eric said the comment on the loopholes needs fact-checking. "If it's not true, the Chinese government will think it is a frame-up and smear, and the anger of being wronged can easily lead to retaliation. If true, how can an ordinary assistant professor come to this conclusion?"

The conditions of Duben's employment contract at Jilin University, which mandated adherence to China's sovereignty and social order and prohibited any activities that could disrupt academic or ideological norms, were also noted. These vague clauses could have been weaponized against him, impacting his legal standing and complicating any defense he might mount in a legal challenge against his dismissal.

Erika Staffas Edstrom, an analyst at the Swedish National China Center at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, commented on the broader implications of such incidents. She told VOA, "It is clear that the Chinese Communist Party has stepped up its efforts to strengthen its control on global discourse and information in recent years. However, it is too early to say whether this specific incident represents another step by the Chinese Communist Party to strengthen its control over free speech."



Overall, Duben's case exemplifies the increasing challenges that foreign academics face in China, where political sensitivities can trigger harsh reactions from authorities, leading to censorship and suppression of academic freedom. This incident not only affects Duben but also serves as a warning to the international academic and diplomatic communities about the risks of engaging in sensitive discussions related to China's political landscape.

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has leaned toward Moscow during Russias two-year invasion of Ukraine, visited Kyiv on Tuesday, and declared the war the most important issue for Europe.

Orban met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but in a sign of their still tense relations, the Kyiv leader did not publicly acknowledge the visit until hours after Orbans arrival. Zelenskyy said on the X social media platform that they had discussed trade, cross-border cooperation, infrastructure and energy.

The Ukrainian president's office did, however, release a video showing Zelenskyy thanking Orban for his visit and welcoming him to the country after shaking hands and then sitting across from each other at a round table with Hungarian, Ukrainian and European Union flags in the background.

The two countries have had a tense relationship since the war started, with Orban portraying himself as a champion for peace and calling for an immediate cease-fire and peace talks without expanding on what that would mean for Ukraine's territorial integrity. Orban has frequently been at odds with other EU countries and their continuing military and financial support for Ukraine.

This visit came the day after Hungary took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, a position that has little real power but can be used to set the tone of the bloc's agenda. Hungarian officials have signaled that they will act as "honest brokers" in the role, although some EU lawmakers are skeptical of Hungary's democratic track record.

Orban's press chief, Bertalan Havasi, told Hungarian news agency MTI early Tuesday the Orban-Zelenskyy meeting would be an opportunity to build peace as Ukraine fights off Russia's invasion.

During his visit, the Hungarian prime minister stated the obvious to Zelenskyy: "This is war and peace, war between Russia and Ukraine, the invasion of Russia against Ukraine." He added, My target is to be here to understand how we could be helpful to Ukraine in the forthcoming six months."

But Orban has also long accused Kyiv of mistreating an ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine's western region of Zakarpattia, a community he has used to justify his refusal to provide weapons to Ukraine or allow their transfer across the two countries' shared border.

After their meeting, Zelenskyy told Orban, "We appreciate that your visit takes place right after the start of the Hungarian presidency of the European Union. This is a clear indication of our common European priorities, of how important it is to bring a just peace to Ukraine."

Ukrainian officials in Washington

Meanwhile, in Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov that the United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine.

Austin said the weapons package would include such arms as anti-tank weapons and air defense interceptors and will allow accelerated procurement of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and Patriot air defense interceptors.

The Austin-Umerov talks came a week before the United States hosts a NATO summit where military support for Ukraine to help it defend against Russias invasion is set to top the agenda.

Secretary Austin and Minister Umerov will discuss the bilateral defense cooperation, regional security issues and ways to strengthen the defense partnership between the United States and Ukraine, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Monday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also is hosting talks Tuesday with Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Zelenskyy.

The United States has been by far the biggest supporter of Ukraine in the more than two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

U.S. military aid is again flowing to Ukrainian forces after stalling for several months amid political gridlock in the U.S. Congress.

Zelenskyy said in a video address late Monday that he expects this month to bring even more strength to Ukraine, particularly in protecting our sky and achieving real security for our country.

Long-range weapons, fighter jets for Ukraineof sufficient quality and quantity, and more air defense systemsare crucial factors affecting the entire course of this war, Zelenskyy said.

Russias daily aerial attacks with missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities have pushed Zelenskyy to seek more missile defense systems and to try to speed the delivery of fighter jets for Ukrainian forces to use.

Ukraine has also sought to bolster its domestic production of attack drones, and has been carrying out its own aerial attacks, especially targeting areas along the Ukraine-Russia border.

Russias defense ministry said Tuesday it shot down four Ukrainian aerial drones over the Bryansk region, four drones over the Belgorod region and three more drones over Russia-occupied Crimea.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod, said the attacks injured two people and damaged a shopping center.

A Russian official in Crimea reported damage to several houses and cars, but no injuries.

Some information for this story came from Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
U.S. forecasters reported Tuesday that Hurricane Beryl continues moving quickly across the Caribbean and is expected to remain a powerful storm Wednesday as it nears Jamaica, where a hurricane warning remains in effect.

In its latest report, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Beryl is 780 kilometers (485 miles) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with its maximum sustained winds slightly lower at 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour). It continues moving to the west-northwest at an estimated 35 kph (22 mph).

During a briefing, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said Beryls outer bands were bringing rain into Puerto Rico and portions of the Dominican Republic.

He said forecasters expect the core of the storm to pass just south of the coast of Haiti throughout the day Tuesday and into the evening. A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect for the southern coast of Haiti.

Brennan said the latest data from the hurricane hunter aircraft that has flown into the hurricane shows the storms central pressure has slowly risen while the peak winds have diminished slightly.

Nonetheless, Brennan said Beryl will be a major hurricane when it nears Jamaica Wednesday, and forecasters are most concerned about damage it could cause there.

We are expecting the core of a major hurricane to pass near or over the island during the day, Brennen said. The hurricane center is expecting a storm surge of 1.5 to 2.4 meters (5 to 8 feet) above normal tide levels.

Brennan said there is concern about harbors around Kingston on the island's south side, which are expected to see significant wave action. He said they are also expecting the possibility of life-threatening flooding due to heavy rainfall and the potential for devastating impacts if the eyewall of Beryl moves over the island.

Meanwhile, the White House, on its X account, said U.S. President Joe Biden is closely monitoring Hurricane Beryl and connecting with officials, including at the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They said the administration is ready to support the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region, and they urged residents to heed local guidance.

The hurricane center said Beryls current forecast track has the storm reaching the Cayman Islands Thursday and approaching Mexicos Yucatan peninsula late Thursday, when it is expected to still be a hurricane.

The government of the Cayman Islands has issued a hurricane watch, and a tropical storm warning is in effect for the south coast of Hispaniola, the island that is home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Beryl grew from a tropical storm to a major hurricane in 42 hours, which has only happened six times in the recorded history of Atlantic hurricanes. The hurricane is also the earliest to reach Category 4 status in the region as well as the earliest to reach Category 5 strength. Hurricane Dennis became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

Beryl is the second named storm in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Alberto hit northeastern Mexico in June, killing four people.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned of an above-average hurricane season.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto has undergone leg surgery but is continuing to work as he recovers, a spokesman said Tuesday.

The defense minister and former general, who had suffered for years from a limp attributed to parachuting accidents, underwent surgery on his left leg at the National Defense Central Hospital in Jakarta, his team said.

Specifics of the procedure were kept under wraps, but Prabowo, who succeeds President Joko Widodo in October, described the surgery as "full of risks" in a social media post.

He has since resumed his duties as defense minister and was in attendance at an anniversary celebration for Indonesian police on Monday, Prabowo spokesman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak told AFP.

"Thank God, he is now very fit. [His leg] has healed and is much better now," Dahnil said.

Pictures shared to both men's official Instagram accounts on Sunday showed the president, popularly known as Jokowi, visiting a bathrobe-clad Prabowo while he was still in the hospital.

"I was aware and understood that the medical procedure I was undergoing was full of risks and my life was at stake," Prabowo wrote in his accompanying caption.

The former general has courted controversy for past allegations of human rights abuses, accused by rights groups of a role in disappearing democracy activists at the end of dictator Suharto's rule in the late 1990s.

But the fiery populist secured an easy election win on the back of his pledge to continue Jokowi's popular agenda of strong economic development and his choice of the president's eldest son Gibran as his vice president.
The 12-month grace period for student loan borrowers ended on September 30. The "on-ramp" period helped borrowers who are struggling to make payments avoid the risk of defaulting and hurting their credit score.

"The end of the on-ramp period means the beginning of the potentially harsh consequences for student loan borrowers who are not able to make payments," said Persis Yu, Deputy Executive Director at the Student Borrower Protection Center.

Around 43 million Americans have student loan debt, amounting to $1.5 trillion. Around eight million of those borrowers had enrolled in the SAVE plan, the newest income-driven repayment plan that extended the eligibility for borrowers to have affordable monthly student loan payments. However, this plan is currently on hold due to legal challenges.

With the on-ramp period and a separate program known as Fresh Start ending and the SAVE plan on hold, student loan borrowers who are struggling to afford their monthly payments have fewer options, added Yu. Student loan borrowers who haven't been able to afford their monthly payments must consider their options to avoid going into default.

If you have student loans, here's what you need to know.

What was the on-ramp period?

The Education Department implemented this grace period to ease the borrower's transition to make payments after a three-year payment pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this year-long period, borrowers were encouraged to keep making payments since interest continued to accumulate.

"Normally, loans will default if you fall about nine months behind on making payments, but during this on-ramp period, missed payments would not move people towards defaulting and then being subject to forced collections. However, if you missed payments, you still be falling behind ultimately on repaying your loans," said Abby Shaforth, director of National Consumer Law Center's Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project.

Since this grace period has ended, student loan borrowers who don't make payments will go delinquent or, if their loans are not paid for nine months, go into default.

Borrowers who cannot afford to make payments can apply for deferment or forbearance, which pause payments, though interest continues to accrue.

What happens if I don't make my payments?

Borrowers who can't or don't pay risk delinquency and eventually default. That can badly hurt your credit rating and make you ineligible for additional aid and government benefits.

If a borrower missed one month's payment, they will start receiving email notifications, said Shaforth. Once the loan hasn't been paid for three months, loan servicers notify to the credit reporting agencies that the loan is delinquent, affecting your credit history. Once the borrower hasn't paid the loan for nine months, the loan goes into default.

If you're struggling to pay, advisers first encourage you to check if you qualify for an income-driven repayment plan, which determines your payments by looking at your expenses. You can see whether you qualify by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. If you've worked for a government agency or a non-profit organization, you could also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives student debt after 10 years.

What happens when a loan goes into default?

When you fall behind on a loan by 270 days  roughly nine months  the loan appears on your credit report as being in default.

Once a loan is in default, it goes into collections. This means the government can garnish wages (without a court order) to go towards paying back the loan, intercept tax refunds, and seize portions of Social Security checks and other benefit payments.

What if I can't pay?

If your budget doesn't allow you to resume payments, it's important to know how to navigate the possibility of default and delinquency on a student loan. Both can hurt your credit rating, which would make you ineligible for additional aid.

If you're in a short-term financial bind, you may qualify for deferment or forbearance  allowing you to temporarily suspend payment.

To determine whether deferment or forbearance are good options for you, you can contact your loan servicer. One thing to note: interest still accrues during deferment or forbearance. Both can also impact potential loan forgiveness options. Depending on the conditions of your deferment or forbearance, it may make sense to continue paying the interest during the payment suspension.

What is an income-driven repayment plan?

The U.S. Education Department offers several plans for repaying federal student loans. Under the standard plan, borrowers are charged a fixed monthly amount that ensures all their debt will be repaid after 10 years. But if borrowers have difficulty paying that amount, they can enroll in one of several plans that offer lower monthly payments based on income and family size. Those are known as income-driven repayment plans.

Income-driven options have been offered for years and generally cap monthly payments at 10% of a borrower's discretionary income. If a borrower's earnings are low enough, their bill is reduced to $0. And after 20 or 25 years, any remaining debt gets erased.

What is the latest with the SAVE program?

In August, the Supreme Court kept on hold the SAVE plan, the income-driven repayment plan that would have lowered payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits make their way through lower courts.

Eight million borrowers who had already enrolled in the SAVE plan don't have to pay their monthly student loan bills until the court case is resolved. Debt that already had been forgiven under the plan was unaffected.

The next court hearing about this case will be held on October 15.

What happened with the Fresh Start program?

The Fresh Start program, which gave benefits to borrowers who were delinquent prior to the pandemic payment pause, also closed on September 30. During this limited program, student loan borrowers who were in default prior to the pandemic were given the opportunity to remove their loans from default, allowing them to enroll in income-driven payment plans, or apply for deferment, among other benefits.
A New York judge on Tuesday delayed the sentencing of former President Donald Trump in his felony criminal case so that the judge can consider whether a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling might require him to overturn the conviction.

Judge Juan Merchan was to sentence Trump on July 11 for his conviction on 34 charges that he illegally tried to influence the outcome of his successful 2016 presidential campaign by falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment to a porn star to silence her claim  denied by Trump  that they had a one-night tryst in 2006. Merchan has rescheduled the sentencing for September 18.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump could not be charged with offenses related to his official actions as president although he could face prosecution for unofficial acts. The high court ruling centered on Trump's actions in late 2020 and early 2021, when he is alleged to have illegally tried to upend his 2020 reelection loss.

Almost the entirety of the testimony in the New York hush money case centered on Trump's actions as he campaigned for the presidency in 2015 and 2016, before he won the election eight years ago, and in the ensuing weeks before he took office.

But one key scene recounted at the trial occurred later, when erstwhile Trump lawyer and political fixer Michael Cohen testified that he and Trump met at the White House in February 2017, shortly after Trump assumed the presidency.

Cohen said he and Trump discussed how Cohen would be reimbursed for the hush money he had paid porn actress Stormy Daniels to keep voters from learning about her alleged affair with Trump just ahead of the November 2016 voting. Cohen subsequently was paid back in monthly installments throughout 2017.

Trump's lawyers claim that because of the White House meeting, Trump's conviction should be overturned, in accordance with the new Supreme Court ruling.

"At the very least, we deserve a new trial," Trump lawyer Will Scharf told CNN.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan in a letter Tuesday that although prosecutors "believe the defendant's arguments to be without merit," they did not object to delaying the scheduled sentencing.

Trump's lawyers asked to have until July 10 to file their request to overturn the verdict, while Steinglass asked that prosecutors have until July 24 to respond.
Former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley continued to draw support from Republican voters long after she dropped out of this years U.S. presidential race. VOAs Dora Mekouar looks at how Haley supporters may help determine the winner of the election between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
North Korea says it has conducted a test launch of a new tactical ballistic missile that is capable of carrying a so-called super-large warhead.

State news agency KCNA said Mondays launch of the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 missile was meant to verify the missiles flight stability and accuracy with a simulated heavy payload.The report says the missile can carry a 4.5-ton warhead. The report did not say where the test was conducted and where the missile landed.

Tuesdays report came a day after South Koreas military said the North launched two ballistic missiles, the second of which began flying abnormally shortly after liftoff and fell into an area not far from the capital Pyongyang.

A South Korean military spokesman told reporters that the Norths report of the test flight of the new missile was likely fabricated. North Korea made a similar claim last week about a new missile which could carry multiple warheads, which Seoul also dismissed as a deception and exaggeration.

Meanwhile, the South Korean army says it held live-firing drills Tuesday near the heavily fortified border with North Korea. The drills were the first of its kind since Seoul suspended a 2018 agreement with Pyongyang aimed at reducing military tensions along the border.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters.
Police and medical officials in Indias northern Uttar Pradesh state say more than 100 people are dead after a stampede during a religious gathering in the Hathras district.

District Magistrate Ashish Kumar told reporters the incident occurred at a village about 200 kilometers southeast of Indias capital, New Delhi, as a large crowd rushed to leave a Hindu event known as a satsang, organized by local religious leader Bhole Baba.

The Associated Press reports as many as 15,000 may have attended the event in a space built to host 5,000.

Police say overcrowding was likely a factor. One local official told French news agency AFP that a dust storm also may have blinded people as they attempted to leave the area.

A witness told the Press Trust of India news agency that as the crowd left, some people fell into a drain by the side of a road, and were crushed to death when others fell on top of them.

Reports say several women and children were among the dead.

Video and images posted to social media show bodies on the ground. The injured were ferried to local hospitals.

In a statement on his X account, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, Mahant Yogi Adityanath, said he has formed a team to investigate the incident.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an appearance before the Indian parliament Tuesday, said he was deeply saddened about the incident and stressed he would help the injured in every possible way.

Deadly stampedes are relatively common during Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with few safety measures.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The Philippines and China have agreed to reduce tensions in the South China Sea, said officials in Manila Tuesday following a recent clash in disputed waters.

Officials from the two sides held talks in Manila Tuesday.

Last month, the Philippines said Chinese Coast Guard personnel armed with knives, sticks and an axe, surrounded and took control of three Philippine Navy vessels near a disputed location, marking the most recent and severe incident in a series of dangerous confrontations.

During the June 17 altercation, a Filipino soldier lost a finger and Manila accused the Chinese Coast Guard of pilfering firearms and causing damage to three boats and navigational and communication equipment.

Chinas foreign ministry had disputed the Philippine account of the incident, claiming that the necessary measures taken were lawful, professional, and beyond reproach.

In previous incidents, Chinese forces have employed water cannons, military-grade lasers and clashed with Filipino resupply vessels and their escort ships.

Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction, the Philippine foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The Philippines and China have also agreed to consider cooperation between the coast guards and a framework for scientific collaboration, according to Manila.

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vaticans foreign minister, urged a peaceful conflict resolution, highlighting areas like the South China Sea.

China asserts control over nearly all of the South China Sea, disregarding rival claims from Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration said in 2016 that Chinas extensive claims in the South China Sea lack legal validity. China rejected the ruling.

There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain, the Philippines Department of Foreign affairs (DFA) said in a statement.
French prosecutors on Tuesday asked the Court of Cassation, the highest court in France, to weigh in on the validity of an international arrest warrant against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Assad is accused of being complicit in war crimes committed during the civil war in Syria, although prosecutors are asserting that Assad, as a head of state, should have complete immunity.

Appeals court judges last week ruled that the arrest warrant is valid and that it remains in force. Lawyers of victims say the ruling by the appeals court was a giant step forward in the fight against impunity.

The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, along with a lawyers' group known as the Open Society Justice Initiative and the Syrian Archive, were involved in the initial complaint against the president.

According to the prosecutors appeal, it is necessary from a legal point of view to consider personal immunity as head of state in relation to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The prosecutors have said that immunity for foreign heads of state should only be superseded by international prosecution, including the International Criminal Court.

"The challenge at France's supreme court by the Public Prosecutor's Office threatens once more the victims' relentless efforts to see Bashar Assad finally tried before an independent court," said Jeanne Sulzer and Clemence Witt in a statement. Sulzer and Witt are lawyers at the Paris Bar.

While Assad will likely not see trial in France, an arrest warrant for a world leader is rare. France is thought to be the first country to issue an arrest warrant for a sitting foreign head of state.

The French judiciary also has arrest warrants out for Maher Assad, his brother, and several others.

The war crimes in question include a 2013 chemical attack on Damascus suburbs then held by the opposition. More than 1,000 people were killed, while thousands more were injured.

After the attack, Washington and Moscow made a deal for Syria to forfeit its chemical weapons. Watchdog groups allege that Syria has continued staging chemical attacks.

The civil war in Syria killed upwards of a million people and displaced millions of others since it began in 2011.

The Court of Cassations decision will be the final ruling.

The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse provided information for this report.
It has been more than a month since Lai Ching-te took office as Taiwans newly elected president. Since the people of the self-governing island elected Lai in January, China has been increasing its pressure on Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan a part of its territory and views Lai as a separatist.

Chinas ambassador to the U.S, Xie Feng, did not respond to VOAs request for an interview last year when he arrived in Washington. VOA sat down with Taiwans top envoy to the U.S., Alexander Tah-Ray Yui, to talk about Lais foreign policy vision, Chinas policies in the South China sea and new Chinese guidelines advocating for the punishment of those strongly supporting Taiwan independence. Also discussed was artificial intelligence and Taiwans influence in the Caribbean, where five countries have diplomatic ties with the island.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

VOA: As a representative of Taiwan in the U.S., what is the single most important thing you hope to accomplish here?

Alexander Tah-Ray Yui, Taiwans top envoy to the U.S.: Be it security, defense, be it technology, culture, education, etc.  and it's been steadily growing  obviously, my wish to accomplish here is to reach out, not only to the government, to Congress, but also to the American people to show that Taiwan-U.S. relations are relevant and are important for both of us. It's reciprocal, beneficial for both peoples, and we'll continue to promote that.

VOA: There's been mounting pressure from China, especially since the new [Taiwan] president started his office. What are some of the most challenging aspects of your diplomatic work here in the U.S., especially during an election year? And do you feel that pressure from China?

Yui: After President Lai Ching-tes assumption on May 20th, things have gotten even more aggressive  [China] conducted military maneuvers around the island, and the presence of military airplanes and ships, near and around our territorial waters is constant. At the same time, PRC [Peoples Republic of China] has been conducting what we call lawfare  law warfare  lately. [On] June 15th, they [China] implemented the Coast Guard Law number three, which in that law, again, I'm just loosely interpreting, [the] Chinese Coast Guard, using that law, can arrest and detain all within their territorial waters, which includes the whole South China Sea, East China Sea, etc., detain foreigners, seamen, if they deem that theyre in unlawful activities. They can detain them [for] up to 60 days without due process.

[On June 21] they [China] announced the 22 suggestions on penalizing Taiwan independence. Any Taiwanese  or actually any person, even foreigners  who are aiding, abetting, promoting Taiwan independence could be under these penal sanctions. They can be arrested, put under judicial process  if even in absentia  and the most it could be, [is] under death penalty sanctions if [they are] deemed extreme pro-independence movement supporters. Again, they're using [the] law to justify that everything they claim is theirs. My government announced that we are elevating the travel warnings to orange, which is second highest level of warning to our citizens to not make unnecessary travel to mainland China, Hong [Kong] and Macao because of this.

You mentioned it is election season for the United States. Obviously, we all watch it with a lot of interest, a lot of attention But we're certain that no matter what the outcome of the elections, the relationship between Taiwan and the United States will continue to grow.

VOA: On to technology, Taiwan has been a world leader in semiconductors. China has been trying to be the global leader in artificial intelligence. How does Taiwan plan to compete with China?

Yui: Taiwan has a lot of relevance in terms of the AI revolution. China has been trying to, doing a lot of work, to advance AI  on microchips, semiconductors. They've devoted a lot of resources, a lot of money, a lot of manpower to try to replicate  I'm not saying overcome  just to replicate what Taiwan is doing. And so far, they have not been able to do so. So, it's important for us to maintain this superiority over mainland China. Because technology has to be used for good. It has to be used for exploring, expanding human imagination and benefits instead of being used to control its own people.

VOA: China has been active in the Caribbean with its infrastructure and investments. Some analysts even call it a key battleground for China to isolate Taiwan in the Caribbean. What is Taiwan's position?

Yui: PRC has been utilizing the Road and Belt Initiative to try to bring Chinese state-owned companies to build this large and often unnecessary infrastructure, through Chinese financing at high costs. What we are doing and what other countries  the United States and Europe  is that we offer a different alternative to these kind(s) of developments, which is more humanistic. We've always been allies offering through our technical commission the necessary cooperation that they need in terms of medical assistance, education, technology, agriculture, etc. [This] is what they really need and not all these humongous, unnecessary projects that cost a lot of money.
The U.N. refugee agency is expanding a humanitarian appeal for Sudan, as increasing numbers of people flee the countrys war and widespread hunger in search of safety in neighboring countries.

The UNHCR reports more money is needed to aid and protect the swelling population of Sudanese refugees, and it is revising its appeal to $1.5 billion, up from $1.4 billion it requested in January. The appeal will help 3.3 million refugees and the local communities hosting them in neighboring countries through the end of the year.

Ewan Watson, UNHCR head of global communications, has just returned from visits to Sudans White Nile State and a to the Renk and JamJin refugee camp in South Sudans Unity State.

He described the situation there as incredibly difficult, confusing, dangerous, and an appalling tragedy for civilians both still in Sudan and those who have had to leave the country due to the violence.

Briefing journalists Tuesday in Geneva, Watson said It is one of the most neglected crises globally and for us, it is the most pressing displacement crisis in the world right now.

Since the conflict began in mid-April 2023, he noted that 10 million people have fled their homes in Sudan, with many displaced multiple times.

Of these, the UNHCR reports nearly 8 million are displaced inside Sudan, while nearly 2 million people have gone to neighboring countries.

Money from the January appeal has been used to assist Sudanese refugees who fled to the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

The UNHCRs revised appeal has been expanded to include two new countries, Libya and Uganda. Since last years power struggle between rival generals from the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Response Forces triggered this catastrophic conflict, the UNHCR has registered 20,000 new arrivals in Libya from Sudan, mainly fleeing Darfur.

We understand that thousands more have arrived in Libya that are not registered and are in the East of the country. With more refugees continuing to arrive since the escalation of fighting in the Darfur region, local services available across the country are really overstretched, Watson said.

Refugee families are being forced to sleep in the open as there is a lack of shelter, he said. Medical facilities also cannot keep up with growing needs and this is putting children, in particular, at risk of malnutrition.

He observed that Uganda, which already was the largest refugee hosting country in Africa, is fast becoming home to a burgeoning Sudanese refugee population.

Since the outbreak of the war, he said more than 39,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to Sudan, with 70 percent fleeing just this year. This is three times more than was initially expected or predicted.

Most of them are arriving from Khartoum and have university level education and are looking to rebuild their lives, he said, noting that most are being hosted and receiving humanitarian aid, including food, shelter, and health care in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement in the west of the country.

As more people arrive, these services continue to be stretched, while resources to expand assistance are lacking, he said, adding that only 19 percent of the money required to run its humanitarian operations has been received. This is abysmally insufficient to cover the most basic needs for people forced to flee. The cost of inaction is having grave consequences for refugees.

The UNHCR official said heavy rains expected in some of the hosting countries risk complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid, particularly in border areas. He appealed to international donors to provide the funds needed to help strengthen government-led efforts to deliver critical assistance to millions of vulnerable people.

Otherwise, he warned more and more refugees will be forced to seek help further afield in countries such as Libya, which are extremely difficult for refugees.

Last week, the United Nations published alarming new data showing that the rapid deterioration in food security in Sudan has left 755,000 people in catastrophic conditions with a risk of famine in 14 areas.

Reacting to this latest food assessment by the Integrated Phase Classification, IPC, heads of three leading U.N. agencies warned that Sudan is facing a devastating hunger catastrophe on a scale not seen since the Darfur crisis in the early 2000s.

In its latest update of fighting between the SAF and RSF in the southern town of Sinja the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, reports that more than 60,000 people have fled Sinja for safety, most moving east toward the state of Gedaref.

The fighting continues, and people are on the move as we speak so the situation is very volatile and these numbers could increase in the coming days, Vanessa Huguenin, OCHA spokesperson told journalists in Geneva on Tuesday.

We and our humanitarian partners are present in Gedaref and are preparing for the arrival of people that have been displaced by the clashes, with food and nutrition supplies  We have a window of opportunity to act but time is running out and we need more funding and access, she said.
New satellite images of Cuba show signs the country is installing improved intelligence capabilities at four military bases with suspected links to China, potentially providing Beijing with a network of facilities that could be used to spy on the United States.

The imagery, presented in a report Tuesday by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, was taken in March and April. It indicated new or recent construction at three sites near the capital, Havana, as well as work on a previously unreported site not far from the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Without access to classified materials, pinpointing the specific targets of these assets is nearly impossible, the report said. Nonetheless, the growth of space-monitoring equipment at sites like Bejucal and Calabazar is notable given that Cuba lacks its own satellites or space program.

Bejucal is the largest of the four sites, according to CSIS analysts and first came to prominence during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, when the base was used to store nuclear weapons for the Soviet Union.

More recently, it has gained prominence as a major signals intelligence monitoring station, suspected to be tracking electronic communications for China.

The new satellite pictures show evidence that Bejucal has seen expansive updates, including a new electronic antenna enclosure.

Two other sites near Havana  Wajay and Calabazar  have seen growth as well, with CSIS analysts citing evidence of an expanding and evolving mission, including the installation of antennae, radar dishes and other equipment that could help those using it to monitor satellites.

The final site, El Salao, appears to be still under construction. But its location, not far from the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay near the city of Santiago de Cuba, and the structures themselves, could be cause for concern for the U.S.

The imagery collected by CSIS shows progress on what appears to be an antenna array with a diameter of 130 to 200 meters (425 to 655 feet). Similar arrays, according to the analysts, have shown the ability to track signals up to 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles).

The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the CSIS report. But it follows a report last year by The Wall Street Journal that China was paying Cuba several billion dollars to build a spy facility.

U.S. officials later said that China had upgraded its intelligence facilities in Cuba in 2019 but that U.S. pushback had prevented Beijing from achieving its goals.

We're confident that we can continue to meet our security commitments, said Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder while briefing reporters Tuesday.

We know that the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] is going to continue to try to enhance its presence in Cuba, and we will continue to keep working to disrupt that, he said in response to a question from VOA. We're continuing to monitor this closely, taking steps to counter it.

China on Tuesday rejected the findings of the CSIS report, with the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Washington calling them nothing but slander.

The U.S. side has repeatedly hyped-up China's establishment of spy bases or conducting surveillance activities in Cuba, Liu Pengyu told VOA in an email.

The U.S. should immediately stop its malicious smearing of China, Liu said, adding, The U.S. is no doubt the leading power in terms of eavesdropping and does not even spare its Allies [sic].

Cuba also pushed back against the CSIS report, singling out a write-up in The Wall Street Journal.

Without citing a verifiable source or showing evidence, it seeks to scare the public with legends about Chinese military bases that do not exist and no one has seen, according to a post by Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio on the X social media platform.

The CSIS report says monitoring stations in Cuba could help China to acquire needed capabilities and insights as it tries to militarily surpass the United States.

Collecting data on activities like military exercises, missile tests, rocket launches, and submarine maneuvers would allow China to develop a more sophisticated picture of U.S. military practices, the report said.

Cuban facilities would also provide the ability to monitor radio traffic and potentially intercept data delivered by U.S. satellites as they pass over highly sensitive military sites across the southern United States, the report said.

Such monitoring stations could also help China gain access to what the report describes as a treasure trove of data from commercial communications transiting the southeastern U.S.
A new study has revealed that recent floods in Pakistan have substantially weakened its societal resilience in coping with and recovering from such disasters as the threat from climate change continues to grow.

The London-headquartered independent global charity Lloyds Register Foundation said Tuesday the findings are part of the latest edition of their flagship World Risk Poll Resilience Index.

The study also highlighted that the number of Pakistanis who have experienced a disaster in the past five years has more than doubled since 2021, increasing from 11% to 27%.

This increase has been driven primarily by the extensive floods that hit the country in 2022, affecting regions containing around 15% of the population, the study said.

The report noted that community and society resilience scores declined sharply in the regions most affected by the floods, particularly in the southern Sindh province.

These scores declined because people reported losing confidence in the support of the government, community and infrastructure  at a national level, those who said their government cared not at all about them and their well-being rose from 60% in 2021 to almost three-quarters [72%] in 2023.

Meanwhile, the country's already low individual and household resilience levels failed to improve, with Pakistan ranking in the bottom 10 globally for both resilience scores, according to the report.

Nancy Hey, the director of evidence and insight at Lloyds Register Foundation, urged policymakers in Pakistan to prioritize rebuilding and strengthening the resilience of the most affected communities.

She said this would better prepare them to face natural hazards and other potential causes of disasters in the wake of the growing threat of climate change.

For residents of Pakistan, catastrophic flooding is largely responsible for the doubling in disaster experience since 2021. This may have led to a reality check for residents in terms of how prepared they feel for such events, with community and societal resilience particularly negatively affected, Hey said.

In 2022, Pakistans southern and southwestern regions experienced devastating floods triggered by climate change-induced unusually heavy monsoon rains, killing more than 1,700 people, affecting 33 million others, and submerging approximately one-third of Pakistan.

The South Asian nation of about 245 million contributes less than 1% to global carbon emissions but bears the brunt of climate change.

The countrys weather patterns have changed dramatically in recent years, and it officially ranks fifth among the countries most affected by global warming.

April was recorded as the wettest month in Pakistan since 1961, with more than double the usual monthly rainfall, killing scores of people and destroying property as well as farmland.

In May and June, Pakistan experienced relatively hotter heat waves, with temperatures in some districts rising to more than 52 degrees Celsius for days. The hot weather prompted authorities in May to temporarily shut down education for half of Pakistan's schoolchildren to protect them from heatstroke and dehydration.

The United Nations has warned that an estimated 200,000 Pakistanis could be affected by the coming monsoon season and flash floods, as national weather forecasters project above-normal rainfall.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed preparations for the monsoon season at a special meeting Tuesday and formed a high-level committee to handle potential emergencies, his office said in a statement.

National Disaster Management Authority officials told the meeting that all relevant institutions and Pakistani troops remain on high alert in vulnerable districts. They were quoted as saying that adequate stocks of boats, tents, drainage pumps, medicines and other essential items were available for people in areas prone to rain-related disasters.
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that U.S. presidents have at least presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions taken while in office, and that they enjoy absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for exercising the "core" responsibilities of their office.

The case arose from a claim by former President Donald Trump that he is immune from criminal prosecution for his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election, which culminated in a mob of his supporters storming the Capitol and disrupting the certification of President Joe Biden's victory.

The most immediate effect of the ruling is that it virtually guarantees that federal charges related to the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election will not be decided before the 2024 election, in which Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee. If he wins the election, he would be able to quash the prosecution altogether.

What the ruling means for the way future presidents conduct themselves while in office remains to be seen, but numerous experts said that the decision could open the door to abuses of power.

Conservative majority

The court's six-member conservative majority issued the opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, on the very last day of an extended term, while the three members of its liberal wing issued blistering dissents.

The majority explicitly ruled out prosecuting Trump for a number of things he did in the aftermath of the election, including threatening a Justice Department official with dismissal unless he falsely claimed that the agency was investigating possible fraud in some states that voted for Biden.

However, it left open the possibility that prosecutors might be able to "rebut" the presumption of immunity as it applies to other official actions, and remanded the case to a lower court to make that determination.

The majority also noted that not every action taken by a president is "official," but said that it would also be up to the lower court to determine what actions do and do not fall under that category.

However, it also seemed to direct the lower court to use an expansive definition of what an official action is when it makes that determination, writing, "[T]he immunity we have recognized extends to the 'outer perimeter' of the President's official responsibilities, covering actions so long as they are 'not manifestly or palpably beyond [his] authority.'"

Strong dissent

The dissent from the liberal wing of the court, written by Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, was unsparingly critical of the majority's findings. The ruling, she wrote, "makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law."

"Whether described as presumptive or absolute, under the majority's rule, a President's use of any official power for any purpose, even the most corrupt, is immune from prosecution," Sotomayor wrote.

She went on to list a number of hypothetical scenarios in which a president could use his official actions to corruptly benefit himself, such as ordering the assassination of a political rival, directing the military to support him in a coup d'etat, or accepting a bribe in order to issue a pardon.

"With fear for our democracy, I dissent," Sotomayor wrote.

'Roadmap' for criminality

Ilya Somin, a professor at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia School of Law, said that he was surprised by the degree of latitude the ruling appears to give the occupant of the Oval Office.

"It creates significant encouragement for future presidents that they can do all sorts of illegal things, so long as they can shoehorn them into an 'official act,'" Somin told VOA.

"There should be no presumptive immunity for so-called official acts," he said. "If a criminal statute that Congress enacted is constitutional, then there should be no exemption from it just because the president is engaged in an official act."

David D. Cole, a professor at Georgetown Law and the national legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that the ruling marked "a sad day for democracy."

"The Court essentially puts presidents generally, and President Trump in particular, above the law," Cole told VOA. "And it provides a road map for Trump, should he get reelected, allowing him to blatantly engage in criminal conduct using his official powers."

Paul Schiff Berman, a professor at the George Washington University Law School, called the ruling's definition of behavior that is immune to prosecution "extraordinarily broad" and agreed that it could well prevent any future president from being prosecuted for actions taken while in office.

"The court said that there is a presumption of immunity for any official act while in office, but the presumption can only be overcome if the prosecutor shows that the prosecution will not interfere in any way with the power of the executive," Berman told VOA. "So, it's hard to see how that presumption could ever be overcome in a criminal prosecution."

Trump celebrates

Shortly after the ruling was handed down, Trump used his social media network, Truth Social, to celebrate the court's decision, writing, "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!"

Although the case decided today has little or no bearing on a number of Trump's other legal challenges, some of which stem from activities he engaged in prior to becoming president, he claimed that the ruling ought to result in all legal cases against him being dropped.

Republican supporters of the former president were also quick to praise the court's findings, with some suggesting that it could completely undermine at least the two federal cases brought against Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

"Today's ruling by the Court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Biden's weaponized Department of Justice and Jack Smith," House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X. "The Court clearly stated that presidents are entitled to immunity for their official acts. This decision is based on the obviously unique power and position of the presidency, and comports with the Constitution and common sense."

Also on X, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, considered one of the front-runners in the race to be named Trump's vice presidential running mate, wrote, "A massive win, not just for Trump but the rule of law. I'm still digesting but this may well destroy all of Jack Smith's case against the president."
A House Democratic lawmaker has become the first in the party to publicly call for President Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee for president, citing Biden's debate performance failing to "effectively defend his many accomplishments."

Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas said in a statement Tuesday that Biden should "make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw."

"My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved," Doggett said. "Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden's first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so."

Senior Democratic leaders have been expressing support for Biden following the recent debate.
The United States and Panama are working together to address irregular migration through the Darien Gap, under a new agreement the two countries announced Monday.

The U.S. State Department said the collaboration would include U.S. helping Panama with removal flights to repatriate people who illegally enter Panama.

A U.S. State Department statement said the program is aimed at addressing unprecedented migration through the Darien region. The jungle area connects Colombia to Panama and has been a dangerous route for migrants trying to reach the United States.

"By returning such individuals to their country of origin, we will help deter irregular migration in the region and at our Southern border, and halt the enrichment of malign smuggling networks that prey on vulnerable migrants," U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

The U.S. said more than 520,000 migrants passed through the Darien region last year.

Panamas President Jose Raul Mulino, who took office Monday, pledged that migrants without legal status in Panama will not be permitted to pass through the country.

I wont allow Panama to be an open path for thousands of people who enter our country illegally, supported by an international organization related to drug trafficking and human trafficking, Mulino said during his inauguration speech.

Addressing root causes of migration and working with countries along routes used to reach the United States have been part of U.S. efforts in the region to reduce the number of people who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Irregular migration is a regional challenge that requires a regional response, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters
Israeli forces carried out attacks in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, with Palestinian health officials saying at least eight people were killed.

The attacks included bombardments of Khan Younis, a day after Israel ordered the latest evacuation of Palestinian civilians from the city.

Israels military said Tuesday it carried out airstrikes overnight in an area of Khan Younis where militants had fired 20 rockets toward Israeli settlements.

More Israeli airstrikes targeted the southern city of Rafah, while Israeli ground troops conducted operations against Hamas in central Gaza, the military said.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters Monday that Israels evacuation order for Khan Younis shows that no place is safe in Gaza, that more efforts need to be made to protect civilians.

Israel has repeatedly told Palestinians to leave certain parts of Gaza, usually ahead of Israeli offensives, in a move that Israel says is meant to protect civilians from the war. The evacuations, along with the fighting, have meant people have had to flee multiple times in search of safety.

Its another stop in this deadly circular movement that the population in Gaza has to undergo on a regular basis, Dujarric said. This is yet again why we need to see an end to this conflict.

A resident who lives in the targeted evacuation zone, Ahmad Najjar, told Agence France-Presse, "Fear and extreme anxiety have gripped people after the evacuation order." He observed that there has been a large displacement of residents."

Aid flows

In New York, Sigrid Kaag, the U.N. senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council that since Israel began its military operation in Rafah in early May, the volume of aid entering and being distributed across Gaza has dropped significantly.

Military activity and the lack of safe routes inside Gaza continue to severely impact humanitarian operations, she said. A near-total breakdown of civil order has further led to an environment of lawlessness and criminality.

Kaag said the United Nations has asked Israel to find solutions to allow for the safe delivery of aid. Israel disputes that it is not fulfilling its commitments, and says it is allowing aid to flow into Gaza from several crossing points.

Although intentions and commitments may be convincing, the only credible measure of change and progress are the improvements in the lives and well-being of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, she said.

Kaag has also been tasked by the Security Council with establishing a mechanism to monitor and verify the humanitarian nature of all aid entering Gaza to facilitate its speedy distribution. She said it is now operational.

The mechanism is now capturing humanitarian aid shipments from Jordan, Cyprus, Israel, and the West Bank into Gaza, ensuring greater volume at certain times, transparency and prioritization, she said, adding the mechanism would be active for relief supplies coming from Egypt by mid-July.

Kaag said options are also being discussed on the feasibility and longer-term planning of the Cyprus Maritime Corridor. Relief supplies have been inspected in Cyprus and sent by ship to Gaza since mid-May, but the U.S.-constructed pier that receives them has been plagued with problems and is currently not functional.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza erupted when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has so far killed nearly 38,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza and left the densely built-up coastal enclave in ruins.

VOA U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Former Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, who attempted to press education officials to sack a school teacher for lack of proficiency in a local language in Matabeleland, has apologized saying he regrets that he let President Emmerson Mnangagwa down.

In a statement, Simelisizwe Sibanda, who was fired yesterday, said, I understand that my approach to addressing the issue of a teacher's language proficiency was misguided and inappropriate, leading to perceptions of tribalism. I want to assure the public and especially the teachers that my intention was solely to ensure that our children receive quality education, and I was concerned about the teacher's ability to communicate effectively with her students. However, as a national leader, I should have addressed this issue through appropriate channels, avoiding public platforms that may have fueled the tribal connotations.

Sibanda noted that his approach was unprofessional and therefore I understand that my actions may have perpetuated tribal divisions, and for that, I truly apologise to the whole teaching fraternity and nation at large. I want to assure the public that my commitment to our nation's unity and development has always been genuine.

He also appealed for sympathy from his ruling Zanu PF party, stressing that I understand the party's values of unity and inclusivity, and I regret any harm caused by my lack of judgement. I hope that the party and its members will accept my sincere apologies and recognize my commitment to our nation's progress.

His remarks came at a time some people in Matabeleland region are complaining that teachers like Winnet Mharadze of Clonnmore Primary School in Bubi District are allegedly imparting improper education at schools in Early Chilhood Development lessons.

They argue that only people proficient in local languages can teach children at infant level.

In 2022, education secretary Thumisang Thabela said the government is addressing the issue and expectations were high that such teachers will be removed from some schools nationwide and redeployed in appropriate regions.

At that time, she noted that there was a critical shortage of teachers in Zimbabwe.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday fired deputy education minister Simelisizwe Sibanda, who allegedly told Clonnmore Primary School to sack Shona-speaking Early Childhood Development teacher Winnet Mharadze. Sibanda was allegedly infuriated that Mharadze could hardly speak the local language while teaching children at infancy education level. This has been an issue that has troubled Matabeleland activists who have demanded that school kids at a low level should be taught by teachers capable of giving instructions in local languages

Simelisizwe Sibanda has apologised. This follows his sacking yesterday by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for directing a head teacher of a primary school in Bubi District to transfer a female Shona teacher who was teaching ECD class and not conversant in local Ndebele language.
Steve Bannon, a former political aide to Donald Trump, reported to federal prison Monday to serve his sentence for defying a congressional subpoena for a House committee investigation into the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

Bannon told reporters at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, that he was a political prisoner and proud of going to prison. He also blamed Democrats and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for his four-month prison sentence.

Bannon was found guilty in 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to sit for a deposition with the House January 6 committee and a second for refusing to provide documents related to his involvement in the Republican ex-president's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

A judge permitted Bannon to remain free for almost two years as he appealed his case, but he was ordered to begin his sentence after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld his convictions in May. The Supreme Court rejected another appeal by Bannon on Friday, not allowing him to postpone serving his sentence any further.

It is expected that Bannon will appeal to the entire D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A group of supporters congregated Monday outside the facility to which Bannon reported. U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was among those in support. On Sunday, Greene took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and referred to Bannons imprisonment as a DISGRACE to our country.

A group of protesters also arrived at the facility, shouting things such as, Traitor!

Defense attorneys believe the case should be brought before the Supreme Court, with Bannons previous lawyer arguing that the Houses subpoena wasnt valid because Trump had asserted executive privilege when he was president.

Prosecutors argue that executive privilege wasnt invoked in front of a committee and that Bannon was dismissed from the White House years prior to January 6, 2021.

Bannon was fired as Trumps chief strategist in 2017, seven months after the former president took office.

Republican House leaders are attempting to get the subpoena deemed illegitimate by claiming the House January 6 committee wasnt properly established.

Bannon is simultaneously facing criminal charges for allegedly swindling individuals who donated money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. He pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including fraud and conspiracy, in New York state court. The trial has been deferred.

Former Trump aide Peter Navarro was also issued a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress and reported to federal prison in March.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press.
A judge postponed Tuesday Donald Trump's sentencing for covering up hush money payments until September 18, the first fallout of a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, pushing it to after the Republican convention.

The United States' top court ruled Monday that Trump enjoys some immunity from prosecution as a former president, a decision also set to delay his trial for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.

Hours after the ruling was announced, Trump's legal team said in a letter to the New York court that the immunity ruling vindicated Trump's position that he should not be judged for his "official acts," and reiterated his call for the conviction to be set aside.

The sentencing had been scheduled for July 11, days before the Republican National Convention on July 15 at which Trump is expected to be proclaimed the party's nominee for the battle against President Joe Biden for the White House.

"The matter is adjourned to September 18, 2024, at 10 am for the imposition of sentence, if such is still necessary," Judge Juan Merchan said in a court filing to allow time for consideration of the bombshell Supreme Court ruling.

Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg had earlier said in a filing that he was not opposed to the delay, but that he believed the "defendant's arguments to be without merit."

The conviction in New York in May made Trump the first former US president ever convicted of a crime. He was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments over his alleged affair with an adult film star in the run-up to the 2016 election.

- 'Loud and clear' -

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote he "was Totally and Completely Innocent from the beginning of this Giant and Highly Illegal Scam, long before the Supreme Court's Decision."

"The impact of the Immunity Ruling is a loud and clear signal for Justice in the United States. I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!" he added.

Biden warned Monday that the US Supreme Court's landmark ruling sets a "dangerous precedent" that Trump would exploit if elected in November.

Former FBI agent Yale University law professor Asha Rangappa told AFP that the conduct for which Trump was convicted appeared "far removed from his official duties."

But because the Supreme Court gave limited guidance in its ruling "it's hard to really know, what will count and what won't."

Facing four criminal cases, Trump has been doing everything in his power to delay the trials until after the election.

The conservative-dominated top court ruled that Trump -- and all presidents -- enjoy "absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution for "official acts" taken while in office, but can still face criminal penalties for "unofficial acts."

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, said a president is "not above the law" but does have "absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while in office.

"The president therefore may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers," Roberts said.

"As for a President's unofficial acts, there is no immunity," the chief justice added, sending the case back to a lower court to determine which of the charges facing Trump involve official or unofficial conduct.

gw/md
Photo: Al Pereira/Getty Images

In February of 1997, Christopher Wallace left New York for the last time. Against dire warnings from friends, family, and business interests, he flew to California to shoot the video for Hypnotize and promote his new album, Life After Death. His final two interviews there, with Joe Clair on Rap City and at San Franciscos KYLD, were heavy. Big is all business, pitching his new project before being asked to reflect on the drama with his recently murdered friend turned rival Tupac Shakur: Just because that man had a beef with me, or I had a beef with him, that dont mean you cant like me. Biggie sounds defensive, morose, subdued, like hes trying to move past a dark chapter in his life. Its reminiscent of the interview that opens his posthumous album Born Again, when hes asked where he sees himself in ten years: I dont think I will see it. For real dog.

This is the Biggie we all knew. On the record, and on records, he was world-weary and cautious  an old soul who could clearly see tragedy coming for him. He was alive for only 24 years, very few of them as a famous person. And he didnt die with an extensive unreleased back catalogue like 2Pac, who was able to demonstrate a range Biggie never got the opportunity to show. As a result, in the nearly three decades since his murder, every waking moment of Biggie recorded on a mic or shot on tape has been scanned, refashioned, and remixed ad nauseam. For Biggie scholars, it can be sad and frustrating, like weve reached the limits of history.

Biggie, the born peacemaker, always believed he could make things right with his former friend.

That changes with It Was All a Dream, a new film from journalist, author, and documentarian dream hampton. The movie, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, showcases the Christopher Wallace we had mostly only heard about from his friends and family. Unlike the (very good) 2021 documentary I Got a Story to Tell, dream has the advantage of real-time footage, taken by the filmmaker herself. What makes hamptons footage especially remarkable is weve never seen Biggie younger  as a goofy, sweet, obnoxious, very 20-year-old Brooklyn jerk with his guard down. One moment hes an emotionally immature, controlling boyfriend to Lil Kim; the next hes on a prehistoric cell phone making wildly inappropriate jokes and dumping an entire bag of weed into a blunt. It is as heartbreaking as it is endearing. Watching this version of Biggie is like Sam Neill and Laura Dern seeing their first brachiosaurus.

Hamptons film was compiled from footage she took between 1993 and 1995, when rap journalism was still in its nascent stages. During the 1980s, the genre was covered in the press infrequently, if at all. When it was, it was often by rockist music critics who had only a passing familiarity with the scene, resulting in clunky, clueless criticism or reporting. Hampton was different: part of a new generation of voices born and raised in hip-hop. Early in the film, Chris Wilder, thenmanaging editor of The Source, puts the moment in perspective to her: Thirty years from now, if hip-hop comes and goes, people will look to The Source to see what happened. Were documenting whats going on right now. Few took this message to heart like hampton. While reporting some of raps formative early-90s profiles, the aspiring documentarian had her camera out, recording constantly.

The era also gave hampton a level of access to some of raps biggest stars that would be inconceivable today. On-camera, they speak candidly and act naturally, unconcerned with their public perception. The footage makes It Was All a Dream an incredible archive dump. The digital rough-grain filter of her handheld camera pulls us back to a time when rap was on the precipice of transitioning from a grassroots, underground art form to a corporate cultural institution worth billions. The films charm is in its subjects un-media-trained intimacy. From the backseats of Eclipses and Accords, their ashtrays choked with roaches, you can hang out with Big or Method Man or spend studio time in L.A. with young Dr. Dre, Snoop, or Warren G.

But the true star is Biggie, who gets the bulk of screen time (and whose Juicy lyrics lend the film its title). Over a brisk 80-minute runtime, Biggie nerds and completists see historical gaps filled and his character fleshed out. In a studio session with Lord Finesse, Big is an absolutely ruthless critic. Finesse plays him a beat hes not feeling, and to explain what he doesnt like about it, Biggie raps sarcastically, making fun of it by playing a Native Tonguesstyle conscious rapper. Its extremely funny, but it also serves as a commentary on the militant keep it real wing of hip-hop, then embodied by fellow Brooklyn native Jeru the Damaja, who had engaged in a cold war of sublims with Big. On One Day, Jeru flipped Biggies Just Playing (Dreams) for an allegory about rap falling prey to materialism  a popular critique that often fell on Bad Boy during that period. Big responded on Kick in the Door, but the interlude in the studio with Finesse gives more context to how Biggie felt in the moment about what he saw as corny, crunchy rap.

Over the years, weve heard dozens of testimonies from Biggies collaborators about his near-mystical writing process. But in the film, we actually get to watch Biggie working, and the footage is revelatory. We see him in the booth kicking a rough draft of what became the MSG Freestyle/Come On verse over the Suicidal Thoughts beat, laying backing vocals for the St. Ides commercial, and briefly throwing in a snippet of his guest verse on Pudgee Tha Phat Bastards Think Big. These moments further affirm the miraculous perfection of Bigs debut album, Ready to Die. Rather than writing full songs to specific beats, Bigs unusual composition process means these blocks of verse were just floating around in his head waiting for the right place to drop in.

It Was All a Dream also illuminates one of the lesser beefs in Bigs career: an internecine squabble with the Wu-Tang Clan. Hamptons coverage helps clarify the comparably minor feud and speaks to what would become a crucial aspect of Bigs character: how he dealt with and thought about conflict with other artists. The film appears to occur during the moment Raekwon and Ghostface took a cheap shot at Biggie on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, when Ghost called out what he saw as the similarities between Illmatics album cover and Ready to Dies. Later in the film, Big is seen riding around listening to Ice Water off Cuban Linx. Its an incredible act of private magnanimity  that even though he was dissed on the same album, Big still recognized and appreciated Raekwon and Ghosts artistry. Its also an echo of the artist who went to California in 1997 in search of closure and an overall testament to Bigs character  like how he never responded to Pacs Hit Em Up and forbid his team from doing the same. The born peacemaker always believed he could make things right with his former friend.

The film closes in Philly with Big and his entourage getting kicked out of a hotel. Everyone, including Big  who had the No. 1 single in the country at the time, with Players Anthem  is understandably upset. Resigned to their fate, Big spits a snippet of LL Cool Js Rock the Bells and then does the bankhead bounce, which gets his entourage laughing and moving. Its the same device the biopic Notorious mined to great effect, in which Biggie beatboxes to make whoever is mad at him laugh and get himself out of trouble. To see this piece of lore confirmed in the moment is why It Was All a Dream makes for such a compelling document.

Ultimately, hamptons work is an argument posed to all culture journalists: that writers have a debt to the historical record to capture as much as possible when working on a profile. In Biggie, we have a subject who was often portrayed, both in the media and in the version of himself he decided to face publicly, as one type of person. This is both his right and unsatisfying for those looking for a greater understanding of the man and his work. It Was All a Dream adds to what I fear may always be an incomplete record, but hamptons incredible trove of footage gives us reason to hope that theres still more of Christopher Wallace living somewhere out there to discover.
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage

The first half of 2024 has been for the pop girlie. It seems like every major artist whos dominated the discourse this year has been a woman, ostensibly making music about what it means to be a woman. Theres Chappell Roans Femininomenon, Sabrina Carpenters ode to the female ego, Please Please Please, and Lorde and Charli XCX working out a labyrinth of emotions that come with female friendship on the Girl, so confusing remix.

With her new album, C,XOXO, Camila Cabello is looking to join their ranks. Historically, Cabellos work has never been super revealing about gender or anything else. But over the course of XOXO, she finally turns the focus to herself, disclosing what it means to be  Camila Cabello. She sings about the internal and external perceptions of womanhood, namely on the introspective, hyperpop-adjacent Chanel No. 5 and the reggaeton ode to her community, DREAM-GIRLS. Switched on Pop producer Reanna Cruz, alongside hosts Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan, unpacked both tracks at length on their latest episode, discussing how the lyrics and musical cues help us understand the psyche of Cabello.

Reanna Cruz: I think the primary idea of C,XOXO is that Camila is trying to correct the narrative about herself. I think a lot of people write her off as an artist who is shallow or doesnt really have a rich interior construction.

Charlie Harding: A common criticism waged against those who begin their careers in a boy group or girl group.

Nate Sloan: One thing that strikes me about Chanel No. 5, in addition to the hyperpop elements, is that theres something about the song that is a little bit disconcerting. Wheres the downbeat? Where is the pulse of the song? Its a little bit up in the air.

C.H.: I feel like part of that ungroundedness comes across in the contrast of these very hypersexualized, confident lyrics against the backdrop of this tape-warbled piano. It feels very dusty, kind of unattractive. And the way that she delivers the vocal is heavily auto-tuned. A little mumble-y. Almost more to create a vibe than to be understood.

R.C.: Yes, but I think the tough nut to crack here is Camilas lyrics. Understanding the song and the rest of the Camila album feels like solving a cursed Rubiks Cube  like, every time youre close to finishing it, the next move sort of gets it away from you. Its really hard to parse and almost punishing in trying to figure it out. So lets look at verse one and its lyrics and try to unpack what Camila is trying to say.

Fold for me like origami

Magic and real like Murakami

Red, chipped nails, Im wabi-sabi

Im the hartbreaker, nobodys got me, yt

Make you tongue-tied like new shibari

Subtle and complex like umami

Up to me like omakase

Im a wild horse and nobodys got me, yet

C.H.: Im somewhat skeptical of using this extended metaphor of the few things that youve seen from Japan. What are you trying to articulate?

One of the things that comes across, I think more as the song progresses, is that theres a lot of seduction here. Its about a relationship which Camila calls criminal in the beginning of the song (Hell never survive, its a crime, its a crime), and I think we might be hearing a bit of the girlfriend experience.

N.S.: I dont know if Im ready to go that deep with you, especially as we go through the rest of the song, but at least we have to acknowledge Camila Cabello using the word origami properly  which is more than we can say for Tate McRae and her song Exes, which has this infamous line, changed my mind up like its origami.

R.C.: Well, I find this verse interesting because for one, Ive never heard origami rhymed with Murakami. But once you dig deeper, past the initial reaction that this is nonsense, each line hints at something bigger. Camila herself spoke of C,XOXO and this song as a very sensual one, meaning of the senses, and thats communicated in a lyrical specificity. She says magic and real like Murakami, not referring to the artist Takashi Murakami, but the magical realism of author Haruki Murakami.

C.H.: A deeper cut.

R.C.: She follows it by saying, Red, chipped nails / Im wabi-sabi. And wabi-sabi refers to the traditional Japanese aesthetic worldview of imperfection. Each line, which on the surface seems trivial, paint a more imperfect and detailed picture of who Camila Cabello is. Wabi-sabi, she is imperfect, you know? Which is interesting when Camilas big hits look at her in this simplified, almost Latin-fetishized way. Mainly a song like Senorita, or her 2018 hit Havana.

C.H.: Okay, so rather than being something like a sex object, what we have here is her talking about the seductive confidence of putting on her fancy perfume 

R.C.: Wrist wrist, spritz spritz.

C.H.:  But a bunch of the metaphors kind of contradict that confidence. They show that theres some sort of imperfection, as you said. Perhaps even the vocal styling, the fact that it isnt articulated in every consonant and instead its kind of mumbled  it all paints this larger picture of imperfection.

R.C.: Chanel No. 5 is painting a picture of the imperfect feminine. And on other songs on C,XOXO, Camila is playing with a similar idea of womanhood, but from an external, rose-colored perspective. Im thinking of a song like DREAM-GIRLS:

It was Keisha, it was Sonia, it was Tanya, it was Monique

It was Niecy, it was Keke

Now you see her at 26, all you can say is Oh

And I think she knows shes the shit, yeah, yeah

Shawty, next to me, is the shit

N.S.: This is a fun track. Her voice sounds completely different here. I feel like Camila is embracing the modes of vocal expression that she can use. On Senorita, shes belting and doing this pop-diva thing. But on this album, shes making her voice sound weird and mutable and chameleonic. And are these specific dream girls shes singing about, or is it just generic?

R.C.: I hope these are real people. This song is not about Camila. Its about her friends and experiencing the world with her friends as a teenager and young adult. Contrary to Chanel No. 5, this one is simple and cute and communicates this nostalgic girlhood.

N.S.: Thats a nice departure in terms of the different aspects of femininity were hearing explored on this record.

R.C.: It takes this girlhood and female community and puts it on a pedestal as if its a nostalgic ideal. That kind of easy female community that, as an adult, perhaps Camila yearns for.
Dining chat: A waiter gave our anniversary bubbly to the table next to us. What should we have done?
A celebration of whisky took place in the Deise last week during the annual Waterford Distillery Festival. This year's festival provided guests with local food, drink, tours, tastings and experiences to the backdrop of live music.

Mark Newton, Head of Brand at Waterford Distillery, commented that the festival aimed to bring the company closer to the community in Waterford.

Crowds paraded the Waterford Whisky distillery site during the event, getting a taste of the inner workings of the company.

Theres no real culture of whisky distillery festivals in Ireland, so we thought wed open it up into Waterford and see what happens. Weve got a lot to show people, were not hiding ourselves away, were asking people to come inspect us, have conversation with us and to enjoy it. We expected around 700 people on site today so were very pleased.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star, Mark Reynier, CEO of Waterford Whisky, said the company is trying to remove a curtain of secrecy, which was previously draped over the distillery site.

This year's festival provided guests with local food, drink, tours, tastings and experiences to the backdrop of live music.

This site has been a brewery since 1792 and no one was allowed anywhere near it. You meet people from Waterford and they dont know theres a distillery here.

During Covid we couldnt do it, so we opened the doors last year just to see and we werent even sure if people would want to come, but we were very pleased and this year we doubled it. It makes you feel really pleased to share it with people, especially for my colleagues to be able to show everybody this is what we do.

Mr. Reynier says that Waterford has proved to be the perfect location to root the business.

I grew up in England, from a wine background and I got into whisky in around 1985 when the single malt really kicked off. I ultimately was able to buy a distillery in the west coast of Scotland, on a remote island.

I was sitting there one day with an old friend looking across the north channel and you could see the coast of Antrim in the distance, and he said to me, Mark, Ive been working here since 1966, and the best barley I ever saw came from over there.

So when I left in 2012, I thought Ill do what he said and go to the best barley in the world, so I arrived in Ireland and I came south, thats why Im here today.

The flavour of whisky is barley, everyone has forgotten that, its all become industrial and its a produce not a manufactured product. So what I wanted was to bring it back to the origin. So thats the reason were here today in Waterford.
Meanwhile, financials (down 0.5 per cent) and utilities (down 0.8 per cent) were the weakest sectors, with Suncorp falling 2.3 per cent, IAG dropping 1.7 per cent and Origin Energy losing 1.4 per cent. Medical equipment supplier EBOS Group (down 3.4 per cent), Seek (down 2.7 per cent) and CAR Group (down 1.8 per cent) were among the biggest large-cap decliners. The big four banks all traded lower with the countrys biggest bank, CBA, closing 0.2 per cent lower. Energy giants Woodside (down 0.2 per cent) and Santos (down 0.1 per cent) were also weaker. The lowdown Capital.com senior financial analyst Kyle Rodda said the ASX edged higher with continued outperformance from the energy sector and a bounce in the miners driving the gain. Rodda said Australian retail sales, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, came in stronger than expected. While the latest print helped to wind back early losses in the consumer discretionary sector, Rodda said the number did little to move rate expectations and the markets.

Loading In the bigger picture, retail activity remains soggy amidst an ailing household sector, he said. When it comes to the ASX 200, it remains range bound and consolidating. Overseas, Tesla zoomed higher and helped drive the US sharemarket to more records on Tuesday in New York. The S&P 500 added 0.6 per cent to top its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones rose 0.4 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.8 per cent to its own record set a day before. Tesla led the way with a 10.2 per cent jump after the electric vehicle maker reported a milder drop in sales than analysts expected. Modest gains for other big, influential stocks also helped lift the market, including a 1.6 per cent climb for Apple.

Stocks had a lift from easing Treasury yields after the head of the Federal Reserve made comments that investors took as a signal for possible cuts to interest rates later this year. Fed chair Jerome Powell, whose utterances are always finely parsed for hints about rates, gave a nod to improvements in inflation data after some disappointingly high readings early in the year. Wall Street had a lift after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell made comments that investors took as a signal for possible cuts to interest rates later this year. Credit: AP We just want to understand that the levels that were seeing are a true reading of underlying inflation, he said. The hope on Wall Street is that inflation will slow enough to convince the Fed to lower its main interest rate, which has been sitting at its highest level in more than two decades and pressing the brakes on the economy. Treasury yields have largely been easing since April on hopes for such cuts. A report on Tuesday may have hindered those hopes, though. It showed US employers were advertising more job openings at the end of May than economists expected and slightly more than Aprils tally. While plentiful job openings are great news for workers, the fear on Wall Street is that too strong of a job market will put upward pressure on inflation and force delays to rate cuts.

After swinging lower following Powells comments, Treasury yields pared their losses following the report on job openings. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was sitting at 4.42 per cent, compared with 4.46 per cent late Monday. Loading The weeks most anticipated economic data will arrive on Friday, when the US government reports how many jobs employers added during June. Before then, the US sharemarket will have a shortened trading day on Wednesday and a holiday on Thursday for the Fourth of July. In commodities markets, the price of benchmark US oil ended up slipping modestly after touching its highest price since April earlier in the morning. Tweet of the day

Quote of the day [The] investment metrics displayed by recent sales activity support a softening in office market valuations, said Dexus chief executive Ross Du Vernet as office property values in Australia plunged more than 10 per cent in the past six months. You may have missed Booktopia has appointed voluntary administrators, weeks after suspending its shares on the ASX as it scrambled to secure emergency funding.
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Its difficult to believe were midway through the year already. Here are 10 books to add to the reading list for July  we hope they distract you from tax returns, the cold weather and the fear of how fast time flies!

Tintinnabulum by Judith Beveridge

One of Australias finest poets will release her first collection since 2018s remarkable Prime Ministers Literary Award-winning Sun Music. Tintinnabulum focuses on places, people, and the power of poetry. Using a range of styles and emotional tones, this will be a must-read, whether you consider yourself a frequent reader of poetry or not. Giramondo, $27

The Honeyeater by Jessie Tu

The writer made her mark with her bestselling debut A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing, a coming-of-age that followed a former musical child prodigy taking up an internship with an orchestra in New York. Jessie Tu received a Sydney Morning Herald Best Australian Young Novelist prize in 2021. Her second novel, The Honeyeater, tells the story of a young academic and translator who heads to a conference in Taiwan. Allen & Unwin $32.99

Jessie Tus new novel is The Honeyeater. Credit: Steven Siewert

Growing Up Indian in Australia edited by Aarti Betigeri

The latest in the popular Growing Up series is edited by journalist Aarti Betigeri and explores the diversity of the Indian subcontinent challenging perceptions that theres one Indian Australian. The anthology features contributors from both established and emerging writers, including Kishor Napier-Raman, Zoya Patel, Michelle Cahill, and Rakhee Ghelani. Black Inc. $32.99

Big Time, Jordan Prosser

Dubbed a totally punk breakout novel, Australian writer, filmmaker, and performer Jordan Prossers debut promises to be a hilarious and rollicking read. Set in an autocratic future, the story follows a bass player on a whirlwind tour who gets hooked on a new designer drug. UQP, $34.99
Would you trust artificial intelligence to help you choose investments? A recent product launched by trading platform Sharesies promises to do just that. To find out if it can outmatch the time-honoured investing thesis of doing your own research, we put it through its paces.

Sharesies AI discovery tool lets investors search for any topic or industry they are interested in, generating a list of securities from the thousands listed on Australian, New Zealand and US sharemarkets that can be bought and sold on the platform.

One of the AIs suggested investment areas was space tourism, such as Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. Credit: Virgin Galactic

The technology, AI Search, is provided by Australian start-up Telescope AI, which says it continuously monitors the services output to ensure the AIs responses are reasonable and sensible.

As well as being an educational resource for those getting started in investing, it is also meant to help established investors look for ways to diversify their portfolios.
Weber State to offer on-site classes, graduate programs at Hill Air Force Base

July 1, 2024

LAYTON, Utah  A new partnership between Weber State University and Hill Air Force Base is expanding education opportunities for military personnel, their families and civilian employees by offering masters degree programs on the base.

Starting this fall, WSU will become the first public university in the state to be part of an airbase education program.

Representatives from WSU and Hill Air Force Base held a signing ceremony at WSU Davis on July 1 to celebrate the partnership.

Weber State is dedicated to the mission of supporting Hill Air Force Base and the Air Force, said WSU President Brad Mortensen. Not just because its good for our economy and creates good opportunities for our students, but because its good for our national defense and our freedom.

The university has worked collaboratively with Hill Air Force Base to identify and offer degrees that are in high demand for both enlisted and civilian employees, including a Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Administration. Additionally, WSU will offer a non-credit certificate in project management, which helps prepare students to take a project management certification exam.

Classes will be held in Hill Air Force Bases Education & Training Office building and will be open to anyone with base access, which includes active duty military personnel, dependents, retirees and approximately 40,000 civilians employed throughout the base.

We need every airman to be able to fulfill their personal and professional potential, said Col. Jeffrey Holland, 75th Air Base Wing and installation commander at Hill Air Force Base. Its partnerships with our educational institutions like Weber State that make that possible.

WSU will adjust and add graduate degree programs based on demand, with the possibility of expanding offerings to include a variety of certificates, associates and bachelors programs in the future.



To learn more about how to register for classes, contact WSUs Military-Affiliated Student Center or Hill Air Force Bases Education Office.
The new Cathaoirleach of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District has identified the development of the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Ireland West Airport as one of the main priorities for the next five years.

Fianna Fail Cllr Damien Ryan was unanimously proposed as the new Cathaoirleach by party colleague Cllr John Caulfield and seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Michael Burke at the district's annual general meeting last week. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have agreed to share power on the county council for the next five years. There are three Fianna Fail councillors in the district, three Fine Gael, two Independents, and one each from Sinn Fein and Aontu.

Welcoming Cllr Ryan to the role, which he will hold for one year, outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry Murray, of Sinn Fein, said Cllr Ryan has a great track record as chair of both the municipal district and the county council.

I know Cllr Ryan will be a fair chair, he always was and I know he will be fair and impartial to everyone in this Chamber, he said.

Cllr Ryan said he hoped that councillors and council management could continue to work in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that served them so well during the previous five-year term. He identified the Ireland West Airport SDZ, dereliction in towns in the municipal district, and the Ballinrobe bypass as key priorities for the five-year term of the district council.

It is important as councillors that we meet with the manager of the SDZ when they are in place, as well as the minister responsible to discuss the roadmap for the project and what we can do as the municipal district where the SDZ is located to help it become a reality," said Cllr Ryan who went on to outline his other priorities.

Dereliction is an issue. We have a lot of smaller towns in the MD and we need to prioritise the schedule of our towns.

We need to invite the roads engineer responsible for the Ballinrobe bypass in for an update on that. I would like to see [progress] on that soon.

If we take our business forward in a constructive way, we will leave the area better after my 12 months are up, he concluded.

Independent Cllr Richard Finn said councillors not attached to the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail grouping could have opposed Cllr Ryan's nomination but "that is not how business is dealt with in the municipal district". While he welcomed Cllr Ryan to the role, he said the alliance between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail makes it clear that the two major parties are linked.

We will stress to our constituents that a vote for Fine Gael is a vote for Fianna Fail and a vote for Fianna Fail is a vote for Fine Gael.

Cllr Finn added that the Western Rail Corridor must also be a priority and he hopes to see the railway line open between Claremorris and Athenry in the next five years.

Cllr Burke, who seconded Cllr Ryans nomination, said the municipal district should focus entirely on policies it can affect.

We have an honest structure in here. We deal with facts, not fiction. We deal with things we can affect.

Fine Gael Cllr Alma Gallagher was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach.
The Claremorris-Swinford Municipal Districts first woman councillor has made further history by becoming its first woman Leas-Cathaoirleach.

Fine Gael Cllr Alma Gallagher was proposed and seconded by party colleagues Cllr Neil Cruise and Cllr Michael Burke at last weeks AGM.

It is a great honour for me and for my two daughters and for the Ballyhaunis community, she said.

Womens political participation hasnt improved by as much as we would have hoped and there is an onus on me to keep banging this drum as the areas first female elected representative to Mayo County Council to make things a bit easier for the next female wanting to come on this journey.

Cllr Gallagher said she is hoping to work hard for her native Ballyhaunis.

Ballyhaunis has been identified for a Town First initiative. This is one all the community groups have come together to identify and prioritise.

The 5.3 million from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a huge plus. For the most diverse town in Ireland, we are at a crossroads and there is a lot of change and transition.

Housing will be a big priority. We have a transient population keeping the factories running who need accommodation.
A member of a burglary gang who targeted four homes in Mayo has been jailed while two others have received suspended prison terms.

Daniel Lawlor, aged 28, of Waterworks, Bother na Breena, Tallaght, Dublin; Shane Byrne, aged 34, of 7 Kiltallaghwan Way, Tallaght, Dublin and Gerry Wall, aged 24, of 5 Fortunestown Crescent, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possession of stolen property.

Det Sgt Michael Doherty told the court that on September 20, 2019, Gardai in Mayo received information that a Tallaght-based inter-regional crime gang was present in the Ballinrobe area.

A Fiat Doblo van believed to be connected to four burglary incidents in the area was observed parked outside Delias Cottage, Ballinrobe. A search warrant was executed at this address and property that had been reported stolen was recovered, including a Revenue cheque, jewellery, smartphones, weighing scales and quantities of cash. The three defendants were arrested at the scene along with two others, one of whom was a minor.

The fifth man, Dean Maguire, who had numerous previous convictions for burglary, has passed away since the incident occurred. Mr Maguire was killed following a collision on July 7, 2021, that occurred after he and two others drove the wrong way down the N7 between Citywest and Baldonnel while fleeing Gardai.

Lawlor had 45 previous convictions, including convictions for burglary and handling property, Byrne has 33 previous convictions, including convictions for trespassing and burglary and Wall has six previous convictions, including convictions for burglary. Wall has been convicted of a 2017 rape since this case was first heard.

Evidence in the case was heard last year and it was adjourned for up-to-date probation reports with the trio appearing before the court again last week.

Judge Eoin Garavan was told that Lawlor is employed as a roofer while Byrne works with a tile retailer. The three accused had made a charitable donation of 3,000 each.

However, Judge Garavan decided to jail Wall for 20 months, adding: "A message needs to be sent out." Noting Lawlors and Byrnes employment records and clean drug tests, the judge handed down suspended sentences of 20 months each.
Best be prepared, for it will be a hard days night. Youll need a blanket, snacks, and an additional screen, so youre ready for the moment at 10pm on Thursday night when the chimes of Big Ben strike and the counting of votes in the British General election begins. In our elections, we wait until the morning, but that is alien to the British. Its an all-night job and someone has to stay up to watch it.

Staying up all night is not something you usually look forward to doing in your forties. But this is one nighttime ritual that age has not dimmed in me. Ive been doing it for years. Back in 1997, then a student, I spent the night in the Edinburgh University Student Club, cheering loudly as one Tory after another was defeated. And if defeating Tories is your definition of a good night out, then by all predictions on this Thursday night things can only get better.

Those who keep vigil overnight will see not just the votes being counted, but power slipping from the grasp of one party and moving to another. Because the British use first past the post rather than PR-STV, you will see this happening in a matter of hours, as seats change hands rapidly. In our system, you have to wait days before you know, and weeks before the coalition deal is done. By 7am on Friday morning, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will be preparing to deliver his victory speech outside Number 10.

That is, of course, if he wins. But it looks like he will, not least because no one else seems in any way likely to do so. The British Prime Minster Rishi Sunak has had a few weeks which no one would wish on their worst enemy. From calling the election in the pouring rain, to watching his poll numbers first collapse and then stagnate, he looks like a man who will be glad to have the agony over. The Tories arent even pretending they can win any more. They are simply trying to limit the scale of the defeat. And that is not a dignified look.

Labours likely victory will bring them back into power for the first time in 14 years. After their long spell in charge from 1997 to 2010, it wasnt really thought that it would take them so long to get there again. But a quick look at the last 100 years would have provided clues. The Tories have dominated the last 100 years in British electoral life. They have had long spells in charge: from 1951-64, from 1979-97, and again now from 2010-24.

The question for Labour now is just how long it will take them to get out of the mire that the country is in. Immigration as an issue is tearing the country apart. The public finances are a mess. The National Health Service is under pressure, Britain has no effective social care system, and the education system is straining. Brexit has been the disaster we all knew it would amount to. Addressing all these issues will be a big challenge, and an even bigger one is that Labour have said so little during the campaign about how they are going to go about it. That means they have no clear mandate for whatever approach they take.

One of the commitments they have made is to not raise taxes or cut spending. But if you cannot cut spending, and you wont raise taxes, the only way to generate more income is for your economy to grow. And the British economy has been sluggish for years, and Brexit has played no small part in that. Poll after poll has shown that a large majority of British people think Brexit was a mistake, and an even higher percentage think it hasnt been successful. A majority  albeit a smaller one  say they would vote to rejoin. But Keir Starmer hasnt pledged to do that because he is afraid of losing working-class voters who voted for Brexit in 2016 and for Boris Johnson and his Get Brexit Done slogan in 2019. Starmers government will do sensible things to align Britains economy closer to the EU  and this will help in Northern Ireland  but without fully rejoining the Single Market, it is hard to see where the economic growth his government will need to pay the bills is going to come from.

On immigration, it is clear that Starmer opposes the Rwanda scheme of the current government, but it is less clear what he proposes to do about the issue when he is in charge. He talks in tough but vague terms about it. That is fine in opposition but in government vagueness wont cut it. And any British government that does not deal with this issue in an effective way is going to find governing difficult.

That is the story of the main battle that will be addressed on Thursday night. But there are many others. How many seats will the Tories actually win? How low could it go? And what does the post-election Tory party do? Does it go down the road of Trumpism or does it try and pull back to the centre? Their decision on that will in many ways be determined by how well or how badly Nigel Farage and his Reform Party does in the election. If they do well, many in the Tory party will conclude that they need to unite with them. If they do, that party will make Donald Trump blush. And we can laugh about it here if we like. But if the Labour government fails  and parties like them all over Europe have been failing in government  then we had better be prepared for the election of an extremist Tory government sometime in the next decade. That will be more you aint seen nothing yet than things can only get better.

There is then Scotland. Will a resurgent Labour break the control of Scotlands politics by the Scottish National Party, the SNP? The SNP has gone from tower of strength to leaky cauldron in less than a year. The result in Scotlands 57 constituencies will have a major impact on whether there is any possibility of a referendum on independence. If Labour wins a majority of seats, that question will be over, at least for the noo, as they say there.

And then there is the question of how the Liberal Democrats and Greens will do. And that is before we consider what happens in Northern Ireland, which deserves an article or two on its own.

It all starts at 10pm on Thursday night. There will be an exit poll, there will be a prediction, there will be a lot of talk about swing, which is, in percentage terms, a number which tells you how many voters who went Tory in 2019 have gone for Labour now. If the swing is big, Labour wins big. And if it is, the election as a contest and a source of drama will be over before too long. But I will still be up to see the new dawn because that is what an election night should be all about.
By Cate McCurry, PA

The Taoiseach has defended Ursula von der Leyens response to Gaza, saying attempts to make her a bogey woman do not tally with the action she is taking.

Last week, EU leaders endorsed a second five-year term for Ms von der Leyen as European Commission president.

She will face a vote in the European Parliament later this month when MEPs will meet to take part in a secret ballot.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns was critical of the Government partys decision to back Ms von der Leyen.

Fine Gael at least were honest about their intentions in advance of the election. However, honesty is not a word that can credibly be attached to the position of Fianna Fail on this issue, she said.

von der Leyen and the EU institution do not care about the massacre of Palestinians; that is the reality.

While the Irish Government professes outrage and solidarity with the Palestinians, it is simultaneously supporting von der Leyen and therefore, trade with Israel, which actually increased since this war started.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns was critical of the Government partys decision to back Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

But Simon Harris said it was the German politician who had significantly increased the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA aid budget.

Mr Harris said: This attempt in Ireland to characterise the inertia at an international level on the Middle East around one individual is misplaced.

Ursula von der Leyen is working on financial packages and support for the Palestinian Authority.

She has been somewhat successfully portrayed as a bogey woman, but I am not sure how successful it actually was when we look at the outcome of elections across Europe.

The effort to make her some sort of bogey woman does not tally at all with the action she is taking.

Ms Cairns said that what was unfolding in Gaza was beyond horror.

It is the stuff of unrelenting nightmares, she said.

For nine months, the Israeli army has bombed, maimed and tortured a starved and captive population.

Its aim is not self-defence but rather annihilation. According to a report from Save the Children, more than 14,000 children in Gaza have been killed and 21,000 children are missing.

The report said children are also among those found in mass graves recently, with many showing signs of torture.

EU leaders endorsed a second five-year term for Ursula von der Leyen, pictured, as European Commission president last week (Chris Jackson/PA)

This is the reality of the Israeli governments barbarity and cruelty. Gaza is now a graveyard for children.

The slaughter still continues in the full glare of the media spotlight. The publicity does not make a difference.

The Cork TD also asked why the Government had not enacted the Occupied Territories Bill.

It says the Government has disavowed the Bill for legal, political and practical reasons.

While I and many others do not agree with the legal reasons, I find it troubling and offensive that political and practical reasons are cited as a stumbling block to action.

Mr Harris said: On becoming Taoiseach, I asked about the legality of the Occupied Territories Bill again.

The same position has been reiterated to me as has been reiterated to my predecessors.

Indeed, the same position has been reiterated to me by the attorney general that would have been reiterated by his predecessors as well.

I fully accept the deputys bona fides that this is a point of difference, but the very clear legal advice to me, which would be the same legal advice available to Deputy Cairns if she were in my position, is that the Bill is not compatible because these matters are dealt with at a European level.

I can absolutely tell Deputy Cairns that Ireland continues to push at a European level to change policy on the association agreement between the EU and Israel.
Natasha Reid

Two men have been jailed for six years each for a Dublin post office robbery in which a customer had to dive on her three-year-old grandchild to protect him.

Both men pleaded guilty to the robbery of a post office on Decies Road, Ballyfermot on November 11th 2023. They also pleaded guilty to having an imitation firearm that looked like a handgun.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Mark OGrady had the imitation firearm and Paul Bradley had a metal wheel jack when they were driven to the post office by a third man, who has previously been jailed for six years for the crime.

There was one customer in the shop with her three-year-old grandchild at the time. There were also three female staff members behind counter.

OGrady (35), with an address at Bridge Street Lower, Dublin 8, stood at the door with the imitation firearm and prevented people entering and leaving, while Bradley (43), with an address on Meath Place in Dublin, went inside with the third man.

This man, Lee Conlon (44), who drove the gang to and from the scene in a stolen car, used a large scaffolding pole or rammer to smash the protective glass on the counter.

The three tellers then fled to a backroom, and Conlon went behind the counter and took 20,000 in cash, handing some to Bradley.

The postmaster and other witnesses managed to note the registration number of the getaway car and, within five minutes, the gardai had it under observation near St James Hospital.

Conlon crashed into another vehicle at a red light. All three fled, but were arrested within minutes, and all of the money was recovered.

Judge Martin Nolan heard that the postmaster was working in the shop beside the post office when he heard the commotion. He tried to enter the post office, but OGrady pointed the imitation gun in his face. A supervisor also said a gun was pointed at her.

The woman with the three-year-old child said that she had to dive on her grandson to protect him when she heard a bang, and that she was shouted at to keep down.

Dominic McGinn SC, defending OGrady, said that his client had a very sad upbringing, with both his parents dead by the time he was eight, his father having been murdered in 1996.

OGrady had been living on the streets since the age of 14, except when in prison, and has spent most of his time incarcerated. Since his teenage years, he had suffered from drug addiction, which was the root cause of his offending.

Garret Baker SC, defending Paul Bradley, noted that his client pleaded guilty to the firearms offence on a joint enterprise basis, but was not the one with the firearm or the one who smashed the glass. He also noted that his client was so intoxicated at the time that he was not fit for garda interview.

He has spent the majority of his adult life in custody. His life has been plagued by rampant drug addiction, he said. In his garda interview, he referred to a time when he had more potential. He had a trial for Luton Town FC in London.

Bradley told gardai that drugs had ruined him.

Judge Nolan said all men were equally culpable.

I gave Mr Conlon six years, he recalled. I can see no reason to depart from that sentence here.

He imposed six years on the robbery count on each man, and five years concurrent on the firearms charge.

The court previously heard that Conlon had also been involved in the burglary of the Hugo Boss shop on Grafton Street on January 18, 2023, in which a car was reversed into the front of the shop, causing 51,000 of damage to the door and windows.

Conlon, of Meath Place, was one of three men who then stole clothing worth over 7,100 from the shop. He received an 18-month sentence for that burglary.
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.
Afretec awards almost $1.7 million

One of the grant recipient projects from Wits University will investigate the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec), a pan-African collaboration consisting of technology-centric universities across Africa, has awarded five $250,000 grants and eight $50,000 grants to build research capacity and accelerate inclusive digital growth throughout the African continent. Each multi-institutional research team will build on existing science, engineering, and technology in disciplines such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, information technology, and cybersecurity.

The selected projects are particularly focused on improving the state of health, environment and sustainability, and energy in Africa. Several projects will also address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), which were created with the goal of improving every aspect of human and environmental well-being.

Awarded seed grants

Evaluating digital transformation and maturity in youth-led micro, small, and medium enterprises across Sub-Saharan Africa: a comparative study in the health, energy, environment and sustainability sectors in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa

Principal investigator: Duncan Elly

Partner institutions: University of Nairobi, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Lagos

This project will investigate the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically in the health, energy, environment and sustainability sectors across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. The project seeks to help create a more supportive environment for youth-led MSMEs in the face of contemporary challenges.

Real-time noise level web mapping through crowdsourcing: toward creating sustainable urban environments

Principal investigator: David Siriba

Partner institutions: University of Nairobi, University of Rwanda, Israel Institute of Technology

Noise pollution can have negative impacts on the well-being, health, and quality of life of urban residents. However, implementing and enforcing noise regulations requires consistent, continued availability of live data. This project proposes Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), a tool that could help with effective noise reduction by crowdsourcing noise level data and creating a real-time noise level database and map.

Leveraging IoT and Edge-AI for detecting and managing schistosomiasis

Principal investigators: Moustafa Youssef, Benyl Muyoma Ondeto

Partner institutions: American University in Cairo, University of Nairobi, Universite Cheikh Anta Diop

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease diagnosed by detecting microscopic worm eggs in stool, urine, or organ biopsies. The drug praziquantel is effective against schistosomiasis, but the disease continues to impact impoverished communities, especially in Africa. The goal of this project is to develop a prototype of a sensing device and an AI-based decision support system to help with the detection and management of schistosomiasis.

Application of AI techniques for extracting carbon from landfill waste for renewable energy

Principal investigator: Abdul Ganiyu Adelopo

Partner institutions: University of Lagos, University of Nairobi, Carnegie Mellon University Africa

African cities face a critical challenge in waste management due to rising urban populations and overloaded landfills. This project aims to use AI to assess the potential of resource reuse from landfills in African cities, focusing on renewable energy storage. The project will endeavor to create new datasets for predictive landfill machine-learning models and promote a cost-effective shift to renewable energy in African cities.

An investigation of a monitoring and predicting algorithm model for climate change-related diseases in African urban cities

Principal investigator: Immaculata Nwokoro

Partner institutions: University of Nairobi, University of Lagos

This project proposes an AI-driven predictive management system to tackle climate change-related diseases in African urban cities, addressing the acute challenges of limited health facilities and workforce shortages. The study aims to develop a robust data gathering system using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), ensuring data inclusivity and confidentiality.

Empowering African communities: culturally relevant cybersecurity education through comic books and AI models for children's online protection

Principal investigator: Jema David Ndibwile

Partner institutions: Carnegie Mellon University Africa, University of Rwanda

In the digital age, African children are increasingly at risk of being exposed to violent content, cyberbullying, or online sexual exploitation. This project aims to develop culturally relevant cybersecurity education materials and digital solutions tailored to the unique needs of African children and marginalized communities. The project seeks to empower African children to navigate the digital world safely.

An AI-driven environmental monitoring platform for low-resource setting

Principal investigator: Edwin Mugume

Partner institutions: Carnegie Mellon University Africa, Makerere University, University of Rwanda, University of Twente

Sub-Saharan Africa lacks sufficient environmental and weather monitoring nodes, mainly due to their high cost. This hinders efforts to accurately track the effects of climate change in the region. The project will design, develop, and test low-cost sensors for measuring temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and particulate matter parameters.

Optimizing a mobile application for enhancing parents reporting and prediction of adverse effects following maternal and child immunization in Rwanda

Principal investigator: Aimable Musafiri

Partner institutions: University of Rwanda, Carnegie Mellon University Africa, Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority

Although over 90% of children and pregnant women in Rwanda receive vaccinations, theres still a significant gap in the reporting of adverse effects following immunization (AEFI). This project proposes the VigiMobile application, which parents can use to directly report AEFI and bridge the gap between report and response. The project will also use machine learning algorithms to identify factors influencing AEFI in the Rwandan population.

Editor's note: This story was first published on the Carnegie Mellon University Africa website. Read more about the Afretec Network at Wits University: https://www.wits.ac.za/research/global/afretec/


Li Aiping developed an interest in making traditional crafts when she was a girl. Given the support she received from her family, Li worked hard and continuously improved her cloth-tiger-making skills. The cloth tiger is widely regarded by Chinese as a popular folk craft. Li is an inheritor of the cloth-tiger-craftmanship, which has been added to the intangible cultural heritage list of Shanxi Province, in north China. During the past three decades, Li Aiping and her husband, Li Yanzhong, have done their part to promote cloth tiger folk art.



Passing on Skills

Li Aiping was born in 1956, into a carpenter's family, in Shangwu, a village in Zuoquan County, in Shanxi. Her mother and grandmother were good at making clothes and crafts. Li Aiping is the third-generation inheritor of the cloth tiger handmaking skills, which have been passed down through her family.

After she graduated from senior high school, in 1973, Li Aiping became a math teacher. In 1978, she married Li Yanzhong, who had been her schoolmate. When Li Aiping was busy with her teaching assignments, Li Yanzhong assumed responsibility for looking after the family. He bought many books about designing and making crafts for his wife. In 1990, Li Aiping began teaching at a vocational school in Zuoquan County. There, she established a course to teach students how to design and make cloth-based crafts. She worked at the vocational school until 2003, when she retired.

After she retired, Li Aiping established her company. In 2009, she registered the trademark, "Jiang Jun Hu" (meaning "general tiger"), to better promote the tiger-shaped crafts she made from colorful cloth.

Supported by her husband, Li Aiping has created more than 100 cloth-tiger items during the past 30-plus years. The couple has devoted themselves to inheriting and protecting the folk-craft-making skills passed down in Zuoquan.



Educating Children

Li Aiping and Li Yanzhong have a son and two daughters. The couple urges their children to read good books, follow people with good manners, and perform kind deeds. They often hold family meetings, during which everyone is encouraged to give his/her opinion about the topics being discussed. Li Aiping and Li Yanzhong love and respect each other. They are attentive to and communicate with their children, and that has helped the children grow up in a happy, harmonious family atmosphere.

During one family meeting, Li Aiping and Li Yanzhong raised the following idea: Developing a cloth tiger cultural brand featuring the image of Jiang Jun Hu, to better promote the folk art and red culture that originated from Zuoquan County. Their children offered advice, and discussed the significance of developing traditional handmaking skills.

In 2017, with support from the local government, Li Aiping and her family established  and later expanded  a folk cultural base. The family hoped the pretty and cute cloth tigers, produced under their brand, would help their customers feel positive.

Boosting Women's Employment

Li Aiping and her family care about the development of their hometown. In particular, they want to help rural women find employment and increase their incomes. In recent years, the family has provided raw materials  for free  to local women during the slack season, when the women do not have to perform much work on their farms. They have helped approximately 1,000 women work at home, making the cloth tigers. Li Aiping and her family have provided training to disabled people and their families, to help those families develop craft-making skills so they can earn a living.

The folk cultural base, established by Li Aiping's family, has provided jobs to local women and college graduates, who have returned to work in their hometown. Since the beginning of 2020, Li Aiping, joined by her daughters and daughter-in-law, has offered cloth-tiger-making classes in schools in Zuoquan, Taiyuan (capital of Shanxi Province), and Shenzhen (in south China's Guangdong Province). The family has also participated in activities to promote family virtues, especially encouraging women to adhere to a thrifty lifestyle, and to help pass on moral virtues to other families.

Li Aiping's family was selected a National Most Beautiful Family in May 2023.

Photos from Interviewees

Source: Department of Family and Children's Affairs of the ACWF

(Women of China English Monthly June 2024 issue)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Criticism over clumsy plans to criminalise lying Senedd members

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jul 2nd, 2024

The standards commissioner criticised clumsy plans to make it a criminal offence for Senedd members and candidates to deliberately deceive the public.

Douglas Bain, who investigates complaints against Senedd members, raised concerns about clause 64 of the elections bill which would disqualify politicians for deliberate deception.

A key vote on the proposal on lying politicians, which is being spearheaded by Adam Price, Plaid Cymrus former leader, will be held on Tuesday, July 2.

Giving evidence to the standards committee a day earlier, Mr Bain broadly agreed with the position set out by the Welsh Government which will try to remove clause 64.

He questioned why making a false statement should have such draconian consequences when other arguably more serious misconduct may not.

Troubled

He told the committee: I believe that that would be sending entirely the wrong message about how the Senedd regards bullying, harassment and inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Mr Bain warned seeking to impose a fixed period of disqualification would have no regard for the seriousness or triviality of the deceptive statement.

He said: It seems to me quite wrong that that should be dealt with and attract the same sanction as disqualification as a very serious case of false statement, which a member knew was false and caused serious harm.

He added: Im also troubled  with the idea that making a false statement should bar a person from standing for the Senedd for four years in effect. As I understand it, that would mean they wouldnt be able to stand at the next Senedd elections.

I struggle to see how that can be justified.

Clumsy

Mr Bain pointed out that a false statement would be public knowledge, suggesting it is best left to voters to judge whether a candidate is fit to be a Senedd member.

He warned that if clause 64 is enacted, any complaint about a false statement would have to be suspended until the risk of prejudicing a police investigation or prosecution passed.

That inevitably would lead to a very substantial delay in the complaints process and that I think is inherently undesirable, he said.

Mr Bain, who was appointed in 2021, described the drafting of clause 64 as clumsy at best, adding: And I think thats being rather generous.

He warned sub-clause seven would give far-reaching powers for Welsh ministers to change legislation although it would be subject to Senedd approval.

Defect

Mr Bain raised concerns about a lack of penalty provisions in the bill, saying: Thats quite extraordinary to have an offence but theres no penalty that the court can impose.

The former barrister described the six-month window for bringing a prosecution as a defect.

He told members: If its discovered six months and one day after the statement was made, that it was seriously false and deliberate, quite appalling conduct  nothing could happen.

Mr Bain, who is based in County Down, Northern Ireland, criticised a lack of detail on what would happen if a politician appealed against a conviction.

It cannot be right in my mind that if theres an appeal going on that the disqualification should kick in, he said. If the person is successful, theres no remedy.

Black hole

He pointed out politicians would be disqualified from standing for election to the Senedd but not the UK Parliament or councils: There appears to me to be no rational reason for that.

Mr Bain argued false statements should be dealt with under the existing Senedd complaints process, saying it would be much quicker due to a huge backlog in the criminal courts.

He was appointed acting commissioner in 2019 when his predecessor, Roderick Evans, stood down after Neil McEvoy, the former Plaid Cymru MS, secretly recorded him.

Mr Bain said criminal cases would be referred to the political offences unit at Crown Prosecution Service headquarters in London, leading to huge delays.

He raised the example of Mr McEvoys allegations against Sir Roderick appearing to disappear into a black hole for a long time.

Ridiculous

Mr Bain criticised the unfortunate drafting of clause 64, which was added to the bill at a previous amending stage after Labours Lee Waters abstained.

He said the clause gives politicians 14 days to set the record straight, questioning what would happen if a person was on holiday and did not find out until the 15th day.

The investigator told committee members: The way its drafted at the moment, they wouldnt be able to avail of the defence which frankly is ridiculous.

Responding to concerns about a plethora of malicious complaints and potential conflict with human rights law, Mr Bain did not think either would be an issue.

In closing, he said: I just think this is an incredibly complicated approach to solving a problem that really isnt there. To my mind, this can already be dealt with.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP hopefuls give views on Ukraine invasion

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jul 2nd, 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 your view on Russias invasion of Ukraine, and what future path would you like the UK Parliament to take?

The Ukraine situation is very worrying both because of the high loss of life, and the risk of this escalating into a world war. The UK needs to play its part in de-escalating this situation and preventing Russia from occupying Ukraine. The Green Party would support the approach of working closely with NATO to ensure there is a united international support for Ukraine.

One specific aspect of the conflict deserves a mention. Russia has been able to build its military power because of the foreign income it gets from selling oil and gas. The UK has rightly stopped buying oil and gas direct from Russia, but we are still trading with countries that are buying Russian oil and gas, and we are even still buying petroleum products made from Russian oil that has been processed in third party countries. The UK should impose a more wide-reaching sanction on Russia, to include making sure that we do not buy any products that originated in Russia, and to insert more diplomatic pressure, including sanctions, on countries that continue to buy Russia oil and therefore continue to fund the Russian military.

We need to give Ukraine all the support it needs to win. Russia wont stop at Ukraines borders if it wins the conflict. We should be providing Ukraine with more arms and more financial support. They are alone in standing up for the freedom of the entity of Europe.

Some people say supporting Ukraine is expensive, but it is less expensive than the cost if Ukraine was to lose and the war spread.

We also need to see the UK Government clamp down on Russian money laundering in London. Current sanctions arent being enforced well enough and money should be confiscated and given to the Ukrainian War effort.

We also need to boost our own defences in an increasingly unsafe world. Conservative cuts to defence have had a massively negative impact on our armed forces in recent years. Liberal Democrat plans would boost our troop numbers back to over 100,000.

Seeing all of the death and destruction on our news screens from Russia-Ukraine and other global conflicts is heartbreaking. I condemn Russias invasion but note that whether Ukrainian or Russian, its the ordinary people of both countries that suffer whilst those in power beat their chests!

I also believe that nearly all wars end when people sit down and start talking about how to end them. The future path I would like to see parliament taking is being a facilitator of peace talks taking place. We had Minsk I and Minsk II and then peace talks in Turkey to try to end the conflict, but all ended in failure. One of the most depressing things is that there seems to have been no serious overtures for peace over the last year and this is what I would like to see change. This is incredibly serious as failure to achieve peace could lead to a nuclear exchange.

Plaid Cymru believes that Ukraines national sovereignty and the right of Ukrainians to live in peace must be upheld. We believe that Ukraine has the right to defend itself from aggressive attack and invasion. The Government needs to ensure better implementation of the trade restrictions on Russia to increase the pressure and calls for peace.

The violation of Ukraines sovereignty is abhorrent, and it is right that a coalition led by the West have objected to it. However, from a position of strength against Russia, our forces should lead to a negotiated settlement to ensure peace for the peoples of these regions is achieved. Bear in mind that the UKs international power and reach is substantially smaller than it was, even by the standards of the 2000s. We are one voice among many, but I hope we are guided by diplomacy and a deep understanding of the nuances of this tragic conflict in achievement of a lasting peace.

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.
MP candidates say if migration is a big issue for Wrexham and give their views

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jul 2nd, 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: Do you think migration is a big issue to the people of Wrexham, and if so, why? Summarise your views.

Im very grateful to have opportunity to give you my views on migration in Wrexham. I see I diverse community that is tolerant and integrated. I see a Health and Social Care system that wouldnt exist without migration. I see vibrant culture and music festivals that attract worldwide audiences. Im grateful and bursting with love for the migration into Wrexham.

And despite Wrexham being more diverse than any point Ive known it (1980s for me) I see the pride in Welshness and the Welsh language has also never been higher.

Wrexham is, and should be, really proud.

However, I realise that people are looking for blame as to why we have a cost-of-living crisis and an NHS not meeting its targets. I realise that in some quarters the blame is being placed at the feet of migration. I see no shred of truth in that claim. Scapegoating by nationality, or by religion, or by any means has no place in our civilised society. I staunchly reject any claim from other quarters that our community or nation is weaker due to migration of peoples.

The Green Party is peaceful and inclusive. We need to celebrate the benefits in skills and culture that migration brings. We also need to recognise that being able to offer refuge is a privilege we should cherish  not a burden we have to endure.

The Green Party will:

End the hostile environment;

Uphold Declaration of Human Rights;

Open safe routes to sanctuary by working with other nations to thise most in need;

Create a fast and fair process to seek asylum;

Ensure those seeking asylum be permitted to work immediately while their application is being decided to prevent their situation worsening;

And, ensure that voting eligibility becomes based on residency, not nationality.

Im proud to live in an area like Wrexham, with such a diverse population and mix of cultures. Weve has migration into this area for decades, with established communities from Poland, Portugal and many other places who now call Wrexham their home. Migration has been and will continue to be a positive influence on Wrexham, its economy and our local communities.

Wrexham is enriched by its diversity of population and cultures. There is a long history of people choosing to come to Wrexham and make it their home from across the world. Migration has a positive influence on our economy, public services, and communities. It is only right that we manage our borders and immigration effectively  so that migrants are treated fairly, people fleeing persecution and conflict are offered safe haven, and that we manage our visa and short occupation list schemes to meet the needs of our country. It is also vitally important that we stop the deaths and exploitation of vulnerable people by the smuggling gangs.

Migrants play an important part in society  particularly in our health and social care sectors. As a country we should have the power to manage our own visa schemes

and our own shortage occupation list.

In terms of people fleeing persecution or conflict in their home countries; they are also deserving of help and support with a proportionate dispersal and responsibility across the UK. We need quicker and more efficient claim processing because the current, desperately slow process is literally leading to deaths at sea.

As a mother myself, I cannot begin to comprehend the desperation someone must feel to lead them to believe their best option is trying to cross the channel themselves with their children. These are vulnerable, scared people who need support and we should be offering a hand of humanity.

No response to our Q&A has been received.

Migration is one of the most important issues for the people of Wrexham, as it is for me. In my time as the Member of Parliament, I twice fought off an immigration hostel in the constituency. I supported the Rwanda plan, and although I would have liked tougher action, it is a clear plan to deter illegal migration and stop dangerous boat crossings.

While I have supported the need for legal migration, particularly in the health and social care sector in Wrexham, the end goal should ultimately be that we train, recruit, and retain British workers in these sectors by improving their terms and conditions.

Meanwhile, Welsh Labour have declared Wales a Nation of Sanctuary and want to give 19,000 per year to illegal immigrants  thats more than the State Pension and will only incentivise further illegal migration to the UK. This is simply unsustainable.

The Conservatives are committed to stopping the boats and deterring illegal migration with the Rwanda plan, which is now being copied by other countries across the world. On the other hand, Labour has shown that they have no plan. Instead, they want to scrap the Rwanda policy and have voted over 130 times against toughening immigration laws.

No migration is not a big issue in Wrexham, we have a strong history in the county of welcoming people from other countries, especially the Polish community.

But I believe in a controlled migration policy for the whole of the UK at low and sustainable levels on a points based system.

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.
Wrexhams MP hopefuls tell you what  if anything  they would change on devolution

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jul 2nd, 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 are your views on the current devolution arrangements from Westminster to Cardiff, and what change if any, would you support?

Im fascinated by the Wales independence debate  but feel like it really hasnt happened yet. In certain respects, Wales can never be independent. We have a long and well populated boarder with England, and much of our lives are reliant on dynamic movement across that border. In other respects, Wales has and always will be independent. We have a strong and proud sporting heritage, our own language, and a beautiful culture and worldwide renown.

The Green Party is committed to every home nation have self-determination. So, if opportunities arise for changes to the devolution arrangement that would benefit the people of Wales, then The Green Party is committed to pursuing them.

The Liberal Democrats believe in devolution and would like, in time, so see a more devolved and federal structure for all the regions and nations of the UK. At the moment there is a tension between Cardiff and Westminster, with Conservatives threatening to override laws made in Cardiff under devolved powers just because they dont like what the Senedd has decided. In effect, they are saying you have the power to make decisions as long as we agree with them. This shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of devolution and is extremely dangerous.

Looking to the future, I would support an extension of devolution to cover policing and justice in Wales, which are currently controlled from England. Id also like to see a fairer financial settlement for Wales which would strengthen the power of the Welsh Government to improve public services in Wales.

Liberal Democrats believe in devolving power to communities, so I just as I would like to see more powers devolved from England to Wales, so Id also like to see powers devolved from Cardiff to local areas across Wales.

I believe in devolution, and it is one of the significant achievements of the last UK Labour Government. Devolution is a journey not an endpoint, and we have seen greater responsibilities and powers devolved to Wales as the last 25 years have progressed. I would like to see this continue with more decisions that affect Wales being made in Wales. I also want to see Wales being respected more than it has by the current UK government over the past 14 years. We need the governments in Westminster and Cardiff working together for Wales  delivering fairer funding for Wales, decisions about how that funding is allocated made in Wales, and greater representation for Wales on UK-wide bodies.

I think we need more devolution  I am a believer in an independent Wales. At the moment Westminster controls our purse strings. An example of this is HS2. Wales had no choice in paying more than 4bn towards HS2  a train track that goes from London to Birmingham and not a single inch in Wales. Imagine the difference that funding could make to our own transportation networks, or our NHS or even simply divided between our 22 councils here in Wales  they certainly wouldnt have been needing to put up peoples council tax by nearly 10% if that was the case.

We also have the Crown Estate. Valued at 853 million in Welsh assets, the revenue from rents of the offshore windfarms currently goes entirely to the Treasury with 25%

going directly to the King. These offshore windfarms could generate 43bn in rents and that could be used to tackle poverty and improve public services such as the NHS

should it be devolved. We need devolution of the Crown Estate and we need the autonomy to make our ownfinancial decisions as a country.

No response to our Q&A has been received.

In every area of devolution, the Welsh Labour Government has failed the people of Wrexham. On issues such as healthcare, transport, education and housing, the Welsh Government has not used the powers at their disposal to deliver for Wrexham and refuses to take responsibility for their decisions.

The Welsh Labour Government has received the largest funding settlement since devolution began. However, time and time again, Labour waste taxpayers money on vanity projects and prioritise spending in South Wales, whilst places like Wrexham miss out.

I am open to a frank discussion on whether devolution is working for Wrexham and North Wales. No further policies should be given to the Senedd until they prove that they are able to deliver on the powers they already have.

For 20 years, Wrexham was neglected under a Labour MP and the Welsh Labour Government. Wrexham needs a Conservative MP to ensure that the Welsh Government in Cardiff is held to account. Voting for a Labour MP on 4th July will simply open the door for Wrexham to be neglected and taken for granted once again.

Devolution has failed the people of Wales, I am sorry to say after 25 years of mismanagement things have only got worse, Health and Social care, Education, Local Government funding ,Housing, Transport / roads and agriculture.

If elected as your MP I would have no say on these issues as they are all devolved to the Senedd.

I would support abolishing the Senedd and return powers to Westminster whomever is the government and call for a referendum for the people of Wales to put an end to this debacle.

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.
Senedd to debate world-leading plan to ban lying politicians

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jul 2nd, 2024

The Senedd will today debate a historic, world-leading plan to ban lying politicians amid claims members have been given erroneous legal advice ahead of the crunch vote.

Adam Prices plan would make it a criminal offence for Senedd members, ministers or candidates to deliberately deceive the public, with a four-year disqualification as punishment.

The Plaid Cymru politicians proposed ban was added to the elections bill, under clause 64, after Labour backbencher Lee Waters abstained in a vote during an earlier committee stage.

Now, the Welsh Government has introduced an amendment to delete clause 64, which will be subject to a vote of the whole Senedd  the final opportunity to change the bill.

Activists and legal experts have accused Mick Antoniw, the counsel general, of making legal and factual errors in letters to Senedd members, which urged them to resist change.

All-time low

Speaking on the eve of the vote, Mr Price, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, urged his fellow Senedd members to act.

He said: Trust in politics is at an all-time low and the existing solutions  standards committees, standards commissioners and recall  have failed to solve that problem.

So, its time to do something different.

If the three opposition parties stay united and independent-minded Labour members join us then we have the chance to start to rebuild that trust.

Mr Price, who led a campaign to impeach former prime minister Tony Blair for duping the UK into the Iraq war, added: Winning is the next step in this process  not the end, however.

We hope the government will then shift from defending an old system that isnt working to helping us design and build a new one together that will.

Unworkable

In a letter to members, Mick Antoniw, who is the Welsh Governments chief legal adviser, raised concerns the bill could have profound, unintended consequences.

Describing the proposals as unworkable and lacking consultation, he warned clause 64 could stifle political debate and undermine effective scrutiny of government.

Mr Antoniw wrote: While the underlying intentions behind the provision seem morally right, the proposed new crime represents a radical departure from modern constitutional norms in this country that has the potential to do much more harm than good.

I do not overstate my concerns by highlighting that it is the kind of criminal law that was used as a tool to suppress dissent in the distant past in this country, is still used for that purpose in other countries today.

And I worry that the good intentions that lie behind this provision could be abused in that way again here under different political circumstances.

Mr Antoniw suggested the bill could be referred to the Supreme Court or prevented from receiving royal assent by the Welsh secretary.

Freedom to lie

Sam Fowles, of Cornerstone Barristers, who has provided free advice to Mr Price, criticised legal and factual errors in the counsel generals advice to members.

Dr Fowles claimed Mr Antoniw was wrong to say the bill would restrict freedom of speech and that issues of honesty cannot be adjudicated on by the courts.

He said: [The law] does not impose any restriction on the freedom of speech of Senedd members beyond that already in place. It is surprising the counsel general implies otherwise.

The counsel generals scepticism as to the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion is at odds with the day-to-day reality of public discourse as well as law.

In a follow-up letter to MSs, the barrister, who is director of the Institute for Constitutional and Democratic Research, argued that freedom of speech has never implied a freedom to lie.

Dr Fowles, who was involved in high-profile cases around the post office and prorogation of the UK Parliament, said clause 64 would make it easier to regulate deliberate deception.

Honesty matters

Jennifer Nadel, co-director of Compassion in Politics, a cross-party think tank, called for decisive action at a dangerous time, with a Putin apologist set to enter parliament.

She said: Sadly those who are perhaps concerned that the tradition of gentlemens agreements is about to be replaced by something altogether more transparent and accountable have made erroneous arguments in defence of the status quo.

It is clear that something bolder and more courageous is needed to restore trust in politics.

Honesty matters to the public and they want to see clear independent action, not politicians continuing to police themselves.

They are on the wrong side of history. This bill is supported by the vast majority of the population. I am hopeful that Wales will do something truly historic and back this bill and let truth and integrity prevail.

Out of touch

The author and award-winning journalist accused Douglas Bain, the Senedds standards commissioner, of being out of touch with public opinion.

Giving evidence on Monday, July 1, Mr Bain criticised clause 64, describing its drafting as clumsy at best before adding and I think thats being rather generous.

Ms Nadel said: We are gravely concerned that the commissioner doesnt appear to appreciate the gravity of the situation or the loss of public confidence in existing measures.

His inability to see why the measure is needed makes the case for reform all the stronger.

Dr Fowles also hit back at Mr Bains comments, saying: The Senedd standards commissioner seemed to call political lying a problem that isnt really there.

Only 9% of the public trust politicians to tell the truth. Its not a problem, its a crisis. The commissioner should take 91% of the public more seriously.

Ministry of Truth

Richard Symons, director of the Ministry of Truth  a BBC documentary on political lying  was followed by cameras on his campaign to persuade MPs to back a ban in 2007.

Mr Price, then a member of the House of Commons, agreed, proposing a Misrepresentation of the People Act which ultimately failed to make it onto the statute book.

But now, 17 years on, the pair are closer than ever to changing the law.

Mr Symons pointed to Decembers Ipsos poll which found trust in politicians has fallen below a low set amid the expenses scandal, with trust in ministers at its lowest since the early 90s.

The filmmaker said: In other words, the existing mechanisms and those introduced after 2009 have brought only further decline. Nothing more.

We dont have a mechanism to engender public trust, we have mechanisms which erode it. Both the standards commissioner and the Labour government seem blind to this.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
The German cabinet agreed on a drastic tightening up of deportation rules on June 29. If the bill becomes law, all it will take is a single unfavourable click on the internet to be deported and handed over to your potential executioner.

Demonstration against deportations in Berlin in 2017

According to the draft law, immigration authorities will be able to deport non-German citizens without a court judgement if they condone a terrorist offence. In future, even a single comment that glorifies and condones a terrorist offence on social media can justify a serious interest in expulsion, according to the website of the Interior Ministry led by Nancy Faeser (Social Democratic Party, SPD), which is responsible for the draft.

It is not necessary for the person concerned to explicitly support the terrorist offence. Liking a post on social media such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc., is sufficient, as stated in the explanatory memorandum to the draft bill.

Until now, a serious interest in expulsion by the state only existed in the case of criminal offences such as drug offences, trafficking in human beings or forced marriage. Offendersor suspectscan be deported in such cases without first being convicted under criminal law. Now the same is made possible after a like on social media. This opens the door to completely arbitrary behaviour by the authorities.

Interior Minister Faeser cited the barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel as an example of a terrorist offence, the approval of which will lead to deportation. However, since the Hamas attack anyone who protests against the Israeli genocide in Gaza or points out that the conflict did not begin on October 7, 2023, but rather 75 years earlier with the Nakba, is accused of supporting terrorism.

The deputy chair of the conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Andrea Lindholz (CSU), for whom the draft law does not go far enough, is even explicitly calling for what is already implicitly included: the deportation of all those protesting against the genocide in Gaza. In view of the mass antisemitism and caliphate demonstrations on German streets, every antisemitic and anti-democratic offence must regularly lead to deportation, she said.

Thomas Oberhauser, chairman of the Migration Law Working Group of the German Lawyers Association (DAV), criticised the draft. You have to develop a lot of legal imagination to define the posting of a like as equivalent to dissemination, he said.

Oberhauser cited the case of the president of the Technical University of Berlin, Geraldine Rauch, as a cautionary example. She was accused of hating Jews because she had liked three posts on Twitter/X criticising Israels genocide in Gaza. While she cannot be deported as a German citizen, she came under massive pressure to resign from her post.

The draft law is a serious attack on the basic democratic right to freedom of expression. Under the Nazi dictatorship, a joke that questioned Germanys final victory could lead to a death sentence. Now, a single like under a post that contradicts German foreign policy is enough for a deportation order to a country where the affected person could face imprisonment, torture and death. The aim is to suppress any critical expression of opinion.

The ruling coalition of the SPD, Greens and Free Democratic Party (FDP) want to rush the bill through parliament. In order to circumvent prescribed deadlines, the bill is to be introduced as an amendment to an ongoing legislative procedure that has nothing to do with it in terms of content. The reason for this haste is the dramatic escalation of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, in which the German government is playing a leading role.

The Ukrainian army has been bled dry of soldiers and resistance to the continuation of the slaughter is growing. Under these circumstances, NATO is preparing to intervene with its own troops and thus open up a direct confrontation with Russia. The NATO summit in Washington is expected to decide on this at the beginning of July. Germany, already the biggest financial supporter of the war after the US, will play a leading role in expanding the war.

In the Middle East, Israel is preparing to extend the war to Lebanonand ultimately Iranwith German and American support. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who has already carried out his death threats against the Palestinians in Gaza, is threatening to bomb Lebanon back to the Stone Age.

This war policy, which is encountering growing popular rejection, and its enormous financial costs cannot be reconciled with democracy. It requires the establishment of a police state.

The new deportation law is part of an ongoing drumbeat against democratic rights. Demonstrations in defence of Palestinians are banned or subjected to draconian censorship, oppositional students and teachers are threatened with sanctions, climate activists are locked up for weeks in preventive detention. Germanys domestic intelligence service (Office for the Protection of the Constitution) is being transformed into a revamped Gestapo, which not only observes socialists with all the means available to the secret service, but also denounces them to landlords and employers and ensures they are denied any premises.

The law was prepared by a weeks-long smear campaign, the script for which could have been written by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). After an Afghan refugee attacked a far-right provocateur with a knife in Mannheim on May 31 and stabbed a police officer in the ensuing scuffle, the demand for the deportation of criminal foreigners has dominated the political debate. This despite the fact that the perpetrator had been living in Germany for 11 years, had married a German woman and had two children, without previously attracting any political attention.

This did not deter Germanys politicians, however. The SPD, Greens and all other parties outdid each other with their agitation against refugees. Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised to deport criminals to Afghanistan, where the Taliban are in power. The new law is the result of this campaign.

It is significant that, alongside the SPD, the greatest warmongersthe Greens and the FDPare most vehemently in favour of the law and the associated abolition of freedom of expression. Anyone who mocks the liberal basic order by cheering on terrorism and celebrating terrible murders forfeits their right to stay. That is why we are changing the right of residence, declared Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens).

The parliamentary secretary of the FDP parliamentary group, Stephan Thomae, insisted that a single post could justify a serious interest in deportation. Anyone who incites hatred online is not committing a trivial offence, but is disturbing the public peace, endangering our free and democratic basic order and has no place in Germany, he wrote.

For its part, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BWS) was the most vicious in its incitement against alleged criminal foreigners. Originally, alongside fulminating against refugees, the BSW placed the demand for peace in Ukraine and social equality at the centre of its agitation. Now it has pushed the last two topics into the background.

Following good poll ratings for the state elections due in September, the BSW is preparing for a possible coalition government with the conservative CDU in the states of Saxony and Thuringia. Wagenknecht knows, of course, that for this to happen she has to give up her verbal opposition to the war in Ukraine and her promises of social reform. That is why she is increasingly focussing on anti-refugee agitation.

She has attacked Faesers new deportation law from the right. In an interview with the daily Die Welt, she accused the Social Democratic interior minister of doing too little to combat crime and uncontrolled migration. She was certainly not the right interior minister to stop crime and uncontrolled migration, Wagenknecht explained.

Faeser is above all a minister who announces measures but has done far too little to curb uncontrolled migration and stop the steep rise in immigrant crime, following the example of other European countries, Wagenknecht continued. Neither dangerous individuals nor asylum seekers responsible for serious criminal offences were being consistently deported. Instead, Faeser takes refuge in the internet instead of facing up to her failure.

The shift to the right by all of the political parties shows that the danger of fascism and dictatorship does not only emanate from the AfD. War and fascism are the response by the ruling elite to the hopeless crisis of the capitalist system. They can only be countered by an independent movement of the international working class fighting for a socialist programme.
National Secretary Chris Marsden introduced the Socialist Equality Partys final general election rally, held Sunday at the Indian YMCA in the London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, by stressing its extraordinary international character.

To build a mass, international socialist anti-war movement in the UK meant breaking once and for all with the rotten, right wing, pro-big business, anti-working class, genocide enabling, warmongers of the Labour Party. But this meant recognising that all the major problems confronting the working class can only be fought on an international level.

Chris Marsden speaking at the London meeting

The meetings platform featured many of the principal leaders of the party that the working class needs to wage this struggle, the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world party of socialist revolution founded by Leon Trotsky.

Joseph Kishore, the national secretary and presidential candidate for the Socialist Equality Party in the United States, speaking at the London rally

Darren Paxton, the SEPs candidate for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-Shire, began with an appeal to support the campaign for the release of Bogdan Syrotiuk. The 25-year-old leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik Leninists was arrested on April 25 by the Zelensky regime, working closely with the Biden administration, for opposing imperialist-provoked war and advocating for the socialist unity of Ukrainian and Russian workers.

Paxton welcomed the freedom of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, victimised and imprisoned by US and British imperialism for opposing war and war crimes. I am one of thousands of young people worldwide who learned about Assanges case through the WSWS, he said. All of us in the partys branch in Inverness, all in our early 20s, have been educated politically in the fight for Assanges freedom.

Darren Paxton speaking at the London rally

He warned that Though Assange is free, the global capitalist offensive against democratic rights is only accelerating and the sharpest expression of the crackdown on democratic rights in the service of imperialist war is in Ukraine. Bogdan has been accused of high treason and faces life imprisonment, but by organising a global picket outside Ukrainian embassies on June 13, We have put the Ukrainian government and its NATO backers on notice that we intend to redouble our global campaign for his release.

Alex Lantier brought the fraternal greetings of the Parti de legalite socialiste of France on the day of the first round of snap elections in that country in which the neo-fascist National Rally (RN) is in striking distance of a parliamentary majority.

Lantier explained that what unites the snap elections called on both sides of the Channel is that NATO is preparing a massive escalation of war with Russia and class war at home. The decisive question facing workers not only in Britain, or in France, but around the world is how to fight capitalisms plunge into world war and fascistic reaction.

Alex Lantier speaking at the London rally

The ruling class is discussing how to rule against the people to wage war. This could take the form of a far-right regime led by Le Pens RN, or Macron possibly suspending parliamentary democracy and granting himself emergency dictatorial powers of indefinite duration, unchecked by parliament or the courts.

Fundamentally, Workers cannot pressure capitalist politicians to find a democratic policy on the national soil, because the capitalist class does not ultimately want democracy. It wants dictatorship and war. This underlies the bankruptcy of the electoral strategy proposed by the New Popular Front coalition led by Jean-Luc Melenchonthe French ally of Podemos in Spain, the Democratic Socialists of America, and Jeremy Corbyn.

The New Popular Front is a pro-war trap for the working class. Bringing together the Socialist Party, Communist Party, the Pabloite New Anti-capitalist Party, and Melenchons France Unbowed, it supports Macrons war with Russia and the French police state.

Lantier explained: The rise of the far right is not the result of mass support for genocide and war. It is the product of the systematic disenfranchisement of workers by the nationalist bureaucrats that the media and the ruling class promote as the left The decisive issue is the forging an international, revolutionary movement in the working class against imperialist war and fascism, and for socialism.

Christoph Vandreier, national secretary of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, is the author of Why are they Back? Historical falsification, Political Conspiracy and the return of Fascism in Germany.

The partys lead candidate in the European elections explained that the successes of the far-right were not the result of a fascist mass movement, as was the case in Germany in the 1930s. If the right can also win votes among workers, it is because of the bankruptcy of the pseudo-left, which, like Syriza in Greece and the Left Party in Germany, pushed through the worst social cuts and promoted war policies in the name of left-wing politics. The shift to the right is not coming from below, but from above.

Christoph Vandreier speaking at the London meeting

Vandreier said, It is the height of cynicism when the German elites use the fight against antisemitism as an ideological lubricant for the new war machine and the suppression of resistance to it It is not the millions of workers and young people who are showing solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians, but the ruling class that is once again taking up the brown traditions of the Nazis by rolling German tanks against Russia, declaring genocide to be a reason of state, and arming the Bundeswehr on a scale not seen since Hitler.

Vandreier insisted, Our struggle against the falsification of history has shown how important the struggle on the ideological front is. On this basis, we achieved important success at Humboldt University in the last [student] elections, winning 7.7 percent of the vote. At the same time, the German secret service stepped up its action against us and added the IYSSE [the SEP/SGPs youth movement] to the list of extremist organisations alongside the SGP The working class can only defend its rights, can only prevent the catastrophe of a world war, if it bases itself on historical truth and the lessons of history.

Joseph Kishore is the national secretary and presidential candidate for the Socialist Equality Party in the United States. Referring to the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump as one of the most degraded spectacles in American political history, Kishore noted that media commentary has focused on the cognitive decline of the American president and his possible replacement. But what would be the aim of a change in the candidate of the Democratic Party? What policies would it be intended to facilitate?

Kishores answer was War Such are the real priorities of the Democratic Party, whether Biden is at its head or someone else. It is a party of war, of imperialism, of the military-intelligence apparatus, of Wall Street, and the corporate-financial oligarchy that is directing this increasingly reckless militarist policy.

Joe Kishore speaking at the SEP rally in London

Bidens opponent Trump, is a fascistic conman who, just three-and-a-half years ago, staged a coup that was aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 election and establishing a personalist dictatorship

That Trump could very well win the presidency in the upcoming elections is the product of, on the one hand, the turn of the ruling elites toward authoritarianism and dictatorship, and, on the other hand, the thoroughly right-wing character of the official opposition... To speak of a lesser evil between these two parties is politically meaningless. They are two representatives of a corporate and financial oligarchy that is driving the entire world toward catastrophe.

Kishore explained that We live in a period of shocks, sharp transformations, of mass protests and demonstrations, of snap elections and the downfall of governments. The situation can shift very rapidly. The critical question is the development, within the working class, of a political leadership capable of orienting the masses toward the conquest of power and the socialist transformation of economic and social life.

Tom Scripps is the Socialist Equality Partys general election candidate for Holborn and St Pancras and the assistant national secretary of the British section.

Tom Scripps speaking at the London rally

Scripps explained that Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a snap poll because he was told to do so by Washington and those in the British state closest to the White House and the Pentagon A new government was needed to wage war, even if this meant Sunak falling on his sword. And the overwhelming choice to lead it in ruling circles is the Labour Party.

The SEP was alone in alerting the working class to these dangers. Any candidates standing to protest the genocide in Gaza, such as Andrew Feinstein in Holborn and St Pancras, who mostly take their cue from former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, do so while refusing to make the obvious connection between British imperialisms support for mass murder and ethnic cleansing by Israel and the war it provoked in Ukraine that has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives and will cost far more unless it is stopped.

Scripps insisted, We oppose the Labour Party as a whole, including the handful of lefts who cry crocodile tears for Gaza while planning to take their seats on Starmers government benches. The working class, especially the younger generation, need to understand that war is the major issue on which a new socialist movement must be built.

Starmer and the Labour Party are not going to have it all their own way, said Scripps. Theirs will be a government of crisis and class struggle. Our task is to train political leaders who can intervene, educate and win large numbers of workers and young people looking for a way forward against war, austerity and authoritarianism, to a socialist perspective. That is the purpose of our campaign in this election.
The Australian Labor Party is engaged in an increasingly frenzied campaign against Fatima Payman, its only federal parliamentarian to have condemned Israels war crimes and pointed to the Labor governments complicity in them.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suspended Payman from the party caucus after she crossed the Senate floor last week to vote in favor of a Greens motion recognising Palestine. Payman was summoned to the Lodge, Albaneses official residence, for a personal dressing down, while other party leaders, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong have publicly denounced her for violating party discipline.

Labor Senator Fatima Payman addressing the Senate, in Canberra, Australia, September 15, 2022 [Photo: Facebook/Richard Marles MP]

Beyond the immediate issue of the Greens Palestine motion and Paymans supposed infraction against Labor protocol, the episode is highly revealing.

For the first month of Israels genocidal onslaught against Gaza, the Australian government was as aggressive as any around the world in its support for the Zionist bombardment. Albanese gave blood-curling speeches, cheering on the supposed war against Hamas, and state Labor administrations threatened to ban all pro-Palestinian protests.

Late last year, in conjunction with the Biden administration, Labor effected a shift in rhetoric. Albanese and Wong began to express concern over the mass deaths of civilians and to reference the need for humanitarian pauses, between the rounds of bombing, and vague aspirations for peace.

The onslaught on Payman exposes the fraud of this blather. It demonstrates Labor continues to support the genocide politically, diplomatically and materially, and will brook no opposition, however limited, within its own ranks.

While the immediate trigger for Paymans suspension from caucus was her vote on the Greens motion, that has the character of something of a pretext.

The Labor leadership has undoubtedly been gunning for her since May when Payman broke ranks and became the first Labor MP to brand Israels actions as a genocide and, most notably, to point to Albaneses direct complicity.

At the time, Payman declared: Instead of advocating for justice, I see our leaders performatively gesture defending the oppressors right to oppress She added: I ask our Prime Minister and our fellow parliamentarians, how many international rights laws must Israel break for us to say enough?

Some Labor aligned commentators have presented the leadership as having shown restraint. Crossing the floor and violating caucus decisions can result in expulsion from the party altogether, they have noted.

It is clear, however, that the fact Payman has not been expelled is not out of any beneficence on Labors part. If Payman were expelled from Labor, she could retain her Western Australian Senate seat for another five years and sit on the crossbench. Instead, Labor is seeking to pressure Payman into leaving parliament altogether, so it can be done with her while retaining the seat.

Payman has said Albanese personally asked her to leave the Senate. Then in a statement last night, Payman revealed she had lost all contact with my caucus colleagues. I have been removed from caucus meetings, committees, internal group chats, and whips bulletins. She had been told not to vote at all in the Senate, and described herself as being in exile.

The campaign, recalling medieval banishment or the shunning practiced by religious cults, escalated further today, with reports that Paymans Labor-appointed parliamentary staff had simply left her office, not to return.

These actions underscore the sham of parliamentary democracy. In a system designed to ensure the dominance of the two major parties, including through anti-democratic electoral laws and massive corporate donations, there is no scope for even a limited expression of popular opposition within those parties. That extends to an unfolding genocide that has triggered the most sustained anti-war movement in Australian history.

If an MP is perceived to step out of line even slightly and threaten the consensus behind inherently unpopular policies of war and austerity, the party machine comes down on them like a ton of bricks.

The Labor leadership is using all means at its disposal to effectively steal Paymans parliamentary seat, despite that clearly disenfranchising those who voted for her.

Aside from its antidemocratic character, the campaign has an undeniably sinister edge. Having elevated Payman, the daughter of Afghan refugees who is Muslim and female, to bolster its multicultural and diverse credentials, the Labor leadership is viciously targeting a 29-year-old first term senator and inciting Labor supporters against her. It is not difficult to see that such an offensive could have serious consequences for Paymans health and wellbeing.

The witch hunt against Payman is all the more striking given that she can claim with justification that her vote in favor of recognising Palestine is in line with formal Labor Party policy. On paper, Labor calls for a two-state solution to the crisis. Such a solution obviously requires recognising two states.

But Labors position is a sham. Labor attempted to amend the Greens motion to make Palestinian recognition and the realisation of a two-state solution conditional on a peace process overseen by the Israeli government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that his solution is to exterminate or expel all of the Palestinians. Labors opposition to any, even token, recognition of Palestine is a signal that it shares Netanyahus vision.

Fittingly, at the same time as the Payman furore, Declassified Australia reported yesterday that for the first time in nine months, Department of Defence and government officials have confirmed that Australia has active permits for military exports to Israel. Labor had previously denounced reports of ongoing shipments as misinformation, but a Defence official confirmed in a Senate Estimates hearing that around 66 defence export permits that relate to Israel remain active.

Their contents are shrouded in secrecy, but it is known that Australian companies, operating in conjunction with Defence, are the sole global suppliers of key parts without which the F-35 war planes dropping bombs on Gaza could not function. The joint US-Australian Pine Gap spy base in the Northern Territory has also likely provided Israel with intelligence for its airstrikes in Gaza.

This complicity has provoked widespread opposition from workers and young people. So too has the assault on Payman. There have been thousands of comments on social media expressing support for the senator and opposition to the attacks against her.

These sentiments, however, should not blind opponents of the genocide to the highly limited and conditional character of Paymans own positions. She continues to uphold the two-state solution, which was always unviable and is now simply a cover for Israels ethnic cleansing operation.

Payman claims to be defending real Labor values. But Labor has always been a party of imperialist war, presiding over or supporting every criminal Australian military operation of the past century, including the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Payman last week cited former Prime Minister Bob Hawke as an inspiration to her, noting his rhetorical support for a two-state solution. Hawke epitomised Labors militarist role, dispatching Australian troops to the first Gulf War against Iraq, working closely with the American CIA and fervently backing the Zionist state.

Paymans stand has the character of a warning to the party leadership of explosive popular opposition that could get out of its control. In her May comments, Payman bemoaned a disconnect between Labor and the people of Australia, urging the government to do something to reverse it.

For their part, the Greens are engaged in cynical and bankrupt political theatre. Their parliamentary motions, recognising a Palestine that increasingly consists of rubble, will do nothing to halt the genocide. Their purpose is to bolster illusions that something can or will be done about the mass murder within the sclerotic and discredited parliamentary set-up.

The same illusion has been peddled by fake-left groups such as Socialist Alternative and Solidarity, which have insisted that the task is to pressure Labor to change course and end its support for Israel. The ferocious reaction to Payman again underscores the sham of their position, which serves only to subordinate mass opposition to the genocide to the very government that is complicit in it.

The massive crimes in Gaza, and the global eruption of militarism of which they are a part, will not be ended by a dissident Labor MP or two, or by parliamentary posturing. Together with the increasing danger of nuclear world war, they can only be stopped through a revolutionary socialist movement of the working class, independent of and opposed to the Labor government, the parliamentary parties and the bankrupt capitalist system they all defend.

That perspective is advanced only by the Socialist Equality Party. Sign up as an SEP electoral member today, to ensure there is a genuine socialist, anti-genocide and anti-war party on the ballot at the next election.
Media reports on Sunday revealed that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) was offering a settlement with Boeing that permits the company to plead guilty for two deadly plane crashes in exchange for a financial penalty and the appointment of a federal safety monitor.

In this March 11, 2019, file photo, Boeing 737 Max wreckage is piled up at the crash scene of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 near Bishoftu, Ethiopia. [AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene]

The plea agreement, which is being called a sweetheart deal by outraged family members of the victims who died in the crashes in 2018 and 2019, will enable the company to avoid a criminal prosecution and a trial.

The Associated Press reported, The US Justice Department is pushing Boeing to plead guilty to criminal fraud in connection with two deadly plane crashes involving its 737 Max jetliners, according to several people who heard federal prosecutors detail a proposed offer Sunday. The report also said Boeing would have until the end of the week to accept the offer.

DOJ officials told relatives of the 346 people who died in the 2018 Lion Air and 2019 Ethiopian Air crashes about the arrangements in a video meeting. The AP report said, The family members, who want Boeing to face a criminal trial and to pay a $24.8 billion fine, reacted angrily. One said prosecutors were gaslighting the families; another shouted at them for several minutes when given a chance to speak.

Massachusetts resident Nadia Milleron, whose 24-year-old daughter, Samya Stumo, died in the second of two 737 Max crashes told AP, We are upset. They should just prosecute. This is just a reworking of letting Boeing off the hook.

A provision of the deal, according to the news reports, is that the safety monitor would be picked by Boeing from three of its own nominees and one from the Justice Department. Responding to this part of the plea deal, Milleron told Politico that Boeing shouldnt be the ones selecting the monitors, right? This is the whole problem that Boeing keeps monitoring itself, adding, Its not the Department of Justiceits the department of protecting corporations.

Boeing and the DOJ declined to comment on the reports.

Robert Clifford, lead counsel in the civil litigation against Boeing on behalf of the families, told CNN, I can tell you that the families are very unhappy and angered with DOJs decisions and proposal. There is no accountability, no admission that Boeings admitted crime caused the 346 deaths, and the families will most certainly object before Judge Reed OConnor and ask that he reject the plea if Boeing accepts.

Judge OConnor is overseeing the case in the Northern District of Texas, brought by the family members demanding that the plea deal be blocked. Family members and their lawyers have also pointed out that the new plea agreement appears to contain no provisions for the prosecution of any current or former Boeing executives, a demand they have been seeking.

Paul Cassell, another attorney representing family members, said, The deal will not acknowledge, in any way, that Boeings crime killed 346 people. It also appears to rest on the idea that Boeing did not harm any victim.

The plea deal with Boeing is, in part, a response by the Justice Department to the recent series of safety failures and production problems that violated the terms of an attempt in 2021 to sweep the two fatal 737 MAX crashes under the rug.

The crashes in 2018 and 2019 were the result of a malfunctioning flight-control system on the MAX jets, known as MCAS, that forced the planes into catastrophic nosedives. Boeing was charged with fraud for deceiving the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) about how much training pilots received on the new MCAS software. At the time, the company blamed the entire incident on two engineers.

In that deferred prosecution deal, Boeing was to pay a $2.5 billion settlement and the court would drop criminal charges after three years if the company abided by certain stipulations set out in the agreement.

Meanwhile, after three years, the company has only paid $244 million of the previous settlement and that amount is being allowed to be applied to the new fine.

In May, the Justice Department said Boeing violated the deal because it failed to, design, implement, and enforce a compliance and ethics program to prevent and detect violations of the US fraud laws throughout its operations.

That determination came nearly four months after a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines flight shortly after takeoff in January. A subsequent investigation revealed severe manufacturing errors that compromise the safety of the latest generation of 737 MAX jets and forced them to be grounded.

Since March, two Boeing whistleblowers who exposed serious safety issues at great personal cost, John Barnett and Joshua Dean, have died under highly dubious circumstances.

Airline industry experts have noted that the obvious effort of the Justice Department to prevent a prosecution and trial of Boeing on criminal charges could jeopardize the companys status as a federal contractor for the Pentagon.
The Action Committee of Teachers, Students and Parents for the Defence of Education (ACTSP) in Sri Lanka will hold an online public meeting at 7 p.m. on July 11 entitled Condemn the police attack on teachers! Defend free public education! Higher salaries for educators!

The ACTSP vehemently condemns the Wickremesinghe governments brutal police attack on thousands of protesting teachers on June 26.

One day after this assault, President Wickremesinghe, in a meeting with the Asgiriya Buddhist Chief Prelate, said that there was no money for any salary increase for teachers or any public employees. In the same breath, he threatened to designate the teaching profession as an essential servicethat is, to invoke the Essential Public Services Act which bans industrial action and carries harsh punishments.

Lining up with the government, the media has launched a filthy campaign vilifying the educators struggle for a decent salary and in defence of public education.

The ACTSP meeting is being held to discuss how to defeat these political threats and carry forward our struggle. This issue is crucial, not just for those in the teaching profession, but for the workers and poor as a whole.

The Wickremesinghe regime is intensifying its assault on free public education, which has already been slashed to the bone by successive Colombo governments. In line with International Monetary Fund demands, government allocations to vital social programs, such as free public education and health, are being cut, state-owned enterprises are being privatised, and taxes and tariffs increased to jack up revenue to repay foreign debts and boost big-business profits.

Running parallel with the teachers fight for higher wages are a series of working class struggles against the governments austerity measures. Like their trade union counterparts in other sectors, the teachers and principals trade union bureaucracies oppose the organisation of united action to defeat these attacks. Instead, union officials call isolated, scattered and limited protests while claiming that the government can be pressured to stop its social assaults. This perspective is futile and gives the government time to defeat our struggles and impose its reactionary measures.

Leaders of the teachers trade unions, such as Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-controlled Ceylon Teacher Services Union, are telling educators that election of a JVP-led National Peoples Power (NPP) government in the forthcoming presidential ballot with solve their problems. This is a lie. All of Sri Lankas bourgeois opposition parties, including NPP/JVP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, are fully committed to the IMF dictates.

Winning a decent salary and the defence of education is part of a broader political struggle against the governments austerity measures. Billions of rupees must be allocated to improve essential public education and health services.

These necessary demands are incompatible with the governments commitment to repay foreign loans and the capitalist system itself. That is why we call for the building of action committees, involving teachers, students and parents in every school, to take this fight into our own hands. We need decent salaries and a free high-quality education service with adequate facilities.

Our public meeting will discuss these crucial issues and a fighting socialist program to defend education. We call upon all educators, parents and students to attend our July 11 meeting and participate in this important discussion.

Please register here for the meeting.

For more information contact the ACTSP:

Email: seplanka@gmail.com

Telephone: 0773562327

WhatsApp: 0773562327
Terrified at the prospect of workers and youth breaking with the two parties of capital, the ruling class, through the Biden administration, Democratic Party and its adjuncts, is spearheading an anti-democratic campaign in many states to block third parties from appearing on the presidential ballot this November.

An election worker talks to curbside voters, March 5, 2024, in Mount Holly, North Carolina. [AP Photo/Chris Carlson]

Last Wednesday, in three separate 3-2 party line votes, the Democratic majority on the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) voted to block the We the People Party, the Justice for All Party and the Constitution Party of North Carolina from appearing on the presidential ballot this November. The Democratic majority voted to block the three parties from appearing on the ballot despite each one claiming to have submitted the required number of signatures by the June 1 deadline.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the Libertarian National Convention at the Washington Hilton in Washington, May 24, 2024. [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana]

Right-wing independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running on the We the People Party line, while liberal Democrat and former Biden endorser Dr. Cornel West is the candidate of the Justice for All Party. The Constitution Party, an ultra-right party that up until 1999 was known as the US Taxpayers Party, is running anti-abortion zealot Randall Terry.

In North Carolina, the signature requirement for a presidential candidate is much lower if they are running on a third-party line rather than as an independent but still a significant obstacle. Each third party needed to gather and submit at least 13,865 valid signatures from registered voters by June 1. An independent candidate without a party line would have had to submit a petition signed by 1.5 percent of registered North Carolina voters, over 83,000 people.



Democrats on the board voted to block access based on a complaint that was brought forward by state Democrats and a Biden-allied Super PAC called Clear Choice Action. In a 29-page complaint, lawyers for Clear Choice Action alleged Justice for All (JFA) was a sham political party and its petition was littered with unregistered voters, illegible and missing signatures, blatant statutory violations, and other indicia of fraud.

Dr. Cornel West gives the keynote address at the #BLM Turns 10 Peoples Justice Festival on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes]

In the course of the meeting, Democratic members of the board pointed to complaints raised by Clear Choice Action, such as ineligible and duplicate signatures, as reasons for further investigations into the partys petition. Notably, at least one of the lawyers for Clear Choice Action is employed by the Elias Law Group, which was founded by Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias.

According to Politico, as of 2022 the Elias law firm represented 950 clients, which include the Democratic National Committee; the Democratic campaigning committees helping to elect senators, representatives, governors, secretaries of state, and attorneys general; and at least 150 House and Senate campaigns and members of Congress.



The vote to block the third parties was held on June 26 following a nearly three-hour meeting between the board, representatives from Clear Choice and party representatives. The board will meet again later this month after state and county election administrators have investigated the complaints to either reaffirm or reverse their decisions.

In a statement issued the day of the vote, the West campaign wrote: While there are legitimate inquiries regarding a small number of signatures and an independent circulator, for which [Justice For All] has cooperated fully with the Boards investigation, there is no evidence to suggest that such issues are extensive enough to deem the entire petition effort invalid. Nonetheless, the Democrats on the Board have prolonged the investigation under the guise of legality. This unwarranted scrutiny comes after a sufficient three-week review period, suggesting a deliberate stalling tactic rather than any genuine need for further validation.

The West campaign characterized the Boards actions as a transparent attempt to suppress voter choice and protect their interests, as their presumptive nominee continues to demonstrate a lack of popularity and alignment with the working classs needs.

After Democrats on the NCSBE voted to bar all the third parties from the ballot, Republican board member Kevin Lewis apologized to the third-party representatives.



Im afraid that youre probably a victim of a political hit job, and Im sorry that if we wasted your time today, Lewis said, as quoted by the Carolina Journal. These allegations, Lewis continued, are coming from outside the board of elections, and so the political hit job Im talking about is arising from outside the state board of elections.

Democratic board member Jeff Carmon attempted to refute Lewiss attack by claiming the Democrats were blocking the three campaigns from appearing on the ballot in the interest of protecting voters. He said, What I want to make sure happens is what you guys said you want to do, is whats actually happening, and people are not being misled. Thats what I need to know, that the people that signed knew what they were signing up for.

Far from protecting voters from being misled, the entire purpose of the Democrats witch-hunt is to block the emergence of an independent movement in the working class that will sweep away the political domination of the two parties and the capitalist system they defend. Biden and the Democrats central priority is not defending democracy but defending the wealth of the financial oligarchy while prosecuting imperialist war against Russia and the genocide in Gaza.



As Genocide Joe continues to deteriorate and decline in the polls, Democratic Party elites and donors are convinced that the only chance they have of defeating ex-President Donald Trump is if the population is denied any choice beyond the fascist thug or the senescent warmonger.

While the Socialist Equality Party has vast and unbridgeable political differences with all the capitalist parties and independent political figures barred by the NCSBEs ruling, the SEP unequivocally denounces the boards decision and defends the democratic rights of all parties and candidates to appear on the ballot.



Revealing the anti-democratic character of the boards decision, a week before the vote was held, the NCSBE sent inquisitorial letters to each of the campaigns demanding information about the parties and their petitioners.



In their letter the NCSBE requested information on each new partys general purpose and intent and whether or not a signature-gathering firm was used. If a firm was not used, the board requested that the parties provide a list of petition circulators that includes their name, address and contact information.



The board also requested sample signature collecting scripts and instructions for collection signatures, as well as any other scripts or talking points provided to petition circulators regarding the general purpose and intent of the new party.

In addition to citing concerns raised in Clear Choice Actions complaint to justify blocking the third parties from appearing on the ballot, Democratic board members pointed to an article written by NBC News reporter Alex Seitz-Wald which alleged that the West campaign used operatives with ties to the Republican Party to get on the ballot. In the article, Seitz-Wald quoted favorably from Pete Kavanaugh, founder of Clear Choice Action.

Seitz-Wald has written several articles in the last month targeting third-party opponents of Biden, including West, Dr. Jill Stein (Green Party) and Kennedy. Commenting on the role of Seitz-Wald, Jason Call, campaign manager for Stein, wrote, Seitz-Wald is an establishment attack dog, and attempted to sully the Stein campaign for using a paid petitioner in NY, Steve Kramer, who was indicted for implementing deepfake robocalls on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips in New Hampshire.



Call explained that NBCs Seitz-Wald wrote an article that headlined our hiring of Kramer, even while my conversation with him indicated we could not have possibly known about his illegal activity, to which he acceded.



Turning to the North Carolina Board of Elections, Call noted that in 2022, this same board improperly barred Green Party Senate candidate Matt Hoh from the ballot after Matt had collected thousands of signatures more than the requirement. The [NCSBE] and the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] were taken to court, and Matt was ruled eligible for the ballot. After, the Hoh campaign sued for redress and court costs (of which they got roughly $6,500 of the nearly $60,000 spent on fighting to be on the ballot), the judge ruled that the Democratic Party had acted in bad faith and had unclean hands.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. [AP Photo/Matt Rourke]

Despite gathering nearly three times as many signatures as required, the Green Party in Nevada is still not on the ballot due to a lawsuit filed by the Democrats. Call told this reporter the campaign has now retained legal counsel at a minimum $20,000 retainer, and likely to be substantially more as the case proceeds. It is a case the Democrats will lose, we have the evidence in our favor.



People need to understand that Democrats are using lawfare, Call explained. They are trying to bleed our resources and waste our time, both of which are limited on a grassroots campaign. Their resources and time are unlimited. It is a WalMart approach to suffocate their competition, and it is anything but a democratic approach to a healthy political system. They should be ashamed, but as per usual, they have no shame.
The inadequacy and failure of the Australian Labor governments 2030 carbon emissions reductions targets have been highlighted by Liberal-National Coalition proposals to scrap them, and yet supposedly reach net-zero by 2050 by building nuclear power stations instead.

Labors 2022 Climate Change Bill set a target of just a 43 percent reduction (relative to a 2005 baseline) of Australian greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The legislation was backed by the Greens as well as the Teal independent members of parliament, despite this target bearing no relationship whatsoever to the scientifically required emission cuts necessary to halt rapid climate change and the developing ecological catastrophes.

Australian Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek [Photo: Facebook/Anthony Albanese ]

Estimations by the Climate Council from 2021 suggested that Australias contribution to keeping global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius, a critical tipping point for global warming, would necessitate a 75 percent reduction in emissions by 2030.

As the World Socialist Web Site explained in 2022, the bill, was a fraud from beginning to end. This is not least because it contained no actual mechanisms whatsoever for reducing emissions and did not impose any costs or mandates on the fossil fuel corporations that are responsible for the bulk of Australias contribution to climate change.

Seizing on the reality that even this 2030 target will not be met, the Coalition has now vowed to abandon it. Opposition leader Peter Dutton stated, theres no sense signing up to targets you dont have any prospect of achieving.

The Labor government has claimed it is on track for the 43 percent target by 2030. But independent climate science experts, such as Dr Gordon Weiss, have disputed this. Weiss authored a paper in March 2024 titled, Why Australia is not on track to achieve a 43 percent emissions reduction by 2030.

A vital component of the Labor governments emissions target is its stated goal to boost renewable energy to 82 percent of the National Electricity Market (NEM)which provides around 80 percent of Australias powerby 2030. But that goal is off track. Weisss paper concluded it was highly unlikely Australia will achieve the 82 percent renewable energy penetration.

A recent analysis estimated that on the current trajectory, the NEM is likely to be only 60 percent based on renewable energy by 2030. That is actually lower than the baseline of 68 percent of renewables by 2030 without any additional policiesan indication that the Albanese government may well have reversed progress on this goal.

This failure has been known by the government since at least last year, when the Australian Energy Market Operator warned that 82 percent target could be too ambitious, due to lags in building renewable energy and transmission infrastructure. It said the total renewable energy share could be as low as 63 percent by 2030.

Far from being a lesser evil on climate change, the Labor government has demonstrated that it is fundamentally no different to the Coalition. Its recently-unveiled Future Gas Strategy promises an indefinite expansion of natural gas projects, thus prolonging the corporate exploitation of fossil fuels.

Labors Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek also has used her powers since coming into office to halt numbers of renewable energy projects, while approving more coal plants. These coal projects include the Gregory Crinum Coal Mine in the Bowen Basin, to run until 2073, the Isaac River Coal Mine, the Star Coal Mine and the Ensham Coal Mine.

In addition, the government has given initial go-aheads for two major coal mine expansions. One of the proposed developments, MACH Energys planned expansion of its Mount Pleasant operations in New South Wales (NSW), could become one of Australias biggest coalmines based on coal volume if it reached the proposed production capacity of 21 million tonnes of run-of-mine coal each year.

The other is Whitehaven Coals proposed extension of its Narrabri underground coal project in NSW, which would extend the life of the mine by 13 years to 2044.

Last December, the international initiative known as the Climate Action Tracker designated Australian action on climate change as insufficient. It reported: The government continues to endorse the expansion of the fossil fuel industry by supporting new carbon-intensive offshore gas field developments, permitting fracking, approving new coal mines, and creating regulations for CO2 sequestration beyond its borders, in contradiction with its stated climate goals.

Whatever Labors rhetoric on the importance of renewable energy, its concern is not the threat that climate change poses to the countless millions who will be affected by it globally, but rather on trying to shore up the fortunes of Australian capitalism by attracting investment in green industries.

Prominent business leaders have opposed the Coalitions plan to drop the 2030 target. Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black, representing the largest companies operating in the country, told the Australian Financial Review (AFR): Significant investment from private capital will be required for Australia to successfully transition to a net-zero economy and already announced and legislated targets should remain in place.

In its latest budget, Labor allocated $13.7 billion in tax credits for corporations involved in green hydrogen projects, as well as critical minerals mining. The AFR reported that those who would primarily benefit from this funding included billionaire Chris Ellisons Mineral Resources, Pilbara Minerals, Wesfarmers, IGO Limited and the Gina Rinehart-backed Liontown Resources.

The article added that the additional $8 billion in funding for green hydrogen is a win for wealthy companies such as billionaire Andrew Forrests Fortescue Metals and Woodside, a large gas and oil producing company.

The Labor governments policies would deliver a disastrous 3C of global warming if enacted universally around the world. The fact that the planet is currently on track for that amount of warming is an indictment of the entire global capitalist system.

In 2022, the WSWS concluded that the Greens-backed Labor governments initiatives, in other words, represent no break whatsoever from the long record of state-backed corporate criminality on climate policy.

In the almost two years since the passage of the 2022 Climate Change Bill, this analysis has proven entirely correct. The crucial lesson to be drawn from these experiences is that no capitalist party or politiciansnot the Coalition, Labor, the Greens nor the Tealscan provide a solution to the unfolding ecological disaster caused by the corporate profit system.

This failure is occurring around the world. Despite soaring global temperatures, capitalist governments and corporations are moving to abandon their meagre and insufficient climate pledges altogether. Only the intervention of the working class to seize political power on a socialist basis can prevent climate change worsening into catastrophic proportions.
On June 25, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Borsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels), which organises the worlds biggest annual book fair (in Frankfurt), announced it was awarding its annual Peace Prize to US journalist and author Anne Applebaum.

Applebaum is a notorious neo-conservative war hawk, closely linked to the US military-intelligence apparatus, who currently plays a leading role in churning out propaganda justifying escalation of the US-NATO war against Russia. The absurdly misnamed Peace Prize handed to Applebaum is an endorsement by the German establishment of the drive to world war.

Since 1950 the Borsenverein has generally awarded its prize to leading German and international literary and intellectual figures, such as Alfred Grosser, Karl Jaspers, Thornton Wilder, Hermann Hesse and Albert Schweitzer.

More recently, however, the bestowing of its 2022 Peace Prize to the rabidly anti-Russian Ukrainian poet Serhiy Zhadan demonstrated the increasing right-wing political basis of the Association. Capitulating to the German governments war frenzy, the Association gave its award to the author of Sky Above Kharkiv: Dispatches from the Ukrainian Front, in which Zhadan describes Russians collectively as a horde, as criminals, animals and filth, who, he writes, should Burn in hell, you pigs.

The honouring of the virulent nationalist Zhadun represented a low point in the Associations history, but its award this year to the foul sabre-rattler Applebaum is unprecedented. According to the ludicrous statement issued by the jury, Applebaum combines historiographical insights with alert observation of the present. At a time when democratic achievements and values are increasingly being caricatured and attacked, her work makes a contribution to democracy and peace.

A brief look at Applebaums career and publications reveals the exact opposite. As much as any living journalist, she is deeply embedded in the US security state. Applebaum is a member of the US Council on Foreign Relations and is a board member of the National Endowment for Democracy, a CIA initiative, and Renew Democracy Initiative, another right-wing outfit with close ties to the US state. She was formerly a Senior Adjunct Fellow at the equally dubious Center for European Policy Analysis. Between 2002 and 2006 she was a member of the editorial board of the Washington Post, and she currently writes for the Atlantic magazine.

Smoke rises from buildings in this aerial view of Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. [AP Photo/Libkos]

In 2003 Applebaum fully backed the US bombing of Iraq and the subsequent occupation of the country. In an editorial for the Post following US Secretary of State Colin Powell's lying appearance before the UN Security Council, she wrote that it was hard to imagine how anyone could still doubt that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Applebaum is married to Radosaw Sikorski, extreme right-wing Polish politician and Foreign Minister, 2007-2014 and again 2023 to the present. Along with US Secretary of State John Kerry and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Sikorski played a central role in the 2014 Maidan putsch that removed Ukraines elected, pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Since then Sikorski has played a leading role in Polands preparations for a war with Russia, endorsing the sabotage of the German-Russian Nord Stream pipeline in September 2022, while effectively conceding it had been carried out by NATO. Applebaum, together with her husband, has been in the forefront in agitating for all-out war against Russia.

Summing up Applebaums career as a US government stooge, the WSWS wrote in 2017: Following the Russian annexation of Crimea, she authored a column in the Washington Post in which she called for total war against nuclear-armed Russia. She embodies the connection between militarism and political repression.

In her historical work, Applebaum has followed in the footsteps of such veteran anti-communist authors as Robert Conquest and Zbigniew Brzezinski. Whitewashing the role of Ukrainian fascist leader Stefan Bandera, Applebaum wistfully reminiscesin the introduction to her travelogue Between East and West: Across the Borderlands of Europe (2017)that in the course of her trip to Ukraine in 1990 she sighted in the centre of the main park, old women standing beneath the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, discussing the fate of Stepan Banderathe guerrilla leader who fought for Ukrainian independence in the 1930s and 1940s.

The same year saw the publication of Applebaums book Red Famine, which echoes the lies of the Ukrainian far-right diaspora alleging that a genocide took place during the Soviet famine in 1931-1933 specifically targeting Ukrainians. In November 2017, Applebaum wrote another article in the Post warning of the threat of socialist revolution. Although revolutionary socialists remained few in number, their potential should not be ignored, she argued.

Remember, Applebaum wrote, at the beginning of 1917 most of the men who later became known to the world as the Bolsheviks were conspirators and fantasists on the margins of society. By the end of the year, they ran Russia. According to Applebaum the lesson of 1917 is clear: If a system becomes weak enough and the opposition is divided enough, if the ruling order is corrupt enough, extremists can suddenly step into the center, where no one expects them.

Given Applebaums record as a Russophobe and a warmonger it might have occurred to at least some journalists and historians that her nomination for a peace prize was wildly inappropriate and even preposterous. Quite the opposite! Indicating the extent of the war frenzy inside German academia and editorial boards, a note of caution or criticism could not be found.

Just two weeks before the announcement by the Borsenverein, the German city of Oldenburg awarded its Carl von Ossietzky prize for contemporary history and politics to Applebaum. Praising Applebaum's professional perspective and journalistic expertise as decisive for the public debate on the Russian war against Ukraine, the jury, chaired by a professor from the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, gave its award to Applebauma decision that would make Ossietzky, Weimar Germanys leading critic of German militarism, turn in his grave!

As for Germanys leading newspapers, there was apparently unanimous approval for the Borsenvereins decision. Reporting on the award, the online portal perlentaucher noted: The feuilletons are delighted that historian and journalist Anne Applebaum has been awarded the Peace Prize. A courageous decision, commented Jorg Lau in Zeit Online. And precisely because she refuses to engage in the overly naive peace discourse being conducted here in Germany in relation to Ukraine.

Leading the media campaign to overcome the overly naive peace discourse in Germany, Patrick Bahners wrote gushingly in the FAZ newspaper that the Borsenvereins award represented A signal against the politics of appeasement. In his article, Bahners went so far as to attack the leader of Germanys conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and ex-Blackrock Germany executive, Friedrich Merz, from the right. Merz has consistently supported the federal governments war policy. Nevertheless, Bahners accuses Merz of appeasement merely for the CDU leaders recent comment that the Ukraine war should end at some point.

Recent polls reveal that 80 percent of the population in Germany (and 90 percent in Poland) oppose an escalation of the war in Ukraine following the call by French President Emmanuel Macron to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia. In line with the demand by the German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democratic Party, SPD) that the country must prepare for war, the German media is determined to play its part and break down the overwhelming opposition to war. That is the significance of the overwhelming support in German newspapers for the Borsenvereins Peace Prize award to the war enthusiast Anne Applebaum.
The US Supreme Courts decision Monday in Trump v. United States fundamentally alters the character of the American government as it has existed since the American Revolution, placing the president above the law and effectively transforming the Commander-in-Chief into a dictator, who can commit crimes with impunity.

The Supreme Court as composed June 30, 2022 to present. Front row, left to right: Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., and Associate Justice Elena Kagan. Back row, left to right: Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. [Photo: Fred Schilling, samling av USAs Hyesterett]

In an opinion authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the far-right majority declared that a US president enjoys presumptive immunity for official acts, and that ex-President Donald Trump was therefore immune from prosecution for most of his acts in furtherance of his January 6, 2021 coup attempt. The court remanded the case to the lower court to consider whether other actions related to the coupincluding Trumps efforts to force Vice President Mike Pence to seat alternate slates of electors in states Trump lostcount as official acts. In practical terms this means that Trump cannot be convicted for the January 6 insurrection before the November 5 election.

In the words of dissenting Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the majority opinion makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.

While the word dictator does not appear anywhere in the majority or dissenting opinions, a chief executive who is above the law is called a dictator. This is what it means to have a presidential dictatorship.

The Court effectively creates a law-free zone around the President, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the Founding, Sotomayor wrote. When the president uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably, Sotomayor wrote. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.

In a separate dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson suggested that the president is now free to murder other government officials with impunity. While the President may have the authority to decide to remove the Attorney General, for example, she wrote, the question here is whether the President has the option to remove the Attorney General by, say, poisoning him to death.

Mondays decision is without precedent in American history. In 1977, three years after resigning from the White House in disgrace, former President Richard Nixon told journalist David Frost that when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal. For decades, this declaration was treated not as a statement of American constitutional jurisprudence but as an expression of Nixons criminal character.

To make an appropriate historical analogy, it is necessary to reference fascist jurisprudence. The 1933 Enabling Act, for example, gave Hitler the power to unilaterally violate the Weimar constitution, without any accountability to other branches of government. Similarly, the Supreme Court majority Monday declared that the US president needs to enjoy legal immunity in order to be free to engage in bold and unhesitating action.

Under the new legal framework of presidential dictatorship announced by the Supreme Court, Augusto Pinochet would have enjoyed complete immunity from prosecution for his crimes, so long as he declared that the mass murder of left-wing political opponents was an official act to combat terrorism and subversion and save the country from communism.

To use a more immediate example, a bill proposed in the US House of Representatives in May by Tennessee Republican Andy Ogles authorizes the deportation of anti-genocide student demonstrators to Gaza. Under the Supreme Courts decision Monday, a president who carried out such a policy would be immune so long as it was an official act.

The decision effectively abolishes what was once called the American theory of government, according to which there is no sovereign such as a king or prince. Instead, in the words of dissenting Justice Jackson, the People are the sovereign, and the Rule of Law is our first and final security.

American revolutionaries called the idea that anyone could be above the law tyranny and despotism. In the words of the Declaration of Independence, when a population is subjected to such a regime, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Notwithstanding the opinions of the dissenting justices explaining the monumental historical significance of the decision, much of the establishment media in the US downplayed the decision Monday. The New York Times, a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party leadership, even suggested that the ruling had an upside because in lower court proceedings, prosecutors will be allowed to detail much of their evidence against Donald Trump in front of a federal judge and the public.

Biden made a brief media appearance Monday evening to denounce the ruling. Any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law, Biden said, calling the ruling a fundamentally new principle and a dangerous precedent because any limits on the presidents powers will now be self-imposed by the president alone. But in response to the ruling, Biden merely called for the American people to render a judgment on Donald Trumps behavior by electing Biden instead of Trump in the 2024 elections.

Presidential dictatorship is not only in danger of happening if Trump is elected. It is already the supreme law of the land, thanks to the Supreme Courts decision Monday, from which there is no appeal.

Biden essentially argues that the population should prevent a malevolent dictator from coming to power by electing another dictator instead, one who would assume the same powers but would supposedly exercise them in a more responsible way.

Biden offered no proposals for preventing the institution of a presidential dictatorship. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt at least threatened to overpower the opposition of the Supreme Court to the New Deal by appointing more justices, a measure that Biden could easily have justified under conditions of a historic corruption scandal on the court.

Five of the six justices who imposed a dictatorship on the 340 million inhabitants of the United States were appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote, including three appointed by Trump himself (Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh). At least two other justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, are implicated in the coup themselves.

Biden and the Democrats share equal responsibility with the Republicans for the menace posed by Trump, having insisted on rehabilitating a strong Republican Party in the wake of the January 6 insurrection. Since the coup attempt, they have governed in an effective coalition with the Republicans to wage war and genocide abroad while suppressing strikes and dissent at home.

However, the danger of dictatorship does not come from Trump as an individual or even from the fascistic Republican Party in general. Likewise, the January 6 coup attempt was not an isolated incident, but an episode in a protracted and ongoing process.

This process has continued through both Democratic and Republican administrations, including the Supreme Courts intervention in the 2000 elections to steal the election for George W. Bushits infamous decision in Bush v. Goreas well as the assertion by the Obama administration of the power to order the killing of US citizens in the assassination of Anwar Al-Awlaki in 2011, which Barrett cites approvingly in her concurring opinion.

The tendency towards dictatorship is inherent in the capitalist system in the imperialist epoch, which is characterized by the dominance of finance capital in the economy and by imperialist wars for the redivision of access to labor, markets and raw materials. The drive towards dictatorship is motivated in particular by expanding social inequality, war and the necessity, from the standpoint of the ruling class, of imposing fundamentally unpopular policies.

Finance capital does not want liberty, it wants domination, wrote Austrian Marxist Rudolf Hilferding, in a passage quoted by Lenin in Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism (1916). Democracy is inconsistent with a society in which oligarchs like Elon Musk can receive a $45 billion pay package, while hundreds of thousands of people are homeless and hungry.

Democracy is also incompatible with imperialist war, which requires the conscription of masses of youth to serve as cannon fodder, the diversion of public funds from social needs and the crushing of all opposition. While the US-NATO alliance claims to be warring for freedom and democracy against the authoritarianism of Russia and China, it is the American political establishment that is imposing authoritarian forms of rule at home.

The struggle against the imposition of presidential dictatorship requires understanding its roots in capitalist relations of production and in the outmoded division of the world into rival nation-states. The social force that will oppose dictatorship, defend democratic rights and challenge the capitalist system is the international working class, organized as a class, independent of all capitalist parties and fighting for socialism.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) would be pleased to have Azerbaijan on board as a shareholder country, former chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan Grigory Marchenko told Trend.

He made the remark on the sidelines of the annual meeting and business forum of the bank in Almaty.

"Two years ago, I was in Azerbaijan, and during negotiations on behalf of the bank, I proposed the country's accession to the EDB as a shareholder. In general, we have such a position that we, as the Eurasian Development Bank, promote economic cooperation in our region. In this sense, we would certainly be happy to see Azerbaijan as a shareholder country," Marchenko said.

According to him, the bank currently has six shareholder countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia), and negotiations are underway for Uzbekistan to join.

"If Azerbaijan someday wants to join our bank, I think it can be done quite quickly," the advisor to the board chairman noted.

Referring to the possibility of financing the projects of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, Marchenko emphasized that not only the decision at the level of the credit committee but also the approval of the Bank's Council is needed to approve the project.

"Any loan to a territory outside the shareholder countries requires the approval of the Council. This is a rather lengthy process. The Chairman of the Council of our bank is the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Oljas Bektenov. For our activity with Azerbaijan to move forward at a rapid pace, it would be good for the state to join the number of shareholders of the bank. Any joint infrastructure projects with the bank's participants will be considered, of course. However, the optimal solution would be to join the bank," he added.

To note, the EDB is an international financial organization, that carries out investment activities aimed at developing economies, trade and economic relations, and integration processes in the countries of the Eurasian region.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Drake and Rick Ross continue their saga of trolling, and Drizzy is going after Ross baby mother. Drake took to Instagram on Monday (July 1) to celebrate Canada Day with a carousel of pictures. There, Ross baby mother, Tia Kemp, commented on the photos, saying Drakeeeeee, to which Drizzy responded, with a heart emoji calling her My goat. Ross hopped into the comments with his own remarks, clowning Drizzy for the grooming allegations lodged against him while dissing his babys mother, saying, Pedo vs Granny.

The post follows the Miami rapper getting into a large fight in Vancouver after his performance at the Ignite Music Festival. During his set, Ross decided to play Kendrick Lamars Not Like Us as he exited the stage. The move prompted a squad of goons to confront the artist. The men pressed Ross and his team as tensions began to flare.

Video footage captures a heated exchange before one of the men sucker punched the rapper, which turned the scuffle into a brawl. Members of Ross squad could be seen getting pushed around and falling to the ground as the Canadian goons continued to harass and mock them for their song choice. At one point, the clip shows an MMG affiliate seemingly knocked out unconscious on the festival grounds after seemingly taking a hit from the squadron of Drake fans.

While VIBE was unable to secure an official statement from Rozay or his team regarding the fight, Ross did post a response to his IG Story. On Monday (July 1), Ross posted a picture of himself standing in front of his jet with the caption, Vancouver, it was fun. Til next time.

As previously stated, Ross explained where his issues with Drizzy stemmed from. In his Drake diss, Champagne Moments, the Biggest Bawse detailed that the Toronto native snaked French Montana with a cease-and-desist.

I unfollowed you, ni**a, cause you sent the motherf**kin cease-and-desist to French Montana, ni**a/ You sent the police, ni**a, hated on my dog project/ That wasnt the same white boy that I seen, ni**a, when we were makin them early records, ni**a, Ross revealed to him on the songs outro.

Drake supporters in Canada got into a fight with Rick Ross and his crew for supposedly playing "Not Like Us" by Kendrick at the end of his concert



Drake liked the post about the incident



Rick Ross was booked to perform at the Ignite Music Festival in Vancouver BC



 footage pic.twitter.com/KwVLhVr1rp  SOUND (@itsavibe) July 1, 2024

Check out the posts above.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. President Ilham Aliyev has ratified the law approving the "Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Turkiye in the Field of Water Management," Trend reports.

This law ratifies the Cooperation Agreement between the countries in the field of water management, signed in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 8, 2024.
"I laughed out loud, I ugly cried, and I never, ever wanted it to end," the actress said, of the novel on reality TV

Cindy Ord/MG24/Getty;Harper Collins Meg Ryan; the book cover of 'Big in Sweden'

Meg Ryan is swapping the big screen for the audiobook for Big in Sweden!

The actress and director, 62, not only lends her iconic voice to Sally Fransons second novel  which is inspired by the author's own experiences in the Nordic country  she also loves it.

Deft and delicious, this book is a flat-out delight machine, Ryan said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. A heart-opener, a page-turner, and a true originell!' I laughed out loud, I ugly cried and I never, ever wanted it to end.

The When Harry Met Sally star also had good things to say about Franson herself, dubbing the author a world-class entertainer who can finesse a serio-comic moment in a way that leaves you catching your breath.

Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Meg Ryan

Related: PEOPLE's Best Books of June 2024: Dr. Fauci Shares His Hope for the Future in Latest Book and More New Reads

Reacting to Ryans high-praise for Big in Sweden, the A Ladys Guide to Selling Out author shared a side-by-side of the star and herself  and shared a sweet message to both Ryan and her younger self.

If you would have told 16-yr-old Sally w the Meg Ryan haircut that one day Meg Ryan would read and like and AND BLURB a novel SHE WROTE, she wouldnt dare believe you, the author wrote on Instagram, adding, This is the same 16-yr-old who met a car manual writer on Career Day bc no one knew any authors.

Its so easy to keep moving the goalpost as an artist (a human), for more more more to rule (ruin) the psyche, when actually paradise is right here! she continued. Im grateful to Meg for so many things, but my greatest gratitude is for her reminders that the work itself is the true rewardfor when it comes from a deep and genuine place it might (might!) connect with the deep and genuine in others.

Related: Meg Ryan Reveals Why She Took a 'Giant Break' from Hollywood  And Why She's Back with a New Rom-Com (Exclusive)

Big in Sweden follows Paulie Johansson who lets her best friend convince her to audition for Sverige och Mig, a Swedish reality show where Swedish-Americans compete to win the ultimate prize: a reunion with their Swedish relatives, per the book's synopsis. Much to her shock, her drunken submission video wins her a spot on the show, and against [her boyfriend] Declans advice Paulie decides to go for it.

The book grapples with long-held notions of family, friendship and love and yes, there's a hot Swedish crew member in play.

Harper Collins 'Big in Sweden'

Franson took inspiration from Big in Sweden from her own unexpected stint on Allt for Sverige, a Swedish game show that follows Swedish-Americans returning to the country to discover their roots.

But, according to the author, the crux of the novel isnt about Paulies roots at all. This novel that I thought was going to be about Paulies past and biological family turned out to be a novel about Paulies present and found family," Franson said, in a statement. "Specifically, her relationships with her cast members, crew and her partner and best friend.

For a first glimpse of Ryans narration, listen below.

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Big in Sweden came out on July 2 and is available now, wherever books are sold.

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Neal proposed to Owen on June 17 during a romantic vacation in Florence, Italy

www.artviva.com / @artviva James Neal (left) and Taylor Owen in 2024

TikTok stars Taylor Owen and James Neal  who are best known for their viral series of "If Real Life Was Succession" skits  are engaged!

Neal, 30, popped the question on June 17 at Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1 overlooking the Arno River in Florence, Italy. The romantic reserved area was covered in rose petals, and a violinist played "Your Song" by Elton John for the big moment.

Owen, 30, says she knew something was up when Neal planned a dinner while they were traveling to Rome, Florence and Puglia, and wouldn't share any details with her.

"I was like, 'Oh, a surprise dinner in Italy. It must be a proposal,' " she says. Though she knew it was going to happen, she adds that Neal "totally blew me away" with the beautiful details of the night.

Neal says that he knew Owen was on to him while they were away, so he told himself, "I have to do something that she would never expect."

www.artviva.com / @artviva Taylor Owen (left) and James Neal with violinist

Related: Eva Amurri Marries Chef Ian Hock in French Garden Party Wedding: Felt Like a Fairytale (Exclusive)

But by time the couple arrived at the rooftop setting of their proposal where a violinist and photographer were waiting for them, they both became emotional before Neal could even pop the question.

"We're both laughing hysterically because it feels like we're in a movie and the moment is happening and we both, like, are realizing what's going on at the same time," Neal says.

"It was just a surreal moment that we've waited so long [for]," Owen agrees.

She added that by the time Neal opened the ring box, she was crying so much that she couldn't see the toi et moi style ring, which is also known as a "two stone ring."



www.artviva.com / @artviva James Neal (left) and Taylor Owen

"I told Tay I could go my whole life trying to find the woman that I wanna marry," Neal continues. "And I said, 'I'm so, so thankful that I don't have to because I found you.' "

The couple called the evening "one of the most beautiful nights that we'll probably ever experience."

Following their romantic photoshoot, Owen says "James did the cheesy movie line" and shouted "She said yes!" to a crowd of onlookers, who applauded.

www.artviva.com / @artviva Taylor Owen (left) and James Neal

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The West Hollywood-based couple is known for their recreation of watercooler shows such as Succession, The Bear and The White Lotus. Their most well-known work is their "If Real Life Was Succession" videos.

Owen and Neal met in 2015 while attending Chapman University. After a brief interaction after class one day, Owen called her best friend and said, "I think I just saw my husband, but I don't know if I'll ever see him again." Neal and Owen started dating the following year.

Related: Matlock Reboot Star Skye P. Marshall Marries FBI: Most Wanted Actor Edwin Hodge in 'Speakeasy Glam' Wedding! (Exclusive)

www.artviva.com / @artviva James Neal and Taylor Owen

They cheekily announced their engagement on social media, captioning a TikTok "Siblings or engaged?"  a nod to some fans who assumed they were siblings when they started making TikTok videos about Succession characters Shiv and Kendall Roy.

Owen says that she knew what their social media caption would be when they got engaged. "Is everything a bit to you, Taylor?" Neal jokes of his future wife's plan.

"Unfortunately," she says, "it is."



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www.artviva.com / @artviva James Neal (left) and Taylor Owen

Owen has appeared on Dave, Veep and Abbott Elementary. Neal's acting credits include the television series Almost Friday and the drama Stay With Me.

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Read the original article on People.
Turkish director Zeki Demirkubuz drama Life scooped the top Golden Bee award for Best Feature Film at Maltas second Mediterrane Film Festival over the weekend.

This years selection was overseen by Italian film festival veteran Teresa Cavina, who pulled together a line-up of 45 works with Mediterranean basin connections, 15 of which were in the main Competition.

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In the backdrop to the festival, leading English-language newspaper The Times of Malta continued to probe whether the events budget of $4.1M budget (3.9) was good use of taxpayers money on the island nation, with a population of roughly 500,000 people.

Last year, the newspaper heavily criticized the event for allegedly splashing cash on business class fights and luxury hotels for actors, directors and journalists as well as a lavish black-tie closing event, fronted by UK star David Walliams.

Replying to fresh questions from the newspaper, Malta Film Commission head Johann Grech said the event was part of his orgs overall strategy for drawing international film and TV productions to the country, which has carved itself a place as a key Mediterranean shooting destination through its 40% rebate.

The festival, he said, was an essential means of attracting investment to the country and film decision-makers to the island.

Unfolding mainly in the Maltese capital of Valletta, this years edition did seem more substantial than its predecessor.

All the competition titles had previously world premiered in other festivals. Life debuted at the Istanbul-set Filmekimi festival last October, and also played in Rotterdam earlier this year.

The drama revolves around a young woman who flees her home to get out of a forced engagement, with the jilted fiance then attempting to track her down in a bid to understand the future wife he hardly knew.

Competition screenings in the Eden Cinema complex in Vallettas neighboring town of St Julians were sparsely attended but directors, cast and crew who touched down in Malta still appeared to appreciate the extra exposure and experience, with most sessions generating lively, intimate Q&As at the end.

The screening of refugee drama The Strangers Case was followed by an emotional conversation between U.S. director Brandt Andersen, lead actress Yasmine Al-Massri and a handful of Maltese spectators, who said the drama had touched them to the core.

The film had extra resonance in Malta, which is one of the first ports of call for migrant boats trying to get to Europe from North Africa but has also been accused of declining calls for assistance from vessels in distress.

Anderson went on to win the Mediterranes Golden Bee for Best Director, while Al-Massri was feted with Best Actress.

In other prizes, Palestinian director Mahdi Fleifel won the Jurys Choice prize for To A Land Unknown, which world premiered in Cannes Directors Fortnight in May.

Frances Stephane Brize and Marie Drucker won Best Screenplay for Out of Season, the Netherlands Myrte Beltman scooped Best Production Design for her work on Bosnian director Ena Sendijarevics Sweet Dreams, while Best Cinematography went to Carlos Alfonso Corral for The Damned by Italian director Roberto Minervini.

The jury was composed of UK director Jon S. Baird, U.S. casting director Margery Simkin, Canadian-Maltese director Mario Philip Azzopardi, UK art director Nathan Crowley, Uruguayan cinematographer Pedro Luque, Canadian director Richie Mehta and U.S. director Tim Miller.

Outside of the main Competition, the festival also launched a new open-air venue in Vallettas central Saint George square, where screenings of The Man Who Fell To Earth (which was part of a David Bowie tribute), Kind of Kindness, Jurassic World: Dominion (scenes of which were shot in the same spot) enjoyed packed screenings with a young local crowd.

There was also an industry program featuring panels on topics such as screenwriting, distribution, co-production as well as masterclasses by Greek film editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis, the long-time collaborator of Yorgos Lanthimos, and UK director Mike Leigh.

The festival closed Sunday with an awards ceremony at the historic Fort Manoel, once again fronted by Walliams and at which Leigh and veteran production coordinator Rita Galea, co-founder of Maltese production services company Latina Pictures, were feted with Career Achievement and Lifetime Achievement awards respectively.

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As a youth in Cleveland, Coddie Wilson got his hair cut at All The Kings Men, an old-school barbershop in his predominantly Black neighborhood. For a long time, he said, the two barbers who ran the place lobbed nuggets of wisdom as he sat in the chair, steering him away from trouble.

They were great mentors, said Wilson, 31. They watched me grow up, watched what I went through.

Trouble eventually caught up with Wilson, who would earn his GED while in prison on drug charges, but he finally set himself right and works at All the Kings Men alongside his former mentors, settling into a role he knows is as much about listening and advising as it is about cutting hair.

With the help of Beyond the Cut, a regional program that recruits barbers to serve as mental health intermediaries for Black communities in northeast Ohio, Wilson has taken on yet another role as shepherd of emotional well-being. With mental health a growing crisis for Black communities nationwide, such programs lean into the natural flow of sharing inherent in barbershops and salons, giving barbers and stylists tools to care for their communities.

Theyre already hearing horror stories, said Mary Louise Tatum, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Cleveland Clinic who oversees the Ohio program. Now theyre learning to do it more effectively.

Steven Scarver, a barber at Star Beauty Plus in Maple Heights, Ohio, works on Marcus Thompson's hair on Wednesday, June 26., 2024. Scarver is part of a program in Northeast Ohio that recruits barbers to serve as mental health advocates in local Black communities.

The Cleveland program, funded by a $70,000 grant, follows in the footsteps of The Confess Project of America, a national program launched by mental health advocate Lorenzo Lewis. That program operates in 32 states, Lewis said, focusing on marginalized and underserved communities.

Barbershops as safe spaces

Outside the clergy, Lewis said, perhaps no other profession witnesses a communitys life changes as closely as barbers and stylists do, from high school graduations to the birth of a child to the pain of a divorce.

Barbers and stylists have always been a safe place, Lewis said. When you think about the civil rights era, the NAACP did a lot of civic engagement through those shops. Theyre pivotal for transforming how we talk about mental health, following what has already been laid before us.

J. Divine Alexander cuts LaRon Williams' hair on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at his barbershop in Louisville, Ky. Alexander is a part of The Confess Project, a national mental health advocacy program that trains barbers and stylists to become mental health advocates in the Black community. Such programs tap into the natural flow of conversation inherent in barbershops and salons to address underlying emotional issues and connect customers with resources when necessary.

J. Divine Alexander, a Confess Project barber at The LAB Louisville in Kentucky, said anything goes when it comes to barbershop conversation.

You can talk about a lot of stuff," he said. "Vulnerability too. Theres the whole macho thing, but everyone can talk about everything there.

In Cleveland, when Wilson heard Tatum speak about her program at the barber college where he trained, the idea of being on the front lines as a mental health advocate struck a chord.

Itching to do more, he entered barber school at a friends coaxing, even though he felt out of his element.

Not every client is looking for help, but for those who do, hes ready to provide. Some dont realize they need help. Others do but dont know how to ask for it or where to get it.

J. Divine Alexander cuts LaRon Williams' hair on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at his barbershop in Louisville, Ky. Alexander, 50, is a participant in The Confess Project, a national mental health effort that trains barbers and stylists to be mental health advocates in Black communities, in which a longstanding stigma often surrounds mental health care. Such programs tap into the open conversation spaces that barbershops and salons create to address underlying issues and connect customers with resources when necessary.

Nobodys telling them this stuff, Wilson said. People are so secluded going through life. Thats our job: to get people to these resources.

Black communities face unique mental health challenges

Experts say the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental stressors among Black communities prompted by discrimination, racism and widely distributed images of police brutality and prolonged by distrust of the health care system and a lack of culturally competent providers.

Suicide rates among Black people have climbed steadily over the past two decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rise has been especially acute among young Black people: Rates among those ages 10 to 24 jumped more than a third from 2018 to 2021, the biggest percentage increase among any demographic.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health reported suicide was the third-leading cause of death in 2020 for Black Americans ages 15 to 24; overall, rates among Black men were four times as high as those for Black women. Meanwhile, Black people below the poverty level are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress compared with those with higher financial security.

Among the challenges is the communitys longstanding stigma around mental health care. Just 1 in 3 Black adults with mental illness receives treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

In blue-collar Cleveland, where Black people comprise nearly half the population, Tatum said, acknowledging emotional distress can be seen as weakness. Suicides, she said, were already on the rise even before the pandemic.

When people think of mental health, its something thats taboo, she said.

Such thinking, she said, has consequences beyond emotional health; lingering stress can increase hypertension and raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, both of which the American Heart Association and CDC note plague Black communities.

Steven Scarver, a barber at Star Beauty Plus in Maple Heights, Ohio, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Scarver participates in a Northeast Ohio program that trains barbers to serve as mental health advocates for local Black communities. Mental health care has long had a stigma in Black communities and commonly goes untreated as a result.

We grow up learning to suppress our feelings and our issues, said Steven Scarver, a barber in Maple Heights in suburban Cleveland. We deal with it through drug and alcohol use. We lash out in ways that are different. Ive seen so many friends and family members who dont even know theyre depressed or that they have anxiety.

Tatum had heard about the success of similar programs elsewhere and thought: Why not here? She found a local barber college excited about having her pitch the idea to its students.

At first, she faced folded arms and standoffish postures  but as she explained the notion of using their barber roles to create safe spaces for trauma sharing, demeanors relaxed. Some even shared their own feelings of anger, depression or loss.

Among them was Scarver, 38, who said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after six years in the Air Force. Now among Tatums mental health ambassadors, he cuts hair at Star Beauty Plus, a business thats part salon, part barbershop and part beauty supply store.

Program participants receive mental health awareness training and resources to distribute to customers at their shops. Tatum ultimately hopes to get participants certified as Mental Health First Aid instructors.

Theyre learning how to respond without being judgmental, she said. Hopefully they can save lives or make sure people dont hurt themselves. It sounds so basic, but today we dont have the church in the Black community like we used to; its not at the center like it used to be. Youre giving people hope.

Giving barbers practical tools to advocate for mental health

A study co-authored by The Confess Projects Lewis and published last year in the Journal of Mental Health and Prevention suggested Black barbers can be part of a multipronged effort of gatekeepers trained to support public health through their clients. Furthermore, the authors said, they can be important deterrents to violence.

The people who are in regular and closest contact with young Black males are in the best position to be able to deter and prevent acts of violence from occurring in the first place, they wrote.

Scarver, of Maple Heights, said that when he has dealt with suicidal people in the past, he operated simply on faith. Now, he says, I have two or three resources and the education behind that to give people something to go with other than Im going to pray for you. That works  but Im talking about practicality.

His training has taught him to identify symptoms of emotional distress and to avoid triggering terminology.

You dont want to use words like, youre tripping, he said. There are ways to communicate without making them feel some kind of way.

In Louisville, Alexander, 50, said his work with The Confess Project has informed his work with local youngsters. He partners with schools and libraries, cutting hair while guiding kids through a curriculum that encourages them to express their emotions through music. Its a technique he found useful in dealing with his own anxiety during the pandemic, when he created a song called Thoughts Out Loud.

You never know whos going through what, he said. You have to learn to navigate through and make sure theyre OK.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How barbers in Black communities help get your cut and your mind right
Seven students from the Caldwell FFA chapter recently attended Ohio FFA Camp session 2.5, where they participated in activities such as leadership building, kayaking, motivational speaker and rifle range. The students also won a free motivational speaker for their chapter next school year and met eight Ohio FFA State officers.

The Caldwell FFA chapter recently had seven students attend Ohio FFA Camp session 2.5.

Students participated in leadership activities and made many new friends while at camp. Some activities included kayaking, paddle boarding, scavenger hunts, leadership building, motivational speaker, rifle range and many more.

The students also won a free motivational speaker for their chapter next school year and got to meet and get to know eight of the newly elected Ohio FFA State Officers. Students could go at a reduced rate thanks to the Caldwell FFA Alumni and Bellevalley American Legion.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Caldwell students attend Ohio FFA Camp, meet officers
Concerned about navigating CTs largest airport? For a fee, helps on the way.

Bradley International Airport has announced that it has launched a new concierge service that will make it easier for passengers to navigate Connecticuts largest commercial airport.

Once a flight is booked, a member of the concierge team will meet passengers upon their arrival at the airport and assist them with:

checking in at the airline ticket counter

going through the TSA security checkpoint via priority access.

finding their gate

delivering food directly to the gate through BDL Market

retrieving checked bags

navigating to or from parking, pick up or car rental

The cost of the concierge service, which began Monday, starts at $79.99. Advanced registration is required. To make a reservation, visit www.bradleyairport.com/concierge.

This new concierge program at Bradley International Airport is offering travelers another layer of convenience , Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which operates Bradley.

The program is designed to make traveling through the airport truly easy, by offering personalized assistance and removing some of the unknowns that a passengers may have about flying.

The service could be especially helpful to older adults traveling alone and in need of assistance; families with children; first-time fliers; passengers with special needs; and individuals who are looking for an elevated or personalized travel service, according to Bradley.

The service is being offered in partnership with Travelers Aid International, which helps guide airport, cruise, rail and bus passengers at 25 locations.

Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.
Costco makes major changes to its $5 rotisserie chicken...here is what to expect

Costco makes major changes to its $5 rotisserie chicken...here is what to expect

It is one of the most popular items sold at Costco but changes to the famed $4.99 rotisserie chicken have seen the big-box retail giant roasted by its customers.

The retailer - despite selling 137 million rotisserie chickens in 2023 - has changed the packaging of the popular item. Previously the chickens were packaged in plastic clamshell containers, but now come in more environmentally friendly plastic food bags.

The change was announced by Costco in March and has now been rolled out across most of its stores.

Last month the companys magazine, Costco Connections explained the change in packaging would save millions of pounds of plastic each year.

You may have noticed a classic Costco item in a different container: Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken now comes in a bag. Based on projected rotisserie chicken sales in 2024 in the U.S., the new packaging will save an estimated 17 million pounds of plastic every year, said Costco.

The bag also takes less space to transport; one pallet of the new bags is equivalent to five pallets of the old packaging, so Costco can remove 1,000 of its freight trucks from the road each year. The use of fewer transportation vehicles will eliminate over 4,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

A Kirkland Signature premium brand roasted rotisserie chicken sits at a Costco store in Niles, Illinois. Changes are coming to the popular product (Getty Images)

Social media users have been quick to slam the move with a string of complaints.

This was a rare Costco L tbh, business writer Trung Phan wrote on X.

He claimed bags were leaky, were not good for storing leftover chicken and that customers cant pick out good chickens.

Another user, complained: Your new roast chicken bags leak like crazy. Whole trunk was soaked by the time I got home. Two bags both leaking.

According to The Washington Post, similar plastic bags are already used by retailers such as Whole Foods, Giant, Wegmans, Food Lion, Sprouts, Safeway and Walmart for their rotisserie chickens.

The Independent has reached out to Costco for comment.
How does the Lightning Lane at Disney World work? What to know before Genie+ changes

It's a busy week for Walt Disney World, between new rides making their debut and changes to their fast pass system.

The theme park's announcement of their Genie+ system being replaced by two new systems starting next month certainly grabbed many parkgoers' attentions.

Implemented back in 2021, the Genie system served as an in-park planning tool and attraction reservation system. With the addition of Genie+, guests could reserve times to experience attractions for an additional cost, replacing the free Disney FastPass system.

Here's what these upcoming changes are and how they can impact your upcoming Disney vacation.

What is Disney's Lightning Lane? How does it work?

Disney's Lightning Lane entry lets parkgoers bypass the standby queue and join a separate queue for select attraction and entertainment experiences. There will be two new systems starting on July 24  the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass.

The Lightning Lane Multi Pass will include the same rides currently covered by Genie+. A la carte Lightning Lane Single Passes will be available for the most popular attractions at each park, like Individual Lightning Lanes.

How does Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Day differ from Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes?

Starting July 24, guests staying at Disney Worlds resort hotels can make selections up to seven days in advance, all at once, for up to 14 days of their stay. Other guests can make selections up to three days in advance. So, say goodbye to waking up at 7 a.m. to book the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Star Wars Star Cruiser!

Parkgoers will also be able to see prices and select attraction times before purchasing passes so you know what youre getting. Currently, guests have to purchase Genie+ before they can see availability. Disney Worlds app and website will be updated for easier planning and purchasing.

How many pre-arrival selections can be made with Lightning Lane Multi-Pass or Lightning Lane Single Pass?

Disney Genie+ is getting a new name and new features starting July 24.

Guests can make up to three advance Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections for each day of their trip. Once they arrive at the park and complete their first experience, they can book additional experiences pending availability.

Lightning Lane Single Passes remain limited to two per day, like Individual Lightning Lanes are currently.

Can I book the same rides multiple times in a day? Is the '120' rule still a thing at Disney?

Disney Tourist Blog shares that, just as with Genie+, you wont be able to book the same Lightning Lane more than once per day.

Frequent parkgoers and Genie+ might recall the infamous "120 rule" which is where you can only make a new selection every 120 minutes or after you have redeemed the previous Genie+ selection, whichever comes first. With the changes to Lighting Lane, the rule is now gone.

Can I make ride selections for multiple Disney parks?

Expedition Everest is an immersive roller coaster ride at Disneys Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Disney's website shares that once you redeem a selection on the day of your park visit, you can use the My Disney Experience app to choose another multi pass experience in any Walt Disney World theme park, as long as you have a valid ticket with the Park Hopper option or an Annual Pass.

The ability to visit another park is subject to the parks capacity limitations.

How much is the Lightning Lane at Disney World?

Disney Lightning Lane pricing varies by date and park. There will be no price increase related to these changes.

According to Walt Disney World officials, guests can expect similar pricing to Genie+ when Lightning Lane Multi-Pass launches.

How do I purchase the Lightning Lane Single and Multi-Pass?

Guests will be able to select experiences and times before buying a pass. Prices shown are sample prices. Actual prices vary by date and park.

Before you purchase a Lightning Lane pass, Disney World officials say youll need to do 3 things:

First, download the latest version of the My Disney Experience app. Connect everyone in your travel group on your Family & Friends list in the My Disney Experience appso youll be able to purchase Lightning Lane passes and make plans for everyone that is eligible. Gather your groups wish list for attractions and experiences. You can save your groups top picks in the My Disney Experience app using the My Day feature.

When youre ready to purchase Lightning Lane passes, heres what to do:

Open the My Disney Experience app, then tap the Lightning Lane Passes section on the home screen. Select a date and theme park. Select a Lightning Lane Single Pass, a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or both. If you select a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can choose up to 3 Lightning Lane Multi Pass experiences and arrival windows in advance.

If you select a Lightning Lane Single Pass, you can choose an arrival window in advance. Follow all prompts to complete your purchase  and receive a confirmation. From the confirmation screen, you can tap Plan Another Day to purchase another passor tap View My Day for details about your Lightning Lane selections.

Can I modify my Lighting Lane Single and Multi-Pass plans?

Yes. Officials advise those to tap the Lightning Lane Passes section on the My Disney Experience home screen to find your plans. Then, you can:

Change your selected park and/or date in advance (subject to availability)up until the moment you redeem your first Lightning Lane selection of the day.

Change each selected experience and/or arrival window in advance (subject to availability)up until the start of the arrival window

Can Lightning Lane Single and Multi-Pass both be purchased together?

Yes. You can purchase all Lightning Lane passes for your travel party for the same day in a single transaction.

However, the FAQ section of the site notes that Lightning Lane Multi Pass holders can only choose from a variety of eligible multi pass attractions and experiences. For single pass attractions, Lightning Lane entry is only available with the purchase of a Lightning Lane Single Pass.

Will Disney Genie still be available?

The free Disney Genie planning tool will still be available for all guests to help plan their trips. The paid Genie+ service is the one changing.

Contributing reporting: Eve Chen, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Disney World Genie+ guide, changes, 2 new Lightning Lane systems
I Ended Up In The ER During A Vacation In Spain. Heres What Shocked Me The Most.

The author with her husband and son. Erica Jackson Curran

My family had just arrived at a seaside village on the east coast of Spain, where I was sitting on a white sand beach looking out at the implausibly blue water. The scene was straight out of a Mediterranean daydream, and yet I was panicking.

My head was throbbing and had been since Id slammed it into the bottom of a metal hotel safe a few days earlier. The pain and pressure had been keeping me up at night, along with the anxiety that came from Googling my symptoms. Id tried every kind of medication I could find, but nothing could ease the pounding in my skull.

After returning to our Airbnb, my husband urged me to make a telehealth appointment through our international health insurance. (As an American family living in France for the year, we were required to purchase this as part of our visa application.) A few minutes later, I described my symptoms to a Spanish doctor via chat using Google Translate. Hearing how long the pain had persisted, he advised me to see a doctor to rule out a brain injury.

I frantically researched doctors offices nearby, but the remote region had limited options, and I wasnt even sure how or where to secure an appointment. So, instead, we decided to go to the nearest emergency room.

Leaving our son with his grandparents, my husband drove us to a small city about 35 minutes inland. As we pulled into the hospitals parking deck and then walked toward the front desk, I was struck by how similar it looked to hospitals in the U.S. My husband, thankfully fluent in Spanish, took the lead as we checked in, but the receptionist switched to English when she realized that I didnt speak Spanish.

The receptionist asked for proof of our public healthcare coverage, but I explained that I have private international travel healthcare coverage  essentially expat insurance. She apologized, explaining that I would have to pay out of pocket for the ER visit and then request reimbursement from our insurance company since I hadnt secured prior approval for the hospital visit.

I braced myself, thinking back to past experiences in American hospitals: The ER visit for chest pains that came with a $2,500 surprise bill a few months later. The breast biopsy, where I was forced to pay nearly $3,000 for the privilege of finding out whether or not the lump in my breast was cancerous. Of course, all of these charges were on top of the $12,000 insurance premium my family paid annually.

Thankfully, I didnt have to wait long to find out what wed be paying. The receptionist explained that there was a 200 flat fee for ER visits, pointing to a poster beside her desk that listed the hospitals costs in clear detail. She noted that if I needed additional tests or procedures, the total could increase. I released the breath Id been holding, handing over my passport as insurance I would pay at the end of my visit.

I released the breath Id been holding, handing over my passport as insurance that I would pay at the end of my visit.

Inside the hospital, things progressed as expected. We sat in a sterile room in uncomfortable plastic chairs with dozens of other uncomfortable-looking people. I briefly spoke with a hospital worker (in English), who assessed the severity of my situation and added me to the queue. I waited close to two hours before my name was called, and a young doctor led me into a room that looked like every American hospital room Id ever been in  besides the fact that the posters on the wall were in Catalan.

He took my vitals, asked about my symptoms (in English, with a bit of translating from my husband for clarity), and said he was going to order a CT scan just to be safe. We waited another hour for the scan, which was conducted using an ultra-modern machine by two efficient female techs.

Shortly afterward, the doctor returned to share my results: No brain damage. He suspected that my headaches were being exacerbated by the anxiety and tension I had developed as a result of the injury, and he handed me a prescription for a common Spanish painkiller. He instructed me to return if my symptoms worsened or didnt clear up.

Checking out at the front desk, I braced myself for the grand total, knowing from bitter experience that a CT scan can cost thousands of dollars in the U.S. I was pleasantly surprised when the receptionist told me that the final tally for my ER visit was 729. After I paid, she handed me a disc with a copy of my CT scan for my records. She also gave me the documentation I needed to provide to my insurance company for reimbursement.

Walking back to our car, I was overwhelmed with relief  both that I didnt have a brain injury and that we didnt have to pay thousands of dollars to confirm that I was going to be OK. Although an unexpected 729 bill is indeed a hardship for most people (myself included!), I was comforted by knowing that it would be reimbursed and that it wasnt as much as it could have been back in the States.

I also felt sad and frustrated thinking about the extreme shortcomings of our healthcare system in the U.S.  how even a basic doctors visit comes with the worry of not knowing how much youll have to pay to get the care you need. Far too often, Americans must choose between prioritizing their health or financial stability.

The cost of an emergency room visit can vary greatly depending on the location; the average bill can easily be over $2,000 without insurance. Even with insurance, the numbers can be astronomical for the average American family. If critical care is required or surgery is performed, those costs could skyrocket to $20,000 or more.

Its no surprise, then, that recent polls found that 40% of Americans carry some healthcare debt, despite more than 90% of the U.S. population having health insurance.

How do you prepare for an emergency before going abroad (and what to do if it happens to you)?

If you, like me, are an American with hospital bill-related anxiety, its a good idea to do some research on your destination before traveling abroad. Find out what type of facilities are available at your destination, if travel insurance is recommended there, and how to contact emergency services should the need arise.

Additionally, Johns Hopkins Medicine advises that you know your blood type before you go abroad, carry documentation of any pre-existing conditions and medications, and fill out the information card in your passport with details like your address and phone number.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting in touch with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for help locating medical services, as well as enrolling in the Department of States Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) before going abroad. Consuls can also help you transfer funds from loved ones back home if you need them to pay for medical services.

You can also check out the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers directory of healthcare professionals around the world.

Accidents and emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime, and you should always have a game plan ready to go. And whatever you do, dont delay care if you suspect the problem is serious. The outcome could be catastrophic.

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GRAND HAVEN  If you liked Michigan Pantry in Holland before the business moved online (or after), you'll love Blossom and Branch Houseplants in Grand Haven, the theory goes.

Why? Because the owner of Blossom and Branch is Shyla Nash, daughter of longtime Michigan Pantry owner Robin Nash. Often, you'll find them both at the storefront in Grand Haven, selling exotic plants and educating.

The business wasn't even a thought in Shyla's mind five years ago. At the time, she was married with two children, and life was taking a dramatic turn.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shyla's husband was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He died only two months later, after surgical complications. Robin closed her brick-and-mortar location, then located in Holland Town Center, to help care for Shyla's children.

Blossom and Branch Houseplants is open at 1115 Washington Ave. in Grand Haven.

Around the same time, Shyla learned she was pregnant with the couple's third child. Then, on her first day back to work after the death of her husband, she was let go.

My entire life path completely changed, Shyla said.

In the aftermath, Shyla took an interest in houseplants. It started small, but soon grew large enough to need a small addition to the family's garage.

It was something different that I could really focus on, Shyla said. It was something that brought a sense of peace and some beauty. It just took off."

Robin Nash (left) and daughter Shyla Nash pose for a photo at Blossom and Branch Houseplants in Grand Haven.

She started Blossom and Branch online, then recognized it was time to open a physical location.

Shyla and Robin are both from Holland, but the duo expanded their search beyond the city for a storefront. They soon found a supportive space in Grand Haven at 1115 Washington Ave.

Its really important for me to be part of the community Im in," Shyla said. "I felt like this square was a nice fit.

The store opened in early May, only weeks after Shyla received the green light to move in. It's meant long days and lots of support from family and friends.

Blossom and Branch Houseplants is open at 1115 Washington Ave. in Grand Haven.

Her mother has been there to help, too, even while operating Michigan Pantry as an online business.

Blossom and Branch carries tropical, exotic houseplants  mostly those rare and hard to find. Selections range in price from under $10 up to $900.

The community is loving it.

"We just want to say thank you for being so welcoming," Shyla said. "We've had a lot of kind words and people have been sharing our store on social media. All of that is so important."

Learn more at shopblossombranch.com.

 Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Family behind Michigan Pantry opens houseplant shop in Grand Haven
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on approving the "Agreement on cooperation between the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan and the Interior Ministry of Moldova", signed on May 24, 2024, in Baku, Trend reports.

The Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan is tasked with ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the agreement mentioned in Part I of this decree upon its entry into force.

Besides, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan is tasked with sending a notification to the government of Moldova regarding the completion of the internal procedures necessary for the agreement to come into force.
Future medical professionals can get training at CNA Bootcamp of Connecticut: What it offers

When Angelina Zabbo became a recruiter for home care agencies, she realized the importance of the skills needed to care for others.

This motivated her to found CNA Bootcamp of Connecticut, a certified nurse assistant training program located in Danielson. Zabbo, now the programs founder, director and owner, began to develop the programs curriculum in 2019 and the first class was held in July 2023.

CNA Bootcamp offers day and evening training programs. The day program meets Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the evening program is held from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both programs last five weeks.

Angelina Zabbo, founder, owner and director of CNA Boot Camp of Connecticut, poses for a photo in front of the business.

Its not easy to take this. Its a boot camp, Zabbo said. Were squeezing either 100 hours or 105 hours to a schedule that you have. We have exams every day. We have homework every night.

Program curriculum

Classes are made up no more than 12 students. The bootcamp has three instructors. Two of the instructors are licensed practical nurses and the other is a certified nurse assistant.

Students spend the first four weeks of the program at CNA Bootcamp. There, they watch training videos, learn from textbooks and participate in interactive lessons in the skills lab. The skills lab includes a mannequin, which allows students to practice their caregiving skills.

The mannequin located in the skills lab at CNA Boot Camp of Connecticut.

During the fifth week, students put their skills to work by providing care to patients at Davis Place in Danielson. Training concludes with a ceremony where students receive a certificate for completing the program.

What happens after students complete the program?

After students complete the CNA Boot Camp, they are encouraged to take the state exam. Once they pass the state exam, they earn their certified nurse assistant certification and can begin applying for jobs. Those who completed the CNA Boot Camp have gone on to positions at places such as Backus Hospital in Norwich and Davis Place.

The total cost to enroll in the CNA Boot Camp is $1,400. This includes a $400 registration fee, $780 for tuition and $220 to cover the cost of textbooks. Payment plans are available.

CNA Boot Camp of Connecticut in Danielson.

Requirements

To be accepted into the CNA Bootcamp of Connecticut Certified Nursing Assistant training program, the prospective candidate must be at least 16 years old and have the following: two forms of ID (i.e. photo ID, passport, valid social security card, etc.); proof of high school diploma/GED/ESL certification, if applicable; completed medical form provided by CNA Boot Camp and nursing scrubs.

To apply for the training program, visit the CNA Boot Camp website.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: CNA Bootcamp of Connecticut fast tracks students into medical careers
Alex Derenne of Germantown was the only Wisconsin real estate agent to make the National Association of Realtors' 30 Under 30 class of 2024.

In April 2020, when Alex Derenne suddenly lost her restaurant job in sales, the world also was on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just two months earlier, Derenne had started a new job as sales & catering manager of The Bartolotta Restaurants. But by April, she was left without any job due to the pandemic. "I felt lost," she said.

Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2016, Derenne had worked in the sales and hospitality industry. Now her career was uncertain. What was she going to do?

Trying to determine a new career

But the Richfield native and Germantown resident did not want to wait around to see what would happen. Instead, she wrote down everything she loved about her career to try to choose a new path.

"I wrote down what is similar (to my career) and what has more job security that the pandemic could not take away," Derenne said.

A real estate agent is what she came up with. "I felt it was a career path I would like," she said.

While she knew her customer service and communication skills would help her, she knew virtually nothing about the industry.

Not yet a homeowner and renting a place in Milwaukee, Derenne found an experienced real estate agent, requested a meeting and said: "Show me the good, the bad and the ugly." She then took a 72-hour certification course and set off into the unknown.

Making the National Association of Realtors' 30 under 30 class

Fast forward three-plus years; Derenne was the only Wisconsin Realtor to make the National Association of Realtors' 30 Under 30 class of 2024.

She is a real estate agent through eXp Realty and primarily specializes in Washington, Ozaukee and Milwaukee counties.

How did a young, inexperienced real estate agent achieve this honor in a relatively short amount of time?

'I believe if I work hard, I can do anything'

When Derenne first started researching being a real estate agent, she found the numbers were not promising. She learned many new agents take months and months before selling their first home. And she knew that many may not make it as an agent after the first year. It is essentially starting up a business, she said.

And it takes a lot of work.

She needed to create a website, develop her brand, create a marketing plan and learn everything she could about the home-buying process. She needed to learn about home inspections, invest in sales signs, understand the qualities of a home people are looking to buy and how homes are built.

She used the motto her parents, Ann and Chuck, use: "You live to work." She said her parents worked incredibly hard and know what it takes to be successful.

But Derenne did learn, and she did sell homes.

Since 2020, she has sold over 75 properties ranging from luxury listings to investor flips. In 2023, her success resulted in a sales volume of over $11 million.

"It is challenging," Derenne said of starting her real estate agent career. "But this would not deter me. I believe if I work hard, I can do anything."

Alex Derenne said she takes a 'people's first approach' to selling homes

When Derenne wakes up each morning, she said she loves the challenge of finding the right house for each person. "I think, this is where they are going to spend each day," she said.

With a new client, she often begins with a three- to four-hour consultation meeting.

"When putting people first, you need to understand what is in front of them and what they need from me," she said.

Her mindset is "do the right thing, surround yourself with good people and the business will come." She determines what her potential owner needs and tries to find it. She has helped a first-time buyer navigate the process. She has also helped homeowners by providing a phone number for a roofer, a recommendation for a dog groomer and assistance with holiday recipes.

She has gone on home inspections and crawled around in moldy attics to learn more about the process  anything to provide the most knowledge and service to her clients. "I am absorbing everything like a sponge," she said.

"What I love is the connection with my clients," said Derenne. "I meet the most unique people and their families. I take pride in finding a quality home."

Derenne said she's 'always been risk taker'

When Derenne first thought of being a real estate agent, she knew it was a bit of a risk. As with starting any new business, she needed to invest money and time to get certified, create a business plan and find time to network.

After she started, it took Derenne six months to sell her first home. It was six months of showing homes and working with no income and uncertainty about when she would get her next paycheck. "I felt I could trust the process if I worked hard enough," she said.

While some may feel it can be a risk to be a young female in the industry, Derenne said she felt none of that.

"I don't feel my gender holds me back. I am named Alex for a reason, and one reason is that I can use it as a gender-neutral name," she said. "I have always been a risk taker."

Since becoming a real estate agent, Derenne has bought a home in Germantown and works on growing her business. She said she enjoys mentoring new realtors and being community-minded.

"As awful as the pandemic was; it shook up people's lives," said Derenne. "But I found a silver lining; It is beautiful."

More: The Germantown Community Library is expanding its outdoor patio. Here's what to know.

More: Where to celebrate July 4th 2024 events in Milwaukee and the suburbs, including fireworks and parade times

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Germantown woman was only Wisconsin Realtor to make 30 under 30 class
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pink living room with gallery wall

India Holmes is the sort of person who relishes a DIY project. As the creative director of Pelican House, a London-based design studio specializing in rugs, and the former design director of de Gournay, the luxury British brand renowned for hand-painted wall coverings, Holmes happens to be a pro with a paintbrush. The terrace, before. When house hunting four years ago, she considered historic properties and lofty warehouse conversions, but, surprisingly, she landed on a much squarer and more modern 1980s build devoid of character. I could see that it had potential, and that there was scope to make changes, she explains. Actually, the blankness of the space meant she could flex her creative muscles. Working in this industry, I see so many interiors that I love and want to replicate parts of, but its not always within my budget. Theres something so satisfying in re-creating it yourself, she says. Over the years, she has transformed almost every surface. Here, she talks through the most impactful additions and DIY wins: Just dont look too closely! she says, laughing. Make an Entrance (Literally) The staircase, before. Holmes has made countless visits to India for work (Pelican Houses rugs are made by artisans there) and was taken with a rich, bold blue she saw on the public buses when driving to and from the companys studio in Kolkata. She realized it was the perfect hue to amp up the nondescript hallway. Initially it was just going to be the walls, but then I got so much paint on the floor, I was like, The floor is going blue as well! she says. The ceiling was a different story. With red and white paint and a serious amount of Frog Tape, she created a tentlike illusion. Holmes hung a vintage suzani she bought from her now business partner, Bella Valenzia, as a curtain to conceal the washing machines underneath the staircase. Give Each Room Its Own Moment The primary bedroom, before. It wasnt Holmess intention to use a bold color in each room, it just sort of happened from her tackling one room at a time. And its actually more fun, because theres a new, exciting thing always on the horizon, she reasons. But from the start, she had her sights firmly set on yellow for her bedroom and chose a textured painted wallpaper with a silk overlay to accomplish the job. It feels so cozy at night, and bright and fresh and sunny in the day, she shares. The horse-themed wallpaper below was a design she created for her old employer and features pops of red and green, which tie in with the upholstery and art dotted around the room. Dont Shy Away From a Shape Just Because Its Trending The bathroom, before. Following decor trends to a T is looked down on by industry insiders, but Holmes doesnt regret the sweet fish-scale tile for her en suites walls. It almost felt like a hospital in there, she says of the old clinical design. I was definitely subject to the scallop fad, which on reflection is maybe gone, but I still love it because its not an in-your-face scallop. She spent ages searching for quality, well-priced marble tile, landing on Intmarble, and then chose a deep teal for a strong contrast with the sunny bedroom. She has since added another shell-shaped shelf to her collection: I thought I may as well stay on the scallop theme, she notes. Play the Long Game The large architects chest was a $400 find, discovered on an auction site, and houses all of her arts and craft supplies in one neatly labeled place. One thing Ive learned is to be very patient. If you wait long enough, something will come up and it will be more perfect than the thing that you might have bought too quickly, she says. But it pays to do your due diligence, especially with pieces that might be susceptible to having woodworms. The first butcher block [island] I got for the kitchen, the legs actually just disintegrated in front of my eyes, Holmes recalls. She ended up buying a new (to her, anyway) sturdy island from a regional auction house via the Saleroom. Mine the Wallpaper Archives The kitchen, before. Holmes knew the house wouldnt suit a really fancy kitchen, so she set about configuring a more modest one as if it were an extra-large pantry. She chose a ceramic sink and open shelving. A more recent addition is the impactful wall treatment, which looks like Portuguese Azulejos tile but is in fact trompe loeil wallpaper she created at de Gournay. I put a really heavy-duty lacquer on top, which makes it wipeable but also makes it look even more like tile because it adds a sheen, she explains. A patterned rug from Pelican House made from recycled plastics saved her from having to update the wood floor. Mix With Conviction The living room, before. Holmess affection for antique objects, modern trinkets, and art creates a layered feel and gives the impression she has lived in the house for decades, not a few years. I think if you like something enough, you can look past it slightly clashing. In my case, everything ends up working together because there are so many different things, she says. Her best find? Id seen gold palm floor lamps on trips to Paris, but they were always a little out of reach. Then a pair came up at auction from an old Hollywood hotel. I kept one and sold the other for what I bought them for, so it ended up being free!
TechCrunch

Palantir now owns 8.7% of struggling electric vehicle startup Faraday Future, according to a new filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The data-mining company was granted more than 800,000 shares in the EV startup on October 2 "as payment for certain outstanding receivables"  the equivalent of roughly $2.4 million judging by Faraday Future's stock price on that day. Palantir doesn't explicitly say what receivables were outstanding.
July 4 beach goers might be quiet vacationing; what it is and why it happens

As summer hits its stride, the beaches of Delaware and the Jersey Shore are teeming with sun-and-fun seekers.

Tucked in among the sand-covered babies and tanning teens are members of a subtle new trend: quiet vacationers.

Much like the concept of quiet quitting in the workplace, quiet vacationing is about working in a break without taking a break from work.

Forbes calls the trend the latest symptom of a toxic work culture, but not everyone who joins a Zoom call while their toes are in the sand is unhappy at work.

A recent Washington Post report said some quiet vacationers - largely millennials - want to hold onto vacation time and PTO for bigger trips or emergencies.

As Axios pointed out last month, nearly half of workers in a Harris Poll survey admitted to quiet vacationing around Independence Day.

An iPad rests on a chair near the waves at a South Jersey beach.

Why Delaware and South Jersey are ideal quiet vacation spots

Shore towns from Rehoboth Beach to Cape May offer perfect settings for quiet vacationing, particularly with the Fourth of July holiday begging to be a four-day weekend.

Area beach towns are relatively close to major population centers and already beckon day trippers. So, it stands to reason that Dewey Beach or Long Beach Island would appeal to quiet vacationers.

The Harris Poll study found that millennials and managers  both strong demographics for beach trips  were more likely to admit to quiet vacationing.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Delaware, Jersey Shore beaches could be quiet vacation hot spots
The hills are alive with the sound of luxury.

On Monday, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts opened its second property in Austria: Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, located along Lake Fuschl at the base of the Austrian Alps. The 98-key hotelwith 42 suites and six chaletsis situated in a 15th-century castle thats been transformed into a relaxing oasis, with design cues taken from the natural surroundings.

More from Robb Report

Rosewood Schloss Fuschl is more than just a castleits a gateway to Austrias breathtaking Salzkammergut region, Sascha Hemmann, the hotels managing director, said in a statement. From the moment guests arrive, theyre enveloped in the timeless charm of Salzburgs royal retreat.

The bedroom in one of the suites

The building was constructed all the way back in 1461, when it served as a hunting lodge for the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg. It was first transformed into a hotel in 1947, and now Rosewood has taken the reins. The company, however, has retained nods to that history: The design firms G.A. Group and Bauer Stahl worked to make the rooms befitting of their locale, with the Austrian flora and fauna serving as inspiration. The colors throughout the space mimic those seen during all four seasons, on display with items such as the hand-painted minibars that can be found in every room.

With six different dining options on property plus a 16,000-square-foot spa, you wont have to go very far to enjoy yourself. The food offerings range from lamb saddle with black truffle at the main Schloss Restaurant to local fish from Lake Fuschl at the waterside See Club. While its not your regular beach club, you can post up in a lakeside cabana and take in those Alpine views. If relaxing at the spa is more your vibe, the Asaya Spa has indoor and outdoor infinity pools, three saunas, and a steam bath. You can even plan a multiday retreat focused on biohacking or dynamic aging.

The spa

If you do feel like venturing into the city, the hotel is more than happy to help arrange activities. The Rosewood team can set up after-hours tours at local museums, private concerts, and hot-air-balloon rides over the Alps. When the weathers nice, you can opt for a guided hike or boating excursion. And during the wintertime, you have to check out the iconic Austrian Christmas markets, or go on an evening toboggan ride.

Rates start at 650 euros (about $700) per night.

Click here to see all the images of Rosewood Schloss Fuschl.

The hotel

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Click here to read the full article.
One of the most exciting wine destinations in Europe is Croatia. The food, the culture, the history, and the wine! Oh, the wine! Their flagship red variety is called Plavac Mali and it's the father DNA of a little grape we know of in California as Zinfandel (also related to Primitivo in Southern Italy). As the summer temps heat up, what can be more cool than finding yourself on a wine cruise around the Adriatic sea?

Sail Croatias new Wines of Croatia cruise to learn all about the ancient grape varieties of the Dalmatia coast region of Croatia, while sailing in luxury on a small ship. New for 2024, the Elegance wine cruises will allow guests to immerse themselves in the natural, cultural and historical sights of Croatia while also buffing up on their wine knowledge. Departing from the UNESCO town of Split, guests can enjoy a Wine Jeep Safari on the largest island of Brac, sip wine in the Stari Grad Plains of Hvar, delve into the history of Vis from the worlds only winery in a military tunnel, explore Marco Polo's Korcula and relax in nature in Mljet, before ending in the medieval city of Dubrovnik.

Courtesy of Sail Croatia

In Vis, guests visit the only wine cellar in the world that is located in a military tunnel. For 150 years the Lipanovic family has been growing wine in the region and the cellar location provides the ideal conditions for keeping and storing wine. The group will try three traditional wines, Vugava, Viski Opol (rose) and Plavac Mali (red) along with a tasting plate whilst learning about the history of Vis and the use of the military tunnels during World War II.

Courtesy of Sail Croatia | Photo by Doug Harding

During the stop in Hvar, guests will travel inland to the beautiful Stari Grad plains where they will visit Hora Vineyard and farm to enjoy a delicious traditional 'Peka' dinner whilst tasting four varieties of Croatian wine, Bogdanusa (a native grape variety to Hvar), Posip, Bogdanusa, Barrique Plavac Mal alongside a mezze of homemade cheeses, prsut, sausages, anchovies and olive oil.

In Milna, the group experiences a Wine Jeep Safari and travels In 4X4 vehicles to see the landscape of Milna and hear how food and wine production is rooted in ancient tradition. Guests will relax in a family tavern where local hosts treat them to local wines and traditional food produce, including locally made cheese and meats.

Courtesy of Sail Croatia | Photo by Doug Harding

That evening is a Captain's Dinner accompanied by an experienced Sommelier who will talk through the specially curated wines paired with each dish. This is also the perfect opportunity to get to know the Captain and ask them any questions about their life at sea.

Sail Croatias Elegance Cruises offer the highest quality of comfort onboard custom-built ships, featuring private ensuite rooms with air conditioning, spacious dining saloons and large sundecks. The three ships chosen to operate the new itinerary are among the most luxurious in Sail Croatias fleet with a maximum capacity of 38 guests.

Courtesy of Sail Croatia

Wine lovers can choose from July 21st departure on Esperanza or October 6th and October 13th on Queen Jelena.

The cruises start from 1,579 (~$1,926 USD) per person including a welcome reception, breakfast and lunch daily, Captains dinner, and local village dinner, winery tours and wine tastings plus return airport transfers. Prices are based on two sharing, subject to availability and correct at time of issue.

To book visit sail-croatia.com/specials/wine-cruise
Can you swim in the Tennessee River in Knoxville? | Know Your Knox

The Tennessee River begins in Knoxville and flows right through the city, providing fun boating, kayaking and fishing opportunities. But where are the designated swimming areas along the river? Is it even safe to swim?

Fort Loudoun Lake, which is the part of the Tennessee River that runs through Knoxville, seems like it would be an ideal spot to take a dip in the waters and cool off on a hot summer day. Thats a little hard to do, though, if specified swimming areas that are free of passing boats and barges don't exist.

Ahhh, but they do exist! Just not in Knoxville.

Are there designated swimming areas along the Tennessee River?

TVA manages all 652 miles of the Tennessee River system from Knoxville to Paducah, Kentucky. This includes managing flood control, navigation, hydroelectric generation, recreation, water quality and supply, and nine dams and reservoirs on the river.

Among the recreation activities, there are 15 public beaches where you can cool off with a swim or relax on the beach. The water is great for swimming from May to October, according to TVA. Unfortunately, none of these designated areas is in Knoxville.

Why arent there any TVA-managed swim areas in Knoxville?

Topography, water currents and flow, and boat and barge traffic are a few reasons why there arent any river swim areas managed by TVA in Knoxville, said TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks.

Brooks also noted there arent many places owned by TVA on the Tennessee River that are wide enough or shallow enough for a safe swim beach.

Even so, swimming and boating are acceptable forms of recreation on the entire 652-mile length of the Tennessee River  albeit at your own risk.

The Tennessee River and TVA reservoirs are public waterways accessible for public use unless otherwise posted, and are subject to all applicable state, federal and local laws, according to TVA.

Is it safe to swim anywhere in the Tennessee River?

But just because you can swim in the Tennessee River, should you?

All untreated recreational waters, such as springs, streams, ponds, lakes, rivers and oceans, naturally contain bacteria, viruses and parasites from the environment, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

TDEC recommends people bathe after any contact with untreated recreational waters.

Whenever high bacteria levels in a body of water pose a potential risk to people, a bacteriological advisory is posted by TDEC. Advisories are shared through news releases, posted warning signs and an updated advisories list.

Bacteriological and fishing advisories can be found at tn.gov/environment.

There was no bacteriological advisory for Fort Loudoun Lake in Knoxville that would impact swimming in our area as of July 1.

The last time a bacteriological advisory was issued for the Fort Loudoun Lake in Knoxville, according to electronic TDEC records, the advisory was for the Sinking Creek Embayment in West Knoxville and was lifted in 2013.

Even though the Tennessee River is such a prominent feature of Knoxville, there aren't any riverside swimming beaches managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority closer than 25 miles from the city. Swimming is still allowed anywhere along the river - albeit at your own risk.

You can swim in these nearby spots

The closest TVA-managed swimming areas within 100 miles of Knoxville include:

Douglas Headwater and Tailwater Dam Reservation near Dandridge, 28 miles from Knoxville

Tellico Dam Reservation in Lenoir City, 28 miles from Knoxville

Cherokee Dam Reservation near Jefferson City, 31 miles from Knoxville

Watts Bar Dam Reservation near Spring City, 61 miles from Knoxville

Parksville Beach near Ocoee, 99 miles from Knoxville

Boone Dam Reservation in Kingsport, 99 miles from Knoxville

In Knoxville, the Cove at Concord Park and other places along the river have small beaches to enjoy that arent operated by TVA.

TVA-managed swimming areas on the Tennessee River itself include:

Watts Bar Dam Reservation near Spring City, 61 miles from Knoxville

Chickamauga Dam Reservation near Chattanooga, 108 miles from Knoxville

Nickajack Shellmound Day Use Area near South Pittsburg, 133 miles from Knoxville

Point Mallard Park near Decatur, Alabama, 240 miles from Knoxville

Paris Landing State Park near Buchanan, 273 miles from Knoxville

TVAs beaches are not staffed by lifeguards. More information and a full list of TVAs swimming areas in the Tennessee River system are available at tva.com/environment/recreation/swim-beaches.

Where else can you swim in Knoxville?

If you dont want to risk taking a dip in the river, Knoxville has many opportunities for summer swimming and other water activities.

Outdoor pools: Ed Cothren Pool (1737 Reynolds St.) and Inskip Pool (4204 Bruhin Road) are the two public outdoor pools managed by the city. Admission for the 2024 season is $3 per person at Ed Cothren and $4 at Inskip.

Admission to the public Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool (172 Providence Road, Oak Ridge) is $4.25 for adults during the 2024 season.

The City of Knoxville also recently started a summer program called Swim2Paddle for people, particularly minority adults and older adults. The program teaches people how to swim, then how to paddle in a clear-water pool and then how to paddle in the river.

Put-ins: Public put-ins are available at Holston River Park, Ijams Nature Center, Island Home Park, Suttree Landing Park, Governor Ned McWherter Park, James White Dock, Volunteer Landing, Sequoyah Hills and Lakeshore. Motorized options are available at Neyland Drive Boat Ramp.

Quarries: Meads Quarry at Ijams Nature Center has a designated swimming area and other activities such as paddling, canoeing and fishing. This is a swim at your own risk area because of sudden drops, possible rockslides and no lifeguards on duty.

Augusta Quarry at Fort Dickerson Park is closed for the 2024 summer season because of a renovation project, but it is a popular swimming hole. It is expected to reopen at the end of 2024.

Fishing: Fountain City Park Pond, Victor Ashe Park Pond, Holston River Park, and many areas along the river, including Island Home, Suttree Landing, Volunteer Landing and along Neyland Greenway are popular fishing spots.

The Tennessee Riverline's interactive map at arcg.is/1eGHmW can be a helpful tool to find river features and nearby amenities.

Know Your Knox answers your burning questions about life in Knoxville. Want your question answered? Email knowyourknox@knoxnews.com.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

MORE QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY KNOW YOUR KNOX

When you're apartment-hunting in Knoxville now, you're bound to find listings that say (or at least seem to be priced as) "luxury apartments." But what some landlords call luxury doesn't always meet the textbook definition for what's technically considered luxury or "class-A" apartments. Silas Sloan looks into Knoxville's high-end rental market.

Even a cursory reading of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act, the 1933 federal legislation that created the nation's largest public power provider, suggests its headquarters should be in Alabama and not Knoxville, Tennessee. So how did Knoxville win out over Muscle Shoals, Alabama? Not without a fight - and one that Knoxville nearly lost, Daniel Dassow relates.

One corner of the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville has cameras pointed at it at all times, livestreaming anything that happens there 24/7. The UT Police Department patrols the area. A student group monitors the corner. All eyes focus on one thing: a giant rock. Keenan Thomas explains how this campus landmark relates to free speech.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Where can you swim in the Tennessee River in Knoxville?
This syrupy treat is a growing summer business for Topeka educator. Here's now to find it.

The seasons most colorful, flavorful treat, the snow cone, is a summertime staple.

Down to the last anticipated sip of delicious syrup pooling at the bottom of the cup, snow cones have taken their rightful place in the traditions of American childhood.

Theyre refreshing on a hot day and something to look forward to, said Molly Gorman, employee at SnowieTopeka. You can sit around with your family, and it lets you be a kid again, no matter how old you are.

Kyra Carpenter, 7, left, tops off her snow cone with lemon-lime syrup while her sister Mhya Carpenter, 10, tastes her self-made mix June 20 at Gage Park.

Topeka educator started summer business in 2018

Snow cones got their start in the United States in the mid-1800s. Children in large cities followed wagons delivering ice, asking for shavings to keep cool on hot days. Mothers began making a simple syrup to flavor the ice shavings, and an Americanized version of the snow cone was born.

The icy dessert was popularized at state fairs and praised for its portability and affordability. During WWII rationing, snow cones became an accessible alternative to ice cream, which was in short supply. Today, they can be found at carnivals, circuses, birthday parties and sporting events.

Rob Wall is the owner and operator of the Manila Snow Cone Co., based out of Topeka. Hes been in the business since 2018, selling snow cones from May 1 until Oct. 31 each year.

As a teacher, I was always looking for something to do in the summer, said Wall. My friend owned a Mexican restaurant and had a carnival trailer. We would set the trailer up at carnivals and sell food.

He began noticing that the shaved ice trucks were always the last ones to show up and the first to leave the carnival. Thats when Wall decided to pursue a second career in the snow cone industry.

Two years ago, he attended a summit for Snowie, a company in Salt Lake City, Utah, that manufactures shaved ice equipment and flavored syrups. Wall was instantly sold on its business model and began operating as SnowieTopeka, selling three sizes of snow cones.

Our syrup is the best. The flavors are really superior, and the most fun part is the kids get to put on their own flavors, he said.

The six flavors available to add to your snow cone at SnowieTopeka are blue raspberry, lemon-lime, strawberry fresh, wild cherry, watermelon and tiger's blood.

Tiger's blood is a popular snow cone flavor

One of Snowies most popular flavors is tigers blood, a strawberry-coconut combination. The business also offers blue raspberry, strawberry fresh, lemon lime, wild cherry and watermelon on a regular basis, with specialty flavors at some locations.

Along with the regular syrup found at SnowieTopeka, customers can request the Snowie Naturals brand of organic snow cone flavorings. Snowie Natural flavors are sweetened using Stevia instead of sugar. They dont contain any dyes, are sugar and calorie-free, and safe for people with food dye allergies.

Wall said he regularly circulates product so that his snow cone syrup is always fresh.

Theres no waste in this industry," he said. "The ice can always be refrozen, and the syrup uses a formula thats good for up to 18 months.

Wall said because SnowieTopeka isn't a franchise and he doesnt pay royalties, he has the freedom to invest money back into the local community. He frequently hosts fundraisers for area schools and donates 50% of his sales back to the school.

What sets us apart is we can be more generous to the community because were not a franchise, and were not limited to a certain territory," he said. "I can go wherever I want, and theres no one from corporate telling me what to do. Its more entrepreneurial, and you can market it however you want.

The SnowieTopeka kiosk is frequently found at Gage Park in the summer months. Wall is also a vendor at Evergy Plaza in downtown Topeka and a preferred vendor with Washburn University. He said most places today require vetted vendors to ensure that proper food handler licensing and liability insurance is in place.

It keeps the safety up and protects the people, said Wall.

Snow cone business expanded with permanent North Topeka site

SnowieTopeka expanded this summer, adding a permanent seasonal building in the Dillons North Plaza parking lot at 910 N.W. 25th St. That location offers Snowies traditional flavors, plus mango, pina colada and grape options. Customers can also take advantage of three picnic tables and a large field for four-legged friends to run and play.

Were just really happy with the Dillons North location, said Wall. We want people to know they dont have to cross the river to get a snow cone.

In addition to single-serve snow cones, SnowieTopeka provides snow cone machine rentals for parties and events. Wall has five DIY Little Snowie Max snow cone machines that rent for $129 for a 24-hour rental period.

Each machine comes with everything required to make and eat up to 50 snow cones. Wall said delivery and pickup are free of charge.

For larger organizations or corporate events, businesses can book the shaved ice kiosk. Wall has taken the kiosk to school fundraisers, corporate fun days, employee and customer appreciation events, and grand openings, as well as to parades and festivals.

Wall said he has a unique purpose for selling snow cones, and its all tied up in his connection to young people and the young at heart.

SnowieTopeka owner Robert Wall shows how he takes crushed ice to make a snow cone while employee Molly Gorman watches June 20. Wall started his business, Manila Snow Cone Co., in 2018 after attending a summit for the Salt Lake City-based company, Snowie.

Business owner's children learning entrepreneurial spirit

A Topeka native and lifelong teacher, Wall met his wife while he was teaching English overseas to military pilots. He named his snow cone business, the Manila Snow Cone Co., as a tribute to the capital of his wifes home country of the Philippines.

The couple went on to have two children and moved back to Topeka, where Wall said he wanted to teach his kids, ages 7 and 10, the entrepreneurial spirit. They can often be found helping with the business.

Wall teaches at the Shawnee County Department of Corrections Juvenile Detention Center and said his second career selling snow cones allows him to see kids just being kids.

He said he believes snow cones are a family event and loves to see grandparents enjoying their first snow cone in decades alongside their grandkids.

I work with a challenging group of students, said Wall. Ive always enjoyed a challenge, but its hard and soul-crushing to work with 15-, 16-, 17-year-old kids who might spend the next 20 years in jail for the choices theyve made. This is my snow cone ministry.

Where can I find snow cones this summer in Topeka?

The Snowie mobile unit will be at Gage Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Thursday through Sunday until school starts.

The public can find the Snowie kiosk location for other days of the week on the mobile Munch app or by checking the SnowieTopeka Facebook page and enjoy Snowie snow cones all summer long in the far west parking lot of the Dillons North Plaza next to Great Clips.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: This syrupy treat is a growing summer business for Topeka educator
Texas Nurse Tirelessly Searches for Late Patient's Dog So She Can Give the Pet a New Home (Exclusive)

Dezorey Arocha spent 11 days searching for Bear Bear the dog, after learning her late patient left behind the pup without a new owner to care for him

Courtesy SPCA of Texas Dezorey Arocha with Bear Bear/Asher

Bear Bear, the rescue pup, has lived many lives in under a year.

The SPCA of Texas pulled the pup from an animal hoarding case in Sept. 2023, helped him recover, and found him a home. Sadly, a little over six months later, Bear Bear found himself homeless and back at the SPCA of Texas once again after the sudden death of his 37-year-old owner.

Dezorey Arocha, a registered nurse at the Neuro ICU at the Methodist Dallas Medical Center, ensured the canine didn't stay in the shelter for long, adopting the pup at the end of May.

Arocha first learned about the dog after caring for the pet's late owner at the hospital. Bear Bear's first adopter arrived at Methodist Dallas in the early morning of May 19 after being found unconscious in their car with the dog. Sadly, the owner died shortly after reaching the hospital.

Later that same day, a detective arrived at the hospital and informed Arocha that the deceased had a pet dog, who was now in the shelter system because no one in the deceased's family could take over the care of the pet.

The detective didn't have any details on the dog, but Arocha still knew she wanted to give the pet a home.

Related: Rescue Dog So Emaciated That He Was 'Literally a Skeleton' Finds Home with a Vet Who Helped Him (Exclusive)

"I didn't know his name. I didn't know if he was a male or a female. I had no idea," Arocha explains to PEOPLE.

"All I could think of was how sad he must feel," Arocha says on why she was attracted to finding and adopting Bear Bear. "I don't know how long the owner had been unconscious in the car, and it just broke my heart. To think he went to the shelter, and then not knowing where he's going, where his owner is, or anything like that."

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

After hearing about the dog, Arocha and another nurse began scouring local animal rescues, making calls, and sending emails in hopes of locating their late patient's pet. For 11 days, the two eagerly searched for the dog, even though they had almost no information to go.

Finally, on May 29, Arocha learned the dog she was searching for was named Bear Bear and soon located the pup on the SPCA of Texas' website.

Courtesy SPCA of Texas Bear Bear/Asher the rescue dog

Thanks to his microchip, Bear Bear ended up back at the SPCA of Texas. When authorities initially found the dog with his unconscious owner, they brought the pooch to the Dallas Animal Shelter, the city's municipal shelter.

"Because he was microchipped, they knew that Bear Bear had come from us. And so they reached out to us," Chris Luna, the CEO and President of the SPCA of Texas, says of how Dallas Animal Shelter knew to contact them. "And we have a policy that no matter how crowded we are, if they're alumni, we take them back. And that's how Bear Bear came back to us for the second time."

When Arocha spotted Bear Bear on the shelter's website, she emailed them and explained the search that had led her there. The nurse got a response the next day, May 30, and set up a meet-and-greet with the pup later that afternoon.

"It was very relieving because another nurse I had been trying to figure out where he was for the last 11 days; it was relieving to know that we finally, finally found him," Arocha says.

Related: Meet Beacon, the Golden Retriever Who Had an Important Role at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials

Things got even sweeter when Arocha met Bear Bear face to face.

"In the greeting room, he was sweet as pie. He was a very loving, gentle, yet excited, and very much a puppy. He's very cute, very playful," the nurse remembers.

After an hour of bonding with Bear Bear at the SPCA of Texas, "I was out of there with him," she adds about adopting the pup right after their first meeting.

"It just felt right. I don't know why I was so drawn to him," she adds.

Bear Bear now goes by Asher at his new home, which he shares with two female dogs who love having a brother.

"He's the leader. He is the quick one. He loves the girls. They play together constantly," Arocha says of how Asher is fitting in, adding, "For him not to be even a year, he's doing exceptionally well. I'm blessed and very fortunate to have him."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Arocha hopes her efforts to find and adopt Asher inspire others to look for their perfect pets at animal shelters and rescues.

"It always breaks my heart that there are so many unhomed pets. Animals who don't have a loving family to take care of them and to grow with," she says. "So I hope there are thousands, if not millions, more adoptions after this story is out."

Luna says the SPCA of Texas always welcomes a rise in adoption rates and hopes microchipping rates go up, too, especially after animal lovers learn how a microchip helped Bear Bear/Asher.

"I think the other takeaway is the importance of microchipping pets. We were able to get Bear Bear back to us because of his microchip with our information," Luna says. Had there not been a microchip with Bear Bear's name and info, "this story never would've happened."

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Read the original article on People.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree approving the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on cooperation in the field of digital trade," Trend reports.

The head of state also signed a decree approving the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on cooperation in the field of industrial property protection".

Both documents were signed on May 23, 2024, in Baku.
UPDATED: Things to do in Wichita Falls this weekend, July 4-7

Thursday is the BIG holiday of the summer in the U.S. of A., and plenty of activities are planned in the Wichita Falls area.

Beware: The temperature Thursday could hit 105 with relatively high humidity. After that, things slow way, way down for the remainder of the weekend.

Heres whats going on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

Thursday, July Fourth

Fourth Annual Firecracker Mile: 7-9 a.m. downtown, sponsored by MSU Texas Cross Country and Track. 940-397-4779

Wichita Falls fireworks light up the sky near the north water tower as shown in this July 5, 2020, file photo.

Old-Fashioned Fourth of July: 9:30 a.m. to noon with a parade at 9 a.m., Kell House Heritage Center, 900 Bluff St. 940-723-2712

Mommy and Me: 4th of July in Wichita Falls: 10 a.m. Crashworks STEAM Studio & Makerspace, 900 Indiana Ave.

Meet 2024 Olympian Taliyah Brooks: 1-3 p.m. 4000 Kell Blvd. Meet her before she heads to Paris for Summer Olympics and get photos, autographs and T-shirts. Sponsored by Nissan of Wichita Falls.

Taliyah Brooks, Rider High School graduate, competes in track and field events June 2021.

Fourth in the Falls Freedom Fest: 5 p.m. MPEC Festival Park, 1000 Fifth St. Food trucks, vendors, bands and music, kids activities and more, including a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Free entry. Summer Olympian Taliyah Brooks will speak on the main stage at 7:45 p.m.

Mando Molina, live music: 7-10 p.m. Grand Lodge Pavilion, 14145 U.S. 287 N. 940-767-6700

Friday, July 5

Artzeum Kid's Exhibit: It's All About Fish: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Kemp Center for the Arts. 1300 Lamar St. Free interactive exhibit designed for ages 6-12. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday through Aug. 3 Monday-Saturday. Open until 8 p.m. Thursdays.

Between the Lines Book Club: 10:15-11:45 a.m. Wichita Falls Public Library, 600 11th St. Discussing Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. Wfpl.net

On the Hook Fish and Chips Food Truck: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 4521 Kemp Blvd. Traveling food truck visiting First Cash Pawn.

"Cha Cha Real Smooth" at the Twilight Theater: 3:30 p.m. room 208B 50 Plus Zone, 600 11th St.

Kids Night Out: 6:30-9:30 p.m., for ages 5+, Crashworks STEAM Studio & Makerspace, 900 Indiana Ave.

The Odd Couple: 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Stage 2 Dinner Theatre, 914 Indiana Ave. 940-723-9037

Friday night live band dance with Rusty Nail Band: 7-9:30 p.m. 50 Plus Zone Ballroom, second floor, 600 11th St. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets: $7 for 50 Plus Zone members and $12 for general public.

Karaoke with Lelani: 7:30 p.m. The Iron Horse Pub, 615 8th St.

Saturday, July 6

Wichita Falls Farmers Market 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 807 Austin St.

Don James Memorial Rifle Match: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 4472 Old Friberg Rd., sponsored by Northwest Texas Field & Stream. www.nwtfs.org

Downtown Wichita Falls Farmers Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 713 Ohio Ave.

Community Shred: 9 a.m.-noon The Paper Pig-Secure Document Destruction, 4401 Barnett Road.

Red River Harley-Davidson Patriotic Prize Ride & Veterans Benefit: 9 a.m. 4514 Northwest Freeway. Kafe Maya Food Truck will be on site. Benefiting Paying It Forward, veterans nonprofit. Contact Veronica Wilkins at 940-249-8054.

Jeeplahoma: Noon-4 p.m. 165 E. Lake Dr., Medicine Park, Okla.

Eight-ball Tournament: Noon Broad Street Billiards, 1300 14th St.

Birth 101: Birth Basics:1-4:30 p.m. Wichita Falls Birth and Wellness Center, 2001 Brook Ave., www.wfbirth.com

Bleed with Bear Blood Drive: 1 p.m. Legends Roadhouse, 3305 Sheppard Access Road

Texas Oklahoma Barrel Racing Association 5D Jackpot: 2 p.m., J.S. Bridwell Ag Center, 111 N. Burnett, 940-716-5500

Parents Night Out: 5-8 p.m. Gymnastics Sport Center Storm, 5816 Ashleyanne Circle, Suite 300. www.sgymnasticssportcenterwf.com

Small Business Connect: 5:30-8:30 p.m. 4018 Kemp Blvd. 214-997-1175

Young Artists Gala + Auction: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Crashworks STEAM Studio & Makerspace, 900 Indiana Ave.

Two Heats and a Feature: 6:30 p.m. Texoma Speedway, 7567 Seymour Highway, 940-337-8299

The Odd Couple: 6:30 p.m. Stage 2 Dinner Theatre, 914 Indiana Ave. 940-723-9037

Hazel Live at 6th Street Winery: 7:30 p.m. 600 Sixth St.

Sedated/A Tribute to The Ramones with Mommys Little Monster/A Tribute to Social Distortion: 8:30 p.m. The Iron Horse Pub, 615 Eighth St.

Hip Hop Night at the Deep End: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. 1423 Southwest Parkway

Sunday, July 7

Motors and Mochas: 10 a.m. NobiliTea, 4111 Southwest Parkway, No. 700.

Music Bingo Sunday-Heat: 5 p.m. Wichita Falls Brewing Co., 701 Indiana Ave.

7 Brew Day: The coffee company will offer a buy one, get one free drink promotion from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Wichita Falls location is at 2730 Southwest Parkway. The company is celebrating an ongoing partnership with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and will donate $25,000 to CMNH. And 7 Brew teams will drop off drinks at local CMNH's to thank them.

Does your organization have an event for an upcoming weekend in the Wichita Falls area? Email Trish Choate at TChoate@gannett.com.

More: Things to do for the Fourth of July in Wichita Falls

More: King's Good Vineyard and Berry Farm celebrates third annual blackberry jamboree

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Things to do in Wichita Falls this weekend, July 4-7
It's time to pick your own cherries in Door County. Here's how the cherries are this year

DOOR COUNTY - The arrival of July gives Door County another annual major attraction for thousands of visitors  cherries, and the chance to pick them themselves.

Cherry orchards across the Peninsula are geared up for people to head out among the trees, buckets in hand, to hand-select the sweets and tarts they want.

So, how are the pick-your-own cherry crops for 2024 in Door County?

The crops are heavy this year, but a number of them are taking their time to ripen, several orchard operators have indicated. The weather hasn't been a huge help, although late torrents of rain helped.

The winter of 2023-24 was much drier and warmer than usual in Wisconsin, with record-setting average high temperatures in December and February, and much of the state, Door County included, receiving between 10 and 20 inches less precipitation than normal.

Maahi Rana, 9, of Des Plaines, Illinois, picks cherries at Choice Orchards last July in Sturgeon Bay.

But April and May of 2024 were wetter than normal, and then late June  a week or two before pick-your-own season  brought tremendous amounts of rain to Door County, with areas around Sturgeon Bay and Southern Door getting anywhere from 7 to 10 inches in the last 10 days of the month, including a June 25 gullywasher that dropped 4 to 7 inches in places.

All that rain has been a major plus for this year's cherry crop, several orchard owners and managers said.

"Last year was a drought. This year, there's so much rain we can't stop it," said Sue Selvick, co-owner with husband, Tom, of Meleddy Cherry Orchard in Sturgeon Bay. "It's good for (the cherry trees). You can see it with flowers and other plants, they're just growing."

"We got rain at the right time," said Debbie Musil, manager of Choice Orchards in Sturgeon Bay.

It also helped, Musil said, that a couple of days occurred between the downpours.

"We had a chance to dry up," she said. "I didn't see anything in the orchard that died because of drowning."

However, there can be too much rain where cherry crops are concerned, said Toni Sorenson, co-owner of Soren's Valhalla Orchards in Sturgeon Bay. She said the fruits of cherry trees will continuously soak up whatever moisture there is, and if they absorb too much, the fruits will split open.

"We tell people if they see cherries split open, just pick them and throw them on the ground," Sorenson said.

But rain also means clouds, and Selvick said it's frequently been overcast, slowing the cherries' ripening a little.

"You need sun. That's what makes the cherries ripen," Selvick said.

The timing of the sun matters for orchards with sweet cherries because those generally ripen in early July, about a week to 10 days earlier than tart cherries.

Soren's Valhalla Orchards posted June 29 on its Facebook page, "Sweet cherries arent ripe yet  We need some heat," but Sorenson told the Advocate they'll open for some sweet varieties July 3. Sir Reginald's posted June 26 on its Facebook page, "The cherries are getting more color and size, but when I taste them, they don't have the sweetness needed yet. We need heat and sun," although a post four days later said their orchards will open for pick-your-owns July 3.

However, the past weekend was mostly sunny and more of those types of days are predicted over the next week, which of course would help. In fact, Choice Orchards opened for sweet cherry picking this past weekend.

The number of available cherries is plentiful, though, with Musil reporting an at-least average crop at Choice Orchards, well better than last year's, Sorenson said her crop size was maybe a little above average and Selvick said Meleddy's crop might be its best.

"We probably have the best crop we've ever had," Selvick said. "We're loaded."

Musil described another factor that she said makes this year's crops at Choice "perfect for picking."

"Last year was a very light crop," she said. "This year, they're nice for picking. They're hanging low in the trees so people can pick them easily."

What to know before you go

Interested pickers should call the orchards or visit their websites, especially their Facebook pages, for the latest information, including projected opening and closing dates. Picking season can run anywhere from a week or less to a month, depending on the size of the orchards, the number of customers, type of cherries (the tart cherry season usually starts later and runs longer than sweets) and how long cherries remain available.

A number of orchards accept cash or check only for payment. Dress for being in the outdoors, potentially under the sun, for an hour or more. Some places allow pickers to take vehicles into the orchards for those with accessibility issues, but pickers should check before going.

Also, remember that most orchards offer pre-picked fresh cherries for sale as well as other cherry goods.

Pick-your-own orchards

Here's a list of cherry orchards holding pick-your-own seasons in Door County; information is gathered from websites, social media and phone calls.

Soren's Valhalla Orchards, 2412 Idlewild Road, Sturgeon Bay: Open July 3 for pick-your-own sweet cherries, around July 13 for tart cherries; pick-your-owns expected to be available for two to three weeks. Closed Tuesdays for orchard maintenance. Orchard recommends bringing coolers to take cherries home. Also has strawberry picking at a different location, 6491 County J, Sturgeon Bay. 920-746-1102, sorensvalhallaorchards.com or facebook.com/sorensvalhallaorchardsllc.

Robertson Orchards of Door County, 2575 S. Shiloh Road, Sturgeon Bay: Expect to open July 3 for sweet cherry picking, around July 12 for tart cherries. 920-743-1351 or facebook.com/RobertsonOrchards.

Choice Orchards, 4594 County HH, Sturgeon Bay: Open June 29 for some pick-your-own sweet cherries, expecting July 12 for tart cherries, each expected to last about three weeks. 920-743-8980, choiceorchard.com or facebook.com/choiceorchards.

Cherry Lane Orchards, 7525 Cherry Lane, Sturgeon Bay: Expects to open for Montmorency tart cherry picking July 12 but weather could change that, according to its Facebook page and a recorded message on its phone (check for updates). 920-856-6864, cherrylaneorchards.com or "Cherry Lane Orchards" Facebook page.

Kielar Akers Orchard, S648 State 42, Sturgeon Bay: Opening for tart cherry picking July 13 tart cherries; check its Facebook page for updates on how long the season will run. 920-856-6978 or facebook.com/kielarakers.

Meleddy Cherry Orchard, 1038 Mill Road, Sturgeon Bay: Anticipates opening July 8 for tart cherry picking. Also has two industrial cherry pitters through which pickers can run their cherries. 414-379-6508, meleddycherryfarm.com or facebook.com/meleddycherryorchard.

Paradise Farms Orchard, 2565 County C, Brussels: Open for tart cherries July 5. 920-825-7274 or "Paradise Farms Orchard - Door County" Facebook page.

Sir Reginald's Sweet Cherry Orchard, 2631 County C, Brussels: Open for sweet cherries July 3, expecting to sell out in three or four days. 920-495-9177 or "Sir Reginald's Sweet Cherry Orchard - Door County" Facebook page.

Schartner's Farm Market, 6476 State 42, Egg Harbor: Expecting to open around July 12 to 14 for sweet and tart cherry picking. Tart cherries should be available for a week or two, sweets for a few days. 920-743-8617 or facebook.com/schartnersfarmmarket.

Hyline Orchard Farm Market, 8240 State 42, Fish Creek: Open July 5 or 6 for tart cherry picking, expects availability for at least two weeks. 920-868-3067, hylineorchards.com or "Hyline Orchard Farm Market Inc." Facebook page.

Lautenbach's Orchard Country, 9197 State 42, Fish Creek: Currently predicting July 19 to 28 or while supplies last for tart cherries, although prepicked sweets should be available in the market around July 6 and prepicked tarts a week later. 866-946-3263, orchardcountry.com or facebook.com/orchardcountry.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@gannett.com.

MORE: Fourth of July in Door County: Here's when and where to watch the fireworks and celebrate

MORE: A Door County hard cider maker wins multiple awards in national competitions

FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Picking your own Door County cherries? Here's a look at the 2024 crop
1 seriously injured after motorcycle crash on Route 5 in Hamburg

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A motorcycle crash on Route 5 left a West Seneca man seriously injured Monday afternoon after he was struck by oncoming traffic, according to Town of Hamburg Police.

Police said around 1:25 p.m. on Monday, 28-year-old Ryan Czekaj lost control of his motorcycle as he drove eastbound on Route 5 near Lakewood Drive. After reacting to another vehicle, Czekaj entered the westbound lane and was struck by oncoming traffic, according to police.

Route 5 was closed for an investigation for several hours.

Czekaj suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to ECMC where he remains hospitalized. Anyone with information is asked to contact Lieutenant Joshua Eagan at (716) 648-5111 ext. 2630.

Latest Local News

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
116 reported dead after stampede at religious event in India

A woman cries following a human stampede that killed at least 116 as a Hindu religious event ended in India Tuesday. Photo by Harish Tyagi/EPA-EFE

July 2 (UPI) -- A religious gathering in India's Uttar Pradesh state ended with a deadly panicked stampede that killed at least 116 Tuesday.

The incident occurred while a Hindu religious guru held a prayer meeting in the village of Rati Bhanpur in the Hathras region of Uttar Pradesh.

Thousands of religious devotees attended and had crowded into tents to get relief from the hot sun.

When the prayer meeting ended, the stampede occurred as people exited tents and rushed to leave.

The event was ending in an orderly fashion when, "I heard screams and, before I knew it, people were falling on each other," a witness told the BBC.

A victim is rushed to a local hospital after a human stampede killed at least 116 as a Hindu religious event ended in the Uttar Pradesh state of India Tuesday. Photo by Harish Tyagi/EPA-EFE

"Many were crushed and I couldn't do much," the unnamed witness said. "I am just lucky to have survived."

Another witness said people fell into a roadside drain and were crushed to death as more people stumbled and fell on top of them.

Local police reported at least 116 dead, most of whom are women and said the stampede's cause is under investigation.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told local officials to make sure victims are hospitalized and hasten relief efforts to minimize potential harm.

Many of those who were injured were taken to a local hospital in pickups, tuk tuks and on motorcycles.

Local officials said the event was overcrowded and accidents sometimes occur during such religious events in India.

About 60 died when a train drove through a crowd during a Hindu festival in 2018 and 115 were crushed to death during a Hindu festival in 2013.
The shooting: Officer Bryce Patterson can be seen catching up with Mway before tackling and punching him. After a struggle, Officer Patrick Husnay, a six-year veteran of the Utica Police Department, opened fire at the boy. He was taken to Wynn Hospital, where he died of his injuries. The incident has sparked community outrage and prompted investigations by local and state authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Three officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave with pay amid ongoing investigations.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  An 18-year-old wanted for murder in Jacksonville is now under arrest for the crime, police officials announced.

Jacksonville Police said Larry W. Taylor was arrested in Springfield by members of the Springfield Police Department and a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force. Taylor is being held at the Sangamon County Jail on a Morgan County warrant charging him with first-degree murder.

READ MORE: Teen wanted in deadly Morgan Co. shooting, victim IDd

That warrant stems from the fatal shooting of Trenton Jackson the night of June 6. Jackson was found in the area of College Avenue and Dunlap Court with multiple gunshot wounds; he later died at the hospital.

Taylor will remain in custody pending a court appearance, Jacksonville Police 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 WCIA.com.
LAC DU FLAMBEAU  Billed as the centerpiece for Ojibwe cultural sharing and education for the Northwoods, the weekly summer Lac du Flambeau Indian Bowl events have been taking place for almost 75 years.

The series of weekly mini pow wows and cultural demonstrations on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation are advertised on TV commercials throughout the Northwoods inviting anyone to visit and learn a little about Ojibwe culture. They have been going on since 1951.

I grew up in the area and this is my first time (at the Indian Bowl), said Kathy DeLorme, who was visiting last week from Phoenix, Ariz. I think its great.

Her daughter, Chenoa Morrison, said she really enjoyed a hoop dance performance by Ronnie Preston, who also works as the cultural director at the American Indian Center in Chicago.

Head Dancer Shane Mitchell, member of the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Tribe, leads the dancers at the Indian Bowl on June 25 in Lac du Flambeau.

In 1965, the Indian Bowl garnered national attention when former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower and his wife Mamie visited the Indian Bowl. In an Ojibwe naming ceremony, Eisenhower was given the name Giniw-Wi-Giizhig, or Golden Eagle, in honor of his visit.

But Eisenhower had started visiting the reservation and the Indian Bowl years earlier, according to tribal elder Alton Sonny Smart. Eisenhower served as president from 1953 to 1961, and had visited the Lac du Flambeau Reservation to fish and learn about Ojibwe culture in 1952, according to Smart.

Smart said Eisenhower was shocked to learn that tribal members were not allowed to be served beer at bars and restaurants even on their own reservation. He said, These guys served under me in World War II and couldnt believe they werent allowed to be served alcohol, Smart said.

Eisenhower served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II, and Indigenous peoples, including Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe, have always served in the U.S. military at among the highest rates of any groups.

When Eisenhower was elected president, he had a hand in repealing the alcohol ban for Indigenous peoples across the country. Smart said although many Indigenous families have been devastated by alcoholism, the ban was bane to tribal people who should be allowed to make their own choice.

Smart said the Indian Bowl itself was in defiance of another ban for tribal people  the practice of Native American religion. The 1887 Dawes Act banned the practice of Native American religious ceremonies in the United States, as well as opened up reservation land for acquisition by non-tribal people.

The 1978 American Indian Religious Freedom Act under President Jimmy Carter repealed that ban, but it wasnt until the mid-1990s that amendments more fully allowed the practice of Native American religions. Prior to that, Smart said the only way Indigenous peoples could openly practice their culture, such as wearing regalia, performing traditional dances or beating drums, was through social dances, such as those at the Indian Bowl.

It was a way people could practice their spiritual ways because it was against the law to practice our religion until the 1990s, Smart said. We could do it socially, but if we did it in private ceremonies we could go to jail.

The Indian Bowl runs every Tuesday through Aug. 13, with a special presentation on Thursday, July 4, featuring a fireworks display.

Its about Indians showing what culture was here before the white man came, said Lac du Flambeau President John Johnson about the Indian Bowl. To some, its amusement, but were reenacting what we had before.

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Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Lac du Flambeau Indian Bowl showcases Ojibwe culture in Northwoods
See the latest: Second day of PG&E public safety power shutoffs in California

Original story:

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was working to restore power Tuesday evening to nearly 2,000 customers after the utility severed homes and businesses across Northern California to stave off wildfires and protect its equipment amid hot, dry and windy conditions.

By 5 p.m., the utility said it had already restored power to 1,400 ratepayers after it engineered its first public safety power shutoff of the year around 12:30 a.m. in eight of the 10 Northern California counties that PG&E said could be affected by the so-called PSPS outages.

As weather conditions improved, PG&E crews began inspecting equipment for potential weather-related damage, said PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno. Where equipment was safe to energize, we restored power to approximately 1,400 customers impacted by the PSPS. At 6:30 p.m., roughly 450 customers were still out of power, and PG&E said restoration efforts would continue through the evening.

However, if wildfire conditions worsen, power may need to be turned off overnight for these and other customers in the scope of this PSPS event.

Tuesdays conditions were fairer than predicted

The favorable conditions helped PG&E keep as many as 10,000 homes and businesses along the western tier of the Sacramento Valley and in the Butte County foothills from being severed from the grid. Homes in the North Bay region were also largely spared from the potential PSPS after meteorologists warned of extreme fire conditions in the Oakland-based utilitys territory.

At its height, 1,986 homes and businesses were shut off in the effort, which PG&E officials stressed was an effort of last resort.

In its Tuesday weather update, the utilitys forecasters were particularly concerned about wind gusts in Butte County, through the North Bay regions and along the western tier of the Sacramento Valley. PG&E meteorologists said gusts had topped 63 mph in Sonoma County with lesser winds in Napa (42 mph). Winds more than 100 miles away in Butte County topped 49 mph after midnight and strong gusts were observed in Colusa County (47 mph) and Solano County (40).

The winds are expected to taper off near mid-day into the evening, forecasters said in the morning briefing. Before a second period of wind risk re-develops overnight tonight from midnight through 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Officials did not rule out another PSPS on Wednesday if conditions returned.

We continue to monitor the situation to determine if a shutoff is necessary for safety, Moreno said. We are sending all of these customers regular updates so they can prepare accordingly.

PG&E officials stressed the need to inspect lines and replace equipment as crews methodically worked the areas affected by the PSPS. Restoring power to affected customers can take 12 daylight hours or more, depending on conditions.

PG&E said it opened several community resource centers Tuesday in areas that lost power or were threatened by the PSPS, enabling customers to cool off in the air conditioning, get free bottled water and snacks and charge their phones.

Those centers would be open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. at the following locations:

Utility blamed equipment sparking wildfires

PG&E in recent years has imposed planned power shutoffs in the face of dire wildfire weather. The utility companys equipment has been blamed for sparking some of the worst fires in state history, including the 2018 Camp Fire that devastated Paradise, and PG&E Corp. has been found liable for billions of dollars worth of destruction.

The utility since 2017 has been blamed for starting more than 30 wildfires, blazes that destroyed more than 23,000 homes and businesses and has killed more than 100 people.

Last year, the company engineered two PSPS events out of four possible scenarios the company identified, according to company filings to the California Public Utilities Commission. The late August and mid-September events took roughly 5,200 customers off the grid.

Downtown Sacramento topped out at 106 degrees, three degrees shy of the all-time record for the day set a year ago but some spots, such as Redding, were 108 degrees or hotter on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Hotter temperatures are expected Wednesday during the heat wave thats predicted to last through Sunday.

Sweltering conditions can lead to sagging power lines and overheated transformers, creating concerns for utilities like PG&E and others not affected by the shutoffs, such as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and city-owned providers such as Roseville Electric.

More information on the PSPS and how to get alerts are available on PG&E website.
2 Chicago men facing attempted murder charges in connection with shooting of teen boy on West Side

2 Chicago men facing attempted murder charges in connection with shooting of teen boy on West Side

CHICAGO  Two Chicago men accused in the shooting of a teen boy on the citys West Side in early June are now facing felony charges.

Chicago police say 35-year-old Angel Ramirez and 30-year-old Thomas Garcia, both Little Village residents, have each been charged with one felony count of attempted first-degree murder.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

The charges stem from a shooting that allegedly unfolded in the 2700 block of South Komesnky Avenue just before 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11.

35-year-old Angel Ramirez (right) and 30-year-old Thomas Garcia (left), both Little Village residents, have each been charged with one felony count of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of a 14-year-old boy on the citys West Side.

35-year-old Angel Ramirez has been charged with one felony count of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of a 14-year-old boy on the citys West Side.

30-year-old Thomas Garcia has been charged with one felony count of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of a 14-year-old boy on the citys West Side.

According to police, Ramirez and Garcia allegedly opened fire on a 14-year-old boy, leaving him injured.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

It is unclear what led to the shooting and authorities have not provided an update on the teens condition.

Both men are set to appear in court for detention hearings on Tuesday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has received Pakistani Ambassador to the country Bilal Hayee on the occasion of the end of his diplomatic mission, the Ministry told Trend.

At the meeting, the sides discussed the current agenda of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, reviewed the outcomes of the recent official visit to Pakistan, and outlined future plans.

Ambassador Hayee was expressed gratitude for his comprehensive efforts in advancing Azerbaijani-Pakistani relations and wished him success in his future endeavors.

Minister Bayramov noted that the start of the Ambassador's diplomatic tenure in Azerbaijan coincided with the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and the Second Karabakh War, which concluded the Armenian occupation. He expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its unwavering moral and political support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

It was highlighted that the meetings held during the official visit to Pakistan this year and the extensive exchange of views on the strategic partnership between the two countries were gratifying. The necessity of utilizing existing opportunities to further develop cooperation was emphasized.

The importance of mutual support within multilateral formats, including various regional and international organizations such as the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organization, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), was highlighted. The minister also congratulated Pakistan on its election as a member of the UN Security Council for 20252026,.

Bilal Hayee expressed pride in serving as ambassador during a critical period for Azerbaijan and voiced hope for further development of relations between the two countries.

The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest during the meeting.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Two former employees of the City of Calhoun School District are accused of having sex with students.

According to an indictment filed in Gordon County, Railey Greeson and Brooklyn Shuler were indicted Thursday on counts of sexual contact by employee or agent in the first degree.

The indictment alleges that sometime between Oct. 29, 2021, and Jan. 3, 2022, Greeson had sex with two male students and Shuler had sex with one male student.

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The ages of the students were not disclosed.

The indictment said the women reasonably should have known the male students were enrolled as a student, in violation of Georgia Code 16-6-5.1(b), contrary to the laws of said State, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.

The indictment does not detail which school(s) in the district employed the women.

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2 Men Arrested on Suspicion of Night Hunting on Road Near Oprah Winfrey's Hawaii Ranch

A spokesperson for the media mogul tells PEOPLE the arrests did not happen on Winfrey's property

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic Oprah Winfrey, 2022

Authorities in Maui arrested two men suspected of illegal night hunting near Oprah Winfreys Hawaiian property.

The incident occurred just before midnight on June 21, the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) said in a press release on Monday, July 1.

Last month, DLNR reached out to local ranchers regarding their efforts to prevent illegal poaching throughout the area and we agreed to cooperate. The arrests did not happen on the property, a spokesperson for Winfrey's Harpo tells PEOPLE.

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Luke Allen and Ty Munoz

"This happened near the intersection of Thompson Road and Kamaole Road, in the Kula area of Upcountry Maui, the press release read. Thompson Road is a public road that runs through private property owned by the Oprah Winfrey Ranch.

The suspects - Luke Allen and Ty Munoz, both 19, of Upcountry Maui - were placed in custody at the Maui Police station in Wailuku after officials observed them allegedly using a spotlight for hunting purposes.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

A preliminary investigation resulted in a loaded shotgun and a loaded rifle being allegedly found in Allen and Munozs truck. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered that they were allegedly hunting without valid licenses, had ammunition in the vehicle and were allegedly hunting on private land, at night, without permission.

Related: Oprah Winfrey Promises to Make 'Major Donation' to Maui Following Devastating Wildfires

Officers said the rifle in Allens possession was unregistered. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources did not specify what animals were allegedly being hunted.

Munoz was arrested and booked for: Place to keep loaded firearm other than pistol, Hunting License Required, Hunting on private lands at night without permission, and Artificial Light Prohibited (for hunting with the use of artificial light).

Allen received the same charges, with the addition of Place to Keep Ammunition and Registration Mandatory (for unregistered .22cal semi-automatic rifle).

The suspects were booked at Maui Police Station in Wailuku, and the case was deferred to the Maui County Prosecutors Office, per the press release.

Related: Oprah Invites 10 WW Members to Her Maui Home to Celebrate Their 'Journey of Self-Improvement'

In August 2023, the former talk show host, 70, helped other residents who were affected by the Hawaii wildfires.

Its a little overwhelming, you know, Winfrey told the BBC while handing out supplies at the War Memorial Stadium, one of the evacuation sites in Maui. But Im really so pleased to have so many people, you know, supporting, and people are just bringing what they can and doing what they can.

A spokesperson for Winfrey later shared with PEOPLE that the media mogul went to Walmart and Costco to shop for the items and brought them back.

It is heart-breaking devastation. She will do more, as it becomes clear which funds can be the most helpful for the short-term and long-term rebuilding."

Oprah/Instagram Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson

That same month, she and Dwayne Johnson announced the launch of the People's Fund of Maui  with an initial $10 million donation from both of them.

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Read the original article on People.
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW)  Two more men have been charged in a deadly 2015 home invasion in Robeson County, authorities said on Monday.

Paul Benthall Jr., 42, of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Kevin Billings, 46, of Maxton, were arrested Monday and charged with first-degree murder, three counts of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and seven counts of kidnapping. Both are being held without bond.

Robeson County deputies responded at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2015, to the 3300 block of Shaw Road for a home invasion, the sheriffs office said. When they arrived, they found Rodney Murphy, 51, of Maxton, dead from a gunshot wound. Two other men were shot and a woman was assaulted.

Quatrell D. Nicholson, 33, and Carson Brown, 35, both of Laurinburg, were arrested in 2016 in Murphys death. Both face the same charges as Benthall and Billings.

As the investigation continued, Ismul Hines, 46, of Charlotte, and Kenneth McCoy, 30, of Laurinburg, were arrested in 2020 and face the same charges in the incident.

The additional arrests of these suspects, even years later, are examples of continuous hard work and dedication to bring closure to the families of victims by Robeson County Sheriffs Office investigators, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said. As with this case, investigators will continue to follow up on leads on unsolved murder cases and murders that have additional suspects who have not been charged.

The Robeson County District Attorneys Office, Laurinburg Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and U.S. Marshals assisted in the investigation.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Two Portland State University students filed lawsuits against the school, alleging unlawful retaliation after the school sent harassing letters to the students who participated in an on-campus protest in May.

The lawsuits were filed on Monday, as first reported by OPB, and come after the students filed a tort claim on May 29 notifying the school of their intent to sue.

In their tort claim, the students said they were part of a peaceful protest against violence in Gaza on campus when officers engaged in unlawful use of force against them  including assault and battery, as first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Union very surprised at jobs affected in OHSU layoffs

After sending the tort claim, the students allege that on June 4, PSU sent them harassing and baseless letters threatening possible violations of the Code of Student Conduct.

The lawsuit furthers that PSUs letter violated the schools own Code of Student Conduct by failing to identify alleged violations that the plaintiffs engaged in.

The complaint added, after sending its June 4, 2024, letter, Portland State University refused to confirm the source of information that was purportedly provided to the Office of the Dean of Student Life as referenced in the letter.

HGTV names town in Oregon among the most charming small towns in the US

The students allege they were harassed by the letter and that it interfered with their ability to study for final exams. Both of the lawsuits seek $450,000 for noneconomic damages including emotional distress, inconvenience, and interference with normal activities.

If the Universitys harassing letters were not triggered by our clients tort claim notices, then we call on the University President to explain the true motivation behind the letters, the students attorney Michael Fuller of OlsenDaines told KOIN 6 News.

Its illegal for a university to retaliate against a student who reports a violation. Our clients reported a violation of Oregons use of force law. Five days later the University harassed our clients with vague threatening letters from the Office of the Dean of Student Life, Fuller added.

Portland State University told KOIN 6 News the school cannot comment on pending litigation or share protected student information as part of student conduct processes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
2 Zion women accused of stealing over $1,400 worth of childrens clothes from Oak Brook Macys, leading police on chase

2 Zion women accused of stealing over $1,400 worth of childrens clothes from Oak Brook Macys, leading police on chase

OAK BROOK, Ill.  Felony charges have been filed against two women accused of stealing from a west suburban department store before leading police on a high-speed chase.

32-year-old Asia Wallace and 24-year-old Kayshanda Outlaw, both Zion residents, have each been charged with one count of burglary and one count of retail theft. Outlaw is also facing an additional count of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, according to DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin.

Prosecutors say the charges stem from an incident that allegedly unfolded at a Macys in Oakbrook Center on Saturday afternoon.

Firework malfunction in Northwest Indiana injures 7, damages 4 homes

Authorities say they were initially called to the department store just after 3:30 p.m., following a report of a robbery in progress.

According to prosecutors, while in the store, Wallace and Outlaw allegedly picked out several pieces of childrens clothing and left without paying for them.

Prosecutors say the items that were allegedly stolen by Wallace were valued at around $625.50 while the items that were allegedly stolen by Outlaw were valued at around $839.15.

After leaving the store, prosecutors say the two women got into a silver Hyundai Sonata, with Outlaw at the wheel, and attempted to flee the scene.

32-year-old Asia Wallace (left) and 24-year-old Kayshanda Outlaw (right), both Zion residents, have each been charged with one count of burglary and one count of retail theft. Outlaw is also facing an additional count of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer.

32-year-old Asia Wallace has been charged with one count of burglary and one count of retail theft after allegedly stealing more than $600 worth of clothes from a department store in the western suburbs.

24-year-old Kayshanda Outlaw has been charged with one count of burglary, one count of retail theft, and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer after allegedly stealing more than $800 worth of clothes from a department store in the western suburbs and leading police on a high-speed chase.

As the duo allegedly attempted to make their escape, a responding Oak Brook officer attempted to block them from exiting the stores parking lot, but Outlaw allegedly sped off, sideswiping the officers vehicle as she navigated toward the exit.

After leaving the parking lot, officers began a pursuit, heading northbound along Route 83. After exiting Route 83, the pursuit allegedly continued eastbound on Butterfield Road before Outlaw lost control of the vehicle and crashed into another car at the intersection of Butterfield Road and Prospect Avenue, prosecutors said.

The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash was later taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

According to police, during the pursuit, Outlaw allegedly reached speeds of around 90 mph.

Robbery on Blue Line train sparks police search

After crashing the car, prosecutors say both women allegedly fled from the vehicle on foot but were caught by authorities a short time later.

This is another example of criminals having the false belief that there are no consequences for their criminal actions when they flee from the police, Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis said in a news release on Monday.

During a court appearance on Sunday, the court denied the states motion to detain the two women pre-trial.

Both women are set to appear in court again on July 29 for arraignment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Duke Fuqua School of Business has announced changes to its 2024-2025 MBA application process. Duke photo

Duke Fuqua School of Business announced three updates to its 2024-2025 MBA application process today (July 2) in a blog post by Allison Jamison, assistant dean of admissions. The most impactful of the three: Fuqua will no longer have an open interview period in addition to the interviews it grants by invitation. From now on, all interviews will be by invitation, Jamison writes.

In prior years, we offered interviews both by invitation and during an applicant-initiated open interview period, she writes. However, we found that some applicants scheduled interviews before they were truly ready, afraid that they would be penalized for not taking advantage of the open interview period. While no applicant was penalized for waiting for an invitation to interview, we acknowledge the difference in the interview process was a source of stress and anxiety for many.

The other two updates involve MBA candidates applying through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, which Fuqua joined in April, and assurances that the schools admissions team is familiar with the new Graduate Management Admission Test (formerly called GMAT Focus) and the differences in scoring between the new and old tests.

CHECK OUT POETS&QUANTS COVERAGE OF 2024-2025 MBA APPLICATION DEADLINES AT THE TOP BUSINESS SCHOOLS

CHANGE TO INTERVIEW POLICY ALLOWS MORE TIME FOR APPLICANTS TO PLAN

2024-2025 MBA Admissions: Duke Fuqua To End 'Open' Interview Period For Applicants

Dukes Allison Jamison: Our admissions team is ready to start recruiting the next wave of impactful business leaders

Jamison begins her blog post by remarking that Duke Fuqua set a new record for MBA applications in 2023-2024, which would halt a two-year slide for the B-school. Fuquas apps had slipped from 3,762 in 2021 to 3,539 in 2022 and then 3,292 last year.

Regardless of the increased volume  Fuqua has not yet published how many apps it received, but an increase comports with unofficial news of a rebound in app numbers at many of its peer schools  the Durham, North Carolina schools admissions team is always looking for new ways to improve our process, Jamison writes. This year that included adjustments to ensure greater fairness by ending open interviews, which had become a source of stress and anxiety by spurring candidates to apply before they were fully prepared.

By moving to a single, consistent interview policy, we hope to alleviate this stress, she writes, describing the schools new process: Applicants, including Early Action applicants, submit their application, then await an interview invitation. Interview decisions will be released on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed.

An applicant who is invited to interview will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to schedule the interview, either in-person or virtually, depending on what they indicated in their application.

We are excited about this change because it allows more time for applicants to plan and schedule their interview, whether they are choosing to interview virtually or travel to Durham for an on-campus interview, Jamison writes. Its important to note that while interview decisions are released on a rolling basis, there is no benefit or disadvantage to receiving an invitation earlier versus later. Regardless of when you receive your interview decision, all applicants will still receive their admission decision on the published decision release date.

2 MORE UPDATES

Fuqua joined The Consortium in April. The nonprofit founded in the mid-1960s is dedicated to diversifying MBA ranks at U.S. B-schools; a single application with The Consortium allows a candidate to apply to up to six member schools. Consortium fellows also are invited to an annual Orientation Program & Career Forum where they meet with the groups corporate partners and connect with incoming students from the now 25 schools participating in The Consortium (Duke was the 24th; in June, Chicago Booth School of Business became the 25th, and 4th M7 school, to join The Consortium).

Because Fuqua has a long history of supporting and championing those who are underrepresented in the business world, Jamison writes, its membership in the Consortium was a natural fit for us. She notes that applicants through The Consortium will find our essay questions and additional materials through the Consortium application. They will be considered for interview invitations on the same timelines as applicants applying directly to Fuqua through either Round 1 or Round 2.

In the other update, Jamison seeks to assuage applicant fears about differences in scoring between the old GMAT, which is no longer available to take but for which scores are valid for five years, and the new GMAT, which was rolled out in late 2023 and became the sole version in February 2024. Fuqua, she notes, is not making any changes to its test score policy: The school will continue to accept the GMAT, Graduate Record Exam, or Executive Assessment, without a preference. However, Jamison adds, Many applicants have questions about how the new GMAT score will be considered. The new, shorter version uses a different scoring scale, and that has spooked some applicants because scores from the two versions may look different.

Our Admissions team is very familiar with the new scale, though, so dont worry! We encourage applicants to look into the new GMAT scoring scale, Jamison writes. Many people think their GMAT score looks lower than published GMAT averages, but that may not be the case. Looking at the percentiles that go along with the composite score offers a more clear comparison. For example, a 700 on the old GMAT was in the 89th percentile; on the new GMAT, the 89th percentile corresponds to a score of 655.

Again, Fuquas testing policy has not changed, but given the change in the GMAT itself, I wanted to be clear about how applicants should view their scores. We always encourage applicants to submit any test scores they have, whether theyve taken one test type or have tried all three.

With these improvements in place, our Admissions team is ready to start recruiting the next wave of impactful business leaders, Jamison writes. The application is live now, and our travel dates are on the calendar. We look forward to getting to know the Class of 2027!

DUKE FUQUA MBA APPLICATION ESSAY QUESTIONS

Required short-answer essay question

Instructions: Answer the following question in 100 words.

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.

First required essay: 25 random things about yourself

The Team Fuqua spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us 25 Random Things about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU  beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.

Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.

Second required essay: The Fuqua community and you

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

Optional essay: Tell us more

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

Click here to visit Dukes MBA application page.

AND DONT MISS 2024-2025 MBA APPLICATION DEADLINES and SIX TIPS FOR GETTING INTO DUKE FUQUAS MBA PROGRAM

The post 2024-2025 MBA Admissions: Duke Fuqua To End Open Interview Period For Applicants appeared first on Poets&Quants.
2024 Voter Guide: School Board of Alachua County. See how the candidates stack up

Primary election day is drawing near, and there are four candidates currently in the running for a seat on the Alachua County School Board.

Because the race is nonpartisan, the seats will be decided during the Aug. 20 primary election. There are two candidates up for reelection, and two qualified challengers.

Read a breakdown of all the School Board of Alachua County candidates with The Gainesville Suns 2024 voter guide.

Alachua County voters will vote to decide two seats on the School Board of Alachua County on Aug. 20.

More: 2024 Voter Guide: Alachua County Commission. See how the candidates stack up

More: 2024 Voter Guide: Gainesville City Commission. See how the candidates stack up

Alachua County School Board District 2

Diyonne McGraw is the current chair of the school board and is running for reelection to her District 2 seat. McGraw will face opponent Thomas Vu in the August primary election.

McGraw was reelected to the school board in 2022, a seat she previously lost 8 months into her 2020-term after being removed by Gov. Ron DeSantis after the board redrew district lines and she fell outside of her old district.

McGraws priorities include improving reading skills in the district, preparing children for the workforce and increasing transparency and financial accountability, according to her website.

Prior to being elected, McGraw said one of her priorities was creating an alternative disciplinary school. The school doesnt have any attendees, but has been listed as an active school since Superintendent Shane Andrew submitted an application for the school to the state without board approval and despite pushback from some other board members.

McGraw has raised $9,095 for her run, according to campaign finance data.

Notable contributions include $300 from county commission candidate Dejeon Cain, $50 from current County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler and $100 from current School Board Member Leanetta McNealy.

McGraws opponent, Vu, is a former math teacher and district staff member. His priorities include taking a logical and transparent approach to the use of tax dollars, the implementation of policies that protect children, and direct communication, according to his campaign website.

Vu has raised $14,538 for his run, according to campaign finance data.

Notable contributions to his campaign include $1,000 from current School Board Member Sarah Rockwell, $50 from Wheeler, who donated the same amount to McGraws campaign, $25 from Gainesville City Commissioner Casey Willits and $50 from Adrian Hayes-Santos, a former Gainesville commissioner.

Alachua County School Board District 4

Running for reelection is District 4 Board Member Leanetta McNealy, who faces Lew Welge, an Abraham Lincoln impersonator and a retired Florida Public School Guidance Counselor, according to his campaign website.

McNealy has been a board member since 2012 and was an educator for 38 years. She has told The Gainesville Sun her priorities include closing the achievement gap between Black and white students, increasing teacher pay and rezoning the district.

McNealy has raised $3,745 for her run, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions include $300 from Cain, $50 from Wheeler, $150 from McGraw, $25 from Evelyn Foxx, president of the Alachua County branch NAACP and $50 from Gainesville City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut.

McNealys opponent, Welge, is self-employed and said at a recent forum he would prioritize bringing his knowledge of counseling to the school district to create a better environment. When asked at the forum what his plans were to improve literacy in the district, he suggested his approach would be to make learning fun and then proceeded to sing the ABCs to the room.

Welge has raised $1,900 for his run, according to campaign finance data, though the contributions all come from the candidate to himself.

Voters can find their precinct ahead of the August election by visiting the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: The Gainesville Sun's 2024 Voter Guide: School Board of Alachua County
The University of Cincinnati's public safety department confirmed on X that a suspect is in custody following Monday's events

WCPO 9/Youtube Shooting near University of Cincinnati's campus

A shooting near the University of Cincinnati campus left three people dead and two others injured in the early hours of Monday morning.

According to WXIX-TV, WCPO-TV, and USA Today, officers from the Cincinnati Police Department were patrolling the area of Highland and East University avenues at 2:50 a.m. when they heard multiple gunshots nearby.

Students were notified about the incident minutes later.

"UC Emergency- Police responding to emergency reported on Highland/E University. If safe, stay at your location. Be observant/take action as needed," a 2:54 AM post on X from the university's public safety department reads.

Raymond Boyd/Getty A Cincinnati police vehicle

Related: Texas Teen Strangled Mom to Death, Then Stashed Body in Trunk and Drove to Nebraska

A few minutes later, the department confirmed on X that police were on the scene, further advising community members to stay indoors and that "more info" would be available soon.

Upon arrival, police found four male victims, one of whom was pronounced dead at the scene, the outlets reported. The three other victims were transported to local hospitals, where two of them were pronounced dead. A fifth victim also showed up at the hospital later, the outlets reported.

While the incident remains under investigation, police reportedly saw someone run into a home with a firearm, and was later placed in police custody. It remains unclear if that person was the shooter. PEOPLE has reached out to the the Cincinnati Police Department for comment.

Getty University of Cincinnati

Related: Son of Former NFL Player Missing After 'Domestic Battery Allegations' at His Home: Police

About an hour after the first alert went out, the University of Cincinnati's public safety department wrote on X, "UC Emergency:ALL CLEAR Officers responded to Highland/ E University for a shooting. Suspect in custody and police will maintain heavy presence."

Area resident Ronald Caulton recalled hearing shots break out in an interview with WCPO-TV.

"I was laying in my bed and I started hearing something that sounds like shotguns, about four blasts. I say somebody celebrating the 4th very early and then after that, there was maybe about eight or nine other shots, right? And I'm like 'Good heavens!' I say thats not no firecrackers," said Caulton.

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.

"I say that's gunshots, you know, and so then my daughter, she was already in there calling 911," he added.

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Read the original article on People.
The Supreme Courts ruling that presidents are immune from prosecution for their official acts will reverberate far beyond Donald Trumps criminal case for seeking to subvert the 2020 election.

The panoply of federal and state charges Trump faces in Florida and Georgia, as well as related cases facing some of his closest White House advisers, may turn on how other judges apply the Supreme Courts immunity decision.

And although the rulings most immediate impact is on the federal election case in Washington, the implications for the presidency itself  including for Joe Biden and any successors  are also likely vast.

Its not just Trumps DC case

Mondays immunity decision threw an enormous wrench in special counsel Jack Smiths bid to put Trump on trial for what Smith has described as a criminal conspiracy to overturn Bidens victory. And Trump is certain to try to harness the ruling to derail his other cases, as well.

In Georgia, where he is similarly charged with trying to corrupt the states election results in 2020, Trump has previously tried to shield himself by claiming his conduct is immune from prosecution because he was acting as president. The judge in that case, Scott McAfee, has yet to rule on that effort, and now the Supreme Court may help guide his hand.



The high court left open the question of whether Trumps efforts to pressure state officials to reverse certified election results can be treated as official conduct. So its possible the charges against Trump for urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find enough votes for him to prevail in the state will survive.

In Florida, where Trump is charged with hoarding classified documents in his home after leaving office, Trump has also lodged an immunity claim, contending that his decision to transfer the classified records to Mar-a-Lago in the final days of his presidency renders it protected from prosecution.



U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has not ruled on that motion yet but is now likely to have to contend with at least a limited impact of the Supreme Courts decision on her case  yet another factor that could slow her already plodding timeline.

It certainly raises whole new avenues for litigation there, said Cardozo Law School professor Jessica Roth, a former federal prosecutor. It certainly adds additional avenues for delay.

And even in Trumps New York case  where he was found guilty in May of falsifying records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star  Trump is reportedly floating a longshot bid to reverse his conviction by citing the immunity decision. In a letter that has not been made public, his lawyers asked the judge in that case to toss out the jury verdict, the New York Times reported Monday evening.

The presidency itself is changing

The Supreme Courts opinion extends way beyond Trump. Taken to its extreme conclusion, the court has embraced a constitutional framework that makes it nearly impossible for a president to be held legally accountable for any use of official power, no matter how nefarious  with Congress impeachment power being the only recourse.

Although the Court doesnt quite say it, the commander in chief power has to be a core power by its logic, and so can never be a basis for a criminal prosecution, noted Aziz Huq, a University of Chicago professor of constitutional law. This licenses the misuse of  the surveillance and intrusive powers of the national security state.

The decision to bless nearly all official presidential conduct as immune from prosecutorial scrutiny also has ramifications for Biden. Republicans have repeatedly suggested that their allies in government should consider charging Biden with crimes for actions ranging from his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal to the flow of migrants over the southern border. Those policy considerations would be clearly beyond the reach of prosecutors under the Supreme Courts analysis.

A potential boon for Trump allies

Though the Supreme Court largely left it to trial judges to determine which of Trumps specific acts as president were official  and therefore immune  the justices made one exception: Trumps conversations with Justice Department officials about how to deploy the department in service of his bid to stay in power were squarely within his official power as president, the high court declared.

That aspect of the case against Trump has been among the most vividly documented efforts to subvert the results of the election. Trump, according to numerous witnesses  including former acting attorney general Jeff Rosen and his deputy Richard Donoghue  leaned heavily on department leaders to amplify false claims of voter fraud to lend the imprimatur of the government to those allegations. When they resisted, he threatened to appoint a more like-minded ally, then-assistant attorney general Jeff Clark, to lead the department for the final weeks of his presidency.

Clark was charged alongside Trump for his alleged role in the scheme in Georgia, where Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis brought a massive racketeering case. He was also charged by Washington bar authorities with a professional ethics violation, which could lead to the suspension or loss of his law license.

But Clark is now calling for both of those cases to be dropped in light of the Supreme Courts ruling.

Mark Meadows, who was Trumps White House chief of staff during the 2020 election efforts and is similarly facing criminal charges, could also try to invoke the immunity decision to derail his own charges.

Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.
MULLINS, S.C. (WBTW)  Three people arrested last week in the killing of a man at a party on Barnes Street in Mullins have been returned to Marion County to face charges.

Shaquan Ahmad Champion, 23, Thomas Rashad Champion, 44, and Shaday Cash, 38, are charged in the death of Kenneth Lasane Jr. on June 23. They were arrested on June 25 after fleeing the state and booked into the Marion County Detention Center on Monday, according to online jail records.

Shaquan Ahmad Champion, 23, who was arrested in Michigan, is charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was out of jail on bond on a separate attempted murder charge at the time of his arrest.

Thomas Champion and Cash, who are relatives of Shaquan Champion, are charged with accessory after the factor to murder. They were arrested in Ohio with the use of Flock license plate reader technology, according to Mullins police.

* * *

Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Applications from the Republican Alternative Party (REAL), "Ag Partiya" (White Party) and the Civil Solidarity Party to register their authorized representatives in the extraordinary parliamentary election in Azerbaijan, will be considered, Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan Arifa Mukhtarova said at today's meeting in Baku, Trend reports.

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
3 teens among 4 killed after DUI pursuit ends in violent, fiery crash

Three of four suspects killed after a high-speed pursuit in San Bernardino County ended in a violent, fiery crash have been identified as teenagers, authorities confirmed to KTLA.

The June 28 chase near Foothill Boulevard and Archibald Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga started around 1:45 a.m. when deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department attempted to stop a suspected DUI driver.

Authorities said a pursuit was initiated when the driver of the black 2018 Hyundai failed to yield and took off at a high rate of speed to avoid deputies.

The Ontario Police Departments Aviation Unit aided deputies by tracking the suspect vehicle from the air.

Approximately six minutes after the pursuit was initiated, the driver of the Hyundai, who was traveling west on 16th Street in Upland and entered the intersection of Mountain Avenue, collided with a white 2010 Ford Mustang that was not involved in the chase.

The suspect vehicle then veered off and struck a pole, a SBSD news release stated. During the collision, the suspect vehicle separated into three parts and caught fire.

Footage of the aftermath captured by Sky5 showed the debris field in and around the intersection, with parts of the Hyundai and the Ford strewn across the area.

Four of the Hyundais five occupants were killed in the crash.

A pursuit ended with a deadly crash in Upland on June 28, 2024. (KTLA)

A pursuit ended with a deadly crash in Upland on June 28, 2024. (KTLA)

A pursuit ended with a deadly crash in Upland on June 28, 2024. (KTLA)

The crash scene in Upland, California following a high-speed pursuit. June 28, 2024. (KTLA)

Three have been identified as 16-year-old Fontana resident Jesus Guillen Jr., 17-year-old Pomona resident Michael Adrian Gomez and 16-year-old Fontana resident Joel Jeremiah Silva.

A 13-year-old boy who was also in the Hyundai was rushed to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive, authorities said.

The two victims in the Ford Mustang, a 35-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, both from Ontario, were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

During the investigation, deputies discovered the suspect vehicle was reported stolen out of Fontana and a loaded firearm was found on the person of one of the deceased subjects, the release noted.

Residents of popular Southern California city on edge amid wave of violence

Officials said that there are three parallel investigations into this incident.

Detectives with SBSDs Rancho Cucamonga Station are investigating the pursuit, while the San Bernardino County Coroners Office is investigating the exact cause and manner of death for each suspect, as well as positively identify the remaining fourth deceased person. The Upland Police Department is conducting a collision investigation.

Anyone with information about these investigations is urged to contact SBSDs Rancho Cucamonga Station at 909-477-2800. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip Hotline at 800-782-7463 or leave tips online at www.wetip.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 KTLA.
3 teens break into old Sears in Hanford, police say

HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Three teenagers from Lemoore were arrested after police say they broke into the abandoned Sears building in Hanford.

On Monday, July 1, officers say they were dispatched at around 5 a.m. to the vacant Sears building in Hanford. Officers arrived to find three people wearing all dark clothes and face masks running from the east entry door. Police say officers gave chase and cornered the subjects in the loading dock.

Baby found dead in Fresno backyard, police say

According to officers, all three were non-compliant at first; two of them were arrested at the scene and a third took off running again. He was found near Firestone Tires on 12th Avenue and arrested.

All three subjects were identified as 14-year-old boys from Lemoore by police.

Video from the inside of the mall showed that the teenagers entered through the main area of the Hanford Mall and jumped a counter at a kiosk  but were scared away by the alarm.

Hanford Police say the three teenagers were booked into the Kings County Juvenile Center for burglary and resisting arrest.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
"We thought we were going to die," a passenger told Reuters about the Air Europa flight from Spain to Uruguay

At least thirty people have reportedly been left injured after strong turbulence that seemingly caused one passenger to become stuck in an overhead bin.

Video from aboard an Air Europa flight that made an emergency landing in Brazil on July 1, shows the damage inside the plane as well as passengers that appear to be helping a fellow flyer out of an overhead bin storage area. It's unclear how the man came to be lodged in the space. Several passengers reported those not wearing seatbelts were thrown from their seats by the unexpected rough air, hitting the ceiling.

The Spanish airline announced in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner had been traveling from Madrid to Uruguay when the incident occurred.

Our flight UX045 bound for Montevideo has been diverted to Natal airport (Brazil) due to strong turbulence, the airline wrote on X in a translation from Spanish. The plane has landed normally and the minor injuries that were reported are already being treated.

According to Reuters, around 30 passengers were injured on the flight. Other reports put that number as high as 40. "There are passengers with fractures and injuries to their arms, faces, and legs," a passenger known only as Stevan told the outlet. "It was a pretty horrible feeling. We thought we were going to die there."

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Getty Fasten seat belt sign in airplane

Related: 11 Passengers Treated in Hospital Following 'Severe Turbulence' on Delta Flight to Atlanta

"From one moment to the next, the plane destabilized and went into a dive," fellow passenger Maximiliano added to Reuters. "The people who didn't have seat belts went up in the air and hit the ceiling, and they got hurt  those who had seat belts on, not so much."

The Guardian reported that the injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Natal. Air Europa added in a release sent to PEOPLE that six passengers remained hospitalised in the city on Tuesday and "are being attended by Air Europa ground staff from Brazil."

On Tuesday morning a backup plane sent by Air Europa also transferred 303 passengers to Montevideo, Uruguay, the release added.

Related: 1 Dead and Several Injured After Flight from London to Singapore Hit by Severe Turbulence

Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty An Air Europa Boeing 737

"The company, which did everything possible to attend to its customers at all times despite not having a base in the area, is prioritising attending to those affected, for whom it wishes a speedy recovery," continued the release.

"Air Europa transferred the passengers by bus to the city of Recife, where the characteristics of its airport facilitate the operation of the long-haul fleet. Once there, they boarded a new plane from Madrid sent especially for this trip, and flew to Montevideo in the early hours of the morning."

"Air Europa deeply regrets what happened, as well as the inconvenience caused to its customers," the release stated. "The airline hopes for a quick recovery of the affected passengers and is at the disposal of all its clients to assist them in any way that may be necessary. The airline is also grateful for the assistance provided at all times by the authorities and emergency services in Natal."

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Texas is one of the largest states in the country and one of the biggest proponents of constitutional carry legislation. Paul Souders / Getty Images

Gun laws in the United States vary by state, especially when it comes to open carry of firearms. In open carry states, people can carry firearms openly without special permits as long as they follow state laws. Most states allow the open carrying of long guns for self-defense in the home, target practice and lawful hunting.

Concealed weapons, however, typically require more extensive permits and background checks. Over the decades, gun laws have aimed to balance gun owners' rights with public safety, restricting ownership for individuals with felony convictions and imposing regulations on nonresidents.

State laws are continuously changing on the issue, and the situation is made more confusing by local governments, who may add or remove further regulations to ensure responsible gun ownership and safe firearm use.

What Is the Difference Between Open and Concealed Carry?

The primary difference between open and concealed carry is visibility. Open carry allows people to carry firearms visibly, while concealed carry involves keeping a concealed handgun hidden from view under baggy clothing or in a hidden holster inside the belt.

There are varied interpretations of these differences between state and federal law, but open carry is typically defined as carrying a firearm openly in the public's view.

31 States That Allow Open Carry Without a Permit

The following is a list of states that allow open carry without requiring a valid permit. Such possession does not automatically correlate with permitless concealed carry, but gun owners must learn local requirements in any case.

1. Alabama

Alabama is one of the most lenient open carry states in the country. Anyone over the age of 18 is allowed the right of openly carrying firearms in most situations, but citizens without a concealed handgun permit can only lawfully do so on their property or in their personal vehicle.

2. Alaska

Alaska state law also has lenient legislation for citizens possessing firearms. Anyone 21 or older can openly carry or conceal carry without a permit. Furthermore, Alaska does not restrict magazine capacity, ban assault weapons or limit private sales with background checks or waiting periods.

3. Arizona

Arizona does not require responsible gun owners to hold a concealed or open carry permit. Similar to Alaska's permitless carry policy, local governments have little reign over gun laws except to prohibit anyone charged with disorderly conduct or another aggravated offense from being able to carry a handgun.

4. Arkansas

Arkansas gun legislation allows all citizens over the age of 18 to lawfully possess and carry concealed firearms without a permit. In this state, you can also carry handguns or a long gun used for hunting in view of the public.

5. Delaware

Delaware citizens can carry openly but concealed weapon permits are more stringent, requiring background checks and specialized training.

6. Idaho

In this rural state, long guns used for hunting and self-defense are common in motor vehicle racks built for quick access. Both long guns and concealed handguns are allowed without a permit.

7. Indiana

In Indiana, responsible gun owners over the age of 18 can open carry, but state law requires background checks and waiting periods for citizens to attain a concealed carry permit.

8. Iowa

Iowa also does not prohibit open carry or restrict the possession of high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. However, all purchases and private transactions will require a background check.

9. Kansas

Kansas's gun laws are similar to those of other permissive open carry states. Gun owners with concealed carry permits from other states can apply for an optional reciprocity permit.

10. Kentucky

You can open carry in Kentucky as long as you are at least 18 years old. Local authorities have limited autonomy to restrict citizens from openly carrying long guns and other firearms to ensure uniformity across the state.

11. Louisiana

Constitutional carry laws prevail in Louisiana, yet concealed carry permits are issued on a case-by-case basis.

12. Maine

Anyone over 21 can open or conceal carry without a permit. Licensed dealers require a background check, but private sales are not restricted.

13. Mississippi

Both open and concealed carry are allowed without a permit.

14. Montana

Both open and concealed carry are allowed without a permit. Nonresidents can apply for reciprocity permits for concealed carry

15. Nevada

Anyone 18 years or older is allowed open-carrying privileges without a permit. However, if you wish to carry a firearm in a concealed holster, you must apply for a specialized permit and pass a background check.

16. New Hampshire

New Hampshire firearm laws allow responsible, gun-owning citizens to carry a firearm concealed or openly without a permit.

17. New Mexico

New Mexico firearm laws are parallel to most states on this list except the legal age to carry a handgun is 19 years old.

18. North Carolina

North Carolina state law allows open carry without a permit. However, localities are allowed more sovereignty to invoke certain restrictions to improve public safety.

19. Ohio

A person 18 years or older is legally allowed to possess and carry a handgun or other firearm openly. Concealed carry permits are required.

20. Oklahoma

Oklahoma restrictions are lenient and align with most 21-and-older states. However, there is a clause that veterans or military personnel can carry a firearm once they turn 18.

21. Pennsylvania

Long gun laws are typically universal in rural areas of the state, but urban areas are more restrictive. For instance, in Philadelphia, you cannot carry a handgun on your person or stash it in a concealed location in your private automobile.

22. South Dakota

South Dakota aligns with most states on this list, including the reciprocity laws regarding concealed carry restrictions for nonresidents.

23. Tennessee

Tennessee has laws similar to Oklahoma regarding the legal carry of firearms, including the 18-year-old military provision.

24. Texas

The old adage of "everything is bigger in Texas" still rings true. Texas is one of the largest states in the country and one of the biggest proponents of constitutional carry legislation. For many decades, laws regarding the carry of firearms have remained lenient and unchanged.

25. Utah

Any responsible citizen 21 years or older can open carry without a permit in the state of Utah. Firearm laws do restrict high-capacity magazines and assault weapons either.

26. Vermont

Vermont carry laws align with firearm legislation shared by several states on this list, including (but not limited to) reciprocity agreements for nonresidents.

27. Virginia

Virginia upholds stricter gun laws than other open carry states, with special provisions in place for large public gatherings and urban centers like the independent city of Newport News.

28. Washington

A Washington state citizen must be at least 21 years old to open carry without a permit. However, vehicle possessions are generally prohibited.

29. West Virginia

Anyone over 18 are legally allowed open or conceal carry without a permit in West Virginia unless they have prior convictions.

30. Wisconsin

Wisconsin has lenient gun laws that allow open carry without a permit. However, concealed carry laws require stringent background tests and specialized training.

31. Wyoming

Anyone 18 years or older without a record of felonies can carry a handgun or other firearm openly.

10 Permissive Open Carry States

Permissive open carry states do not typically allow open carry, but authorities may issue licenses or allow special permissions on a case-by-case basis.

1. Connecticut

A carrier must be at least 21 years old. However, several conflicting pieces of legislation established by the appellate court could make a person open carrying fall into legal gray areas in specific local jurisdictions.

2. Georgia

Open carry is not addressed in the new Constitutional Carry Bill. Although permit holders 21 and above (or military personnel older 18 and older) can open carry.

3. Hawaii

In Hawaii, you can only open carry in the county where the special permit was issued.

4. Maryland

18-year-old Maryland residents can only acquire an open carry permit for employment purposes.

5. Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, you can only open carry if you have a current and valid Class B license. However, no new class B licenses are being issued at the time of publication.

6. Minnesota

Minnesota residents cannot apply for an open carry permit before they are 21 years old.

7. New Jersey

New Jersey is one of those gray-area states where open carry is not explicitly prohibited by law. The general rule of thumb is that you can open carry in most jurisdictions at 21 years or older.

8. North Dakota

You must be at least 18 years old in North Dakota to apply for an open carry permit.

9. Rhode Island

Rhode Island has relatively strict gun laws that require applicants to be at least 21 years old. Citizens can open carry legally only with a permit issued by the Attorney General. The Attorney General is also the highest-ranking state official to review penal code changes regarding firearms.

10. South Carolina

Residents of South Carolina must be at least 21 years old to apply for an open carry permit.

The Future of Gun Laws in the United States

Following decades of gun violence and mass shootings, many U.S. citizens are calling for additional restrictions on laws regarding the purchase, permit, and carry of firearms. Legislation for gun reform continues to fight headwinds stemming from 2nd Amendment supporters and gun manufacturer lobbyists.

However, some form of gun reform may be on the horizon. For example, if passed, the Senator Portantino House bill AB2103 would make California the only state to date that requires all concealed carry permit holders to pass a live-fire proficiency test before they are considered fully trained.

Now That's Interesting



The first instance of federal oversight in the firearms debate was the enactment of the National Firearms Act (NFA) in 1934. This gun control legislation aimed to combat organized criminal violence during the Prohibition Era by imposing registration requirements for gangsters' go-to weapons, including short-barrel shotguns, full-automatic machine guns and silencers used for clandestine activities.

Original article: 31 Open Carry States and 10 With 'Permissive' Open Carry

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$32 for one cigarette? In Gaza, even a nicotine fix is hard to come by

A man buys hand-rolled cigarettes from a vendor's stall along a market street in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip in April amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Mohammed Abed / Getty Images)

In wartime Gaza, lifes consolations are scant. Even the momentary solace of a cigarette is all but out of reach.

An acute scarcity of tobacco products has sent prices skyrocketing, leaving smokers in the shattered seaside territory jittery and bereft.

Fathi Sabbah, a 64-year-old father of four and a journalist by trade, said that after Israel took over the Rafah crossing into Egypt in May, he saw single Royal brand cigarettes being sold for 120 Israeli shekels  the equivalent of about $32.

That is craziness! he said angrily.

Cheaper brands cost almost $10 for a sole cigarette, but that's still more than a whole pack before the war.

The thwarted desire for a nicotine fix might seem trivial amid the daily struggle to feed and shelter family, mourn the dead, line up at squalid makeshift toilets and watch children sicken and waste away.

But smokers say the sense of overwhelming despair is part of the circular logic of longing: Sometimes it feels like only a cigarette might help.

"I quit smoking for nine years the first time, and then several times after that, each time for a few months, Sabbah said. But this cursed war and the oppression we are living through make it impossible for me to quit now."

A man rolls cigarettes to sell on the street in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 4, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement. (Mohammed Abed / Getty Images)

The nine-month-old war  which has killed at least 37,900 people in Gaza, according to authorities there  has made virtually everything far more expensive, in large part because Israel has severely restricted what goods can enter the enclave.

But the rise in cigarette prices has been almost unfathomably extreme. Some merchants say they try to keep down the prices of staples like flour and cooking oil  if they are even obtainable  by charging a higher premium on tobacco.

Locals describe the economics of scarcity: Nearly all of the tobacco now entering Gaza comes from smugglers who manage to slip it among truckloads of food at the commercial crossing still open. Or the few travelers from outside bring it in.

Hamas, whose government used to tax cigarettes that arrived in legal shipments, demands an unofficial tariff of half of any cigarettes it intercepts, Gazans said. Bandits, too, have ransacked humanitarian supplies looking for smuggled cigarettes.

Gaza has traditionally been a smoking culture. A 2021 survey by the Palestinian central bureau of statistics said a third of adult men were habitual users of tobacco.

Before the war, women might occasionally indulge behind closed doors, usually with a hookah, or water pipe. But a kilo of muassel  shisha, or flavored tobacco  costs the equivalent of more than $800, up from about $70 before the war.

Read more: Gaza diary: What life is like under daily airstrikes, blackouts and scarcity

With foreign exchange almost totally cut off, almost no one has cash to spare. Monthly salaries for government workers, averaging around $215, have been paid out only four times since the war started.

Hamza Al-Kurd, a 42-year-old tea seller who sold cigarettes before the war, said he began smoking at 17, and finds it impossible to quit now. His daily income tops out at about $27  enough to buy a single high-quality cigarette.

Sometimes I buy part of a cigarette to smoke for the day," he said. So great is the compulsion, he said, that I might not buy food for my children so I can afford a cigarette.

Abdallah Abu Al-Ayeesh, who fled from Jabaliya in north Gaza to Rafah, said a 20-pack of Royals used to cost him $5.

Now, at $32 a cigarette, with no discounts for buying in bulk, a pack is $640, or more than a 100-pound sack of wheat. It's little wonder that street vendors tend to sell cigarettes one at a time.

Sometimes, my friends and I pool our money together and buy a single cigarette to share, said Abu Al-Ayeesh. They jostle to keep one another from taking too long a drag, so it lasts for all of us."

The supply of cigarettes entering Gaza, according to a source in the economy ministry who spoke on the condition of anonymity, has dropped from about 12 million packs of cigarettes a month to a total of about 2.5 million since the war began in October.

Read more: Palestinians struggle as a brutal war sours business. Just ask West Bank sweets makers

In a grim turn, the adverse effects of going cold turkey are suffered not only by erstwhile smokers, but their families. Social workers and aid groups say the war has pushed up rates of domestic abuse.

In close-quarters tent camps filled with displaced people, people say tobacco deprivation sometimes aggravates conflict to the point where women and children might be harmed.

"There have been bloody fights between family members over cigarettes. Sometimes it causes more problems than the lack of food," said 43-year-old Nader Abdelqader, an architect who lives in one such tent camp in Khan Yunis after escaping an Israeli bombing near Rafah.

Before the war, he was a pack-a-day smoker, with his morning cigarette a "sancrosanct ritual."

"If I didn't have it, I'd be in a foul mood all day, making trouble at home and in the camp," he said. The war forced him to cut back, first to 10 cigarettes, then six, then just a lone morning smoke. But with barely enough money to buy food, he just couldn't justify the expense.

Between the humiliations of the war and the lack of a nicotine fix, many smokers around him are on edge.

"You can't talk to anyone who was a smoker  you sometimes see their hands shaking from the nicotine withdrawal."

That's why Mahmoud Khaireddine stopped selling cigarettes a few months after the war started.

"You'd sleep and wake up the next day with the price higher," he said. "People are going crazy because of this, and I just didn't want to argue with them.

"All I got was problems and fighting  and no money."

Palestinians sell cigarettes on a market street in Deir al Balah in the central Gaza Strip. (Abed Rahim Khatib / Getty Images)

Some smokers have turned to Arabian tobacco, a blend of dried, finely shredded tobacco flakes mixed with herbs and spices and manually rolled with whatever cigarette paper can be found. But overwhelming demand has made it, too, nearly impossible to find.

Enterprising sellers like Ibrahim Abu Shahada, 31, create adulterated Arabian-tobacco blends using ingredients including dried leaves of fig and guava trees. He hand-rolls and sells his product for about $5 per cigarette  a bargain these days.

"There are young people who beg me to lower the price because they cannot quit smoking," he said.

Read more: A rift grows in Europe over recognizing Palestinian state

Locally made tobacco blends are juiced up using the nicotine for electronic cigarettes, typically in the form of salts.

"We are facing two wars: the war of killing, and the war of high prices, said Abu Shahada. Everything is double the price, and there are no sources of income."

He has vowed to quit smoking  but to keep selling.

Sabbah, the journalist, used to smoke 30 cigarettes a day, but said ruinous prices have kept his addiction at bay  if only temporarily.

"I will smoke again once the price goes down," he said. "It is shameful to be defeated by a cigarette.

Times staff writers Bulos and King reported from Beirut and Berlin, respectively.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Black lettering spells out "Alabama Medicaid" on a white wall. A door marked "entrance" can be seen below and to the right of the sign.

The offices of the Alabama Medicaid Agency, as seen on January 24, 2023. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

About 370,000 Alabamians were removed from Medicaid in the 10 months after federal restrictions on disenrollment expired earlier this year.

While in line with national trends, the number in Alabama is significantly higher than an April 2023 estimate by KFF, a health policy research and news organization, which projected 170,000 total disenrollments in Alabama during the 12-month period.

As it stands, Alabama is kind of mid-pack, I would say, in terms of when looking at unwinding outcomes, and particularly if youre looking at disenrollment rates, said Jennifer Tolbert, deputy director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured and the director of State Health Reform at KFF.

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As of April, 745,771 enrollees renewed their coverage and 369,554 enrollees were disenrolled, including 47,968 who were determined ineligible and 321,586 who were disenrolled for procedural or administrative reasons, such as not turning in required paperwork on time.

As part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the federal government banned states from removing anyone from the Medicaid rolls. During that time, Alabamas Medicaid enrollment went from just over 1 million Medicaid-eligible people before the COVID-19 pandemic to 1.38 million in May 2023.

The ban was lifted last year, leaving states responsible for determining whether people are still eligible for Medicaid coverage.

About one-quarter of people who lost coverage nationwide during unwinding say they are now uninsured, and because Alabama has not expanded Medicaid, the number could be higher in the state, but that data is not yet available, Tolbert said.

The expectation in non-expansion states like Alabama is that a much higher share of people are actually becoming uninsured because they are falling into the coverage gap, Tolbert said.

Medicaid in Alabama mainly covers children, the elderly and the disabled. Childless able-bodied adults almost never qualify. Adults with qualifying children must make no more than 18% of the poverty line ($2,673 a year for an individual; $4,475 for a family of three) to receive Medicaid.

A message seeking comment was left with the Medicaid Agency. Melanie Cleveland, a spokesperson for the Alabama Medicaid Agency, said in December those who lost coverage have 90 days to reinstate it.

Alabamas Medicaid enrollment declined by 16.7% between June 2023 and April 2024, slightly higher than the national average decline of 11.4%. As of April 2024, the states enrollment stood at approximately 1.1 million, down from 1.4 million the previous year.

Tolbert said Alabama has seen a rise in federal marketplace enrollments, driven in part by enhanced subsidies and the unwinding process, but detailed data on specific transitions from Medicaid to marketplace coverage in the state remain scarce.

The timing of the increase this year is partly, we think due to unwinding, because people who would have transitioned over the past three years are now all being disenrolled at one time and therefore looking for marketplace coverage, Tolbert said.

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State schools are in pieces  my 4-year-old autistic daughter is living proof of that

Sam Howell has only 61 days to find a schooling place for her daughter, Maddie - Russell Sach

Are you currently on a state school waiting list because of Labours private school tax plans? Email money@telegraph.co.uk.

Sam Howell is running out of time. There are 61 days until the start of term and her daughter, Maddie, 4, who has autism, is facing the prospect of being left without a school place in September.

Its certainly not for want of trying. Sam has visited a dozen schools over the past year within a 20 mile radius of her home in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, but all can either not cater for her daughters behavioural needs or are full.

As a last resort, the council has given her a place at a local mainstream school which says they can only accept Maddie if they receive more funding to adapt the school to fit her needs, a funding application which isnt guaranteed to be accepted.

The current preschool she attends has also ruled out being able to accommodate Maddie meaning she cannot be held back to wait for a space to open up at a special educational needs school.

Ms Howell fears Labours tax raid on private education will pile even more pressure on the state school sector  with children like Maddie left to bear the consequences.

She says: 100pc the system is going to fall to pieces, absolute pieces because there are going to be no spaces for anyone.

There are going to be children who arent getting any help. It will be horrendous.

Its [state schools are] failing the children and you just feel so alone dealing with it.

Theres not enough staff to be helping, theres not enough funding. The schools dont have the experience trying to keep up with the rapid increase of all of these children coming to the surface with learning difficulties and its so hard to get a diagnosis.

Funding for special educational needs and disabilities (Send) pupils in state schools has remained frozen for more than a decade and Sam says the signs are clear to see.

If youve got a diagnosis its real, the struggle that child is having whether they are on the spectrum or theyve got another disorder, these children need help and its as if they just dont belong anywhere and schools clearly dont have the money to facilitate these children, they are getting lost and its failing them massively. Its awful as a parent to see it happening and to go through it.

Sams experience presents a snapshot of the experiences of thousands of parents with children who have special educational needs and disabilities. It is precisely why so many have turned to the private sector.

There are currently 111,154 Send pupils in private schools who receive additional support. The figure, which equates to almost one in every five pupils, has grown dramatically in recent years. Its up 7.5pc from last year alone and almost 70pc in the past decade.

But Labours tax raid on private schools looks set to put an end to that.

Sam says it is hardworking single-parent families like her who will be the losers of Labour's policy - Russell Sach

The party has said pupils with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) will be exempt from VAT. What they havent mentioned is this document, which sees the local authority cover the cost of school fees, is nigh on impossible for families to access.

Labours own shadow education secretary previously admitted the system is broken with the backlog stretching back two years in some instances for children to have their paperwork processed.

Of the 111,154 Send pupils in the private sector, 103,508 dont have an EHCP. Using Labours own estimations it means up to 7,246 pupils, often with diverse and complex needs, will be forced out of private schools and into a state system which is already crumbling. In Scotland, no such funding scheme exists.

Sam says it is hardworking single-parent families like her who will be the losers of Labours policy.

There will be a domino effect, it will be awful, She says on the shortage of spaces.

Surely they [Labour] can see how bad this is? Its nationwide, this issue.

Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly defended the controversial policy by saying the 1.5bn the party hopes to raise as a result of the levy will be spent on state schools, including the flagship pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers.

The figure may sound grand but given there are more than 25,000 state schools in Britain, it means for every school that gets one additional teacher, three schools will get none. A brief look at Labours manifesto shows none of the 1.5bn raised would be spent on support for Send pupils in state schools.

Julie Robinson, the chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, which represents around 1,300 private schools, has called on Labour to carry out a full impact assessment to understand what impact its VAT levy will have on Send pupils.

She said: Over 100,000 children and young people without an EHCP receive specialist Send support in our schools.

VAT on their parents fees will disrupt education for thousands of them, placing further strain on state Send provision, which is already in crisis.

Without a full impact assessment, Labour cannot say what the immediate effect of its policy would be on Send services and local councils.

There is a real risk that they would unintentionally pour fuel on a fire that is already very much ablaze.

As for Sam, she is at a loss with what to do and feels she will be left with no choice but to keep her daughter at home come September, which will see her fall further behind her peers.

Maddie is dysregulated and has unpredictable behaviour. She can get very upset or aggressive because she cant control her emotions and her communication is behind, she says.

I feel forced to say ok lets chuck her in this mainstream and hope for the best but as her mum I just dont feel comfortable with it. I feel for them and I feel for my daughter.

Because of how unequipped they are, I will have to keep her with me and just deal with it.

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Russian forces attacked the city of Kharkiv with two FAB-500 gliding bombs on July 2, injuring four people, Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported, citing preliminary information.

Two enterprises in the Nemyshlianskyi and Industrial districts of the city came under the airstrike in the afternoon. The attack was carried out from Russia's Belgorod Oblast, according to the prosecutors.

Two women, aged 26 and 51, suffered minor injuries, the prosecutors said. A 12-year-old girl and her 15-year-old brother suffered from shock and concussion.

This is the second time Russia has used FAB-500 bombs with a gliding kit against Kharkiv. Moscow's forces have used glide bombs at an increasing intensity in attacks on border and front-line settlements, including in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts.

Russia's attack on a postal depot in Kharkiv with a guided aerial bomb on June 30 killed one person and injured nine others, the authorities reported.

Read also: Russian attack on Nikopol kills 2 elderly women, injures 9

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The number of casualties from a Russian artillery attack on Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has risen to ten. Two people have lost their lives.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The district centre suffered most damage. There are two dead and, according to updated information, 10 people were injured. Four of them were hospitalised in a moderate condition."

Photo: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: Three apartments, five houses, four outbuildings and seven cars were damaged in the city. The Russian attack also damaged two educational institutions, an outpatient clinic, an administrative building, shops, a beauty salon and a bank.

Photo: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

The Russians also shelled the Myriv, Marhanets and Chervonohryhorivka hromadas [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories]. A fire broke out at an agricultural enterprise as a result and was extinguished by firefighters.

Updated: Lysak later reported that two other people, a man and a woman, were killed in the Russian shelling of the Pokrovsk hromada.

Quote: "There are already four people killed by Russian butchers in the area today. There are no words that can soothe the pain of families."

Background:

Lysak reported earlier that two women aged 61 and 86 had been killed in the Russian attack on Nikopol on 2 July.

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$50,000 reward offered for info leading to arrest in connection to 2023 killing of Los Angeles man

The Los Angeles City Council has approved a reward for information that could lead to the identification, arrest and prosecution of whoever is responsible for the killing of a man last year.

According to L.A. Police, officers responded to reports of gunshots near the 3400 block of Emery Street in Boyle Heights at about 4:30 a.m. on June 3 of last year. There, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as 25-year-old Noah Martinez.

Remains of California airman killed in WWII identified by DoD

More than one year later, authorities are still searching for suspects.

Authorities said on Monday that a $50,000 reward is being made available for information that could lead to the identification, arrest and prosecution of a suspect.

No description is available, and theres no information relating to the shooting.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Los Angeles Police Department, Central Bureau

Homicide Division, Detective A. Arroyo, or A. Abundis at 213-996-4104.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. There are several problems at polling stations in Nakhchivan, the Chairman of Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan Mazahir Panahov said during the meeting of the CEC on July 2, Trend reports.

Panahov emphasized that, in case of necessity, a CEC representative will be sent to Nakhchivan.

"We must provide polling stations in the territories liberated from occupation and in Nakhchivan with all the necessary equipment. According to the information I have, there are several problems at polling stations in Nakhchivan.

We will document everything on the ground. The territories liberated from occupation and Nakhchivan are always at the center of our attention," he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Six people were rescued from the Hatchie River in Covington, Tenn. after making a 911 call saying they were lost.

The Tipton County Fire swift-water team, along with the Covington Fire Department, Millington Fire swift-water team, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Tipton County Sheriffs Department responded to the Hatchie River around 4 a.m. Sunday.

The responding crews deployed from the Highway 54 and Highway 51 boat ramps, following a cell phone ping that dispatch had acquired from an earlier 911 call.

 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

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Reports say the caller was located and six victims were rescued off the river. All of the victims were checked by ambulance for injuries, but no injuries were reported from anyone involved.

Photo by the Tipton County Fire Department

Photo by the Tipton County Fire Department

Photo by the Tipton County Fire Department

The Tipton County Fire Department thanked all the agencies that participated in the rescue and also issued a reminder to those on the water.

This is just a reminder that the local rivers can be very dangerous, and you should always be prepared for any changing weather conditions. And as always, make sure you wear a life jacket and have a plan should an emergency arise.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Girl fighting for her life after Sacramento shooting, police say: The community should be hurt

An 8-year-old girl is fighting for her life after a shooting early Tuesday outside her Upper Land Park home left the child wounded with critical injuries, according to the Sacramento Police Department.

Officers were called just after 4:40 a.m. to reports of a child shot at least once in the 2600 block of Kit Carson Street at the Alder Grove affordable housing complex. A father and his daughter had dropped off the victims mother at work and were returning home when multiple gunshots rang out on the street, said Officer Anthony Gamble, a spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department.

The girl was taken to the hospital. She was alert and talking at the scene, but her condition deteriorated and she is currently listed in critical condition, Gamble said.

There is absolutely nothing that would justify this little 8-year-old girl in the hospital, fighting for her life right now, Gamble said.





No suspects have been arrested, Gamble said, calling it a very active investigation.

Detectives are questioning witnesses and canvassing the scene for evidence. Anyone with information should call the Police Department  even a small detail could prove vital in their investigation, Gamble said.

The Sacramento Police Dispatch center can be reached at 916-808-5471 and the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers can be reached at 916-443-4357. Callers can remain anonymous.

The community should be hurt, Gamble said. The police department is hurting for the family of the 8-year-old who was shot, he said.

Although the father didnt suffer any wounds, Gamble said, the father is still grappling with his daughter being shot in front of him.

Physically, hes not shot, Gamble said. But ... I cannot imagine what hes going through right now.

POLICE ACTIVITY: Officers on scene in the 2600 block of Kit Carson St for reports of a shooting. Preliminarily, one victim transported to an area hospital. We ask the public if you have any information regarding this incident to contact us 916-808-5471. Updates to follow pic.twitter.com/hluG7lbuhO  Sacramento Police Department (@SacPolice) July 2, 2024
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick released a statement on Monday regarding the future of the Texas Energy Fund.

In recent testimony before the Senate Business and Commerce committee, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas testified that Texas may need 150,000 megawatts of power to power our grid by 2030. That is only six years away, the statement from Abbott and Patrick said.

The statement said Texas has approximately 85,000 megawatts of power available counting wind, solar, coal, nuclear and natural gas. If the new estimate is correct, the updated numbers provided will call for an immediate review of all policies concerning the grid.

KXAN previously reported last November Texans voted on a proposition that created the Texas Energy Fund, providing a $5 billion low-interest program to incentivize the building of more dispatchable natural gas plants.

Texas has already received notice of intent to apply for $39 billion in loans, making the program nearly eight times oversubscribed. With the new projections for 2030, we will seek to expand the program to $10 billion to build more new plants as soon as possible, the statement from Abbott and Patrick said.

The average plant will take three to four years to complete, and new transmission lines will take three to six years to complete, according to the statement.

Texas is currently the fastest state to approve and build new plants and transmission lines because of our low regulations and pro-business policies, but we must move quickly, the statement from Abbott and Patrick 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 KXAN Austin.
Abilene man accused of 1999 child sex crime after another alleged assault 20+ years later

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene man is now accused of a child sex crime that happened in 1999 after committing another alleged assault more than 20 years later.

Jesus Valencia was booked into the Taylor County Jail Sunday on one count of Indecency with a Child and one count of Sexual Assault of a Child in connection to the allegations.

Court documents state a 14-year-old child made an outcry to a trusted adult in February 2024, saying he had been sexually assaulted by Valencia on three separate occasions in late 2023.

While interviewing Valencia about these allegations, the documents state detectives learned Valencia had been questioned about another child sex crime in 2001.

Detectives contacted this previous victim, who was now nearly 40-years-old, who claimed he was sexually assaulted by Valencia for multiple years beginning in 1999.

Valencia now remains held in the Taylor County Jail on bonds totaling $100,000.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Amarillo residents will vote on a so-called abortion travel ban in November, one of the few times Texas voters will have a say on abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

Supporters of the measure, who gathered 6,300 verified signatures to petition for approval of the ordinance, submitted their request to city officials to have it placed on the Nov. 5 ballot after the Amarillo City Council rejected it last month, per local rules.

Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley confirmed reports about the committee requesting to add the ordinance to the November ballot. Stanley said the request will be on the agenda for the councils next meeting on July 9. The council will take a procedural vote, which Stanley said is expected to pass, so it will be officially placed on the ballot.

This ballot move is the latest salvo in the battle over abortion rights in the conservative Panhandle city, and in a state with one of the most restrictive bans in the nation.

The ordinance, first proposed by anti-abortion activists, aims to forbid the use of the citys roads and highways to seek an abortion out of the state. It would punish anyone aiding a woman seeking the procedure, including by providing funds or transportation, and be enforced through private lawsuits, similar to a 2021 state law that prohibited abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

The measure does not call for pregnant women to be punished for having an abortion elsewhere. However, Jonathan Mitchell, an anti-abortion lawyer who is working with the ordinances supporters, has filed legal petitions seeking to depose women he claims traveled outside Texas for abortions.

If passed, the measure would not directly stop interstate travel. But legal experts say it is still a violation of constitutional rights and have called the bans legally dubious.

After the Amarillo City Council balked at passing the ordinance last year, residents began collecting signatures to petition to have the council consider the measure, and to place it on a local ballot if it wasn't passed by the council. Last month, the council rejected both the original ordinance and an amended version that would have declared the city a sanctuary city for the unborn and prohibited using city roads and highways to seek abortion out of state.

Once the council rejected it, supporters of the ordinance were allowed to place it on the ballot for local voters.

The people will speak and we will hear what they want, Amarillo City Council member Tom Scherlen said. Through our process, we will see which side wins.

Scherlen added, When it gets down to it, we live in a democratic society where the vote does count.

There have been voting referendums on abortion in other states, but the one in Amarillo moves toward restricting access instead of restoring it. Since the Dobbs decision, voters in only four states  California, Michigan, Ohio and Vermont  have approved measures that amend their respective state constitutions to protect abortion rights, according to data from KFF. Two measures that sought to curtail rights in Kansas and Kentucky failed.

In nine states, there are citizen-initiated measures seeking to protect or recognize abortion rights by putting the issue on a statewide ballot.

Stanley said the council would still have a role in making sure the public is properly notified on the language of the ordinance, because there are differences from similar laws passed by other cities and counties in Texas.

In a statement, the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a local advocacy group that has rallied against the ordinance, said the travel ban had a clear and resounding rejection.

We are deeply disappointed that the misguided initiating committee has chosen to ignore the majority of Amarillo citizens and our duly elected representatives by placing this unconstitutional ban on the ballot, the group said in a statement.

Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!

Correction, July 3, 2024 at 2:43 p.m. : A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that a proposed abortion travel ban vote in Amarillo would be the first time Texas voters have weighed in on the issue since the overturn of Roe v. Wade. At least four other Texas cities have voted on abortion laws.
The Austin Community College board of trustees unanimously approved a new scholarship Monday meant to propel current ACC students to successfully complete their degree by paying for their last 15 credit hours of tuition.

The Affordability Scholarship, which will be funded by a one-time $12.75 million payment from ACC's reserves, could benefit about 20,000 eligible students, the college estimated based on its spring 2024 enrollment.

I don't know a college in the country who's been willing to put such important financial resources and betting on their students the way this group of trustees has done, ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart told the American-Statesman after the vote. So I'm really proud of them and really proud of the college.

The board's scholarship approval comes after the historic April 1 passage of the free tuition pilot program at ACC, which offers free tuition to eligible 2024 high school graduates and students who completed their GED after July 2023.

Austin Community College

Board Chair Barbara Mink abstained from voting for the free tuition pilot in favor of better supporting current students. When the board approved the pilot tuition program, it agreed to investigate how to best support current students toward completing their degrees.

The new scholarship accelerates Lowery-Hart's goal of eventually expanding free tuition to all.

More: Austin Community College OKs free tuition program for eligible 2024 high school graduates

How does ACC's tuition scholarship work?

In the spirit of fairness, students who were enrolled in spring 2024  the semester when the free tuition proposal passed  are eligible for the scholarship if they complete 45 hours within two years, Lowery-Hart proposed to the board.

Eligibility for the Affordability Scholarship is based off the eligibility for the free tuition program  covering the $87 per credit hour fee and general fees for in-district students. It does not cover out-of-district fees or tuition for students not within ACCs service area.

Once a student reaches 45 hours toward their degree, they will automatically receive the new tuition credit, but students can decide how to distribute it, Lowery-Hart said. Students must use their 15-hour credit within a year.

More: Austin Community College Faculty Senate asks for 8.5% raise; college proposes 4.5%

Like the free tuition program, as a first-dollar scholarship students will be able to use existing scholarships, such as Pell Grants, toward other living costs.

Lowery-Hart said the Affordability Team at ACC will next work on how to structure, market and launch the program, but it will aim to launch by the fall semester.

This affordability scholarship wouldn't have happened if student leaders had not come to the board meeting and voiced their support for the free tuition pilot, but also say Don't ignore us, Lowery-Hart said. I'm really proud to work for a group of trustees that heard our students so profoundly and have spent such intentional thought on trying to find a way to do exactly what the students asked us to.

Carey OBrien Cranor, an ACC student and the senator in student government representing the Rio Grande campus, initially proposed that current students have their last semester of their degree free when the board was debating free tuition. He then talked with the chancellor and watched the proposal evolve.

This is a huge win for adult learners, non-traditional learners, Cranor said. Because they're the ones who often need help and are often forgotten.

More: Texas HB 8 funding is here. Here's what it means for Austin Community College, others.

Where does the ACC scholarship money come from?

The reserves would be reduced from 5.85 months of operating cost to 5.53 months, but Lowery-Hart projects that by the end of this fiscal year the college would have about $12 to $14 million to put back in, equalizing the expense, they told the board.

ACC policy requires four months of reserves, but the board has discussed raising it to six months. Lowery-Hart told board members that hes confident the college could still achieve that goal.

The scholarship comes after Lowery-Harts proposal of a sustainable six-hour momentum scholarship and a greater investment in emergency aid, with board members asking for a more significant investment for current students. The fiscal year 2025 budget  which the board also passed Monday  includes at least $500,000 for student emergency aid, with flexibility for the college to add more if the funding runs out.

This aid could be the difference between sleeping in a car and sleeping in a bed, Myles Lopez-Cepero, an ACC student and soon-to-be student government senator, told the Statesman in an interview. This really protects and safeguards students from getting caught up in that vulnerable circuit.

Lopez-Cepero said the scholarship the board passed Monday could be an example for other colleges, and help make the institutions more money, as House Bill 8, a transformational new funding model for community colleges that lawmakers passed last legislative session, rewards colleges for credentials of values earned.

I can easily see that meeting turning into the page on a history textbook one of these days, Lopez-Cepero said.

The ACC board passed its fiscal year 2025 budget, but it did not include the 8.5% pay raise the Faculty Senate had asked for. Instead, the board approved an across-the-board 4.5% raise, what the administration asserted was the highest of any competitor, with a plan to revisit how to best support employees' wrap-around needs.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: ACC Board approves scholarship to cover last 15 hours of tuition
AccuWeather has called out X (formerly Twitter) for falsely undermining a Hurricane Beryl forecast through its community notes system designed to add context to potentially misleading posts.

The weather forecasting company reported Thursday, before Beryl was a tropical storm, that the system could pose a threat to the Caribbean as a tropical storm or hurricane. The system then grew into Category 4 hurricane that has since unleashed sustained winds of 150 mph on Grenada's Carriacou Island and on Monday remained a "extremely dangerous major hurricane" for the eastern Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The note claimed that official hurricane forecasts can only come from the National Hurricane Center and that the forecast had "very little data to back it up and has a low chance of verifying."

AccuWeather Chief Executive Officer Steven R. Smith said the only inaccurate information found on the post is within the community note itself. He said the community note created doubt when the service tried to convey life-saving information.

The tropical Atlantic is heating up with at least one system that may pose a threat to the Caribbean as a tropical storm or hurricane. https://t.co/N2hMNVA4uq pic.twitter.com/evwfpcNmpi  AccuWeather (@accuweather) June 27, 2024

"We issued that forecast because when we know something it is our philosophy to tell people because it's in the interest of public safety," Smith told USA TODAY Monday. "In this case here there's no other way to say it, then they just got it wrong. It's just flat out wrong."

AccuWeather's editorial department raised these concerns with X but did not receive a response. AccuWeather also posted a video Friday explaining how the forecasts are based with science and offer potentially life-saving information.

Every hour counts with hurricane preparation

The Thursday forecast offered a notice 24 to 30 hours before any other professional weather service, Smith said, noting it was no time for X to create unnecessary doubt for readers.

"Every hour, every minute counts when you're talking about preparation and in this case "potentially life and death decisions that have to happen here," Smith said. "Typically, hurricanes are a little different than tornadoes and severe thunderstorms where you have minutes to take action... It takes longer for people to actually both recognize it and then take action on it."

AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said the service's mission in issuing forecasts ahead of all other sources, including the government, is to offer every extra hour they can get to adequately prepare for hurricane impact. He added that service's meteorologists make forecasts using its access to over 190 computer forecast guides and models as well as over 100 weather experts with decades of experience.

"We don't make those forecasts lightly. It's a very deliberate forecast that we made at that point in time in order to be able to provide people and businesses with extra advanced notice, which we believe was life saving," Porter said.

Hurricane Beryl heading toward Jamaica and Mexico

The storm, currently a Category 4 hurricane, will bring damaging gusts for the southern Windward Islands devastating impacts that will take months or years to rebuild particularly areas known for tourism, Porter said.

He added the storm is currently heading towards Jamaica with damaging winds, flooding rainfall and mudslides being a concern for parts of Hispaniola. The storm is forecast to move toward Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula later this week when it should lose some wind intensity, but it will still be considered dangerous.

"Then also there can even be impacts likely perhaps flooding, heavy rainfall, even up to South Texas here as we head into the weekend. These are things that we're monitoring and we'll be refining over the next couple of days," Porter said.

Hurricane Beryl path tracker

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AccuWeather calls out X for false community note on hurricane post
The active Russia-Ukraine front line has recently expanded as intense fighting continues in the areas of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 2.

He added that the intensity of fighting in other segments of the front line has recently decreased.

The Toretsk sector in Donetsk Oblast has become another hotspot in recent weeks, the general said. Fierce fighting of different intensity is also ongoing in the Kurakhove, Vremivka, Kramatorsk and Kharkiv sectors, according to Syrskyi.

Moscow's troops have increased their attacks near the town of Toretsk in June after a "long lull" in fighting in the area. Russia carried out 17 attacks in this direction, Ukraine's General staff said in its latest update on July 2.

The situation in the Pokrovsk sector is difficult, according to Syrskyi. Russia wants to break through Ukraine's defenses and has rotated strike units, removing the units "whose assault forces have completely lost their combat capability," Syrskyi said.

"Despite the reinforcement of our units with reserves, this area requires constant attention and additional ammunition and firepower," he added.

The key problem for Ukrainian commanders are "manning units with motivated, well-trained military," Syrskyi said, as well as providing soldiers with modern electronic warfare and air defense equipment capable of effectively countering Russian drones.

"We have an advantage in the number and quality of combat copters, primarily bombers and FPV drones, and the skill of the operators who use them. This is the key to our success and the safety of our soldiers," Syrskyi said.

Read also: As Russian tank losses in Ukraine continue to mount, heres what you need to know

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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.

How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties? Forfor molesting a woman in public, for doing a whole range of things, of having sex with a porn star  while your wife was pregnant. What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat. President Joe Biden, speaking to former President Donald Trump during last Thursdays debate on CNN

Less than a day after the first presidential debate of 2024, mere hours into my attempt to cleanse the haunting memory of Thursdays televised slow-motion political car crash from my mind, I received a text. Hey folks, its Joe, the headline read. On Thursday, I spent 90 minutes debating on a stage with a guy who has all the morals of an alleycat.

It was a callback to an insult from the debate stage, one that Biden used again at a campaign rally in North Carolina last Friday. Ill admit it has a certain ring to it, but it was curious to see the alley cat line from Biden three times in one week. 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, the text from the president continued. But, the reasoning went, at least Biden wasnt anything like his opponent Donald Trump, the apparent alley cat.

Its an interesting window into one of the many problems with this Biden-Trump rematch. During the debate, Trump told about one lie every 100 seconds, according to multiple Democratic officials (claiming at one point that they [doctors] will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth, with zero pushback or fact-checking from CNNs debate moderators), but Bidens halting, frail, and just plain odd responses stuck with viewers more than Trumps wildest absurdities. Vice President Kamala Harris (among other top officials in Bidens circle) predictably attempted to defend Biden, stating to Georgia voters on Friday that in a real leader, character matters more than style.

For Biden at least, thats true; he has the record of more than five decades in politics to prove it. And yet, are we trying to pretend that the current president doesnt have a certain  style? The alley cat comment was one of few stylistic flourishes from last weeks debate that were reminiscent of what Biden used to be known fora debate style that is aggressive and full of folksy, old-fashioned witticisms like malarkey. A day before the debate, the New York Times even published a whole interactive story about it.

Voters like myself didnt walk away from Thursdays debate comparing Bidens style to his character; were just terrified that his style has been replaced with very visible physical and cognitive declineand that he wont be able to appropriately lead the country, let alone win his reelection campaign in November.

Its probably why that alley cat quip actually stuckit was one of the few lighthearted, meme-able moments of the debate. It immediately trended on Twitter and spiked on Google search. And as expected, internet denizens everywhere started making jokes.

do alley cats have like famously bad morals or is this just a harmful stereotype  bald ann dowd (@ali_sivi) June 28, 2024

A quick search for a dictionary definition will tell you that an alley cat refers to a person of loose morals; also, a promiscuous woman, which, yes, makes the insult funnier. Biden was attempting a swipe at Trump over his sleazy sexual encounters with Stormy Daniels, E. Jean Carroll, and various other women over the years. Yet as Bloomberg Televisions Joe Mathieu put it in a post-debate segment, Im not sure how many twentysomethings have ever heard that wordalley catused in that way.

Fellow twentysomething here: No, I have never heard that specific phrase before. However, I will confess that I understood where Biden was going with it, deducing from context clues and a lifelong love of Disneys The Aristocats (featuring Thomas OMalley as the alley cat) and Frank Loessers classic 1950s musical Guys and Dolls (featuring the ladies of the suggestive Hot Box Club dancing as black cats in, yes, an alley). Bidens quip entertained me. It also reminded me just how old he is.

Because the insultthe one vestige of Bidens formidable and disarming debating stylemade me feel like a patron in a Texas saloon circa 1843. For all the campaigns increased ad presence on Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTokfor all the talk about inviting a slew of left-leaning Gen-Z influencers to the Democratic National Convention in August for promotional purposesJoe Bidens style simply isnt current. Or at the very least, it simply isnt current enough.

That isnt necessarily a bad thing; after all, sometimes a folksy style of politicking can appeal to audiences if projected successfully. Remember Bernie Sanders in his mittens during Bidens inauguration? Yet what makes Bidens style in particular fall flat is how it fails to meet the moment. After all, alley cat is a weirdly sedate way to refer to a convicted felon who tried to orchestrate a literal coup. That it was Bidens best quip of the night is extremely telling. And if thats all the Biden campaign can offer up in terms of styleto the point of repeating it over and over again, in ads and via textno amount of character can make up the difference.

Slate wants to help. Submit your questions here. Its anonymous! No question is too dumbor too existential.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. The day before the official opening of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana, a meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place on July 3, a Russian presidential foreign policy aide told reporters, Trend reports.

To note, the SCO summit will be held on July 4 under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan. The event will be held for the first time in the format of the "Meeting of the Council of Heads of SCO Member States" and the "SCO Plus" Meeting.

The heads of state will consider a wide range of issues that contribute to further strengthening the multifaceted cooperation of the SCO, and its prospects, as well as solving urgent international and regional problems.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A 33-year-old Ada County man was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for possessing and producing child pornography, according to a news release from the Idaho Attorney Generals Office.

Manuel Paul Apalatequi pleaded guilty to felony sexual exploitation of a child by production of sexually exploitative material and felony sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitative material.

He was sentenced on June 28 by District Judge Derrick ONeill in Ada County, but the term of 25 years carries five years fixed and 20 years indeterminate, meaning he could be eligible for parole after serving five. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victims for 30 years, and he must register as a sex offender upon his release.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit received numerous CyberTips from Synchronoss Technologies in which child sexual abuse material was being uploaded between summer 2022 and late 2023, the release said, and it was from a phone number associated with Apalatequi.

Officers obtained a search warrant for his home and phone, and said they discovered about 1,000 files of child sexual abuse material. Apalatequi also was having conversations with underage girls that included exchanging of sexually explicit photos and videos, according to the release. He threatened to release one victims photos unless she sent him more, authorities said.

Im grateful for the hard work done by ICAC investigators and the prosecutor in this case, Attorney General Raul Labrador said in the release. A sentence of this magnitude speaks to the seriousness of the crimes committed, and its one more predator off the streets instead of targeting our children for sexual abuse and extortion.

The Boise Police Department assisted in the investigation, and Deputy Attorney General Madison Allen prosecuted the case.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (KREX)  Adam Frisch, candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 election Tuesday.

It has been clear to me for some time  and the debate only reinforced it  neither candidate should be running for president. We need a president that can unite America to realize our nations unlimited potential, Frisch said in a video statement. We deserve better. President Biden should do whats best for the country and withdraw from the race.

In a press release containing his video statement, Frisch added, There is far more that unites us than divides us I am not focused on Team Democrat or Team Republican, but Team CD3.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
A view of the memorial at Re'im, Israel, on Dec. 22, 2023, to the victims of the massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists at the Love dance party on Oct. 7, 2023. The Anti-Defamation League on Monday filed a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. victims of that attack against Iran, Syria and North Korea for supporting Hamas' assault. File Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI

July 2 (UPI) -- The Anti-Defamation League is suing Iran, Syria and North Korea in a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit on allegations they provided material support that Hamas used to commit its surprise attack on Israel.

Announced Monday, the pro-Israel lobby group and anti-semitism watchdog filed its lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of 125 U.S. citizens who were victims of the Oct. 7 attack or family members of U.S. citizen victims.

The lawsuit is seeking no less than $4 billion dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.

"Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of anti-semitism and terror -- along with Syria and North Korea, they must be held responsible for their roles in the largest anti-semitic attack since the Holocaust," Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and national director, said in a statement.

Hamas killed some 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped about 250 more on Oct. 7 when it launched its surprise and gruesome attack on Israel.

The lawsuit, based on publicly available information, states that Hamas could not have carried out such a complicated and calculated attack without "the support and sponsorship" of Iran, Syria and North Korea.

It also states that the three countries "knew Hamas would use its support and resources to carry out attacks, such as the Oct. 7 attack."

"The terrorists were not an independent band of marauders. They were organized death squads deployed by their terrorist organizations and supported, funded and supplied by their terrorist-sponsoring countries, who have consistently supported and sponsored terrorist attacks on Americans and their allies, including Israel, and continue to do so today," the lawsuit states.

The ADL said that its lawsuit seeks to hold those responsible for the Oct. 7 attack to account under the Terrorism Exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.

However, such lawsuits are often ignored by the defendant countries, but it could be a way for the defendants to secure compensation from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, a fund created by Congress to compensate individuals who are victims of terrorism.

"There is more than ample precedent for this case: U.S. courts have repeatedly held Iran, Syria and North Korea responsible for material support of terrorist attacks that harmed U.S. and dual U.S.-Israeli citizens," James Pasch, ADL senior director of National Litigation and ADL's lead counsel on this case, said in a statement.

"There is also clear evidence that these state sponsors of terrorism provided material support to Hamas terrorists that enabled the terrorists to commit the atrocities on Oct. 7."

Israel has responded to Hamas' attack by waging a brutal war against the Iran-backed militia in Gaza that has so far killed nearly 38,000 Palestinians, according to the latest figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry
An activist for Native American and indigenous peoples in the American Indian Movement still serving two life terms for murder, Peltier, now 79, has been considered a "political prisoner" by groups such Amnesty International since his lockup decades ago. Photo courtesy of the FBI/UPI

July 2 (UPI) -- Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist imprisoned for nearly 50 years, on Tuesday was denied parole, prompting Amnesty International to call on U.S. President Joe Biden to grant clemency to the ailing 79-year-old.

Because of his age and the next scheduled full hearing on parole not being until 2039, Tuesday's development could mean Peltier, considered by many to be the longest serving political prisoner in the United States, will remain incarcerated until his death unless he gets clemency.

To keep Peltier locked behind bars was called "a human rights travesty," Amnesty International said Tuesday in response to the U.S. Parole Commission's denial of Peltier's parole request after a June 10 hearing.

An activist for Native American and indigenous peoples in the American Indian Movement still serving two life terms for murder, Peltier has been considered a "political prisoner" by groups such as Amnesty International since his lockup decades ago after what many called a questionable trial.

"No one should be imprisoned after a trial riddled with uncertainty about its fairness," Amnesty USA's Executive Director Paul O'Brien said Tuesday. "We are now calling on President Biden, once again, to grant Leonard Peltier clemency on humanitarian grounds and as a matter of mercy and justice."

While the White House has so far stayed silent on the topic, a unanimous 2022 Democratic National Committee resolution urged Biden to release Peltier joined by dozens of members of Congress in both the Senate and House chambers, along with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and the Senate's Indian Affairs Committee chairman, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.

Peltier, convicted in the 1975 murders of two FBI agents -- Jack Coler and Ron Williams -- on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, in 2004 asked a judge to release files he believes would grant him a new trial, contending that he was framed by the U.S. government and that he would be exonerated if certain documents were publicly released.

"Today is a sad day for Indigenous Peoples and justice everywhere. The U.S. Parole Commission's denial of parole for Leonard Peltier, America's longest serving Indigenous political prisoner, is a travesty," Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective, said Tuesday.

His trial was widely viewed to be riddled with alleged FBI or other judicial misconduct in the fight to convict Peltier. The FBI Agents Association "strongly opposed" Peltier's release as Peltier has since maintained his innocence.

Peltier "has been afforded his rights and due process time and again, and repeatedly, the weight of the evidence has supported his conviction and his life sentence," FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday praising the Parole Commission decision.

"Not only are there ongoing, unresolved concerns about the fairness of his trial, he has spent nearly 50 years in prison, is approaching 80 years old, and suffers from several chronic health problems," said O'Brien.

Currently housed in a Florida maximum security prison in regular lockdown, Peltier reportedly requires a walker to move and is blind in one eye from a previous stroke. In 1985, he alleged mistreatment while in federal prison.

Ahead of the June 10's hearing, Peltier's lawyer Kevin Sharp did acknowledge how the parole request was "probably his last chance" to be freed. An interim parole status hearing is set for 2026 with full hearing slated for 2039 when Peltier would be 94-years-old, he said Tuesday.

In a letter last month urging the parole commission to act, Amnesty, which has been involved with Peltier's case since 1977, reiterated its concern about the legal process which ultimately led to Peltier's conviction and sentencing, citing his age, length of time served and "critical health issues," such as diabetes and an aortic aneurysm.

"Given the ongoing, unresolved concerns about the fairness of Leonard Peltier's incarceration," O'Brien wrote ahead of the June 10 parole hearing, "that he has spent nearly 50 years in prison, his age, and ongoing and chronic health issues, granting parole on humanitarian grounds in this case is not only timely but a necessary measure in the interests of both justice and mercy."

The last time Peltier was denied presidential immunity was 2009 when former President George W. Bush on his way out of office had refused to grant Peltier a clemency request in a series of others issued on Bush's exit from the White House.

A Missouri inmate testifying in a 1985 transfer hearing at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners claimed a federal prison official had asked him to kill Peltier, saying how two men approached Robert Hugh Wilson in May 1978 at their Illinois federal prison with a deal that if he murdered Peltier, in return Wilson would receive immediate medical treatment and seven detainers against him would be dropped.
Passengers stuck in overhead bins and suffer skull fractures during severe turbulence on Air Europa flight

Passengers stuck in overhead bins and suffer skull fractures during severe turbulence on Air Europa flight

A Montevideo-bound Air Europa flight made an emergency landing in Brazil after being hit by strong turbulence that left passengers stuck inside overhead bins and dozens of others with head, neck and chest injuries.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was flying from Madrid, Spain, to the Uruguayan capital when it made the diversion and landed at the Natal airport in northeastern Brazil at 2.32am local time on Monday.

The flight with 325 passengers on board was hit by turbulence over the Atlantic as it neared Brazils coast, a spokesperson for the airline said.

The plane landed normally and those injured of varying severity are already being treated, they said.

Some of the passengers suffered head, neck and chest injuries, the New York Times quoted Brazilian public health officials as saying. There were blood stains on an airplane seat, the report said.

Air Europa said a second plane would depart from Madrid later to take the passengers to Uruguay.

The inside of the Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner after it landed in Brazil (UGC/AFP via Getty)

Thirty passengers were taken to hospitals in Natal with injuries ranging from minor abrasions to cuts and cranial fractures.

They included nationals of Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, Bolivia and Israel, according to officials.

Pictures posted on social media by one of the passengers showed broken ceiling panels with visible pipes and wires inside the cabin. Another photo showed multiple ambulances waiting on the tarmac in Natal.

One passenger described the scene on the flight as it was caught in turbulence, which sent some people flying through the cabin and getting stuck in one of the overhead baggage compartments.

A video shared on Twitter/X showed a passengers legs sticking out from one of the overhead bins as two people attempted to bring him down.

A person was left hanging between the plastic ceiling and the metal roof behind it and they had to be brought down, Evangelina Saravia, passenger from Uruguay, told broadcaster Telemundo. The same thing happened to a baby.

Another passenger, Romina Apai, said the man sitting next to her "got stuck in the roof, in the bin. We could not find him".

When the plane stabilised people fell on top of seats, on top of other people, she said.

There are passengers with fractures and injuries to their arms, faces and legs," a passenger identified only as Stevan told Reuters. "There are about 30 people injured. It was a pretty horrible feeling; we thought we were going to die there, but thank god it didnt happen.

The incident comes just a month after an elderly British man died and several other passengers and crew suffered injuries when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence during a flight from London.

A week later, 12 passengers were injured when a flight from Doha to Dublin suffered turbulence.

It is rare for turbulence to cause injuries on flights and even rarer for passengers to lose their lives as a result.

One study suggests aircraft encounter severe clear air turbulence at least 790 times per year, or about once every 11 hours.
The Air Forces newest schoolhouse is now open as the service prepares to educate its incoming corps of warrant officers for the first time in six decades.

The Warrant Officer Training School formally launched June 28 at the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Air Force opens applications for warrant officer jobs in cyber, IT

Activating the school is the next step in bringing back the services latest crop of warrant officers, who are to become technical and operational experts and advisers for the force in cyber operations and information technology as the service seeks to boost military readiness in a race to outpace China and other adversaries.

The reintroduction of warrant officers to the Air Force is another example of the force adapting personnel policies to best compete in emerging security landscapes. Holm Center Commander Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell said in a statement. The warrant officer will serve on the virtual front lines, allowing us to stay ahead of rapidly advancing threats while safeguarding national security interests.

The Air Force phased out warrant officers in 1959 after the establishment of the senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant ranks (E-8 and E-9). The services last warrant officer, Chief Warrant Officer James Long, retired from the 438th Transportation Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, in 1980, according to an Air Force history.

Air Force eyes picking first cyber warrant officer cohort this summer

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall formally announced plans for the new roles in February; the Air Force opened applications April 25. The first cohort of 60 warrant officers will be split into two classes of 30, with one class expected to begin in October and graduate in December before reporting to their duty stations the following month. The second class is expected to begin in early 2025.

Competition for the 60 slots was tough: 301 airmen who applied for the roles met with the selection board, Air Force spokesperson Sarah Fiocco told Air Force Times. Those who make the cut are expected to be notified later this month.

The warrant officer curriculum will focus on five foundational principles, the Air Force said: communicate, advise, influence, innovate and integrate.

We are in the business of producing airmen, Maj. Nathaniel Roesler, commandant of the WOTS, said in a statement. These specialists come to us with technical expertise, and our mission is to develop them to be better warfighters, advisors, and integrators, ready to fly, fight and win during great power competition. We will answer that call.
Airline complaints can now be filed with the Oklahoma Attorney Generals office

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  As part of an agreement between the Oklahoma Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Oklahomans will now be able to submit complaints about airline carriers and ticket agents to the AGs office.

Prior to the agreement, the federal government was responsible for handling airline complaint investigations. The new agreement, according to a news release from the AGs office, streamlines the process, allowing consumers to submit complaints at the state level.

Consumers may fill out a complaint form for issues including flight disruptions, lack of refunds or lost or delayed luggage.

New grocery tax elimination bill to take effect in August

Airline passengers deserve to be treated fairly and to receive the services for which they pay, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said. Our hope is that this airline complaint form will improve ease for Oklahomans to lodge a complaint directly with the Attorney Generals office. I am committed to protecting all Oklahomans from deceptive and prohibited conduct.

The agreement between Oklahoma and DOT is said to be for a two-year term, and may be extended in two-year intervals.

The airline complaint form can be found at oklahoma.gov/oag.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Airline passengers headed to Uruguay had a scary incident with dozens injured when a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operated by Air Europa hit severe turbulence on a flight en route to Montevideo from Madrid, Spain on Monday. And in the ensuing chaos, one passenger reportedly became lodged above an overhead bin.

Flight UX045 was forced to make an emergency landing at Natal Airport in northeastern Brazil just after 2:30 a.m. According to the health secretariat of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, around 30 passengers were taken to local hospitals in Natal with minor abrasions or orthopedic traumas.

"Our flight bound for Montevideo was diverted to Natal due to strong turbulence," Air Europa said in a statement, via Newsweek. "The plane landed normally, and those injured are already being treated."

In shocking photos and video posted to social media by one passenger, Mariela Jodal, the interior cabin could be seen in complete disarray, with ceiling panels torn off and oxygen masks suspended above seats. Outside the cabin window, a team of ambulances were visible waiting to transport injured passengers.

"AirEuropa flight UX 045 Madrid-Montevideo, with several injured due to very strong turbulence," Jodal captioned one post on X. In a follow-up post, she blasted the airline for leaving them "stranded."

"Air Europa absent! After the crash of flight UX 045, the crew left, leaving us stranded at the Natal airport," she wrote. "They do not give us information on how we will return to Montevideo."

Vuelo de AirEuropa UX 045 Madrid-Montevideo, con varios heridos por turbulencia muy fuerte.

Aterrizamos en Natal pic.twitter.com/jHFzb6mV1g  Mariela Jodal (@MarielaJodal) July 1, 2024

In a shocking video taken in the immediate aftermath of the turbulence, the passenger can be seen stuck above the overhead binlikely in a section of the plane's ceilingwith his feet sticking out. TMZ reports that fellow passengers helped dislodge the man and return him to his seat.

"Those who did not have a seatbelt flew and some remained hooked to the ceiling. It lasted about 3.5 seconds," one passenger from Uruguay told the local newspaper El Observador. "A long time after that, there was very slight turbulence, barely felt, and suddenly, the plane abruptly falls and we all rise."

This latest is the latest in a series of severe turbulence issues on commercial flights. One man was killed and dozens more injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London experienced a sudden mid-air drop due to extreme turbulence back in May.

Unfortunately, research has shown that due to the effects of climate change, incidents of severe turbulence will likely only become more common in the future.
This article was originally published in Alaska Beacon.

Alaskas Supreme Court justices on Friday reversed a Superior Court ruling that struck down key components of the states correspondence school program.

Nearly 23,000 homeschool students may continue to use their allotments of state education money to pay for private school tuition until the Anchorage Superior Court reconsiders the case.

The Supreme Court made its decision a day after oral arguments in an appeal of the ruling in State of Alaska, Department of Education and Early Development v. Alexander, in which plaintiffs argued that it is unconstitutional for public education money to be spent on private school tuition.

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The justices explained that they issued a summary ruling quickly to avoid affecting thousands of students education and will complete a formal ruling later.

Supreme Court justices agreed with the states hired lawyer, Elbert Lin, that the lower court wrongly decided the states statute was unconstitutional in its entirety. They said state law could be preserved because there are many constitutionally permissible uses of allotment funds.

They sent the ruling back and directed the Superior Court to consider whether spending is unconstitutional on a case-by-case basis. That could mean individual districts, which are directly responsible for monitoring allotment spending, would be the defendants, rather than the Department of Education and Early Development. The justices wrote that they could not make such a ruling now because no districts were present, or joined in the lawsuit, at the time of the appeal.

They also directed the Superior Court to consider a group of correspondence families argument that the U.S. Constitution requires the state to allow families to use allotments on private school tuition.

Both the state and the parents who use state money to send their children to private schools asked the court to decide whether it is constitutional for families to spend the homeschool allotment on full-time private school tuition.

We decline to make such a ruling at this point, the justices wrote, and explained that the issue did not come up in the original case and neither plaintiffs nor the correspondence families submitted arguments about it in their appeal.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Education Commissioner Deena Bishop and Attorney General Trag Taylor praised the decision. The Alaska Supreme Court clearly saw the flaws in the prior decision and in the plaintiffs arguments, said Taylor in a news release. To strike down the entire statutory scheme on the allegations of one type of unconstitutional spending does not comport with the laws of statutory and constitutional interpretation. Statutes are presumed constitutional and there must be a high bar to strike them down. This is a win for the rule of law as well as Alaskan families.

Taylors wife Jodi Taylor wrote a step-by-step description of how families can use allotments for classes at private schools.

Scott Kendall, attorney for the plaintiffs, said the justices decision may not be what he wanted, but he feels confident about the case.

They were much more concerned with the procedural aspects of their case, not the substance, he said.

When the Superior Court reconsiders the case, the plaintiffs could identify a district that allows correspondence allotments. Kendall said that a school district may even seek to join the case of its own volition, to argue that its practices should be allowed.

I am not a betting man, but if I was, I would bet big money on the fact that you cannot constitutionally spend public funds through a correspondence program for tuition at a private school, he said. Its just going to take us just a bit longer to reach that ultimate outcome.

Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alaska Beacon maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew Kitchenman for questions: info@alaskabeacon.com. Follow Alaska Beacon on Facebook and X.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. The Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan has expressed gratitude to the country for the conditions created in connection with the voting in the June 28 presidential elections in Iran, Trend reports.

The diplomatic mission highly appreciates the participation of Iranians living in Azerbaijan in the first round of the 14th presidential election and expresses deep gratitude to the government of the country for cooperation and assistance in creating favorable conditions and platforms for voting.

The Iranian Embassy stated that, with the consent of the Government of Azerbaijan, voting in the second round of the 14th presidential election will be held on July 5, 2024, from 8:00 to 18:00 at the Consular Section of the Embassy located at 269 Sharifzadeh Street.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A group of people from Albuquerque was involved in a crash in the Texas panhandle killing one of them. According to Texas Highway Patrol, the group of four was on I-40 west of Amarillo toward New Mexico when the car veered off the road.

BCSO: Couple faces abuse charges after 1-year-old suffers injuries

They said the car rolled, ejecting 47-year-old Fabiola Ahumada-Castillo who was killed as a result. Authorities said she did not wear a seatbelt. The other three people were transported to an Amarillo hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Texas Highway Patrol troopers are investigating the crash.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
A 21-year-old Alexandria man was arrested Sunday, accused of killing a man in June on Overton Street, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

A 21-year-old Alexandria man was arrested Sunday, accused of killing a man in June on Overton Street, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

Robert Drakes III was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center #1 at 11:01 p.m. on one count of second-degree murder. Bail was set at $1 million.

According to the department, Drakes was arrested in connection to the shooting that killed one person on June 18 in the 2700 block of Overton Street. Although officers chased people in a vehicle the department stated was involved in the shooting, the occupants ran from the car at Monroe Street and Louisiana Avenue.

Nobody was apprehended at the time, reads a news release.

Drakes has no court dates set yet in this case, but he is expected in the 9th Judicial Court on Aug. 21 for a pretrial hearing in another felony case. He is charged with armed robbery in a case stemming from a Dec. 29 incident in which a cellphone was stolen from someone walking on Rosemary Drive.

Tayshaun Spearman case: Bail reduced for man accused in botched August robbery that killed Alexandria man

Tayshaun Spearman updates: Man facing another armed robbery charge in Alexandria incident now held on $2M+ bail

Also arrested in that case are Tayshaun Lamar Spearman and Ja'Cario Jamal Metoyer, both 19.

Metoyer was arrested the day after the incident. Online Rapides Parish Clerk of Court records show he is being held in Vernon Parish. Spearman remains in jail in downtown Alexandria since his arrest on unrelated charges on Feb. 5.

Both have a pretrial hearing in the armed robbery case on July 17.

The investigation into the homicide is continuing.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Alexandria Police arrest Robert Drakes III in Overton Street shooting
HOWELL  The Daily has confirmed Jeremy Michael Heath, 48, who faces open murder charges for a shooting at Metro Studios Ink in downtown Howell, was also a suspect in a high-profile Oakland County murder in 2009.

The open murder charge was announced by the Howell Police Department on Tuesday, July 2, joining charges of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. Heath was arraigned on those charges Monday.

The suspect in a fatal shooting at Metro Studios Ink in Howell was identified Monday, July 1.

Heath, of Clarkson, is accused of fatally shooting Sean Thompson, 46, of Howell, at Metro Studios Ink on Friday, June 28.

In a release Saturday, HPD said Thompson was on-scene causing a disturbance before the shooting. They added there was a known history of disputes between business staff and Thompson.

Though some outlets reported Thompson had a knife, HPD said there was no immediate indication he was armed, though threats of violence were made, leading Heath to allegedly fire one shot  which struck and killed Thompson.

The additional charge of open murder was brought on Tuesday based upon additional information discovered during the investigation," HPD wrote.

Open murder is a combination of first and second degree murder, which allows the jury to determine the degree based on the evidence presented at trial.

Heath's bond was originally set at $200,000, but it was revoked Tuesday.

Stabbing in Oakland County

This isn't the first time Heath has been suspected of murder, a fact The Daily has confirmed through social media posts from the Michigan State Police and conversations with Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy and Deputy Police Chief Brent Wasson of Gillette, Wyoming.

In August 2009, Dennis McCarthy  who had previously been acquitted of molesting several children  was stabbed to death at his home in Holly Township. McCarthy had only just been released from jail for a separate sexual assault case before the break-in and attack that ended his life, according to reporting from The Tri-County Times.

Police believed the suspect who fled the scene was Heath  who, according to a post from the Michigan State Police in 2011, had not been seen since the homicide and "ended all contact with his family and children."

A post from the Michigan State Police in April 2011 noting Jeremy Michael Heath was wanted for a homicide in Holly Township.

According to The Times, MSP reported in 2012 that Heath was connected to someone who'd allegedly been sexually assaulted by McCarthy.

A warrant was issued for Heath's arrest, but it wasn't enacted until 2019, when Heath was arrested by police in Gillette, Wyoming.

Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds of Campbell County, Wyoming, confirmed that, while in a holding cell awaiting extradition to Michigan, Heath attacked another inmate, striking him and using his belly chain to choke him.

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According to The Gillette News Record, Heath said the inmate had boasted about raping a woman. Heath was charged with aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, but Reynolds said the charges were dropped because the inmate was uninjured and Heath faced charges in Michigan.

After his return to Michigan, Heath wasn't charged.

"The case is Holly Township is still open and assigned to our cold case section," Michael A. Shaw of the Michigan State Police told The Daily on Wednesday, July 3. "No one has been charged in that homicide."

Heath's next court date in Livingston County will be before Judge Murphy on Tuesday, July 9.

 Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Alleged tattoo studio shooter was suspect in 2009 Oakland County murder
(WFLA)  Yellow caution tape surrounded the front of a supermarket in South Carolina last week after an alligator was caught hiding underneath a corral of shopping carts.

Lisa Royal spotted the sneaky gator at the Publix in Summerville on June 26, quickly taking out her phone to capture a video.

It was so unbelievably out of the ordinary, I had to stop and document the moment, she told Nexstars WFLA.

Video of the gator encounter shows shoppers and workers standing around the caution tape, with carts blocking off the immediate area where the gator was hiding.

Yall this is happening right now, Royal said in the video. There is an alligator under the shopping carts outside.

Tuesday marks 30 years since 37 people killed in USAir crash near Charlotte airport

Jared Glover, a media relations manager with Publix, told Nexstar that the alligator was ultimately removed from the storefront area.

Our amazing team quickly contacted the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources who was able to safely relocate our reptilian friend, Glover said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.  An Alton, Illinois, man will appear in court Tuesday afternoon after being charged with crimes involving a 4-month-old.

According to court documents filed in the Madison County Circuit Court, the crimes took place between March 2 and June 4.

On June 27, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip from the Kik app that a user was distributing child pornography via their platform. Two of the images showed male genitals touching an infant. The tip was forwarded to the Edwardsville Police Department the next day.

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Edwardsville police said investigators reviewed information from Verizon and Charter, which helped them identify the IP address used to share the illicit material.

Police said the IP address was registered to the home of Nathan J. Welch, 31.

Welch allegedly admitted taking the pictures and sharing them.

The Madison County States Attorneys Office charged Welch with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and five counts of child pornography.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Lilly Biotechnology Center in San Diego, Calif. Credit - Getty Images

On July 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug for treating Alzheimers disease. Donanemab, or Kisunla, is the third drug approved to target one of the causes of Alzheimers: the buildup of amyloid protein in the brain. Based on the data provided by the drug's manufacturer, Eli Lilly, for the FDA to review, its the most effective drug yet in slowing cognitive decline associated with the disease.

Studies reviewed by the FDA showed that the drug slowed progression to the next more-advanced stage of the disease by 39%, which translates to anywhere from four to seven months longer during which people can be more independent and function without extensive support from caregivers. Over that period, those receiving donanemab showed about 40% less decline in their ability to perform daily tasks such as keeping appointments, making meals, and using household appliances.

By comparison, lecanemab (Leqembi), made by Eisai and approved in Jan. 2023, can slow cognitive decline by 27% compared to a placebo over 18 months. The makers of the other amyloid-targeting drug, aducanumab (Aduhelm), which in 2021 became the first such medication approved, decided to remove it from the market by the end of 2024.

Donanemabs effectiveness likely comes from its ability to specifically target the toxic plaques of amyloid that accumulate in the brain and strangle nerve cells until they eventually shrivel away. The drug is a monoclonal antibody that seeks out a portion of the amyloid protein that develops over time in the brain. After it sits in the brain, like cholesterol, it builds up over time and changes, says John Sims, senior medical director at Lilly. Donanemab is very purposefully built with the postal codes for amyloid specific to brain plaques. Thats why, as far as we know today, donanemab is probably the most effective plaque-clearing antibody out there.

Read More: What to Do If You Can't Afford Your Medications

Another feature that sets the drug apart is that it was designed as a finite treatment, similar to the way cancer therapies are used, to aggressively remove amyloid plaques over a certain period of time after which patients can stop taking it. Doctors can then monitor patients for any signs of re-accumulation of amyloid. If those deposits build up again and hit a certain threshold, patients would start getting the drug again.

In studies the company presented to the FDA, after 18 months on the drug, nearly 70% of people no longer showed visible signs of amyloid in their brain scans.

That's not to say it won't come back; it likely will. I think to get from a negative amyloid state to the lowest level of amyloid might take on average four years, but we have ongoing studies to study that," says Sims. "Right now, we dont know how best to take care of people whose amyloid comes backits an unanswered question.

The panel of experts the FDA convened earlier in June agreed that there was not enough data yet to provide specific advice to doctors about if and when to stop donanemab treatment, but the label on the drug does allow doctors to consider stopping donanemab if the drug successfully clears amyloid and the plaques are no longer detectable on patients brain scans.

That reflects a potentially new direction for Alzheimers treatments that wasnt possible before drugs like donanemab were able to remove most of the damaging plaques from patients brains. Dr. David Hyman, chief medical officer at Lilly, says the company plans to continue studying people who have stopped donanemab after clearing it from their brains to get a better understanding of how quickly the protein starts to re-accumulate, and to determine when patients might need to start getting the drug again. Lilly will also study patients who were not able to clear their amyloid during the 18-month study period and learn more about whether different patients might need different treatment cycles.

Potentially shorter cycles of treatment could also save patients and insurers money. Lilly says a six-month course will cost about $12,500, a years treatment $32,000 and 18 months of infusions $48,696. About 17% of the patients in the companys studies no longer showed visible amyloid in their brain scans after six months, about 47% at 12 months and 69% at 18 months.

Donanemab has another advantage over the existing approved treatment. While patients get infusions of lecanemab twice a month, they only need one infusion a month of donanemab. For elderly patients who are most likely eligible for this drug, and their caregivers, its a significant reduction in burden having an infusion once a month vs. twice a month, says Dr. Howard Fillit, founding executive director and chief science officer at the Alzheimers Drug Discovery Foundation.

Eventually, treatments like donanemab could and should be used even earlier in the disease, as amyloid starts building up but before patients experience cognitive problems. Among people in Lillys study at the earliest stages of Alzheimers, the drug was linked to an up to 60% slowing of cognitive decline, and Sims says that models from his scientists estimate that donanemab could lead to as much as 90% slowing of cognitive decline, if its started in patients early enough. The overwhelming lesson from our dataset is that the earlier you identify a patient and give them treatment, the bigger impact you can have, says Dr. David Hyman, chief medical officer for Eli Lilly. Where the field is going, and where we are going with donanemab, is evaluating it as a preventive therapy. We are moving to care for healthy people rather than treatment for sick people.

Read More: The Vaccines Youll Need This Fall and Winter

Identifying patients who dont yet have symptoms remains a challenge, however, especially since current methods such as PET scans and spinal fluid tests are expensive and invasive, and not accessible to many older patients. We have a lot of work to do as a field to close the last-mile care gaps in this patient population, says Hyman. My biggest concerns arecan we identify patients early enough in the course of their disease, can we have a physician workforce that is trained in administering these medicines, do we have the infusion capacity to treat patients who can benefit, and can we monitor these patients [with brain scans]?

More from TIME

Finding better ways to track markers of Alzheimers proteins, such as in the blood, could be critical to expanding use of the new treatments. In its studies submitted to the FDA, Lilly relied on a blood test for identifying people as early as possiblesometimes even before they are even aware they might have Alzheimersusing another Alzheimers related protein called tau. Lilly is collaborating with Roche to make the test more available to doctors who can order it as a way to find patients most likely to benefit from donanemab. Amyloid blood tests could similarly help doctors to monitor patients and inform their decisions about when to stop donanemab and when patients might need to start infusions again when amyloid starts to re-accumulate. These tests are not fully approved by the FDA are currently available on a limited basis to doctors who order them to help make treatment decisions for their patients. While the FDAs expert committee discussed the utility of tau testing, they decided not to recommend it as a requirement for prescribing the drug, since the tests limited availability might further restrict patients access to donanemab.

In coming years, Alzheimers experts also anticipate that simply targeting amyloid won't be enough. Amyloid-based treatments do come with serious side effects, including bleeding and inflammation in the brain. That's why anyone taking these drugs, including donanemab, need to get regular MRIs to monitor for signs of trouble. The risk is manageable, however, and doctors can taper down the dose or stop infusions for short periods.

More effective treatments will also become necessary, since not everyone improves on amyloid-targeting drugs. Amyloid, tau, and another protein, alpha synuclein, are all involved in the disease somehow, and targeting each in different ways in different patients will be key to a more comprehensive treatment for the disease. Anti-amyloid treatments might help some people, but some people might break through and continue to progress," says Sims. "Hopefully in the future doctors will be able to say, 'You need an amyloid treatment, or maybe some tau therapy, or even alpha synuclein therapy.' Ideally, they would tailor treatments to peoples disease.

These are issues Alzheimers doctors have never wrestled with until now, because there havent been effective treatments that could remove toxic proteins in significant ways. But with better therapies like donanemab, monitoring patients for changes in the levels of those proteins will become more of a priority.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topekans will soon be able to enjoy fresh baked goods from a new eatery set to open in a few months.

27 News spoke with Russell Clark, owner of the American Kolache franchise, about his plans to open a new location in the Capital City. This will be the first American Kolache location in Kansas.

Clark said the American Kolache in Topeka is likely to open in October this year at 5938 SW 17th Street. This brings the total number of American Kolache locations in the U.S. to 12.

We do fresh baked sweet and savory kolaches, Clark said. Kolaches are basically about the size of a dinner roll and they have all kinds of deliciousness inside.

How bad is the speeding problem in Shawnee County?

Kolaches and other baked goods will be made in-house once the business opens its doors to the public. American Kolache will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Some menu items include:

Sausage and gravy

Philly cheesesteak

Sloppy joe

St. Louis pizza

Apple pie

Cinnamon rolls

Topeka woman shares warning after suspected spider bite sends her to the ER

Clark said he plans to partner with at least two established local businesses to help offer additional purchasing options to customers. These include a BBQ restaurant and a local coffee roaster. People can eat on location or get delivery through DoorDash.

Were excited to be in Topeka, Clark said.

To learn more about American Kolache, click here.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Not To Be Dramatic, But People Are Literally Begging Democrats To Stand Up For Americans Following The Supreme Court's "Immunity" Ruling

This week, the US Supreme Court ruled that former president Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution for official acts he took during his presidency.

Not only does this decision broaden how presidential power and immunity from prosecution were perceived, but it also potentially sweeps away the chances of Trump going to trial for his actions during the January 6 insurrection.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

In response to SCOTUS' decision, Biden warned that Trump may be more emboldened to do whatever he wants and suggested he will not utilize these powers himself, saying, I know I will respect the limits of presidential power as I have for the three-and-a-half years, but any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

This sentiment, however, does not seem to be what a large part of his base wants to hear, as many have expressed their dismay over his lack of action. Here's how people are reacting:

1.

The reason folks feel dread right now is because weve know Biden and the Democratic Party are incapable of rising to the occasion.  A!ex Steed (@alexsteed) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @alexsteed

2.

The Dems, empowered by today's new rules to do literally whatever they want, will instead play by old rules that never actually existed  Jason Kirk (buy my novel) (@JasonKirk_fyi) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @JasonKirk_fyi

3.

everyone is screaming for Democrats to fight back and DO SOMETHING but nancy already stood up and pointed her finger at trump in a meeting that one time so they've exhausted all their options.  ally (@missmayn) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @missmayn

4.

Twitter: @Pinko69420

5.

The saddest thing is that in any other country, this would be a monumental mistake on the part of the opposition. You don't drop a decision like this when your opponents actually hold office lmao  Djinn & Tonic  (Official Act Inciter) (@HegelwCrmCheese) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @HegelwCrmCheese

6.

Joe Biden really has an opportunity to do some crazy shit in the next few months.But he won't. We all know he won't. But goddamn I wish he would.  Imani Gandy (Orcas Version)  (@AngryBlackLady) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @AngryBlackLady

7.

"When they go low, we go high" is really bad advice when you're staring down a fucking fascist  Imani Gandy (Orcas Version)  (@AngryBlackLady) July 2, 2024

Twitter: @AngryBlackLady

8.

Biden saying he would never exploit the immunity ruling while the Republicans are somewhere rubbing their hands together, thinking of all the ways they can do exactly that, is a perfect illustration of why the democratic party in so ineffective.  abby (@abby4thepeople) July 2, 2024

Twitter: @abby4thepeople

9.

Basically being given the power of a monarch and Biden simply saying I dissent and vote harder is EXACTLY how I saw that going.  @ImaniBarbarin@disabled.social (@Imani_Barbarin) July 2, 2024

Twitter: @Imani_Barbarin

10.

Would removing and jailing a Supreme Court Justice for accepting millions of dollars in unreported bribes be considered an official act?  Ben Wexler (@mrbenwexler) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @mrbenwexler

11.

it's old news to be this reductive but god it really is republicans breaking every rule and making new ones while democrats go "heyyyy you cant do that" and nothing else  zach silberberg (@zachsilberberg) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @zachsilberberg

12.

The Supreme Court is at stake so make sure to vote for the guy whos proven hes unwilling to do anything about it  gianmarco (@GianmarcoSoresi) July 2, 2024

Twitter: @GianmarcoSoresi

13.

When one side declares war, the war has started. Your refusal to fight back doesn't mean there's no war, it just means you're going to get fucking destroyed. https://t.co/POVVr7zGh3  Read Let This Radicalize You (@JoshuaPHilll) July 2, 2024

Twitter: @JoshuaPHilll

14.

Only a Democrat would give a speech where the main argument is "I promise not to use the expansive powers I've been given, but my opponent will"  john teufel (@JohnTeufelNYC) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @JohnTeufelNYC

15.

The Supreme Court says cancelling student debt is illegal. The Supreme Court also now says the President is immune for Official Acts. You see where I'm going with this Joe?  Fuck You I Quit (@fuckyouiquit) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @fuckyouiquit

16.

Biden aint evil enough for me. That ruling today would have me officially make a way to get all 6 of them justices off the SC  Reet- no Rose (@theNFLchick) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @theNFLchick

17.

Im sorry but when your message is we are in the verge of a fascist takeover you cannot then argue that the sole prescription to that reality is voting https://t.co/0yYQs6RAkI  James Ray  (@GoodVibePolitik) July 2, 2024

Twitter: @GoodVibePolitik

18.

Today would be a very good day to cancel the student debt of more than 40 million Americans. Every last penny. https://t.co/a3oAvkCBnt  Warren Gunnels (@GunnelsWarren) July 1, 2024

Twitter: @GunnelsWarren

19.

Twitter: @MikeDrucker

20.

The President rightly describes this as an historic, catastrophic decision that endangers our democracy. He took no questions. He promised no action.  Ezra Levin (@ezralevin) July 2, 2024

Twitter: @ezralevin
Sex therapist and social worker Stefani Goerlich sits in her office in Detroit. Goerlich says her hard-won relationships with clients are upended when they move away from Michigan, because most states bar social workers from providing telehealth services across state lines. An increasing number of states are trying to address the problem by empowering social workers to practice in multiple states. | Amy Feick, courtesy of Stefani Goerlich

Stefani Goerlich, a certified sex therapist and social worker with a private practice in Detroit, sees several dozen clients a month, most of them from underserved and minority backgrounds. She speaks to them about sensitive matters such as gender-affirming care, and building trust takes time.

Those hard-won relationships often are upended when clients move away from Michigan, because most states bar social workers from providing telehealth services across state lines. Finding another therapist who is a good fit isnt easy, especially since many areas of the country have a shortage of mental health providers.

It takes them such a long time to find somebody that they feel safe with, Goerlich said. To have a spouse get transferred in their job and to lose all of that? Statistically, people are more likely to just stop therapy entirely, because they dont want to have to go through that again.

Amid what many Americans are calling a mental health crisis, an increasing number of states are trying to address the problem by empowering social workers to practice across state lines.

Social Work Licensure Compact states

Alabama

Connecticut

Georgia

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Maine

Missouri

Nebraska

Ohio

South Dakota

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Under the Social Work Licensure Compact, social workers can get a multistate license, which clears them to care for patients in a participating state, even if they dont live there. Social workers must abide by the laws of the state where the patient resides.

Missouri was the first state to approve compact legislation, in July 2023. Since then, 14 other states have signed on. And at least 17 more are considering bills to do the same, according to the nonpartisan Council of State Governments, a nonprofit organization that promotes the exchange of ideas across state lines.

The compact is the result of a collaboration among the council, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Association of Social Work Boards, which develops social work licensing exams. The National Association of Social Workers and the Clinical Social Work Association, both membership organizations for social workers, are partners in the effort.

The Defense Department is involved because military families move frequently, and many of them include social workers. Getting a new license every one or two years is burdensome. The social work compact is one of 10 multistate licensing agreements the Defense Department agreed to fund a few years ago, ranging from teaching to cosmetology, according to Matt Shafer, a deputy program director at the Council of State Governments.

Shafer told Stateline it likely will take one to one and a half years until licenses are issued under the social work compact.

This isnt the first compact to allow mental health providers to practice across state lines. Thirty-six states have passed legislation to allow psychologists to practice elsewhere by joining an interstate compact known as PSYPACT.

It works, Robin McLeod, a senior director at the American Psychological Association, said of PSYPACT. It allows for people who have specialized practice to provide care, or for people who need specialized practice to receive care.

For example, McLeod said, a therapist might specialize in serving patients with autism and also speak Arabic. Under the interstate compact, a practitioner could serve more people with those specific treatment and language needs, via telehealth.

However, McLeod noted, therapists practicing under the compact still have to navigate differing state laws. She pointed to Texas, where providers need to be aware of laws prohibiting abortion and gender-affirming medical care.

Those are times where it can be really tricky, she said. If youre practicing in that state from another state, its the Texas health and safety laws that you would have to follow.

But Alabama Democratic state Rep. Kenyatte Hassell, who sponsored successful compact legislation in his state, thinks the benefits outweigh the potential complications. A 2023 report from Mental Health America, a nonprofit that focuses on issues of mental illness, ranked Alabama 48th among the states in its effectiveness addressing mental health and substance use issues, citing its high prevalence of mental illness and limited access to care.

I know, as a state, we need to put more money into the health department to deal with mental health, from schools to workplaces, Hassell told Stateline. We defunded some of the mental health hospitals that we had in the state. And it became a problem.

In Colorado, where a bill that would allow the state to join the compact is on the governors desk, Democratic state Rep. Emily Sirota  a social worker herself  noted the issue is bipartisan. Compact bills also are awaiting governors signatures in Minnesota, New Hampshire and Tennessee, according to the Council of State Governments.

Its not a partisan issue to recognize a need in the workforce, Sirota told Stateline. She said the licensing compact is a way to make connections between patients and social practitioners more streamlined and more effective.

For Goerlich, who sees clients in at least four states, anything that can make licensure easier for therapists is a good thing. In addition to Michigan, Goerlich went through the licensing process in Arizona and Ohio so she could continue to treat patients who moved to those states. She also works in Florida, where she says she doesnt need a full license because she is a registered telehealth provider.

I went through all the hoops, I got licensed, she said. But that ended up costing me money. And Im fine with it, because Im able to help people. But if we had something like a compact, I would have been able to see them without needing to do that.

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 Amid mental health crisis, new compact allows social workers to practice across state lines appeared first on Michigan Advance.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. A reservoir will be built in Umudlu village in Azerbaijan's liberated Aghdara district, the State Water Reserves Agency told Trend.

Regarding the water supply to Umudlu, Karkijahan, and Malibayli villages as well as Khojaly city, the agency stated that the people living in the aforementioned settlements won't have any issues getting clean drinking water.

Elchin Yusubov, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts, stated that 228 families are expected to be accommodated in these territories under the approved relocation plan.

Khojaly city has no problems with the supply of drinking water. An additional subartesian well was drilled, and an additional main water supply was laid 2.6 km from the Badara river. Karkijahan also has no problems with the drinking water. The construction of the network is carried out by the Baku Improvement Service. There is a source of water and a reservoir.

Malibayli also has no such problems. There is a source of water in Umudlu, and it's planned to build a main water supply system and a reservoir. These activities will be completed before the resettlement of the population, according to the Great Return program," the agency added.

Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of IDPs to their native lands.

Up to date, the former IDPs have returned to Lachin, Fuzuli, Shusha, and Khojaly cities, the villages of Talish (Aghdara district), Aghali (Zangilan district), Zabukh, and Sus (Lachin district).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Theres a changing of the guard for judges who set bail for criminal defendants.

Effective July 1, Judge Lee Wilson has taken over as the new administrator for the Shelby County Judicial Commission, replacing embattled Judge Bill Anderson.

Shelby County Commissioner Charlie Caswell says that the move was about accountability.

I can tell you I have been unhappy with some of the cases I have seen in the news where individuals have went in and they turned around and re-offended in some type of way and caused some type of ill in our community, Caswell said. So that tells us something needs to happen.

The change comes after a rotating system was established that calls for a new leader each year.

In the past, others had questioned Judge Andersons leadership and the role of the leadership commission because they said too many criminal defendants were being released back onto the streets of Memphis.

Commissioner calls for Shelby Co. judge to resign over release of defendants

Back in April, Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright told WREG that Judge Anderson should step down because of low bails and too many citizens were becoming victims of crime.

They (Memphians) are seeing friends and neighbors assaulted and harmed by all the crime and people are crying out and want to see something different from our justice system, Wright said.

A push to reform the bail system was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in an attempt to keep the state safe from increasing crime.

Yet at the same time if theres any criticism from the state, the legislators at the state level have the capacity to make those laws and make them stronger if need be, for individuals getting in and out of the system, Caswell said.

Gun laws, bail reform, drag racing: New TN laws go into effect on July 1

With Judge Wilson assuming the new role, Caswell said he is hopeful that improvements will be made.

I see somebody who is in that seat who sees root causes of issues, Caswell said. (He sees) that you just cant lock individuals up and not address the issues that many of them (criminal defendants) are coming in there with if you want to see change in our community. So, I feel good that Judge Lee Wilson is going to do the right thing.

Wright also expressed his support for the change in leadership.

I welcome the selection of new management for the judicial commissioners, Wright said. I hope that this results in less pressure on JCs (judicial commissioners) to meet an imaginary ROR (released on own recognizance) quota dreamed up by Bill Anderson. Public safety is and should be their first consideration.

Woman charged with kidnapping out on ROR

WREG has reached out to Judge Wilson, but he hasnt responded yet.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Every debate over how much legal immunity law enforcement officers should enjoy when doing their jobs will arrive at the same conclusion, more or less.

If officers fear being prosecuted for exercising their duties vigorously, theyll exercise them timidly. And when law enforcement behaves timidly, sometimes innocent people die.

On the other hand, absent any fear of prosecution, some officers will abuse their power. And when law enforcement abuses its power, sometimes innocent people die.

Law enforcement needs a degree of immunity in order to function wellbut not too much! And so, unsatisfyingly but inevitably, every debate about immunity lands on some muddled variation of its a balance.

Every debate about immunity except one, that is.

As of Monday morning, the most powerful law enforcement officer in the world no longer faces any criminal jeopardy when acting within his exclusive sphere of constitutional authority. Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court, when exercising core executive powers like issuing pardons or commanding the military, hes absolutely immune and is free to be as brazenly corrupt as he likes.

Even beyond those core duties, the court declared that a president should enjoy presumptive immunity for all official acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility. To overcome that presumption, a prosecutor will need to show that charging him criminally for those acts would pose no dangers of intrusionnone, zeroon the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.

Absolute immunity for core powers and an exceedingly high bar to prosecution for all other debatably official acts, which are to be defined broadly in the presidents favor. Thats the courts idea of balance in presenting a legal framework for executive immunity. The majority has not put a thumb [on] the scale for former President Trump, MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin tweeted, theyve put their whole hand on it.

Prosecutors remain free to charge the president for crimes he commits in the course of his unofficial conduct, the majority was careful to note, but even that comes with caveats. When seeking to determine whether an act by the president was unofficial, courts cant consider whether his motive was corrupt or whether his behavior violated a law. The official-ness of his conduct is to be adjudged independently of its trappings of criminality.

Certain bits of writing during Donald Trumps presidency achieved a degree of infamy among his critics because of the naivete they displayed about what the man is capable of. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat predicted before the 2020 election that there would be no Trump coup. Mick Mulvaney, Trumps former acting chief of staff, expected he would concede gracefully after his defeat. The Washington Post quoted one Republican official a few weeks after the election wondering what the harm would be in humoring Trumps rigged election fantasies for a while.

The majority opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts in the Trump immunity case is now part of that tradition, with one momentous difference: It has the force of law. By ruling the way it did, the court performed the constitutional equivalent of handing a loaded gun to an angry chimpanzee.

To say that it placed the president above the law isnt quite right. Its more accurate to say that, as of Monday, with respect to his most menacing and potentially tyrannical powers, the president is the law.

Within two years, probably less, this will be widely viewed as the most infamous decision ever rendered by the Roberts Court.

Reading through the opinion, it occurred to me: Is there any other sphere of American law in which a human being enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution?

Law is a mechanism of accountability. Absolute immunity is antithetical to accountability. Even soldiers on the battlefield arent exempt from codes of lawful conduct.

The president is unique because he wields unique powers, you might say. No other person in the federal government is invested entirely and exclusively with the authority of a single branch so he needs extraordinary immunity to assure the proper functioning of that branch. Its all about Article II.

Oh? Which part of Article II says that?

Monday on Advisory Opinions, our friend David French noted that the supposed textualists in the courts conservative majority seemed oddly unbothered by the dearth of textual support for absolute presidential immunity. Insofar as theres any constitutional guidance on this question, in fact, it points the other way: Article I, Section 3 makes clear that impeached officers shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.

If the Framers wanted presidents exempt from that rule, its strange that they forgot to say so.

Article II doesnt require absolute presidential immunity, the majoritys dubious interpretation of Article II does. The court could have adopted the sensible standard Sarah Isgur proposed on the same podcast with David by dispensing with absolute immunity and instead simply strengthening the presumption of immunity for core executive functions. If the president were to issue a questionable pardon, for instance, he would be presumed immune unless a prosecutor seeking to charge him could show compelling evidence of criminality. It would be a high barbut not quite insuperable.

The court went out of its way to make it insuperable. Why? Why in this era of all eras?

After all, each new administration in modern times has reliably stooped to dubious exertions of executive authority when it cant get its way legislatively. When Congress wouldnt create legal status for so-called DREAMers, Barack Obama purported to do so unilaterally. When Trump couldnt get Congress to appropriate money to build the border wall, he snatched it from the Pentagon. When Joe Biden couldnt move Congress to cut student debtors a break on their college loans, he connived to cut them that break himself.

The courts conservative majority had been admirably conscientious about reining in executive power grabs, recognizing that letting the president gradually absorb the policymaking duties of a dysfunctional legislature is a recipe for civic disaster. Until Monday, that is, when they turned around and handed him the most remarkable bespoke get out of jail free card in the history of American law.

And incredibly, they did so at a moment when weve never been closer to the sort of civic disaster theyve otherwise been trying to prevent.

One way to think about Trumps immunity case, as Sarah and Mike Warren noted Monday in The Collision, is as a contest between two evils. Lawfare or authoritarianism: Which is worse?

If we give the president too little immunity, ambitious prosecutors looking to make a name for themselves will race to indict him after he leaves office for, say, failing to secure the border. Whereas if we give the president too much immunity, he might  order the military to shoot American protesters. Or start selling pardons off the back of a truck for any well-heeled criminal scumbag with the bread to afford one.

Which villains sinister plots are we most eager to preempt? Alvin Braggs or, uh, Mussolinis?

I suppose opinions will differ. But I have strong feelings about which of those two evils is evil-er, particularly right now.

The bizarre thing about Roberts opinion is how hard it strains to ignore the fact that the guy whos most likely to be president in seven months also happens to be a guy wholl exploit this ruling ruthlessly, in autocratic ways. The immunity standard the court has crafted is ideally suited to the sort of president we used to elect in America, someone operating in good faith who might occasionally brush up against the law in carrying out his duties.

We dont want a well-meaning future executive denied the legal benefit of the doubt, the chief justice argued. Unlike the political branches and the public at large, we cannot afford to fixate exclusively, or even primarily, on present exigencies, he writes at one point, which is his way of admitting that they might have been less generous in crafting a framework for immunity if all presidents to come were as corrupt as Donald Trump.

The problem is that the next president to come will be as corrupt as Donald Trump because Donald Trump will be the next president. And instead of taking heart from this ruling that he can carry out his duties vigorously and conscientiously without fear of being assailed by dubious prosecutions, hell take heart from it that he can behave as reprehensibly as he likes without fear of being assailed by meritorious prosecutions.

The court wrote a rule for a good-faith actor at the precise moment that the most notoriously bad-faith actor to ever hold the presidency is poised to abuse that rule to subvert the constitutional order. Under the current political circumstances, present exigencies should have weighed a lot more heavily in their reasoning.

Trump was going to abuse his powers regardless of how the court ruled, you might reply if youre desperate to defend the majority. Yes and no. Certainly, he was going to foist a constitutional crisis or three on the country either way, but he does listen to his lawyers sometimes. He listened to Don McGahn about not firing Robert Mueller. He listened to Pat Cipollone about not pardoning his children and certain MAGA cronies in Congress. If the court had circumscribed presidential immunity narrowly on Monday, the coterie of fascists advising him next year would have taken note and warned him of potential criminal jeopardy if he proceeded with certain schemes.

Instead, Trumps camp is giddy over the ruling. The man himself sounded as ecstatic Monday as any gangster would whod been given permission to crime without consequence. His next team of advisers will encourage him to push his powers to the limit, beyond what they otherwise might.

How, precisely, hell exploit the immunity hes been granted remains to be seen but imaginative possibilities are rife on social media. (His cronies dont want for creativity.) At a minimum, insofar as there was any hesitation before about abusing the Insurrection Act, its assuredly gone now. But even if Trumps absolute immunity extended no further than the pardon power, that alone would be a license for mayhem. He could sell pardons to miscreants as a sort of presidential toll for the right to commit crimes, or he could conspire with cronies to commit federal offenses on his behalf by assuring them that theyll be pardoned. He would be beyond the reach of criminal jeopardy in every instance since pardons are, after all, part of his core duties.

Having received a get out of jail free card from the court, hes now entitled to print the same cards for his toadies without fear of his corrupt motives matteringand, Trump being Trump, no one would put it past him to do so. The outcome of the decision is so perverse that, arguably, hes on firmer legal ground going forward if he commits abuses of power in broad daylight and frames them as official acts than if he commits them surreptitiously and tries to cover them up.

Imagine how much respect for the rule of law the next generation of Americans will derive from that spectacle, thanks partly to the Supreme Court.

At one point in his opinion, John Roberts had the gall to mock the courts liberal dissenters for striking a tone of chilling doom in describing the parade of horribles that might very plausibly result from the incentives this ruling has created, as if the country didnt live through an actual coup attempt and insurrection at the Capitol a few years ago.

This decision will be his legacy as a judge. Trump will see to it. And Sonia Sotomayor, the chief dissenter from the ruling and the author of that parade of horribles, will end up with one of the easiest vindicated by history opinions in the long life of the court.

On Monday David made a point thats near and dear to my heartnormally.

There is no Trump problem. Theres no Supreme Court problem either. The problem is with degenerate American voters who are preparing to knowingly reinstall a gangster as president. Thats not John Roberts fault.

The countrys institutions cant save the people they serve from their own depravity.

But Davids point (which is really Roberts point, as hes paraphrasing the majority opinion) landed awkwardly for me yesterday after the ruling. If its the peoples responsibility to deal with Trump, why do we have courts? Or law?

To say that America wont be cured of illiberalism by a Supreme Court decision is not to say that a Supreme Court decision cant make the triumph of illiberalism less likely. Donald Trump would have behaved better in a second term if he had reason to peek over his shoulder now and then and worry that Jack Smith is watching him. He wont be peeking now

It also would have behooved Roberts and the courts other conservatives to consider that the present exigencies theyve ignored will inevitably reshape the future of the presidency about which they claim to care so much. If Trump is free to get away with murder, figuratively or literally, his successors will expect to get away with it too. Their political bases will demand that they try, in fact. Refusing to press ones luck on Article II powers the way Trump did will give a president a reputation for being weak, not enough of a fighter.

At one point in his opinion, quoting a prior decision of the court, Roberts defended presidential immunity on grounds that anything less would leave the executive unduly cautious in the discharge of his official duties. Unduly cautious presidents are not the problem of our age; theyre the precise opposite of the political crisis America now faces, in fact. Its hard to imagine a more tone-deaf legal or political concern than the president needs a freer hand in 2024 except, perhaps, for Joe Biden is too young.

Where the leaders authority conflicts with criminal law, the latter must yieldin most cases. Thats the essence of authoritarianism and, coincidentally, its the upshot of this travesty of a decision. The point of the constitutional scheme is to prevent the tyranny of a monarchy by carefully circumscribing the federal governments powers. Somehow, from that, the conservative majority derived an immunity standard that grants the most monarchical figure in government the right to abuse his core powers with no legal recourse.

Youll regret this, Mitch McConnell once famously warned the other party after an especially terrible decision of its own, and you may regret this a lot sooner than you think. Well regret this sooner than we think.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Another teen is charged in Chester County juveniles murder

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  An additional juvenile suspect involved with the shooting death of a Chest County teenager is now facing charges, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has announced.

18-year-old woman charged with 16-year-olds murder in Chester: Police

Chester resident John Bland, 18, faces multiple charges including accessory after the fact to murder and obstructing justice.

Officers responded to calls regarding the incident around 11:58 p.m. on April 2nd at Frank Connor Park. A 16-year-old male juvenile was found suffering from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on scene.

An initial investigation identified Connie DiRose Miller, 18, as the suspect. She was arrested within less than 24 hours and charged with murder.

Court records obtained by Queen City News this week stated that Miller called Bland the night of the shooting, informed Bland of the shooting, and then Bland drove Miller from 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 Queen City News.
Anthropic is launching a program to fund the development of new types of benchmarks capable of evaluating the performance and impact of AI models, including generative models like its own Claude.

Unveiled on Monday, Anthropic's program will dole out payments to third-party organizations that can, as the company puts it in a blog post, "effectively measure advanced capabilities in AI models." Those interested can submit applications to be evaluated on a rolling basis.

"Our investment in these evaluations is intended to elevate the entire field of AI safety, providing valuable tools that benefit the whole ecosystem," Anthropic wrote on its official blog. "Developing high-quality, safety-relevant evaluations remains challenging, and the demand is outpacing the supply."

As we've highlighted before, AI has a benchmarking problem. The most commonly cited benchmarks for AI today do a poor job of capturing how the average person actually uses the systems being tested. There are also questions as to whether some benchmarks, particularly those released before the dawn of modern generative AI, even measure what they purport to measure, given their age.

The very-high-level, harder-than-it-sounds solution Anthropic is proposing is creating challenging benchmarks with a focus on AI security and societal implications via new tools, infrastructure and methods.

The company calls specifically for tests that assess a model's ability to accomplish tasks like carrying out cyberattacks, "enhance" weapons of mass destruction (e.g. nuclear weapons) and manipulate or deceive people (e.g. through deepfakes or misinformation). For AI risks pertaining to national security and defense, Anthropic says it's committed to developing an "early warning system" of sorts for identifying and assessing risks, although it doesn't reveal in the blog post what such a system might entail.

Anthropic also says it intends its new program to support research into benchmarks and "end-to-end" tasks that probe AI's potential for aiding in scientific study, conversing in multiple languages and mitigating ingrained biases, as well as self-censoring toxicity.

To achieve all this, Anthropic envisions new platforms that allow subject-matter experts to develop their own evaluations and large-scale trials of models involving "thousands" of users. The company says it's hired a full-time coordinator for the program and that it might purchase or expand projects it believes have the potential to scale.

"We offer a range of funding options tailored to the needs and stage of each project," Anthropic writes in the post, though an Anthropic spokesperson declined to provide any further details about those options. "Teams will have the opportunity to interact directly with Anthropic's domain experts from the frontier red team, fine-tuning, trust and safety and other relevant teams."

Anthropic's effort to support new AI benchmarks is a laudable one  assuming, of course, there's sufficient cash and manpower behind it. But given the company's commercial ambitions in the AI race, it might be a tough one to completely trust.

In the blog post, Anthropic is rather transparent about the fact that it wants certain evaluations it funds to align with the AI safety classifications it developed (with some input from third parties like the nonprofit AI research org METR). That's well within the company's prerogative. But it may also force applicants to the program into accepting definitions of "safe" or "risky" AI that they might not agree with.

A portion of the AI community is also likely to take issue with Anthropic's references to "catastrophic" and "deceptive" AI risks, like nuclear weapons risks. Many experts say there's little evidence to suggest AI as we know it will gain world-ending, human-outsmarting capabilities anytime soon, if ever. Claims of imminent "superintelligence" serve only to draw attention away from the pressing AI regulatory issues of the day, like AI's hallucinatory tendencies, these experts add.

In its post, Anthropic writes that it hopes its program will serve as "a catalyst for progress towards a future where comprehensive AI evaluation is an industry standard." That's a mission the many open, corporate-unaffiliated efforts to create better AI benchmarks can identify with. But it remains to be seen whether those efforts are willing to join forces with an AI vendor whose loyalty ultimately lies with shareholders.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/07/heres-why-most-ai-benchmarks-tell-us-so-little
Two hardline anti-abortion delegates to next weeks GOP platform committee have been stripped of their positions, according to several members of the Republican National Committee, underscoring a broader fear among evangelicals and other social conservatives that the party is poised to moderate its stance on abortion at the direction of former President Donald Trump.

The Trump campaigns efforts to block the two South Carolina delegates from the platform committee and replace them with loyalists is described in several affidavits as interference from paid RNC staff  to circumvent the will of the delegation.

The shakeup, which has not been previously reported, comes as anti-abortion groups petition Trump, his campaign advisers and members of the RNC not to make significant changes to the partys platform on abortion.

While running for the platform committee, the two South Carolina delegates, longtime party activist LaDonna Ryggs and former state party chair Chad Connelly, made clear they would not vote to water down the partys positions on abortion, marriage or Israel, according to a person with knowledge of the comments and granted anonymity to speak freely.

A Trump campaign official disputed that Connelly and Ryggs were ever on the platform committee and maintained that two other people were the ones properly elected to the body by South Carolinas convention delegates, suggesting that the state party had tried to circumvent the RNC.

And Danielle Alvarez, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign and RNC, said in a statement that the platform committee has yet to convene to discuss what language should be in the final document. Trump officials have privately maintained, meanwhile, that no specific language on abortion has been determined ahead of the scheduled platform meetings next week in Milwaukee.

The party platform has long condemned the procedure and supported both state and federal restrictions on abortion, including a 20-week national ban. Anti-abortion groups fear the RNCs platform committee is about to make Trumps leave-abortion-to-the-states position  which they have reluctantly accepted  the official position of the Republican Party. Doing so, they say, would undo decades of progress by their movement to restrict access to the procedure at all levels of government, and they warn that it could cost Trump the election in the process.

I would strongly urge the leadership of the Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign to proceed with great caution on the platform and avoid doing anything that would discourage or in any way deflate the enthusiasm of pro-life and evangelical voters, said Ralph Reed, founder and chair of the Faith & Freedom Coalition. Right now, sitting here today, they are prepared to crawl across broken glass, to do everything in their power to see President Trump re-elected. I dont want to see anything happen that would change that current dynamic.

Delegates in four other states told POLITICO they, too, had been blocked by operatives with the Trump campaign from securing seats on the platform committee.

According to the affidavits prepared for the RNCs committee on contests, obtained by POLITICO, the Trump campaign and RNC staffers held a separate vote to elect a different slate of platform committee delegates. The documents allege that at least two GOP staffers who were formerly employed by the Trump campaign [pressured] them to vote against Ryggs and Connelly and tried to circumvent the official vote.

Two slates of convention committee members were ultimately elected  one slate from the meeting organized by the Trump staffers, and another, including Connelly and Ryggs, at the partys official meeting that was presided over by South Carolina GOP Chair Drew McKissick. Ryggs and Connelly have appealed the RNCs decision to accept the other slate of convention committee members, though no hearing has been set.

Ryggs  who said in her affidavit that she has been such a loyal supporter of Trump that she and her husband had a gun pulled on them while knocking on doors for the campaign in 2020  served on the RNCs platform committee three times previously, including in 2016 when she celebrated the party moving its positions on social issues to the right. Connelly, who runs a faith-based conservative group, was the RNCs national director of faith engagement under previous chair Reince Priebus.

While many prominent anti-abortion leaders have weighed in with proposed language and called for the RNC to open platform meetings to activists and press, some in the movement have publicly and privately said their suggestions seem to be falling flat with Trump and at RNC headquarters.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and a member of the platform committee, accused RNC Chair Michael Whatley of stalling tactics in a letter on Monday about efforts to ensure the meetings are open. Closing the meetings, Perkins wrote in the letter obtained by POLITICO, heightens speculation that the GOP platform will be watered down to a few pages of meaningless, poll-tested talking points.

A Trump campaign official said the meeting would be closed to members of the press, though guest passes would be available.

Members of the platform committee, largely elected by convention delegates in their states, are set to gather in Milwaukee starting Sunday to iron out the partys updated platform after foregoing changes in 2020.

Im going to be fighting hard for the presidents agenda and making the platform America First and consistent with the presidents campaign agenda and what his promises are, said conservative radio host John Fredericks, a delegate from Pennsylvania and member of the platform committee.

Fredericks said he is serving as a whip for the Trump campaign, and its his opinion that the new party platform will reflect Trumps own 2024 campaign positions  including that states should determine abortion law, a position the former president repeated during Thursdays debate. Trump has also said he supports exceptions to abortion bans in cases of rape, incest and threats to the mothers life.

Jesse Law, chair of the Clark County Republican Party and a platform committee delegate from Nevada, added that he sees delegates all getting into line.

Best I can say is that this is going to be President Trumps platform, Law said. Thats how I see it.

Oscar Brock, an RNC member from Tennessee who is not on the platform committee, said that based on Trumps own positions, he expects the updated platform to become more socially moderate, not just on abortion, but on marriage equality, too.

Polling shows Trump has the support of an overwhelming support of evangelical Christians, and theres no evidence that droves of social conservatives would stay home if Republicans endorse a more moderate platform on abortion.

Still, a rebuff from the Trump campaign threatens to divide a party that has largely managed to remain united behind the former president as Democrats grapple over internal divisions over whether Biden is even fit to run.

The problem isnt just dampening enthusiasm. Its also the fact that therell be a fight over it. There will be a platform fight, and itll be the week before the convention when you dont want a fight, you want unity. And itll be for everyone to see in Milwaukee, said a Republican strategist who consults with anti-abortion groups, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. If I were on the inside of a campaign I would be saying, I dont want to give everybody this story.

In recent days, prominent evangelical and anti-abortion leaders have launched campaigns, hosted webinars and talked about the issue on podcasts in an effort to rally their supporters to pressure the Trump campaign and members of the platform committee. Perkins, at the Family Research Council, has been talking about the issue nearly daily on his podcast, while Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins hosted an emergency webcast Monday night on the topic to rally young anti-abortion activists around the cause. Others are lobbying members of the platform committee directly and voicing their concerns.

Broadly, anti-abortion leaders would like to see the party platform on abortion  which includes specific details like affirming that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life and opposing the use of public funds to perform or promote abortion  to remain as strong as it is. Some are making the case to Trump and his campaign that even if they want to simplify the platform, it need not reflect the presidents views exactly.

The platform doesnt necessarily ever reflect 100 percent the view of the party. Thats the case weve been making to the Trump campaign and as weve been speaking with those whove been discussing this, Hawkins said in an interview. Weve been in conversations with the campaign for more than a month now about the platform and how it should reflect the views of the entire movement.

Lori Hinz, an RNC member from North Dakota who is serving on this years platform committee, said she is concerned about the plan to overhaul the platform altogether, and would prefer the RNC and Trump campaign create a separate, shorter, Contract With America-style document to go alongside the platform.

My view, honestly, is that we did a pretty fantastic platform in 2016, and I hope to preserve that, Hinz said.

Arizona state Rep. Alex Kolodin, another platform committee delegate, said the balance between state and federal restrictions on abortion is complicated. In April, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the states near-total abortion ban was enforceable, a law Democrats in the legislature, with help from a handful of Republicans, quickly moved to repeal; voters will weigh in on a constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion until fetal viability in November.

The conservative grassroots and the pro-life movement very much want to ensure that we keep or even fortify our very robust language in defense of life, Kolodin said. The Republican Party platform, since the party was founded, has always strongly emphasized the equal dignity of every human person and the need to defend them from having their life taken away without due process of law. Thats integral to who we are as a party.

Some members of Congress are also using their political capital to help anti-abortion groups make their pitch to the platform committee. Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) said recently that he had contacted one of his states platform committee members to share his concerns about the platform, while Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) joined Hawkins on the webcast, which was centered around criticism of a state-only approach to abortion policy.

The federal government has activated to increase the numbers of abortion in America, and so when I hear anyone say this is not a federal issue, it certainly is a federal issue because this administration has found ways to be able to advance abortion, Lankford said during the webcast. Im keenly aware we dont have the 60 votes in the Senate, but the worst thing we can do is not talk about it at all and somehow make people presume this is no longer a value  The way you win the argument is to keep talking about it, not to talk about it less.

Anti-abortion groups and their allies in Congress and statehouses say that maintaining a federal role for abortion in the partys platform is not only the right policy, but also electorally crucial. Reed, a longtime Trump ally whose organization plans to spend $62 million registering and turning out evangelical voters, said that any equivocation or retreat by the Republican Party on the issue of abortion will deflate voters of faith.

Self-identified evangelical voters are roughly half of the entire Republican vote. And in some states, like Georgia, theyre about 60 percent of the entire Republican vote, Reed said. When youre talking about a presidential election that could well be decided by thousands of votes spread out over three or four states, anything that discourages the enthusiasm or turnout of base or faith-based voters will not be helpful.

CLARIFICATION: This article has been updated to clarify Alex Kolodins comments about the balance between state and federal restrictions on abortion.

CLARIFICATION: This article has been updated to clarify Alex Kolodins comments about the balance between state and federal restrictions on abortion.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Monday said she would push to impeach what she called corrupt Supreme Court justices after they granted substantial immunity to former President Donald Trump.

The progressive New York firebrand called the decision an assault on American democracy and vowed to remove the conservative judges.

Todays ruling represents an assault on American democracy, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the social media platform X. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture. I intend on filing articles of impeachment.

It wasnt immediately clear if she planned to target the entire court or just the six conservative justices who backed the decision to shield Trump from prosecution for so-called official acts.

Republicans control the House of Representatives, meaning its unlikely an impeachment push would even get a vote, let alone pass. It would also need a two-thirds vote in the Senate, where Republicans hold almost half the votes.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the decision a sad day for our democracy and denounced what he called the MAGA Supreme Court, noting that Trump appointed three of the justices who ruled on his case.

Treason or incitement of an insurrection should not be considered a core constitutional power afforded to a president, Schumer said.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the Democratic ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, called the decision revolutionary and warned it could set the stage for unchecked dictatorship if Trump finds his way back to the White House.

Donald Trumps extremist right-wing court has come to his rescue, dramatically expanding the power of the presidency and removing any fear of prosecution for criminal acts committed using official power, Nadler said.

Manhattan Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman, who served as counsel to Democrats during Trumps first impeachment trial, also sharply criticized the ruling, calling it a dark day for democracy.

The Supreme Courts ruling gives expansive immunity to a corrupt president who purports to use acts within his official authority to conspire to overturn a lawful election, Goldman tweeted.

_____
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Azerbaijan gained pivotal role in leading global climate discussions this year, Elnur Soltanov, Deputy Minister of Energy, COP29 CEO, told Trend in an exclusive interview.

"The international community has entrusted Azerbaijan with guiding the negotiation process, which includes specific mandates and crucial issues known as negotiation items. The negotiation track, overseen by United Nations bodies such as the CCC Secretariat, outlines mandated events that Azerbaijan, in collaboration with UN entities, will lead and conclude," Soltanov explained.

He emphasized the importance of consensus in the negotiation process, where all parties must agree on decisions. Azerbaijan also holds autonomy through its presidential action agenda, determining national priorities in tackling global warming issues.

Regarding the key negotiation issues, Soltanov identified finance as paramount, particularly in supporting developing countries under the Paris Agreement. Discussions during COP29 will focus on increasing the agreed $100 billion fund, crucial for global climate action.

"Article 6, centered on carbon markets, presents another critical issue," Soltanov continued. "It aims to create a framework where greenhouse gas reductions in one country can be traded to benefit others, fostering global cooperation and financial incentives".

Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) are crucial for fostering trust and accountability in global climate action, emphasized Elnur Soltanov. He underscored the Paris Agreement's principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities," noting disparities where small island developing countries contribute minimally to emissions yet face significant climate impacts.

He highlighted the importance of transparent reporting in ensuring effective use of financial support and building trust among nations. BTRs facilitate this by detailing financial flows and mitigation efforts under the Paris Agreement's transparency framework.

As the BTR submission deadline nears, Soltanov noted that about 60 countries, including Azerbaijan, are preparing their reports. He emphasized the need to support least developed and small island states in participating fully in the transparency process. "We must provide these nations with necessary resources," the CEO added, reaffirming Azerbaijan's commitment to transparency and global climate leadership.

The CEO also highlighted the unresolved but significant Loss and Damage Fund, crucial for addressing impacts on developing and vulnerable nations due to past development models.

Addressing energy transition, Soltanov underscored the role of natural gas as a transitional fuel recognized at COP28, balancing emissions reduction with energy security. In this regard, Azerbaijan's commitment to the global methane pledge through SOCAR further demonstrates its proactive stance on emission control.

Natural gas is required for the future to be recognized as a transition fuel. This is very important before we get rid of the pollution and gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions remain a problem; even the global stocktake decision at COP28 recognizes natural gas as a transition fuel. This is because it's the least polluting of all the fossil fuels that we have. But at the same time, methane emissions have to be controlled very carefully because, unlike oil and unlike coal to an extent, natural gas itself is a very potent greenhouse gas, he elaborated.

At the same time, Azerbaijan, renowned for its energy corridors, is shifting focus to green corridors, Soltanov pointed out. He highlighted the EU-backed Green Energy Corridor initiative, aiming to export offshore wind-generated electricity to Europe via Georgia, the Black Sea, Romania, and Hungary.

"A joint venture is imminent, with initial feasibility assessments showing strong prospects and attracting foreign investment," Soltanov reveals. Regional cooperation includes a pioneering trans-Caspian cable project with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, leveraging Central Asian renewable resources to meet European electricity demand. The initiative promises enhanced energy security and sustainable development.

Looking ahead, Soltanov expressed optimism about COP29's outcomes, emphasizing measurable action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions as the ultimate metric of success. He pointed to Azerbaijan's historical role in regional stability and energy security as a testament to its global climate leadership.

"With COP29 continuing through 2025 and culminating in the Azerbaijan-hosted conference in November, our goal is clear: tangible reductions in emissions that benefit both Azerbaijan and the world," Soltanov concluded, confident in Azerbaijan's ability to deliver impactful climate solutions on the global stage.

View the full interview below.
AOC Looks to Impeach Supreme Court Justices After Trump Immunity Ruling. Thats Only Happened Once, in 1805

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggested that desperate times call for desperate measures, as she looks to stop the Supreme Court from continuing what she views as an "assault on democracy"

Samantha Burkardt/Getty; Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2019, Donald Trump in 2024

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is pushing back against the Supreme Court's ruling regarding presidential immunity  and she's not the first to do it in American history.

The New York congresswoman said that she is planning to file impeachment articles against at least one member of the Supreme Court following their ruling over former President Donald Trump's immunity as he faces four felony charges related to allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.

The decision was lambasted, even by the Supreme Court's three liberal justices, for giving future U.S. presidents unchecked power to break the law while they are in office.

"The Supreme Court has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control," Ocasio Cortez, 34, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on July 1.



Todays ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture, she continued. I intend on filing articles of impeachment upon our return.

Related: Biden Says Democracy Is at Risk in This Election After Supreme Court's Decision on Presidential Immunity

Jabin Botsford-Pool/Getty Donald Trump in 2024

The Supreme Court decided that Trump, 78, was partially immune from prosecution for his actions after the 2020 presidential election, which led to the deadly Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

"The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official," the court's decision says. "But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts."

The ability of a president to break the law without prosecution has sparked concerns among many who say it could weaken democracy, including President Joe Biden.



Talk of removing Supreme Court justices over their unpopular decisions is not new, and in one case, a Supreme Court justice was actually impeached, establishing some precedent for AOC's impending filing. Though in today's closely divided Congress, an impeachment of any Supreme Court justice would be a tall task.

OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Justices of the US Supreme Court in 2022

The Supreme Court Justice Who Got Impeached

Over 200 years ago, President Thomas Jefferson and his party, the Democratic-Republicans, didn't like the way the judicial branch was expanding its power with different circuits and court levels, according to the Senate's official website.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase, a Federalist who joined the court in 1796, was in favor of the judicial branch expanding, Oyez notes. His outspokenness against the Jeffersonian Republicans after they gained control in 1801 made him a sufficient target.

Jefferson, who became president in the 1800 election and was reelected in 1804, was wary of the Supreme Court becoming too powerful through judicial review (which was established in Marbury v. Madison).

He wanted to remove Federalist judges from the bench and repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801, which eliminated the lower courts and terminated their federal judges (who otherwise would have had lifetime appointments), as per Oyez.

Chase besmirched Jefferson's action, telling a Baltimore grand jury that it was unconstitutional.

Related: Sonia Sotomayor Pens Fearful Dissent in Trump Immunity Case, Saying Decision Makes Him King Above the Law

Stock Montage/Getty A portrait of Samuel Chase

According to Oyez, Jefferson and his supporters in Congress mounted an impeachment effort against Justice Chase to silence him from criticizing the president.

The House ultimately voted to impeach Justice Chase on Mar. 12, 1804, on the basis of refusing to dismiss biased jurors, along with excluding or limiting defense witnesses in two cases that were deemed politically sensitive.

The Senate's website notes that members of the House wanted to prove that Chase had "behaved in an arbitrary, oppressive, and unjust way by announcing his legal interpretation on the law of treason before defense counsel had been heard."



Of the eight articles of impeachment served to Chase, the final one claimed that he regularly promoted his political ideologies while serving on the Supreme Court, therefore "tending to prostitute the high judicial character with which he was invested, to the low purpose of an electioneering partizan," as per the Senate's website.

Chase appeared in court in January 1805, proclaiming that his impeachment trial was politically charged not the result of any real crime. Ultimately, Chase convinced enough senators to acquit him, and he was not removed from office.

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It was viewed as a victory for the courts. More notably, it established the precedent that a judge cannot be expelled from their position over presenting conflicting political views while serving on court.

Following the impeachment trial, Chase resumed his duties on the bench and stayed there until he died in 1811.



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BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL)  Appalachian Promise Alliance received statewide recognition through the Better Workplaces Tennessee initiative on Tuesday.

Better Workplaces Tennesse is part of a collaboration between the ETSU Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute and the Tennessee Department of Health.

Appalachian Promise Alliance received the Silver recognition and will work towards Gold in 2025, the organization said in a news release.

The recognition honors organizations aiming to become more trauma-informed workplaces.

FAFSA Frenzy helps college students get the most out of financial aid options in Johnson City

Our mission is to mobilize the communities we serve to, you know, meet the needs of children, youth and families, Appalachian Promise Alliance Executive Director Melissa Roberts said. So we have lots of different programming that do just that. But a lot of what we do is bring people together and make connections.

Roberts said they offer a workplace sustainability program that businesses buy into to have someone onsite.

We have a workforce sustainability program that businesses buy into to have somebody onsite to help them become more trauma-informed, Roberts said. We have a diversity, equity and inclusion program. Parenting Programs Buckle up for life, car seat installation. You know, we have a poverty awareness and education Twin City reads, which is on grade level reading.

Roberts said theyre seeing people struggling to recover from issues, particularly post-pandemic wise.

Carter County Sheriff Fraley speaks on missing man, escaped inmate

Especially post-pandemic, were seeing people who are just on the struggle bus, parents and children and young folks who havent, you know, were talking about this new normal and were acting like everything is okay, Roberts said. But people still have trauma that theyve dealt with. They still have disparities that theyve dealt with, that they really are struggling to kind of recover from.

When we bring people across sectors, businesses, faith community, schools, educators, when we bring them together in a room, we start to create solutions that are long term so that in 20 years were not fighting these same systems issues, Roberts said.

For more information on Appalachian Promise Alliance, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
FILE - Garth Drabinsky arrives at the Superior Courthouse, March 25, 2009, in Toronto. An appeals court on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, rejected an appeal by the Tony Award-winning producer who claims that a union for actors and stage managers organized an illegal boycott that ousted him from producing live Broadway shows. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  An appeals court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by a Tony Award-winning producer who claims that a union for actors and stage managers organized an illegal boycott that prevented him from producing live Broadway shows.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled that the producer, Garth Drabinsky, could not continue with his $50 million lawsuit alleging that the Actors Equity Association violated antitrust and various state laws, including defamation.

The union represents over 50,000 theater actors and stage managers.

Luke Hasskamp, a lawyer for Drabinsky, declined to comment.

Drabinsky, 74, whose hits include Ragtime and a 1994 revival of Show Boat, claimed in his lawsuit that the union engaged in an unlawful campaign of defamation and harassment by spreading rumors about him, instituting a one-day work stoppage and putting him on its Do Not Work list to discourage anyone from working with him.

So long as the unions conduct promotes legitimate labor goals, it retains the benefit of the labor exemption and remains impervious to antitrust liability, the three-judge 2nd Circuit panel said in a decision written by Judge Raymond J. Lohier Jr.

The court said Equity engaged in the boycott precisely to protect its members wages and working conditions after cast members of the musical Paradise Square objected to unsafe conditions on set, a racially hostile work environment and unpaid wages. It noted that Drabinsky claimed he lacked control over wages and working conditions, although his lawsuit alleged he controlled hiring, firing and pay during the production.

Al Vincent Jr., executive director of the Actors Equity Association, said the union was glad the court agreed with every single argument that we made and concluded that Drabinskys lawsuit was meritless.

He said the ruling will serve Equity and the labor movement well in the future with respect to the right to use the Do Not Work list against employers that harm our members.

We are happy to put this behind us, Vincent added. Our mission is to protect actors and stage managers from employers like Drabinsky, and no amount of intimidation will deter us.

Paradise Square, which explored racial conflict between Black Americans and Irish immigrants amid the 1863 Civil War race riots in New York City, closed on Broadway in July 2022 after 23 previews and 108 performances. Drabinsky's Ragtime ran for two years on Broadway.

Drabinsky, a Canadian, was sentenced in August 2009 to seven years in prison in that country for fraud convictions by a judge who said he and another producer submitted false financial statements to investors to misrepresent their company's financial condition.
(WHTM)  Applications have opened for a new seasonal summer nutrition program.

SUN Bucks is a federal program that will provide households a SNAP-like benefit to purchase food for the summer months when school is not in session.

Applications are open through August 31.

Summer is a time when many children do not have access to the free and reduced-price meals they get during the school year, and families might need a little extra help putting healthy meals on the table, said Secretary of Human Services Dr. Val Arkoosh. The new SUN Bucks program will provide eligible households with critical dollars to help bridge the gap during the summer to ensure that Pennsylvania children are fed and thriving while school is closed.

It offers a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy food. Because this is the first year of the program, benefits will be issued beginning in mid-August for Summer 2024. All 2024 SUN Bucks benefits will be issued by the end of October.

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There are several ways for a child to be automatically eligible for SUN Bucks without needing to apply, including:

if they or their family already qualify for SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);

if they already qualify for Medicaid with qualifying income for the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program (NSLP); or

if they applied for and were eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Argentina's Milei doubles down on Lula criticism as war of words heats

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Argentina's right-wing President Javier Milei reiterated criticism of his leftist Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva on Tuesday in an escalation of their recent public clash and ahead of a planned trip to Brazil.

In a post titled "perfectly idiotic dinosaur", Milei defended his previous criticism of Lula as "corrupt", for being a communist, and what he called "interference" in Argentina's 2023 election campaign. In the post Milei does not specify by name who he is referring to as the dinosaur.

Lula said last week that he believes Milei owes him and Brazilians an apology for having said "a lot of stupid things" about Brazil, grains-producing Argentina's top trade partner.

Brazil's presidency office did not comment when asked by Reuters about Milei's most recent attacks. Brazil's Foreign Ministry could not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The war of words comes ahead of a planned trip to Brazil where Milei is set to shun Lula and instead meet his biggest political rival, former right-wing leader Jair Bolsonaro.

Milei's criticisms of other leaders have gotten him into hot waters recently, including a public spat with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Bolivian President Luis Arce.

In his X post on Tuesday, Milei claimed an attempted coup last week in Bolivia was a "fraud", repeating recent comments from his office which led Bolivia's government to summon the Argentine ambassador.

(Reporting by Luana Maria Benedito in Sao Paulo; additional reporting by Ricardo Brito in Brasilia; Editing by Gabriel Araujo)
Ari Emanuel insists hes a kinder and gentler man these days, but in the wake of June 27s presidential debate, the hard-driving agency head is still fighting mad at Joe Biden and his top aides.

Appearing before a packed house at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, the Endeavor CEO had been invited to talk with the festivals acting curator Tina Brown about his Hollywood career. But with Bidens frail performance dominating the headlines, Brown made a quick detour. Democrats are jumping out of the window, she began after Emanuel took his seat. What are you thinking?

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Well, Im pissed off at the founding fathers, said Emanuel. They had the start date of 35 years old, they just didnt give us the end date. And, well, everybody died [back then], so they didnt have to give the end date.

Emanuel blamed Bidens advisers for being less than candid about his physical stamina and mental acuity and blasted the president for reneging on a campaign pledge to step aside after a single term. He said he was going to run for one term, and hes doing it to restore democracy. He then runs for a second term  thats the first bit of malarkey, as he would say. He and his cohorts have told us that hes [been] healthy for over a year, Emanuel continued.

I had a father who died at 92, but at 81 I took away his car, and it was a very simple test for me, he said to loud applause. If you were driving from downtown Beverly Hills to Malibu, would you want Biden to do it at night? Would you want Trump to do it at night? If the answer is neither, you cannot have them running a $27 trillion company called the United States.

Asked for his impressions of Trump, Emanuel responded more carefully. He is who he is. I dont know if hes slowed down. I have no idea. You know, he looked OK [while he was up] there, adding ominously, He will do what he says [in a second term]. Thats what he does. Thats what we should be expecting.

He suggested that the two candidates had something in common. Donald Trump said, Im the only one. Right? I alone can make all these problems go away. And now Biden is saying Im the only one that can beat Trump. Seems like its pretty similar here, [but] we have a great bench in the Democratic Party. Were looking at a man whos saying the other guys a liar, and hes telling us malarkey!

Emanuel, a prolific Democratic donor, said the late-in-the-game concerns about Bidens viability left the party with little room to maneuver. Brokered convention, no. Now theres some question whether the delegates can do something  so lawyers have to look at this  The lifeblood to a campaign is money, and maybe the only way this gets [solved] is if the money starts drying up, said Emanuel, whose brother Rahm, a onetime chief of staff to President Obama, now serves as the administrations ambassador to Japan.

Youll see in the next couple weeks, if the money comes in  I talked to a bunch of big donors, and theyre moving all their money to Congress and the Senate. Its a legal issue now, he sighed, a situation that he said left Democrats with few tenable options. Maybe theres some wiggle room, but I havent seen it. I dont know, Im not a lawyer, but were in fuck city!

The Aspen Ideas Festival, which is celebrating its 20th year this summer, is usually a tranquil event that brings out powerbrokers from politics, media and the arts for panels and debates about current events. This year Peter Thiel, Michael Eisner, Sam Altman, David Petraeus and a swarm of former and sitting Senators, including John Kerry and Kay Bailey Hutchinson were on hand to discuss topics from the environment to the war in Gaza. But in the first days after the debate, the only topic on everyones mind was Joe Biden. At parties and panels across the Aspen Institutes immaculately-manicured campus, the fate of the president and the alarming prospect of a Trump victory was a constant refrain among the Festivals progressive-leaning patrons.

Emanuel had even harsher words for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom hed skewered in a fiery address at the Simon Wiesenthal Center last month. I think hes a narcissist, Emanuel replied, when asked what had prompted his well-publicized broadside against Bibi. I think for the last 20 years, Netanyahu has only done one thing and thats stay in power. His bunch of Cabinet members are causing huge problems. And the ultra-orthodox and the right wing in Israel are causing problems in the West Bank. The [Palestinians] should have a homeland. Look, my grandparents had the first pharmacy in Israel. I remember going after the Six Day War  So my commitment to Israel is known. Netanyahu has done one thing and one thing only  stayed in power, and he doesnt deserve it. He doesnt deserve my familys legacy and the legacy of people in Israel. The Palestinians have deserved better in the West Bank. And its for us as Jews that we want to give them homeland  for our survival. Were not giving them anything  And we have to stop with all these selfish leaders across the globe that think that they need to hold on for the rest of their lives, because they alone can do it.

At a luncheon following Emanuels appearance, a politically connected studio executive told The Hollywood Reporter that a few of his alarmed associates had called Jeffrey Katzenberg, the co-chair of the Biden campaign, seeking comfort or clarification. Katzenberg, who spent the weekend squiring the president to the Hamptons, apparently offered neither. I think Jeffrey was as surprised by this as everyone else, said the loose-lipped exec. He knows the optics arent great, but he says the fundamentals are still solid; everyone just needs to hold the line. But Jeffreys from Hollywood, right? He knows that optics are everything.

Later that day, another Hollywood heavyweight, active in national politics, confided over cocktails that some of his well-funded colleagues were mounting an intense lobbying effort to convince another Democrat to enter the race. Theyre calling Newsom and Whitmer and Josh Shapiro, he said. Basically, anyone with a pulse and a base.

Despite the doomcasting from some Hollywood Democrats, not everyone in Aspen was ready to write Biden off. Pollster Celinda Lake, a veteran of Democratic campaigns, counseled patience, noting that debates generally have negligible impact on presidential elections. Conservative lawyer George Conway, the MAGA-loathing ex-husband of Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, said the panic was premature. Theres still a lots of time to correct this. he said. Four months is an eternity in politics.

California Rep. Katie Porter sounded a similar note. Im not sure what everyone is so shocked about, she said. Nobody said he was a great debater. But when you look at what he has achieved in his first term, on all sorts of progressive priorities, I think its safe to say Biden is the best president we have had in 50 years, and you dont want to dump someone like that so casually.

For his part, after he was finished warning about the danger to American democracy, Emanuel couldnt resist a parting shot at a fellow Aspen attendee: OpenAI CEO Altman. I think hes a conman, he said in reply to a question about the controversial AI tycoon. Elon gave him a lot of money  it was supposed to be a nonprofit, now hes making a lot of money. I dont know why I would trust him. I dont know why we would trust these people. (According to public filings, Musk contributed more than $44 million into OpenAI between 2016 and 2020.)

Elon said to me once  this scared me  he said; You know Ari, your relationship with your dogs?  Think about it the following way. Youre the dog to the AI, Emanuel told the rapt audience. I dont want to be a dog. (Altman declined to comment.)

Despite his combative posture, Emanuel insists hes become less intense over the past few years  a gentler man than the Entourage character he famously inspired. There was a period of time I ran the agency with a lot of anger, a lot of fear, a lot of pressure, he recalled. Then I did a lot of work on myself, and there was a transition period where we had a lot of businesses  the fear and anger was not conducive to the size we were at. So I have, Ive changed. I still keep a lot of pressure. [But] I dont go crazy on people the way I did, as that [show] satirized. And I kind of realize, you know, that there are other ways to get to the end. Its worked out. Im not perfect, because sometimes I do get angry, but its so much better. I mean, Mondays were really bad for people, because I would be thinking about things, seeing things, and I would come in and it would just be a volcano, oh, it would be horrible  Its just not a way to live your life.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas Community Foundation has established a survivor fund in response to the devastating Fordyce mass shooting.

The community in Fordyce was devested following a mass shooting that killed four people and injured 10 others on June 21.

Fordyce residents react to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders as she tours the town

The community in Fordyce was devested following a mass shooting that killed four people and injured 10 others on June 21.

We have gained experience in helping rebuild communities following other disasters over the years, and we work with partners that have vast experience in mass shootings, Larkin continued. The death of four Arkansans and the recovery needs of the survivors gives us an unfortunate reason to put some of the lessons weve learned to use.

Softball fundraiser tournament aims to help Fordyce mass shooting victims and their families

The ACF is working with the Mass Violence Survivors Fund & Victims First to operate the fund, and ACF staff said the group would be waiving its normal administrative fees, meaning 100% of donations will go to those directly affected by the shooting.

The Mad Butcher grocery store where the shooting happened has been closed since the incident.

Travis Eugene Posey was arrested as the suspected shooter and has pleaded not guilty to four counts of capital murder and ten charges of attempted capital murder.

Fordyce attempts to adjust without a grocery store after tragic shooting

For more information or to donate directly, visit ARCF.org/Fordyce.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
A 44-year-old California man was arrested for taking hostages inside a South Seattle business Saturday morning.

On Saturday, June 29 at 10:49 a.m., patrol officers with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) responded to the 8400 block of Rainier Avenue South and found a masked man inside a hair salon, armed with a gun and holding hostages.

According to officers, they figured out that the suspect the suspect had driven up to Washington from California to confront his ex-girlfriend for leaving him some months ago. He took one of the hostages phones as she was asking for help, telling her and the other hostages that he was going to kill everyone if they called the police.

Police arrived and confronted the suspect, safely negotiating his surrender and taking him into custody with a handgun seized as evidence. None of the victims were harmed.

Detectives with the SPD Homicide & Assault Unit are investigating this case, and the man was booked into King County Jail for charges of robbery, harassment, kidnapping, unlawful possession of a firearm, and multiple counts of assault and unlawful imprisonment.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Azerbaijan and China have signed documents on cooperation, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, at the meeting held in the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the participation of Shahin Mustafayev, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Framework Agreement was signed with Chinas BYD Company Limited (BYD) to ensure the local production of buses.

It is noted that the agreement was signed by Elnur Aliyev, the First Deputy Minister of Economy; Rahman Hummatov, the Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport; Tien Chunlon, the Executive Director for Commercial Vehicles at BYD; and Tariyel Rustamov, the Director of Electrify Azerbaijan LLC.

The Framework Agreement envisages the purchase of electric buses, their maintenance, and the establishment and localization of production within Azerbaijan.

The agreement aims to develop the electric transport infrastructure in our country, enhance passenger comfort, reduce environmental impact, and improve the countrys environmental conditions.

The signing of this agreement ahead of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) to be hosted by Azerbaijan underscores the nations commitment to global climate change mitigation efforts.

Within the framework of the Agreement, BYD considers investing in new production areas to enhance the value chain in our country. From 2026 on, the collaboration will extend to manufacturing low-tonnage electric trucks, utility vehicles, and electric passenger cars. From 2028 on, the focus will shift to assembling batteries for electricity storage. An additional investment of approximately $60 million is planned for these projects through a joint venture to be established.

In the meantime, BakuBus LLC will acquire 160 electric buses and 100 chargers from BYD, with plans to deploy these buses on Baku city routes by October 31, 2024.

The collaboration with BYD includes establishing local production and gradually localizing spare parts, starting in 2025. The project encompasses support mechanisms, joint venture financing, and the presentation of intellectual property rights, aiming for 40 percent localization of the buses total costs by 2030.

The project agreement is scheduled for signing in September this year.

Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC will participate in the project on the production of electric buses in our country as a shareholder. BYDs Azerbaijani partner is Electrify Azerbaijan LLC, part of the SARDA Group company.

The new joint venture will invest around $34 million to build an electric bus manufacturing plant in the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park, with an annual production capacity of 500 buses to meet domestic and export demands. The project will create 800 new jobs.

To note, BYD, founded in 1995, has become the worlds first company to achieve sales of 3 million new electric cars. It is a leading technological company known for adopting the latest innovations in car production, electronics, electric batteries, renewable energy, and railway transportation.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The U.S. Army is looking for small radars and signal-snooping sensors that it could sling underneath balloons flying up in the stratosphere. This is part of broader and still-evolving plans for a distributed high-altitude network to help find targets and otherwise gather intelligence, and potentially carry out other missions like communications relay, electronic warfare jamming, or even launching kinetic strikes. The service just demonstrated how valuable high-altitude balloons can be for sensing and communicating during a short-range ballistic missile test targeting a moving ship as part of a recent exercise in the Pacific. The U.S. Armys Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) at Aberdeen Proving Ground first put out its Request for Information (RFI) notice yesterday about sensor options for high-altitude balloons (HAB) and issued a very slightly updated version earlier today. The RFI is related to the ongoing High-Altitude Platform-Deep Sensing (HAP-DS) experimentation and demonstration effort, which dates back to at least 2022. HAP-DS is feeding into the larger High-Altitude Extended-Range Long-Endurance Intelligence Observation System (HELIOS) program. Contractors from Aerostar Industries prepare to launch a high-altitude balloon during Exercise Valiant Shield 24. USAF The High-Altitude Extended-Range Long-Endurance Intelligence Observation System (HELIOS) will provide multiple sensing capabilities by developing and integrating sensor capabilities on different sized stratospheric platforms that, as a system will, comprise a survivable sensing suite in MDO [multi-domain operations, the RFI explains. These will allow stand-off operations to detect, locate, identify, and track critical targets for the ground commander. This RFI is specifically looking for information on Small Form Factor (SFF) ELINT [electronic intelligence], COMINT [communication intelligence], and RADAR sensor technologies for microHABs (High Altitude Balloons) weighing under 15 lbs with power and communication equipment provided by the platform, the RFI adds. High altitude operations are defined as +60K ft in altitude for this RFI. There is no definition provided for how small micro might be in the context of this RFI, but examples of this term used elsewhere show high-flying balloons that are small enough to be launched by small teams or even single individuals. The video below shows a small stratospheric balloon developed by the Rochester Institute of Technologys Space Exploration Research Group (SPEX), which is said to have served as the basis for a subsequent microHAB. CECOM stresses that the purpose of the RFI is only market research, but asks anyone who submits a response to include details about their ability to provide actual examples of the sensors in question for potential ground and flight testing in Fiscal Year 2025. This is not surprising as the Army hopes to award its first HELIOS contracts in the upcoming fiscal year. The Army wants the full HELIOS family of systems, which could ultimately include multiple sizes of HABs and very-high-flying glider-like drones with extreme endurance, to help identify and develop land-based and maritime targets during conflict and provide persistent surveillance during competition on strategic areas of interest, according to a more detailed description of the program on the website of services Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors (PEO-IEW&S). The goal is also for at least some of those platforms to be able to conduct on-board data processing for rapid target recognition and reporting, as well as a resilient architecture capable of functioning in disrupted, disconnected, intermittent and low-bandwidth (DDIL) environments. The Airbus Zephyr drone seen here is an example of another type of high-altitude platform the US Army has already been experimenting with. US Army Commanders require cross-domain solutions to penetrate anti-access/area denial defenses and precisely geolocate threat integrated air defense systems. The stratosphere is the final piece of the aerial domain that must be operationalized to complete the common operating picture across the entire depth of the future Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) battlespace, the PEO-IEW&S website adds about HELIOS. Deep sensing from the stratosphere is a force multiplier for Joint, Army, and mission partners as it provides targetable data in near-real-time (NRT) for action Stratospheric sensors also increase commanders situational understanding as it produces critical intelligence that is cloud discoverable by Joint All-Domain Command and Control systems and within the Army Command Post Computing Environment. The specific mention of radars in the new RFI also highlights how the Armys HELIOS program could contribute another layer of ground-moving target indicator and synthetic aperture radar imaging (GMTI/SAR) capability that would be valuable to the entire U.S. military. GMTI is a radar mode that is used to discriminate between moving targets on the ground and static ones, which then allows the former to be tracked over time. That data is often overlaid on map-like SAR imagery, as seen below. The GMTI/SAR ecosystem is already set to benefit from new and potentially game-changing space-based capabilities, as you can read more about here. More traditional crewed and uncrewed aircraft will continue to contribute, as well. A generic example of GMTI tracks overlaid on top of a SAR image. Public Domain The Army, as well as other branches of the U.S. military, have been actively testing stratospheric balloons for years now for exactly these reasons. Beyond these developments, Americas armed forces and the U.S. Intelligence Community have a very long history of employing high-flying balloons for intelligence-gathering and other missions. From their high-level perches, these balloons have excellent fields of view for their sensors, as well as communications suites (especially line-of-sight links) used to pass targeting data and other intelligence along. Modern designs with advanced control suites are also capable of holding their general position in spite of prevailing winds by moderating their altitudes allowing them to operate in an area persistently for very long periods of time. In addition, HABs are inherently challenging for enemy air defenders to spot and track, as well as intercept. How high they fly also makes it hard for hostile actors to collect data on any signals they might be broadcasting to satellites in space Smaller balloons like the ones alluded to in the new Army RFI would only be more difficult to detect and to try to shoot down. This reality was on full display in early 2023 when a Chinese spy balloon soared through U.S. and Canadian airspace before being brought down over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina. U.S. Air Force U-2 spy planes were called upon to gather intelligence about the balloon and otherwise monitor its progress given the altitudes involved. One of the services F-22 Raptors ultimately destroyed the balloon, which also highlighted that stealth fighters high-flying capabilities. Air Force fighters subsequently downed three more objects detected in the skies over the United States and Canada, at least one of which may have been a small hobbyist balloon. A picture of the Chinese spy balloon soaring over the United States taken from the cockpit of a high-flying U-2 spy plane. DOD A picture taken from a US Air Force U-2S Dragon Lady spy plane of the Chinese spy balloon that was ultimately shot down in February 2023. The balloon is seen here soaring somewhere over the central United States. DOD Smaller stratospheric balloons would have a more limited payload capacity for sensors and other systems. At the same time, they could give the Army a way to deploy more HABs across a broader area and do so rapidly. MicroHABs could still be mixed in with larger balloons and other high-altitude platforms with more expansive capabilities, which could also be sent to more deeply investigate areas of interest. Linked together into a mesh network, a large number of balloons and other assets in the stratosphere could be very resilient to any attacks that do come, as well. Balloons, especially smaller designs, could be cheap enough that commanders would be more willing to send them into especially dangerous areas where there might be a higher risk of loss, too. As already noted, the Army used stratospheric balloons from Aerostar Industries as part of a larger distributed sensing and communication network to support a first-of-its-kind anti-ship test involving a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) in the Pacific region during Exercise Valiant Shield 24 in June. A dedicated ship-killing version of the PrSM, a new short-range ballistic missile the Army just began fielding last Winter, is in development. An Aerostar balloon lifts off from Won Pat International Airport on Guam during Valiant Shield 24. US Army The launch of the PrSM at the target ship during Valiant Shield 24. US Army The Army envisions HELIOS, as well as its even larger Multi-Dominan Sensing System (MDSS) system of systems, which is set to include various tiers of other crewed and uncrewed aircraft, as supporting strikes involving other current and future stand-off weapon systems. The service is in the process of fielding a new ground-based launch system called Typhon that can fire multi-purpose SM-6 missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The SM-6 was originally designed as a surface-to-air interceptor and even has some degree of capability against novel hypersonic weapons in the terminal phase of flight. It can also be used in a ballistic mode against targets on land and at sea, which is how the Army currently intends to employ it. A long-range hypersonic weapon called Dark Eagle, which the Army is developing in cooperation with the Navy, could also benefit from HELIOS and other elements of the MDSS ecosystem. Dark Eagle is expected to be a low-density asset reserved for high-value strategic-level targets in very densely defended areas, such as major air defense nodes and other command and control centers. These are exactly the environments where the Army sees HABs and other high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms as being especially valuable given their persistence and survivability. The Army also sees weapon systems like Typhon and Dark Eagle, and the sensor and communication nets need to support their operations, as key to ensuring its relevance in a future high-end conflict in the Pacific against China, which is currently the U.S. militarys top planning priority. The Pacific region, broadly, is a particularly ideal environment for using stratospheric balloons and the extreme endurance they offer. HABs and the rest of the HELIOS family of systems could provide valuable persistent ISR and other capabilities anywhere in the world, and outside of a major conflict, as well. The Army has been eyeing using its expected suite of HELIOS platforms for other missions, including conducting electronic warfare attacks and even launching kinetic strikes directly against targets they might find. HABs and other high-altitude assets could deploy what the service is currently calling High Altitude Air Launched Effects (HA-ALE), which might be drones or loitering munitions, to provide additional stand-in or stand-off capability to perform those missions. The idea of using high-flying balloons as drone motherships is something The War Zone has explored in detail. A graphic the Army previously released showing a notional operational view (OV) for how its planned MDSS system of systems might be employed in conjunction with other assets. US Army That could potentially be very powerful, Andrew Evans, head of the Armys Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Task Force, said about pairing launched effects with HABs in an interview with Aviation Week back in April. So if you have a launched effect that keeps soldiers out of harms way, relaying information through a balloon that relays information to a shooter many hundreds of miles away, youre now doing true experimentation with multi-domain operation principles. As already highlighted by the spy balloon that passed across the United States last year, the Chinese armed forces are also very actively developing and fielding high-altitude balloons and other lighter-than-air craft to conduct ISR and other missions. This also includes work on using those high-flying platforms to launch drones and other payloads. The new RFI from CECOM is just the latest move by the Army to turn its larger high-altitude balloon vision into a reality. Contact the author: joe@twz.com

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Fuse Washington created the tongue-in-cheek 'Save Our Yachts' website to poke fun at those pushing a ballot measure to repeal the capital gains tax that is paid by the state's super wealthy. Here is a screenshot of the landing page.

Bob Ferguson, Semi Bird, Jim Henderson and Brian Heywood have something in common this election season in Washington.

Their political opponents have built websites to spread unflattering information  and in some cases misinformation  about them.

Theres BobforBob looking into Fergusons political history and bird-docs.com digging into Birds past personal tribulations. Save Our Yachts jabs the wealthy Heywood for pushing an initiative to repeal the capital gains tax and realjimhenderson is an attack by Republicans on a first-time GOP candidate for legislative office.

These creations arent expected to go viral or significantly alter the trajectory of any of the ballot battles but are viewed by their creators as a tool to educate, and maybe sway, a few voters.

They are very much fodder for people looking to use negatives to put a partisan in their place, said Cathy Allen, owner of The Connections Group and veteran Democrat campaign consultant.

Take BobforBob.com. It delves into a select few pieces of the political record of Ferguson, the three-term Democrat attorney general running for governor. Links to and excerpts from news accounts fill the site. It is not flashy and is laid out a bit like a research paper.

But make no mistake, its packed with jabs.

Previously, Ferguson worked as Attorney General of Washington suing small-business owners, withholding evidence, waging lawfare, and extorting corporations for campaign donations, is the opening line.

Peter Graves of Axiom Strategies, the Republican consulting firm behind BobforBob.com, said ideally it will be one of the first websites to show up when someone searches for background on Ferguson.

The goal here is to obviously get out information about Bob Ferguson and for the research to be used to help others make decisions, he said.

Bayley Burgess, Fergusons campaign manager, blasted the website as a fever dream of baseless rants, and not worthy of additional comment.

What voters care about is the direction of our state and country, she said in an email.

Such undertakings tend to change few minds and can incite a backlash, especially in communities where negative campaigning is not the norm, said Bill Phillips of Sound Strategies, a Democratic consulting firm.

It feels good for supporters. It feels like youre making a difference. It feels like youre getting your message out, said Phillips, a former leader of the Snohomish County Democratic Party. In the entire history of the internet, I have never met one Democrat who has said I was going to vote one way and then I saw this website.

Family feud, take 1

Steve Gordon, a Pierce County Republican, shelled out a few hundred dollars to launch the ominous-looking bird-docs.com in April.

Is Semi Bird the best choice for governor of Washington state? We wont tell you how to vote. You be the judge is a headline atop the site promising facts about the GOP gubernatorial candidate.

Scroll down and one finds links to videos and public records concerning Birds legal wranglings, military service and recall from the Richland School Board.

Gordon said he sought to get information to Republicans ahead of the state party convention in Spokane in April where Bird and Dave Reichert were to compete for the partys endorsement.

The effort didnt prevent Bird from securing the endorsement by an overwhelming margin. But hes struggled since the convention to gain momentum.

At the convention, Bird acknowledged his past troubles. If you want me to apologize for making mistakes, I will apologize. I will not live in shame for the rest of my life, he said.

Since then he has assailed some fellow Republicans as vile individuals working to undercut his campaign.

Gordon also cut a $25,000 check to the political action committee funding the site targeting Ferguson. I dont know if people will cover some of Bobs record as they should, he said.

Fun on the water

Fuse Washington, the states largest progressive organization, got lighter and snarkier with SaveOurYachts.com. It is part of its opposition campaign to Initiative 2109, a measure on the November ballot to repeal the states capital gains tax.

It is one of three measures that qualified for the ballot through the efforts of Lets Go Washington, a conservative political action committee largely funded by Heywood, a millionaire hedge fund manager.

It pokes fun at the extremely wealthy whose capital gains tax payments go to early learning and child care programs.

We have a new hero in Brian Heywood, begins one section. He understands that many of us are upgrading our yachts for the summer, and now is NOT the time for us to keep paying taxes on our Wall Street profits.

Aaron Ostrom, executive director of Fuse, said it is intended to motivate and engage their base. It had received 33,153 total visits as of June 25, which Ostrom said exceeded his expectations.

Its not like this is how were going to win the election, he said. We want to give our folks some laughs.

Family feud, take 2

In Pierce County, an intra-party battle for a Republican-held state House seat spawned a nasty site against a newcomer.

Its in the 26th Legislative District where Republican Rep. Spencer Hutchins decision to not run again creates a vacancy. Republicans Jesse Young and Jim Henderson and Democrat Adison Richards are competing in the primary.

Young is trying to return to Olympia where he served as a state representative before losing to Democratic state Sen. Emily Randall in 2022. Henderson is new to the district and making his first bid for state office.

The Pierce County Republican Party endorsed Young and its members created realjimhenderson.com to prevent a Henderson upset. Launched last month, it attacks the newcomer primarily for being too new, too liberal and too friendly with Democrats.

Theres also personal information, such as Hendersons home address, and references to Henderson being gay.

They wanted to send a stern message that hes not a Republican. I think it sends the message without it being over the top, said Pierce County Republican Party Chairman Dave McMullan.

He rejected assertions some content is homophobic but said the county party is against the Pride agenda. We dont need a month for it.

Henderson said he moved into the district to run for the seat but no one recruited him to do so. Hes secured backing of several House caucus members. Hes supported Democrats with whom hes able to work on issues. And he said being gay is not an element of his campaign or driving his platform.

I dont even talk about it, he said, noting those in the Pierce County Republican Party are the only ones who have come after me because Im gay.

He said the website creates all false positions for me and it wont impact the primary.

My sense is that it is only effective with the far-right. I wasnt going to get their vote anyway, he said. Most voters who see it will be disgusted. They dont want the fighting and this kind of nastiness, he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Where is $155,000? Cottonwood Rescue president says audit only tells part of the story

COTTONWOOD, Ala (WDHN)  The Cottonwood Rescue president says that he has not taken more than $100,000 from the department and says a state auditors report only tells part of the story.

In the report, the state auditors office says $155,000 is unaccounted for from Cottonwood Rescue. But, the president of the rescue squad says it can all be accounted for.

There are still some records that we have to get to them so I can answer on the $155,000, President of Cottonwood Rescue, Rickey Stokes said.

The state audit ran between January 1 and 31, 2024, and the report was released on Friday, June 28.

The state auditor looked into how the department handled restricted funds or the money given to Cottonwood Rescue that can only be used for the rescue squad.

The auditor initially said Cottonwood Rescue was missing over $800,000, but after obtaining more records from the squad, they determined that only $155,000 was missing.

Have I crossed every T and dotted every I? Probably not, but have I done anything illegal? Have I taken any money? I have not, Stokes said.

The auditors say that money was used for undocumented purchases or cash withdrawals made from those restricted funds. Money that they say will need to be paid back in full by Stokes

State auditors claim they initially discovered that Cottonwood Rescue paid several people totaling $400,000, paid a little over $234,000 to different vendors, withdrew around $140,000 from local banks, and spent just over $25,000 on a new truck, all without proper documentation.

However, after meeting with agency officials, state auditors balanced the account, and approximately $692,531 was accounted for.

These findings put Cottonwood Rescue on the line for around $155,000. Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe says this money will be on Cottonwood Rescues President Rickey Stokes to pay back to the department.

In this case, it seems like it was purposeful, Houston County Commission Chairman, Brandon Shoupe said. He purposefully misspent, misappropriated, or embezzled some of these funds. Its an issue that he is going to have to resolve.

A couple of those undocumented purchases include online gambling and lingerie. Stokes says he didnt purchase those and they were both fraud cases.

I was told when I asked about those charges when it first came up that it was reported to the bank as fraud, Stokes said. Yeah, its my fault I didnt follow up on it, but Rickey Stokes hadnt done it.

We cant keep funding a department that embezzled taxpayer dollars, said Shoupe. The misuse of taxpayer funds, intended to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens, is wholly unacceptable and deeply concerning.

Shoupe tells WDHN that while the way Cottonwood Rescues funds have been managed is unacceptable, the city still needs a rescue service, and the commission has many important decisions to consider soon.

We in good conscience cant keep sending money to an agency or department that is embezzling those funds, Shoupe said. There are still a few questions that we have to figure out the answers to and meetings have to take place. We should have an answer hopefully within the next couple of weeks.

According to Shoupe, the report was sent to the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, and it will be up to the AGs office and the Houston County District Attorneys Office to press charges.

I stand firm; I have not taken any money, said Stokes to WDHN.

Stokes posted on his blog, RickeyStokesNews, that the $155,000 is being accounted for.

Stokes tells us that he has emailed both offices and said that he is available to answer any questions they may have.

Stay with WDHN News as we bring you the latest developments in this case.

24__346_24-346-Cottonwood-Ambulance-Rescue-SquadDownload

In January, Houston County officials told WDHN the department would shut down when the state audit began. However, the department never closed its doors.

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Australian police arrest 14-year-old boy suspected of stabbing a student at the University of Sydney

New South Wales state Police conduct search at the scene of an alleged stabbing at Sydney University, in Sydney, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. A 14-year-old boy dressed in military clothing was arrested after stabbing a 22-year-old student in the neck at Sydney University, police alleged. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  A 14-year-old boy dressed in military clothing was arrested after police alleged he stabbed a 22-year-old student in the neck Tuesday at the University of Sydney.

The student was taken to hospital in a stable condition. The suspect was treated in hospital for cuts and was kept for a mental health assessment, said Mark Walton, acting assistant commissioner for the New South Wales Police.

A motive or ideology importantly has not been determined at this time, Walton told reporters. The New South Wales Joint Counterterrorism Committee was investigating the matter, but there was no ongoing threat to the community, Walton said.

The ideology that may be related to this young persons activity is unknown, but I would say its likely to be categorized as mixed and unclear ideology. Its certainly not a religiously related ideology, Walton added.

Walton said the boy had worn a camouflage defense force uniform and left a kitchen knife at the scene.

The boy caught a bus from the university to a nearby hospital for treatment before he was arrested, police said.

Investigators found no link between the university attack and a 16-year-old boy charged with performing a terrorist act in the stabbing of a Sydney bishop on April 15 while a church service was being streamed online. Several of his teen associates have been charged with various offences including conspiring to engage in or planning as terrorist act.

Police shot dead a 16-year-old boy who had stabbed a stranger in a parking lot in the Australian city of Perth on May 4. That boy had been involved in a deradicalization program for two years before his death, but authorities did not classify the knifing as a terrorist attack, partly because there was no continuing threat that required an elevated law enforcement response.

Walton said the boy accused of the university attack had previously come to the attention of police and other government agencies, but would not elaborate.

No decision had yet been made on what charges would be laid.

The internet is toxic and its very easy for young people, especially, to self-radicalize, to move towards violence, Walton said.

The stabbing Tuesday triggered a major police operation and a lockdown of buildings at Australia's oldest university.

The police operation has since ended and all areas of the campus were now accessible, a university statement said.

The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and members of the community are our priority and we continue to work with authorities, the statement said.
A row of library books. (Getty)

The Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board of Trustees last week approved a resolution giving themselves the power to remove any materials they believe inappropriate, whatever a library director may decide.

The move is the latest in an ongoing controversy over access to books at the library, one that has led in the last year to the appointment of a new board; the firing of a former library director and a federal lawsuit over selection criteria approved by the board in February that plaintiffs say violate patrons rights.

We have a current lawsuit open, and I expect the plaintiffs will also allege there are problems with the resolution, said Bryan Taylor, a former candidate for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who is representing the library in the suit.

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Messages seeking comment were left with Ray Boles, chair of the library board, and Hannah Rees of Clean Up Alabama, which has pushed for the changes.

Board members passed the resolution several weeks after the Alabama Public Library Service Board ratified changes to its administrative code. The new changes require local libraries to adopt policies aimed at restricting minors from having access to materials with themes related to sex and gender identity.

Members of Read Freely Alabama, formed in opposition to Clean Up Alabama, and allies oppose the resolution and the library boards policies adopted earlier this year.

This case is a problem of the library boards own making, said Will Bardwell, senior counsel at Democracy Forward, the organization representing Read Freely Alabama in its lawsuit. The board could have backed away from its extremist agenda and returned the librarys policies to the way they used to be. Instead, the board is doubling down. The wording of the policies has changed, but the boards book banning goal remains. Until the board stops violating the First Amendment, this case will continue.

Based on the language, the resolution appears to target the appeals process available to patrons seeking to challenge the decisions made by board members based on the selection criteria policy adopted in February.

Library officials adopted a policy in February allowing them to remove books or other materials from circulation if they believe they are sexually explicit, contain gender identity themes or otherwise inappropriate.

The policy allows for books or materials to be removed or not purchased based on the selection criteria policy. The resolution allows the library director to make those decisions but permits patrons to submit a request to appeal the decision.

It begins by stating that the library director is the ultimate arbiter of the library collection subject to oversight by the board and that the director is responsible to protect minors from materials deemed inappropriate for children and youth.

Language in the resolution also states that the public may submit a request to the library director to challenge decisions regarding books included within the librarys collections or those that were removed because of the selection criteria policy.

Decisions by the library director regarding books or other materials from the collection that are advertised for consumers under the age of 18 and which he or she deems inappropriate for children or youth could be reversed by a majority vote of the board.

The board must determine that the item is not harmful to minors based on state or federal law. It cannot include graphic descriptions, illustrations or other representations of sexual conduct as defined in state and federal law.

The resolution also states the items may not contain mature themes of sexuality, sexual orientation, sexual abuse or transgender identity. The book or material also cannot promote or glorify illicit drug or tobacco use, have racial or ethnic themes, sexual harassment or discrimination, homosexual themes, xenophobia or transphobia.

It also cannot have content that relates to gender identity, promiscuity, teen pregnancy, physical or sexual abuse, pedophilia, polygamy, or any other form of criminal behavior.

The board may also overturn a directors decision to retain materials and books in the collection, based on the same criteria.

The resolution largely aligns with changes that board members from the Alabama Public Library Service adopted in their administrative code. Changes not only included the amendments recommended by Gov. Kay Ivey but also further restricted minors from having access to library materials.

The code change requires libraries to develop policies to determine the materials appropriate for the collection or risk losing their public funding. They must have a policy in place for placing displays that highlight materials targeted at children. Libraries also must have guidelines to ensure that the childrens section does not have obscene or sexually explicit materials and that those materials cannot be purchased for patrons less than 18 years old.

Groups such as Read Freely Alabama and the Alabama Library Association have opposed the boards resolution and the administrative code changes adopted by APLS, believing they violate free speech rights and discriminate against LGBTQ+ groups.

We continue to be alarmed by whats going on in Prattville and we are deeply concerned that this new policy will lead to fewer LGBTQ+ books on the shelf, said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director for PEN America, an organization that advocates for libraries and freedom of expression that has been tracking the situation in Prattville. The library is for everyone, but this policy appears to pave the way for a more narrow public sphere in which LGBTQ+ viewpoints are left out.

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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in Eau Claire responded to what they called, The most Wisconsin complaint ever, around 9:46 p.m. on Monday.

According to a Facebook post by the Eau Claire Police Department, officers were sent to check on a report from a driver that somebody was chasing them down and throwing cheese at their car.

Wisconsin State Patrol to ride along with semi-trucks, targeting distracted driving

Not gouda, the post said. Its un-brie-lievable that someone would do that. The viral post on Facebook has over 200 comments filled with cheese puns and more than 1,000 shares.

Police did not mention if any citations were handed out or if there was an arrest made.

No additional information was provided. Local 5 will update the story if more details are released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  An autopsy report for a Fort Campbell Soldier has been released after she was found dead at a Clarksville apartment complex on May 18.

Police announced a homicide investigation following the death of 23-year-old Pfc. Katia Duenas-Aguilar, a soldier originally from Mesquite, Texas. She was found inside of a residence on Tiny Town Road.

An autopsy report revealed Duenas-Aguilar was found with 68 sharp force injuries on her body, predominantly in the neck. Her official cause of death was sharp force injuries to the neck, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Friend calls for justice in murder of Fort Campbell soldier

Pfc. Katia Duenas-Aguilar (Courtesy: Fort Campbell 101st Airborne Division)

The report also noted that Duenas-Aguilar had a blood alcohol content of .161. Gamma-Hydroxybutyric, or GHB, was also found in her system.

Duenas-Aguilar was a young mother and well loved by the military community. She entered the active-duty Army as an Information Technology Specialist in 2018. She completed basic combat training at Fort Eisenhower in Georgia, and reported to Fort Campbell in 2019. Duenas-Aguilars was awarded with two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

The League of United Latin American Citizens previously announced a $25,000 reward for information in the case.

Latino Civil Rights organization offers $25K reward for info on death of Fort Campbell soldier

The Clarksville Police Department is working with Army Criminal Investigation Agents on the case, although CPD remains the lead investigative agency. No arrests have been announced.

Anyone with information, including video of the area at the time, is asked to contact Detective Hofinga at 931-648-0656, ext. 5720.

You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward by calling the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Tipsline at (931) 645-8477, or by clicking here to submit an anonymous tip.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Babydog, Gov. Jim Justice's English bulldog, attends the governor's revenue announcement at the West Virginia State Culture Center Theater in Charleston, W.Va., on July 1, 2024. (Office of the Gov. Jim Justice | Courtesy photo)

On West Virginia Day, Gov. Jim Justice held a dedication to the four new murals in the state Capitol rotunda.

The next day, we heard rumors that Babydog, Justices prized English bulldog, was in the murals. Sure enough, when I looked through the state Legislatures photo gallery, there she was  right between a painter and a musician, with Seneca Rocks in the background.

We immediately began contacting state officials and the artists, with not much luck. The renderings released in April did not include Babydog in The Shivaree of Seneca Rock.

First, let me make it clear that Im not blaming Babydog. Babydog is baby. She is innocent. She cant help that she is chonky and people love her for it.

And yes, it is kind of funny and silly that she is in whats supposed to be a historically accurate mural. (Sorry, its not actually our Babydog in the mural. Its Babydogs 20th grandma, according to Randall Reid-Smith, secretary for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.)

But the problem is that protocols were not followed with the mural, which was funded by taxpayer money.

Reid-Smith, who would not return our calls for an interview, said on Metronews Talkline that he and other top members of the Justice administration, after reviewing the initial draft of the mural, felt it needed more content, and added a cardinal, elk and Babydog.

However, any changes made to the Capitol must be approved by the Capitol Building Commission. He said the mural with Babydogs likeness was approved by himself, state Museums Director Charles Morris, Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Urling, Administration Secretary Mark Scott and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Rebecca Blaine. Reid-Smith is the only one on that list who is a member of the Capitol Building Commission.

Like many things in Justices administration, theres been a lack of transparency with the process. The Gazette-Mails Phil Kabler sent a Freedom of Information Act request related to the states decision to enter into a contract with John Canning & Co. for the mural work, since the current Capitol Building Commission never approved the work. Kabler said the response he received was the April 3 news release announcing the murals.

Reid-Smith also tried to justify the decision by saying, People will always remember Babydog, and so that is creating history.

Yes. People will remember Babydog because Justice brings her everywhere  along with her own chair  and uses her to try to endear people to him.

People on social media have compared Babydog to Lil Sebastian, a beloved 25-year-old mini horse from the sitcom, Parks and Recreation. The mini horse is the city of Pawnees mascot, and some describe Babydog as West Virginias mascot.

Everyone loves Lil Sebastian, who somehow has an honorary degree from Notre Dame. Even curmudgeon Ron Swanson squeals in delight when the tiny horse visits city hall.

Both Lil Sebastian and Babydog have songs about them. Both have merch. Both make special appearances at events.

Except Lil Sebastians owner isnt a politician.

Lil Sebastians owner never ran for U.S. Senate.

Lil Sebastian never endorsed a political candidate.

Lil Sebastian never lobbied around the state against personal income taxes.

Babydog is a distraction. Justice has had a lot of bad press, even going back to before he was elected governor. In February, when it was announced that Carter Bank & Trust listed several of Justices properties at the Greenbrier Sporting Club for auction, Justice announced soon after that Babydog would need surgeries for a torn ACL. A few days after Justices companies sued to block the auction, an official news release came out saying Babydogs ACL surgery was successful.

On West Virginia Day, Justice was scheduled to unveil a statue of the states first governor, Arthur I. Boreman, in Wheeling. He showed up 40 minutes late and sat in his air conditioned car on the 92 degree day until it was his turn to speak.

Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, Justices opponent in the U.S. Senate race, posted on X that Justice spoke at length about his own dog and said nothing about Governor Boreman.

Justice apologized to the crowd for not bringing Babydog to the event, Its unseasonably warm, and Babydog absolutely cant stand it when its unseasonably warm.

Same, girl.

Now that things have been heating up with Child Protective Services and the Department of Human Services as reporters and legislators try to find out how a Boone County teen fell through the cracks, Babydog has popped up in a mural.

Its OK to love Babydog. But remember shes there to distract you. Pay no attention to the man behind the English bulldog.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Media accreditation portal for COP29 is now open, Trend reports.

The UNFCCC media accreditation portal, through which media can apply to attend COP29,is now open. Media professionals from around the world can submit their applications for accreditation to the UNFCCC Secretariat from July 2.

The COP29 conference will provide a unique opportunity for the media to report to the international public the constructive discussions, important decisions, and joint steps being taken to shape the sustainable future of our planet. Journalists accredited to attend COP29 will have direct access to the professional content and infrastructure intended for the media as part of the conference. They will have an array of opportunities such as watching high-level talks in-person or online, direct access to the official conference programme, and briefings on scientific and technological innovations on climate change. Journalists with accreditation allowing access to the Green and Blue Zones at COP29 will be able to attend press conferences, briefings, and other media events, and will be able to make use of specially equipped media centres and media zones at the COP29 venue.

Registration only for the Green Zone accreditationwill be conducted by the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company and will be announced soon.

The accreditation process is based on the requirements and procedures set by the UNFCCC and is carried out via the registration portal on the UNFCCC Secretariatsweb page. Accreditation will be given to media professionals representing print and online media, television, radio, photojournalism or other mass media. Applications registered on the electronic platform will be assessed by the UNFCCC. Once the media professionals whomeet the accreditation criteria have received confirmation, they will be able to complete their registration easily.

A very large number of media professionals are expected at COP29 this year, as at every climate conference. It is recommended that applications are submitted as soon as possible to ensure that all the technical and other preparations can be made to allow the media to cover the conference as efficiently as possible.

More details on the process can be obtained by writing to [email protected]

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Bachelorette Becca Kufrin: I've always felt loved, but I wish I hadn't pressured myself to get married and have children young.

Bachelorette Becca Kufrin: I've always felt loved, but I wish I hadn't pressured myself to get married and have children young.

Becca Kufrin starred on "The Bachelorette" in 2018.

She's been engaged to three men she met through the franchise.

She says she's always felt loved by her husband Thomas Jacobs.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Becca Kufrin. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My love life hasn't been simple. I was the winner of "The Bachelor" in 2018 and said yes when Arie Luyendyk Jr. asked me to marry him. After he broke my heart on screen, I became "The Bachelorette" later that year and got engaged to Garrett Yrigoyen. When we broke up two years later, I appeared on "Bachelor In Paradise." That's where I met my current husband, Thomas Jacobs, who I proposed to.

Despite the turmoil, I've always felt loved. I was very lucky growing up with a loving, supportive family. I've always had an abundance of love and kindness shown to me.

Luckily, when I met Thomas, I recognized that he was raised the same way. He showers love on me, which makes it easy to show that same love, support, patience, and kindness to our 9-month-old son, Benson.

I don't plan to talk with Benson about the shows

I probably won't talk to Benson about my time on the shows, really. Not that he'll probably care as he gets older  I'm assuming he'll find it more embarrassing than anything.

Instead, I want to teach him about relationships by example. Kids learn what they see, so I'm mindful of setting a good example. Benson will see that Thomas and I show each other respect, kindness, patience, and grace. In time, he's going to learn from that. Hopefully, he'll develop kindness and love for our family and the whole world.

I ditched my timeline and discovered myself

I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to ditch the timeline. It's easy to have goals for when you want to be married, have kids, buy a house, and all those things. But really, how that unfolds looks different for everybody. Go easy on yourself, go along for the ride, and let go of the pressure to check boxes.

When I was in my 20s, growing up in small-town Minnesota, I was so focused on finding a partner and settling down. I wanted to check all the boxes of what a traditional life should look like.

Instead, I found myself traveling and getting outside my comfort zone. I experienced so many different things. Because of that, I could focus more on myself, finding what I really wanted and what was going to fill me up, like travel. By the time I had a baby and married at 33, I felt like I knew myself.

I've had to learn how to embrace a little bit of mess

Becoming a mom was a lot harder than I expected. Everyone tells you that, but no one can prepare you for it. Just trying to keep a human alive was intense. I was so used to working from home and having autonomy, so bringing this little other human was a lot. So was navigating my body healing after birth and trying to breastfeed.

Before I had Benson I was so organized and tidy. I've had to let go of that a bit. I'm not sure how one child manages to produce so much mess. I'm constantly wiping down Benson's hands, face, and everything around him. I'm hoping maybe it will rub off on him, and he'll become a neat freak like Mom.

The last five years have been a whirlwind, but I'm excited for the next five. I want to bring Thomas and Benson to meet my family in Croatia. We were married in a courthouse ceremony, so I'm excited to have a bigger wedding celebration with family and friends. I want to have another baby, a sibling for Benson. I love adventure and can't wait to see what comes next.

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In a span of just six and half hours, two Los Angeles Metro buses were the focus of dangerous and scary situations Monday.

The first incident happened at around 3:15 a.m. when a Metro bus full of passengers near West Olympic and Flower Street downtown was overrun by people gathered for a street takeover involving an estimated 50 vehicles.

According to the bus operator, the mob of individuals shot fireworks at the bus and left it covered in graffiti.

There were also reports that the same group tagged a nearby building and attempted to break into a Starbucks on 9th and Flower before eventually being dispersed by officers with the Los Angeles Police department.

It is unclear if any arrests were made. There were also no reports of injuries.

A Metro bus was tagged and shot at with fireworks

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable said that law enforcement needs to step up where the continued problem of street takeovers are concerned.

Youre tasked with protecting citizens, its your job, he told KTLAs Carlos Saucedo. You got to crack down, got to stop it. Weve called repeatedly for the creation of a permanent joint taskforce  LAPD, LASD and state officials  to come in. In other words, to monitor, ID, impound and arrest.

Not long after that incident, at 9:45 a.m., deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department surrounded a Metro bus at Los Feliz and San Fernando roads in Glendale on reports of an armed passenger.

Authorities said that all the passengers on the bus had exited when the bus operator, who was wrapping up his shift, noticed a passenger slumped over, reportedly sleeping, in his seat with a gun.

Law enforcement responds to a report of an armed suspect on a bus in Glendale

Responding SWAT teams were able to watch the man by viewing Metros real-time surveillance cameras inside the bus while they used a bullhorn to get the suspect to wake up.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody at 11:45 a.m. without incident and a firearm was recovered at the scene.

He woke up, Deputy Lucas Darland said. It was not a violent situation or confrontation at all.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been plagued by recent violence, including several incidents of people killed on buses or trains.

In May, Metro bus operators staged a sick out impacting several bus lines to draw attention to what they were calling a safety crisis.

Late in June, L.A. Metro board members voted to move forward with a five-year transition to establish a Transit Community Public Safety Department.

Currently, Metro, who used to have its own version of a transit police force between 1978 and 1997, contracts with LAPD, LASD and Long Beach PD for security, though officials at the transportation authority have been critical of the law enforcement personnel hired to provide safety resources to riders.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump might be entitled to immunity fromhis behavior during the final days of his presidency and as it pertained to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. That decision may have damning effects on the Georgia racketeering case against him.

That case, which was spearheaded by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, is currently on hold as an appeals court evaluates if Willis can stay on the case at the request of Trump and his co-defendants. The Georgia case also has some of the same matters as special counsel Jack Smiths prosecution of Trump on federal election interference charges.

There hasnt been a trial date set by Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee yet. One of the motions before him is Trumps attempt to get the charges thrown out based on grounds of presidential immunity. The Supreme Courts 6-3 ruling stated that Trumps contacts with Justice Department officials about his stolen election claims are protected by immunity.

The High Court also said that Trump is presumptively immune from being prosecuted for his contacts with former Vice President Mike Pence right before the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Interestingly enough, those contacts are also referenced in the Georgia case.

Trump is expected to push to dismiss the Georgia case on the grounds of immunity with a subsequent hearing to follow. The Supreme Court ruling did not decide on the issue of immunity regarding Trumps contacts with people outside the federal government, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

On Jan. 2, 2021, Trump called Raffensperger and encouraged him to find more votes than President Joe Biden. That call is a vital part of the Fulton County indictment as well as the effort to recruit alternate presidential electors for Trump.

Trump is still awaiting sentencingfollowing his conviction in his hush money case earlier this year.

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A petition effort seeks to expand the Baltimore County Council to 11 members. Baltimore County Flickr photo.

With no votes to spare, the Baltimore County Council advanced a proposed charter amendment Monday that will let voters decide whether to increase the size of the council from seven to nine members.

As a proposed amendment to the county charter, the proposal needed a supermajority of five votes to pass. Council Chairman Izzy Patoka, along with Councilmen Todd Crandell, Mike Ertel, Wade Kach and David Marks voted for the measure. Councilman Pat Young was the sole no vote, and Councilman Julian Jones, who had previously expressed reservations about the measure, was not present.

Tonight was a historic moment, said Patoka, who sponsored the measure. It will create opportunity for the county council to better reflect the demographics of Baltimore County.

The current council is all male, with six white members and one African American.

Young, a Democrat who represents southwestern Baltimore County, argued that the council should be expanded to 11 members instead of nine, saying that would increase the likelihood of getting a more diverse council.

Over time, there is a resounding theme, Young said. We have been historically, with painfully few exceptions, a very white and very male council.

But Crandell, a Republican who represents the southeastern part of the county, called Youngs proposal little more than a Democratic power grab.

We have to cut through the crap here. This is about politics. This is about the Democratic Party doing what they do in Maryland, trying to grab more power on the Baltimore County Council, said Crandell of the 11-member council proposal.

Ertel, whose district includes parts of Towson, Parkville, Rosedale and Middle River, said expanding the size of the council is long overdue.

Weve had seven council districts since 1956. Our needs are greater than ever, our infrastructure has a lot of challenges, and we believe that expanding the council would give a little breathing room in the sense of council members being able to serve their districts a little better, Ertel said.

Meanwhile, organizers of a voter-backed drive are pushing for a separate initiative that would add four members to the council. The Vote4More campaign has until July 19 to submit at least 10,000 valid voters signatures to the county board of elections to get their proposal on the November ballot.

In a statement Monday, County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. applauded the councils decision to answer our call to empower voters and allow them to make their voices heard on expanding the county council to provide a more responsive and equitable government.

The councils proposed charter amendment also calls for reclassifying the job of a council member from a part-time to a full-time position. The Personnel and Salary Board Commission is expected to review council salaries next year to decide whether to increase the current salary of $69,000 or keep it the same. The council will be able to approve or reduce the commissions recommendation, but cannot increase it.

In other action, the council overrode Olszewskis veto of a measure that would limit residential development in areas where public schools are already overcrowded. Supporters of that bill say the measure is needed to curtail huge development projects in parts of the county where schools are over-capacity.

Even though they voted to override the veto, council members also agreed to enact a companion bill that would create a committee to closely review large, development projects.

Following the vote, Olszewski issued a statement calling the measure deeply flawed.

The introduction of a Band-Aid bill to address concerns that we, and countless others, have raised a curious and convoluted approach to addressing the flaws associated with the original legislation, his statement said.

Nonetheless, we encourage the council to use this do-over as a renewed opportunity to engage with BCPS (Baltimore County Public Schools) leadership and housing advocates to responsibly address school overcrowding while also meeting our moral and legal obligations to expand access to attainable housing, Olszewskis statement said.

The post Baltimore County Council advances bill to add two more members appeared first on Maryland Matters.
SHEFFIELD, Ala. (WHNT)  Bank Independent is announcing the launch of its 11th annual School Share drive, starting on Monday, July 1st.

This year, the drive will support local school children through the $5 Helps Carry the Cost campaign, aiming to provide essential school supplies to those in need.

Our $5 Helps Carry the Cost campaign is a great reminder that a little can go a long way to make a big impact, says Hallie Mauldin, Community Engagement Leader at Bank Independent. Whether you can drop off school supplies on collection day or take a moment to donate to the drive, well ensure your donations make a positive difference in your community.

Monetary donations will be accepted via PayPal and Venmo, making it easier than ever for community members to contribute. In addition, a special collection day has been scheduled for July 19th at two Walmart locations: Cloverdale Road in Florence and Highway 72 in Madison.

Kids to Love volunteers pack thousands of backpacks for annual foster care drive

At Bank Independent, we believe in the power of community support and recognize the importance of ensuring every child has the tools they need for a successful education, said Rick Wardlaw, CEO of Bank Independent. Our annual School Share drive is a commitment to investing in the future of our communities by providing essential school supplies to those in need. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with local organizations and our generous community members who contribute to making a lasting impact on the lives of our students.

Bank Independent partners with local organizations across its seven-county footprint to ensure that donations are distributed to area families in need. This year, donations will be distributed through Sidneys Safe in Lauderdale and Colbert County, DHR of Franklin County, DHR of Lawrence County, DHR of Limestone County, Committee on Church Cooperation in Morgan County, and Free 2 Teach in Madison 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 WHNT.com.
BARNWELL COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF)  A Barnwell County woman has been charged with Murder in the death of pregnant 17-year-old Maylashia Hogg.

Jacqueline Reid, 62, was charged with two counts of Murder on Monday, July 1, 2024 and booked into the Barnwell County Detention Center.

Jacqueline Reid

ALSO ON WJBF: I dont wanna talk to you: murder suspect in Maylashia Hogg case faces bond judge

Maylashia Hogg, who was last seen alive near Feb. 8, 2024, was reported missing on Feb. 14, 2024 and found dead on Feb. 18, 2024. She was nine months pregnant and expected to give birth to a baby girl to be named Londyn Charity.

According to the arrest warrant, a search warrant conducted at the defendants home uncovered forensic evidence of the crime. The report stated that Maylashia Hogg was stabbed multiple times with a sharp-edged weapon. An autopsy conducted determined the manner of Hoggs death was homicide as a result of multiple sharp force wounds and multiple stabs and incisions.

Barnwell Police Chief Michael Butts released a statement Monday evening regarding the update in the case.

I want to thank everyone who worked tirelessly to help this investigation, he said. Please keep Maylashias loved ones in your thoughts. We must continue to care for each other, to honor Maylashia and Londyns memories, and come together to heal.

Barnwell County Police Department requested the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to investigate the case, which will be prosecuted by the 2nd Circuit Solicitors Office.

The investigation is still ongoing and those with information are asked to contact SLED at the MAYLASHIA HOGG TIP LINE: (803) 896-0281, or email at tips@sled.sc.gov.

This is a developing story. Count on WJBF NewsChannel 6 for more information as it 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 WJBF.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Belinda McCormick, vice president of the Better Business Bureau Serving North Alabama (BBB), is informing people about a way to protect themselves from home title stealing.

Weve not seen a lot of a ton of title stealing here in the area yet, but nationally, there has been title stealing, McCormick said. That is where somebody goes and finds a deed for your property and changes the name of your property and its no longer your property.

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The BBB receives many calls from homeowners asking whether they should purchase special insurance to protect the title of their homes.

McCormick said the insurance cannot completely protect you against home title fraud, but they can monitor your title, alert you to signs of fraud and help you recover from fraud if it happens.

However, there is a step you can take for yourself at no cost in order to protect your home title.

According to McCormick, the Madison County Probate Court has partnered with the Tax Assessors office to create a property change notification system.

Fourth of July travel tips and tricks

The system is set up to alert property owners via email if a deed is filed in the Madison County Probate Office changing the listed owners name in the Tax Assessors office.

To sign up, visit this website and type in your PIN, which can be found on your property tax notice received from a tax collector. Your PIN can also be found here by searching for your property.

Its free for property owners to participate, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

If you dont live in Madison County, you can check with your countys Tax Assessor to see if they have a similar program.

McCormick said that if you fall victim to this type of scam, you should report it to the Tax Assessor immediately and consult a real estate attorney.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALDERSON, WV (WVNS)  One of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in the state takes place in Alderson.

Pets and fireworks: How to keep your furry friend calm for the Fourth

Aldersons celebration spans over a week and includes various activities and events to celebrate the holiday.

Beginning on June 29th, the Alderson Fourth of July celebration is already in full swing.

Of course, the big day is still a few days out, but Fourth of July committee members are still working overtime to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Their planning does not just start in June, however, as Lee Skaggs, Vice President of the Fourth of July Committee, says.

September. It takes a year, ten months to get this thing regulated, get everything lined out, said Skaggs. And its not exactly easy, but with changes that we wanna do, what we think we might do better next year, and what stuff like that.

Skaggs said that the events that took up the large share of work this year were the Mud Bog, which took place on June 30th, the drag racing on June 29th, and of course, the highlight of the celebration: the fireworks show on July 4th.

Charles Lobban, Jr. is the co-head of the Fireworks Committee and said this event is a beast to prepare.

It will take us, with our aerial, about three days to totally get everything set up for as big as our show here in Alderson is. Most places we do shows, we do them in a day. Everything set up, tear down, shoot, explained Lobban. And then our ground display, itll take a ton of people that day of the show to set it up here on the field which you cant do till the day of anyway.

Everyone involved with the fireworks show has to be a licensed pyrotechnician through the state of West Virginia.

Lobban said they usually have 25 to 30 people helping out the day of the event and that both fire departments have personnel and trucks standing by.

So, why does the town go through all this trouble year after year?

Greg Eary, President of the Fourth of July Committee, said it is all about the people.

The community really just looks forward to it, said Eary. The people that grew up here come back to see it. And its just one of the amazing things about Alderson.

Deadline for entries approaching for State Fair of West Virginia

The next day for events is the Fourth of July.

The Grand Parade begins at 10:30 A.M., there will be several events throughout town through the day, and the fireworks show will begin at 10:15 P.M.

The official end of the celebrations is Monday, July 8th with the Ducks on the Greenbrier Race.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has hinted that some of his "current opponents" may soon be released.

Source: European Pravda, citing the Belarusian state-owned news outlet BelTA

Quote from Lukashenko: "Don't be surprised if some seriously ill (as they are being described) prisoners are released in a few days. They didnt manage to flee and are now in prison. They were intent on destroying the country in 2020." [The 20202021 Belarusian protests were a series of mass political demonstrations and protests against the Belarusian government and President Alexander Lukashenko. In response to the protests, a number of relatively small pro-government rallies were held  ed.]

Details: According to Lukashenko, these people are seriously ill. Most of them are suffering from cancer.

"We are treating everyone humanely," Lukashenko said.

As of late May, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reported that there are more than 90 political prisoners in poor health in Belarus. There are also 65 political prisoners over the age of 60, many of whom have serious health problems.

As of 2 July, 1,409 people were recognised as political prisoners in Belarus.

Lukashenko hinted in the spring that the Belarusian security services could put pressure on opponents of Lukashenko's regime who have gone abroad by taking measures against members of their families who are still in Belarus.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. The gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Italy are forecast to reach 9.6 bcm in 2024, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said at a meeting with Italian Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin in Milan on July 2, Trend reports.

The sides discussed cooperation in the energy sector as well as within the framework of the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November.

Furthermore, the parties discussed cooperation with Italian company Ansaldo Energia, which supplies equipment and plans to turnkey a 1,280 MW power plant in Mingachevir (on the territory of the old Azerbaijan thermal power plant) in Azerbaijan.

The company also plans to build substations in the territories of Azerbaijan that have been liberated from occupation.

"Also, the Italian side expressed interest in the supply of green energy from Azerbaijan through the green energy corridor Caspian-Black Sea-Europe. In addition, the parties discussed priorities during Italy's presidency in the G7," the information noted.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A Bellingham man has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $75,000 from a nonprofit he co-founded to help the homeless.

According to The Bellingham Herald, a judge sentenced James Lee Peterson, 67, to 60 days in jail in addition to paying back $47,000 after he pled guilty to one count of first-degree theft at a felony level.

The nonprofit Peterson stole from is called HomesNOW! Not Later, an organization that runs and operates tiny home communities for unhoused people. HomesNOW! currently operates two tiny home villages  Unity Village and Swift Haven  in Bellingham.

From June 2017 to September 2019  the first two years of the nonprofits existence  Peterson was illegally siphoning funds, according to court records obtained by The Bellingham Herald. Peterson reportedly withdrew funds from the nonprofits business banking account and used the money at casinos and local businesses in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Petersons guilty plea and subsequent sentencing came nearly five years after charges were filed against him. He was arrested Nov. 1, 2019, following a monthlong investigation by the Bellingham Police Department, but left custody three days later after posting a $10,000 bail.

According to The Bellingham Herald, Petersons court case was continued 27 times, partially due to delays the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Washington court system.

The HomesNOW board is relieved that Mr. Petersons case has finally been resolved after a prolonged period, Doug Gustafson, chairman of HomesNOW! Not Later, said in a June 25 statement to The Bellingham Herald.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.
Alaska Federation of Natives, the largest Indigenous organization in a state with nearly half of the countrys federally recognized tribes, has elected a new president.

Thirty-eight-year-old Benjamin Mallott, the son of the son of the late Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, will step into the role in August, according to AFN. Mallott has been with AFN for more than a decade and currently serves as the organizations Vice President of External Affairs.

Mallott will replace Julie Kitka, who announced her departure in February after leading AFN for 40 years.

AFN Board Co-Chair Joe Nelson said in a statement that the board conducted an extensive statewide search, but ultimately chose Mallott because of his background in Alaska Native issues and state and federal public policy.

Before serving as Vice President of External Affairs, he was AFNs Director of Communications and Special Assistant to the President. He also has served as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski.

Senator Murkowski congratulated Mallot in a statement on X.

During Bens tenure in my office in DC, he worked diligently to improve the livelihoods of Alaska Native communities across the state, she wrote.

According to AFN, Mallott will begin his new role in August, to allow an overlap with Kitka through October.

"I am deeply honored to step into this role, Mallott said in a statement. I look forward to working closely with all our communities to advocate for a strong future together. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to outgoing President Julie Kitka for her outstanding leadership and dedication. I look forward to building upon the solid foundation she's laid over her decades of service to our communities."

The Alaska Federation of Natives membership includes 177 federally recognized tribes, 154 village corporations, 9 regional corporations, and 9 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums that contract and compact to run federal and state programs. AFN is governed by a 38-member board.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

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The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, DC. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Flood mitigation funding announced

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go toward developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Anna Rose Layden | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

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Aerial view in worker hands installing bitumen roof shingles with air hammer and nail. (Photo Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) have negotiated the prospects of cooperation, said Governor of CBA Taleh Kazimov on X, Trend reports.

The publication notes that a bilateral meeting was held with the Chairman of the Governing Board of SNB, Thomas Jordan.

"During the meeting, we discussed the current situation and prospects for cooperation between the central banks of both countries," Taleh Kazimov wrote.

Kazimov emphasized Jordan's significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between the institutions and fostering strong partnership relations among constituency countries at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

To note, currently, the delegation of CBA is in Tajikistan and has already held a meeting with the leadership of the country's National Bank.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the development of bilateral cooperation, supported by the signing of memoranda of cooperation.

The bank heads also discussed expanding cooperation within the banking sector and affirmed their commitment to advancing to a new level of collaboration.

They emphasized the importance of creating favorable conditions for opening Azerbaijani banks or their representative offices, expanding correspondent relations between commercial banks in both countries, sharing expertise in banking supervision and insurance, developing the capital market, and implementing international standards for financial reporting as the next priorities in bilateral relations.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Men work on a construction project on April 09, 2021 in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Heat waves emanate from the exhaust pipe of a city transit bus as it passes an American flag hung on the Los Angeles County Hall of Justice by workers renovating the historic structure on April 25, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. The nation's second largest city, Los Angeles, has again been ranked the worst in the nation for ozone pollution and fourth for particulates by the American Lung Association in it's annual air quality report card. Ozone is a component of smog that forms when sunlight reacts with hydrocarbon and nitrous oxide emissions. Particulates pollution includes substances like dust and soot. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Heat waves emanate from the exhaust pipe of a city transit bus as it passes an American flag hung on the Los Angeles County Hall of Justice by workers renovating the historic structure on April 25, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. The nation's second largest city, Los Angeles, has again been ranked the worst in the nation for ozone pollution and fourth for particulates by the American Lung Association in it's annual air quality report card. Ozone is a component of smog that forms when sunlight reacts with hydrocarbon and nitrous oxide emissions. Particulates pollution includes substances like dust and soot. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Source New Mexico.
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amid a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amid a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

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People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney applauded the proposed standard in a statement shared on Wednesday.

Rising temperature, extreme weather and climate change hit working class Mainers first and worst, Phinney wrote. For construction workers, farmworkers, letter carriers, ship builders, factory workers and many other Maine workers, extreme heat poses a real threat to health and safety. Every worker should come home safe and healthy at the end of the day.

If finalized, the new rule would provide Mainers with basic worker health and safety needs  water, shade, rest breaks and training for working in hot environments  which Pinney wrote would be an important step forward.

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US. The proposed rule would protect roughly 36 million workers in indoor and outdoor work settings and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses and deaths in the workplace.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

Editors Note: This story was updated to include response from Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Hot days at work followed by nights that never seem to cool down can cause severe health problems. The Biden administration has announced plans to address the issue for U.S. workers. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on NC Newsline.
People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Workers are seen on a Florida Turnpike interchange construction site on May 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: People sit with their feet in the fountain at the World War II Monument amidst a heat wave on the National Mall on June 19, 2024 in Washington, DC. Temperatures in Washington reached 98 degrees as heat rose drastically throughout the East Coast. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation.

In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the heat index, the rule would require employers to monitor workers heat exposure, provide cool-down areas and take mandatory cool-down breaks.

This new rule comes as extreme temperatures will engulf much of the country at some point during the year. Heat waves occur more frequently now compared to the 1960s, from an average of two per year to six in the 2020s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Heat waves have also increased in duration and intensity.

Officials also pointed to record-breaking heat waves in June, high temperature predictions for the Fourth of July holiday and above-average predicted temperatures for July.

The rule would cover 35 million workers whose job responsibilities include being in the heat and require activities that could raise core body temperatures. This includes those working in construction, agriculture and landscaping, as well as those in indoor environments, like kitchen workers, who are exposed to heat indexes of 80 degrees or higher.

A notable aspect of the proposed rule includes acclimatization requirements. New or returning workers who are not used to the heat levels must be given a gradual increase in workload or a 15-minute rest break every two hours.

According to a senior administration official, 75% of workers who die on the job due to heat-related illnesses die in the first week. This rule would significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, the official said.

Along with this new rule, the administration officials announced $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for 93 different communities and tribal nations. This includes $50 million to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for stormwater pumping to mitigate flooding and $6 million to Greensboro, North Carolina for an improved flood drainage channel.

Through FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, the funding will go towards developing infrastructure that is more prepared to handle extreme weather events.

Officials pointed to increases in wildfires, hurricanes and flooding as growing concerns for Americans.

In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events have significant economic impacts, said one official.

Another senior official from the administration spoke of how these announced actions are part of President Joe Bidens larger commitment to strengthen the country against the growing threats of climate change.

We are taking action, bold action, historic action and action thats delivering real meaningful, visible difference on the ground, the official said.

The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Juan Pedro Munoz, center, works in the heat while renovating the floor of a home in Austin on July 7, 2023. Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune

Above-normal high temperatures in recent summers have been outright dangerous for construction workers, kitchen cooks and other Texas employees who may be at risk for hazardous heat exposure.

But some relief may be on the way after the Biden-Harris administration announced a proposed rule Tuesday that aims to protect millions of workers from the risks of extreme heat.

[How to stay safe in the Texas heat]

The rule would require employers to develop a plan to prevent heat injuries and illnesses in workplaces and make sure their employees can access drinking water, get rest breaks and control indoor heat. It would apply to all employers conducting indoor or outdoor work in construction, agriculture and other sectors where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has jurisdiction.

Before going into effect, OSHA must publish the proposal publicly and establish a period to collect public input.

In many ways, this decades-long fight in Texas is helping expand workers rights nationwide, said U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, who has advocated for a federal workplace heat standard and rest and water breaks in Texas.

Casar led a thirst strike at the U.S. Capitol a year ago to draw attention to the issue. Casar hopes the Biden administrations proposed rule will be finalized by next summer.

The proposed federal requirements come a year after Texas legislators passed House Bill 2127, which barred cities and counties from passing local ordinances that go further than state law in several areas  from labor and finance to agriculture and natural resources.

HB 2127 eliminated ordinances in Austin and Dallas that established mandatory water breaks for construction workers. Supporters of the law said those kinds of ordinances bogged down businesses and created inconsistent standards across the state.

Climate change driven by humans burning fossil fuels is pushing temperatures higher in Texas. Last year was the hottest on record in the state. The state climatologist expects average temperatures and the number of triple-digit days will continue to rise.

Heat is deadly. It's known as a silent killer because its impacts are more nuanced than a tornado or a fire. But heat kills more people than any other type of weather, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. At least 300 people died in Texas last year from the heat, more than in any other year on record. Most of the deaths happened in populous metro regions, like Houston and Dallas Fort-Worth, as well as in border regions.

We know that temperatures will continue to go up. So these protections need to be in place, said Ana Gonzalez, deputy director of policy and politics at the Texas AFL-CIO.

Emily Foxhall contributed to this story.

Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!
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The Biden administration unveiled a sweeping rule on Tuesday to protect American workers from extreme heat  an already deadly threat that is becoming worse as climate change drives up temperatures around the globe.

The long-anticipated regulation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would, if finalized, establish the nations first-ever federal safety standard for excessive heat in both indoor and outdoor workplaces. It is expected to cover some 36 million workers  agricultural laborers, roofers and warehouse workers, to name a few  and dramatically curb heat-related injuries and deaths, the administration said.

During a speech about extreme weather and climate change at the District of Columbias emergency operations center on Tuesday, President Joe Biden detailed the proposal and paused when he noted it will ensure workers who toil in sweltering conditions have access to shade and water.

To think wed have to tell people [to provide] access to shade and water, he said.

The move comes amid dangerous heat warnings across much of the U.S. South, Midwest and West and on the heels of the hottest year in recorded history.

An estimated 2,302 heat-related deaths were recorded in the U.S. last year, up from 1,722 in 2022 and 1,602 in 2021. An average of 33 heat-related workplace deaths and 3,389 injuries and illnesses occurred each year from 1992 to 2020, although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said those numbers are likely vast underestimates.

A construction worker stops for a water break while working at a site in Boston last month. An average of 33 heat-related workplace deaths and 3,389 injuries and illnesses occurred each year from 1992 to 2020. Boston Globe via Getty Images

The new rule requires employers to implement a variety of safety measures once the heat index reaches certain thresholds. At 80 degrees, workers must be provided with access to water and shaded or indoor rest areas, as well as paid rest breaks as required to prevent overheating. At 90 degrees, the proposed rule mandates a paid 15-minute rest break every two hours and requires employers to monitor workers for signs of heat-related illness. Additionally, new or returning employees must be given multiple days to acclimate to jobs that expose them to high temperatures.

Workers all over the country are passing out, suffering heat stroke and dying from heat exposure from just doing their jobs, and something must be done to protect them, Douglas Parker, the assistant secretary for OSHA, said in a statement Tuesday. Todays proposal is an important next step in the process to receive public input to craft a win-win final rule that protects workers while being practical and workable for employers.

Whether the workplace heat protections ever see the light of day could hinge on the upcoming presidential election. The rule is not expected to be finalized until 2026, Politico reported. And while former President Donald Trump often touts himself as pro-worker, he has a long record of siding with corporate employers and has promised to dismantle many of President Joe Bidens climate and environmental policies if elected to a second term in office.

In Trumps home state of Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) recently signed into law a bill that blocks heat safety measures (including water and shade breaks) for workers in the state, as HuffPost previously reported. Unions and workplace safety advocates warned that the Republican-led effort would lead to worker fatalities. Texas passed similar legislation last year.

Only a handful of states, including California, Oregon and Washington, have heat protections for workers.

Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers union, applauded Tuesdays announcement but said it was a bittersweet moment for farm workers.

Every significant heat safety regulation in America at the state, and now federal, level was written in the blood of farm workers. Every year farm workers are killed by heat  with known deaths likely drastically outnumbered by the unknown, uncounted deaths, she said in a statement. Today, the federal government put itself on the right side of history by seeking, for the first time, to establish the precedent that every worker in America has the right to shade, water, and rest while working in temperatures that could kill them.

The rule, if finalized, is all but certain to draw legal challenges, and the Supreme Court just made it harder for federal agencies to enact and defend new rules and regulations. In a 6-3 decision, conservatives on the court overturned a 40-year precedent that afforded agencies broad discretion to craft regulation, effectively shifting federal regulatory power to judges.

During his remarks Tuesday in Washington, Biden condemned his predecessor and the MAGA Republicans in Congress for continuing to deny the realities of climate change and its mounting impacts and working to roll back climate investments and initiatives.

They must be living in a hole somewhere, he said. I quite frankly think its not only outrageous, its really stupid. Everyone who willfully denies the impacts of climate change is condemning the American people to a dangerous future and either is really, really dumb or has some other motive. How can you deny there is climate change, for Gods sake?

Related...
The Biden campaign is celebrating the wins they can get and touting the $33 million in donations they managed to rake in post-debate

The Biden campaign is celebrating the wins they can get and touting the $33 million in donations they managed to rake in post-debate

The Biden campaign said it raised $33 million after the first presidential debate of the year.

The campaign said that half of the funds raised came from first time donors.

The spike in donations provides some relief for Biden who is facing growing calls to step aside.

Supporters of President Joe Biden may have been unnerved by his bad performance at Thursday's presidential debate, but that didn't seem to hinder his campaign's fundraising efforts.

"$33 million raised since the debate, $26 million from grassroots donors," Biden deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty said in an X post on Sunday.

"Half! Of the donations made in this period are from first time donors. The Democrats grassroots is getting on board," he continued.

The spike in donations would certainly be a source of relief for the Biden camp. For comparison, former President Donald Trump's campaign said it raised $8 million the day after the debate.

"Thursday was our best grassroots fundraising day ever, while Friday was the second best," a Biden campaign official told CNN.

Representatives for Biden did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

Biden saw a similar bump in donations after his first presidential debate with Trump in the 2020 election. His campaign said at the time that it had broken its fundraising records when it raised nearly $10 million from 215,000 donors on the day of the debate.

But while the surge in donations will provide Biden with a welcome boost, it certainly isn't the home run the campaign needs right now.

Calls for Biden to be replaced as the presumptive Democratic nominee have grown after his underwhelming performance at last week's debate.

And when it comes to fundraising, Biden's campaign could also be losing its momentum against his GOP rival.

Trump's campaign said it raised $141 million in May, higher than Biden's $85 million in the same month. And in April, Trump raised $76 million to Biden's $51 million.

On Saturday, Biden donor and investor Whitney Tilson said he's reconsidering his support for Biden after Thursday's debate.

"If the man I saw at the debate is the real Joe Biden right now, then it would be a waste of my time and money to support him because he has almost no chance of beating Trump," Tilson said in an X post.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Biden campaign gets a bit of good news as it announces it hauled in $127 million in June

The Biden campaign hauled in $127 million in the month of June, a strong showing after some signs that its fundraising was slowing  and a bright spot for the campaign after days of trying to beat back concerns about President Joe Bidens age and viability after his debate performance.

June marked the campaigns best month of the cycle, according to a news release, which noted that the campaign now has $240 million cash on hand  up from $212 million last month.

In the days following the debate and amid intense criticism about Bidens faltering performance  along with questions about his continued political viability  Bidens campaign repeatedly pointed to good fundraising numbers as a signal of its grassroots strength. The argument is aimed at pushing back on those suggesting the president could lose support in the fallout from his performance.

Jen OMalley Dillon, campaign chair for Biden, told members of the campaigns National Finance Committee on Monday that the team is clear-eyed, not pollyannish, two participants on the call told CNN, but offered no indication Biden was reconsidering his bid for a second term.

A virtual meeting with about 500 donors, whose pictures spread across 21 pages of Zoom screens, was called in hopes of easing the tensions and answering questions top Democrats have been raising in response to Bidens dismal debate night. OMalley Dillon suggested Bidens health was strong, the two sources said. She pointed to the presidents health report released by his doctors earlier this year, with his doctor declaring him fit to serve.

Hes probably in better health than most of us, OMalley Dillon said, according to the participants, one of whom said it was offensive and dismissive of the real concerns about Biden in the wake of his debate.

A member of the National Finance Committee who participated in the call said it was disappointing that the top Biden official sought to downplay the concerns, rather than hear them.

The campaign raised more than $33 million between Thursday and Sunday morning, according to a campaign official. And Thursday, the official said, was the campaigns best grassroots fundraising day to date.

Bidens team has built a sizable war chest, which it has tapped for organizing and infrastructure in battleground states, along with significant spending on ads. There are more than 200 coordinated campaign offices with more than 1,000 staffers across battleground states, the campaign said.

Nearly two-thirds of the $127 million raised in June, the campaign said, came from grassroots donations, with 95% of the campaigns donations this quarter under $200. Part of the total was fueled by a Los Angeles fundraiser featuring former President Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts that brought in more than $30 million and the Bill and Hillary Clinton fundraiser in Virginia that brought in more than $8 million.

Still, the debate has sparked new Democratic donor anxiety that largely broke into three groups. Some argued against a pressure campaign urging the president to drop out, another group said party leaders should consider drastic steps only after the fallout from Thursday night is more closely examined, while a third group proactively called on Democrats to begin the process of seeking out a new nominee.

Bidens campaign and its surrogates have sought to soothe the fallout from his debate performance, asking voters to consider the 90 minutes they saw him in the context of his three-and-a-half years in office. Sensing the political fragility of the moment, both Biden and his campaign have admitted he had an off night.

Chris Korge, the Democratic National Committees finance chair, used Mondays Zoom call to urge donors to work harder and unify behind Biden.

Everyone just needs to breathe through the nose for a minute, Korge told donors, two participants on the call said, imploring donors not to panic about the trajectory of Bidens race with former President Donald Trump.

Quentin Fulks, a deputy campaign manager, told donors that negative media coverage of Biden was to blame for any drop in the polls, rather than the presidents debate performance. He said editorials and columnists calling for Biden to leave the race were blowing this out of proportion.

But some top Democratic officials and supporters close to the White House have balked at the tone and language that campaign officials have taken as part of their defense.

The decision by the campaign to refer to those who have called on Biden to drop out of the 2024 race as the bedwetting brigade has fueled anger and dismay.

One senior Democratic official told CNN that tone was disrespectful. Another top Democrat in close touch with the White House said it was disgusting.

Multiple people taking issue with language like bedwetting told CNN that the tone is dismissive and wholly unappreciative of the very serious and widespread concerns inside the Democratic Party about whether Biden is fit to seek and carry out a second term.

In one fundraising email over the weekend sent under the name of deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty, the campaign acknowledged the widespread panic that Bidens debate performance had caused.

If youre like me, youre getting lots of texts or calls from folks about the state of the race after Thursday. Maybe it was your panicked aunt, your MAGA uncle, or some self-important podcasters, the email started.

Later, the message said: The bedwetting brigade is calling for Joe Biden to drop out. That is the best possible way for Donald Trump to win and us to lose.

While the promising fundraising numbers come after one of the lowest points for Biden politically, they also come after a personal low for his opponent, who was convicted in late May on 34 felony counts. Bidens campaign suggested donors were energized by Trumps conviction.

Our Q2 fundraising haul is a testament to the committed and growing base of supporters standing firmly behind the President and Vice President and clear evidence that our voters understand the choice in this election between President Biden fighting for the American people and Donald Trump fighting for himself as a convicted felon, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement.

Biden attended high-dollar fundraisers in New York City and East Hampton, New York, as well as Red Bank, New Jersey, over the weekend.

Junes performance comes after two consecutive months in which Trumps political operation outraised the Biden campaign, owing in part to a flood of donations after Trumps criminal conviction.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Jarrett Renshaw and Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's reelection team held difficult phone calls on Sunday and Monday with important campaign funders who questioned whether the 81-year-old Democrat should stay in the presidential race and why they should keep donating after his dismal debate performance last week.

The campaign's National Finance Committee held a hastily scheduled call with hundreds of top Democratic donors and people who raise money for Biden's campaign on Monday evening to tamp down panic, according to multiple sources familiar with the call.

Biden's halting and sometimes befuddled debate performance Thursday fanned concerns about his age and sparked criticism from donors, voters and some Democrats.

While some donors pointed fingers at Biden aides who prepared him for the debate, others including the New York Times editorial board said Biden should step aside as the Democratic Party candidate against Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election. Biden and top Democrats say he has no plans to do so, and intends to beat Trump.

Biden campaign senior adviser Jen OMalley Dillon and deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks on Monday told a call that early polls showed little damage from the debate. They added the campaign will make Biden more visible at town halls and through interviews to reassure the public he can handle the grueling campaign trail, according to a donor source who was on the call.

"A real key point is that they understand that they have to put him out there," said the donor. Biden added public remarks to his schedule Monday evening about the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision.

About five donor questions described as "pointed" were covered during the call, the source said. These included: "Can the president make it through a campaign and another term?," the source said.

Biden campaign officials didn't take any live questions and seemed to pick queries submitted earlier, a second source on the call said. "The message was, 'We are not seeing any change in polling,'" the second source said. The "campaign will not win if the focus remains on his age."

A second call with about 40 top donors on Sunday turned tense after Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez was asked if the campaign will offer a refund if Biden doesnt run, a source familiar with the call said.

Biden's campaign has about $91 million in the bank.

Chavez Rodriguez said that will not happen because Biden is running. Pressed further, she said the money would go to Vice President Kamala Harris if the president dropped out.

"Some of us on that call have privately discussed if we should put our money somewhere else," said one of the donors on Sunday's call. "The past few days have been very disappointing."

Biden is in a tight race with Republican Trump, and trailed him in battleground states before the debate last week. At that encounter, Trump unleashed a barrage of falsehoods, including repeating the lie that he won the 2020 election, and Biden seemed to struggle to finish his sentences.

Trump is now leading Biden in New Hampshire, a state a Republican hasn't won since 2000, according to a St. Anselm College/WMUR poll published Monday, based on post-debate survey.

The Biden campaign said in a memo Monday that its own polling showed the debate did not significantly alter Biden's appeal in battleground states.

Additionally, the campaign said, a "large majority of Biden 2020 voters who had a negative reaction to his debate performance are still voting for him."

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Heather Timmons and Cynthia Osterman)
Insights from Politico, The Washington Post, and CNN

The News

Despite the White Houses damage control efforts since Bidens disastrous debate performance, prominent Democrats are increasingly going public with their criticism.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democrat in Congress to call for Biden to step down, saying in a statement that I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. Adam Frisch, a Democratic Congressional nominee in Colorado, swiftly followed, saying that the path ahead requires a new generation of leadership.

Bidens efforts to calm Democrats fears over whether he can be an effective nominee appear so far to have floundered. Days after the debate, Democrats were still supplying uneasy quotes on record and on background, while polling has trickled in that could influence their thoughts, too.

Meanwhile, three quarters of US voters believe Democrats would have better odds of keeping the White House with a candidate other than Biden, a CNN poll conducted after the debate showed. A Reuters/Ipsos poll similarly found that one in three Democrats think Biden should withdraw his reelection bid.

Biden is expected to speak with Democratic governors on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported. He will also give an interview to ABC News George Stephanopoulos, with portions airing on Friday.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

First elected Democrat calls on Biden to withdraw

Sources: Politico, The Washington Post, Newsweek

Liberal pundits, editorial boards at major outlets, and progressive activists called for Biden to drop out en masse after the debate, but until Tuesday, no governor or member of Congress had done so. Congressman Doggett is not especially prominent, but he broke the dam on what Politicos Rachel Bade described as a collective action problem among Democrats worried about Bidens status but reluctant to lead a charge to push him out of the race. Others may be waiting in the wings. The Washington Post reported West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and played a key role in Bidens policy agenda, considered calling on Biden to withdraw over the weekend but was talked out of it. Nobody wants to be the first one to knife Julius Caesar, the paper quoted one Democratic Party official saying.

Key Democrats hedge on Bidens viability

Sources: The Hill, MSNBC, Semafor, CNN

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a bellwether for Democratic opinion, sounded more hesitant than earlier this week to back Bidens continued nomination. I think its a legitimate question to say is this an episode or is this a condition, Pelosi told MSNBC, while defending his record and adding Trump should face similar questions. Other party members also sounded increasingly frustrated with Biden and his teams post-debate response. I really do criticize the campaign for a dismissive attitude towards people who are raising questions for discussion, Democratic Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont told Semafors Joseph Zeballos-Roig. Thats just facing the reality that were in. CNNs Jake Tapper also reported on X that some Democratic governors, on a call together to discuss the race, expressed surprise that Biden had not personally called them to reassure them (Tapper later clarified the post after some governors staffers contradicted the reporting).

CNN poll boosts Harris nomination

Sources: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post

Tuesdays CNN poll put Kamala Harris within the margin of error in a hypothetical matchup with Trump, with 47% of registered voters supporting Trump, 45% Harris. Thats an improvement on Trumps 49-43 lead against Biden in the same poll, and better than other hypothetical nominees, too. The poll was especially notable because much of the debate among left-leaning commentators about sticking with Biden has centered on whether Harris, who has historically not been well-liked in polls, would perform better. While Harris has emerged as Bidens strongest public defender, she also remains the likeliest alternative to the current ticket, The Wall Street Journal reported. Bidens campaign pollster, Geoff Garin, has said that their internal polling still shows a tight and unchanged race in swing states.
This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.

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Hello! My last name might end in a vowel, but I still learned something from this Michelin-starred chef pointing out red flags to look for at nice Italian restaurants . (Although, I take issue with calling it "sauce" instead of "gravy.")

In today's big story, we're looking at President Joe Biden showing no signs of giving up his reelection campaign while former President Donald Trump secured a win from the Supreme Court .

What's on deck:

But first, he's not leaving.

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The big story

Biden won't back down

Allison Joyce/Getty, Tyler Le/BI

President Joe Biden knew he'd have to put up a fight this year to keep his seat, but he likely didn't realize it'd come before November's election.

Despite a growing chorus of doubters, the president is digging in his heels over his decision to run for reelection , writes Business Insider's John L. Dorman.

Biden's campaign has been in full-blown crisis mode after the president's disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump last week.

Criticism about Biden's age and ability to serve another four years, previously only whispered about by supporters behind closed doors , was loud and public in the immediate aftermath.

Biden's aides have done their best to defend the president's performance, with one report suggesting the debate was held outside the hours when he's usually at his best . But experts said spinning Biden's struggles as a one-off to voters will ultimately backfire .

Still, the president seems intent on staying put. Despite the increased pressure to drop out, Biden's family has reportedly urged him to stay in the race . If he did give up the nomination, it would only be if he was offered a "dignified way out," according to The New York Times .

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP images, Jacquelyn Martin/Getty, Tyler Le/BI

Biden bowing out wouldn't alleviate Democrats' problems.

Who would fill in for Biden on the Democrats' 2024 presidential ticket comes with its own issues.

A Biden campaign manager reportedly said if the president steps aside his war chest would mostly go to Vice President Kamala Harris . But in some Democratic circles, the VP isn't being pitched as the best substitute for Biden.

Governors Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer are among the Democrats who have been floated to fill in for Biden . That chatter has reportedly left Harris' camp frustrated that she isn't considered the obvious pick .

Meanwhile, Trump secured a big win in his immunity case . The Supreme Court ruled that former presidents don't get absolute immunity from criminal charges related to actions under the scope of the presidency, but they do get some.

That decision is set to be pivotal in Trump's January 6-related indictment, with the court making clear some areas of the case can't proceed . The president is also looking to use the ruling to throw out his Manhattan conviction .

But the case could have bigger implications than just Trump. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a dissenting opinion that the ruling created a " law-free zone around the President " whereby they could order the assassination of a political rival without facing prosecution.

3 things in markets

Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI

Trump's policies are an "elixir for stagflation," JPMorgan's strategy chief warns. David Kelly sounded the alarm on the potential shocks Trump's trade and immigration policies could have on the economy. Sweeping tariffs and mass deportations could trigger a recession , he said. How a new $1 billion hedge fund is looking to stand out. Former Millennium exec Jonathan Xiong has his work cut out for him with the launch of Arrowpoint . The Asia-based multistrategy fund has big-name backers, like Blackstone and Canada's largest pension, but faces a crowded field where heavyweights like Citadel and Millennium dominate. Truist cools on tech. Keith Lerner, Truist Wealth's chief strategist and co-chief investment officer, downgraded the firm's rating on the tech sector from overweight to neutral . He's still bullish on the space but views valuations as overvalued, seeing value in communication services and utilities instead.

3 things in tech

Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg

Big Tech gets a big win from the Supreme Court. The court kicked two cases dealing with social media content moderation back down to lower courts. A legal expert explained why the decision is a de facto win for social media companies . Humans need another bot's help to fix ChatGPT's blunders. OpenAI unveiled CriticGPT, a tool designed to help human AI trainers spot errors in code produced by ChatGPT. As the chatbot has grown more sophisticated, its mistakes have become harder for humans to spot . Abnormal Security is set to be valued at $5 billion with new funding round. It's raised $374 million in venture funding, but it's unclear how much it will raise with the new round. The startup, which uses AI to guard users from cyber threats across email and apps , was valued at $4 billion in 2022

3 things in business

Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI

We just can't stop building these hideous houses. Most people agree America needs more houses, but why are the ones being built so ugly ? A mix of soaring development costs, local rules, and changing homeowners' attitudes may be to blame. How much money would you need to feel financially secure? For Gen Z, it's $200,000 a year  more than any other generation. Gen Zers, contending with rising costs, are feeling financially vulnerable. According to a previous BI poll, they're the most stressed generation when it comes to saving money. Kevin Costner's bad real-estate bet. Kevin Costner mortgaged his home to put $38 million of his own money into his latest film venture, the western "Horizon." Box-office numbers suggest this was a terrible idea .

In other news

What's happening today

Major Hurricane Beryl is forecast to barrel northwest across the Caribbean islands. It's the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record for the Atlantic hurricane season.

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Annie Smith, associate producer, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Biden donor says giving him cash is a waste of time and money if that bad debate showed what Biden's really like

A Biden donor says giving him cash is a waste of time and money if that bad debate showed what Biden's really like

Investor Whitney Tilson says he felt "deceived" after watching the Biden debate with Trump last week.

Tilson said Biden should pull out "if the man I saw at the debate is the real Joe Biden right now."

The Biden donor said it would be a "waste of my time and money" to continue backing him.

Investor Whitney Tilson, a longtime donor to President Joe Biden, says he's reconsidering his support for Biden after his stumbling performance at last week's presidential debate.

"I feel deceived. For months my Republican friends have been sending me videos from Twitter and Fox 'News' that appear to show Biden's dementia," Tilson wrote in an X post on Saturday.

"Though I was concerned, I was mostly able to dismiss these often deceptively-edited videos as the usual Republican attack machine idiocy because I remember how they tried to do the same to Hillary in 2016," he continued. "But the debate changed all that."

The former hedge fund manager said Biden must withdraw from the presidential race if his bad performance on Thursday's debate was not a one-off.

Biden's withdrawal, the longtime Democratic donor said, is now critical if the Democrats want to have any chance of beating former President Donald Trump in November.

"If it's as bad as what we all witnessed on Thursday night, then he needs to put his country first and step aside immediately," Tilson wrote.

"I will fight to my dying breath to stop Trump and his toxic Trumpism, but if the man I saw at the debate is the real Joe Biden right now, then it would be a waste of my time and money to support him because he has almost no chance of beating Trump," he continued.

Tilson added that he would still vote for Biden if he stays on but would instead "channel all of my energies into helping Democrats hold the Senate and retake the House."

Representatives for Biden and Tilson did not immediately respond to requests for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

This is the email I just sent to 28 Democrats -- 12 Senators, 15 House members and one governor (Wes Moore):



Dear [],



You may be surprised to hear that I am NOT writing to ask you to persuade President Biden to withdraw from the race.



Rather, I am asking you to tell him that  Whitney Tilson (@WhitneyTilson) June 30, 2024

Remarks made by high-profile donors like Tilson are likely a source of concern for the Biden campaign, which has been working hard to assuage supporters of Biden's mental acuity following last week's debate.

Biden's performance on Thursday was riddled with gaffes and stumbles as he sought to make the case for his candidacy against his GOP rival, Trump.

The setback on the debate stage has only compounded fears and worries about Biden's cognitive decline and his fitness for the Oval Office. Some have even called for the 81-year-old to be replaced as the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Billionaire Mark Cuban, who once said that he'd still vote for Biden even if the president "was being given last rites," said on Friday that he was willing to consider swapping Biden out for another candidate.

"Trump is far better than Biden at soundbites and marketing. That's reality," Cuban said in an X post. "For that reason, I'm also open to the discussion to replace Biden and/or Harris.

"It's not like Trump's approval ratings are high. They aren't. It could be an open door to find someone immediately out-performing Trump," he continued. "But if that doesn't happen, I'm still voting for Biden.

Read the original article on Business Insider
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. The financial sector holds a key role in backing the transition to a sustainable economy, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Aliyar Mammadyarov said at the "Green Economy as an Alternative for Economic Development" discussion panel, Trend reports via CBA.

Speaking about the development of green finance, Mammadyarov emphasized that transitioning to a sustainable economy has become a necessity, with the financial sector playing a crucial role in supporting this process.

He also highlighted the strategic initiatives implemented by the Central Bank to build a functional ecosystem for green finance.

To note, currently, the delegation of CBA is in Tajikistan and has already held a meeting with the leadership of the country's National Bank.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the development of bilateral cooperation, which was supported by the signing of memoranda of cooperation.

The bank heads also discussed expanding cooperation within the banking sector and affirmed their commitment to advancing to a new level of collaboration.

They emphasized the importance of creating favorable conditions for opening Azerbaijani banks or their representative offices, expanding correspondent relations between commercial banks in both countries, sharing expertise in banking supervision and insurance, developing the capital market, and implementing international standards for financial reporting as the next priorities in bilateral relations.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Over the course of his presidency, Joe Bidens small clutch of advisers have built an increasingly protective circle around him, limiting his exposure to the media and outside advice  an effort to manage public perceptions of the oldest person to ever hold the office and tightly control his political operation.

But inside the White House, Bidens growing limitations were becoming apparent long before his meltdown in last weeks debate, with the senior teams management of the president growing more strictly controlled as his term has gone on. During meetings with aides who are putting together formal briefings theyll deliver to Biden, some senior officials have at times gone to great lengths to curate the information being presented in an effort to avoid provoking a negative reaction.

Its like, You cant include that, that will set him off, or Put that in, he likes that, said one senior administration official. Its a Rorschach test, not a briefing. Because he is not a pleasant person to be around when hes being briefed. Its very difficult, and people are scared shitless of him.

The official said, He doesnt take advice from anyone other than those few top aides, and it becomes a perfect storm because he just gets more and more isolated from their efforts to control it.

The debate, however, was so dismal for Biden that nobody could ignore it. For as furiously as Bidens advisers have pushed back on concerns about his age, the now 81-year-old presidents halting, soft-spoken and scattered responses to former President Donald Trump, 78, shattered the partys magical thinking on the subject. That the presidents difficulties came as such a shock was largely the result of how effectively his top aides and the White House on the whole has, for three and a half years, kept him in a cocoon  far away from cameras, questions and more intense public scrutiny.

Even the presidents family, which gathered Sunday at Camp David for a previously scheduled portrait session with photographer Annie Leibovitz and private conversations about where to go from here, was pointing the finger at long-standing members of the senior team: senior adviser Anita Dunn, one of several proponents of the earlier debate, and former chief of staff Ron Klain, who oversaw the week of debate prep at Camp David. But Biden himself told those aides he wasnt blaming them, according to a person familiar with the conversation.



The whole planning, preparation was political malpractice," Democratic megadonor John Morgan said in an interview, laying blame on the cabal" of the presidents closest aides, including Klain, Dunn and her husband, Bidens personal lawyer, Bob Bauer. "I think he has a misplaced trust in these three people, and I believe he has from the inception."

Its not just those aides. Democrats frustrated with Bidens insular senior team are well acquainted with the longtime aides who continue to have the presidents ear: Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti and Bruce Reed, as well as Ted Kaufman and Klain on the outside. Its the same people  he has not changed those people for 40 years, said one Democratic operative and close adviser to several members of Congress, who blamed the entire group for refusing to shift course even as Biden trailed Trump for months in the polls. All these guys running the campaign from the White House is not working.

As a Democratic strategist in a battleground state put it: The number of people who have access to the president has gotten smaller and smaller and smaller. Theyve been digging deeper into the bunker for months now. And, the strategist said, the more you get into the bunker, the less you listen to anyone."

This article was based on interviews with more than two dozen people, most of whom were granted anonymity to speak candidly about a sensitive subject. The White House disputed the characterization of Biden as isolated, asserting that he frequently seeks input from policy and political staff and that briefings often include as many as eight to 10 people. They specifically disputed the claim that Biden is protected from dissenting opinions, noting that its been the job of a staff secretary in every administration to make sure the president gets all of the information he needs and nothing extraneous. Senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates denied that briefing materials have been curated to avoid upsetting Biden, calling that suggestion false.

But now, after Bidens abysmal performance in the first debate, even some White House staffers are among a growing group of Democratic lawmakers, fundraisers, operatives and activists who have concluded  with sudden clarity  that the cloistered Biden inner sanctum itself is to blame for their current predicament.



By the time Bidens campaign proposed two debates with Trump, many White House staffers had no idea it was in the works, according to three administration officials. The plan and quiet negotiations with networks had been especially tightly held by the presidents small inner circle, spread between the West Wing and his Wilmington-based campaign headquarters.

Everyone was told this was for the best, said a White House staffer. Now, its the worst possible outcome. And were all trying to figure out why the people who know him best and make all the decisions didnt seem to anticipate that this might happen.

Following the debate, the pervasive view throughout much of the party is of Bidens inner circle as an impenetrable group of enablers who deluded themselves about his ability to run again even as theyve assiduously worked to accommodate his limitations and shield them from view.

For months, that mostly worked. Democrats strong 2022 showing, Bidens top aides claimed, offered validation for his reelection bid, helping shut down credible primary challenges and spurring the Democratic National Committee to reshuffle the early state calendar to Bidens benefit. When aides to the president suggested he was the best and only candidate who could beat Trump, few pushed back.



The fact is, there wasnt an open dialogue about whether he should run except for the people who would benefit from him running, said a Democratic operative close to the campaign. They described the inner circle, Donilon especially, as convinced that this was going to be about Trump, not about Biden, and at the end of the day, people just wouldnt vote for Trump. But here we are, we're sitting in July, and the race is about Biden, and it's about a trait you can't fix.

Two Biden officials disputed that characterization of Donilons point of view. One prominent Biden donor in close touch with the White House and campaign was more circumspect: Weve all enabled the situation, they said.

No one has done more to keep the president isolated  and shielded from tough conversations  than his wife, first lady Jill Biden, and sister, Valerie Biden Owens. The presidents determination to spend weekends at home in Wilmington, away from most aides and the formal trappings of the White House, may be the clearest manifestation of Bidens strong preference for familiarity and privacy.

Most aides who have worked for Biden for any significant length of time share the presidents own resentments about an elite political and media class that has never, in their view, given him his due. And they tend to view Bidens debate meltdown and the ensuing party-wide freak-out about his candidacy as just another moment of being counted out. Their recent experience  Bidens 2020 win and the Democrats history-defying midterm success in 2022  has many convinced that hell survive this, too.

Yet while the campaign has sought to reassure top donors and activists, theres been little outreach to Democrats on Capitol Hill, where some front-line members are already being targeted with TV ads casting their support of Biden against his debate performance.

"I think the Biden team is pretty insular and doesnt really care what anybody says," said one senior House Democrat, who described a palpable and growing fear among vulnerable Democrats that they may lose because of Biden.

Theres definitely groupthink, one Democratic donor-adviser said about Bidens inner circle. Theyve known each other a long time. Theyre kind of a team of rivals. But theyre not going to challenge him.

A Democratic operative in frequent communication with the White House and the campaign said suggestions can be quickly dismissed. "If Im talking to Anita, and I say, 'what about X?' She's quick to say, 'The presidents not going to do that. No chance. It shuts off options, yes, but it also [lets] you move more quickly because they know him so well.

Another operative painted a similar picture: "They dont take dissent, they said. If you try, then you dont get invited to the next call, the next meeting."

White House and campaign aides argued that all presidential administrations or campaigns feature a clutch of top decision-makers, and Bidens is no different. They also noted that several new faces have been brought in for senior roles, including chief of staff Jeff Zients, campaign chair Jennifer OMalley Dillon, White House communications director Ben LaBolt, Cedric Richmond, a senior adviser to the DNC, campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez and deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks.



In every administration, there are individuals who would prefer to spend more time with the president and senior officials, Bates said in a statement to POLITICO. President Biden fights hard for families every day, working with a wide range of team members at what he is proud is the most diverse White House ever  and achieving historic results for the American people because of his determination, values, and experience.

After publication, Bates provided an additional response, casting complaints about a tightly controlled inner circle as "unfair distortions of processes that exist in every administration," and saying Biden "actively seeks input from a wide range of individuals inside and outside the administration."

As Bidens campaign and prominent Democrats have tried to rally around him amid calls for him to end his bid for a second term, theyve presented various other explanations (the president had a cold) and scapegoats (CNNs moderators, senior aides) in an effort to shift the focus away from Bidens diminished presence and inability to formulate clear responses on the fly and without a teleprompter.

Even really smart people can fall into wishful thinking, said the Democratic donor adviser. Any reasonable person watching the debate would have concerns, and dismissing them is, to a lot of people, patronizing.

Patrick Gaspard, the CEO of the Democrat-aligned Center for American Progress, said in an interview that Biden can still win in November and that Democrats broadly are likely to stick with him as long as hes a candidate. But he also suggested the main campaign team should be more open to criticism and advice from outside the circle.

Campaigns are really long slogs, he said. Its only natural that you start turning to the people who are in tight ranks with you. But at some point, its also natural that you then have enough confidence in what you put together to start opening up a bit and pulling other folks in to be helpful.

In a way, the defensiveness over Bidens age is muscle memory at this point. The White House press shop has been merciless about working to kill and water down stories focused on the subject, and aggressively attacking holes in them after theyre published, as was the case last month with a lengthy Wall Street Journal report that leaned on GOP lawmakers for a portrayal of how Biden was slipping.

Last June, when Biden tripped and fell while on stage at the Air Force Academys commencement ceremony, the White House responded in minutes with an explanation: that he simply tripped on a sandbag. But that incident coincided with noticeable adjustments to protocol aimed at avoiding additional stumbles: the president switching to thick-soled sneakers more often and to using the lower, less wobbly stairs when getting on and off Air Force One. And when conservative outlets fixated on a video of Biden walking away from other leaders at the G7 a few weeks ago to suggest he was disoriented, the White House dismissed the coverage as dishonest and slanted.



But the administrations accommodations to Bidens age go far deeper than the press shops efforts to push reporters off the spot. From the earliest months of his term, Biden was carefully managed by senior adviser to the first lady Anthony Bernal, deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini, Klain and others. After a campaign spent largely inside his Delaware home, the president remained in a protective bubble at the behest of senior staff and family, who believed it was the best way to manage the presidents health given the ongoing Covid-19 risk and his reelection chances, according to five people familiar but not authorized to publicly discuss internal decisions.

Bernal and Tomasini, in particular, have grown particularly close to the president and first lady. Traveling with the Bidens everywhere they go, the duo often seems to other aides more like an extension of the presidents family than staff  so much so that some aides have joked that Annie and Anthony will climb into the coffins with [Biden], according to a person familiar with Bidens inner circle. Beyond their proximity to the principals, the two aides work closely with White House and campaign staff. They operate as a team and keep a tight grip on the controls, three current and former officials said, often influencing who is in some meetings or on Air Force One flight manifests.

Covid gave Tomasini and Bernal an opportunity to shield Biden off from the outside world, and it never really changed, a former administration official said. It was just understood that only a very small number of aides got face time with him. It is all about how to make the Bidens lives easier and safe-guarding their privacy at every [turn].

At times, Biden himself chafed at the restrictions.

As senator and vice president, he was famous for being readily available for a quote and having off-the-record discussions with reporters. He was known as one of Washingtons most tactile politicians, relishing extended chats with constituents. But suddenly, aides were more nervous about a potential gaffe or senior moment that would dominate headlines, according to the five people familiar with internal decisions. Though he acquiesced to his staffs suggestions, the president sometimes complained to confidantes about being treated with kid gloves, according to two of those people.

Bidens schedule has also been carefully managed, according to the two people. Very few early morning events are scheduled, and if an evening event was unavoidable, adjustments were made elsewhere to compensate. And while every presidents schedule includes down time on foreign trips, more has often been added to Bidens itinerary. Earlier this month, he arrived in France a full 24 hours ahead of D-Day anniversary events and spent his first day entirely inside his Paris hotel.



President Biden takes round-the-world trips that reporters publicly call exhausting and has gone to two active war zones, said Bates, the senior deputy White House press secretary, who also asserted that Biden works around the clock and does many evening events.

The first lady is also deeply protective of her husbands schedule and stamina. When Bidens first news conference as president was held in March 2021, it ended up running more than an hour, which was longer than aides had planned, and Bidens performance faded somewhat near the end. After it was over, Jill Biden vociferously complained to aides, including Klain, that it was allowed to run so long, according to two of the people familiar.

Biden hasnt done another press conference like that and has subjected himself to fewer sit-down interviews than any of his recent predecessors. Over his first three years in office, he did just one interview with a print reporter; hes done two more this year. And the White House has also spurned requests from most TV networks, even turning down the traditional Super Bowl pregame interview this year with CBS. The presidents senior advisers have long been convinced that in a fractured media environment, there was far less upside with those interviews because their influence had diminished  and too high a risk.

Those aides didnt want Biden frequently facing tough questions, preferring him to sit for friendly interviews with podcasters, social media stars and other influencers. Bates noted that Biden has done 43 interviews so far this year and pointed to Bidens habit of semi-frequently fielding shouted questions from the press as proof of his media availability, though those encounters are less substantive and have also dwindled in recent months.

Bidens far more energetic appearance at a rally in North Carolina the day after the debate  his explanation about his poor performance and determination to get back up and keep fighting are already being featured in a campaign ad  came with the aid of a teleprompter, which the president has also taken to using at some fundraisers. The presidents growing reliance on the prompter isnt reassuring many donors. But top surrogates, who are rallying behind Biden publicly, are arguing for aides to loosen the reins.

The answer is not going to be to put the president away, Wes Moore, the Democratic governor of Maryland, told POLITICO during a campaign swing through Wisconsin. The answer is going to be to continue to have them out there. We continue that, the presidents going to win.

Lauren Egan, Kimberly Leonard and Brakkton Booker contributed to this report.
Mr Biden had a darker complexion four days after his presidential debate against Donald Trump on Thursday

Donald Trump has mocked Joe Biden for his apparent change in complexion on Monday after appearing ghostly white at last weeks presidential debate.

The former president posted a photo of Mr Biden, in which he appeared markedly more bronzed for a statement about the Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling from the White House.

Mr Bidens family was concerned about his make-up at the presidential debate against Trump on Thursday, when he appeared pale and pallid, according to a report in the New York Times.

Four days later, Mr Biden had a darker complexion more often associated with Trumps love of fake tan.

Step back

Trump posted a photo of the US president on his Truth Social platform on Monday night, as social media users questioned the apparent change in his skin colour, raising the possibility of a fake tan.

It came as Mr Bidens team launched a fightback against Democrat calls for him to step back from this years presidential race, and allow a younger candidate to run for the party instead.

Mr Bidens stilted performance at the debate has reignited concerns about his age and mental capacity. On Thursday, he froze several times during the 90-minute head-to-head with Trump, confused his attack lines and spoke in a husky tone of voice.

His campaign has since said Mr Biden will not stand down and that the media has overstated the importance of his age.

The media has spent a ton of time blowing this out of proportion, Quentin Fulks, the deputy campaign manager, told donors on Monday.

We are not going to be in a defensive posture on this campaign.

Too tired

The decision for Mr Biden to deliver an unexpected statement from the White House at 7.45pm local time on Monday was interpreted as a riposte to claims that he is not able to work after 4pm because he is often too tired.

Although unnamed Democrats have been quoted in US media outlets calling for Mr Biden to stand down, no elected politician has yet publicly called for the campaign to be suspended.

The campaign has launched adverts to assuage concerns about Mr Bidens age, featuring his words at a campaign rally on Friday in which he said he is not a young man but can do this job.

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The News

Some Democrats and allies of the White House believe that President Biden can use next weeks NATO summit in Washington to turn the page on his dismal debate performance that has spiked anxiety across the party.

My hope is that over the next seven to ten days the president is out there aggressively meeting with people in different parts of the country making his case, doing things that show his international stature, like the NATO event, said Jim Kessler, vice president for policy at the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way. Certainly, something on the international stage is a place where he can help himself.

Biden will gather leaders from across Europe at the celebration of 75 years of the alliance, a gathering full of photo ops, remarks, and celebrations  though also typically unscripted Q&As with leaders that Biden has recently avoided.

A person familiar with the administrations thinking said that the summit would present a good opportunity for Biden to showcase his leadership and diplomatic achievements on the world stage. The person noted that because the summit will be in Washington  rather than a European city, like last years Vilnius summit  his engagements will get more press attention.

The Biden campaign declined to comment.

Morgans view

While an official event, the NATO summit in a normal moment carries political upsides for a president searching for a win. Biden can cheer the expansion of the alliance during his tenure while seeking a contrast with Donald Trump, who suggested the US not defend allies who do not meet NATOs spending targets.

But the presidents condition will now be closely scrutinized, including by Americas military allies. European officials took note of his debate performance last week, and are now more expectant of Trump returning to power.

People are curious as to the future of the Democratic campaign, one European official told me. If Biden continues to underperform like he did on Thursday, I think we are headed to Trumps victory.

Some in Europe are worried about that prospect.

Theyre not concerned about Joe Biden, Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told my colleague Kadia Goba. Theyve dealt with Joe Biden. Theyve worked with Joe Biden. Theyve seen Joe Biden right across the table as I have. What theyre concerned about is a Donald Trump, who does not understand what democracy really is all about.

The White House has been meticulously planning the celebratory summit to ensure the US and its European allies appear united, especially as Russia presses on with the war in Ukraine.

The White House said from very early on in the preparations of this summit, like a year ago already, that they do not want any issues that are divisive, another European official told my colleague Mathias Hammer. Its part of maintaining this positive narrative, the unity, the official said, noting that the focus on unity has taken priority over more divisive issues like burden sharing.

The View From antony blinken

Asked about the discussion following the presidential debate, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a longtime Biden adviser, offered a ringing endorsement of Bidens foreign policy moves during a Brookings Institution event.

US allies have seen a president who has reinvested America, reinvested America in the world, reinvested in these alliances, in these partnerships in ways that they seek and want, he said at the event in Washington on Monday. Biden has been responsible for dramatically boosting confidence in US leadership around the world since taking office, Blinken added.

Notable

Biden is considering doing more interviews and press conferences in order to recover from the debate , Axios reported.

Bidens performance last week sparked concerns in Europe about US stability , CNN wrote.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted that Biden knows exactly what he is doing during an interview with Axel Springer media outlets in mid-June.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Joe Biden is calling for more protections from extreme weather as he meets with disaster officials ahead of a summer that is expected to be ripe for dangerous conditions.

In particular, hurricanes and wildfires are of concern over the next few months.

The president is meeting with officials at the D.C. emergency operations center.

Hes also getting briefings from leaders of the countrys top emergency response agencies, including FEMA.

This year, emergency officials are keeping close watch on conditions for wildfires and hurricanes.

Already, Hurricane Beryl has grown to a category five storm, the earliest a hurricane of that strength has ever been recorded.

Officials fear its a sign this summer could see several dangerous hurricanes.

As part of Tuesdays briefings, OSHA is also proposing the first ever federal standards for heat safety in the workplace.

Beyond that, FEMA is announcing nearly $1 billion towards helping communities protect themselves against natural disasters.

The EPA is also announcing a new report on climate change and its impact on severe weather.

The president says extreme weather caused by climate change cannot be ignored and communities must prepare.

The president also says he plans to convene a white house summit on extreme heat later this summer.

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The 81-year-old presidents debate performance launched immediate speculation about whether he could be replaced at the top of the ticket. (AP/Getty)

President Joe Bidens first debate performance sent Democrats into a tailspin.

The 81-year-old presidents raspy voice, trailing thoughts, and nonsensical statements launched immediate speculation about whether he could  and should  be replaced at the top of the ticket. On Tuesday, Texas Democrat Lloyd Doggett became the first sitting lawmaker to publicly urge Biden to drop out of the race, saying that he did not come to that decision lightly.

But while the Democratic Party has an abundance of young talent, any ambitious politician who comes forward to say Biden should step aside immediately risks ostracization. That may be why, for the time being, only a single sitting Democrat has spoken out about replacing the president at the top of the ticket. Heres what theyve been saying instead.

Vice President Kamala Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks on reproductive rights at Ritchie Coliseum on the campus of the University of Maryland on June 24, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. ((Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images))

Unsurprisingly, Vice President Kamala Harris has been seen as the most obvious choice to replace Biden given the fact that Democrats elected her alongside the president in 2020. But so far, the vice president has given no indication that she would usurp the Democratic nomination from her boss. In the hours after Bidens performance, she defended Bidens performance, saying Yes, it was a slow start. That's obvious to everyone. I'm not going to debate that point. I'm talking about the choice in November.

Harris traveled to Las Vegas the day after the debate, and since then, shes continued to defend the Biden administration.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) has scoffed at the idea she would replace Biden ((Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images))

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

The vice presidents relatively low approval ratings and her unwillingness to break from the president have left some to speculate whether Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer would take a crack at running for the White House. Whitmer serves as a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, which gives her a vast network of connections to Democratic power brokers.

But instead of subverting the president, Whitmer has chosen to double down on her public support for the president. On Monday, Politico reported that she told Biden campaign chairwoman Jen OMalley Dillon that Michigan was now out of reach for Democrats, while insisting she wasnt behind calls for her to replace the president on the ticket.

Anyone who claims I would say that we cant win Michigan is full of shit. Lets go. https://t.co/1K5E6K7rJu pic.twitter.com/04c3vGfhO5  Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) July 1, 2024

Whitmer forcefully pushed back against that report on X on Monday.

Anyone who claims I would say that we cant win Michigan is full of s***, she said. Lets go.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) was one of the few Democrats willing to defend Bidens performance at the debate on Thursday. ((Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images))

California Governor Gavin Newsom

Newsom is without a doubt one of the most ambitious and audacious Democrats in the country. As mayor of San Francisco, he earned national attention when he performed same-sex weddings in 2004, long before Democrats openly embraced marriage equality. As governor of California, he weathered a 2021 recall attempt. He is also one of the few Democrats willing to go on Fox News to defend Democratic policies.

Yesterday, we were able to raise $1M for POTUS and Dems across the country in small, individual donations.



This team is absolutely incredible.



The outcome of this election is not something to sit back and experience. It's something to manifest.



Let's keep it up. https://t.co/m4L90WDBNZ  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 29, 2024

Newsom was one of the Democrats in the spin room after the debate. Since then, hes put his energy into collecting donations for Biden, raising at least $1 million on social media as of Saturday.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has been floated as a potential replacement for Biden. ((Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images))

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg

The secretary of transportation is the youngest of the potential Democratic replacements. He ran against Biden and Harris in the 2020 Democratic primary and narrowly won the Iowa caucus. Shortly afterward, he dropped out, endorsed Biden, and regularly appeared on Fox News to defend Bidens record.

After that, Biden nominated him to be the secretary of transportation, making him the first openly gay cabinet secretary to be confirmed by the Senate. In that position, hes been in charge of implementing the presidents mammoth bipartisan infrastructure law, as well as handling the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and bridge collapses.

Being a cabinet secretary limits what he can say in a partisan capacity. But on Monday, he traveled to North Carolina, a crucial swing state, to break ground on a passenger rail route.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore

Wes Moore overwhelmingly won his race in 2022 to become the first Black governor of Maryland despite being a political neophyte. A Rhodes Scholar and a veteran, Moore has an impressive record and theres already been buzz about a future run for president. In May, he traveled with Biden and Harris to Philadelphia to launch their initiative to reach Black voters.

Since the debate, hes leaned into defending Bidens record. Over the weekend, he traveled to the swing state of Wisconsin, where he took shots at Trumps offensive debate line about immigrants taking Black jobs.

My Black job lets me campaign for @JoeBiden, he posted on X. Thats why Im here in Wisconsin telling folks that today in America Black small businesses are starting up at the fastest rate in 30 years, Black unemployment has hit historic lows, and Black child poverty has been cut in half.
As the nation sizzles, the Biden administration is proposing the nations first-ever standards aimed at protecting workers from extreme heat.

If finalized, the proposal would mandate that employers provide rest breaks and access to shade and water for workers who face extreme heat risks.

They would also be required to identify heat hazards and develop heat illness and emergency response plans.

However, its not clear whether the standards will ever actually take effect: theyre unlikely to be finalized by the end of Bidens term, and a Trump administration is not expected to move them past the finish line.

Between 2011 and 2021, 436 workers died due to extreme heat exposure, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workers among the most susceptible to heat-related illnesses work long hours outside, including farmworkers and construction workers.

The Biden administration argues that its proposal would save lives.

There are currently no federal heat protections for workers, though some states and municipalities have implemented their own requirements. On the other hand, Texas and Florida have barred cities from issuing their own worker heat protections.

The Biden administration first said it wanted to propose the standards in 2021 and has apparently been working on a proposal since then.

The Biden administration is also announcing Tuesday that it is putting nearly $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure law to try to protect communities from natural disasters and hazards including heat and flooding.

The money will fund 656 projects around the country.

The announcements come as many parts of the country have seen high temperatures in recent weeks. Currently and in the years ahead, extreme heat is expected to be made worse by climate change.

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By Steve Holland, Moira Warburton and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Some elected Democrats loyal to President Joe Biden raised fresh questions on Tuesday about his 2024 re-election bid, with one calling for him to step aside, a shift after many defended him in the wake of last week's shaky debate performance.

Whether Biden continues his 2024 bid for president after his halting debate performance against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is largely his decision, Democrats and political strategists have said.

But Biden is under pressure. Some donors have called for him to step aside, and other Democrats are worrying openly that he is not equipped to beat Trump in November.

There are 25 Democratic members of the House of Representatives preparing to call for Biden to step aside if he seems shaky in coming days, according to one House Democratic aide.

A second House Democratic aide said moderate House Democrats in competitive districts - often called "frontliners" - were getting hammered with questions in their districts this week.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll taken after the debate showed one in three Democrats think Biden should end his re-election bid.

U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett became the first congressional Democrat to call for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race on Tuesday. He told NBC News in an interview that he hoped other Democratic lawmakers would follow his lead.

"It looks like the dam has broken," the second aide said.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi emphasized Biden's multiple legislative accomplishments during an interview with MSNBC Tuesday but said it was legitimate to ask whether his debate performance was a one-night thing or a broader health problem. She said Trump should be given the same scrutiny.

"I think it's a legitimate question to say, 'Is this an episode or is this a condition?' And so when people ask that question, it's legitimate, of both candidates," Pelosi said.

Immediately after the debate, Pelosi had shown strong support. "Joe Bidens decision to go forward is a decision that we will all embrace because of the record he has and the performance that will come with it," she said then.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday that Biden did not have an "episode," just a bad night.

Vice President Kamala Harris, asked in a CBS News interview about Doggett's demand, said: "Look, Joe Biden is our nominee. We beat Trump once and we're gonna beat him. Period."

Biden, speaking at a campaign event in Virginia on Tuesday evening without a teleprompter, blamed his performance on a lack of sleep and said his campaign had raised $38 million since the debate.

The fact is that you know, I wasnt very smart. I decided to travel around the world a couple times, going through around 100 time zones ... before ... the debate. Didnt listen to my staff and came back and nearly fell asleep on stage," he said. "That's no excuse but it is an explanation.

Some Democrats suggested Biden should be thinking about the broader party's future.

"He has to be honest with himself," Democratic Representative Mike Quigley, a moderate from Illinois, told CNN on Tuesday. "It's his decision. I just want him to appreciate at this time just how much it impacts, not just his race, but all the other races coming in November."

U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, the Democrat often credited with securing Biden's nomination in the 2020 presidential race, told MSNBC Tuesday he would support Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee if Biden stepped aside.

Representative Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat, predicted on Tuesday that Trump would win the election, as did Washington state Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

BIDEN TO TALK TO GOVERNORS, CONGRESS

The president and his campaign are scrambling to bolster support. Biden will hold a meeting with Democratic governors virtually and in person at the White House on Wednesday and speak to lawmakers this week, White House officials said.

One of the House Democratic aides said members were disappointed about the lack of outreach thus far.

Doggett told NBC News he had asked the White House to speak personally with Biden about his call for him to drop out, but had not heard back from him.

Biden's campaign held difficult phone calls on Sunday and Monday with important funders who questioned his plans to stay in the race.

Asked Tuesday why Biden had not done more media interviews or press conferences after his debate raised questions, Jean-Pierre pointed to his visit to a Waffle House in Atlanta on the evening of the debate and subsequent interactions with supporters.

Biden is scheduled to do an interview with ABC this week and plans to hold a news conference at the NATO summit next week. The Democratic Hill aide said a lot was riding on the ABC interview, with lawmakers looking to see that he can handle rapid-fire questions and not just orchestrated campaign appearances.

Meanwhile, Biden's campaign said it and its Democratic allies raised $264 million in the second quarter, including $127 million in June and a record "grassroots" fundraising haul on the day of Biden's debate.

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Moira Warburton, Jeff Mason and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Jason Lange; Editing by Heather Timmons and Stephen Coates)
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Joe Biden announced new measures to protect Americans from extreme weather events.

This comes as the earliest category five hurricane on record formed in the Atlantic and states in the west prepare for a record-breaking heat wave.

President Biden rolled out a series of actions, including a new labor rule to protect American workers from unprecedented heat. He says the rule helps an estimated 36 million workers.

Were going to face this tough summer, but weve taken significant steps, said Biden.

Following a briefing with emergency officials and the Washington, D.C., mayor he underscored the need to respond to record-breaking floods, hurricanes and deadly triple digit heat currently brutalizing the west.

Summer has just started. Already, tens of millions of Americans are under heat warnings, Biden said.

At his request, the Labor Department is moving forward with a first of its kind worker protection policy.

The proposed rule would require every state to protect workers exposed to dangerous heat while on the job.

This includes things like developing a response plan to heat illness, training employees and supervisors, Biden said.

States, including California and Minnesota, already have similar labor protections.

The rule will likely face push back from states like Florida and Texas. These states Republican governors each signed bills to prevent such policies.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is also opposed. They say it would be difficult for different industries to comply.

Ignoring climate change is deadly and dangerous and irresponsible, Biden said.

If the rule is finalized the states who fail to protect outside workers will face significantly higher penalties.

The president also rolled out a nearly $1 billion grant he says will help more than 600 communities nationwide make climate related investments.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov has discussed green trends with Senior Vice President of Climate Technology Solutions of Baker Hughes Alessandro Bresciani and CEO of Zhero Europe Alessandra Pasini in Milan, Trend reports the Energy Ministry of Azerbaijan.

According to the ministry, the meeting between the officials also reviewed the activities of the energy technology company, strengthening its participation in the energy transition and cooperation with Azerbaijan on increasing productivity and efficiency in production through the introduction of new technologies.

Besides, sustainable energy solutions, cooperation towards decarbonization, and promoting the energy transition through COP29 were touched upon.

"At the meeting with Pasini, the cooperation opportunities for electric natural gas (E-NG) derived from green hydrogen were evaluated," the ministry said.

Additionally, according to the ministry, Zhero Company expressed its interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan on electric natural gas in the context of the implementation of the projects of the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe and Central Asia-Azerbaijan-Europe green energy corridors and plans for hydrogen production and export.

To note, Shahbazov is visiting Italy to participate in the Global Energy Transition (GET) Congress and Exhibition in Milan on July 13.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Biden solemnly warns that the Supreme Court has fundamentally changed the country with its immunity ruling: 'May God help preserve our democracy'

Biden solemnly warns that the Supreme Court has fundamentally changed the country with its immunity ruling: 'May God help preserve our democracy'

President Joe Biden on Monday evening weighed in on the SCOTUS ruling on presidential immunity.

With its decision, Biden said SCOTUS "fundamentally changed" the country.

Biden quoted Justice Sonia Sotomayor's dissent, warning of the ruling's risk to democracy.

President Joe Biden on Monday warned that the Supreme Court's decision to grant presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for "official acts" will fundamentally change the country.

"This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America  each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law, not even the president of the United States," Biden, speaking from the Cross Hall of the White House, said. "Today's Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity  that fundamentally changed for all practical purposes. Today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what the president can do."

The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling was a partial but substantial victory for former President Donald Trump. It determined that courts are not permitted to inquire into the president's motives when deciding whether an act was official or unofficial, and all official acts are granted absolute immunity.

"This a fundamentally new principle, and it's a dangerous precedent because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court of the United States," Biden said several hours after the decision was handed down. "The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone."

Before leaving the stage, Biden quoted Justice Sonia Sotomayor's scathing dissent, which read that the immunity ruling makes the president "a king above the law." He added solemnly: "May God help preserve our democracy."

Representatives for the Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Biden staffers are scared s***less of him and worry about setting him off

Members of Joe Bidens staff are said to be scared s***less of him, leading advisors to carefully curate their briefings to ensure they dont set him off, according to a senior official.

Bidens close-knit group of advisors and spin doctors have worked tirelessly to portray a positive public image for the oldest president in US history.

In his first two years in office, he gave the fewest interviews since Ronald Reagans presidency  with critics suggesting that hes faced fewer moments of public accountability for his comments and actions.

All of that unravelled during Thursdays debate where the 81-year-old stumbled his way through the first televised debate of the 2024 election against his more coherent Republican rival Donald Trump.

Following his disastrous performance, family members, including First Lady Jill Biden and son Hunter Biden, blamed Bidens campaign team during a meeting at Camp David on Sunday.

But, behind closed doors, the president is said to be a long way from the softly-spoken, timid man who appeared on stage.

Biden appeared more timid and softly-spoken at Thursdays CNN debate than some of his staff attest (AFP/Getty)

Instead, an anonymous senior administration official told Politico that Biden often unleashes his wrath upon staff, so much so that aides that pull together the presidents formal briefings are known to tiptoe around topics that could spark red-hot fury from him during meetings.

Its like, You cant include that, that will set him off, or Put that in, he likes that, they said.

Because he is not a pleasant person to be around when hes being briefed. Its very difficult, and people are scared s***less of him, the official continued.

Sources also told the outlet that Biden almost exclusively seeks advice from a handful of senior aides, with his inner circle growing increasingly cliquish as he becomes more difficult to deal with in day-to-day business.

Theyve been digging deeper into the bunker for months now, an anonymous Democratic strategist told Politico.

This isnt the first time that Biden has been accused of losing his temper with staff.

Jeff Connaughton, a former Biden campaign and senate aide, previously wrote in his 2012 book The Payoff that Biden as a senator was an egomaniacal autocrat... determined to manage his staff through fear. He wrote that Biden once told him to get the f*** out of the car when asked to do some fundraising calls.

Ted Kaufman, Biden's longtime chief of staff when he represented Delaware in the Senate, contested that the presidents approach brings the best out of his aides.

The president relies evermore on a tight-knight group of senior staff, sources say (AP)

If there is something that's not in the brief, he's going to find it, Kaufmman told Axios last year.

It's not to embarrass people, it's because he wants to get to the right decision. Most people who have worked for him like the fact that he challenges them and gets them to a better decision, he added.

Following last weeks debate, top Democratic donor, John Morgan, publicly called out and demanded the resignation of three of Bidens senior staff: Ron Klain, Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer.

[Bidens] advisers failed him, he wrote on X on Sunday. Format was a disaster for him and a plus for Trump. He over practiced and was drained who wouldnt be.

Biden, however, refuted that the trio were at fault, according to another source close with the matter.
Staffers for Joe Biden have witnessed at least 15 incidents in the last year and a half where the president has appeared like he did at that horror show of a debate, Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein said this week.

Bidens performance at the June 27 debate has been widely viewed as dismal, with his voice appearing frail and raspy as he lost his train of thought and made several gaffes.

Bernstein appeared on CNN on Monday, saying that people close to Biden have told him in the last six months that hes shown signs of cognitive decline, adding that his sources have gone to former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain with their concerns during the last year regarding Biden losing his train of thought.

The journalist also mentioned a fundraiser at the Four Seasons in New York last summer where Biden grew very stiff and that it was almost a kind of rigor mortis.

But Bernstein did say that sources insist Biden is sharp in his national security meetings.

The journalist said he has been speaking to people who are very close to President Biden, who love him, have supported him ... among them are some people whove raised a lot of money for him.

They are adamant that what we saw the other night, the Joe Biden we saw is not a one-off, that there have been 15, 20 occasions in the last year and a half when the president has appeared somewhat as he did in that horror show that we witnessed, he said.

He added: These people who have supported him, loved him, campaigned for him, see him often, say that in the last six months particularly there has been a marked incidence of cognitive decline.

Bernstein noted that Klain supervised the debate prep sessions at Camp David in Maryland and that the people Ive talked to have all been to Ron Klain in the last year to say we have a problem.

There have been numerous instances where the president has lost his train of thought, cant pick it up again, there was a fundraiser at which he started at the podium and then he became very stiff according to the people there as if it were almost a kind of rigor mortis, Bernstein continued.

Reporter Carl Bernstein has said that there have been several instances where Biden appeared as he did at his dismal debate (EPA)

He became very stiff and a chair had to be brought for him to do the latter part of the event, he said.

The Watergate reporter said those ringing the alarm have been pushed back repeatedly whenever its been brought up.

But he also noted how hes been told for two years about how sharp Biden is in his national security meetings. He has special briefing books on Ukraine, on the situation in Gaza that go down into very detailed military reports. He has an absolute command of the facts. Hes sharp as can be.

Bernstein said, Were clearly dealing with two sets of one person.
President Joe Bidens polling numbers have begun to fall in key swing states following his dismal debate performance last week.

Thats according to a confidential polling memo obtained by Puck News. It reveals that states where Biden was clearly ahead, such as New Mexico, Virginia, and New Hampshire, may now be winnable for former President Donald Trump.

Biden is now behind other possible candidates in the polls looking at possible matchups with Trump, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the memo from OpenLabs shows.

The progressive nonprofit conducts polling and tests messages for a number of Democratic groups, including the nonprofit linked to Biden Super PAC Future Forward.

While OpenLabs doesnt seek publicity and doesnt share its client list, its products are trusted among Democrats and are usually shared among small groups of operatives and clients.

Forty percent of those who voted for Biden in 2020 and who took part in a post-debate poll said that the president should now end his campaign. The poll was conducted in the three days after the debate and sent out on Sunday.

Donald Trump leads Joe Biden in several swing states after the first presidential debate (EPA / AP)

A similar poll found that about a quarter of Biden voters thought the president should have left the race when they were asked in May.

Swing voters also appeared displeased with Bidens debate performance  by a two-to-one margin they now also say that Biden should drop his bid to return to the White House in January 2025.

It should be noted, however, that this is one poll conducted just after the debate and it will take a few weeks to determine how the race shapes up and what the final impact of Bidens dismal debate will be. But polling from OpenLabs is something Democratic campaigns are unlikely to easily brush off.

Nationally, the survey found that Biden has dropped by 0.8 points. The Biden campaign has attempted to calm the nerves of panicked Democrats by arguing that the debate didnt have a major impact on the national mood.

On 29 June, two days after the debate, Biden pollster Geoff Garin wrote on X: I am finishing my second battleground state poll post-debate and both surveys show the same thing: the debate had no effect on the vote choice. The election was extremely close and competitive before the debate, and it is still extremely close and competitive today.

Similarly, CNN reported that only five percent of respondents said in a poll after the debate that the showdown had changed who they would vote for.

But according to OpenLabs, Biden is doing noticeably worse in key swing states. In a poll that included third-party and independent candidates, Biden was down by about two percent across states which are key to winning the electoral college. States that werent thought to be up for grabs also saw declines in support for Biden.

Biden is now behind by seven points in Pennsylvania, where he was trailing by five points before the debate on 27 June. Its a similar story in Michigan, where hes also behind by seven points. In Georgia and Arizona, Biden is behind by 10 points and hes trailing by nine points in Nevada.

In Virginia, Maine, Minnesota, and New Mexico, Biden is now only ahead by a fraction of a point, and in Colorado, he only leads by two points, according to OpenLabs.

The group also found that Biden is now losing New Hampshire, which a Saint Anselm College poll also recently discovered.

The Biden campaign will be looking for any signs that top Democrats may begin to waver on their support for the president.

Crucially, if congressional Democrats begin to believe that the House and the Senate may be in jeopardy, they may publically call for Biden to step aside before the Democratic National Convention next month.

Of the other possible candidates that OpenLabs decided to poll in matchups with Trump, Harris, Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg all poll ahead of Biden in the key states. In September, OpenLabs found little difference between the president and the other candidates.
President Joe Bidens performance at last weeks debate has induced a maelstrom among aides and officials in the White House and on his campaign, with several administration figures reportedly freaking the fuck out, according to Axios.

Its the first topic of every conversation, one White House official told the publication. Senior leadership has given us nothing. To act like its business as usual is delusional.

The debate was a critical moment for not just Bidens 2024 candidacy but also his current presidency. Over 90 minutes, what was intended to be a showcase of Donald Trumps extremism in contrast to Biden devolved into a one-sided train wreck, with Biden unable to string more than a few words together before getting steamrolled by an assertive and comparatively alive Trump.

In the aftermath, aides told Axios that they felt that they were handed empty talking points, with no confident explanations for why Biden appeared so weak and unwell during the debate. As the days drag on, that confusion has morphed into anger and resentment among a swathe of Bidens employees, with one official involved in the campaign describing the atmosphere as dark.

It feels like there is zero leadership or information, the anonymous staffer told Axios. People are being told to keep their heads down and keep working, but theyre not seeing the president or being given any reason why they should have faith in him.

That feeling was shared in the White House, with one unnamed official telling Axios that people are looking for leadership and direction that they were told to trust, and hoped was there, but arent yet feeling, in what is now clearly a defining moment for this presidency.

Executive branch employees arent the only ones losing sight of the light in the Biden administration. On Tuesday alone, several prominent Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have signaled it may be time for Biden to remove himself from the race. Representative Jim Clyburn, whose 2020 endorsement helped Biden secure his last nomination, announced his support for Vice President Kamala Harris to take the reins if [Biden] were to step aside, and Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett became the first House member to formally call on Biden to withdraw from the race.
Biden wanted the debate to give his campaign a boost. But after his poor performance, new polling shows Trump ahead.

Biden wanted the debate to give his campaign a boost. But after his poor performance, new polling shows Trump ahead.

President Biden wanted to use the debate to change the dynamics of the 2024 race.

But his poor performance sent Democrats reeling and has opened him up to intraparty criticism.

In the latest USA Today/Suffolk University poll, Trump boasted a 41%-38% advantage over Biden.

Weeks before the June presidential debate, the Biden campaign had sought to shake up the dynamics of the race, agreeing for the president to take the stage with former President Donald Trump.

Biden's team wanted the debate to crystallize what they've long argued: that the president was well-equipped to serve in a second term and would be the more effective leader on the world stage.

But the president's visible debate stumbles set his campaign back enormously in the eyes of top donors and even among some Democratic lawmakers, which in turn has so far deprived him a potential polling bounce that could have broken the deadlocked race.

Instead, two major national surveys released after the election showed Biden lagging behind Trump.

In a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll, Trump boasted a 41% to 38% lead over Biden among registered voters, still within the margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

However, a USA Today/Suffolk poll released in May showed both candidates tied, 37% to 37%.

In the latest survey, Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received the support of 8% of registered voters.

While the race remains close overall, Biden is still far behind Trump when it comes to enthusiasm, per the new USA Today/Suffolk survey.

Among Biden voters, 29% of respondents said they were "very excited" to vote for him, while 31% said they were "somewhat excited" to back him. A quarter (25%) of Biden voters said they were "not very excited" to support him.

When it came to Trump voters, 59% of respondents said they were "very excited" to support him, while an additional 23% said they were "somewhat excited" to back his candidacy. Only 11% of Trump voters said they were "not very excited" about his 2024 campaign.

The latest CNN poll, conducted across three days after the debate, showed Trump with a 49% to 43% lead over Biden.

Despite Democratic frustration over Biden's performance, the results reflected no change from CNN's April survey.

But there were some key nuggets in the latest CNN poll:

Vice President Kamala Harris runs more competitively with Trump than Biden in a potential matchup should the president exit the race. Trump has a narrow two-point lead (47% to 45%) over Harris among registered voters in such a scenario.

In a potential Harris-Trump matchup, the vice president wins 50% of female voters, compared to Biden's current 43% share against the former president.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg  who have all been floated as potential Biden replacements  all trail Trump by single-digit margins in hypothetical matchups.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Bill Maher calls on Biden to step aside: My pick would be Gavin Newsom

Comedian Bill Maher has urged Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic candidate for president amid his disastrous debate performance last week.

In an op-ed for The New York Times, Maher said that the first debate between Biden and Trump was like the worst episode of The Golden Bachelor ever.

He added that following the debate, he and others can no longer ignore the obvious about Bidens age. He urged the Democrats to hold an open National Convention, which could allow another candidate to be selected to replace Biden as the nominee.

My pick would be Gavin Newsom, Maher wrote.

Watching him [Newsom] make the case against Mr. Trump in the pre-debate interviews, and defend Mr. Biden post-debate, reminded me: This guy is good at this, Maher said. Yes, he has too much California baggage  some of which I myself dont love  but the contrast to how he prosecutes the case against Mr. Trump and how Mr. Biden did couldnt be clearer. Hes forceful, never at a loss for words or stats, never stumbles, never intimidated. Hes un-bullyable, and thats important against Mr. Trump.

Bill Maher appearing on The View, May 21, 2024 (ABC)

The California governor has been floated as a potential candidate to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee. However, Newsom has dismissed the notion that Biden could be replaced, calling such discussions unhelpful and unnecessary.

We arent going to turn our backs because of one performance. What kind of party does that? he wrote in a Biden campaign fundraising pitch on Friday.

Bidens poor debate performance last week raised concerns for some within the Democratic Party over his ability to beat Trump in November and lead the nation for another four years.

During the debate, he muddled his words, appeared to lose his train of thought, and struggled to make it down a small flight of stairs to greet moderators.

As a result, the president is facing a growing chorus of calls to step down, though no national officials have publicly joined these calls yet.

Democratic National Committee (DNC) rules require delegates that Biden won to pledge their support for his nomination unless Biden were to willingly decide to stand down and free his delegates for another candidate.

However, before the convention opens on August 19, the DNC could change the rules to block Biden, but that is highly unlikely given current party dynamics.

Maher noted that he previously called on Biden to step aside almost a year ago, owing to his age and concerns over his cognitive ability.

Joe Biden during last weeks debate, hosted by CNN (Reuters)

But each time I would bring up that idea, publicly or privately, he said, people would dismiss it out of hand: Get on board, theyd say, the Democrats will never replace him, its off the table.

Well, now its on the table, where it always should have been.

He added that what happened at the debate last week wasnt a tragedy, it was a blessing in disguise, explaining that if Biden were to step down, it may benefit the party and its chances of winning in November.

Far from being some kind of disaster for the Democratic Party, it plays right into what works best in 21st-century American culture. Americans like new, Maher wrote.

When Barack Obama announced he was running for president in 2007, many said he hadnt been around long enough, not realizing that his youth and inexperience was one of the best things he had going for him. He was new, and we werent tired of him. And he didnt have an endlessly long record to pick over, he continued.

Democrats can no longer afford to suspend disbelief.

Maher previously called on Biden to step down as the Democratic candidate almost a year ago. He made similar comments on Friday while reacting to the debate on Real Time, his HBO show.

He said it is now absolutely apparent that Biden should be replaced on the ticket and that it is the only way for Democrats to win the election.

He is going to lose. I said it nine months ago. Im going to say it again tonight. And now, it seems like its so apparent, Maher said.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  A retired Beckley Fire Department chief and city treasurer was installed as the first city manager for the City of Beckley on Monday, July 1, 2024.

Billie Trump was appointed as interim city manager by Mayor Rob Rappold and began serving in the position days after retiring from the City of Beckley.

Former Beckley Fire Chief, Treasurer, Billie Trump celebrates retirement

Ryan Neal, who was sworn in as the mayor of Beckley on Monday, said Trump had been convinced by a search committee to leave retirement and take the position of city manager until a permanent candidate could be selected.

When asked, the mayor said on Monday that he doubted Trump would be interested in serving as city manager permanently.

Trump agreed.

Ive been trying to retire, and hopefully Ill be successful, said Trump. At one of the events I was at, a young lady came up and said, You kind of remind me of the Eagles song Hotel California, you know, you can check out, but you can never leave.'

Beckley Common Council members say city manager controversy influenced recent election

He said Beckley Common Council is likely to appoint a new candidate within a few months, after the committee has selected a candidate.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Michigan Supreme Court, March 22, 2019 | Susan J. Demas

A bipartisan coalition of 28 Michigan election officials have urged the Michigan Supreme Court to reverse a decision that dismissed election fraud charges against an election inspector who allegedly used a flash drive to access a voting machine.

The clerks, working in conjunction with the Public Rights Project (PRP), a nonpartisan legal advocacy organization, filed an amicus brief Monday in the appeal of an April decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals that James Holkeboer should not face trial on charges of falsifying election records and using a computer to commit a crime.

Local and county clerks do their level best to hire engaged and honest precinct workers to staff our elections, said Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, a Democrat. We must be more careful now than ever because there is an effort to insert disruptors into the process. We must hold them accountable when their actions compromise the safety and security of our elections, as we are hoping the Michigan Supreme Court will do in this case.

Holkeboer was charged in 2022 after officials accused him of inserting a USB drive into a computer containing confidential voter registration during the August primary election that year in Kent Countys Gaines Township. A witness spotted Holkeboer inserting the device into the Electronic Poll Book, the computer used to administer elections, which contains voter registration data.

In April, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that because Holkeboers insertion of the USB drive only copied the voter list, but did not affect the integrity of either the document or the election, his bind over to circuit court for trial was improper and should be rejected.

In its brief supporting the decision to seek an appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, the clerks outlined key reasons why they believe the appeals court decision should be reversed, including that it would undermine election security, voter privacy, and public confidence in elections, as information extracted from electronic poll books may include non-public voter information (like drivers license numbers and the last four digits of social security numbers), and any voter information that is extracted may be misused to damage public trust in the election system.

Public Rights Projects Chief Program Officer Jonathan Miller said that because election integrity is already under a microscope, the public has to be able to trust those who have been given access to their private voter information.

While most election inspectors operate in good faith, we must hold actors who abuse their access accountable. Eliminating criminal penalties risks undermining election security, voter privacy, and public confidence in Michigan elections, said Miller.

Our elections are too important to leave ambiguous what should be a clear line of what is improper for an election worker to do while under oath, added Hillsdale County Election Director Abe Dane, one of the members of the coalition.

Washtenaw County Clerk Lawrence Kestenbaum, a Democrat whos also a coalition member, noted the scale of the election workforce makes it imperative that there be clear rules and guidelines that everyone must follow.

In November 2022, we had around 1,700 poll workers just in this county, and with the implementation of early voting, we will need even more this year, he said. With a group that large, it is possible to have a few misbehaving bad apples. Managing those situations is much harder if there are no consequences for deliberate interference with the conduct of an election.

The coalition of clerks joining the brief

Maureen Brinker, Brownstown Township Clerk

Carol Bronzyk, Dickinson County Clerk

Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk

Barb Byrum, Ingham County Clerk

Mary R. Clark, Delta Township Clerk

Domonique Clemons, Genesee County Clerk

Tracey Cochran, Osceola County Clerk

Ellen Craig-Bragg, Romulus City Clerk

Abraham Dane, Hillsdale County Chief Deputy Clerk/Elections Director

Aileen Dickson, Troy City Clerk

Jodi Fetting, Tuscola County Clerk

Cathy M. Garrett, Wayne County Clerk

Vanessa Guerra, Saginaw County Clerk

Jennifer Kelly, Houghton County Clerk

Lawrence Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County Clerk

Lisa Lawitzke, Bellevue Township Clerk

Richard LeBlanc, Westland City Clerk

Ann Manary, Midland County Clerk

Kristen Millard, Montcalm County Clerk

Cheryl Neilsen, Montmorency County Clerk

Annamarie Osment, Monroe County Clerk/Register

Patti Pacola, Lake County Clerk

Tina Porzondek, Plainfield Township Deputy Clerk/Election Administrator

Justin Roebuck, Ottawa County Clerk

Bonnie Scheele, Grand Traverse County Clerk

Michael Siegrist, Canton Township Clerk

Lawrence Stec, Wyandotte City Clerk

Chris Swope, Lansing City Clerk

The post Bipartisan Michigan clerk coalition files brief supporting charges for rogue election worker appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Farmworkers milk dairy cows at the Welcome Stock Farms in January 2022 in Schuylerville, N.Y. Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three farmworkers as well as in cattle in a dozen states. Hans Pennink/The Associated Press

Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three dairy farmworkers  two in Michigan and one in Texas  as well as in cattle in a dozen states.

The farmworkers symptoms were mild, and researchers have not found that the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, can spread from person to person. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is little risk to the general public. However, flu viruses evolve, and H5N1 could mutate and gain the ability to infect people more easily.

The reason public health authorities are and should be on high alert is because this is a potential high-consequence pathogen, said Meghan Davis, an epidemiologist and microbiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Thats why state officials are so focused on testing and surveillance of dairy workers. But they are encountering significant challenges.

H5N1 is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks in a matter of days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. As a result, the poultry industry has responded vigorously to the threat, culling entire flocks when they detect even one infected bird. But H5N1 is milder in cows, and the response on dairy farms has been less aggressive.

The CDC and USDA have advised dairy farms to monitor for the virus in cattle and humans, but testing remains voluntary, except for herds moving across state lines.

In addition, dairy farms are often in remote rural areas, and workers have little access to transportation and no sick leave. As a result, its difficult for them to travel to health care providers for testing and treatment. Many dairy workers, who are mostly immigrants, speak Indigenous languages like Nahuatl or Kiche, according to the National Center for Farmworker Health, a nonprofit that offers support and training for centers that focus on the health of farmworkers.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasized that the current bird flu strain isnt a pandemic threat to humans. Thats why, he said, this is the perfect time to get the right testing and surveillance measures in place.

If you cant get it right with something thats as forgiving as this virus has been, in terms of its inefficiency in infecting humans, it really doesnt bode well for when the stakes are higher, Adalja said.

So far, cases of the virus have been documented among domestic livestock in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, according to the USDA. Last week, federal officials announced grants to farms to offset the cost of milk loss from sick cows. Four states  Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas  are launching voluntary pilot programs to test for the virus in dairy farms bulk milk tanks.

In Michigan, where the virus has been detected in 25 herds, Tim Boring, director of the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said efforts are focused on trying to help farmers recoup losses and agree to testing. Last month, the agency announced it would use a combination of federal and state money to give as much as $28,000 to up to 20 affected farms.

The state also launched a study to find out if there are antibodies in people exposed to sick cows, aiming to determine if there have been any asymptomatic infections.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigans chief medical executive, said the state is working with community health clinics and local health departments to reach farmworkers.

They not only know the farms in their counties, but they also know many of the farmworker organizations, she said.

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Dairy farmworkers, who are often immigrants, cant afford to miss a day of work, and can be reluctant to reach out to request testing or say they feel sick, advocates say.

This is a population of people that is just vastly underserviced when it comes to both outreach and trust established with state and federal agencies, said Elizabeth Strater, strategic campaigns director at United Farm Workers, a labor union. This is a group of workers that are some of the poorest workers in the United States.

Immigrants make up 51% of daily labor at dairy farms, and farms that employ immigrants produce 79% of the nations milk supply, according to the National Milk Producers Federation.

Amy Liebman of the Migrant Clinicians Network, an education and outreach group of experts in migrant health, said testing should be administered on the farms rather than in clinics.

Dairies are in rural areas, very isolated geographically. Youre not going to get all these workers in one place to be able to do any kind of surveying or testing. It is a matter of really trying to go to where the workers are, she said.

But it hasnt been easy getting farm owners to agree to that. The Texas state health department told Stateline it has offered on-site testing to farmers, but as of mid-June, it had tested only about 20 symptomatic dairy workers who volunteered for testing. It also has given personal protective equipment to interested dairies and posted a notice online offering to deliver the equipment.

This is a group of workers that are some of the poorest workers in the United States.

 Elizabeth Strater, United Farm Workers strategic campaigns director

Coordination among state or local agricultural and health departments is key to tracking viral spread. A lack of coordination and monitoring can be contributing to underreporting cases.

I think it is definitely more widespread than is currently reported, said Dr. Shira Doron, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine. The barriers between the agencies are really hampering our efforts right now.

The CDC has offered a $75 payment to any farmworker who agrees to be tested and provide blood and nasal swab samples to the agency. But Doris Garcia-Ruiz, who directs farmworker outreach at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, said that wont make up for days of lost income.

If they take the time off to go to their doctors office, they dont have sick leave, so theyre not going to get paid, she said.

The CDCs latest figures show that at least 53 people have been tested in the cattle outbreak, with a majority of those in Michigan. Strater says thats not enough.

Thats abysmal, she said. Our method of testing is so passive. Theyre relying on workers reporting to medical clinics; these are workers that are not going to be taking themselves for medical treatment unless theyre experiencing something life-threatening.

Getting workers to use personal protective equipment also is a challenge. The CDC recommends that workers wear respirators, waterproof aprons and coveralls, unvented safety goggles or a face shield, and rubber boots with sealed seams that can be sanitized. It also advises that workers follow a specific sequence of steps to remove the PPE at the end of a shift to avoid contamination.

Dairy work is very wet, very hands-on, said Christine Sauve, who leads community engagement at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. While some industries are very familiar with PPE  the full recommendation from CDC is new and different. And so that really needs the full promotion from the employer, and then also from the state agencies.

Sauve worries that Michigan is prioritizing farmers losses, rather than farmworkers health, in its response. While the risk to the public is low, she and other experts say the population of farmworkers shouldnt be forgotten.

Bethany Alcauter of the National Center for Farmworker Health described bird flu threat as kind of a ticking time bomb.

Maybe it hasnt fully gone off yet. But if we dont manage it well, it could, Alcauter said.
FILE - Farm workers milk dairy cows in the milking parlor at the Welcome Stock Farms, Jan. 25, 2022, in Schuylerville, N.Y. New York officials gave final approval Wednesday, Feb. 22, for a measure that will lower the hourly threshold for when farm workers qualify for overtime pay. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)

Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three dairy farmworkers  two in Michigan and one in Texas  as well as in cattle in a dozen states.

The farmworkers symptoms were mild, and researchers have not found that the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, can spread from person to person. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is little risk to the general public. However, flu viruses evolve, and H5N1 could mutate and gain the ability to infect people more easily.

The reason public health authorities are and should be on high alert is because this is a potential high-consequence pathogen, said Meghan Davis, an epidemiologist and microbiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Thats why state officials are so focused on testing and surveillance of dairy workers. But they are encountering significant challenges.

H5N1 is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks in a matter of days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. As a result, the poultry industry has responded vigorously to the threat, culling entire flocks when they detect even one infected bird. But H5N1 is milder in cows, and the response on dairy farms has been less aggressive.

The CDC and USDA have advised dairy farms to monitor for the virus in cattle and humans, but testing remains voluntary, except for herds moving across state lines.

In addition, dairy farms are often in remote rural areas, and workers have little access to transportation and no sick leave. As a result, its difficult for them to travel to health care providers for testing and treatment. Many dairy workers, who are mostly immigrants, speak Indigenous languages like Nahuatl or Kiche, according to the National Center for Farmworker Health, a nonprofit that offers support and training for centers that focus on the health of farmworkers.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasized that the current bird flu strain isnt a pandemic threat to humans. Thats why, he said, this is the perfect time to get the right testing and surveillance measures in place.

If you cant get it right with something thats as forgiving as this virus has been, in terms of its inefficiency in infecting humans, it really doesnt bode well for when the stakes are higher, Adalja said.

So far, cases of the virus have been documented among domestic livestock in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, according to the USDA. Last week, federal officials announced grants to farms to offset the cost of milk loss from sick cows. Four states  Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas  are launching voluntary pilot programs to test for the virus in dairy farms bulk milk tanks.

In Michigan, where the virus has been detected in 25 herds, Tim Boring, director of the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said efforts are focused on trying to help farmers recoup losses and agree to testing. Last month, the agency announced it would use a combination of federal and state money to give as much as $28,000 to up to 20 affected farms.

The state also launched a study to find out if there are antibodies in people exposed to sick cows, aiming to determine if there have been any asymptomatic infections.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigans chief medical executive, said the state is working with community health clinics and local health departments to reach farmworkers.

They not only know the farms in their counties, but they also know many of the farmworker organizations, she said.

Dairy farmworkers, who are often immigrants, cant afford to miss a day of work, and can be reluctant to reach out to request testing or say they feel sick, advocates say.

This is a population of people that is just vastly underserviced when it comes to both outreach and trust established with state and federal agencies, said Elizabeth Strater, strategic campaigns director at United Farm Workers, a labor union. This is a group of workers that are some of the poorest workers in the United States.

Immigrants make up 51% of daily labor at dairy farms, and farms that employ immigrants produce 79% of the nations milk supply, according to the National Milk Producers Federation.

Amy Liebman of the Migrant Clinicians Network, an education and outreach group of experts in migrant health, said testing should be administered on the farms rather than in clinics.

Dairies are in rural areas, very isolated geographically. Youre not going to get all these workers in one place to be able to do any kind of surveying or testing. It is a matter of really trying to go to where the workers are, she said.

But it hasnt been easy getting farm owners to agree to that. The Texas state health department told Stateline it has offered on-site testing to farmers, but as of mid-June, it had tested only about 20 symptomatic dairy workers who volunteered for testing. It also has given personal protective equipment to interested dairies and posted a notice online offering to deliver the equipment.

This is a group of workers that are some of the poorest workers in the United States.

 Elizabeth Strater, United Farm Workers strategic campaigns director

Coordination among state or local agricultural and health departments is key to tracking viral spread. A lack of coordination and monitoring can be contributing to underreporting cases.

I think it is definitely more widespread than is currently reported, said Dr. Shira Doron, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine. The barriers between the agencies are really hampering our efforts right now.

The CDC has offered a $75 payment to any farmworker who agrees to be tested and provide blood and nasal swab samples to the agency. But Doris Garcia-Ruiz, who directs farmworker outreach at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, said that wont make up for days of lost income.

If they take the time off to go to their doctors office, they dont have sick leave, so theyre not going to get paid, she said.

The CDCs latest figures show that at least 53 people have been tested in the cattle outbreak, with a majority of those in Michigan. Strater says thats not enough.

Thats abysmal, she said. Our method of testing is so passive. Theyre relying on workers reporting to medical clinics; these are workers that are not going to be taking themselves for medical treatment unless theyre experiencing something life-threatening.

Getting workers to use personal protective equipment also is a challenge. The CDC recommends that workers wear respirators, waterproof aprons and coveralls, unvented safety goggles or a face shield, and rubber boots with sealed seams that can be sanitized. It also advises that workers follow a specific sequence of steps to remove the PPE at the end of a shift to avoid contamination.

Dairy work is very wet, very hands-on, said Christine Sauve, who leads community engagement at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. While some industries are very familiar with PPE  the full recommendation from CDC is new and different. And so that really needs the full promotion from the employer, and then also from the state agencies.

Sauve worries that Michigan is prioritizing farmers losses, rather than farmworkers health, in its response. While the risk to the public is low, she and other experts say the population of farmworkers shouldnt be forgotten.

Bethany Alcauter of the National Center for Farmworker Health described bird flu threat as kind of a ticking time bomb.

Maybe it hasnt fully gone off yet. But if we dont manage it well, it could, Alcauter said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.
Farmworkers milk dairy cows at the Welcome Stock Farms in January 2022 in Schuylerville, N.Y. Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three farmworkers as well as in cattle in a dozen states. (Hans Pennink/The Associated Press)

Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three dairy farmworkers  two in Michigan and one in Texas  as well as in cattle in a dozen states.

The farmworkers symptoms were mild, and researchers have not found that the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, can spread from person to person. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is little risk to the general public. However, flu viruses evolve, and H5N1 could mutate and gain the ability to infect people more easily.

The reason public health authorities are and should be on high alert is because this is a potential high-consequence pathogen, said Meghan Davis, an epidemiologist and microbiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Thats why state officials are so focused on testing and surveillance of dairy workers. But they are encountering significant challenges.

H5N1 is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks in a matter of days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. As a result, the poultry industry has responded vigorously to the threat, culling entire flocks when they detect even one infected bird. But H5N1 is milder in cows, and the response on dairy farms has been less aggressive.

The CDC and USDA have advised dairy farms to monitor for the virus in cattle and humans, but testing remains voluntary, except for herds moving across state lines.

In addition, dairy farms are often in remote rural areas, and workers have little access to transportation and no sick leave. As a result, its difficult for them to travel to health care providers for testing and treatment. Many dairy workers, who are mostly immigrants, speak Indigenous languages like Nahuatl or Kiche, according to the National Center for Farmworker Health, a nonprofit that offers support and training for centers that focus on the health of farmworkers.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasized that the current bird flu strain isnt a pandemic threat to humans. Thats why, he said, this is the perfect time to get the right testing and surveillance measures in place.

If you cant get it right with something thats as forgiving as this virus has been, in terms of its inefficiency in infecting humans, it really doesnt bode well for when the stakes are higher, Adalja said.

Risk is low in Maine, but PPE is available for dairy farms

As of June 27, there were no known infected people or dairy herds in the northeast, according to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, though it is continuing to monitor the situation in Maine. The department also shared guidance for dairy farms including symptoms to look for and how to stay safe.

Although the health risk for the general public is considered low, it is greater for those who work on dairy farms, so the department and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention are offering free personal protective equipment (PPE) for those individuals. People who come in contact with sick animals, carcasses, manure, raw milk or contaminated water can use PPE to reduce their exposure to potential infection, according to the department.

The PPE is available for free as a one-time starter set. There is an order form that can be filled out and submitted via mail or emailed to pperequest.cdc@maine.gov. Requests must be mailed in by July 18 or submitted online by July 21.

Mailed requests should be addressed to Maine CDC, PPE Farm Request at 286 Water Street, 5th Floor, Augusta, ME 04333.

Questions about human health or the PPE can be directed to the Maine CDC at disease.reporting@maine.gov.

Documented cases, impact on workers

So far, cases of the virus have been documented among domestic livestock in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, according to the USDA. Last week, federal officials announced grants to farms to offset the cost of milk loss from sick cows. Four states  Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas  are launching voluntary pilot programs to test for the virus in dairy farms bulk milk tanks.

In Michigan, where the virus has been detected in 25 herds, Tim Boring, director of the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said efforts are focused on trying to help farmers recoup losses and agree to testing. Last month, the agency announced it would use a combination of federal and state money to give as much as $28,000 to up to 20 affected farms.

The state also launched a study to find out if there are antibodies in people exposed to sick cows, aiming to determine if there have been any asymptomatic infections.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigans chief medical executive, said the state is working with community health clinics and local health departments to reach farmworkers.

They not only know the farms in their counties, but they also know many of the farmworker organizations, she said.

Dairy farmworkers, who are often immigrants, cant afford to miss a day of work, and can be reluctant to reach out to request testing or say they feel sick, advocates say.

This is a population of people that is just vastly underserviced when it comes to both outreach and trust established with state and federal agencies, said Elizabeth Strater, strategic campaigns director at United Farm Workers, a labor union. This is a group of workers that are some of the poorest workers in the United States.

Immigrants make up 51% of daily labor at dairy farms, and farms that employ immigrants produce 79% of the nations milk supply, according to the National Milk Producers Federation.

Amy Liebman of the Migrant Clinicians Network, an education and outreach group of experts in migrant health, said testing should be administered on the farms rather than in clinics.

Dairies are in rural areas, very isolated geographically. Youre not going to get all these workers in one place to be able to do any kind of surveying or testing. It is a matter of really trying to go to where the workers are, she said.

But it hasnt been easy getting farm owners to agree to that. The Texas state health department told Stateline it has offered on-site testing to farmers, but as of mid-June, it had tested only about 20 symptomatic dairy workers who volunteered for testing. It also has given personal protective equipment to interested dairies and posted a notice online offering to deliver the equipment.

This is a group of workers that are some of the poorest workers in the United States.

 Elizabeth Strater, United Farm Workers strategic campaigns director

Coordination among state or local agricultural and health departments is key to tracking viral spread. A lack of coordination and monitoring can be contributing to underreporting cases.

I think it is definitely more widespread than is currently reported, said Dr. Shira Doron, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine. The barriers between the agencies are really hampering our efforts right now.

The CDC has offered a $75 payment to any farmworker who agrees to be tested and provide blood and nasal swab samples to the agency. But Doris Garcia-Ruiz, who directs farmworker outreach at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, said that wont make up for days of lost income.

If they take the time off to go to their doctors office, they dont have sick leave, so theyre not going to get paid, she said.

The CDCs latest figures show that at least 53 people have been tested in the cattle outbreak, with a majority of those in Michigan. Strater says thats not enough.

Thats abysmal, she said. Our method of testing is so passive. Theyre relying on workers reporting to medical clinics; these are workers that are not going to be taking themselves for medical treatment unless theyre experiencing something life-threatening.

Getting workers to use personal protective equipment also is a challenge. The CDC recommends that workers wear respirators, waterproof aprons and coveralls, unvented safety goggles or a face shield, and rubber boots with sealed seams that can be sanitized. It also advises that workers follow a specific sequence of steps to remove the PPE at the end of a shift to avoid contamination.

Dairy work is very wet, very hands-on, said Christine Sauve, who leads community engagement at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. While some industries are very familiar with PPE  the full recommendation from CDC is new and different. And so that really needs the full promotion from the employer, and then also from the state agencies.

Sauve worries that Michigan is prioritizing farmers losses, rather than farmworkers health, in its response. While the risk to the public is low, she and other experts say the population of farmworkers shouldnt be forgotten.

Bethany Alcauter of the National Center for Farmworker Health described bird flu threat as kind of a ticking time bomb.

Maybe it hasnt fully gone off yet. But if we dont manage it well, it could, Alcauter said.

Reporter AnnMarie Hilton contributed to this story. This story was originally published by Stateline, which like the Maine Morning Star is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, on Tuesday discussed NATO members' intention to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said.

Their meeting in Washington came before a NATO summit in the U.S. capital next week, at which Ukraine hopes to secure more assurances from the alliance on its membership bid.

Blinken has said Ukraine will become a member of NATO and that the summit will "help build a bridge" to that outcome.

"They spoke about a number of issues, including the upcoming Washington NATO Summit and allies intention to bring Ukraine closer to NATO membership and helping to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian aggression," Patel told reporters at a regular press briefing.

On Tuesday, Blinken and Yermak also discussed efforts led by the G7 group of nations to "enhance the resiliency" of Ukraine's energy grid, which has come under Russian attack in recent months, Patel said.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, igniting the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War Two.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Stanley Johnson was aboard BA2641 when his plane and 15 others were diverted following a temporary closure of Gatwick's runway - ISABEL INFANTES/AFP

Boris Johnsons father has insisted Im glad I stood my ground after admitting to causing a British Airways flight to be cancelled.

Stanley Johnson, 83, was accused of causing a diverted commercial flight from Malaga to London Gatwick to be cancelled after he attempted to disembark the aircraft at Heathrow where the plane was forced to land due to a runway closure at its planned destination.

Mr Johnson was aboard BA2641 on June 28 when his plane and 15 others were diverted following a temporary closure of Gatwicks runway. The Airbus A321 was due to refuel at Heathrow before a short flight to Gatwick.

But Mr Johnson and two other passengers wanted to leave the aircraft, causing the plane to miss its departure slot to complete the final leg of the journey. All those onboard subsequently had to disembark and get a connecting bus to Gatwick.

The former prime ministers father has defied criticism and insisted he was in the right.

Writing in The Independent he said: As we landed at Heathrow, the captain informed us that after we had taken on some fuel, we would make the short hop back to Gatwick. He went on to invite any passengers without luggage in the hold to disembark at Heathrow if they wanted to.

I grabbed my bags from the rack and went to the forward entrance of the plane. Two other passengers joined me and the three of us stepped out of the door onto the top of the metal stairs which were already in place.

All we had to do, I imagined, was to wait for the ground transport to arrive to take us into the terminal building. That was the mistake.

Not allowed to disembark

Despite being invited to leave and no longer being physically onboard the plane, however, they were not allowed to disembark. He was told this was because Gatwick was the flights official destination.

Mr Johnson said he would have likely allowed himself to be shepherded back onto the plane, but he took pity on one nervous flyer who insisted she couldnt return to her seat.

He said: One of my two companions was a woman who was, quite frankly, verging on the hysterical. I absolutely cant go back into the plane, she cried. Ive just lost my husband in an air accident. It was all I could do this morning to bring myself to get on board the plane in Malaga. I simply cant imagine going back on it now.

He said, rather than allowing him to leave the plane, authorities decided to redefine the flight so that Heathrow was its final destination, effectively cancelling the scheduled flight to Gatwick, resulting in all passengers having to leave the plane at the wrong airport.

Mr Johnson wrote: I am sorry, truly sorry, for the inconvenience caused to other passengers, some of whom no doubt had cars or loved ones waiting for them at Gatwick, and who found themselves disembarking willy-nilly at Heathrow instead.

I am as ready as the next man to shoulder my share of the blame when things go wrong. For example, if I try my hand at making scrambled eggs for breakfast and they end up sticking inextricably to the saucepan, I own up on the spot.

But on this particular occasion, Im glad I stood my ground. And there was one passenger, at least  that poor woman whose husband had just died in an air crash  who thanked me for it.

British Airways and Heathrow have been contacted for comment.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov visited the Italian company "CESI," one of the world's leading consulting companies in the fields of energy, technology, and innovation, the statement of the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry said, Trend reports.

"The executive director of this company Nicola Melchiotti made presentations about the services of "CESI", which works in more than 70 countries in the fields of planning, design of energy transmission infrastructure, modernization of networks, and renewable energy sources," the statement notes.

Furthermore, the meeting discussed the implementation of the process of technical and economic feasibility study of the "Green Energy Corridor between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary" and cooperation on the connection of renewable energy sources to the network.

"It was noted that the Green Energy Corridors initiative is considered one of the priorities of the COP29 Action Program," the statement noted.

The Energy Minister also had the opportunity to visit CESI's laboratory, where a wide range of tests are conducted to guarantee the dependability and security of electrical components and systems.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BRIDGEWATER  The iconic Perkins Foundry is slated to become a three-building complex with 150 apartments and 20,475 square feet of retail and commercial space.

The town's planning board approved the project earlier this year. The developers still have to get several permits before the factory winds down operations and crews can start demolition, said Stephen E. Meltzer, vice president of project development for Edgewood Development.

Tom Perkins, of the family that started the foundry in 1848 and has owned it ever since, declined to comment on the project.

Rendering of the mixed-use development to be built where the Perkins Foundry now stands. This is the largest of three buildings planned. It would contain 116 1- and 2-bedroom apartments.

How many apartments will be built?

The current plan calls for 150 apartments to be split between three buildings across the 13-acre property. A four-story building at the back of the property would contain 116 apartments. The two buildings fronting Broad Street would offer commercial and retail. The building nearest the train tracks would have 16 apartments while the other would have 18 apartments. The apartments would be a mix of 75% two-bedroom units and 25% one-bedroom units. No studios or three-bedrooms are planned.

Fifteen of the apartments would be priced as "affordable." Households making no more than 80% of the typical income for area residents would be eligible to rent them. Numbers will have changed by the time the development opens, but the maximum "affordable" rent in the Brockton area is $1,834 for a one-bedroom and $2,201 for a two-bedroom.

Rendering of the mixed-use development to be built where the Perkins Foundry now stands. This is one of two buildings that would front Broad Street. It would have 18 apartments plus commercial and retail space.

What kind of businesses will open there?

With demolition not even started, Meltzer didn't have an exact time frame for when the new apartments will be ready to rent or businesses ready to serve customers. However, the new development will have more than 20,000 square feet of space for retail, commercial and restaurant space. "Building 3," which be the first building you'll see driving south along Broad, is being built to accommodate drive-thrus.

Rendering for redevelopment of the Perkins Foundry site, as of Feb. 10, 2023. It would transform the foundry into 150 apartments plus commercial and retail space.

What approvals remain before project can start?

Edgewood Development has several more pieces of red tape to deal with before starting work in earnest. The project must abide by the state's environmental rules. Specifically it must comply with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. The company filed a required Environmental Notification Form and must produce a Draft Environmental Impact Report.

State transportation officials must approve a road opening for new driveway entrances along Broad Street. The developer will also need demolition permits before it can start taking down the foundry's existing buildings.

The Perkins iron foundry in Bridgewater as seen from the roof of the Eagle Cotton Gin Company, at the foot of Pearl Street, circa 1880. Retrieved from the Digital Commonwealth collection June 28, 2004 at https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:8s45qj09c

Will the history of Perkins Foundry be forgotten?

Bridgewater's historical commission brokered a deal to preserve the memory of the foundry, which has played a key role in the town's development. The developer will pay to design, fabricate and install a historical marker about the factory, according to a letter from Meltzer to the town's historical commission. Edgewood Development would also give a $2,500 donation to the existing Stanley Iron Works Park off High Street.

Henry Perkins established the foundry in 1848. It moved to its current location in the last years of the Civil War. The Perkins family industrial roots gave back even farther. Henry Perkins is descended from David Perkins, who built a foundry on the Town River in 1695, according to state historical records.

Wondering about a vacant building, construction site or other sign of change in or near Brockton? Im veteran local reporter Chris Helms and Ill help you find out. Email your questions and tips to CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Bridgewater Perkins Foundry: Apartments, commercial, retail project
Imagine that Covid had been sweeping the world and while everywhere people were trying to cope with it, in one country they were simply refusing to acknowledge the existence of a problem. Anyone who raised the subject and suggested perhaps some precautions might be taken was described as a crank, a fanatic and an extremist. Months after the pandemic had started taking its toll, the very mention of its name remained anathema in this one, strange land.

The global pandemic of low fertility rates is rather like this. Many countries, our own included, have been having too few children to replace the population for decades. This used to be a rich, European problem, but no longer. Fertility rates  the number of children a woman can expect to have in her lifetime  are lower in Thailand and Jamaica than in the UK. Populations having too few children age  meaning too few workers per retiree - and then decline.

We can already see the population falling in Russia (even without the Ukraine war casualties), China and Japan. Swathes of the countryside are abandoned as villages rot. The elderly die neglected in their homes. A lack of labour weighs on the economy. Government debt balloons as the number of pensioners and intense users of healthcare rise while the number of taxpayers falls.

Nobody has a simple cure to this problem yet, any more than we had a covid vaccine at first. But at least elsewhere the problem is acknowledged. President Macron, a centrist if ever there was one, has talked of the need for demographic rearmament. In many EU countries, with governments of the centre, left and right, politicians are addressing this issue and trying to find policies to resolve it. Tax cuts for parents here, subsidised childcare there; different countries are trying in different ways to raise their birth rates as more and more of them can see the unfolding of a demographic disaster.

And indeed there is a long tradition of pronatalism  seeing the bearing of children as a good thing to be encouraged  across the political spectrum. The most trenchant critic of anti-natalist Thomas Malthus was Karl Marx. Communist countries often encouraged childbearing  Moa did, and China is at it again after the one child policy hiatus. Cuba offers incentives for its citizens to become parents. In post-war Germany the authorities in the Communist East tried to persuade people to have more children  but so did the Christian Democrats in the West.

Some might think that this is not a matter the state should take a view on. But as long as the state is expected to provide doctors and nurses, carers and soldiers, it cannot afford not to. And even in sectors of the economy for which the state does not have direct responsibility, services must be kept running. If we are short of tanker drivers, for example, the government needs to get involved. This was clear to the Australian Treasurer Paul Costello who introduced the baby bonus earlier this century with the famous slogan One for Mum, One for Dad, One for the Country.

Britain, however, is the odd man out. No government minister, as far as I know, has ever had anything significant to say on the question of population, at least not since our fertility rate fell below replacement level in the early 1970s. Indeed, if you raise the topic you get strange looks. Those who do raise it, like the brave Miriam Cates, are kept firmly to the sidelines, while one Labour politician planning to address the topic at a public meeting was intimidated out of attending.

Perhaps it is because we have had the luxury of being able to recruit large numbers of people from high fertility neighbours for decades, even centuries. But the Irish are no longer having big families, and their economic success means they no longer have to come. The same is increasingly true of the Poles. Countries with high fertility rates from where we can recruit workers are getting fewer and further between and increasingly are places with low levels of education and productivity, limiting what these new arrivals can do for our economy.

The problem is only getting worse. Low fertility in previous generations means that those who are young and of childbearing age are going to shrink. Meanwhile, they in turn are choosing to have even fewer children than their parents. Time is running out to fix the problem. And yet we still seem unable even to talk about it.

Paul Morland is senior member at St Antonys College, University of Oxford. His latest book, No One Left: Why The World Needs More Children is published on 4th July.

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British Airways flight departs Heathrow and arrives back in London after 11-hour flight to nowhere

The Boeing 777-200 aircraft was turned around while flying over Turkmenistan (Getty Images)

British Airways passengers were forced to endure an 11-hour flight to nowhere when a Boeing 777-200 aircraft developed a technical issue on Sunday morning.

Flight BA31 from London to Hong Kong was over four hours into the 12h 45m journey when the decision was made to return to its departure airport.

Data from tracking site FlightRadar24 shows that the service was flying at 35,000ft over Turkmenistan when the 23-year-old Boeing 777-200 was turned around by the crew.

The flight departed for Hong Kong International from Heathrow Airport on Saturday evening (29 June) at 8.55pm.

Upon returning to the London runway 11 hours later  only two hours less than the original entire flight time  the Hong Kong service was cancelled.

London Heathrow is British Airways home base with an onsite maintenance team established to make repairs.

The airline said in a statement: The flight returned to London Heathrow as a precaution due to a minor technical issue.

It landed safely and customers disembarked as normal. Weve apologised to our customers for the disruption to their journey.

On Sunday, the rescheduled BA31 flight again failed to land as planned when it was diverted to Budapest three hours into the journey due to a medical emergency onboard.

Its not the first time technical issues have forced a flight to turn around in the last year.

A British Airways service from London to Texas turned back just as the aircraft reached North America, resulting in passengers enduring a nine-hour flight to nowhere.

A flight to nowhere refers to any flight that ends up landing back at its departure airport without stopping off elsewhere.

Flight records show that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, headed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, had just crossed the Canadian border before backtracking earlier this month.

Last November, Air New Zealand was forced to operate an 11-hour flight to nowhere after a plane carrying passengers developed a technical fault.

Flight NZ26 from Auckland to Chicago was four hours into the 15-hour scheduled flight on Wednesday (8 November) when the decision was made to turn back.
Sam Brown on the campaign trail in 2022. (Photo by Josh Edelson/Getty Images)

U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown says he wont support a hypothetical national ban on abortion. But the Republican challenger to Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen wont say how he will vote in November on a very real abortion measure on Nevadas ballot.

If the ballot question passes in consecutive elections in 2024 and 2026, abortion rights that mirror those guaranteed by Roe v. Wade for nearly half a century would be enshrined in the state constitution. The protections exceed those favored by Brown, who has said he opposes abortion except in the case of medical emergencies, incest and rape.

Were talking about someones life and someone who is really in a tough spot and thats why Im not going to support a federal abortion ban, Brown, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, says in a new ad.

I believe very strongly in letting the people decide, he doubled down this weekend in an editorial in the Las Vegas Sun.

But Brown is unwilling so far to let the people know where he stands on Nevadas ballot question.

Yeah, Ill be one of approximately one and a half million voters at that point in time, Brown told a Reno TV station in May when asked how hell vote. And, and I have always said whether it was a decade ago or yesterday that this issue is something that should be addressed by the voters in their states. And so I respect that, I have always respected that, and the voters of Nevada will again determine what the approach is.

Browns campaign spokeswoman has ignored requests to respond to the Currents questions on the Nevada measure.

In his op-ed, Brown suggests the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which leaves the abortion issue to states, strengthened Nevadas protections for abortion. He criticizes Rosen for supporting rules that have the potential to go further than Nevadans may desire via the Womens Health Protection Act.

The Dobbs decision has resulted in a patchwork of state abortion laws, some of which restrict abortion to the weeks before most women know they are pregnant. It has forced women from states such as Texas, where Brown says he would have worked to pass a restrictive abortion law, to seek medical care in other states, often under excruciating circumstances such as knowing a pregnancy is not viable.

Women who seek to escape state restrictions by traveling to states such as Nevada, where abortion remains legal under state law, are being monitored. Idaho has adopted an abortion tracking ban.

Critics contend Brown, by focusing on his pledge not to support a federal ban, is gaslighting voters in Nevada, a battleground state that could determine not only the presidency but also the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. They point to his record, which includes supporting bans with no exceptions, and managing the campaign of a pro-life congressional candidate in Texas.
UPDATE: Firefighters continue to battle McCain Fire as it reaches 1,000 acres

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A fire from a car crash that spread to brush on Monday has reached 903 acres, prompting evacuations near Jacumba Hot Springs.

The brush fire, dubbed as the McCain Fire, occurred on Interstate 8 on McCain Valley Road north of Boulevard, Cal Fire San Diego posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, at 3:58 p.m.

Brush fire burns 43 acres near Lake Morena

The fire is spreading at a moderate rate, according to firefighters.

The image below shows the countys emergency map:

An evacuation warning (yellow) means theres impending danger to your life or property while an evacuation order (pink) is that theres an immediate threat to your life and you need to leave right now, according to the California Governors Office of Emergency Services.

DeAnza Springs Resort was one of 150 structures threatened by the McCain Fire, according to authorities.

A temporary evacuation shelter has been set up at Golden Acorn Casino at 1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo. Firefighters advise those in the fire area who feel threatened to leave immediately.

The person hurt in the car crash is the only injury reported at this time. That person was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries, fire officials said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A brutal and long-lasting heatwave is threatening to wreak havoc across the US west this week, as sweltering conditions, power shutoffs and a severe uptick in wildfire risks coincide with Fourth of July celebrations.

Nearly 90 million people were under heat alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) on Tuesday morning, as swaths of the south-central and western US were scorched. As pressure builds over the west through the week, the dangerous weather event is expected to stretch for days with little reprieve.

Starting Wednesday, parts of California will be subject to extreme levels of heat risk  reaching the highest level on the National Weather Services index  that will last until Sunday or longer. In some areas of the state, life-threatening triple-digit temperatures could linger for longer than a week.

This is going to be a severe, prolonged, potentially record-breaking heatwave that may have large impacts for much of California, said climate scientist Dr Daniel Swain during a broadcast discussion of the heat event on Monday. The long duration will only add to the potential impacts and intensity, especially because little relief can be expected even after the sun sets. It just isnt going to cool off  even at night, he said.

While central and northern California are expected to bear the brunt of this event, areas in the southern part of the state are also going to cook. Heavily populated centers and rural agricultural enclaves alike could see record-setting highs during the day as well as record overnight temperatures.

NWS forecasters warned that several daily records in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys could fall in the coming days. In the Central Valley, the states agricultural hub, temperatures are expected to hover near 110F through the week without dropping below 70F. Parts of Death Valley national park could climb up to 127F.

But the risks arent confined to California. NWS warnings, watches and advisories for excessive heat stretch from south-west Washington into Arizona. In Oregon, areas around the Willamette Valley and Medford will spend days above 100F, and temperatures could reach up to 115F.

These are places where, yes, it is hot in summer  but its not often hot like this, and certainly not for this duration, Swain said.

Extreme heat is the most deadly type of weather-related disaster, and the toll is on the rise. Forecasters warned the dangerous weather conditions this week will pose health risks to the majority of the population, especially those unable to access cooling.

Public health officials across the country cautioned against outdoor activities through the holiday weekend, calling residents and visitors in excessively hot areas to stay inside when possible.

A 69-year-old hiker died after becoming unresponsive on a trail in Grand Canyon national park, the National Park Service reported on Monday. The man, identified as Scott Sims, from Austin, Texas, was attempting an overnight stay in an area of the park that can reach 120F in the shade, park officials said, warning others against hiking in the inner canyon during peak-heat hours between 10am and 4pm.

The extreme weather will also set the stage for new wildfire ignitions that can quickly turn into infernos. An abundantly wet winter left landscapes across California coated in grasses that quickly dried as the weather warmed. The yellowing hillsides and valleys are thick with fuel for fast-burning brush fires. Even deserts, typically-barren this time of year, are now primed to burn. Unfortunately, I am not using the term if wildfires develop because I think its inevitable during this event, Swain said.

Crews were battling small wildfires that popped up across California on Tuesday. The Thompson fire in Butte county prompted evacuation orders for an unknown number of homes in Oroville, a town of about 15,000 residents that is 70 miles (113km) north of Sacramento.

Fire risks always rise on the Fourth of July, when hot dry weather aligns with explosive celebrations. Across the country, more than 18,500 fires ignite on average due to Independence Day celebrations, whether from errant fireworks or badly tended campfires. But as the temperatures rise, so do the dangers. Both fire activity and fire behavior this week will likely be extreme and new ignitions may become difficult to contain.

Its going to be a challenge both day and night  so the message is prevention, said the Cal Fire deputy director Nick Schuler. The agency is at peak staffing levels to prepare for whats expected to be an extremely busy week, extending into an extremely busy summer. Already, California has seen more than 131,400 acres burn, with months left before the risks peak.

The important takeaway is that 95% of wildfires in California are human-caused, and the majority of them are preventable, Schuler said, noting that careless barbecuing, a spark from a trailer chain hitting the road or even some well-intended brush clearing can rapidly turn disastrous during the hottest days.

But the heat wont only amplify the fire risks and intensity this week  it will also work to dry out more vegetation that could help fuel future fires.

A fiery start to July only adds to whats been an incredibly hot spring. May wrapped up the 12th consecutive month of record warmth across the world. The trend continued in June in many places, including parts of California, and the summer is on track to be a scorcher. 2023 was declared the hottest year on record, and 2024 may quickly claim the title.

Heat sucks the moisture out of vegetation and soil, said Dr Alexander Gershunov, a research meteorologist with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, noting that, while this may be the worst heatwave to hit California this year, it will be far from the last.

While individual weather events can be difficult to connect to global heating more broadly, heatwaves are the most directly impacted by the climate crisis, Gershunov explained. Fueled by human-caused warming, heatwaves are increasing in both intensity and frequency, but they are also lasting longer and covering wider areas than before. This has only added to their potential to affect human health and put strain on systems.

Heatwaves are certainly the weather extremes that are impacted by the steroids of climate change, he said, explaining that the effect is similar to an athlete taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Summer weather has been extreme before, but its going to get hotter.

The trend is toward more frequent, more extreme, longer-lasting heatwaves all over the world, he said. California is certainly no exception.

More on extreme heat and wildfires in the US:
Buckhead lounge shooting survivor says bullet in her leg constant reminder of the trauma

A judge denied bond for the gunman accused of opening fire in a Buckhead club and killing two people.

Police say Karanji Reese opened fire in the Elleven45 lounge last month, killing Mari Creighton and Nakyris Ridley. The shooting also left four others injured.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

During Tuesdays bond hearing for Reese, the courtroom heard from one of the survivors who was shot during the chaos. It was the first time that Taylor Holmes has faced her alleged shooter since she was released from the hospital.

The bullet is still lodged in my leg, Holmes told the court. Theres a constant reminder of the trauma I endured.

RELATED STORIES:

The shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. on May 12. Reese, 21, turned himself in and police charged him with murder, aggravated assault and a gun charge.

Since the shooting, Creightons parents have filed their own lawsuit against Elleven45 Lounge and its owners.

The lawsuit accuses the club of negligence and says that the club allowed an armed person onto the premises. It went on to say how the club was poorly maintained and unsafe, and a haven for dangerous conduct.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was sentenced Tuesday afternoon for killing a motorist in a wrong-way crash on the I-190 on Aug. 12, 2023, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced.

Guillermo Morales, 53, received an indeterminate sentence of five to 15 years in prison.

Officials said around 3 a.m., Morales was driving under the influence of alcohol and a drug and caused a collision on the I-190 near the Scajaquada Expressway.

He was driving north on the southbound side of the highway when he crashed his pickup truck head-on into another vehicle which was driven by 38-year-old Matthew Czop of Tonawanda. Czop was pronounced dead at the scene.

Morales was taken by ambulance to be treated for non-life threatening injuries and was arraigned later the same day while hospitalized at ECMC.

During the investigation, Morales was found in possession of powder cocaine.

He pleaded guilty to the following:

three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide

one count second-degree manslaughter

one count fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

one count first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Builders are coming out with smaller houses, but are they small enough for the market?

Builders are constructing their smallest houses in years, but they still may not be small enough for a significant portion of the population.

More than a third (38%) of the builders responding to a recent National Association of Home Builders poll said they built smaller houses last year, and 26% said theyre going smaller this year. The average size of new homes built in 2023 fell to 2,411 square feet  the smallest since 2010. And the NAHB expects the trend to continue as long as affordability remains a problem.

But another survey, this one from real estate investment company IPX 1031, indicates builders need to cut a lot more space from their models. Nearly three-quarters of the over 1,000 respondents said they would consider living in a tiny home, which is generally defined as 500 square feet or less.

Affordability was the main reason, of course, followed by the desire for a minimalist lifestyle and the lack of a need for a larger home.

DIY home building

Senior readers will no doubt remember when people bought houses right out of a Sears catalog. The old department store chain sold more than 70,000 mail-order houses, many of which are still standing.

Now you can buy a tiny house off Home Depots website. The bestseller is a 444-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bath cottage priced just over $26,000. A smaller studio unit with one bath goes for about $19,000.

Delivered right to your driveway, the packages include a steel frame, which you have to assemble. You must provide a concrete slab, utility connections and all finish materials, including siding, roofing materials, exterior doors and windows. Local building code approvals are necessary, too.

The park factor

Who doesnt want to live close to a park  especially in a city, where green space is at a premium? Youd think that residences in close proximity to a park would sell at higher prices because of the recreational and aesthetic benefits, but thats not always the case.

In fact, new research published in the Journal of Housing Economics found just the opposite, at least in China, where the study focused. The study found that, despite the positive aspects of urban parks, nearby homes sold for 2% less than in other places. Proposed explanations included crime, congestion, air pollution and traffic noise.

Whether or not the same is true in U.S. cities, the study is certainly food for thought.

Cleanup time

Catching up on a couple of issues discussed in previous columns: Idaho is the latest state to ban so-called home equity theft, and Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana and Minnesota are the latest to pass bills protecting homeowners against unfair fee agreements being filed as liens.

Idaho joins Nebraska, Maine and South Dakota in banning home equity theft  the term for local authorities keeping the excess proceeds from foreclosure sales  after the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled last year that the practice is unconstitutional. (Several other states already had such laws on the books prior to the SCOTUS ruling.)

Taxing authorities can still foreclose on homeowners who fail to pay their property taxes. But if the foreclosed home sells for more than the owner owes, the difference belongs to the owner, not the taxman, the Supreme Court said. The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesars, but no more, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote.

Meanwhile, 30 states now outlaw the practice of filing exploitative real estate fee agreements in property records. Known as Non-Title Recorded Agreements for Personal Services (NTRAPS), the documents are used to prey on homeowners, who are offered small cash gifts in exchange for decades-long contracts for the exclusive right to sell the property.

The state laws against NTRAPS are all different, but generally they make NTRAPS unenforceable; restrict, prohibit and/or penalize their recording; and provide for their removal from the property records and the recovery of damages.

Ten states (so far) have also sued MV Realty, the Florida firm that persuaded hundreds of homeowners to sign 40-year listing contracts in exchange for cash payments of up to $5,000. The company then recorded the contracts as liens so that if a property was sold using another brokerage, MV still had to be paid a commission.

MV has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 34 states, which the U.S. bankruptcy trustee office has argued is a tactic to stall state prosecutors who have filed lawsuits against the company.

Lew Sichelman has been covering real estate for more than 50 years. He is a regular contributor to numerous shelter magazines and housing and housing-finance industry publications. Readers can contact him at lsichelman@aol.com.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 2. KazMunayGas (KMG, Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have discussed prospects for cooperation in the field of geological exploration, Trend reports.

Negotiations on this topic took place between the Chairman of the Board of KMG, Askhat Khassenov, and Houliang Dai, Chairperson of CNPC.

The parties also reviewed the activities of joint production assets in the Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions and opportunities for further gas redistribution.

Taking into account the importance of the accelerated launch of gas projects in Kazakhstan, the parties are exploring opportunities for processing hydrocarbons from the Central Urikhtau field at the Zhanazhol oil and gas refining complex.

In addition, the parties spoke positively about the activities of the annual Kazakh-Chinese technical seminars on the exchange of technologies for the exploration and development of oil and gas fields.

Furthermore, Kazakhstan produced 90 million tons of oil in 2023, which is 6.9 percent higher than in 2022. Oil exports also increased and amounted to 70.5 million tons, which is 9.6 percent more than the previous year. Moreover, Kazakhstan plans to increase oil production in 2024 to 90.3 million tons.

In 2023, gas production in Kazakhstan amounted to 59.063 billion cubic meters, including large fields such as Tengiz (16.009 billion cubic meters), Karachaganak (22.385 billion cubic meters), Kashagan (11.856 billion cubic meters), and others (8.813 billion cubic meters). Kazakhstan is projected to produce 60.456 billion cubic meters of raw natural gas in 2024.
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  The Decatur Police Department and Crime Stoppers are asking the public to help track down two burglary suspects.

On June 24, books, swords, and trophies were stolen from the Decatur Masonic Temple at 244 West William Street. When police arrived at the scene, they found evidence of forced entry to the buildings west side entrance. However, no suspects were inside.

Farmer City Police looking for naked home invasion suspect

A witness said two white suspects were seen on bicycles near the west side of the building before police arrived. One suspect had long, blonde hair.

Those with any more information regarding this incident are asked to call Crime Stoppers at

217-423-8477. Tips are completely anonymous and can result in a $500 reward for information that leads to an arrest in this case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Gov. Roy Cooper and other officials help break ground on a new Raleigh-to-Richmond high speed rail line that will be made possible with federal infrastructure funding (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Gov. Roy Cooper broke ground Monday on a new high-speed rail line that will link Raleigh to Richmond, marking the projects first phase, which includes constructing a bridge to carry Durant Road over a railroad line.

The $1.3 billion project funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest grant ever received by the NC Department of Transportation. It will provide passenger service between downtown Raleigh and Wake Forest by 2030 and is the first leg of a planned high-speed rail connection between Raleigh, Richmond, Virginia, and the Northeast.

This is the beginning of a new chapter in passenger rail in North Carolina and really one of the biggest projects that were supporting anywhere in the country, Buttigieg told reporters.

The stop marked the first on Buttigiegs national summer construction tour. He will visit Winston-Salem on Tuesday where he will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Salem Parkway multi-use path. Buttigieg will then return to Durham, which recently received a $12 million federal grant to improve 33 downtown intersections.

Cooper highlighted the role of passenger rail in improving connectivity and reducing carbon emissions during Mondays ceremony. It helps reduce carbon emissions and helps us to save our planet as well as providing a great opportunity for people to get from one place to the next in a better way, said Cooper.

We know cutting down travel times in that arena is going to make it even better for our economy and make it better for the people in North Carolina, Cooper said.



The Raleigh-to-Richmond rail project will use the existing S-Line rail corridor, a freight rail corridor currently owned by CSX. Virginia has already acquired its portion of the line, and North Carolina officials are finalizing a deal to purchase the corridor in our state.

In May, the White House announced that it has allocated nearly $454 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to over 56,000 projects around the country since the passage of the $1 trillion bill in 2021.

North Carolina is set to receive $9.4 billion in funding from the law for 512 projects, according to the White House. The funding includes about $633 million for clean water projects, with $175 million going toward replacing toxic lead pipes, according to a fact sheet released by the White House in May.

North Carolina has done very well in investments from the federal government with this bipartisan infrastructure legislation, said Cooper. Im so grateful that President Biden got this and other major pieces of legislation through that really are generational investments that will help our children and our childrens children.

The post Buttigieg, Cooper break ground on new Raleigh-to-Richmond high speed rail line appeared first on NC Newsline.
Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com.

Law enforcement agencies across California have routinely made data they collect from automated license plate readers available to federal and out-of-state police departments, despite guidance from Attorney General Rob Bonta declaring the practice illegal.

Still, Attorney Bonta and his office have not taken action against any of the agencies for sharing the information.

An investigation by The News & Observer, a sister publication of The Sacramento Bee, found more than 20 agencies that let non-California departments access license plate reader data collected by one major security firm as of late May, in apparent violation of state law.

Some California law enforcement shared their data with dozens of outside departments, The N&O found. The police department for El Cajon, a city near San Diego, topped the list, making the information available to more than 130 non-California agencies.

The College of the Sequoias District Police Department, in the Central Valley, was second with 91. Its police chief said it stopped making the information available after being contacted by The Bee. The Menifee Police Department, in the Inland Empire, was the third highest with 30.

That said, the number of agencies that have made their data available is likely even more widespread than The N&O found. The papers review only focused on departments that use readers made by Flock Safety, a major player in the market that has a network of tens of thousands of cameras across the country.

A report published Wednesday by the Sacramento County grand jury found the Sheriffs Office and Sacramento Police Department both recently shared license plate data out of state. Yet neither used Flock Safety cameras at the time in question, according to a company spokesperson.

Sacramento police and the Sheriffs Office both said they have stopped sharing their data, according to the grand jurys report and the agencies.

The sharing of license plate data has concerned advocacy groups who fear departments in other states could use the information to track the vehicles of people who seek an abortion or gender-affirming care in California, or to identify undocumented immigrants for deportation.

Last year, Bontas office issued guidance warning departments not to share license plate reader information with agencies outside California. Late last month, his office took its most targeted action to date, sending letters to 14 police agencies in the state.

Almost all of the letters asked the departments to confirm if they were sharing data out of state. Two letters said the Attorney Generals Office was ready to take legal action if the departments refused to cooperate. As of Monday, however, no such action had been taken.

Most of the agencies were different from those identified by The N&O. They included the Sacramento Sheriffs Office, the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office, and police departments in several East Bay cities including Richmond, Pittsburg, and Antioch.

An awesome tool

Law enforcement agencies say the readers are a powerful aid to solving crimes. Along with scanning license plates, police tout how the cameras can capture other information about vehicles, such as their type, which can help quickly track down suspects.

Accessing another departments data, they add, can be critical to making an arrest.

Beyond that, agencies desire to share the information centers around a dispute over state law. In 2015, the Legislature passed a bill that said California police departments are only allowed to share license plate data with other public agencies.

The Attorney Generals Office argued in an October bulletin that the bills definition of a public agency is limited to only those in California. But state police associations countered that the law does not explicitly prohibit the sharing of data outside the state.

El Cajon Police Chief Mike Moulton agrees. His department allows agencies as far away as Virginia, Florida and South Carolina to access images pulled from its cameras in Southern California, The N&O found.

I would be negligent in my duties as a police chief to not use every tool and resource available to protect my community, Moulton said in a statement to The Bee. It truthfully boggles my mind that some would interpret that the legislative intent of this statute was to undermine and hinder the investigation of such heinous crimes as human trafficking and child abductions.

The Attorney Generals Office did not respond to emails asking for comment on Moultons remarks and El Cajons data sharing practices.

The police department in Oakley, a city about 40 miles south of Sacramento, which The N&O found was sharing license plate data with at least seven out-of-state agencies  including in Texas and Arizona  has disagreed with the Attorney Generals view.

Oakleys department was one of the two agencies to receive letters from the Attorney Generals Office asking the department to align its practices with state law or face legal action.

When asked recently about the letter and the departments sharing of license plate data, Assistant City Manager Danielle Navarro told The Bee: We dont have any comments at this time.

Dave Gutierrez, a captain for the Menifee Police Department, said the agency is not following Bontas guidance.

Criminals do not stop at jurisdictional boundaries and can often travel long distances to commit crimes, the captain said in a statement. The sharing of information is critical to good policing and protecting our communities.

On the other hand, Donald Charles, the College of the Sequoias chief, said he was not aware of the October bulletin from Bontas office until he was asked by The Bee about the small agencys sharing of Flock data. He decided to cut off access to non-California agencies after reviewing the notice, he said, and speaking with other chiefs of community college departments.

Its not going to change any business or functionality with the system, Charles said.

At least one department identified in The N&Os review reported not knowing their data was accessible outside California.

The police department for Seaside, near Monterey, granted access to 19 non-California agencies as of late May, the newspaper found, including ones in Georgia and New York. That wasnt the departments intention, Commander Matthew Doza told The Bee.

When the department requests access to information from other agencies, the system defaults to allow the other agencies to also have access to Seasides data, Doza said. A box needs to be unchecked to prevent that from occurring, the commander said, and sometimes that doesnt happen.

Doza said the department would remove the access for non-California agencies.

This is an awesome investigative tool, the commander said, and we dont want to lose it.
California Democrats want to defeat draconian Prop. 47 changes with new initiative. Heres how

In the Spotlight is a Sacramento Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email metro@sacbee.com.

California Democrats now have their own version of a ballot measure that would change elements of Proposition 47, setting up a November duel with a district attorney-backed theft and drug initiative legislative leaders call draconian.

Lawmakers on Wednesday still need to approve the bill containing the Democrats proposition, which would ask voters to alter Proposition 47, the 2014 voter-approved measure that made some lower-level crimes misdemeanors and set a $950 felony threshold for shoplifting.

Here are some key things to know before the full Legislature considers SB 1381 on Wednesday night.

What are the main differences?

Both the district attorneys measure and the one lawmakers and the governor support would change Proposition 47 to add penalties for drug and theft crimes.

But the district attorneys initiative would be more punitive, while the one from Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature contains some guardrails.

The two measures both have more stringent punishments for those facing a third theft-related conviction. However, the legislative version specifies the new conviction must have occurred within three years of the other two. It also sets a $50 threshold for the property taken in each instance.

Both measures also address fentanyl dealing. The legislative version would increase penalties for dealers who knowingly provide fentanyl to customers who are not aware the substance theyre receiving contains it. The district attorneys version lowers the felony weight threshold for substances containing fentanyl and adds enhancements for larger quantities.

What are lawmakers saying?

Legislative Democrats are not uniformly on board with the measure.

On Monday, an Assembly vote to gut an existing bill and amend it with the initiative language got support from 36 members, with a chunk of Democrats declining to vote on it.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, earlier in the day told the Sacramento Press Club he he would be voting for the measure, even though it is unfortunate that we are here.

I do not believe that if were seriously going after retail theft that we need to amend Prop. 47, McGuire said. I think we have the legislative package thats in front of us right now that will solve for that challenge.

The measure advanced from the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday with the support of chair Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, who said he is pleased to be going back to the ballot.

A strange mix of groups opposed the legislative ballot measure including district attorneys, law enforcement organizations and criminal justice reformers who are not typically bedfellows.

Some Democrats were also more reluctant to support it. Moderate Assemblywoman Stephanie Nguyen, D-Elk Grove, chose not to vote on the bill. She said after the hearing she may still vote for it on the Assembly floor on Wednesday.

I just want to make sure I evaluate it a little bit more before I make my decision, Nguyen said.

Assemblywoman Lori Wilson of Suisun City, who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, said the group is against the measure, although she voted to pass it out of committee.

We have to do our part as legislators to think through the work that were doing here, she said. And recognize that there needs to be additional protections in place to support the most vulnerable people among us, to ensure that people of color are not disproportionately impacted.
(FOX40)  A California law that puts a limit on how much landlords can require a tenant to pay for a security deposit went into affect today.

Video Above: Should you buy or rent a home?

The law, introduced as AB 12, says that renters no longer have to come up with three times or even two times the rent to satisfy a new lease agreement. According to the law, the most a landlord can require to rent a residential property is one months worth of rent, which should include all fees and other charges.

New laws going into effect in California on July 1, 2024

The bill was authored by California Assemblymember Matt Haney (D  San Francisco) and approved by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 11, 2023. It became law on July 1.

Massive security deposits can create insurmountable barriers to housing affordability and accessibility for millions of Californians Haney wrote on his website. Despite skyrocketing rents, laws on ensuring affordable security deposits havent changed substantially since the 1970s. The result is that landlords lose out on good tenants and tenants stay in homes that are too crowded, unsafe or far from work or school.

In addition, Haney said the new law does not impact small landlords. Mom and pop landlords that own only two properties with a total of no more than 4 units are exempt. It also does not have any effect on potential liabilitylandlords will still be able to seek damages from tenants who are responsible for harm to the property that exceeds the amount of the security deposit.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
What is Canada Day and how is it celebrated? The answer is more complicated than some might think

Every year, three days before the US of A sets the skies alight with impressive fireworks displays as part of nationwide Independence Day celebrations, its friendly neighbor to the north pays tribute to its own origin story.

Thats right, were talking about Canada Day.

Many of us Canadians celebrate this annual July 1 holiday much the same way Americans approach Independence Day.

We fly that gorgeous red maple leaf proudly and wear Canada-themed outfits. Some people paint their faces. Festivals and fireworks are all part of the proceedings, whether youre in Vancouver, Toronto or Charlottetown, with barbecues and pancake breakfasts among the culinary traditions of the day.

What about jet planes, you ask? Our famed Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatics flight demonstration squadron will be making an appearance in our nations capital on the big day.

But while the two holidays bear many similarities, professor Matthew Hayday, chair of the Department of History at Ontarios Guelph University, tells CNN that Canadians dont make nearly as big a deal out of Canada Day as Americans do about Independence Day.

There is a huge celebration in the national capital in Ottawa, which brings tens of thousands of people to Parliament Hill  those celebrations date back to the late 1950s  but in most other communities, it is pretty low key, with some communities organizing picnics and barbecues and firework displays, but nothing along the lines of the various parades that you see in the US, he says.

Canada Days origin story

The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds perform a flyby during Canada Day ceremonies at Parliament Hill, home to the country's federal government, on July 1, 2019 in Ottawa. - Mark Horton/Getty Images

To fully understand and compare the two, you need to go back. Way back.

US Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870 to mark the passage of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. (In response, the British scolded the misguided Americans and their extravagant and inadmissible Claim of Independency.)

Meanwhile, the July 1 holiday to commemorate Canadas Confederation became official in 1879, and was originally called Dominion Day. It marks the day the British North America Act came into effect in 1867, effectively creating the Dominion of Canada out of three British colonies: the United Province of Canada (now the provinces of Ontario and Quebec), plus New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Confederation was an administrative change, not a revolution, says Forrest Pass, curator of Canadas Library and Archives, via email.

The editor of the Toronto Globe  precursor to the present-day Globe and Mail  put it best in an editorial on (appropriately) July 4, 1875, when he noted that the British North America Act has none of the traditional associations of the Declaration of Independence, and is, to most people, only a piece of very dry, practical legislation.

Even the choice of the date for Confederation was purely administrative, he says, noting the British parliament tended to sit in the early spring and the legislation it passed usually came into effect on July 1 for accounting reasons.

The late Queen Elizabeth II, seen here joining the Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa in 1997, visited Canada 22 times during her reign. - Carlo Allegri/AFP/Getty Images

But the desire to celebrate Dominion Day owed much to the American model, Pass says. Residents of Canadian border towns traveled to nearby American communities to join their events, while some places with large American populations also hosted 4th of July celebrations.

Canadians had celebrated their own holidays before Confederation, especially the birthday of the King or Queen, but even these observances had come to look a lot like Independence Day in the traditions that surrounded them, he says.

For instance, Pass notes that in the United States, no 19th-century Independence Day was complete without a Federal Salute of 13 guns for the original 13 states, and a National Salute of one gun for each state then in the Union. Some early Dominion Day celebrations featured a Dominion Salute of one gun for each province.

Like early 4th of July celebrations, early Dominion Day celebrations were spontaneous; they were organized locally with little encouragement from the federal government, he says, noting that Ottawa started to take an interest in how the day was marked in the 1950s, and encouraged some standardization.

At the same time, he says both the media and politicians were quick to remind Canadians of the constitutional difference.

Moreover, some Canadian newspapers in the 1870s took a perverse pleasure in reprinting stories about deaths and injuries during American 4th of July celebrations so that they could point out how peaceful and orderly Dominion Day observances were.

People watch fireworks over Ashbridges Bay during Canada Day festivities on July 1, 2019 in Toronto. - Cole Burston/Getty Images

It wasnt until 1982 that Dominion Day officially became Canada Day.

Historian Hayday says there were dozens of half-hearted and more serious attempts to change the name over the years, dating back to the 1940s. In the end, the switch ended up being a bit divisive.

To this day, there are still pockets of Canadians who resent what they saw as a move away from Canadas British heritage with the dropping of the term Dominion from the day, he says.

But the vast majority of Canadians now accept the new 44-year-old name.

Pass, meanwhile, says the name swap was a symptom rather than a cause.

Changes to Canada Day, including the name change, have been part of a broader national identity and national unity policy  think the new national flag in 1965, the formal adoption of O Canada as the national anthem in 1980, and the creation of the Order of Canada as the countrys highest civilian honor, he says.

Celebrations today typically emphasize Canada as a multicultural and bilingual country rather than a white, British one, consistent with both Canadians evolving values and government policy (its often hard to say which of these is the cause and which the effect).

So what can visitors to Canadas capital expect this year as the nation celebrates its 157th birthday?

Ottawas official Canada Day ceremonies will take place around LeBreton Flats Park and Parliament Hill. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which turns 100 this year, will mark the occasion with the largest flypast conducted in 20 years over the National Capital Region, at 1 p.m.

A series of live musical performances will take place on the main stage from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., followed by fireworks. For more information on the event, visit the official Canada Day website.

Karla Cripps is a senior producer with CNN Travel. Originally from Canada, she has been living in Thailand for more than 20 years.

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ASTANA. Kazakhstan, July 2. KazMunayGas (KMG, Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company), Chinese CITIC Group, and CITIC Resources Holdings Limited have discussed the current status of the project to expand the production capacity of the Aktau bitumen plant (CASPI BITUM LLP) to 1.5 million tons per year, Trend reports.

Negotiations on this topic took place between the Chairman of the Board of KMG, Askhat Khassenov, and Xi Guohua, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CITIC Group, and Hao Weibao, Chief Executive Officer of CITIC Resources Holdings Limited.

Last year, the NJPEC Institute (China) developed a preliminary feasibility study for the project and also conducted a technical audit of the plant. In May of this year, a PC contract for construction was signed, and work on the detailed design is currently underway.

Taking into account the strategic importance of the development of bitumen production for Kazakhstan, Khasenov noted the importance of launching the plant before the start of the 2025 road construction season.

Also, during meetings with the leaders of the CITIC Group, issues of the production activities of the joint venture Karazhanbasmunai JSC were discussed.

The head of KMG confirmed the unchanged course of the national company to strengthen interaction with partners from the CITIC Group and expressed confidence in the successful implementation of joint plans.

Meanwhile, the volumes of raw material processing at CASPI BITUM at the end of 2023 amounted to 853,484 tons, or 100.5 percent of the plan. Over the past year, 358,155 tons of road bitumen were produced (100.8 percent of the plan).

The leaders in consumption of road bitumen produced at the plant in 2023 are Almaty region with 60,913 tons (17 percent), Mangystau region with 44,025 tons (12 percent), and Zhambyl region with 39,404 tons (11 percent) of the total shipment volume.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Ahoy there! Capitan Miranda, the Uruguayan Navys sail training tall ship has returned to Norfolk and is offering the public free tours.

Boasting distinctive colorful sunburst sails and lively Comparsa musicians, the boat has won

the Most Spirit award at many previous tall ship festivals around the world.

The Uruguayan Navy selected Norfolk and Miami as the two East Coast ports for the ships sail training schedule. Norfolk is one of the Uruguayan Navys favorite ports in the U.S.

Capitan Miranda arrives just in time for the 4th of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks event happening in Town Point Park from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.

The schooner-style ship, will dock at Otter Berth next to the Waterside District at 333 Waterside Drive and will be open for free tours Wednesday, July 3 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

It will depart Norfolk Friday, July 5 at 10 a.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  Just two days after Myron Tyler purchased a car from Cars KC, steam began billowing from under the hood. After pulling over to the shoulder, Tyler was unable to even get the car to start, the engine had seized up.

My mind is going 50 different places at the time because Ive got a 70-year-old mother in the car who has a hard time moving around, Tyler said.

We are stuck on the side of the highway, which is sloping down.



Tyler had the 2014 Range Rover brought back to Cars KC, the Mission car lot that had sold him the car for about $28,000. He said the owner of the lot, Mike Ansari, was apologetic.

Employees evacuated after large fire at Olathe warehouse

He said Im sorry this happened, Tyler recalled.

Hes laying out everything that is going to happen. Hes either going to buy the car back, fix it or sell it to me at cost. Hes giving me all these different options. In my mind, Im happy because I do want the car.

Cars KC towed the car to Star Motors to have it diagnosed. For three weeks, Tyler said he kept calling Cars KC for an update on his vehicle which was his only way to get to work. When he couldnt get an answer from Cars KC, he went to Star Motors.

Upon arriving at Star Motors, Tyler learned that they had diagnosed the problem the day after it was towed to them, and the news wasnt good. The car needed and new engine and a long list of other items. The total estimated repair cost was $24,820. This left Tyler wondering what Cars KC was going to do.

Tyler said Ansari told him that he would piece it together. Tyler claims he could never get an explanation as to what that exactly meant. Additionally, Tyler was told that no repairs would be made until he had made his first payment on his loan, which Cars KC had arranged for him through Westlake Financial. At that point, the first payment wasnt even due yet.



Tyler didnt want to make payments for a car that he wasnt sure would even run again. Tyler wanted his money back. He sent Cars KC a certified letter stating that he wanted to be let out of the loan and to have his $4,000 down payment returned.

When Cars KC didnt respond, Tyler contacted FOX4 Problem Solvers.

I dont want anyone else to be impacted the way I was, he said.

Tyler knew what happened to him was wrong. Any used car sold in Kansas comes with an implied warranty, meaning unless youve been specifically told otherwise, the car you are being sold must be road-worthy. Road-worthy cars last longer than two days.

53-year-old man killed by lightning at Holden, Missouri rodeo

FOX4 Problem Solvers talked to attorney Bernard Brown who has spent his career cracking down on bad car dealers. He was shocked by Tylers story.

This is over-the-top stuff, Brown said.

This dealer, on the face of what Im hearing, had their own place examining it and saying it needs more than $25,000 of work and they wont do it or take it back. These things sound completely wrong to me and the Kansas Attorney General certainly ought to get into this and the dealer section (of the Kansas Department of Revenue) and the local (Johnson County) district attorney.



Tyler has contacted all those offices. The only one, so far, that appears to be interested is the Kansas Department of Revenues dealer licensing section, which has begun looking into it.

In the meantime, FOX4 Problem Solvers listened in as Tyler called Cars KC owner Mike Ansari to make yet another attempt to get his money back.

It does not qualify for a warranty because you were negligent, Ansari told Tyler over the phone.

But when Tyler asked him repeatedly to explain how he was negligent, Ansari wouldnt tell him.

Since Tyler couldnt get answers, FOX4 Problem Solvers paid a visit to the car lot on Shawnee Mission Parkway. But the woman who answered the office door slammed it shut when we told her who we were and that we were looking into a complaint by Myron Tyler.

Jackson County Legislature aims for November Chiefs only ballot initiative

We then called Cars KC and were told no comment.

So, this is a problem that, so far, FOX4 Problem Solvers has been unable to solve. The good news is that Tyler told us that Westlake Financial has agreed to let him out of his loan. But getting his $4,000 deposit back might take the help of the Kansas Department of Revenues dealer licensing division.

Tyler said hes also willing to sue Cars KC for the deposit. After all, he said, cars should last longer than two days.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein said on CNN Monday night that sources have told him President Joe Biden has appeared similarly to how he did during last weeks debate more than a dozen times in the past 18 months, troubling those close to him.

These are people, several of them who are very close to President Biden, who love him  and they are adamant that what we saw the other night, the Joe Biden we saw, is not a one-off, Bernstein recounted to CNNs Anderson Cooper. There have been 15, 20 occasions in the last year and a half when the president has appeared somewhat as he did in that horror show.

Legendary journalist @carlbernstein joins Anderson with new reporting on the concerns people close to President Biden have had about his health. pic.twitter.com/sKbX1qzEtO  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) July 2, 2024

Bidens appearance in the debate against his competitor, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, has prompted concern throughout the Democratic establishment. Calls to replace him as the 2024 presidential candidate have grown, and the president and his surrogates have been on damage control for days assuring voters his age  he is 81  will not be an issue.

Folks, I would not be running again if I did not believe with all of my heart and soul that I can do this job, Biden told supporters in New York last week after the debate.

Regardless, a chorus of lawmakers have expressed reservations about the president and asked for more transparency. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said Monday he was horrified by Bidens appearance and said he was among many voters who wanted to ensure his team are being candid with us about his condition.

Bernstein added in the interview Monday night that some of his sources have told him in the past six months there has been a marked incidence of cognitive decline.

What these folks are saying and have been saying for a while is: Yes, hes great when we see him as we have tonight. But he also has these inexplicable moments that we are very concerned about, Bernstein said.

The journalist went on to say hed been told Biden remained strong on foreign policy and retained the support of his staff. But Bernstein said questions have been growing that need answers.

I have heard for two years how sharp Joe Biden is in his national security meetings, he said. He has an absolute command of the facts, hes sharp as can be.  Were clearly dealing with two sets of one person and it really needs to be explored according to the people Im talking to.

But this is a problem that is not going to go away, Bernstein added, unless its explicable.

Related...
Journalist Carl Berstein, the former Washington Post reporter who helped reveal the Watergate scandal, said on CNN Monday that sources very close to President Joe Biden told him that the Democrats debate performance last week is not surprising, claiming that he has appeared similarly low energy more than a dozen times since 2022, The Daily Beast reported.

Bernstein, now a CNN analyst, shared that these concerns with Bidens age and fitness have shaken the faith of many Biden supporters.

These are people, several of them who are very close to President Biden, who love him  and they are adamant that what we saw the other night, the Joe Biden we saw, is not a one-off, Bernstein told CNN. There have been 15, 20 occasions in the last year and a half when the president has appeared somewhat as he did in that horror show.

While Berstein didnt name the concerned parties, he emphasized the importance of their opinions. Whats so significant is the people that this is coming from, and also how many people around the president are aware of such incidents, including some reporters, incidentally, who have witnessed some of them, he said.

Bernstein described a fundraiser just about a year ago, where the president was allegedly standing at podium when he appeared to become stiff," almost like as if it were a kind of rigor mortis. Biden had to be brought a chair, Bernstein said, and he remained seated through the rest of the event.

On the other hand, Berstein added: I have heard for two years how sharp Joe Biden is during his national security meetings. He has special briefing books on Ukraine, and the situation in Gaza, that go down to very detailed military reports. He has an absolute command of the facts, hes as sharp as can be.

The way Berstein explains it, while Biden, 81, has great moments, he also has inexplicable ones worth investigating because we are clearly dealing with two sets of one person, he told CNN.

Bidens performance against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has made many Democrats reconsider whether the incumbent should remain on the party's ticket. Meanwhile, Biden and his team, who claimed he had a cold the day of the debate, have been working double time to reassure voters that he can still get the job done.

Folks, I would not be running again if I did not believe with all of my heart and soul that I can do this job, Biden told supporters in New York last week after the debate, HuffPost reported.
CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Carter County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) has confirmed the case of a missing man and an escaped inmate are being investigated as related incidents.

On June 20, inmate Billy Fletcher, 43, allegedly walked away from his work detail at the county detention center. Fletcher was serving a three-year sentence for violation of probation.

Officials: Escaped Carter County inmate believed to be in South Carolina

Victor Birchfield, 61, was reportedly last seen on June 19, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued a Silver Alert for him on June 22.

On Monday, Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley issued a statement, in which he said investigators believe the two men came into contact with one another.

We are continuing to investigate in conjunction with other local and state agencies as well as authorities in other states. We believe that at some point following the escape of Fletcher that he came into contact with Mr. Birchfield. Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley

The sheriffs office did not provide any further information on Monday.

The CCSO reported on Friday that Birchfields vehicle, a silver 2003 Toyota 4Runner with damage to the rear, had been spotted in the Clemson, South Carolina area.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced on Sunday that Fletcher was believed to be in South Carolina after he was spotted leaving a Walmart in Greenville County.

Fletcher is described as being 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing roughly 230 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair. Anyone who sees him is advised to call 911 immediately and not approach him.

Birchfield has gray hair and hazel eyes. He is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to call the CCSO at 423-542-1845 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Cash reward available for information on deadly King Street shooting

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department (CPD) says a cash reward is available for information leading to the arrest of a shooting suspect.

On Aug. 17, 2023, at about 10:35 p.m., Columbus police were dispatched to Briarwood Avenue and King Street. In front of a home in the 2900 block of King Street, officers found Joseph Delaney Kimble shot multiple times.

Kimble was pronounced dead at the scene.

Columbus Police still searching for man wanted for September 11 murder

Anyone with information on Kimbles death is asked to call Corporal Christy Edenfield at 706-

987-7564 or email at cedenfield@columbusga.org. A cash reward is available for information leading to an arrest, according to CPD.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN)  A person was taken into custody Tuesday morning following a SWAT response in Cedar Park. The incident also prompted an hours-long shelter-in-place order for neighbors in the area.

The Cedar Park Police Department said in a post on X at 7:48 a.m. officers were on the scene of a barricaded subject in the 400 block of Cypress Creek Boulevard at Cedar Park Townhomes.

That area is just west of Highway 183A off Brushy Creek Loop.

In an update at 9:15 a.m., police said the situation was resolved and the person was in custody. They also said the shelter-in-place order had been lifted.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Police said they were called to the scene around 5:20 a.m. and that Central Texas SWAT negotiators responded to help resolve the incident.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Celebrating Brown v. Board at 70: Hallowed but hollow for too many Kansans

Visitors on April 6, 2023, at the Kansas Statehouse observe the third-floor mural commemorating the landmark Brown v. Board decision.

Visitors on April 6, 2023, at the Kansas Statehouse observe the third-floor mural commemorating the landmark Brown v. Board decision. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas and the nation have celebrated the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education decision of 1954 for much of the past few months. Legal scholars consider it one of the five most important decisions ever handed down by the high court.

It marked the first time that the government acknowledged the damage done by the slavery, segregation and subjugation that has marked life here in North America for the past 330-plus years on this continent.

The states bar association just hosted former U.S. Ambassador and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young in Topeka last week, building a continuing legal education event around a keynote address delivered by Young.

In 2014, then-First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Topeka for mark Browns 60th anniversary. Because of Brown, Topeka at one point emerged as the western terminus for UNESCOs American Civil Rights Trail.

But why celebrate Brown as a triumph when so much of the country reflexively rejects virtually any attempt at addressing these old wrongs? We still dont know if well ever become the country we claim to be. Brown offers the perfect mirror.

The decision helped much of the country understand that even if physical facilities and other factors were equal, segregation still harmed Black children. It found this kind of separation unconstitutional.

Brown remains, for many, hallowed but hollow.

At a 2014 symposium at the University of Kansas, former head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Theodore Shaw said schools in New York where he lived were as separate then as they were when lawyers filed Brown.

At the same conference, professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries, younger brother of current U.S. House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries, said Brown detractors never stopped inveighing against the ruling.

Jeffries said grassroots demonstrations took place outside previously segregated schools as Black children arrived. Opponents created rallying cries like forced busing and school choice. They fled to suburbs and established private, Christian schools.

Black educators suffered in the aftermath of Brown, too. As separate schools closed and white parents vowed that no Black person would ever teach their child, many Black educators found themselves displaced.

In Wichita, school officials bused Black students virtually their entire school lives, while entering white students in a lottery virtually none of them wanted to win. If their names popped up in the lottery, they got bused to an inner-city school for a year or two.

And while creating educational palaces for their own children in suburbs, many parents fought the bond issues proposed to bring aging urban school facilities into the modern age with air conditioning and wiring for tech.

Daring and desperate parents trying to secure a better education for their children were punished for attempting to enroll their children in these stronger, better-funded districts.

The Kansas Legislature has generally fought public education and continues to flirt with the idea that taxpayers should fork over sorely needed money to help middle-class parents send their children to private schools.

The Legislature also has proposed measures that would limit what historical stories could be taught and discussed, centering the feelings of white students over the circumstances that Black and other minority groups have experienced historically.

All of this, but were still proud of Brown?

Proud of what exactly? That we say one thing but behave differently? That were fine with unfairness as long as its coated in a thin veneer of contrived innocence? Proud of renouncing a caste system so many still quietly support?

This remains a debilitating dual reality our state and nation refuse to reconcile. Like a dog named Stay, when called to act, we dont know what to do.

So, we dress up. We invite dignitaries. We host events at our museums.

Supporting historical events such as Brown makes us look good, but unwilling to actually go anywhere.

Mark McCormick is the former executive director of The Kansas African American Museum, a member of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission and former deputy executive director at the ACLU of Kansas. 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 Celebrating Brown v. Board at 70: Hallowed but hollow for too many Kansans appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Public school students across South Carolina will be barred from using their cellphones during the school day under a clause legislators agreed to add to the state spending plan Thursday, June 13, 2024. (File/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  It could be January before a new law barring K-12 students in South Carolina from using their cellphones in class takes effect, according to a memo from the states education agency.

A clause included in the state budget requires districts to adopt a policy banning cellphones during the school day or risk losing state funding. But the State Board of Education, which the law tasks with approving the policy, doesnt even meet again until Aug. 13. So, thats the earliest a state policy could be approved, according to the memo that went to district officials statewide last Thursday.

All but three of the states public school districts will be back in session by then.

District officials worried that might mean their districts would risk losing state money because they had not adopted a policy that didnt yet exist, said Scott Price, executive director of the South Carolina School Boards Association.

Timing was an issue, Price told the SC Daily Gazette on Tuesday. You have schools starting earlier and earlier.

The state Department of Education plans to have a model policy ready to approve by the August meeting, which would allow for local school boards to adopt it by September or October, according to the memo sent out last Thursday.

In the meantime, school districts will not lose any state money for not having a ban in place, education department spokesman Jason Raven confirmed Tuesday.

The goal is to have the ban in place in every district across the state by the time districts begin their second semester in January, according to the memo.

The memo did not specify a date for when districts would begin to lose funding for not having a ban.

However, Department of Education officials expect all districts should be able and will want to have the policy in place by January, Raven said.

Teachers and administrators have been asking state officials to help curb cellphone use in classroom for years.

We are confident that with the right policy and communication, school districts will want to adopt the policy as soon as reasonably possible, Raven said in an email.

The updated timeline gives school board members more breathing room to review and adopt policies, Price said.

That makes it not quite so much of a hair-on-fire moment, Price said.

While the budget clause says the policy must ban students from using their phones during the school day, the board will need to decide what, exactly, that will look like, Price said.

How districts should enforce the policy is one lingering question. Whether students will be allowed to have a phone on them as long as they arent using it, or if they will have to leave it in a locker or at home is another question, he said.

Teacher support

In a statewide survey the education department conducted, thousands of teachers said phones frequently disrupted class time and called for some sort of ban, according to data included in the memo.

Of the nearly 10,000 teachers and administrators who responded to the survey, 56% said cellphones were a daily disruption in all or most of their classes, and 55% said they supported a total ban.

Another 37% said they wanted students to have limited access to cellphones during class time and relaxed rules between classes and during lunch.

Despite most teachers calling cellphones a disruption, 60% said they lost less than 30 minutes of instructional time to phone-related disruptions each day, the survey found.

However, in part of the survey that allowed teachers to submit specific concerns, many wrote that they saw behavioral issues, distractions from learning and cheating come from phone usage, according to the education department.

Although the ban has overwhelming support from teachers, parents may not be quite as pleased with the new rule, Price said.

Parents concerned they wont be able to reach their children in case of an issue or emergency will be more likely to go to the local school board than state officials, possibly causing friction when boards go to adopt the new policy, he said.

In this day and age, parents want access to their children during the day, Price said.

That will be something the board has to balance against the disruptions caused by students having cellphones during class time, Weaver said at a May board meeting.

While we certainly dont want to ever deny a parent access to their child, at the same time, I think we have to balance these very real safety and instructional concerns that cellphones create, Weaver said at the time.
It took 50 million years for salmon to evolve and only about 50 years to nearly wipe them out. Now, Washingtons native salmon and steelhead populations are getting a reprieve  one stream at a time.

Travelers on state Route 8 and U.S. 12 between Olympia and Montesano have been swerving and slowing through five separate construction zones since spring 2023. Its part of a $109 million culvert replacement project that aims to free up barriers to fish passage in Grays Harbor County.

The Olympia to Montesano work is a fraction of the $3.95 billion the state legislature has authorized to improve fish passage in western Washington. WSDOT says it needs another $4 billion to complete its projects by court-mandated 2030.

Why its needed

Like the drivers headed to Long Beach and Ocean Shores, fish need their own watery freeways to travel between their spawning grounds and the ocean. Spawning salmon and steelhead head upstream while juvenile fish make their way downstream.

Culverts  those corrugated pipes parents warn kids not to play in  carry water under roads. Theyre effective but often become barriers to fish because water flows too swiftly, is too shallow or shoots out of the business end like a fire hose.

A series of five stream crossings along State Route 8 and State Route 12 west of Olympia are being torn out and replaced with more fish-friendly access, shown on Friday, June 14, 2024. The WSDOT construction projects are expected to continue until the winter of 2025.

WSDOT recognized the problem in 1991. But by then, the vast majority of the states major roadways had been completed. The problem barriers have been and will continue to take decades and billions of dollars to correct.

To date, the state has opened up more than 1,000 miles of fish habitat.

One size does not fit all

Because each stream is unique in its hydrology, topography, size and the way it crosses underneath roadways, each crossing must be tailored individually, according to WSDOT project engineer Jason Mettler.

The streams on the SR 8/U.S. 12 project eventually drain to the Chehalis River. They are Camp Creek (just east of Montesano) and unnamed tributaries to Wenzel Slough (west of Elma), Vance Creek (south of Elma), Wildcat Creek (between Elma and McCleary) and Mox Chehalis Creek (east of McCleary).

Five sites make up the state Route 8/U.S. 12 portion of WSDOTs salmon culvert replacement project.

A new box culvert will be used at the Mox Chehalis tributary site. The other locations will be corrected with pairs of full span bridges. When finished, fish will be able to navigate the channels more easily and in a natural environment.

On some of the bridges, drivers will notice a rise as they pass over the streams. Thats to accommodate the possibility of high flows during flood events, Mettler said.

Camp Creek

The state Route 8/U.S. 12 project is WSDOTs most ambitious on the Olympic Peninsula with five sites and multiple bridges. On a recent June morning, WSDOT officials toured the Camp Creek segment of the project, east of Montesano, with a pair of reporters.

The Camp Creek site involves three new bridges. Two 112-feet-long bridges are being built for the east and westbound lanes of U.S. 12. The parallel Simmons Road, a Grays Harbor County road, is getting a 110-foot-long bridge. The Simmons Road and westbound bridges are already in use.

The bridges are being built while Camp Creek continues to flow through its culverts. The existing crossing carries traffic over a box (square) culvert 12-feet-wide by 6-feet-tall with a center divider.

The new bridges will allow for a 17-foot-wide stream bed. Including banks needed for overflow during storms, the total opening width for each bridge is around 75 feet.

Shafts

During the media tour, workers were lowering a form into the ground to accommodate the pouring of a concrete support for the eastbound bridge. It and its kin will eventually reach 58 feet below ground level. U.S. 12 traffic is using the westbound bridge with a single lane temporarily apportioned for each direction.

A series of five stream crossings along State Route 8 and State Route 12 west of Olympia are being torn out and replaced with more fish-friendly access, shown on Friday, June 14, 2024. The WSDOT construction projects are expected to continue until the winter of 2025.

The creek is being realigned to allow for a more natural flow. When highways were built in the mid-20th century, stream channels were often changed to be perpendicular to the roadway. While more efficient, it could also act as another blow to fish passage.

The Camp Creek crossings were built in 1968, Mettler said.

Trees

Natural forested streams on the Olympic Peninsula are full of fallen logs. They were once viewed as impediments. Biologists now know they provide habitat for fish as they slow streams down.

Drivers passing through the various worksites might notice recently harvested trees piled at the sites. The logs, with their root systems still attached, will be installed in the creek beds and provide hiding places for fish during all their life cycles.

They can hang out and just do their thing and chill, said WSDOT spokesperson Doug Adamson.

Thats what we see in nature, Mettler said. And thats what we use to replicate that. We will be recreating a stream trying to match the quality and the characteristics of it ... even down to the gravel size in that stream.

Rough waters downstream

After 21 Washington tribes asked the U.S. District Court to uphold salmon treaty rights in 2013, the court ordered the state to fix culverts that were barriers to salmon and steelhead in western Washington. The injunction requires opening 90 percent of the potential habitat area by 2030.

Out of the five streams on the SR 8/U.S. 12 project, four have partial downstream impediments, according to Kim Rydholm, a WSDOT engineer.

Theyre not 100 percent barriers, she said So theres some fish, at some stages of life that can get through those.

Some are county roads and others are on private property, according to WSDOT.

A series of five stream crossings along State Route 8 and State Route 12 west of Olympia are being torn out and replaced with more fish-friendly access, shown on Friday, June 14, 2024. The WSDOT construction projects are expected to continue until the winter of 2025.

Despite the downstream barriers, WSDOT forges ahead with projects, compelled by the injunction. But, Rydholm said, the agency keeps downstream owners apprised of WSDOTs work. Funding from various sources, including the state Department of Natural Resources, is available for private landowners to improve fish passage.

Restoration has to start somewhere, she said. We feel like removing our barriers, which are typically the most expensive and complex in a system, really paves the way for other barrier owners to correct their barriers.

Fish windows

Complicating the construction are so-called fish windows. Referring to time, a fish window is the period in which crews can legally work in stream beds. They correspond to periods when fish are not migrating, usually in summer.

It is going to be pretty hectic, Mettler said. We get a pretty small window of time to do the work within the stream.

The SR 8/U.S. 12 project is slated for completion in winter 2025. WSDOT said roadway work affecting drivers will be finished before then.

A daunting task

WSDOTs work represents a fraction of the barriers that block fish in the Chehalis River watershed. A database maintained by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife provides a sobering look at the hundreds of impediments fish face in the basin.

The agency offers fish passage services to landowners and organizations planning restoration projects.

In the meantime, WSDOT will continue the court mandated work to remove barriers on state roads. The agency estimates that an additional $4 billion is needed to complete the plan by 2030.

We have about 350 barriers to correct by 2030 to meet that particular requirement, Rydholm said.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, July 2. Kazakhstan has extensive transit opportunities that need to be used effectively, ex-chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), Grigory Marchenko, told Trend on the sidelines of the EDB Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Almaty.

"We are not just supporting transport projects in Kazakhstan. This is one of the main directions of our activities. We call it a transport backbone. It involves both the North-South and the East-West corridors. Speaking of Kazakhstan, the country's broad transit opportunities must be effectively utilized.

Regarding the North-South direction, one route goes through Russia and Azerbaijan, and another through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Therefore, we believe that having multiple corridors provides alternatives in cases where issues arise on one route.

There are also corridors to the Baltic Sea through the territories of Kazakhstan and Russia and a corridor through the South Caucasus, which we have been discussing for a long time," he pointed out.

According to him, EDB believes that all these transport corridors need to be developed.

"It's because they handle huge volumes of trade with East Asia, namely China, Korea, and Japan, as well as with Western Europe. The more of this traffic we (Kazakhstan) can attract, the more both we and you (Azerbaijan) will benefit financially. In this regard, the development of the Eurasian transport backbone is one of the main strategic tasks of our bank. That's why we support and participate in such projects," Marchenko explained.

He also mentioned that the financing volume for such large projects is substantial, so various co-financing schemes are possible with development banks and international financial institutions, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

"For example, we have implemented two major projects jointly with other international financial institutions, such as the Almaty Airport and BAKAD (Big Almaty Ring Road). In general, very large projects always involve a consortium of international, regional, or national banks for project financing," he added.

To note, the EDB is an international financial organization that carries out investment activities aimed at developing economies, trade and economic relations, and integration processes in the countries of the Eurasian region.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Charter school head pleads guilty to using $265,000 in school cash to buy New Albany home

Abdirizak Farah, 59, pleaded guilty to purchasing a $900,000 home on Lambton Park Road in New Albany with funds from two Columbus charter schools he founded and is superintendent of. Photo from the Franklin County Auditor's Office.

The founder and superintendent of two Columbus charter schools pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to conspiring to commit bank fraud after using more than a quarter of a million dollars from the schools to help buy a house in New Albany.

Abdirizak Y. Farah, 59, faces a possible sentence of up to 30 years in prison for his guilty plea, according to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Columbus. Sentencing will be determined at a later date.

As part of his plea, Farah will also forfeit $265,000 to the United States, but the New Albany home is not part of the plea agreement for forfeiture.

Farah founded Focus Learning Academy of Northern Columbus (FLANC) on Dublin Granville Road in 2007, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office in Columbus. The school serves approximately 700 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. He also founded Focus Learning Academy of Central Columbus (FLACC) on Cleveland Avenue in 2020, which serves pre-kindergarten through third grade students.

Other school officials at the two charter schools could not be immediately reached for comment. Farah appears to be still listed as superintendent of both schools on the school websites.

In a statement provided to The Dispatch, Michael Hunter, the lawyer representing Farah, said that he "promptly repaid the money funding the gift letter before the purchase of the home was complete." Farah "is deeply remorseful for his conduct," Hunter said.

"Farah looks forward to putting this mistake behind him," Hunter said. "He remains committed to providing leadership, service, and support to FLANC, its students, and his community."

In August 2020, Farah purchased a $900,000 home on Lambton Park Road in New Albany, according to court documents. On Aug. 12, two days before his original closing date, Farah requested a $265,000 wire transfer from a Focus Learning bank account to another person and stated the purpose was for learning materials.

That same day, Farah submitted a letter to the bank handling his real estate closing, stating he received $260,000 in gifted funds that were unrelated to the real estate transaction, according to the release.

The next day, on Aug. 13, the person who received the wired funds in turn wired $260,000 to the title company handling the closing on the New Albany home. In the following days, several FLANC vendors made payments totaling approximately $265,000 to the person who assisted Farah, and that money was returned to FLANC.

Hunter said that "Farahs conduct in no way implicates (FLANC), and his agreement with the government to accept responsibility and resolve this matter makes clear that FLANC did nothing wrong."

Karen Wingerd, IRS special agent in charge at the Cincinnati field office, said financial cases like this can take time to unravel. She said federal tax laws are normally violated in these types of cases, which adds additional jail time to sentences.

"As we often see, the victims are not only American taxpayers, but also individuals and businesses who suffer financial harm, Wingerd said.

Dispatch reporter Shahid Meighan contributed to this report.

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

@colebehr_report

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Charter school head Farah pleads guilty to bank fraud over home buy
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Cheektowaga man was sentenced to one year in prison in connection with an animal cruelty case involving dog fighting, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

Officials said police executed a search warrant at the residence of James A. Jackson, 24, on April 13, 2022 in Cheektowaga following a tip about dog fighting. Investigators recovered evidence of dog fighting and seized three dogs found in the basement of the home, while the remains of two others were recovered in the backyard.

Jackson admitted that he trained three pit bull mixed breeds to engage in dog fighting and intentionally deprived the dogs of food and medical treatment, according to officials.

This is a horrible case involving a defendant who tortured innocent dogs and used cruel methods to train them to become dangerous animals, said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane in a release. This case highlights the tragedy of these underground, illegal activities. I want to thank the SPCA Serving Erie County for their work in this case and their efforts to rescue animals from abusive environments.

Jackson pleaded guilty in March to three counts of prohibition of animal fighting, four counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance and one count of prohibition of animal fighting, possession, sale or making of animal fight paraphernalia.

As part of the sentence, a final no animal order was issued, which prohibits Jacksom from owning or caring for any animals for the next 30 years. The charges against a co-defendant of Jacksons, who was also indicted for their alleged role in the dog fighting, were dismissed.

Jacksons one-year sentence in the animal cruelty case will be served concurrently to a determinate two-year followed by three years of post-release supervision sentence in connection with a gun charge. He pleaded guilty to a second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon charge in connection with a May 2023 incident.

Officials said Jackson was stopped by Buffalo police and proceeded to drive off when officers asked him to step out of the vehicle. Jackson then caused a collision with another vehicle and attempted to flee on foot from police, but was quickly apprehended. Police later found a loaded illegal handgun behind the drivers seat of Jacksons vehicle, which he was linked to through DNA testing.

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Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A child is in the hospital after police say he was accidentally shot Monday evening.

At 5:03 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 800 block of Pawnee Avenue.

A male victim was taken to Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital in non-critical condition. One male known to the victim has been detained.

Per Memphis Police, the preliminary information indicates that this was an accidental shooting.

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Cuba is building a new spy base near the city of Santiago de Cuba that will be capable of tracking U.S. air and maritime military movements thousands of miles away, according to a new report from a Washington research organization.

In an analysis of satellite images, The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington said it had detected the construction of the new facility intended to collect signals intelligence near a neighborhood called El Salao, east of Santiago de Cuba, the islands second-largest city. The United States operates a base in Guantanamo Bay, about 50 miles east of the city.

In a report released Tuesday, the Center said it analyzed satellite data and concluded the site has been under construction since 2021. The site is one of four signal intelligence facilities in Cuba that the report says might be the most likely locations supporting Chinas efforts to spy on the United States.

The structure appears to be a large group of antennas, called a circularly disposed antenna array or CDAA, that allows analysts to determine the origin and direction of incoming high-frequency signals. They were commonly used to spy during the Cold War.

Once operational, this CDAA will serve as a powerful tool for enhancing air and maritime domain awareness in the region, where the U.S. military and its international partners operate regularly, the report said.

Given Cubas proximity to the United States, Chinas intelligence collection in Cuba  would open a significant intelligence window inaccessible from within Chinese territory.

The center, a bipartisan think tank, also studied satellite imagery of other previously known or suspected Cuban intelligence gathering facilities in Bejucal, Watao and Calabazar, all near the capital. It noted the expansion of space-monitoring equipment at Bejucal and Calabazar even if Cuba lacks its own satellites or space program, suggesting these bases are likely monitoring U.S. satellites.

The new report, which the center called Secret Signals, does not provide conclusive evidence, likely classified, connecting the spy facilities to Chinese espionage but it follows news reported by the Wall Street Journal that Cuban and Chinese officials were discussing building a spy base and a military training facility on the island and paying billions of dollars to Cuba in exchange.

Looking at Cubas intelligence capabilities raises questions about the islands future role as U.S. adversaries continue to expand their presence in the Western Hemisphere, said Ryan Berg, the director of the Americas Program at CSIS and one of the reports authors.

Cuba is going to be an important player, he said. The biggest question is, as you have a country as poor and desperate as Cuba, willing to aid anyone who pays, how much worse could it get?

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the new site under construction and its potential links to Chinas espionage activities in the region.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington called claims about Chinas spy bases in Cuba nothing but slander.

Cuba has denied that China has its own base on the island. But Chinese spy agencies have had a presence in Cuba for several decades, at least in one of the facilities described in the report, the base in the town of Bejucal, a 45-minute drive from Havana.

Chris Simmons, a former chief of a counterintelligence research branch on the Western Hemisphere in the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, told the Herald that China has been jointly operating the base with Cuban spy agencies since 1992. It took U.S. spy agencies nine years, until 2001, to learn of the arrangement, he said.

China has increased its presence in the Western Hemisphere in recent years, and has been involved in the construction of several infrastructure projects, including ports and airports in Caribbean countries that experts fears will be exploited for military and intelligence purposes.

China has developed a costly but strategic relationship with Cuba over the years. According to unpublished research paper written by Maria Werlau, the president of the research and advocacy organization Cuba Archive, China has forgiven significant portions of Cubas debt and has provided several loans to the Cuban government that have mostly gone unpaid.

In 2019, a Chinese state-back company completed the modernization of the port of Santiago de Cuba with a Chinese government $120 million loan to Cuba.

Miami Republican representative Carlos Gimenez, who serves on the select committee on China, Armed Services and Homeland Security immediately reacted to the new report, saying he expected more Chinese and Russian presence in Cuba due to president Joe Bidens lack of leadership in the Western Hemisphere.

Last month, a Russian flotilla including a nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Havana closely tracked by U.S. warships.
The local government honored Hu as a Righteous and Courageous Role Model, and the Japanese embassy in China lowered its flag to half-mast in her memory. We believe [Ms Hu's] courage and kindness also represent that of the Chinese people. We pay tribute to her righteous deeds. May she rest in peace, the embassy wrote on Weibo.

On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed "regret" over the attack, stating that China will take effective measures to protect foreigners in the country, just as it protects its own citizens. This incident follows a recent stabbing that injured four U.S. college instructors in Chinas Jilin province on June 10. China has seen a series of knife attacks over the past year, including deadly incidents at a primary school in Jiangxi, a hospital in Yunnan and a kindergarten in Guangdong.
FILE - In a photo taken Saturday May, 2, 2009, a male Eastern Box Turtle moves across a path at Wildwood Lake Sanctuary in Harrisburg, Pa. A woman from China was arrested on June 28, 2024, at a Vermont lake bordering Quebec for trying to smuggle 29 eastern box turtles, a protected species, into Canada by kayak, according to Border Patrol agents. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

A woman from China has been arrested at a Vermont lake bordering Quebec for trying to smuggle 29 eastern box turtles, a protected species, into Canada by kayak, according to Border Patrol agents.

Wan Yee Ng was arrested on the morning of June 28 at an Airbnb in Canaan as she was about to get into an inflatable kayak with a duffle bag on Lake Wallace, according to an agent's affidavit filed in federal court. Agents had been notified by Royal Canadian Mounted Police that two other people, including a man who was believed to be her husband, had started to paddle an inflatable watercraft from the Canadian side of the lake toward the United States, according to an agent's affidavit.

The agents searched her heavy duffle bag and found 29 live eastern box turtles individually wrapped in socks, the affidavit states. Eastern box turtles are known to be sold on the Chinese black market for $1,000 each, according to the affidavit.

Ng is charged with attempting to export the turtles from the U.S., in violation of the Endangered Species Act. A federal judge on Friday ordered that she remain detained. The federal public defender's office, which is representing her, declined to comment.

Border Patrol agents first spotted Ng at the Airbnb rental in May when they noticed a vehicle with Ontario plates traveling on a Vermont road in Canaan in an area used by smugglers, they said. Lake Wallace has been used for human and narcotic smuggling, the affidavit states. The vehicle had entered the U.S. in Alburgh, Vermont, agents said.

Ng was admitted to the United States in May on a visitor visa with an intended destination of Fort Lee, New Jersey, the affidavit states. Border Patrol agents learned on June 18 that she had again entered the U.S. in Buffalo in a vehicle with a Quebec plate and was expected to arrive at the same Airbnb on Lake Wallace in Vermont on June 25, the affidavit states. They then started to surveil the property.
Chippewa Lake Park to be remembered with amusement and planned county park

A tree grows through the middle of the Ferris wheel at the old Chippewa Lake Park on April 1, 2009, in Chippewa Lake Village.

The glory days of the old Chippewa Lake Park will soon be remembered and celebrated.

The Medina County Park District and the Chippewa Lake Historical Society have entered into a 10-year agreement that will bring a museum and new trail entrance to Chippewa Lake Park.

The historical society will set up the museum in a former home at 7464 Lake Road in Lafayette Township where a trailhead will be established.

Initial plans: Medina County Park District unveils plans for former Chippewa Lake Amusement Park

The home built in 1920 is at the corner of Lake Road and Longacre Lane and is situated at the north end of the old amusement park.

It will soon be home to a small indoor museum that will be open one Saturday a month in the summer and early fall and also will have outdoor displays of relics from the old amusement park, including a ticket booth and ride cars.

Some of the items from the former Chippewa Lake Amusement Park that will be in the planned museum.

"We are beyond pleased to partner with Medina County Park District in restoring the site on the former farm of Parker Beach, a name synonymous with Chippewa Lake," said Gayle Foster, president of the historical society. "Over the past decade, we have collected photos, memorabilia, and oral histories.

"We are excited to finally have a museum to display and share our finds with the community and beyond."

Phase 1 of construction, set to begin next year, will open up public access to the former amusement park, which will become a county park.

The initial work includes parking, trails, restrooms and picnic shelters on the 95-acre property.

The new park will be a place for recreation sans the amusement rides.

The park district does plan to preserve what's left of the amusement park's Ferris Wheel as a static display.

Chippewa Lake Park owner Parker Beach (1905-1992) discusses the sale of the Medina County resort for $1.5 million in 1969. He arrived at the park as an infant and left as a senior citizen.

The Chippewa Lake Amusement Park opened in 1878 and closed in 1978.

It once featured rides, games, food booths, a hotel and a ballroom where the likes of bandleaders Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Lawrence Welk performed.

The historical society says some notable visitors to the park included Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.

It was also a popular destination for company picnics for workers from Firestone, Ohio Edison, Timken and Rubbermaid.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Transformation of old Chippewa Lake Park moving forward
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE)  The City of Las Vegas is asking residents who sustained flood damage to contact them as soon as possible. The city will start assessing the damage caused by the flood.

Lincoln County residents can apply for free debris removal after fires, flooding

Residents will need to provide their name, address, phone numbers, property account number, and a description of the damage sustained. The city said once the information is provided, someone will reach out to schedule a visual assessment. Residents can call 505-454-1410, ext. 1403 to provide the information.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  While the global LGBTQ+ Pride Month festivities came to a close with the beginning of July, San Diegos celebrations are just getting started.

On Monday, city leaders kicked off the events 50th year with a proclamation declaring July as San Diego Pride Month while honoring a group of LGBTQ+ members who have made outstanding contributions to the community and the region at large.

Welcome to the city of San Diegos official LGBTQ Pride kickoff event, Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who served as San Diego Prides executive director for several years before being elected to office, emphatically declared during his remarks on Monday.

Tragedy and triumphs: The nonprofit safeguarding San Diegos LGBTQ+ history

According to San Diego Pride, this years golden jubilee marks the anniversary of the first-ever Gay Pride Day in the city and permitted marches in support for LGBTQ+ rights in the city of San Diego, spurred by efforts by activists efforts in the wake of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.

An homage to this landmark year, the theme for the upcoming Pride festival and parade, which will be held from July 20 to 21 at Balboa Park, is Making History Now.

Tickets to the event are on sale now. According to San Diego Pride, proceeds will benefit their year-round programs and events, including their robust Pride Community Grants program that has distributed over $3.5 million to LGBTQ+ serving organizations since 1994.

Aside from declaring the official start to San Diegos Pride Month, city leaders also acknowledged this years group of Pride honorees, who will be recognized during the festivities for their outstanding contributions to the local LGBTQ+ community and wider region.

Its an honor to be recognized by many city officials, said Eric de la Torre, a patient advocate at the AIDs Healthcare Foundation and this years Mr. Pride. He added that it was extra special to be receiving the acknowledgement from the citys first openly LGBTQ+ mayor, Todd Gloria.

MORE: Pride in San Diego

I think its amazing that so many people who were here in this room really paved the way for all of us to continue being able to express and live our true authentic selves, he continued.

As they remarked on this years Pride honorees during the event, the speakers at Mondays event also touched what the decades-long history of Pride in San Diego illustrates about the fight for LGBTQ+ rights moving forward.

The fight is not over, de la Torre said. We still have to continue to fight for our rights and make sure that other generations coming after us also have the freedom to be able to express ourselves and be their true authentic selves.

FOX 5s Amber Coakley contributed to this report.

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Last weeks Supreme Court ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo overturned the courts landmark case in Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council. That latter case had established the Chevron deference, which instructed federal courts to defer to executive agencies interpretations of ambiguous statutes as long as those interpretations were reasonable.

Since the Loper Bright ruling, a viral post with more than 11 million views and 135,000 likes claims that federal agencies can no longer create public safety standards.

FEDERAL AGENCIES CAN NO LONGER CREATE STANDARDS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY BY WHICH PRIVATE COMPANIES MUST OPERATE. IF A COMPANY SAVES MONEY BY PUTTING SHRAPNEL IN YOUR DAIRY PRODUCTS NOBODY CAN STOP THEM. https://t.co/RBAkKPycon  like the park (@jurassicpatek) June 28, 2024

The post is false: Loper Bright does not prevent agencies from implementing public safety regulations.

Last weeks 6-3 decision stated that Chevron deference was incompatible with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and that the court cannot defer judgment to the administrative agencies. The Administrative Procedure Act requires courts to exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, and courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous; Chevron is overruled, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority opinion.

The ruling does not prevent agencies from interpreting statutes or implementing regulations. The Food and Drug Administration, for example, can still prohibit the inclusion of shrapnel in dairy products.

The Loper Bright decision does not deprive agencies of any regulatory powers that Congress gives them, Adam White, a legal scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and expert on the administrative state, told The Dispatch Fact Check. It only prevents the agencies from being the primary judges of their own authority. When Congress writes laws empowering agencies, the courts still have a duty to interpret those laws, even when the agencies disagree with them.

Writing for the majority, Roberts emphasized this point, explaining that Congress can still defer regulatory authority to agencies. That is not to say that Congress cannot or does not confer discretionary authority on agencies. Congress may do so, subject to constitutional limits, and it often has. But to stay out of discretionary policymaking left to the political branches, judges need only fulfill their obligations under the APA to independently identify and respect such delegations of authority, police the outer statutory boundaries of those delegations, and ensure that agencies exercise their discretion consistent with the APA, the opinion reads.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

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The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to take up a challenge to Illinoiss ban on assault weapons, though not every justice on the high court agreed with the decision to do so.

In a separate opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas appeared keen to uproot future bans, urging the court to take up another such case on the basis that some semiautomatic guns, such as the AR-15, are among the most popular weapons in the nation, thereby claiming that more guidance is needed to delineate which weapons are dangerous and unusual. He further called the Seventh Circuits decision to uphold the state ban, which stemmed from a landmark 2008 Supreme Court decision that ruled that military grade weapons such as M-16 rifles are not protected under the Second Amendment, as nonsensical.

The Seventh Circuits contrived non-militaristic limitation on the Arms protected by the Second Amendment seems unmoored from both text and history, Thomas wrote. It is difficult to see how the Seventh Circuit could have concluded that the most widely owned semiautomatic rifles are not Arms protected by the Second Amendment.

The Illinois ban was instituted after a 2022 Independence Day parade shooting in Chicagos Highland Park took the lives of seven people and injured 48 others. The law prohibits the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons, which are commonly used in mass shootings, including the AK-47 and AR-15 rifles, as well as the sale of some handguns. The ban also forbids the sale of magazines that use more than 10 rounds for long weapons, or 15 rounds for handguns, as well as rapid-fire devices known as switches that convert semiautomatic weapons into automatic machine guns.

This assault weapons ban is a step in the right direction, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said at a press conference following the laws passage. But theres no magic fix, no single law that will end gun violence once and for all. So we must keep fighting, voting, and protesting to ensure that future generations will only have to read about massacres like Highland Park, Sandy Hook, and Uvalde in their history books. Its our burden and our mandate, one that we carry with solemn honor for our children who will grow up in a better and safer world.

This is not the first time this term that Thomas has sought to dramatically expand access to deadly weapons. Last month, he joined the majority decision to overturn a federal ban on bump stocks and dissented from a ruling barring domestic abusers from owning guns.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Clarksville city councilman created quite a stir for comments he made about the LGBTQ community during Pride month. He also spoke out against what he called woke corporations.

At a public meeting, Councilman Travis Holleman compared diversity, equity and inclusion programs in corporate America to communist propaganda to prevent dissension among the people. Holleman added that the LGBTQ community is indoctrinating children.

Hundreds gather to paint Nashvilles first rainbow crosswalk

The Ward 7 councilman presented his beliefs during a presentation at the June 27 meeting. One slide said the Prince of Pride is Satan.

He also claimed that the LGBTQ community is dedicated to sex and that the community pushed an agenda on every corner of life, including on children and within the city of Clarksville.

The applications for boards or city appointments. This is on the city website. If you look at it, at the back of it, it says diversity information, Holleman said. One of the things that you need to check off is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Clarksville cares who you sleep with or if you are addicted to cross dressing. This is pretty ridiculous. Im holding evidence in my hand. Its right there.

Councilwoman Karen Reynolds has a sister and son who are in the LGBTQ community. She told News 2 that she is very upset about Hollemans comments.

I am going to be very careful and try to hold my fury at this absolute just slate of hate that we were just forced to sit through, Reynolds said. I want to say, as a mother and a sister, everything you said was against every ounce of my family value of unconditional love.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Our society is sick, mentally and spiritually. The goal of the presentation is to wake people up, spread awareness and protect Clarksvilles children. We must come together and overcome the madness that is infecting our society and threatening our children. Statement from Holleman on his presentation

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Presidential candidate Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, center, takes part in a rally among his supporters, ahead of the presidential election end of the month, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mamsy Elkeihel)

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP (AP)  Clashes in Mauritania between security forces and protesters rallying against the reelection of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani left three people dead, authorities said Tuesday. An unspecified number of people were reported injured.

Following the clashes, mobile internet access was blocked Tuesday as authorities vowed to arrest those behind the violence.

The protests broke out late Monday in parts of the northwestern African country after Ghazouani was declared winner of the presidential election.

His main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, a renowned anti-slavery activist, rejected the outcome and claimed the result was falsified.

Authorities said security forces in the southern city of Kaedi  the country's largest and an opposition stronghold with an overwhelming Black majority  confronted the demonstrators, the Ministry of Interior said, and several arrests were made. The ministry did not identify the three people killed in the violence or elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths.

Demonstrations also broke out in the towns of Nouadhibou, Rosso Zoueirat and Boghe, all also Abeid strongholds.

Kaedi last night saw violent acts of vandalism and sabotage of public and private property, scenes of looting and a general climate of fear which led the security forces to confront it and arrest several demonstrators, the ministry said in a statement.

The prosecutors office will open an investigation to determine the circumstances of these events and the death of the demonstrators, the ministry added.

Ghazouani, who had campaigned on a pledge of providing security and economic growth, won 56% of the votes while Abeid received 22%, the electoral commission said Monday. Abeid promptly called for peaceful demonstrations and peaceful gatherings.

The commission  which includes representatives of political parties  dismissed the opposition claims about voting irregularities.

Three international election observation missions also said in their preliminary statements Monday that the voting was held in a peaceful and transparent atmosphere.

Ghazouani has been accused by his opponents of corruption and mismanagement, but remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability amid regional tensions, with several neighboring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence.

For centuries, Mauritanias economic and political elite of Arab and Amazigh people enslaved Black people from the northwestern Sahara.

Mauritania outlawed slavery in 1981, the last country in the world to do so, but the practice continues, human rights groups say. There are around 149,000 people held in conditions of slavery in this nation of less than 5 million, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police on Tuesday said a Pineville police sergeants fatal shooting of Dennis Bodden in May was justified and that they would not bring any charges.

Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather concurred with the decision, but issued a letter raising concerns about the facts around the shooting.

Dennis Boddens mother has said she believes her son was in a mental health crisis on May 14 when someone reported to Pineville police that he was taking items from a Food Lion in Johnston Road Plaza near his apartment.

Pineville Sgt. Adam Roberts first confronted Bodden outside the store, but the shooting happened across the city line in Charlotte.

The name of the sergeant who shot Bodden was not released until Tuesday, when Merriweathers June 14 letter to CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings identified Roberts.

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, a Pineville Police Department sworn employee perceived an imminent deadly threat and fired their service weapon striking a shoplifting suspect, Dennis Bodden, 46, a brief news release from CMPD said Tuesday.

Roberts also shot and injured a man in Pineville in 2020.

Boddens mother, Cleopatra Bodden, told the Observer on Tuesday that she was upset by the decision to not charge Roberts.

From the beginning I did not think that I would get a fair trial, and I did not, she said. They say they were independent. I dont think theyre independent. They are all from Mecklenburg County.

She confirmed the family has hired a lawyer, and that she met with the district attorneys office Tuesday morning to watch the police body camera footage from May 14.

What happened?

Merriweathers letter to Jennings gives new details about what led up to Boddens death.

Bodden, who was bipolar and schizophrenic, had been struggling for years, the letter says.

Tragically, Mr. Boddens mental health reportedly began to deteriorate during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that condition may very well have contributed to the events that ultimately led to his death, it says.

Roberts was off duty but in uniform working at another shopping center when he heard a call from dispatch about Bodden stealing from the Food Lion. It had happened before, according to court records. Bodden took $12 worth of drinks from that Food Lion in April, an affidavit says.

Bodden, with a hooded rain jacket on and headphones covering his ears, walked toward Johnston Road, with Roberts following him into Charlotte. Along the way Roberts tackled him in the median of a road and Tased him twice, and Bodden bit the sergeants arm.

Bodden was unarmed.

At Cedar Point Lane in Charlotte, Officer Randall Down showed up to provide backup.

You aint getting away, bro, Roberts told Bodden, pushing his shoulder.

The two pushed each other and momentarily tussled before Bodden charged toward Down, who tried but failed to Tase him. Bodden grabbed and pulled Downs radio, and Roberts pulled out his gun, according to Merriweathers letter.

Bodden went back to Roberts and appeared to reach for the gun, it says.Get him! Get him! Down said.

Roberts fired three shots and hit him, and Down again screamed, Get him!

Bodden fell to the ground and they handcuffed him.

I didnt want him to hit you, get you. Hes already bit me real bad, Roberts told Down.

Merriweather concluded that, aside from the full engagement, Bodden was either reaching for the sergeants gun or a reasonable police officer could conclude that. Were he to prosecute Roberts, the prosecutor wrote, his office would be unable to disprove that Bodden was attempting to disarm him.

Accordingly, there is no liklihood that a unanimous jury would find beyond a reasonable doubt that the use of deadly force by Sergeant Adam Roberts constituted a violation of criminal law.

DA has concerns

While the appropriateness of Sergeant Roberts tactics may be ripe for other authorities to evaluate, such questions exceed the purview of the District Attorney, as a matter of criminal law, and are beyond the scope of this consultation, Merriweather wrote.

But the district attorney still pointed out some concerns and discrepancies:

He noted that Roberts told dispatch that Bodden has already tried to push off on me even though body camera footage up to that point showed no substantial contact between them.

In response, Pineville Police Chief Michael Hudgins said in an email to the Observer that Roberts body camera does not capture every scene or experience that is seen or felt by the officer.

Pineville police also allowed Down to watch not only his body camera footage from the shooting, but also Roberts before questioning  despite CMPD and Merriweather both asking Pineville to keep officers away from the footage before they were interviewed by CMPD investigators.

I relayed my own concerns to PPD and discouraged allowing the officers to view the body-worn camera prior to their interviews, Merriweather wrote. PPD maintained that it intended to allow the officers to view their body-worn camera footage, as the agency believed that to be consistent with best practices for law enforcement agencies in officer-involved shooting investigations.

Hudgins told the Observer that the decision to offer both his officers at the scene a chance to review video before being interviewed was a tough one and that the issue is unsettled in policing. He cited a 2022 article by a lawyer who represents police who said allowing them to view video was appropriate because investigators could benefit from the memory-enhancing effects of video viewing by officers who used force.

And Merriweather questioned why Pineville police said in a news release, which they provided to CMPD, that Bodden put his hand into his coat pocket.

The shooting did not occur for quite some time after this, and Sergeant Roberts did not cite this reach as the reason for any of his subsequent actions, Merriweather said.

Its unclear if that news release reached any news outlets.

Corine Mack, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP, said she had a deep concern over Merriweathers decision to not investigate further or bring charges against the sergeant.

The Black community cant allow for our young men to be killed without someone being held accountable, Mack said.

She said she also wanted to know about the disciplinary record of Roberts or whether a mental health crisis team could have been called to the scene. Pineville police have declined to release his disciplinary record to the Observer.

I cant believe that law enforcement thinks its okay to shoot someone whos unarmed, Mack said. You have several officers on the scene, and youre telling me that you think its okay to shoot someone and take their life. Whos unarmed. Are you that threatened by Black skin? Really?

Mother is just existing, she says

Cleopatra Bodden said the police knew her son struggled with schizophrenia, and that he wasnt acting rationally on May 14, but didnt take that into consideration when confronting him, or in the investigation into the responding sergeants actions after.

They knew by his reaction  that he was not reacting like any rational person, Cleopatra Bodden said. If you tell someone to stop  and theyre not reacting, you should know that there is something else going on  that that person is not stable. And they didnt take that into consideration.

Cleopatra Bodden in New York with her son, Dennis Bodden, who died last month at age 46 when a police sergeant in Pineville, NC fatally shot him.

Instead, she said, the sergeant followed her son after he tried to get away, shot him, handcuffed him, and treated him like he was an animal. And now, she said, part of her life is gone.

Im just existing, Cleopatra said. They took my life and its just like nothing to them.

Bodden was a Rutgers University and Cardozo School of Law graduate, the district attorneys letter says. He had also worked as a senior attorney at New Yorks Mental Hygiene Legal Service Agency from 2014 to 2019, representing people who suffered mental illness, WFAE previously reported.

Drew Farrar, a friend of Boddens who previously spoke with the Observer, said he volunteered with a suicide prevention hotline.

In a previous interview with the Observer, Dennis Boddens aunt, Julia Bodden, and his mother said he would hear voices if he didnt take his medication.

More than once Bodden had gone into the Food Lion thinking it was his home and the items were free for him to take because the voices would tell him they used to belong to his father, and now belonged to him, Julia Bodden said.

No Pineville police video of the shooting has been released to the public.

The Charlotte Observer has filed a petition in Mecklenburg Superior Court asking a judge to order release. A hearing for that petition is scheduled for later this month. Separately, Cleopatra Bodden also has filed a petition in court.

2020 SHOOTING INVOLVING SAME SERGEANT

The Pineville Police Department was sued in 2021 by Timothy Caraway after he had been shot at 12 times by Roberts and Officer Jamon Griffin.

Police approached Caraway on North Polk Street in February of 2020 after they received a 911 call that a Black man with long dreadlocks and a tan jacket was pointing a gun while walking on the street.

Video from Roberts camera shows the officer walking up behind Caraway as other officers flank him. Caraway briefly comes into view either kneeling on the ground or close to it. Caraway then reached into his pocket, and Roberts and Griffin began shooting. Caraway said that he was complying with officers orders to put down his gun.

And his attorney, Micheal Littlejohn of Charlotte, said at the time that his client found himself trapped in a deadly game of Simon Says in which the police officers rushed up behind him, gave him multiple and conflicting commands, then opened fire within seconds and kept shooting until one of their colleagues shouted at them to stop.

The lawsuit was later thrown out by U.S. District Court Judge Frank Whitney, who wrote that Caraway had posed a reasonably lethal threat to the officers and the public. Caraway appealed, and oral argument was held in December before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Following the shooting of Dennis Bodden, Roberts remains on paid administrative leave, the Pineville chief said Tuesday.
Uptown July 4th violence prevention to include juvenile home visits

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Last year on the Fourth of July, the scene at Romare Bearden Park was remembered for the wrong reasons.

People hid in parking garages during the July Sky Show across the street at Truist Field after police say teens set off illegal fireworks, started fights and ran through the crowd with masks on to create panic.

This year, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has joined a collaborative effort with Center City Partners, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, the District Attorneys Office and others to curb crime in Uptown and improve visitors perception of the city.

PREVIOUS: CMPD addresses Uptown safety measures ahead of July 4th

Were going to go to their homes, said CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings. These are the kids who caused problems during last years event, and these are the kids who caused problems during New Years Eve. We are visiting their guardians, so they can clearly understand the consequences associated with their actions.

Its a proactive approach CMPD has been working on in recent years to curb juvenile crime. Officers have conducted more than 100 home visits so far this year. Some parents express the desire to do better, others not so much.

There are some that are not so receptive, Jennings said, but we have to continue to make those efforts and do that job.

Jennings says its a sad reality where juveniles are committing crimes like they havent seen before.

So far this year, 12 juveniles locally have been charged with murder, and eight have been killed. Parents or guardians have been charged, like from the New Years Eve shooting, but some of those charges have been dropped.

The role of a prosecutor is to make sure that all evidence is considered, said District Attorney Spencer Merriweather. If we can meet our elements then thats a case that well proceed on. If we cant, then we wont. What you heard today is that there will be even more coordination with our law enforcement partners to make sure that we have the best cases as possible.

CATS says $20M from county for transportation center not guaranteed; county surprised at figure

The visitors association will establish a safety information coordinator whose job is to track incidents and identify trends and repeat offenders. The DAs office pledged to engage more with area businesses to devote more of an effort to combating homelessness, and address security challenges in uptown.

All of this is under the umbrella of Center City Partners with the purpose of improving visitors perception of Charlotte.

Ensuring that Uptown Charlotte is perceived as safe is essential for maintaining economic vitality in our city, said CRVA CEO Steve Bagwell.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Three-quarters of U.S. voters say the Democratic Party will have a better chance of winning Novembers election if President Joe Biden isnt the nominee, a new CNN poll suggests. Even so, the head-to-head numbers have not budged since CNN's last national poll in April, with Trump still beating Biden by 49% to 43%"

Amid calls for Bidens withdrawal following his weak debate performance on Thursday, the poll shows 56% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters said the party has a better chance of winning the election with a candidate other than Biden, a 3 point increase since January, CNN reported.

Pundits, voters and several Democratic lawmakers have shared their concerns over Bidens health after the debate on Thursday. On Tuesday, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, became the first Democratic lawmaker to publicly call on Biden to drop out of the race.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the most likely candidate to replace the president, fares better than Biden in a theoretical race against Trump, with 47% of voters favoring Trump and 45% favoring Harris, which is within the poll's margin of effor.

Despite this, Harris still scores just a 29% favorability rating among all U.S. voters, with 49% rating her unfavorably. By comparison, 58% of viewers of voters viewed Biden unfavorably.

Some of the other candidates who have been suggested as replacements for Biden, such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are relatively unheard of, according to the survey, with 50% and 48% of respondents, respectively, saying they have no opinion on either candidate.

Meanwhile, Trumps approval rating among Republican voters has increased by 11 points since April, with 83% saying the party has a shot to win the election with him as the Republican candidate, compared to just 72% in January.


WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  The search is on for three suspects wanted for an armed robbery and deadly shooting at a popular marina in Wilson County.

Investigators with the Wilson County Sheriffs Office said it appeared that a cold-blooded murder unfolded in the parking lot of the Cedar Creek Marina and Restaurant off Saundersville Road around midnight on Saturday morning.

PREVIOUS: Innocent bystander killed after armed robbery at Mt. Juliet restaurant, police say

Deputies were called to investigate shots fired when they found a 27-year-old man shot in his car in the parking lot. They soon determined that the shooting followed an armed robbery at the marinas restaurant. Captain Scott Moore, who serves as the Public Information Officer for the Wilson County Sheriffs Office, spoke with News 2.

It was cold blooded. You have suspects who assaulted a couple of employees inside the restaurant who [were] fleeing to their vehicle and someone who was innocently there get murdered, Moore said. I couldnt imagine what the family is going through.

The owner of the restaurant said they were closing up for the night and employees were counting money in an office when the hooded robbers got in and pistol whipped two of the employees before making off with the cash. The employees were treated and released at the scene.

The restaurant owner added that his heart goes out to everyone involved, especially the innocent bystander. That bystander appeared to be a boater. At the request of the family, Moore said that they are not yet releasing the name of the victim.

Boaters call armed robbery, deadly shooting at Mt. Juliet marina unusual

Its very possible he could have been there fishing or getting ready to or something like that but ya know innocent in the parking lot and ends up getting shot and its a very senseless act of malice, Moore stated.

Mt. Juliet Police are working the restaurant robbery, while the Wilson County Sheriffs Office has jurisdiction over the parking lot where the shooting occurred. Moore said that the two agencies are working diligently together along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Its something that we are going to be working around the clock on to try to get to very quick, Moore said. You dont want to be so fast to where you leave something out or something like that. You want to systematically work together and cover everything thats related to the incident that occurred, he explained.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Moore added that they hope to release more information on the suspects soon.

Anyone who may have seen a vehicle speeding down Saundersville Road around midnight Saturday morning has been asked to contact the Wilson County Sheriffs Office or Crime Stoppers as they continue working to gather surveillance footage in the area.

You can submit tips through the Wilson County Sheriffs Office website and remain anonymous.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
An election worker sorts ballots at the Weld County Elections office in Greeley on June 25, 2024. (Andrew Fraieli/Colorado Newsline)

Last weeks primary election in Colorado saw the lowest voter turnout for that type of election since 2016, unofficial results from the secretary of states office show.

As of June 30, five days after the election, the office had recorded a bit over 1 million returned ballots. That accounts for about 26% of active registered voters in the state.

Turnout was about 32% in 2022, 45% in 2020, 35% in 2018 and 21% in 2016.

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Despite it being a presidential election year, many voters in the state only saw one contested statewide seat on their ballot. That was for the Democratic race for a seat on the University of Colorado Board of Regents. Depending on where they live, a voter might not have seen any contested primaries for statehouse seats or local county races.

There were intense primaries, however, in some of the congressional races including the Republican contests in the 3rd, 4th and 5th Congressional Districts.

There were about 20,000 more Democratic primary ballots returned than Republican ballots. Unaffiliated voters, who can decide which partys primary to vote in, were more likely to return a Democratic ballot. Unaffiliated voters made up about 36% of the total turnout.

Female voters returned more Democratic ballots than Republican ones, while the opposite was true for male voters.

The largest ballot returns was among voters aged 65 and older, as is typical.

New Era Colorado, a youth organizing nonprofit, touted its efforts through a new independent expenditure committee called Young People for All People, which targeted young voters in three state legislative districts  House District 4, House District 52 and Senate District 19. Of the voters aged 18 to 34 the committee contacted, 25% turned out to vote, the organization said in a press release. That is compared to an 8% turnout rate for the same age group statewide.

A theme throughout our conversations with young voters (and made clear through statewide turnout results) is that (young people) feel like mainstream politicians only pretend to care about our issues during an election cycle, the system is rigged for those with the biggest budgets, and their vote doesnt matter. But our votes and our work do make a difference, Christina Soliz, New Eras deputy director, said in a statement.

Overall voter turnout was slightly better in the 4th Congressional District, where voters chose a replacement for former Rep. Ken Buck and nominees for both parties. That district, which includes Douglas County and the Eastern Plains, saw a turnout of slightly more than 33%.

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Second only to the Supreme Courts ruling Monday on when presidents are immune from criminal prosecution, the biggest case of the courts recently completed session involved the age-old conflict between judges and government regulators.

The case concerned a 40-year-old precedent known as Chevron deference. That doctrine held that when a federal law is ambiguous, the courts must defer to the interpretations offered by the agencies the law covers  as long as those interpretations are reasonable. On Monday, the court discarded Chevron deference.

This may sound like an abstruse legalistic squabble, but it has massive implications for Americans in all walks of life. It could subject agency decisions on scientifically based issues such as clean air and water regulations and healthcare standards to endless nitpicking by a federal judiciary that already has displayed an alarming willingness to dismiss scientific expertise out of hand, in favor of partisan or religious ideologies.

In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-laden.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan

The ruling amounts to an apogee of arrogance on the part of the Supreme Court's conservative majority, wrote Justice Elena Kagan in a dissent joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. But it's not a new development.

"The Court has substituted its own judgment on workplace health for that of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration," Kagan wrote; "its own judgment on climate change for that of the Environmental Protection Agency; and its own judgment on student loans for that of the Department of Education.... In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issue  no matter how expertise-driven or policy-laden."

Chevron deference originated in 1984, when environmentalists were fighting an effort by the EPA under Ronald Reagan to loosen clean air rules at the behest of industrial polluters. As it happens, the environmentalists lost that battle, but over time they won the war against deregulation.

Conservatives have had it in for the Chevron doctrine



for a long time; given their current majority on the court, the doctrine's death has been a foregone conclusion, awaiting only the appearance of a suitable case to use as a bludgeon. Indeed, the majority was so impatient to kill the doctrine that the court's six conservatives chose to do so by using a case that actually is moot.

That case arose from a lawsuit brought by the herring industry, which objected to a government policy requiring herring boats to pay for government observers placed on board to make sure the boats were complying with their harvesting permits.

Read more: Column: Are Republicans who got pandemic debt relief hypocrites for complaining about student debt relief? Yes

The rule was imposed under the Trump administration, but it was canceled in April 2023 by Biden, who repaid the money that had been taken from the boat owners  so there's nothing left in it for the court to rule on.

Interestingly, Chevron deference was not always seen as a bulwark protecting progressive regulatory policies from right-wing judges, as its viewed today. At its inception, it was seen in exactly the opposite way  as giving conservative policies protection from progressive-minded judges.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, which brought the original case in an effort to preserve Clean Air Act regulations that were being overturned by the Reagan administration, counted the 1984 ruling as a severe loss.

At issue then was the definition of a pollution source. Past practice defined it as a single building or smokestack; the administration wanted to redefine "source" broadly, as referring to an entire pollution-emitting plant. This wasnt a trivial difference. The NRDC's interpretation was more stringent than the governments, for the latter allowed a polluter essentially to hide law-breaking emissions within an otherwise non-polluting plant.

The original Chevron ruling was 6 to 0 (three justices didn't participate  two because of illness and the third, Sandra Day O'Connor, recused herself because of a conflict of interest). The ruling stated that when a federal law was ambiguous or silent on a particular issue, judges were bound to defer to the interpretation offered by the agency covered by the law, as long as its interpretation was "reasonable."

One other thing: The functionary pushing to give industry more freedom to pollute was Reagans Environmental Protection Agency administrator, the late Anne Gorsuch. Name sound familiar? Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, who is her son, lined up with the anti-Chevron majority. Curiously, he didnt mention his family history in his separate concurrence  or perhaps not so curiously, because his mother was on the winning side of the decision that he has now voted to overturn.

In any event, Gorsuchs words about the case in which his mother triumphed were telling. Today, he concluded gleefully, the Court places a tombstone on Chevron no one can miss.

Read more: Column: Courts finally move to end right-wing judge shopping, but the damage may already be done

The truth is that the Chevron ruling of 1984 and Monday's ruling both served a goal shared by Anne Gorsuch and her offspring: providing federal judges all the leeway they might need to see things the way Big Business prefers.

Forty years ago, when the Reagan White House was pulling down a regulatory edifice that industry resented, the Supreme Court was happy to have judges defer to the agencies participating in that project, including Anne Gorsuchs EPA. Today, when the deregulatory process is opposed by government agencies that take seriously their duty to make life better for the average consumer, the court tells judges that theyre free to ignore agency findings.

In his majority opinion, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. called Chevron "misguided because agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do."

This is self-refuting. Chevron deference isn't about "resolving ambiguities" in the law. It's about recognizing that sometimes those ambiguities are deliberate  put in place by lawmakers who know they can't possibly write a law that covers all situations from now to the end of time. The "ambiguities" are there because Congress wishes that the agencies it has charged with fulfilling its goals use their technical and scientific knowledge to meet the challenges of a changing world.

Things have indeed changed. Generally speaking, wrote legal scholar Cass R. Sunstein in 2019, environmentalists and other progressives saw the original decision as a capitulation to the (insufficiently zealous) administrative state, which was often captured by powerful private interests. Today, the right wing portrays the "administrative state as a shadowy cabal bent on thwarting the will of the people (that is, conservative policies). The right and the left have switched sides, Sunstein observed.

Chevron deference was very much a product of its time, Sunstein noted. In the 1960s and 1970s, federal courts had been aggressively reviewing agency action (and inaction), often with the goal of producing greater regulation. Typically, the judges were on the political left.

They had grown up professionally in the atmosphere created by the Warren court, which fostered the notion that the courts existed to protect and extend individual rights. To their defenders, Sunstein wrote, the lower federal courts assumed a kind of heroic stance.

This was the era that brought us an unprecedented, judicially driven expansion of individual rights, through such decisions as Griswold vs. Connecticut (1965), which established the right of married couples to use contraceptives without state interference; Loving vs. Virginia (1967), which invalidated laws against interracial marriage; and of course Roe vs. Wade (1973), which established the nationwide right to abortion.

The current conservative majority has already begun to roll back this historic approach to individual rights, most notably through the Dobbs decision of 2022, which overturned Roe vs. Wade.

Read more: Column: Clarence Thomas and the bottomless self-pity of the upper classes

Justice Clarence Thomas has suggested that Griswold should follow Roe vs. Wade into the juridical dumpster, along with Lawrence vs. Hodges (2003), which invalidated state laws against sodomy among consenting adults, and Obergefell vs. Hodges (2005), which legalized same-sex marriages nationwide. The court, Thomas remarked in his concurring opinion in Dobbs, should reconsider those rulings.

Those cases were decided on different grounds from Chevron, but liberal judges saw the expansion of individual rights as part of the same principle that prompted them to aggressively examine agency actions that tended to narrow those rights.

As it happens, the Chevron decision didnt generate much interest when it was handed down. The six justices who ruled unanimously in the EPAs favor apparently thought they were weighing in on a narrow technicality. One legal scholar has called Chevron an accidental landmark; its significance only emerged from subsequent federal rulings and, perhaps most important, its embrace by Justice Antonin Scalia, who joined the Supreme Court two years later.

Scalia wrote in a 1989 law review article that Chevron deference made sense in the modern world: If there was an ambiguity in the law, the reason was either that Congress was sloppy (in which case the courts had the duty to say what a law meant) or that the lawmakers deliberately delegated to agencies the task of responding to changing realities by using their advancing knowledge. Over time, to be sure, he grew discontented with the doctrine (as Roberts and Gorsuch took pains to point out.)

Monday's decision puts the lie to conservatives' oft-expressed disdain for policies made by "unelected" bureaucrats. "Agencies report to a President, who in turn answers to the public for his policy calls; courts have no such accountability," Kagan wrote. Calling the decision "a bald assertion of judicial authority, she added: "The majority disdains restraint, and grasps for power."

That's not to say that the majority won't share the power they have now arrogated for themselves. They will walk hand-in-hand with the Big Business leaders and conservative ideologues who put them on the court, and the rest of us will just have to live with the consequences.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Donald Trump's election denialism has infected even local politics. The Board of Supervisors in rural Cochise County refused to certify Kari Lake's loss in the Arizona governor's race until a judge stepped in. (LM Otero / Associated Press)

For several weeks, Joy Banks felt as though she  or at least her rights as a voter and citizen in good standing  were being held hostage.

Republican Kari Lake lost Arizona's 2022 gubernatorial election fair and square. But the Board of Supervisors in rural Cochise County refused to certify the result, embracing an underhanded, undemocratic strategy  if you don't like the outcome of an election, simply ignore it  that has become a central tenet of the MAGAfied Republican Party.

"They had my vote. They had 40,000 votes and they were just hanging on to them," said Banks, who co-owns a family-run electrical contracting business in tiny Huachuca City. "I've never felt so hopeless about my government."

The board eventually backed down, under a judge's order. The two GOP members who voted against certification have been indicted on state felony charges.

But Banks was so unsettled she decided to run for an open seat on the three-member board. She's one of many candidates across the country campaigning for office to counter election denialism and political chicanery at the local level  an effort that has grown all the more critical after President Biden's disastrous debate performance.

As a Democrat, the 70-year-old Banks is a considerable underdog in Cochise County, a deeply conservative pocket of southeastern Arizona. But she said it's important to take a stand against the bad faith that's eroding trust in our elections and threatening the very foundation of the country.

"The battle," she said, "is right here."

Read more: Column: Kari Lake is a deceitful fraud. Now she'll have to defend her lies in court

Donald Trump is, of course, promoter-in-chief of the false notion the 2020 election  deemed the most secure in American history" by independent experts  was wrongly and fraudulently decided. In last week's debate, the former president again refused to pledge, without qualification, that he would accept the result if he loses in November.

Alarmingly, Trump's Big Lie has spread over the past 3 years like a poison coursing through the nation's bloodstream.

Public Wise, a left-of-center voting rights and research organization, counts nearly 350 elected officials in seven battleground states who have undermined or cast doubts on election integrity. (The organization focused its research on Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which are seen as critical in the fight for the White House, control of Congress, or both.)

Those dubious ranks include nearly 200 state representatives, 78 state senators, 76 officials at the county and local levels, and four in statewide positions. Many are seeking reelection in November.

"We really believe that democracy is at stake this year, and in general," said Lauren Gepford, head of Contest Every Race, a Democratic organization that seeks to do just that: field a candidate for every competitive office, however long their odds of winning.

"We want to get more people on the ballot that look like their communities and will bring the narrative back to one that's more about how we all get along in our communities and do the best for America and our cities and towns, rather than disinformation and the vitriol that the country has really gone toward," Gepford said.

Her organization has recruited more than 7,000 candidates since its founding in 2018. Nearly 100 are running this year to challenge election deniers, or to stand up for election integrity in several of the aforementioned battleground states.

One of them is Lucas Reinke, a 39-year-old warehouse worker who was elected in April to the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors in Wisconsin, perhaps the most competitive state in the country.

"I just want to make sure everyone in the county has the ability to vote for the candidate they think can do the best job and do so without fear of intimidation or retribution," Reinke said. "And to make sure it's easy for them to do that."

Gepford's group is pursuing a vital mission. No candidate  in the bluest bastion of California or reddest redoubt of Alabama  should run without competition, even if it's ultimately futile. Accountability matters. So, too, does giving a voice to voters, even if they're outnumbered.

"The philosophy here is that extremism thrives and builds and grows when we don't put up a fight and when we allow ourselves to have a really unrepresentative democracy," Gepford said.

Read more: Column: Biden bumbles, Trump lies and we all lose

It's particularly important to take on those bad actors who, through cynicism, willful ignorance or a combination of both, have laid siege to our election system.

Especially at a time when President Biden's reelection chances look increasingly shaky and a pliant U.S. Supreme Court has shown its willingness to extend a get-out-of-jail-free card to Trump for his attempt to steal the 2020 election.

Two years ago, a number of high-profile election deniers lost contests across the country. Arizona sent a whole slate down to defeat, including Lake and candidates for U.S. Senate, attorney general and state elections chief.

It was rightly celebrated as a significant victory for democracy and the sanctity of free and fair elections.

But it was just one skirmish in a continuing fight. If Trump and his allies prevail in November, seizing not just the White House but complete control of Congress, we'll need principled local leaders to stand up against the forces of MAGA malevolence.

They may be the last thin line of defense.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Community raising money for family of GA firefighter found dead with ex-girlfriend in Tennessee

The family of a Georgia firefighter found dead in Tennessee is now raising money for his funeral.

Chandler Kuhbander, 24, and Raegan Anderson, of Hinesville, vanished last week. Their bodies were found in Cocke County, Tennessee, with Andersons car on Sunday morning. Police did not release their causes of death or the circumstances leading up to their deaths.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to WJCL, the firefighters were high school sweethearts but had since broken up.

Last month, Anderson confronted Kuhbander while he was on a date, leading to a confrontation in which Anderson keyed Kuhbanders car, WJCL reported. She was charged with criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

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Kuhbanders mother told WJCL that her son told her Anderson continued to contact him after the fight and at one point, threatened suicide.

The GoFundMe set up for Kuhbanders family reads:

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Chandler Kuhbander was sadly and unexpectedly taken from his family and the life he loved. Please support the family as they need time to grieve, figure out a new normal and heal.

The GoFundMe has raised more than $5,000. You can contribute HERE.








HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  After damaging storms, the community of Henderson County is rallying together to raise money for storm victims this 4th of July weekend.

Pray for no more rain: Lake Palestine boat owners concerned about boats drifting away

The storm in may, left behind scattered debris, damaged buildings and destroyed boats and RVs in Lake Palestine. The cleanup process has been ongoing.

Weve had more help, said worker and resident at Lake Palestine resort, Ron Hunley. People have show up just out of the blue to help do everything

To help this rebuilding process, community members are taking recovery into their own hands by hosting several fundraisers.

This week weve got exciting things going on, we are teaming up with Bella Vista on Thursday the 4th to have a big firework show and beach party there so wed love to have everybody out, said Lake Palestine Resort Owner, Micah Wolfe.

The firework shows and beach party are benefitting the tornado relief fund. Tickets can be found on the Facebook and the webpage of Bella Vista. Lake Palestine Resort is partnering with this event and also holding their own raffle.

Lake Palestine tornado cleanup continues on Memorial Day

Weve got a lot of damage that were still cleaning up. said Wolfe. Some tree crews are cleaning up right now. So, weve still got along ways to go on that.

FEMA set up a disaster recovery center near the area and many have received help.

To date weve had about 114 people come though the disaster recovery center in Henderson County. said FEMA media relationship specialist, Nikki Gaskins Campbell. That number will rise likely as we see more people walk in the door.

Recovery efforts may be slow going but residents are in high spirits.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
MORONI (Reuters) - Comoros President Azali Assoumani has put his son, Nour El Fath, in charge of coordinating government affairs as he reshuffled his cabinet following a tense January election that his opponents alleged was tainted by voter fraud.

One person was killed and at least 25 injured in violent protests in the country, a group of three islands off the coast of Mozambique, after the election body declared Assoumani re-elected to his fourth five-year term.

Political analysts, opposition leaders and local media said Assoumani appeared to be preparing El Fath, a 40-year-old with a background in finance and who has worked as senior economic adviser to the president since 2019, to replace him.

Assoumani announced his cabinet late on Monday. He made Ibrahim Mohamed Abdou Razakou finance minister, Said Omar Houmadi justice minister, and reappointed Youssoufa Mohamed Ali as defence minister.

Mohamed Jaffar Abbas, the head of the coalition of opposition parties, said it was clear Assoumani was "trying to build a dynasty".

"(Assoumani) speaks of renewal, but let's not forget that before his son, it was his nephew who occupied the same position of secretary general of the government," he said.

Comoros, with a population of about 800,000, has experienced around 20 coups or attempted coups since winning independence from France in 1975 and is a major source of irregular migration to the nearby French island of Mayotte.

Constitutional reforms in 2018 extended a requirement that the presidency rotate among the three main islands of Comoros from every five years to 10.

El Fath would therefore not be eligible to replace his father at the end of the presidential term in 2029 unless the constitution were changed again.

(Reporting by Abdou Moustoifa; Editing by Hereward Holland and Barbara Lewis)
In 2020, Maryam Hassanein cast a ballot for Joe Biden in the first presidential election she was old enough to vote in because she felt he represented hope and a chance of justice for Muslim Americans and for marginalized communities as a whole. On Tuesday, Hassanein became the latest member of the Biden administration to publicly quit over the presidents policy in the Gaza war  and the youngest known resignee so far, at 24.

I came to understand that even if the agency Im working at is not producing foreign policy, serving in the administration in any capacity does essentially make you complicit in the genocide of the Palestinians, Hassanein told HuffPost of her resignation from the Interior Department, which has not previously been publicly reported. She worked as a special assistant to the assistant secretary for land and minerals management.

She described quitting as a way to leverage privilege to make a statement against Bidens support for Israels military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has killed close to 38,000 people, displaced the vast majority of Gazas residents and plunged the region into a humanitarian crisis.

Hassanein joins a group of at least 11 resignees across the government who felt Bidens approach made it impossible for them to continue serving under him. Many of them worked in national security positions, including veteran former State Department official Josh Paul, who was the first to quit in a development HuffPost first reported. Frustration with the moral and strategic toll of Bidens support for the Israeli offensive has been significant across government agencies, sources have told HuffPost, with some saying it has reached heights only comparable to outrage among U.S. officials over the decision to invade Iraq in 2003. Government officials have organized several protests and signed internal and public expressions of dissent.

Hassanein was one of hundreds of political appointees in the administration, which has put a major emphasis on diversity in its ranks. A Muslim American, she is the third known appointee to quit over Gaza following Lily Greenberg Call, a Jewish American appointee also formerly of the Interior Department, and Tariq Habash, a Palestinian American who worked at the Department of Education.

Marginalized communities in our country have long been denied the justice they deserve. I joined the Biden-Harris administration with the belief that my voice and diverse perspective would lend a hand in the pursuit of that justice, Hassanein argued in a statement about her resignation. Through their policy choices and dehumanization of Arabs and Muslims, it has become clear to me that I do not have a place in this administration.

Spokespeople for the White House and the Interior Department did not respond to requests for comment.

Speaking with HuffPost, Hassanein described experiencing a growing sense of disillusionment with Biden as he persisted with his policy of near-total support for Israels retaliatory war following the Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

During the last election, she worked to build support for the then-Democratic presidential candidate among her family, not one that votes every single election, and her friends in Arizona  a state that was essential to Biden winning the presidency.

I was very, very passionate, Hassanein said, citing the experience of living through the openly anti-Muslim Donald Trump presidency.

She was working for Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) on Capitol Hill when the war began. As conditions in Gaza deteriorated, she believed the administration would be moved to act and put an end to the conflict. She joined Bidens staff in January.

Yet she found a huge culture of silence among most of her fellow appointees and colleagues at the Interior Department about the war, in which she felt they were all implicated. She felt a disconnect between their work and the evidence of devastation in Gaza she was regularly seeing.

Our very being here, especially as Biden-Harris appointees, makes us complicit as we allow things to continue running as normal when this genocide is anything but normal, Hassanein said in her statement.

By the spring, she became involved in the student movement against the war, specifically the encampment at George Washington University in downtown Washington. Being not much older than the students, Hassanein said she believed she could understand them better. She found motivation in watching them take risks with their safety and their education, amid a national backlash against the protests that in some instances included violent arrests of students and threats of denying them future employment.

I saw these students, who have worked so hard for what they have had up until this point, willing to sacrifice their academic and personal careers for Palestinian liberation. And so, here I am, inspired by the students to also sacrifice what I have worked toward, Hassanein said in her statement.

Hassanein also described her Muslim identity as significant in her decision. She put the U.S. role in Gaza in the context of a problematic broader American approach to the Muslim-majority world and the human rights of groups within it, particularly Palestinians.

Instead of using U.S. leverage to stop the killing, President Biden has continued funding this violence, while fueling hate crimes against Palestinian Americans by repeating racist tropes and outright lies, Hassanein wrote, in reference to multiple alleged hate crimes since Oct. 7. Anti-Arab and Islamophobic sentiments are embedded into our foreign policy and are inextricably linked with the grotesque disregard for Palestinian lives.

Some prominent Arab and Muslim American activists in the Democratic Party have led an uncommitted movement to deny Biden the support of the community unless he changes course on Gaza. Saying she is still grappling with whether Biden could win her backing, Hassanein argued doubling down on support for Israel is not going to help with Muslim voters.

For all that Hassaneins identity factored into her decision, she hopes her move has a broader resonance with her former colleagues experiencing what she called a moral dilemma.

I really hope that this doesnt get taken as, Oh, this person and their background  obviously this person leaving has nothing to do with me. I think it has everything to do with everyone, she told HuffPost. I am really hoping even if the issue doesnt hit close to home for [colleagues], they understand and recognize they have a role to play, as well as a responsibility to speak out against brutal violence.

Related...
Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D). Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

The Office of the Comptroller has updated its quarterly report on cannabis taxes after identifying a clerical error in its data.

Last week, Comptroller Brooke Lierman released the third report on quarterly recreational tax collections. The report included tax collections for five regions of the state for the first three months of the year.

A clerical error transposed collections for two areas  the Capital and Central regions  making it appear as if there were sharp and unexplained fluctuations in collections, even as recreational cannabis sales tax collections grew by just 0.7%.

At the time, neither the comptrollers office nor the Maryland Cannabis Administration could immediately explain the regional changes.

Officials at the Maryland Cannabis Administration on Monday noted that their tracking showed no unusual changes in sales. On Tuesday, a comptrollers office spokesperson said staff reviewed the report at the request of Maryland Matters and found the error and updated the quarterly report, which is published on the agency website.

The revised numbers show that over the last two quarters of 2023, the Central Region, with its 47 licensed retail shops, remitted the most sales taxes to the comptrollers office. The Capital Region and its 28 retail shops was second during that period. The report released last month by the comptrollers office had flip-flopped data for the two regions.

Maryland imposes a 9% tax on retail sales of recreational cannabis. The update does not alter the overall tax revenue of $14.7 million collected from January to March 2024.

The post Comptroller updates cannabis tax report after finding clerical error appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Confidence in Zelenskyy down in US and Europe

Confidence in Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dropped in several European countries and the United States compared to last year.

Source: Pew Research Center survey data released on 2 July, as reported by European Pravda

Details: More than two years after Russia invaded Ukraine, Zelenskyy's popularity rating is mixed in the 35 NATO and non-NATO countries polled. On average, 40% of adults in these nations feel Zelenskyy will do the right thing regarding world affairs, while 46% disagree.

There are only seven countries in the survey where the majority of citizens are confident in Zelenskyys ability to navigate international affairs. Confidence in him has dropped significantly across several countries in Europe and North America.

In Europe, confidence in the Ukrainian president varies greatly by country. In Sweden, where confidence in the Ukrainian president is highest, eight out of ten people have confidence in Zelenskyy; in Hungary, roughly the same proportion of people do not.

Many countries have seen confidence in Zelenskyy fall dramatically since 2023. The biggest drop was in Poland, where confidence in him has fallen by 22 percentage points since last year.

Confidence in Zelenskyy has decreased by 7 points in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and France, and by 6 points in Sweden.

In numerous places, a fifth or more of the population expressed no opinion on Zelenskyy. This is true of 45% of India's adult population.

It was reported earlier that of the four Visegrad countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), people in Czechia are the least supportive of Ukraine's fast-track membership of the European Union.

Another survey found that half of Hungary's population is opposed to the EU sending any aid to Ukraine at all.

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U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee on Tuesday endorsed state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet in the hotly contested and nationally important race to succeed him in Congress.

McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, who is midway through her first term in the state Senate, is one of three Democrats seeking the nomination in the 8th Congressional District.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee and State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet

A Kildee has represented the district for more than 47 years. That fact gives the endorsement of retiring Congressman Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township  who has represented the district since 2013 after succeeding his uncle, Dale Kildee  some extra weight.

"Its clear to me that Kristen is the best candidate to represent mid-Michigan going forward," Kildee said in a news release. "Kristen fights every day for working people, and I know that she will bring the same pragmatic leadership and bipartisan approach to governing that I have tried to champion in Congress.

Kildee announced the endorsement at a Tuesday campaign rally at the UAW Region 1-D headquarters in Flint, where he was joined by McDonald Rivet and community leaders.

McDonald Rivet said in the news release she is honored by the endorsement for the Aug. 6 primary and hopes to continue Kildee's legacy.

"The thing about Dan Kildee is that he never gets bogged down by the extremists and political noise in Washington," she said. "Hes always been laser-focused on getting things done for working families and everyday people."

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier endorsed McDonald Rivet, on June 25.

Also seeking the Democratic nomination are Matt Collier, who served as mayor of Flint from 1987 to 1991, and Pamela Pugh, of Saginaw, a public health adviser and president of the state Board of Education.

Three candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for the general election race rated a "toss-up" by the Cook Political Report.

They are Paul Junge, of Grand Blanc, a former criminal prosecutor and TV anchor; consultant and former Dow executive Mary Draves, of Midland, and trucking company owner Anthony Hudson, of Grand Blanc.

McDonald Rivet grew up in Portland, northwest of Lansing, where her father worked in construction. After receiving degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan-Flint, McDonald Rivet later worked as the executive director of Michigan Head Start, as chief of staff for the state Department of Education and as vice president of the Skillman Foundation.

She also served as president of Greater Midland Inc., a nonprofit providing family services, and as a Bay City commissioner before winning her state Senate seat in 2022. Upon doing so, she became the first Democrat in more than a decade and the first woman ever to represent the Bay Region in the state Senate.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kildee endorses McDonald Rivet in pivotal 8th Congressional District
Community members pose for a photo as they commemorate the Men's Homeless Shelter groundbreaking in Jackson Tenn. on Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2023.

The progression of the downtown homeless shelter continued to be a point of conversation among Jackson City Council on Tuesday.

Before breaking ground in April 2023, the need for the shelter was spawned by the death of a local, unhoused individual who lost his life during a winter storm in 2020.

On any given night, Jackson has a population of about 120 unhoused people.

The shelter will be the city's first facility for men in 25 years and is projected to serve 1,000 individuals over 10 years, with a maximum stay of 90 days before transitioning to permanent housing.

Over the last several weeks, council members have had extensive discourse regarding the city's budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which was absent on Tuesday's agenda, and inherently how funding for the homeless shelter will be impacted.

More: First homeless shelter for men breaks ground in Jackson

More: Jackson budget committee hears points of contention in FY budget debate

More: Downtown hotel, men's shelter on horizon for Jackson development

Location and funding concerns

In Tuesday's meeting, the council rejected a consideration presented by Councilwoman Candice Busby, District 3, for a 30-day delay in the shelter proceeding. The vote was passed with five in favor of the rejection, two opposed, and one abstained.

Busby says business owners reached out to express apprehensiveness over the shelter's location.

The McCorry Street location was intentionally selected for its proximity to homeless-focused services like the Jackson Housing Authority, Area Relief Ministries (ARM), and Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA).

Several public meetings were held throughout the planning for the shelter, providing ample opportunity for local input.

Chief Innovation Officer Lauren Kirk shared that local business owners and social service agencies involved in the construction of the shelter recently met at Hub City Brewery on May 22 to discuss similar concerns.

"We're talking about human beings here and so sometimes when it gets into social services, there gets to be some fears and misconceptions when you're not in the industry," Kirk said.

Kirk says she felt that the meeting was productive and alleviated attendee misconceptions.

"There's some ideas around how these folks would be treated and so we were able to get some clarification on what would be the operating protocol and why that location and why next to RIFA. At the end of the day, there are going to be different opinions on where it should be located and why, but this was why we felt like it was the best location and we tried to explain that and we feel like we had good consensus and good conversation that day."

Concerns over operational funding were called into question as well.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is funding construction acquisition for the shelter and something Tennessee Homeless Solutions Director Amy McDonald says is highly uncommon.

Executive Director Mark Reid with the Jackson Housing Authority shared that half of the funds allocated for the shelter should have already been spent by March 2024 and can't exactly be postponed any longer. One of the several local entities involved, JHA'S McMillan Towers is adjacent to the shelter's proposed location.

"They (HUD) also look at your city and how well and fast can you expend this money, so we're kind of dragging our feet. We need to get the money spent so opportunities come about, depending on how well we perform," Reid said. "It's frustrating to me."

Councilman Larry Lowrance (District 6) voiced reservations over the non-permanence of funding as it relates to state and federal grants.

McDonald estimates an annual operating budget of $85,000, paid for through federal and state grants, private donations, and fundraising. She is confident that operating costs will be met by the expected sources.

Supreme Court ruling on homelessness

On June 28, a 6-3 vote by the Supreme Court in Grants Pass v. Johnson aimed to target unhoused individuals who sleep outside, regardless of a lack of available shelter, and ultimately increase a city's ability to fine and arrest them.

On the heels of the ruling, the need for a homeless shelter in Jackson has only been amplified.

"The cities who want to enforce that law, they will," McDonald said. "There is a homeless transit circuit, and they talk, from New York to L.A. and it will become very known what cities are homeless-friendly and don't enforce those laws."

Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Jackson City Council rejects 30-day delay for homeless shelter build
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 2. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

According to information, he was met at the Issyk-Kul international airport by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Edil Baisalov.

During the visit, bilateral negotiations are planned with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubaev, as well as a visit to one of the UNDP projects.

The parties will discuss the current state and prospects for cooperation within the UN and exchange views on current issues on the international agenda.
General Atomics is now building its first drone for the Air Forces Collaborative Combat Aircraft program and says it is using components originally made for the MQ-9 Reaper to help speed up that work. The company is currently facing off against Anduril and its Fury design in CCAs initial phase, but there are growing inklings about the possibility of both types entering service as a complementary team. Both firms say they are making headway, but are also encountering significant challenges, especially when it comes to autonomy, in their work on their respective drones. General Atomics says it is already looking ahead toward an entire next generation of uncrewed aerial systems, which is embedded in the work it is doing under the LongShot air-launched weapons carrier program. Mike Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Aircraft Programs at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), and Diem Salmon, Vice President of Air Dominance and Strike at Anduril, spoke at length about the CCA program in a new edition of The Merge podcast released over the weekend, which is worth listening to in full. The full episode of The Merge featuring General Atomics Mike Atwood and Andurils Diem Salmon can be found below. The Air Force announced in April that the two companies had been chosen to move forward in the CCAs programs first phase, also known as Increment One. A number of other efforts, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencys (DARPA) Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, are feeding directly into CCA. A rendering for Andurils CCA design, the Fury. Anduril An artists conception of the CCA variant of the Fury drone. Anduril The Air Forces current plan is to acquire 100 CCAs under Increment One, with the expectation that these highly autonomous drones will work closely together with crewed combat jets, especially stealthy fifth and eventually sixth-generation types, with a focus on air-to-air missions, at least initially. The program is already working toward kicking off Increment Two and the ultimate goal is to acquire and field 1,000 CCAs, if not many more. The complete future CCA fleet could consist of multiple distinct designs with varying performance and other capabilities. Finding ways to accelerate development timetables, as well as rapidly ramp up large-scale production of finalized designs, are seen as essential to meeting these objectives. Production progress, challenges The first [General Atomics] CCA is in assembly right now as we speak, GA-ASIs Atwood said on the recent episode of The Merge podcast. So, you know, the speed at which you get [a] contract award, and its announced, to the speed of them getting an airplane, is well inside 24 months, if not inside one year. Atwood highlighted General Atomics decades of experience not only developing, but also producing other drones, including the now iconic MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper families, as helping to give the company a jump-start on CCA. He also disclosed a direct connection between the CCA design and the MQ-9 for what appears to be the first time. We have basically a hot production line where I can take an MQ-9 out and put a Collaborative Combat Aircraft in, according to Atwood. We were able to essentially take Reaper parts out of stock rooms and build the first [CCA] aircraft. Members of General Atomics and the Dutch Armed forces stand in front of an MQ-9 Reaper at the companys plant in Poway, California. GA-ASI General Atomics CCA design is primarily based on the XQ-67 drone, which the company developed under the Air Forces separate and still very secretive Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program. You can read more about the XQ-67, which The War Zone was first to report on, and the OBSS program here. There are also indications that GA-ASIs XQ-67, and its CCA design by extension, are leveraging work on the companys highly modular Gambit family of uncrewed aircraft. The Gambit concept is centered on a common core chassis with a tricycle landing gear, that also includes an AI brain, flight control system, and mission computer, onto which very different airframe configurations can be mated with relative ease. Andurils Salmon did not provide specific details about her companys progress on its first CCA prototype, but said a key goal remained on getting to a first flight. The Anduril entry is a design called Fury, which an aviation firm called Blue Force Technologies first started development on in the late 2010s. Salmon did note that having an in-house composite shop [is] hugely beneficial, an apparent reference to Andurils acquisition of Blue Force Technologies last year, which also included its production facilities. Prior to that, Blue Force Technologies specialized in rapid prototyping and other advanced concept design services, with a particular focus on carbon fiber composite manufacturing. You can read more about both companies in relation to the broader history of Furys development in an exhaustive feature that took The War Zone some two and half years to complete here. Its worth noting here that the offerings from General Atomics and Anduril are very different in form and function. Fury is objectively the more high-performance-focused design, something that came up and that Atwood did not dispute while speaking on The Merge. In speaking with The Merges Mike Benitez, Atwood and Salmon were broadly positive about the progress their respective companies have been making on CCA, but also cited challenges, as well as important lessons already learned. Composites are inherently expensive  theyre really for high-performance applications where you need certain strength and stiffness, General Atomics Atwood noted in talking about production issues. When you look at Collaborative Combat Aircraft  were actually falling back on more metallic  what we call hybrid structures, metal frames with composite skins. I think there are automated tape laying [capabilities] where you can have a big fancy robot arm put down your carbon fiber in a tool, he added. So there are specific applications, like wings structures, where it buys its way on. Requirements questions There have already been broader questions and concerns about the performance and capabilities that the Air Force is looking for in its initial tranche of CCAs, and the costs and production complexities that go along with all that. Public details about the Increment One CCA requirements remain limited, but it has already emerged that they will have higher performance than was broadly anticipated, which is expected to come at the cost of range. The cost of a single CCA drone is also expected to be between one-third and one-quarter of the unit price of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, or around $20.5 and $27.5 million based on publicly available information. This is at the very high end of the original cost projections. I think the challenge was, you kind of hit on it, was the cost We [the industry] started with an X-47, an X-45, according to Atwood, referring to advanced uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) designs from Northrop Grumman and Boeing, respectively. And were like, wow, that doesnt meet many-on-many and [affordable] mass, and it was a little ahead of its time on autonomy.  Atwoods comment here is particularly interesting in light of the almost total disappearance of U.S. military UCAV concepts, at least publicly, despite significant progress in their development during the 2000s and early 2010s. This was the subject of the first major feature to appear on The War Zone. So we swung the pendulum over to the XQ-58 Valkyrie, the Kratos product, and that was a little too small, he continued. In the middle of that, weve kind of honed in on this size class. It is more utilitarian. And I think the challenge has been finding the right balance of cost, survivability, and mission system capability  The challenge was a system level optimization of all of those attributes, but it took six years [for the Air Force] to find that optimum point. The Air Force, along with other branches of the U.S. military and DARPA, have engaged in a number of other advanced drone and autonomous technology projects over the past six years. The Air Forces Skyborg project, which used XQ-58s and General Atomics stealthy Avenger drones, among other platforms, to explore new advanced AI-driven autonomous capabilities, is a prime example. There is also the aforementioned ACE effort, which is still ongoing in parallel to CCA. The need for more autonomy Questions about autonomous capabilities, and trust therein, continue to be major factors for the CCA program no matter how fast General Atomics or Anduril can develop and produce the drones they will be integrated onto. GA-ASIs Atwood talked about fundamental issues about human-in-the-loop control over autonomous platforms and how this has shown a need for operators to cede more control to the machines under their supervision. We started with [the Air Forces] Air Combat Command with tablets There was this idea that they wanted to have this discreet control, General Atomics Atwood said. I got to fly in one of these jets with a tablet. And it was really hard to fly the airplane, let alone the weapon system of my primary airplane, and spatially and temporally think about this other thing. An example of a tablet General Atomics has used in crewed-uncrewed teaming testing in the past. General Atomics We [have] got to make the collaborative part of the aircraft essentially sense or know the intent of what the fighter is trying to do, he continued. If hes trying to ingress, if hes trying to egress, if hes trying to shoot, if hes trying to jam, if hes trying to be in EMCON [an emissions controlled state], [the drone has to] be an organic extension of whatever that function is that theyre trying to do without burdening the pilot. These are among the exact issues that the Air Force is already working to address in cooperation with DARPA through the aforementioned ACE project using a highly modified F-16 fighter called the X-62A Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA), as you can read more about here. The service is also looking to further explore issues that may come with increased autonomy in crewed-uncrewed contexts through testing with a pocket fleet of less extensively modified F-16s as part of Project Viper Experimentation and Next-Gen Operations Mode (VENOM). Using a two-seat combat jet in the drone controller role could also help with task saturation. We just want to be his [the pilot of the fighters] sensor, but 60 miles forward. We want to be his weapon, but twice as far [away] and it just has to be organic, that the triangles and diamonds on his screen are just better and he doesnt even have to worry about gas, and weapons, and range, and turn rate, and altitude deconfliction, Atwood added. Were really focused on a lot of closed-loop self-aware cognitive autonomy, because when we did it simply [using more discreet control] and we did the training, it didnt work. At the same time, any reduction in human interaction only increases the need for trust in those autonomous systems. The ability to not only test, but train and retrain autonomy algorithms in entirely digital environments, and do so very rapidly, has been extremely beneficial already for increasing confidence in these capabilities. At the same time, there still are limits to what can be done without real flight testing. What were seeing now are kill chains where were willing culturally to take that ROE [the rules of engagement] and put it in the hands of a machine, which I think is the transformation in autonomy, Atwood explained. Its about trust in autonomy. Thats this tipping point. I think now its time to get off the NTTR, the Nevada Test and Training Range, and get this thing down range, Atwood added. We need some combat evaluations to figure out almost from a policy or a cultural standpoint, do we trust it? You just have to fly it you just gotta get it out there.  People need to have experience interacting with it, Andurils Salmon agreed. And thats how you build trust and I dont know if youre gonna get around that. So I think part of this is really just training and as much fielding and deployment as possible to get people used to it. Complementing, not competing? General Atomics Atwood said during The Merge podcast that he did not necessarily see his companys design as being a competitor to Andurils Fury, and that the two could well be complimentary. This, in turn, could point to the possibility of the Air Force deciding to be examples of both to operate as a team. Its interesting to note here that the OBSS program, which has led to the General Atomics CCA design, has an even more secretive, higher-performance, and armed cousin called the Off-Board Weapon Station. The War Zone has highlighted in the past how a hunter-killer OBSS/OBWS team would make good sense. This, in turn, raises the question of whether the two current CCA drones that are ostensibly competing now could be employed in a similarly cooperative fashion. The XQ-67 during its first flight. Courtesy photo via USAF The XQ-67A drone seen during its first flight. Courtesy photo via USAF I feel that both Anduril and GA [General Atomics] are well poised to bring a world-class team to deliver something relevant on a relevant timescale, Atwood said. Increment One is also only the beginning of what is expected to be a larger CCA program. The Air Force has made clear that subsequent increments will be open to new proposals and new designs. General Atomics and Anduril are just some of the dozens of companies that the service has already brought together in a consortium to support this larger effort. On top of all that, the Air Force already has formal agreements with the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps to collaborate on developments related to CCA, especially control architectures. A key goal here is for all three services to be able to be able to seamlessly exchange control of CCA-like drones back and forth during future operations. The service is also looking to expand cooperation on CCA, or tangential efforts, to include foreign allies and partners. The Air Force is also utilizing at least one Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone, a design originally developed for the Royal Australian Air Force, to support various research and development and test evaluation efforts. A depiction of a US Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighter flying together with a Royal Australian Air Force MQ-28 Ghost Bat. USAF A US Air Force image depicting an MQ-28 Ghost Bat flying together with an F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. USAF Eyes toward the future CCA is also not the only advanced aircraft program ongoing within the U.S. military that we know about and other work is being done in the classified realm. This includes designs that are intended to be both more and less capable than CCAs. There is a next generation of UAS [uncrewed aerial systems] that is under work that is much much more survivable, much more autonomous, much more cognitive, Atwood said. It lives inside the DARPA LongShot program it lives inside some stuff that Anduril is working on in the restricted space.  We cant talk too much turkey on it, but its essentially taking all the principles that weve talked about today to I think an extreme  affordability, survivability, and cognitive autonomy  and its exciting. General Atomics is the prime contractor on DARPAs LongShot program, which is exploring the concept of an uncrewed aircraft capable of firing air-to-air missiles that fighters and/or bombers could launch in mid-air, as you can read more about here. A rendering depicting F-15 combat jets launching LongShot drones, which then fire their own air-to-air missiles. GA-ASI A rendering of General Atomics LongShot drones being launched by F-15-series fighters and firing missiles. GA-ASI At the same time, the Air Force is looking at serious budget constraints starting in Fiscal Year 2026, which are already prompting the service to take hard looks at its future modernization plans. Secretary Kendal and other senior officials have warned that even top-priority efforts like the flagship Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative could see significant cuts. CCA is part of the larger NGAD effort. At the same time, Air Force leadership has consistently doubled down on the critical importance of the CCA program to ensure its ability to fight and win future conflicts, especially potential high-end fights such as one in the Pacific against China. In her final comments on The Merges recent podcast, Andurils Salmon also pointed to a need for a broader culture shift in how the Air Force and the rest of the U.S. military do business, especially when it comes to uncrewed platforms and autonomy. The Pentagons Replicator initiative, which aims to help put thousands of new and relatively cheap uncrewed capabilities with high degrees of autonomy into the hands of U.S. forces within the next two years or so, is one example of how the Department of Defense itself is looking to make this more fundamental change. I think even if you have three to five new programs that are somehow embracing autonomous vehicles in any domain we should consider that a win. If we see programs that are standing up and trying to field [capabilities] in five years instead of 10 we should see that as a win, she said. I dont think were going to darken the skies with robots in the next five years, but I think if we can just start accelerating some of the change and adoption of these things, that will be great. Altogether, what exactly the final product that comes out of CCAs Increment One looks like in the end and what its actual autonomous and other capabilities might be remains to be seen. At the same time, the program continues to look set to have transformational and potentially game-changing impacts on how the Air Force fights and how it acquires new aircraft, crewed or uncrewed, going forward. Contact the author: joe@twz.com

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Kent Chandler, the former chair of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, speaking before lawmakers in June. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

The chair of Kentuckys utility regulator is leaving the post after almost three years to the disappointment of some consumer advocates.

Kentucky Public Service Commission Chair Kent Chandlers term on the three-person commission expired on June 30. Crystal Staley, a spokesperson for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, said Chandler had resigned and that the governor appreciated Chandlers service. She said his replacement would be appointed soon.

Chandler in a statement to the Lantern said he had no indication or confidence he would be reappointed to another four-year term, based on a lack of communication from the Beshear administration regarding his reappointment.

I decided it was best for me and my family to walk away at the end of my term, Chandler said, noting he appreciated serving the commission in a number of roles including leading it the last three years.

Attorneys who represent ratepayers  both households and manufacturers  praised Chandlers leadership and expertise as chair.

Ive been practicing at the Kentucky commission for 38 years. Kent Chandler is by far the hardest working and smartest commissioner that has been on the bench in my memory, said Michael Kurtz, general counsel for Kentucky Industrial Utility Customers, a coalition of manufacturers.

Long-time environmental advocate Tom FitzGerald called Chandlers departure a significant loss for the state, particularly for residential and small business ratepayers. FitzGerald, the former executive director of the nonprofit legal firm Kentucky Resources Council, in an email said while some utility representatives might have issues with a particular PSC decision, nobody can credibly state that he was not among the most diligent, thoughtful, involved, and fair commissioners that we have had at the PSC.

I am very disappointed that Gov. Beshear failed to reappoint chair Chandler, FitzGerald said. Those of us who represent ratepayers with low- and fixed-incomes who are among the most vulnerable to high utility costs, are especially appreciative of his service and the sacrifice of his family in allowing him to put in long hours at short pay in service to the ratepayers of the Commonwealth.

FitzGerald said Chandlers departure comes at a time of unprecedented change in how electricity is generated and used, ranging from the integration of renewables and storage to the grid to the retirement of uneconomic coal-fired units. He said while he believed the two remaining commissioners at the regulator are able and thoughtful people, neither have the breadth of experience that Chandler has.

PSC faces increasing demands

The Kentucky Public Service Commissioner (PSC) regulates the rates and services of more than 1,100 utilities, ranging from massive investor-owned electricity providers such as Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to small water districts that provide drinking water to rural communities. The regulator also fields complaints from Kentuckians about service and rates and hears requests from utilities to retire or build new power generation.

The PSC is facing increasing demands to vet a surge of renewable energy developers seeking to build solar installations, navigate new laws passed by the GOP-dominated legislature placing barriers on retiring fossil fuel-fired power plants, and oversee water utilities grappling with aging and dilapidated pipes, water tanks and treatment plants.

In his statement to the Lantern, Chandler said: Most people dont know what the public service commission is, and maybe they shouldnt have to know. The irony is that if a PSC is well-resourced and doing a good job at regulating rates and service, over time their work should be seamless and unnoticeable, and the efforts should result in affordable and consistent utility service by those they regulate. Of course, its not obvious year to year the impact the PSC has on the public, so taking the PSCs efforts for granted can lead to a lack of resources made available to the agency.

Chandler said he had the utmost confidence the remaining commissioners and the regulators incredible staff would continue the PSCs mission without missing a beat.

Chandler last year called for more funding for the commission, saying something has to change because the regulator was dealing with an increasing number of cases, with expanding complexity, coinciding with having fewer and less experienced staff than in the past.

The GOP-dominated legislature in the two-year state budget enacted this year did increase funding for the regulator by a little over a million dollars from fiscal year 2023-2024 to fiscal year 2024-2025 for a total yearly budget of nearly $18 million.

But the legislature also put new burdens on the regulator in the form of mandated eight-month deadlines the commission has to issue decisions by in certain types of cases, including the building of new power plants. Those deadlines were passed as a part of Senate Bill 349. Beshear in an April letter to the legislature said the regulator would take on a little over $1 million in unfunded costs because of SB 349, among other passed laws that the governor said would have funding omissions.

Under Chandlers leadership, the commission had strongly scrutinized future power generation plans utilities are required to create and present, had opened investigations into electricity cost discounts given by utilities to cryptocurrency mining operations, honed in on power outages and costs faced by utilities during Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022 and slashed a much-criticized rate hike sought by utility Kentucky Power.

Chandler had previously served as an attorney in the Attorney Generals Office of Rate Intervention when Beshear was attorney general. Before his appointment, Chandler served as an advisor to the commission on federal wholesale gas and electricity markets and also served as the commissions executive director. He was appointed as a commissioner and designated as the commissions vice chair in July 2020 and was designated as chair of the commission in August 2021.

Whoever the Democratic governor does appoint to the commission would have to be confirmed by the GOP-dominated Kentucky Senate, which isnt a guarantee. Amy Cubbage, an attorney who formerly served as Beshears general counsel among other roles in his administration, wasnt confirmed by the Senate to the commission in 2022.

The post Consumer advocates mourn departure of Kentuckys top utility regulator appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Gov. Roy Cooper (File Photo)

The SHALOM Act became law in North Carolina after Gov. Roy Cooper signed it on Monday.

The law makes the Working Definition of Antisemitism Adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016 the states official definition of antisemitism.

Defining antisemitism is important to stopping it, and this new law helps do that as antisemitic incidents are on the rise, Cooper said in a press release. While we protect the right to free speech, this legislation helps to make our state a more welcoming, inclusive, and safe place for everyone.

Under the definition, several types of criticism directed against Israel, such as claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor, would be deemed antisemitism.

House Speaker Tim Moore, one of the bills chief sponsors, said in a press conference in May that the measure is a response to a rise in hate speech and attacks on Jewish people.

North Carolina already has hate crime statutes in place, but there really is not a working definition of what truly constitutes antisemitism, Moore said. This is very timely because of what we have seen across this country, and even right here in North Carolina.

While the bill provides for no particular enforcement mechanism, it specifies that the definition will be used as a guide for training, education, recognizing, and combating antisemitic hate crimes or discrimination and for tracking and reporting antisemitic incidents.

Moore said the bill does not create any new criminal penalties related to antisemitism, as state laws against ethnic intimidation already exist. But it provides a clear definition of antisemitism for prosecutors and law enforcement

A prosecutor would look at that and look at the statutes that are already in place and make a determination if that conduct rose to that level.

Critics say the bill is an attack on free speech and its intended to stifle criticism of Israel.

Some of what the definition targets isnt antisemitism, said Reighlah Collins with the ACLU of North Carolina at a committee hearing last week.

The right to engage in political speech is one of the most important First Amendment protections even if we dont agree with it, and for this reason, the IHRA definition cannot serve as a yardstick for determining what is hate speech or religious discrimination and what is not.

Last week, a group of Jewish and Muslim activists protested outside the Governors Mansion calling for Cooper to veto the bill after both chambers overwhelmingly voted to approve the bill.

Hadeel Hamoud of Muslim Women For, an advocacy organization based in North Carolina, said during that criticism of Israel is not antisemitism.

Criticism of a foreign governmentshould never be construed as hatred for an ethnic religious group, said Hamoud. If our government truly cared about combating hatred, they would invest in meaningful and community-based ways to combat hatred of all faith groups.

Sandra Korn of Jewish Voice for Peace Triangle NC said the bill is intended to divert attention from what she described as antisemitism in the Republican party.

Its designed to confuse and distract from real antisemitism, and particularly the Holocaust denial of our Republican gubernatorial candidate, said Korn. Its part of a classic right-wing playbook to suppress dissent and criminalize protests.

Korn was referring to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the GOP nominee for governor in November, who has previously made multiple comments decried by critics as antisemitic.

The post Cooper signs bill to establish an official state definition of antisemitism appeared first on NC Newsline.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) describes receiving an abortion as a teenager in new campaign ad ((Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Court Accountability))

Representative Cori Bush of Missouri describes being sexually assaulted and receiving an abortion in her latest campaign ad as she faces a heated primary.

The ad comes as pro-Israel groups target Bush for her support for a ceasefire in Gaza. Numerous pro-Israel groups spent more than $14m to successfully depose fellow Squad member Jamaal Bowman in New Yorks 16th districts Democratic primary last week. The race was the most expensive congressional primary in history.

Bush describes how the Supreme Courts Dobbs v Jackson, which overturned Roe v Wade, decision reminded her of when she was sexually assaulted.

At 17, I was assaulted and had an abortion, she says. It was devastating. I was devastated again 30 years later, when Republican extremists overturned Roe.

Bush, a member of the Squad, faces a Democratic primary challenge from county prosecutor Wesley Bell. Organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committees United Democracy Project super PAC and the Democratic Majority for Israel have sought to highlight when Bush voted against President Joe Biden.

Specifically, they have pointed to her vote against the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Bush also highlighted in the advert how she has taken action to defend reproductive care.

Ive turned my hurt into action, defending access to abortion care, organizing to expand the court, and working with President Biden to protect abortion, she said.

Conversely, she pointed to a story in HuffPost that found that Bell managed the campaign of an anti-abortion Republican.

Wesley Bell worked to elect an anti-abortion Republican and is funded by anti-abortion Republicans, she said.

Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) describes receiving an abortion as a teenager in new campaign ad (Getty Images for Court Accountab)

Progressives have sought to point out the fact that AIPACs super PAC has been bankrolled by Republican megadonors.

The advertisement comes as UDP has spent 83 percent of the $3.5m spent in Missouris 1st districts Democratic primary, according to AdImpact. The latest ad from the super PAC highlights Bells record of defending abortion rights.

Bush won a Democratic primary against longtime Democratic congressman William Lacy Clay Jr, whose father also held the seat before him, in 2020.

Bush has since become one of the most outspoken progressive voices in Congress.

She and fellow Squad members--including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Bowman, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota--have spoken publicly for their support for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas since the October 7th attack in Israel by Hamas that killed 1,200 people and led to a war in Gaza that has killed more than 35,000 people, many of whom are women and children.
Costco lawsuit settlement: How to get payment if you purchased flushable wipes

Costco lawsuit settlement: How to get payment if you purchased flushable wipes

**Related Video Above: Flushable wipes caused big problems in Elyria

CLEVELAND (WJW)  Have you ever bought Kirkland Signature Moist Flushable Wipes from Costco? Those who have purchased that product in the past might qualify for a part of a $2 million class action lawsuit settlement.

Costcos new CFO makes announcement about $1.50 hot dog combo

Legal news website Top Class Actions said that while the company has not said they did anything wrong, the have reached an agreement to resolve the false advertising class action lawsuit.

Customers who got the wipes between July 1, 2011, and May 31, 2017, are eligible for up to $55.90, at $1.30 per product.

The plaintiffs claim flushing them caused damage to pipes, septic systems, sewage lines and other plumbing, Top Class Actions said. Consumers argue they would not have purchased the wipes if they knew they were not truly flushable as advertised.

FOX 8 has done multiple stories on damage caused by flushing down disposable sanitizing wipes in Northeast Ohio. The wipes cost utilities across the country millions of extra dollars, according to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.

Costco has not stopped selling the wipes, and as seen in photos of the product, the packaging now reads: never flush more than one wipe at a time.

LIST: Ohio Rite Aids closed, or closing soon

If you are eligible for the Costco payout, make a claim right here by Aug. 9. Purchase proof is not required.

FOX Business News reached out to Costco for a comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 27: U.S. President Joe Biden participates in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. President Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump are facing off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

As Democrats reel from President Joe Bidens befuddled debate performance last week, political strategists are trying to weigh the impact the new narrative in the presidential election could have on competitive down-ballot races.

In Maryland, Republicans believe Bidens shaky showing will energize their voters in the 6th Congressional District  far and away the states most competitive  and possibly in the high-profile open-seat Senate election as well.

What happened Thursday night only benefits Republicans, and I would say up and down the ballot, said Jim Burton, a GOP strategist and pollster, and former executive director of the Maryland Republican Party. If Democrats are deflated  and they are  their voter modeling energy is mirroring the presidents energy.

Democrats are already obsessing over Bidens diminished standing in his rematch with former President Donald Trump. A Suffolk University/USA Today poll released Monday found that 41% of Democrats believe Biden should be replaced as their nominee for president. The poll did not, however, include a head-to-head matchup between Biden and Trump.

National media have been full of stories in recent days about how Democrats in tight Senate races and swing congressional districts are trying to distance themselves from Biden  and how Republican operatives are trying to tether their Democratic opponents to the president. With control of the Senate and House at stake this November, Democrats are feverishly polling key races to see if there has been a drop-off of support for their candidates as a result of Bidens newly exposed political vulnerability.

The National Republican Congressional Committee on Monday began airing videos of Democratic incumbents in swing districts refusing to answer questions about Bidens mental acuity.

Extreme House Democrats watched Joe Biden destroy their dream of a House majority at the debate, the NRCC wrote on the social media platform X. They still think he is fit to serve.

Maryland, a reliably blue state in White House elections, has two competitive congressional contests on tap this November  the Senate race between former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), and the 6th District race with former Del. Neil Parrott (R) and former U.S. Commerce Department official April McClain Delaney (D).

Democratic leaders believe Alsobrooks and Delaney are strong nominees, but some concede that a lack of enthusiasm about the top of the ticket could potentially impact races in Maryland and beyond.

One of my biggest worries is people who decide not to vote, and as a result, down-ballot [Democratic candidates] may suffer  in Maryland and nationwide, said Terry Lierman, a former state Democratic chair. This worries me as it relates to our taking back the House and keeping the Senate.

The Maryland Senate race, featuring a unique and popular Republican in Hogan, has a dynamic all its own  which is not to say that it couldnt be impacted by the outcome of the presidential election. But the 6th District contest, in a district that would have given Biden a 9.8-point victory in 2020 under its current boundaries, could be especially susceptible to national trends.

Former Del. Neil Parrott, the Republican nominee in the 6th congressional district. File photo by Bruce DePuyt.

In the weeks leading up to the 2022 election, Parrott, then as now the GOP nominee, was thought to be gaining swiftly on the Democratic incumbent, U.S. Rep. David Trone, as national polls showed Republicans surging. In the end, he wound up losing by more than 9 points, as Republican performance in most places in the country fell well short of expectations.

The Cook Political Report and the University of Virginia Center for Politics have put the 6th District in the likely Democratic category, meaning they believe Delaney is likely to hold Trones seat for the Democrats. Just 10 days ago, another national political tipsheet, Inside Elections, moved Maryland 6 from the likely Democratic to the safe Democratic column.

If Parrott wins, its because the bottom has fallen out from underneath Democrats, Inside Elections wrote.

Parrott in an interview Monday said he sees the ground shifting in the district since last weeks presidential debate. But he conceded that the ground wont settle until its clear whether Biden will remain in the presidential contest.

We dont know whats going to happen, Parrott said. This puts a lot of uncertainty into a lot of races. We dont know who the Democrats are going to put up to be their presidential nominee. Its going to impact all kinds of races down-ballot  we just dont know how.

Parrott said that even if Biden steps down as the Democratic candidate, his replacement will largely be supportive of the presidents policies  which, he argued, people in the 6th District have come to oppose.

(California Gov.) Gavin Newsom, (Michigan Gov.) Gretchen Whitmer, (former first lady) Michelle Obama  the policies of all these folks are the same and theyre going to be rejected by the voters, Parrott said.

Burton, the GOP strategist, said Parrott could also benefit because Delaney is a veteran of the Biden administration, who should be forced to answer for unpopular Biden policies.

Through a spokesperson, Delaneys campaign declined to comment Monday about the impact of Bidens debate performance on the 6th District race. The candidate herself spent time on X over the weekend drawing a contrast between her support of abortion rights and Parrotts pro-life views.

I am a mom of four that almost died from an ectopic pregnancy, and likely would have had @neilparrott had his way in the state legislature, she wrote.

Democrats stick to tried-and-true campaign themes

That tactic is consistent with what other Democratic congressional candidates are doing, generally and in the wake of the presidential debate. For now, they are sticking to their talking points on abortion  a winning issue for Democrats in 2022 and more recent elections  and continuing to try to highlight Trumps extremism and perceived personal and political instability.

A string of recent decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court is also fueling Democrats ire and pleas to vote for them, to counteract rulings that could dismantle government regulations and boost unchecked presidential authority.

Gina Ford, a spokesperson for Alsobrooks, said Monday the basic contours of the Maryland Senate race  and national policy debates  remain unchanged.

The president had an unfortunate debate, she said. Donald Trump had an awful presidency. Marylanders not only understand the difference but are painfully aware of the dangers Donald Trump and a Republican majority in the Senate pose to our state and our country. This race in Maryland will determine who holds the majority.

A Hogan campaign spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Hogan also appeared to be staying on message in the aftermath of the White House debate, with missives to supporters on familiar themes like tax hikes and Marylands skyrocketing budget deficit.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE Burton said Hogan can contrast his strong record of leadership as governor with Bidens weak debate performance, because the president showed no leadership.

The Hogan-Alsobrooks race is unusual given the former governors relative popularity and past ability to attract Democratic and nonaffiliated voters. But Hogan fans will concede that despite his ability to win two gubernatorial elections, running a Senate race in a presidential year, with a constitutional amendment on abortion on the ballot this November, is an uphill battle  even with Hogans regular criticism of Trump.

Some political strategists have suggested that Hogan might actually do better in Maryland if voters believe Biden is going to be reelected, because they might then be less reluctant to support a Republican with Hogans profile under those circumstances.

A poll released last week, before the presidential debate, showed Alsobrooks 8 points ahead of Hogan in a multicandidate general election and also showed Biden topping Trump 56% to 30% in Maryland. Thats a wide margin but suggests Biden is running a few ticks behind where he was in 2020, when he beat Trump 65% to 32%. In some swing states, those few points could prove crucial in close down-ballot races.

But Mileah Kromer, a political science professor and director of the Sarah T. Hughes Center for Politics at Goucher College, predicted that between gerrymandered districts, solid Democratic nominees for open seats, and the Republicans fealty to Trump, Democrats in Maryland do not need to worry about a weaker Biden.

Moderate and conservative Democrats are the swing voters in Maryland  but they hate Trump, said Kromer, a pollster and author of a book on Hogan. Democrats would only have to worry if they had a different Republican candidate [for president]. Imagine if they were running against Nikki Haley. The negative attention that Biden is getting for his debate performance ignores the fact that Trump is Trump  a very known commodity that Democrats dont want to vote for.

The post Could Bidens weak debate performance hurt down-ballot Democrats? appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Editors Note: This story is being updated to correct Bernard Kenersons current standing with Solid Rock Church. Kenerson, a former elder, is no longer with Solid Rock Church. (Updated 9:58 a.m. July 3, 2024

A Solid Rock Church member could be charged with assault and battery after he sprayed several people with water outside the church.

According to SC law, the member could face third-degree assault and battery charges. This is a misdemeanor with a punishment of up to $500 or 30 days in jail. South Carolina defines third degree assault as, if the person unlawfully injures another person, or offers or attempts to injure another person with the present ability to do so.

It is not known if the man who sprayed the protesters has been charged. The Sun News requested the incident reports and Myrtle Beach Police spokesperson Randolph Angotti did not comment on the matter.

On June 30, a member came out of Solid Rock Church, 803 Howard Ave., after service, picked up a sprinkler that was turned on and sprayed a group of Mica Miller protesters. The water hit around six people with five people filing assault charges, said protest organizer Alexandra Cuozzo.

No one was injured as a result of the sprinkler although the water irritated some peoples eyes, Melissa Pfeiffer said. Pfeiffer was one of the women hit with water and said although she was not hurt, she felt embarrassed after the water made her white shirt appear sheer.

Very quickly you could see my undergarments, Pfeiffer said.

Cuozzo said she and others have been protesting Solid Rock Church since May 6. Mica Miller, the wife of former pastor John-Paul Miller, died on April 27, and shortly after, her case gained national attention after allegations that John-Paul Miller had abused his wife.

John-Paul Miller has denied these allegations.

Why are there protesters?

Protesters meet every Sunday in an attempt to get justice for Mica Miller, Cuozzo said. This can look different to each person.

Pfeiffer said, as a victim of domestic violence, she wants to bring awareness to the issue while Cuozzo said she wants to see Solid Rock Church shut down.

We want justice for Mica, and I think (closing the church) is the first step that we can take as a community, Cuozzo said.

There has been public speculation over how John-Paul Miller has allegedly handled the church finances since Mica Millers death. This includes that the church owns an airplane and John-Paul Miller allegedly sold his house to Solid Rock, The Post and Courier reported.

Another issue Cuozzo has with the church is the people in it. For example, Bernard Kenerson, a former church elder, has been convicted for sexually assaulting a child, WBTW-TV reported. Kenerson has said that he is remorseful for his crime.

Protesters typically spend Sunday morning near the church, holding Justice for Mica signs and chanting phrases such as, Shame on you, Micas blood is on your hands, and No people, no church.

These people are not protesting. Solid Rock believes in the right to protest. These people are pagans who are trying to stop Christians from worshipping, John-Paul Miller wrote in an email to The Sun News Sunday. We dont mind them protesting, but we do mind not being allowed to worship Jesus for one hour together, in the city of Myrtle Beach.

John-Paul Miller also said protesters have been taking pictures of children. Cuozzo said that she and other protesters have not purposely been photographing children. They take videos to document what happens and kids may end up in the background.

John-Paul Miller wrote in the email that he tried to speak to the protest organizer but was dismissed. Cuozzo said he asked if she would come inside the church and speak with him, to which she said no and he walked away. She said shed be willing to speak to him with police officers nearby.

Overall, Cuozzo said shes gotten positive reactions from police and neighbors, saying she and other protesters speak to officers about how to follow laws. Neighbors have also donated bottles of water in the past.

Background on the Mica Miller case

Mica Miller committed suicide on April 27, according to North Carolina officials. In May, Robeson County Sheriffs Office released a video of her buying a gun before driving from Myrtle Beach to a North Carolina state park. There, she called 911 and told them she was planning to kill herself.

Her body was found in a state park.

Her death has become a national conversation topic, with people making TikToks about her, Facebook groups being started and posts circulating online with the #JusticeForMica.

Mica Millers father and sister, Micheal and Sierra Francis, told The Sun News previously that they believe Mica Miller was in an abusive relationship with John-Paul Miller. The family made it known that they did not approve of the couples relationship.

I had lunch with her with a minister friend of mine and we talked with her extensively about how it is very, very unwise to be in a relationship with John-Paul, Michael Francis said.

They also offered help as she tried to leave him. Mica Miller had filed for separation multiple times before her death.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her State of the State address, Jan. 24, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. Whitmer denied a report that she had called President Joe Biden's campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon to say that Michigan was no longer winnable for the president. Whitmer in a statement Monday, July 1, insisted that Biden could still win the state in the wake of a debate performance by Biden that has left some Democrats concerned about his campaign. | Al Goldis

Now that President Joe Biden has decided to stand down from the 2024 presidential election, attention turns to his replacement.

Biden, who is currently sick with COVID, announced his decision via X on Sunday and said he will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision.

In a follow-up post, he officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, saying he wanted to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.

My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And its been the best pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

Including Harris, here are five nominees who could step up to try to replace Biden.

Vice President Kamala Harris

She has the presidents endorsement and as the vice president, Kamala Harris would be the obvious choice. But her approval ratings, lower than Bidens, dont solve the Democrats problems. Throughout her term, she has remained loyal to Biden, even after his debate performance, which she dissed as a bad night for Biden, at a rally in Las Vegas Saturday. The stakes of the race couldnt be higher in the 2024 election, she added.

Harris served as the San Francisco district attorney and as the attorney general of California before being elected as a U.S. senator in 2017. Harris launched a presidential campaign in 2020 but withdrew her bid before the start of Democratic primary elections.

In her current role, Harris has become the face of pro-abortion policy after the Supreme Courts 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. She was tapped to fix the immigration crisis at the southern border, and then was criticized for saying the border was secure back in 2022, when the number of migrant crossings remained high.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan phoned a Biden official Friday night, a day after the presidential debate, and said she hated her name being floated on the list of potential candidates who could replace Biden, according to Politico. She also reportedly warned that Bidens debate performance could cost him Michigan, but later denied making that statement. Whitmer, 52, said she is loyal to the president. Her focus appears to be on her upcoming memoir, True Gretch, which was released on July 9.

But that hasnt stopped Democratic operatives from pitching her name. How can you not love a governor who is affectionately called Big Gretch by Detroit rappers, a governor who faced down a kidnap attempt (in 2020), and passed gun safety legislation in response, said Chet Atkins, a former Democratic member of Congress from Massachusetts and now a lobbyist in Boston, in a blast email.

Whitmer was elected to the state House and Senate in Michigan in the early 2000s. After leaving office in 2015, she was briefly appointed as a prosecutor. During her two terms as governor, Whitmer, as a progressive Democrat, advocated for a pro-abortion ballot measure, favored bolstering Michigans manufacturing, and championed gun reform that included universal background checks, safe storage and tax-free firearm safety equipment.

Gov. Gavin Newsom

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a surrogate for Biden, has denied holding aspirations to run for president, but he remains a potential candidate should the opportunity arise. Speaking to reporters on the spin room floor after the debate, this high-profile Democrat said the discussions about replacing Biden are unhelpful and unnecessary. He claimed that based on the substance of the arguments, Biden won the debate, according to The Hill. We arent going to turn our backs because of one performance. What kind of party does that? he added.

In an opinion piece published in The New York Times, television host Bill Maher wrote, Watching (Newsom) make the case against Mr. Trump in the pre-debate interviews, and defend Mr. Biden post-debate, reminded me: This guy is good at this.

Maher admitted Newsom, the former mayor of San Francisco, carried too much California baggage, which the television host doesnt approve of, but the contrast to how he prosecutes the case against Mr. Trump and how Mr. Biden did couldnt be clearer. Maher characterized the California governor as un-bullyable, adding, and thats important against Mr. Trump.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg made his presidential aspirations public when he ran for president in 2020. When Biden won the presidency, Buttigieg was tapped to lead the Transportation Department, despite lacking the expertise to manage a federal agency. His prior experience includes a two-term mayorship in Indiana and chairing the Democratic National Committee in 2017.

During his tenure as a member of Bidens cabinet, Buttigieg contended with the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and the Southwest Airlines fiasco dealing with tens of thousands of canceled flights last year. He was pushed into the spotlight following the Baltimore Bridges collapse and the safety crisis that unraveled at Boeing.

Buttigieg, like other high-level Democrats, admitted, It wasnt the debate I would have loved for us to have in an interview with MSNBC. When asked if he would support the idea of replacing Biden on the 2024 ticket, he answered no, adding, Joe Biden is our candidate and our president because he is the best person to lead this country forward.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, recalled a moment from the Democratic presidential debate in 2020, where he implied Biden was under the influence when remarking on marijuana policy because marijuana in our country is already legal for privileged people.

Bookers mother told him off for accusing the former U.S. vice president of doing such a thing. But during the debates commercial, Booker said Biden appreciated his thoughtfulness on the issue. Whether backstage or in front of the camera, the president is always ridiculously kind.

After being elected to the Senate in 2013, Booker launched his bid for president in 2020. But he rose as a national figure during his two terms as mayor of Newark, New Jersey. Last October, Sen. Mitt Romney, speaking at the E2 Summit in Park City, said he urged both Booker and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia to run against Biden.

Who else?

The list of other potential picks includes governors like Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Wes Moore of Maryland. Other picks could include congressional lawmakers like Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio or Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who made a short-lived run for the presidency this year. Its fun to speculate about former first lady Michelle Obama and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clintons potential candidacy, even though both of them have indicated they arent interested.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 2. Kyrgyztelecom, a telecommunications company in Kyrgyzstan, and China Telecom Global Limited have signed a memorandum of cooperation to modernize communication infrastructure at the Irkeshtam checkpoint on the Kyrgyzstan-China border, Trend reports.

According to the memorandum, the capacity of the transboundary junction at the Irkeshtam crossing will be increased.

This project is highlighted as a significant component of the global "Belt and Road" initiative, aimed at revitalizing trade and economic routes between Asia and Western Europe, reminiscent of the ancient Silk Road, as reported by the Ministry of Digital Development of Kyrgyzstan.

The modernization project at the Irkeshtam crossing will involve deploying state-of-the-art technological equipment to establish a backup communication channel for Kyrgyzstan.

While the primary internet channel connecting Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan will remain operational, the new backup channel will enhance reliability and network resilience, meeting the rising demand for high-speed internet and digital services in the region.

The project will be funded through bilateral efforts, underscoring the significance of collaboration between China and Kyrgyzstan in achieving shared objectives. The adoption of cutting-edge technologies and the substantial increase in internet capacity represent a pivotal advancement towards digital transformation and economic growth in the region.
County could move 600 jobs to Bond Hill but where are Mercy Health jobs that were there?

Hamilton County administrators rolled out a plan Tuesday to sell five county buildings  including the historic 146-year-old Alms & Doepke building on Central Parkway in Over-the-Rhine  and buy Bon Secours Mercy Health offices.

The county would then move 1,400 hybrid jobs, or roughly 500 to 600 employees on any given day, to the Bond Hill site that has been home to Mercy Health offices since 2016.

The Mercy Health office building in Bond Hill could be home to 500-600 county employees on any given day under a new, proposed consolidation plan.

The deal, while proposed as a boon to the county that will save money and provide better client service, is also the first public acknowledgment of the demise of a much-touted 2014 city deal in which Mercy Health was supposed to bring 1,050 high-paying jobs to Bond Hill. The deal, when fully executed, was worth more than $35 million in taxpayer money, according to city documents.

What happened to those Mercy Health jobs?

By Tuesday at noon the city had not responded to emailed questions about what happens to the tax incentive deal now that Mercy Health is leaving.

A spokeswoman for Mercy Health, Lisa Dyson, told The Enquirer via email the company has about 100 jobs in Bond Hill and would completely exit the property by March 2025. Approved just 10 years ago, the tax incentive deal had two provisions  one lasting 15 years, the other 30 years.

Dyson said Mercy Health is looking for a new home that "better suits our needs" of a smaller in-person workforce. Many of its employees, post-COVID, now work remotely, including most with administrative jobs.

It's unclear if the city is working to claw back any of the incentives now that the deal has collapsed, much like what happened with GE Aerospace earlier this year after it exited The Banks ahead of tax incentive agreement terms.

Hamilton County commissioners heard a presentation about the proposed building and job moves Tuesday during a commission meeting. Commissioners Denise Driehaus and Stephanie Summerow Dumas said they support the idea, praising what it would mean for employees and clients.

But Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece, who earlier served as a member of Cincinnati City Council and the state legislature, said she was not convinced. While she agreed with Driehaus and Dumas, she criticized Mercy Health for leaving the property earlier than the incentives called for and accused the health system of never living up to its agreement with the city or the community around the building.

In particular, Reece was concerned about the Bond Hill neighborhood, where the building is located. She grew up there and lived down the road in Roselawn and said it's a struggling community that wanted corporate jobs. This move would mean two large social service agencies the Community Action Agency and county social services  would be located in Bond Hill, which might have unintended consequences on home values.

It was Mercy Health, she said, who approached the county to "bail" it out.

"We don't want Bond Hill to be just a dumping ground," Reece said.

A formal vote on the county plan could come as soon as August. The county plans to reach out to Bond Hill community leaders for input.

County information shows the Bond Hill building is owned by Chicago-based Bond Hill Funding Company and is worth $95 million. If the deal goes through, the county would pay $65 million for the structure, and Mercy would pay the remaining $30 million, according to Mercy Health and county officials. To cover costs, the county would sell other buildings it occupies.

For years, the county has looked at its building portfolio with an eye on saving money while also serving employees and clients. The Alms & Doepke building is home to Hamilton County Job and Family Services employees, who deal with welfare and the foster care and adoption system. While a beautiful historic building, parking there is difficult and expensive.

"A year ago we began looking for leased space to consolidate different departments that work better for employees and customers," said Hamilton County Administrator Jeff Aluotto, who shared the plan with The Enquirer.

The county is now opting to buy instead of lease space because it plans to operate there going forward.

The Alms & Doepke building, shown in this historic photo, is now home to Hamilton County Job and Family Services and may be sold.

A plan gets underway

News of a possible move leaked out in May 2023 after the county requested proposals to lease office space that could accommodate at least 1,200 employees, with parking for at least that many, within seven miles of the Hamilton County Courthouse in Downtown Cincinnati. The Mercy site fits the bill.

The county had looked off-and-on for new buildings to consolidate departments since 2008.

Under the proposed plan, the county would pay $65 million for the Mercy Health building near the intersection of Reading Road and Tennessee Avenue, along with its furniture and technology.

Additionally, the county would sell:

The Alms & Doepke building at 222 Central Parkway in Over-the-Rhine, which houses Job and Family Services. The building is a former department opened by William Alms, Frederick Alms and William Doepke, sons of German immigrants, in 1865. The present building was built in 1878 and the department store closed in 1953.

250 William Howard Taft Road in Corryville, which houses Environmental Services and Public Health.

264 William Howard Taft Road in Corryville, which houses Juvenile Court's assessment center.

1520 Madison Road in Walnut Hills, which houses Developmental Disability Services.

5093 Kingsley Drive in Madisonville, which also houses Developmental Disability Services.

The 1,400 employees who work in those buildings would move to the Bond Hill site  but the number who would show up on a daily basis, at 500 to 600, is far less than Mercy's promised 1,050 jobs.

Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long did not respond to questions about what would happen to the tax incentive deal now that Mercy Health is leaving. But she praised Hamilton County officials for working to bring jobs to Bond Hill.

"We are certainly happy to see these employees stay within the city and continue contributing to our success," Long said. "The county has committed to ensuring future best use of this critical space and I feel confident new tenants will only add to the growth and investment weve seen along this vibrant downtown corridor.

Proposed move touted as cost-saving, client-friendly

The five buildings the county wants to sell have a combined deferred maintenance cost of $100 million over 20 years  $35 million more than the price of the Mercy Hill building, Aluotto said. County taxpayers will also save $400,000 annually in operations after moving into a smaller, more modern building, he added.

Benefits go beyond money, Aluotto said.

The Bond Hill site offers free parking for customers and employees. Also, its proximity to the Norwood Lateral, Interstate 71 and Interstate 75 make it easily accessible.

The commissioners will take future use into consideration when selecting a buyer for the five buildings, with an eye toward what would bring greater economic impact, Aluotto said.

The Alms & Doepke building, in particular, is expected to draw a lot of interest. The Hamilton County Auditor's website lists its market value as $14.4 million.

Mercy Health: From catalytic investment to goodbye

Mercy Health, which in 2014 was called Catholic Health Partners, moved from Walnut Hills to the Bond Hill site, incentivized by $36.7 million in city money, a deal that was to span 30 years.

Then-Mayor John Cranley said at the time that Mercy's move would be a catalytic and transformative development for Bond Hill.

The stakes were high. Landing the high-profile headquarters of Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States, meant netting high-paying jobs that would prop up the city's earnings tax proceeds.

For Mercy, the move marked the latest in a growing list of major business coups that included acquisitions, business sell-offs and restructuring.

For Bond Hill, it was a new life for the shuttered Showcase Cinemas, which sat on 30 acres. It was marketed as a place for a project designed to revitalize the neighborhood and attract other development.

The deal, as reviewed by The Enquirer, called for Mercy Health to build the $77 million building and house 1,050 jobs there, 650 of them new to Cincinnati, with an annual payroll of $85 million.

The city, in exchange, completed $900,000 in street improvements for the site, granted Mercy a 75% property tax exemption worth an estimated $17.9 million, invested $1 million in site improvements and granted a 15-year, 65% property investment reimbursement valued at $18.8 million.

So what happened?

The Enquirer asked the city of Cincinnati and Mercy Health the peak amount of jobs it had at the site, but did not get an answer.

Dyson, Mercy's communication manager, said the company is looking for new space elsewhere in the area.

"We believe that by downsizing, we can utilize our resources more efficiently and ensure a more sustainable operating model," Dyson said. "This will allow (Mercy Health) to invest even more resources into the compassionate, quality care our communities trust and deserve."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hamilton County wants to sell Alms & Doepke building
Erik and Ivan Beda, who were forced to get divorced after Erik came out as transgender, left Russia in December 2023 to escape the countrys crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community

GoFundMe From Left: Ivan and Erik Beda

A couple recently reunited in Minnesota and have since gotten remarried after they fled Russia and got separated by customs.

Erik and Ivan Beda, who first got married in 2006, left Russia on Dec. 23, 2023 to escape the countrys crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community after Erik came out as a transgender man, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Because of Russian law, two men cannot legally get married, Erik told the outlet. And as a result, he and Ivan were forced to get divorce in 2012 after he began transitioning.

After leaving the country, the two ultimately wound up in Mexico City. Two months later, they tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border into Arizona, where they were detained by customs and processed individually, per the Pioneer Press and MPR News.

However, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not keep Erik in detention, his friend, John Pundsack, told the outlets. After his release in March, Erik was provided travel to Minneapolis where he met Pundsack, who was called upon by Travelers Assistance to help him upon his arrival.

Related: Torn from Family at Birth Because of Parents' Leprosy, Woman Reunites with Brother 53 Years Later (Exclusive)

Pundsack and his husband, Joe Briol, later started a GoFundMe campaign for Erik and Ivan, who was still being held in an ICE processing center, in hopes of raising the funds to help afford the new life they were chasing, the outlets reported. (As of Tuesday, July 2, the campaign has raised $18,330 of its $22,000 goal.)

After more than two months apart, Ivan was released from a Georgia detention center, according to MPR News. He and Erik finally reunited on June 1 at the MinneapolisSt. Paul International Airport, where several individuals gathered to witness the heartwarming reunion.

I was very surprised and deeply touched by everything, Ivan, who landed in Minnesota just after 12:30 a.m, told the Pioneer Press. It was so nice and so sweet. I still feel very awkward. I am not used to such nice and kind attention from people.

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.

At the end of Pride month, on June 25, the couple were remarried in a small ceremony in front of the Bell of Two Friends sculpture on Nicollet Island, according to MPR News.

Erik said the sculpture has special meaning to him. I made a wish that Ivan would be here with me, Erik said, per the outlet. I put three pine cones under this arch and rang the bell.

"We started June 1 with Ivan arriving in Minnesota, which we thought, 'Perfect. Pride month. Hes here. Were united,' " Pundsack told the outlet. And now here we are, the week of Pride coming up and they get married... And thats what Pride is, you know. Love wins."



Related: She Was Separated from Her Mom for 3 Weeks After Hurricane Katrina as a Toddler. How PEOPLE Helped Them Reunite (Exclusive)

Now, the couple is staying in a hotel while they search for housing, which has come with its share of obstacles. The problem is they dont have references, and they cant get jobs because they need work permits, but you cant get a work permit until you file your asylum papers, Pundsack told the Pioneer Press.

Supporters are also hoping Eriks asylum hearing for April 2025 can be combined with Ivans court date on July 23, the outlet reported.

I want to say how grateful I am to all of the people who have helped me  people who sent money and people who directly helped us, even to those people who just had good thoughts about us, Ivan said, per the Press Pioneer, while Erik added, It all seems unreal to me.



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WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  A Wyoming couple is charged collectively with nine counts of child abuse after their kids were found confined in booster seats with cockroaches crawling on them, court documents show.

The documents filed last week with the court in Wyoming name Britney Morgan Melton and Aaron Eugene Nordstrom as defendants.

Melton is charged with three counts of fourth-degree child abuse and a count of lying to a peace officer, with the documents saying she lied to or misled police to believe her children were being watched by a friend. She is also accused of using a harness and knotted string to confine at least three of her kids in booster seats, making it impossible for child to avoid roaches and other insects that were present, the document says.

Nordstrom was also charged in connection to the kids being tied into the booster seats around the roaches. In addition, he is accused of leaving 4-, 3- and 1-year-old children at home unsupervised. The documents state all three were found outside of their home and the 4-year-old was wandering in the street when police arrived.

The criminal complaint lists an additional business near the couples home as a place where one or more of the alleged crimes occurred.

Neighbors in the mobile home community where the couple lives told News 8 that the two were always fighting. One said she saw Melton pull her oldest girl inside by the hair after she refused to come home.

Wyoming police declined to comment, telling News 8 that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may follow.

The two are expected to be back in court next week for a pretrial hearing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered additional trial court proceedings in a pair of cases challenging the constitutionality of laws that force social media companies to carry messages they disagree with, or let people to use their services even if the companies owners would prefer not to.

Known collectively as the NetChoice cases, these rulings mark an important moment in how the court handles technologies such as Twitter and Facebook, which have so profoundly changed how we debate political issues. But the cases are also a crucial reminder of the need to abide by long-standing principles of free speech despite the temptations and frustrations of day-to-day politics.

In 2021, lawmakers in Florida and Texas passed laws that prohibit social media platforms from deleting, editing, de-boosting or inhibiting the publication (whatever these things mean) of users messages, without first providing a precise and thorough explanation for doing so. Moreover, the laws entirely forbid social media companies from deleting or editing any post by a journalistic enterprisedefined to include blogs. Lawmakers adopted these laws after some conservatives complained that social media companies were censoring or shadow-banning their messages, terms which are effectively synonyms for not publicizing someones messages as much as conservatives would like.

Theres certainly merit to some of these complaints. Social media companies have indeed sometimes refused to carry conservative messages, and have blocked users for even rational disagreement with woke ideology. In 2017, for example, YouTube removed some of PragerUs videos, labeling them hate speechwhich, whatever one thinks of Prager, is plainly silly. Twitter shut down The Babylon Bees account (temporarily) based on an even sillier hate speech accusation triggered by its satirical reference to a woman as man of the year. In perhaps the most absurd case, Montana Sen. Steve Daines had his Twitter account suspended for having a profile picture showing him hunting.

These incidents may be irritating, or even unjust, but as private businesses, social media companies have the right to make these decisions. Just as a radio station or podcaster can decline to carry advertisements for products they disapprove of or ideas they find offensiveso social media companies have the right to decide what messages to publicize. Thats just how private property and free speech work. If someone doesnt like the way Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube do business, they can go start their own social media company.

That option suggests a crucial point: The difference between government and private action is that government has the power to coerceto jail, fine, and even kill peoplewhich private companies cant do. Thats why the rules for the two realms are different. Government can censor people by employing its coercive powers, as the federal government did under the infamous Sedition Act in the 1790s, or during World War I, when it sent people to jail for speaking out against the military draft. Government itself has no free speech rights; its job is to protect the free speech rights of citizens, not to pursue its own interests. And you cant compete against the governmentit rules over everybody, and is funded by tax dollars that we have to pay whether we like it or not.

These things arent true of the private realm. Businesses pursue their own interests, in a competitive realm, and theyre funded by people who choose to pay them in exchange for goods and services. Unlike government, they do have free speech rights, precisely because theyre run by people who are free to decide for themselves whether to invest time and money publishing articles or broadcasting commercials. If NBC or YouTube refuse to carry my advertisement, thats not censorship. It doesnt involve coercion. I remain as free as I was before to run my ad on ABC or CNN or Fox (or Twitch or Vevo or PeerTube) instead. If people are outraged by a companys refusal to run my ad, they can boycott it (try boycotting the government!)and because companies are private property, owned by investors who have their own free speech rights, forcing them to carry my ad against their will would violate their rights to free speech and property.

But advocates of the Texas and Florida laws argued that this distinction between public and private didnt apply to social media companies, because theyve become so powerful that it isnt really possible to compete with them. Since these companies are monopolies, the government can intervene and force them to do what the government wants.

But thats the same argument thats been leveled against practically every successful company for more than a century, only to be proven wrong time and time again. Recall the infamous 2007 Forbes cover story that said Nokia had become a monopoly, the Cell Phone King that nobody could compete against? Or the 1998 Fortune article titled How Yahoo! Won The Search Wars? Or the Guardian article that asked Will MySpace Ever Lose Its Monopoly?

In fact, competition is alive and well in social media. When President Donald Trump was ejected from Twitter, he started his own alternative, Truth Social. There are plenty of others, including GETTR, Gab, MeWe, Substack (and Rumble and CloutHub and Frank Social)not to mention YouTube, podcasting outlets (Apple, Spotify, iHeart), and old-fashioned television, radio, newspapers, and direct mail. True, some attempts at competition have failedbut thats just because the marketplace has spoken. It cannot be the case that a company is a monopoly subject to government takeover just because it outcompetes its rivals.

In any event, as Justice Elena Kagan observed in Mondays decisiona ruling joined by both her liberal colleagues and Justices John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barretta concern with monopoly was not what actually motivated Texas and Florida lawmakers. Instead, they were seeking to magnify the impact of speech they agree with, and that they think social media companies arent publicizing enough. The large social-media platforms throw out (or encumber) certain messages, Kagan wrote. Texas wants them kept in (and free from encumbrances), because it thinks that would create a better speech balance. [But] it is no job for government to decide what counts as the right balance of private expressionto un-bias what it thinks biased.

More simply, the First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, not some balance of speech that politicians consider worthwhile. In fact, for all of American legal history, courts have made clear that the Constitution doesnt call for any (so to speak) ideological affirmative action, in which government boosts underrepresented viewpoints and muffles others that are heard too much. The protection of free speech is achieved, not by giving bureaucrats power to balance who hears what, but, in Kagans words, by preventing the government from tilt[ing] public debate in a preferred direction.

Thats both the just and pragmatic line to draw. As a practical matter, its inevitable that if government tries to decide which speech should get what kind of amplification, politicians will exploit that power to promote speech they consider worthyand downplay speech they think unnecessary, dangerous, or misleading. In fact, just days ago, in Murthy v. Missouri and NRA v. Vullo, the justices confronted cases in which government officials did just that. Murthy concerned efforts by the Biden administration to intimidate Facebook into deleting posts about the alleged dangers of COVID vaccines. In Vullo, New York officials tried to silence the NRA by threatening the banks with which it did business. Cases like these prove that bureaucrats cannot escape their own prejudices and assumptions about what kind of speech should be balancedand that they cannot be trusted even to try.

But not only is government speech-balancing impracticable, its also unjust. It requires curtailing the freedoms of people who disagree with the messages in question. Twitter and other companies have the right to express their views and not those of others. Forcing them to convey messages they disagree with wont just introduce distorted notions of balanceit would also deprive them of their own expressive rights. It would be wrong and dangerous to force a Catholic church to accord equal time on Sundays to Protestant ministers, or to compel The Dispatch to publish articles by Jacobin writers, or to command Bears fans to cheer for the Packers. Yet the Texas and Florida laws do something akin to that.

Although lawmakers claimed they were just preventing viewpoint discrimination, they were actually, as Kagan observed, using that innocent-sounding phrase to conceal the fact that they did not like the way those platforms are selecting and moderating content, and want[ed] them to create a different expressive product, communicating different values and priorities. But under the First Amendment, that is a preference [states] may not impose.

The most disappointing aspect of Mondays ruling is the dissents, which are written by justices who in almost every other context champion precisely the arguments made in Mondays ruling. In last weeks Loper Bright and Jarkesy decisions, for exampleboth of which concerned the powers of regulatory agenciesJustices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch were rightly skeptical of bureaucratic authority, precisely because bureaucracies are prone to favor the party in power. Two years ago, the same justices recognized that people (and businesses) have a right not to be forced to speak against their will in the Colorado wedding-website case. Yet when it came to Texas and Florida controlling the editorial decisions of actual media companies, they took the opposite view.

Perhaps the most shocking betrayal of principle came in the oral argument in the NetChoice cases, when Justice Alito likened Twitters choice to block certain messages to the federal governments imprisonment of World War I dissenters, an analogy that ignores the fundamental distinction between public and private actionand the monumental difference between the right of a speaker or property owner not to convey others messages, and the power of the government to fine, jail, and execute people.

To be fair to Alito, he viewed social media companies as the new public square, likening the NetChoice case to a famous 1980 decision called PruneYard, in which the owners of a shopping mall were forced to let petition-circulators onto their land, on the theory that freedom of speech overrode their property rights. If it seems strange for a conservative justice to endorse such an anti-property rights viewpoint, thats because it is: PruneYard was wrongly decided, and courts in many states have refused to follow it. Even the Supreme Court has backed away from it, recognizing that freedom of speech doesnt entitle one to ignore the property rights of another.

But even if PruneYard were correct, applying it would make sense only if the competition in social media were as limited as the competition among shopping malls was in the 1980s. Forty-five years ago, a community might have had only one mall, making it a kind of monopoly when it came to communicating to the public. That, at least, was the rationale the court adopted in PruneYard. But the same just isnt true of 21st-century social media, where competition is lively and alternatives are just a click away.

The only reasonable explanation for the three conservatives inconsistency over government control over social media is that its hard sometimes to stick to principles in the heat of political controversy. Its true that major social media companies have spent the last few years in ideological lockstep, one that has often resulted in misleading the public in crucially important ways. And it can be frustrating to be censored by social mediaI know; my own employer, the Goldwater Institute, has experienced such censorship.

Nevertheless, violating the rights of others for personal or political advantage is not only wrong, but enormously foolish. Allowing the government to take over social media companies to aid the MAGA party today means it can do the same tomorrow to aid progressives. Its only too easy to imagine California or Massachusetts legislators forcing media companies to elevate the prominence of speakers based on race or gender identity, for example, or because their views on climate change or the war in Gaza are just that important. Such efforts might easily be rationalized on the theory that (in Alitos words) the enormous power exercised by platforms like Facebook and YouTube is such that the government has an interest in preventing common carriers from engaging in invidious discrimination.

That would, of course, do enormous damage to our already distorted public discourse, and would entrust politicians with something they should never have: the power to decide which messages the public should hear. Theres no perfect solution for bias in social media, any more than in traditional media. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, not fairness in speechand the best solution is for government to keep its hands off.

Disclosure: Timothy Sandefur is vice president for legal affairs at the Goldwater Institute, which filed a brief in the NetChoice cases.

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A federal court has halted the Biden administrations pause on new approvals for natural gas exports.

Judge James Cain, a Trump appointee in Louisiana, approved a request from Republican-led states to lift the pause while the litigation against it plays out.

The Court will grant Plaintiffs Motion for Preliminary Injunction, and order that the LNG Export Ban be stayed in its entirety, effective immediately, Cain wrote.

The Biden administration announced in January that it would pause approvals of new permissions to ship natural gas abroad to countries that dont have free trade with the U.S.

The pause did not impact existing exports. The Biden administration said the pause was being done in order to update the criteria on which it decides whether to OK new gas export terminals  including whether to revamp its considerations of environmental issues in that process.

In his ruling, Cain said the states that challenged the administrations move are likely to succeed in their case and that they will suffer irreparable harm if the pause continues while the case plays out.

The Court is convinced that the Export Ban will and is irreparably harming the Plaintiff States. Plaintiff States have submitted evidence of harm specifically to Louisiana, Texas, and West Virginia in the loss of revenues, market share, and deprivation of a procedural right, he wrote.

Those who sued over the pause cheered the ruling.

This is a big win for the countrys energy industry and the millions of jobs it supports against the attacks from the Biden administration to further its radical climate change agenda at the expense of our economy, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R), who is running for governor, said in a written statement.

The U.S. Department of Energy disagrees with todays ruling. The Department continues to review the courts order and evaluate next steps, a DOE spokesperson told The Hill.

We are disappointed in todays ruling. We remain committed to informing our decisions with the best available economic and environmental analysis, underpinned by sound science, said White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez. The United States remains the worlds largest exporter of LNG, and is currently on track to more than double existing capacity by the end of this decade.

The Biden administrations move to halt the approvals of new LNG export facilities was supported by climate-focused organizations.

Craig Segall, vice president of Evergreen Action, called Mondays ruling deeply misguided, but said it would not stop the Biden administration from updating its criteria for new exports.

Pause or no pause, the science is clear: No sound analysis that accounts for the climate and environmental harm inflicted by LNG exports could possibly determine that these deadly facilities are in the public interest, Segall said in a statement.

The move also prevented the administration from having to make tough choices that could anger its base ahead of the November election.

Cains decision comes just days after a bipartisan panel of federal regulators approved a high profile gas export facility called CP2 , which would still need Biden administration approval to send gas to countries that dont have free trade agreements with the U.S.

The vast majority of U.S. gas exports are to countries without free trade agreements.

Updated at 11:26 p.m. EDT

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FILE - White nationalist demonstrators walk into the entrance of Lee Park surrounded by counter demonstrators in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. A jury Monday, July 1, 2024, awarded ordered white nationalist leaders and organizations to pay a total of more than $26 million in damages to people who had suffered physical or emotional injuries during the event. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Four years after violence erupted during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, a jury ordered white nationalist leaders and organizations to pay a total of more than $26 million in damages to people with physical or emotional injuries from the event.

Most of that money  $24 million  was for punitive damages, but a judge later slashed that amount to $350,000  to be shared by eight plaintiffs. On Monday, a federal appeals court restored more than $2 million in punitive damages, finding that each of the plaintiffs should receive $350,000, instead of the $43,750 each would have received under the lower courts ruling.

A three-judge panel of the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the jury's award of $2 million in compensatory damages, but found that a state law that imposes the $350,000 cap on punitive damages should be applied per person instead of for all eight plaintiffs, as a lower court judge ruled.

The ruling stems from a federal lawsuit against two dozen white nationalists and organizations that participated in two days of demonstrations in Charlottesville to protest the city's plan to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

On the second day, after the Unite the Right rally had been declared an unlawful assembly, James Alex Fields Jr., a white supremacist from Maumee, Ohio, intentionally drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one woman and injuring dozens more. Fields, who was one of the defendants in the civil case, is now serving a life sentence for murder and hate crimes.

The 4th Circuit panel rejected a request from the defendants that the court ask the Supreme Court of Virginia to rule on the question of whether each plaintiff can receive $350,000 in punitive damages, saying in its ruling that it found the state law's language and history clear enough to predict how Virginia's high court would rule.

Over two years ago, the jury used its $24 million punitive damages award to send an unmistakable message to the defendants and to the public about the outrageous misconduct that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia. While the law compels us to reduce the award, its long past time for that message to be delivered, Chief Judge Albert Diaz wrote in the 3-0 ruling.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they were pleased by the court's ruling.

Today's decision restores over $2 million in punitive damages from the jury's verdict, which sent a clear message against racist and antisemitic hate and violence, attorneys Roberta Kaplan, David E. Mills and Gabrielle E. Tenzer said in a statement.

Lawyers for the defendants did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

The verdict from the 2021 trial was a rebuke to the white nationalist movement, particularly for the two dozen individuals and organizations accused in a federal lawsuit of orchestrating violence against African Americans, Jewish people and others in a meticulously planned conspiracy.
Marcellus Williams, photographed in prison (photo submitted).

A Missouri man scheduled to be executed in September will get a chance to present a court with DNA evidence he believes will exonerate him.

Marcellus Williams will get a hearing on Aug. 21, at the request of St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. The prosecutors office has filed a motion to vacate the conviction after reviewing the case and discovering clear and convincing evidence that Williams is innocent.

Williams was convicted in the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle.

In his motion to vacate the conviction, Bell noted that Williams was not the source of DNA found on the weapon used to kill Gayle. Other forensic evidence also excluded Williams as the killer, Bell argues.

Opposing Bells motion is Attorney General Andrew Bailey, whose office has argued that Williams was found guilty by a jury of his peers. The Attorney Generals Office has opposed every innocence case for the last 30 years, including every attempt made by a local prosecutor to overturn a conviction on the basis of innocence.

The attorney general should not be trying to block the courts review, and the Missouri Supreme Court should stay Mr. Williamss execution, said Tricia Bushnell, Williams attorney.

In 2015, the Missouri Supreme Court stayed Williamss execution and appointed a special master to review DNA testing of potentially exculpatory evidence. Two years later, without conducting a hearing, the court rescheduled Williams execution.

Later that year, however, former Gov. Eric Greitens issued the second stay and appointed a board of inquiry to look into the case.

Gov. Mike Parson lifted the stay and dissolved the board in June 2023, and the state Supreme Court issued the execution warrant last month, setting a Sept. 24 execution date.

The post Court sets hearing for Marcellus Williams to present DNA evidence before execution date appeared first on Missouri Independent.
A federal appeals court has thrown out a $456,000 judgment against former Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera, opining that a Miami judge erred when she ruled that Rivera funneled illegal political contributions to a candidate running a 2012 primary campaign against the congressmans Democratic nemesis.

The decision on Monday by the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is the latest lifeline for a politician fighting government lawyers on multiple fronts, but it doesnt end the case. Rather, it gives Rivera another chance to fight the Federal Election Commission in court, and before a different judge than the one who ruled against him in 2022.

After wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer funds, this twelve year witch-hunt that began during Obamas first term will soon come to a humiliating end for the corrupt FEC when they suffer an embarrassing defeat at trial, Rivera wrote in a message to the Miami Herald. I cant wait.

An attorney representing Rivera said they are waiting to hear from the FEC on whether the agency intends to continue pursuing the case. The Federal Election Commission declined to comment.

The case was first filed by the FEC in 2017 alleging that Rivera had secretly bankrolled $75,927 in political services for the primary campaign of a Democratic candidate running against Joe Garcia, who would ultimately go on to defeat Rivera that November in what was then considered Floridas 26th Congressional District.

The scheme, first reported by the Miami Herald, was the subject of a years-long federal investigation.

The candidate receiving the financial support, Justin Lamar Sternad, eventually pleaded guilty to criminal charges and served 30 days in prison, with three months house arrest.

A political consultant working with Rivera, Ana Alliegro, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of house arrest, and two years of supervised release.

Rivera wasnt charged criminally. Instead, he faced a civil complaint from the FEC, which said hed violated federal laws banning straw political donations.

Two years ago, District Court Judge Marcia Cooke sided with the FEC, saying that Riveras illegal conduct was egregious and issuing an injunction blocking Rivera  who has continued to flirt with political campaigns  from illegal campaign activity in the future.

Perhaps by virtue of the Court barring Rivera from engaging in similar unlawful conduct in the future, that will do the trick in convincing Rivera  a former U.S. Congressman  to stop violating the law, Cooke wrote.

Rivera, though, has always denied masterminding an illegal campaign plot to undermine Garcia.

And on Monday, Circuit judges Barbara Lagoa, Robert Luck and Charles Wilson reversed Cooke, saying she erred by granting summary judgment in favor of the FEC.

The appeals panel found that Cooke relied heavily on testimony from witnesses, Sternad and vendors who provided services to the Sternad campaign, and improperly discounted Riveras deposition and signed affidavits denying any contributions to the Democrat candidate. Summary judgment, they noted, is reserved for cases in which material facts are not in dispute.

Riveras attorney, Jeffrey Feldman, told the Herald in an email that the 11th Circuit vacated the judgment against Rep. Rivera because the Federal Election Commission did not have sufficient evidence to prove its allegations. 

The FECs case against Congressman Rivera remains meritless and the judgment against him was properly discarded, Feldman wrote.

The 11th Circuit sent the case back to the District Court, where a different judge will now preside over the case should it continue, following Cookes death last year. Federal court records show that Judge Aileen Cannon is now listed as the jurist overseeing the case.

READ: Judge: Ex-Miami Rep. Rivera must finally pay penalty for election violations. Its six figures

Riveras fight with the FEC is just one front in a number of legal dramas. In 2020, he was sued for $50 million by PDVSA, an oil company owned by Venezuelas socialist government, for a breach of contract. Rivera was a critic of socialist regimes in Cuba and Venezuela while holding office.

According to the lawsuit filed in New York federal court, Rivera  an old political ally of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio  was paid $15 million as a down payment on a three-month, $50 million contract through his consulting company, Interamerican Consulting Inc. The contract aimed to help improve the companys image in the U.S. as the energy firms finances and reputation collapsed along with Venezuelas economy.

Rivera was then arrested in 2022 on federal charges of failing to register as a foreign agent before working for the Venezuelan government. A year later, Rivera was charged with failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income.

Rivera has said he is innocent.

This article has been updated to correct the spelling of the name of Riveras attorney
CPD issues missing person alert amid ongoing search for Chicago woman who vanished during yoga retreat in The Bahamas

CHICAGO  Authorities in Chicago have issued a missing person alert for a woman who disappeared while on a yoga retreat in The Bahamas nearly two weeks ago.

Taylor Casey, a 41-year-old Chicago resident, was last seen on Wednesday, June 19, at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island, near the capital city of The Bahamas.

Chicago police issued the alert just after 1:30 p.m. on Monday, asking anyone who may have had any recent direct contact or correspondence with Casey to contact the CPD Area 5 SVU at 312-746-6554.

Taylor would never disappear like this: Chicago woman goes missing in The Bahamas during yoga retreat

According to CPD, the alert was issued after a call was made to Chicago police regarding Caseys disappearance.

Taylor Casey, a 41-year-old Chicago resident, was last seen on Wednesday, June 19, at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island, near the capital city of The Bahamas.

Ongoing efforts to locate Taylor Casey

Mondays alert is the latest effort to locate the woman as loved ones say they fear the worst.

According to a family spokesperson, Casey, who has been practicing yoga for 15 years, left Chicago to participate in a yoga teacher training program, as she sought to fulfill a long-term goal of deepening her practice.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Caseys niece, Traysia Conard said it was unlike Casey to go silent and knew something was wrong after organizers from the yoga retreat informed them that she had failed to show up for class.

Officials from the retreat later said that they also advised the U.S. Embassy about Caseys disappearance after she did not show up.

According to Conard, it was not unusual for Casey to travel to The Bahamas, adding that she had traveled there in February.

I believe Taylor is in danger because she was eager to share her yoga retreat experience with others upon her return. Taylor would never disappear like this, Caseys mother, Colette Seymore, said in a statement last week.

Search continues for Chicago woman who went missing in The Bahamas; phone reportedly located in water

Only a day before her disappearance, on Tuesday, June 18, family members received pictures from Casey of herself on the beach and told them that she was enjoying herself.

Following her disappearance, a Facebook group called Find Taylor Casey was started.

On Friday, June 21, two days after she was last seen, the Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a Missing Persons Alert for Casey.

Chrislyn Skippings, the police forces Chief Superintendent, told WGN News that there is currently no information indicating that any crimes were committed.

Family members of the missing woman traveled to The Bahamas in an effort to aid in the search.

Missing womans found phone offers clues

On the morning of Tuesday, June 25, authorities located Caseys cell phone in the water.

Conard, said on NewsNation Live on Wednesday, that she was the only person who could view Caseys location on the Find My iPhone app and after checking the app, she could see the phone was in the water. It was the same area where authorities later located the phone.

The Bahamas Travel Advisory

In January, the U.S. government issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory for The Bahamas.

The advisory warned travelers about water hazards and crime in certain parts of The Bahamas, including the area where Casey had traveled.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands. In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the Over the Hill area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population, the advisory said in part. Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.

In a statement to NewsNation, the State Department said its aware of Caseys disappearance and that there is no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad.

Authorities in The Bahamas are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Casey to contact the Royal Bahamas Police Forces Criminal Investigations Department at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-8477.

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 WGN-TV.
Embers glow as the Basin fire burns recently in the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County. (David Swanson / AFP / Getty Images)

California firefighters battling a blaze that has ripped through more than 13,000 acres of the Sierra National Forest just north of the Giant Sequoia National Monument and close to several hydroelectric facilities finally began to gain control Monday afternoon.

Crews had the Basin fire 17% contained after days of being unable to get a handle on the fire.

The wildfire was one of several burning throughout the state as officials braced for the longest heat wave so far this year, set to kick off Tuesday, two days before the Fourth of July. Forecasters predict broiling weather and increased wildfire risks.

"We are starting to see an uptick in fire activity that we have been predicting," said Robert Foxworthy, spokesperson for Cal Fire. "What's primarily driving the fires we're seeing now is those lighter fuels; those grasses ... that dry out quickly are now dead and receptive to fire."

Two years of back-to-back wet years produced eye-popping blooms and fields of grasslands across the state, which are now browning under punishing heat. And those grasses are already becoming fire fuel.

The heat wave is expected to bring dangerous temperatures through the Fourth of July holiday and into early next week in many areas, particularly across Northern California, the Central Valley and southwestern deserts. Most of Fresno County is under an excessive heat warning from Tuesday through July 9, with the National Weather Service expecting little overnight relief from the high temperatures.

As a result of the Basin fire, officials have evacuated 159 people in the Sierra National Forest, most of whom live at the Balch Camp, an isolated community where Pacific Gas & Electric has facilities that feed into California's power grid.

"The fire reached pretty close to the camp, but there was no physical damage to the facility," said Denny Boyles, a PG&E spokesperson.

The fire began north of the Kings River and was spotted by an air attack plane scouting for fires in the area June 26.

The Basin fire was one of 18 that started in the Sierra National Forest on or shortly after June 25, when there was a lightning storm in the area, although the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Most of those blazes kindled in grasslands but burned less than a quarter of an acre.

But the Basin fire took hold. A total of 951 firefighters have worked to contain the fire and keep it from crossing the river on its southern perimeter, where groves of ancient sequoias stand, said Mike Lindbery, a spokesperson for Basin fire.

The Sierra National Forest has issued a temporary closure that will remain in effect until July 30.

Other parts of the state also continued to burn. Cal Fire listed 14 active incidents as of Monday night.

In San Diego County, a car fire is believed to have sparked a 900-acre brush fire Thursday. Dubbed the Mccain 4 fire, the blaze was not contained as of 7 p.m., threatening about 100 structures in Jacumba Hot Springs, said Mike Cornette, a spokesman for Cal Fire San Diego.

Dry grasses struck by lightning June 24 fueled three separate fires in eastern Fresno County that burned more than 10,000 acres but were under control. As of Monday, the Fresno June Lightning Complex fire  which charred antenna towers on Bear Mountain  was 78% contained, and evacuation orders had been lifted.

So far this year, 131,483 acres have been blackened across the state, an early boom in California wildfires. But it's, as of yet, a fraction of the acreage and loss of life seen in recent years. Foxworthy said, however, it only takes one wildfire to devastate the region.

In 2018, the Camp fire became the deadliest in California's history, killing 86 people. It began after a PG&E transmission line in the Sierra Nevada foothills malfunctioned. Two years later, wildfires across the state burned 4.3 million acres and 33 people died.

This summer  in the face of an early wildfire season, extreme heat and dense, drying vegetation  Cal Fire has increased its ranks in preparation, Foxworthy said.

"We have extra folks on," he said, "so we are fully staffed up now."

Times staff writer Grace Toohey contributed to this report.





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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 2. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become the foundation of Kyrgyzstan's state policy, President of the country Sadyr Zhaparov said, Trend reports.

According to the official website of the Kyrgyz president, Zhaparov made these remarks during negotiations with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, held in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan.

Zhaparov emphasized that the UN SDGs are integrated into Kyrgyzstan's long-term national development strategy. This includes the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Kyrgyzstan for 20232027 and a two-year joint action plan.

It was noted that Kyrgyzstan has made significant progress in achieving the SDGs, ranking 45th out of 166 UN member states.

Zhaparov highlighted upcoming plans for major projects such as CASA-1000, aimed at connecting the energy systems of Central Asia with South Asia, and the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

The president also addressed border issues, noting that legal resolutions have been fully achieved regarding the Kyrgyz-Uzbek state border. Zhaparov underscored active efforts to resolve issues along the state border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Zhaparov expressed his support for the initiative to hold the Future Summit in New York in September of the current year.

In turn, Guterres specifically emphasized that Kyrgyzstan serves as an example for other countries and that the UN is always ready to support the country in all ongoing reforms.
Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law.

Incidents

5200 block of Buffalo Gap Road  Exploitation of Child/Elderly/Disabled

500 block of N Judge Ely Boulevard  Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon

Police responded to a disturbance in north Abilene where a suspect was arrested for aggravated assault family violence.

3700 block of Ridgemont Drive  Theft of Property

A laptop worth $3,400 has been reported stolen.

3700 block of Ridgemont Drive  Theft of Property

Suspects are accused of stealing from an Abilene business on multiple occasions.

3100 block of S 12th Street  Theft of Property

A cell phone worth $300 was reported stolen.

6300 block of Buffalo Gap Road  Theft of Property

A trailer was reported stolen.

Arrests

Nicholas Fitzpatrick  Warrant

Deborah Fullwood  Public Intoxication

Lyndasha Buckingham  Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon

Travis Goodman  Warrant

Crystal Whitley  Warrant

Eric Tyler  Impede Breath

Donny Smith  Public Intoxication

Oscar Perez  Assault Family Violence

Jose Bustamante  Assault Family Violence, Possession of Controlled Substance

Wojapi Red Willow  Warrant

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A bar in Southington plagued with fights and other disturbances, including a double stabbing that injured two bouncers earlier this year, will be permanently closing its doors on Wednesday.

The announcement was made Monday on the 75 Center bar and grills Facebook page, where an accompanying video showed a photo montage of employees.

To our loyal and dear customers, the bar wrote. Thank you for the years of memories, friendships and celebrations along the way.

The statement from the bar did not cite a specific reason for closing, only attributing it to unfortunate circumstances.

Phone calls to 75 Center on Tuesday were not answered.

The bars statement continued, The staff invites all of you to come down, have a drink, share some laughs and as always have a great time! We will be doing a toast at midnight to send it off right! Thank you again and we cannot wait to see all of you.

The announcement comes after 75 Centers liquor license was suspended days after a fight broke out on March 23 inside the bar and spilled spilled out onto Center Street, leading to a Wallingford woman allegedly stabbing two bouncers with a wand shank she had on her keychain, according to the Southington Police Department.

Police: Woman stabs bouncers with shank during fight at Southington bar

According to police, bar staff intervened in an argument involving 28-year-old Adrian Montes and 32-year-old Stuart Chase, both from Massachusetts, before things escalated and bouncers tried to escort them to the door. Police allege that Chase punched a bouncer in the face, starting a fight.

During the fight, Heidi Montes, Adrian Montes sister, took out a wand shank and pepper spray that were on her keychain and threatened to stab the bouncers, according to police.

Police allege she sprayed pepper spray at a bouncer before stabbing him in the left side of his face. She then stabbed a second bouncer multiple times in the head and neck, according to police.

A total of three bouncers suffered injuries during the attack, including two who were taken to the hospital. Heidi Montes, Adrian Montes and Chase were all taken into custody at the scene and charged.

Following the double stabbing, Southington Police Chief John Daly wrote a letter dated March 25 to the states Liquor Control Division. In it, he said he conducted an in-house query and found that police had received nine calls for service at 75 Center over the past year.

CT bar has liquor license suspended after knife assault that injured three people

Daly wrote that the calls reported things like patrons overdosing on drugs inside the establishment, physical altercations that started inside the establishment and spill out onto the sidewalk in front of the establishment, intoxicated patrons passing out inside the establishment and needing medical attention, two calls (involving patrons)  leaving the establishment and then pulled firearms out and pointed them at people in front of the establishment, (and) patrons with firearms inside the establishment.

The Department of Consumer Protection, which at the time issued an indefinite suspension of 75 Centers liquor license, also reported finding three additional complaints predating Dalys query. Those incidents reportedly occurred between October and December 2022 and involved reports of a disturbance in the bar involving intoxicated guests, a woman who alleges a patron threw a bottle at her after the two accidentally bumped and an incident in which two people said they were jumped in the bar and across the street, according to the department.

The bar announced via social media that it was reopening in April with new policies aimed at making 75 Center safer. These included a re-trained security staff who would search guests and their bags and use a metal detector wand prior to entry to ensure everyone was weapon free. The bar also reported that it would be adding more surveillance camera views and turning down any customers who arrived appearing intoxicated.

A spokesperson for the Department of Consumer Protection said in April that 75 Center reopened after entering into a safety plan that was approved by DCP Liquor Control with significant input from the town.
D.A.s office cracking down on drag racing as new TN law kicks in

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two men are facing charges after police connected them to a car driving recklessly, and the arrests come as a new law has kicks in, making drag racing a felony in Tennessee.

Drag racing, driving erratically, and street takeovers are sights and sounds many Memphians are tired of seeing.

Gun laws, bail reform, drag racing: New TN laws go into effect on July 1

Memphis Police told us of the two men were arrested June 28.

Officers reported they saw a red Dodge Charger run a red light at South Perkins and American Way, then take off on I-240 eastbound, speeding and weaving from lane to lane.

Police didnt pursue the car but located it later, 18 miles away in a neighborhood in Cordova, where they say they saw two men get out of the car.

MPD: Man caught with stolen handgun out on bond

The driver was 21-year-old Daylen Harris; 22-year-old Cordarius Hampton, the passenger, was also arrested after police say they found him with a stolen gun.

The arrests come before a new law went into effect in Tennessee on July 1.

The penalty for drag racing has gone from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.

We asked Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroys office about the new law and enforcement.

DA Mulroy acknowledges there has been a problem with drag racing and will vigorously prosecute these offenses as felonies to ensure offenders are properly punished, his team told us.

 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

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Drag racing is incredibly dangerous and puts innocent people at risk. The attorney generals office says it will give each of these cases the attention it deserves.

They also told us the office will continue to enforce the law as written and move for the seizure and forfeiture of automobiles used in drag racing.

This new law comes months after city council members shared this picture of a street takeover near the Memphis airport back in February.

This whole body expects to see this end, like yesterday, and we keep talking about it and talking about it. We can control this and the expectation is that this will be addressed, said Memphis City Councilman Philip Spinosa.

Perhaps the new law and the fear of a stiffer punishment are making a difference.

We reached out to Memphis Police about the number of drag racing and reckless driving arrests so far this year compared to last year. We are told they are checking on that data.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The second man involved in the 2020 shooting death of a man at a Visalia apartment complex has been sentenced to life in prison, according to the Tulare County District Attorneys Office.

The DA says on Nov. 28, 2020, the victim who was 33, and 31-year-old Curtis Williams were engaged in an argument in the victims apartment. Surveillance video shows the co-defendant Andrew Hernandez, 29, enter the apartment, entering the residence holding his waistband.

DA: 2 convicted for 2020 Visalia shooting death

It was learned through witness testimony that Hernandez gave Williams a gun and Williams shot the victim in the chest. Both men fled the apartment, according to the DA.

The victim was not discovered until he had not been heard from for several days.

Hernandez was arrested in early December, but Williams fled to the Sacramento area. Williams was arrested on Feb. 9, 2021, after fleeing from law enforcement on a rooftop and through a Visalia neighborhood, according to the DA.

The DA says on April 23, 2024, both men were convicted of first-degree murder. The jury found true allegations that Williams personally used a firearm and personally discharged a firearm causing death.

According to the DA, Williams must serve 50 years. On May 14, 2024, Hernandez was sentenced to 26 years to life 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 YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
NEW YORK  Donald Trumps sentencing for his conviction in his hush money case will likely be delayed by at least two weeks after Trumps lawyers asked the judge to set aside his conviction in light of Mondays stunning Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

Manhattan prosecutors wrote on Tuesday they do not oppose pushing back the sentencing, which was slated for next week, so that Justice Juan Merchan could weigh the impact of the top courts ruling on the case.

In a letter to Merchan on Monday, lawyers for Trump argued that the Supreme Court decision confirmed arguments they raised earlier in the case that prosecutors should have not been allowed to introduce certain pieces of evidence.

Tweets the former president posted while president, including posts where he spoke about how Michael Cohen would not flip, ethics filings and call records from when he was in office, and the testimony of former campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks all fall under official asks, lawyers Blanche and Bove wrote.

President Trump does not object to an adjournment of the July 11, 2024 sentencing date, the lawyers wrote.

Merchan could rule as soon as Tuesday on scheduling.

Under the new Supreme Court decision, these official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, the lawyers wrote in the letter, which was made public Tuesday.

In a letter on Tuesday, the Manhattan DAs office said they would not oppose a delay in the sentencing. ADA Joshua Steinglass filed a response Tuesday, asking for a new deadline of July 24, to file a response.

Although we believe defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, he wrote.

Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to influence the results of the 2016 election by concealing unsavory stories.

The Trump decision confirmed the defense position that DANY should not have been permitted to offer evidence at trial of President Trumps official acts, his lawyers wrote in the letter.

Mondays Supreme Court decision expanded presidential immunity to all official acts, providing Trump additional legal leeway as his lawyers fight his multiple criminal cases. The justices found that presidents are not immune for unofficial acts.

Experts were skeptical that the decision would allow Trump to do away with his conviction.

The underlying conspiracy to influence the results of the election took place before Trump was president, and repayments to Michael Cohen for paying off porn star Stormy Daniels were a classic example of unofficial acts, attorney Ron Kuby told the Daily News on Monday.

The sentencing is expected to be the only time the former president would face criminal accountability before the election. His other cases have faced significant delays, and his trial in Washington, D.C., where he was charged with illegally attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, is expected to be further delayed because of the Supreme Court decision.

Previously, Trumps July 2023 attempt to get the hush-money charges moved to federal court was rejected by Manhattan Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who wrote that the matter was simply a personal coverup of an embarrassing event, not an official function of the presidency.

Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a presidents official acts, Hellerstein wrote in the ruling. It does not reflect in any way the color of the presidents official duties.
DA: Man facing manslaughter charge in connection with overdose death of woman on Cape Cod

A man is facing manslaughter and drug charges in connection with the overdose death of a woman on Cape Cod, authorities announced Tuesday.

Shawn OHara, 42, of Hyannis, was arraigned in Barnstable District Court on charges including manslaughter, possession of a Class A drug, and subsequent offense of possession of a Class B drug in the death of a 36-year-old Barnstable woman, according to Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois.

Officers responding to a report of an overdose at a home in Barnstable around 6 p.m. on June 29 found an unresponsive woman inside, Galibois office said.

The woman, whose name hasnt been released, was later pronounced dead at Cape Cod Hospital.

OHaras bail was set at $10,000. He is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on July 31.

State police detectives assigned to the DAs office are assisting Barnstable police with an investigation.

There were no additional details immediately available.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly sexually assaulted a babysitter more than two decades ago, according to an exclusive story from Vanity Fair.

In 1998, Kennedy and his second wife, Mary Richardson, hired a 23-year-old babysitter named Eliza Cooney, who moved into their family home to watch their four children. Kennedys inappropriate behavior toward Cooney began one night in 1998, when he started rubbing his hand up and down her thigh under the kitchen table. Cooney wrote in her diary that she wasnt sure whether he was on something or really tired or was missing Mary or was testing me.

Kennedy later appeared in her bedroom, perusing the intimate details of her life in her diary, and asked her to rub his back with lotion, an incident that she told Vanity Fair was totally inappropriate.

In another instance, he came up behind her as she searched for something in the pantry, and began groping her hips, rib cage, and chest, and didnt stop until interrupted by another staff member. My back was to the door of the pantry, and he came up behind me, said Cooney. I was frozen. Shocked.

Cooney left the family a few months later, writing in her diary that she wanted to leave bad men behind in 1999. She kept the alleged sexual assault a secret until 2017, when she finally told her mother.

In 2023, when Kennedy announced he was running against Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden, Cooney opted not to file a civil suit against her former boss, but ultimately decided to take her story public regardless.

According to several people close to the family, this was far from Kennedys only marital indiscretion, but it marks a trend of sexually aggressive behavior by the struggling presidential candidate. A former friend of Richardsons told Vanity Fair that Richardson called Kennedy a sex addict and said he was taking medication for it. The two divorced in 2010 when Kennedy began a relationship with actress Cheryl Hines. Hines and Kennedy married in 2014.

The Kennedy campaign did not respond to Vanity Fairs requests for comment.

According to the report, Kennedys alleged sexual deviancy doesnt end there. When he was still married to Richardson, he sent his friends nude photographs of women on several occasions. His friends told Vanity Fair that they believed he had taken the pictures himself, although they werent sure the women had consented to being photographed or having the images passed on.

In another strange texting incident, last year, Kennedy sent his friend a photo of him on vacation in Korea, holding up and pretending to eat the barbecued carcass of a dog. The pictures metadata indicated that the photograph was taken in 2010, the same year that Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain worm, which he claims is responsible for his brain fog.

Kennedys reckless texting habits seemed to stump many of his friends, who knew he had political aspirations and a desire to protect his familys name. It seems that neither of these goals could rein in the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, convinced that he could do whatever he wanted and get away with it.
Is it dangerous to light fireworks during California heat wave? Store them? What experts say

As parts of California experience a sweltering heat wave with triple-digit temperatures, people are wondering if its dangerous to set off fireworks or store them.

State fire officials say people should be especially careful ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.

The Sacramento Bee consulted the California Department of Fire Protection and Dynamite Fireworks to get answers on fireworks safety, including how explosives should be stored and used.

Heres what we found:

An array of explosions burst from TNT Fireworks Brain Buster on Monday, June 24, 2024, at Sacramento Fire Department Station 4 in Sacramento.

Is it dangerous to set off fireworks during heat wave?

Heat, wind and fireworks can be a dangerous combination, according to state fire officials.

Kara Garrett, Cal Fire deputy state fire marshal, told The Bee via email that the chances of sparking a wildfire with fireworks are greater during a red flag warning.

Red flag warnings mean that there are critical weather conditions occurring now or noon, the National Weather Service wrote on its site.

A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior, the weather service said.

Conditions include winds averaging at least 15 mph, humidity of 25% or less and temperatures above 75 degrees.

The weather service issued a red flag warning for the Sacramento Valley and northern Sierra Nevada foothills that will remain in effect through 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Wind speeds in the region are forecast to range from 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph.

Phantom Fireworks Peacock Tail Fan fountain spews red light on Monday, June 24, 2024, at Sacramento Fire Department Station 4 in Sacramento. The Sacramento Bees interns gave this fountain a rating of 4.66 out of five total points.

Can I store fireworks in a hot car? Will they explode?

Its always best to err on the side of caution to prevent any accidents from occurring, Garrett said.

That includes not storing fireworks in a hot car, she added.

Fireworks combust at roughly 867 degrees and should be used and stored per manufacturers instructions, according to Garrett.

Dynamite Fireworks, a retail and wholesale fireworks company, said a hot car will not cause damage to fireworks or cause them to explode.

Though it isnt best practice, you can keep your fireworks in a hot car, Kris Zambo of Dynamite Fireworks wrote in a September 2022 article titled Fireworks, Hot Cars, and Spontaneous Explosions.

A hot car is not nearly warm enough to cause fireworks to combust, Zambo wrote.

The ideal place to store fireworks is in a dry storage container in cool temperatures, Dynamite Fireworks said. You should also keep them away from children.

Illegal fireworks are set off in a residential area in south Sacramento on July 4, 2023.

Can I light fireworks on my lawn?

You shouldnt.

Garrett said fireworks should be lit outside, but never near dry grass or other flammable materials.

Heres a list of additional firework safety tips, courtesy of Cal Fire:

Never store fireworks in your pocket

Do not wear loose garments while lighting fireworks

Do not relight or adjust fireworks

Back up immediately after lighting fireworks

Do not play with fireworks (pointing or throwing)

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
A man cools off by the river in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Swaths of California sweltered Tuesday, and things were only expected to get worse during the Fourth of July holiday week for parts of the United States with nearly 90 million people under heat alerts. (AP Photo/Terry Chea)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Swaths of California sweltered Tuesday and things were only expected to get worse during the Fourth of July holiday week for parts of the United States, with nearly 90 million people under heat alerts.

The torrid conditions were being caused by a ridge of high pressure just off the West Coast and a separate ridge that spawned heat warnings and advisories from Kansas and Missouri to the Gulf Coast states, according to the National Weather Service.

California's capital, Sacramento, was under an excessive heat warning expected to last until Sunday night, with temperatures forecasted to reach between 105 degrees and 115 degrees (40.5 and 46.1 Celsius).

John Mendoza, 35, called it a firehose of heat as he walked around the Capitol on Tuesday with an iced coffee in his hand. By 9 a.m. he had already been in a pool once  and planned to go back later in the day.

I felt like I needed to be submerged in water, he said.

About 70 miles (113 kilometers) north of Sacramento, crews working in scorching conditions were battling a wildfire in Butte County that forced the evacuation of about 13,000 people in and around Oroville. The blaze, dubbed the Thompson Fire, broke out before noon and sent up a huge plume of smoke as it swiftly grew to more than 3 square miles (7.7 square kilometers) by evening, with zero containment.

Firefighters lined roads, trying to keep the flames from reaching homes as helicopters dropped water on the fast-moving blaze.

The governor's office announced late Tuesday that federal funding had been approved to help with firefighting efforts. Earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom activated the State Operations Center to coordinate California's response, dispatch mutual aid and support local communities as they respond to threats of wildfire and excessive heat.

As the temperatures spiked in Sacramento, Katherine Powers sought refuge in the shade of Cathedral Square. Powers, who is homeless, sipped sparkling water while resting her bare feet on the shaded sidewalk.

Powers said she had loaned her shoes to a friend. She had not yet visited one of Sacramento County's nine cooling centers, she said, because of the difficulty in bringing all the possessions she carries.

Im just going to go to a park with a water fountain just to stay cool, stay in the shade and just keep pouring water on me, basically, she said. Theres not too much that I can do.

Darlene Crumedy, who lives in Fairfield, said she doesnt use air conditioning because its too expensive.

Im good, I have a hundred fans, she said, adding she tries to stay inside and drink cold water.

An analysis by The Associated Press found that heat killed more than 2,300 people in the United States last year, a record. That figure is likely a major undercount, dozens of experts told AP reporters.

Dr. Arthur Jey, an emergency services physician with Sutter Health in Sacramento, told reporters that getting out of the heat is important, along with wearing a hat and loose clothes, hydration and watching out for signs of heat stroke.

With heat stroke, it looks like a stroke, Jey said, describing symptoms that may include acting unusual, significant headaches, blurry vision, profuse sweating and then no sweating.

And thats a really big deal, Jey said. So we want to prevent them getting even close to heat stroke.

California's heat was expected to spread from north to south over the week, with the worst of it focused on interior areas including the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys and the southern deserts. But warnings extended out to just short of the coast.

San Francisco, famous for its cool summers, was expected to have a high Tuesday in the upper 80s (31 C) downtown but mid-60s (18.3 C) at Ocean Beach, forecasters said.

The high pressure dome will linger over California for at least a week, with more long range guidance suggesting that timeline may even be optimistic, the Bay Area weather office wrote.

The heat arrived with gusty, dry winds in the northern part of the state, where the utility Pacific Gas & Electric implemented public safety power shutoffs in parts of 10 counties to prevent wildfires from being ignited by downed or damaged electrical wires.

About 12,000 customers were told their power could be cut and given information about centers where they could obtain ice, water, snacks, Wi-Fi and other necessities, PG&E said.

California has had a spate of spring and early summer wildfires feeding on abundant grasses spawned by back-to-back wet winters. The largest current blaze, dubbed the Basin Fire, was 17% contained after charring more than 21 square miles (54 square kilometers) of the Sierra National Forest in eastern Fresno County since it was sparked June 26.

___

Antczak reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalist Christopher Weber contributed from Los Angeles.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 2. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended the strong collaboration between the UN and Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he made the remarks during a meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev in Kyrgyzstan.

Guterres expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz side for actively promoting the mountain agenda on a global level. He noted that Kyrgyzstan, with its beautiful natural landscapes, sets an example for other countries in biodiversity conservation.

In discussions on regional and international security issues, including Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz side detailed its priorities as a candidate for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the 20272028 term.

During his visit, Guterres also met with President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov. At the meeting, he emphasized that Kyrgyzstan serves as an example for other countries and that the UN is always ready to support the country in all its ongoing reforms.

On July 34, Guterres is set to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan's Astana.
On This Day, July 2: Civil Rights Act of 1964 becomes law

President Lyndon B. Johnson (C) signs the 1964 Civil Rights Act as the Rev. Martin Luther, standing behind him, and others watch on July 2, 1964, in the White House. File Photo by Cecil Stoughton/White House Press Office

July 2 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted a resolution for independence from Britain.

In 1788, it was announced in the U.S. Congress that the new Constitution had been ratified by the required nine states, the ninth being New Hampshire.

In 1839, slaves being shipped to Cuba revolted and seized the ship Amistad, leading to an eventual end of the African slave market.

In 1881, U.S. President James Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a mentally unstable lawyer and office-seeker. Garfield died Sept. 19 and was succeeded by Vice President Chester Arthur. Guiteau was convicted and hanged in 1882.

On July 2, 1992, the 1 millionth Corvette rolled off the production line in Bowling Green, Ky. File Photo courtesy of Chevrolet

In 1900, the world's first rigid airship was demonstrated by Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin in Germany.

In 1917, Greece declared war on the Central Powers, joining World War I on the side of Britain, France, Russia and Italy.

On July 2, 1917, Greece declared war on the Central Powers, joining World War I on the side of Britain, France, Russia and Italy. File Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

In 1934, 6-year-old Shirley Temple signed a contract with Fox Film Corp. She went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of the era. Her mother told United Press that to keep her daughter grounded, she would tell her "You're not so good as an actress, Shirley."

File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

On July 2, 1943, Lt. Charles Hall became the first African-American pilot to shoot down a Nazi plane in World War II during an Allied assault on three Italian air bases. Seated in his P-40L Warhawk, Hall points to a freshly painted swastika marking his kill. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

In 1937, U.S. aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Frederick Noonan were reported lost over the Pacific Ocean. They were never found. In 1932, Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and later that year was the first woman to fly solo non-stop from coast to coast in the United States.

In 1943, Lt. Charles Hall became the first Black American pilot to shoot down a Nazi plane in World War II during an Allied assault on three Italian air bases. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower personally congratulated Hall when the escort squadron returned to base.

Aviator Amelia Earhart sites in the cockpit of her Electra airplane. Her plane went down in the Pacific on this day in 1937. UPI File Photo

In 1962, the first Walmart store opened -- in Rogers, Ark. In May 2018, the retail outlet topped the Fortune 500 list for the sixth year in a row as the first U.S. company with $500 billion in yearly sales.

In 1964, the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law with the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

A sea of Muslims circle the Ka'baa at the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest shrine in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on December 4, 2008. In 1990, a stampede in a pedestrian tunnel at the Muslim holy city of Mecca during the annual hajj killed 1,426 pilgrims. File Photo by Mohammad Kheirkhah/UPI

In 1976, North and South Vietnam reunited, forming the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and naming Hanoi the capital.

In 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed numerical hiring goals for minorities, rejecting the Reagan administration view that affirmative action be limited to proven victims of race discrimination.

Vicente Fox, president of Mexico makes a toast at the White House during a state dinner September 5, 2001, in Washington, D.C. On July 2, 2000, Fox was elected president of Mexico. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI

In 1990, a stampede in a pedestrian tunnel at the Muslim holy city of Mecca during the annual hajj killed 1,426 pilgrims.

In 1992, the 1 millionth Corvette rolled off the production line in Bowling Green, Ky. The white convertible was later damaged when a sinkhole opened up under the National Corvette Museum in 2014. A full restoration was completed a year later.

In 1993, Islamist extremists set fire to a hotel in Sivas, Turkey, in an apparent attempt to kill the translator of British author Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses. Thirty-five people died.

In 2000, Vicente Fox was elected president of Mexico.

In 2002, American Steve Fossett completed the first round-the-world solo flight in a balloon, reaching Queensland in the Australian outback to finish a 13-day, 19,428-mile trip that began in Western Australia.

Pilot Steve Fossett's Bud Lite Spirit of Freedom balloon crosses the south Australian coast July 3, 2002. Fossett was successful in his bid to complete the first solo circumnavigation of the world by balloon. File Photo by Trevor Collens/UPI

In 2015, 62 people were killed in the Philippines when a crowded ferry carrying nearly 200 people abruptly capsized -- just minutes after it left port.

In 2019, the European Union elected German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen as the first female leader of the European Commission.

File Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI
You will obey!

This is the mission statement for authoritarians and autocrats such as aspiring dictator Donald Trump and his MAGA movement. Donald Trump and his agents and allies revolutionary plans to end American democracy are not secret: they have been publicly announced and are detailed in the Heritage Foundations Project 2025, on Trumps own campaign website as Agenda 47, and throughout the right-wing news media disinformation echo chamber. And now blessed by the highest court in the land.

These enemies of American democracy would not be so bold if they were not reasonably certain of their success.

In series of recent interviews, MSNBC host and author Rachel Maddow has been trying to warn the American people about the existential danger to their freedom, lives, and safety from Donald Trump, the MAGA movement, and larger neofascist project. As Maddow told CNNs Oliver Darcey, Trump's threats are no joke:

I'm worried about the country broadly if we put someone in power who is openly avowing that he plans to build camps to hold millions of people, and to 'root out' what he's described in subhuman terms as his 'enemy from within. Again, history is helpful here. He's not joking when he says this stuff, and we've seen what happens when people take power proclaiming that kind of agenda. I think there's a little bit of head-in-the-sand complacency that Trump only intends to go after individual people he has already singled out. Do you really think he plans to stop at well-known liberals?

Maddow continued:

It also seems pretty clear that some people in politics might think they'll be on the safe side  that they might even benefit from it  if they side with Trump. Ask Mike Pence about how that works out in the end. When Trump invokes the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military against civilians on his first day in office, do you think he then rescinds the order on day two? For that matter, what convinces you that these massive camps he's planning are only for migrants? So, yes, I'm worried about me  but only as much as I'm worried about all of us.

Rachel Maddow is correct. History has repeatedly shown that authoritarian and fascist movements almost always expand the groups of people they target as the enemy or some type of Other. Eventually, these movements target their own supporters in a cycle of escalating violence and suffering, as they finally, as seen in Nazi Germany, consume themselves in destruction. Ultimately, almost all Americans are imperiled by Trumpism and American neofascism.

One of the great failures of the mainstream news media in the Age of Trump (and especially its hope-peddlers, institutionalists, and professional centrists) is treating aspiring dictator Donald Trump and the right-wings plan(s) to end multiracial pluralistic democracy as a hypothetical or something imagined and fantastical instead of as a real and present and growing danger.

In their new essay at Slate, Norm Ornstein and Dahlia Lithwick write with uncommon clarity and force about how the news media and the countrys political class have mostly failed in their responsibilities to warn the American people about the imminent dangers and reality of Trumpism and American neofascism:

Americans have a normalcy bias. It leads them to believe anyone who tells them that everything is awesome and that a system is holding  even as that system is hanging together by way of dental floss..And many journalists have a normalcy bias so acute they wouldnt know how to cover an authoritarian takeover if it meant that one of the two presidential candidates threatened jail for his political opponentseven as he continues to refer to these journalists as the enemy of the people. (My emphasis added) It also means that they tend to cover Trump convicted on 34 felony counts in terms of how much would this story make us deviate from covering a normal election? It turns out that were normalizing the abnormal, covering the election as a horse race between democracy and illiberalism without mentioning illiberalism or considering the stakes and the consequences, and repeatedly applying a false equivalence to Trump and Biden. The signals are flashing red that our fundamental system is in danger. The system is holding is not a plan for a knowable future. It never was.

What are the specifics of Project 2025, Agenda 47, and the larger right-wing plot to end American democracy? These plans include removing any checks and balances on Dictator Trump and his regime by purging any members of the bureaucracy who are deemed to be disloyal, i.e. they place the Constitution and the rule of law above personal fealty to Trump and the MAGA movement. The Department of Justice will also be politicized and used to attack the enemies of the Trump regime.

The Republican Party will basically be made into the countrys official national party. Voting for the Democrats or other political parties that are deemed to be a threat to the MAGA movement will be made prohibitively difficult through voter intimidation, nullification and purges. White Christianity will be made into Americas official state religion. The civil rights of Black and brown people, the LGBTQ community, and women will be severely curtailed. Women will have their reproductive rights and freedoms taken away. There will be mass deportations and concentration camps targeting non-white migrants and refugees. Homeless people and other undesirables will also be imprisoned in these camps. As promised, Trump and his forces will target the human vermin who are polluting the blood of the nation, including but not be limited to non-whites, Muslims, Jews, and disabled people.

The United States military will be ordered to occupy Democrat-led cities and other blue parts of the country to combat "crime." There will be a national patriotic education program where dissent and intellectual freedom and otherwise challenging conservative/neo-fascist orthodoxy and dogma will not be allowed. High-quality public education will be ended and replaced with indoctrination programs to create compliant subjects who lack the intellectual training to be critical thinkers and responsible citizens in a real democracy. Universities and colleges will be targeted with censorship, lawsuits and other efforts to defund and close them down  as well as to threaten and intimidate faculty and administrators  if they do not sufficiently support the Trump regime and the larger right-wing reactionary and revolutionary project.

Freedom of the press and freedom of speech will be severely limited. President Biden and other leading Democrats, Republicans deemed to be disloyal, and any other individuals and groups who are targeted as the enemy will face the possibility of being put in prison for treason and then being executed. Donald Trump and his propagandists and other agents and allies have repeatedly made such explicit threats and promises of revenge and retribution. As part of that project, Trump will pardon the January 6 terrorists (a group he describes as soldiers and heroes) and other violent right-wing extremists who will then become his personal brownshirts.

Donald Trump will personally exercise control over the United States economy by making himself the de facto head of the Federal Reserve board. Trump, like other autocrats and authoritarians, will use federal tax policy and other laws to reward his business allies. In turn, these business interests will give Trump and his family and other designated recipients vast sums of money. Trumps first term in office was but a preview of the vast corruption that will take place when/if he takes power in 2025. To that point, at a fundraising event, the former president recently told fossil fuel industry executives to give him one billion dollars. In return, they will be permitted to pollute and ruin the world.

There are prominent voices among the news media and political class (and general public) who will push back that this is all hysterical, doomsaying, and that the institutions and the rule of law will stop aspiring dictator Donald Trump and Project 2025 and his Agenda 47 and the other plans to end the countrys democracy. Plus, Trump could not implement his desire to become a dictator during his first regime because he is stupid and disorganized and his Jan. 6 coup failed, and he is now a convicted felon which all means that the guardrails held. And of course, there is this talking point: the American people are basically good! Donald Trump is a bad man! The American people will get it right because they always do in the end!

Such responses and denials are so much hopium happy pill balderdash and immature thinking that are at odds with reality as it actually exists.

The following new interview in Rolling Stone with Trump MAGA operatives should sober up such voices  it will not.

OF COURSE WE arent fu**ing bluffing. Thats the message one close Trump adviser and former administration official  who requested anonymity to speak candidly  wants to get across to the press and public, when asked about Donald Trumps 2024 campaign vows of retribution, unprecedented force, and militaristic action. Indeed, this sentiment is shared widely among the upper echelon of Trumpland and the MAGAfied Republican Party, with various officials and conservatives with a direct line to the former president insisting that so-called moderates or alleged establishment types will be tamed or purged, if Trump retakes power next year. Rolling Stone spoke with a dozen sources who are playing roles in Trumps government-in-waiting or are in regular contact with the ex-president, including GOP lawmakers, Trump advisers, MAGA policy wonks, conservative attorneys, and former and current Trump aides. They universally stress that the former (and perhaps future) U.S. president and top allies are serious about following through on his extreme campaign pledges. These promises run the gamut from siccing active duty military units on not just American cities but also Mexican territory, all the way to prosecuting and potentially imprisoning Trump foes.

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Rolling Stone continues, "Yes, we do really want to burn it all down, says another Republican close to Trump, referring to the so-called GOP establishment remnants who may wish to shackle Trumps hard-right impulses. When asked about potential court challenges in a Trump second term, this source simply replies: 'Who cares?'

Are you afraid? You should be.

Where is the massive public resistance to aspiring Dictator Donald Trump and the other neofascist forces and enemies of American democracy and freedom? As compared to how Europeans are responding to ascendant neofascism in their own respective countries, the mobilization (or lack thereof) by the American people can reasonably be described as pitiful. On this William Bunch writes at the Philadelphia Inquirer:

With far-right populist movements and strongman leaders on the rise across the globe in 2024, Frances marchers arent unique in fighting back. Earlier this year in Germany, large crowds took to the streets to voice their opposition to their countrys up-and-coming ultraright movement, Alternative for Germany (AfD). For many critics in Germany, AfD  with 16% of the vote in recent elections for the European Parliament  carries dangerous echoes of Adolf Hitlers Nazi Party, which plunged their country into World War II and executed the Holocaust against Jews. The first part of this story should sound familiar to U.S. voters. Donald Trumps Republican Party is running in November on a mass deportation proposal that would round up a million or more immigrants in the dead of night and ship them to large, sweltering detention camps on the southern border. Trumps anti-immigrant plan  a first cousin to the extreme nativism of Frances RN or Germanys AfD  is just one chapter in a 900-page blueprint for an American dictatorship called Project 2025 that would guide a second Trump administration. So ... where are the protesters? An anti-democracy comet is heading straight for Washington, D.C., in four-and-a-half months, and in a chilling case of life imitating art, we are living large in the United States of Denial (where, as I write this, the story at the top right of the New York Times home page is about a U.S. couples struggle to find a Rome apartment on their $950,000 budget). The insanity of doing the same thing over and over  begging millions of utterly tuned-out voters to like the (undeservedly, in my opinion) unpopular President Joe Biden and expecting a different result on Nov. 5  isnt working. With the American Experiment on the line, the political slogan of 2024 is Dont Look Up! Whats weird is that its not that America doesnt have a tradition of political protest.

Bunch continues:

So, heres a crazy idea  what about protesting and, more importantly, organizing before the wrong guy wins? Thats not the American way, I know, but I think the distinctive crisis in 2024 makes a case for changing things up, and maybe taking some inspiration from our friends in Europe. Just like over there, Trumps MAGA movement  from the mass deportation scheme to plans to call up troops with the Insurrection Act to the candidates alarming echoes of Hitler  is a threat like weve never seen before. But also comparable is that  much like Frances Emmanuel Macron or Germanys Olaf Scholz  our traditional neoliberal leader in Biden is neither popular nor inspirational.

There is perhaps a glimmer of hope. The New York Times recently reported on plans being developed and implemented by pro-democracy activists and organizations across the country to resist Dictator Trump and his regimes agenda.

But such plans will be limited in their success if pro-democracy Americans do not organize and mobilize by the tens of millions, instead of surrendering through tacit consent and learned helplessness and exhaustion or alternatively waiting for the elites and their other leaders and influentials to save them.

[Here is a spoiler: the elites will not save you].

The American people would be wise to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. At this point, given the early 2024 polls, fundraising, and other measures  most notably the enduring if not growing popularity of convicted felon and aspiring dictator Donald Trump, the worst is the far more likely outcome. Given the obvious and growing danger, the American people cannot say that they were surprised or not told what awaits them and their democracy if Dictator Trump and his regime take power. They chose to sleepwalk eyes open into a disaster.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Multiple roads in D.C. will be closed on the Fourth of July for Independence Day celebrations, along with watercraft restrictions.

Here are the road closures and restrictions you should be aware of as you plan your holiday festivities.

Here are some 4th of July celebrations taking place in the DMV

These roads will not allow parking from 4 a.m. to midnight:

Pennsylvania Avenue from Constitution Avenue to 3rd Street, NW

3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW

4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

6th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

10th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

12th Street from Madison Drive, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

15th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW

19th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW

20th Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

20th Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW

21st Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW

22nd Street from Constitution Avenue to C Street, NW

23rd Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW

C Street from 21st to Virginia Avenue, NW

C Street from 19th to 17th Street, NW

D Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW

E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (east bound lanes only)

Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street to Constitution Avenue, NW

Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue to Ohio Drive Bridge

Parkway Drive NW from Ohio Drive, SW to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW (Zone 5850)

Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW

Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW

Independence Avenue from 17th Street to 3rd Street, SW

Maryland Avenue from Independence Avenue to 3rd Street, SW

These roads will be closed from 4 a.m. to midnight for the National Independence Day Parade and fireworks show:

Inbound Case Bridge ramp to 12th Street tunnel

Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW

Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW

Independence Avenue from 14th Street to Ohio Drive, SW

C Street from 21st to 17th Street, NW

D Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW

E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (east bound lanes only)

4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

6th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW

7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

9th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW

10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

12th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

The 12th Street tunnel

1200 block of Maine Avenue, SW

13th Street from F Street to E Street, NW

14th Street Bridge Inbound, SW (ALL Traffic will remain on E/B I-395)

14th Street Bridge (HOV) Inbound, SW (ALL Traffic will remain on E/B I-395)

14th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

15th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

Raoul Wallenberg Place from Independence Avenue to Maine Avenue, SW

17th Street from New York Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

18th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

19th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

20th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

21st Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

22nd Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW

23rd Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to Memorial Bridge

Lincoln Memorial Circle

Arlington Memorial Bridge

Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 23rd Street, NW

Virginia Avenue from Constitution Avenue, NW to 24th Street, NW

Maine Avenue from I-395 W/B to Independence Avenue, SW

Southbound Potomac River Freeway exits to Independence Avenue and E Street, NW

TR Bridge ramp to Constitution Avenue, NW

TR Bridge ramp to Ohio Drive, NW

E/B E Street Expressway ramp to E Street, NW

E Street Expressway ramp from the TR Bridge

Southbound Rock Creek Parkway will be closed at Virginia Avenue, NW

Henry Bacon Drive from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW

Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue to the Ohio Drive Bridge

Parkway Drive from Ohio Drive to the Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW

West Basin Drive from Independence Avenue to Ohio Drive, SW

Heres how you can ride Metro for free on July 4

These streets will be closed from 1 p.m. to midnight for the National Independence Day Parade and fireworks show:

23rd Street from Virginia Avenue to Washington Circle, NW  no southbound traffic

3rd Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

Pennsylvania Avenue from the east crossover to 3rd Street, NW

The following streets will not allow parking from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to the Palisades Parade:

MacArthur Boulevard from Whitehaven Parkway to Arizona Avenue, NW

Edmunds from MacArthur Blvd to Sherier Place, NW

Whitehaven Parkway from MacArthur Boulevard to Foxhall Road, NW

The following streets will be closed from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. due to the parade:

MacArthur Boulevard from Whitehaven Parkway to Arizona Avenue, NW

Edmunds Place from Sherier Place to MacArthur Boulevard, NW

Sherier Place from Edmunds Place to Dana Place, NW

The Barracks Row Parade is taking place at 10 a.m., prompting some restrictions.

These streets will not allow parking and will be closed from 8 a.m. to noon due to the Barracks Row Parade:

8th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Virginia Avenue, SE

D Street from 7th Street to 8th Street, SE

Lastly, the Takoma Park Parade is taking place at 10 a.m. and will also prompt changes.

Free Lyft rides for those celebrating Independence Day in the DMV

These streets will not allow parking from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to the parade:

Carroll Street from the DC/MD line to Maple Street, NW

Maple Street from Carroll Street, NW, to the DC/MD line

The following streets will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to the parade:

Carroll Street, NW from the DC/MD line to Maple Street, NW

Maple Street, NW from Carroll Street, NW to the DC/MD line

The 3rd Street Tunnel will remain open for travel into and out of D.C.

Watercraft restrictions

The following restrictions will be in place on the Potomac River from around 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 4, until 9 a.m. Friday, July 5:

A designated anchorage zone will be north of the 14th Street Bridge on the east side of the Potomac River (West Potomac Park shore side). This zone will be north of the 14th Street Bridge complex, south of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Anchoring will be permitted until 9 a.m. on July 5.

There will be a watercraft safety zone on the east side of the Potomac River (D.C. Side) north of the 14th Street Bridge. This area will be north of the entrance to the 14th Street Bridge Complex, just north of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. No boating or anchoring will be allowed.

Watercrafts will be allowed to anchor outside the channel north of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and south of the 14th St. Bridge. Intermittent travel restrictions between the bridges may occur from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A fisherman looks at fishing vessels damaged by Hurricane Beryl at the Bridgetown Fisheries in Barbados, Monday, July 1, 2024. Hurricane Beryl caused damage across the Caribbean islands and killed four people on Monday and is now a Category 5 hurricane. | Ricardo Mazalan

Hurricane Beryl caused damage across the Caribbean islands and killed four people on Monday and is now a Category 5 hurricane.

Beryl was expected to strike Jamaica on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. The hurricane may lose strength but is still projected to be near major hurricane strength from its path near or over Jamaica to Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula in the next few days.

How did Hurricane Beryl make history?

Beryl is the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever by 15 days, Local10.com reported. It is now the strongest July hurricane on record.

Hurricane Emily, the previous earliest Category 5, became a Category 5 on July 17, 2005.

Beryls record may be due to record warm waters in the Atlantic, according to The Associated Press.

Records for hurricanes began in 1851.

Beryl is the 41st Category 5 Atlantic hurricane ever, according to Local10.com.

A Category 5 hurricane is defined as a hurricane with sustained winds above 157 mph, Yahoo! News reported.

What did Hurricane Beryl do Monday?

Beryl tore through Grenada on Monday, according to CNN.

Electricity outages and water shortages are an issue in parts of the islands that have been struck.

The Associated Press reported that three people were reported killed in Grenada and one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago also felt Beryls force Monday, according to Yahoo! News.

Family members begin to repair their home damaged in the passing of Hurricane Beryl, in Ottley Hall, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Hurricane Beryl caused damage across the Caribbean islands and killed four people on Monday and is now a Category 5 hurricane. | Lucanus Ollivierre

What is next for Hurricane Beryl?

The hurricane should be near or over Jamaica by Wednesday, according to Local10.com. Beryl should be on track for Yucatan Peninsula and Gulf of Mexico this weekend.

In the bigger picture, Beryl could signal one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record, Yahoo! News reported. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects eight to 13 hurricanes in the Atlantic this year.

Beryl isnt a threat to Florida, according to Local10.com.

How do hurricanes get their names?

Hurricane names are commonplace names that will help authorities keep the public up to date on the threat. The specific names that hurricanes are given are based on names that would feel familiar to the specific region experiencing hurricanes.

In a given year, the names are given to hurricanes in alphabetical order and rotate between feminine and masculine names.

The storms were initially given female names, partly to continue the tradition of sailors naming ships after the gender mostly absent on them, The New Yorker reported.
Whos the new dean of the University of Utah business school?

Dr. Kurt Dirks is the new David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Dirks, formerly a professor at at Washington University in St. Louis, has worked extensively on values-based leadership. | BW PRODUCTIONS

Kurt Dirks, a first-generation college student whose scholarly pursuits have focused on trust and values-based leadership, has joined the University of Utahs School of Business as its dean.

Dirks, the former Bank of American Professor of Leadership at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, succeeds Dean Rachel Hayes, appointed in 2021.

In addition to teaching at the private, nonprofit Washington University, Dirks served in multiple senior leadership roles including stints as acting provost, senior adviser to the chancellor for leadership, vice chancellor of international affairs and at the business school as senior associate dean and interim dean.

Dirks earned his bachelors and masters degrees from Iowa State University, as well as a doctorate from the University of Minnesota, Dirks is a strong advocate for the role public universities play in offering transformative education for students who seek opportunity.

Im excited to get to work helping students of all backgrounds reach their full potential, Dirks said in a statement.

President (Taylor) Randall has a bold vision for making the U. a top-10 public university with unsurpassed societal impact, and I am committed to having the Eccles School play a key role in achieving that.

Research on trust

Dirks research on trust has been published in leading scholarly outlets such as the Journal of Applied Psychology, the Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science and the Academy of Management Review. It has also been covered in popular media such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Business Week, Fortune and CNN.

His work has been cited nearly 27,000 times, according to Google Scholar, which is among the top 2% of scholars in the field.

Dirks has also excelled in the classroom, evidenced by multiple teaching awards from MBA students.

According to a university press release, Dirks prizes his work on student success, helping them to grow as leaders, who conduct themselves according to their values.

While at Washington University, he founded Bauer Leaders Academy for the university and Bauer Leadership Center at the business school, and he led the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.

Throughout his career, Dirks has placed significant focus on values-based leadership, which in turn has spurred work to boost access and success for all students. Across his roles, he has helped raise more than $30 million in gifts to support students and faculty research.

As dean of the Eccles School, Dirks will oversee multiple high-ranking programs, with eight ranked among the top 10 among public universities in the United States from various publications, such as TFE Times (formerly known as The Financial Engineer), Executive Education, Financial Times, U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review.

President Randall a former dean

While business school dean is a high profile position at any university, it is noteworthy that Taylor Randall held the post before he was appointed president of the university in 2021. Like Dirks, Randall was honored for his teaching in the business school, winning the career achievement Brady Superior Teaching Award.

The David Eccles School of Business endeavors to provide a world-class business education with a unique, entrepreneurial focus on real-world scenarios where students put what they learn into practice long before graduation.

The David Eccles School of Business was founded in 1917 and educates more than 6,000 students annually. It offers nine undergraduate majors, four MBAs, eight graduate programs in business, doctorate programs in five areas, and executive education curricula. The school is also home to more than 20 institutes, centers and initiatives.
Dear Mitch McConnell: Are you happy now? Or are you worried about that military tribunal? | Opinion

Dear Sen. McConnell,

Are you happy now?

Or are you and Liz Cheney making plans to head for the border with hopes that the Canadians will accept political refugees?

On Sunday on the Truth Social platform, Trump promoted posts calling for televised military tribunals for you and Liz and a lot of others.

Elizabeth Lynne Cheney is guilty of treason, the post said. Retruth if you want televised military tribunals. Trump promoted another post that called for the jailing of President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Chuck Schumer, former Vice President Mike Pence, and you, Sen. McConnell.

It followed previous calls for revenge on Trumps political enemies for all that he has been through.

But on Monday, the suggestion of political revenge didnt look quite so crazy, what with the Supreme Court handing him the keys to whatever kingdom he desires, a kingdom without you or Liz or Chuck Schumer in it.

And on Monday, after Bidens disastrous debate performance a week ago, Trumps second term seemed much more assured.

Unlike Andy Barr and Jamie Comer and the other profoundly unserious members of the Kentucky delegation, youve been noticeably quiet, Sen. McConnell, ever since your hand-picked Supreme Court handed down that opinion on presidential immunity.

Its an opinion thats quite different from what you said back in February 2021 about why you voted against the impeachment proceedings that happened after he left office: Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in officeWe have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation and former presidents are not immune from being held accountable by either one.

Except now, thanks to the Supreme Court, they are.

Presumably, since Trump was still in office on Jan. 6, he cannot be held responsible for inciting a coup because it was an official act.

As Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent: The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution.

Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

Senator, I know youre not responsible for the ineptitude of a Democratic Party that refused to face the reality of its elderly standard-bearer. I can only imagine youre sympathetic to your old friend and fellow octogenarian.

But youre responsible for much else.

Youve made it clear you saw it as good politics to block a president from an opposing party from confirmation of his Supreme Court pick. You loved Citizens United, the case that you ushered through the Supreme Court that allowed so much latitude for dark money to buy and sell our politicians. As it turned out, buying Supreme Court justices worked out pretty well, too.

Maybe unfettered corporations, untrammeled dark money, unlimited power for an unhinged president is worth the fall of democracy in your eyes.

But now were in that hoary old cliche of a perfect storm: A probable second term for Trump at the same time hes been given the go-ahead from the Supreme Court to do anything he wants. Military tribunals will be just a start.

Then Trump can go on to hollowing out the federal bureaucracy  now unneeded, because thanks to the Chevron decision, corporations will be regulating themselves. (The day after I wrote this, the New York Times published a story about your celebration of the stream of deregulatory decisions from the Supreme Court, so maybe its all worth it in your eyes.) President Trump will be too busy creating massive detention camps for migrants and whoever else. The media, probably.

As for Ukraine, which you have bravely stood up for against the MAGAheads, I think Donald has already gotten his marching orders on that one.

If Trump wins Nov. 5, he wins. If he loses, he and his supporters will make Jan. 6 look like a tea party. And if you think that sounds hyperbolic, weve  and by we I mean you  have underestimated Trump at our peril, again and again.

At least Comer and Barr went full lickspittle from the beginning. You have sort of resisted the MAGA cult, but then again not really. Not enough and when it mattered.

Youve accomplished a lot in your career, Sen. McConnell. Not here in Kentucky, still one of the poorest, sickest states in the nation, but in terms of political power. You could see Republican domination of the end of the republic before you leave office.

If youre not facing a military trial, that is.

So again Ill ask: Are you happy now?
Death toll of Russia's June 28 attack on Dnipro rises to 2

The death toll of a Russian attack against Dnipro on June 28 has risen to two, as rescuers found the body of a woman in the rubble, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported on July 2.

Russian troops carried out a missile attack on the city of Dnipro on June 28, damaging a nine-story building. At least 12 were wounded, the authorities reported.

Emergency services were still working at the scene as of the morning of July 2. Nearly 70% of the rubble had been cleared, Lysak said.

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: Governor: Two people missing after Dnipro attack found alive and well

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Deaths of Tennessee children from suspected abuse or neglect rose nearly 30% in 2023

Margi Quin, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, photographed on June 2, 2023. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Margie Quin, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, photographed on June 2, 2023. (Photo: John Partipilo)

A three-year-old boy shot himself in the head after getting ahold of his fathers unsecured Ruger 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.

A 4-year-old girl was discovered stuffed in a trash can, dead.

And a 3-month-old infant was found blue, still and alone on his very first day in an unlicensed day care facility, where six infants had been abandoned by caretakers. He did not survive.

These are among the 190 children whose deaths last year are being investigated for suspected abuse and neglect by the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services  a nearly 30% increase over the prior year and the largest number of suspected child neglect and abuse deaths in Tennessee in nearly a decade, according to a Lookout analysis of DCS data.

More than two-thirds of the children had come to the attention of DCS social workers within three years of their deaths. In some instances, DCS was actively investigating a family when a child died. In others, children died after DCS had concluded its involvement with the family and closed the case.

Eleven children were in DCS custody when they died, including a 16-year-old girl who ran away from a DCS facility before overdosing on heroin in a public park.

DCS is required under federal law and a 2012 court order to publicly release case files regarding the deaths of children it investigates. Those files document all DCS interactions with the child and their family and the agencys ultimate findings of whether the death was a result of abuse or neglect.

It may be years before the public can see those records. The agencys review of suspected abuse deaths from 2021 is still not complete. Case files on all but 19 child deaths from 2023 have yet to be made public.

Delays keep child records from public

A spokesperson for DCS attributed the delay in investigating suspected abuse deaths to several factors:

DCS must wait until a Child Protective Investigative Team, composed of local District Attorneys, law enforcement and other members, reviews a childs death, and considers criminal referrals, a process that can take months and sometimes years to complete, according to Ashley Zarach, a spokesperson for DCS, in response to emailed questions.

The agency also experiences lags in receiving autopsies, toxicology reports and medical records.

New laws enacted this year to fast track child autopsies for kids who had come to the attention of DCS before their deaths will help expedite the process, according to DCS.

Asked to explain the increase in suspected child abuse deaths last year, Zarach said there doesnt appear to be causation or a statistical significance to any increase/decrease in death cases year over year.

The number of deaths doesnt follow data trends when compared against other allegations of abuse/neglect, Zarach said, noting that child deaths during the pandemic remained steady, despite a significant decrease in child abuse reporting.

She added infant deaths related to unsafe sleep appear to be on the rise and an uptick in fentanyl and accidental shooting deaths may also be partially to blame.

Zarach did not respond to a question about whether any caseworkers faced discipline for their handling of casework involving children who ultimately died.

Needles in a haystack

The deaths of children previously known to child welfare agencies has become a hot political point in recent years, pitting advocates for more removals of at-risk children from their homes against those seeking to curb the states power to break up families.

Naomi Schaefer Riley of the Lives Cut Short Project documenting child abuse deaths nationally said a current emphasis on supporting family preservation at all costs fails to protect the most vulnerable children and may contribute to higher mortalities from abuse and neglect.

The pendulum may be swinging too far in that direction, said Riley.

Department of Childrens Service data reviewed by the Lookout shows that the 2023 child deaths currently being investigated outpace all other child deaths in Tennessee, which grew by 6 percent in 2023 compared to the 29% increase in suspected child abuse deaths.

Richard Wexler, executive director for the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, takes another view.

Reports of increases in the deaths of children already known to a child welfare agency often spur state agencies to become more aggressive in removing children from homes.

That would be a mistake, said Wexler, who noted that reports of child abuse deaths represent only a fraction of children agencies like DCS routinely encounter.

In the 2022-2023 fiscal year in Tennessee, for example, DCS conducted more than 66,000 investigations into child abuse and received over 100,000 reports on its hotline, according to the agencys most recent annual report.

These (child death) cases are needles in a haystack. So what do we do anytime theres a spike? Report more kids, make the haystack get bigger, said Wexler who cautioned against such knee jerk reactions that subject more children to the trauma of removal. DCS has tools short of removing a child to help struggling families, including substance abuse counseling referrals, parenting classes and linking families to other state services.

DCS data reviewed by the Lookout shows that the 2023 child deaths currently being investigated by DCS outpace all other child deaths in Tennessee, which grew by 6 percent in 2023 compared to the 29% increase in suspected child abuse deaths.

Black children were disproportionately represented, accounting for 39% of the suspected abuse deaths last year, while African American children under 18 make up 21% of all Tennessees children.

Boys are also disproportionately represented among suspected abuse or neglect deaths in 2023.

Zarach said the higher proportion of boys appears to be an ongoing trend.

Prematurity is more likely among male babies, who may also have higher rates of sudden death according to some studies. Boys also have a higher rate of physical abuse and accidental shootings.

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Uniquely is a Fresno Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Fresno area so special.

On a Thursday morning in late June, Pete Gonzalez propped his road bike against the red brick wall of Adrians Mexican Food, walked up to the service window and asked for his go-to order: a chile verde burrito and a shredded beef taco.

Gonzalez, a Fresno native who grew up a few blocks from the eatery near Romain Park, biked more than four miles from his current home near Fashion Fair mall to grab lunch at Adrians, where hes been a regular for 30 to 40 years.

After all, he said, it serves the closest thing to home cooking around town.

Pete Gonzalez, right, eats a chile verde burrito and beef taco at the counter at Adrians on Belmont Avenue in Fresno on Thursday, June 21, 2024.

Wedged between a tire shop and a smoke shop, Adrians is a no-frills business. Theres no place to sit. The walk-up counter is shielded with wrought-iron window guards.

But Adrians is a Fresno institution. The 44-year-old family-owned business is famous for its handmade flour tortillas, breakfast burritos and its simple-yet-addicting red salsa.

A lot of people have been coming here for years, Gonzalez said.

On any given afternoon, day laborers, families and passersby crowd around the Adrians parking lot, scarfing down burritos on the countertop or sipping horchata as they wait for their orders. Others eat in their cars.

Today, Yolanda (Ruiz) Diaz runs the restaurant with her family  a business thats been in the Ruiz family ever since her father bought it from the original owners in the early 1990s.

Just seeing regular customers everyday  it makes me happy, Diaz said. And just (having the) family together, working together.

Yolanda Diaz shows off her restaurants famous red salsa while working with other members of her family at Adrians, a longtime Fresno Mexican food stop, on Monday, June 24, 2024.

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One of these regulars is Sanger resident Luis Medina, who on a Thursday in late June stood near the sidewalk on Belmont with his coworker as he waited for his asada burrito  the same burrito hes been ordering for 20 years. (His coworker ordered a chimichanga.)

Aside from his go-to order, Medina likes Adrians because the horchata isnt too sweet. Its just right, he said.

A carne asada burrito is prepared with Adrians red chili salsa at the restaurant on Monday, June 24, 2024.

When did Adrians in Fresno open?

The original owners estimate Adrians opened in 1979.

Adrians Mexican food on Belmont near First Street in Fresno has been a favorite among locals for decades.

Before that, it was a walk-up burger business called Western Burger, recalled former Adrians owner Tomasa Bonilla. Her cousin operated the burger business and her mom, Felicitas (Phyllis), helped run it.

After a few years, her cousin got tired of running the burger spot. Thats when Bonilla decided to take it over and open a business that focused on serving her mothers Mexican recipes.

In a phone interview, Bonilla, 78, told The Bee that they initially opened the business with Mexican and American dishes under a new name, Adrians  pronounced Ah-dree-ahns, in Spanish  after her youngest brother.

When it first opened, Adrians sold bean burritos for 99 cents, while combination burritos with meat sold for $1.25.

Bonilla remembers her uncle use to arrive early to prepare the fresh flour tortillas they would need for the day.

Copy of the original Adrians menu, featuring 99 cent bean burritos.

Migrant farmworker experience inspired flour tortilla focus

Bonilla said the decision to focus on handmade flour tortillas was inspired by her familys experience as migrant farmworkers following the crops across California in the late 1930s.

Before settling in Fresno. the family worked in the Central Coast areas of Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo and then made their way to the central San Joaquin Valley areas of Coalinga and Huron, followed by Santa Rosa and Salinas to the north.

All the mothers and grandmothers would get up early and make all the tortillas and make the tacos (and burritos) for work, Bonilla recalled. Corn tortilla wasnt practical.

Over the years, Bonilla opened about four different eateries around town with mixed success. She eventually sold another Adrians located on Marks and Shaw avenues to another employee, who renamed the business Marians Mexican Restaurant. Its still open today.

During her years operating Adrians, Bonilla recalls fieldworkers coming in early to pick up lunch for the day, patrons from local businesses, pedestrians and large orders from Community Regional Medical Hospital.

A lot of doctors, she said. They were there all the time.

In the early 90s, Bonilla and her sister, Gloria, sold the business to one of their employees, Gabriel Javier Ruiz.

Customers stop to order at the window at Adrians, a longtime Fresno Mexican food favorite on Belmont near First Street near downtown Fresno, on Monday, June 24, 2024.

Adrians in Fresno is still a family affair

On a hot Monday afternoon in late June, Diaz, 43, works alongside her family in Adrians busy kitchen.

Three sisters are handling orders, her brother-in-law Rene Gallegos is preparing asada burritos and her aunt, Eneida Mendez, is using a small wooden rolling pin to shape the flour tortillas before placing them on the grill. Other cousins, nieces and nephews help with the family business, too, when theyre not busy with their studies at Fresno State, Diaz said.

Its just family, she said.

Eneida Mendes cooks homemade tortillas on the griddle while working with other members of her family at Adrians, a longtime Fresno Mexican food stop at Belmont near First Street near downtown Fresno, on Monday, June 24, 2024.

Adrians has been in her family for about three decades, when her dad, Ruiz, bought the business.

An old photo shows Ruiz family members who were part of the legacy Adrians Mexican food in Fresno.

An old photo shows Ruiz family members who were part of the legacy Adrians Mexican food in Fresno.

The menu has mostly stayed the same over the years, Diaz said. Today, some of the top-sellers are the carne asada burritos, chile verde and breakfast burritos with chorizo and bacon. Adrians sells its tortillas and salsa a la carte, too.

Diaz isnt sure yet if any of the kids in the next generation want to take over Adrians one day.

Well see, she said with a laugh.

For now, the Ruiz family is committed to delivering the same quality customers have come to love over the past 40-plus years.

Were here to serve great customer service... and great food, Diaz said.

As for Bonilla, she credits the businesss success to the long-standing reputation of its flour tortillas and home-style cooking: No canned beans, no canned sauces.

I think that started it all.

Rene Gallegos prepares a burrito order at Adrians on Monday, June 24, 2024.
Sen. Bob Menendez arrives at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal courthouse in Manhattan on July 1, 2024. Prosecutors spent seven weeks presenting their case, and the defense team began presenting their case Monday. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

His father hid money under the false bottom of their grandfather clock. His mother stashed cash in the closet. His aunt concealed money in the television console, while other relatives packed plastic bags with bills they stored in their basement  which then almost burned up when their house caught on fire.

After prosecutors rested their case Friday, Sen. Bob Menendezs attorneys kicked off their defense Monday in his federal bribery trial in Manhattan, setting out to show jurors that mistrust of banks was a family tradition.

Daddy always said: Dont trust the banks. If you trust the banks, you never know what can happen, so you must always have money at home. And this was something, so to speak, that they say to you and say it to you so many times that its  it sort of forms a law inside of you, the senators older sister Caridad Gonzalez testified.

Gonzalez, 80, was one of three witnesses the defense called Monday, offering jurors ordinary explanations for the $486,000 in cash investigators found around the senators Englewood Cliffs home during a June 2022 search and tens of thousands more in a bank where his wife had a safe deposit box.

Gonzalez told jurors she worked as a secretary for her brother when he practiced law before he became a full-time politician, recounting a time he asked her to retrieve cash from a box in his closet in the early 1980s. Stockpiling cash at home is normal among Cuban refugees like her family, she added.

They were afraid of losing everything they worked so hard for, because, in Cuba, they took everything away from you, whether you liked it or not, Gonzalez said.

I said, dont make this a soap opera. Youre not only making it a soap opera, youre making it a bad soap opera.

 Judge Sidney H. Stein to defense attorneys

Defense attorneys also called Nadine Menendezs younger sister Katia Tabourian to the stand Monday for a similar reason  to show that the 13 gold bars, gold coins, and jewelry investigators found in the couples home had more to do with family than bribery.

Tabourian said their parents left the sisters gold as an inheritance, narrating evidentiary photos of jewelry the FBI had seized, saying they were family heirlooms or gifts.

She also insisted the couples locked bedroom closet was Nadines alone, and that she kept it locked after a nanny stole from her years ago.

Custody of the closet is key, because Menendezs defense team has said he wasnt aware of cash, gold, and other valuables his wife stored there because it was her closet and he didnt have access to it.

Prosecutor Lara Pomerantz pushed back on the testimony of both women, reminding jurors that investigators traced much of the seized gold and cash to the couples codefendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, through fingerprints, DNA, and serial numbers on the gold bars. The indictment alleges that Hana and Daibes bribed the couple in exchange for his interference in foreign policy matters and domestic criminal investigations.

To be clear, Fred Daibes isnt a member of your family, right? Pomerantz said. And Wael Hana isnt a member of your family, right?

No, hes not, Tabourian responded to both questions.

Gonzalez conceded, under Pomerantzs cross-examination, that her family immigrated to New York in 1951, three years before Menendez was born.

Defense attorneys wanted to introduce testimony and evidence showing Nadine Menendez was struggling to escape an abusive relationship when she began dating the senator. That toxic past would show jurors that Menendez tracked his new girlfriends whereabouts on a phone app to ensure her safety, rather than facilitate any bribery scheme, they said.

But Judge Sidney H. Stein limited what they could introduce to avoid prejudicing jurors, calling domestic violence too hot a topic and so tangential to the issues here.

I said, dont make this a soap opera. Youre not only making it a soap opera, youre making it a bad soap opera, Stein told defense attorneys during an argument Monday without jurors present.

So Tabourian told jurors only that Nadine had been in an unhealthy relationship. Defense attorney Adam Fee also used Tabourian to suggest the couple could not have been co-conspirators during the fall of 2018, when prosecutors say their alleged bribery scheme was well underway, because they had broken up temporarily after the senator discovered she was still with her ex-boyfriend.

I cared for her a great deal, but I can not get over her being with Doug while she was with me, the senator texted Tabourian, who tried to persuade him to reconcile with Nadine. Maybe time will heal wounds but not today. Wish it was different. Thanks.

The defense also called forensic accountant Russell Richardson, who found Menendezs bank balance rose between 2018 and June 2022  the period prosecutors say the bribery scheme unfolded  because his salary climbed, he began collecting his pension in New Jersey, and he quit paying apartment rent when he moved in with Nadine. The implication was that the increase accounted for at least some of the cash stashed in his home.

But that gain didnt remotely add up to the $552,000 in cash the FBI seized from the home and Nadine Menendezs safe deposit box, Richardson conceded on cross-examination.

Richardson also acknowledged he did not look at how much cash the senator spent during that time. And he told jurors the senator typically withdrew about $400 at a time, which didnt explain the multiple bank envelopes containing $10,000 and banded stacks of cash worth far more than $400 that investigators found jammed in jacket pockets, boots, boxes, and bags around their home.

Did Menendez ever withdraw $10,000 in cash at once from a bank? prosecutor Catherine Ghosh asked him.

Not from my review of the records, Richardson said.

Will the senator testify?

Stein gave jurors the day off Tuesday so that he could read and rule on the tsunami of submissions prosecutors and defense attorneys filed over the weekend as they battled over exhibits and evidence defense attorneys want to introduce.

Both sides have filed so many briefs and motions and argued so endlessly out of jurors presence that prosecutor Daniel Richenthal told Stein last week theyre barely sleeping, and the trial has fallen about two weeks behind schedule.

The frenzy of the weekend has got to stop, the judge barked at both sides before the jury entered court for the day. Its an abuse of the court system. Were going to get this back on track.

Testimony will resume Wednesday before the trial pauses again until Monday for the Fourth of July weekend. The defense is expected to rest and jurors to begin deliberations by the end of next week.

The defense team said they aim to call several more witnesses and havent ruled out the defendants  including Menendez  taking the stand in their own defense.

Thats still under consideration, Fee told Stein.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 2. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov will make a working visit to Kazakhstan to participate in the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Muratbek Azymbakiev said, Trend reports.

"SCO leaders will discuss important issues of multilateral and multifaceted cooperation within the framework of the organization, as well as regional and international policy issues. Following the high-level meetings, the Astana Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be signed," Azymbakiev emphasized.

He pointed out that agreements and documents aimed at strengthening cooperation among SCO member countries in political, economic, energy, and other spheres, as well as expanding and improving the activities of the organization, are planned to be signed.

"Great attention will be paid to issues of ecology, regional and international security, and the further development of digital technologies in promoting trade, economic ties, and tourism," Azymbakiev added.

The Council, chaired by Kazakhstan, will be attended by the heads of SCO member states  Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, Pakistan, and India, as well as Belarus, which is expecting to complete the procedure for obtaining SCO member state status at this meeting.

On the sidelines of the SCO, Zhaparov will hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Washburn University, Dr. Kelly Erby, details the newest degree completion program coming later this fall.

The Bachelor of General Studies program is for those that started college but didnt fully earn their degree. The flexible degree program aims to help those that already have credits complete their educational journey.

Find out more about the program by watching the interview above, or heading to Washburns admissions website here.

Heat advisory today with afternoon storm possible

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USE ONLY ONCE Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-17th District), left, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York speak at a press conference at Pittsburgh International Airport on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

PITTSBURGH  Heavy equipment rumbled in the background as two U.S. Congressman  Chris Deluzio (D-17th District) and U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)  stood before a small group of reporters at a Pittsburgh International Airport parking lot on Monday afternoon and talked for nearly 10 minutes about the facilitys $1.5 billion modernization project. That work is helped along, the two pointed out, by the passage of President Joe Bidens massive infrastructure bill a few years ago.

When it came time for questions, however, it became clear that reporters had something other than infrastructure on their minds. A few hours earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had issued a decision giving former President Donald Trump substantial immunity from prosecution. For months, pundits and politicians had speculated about the direction the court would take, and how it would affect the upcoming election cycle. The 6-3 decision will most likely delay Trumps trial on charges he plotted to subvert his 2020 election loss to Biden.

Jeffries was asked his thoughts on the ruling. His answer began with a bit of a history lesson.

In America the foundational principles first established in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1787 is that no one is above the law, he said. This is not a country of kings or monarchs or dictators, were a democracy. And its important to make sure that standard is brought to life all across the country. Everyday Americans are held to that standard.

Jeffries then motioned to several hard-hat wearing union workers standing nearby.

The men and women or organized labor are held to that standard, he continued. We have to make sure that people in powerful positions are also held to the standard that in America no one is above the law. And it appears the Supreme Court has not done justice to that standard in this unfortunate decision.

Jeffries said the House Democratic Caucus had yet to look closely at the decision, but noted it was just one of a few recent Supreme Court rulings his party views as concerning. He specifically mentioned the Chevron decision, issued Friday, which sweeps aside long-standing legal precedent and makes it more difficult for federal agencies to regulate areas such as the environment, health care and workplace safety.

Were going to have to study and evaluate the decisions that have been issued over the last couple of days, but they are deeply troubling and inconsistent, he said, with Congressional efforts to deliver a better quality of life for the American people.

Next came questions about last weeks presidential debate, and Bidens lackluster performance. Was it concerning to Deluzio and Jeffries?

Ive been clear who Im supporting in this race, and as much as it was a tough night, I think I also heard Donald Trump lie probably 30 times, Deluzio said. I heard him say he wont commit to respecting the election results (in 2024) and I continue to think hes a significant threat to our freedom, this democracy.

Jeffries pivoted the discussion to what he termed Bidens successes  he noted the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill as an example.

It was one debate as compared to an incredible track record of success that President Biden has had over his 3  years in office, Jeffries said. All across the country were creating millions of good paying union jobs by fixing our crumbling bridges, roads, tunnels, mass transit systems and airports, modernizing them for the future.

Biden, he said, is putting people over politics, making life better for the American people, solving problems and delivering real results.

Deluzio noted that hed spent time with Biden in February, during the presidents visit to Darlington, Pennsylvania, and the Ohio village of East Palestine, communities that had suffered from the impact of a toxic train derailment in 2023.

In meetings with local officials and first responders, Deluzio said, Biden was crisp and focused on making sure the folks in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio are made whole and that this railroad is held to account.

One theme of the day was the Congressmens support for organized labor  a point hammered home by the presence of the half dozen union workers wearing safety vests and work boots.

We recognize that in America, when you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to provide a comfortable living for yourself and your family, purchase a home, education your children have access to high quality health care, go on vacation every now and then, and one day retire with grace and dignity, Jeffries said. Thats the American dream, and no one entity has done more to promote that American dream than organized labor. So our commitment is to continue to make sure we are creating good paying union jobs and thats exactly what this airport project represents.

The post Deluzio and Jeffries spotlight Biden infrastructure law results at Pittsburgh airport appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) opened the proverbial floodgates of top Democrats calling for Joe Bidens ouster from the 2024 presidential ticket on Tuesday, calling his mental fitness a legitimate question.

Her comments, in a lunchtime interview with MSNBC, came mere minutes before Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) became the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to call for Biden to bow out of the presidential race. He was quickly followed by Adam Frisch, a Democratic House candidate in Colorado, who echoed the call.

I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson, Doggett wrote in a statement. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same.

Tim Ryan, a former lawmaker, indicated he was also ready to move on from Biden earlier Tuesday. He posted to X that we have to rip the band aid off and start backing Kamala Harris for president.

Senior Dem Openly Says Replace Biden with Kamala

Too much is at stake, he added.

Previously, itd been merely media pundits and Republican politicians whod called on Biden to recuse himself from the 2024 election and, in some instances, to relinquish the rest of his current term after he severely showed his age in a disaster of a presidential debate last week.

Now, with even the countrys highest-ranking Dems calling Bidens fitness into question, pressure on the White House may be nearing a breaking point. Doggett asserted that Biden must step aside to keep Trump out of the White House.

Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw, he said. I respectfully call on him to do so.

While no lawmakers were previously bold enough to speak as frankly as Doggett, other Dems insinuated earlier Tuesday theyd support a ticket that didnt have Bidens name at the top. That included Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), who told CNN about Bidens debate debacle, We have to be honest with ourselves that it wasnt just a horrible night.

I think his four years are one of the great presidencies of our lifetime, but I think he has to be honest with himself, Quigley added. This is a decision hes going to have to make.

I will support Vice President Kamala Harris if President Joe Biden were to step aside, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), Biden-Harris campaign co-chair, told Andrea Mitchell earlier on MSNBC.  Gary Grumbach (@GaryGrumbach) July 2, 2024

Even those engrained in Bidens camp are now signaling theyre open to a change. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), a Biden-Harris campaign co-chair, told MSNBC on Tuesday he will support Harris if Biden were to step aside.

White House insiders whove spoken anonymously to the press have painted a chaotic scene behind closed doors. Hunter Biden has reportedly joined meetings with the president and top aides this week, which NBC reported elicited reactions from staff who said things like, What the hell is happening?

Those rumors come on the heels of a damning report by Axios, which reported Saturdayciting White House sourcesthat Biden struggles to work productively beyond 4 p.m. most days.

While the matter has reached political DEFCON 1 for Team Biden, the 81-year-old doesnt appear poised to bow out without a fight. Seemingly taking advice from Pelosi, he agreed to do a sit down interview with ABC News this weeka conversation with George Stephanopoulos thats set to air on Friday.

Pelosi indicated earlier Tuesday that those sort of media appearancesand not just reading statements off a teleprompteris what Biden needs to regain the publics trust.

Serious journalists, no-holds-barred, any questions fair, and just sit there and be Joe, Pelosi told MSNBC on Tuesday. Show your values, show your knowledge, show your judgment, show your empathy for the American people, and I think that that would be a great thing for him.

Biden made his first White House remarks since the debate on Monday, blasting the Supreme Courts ruling that granted presidents immunity for official acts as a terrible disservice to the public.

Watergate Reporter Carl Bernstein: Biden Has Bad Days

He took no questions after he finished his teleprompter-aided speech, continuing his streak of hosting fewer press conferences. (Though, according to a March report by the University of California-Santa Barbaras American Presidency Project, former presidents Donald Trump and George H.W. Bush held less solo press conferences.)

Biden aides acknowledged to Reuters on Monday that its limited-media strategy was no longer tenable, and they planned to have Biden sit down for one-on-one interviews. Pelosi noted, however, that a single interview would not suffice.

Not one, maybe twoa couple of those, Pelosi said. I think that is essential.

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In a private call Monday, Democratic governors got very candid about their concerns with President Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance, and their worries about how to address it without embarrassing him or making him more adamant that he should run, according to CNN.

The governors were reportedly startled to hear that no one on the call had heard any updates or reassurance directly from the president after the debate and over the course of the campaign year. The top Dems were mostly in agreement that they needed face time with Biden himself, instead of with Vice President Kamala Harris or key advisers, to quiet the five-alarm fire.

The call came shortly after key Democratic surrogates flocked to the Sunday TV circuits and local media to insist that Biden who can beat Trump after doing so once before.

On Monday, new reporting claimed that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had privately said that Biden was going to lose Michigan due to his weak debate performance, a claim she later refuted.

She insisted that she has no plans of running for his spot, but the murmurs are getting louder that a younger politician like Whitmer, Californias Gavin Newsom, Marylands Wes Moore, Pennsylvanias Josh Shapiro, or Kentuckys Andy Beshear needs to step in and fight for the democratic nomination at the Democratic National Convention this August.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the de facto host of the convention in Chicago, was reportedly also on Mondays call, and is a key Biden surrogate who has made it clear he has presidential aspirations, even though he has not positioned himself as Biden replacement (yet).

It looks like the White House is heeding the governors alarm, as CBS reported Tuesday that Biden will likely meet with them on Wednesday, with some attending in-person, and others attending remotely.

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Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) criticized President Bidens campaign for its dismissive attitude toward the concerns of many Americans about his ability to lead after last weeks debate.

I really do criticize the campaign for a dismissive attitude towards people who are raising questions for discussion. Thats just facing the reality that were in, Welch told Semafor in an interview Monday.

Bidens disastrous debate performance last Thursday raised alarm within the Democratic Party over his chances of beating former President Trump and leading the country for another term.

Welch argued that the discussion around Bidens capabilities is one that we have to have.

It has to be from the top levels of the Biden campaign to precinct captains in the South Side of Chicago, he told the outlet.

Bidens performance sparked panic among Democrats, with some calling on the president to step down. The White House and Biden campaign have insisted the president will stay in the race and no national official has publicly joined the calls for Biden to step aside.

Biden sought to tame worries in an energetic speech in North Carolina, and he gave a brief address Monday night responding to the Supreme Court granting broad immunity to former President Trump in his Jan. 6 case.

His reelection campaign spent much of the weekend trying to calm party leaders and donors nerves and convince them supporters are strengthened after the debate.

The Vermont senator argued that Bidens campaign has questioned its candidates own abilities at times. So then to be dismissive of others who raise those concerns, I think its inappropriate, he said.

Welch said the Democratic Party has an existential responsibility to its voters to keep Trump from securing a second term.

After the Supreme Courts Monday ruling that a president can be immune from prosecution for official acts taken in office, Biden warned that Trump will be even more emboldened to do whatever he wants.

Welch said the ruling underscores the need for the Democratic Party to have a candid conversation about Biden leading the ticket.

We all have to be acutely aware that our obligation is to the country, even more than the party. Thats the obligation we have  whats best for the country, he said.

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LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin is using her fundraising advantage in the race for Michigans coveted open U.S. Senate seat to drop $8 million on advertising in the final weeks leading up to the general election.

Slotkin is the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination in Michigans Aug. 6 primary and is expected to face a Republican nominee who will be heavily backed by national groups. Three Republicans are vying for the partys nomination and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers has secured an endorsement from Donald Trump.

This investment will be key to engaging and turning out voters in the final weeks of the campaign and sending Elissa Slotkin to the U.S. Senate, Slotkin campaign spokesperson Austin Cook said in a statement.

While the ad reservation was planned before President Joe Bidens troubling debate performance, Democrats nationwide are concerned about its potential impact on crucial down-ballot races, including Slotkins.

Republicans have seized the opportunity to link down-ballot Democrats to Biden. Following the announcement of Slotkins ad buy, Chris Gustafson, a spokesperson for Rogers campaign, stated that spending millions in donor money wont change the fact that Slotkin and Biden are attached at the hip.

The TV ad reservations for October and November encompass the Detroit, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and Flint media markets, spanning broadcast, cable, and digital platforms, according to a release shared first with The Associated Press.

Democrats aim to retain the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Debbie Stabenow since 2001, following her retirement announcement last year. Michigan is among several battleground states that could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate for the next two years.

Slotkin, serving her third term in Congress, announced her Senate campaign in February 2023. She has since garnered significant support through fundraising and endorsements, positioning herself as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Actor Hill Harper is her only challenger but he faces a significant fundraising disadvantage.

Since announcing her candidacy, Slotkin has raised over $16 million and had $8.6 million in cash on hand as of the latest campaign finance update in early April.

The top three Republican candidates in the race have come nowhere close to Slotkins fundraising and Rogers had only raised $2.9 million through the end of March.

National Republican groups have become increasingly involved in the race as the seat appears more winnable for a party that hasnt secured a Senate victory in Michigan since 1994.

In June, the Senate Republicans campaign arm announced $100 million in ad buys ahead of the 2024 elections in key swing states, including Michigan. National GOP groups have reserved over $14 million in total for ads following the Senate primary and leading up to the general election, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact.

Rogers has been endorsed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, but the primary has become more contentious than the party anticipated. Businessman Sandy Pensler, another GOP candidate, has spent over $3 million on ads, with some attacking Rogers.

Democrats have made their own large ad buys in the Michigan Senate race as well. Senate Democrats campaign arm has reserved close to $10 million and their PAC has made an additional $17 million in ad reservations, according to AdImpact.

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U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, speaks at the at the Texas Capitol on June 20, 2021. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune

WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, called on President Joe Biden to step down as his partys nominee for the White House on Tuesday citing the presidents poor performance at a debate against former President Donald Trump last week.

President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump, Doggett said in a statement Tuesday. I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not. Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trumps many lies.

Doggett, 77, is the first Democratic member of Congress to call for Biden to withdraw from the ticket since his debate. U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minnesota, ran a challenge against Biden in the Democratic primaries but has stayed muted since the debate.

Shortly after his statement, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro joined Doggett in calling for Biden to withdraw. Castro ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic primaries and was quick to criticize his debate performance last week.

"I believe that there are stronger options out there for Democrats. We have a stable of folks who could do a better job, including Vice President [Kamala] Harris," Castro said Tuesday on MSNBC, after Doggett issued his call. "Its too risky to let Donald Trump walk into this in November."

Doggett said in a phone interview that he'd warned the White House on Friday of his decision and had expressed his dismay to House Democratic leadership Friday as well. He confirmed to House leadership Tuesday that he was issuing his statement beforehand but did not seek advice, approval or edits.

"There are many people who would like to make a statement like this but are concerned about, among other things, doing anything that might make it even more difficult for President Biden," Doggett said in the interview.

Bidens performance during last Thursdays debate alarmed Democrats in Texas, who are facing a number of competitive races down ticket, including for U.S. Senate. Still, Democrats across the party's big tent have largely stopped short of calling for his withdrawal, either rallying behind the president or keeping their lips sealed.

"I respect Rep. Doggetts position but it is one I do not share," U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, said in a statement. "I am supporting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and will work hard to get them reelected."

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, also issued a statement after Doggett quickly backing Biden.

"The 2024 election presents a choice between two very different visions for our future: President Bidens vision that moves America forward for all of the American people, or President Trumps vision that reverses our progress, denies our freedom, and divides our country. Its clear which candidate is best for America and Americans, she said.

U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, asserted that one debate shouldn't derail the campaign and that he was "still ridin' with Joe Biden." Green cited Biden's work appointing the first Black woman vice president and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, as well as his work on infrastructure, climate and health care in the first two years of his presidency.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, pointed out that Doggett himself is of advanced age, though Doggett hasn't shown any signs of slowed performance recently.

"I find it ironic," Gonzalez said in a text message. "We have a 77-year-old asking an 81-year-old not to run. I really believe folks are jumping the gun."

Though Biden was unlikely to win the solidly Republican Texas, his performance could impact down ballot races in the state if disenchanted Democrats choose to stay home on Election Day. U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is running to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, this year in one of Democrats' few flip targets for U.S. Senate. Democrats are hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-McAllen, in the 15th Congressional District and are on the defensive for Gonzalez's seat in the 34th district and Rep. Henry Cuellar's seat in the 28th district  both in South Texas.

Allred, Cuellar and Michelle Vallejo, the Democratic candidate in the 15th district, have so far kept quiet on Biden's debate performance. Gonzalez said voters"in my district know me well" independent of the president.

"The cowards in the Democratic Caucus have spent every day after the debate in witness protection, too afraid to say what theyre all thinking," said Jack Pandol, communications director of the National Republican Congressional Committee. "Americans remember House Democrats were complicit in covering up and gaslighting the public about the presidents condition, and voters are primed to punish them in November."

Doggett is a historic fixture in Texas Democratic politics. He shares the title of longest serving member of Congress from Texas with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and represents a comfortably Democratic seat based in Austin. He has been in Congress since 1995. He previously served in the Texas Senate and state Supreme Court.

Doggett is a longtime progressive, serving as a deputy whip in the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He has gone against Biden on policy in the past, threatening to vote against the president's landmark Inflation Reduction Act because it did not close the Medicaid coverage gap and called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Still, he has loyally backed the president and party leadership up to this point.

In his statement, Doggett thanked Biden for his service, saying he had achieved much for our country at home and abroad, including the post-pandemic recovery and restoring administrative norms after the Trump presidency. But he said Biden does not have the best chance of challenging Trump among the party, expressing an urgency among Democrats to take on a former president they say would be detrimental to the countrys democracy.

I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same, Doggett said in his statement. While much of his work has been transformational, he pledged to be transitional.

If Biden were to bow out, Democrats would have to pick a new candidate at their national convention in Chicago this August. Johnson's withdrawal in 1968 was followed by bedlam at that year's Democratic National Convention, also in Chicago. Vice President Hubert Humphrey won the nomination that year following the assassination of leading candidate Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Humphrey lost handedly to Republican Richard Nixon.

Doggett, who was 21 during the 1968 convention, said he was not concerned this year's DNC would fall into chaos as it did that year. He plans to attend this year's convention as one of Texas' delegates.

"If anything, while it creates many political uncertainties, we're more likely to have a peaceful but very vocal and active convention than otherwise," Doggett said.

He did not offer any names for alternative presidential candidates, though he said vaguely that several people in the party could make a viable run, including governors, senators and Vice President Kamala Harris.

"I'm not making this statement in order to pick or advance the efforts of any one candidate, but only because of my great concern about the threat to our democracy of Donald Trump, and that we simply can't risk doing anything other than having our best candidate," Doggett said.

Numerous Democrats have been floated as potential successors, including Harris, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. None have openly thrown their name into the ring.

Biden does not appear interested in an open convention and has so far stood firm that he is the best candidate to beat Trump. Since the debate, he and his surrogates have met with donors and Democratic elected officials to quell nerves and keep the money flowing to his campaign. He took to the rally stage in North Carolina the day after the debate to acknowledge his shortcomings but reassure voters.

"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.

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Correction, July 3, 2024 at 9:24 a.m. : A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled the name of former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who lost the presidential election to Richard Nixon in 1968.
Democratic governors are setting up a meeting with Joe Biden that could come as soon as Wednesday, after more than two dozen of them gathered on a call Monday to vent fears and frustration over the presidents poor debate performance.

The governors meeting with Biden  which is expected to be both in-person and virtual  follows a Monday afternoon call on which two dozen Democratic governors gathered to commiserate and share information, seeking to settle fears around the presidents disastrous debate performance, according to three people directly familiar with the call, all granted anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, convened Mondays gathering, and hes expected to fly in for the meeting with the president.

It was pretty unanimous that the debate was catastrophic and things are bad, but there are disagreements over what is a realistic alternative or how you change course, said one of the people familiar with the contents of the call. Thats the ongoing discussion. Some governors say, Joe is the best bet and others are more interested in exploring an alternative.

Another person directly familiar with the call said the governors sound like any other group of elected Democratic officials right now  utter frustration and nobody thinks the campaign is handling it the right way.



CNN first reported on the call with governors.

For the meeting with Biden thats being scheduled, two of the people familiar with the call said they expected it to be forward-looking, as the governors want to share feedback from voters in their own states and hear more about the campaigns plan moving forward.

Folks want to know  what's the plan, Joe? What is the plan not only for you, but the rest of us to get out there and carry the flag? Are you able and is the campaign able to maintain the pace? said one of the people familiar with the call. Many of the governors want to know, what's next? We've got to rebound.

The Biden campaign declined to comment.

In the immediate aftermath of the debate, the president held a rally in North Carolina, where he conceded his performance wasnt great but vowed to do better. Biden is also scheduled to be interviewed by "Good Morning America" and "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos, with portions of the interview airing Friday and throughout the weekend. It will be his first interview since the debate.



In addition, Emmy Ruiz, the White House director of political strategy and outreach, told Democrats close to the administration on a call on Monday that they were working on adding travel to Bidens schedule, potentially to Milwaukee on Friday and Philadelphia over the weekend.

Bidens campaign has also held meetings with top donors in efforts to calm their concerns. Staffers regularly cite their strong small-dollar fundraising as evidence of their continued support from Democratic voters, including raising $127 million last month.

On the Monday call with governors, some expressed frustration that they had not heard more directly from Biden and the campaign in the immediate aftermath of the debate. But several governors staffers pushed back on the characterization in posts on X, including communications directors for Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Kathy Hochul of New York.

Murphy was on the call yesterday and spent two hrs with @POTUS on Saturday night. They caught up privately and had dinner together, where they discussed topics ranging from the economy to Ukraine, posted the governors communications director Mahen Gunaratna.
There has been growing alarm among Democrats about Joe Bidens debate performance on Thursday, amplifying concerns he cant beat Donald Trump in November.

But so far very few prominent Democrats have publicly called for Biden to step aside.

One of Bidens longtime allies, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said on MSNBC Tuesday that its a legitimate question to ask if Bidens pauses during the debate were an episode or is this a condition? But she stopped short of calling for Biden to withdraw, saying that people should have concerns about Trumps mental acuity as well. She said opinions are mixed about whether Bidens up to the job, but, she said, I trust his judgment.

One of Bidens most crucial Democratic allies, South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, said on MSNBC Tuesday that he would support Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden were to step aside. That is an obvious statement for a co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign, but it took on additional weight during a week rife with speculation about whether Biden should remain on the ticket.

While it would be nearly unprecedented, Biden could still withdraw from the race before the election. Here are some prominent Democrats who have so far publicly called for Biden to drop out.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas Tom WilliamsCQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett was the first Democrat currently serving in Congress to call for Biden to step aside. He said in a statement on Tuesday that Bidens weak poll numbers and debate performance was an important part of his decision. President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump, Doggett said in a statement. I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not. Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trumps many lies.

In his announcement, Doggett referred to former President Lyndon Johnsons decision in 1968 to withdraw from the Presidential race because of deep divisions within the Democratic party over the war in Vietnam. "I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson, Doggett said. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same."

Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., in 2022 Tom WilliamsCQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The Arizona Congressman on Wednesday became the second sitting member to call for Biden to drop out. "If hes the candidate, Im going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere, Grijalva told The New York Times. Grijalva, a former chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, added that Biden needed to shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

Tim Ryan, former Ohio Congressman from 2003 to 2023

Tim Ryan in 2022 Joshua A. BickelBloomberg via Getty Images

Former Ohio congressman Tim Ryan called for Biden to step aside when he published an OpEd article in Newsweek on Tuesday saying that its time to make Harris the partys nominee. We have to rip the band aid off! Too much is at stake, Ryan wrote on X. Harris has significantly grown into her job, she will destroy Trump in debate, highlight choice issue, energize our base, bring back young voters and give us generational change.

Julian Castro, former Housing Secretary in the Obama Administration

Julian Castro in 2022 Al DragoBloomberg via Getty Images

Julian Castro, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2017 during the Obama administration, wrote on X on June 28: Biden had a very low bar going into the debate and failed to clear even that bar. He seemed unprepared, lost, and not strong enough to parry effectively with Trump, who lies constantly. On Tuesday, Castro said on MSNBC that another Democrat would have a better shot at beating Trump.

Jason Lewis, Massachusetts State Senator

State Senator Jason Lewis in 2015 Lane TurnerThe Boston Globe via Getty Images

Massachusetts State Senator Jason Lewis made the comment in a Boston Public Radio interview on June 28 in which compared Bidens candidacy to a train about to crash. Our choice is to, you know, jump off that train, Lewis said.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, July 2. Tajikistan and Pakistan have held discussions on their cooperation within the CASA-1000 project, Trend reports.

According to the Tajik Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, the talks took place during a meeting between Tajik Energy Minister Daler Juma and Faisal Karim, Governor of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on investment opportunities in Tajikistan's energy, oil, and gas sectors. Both parties emphasized their mutual interest in strengthening and expanding their beneficial cooperation.

CASA-1000 is an infrastructure initiative aimed at transmitting 1,300 megawatts of surplus electricity from Central Asian countries, particularly Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, to meet the electricity demands in South Asian countries, specifically Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The project involves upgrading the electrical grids in these participating nations through the construction of new substations and high-voltage power transmission lines.
Its not the cognitive decline of Joe Biden I am concerned about, its that of his supporters. During last weeks presidential debate, we saw what we saw and, actually, anyone who has paid attention over the past couple of years has seen his marked deterioration. Despite this, his aides, so-called loved ones and the party faithful have denied any sort of cognitive decline.

Everything has been stage-managed around the fact that he is more compos mentis between 10am and 4pm. After that, he is tired and prone to memory lapses. Every detail  shortening his walk to Air Force One in his orthopaedic shoes, the ever-present sunglasses, making sure all travel has been minimised  has been worked out to make him seem OK.

He is not OK. The most cringeworthy moments of that debate were not when he was gibbering, but when the camera was on his vacant, slack-jawed face when Trump was speaking.

The vital difference between these two past-their-sell-by-date dudes is that priced into Trumps appeal is his lack of any relationship to reality, whereas Biden talks about truth. All this dissolved. Trump is a proven liar, criminal and sexual offender but Biden? Does he genuinely believe he will be up to this at 85? Do the Democrats think this is the best they can do? Apparently so.

This is delusional and it is negligent. If Trump wins, then Nato is under threat. Putin must be rubbing his sweaty little palms together.

Ever get the feeling youve been cheated? The line John Lydon sneered at the end of the last Sex Pistols gig in 1978 came to mind. The Democrats have cheated themselves and the electorate by fooling themselves that this 81-year-old was competent. This is stupefyingly dangerous.

Why are the American people faced with such a disastrous choice? It seems to me that once you start denying one part of reality, then the rest falls easily. That is the zeitgeist. If we deny that biological sex is real, that Covid killed people, that climate change is happening then why not deny the fact that everyone ages and dies? How else to explain these vastly intelligent aides who think they can front out what has now been made horribly public?

Jill Biden, who has just been featured as the cover star of the latest Vogue (oops Anna!), is allegedly the only one able to persuade Biden to step down. Really? As the clan gathered, they all apparently encouraged him to carry on.

The rest of the world is gobsmacked because we have all faced situations where we have had to tell stubborn relatives that they can no longer drive or take care of themselves properly. We do this out of care. Who in their right mind would want to see elderly loved ones stumbling and embarrassing themselves in public?

The Democrat establishment is not in its right mind. It is creaky and lacking in agility as none of this information is new. Obama and Clinton coming out to bat for him does little. Remember voters rejected Hillary Clinton because she was the establishment and Trump could present as a disrupter. That same establishment is closing ranks. This is a disaster.

On a human level, it is impossible to grasp why Biden needs to go on. He has been president and he can have a nice life. I feel the same way about Jeremy Corbyn; probably soon to lose his last chance of being an MP when he could just be making jam today and jam tomorrow. Why does Diane Abbott, 70, having suffered a bout of ill health, want to carry on? What is it about political life that makes a seemly retirement impossible? Margaret Thatcher was always said to be lost after she was booted out in 1990.

What appears to be happening to Biden, however  that he is in a bubble of his family and a few close aides  is a fundamental political problem. We may have a less inflexible system but so many leaders end up paranoid and advised only by a tiny inner circle. This was as true of Boris Johnson as it was of Gordon Brown and certainly of the bonkers Liz Truss fiasco. The strange isolated position of power is surreal.

Equally surreal is that those who are in full possession of their faculties will let this go on. In Bidens case, they talk about an existential battle over democracy but they are in deep denial. Be careful what you wish for.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a heroine to many, refused to retire during the Obama administration. When she died, Trump was then able to replace her on the Supreme Court with a judge who would vote down Roe v Wade, something she had campaigned for all her life.

This hanging on proves nothing nor does it get results. We vote with our heads as well as our hearts. Many Americans will have already made up their minds. Many will have seen only one minute of the debate and that would have been enough.

We vote for the future, which is why this American gerontocracy is so appalling. In pretending that Biden is up the job, the Democrats are destroying trust. This is dishonest. Moral degradation no longer belongs only to Trumps camp. We vote out of self-interest but also for something better. Anything else does damage to democracy.

So while I dont claim to be fresh-faced myself, I will see you on the other side of our election and at least we in the UK will all know where we are then.

Hopefully.

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The verdict last week was almost as universal as it is ubiquitous: Joe Bidens debate performance was a complete disaster. For five days, we all watched what seemed like a real-time political collapse, as Democrats found themselves gripped by a wave of panic. But the party leaders whose words mattered most largely kept quiet.

Things changed on Tuesday, but it may be too late to matter.

The first major dent came from former Speaker Nancy Pelsoi, a careful pol who does not vamp her way onto the front page. In an interview with MSNBC, she said Biden should sit down with serious journalists to quiet worries about his health. "I think it's a legitimate question to say, Is this an episode or is this a condition?" said Pelosi, who with 84 years to her credit cannot be accused of ageism.

Joining her, Rep. James Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat who rightly is credited with securing Biden the nomination with the backing of Black voters in his state, said he would support Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden were to step aside. It was no longer too early to consider the hypothetical.

Then Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett became the first seated lawmaker to make the demand that Biden step aside. At that point, everyone started hitting refresh on their browsers and social media feeds to see whoif anyonewould follow. We could see a trickle from the likes of former Rep. Tim Ryans op-ed calling for Bidens exit or a deluge that could reset the entire Democratic roadmap heading forward.

Even so, theres roughly nothing party leaders can do to deny Biden re-nomination. Absent flaming a complete bonfire to the party rules as revised in 2022, the Democratic National Committee is stuck with the President. Party brass could try to pressure Biden to drop out, but hes a stubborn 81-year-old man who knows this is his last turn on this dancefloor. They could also effort a plan to dramatically set aside the 14.3 million votes that were cast for Biden in a largely non-competitive primary, but that would undermine their drumbeat of an argument that Trump is an existential threat to U.S. democracy. (Also, inside a party that still thinks rules and norms matter, that idea would likely collapse before it could gain any traction.)

But theres also the grim fact about the current Democratic public freakout: the partys traditional top-shelf leaders have failed to meet the moment when they were arguably needed most. In the days after the debate, none bothered to say much beyond vague support for Biden. Not Barack Obama. Not Chuck Schumer. Not Hakeem Jeffries. Not the Democratic National Committee senior hands. Even Pelosi may have waited too long and still may have been holding her tongue.

At the moment, the advantage lies with Biden. As much as Doggett, 77, has the respect of his Austin district, he isnt exactly the caliber of lawmaker who can reset a national conversation on his own. Pelosi and Clyburna former Speaker and a political sherpamatter to Biden, but theyre careful statements thus far are insufficient to nudge him to reconsider. Their diplospeak is too easy to ignore.

Biden and the Democratic National Committee largely avoided a real primary challenge. Party leaders were all too aware of how such challengers have spelled trouble for earlier Presidents of both parties; see one- or partial-termers George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Lyndon Baines Johnson for evidence of what a messy intra-party feud can do come the general election.

Still, the internal favor to Biden might have been a disservice to voters who might not have understood how uneven Biden can be, especially of late. The lonely voices who tried to warn party leadersIm looking at you, Dean Phillipswere swatted down as alarmist opportunists. Now, Democrats are left with Biden chugging along toward a nomination, but struggling to prove hes capable of handling a second term.

While he was the fragile Speaker of the House, John Boehner had an adage he recycled often: "A leader without followers is just a man taking a walk." Having an intellectual entourage is part of the requirement, but so is showing an ability to shape the outcomes. And right now, Bidens promisehowever far-reachingof perhaps denying Trumps return is a whole lot more appealing than some Democrats suggestions of upending a still-possibly-winnable race. Publicly, Biden remains the ringleader of the effort to block Trump, and no other Democrat has a workable plan to swap Biden for another. Simply put: its Biden or bust, and thats just the math.

Party leaders are left to watch because they cannot stage-manage Biden. Biden is set to sit down for an interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos that will air on Sunday. That could help address concerns about his mental sharpness, or a gaffe-prone Biden could dig the hole deeper by imploding like he did last week on the debate stage.

As bad as Bidens chances look right nowand theyre as shaky as theyve been since he announced he would seek the nomination for a third time in 2020 through a series of false startsnone of the partys top leaders want to be seen as further weakening him, and then face some of the blame if he loses to Trump. Bidens defenders rightly note that he has time for polls to bounce back to their pre-debate stasis. The likes of Pelosi and Co. offering advice were trying to boost him, not boot him.

So the top party brass mostly watches and waits. It might yet be in their interest to keep their powder dry, especially if they cant change the outcome. The system disincentives principled stances and rewards those who can point to wins. Trump intra-party critics like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were excommunicated from the GOP; of the 10 House Republicans to vote in support of the second impeachment of Trump, only two made it through their primaries. Its why, of the five House Democrats who cast votes in support of the impeachment of Bill Clinton, three became Republicans and a fourth joined George W. Bushs administration.

Unless you know you can fell a giant, its best to fall in line in Washington. The top Democrats in D.C. get it and are doing just thatat least until they can be assured their intervention wont be for naught. For every public Pelsoi or Clyburn nudge, there are dozens more in private text chains hoping things turn around. With roughly 18 weeks until Election Day, the window is quickly shrinking. So, too, are Bidens prospects.

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Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
In 1944, Democrats nominated and Americans elected a president who was very nearly dead.

It was the weakest electoral showing of Franklin Roosevelts four runsjust 53 percent of the popular vote. That was about the same as Barack Obama in 2008, which is high by our current conception but not on par with FDRs priors, particularly his 61 percent in 1936.

Thanks to Democrats lock on the South and the largest cities, which were all in the North back then, a more-modest popular vote victory was good enough to win 81 percent in the Electoral College, better than any modern president besides Ronald Reagans double landslides.

Republican Thomas Dewey managed to win 12 states, 10 more than the Kansas sunflower Alf Landon did in 1936, but Roosevelts victory was never in serious doubt, even if Roosevelts ability to serve out the term he won was.

Ten days before the president accepted the Democratic nomination in July 1944, the presidents medical team diagnosed him with acute high blood pressure and congestive heart failure and said he would likely not survive another term in office. But doctors were saying what those around the president, and probably Roosevelt, already knew. He looked terribleseeming 20 years older than his 63 yearsand was wasting away. The diagnosis was kept from the public, but it was obvious to the party bosses who came in contact with the president.

Thats what led to the scramble, wonderfully recounted in Benn Steils book The World That Wasnt: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century, to dump Wallace, the sitting vice president. The public-facing argument for making the switch for Missouri Sen. Harry Truman was about politics, with race watchers saying that the ultra-progressive Wallace could cost Democrats in the Deep South. There were reports, too, about bad blood between Wallace and the other members of the administration.

But the real reason the bossesand Rooseveltknew the switch was necessary was that Wallace, a Stalin admirer who had been thoroughly duped by the Soviets on a trip through Siberia, could not be allowed to assume the presidency upon FDRs inevitable demise. The new world order for after the war that Roosevelt was working himself to death to try to establish would be wiped out by a Wallace presidency that let the Soviets have their way with Europe.

Roosevelt was inaugurated for his fourth term on January 20, 1945. On March 1, he revealed some of the extent of his illness when he addressed Congress on plans for the end of the war seated in a wheelchair, the heavy braces that allowed him to stand on his polio-ravaged legs having become too much for him to bear. On April 12, sitting for a portrait at his home in Warm Springs, Georgia, he died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage.

Truman ascended to the presidency, led the effort to finish off the Japanese Empire, and, as Roosevelt had hoped, held the line against the Soviets.

So what about Joe Biden, who was, remarkably, alive when all this happened? At nearly 3 years old when Roosevelt died, its possible that Biden might even have some memory of the moment, or at least say that he did. Of the five living former presidents, only Jimmy Carter, now nearly 100 and out of office for 43 years, was alive when Truman took the oath of office.

Biden has talked about being a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders. That implicit promise to seek just one term was, as it turned out, just some stuff politicians say. What Biden has really aimed to be was a bridge to the past, a way to take America back to the way it was before. Before Donald Trump, yes. But also before the 21st century. The prime of Joseph R. Biden Jr. was 30 years ago when, at the time of the fall of the Soviet Union, America was still living in the world that Roosevelt and his designated survivor had helped to fashion. An appealing, if impossible dream.

Biden and his admirers may see a lot of FDR in him. They may even imagine his situation in 2024 to be like the ailing Roosevelts last campaign 80 years ago. It is a dangerous way of thinking. Aside from the many differences between the two men, the state of the world, the media, and the nature of politics, there is this: Roosevelt may have been almost sure to die in his next term, but he was also almost sure to win it.

The problem Democratic bosses faced in 1944 was in managing success. The one they confront now is in avoiding a generational catastrophe.

We could debate how much Bidens appalling appearance and performance at last weeks debate will hurt his standing with voters, but even the most optimistic Democrats would allow that significant harm was done. We wont know how much until we see some good polling on the state of the race, which, because of Independence Day, will be delayed by a week or so. But even in the early emanations, we see bad news indeed.

Biden trailing in New Hampshire? Woof.

At the heart of Bidens FDR problem is that when the world concluded that he was obviously not fit for another four years, the incumbent was already losing.

In an average of high-quality national polls going into the debate, Biden was down by 2 points nationally. Bear in mind that for Democrats to overcome the advantages Republicans enjoy in the Electoral College because of the allegiances of rural and small-town voters, the blue team needs to win the national popular vote by something more than 3 points. Biden won by 4.5 points and still found himself in a squeaker with the incumbent in 2020. Hillary Clinton won the national popular vote by more than 2 points and ended up with just 42 percent of the electoral votes in 2016.

Trump wins a tie with Biden. Indeed, the idea of forcing the earliest general election debate in presidential history was to help Biden catch up to Trump. What started as a vehicle to reset the race and allow the incumbent to start trying to build a lead will end with Biden almost certainly being at his worst deficit of the campaign so far.

Lets imagine, though, that the race was basically unchanged by the debate. We know thats not true, but play along. If Biden were to lose the national popular vote by just 2 points, hed hand Trump a smashing Electoral College victorymore than 300 electoral votes, the largest for a Republican since 1988.

Already poised to lose the Senate before the debate, Democrats could almost certainly expect to see Republicans take a 52- or 53-seat majority. In this imagined world where the debate didnt hurt Biden but merely deprived him of a chance to reset the race, the downdraft from the top of the ballot would also probably kill Democrats hopes of retaking the House.

So now ask yourself how much the debate will really have hurt Biden. Maybe you think it doesnt matter all that much and he will dip only a couple of points. Were a long way from Election Day and, certainly, if Democrats do decide to stay course, some of the damage done last week could be repaired.

That makes the best-case scenario for Biden look like spending the 10 weeks until the next debate making up lost ground and then trying to claw his way to a tie (which, as we know, is really a loss) to try to deliver the performance he was supposed to give the first time around.

Whatever the perils of an open convention or the elevation of Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket, it has to be a lot more appealing to Democrats than the increasing prospect of Trump back in power with both houses of Congress on his side and a federal judiciary dominated by conservatives.

Democrats in 1944 were thinking about shaping a future of their dreams. This time, theyre thinking about preventing one of their nightmares.

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Jill Biden told Vogue magazine on Sunday that her husband will continue to fight to remain the Democratic nominee for president and then, in the same breath, declared that he will always do the right thing for the country. That these two statements directly contradict each other is obvious to anyone who watched last Thursdays presidential debate or has paid even casual attention to the long-accumulating public evidence of Joe Bidens cognitive decline.

And yet a number of prominent and influential Democrats, led by those closest to the president, would have the country believe hes just fine. If were just talking about mental acuity, lets be fair about it, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on CNN over the weekend. We see Joe Biden up close. We know how attuned he is to the issues, how informed he is. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina told reporters last week theres no better Democrat than Biden to lead the party into Novembers general election.

Such water-carrying continues a theme in Democratic spin: Biden is sharp and attentive in private, but not in public. This is an affront to common sense that would be dubbed gaslighting if used in defense of Donald Trump. Is Biden choosing to keep his vigilance and cunning hidden from public view, like Phil Hartmans Ronald Reagan? Has he, after spending more than 50 of his 81 years on this Earth in politics, contracted sudden-onset shyness or a kind of cognition-impairing agoraphobia? Maybe the most straightforward answer is also the correct one: Hes slowing down, and his decline has been accelerated by three-and-a-half years in arguably the most stressful job known to man.

Elected Democrats and their allies in the media have made a habit over the past decade of spotlighting their Republican counterparts cowardice, and theyve been right to do so. Presented with ample opportunities over the years to stand up to the demagogue who hijacked their party and their movement, the vast majority of GOP lawmakers and right-wing pundits opted time and again for political expediency, self-preservation, and the path of least resistance. Theyve sacrificed their principles, abandoned the importance of decency and honor, and contributed to the spread of dangerous liesbecause to do otherwise might cost them an election, their audience, or their proximity to power.

Democrats like Pelosi have had no problem diagnosing such gutlessness when it comes with an R next to its name. This is about being afraid, she said last summer about then-Speaker Kevin McCarthys efforts to retroactively expunge Donald Trumps impeachments. These people look pathetic. Implicit in such criticism is the idea that her party would never stoop to such a level.

But now faced with a collective-action problem of their own, most leading Democrats moral clarity has vanished. Several prominent media figures have broken from the party line, but the ongoing effort by Bidens allies to shut down legitimate questions about the presidents clearly deteriorating facultiesas well as his ability to carry out his current job responsibilitiesis as shameless and irresponsible as just about anything Trump and his enablers have done over the past eight years. And if Biden refuses to step aside, itd be an act of political selfishness surpassed in recent memory only by Trumps efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election.

In press releases and on cable news, the Biden campaign has repeatedly insisted that 90 minutes does not negate three-and-a-half years of results. Setting aside that fewer than 4 in 10 voters approve of those results and only 1 in 4 believe the country is on the right track, a second term in office is not a reward for a job well done. No, presidential elections are forward-looking, and this coming Novembers contest will be a referendum on whether the incumbent can effectively do the job for another four years. He cannot.

Discussing last weeks debate, around The Dispatchs office and with friends beyond work, weve been struck by how many peoplehow many of ushave dealt with a situation like the one facing the Bidens. Anyone whos witnessed cognitive decline in elderly friends and relatives has heard the phrase good days and bad days. It comes up when loved ones are discussing a potential move to assisted-living facilities, or when theyre making the difficult decision to take the car keys from someone who shouldnt be driving.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Joe Biden, by all accounts, has good days and bad days. On good days, he is reportedly dependably engaged between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. On bad days, he wanders off, or freezes up, or reads the word pause aloud from his teleprompter. For those who have tuned into a handful of Bidens public appearances in recent years, his inability on Thursday to string together multiple sentencesand his false claim that no U.S. troops have died during his presidencycame as no surprise.

Republicans have certainly exploited such senior moments for their own partisan purposes, but that does not magically render them unimportant or irrelevantquite the opposite. World leaders reportedly have serious worries about Bidens ability to keep up with discussions during international summits, and members of Congress from both parties have described a noticeably slower version of the president in recent months.

Some Democrats, like Rep. Ro Khanna of California, have dismissed such concerns by pointing to the people who would be surrounding Biden in a second term. But as our colleague Kevin Williamson points out, we elect presidents in this country, not prime ministers. And with a host of new challenges and the threat to Pax Americana arguably the highest its been in decades, the United States needsand deservesa leader who can be reliably counted on to answer those 3 a.m. calls.

Donald Trumpfor too many reasons to countis not that leader, either. Yet if Biden stubbornly decides to plow ahead, the former president will almost assuredly find himself back in the White House come January. A CBS News poll conducted after last weeks debate found that 72 percent of registered voters believe Biden does not have the mental and cognitive health to serve as president, and that 46 percent of Democratic voters believe Biden should not continue his 2024 campaign. Election analyst Nate Silvers latest model shows Biden with just a 28 percent chance of securing another term, and he predicts that figure will get worse for the president in the coming weeks and months.

Democrats have been raising the alarm for eight years about the distinct threat Trump poses to the country and the constitutional order. They were right in 2016. They were right in 2020. And theyre right today.

But party leaders are not behaving in a manner consistent with those dire warnings. If the stakes of this election genuinely are as high as people like Nancy Pelosi say they arethat the future of democracy itself is in perilJoe Biden must relinquish the Democratic nomination for president and allow himself to be replaced by someone capable of campaigning for the presidency and running the executive branch of the federal government.

Such maneuvering is certainly not without risks. Swapping Biden out now would require Democratic leaders and the partys boosters in the media to admit, explicitly or implicitly, that they lied to the American peoplefor yearsabout the presidents condition. And if Biden is not fit to run for reelection, a good-faith argument could be made that hes not fit to serve as president right now, either. Theres also no guarantee that the candidate who emerges from extended party infighting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this summerwith whom we expect we would have profound policy disagreementswill be able to pull together the increasingly fractured coalition necessary to keep Trump from the White House.

But that is almost beside the point.

Admitting that the current situation is untenableand trying to do something about itwould represent a small act of political courage in an era that is desperately crying out for some. With increasingly few exceptions, politicians and pundits in Washington havent truly leveled with the American peopleabout Biden and Trump, about debt and deficits, about the separation of powers and the proper role of governmentin years. Acknowledging that an 81-year-old man in clear cognitive decline should not be in charge of the most powerful military in world history would be a start.

And if Biden is truly intent on doing the right thing for the country as the first lady claimed, he has a difficultbut obviousdecision to make.

Read more at The Dispatch

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President Bidens disastrous debate performance has left Democrats scrambling for ways to strengthen their weakened president.

Democratic lawmakers and strategists for months had predicted the presidential race would be extremely close, but they now see Biden as an underdog after he stumbled against former President Trump on the debate stage.

The discussion over whether Biden should be the nominee has not ended, and new swing state polls in the coming week could give new ammunition to those who argue the party would be better off pushing Biden to step away in favor of another candidate.

But Bidens campaign, the White House and some of his top allies are insisting hes not going anywhere. Theyre more focused on strengthening Biden as the nominee.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), the co-chair of Bidens campaign, on Monday called for the president to have more unscripted moments, a risky strategy given Bidens reputation for making gaffes and wandering off topic.

Some Democratic lawmakers and strategists think Bidens and their partys best move is to pivot to offense by ramping up attacks on Trump and the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, which on Monday granted the former president substantial immunity from prosecution.

There are days where Biden is the smartest person in the room, and Im sure there are days where his age is slowing him down, but Biden needs to and the campaign needs to show more days where he is at the top of his game, where he is gregarious, where he is interacting, where he is quick on his feet. Thats how you turn this around, said a Senate Democratic strategist.

They have to show the American people that what happened last Thursday was an anomaly, the source added.

The strategist said Biden is now a clear underdog and his campaign needs to adapt to the new political reality.

Its no longer could Biden do this or not. I think probably the prevailing sentiment is Biden is not up for the challenge. Whether thats right or thats wrong, I think that is now the prevailing sentiment, the strategist said. Biden is definitely the underdog now, but I dont think its a foregone conclusion Trump wins this race.

A postdebate poll in New Hampshire, a state that Democrats have been counting in Bidens column, showed Trump now leading Biden by 2 points.

The survey of 1,746 registered voters by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center over Saturday and Sunday showed Biden has only a 39 percent favorable rating in the state, worse than Trump, who posted a 42 percent favorable rating.

Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist and former Senate leadership aide, said the Biden campaign needs to adjust its strategy.

Any Democrat who doesnt think hes an underdog at this point of time needs to get their head examined. Theres a real problem here. Hopefully the Biden folks understand that and are trying to figure out what to do, he said.

Manley said any shift in strategy would be helped by quality polling data, but in the meantime Bidens team needs to increase the candidates public exposure.

They need to get him out there as quickly as possible in some adversarial settings and let the chips fall where they may, he said. Hopefully, hell rise to the occasion like he did at the State of the Union.

Bidens team has limited the presidents exposure to media interviews during his first term in office, but Democratic strategists say they need to reconsider their instinct to protect the candidate.

Part of being the underdog, you need to be willing to take a few more risks, be a little more aggressive, Manley said. A lot of his policies are popular, its just hes not selling them, so they have to be a little more aggressive.

Coons, one of Bidens closest allies on Capitol Hill, on Monday called for the presidents team to give him more latitude to show that he still has the energy and capability to serve a second term.

We do need to see more unscripted and off-the-record moments. That is something Im encouraging, he said Monday during an interview with CNN This Morning.

Coons had told reporters before the debate that videos purporting to show Biden freezing up or appearing lost at moments were selectively edited to portray the president in a bad light. But after Thursdays debate, its now tougher for Bidens allies to wave aside these clips without the president himself reassuring voters with more public appearances.

Former Pennsylvania Rep. Ron Klink (D) said that Biden does best when interacting with crowds and criticized his campaign for agreeing to debate Trump without an audience present.

Whoever the campaign officials were that agreed to having just the moderators and the crew and the two candidates in the room, that was a mistake. President Biden does very well when he has people to interact with. Even with an adversarial crowd, you saw at the State of the Union. He is best when he is interacting with people, Klink said.

Biden drew praise after his feisty State of the Union address in March when he clashed with Republican lawmakers in a lively back-and-forth from the chambers dais.

Klink pointed out that former President Clinton was able to rebound during some of his toughest moments in public life by gaining inspiration and energy from his constituents and supporters.

The former Pennsylvania lawmaker also said Biden needs to do more to lay out his vision for a second term, a critique voiced by Democratic senators.

They need to reassure the public, in particular younger voters, by laying out their vision for the future. Have they done a sufficient job of that? No, they have not, Klink said.

Senate Democrats pivoted Monday to attacking the Supreme Courts decision to grant Trump immunity for crimes related to his official acts as president and its ruling Friday to overturn the so-called Chevron deference, which before had made it easier for the federal government to implement environmental, consumer safety and other regulations.

After staying mostly quiet about Bidens embarrassing debate performance, Senate Democrats unleashed a barrage of criticism directed at the court, and reminded voters that Trump had appointed half of the courts conservative majority.

Although Biden is struggling with stubbornly low approval ratings, so is the Supreme Court. Only 36 percent of Americans approve of the high court, according to an average of polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight.com.

Some senior Democrats are arguing that theres no realistic path to replacing Biden as the nominee and that electing Trump as president after the Supreme Court ruled to grant him broad immunity for official actions would be a danger to democracy.

Our current situation should give Dems a rejuvenating chance to focus better on fixing whats gone wrong in America. We face three huge threats: persistent internal attacks on our democracy, unbridled climate upheaval, and a captured Court with some deeply corrupt justices, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in a statement posted Monday on social media.

We are in a war for our future and should behave that way, he warned fellow Democrats.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Some Dems ask for special refugee status for Palestinians

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  At a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Humanitarian Reconstruction Coordinator Sigrid Kaag explained one million people have been displaced from Rafah since May of this year.

Kaag explained the U.N. has seen water shortages, food insecurity and collapsed schools in that region.

The International Community Secretary General has been asking early on for a ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages, Kaag said.

The United States representative to the United Nations Security Council said on Tuesday Hamas has ignored calls for a ceasefire and for the release of hostages.

Because of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza last month, nearly 70 congressional Democrats called on the Biden administration to expand refugee status for Palestinians.

Were talking about children and infants and grandparents who are living in horrific conditions, whose family members are U.S. citizens, said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas.).

Casar led the effort to send the letter in the House. It asked the Biden administration to issue a Priority-2 designation for certain Palestinians. The White House has not said whether it is considering the move.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas.), the Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, said he doesnt think the Priority-2 designation should apply for people living in Palestine. The designation was issued for Afghans who supported U.S. efforts in that country, according to the State Department website.

I dont think, legally, its the right way forward, McCaul said. Its not like they worked with the United States in any way.

Kaag emphasized the best way to support people living in Gaza is an immediate ceasefire.

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Dengue fever cases are rising in the US: What is it?

Story at a glance

Cases of dengue fever are three times higher in the U.S. than this time last year and have been reported in 38 states and Washington, D.C.

Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by infected mosquitoes.

It causes fevers, headaches and nausea in mild cases, while those infected for a second time can experience more severe symptoms like persistent vomiting, bleeding gums or nose and severe abdominal pain.

(NewsNation)  Cases of dengue fever, a viral infection caused by infected mosquitoes, are surging in the U.S. amid warnings from federal health officials to be alert for the disease.

According to the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 100 to 400 million infections each year worldwide, and its usually found in tropical and subtropical climates.

It can have mild or no symptoms but can be fatal in severe cases. Most people get better in one to two weeks.

Cases of dengue fever in the U.S. are three times higher than this time last year.

Where is it spreading?

Most cases in the U.S. have been found in people who recently traveled abroad to regions where it is quickly spreading. Florida is the only state with local transmission so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thirty-eight states plus D.C. have reported at least one case, with Florida, New York and Massachusetts reporting the most cases.

The virus spreads fastest in warm, tropical countries. Last year, 6.6 million cases were reported worldwide. In the first four months of this year, 7.9 million cases have been reported according to the WHO.

UN agency authorizes second vaccine against dengue amid outbreaks in the Americas

How to spot Dengue fever

Dengue fever can cause fevers, headaches and nausea in mild cases, and symptoms usually last from two to seven days.

Those who are infected a second time are at risk for more severe symptoms such as persistent vomiting, bleeding gums or nose and severe abdominal pain.

Federal health officials have urged doctors to be alert for cases as the disease spreads.

How to treat Dengue fever

Most cases of dengue fever are treated at home with pain medicine, as there is no specific treatment. However, severe cases often require hospitalization.

According to the CDC, a vaccine is recommended for children ages 9 to 16 who have contracted the infection and live in areas where its common.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
DENVER (KDVR)  Over the weekend, Denver closed its final hotel shelter for migrants after working over the past two months to get migrants into apartments or transitional housing.

Right now at present, there are eight newcomers in the shelter, and yesterday there were zero for the very first time since the response has started, said Jon Ewing with the city of Denver.

Ewing said the city remains welcoming for all newcomers at the citys reception center, seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

But the numbers have slowed. Ewing said 144 charter buses arrived in Denver in December.

Weve had four charter buses arrive in June, Ewing said.

Denver police: Window washing at intersections is illegal

As of Monday, Ewing said the city has supported 42,392 newcomers at a cost of more than $72 million. He said the transition from rented hotels to apartments and transitional housing for newly arriving migrants comes down to cost.

At one point it was $90 a person in a hotel per night, Ewing said. So if you think of a family of three, youre talking $270 per night in a hotel.

He said an example of the cost for an apartment for migrants could be around $1,600 a month.

The math makes sense pretty quickly, Ewing said.

A small busload of people arrive at an emergency shelter for migrants from the southern U.S. border set up at a Denver rec center

Denver to keep 2 migrant shelters open

Ewing said the hotels also provided daily meals along with security. He said that migrants living more independently helps with the cost.

This isnt over. The migrant crisis isnt over, Ewing said. People are still going to arrive, people are still going to need help.

The city is keeping two shelters open for migrants: one for families and one for individuals. He said they also continue to provide outreach for those living on the streets, migrants or not, with Mayor Mike Johnstons All In Mile High initiative to house 2,000 people.

Weve moved 1,600 people off the streets into housing, and were still looking to hit our goal of 2,000, and we will make it, Ewing said.

Online boutique owner found guilty of nearly $500K in COVID-19 relief fraud

Here is a little more background from the city on the Denver Asylum Seekers Program and Work Authorization:

In April, Mayor Mike Johnston announced the creation of the Denver Asylum Seekers Program, which provides long-term support and stability to newcomers who do not immediately have access to federal work authorization. The first cohort of roughly 800 individuals is currently in the process of applying for asylum through city-backed clinics. As a requirement of DASP, at least one adult per household is committed to at least 20 hours of weekly job training as part of WorkReady Denver. Classes began in June and will run the next several months.

Denver has assisted more than 2,300 people with applying for work authorization since February, the statement continues. Those interested in volunteering for a clinic may sign-up here. The city sends its appreciation to the many partners assisting with work authorization clinics, including the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Denver Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships (HRCP), City Attorneys Office (CAO), Denver Human Services (DHS), Lutheran Family Services, Catholic Charities, Colorado Lawyers Committee, Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center (JAMLAC), as well as volunteers from within the city and community.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Deputies looking for clown who vandalized abandoned mine near Telluride

DENVER (KDVR)  The historic Tomboy mine near Telluride was vandalized, and the sheriffs office is offering a reward for information on the person who did it.

On Monday, the San Miguel Sheriffs Office posted a photo of the vandalism on social media.

According to Telluride, Tomboy was a former mining town that housed 1,000 residents at its peak. Eventually, the ore ran out and the mine closed in 1927, leaving the town to ghosts. The mine is located a few thousand feet above Telluride along Imogene Pass.

Even though the Tomboy mine has long been abandoned, the sheriffs office is calling out the person who chose to deface and spray paint the piece of Colorado history with some choice words.

Video: Teens arrested after chase with Douglas County deputy

The sheriffs office said they are looking for the punk-a clown who did this.

The San Miguel County sheriff master is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible. Anyone with information can call dispatch at 970-728-1911. Tipsters may also remain anonymous and still be eligible for the reward.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, July 2. Tajikistan and Pakistan have put their heads together to brainstorm projects aimed at joining forces through roads and railways, Trend reports.

The issue was addressed during a meeting between Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, according to the official website of the Tajik president.

During the meeting, the sides focused on access to international transport corridors and global ports, particularly maritime routes and ports in Pakistan.

It was considered a win-win situation to foster teamwork in logistics and think outside the box about setting up logistics hubs in the south of Tajikistan and the north of Pakistan.

"We consider Pakistan's trade and economic opportunities, its geostrategic position, and its influence in the South Asian region and the Islamic world highly important. Therefore, we are interested in strengthening and expanding our cooperation with fraternal Pakistan," highlighted Rahmon at the start of the meeting.

Overall, the sides expressed keen interest in further expanding ties in trade, investments, transportation, energy, various industries, including the light and food industries, mining and mineral processing, and agriculture.
Deputies looking for potential witness to fatal crash in Charles County

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Deputies are looking for the identity of a woman who may have witnessed a fatal motorcycle crash that happened on June 25 on Chapel Point Road.

The crash happened around 4:40 p.m. on Chapel Point Road near Purcell Road. The collision involved a 2007 Honda CBR600 motorcycle.

The Charles County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) said 24-year-old Nicolas Conrad Slough of Bel Alton, left the roadway and struck a tree. Slough was taken to the hospital where he died.

After Anacostia River Splashs postponement, parkgoers discuss its importance

CCSO said the potential witness was driving a 2024 Nissan Rogue with Virginia registration plates. Anyone with information about the identity of the possible witness or information related to the crash should call (301) 609-6277.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A Des Moines DART bus now bears the faces of two prominent community activists

The faces of Des Moines activists Evelyn K. Davis and Teree Caldwell-Johnson are now the sides of a Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority bus.

This is the second time Iowa Juneteenth has honored civil right icons by wrapping a bus. Last year, it unveiled a bus with two pictures  one of President Joe Biden in 2021 signing into law that June 19, also known as Juneteenth, is a federal holiday. The other is a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. at the front of the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, on March 7, 1965, an event that was pivotal to the passage that year of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark achievement of the civil rights movement.

Evelyn K. Davis is honored on the DART bus.

"This is our second year being able to wrap a DART bus ... but I knew every year after last year that I wanted to make sure that we were honoring individuals for the great work that they've done," Iowa Juneteenth Chairperson Dwana Bradley said.

This year, Bradley wanted to honor two community activists who had an impact on Iowa education.

"I grew up in the Evelyn K. Davis area, where the park is," Bradley said. "I had the honor and the pleasure of serving with Teree on the school board for five years. She had such a heartbeat for education and our young people."

Davis and Caldwell-Johnson will appear on the sides of a DART bus through mid-August.

"Representation matters," Bradley said. "What I'm hoping is that by seeing that bus going across the greater Des Moines area is that you'll look up those names to see who they are, learn about them, and hopefully after hearing one of their stories, you'll be inspired to do something yourself, to make your mark on that community."

"I couldn't think of a better way to honor two community activists in the area of education," Bradley said.

Who was Evelyn K. Davis?

Davis opened her own day care, Tiny Tots, in 1966 as the first child care center for at-risk children in Iowa.

Davis also created Iowa's first day care certification program in collaboration with Iowa State University and established a free medical clinic at the House of Mercy.

She worked tirelessly as Tiny Tots' director for over 30 years. She died in 2018.

Davis is honored by DMACC's Evelyn K. Davis Center, which annually assists thousands of central Iowans in achieving their educational and career aspirations. She also is honored by the city of Des Moines as the namesake for Evelyn K. Davis Park, 1400 Forest Ave.

Who was Teree Caldwell-Johnson?

Teree Caldwell-Johnson is honored on the DART bus.

Caldwell-Johnson was one of the most prominent activists in Des Moines. She died from cancer on Easter Sunday this year.

Caldwell-Johnson served as the CEO of Oakridge Neighborhood and was a member of the Des Moines School Board for nearly two decades. She also dedicated herself to uplifting Black and brown communities.

Caldwell-Johnson also served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, Planned Parenthood, and the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art.

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Evelyn K. Davis, Teree Caldwell-Johnson honored on Des Moines DART bus
Des Moines is offering a $1,000 reward for information on who set off fireworks in the Riverview Park men's restroom, causing serious damage to the brand-new facility.

The incident prompted Des Moines Parks and Recreation to close the park's facilities. Meanwhile, Des Moines police will start its first-ever fireworks response team for the Fourth of July holiday.

"Typically when someone talks about vandalism at parks you're talking about graffiti, maybe windows broken or a piece of playground equipment's damaged," Des Moines Police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek said. "I did not anticipate that I was going to see a full size porcelain toilet blown to minuscule pieces."

The first serious act of vandalism with fireworks in Des Moines happened in the men's restroom at Riverview Park.

Parizek said this is the first serious act of vandalism using fireworks in the city this year.

"It's amazing the power that those fireworks have, particularly those commercial grade ones that people are buying, and their ability to create such amount of damage  I'm surprised that nobody got hurt," Parizek said. "The damage inside that restroom was some of the worst vandalism I've seen in a park."

The city's Park and Recreation Department's recently updated the bathrooms at Riverview Park, 710 Corning Ave. According to Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page, they were open for less than a month.

"It's really disheartening, it's frustrating," he said. "It upsets a lot of people, not just the city."

Page said the damage amounted to plumbing repairs, including replacing the toilet and repairing the urinal. There were no other damages to the restroom structure itself.

Page said the restroom will be repaired by Friday for the Rendezvous on Riverview, a free family-friendly event held every Friday in June and July. The Pork Tornadoes will perform at 5:30 p.m. There also will be fireworks that night.

"We were able to fix this quickly, but we hoped that everybody would treat these parks like they would treat their homes," Page said. "Be respectful."

Those who have information about the fireworks damage at Riverview park are urged to contact Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400 or submit a tip online on the Crime Stoppers website.

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More: Fireworks near Des Moines: Here's a list of where to get your red, white and blue on

Fireworks response team to be implemented for July Fourth

Parizek said a response team will be devoted to fireworks-related calls on Thursday for the July Fourth holiday.

There will be six officers on the response team.

"The goal is to speed up our response, particularly to the park areas, because they've had so much damage over the past couple of years, and then be able to take action on the complaints," Parizek said.

Last year, the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department dealt with thousands in dollars of fireworks damage to 27 of its city parks.

The Des Moines City Council in June approved lowering the misdemeanor fine for setting off fireworks from $625 to $200 to encourage police to issue citations and more closely align fees with other metro cities.

A 45-year-old Des Moines man was cited Tuesday, the city's first fireworks-related charge of the year, for setting off fireworks within city limits and leaving fireworks-related trash in the street that caught fire. Police also arrested and jailed him for alleged interference with official acts.

Where can I set off fireworks in the metro?

It is prohibited to set off fireworks in these central Iowa cities:

Altoona

Ames

Clive (sparklers are allowed)

Des Moines

Johnston

Pleasant Hill

Urbandale

West Des Moines

Windsor Heights

More: When and where can you set off 4th of July fireworks near Des Moines?

These cities allow fireworks to be set off during specific times for the holiday:

Ankeny  9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4

Bondurant  2-10 p.m. July 3, 2-11 p.m. July 4

Grimes  noon to 10 p.m. July 2 and 3, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4

Indianola  9 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 3-4

Norwalk  4-10 p.m. July 2-3; 4-11 p.m. July 4

Van Meter  9 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 1 to July 8; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4 and preceding and post Saturday-Sunday

Waukee  9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 3-4

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Vandals blow up fireworks in Riverview Park restrooms in Des Moines
Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing

Police in Minneapolis unravel crime scene tape in 2020, a year marked by a stark rise in homicides. Community violence intervention programs offer a data-backed alternative to policing. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Police unravel crime scene tape. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images.)

Violent crime in the United States dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to the FBIs Quarterly Uniform Crime Report released earlier this month.

The FBIs data, collected from nearly 12,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 77% of the countrys population, suggests violent crime dropped by 15% compared with the first quarter of 2023.

The data, which covers reported crimes from January to March, shows a 26.4% decrease in murders, a 25.7% decrease in rapes, a 17.8% decrease in robberies, and a 12.5% decrease in aggravated assaults. Reported property crime also fell by 15.1%.

Nevertheless, the widespread public perception that crime is rising  a perception reinforced by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many other GOP candidates  could figure prominently in Novembers election. And state legislative and gubernatorial candidates from both parties likely also will cite crime statistics on the stump.

In a Gallup poll conducted late last year, 63% of respondents described the crime problem in the U.S. as either extremely or very serious. This is the highest percentage since Gallup began asking the question in 2000.

In May, Trump wrongly called FBI data showing a decline in crime fake numbers. This month, he erroneously claimed that the FBIs crime statistics exclude 30% of cities, including the biggest and most violent.

He could have been referring to the fact some departments couldnt report data in 2021 because the FBI switched data reporting systems, but experts say the overall numbers remain valid.

President Joe Biden has also used crime statistics for political gain. In a May campaign email, Biden said that Trump oversaw the largest increase in murder in U.S. history. While this is not entirely inaccurate  the country did see the largest one-year increase in murders in 2020  it omits context regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the social upheaval following George Floyds murder by a Minneapolis police officer.

The latest FBI crime statistics align with other early data from 2024. In May, the Major Cities Chiefs Association released first-quarter data from a survey of 68 major metropolitan police departments showing a 17% drop in murders compared with the same period last year.

The FBIs latest data is preliminary and unaudited, which means it will change as more law enforcement agencies refine their numbers throughout the year. National crime data is incomplete, as it only includes crimes reported to police, and not every law enforcement agency participates in the FBIs crime reporting program.

Despite the datas limitations, some criminologists and crime data experts say the data is reliable. Some say the FBIs data likely overstates the decreases, suggesting the drop in violent crime is likely less dramatic but still trending downward.

Theres a lot of uncertainty as to the accuracy of the data, so it matches but probably overstates what the trends are, Jeff Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics, a data consulting firm that specializes in crime data, told Stateline in an interview. In theory, everything will get more accurate as the year goes on.

Although national data suggests an overall major decrease in crime across the country, some criminologists caution that that isnt necessarily the case in individual cities and neighborhoods.

It looks good for the nation as a whole, but even with these great reductions, there are cities in the United States that have likely experienced increases that bucked the trend, Charis Kubrin, a criminology, law and society professor at the University of California, Irvine, told Stateline.

The average Americans understanding of crime and crime statistics is heavily skewed by media coverage that focuses largely on when crimes are committed and by misleading political rhetoric, according to criminologists and crime data experts.

Instead of relying on statistics, which can feel impersonal, people tend to cling to anecdotes that resonate more emotionally. Politicians take advantage of this, Dan Gardner, author of the book Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear, told Stateline.

If you are a political operative, capitalizing on fear of crime is incredibly easy to do, Gardner said.

Telling a tragic story and framing it in a way so that voters feel they or their families could become victims of similar crimes unless they vote for a specific politician is a common, highly effective tactic, he added.

This use of fear as a motivator can drive people to the polls, Gardner said, but it also distorts public perception of crime.

Its a lousy way to understand the reality of personal safety and society, but its a very compelling form of marketing, Gardner said.

The Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, released a report this month urging police and the federal government to provide more timely crime data. The report emphasizes that crime data, especially national data, often lags up to a year, which hampers public understanding of crime trends and limits officials ability to make informed policy decisions to proactively address public safety issues.

We need to accelerate improvements in our [crime] data, John Roman, a senior fellow and the director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice at NORC at the University of Chicago, told Stateline. Roman also is the chair of the Council on Criminal Justices Crime Trends Working Group. The democratization of this data is really critical to more effective policy and programming.

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As the family of a 13-year-old boy who was killed by police in Utica, New York, demanded justice, the city's police chief alleged Monday that the teenager had a realistic-looking replica gun still in his hand when he was shot.

The boy, identified as Nyah Mway, was shot once in the chest by a Utica police officer on Friday night after he and a friend were stopped on a street by officers investigating a robbery pattern, officials said.

"This is very heartbreaking for the family because they lost a child," Mway's uncle, Lay Htoo, told ABC News, adding that his nephew recently graduated from the eighth grade.

Htoo said the shooting had devastated his family, who moved to Utica eight years ago after escaping civil unrest in Myanmar and spending time in a refugee camp in Thailand.

He said the family came to America to avoid violence, only now to be confronted by it.

PHOTO: A vigil for 13-year-old Nyah Mway was held in Utica, N.Y. June 29, 2024. (ABC News)

Htoo questioned why police shot his nephew after he had been thrown to the ground by an officer and, based on video recorded by a bystander and posted on social media, punched.

"They don't really have to take out their guns and shoot him," said Htoo, adding that he thinks police could have used a stun gun on his nephew.

But Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said investigators reviewed the police body camera video frame by frame and discovered the officers had reason to fear for their safety.

PHOTO: Utica Police Chief Mark Williams. (WSYR)

"We were able to break down those images you saw of a person with a gun. In one of those images that we found is when he [Mway] was on the ground, he still had the gun in his hand," Williams said in an interview with ABC affiliate station WSYR in Syracuse.

Williams added, "Despite our efforts to be transparent, people weren't ready for the facts, and I can appreciate that. All they see is a dead 13-year-old, and nobody feels good about it."

The department identified the three officers as Patrick Husnay, a six-year veteran of the force; Bryce Patterson, a four-year veteran; and Andrew Citriniti, who joined the force two and a half years ago after serving as a Oneida County Sheriff's deputy.

PHOTO: A vigil for 13-year-old Nyah Mway was held in Utica, N.Y. June 29, 2024. (ABC News)

Husnay is the officer who shot and killed Mway, according to police officials.

Williams said the incident marked his department's first fatal officer-involved shooting since September 2022.

The chief said he is now concerned for the safety of the officers involved in the fatal incident, particularly Husnay.

"Within less than 12 hours, people were posting images of his photo, his home address," said Williams, adding that the police department is providing protection for the officers.

PHOTO: A vigil for 13-year-old Nyah Mway was held in Utica, N.Y. June 29, 2024. (ABC News)

The shooting unfolded just after 10 p.m. ET on Friday in a west Utica residential neighborhood.

At the time of the incident, Husnay, Pattetson and Citriniti -- members of the police department's Crime Prevention Unit -- were assisting in the investigation of at least two recent robberies involving suspects described as Asian males who brandished a black in color firearm at victims, according to a police statement.

Williams said police have not confirmed if Mway and his friend were involved in the robberies.

"Based on the listed identifying factors from the robbery, officers approached Nyah Mway and the other juvenile as they matched the robbery suspects descriptions and were in the immediate vicinity of the previous robbery at nearly the same time of day," according to the police statement.

Police justified the stop, saying that one of the boys was walking in the roadway where sidewalks are provided, a violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.

According to publicly released police body camera footage from all three officers involved in the incident, Patterson approached Mway on the sidewalk and asked him to take his hands out of his pockets. The footage showed Mway holding up his hands and then putting them back in his pockets, prompting Patterson to repeat his order.

"Can I pat you down [to] make sure you have no weapons on you?" Patterson asked Mway, the body camera video shows.

But before Patterson could search Mway, the teen bolted to his left and began running down the street with Patterson and the other two officers chasing him, according to the video.

The footage seemed to show Mway turning around and allegedly pointing a gun at Patterson and the other officers. The officers can be heard on the video yelling that Mway had a gun and repeatedly ordered him to "drop it!"

Mway appeared to trip and fall to the ground, and as he tried to get back up, Patterson grabbed him and tackled him, according to body camera footage.

"He pulled it on me. He turned around just like this," Patterson later told a supervisor, demonstrating how Mway allegedly aimed a gun at him, according to his body-worn camera footage.

As Patterson was on top of Mway wrestling with him, Husnay drew his weapon and fired, hitting the teenager in the chest, according to the video and the police statement.

PHOTO: A vigil for 13-year-old Nyah Mway was held in Utica, N.Y. June 29, 2024. (ABC News)

As officers began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Mway, Husnay is seen in the body-camera footage recovering a gun he initially identified as a black Glock 22 handgun lying in the grass next to where Mway fell.

MORE: 2 New York City police officers hurt in shootout with moped-riding robbery suspect: Officials

Police later said the gun was a replica Glock 17 pellet gun. Williams said Monday that the gun looked like a real handgun and even had the word Glock printed on it.

During an interview at the scene with a supervisor, Husnay said he was the only officer to fire his weapon. He said he discharged "one round straight towards the ground," according to his body camera video, which stayed on as he was being questioned.

"Is it possible the suspect fired rounds at you?" the police supervisor asked Husnay, according to the video.

MORE: Video Family demands body camera footage after officer-involved shooting

Husnay responded, "I don't know."

Mway was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Williams said the three officers involved in the incident are on paid administrative leave, which is routine for officer-involved shooting investigations.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James said her agency's Office of Special Investigation is conducting an independent investigation of the shooting.

The shooting immediately drew an angry response from the community. A large crowd attended a vigil for Mway on Saturday and chanted, "No justice, no peace."

Williams conceded that the shooting has damaged the trust his police department has established over the years with the Karen ethnic minority community in the Utica area, estimated to be about 8,000 strong. He said he hopes to restore that trust by being as transparent about the incident as possible.

"Justice doesn't happen as swiftly as we all would like it," Williams said Monday, adding that the probe by the state Attorney General's Office could take up to a year. "There has to be an investigation. We have to be partial to all the information, not just one video that was put out there."

New details emerge in police shooting of 13-year-old New York boy originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DICKSON, Tenn. (WKRN)  A woman was stabbed and set on fire after getting into a fight with her husband Monday afternoon in Dickson.

Court documents indicate that just after 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 1, officers with the Dickson Police Department and area firefighters were sent to the 1200 block of North Charlotte Street to investigate reports of a stabbing and structure fire.

Autopsy: Fort Campbell soldier stabbed dozens of times

When officers and crews arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from the structure and a woman  who appeared to have multiple stab wounds to her upper back and chest  near a back door. Investigators said the woman was found with a knife still inside her.

According to documents, 28-year-old Zachary Mowel approached one of the officers at the scene and said, I did it. It was me.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said agents determined Mowel attacked his wife, doused her with gasoline, and then set the home on fire. Medics took the woman to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of multiple stab wounds and severe burns. As of this writing, she is still hospitalized.

Mowel was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault (domestic-related), and domestic assault. He is currently being held in the Dickson County Jail on a $765,000 bond.

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Disgraced "Crash" director Paul Haggis was ordered to pay $115,000 by a Manhattan judge on Monday -- on top of the $10 million he owes his rape accuser.

Add it to his tab, judge.

Disgraced Crash director Paul Haggis was ordered to pay $115,000 by a Manhattan judge on Monday  on top of the $10 million he owes his rape accuser.

The former Hollywood bigshot failed to respond to a legal action brought by a trial prep services company claiming that he stiffed them of tens of thousands of dollars and has been dodging their emails and letters ever since.

Movie director Paul Haggis was ordered to pay $115,000 by a Manhattan judge on Monday. Steven Hirsch

Haggis directed the film Crash starring Don Cheadle. Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection

In an email from April 2023, Haggis told the company, called TransPerfect, that he couldnt find any agreement he signed for these services, according to court records.

Breest accused the filmmaker of raping her at his Soho apartment in 2013. Steven Hirsch

The company provided the Million Dollar Baby screenwriter with trial prep services, including printed visuals, database preparation and consultancy, priced at over $73,000.

Haggis was ordered to pay that amount plus interest and attorney fees by a Manhattan judge on Monday, for a total of $115,486.

The amount pales in comparison to the $10 million judgment he owes to rape accuser, former film publicist Haleigh Breest, as he hides out in Italy and offers pricey acting classes.

Haggis, 71, testified at his civil trial that he couldnt afford to pay Breest what she was owed. AFP via Getty Images

Haggis, 71, testified at his civil trial that he couldnt afford to pay Breest what she was owed.

Breest accused the filmmaker of raping her at his Soho apartment in 2013.

Attorneys for Haggis and Breest did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
James Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute, would require candidates to secure the endorsements of at least 40 DNC members. He thinks it would winnow down the field. Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Democratic National Committee member James Zogby has proposed an alternative presidential nominating process in the event President Joe Biden withdraws as nominee.

The memorandum, submitted by Zogby to DNC Chair Jaime Harrison on Monday evening, would have the DNC meet after July 4 to lay out a one-month campaign schedule ahead of the Democratic National Convention. Harrison has not yet responded to Zogby, Zogby informed HuffPost; the DNC declined a request for comment.

Under Zogbys plan, Democrats hoping to replace Biden would campaign for the support of the DNCs 448 voting members, and would need the endorsements of at least 40 to qualify as a DNC-certified candidate. To ensure a geographically diverse base of support, those 40 DNC members would have to include at least four people from each of the DNCs designated regions  East, South, Midwest and West. Candidates would need to submit their applications for certification to the DNCs secretary within a week of the process officially beginning.

The DNC would then sponsor at least two major televised events for the candidates to appear together to make their cases before Democratic voters across the country, according to Zogbys memo.

Finally, there would be an open convention, where the more than 4,700 delegates at the national convention in Chicago from Aug. 19-22 would decide on a presidential nominee, taking as many ballots as necessary for a single candidate to achieve a majority.

Zogby, the elected chair of the DNCs ethnic council who serves as an at-large member of the DNC, told HuffPost he came up with the idea after hearing from fellow Democrats who agreed on the need to replace Biden  including in conversations long before Thursdays debate  but balked at a top-down coronation of Vice President Kamala Harris, in whom many Democrats lack confidence.

I was agnostic on that, but if thats the concern, then the question is, how do you come up with a process that is both open and transparent and results in a candidate that is viewed as legitimate through a democratic process? he said. Thats what I tried to do.

It is unclear how much influence Zogby, a frequent DNC critic with close ties to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), will end up having over the DNCs decision making.

In addition to the decision to withdraw being solely up to Biden, Zogby acknowledged Harrison and other DNC brass would have authority to adopt his plan or any other. Biden and his campaign have repeatedly insisted on his commitment to continue as a candidate since his disastrous debate performance on Thursday night.

But Zogbys proposal speaks to how seriously at least some Democrats are taking the possibility of a world without Biden as the nominee and the need to plan for, or even encourage, such an eventuality.

Zogby, a pollster and founder of the Arab American Institute, envisions the requirement that candidates secure 40 DNC endorsements to qualify for the nomination as a way of sifting out frivolous candidates and ensuring a compact field.

Whoever emerges, whether Harris or one of the Democratic governors often floated for the nomination, would have had to prove themselves to rank-and-file Democrats on television and in turn win the confidence of the partys convention delegates, including all Democratic members of Congress.

Harris still has a leg up, Zogby said, but she would emerge from a month-long really, really hyper-energized campaign that would both energize the party faithful and would have whoever is the victor emerge as the consensus choice of the party.

Zogby, a major pro-Palestinian voice who has been outspoken against the Israeli invasion of Gaza, emphasized he is not backing any particular candidate for the nomination. He said he did feel Harris was very thoughtful in a conversation she had with him about the situation in Gaza.

Whether the U.S. should continue to support Israel amid its ferocious response to Hamass deadly terror attack on Oct. 7 has become a major fault line within the Democratic Party.

But Zogby maintained an open convention would not become the site of a major internecine party debate on that topic or any other, since 99% of the pledged delegates are committed to Biden already.

Would I love to have Gaza debated on the floor? Absolutely, he said. But thats not going to happen, because the delegates are already constrained by the candidates.

The Uncommitted National Movement, which urged Democratic primary voters to vote uncommitted in protest of Bidens support for the Israeli invasion, is due to send 29 delegates to the Democratic national convention in Chicago. The groups central body announced Saturday it welcomes the opportunity to nominate a Democratic presidential candidate supportive of its policy priorities. While such a vote would likely be symbolic, it could take on greater significance in the event of an open convention.

We have 29 Uncommitted delegates who are ready to back a Democratic candidate for President who supports a permanent ceasefire and ensures that no more American bombs get supplied to the Israeli governments war and occupation against Palestinians, Abbas Alawieh, a spokesperson for the Uncommitted National Movement and uncommitted delegate from Michigan, said in a statement.

Related...
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 2. Turkmenistan and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) discussed the current goals and objectives of joint work, Trend reports.

According to an official source, this was discussed during a bilateral meeting between representatives of the Parliament of Turkmenistan and OSCE President Pia Kauma on the sidelines of the 31st annual meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

The parties, recognizing the significant value of establishing a strong and productive partnership between Turkmenistan and the OSCE, emphasized the organization's aims and objectives in the realms of politics, economics, and humanitarian affairs. They also highlighted the significance of the various projects and programs being carried out in these domains.

At the same time, the parties also discussed the tasks of the events held in Turkmenistan jointly with the OSCE.

The OSCE Center has been working in Ashgabat since 1999, and within the framework of joint plans with Turkmenistan, over the past 25 years, it has implemented more than 500 projects in various fields with the country.
The Democratic National Committee is rolling out a new ad campaign against former president Donald Trump in major swing state newspapers on Tuesday, labeling him as a fraud, liar, denier, and a threat to our democracy.

The ad campaign, shared with The Hill, is set to run on the homepages of the Philadelphia Enquirer, the Arizona Republic, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution websites.

The campaign highlights Trumps deflection when asked multiple times during last weeks presidential debate whether he would accept the results of the 2024 election. The former president said he would accept the results if its a fair and legal and good election absolutely.

In the years since he encouraged a violent mob to storm our Capitol in an attempt to overturn the will of American voters, he has only become more unhinged in his plot for revenge and retribution, said DNC communications director Rosemary Boeglin. This week, the DNC is reminding voters in critical battleground states that the only thing that stands between Donald Trump and our democracy is Joe Biden.

The ad campaign comes less than a day after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have absolute immunity for actions that fall within the core responsibilities of their office and are presumptively immune from all other official acts. The ruling is a win for Trump, who is using the presidential immunity argument as his defense in his federal election subversion case. Trump is charged in the case over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Biden responded to the Supreme Courts ruling on Monday evening, saying it sets a dangerous precedent.

For all practical purposes, todays decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do. Its a fundamentally new principle, Biden said. Its a dangerous precedent, because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Watch the Digital Desk segment with Associate Professor Myles McNutt in the video player.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said he would push for warning labels to be placed on social media platforms.

Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels, like those required on cigarettes

Murthys opinion piece, published in The New York Times, said he has called on Congress for these warnings.

Myles McNutt, Associate Professor of Communication and Theatre Arts at Old Dominion University, will discuss the latest developments at the Digital Desk. Watch the conversation in the video player on this page.

Similar to warning labels on tobacco and alcohol products, warning labels on social media would advise parents that using such platforms might damage youths health.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General published an advisory about Social Media and Youth Mental Health.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, It states that we cannot conclude social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents and outlines immediate steps we can take to mitigate the risk of harm to children and adolescents.

While studies show social media use can be dangerous for childrens mental health, some experts acknowledge the free speech argument present.

McNutt spoke to WAVY about the complexities of social media risks and rewards.

When I talk about social media with my students and we engage with issues, one of the central challenges is our understanding as a society that these can be incredibly dangerous places for peoples mental health particularly for young people, said McNutt.

Social media platforms and companies, says McNutt, often do not take full responsibility for that impact.

There goal is to increase engagement and revenue, these are for profit companies that are not trying to operate in our best interest, said McNutt.

While it is not disputed that there are downsides to social media and towards users mental health, there has been questioning and division amongst experts to what is the solution.

Whether or not this is the best approach for confronting that I think is more where media scholars broadly responded to that, McNutt said.

McNutt says there are too many differences in social media platforms to make the same conclusions across the board like those of alcohol and tobacco.

We cannot make the argument that social media is bad for us in the way that alcohol and tobacco are, McNutt said.

For those products, there are clear, measurable health impacts. In this case, warning labels are used to make people aware of what could happen. For example, heres a look at the Cigarette Labeling and Health Warning Requirements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While studies back up claims about the downsides to social media. With social media in general, there is no agreement amongst all parties on the exact science or effects of it.

If you were going to try and create a warning label to help someone navigate social media and understand the consequences that warning label would be like the entire body of a media literacy class that I would teach, McNutt said.

McNutt said it would be difficult to sum up the warning for social media platforms, because it is more complicated than saying usage could be bad for mental health. Some of the impact depends on choices made by the user and the platform.

There is another side to the argument. What if you see social media as a positive tool for mental health? It can connect people across the world, show users uplifting videos and teach new skills.

Another concern, McNutt worries warning labels would take the responsibility off of the platforms to protect the users.

While discussions surrounding social media and the impact on children remains ongoing, McNutt offers advice to social media users.

If a social media app is not bringing you joy, or its giving you some sort of opportunity, get off of it, said McNutt.

Listen to the full Digital Desk segment in the video player on this page to find out more from McNutt.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
How to vote in the General Election: From finding a polling station to filling out your ballot

Here is everything voters need to know about polling stations (PA Wire)

Voters in the UK will visit polling stations up and down the country on July 4 to have their say in which political party they want to represent their area and country.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak announced the snap general election at the end of May, sparking six frantic weeks of political campaigning. June has seen leaders, candidates and activists fight for every last vote: knocking on doors, taking part in televised debates, and trying to avoid controversy.

For the latest political updates ahead of the general election, follow The Independents live coverage

Polling suggests the election will mark the end of 14 years of Conservative governance, with Labour flying ahead in projected voting intention. Some also predict smaller parties like the Lib Dems, Greens and Nigel Farages Reform UK could pick up record seats.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during their BBC head-to-head debate (PA Media)

The true picture will remain unclear until July 5, when the UK will wake up to a new administration. Before that, the electorate must take to their local polling stations to cast their votes (if they have not done so already via a postal vote).

To ensure everyone gets a fair and equal chance to participate in this democratic process, there are a number of rules in place which must be followed in and around polling stations.

Heres everything you need to know about polling day.

Where is my polling station and when does it open?

After registering to vote, you should be sent your polling card, which will tell you where your local polling station is. This is the only one you can visit on polling day, as staff there will carry your details. You do not need to take this document with you to vote.

If you have not received your polling card, the Electoral Commission  which oversees UK elections  offers a service to check where yours will be by postcode.

All polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm. If you are queuing up to vote before 10pm and it goes past this time, polling station staff must still allow you to place your vote.

Filling out your ballot

To fill out your ballot, you need to put a single X in the box to the right of the candidate you want to vote for. You will then fold your ballot in half and put it in the clearly marked ballot box nearby.

If you put more than one mark, write anything on your ballot, leave it blank or otherwise stray too far from the intended method of filling it in, it will be considered a spoilt ballot and not counted towards any candidate.

It is best not to put a tick or any other mark, as count assistants  who need to work very fast  may read this as a spoilt ballot. If you make a mistake, you should ask the polling station staff for a replacement, rather than trying to correct it.

You can use either the pencil provided, or use your own pen or pencil if you wish. Pens are generally not provided due to the possibility of the ink smudging.

Remembering your voter ID

This will be the first UK general election where ID is required to vote, after new laws came into place in 2022. This means you must bring an accepted for of photographic identification to be permitted to cast your ballot.

Accepted forms of ID include:

Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country

A photo driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (including a provisional driving licence)

A Blue Badge

Older Persons Bus Pass

Disabled Persons Bus Pass

Freedom Pass

Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

Biometric immigration document

Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)

National identity card issued by an EEA state

Anonymous Electors Document

For more information, The Independent has prepared a handy guide to voter ID.

Taking your postal vote to the polling station

If youve applied for a postal vote, but its either arrived too late or youve not managed to post it in time: fear not. You are able to take your postal vote to the polling station by no later than 10pm on polling day and it will still be counted.

You are also able to ask a trusted person to take it in for you, if you cant make it to the station yourself on the day.

Bringing dogs (or other pets) to the polling station

You can bring your dog to the polling station. For some, its a tradition. Its up to the discretion of the station staff, but in most cases they will ask that dogs (or other pets) be tied up outside.

Yes, you can bring your dog to the polling station (Getty Images)

The exception is assistance dogs, which are always permitted.

Talking to other voters

When it comes to chatting with other voters inside the polling station, theres just one rule. Conversation is perfectly welcome, so long as you dont engage in political discussion.

This is because such chat could be considered political campaigning, which is strictly forbidden inside polling stations. Instead, try the weather, pets, or holiday plans (provided your fellow voter is happy to engage).

Taking selfies at the polling station

If you want to let all your friends and/or followers know that youve voted on July 4, a selfie is a great way to do it  but be wary.

While you are allowed to take pictures (including selfies) outside the polling station, you must not take any inside. The Electoral Commission  which oversees UK elections  says this is because it risks the secrecy of the ballot.

If you reveal how someone else voted, even by accident, you could be hit with a 5,000 fine or six months in prison. Best not to risk it.

Bringing children with you to vote

Parents are very welcome to bring their children with them to polling stations and can bring them inside.

Children are allowed to accompany their parents at all times in the station, or can wait in a safe place if preferable. But they must not mark a ballot paper themselves.
MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A man who supplied the fentanyl that led to the death of a Madera teenager was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Monday by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Aug. 13, 2021, 29-year-old Yovany Ramirez of Madera supplied a 19-year-old with the fentanyl pills that would kill him only hours later.

Federal attorneys say that further investigation led law enforcement to uncover additional evidence that Ramirez was dealing not only drugs but also firearms.

This joint investigation by the Madera Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a program created in 2018 aiming to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids as well as identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Dolton firefighters speak out against villages gross negligence after no contract for 5 years

Mondays Dolton Village Board meeting, rife with contention that has come to be expected surrounding Mayor Tiffany Henyard, involved bold allegations from village firefighters who say Henyards office fails to account for their retirement funds, union dues and making sure insurance premiums and workers compensation requirements are met.

Local 3766 President Adam Farej, backed by about a dozen other firefighters, spoke out against Henyard, saying employees have worked without a contract for the past five years because of a dysfunctional negotiation process.

The union is suing Henyard and village administrator Keith Freeman over what it claims are missing funds and for threatening retaliation against former union President David DuVall.

Farej said DuVall was placed on administrative leave for sending what the administration called inappropriate emails after he sent messages to Henyards office stating failure to account for funds withdrawn from workers checks for their retirement could be considered wage theft.

DuVall has since returned to duty after the union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Illinois Labor Relations Board, but Farej said the union is still missing between nine and 10 retirement deposits. He also said they are missing 11 checks since 2023 totaling about $12,600 in union dues, receiving only three unspecified checks.

This can also be looked at as theft of wages, Farej said.

Issues with insurance premiums not being met have also led several firefighters and their families to be sent to collections improperly, Farej said.

This has been brought up to the village numerous times, Farej said. All requested data have been ignored.

Farej urged Henyard to take steps toward fixing these issues as well as making sure claims are filed properly for firefighters hurt in the line of duty, which is an ongoing issue, as the Fire Department continues to serve and protect the residents of the village of Dolton.

Other attendees expressed their support for the firefighters, such as Dolton resident Mary Avent, who called for a standing ovation for the group after they walked into the building.

Were 100% behind you, Avent said. Because weve got the same issues and yours are in our hearts as well.

Financial transparency remained the biggest sticking point during the meeting as trustees argued with Henyard about unanswered questions related to the mayors spending and deal-making. Trustee Jason House said an accountant for the village agreed to sit in on the meeting to answer questions, but he did not come.

The board voted to approve a water bill and overruled a veto to appoint a mayor pro tem when Henyard is not present.

House also announced updates to former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoots investigation into Henyards spending habits as well as efforts to engage the Illinois attorney general in efforts to prosecute the village for failing to respond to public records requests.

The statement from Lightfoot said she is making consistent progress on investigating the administration but noted obstacles including a lack of compliance with Freedom of Information Act requirements and a hesitancy from village employees to talk about their experiences.

While many witnesses have been generous and theyre willing to be interviewed, the village mayors failure to cooperate has a chilling effect on the current employees willingness to speak or otherwise cooperate, according to the statement. We will continue to work to overcome this problem.

By our estimates we are well under $20,000 to date, and as obligated, we will provide a projection of all costs when we get closer to the $30,000 mark, Lightfoot said in the statement, referring to cost limits in her hiring agreement.

House said the attorney generals office confirmed sending a second request to Henyards administration regarding responding to FOIA after the first request received no response.

If they do not get a response, they have no choice but to name this an Open Meetings Act violation, House said. As the board, we are waiting to get a proper ruling so that we can decide on next steps on that matter.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com
DOLTON, Ill.  Firefighters in the south suburban Village of Dolton dropped a major bombshell during a board meeting Monday night, saying theyve been working without a contract for almost five years and demanding answers on retirement funds, workmens compensation and union dues.

Community members, including the local firefighters union president, took part in public comments to start the night, expressing anger and frustration at the village and Mayor Tiffany Henyard.

Still, the embattled Henyard remained defiant, calling herself a beacon of light for Dolton.

According to Adam Farej, president of Local 3766, firefighters have been working with no contract now for close to five years, despite requests to reach an agreement.

The problem allegedly stems back to the beginning of Henyards tumultuous tenure as mayor, when she replaced the then-full-time deputy chief with a part-time deputy chief, a contributor to her campaign fund.

READ MORE: Trying to steal from everybody: Allegations of corruption fuel anger at Thornton Township budget hearing

Currently, the village still refuses to negotiate, making progress extremely difficult, if not impossible, Farej said.

Farej also said money withdrawn from union members paychecks, which is supposed to be sent to the insurance and financial services company Nationwide, is missing  specifically, about nine to 10 checks worth.

The village has not followed these steps and has no accountability of where the money is, or if theyve spent it, Farej said. Once this was discovered, the administration was informed via email by the previous union president that these missing deposits can be seen as theft of wages.

They responded by placing him on administrative leave for inappropriate emails.

Union members also raised concerns about health insurance, covered under the collective bargaining agreement, and premiums not being met, which they said has resulted in some members and their families claims not only being denied, but sent to collections.

Dolton Fire Department is here to serve and protect the residents of Dolton, and we do this with pride, Farej said. We will continue to do this despite the fact our health insurance is not being paid, our retirement funds are being taken from us, and workmens compensation claims are not being handled properly.

These are serious issues, and they need to be addressed immediately.

Meanwhile, community members not only applauded as firefighters made their way in and out of the meeting, but they also demanded answers on their behalf.

I think it is only fair as citizens of Dolton that we let them know we are 100% behind you, Mary Avant, a Dolton resident, said to the firefighters.

Appalled to be a resident

On top of the Fire Departments call for transparency on missing funds and raising awareness about its lack of a contract, others at Mondays meeting demanded answers on property tax hikes and where their taxes are going.

I received my tax bill. It is three times what it was last installment. My alleys are messed up, I have garbage all over the place, I have a couple abandoned houses on my block, one resident said. You say youre for the people. How can you be for the people when youre not even looking at the people?

Except for one speaker who praised her, Henyard did not look up as community members took the podium for public comment.

Ive been here for 30 years. This is the worst I have ever seen this village. I am appalled to be a resident, one woman said. You have your head up. You need to be looking at what I am saying, because we are tired.

I am tired of hearing, Tiffany Henyard did this, Tiffany Henyard did this. I need to know where my money is going.

Said another resident to the board: When the circus comes to town, the clowns come out. And Im looking at you guys.

Henyard later deferred blame on raising property taxes to Doltons Board of Trustees.

Lightfoot investigation

During announcements, Trustee Jason House shared a statement on behalf of former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, appointed by the board to investigate the villages financials and spending.

READ MORE: WGN sues Dolton for refusing to release spending records

The statement read, in part: We have conducted a number of witness interviews, many of which have been very informative and led to the discovery of other relevant evidence. We have reviewed many lawsuits filed. We have reviewed historic village legislative action, and we have issued scores of FOIA requests to the Village of Dolton and elsewhere.

As a result of this work, a picture is emerging of the villages finances, the way in which the current executive administration operates. While many witnesses have been generous in their willingness to be interviewed, the village mayors failure to cooperate has a chilling effect on current employees willingness to speak or otherwise cooperate.

On June 14, the Illinois Attorney Generals Office responded to a complaint filed by Henyard, the AGs Office ruling that the appointment of Lightfoot as special investigator was legal and allowed. Previously, Henyard vetoed Lightfoots investigation into village financials, a motion overridden by the majority of trustees.

Dolton agreed to pay the former Chicago mayor and federal prosecutor a maximum of $30,000 for the investigation.

By our estimates, we are well under $20,000 to date, Lightfoot wrote in the statement read by House. As obligated, we will provide a projection of all costs when we get closer to the $30,000 mark.

When Henyards opportunity to present her report and what her administration is doing came up, many community members pulled up newspapers, pretending to be preoccupied with reading.

I think weve been doing an awesome job, and I love the fact that my staff has been on the ground taking care of the business, Henyard said. I am literally the beacon of light for Dolton.

The board also voted on two items during Mondays meeting, one related to a water bill and one to overrule a veto to appoint a mayor pro tempore when Henyard isnt present.

Five trustees voted yes on the latter vote, including Stanley Brown, a longtime ally of Henyard who flipped Monday night. Trustee Andrew Holmes voted no.

Holmes, who is accused but not charged in a civil complaint of sexual assault allegations while on a taxpayer-funded trip to Las Vegas, was confronted by an attendee demanding answers on the allegations at the conclusion of Mondays meeting.

Ending on a contentious note, the man was escorted out by police, as several residents followed the crowd in support.

After Monday nights regular board meeting, trustees then held a special board meeting, due to what they said was the mayors refusal to include several items on the regular meeting agenda.

Because someone wanted to be a self-servant and not a public servant, these are the things we are encountering, Trustee Kiana Belcher 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 WGN-TV.
World leaders address the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City

By Sarah Morland

(Reuters) -The Dominican Republic announced its foreign minister will travel to New York on Tuesday to participate in a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the situation in neighboring Haiti.

During his trip, Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez will also meet with Haiti's new Prime Minister Garry Conille and his foreign minister, Dominique Dupuy, who have been in the United States this week meeting leaders including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and officials from multilateral lenders.

The two Caribbean countries, which share the island of Hispaniola, have a long history of tense relations.

The Dominican Republic has argued it bears the brunt of insecurity in Haiti, where armed gangs concentrated in the capital have displaced over half a million residents and pushed nearly 5 million people into acute food insecurity.

The Dominican government has built a wall on its border with Haiti where it has reinforced patrols and last year deported over 200,000 Haitian migrants, prompting criticisms from the United Nations and human rights groups.

Dominican President Luis Abinader has called for other nations to contribute more funds and personnel to a U.N.-backed security mission to help Haitian police restore order. A first contingent landed last week but it is unclear when the rest might arrive.

The mission's initial 12-month mandate is set to expire in October.

Ahead of his meeting with Conille on Tuesday, Blinken said the U.S. - the mission's largest financial backer - said the Haitian official "comes to Washington with the strong support of the United States and the strong support of many other countries."

He added that the U.S. is also tracking the progress of Hurricane Beryl and were ready to assist "friends and partners" with storm damages.

Beryl brought strong winds over Port-au-Prince and local authorities put most of the country under alert. Vulnerable populations displaced south due to violence in the capital are at particular risk this hurricane season.

(Reporting by Sarah Morland; Additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Harold Isaac; Editing by Anthony Esposito and David Alire Garcia)
(COLORADO)  The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is urging drivers to not risk their freedom with a DUI this upcoming Fourth of July.

Starting Wednesday, July 3 through Monday, July 8, CDOT will support the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 66 local law enforcement agencies for The Heat is On Fourth of July DUI enforcement period.

Drivers may see increased patrols, sobriety checkpoints, and additional law enforcement officers on duty dedicated to arresting impaired drivers during these six days.

If youll be consuming alcohol or cannabis this Fourth of July weekend, leave the keys behind, said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. Make a plan to get home safely and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Do your part to keep Coloradans safe.

Dont see red, white, and blue lights behind your vehicle this Independence Day, if you are hosting or attending a party, follow the following safety tips:

Collect your guests car keys upon arrival. Or encourage them to designate a sober driver or use a ride-sharing service, taxi, or public transportation.

Call a friend or family member for a guest if they have been drinking or offer them a place to stay if a sober ride home is unavailable.

Stop serving alcohol at least two hours before the party is over. Provide plenty of food and non-alcoholic drink options.

Be persistent if a guest is intoxicated and planning to drive home. Explain that you care about their safety and cannot let them get behind the wheel.

Remember, as a host, you could be held liable if a guest you serve alcohol to gets in a crash.

Last years enforcement period concluded with 167 reported DUI arrests. In 2023, 228 people were killed in impaired driving crashes in Colorado. As travel increases, Colorado sees a spike in impaired driving-related fatalities.



In July 2023, there were 91 traffic fatalities in Colorado, 24 of which involved a suspected impaired driver, ranking it the deadliest in 2023.

Remember, crashes are not accidents  they are preventable. Stay safe this July 4th.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Swiss watchmaker and the French contemporary artist have teamed up for an ultra-limited edition of five watches

They're not the most obvious couple, Herve Di Rosa and Laurent Ferrier. Di Rosa is loud, effusive, an artist who has travelled the world, setting up his studio in Vietnam, Cameroon, Bulgaria and Brazil, and who now shares his time between Lisbon, Paris and his home town of Sete in the south of France (he still has the accent). Laurent Ferrier is almost fifteen years his senior, a softly spoken man of few words, known as much for his discretion as his affability.

Laurent Ferrier and Herve Di Rosa  Laurent Ferrier

They met through a shared connection. Olivier Servanin is the son of Francois Servanin, co-founder of the Laurent Ferrier brand (the two go back 40 years), and a collector of Di Rosa's work. He came up with the idea of introducing his favourite artist to the Manufacture his father co-owns.

This June 19, artist and watchmaker were at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The city's modern art museum is hosting an exhibition of Di Rosa's colourful and energetic work. How could the artist's exuberant, cartoonish style fit with the subdued personality of a Laurent Ferrier watch? The answer is a Galet Micro-Rotor whose dial depicts "the Master of Time who reproduces himself throughout eternity." The design is taken from a wood carving in the artist's collection, in turn inspired by his Diromythology concept. Laurent Ferrier has stripped Di Rosa's world of its colour and flamboyance to keep only the warp and weft, in this instance a 12-armed character known as Ah! Ah! Ah!

Laurent Ferrier x Herve Di Rosa Classic Micro Rotor di Rosa  Laurent Ferrier

The task of hand-engraving the dial was entrusted to Jeanne Valentine Ulrich at Les Cadraniers de Geneve. She recreated Ah! Ah! Ah! on a gold base, which is then affixed to the dial. Framing this artistic dial is the Galet case in the master watchmaker's preferred 40mm size. The tried-and-tested micro-rotor movement is equipped with a natural escapement in which the escape wheel, rather than the lever, transmits impulses to the balance for improved energy efficiency and an enhanced 72-hour power reserve.

Laurent Ferrier x Herve Di Rosa Classic Micro Rotor di Rosa  Laurent Ferrier

Their collaboration was never a foregone conclusion; so much separates Ferrier's quiet sagacity from Di Rosa's over-the-top eccentricity. Di Rosa wears one of the five pieces in this limited edition, which leaves just four for the public: confirmation that this Galet Micro-Rotor is destined for a very small audience indeed.

The opening of the Centre Pompidou exhibition is the kind of event Di Rosa says he "can't stand" (despite clearly relishing the moment). Well versed in current issues such as copyright and artificial intelligence, he complies with certain expectations the art world has of a successful artist (he was elected to France's Academie des Beaux-Arts in 2022) but relinquishes none of his expressive freedom. He values his independence. Works with family members. Goes along with the obligatory art-world meet and greets but is never happier than in the solitude of his studio. All things considered, Herve Di Rosa and Laurent Ferrier are not that different.
The sentencing of Donald Trump for felony business fraud has been pushed to September  if thats still necessary following the Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity, the Manhattan judge who heard the Stormy Daniels hush money trial wrote Tuesday.

The decision means Trump will not have been yet sentenced as he heads to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which kicks off July 15. Trump was scheduled to be sentenced July 11.

The Courts decision will be rendered off-calendar on Sept. 6, 2024, and the matter is adjourned to Sept. 18, Judge Juan Merchan wrote. For the imposition of sentence, if such is still necessary, or other proceedings.

Merchans still necessary comment is a clear reference to the Monday ruling from the Supreme Court, which had been asked to consider whether the U.S. president has immunity from prosecution when operating in an official capacity. Voting 6-3 with vehement dissent, the high court suggested that it is so  and kicked the definition of what is official back down to the lower court for further consideration.

Trumps legal team indicates that it will use the Supreme Court decision to argue to set aside the 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors chose not to oppose their request to delay the sentencing, though they disagreed that the motion had merit.

The former Celebrity Apprentice host was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover a hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election.

The post Donald Trump Felony Sentencing Pushed to September  If Still Necessary After SCOTUS Immunity Decision appeared first on TheWrap.
On July 1, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump cannot be prosecuted over his "official" presidential acts, but the New York case largely centered around his unofficial conduct as a presidential candidate

Angela Weiss - Pool/Getty Donald Trump attends the first day of his Manhattan criminal trial on April 15, 2024

Former President Donald Trump is challenging the guilty verdict in his New York criminal trial after the Supreme Court ruled that he is partially immune from prosecution, according to news sources.

Trumps lawyers sent a letter to Judge Juan Merchan which challenged the verdict based on the Supreme Courts recent ruling, and asked the judge to delay Trumps sentencing on July 11 while he considers their request, according to the Associated Press, CNN and WABC-TV.

In the letter, his lawyers argued that there was evidence provided by prosecutors in the trial that involved Trump's official presidential acts and should not have been used to make the case, per the outlets.

Trumps lawyers and representatives did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

Related: Sonia Sotomayor Pens Fearful Dissent in Trump Immunity Case, Saying Decision Makes Him King Above the Law

OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty The current U.S. Supreme Court, which gave U.S. presidents unchecked power in landmark immunity ruling on July 1

This comes after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump is immune from being charged for "official" presidential acts, though he is not immune from prosecution for "unofficial" actions he took, or anything he did before and after his presidential term.

"The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official," the court's syllabus reads. "But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts."

This means that some of Trump's federal Jan. 6 charges, which centered around actions he took in his official capacity as president, may need to be dropped or reworked, according to the Supreme Court.

Related: Supreme Court Says Donald Trump Is Partially Immune from Prosecution: What That Means for His Jan. 6 Charges

Mark Peterson / POOL / AFP/ Getty Donald Trump leaves the Manhattan courthouse after he was found guilty of falsifying records to conceal a conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 election

The Supreme Court's ruling does not seem to apply to Trump's New York case on the whole, which focused on Trump's actions as a presidential candidate and his personal finances during his first year in office.

He was convicted of 34 felony counts in May, when a Manhattan jury sided with prosecutors in determining that Trump falsified business records to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election.

Related: Every Crime Donald Trump Has Been Charged With, Explained

The former president has been indicted in three other criminal cases, which deal with his alleged election subversion attempts after he lost to Joe Biden in 2020, and his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.

Those cases are unlikely to go to trial before the November election following a series of delays prompted by Trump's legal team.

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New York Judge Juan Merchan moved the sentencing hearing from July 11 to Sept. 18 while he considers Trump's request to throw out 34 felony convictions

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Donald Trump speaks at a Philadelphia rally on June 22, 2024

Donald Trump received more good news on Tuesday, July 2, when the judge in his Manhattan criminal case agreed to delay his sentencing hearing, which was originally scheduled for July 11.

In a filing, New York Judge Juan Merchan said that the court will reconvene on Sept. 18 "for the imposition of sentence, if such is still necessary."

Related: Donald Trump Seeks to Overturn New York Conviction After Supreme Court's Immunity Ruling

The disruption in Trump's case comes as the former president seeks to overturn his 34 felony convictions, which were handed down by a Manhattan jury on May 30. He was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election, which he won over Hillary Clinton.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Donald Trump prepares for a Manhattan jury to deliver his verdict on 34 felony counts on May 30, 2024

Trump's legal team sent a letter to Judge Merchan on Monday, July 1, asserting that a new Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity should nullify his convictions. They asked that Trump's sentencing be delayed while the validity of his trial is considered.

Earlier on July 1, the Supreme Court released a landmark ruling, which stated that Trump and other U.S. presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution over "official" acts taken during their White House tenure.

"The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official," the Supreme Court said in its decision. "But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts."



Related: Supreme Court Says Donald Trump Is Partially Immune from Prosecution: What That Means for His Criminal Charges

The court also said that official acts cannot be used against presidents as evidence for other crimes, which formed the basis for Trump's complaint.

Though the Manhattan criminal trial centered around Trump's private finances as a political candidate  which are not protected by presidential immunity  Trump's defense team claims that prosecutors relied on some official acts to convince the jury that he was guilty.

Related: Donald Trump Is Banned from 37 Countries as Convicted Felon, Including Major Allies Like Canada and U.K.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Donald Trump stands alongside his third Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett

On July 2, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said that  while it disagrees with Trump's argument that his convictions should be thrown out  it will not challenge the defense team's request to postpone his sentence.

Judge Merchan said that he will reveal his decision on whether to toss the verdict on Sept. 6.

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Donald unchained: SCOTUS decision would give Trump the immunity to run rampant just in time for a possible 2nd term, experts say

Donald unchained: SCOTUS decision would give Trump the immunity to run rampant just in time for a possible 2nd term, experts say

SCOTUS immunity would've freed Richard Nixon to spy on opponents all he liked, experts said Monday.

In a second term, Trump himself would enjoy immunity superpowers.

SCOTUS immunized a range of "truly dangerous and nefarious actions by a president," one expert said.

As president, Richard Nixon used the FBI, the CIA, and White House "advisors"  the now notorious "plumbers"  to spy on and sabotage his political opponents.

Under Monday's Supreme Court decision  which confers the presumption of immunity on a president's "official" actions  Nixon could not have been charged for any of these abuses of power, one constitutional law expert told Business Insider.

"Most, if not all, of that conduct would fall on the 'presumptively-official' side of the line," said Michel Paradis, an attorney who teaches national security and constitutional law at Columbia Law School.

"And it is not obvious to me how you would show that it was not if you are forbidden from any inquiry into the president's motives," Paradis added.

Under Monday's decision, "courts may not inquire into the President's motives" in deciding if a presidential act is official or unofficial.

Trump is now free during a potential second administration to direct others to stretch or break the law in any of the ways he's already signaled he hopes to, Paradis said.

He can dispatch the military to break up protests or deport migrants; he can fire civil servants who disagree with him; he can disband agencies he doesn't like  including the Department of Education or the Environmental Protection Agency  and he can then pardon anyone who gets in trouble for carrying out his orders, Paradis said.

And by calling these acts "official," he can do all of the above without himself being prosecuted, Paradis said.

"Or take the subject matter of Trump's first impeachment," the law professor added.

With his new Supreme Court-protected immunity, "He could have much more explicitly directed Rudy Giuliani to convey a threat to the Ukrainians demanding that they come out with dirt on Biden or that he would withhold all aid," he said.

"And he can direct subordinates to not simply 'skirt' the law, but affirmatively break it with the promise of a pardon if they do," Paradis added. "And he can do so, knowing that it is extremely unlikely under the court's rule today that he could be successfully prosecuted."

It will give Trump even more license to push legal boundaries, agreed former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, the president and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers.

"Trump will be more empowered to push the limits of the law and to go after his rivals if he thinks he can get away with it," Rahmani told Business Insider.

"Trump has always pushed the limits of the law, and if he has at least some immunity now, he will be even more willing to do so," Rahmani added.

Doron Kalir, a professor at Cleveland State University College of Law with expertise in statutory interpretation and the Supreme Court, said it was a "sad moment" for the court and for American democracy.

He said the sweeping nature of the ruling effectively declared that the president is above the law, providing a "roadmap" for future presidents who may want to engage in potentially illegal activity in a way that would be immune from prosecution.

Kalir added the ruling has left a cloud over the other criminal cases in which Trump is charged.

"It's actually very striking that we're getting this opinion three days before the Fourth of July, where we recognized our Declaration of Independence from a king," said Cliff Sloan, Georgetown Law professor and constitutional law expert.

"And this opinion, more than any other in the Supreme Court's history, gives the president king-like powers," Sloan added.

"It's a sad day for the country," Sloan said. "It's a sad day for our constitutional democracy. It was a sad day for the Supreme Court."

Sloan said it was particularly disturbing that the majority decision made zero mention of the now-notorious Seal Team Six hypothetical  which asked if a president enjoys official-act immunity if that official act is, as Commander in Chief, ordering Seal Team Six to assassinate a political rival.

"Everybody was horrified" when Trump's lawyer first raised immunity in that circumstance as a possible consequence, Sloan said.

But although Justice Sonya Sotomayor, in Monday's dissent, complains anew that Trump and future presidents can now get away with ordering political assassinations  simply by arguing that doing so is an official act  "the majority does not dispute it, which is really remarkable," Sloan said.

"It's actually incredible that we now have an opinion that seems to confer immunity for a wide range of truly dangerous and nefarious actions by a president," he added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Officials from the state and Army Corps of Engineers ask people not to boat at Saylorville Lake during the Fourth of July holiday week as water levels are expected to rise more than 880 feet above sea level.

Certain areas at the lake already are closed due to flooding from recent rainfall in northern Iowa and in the Des Moines River watershed. Officials say debris from upstream where major flooding has occurred can pose an exceptional danger for people on the lake this week.

In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it would close North Overlook and Whitebreast beaches at Red Rock Lake due to rising water levels on Wednesday. The closures will remain in place until the area is safe for use.

As of 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Saylorville was sitting at 869 feet. The Army Corps expects it to reach 882 feet by Tuesday evening, 2 feet below flood stage and about 46 feet above normal water levels.

That forecasts accounts for rain just over the next 24 hours.

Water rushes out of the Saylorville Dam into the Des Moines River, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Polk County Emergency Management program assistant Brett McIntyre says Saylorville Lake, which typically acts as a buffer for major rains, still has room to absorb several feet of water expected over the next few days based on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' forecast. At 882 feet, the Army Corps still has about 2 feet before water spills over the emergency spillway  the point at which the water level surpasses the ability of the dam to control the safe release of floodwater into the Des Moines River  and there's an inflatable dam that can be raised another 6 feet.

For reference, the record high pool elevation at the lake was during the historic flooding of 1993 at 892.03 feet, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers river gauge data.

"Right now, at this point, as long as they feel confident that we'll be below that level, we should be all right again, McIntyre said of the Army Corps. "Our biggest issue right now will be kind of watching if we have any severe weather tonight or potential for heavy rain that can lead to some flash flooding here or there, but our information on Saylorville right now is we've still got room."

Recreating this holiday week could be difficult around Saylorville, Des Moines

There will be limited opportunities for those who plan on hiking, boating or biking this week because of the rising water levels, Greg Hand, Saylorville park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said at a news conference Tuesday. The Neal Smith Trail is expected to be inundated with water, causing multiple closures, Hand said.

Lakeview High Water and Chery Glen Highwater boat ramps will be the only ramps available to the public  but they too might close if the water keeps rising, Hand said.

Theres a lot of water coming down, Hand said. Theres obviously a lot of trees coming down. A lot of those trees by the river corridor are probably going down as the water rises. Were kind of a catch basin for all the debris.

Hand is advising the public to avoid boating at Saylorville this week.

If you are going to boat, which I would not advise, make sure that everyone is wearing a life jacket, go slow and dont boat after dark, Hand said. Being safe out there is key. With the number of debris coming down, it could be dangerous.

Logs and debris swirl around the inlet of the Saylorville dam, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Todd Robertson, river programs outreach coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, warned those who plan on boating about a significant amount of debris in the water.

Boaters on Saylorville and on the Des Moines River need to look out for strainers, which are essentially big pieces of debris such as trees that are under the water and not visible, Robertson said. Theres a chance a boater might flip out of the boat and get stuck underwater by the debris.

It sounds scary, and it is scary, and it can be deadly, Robertson said. But if you know how to read the river and stay away from the strainers you wont have any problems. Be very careful with big wood piles out on the water.

Wearing a life jacket is essential if one plans on being in the water during the week, Robertson said.

If youre swimming in the river and going up against the current, it can be a different beast, Robertson said. Its not like being in a lake or a swimming pool. Youve got currents pulling you down and pushing you around. Its absolutely important to wear a life jacket.

Susan Stocker of the Iowa DNR demonstrates personal flotation devices during a holiday safety briefing at Saylorville Lake, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Des Moines area can expect some minor impacts, including road and trail closures, by the end of the week due to some heavy rainfall over the Raccoon River Valley on Monday night, according to McIntyre. Unlike the buffer for the Des Moines River provided by Saylorville Lake, the Raccoon River Valley has no reservoir, which can mean larger flooding problems during major rains.

McIntyre said residents could see some closures including around George Flagg Parkway and Water Works Park, as well as areas near the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers' confluence in places like Water Street, Principal Park and the base of Simon Estes Amphitheater.

McIntyre says the public should steer clear of any floodwaters while driving or walking and biking on trails "no matter how shallow it looks."

Both drivers and passengers are advised: Don't drink and boat

If you do plan to boat, do not drink while driving, warned Susan Stocker, boating law administrator with the DNR.

We want to make sure that the alcohol and boating stay separated, Stocker said. We always need to have a sober operator while on the water. People dont realize that when you mix alcohol with boating, the wind, the glare and the waves enhances the effect of alcohol.

Boat passengers also should plan to be sober while out on the water to avoid any unnecessary injuries or risks, Stocker said.

Passengers are the ears and the eyes for the operator, Stocker said. Theres a lot of debris coming down. If you see a small twig above water, chances are its attached to the 30-foot tree below.

Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Boating not advised at Saylorville Lake over Fourth of July week
One local woman is at risk of losing her home and two children after being the victim of a standoff in Salisbury, Maryland, in June. Now, she is asking the public for help.

Kelly McGrath's entire life changed in an instant when, on Tuesday, June 18, a male subject held crews from The Salisbury Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriff's Office and Maryland State Police in a 9 hour-long standoff.

Crews first arrived at the 100 block of Cedar Way in Salisbury at about 3:30 a.m. due to a reported domestic assault in which police say the suspect barricaded himself inside the home and stabbed an individual.

The standoff ended at about 1 p.m. The suspect, identified as Matthew William Gruber, was transported to TidalHealth for what was later reported by police as self-inflicted injuries.

McGrath suffered bruising to both her face and body, a deep cut to her forehead from a butcher knife, bite marks and several other injuries.

A male subject held crews from Salisbury Police, the Wicomico County Sheriffs Department and the Maryland State Police in a standoff Tuesday morning. Crews first arrived at the 100 block of Cedar Way in Salisbury at about 330 a.m. due to a reported domestic assault in which police say the boyfriend stabbed the girlfriend. The standoff ended at about 1 p.m.

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'I don't sleep anymore': Woman recounts horror of Salisbury standoff

"He was my fiancee," McGrath said of Gruber. "He snapped one night and attacked me. He beat me, cut me with a knife, and totaled my vehicle."

McGrath and her dog were both left visibly shaken after the ordeal. Thankfully, she said, her children  ages 5 and 8  were not home at the time of the incident.

"I don't sleep anymore. I'm so worried about being homeless and losing my children," she shared. "They're my life. I'm the only parent they have left. They need me."

McGrath's car was her only means of transportation that allowed her to travel to-and-from her workplace.

Now, without a vehicle of any sort, she is unable to get to work. If McGrath cannot work, she will lose her house. If she loses her house, she will lose custody of her children.

"All I do is work. I love to work. I need to get back to work. But I can't because I can't afford a vehicle," said McGrath, who works as a teacher's aide at a daycare. "That's all I really need  a car."

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GoFundMe created to assist Salisbury family

McGrath is asking friends, family and the surrounding community for support through the creation of a GoFundMe. The GoFundMe is asking for a total of $15,000 to assist McGrath on her journey to recovery and stability.

Donations can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-kellys-journey-to-recovery-and-stability .

"I share it 17 times a day and it goes unnoticed," McGrath said of the GoFundMe. "When you've got a single mom who's struggling, people don't care."

According to the GoFundMe, a total of $50 has been raised.

"I can't let this take away my independence. I can't let this situation ruin me. I can't let it defeat me because I'm not that type of person," McGrath said. "I don't give in. I don't give up. I have to fight to keep my life together."

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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Salisbury woman, victim of standoff, domestic assault, starts GoFundMe
UPDATE, 3:33 p.m.: Officials with the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office tell ABC4.com the scene is now clear and all closed streets are open. They have not given us further details.

ORIGINAL POST: SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A large police presence in downtown Salt Lake City disrupted traffic and public transit near 400 South and State Street on Tuesday, July 2, as officers investigated reports of a suspicious package at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse.

Details are extremely limited, however, the courthouse and a building directly to the west have been evacuated.

Brittany Karzen, the communications director for the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, told ABC4.com the package is outside the building but not much more is known about it. The Salt Lake City Police Department Bomb Squad is on scene and investigating.

As police continue their investigation, a portion of 400 South between State Street and Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City has been closed to traffic. The Utah Transit Authority also established a bus bridge between the Courthouse and the Library as police are blocking TRAX lines.

Karzen said she expects these disruptions to last for at least the next hour and possibly longer.

This story is developing, and this post will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Dozens of Bibb voters have to prove residency after accusations of false addresses, fraud

Dozens of Macon voters will have to explain to the elections board why their registered voting address was listed as a post office and not their home after the chair of the Bibb County Republican Party challenged hundreds of voter registrations.

David Sumrall, head of the local Republican Party, challenged the legality of several voters residencies during an elections board meeting Monday. He alleged 45 voter addresses were listed as post office locations, 47 voted from North Carolina and 151 from other states.

The Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections heard Sumralls claims but only accepted some of those challenges. The board voted that the GOP chair only provided enough evidence to challenge the 45 voters who had post office addresses, which puts those voters in challenged status, according to William Noland, the boards attorney.

The challenges that revolved around out-of-state voters were dismissed because the board said he didnt have enough evidence to make the claims legitimate.

This does not immediately prevent those people from voting, nor does it remove them from being a registered voter. But it could in the future.

Our only course of legal action under this statute is to send them written confirmation and wait two federal election cycles, unless the voter confirms in writing that they have changed their residence, board member Tom Ellington said.

A registered voter can be removed from the list if a voter does not respond in writing to the notice, and does not vote or appear to vote between now and two general elections for federal office from now.

Based on my reading from the Georgia election code, we cant remove inactive voters from the voting until two federal elections have intervened, Ellington said.

Macon GOP chairs challenges stemmed from new law

A new Georgia law that went into effect Monday is meant to make it easier for any resident to challenge another persons ability to vote.

Senate Bill 189, the law that Sumrall made the challenge under, includes provisions that change the rules for determining residence, eliminate QR codes from printed ballots, and require election results to be released within 1 hour of the polls closing or before 8 p.m., whichever comes first. It also increases the number of things that constitute probable cause for voter challenges, which include an elector being registered at a nonresidential address.

But that didnt entirely work out in Sumralls favor.

A voter held up a sign that read, Accurate voter rolls are our civil right!! Do not dare to take away my civil rights!! at the Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections meeting Monday, July 1, 2024.

While 45 voters will be asked to prove their residency in Bibb County, the only evidence Sumrall had to prove 198 people voted in other states was 60 Florida voter registration cards and a spreadsheet.

He said he used an artificial intelligence technology called Eagle AI to find voters who moved from Georgia to other states, but still voted in Mays general primary election.

Under the new Georgia law, citizens can use the U.S. Postal Services National Change of Address list showing people have moved, as evidence to challenge a vote.

The chance of a mismatch is next to zero, Sumrall said.

Opponents of the law consider the list unreliable.

Ellington mentioned some people might just be living elsewhere temporarily.

... You dont know whether any of these voters are college students, members of the military, moved to engage in government service or U.S. citizens living abroad, Ellington told Sumrall.

It doesnt matter if they are registered to vote in another state, they cant vote in Georgia, Sumrall responded. They probably dont even know theyre still on our voter roll and have no intention of voting in Bibb County. However, leaving them on the voter roll opens the possibility that someone else could fraudulently use their voter registration to vote.

Sumrall needed to provide confirmation in writing from voters, such as their signed voter registrations, to prove his claims that their registration should be challenged, according to Noland.

Its a shame that some people are more concerned about the tool used than they are about the problems that the voter roll uncovers, Sumrall said. I think we do not need to begin down a path which will allow additional fraud in the voting process.

Reporter Ava Chatlosh contributed to this story.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  A wanted woman was arrested after police found illicit drugs concealed in Taco Bell wrappers and tortillas during a traffic stop in Tennessee last week.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department said in a statement posted on X that officers stopped a vehicle with a suspended license on Interstate 40 on Friday, June 28.

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During the stop, officers seized meth, LSD, THC and fentanyl-laced gummies, pills and marijuana. Mt. Juliet police posted images of the drugs wrapped like burritos.

Not your average Taco Bell order, the department wrote.

Police seized drugs concealed in tortillas on Friday, June 28, in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. (Courtesy of Mt. Juliet Police Department)

An unidentified 37-year-old woman from Nashville, who was wanted in three counties, was arrested during the stop, according to police.

Her charges included failure to appear in Sumner County court, drug possession in Rutherford County and failure to appear in Wilson County court.

Thanks to our diligent team, these dangerous drugs are off the streets, and this wanted individual is now behind bars, the department said.

No further details have been released.

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American rapper Kanye West, despite his open support for Russia, has faced hate speech in the terrorist country. As soon as the controversial artist left Moscow after celebrating the birthday of his friend, fashion designer Gosha Rubchinsky, Russian citizens asked Russian security forces to "check" the American's work for "discrediting the Russian army or propagandizing the inferiority of Russian women."

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The thing is that one of the rapper's tracks contains a line humiliating Russian women and a reference to Ukraine. The song, titled "Vultures," was not liked by members of the "Forty Forties" movement. Their appeal to the police was published by propagandists.

"The Russian woman in the work of the said artist appears exclusively in the image of a drug-addicted prostitute with distorted values. We believe that the work of the said author promotes the inferiority of a person based on his or her belonging to national and social groups," the document says.

The line in question reads: "She Russian, I beat up the p*ssy for Ukraine", which means "She is Russian. I beat up the p*ssy for Ukraine".

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At the same time, the rapper supports dictator Vladimir Putin and even calls himself "young Putin" and "Nazi." He has also appeared in public wearing clothes with the words "I am Russian." In response to the American's behavior, tattoos with his face were made for free in London.

It's comical that back in March 2022, the artist posted the national flag of Ukraine on the social network. Apart from the Ukrainian symbol, there were almost no other photos on his profile at the time. Such a change in views may indicate an unstable position of the rapper, which Ukrainians should not admire.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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(KRON)  Two East Bay men have been charged with a scheme in which stolen credit card data was used to steal thousands of gallons of diesel fuel from South Bay Safeway gas stations.

Yuniel Cordero, 40, of Oakland, is accused of committing a string of fuel thefts from Safeway locations around San Jose, Santa Clara County prosecutors said. Over the course of several months, Cordero allegedly pumped $90,000 worth of stolen gas into a makeshift bladder in the back of a truck.

He then sold the diesel at a discount rate to Henry Umanas San Leandro-based trucking company, according to prosecutors.

Cordero was arraigned in court on June 25. He is charged with organized retail theft, identity theft, conspiracy, 61 counts of grand theft, and 14 counts of petty theft. Umana, 44, is charged with organized retail theft, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy.

These defendants were criminally filling up their fuel tanks and their pockets, using the stolen property of others, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. Our high-octane investigator along with the Sheriffs Office made sure this scheme is out of gas and out of business.

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The scheme was initially uncovered when a person reported that their credit card had been used at a Safeway even though they never shopped there. DA Investigator Bret Moiseff tracked down the thief.

Investigators said they found credit card skimming devices at Corderos house during his June 20 arrest.

Umana bought gas from Cordero for $3.50-$3.75 a gallon, prosecutors said. The average price for diesel in California is more than $5 a gallon. DA investigators, Santa Clara County Sheriffs deputies, and the California Highway Patrol Organized Retail Theft Task Force searched Umanas trucking company and found thousands of gallons of stolen fuel.

A judge granted Cordero and Umanas release from jail on Monday despite objections from the District Attorneys Office.

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LAMAR COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  A Franklin County man was arrested for impersonating a Child Protective Services (CPS) worker and sexual assault.

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According to a release, the Lamar County Sheriffs Office received a report of a man presenting himself as a CPS worker. He reportedly made contact with the guardian of a child, told them he needed to speak with the child and then gained access to the child.

The guardians and the child gave a description of the suspect and the suspects vehicle to detectives.

The sheriffs office later learned that the same type of incident had occurred in Sulphur Springs in November 2023 and that the suspect and vehicle description reportedly matched the suspect in Lamar County.

Gerald Don Miller mugshot, courtesy of the Lamar County Sheriffs Office

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On June 25, the sheriffs office identified the suspect as Gerald Don Miller, 56 of Franklin County. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Miller and a search warrant for Millers property where they found evidence linking Miller to both cases.

Miller was charged with three counts of impersonating a public servant, and one count of sexual assault. Miller bonded out from Franklin County Jail on a $25,000 bond and is being held in Hopkins County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services want to remind communities, that if they are ever involved with CPS, the CPS workers will carry accredited credentials and their workers will show proof of their accredited credentials before talking to you, the sheriffs office said.

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The sheriffs office asks anyone who had contact with Miller where he alleged to be with CPS to come forward by contacting their local law enforcement agency. Miller is described as 5 foot 8 inches, approximately 240 lbs, brown and white hair, white mustache and may have been carrying a red case with a Texas Department of Criminal Justice logo on it.

This investigation is the perfect example of how cooperation between agencies helps solve a case. I would like to commend the efforts of the Lamar County Sheriffs Office detectives working this case, Child Protective Services, the Sulphur Springs Police Department, Franklin County Sheriffs Office and the Hopkins County Sheriffs Office. With this effort, another criminal has been taken off our streets and out of our neighborhoods, Lamar County Sheriff Scott Cass said.

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John Adams, American patriot and the nations second president, believed Independence Day would be celebrated annually not on the Fourth of July but on the Second.

He was off by a couple days but he had a point. It was on July 2, 1776, that Congress declared independence from Great Britain. Its just that it took a bit longer to adopt the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson with edits and contributions from Adams and Benjamin Franklin. So although we now celebrate independence the way Adams told his wife, Abigail, that we would  with Pomp and Parades, with [shows], Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other  we do it on the Fourth.

Read more: Editorial: Mississippi has heroes who fought for democracy. Why is it marking Confederate Heritage Month?

Yet July 2 looms large in our national story regardless, not merely for what the founders did nearly a quarter of a millennium ago, but for the sacrifices that more recent patriots made within the lifetimes of millions of Americans still living.

The declaration, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and numerous civil rights laws were more aspirational than real for a significant portion of the population until July 2, 1964.

That's the day President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

It was only then that discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin was outlawed nationwide. It was only then that states were barred from enforcing voter registration rules differently by race, and that American liberty came within reach for millions of citizens seeking to rent a motel room, eat in a restaurant, watch a movie, ride a bus, attend school or even use a restroom.

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It was only then that the nations law began to catch up with its creed: Liberty and justice for all. "Freedom Summer" was as integral to American history as the Revolution.

Resistance, especially in the South, was violent. The previous year saw a church bombing, lynchings of volunteers registering voters, children injured by blasts of fire hoses and bites of police dogs. There were calls to conscience by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders and front-line workers, a March on Washington and all the pressure those events put on Congress following the assassination of President Kennedy, who had proposed the Civil Rights Act. After the House passed it in February, the Senate dickered for months before finally sending it to Johnson.

And still the job was unfinished. States continued to disenfranchise Black voters with selectively enforced literacy tests, racially discriminatory districting, harassment and intimidation. More marches and violence gave muscle to the successful drive to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Fourscore and seven years after Congress declared independence, Abraham Lincoln called for a new birth of freedom, and Congress and states answered with constitutional amendments ending slavery and promising equal protection and voting rights to all male citizens. But the liberty-resistant Supreme Court killed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, and the amendments remained broadly unenforced until Johnson signed the 1964 act.

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The multiple rebirths of freedom offer at least two important lessons. One is that liberty and justice are by nature works perpetually in progress. Members of the Second Continental Congress were content to be free of Great Britain and struck from slave-owner Jeffersons draft declaration the complaint that King George III permitted slavery, a cruel war against nature itself. Abigail Adams wrote to her husband that unless equal rights were granted to women, we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation.

But enfranchisement of women and former slaves took nearly two more centuries. So did the right to choose how to love and whom to marry, and countless other freedoms. And still we are not done.

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The second lesson is that hard-won freedoms are not self-sustaining and must stand up against constant pushback. The Supreme Court in 2013 nullified an important portion of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Shelby County vs. Holder, and many states continue insidious moves to disenfranchise voters. Conservatives are targeting important 1964 Supreme Court precedents standing for the principle that each Americans vote counts equally. We have already seen the rollback of womens rights to control their own bodies. Other ominous assaults on liberty loom.

In their later lives, colleagues-turned-enemies Adams and Jefferson repaired their friendship and wrote often to each other about the nation they helped create, but they said little about slavery. Both died on what came to be recognized as the nations 50th anniversary  the Fourth of July 1826, not the Second  leaving the work of perfecting liberty, and making it real for all Americans, to the generations of Lincoln, King and us today. July 2 is a good day to remember that unfinished, perpetual task.

Then, on the Fourth, the parade.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA)  An Effingham man is under arrest on suspicion of starting a fire that spread to a nearby trailer, all while people were sleeping inside.

Effingham Police officials said the fire happened at Lakewood Manor Trailer Park at 1:29 a.m. on Sunday. Officers arrived first and found a fire had started close to a trailer and started burning the outside of the trailer. Officers were able to quickly smother the fire with an extinguisher and arriving firefighters confirmed the fire was out using a thermal imaging camera.

The fire caused an estimated $1,000 worth of damage to the trailer, but the adult and two children inside were not hurt.

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Within two-and-a-half hours of the fire, officers determined that the fire had been set intentionally and had a suspect in custody  46-year-old Michael McWhorter. He was booked into the Effingham County Jail at 4 a.m. on a Class X felony count of aggravated arson.

Officials said evidence indicated that the fire was set as a random act and that McWhorter acted alone. There is no additional threat to the community.

Effinghams Police and Fire Chiefs both praised the responding personnel for their actions in preventing a tragedy and for their collaboration.

The rapid response by both Effingham City officers and firefighters prevented what could have been a tragedy, given that this occurred in the middle of the night and a family was sleeping in the affected residence, said Police Chief Jason McFarland. Because of that quick action and diligence, the person responsible for this act was immediately arrested and is now detained in Effingham County Jail.

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I would like to extend my gratitude to the police department for their seamless collaboration and support. The teamwork between our departments is crucial in both combating these fires and initiating a thorough investigation, said Fire Chief Brant Yochum. Together, we remain committed to bringing those responsible to justice and ensuring the continued safety of our community.

McWhorters initial court hearing was Monday morning. He was denied pretrial release, and his next hearing will be on July 18.

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Ada County prosecutors on Monday secured a significant bond in the case of a man believed to be responsible for hit-and-run crashes Saturday night on Main Street in downtown Boise because of the egregious facts of this case.

Ashley Wardle, a legal intern for the Ada County Prosecutors Office, said in court that 46-year-old Jacob Miller ran a red light at up to 80 mph at the intersection of Main and 11th streets, striking two female pedestrians in a crosswalk and hospitalizing them with life-threatening injuries. She said Miller continued to drive downtown, hitting curbs and other vehicles, and narrowly avoiding a bicyclist.

He crashed into another vehicle over 3 miles away and was apprehended, Wardle told the court.

Fourth District Magistrate Judge Susan Clark set Jacob Millers bond at $1 million. At this time, the Boise resident faces two felony counts for leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in injury or death. Under Idaho law, he could face up to five years in prison on each count.

The irresponsible actions of this individual caused serious injuries to two of our community members, Boise Police Capt. Jim Quackenbush said in a news release Sunday. We thank the many witnesses who acted quickly to provide immediate assistance and all those who have come forward with information on this tragic event.

The two women remained in the hospital Monday, according to the Boise Police Department. Wardle said in court that the first victim was thrown at least 15 feet after being struck and that the second was stuck on Millers car for several blocks, finally falling off when he swerved to avoid another vehicle.

Wardle said Miller stopped after crashing into a vehicle near the intersection of Parkcenter Boulevard and Pennsylvania Street. He was detained by four to six bystanders at first, she said, and was combative with officers during his arrest. Wardle said Miller also attempted to kick a nurse once he was transported to a hospital before being taken to the Ada County Jail.

Police said they are still waiting on test results on Miller regarding whether any alcohol or drugs were in his system.

If Miller can post bond, which would amount to $100,000 if he uses a bail bonds business, hell be required to undergo drug and alcohol monitoring; restricted from driving a vehicle for any reason whatsoever; and prohibited from drinking or using drugs, and from going into bars or liquor stores, Clark said.

When asked by the judge whether he understood those restrictions, Miller responded, Yes, your honor. His next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 10 at the Ada County Courthouse, according to online records.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and hasnt spoken with police yet, along with anyone whose vehicle was damaged, is asked to contact Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
(Bloomberg) -- Egypt is set to name Ahmed Kouchouk as its first new finance minister since 2018, Extranews reported, as the North African nation pledges an economic revamp after emerging from its worst crisis in decades.

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Kouchouk, who most recently served as finance chief Mohamed Maaits deputy, will be appointed in a wide-ranging government restructuring affecting about 20 portfolios, the Cairo-based broadcaster said Tuesday. The channel, which typically represents authorities thinking, cited people it didnt identify.

The dramatic changes  in the works since Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly was assigned by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to form a new government last month  have yet to be made public.

The overhaul comes as calls mount for fresh economic management after Egypt enacted its fourth currency devaluation since early 2022. That move, made possible by a $35 billion megadeal with the United Arab Emirates, helped clinch other financing including an expanded $8 billion International Monetary Fund loan.

Kouchouk, whos also been a Central Bank of Egypt board member and a senior World Bank economist, is a known figure to investors and will likely be seen as a safe pair of hands, having frequently discussed Egypts economy on overseas trips and bond roadshows.

Its a good news appointment  well-known and liked by the markets, said Charlie Robertson, head of macro strategy at emerging market investment firm FIM Partners. Egypt recognizes the value of continuity and stability, which is also important when a primary goal is to get interest rates down.

Kouchouk has held several positions in the ministry since 2007, becoming deputy finance minister for fiscal policies and institutional reforms in 2016, and playing a role in IMF negotiations.

The overhaul comes as the Middle Easts most populous country faces challenges ranging from resolving painful power cuts in the midst of a sweltering summer to reducing one of the regions largest debt burdens, trimming spending and curbing the states role in the economy.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, whos been in the role since 2014 and one of the governments main public faces during the almost nine-month-old Israel-Hamas war, is set to be replaced by Badr Abdelatty, the channel said. The veteran diplomat has served as Egypts ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, according to the state-run Ahram Online news website.

Other reported changes include appointing Sherif Farouk, chairman of Egypt Post, to replace Aly El-Moselhy in the role of supply minister  a job thats key to managing inflows of commodities for a nation thats one of the worlds largest wheat importers. The ministries of aviation, justice, housing and religious endowments are also slated for new leadership.

The revamped cabinet, due to be sworn in on Wednesday, will likely see the merging of several portfolios, Extranews said. There will also be the re-introduction of an Investment Ministry headed by Hassan Al-Khatib, it said. More than one deputy prime minister will also be appointed.

--With assistance from Kerim Karakaya and Abdel Latif Wahba.

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Despite a chorus of concern from city representatives, the El Paso City Council voted to approve the details of the agreement with Venu Inc., formerly Notes Live, for a Sunset Amphitheater in Northeast El Paso.

City Reps. Josh Acevedo, Cassandra Hernandez and Isabel Salcido voted against approval of the 380 Agreement with the company, citing a non-compete clause they asserted is unlike any included contracts for venues in Colorado Springs, Tulsa and McKinney, Texas.

The three joined forces to call for the City Council to delay approval of the contract but were overwhelmed by the remainder of the contingent  city Reps. Brian Kennedy, Joe Molinar, Art Fierro and Chris Canales were the same to hoist the contract to final approval.

The 12,500-seat amphitheater, to be constructed on the site of the old Cohen Stadium, is expected to open its doors by March 2026.

The non-compete clause specifies that the city cannot be involved with events within a 60-mile radius that might conflict with the events offered at the new amphitheater. Also, it gives Venu Inc. the right of first refusal if the city moves ahead with its long-beleaguered multi-purpose performing and cultural arts center.

In exchange for its commitment to invest $80 million into the construction of a 12,500-seat amphitheater on the old Cohen Stadium site that will host at least 40 national acts each year, the city is providing Venu Inc. with 17 acres at the corner of Cohen Avenue and Gateway Boulevard North.

City Economic and International Development Department Interim Director Karina Brasgalla said that no General Fund money would be used for the project, which is expected to generate a $5.4 billion economic impact over 25 years.

Notes Live CEO J.W. Roth (right) listens as city Rep. Joe Molinar discusses the new Sunset Amphitheater, which will be constructed in his Northeast El Paso district, during a news conference Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

The incentives floated by the city, she said, would be covered by multiple funds, including the Texas Economic Development Fund, which currently holds about $80 million for El Paso thanks to the El Paso Electric acquisition in 2020, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) 11, where the project will be housed, and the Cohen Site Readiness Fund.

With the City Council's approval during its meeting on July 2, construction on the project could begin as early as August. The venue will open its doors in March 2026, in time for that year's full tour schedule.

"I'm very supportive of this item," Mayor Oscar Leeser said as the discussion got underway, "because it's going to bring a quality of life and a quality of place, not just in Northeast El Paso, but for the entire city."

"This is really an important step forward for our community."

Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso City Council approves $80M amphitheater deal despite concerns
Two El Paso women and a San Antonio man were sentenced to federal prison in unrelated cases where the people they sold fentanyl to overdosed on the deadly opioid drug, authorities said.

Kathy Lee Nicole Bradford, 32, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Patricia Tafoya, 40, received a year and nine months for dealing pills that contained fentanyl, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas officials said.

The pills resulted in the death of a 19-year-old El Paso single mother. Both Bradford and Tafoya also are from El Paso.

A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration photo of a plastic bag containing hundreds of fentanyl-laced pills.

In an unrelated case, Brennan Dane Short, 49, of San Antonio, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on a drug charge after he sent fentanyl-laced pills to a woman through the mail. The woman fatally overdosed on the pills at an El Paso hotel.

El Paso woman found dead after taking fentanyl mailed to her

Short sold counterfeit "M-30" pills March 21, 2023, to a woman in El Paso, officials said. He mailed a package containing the pills from a U.S. Postal Service location.

El Paso Police Department officers conducted a welfare check March 27 on the woman after she failed to show up for work, a federal complaint affidavit states. Co-workers told officers the woman was staying at a hotel on Edgemere Boulevard.

Officers found the woman dead inside a hotel room. The El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office found that the woman died of acute methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl toxicity. The medical examiner ruled that the woman "would not have died but for the fentanyl," officials said.

Officers found a small baggie containing blue and pink M-30 pills, pink powder on a folded white sheet of paper, and an iPhone belonging to the victim in the hotel room, the affidavit states. The pills and the pink powder tested positive for fentanyl.

The U.S. Postal Service delivered another package addressed to the victim to the same hotel on March 30, 2023. The hotel staff gave the package to the victim's family.

More: Fentanyl overdose deaths, epidemic continues to grow in El Paso, border communities

The family opened the package and discovered a Mentos gum container inside, the affidavit states. They found a small baggie containing blue and pink pills marked with M-30 inside of the Mentos container.

The family reported it to El Paso officers, who notified the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Short was the name of the person who sent the package, the affidavit states. The package was sent from Rowlett, Texas. Security footage and photos of the man who sent the package from the U.S. Post Office matched Short's description, the affidavit states.

He was later questioned by law enforcement in San Antonio. Short admitted to DEA agents he sent the package. He added he previously had sent two other packages to the woman containing pills, the affidavit states.

Short told police the victim originally lived in San Antonio and was concerned she would not find a new drug dealer in El Paso, so he began sending her drugs in the mail, the affidavit states.

He said he sold the drugs for between $10 to $25 a pill, the affidavit states. The victim would pay him through CashApp.

More: El Paso man pleads guilty to attempting to sell 60,000 fentanyl pills to officer

Agents searched Short's home in San Antonio. They found "374.66 grams of suspected fentanyl pills, 42.88 grams of suspected cocaine, 599.05 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 74.98 of suspected psilocybin, 91.95 grams of unknown pills, 19.6 pounds of marijuana, three firearms, and an undetermined amount of United States currency," the affidavit states.

Short pleaded guilty April 4 to one count of distribution of a controlled substance causing death or serious bodily injury. He was sentenced June 27 to 11 years in federal prison. He also was sentenced to three years of supervised release after he serves his prison term.

No further information was released on the victim.

Single mother dies from fentanyl poisoning

Bradford coordinated the sale of 10 "M-30" pills containing fentanyl to a woman in El Paso in April 2022, a federal indictment states. Tafoya delivered the pills to the victim, officials said.

The victim, a 19-year-old single mother, consumed some of the pills and died. An investigation by the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office revealed the victim died of acute fentanyl toxicity, officials said. No further information was released on the victim.

Bradford admitted in March that she knew the pills contained fentanyl, officials said. She pleaded guilty April 2 to one count of distribution of a controlled substance causing death or serious bodily injury. She was sentenced June 27 to 14 years in prison. She also was sentenced to five years of supervised release after she serves her prison term.

More: Hold the fentanyl. Drugs found in hamburger at El Paso border crossing

Tafoya pleaded guilty April 2 to one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. She was sentenced June 27 to one year and nine months in prison. She also was sentenced to three years of supervised release after she serves her prison sentence.

Bradford and Tafoya were also ordered to participate in a drug treatment program, court records show.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Federal prison sentences handed down in fentanyl death cases
Elderly woman who died after being pushed into BART train identified

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A homeless man is accused of pushing a 74-year-old woman into a Bay Area Rapid Transit train, resulting in her death, according to BART officials. The elderly woman was pushed into a Millbrae-bound train inside the Powell Street Station in San Francisco at 11:06 p.m. Monday, officials said.

The victim was identified as Corazon Dandan of San Mateo County, according to the SF Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The train was approaching the station when Dandan was pushed, hit her head on the train, and fell on the platform, transit officials said. She was taken to San Francisco General Hospital and later died.

BART Police Department officers reacted quickly and arrested a homeless man, 49-year-old Trevor Belmont, also known as Hoak Taing, on the platform immediately following the incident, BART PD said.

Belmont was booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of murder and inflicting injury on an elderly person, inmate records show. He is being held behind bars without bail.

BART police are still interviewing witnesses, reviewing the stations surveillance cameras, and working to determine a motive. We have thousands of surveillance cameras that we use for incidents like, Police Chief Kevin Franklin said.

The killing marked the first homicide on the BART system in 2024.

In July of 2018, 18-year-old Nia Wilson was stabbed to death by a homeless man as she was stepping from a BART train onto an Oakland station platform. Wilsons killer, 33-year-old John Lee Cowell, is serving a life sentence for murder.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Lord Ivar Mountbatten made history when he came out as gay, becoming the first openly gay member of the royal family. In addition, the monarch even had a same-sex wedding, which was watched by the whole of the UK.

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The 61-year-old cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II grew up in tradition, and his first marriage was to a woman, HELLO writes. Read on to find out what else is known about the lord.

Early life

Ivar is the son of Janet Mercedes Bryce and David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven. He was educated at Gordonstoun Boarding School in Scotland, where King Charles and Prince Philip studied. The royal also attended college in Vermont in the United States.

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Connections to the royal family

Ivar is the great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria and a relative of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. His father, David, was the godson of the Duke of Windsor, a godfather at the wedding of the Queen and Prince Philip, and a mentor to the then Prince Charles.

Princess Margaret and Prince Edward attended Ivar's first wedding, and he is the godfather of Lady Louise Windsor, the niece of the current king.

First marriage

Ivar married Penny Thompson in April 1994, and she knew that her husband was bisexual. The couple was married for 16 years and divorced in 2010. At the time, Ivar told The Daily Mail, "In the end, Penny didn't feel loved enough, she wanted more from her husband than she could get from me. Given my orientation, I was very surprised that she married me in the first place. Maybe she thought she could change me, but in the end she realized she couldn't."

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Children

Ivar and Penny have three daughters: Ella, Louise and Alix. He has a close bond with all three, and has often publicly stated how supportive they are of their father and his current relationship. Ella is Prince Edward's goddaughter, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is Alix's godmother.

James and Ivar's love story

The couple met in Verbier, Switzerland, in March 2015, when James, the airline's cabin service director, mistook Ivar for a ski guide. They started talking, calling each other regularly and going on dates. A few weeks passed before the lord introduced his lover to his family.

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Wedding

In 2018, James and Ivar got married in Devon. His first wife Penny, who supported him during the divorce, congratulated the newly-made family. On Instagram, Ivar wrote, "Well, we finally did it! It was an amazing day despite the terrible British weather."

He continued, "Most of all a huge thank you to my three beautiful girls for being so understanding and supportive, without their support this would never have happened! And finally, most of all, thank you to James for being just perfect."

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Making history

Ivar wrote about his experience in The Independent. He said, "The fact that the world's press immediately focused on me, proclaiming me the 'first gay monarch' was quite disturbing. The reactions of my friends and family were very disturbing, and I wondered if my world was going to come crashing down."

"My fears, of course, were unfounded. Absolutely everyone supported me, and it soon became clear that in the scheme of things, your orientation does not matter to others," Ivar added.

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Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Several years before she raised concerns that her husband was poisoning her, Tatiana Pino joined Floridas lieutenant governor and other high-powered members of her Miami prayer group for a potluck Friendsgiving dinner. The meal had barely started before guests started bolting to the bathroom from an apparent wave of food poisoning that multiple attendees later concluded started with the roasted Brussels sprouts that Pino brought to the party.

Guests were so sick that a squad of ambulances rushed more than a dozen women, including Pino, to the hospital from the annual backyard dinner held by Lisa Lorenzo, a close Pino friend and host of a Christian podcast.

It was uncanny that we were dropping like flies, said Vicki Lopez, a party attendee who is now a Florida state representative. At least 10 of us got sick. And it was immediate.

The ill-fated dinner party is raising new alarm bells among Pinos inner circle after last weeks news that she had accused her estranged husband, prominent developer Sergio Pino, of poisoning her while they were living together. He has denied the allegation.

READ MORE: FBI investigating developer Sergio Pinos possible link to threats against wifes life

The Miami Herald spoke with four people who were at Lorenzos home on the night of the Friendsgiving potluck in 2019, plus a spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who arrived later in the evening to check on his ill wife. Authorities never identified the source of the wave of illness that hit Lorenzos guests at that November gathering, but attendees said they concluded at the time it was likely Pinos Brussels sprouts based on who had the biggest helpings.

The people who got the sickest ate the most, one attendee said.

Lorenzos party also captures how the Pino saga is reverberating through some of the highest levels of local and state politics.

Among the attendees of the Nov. 22, 2019, dinner were Alina Garcia, now a Republican state representative who is running for elections supervisor in Miami-Dade, and Viviana Bovo, wife of Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo. Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez had left early, so she wasnt on the scene as multiple guests succumbed to nausea, diarrhea and confusion, according to accounts relayed by attendees. But Nunez went home with a plate of food from the buffet, prompting at least one guest to send a message warning her against eating anything from that nights event, attendees said.

After the wave of illness spread through the all-woman gathering, Rubio arrived at Lorenzos house to check on both his wife, Jeanette Rubio, and an employee of his Senate office who is also friends with Lorenzo.

A Rubio spokesperson on Monday confirmed the senators arrival at Lorenzos party.

Senator Rubio went to pick his wife up from a womens Bible study dinner after she called saying she was feeling ill. Fortunately, she did not require medical attention, the spokesperson said.

Also on the scene at Lorenzos party following her guests getting ill was Sergio Pino, whom Tatiana Pino would later accuse of poisoning her in a deposition after she filed for divorce in April 2022.

Last fall, Sergio Pino acknowledged the health scare at Lorenzos house when he gave his own deposition in the divorce proceedings.

He testified that a bunch of people were hospitalized from what he understood to be food poisoning at a dinner party. Though he was not attending the party, he said he was called to the house when guests began getting sick, according to the deposition. He then visited the hospital where his wife was, staying for about two to three hours. Sergio said he recalls Tatiana staying at the hospital overnight.

A video taken that night and shared with the Herald showed the street outside the 7,000-square-foot house Lorenzo owns with her husband surrounded by at least six ambulances, with lights flashing.

The incident prompted a state police investigation by the head of Nunezs security at the time, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Joe Sanchez. Sanchez, now a Republican candidate for Miami-Dade sheriff, said Monday that he collected samples of the nights food offerings, including the Brussels sprouts, and sent them to a state facility for analysis.

We did an investigation. We sent it to the crime lab, Sanchez said. It came back negative for anything that would explain why people got sick.

Sanchez said he did not have details about the results, and an investigative report was not immediately available from the Florida Highway Patrol.

He also said that after people got sick that evening, there was no immediate reason to suspect Pinos Brussels sprouts. If Im not mistaken, some people ate the Brussels sprouts and didnt get sick, he said.

There was no immediate comment from the press office of Gov. Ron DeSantis, which handles media inquiries for Nunez.

The 2019 party offers a window into the life of Tatiana Pino in the final years of her marriage to one of Miamis most prominent developers. In her 2023 deposition, Pino called Lorenzo her best friend, saying that Lorenzo had accompanied her the year prior to a Baltimore hospital where doctors revealed that Tatiana Pino had fentanyl in her system  a substance she said she had not ingested.

In a May 15 episode of Lorenzos podcast, Faith with Friends, Tatiana Pino credited prayer with helping her navigate the end of a troubled relationship.

Ive gone though not only relationship suffering, Ive gone through physically suffering, she said. But Jesus was there.

Federal agents last week searched Sergio Pinos home and the offices of his development company, both in Coral Gables. The Herald reported that both searches were part of an FBI investigation into Pinos possible link to threats made against his wife.

Over the past two years, Pino and his wife have been battling each other in a divorce case that is headed for trial in July, according to Miami-Dade Circuit Court records. FBI agents are investigating whether Sergio Pino recruited a part-time worker at his home to hire three men to threaten his wifes life in the wake of her filing for divorce in April 2022, people familiar with the FBI probe told the Herald. The part-time employee and the three men have been charged in Miami federal court with targeting Tatiana Pino in a hit-and-run at her Pinecrest home and targeting her sister via arson attacks on three of her vehicles.

Its not known if the Friendsgiving gathering has been looked at by investigators on the current Pino case. Lorenzo said she could not speak with the Herald because Ive been asked by authorities not to comment.

Brussels sprouts to blame?

Attendees of Lorenzos 2019 dinner party described a gathering of more than three dozen women that began with prayer and guests expressing what they were thankful for that year. After the food was served in a dining area set up in Lorenzos spacious backyard outside of South Miami, multiple guests began succumbing to an illness that was startling in how quickly it hit. Their calls to 911 brought more than a dozen ambulances to the home, attendees said.

Attendees who spoke to the Herald said medical authorities were unable to definitively say what made people sick. By comparing notes about who ate what, members of the group later concluded Pinos Brussels sprouts were the likely culprit, based on what happened to the women who had the largest helpings of the vegetable dish.

In his 2023 deposition, Sergio Pino said the dinner party guests included people from Tatianas church group. He said everybody brought something to the gathering and that he was not aware of whose dish was suspected of causing the illness.

So do you understand that they suspected the dish my client brought? Tatianas attorney, Raymond Rafool, asked.

I have no reason to think that, Sergio Pino responded.

Poisoning allegations come up repeatedly in depositions from both Sergio and Tatiana, who testified that in 2022, after years of unexplained illness, doctors detected fentanyl in her system.

Tatiana said in her deposition that she believed her husband was poisoning her, and that, once she moved out of the house she shared with him, her symptoms disappeared.

While Sergio Pino acknowledged in his November deposition that Tatiana has been sick for a long time, he outright denied that he ever poisoned his wife. I dont do those things, he said.

And who do you think was poisoning my client when she was living at your house? Rafool asked.

Nobody was poisoning Tatiana when she was living at my house, Sergio said.

Sergio Pinos attorney Deanna Shifrin denied the poisoning allegations, pointing to comments Tatiana made in a December 2023 deposition stating that no healthcare provider had concluded she had been poisoned.

Lopez, a Republican member of the Florida House since 2022, got sick at the 2019 party and said she was contacted by a state investigator after the event who wanted to know about the food and drinks served there. In an interview Monday, Lopez said she was stunned at how quickly the illness swept through the group.

I sat down at the table, and I may have taken two or three bites, she said. I started to feel dizzy. The next thing I knew I was running to the bathroom to throw up.

Lopez said she shared an ambulance ride to the South Miami Hospital with Tatiana Pino, whom she described as even more ill than her. Doctors gave Lopez anti-nausea medicine and allowed her to leave around 3 a.m. She took an Uber home.

Initially, Lopez said her group of friends did not know which food got them sick. In the days that followed, though, they zeroed in on the Brussels sprouts based on what the people who got ill had eaten, including Lopez, who sampled Pinos vegetable dish.

I have had pretty severe food poisoning before, she said. I have never gotten sick so quickly.

Miami Herald staff writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report.
Elk Groves $374 million budget has gone to effect. Whats going into the budget?

Elk Grove has a balanced $374 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year starting in July.

The city budget  a 7% increase from last year  is expected to prioritize public safety, affordable housing, addressing homelessness, traffic safety, economic development and providing funding for city council priority projects.

Some of those priorities include Project Elevate (aka the Civic Center North Master Plan), the light rail master plan, relocation and expansion of the Elk Grove Library and the new zoo.

The Elk Grove City Council last week unanimously approved the budget, which includes $92.4 million of the citys general fund budget  a 4% increase from last year. According to a letter from the citys finance department, the increase mainly stems from adding new full-time positions, salary and benefit increases, operational cost increases and equipment purchases.

There is much to celebrate with this budget and the citys strong fiscal health, Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen said in a news release. We all know that is not the case for the state or many cities in California who are facing very serious budget woes and looking at cutting services and positions. This budget will continue to benefit our residents and support Elk Groves quality of life.

The budget allows for 15 new positions, which include four Measure E-funded positions and seven contractor positions promoted to city staff positions.

The budget will expand the Elk Grove Police Department by adding two dispatch supervisors, jobs related to training and commercial vehicle enforcement and new positions on its youth services team.

The budget reflects our investments in public safety, maintaining or keeping a handle on our homeless population, bolstering and maintaining infrastructure, and securing economic development communities for the city, Councilmember Darren Suen said in last weeks council meeting.

According to a city news release, the city will maintain a 25% reserve, or rainy day fund, to help with any cash flow needs in case of emergency or economic uncertainty.

The city council also continues to fund the citys opportunity reserve, fully funded at 5% of adjusted appropriations, according to a news release.

The reserve funds provide flexibility to fund projects, acquisitions, unforeseen events and community needs.
ELYRIA, Ohio (WJW)  The city of Elyria is designating police officers to enforce its

fireworks ordinance.

According to the city ordinance, fireworks can be set off on July 4, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fireworks are not allowed outside of that time.

Where are fireworks illegal in Northeast Ohio

According to Mayor Kevin Brubaker, two police officers will start enforcing the ordinance Tuesday night through mid-July.

The officers will work overtime shifts and are dedicated exclusively to resident complaints, said Brubaker.

Elyria police Sgt. James Welsh said, Weve had a lot of calls of people shooting off fireworks  specifically last weekend we had over a dozen calls on Friday evening.

The penalty for violating the fireworks policy is up to six months in jail and an up to $1,000 fine.

Where to see July 4th displays in NE Ohio

Welsh said the fireworks task force will be out every night except for the allowed time on July 4.

Meanwhile, safety officials remind residents with complaints to call the police departments non-emergency lines at 440-323-3302 and to only call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Emergency need in Alabama for all blood types

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Blood donations have declined and blood usage at local hospitals has increased, causing blood shortages across Alabama.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is urging the community to donate.

Summer is a difficult time for blood donations, and there is an emergency need for blood to help patients in hospitals across the state.

A list of hospitals that could benefit from blood donations includes the following:

Huntsville Hospital

Decatur General

Athens-Limestone

North Alabama Medical Center

Marshall Medical Center

North and South

Crestwood Medical Center

Parkway Medical Center

Lawrence Medical Center

Helen Keller Hospital

Cullman Regional Medical Center

Red Bay Hospital

Lincoln Health

Highlands Medical Center

Russellville Hospital

Madison Hospital

Gadsden Regional Hospital

Lakeland Community

These hospitals rely on LifeSouth and LifeSouth blood donors to make sure blood is available before it is needed to help patients suffering from traumas, cancers, and chronic illnesses.

From July 1-6, all donors will receive a $25 e-gift card and a special t-shirt. Double red-cell and platelet donors receive a $45 e-gift card.

For additional information about donation or to find a blood drive near you, call

LifeSouth toll-free at (888)-795-2707, visit the LifeSouth website 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.
What is an emissions test and which Texans need them?

AUSTIN (KXAN)  In less than six months time, Texans will no longer need to undergo mandatory vehicle inspections each year.

Last year, the state legislature ended the requirement for the annual inspection. The new state law will take effect Jan. 1, 2025, with the onus now on personal drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe to use; commercial vehicles will still be required to undergo the inspection requirement as per usual.

Despite the removal of the previous safety inspection requirement, vehicle owners will still be responsible for a $7.50 inspection replacement fee. Newer vehicles not yet registered will receive a $16.75 fee to cover two years of registration.

RELATED: Mandatory Texas vehicle safety inspections end in six months

But not every vehicle owner will get to skip out on an annual safety visit. Seventeen counties  primarily in areas surrounding major metro areas and more highly populated communities  require emissions inspections. Those counties include:

Brazoria

Collin

Dallas

Denton

El Paso

Ellis

Fort Bend

Galveston

Harris

Johnson

Kaufman

Montgomery

Parker

Rockwall

Tarrant

Travis

Williamson

Come 2026, Bexar County will also begin requiring those emissions inspections. These apply to gasoline-powered vehicles between two and 24 model years old. If a brand new vehicle hasnt expired past the initial two-year inspection sticker, theyre exempt.

Likewise, hybrid vehicles arent exempt from passing an emissions test. Diesel-powered vehicles and motorcycles arent required to undergo emissions testing, per the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Vehicles required to undergo an emissions test will receive an on-board diagnostic (OBDII) test. A closer look at available testing sites is available online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
EMPORIA (KSNT)  Emporia police have arrested a local 19-year-old after an alleged burglary at an apartment complex.

The Emporia Police Department (EPD) announced in a press release that officers were called just after 5 a.m. on Sunday, June 30 to an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Merchant Street. A woman told police she woke up in the apartment and found an unknown man inside.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The man allegedly pushed her against a wall and tried to cover her mouth but the woman was able to scream, alerting her husband and two children. The man, later identified as a 19-year-old Emporia man, then left the apartment and was later arrested by the EPD on aggravated burglary and aggravated assault.

The EPD is continuing to collect information on this case. If you want to share tips with the EPD, call 620-343-4225. You can also send anonymous tips to Lyon County Crime Stoppers by calling 620-342-2273.

Kansas gov. ceremonially signs off on tax plan

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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.
On Nov. 7, 2023, ballot shortages in Hinds County, underscored the urgent need for robust electoral reform.

The Hinds County Election Commissions acknowledgment of human error and ballot order form mix-ups as the culprits behind that fiasco highlighted systemic vulnerabilities that could undermine the integrity of future elections.

With the 2024 elections on the horizon, Mississippi lawmakers needed to take proactive steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and to fortify the states election processes.

Mississippis history with voter suppression is well-documented, and past events have reignited concerns about the states commitment to ensuring free and fair elections.

Duvalier Malone

The 2023 ballot shortages, which affected at least nine precincts, resulted from administrative oversights and inadequate training for election commissioners.

Those deficiencies disenfranchised voters and sparked national outrage and legal interventions to keep polling places open longer on Election Day. This incident was a stark reminder that more must be done to safeguard the voting rights of all Mississippians.

The states electoral framework needs immediate attention and reform. A crucial starting point is the comprehensive retraining of election commissioners.

The current once-a-year training by the Election Commission Association of Mississippi is insufficient. As Commissioner RaToya Gilmer McGee pointed out, lacking consistent training and updated policies means that any institutional knowledge leaves with outgoing commissioners.

Training must be more frequent, detailed, and standardized across the states 82 counties to ensure all commissioners are well-equipped to handle their responsibilities.

Moreover, the process of ordering and distributing ballots must be overhauled. The use of outdated systems and the reliance on manual corrections during crises reveal significant operational gaps.

Implementing a robust, automated system for ballot ordering and distribution, with real-time monitoring and error-checking capabilities, can help prevent the mistakes that led to the 2023 shortages.

This system should be coupled with a contingency plan for rapid ballot printing and distribution to address any unexpected demands on Election Day.

Transparency and accountability are also paramount. The lack of communication between the Hinds County Election Commission and the Mississippi Secretary of States office during the ballot shortage crisis is unacceptable.

Secretary of State Michael Watsons delayed response and minimal engagement with local election officials exacerbated the situation. To foster trust and ensure swift resolution of electoral issues, there must be clear, established lines of communication and accountability between state and county election officials.

Regular audits and public reporting of election preparations and outcomes should be mandated to maintain transparency and build public confidence.

In addition to these administrative reforms, it is essential to address broader systemic issues that have long plagued Mississippis electoral landscape.

Voter suppression tactics, such as stringent voter ID laws, purging of voter rolls, and limited access to early voting and absentee ballots, continue to disenfranchise marginalized communities. Lawmakers must work to dismantle these barriers and create an inclusive voting environment.

This includes expanding early voting options, ensuring ample polling places in all communities, and implementing same-day voter registration to facilitate broader participation in the democratic process.

As we approach the 2024 elections, the call to action for Mississippi is clear. Lawmakers, election officials, and community leaders must come together to implement these necessary reforms.

The integrity of our elections and the faith of our citizens in the democratic process depend on it. Failure to act will not only perpetuate the cycle of disenfranchisement and mistrust. However, it will also undermine the very foundation of our democracy.

Mississippi can set an example for the nation by prioritizing electoral integrity and voter rights. By addressing the issues that led to the 2023 ballot shortages and taking proactive steps to ensure fair and accessible elections, we can restore confidence in our electoral system and uphold the democratic values that are the bedrock of our society.

The time for action is now, and we are responsible for ensuring that every Mississippians voice is heard and every vote is counted. We must remember that Medgar Evers gave his life for our right to vote, and we must honor his legacy by safeguarding this fundamental right.

 Duvalier Malone is the author of "Those Who Give A Damn: A Manual for Making a Difference," a motivational speaker, community activist, and CEO of Duvalier Malone Enterprises, a global consulting firm. He lives in Washington, D.C.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ensuring fair elections in Mississippi: A call to action for 2024
An effort by Donald Trump and his legal team to throw out his recent hush money trial following Mondays SCOTUS decision is being heavily criticized by legal experts, who are predicting the attempt will fail.

On Monday, Trumps legal team asked the judge presiding over the case in which Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records to throw out his conviction and delay his sentencing, which is scheduled for July 11 in Manhattan. The letter to Judge Juan Merchan cites the Supreme Court granting the former president immunity for official acts," The New York Times reported.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday wrote that he was okay with pushing back the sentencing date to address the issue, even as he dismissed it as being without merit.

In an interview with MSNBC, former Department of Justice attorney Chuck Rosenberg said the former president's attempt to claim immunity was predictable but entirely wrong.

"I mean, if you look at the Supreme Court's decision from yesterday ... the conduct that underlined in the New York case seems to me to be purely private," he said. "So perhaps Judge Merchan grants them a hearing, but I have a hard time imagining that they would prevail on it."

"This seems to me the type of case that a president ought not be immunized from," Rosenberg concluded.

Other experts agree.

CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen said in a post on X that the attempt wont work. He pointed out that Trump previously raised claims of immunity in the hush money case when he tried to move the case to federal court, which was denied. Trump argued that the payments in the case were connected to his duties as president; U.S. District Judge Alan Hellerstein rejected the claim.

"Trump has failed to show that the conduct charged by the Indictment is for or relating to any act performed by or for the President under color of the official acts of a President. Trump also has failed to show that he has a colorable federal defense to the Indictment, Hellerstein wrote in his July 2023 ruling.

Trump again tried to claim immunity just three weeks before his trial, a request that Judge Merchant denied and called untimely.

In a last-ditch effort, Trump alos tried to delay the trial based on immunity claims in the First Department of the Appellate Division in Manhattan. Again his request was denied, and Trump abandoned his appeal, Eisen pointed out.

Hes collaterally estopped, Eisen concluded, adding that Trumps actions in this case were purely personal and political and had nothing to do with his duties as president, making it unlikely Trump will be granted immunity.

In NY the evidence is clearTrump is absolutely not immune for these personal acts of election interference and false biz records, Eisen wrote.

Lawyer and legal commentator Tristan Snell shared a similar conclusion, writing that Trump will fail to overturn the conviction in a post on X. He noted that most of the events Trump is being tried for (with the exception of repayments made to Michael Cohen in 2017) occurred before Trump was even president.

So repaying your personal lawyer for pornstar hush money is an official act? Snell wrote.

Others poked fun at Trumps broad interpretation of the SCOTUS ruling, stating it highly unlikely that what he was tried for could be considered an official act as president.

BREAKING: If you were wondering how broadly Donald Trump interprets the immunity just granted to him by a Supreme Court he disproportionately appointed, wonder no more: he now claims the ruling makes *paying off his mistress* an Official Presidential Act, wrote Seth Abramson, attorney and New York Times-bestselling author, in a post on X.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., added: Trump claims that his prosecution by the Manhattan DA should be delayed because he has immunity for presidential acts. In what world is making hush money payments to a porn star part of the job as president? Trumps world.
MICHIGAN (AP)  Environmentalists are challenging Michigan regulators decision to approve encasing part of an aging Enbridge Energy oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes, arguing that they failed to properly consider alternatives that would minimize climate impacts.

The Environmental Law & Policy Center and the Michigan Climate Action Network filed a brief with a state appellate court Thursday. They argue in the filing that since the state Public Service Commission determined construction would produce greenhouse gases the panel should have forced Enbridge to prove there were no alternatives to the project.

The groups also contend the commission failed to adopt any methodology to measure how the gases could impact climate change and didnt consider what could happen if the pipeline was shut down.

An email The Associated Press sent to the commissioners general inbox on Friday wasnt immediately returned.

Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy said in an email that the commission carefully examined all aspects of the tunnel project. He questioned why the groups would want to overturn that decision. Even if they prevail, the line will continue to operate in the straits, Duffy said.

Enbridge wants to build a protective tunnel around a 4-mile (6-kilometer) portion of its Line 5 pipeline that runs along the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, which link Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

Enbridge has been operating the pipeline since 1953. It moves up to 23 million gallons (87 million liters) of crude oil and natural gas liquids daily between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario. Concerns about a potentially catastrophic spill in the straits has been building since 2017, when Enbridge officials revealed engineers had known about gaps in the pipelines protective coating in the straits since 2014. Those fears only grew after a boat anchor damaged the line in 2018.

Enbridge officials maintain the line is structurally sound, but they still reached an agreement with Republican then-Gov. Rick Snyders administration in 2018 that calls for the company to build the protective tunnel at a cost of $500 million.

Current Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, opposes the continued operation of the line under the straits even if it is encased in a tunnel, siding with conservation groups, Indigenous tribes and tourism businesses that feel the line is vulnerable.

Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit in 2019 seeking to void the easement that allows the line to run beneath the straits. That case is still pending. Whitmer ordered Enbridge in 2020 to shut down the pipeline, but the company ignored the shutdown deadline.

The state Public Service Commission approved the tunnel project in December. Enbridge needs only a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward.

Meanwhile in Wisconsin, a federal judge in Madison last year gave Enbridge three years to shut down part of Line 5 that runs across the reservation of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

The tribe sued Enbridge in 2019 to force the company to remove about 12 miles (19 kilometers) of pipeline crossing its reservation, saying the pipeline is prone to spills and that land agreements allowing it to operate on reservation land expired in 2013.

The company has proposed a 41-mile (66-kilometer) reroute of the pipeline to end its dispute with the tribe. It has appealed the shutdown order to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; the case is still pending.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.
American space agencies reported that the Russian Resurs-P1 spacecraft broke into at least 100 pieces. Nine astronauts aboard the ISS, including two Boeing passengers who were "stuck", had to hide for an hour because of the risk of being hit.

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Resource-P1 had been out of service for almost three years, but it could have suddenly exploded due to an onboard fuel leak or an impact from other "space debris." The U.S. Space Command, which has a global network of radars to track space, said the satellite created "more than 100 pieces of debris that can be tracked," MailOnline reports.

Statement from the US 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. As such, USSPACECOM has notified commercial, governmental, Allied and Partner organizations via Space-Track.org, to include Russia as the satellite owner," the press release, also published on X, said.

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NASA has ordered crews aboard the space station to take refuge in their spacecraft as a standard precaution. The spacecraft docked to the ISS - Soyuz, Crew Dragon, and Boeing Starliner - are believed to provide better protection from debris than the ISS itself.

No reaction from Roscosmos

The Russian space agency Roscosmos, which operated the satellite, did not respond to a request for comment and did not even acknowledge the incident on its social media channels. Within a day of the incident, radar from the American company LeoLabs detected at least 180 pieces of debris from Resurs-P1.

"Due to the low orbit of this debris cloud, we believe the danger will pass in a few weeks or months," LeoLabs said.

What is known about Resurs-P1 and the cause of its mulfunction



Resurs-P1 is a Russian commercial Earth observation satellite capable of receiving high-resolution images. It was operated by Roscosmos and launched to replace the Resurs-DK1 satellite. In January 2022, Dmitry Baranov, CEO of the Progress rocket and space center, said that the satellite was decommissioned due to "a failure of onboard equipment."

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There are currently no details about what caused the Russian satellite to fall apart.

However, Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, suggested that an explosion could have occurred on board, "Such events can range from low-energy releases of a few pieces of debris due to insulation flaking off, to energetic events due to a small impact or the explosion of an onboard battery. In the latter case some of the debris objects can end up with significantly higher apogees," he wrote on X.

Events like this exacerbate the overall problem of "space junk", the swirling mass of fragments of spacecraft, machinery, and other artificial objects orbiting the Earth. In general, old satellites either remain in orbit for years until they descend into the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, or they move to a "cemetery orbit" at a distance of about 36,000 km from the Earth. The latter happens less often, but it is the best option for the "death" of spent spacecraft as there is less risk of collision with active satellites.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Equal Ground, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to building Black political power in Florida, held a meeting June 24 to mobilize Black voters in Leesburg and surrounding areas. The event was part of a statewide tour aimed at combating voter suppression tactics.

Genesis Robinson, interim executive director of Equal Ground, addressed attendees on the significance of state government decisions, along with specific bills and what it all will mean for the upcoming 2024 election.

Genesis Robinson, interim executive director of Equal Ground, addresses attendees on June 24. He discussed the significance of state government decisions, along with specific bills and what it all will mean for the upcoming 2024 election.

They (state legislators) pass laws, they repeal laws, but most importantly, they have a responsibility to pass a state budget, Robinson said. That budget governs our state; it forms all of the critical functions of the state. So what we see happening during that time period in legislative session is really a byproduct of what happens during the election season.

During the meeting, Robinson highlighted several key issues affecting the community. One major topic was what he described as voter suppression laws in Florida, including the elimination and reduction of drop boxes and stricter requirements for vote-by-mail ballots.

Robinson also discussed the significant legislative changes and challenges, such as Senate Bill 90, which requires voters to request their vote-by-mail ballot every election cycle, potentially disenfranchising many voters.

"What that meant is that there were 4.2 million voters who had their vote-by-mail request canceled, he said. Of that 4.2 million people, 441,000 of those were Black people.

Genesis Robinson, interim executive director of Equal Ground, addresses attendees on June 24. He spoke about the significance of state government decisions, along with specific bills and what it all will mean for the upcoming 2024 election.

Robinson underscored the importance of advocating for voting rights and being present in legislative sessions to engage with lawmakers directly.

Its important that we be present, be able to look in the eye and tell them how we feel, and share the concerns that we hear from folks in the community, he said.

In addition to Senate Bill 90, other bills addressed included Senate Bill 524, which created an elections police force; Senate Bill 7050, which targeted third-party voter registration organizations; and House Bill 1291 and Senate Bill 1372, which prohibited educators from attending training that teaches systemic racism and oppression were inherent in the founding of the country.

Eustis resident Estella Chatman-Mosley stood to address the crowd at the Equal Ground meeting on June 24, encouraging them to do their part and vote.

However, Robinson praised Senate Bill 1582, which supports Black farmers by addressing issues with the cannabis license promised to them and expanding the number of licenses to six, allowing more Black farmers to benefit.

As were going through these, you see things that you like or dont like, right? Robinson said. Understand that you have a part in playing in who goes to represent you in Tallahassee.

One of the bills the group supported was the Harry T. And Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act, HB 1035/SB 1522. According to Equal Ground, this bill aimed to prevent vote dilution and discrimination on the basis of race, color or language; give minority groups an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice; expand language access; strengthen pre-clearance protections; make Election Day a holiday; offer same-day voter registration; establish automatic voter registration; make vote-by-mail requests permanent; offer prepaid vote-by-mail postage; and create a database for returning citizens.

It failed to pass.

Eustis resident Estella Chatman-Mosley stood to address the crowd, encouraging them to do their part and vote.

God knows if there's ever been an election that would need it for us to vote, its this one, she said. There's some folk that want to go take us back to our slavery days. And then there's some folk that want to move us forward. Pay attention.

Want more local news? Here's how to access Leesburg news anywhere with the Daily Commercial app

Robinson also detailed amendments that will be on the 2024 ballot, ensuring voters knew what to expect.

My grandmother used to have the saying that people would do better if they knew better, Robinson said. "And that's the whole purpose of us doing this presentation, is to make sure that folks know and understand what is at stake.

For more information, visit https://www.equal-ground.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Equal Ground holds meeting in Lake County; important election upcoming
The European Union has introduced protective tariffs on eggs and sugar from Ukraine starting 2 July due to excessive import volumes.

Source: European Pravda, citing the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission

Details: Reportedly, this occurred despite the Ukrainian government's assertion that the EU had no such plans in the near future.

In the spring, the EU established a safeguard mechanism to restrict free trade with Ukraine. In June, it was first applied to Ukrainian oats. Two more products have now been made subject to it.

The new safeguard mechanism stipulates that the so-called "emergency brake" for seven agricultural products is automatically triggered if import volumes reach the average annual import volume recorded from 1 July 2021, to 31 December 2023.

For eggs and sugar, this average is 23,188.96 tonnes and 262,652.68 tonnes, respectively.

Since imports of eggs and sugar from Ukraine have already exceeded the volumes set by the tariff quota from the beginning of the year, additional imports will be subject to duties.

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Evacuations ordered in El Dorado County after flames erupted at home and spread, officials say

A fire that ignited Tuesday at an El Dorado County home spread into vegetation, prompting evacuation orders, authorities said.

Flames charred about 50 acres near Oak Hill Road, off of Moccasin Trail as of 6:05 p.m., according to Cal Fire. The fire, in a rural area west of Somerset and south of Diamond Springs, was growing at a moderate rate of spread, Cal Fires Amador-El Dorado unit said on social media.

Cal Fire said the blaze had not been contained as of 4:40 p.m. as the countys evacuation website showed a spot fire broke out. The cause is under investigation.

Smoke on Tuesday shrouded vegetation burning in the Moccasin Fire, according to the El Dorado County Fire Protection District.

Firefighters ordered these areas to evacuate: Moccasin Trail, Nashville Trail, Metate Trail, Calamity Lane, Rocky Ridge Road, Los Cerros Drive, Pepperland Road and Meander Lane.

Residents in these areas were under evacuation warnings: along Horizon Drive, spanning west to the intersection of Dream Ranch Circuit and Sand Ridge Road; roads included the Yearling Trail, Beaver Canyon Road, Boulder Point Lane and Dawn Rose Lane.

Cal Fire said a temporary evacuation shelter has been created at the El Dorado County Library on Fair Lane in Placerville. Animals can be taken to an evacuation shelter at Saureel Vineyards, 1140 Cold Springs Road, in Placerville, according to the El Dorado County Sheriffs Office.

#MoccasinFire

At this time the fire is approximately 20-25 acres in spread. There are multiple fire agencies working to combat the fire. Mandatory evacs for neighborhoods around Moccasin Tl, Los Cerros, Rocky Ridge, Nashville Tl, Metate Tl. In the Oak Hill Community.  El Dorado Sheriff (@ElDoradoSheriff) July 2, 2024
The Coffee Memorial Blood Center kicked off its 17th annual Boots and Badges blood drive collaboration Friday with first responders from its local fire and police departments.

The Amarillo Police and Fire Departments have worked diligently to support blood donations for the region, with friendly competitions that encourage people to give the lifesaving gift of blood. Blood has a shelf life of about 42 days before it expires under refrigeration, and there is always a need for donations in the Texas Panhandle and nationwide.

Fridays kickoff event featured members of various first responder agencies giving the public a close-up look at their various vehicles, a cookout, and special giveaways. The blood drive continues for the next several weeks.

Public information officers for the Amarillo Police Department, Cpl. Carmela Ogden and Sgt. Carla Burr, spoke about the importance of the department supporting the blood drive effort.

The 17th annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive kicked off Friday at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

Emergency vehicles on display for the public Friday at the 17th annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

Sergeant Carla Burr and Corporal Carmela Ogden encourage the community to come out Friday at the 17th annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

Hamburgers and hot dogs are served Friday at the 17th annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

Members of the Amarillo Fire Department enjoy lunch Friday at the 17th annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

Jason Love, a community officer liaison for the Amarillo Fire Department, shows off his donation arm Friday at the 17th annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive kickoff event at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

Christy Manley, is set up for a donation Friday at the 17th annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

An Amarillo motorcycle officer shows off his driving skills Friday at the 17th annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

This was started years ago with the collaboration of Sgt. Tim Williams, a SWAT team working with Suzanne Talley of the 100 Club to be part of a good cause, Ogden said. In any competition, nobody wants to lose, and in reality, we all win when we get people to donate blood. It is all about saving lives, and we try to do that on a daily basis however we can.

Burr spoke about the friendly competition aspect of the blood drive.

Our police association got together with the fire association to get people to support this very important cause, Burr said. People just come out as they give blood and voice their support for the boots or the badges while helping others. We want to support our community and have a little fun doing it.

Burr said that it is important that if people could not get out Friday, it is important to give as often as you can to help others in need.

Jason Love, a community officer liaison for the Amarillo Fire Department, spoke about the friendly competition.

What better way to get people out to donate than to spur them with some a competition of cops versus firemen, he said. People like to see a good competition, and what better way than to give them a good rivalry? We use this to motivate people to come out and help others.

Love said, especially this time of year with the Fourth of July coming up, there is a great need for blood to serve the region.

So, we start this every year around this time because the holiday unfortunately leads to lots of accidents, trauma and things like that, Love said. This really stresses the blood supply. This competition normally brings around 600 units of blood into the local supply.

According to Love, this competition's success has spread to places like Oklahoma City and Little Rock, Arkansas.

This model is going all over the place, and it's great to be a part of helping others, Love said. It is all about the community and helping others. First responders in this area are all about bringing people together to support each other. We need to ensure a healthy blood supply to any that may need it.

Christy Manley, a blood donor at the event, spoke about why it is important to give blood.

The community is always in need, and I think it's very important to do my part, she said. I might need help at some point in life, and it's important to be there for others.

The Boots and Badges blood drive continues through August so that donors can choose their favorite as they donate blood.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 17th annual Boots and Badges blood drive held at Coffee center
The shift from a republic to a rotating tyranny was years in the making but the final blow still managed to shock: A Supreme Court that had just declared it a crime to be poor and homeless ruled that Donald Trump, previously and perhaps soon once again the worlds most powerful man, cannot be prosecuted for anything that a presidents lawyer (or conservative jurist) might spin as an official act. Legal experts say the decision effectively legalized executive criminality, ensuring that whoever occupies the White House  at least any Republican  can do as they please with the powers of their office, effectively constrained only by the threat of impeachment, which is hardly any threat at all, or a loss in a free and fair election.

The expansiveness of the decision was indeed not lost on Trumps attorneys, who immediately sought to overturn their clients 34 felony convictions in New York  a move dismissed as absurd by many legal experts who may prove to be right but who also, perhaps, have not come to terms with the fact that falsifying business records to cover up a hush-payment to an adult film star ahead of a federal election may now be a core constitutional right.

The strongest evidence against former President Trumps claim of immunity is found in the words of the Constitution, stated the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the court that previously took up the question of absolute immunity. Nowhere in the countrys founding document is it ever suggested that the holder of the highest office may have free rein to break the law, so long as as that transgression has so much as a tenuous connection to being president. In fact, as the lower court noted and the Supreme Court ignored, it explicitly states that public officials may be subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.

Despair is not a productive emotion, but there should be no sugar coating the reality that an American president is no longer bound by the laws of this country; not in a meaningful sense, certainly, with any attempt at justice via the courts now likely to be delayed by months if not years of litigation that could always end right back in the hand of a 6-3 reactionary majority.

There is, however, a silver lining  or rather, a consolation prize: When the Supreme Court shredded the rule of law on behalf of a man who tried to overturn democracy, Chief Justice John Roberts and the gang told another judge to figure out whether inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6 to upend an election is part of a presidents official duties.

As The New York Times Alan Feuer reported, the Supreme Courts decision makes it all but certain that Trump will not stand trial over his effort to throw out the 2020 vote before voters head to the polls in November; if he wins in 2024, the trial will never come. In the meantime, however, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan can do what Roberts asked and schedule time in court where special counsel Jack Smith could lay out his whole case, complete with testimony from witnesses. She could do so as early as September, resulting in something extraordinary: a mini-trial of sorts unfolding in the nations capital in what could be the homestretch of the presidential campaign.

Whatever Chutkan decides is an official act is subject to appeal. The Supreme Court already decided that Trumps pressure on the Department of Justice to fabricate evidence of voter fraud is now a presidents right  and that jurors cant even be informed of the fact that he did it. That doesnt mean the case is necessarily dead, altogether.

Just as Trumps New York convictions pertain to acts that had nothing to do with his presidency (while relying, in part, on evidence of a White House meeting that might now be inadmissible), CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen maintains that Trump can still be held accountable for trying to overturn the last vote against him.

I think a lot of Jack Smiths 2020 election interference is also going to be able to continue under this new test, he said Monday, calling Trumps celebration premature. But thats only if the case survives voters next trip to the ballot box. For now, he told Salon, the lower court judge, herself an appointee of former President Barack Obama who previously rejected Trumps claims of immunity, ought to immediately schedule that mini trial, as the ruling actually calls for fact-finding by Judge Chutkan.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

It calls for a lot of it, in fact, as no court has previously had to adjudicate whether a president sending a mob after their vice president to block the certification of an election is subject to the Supreme Courts newly invented immunity doctrine. Former federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade said more than half of Trumps Jan. 6 case likely remains prosecutable, but it will take us a year in litigation to get there.

Thats provided that the Supreme Court doesnt step in again to further clarify Trumps immunity, or that Trump doesnt take office and order the Department of Justice to prosecute those who sought to prosecute him. The best that anyone can do now is tell the voting public what we already know.

The Supreme Court ruled that evidence of official acts cannot be admitted at a trial on the unofficial acts, noted former New York state assistant attorney general Tristan Snell, who helped take down the fraudulent Trump University. But that ruling does not bar prosecutors from bringing up all that theyve uncovered in the proceeding to determine whether the acts were official, he observed. All the evidence is about to come out.

Evidentiary hearings wont be justice, which will be sufficiently delayed as to be all but denied thanks to six right-wing justice, half of them appointed by the criminal defendant. But at least well have this: No one, be they Samuel Alito or a swing voter in Wisconsin, will be able to honestly claim that they didnt know what they were voting for and all thats at stake in November.
The situation around a data breach thats affected an ever-growing number of fintech companies has gotten even weirder. Evolve Bank & Trust announced last week that it was hacked and confirmed the stolen data has been posted to the dark web. Now Evolve has sent a cease and desist letter to the writer of a newsletter who has been covering the ongoing situation.

Jason Mikula, author of respected industry publication Fintech Business Weekly, told TechCrunch that he received a cease and desist letter from the bank telling him not to share files from the dark web with any allegedly impacted fintech companies.

Mikula told TechCrunch that he wasnt actually doing such sharing but he was offering to do so and did see some of the files. Looking at hacked information is a common practice among journalists when reporting on security breaches as a way to confirm that a breach happened and what was taken.

In this case, Mikula said hes connected with four people who have access to some of the files that were stolen in the breach and posted on the dark web and has reviewed some of the data himself.

The crux of the problem is that not all the impacted fintechs have received details about what information was stolen in the breach, according to Mikulas industry sources.

As I understand it, some fintechs hadnt gotten confirmation from Evolve about what had been breached and thus hadnt acted to mitigate risk or inform users, Mikula told TechCrunch.

Mikula believes that seeing the files would let them (1) confirm the breach had happened and examples of what data fields were included and (2) allow them to identify specific customers that had been impacted, he said.

Mikula was posting information on the fintechs confirmed to be involved on X and reporting on it in his newsletter. So much so that X users like Parrot Capital have heaped praise upon him. Jason has been providing better customer service for those affected by the Evolve Bank breach than anyone else, Parrot posted on X.

Mikula said yesterday he woke up to the C&D. He added that he was reporting on the situation responsibly and would continue to do so. TechCrunch has reached out to Evolve for comment.

Meanwhile, while Evolve was sending letters from lawyers to Mikula, on July 1, a group of senators publicly urged those involved with a fintech in trouble, Synapse, to act. They want Synapses owners, its fintech and bank partners -- including Evolve -- to immediately restore customers access to their money. Synapse was pressured to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May, liquidating its business entirely. Customers have been frozen out ever since.

The senators implicated both the partners and investors of the company as being responsible for any missing customer funds. The senators letter alleges that $65 million to $95 million worth of funds are missing, but Synapse and all other players, including Evolve, assert that if this is true, they are not the ones responsible. They are all pointing fingers at others.

The letter was addressed to W. Scott Stafford, president and CEO of Evolve Bank & Trust, but was also sent to major investors in bankrupt banking-as-a-service startup Synapse, as well as to the companys principal bank and fintech partners.

Want more fintech news in your inbox? Sign up for TechCrunch Fintech here.

Want to reach out with a tip? Email me at maryann@techcrunch.com or send me a message on Signal at 408.204.3036. You can also send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew at tips@techcrunch.com. For more secure communications, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and links to encrypted messaging apps.
Welcome to TechCrunch Fintech! This week, were looking at the Evolve Bank hack, three notable acquisitions, Plaids enterprise customer growth and more.

To get a roundup of TechCrunchs biggest and most important fintech stories delivered to your inbox every Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. PT, subscribe here.

The big story

On June 26, Evolve Bank & Trust, a financial institution thats popular with fintech startups, announced that it had been victim of a cyberattack and data breach that could have affected its partner companies as well. The incident, according to the company, involved the data and personal information of some Evolve retail bank customers and financial technology partners customers such as Affirm, Mercury, Bilt, Alloy and Stripe. On June 29, fintech company Wise announced that some of its customers personal data may have been stolen in the data breach.

Also last week, Thread Bank  a popular partner to BaaS startups such as Unit  got hit with enforcement action from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Analysis of the week

This past week was an active one for fintech M&A. Just seven months after announcing a $6 million seed funding round, data intelligence startup Hyperplane announced it had been acquired by Brazils Nubank. The companys main focus is to allow banks to train their own models to power tools across their risk, collections and marketing departments. Meanwhile, Chime also announced plans to acquire Salt Labs for as much as $173 million. TechCrunch covered Salt Labs $10 million raise in March of 2023 here. And Robinhood is adding more AI features for investors with its acquisition of AI-powered research platform Pluto Capital.

Dollars and cents

Payabli, which builds the infrastructure that allows companies  specifically software companies  to embed and facilitate payments through APIs, raised $20 million in a Series A funding.

Another company in the space is Rainforest, which also raised $20 million in its own Series A funding round, less than one year after its seed financing. Rainforest embeds payment processing into other software platforms.

Belgiums Chift, which lets SaaS companies integrate with dozens of financial tools with a unified API, raised a $2.5 million seed round.

Armed with $8 million in seed funding, Egyptian banking-as-a-service startup Connect Money is out to tap its popularity to explore emerging business opportunities out of African markets.

As a foreigner, navigating health insurance systems can often be difficult. German startup Feather thinks it has a solution and raised 6 million to help some of the 40-plus million expats working and living in Europe.

What else were writing

Plaids expansion into being a multi-product company has led to it starting to see real traction beyond traditional fintech customers. President Jen Taylor told me exclusively just how many enterprise customers the company has now, detailing how growth in that segment is starting to outpace the rest of its business.

Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has quietly started rolling out its own payments app, dubbed Super.money, as it broadens its fintech ambitions more than a year and half after separating from PhonePe. The Walmart-owned firms new app, now live in beta on Play Store, allows users to make mobile payments via UPI, an interoperable network that is the most popular way Indians transact online.

High-interest headlines

Citi sees AI displacing more bank jobs than any other sector

Goldman Sachs deploys its first generative AI tool across the firm

Billionaire Steve Cohens Point72 Ventures lays off fintech team in pivot towards AI

Pay for new stuff by trading in your old stuff right at checkout

Prudence, Profits, and Growth (global fintech report co-authored by BCG and QED Investors)

Only up from Here: 2024s State of Fintech and the Heros Journey (from Bain Capital Ventures partner Matt Harris)

Want to reach out with a tip? Email me at maryann@techcrunch.com or send me a message on Signal at 408.204.3036. You can also send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew at tips@techcrunch.com. For more secure communications, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and links to encrypted messaging apps.
Insights from Politico, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, European Council on Foreign Relations, and De Volkskrant







The News

Former Dutch intelligence chief Dick Schoof was sworn in as prime minister of the Netherlands on Tuesday after more than seven months of negotiations following far-right firebrand Geert Wilders partys victory in elections last November.

Schoof will head up a broadly right-wing coalition government, and has promised to implement the countrys strictest ever policies on asylum and immigration.

Members of Wilders Freedom Party secured five out of 15 top ministerial posts, including trade and migration.







SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Schoof could struggle with politicking

Sources: Politico, The Financial Times, Radio France Internationale

As a career civil servant, Dick Schoofs name was practically unknown to the Dutch public until this week, Politico reported. Without government experience or a history of political campaigning, he faces a baptism of fire in the weeks ahead, a professor of politics told the Financial Times  and although his time spent leading government agencies may mean he knows how secure his own position, its difficult to know how he will respond under pressure from Wilders, another told Radio France Internationale.

Wilders has entered the corridors of power like a Trojan horse

Sources: Politico, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, European Council on Foreign Relations

Schoof insists he wont be Wilders puppet, and that he wants to lead on behalf of all the Dutch. But despite shelving his own bid to become prime minister during coalition negotiations, Wilders has entered the corridors of power like a Trojan horse, a director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, a non-profit devoted to liberal politics, argued. In turn, Wilders has ample opportunities to champion the Freedom Partys agenda, he added. Wilders has had to back away from a policy to exit from the European Union, but the bloc may nevertheless encounter a much more combative Netherlands, particularly on climate targets and asylum policy, the European Council on Foreign Relations noted in May.

The coalition may not last long

Sources: De Volkskrant, The New York Times

The Schoof coalition is the Netherlands biggest political gamble since the Second World War, and there is little trust between its partners, a columnist argued in Dutch daily De Volkskrant. Most already have one eye on the exit. Challenges could also come from below: Voters will feel disillusioned if the government fails to deliver on some of Wilders election promises, many of which could prove unrealistic or unconstitutional, an expert told The New York Times. I wouldnt bet on this cabinet being in place for four years, he added.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Plaza District Council has announced that Ray Washburne, Steve Summers and the HP Village Management team have taken over as owners of Kansas Citys Country Club Plaza shopping center. From more security to better infrastructure, the new owner has a vision to restore the area completely.

When the plaza opened over a century ago, it was the crown jewel of Kansas City. However, after years of poor management and decline, new owners look to bring the center back to a shining beacon of the community.

Today is thrilling, today is vital and today is an exceptional sign of progress, said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

The new ownership takes place after months of negotiating. HP Village Management is now officially the new owner.

According to the Plaza District Council, the new owners plan to bring back the quality, beauty and liveliness of the historic shopping center by bringing back local interest in cuisine, a small grocer and opportunities for local retailers.

Were going to really pursue local retailers and the local food and beverage scene initially, said Ray Washburne, president of HP Village Management.

And then were going to come in and re-do the infrastructure. Brick some streets, bring in new landscaping and just freshen it up and clean it up.

Washburne also said that theyll be spending more than $100 million fixing basic infrastructure concerns such as sewers, roofs, pedestrian-friendly walkways and refacing old buildings.

On top of the empty storefronts, another key factor in the plazas decline is an increase in crime. Its a problem HPV says is at the top of their list of priorities.

Youre going to see a security presence on the sidewalk, so youll see officers walking around that will be walking beats, said Washburne.

Were going to put up security cameras thatll be license plate readers thatll be able to see if theres a stolen car or something going on through the parking lot and itll feed right into the police department, and so hopefully that deters a lot of this crime.

HP Village Management, which is based out of Dallas and has close ties to the Hunt family, is only the fourth owner since the plaza opened in 1923. The company has an extensive portfolio of developmental projects like this across the nation. HPV plans to use this experience to change the narrative around KCs Country Club Plaza.

Previous owners maybe focused a little bit more on national chains, which I think are less interesting to the customer, said Stephen Summers of HP Village Partners.

And so if we can bring some brands that dont have 50, 100 stores, they have 5, but theyre compelling and theyre unique, I think thats what gets people excited.

HPV says that plaza visitors will start seeing major changes within the year. They plan to announce specific stores later this fall, but they did announce that the Tex-Mex restaurant, Mi Cocina, which used to be on the plaza, will be making a return.

Every local person feels like theyre an owner, said Summers.

Everybody takes a sense of personal ownership in the shopping center, it means that much to the community, so its not a responsibility we take lightly, were very excited about it.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Excessive heat warning spreads to most of SLO County. Heres how hot it could get

Lifeguard Delci Sawyer keeps a watchful eye on holiday crowd at the Olde Port Beach near Avila Beach on July 1, 2024.

Even more of San Luis Obispo County could see dangerously hot temperatures this week, with many spots potentially hitting triple digits.

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 over the weekend 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

On Monday, the National Weather Service expanded its excessive heat warning to include most of the county, except for a small sliver along the coastline.

It warned of temperatures up to 95 to 105 degrees, with upwards of 105 to 110 possible in the valleys well away from the coast.

The expanded warning  in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 6 p.m. on July 8  included Paso Robles, San Miguel, Shandon, Creston, Santa Margarita Lake, Lake Nacimiento, Atascadero, Templeton, Avila Beach and Pismo Beach.

The highest temperatures were expected after Wednesday.

San Luis Obispo was expected to stay mostly in the high 80s to mid 90s throughout the event, according to the Weather Service. Coastal areas like Morro Bay meanwhile will see temperatures in the high 60s to mid 70s.

A cooling center will be available at the Paso Robles Library from Monday to Wednesday and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday, the library will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

People can also find air conditioning at the Paso Robles Senior Center on Scott Street from Monday to Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Various public pools will be open across the county this week, too.

How to avoid heat-related illnesses

In light of the warm spell, the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department urged residents to protect themselves from heat stroke this week.

Staying cool isnt just about comfort: heat-related illness can be very serious and even deadly, County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in a news release. This is true for our most vulnerable neighbors and also for otherwise healthy people who work or exercise outdoors in the heat.

Symptoms for heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, weakness, cold and clammy skin, a fast and weak pulse, nausea, vomiting and fainting.

Heat stroke comes with a body temperature higher than 103 degrees, a rapid and strong pulse, confusion, possible unconsciousness, and hot, red, dry or moist skin  but the person is not sweating, the agency said.

If you see signs of either illness, immediately move the person to a cooler area to lie down and rest. Cool the person with a cool shower, bath or wet cloth, the release said.

People experiencing heat exhaustion can drink cool water and often recover without medical attention. Heat stroke, however, is a medical emergency.

Immediately focus on helping the person cool down and then call 911 or get someone else to make the call, the release said. A person suffering from heat stroke should not drink liquids.

https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=CAZ342&warncounty=CAC079&firewxzone=CAZ342&local_place1=3%20Miles%20NE%20San%20Luis%20Obispo%20CA&product1=Excessive+Heat+Warning&lat=35.3155&lon=-120.6278

To avoid heat-related illnesses, the agency recommended staying in air-conditioned spaces including designated cooling centers, malls and libraries.

Even a few hours of air conditioning can help your body cope, the release said. While fans can provide comfort, they are not effective at preventing heat-related illness when temperatures reach the high 90s or above.

Take cool showers or baths, and keep a spray bottle of water in the refrigerator for a refreshing spray when needed, the agency said.

The Public Health Department advised people to drink more water than usual and steer clear of alcohol or sugary drinks.

People should also not exercise or work outside during the hottest times of day. While outdoors, people should wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing and wide-brimmed hats.

Drink two to four cups of water per hour while working outside.

Check on neighbors, family and friends who are more at risk to heat-related illnesses, the agency said. People with health conditions, young children, older adults and people without air conditioning are more vulnerable to heat stroke.

Finally, keep pets inside or in shady places away from the sun. Offer them water frequently as they can get dehydrated quickly, the agency said.
This paradise island attracts travelers from all over the world. However, many people believe that a trip to the island is only available to wealthy people.

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We'll tell you if this is true below.

Flight costs



Tourists spend the largest amount of money on travel. And unfortunately, there is no way around it. The most common way to get to the archipelago is by air. To get from Warsaw to Denpasar (the main city on Bali, where the island's only airport is located), you need to fly with a stopover of 15 hours or more. Prices start from $850 to $1070 one way.

If you plan your trip in advance, you can save a lot of money on tickets. Some airlines offer discounts (up to 50% or more) for tickets booked several months or even a year in advance.

Accommodation

Bali offers a wide range of accommodation options: from budget hostels to luxury hotels. The cost of a room can vary from $6 to $50 per night, including breakfast. For one bed in a dormitory, you can pay from $5 to $20, in a guest house - from $2 to $8.

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Villas are perfect for a group of friends or families. They provide more privacy and space and often have their own pools and jacuzzis. A day will cost from $100 to $1000.

Food

There are many cafes and restaurants here. For lunch in a good restaurant you will have to pay $30, for dinner for two - $25. A cappuccino will cost $2.30, water - $1.20.

We also recommend trying local fast food. The most popular dish is pisang goreng (banana cakes). For dessert, we recommend enjoying local fruits: passion fruit, mango, rambutan. In the supermarket, a budget set of products costs about $7: bread - $1.70, milk - $1.90, 12 eggs - $1.70, a kilogram of bananas - $1.60.

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Transportation

Buses are the main way to get around. A trip from the airport to Denpasar costs $0.44 and takes 15 minutes. You can find out about the arrival time of the bus from the locals or find information on the board. Usually, flights run from five in the morning to nine in the evening with an interval of half an hour.

You can also rent a scooter. This pleasure is inexpensive, only $5.50 per day, and a motorcycle costs $27.40. However, if you still feel insecure behind the wheel, it is better to give up this idea. After all, traffic is chaotic and few people follow the rules.

For a family or company vacation, we recommend renting a car. A car will cost from $39 to $55 per day, depending on the brand. For reference, a liter of gasoline in Bali costs $0.90.

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Vacation

Be sure to visit Ubud. The city is built in a mountainous area, surrounded by rice fields, jungle, and rivers. Here you should visit the Ubud Palace, Galleries of Jewelry and Women's Art. For those who enjoy active leisure, we suggest surfing. Renting a board will cost $10. The best places to surf are Kuta (for beginners) and Uluwatu (for professionals).

Be sure to visit the Pura Besakih temple, the island's main shrine. By the way, this pagoda is one of the largest in Indonesia. To relax, sign up for all possible procedures in SPA centers. They are famous for special programs that help relieve stress and improve blood circulation.

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You can feed elephants and watch performances with them at Taro Safari Park.

Results

The largest amount of the budget will be spent on the flight (round trip from $1700). You can spend $25 per day on a vacation in Bali. For this money, you can rent a hotel, buy food in a local store, and visit the most popular places. If you expect a comfortable room in an apartment, dinners in a cafe, excursions and beach activities, you will have to pay $130 and more.

By the way, in the off-season, from May to October, prices for flights, accommodation, and other services are much lower. And housing far from popular tourist areas is much cheaper.

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Our advice: plan your trip in advance. This will help you get the desired vacation for a reasonable price.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
President Joe Bidens policy on Gaza is a failure and a threat to U.S. national security that dehumanizes both Palestinians and Jews and should be immediately overhauled, 12 former U.S. government officials who quit their posts over Bidens controversial approach argued in their first joint public statement, which they exclusively shared with HuffPost.

The statement outlines steps that the former officials  four from the State Department, three from the military, one from the U.S. Agency for International Development and four from Bidens political staff  recommend for a change in course. It suggests they will keep challenging the administration on public platforms, increasing pressure on Bidens team to demonstrate progress in winding down the U.S.-backed Israeli offensive and addressing the humanitarian crisis it has created.

And it underscores how dissatisfaction with the administrations Gaza policy, already widespread within the government, may continue to grow. The statement urges officials who remain in government to challenge their leaders to not be complicit, and its signatories include a previously unknown resignee: Anna Del Castillo, the first known White House official to leave the administration over Gaza. Del Castillo was a deputy director at the Office of Administration before her departure in April.

Each of us has sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and as our nation celebrates its Independence Day, each of us are reminded that we resigned from government not to terminate that oath but to continue to abide by it; not to end our commitment to service, but to extend it, the statement reads. This failed policy has not achieved its stated objectives  it has not made Israelis any safer, it has emboldened extremists while it has been devastating for the Palestinian people, ensuring a vicious cycle of poverty and hopelessness, with all the implications of that cycle, for generations to come. As a group of dedicated Americans in service of our country, we insist that there is another way.

Spokespeople for the White House National Security Council did not respond to a request for comment.

Outside pressure is the only thing thats going to move the ball on this.Harrison Mann, former Army major who quit over Gaza policy

In interviews before the statements release, its signatories cast themselves as a multiethnic, multifaith microcosm of the U.S. government, in the words of Josh Paul, the first official to resign in a development HuffPost revealed in October.

The signatories described how, over the months of the war  which began after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a shock attack within Israel last October  they lost hope that Biden would recalibrate his strategy, leading them to view his administration as intransigent, a word the statement uses repeatedly.

Harrison Mann, a Jewish 13-year U.S. Army veteran who left the military last month, spoke of multiple moments when he believed clear danger and excesses might spur Washington to reconsider full-tilt support for Israel.

From his then-perch at the Middle East bureau of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Mann was struck early in the campaign by the U.S. governments failure to really investigate anything that looked like the Israelis killing lots of civilians. (The U.S. and Israel say the Israeli military takes measures to shield civilians, though Biden has personally said Israel has deployed indiscriminate bombing, which violates the laws of war.)

In January, Mann thought the extremely predictable killing of three U.S. soldiers at a base in Jordan  which Biden blamed on militias linked to Iran and sympathetic to Hamas  might force reflection. Several weeks later, the Israeli militarys killing of aid workers with the World Central Kitchen nonprofit could have forced a change in U.S. policy, given the pattern of Israeli attacks on medical personnel, Mann said, as could the Israeli invasion of the town of Rafah, which Biden had warned against.

There have been a lot of moments where I felt, against reason, quite hopeful that we could see a change, and I think what we all understood  some of them faster than me  is that outside pressure is the only thing thats going to move the ball on this, Mann said.

Tariq Habash, a Palestinian American whom Biden appointed to the Department of Education and who quit in January, said he never envisioned bucking the Democratic Party, given his belief that, in current U.S. politics, it was the political faction that recognizes humanity and racial equity  but he felt he had no choice as Biden enabled Palestinian suffering abroad and attacks against Palestinians within the U.S.

The former officials described to HuffPost what they saw as the alarming implications of Bidens Gaza policy and their view that his teams refusal to alter it has disrupted the normal process of important deliberations over U.S. policy.

The threat of this becoming a wider war is not getting enough attention, said Annelle Sheline, a former State Department official who resigned in March, speaking specifically of fears within the government and among outside national security experts that Israel will decide it can count on U.S. support to launch a war in Lebanon against the Hamas-linked militia Hezbollah. Such a fight could quickly entangle the two sides powerful allies, the U.S. and Iran, with far-reaching consequences.

The threat of this becoming a wider war is not getting enough attention.Annelle Sheline, former State Department official

Hala Rharrit, a professional diplomat who quit the State Department in April, said she had never witnessed this level of silencing and self-censorship on any policy among government officials.

Our nations political and economic interests across the region have also been significantly harmed, while U.S. credibility has been deeply undermined worldwide at a time we need it most, when the world is characterized by a new era of strategic competition, the statement reads, echoing language Bidens team uses when describing its stated goals, like strengthening U.S. influence relative to China, Russia and other nations.

Who does not now laugh when Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken describes the rules-based international order while simultaneously undermining it in favor of Israel? the statement continues, while also arguing that Bidens government failed domestically in shielding the free speech rights of students opposed to the Gaza war.

The resignees want the Biden administration to refocus on the overall question of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They envision steps like applying U.S. laws that bar military aid for foreign forces responsible for human rights abuses  which the U.S., Israels top military supplier, has never done in the case of Israeli forces  and doing more to show that the U.S. supports Palestinian self-determination and opposes Israeli settlements in regions that would be a key to a future Palestinian state, specifically the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Simultaneously, the signatories seek greater safeguards to prevent future U.S. presidents from allowing what they see as damaging impunity for a foreign partner and making the U.S. complicit in possible war crimes, such as killings and forced starvation in Gaza.

There is an urgent need for change in the organizational cultures and structures that have enabled the current U.S. approach, their statement reads. This includes the strengthening of oversight and accountability mechanisms within the Executive Branch, greater transparency regarding arms transfers and legal deliberations, an end to the silencing and sidelining of critical voices, and statutory change via the legislative process.

Pegged to July 4 and released as Democrats question Bidens capacity to lead, the statement is nonpartisan but presents a dark picture of his presidency and an impetus for radical change.

Both our individual and common experiences demonstrate an Administration that has prioritized politics over just and fair policymaking; profit over national security; falsehoods over facts; directives over debate; ideology over experience, and special interest over the equal enforcement of the law, the resignees wrote. May we all have the moral courage to speak and push for a better world, for a better America.

CORRECTION: A prior version of this article misstated the office where Anna Del Castillo was deputy director.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Cowboy for Congress Shawn Tiffany is fielding questions about the race for Kansas second congressional district. Tiffany joins several others in the race for Congressman Jake LaTurners seat, after he announced he would not seek reelection.

Tiffany joined 27 News Capitol Bureau Chief Rebekah Chung to discuss gender transitioning for minors, pushback on his political ads and his top goals in D.C.

Border war: Will Kansas plan to lure Chiefs, Royals pay off? | KSNT.com

Nexstar Kansas Capitol Bureau also spoke with Jeff Kahrs. You can watch the full exclusive one-on-one interview here. You can watch the exclusive one-on-one interview with Derek Schmidt here.

Later in the show, political analyst Bob Beatty also weighed in on the controversy surrounding Democrat Nancy Boyda, as she voices her stance in opposition to transgender athletes participating in girls sports.

Kansas voters, party leaders react to first presidential debate | KSNT.com

You can watch Inside Kansas Politics at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings only on KSNT (check your local listings). To get the latest news on Inside Kansas Politics, check out our X account, or follow us on Facebook. If you have a story you think we should cover, email us at ikp@ksnt.com.

For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Get the latest in weather alerts by downloading our Storm Track Weather 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 KSNT 27 News.
Exclusive-One in three Democrats think Biden should quit the race, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -One in three Democrats think U.S. President Joe Biden should end his reelection bid following last week's debate against Republican Donald Trump, but no prominent elected Democrat does any better than Biden in a hypothetical matchup against Trump, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Tuesday.

The two-day poll found that both Trump, 78, and Biden, 81, maintain the support of 40% of registered voters, suggesting that Biden has not lost ground since the debate. Election Day is Nov. 5.

Among the names of top Democrats put before respondents, only Michelle Obama, wife of former Democratic President Barack Obama, outperformed Biden and led Trump 50% to 39% in a hypothetical matchup. Michelle Obama, author of the best-selling 2018 memoir "Becoming," has said repeatedly she does not intend to run for president.

Some 32% of Democrats in the poll said Biden should give up his reelection bid following a debate in which he stammered throughout and failed to energetically challenge Trump's attacks, which included numerous false claims.

Trump faces his own political liabilities, though the criminal cases related to his attempts to overturn his 2020 defeat have ground to a halt. In a close matchup, neither candidate can afford to lose the support of a sizable chunk of his political base.

Democratic voters have long harbored doubts about Biden's bid. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in January, while the party's nomination contest was still under way, 49% of Democrats said he should not run again in 2024.

Biden has vowed to stay in the race. But should he exit, the Democrats whose names emerge as possible replacements perform only as well or worse than Biden against Trump in hypothetical matchups, according to the poll.

Vice President Kamala Harris, for example, trailed Trump by one percentage point, 42% to 43%, a difference that was well within the poll's 3.5 percentage point margin of error, making Harris' showing statistically just as strong as Biden's.

Harris has stepped out of Biden's shadow in recent months, becoming a key voice in the administration for abortion rights. The Reuters/Ipsos poll found 81% of Democrats voters viewed Harris favorably, compared to 78% who viewed Biden the same way.

Notably, 18% of Democrats in the poll thought Biden's ticket would be more appealing if Harris were replaced as running mate, while 71% disagreed and the rest weren't sure.

Biden was seen as too old to work in government by 59% of Democrats, a reading similar to the results in a January poll.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a rising star in the Democratic Party who many observers expect could seek the presidency in a future election, performed marginally worse, trailing Trump 39% to 42%.

None of the elected Democrats tested in head-to-head matchups against Trump have formally declared their candidacies, and several are barely recognized a national level.

Some 70% of Democrats in the poll said they had never heard of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who some Democratic donors view as a good candidate following his gubernatorial victories in his heavily Republican state. That Beshear, a relative unknown, trailed Trump by only a narrow margin in the Reuters/Ipsos poll - 36% to 40% - illustrated how deeply Democrats oppose Trump.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sat behind Trump 36% to 41%, while Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker had 34% support compared to Trump's 40%.

The poll, which was conducted online, surveyed 1,070 U.S. adults nationwide.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller)
On Monday, a Texas court set an October execution date for a man named Robert Roberson, despite overwhelming evidence that he was wrongly convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2003, based on the junk science of what we used to call shaken baby syndrome.

In an interview, the lead police investigator on the case, Brian Wharton, told me that hes not only come to believe that Roberson is innocent but that he ultimately left law enforcement because of his moral misgivings about this and another case. Today, Wharton is a minister in the First United Methodist Church in Onalaska, Texas, 10 miles outside Livingston, where Roberson is on death row.

I have written about the shaky science behind shaken baby before. And will again, because innocent parents and caregivers here and across the country continue to be prosecuted for deaths that were the result of natural causes, as Robersons daughters was.

Yes, even as reports of all-too-real child abuse are still too often ignored until its too late. We went from never recognizing child abuse to child abuse is everywhere, one of Robersons attorneys, Gretchen Sween, told me. He is believed to be the only person facing capital punishment in such a case.

I never have grasped the thinking that executing anyone with a serious innocence claim is somehow tough on crime. No, that is a crime. And if Texas does put this innocent man to death, it will be because both the medical community and criminal justice system stubbornly refuse to admit their own wrongs.

Im going to let Wharton, the former police investigator, tell you how Roberson wound up being sentenced to death in 2003, because he was there from the beginning, which was January 31, 2002.

Thats the night Roberson rushed his daughter, Nikki Curtis, to the hospital. She had collapsed, was limp and blue, and he said shed fallen off the bed where theyd been asleep in their home in Palestine, in East Texas. But shed also been quite sick, with undiagnosed pneumonia, and earlier that week, hed already taken her both to the pediatrician with a high temperature and to the ER.

Father didnt behave correctly at hospital

There were no signs of violence in Robersons home, Wharton said, and Nikki didnt look like shed been beaten, either. But at the hospital, it seemed like guilt, in part because Roberson, who has autism, didnt show the expected outpouring of emotion. When a parent doesnt behave correctly

Then, after a CAT scan, the hospital came with all the shaken baby stuff, so all of the focus was on him. At the hospital, it was all verbal that this was just what this is, and we didnt have any expertise to question any of that.

He did have some doubts about some of what they were told: My initial concern was in the ER, there was a sexual assault nurse who said shed seen anal tearing. I didnt see anything I would classify as unusual. Nothing else in the investigation supported sexual assault, either.

Then a snitch comes forward and says hed confessed to the sexual assault. When (prosecutors) told me the name of the snitch I said, Youve got to be kidding me. He was a known quantity and not someone youd depend on for anything.

Still, the minuscule evidence of sexual assault did get before the jury. It was just jury manipulation, Im sorry. Then, right before the jury was given its instructions, the prosecutor withdrew the sexual assault charge.

I thought it wasnt fair and it wasnt right, but I thought a decent appellate attorney would have it overturned. And that was even before he learned more about shaken baby cases, and ultimately decided that that was hooey, too. He kept checking on Robersons case, and kept feeling terrible that the conviction had not been overturned.

Finally, in 2017, Robersons attorney Gretchen knocked on my door, and I said, Ive been expecting you. 

Thats when he saw medical testimony that Nikki had actually died of severe pneumonia  something that was not shared with us during the investigation. Nor did he know then, he said, that many medical conditions, including pneumonia, can cause the brain bleeding, brain swelling and bleeding in the eyes that still are often seen, incorrectly, as proof positive of child abuse. We also now know that it is impossible to shake a toddler to death without causing serious neck injuries, which Nikki did not have.

Robert Roberson

Ex-police investigator: The system protects itself

As Wharton sees it now, the system protects itself. Its the conviction rate that runs the machinery on the courts side. We know more about head trauma now, but theres a whole lot of pride involved. The ME refused to change her findings based on what she missed, and the DA is hanging her hat on that.

In 2016, the Court of Criminal Appeals sent the case back to the trial court because the scientific consensus around shaken baby syndrome diagnoses had started to fall apart. That decision stemmed from the 2013 junk science law that allows Texas courts to overturn convictions based on discredited scientific evidence. Shaken baby cases were among those that had convinced lawmakers to pass that law.

So why, more than a decade later, is the state still so determined to kill Roberson?

In 2023, the Court of Criminal Appeals denied Roberson a new trial after prosecutors argued that there was still clear and convincing evidence that hed abused his daughter and caused her death. They say this isnt really a shaken baby case anyway, though thats what it was called at trial, and what the death certificate says. The science around shaken baby cases, prosecutors said, has not changed as much as Robersons defense attorneys claimed.

The way I would say that is that discredited science is still being used to prosecute parents and others who have done nothing wrong.

When I asked Gretchen Sween how Roberson was taking the news that his execution date had been set, she said she had not been able to talk to him: The prison would not give me a legal phone call to break the news, or even speak to him, until next Tuesday. Meanwhile, their fax machine is down  yes, as you know, they still require faxed communications. So, in what she cant help but see as another symbol of the systems cruelty, he learned of the news from an emessage sent by a stranger.

The fax machine is down, but the execution chamber still works as intended. Even if you think the death penalty is justified in some cases, how could this possibly be one of them?
Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip flee from parts of Khan Younis following an evacuation order by the Israeli army to leave the eastern part of Gaza Strip's second largest city on Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Saher Alghorra)

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  An Israeli airstrike killed a prominent Palestinian doctor and eight members of his extended family on Tuesday after they complied with military orders to evacuate their home and moved into an Israeli-designated safe zone.

The Hamdan family  around a dozen people from three generations  fled their home in the middle of the night after the Israeli military ordered an evacuation from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

They found refuge with extended relatives in a building further north, inside an Israeli-declared safe zone. But hours after they arrived, an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday afternoon hit their building in the town of Deir al-Balah, killing nine members of the family and three others.

In all, five children and three women were among the dead, according to hospital records and a relative who survived.

Israels order on Monday for people to leave the eastern half of Khan Younis  the territorys second-largest city  has triggered the third mass flight of Palestinians in as many months, throwing the population deeper into confusion, chaos and misery as they scramble once again to find safety.

About 250,000 people live in the area covered by the order, according to the United Nations. Many of them had just returned to their homes there after fleeing Israels invasion of Khan Younis earlier this year  or had just taken refuge there after escaping Israel's offensive in the city of Rafah, further south.

The order also prompted a frantic flight from European General Hospital, Gaza's second-largest hospital, located in the evacuation area. The facility shut down after staffers and more than 200 patients were evacuated overnight and on Tuesday, along with thousands of displaced who had sheltered on the hospital grounds, according to the staff and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which had a medical team there.

Hisham Mhanna, the ICRC spokesperson in Gaza, said some families dragged patients in their hospital beds through the streets for up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) to reach safety. Ambulances moved others elsewhere as staff rushed out valuable equipment, including X-ray and ultrasound machines and endoscopy devices now so scarce, said a nurse, Muhammad Younis.

Hours after ordering the evacuation, the Israeli military said the hospital was not included in that order. But the staff said they feared a repeat of previous Israeli raids on other Gaza hospitals.

Many hospitals have come to rubble and have been turned into battlefields or graveyards, Mhanna said.

Israel has raided hospitals, saying Hamas uses them for military purposes, a claim Gaza's medical officials deny.

On Tuesday, cars loaded with personal belongings streamed out of eastern Khan Younis, though the number of those fleeing was not immediately known. The new exodus comes on top of the 1 million people who fled Rafah since May, as well as tens of thousands who were displaced the past week from a new Israeli offensive in the Shijaiyah district of northern Gaza.

We left everything behind, said Munir Hamza, a father of three children who on Monday night fled his home in an eastern district of Khan Younis for the second time. We are tired of moving and displacement. ... This is unbearable.

Nowhere safe

Up to 15 members of the Hamdan family fled their Khan Younis home and arrived late on Monday at their extended familys building in Deir al-Balah, said Asmaa Salim, a relative who lived in the building.

The building was located inside the extended humanitarian zone that the Israeli military had declared when it began its offensive in Rafah in May, telling Palestinians to evacuate there for safety.

The strike came around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Associated Press video shows an entire floor of the building gutted. Almost everyone inside was martyred, only two or three survived, Salim told the AP.

A list of the dead posted at the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said those killed included the family patriarch, 62-year-old dermatologist Hassan Hamdan, as well as his wife and their adult son and daughter. Four of their grandchildren, aged 3 to 5, and the mother of two of the children were also killed. A man and his 5-year-old son who lived in the building and a man on the street outside were also killed in the strike, which wounded 10 other people, including several children.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the strike.

Flight from Khan Younis

Mondays evacuation order suggested a new ground assault into Khan Younis could be coming though there was no immediate sign of one. Israeli forces waged a months-long offensive there earlier this year, battling Hamas militants and leaving large swaths of the southern city destroyed or heavily damaged.

Israel has repeatedly moved back into parts of the Gaza Strip it previously invaded to root out militants it said had regrouped  a sign of Hamas continued capabilities even after nearly nine months of war in Gaza.

Israels campaign has killed more than 37,900 Palestinians, the majority women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish combatants among its count. Israel launched its campaign after Hamas Oct. 7 attack in which militants killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel and took around 250 others hostage.

The Israeli military said Tuesday it estimates that some 1.8 million Palestinians are now in the humanitarian zone it declared, covering a stretch of about 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) along Gaza's Mediterranean coast. Much of that area is now blanketed with tent camps that lack sanitation and medical facilities with limited access to aid, U.N. and humanitarian groups say. Families live amid mountains of trash and streams of water contaminated by sewage.

The amount of food and other supplies getting into Gaza has plunged since the Rafah offensive began. The U.N. says fighting, Israeli military restrictions and general chaos  including looting of trucks by criminal gangs in Gaza  make it near impossible for it to pick up truckloads of goods that Israel has let in. As a result, cargo is stacked up uncollected just inside Gaza at the main Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel, near Rafah.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said last week that it surveyed nearly 1,100 families who fled Rafah and 83% of them reported having no access to food and more than half had no access to safe water.

On Tuesday, more families fleeing Khan Younis were trying to find space in the zone. Um Abdel-Rahman said she and her family of four children  the youngest 3 years old  walked for hours during the night to reach the zone only to find no place to stay.

There is no room for anyone, she said. We are waiting and have nothing to do but wait.

Noha al-Bana said she has been displaced four times since fleeing Gaza City in the north early in the war.

We have been humiliated, she said. No proper food, no proper water, no proper bathrooms, no proper place for sleep.  Fear, fear, fear. There is no safety. No safety at home, no safety in the tents.

___

Magdy and Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
Video circulating on social media documenting the final moments of D'Vontaye L. Mitchells life has left his family with more questions than answers.

But one thing they all can agree on: Mitchell was a loving brother and member of the family. And the manner in which he appears to have died is too similar to another Black man who died four years ago after being held, face down on the ground.

Mitchell, 43, died around 4 p.m. Sunday after being held down by four security guards outside the Hyatt Regency hotel on Kilbourn Avenue, following what Milwaukee police described as a disturbance and subsequent fight as he was escorted out. The cause of the disturbance, according to a witness, was Mitchell allegedly walking into the women's bathroom.

Its like watching the video of George Floyds death, Mitchells younger brother, Darrell Giles said. Everything about it reminds me of George Floyd.

Darrell Giles and Nayisha Mitchell hold a photo of their brother D'Vontaye Mitchell on Tuesday at their mother's Milwaukee home. Mitchell's sister-in-law Candice Miller sits behind them. Mitchell was pronounced dead June 30 after he was held face down by four security guards outside the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee.

A witness said that at least 20 to 30 people were nearby, with some streaming it live on Facebook or recording it.

They treated him like he was nothing, like he was an animal, sister-in-law Candice Miller said.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office determined Monday the preliminary cause of his death to be a homicide. The Milwaukee Police Department on Tuesday said it is investigating Mitchells death, that the cause of death is under investigation, that the Medical Examiners final report is still pending and it is not a criminal investigation.

Security detained the individual until police arrived, a Tuesday email from police said. Upon arrival, the individual was unresponsive and despite lifesaving measures, the 43-year-old individual was pronounced deceased.

D'Vontaye Mitchell and his 8-year-old daughter Morgan.

Police declined to answer follow-up questions regarding the incident, citing it as an ongoing investigation.

Mitchells family members said Tuesday they contacted Milwaukee Police for information on his death but have yet to receive any updates on the circumstances surrounding his death.

They need to stop killing Black men, his older sister Nayisha Mitchell said. "We are not going to stop until we get justice. We are not going to allow his death to be swept under the rug."

The family said they had no idea why Mitchell was at the Hyatt. They said he suffered from depression since his father's death in 2016. The initial medical examiner's report said Mitchell was homeless, however the family refuted that.

Witness to Mitchell's death wonders if he could have done more to intervene

Shawn Moore said he was walking to a store when he heard shouting from the Hyatt. He walked over to see what was happening. He was among those who witnessed the event and recorded what he saw. Video from Moore and others capture Mitchell being held down by four security guards, with knees on various parts of his back. Another video shows Milwaukee authorities attempting to give Mitchell CPR.

At times, Mitchell can be heard screaming and saying please as a guard shouts for him to stay down. Moore said one security guard appeared to be striking Mitchell during it.

Moore said he was on the scene between seven and 10 minutes before police arrived.

When the police came, thats when they started getting off of him and police  started checking for a pulse, he said. He checked a neck first then he checked an arm and then his neck again and then he turned him over and his body was limp.

Throughout the incident, Moore said that someone was shouting this is what happens when you go in the womens bathroom. That same person attempted to get him and another person to stop recording, he said, asking them if theyre cool with (Mitchell) trying to hurt us.

The family members are encouraging anyone who witnessed Mitchell's death to reach out to them on social media with photos or videos.

Two days after Mitchell's death, his brother said he can't stop crying. Moore said witnessing Mitchell's death is impacting his sleep. He wonders if he should have done more to intervene.

I havent been getting a lot of sleep, looking back on it, I just wish I had did more, I wish I wouldve had the forethought to think about how this could turn into a George Floyd situation, he said.

Jessica Van Egeren is a reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at jvanegeren@gannett.com.

David Clarey is a reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Family of man who died at Hyatt compares death to George Floyd's
Richard Johnson (with beard) and Trevor Johnson (wearing glasses), stand between their attorneys, from left, Richard Wendel II and Richard Goldberg, for their sentencings in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on Monday.

Sometime after crashing into a woman and the two dogs she was walking, killing all three, Trevor Johnson called his father.

The 26-year-old's father, Richard Johnson, told him to put a cover on the BMW, clean it up and remove the license plate, prosecutors said.

Trevor Johnson did what his father suggested. But pieces of the BMW at the site of the fatal crash, including parts of the bumper, had the car's serial number, Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin Broo said Monday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. So eventually police were able to connect the covered up BMW to the crash.

The crash happened the night of Sept. 23, 2023 on Glenway Avenue in West Price Hill. It was dark, and Kymberly Maclary, 33, and the two dogs she was walking were in a marked crosswalk. Maclary, however, was crossing against the light and didn't have the right of way.

Trevor Johnson, who pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a crash and vehicular homicide, was sentenced to 2 years in prison. His 49-year-old father, who pleaded guilty to obstructing justice, was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

During Monday's sentencing, Johnson sobbed, and his father wrapped an arm around him. The 26-year-old read from a handwritten statement, apologizing and saying he has nightmares about the crash. He said he will never be able to forgive himself.

After Judge Chris Wagner imposed the sentences, as a sheriff's deputy led Johnson out the courtroom in handcuffs, he said, "(expletive) you." It wasn't clear to whom he was directing the comment.

Johnson's attorney, Richard Goldberg, said in court that the outcome of the case likely would have been different, if he had stayed at the scene.

Goldberg said his client was "marginally negligent" and not reckless.

"Had Trevor Johnson stopped after this happened, at most, he would have been given a ticket," Goldberg said. "He made a foolish decision to leave the scene."

Broo pointed out that Trevor Johnson has a drug addiction history. He told officials that at the time of the crash he was smoking marijuana twice a day and using heroin, Broo said. He is now taking methadone six days a week.

He also has a history of seizures, dating back to when he was 17 and suffered a head injury in a fall.

Broo said Trevor Johnson's history of seizures and the fact that he was an active drug user meant he "shouldn't have been behind the wheel of a car, period."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Father, son sentenced in crash that killed woman and her 2 dogs
It's no secret that Turkey is a popular tourist destination among Ukrainians. However, recently, resorts on the Black and Mediterranean Sea have started to lose tourists en masse.

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This is reported by Alanya Medya. According to Turkish media, even locals are opting for Egypt instead of spending their vacations at domestic recreation centers.

"Our citizens are turning to Egypt, mainly for sea, sand and sun, because it is cheaper and better," the news article says. Local tour operators are "promoting" a variety of offers, while tours to Alanya seem less and less attractive.

"Since the cost of a week-long vacation, including airfare, is cheaper than in Turkey, local tourists have already started visiting Egypt. The city of Sharm El Sheikh, located on the Red Sea, has become one of the busiest destinations for Turkish tourists," experts say.

ADVERTISIMENT

It is worth noting that one Egyptian lira is equivalent to 0.68 Turkish lira. Given the exchange rate difference and Egypt's investments in tourism, travelers are actively planning their next trip to the tourist country in northern Africa.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
Fauci on RFK Jr.: I dont know whats going on in his head, but its not good

Former White House COVID-19 response lead Dr. Anthony Fauci went after independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday, recalling a prior meeting where Kennedy railed against vaccines.

Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist, has long pushed the disproven theory that vaccines are connected to autism and cause some diseases. Fauci shared in a podcast interview with CNNs David Axelrod about when the pair met to discuss vaccines in the early Trump administration.

Kennedy was giving a presentation to Fauci, lobbying to be named the head of a White House commission investigating vaccine safety.

The first slide I remember he showed is that It has been shown that vaccinations are responsible for the following diseases, and he gave every disease in the world, Fauci said. For the next 40 minutes or so, he showed slide after slide after slide that day that make no sense at all.

Fauci recalled tracking down Kennedy after the meeting and attempting to talk some sense into him.

We were walking out of the room at the [National Institutes of Health], I went over to and I said, Bobby, I believe you care about children, and you care that you dont want to hurt them, Fauci said. But you got to realize that from a scientific standpoint, what youre saying does make no sense.

Kennedy went on to write a book about Fauci in 2021, The Real Anthony Fauci, which attacks Fauci for his leadership of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and his work leading the countrys early COVID response. Fauci said the book claims he was responsible for killing so many people with vaccines.

I dont know whats going on in his head, but its not good, Fauci said of Kennedy.

Kennedy is the countrys most prominent anti-vaccine activist, and he has criticized both President Biden and former President Trump for their response to the COVID pandemic and advocacy for the COVID vaccine.

His outsider presidential campaign has attracted a unique coalition of disgruntled voters from both parties, and his supporters could play spoilers in the November election.

Kennedy has 8.1 percent support nationally, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of polls. Trump leads Biden by 2.1 percentage points, on average, when Kennedy is included in the race.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The U.S. Attorneys Office of the District of Columbia said that a Tontitown man was arrested Monday, July 1 of allegedly assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6 riot.

An investigation of domestic terrorism shows David Michael Camden, 45, of Tonitown Ark. among the mob on January 6, 2021 (U.S. Department of Justice).

David Michael Camden, 45, is facing felony charges of offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder. He is also facing several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, 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 act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

Fort Smith robbery suspect wears clown mask, on the loose

Court documents state that Camden allegedly pushed a bike rack barricade into a line of U.S. Capitol Police Officers and yelled at officers.

Footage showing the subject pushing a barricade into officers, according to the DOJ.

Footage shows a subject struggling with officers over the barricade in an attempt to breach the police barricade (US DOJ).

The subject deploying a fire extinguisher at police officers (US DOJ).

Image 7: The subject atop a media tower waving a Three Percenters flag (US DOJ).

In response, officers successfully repelled Camdens advance and deployed a chemical irritant in his direction to preempt further aggression, the news release states.

Afterward, Camden is accused of deploying a fire extinguisher at the police line. The FBI received information that Camden was nicknamed the#littlemansprayer.

Court documents reveal that Camden climbed the media tower and waived an American far-right anti-government militia Three Percenters flag above the mob.

The investigation also showed Camden made several valid card purchases in cities near D.C. after Jan. 6 that were consistent with travel routes from Washington State to Washington D.C.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said they arrested Camden in Fayetteville. He will have his first court date in the Western District of Arkansas.

The U.S. DOJ said that in the last 3 and a half years since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,450 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

People with tips can call 1-800-225-5324 or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Multiple federal agencies are investigating the death of a non-citizen near the Canadian border as part of a human smuggling operation.

A mans body was discovered in Ferndale near the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks on June 20, according to a June 26 news release from the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. Border Patrol, and Customs and Border Protection also are working on the investigation.

The man has been identified as Chayane Silva-Perez, 23, of Mexico. Authorities determined his cause of death to be multiple blunt impact injuries. The incident has been ruled an accident, according to Deborah Hollis with the Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office.

Silva-Perez body was found near the intersection of Portal Way and Faris Road, according to Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The death in Ferndale is a tragic reminder of the dangers associated with human smuggling, special agent in charge Robert Hammer said in the release. Hammer oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. These illicit activities not only jeopardize the lives of those being smuggled but also pose significant risks to our communities.

Human smuggling attempts using the trail line into Washington have increased in recent months, according to the release.

Authorities have yet to release an identity or cause of death.

The Herald published articles about two recent incidents in April when four people suspected of being involved in human smuggling near Blaine were indicted, and the arrest of two men who were caught with three non-citizens that were smuggled in from Canada.

Homeland Security released no other details of the investigation. Those with information about the incident are asked to contact the HSI tip line at 1-877-447-4847.
Residences stand in front of a Venture Global LNG storage tank in Cameron, Louisiana. (Getty Images)

A federal judge has sided with Louisiana and 16 other states that sued to block the Biden administrations stoppage of permits for liquified natural gas export terminals.

U.S. District Judge James Cain Jr., from Louisianas Western District Court in Lake Charles, issued a stay Monday that immediately ends the U.S. Department of Energys hold on LNG export terminal projects. His order, heralded as a major win for the fossil fuel industry, doesnt result in any such LNG projects being approved immediately. It merely resumes the approval process.

In January, the Biden administration halted reviews of new LNG export applications to countries that were not part of free trade agreements with the United States. Energy department officials said they needed time to review potential climate risks of projects before approving exports.

Environmentalists supported the delay with hopes it would temper the boom of LNG export projects, especially along the Gulf Coast.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which operates independently of the Department of Energy (DOE) and federal government, has approved some 20 proposed new or expanded LNG facilities and related pipelines, all expected to be operational in the coming years. Mondays federal court order resuscitates many of those projects.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill celebrated the decision from Cain, a federal court appointee of former President Donald Trump.

This is great news for Louisiana, our 16 state partners in this fight, and the entire country, Murrill said in a statement. As Judge Cain mentioned in his ruling, there is roughly $61 billion dollars of pending infrastructure at risk to our state from this illegal pause. LNG has an enormous and positive impact on Louisiana, supplying clean energy for the entire world, and providing good jobs here at home.

In his order, Cain wrote that the Department of Energys action to hold up permitting to non-free trade agreement (FTA) countries is completely without reason or logic and is perhaps the

epiphany of ideocracy.

This is not the first piece of Biden environmental policy thwarted in Cains court. In January, he issued a preliminary injunction that blocked a White House effort to treat climate infractions as civil rights violations in Louisiana. Murrill sued to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to keep it from enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which would have allowed the federal government to make race-based considerations when enforcing anti-pollution laws.

Pollution does not discriminate, Cain said in his January order.

The stall on LNG projects has been turned into political fodder for opponents of the Biden policy. With future American exports in doubt, countries in Europe and Asia in need of a reliable natural gas supply are forced to rely on sources at odds with the U.S. such as Russia and China, they have argued.

Louisiana was joined in its lawsuit against the Biden administration by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

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The post Federal court ends pause on LNG export project approvals appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Residences stand in front of a Venture Global LNG storage tank in Cameron, Louisiana. (Getty Images)

A federal judge has sided with Louisiana and 16 other states that sued to block the Biden administrations stoppage of permits for liquified natural gas export terminals.

U.S. District Judge James Cain Jr., from Louisianas Western District Court in Lake Charles, issued a stay Monday that immediately ends the U.S. Department of Energys hold on LNG export terminal projects. His order, heralded as a major win for the fossil fuel industry, doesnt result in any such LNG projects being approved immediately. It merely resumes the approval process.

In January, the Biden administration halted reviews of new LNG export applications to countries that were not part of free trade agreements with the United States. Energy department officials said they needed time to review potential climate risks of projects before approving exports.

Environmentals supported the delay with hopes it would temper the boom of LNG export projects, especially along the Gulf Coast.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which operates independently of the Department of Energy and federal government, has approved some 20 proposed new or expanded LNG facilities and related pipelines, all expected to be operational in the coming years. Mondays federal court order resuscitates many of those projects.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill celebrated the decision from Cain, a federal court appointee of former President Donald Trump.

This is great news for Louisiana, our 16 state partners in this fight, and the entire country, Murrill said in a statement. As Judge Cain mentioned in his ruling, there is roughly $61 billion dollars of pending infrastructure at risk to our state from this illegal pause. LNG has an enormous and positive impact on Louisiana, supplying clean energy for the entire world, and providing good jobs here at home.

In his order, Cain wrote that the Department of Energys action to hold up permitting to non-free trade agreement countries is completely without reason or logic and is perhaps the epiphany of ideocracy.

This is not the first piece of Biden environmental policy thwarted in Cains court. In January, he issued a preliminary injunction that blocked a White House effort to treat climate infractions as civil rights violations in Louisiana. Murrill sued to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to keep it from enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which would have allowed the federal government to make race-based considerations when enforcing anti-pollution laws.

Pollution does not discriminate, Cain said in his January order.

The stall on LNG projects has been turned into political fodder for opponents of the Biden policy. With future American exports in doubt, countries in Europe and Asia in need of a reliable natural gas supply are forced to rely on sources at odds with the U.S. such as Russia and China, they have argued.

Louisiana was joined in its lawsuit against the Biden administration by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on Facebook and X.

The post Federal court ends pause on LNG export project approvals appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Venture Global LNG storage tank and housing, Cameron, Louisiana (Photo by Getty Images).

A federal judge has sided with Louisiana and 16 other states that sued to block the Biden administrations stoppage of permits for liquified natural gas export terminals.

U.S. District Judge James Cain Jr., from Louisianas Western District Court in Lake Charles, issued a stay Monday that immediately ends the U.S. Department of Energys hold on LNG export terminal projects. His order, heralded as a major win for the fossil fuel industry, doesnt result in any such LNG projects being approved immediately. It merely resumes the approval process.

In January, the Biden administration halted reviews of new LNG export applications to countries that were not part of free trade agreements with the United States. Energy department officials said they needed time to review potential climate risks of projects before approving exports.

Environmentalists supported the delay with hopes it would temper the boom of LNG export projects, especially along the Gulf Coast.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which operates independently of the Department of Energy and federal government, has approved some 20 proposed new or expanded LNG facilities and related pipelines, all expected to be operational in the coming years. Mondays federal court order resuscitates many of those projects.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill celebrated the decision from Cain, a federal court appointee of former President Donald Trump.

This is great news for Louisiana, our 16 state partners in this fight, and the entire country, Murrill said in a statement. As Judge Cain mentioned in his ruling, there is roughly $61 billion dollars of pending infrastructure at risk to our state from this illegal pause. LNG has an enormous and positive impact on Louisiana, supplying clean energy for the entire world, and providing good jobs here at home.

In his order, Cain wrote that the Department of Energys action to hold up permitting to non-free trade agreement countries is completely without reason or logic and is perhaps the epitome of ideocracy.

This is not the first piece of Biden environmental policy thwarted in Cains court. In January, he issued a preliminary injunction that blocked a White House effort to treat climate infractions as civil rights violations in Louisiana. Murrill sued to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to keep it from enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which would have allowed the federal government to make race-based considerations when enforcing anti-pollution laws.

Pollution does not discriminate, Cain said in his January order.

The stall on LNG projects has been turned into political fodder for opponents of the Biden policy. With future American exports in doubt, countries in Europe and Asia in need of a reliable natural gas supply are forced to rely on sources at odds with the U.S. such as Russia and China, they have argued.

Louisiana was joined in its lawsuit against the Biden administration by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

This story was originally published by the Louisiana Illuminator which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

The post Federal court ends pause on LNG export project approvals appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Sometimes the government spies on you. And sometimes they hire a poorly secured Eastern European firm to do it for them.

Last week, hacktivists published the customer support database for Brainstack, a Ukrainian company that runs a phone tracking service called mSpy. (It was the third mSpy security breach in a decade.) The database includes messages from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, active-duty troops, and a U.S. circuit court judge interested in using mSpy to conduct surveillance.

Employees at the U.S. State Department, the Nebraska National Guard, and two federal auditing offices reached out to mSpy about using the service in official investigations. Many more low-level officials and service members seemed to be using mSpy to monitor people in their private lives, but signed up through their government emails. In some cases, it was unclear whether government employees were using mSpy for official or personal business.

Even if the private spying was for a legitimate purposesuch as parents monitoring their children's internet usageit was probably not the best idea to sign up for foreign spyware with known security issues from a government email account.

Judge Kevin Newsom, the circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, used his government email address to log into an mSpy customer service chat in February 2019. "You can't reliably monitor Snapchat, which is the only reason I got it," he complained. He sent mSpy a follow-up email asking for a refund, signed with his official title as a judge.

"Judge Newsom's use was entirely in his personal capacity to address a family matter," says Kate Adams, director of workplace relations at the 11th Circuit.

MSpy has previously suffered serious security problems over the past decade. In May 2015, hackers stole data on mSpy's targets and offered it for sale on the dark web. When cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs broke the story, mSpy tried to claim the data was fake, then eventually admitted to the breach. In September 2018, mSpy accidentally left that same type of data on a public-facing server, then removed it when Krebs noticed.

In early June 2024, the Swiss hacktivist maia arson crimew, who had previously leaked the FBI's No Fly List, claimed that an "anonymous source" had sent her 150 gigabytes of data from mSpy's customer service branch. "From all the past stalkerware leaks, usually what leaks is victim data," crimew tells Reason via encrypted voice chat. But this leak was about mSpy's clientsessentially turning the surveillance back against the surveilers.

Last week, the leaked client data was published on DDoSecrets, a website widely considered to be WikiLeaks' successor. (DDoSecrets is also famous for hosting BlueLeaks, a massive 2020 leak of police files.) The mSpy media team did not respond to an email asking for comment on the leak.

Reason reviewed mSpy data from several hundred American users with .gov and .mil email addresses, out of 2.5 million users in total. Crimew wrote on her blog that she also found officials from Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, Thailand, and Vietnam in the data.

Unlike other intelligence-for-hire services, mSpy requires users to have intimate access to the target already. The software must be installed directly on the target's phone, iCloud account, or WiFi network. Afterwards, it provides the user with the target's call logs, messages, and location data. Brainstack advertises mSpy as a parental guidance tool, but others pejoratively call the service "stalkerware."

Indeed, a few of the customer service messages came from federal and local law enforcement officials looking for a way to send mSpy a subpoena or warrant because the service was allegedly used in a crime. A detective in Brazos County, Texas, wrote that he was "investigating a case that involves a cellular phone belonging to our victim who [sic] phone illegally had MSPY installed on it and is likely being used to track our victim in a stalking manner."

The U.S. government had previously tried to crack down on this kind of software. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted the CEO of Pakistani spyware service StealthGenie, which operates similarly to mSpy, for selling an illegal wiretapping device. He pleaded guilty and paid a $500,000 fine.

"Spyware is an electronic eavesdropping tool that secretly and illegally invades individual privacy," Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell said at the time. "Make no mistake: selling spyware is a federal crime, and the Criminal Division will make a federal case out of it."

The mSpy website states that the service is only "designed for use by those who have the legal right to control a device, account, application, or program on which it is installed, or on which it is used for parental control," and that it may not be used "to harass, abuse, stalk, threaten, defame or otherwise infringe or violate the rights of any other person."

Other government workers thought that spyware could be useful for official investigations, especially when it came to monitoring staff. Enrique Garcerant, then an investigator for the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service in Ecuador, reached out to mSpy in September 2016. "I work for a law enforcement agency in the US and we have urgency to obtain the download link for the app. Please assist. We are working on a time sensitive case," he wrote.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State would not answer whether the Diplomatic Security Service was using mSpy in an official capacity, only telling Reason that "Garcerant no longer works at the State Department." According to his LinkedIn profile, Garcerant was working at the State Department when he reached out to mSpy.

In November 2018, a sergeant in the Nebraska Army National Guard also reached out to "discuss pricing of your service and talk through some potential technical questions" for installing mSpy on "40-70 iOS devices"in other words, a platoon's worth of iPhones. A sales representative from mSpy then scheduled a phone call with him. The Nebraska National Guard did not respond to an email asking whether it went through with the purchase.

In March 2020, the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General contacted Brainstack "to see if we could utilize [mSpy] with some of our criminal investigations." The official noted, however, that there were some concerns with "the storage of potentially sensitive information on your servers." Again, the Social Security Administration did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to the privacy and security risks, mSpy also seemed to have poor customer service. Auditors at the General Services Administration, which manages federal offices and vehicles, bought a copy of mSpy for "device testing," then complained in December 2022 that mSpy overcharged for the software. Orlando Diaz, a spokesman for the inspector general's office, declined to comment.

In September 2017, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official wrote that his "company" needed an invoice for the mSpy services he bought. He wrote again to complain that the invoice did not include a price. ICE did not respond to an email asking whether this purchase was for official purposes.

Other ICE officials contacted mSpy for different reasons. One ICE official asked in January 2023 how she could use mSpy to find her daughter, who "is an addict." ICE Homeland Security Investigations, which deals with gang activity and trafficking, reached out in January 2024 asking where to serve a subpoena for mSpy user data.

Of course, mSpy was most useful to local officials who were in close contact with the people they wanted to spy on, and otherwise didn't have the resources to run an intelligence operation. In November 2020, the Honolulu Department of Environmental Services reached out about buying mSpy to track 165 employee phones. It's unclear whether the department, which did not respond to a request for comment, ever bought the spyware.

Some law enforcement agencies are confirmed to have used mSpy professionally. In February 2019, the Benton County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas asked for a trial copy of mSpy, then sent positive feedback about the app. The office did not respond to an email asking whether it continues to use mSpy.

Noel P. Terwilliger, an investigator at the Steuben County District Attorney's Office in New York, purchased mSpy in December 2018, then decided that the software was unnecessary "due to the changes in my investigation minutes after I made the purchase." A lengthy back-and-forth with mSpy over getting a refund followed. Steuben County records access officer Brenda Scotchmer said that she "cannot speak as to why the DA's Office purchased the software in the first place" and pointed Reason to District Attorney Brooks Baker who did not respond to an email asking for comment.

Officials from the Michigan State Police, the Huntsville Police Department in Texas, and the Department of Corrections in Washington, D.C., purchased mSpy, but the emails did not indicate whether they were buying it for personal or official reasons. None of these agencies responded to a request for comment, either.

While commercial spyware may have seemed like a cheap way to conduct surveillance, users got exactly the level of security and discretion they paid for, as the leaks make clear. "You are directly siphoning company data to some random private company that is very shady," says crimew, the hacktivist. "In general, the way stalkerware companies are run just doesn't include giving a shit about vulnerabilities."

And government employees using spyware in their personal livesthe vast majority of cases that Reason reviewedcreates an additional security risk. The White House has warned that companies selling Americans' personal data present "privacy, counterintelligence, blackmail risks and other national security risks." Officials who enter a .gov or .mil address into a spyware platform are offering themselves up on a silver platter.

Ironically, one of the customer support messages to mSpy came from an Army doctor angry that his email address had appeared in an earlier data breach.

"I cross checked my email address against a database for hacked websites and mspy showed up. I had to google MSpy as I had no knowledge of your company," the doctor wrote. "This is particularly disturbing as my spouse recently accused me of putting spying software on her cell phone and computer, which I have never done."

The post Federal Judge, ICE Agents Linked to Compromised Spyware Use appeared first on Reason.com.
A federal judge won't let prosecutors use evidence of a crime because a Topeka police officer violated the defendant's constitutional rights when obtaining that evidence.

U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse on June 26 granted a motion to suppress the gun that Tevin Nance possessed during an unconstitutional search.

"He was frisked without reasonable suspicion that he was armed and dangerous, in violation of the Fourth Amendment," Crouse wrote.

A federal judge ruled that a Topeka police officer violated the Fourth Amendment when frisking a passenger after a traffic stop.

Driver was pulled over for failure to signal a turn in Topeka

Nance was indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Topeka in February with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Nance was prohibited from having the gun  a Canik 9 mm pistol  because of prior drug convictions in Shawnee County.

If he were convicted, the penalty would have been a maximum of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

It is unclear if assistant U.S. attorney Skipper Jacobs will continue the prosecution after federal public defender Thomas Bartee's successful motion to suppress. No additional filings had been made as of Thursday afternoon. A status conference in the case is scheduled for July 24.

Nance was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for failure to signal a turn by Topeka police officers Morgan Swisher and Ashlee Schulz on Nov. 27 near the intersection of S.W. Polk and 14th streets. Several minutes into the stop, the officers arrested the driver on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

Swisher then had Nance step out of the car and frisked him, which she said was because she could smell marijuana. She found the gun in the waist of his pants. She then proceeded to search the car and found two small pieces of marijuana inside a cigarette pack.

In her arrest report, Swisher wrote that she patted him down for a weapon "based upon his behavior, and for officer safety purposes." She said Nance had displayed multiple "pre-attack indicators, as his hands were actively shaking, he would not make eye contact with officer's, he was blading his body away from officers, and he would not directly answer officers questions, and instead would mumble and turn away."

Judge wasn't convinced 'pre-attack indicators' justified frisk

Crouse was unconvinced that such behavior was enough reason for Swisher to think that Nance was armed and dangerous.

He said it was innocuous for Nance to shift around in his seat during a traffic stop that lasted more than 10 minutes, and that lack of eye contact and mumbling have more meanings than being armed. He also said that the alleged shaking hands and other signs of possible nervousness were not unusually extreme for a police stop, and "reflected at most ordinary nervousness."

"Swisher had at most a hunch that Nance was armed  one that turned out to be correct, certainly, but not one that justified her search," Crouse wrote.

He also said prosecutors, in pointing to actions by officers at the scene to protect themselves, had decided to "look at the officers' behavior, backfill reasons for that behavior, then infer that the officers must have had unarticulated reasons to suspect that Nance was dangerous."

Crouse said Swisher testified in a hearing that Nance raised his harms "unusually" high when getting out of the car. But that couldn't be used to justify the frisk, because she had already decided to frisk Nance before he got out of the car, and because "Nance's decision to exit the vehicle with his hands raised would not make a reasonable officer suspect that he was armed and dangerous."

"Swisher simply made a mistake by frisking an individual without sufficient cause," Crouse wrote.

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Federal judge suppresses gun found by Topeka police officer in frisk
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction, siding with Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach in a lawsuit against President Joe Biden's administration challenging a new rule protecting LGBTQ+ students from discrimination.

U.S. District Judge John Broomes granted Kobach's requested preliminary injunction on Tuesday. His order enjoins the Biden administration from implementing and enforcing a rule that was set to become effective Aug. 1.

The rule would extend sex discrimination protections under Title IX to cover gender identity, among other changes. The rule didn't address transgender student participation in school sports.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, seen here walking toward the Statehouse for a May 14 news conference to announce a federal Title IX lawsuit, secured a preliminary injunction in that case on Tuesday.

"We're pleased the court ruled to rein in the administration's vast overreach," Kobach said in a statement via the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal organization that is representing some of the other plaintiffs in the case. "It's unconscionable, it's dangerous for girls and women, and it's against federal law."

Kobach filed the lawsuit in May and was joined by attorneys general from Alaska, Utah and Wyoming and other plaintiffs. They are suing the U.S. Department of Education, its secretary, the Department of Justice and the U.S. attorney general.

"We have had many wins in court, but to me, this is the biggest one yet," Kobach said in a statement via the attorney general's office. "It protects girls and women across the country from having their privacy rights and safety violated in bathrooms and locker rooms and from having their freedom of speech violated if they say there are only two sexes."

Preliminary injunction doesn't apply nationwide

The order applies to the plaintiffs: the states of Kansas, Alaska, Utah and Wyoming, plus a minor child and the organizations Moms for Liberty, Young America's Foundation and Female Athletes United. The injunction applies to schools attended by members of or children of members of those organizations, and the plaintiffs must file a notice identifying those schools by July 15.

Outside of those organizations, the injunction doesn't otherwise apply nationwide. But Kobach's office said in a press release that it could still cover thousands of schools across all 50 states.

That comes after New Jersey led a coalition of 15 states plus the District of Columbia in filing an amici curiae brief joining the defendants in opposing a preliminary injunction.

"Issuing a nationwide injunction in this case would result in the court ordering Defendants to stop the Final Rule from taking effect for everyone, including States which clearly do not want such relief as evidenced in the amicus brief," Broomes wrote, emphasizing "everyone."

Broomes also noted that "nothing in this order limits the ability of any school to adopt or follow its own policies, or otherwise comply with applicable state or local laws or rules regarding the subjects. Rather, it simply prohibits Defendants from demanding compliance with the Final Rule by the schools affected by this order, or imposing any consequences for such schools' failure to comply with the Final Rule."

The attorney general's office advised "that all Kansas school districts are now on notice that they must abide by the court's injunction and that they are prohibited from changing any of the schools' policies to reflect Biden's Title IX transgender rule."

Meanwhile, a separate ruling in Louisiana last month blocked the rule from going into effect there, as well as in Mississippi, Montana and Idaho.

Federal judge rules 'sex discrimination' doesn't include gender identity

"The Final Rule clearly decides major questions involving whether to force schools, students, and teachers to accept an individual's subjective gender identity regardless of biological sex," Broomes wrote. "Further, it determines whether biological males who identify as females are allowed in female bathrooms and locker rooms. It further prohibits requiring any medical documentation or other documents to determine whether those beliefs are sincere and there are no limits on how 'many times a person may change their gender identity.'"

If enforced, the rule would apply to all public K-12 schools and universities in the U.S. that receive federal financial assistance, Broomes wrote, and states could loses millions or billions of dollars in funding if they fail to comply.

Broomes wrote that Congress did not give clear statutory authorization to the executive branch to promulgate the rule and thus "Defendants do not have authority to expand the meaning of 'sex discrimination' to include gender identity."

He found that the plaintiffs "are likely to prevail on their claims that the Final Rule is contrary to law and exceeds statutory authority," is unconstitutional, violates the First Amendment and "is arbitrary and capricious."

More: Kansas AG Kris Kobach sues President Biden over Title IX change protecting gender identity

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Federal judge in Kansas blocks Title IX change on transgender students
Russian Major General Apty Alaudinov, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Military and Political Work of the Ministry of Defense, said that their "special military operation" against Ukraine would end in 2024. Of course, the occupier believes that it will be a "victory" for Russia.

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He voiced this opinion during the live program of the Kremlin's mouthpiece Vladimir Soloviev. It was almost a week ago, but Russian propagandists have now picked up these words and started to spread the "forecast" online.

"He said that he was confident of Russia's imminent victory and that the 'SMO' would end this year," they quoted the war criminal who commands the so-called Akhmat special forces.

He also spoke nonsense about Ukraine "failing in all directions." In turn, the Russian troops, Alaudinov said, "seize new territories and settlements every few days".

He expressed dreams that in 2024 there would be a "victory" for Russia, after which the "enemies" would allegedly try to harm the terrorist state. Eventually, he added, "nothing will come of it."

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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A grizzly bear (Photo by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Program via FLICKR | Creative Commons license).

Federal Judge Dana Christensen has stopped the Flathead National Forest from implementing its forest plan for the 2.4 million acres because the U.S. Forest Service ignored the impact of roads on the endangered grizzly bear and bull trout populations.

In his decision, which mostly upheld federal magistrate Kathleen DeSotos initial ruling, he said that the Forest Service continues to ignore the impacts of closed roads and unauthorized motor vehicle use on roads in grizzly bear and bull trout habit.

The case is similar to many which have centered on grizzly bears and roads recently. The U.S. Forest Service, which doesnt comment on pending litigation as a matter of policy, continues to disregard or ignore roads that have existed, but are no longer used, according to the order from the U.S. District Court.

Because the U.S. Forest Service has not permanently closed them, returning them to a natural or impassable state, the roads are still used, the judge said, even if illegally. While the U.S. Forest Service doesnt calculate the closed roads into its final forest plan, it does estimate that the road closures are around 90% effective, according to court documents.

While Christensen and other federal judges have ruled that the U.S. Forest Service cannot be held responsible for every time a person illegally uses a closed road on federal forest land, the agency is nonetheless responsible for accurately using the information as it determines its future plans, including how it will manage already struggling species like grizzly bear and bull trout. And Christensen said that the Forest Service cant disregard information it knows but believe works against it.

Christensen did not vacate or stop the entire plan, as the groups challenging the plan, the Swan View Coalition and Friends of the Swan, had asked, but he did stop the plan from going into effect until the Forest Service corrects it.

Within the Flathead National Forest there are five federally designated threatened species  bull trout, grizzly bear, Canada lynx, scaldings campion and meltwater lednian stonefly. There is one proposed species, white bark pine, and one candidate species, the monarch butterfly.

The court found the U.S. Forest Service must provide a detailed discussion of motorized vehicle use, including some which is unauthorized. The court said the U.S. Forest Service cannot ignore the information that it has which demonstrates the problem, even if it deems the matter hard to control. That means that the Forest Service will likely have to either address the problem of unauthorized motorized use in the plan, or detail how that use will not adversely affect endangered species.

Christensen and DeSoto both faulted the Forest Service for excluding the problems of road density because it characterized the grizzly population as robust and said that challenges of tracking illegal use is spatially disparate and temporary.

Neither of these factors provide adequate support for the agencys determination, Christensen wrote in his order. This court has squarely rejected the boilerplate assertion that unauthorized motorized access is unpredictable, and, therefore, its effects on grizzly bears are unknowable. Yet, the Fish and Wildlife Services relies on this same flawed premise in reaching its conclusion in the revised biological opinion. The court has also squarely rejected the argument that unauthorized motor use is spatially disparate and temporary, concluding that such use, and its effects, are actually permanent. Again, FWS repeats this error in the revised biological opinion.

Christensen also said that Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Services argument that it could discount unauthorized motor vehicle use in forests because the grizzly bear population was growing, could be discounting the very protections that had allowed their recovery.

He likened the Forest Services plan to throwing away an umbrella in a rainstorm just because a person hasnt gotten wet.

We are pleased to see the courts once again confirm that, as long as roads exist on the landscape, whether open or closed to motorized use, they are a threat to grizzly bears and bull trout, said Keith Hammer, chairman of the Swan View Coalition, one of the groups to bring the lawsuit. They key is to quit building more logging roads. A truly sustainable logging program would not require ever more roads into ever more pristine forests.

flathead-2024-06-28_order

The post Federal judge stops Flathead forest plan because it doesnt protect grizzly bears appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Feds give OK to two wind farms off New Jerseys coast

The action paves the way for construction to begin on two wind farms that are set to generate enough megawatts to power more than 1 million homes. (Photo by Sarah Vogelsong)

Federal authorities approved the construction of up to 195 wind turbines off of New Jerseys coast Tuesday in a victory for Gov. Phil Murphys wind energy agenda.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a record of decision approving two offshore wind farms to be constructed by Atlantic Shores roughly 10 miles offshore from Atlantic City.

Our clean energy future is now a reality  thanks to President Bidens Investing in America agenda we are addressing climate change, fostering job growth, and promoting equitable economic opportunities for all communities, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.

The administrative action paves the way for construction to begin on Atlantic Shores Projects one and two, wind farms that are set to generate more than 2,800 megawatts of combined power when complete  enough to power more than 1 million homes.

Murphy has set ambitious renewable energy goals for New Jersey that call on the state to draw 100% of its power from renewable sources by 2035 and to create at least 11,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2040.

The governor on Tuesday thanked President Joe Biden for bringing us one step closer to a 100% clean energy future.

Tuesdays decision comes after Murphys wind energy ambitions ran into a series of hurdles in recent years, including Danish wind giant rsteds withdrawal from two proposed 1,100-megawatt wind farms last October.

State energy regulators have continued to solicit and award bids for wind energy despite the stumbles.

In January, the Board of Public Utilities approved two wind farms that together would generate more than 3,700 megawatts of power.

In late April, the board opened a fourth round of bidding for offshore wind projects, which is due to close on July 10. The solicitation seeks between 1,200 and 4,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity.

The board in May announced it would open a fifth round of bids for offshore wind projects in the second quarter of 2025, more than a year before the original start date in the third quarter of 2026.

The new timeline means Murphys administration will preside over a round of offshore wind bidding that would otherwise have happened under his successor. The governor is barred from seeking a third consecutive term that would extend his tenure past the first weeks of 2026.

New Jersey Republicans have broadly opposed offshore wind, charging wind surveying work confused whales and caused a spate of whale deaths and strandings along the eastern seaboard.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has pointed to climate change to explain elevated deaths and strandings since 2016, saying warmer waters pushed marine life into busier waterways where they are more likely to be struck and killed by boats.

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The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University tests samples from animals for viruses such as avian influenza. (Photo courtesy of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory)

Federal health officials have commissioned Moderna to develop a vaccine to protect people from an avian influenza that has been circulating in dairy cattle in recent months.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials said Tuesday the agency would devote about $176 million to the effort, with the hope that final clinical trials might commence next year.

That schedule could be accelerated if were starting to get extraordinarily concerned about additional human cases, severity of human cases, human-to-human transmission, said Dawn OConnell, the departments assistant secretary for preparedness and response.

Its unclear whether that will happen.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been widespread in wild birds in the past two years, has been sporadically devastating for U.S. poultry flocks, and has this year been infecting cows at an alarming pace and spreading to different states.

Four infections of people who worked closely with infected poultry and cattle have been documented in that time: one poultry worker in 2022 and three dairy workers this year.

All of those infections resulted in minor symptoms, and the people recovered. However, the latest infected person showed signs of respiratory illness.

The fear is that a mutation in the virus might better enable it to infect human respiratory tissue and easily spread person to person, which could ignite a human pandemic. Key to preventing that is keeping the virus out of people, where it can commingle with other viruses and share bits of genetic material.

Dairy precautions

Research has shown that the virus likely transmitted from wild birds to Texas dairy cattle as early as December. It spread undercover for months until two veterinarians identified it as the culprit in sick cows in late March.

Since then the virus has been found in cattle in at least 137 dairy herds in 12 states.

It is believed to have spread between states via the transportation of sick cows. From there, the virus has likely been carried between herds by people and their equipment.

Within the individual dairies, the virus can transmit between cows by contaminating equipment that is used for milking the animals. Lab tests have shown that the virus primarily dwells within cows mammary glands and that the amount of the virus in their milk is considerable.

Its not yet clear how to feasibly prevent the spread of the virus within herds, said Eric Deeble, acting senior advisor for H5N1 response for the department. H5N1 is the flu subtype that is currently circulating in birds and cattle.

There are a variety of USDA and other researchers that are currently working on that problem, he said in a Tuesday call with reporters.

Deeble said a vaccine for cattle could be effective at halting the virus but that one wouldnt be available soon.

Meantime, federal officials have monitored nearly 800 workers at infected dairy herds for illness and have tested more than 50 of them for bird flu. They have advised dairies to shield their workers with masks and other protective clothing and offered to pay for it.

Antiviral drugs might also be used to prevent infections among workers, said Dr. Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But that will likely require voluntary participation from those workers.

If H5 is not perceived as a pressing threat among farm workers  and Im not speculating as to whether it is or not  but if that is the case, then uptake may not be robust, he said.

More testing capacity

Shah said there are sufficient numbers of avian flu tests for people in the public health system  about 750,000  and that another 1.2 million might be available in the next several months.

Further, the CDC has worked with more than a dozen companies since last year to help them develop tests that could be produced and deployed if the virus becomes readily transmissible between people.

We need to stay prepared for the possibility of an expansion of the H5N1 outbreak in humans, Shah said.

This story was originally produced by the Iowa Capital Dispatch which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

The post Feds prepare for bird flu jump to people with vaccines, tests appeared first on Daily Montanan.
The federal government and Imperial Irrigation District on Friday unveiled a key environmental assessment of a potential huge Colorado River conservation deal that could save nearly 1 million acre-feet of water through 2026  and yield the agency and area farmers as much as $700 million in public funds.

Growers said they're ready to begin summertime fallowing and other measures as soon as the paperwork is finalized, and the clock is ticking. But a veteran analyst of intertwined Colorado River and Salton Sea issues and an area environmental justice advocate both said they have concerns.

The proposed System Conservation Implementation Agreement calls for up to 300,000 acre-feet a year to be conserved, or nearly 98 billion gallons of water  as much river water as the state of Nevada receives annually. That's an extra 50,000 acre-feet more than was originally proposed by IID, itself sufficient to supply a small city. An acre-foot of water equals about 326,000 gallons, and is enough for a year's worth of supply for about three households. And that would be on top of about half a million acre-feet of water that is already conserved and transferred to urban areas under earlier agreements.

The water district holds by far the largest and among the oldest rights to Colorado River water, giving its farmers top access to abundant amounts. But all are keenly aware of the long-term drought prognosis for the river system, and the ever present clamor of urban areas for more water.

The agreement, likely the last and largest of a series of deals struck between the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and cities, tribes and wholesale water contractors since the river system neared dead pool two summers ago, could take effect within 30 days if a series of approvals of the key environmental document are made in rapid fire order. The river and its reservoirs, the nation's largest, supply supply more than 30 million people with drinking water across seven western states, and irrigate millions of acres of farmland.

That document, a relatively short draft environmental assessment released Friday afternoon by Reclamation staff, says a full, time-consuming environmental review of the deal was not needed, because there would not be significant additional adverse impacts to endangered species, air quality or environmental justice communities from the relatively short-term program.

IID's board of directors hastily called an emergency meeting at 4:30 p.m. Friday and authorized staff to use the draft document to begin preparing related contracts and other paperwork, pending a series of federal, state and its own final approvals.

After waiting more than a year for OKs of their original offer to conserve a million acre-feet of water by 2026, they and area growers are eager to move forward.

Safeguards outlined for species protection

The assessment lays out extensive proposed monitoring of IID drain channels and nearby habitat where the endangered desert pupfish and Yuma Ridgeway's rail bird have been documented. If levels of water approach zero or vegetation becomes too dry, emergency water would be trucked in, in coordination with state and federal wildlife agencies.

The draft report also said there were no major environmental justice impacts anticipated, despite possible higher rates of air pollution from the drying Salton Sea shoreline if more large amounts of runoff from area farm fields are reduced.

The county, one of the poorest in the state and largely made up of Latino residents, already suffers from the state's highest asthma rates, and is out of compliance with federal standards for a key ingredient in smog, and for coarse dust.

The agreement would free up the bulk of a related $250 million in federal funds to allow revenue-strapped California to continue building marshes and wetlands along the edge of the fast-drying Salton Sea playa as part of its overdue 10-year-management plan, which would help both species and dust suppression. Last year, due to delays in approving the IID conservation deal, just $72 million was released.

But a leading area environmental justice advocate said the timing of those efforts in the latest assessment doesn't add up.

'We can come up with the water'

IID's Colorado River water manager, Tina Shields, said they would likely not conserve the full 300,000 acre-feet each year  and half of this summer would be over before the program could begin. But, she said, "300,000 acre-feet provides flexibility since on-farm conservation is variable and needs to be calculated at the end of the year." She added that they wanted to include "max volume to ensure your conservation values don't exceed (approved environmental) coverage,"

The head of a key farm group said they can do it, and they've been ready to do their part since early 2023. They are just waiting on Reclamation to finish its reviews.

"As a grower we can come up with the amounts of water, quantity depending on how soon the BOR (Bureau of Reclamation) can finish their analysis of the environmental issues, to help relieve the stress on the Colorado River and its reservoirs," said Mark McBroom, head of IID's agricultural water advisory committee and a large farmer himself. "But it all depends on (Reclamation) and the timing ... we, the growers and IID ... are prepared to start as soon as the issues are settled for all concerned."

A key strategy would be so-called seasonal fallowing, where perennial alfalfa and other hardy plants are not watered for 60 days. Though that would reduce yields on what is a staple but typically lower price crop here, the farmers would be paid on an interim basis, and the plants could bounce back once irrigation resumed. But the clock is ticking for the second summer in a row because it needs to be done during the hot months, IID officials and farmers say, not during the cooler months when lettuces and other winter crops are grown. On-farm water efficiency equipment, which can be pricey, could also be eligible for payments.

Emerging wetlands are forming along the former shoreline of the Salton Sea just southeast of Bombay Beach, Calif., Nov. 6, 2023.

'Very concerning' increased exposure from Salton Sea dust

But Michael Cohen, a senior researcher with the Pacific Institute who has analyzed intertwined Colorado River and Salton Sea water issues for years, said he was "troubled" by the environmental document on a first look. "They're finessing it by saying it's a short-term agreement. That's probably accurate on its face, but it's misleading in terms of other things that the state of California has proposed."

Cohen, who said the interim agreement is a forerunner of a longer agreement that is currently being negotiated, said a cursory environmental assessment would not be adequate for a 20-year-agreement.

"My expectation is they would do a full environmental .... review and not a short term environmental assessment," said Cohen. "They wouldn't be able to just wave their hands and explain it away."

As for tamping down harmful dust and other air pollution via California's 10-year-management plan, a leading area environmental justice advocate said the timeline was off, and does not adequately evaluate community health concerns.

"The analysis assumes that the Salton Sea Air Quality Management Plan will fund restoration projects that will mitigate the short-term increase in exposed playa. However, the analysis predicts that those measures will not balance out the short-term increased exposure until 2045. This is very concerning," said Luis Olmedo, Executive Director for Comite CIvico del Valle.

He added, "the analysis also claims that other sources of air pollution are the culprit and implies that additional exposed playa is not an environmental justice issue. These claims need additional vetting, and it is important that the USEPA be allowed to do additional due diligence and should have the opportunity to comment on the health and environmental impacts."

Cohen praised recent efforts by state and federal agencies to do something about the Salton Sea, but agreed that in terms of draining it further for conservation, "I think how they address the timing of impacts needs to be explored further."

Public comments on the draft will be accepted until June 28, and if being sent by mail must be postmarked by July 27. The draft is available at https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g2000/envdocs/IID/00_FinalDraftEAIID_508ADAFinal.pdf.

Janet Wilson is senior environment reporter for The Desert Sun and co-authors USA Today Climate Point. She can be reached at jwilson@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Feds: Colorado River deal wouldn't harm people, wildlife at Salton Sea
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW)  Communities across Reno County are being asked for their feedback to help shape the countys future.

The Hutchinson Community Foundation has launched the Love Where You Live Community Empowerment Initiative. The initiative seeks input from every Reno County community and as many residents as possible to help determine priorities and future investments at both the local and county levels.

Ohio-based Innovation Economy Partners has been hired to help collect and analyze data collected from public input. The firm works with the McPherson County Community Foundation and Western Kansas Community Foundation on similar initiatives.

Power restored after oil well blowout in Barber County

We have experienced the power of resident engagement and empowerment several times over the last decade, leading to collaborative action and targeted investment of resources, Kari Mailloux, HCF director of strategic initiatives, said in a news release. We believe this process will help residents feel heard, identify shared priorities, and have some agency and resources to make progress year after year. Hopefully, it creates a stronger sense of ownership and hope across the county.

Residents of all ages are encouraged to participate in a community survey located here. The survey can be completed online or downloaded, printed, and filled out by hand and returned to the Hutchinson Community Foundation by the survey deadline of Aug. 4.

Once the data is collected and analyzed, public meetings will be scheduled for September through November to discuss the results with communities, prioritize needs, and brainstorm community projects. Project teams can then apply for grants through the Hutchinson Community Foundation from December through February.

For more details, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
How felon voting laws vary by state and what it means for Donald Trump

Donald Trumps historic felony conviction last month raised questions about his ability to vote for himself as he vies to return to the White House.

The answer depends on whether the former president will spend time in prison, which will be revealed at his sentencing July 11.

Though Trumps circumstances are uncommon, the complexity surrounding convicted felons right to vote is not. Nationwide, states laws regarding whether felons lose their rights and when and how they may regain them vary widely.

Anthony Witherspoon was convicted of manslaughter in 1992. When he arrived at a Mississippi prison to serve his sentence, he discovered he retained his right to vote because his crime was not one of the 23 that bar felons from voting in his state. He cast his ballot from prison and organized a voter registration drive encouraging other eligible inmates to do the same.

Upon his release from prison, Witherspoon became a criminal justice reform advocate working with the NAACP and ACLU. He was elected mayor of Magnolia in 2014 and served two terms. He currently is working with the One Voice Public Policy Initiative to restore the states ballot initiative process in order to create an initiative that would restore all convicted felons voting rights once they have completed their sentences. He described the issue as a nonstarter in the state legislature, which is overwhelmingly Republican.

My situation is different from Trumps. I completed the terms of my sentence. I paid my debt to society, Witherspoon said. Our position has always been to the Mississippi legislature to allow those who have paid their debt to society, including all the time of their sentence, which includes probation and paying fines, to have their voting rights restored.

Where are convicted felons elegible to vote?

Mississippi is just one state where the voting rights of those formerly incarcerated can get complicated. Heres a look at felon voting rights by state:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Alabama

According to the Alabama Constitution, people who commit crimes of moral turpitude lose their right to vote in the state. A 2017 state law defined a list of 46 acts that qualify as crimes of moral turpitude, from murder to sexual abuse. Felons who have not been charged with treason or faced impeachment can apply to restore their voting rights if pardoned by the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Alaska

People in Alaska with felony convictions may register to vote upon submitting proof that they have completed their sentence, including parole or probation, to the Division of Elections.

Arizona

Arizona automatically restores residents convicted of only one felony, excluding firearms-related crimes, upon completion of all supervised release. People convicted of multiple felonies must have their right to vote restored by the judge who discharges them at the end of their probation period or by successfully petitioning a court.

Arkansas

People in Arkansas with felony convictions may register to vote upon submitting proof that they have completed their sentence, including parole or probation, and paid all related fees or fines to the county clerk.

California

Those in California with a felony conviction currently serving a prison term in a state prison, federal prison, or a local detention facility cannot vote. Upon completion of their sentence, voting rights are automatically restored. In 2020, state Proposition 17 passed, allowing convicted felons on probation to vote.

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Colorado

Colorado convicted felons lose the right to vote while incarcerated. Their voting rights are restored when they are on parole, probation, or have completed their sentence.

Connecticut

People convicted of a felony in Connecticut lose the right to vote while incarcerated. Their voting rights are restored upon completion of their sentence and payment of all related fines. Those convicted of a felony related to violating an election statute will not have their voting rights restored until they are discharged from probation.

Delaware

Convicted felons who have not committed a crime of moral turpitude automatically have their voting rights restored upon completion of their sentence. Crimes of moral turpitude in Delaware include murder, manslaughter, sex offenses, and bribery or public corruption.

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District of Columbia;

All eligible citizens, including convicted and incarcerated felons, can vote in the District of Columbia, and noncitizens can vote in local elections.

Florida

Florida residents who have been convicted of a felony, excluding crimes of moral turpitude like murder or sexual abuse, automatically have their voting rights restored upon completion of their sentence, including parole and probation, and payment of all related fines and fees. If a Floridian is convicted of a felony in another state, their right to vote is determined by the rules in the state where they were convicted. Trump is a Florida resident, so his ability to vote will be determined by the law in New York, where he was convicted.

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Georgia

Those serving a felony First Offender or Conditional Discharge sentence in Georgia whose voter status has not been revoked remain eligible to vote. Other felons voting rights are restored in Georgia upon completion of their sentence, including parole and probation.

Hawaii

Hawaii convicted felons lose the right to vote while incarcerated but can vote when they are released from prison.

Idaho

Idaho convicted felons voting rights are restored upon completion of their sentence, including parole and probation.

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Illinois

Illinois convicted felons cannot vote while incarcerated but have their voting rights restored upon release.

Indiana

Those in Indiana who have felony convictions lose the right to vote while incarcerated but can vote upon their release.

Iowa

Convicted felons' voting rights are restored in Iowa upon completion of their sentence, including all terms of supervised release, excluding those convicted of homicide or related crimes.

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Kansas

Those in Kansas convicted of a felony can vote upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation.

Kentucky

Convicted felons voting rights restoration looks different in Kentucky depending on whether the felon was convicted of a violent or nonviolent offense. Those convicted of a non-violent felony have their voting rights restored upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation. Those convicted of a violent felony, treason, or bribery can only have their voting rights restored by successfully petitioning the governor.

Louisiana

Louisiana residents convicted of an election-related offense permanently lose their right to vote. Other convicted felons in the state cannot vote while incarcerated but their voting rights are restored five years following their release from prison, or upon completion of parole or probation, whichever comes first.

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Maryland

Maryland convicted felons lose the right to vote while incarcerated but may vote upon their release if they were not convicted on a charge related to buying or selling votes, which results in a permanent loss of voting rights.

Maine

All eligible citizens, including incarcerated felons, can vote in Maine.

Massachusetts

Convicted felons lose the right to vote while incarcerated in Massachusetts but their right to vote is restored upon release.

Michigan

Michigan residents convicted of a felony cannot vote while incarcerated but their right to vote is restored upon release.

Minnesota

Convicted felons in Minnesota cannot vote while incarcerated but their right to vote is restored upon release.

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Mississippi

Convicted felons lose their right to vote in Mississippi if they are convicted of one of 23 barred crimes, from murder to theft, that can only be restored by the governor or through a bill passed by both houses of the state legislature. Other convicted felons never lose their right to vote, even while incarcerated.

Missouri

Missouri convicted felons lose the right to vote while incarcerated and regain the right to vote upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation. This excludes those convicted of voting-related felonies who only have their voting rights restored if they are pardoned by the governor.

Montana

Convicted felons in Montana lose the right to vote while incarcerated but regain their voting rights upon their release, even if on parole or probation.

Nebraska

A new law will go into effect on July 18, 2024, in Nebraska allowing convicted felons to regain their right to vote upon completion of their sentence. Previously, convicted felons in the state only became eligible to vote two years after their sentence was completed.

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Nevada

Convicted felons lose the right to vote while incarcerated in Nevada but their voting rights are restored upon release.

New Hampshire

Those in New Hampshire convicted of a felony cannot vote while incarcerated but regain the right to vote upon release.

New Jersey

New Jersey convicted felons lose the right to vote while incarcerated but their voting rights are restored upon release.

New Mexico

Those incarcerated for a felony offense in New Mexico cannot vote while in jail, prison, or a correctional facility but their right to vote is restored upon their release.

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New York

Convicted felons in New York cannot vote while incarcerated but regain their voting rights upon completion of their sentence. Their right to vote can be revoked again if they violate the conditions of their parole. New Yorkers with prior felony convictions in another state can still vote in New York so long as they are not serving time in prison. If Trump were incarcerated, he would lose his right to vote while locked up. But even if he is sentenced to a jail or prison term, he is unlikely to be incarcerated this November, as he will likely be out while on appeal, according to experts.

North Carolina

Convicted felons in North Carolina cannot vote while incarcerated but regain their voting rights upon completion of their sentence, including parole, probation, or other supervised release.

North Dakota

Those convicted of a felony in North Dakota lose the right to vote while incarcerated but become eligible to vote again upon their release.

Ohio

Ohio convicted felons cannot vote while incarcerated but regain the right to vote upon their release.

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Oklahoma

Convicted felons in Oklahoma cannot vote while incarcerated but regain the right to vote upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation.

Oregon

Those convicted of a felony in Oregon cannot vote while incarcerated but regain the right to vote upon their release.

Pennsylvania

Convicted felons lose the right to vote in Pennsylvania while incarcerated, including in a halfway house or other correctional facility, but become eligible to vote upon their release.

Rhode Island

Those convicted of a felony in Rhode Island cannot vote while incarcerated but regain the right to vote upon their release.

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South Carolina

People with felony convictions in South Carolina lose the right to vote while in prison but their voting rights are restored upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation.

South Dakota

South Dakota convicted felons cannot vote while incarcerated but regain the right to vote upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation, and the payment of all related fines and fees.

Tennessee

If convicted of a felony before 1973, Tennesseans did not lose the right to vote unless they committed one of 21 specific crimes, from rape to horse stealing. Those convicted of a crime between Jan. 15, 1973, and May 17, 1981, in the state did not lose the right to vote. Felons convicted of murder, rape, treason, or voter fraud after May 18, 1981, are permanently disenfranchised, absent a pardon. Felons convicted of other offenses in the state after May 18, 1981, can obtain a certificate of restoration from prison authorities or the Board of Probation and Parole, if they meet certain criteria. In a complaint filed as part of a federal lawsuit against Tennessee with a trial expected in 2025, plaintiffs describe the states voting rights restoration process as a wild-goose chase.

Texas

Those convicted of a felony in Texas cannot vote while incarcerated but regain the right to vote upon completion of their sentence, including parole and probation.

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Utah

Convicted felons in Utah cannot vote while incarcerated but their voting rights are restored upon their release.

Vermont

All eligible citizens, including convicted and incarcerated felons, have the right to vote in Vermont.

Virginia

Convicted felons permanently lose their right to vote in Virginia and it can only be restored by the governor directly, upon request.

Washington

Those convicted of a felony in Washington cannot vote while incarcerated but their voting rights are restored upon their release.

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West Virginia

West Virginia convicted felons cannot vote while incarcerated but regain their right to vote upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation.

Wisconsin

Convicted felons in Wisconsin cannot vote while incarcerated but their voting rights are restored upon their release.

Wyoming

Wyoming convicted felons cannot vote while incarcerated. First-time, non-violent felony offenders voting rights are restored upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation. Those convicted of other felonies lose their right to vote, absent a pardon.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: States where felons like Donald Trump can, or cannot, vote
A half-acre brush fire erupted at the top of Skinner Butte in Eugene early Tuesday morning and fire officials think it may have been caused by fireworks.

According to the Eugene Springfield Fire Department, firefighters were called to the butte at 12:15 a.m. where they worked quickly to contain a fire estimated at half an acre. It took first responders about two hours to fully extinguish hot spots.

The site of the fire had just undergone vegetation management by Eugene Parks and Open Space in partnership with the Eugene Rotary Club and Twin River Charter School.

On June 24, workers trimmed grasses in the area, which Eugene officials say likely reduced the intensity of Tuesday's fire.

"This timely action underscores the importance of ongoing maintenance and hazard reduction in preserving the safety of our natural areas," Kelly Shadwick, spokesperson for Eugene Parks and Open Space, said in a news release.

According to Shadwick, fuel mitigation efforts at the park have focused on removing non-native shrubs and small trees that have invaded a significant portion of the natural area, increasing the risk of a damaging fire.

Removing dense and overgrown vegetation on the slope can decrease the chance of a wildfire from reaching the tree canopy and improve firefighters' ability to respond to the fire.

Witness statements at the scene of the fire indicate fireworks may have been a cause of Tuesday's fire, though this was not confirmed as of Tuesday.

"A spark can ignite a wildfire in just moments," Shadwick said. "The public is reminded that fireworks are prohibited within Eugene city limits, including parks and natural areas."

Eugene Springfield Firefighters work to extinguish early morning brush fire at Skinner Butte in Eugene.

Increase in fireworks-related calls

According to Melinda McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Eugene Police Department, dispatch calls regarding illegal fireworks between 8 p.m. on July 4 and 2 a.m. on July 5 rose to a staggering 185 calls in 2023, the highest volume the department has seen in at least eight years. In contrast, only 131 calls were reported during the same time period in 2022 and 128 calls were reported in 2021.

The lowest number of illegal fireworks reported to Eugene Police within the last eight years was 40 calls in 2019.

Firework bans and safety

A heat wave is expected to hit Eugene starting Thursday  the Fourth of July  with a high temperature of 93 degrees and a low of 59 degrees. Over the weekend, temperatures are forecasted to reach triple digits ranging between 98 and 105 degrees.

Long stretches of hot and dry weather could dry out fuels rapidly and increase wildfire danger quickly, leading to a long summer of high wildfire risk in Oregon.

On Monday, the Oregon Department of Forestry officially declared fire season in the Western Lane District Monday, which means the manufacture, sale or use of fireworks is prohibited in unincorporated areas of Lane County. Violation of the law is punishable by up to $1,000 in fines or 30 days in jail.

Legal fireworks sold from June 23 to July 6 in Oregon include flitter sparklers, fountains, ground spinners and spinning wheels. These fireworks often stay on the ground and are easy to control, however, while legal in Oregon, these fireworks are banned in Eugene.

The maximum penalty for violating the ordinance is a fine of up to $500 if you buy, sell or set off fireworks within the city limits

In Springfield, there are no banned areas where people can use legal fireworks.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Skinner Butte brush fire raises fireworks concern in Eugene
Fire breaks out at old Buc-ees location in Luling

Editors Note: The video at the top of this story shows KXANs top morning headlines for July 1, 2024.

LULING, Texas (KXAN)  A fire that broke out Monday morning in Luling at an old Buc-ees travel center has now been extinguished, authorities said.

According to the Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management, the structure fire occurred in the area of Interstate 10 and Highway 183.

The Southeast Caldwell County VFD said it was called to help with the fire and confirmed it was at the old Buc-ees location.

Just last month, a new Buc-ees travel center opened in Luling in the same area, replacing the old location. This confused some on social media.

Despite the sign and some information you may have seen, the fire is NOT the new Buc-ees travel stop, the Caldwell County OEM clarified.

Old Buc-ees travel center in Luling catches fire on July 1, 2024. (Photo: Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management)

RELATED: Largest Buc-ees in the country opens in Central Texas

Officials said the fire was put out quickly, and now firefighters are cleaning up the mess. Drivers in the area are advised to proceed with caution.

The old Buc-ees building was built in 2003 and was the first Buc-ees travel center for the brand, according to the company. The new location is currently the largest Buc-ees in the country.

More than a dozen agencies responded to the fire, Southeast Caldwell County VFD 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 KXAN Austin.
Fire Captain Who Was Deployed to Ground Zero on 9/11 Dies After Being Pinned Under Boat on Rafting Trip

Michael Harp was traveling along the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument on June 27 when the accident occurred, park officials said

Salt Lake City Fire Department Fire Captain Michael Harp

A fire captain from Utah who was deployed to Ground Zero on 9/11 has died after he was pinned underneath a boat during a rafting trip.

Michael Harp, 54, of Sandy, was on a private permitted trip on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument around 4 p.m. local time on June 27 when he became stuck underneath the raft, according to a news release from the National Park Service.

A group of people was eventually able to move the boat, which was pinned on a rock in the rapid named Hells Half Mile. But Harp, who was unresponsive and lost his lifejacket, then drifted downriver.

Harps body was found by guides the next morning approximately 10 river miles downstream from the location of the accident, park officials said.

Related: 2 Bodies Found Near Location Where 2 Teens Disappeared at N.Y.C. Beach After Being Swept Away by Rip Tide

His body was transported to the Moffat County coroner by a Vernal-based Classic Air Medical helicopter crew.

Harp was nearly a 30-year member of the Salt Lake City Fire Department. He was a dedicated member of Utah Task Force 1 and found himself deployed to Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, according to the SLCFD.

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.

Captain Michael Harp dedicated his life to the service of not only the citizens of Salt Lake City, but also his fellow firefighters, fire officials said in a news release. His legacy of service, leadership, compassion, and contagious laughter will forever be remembered by all who knew him.

They added, On behalf of the Salt Lake City Fire Department, we extend our condolences to the entire Harp family. Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this difficult time.

Related: Man Drowns After His Basement Floods and Houses Foundation Collapses During Severe Weather in Iowa

Dinosaur National Monument also offered "condolences to the family, friends, and river community impacted by this incident. The national park also expressed appreciation for those who assisted in search and recovery efforts.

The Green River is one of two premiere whitewater rivers in the western United States, according to the NPS.

Dinosaur National Monument protects more than 105 miles of waterways between the Green and Yampa Rivers.



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Read the original article on People.
The European Union (EU) has reimposed duties on imports of a number of Ukrainian products using the "emergency braking" mechanism. The decision concerns sugar and eggs, the export of which from Ukraine to the EU has already exceeded the established quotas.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission. "Starting July 2, tariff quotas from the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area will be reintroduced for imports of eggs and sugar from Ukraine to the EU," the statement said. In June, the duty on oats was also reintroduced and will remain in effect until June 2025, as the volume of imports of this crop has reached the maximum level.

The mechanism of "emergency braking" provides for the automatic return of duties on a number of goods, including those listed above. The measure is applied as soon as the exports of such products from Ukraine to the EU reach the average annual volume recorded from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023.

ADVERTISIMENT

As previously explained in the Financial Times, the EU has agreed to eliminate all tariffs and quotas on imports of Ukrainian food products in June 2022. This was done to:

raise revenues for Kyiv;

help supplies reach consumers in developing countries.

However, within a few months, farmers in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and other neighboring countries complained that the surplus of Ukrainian imports was driving them out of the market. After that, these countries unilaterally imposed an embargo on many goods, allowing their import only for further transit, in violation of EU law.

However, despite this, in early 2024, EU member states extended the free trade regime for Ukraine until 2025. At the same time, they introduced restrictions to reassure farmers. Thus, if the volume of imported products exceeds the average in 2022 and 2023, the bloc has the right to impose duties on the following Ukrainian products

ADVERTISIMENT

poultry;

eggs;

sugar;

oats;

corn;

honey;

cereals (grain kernels).

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Fire officials with the Southwest Area Incident Management Team filled 18,000 sandbags to help support flood mitigation on Monday, July 1, in the Ruidoso area, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division.

The South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire have reached over 25,000 acres. The South Fork Fire is 85 percent contained and the Salt Fire is 84 percent contained as of Tuesday morning, July 2, the Forestry Division said.

The fire area saw clearer skies on Monday, allowing firefighters to focus their efforts on supporting flood mitigation operations on the South Fork fire. In total, hotshots and support crews filled 18,000 sandbags in support of these efforts. Additionally, structure assessment crews have successfully triaged over 4,000 structures across the fire area, the Forestry Division said.

The Forestry Division says both fires have received consistent isolated and scattered showers for several days.

Thanks to this moisture, hot spots on the South Fork remain suppressed and will remain quiet until a drying trend occurs. Remaining heat sources on the South Fork fire are located interior of control lines and do not post a threat to the perimeter, the Forestry Division said.

The Forestry Division says Tuesday will also experience scattered storm activity and advises residents of changing weather conditions and flash flood warnings.

Residents in the Upper Canyon area and near the Rio Ruidoso were forced to evacuate this past weekend, according to the Village of Ruidosos Facebook page.

A village spokesperson said 26 swift water rescues were conducted on Saturday, June 29, and 51 water rescues were conducted on Sunday, June 30. However, there were no fatalities.

The El Paso Fire Water Rescue Team was deployed to Ruidoso on Sunday to assist with the flooding.

A shelter is available at White Mountain Relief Center located at 687 Hull Road. The American Red Cross is at the shelter and will provide food service, the Village said.

The American Red Cross says 66 residents were at the shelter Sunday night, along with 18 pets.

The American Red Cross also says 1,957 overnight residents stayed at Red Cross and independent shelters since June 17 and they have served over 10,000 meals.

As of Tuesday morning, the Village of Ruidoso says the following roads are closed:

Cree Meadows at Wiley Road

Cree Meadows at Hull Road

Gavilan Canyon between Meander and Sutton

Main road into the Upper Canyon

The village also says sandbags are available at the following locations:

Wingfield Park located at 300 Center Street

Ruidoso Fire Department Station 2 located at 606 White Mountain Drive

Ruidoso Downs Senior Center located at 393 US HWY 70

Copper Ridge located at 111 Copper Ridge Road

For more information on the flooding, click here: Severe flooding prompts evacuations | Village of Ruidoso.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
An ecologically sensitive portion of Joshua Tree National Park will be closed this week due to extreme wildfire risk as a heat wave is set to broil the region over the Fourth of July holiday.

The Covington Flats area, home to some of the parks largest Joshua trees, junipers and pinyon pines, will be shut to the public Wednesday through Sunday, reopening Monday morning, according to the National Park Service. The remote area includes 10 miles of Park Service-maintained roads and access points to backcountry trailheads, officials said.

The closure comes after the August 2023 storm Hilary, followed by other storms in the fall and winter, stoked the growth of grasses, creating what experts call a continuous fuel bed connecting larger shrubs and trees. Those grasses, now dry, could help flames spread across the landscape, said Sasha Travaglio, park ranger at Joshua Tree National Park.

"These fuel conditions make it easy for a fire to start and hard to control if it becomes established," Travaglio wrote in an email. "Fast-burning grasses can quickly spread fire to large plants like Joshua trees and juniper." Those larger plants then burn longer and hotter, helping to sustain the fire, she added.

The grasses that have taken hold in the area include invasive species such as cheatgrass and Mediterranean grasses, which now fill the once-empty spaces of dirt that used to naturally exist between native desert plants, Travaglio said.

A warm spring and early summer have helped ensure the vegetation is ready to burn, said Ryan Worley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. Historical climate data for the park are hard to come by, making it difficult to calculate average or record temperatures, he said. But most of the region has seen above-normal temperatures in June  it was the hottest June on record in Phoenix, he noted.

Its been very hot across the region for the month, Worley said. So we cant say for certain if we saw a daily record broken in the park, but its very likely that temperatures were well above normal throughout the month of June.

And more heat is on the way, thanks to a large area of high pressure thats expected to develop at sea and move over the West Coast and Great Basin later in the week, Worley said. Temperatures are forecast to approach triple digits by Wednesday and continue to climb through the weekend, he said.

Read more: Extreme heat, elevated fire risk prompt power shutoffs in Northern California

Its reasonable to expect temperatures in the park to be eight to 10 degrees above normal for this time of year, as is forecast for elsewhere in southeastern California, he said. Conditions are also expected to be dry and, at times, breezy, with gusts that could reach 25 mph, he said.

With those hot temperatures, very dry conditions and potentially gusty winds here and there, it looks like there could be some periods of elevated fire weather conditions in and around the park, he said.

The conditions prompted the National Interagency Coordination Center to last week issue an advisory warning of the potential for rapid fire spread in Californias grass-dominated ecosystems, including deserts and dry valleys where the vegetation usually isnt sufficient to support fire growth.

The weather service doesn't expect to issue a red flag warning for the area encompassing Joshua Tree during the heat wave because the predicted wind speeds dont meet the required thresholds, but people should still remain aware and take precautions to limit any potential fire starts and protect themselves against the extreme heat, Worley said.

Read more: As California's climate grows ever more hostile, a Joshua tree rescue plan takes shape

The closure comes after the human-caused Geology fire burned 1,033 acres in the Pleasant Valley area of the park in June and July 2023, tearing through Joshua trees and desert tortoise habitat. Officials said at the time that the fire was stoked by invasive grasses, which helped flames spread to larger plants.

Farther east, the York fire, which resulted from a spark accident involving power tools, burned more than 93,000 acres in and around the Mojave National Preserve last July and August, likely killing more than 1 million Joshua trees.

The beloved, slow-growing plants have a hard time repopulating areas after such disturbances, and climate change is narrowing the habitats where conditions are suitable for their survival. As a result, scientists have been working to identify places where they can continue to exist; Covington Flats is one of those areas.

"The Covington area is important for the long-term survival of the park's Joshua trees," Travaglio said. "It is one of the few areas they may be able to reproduce and survive under hotter, drier conditions in the future."

The area was also closed over the Fourth of July holiday last year for similar reasons.

The rest of Joshua Tree National Park will remain open, but a full fire ban is in effect until Oct. 1, meaning campfires, woodburning camp stoves and charcoal grills are prohibited. Fireworks are never allowed on public lands, officials said.

Read more: Who's visiting Mojave Desert's Giant Rock? Hoodlums, conservationists, seekers ... aliens?

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma City firefighters responded to a fire involving two houses near N Council Road and W Wilshire Boulevard on Monday night.

House fire near N Council Road and W Wilshire Boulevard. Photo courtesy KFOR.

According to OKCFD, crews arrived to heavy flames coming through the roof of one of the houses. They believe the fire may have originated between the two homes.

A total of 45 to 50 firefighters were on scene working to extinguish the blaze.

While firefighters say there were reports of fireworks in the area, the official cause of the fire is still under investigation.

No injuries were reported as a result of 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  As the 4th of July approaches, many are getting amped to celebrate in purely American styleboisterous and proud. And while fireworks are usually part of that tradition, the Colorado Springs Fire Department is reminding locals that the public shows are put on by professionals, and all other fireworks are illegal in the city.

The main reason for firework restrictions is fire safety, according to CSFD. Nine different fireworks shows are scheduled throughout the city, and those shows have been approved by the Fire Marshal. Your uncle Marshal in the driveway with a sparkler? Not approved.

4th of July events around Southern Colorado

CSFD explained that each of the public fireworks displays go through a rigorous process in order to be approved by the Fire Marshal. In addition, each show has a CSFD inspector on site to ensure safety prior to each display, and throughout the show.

With high fire danger, all it takes is a single spark landing in just the right fuels, and your 4th of July celebrations could lead to evacuations, property damage, or worse.

Palmer Lake July 4 fireworks cancelled for 2024

Firework restrictions may feel like a Debbie-downer, but that doesnt mean your festivities have to be entirely dull. Certain items are okay to use if you would like to celebrate at home, such as party poppers, party streamers, silly string, and party snaps. Sparklers are not permitted in Colorado Springs.

Courtesy: Colorado Springs Fire Department

Remember- if it ignites, flies, or goes boom its a NO, said CSFD.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Fireworks, parades and traffic: Take in these Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, Watertown July 4 events

Looking for something to do locally in Wilson County this Fourth of July?

Several local cities have their own Independence Day activities.

Here is an overview of all the events in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet and Watertown.

Lebanon

The citys 4th of July Celebration will be held from 5-9:30 p.m., at the midway area of the James E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway in Lebanon.

Live music by SweetN3 and Eldorado, games and kids activities that will include cornhole, face painting and balloon art and food trucks are planned leading up to a fireworks show.

Gates open at 4 p.m.

Lebanon police officers will help direct outgoing traffic when the fireworks display ends.

Drivers should be aware that Sparta Pike at Briskin Lane is down to one lane in each direction for road widening, Lebanon police spokesperson Zach Patton said.

Mt. Juliet

Mt. Juliets Independence Day celebration will be held starting at 5 p.m., July 4, at Circle P Ranch, 563 E. Main Street.

Leading up to fireworks will be the Two Rivers Ford Tailgate Party with food trucks, live music and a foam party. Free watermelon will be available while supplies last, Mt. Juliet officials said.

The US Community Credit Union fireworks show will be held at 9 p.m.

Premium viewing for the fireworks include Circle P Ranch, parking at Victory Baptist Church and Hamilton-Denson Park along Tate Lane, the train depot and parking lots near Mt. Juliet Road and Division Street, according to Mt. Juliet Police Deputy Chief Tyler Chandler.

Views are also available at parking lots along Mt. Juliet Road from Old Lebanon Dirt Road to the post office.

Traffic plan after fireworks: After the fireworks show ends at around 9:30 p.m., West Division Street will be closed from Mt. Juliet Road to Brookstone Boulevard. Traffic that exits parking areas around Tate Lane and East Main Street will be directed westbound towards South Greenhill Road. Traffic that exits viewing areas around 4th Avenue and Hickory Station Lane will be directed eastbound towards Mt. Juliet Road.

Wilson County has Independence Day celebrations scheduled in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet and Watertown on July 4.

Watertown

The towns annual Stars, Stripes and Squirt Guns parade will start at 4 p.m., beginning at Round Lick Baptist Church, heading east down Main Street and ending at Jewels Market and Pizza.

Residents and those along the parade path can shoot their own squirt guns, according to parade coordinator Brandye Thomas.

The parade also has a "dry section with no squirt guns. Classic cars, horses, and Shriners will be part of the parade.

Fireworks start at dusk at Three Forks Park. Food trucks at the park and square are also planned, Thomas said.

Field of Flags

More than 200 U.S. flags are expected to be displayed at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center at 945 Baddour Parkway in Lebanon now through July 4.

The public can walk through the field of flags and take pictures.

Flags are available to buy for $35 and proceeds will benefit the American Legion Post 15, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5015, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1004 and the Associates Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1004.

Barbecue will also be for sale for $12 per pound, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5015 Commander Bill Moss said.

Proceeds from the Field of Flags will help programs to assist veterans with rent, electric bills, food and other needs.

Times are noon-5 p.m. on Saturday-Sunday, noon-6 p.m. during the week and noon-7 p.m. on July 4.

Flags to honor the memory of someone will be available on site. Flags or barbecue can also be purchased online at www.vfwpost5015.org/field-of-flags.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Fireworks and more: What to know about Wilson County July 4 events
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Stage 1 fire restrictions went into effect for the Spring Mountains nearly a month ago, and U.S. Forest Service officials are reminding people about heavy fines and/or jail time that come with use or possession of fireworks.

The Stage 1 restrictions will remain in effect until the 31st day of December 2024, unless rescinded earlier. A map of areas under fire restrictions in Nevada is available at https://www.nevadafireinfo.org/restrictions.

Mt. Charleston and the surrounding area is part of the Spring Mountains within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

Fines up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail are the penalties for ignoring the law on Forest Service land, and anyone found responsible for starting a wildfire can be held civilly and criminally liable. Fireworks are subject to confiscation.

Fireworks 2024: Fourth of July fireworks shows across the Las Vegas valley

Setting off fireworks in the forest is not only illegal but can also result in wildfires. On average, 87% of all wildfires nationally are caused by humans each year, Forest Fire Management Officer Gwen Sanchez said.

Much of our state has more grass now than what we have seen in several years. This grass is dried out resulting in fast-growing wildfires. We want visitors to come out and enjoy their public lands but leave the fireworks at home, she said.

Additionally, the Spring Mountains National Recreation is still under year-round fire restrictions. No campfires are allowed within one mile of homes in Kyle Canyon, Lee Canyon, Cold Creek, Mountain Springs, Trout Canyon, Lovell Canyon and Coal Springs. Signs are posted in these areas to remind the public.

Stage 1 restrictions:

Setting, building, maintaining, attending, or using open fire of any kind is prohibited, except campfires within approved fire pits and grills provided for in developed recreation sites. Controlled flame devices such as portable stoves and lanterns with shut-off valves, using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed.

Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or camp trailer, or while stopped or standing in a 3-foot diameter area barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Operating or parking a vehicle or other motorized equipment over or on top of dried/cured vegetation.

Any Hot Work involving electric or gas welding, cutting, brazing, or similar flame or spark-producing operations.

Those restrictions are in addition to rules that are always in place prohibiting possession or use of fireworks or explosives. Discharging a firearm using tracers or steel-component ammunition is always prohibited. Operating any engine without a spark arresting device properly installed and in working order is also prohibited.

The restrictions extend to Southern Nevada land controlled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Clark County, Moapa Valley Fire Protection District, Mesquite Fire Rescue, Mt. Charleston Fire Protection District, National Park Service, Nevada Division of Forestry, Nye County, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA Forest Service.

The U.S. Forest Service-Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests Facebook page also recommends these practices:

Fully extinguish campfires using the drown, stir & feel method.

Stay on designated roads, dont drive or park on tall, dry grass.

Secure trailer chains, vehicle accessories and equipment, when driving on rough roads.

Be aware and be safe!

If youre traveling out of the county to a different national forest, check the fire restrictions there before going.

Call 911 to report any wildfire.

Some areas remain closed due to damage from flooding last summer. For information on closures, see https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/htnf/alerts-notices/?aid=82605.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Its official: Representative Lloyd Doggett is the first Democratic lawmaker to call for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, after his disastrous appearance at a CNN debate last week.

In a statement Tuesday, the Texas Democrat lauded Biden for taking over after the wreckage of Donald Trumps presidency and the Covid-19 pandemic but said that for more than a year, many Americans have indicated dissatisfaction with their choices in this election.

President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump, Doggett said. I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not. Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trumps many lies.

Our overriding consideration must be who has the best hope of saving our democracy from an authoritarian takeover by a criminal and his gang, he continued, noting that the Supreme Court had only the day before created a law-free zone around the President.

President Biden saved our democracy by delivering us from Trump in 2020. He must not deliver us to Trump in 2024.

Doggett referred to President Lyndon Johnson, who made the painful decision to withdraw from the 1968 election due to his waning popularity against Richard Nixon. President Biden should do the same, Doggett said.

Bidens lackluster performance at last weeks presidential debate, in which he gave lengthy, often incoherent answers and repeatedly failed to refute Trumps dangerously inaccurate claims, has created growing waves of dissent throughout the previously united Democratic Party. In the debates wake, Democrats have started pushing for Biden to step aside, so that a younger candidate can take up the mantle of securing the White House.

This dissent may only continue to grow among Democratic lawmakers. While the Biden campaign has rushed to assure donors and activists that the president is still up for the task of defeating Trump, there has been little outreach to the Democrats on Capitol Hill, according to Politico.

Democratic Senate hopeful Tim Ryan, who previously served in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2023, also called Tuesday for the president to withdraw from the presidential race. Unlike Doggett, he made a pitch for who should replace Biden: Vice President Kamala Harris.

We have to rip the band aid off! Too much is at stake, Ryan wrote in a post on X, sharing the link to a Newsweek opinion piece arguing for Harriss candidacy. Ryan also shared a link to a new CNN poll that found that Harris was polling slightly better than Biden against Trump.

Representative James Clyburn said during an interview on MSNBC Tuesday that he would also support Harris if Biden were to step aside. While Clyburn did not call for the president to withdraw from the race, his comment might mark a significant defection from the South Carolina Democrat, whose endorsement was something of a linchpin for Bidens nomination in 2020.
First US House Democrat calls for Biden to drop out of presidential race

FILE PHOTO: Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Lloyd Doggett from Texas

By Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett became the first congressional Democrat to call for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race on Tuesday, following a widely panned performance at Thursday's debate.

Doggett, of Texas, applauded Biden's "transformational" first term in office but said it was time to let another member of the party challenge Republican Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election.

"Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden's first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so," Doggett said in a statement.

Biden's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Biden's campaign has hoped to reassure U.S. voters, a majority of whom say they believe Biden is too old to work in government, that the president was the best choice against his predecessor Trump.

But Biden's stumbling performance during the debate had the opposite effect. His team has since scrambled to reassure key donors that Biden's appearance was a fluke.

Although Doggett is the first congressional Democrat to explicitly call for Biden to withdraw, others have suggested such a move may be worth considering.

"He has to be honest with himself," Democratic Representative Mike Quigley, a moderate from Illinois, told CNN on Tuesday. "It's his decision. I just want him to appreciate at this time just how much it impacts, not just his race, but all the other races coming in November."

In addition to the White House, Democrats are defending several vulnerable seats in the Senate, where they hold a 51-49 majority, and are trying to recapture a majority in the House.

Doggett pointed to that dynamic.

"President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump," Doggett said. "I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not."

(Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Scott Malone and Trevor Hunnicutt)
On Tuesday, July 2, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine, and plans to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Since the beginning of the full-scale war, this is the first visit to our country by the Hungarian official who does not hide his friendly attitude towards the aggressor Russia. The visit was not officially announced as it may have been changed at any time.

The head of the Hungarian government's press service, Bertalan Havasi, told the media that one of the topics of the talks between Orban and Zelenskyy would be "the possibility of creating peace." They will also discuss current issues of Hungarian-Ukrainian bilateral relations.

Earlier, The Guardian reported that one of Europe's most pro-Russian leaders was going to Kyiv in a surprise visit just as Hungary took over the EU Council presidency. Several sources in Budapest said that Orban would meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. The Office of the President of Ukraine did not comment on the possible visit, while another source in Kyiv confirmed the plans the day before, saying, "Orban will be here tomorrow, unless there are last-minute changes."

ADVERTISIMENT

As previously reported, on June 27, Viktor Orban and Zelenskyy had a lively conversation at the EU Council summit in Brussels. It is still unknown what the leaders of the two countries talked about, but it was noted that it was the head of the Hungarian government who initiated a brief conversation with the Ukrainian leader.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Five SCOTUS Justices Comments on Prez Immunity Come Back to Haunt Them

Collective amnesia seems to have struck the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, especially around the question: Is the president above the law?

Five of the six conservative justices who ruled to give the president absolute immunity for core presidential duties seem to have made contradictory statements during their Senate confirmation hearings.

No man is above the law, Neil Gorsuch told Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) during his confirmation hearing in 2017.

Gorsuch even doubled down, calling the courts landmark 1952 decision in Youngstown v. Sawyer, which reigned in presidential authority, a brilliant opinion.

Similarly, Brett Kavanaugh told the Senate that no one is above the law during his 2018 confirmation hearing, according to CNN. Amy Coney Barrett concurred during her hearing, but like Kavanaugh, obfuscated on presidential pardons, according to The New York Times.

That question may or may not arise, but that is one that calls for legal analysis of what the scope of the pardon power is, Barrett told the Senate on the extent of the presidential pardon.

Kavanaugh told the Senate, The question of self pardons is something I have never analyzed.

In Samuel Alitos confirmation hearing he told the senate that no president, Democratic or Republican, no president is above the law, as neither are you, nor I, nor anyone in this room.

Alito also praised the Youngstown ruling, adding that during Watergate it was the responsibility of the judiciary to hold fast, in forcing President Nixon to abide by subpoenas.

Chief Justice John Roberts concurred, citing Youngstown as binding the president to the law.

Senator, I believe that no one is above the law under our system, and that includes the president, he said in his 2005 confirmation hearing. The president is fully bound by the law, the Constitution and statutes. Now, there often arise issues where theres a conflict between the Legislature and the Executive over an exercise of Executive authority, asserted Executive authority. The framework for analyzing that is in the Youngstown Sheet and Tube case, the famous case coming out of President Trumans seizure of the steel mills.

Presidential pardons, Youngstown and presidential immunity were not discussed in Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered flags across Michigan to be lowered Wednesday to honor slain Hillsdale County Sheriffs Deputy William Butler Jr.

Butler was shot while trying to arrest a suspect after a traffic stop last Thursday in Jefferson Township. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The married father of three was 51 years old.

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Deputy Butler was a proud family man, small business owner and dedicated officer who served both his nation and his neighbors in uniform, Whitmer said in a statement. As a Sheriffs Deputy, he served Hillsdale County admirably, making a real difference in the lives of the people he loved most. As we mourn his loss, our hearts are with his wife, Sarah, their five children, their two grandchildren, and all those who knew and served with him in Hillsdale and overseas.

Butler worked for the Hillsdale County Sheriffs Office for 12 years and previously served in the U.S. Army National Guard for two decades.

Accused Hillsdale shooter had larceny, drug, gun charges

After an hours-long manhunt, police were able to track down and engage the suspect, 34-year-old Eric Michael Fiddler. Investigators say he once again shot at police officers who returned fire, hitting and killing him.

News 8 sister station WLNS published court records that show Fiddler was currently out on bond for a 2023 larceny charge. Documents also show that Fiddler had pleaded guilty to three other misdemeanors since 2013, including drug possession and obstructing a police investigation.

As is tradition, at the beginning of the day flags should first be raised to full staff for a moment then lowered halfway down. That process is reversed at the end of the day.

Flags will return to full staff on Thursday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
These Florida men may be on Trump's VP short list. Who they are, what they bring

Former President Donald Trump is expected to announce his vice presidential pick any day now, with the entire country (and world) waiting.

As speculation ramps up for who will stand alongside Trump, several notable names have come up over and over again as top picks for his running mate in the 2024 race for the White House.

Here are three Floridians, both native or newcomers to the state, who might end up represent the entire country this January. See their pros and cons, according to USA TODAY experts:

Byron Donalds

PROS:

As one of the few Black conservatives in Congress, Donalds would be a historic choice at a time when the GOP is regularly accused of embracing anti-diversity policies.

Donalds emerged as an influential voice among the Houses more stringent conservative members after twice being nominated as an alternative to Rep. Kevin McCarthy during a fight over the speakers seat in January 2023.

The Florida congressman doesnt back down from a fight in the face of liberal attacks, which appeals to Trump's political persona. That also could be turned into an asset in a debate joust with Vice President Kamala Harris.

CONS:

Donalds represents a Florida district that is roughly 6% Black, creating questions over whether he can deliver minority voters for Trump.

A two-term congressman, Donalds is more of a show horse known for his TV appearances than legislative heavy lifting. He isnt in the GOP leadership pipeline, and he didnt have much leadership experience during his four years as a Florida state legislator, either.

Donalds and Trump are both from Florida, which means that under the U.S. Constitution one of them would have to move to collect the states electoral votes. If Donalds does so, he would have to leave Congress.

Marco Rubio

Rally goers, 45th President Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are seen at the Save America Rally at the Miami Dade County Fair and Expo in Miami on Sunday November 6, 2022.

PROS:

A fluent Spanish speaker, Rubio could help Trump reach Hispanic voters who increasingly are trending Republican.

Rubio was a darling of the GOP establishment when he ran for president in 2016 and still appeals to many traditional Republicans, which could help Trump win over voters who have cast ballots for Nikki Haley in the primary.

Rubios considerable foreign policy experience could be an asset in an election where conflicts in Ukraine and Israel will be front and center

CONS:

Because both Trump and Rubio live in Florida, under the U.S. Constitution the states GOP delegates cant vote for them both. That means Rubio likely would have to move. Trump has mentioned this as a concern.

Some in Trumps MAGA base still are suspicious of Rubio because of his past support for comprehensive immigration reform and nasty 2016 primary fight with Trump.

Florida isnt considered a battleground state anymore, so selecting the senator wouldnt help Trump carry a key swing state.

Tucker Carlson

PROS:

The former Fox News host remains a face of conservative media who knows how to craft a message that appeals to Trumps MAGA base.

A 2023 Gallup poll showed Carlson is the most popular news figure in the U.S, and that stems largely from being seen as a forbearer of Trumpism. The two share a distaste for liberal social causes, a skepticism of the U.S. intelligence community and a more isolationist foreign policy, particularly in terms of Russia.

Carlson and Trump have shown a good working rapport, at least publicly. Trump skipped the first GOP presidential debate in 2023 and opted for a 45-minute talk with Carlson instead.

CONS:

Carlsons true feelings about Trump were revealed as part of evidence in a lawsuit against Fox News. I hate him passionately, the TV host said in a text message to colleagues.

Carlson is a polarizing figure with years of controversial comments who is known to flirt with conspiracy theories that could further alienate independent voters. He was the centerpiece of a $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems, which was the subject of false allegations about the 2020 election.

Being as popular as the person at the top of the ticket could be a disqualification. VP picks historically dont outpace the presidential nominee.

Who else is on Donald Trump's short list for vice president?

In addition to the three Floridians, there are least 16 other people have been mentioned as possible picks to serve as Trump's running mate:

When is Donald Trump expected to announce a vice president?

There is not a set date for when Trump will announce his pick for vice president. However, USA Today said experts anticipate an announcement around the start of the Republican National Convention on Monday July 15 in Milwaukee, if not sooner.

Who was Trump's vice president in 2017? What happened to Mike Pence after 2020?

Michael R. Pence served as the 48th vice president under Trump's president. Prior to the position, Pence was the governor of Indiana from 2013 until 2017.

After Trump's term ended, the former vice president released a memoir titled "So Help Me God," which discusses Pences life in politics. He also shared his take of the events on Jan. 6 and how it affected his relationship with his former boss.

For four years, we had a close working relationship. It did not end well, Pence wrote, highlighted by CBS News.   we parted amicably when our service to the nation drew to a close. In the months that followed, we spoke from time to time, but when the president returned to the rhetoric that he was using before that tragic day and began to publicly criticize those of us who defended the Constitution, I decided it would be best to go our separate ways.

Pence ran for president until he dropped his bid in October 2023. He said he is not endorsing Trump's 2024 presidential bid.

Has there ever been a vice president from Florida?

There has never been a vice president from Florida. New York has housed the most of any state, being the birth state of eight vice presidents.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Trump VP pick coming soon. 3 Florida men on short list
The second of three former top executives of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium pleaded guilty Tuesday to an array of theft, conspiracy and other charges for defrauding taxpayers and zoo coffers of millions of dollars.

Peter Fingerhut faced 63 felony counts including bribery, conspiracy, extortion and money laundering when he and others were indicted in September.

On Tuesday he pleaded guilty to 16 felonies and one misdemeanor, leaving his sentencing on Sept. 23 to Delaware County Common Pleas Judge David Gormley.

Fingerhut faces up to 37  years in prison. He also agreed to pay $675,573 in restitution to the zoo, a small part of which will go to the IRS and Ohio Department of Taxation.

Two current zoo employees sat in the front row of the gallery during Tuesday's plea hearing: "We want to see this crook go to jail," one of them said, declining to be named because they were unauthorized to discuss the matter.

Former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium marketing director Peter Fingerhut, right, and his attorney, Diane Menashe, appear for a plea hearing Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Delaware County Common Pleas Court. Fingerhut pleaded guilty to 16 felonies and one misdemeanor.

As marketing director, Fingerhut oversaw promotional tickets, tie-ins with zoo sponsors and special events involving donors. His trial was scheduled for July 9.

Part of his plea might be connected to that of Greg Bell, the zoo's former chief financial officer, who agreed to cooperate with special prosecutors with the Ohio Attorney General's office. Bell pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts and faces up to 33  years in prison at an Aug. 19 sentencing hearing.

Some have described former CEO Thomas Stalf as the ringleader of the theft and fraud, if only because he held the zoo's top job with others reporting directly to him.

In court documents, prosecutors accused Stalf of using zoo money to buy a recreational vehicle for his exclusive use, taking it aboard a ferry to Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island in Lake Erie for a family trip. His trial is set for Aug. 6.

The indictment for the trio alleges that upper management treated zoo cash, inventory of alcohol for special events and other zoo assets "as if they owned it." Stalf is accused of stealing bottles of alcohol and beer from the zoo warehouse for parties at his home several times a year over a five- to six-year period, according to the indictment.

Bell's attorney, Sam Shamansky, said his client was the first to admit wrongdoing and place his fate in the hands of the court.

"Virtually, since Day 1, he's made efforts at restitution and has fully cooperated with the authorities to remedy a very difficult situation," Shamansky said.

A fourth official, Tracy Murnane, is the most recent to face felony charges in the scandal.

Murnane faces charges of grand theft; complicity in the commission of theft of a motor vehicle; forgery; telecommunications fraud; and filing incomplete, false and fraudulent returns, according to Ohio Auditor Keith Faber's office.

Prosecutors accused Murnane of personally profiting by selling cars to the zoo using an anonymous seller; attending special events with zoo-owned tickets and booking a party bus for his son's wedding using zoo resources. Murnane is scheduled for his arraignment/change of plea hearing on July 8.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Second former Columbus Zoo official pleads guilty to theft, conspiracy
The former executive director of the Freight House Farmers Market has been ordered to serve three years of probation, according to court documents.

Lorraine Beaman, 61, of Long Grove, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft, a Class D felony, court records say. She was placed on probation for a period of three years unless sooner released by the court.

Lorraine Beaman (OurQuadCities.com)

Conditions of the probation include that she shall not serve in any capacity that requires her to be responsible for the finances of a third party  except for a relative  without the approval of the probation department or the court, and she shall not (have) harassing contact with the Freight House Farmers Board or the Executive Director, the sentencing order says, adding Contact through legal counsel is allowed if necessary.

Another condition of probation is that she shall have no further law violations and that she will follow any other conditions set out by the probation officer, court records say.

Court records show she also was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $3,500, and The Defendants payment of victim restitution in the amount of $10,455.60 to Freight House Farmers Market shall be released by the Clerk of Court.

In a hearing earlier this year, a former board member read a victim-impact statement in court.

Freight House Farmers Market back in action

Beaman was accused of embezzling from the Freight House Farmers Market, Davenport.

Our Quad Cities News was in the courtroom at that hearing. Beaman appeared with her attorney, Andrea Jaeger, who asked for a deferred judgment, which involves a defendant pleading guilty before being placed on probation.

She said Beaman already has paid restitution. The Freight House has been fully made whole, Jaeger said, adding that Beaman has no criminal history and has accepted responsibility for the offense.

Then a former Farmers Market Board member took the stand with a victim-impact statement.

The emotional toll of this betrayal cannot be overstated, the former board member said. Beamans actions have left an indelible mark on the farmers market, the former board member said.

Judge Thomas Reidel said the theft was not just an isolated, one-time theft. and that it was an ongoing crime.

In a letter dated June 24, a market vendor wrote a letter of support for Beaman to the judge, noting Beamans skill as a grant writer, her entrepreneurial enthusiasm for market expansion, adding I understand how much Lorrie loves this market and the good it does.

Embezzling accusations

Over a period of two years  from about May 2, 2021 to Nov. 1, 2022  Beaman embezzled about $10,455 of the Freight House Farmers Market funds, police say in arrest affidavits.

Police say Beaman used the funds to remodel her personal business (Chill Ice Cream & Eats), purchase items for her personal business, purchase personal items, purchase a trailer from her son for an inflated price, purchase (an) Apple TV, purchase resume builders, (and) pay for attorney fees for her nonprofit.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Lance Levine, the former owner of an El Paso manufacturing company and a passionate photographer in recent years, died June 25. He would have turned 83 years old in August.

A memorial service is scheduled for July 7.

He died in his West El Paso home after battling a cancerous brain tumor for almost two years.

He founded his company, MFI International in his native New York City in 1962, moved it to Chicago, and then to El Paso in 1984 to do manufacturing on the United States-Mexico border, said Emma Wollschlager (formerly Emma Schwartz), one of his stepchildren.

Lance Levine, former owner of MFI International, an El Paso manufacturing company with factories in El Paso and Juarez, in his MFI office in the Lower Valley around 2017.

He was a very smart man, said Wollschlager, managing partner of Ecotone Investment Fund in El Paso and former president of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation. He was a fantastic mentor for me.

Levine added a partner to his company and his life in 1989 when he married Cecilia Ochoa Levine, who had her own El Paso manufacturing company when they met.

I always told her that one of the reasons I married her was to punish her for taking a (manufacturing) contract away from me, Lance Levine joked in a 2006 El Paso Times interview. They were married 35 years.

He took care of the company's finances while Cecilia Ochoa Levine was its creative force, the couple explained in the 2006 interview.

The Levines retired from the company several years ago. Its now owned and operated by one of their sons, Lawrence Wollschlager.

MFI operates factories in El Paso's Lower Valley, where it's headquartered, and in Juarez. It now manufactures mattress covers, upholstery materials, military goods, automotive components, and other textile products.

More: Mexico nearshoring wave has Juarez manufacturing booming, El Paso trade show attendees say

He was the rock of the family, said Lance Michael Levine, 33, the youngest of the Levine children. He was very involved in the family, (helping) with personal or business decisions.

He was not only the young Levine's father, but also his mentor who encouraged him to open his own business, Hammer Performance, a truck customizer located in Sunland Park, New Mexico, the son said.

Lance Levine captured this photo in 2017 in Camargue, France on one of his many photography expeditions.

In recent years, Lance Levine went on numerous, exotic photography expeditions where he took beautiful photos of landscapes and wild animals. He posted many of them through the years on his Facebook page.

He was always interested in photography. Lance Michael Levine said. As long as I have been alive (33 years), he always had a camera in his hand, but not until the last 20 years did he get more into it.

His photos decorate his childrens homes and also hang in many of his friends offices.

Lance Levine also was involved in the U.S./Mexico/Canada Strategic Alliance foundation founded by his wife. It supports various projects in Juarez and other areas.

Besides his wife, Lance Levine also is survived by three children and three stepchildren, and several grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 7, from 6-9 p.m., including a 7 p.m. Mass, at Perches Funeral Home West at 6111 S. Desert Blvd.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter, now known as X.

More: El Paso factory owner Matt Keats' memorial service at his beloved Chihuahuas ballpark

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Former El Paso factory owner Lance Levine was mentor, photographer
A north Georgia car dealer was convicted in a $3 million fraud and theft case, prompted by a Channel 2 investigation.

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On Tuesday, Mitchell C. Simpson, 56, of Cornelia pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

According to court documents, from early 2012 through early 2019, Simpson operated Mitch Simpson Motors, a used car dealership in Cleveland, GA. Three floor-plan lenders, Dealer Financial Holdings LLC, Americash Advance, Inc., and Floorplan Xpress, LLC-OK, each provided Simpson with a revolving line of credit, also known as floor-plan financing, so that Simpson could buy an inventory of vehicles to re-sell to customers.

Nearly 60 buyers say they paid Mitch Simpson Motors for their purchases, but their TAVT taxes were left unpaid and their titles were never delivered. Buyers came to Channel 2 after unsuccessful attempts to contact Simpson.

Officials each line of credit was through a written contract, known as a floor-plan financing agreement. When Sinpson wanted to borrow money to buy a vehicle, he would contact the lenders and get the loan amount requested. In return for the loan, the dealership would grant the floor-plan lender a purchase-money security interest in the vehicle. Simpson was required to keep the vehicle free from all other liens and security interests until sold.

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Simpson scammed the floor-plan lenders by using a single vehicle as collateral for more than one floor-plan loan. To hide the double and triple floor-planning, Simpson made false and misleading statements and left out material facts in his communications with the floor-plan lenders. Authorities said he did not always pay the floor-plan lenders, as required.

The DAs office said Simpsons scheme resulted in a loss of more than $3 million to the floor-plan lenders.

This defendant abused the trust of the companies that loaned him money to operate his car dealership, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.

Simpson will be sentenced on Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones in Gainesville.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Former head of Hennepin County public defender's office admits to drunken driving in Wayzata

The former head of the Hennepin County public defender's office has pleaded guilty to driving drunk in connection to a 2022 incident where police stopped him as he drove east in a westbound lane of Hwy. 12 in Wayzata.

Kassius Benson, 53, pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court last week to a misdemeanor drunken driving count. Police stopped him in his pickup truck about 2:15 a.m. on Oct. 15, 2022.

After his arrest, a preliminary breath test administered by law enforcement measured Benson's blood alcohol content at 0.14%, nearly twice the legal limit for driving in Minnesota.

"I make no challenge to the procedure or test result," Benson, of Plymouth, wrote in his guilty plea filing.

Benson's plea calls for a 30-day jail term to be set aside and for him to be put on probation for one year. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

The stop occurred two days before Benson announced his resignation as chief public defender amid a federal investigation into allegations of tax evasion. He was sentenced in May to three years' probation and ordered to pay the Internal Revenue Service $213,591.81 in restitution.
Former incel who threatened to carry out UA mass shooting gets 16 months in prison

A man who in October threatened to commit a mass shooting at the University of Arizona was sentenced to 16 months in prison, authorities announced Tuesday.

Michael Pengchung Lee, 27, pleaded guilty in April to making interstate threats after he posted in a Snapchat group chat on Oct. 23, 2023, that he sought revenge on "all the chads and stacies"  terms commonly used to refer to men and women by self-described involuntary celibate people, or "incels." The FBI in October described Lee as a former incel.

Court documents stated Lee posted the day before: "Theres going to be a mass tragedy and atrocity at the UofA Soon."

Gary Restaino, the U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, said Tuesday that Lee's Snapchat messages in the months prior to the mass shooting threats contained multiple references to a desire to rape female college students.

Restaino said Lee's sentence is at the "top end" of the range recommended by the Federal Sentencing Commission for this type of crime.

Lee was also ordered to undergo drug testing and a mental health assessment and was given a "no contact order" during his three-year supervised release, after he is released from custody. Additionally, he will be prohibited from emailing or writing to the university and banned from entering campus.

"We hope that this is a way both to ensure rehabilitation of Mr. Lee and to continue to protect the students on the University of Arizona campus," Restaino said.

Restaino said Lee has prior criminal charges, including a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct following a dispute with an escort in 2020, and a drug trafficking offense in September.

The investigation into the mass shooting threats Lee made on social media was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the University of Arizona Police Department, as part of the FBIs Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force.

Gary Restaino, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, is joined by Jason Alexander (right), acting assistant special agent in charge for the FBI in Phoenix, and UA police Chief Chris Olson on July 2, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Tucson.

University police chief: Arrest due to changes made after professor was shot in 2022

Chris Olson, University of Arizonas police chief, said Lee's arrest was the result of changes made to the university's threat response after Thomas Meixner, a professor at the university, was gunned down in October 2022 by a former student. In June, Murad Dervish received a life sentence without parole for first-degree murder.

"One of the results of the Murad Dervish trial and the murder of Professor Meixner was the creation of the office of Public Safety, and part of that is a threat assessment management team led by clinical psychologist (Jessie) Semmann," Olson said.

In the year following the shooting, the university created an Office of Public Safety and made changes to its threat assessment and management team. The team is a multidisciplinary group of university employees and contractors who work to assess the threat of violence.

The threat assessment team was created after a shooting at the university in 2002 when a former student shot three faculty members from the University of Arizona College of Nursing and himself.

Authorities encourage the public to report threats of violence

Olson said Lee's case was made possible because a member of the public reported Lee's threats to law enforcement. Olson encouraged the public to continue contacting law enforcement with any type of threat, including threats made by electronic communications like text messaging, emails or social media.

"We encourage anyone who comes across such behavior to report it to law enforcement immediately. I'm thankful for the community member who came forward in this case," Olson said.

What to watch for: How to spot students who may be trending toward violence

Tips from the public can include anything from a threat to life, missing persons to internet crime, said Jason Alexander, acting assistant special agent in charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"We would rather run down a lead that ends in nothing than this one that ends in the loss of life," he said.

Restaino said authorities are seeing more and more threats directed against women, highlighting two recent cases.

One case involved Caleb Alfred Tifft, 29, of Tucson, who was arrested in May and accused of stalking and threatening a student at the University of Arizona. Another case involved New Mexico resident James Thomas Andrew McCarty, who was sentenced in Phoenix to seven years imprisonment for hoax calls threatening violence with guns and bombs. Evidence shows he also targeted a female high school student, Restaino said.

Restaino said that while incarceration and "holistic conditions of supervision post incarceration" can help deter gender-based violence, he reiterated the need for better role models.

"Let's help people get their heads out of those rabbit holes that cause them to say these things that are, in fact, crimes," he said.

He also thanked Tucson Municipal Judge Wendy Million for her work in prohibiting abusers in domestic violence cases from possessing firearms.

"We appreciate the partnership with Judge Million and her use of Department of Justice grant funding to further this important end," he said.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com.

The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Michael Pengchung Lee gets 16 months in prison for UA shooting threat
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Hungary for participating in the first Peace Summit and expressed hope that Budapest would join the preparation of the second summit. He noted that it could be organized this year.

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The Head of State made this statement during a briefing following the negotiations in Kyiv with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The President also noted Hungary's support for the final communique of the summit.

"Hungary took part in the first Peace Summit and supported the summit communique, and this shows Hungary's readiness to be effective in order to return long-term security to our country and the entire region  Europe," Zelenskyy said.

He said that during the talks with Orban, they discussed in detail how Hungary could demonstrate its leadership in the preparation of the second summit.

"We discussed in detail how Hungary can demonstrate its leadership in the preparation of the second Peace Summit. We see an opportunity to organize the second Peace Summit this year and would like to do so very much, we can do all the preparatory work in the coming months. We will be grateful to Hungary for its support and activity in this regard," Zelenskyy emphasized.

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During the meeting, the parties also discussed cooperation at the EU level and expectations from the Hungarian presidency.

Earlier it was reported that on Tuesday, July 2, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Ukraine. He arrived in Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first visit to Ukraine by a Hungarian politician since the beginning of the full-scale war.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a ceasefire with Russia. He also said that Zelenskyy's peace initiatives would take a long time and that "there is another way."

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Kansas state government has launched a national marketing campaign with a $2 million budget to try to convince former Kansans to move back to the Sunflower State.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced Monday that it has launched the "Love, Kansas" talent attraction campaign.

"It's simple: We need more humans in Kansas to keep up with the phenomenal economic growth our state is experiencing," said Lt. Gov. David Toland, who is also the Commerce secretary, in a statement. "The best way to do that is to first approach Kansans who left the state for economic opportunities elsewhere and invite them to build a life in a place they know and have connections to, whether in their hometown or elsewhere in the state."

Gov. Laura Kelly walks alongside Lt. Gov. David Toland in January. Toland is also secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce, which on Monday launched a national marketing campaign to recruit former Kansans back to the Sunflower State.

Kansas campaign asks 'boomerangs' to come home

Kansas officials hope they can boost the state's population by wooing past residents to return. The campaign is targeting "boomerangs"  people with previous ties to Kansas  while also seeking people without Kansas connections.

"With the Love, Kansas campaign, we aren't just extending an invitation to those who once called Kansas home to come back  we're also inviting families from around the country to build their lives in the Sunflower State," Toland said.

The Commerce Department had proposed a returning Kansans home marketing campaign in 2023 and requested $3 million, but the Legislature last year appropriated $2 million for the project. The money came from the economic development initiatives fund.

The agency said the "Love, Kansas" campaign "will focus on the state's abundant job opportunities, high quality of life, excellent education system and affordable communities." They added that it "will highlight Kansas as an exceptional place to live, work and raise a family."

The "Love, Kansas" campaign has a website and a video.

"What if you woke up every day and loved where you live? " the narrator says at the start of the video. "Really, truly loved the place you call home? Surrounded by family and a caring community in a quality neighborhood you can afford, where you can plant and grow your family, your career, your dreams. A place where life is what you make it. What if that place already exists right here in the heart of the heartland?"

The narrator later says, "You should love where you live, and you will love Kansas."

More: This New York resident won a free trip to Topeka. Here's what she'll experience while here

'There are so many amazing things happening in Kansas'

The campaign will target key markets, focus on digital and social media platforms, engage influencers and include in-person events both inside and outside the state. Communities that partner with the campaign can get a $5,000 grant to assist in local efforts to attract new residents, while the campaign has already partnered with 19 pilot communities and seven universities.

"A primary goal is for communities across the state to do direct outreach to past residents they have a personal connection with, inviting them to return home," the state agency said.

"The collaboration already on display between so many partners underscores the enthusiasm for this campaign," said Bridgette Jobe, the state's tourism director, in a statement. "There are so many amazing things happening in Kansas right now; Love, Kansas gives us the chance to let people throughout the country know about them."

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas $2 million marketing campaign invites former Kansans back home
LMPD Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, speaks during a press conference announcing additional information to be released about complaints surrounding LMPD officers and their conduct on Friday, May26, 2023

Former Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel stepped down from her post last week at the demand of Mayor Craig Greenberg, according to a resignation letter obtained by The Courier Journal under Kentuckys Open Records Act.

The men and women of LMPD (both sworn and professional staff members) and the citizens of Louisville deserve to know I have not and will not abandon them, Gwinn-Villaroel wrote in the resignation letter, dated June 25.

Greenberg had previously declined to say whether he had asked Gwinn-Villaroel to resign. But at a press conference Tuesday, following the letter's release, he confirmed he had asked the former chief to step down.

Greenberg has not said why he asked her to resign.

Gwinn-Villaroel was suspended June 12 over concerns about how she handled a sexual harassment allegation during a staff meeting between senior officers.

According to a recording of that meeting, which has not been independently verified, Maj. Shannon Lauder can be heard saying another major, Brian Kuriger, sexually harassed and attacked her. Soon after, Gwinn-Villaroel goes on to seemingly promote Kuriger.

The city has contracted former FBI agent David Beyer to conduct an independent investigation into Gwinn-Villaroel's handling of the matter. However, less than two weeks after Greenberg announced the suspension and investigation, he announced Gwinn-Villaroel had resigned.

In her two-page resignation letter, Gwinn-Villaroel described a culture of apathy and divisiveness in the department that was more downcast than the image she or the Greenberg administration presented publicly.

In the letter, Gwinn-Villaroel said she arrived to challenging times for LMPD and the city in 2021, wherein a wall of divisiveness between the men and women of LMPD, the citizens, the media, and the mayoral administration existed.

When asked about the division she described, Greenberg said LMPD and Louisville Metro Government must continue to improve and further earn the community's trust.

"I believe we have made good progress in that regard, and we have to make more," Greenberg said.

In her letter, Gwinn-Villaroel added: The divisiveness and subsequent toxicity were pervasive within LMPD and illuminated a conflict between those who sought diligently to uphold the proper ideals of the most noble of professions and those who were indebted to traditions, legacies and operational standards contrary to the professional tenets of public service, fairness, impartiality and ethics.

The greatest challenge she faced was an invasive presence of professional and ethical apathy in the department, she wrote. She went on to blame LMPDs longstanding cultural deficiencies as emanating from certain members of leadership and filtering down to the rank-and-file positions, thus creating an apathetic professional malaise.

Greenberg said Gwinn-Villaroel did not identify the "certain members of leadership" to him.

Despite that atmosphere, Gwinn-Villaroel said she was proud of the work done by LMPD and has hope for the future of the department.

Although I am aware that there is much work to still be done toward changing the culture at LMPD [as] I resign my post as the head of this great department, I am not resigned to the belief that the citizen does not deserve the best LMPD has to offer, I do not resign myself to believe that LMPD is incapable of being a world-class department, she wrote.

At a press conference last week, Greenberg said Gwinn-Villaroel would be paid four months of salary to assist with some transition issues and to be available [if needed].

In her letter, Gwinn-Villaroel said, I agree to vacate headquarters, return equipment and work remotely, for four months, until October 26, 2024.

After that date, she said she would consult on disciplinary cases or litigation in which I was personally involved for a rate of $125 per hour.

Greenberg has named former deputy chief Paul Humphrey as acting interim chief of LMPD following Gwinn-Villaroel's resignation. He said his administration would not search for a new permanent chief at this time.

Shortly after Gwinn-Villaroel's suspension was announced, two additional LMPD officers, Sgt. Lauren Carby and Officer Christine Silk, filed lawsuits against Louisville Metro Police, alleging sexual harassment within the department.

Hours after the second lawsuit was filed June 20, Greenberg held a press conference, where he said the city needed to make significant changes to the way LMPD handles investigations, discipline, training (and) victim support.

Gwinn-Villaroels resignation comes just under a year since she was named permanent chief after a secretive search by the Greenberg administration, which refused to identify finalists for the job and required the panel interviewing candidates to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Once in the job, Gwinn-Villaroel faced controversy.

In January, The Courier Journal reported she had been suspended by Atlantas police department for lying and illicitly attempting to access files related to a narcotics investigation targeting a relative.

That revelation came shortly after the chief faced criticism in Louisville for false testimony at a civil trial last November. At that trial, she testified that she was not wearing a body camera at the scene of a fatal crash that followed an LMPD chase. However, an attorney representing plaintiffs suing the city showed a still image from another officers body camera that showed she was wearing one that day.

Reach reporter Josh Wood at jwood@courier-journal.com or on X, formerly known asTwitter at @JWoodJourno. Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courier-journal.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RachelSmithNews.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Former Louisville police chief says she resigned at mayor's request
Former romance scammer spills secrets on how he did it

Former romance scammer spills secrets on how he did it

A former romance scammer who ripped off tens of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims decided he would turn over a new leaf and explained to Action News Jaxs sister station WSOC-TV how he got away with it.

I would start the conversation with them. I would make them like me. I have a great sense of humor, by the way, said Christopher Maxwell, a former romance scammer.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Maxwell lives in Nigeria and told WSOC-TVs Erika Jackson in a Zoom interview that he preyed on people in North Carolina.

I do tell them that I am in the military, Maxwell said. And I am on deployment, so were not allowed to do video calls at camp, or we will be punished if we do.

Read: First Alert Weather: Hurricane Beryl reaches Cat. 5 status, rolling west/northwest across Caribbean

Maxwell told Jackson he started scamming in college. He would find women through dating apps and speak with them throughout the day, which could last years. He said he would earn their trust and ask for money.

I would say I use Chase Bank, and I cant access my bank in Iran or Afghanistan. So, I dont have access to money. Id tell them to please help me with any amount. When Im back from deployment, Ill pay everything, he explained.

CLICK HERE to read the full story by WSOC-TV.

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An enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe was convicted last week of voluntary manslaughter in a three-decades-old cold case on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

Jay Adams, 58, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $50 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

In 1992, Adams, his three children, his girlfriend, and her 23-month-old daughter were living in his parents home on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in Roberts County, S.D. After working a night shift as a dispatcher for the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribal Police Department, he returned home to find everyone in the residence asleep. Upon checking on the children, he discovered the 23-month-old had soiled her diaper and bedding. He reacted violently, slamming her on the ground and striking her head on the cement floor. An autopsy report later revealed evidence of forceful blows to her abdomen. Adams did not render aid or call 911; instead, he placed her back into bed.

He checked on the toddler the next morning, finding her deceased, and immediately called out for help. Adams and the victims mother performed CPR until emergency responders arrived to transport her to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.

Adams maintained that he awoke to find the victim not breathing.

In early 2023, a witness came forward and identified Adams as being responsible for the girls death.

Law enforcement officers from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police Department and the FBI continued the investigation, conducting interviews with individuals associated with Adams an consulting with a pathologist to review the 1992 autopsy report. Adams indited in April 2023 and eventually pleaded guilty in November of that year.

Tragically, this matter took thirty years to resolve, said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell in a statement. But the resolution nonetheless demonstrates law enforcements relentless commitment to cracking these cases so that perpetrators can be held to account. It is our hope the Defendants sentence offers some measure of closure to the victims family.

The case was prosecuted by Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Great Plains Region Troy R. Morley, as a part of the Department of Justices Missing or Murdered MMIP Regional Outreach Program. Launched in 2023, the program permanently places ten attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people.

About the Author: "Elyse Wild is senior editor for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. "

Contact: ewild@indiancountrymedia.com
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  A former Vista Ridge High School teacher pleaded guilty last month in a Williamson County court after she was accused of inappropriate interactions with her 15-year-old student in 2023, according to court documents.

Kirstie Noel Russell was charged with improper relationship between educator/student and received 10 years of deferred adjudication community supervision, court records said. Deferred adjudication is a type of probation, which gives the person sentenced the opportunity to keep the conviction off their criminal record.

Vista Ridge High School teacher charged with indecency with a child

The Leander Independent School District placed Russell on administrative leave in September 2023 after learning of a potential inappropriate relationship, the school district said previously. In June 2024, LISD said Russell was no longer employed with the district.

Russell was charged in October 2023, according to an arrest affidavit.

If Russell sticks to the deferred adjudication agreement, then all evidence seized in connection with [Russells] arrest and prosecution may be destroyed, court records 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 KXAN Austin.
Jordan Bardella has denounced the move against Marine Le Pen's party as an "alliance of dishonour" - AP Photo/Thomas Padilla

France is heading for a Frexit in disguise if the hard-Right or hard-Left prevail in the parliamentary elections, Emmanuel Macrons finance minister has warned.

Mr Macrons centrist party and a Left-wing alliance are scrambling to block the hard-Right National Rally (RN) from taking power ahead of Sundays second-round runoff.

However Bruno Le Maire, the finance minister who harks from the centre-Right, has ruled out voting for either Marine Le Pens party or the far-Left France Unbowed (LFI), saying both are beyond the pale and will wreak havoc on the economy and the values of the French Republic.

Lets be clear: the extremes will end European integration, by renegotiating our European contribution on the one hand, by flouting the budgetary rules of the eurozone on the other, he said.

These are two Frexits in disguise.

Bruno Le Maire, the finance minister who harks from the centre-Right, has ruled out voting for either hard-Right or hard-Left - AP Photo/Thibault Camus

Jordan Bardella, RNs president, says he wants to reduce the countrys contribution to the European Union budget by two to three billion euros, while the New Popular Front programme, a Left-wing alliance of Socialists, Greens, Communists and LFI, advocates rejecting European budget rules.

Splits have emerged in the Macron camp over whether to withdraw candidates to back a Left-wing, Melenchoniste alternative, with some like Mr Le Maire adopting a neither the RN nor LFI stance and others, such as outgoing parliamentary speaker Yael Braun-Pivet, defending a case-by-case approach.

Candidates who gained more than 12.5 per cent of the registered vote in last Sundays first round have until 6pm French time on Tuesday to say whether they are running in the final ballot this Sunday, July 7.

More than 210 candidates who came third in the first round have already announced theyre pulling out, mainly to block the RN out of three-ways, according to Le Monde.

The alliance hopes that tactical voting will prevent Ms Le Pens party from winning the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority.

Mr Macron has called for a broad democratic coalition against the anti-immigrant RN, with the political crisis overshadowing Frances preparations for the Olympic Games this summer.

Yet Mr Bardella, who would become prime minister if the RN won an absolute majority, has denounced the move against his party as an alliance of dishonour and accused the French president of coming to the rescue of a violent far-Left movement.

Speaking to broadcaster TF1 on Monday evening, Gabriel Attal, the French prime minister, once again urged voters not to give Ms Le Pen an absolute majority.

That would be catastrophic for the French, he said, adding that it would fuel divisions in society.

The RN garnered 33 per cent of the vote last Sunday, compared with 28 per cent for the New Popular Front alliance and just over 20 per cent for Macrons party.

Analysts say the most likely outcome of the snap election is a hung parliament that could lead to months of political paralysis and chaos.

With a total of 76 candidates elected in the first round, the final composition of the 577-seat National Assembly will be clear only after the second round.

On Tuesday, Ms Le Pen said her partys government is ready if it clinches an absolute majority or close enough to form one with any willing allies.

She accused Mr Macron of plotting an administrative coup detat by planning to make a wave of strategic appointments, notably in the police, this week before a possible cohabitation with her National Rally.

In the last council of ministers before the first round of legislative elections, Mr Macron already announced an unusually large raft of appointments of senior civil servants, including the military governor of Paris, the new chief of staff of the French Air Force, the new director of the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and three ambassadors.

In Brussels last Thursday, Mr Macron announced his wish to see Thierry Breton reappointed as French EU Commissioner.

Ms Le Pen claimed the aim of such appointments was to prevent Jordan Bardella from governing the country as he wishes and that if her party won power, it would reverse these appointments so as to be able to govern.

On Tuesday night the Elysee hit back at such claims, saying Ms Le Pen should show composure and moderation.

For the past 66 years, every week there have been appointments and movements, particularly in the summer, regardless of the political times our institutions are going through, said the presidents office.

The Macron camp still hopes to cobble together a coalition after the electoral dust settles, ranging from the Left to the centre-Right. However the LFI has already ruled out doing any such deal.

With the RN ahead in more than half of Frances constituencies, on Tuesday, it emerged that one of its candidates in Jura had qualified for the second round even though he has been placed under guardianship because he is suffering from dementia.

Tierry Mosca, 65, was placed under curatorship in November 2023. A case against him for undeclared work was dismissed at the beginning of June on the grounds of his impaired mental state, local media reported.

That did not stop him from finishing second in the first round last Sunday behind Marie-Christine Dalloz, the outgoing MP, and ahead of Evelyne Ternant, the Communist candidate, who announced her withdrawal from the second round in order to block the RN.

In another embarrassment for the Le Pen camp, her party was forced to withdraw Ludivine Daoudi, a candidate in the north-western Calvados constituency, after a photo emerged showing her wearing a Nazi cap.

She received almost 20 per cent of the vote on Sunday in the first round of the election.

The photo was shared by Emma Fourreau, a candidate from the Left-wing NFP alliance. It is a screenshot of Ms Daoudis Facebook page, in which she can be seen wearing a Luftwaffe officers cap with a swastika.

Ms Le Pen has been at pains to detoxify the party whose predecessor was co-founded by her father Jean-Marie, a convicted Holocaust denier.

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(PUEBLO, Colo.)  Free vaccinations for Hepatitis, chickenpox, HPV, and COVID-19 are being offered at the Helping Hands Community Fair at St. Mary-Corwin Hospital at 1008 Minnequa Avenue in Pueblo on Wednesday, July 3.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environments Disease Control and Public Health Response Divisions Health Equity Branch is hosting the vaccination clinic, which is the latest addition to the event held on the first Wednesday of every month. Roughly 250 people attend Helping Hands every month.

Vaccinations are offered from 10 a.m. for as long as supplies last, but if you miss your chance on July 3, the free vaccinations will continue to be offered at the Helping Hands event every month.

Our goal is to provide a hand up for those in our community who need assistance, said Sal Katz, director of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Centers Southern Colorado operations. We are not doing this event solely for veterans; anyone in Pueblo who needs help can come to the event. The vaccination services are also open to anyone who needs protection against diseases.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Virginia election officials on Tuesday declared Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, the loser in his close primary against state Sen. John McGuire.

The determination came two weeks after Goods primary and makes him the first casualty of GOP infighting this cycle.

McGuires 374-vote margin is still slim enough that Good can request a recount, but just shy of the threshold that would absolve Goods campaign from having to foot the bill.

We intend to call for recounts, Good told HuffPost last week, before the Virginia State Board of Elections had certified McGuire as the winner. Its close enough to justify that and we just want to make sure that every legal and human vote is counted, and ultimately, the result reflects the intent of the qualified voters who participated.

Good has attempted to cast doubt on the outcome, drawing attention to what he suggested were suspicious fire alarms at three polling sites on election day and balloting issues in his districts largest city, though fewer than 10 ballots were affected.

The June 18 primary, in south-central Virginias 5th District, was an extraordinary blow to Good, who himself unseated an incumbent only four years ago and quickly ascended in Congress to lead the Houses most prominent group of right-wing lawmakers.

Its the first time this cycle a serious primary challenge has managed to knock out an incumbent Republican. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a West Texas moderate, narrowly emerged from a May runoff after opposing a GOP border security bill. Last month, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace easily dispatched a primary challenge that largely stemmed from her vote against former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Good was opposed by two powerful and sometimes opposing forces within the GOP: Former President Donald Trump and allies of McCarthy.

Good alienated both Trump and McCarthy over the past year or so  first, when he endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over Trump in the Republican presidential primary last May, and then when he and several other GOP lawmakers dethroned McCarthy in October.

The MAGA wing sees him as a RINO [Republican in name only] because he doesnt do everything that Trump says, or at least hes perceived as critical of Trump, Alex Keena, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. And then the left flank of the Republican Party  if there really is a left flank  opposes him for betraying the party by undermining support for McCarthy during that time.

This is really a test of Trumps ability to completely determine the Republican Party at this point.Alex Keena, Virginia Commonwealth University

Goods primary demonstrated how virtually any degree of dissension against Trump will be challenged in the modern Republican Party. There was almost no daylight between the two hard-right candidates on actual policy issues, and McGuire  a former Navy SEAL who attended the Jan. 6, 2021, Stop the Steal rally in Washington, D.C.  is almost guaranteed to win the bright-red seat in November.

When were looking at these primary challenges, theyve typically been about ideology, a centrist versus an extremist, Keena said. But thats really not the case at all here. This is really a test of Trumps ability to completely determine the Republican Party at this point.

Good has only nice things to say about Trump and immediately backed him after DeSantis dropped out of the presidential primary in late January. Trump still seemed to harbor a grudge over the snub. The ex-president endorsed McGuire last month, prompting several of Goods colleagues, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), a fellow member of the Freedom Caucus, to follow his lead.

Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA! Trump wrote on Truth Social last month. He turned his back on our incredible Movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and loving Endorsement - But really, it was too late! The damage had been done.

Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, who has first elected to Congress in 2020, lost a GOP primary to state Sen. John McGuire. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

McGuire made hugging Trump the central focus of his campaign. Good tried to do the same, putting out his own pro-Trump signs. Good has also criticized McGuire, who previously ran for Congress in another district, as a serial candidate; McGuire entered the 5th District race against Good just days after his election to the Virginia Senate.

McCarthy, who resigned from Congress at the end of last year, was not as directly involved in the primary as Trump; he has not personally endorsed McGuire. But McCarthy hasnt hidden the fact that hes working against the Republicans who toppled him as House speaker.

Open Secrets reported that groups opposing Good and backing McGuire, including the normally centrist Republican Main Street Partnership, spent almost $6 million. The groups backing Good, including the Club For Growth and the House Freedom Fund, an arm of the House Freedom Caucus, spent almost $4.4 million, although a full accounting of the race wont be available until next month. Meanwhile, McGuire managed to slightly outraise Good, $1.2 million to $1.1 million, per the latest Federal Election Commission filings.

Despite the deluge of outside money, Trump overshadowed most everything else about the primary. The race is really just about the power of Trump and his endorsement, and his stranglehold on the Republican Party, Keena said.

Arthur Delaney contributed reporting.

Related...
A House Republican primary race in Virginia was finally declared over on Tuesday after the states elections board certified the victory of state Sen. John McGuire over House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, one of Congress most hardline conservatives.

The Virginia State Board of Elections vote certifying the primary was unanimous, according to the Associated Press. After June 18, the day the election took place, the wire reported that the result was too close to call, with McGuire leading by just 374 votes with nearly 63,000 ballots cast.

That slim margin of victory is just 0.6 percentage pointsenough that Good could request a recount, which he immediately said he would do.

Republican voters across the 5th District deserve to know that all legal votes have been accurately counted, his campaign said on social media. We will vigorously pursue that objective over the coming days and weeks, as permitted by Virginia law.

Because the margin is larger than 0.5 percentage points, Good will be required to fork over the funds to cover the recount himself, according to the AP.

McGuire was predictably jubilant about his win. Number one, he wrote on X, I want to thank God. We could not have done this without my wife Tracy, our incredible team, and of course President Trump! This is the honor of a lifetime. Under the statement, he shared a photo of himself posing stiffly alongside the former president, both flashing the thumbs-up.

Trumps Endorsement Didnt Help These Candidates One Bit

McGuire, a former Navy SEAL, was endorsed by Trump after Good committed the unforgivable sin of endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president. Good switched his allegiance back to Trump after DeSantis dropped out of the race, but it was too late.

Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA, Trump posted on Truth Social on June 17. He turned his back on our incredible movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and loving Endorsement  But really, it was too late. The damage had been done.

In contrast to Good, Trump said at a tele-town hall that same day, John McGuire will not let you down.

Though the majority of the Freedom Caucus remained loyal to Good, hardline Trump supporters Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) threw their weight behind McGuire just before the primary.

Asked by Politico if the Freedom Caucus, normally painstakingly unified, might be embarrassed if Good were to be defeated, Davidson retorted, Im sure he would be embarrassed that he lost.

Should a recount come and go without issue, Goods loss will make him the first House incumbent nationally to lose a primary challenge this year, the AP noted. His campaign had not filed a recount petition as of late Tuesday afternoon, with a 10-day window remaining.

The firebrand congressman questioned his challengers victory in its immediate aftermath, pointing out alleged election irregularities in Lynchburg, the districts largest city.

Every result is checked three times, state Commissioner of Elections Susan Beals said at the start of the state board meeting in Richmond on Tuesday, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Our system of checks and balances ensures that our elections are free and fair.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has offered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a ceasefire with Russia. He also said that Zelenskyy's peace initiatives will take a long time and "we can go another way."

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The Hungarian prime minister made the statements during a joint briefing in Kyiv on July 2 with the Ukrainian president, an OBOZ.UA correspondent reported. According to Orban, a ceasefire "could speed up the negotiation process".

"The war you are living in now has a very intense impact on the security of Europe. We very much appreciate all the initiatives of Mr. President Zelenskyy to achieve peace. These initiatives take a lot of time. It is the rules of international diplomacy that make them difficult, and I have asked Mr. President to think about whether we can take a slightly different approach. To take a break. To cease fire and then continue, to start negotiations. Because a ceasefire could accelerate the pace of these negotiations," Orban said.

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Earlier it was reported that on Tuesday, July 2, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Ukraine. He arrived in Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first visit to Ukraine by a Hungarian politician since the beginning of the full-scale war.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on June 27, Viktor Orban and Zelensky had a lively conversation at the EU Council summit in Brussels. It is still unknown what the leaders of the two countries talked about, but it was noted that it was the head of the Hungarian government who initiated a brief conversation with the Ukrainian leader.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The sun is reflected in the National Monument to Freedom in Montgomery, Alabama on June 26, 2024. The monument is inscribed with the names of 122,000 families listed in the 1870 census, the first in which many former enslaved people were recorded. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

You cant understand the scope of 122,000 names until you see them on a wall.

Stand at the foot of the National Monument to Freedom, recently dedicated by the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, and youll see all of them, soaring three or four stories above your head.

Each name, taken from the 1870 census, belonged to a former enslaved person. These are surnames. Family names. Combined, they represent about 4 million people who emerged from bondage.

The National Monument to Freedom serves as the focus of a private dedication for the Equal Justice Initiative on June 19, 2024. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)

Each one stands for an American once treated as an animal. Someone who could be abused and assaulted under the law. Who could be stripped naked in front of a crowd of rich men; poked and prodded, and sold away from parents, spouses and children.

You get a taste of this horror in a park surrounding the monument and along a path leading to it. There are slave cabins. And a rail car that transported human beings like cattle. Surrounding all of it are statistics that measure toll of human bondage; stories that illustrate it, and carvings of the laws that upheld it.

Theres this chilling statistic from EJI: about 6 million Americans died as the property of someone else.

By the time you reach that wall, you know that each name represents not just those who survived, but dozens if not hundreds of people who lived and died as prisoners. Each one stands atop a mountain of pain and trauma, deposited like sediment over generations.

Its led me to think about a phrase that seems inescapable when we approach federal holidays like Independence Day.

Freedom isnt free.

Ive heard it invoked many times over the last 23 years. The slogan is usually employed to bludgeon critics of the nations disastrous military actions following 9/11.

But the National Monument to Freedom gives the phrase a new meaning.

When the United States came into being on July 4, 1776, each of its 13 constituent parts allowed enslavement. Congress struck out a paragraph condemning the slave trade from an early draft of the Declaration of Independence. There was never anything condemning slavery itself.

Human bondage declined during the Revolution, particularly in South Carolina and Georgia. In Generations of Captivity, a history of slavery, historian Ira Berlin writes that the enslaved population in Georgia fell two-thirds between 1775 and 1783. It fell by a quarter in South Carolina during that period.

That was due to chaos, not ideals. In a revolution, state authority collapses. Without state authority, its hard to keep people subjugated. And enslaved people took advantage of the opportunity.

But war is a poor liberator. Slavery reasserted itself in both states within a decade. And there was nothing on paper that would have kept it from going on forever.

Except Americans.

Enslaved people resisted in ways large and small, defending their humanity in a system determined to rob them of it.

It was two enslaved people  Mum Bett and Quock Walker  who pushed Massachusetts courts to declare in 1781 and 1783 that the states new constitution had abolished slavery.

It was Black men and women, aided by white allies, who ran the Underground Railroad and put themselves on the line to get people out of slavery.

None of this was easy. Success was not guaranteed. It took centuries to end the institution. Every member of every family listed on the National Monument to Freedom knew someone  a parent, a child, a loved one  who lived and died as someone elses property.

But by the eve of the Civil War, the work of brave men and women had broken through in the north. And created a bloc of politicians whose primary goal was putting slavery on the path to extinction, if not abolishing it outright.

That came from people on the margins of society, demanding what had been denied them: respect; the rule of law and a voice in their governance.

Freedom isnt free. But its not armed conflict that pushes freedom forward. More often than not, its the person wounded by power at its most nihilistic who broadens the boundaries of liberty. Its the lawyer who helps register voters in defiance of a regime working to stop it. And its the people who march for their rights with law enforcement against them.

These men and women push past the inertia of the ordinary to grab an ideal that seems impossible.

If we can celebrate a free society on Thursday, its not because of centuries-old philosophers or decades-old battles. Its because Americans who were not free took risks and made sacrifices that lifted this nation higher than it was before.

The 122,000 names on the National Monument to Freedom testify to the enormity of that task. And remind us that the seed of justice is often planted in those who have the least of it.

Like the SC Daily Gazette, Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and X.

The post Freedom isnt free appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
Its the cultural gift that keeps on giving. Visitors to our national museums and galleries can enter, walk through grand halls, view paintings, sculpture, relics and artefacts, and they can do so free of charge.

It never ceases to amaze me, this unifying act which sees hundreds of institutions encouraging us to engage with and learn from the stories laid out across walls, in glass cases, suspended from ceilings, in drawers and behind velvet ropes. We ought to view it as a symbol of the magnanimity of this country, a cornerstone of our democracy. Perhaps in the same way that an individual can stand on a soap box at Hyde Parks Speakers Corner, so can every man, woman and child access our museums at no cost.

Except, of course, its not just British citizens who can benefit from this. Everyone, every tourist who visits our great cities, can waltz into many of our great exhibitions without paying a penny. Whats curious is that we never seem to blink an eye at this generosity. Perhaps, as with the NHS, we have become blinded to the cost, because the politicians and the bureaucrats are so fond of reminding us that they are free.

But as visitors head for the wide open gates of our palaces of culture, they may find themselves sidestepping a pothole, or glancing upwards to check they wont be hit by a loose tile. Because, as with so many of our institutions, and the roads that lead to them, they are crumbling. And who picks up the tab? The British taxpayer, of course.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport annually spends around 8.5 billion, of which 684 million is spent on museums and galleries. Maybe, as a former boss of the British Museum suggested at the weekend, its time for tourists to put their hands in their pockets. Sir Mark Jones talked of leaks in galleries that occurred during heavy rainstorms and admitted that some of the buildings are in a poor state. He wondered if funding could come in from charging overseas visitors. To which Id say, Hell yeah.

Free admission was made universal by New Labour. But surely Sir Mark is right. After all, when we go abroad we pay 17 (14.50) to visit the Louvre in Paris, 15 to enter the Museo del Prado in Madrid, 19 for the Uffizi in Florence, $25 (20) to get into the Museum of Modern Art in New York and so on, across the world.

And we dont blink, of course. Fair enough to cough up, we reason. Yet we impose double standards  on ourselves. Back in Blighty we usher them in to see our Titians and Bellinis, in a similar manner to our border officials on British beaches. But while we are outwardly polite, many of us are secretly seething.

That resentment is turned up a notch when we visit these places ourselves and seek out the cafe, where we pay through the nose for a cup of coffee and some lasagne. Its one of our national sports: getting taxed twice and then being clobbered for the privilege.

It really isnt too much to demand that tourists make a contribution. After all, they know their own countries have form: weve all spotted the tourist tax mysteriously added to a hotel bill in Barcelona or that entry cost into Bali

of 150,000 rupiah (7.25).

Or the way Greek bars up their prices in the evenings (of course the locals dont pay).

It makes sense, its fair, its sensible and, in this week of national hustings, its surely a tax we can all agree on.

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A mosaic by ex-Jesuit artist Marko Rupnik is seen on the main facade of the Church of Our Lady of the Canadian Martyrs, in Rome Friday, June 28, 2024. Five women urged Catholic bishops around the world to remove from their churches Rupnik's mosaics after they accused him of psychologically, spiritually and sexually abusing them. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

ROME (AP)  A French bishop has put off any decision on whether to remove mosaics by an ex-Jesuit artist accused of abusing women, saying that theyll stay for now on the Lourdes shrine but that eventually they should be removed.

The mosaics will no longer be lit up each night during the evening prayer, Lourdes Bishop Jean-Marc Micas said in a statement Tuesday. But he told the French Catholic daily La Croix that he had decided not to remove them now because he didnt want to tear the church apart.

My deep, formed, intimate conviction is that they will one day need to be removed: they prevent Lourdes from reaching all the people for whom the sanctuarys message is intended, Micas was quoted as saying. But I have decided not to remove them immediately, given the passions and violence the subject incites.

The Rev. Marko Rupnik has been accused by over 20 women of psychological, spiritual and sexual abuses over decades. He hasn't responded to the allegations and refused to cooperate with an investigation by his former Jesuit order, but his collaborators have denounced what they called a media lynching.

The Jesuits expelled him last year after determining the women's claims were very highly credible." Some women say the abuse occurred during the creation of the artwork itself, rendering the mosaics a triggering and traumatic reminder of what they endured.

The Vatican opened a canonical investigation into Rupnik last October, after an outcry that his victims hadnt received justice and suspicions that he had been protected by Jesuits up to and including Pope Francis. The pope denied any significant involvement but confirmed Rupnik had been excommunicated for committing one of the Catholic Church's most serious crimes: using the confessional to absolve a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual activity.

The debate about what to do with his mosaics has simmered for two years, precisely because the works are so widespread: They grace some of the Catholic Church's most important and visited shrines, basilicas and sanctuaries around the world.

The debate exploded anew last week after the Vaticans communications chief strongly defended continuing to use Rupnik artwork on the Vatican News website.

His position prompted the pope's top anti-abuse adviser, Cardinal Sean OMalley, to send a letter to all Vatican offices urging them to stop featuring Rupniks artwork. OMalley said continuing to promote it ignores the pain of victims and could imply a defense of the Slovene priest.

Micas acknowledged as much in his statement and interview with La Croix, saying he understood that the mosaics have become a barrier to victims coming to pray at Lourdes because they associate them with abuse.

A study commission he formed last year to offer advice provided diverging recommendations: some said removing the mosaics wouldnt do anything for victims, and that removing them would succumb to the trend of cancel culture.

On the other side, the point of view was that the church risked prioritizing an object over people once again. Artistic or economic considerations could overshadow the churchs proclaimed care for victims of abuse by clergy, Micas said.

Given the polarization, he decided to continue studying the issue.

On the day O'Malley sent a letter to the Vatican, five women  who accused Rupnik of abusing them  sent letters to bishops around the world urging them to remove their Rupnik mosaics.

One of them, French Sister Samuelle, told The Associated Press that Rupnik had touched her intimately precisely as they were putting up a mosaic, on a scaffolding.

Today, how can I be at peace in front of certain mosaics for which I vividly remember certain things?" Sister Samuelle told AP. "In front of that Madonna, or in that church, or that other place I know that Rupnik, as soon as he had finished this piece of mosaic, approached and began to touch my back. How can I look at these mosaics in peace today? How can I see the image of God without remembering the violence of these gestures and the psychological violence and pressure from Rupnik? I cant.

On Wednesday, the five women offered to meet with Micas to work together to find a solution. They welcomed his decision to not illuminate the mosaics at night as a first step but said more needed to be done.

And while it is true that in the evening hours, the mosaics will no longer be illuminated, in the daytime they will still be clearly visible and will continue to fuel the bewilderment of the faithful and the feeling of grief of the victims, they said in a statement released by their lawyer, Laura Sgro.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A $25,000 grant has been awarded to the Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools to explore students mental health and support them, officials announced on Monday.

Officials say the grant was awarded from Community Health System and will be used to explore student mental health needs with an emphasis on engaging students in the process.

A portion of the Community Health Systems grant will be used to analyze students mental health resources and access points throughout Fresno Unified in collaboration with the DoSomething Strategic, officials say.

The analysis will involve extensive student participation through focus groups and a student advisory committee. Interim Superintendent Misty Her says this analysis will help district officials to support students.

I look forward to seeing the results of this analysis of our students mental health needs, made possible by the Community Health Systems grant. It will guide and inform our efforts to better support our students, Her said.

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A state agency stopped the POWER Account contributions set to restart on Monday, citing a federal judge's ruling from last week. (Getty Images)

The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) will stop enforcing collections of premium-like payments  the agency announced Monday, the same day it was set to restart the program. The action comes after a Thursday ruling from a federal judge striking contributions to POWER Accounts for Indianas Medicaid expansion enrollees.

The implications of the decision handed down are far reaching. FSSA is still evaluating the impact for the state and the 762,000 Hoosiers who rely on health care coverage through our Healthy Indiana Plan, said Cora Steinmetz, the states Medicaid director, on Monday at a press conference.

The Healthy Indiana Plan, otherwise known as HIP 2.0, provides coverage for non-disabled, moderate-income adults between the ages of 19 and 64 and was first introduced in 2007 under the Daniels administration  with the federal government covering 90% of costs for enrollees.

Indiana Medicaid Director Cora Steinmetz responds to lawmaker questions on a multimillion shortfall in the Medicaid budget, at a State Budget Committee meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

However, the federal government granted the state a special waiver to require a monthly, variable POWER Account contribution that reportedly confused many enrollees and disproportionately caused Black Hoosiers to lose access to the life-saving coverage.

The judge ruled that federal regulators erred when they granted the state authority to charge the contributions, alongside state rules regarding retroactive coverage and non-emergency medical transports.

Advocacy groups applauded the ruling, which community organization group Hoosier Action called a burdensome barrier to care. Hoosier Action coordinated hundreds of public comments and testimonies cited in the judges ruling.

Im overjoyed, said Hoosier Action leader and HIP member Mulugeta Wolfe. I just got back on HIP and paying my POWER Account payment on time was one of the things I was concerned about. Its not even making the payment amount thats hard, its remembering.

HIP is important to me as someone working part time here and part time there and going to school and HIP gives me that flexibility as a younger person to do the things I want to do with my life.

HIP members will still have coverage, Steinmetz said, and the state will be pursuing all legal remedies in consultation with state and federal attorneys. The ruling doesnt impact the premiums charged for disabled Hoosiers using MedWorks or minors relying on the Childrens Health Insurance Plan.

Indiana disagrees with the ruling and believes these actions have unintended consequences for our program  (and) the agency will provide additional updates as appropriate, Steinmetz concluded.

Impact of the ruling

Chief Judge James E. Boasberg, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, included some of the submitted comments in his final ruling, observing the rather earthy language and pleas to halt the program.

(Ive) seen 1st hand the many harms the power account has done to those who are trying to both link to and retain health care as well as ensure medication compliance and hold a job. Get rid of the (expletive) power account, one HIP user wrote.

Boasberg cited submitted evidence that found 60,000 Hoosiers, or 29% of those subject to premiums, were disenrolled due to nonpayment  whether it was failing to make the first payment or not making a later payment and getting their coverage reduced. Over half of all beneficiaries missed at least one payment during 2015 to 2016, he said.

In our law school clinic, we see Hoosiers every day who have to make horrible choices between paying rent, putting food on the table, and other bills.

Judge Boasberg recognized that they and tens of thousands of Hoosiers like them were likely to lose their healthcare under the previous rules for the Healthy Indiana Program.

 Fran Quigley, a law professor and legal clinic director at Indiana University

Steinmetz repeated an argument on Monday that failed to sway Boasberg, namely that state law requires FSSA to administer the POWER Accounts program.

 while HIP members remain covered today for Medicaid, the ruling creates uncertainty regarding which services are covered and removes authority for certain administrative aspects of the programs operation, Steinmetz continued. The ruling also has implications that conflict with Indiana state law.

Imposing POWER Accounts stems from Senate Enrolled Act 165 passed in 2016. The wide-ranging bill addresses an assortment of directives for FSSA, including POWER Accounts, and strips authority from FSSAs secretary to make changes to the program, unless it is required by federal law or regulation.

Chief Justice James E. Jeb Boasberg, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. (U.S. D.C. District Court)

Adam Mueller, part of the team of attorneys for the plaintiffs suing HIP, likened the exception to an escape hatch.

My interpretation of the ruling is that the POWER Account contribution requirement is going to be on hold. It has been on hold for four years, said Mueller, with the Indiana Justice Project. It appears that  people will not lose coverage or have downgraded coverage based on POWER Account payments.

The state paused POWER Account contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the managed care entities overseeing such coverage havent collected those payments since 2020. Previously, someone within a certain income bracket who failed to pay would be moved to a lower tier health plan while others would have a lockout period spanning several months.

The managed care entities will bear the responsibility of communicating with members, so Steinmetz couldnt specify how enrollees would be notified of the change.

The ruling alone doesnt threaten the entire HIP program because that approval is part of the states amended Medicaid plan while the POWER Account contributions fell under a separately approved waiver, Mueller noted.

But attorneys arguing for the state in the case disagreed.

FSSA didnt respond to a question about whether Dan Rusyniak, the secretary for FSSA, had used his power from the law to strike the rule.

Reaction to the ruling

Hoosier Action, the entity that organized HIP enrollees to submit comments to the federal judge, updated a Friday comment with addition context from Fran Quigley, a law professor at Indiana University and the director of the law schools Health and Human Rights Clinic.

In our law school clinic, we see Hoosiers every day who have to make horrible choices between paying rent, putting food on the table, and other bills. Judge Boasberg recognized that they and tens of thousands of Hoosiers like them were likely to lose their healthcare under the previous rules for the Healthy Indiana Program, Quigley shared.

On behalf of our clients and those Hoosiers across the state, not to mention the broader state economy and healthcare system, we are deeply grateful for this ruling and the advocacy of the Indiana Justice Project, Hoosier Action, and the National Health Law Program. This ruling and their advocacy saved lives, and vastly improved the HIP program.

Rep. Ed Clere, a Republican representing New Albany, has repeatedly voiced concerns about the states administration of the HIP program, including the lack of retroactive eligibility available in other Medicaid programs.

A four-year pause could have shown how necessary and vital POWER Accounts were to the operation of HIP, he said, especially in light of extra scrutiny of the Medicaid budget following a nearly $1 billion shortfall, but fell short.

The pandemic provided an opportunity to demonstrate that POWER Accounts dont add anything  other than confusion, administrative expense and disenrollment, said Clere, who chairs the Health and Medicaid subcommittee for the states Ways and Means Committee.

There has never been any evidence that POWER Accounts or any of the other financial contribution requirements improve outcomes  we should be willing to step back and look at ways to tweak the design of HIP 2.0 in a way that eliminates this unnecessary administrative expense and look for new opportunities.

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Mueller, the attorney and advocate, also saw the ruling as a chance to improve the Medicaid program. The 66-page ruling  which includes a reference to pop icon Taylor Swift  made it clear to Mueller that Boasberg really under(stood) this program.

 the judge took an opportunity to really listen to what people thought and what people said in the administrative record. To me, that is really heartening, Mueller said. The judge has sort of given the (federal regulators) and Indiana an opportunity to make HIP work in accordance with Medicaid law. And that could be a lot of things. You know Hoosiers  we pride ourselves on being innovative.

An area where Medicaid could potentially fill a need, Mueller said, are Hoosiers exiting Indianas prison system, who arent currently auto-enrolled in contrast to other states. Another area to explore could be housing assistance.

Theres an opportunity here to see a post-pandemic future (where) this program could be really, really great, Mueller concluded. I hope thats an opportunity that the state seizes in partnership with the (federal regulators).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  After years of negotiations, state officials from Michigan and Illinois have entered an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fund a major project to keep invasive carp from spreading into the Great Lakes.

Fighting invasive carp: Why you cant find copi on store shelves

The Project Partnership Agreement will build a barrier at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois, which will prevent the invasive fish from entering the Chicago Area Waterway System while still allowing commercial ships to move through.

Todays agreement will help us get shovels in the ground as soon as possible on the critical Brandon Road project, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. The Great Lakes are the beating heart of Michigans economy, and Brandon Road will help us protect local communities and key industries, including fishing and boating, that support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project was first developed in 2019 and is expected to cost about $1.15 billion. The plan involves a layered system of structural and non-structural control measures to prevent invasive carp or any other aquatic pest from entering the Great Lakes through the Illinois Waterway, where invasive carp already have an established population.

Beyond Brandon Road: Monitoring 18 other points invasive carp could enter Great Lakes

As of March 2023, Illinois had committed $50 million to the project and Michigan had pledged $64 million. But with only $226 million in federal funds allocated, the project has been on standby since 2022. Now, more federal funding, primarily from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill, will be set aside for it.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, called the news a big win that will protect the Great Lakes for generations to come. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, said he was thrilled that (construction) will soon be underway.

As costly as the project may be, the threat of invasive carp could cost even more. Invasive carp  formerly known as Asian carp and also called copi  are considered a major threat to the Great Lakes because they could upend the natural ecosystem. They are voracious eaters and would devour the food sources for several popular Great Lakes fish, including walleye and rainbow trout, key players in the regions billion-dollar fishing industry.

Invasive carp were used as a tool in the 1970s, controlling algae, weed and parasite growth on aquatic farms. But the fish eventually made their way into the Mississippi River basin and now dominate that ecosystem.

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has worked with environmental agencies for years to monitor the fish in the Mississippi River basin and ensure they dont make it to the Great Lakes. The two systems only have one permanent connection point  the Chicago-Area Waterway System.

There are already several tools in place, including an existing electric barrier that costs Illinois taxpayers approximately $15 million each year.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Some seniors are celebrating after learning NYCHA has restored millions of dollars in funding for security guards at dozens of senior buildings across the city.

They are thrilled to hear the news that city hall is restoring the $7 million for the unarmed security guard program in 55 NYCHA buildings.

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It was back in May when PIX11 News covered a passionate tenant meeting.

Allie Eason, tenant president at the Corsi Houses in East Harlem led the fight for funding and says its a huge victory. In a majority of these buildings, security guards are on duty for one eight-hour shift per day.

Eason says these security guards are like family and are critical to the safety of their buildings.

NYCHA confirms the program has an annual cost of approximately $7 million.

More Monica Makes It Happen

A NYCHA spokesperson told PIX11 News, NYCHA is so pleased that the citys arrangement of necessary funding will allow for the unarmed security guard program to continue at all senior buildings across the portfolio without any interruption in services. We are extremely grateful to the Adams administration and the New York City Council for their ongoing commitment to public housing in New York City and continued prioritization of NYCHA residents.

If you have a story reach out to Monica Morales at monica@pix11.com

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A scholar of intellectual history, a specialist in totalitarianism and the politics of memory, the career of Enzo Traverso, 66, has focused on topics such as the Jewish question, the Holocaust and the revolutions of the 20th century. An admirer of Adorno and Walter Benjamin, he teaches classes on Marxism and critical theory. His books include Fire and Blood: The European Civil War, 19141945, The Jewish Question: History of a Marxist Debate and Revolution: An Intellectual History. Now he has just published Gaza davanti alla storia (or Gaza before history, available in Italian and Spanish), where he reflects on, as he sees it, the weaponization of anti-Semitism. And he warns of its consequences, among others, on the memory of the Holocaust.

Traverso shows up for the interview wearing a blue shirt. A few steps away is the Sorbonne University of Paris, where demonstrations in support of Palestinians took place in April. He alludes to these protests in his book, although he focuses more on the protests in the United States, where he teaches at Cornell University. He criticizes the fact that these protests have been repressed and that they have been surrounded by accusations of anti-Semitism. Traverso underscores that he is not a scholar of the Middle East or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. What he seeks, as he clarifies in the foreword to the book, is to observe the political uses of the past that apply to the present.

Question. You have worked on the concept of memory and the memory of the Holocaust. What is the point if it doesnt stop wars like this one?

Answer. The German case is the most compelling. There, after the war, the Holocaust was not talked about. Its acknowledgement is the product of a very difficult process of memory construction that developed over the course of decades. Starting in the 1980s, the country began to build a national identity that included the Holocaust. Today, saying I am German means recognizing that in the history of your own country there is a crime like the Holocaust. At that point it entered the German historical consciousness. And that had enormous positive consequences.

Q. Like which ones?

A. The citizenship code was changed and many immigrants were able to obtain German nationality. Germany was no longer thought of as a nation in the ethnic sense of the word, but as a nation in the political sense. Today, Germany says: We have to atone for the Holocaust and that is why we have to support Israel unconditionally. And the result is that it is being complicit in a genocide in Gaza. That is the contradiction. A singular transition occurred: from a historical assumption of responsibility to a subcontract of blame. Those who are paying the German debt are the Palestinians.

Q. Something went wrong in the treatment of memory...

A. Its true, we have reached that paradoxical and dangerous situation: if fighting against anti-Semitism means supporting the war in Gaza and Israel unconditionally, the idea of the memory of the Holocaust is discredited in the eyes of public opinion and in the south of the world. Whether in the south specifically or here in the EU, citizens who have postcolonial roots are going to say: but how is this possible? I live in a country that proclaims the need to fight against anti-Semitism, does that mean supporting the massacre of Palestinians? If that is the situation, it means that when people talk to me about the Holocaust I will begin to have doubts: Could the Holocaust not be a myth that was invented to defend the interests of the Jews? There is a risk that this anti-Semitic stereotype and this form of Holocaust denial will suddenly become legitimized.

Technology is developed based on a project, which can be one of emancipation or domination

Q. Is there a danger of that happening now?

A. Yes. If in the name of the memory of the Holocaust we justify and support a genocide, that memory will be disqualified. And that will create misunderstandings and a new form of anti-Semitism. That memory had a meaning: it confirmed the extreme consequences of racism and after that genocide we cannot accept any form of exclusion, discrimination, persecution, oppression. With that conclusion, the memory of other genocides was built. If the memory of the Holocaust means supporting Israeli policy, all our references collapse.

Q. What do you mean when you say that the memory of the Holocaust built the memory of other genocides?

A. That of Rwanda, that of the Armenians, which happened earlier. If that genocide has recognition in the public sphere today, it is as a consequence of the memory of the Holocaust. The memory of Auschwitz made us more sensitive to the issue of human rights. If it is now instrumentalized to defend a genocide, it is something that destroys all memorial policies, the pedagogy of rights that was built for decades. Germany has the largest Palestinian community in the EU; what will a German of Palestinian origin think when he hears Chancellor Olaf Scholz say that support for Israels policy is a reason of state for Germans? We have to build another perspective, in which the memory of the Holocaust is articulated with other memories with the same legitimacy, first of all, those of colonialism and its genocides.

Q. Can we say that the memorial landscape in Europe is incomplete?

A. It is more than incomplete. Such strong contradictions have very negative consequences. When there are countriesand this is the case of EU countries with minorities of postcolonial origin, minorities of millions of peoplewith a memorial policy with such great contradictions, its effects are disastrous.

Q. What kind of effects?

A. We are seeing in the French banlieues a form of anti-Semitism. And the conflicts between Jews and North Africans are in many cases artificially created by these policies. Everything is done not so that they can coexist in a peaceful and fruitful way, but for conflict. Instead of condemning the discrimination they suffer in a prejudiced society, postcolonial minorities, particularly Muslims, are suspected of anti-Semitism and of sympathizing with Hamas, while the head of state goes to Tel Aviv and supports Israel. This crushes any idea of human rights and equality.

Q. Could we say that we are in a period similar to the period between world wars in Europe?

A. The radical right accepts the framework of liberal democracies, which they want to transform into something more authoritarian, more conservative and more xenophobic. They want laws about citizenship. They are not right-wing coup plotters like in Spain in 1936 or in Germany and Italy, who said we want to subvert the institutions. Classical fascism had a utopian dimension. It wanted to change the world, to create a new civilization, a new man... Todays radical rights are very conservative. They want to protect citizens against the threats of globalization, defend traditional values, the homeland, the family, the nation, against the threat of immigration. They say we are Christian countries and we are against Islam, which means terrorism.

Q. One of the big differences is the technology, AI. Can it facilitate totalitarian or more authoritarian movements?

A. The new fascisms are not the concentration camps or the violence of the past. The forms of domination today are very different. New technologies can identify us. There are biopolitical forms of domination that do not require the endemic use of force. Control does not need a police officer on every corner; the cameras recognize us, they can tell what I did yesterday. That is what totalitarianism can mean now, let us be aware of that. These forms of domination are highly developed. But AI can be useful, put at the service of social progress. The philosopher Herbert Marcuse is right when he says that technology is not neutral. Technology is developed based on a project, which can be one of emancipation or domination.

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A top official from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office is asking a judge to toss out 11 felony charges filed against her by state prosecutors, with her attorney arguing in a court filing that the allegedly confidential files she's accused of misusing were actually public records.

In April, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta accused Diana Teran, then a top advisor to Dist. Atty. George Gascon, of illegally using confidential records about 11 sheriffs deputies when she flagged their names for inclusion in a database used by prosecutors to keep track of officers accused of misconduct.

Within hours of Bontas public announcement, Terans attorney, James Spertus, said that his client had done nothing wrong and that the records in question were likely all public in existing court filings.

Read more: Felony charges against Gascon's top advisor spark confusion, criticism in L.A. D.A.'s office

But because state prosecutors asked to keep the deputies names secret, for two months Spertus couldnt prove it. Then last week, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge unsealed a key document , including an unredacted version for the defense filed under seal.

The public version of the document  an affidavit used to justify the charges against Teran  revealed the names of two deputies, both of whom had disciplinary histories easily found through a Google search. According to Spertus latest court filing, the unredacted version revealed that records relating to the nine other deputies were already public as well.

From the moment this case was filed, I was suspicious of what the motive [for filing it] was because theres no crime and release of the affidavit confirms that, Spertus told The Times late Monday. The underlying theory is that she stole public information.

The California Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment.

Teran had been scheduled to enter a plea Monday morning. But the judge rescheduled after state prosecutors said they needed time to respond to Spertus filing.

Much of the brief hearing focused instead on the hundreds of pages of attachments Spertus filed, which he said were all publicly available court records. State prosecutors questioned whether Spertus was allowed to file them publicly based on his knowledge of the nine redacted names.

Prosecutors did not address the substance of Spertus filing but accused him in court of making an end run around a protective order. The judge decided to leave those attachments sealed for the time being.

The allegations at the center of the case date to at least 2018, when Teran worked at the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department as a constitutional police advisor. Part of her usual duties there included accessing confidential deputy records and internal affairs investigations. The departments secret tracking software logged all of her searches and kept records of the more than 1,600 personnel files she searched for and reviewed, according to the affidavit unsealed last week.

Teran served as assistant district attorney over ethics and integrity operations. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office previously said in a statement that Teran was no longer in that role, with no further clarification offered.

Read more: Oversight inspectors accuse Sheriff's Department of retaliation after reports on jail fires

After she joined the office in 2021, the affidavit says, Teran sent a list of 33 names and supporting documents to another prosecutor for possible inclusion in a so-called Brady database, which contains officers with problematic disciplinary histories. The name is a reference to a landmark 1963 U.S. Supreme Court decision that requires prosecutors to turn over any evidence favorable to a defendant, including evidence of police misconduct.

The affidavit says that several of the names Teran emailed to fellow prosecutor Pamela Revel were deputies whose files shed accessed while working at the Sheriffs Department, and that she would not have identified so many of these deputy sheriffs otherwise.

The 11 felony charges reflected the 11 of those 33 deputies whose names the affidavit said did not appear in either public records request responses or media articles.

But, as first reported by the Los Angeles Public Press, the two names left unredacted last week in the public version of the affidavit were those of deputies whose disciplinary records were already openly accessible through other means. After they appealed their firings for dishonesty in the early 2010s, their disciplinary histories were discussed in detail in publicly available court decisions a few years later.

After finally learning the remaining nine names on Thursday, Spertus argued in this weeks filing that all of the deputies had similarly accessible records.

The Attorney Generals entire theory of guilt is dependent on the allegation that Ms. Teran attached non-public documents to her April 26, 2021, email, yet the affiant apparently never looked in the Los Angeles Superior Court files for the documents it alleges now were non-public, Spertus wrote. Each of the 11 documents underlying the 11 counts in the Complaint is a document that is public and located in Los Angeles Superior Court case files.

Read more: 'Kind of bunk': A closer look at the controversial case against a top L.A. D.A. official

The Sheriffs Department doesnt own public court records, he argued, just because they are kept in Sheriffs Department files.

Ms. Teran would not need permission from the LASD to use a public record contained in the LASD databases, and she can use those public records for any purpose, Spertus wrote. Simply stated, the use of public information cannot be a crime.

In his 40-page filing, Spertus also raised concerns about whether the case  stemming from material accessed in 2018  had already exceeded the three-year statute of limitations for the charges.

Teran is expected to return to court on July 17, though her lawyer voiced frustration at the delay.

Its been a struggle to figure out what this case is about from the moment it was filed," he said, "and as soon as I can get this heard I expect itll be dismissed."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
I gave up my dream life in Japan to move to the Netherlands  now, I couldn't be happier

As an American, I'm glad I was able to move to Europe. Brie Schmidt

I'm an American who lived in Japan for about six years until I started to feel lonely and lost.

I sold my house in Tokyo and traveled around Europe until I fell in love with the Netherlands.

I used a special treaty to get citizenship in Europe and I'm happy living here.

One day in January 2022, it hit me: I had outgrown my life in Japan.

I was an American living in Tokyo and still felt like a fish out of water after six years, despite my many attempts at mastering Japanese, perfecting my bow, and learning how to (politely) push my way through the crowded rush-hour trains.

My first few years in Japan were exciting and dreamy, what many would expect when they imagine living in Japan.

I visited stunning shrines and temples, sipped oolong-hai cocktails with friends in izakayas, spent hours exploring the streets of Shibuya  back then, Japan felt like my playground.

My experience in Japan changed with time

Japan sometimes felt like a lonely place for me.  Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images

Eventually, some of the drawbacks of living in the Land of the Rising Sun started to wear on me.

No matter how quiet and inconspicuous I tried to be, I received stares (and occasionally glares) in my suburban neighborhood because of how much I stood out as someone who is not Japanese.

After all, only 2.5% of the country's population is non-Japanese. Although Japanese culture is fascinating, I started to miss diversity and multiculturalism.

Living in Japan also felt increasingly lonely with each year I stayed. For one, Japanese society is known for being reserved, and striking up a conversation with a stranger in big cities like Tokyo is often viewed as a transgression against the order and harmony woven into most interactions.

On top of that, Japan is literally isolated, surrounded by water on all sides. This can make it challenging to get out and visit other countries.

I was eager to explore new places and make more connections  and Japan no longer seemed to align with these values.

I didn't know where to move to next but going back to the US didn't feel right

After my revelation in early 2022, my husband  a Japanese national I met within my first year in the East Asian country  and I assumed the only other option was to live in the US, where I'm from. But we struggled to settle on an American city that fit our ideal lifestyle and goals.

To stall our decision, we sold our home in Tokyo and traveled around Europe as digital nomads for a few months.

Our adventure began in 2023 and included a stop in the Netherlands, which we were surprised to discover felt like home.

In Amsterdam, we tallied up the perks that Japan lacked: multiculturalism, locals who made small talk with us about our little dog, and convenient travel to other countries, among others.

And without the stares and unwanted attention I'd once received, I noticed a refreshing sense of freedom.

During our trip, I also learned about the Dutch American Friendship Treaty, an agreement that allows American entrepreneurs to obtain residence in the Netherlands with little hassle.

Staying in Europe long-term never seemed realistic, but with this program, I saw it could be a feasible option.

The Netherlands offers what I had missed in Japan

While on a trip to Europe I started to realize maybe my husband and I didn't have to move to the US after all. Yasonya/Getty Images

Less than a year after our trip to the Netherlands, we returned to the country as residents rather than tourists.

I've felt welcomed by my neighbors, already made friends from numerous countries and backgrounds, and even found it easier to visit my family in the US compared to when I was living in Japan.

The Netherlands is often ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, and although many Dutch locals would scoff at their position on the list (complaining seems to be a national pastime here), I've found evidence to support it.

Aside from the open, friendly people and ease of travel, I'm routinely delighted by the little things here, like my neighborhood's "used goods" box where residents pass down their belongings to a new owner, the people leisurely reading in the park on a weekday afternoon, and the bike lanes that make it so easy to live a car-free life. These charming observations would have been rare in Tokyo.

Of course, I'm still new to the Netherlands, and I know my feelings may change with time  as they did in Japan. People and places can both evolve, and though a country might feel like home during one phase of life, it might not feel that way forever.

I've learned to embrace that feeling while it lasts, whether it's for two years or seven or the rest of my life. For now, I've decided that living in the Netherlands is what my dream life looks like.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gavin Newsom heading to the White House as Democratic governors meet with Biden

Gov. Gavin Newsom is heading for the White House Wednesday for a Democratic governors meeting with embattled President Joe Biden.

The evening meeting is designed to show support from the governors for Biden, under fire for his lackluster debate performance June 27.

Newsom, a vocal Biden supporter, .has been repeatedly mentioned as a candidate to replace Biden should the president step down. Hes created the sort of fundraising infrastructure that prospective presidential candidates have used, and traveled the country trying to promote himself as a national party spokesman.

The governor has repeatedly said hes not running for president this year, and he was a top spokesman at the Atlanta debate site and a vigorous defender of Biden.

Democratic governors around the country have publicly rallied around the embattled president, and plan to meet with Biden Wednesday.

The governors participated in a conference call Monday organized by Minnesota Gov. Tom Walz, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.

The call involved only governors, no staff or campaign officials. The Biden campaign team was made aware of the call in advance.

Newsom was not on the Monday call.

A person familiar with the call, who asked not to be identified because the governors tried to keep the call private, said Democratic governors are some of the president and vice presidents most proactive and vocal supporters because theyve seen how the Biden-Harris administrations accomplishments are directly benefiting their residents.

The source added The Biden-Harris team is in constant communication with the governors and their teams, including about yesterdays meeting.

Newsom has his own political trip planned while on the East Coast. Saturday, hes scheduled to campaign for Biden in Bucks County, Pa. , the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported Wednesday. The Philadelphia area county is a swing area in one of the nations crucial swing states.

Monday, he plans to visit New Hampshire, the state that for decades has been one of the first big tests for presidential candidates.

Newsom plans to campaign there for Biden. and state and local Democrats.

We look forward to welcoming Governor Newsom to New Hampshire to campaign on behalf of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and once again defeat Donald Trump, said New Hampshire Democratic Chairman Ray Buckley.

More than 200 people have RSVPd for the event.
Larry Culp, GE Aerospace CEO, speaks to employees and members of the press at the GE Aerospace Learning Centre in Evendale in April.

GE Aerospace has extended its employment contract with CEO Larry Culp more than three years, including a pay raise that could make him the highest-paid executive in Greater Cincinnati.

With Culps contract set to expire on Aug. 17, the Evendale-based aircraft engine manufacturer inked a deal to keep him through the end of 2027. Under the new deal, Culp will be paid more than $21 million in 2025, including a $2 million base salary, a bonus worth as much as $4 million and stock-based compensation worth $15.3 million.

Culp reportedly turned down an offer to take over as CEO of aircraft-manufacturer and defense contractor Boeing, according to a June report by the Wall Street Journal.

Additional stock-based compensation has the potential to increase Culps pay even higher. On Monday, Culp was given a one-time equity performance award that allows him to earn as much as nearly 466,000 shares over the next four years based on financial targets the company would need to achieve.

Last year, Culp was paid $13.7 million, according to the Associated Press' methodology for executive compensation that excludes pension value changes.

By comparison, here's what CEOs of other Greater Cincinnati publicly-traded Fortune 500 companies earned last year:

In its disclosure of the contract, GE Aerospace gave Culp high marks for seeing General Electric through a tumultuous restructuring since he took the helm in 2018.

Originally the CEO of General Electric, Culp announced in 2021 the company would break into three separate companies where GE would spin off its health and energy businesses into GE HealthCare and GE Vernova and keep its lucrative aerospace division. Upon completion of the final divestiture this spring, General Electric assumed the GE Aerospace name and officially changed its headquarters from Boston to Evendale.

The company also noted its stock has performed well under Culp. Shares are up more than 50% so far this year. Still trading under the GE ticker symbol, shares closed Monday at $158.97.

The board considered the best interests of shareholders, the significant value creation under Mr. Culps leadership since he became chairman and chief executive officer in 2018 and the benefits of securing his continued leadership for the company, among other factors, the company said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: GE Aerospace extends contract with CEO Larry Culp through 2027
Geneva Co. Sheriff reveals over 300 arrests in six months, other deputy actions

GENEVA COUNTY, Ala (WDHN)  With half of 2024 already gone, the Geneva County Sheriffs Office have released stats to show what deputies have been up to.

According to Sheriff Tony Helms, deputies have responded to 3,568 calls over the past six months and made 349 arrests.

These stats include the early January arrests of Robert Lane Hall and Shailyn Diaz, both of whom pled guilty to kidnapping and stabbing a man 19 times in rural Geneva County, and the May arrest of Brian J. McCoy, accused of having his pontoon boat stolen in an insurance fraud scheme.

Along with the over 300 arrests, deputies have conducted 425 traffic stops, served 1,297 court papers, and completed 671 reports. This is in addtion to serving daily duties such as courtroom security, court appearances, area patrols, building checks and more.

Sheriff Helms says his deputies have done all of this and serviced the countys 580 square miles while having one of the smallest staffs and budgets in 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 WDHN - wdhn.com.
Emily Willard was sitting on the beach with her 2 toddlers and her husband when the phone started ringing with emergency calls from the bank.

I had gotten 2 phone calls, and so the third phone call I answered, and it popped up saying, Charles Schwab, Willard told Justin Gray with Action News Jaxs sister station WSB-TV.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Brookhaven resident and elementary school teacher said when she picked up, she was told there were fraud attempts on her Charles Schwab bank account.

Willard was told there was a suspicious attempted wire transfer for thousands of dollars.

I was panicked because I was like, Oh my gosh, thats most of our money that is about to be gone, she said.

Read: Stripper says new Florida law violates her rights, sues attorney general

But, it turned out the woman on the phone was not with Charles Schwab. She was the criminal.

The fraudster was impersonating the bank to get banking information and an access code from the Willards.

I hung up the phone and checked my email and it said all of my money had been transferred, she said.

CLICK HERE to read the full story by WSB-TV.

Read: Former romance scammer spills secrets on how he did it

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A Georgian Su-25 jet crashed during a military exercise near the town of Bolnisi on July 2, the Georgian Defense Ministry said.

The pilot, Kakhaber Zurabishvili, was killed in the crash. The ministry said the cause of the crash was being determined.

The Georgian Air Force has a limited number of military aircraft in its possession. During the military parade that accompanied Georgia's independence day in May 2024, eight Su-25 fighter jets took part, but there are reportedly other jets in storage.

The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed "Frogfoot" by NATO, is a heavily armored ground-attack aircraft.

It has seen extensive use by both sides in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Read also: Politico: US considering significant trade, military deals with Georgia if it reverses democratic backsliding

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A German police officer stole around 180 kilograms of cheddar cheese from an overturned lorry after an accident and lost his job as a result.

The Rhineland-Palatinate Higher Administrative Court rejected an appeal by the man on Tuesday, meaning his previous conviction stands.

The police officer had worked for the motorway police and was supposed to secure the scene of an accident, the court said.

He had driven a police bus to the vicinity of the damaged lorry container and asked the employee of a salvage company there to hand him several packages of cheese.

He stole a total of nine cheese parcels, each weighing 20 kilograms, worth 554 ($594).

"The defendant brought some of the parcels to the office," the statement said. It can be assumed that he also kept some for himself and his friends and relatives.

In the appeal, the officer stated that the cheese was worth practically nothing and that he had wanted to save it from being destroyed. "He himself does not eat cheddar cheese at all."

The court took a different view: the man had committed theft while on duty in uniform and with his service weapon. "With this behaviour, the defendant greatly damaged the reputation of the country's police force," the court said.

It is irrelevant whether the cheese was of low value, the court added, emphasizing it was the officer's duty to prevent the theft.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L), next to Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, at the press conference after the German-Polish government consultations. These are the first government consultations with Tusk's center-left government, which replaced the right-wing conservative government of Mateusz Morawiecki at the end of last year. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German and Polish leaders agreed an action plan on Tuesday to tackle not only past wrongs - such as reparations from World War II - but also current issues, such as defence policy.

The plans were outlined in a paper circulated by the German government as Chancellor Olaf Scholz and a group of ministers visited Warsaw for government consultations.

There were however no concrete figures on war reparations or military aid in the document.

Poland's previous nationaist conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) government, which led the country from 2015 to 2023, had demanded reparations totalling 1.3 trillion ($1.39 trillion).

Now that both countries have centre-left governments, bilateral relations are witnessing something of a new start. The government consultations, for example, are the first such talks since November 2018.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said in the past that he expects Germany to make material and moral reparations for the damage caused during World War II.

The action plan states: "The two governments are conducting an intensive dialogue on measures to support the surviving victims of the German aggression and occupation in the years 1939 to 1945, remembrance and security."

The paper refers to the construction of a German-Polish House in Berlin as a further project for reconciliation. The house is intended to commemorate the complicated German-Polish history and the brutal German occupation from 1939 to 1945, and create a place of remembrance for the Polish victims.

Defence needs a major part of action plan

Scholz was welcomed earlier with military honours to Warsaw by Tusk, marking the start of the joint government consultations.

He travelled to Poland with 12 federal and state ministers. According to government sources in Berlin, the consultations should provide "a strong impetus" for good neighbourly relations.

A large part of the 40-page action plan deals with the topic of the countries' current defence issues.

EU and NATO member Poland is one of the most committed political and military supporters of Ukraine, as well as bordering Ukraine and Russian ally Belarus.

The action paper says: "We will strengthen the interoperability and standardization of our defence capabilities, increase production capacities and promote investment in our defence industry."

Specifically, the paper refers to the development of joint initiatives in the field of tanks and ammunition, including increasing the availability of spare parts for Leopard battle tanks, which both countries have supplied to Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes part in the press conference following the German-Polish government consultations alongside Donald Tusk (R), Prime Minister of Poland. These are the first government consultations with Tusk's center-left government, which replaced a right-wing conservative government led by Morawiecki at the end of last year. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes part in the press conference following the German-Polish government consultations alongside Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland. These are the first government consultations with Tusk's center-left government, which replaced a right-wing conservative government led by Morawiecki at the end of last year. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes part in the press conference following the German-Polish government consultations alongside Donald Tusk (R), Prime Minister of Poland. These are the first government consultations with Tusk's center-left government, which replaced a right-wing conservative government led by Morawiecki at the end of last year. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Federal authorities in Mexico on Tuesday reported the discovery of 19 bodies in a community near La Concordia, in the southern state of Chiapas. The deaths were reportedly the result of a confrontation between criminal groups. In a statement, federal security authorities said that 14 of the bodies were found in the bed of a dump truck, two more in the cabin, and three were lying on the ground, next to the vehicle. They were all men and had gunshot wounds. The bodies were found because the attackers themselves boasted about the massacre in a video posted on social networks.

On June 28, a video was uploaded showing several lifeless people in the bed of a dump truck, who were wearing tactical equipment and carrying long weapons, the statement said. The alleged authors of the video identified themselves as members of the Sinaloa Cartel and identified the victims as members of a criminal organization that allegedly operates between Chiapas and Guatemala.

On Tuesday, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador alluded to the matter in his morning press conference. It was an unfortunate confrontation in Chiapas, in the border area. There are two groups that are confronting each other, this has been going on for some time. The population of the region is being protected. There are two groups. What motivates this? Drug trafficking and also the trafficking of migrants, of people, he said. Security authorities reported that at least six of the victims were carrying Guatemalan IDs.

This massacre ties in with others committed in the area in recent months. In May, criminals murdered six people, including Lucero Lopez Maza, a candidate for mayor for the Chiapas Popular Party. It was not clear whether the candidates murder was the product of a direct attack or if Lopez Maza was a victim of crossfire. Weeks before, the candidates father, the rancher Ataulfo Lopez Flores, had suffered an attack on his ranch at the hands of members of organized crime, who burned his property, several vehicles and murdered four workers.

Even earlier, in April, a massacre and a confrontation between criminals and members of the National Guard resulted in the death of at least 10 people, in two locations near La Angostura dam, in the same municipality. The human rights defense organization Fray Bartolome de las Casas reported that the scuffles had actually left 25 people dead, including civilians unrelated to the crime.

The latest La Concordia massacre illustrates the violent drift of crime in several areas of Chiapas, none as badly hit as the corridor formed by the Central Border and the Sierra Mariscal, next to La Angostura dam. For several years, groups linked to the Sinaloa cartel have been fighting with other organizations for control of the territory and routes. With the passage north through Tapachula, a classic route for migrants, now closed, the roads of the Central Border and the Sierra Mariscal, with complicated terrain, have grown in importance for criminal gangs. Not only because of the migrants themselves, who are subjected to extortion the moment they set foot in Mexico, but because of the weapons and drugs that also circulate in the area.

In the Central Border and the Sierra Mariscal, groups with alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have carried out fights and persecutions. In many communities, the population has fled, seeking refuge in municipalities outside the conflict zone, such as Comitan or Tuxtla, the state capital. In February, a report by civil associations defined the situation in the area as an unrecognized armed conflict that began in mid-2021.

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(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Olaf Scholz is upgrading Germanys relationship with Poland after Prime Minister Donald Tusk returned the nation to the European mainstream last year even as Frances lurch to the right throws ties off balance.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The rebalancing of bonds between the three European Union nations shows how election cycles that upend the political hierarchies in the bloc are transforming time-tested relationships.

Germany wants Poland to have a very strong voice in Europe, Scholz said alongside Tusk on Tuesday after a joint cabinet meeting in Warsaw, the first since 2018. The two will seek to maintain strong ties with Frances Emmanuel Macron irrespective of the result of parliamentary elections, he added.

Germany, France and Poland make up the so-called Weimar Triangle, an alliance forged after the collapse of communist rule in Poland to foster deeper European integration. The format has drifted for most of the last decade, particularly as relations with Polands nationalist government soured.

But now that Tusk has made a restoration of the three-way channel a cornerstone of his pro-EU foreign policy after defeating the nationalists last year, Frances orientation may become rudderless.

Macrons defeat in the first round of parliamentary elections on Sunday at the hands of the far-right National Rally raises the prospect of shared rule with a party that opposes a strengthening of the EU.

While Scholz lauded the Weimar format and pledged to continue it, Tusk lamented the results of the French ballot as a critical moment that underscores the rightward shift. Both leaders reinforced their governments pro-European orientation, as the Polish leader said his allies must step up competition with populist parties.

These forces must find smart and convincing answers for the priorities of normal people, Tusk said, including on issues such as migration, security, economic independence.

In the meantime, Germany is making overtures eastward. Scholz helped delivered a German-Polish action plan during his visit and a financial package worth hundreds of millions of euros as he seeks to ease tensions that had dominated under the rule of Polands Law & Justice administration.

The two sides also discussed police cooperation and the two nations borders, as Polish officials have complained of long lines for those seeking to enter Germany.

On All Political Levels

Scholz and Tusk have improved coordination. Along with their Czech counterpart, they wrote a letter last week to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen seeking additional financial support to cover the cost of hosting Ukrainians fleeing Russias invasion.

Scholzs package includes an offer for payments to Polish victims of the World War II Nazi occupation  a deeply sensitive issue in Poland  as well as commitments for the joint defense of NATOs eastern flank. Other items are a commemoration center in Berlin to raise awareness of the suffering of Poles in the Nazi era.

The two leaders committed verbally to war-related payments of about 200 million ($215 million) to victims still living, according to a person familiar with the discussions. The funds will be managed by a Polish non-profit organization.

Scholz acknowledged Germanys dark legacy in Poland from the Nazi-era, even as he signaled Berlins position that reparations have long been resolved by postwar treaties.

The German-Polish thaw came quickly after Tusks coalition secured an unexpected majority in the parliamentary ballot in October, ousting a nationalist government that had a long-running quarrel with Brussels. Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski chose Berlin as one of his first trips after taking office in December.

We hope to restore trust in relations on all political levels, Sikorski said during a January meeting with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock. In April, he made clear that Germany and France were the countrys most significant partners.

It was a dramatic contrast to tense relations with the Polish nationalists led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who had made attacks against Germany and the government in Berlin a hallmark of his worldview.

In 2022, the nationalists issued a demand for Germany to pay World War II-era compensation, saying the destruction wrought by the Nazi regime caused damage worth some $1.3 trillion.

The sum being offered by Scholzs government seeks to respond to a demand by Tusks government to present constructive proposals, with funds to be earmarked for living victims of Nazi crimes.

--With assistance from Piotr Bujnicki.

(Updates with verbal agreement on war-related payments in 13th paragraph.)

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes part in the press conference following the German-Polish government consultations alongside Donald Tusk (R), Prime Minister of Poland. These are the first government consultations with Tusk's center-left government, which replaced a right-wing conservative government led by Morawiecki at the end of last year. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany is planning to provide aid for surviving victims of the Nazi occupation in Poland during World War II.

"Germany is aware of the gravity of its guilt, of its responsibility for the millions of victims of the German occupation and of the mission that arises from it," Scholz said in Warsaw Tuesday at a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk following joint government consultations at which German and Polish leaders agreed an action plan to deal with current as well as historical issues.

Germany stands by its historical responsibility without any ifs, ands or buts, Scholz asserted.

"The situation of elderly victims is one that concerns us greatly, and we will also take action in this regard," the German leader added.

Scholz did not say when or how much compensation would be paid to the approximately 40,000 victims of the German occupation of Poland who are still alive.

Tusk says he hopes payments to start 'soon'

But Tusk said he hoped the compensation announced Scholz will start being distributed soon.

"This is not a matter of years, but of months," Tusk said in Warsaw after the German-Polish government consultations.

Tusk described Scholz's announcement as a step in the right direction. "There is no amount of money that would compensate for everything that happened during World War II," he said.

He acknowledged that in a formal and legal sense, the issue of reparations was closed. Nevertheless, the aid promised by the German government for the victims of the occupation could serve to improve German-Polish relations, "because good gestures are also very important in politics," said Tusk.

The previous nationalist conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) government had demanded reparations totalling 1.3 trillion ($1.39 trillion). Since a change of government in Poland in December, the tone towards Germany has become friendlier.

Tusk noted that Germany's commitment to security in Europe is currently a key issue. "For me, it is important that Germany is prepared to take on much greater responsibility for the security of the continent, to ensure that there will be no war in Europe," he said.

Action plan agreed

The plans to tackle not only past wrongs but also current issues, such as defence policy were outlined in a paper circulated by the German government as Scholz and a group of ministers visited Warsaw for government consultations.

There were however no concrete figures on war reparations or military aid in the document.

Now that both countries have centre-left governments, bilateral relations are witnessing something of a new start. The government consultations, for example, are the first such talks since November 2018.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said in the past that he expects Germany to make material and moral reparations for the damage caused during World War II.

The action plan states: "The two governments are conducting an intensive dialogue on measures to support the surviving victims of the German aggression and occupation in the years 1939 to 1945, remembrance and security."

The paper refers to the construction of a German-Polish House in Berlin as a further project for reconciliation. The house is intended to commemorate the complicated German-Polish history and the brutal German occupation from 1939 to 1945, and create a place of remembrance for the Polish victims.

Defence needs a major part of action plan

Scholz was welcomed earlier with military honours to Warsaw by Tusk, marking the start of the joint government consultations.

He travelled to Poland with 12 federal and state ministers. According to government sources in Berlin, the consultations should provide "a strong impetus" for good neighbourly relations.

A large part of the 40-page action plan deals with the topic of the countries' current defence issues.

EU and NATO member Poland is one of the most committed political and military supporters of Ukraine, as well as bordering Ukraine and Russian ally Belarus.

The action paper says: "We will strengthen the interoperability and standardization of our defence capabilities, increase production capacities and promote investment in our defence industry."

Specifically, the paper refers to the development of joint initiatives in the field of tanks and ammunition, including increasing the availability of spare parts for Leopard battle tanks, which both countries have supplied to Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes part in the press conference following the German-Polish government consultations alongside Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland. These are the first government consultations with Tusk's center-left government, which replaced a right-wing conservative government led by Morawiecki at the end of last year. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes part in the press conference following the German-Polish government consultations alongside Donald Tusk (R), Prime Minister of Poland. These are the first government consultations with Tusk's center-left government, which replaced a right-wing conservative government led by Morawiecki at the end of last year. Michael Kappeler/dpa
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) is welcomed by Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, to the German-Polish government consultations These are the first government consultations with Tusk's center-left government, which replaced a right-wing conservative government led by Morawiecki at the end of 2023. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been welcomed with military honours to Warsaw by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, marking the start of the first German-Polish government consultations since 2018.

Scholz travelled to Poland with 12 federal and state ministers. According to government sources in Berlin, the consultations should provide "a strong impetus" for good neighbourly relations.

A joint German-Polish action plan including several projects is expected to be agreed.

Berlin is expected to present a financial package for Poland. It is expected to include compensation payments for living Polish victims of the occupation by Nazi Germany as well as German aid for the defence of NATO's eastern flank.

In addition, money is to be channelled into the construction of the German-Polish House in Berlin. The house is intended to commemorate the complicated German-Polish history and the brutal German occupation during World War II (1939-45) and create a place of remembrance for the Polish victims of the war.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A ghost ship washed up on a Florida Panhandle beach in June.

The ship, The Lady Catherine III, belonged to a Texas man who is likely to lose much of his life savings after purchasing the sailboat, NBC News reports.

The ship washed ashore in Pensacola on June 18.

I saw this tattered sailboat, it looked ghostly, just kind of coming in, Francine Farrar, a 46-year-old from Meridian, Mississippi, told NBC News last week.

We called it the ghost ship. It quickly became known as the ghost ship across Pensacola beach, said Allie Garrett, a meteorologist and storm chaser who took multiple photos and drone footage of the prone vessel.

Shortly after photos of the ship were posted online, 39-year-old Michael Barlow recognized the vessel.

It was the same one he was rescued from weeks earlier, NBC News said.

Barlow owns The Catherine, and on May 21 he set sail on the ship, leaving Fort Pierce with plans to dock in Rockport, Texas. Barlow was planning on closing down his excavation business, selling his belongings, and starting a new life with his family exploring the world on The Catherine.

We were just going to explore the world, Barlow said of his wife and 9-year-old son. Were normal people. We have normal finances, very, very basic. And this is the only way I could take my son and show him theres a whole world out there, beyond whats in America. Its the only way to do this realistically until this happened.

NBC News says Barlow and a friend were at sea when high winds and waves that would eventually become Hurricane Alberto rendered the ship inoperable.

We went through storms one after another, after another, after another, and then that last storm just hit us and exploded my front headsails, Barlow said in an interview from Honduras, where hes temporarily living and teaching scuba. We lost our headsail, we lost our motor, and we were getting turned. It was unforecast and it was devastating.

Thanks to a Garmin satellite device, Barlow got word to authorities about his situation. The Coast Guard in New Orleans was alerted and a helicopter found the pair in the rough seas.

The Coast Guard could not rescue him by sea due to the waves, so they gave Barlow a choice: stay with the boat and risk your life, or get in the helicopter and leave the $80,000 boat behind.

Seventeen days after choosing to be rescued and leaving The Catherine behind, the boat showed up nearly 200 miles away, and with it a new slew of problems.

NBC News reports Barlow now has to decide between paying $28,000 to have the ship taken away and demolished, or paying much more to have her docked and repaired, a price that could end up higher than his original purchase price.

If were talking about business numbers, itd make more sense to scrap the boat, Barlow said. Thats just the stone-cold truth.

Barlow has to move the boat or face a third-degree felony, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and even prison time, officials said.

Yes, our officers have been in contact with Mr. Barlow, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson Faith Fawn said in statement. He has 30 days from the date the uniform boating citation was issued to bring his vessel into compliance.

Barlow told NBC News that he isnt giving up on his dreams of sailing the world.

This definitely did not shake my resolve as far as sailing goes. I love the ocean. I respect the ocean. Its relentless and beautiful at the same 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 WFLA.
Blessed Carlo Acutis, a teen who died from cancer is the first millennial to be canonized as a saint.

"He was an ordinary boy, a boy who lived his childhood and youth between family, school, and the games children play," said Bishop of Assisi, Domenico Sorrentino.

On Monday, the College of Cardinals voted for the teen's canonization, reports the Catholic News Agency, and in 2025, he will be declared a saint.

Acutis then lived a "life of faith that was nurtured until it reached a peak that now makes him stand out in the eyes of the Church and the world as a saint, who will soon be proclaimed," he added.

Two medical miracles have already been attributed to the teen, who was known as "God's influencer."

Body of Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 aged 15, is seen inside his tomb in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy, May 26, 2024. Pope Francis has cleared the way for Acutis to be the first saint of the millennial generation. REUTERS/Matteo Berlenga

Who was Acutis?

Acutis was an Italian teen who used his tech skills to spread the Catholic faith.

He was born on May 3, 1991, in London and died on Oct. 12, 2006 in Italy after battling to leukemia, reports Vatican News. Before his death, he considered becoming a priest, reports WJBF.

The teen's beatification took place in 2020, meaning the pope declared the teen attained the blessedness of heaven, and Acutis was given the title of Blessed.

Miracles attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis

A student attending a university in Florence fell off her bike and suffered severe head trauma and required craniotomy surgery that had a low chance of survival. However, her miraculous recovery is attributed to Acutis, reports Vatican News.

The student's mother made the pilgrimage to visit Acutis' tomb and leave a note. The same day, her daughter started to breathe spontaneously. The day after, she began to move and regained some of her speech.

Ten days later, a CAT scan showed her brain hemorrhage had disappeared.

What is a saint?

Saints are persons in heaven who were officially canonized or not who did one of the following, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Lived heroically virtuous lives.

Offered their life to others.

Died for their faith.

All saints must have lived lives worthy of imitation.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Italian teen Carlos Acutis is first millennial saint: God's Influencer
President Biden speaks at a rally in North Carolina the day after his debate with Donald Trump. (Matt Kelley / Associated Press)

The fallout from President Bidens miserable debate last week is giving me deja vu.

In the political rights intramural arguments over Donald Trump, I got some things correct and some incorrect. But I believe I was indisputably right in one respect: From the outset, I argued that Trumps presidency would end badly because, to echo Heraclitus, character is destiny.

Trumps presidency did indeed end badly, though sadly his political career did not end with it. Whatever laws he may or may not have broken on Jan. 6, 2021, he spent a large chunk of the afternoon watching TV as violent hooligans stormed the Capitol on his behalf, trying to steal the election, chanting death threats and literally and figuratively defecating on the peoples house. He was even impeached on his way out the door.

If Id made a wager on my prediction, I surely would have collected my winnings that day.

Read more: Column: Presidential debates generally don't matter. This Biden-Trump face-off could be different

You know what else is destiny? Age.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to make it to their golden years, but those who do inevitably lose the qualities of youth, mentally and physically. Some lose more than others, but everyone declines.

Even Biden acknowledges that he is not immune to senescence. He just denies that it matters very much. And so does pretty much the entirety of the Democratic Party.

The rhetorical wagon-circling consists of a few interchangeable talking points.  Bad debate nights happen , Barack Obama declared. The Biden family will not let those 90 minutes define the four years hes been president, First Lady Jill Biden told Vogue.  We will continue to fight . The gist of all of this is that the presidents performance last week was just a snapshot, an isolated incident.

Thats all nonsense. Familiar nonsense. For years, whenever Donald Trump put his unfitness on display, his defenders would say it was a stray remark, a one-time event. You have to judge him in context. Hes a good man. Hes fighting for you.

In short, they would say all the things Bidens partisan Praetorian Guard is saying now.

Read more: Goldberg: What we keep getting wrong about protests like those at USC, Columbia and other campuses

But they were isolated events in the way that the frames of a film are when you look at them one at a time. Roll the film, and you see the man in action. Bidens bad 90 minutes werent a one-off; they were an example of a long-standing problem that, disastrously, was televised for all of America to see.

The deja vu doesnt end there.

After he secured the nomination in 2016, Trumps defenders would respond to any denigration of the candidate, particularly in the wake of the Access Hollywood tape that caught him boasting about sexual assault, by saying, in effect, What about Hillary?

Anyone questioning Trumps fitness was accused of supporting Clinton. Today, any concerns about Bidens fitness are greeted with the same whataboutism with regard to Trump.

After Trump was elected and the isolated incident defense lost all plausibility, his defenders resorted to telling people not to believe their lying eyes. For years, Democrats and other Trump critics called this gaslighting: trying to make people doubt their own perceptions rather than acknowledging that anything was amiss or untrue.

Now the foes of gaslighting have become the gaslighters.

It was Bidens idea to hold this debate. He set the date and the rules. He locked himself away in seclusion for a week to prepare. Why? Because the Biden campaign knew it needed to rebut the narrative that he was too old and diminished to do the job.

Instead, Biden confirmed it.

Defenders rightly note that Trumps performance was full of lies (though Biden wasnt exactly a paragon of truth). But Biden was utterly incapable of rebutting them.

When asked about abortion, his most potent issue, the president offered a word salad that ended with a garbled morass about how crime committed by illegal immigrants isnt a big deal because American women are getting raped all the time, including by their sisters. In response to Trumps ridiculous diatribe about the national debt, Biden rhetorically meandered into declaring, We finally beat Medicare.

Old age is different from bad character. But the similarities here are more important than the differences.

If you believe Biden is the best possible choice to defeat Trump, make that argument. If you think a man who is  dependably engaged  only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., as Axios reported, can do the job for the next six months  never mind for another four years  make that argument.

But spare me the talk about Bidens legacy, one bad night and Whatabout Trump? The only relevant questions are Can he do the job? and, in a very distant second place, Can he win?

@JonahDispatch





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
U.S Rep. Bob Good, R-Campbell, speaks at a campaign rally in Powhatan County. (Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Having likely lost to challenger state Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland, 5th Congressional District Rep. Bob Good is seeking a recount. The Virginia State Board of Elections certified primary election results Tuesday  which opened a window of opportunity for candidates appearing to have lost by less than 1% of the vote to pursue a recount if they wish.

With the loss at less than 400 votes, Good is entitled to a recount, but his campaign will have to cover the costs of it.

Goods campaign manager, Diana Shores, said that people in the district have been reaching out to the campaign to ask for a recount.

Our donors, our volunteers, and our supporters expect it. This isnt about Bob Good. This is about the people of the district, she said in a text message.

Shores said that the recount can settle any questions about the fairness and transparency of the election process so that voters can confidently move forward to the general election.

After the state elections board certified the results of the June primaries on Tuesday, chairman John OBannon said Virginias elections were free and fair.

In a statement Tuesday, McGuire called the election results the honor of a lifetime.

I look forward to continuing our fight for Virginia families every day in Congress. He asked voters to support him and former president Donald Trump, adding that without Trump and a Republican Congress, we will lose our great country.

Good, first elected in 2020  the same year former president Donald Trump lost to president Joe Biden  has challenged the results of the Biden-Trump matchup, as has McGuire.

The two-term congressman has previously won the GOP nomination through a convention process before topping Democratic challengers in the conservative-leaning district spanning parts of central and Southside Virginia.

This year, Good faced state senator McGuire in a district-wide primary, which meant more people were able to vote. Though similar candidates in many ways when it comes to conservative Republican policy platforms, fealty to Trump became a highlight of their contest, as Trump and Biden face off again this year.

Last summer Good briefly endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president. This was shortly after some of Trumps indictments had been announced (and Trump has since been convicted on 34 counts in one of the pending cases, involving payments to an adult film star). When DeSantis dropped out of the race, Good immediately re-endorsed Trump.

Trump went on to endorse McGuire and sent a cease and desist letter to Goods campaign for signs that included Trumps name  implying an endorsement he didnt have.

At a recent rally in Chesapeake, Trump spoke about several Republican congressional candidates in Virginia, including a shoutout for McGuire that commended his military service.

I know a lot of tough guys and they wanted to be Navy SEALs. It was their dream to be a Navy SEAL.  They couldnt get there, Trump said. Its a very tough thing to do. Its really tough, guys, adding that McGuire is a tough cookie who is doing a good job as a state lawmaker.

Whoever wins Virginias 5th District congressional race will face Democrat nominee Gloria Tinsley Witt in Novembers general election. A Republican-leaning district, voters have historically favored GOP candidates, though Democrat Tom Periello represented the district from 2009 to 2011.
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) received a citation after bringing an unloaded gun to an airport in Virginia on Friday, her office confirmed to HuffPost Monday.

Last Friday, Rep. Spartz accidentally carried an empty handgun in her suitcase with no magazine or bullets, which she did not realize was in the pocket of her suitcase, while going through security at Dulles airport, the statement read. Rep. Spartz was issued a citation and proceeded on her international flight to the OSCE PA meeting in Europe.

Local Indiana outlet WISH-TV reported that the Transportation Security Administration said it found an unloaded .380 caliber firearm in her carry-on.

According to CNN, which cited a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Airports Authority, Spartz has been summoned to appear in court and is facing a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The penalty for carrying an unloaded firearm at a checkpoint, sterile area or onboard an aircraft can be between $1,500 and $5,370, and can also lead to a criminal referral, according to TSAs website.

The two-term Congresswoman has been in the U.S. House since 2020 and is set to retire at the end of the year.

Spartz is Congress first and sole Ukrainian-born immigrant member. She voted against a bill that included more than $60 billion in aid for Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putins war on the country has persisted.

Jonathan Nicholson contributed reporting.

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The Supreme Court ruling that grants broad immunity to Donald Trump for his acts as president marks a before and after in the laws that can be applied to the leader of the White House. The conservative majority of the Supreme Court has exempted the president from responsibility in the exercise of his constitutional authority and declared his official acts presumptively immune from criminal prosecution. According to the three liberal justices of the Supreme Court, this ruling opens the way to nightmare scenarios, in which a president can enjoy immunity even for murdering political rivals, accepting bribes and carrying out a coup detat.

The president is now a king above the law, reads the dissenting opinion, written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and seconded by Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. We fear for our democracy.

The dissenting opinion gives a bleak vision of the implications of Mondays Supreme Court ruling. The president of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution, it argues.

Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune. Let the president violate the law, let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain, let him use his official power for evil ends. Because if he knew that he may one day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be. That is the majoritys message today, it continues.

Nightmare scenarios

Even if these nightmare scenarios never play out, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done. The relationship between the president and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law, the liberal justices say in the dissenting opinion.

Whether described as presumptive or absolute, under the majoritys rule, a presidents use of any official power for any purpose, even the most corrupt, is immune from prosecution. That is just as bad as it sounds, and it is baseless, they argue.

The liberal justices also criticize another aspect of the ruling that will shield Donald Trump and make it more difficult for him to prosecuted for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 elections. The ruling on Monday argues that evidence relating to acts for which the president is immune cannot play any role in any criminal proceedings against him. That holding, which will prevent the government from using a presidents official acts to prove knowledge or intent in prosecuting private offenses, is nonsensical, says the dissenting opinion.

The controversial majority decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, holds that the nature of presidential power entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. The ruling states that all actions that are not manifestly or palpably beyond [his] authority are considered official actions.

Anti-Trump protesters, this Monday in front of the Supreme Court headquarters, in Washington. Leah Millis (REUTERS)

The conservative majority of the Supreme Court has tried to qualify the ruling with clarifications and obvious statements, such as there is no immunity for unofficial acts; not everything the president does is official and immunity applies equally to all occupants of the Oval Office, regardless of politics or the party in power. The ruling directly benefits Trump, but it seems that the justices feel compelled to say that the decision was not tailored for the Republican.

No other president has needed to claim they are protected by presidential immunity. The dissenting vote recalls how President Gerald Ford granted a pardon to Richard Nixon after his resignation over the Watergate case. Both Fords pardon and Nixons acceptance of it rested on the understanding that the former President faced potential criminal liability, argue the liberal justices.

Never in the history of our Republic has a president had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law. Moving forward, however, all former presidents will be cloaked in such immunity. If the occupant of that office misuses official power for personal gain, the criminal law that the rest of us must abide will not provide a backstop. With fear for our democracy, I dissent, ends the dissent.

The keys of the dictatorship

The ruling comes amid Trumps campaign to win a second term at the November 5 presidential election. Indeed, the Supreme Court ruling may have cleared Trumps path to the White House: the lengthy process means that it is near impossible that Trump will stand trial in the Washington criminal case over election subversion before the November election, and the ruling itself has cast doubt on the case.

In addition to this victory, Trump is riding high after President Joe Bidens dismal performance at the presidential debate last Thursday, which has sown doubts among Democrats about whether he is fit to face a second term. In this context, the Republican has a good chance of returning to the White House. Now, thanks to the conservative justices  three of whom were appointed by Trump , if he takes office, his official acts would be immune from criminal prosecution.

They just handed Donald Trump the keys to a dictatorship, Quentin Fulks, Bidens deputy campaign manager, said in a call with reporters. The Supreme Court just gave Trump a permission slip to assassinate and jail whoever he wants to gain power.

It just puts a finer point on the fact that if Donald Trump gets anywhere near the Oval Office again, he will rule as a dictator, he will use his power to harm his political enemies, he will continue to incite political violence, and that is something that we cannot afford, he added.

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GOP US Rep. Spartz, of Indiana, charged with bringing gun through airport security, officials say

FILE - Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., speaks during a Lincoln Day Dinner, May 2, 2024, in Noblesville, Ind. Spartz faces a weapons violation charge for bringing a firearm through airport security, airport authorities said Monday, July 1. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indiana Republican U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz has been charged with bringing a firearm through airport security, authorities said Monday.

Spartz, 45, was charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia law, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said Monday.

A TSA spokesperson said officers detected an unloaded .380-caliber firearm in Spartz's carry-on during passenger security screening on Friday at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Her office said in a statement that Spartz mistakenly carried an unloaded handgun in the pocket of her suitcase while going through security on her way to a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Europe.

Rep. Spartz was issued a citation and proceeded on her international flight," the statement said.

TSA allows passengers to travel with a firearm but it must be declared with the airline and packed in a hard-sided case in the passenger's checked baggage. Firearms are prohibited at security checkpoints.

The charge carries up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine if convicted.

The two-term congresswoman from central Indiana won a contentious and competitive primary in May after she had said in 2023 that she wasn't going to run again.

Spartz  a Trump-aligned, Second Amendment touting Republican  is the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress. However, she recently voted against sending war aid to the country, a reversal from her position when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Rent Free. This past week is a rare one where all the major housing news is happening at the federal level. Major developments include:

The announcement of the first round of "Baby YIMBY" grant awards, and housing advocates' disappointment at where this first tranche of money is going.

House Republicans call for cutting federal housing programs, including total defunding of the enforcement of fair housing regulations.

President Joe Biden's endorsement of "rent caps" in a debate performance made headlines for a lot of other reasons.

But first, our lead story covers the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, in which Justice Neil Gorsuch cites a lot of NIMBY government lies in a decision allowing more sweeping municipal crackdowns on the homeless.

NIMBY Governments Win at the Supreme Court

Last Friday, as Reason covered, the Supreme Court's six-justice conservative majority ruled that Grants Pass, Oregon's camping ban did not violate the Eighth Amendment to the U.S Constitution's prohibition on "cruel and unusual punishment."

The decision overturns two prior rulings by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit: the 2018 decision in Martin v. Boise that banned local governments from penalizing people for sleeping in public when there were no available shelter beds, and the 2022 decision in Johnson v. Grants Pass extending that prohibition to public camping bans that punished people for sleeping outside with rudimentary shelter or for sleeping in their cars when no shelter was available.

The Supreme Court's Grants Pass decision, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, was the much-sought-after outcome for a wide constellation of local governments, their tax-funded associations, politicians of both parties, and more, who argued the Martin decision had left localities with little ability to police nuisances, get people into shelters, and provide public order.

Homeless and housing advocacy groups have decried the Supreme Court's decision as giving localities a blank check to criminalize and harass homeless people with no other options but to sleep outside or in their vehicles.

So, what to make of it all?

Gorsuch's Ruling: The Reasonable Legal Reasoning

The central question in the Grants Pass case is whether Grants Pass' public camping ban violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on "cruel and unusual punishment" by effectively criminalizing the status of homelessness.

The idea that the Eighth Amendment bans so-called "status" crimes comes from the Supreme Court's 1962 ruling in Robinson v. California, which struck down a California law that made it illegal to just be addicted to drugs.

In deciding Martin and Grants Pass, the 9th Circuit similarly reasoned that enforcement of camping bans when shelter beds were maxed out effectively criminalized the "status" of homelessness.

Gorsuch disagreed for two primary reasons. First, he said that Grants Pass' camping ban prohibits the actual conduct of camping in a park, not the status of being homeless. And its law applies to everyone.

Second, Gorsuch said the penalties for violating Grants Pass' camping ban (fines for initial violations and 30 days in jail for repeat offenses) were also run-of-the-mill criminal and civil penalties and not anything that could be considered cruel or unusual.

Since Grants Pass' camping ban didn't criminalize the "status" of homelessness, and it didn't levy cruel and unusual punishments, it didn't violate the Eighth Amendment, he concluded.

Reasonable minds can disagree with Gorsuch's analysis. Justice Sonia Sotomayor certainly does in her dissent. But his decision strikes me (a non-lawyer) as a reasonable parsing of the Eighth Amendment issues raised.

Gorsuch's Ruling: The NIMBY Throat-Clearing

Gorsuch's opinion takes a while to get to those Eighth Amendment issues, however.

His opinion opens with a lengthy explanation of why the 9th Circuit's Martin decision has made the problem of homelessness so much worse. In short, he argues that it has tied the hands of local governments, who have one less "tool in the toolbox" to get people off the streets.

In making that point, Gorsuch uncritically cites odd, contradictory, and false claims from municipal governments about why they're failing so hard at addressing homelessness.

He cites claims from several California cities that Martin makes it harder to persuade people to accept shelter beds. That's despite the Martin decision only banning local governments from enforcing bans on sleeping outside when there are no shelter beds available.

He cites the League of Oregon Cities' claim that because of the Martin decision, the homeless will reoccupy cleared encampments after a couple of days. That undercuts the notion that Martin was preventing encampment clearings in the first place.

Gorsuch quotes from an amicus brief filed in September by the city of Phoenix that Martin and Johnson have "paralyze[d]" its efforts at addressing homelessness.

Yet, just a few days before Phoenix filed that brief, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled the city was incorrectly citing Martin and Johnson as an excuse for not clearing permanent encampments and policing public nuisancestwo things it still very much had the power to do.

Bad Faith Local Governments

Phoenix's amicus brief in the Grants Pass case was co-written by the League of Arizona Cities and Townsa taxpayer-funded lobbying group that spent most of this past year fighting efforts in the Arizona Legislature to liberalize local zoning codes.

Local governments love to blame Martin for rising homelessness because it relieves them of any real responsibility for the problem. Homelessness is something that happened to them, and here comes the 9th Circuit preventing them from doing anything about it.

It's an incredible act of blame-shifting. In fact, local and state governments bear a considerable share of the blame for the rising homeless population by making housing so hard to build in the first place.

Nothing correlates more with homelessness rates than high housing costs. And nothing drives up housing costs like government restrictions on building housing.

When getting city approval for a new apartment building takes two years, state environmental law lets anyone delay an approved project with lawsuits, and the cheapest forms of housing are banned completely, is it any surprise that thousands of people end up on the streets?

Where cities and states regulate building less, housing costs are lower, homeless populations are smaller, and dealing with homelessness (whether that's through providing more shelter beds or more effectively policing nuisances) becomes cheaper and more manageable.

Lifting restrictions on building homes is something local governments could easily do on their own initiative. They could do that without giving anyone cause to complain about cruel and unusual punishment.

The same municipal associations saying Martin needs to go are the same municipal associations that fight tooth and nail against even the most modest land-use deregulation.

Questions of Scale, Not Approach

Giving police greater powers to ticket and arrest anyone sleeping on a park bench isn't going to fix homelessness when you're in San Francisco and 4,000 people in your city are sleeping outside, the median apartment rents for $3,300 a month, and the number of new homes permitted per month is in the single digits.

Nor, frankly, will "housing first" strategies fix homelessness in high-cost cities with the highest homeless rates. Those high housing costs make providing supportive housing incredibly expensive while generating more and more homeless people all the time.

Realistically, the only way homeless rates can come meaningfully down is through serious land use liberalization that boosts home building and brings housing costs down.

Once that happens, many different approaches to homelessness become more politically palatable, more workable, and more humane.

It's less cruel and unusual to fine someone for pitching a tent in a public park if they are offered a shelter bed first and, with perhaps a little help, they could be in a position to afford a place of their own. Conversely, public order and citywide quality of life aren't as threatened by municipal toleration of the handful of people who do keep sleeping on the streets.

Until local and state governments adopt policies that would significantly reduce the costs of housing, it is unfair, unhelpful, and illiberal to fine people for sleeping on a park bench with a blanketeven if doing so is constitutional.

New 'Baby YIMBY' Grant Program Rewards NIMBY Policies

In late 2022, Congress created a new $85 million program that would reward jurisdictions that removed regulatory obstacles to new housing construction with grants that would pay for removing even more obstacles.

This past week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the list of jurisdictions that received the first Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO) grants. The list is not encouraging.

In many cases, HUD is paying jurisdictions for adopting policies that make it harder, not easier, to build housing. Grants are also going to fund vague planning activities that won't enable the creation of new units.

"Some were disappointed when they heard this was going to be a small grant. Boy is it good that we started small, because we can learn from this," says Alex Armlovich, a housing policy researcher at the Niskanen Center.

Questionable Recipients

In explaining why it gave Philadelphia a $3.3 million PRO grant, HUD identified the city's "inclusionary zoning" (I.Z.) requirement that 20 percent of newly constructed housing in some neighborhoods be offered at below-market rates to lower-income residents.

Philadelphia's affordability mandates, which act as a tax on new development, have been identified as a major barrier to new housing.

"Philadelphia, among large cities, is one of the last ones moving sharply in the wrong direction," says Armlovich. Yet here the city is, receiving a $3 million PRO grant.

New York City and Seattle also received PRO Grants because they'd adopted inclusionary zoning policies, despite both cities' I.Z. programs also being identified as barriers to housing construction. (Seattle is currently getting sued over its I.Z. program.)

The state of Hawaii received a $6.6 million award (the second largest award) because of emergency orders issued by Gov. Josh Green that suspended local housing regulations and created a state body to expedite the approval of projects.

Greens' emergency orders excited a lot of zoning reformers when they were first issued. (I dubbed them "YIMBY martial law.") But, in response to lawsuits and concerted opposition, Green quickly reimposed many of the regulations he'd additionally waived. Sen. Brian Schatz (DHawaii) was the author of the PRO Grant program.

Unproductive Awards

Many of the local programs funded by PRO Grants are also of questionable value.

Iowa City, Iowa, will receive a grant to study whether minimum parking requirements drive up the cost of new housing. (We already know that they do.) Philadelphia's grant will pay for studying whether its I.Z. program (which, again, HUD identified as allegedly removing obstacles to new housing) is in fact making some new housing economically infeasible.

Anaheim, California, is getting money to create a "city livability lab."

Some of the planning work funded by PRO Grants is better targeted. New York City will get money to fund the implementation of its pending "City of Yes" zoning reforms. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' $3.5 million award will fund the implementation of several localities' "missing middle" reforms that allow multi-unit housing in single-family areas. Denver is getting money to hire more planning staff to process permits faster.

Nevertheless, "looking at all of these, it's very ambiguous how much housing is going to come from these grants," says Emily Hamilton, a housing policy researcher at George Mason University's Mercatus Center.

Potential Fixes

Hamilton suggests one way the PRO Grant program could be improved: "I think the federal government could do a lot better by looking at rewarding housing market outcomes rather than planning activities that are just very difficult to forecast how they'll affect housing supply."

Practically, that would mean giving grants to high-demand jurisdictions that are approving the most new housing and low-demand jurisdictions that are approving moderately priced new housing.

Armlovich suggests that Congress could improve the PRO Grant program by passing the YIMBY Act, which requires recipients of federal housing funds to report on whether they've adopted pro-supply policies like eliminating parking minimums or shrinking minimum lot sizes.

That would provide clearer "legislative intent of what it means to lift supply barriers," he says. "We can point localities and HUD grant reviewers to the YIMBY Act's list of actions." The YIMBY Act passed the House Financial Services Committee unanimously in May.

House Republicans Propose Modest Cuts to Federal Housing Spending

Whether the PRO Grant program lives long enough to be reformed is an open question. House Republicans' latest budget proposal calls for totally eliminating the program as part of $2.3 billion in cuts to HUD's budget.

That's a 3 percent reduction in HUD's budget compared to this year's funding levels, says the National Low Income Housing Coalition in an analysis.

In addition to axing the PRO Grant program, House Republicans' proposal would also end funding for HUD's "green new deal" for public housing and grants to local legal services organizations that aid tenants facing eviction.

Tax-funded legal service providers have received a lot of criticism for deliberately slowing down housing courts and effectively forcing landlords to house non-paying tenants.

House Republicans also propose blocking any funding of enforcement of the Biden administration's "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing" rule, which requires jurisdictions to report on barriers to "fair housing."

Biden Endorses Rent Control at First Presidential Debate

At last week's presidential debate, President Joe Biden endorsed rent control in his first answer of the night.

"We're going to make sure that we reduce the price of housing. We're going to make sure we build 2 million new units. We're going to make sure we cap rents, so corporate greed can't take over," said the president.

In April, the White House finalized new regulations that impose new income eligibility caps for residents at federally subsidized affordable housing developments. Because rents at subsidized housing are tied to residents' incomes, this is a de facto rent cap.

That has the effect of limiting rent increases from tenants while excluding others from affordable housing programs altogether.

At the urging of progressive lawmakers and tenant advocates, the White House has also flirted with capping rent increases at multi-family properties with a federally backed mortgage. Doing so would face many practical and legal hurdles, and the idea is still very much on the drawing board.

Quick Hits

California's Department of Housing and Community Development released a new report on which jurisdictions are behind on their state-set housing production goals. State law requires that places not meeting their goals must streamline the approval of new affordable and mixed-income housing projects.

At a House Oversight Committee hearing, Republicans laid into HUD for the department's lax oversight of public housing agencies.

Two years on, New Haven, Connecticut's affordable housing mandate has gotten no new affordable housing units built.

The mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, vetoed a zoning change that would have allowed eight units on a vacant property, instead of the four allowed by current zoning. The mayor said allowing an additional four units was not "orderly growth and development."

The California Legislature nixed a ballot initiative that would have repealed a section of the California Constitution requiring that new public housing be approved by local referendum.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz criticizes YIMBY zoning reforms, saying that one person's freedom to build is "another person's unfreedom." OK.

YouTuber Mr. Beast has built and given away 100 new homes. By comparison, San Francisco has permitted 16 homes thus far this year.

The post Gorsuch Apes NIMBY Government Lies in Supreme Court's <em>Grants Pass</em> Decision appeared first on Reason.com.
Cattle graze in a pasture next to the Denka Performance Elastomer facility in LaPlace

Cattle graze in a pasture next to the Denka Performance Elastomer facility in LaPlace, where U.S. Environmental Protection Agency leader Michael Regan announced proposed regulations Thursday, April 6, 2023, for toxic air emissions. The federal government has sued Denka for failing to reduce levels of chloroprene, a known carcinogen, coming from the plant. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

LAPLACE  Top Louisiana officials are lining up in support of a St. John the Baptist Parish petrochemical plant, in defiance of a federal regulation that Gov. Jeff Landry says is unfair.

As a show of support, Landry held a news conference Monday at the Denka Performance Elastomers facility in LaPlace flanked by Attorney General Liz Murrill and Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Auriella Giacometto.

Landry railed against a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule that he says could shut down the plant and accused the Biden administration of targeting a single company. As a result, Louisiana jobs could be lost to China, the governor said.

Last week, a federal court in Washington, D.C., rejected Denkas request to stall an EPA rule that gave the company 90 days to lower the amount of chloroprene and ethylene oxide it emits into the air. Both are potent air toxics that can cause cancer. The rule is scheduled to take effect July 15.

Last weeks court ruling prompted Landry to step up in defense of the company. Murrill filed a petition Monday in the D.C. court to challenge the EPA rule, while Giacometto announced DEQ is giving the company a two-year extension to comply with the new pollution standards. Its unclear whether the states authority will be recognized in the federal case.

Denka, a Japanese company that acquired the elastomer plant from DuPont in 2015, has been at odds with federal authorities for over a year. In February 2023, the EPA and U.S. Justice Department filed suit against the company, alleging its neoprene operations present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare for the cancer risks its chloroprene emissions pose.

The government agencies demanded Denka reduce chloroprene emissions at its LaPlace plant, in the heart of Louisianas so-called Cancer Alley industrial corridor  named for having the highest rates of cancer and highest concentrations of industrial air pollution in the country.

According to the EPA-Justice complaint, air monitoring that EPA and Denka each conducted over the past several years consistently shows long-term chloroprene concentrations in the air near the facility that are as high as 14 times the levels recommended for a 70-year lifetime of exposure.

The federal government asked for an indefinite continuance of that case in order to publish the new rule that Denka is now challenging.

Denka and the Landry administration contend the facility has been voluntarily reducing its emissions over the past several years and accused the government of being unwilling to work with the company for an easier timeline to implement new operations to control the pollution.

Giacometto dismissed the EPAs alarmist claims, saying no such imminent danger exists in LaPlace.

Denkas emissions have decreased dramatically, she said.

The state officials accused the EPA of singling out Denka by giving it a 90-day deadline, while giving all other facilities two years to comply with the rule.

DEQ Secretary Auriella Giacometto, Gov. Jeff Landry and state Sen. Greg speaking at press conference at Denka plant

No other facilities in the United States were granted such a short window, Landry said. All the other ones were granted a two-year extension, and yet this facility was singled out for a 90-day extension.

According to state officials, the Denka plant is the only chloroprene producer in the country. Landry said the Biden administrations attempts to shut down the plant would only backfire. It would force the country to rely on China, where neoprene is produced with little concern for the environment, he said.

There was no immediate response to Landrys news conference from the Biden administration.

In a statement, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, said he supports the new EPA rule.

Louisianians deserve to breathe clean air and drink clean water without fear for their health, Carter said. My district has the highest cancer risk of any place in the United States  that is unacceptable. We must pursue proper regulations. We must listen to the people who are impacted at home, who undoubtedly have suffered the cost of being near petrochemical plants  but not just chemical plants, chemical plants that dont follow the rules.

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The post Gov. Landry accuses EPA of trying to close Denka plant in LaPlace appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Anatomy of a Fall

A Korean administrative robot took a serious tumble down a set of stairs, leading to local reports of the first robot "suicide" in the country.

As Agence France-Presse reports, the robot was built by California-based startup Bear Robotics, and was tasked with delivering documents inside the city council building of Gumi, a city in central South Korea.

But according to witness reports, the robot clerk fell down six and a half feet of stairs, leading to its early demise.

Local media mourned the robot's untimely death, suggesting it had ended its own life.

"Why did the diligent civil officer do it?" one headline read, as quoted by AFP.

Clearly Departed

Gumi City Council's robot was first hired in August 2023, a first in the city. South Korea overall now employs one industrial robot for every ten workers, according to AFP.

What set the Bear Robotics robot apart from other municipal automatons was its ability to use an elevator, according to the AFP, making it useful in the multi-story city council building.

Bear Robotics sells several different models of robots, including a configuration that features adjustable trays to accommodate tall items and packages. A customizable LED panel allows the bot's administrator to display a custom message around where its head would be.

Each robot is kitted out with a camera and LiDAR sensor that allows it to create a map of its surroundings  though that tech was seemingly unable to prevent the bot's fatal fall.

The events leading up to its death remain unclear, but according to witness reports obtained by the news agency, the robot was "circling in one spot as if something was there" before falling down the stairs.

"Pieces have been collected and will be analyzed by the company," an official told AFP.

The Gumi city council has since announced that it's not planning to replace the deceased robot administrator.

More on robots: Scientists Create Robot Controlled by Blob of Human Brain Cells
A Florida judge on Monday unveiled 150 pages of grand jury transcripts from 2006 that looked into sex trafficking and rape allegations made against financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The newly released documents from 18 years ago unveiled by Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Luis Delgado revealed that prosecutors knew about detailed accusations against Epstein  years before the financier was given a sweetheart deal.

According to 2006 testimony, the investigation against Epstein began a year earlier. Two victims were questioned during the proceedings  including one who alleged that Epstein, then in his 50s, molested her when she was 14 years old.

The second victim said she was raped by Epstein the day before her 18th birthday.

A detective on the case testified that victims were paid for the sex acts and encouraged to recruit other underaged girls and told "the younger, the better."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in February allowing the release of the documents on July 1 or afterward. Florida grand jury transcripts are usually kept secret, but the bill created an exemption for cases like Epstein's.

"There needs to be a mechanism in some of these rare circumstances where people can get the truth and where we can try to pursue justice," DeSantis said when signing the bill.

Despite the gravity of the accusations, Epstein cut a deal with prosecutors two years later. He spent only 13 months in jail as part of a work release program after pleading guilty to state prostitution crimes. He also had to register as a sex offender.

Some of Epstein's victims spoke about the case in February.

"We have been left in the dark with no answers to what is going on and why things played out the way that they did," said Jena-Lisa Jones, one of the alleged victims.

The prosecution has been criticized for their questioning of the victims during the 2006 proceedings, including asking them to acknowledge they had committed prostitution with Epstein. Prosecutors also pointed out that some of the victims had past issues such as drug use and shoplifting.

"One of the big takeaways from the grand jury testimony here is that people knew about this really problematic conduct for a long time and not much was done to stop Jeffrey Epstein," said Jessica Levinson, a CBS News legal contributor.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges for sex trafficking dozens of underage girls. His death in prison before facing trial was ruled a suicide.

Last year, a Department of Justice watchdog said a "combination of negligence and miscoduct" allowed Epstein to take his own life.

Twelve of Epstein's accusers sued the FBI in February for failure to protect them, according to a complaint filed in federal court in New York. The complaint alleges that tips, reports and complaints about Epstein's activities were provided to the FBI starting in 1996.

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
A pine tree is on fire during a forest fire in Keratea area, southeast of Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Two large wildfires were burning Sunday near Greece's capital of Athens, and authorities sent emergency messages for some residents to evacuate and others to stay at home and close their windows to protect themselves from smoke. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)

ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece is reinforcing its firefighting teams this summer with 240 firefighters from Bulgaria, Malta, Moldova and Romania, who will be deployed in the country from early July until mid-September, during the height of the wildfire season, officials said Tuesday.

It will be the third year running that firefighters from abroad will be stationed in Greece, which has been experiencing devastating forest and brush fires during its hot, dry summers.

The first foreign team from Bulgaria was already in the country and was stationed in the northern city of Thessaloniki, while a second team of 15 from Malta was due to arrive mid-month and will be stationed in southern Greece, the countrys Civil Protection Ministry said.

On Monday, scores of people were evacuated from hotels and homes on the eastern Aegean islands of Kos and Chios as ground forces and water-dropping aircraft battled two large forest fires. Five people were reportedly slightly injured  four firefighters and one volunteer  while one man was arrested in Chios and fined more than 8,000 euros for allegedly causing the wildfire there.

In the 24 hours from Monday to Tuesday afternoon, 36 wildfires broke out across the country, the fire department said, with the vast majority tackled in their early stages.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking during a Cabinet meeting Monday, said this years summer was predicted to be particularly dangerous for wildfires.

Hot and dry weather with strong winds helped fan fires in both Greece and Turke y last month. This years summer is expected to be particularly prone to blazes following a mild, dry winter. Last year, extensive wildfires in Greece killed more than 20 people.
Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm but is expected to become a hurricane again this weekend.

After moving through the Caribbean last week, Beryl  currently a tropical storm  is expected to reach Texas this weekend and once again become a hurricane.

As of 7 a.m. CT on Sunday morning, Beryl was about 220 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, with maximum sustained winds around 60 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to intensify between Sunday and Monday, with Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick adding 121 counties to the state's Hurricane Beryl disaster declaration.

Meteorologists warned that there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge for the Texas Coast. The storm has been blamed for at least 11 deaths so far.

Tracking Hurricane Beryls current path

There is an increasing risk of damaging hurricane-force winds, storm surge, flash and urban flooding and life-threatening rip currents with #Beryl over the next few days. Stay up to date with the latest forecast at https://t.co/meemB5uHAR https://t.co/YAY1pCrCJS pic.twitter.com/bj8SK1By3T  National Weather Service (@NWS) July 6, 2024

Tropical Storm Beryl is currently moving through the Gulf of Mexico and is anticipated to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane as it approaches the Texas coast. Hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of the coast  from the mouth of the Rio Grande northward to San Luis Pass  while a storm surge watch is in place from the mouth of the Rio Grande northward to High Island.

A tropical storm warning was also in effect for the Texas coast south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande, as well as for the northeastern coast of mainland Mexico from Barra el Mezquital to the mouth of the Rio Grande.

Beryls damage and impact

Beryl hit Jamaica on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, causing widespread outages and damage before passing over the Cayman Islands and heading toward Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula. On July 3, the Jamaica Public Service Company reported that more than 400,000 customers were without power across the country.

Beryl did the most severe damage when it made landfall earlier this week on the Grenadines, a small belt of islands in the eastern Caribbean. About 90% of buildings and homes on three small islands were destroyed or damaged when Beryl made landfall earlier this week, officials said at a news conference held by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared the country a disaster area until July 10.

Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the "total destruction" to the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada at a news conference Wednesday.

"Having seen it myself, there is really nothing that can prepare you to see this level of destruction," Mitchell said. "It is almost Armageddon-like, almost total damage and destruction of all buildings, whether they be public buildings, homes or private facilities."

Mitchell also described the "complete devastation and destruction" of agriculture and the natural environment, and severe damage to boats, marinas and the electrical grid on Carriacou.

Experts shocked by Beryls rapid intensification

Fishing vessels damaged by Hurricane Beryl seen in Barbados on Monday. (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)

Michael Lowry, a hurricane and storm surge expert, told the Associated Press that the rapid development of Beryl marked a "very serious threat."

"Beryl is an extremely dangerous and rare hurricane for this time of year in this area," he said in a phone interview with the AP. "Unusual is an understatement. Beryl is already a historic hurricane."

On July 2, Beryl became the earliest Atlantic hurricane to reach the Category 5 level. (It is both the earliest Category 4 and Category 5 storm on record in the Atlantic.)

The last strong hurricane to affect the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. Ivan battered Grenada as a Category 3 and killed 39 people.

The start of a busy Atlantic hurricane season

An image of Hurricane Beryl taken from the International Space Station on Sunday. (NASA via AP)

Beryl's emergence also marks an ominous start to the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which typically doesn't ramp up until late July or August.

Experts agree that this could be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced in May that it expected eight to 13 hurricanes in the Atlantic, with four to seven of them classified as major hurricanes, meaning at least 111 mph winds.
Groom Was Shot in Head During Missouri Wedding, Now in Critical Condition

According to a GoFundMe page set up for the family, Manuel Gonzalez was shot in the head by armed robbers during a backyard wedding ceremony in St. Louis, Mo.

GoFundMe Dulce and Manuel Gonzalez

A Missouri groom is in critical condition after being shot by armed robbers during his backyard wedding ceremony.

On June 29, just before 1 a.m., Manuel and Dulce Gonzalez were celebrating their nuptials when two masked gunmen entered the intimate party through the yard of the couple's St. Louis, Mo., home, KSDK-TV and Fox2 reported, citing relatives and police.

As one of the men was going through peoples pockets, the armed man stood behind the victim, a 42-year-old Hispanic man, with the guns pointed at the man, St. Louis police said in a press release.

According to a GoFundMe page set up for the family, Manuel was then shot in the head and remains in critical condition. The page states the couples two young children were also present though it did not specify if the children were injured in any way.

Hes a good father. A good husband to my sister. Hes a hard worker, Yaribeth Pena, the brides sister, told Fox2. Hes just an all-around good person that, I dont know, he didnt deserve this.

According to KSDK-TV, Pena believes the gunmen shot her brother-in-law as he was going for his wallet and maybe they thought he was going for a weapon.

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As for the suspects, police said they fled the scene on foot. Family members told Fox2 that the gunmen left without taking any valuables.

According to police, the investigation remains ongoing and no arrests have been made.





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Read the original article on People.
In a group of over 100 hikers, she vanished and died. What happened to Diem Le Nguyen?

Diem Le Nguyen smiled and posed next to the Black Mountain peak elevation sign in San Diego County, holding up a peace sign, her hat and sunglasses shielding her from the morning sun. Twenty-four hours later, her body was discovered off a trail not far from foothill community streets in eastern San Diego County.

Now Nguyen's family, friends and those with her on last week's hike are left wondering how things could have gone so wrong.

"Our family is deeply devastated by the tragic and unexpected loss of our mother, Diem Le Nguyen. We are struggling to come to terms with this new reality," Nguyen's three sons said in a statement.

"We knew that she made it to the top with everybody else," said Jimmy Thai, who organized the hike and streamed Nguyen's arrival at the top June 23.

Nguyen, 50, went on a 5K hike with her sister and nephew and more than 150 people participating in a fundraiser for a local nonprofit that Sunday morning. About halfway up the mountain, her family turned back and she continued to the top with the rest of the group.

The hike was an annual pledge event to support Build a School Foundation, which supports school construction in remote areas around the world for underprivileged children, and involves 150 to 200 people hiking up Black Mountain in east San Diego County.

Thai said organizers plan the annual hike meticulously. They start early in the day to avoid extreme heat, provide a safety briefing, food and water and mark the trail with red ribbons tied on trees and white flowers. Volunteer sweepers moved behind the group to make sure no one was left behind, Thai said.

The trail, which starts at the edge of Hilltop Community Park, is a narrow, rocky footpath with surrounding brush. Several paths branch off from the main hike into nearby trails. It's considered a moderate difficulty hike by Alltrails.com, a hike ranking website.

Signs around the trailhead warn hikers of wild animals, such as rattlesnakes, which seek shade during the day and are more active at night.

The Nighthawk trailhead in San Diego County. (Sandra McDonald / Los Angeles Times)

On Sunday, a bouquet of flowers sat on the trailhead in memory of Nguyen.

The day seemed typical, like any other hike that we organize. Exactly the same trail, the same mountain that weve been doing this thing, you know, over and over, Thai said.

But according to the National Weather Service, the day was unusually warm. The county issued a heat advisory that was in effect from 10 a.m. June 22 until 8 p.m. June 23. The organization handed out black shirts with a heart on them, the same shirt Nguyen wore in the picture next to the elevation sign.

By 9:15 a.m., a few minutes after Nguyen was seen at the top, it had reached 98 degrees at the top of Black Mountain, more than 1,500 feet above sea level, National Weather Service meteorologist Brandt Maxwell said. Temperatures hovered in the 80s on the path up to the peak and never dipped below 67 degrees overnight.

A volunteer sweeper saw Nguyen about a quarter of a mile down the trail after she left the peak, Thai said, which would be the last known sighting of her alive.

At 10:08 a.m., Nguyen used her cellphone to call her sister and said she was tired and needed water, police said at a news conference last week. Nguyen's nephew and another hiker climbed back up to the top in hopes they'd locate her, but were unsuccessful.

About 10:30 a.m., when the hike was scheduled to end, Nguyen's sister told Thai her sibling hadn't come down the mountain, he said. They passed around a photo of Nguyen to Thai's team and collectively went back out on the mountain to search other trails in the heat.

In the back of my mind, Im confident that we run into her. Thats not even a doubt," Thai told The Times in an interview. "We know this thing so well. These are well-marked trails. There are people, other hikers, who would eventually run into Nguyen, he thought.

Flowers are left at the Nighthawk trailhead in memory of Diem Le Nguyen, who died last week after separating from her hiking group. (Sandra McDonald / Los Angeles Times)

The day Nguyen went missing on the mountain, the skies were clear, the wind was light and humidity was high, which would have made it hard for the body to cool itself, Maxwell said. When people overheat and are unable to cool themselves effectively, they can suffer a multitude of effects, from cramps and rash to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, a potentially fatal condition that can include becoming dizzy, having difficulty breathing or losing consciousness, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

The group reported Nguyen missing to police at 11:30 a.m. June 23. Authorities mobilized three helicopters, a ground crew and search dogs to look for her through the day and night.

"Stay calm, were here with you. But rest assured, with all these resources, we will find your sister," Thai recalled telling Nguyen's family.

Thai livestreamed police helicopters flying above him while he and other volunteers searched nearby trails in the hours after Nguyen disappeared.

At one point, the group volunteering to help search for Nguyen grew so large that police determined they would interfere by becoming a distraction for search dogs and throw off the infrared cameras meant to spot Nguyen in the dark.

To be honest, at that point I started getting worried because I knew that its been over 12 hours, Thai said. If somebody suffers heatstroke and lack of water, the outcome might not be good even if we find her.

The next morning, Thai and the search team returned to the trailhead to resume the search at 5 a.m. When they returned hours later to regroup, police were waiting with bad news  they'd found a body about 9 a.m east of the trailhead, just a quarter of a mile away from the intersection of Carmel Mountain Road and Via Rimini at the base of the mountain.

The San Diego County medical examiner's office confirmed the body was that of Nguyen on Wednesday, but had not released a cause of death as of Monday.

"Her legacy will live on with us forever, because this is the way the universe brings her to us and guides us to keep doing this. Do more hikes, build more schools and just help more children," Thai said.

"Our mom was compassionate and selfless, and our family will forever cherish the memories that we had with her. We remember her for her resilience and we hope to carry on her legacy," the family said in a statement.

In an interview after Nguyen's body was discovered, Lt. Daniel Meyer, public information officer for the San Diego Police Department, told ABC 10 News that hikers should have a plan in place for the hot summer months, including not hiking alone and bringing enough water for the trail.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 2, 2024 - 17:16 | All, Japan, World

The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday resumed flights of its Ospreys in Japan after suspending them following a fatal crash of one of its tilt-rotor aircraft off a southwestern Japanese island in November, a Defense Ministry official said.

The U.S. Marine Corps has already resumed the operation of its MV-22s in Japan since March, days after the lifting of a worldwide flight ban on U.S. Ospreys that was imposed after the Nov. 29 accident that killed all eight airmen aboard a U.S. Air Force CV-22.

The Defense Ministry affirmed the U.S. Air Force's resumption of its Osprey flights on Tuesday morning near Yokota Air Base in the western suburbs of Tokyo, according to the official, who said the number of aircraft back in operation has not been confirmed.

The crash of the transport plane into the sea near Yakushima Island in Kagoshima prefecture during a drill was the deadliest involving an Osprey since their combat debut in 2007.

The U.S. forces in Japan have deployed 24 MV-22s, used by the Marine Corps, at the Futenma air station, and five CV-22s, used by the Air Force, at the Yokota base, excluding the one that crashed.

The U.S. military has not provided details about the cause of the incident, leaving locals anxious over the safety of Ospreys.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces also grounded its Ospreys shortly after the crash but resumed flights in March at Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo.

Related coverage:

U.S. Marine in Okinawa arrested over female injured in attempted rape

Okinawa governor decries U.S. ambassador visit to isles near Taiwan
The group wants Attorney General Matt Platkin to investigate whether two housing companies are fueling the affordability crisis by improperly hiking rents. (Courtesy of the Attorney General's Office)

A progressive watchdog group is urging the state attorney general to probe whether real estate companies in New Jersey are using an illegal scheme to raise rents and boost their profits.

A letter Accountable.US sent Attorney General Matt Platkin last week asks him to investigate AvalonBay and Equity Residential, which have been sued by the District of Columbia over allegations that they improperly shared data with property pricing software company RealPage.

Your office has the ability to determine whether these companies also stooped to illegal price-fixing and collusion in New Jersey to further pad their profits, as they allegedly have elsewhere  and power to hold them accountable if they did, the June 26 letter states.

The D.C. lawsuit alleges that a group of real estate investment companies, including AvalonBay and Equity, colluded with one other in violation of a local antitrust law to have RealPage set rents, instead of competing over prices. The alleged scheme inflated rents for tens of thousands of D.C. apartments, forcing the tenants to pay millions of dollars in rent they shouldnt have had to, the complaint says.

Attorneys general in Arizona and North Carolina have filed similar lawsuits. The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating RealPage, Politico reports.

If these companies were willing to allegedly engage in price fixing while surrounded by federal and local regulators in the nations capital and in other states, why wouldnt they do the same in New Jersey? the letter says.

Accountable.US released a report in June alleging that in the first three months of 2024, the six largest publicly traded apartment companies, all of which have faced lawsuits relating to their use of RealPage, saw a nearly $300 million net increase in their combined incomes thanks to rent increases.

The group claims that these companies are fueling the housing affordability crisis by hiking rents to fuel their profits.

Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone said this matter merits a serious and urgent review. She noted that to seriously address skyrocketing housing costs will require robust action from Congress and the Biden administration, but regulators at every level should do their part.

RealPage is used by landlords to help estimate supply and demand for apartment listings, allowing them to determine rent.

The time is now to address a number of false claims about RealPages revenue management software, and how rental housing providers operate when setting rent prices, RealPage CEO and President Dana Jones said in a statement the company released last month. Housing affordability should be the real focus. RealPage is proud of the role our customers play in providing safe and affordable housing to millions of people. Despite the noise, we will continue to innovate with confidence and make sure our solutions continue to benefit residents and housing providers, alike.

In New Jersey, residents must earn a minimum of $38 an hour to afford to rent a two-bedroom home, the 7th highest housing wage in the country, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The median monthly rent in New Jersey is $2,500, according to Zillow, versus $2,150 nationwide.

A spokesman for the Attorney Generals Office declined to comment on the letter, and said the office does not comment on the status of investigations. Avalon and Equity could not be reached to comment.

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Former Married at First Sight New Zealand contestant Andrew Jurys sudden passing at the age of 33 has sparked a public inquiry into the cause of death. The news comes as a shock to fans of the reality show. This has led to many are searching for answers to What happened to Andrew Jury and Andrew Jury death.

So, heres everything we know about Andrew Jurys reported death.

Andrew Jury died in prison, reports claim

Andrew Jury died at Mt Eden Corrections Facility in Auckland on Thursday, June 27, 2024, just hours before his court appearance. Despite attempts by medical and emergency staff, he didnt make it.

According to The New Zealand Herald, Andrews father, Roy Jury, confirmed the news. He stated that his family felt bewildered and deeply saddened after learning about Jurys passing.

The authorities apprehended Jury on April 2 and charged him with unlawfully entering a building, assault with intent to injure, wilful damage, possession of an offensive weapon, among others.

Jury was kept at Mt Eden and was not doing well, according to his father. It should have been a red flag when Andy stopped communicating with family and friends, Roy Jury added. In a joint statement on Instagram, Jurys former castmates offered their condolences to his family.

Its with the heaviest hearts weve come together to acknowledge the passing of Andrew Jury. We had the absolute pleasure of filming and participating in a show which leaves us intricately linked for a lifetime, the post reads.

Despite his struggles, Andrew was always friendly and the life of the party during our shared experience and he really valued his time on the show. At this time our entire cast wish to send our deepest condolences and love to his family  Ben, Angel, Brett, Vicky, Haydn, Lacey, Claire, Dom, Aaron, Luke, Belinda.

A builder by profession, Jury matched and married Vicky Gleeson-Stokes on Married at First Sight New Zealand, but their relationship didnt last long. Later, he reportedly voiced his doubts on whether the show was ethical.

As per The New Zealand Herald, the police do not consider Jurys death suspicious and have referred it to the coroner.

The post What Happened to Andrew Jury? 33-Year-Old Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The hardest part was the injustice and humiliation  Crimean Tatar leader on Russian captivity

Nariman Dzhelial, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis, an executive body which represents the Crimean Tatar people, has given his first interview since his release from Russian captivity.

Source: Dzhelial in an interview with the TV channel Rada

Quote: "The most difficult thing [about Russian captivity  ed.] was actually two things. Firstly, the injustice and humiliation, the contempt for your rights, everything that should be available to a person today. It's really hard when youre fighting, trying to tell people the truth, and people are like a concrete wall... It's really hard to go through all this...

And secondly, its very difficult when you are worried about your loved ones."

Details: Dzhelial recalled that he lost his father while he was in captivity.

He also shared his vision of the end of the war. As he puts it, the war started in Crimea and it should end with its liberation.

He also noted that liberation will be only the beginning, as the 10 years of occupation have affected the population in every possible way.

Dzhelial said that since being released, he has been in touch with his friends and acquaintances who are now in Crimea. They are waiting to return to Ukraine, he said.

Background: On 28 June, 10 civilians returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. Among them were Nariman Dzhelial, who was captured in Crimea in 2021, and some priests of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church who were taken prisoner in Berdiansk for resisting the Russians.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Wind-swept dust from the exposed lakebed of the Great Salt Lake disproportionately affects minority communities in Salt Lake City, new research from the University of Utah shows.

Published last month, the findings revealed exposure to the harmful dust is highest among Pacific Islander and Hispanic Utahns while lowest among white Utahns. Exposure was also higher among those without a high school diploma.

USU announces intent to terminate employment of head football coach Blake Anderson

The reason for this, researchers found, is because the airborne dust is more likely to fall along Salt Lake Citys lower-income neighborhoods, especially if drought and water usage lead to increased shrinking of the Great Salt Lake and more exposed lakebed.

People here in Utah are concerned about the lake for a variety of reasonsthe ski industry, the brine shrimp, the migratory birds, recreationand this study adds environmental justice and the equity implications of the drying lake to the conversation, said lead author Sara Grineski, a professor of sociology and environmental studies, in a news release.

Using data from the Utah Department of Environmental Qualitys air-monitoring network, the study modeled how particulate pollution during wind storms could impact communities along the Wasatch Front, adjusting for different lake levels.

Should Great Salt Lake water levels drop considerably (or completely dry up), it would increase pollution disparities currently present along the Wasatch Front, the research showed. On the other hand, if lake levels rise, it would narrow the pollution exposure gap between minority communities and white Utahns.

So if we can take better care of the lake, the dust for everyone goes down and the gap in exposure between these groups goes down too, Grineski said.

As of Tuesday, the South Arm of the Great Salt Lake was at 4,194 above sea level, roughly 6 feet above the nadir recorded in late 2022, when there was widespread concern about the terminal lakes possible collapse. Since then, back-to-back wet winters have led to a substantial increase in lake levels and filled up many of Utahs reservoirs.

Still, Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed said in April that itll likely be years before the lake reaches a point where it could be considered ecologically healthy. Until then, several state agencies are working to better study the lake and get more water flowing into it.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Hattiesburg sisters Dorie Ladner and Joyce Ladner were key figures in the 1960s civil rights movement in Mississippi. Although the movement is over, the sisters continued to work toward better civil liberties for Black Americans and other marginalized communities.

On Friday, the sisters were honored by the city of Hattiesburg and the state of Mississippi with a Freedom Trail marker as a tribute to their dedication to equal rights for all.

"Thank you for being here," Mayor Toby Barker told Joyce Ladner during the marker's unveiling. "Thank you for allowing us, as your community, to honor you and your sister. And more importantly, thank you for the work you did, the courage you showed and the vision to see what could be."

Civil rights activist Joyce Ladner, a Hattiesburg native, and John Spann, Mississippi Humanities Council's program and outreach director, pose for a photo Friday after the unveiling of a Freedom Trail marker noting Ladner and her sister Dorie Ladner's contributions to advocating for civil rights in Mississippi.

Joyce Ladner, 80, was able to attend the event on what would have been her sister's 82nd birthday. Dorie Ladner died in March.

Dorie Ladner's daughter Yodit Churnet came to represent her mother, and thanked the Hattiesburg community for honoring her mother.

"She always remembered where she came from," Churnet said of her mother, who brought her daughter to Hattiesburg throughout her childhood to "educate" her. "The fight is not over. Continue and stay strong."

Joyce Ladner shared some of her experiences during the civil rights era and said she was grateful for the marker that honored her and her sister, whom she praised for being a "warrior woman."

"Courage does not mean you are unafraid," she said. "Courage means that you act in spite of your fear. I want to thank you for honoring us. It is most important when you are honored by your own kind."

The marker is at 507 Mobile St., which was known as the Woods Guest House during Freedom Summer. It is a stop on the Hattiesburg 1964 Freedom Summer Trail and the location of a bench donated by author Toni Morrison as part of her Bench by the Road Project.

"This bench was placed 15 years ago to do just what we're doing here today  to honor those who contributed to the struggle for civil rights, to the acquisition for civil rights for Black people in this country," Ward 2 Councilwoman Deborah Delgado said.

Delgado said she is proud to call the Ladner sisters "home girls" and appreciates the work they have done throughout their lifetime. She encouraged residents to continue helping the Mobile Street area and Ward 2 residents rebuild the once-thriving area.

As teens, the Ladner sisters formed the youth chapter of the Forrest County NAACP, where Clyde Kennard, who attempted to integrate the University of Southern Mississippi, was their supervisor.

Rebecca Tuuri, associate professor of history at USM and associate dean of the USM Honors College, also serves on the Freedom Trail Scholarly Review Committee. She said the decision to honor the Ladners with a marker was unanimous.

"The Ladner sisters were remarkable for their work before, during and after the civil rights movement," Tuuri said.

One of the events they organized was a quiet prayer meeting in support of the Tougaloo 9, who went to integrate the Jackson Library. More than 700 Jackson State University students attended the meeting. The sisters were kicked out of JSU and enrolled in Tougaloo College.

Joyce Ladner later became the provost and interim president of Howard University. Dorie Ladner became a social worker in Washington, D.C., but also continued to advocate for civil rights.

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Hattiesburg's Ladner sisters honored with Freedom Trail marker
Haviland Smith

Haviland Smith, who has died aged 94, was a former CIA station chief who served in Europe and the Middle East and spent three years in the 1970s as chief of the agencys counterterrorism staff; he was particularly known for developing counter-surveillance techniques which became standard for CIA personnel stationed behind the Iron Curtain.

In 1958 he was appointed CIA station chief in Prague, managing agents across Czechoslovakia  and finding himself under constant surveillance. Once, after a stroll round the city, he learnt from intercepted radio messages that he had been monitored by more than two dozen vehicles.

At first he tried to outpace his pursuers, but that only made them more vigilant. Instead he concluded that the best way to distract their attention was to become extremely boring, maintaining a regular schedule and taking the same routes to carry out routine chores. Gradually, his minders stopped paying close attention, creating what became known in spycraft as the gap  a few seconds in which messages or a dead drop could be delivered.

Smith found that by adding corners to his routine, making two right turns for example in quick succession, he could create some vital seconds of opportunity.

Later he developed a technique known as the brush pass, in which agent and contact, often carrying identical-looking objects, such as a newspaper, briefcase, or magazine, brush past one another  typically in a public place and preferably a crowd, where other people interfere with any visual surveillance  so that watchers do not see information being exchanged.

Haviland Smith was born in Manhattan on August 25 1929, and grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy before taking a degree in English and Russian at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. After service in the US Army in Europe he did graduate work in Russian at the University of London, then served in the US Army Security Agency, intercepting Russian-language messages, before joining the CIA in 1956.

His experience intercepting radio messages proved vital in Prague, where he cracked the radio codes used by the Czech secret police and planned his activities accordingly.

He led the CIA's counterterrorism staff in the 1970s

Smith went on to serve in Berlin and spent five years in the Middle East, where he was stationed in Beirut during the 1967 Six-Day War.

He was there when Israeli forces attacked the USS Liberty, a technical research (i.e. spy) ship in the eastern Mediterranean, killing 34 and wounding 171. At the time the US government appeared to accept Israeli claims that the attack had been a case of mistaken identity by Israeli pilots who had confused the US Navys most distinctive ship with an Egyptian horse-cavalry transport.

Four decades later however, declassified internal White House documents showed that the Israelis explanation was not believed at the time, and a number of intelligence specialists recalled seeing transcripts of communications between Israeli pilots and their ground control station, showing that they knew perfectly well that Liberty was American, but that the pilots had been ordered to attack and sink it and ensure they left no survivors.

Smith, too, recalled hearing about the transcripts, but had been told that they had been deep-sixed (irretrievably disposed of) because the administration did not wish to embarrass the Israelis.

In the 1970s Smith led the CIAs counterterrorism staff at Langley and served as an executive assistant to the CIAs deputy director, Frank Carlucci, before retiring in 1980.

Later he bought a farm in Vermont, where he raised fallow deer and turned wooden bowls on a lathe. He also wrote op-ed pieces for newspapers castigating US policy in the Middle East as totally simplistic. Donald Trump, meanwhile, he accused of promoting policies that would appear to be in line with the goals of the Russian leadership to weaken their American rival.

Smith was twice awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit.

His first marriage, to Martha Allen, was dissolved. He is survived by his second wife, Dolores, by their daughter and by two sons from his first marriage. Another son from his first marriage predeceased him.

Haviland Smith, born August 25 1929, died June 20 2024

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Black Officer is Scared for His Life Now That Hawaii Cops, Who Allegedly Targeted Him, Are In Handcuffs

Four deputies from the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement were accused of giving their Black co-worker a pretty hard time last year. By a hard time, we mean they allegedly racially harassed him for months - so bad, it resulted in cuffs for every cop involved.



Deputy Martin Horton, 56, told Hawaii News Now he was the target of a slew of racially charged insults and banter that began after he graduated from training in December of 2023. Hed just been appointed to be the new deputy on probation, assigned to the state Capitol when one day, Deputy Alvin Turla made two inappropriate, sexual comments about his lips. When he brought up the issue to a sergeant, he said he was rudely dismissed.

His comment to me was that youre nothing, youre no one, Horton told reporters.

Horton said he kept his head down and rolled with the punches until March, when an opportunity presented itself for him to unload the clip: a probe by the Criminal Investigations Division into work culture. Horton then detailed the racial harassment he faced since training ended, citing comments about fried chicken and watermelon.

Suddenly, one-by-one, officers were being plucked from the department and placed on paid leave upon pending investigations into the claims, per Honolulu Civil Beat. Over the course of one week, the department announced the arrest of deputies Alvin Turla, Sgt. Erich Mitamura William Gary for harassment. Deputy William Keahi was arrested for the same charge but also reckless endangering from a claim he forced Horton to run into airport traffic to stop a moving vehicle on foot, the report says.

Theres little to no details as to whether these charges relate to Hortons allegations. The department didnt specify. However, Horton seems to believe the charges were a result of him whistleblowing his experience at the department.

I cant categorize it as being criminal, but as a subordinate ... when something to that magnitude where someone is being degraded, theyre being humiliated in the sense, I felt like my rights were being violated, he said to Hawaii News Now.

Since the first got swept from under the rug, Horton said he was worried about the safety of himself and his family in fear of retaliation. The report says he was granted special protection, and moved to an alternate location with his family.

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Heading to the Esplanade for the Fourth of July? Heres everything you need to know

If youre heading to the Esplanade to celebrate the Fourth of July, youre not alone.

Thousands of people flock to the Hatch Shell along the Charles River every year to watch Bostons biggest Independence Day celebration.

The annual event includes a beloved performance from the Boston Pops, under the direction of Keith Lockhart, including Tchaikovskys 1812 Overture. The Mavericks & Kelli OHara will headline the holiday show.

This year, Boston is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Fireworks Spectacular, with the Mugar Family Fireworks over the Charles River, organizers said.

On July 4, the concert and television broadcast begins at 8 p.m., with the concert lasting until 10:30 p.m. The Mugar Family Fireworks are slated to light up the night sky from 10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The Hatch Shell is on the Charles River Esplanade between the Longfellow and Massachusetts Avenue Bridges, and the Mugar Family Fireworks can be seen on both the Boston and Cambridge sides of the river.

The Oval, or the grass-filled area directly in front of the Hatch Shell, opens at 12 p.m. on July 4. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. The Oval and Island entrances to the Esplanade are best accessed from Storrow Drive at Berkeley, Clarendon, and Dartmouth Streets.

Spectators entering the Oval and the Island/Lagoon areas will be required to pass through one of the bag check/screening entrances and will receive a clearance tag for their bags.

Fourth of July on the Esplanade

When the secured areas reach capacity, they will be closed by Public Safety and re-entry will not be allowed, officials said.

The event is planned to take place rain or shine. Light or intermittent rain will not cancel either the concert or the Mugar Family Fireworks.

For spectators who need to use a bathroom, there will be more than 350 portable restrooms in Boston and Cambridge.

Organizers advise the public to pack light.

No backpacks, shopping bags, or similar type containers may be carried onto the Esplanade, and all carried items are subject to inspection, officials said.

Allowed items include:

Pop-up tents/canopies with no sides  maximum size 10x10.

Blankets or tarps no bigger than 10x 10.

Folding/beach chairs only.

Coolers, which must be carried in by shoulder strap or single handle (no wheeled coolers).

All personal items must be carried in clear bags only.

After inspection, small clutch bags/purses may be taken into the venue with the clear bag.

Prohibited items include:

No coolers on wheels.

No backpacks.

No firearms, weapons, sharp objects, or fireworks.

No glass containers.

No cans.

No pre-mixed beverages.

All liquids will be carried in sealed clear plastic containers not to exceed 2 liters in size.

No grilling, propane tanks, or open flames.

No alcoholic beverages.

No bicycles will be allowed through the checkpoints into the Oval or Island/Lagoon areas. Bicycles are allowed throughout the rest of the venue but must not be left unattended. Bicycles attached or locked to security fences, poles, or other structures may be subject to removal.

Several parking restrictions will also be in place as Boston celebrates the Fourth of July.

According to city officials, parking restrictions will be in place from June 29 through July 5 on the following street:

Beacon Street, North side (even side), from David G. Mugar Way to the dual head meter in front of 120 Beacon St.

Parking restrictions will be in place on Wednesday, July 3 and Thursday, July 4 on the following streets:

Arlington Street, Both sides, from Beacon Street to Commonwealth Avenue

Berkeley Street, Both sides, from Marlborough Street to Back Street

Clarendon Street, Both sides, from Marlborough Street to Back Street

Dartmouth Street, Both sides, from Marlborough Street to Back Street

Exeter Street, Both sides, from Marlborough Street to Back Street

Beacon Street, Both sides, from Charles Street to Dartmouth Street (unless already posted)

Back Street, Both sides, from Dartmouth Street to David G Mugar Way

Chestnut Street, Both sides, from David G Mugar Way to Brimmer Street

Mount Vernon Street, Both sides, from David G Mugar Way to Brimmer Street

Pinckney Street, Both sides, from David G Mugar Way to Brimmer Street

Revere Street, Both sides, from David G Mugar Way to Charles Street

Parking restrictions will be in place on following streets:

Arlington Street, Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to St. James Avenue

Berkeley Street, Both sides, from Marlborough Street to Boylston Street

Clarendon Street, Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Marlborough Street

Dartmouth Street, Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Marlborough Street

Exeter Street, Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Marlborough Street

Fairfield Street, Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Back Street

Gloucester Street, Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Back Street

Hereford Street, Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Back Street

Massachusetts Avenue, Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Back Street

Beacon Street, Both sides, from Dartmouth Street to Charlesgate East

Boylston Street, Both sides, from Berkeley Street to Arlington Street

At 9 a.m. on Thursday morning, the citys annual Fourth of July parade will start at City Hall Plaza. The route is short with only one location where a large group of people are expected to gather, with a reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House.

Typically, the crowd will end up closing Congress Street, State Street and Devonshire Street at the Old State House. The parade will have rolling closures along the route of Cambridge Street, to Tremont Street, to Bromfield Street, to Washington Street, to State Street stopping at the Old State House.

Parking restrictions will be in place at the following locations:

Devonshire Street, Both sides, from State Street to Quaker Lane

State Street, Both sides, from Congress Street to Washington Street

For more information on the Esplanade celebration, visit this website.

For more information on parking restrictions, visit the citys website.

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 2, 2024 - 14:02 | World, All

South Korea said Tuesday it resumed live-fire exercises near the border with North Korea for the first time in six years, following the recent suspension of a bilateral military pact signed in 2018 to reduce tensions.

The South Korean military said the firepower exercises took place at artillery ranges located within five kilometers of the military demarcation line, with the focus on strengthening its response capabilities in the event of enemy provocation.

The move came after South Korea suspended the entire "September 19 Military Agreement" on June 4 in the wake of the North resuming launching numerous balloons carrying waste over the border in late May.

The agreement reached in 2018 by then South Korean President Moon Jae In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stipulated that the two nations cease all hostile acts against each other.

The pact was partially suspended by Seoul in November last year after Pyongyang's launch of a military spy satellite. In response, North Korea said it would restore all military measures halted following the agreement.

The South Korean military on Wednesday last week resumed live-fire exercises on islands near the Northern Limit Line, the two countries' de facto maritime border, for the first time in about seven years. The NLL was drawn by U.S.-led U.N. forces after the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Related coverage:

North Korea claims to have test-fired new type of ballistic missile

North Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles, 1 possibly fails
Health care alliance to use $15M in state funding to renovate part of Cox North

The new Alliance for Healthcare Education will eventually take over the space used by Cox College plus other square footage inside of the Cox North Hospital.

Not yet a year old, the Alliance for Healthcare Education is expected to take a significant step forward in the coming year with $15 million in state funding.

The amount was part of the final budget signed Friday by Gov. Mike Parson.

The alliance is a partnership between CoxHealth, Missouri State University, Ozarks Technical Community College and Springfield Public Schools to revolutionize the way health care professionals are training in southwest Missouri. The goal is to fill critical workforce shortages.

To meet that need, we simply had to think differently, said Shallina Goodnight, executive director of the alliance, in a release. We needed to find ways to join forces and create paths to not only educate the next generation, but also to positively transform the health and prosperity of our region for generations to come.

Each partner has allocated resources to the unprecedented effort but the state funding is the first major investment, which was needed to propel the work forward.

"It's hard to even quantify. Without the funding, we would just be looking at what we could do  which would be very small, incremental changes  over a long period of time," Goodnight said in a Monday interview.

"At the moment, we have a lot of opportunity for growth."

The simulation laboratories created for the private Cox College will eventually be used by students who are part of the Alliance for Healthcare Education.

The alliance will eventually take over space within the Cox College footprint inside of the Cox North campus. The funding will be used to renovate nearly 30,000 square feet of additional hospital space for the alliance.

It will build upon existing health care training programs at MSU and OTC and provide space for more high school students to explore health care careers and start taking courses toward certifications and degrees.

"The renovations will allow us to more quickly expand, even double, those programs but also give us space to invite high school students onto our campus as well," Goodnight said. "Without the funding, we would have had to kind of tiptoe and sit a few people here, a few people there, over a period of many years."

Springfield Public Schools students will have access to certificate and associate degree programs at no cost, while health care employees can pursue education subsidized by their employers.

An initial cohort of Springfield high school students will enter the alliance pipeline this fall, initially studying on the OTC campus. There will be 32 students enrolled.

High school students will receive industry-specific training and earn career certifications alongside their diplomas, giving them a head start in their careers, Goodnight said in the release. At the same time, adults have the opportunity to skill up and reach their full professional potential  all within a seamlessly integrated system.

The alliance is preparing for a full program launch in fall 2025.

'Building the foundation'

Formed in August 2023, the alliance is working on its infrastructure during its second year. That includes renovating the campus but also mapping out programs, figuring out communication plans, and creating a website.

"There are so many exciting big initiatives that we are really looking forward to working on but first we've got to make sure that we're building the foundation so that it is effectively able to scale as the growth happens," she said.

The private Cox College currently occupies 70,000 square feet of classrooms, offices, and laboratories  filled with health care technology and equipment  in the northeast part of Cox North.

The college will eventually be absorbed into the alliance and cease to confer degrees in its name. However, in the next few years, the college and alliance will co-exist on campus as existing Cox College students finish programs and degrees.

Goodnight said the additional space renovated as part of the alliance will have the "same look and feel" as the space used by Cox College, which was recently updated.

Shallina Goodnight has been named the executive director of the Alliance for Healthcare Education.

She said a meeting with stakeholders on July 15 will help with the planning.

"This is just Phase I of our expansion. We're going to need multiple expansions," Goodnight said. "CoxHealth has been generous enough to gift the alliance all the square footage we could possibly need in a hospital setting."

She added: "Our dollars can go so much further in a clinical setting versus trying to do something like a new build."

More: Here's how 4 southwest Missouri institutions plan to revolutionize health care training

Following the July meeting with stakeholders and a board meeting July 18, the alliance will be closer to scheduling the groundbreaking for any renovations, she said.

Asked if the alliance planned to add new partners  beyond the four that founded the alliance  Goodnight said there are conversations happening.

"We absolutely want not just other educational entities, both higher ed and other K-12 school districts, we also want to support all of the healthcare providers in our community and those that touch it as well," she said. "So we should have some exciting news to announce later this month."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri health care education alliance gets $15M in state funding
A Macon bakery is permanently closing its doors two years after opening. Oh Honey Baking Co. announced via social media Monday that it was shutting down.

Located in Macons historic Ingleside Village, Oh Honey Baking Co. was opened in June 2022 by owner and cake designer Adriana Horton.

In a Facebook post dated July 1, the business stated it was with a heavy heart that it was permanently closing.

What started off as a specialty cake bakery had evolved into so much more with Oh Honey Baking Co. offering coffee, tea, sandwiches, soup, macarons, and an array of pastries, according to Horton.

Within an hour of posting the closure on Facebook, the business page received more than 500 interactions, many expressing sadness to see the business go.

One comment read absolutely devastating news. Yalls commitments and contributions to our community were indescribable. Hoping for a new chapter in this journey from you guys.

Other comments reflected shock that the bakery would no longer be a part of the community.

What happened!? I was just in there today. You guys are always busy, sometimes I cant even find a seat! Someone help me understand this, I am absolutely heartbroken.You guys were the absolute best coffee shop hands down, the post read.

The business said the closure was effective immediately.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Morning downpours have left the metro with an afternoon filled with flash flooding.

Many streams and creeks have burst from their banks today. Heavy rain came during the morning hours totaling about an inch per hour for almost six hours. Once the rain finished, flash flooding continued, causing those smaller bodies of water to spill over their banks.

At 103rd Street and Wornall Road, the waters of Indian Creek are usually still. However, NOAA says that the creek has risen 12 feet in a short amount of time. The rough water flowed over the nearby walking trails and attracted crowds of people who wanted to check out Mother Natures mayhem.

It looks like the ocean, Hannah Biggerstaff, who works at a nearby veterinary clinic, said.

Biggerstaff said she and a co-worker went out for lunch and couldnt get back to their jobs.

We left work at 12, and by 1:30 p.m. when we tried to get back, it was all flooded through, Biggerstaff said. This was the only place we knew to come so we just parked right here and decided to sit.

Joes Blog: Its a wet pattern + historic Beryl (MON-7/1)

Many spots along the metros south side got pounded with pouring rain. In nearby Leawood, Tomahawk Creek rose more than 14 feet in three hours thanks to a quick bout of heavy showers.

Along Ward Parkway, Kansas City Police officers steered traffic away from the intersection at 80th Street to save cars from getting stuck.

At least one driver in Overland Park was stuck by the weather. OP Police officers worked to assist a driver at 103rd and Nall, braving the pouring rain as they did. The man at the wheel told FOX4 News his car flooded and the engine wouldnt run.

If you get a car thats stuck in a puddle or something like that, it impedes traffic, Overland Park Police Ofc. John Lacy said.

In other words, were trying to help that person at that particular point.

As of 5 p.m., part of 103rd Street was still closed to traffic. Police remind everyone flood waters can be dangerous since its unclear what could be under the water. Flood water can also carry microbes that have shown a propensity to make people sick.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings with his father Joe Biden and top aides in the wake of the presidents panic-fuelling appearance during last weeks debate against Donald Trump.

The presidents son, who was convicted on gun-related charges in federal court last month, attended meetings with the president and his staff to prepare for Bidens speech in response to the Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity.

Hunter traveled back to the White House with his father after the familys visit to Camp David over the weekend and then joined a meeting to prepare for the speech, and he ended up spending time with his dad and his family that night, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Tuesday.

According to NBC News, Hunter has been closely advising his father after the family gathered at Camp David over the weekend following the presidents disastrous debate performance.

The younger Biden has popped into meetings and phone calls that the president has had with some of his advisers, the outlet reported.

The reaction from some senior White House staff has been what the hell is happening? according to NBC.

The president as you know is very close to his family. This is a holiday week, Fourth of July, Jean-Pierre told reporters at the White House on Tuesday

Hunter came back with him and walked with him into that meeting, that prep, that speech prep, and  he ended up spending time with his dad and his family that night, she said. That is basically what happened. It is a week where theres going to be more family members who are going to come to the White House. Im sure youll see some of them on Fourth of July. Many more are expected to be here.

President Joe Biden and his family return to Washington DC on July 1 after a trip to Camp David. In the days after, the younger Biden has popped into meetings and phone calls that the president has had with some of his advisers (AP)

Asked whether Hunter has been participating in meetings with senior advisers, Jean-Pierre repeated that he returned to the White House after the familys trip to Camp David and that he was in the room for speech prep.

But anything else coming out of that reporting I cant speak to, she said.

They were together at Camp David. They came back together. Youre going to see a lot more family this week, she said.

Hunter is reportedly among the strongest voices in Bidens family urging him to stay in the presidential race while major newspaper editorials, a majority of Democratic voters and prominent allies have argued that the president should end his re-election campaign.

The younger Biden, whom the president has long depended on for advice, wants Americans to see a more commanding version of his father compared to the stumbling and frequently incoherent president on display during the debate, according to The New York Times.

The familys pre-planned visit to Camp David, scheduled well before Bidens debate, marked the first time that the family had gathered together after a jury found that Hunter lied on a gun purchasing form by stating that he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.
Here's when you'll need a Real ID, and how to get one in Missouri

Domestic travel will change next year as the new REAL ID requirements will finally go into effect after the deadline was extended multiple times. Here's everything you need to know to be prepared for the changes actually coming up.

What is a REAL ID?

The REAL ID is an identification card that includes additional security standards above the traditional driver's license or identification card. This new system is a part of implementing the REAL ID Act passed by Congress in 2005 following the 9/11 terrorist attack improving security measures.

A REAL ID will look similar to a regular driver's license or state ID card but will also include a star in the top right corner. Cards that do not comply with REAL ID requirements will have a note "not for REAL ID purposes" in the top right. The REAL ID can be obtained as a driver license, non-driver license and as a permit.

If your driver's license does not have a star in the upper right corner, it is not compliant with the state's REAL ID law.

When and why will I need the REAL ID?

Starting May 7, 2025, anyone 18 years or older will need to present a REAL ID to board domestic flights, enter nuclear power plants and access federal facilities, military bases and federal courthouses. According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, you should allow roughly 10-15 days for processing and mailing of your new REAL ID card. The department advises those who may have to fly on or after May 7, 2025, to apply for the card no later than April 1, 2025.

REAL IDs will not be required to drive, vote or register to vote or for any other state purposes. If you do not have a REAL ID by May 7, 2025, but are planning on flying or accessing a federal facility, you can still do so if you present another form of acceptable identification such as a passport or passport card. Children under 18 will not be required to provide a REAL ID when traveling with a companion within the U.S.

What are the requirements for a REAL ID in Missouri?

You can apply for a REAL ID at any Missouri license office. Here is what to bring with you when you apply. You must have documents from each of the categories:

One identity document with your full name and date of birth such as a valid, unexpired passport, birth certificate, permanent resident card or certificate of citizenship.

One lawful status document with your full name and date of birth such as a valid, unexpired passport, birth certificate, permanent resident card or certificate of citizenship. Some documents may satisfy both the identity and lawful status requirements.

One Social Security Number document that cannot be laminated or altered in any way, such as Social Security card, W-2 Form or PayStub with your name and SSN. Those who have a previously verified SSN on file may be eligible to provide their number verbally.

Two documents from two different sources that include your name and residence address issued within one year. These can include a utility bill, government correspondence or document, insurance policies and medical documents. Only one document of the following categories can be submitted: housing documents (mortgage, rental agreement, deed, homeowner association letter), letter from homeless shelter issued within the previous 90 days, Missouri Safe at Home Program card, driver license renewal postcard or unexpired driver license, instruction permit or postmarked envelopes that also include return address of any well-established business or organization.

For those who may have changed their name, documents such as a marriage license, divorce decree, adoption papers, amended birth certificate or other court order may be required to verify full legal name and connection to identity and lawful status documents presented.

A comprehensive list of all acceptable documents and an interactive guide of requirements can be found on the DOR website.

More: After record passenger growth, Springfield-Branson National Airport plans for expansion

How much does a REAL ID cost?

If you are getting a REAL ID as part of renewing your driver license or non-driver license, the fees will be the same as if you were getting the non-REAL ID. For a regular driver between the ages of 21 and 69 a Class F driver license costs $27. A license can be renewed as early as six months prior to the expiration date.

But do not fret if your license is not REAL ID compliant and not expiring any time soon. According to the DOR, Missouri law allows for a one-time waiver of the duplicate transaction fees, which would be $19.50, for those who have not been issued a REAL ID license or ID card. The waiver fees do not apply to license office processing fees however.

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri drivers license renewal: Here's how to get a Real ID
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court ended its term by ruling for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, a decision that almost certainly means Donald Trump won't stand trial before the November election. That closely watched ruling, which drew sharp dissent from the minority justices, was among a cluster of consequential opinions handed down in the court's busy final few weeks.

Here's a look at the major cases the court decided this year.

Presidential immunity

Ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution in a decision that extends the delay in Donald Trump's trial in Washington on charges of election interference and all but rules out a trial before the November election. The justices returned the case to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who would preside over a trial. She must now sort out what is left of special counsel Jack Smith's indictment of the former president.

Majority: Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Amy Coney Barrett

Dissent: Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

Insurrection clause

Ruled unanimously that states cannot invoke the post-Civil War insurrection clause to keep candidates for president and Congress off the ballot. The justices reversed a ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court finding that former President Donald Trump, as part of his effort to overturn his election loss in 2020, intentionally organized and incited the crowd of supporters who violently attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.

Majority (unsigned opinion): Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett (in part)

Concurring in judgment: Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson, Barrett

Jan. 6

Narrowed a federal obstruction charge that has been used against hundreds of people who took part in the violent assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as Trump. The court ruled in the case of a former Pennsylvania police officer and returned it to a lower court to determine if the obstruction charge, enacted in 2002 and meant to discourage tampering with documents sought in investigations, can be used against him. The decision also could have implications for Trump's prosecution on election interference charges.

Majority: Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Jackson

Dissent: Barrett, Sotomayor, Kagan

Abortion pill

Unanimously threw out a legal challenge from anti-abortion doctors to the FDA's initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 and more recent decisions easing access to the medication, one of two pills used in medication abortions. The justices determined that the doctors did not have the legal right, or standing, to sue, reversing an appellate ruling that would have rolled back some FDA decisions that make mifepristone easier to obtain, including receiving the drug by mail, and allow it to be used for longer in pregnancy.

Majority: Kavanaugh, Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, Barrett, Jackson

Chevron

Overturned a 40-year-old decision that has been cited thousands of times in federal court cases and used to uphold regulations on the environment, public health, workplace safety and consumer protections. The court decision colloquially known as Chevron, long targeted by conservative and business interests, called on judges to defer to federal regulators when the words of a statute are not crystal clear. The Supreme Court held that judges, not regulators, should decide the meaning of federal laws.

Majority: Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett

Dissent: Kagan, Sotomayor, Jackson

Guns

Upheld a 1994 law intended to protect victims of domestic violence. The law prohibits people who are under domestic violence restraining orders from having guns. The 8-1 decision reversed an appellate ruling striking down the law based on the Supreme Court's 2022 decision expanding gun rights.

Majority: Roberts, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett, Jackson

Dissent: Thomas

Wealth tax

Upheld a tax on foreign income that was enacted by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed into law by Trump. By a 7-2 vote, the justices rejected an effort by conservative and business interests to strike down the tax as a violation of the Constitution, which might have doomed a much-discussed but never-enacted wealth tax on billionaires.

Majority: Kavanaugh, Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson

Concurring in judgment: Barrett, Alito

Dissent: Thomas, Gorsuch

Redistricting

Preserved a Republican-held South Carolina congressional district in a 6-3 decision, reversing a lower court ruling that found the state Legislature discriminated against Black voters. Dissenting liberal justices warned the court was insulating states from claims of unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. State lawmakers moved 30,000 Black residents out of the district to strengthen Rep. Nancy Mace's hold on it.

Majority: Alito, Roberts, Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett

Dissent: Kagan, Sotomayor, Jackson

Bump stocks

Struck down a ban on bump stocks, rapid-fire gun accessories used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The 6-3 decision found that the Trump administration overstepped when it changed course from predecessors and banned bump stocks, which allow a rate of fire comparable to machine guns. In a dissent, liberal justices warned the decision could have deadly consequences."

Majority: Thomas, Roberts, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett

Dissent: Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson

Consumer Protection

Upheld the method of funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which does not depend on yearly appropriations from Congress. By a 7-2 vote, the court reversed a ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that found the funding structure violated the Constitution.

Majority: Thomas, Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, Barrett, Jackson

Dissent: Alito, Gorsuch

NRA and free speech

The court unanimously cleared the way for the National Rifle Association to sue a former New York state official. Backed in part by the Biden administration and represented by the ACLU, the gun-rights group said Maria Vullo pressured companies to blacklist it following the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. The opinion said the First Amendment prohibits government officials from using their power to punish or suppress speech.

Majority: Sotomayor, Thomas, Roberts, Alito, Kagan, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett, Jackson

Purdue Pharma

By a 5-4 vote, rejected a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would have allocated billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic, but also provided a legal shield for members of the Sackler family who own the company. The settlement had been on hold since last summer after the Supreme Court agreed to weigh in.

Majority: Gorsuch, Thomas, Alito, Barrett, Jackson

Dissent: Kavanaugh, Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan

Air pollution

Voted 5-4 to pause the Environmental Protection Agencys air pollution-fighting good neighbor plan while legal challenges continue, in response to a plea from Republican-led, energy-producing states and the steel industry.

Majority: Gorsuch, Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh

Dissent: Barrett, Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson

SEC

Ruled 6-3 that people facing civil fraud complaints from the Securities and Exchange Commission have the right to a jury trial in federal court, rather than be limited to an in-house proceeding. The decision stripped the agency of a major tool in fighting securities fraud and could have far-reaching effects on other regulatory agencies.

Majority: Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett

Dissent: Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson

Social media and governmental coercion

Threw out a lawsuit by Republican-led states that claimed federal officials unconstitutionally coerced social media platforms to take down controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security. The court voted 6-3 that the states and other parties had no legal right, or standing, to sue over their claim that the government leaned on the platforms to limit conservative points of view.

Majority: Barrett, Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, Jackson

Dissent: Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch

Social media and state regulation

In a limited ruling, the court kept on hold social media laws in Texas and Florida that would limit how Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube and other social media platforms regulate content posted by their users. But the court's majority recognized that the platforms are much like newspapers and have a constitutional right to make choices about what to include and exclude from their space. The cases will continue in federal appeals courts: One court had upheld the Texas' law; another found the Florida law probably is unconstitutional.

Majority: Kagan, Roberts, Sotomayor, Kavanaugh, Barrett, Jackson

Concurring in the judgment: Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch

Emergency abortions

The Supreme Court cleared the way for Idaho hospitals to provide emergency abortions, for now. In a limited order, the court found it should not have gotten involved in the case over Idahos strict abortion ban so quickly. By a 6-3 vote it reinstated a lower court order that had allowed hospitals in the state to perform emergency abortions to protect a pregnant patients health.

Majority: Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, Barrett, Jackson

Dissent: Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch

Homelessness

The justices found that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places. The majority found such laws don't violate the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment when shelter space is lacking. The opinion overturned an appeals court ruling that applied to nine states in the West, including California, which is home to one-third of the nation's homeless population.

Majority: Gorsuch, Thomas, Alito, Roberts, Kavanaugh, Barrett

Dissent: Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson
Hiker falls nearly 80 feet on Wolf Creek Trail near Grass Valley

(FOX40.COM)  A hiker was rescued Tuesday after falling approximately 80 feet off Wolf Creek Trail, the Grass Valley Fire Department said.

The fire department said the hikers downhill descent ended in berry bushes and they were unable to get themself back up the hill.

The Grass Valley Fire Department said the Nevada City Fire Department, Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department, the Grass Valley Police Department and the Sierra Nevada Ambulance also assisted in rescuing the hiker.

According to the fire department, the hiker was lifted back to the trail via a rope system.

The hiker had minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday the MAGA wing of the Supreme Court issued the majority decision granting presidential immunity for official acts in office, as she backed Justice Sonia Sotomayors scathing dissent in the case.

I agree with Justice Sotomayor about the immunity ruling from the MAGA wing of the Supreme Court, Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee who lost to Trump, said in a post on the social platform X.

Clinton continued, quoting Sotomayor: With fear for our democracy, I dissent.

It will be up to the American people this November to hold Donald Trump accountable, Clinton added.

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled Monday that core presidential powers are immune from criminal prosecution, a win for former President Trump that returns his federal election interference case to a lower court to determine whether actions he took in his efforts to overturn the election in 2020 merit protection.

The ruling was decided on ideological lines and stopped short of granting Trump the total immunity he sought in the case. Still, it helps Trump by making it less likely the case will head to trial before the 2024 presidential election this November.

The case now returns to district court, where proceedings have been paused while the high court weighed Trumps immunity claims. Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the matter, must now weigh the issue for a second time, as well as other pending efforts by Trump seeking to toss the case.

Sotomayor issued a forceful 30-page dissent Monday, joined by fellow liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. She extensively read her dissent from the bench, a rarity reserved for when a justice wants to underscore sharp disagreements on a case.

Todays decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency, she wrote. It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.

The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law, her dissent read.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) similarly slammed the Supreme Court for its disgraceful decision, which he said enables the former President to weaken our democracy by breaking the law.

This decision undermines the credibility of the Supreme Court, and suggests that political influence trumps all in our courts today, Schumer said.

Ralph Nader  a four-time White House hopeful whose 2000 candidacy has been criticized as a spoiler in the race  attacked the decision, but put blame on Clinton for running a blundering campaign that let Trump ascend to the presidency.

A dictatorial, unelected majority in the Supreme Court has just rendered America a dictatorial president above the law. Thank you Hillary Clinton, whose blundering campaign let the dictatorial Trump become president and led to a rightwing dictatorial majority on the Supreme Court, he wrote in a post on X.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
National real estate marketplace Zillow is suing Richland County, claiming that the county is violating public records laws by not providing the company with data on real property and tax assessments after the company filed a legal Freedom of Information Act request for the information.

South Carolina law allows the public to access most government documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Every state has some form of public records law, and the federal government is also subject to a Freedom of Information Act. There are some exceptions that allow governments to keep some documents hidden, but most government records are public under the law.

Zillow has hired Greenville-based attorney Carl Muller to represent it in its suit against Richland County over that law.

In May, Zillow requested property assessment data from the county by submitting multiple records requests. The county initially told Zillow it did not have any records that matched the request, according to the suit filed June 12.

The county then told Zillow that the data the company is asking for is available online, and so the county denied Zillows records request on the grounds that the law does not require the county to create new documents to fulfill a records request. But Zillow argued that not all of the assessment information for every parcel in the county is available online.

Even if the websites referenced by Richland County had complete information, Zillow specifically requested an electronic copy of the assessment files for all the parcels, not the option to search parcels one by one online, the suit adds.

But Zillow also says that it has received an electronic file with all of that data in years past.

Prior to 2022, Zillow had received the assessment data from the county each year in the format the company requested  an electronic file that contains all assessment information. Zillow had paid approximately $8,785 per year for that information with no issue, according to the suit.

Zillow is asking a judge to require that Richland County provide the assessment data. The company is also asking that Richland County pay Zillows legal fees if the court rules in Zillows favor.

Richland County did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"It was a bit surreal. We had just gotten to paradise, so it was a lot to process," Emma Steinke tells PEOPLE of her vacation experience

Emma Steinke and Husband on honeymoon

Alex and Emma Steinke began life as husband and wife in the middle of a devastating hurricane.

The 26-year-old newlyweds, who tied the knot on Saturday, June 15, traveled to Grenada for their honeymoon in hopes of getting out on an excursion and relaxing on the beach, only to be met by Hurricane Beryl.

The hurricane made landfall in the Caribbean as a Category 4 storm on Monday, July 1, with winds up to 150 mph, per The Weather Channel.

AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan Waves batter palm trees as Hurricane Beryl passes through Hastings, Barbados, on Monday, July 1, 2024

Related: 'Ghost Ship' Washes Ashore on Florida Beach One Week After It Was Abandoned At Sea amid Storms

"It was a bit surreal," Emma tells PEOPLE. "We had just gotten to paradise, so it was a lot to process, especially being from the Midwest, where we dont experience this. Also a bit scary being on an island and experiencing a hurricane! Alex was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., for Hurricane Florence, so this isnt his first, but it is mine."

The new bride says she and her husband arrived in Grenada around 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, following a 12-hour flight out of Chicago for their honeymoon getaway, which they'd planned since April.

Courtesy of Emma Steinke Emma Steinke and husband on honeymoon in Grenada

Related: Record Water Temperatures Are Increasing Chances of Intense Hurricane Season

"It progressed so rapidly that when we started our travel day, it was a tropical storm, and by the time we landed, it was a hurricane watch," she says.

Emma, who shared a glimpse of her and her husband's "hurricane haul" items "to survive" on TikTok, tells PEOPLE that they've done the "we could with what we had."

"We are staying inside," she says. "The resort instructed guests not to leave their rooms until they say its safe, so weve been following their instructions. Weve been keeping our phones charged as well and trying to conserve water/food as much as possible."

Courtesy of Emma Steinke Emma Steinke and husband on honeymoon in Grenada

She tells PEOPLE that while there's been "a lot of rain" that caused water to enter their room, it was "minimal," and the desire to enjoy their vacation has not gone away yet.

"Its still early on for us. As far as we can tell, at the resort, there isnt much damage so we're hoping we can get a few more days of sun and be able to experience the island a little bit," says Emma. "Were thinking that if it doesnt get much better, we may consider a smaller trip somewhere in the United States to make up for lost time."

Stephanie McKenna Photography Emma Steinke and husband on honeymoon in Grenada

The couple currently has a scheduled flight out of Grenada on Saturday, July 6.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"Its unfortunate but it is what it is. Were hoping it doesnt affect anything like our flight out but were well aware it could," adds Emma. "Were mostly just hoping everyone remains safe, especially the island natives and the staff at our resort that are working so hard for us."



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Read the original article on People.
Astana ceremony calls for submissions for 2nd Silk Road Global News Awards

People's Daily Online) 17:07, July 01, 2024

Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, hosted a ceremony on June 29 to call for submissions for the second Silk Road Global News Awards (SRGNA), an event aimed at promoting cooperation among media outlets from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The ceremony was part of a sharing session on the results of joint coverage of high-quality cooperation under the BRI framework by People's Daily and Kazakh media outlets.

A ceremony is held in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, to call for submissions for the second Silk Road Global News Awards, June 29, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Sheng Chuyi)

At the ceremony, Xie Xiang, director of the External Relations Department, People's Daily, introduced the SRGNA to participants, stating that the call for global submissions for the second edition of the awards, which features four categories, including best reporting, best photography, best video, and best innovation, was officially launched in April this year.

Works published since September 2021 that support the BRI, convey the Silk Road spirit, reflect exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, align with the vision of building a global community of shared future, and make a substantial international impact are eligible for the awards, Xie said, inviting Kazakh media counterparts to submit entries.

Xie Xiang, director of the External Relations Department, Peoples Daily, speaks at a ceremony held in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, to call for submissions for the second Silk Road Global News Awards, June 29, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Ge Taiyi)

The SRGNA is hosted by the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN), a cooperative platform jointly established by media outlets from BRI countries and regions at the initiative of People's Daily.

The BRNN has grown to become the largest BRI media cooperation platform, with 267 media members from 109 countries, including 12 Kazakh media outlets. The Kazakhstan President's TV and Radio Complex serves as a member of the BRNN council.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
KYODO NEWS - Jul 2, 2024 - 20:46 | All, Japan

A 39-year-old man was sentenced to death Tuesday for murdering an elderly woman and her son and robbing them at her residence in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in 2020.

During the trial at the Oita District Court, prosecutors sought the death penalty for Shoichi Sato, presenting evidence including DNA from the trunk of Sato's car that matched the female victim, Takako Yamana.

Sato's defense team, maintaining his innocence, said it filed an appeal with the Fukuoka High Court the same day.

In handing down the ruling, Presiding Judge Yasutaka Karashima said, "There is no reasonable explanation other than the convict committed the crime."

Footprints left at the crime scene matched the shape of Sato's feet as well, the judge also said.

In its closing argument, the defense pointed out that the analysis of bloodstains found in Sato's car revealed a DNA type that did not match either the two victims or Sato, insisting that someone else committed the crime.

According to the ruling, Sato fatally stabbed Yamana, a 79-year-old farmer, and her 51-year-old son Hiroyuki, a postal worker, multiple times on Feb. 2, 2020, at the house in Usa, stealing at least 54,000 yen ($330).

Police arrested Sato about a year and eight months after the incident.

Related coverage:

32-yr-old arrested over stabbing death of Japanese chef in Vancouver

2 women arrested for alleged murder of high school girl in Hokkaido

Doctor at scene of Akihabara mass killing recalls pain of lives lost
In hotly-contested elected school board race, objections filed against more than half of 47 candidates across 10 districts

Challenges to candidates running for a seat on Chicagos first elected school board were released Tuesday and more than half received objections to their nominations.

Of the 47 candidates vying for a school board seat across 10 districts, 27 received objections to their nominations. The 1st District was the only district in which no candidates received objections.

In the 3rd and 7th districts, all candidates received at least one objection. In the contested 6th and 10th districts, all but one candidate in each district received objections.

Most objections are about signatures, according to the Chicago Board of Elections. Elections staff checked that candidates had gathered at least 1,000 signatures when they filed their nomination papers, but did not check the validity of those signatures.

Tanya Morris and Brandon McGill-Ware, for instance, objected to all seven of District 10s candidates in a joint objection filed Monday. The pair claimed that nomination papers for the candidates didnt meet the required 1,000 collected signatures. They also claimed that the papers contained names of unregistered voters or, in some cases, that the signatures were forged.

According to the Board of Elections, the election board will consider the objections and schedule hearings for all candidates who have received objections. Candidates hearings are expected to begin July 8 and extend into early August.

Candidates who receive objections will be assigned a hearing date and hearing officer. The hearing officer will make a recommendation about the candidates eligibility, which the Chicago electoral board will officially decide on. After the decision, candidates can appeal.

The ballot is expected to be finalized by Aug. 29 because of early voting and vote-by-mail deadlines, according to the election board. Still, candidates who successfully appeal their objections may be added back to the ballot after that date.

The requirements for getting on the ballot included collecting 1,000 to 3,000 valid signatures from residents in their district and filing paperwork with the Chicago Board of Elections, according to officials. To be eligible to run, candidates must also be U.S. citizens over 18, registered voters, not be registered child sex offenders and have lived in their district for at least one year, according to rules posted by the Chicago Board of Education and election board.

The deadline to file an objection was 5 p.m. Monday. Objections filed by residents of the candidates district state that the candidate has not met one or more of these requirements.

The election board released the objections Tuesday, a day later than expected.

The election board released the results of the ballot placement lottery for the elected school board candidates on Monday.

Candidates who lined up to submit their nomination papers before 9 a.m. on June 17 were placed in a lottery for the top spot on their districts ballot, and candidates who lined up between 4 and 5 p.m. on June 24 to submit their nomination papers were entered into a lottery for the last spot on the ballot. A full list of the ballot placement by district can be found here.

The objections are the latest development in Chicagos first school board race. Voters will choose a board member from each of the 10 districts. Mayor Brandon Johnson will appoint an additional 11 board members, including the board president, for a total of 21 members. In 2026, all school board members will be elected.

Voters will select their districts school board member in the Nov. 5 general election. Voting by mail applications will open Aug. 7, and early voting will begin Sept. 26.

Candidates are fundraising and must disclose their contributions by July 15. Several candidates are expected to participate in a discussion of their platforms July 10, hosted by education nonprofit Raise Your Hand Illinois.

If all objections are successful, the school board race could narrow to as few as 20 candidates, leaving the 3rd and 7th districts with no candidates on the ballot and the 6th and 10th candidates with only one.
Donald Trump after the verdict in his criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters/File)

The judge overseeing Donald Trump's trial for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records announced on Tuesday that he would delay sentencing the former president until September so he could hear arguments pertaining to the Supreme Court's latest ruling on presidential immunity.

"The July 11, 2024, sentencing date is therefore vacated," Judge Juan Merchan wrote. "The Court's decision will be rendered off-calendar on September 6, 2024, and the matter is adjourned to September 18, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. for the imposition of sentence, if such is still necessary, or other proceedings."

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump had sent a letter Monday to Merchan asking him to toss a jurys guilty verdict on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Their argument is that the Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity invalidates the verdict that found Trump had falsified business records to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, because prosecutors partly built their case on evidence that dated to the months after Trump had become president.

Prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office said they would agree to delay Trumps July 11 sentencing date, but would lay out their case to Merchan as to why the jurys verdict should stand.

Although we believe defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Joshua Steinglass, one of the prosecutors on the case, wrote.

Official acts?

In just more than a week, Merchan was set to announce his sentence following the jurys historic guilty verdicts of a former president. While most analysts believed that Trump would avoid jail time since this was his first criminal conviction, other factors, such as his repeated violation of Merchans gag orders put in place during the trial, made that uncertain.

But the Supreme Court decision on Monday on the question of whether presidents are protected from prosecution will delay Trumps sentencing until at least September 18.

The decision, and Merchan's statement, also leaves open the possibility that Trump could face no repercussions, despite the New York jurys guilty verdicts. Thats because the Supreme Court ruled that presidents cannot be tried for alleged crimes related to their official duties.

The President is not above the law. But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the landmark ruling.

Merchan will have to decide whether the fact that Trump sent reimbursement checks to his former lawyer Michael Cohen from the White House, after he had been inaugurated, makes it rise to the level of an official act. Hell also hear arguments from Trumps lawyers that much of the testimony in the case came from presidential aides, making it inadmissible.

Last year, however, a federal judge rejected Trumps argument that presidential immunity protected him from being prosecuted in the hush money case because the payment to Daniels was personal, not an official act.

The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the matter was purely a personal item of the President  a cover-up of an embarrassing event, United States District Judge Alvin Hellerstein wrote. Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a Presidents official acts. It does not reflect in any way the color of the Presidents official duties.

Why the timeline matters

While much of the evidence surrounding Trumps alleged deal with National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and Cohen to kill damaging stories about the 2016 presidential candidate took place prior to Trump being elected, a fair bit of it came after, as a timeline of the key events of the case shows.

With its ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court gave presidents extraordinary latitude to claim that actions undertaken while in office are protected from prosecution. At the very least, the court gave Trumps lawyers another line of appeal should Merchan move forward and sentence Trump after hearing the arguments from his lawyers.

Correction: This story initially said Merchan's memo was sent Monday; it was sent Tuesday.
Reverand Guillermo Trevino of West Liberty was born in Texas to two Mexican immigrant parents.

Trevino said Monday during a march in Iowa City that he is concerned Iowa's Senate File 2340, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in April, will devastate Hispanic families.

He believes support from the state's entire Latino population is needed.

"If this law is enacted, it would separate families and put children at risk of losing the emotional and financial support they need to survive," Trevino said on the steps of the Old Capitol building.

Roughly 100 people gathered near College Green Park and marched through Iowa City on Monday night, one of three coordinated demonstrations against government support of the "illegal reentry" law. Activists also gathered in Des Moines and Waterloo.

Iowa organization Escucha Mi Voz has orchestrated several similar marches in recent months, also gathering on May 1. The law in question was set to take effect on July 1 but was blocked by a federal judge on June 17.

More: Traffic cameras, THC drinks, 'meatless' labels: New Iowa laws will take effect July 1

Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green speaks to a crowd of more than 75 demonstrators protesting Senate File 2340 on Monday, July 1, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa.

'We are families, not criminals'

The group marched through Iowa City shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Monday, chanting phrases used in previous protests, including "Somos familias, no somos criminales," or "We are families, we're not criminals," and "Un pueblo unido, jamas sera vencido," or "A house united, will never be defeated."

Trevino led the group in prayer in both Spanish and English.

"That's why we are here today," Trevino said. "To show our power and to pray that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird put human dignity and immigrant workers first and stop defending this immoral, unconstitutional and anti-immigrant law."

Protesters donned shirts saying, "Immigrants Make America Great" and held up signs in Spanish that translated to, "Stop the deportations," "We are all humans," and "Always together."

Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green and supervisor candidate Mandi Remington also attended the march and addressed the crowd at Pentacrest.

"You are the best of Johnson County," Green said. "(And) it is my solemn duty to represent all of you and your best interests, and to stand up against a vicious, hateful state government."

More: Federal judge calls Iowa's new immigration law 'not defensible,' grants injunction

Demonstrators marched from College Green Park to the Pentacrest through the streets of Iowa City in opposition to Senate File 2340, the "illegal reentry" law, on Monday, July 1, 2024. A federal judge blocked the law in June and an appeals court will hear the case in September.

Federal judge called law unconstitutional

The "illegal reentry" law would make it a criminal offense to enter the state after being deported or denied entry from the United States. The law was blocked by a federal judge in June, determining its basis unconstitutional.

"I am disappointed in todays court decision that blocks Iowa from stopping illegal reentry and keeping our communities safe," Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said in a statement after the law was blocked. "Since Biden refuses to secure our borders, he has left states with no choice but to do the job for him."

Iowa's law resembles a similar law passed and signed in Texas that was later banned by the courts. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher granted a temporary injunction for two cases challenging the law in May, one by the federal government and another by the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice.

More: Kim Reynolds signs Texas-style immigration law criminalizing 'illegal reentry' into Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds said the Iowa law is needed to protect Iowans from crime, human trafficking and drug overdoses.

"Plainly, the Biden administration is failing to do their job and enforce federal immigration laws allowing millions to enter and re-enter without any consequence or delay," she said.

More: Iowa City community rallies against state law that criminalizes 'illegal reentry' into state

The Des Moines Register's courts reporter William Morris contributed reporting.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Hundreds march through Iowa City against 'illegal reentry' law
Hundreds of candidates drop out of French election runoff in last gasp bid to keep far right from power

As French citizens get set to vote in runoff parliamentary elections on Sunday hundreds of contenders have bowed out in an effort to block the far-right party from the gates of power.

Over 200 candidates from President Emmanuel Macrons centrist camp and the left-wing alliance have stepped down in a bid to avoid splitting the vote. Theyve put aside their differences with one goal in mind: to keep the far right firmly away from the 289 seats required for an absolute majority currently within their reach.

Last Sunday the French people placed the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) and its allies in first place while Macrons centrist camp came third, behind the left-wing bloc.

After the first round in constituencies where no candidate won outright, an unprecedented number of seats  over 300 - went to a three-way run-off favoring the RN. By Tuesday, as the deadline to drop out closed, fewer than 100 remain, after centrist and left-wing candidates strategically dropped out in individual seats.

This tactic could stop some RN candidates from winning, according to analyst Antoine Bristielle.

Anti-far right protesters during a demonstration at Place de la Republique following the French legislative election results in Paris, France, on June 30, 2024. - Nathan Laine/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The main probability was an absolute majority for the National Rally, but now with all of the withdrawals, I think thats unlikely, Bristielle said.

In an attempt to deny the RN a majority, the NFP  a left-wing coalition that wants to lower the retirement age and tax the rich  promised to withdraw all of its candidates who came in third place in the first round.

Leslie Mortreux, an NFP qualifier and the only publicly out transgender runner, stepped aside to give right-wing Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin a better chance of defeating the RN rival in a constituency in the north.

Macrons Ensemble allies also called on their supporters to prevent the far right taking office, but some warned against lending their votes to the hard-left France Unbowed, a party inside the NFP.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire drew the ire of the left on Tuesday when he said no vote should go to the far right but added that he personally would not vote for the far left either.

In one constituency in the south, a government minister initially refused to help an NFP candidate, reasoning that she didnt want her voters to have to choose between two extremes.

The following day she tweeted that she was bowing out following pressure from the president and prime minister.

In over 80 three-way races, Macrons centrist candidates dropped out in favor of candidates from the left-wing NFP. But many stopped short of encouraging their supporters to vote for a left-wing opponent.

Ive taken the difficult decision to withdraw  leaving it up to my voters to position themselves against the far right or far left, Samuel Deguara, a candidate from Macrons camp said after withdrawing.

Meanwhile, far-right doyenne Marine Le Pen condemned the political bargaining.

The act of withdrawing and giving voting instructions shows the worst contempt for voters, Le Pen said Tuesday.

Former president of the French far-right National Rally, or Rassemblement National (RN) parliamentary group Marine Le Pen and RN Mayor of Perpignan Louis Aliot leave the party's headquarters in Paris on July 2, 2024. - Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Even before the candidate withdrawals, projections had suggested that after the second round of voting next Sunday, the RN was likely to fall short of an absolute majority and win between 230 and 280 seats in the 577-seat lower house.

In speeches before the first round, National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said he would refuse to govern a minority government, in which the RN would require the votes of allies to pass laws.

If the RN falls short of an absolute majority and Bardella stays true to his word, Macron might then have to search for a prime minister on the left, or somewhere else entirely.

And if the unthinkable for Macron happens and the RN does get an absolute majority, then it will become the first far-right party to enter the French government since World War II.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday arrived in Kyiv, where he is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky amid tensions between the two European leaders over Russias war in Ukraine.

Orban, a key ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Europe, is making his first visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded in early 2022. He will focus his conversation with Zelensky on making peace, according to the Hungarian leaders spokesperson, along with issues in the relationship between Budapest and Kyiv.

The meeting comes after Hungary assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Orban has been critical of supporting Ukraine, though its unclear how much he will seek to thwart regional efforts as head of the bloc.

Orban talked with Zelensky at the inauguration of Argentine President Javier Milei in December, hinting around that time he would be open to a more formal meeting.

Along with tension over the war with Russia, Orban has accused Kyiv of infringing on the rights of Hungarian minorities in the western part of Ukraine.

Orban is the only European leader to have met with Russian President Vladimir Putin since he invaded Ukraine, along with Austria Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who traveled to Moscow in the spring of 2022 just after the war started to warn the Kremlin against continuing the invasion.

Orban, however, has been much more sympathetic to Putin and faced condemnation for his visit to Russia last year.

Hungary is considered the closest ally in the Europe for Russia. Orban has moved to delay the accession of countries into NATO and block or delay aid packages to Ukraine through the European Union.

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By Anastasiia Malenko and Anita Komuves

KYIV (Reuters) -Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday to consider a ceasefire to accelerate an end to the war with Russia, but Kyiv said it saw its own approach as the path to peace.

Orban, who is an outspoken critic of Western military aid to Ukraine and has the warmest relations of any EU leader with Russian President Vladimir Putin, held talks with Zelenskiy during his first trip to Kyiv in more than a decade.

In joint statements to reporters after the talks, Orban said he asked Zelenskiy to think about a ceasefire before the follow-up international summit Kyiv hopes to hold later this year.

"A ceasefire connected to a deadline would give a chance to speed up peace talks. I explored this possibility with the president and I am grateful for his honest answers and negotiation," he said.

Zelenskiy, who spoke before Orban, did not respond to those comments.

But his foreign policy adviser, Ihor Zhovkva, later said in televised remarks that it was not the first such proposal and that Zelenskiy had responded to Orban with his publicly known stance.

"We say that Ukraine really wants peace for itself, this is logical... For this, we have a tool - the peace summit," Zhovkva said, referring to Kyiv's push to build a global coalition to support its vision of peace.

After hosting dozens of world leaders at a summit in Switzerland last month to advance that blueprint, Kyiv has said it hopes to hold a second international summit later this year that could invite a Russian representative to attend.

Officials in Kyiv have often said Russia would use any let-up in fighting to regroup and strengthen itself for another, even larger attack on Ukraine.

In his statement to reporters, Zelenskiy touted the possibility of a broad bilateral cooperation agreement between Ukraine and Hungary.

"...the content of our dialogue today on all issues can become the basis for a bilateral document between our states, a document that will regulate all our mutual relations," he said.

Welcoming Zelenskiy's comments, Orban said Hungary would like to help in modernising Ukraine's economy.

Ties between the neighbours came under heavy strain after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, with Budapest often opposing European Union efforts to support Kyiv.

Under Orban, who upset Western partners by holding talks with Putin last October, Hungary has repeatedly accused Ukraine of curbing the rights of roughly 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living in the far west of Ukraine.

Ukraine has denied Budapest's assertion that it is restricting the rights of Hungarian speakers in western Ukraine but says it is open to addressing any concerns.

Ukraine is keen to secure Hungary's backing as it relies heavily on financial and military support from the 27-member EU, where unanimity is needed for many decisions.

CHALLENGES

Orban linked Tuesday's surprise Ukraine visit to Hungary having assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the European Council on Monday.

"The aim of the Hungarian presidency is to contribute to solving the challenges ahead of the European Union. That's why my first trip was to Kyiv," Orban wrote on Facebook.

Last week, the EU opened formal membership talks with Kyiv at its summit in Brussels, giving Ukraine a morale-lifting boost, although a long and tough road still lies ahead before it can join the bloc.

Zelenskiy and Orban were filmed on the sidelines of that summit in what looked like an emotional exchange.

Last year, Orban told Putin that Hungary had never wanted to oppose Russia. In early 2024, it took the EU leaders weeks to break the Hungarian prime minister's veto to extend 50 billion euros ($53.67 billion) in new aid to Ukraine.

Kyiv passed a law in 2017 that required all schools to teach students over the age of 10 in the Ukrainian language. Hungary saw this as a breach of the ethnic Hungarian minority's rights.

Some changes were made in December 2023 when the issue became critical for Kyiv's EU accession talks. Budapest said the changes were an improvement but didn't go far enough.

($1 = 0.9316 euros)

(Additional reporting by Gergely Szakacs, Olena Harmash, Yuliia Dysa; Writing by Tom Balmforth, Editing by Gareth Jones and Alistair Bell)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv on July 2, in what became his first visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The visit came two days into Hungary's rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, also known as the Council of Ministers. The position in the hands of arguably the most Russia-friendly member state caused some concern in Ukraine.

Taking over from Belgium in July, Budapest will remain in this role until Jan. 1, 2025, when it will pass the presidency to Poland.

Ukrainian concerns may be misplaced, however, given not only the limited powers of the presidency but also the "lucky" timing of its duration.

Under Belgian chairmanship the EU managed to clear the most consequential issues pertaining to Ukraine, while the aftermath of the European elections is certain to occupy the bloc's attention for months to come.

The (limited) powers of the presidency

The Council of the EU is one of the Union's three key institutions. It gathers ministers of the 27 member countries in various configurations to approve and shape legislation proposed by the European Commission.

The Council's chair can outline its agenda for the six months of the presidency's duration.

The presidency also chairs most ministerial meetings, drives legislative work, and represents the Council in dealings with the European Parliament and the European Commission.

"To do this, the presidency must act as an honest and neutral broker," the position's description says, a statement that might raise a few eyebrows given Budapest's reputation as the EU's troublemaker.

Orban has become something of a black sheep in the EU, regularly lashing out against "Brussels bureaucrats" while drawing criticism about the domestic rule of law issues and democratic backsliding.

Orban began the presidency with the motto "Make Europe Great Again," mimicking the adage of his fellow populist, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is seeking to return to office.

In his listed priorities for the presidency, Orban mentioned more stringent measures against migration and a "focus on peace and European interests," referencing the war in Ukraine.

The Hungarian prime minister and his top diplomat, Peter Szijjarto, have repeatedly frustrated their European colleagues by obstructing assistance for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, claiming that arming Kyiv will lead to "escalation" and prolongation of the war.

While in Kyiv, Orban urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire in order to "speed up peace talks."

"I asked the president to think about whether we could reverse the order, and speed up peace talks with making a ceasefire first," Orban said in a statement to reporters after the two leaders met.

Read also: Orban urges Zelensky to consider ceasefire during visit to Kyiv

While Budapest eventually lifted its veto of Kyiv's membership talks and later the 50-billion-euro ($54 billion) financial package for Ukraine, it continues to block 7 billion euros ($7.5 billion) in defense assistance.

In spite of this worrying record, Budapest's possible influence via the presidency is quite limited.

The Lisbon Treaty in 2009 stripped the position of many of its key responsibilities. Its role of presiding over the European Councilmeetings of EU heads of state and government passed to the new position of the European Council president, currently held by Charles Michel, who is set to pass his duties to Antonio Costa on Dec. 1.

The year 2009 also saw the establishment of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who represents the EU outside of the block and chairs the meetings of foreign ministers.

Josep Borrell, who has led the EU's diplomacy since 2019, is expected to be soon replaced by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a well-known Ukrainian ally.

The presidency lacks hard powers, and the preset priorities are often drowned by unexpected developments and crises, the Center for European Reform writes.

"The presidency is most importantly a technical role," which a given member country usually uses to "showcase itself," said Dorka Takacsy, a fellow at the Center for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy and the German Marshall Fund, in a comment for the Kyiv Independent.

Hungary may also not necessarily seek to stir trouble during its presidency. Undisclosed official sources from various member states told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Hungarian officials have conducted themselves professionally during preparations for the chairmanship.

The Hungarian government itself "seemingly aims to play down (the presidency's) importance as well, and put the whole presidency to a technocratic light," Takacsy said.

"The situation is somewhat peculiar, as the current government actively paints the enemy picture of 'Brussels' in its rhetorics for over a decade now, so it is a dissonant thing that Budapest has to be 'Brussels' for half a year now," the expert added.

Read also: Opinion: Orban is plain wrong on Ukraine

Fortunate timing

Another key reason why Ukraine can breathe a sigh of relief is the favourable timing of Hungary's presidency.

Belgium did its homework in clearing the Kyiv-related agenda before Hungary took over. The EU officially launched the accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova on June 25 and adopted the 14th sanctions package just a day earlier.

Ukraine and the EU also managed to finalize a bilateral security agreement in June, and the disbursement of the Ukraine Facility tranches is well underway.

With these important processes launched, further accession talks can be left for presumably more Kyiv-friendly Polish presidency in 2025, leaving Hungary to focus on EU enlargement efforts in the Western Balkans.

Publicly, while visiting Kyiv, Orban pledged to support Ukraine "in everything we can" during the country's presidency.

Takacsy warns that Budapest may still turn to "confrontative rhetorics related to Ukraine as it did until now," but there is nothing it can do to cause "irreversible damage."

Additionally, Hungary took over the presidency only weeks after the European elections, which means that any legislative work will likely give way to the formation of a new European Commission.

While Orban's confidence may be bolstered by the growth of Euroskeptic right and far-right parties and the prospects of forming his own group in the European Parliament, the presidency has no say in the negotiations on the Commission's makeup.

The EU's executive arm, which is also the sole body with the right of the legislative initiative, can take months to form, chipping away at Hungary's limited window of opportunity to impose itself on the legislative process.

Read also: Opinion: Key takeaways from the European Parliament elections for Kyiv

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(Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will make his first trip to Kyiv on Tuesday since Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbour in 2022, to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

The visit by Orban, an outspoken critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, is to take place a day after Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union Council.

Orban and Zelenskiy's offices did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests to comment.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Financial Times reported that Orban will meet with Zelenskiy and other senior officials in Kyiv just days after the two spoke at an EU summit in Brussels.

Orban, the closest ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin among EU leaders, has frequently opposed many EU initiatives to support Ukraine in its defence against Moscow's aggression since its February 2022 invasion.

Last year, Orban told Putin that Hungary had never wanted to oppose Russia. In early 2024 it took the EU leaders weeks to break the Hungarian prime minister's veto to extend 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in new aid to Ukraine.

Last week, the EU opened membership talks with Ukraine, giving the country a political boost in the midst of its war against Russia's invasion, although a long and tough road still lies ahead before it could join the bloc.

($1 = 0.9314 euros)

(Reporting by Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Leslie Adler))
KYODO NEWS - Jul 2, 2024 - 09:49 | All, World, Japan

North Korea said Tuesday it successfully test-fired a new type of ballistic missile capable of carrying a 4.5-ton-class warhead, and said it planned to conduct another test within the month.

The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted the country's Missile Administration as saying the test on Monday sought to verify the flight stability of a missile tipped with a simulated super-large warhead with a maximum range of 500 kilometers and a minimum range of 90 km.

The new tactical ballistic missile is called Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5, the report said.

According to South Korea's military, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles on Monday in a northeasterly direction, including one that may have failed and fallen inland.

It said the first missile flew about 600 km, while the second one, fired about 10 minutes later at around 5:15 a.m., traveled 120 km.

The remnants of the second projectile are believed to have fallen near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, according to Yonhap News Agency.

North Korea is expected to test a missile at an intermediate-range of 250 km, as the country ramps up its threats against South Korea.

KCNA said a plenary session of the Workers' Party of Korea, held from Friday and attended by the country's leader Kim Jong Un, was concluded Monday, but there was no mention in its report of plans regarding the development of missiles or the launch of spy satellites for the second half of the year.

Related coverage:

North Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles, 1 possibly fails
Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings with the president in recent days, report says

Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings with the president in recent days, report says

Hunter Biden in recent days has become more involved in meetings at the White House, per NBC News.

While Hunter Biden is no stranger to the residence, his presence at meetings is a new development.

The report comes as President Biden's debate performance is forcing him to defend his reelection bid.

This past weekend, President Joe Biden went to Camp David for a family gathering that had been planned before his widely panned debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

While at the presidential retreat, Biden's family urged him to remain in the 2024 race amid some Democratic consternation over his chances this fall, with presidential son Hunter Biden being one of the most vocal advocates of his father remaining the party's nominee.

And in recent days, Hunter Biden has upped his presence at the White House, advising his father and taking part in meetings with him alongside high-level aides, according to NBC News.

Per NBC News, Hunter Biden has also been spotted conversing with other top-level White House staffers.

Hunter Biden is no stranger to the White House residence, but he has generally not taken part in meetings involving the president's work.

The development comes just weeks after Hunter Biden, who for years has been fodder for GOP attempts to paint the presidential family in an unflattering light, was recently convicted on felony gun charges.

The president checks in with Hunter Biden often and has steadfastly supported him, especially when Hunter Biden in the past has battled alcohol and drug addiction.

An individual who spoke with CNN about Hunter Biden's increased presence at the White House this week said he "popped into" a few meetings and calls that his father held with several advisors.

Two individuals with knowledge of Hunter Biden's plans remarked that he stayed in Washington to partake in Independence Day festivities with his family later in the week.

White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates in a statement to NBC News said that Hunter Biden returned with his father from Camp David and "went with the President straight into speech prep," referencing Joe Biden's remarks on Monday where he blasted the US Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Hunter Biden is suing Fox News for revenge porn, claiming the conservative news network featured several of his intimate images in a politically motivated six-part miniseries that was distributed on the Fox Nation streaming service in October 2022.

The controversial miniseries, which is no longer available, was titled The Trial of Hunter Biden and centered on evidence allegedly found on Bidens notorious laptop. It was structured as a fictitious mock trial that imagined what a criminal proceeding against Biden might look like if he were charged with bribery and acting as a foreign agent. Since no such charges have ever been filed, the series is an act of fantasy, not legitimate news, and had no right to include private, intimate images and video depicting Biden fully naked and sometimes engaged in sex acts, Biden alleges in his new lawsuit filed in New York.

Beginning in 2020, as part of their politically motivated attacks against the president and his family, [Fox News Network and its affiliates] targeted Mr. Biden in an effort to harass, annoy, alarm, and humiliate him, and tarnish his reputation, the complaint, first submitted in state court and moved on Monday to federal court in Manhattan, alleges. Biden claims the series was not a matter of legitimate public concern, so Fox should not be allowed to claim any free speech protection.

In publishing and disseminating these intimate images, Fox knew that these private and confidential images were hacked, stolen, and/or manipulated digital material which were intended to remain private and confidential, but which had been unlawfully procured and disseminated without Mr. Bidens consent, the complaint obtained by Rolling Stone states.

Far from reporting on a newsworthy event, Fox sought to commercialize Mr. Bidens personality through a form of treatment distinct from the dissemination of news or information, the 14-page lawsuit continues. The miniseries is fictionalized; it is not a news event. It was made for the purpose of trade and advertising, and merely exploits Mr. Bidens name, image, and likeness for Foxs commercial benefit.

A Fox spokesperson responded to Rolling Stones request for comment on Monday. This entirely politically motivated lawsuit is devoid of merit, the Fox spokesperson said in the statement. The core complaint stems from a 2022 streaming program that Mr. Biden did not complain about until sending a letter in late April 2024. The program was removed within days of the letter, in an abundance of caution, but Hunter Biden is a public figure who has been the subject of multiple investigations and is now a convicted felon. Consistent with the First Amendment, Fox News has accurately covered the newsworthy events of Mr. Bidens own making, and we look forward to vindicating our rights in court.

Bidens lawyer, Mark Geragos, did not immediately return Rolling Stones request for comment. Geragos previously sent a letter to Fox warning that the presidents son was preparing to sue over conspiracy and subsequent actions to defame Mr. Biden and paint him in a false light. The lawsuit filed this week does not include a claim for defamation. It focuses on New York states so-called revenge porn statute and includes claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress and unjust enrichment. It says publication and dissemination of the intimate images was a knowing, intentional, and calculated violation of the law.

Defendants conduct was so egregious and done so clearly with malice and/or reckless indifference to Mr. Bidens interests, wellbeing, and reputation that in addition to all the damages which Mr. Biden is entitled to, defendants should also be required to pay punitive damages to punish them for their intentional conduct and to deter Fox and others similarly situated from engaging in such reprehensible conduct in the future, the new lawsuit states.

Hunter Biden has been under investigation for years, with prosecutors looking into his finances and a firearm he acquired. Three separate congressional committees opened investigations involving the presidents son in the hopes of proving allegations of corruption against the president himself.

Hunter Biden was convicted on all charges in his gun trial last month, making him the first child of a sitting president to be found guilty of a crime. He was convicted of lying on a firearm purchase application and possessing a gun while battling an addiction to illegal drugs. The jury took only three hours to return their verdict. Biden faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years in prison at sentencing  but considering hes a first-time offender, experts say he likely will get much less, possibly even no prison time. Hes due to begin a separate trial later this year on charges he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes.

Last December, the House of Representatives voted along party lines to authorize an official impeachment inquiry into President Biden. The stalled inquiry has been called a partisan charade by the White House. For its part, Fox News has been a reliable platform pushing the Republican-backed effort. A February study by the progressive watchdog group Media Matters found that host Sean Hannity aired 325 segments related to Hunter Biden in 2023. A separate study published in April found that Fox as a whole mentioned Hunter Biden at least 13,440 times since Jan. 3, 2023.

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Hurricane Beryl exploded overnight, growing into a Category 5 hurricane with 165-mph winds, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

And it's been able to maintain that strength since 2 a.m.

When it made landfall at 11 a.m. on Carriacou Island Monday, July 1, it was a Category 4 storm with 150-mph winds.

 Track Hurricane Beryl

 Track all active storms

Forecasters said Beryl is expected to bring "life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica" on Wednesday.

The next significant landmass in Beryl's path will be Jamaica on Wednesday," AccuWeather Lead Tropical Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said. "Jamaica is likely to experience a high risk to lives and property Wednesday."

Factors affecting Beryl's intensity include much warmer-than-historical-average waters and wind shear, according to AccuWeather forecasters. If wind shear is strong enough, it can lead to weakening of tropical systems. Warm water helps storms develop and intensify.

DaSilva said water temperatures in early July are equal to what they usually are in late August, early September.

"Even if Beryl loses some wind intensity during the second half of the week, it will remain a dangerous hurricane with the likelihood of torrential rain, flooding, mudslides, damaging winds, pounding seas and storm surge along and near its path," according to AccuWeather.

Hurricane Beryl sets record as earliest Category 5 storm on record

#HurricaneBeryl is now a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale per the NHC's 11 p.m. advisory.



This is the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, beating Emily's record from 2005 by 15 days. pic.twitter.com/ldLW2skgWP  WeatherTiger - weathertiger.substack.com (@wx_tiger) July 2, 2024

Beryl wasted no time in growing into a powerful hurricane.

The system making its way quickly across the Atlantic became a tropical depression Friday afternoon, a tropical storm by late Friday night and a hurricane about 24 hours later on Saturday.

By Sunday morning, Beryl had strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 130 mph.

During landfall on Carriacou Island in Grenada at 11 a.m. Monday, it was a Category 4 storm with 150-mph winds.

Twelve hours later, it was a Category 5 storm with 160-mph winds.

Three hours later, at 2 a.m. Tuesday, it had strengthened again, with winds at 165 mph, which it was holding on to at 8 a.m.

Its the earliest Category 5 storm on record, according to Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist at WeatherTiger. "This is the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, beating Emily's record from 2005 by 15 days."

Truchelut works with the USA TODAY Network-Florida to provide the latest storm information Florida residents need.

Spaghetti models: Where will Hurricane Beryl go next?

Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

 Track Hurricane Beryl

Will Hurricane Beryl impact Florida, US?

After #Beryl impacts the Yucatan Thursday night and Friday, hopefully as a weaker hurricane, more and more guidance starts to turn it north once it reemerges over the Bay of Campeche on Saturday. Even though some guidance has Beryl a TS at this point, some keeps it as a pic.twitter.com/wI5rXrlKqt  Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) July 2, 2024

"After #Beryl impacts the Yucatan Thursday night and Friday, hopefully as a weaker hurricane, more and more guidance starts to turn it north once it reemerges over the Bay of Campeche on Saturday," Jim Cantore, The Weather Channel meteorologist tweeted Tuesday morning.

"Even though some guidance has Beryl a TS at this point, some keeps it as a hurricane so the western gulf needs to be on alert potentially for the later part of the holiday weekend and early next week. Much of the future fluctuation and strength will depend on shear and land interaction, but we still have lots of warm ocean out there to keep it going or strengthen it up at times. Stay tuned!"

AccuWeather meteorologists have given the Atlantic coast of the U.S. and the Florida Peninsula the all-clear from direct impacts from Beryl but warned residents to not let down their guard.

"At this point, the most likely scenario is for the storm to move westward into Mexico. However, it is very important to note that if the high pressure across the Southeast weakens, that can allow the storm to move farther north and potentially directly impact the Gulf Coast," DaSilva said.

"Should the high pressure area remain strong, Beryl will make landfall in Belize or Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday night or Friday," said AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.

"But if the high weakens just a bit, it may allow Beryl to take a more northwesterly track, in which case it may avoid more land and get into the Gulf of Mexico as a formidable hurricane instead of a chopped-down tropical storm that encounters more land."

Potential impact from Hurricane Beryl as of July 2, 2024.

Because of the potential for Beryl to turn more to the northwest upon reaching the northwestern Caribbean, residents in the U.S., especially the Texas coast, should closely monitor the hurricane's progress and forecasts by meteorologists.

"From Panama City, to New Orleans, there is a low risk of direct impacts from Beryl, but from about Corpus Christi to Brownsville, Texas, the risk increases significantly due to the potential for Beryl to have more direct impacts," said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter.

"That southern portion of the Texas coast is the zone we have to really watch."

Beryl and July 4: Could Hurricane Beryl affect your Florida Fourth of July plans?

Watches, warnings issued across Florida

Hurricane Beryl: What you need to know

Location : 300 miles southeast of Isla Beata, Dominican Republic; 625 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica

Maximum sustained winds: 165 mph

Movement : West-northwest at 22 mph

Pressure : 934 mb

Next advisory: 11 a.m.

Watches and warnings issued for Hurricane Beryl

For an explanation of what the watches and warnings mean, scroll to the bottom of this story.

Hurricane warning: A hurricane warning is in effect for:

Jamaica

Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch is in effect for:

Grand Cayman

Little Cayman and Cayman Brac

Tropical Storm Warning: A tropical storm warning is in effect for the following:

South coast of Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti

South coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d'Hainault

Hurricane Beryl 'powerful' Category 5 hurricane with 165-mph winds

At 8 a.m., the eye of Hurricane Beryl was located near latitude 15.0 North, longitude 67.9 West.

Beryl is moving toward the west-northwest near 22 mph and is forecast to continue moving rapidly west- northwest during the next couple of days and turn west by Thursday.

On the forecast track, the center of Beryl will move quickly across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea today and is forecast to pass near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday.

Reports from NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds remain near 165, with higher gusts.

Beryl is a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Weakening should begin later today, but Beryl is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as it moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday.

Additional weakening is expected thereafter, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. NOAA buoy 42059 to the north of the eye recently reported sustained winds of 72 mph and a wind gust of 94 mph.

How strong is Hurricane Beryl and where is it going?

Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Hurricane Beryl

Beryl is forecast to remain a powerful hurricane as it moves across the Caribbean Sea later this week. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Jamaica, where hurricane conditions are expected on Wednesday. A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for the south coast of Hispaniola, and a Hurricane Watch is now in effect for all of the Cayman Islands.

Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are likely over much of Jamaica on Wednesday.

Residents in Belize, the Yucatan Peninsula, Cuba, and the southwestern Gulf of Mexico should monitor the progress of Beryl. Additional watches and warnings will likely be required later today or Wednesday.

Current forecast: How strong is Hurricane Beryl expected to get?

Currently: 165 mph

12 hours: 155 mph

24 hours: 140 mph

36 hours: 120 mph

48 hours: 110 mph

60 hours: 100 mph

72 hours: 90 mph

96 hours: 65 mph

120 hours: 65 mph

What impact could Hurricane Beryl have and what areas could be affected?

WIND : Hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast of Jamaica within the warning area on Wednesday. Winds are expected to first reach tropical storm strength early on Wednesday, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area along the south coast of Hispaniola later today. Hurricane conditions could begin on Thursday across the Cayman Islands.

STORM SURGE : Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the immediate coast of Jamaica. Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the immediate coast of the Cayman Islands. Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above ground level in areas of onshore winds along the southern coast of Hispaniola. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

RAINFALL : Hurricane Beryl is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches, with localized maxima of 12 inches, across Jamaica on Wednesday. This rainfall is likely to cause flash flooding. Rainfall from outer bands of Beryl should impact mainly southern portions of Hispaniola today into Wednesday, with 2 to 6 inches of rain possible.

SURF: Large swells generated by Beryl will continue across the Windward and southern Leeward Islands during the next couple of days. Swells are also expected to reach the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola later today. These swells are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Interactive map: What tropical storms, hurricanes have impacted your area in the past?

What do the watches and warnings from NHC mean?

What is storm surge? Graphics explain the deadly weather event

Hurricane warning: A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

Tropical storm warning: A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

Tropical storm watch: An announcement that sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are possible within the specified area within 48 hours in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone.

Storm surge warning: A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

Storm surge watch: A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Beryl heads toward Jamaica as Category 5 storm
Editor's note: This page reflects news on Hurricane Beryl from Tuesday, July 2. For the latest news on Hurricane Beryl, which is now a Category 4 storm, please follow USA TODAY's live updates on the storm for Wednesday, July 3.

Hurricane Beryl weakened slightly Tuesday into a Category 4 storm  from the monster Category 5 it became overnight  as it pushed farther into the Caribbean Sea, homing in on Jamaica and triggering warnings and advisories across Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Cayman Islands.

Beryl made landfall on Carriacou Island in Grenada as a Category 4 on Monday with 150-mph winds, causing at least three deaths and devastating Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The fast-moving storm then regained strength over the Caribbean Sea, and on Monday night it became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record.

The National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. ET advisory that Beryl had maximum sustained winds of near 150 mph  just 7 mph below the Category 5 threshold and down from 165 mph earlier in the day. But forecasters say Beryl will remain a powerful hurricane this week as it moves on a west-northwest path at almost 22 mph.

Forecasters said the center of Beryl will "move rapidly" across the central Caribbean Sea on Tuesday night before it reaches Jamaica. Beryl is "expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica" on Wednesday and to the Cayman Islands that night and into Thursday, the hurricane center said.

The storm surge along the Jamaican coast could be as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels, according to the hurricane center. As Beryl passes over or near Jamaica, currently about 300 miles east-southeast from the capital Kingston, its winds are forecast to decrease but the danger will remain high.

"Winds are expected to first reach tropical storm strength early on Wednesday,'' the NHC said, "making outside preparations difficult or dangerous."

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned residents on Tuesday night "to take the hurricane as a serious threat," and advised people to prepare for potential impacts but to remain calm. Holness added that officials have taken several precautionary measures in anticipation of Beryl.

Inside Hurricane Beryl, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plane flies through collecting information for hurricane forecasting and research Tuesday.

The hurricane center is forecasting 4 to 8 inches of rain and up to 12 inches in isolated locations of Jamaica and the Barahona Peninsula in the southwest Dominican Republic, which could lead to flash flooding and mudslides.

Hurricane Beryl in photos: See the damage as storm moves through Caribbean

The storm is predicted to pass near or over the Cayman Islands, potentially raising water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels and drenching the area with torrential rain. The southern coast of Haiti was placed under a hurricane watch as forecasters warned both Haiti and the Dominican Republic could start to see tropical storm conditions Tuesday.

Elsewhere, residents and visitors in the Cayman Islands, Belize, the Yucatan Peninsula and the Gulf are advised to closely monitor Beryl's path. Additional weakening is expected later in the week, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.

Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path of storm

Developments:

 Officials in Mexico and Belize have issued advisories for parts of their countries, according to the National Hurricane Center. In Mexico, the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is under hurricane watch while Belize issued a tropical storm watch from the south of Chetumal to Belize City.

 Winds gusted into the high 40s in Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning, while a gust of up to 54 mph was reported at Buck Island in the Virgin Islands.

 Swells capable of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are expected to reach the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on Tuesday afternoon, the NHC said.

 Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados announced on its website that it's resuming operations after it closed on Sunday before Beryl caused considerable damage across the island.

 Jamaica's government has issued a hurricane warning for the island country, while tropical storm warnings were in effect for parts of the southern Dominican Republic. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area along the south coast of Hispaniola by late Tuesday, the hurricane center said.

Hurricane Beryl's maximum sustained winds reached 160 mph on Monday night, making it a Category 5 hurricane, as it moved through the much warmer than normal waters of the Caribbean Sea.

President Biden is monitoring Hurricane Beryl, White House says

In a statement posted on X, the White House said President Joe Biden is closely monitoring Hurricane Beryl and his administration is poised to assist Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region.

The statement added that Biden has been in contact with officials on the ground, including those with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the National Weather Service said Beryl's impacts were minimal. However, coastal flood and high surf advisories will remain in southern Puerto Rico for another night.

Will Hurricane Beryl hit Texas, the US Gulf Coast?

As Hurricane Beryl heads across the Caribbean Sea after tearing through the Windward Islands, impacts on the U.S. and Gulf Coast remain unclear. There is still no consensus among the forecast models for the path Beryl could take after it crosses the Yucatan Peninsula and emerges in the Gulf of Mexico.

The models don't agree on the strength or location of a possible break in the ridge over the southern United States. Weather Service offices in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, still aren't expecting impacts outside ocean conditions by Saturday, but forecasters in both field offices Tuesday morning said they'll be closely monitoring the center's forecast over the next couple of days as the track becomes clearer.

"Folks in the Texas coast, as we go into the holiday weekend, you're going to want to make sure you check back on the forecast and make sure you're ready for any potential impacts,'' National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said. "If we were to see tropical storm conditions affect those areas in the far western Gulf of Mexico, it could be during the day Saturday."

Because the forecast track puts Beryl in the Bay of Campeche  at the southern end of the gulf  as a tropical storm by Friday night and Saturday morning, a few models are showing an influx of tropical rain starting Saturday afternoon.

Theres likely going to be "an increasing rainfall threat in Mexico and Texas by the weekend, said Alex Lamers, chief of the forecast operations branch at the services Weather Prediction Center. But there remains a really high degree of uncertainty in the forecast once you get beyond Saturday.

Regardless of Beryl's exact track in the gulf, the weather service office in Corpus Christi said the southeast Texas coast also can expect a high risk of rip currents this weekend, and a medium chance for coastal flooding. Six rip-current deaths have already occurred this year along gulf coast beaches, and the weather service is increasingly concerned about the potential for rip currents over a holiday weekend when the beaches will likely be packed.

Embedded content: https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/07/02/hurricane-beryl-category-5-records-broken/74273113007/

Ahead of Hurricane Beryl, the streets of Jamaica are 'in pandemonium'

Racquel Layne, a project coordinator with the local disaster relief organization St. Patrick's Rangers, said the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, were chaotic on Tuesday as residents of the capital city braced for what's expected to be the most devastating hurricane to hit the island in 30 years.

"The streets are in pandemonium right now," she told USA TODAY. "I think everybody's doing last-minute shopping and preparation."

Some hurried to fortify their houses against the storm. "You see persons doing repairs on their walls, putting cinder blocks on their roof, getting their sandbags in preparation for Beryl," Layne said.

Layne's organization activated all of its response team members and was in the process of assigning them to specific communities Tuesday. Relief workers had also stockpiled family emergency and shelter kits and prepared community shelters throughout the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Thomas and St. Catherine, she said. For 72 hours, "it's been nonstop coordination and preparation and execution of our emergency response plan," she said.

A climate of fear descended in Kingston as Beryl approached, Layne said. "The majority of persons are concerned, they're scared," she said. "They don't know what to expect. They have seen the damage that Beryl has already done in the eastern Caribbean, and they are very anticipatory of what will happen in Jamaica."

Neighbors stick together as Kingston, Jamaica, is in crosshairs

Ian Nicholas and his family spent hours Tuesday securing the roof of their home in the Riverton neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica, with galvanized wire. The roof, made of zinc, would not fare well against Hurricane Beryl's ferocious winds, he thought.

Nicholas, 34, and his wife Alicia, 31, felt confident they could weather the storm. Their five children were even excited to help out with the roof project. "They don't really understand," he said.

Nicholas recalled going through the same routine ahead of Hurricane Ian several years ago. "I don't know if we're scared. Because we have so many hurricanes, we have more experience," he said.

Regardless, the neighborhood is sticking together ahead of Beryl's arrival. "We encourage each other to prepare, button up roofs and windows," Nicholas said. "We communicate."

Experience informs Hurricane Beryl preparation

Danesha Wilson, 31, still remembers how her mother's house filled with leaking water after Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

This time around in Kingston, Jamaica, she has a solid preparation plan for Hurricane Beryl. "I am currently on the road getting tall bunk lights and candles and stuff. I already have food at the house and water," she told USA TODAY on Tuesday. "I'm going to board up the windows."

Wilson said supermarket shelves in Kingston were cleaned out as people rushed to stock up ahead of Beryl's landfall. "A lot of persons came yesterday and they got rid of everything," she said.

The hurricane could take some financial toll on Wilson's customized gift business by interrupting a peak week for school graduations. "People were going to give customized gifts to the graduates, and they won't be able to get those anymore, because they have to be prepared for a hurricane," she said. "That money that I was supposed to get, I won't be able to get that anymore.''

Confidence in Hurricane Beryl projection cone is 'rather low'

It is still too soon to say where the storm will wind up this weekend. The models used to forecast track have a wide spread of potential outcomes, and the forecast confidence in the official track is "rather low," Philippe Papin, one of the National Hurricane Centers hurricane specialists, wrote in Monday nights forecast.

That includes uncertainty about what Beryls structure and intensity will look like as it approaches or crosses the Yucatan, but conditions in the Gulf of Mexico do not appear "especially favorable" for regaining strength if Beryl moves back out over the Gulf, Papin wrote.

The key question will be how strong the ridge of high pressure remains over the Gulf and whether it contracts to the east and gives Beryl a potential pathway for turning in a more northerly direction, National Weather Service forecasters said Monday. There's certainly no consensus in the computer models used to forecast track, but a few of the projections hinted Monday at a possible northwestward turn in Beryls track that could point it toward the U.S. Gulf Coast by the weekend.

Hurricane Beryl kills at least 3 people, flattens islands

Officials reported devastating damage across the southern Windward Islands after Hurricane Beryl ripped across the region on Monday, including at least three deaths and damage to 90% of homes across the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said in a news conference that Carriacou "was flattened" in just 30 minutes. The situation is grim, Mitchell said Tuesday. Theres almost complete destruction of homes and buildings on the island. The roads are not passable."

Mitchell said the minister of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Tevin Andrews, reported at least two deaths related to Hurricane Beryl.

On Monday, at least one death was reported in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines archipelago, and more may be revealed, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said. The hurricane "has left in its wake immense destruction," Gonsalves said, adding that 90% of the homes in Union Island have been "severely damaged or destroyed."

Fierce winds ripped the roofs off buildings and knocked out power across the St. Vincent community of Prospect. Other parts of the island of Grenada were plunged into the dark as well.

In Barbados, authorities gave the "all clear" after intense weather conditions from the passing hurricane subsided on Monday. While there was "considerable damage" to homes, buildings and boats throughout Barbados, no one was badly injured, Wilfred Abrahams, minister of home affairs and information, said at a news conference.

Meanwhile, at a restaurant in Kingston, Jamaica, waiter Welton Anderson told Reuters he felt calm despite the hurricane's approach.

"Jamaicans wait until the last minute. The night before or in the morning the panic sets in. It's because we're used to this," he said.

'A massive warning sign': Record-smashing Hurricane Beryl may be an 'ominous' sign of what's to come

What is the 2024 hurricane season forecast?

Beryl has surprised forecasters almost since it formed, including rocketing from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in about 48 hours, and then in strengthening to a Category 5 storm. It was fueled by much warmer than normal ocean temperatures in the Atlantic and aided in that development by light winds that allowed it to build a strong inner core.

Forecasters fear it could be a scary sign of things to come in what has been projected to be a very busy season for tropical storms and hurricanes. Federal forecasters have predicted a hurricane season unlike any other, with as many as 25 named storms possible.

It is the most storms the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ever predicted in a preseason outlook. "All the ingredients are in place for an active season," National Weather Service director Ken Graham said in May.

NOAA director Rick Spinrad said the Atlantic hurricane season is shaping up to be "extraordinary"  an 85% chance for an above-average year. "The forecast  is the highest NOAA has ever issued for the May outlook," he said.

Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Beryl live updates: Category 4 storm races toward Jamaica
Husband of missing Arizona woman arrested for assault as search continues

The husband of a missing Arizona woman has been arrested for assault as the search for her continues, police said.

Kelly Paduchowski, 45, was reported missing Sunday evening, according to the Flagstaff Police Department. Paduchowski had gone for a run and swim at Campbell Mesa Trail at about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to authorities.

Her white Mazda CX-5 was located at the trailhead, Flagstaff police said.

PHOTO: In this photo released by the Flagstaff Police Department, Kelly Paduchowski is shown. (Flagstaff Police Department)

The Flagstaff Police Department said they arrested her husband, 58-year-old Daniel Paduchowski, after interviewing family members and witnesses and reviewing evidence.

He faces aggravated assault charges, according to police.

MORE: Search for Chicago woman who went missing in the Bahamas expands: Police

Details about what led to the husband's arrest have not yet been disclosed, and police are continuing to search for the missing woman.

Kelly Paduchowski, who is about 5-foot-8 and 138 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes, was wearing black shorts, a gray shirt and running shoes, authorities said. Flagstaff police asked members of the public who might have information to call at 928-774-1414.

"The investigation is ongoing and the number one priority is to locate Kelly," police said.

Husband of missing Arizona woman arrested for assault as search continues originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Husband, wife killed when their plane crashes into Kansas field, catches on fire

A couple died after their plane crashed in a field Sunday in northwest Kansas, officials say.

David Allen, 78, and his wife, 79-year-old Jeanne Allen, both from Elbert, Colorado, were killed in the crash, Kansas Highway Patrol crash logs show.

The incident was reported at 6:10 p.m. in an area 10 miles north of Hoxie in Sheridan County. The aircraft, a 1934 Waco YKC fixed wing single-engine airplane, was being flown by the husband. The wife was riding passenger, according to the KHP report.

The plane was flying south when it crashed in a field. The couple died at the scene, the report said.

A Federal Aviation Administration crash report said the plane crashed in Selden, a town of under 200 people north of Hoxie, and caught on fire.

FAA records show that the couple owned the plane and the cause of the crash remains under unknown circumstances, the FAA said.

A 2018 General Aviation News article hailed David and Jeanne as well known in the antique community as a husband-and-wife restoration team of antique planes.

The article said Jeanne was also a pilot.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 2, 2024 - 13:27 | All, Japan

The Japanese Defense Ministry rolled out Tuesday its first-ever basic policy to promote the use of artificial intelligence as it seeks to respond to changes in defense operations driven by technological advancements.

Also aimed at streamlining the ministry's work, the blueprint focuses on seven fields, such as detection and identification of military targets, command and control, and logistic support.

Noting that foreign nations have been working on utilizing AI, the government document said it "could determine the situation of conflicts in the near future, as has been pointed out."

AI utilization would also enhance the speed of combat operations, reduce human error and advance labor-saving through automation, the policy said.

The other featured areas include information gathering and analysis, unmanned defense assets, cybersecurity and work efficiency.

The policy, however, stated there are limits to AI, particularly in situations without precedents, as AI learns from past data. It noted that concerns over credibility and misuse remain as well.

The ministry also put forward on the same day a strategic policy to secure human resources with cyber expertise, saying it will start recruiting such personnel under an independent category in fiscal 2025 starting next April.

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told a press conference that whether Japan could adapt to "the new forms of battle" using AI and cyber technologies "has become a big challenge for us in building up our defense capabilities."

"We will deepen cooperation with the private sector and relevant foreign agencies by proactively conveying the Defense Ministry's view," Kihara said.

He also stressed the importance of accurately recognizing the risks of using AI and taking measures to address its shortcomings.

Related coverage:

PM Kishida to lead session on China, Indo-Pacific at Italy G7 summit

G7 ups pressure on China, condemns Russia-North Korea military ties
AUSTIN (KXAN)  In the summer of 2014, more than 17 million people dumped ice cold water over their heads in an online trend known as the ice bucket challenge. The virtual challenge gained global momentum, raising more than $115 million for the ALS Association to support research and care access for those living with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

In the decade since, that trend paved the way for advanced funding commitments into research, drug therapy development and clinical access in the United States and beyond. More than $154 million has since been committed to aid over 550 projects in the United States and 18 other countries, per the ALS Association. The Federal Drug Administration also approved two additional treatment options for ALS: Radicava in 2017 and Qalsody in 2023, the ALS Association added.

Beyond ramping up dedicated funds toward drug development and research, Austin neurologists told KXAN the challenge also amplified public awareness surrounding the disease.

I think the ice bucket challenge has really done wonders for the world of ALS, Dr. Hannah Machemehl, an Austin-based neuromuscular neurologist, said. It brought ALS to the forefront of a lot of peoples minds who werent familiar with the disease beforehandand with that, theres been a lot of advancements both because of increased awareness of the disease and increased availability for funding  to fund different access to therapies, access to treatments, access to different advocacy programs and even more beyond that.

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Machemehl works as part of a multidisciplinary team at an ALS clinic, where patients diagnosed with ALS can receive electrical and genetic testing, physical exams, lab work or undergo different treatment options. As a result of the ice bucket challenge and increased public awareness in recent years, she said it appears patients are getting diagnosed more quickly after the onset of symptoms, allowing them to expedite the start of treatment.

Theres a great deal of research thats going on  some of its through clinical trials, other through biomarker studies to try to understand the disease process itself, so we can attack the underlying cause, Machemehl said. Weve had new FDA-approved therapies to help slow down the progress of ALS since the advent of the ice bucket challenge. And weve really come a long way in just understanding the value of implementing disciplinary care and access to the different testing to lead to diagnosis, especially as it relates to the small subset of people [where] ALS runs in their family.

Austin resident Carrie George is one of those patients with a rare hereditary form of ALS, and is participating in clinical research trials to help specialists study the hereditary version. Approximately 5% to 10% of all people living with ALS in the United States have family members whod been diagnosed with the disease, with it likely an inherited genetic mutation.

Austin resident Carrie George (left) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (left) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (right) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (right) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (right) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (right) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)Austin resident Carrie George (right) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (left) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (right) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (second from the right) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

Austin resident Carrie George (center) was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. (Courtesy Carrie George)

George was diagnosed with ALS on Dec. 28, 2023. She said she was completely bamboozled by the diagnosis and recognized the value of community support from family, friends, loved ones and ALS professionals.

[Their support has] been everything. Its been everything to me, she said. Theres always someone available if I need to talk. Theyve created more outings for all of us, they get me out of the house more. So its been a huge difference.

Right now, she sees her team at the Austin Neuromuscular Center every three months or so to visit with a nutritionist, respiratory therapist, physical and therapists and assistive technology representatives.

Working with the ALS Association, she was able to access a local equipment loan program to receive a wheelchair, upright walker and other health resources. Its been beneficial having access to those, she said, as her symptom progression has weakened her arms and hands, making walking more challenging.

This July, George will attend the ALS Nexus Conference in Dallas alongside her friend Karen Shively, whos coming in from Singapore to support George at the event. Even from across the world, George said Shively has been one of the many support systems guiding her through his diagnosis.

Im in it for the long haul, she said.

The ALS Association operates a Texas chapter with resources and support groups for those living with ALS as well as their caregivers and loved ones. More details on the organization are available online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
In dozens of boxes, organizers with the Idahoans for Open Primaries submitted nearly 75,000 signatures to the Secretary of States Office on Tuesday, surmounting the sizable hurdle of collecting verified signatures from across the state.

It was the last step in a monthslong process to ask voters whether Idaho should end its closed primary system and implement ranked-choice voting.

The measure would prohibit closed party primaries and instead implement a primary system open to all voters that would send the top four vote-getters, regardless of party, to the November ballot. In Idaho, only registered Republicans can vote in the May GOP primaries. Those elections often determine the winner in a red state where two-thirds of voters register as Republican.

The initiative would also implement ranked-choice voting in the general election, allowing voters to rank their preferred candidates in order. Candidates with negligible first-choice support would be eliminated, and their supporters votes would shift to their second-choice picks until two candidates remain, after which the candidate with the most votes would win.

Idahoans for Open Primaries volunteers deliver boxes filled with signatures to the Idaho Secretary of States Office at the Capitol on Tuesday. If approved in the coming weeks, the initiative to implement open primaries and ranked-choice voting will be on the November ballot.

One of the lead organizers of the initiative, Luke Mayville, said the coalition plans to hold town halls, knock on doors and speak to voters ahead of the November election to explain the initiative.

We have found that as soon as voters learn about this initiative, they like it, because most voters believe that you shouldnt be forced to join a political party just to exercise your right to vote, he told the Idaho Statesman by phone.

Idaho secretary of state to review signatures

Idaho law requires voter initiative drivers to garner signatures from 6% of the Idaho voters registered at the last election, as well as 6% of registered voters in at least 18 of the states 35 legislative districts.

Idahoans for Open Primaries volunteers stand with boxes from every county in Idaho filled with signatures to deliver to the Idaho Secretary of States Office at the Capitol on Tuesday.

The coalition turned in more than 97,000 signatures to county clerks around the state in May. Clerks verified close to 80% of those signatures, which eclipsed the number of signatures needed to meet the minimum threshold, one of the lead organizers, Luke Mayville, told the Idaho Statesman by phone.

Mayville expects the secretary of states review to take one to two weeks. If the signatures are approved, the petition would put the measure to a majority vote in November. The Secretary of States Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Prominent Republicans fight initiative

The coalitions efforts have prominent opponents, including the state Republican Party, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador and other Republican leaders. Dorothy Moon, who chairs the state Republican Party, has charged that the initiative would confuse the electoral process and has called the initiative insidious.

This initiative is a pernicious plot to take away your ability to vote for conservative lawmakers, Moon said.

Mayville told the Statesman the voters organizers have spoken with understand that the measure aims to give every Idaho voter the right to participate in our most important elections.

There are powerful party insiders and special interest groups in our state who oppose this initiative because they know that it will give power to ordinary voters to choose their own leaders, Mayville said. These special interest groups want to hand-pick our leaders themselves, and they understand that the closed primary system allows them to do that.

Idahoans for Open Primaries volunteers begin chanting, Let us vote, after delivering the final box of signatures to the Idaho Secretary of States Office at the Capitol on Tuesday. They said they gathered 97,000 signatures for an initiative to implement open primaries.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  Children may be entitled to compensation for appearing in their parents or guardians social media content under a new, groundbreaking Illinois law.

The new law is the first of its kind among U.S. states and officially took effect Monday as Public Act 103-0556.

The law aims to offer protections for children engaged in vlogging, more specifically the production of video blogs that are monetized. It requires parents to set up a trust account for their child if they earn income from their childs likeness through vlogging.

How to spot the newest ATM skimmers uncovered by St. Louis police

According to the law, a minor is considered to be involved in the work of vlogging when at least 30% of the vloggers compensated video content produced within a 30-day period included the likeness, name, or photograph of the minor.

Additionally, the law requires parents and guardian to report to the following information to the Illinois Department of Labor at least once a year:

The name and age of the child vlogger

How much money they made from their child in monetized videos

How many hours the child worked to produce the content

How much was deposited into the childs trust account.

Under the law, the money would be held in the childs name until they reach 18 years old.

A child could also be compensated if the vlogger received actual compensation for video content equal to or greater than $0.10 per view, according to the law.

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The law also allows the child to request the permanent deletion of any content they were featured before 18 and file a lawsuit if that request is not followed.

Illinois updated its Child Labor Law to include the new vlogging provisions. Vlogging is most likely through video-based social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok, though perhaps could also include Instagram and X.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Illinois has signed onto a key agreement that will unlock federal funds for a must-anticipated project to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had until the end of June to sign a partnership agreement with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the project would face additional costs and delays. He waited until the end.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project is a state-of-the art defense system at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam along the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois. It's an important choke point where many have long feared that invasive carp could make their way into Lake Michigan from the Mississippi River, jeopardizing the multi-billion dollar fishing and recreation industries and destroying ecosystems.

But now, after more than a year, the project can move forward.

By signing the agreement, Governor Pritzker and Governor Whitmer [of Michigan] cemented their legacies as strong defenders of the Great Lakes. Invasive carp are poised to wreak havoc on Lake Michigan, and because of their actions, we now have the chance to stop them at Brandon Road, said Molly Flanagan, chief operating officer at the Chicago-based Alliance for the Great Lakes, in a statement.

Flanagan previously told the Journal Sentinel that if the governor met the June deadline, construction would likely begin in early 2025. The invasive carp barricade is being built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the states of Illinois and Michigan.

More: A plan to shield the Great Lakes from invasive carp needs Illinois backing. What's the delay?

What does the invasive carp project entail?

Invasive carp is a term for fish that were first introduced in the U.S. in the 1970s. The invasive fish take a catastrophic toll on the environment and outcompete native fish by eating nearly half their body weight each day. Bighead and silver carp are currently the biggest threat to the Great Lakes.

Workers from the Wisconsin DNR, Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey remove netted fish as part in an intensive invasive carp removal effort in 2021 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse. Construction will begin next year on a project to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project will be a barricade at the 100-year-old Brandon Road Lock and Dam. The system will use electricity, sound and bubbles to deter the giant fish as well as a locking mechanism that will flush them out of the water.

The federal government is providing $1 billion for the Brandon Road project, while both Illinois and Michigan have appropriated roughly $114.6 million in total to cover the rest.

What took Illinois' governor so long to sign?

It wasn't clear why Gov. Pritzker waited until the deadline to sign the agreement considering all state and federal funds were lined up, Flanagan previously told the Journal Sentinel. However, the governor did express some concerns publicly, such as the land needed for the project may contain hazardous materials from a retired coal-fire plant. Although risk analyses by state and federal agencies showed that the potential for contamination was low.

Gov. Pritzker stated that he didn't want to overcommit funds and hoped to find ways to save money, WBEZ Chicago first reported. He also expressed frustration that Illinois and Michigan should not be the only states to provide funds and expertise given the projects significance to the region.

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

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

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

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

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Illinois signs key agreement to protect Great Lakes from invasive carp
Re: "14,000 Tennesseans sent letters requesting proof of citizenship ahead of election," June 25.

I am very much displeased with a letter I received from the Tennessee Election Division last week.

The letter noted that I may not have been a citizen when I obtained my Tennessee driver's license, then went on to say that illegal voting is a felony, and asked me to submit proof of my citizenship.

True, I obtained my license two months before my naturalization in September 2022. But I registered as a voter at the naturalization ceremony, and I was under the impression that the voter registration process already ensured that the registrant is a citizen to begin with.

Voting Booths

Everything in the letter reeks of voter intimidation. A phone conversation with them revealed that, according to state law, they would not check with federal authorities for my citizenship status, so the onus would be on me to prove it once again, almost as if I were an indicted criminal. This is utterly ridiculous.

Going to the post office to mail in copies of documents was a trivial task  I'm lucky enough to work flexible hours  but diverted time from my work and an absolutely packed schedule.

If anyone thinks that I, as a Ph.D.-educated scientist at the University of Tennessee, and an affiliate of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, would be the kind of person they are targeting for voter fraud, they are gravely mistaken.

Charles Lieou, Knoxville 37917

Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Voting rights: Tennessee letter to new citizens reeks of intimidation
As deadly Hurricane Beryl barreled west toward Jamaica, the Caribbean nation went into high alert Tuesday with government offices closing early, and visitors and college students rushing to fly out.

With a trail of destruction and at least four deaths in its wake, Category 4 Beryl was shaping up as the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica since Ivan 20 years ago. That Category 5 storm passed just to the south, killing 17 people, leaving nearly 20,000 homeless and causing hundreds of millions in damage. Beryl also reminds some on the island from the last direct hit for Jamaica, Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, which struck as a Category 4.

On the latest forecast track, Beryl, though potentially weakening, could make a direct hit sometime Wednesday and the government was urging residents to take no chances.

We have an impending disaster and we have to treat it with the seriousness that it requires, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Monday as he offered assistance to fellow Caribbean leaders on islands already devastated by Beryls passing.

While islanders were being urged to prepare, volunteers in South Florida  home to some 300,000 Jamaicans, the second-largest population in the United States  were already packing boxes of canned goods, dry food and hygiene products to ship on relief missions. The warehouse facilities of the nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission served as the backdrop of a Tuesday press conference, where a coalition of Caribbean consuls gathered.

A volunteer at Global Empowerment Management HQ drives a forklift with a crate of canned food that would be packed and sent to areas in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Beryl at 1850 NW and 84th Ave. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Doral, Fla.

The group, headed by Jamaican Consul General Oliver Mair, was focused on damage across the Caribbean, calling for resources and aid on behalf of Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other island-nations in the deadly storms path. He said that Holness had put the entire nation of Jamaica on alert, and that there were already efforts to source materials like tarps, cots, first aid kits, and other emergency supplies that will be needed after Beryls rains and winds pass.

This is a regular occurrence for us. Almost every year we have a hurricane threat. So we know this dance very well. But the need still remains, said Mair. And though the preparations are strong, part of the preparation here is actually getting the community ready to support the vulnerable back home.

Consul General of Jamaica, Oliver Mair, speaks at a press conference where Caribbean diaspora leaders respond to Hurricane Beryl and coordinate recovery efforts in South Florida to help their homelands at the Global Empowerment Mission HQ at 1850 NW and 84th Ave. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Doral, Fla.

Rally, rally round the West Indies

Mair was joined by the Consul Generals of Barbados, the Bahamas and St. Lucia, and representatives from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as community advocates of the Caribbean diaspora. Consuls at the press conference highlighted the solidarity among the islands of the region, which live through cycles of destruction every hurricane season.

South Florida Caribbean Strong Organizer, Marlon Hill, opens up a press conference where Caribbean diaspora leaders respond to Hurricane Beryl and coordinate recovery efforts in South Florida to help their homelands at the Global Empowerment Mission HQ at 1850 NW and 84th Ave. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Doral, Fla.

Mair wore a tie with the yellow, black and green colors of the Jamaican flag, as well as a handkerchief with the colors of other Caribbean islands.

There is a famous song that says Rally, rally round the West Indies, and thats what were doing here, said Mair.

Though it will take days to do damage surveys, the picture in Beryls wake was catastrophic. There was not a roof left in Carriacou, Grenadas Deputy Vice Consul Dianne Perrotte said about her nations sister-island, while adding that no contact had yet been made with Petite Martinique as of Tuesday morning. Relief supplies from Guyana, including generators, water purification tablets, and hygiene items have arrived to Grenada.

Because they havent been able to make a full assessment, we cant give a full list of things that are needed at the moment, Perrotte said, adding that mattresses, tarpaulins, blankets, food items and sleeping bags are among the immediate necessities.

She emphasized that while help is needed, those interested in helping should wait for further information about whats needed so the aid is distributed as efficiently as possible. Authorities in Grenada on Tuesday also stressed the need for order in the response, and emphasized working with the disaster response office to coordinate relief efforts.

We need help, but we need to know the assessments first. I dont want anybody to start collecting stuff, and then you dont know how you are getting it to Grenada, Perrotte said.

Michael Capponi, who first gained fame in South Florida developing South Beachs night life before expanding into humanitarian efforts, said he anticipates given the loss of so many homes, the need for shingles and other roof-building materials. He called on South Florida and U.S.-based lumber and roofing companies to consider donating these types of supplies.

People cant stay throughout hurricane season in these rains in houses with no roof, said Capponi, the founder of GEM, who recalled after Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas, his group was able to report 120 roofs from one donor alone.

Marlon Hill, a Kingston-born attorney and co-founder of South Florida Caribbean Strong Relief Fund, said the region has been hard-hit by Beryl, the first storm ever recorded to reach Category 4 strength this early in the hurricane season, which began on June 1.

We are here to call on anyone in earshot that can hear us across the world that we are presently in dire need to support the impacted islands, said Hill.

Caribbean governments are still tallying up the damage created by Beryl. Rudy Grant, the consul general of Barbados to Miami, said an initial assessment of his showed no loss of life but the storm sank at least 50 vessels and damaged some 50 houses. However, he expects that more reports of material destruction will come to light.

Other preparations in Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic

In anticipation of the storms arrival, American Airlines on Tuesday announced two additional flights out of Montego Bay and one out of Kingston for people seeking to leave Jamaica before Beryl arrives. The airline was also restarting operations in Barbados, St. Lucia, and Grenada on Tuesday. Flights out of St. Vincent remained suspended because of the airports closure, a representative for the company told the Miami Herald over email.

Evan Thompson, the director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, said forecasters expected some weakening as Beryl nears but not enough to avoid damage.

It may not sufficiently decrease in strength for us to feel complacent or to feel comfortable. It is likely to still be at least a Category 3 hurricane making its way very close to Jamaica, maybe even over sections of Jamaica, mainly southern parishes as we move through the day on Wednesday, he said.

Meanwhile, the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday that it was airlifting students from Jamaica and advised those wishing to depart to head to the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston by 2 p.m. Jamaican time where a 50-seater Bahamasair aircraft would be waiting.

Volunteer at Global Empowerment Management HQ, Victoria Greber, places uncooked pasta into a care package that would be sent to areas in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Beryl at 1850 NW and 84th Ave. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Doral, Fla.

The eye of Hurricane Beryl is expected to be south of the island of Hispaniola on Tuesday evening before it moves near the southeast of Jamaica on Wednesday morning. The Cayman Islands are under hurricane warning as well. A tropical storm watch is up for the southern coast of Haiti and parts of the Dominican Republic. An orange alert was issued for Haitis south coast due to its vulnerability to floods, landslides and storm surges. Small boat operators were ordered to avoid taking to the sea until at least Thursday while residents in the South, Southeast and GrandAnse were warned that Beryls passage could result in strong winds and rain.

In the Dominican Republic, two provinces were placed under red alert while the number of provinces placed under yellow was increased to 14, meaning they could also be affected by Beryl, which was located 239 miles southeast of Punta Palenque, San Cristobal.
Incarcerated Los Angeles man allegedly killed by 3 other inmates in prison

Three prison inmates are accused of attacking and killing a 24-year-old Los Angeles man at Kern Valley State Prison last month, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Officials say three inmates allegedly attacked Dwight Gibbs, a 24-year-old incarcerated man, at about 8:06 p.m. on June 28. Prison employees quickly broke up the attack, but Gibbs was treated for his injuries and transported to a local hospital, where he died about one hour later.

Dwight Gibbs

Gibbs was serving a 41 year sentence for attempted second-degree murder as a second striker with enhancements of inflicting great bodily injury and use of a firearm. He was incarcerated at Kern Valley in January 2023.

Three men  55-year-old Michael Brown, 63-year-old Jerry Dunham and 61-year-old Rex Dickey  were each placed in restricted housing. Their fates will await completion of a homicide investigation.

Officers found three prison-made weapons at the scene of the attack.

Kern Valley State Prison homicide suspects

Brown was convicted on first-degree murder charges in 1997. Both Dunham and Dickey have been convicted for assault as inmates.

There was no immediate word on a possible motive.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The News

A stampede at a religious gathering in northern India Tuesday has killed at least 100 people, mostly women and children, and left dozens more injured.

While the circumstances around the incident are still unclear, local officials cited overcrowding and sweltering heat as thousands of worshippers were leaving a prayer ceremony by a local Hindu preacher in the village of Hathras in Indias most populous state of Uttar Pradesh.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Poor crowd management has led to several deadly religious events

Source: The New York Times

Some politicians blamed state and federal authorities for the repeated failures of crowd management at large religious gatherings. As a nation we are good at drawing crowds, but not good at managing them, a member of Indias parliament told The New York Times. Every year, these kinds of incidents keep repeating themselves, and we learn nothing. Local organizers reportedly let in dozens more attendees after exceeding the Hathras events permit for 5,000 people, the Times reported. Despite the recent increase in surveillance measures at religious gatherings, including drones, the lack of adequate emergency exits, have led to several deadly stampedes, including a 2013 Hindu religious celebration that also killed hundreds.

Some Indian states turn to AI and drones for crowd management

Sources: NDTV, Indian Express, Tech Policy Press

Some Indian states are embracing AI tools for crowd management at mega events. The state leader of Uttar Pradesh, where Tuesdays tragedy unfolded, urged local police last month to use AI-based equipment and techniques to keep an eye on crowd density at Kumbh Mela 2025, one of Indias largest Hindu festivals that draws millions of devotees every three years. Authorities have also ramped up the use of surveillance drones at large events, with the south Indian city of Chennai establishing the countrys first drone police unit last year to spot suspects and check vehicle registration in real time at large gatherings. However, civil rights activists have warned that such tools could be misused to crush political dissent.

Climate change poses mounting challenges for mega events

Sources: The New York Times, The Washington Post

Crowd control and heat waves fueled by climate change are on a dangerous collision course, The New York Times wrote last month, in the wake of extreme heat killing more than 1,300 Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and dozens of poll workers during Indias mammoth general election in summer. Event organizers have struggled to contend with just how deadly extreme heat can be for summer events, and have failed to adapt infrastructure, emergency management and social calendars to deal with the fallout of climate change, a climate scientist warned. Temperatures at Tuesdays religious gathering in Hathras hit 90 Fahrenheit, and coupled with high humidity, may have led to the crush of people seeking a water source after the event, according to The Washington Post.
In this photo taken by a mobile phone, a China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow departs from the logistics hub in Pinggu District of Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)

BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A cargo train left Beijing for the Russian capital Moscow on Monday, marking the launch of a regular China-Europe freight-train service from the Chinese capital.

The freight train carrying construction materials, household electrical appliances, clothing and other goods departed from the logistics hub of Pinggu District in the northeast of the city.

Beijing launched the first trial train last March. More preparations and improvements have since been made. Starting from Monday, the service will run at least once a month.

"The products used to be sent to neighboring Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region or Hebei Province before heading for Europe," said Geng Zhanfeng, deputy general manager with the north China branch of Sinotrans.

"The launch of this regular freight-train service enables us to send the goods directly from Beijing to Europe, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency," he said. 

In this photo taken by a mobile phone, a China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow departs from the logistics hub in Pinggu District of Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Xu)
Elderly Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier was denied parole Tuesday after spending nearly 50 years in prison. It was his first time in 15 years seeking parole and was seen as his last chance as he battles a multitude of health issues.

Peltier's hearing was held on June 10 at a federal maximum security prison in Coleman, Florida. He's serving two life sentences for the shooting of two FBI agents in 1975 at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, but he has long maintained his innocence.

Peltier's attorney, Kevin Sharp, a former federal judge, has been representing Peltier pro bono for four and a half years after being approached about the case. Sharp said they will appeal Tuesday's decision. He has long asserted that the case has drawn worldwide scrutiny for the constitutional violations and prosecutorial misconduct during the trial.

Todays announcement continues the injustice of this long ordeal for Leonard Peltier," Sharp said. "This decision is a missed opportunity for the United States to finally recognize the misconduct of the FBI and send a message to Indian Country regarding the impacts of the federal governments actions and policies of the 1970s.

"Our work to ensure Leonard Peltier is free will not stop," he added. "We will immediately begin an appeal to the Parole Commissions Appeals Board and in federal court. I have not lost hope that Leonard Peltier will one day be free.

Peltier, who is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota, has received much support not only in the Indigenous community worldwide but from other notable figures such as Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu. U.S. Attorney James Reynolds, whose office handled Peltiers prosecution and appeal, has also publicly urged for his release on several occasions.

"U.S. Attorney who was on the case James Reynolds has come out and supporting parole and compassionate release and clemency," said Sharp in a previous interview The Republic. "It was his case and he said 'we screwed up.'"

Questions linger about the parole hearing

NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led organization, has been working to raise awareness about freeing Peltier. Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective, said in a previous interview with The Republic that he was one of two witnesses permitted during Peltier's parole hearing.

Tilsen said they were initially told there would be an equal number of witnesses on both sides, but this was not the case. Peltier was allowed only two witnesses, and at one point, it was nearly reduced to just one, while the other side had five witnesses.

Leonard Peltier

As a witness, Tilsen focused on presenting on Peltier's re-entry plan and what his freedom would mean for Indigenous people around the world who have long supported Peltier. On June 27, NDN Collective and other Peltier supporters came together in Rapid City, South Dakota, for the #FreeLeonardPeltier caravan and Freedom rally.

Today is a sad day for Indigenous Peoples and justice everywhere. The U.S. Parole Commissions denial of parole for Leonard Peltier, Americas longest serving Indigenous political prisoner, is a travesty, said Tilsen.

They denied parole to a survivor of genocidal Indian boarding schools as he struggles to survive this unjust incarceration, they insist on holding him for a crime for which they have no physical evidence against him. Clearly, the Parole Commission  which is supposed to be an independent body  was influenced by the FBI," Tilsen said. "The FBI continues to abuse its power, promote false narratives, and engage in counterintelligence activities. The FBI has no regard for the Constitution or the laws they have sworn an oath to protect.

Groups ask Biden to grant clemency

In response to the U.S. Parole Commission denying Leonard Peltiers request for parole after a hearing on June 10, Paul OBrien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, called on President Joe Biden to grant Peltier clemency.

Continuing to keep Leonard Peltier locked behind bars is a human rights travesty. President Biden should grant him clemency and release him immediately," said O'Brien. No one should be imprisoned after a trial riddled with uncertainty about its fairness. We are now calling on President Biden, once again, to grant Leonard Peltier clemency on humanitarian grounds and as a matter of mercy and justice.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both denied Peltier clemency. FBI Director Christopher Wray wrote to the U.S. Parole Commission and said the FBI was against Peltier's parole being granted because he was remorseless, among other reasons. The FBI Agents Association said it was grateful for the continued imprisonment of the elderly and ill Indigenous activist, and said its members will continue to counter efforts of Peltier's release.

The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) thanks the Parole Commission for refusing parole for convicted murderer Leonard Peltier. FBIAA strongly opposed parole for Peltier," said Natalie Bara, the association's president. "Activists sympathetic to Peltier attempted to mislead the Commission and the public to secure release of this unremorseful murderer of FBI Special Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Native activist Leonard Peltier loses bid for parole in FBI killings
(Bloomberg) --

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Indonesia is preparing to impose tariffs and use other means to protect its textile industry from imports from China, the latest in a series of nations which are responding to the flood of goods out of the worlds largest manufacturing nation.

Local textile associations requested the government step in after imports surged, hurting their business. The trade safeguards committee is investigating the issue and once they report the government will decide how to respond, Budi Santoso, the trade ministrys director-general of foreign trade, said on Monday.

Its unclear whether the government is considering imposing only safeguard duties or also other tariffs, but last Thursday the head of fiscal policy at the finance ministry said that they were planning to bring back safeguard duties on some fabric products which had expired in November 2022. On Friday, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said that Indonesia could impose up to 200% tariffs on imports to protect local industries from cheap goods from countries like China.

Southeast Asias largest economy has to balance the need to attract more foreign investment and trade from China and other countries while also ensuring local businesses remain competitive. China is the biggest source of imports and largest customer for Indonesian exports, and a substantial increase in levies could prompt a reaction from Beijing and damage those ties.

Earlier this year, the government in Jakarta was forced to roll back some import restrictions which had led to shortages and a backlog of imports at ports. Now, protests from thousands of textile workers are pushing the government to introduce new curbs, after the nation imported almost 29,000 tons of imports of woven fabrics made from artificial filament yarn last year. Goods from China accounted for most of that.

We have actually provided many fiscal instruments to protect the textile industry, including safeguard duties and anti-dumping duties, which are usually related to unfair trade that harm the domestic industry, said Febrio Kacaribu, head of fiscal policy agency at the finance ministry. The ministry would need to discuss with other ministries on any other import duties, he added.

There has been no formal discussion with the Coordinating Ministry regarding any new import duty, Haryo Limanseto, spokesman of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, said on Tuesday. Import duty policy, including any tariffs, may still be worked out by the Ministry of Trade and that will need to be discussed further across ministries.

Indonesia has maintained an overall trade surplus for the last four years. However, the surplus with China flipped to a deficit in May, driven by imports of machinery and plastic goods.

--With assistance from James Mayger.

(Updates with official comment in penultimate paragraph.)

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An infamous serial sex offender who terrorized Manhattans West Side was slammed at his sentencing Monday  after his victims described how he wrecked their lives, even destroying ones 20-year marriage.

Carl Phanor, 31  who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his victims along the West Sides waterfront in separate attacks between March and November 2022  was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Carl Phanor was sentenced to 25 years to life Monday for violently sexually assaulting three women in Manhattan in 2022. Steven Hirsch

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Lauren Breen read each of the victims impact statements in court, detailing how Phanor  a career criminal with two previous rape busts  terrorized the women and neighborhood while the NYPD had launched a manhunt for the deranged sicko.

The woman who existed before November 3rd is gone, said Phanors third victim, who was out for a morning run when she wanted a few extra steps and turned down Pier 45 before being raped Nov. 3, 2022.

This attack has stolen my sense of safety, my marriage and the close bond shared amongst my children, she wrote in her statement read aloud in court, adding that her 20-year marriage crumbled after the attack and led to a divorce.

The fiends second victim  a 48-year-old woman who was assaulted on a morning stroll a month before  said shes turned into a hermit who suffers from PTSD and depression and cant celebrate her birthday anymore without being reminded every year of this attack that took place five days before my 49th birthday.

Prosecutors said Phanors crime spree began when he attacked a 39-year-old jogger on the Hudson River Greenway, tackling and choking her before sexually assaulting her.

The NYPD launched a manhunt to find Phanor, who had two prior rape busts before the string of later attacks.

She recalled how she thought she was going to be strangled to death on what was the worst day of [her] life.

I thought about how I wouldnt see my son or daughter again or how I wouldnt see them grow up, the woman said.

Phanor, wearing a beige jumpsuit and a mask in court, said he was sorry about the instances before he was cuffed and walked out of the courtroom.

How The Post told the story Nov. 4, 2022. New York Post

He told Probation that he was high on K-2 and didnt remember any of the attacks, said Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Laura Ward  which put his plea deal in jeopardy during the proceeding until his lawyer, Adam Friedman, quickly interjected that Phanor took responsibility for his actions.

Locals told The Post at the time of the attacks that the wanted man was a fixture in [the] neighborhood] and hiding in plain sight during the police manhunt  causing some people to avoid the waterfront at all costs.

Cops said at the time that they believed Phanor fled the city after his first attack, before he was eventually arrested as he was about to board a bus at the Port Authority Terminal in Times Square.

The victims of Phanors attacks gave gut-wrenching victim impact statements that were read before his sentencing. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

Phanor pleaded guilty in April to predatory sexual assault, rape, attempted murder in the second degree and other charges.

Phanors violent attacks did much more than cause physical harm, as many of the survivors continue to suffer deep emotional and psychological scars, and I stand with them as they continue to heal and address their trauma, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
ST. LOUIS (AP)  A Missouri judge on Tuesday set an Aug. 21 date for a hearing to determine if Marcellus Williams is innocent of the murder that landed him on death row  a hearing that comes just a little over a month before Williams is scheduled to die.

Williams, 55, was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1998 stabbing death of Lisha Gayle during a robbery of her suburban St. Louis home. He was hours away from execution in August 2017 when he was given a reprieve after testing unavailable at the time of the killing showed that DNA on the knife matched someone else, not Williams.

Questions about DNA evidence prompted St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell to file a motion in January to vacate the murder conviction. The new hearing date is in response to Bells motion. Meanwhile, Williams is scheduled to be executed Sept. 24 at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

A 2021 Missouri law allows prosecuting attorneys to file a motion to vacate a conviction if they believe an inmate could be innocent or was otherwise erroneously convicted.

Typically, the judge takes several weeks to weigh the evidence after the hearing ends. In this instance, it isnt certain St. Louis County Circuit Judge Bruce Hilton will rule on the innocence claim before the execution date  creating the possibility that Missouri could execute a man later deemed innocent by a judge.

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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys office opposes the effort to vacate the murder conviction. Baileys office didnt immediately respond to an email asking if Bailey would seek to postpone the execution until a ruling is reached on the innocence claim.

Tricia Rojo Bushnell, an attorney for the Midwest Innocence Project, urged the state to put the execution on hold.

The Attorney General should not be trying to block the courts review and the Missouri Supreme Court should stay Mr. Williamss execution, Bushnell said in an email.

The Missouri Supreme Court set the execution date on June 4, hours after it ruled that Republican Gov. Mike Parson was within his rights when he dissolved a board of inquiry convened six years earlier by Parsons predecessor.

Gov. Eric Greitens, also a Republican, halted the execution with just hours to spare in 2017, citing the DNA evidence. The inquiry board he appointed was made up of five retired judges.

The board never issued a ruling or reached a conclusion, nor did it issue a report. Parson dissolved the board in June 2023, saying it was time to move forward.

Since adoption of the 2021 law, two men who each spent decades in prison have had murder convictions vacated, and a third case is pending several weeks after a hearing.

In 2021, Kevin Strickland was freed after more than 40 years for three killings in Kansas City after a judge ruled he had been wrongfully convicted in 1979. In 2023, a St. Louis judge overturned the conviction of Lamar Johnson, who served nearly 28 years for a killing he always said he didnt commit.

A St. Louis judge is still weighing the fate of Christopher Dunn after a hearing in May. Dunn has spent 33 years in prison for the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy in 1990.

LIST: These St. Louis-area Fourth of July events are postponed due to weather

Williams is the first death row inmate whose innocence claim will go before a Missouri judge  an unprecedented situation, Bell said in a statement. But another death row inmate was freed two decades ago.

Joseph Amrine spent 17 years on death row before he was freed in 2003 after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that no credible evidence linked him to the killing of another inmate. Key testimony against Amrine came from three former inmates, all of whom later recanted. Prosecutors then decided not to retry him.

Prosecutors at the time of the crime said Williams broke a windowpane to get inside Gayles home on Aug. 11, 1998, heard water running in the shower, and found a large butcher knife. When Gayle came downstairs, she was stabbed 43 times. Her purse and her husbands laptop were stolen. Gayle was a social worker who previously worked as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Authorities said Williams stole a jacket to conceal blood on his shirt. Williams girlfriend asked him why he would wear a jacket on a hot day. The girlfriend said she later saw the laptop in the car and that Williams sold it a day or two later.

Prosecutors also cited testimony from Henry Cole, who shared a St. Louis cell with Williams in 1999 while Williams was jailed on unrelated charges. Cole told prosecutors Williams confessed to the killing and offered details about it.

Williams attorneys responded that the girlfriend and Cole were both convicted felons out for a $10,000 reward.



Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
GOP candidates for governor, from left, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel (official photos).

After months of polls showing Bill Eigel in a distant third place in the GOP primary for Missouri governor, a new survey suggests he may be within striking distance of the frontrunners.

And the poll giving Eigel a boost was paid for by one of his campaign rivals, though it doesnt appear to be intended for public consumption.

American Dream PAC, the political action committee supporting Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, commissioned the June poll but has not released it to the public. The Independent found it and the accompanying analysis on an obscure page of the PACs website last week before it was taken down.

Similar to a series of polls released in recent weeks, the American Dream PAC survey found a dead heat between Kehoe and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for the lead in the GOP primary.

But it is the first poll suggesting Eigel, a Republican state senator, may be gaining ground.

The poll found Kehoe and Ashcroft tied at 27%, with Eigel in third place with 16%. Roughly a quarter of respondents were undecided.

Other recent polls put Eigel in single digits.

If Eigel is able to attract additional resources, this could become a true three-way contest, according to analysis of the June survey provided to American Dream PAC by its pollster, American Viewpoint.

The poll was conducted in early June, before Eigels campaign took in $415,000 in donations last week from trial attorneys and before either Ashcroft or Eigel were on the air with TV ads.

Eigels campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Kehoes campaign did not address questions about Eigels poll numbers.

But Jason Cabel Roe, Ashcrofts spokesman, said hes skeptical Eigel could be in double-digits before his campaign had launched any TV ads.

There have been about 15 public polls released in the last year, and 13 of them have had Eigel somewhere between 4-8 points, Roe said. He just hasnt done anything to move numbers, so I dont see how he couldve doubled his vote share without spending money.

The 800 people who participated in the survey were reached by cell phone, landline and text message, with a margin of error of 3.5%. According to the most recent campaign disclosures, American Viewpoint in January was paid $79,500 by American Dream PAC and $64,300 by Kehoes campaign.

In addition to acting as a possible barometer for the race, the polling documents also shed some light on Kehoes potential strategy in the campaigns final weeks.

Ashcroft has led the GOP primary from the start, benefitting from two terms as secretary of state and a last name with a long history in Missouri politics. His dad, John Ashcroft, served as state auditor, state attorney general, governor, U.S. Senator and U.S. attorney general.

Kehoe has managed to erase Ashcrofts lead in recent months because his campaign has used its massive fundraising advantage to monopolize TV airwaves, the polling firm concluded in its analysis.

Ashcroft and Eigel only recently launched their first TV ads

Kehoe now leads in the two markets where there has been advertising, the analysis concluded, later adding: Kehoes reach is fairly consistent across groups, and geographically it lines up with advertising.

Outside of the two markets where Kehoes ads have been airing  St. Louis and Springfield  the race remains a function of name ID.

Kehoe leads in mid-Missouri, where he previously served as a state senator, and Ashcroft has an advantage in Kansas City and smaller markets. This means, the polling firm concluded, that Kehoes campaign needs to dedicate resources to those markets where he trails Ashcroft.

This race is more about geography at this point than any one key demographic group, the polling firm concluded.

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Kehoe is strongest with more centrist and traditional GOP voters, the analysis found, while Ashcroft leads with very conservative and Trump movement voters.

Eigel, meanwhile, cannot be ignored as a factor in this race, the polling firm concluded, with ideology and Trump movement affiliation as the driving factor on his vote share.

Of the quarter of poll respondents who were undecided, liberal and moderate primary voters are more likely to be undecided than conservatives.

Illegal immigration and border security are the top issues in the race, the polling firm found, particularly among very conservative primary voters. Ashcroft leads with those citing border security, while Kehoe is stronger among those focused on the economy.

For months, American Dream PAC has hammered Ashcroft in TV ads over his support of legislation to reduce Missouris current 1% cap on foreign-owned agricultural land to 0.5%, arguing he should have supported a complete ban.

Ashcrofts campaign has noted that foreign ownership of Missouri farmland was banned until 2013, when the legislature enacted the 1% cap. Kehoe voted in favor of that legislation while serving in the state Senate, and it opened the door for a Chinese company to purchase Smithfield Foods and its 40,000 acres of Missouri farmland.

While the polling firm concluded that American Dreams China ads have been effective, it suggests there could be diminishing returns in markets where theyve been on the air for months. So the campaign should consider switching to ads focused on critical race theory.

Gabby Picard, spokeswoman for Kehoes campaign, said the poll shows that Ashcrofts once commanding lead in the GOP primary has evaporated into thin air. Kehoe, she said, has the momentum.

Missourians are not buying the charade from Bill Eigel and Jay Ashcroft, she said, and the manure their campaigns have been shoveling.

Roe, the spokesman for Ashcrofts campaign, said it isnt surprising that the race has tightened since Kehoe has spent millions of dollars and had the TV airwaves to himself for months.

Frankly, Roe said, given the amount spent, he should be in much better shape than he is.

The post Internal poll by pro-Kehoe PAC suggests three-way GOP race for Missouri governor appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Iowa American Water announced Monday that employees at its East River Station Treatment Facility in Davenport celebrated an impressive safety milestone recently, according to a news release.

Production and water quality employees at the companys treatment facility have worked 14 consecutive years or 5,110 days without experiencing any OSHA record-able incidents.

(amwater.com/iaaw)

Iowa American Water employees work around the clock to deliver safe, reliable service to homes, businesses and for fire protection. They may work in confined spaces, among motorists and in extreme weather. Employees may also handle chemicals, conduct excavation and operate equipment.

This is a true testament to the professional and safety-conscious team we have, said Brad Nielsen, vice president of operations. Our team is committed to providing reliable, high quality water service to our customers in the Iowa Quad Cities but also to following all safety regulations and procedures to keep themselves, their co-workers and our neighbors and service communities safe.

Employees are provided personal protective equipment (PPE), safety training and more to support safe work practices. Employees participate in hands-on training and online classes to support safety in the workplace. Employees also participate in job-site audits and safety talks.

Nielsen added that employees also participate in the companys Near Miss Program to help identify possible unsafe working conditions. The Near Miss reports are investigated, and corrective actions are applied and shared across the company to benefit the safety of all employees. Employees are also encouraged to become Certified Safe Workers to remain committed to safety throughout the organization.

This safety milestone means a lot to our entire team, but even more important is, at the end of their workday, our team members are going home in the same or better condition than when they started their workday. That is our number one priority, Nielsen added. Continued learning, safe behavior and a constant focus are key to keeping us safe, whether at the treatment plant, in the field, or when working water emergencies.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
New Iowa law caps level of THC allowed in products

New Iowa law caps level of THC allowed in products

Store shelves are a little thinner at businesses that sell CBD products in Iowa.

A new law, House File 2605, caps the level of THC that can be in products. The law limits THC to four milligrams per serving and ten milligrams in a container. Two dozen states legalized recreational marijuana, three of which are neighbors of Iowa  Illinois, Missouri and Minnesota.

For more information, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
The Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) has announced the 2024 Honorary President of IPA is Marilyn Osterhaus, RPh of Maquoketa, according to a news release.

The award was presented at the associations 2024 annual meeting on June 20 in Coralville, Iowa.

Osterhaus is a second-generation pharmacist and graduate of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. In her career, she has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Iowa and Drake University, precepting student pharmacists and community pharmacy residents. She formerly co-owned Osterhaus Pharmacy in Maquoketa.

Marilyn Osterhaus (Iowa Pharmacy Association)

Osterhaus is a longstanding member of her local, state, and national pharmacy associations. She has served as president of the Dubuque Area Pharmacists Association and is an emeritus member of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy Alumni Board. In her community, Osterhaus actively serves on the boards of the Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, the Jackson County Historical Preservation Commission, the Maquoketa Art Experience, and is a member of the local chapter of PEO.

Osterhaus commitment to the Iowa Pharmacy Association, her community, and her profession is evident, as she was awarded the prestigious Bowl of Hygeia Award in 2019. In retirement, Osterhaus continues to educate student pharmacists and advocate for the advancement of community pharmacy practice.

Marilyn Osterhaus is a steadfast supporter of IPA and its leaders, making her an exemplary Honorary President, said Kate Gainer, executive vice president and CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association. She has been an integral member of the IPA Board of Trustees this year.

The honorary president is selected each year to recognize a pharmacists lengthy and sustained commitment to the Iowa Pharmacy Association and the pharmacy profession in Iowa. The honorary president is selected by the IPA House of Delegates and serves as a voting member of the IPA Board of Trustees for one year before receiving this special recognition.

About the Iowa Pharmacy Association

The Iowa Pharmacy Association is the state society representing the profession of pharmacy in Iowa, united for the purpose of promoting safe and effective medication use to improve the health of patients. Established in 1880 and strengthened in 1999 through unification with the Iowa Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Iowa Pharmacy Association preserves and advances the interests of the profession and serves the professional needs of all pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) - The zealous anti-Westerner and the low-key moderate hoping to become Iran's next president could struggle to mobilise millions of supporters in Friday's run-off election amid voter apathy about a tightly-controlled contest.

Over 60% of voters abstained from the June 28 ballot for a successor to Ebrahim Raisi following his death in a helicopter crash, a historic low turnout which critics of the government see as a vote of no confidence in the Islamic Republic.

Friday's vote will be a tight race between lawmaker Massoud Pezeshkian, the sole moderate in the original field of four candidates, and former Revolutionary Guards member Saeed Jalili.

Both candidates have sought to engage voters by offering competing visions, with Jalili offering hawkish foreign and domestic policies and Pezeshkian advocating more social and political freedoms. Both pledge to revive the economy, plagued by mismanagement, state corruption, and sanctions reimposed since 2018 over Iran's nuclear programme.

The clerical establishment needs a high turnout for its own credibility, particularly as it faces regional tension over the war between Israel and Iranian ally Hamas in Gaza, and increased Western pressure over its fast-advancing nuclear programme.

But growing numbers of Iranians have abstained at elections in recent years. The previous record low turnout was 41% in a parliamentary election in March, while Raisi won in 2021 on a turnout of about 49%, in which authorities disqualified heavy-weight conservative and moderate rivals.

"The run-off is a clash of visions: Jalili's hardline ideology versus Pezeshkian's call for essential moderation and change," said Ali Vaez of International Crisis Group.

"Beyond opposing Jalili, Pezeshkian must compete with voter apathy and secure at least some votes from this critical silent majority to win the election."

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 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls all the shots on top state matters.

However, the president can influence the tone of Iran's domestic and foreign policy.

With Khamenei aged 85, the next president will be closely involved in selecting the next supreme leader. Insiders say Khamenei is keen on a loyal and compliant president who can ensure a smooth eventual succession to his successor.

INSIDERS LOYAL TO KHAMENEI

The rivals are establishment men loyal to Iran's theocratic rule, but analysts said Jalili's win would signal a potentially even more antagonistic domestic and foreign policy.

Pezeshkian's triumph at the polls might promote a pragmatic foreign policy, ease tensions over now-stalled negotiations with major powers to revive the nuclear pact, and improve the prospects for social liberalisation and political pluralism.

To take victory from his hardline rival, Pezeshkian also needs to attract votes from supporters of hardline parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who finished third in the first round, while mobilising a mostly young population chafing at political and social restrictions to vote for him again.

"Given Jalili's extremism, I think it's entirely possible more moderate conservative voters who cast their vote for Qalibaf will either vote for Pezeshkian or stay home next Friday," said Eurasia group analyst Gregory Brew.

Backed by the reformist faction that has largely been sidelined in Iran in recent years, Pezeshkian's campaign has been largely focused on "fear of the worse".

"I will vote this time ... because Jalili's presidency means more restrictions ... This is choosing between bad and worse," said Mehrshad, 34, a teacher in Tehran.

With no intention of confronting the powerful security hawks and clerical rulers, analysts said, Pezeshkian is not expected to gain support from many reform-minded Iranians, who have largely stayed away from the polls for the last four years.

"Pezeshkian is part of the establishment. He will follow Khamenei's orders ... Let the world know that Iranians do not want the Islamic Republic, I will not vote," said university student Farzaneh in the central city of Yazd.

Activists and opposition groups have called for a boycott distributing the hashtag #ElectionCircus on social media platform X.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by William Maclean)
YANGON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Meteorology and Hydrology Department issued a flood alert on Tuesday due to rising water levels in major rivers exceeding danger marks.

According to the weather agency's statement on Tuesday morning, Ayeyarwady River in Myitkyina of Kachin State is currently about 4.5 feet above its danger mark. In Hkamti Town of Sagaing Region, Chindwin River is about 5.5 feet above its danger mark, while in Homalin Town of Sagaing Region, it is about 0.5 feet above its danger mark.

The weather agency said that the water level of Ayeyarwady River is expected to drop below the danger mark within the next two days in Myitkyina. However, Chindwin River's water level is forecast to remain above the danger mark in the affected towns in the next one day.

U Hla Tun, director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, told Xinhua on Tuesday that recent heavy rainfall has led to the rising river levels, saying that such heavy rains are typical during the current rainy season.

The weather bureau has advised residents living near river banks and in low-lying areas in the townships to take precautionary measures.

Myitkyina, the capital city of northern Myanmar's Kachin State, has seen flooding since Sunday night, according to local media reports.

Additionally, U Hla Tun said that rainfall is expected to be high during this monsoon season, raising the likelihood of more floodings. 
Iranian presidential candidates accuse each other of having no plan or experience ahead of runoff

In this picture made available by Iranian state-run TV, IRIB, reformist candidate for the presidential election Masoud Pezeshkian arrives for his debate with the hard-line candidate Saeed Jalili at the TV studio in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Morteza Fakhri Nezhad/IRIB via AP)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Irans presidential candidates on Monday accused each other of having no solution for the countrys problems ahead of Friday's runoff election aimed at choosing a successor for the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died last month in a helicopter crash.

During a more than two-hour debate on public TV, reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian attacked his competitor, Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, for his lack of experience, saying: Tell me, what single company have you ever managed to make you capable of running the country?

Jalili, who 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, defended himself highlighting his career and several positions held, including that of top nuclear negotiator.

Pezeshkian further questioned his opponent on what plans he would have for reaching a nuclear deal, with Jalili responding he would approach it "based on strength not weakness, without providing details.

Jalili accused Pezeshkian of having no plans for managing the country, saying his presidency would drive the country to a backward position, as it was under relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani (2013-2021). Rouhani struck a nuclear deal with world powers that capped Iran's uranium enrichment in return to lifting sanctions but later, in 2018, President Trump pulled the U.S. out from the landmark deal abruptly restoring harsh sanctions on Iran.

Jalili said that with the support of people, Iran would achieve an economic growth of 8% a year, a promise Pezeshkian mocked, saying authorities should be allowed to execute him if he failed to deliver on it.

Iran must implement "a dynamic foreign policy if it wants to have a successful economy, Jalili said, adding that it should not be limited to those nations that it has a problem with  a reference to the U.S. and the western world. Instead, he said, "Iran should look to the other 200 nations in the world where foreign relations should be improved."

Pezeshkian said his foreign policy will be based on engagement with the world" including engaging in "negotiations for lifting sanctions.

Both sides promised to address the problems of the country's poor, workers, women, ethnic groups and religious minorities, and vowed to provide better and faster internet  a plea to a younger generation that showed apathy during Friday's vote.

Pezeshkian and Jalili also said the low turnout in the first round  the lowest-ever poll turnout in the Islamic Republics history  should be probed.

It is not acceptable that some 60 percent (of voters) did not cast a ballot, said Pezeshkian.

The candidates will have their second and last debate Tuesday.

___

Follow the APs coverage of global elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections/
(SOUTHERN COLORADO)  As we head into the week, you might be wondering whats going to happen weather-wise for the Fourth of July. For this specific forecast, there are still some questions as to whether we will see showers and thunderstorms, especially for the Pikes Peak Region, or if it is going to be dry, and that all depends on the track of a certain storm system.

We start with a wider look at the storm system in question:

On Thursday, July 4, forecast models show an area of low pressure that will be mainly tracking to the north and bringing storms to the Northern Rockies, Northern Plains, and Great Lakes region. However, the European model and the American model disagree on how far north the low pressure will travel and if it will eject energy into Colorado or not.

The European model as of Tuesday morning, July 2, shows that energy will come to Western Colorado, the Rockies, and the Pikes Peak Region on Thursday evening, which means conditions are favorable for showers and thunderstorms to develop. However, the American model on Tuesday morning shows that low pressure will track too far north, leaving most of Southern Colorado Dry.

You can compare between the models below.

Once we get our bearings on the path of the storm, we drill down into our area for details:

As far as rain chances go, you can see that the European model (in green) shows showers and thunderstorms being possible for the Pikes Peak Region at 9 p.m. while the American model shows we remain dry.

What about seeing the fireworks?

As far as visibility for fireworks goes, meteorologists tend to look at moisture in the lower levels of the atmosphere to determine cloud cover for fireworks viewing.

As you can see, the European model on the left shows that some moisture will appear in the lower levels of the atmosphere Thursday evening during most fireworks shows at 9 p.m., especially for parts of Teller County and western El Paso County. However, as you can probably already guess, our American model shows, there is no moisture.

The only thing all models can agree on is for the Southeastern Plains and Foothills, as of Tuesday morning, that conditions will remain dry for Independence Day. However, with dry conditions, that does bring up fire danger concerns. Southern Coloradoans are urged to be careful with any ignition sources, especially on July 4.

As with all forecasts, our models continue to compute data and update so there is a chance that the forecast could change. The FOX21 Storm Team will continue to keep you updated on all of our platforms. Stay tuned.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Israeli AH-64 helicopter gunship pilots have provided an extensive account of their operations during the surprise attack on the country by Hamas militants last October 7. Their recollections  provided to the Israeli media  give a rare insight into the Israeli Air Forces immediate response to the unprecedented incursion. It also highlights just how stretched Israels shrunken attack helicopter force has become. In a long interview with Ynet, which is very much worth reading in full, two AH-64 commanders describe the events of October 7 from the perspective of their units. The two individuals are identified only as Lt. Col. E., who is the current squadron boss of 113 Hornet Squadron, which flies the AH-64D  known locally as Saraf  the most advanced attack helicopter used by the service, and Lt. Col. A., commander of 190 Magic Touch Squadron thats responsible for the less advanced AH-64A, or Peten. Both squadrons are based at Ramon Air Base in the Negev desert, with a fleet of around 48 aircraft, of both versions. An Israeli Air Force AH-64D Saraf performing a rolling takeoff, presumably headed out on a sortie over Gaza. The unusual-looking version of the Hellfire air-to-ground missile with a prominent red stripe painted around the middle of its body is notable. IAF. IAF via X Immediately clear in their account is the degree of surprise that the Hamas militants achieved, when around 3,000 militants invaded the south of the country after a rocket barrage early on October 7. The evening before the attacks, the Israeli Air Force attack helicopter community had been attending an event to mark the anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. After this, Lt. Col. E. returned home to Ramon Air Base where he planned to spend the weekend with his family. At least some elements of his unit were meanwhile deployed in the north of the country, at Ramat David Air Base.      :     -   .From targeting terrorists to assisting the forces in the field: the Israeli Air Force's combat helicopter array operates around the clock pic.twitter.com/44O9fYKNgV Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 15, 2023 In total, only four Israeli AH-64 helicopters were actually on standby across the entire country. Two of these were on so-called short standby for potential deployment to the northern border within minutes, with the other two on long standby for the same area, meaning they would take longer to get into action. Following situation assessments before the holiday, it was decided that there was no need to shorten the standby for Gaza, and all the helicopters and crews on standby were transferred to Ramat David, Lt. Col. E. explains. The result was that there were no AH-64s on standby at Ramon when the attack began. This was apparently standard procedure since the expectation was that any new conflict would break out in the north. When pressed on the matter of whether a flight of two AH-64s on short standby was adequate, Lt. Col. E. admits it wasnt but that the situation was determined by cuts to the Israeli Air Force attack helicopter force, including the retirement of the entire AH-1 Cobra fleet by 2013. One of the now-retired Israeli Air Force AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters flying over the Judaean Desert. IAF/Yonatan Zalk We used to have 100 helicopters in the IAF, Lt. Col. E. says. Were now down to a few dozen, so you start calculating risks accordingly. You need to take into account the number of helicopters, how much training is needed, along with all the ongoing missions, and allocate forces accordingly. Since the 2014 Gaza War, weve had two helicopters on short standby. As for having alert attack helicopters at Ramat David and not at Ramon, this seems to be less of an issue. The difference in flight time to northern Gaza is between five and seven minutes. Meanwhile, Ramat Davids central location makes it easier for reserve crews to get there quickly, since they mainly live in the center and north of Israel. As to what happened after it became clear that southern Israel was under attack, the two squadron commanders provide something close to a blow-by-blow account. An IAF combat helicopter attacked a terrorist squad identified by Maglan unit of the IDF force, near the fence in the Zikim area. The force directed the helicopter to the spot, which attacked the squad and eliminated it. pic.twitter.com/vnRl3bFS3Z Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 10, 2023 The main takeaways include the fact that the commanders became aware of the Hamas assault when they were woken by warnings of incoming rockets at 6:30 a.m. on October 7. At this point, Air Force headquarters had no idea that an attack was already happening. After all, the massacre at the outdoor music festival near Reim, which left at least 360 dead and many others missing, started at 6:30 a.m. Nevertheless, the northern standby was alerted around the same time, while at 6:51 a.m. came reports of an infiltration from the sea at Zikim. Nine minutes later, the two alert AH-64s were airborne at Ramat David and the decision was made to launch the other two, which were on long standby. At this point, it was clear to Lt. Col. E. that at least a days fighting lay ahead. Israeli security forces conduct a patrol in Ashkelon on October 8, 2023, one day after the Hamas attacks. Photo by Saeed Qaq/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images SOPA Images Meanwhile, Lt. Col. A. now also called upon his squadron, the Magic Touch, to get ready for flight at Ramon. By 7:30 a.m., the first two alert AH-64s from Ramat David were approaching Kibbutz Zikim, close to a military training base that was the scene of a major engagement between Israel and Hamas militants, who were reportedly intent on capturing the facility. By now, the attack was already underway at Zikim, and the two helicopters were forced to evade three or four anti-aircraft missiles fired at them from the same area. An Israeli Air Force AH-64 flies over the border with the Gaza Strip near southern Israel on November 8, 2023. The helicopter is armed with locally made Spike air-to-ground missiles. Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images JACK GUEZ At Ramon, everything was being done to get more helicopters into the air quickly. Instead of the usual three and half hours spent getting the helicopters ready, the AH-64s were launched rapidly, using emergency procedure. Basically, they dont check the helicopter. They fuel it, arm it, and take off, explains Lt. Col. E. At 8:10 a.m., Lt. Col. A., together with another helicopter, took off from Ramon with orders to fly to Beeri, where a massacre was unfolding that would ultimately leave at least 130 dead. Their initial job was to provide suppressive gunfire so that a Black Hawk carrying Air Force Shaldag special forces could intervene. An Israeli Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk arrives to rescue soldiers near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 9, 2023. Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP JACK GUEZ At first, the AH-64 pilots did not have permission to fire inside the kibbutz at Beeri, although the article claims that the kibbutz security team had requested, via the Shaldag team, that the helicopters fire at a kindergarten where 50 terrorists were holed up. Permission to fire was given soon after as the scale of the assault became clearer. For instance, Lt. Col. A. initially used cannon fire close to a breach in the border fence to try and dissuade the militants, thinking it may be a demonstration that had gotten out of hand. Minutes later, Lt. Col. A. was shooting to kill, at a border breach in the Nahal Oz area. I dont know if I was thinking it wasnt a demonstration as much as this was an organized, wide-scale situation, not an isolated incident. I then identified a Hamas van by the fence, and I fired a missile at it, Lt. Col. A. says, admitting that they didnt really wait for authorization to use a missile from the controlling officer. Palestinians surround a truck reportedly carrying two dead Israeli soldiers, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 7, 2023. Photo by AFP via Getty Images  Now that it was clear that the situation was highly irregular, Lt. Col. A. stopped asking for permission to fire for the rest of the day, according to Ynet. Lt. Col. E. was also soon in the air and as the situation worsened, the commander was receiving callouts to new incidents every five or six minutes, prioritized based on urgency. Lt. Col. E. now questions whether it might have been more effective for the helicopters to stay in the same area, which they admit might have prevented something from happening. There were places that helicopters finished off the incident in an hour, while in other places, helicopters operated for hours without bringing the incident to an end, Lt. Col. A. admits. There were by now so many different incidents taking place that the AH-64 crews had to begin thinking seriously about conserving their ammunition. The 30mm Chain Gun has a capacity for a maximum of 1,200 rounds, expended at a rate of 600-650 rounds per minute. A picture taken from southern Israel shows an Israeli Air Force AH-64 using its 30mm cannon to fire at targets in the Gaza Strip on January 18, 2024. Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP JACK GUEZ By 9:00 a.m. the attack had been raging for two and a half hours and there were now six AH-64s in the air. For Lt. Col. A., the stark reality of engaging militants on Israeli territory was rammed home when he launched a missile at a truck near the kibbutz at Kfar Aza. After firing, he realized the truck was closed, not open, and that it might not belong to Hamas. With just three seconds of the missiles 20-second flight time remaining, Lt. Col. A. made the decision to direct it away from the truck. Out of ammunition at 10:00 a.m., Lt. Col. A. returned to Ramon and told his pilots there that the situation was unprecedented and that they should kill anyone seen infiltrating Israeli territory. At this stage, there was no thought given to the possibility of hostages also being moved across the border into Gaza. According to Ynet, the first reports of hostages began to appear in the early morning, although Lt. Col. E. says the first report of an abducted soldier only arrived at 12:30 p.m. The gear of a Palestinian fighter is seen on a road after a deadly attack on a police station in the city of Sderot on the second day of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, October 8, 2023. Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance In one remarkable part of the account, Lt. Col. E. describes firing upon an ambulance on the Gaza side of the border, admitting that they were not entirely sure whether the wounded person being carried to it was a hostage or a militant. Its one of the greatest dilemmas Ive ever faced as an airborne fighter. I see them reaching an ambulance on the other side of the fence. Firstly, this increases the chances of it being one of their wounded. This is how I analyze the situation. Even when the AH-64 pilots were sure they were engaging militants rather than civilians, the margins of error were, at times, tiny. In some instances, the distance between militants and Israeli troops on the ground was 75-90 yards, while the missiles being used are only supposed to engage targets 330 yards or more from friendly forces. Another photo taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 8, 2023, shows an Israeli Air Force AH-64 firing an AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missile against a target in northern Gaza. Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP JACK GUEZ In another incident, at least one hostage  Efrat Katz  was killed by fire from an AH-64 when she was being transported by tractor from the kibbutz at Nir Oz and toward Gaza. While an investigation into her death is ongoing, its noteworthy that, at this point, the attack helicopter pilots had no one on the ground at Nir Oz that they could communicate with. Other evidence of gaps in communications included pilots resorting to sending WhatsApp messages to special forces when their radios failed to work properly. By midday, there were 11 helicopters in the air with their tactics now focused on providing a barrier against further militants crossing the border fence into Israel or crossing back into Gaza as they retreated. In the course of the day, Israeli AH-64s flew 48 sorties but their commanders admit that the results were mixed. This is reflected in public perceptions about the Israeli Air Forces apparent failure to prevent the attack and subsequent bloodshed and hostage-taking. You could say that the IAF was there, but it didnt change the end result, Lt. Col. A. remarks. An Israeli Air Force AH-64 launches infrared countermeasures as it lines up on a target in northern Gaza, on December 8, 2023. Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP JACK GUEZ This has led to some considerable thought about what exactly went wrong and, more importantly, how the Israeli Air Force  and the attack helicopter force in particular  could better respond to a similar attack in the future. As well as the need to address the obvious lack of intelligence about the attack, the commanders call for an expansion of the attack helicopter fleet, including the establishment of a third AH-64 squadron. Interestingly, long before October 7, the Israeli Air Force had been pushing to acquire another 40 of the latest AH-64E versions, after apparently concluding that an earlier plan to bolster its attack fleet by replacing the older AH-64As with armed drones was not feasible. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant boards a combat helicopter to observe Israeli strikes on Gaza, where more than 1.7 million Palestinians have been internally displaced on December 1, 2023. (Photo by Israeli Ministry of Defense / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu Earlier this year, it was reported that a batch of 12 AH-64Es was part of the discussions between Eyal Zamir, director-general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and officials from the Pentagon and U.S. State Department. Other key potential deals discussed in Washington at the time involved 25 more F-35I stealth fighters and 25 F-15IA multirole fighters  an Israeli variant of the F-15EX. Just as important as more aircraft is the requirement for higher levels of readiness. The commanders say that, as of now, units are on permanent standby, to respond to the ongoing fighting in Gaza as well as around the border with Lebanon in the north. The Combat Helicopters Array and its soldiers work day and night to provide aerial support to forces on the ground. pic.twitter.com/NpQuKjoZQD Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) November 15, 2023 All this comes at a considerable financial cost and, at the same time, limits routine training flights. Thats obviously a situation the Israeli Air Force cannot sustain long term. Other measures have already been introduced by the Israeli Air Force should another such incursion take place. AH-64 crews now fly carrying the phone numbers for all community security coordinators, everywhere in the country, so they can get real-time information on the situation on the ground. Crews also have maps clearly showing all border entrances and exits and positions from which Israeli forces would fire upon intruders. This should go some way to plug the communications gaps that were clear on October 7. Perhaps the most important lesson, however, derives from the scale and audacity of the October 7 attack, something that shook the two AH-64 commanders interviewed, despite them having trained throughout their careers for all different manner of infiltration incidents. In that sense, the incident follows very much in the line of surprise attacks on Israeli territory and interests that have helped shape the Israeli Air Force, its tactics, and equipment, ever since its foundation in 1948. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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People cover their noses as they walk between sewage and the rubble of destroyed buildings following the Israeli army's withdrawal from Khan Yunis. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

The Israeli army said it had attacked rocket launch pads in the south of Gaza during the night following rocket fire from the coastal strip.

In order to avoid civilian casualties, residents of eastern neighbourhoods of the city of Khan Younis were asked to leave the affected area, the army said.

According to eyewitness reports, thousands of people fled to supposed safe zones further west, but these were already overcrowded. There was initially no information about possible casualties.

An estimated 1.7 million Palestinians, around 85% of the population in the Gaza Strip, has been displaced in the wake of Israel's offensive since October 7.

At least 37,765 Palestinians have been killed and another 86,429 injured in Gaza since then, according to the health authority in the coastal strip.

The war began after the attacks of October 7, when gunmen from Hamas and other militants killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israeli communities.

Around 20 rockets had been fired at Israel from Gaza on Monday, the Israeli army said. Some were intercepted by the missile defence system, others hit open ground. Hamas said it had fired the rockets. There were no casualties, the Israeli army said.

There was an air alert in towns near the border with the Gaza Strip and people had to rush to shelters.

The army once again accused Hamas of systematically violating international law and using civilian infrastructure as cover for weapons.

The army repeatedly reports that there are rocket launching pads in residential areas, weapons depots in schools and tunnels for fighters under hospitals.

Israeli ground troops continue to be deployed with support from the air in Shejaiya, a residential area in the east of Gaza City, as well as in the centre of the strip and south in the city of Rafah.

People walk between sewage and the rubble of destroyed buildings following the Israeli army's withdrawal from Khan Yunis. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

People walk between sewage and the rubble of destroyed buildings after the Israeli army's withdrawal from Khan Yunis. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
Israel launched airstrikes into Gaza overnight hitting targets east of Khan Younis, 12 hours after ordering Palestinians to leave at least 13 municipalities and neighborhoods across a large area and move northward to a designated humanitarian zone. File Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI

July 2 (UPI) -- The Israeli military said Tuesday it had begun attacking targets east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, 12 hours after ordering tens of thousands of Palestinians to leave at least 13 municipalities and neighborhoods across a large area and move northward to a designated humanitarian zone.

In the joint operation with Israel Defense Forces Southern Command, Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck sites overnight from where around 20 rockets were fired at surrounding Israeli settlements on Sunday, IDF said in a social media post.

"Among targets that were attacked were a weapons warehouse, operational apartments and other terrorist infrastructures," IDF said.

"Before the attacks, the IDF took precautionary measures and allowed civilians to evacuate the area in order to reduce, as much as possible, harm to those not involved."

Residents and displaced people sheltering in the affected areas were sent messages to their phones telling them to move to a designated humanitarian zone to the north followed by a formal instruction on X in Arabic, accompanied by a map detailing exactly who should leave and to where.

"For your safety, you must evacuate immediately to the humanitarian zone," wrote IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee.

The airstrikes were in response to the largest rocket barrage on Israel in months with Palestinian Islamic Jihad claiming responsibility as revenge for Israeli "crimes," although no injuries were reported as most of the rockets were destroyed by Israeli air defense systems and those that did get through fell in open spaces in unpopulated areas.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said at least eight people had been killed in the Israeli airstrikes with another 30 injured.

The United Nations' Palestinian Refugee Agency condemned the evacuation order just weeks after people were sent back to the ruined city saying it meant an estimated 250,000 would have to flee.

Yet again, families face forced displacement. Even though nowhere is safe in Gaza," UNRWA wrote in a post on X.

Civilians were seen on the move throughout Monday and staff at the European Hospital to the southeast of Khan Younis began transferring patients and vital equipment out of harm's way to the city's Nasser Hospital amid confusion over the areas in Israel's sights.

The IDF clarified early Tuesday that the order did not cover the area European hospital.

"The call to move toward the Al Mawasi Humanitarian Zone does not apply to the patients in the European Hospital or the medical staff working there. There is no intention to evacuate the European Hospital in the Khan Yunis area," it said in a post on X.
The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders on Monday for areas in southern Gaza, including eastern Khan Younis and Rafah. This forced residents, many already displaced, to find new shelter, due to the suggestion of the possibility of another ground operation.

The Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis, one of the territorys last standing hospitals, is within the evacuation zone. It has transferred patients, including those in intensive care and babies in incubators, and medical equipment to other facilities in fear of bloodshed, according to the hospitals deputy director and doctors.

Its a chaotic scene and very difficult and dire, Dr. Saleh al Hams, deputy director of Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis, told CNN. This is his third evacuation, he said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Tuesday that staff at the hospital have performed more than 3,000 surgeries, treated hundreds of burn cases and provided physical rehabilitation to wounded people.

An ICRC team stayed in the hospital overnight, however the hospital is now unable to continue functioning effectively because so many staff members have evacuated, including medical, nursing, administration and support staff.

The ICRC said they would now move their team and patients to the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah-Mawasi and, once conditions allow, staff will return to EGH and continue to work there.

It said thousands of Palestinians have been displaced following the IDF evacuation orders, stressing there is no safe place in Gaza.

Another ground operation in Khan Younis would underscore the difficulties faced by the Israeli military in trying to root out Palestinian militants from Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew its ground forces from the city in April after months of fierce fighting that left much of it in ruins. After more than eight months of war, militants continue to hold dozens of Israeli hostages and fire rockets at Israel.

Still, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted on Monday that the countrys military is advancing to the end of the stage of eliminating Hamas army in Gaza and will continue striking its remnants. He vowed that Israel would achieve its goals in war: returning the hostages held in Gaza as well as eliminating Hamas military and governing capabilities.

On Tuesday, the IDF said that about 20 projectiles were launched from the Khan Younis area toward Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip on Monday, adding that it struck targets in the area from which the projectiles were fired.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad said on Monday that it fired targeted rockets at five Israeli communities close to the Gaza border.

On Monday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that the emergency room at Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis was overwhelmed with injuries after patients were transferred from the European Hospital following an Israeli military evacuation order for the Al Fukhari area. PRCS said the hospital also received patients from Nasser Hospital, which had similarly become overcrowded with patients from the European Hospital.

Ali Abu Ismehan, a wounded Palestinian evacuated from the Gaza European Hospital after the Israeli military ordered residents to leave neighborhoods in the eastern part of Khan Younis, is wheeled on a bed at Nasser hospital, also in Khan Younis, on Monday. - Mohammed Salem/Reuters

In a separate statement, hours after the initial evacuation order, the IDF said the order does not apply to the patients in the European Hospital or the medical staff working there.

There is no intention to evacuate the European Hospital, the IDF statement added.

Videos posted to social media showed hospital patients on stretchers being moved through nearby streets following the order.

On Tuesday, Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson for the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, who is currently in Gaza, reported a massive movement of people from the evacuation zones following the Israeli militarys latest order. The agency anticipates that around 250,000 people will leave the evacuation zones after the latest order.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes and shelling on Khan Younis continued, with at least eight people killed and 32 injured overnight, according to Nasser hospital.

Desalination plant

Khan Younis is home to a UN-managed water desalination plant that supplies the city as well as Deir al-Balah and al-Mawasi, where scores of displaced Palestinians are residing.

Gazas clean water supply decreased significantly after desalination plants were forced to shut down following the siege imposed by the Israeli military in the wake of the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7.

On Tuesday, COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for coordination with the Palestinian territories, and the IDF said in a joint statement that Israel would connect a new power line directly to the Khan Younis desalination plant to raise the production of drinking water to 20,000 cubic meters from 5,000.

The UN estimated late last year that average water consumption in Gaza dropped to three liters per person per day. The World Health Organization recommends, in emergencies, a minimum of 7.5 liters to 15 liters of water per person per day for survival and hygiene.

CNNs Tamar Michaelis, Sugam Pokharel and Mostafa Salem contributed to this report.

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Palestinians flee eastern part of Khan Younis after they were ordered by Israeli army to evacuate their neighborhoods

By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Emily Rose and Matt Spetalnick

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The plan for post-war Gaza that Israel pitched to U.S. allies is to run the strip in cooperation with powerful local families. But there's a problem: in a place where Hamas still wields ruthless influence, none want to be seen talking to the enemy.

Israel is under pressure from Washington to end the loss of human life and wind down its military offensive after nearly nine months, but does not want Hamas in charge after the war.

Israeli officials have therefore been trying to plot a path ahead for the day after the fighting stops.

A major pillar of the plan, according to public statements from leading Israeli officials, was to shape an alternative civil administration involving local Palestinian actors not part of the existing structures of power and willing to work alongside Israel.

However, the only plausible candidates in Gaza for this role  the heads of powerful local families  are unwilling to get involved, according to Reuters' conversations with five members of major families in Gaza, including the head of one grouping.

Israel has been "actively looking for local tribes and families on the ground to work with them," said Tahani Mustafa, Senior Palestine Analyst at the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank. "They refused."

They dont want to get involved, in part because they fear retribution from Hamas, said Mustafa, who is in touch with some of the families and other local stakeholders in Gaza.

That threat is real because  despite Israel's explicit war objective of destroying Hamas  the Palestinian group still has operatives enforcing its will on the streets of Gaza, according to six residents who spoke to Reuters.

Asked what the outcome would be for any head of Gaza's powerful families if they cooperate with Israel, Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run government media office in Gaza, said: "I expect it to be lethal."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the challenges last week, saying in an interview with Israel's Channel 14 TV station that the defence ministry had already made attempts to reach out to Gaza clans but "Hamas eliminated" them.

He said the defence ministry had a new plan, but would not give details other than specifying he was not willing to bring in the Palestinian Authority, which currently governs the occupied West Bank.

Reuters could not establish if Israel's efforts to work with the families were ongoing.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant discussed post-war plans at a meeting in Washington last week with U.S. officials.

Briefing reporters during the visit, Gallant said: "The only solution for the future of Gaza is governance by local Palestinians. It cannot be Israel and cannot be Hamas." He did not mention the clans specifically.

Contacted for comment, the prime minister's office referred Reuters to Netanyahu's previous public comments on the topic. Israel's defence ministry did not respond to Reuters questions.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in response to a Hamas-led cross-border raid on Oct. 7 last year in which around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and about 250 people taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Palestinian health authorities say Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 38,000 people, mostly civilians. Israel says many of the dead are Palestinian combatants.

POWERFUL CLANS

Gaza has dozens of powerful families who function as well-organised clans. Many do not have formal links to Hamas. They derive their power from controlling businesses and command the loyalty of hundreds or thousands of relatives. Each family has a leader, known as a mukhtar.

British colonial rulers of Palestine before the state of Israel was created in 1948 relied heavily on mukhtars to govern. After Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, it curtailed the power of the families. But they have retained a degree of autonomy.

Israel does already speak to some Gaza merchants, to coordinate commercial shipments through a southern checkpoint. Residents are reluctant to disclose any interactions with Israel.

The approaches from Israel described by members of the Gaza clans were modest in scope but different: they were about practical issues inside Gaza itself, and focused on the north of the strip, where Israel says it is concentrating its civil governance efforts.

One of Gaza's clan leaders, who asked not to be named, told Reuters Israeli officials had contacted other mukhtars  though not him - in the past few weeks. He said he knew about it because the recipients of the calls told him about the calls.

He said the Israeli officials wanted "some respected and influential people" to help with aid deliveries in northern Gaza. "I expect that mukhtars will not cooperate with these games," he said, citing anger with Israel over its offensive, which has killed clan members and destroyed property.

The person, whose clan is a major player in agriculture and the Gaza import business, has no formal connection to Hamas.

In another contact between Israel and influential Gazans, officials from the Israeli defence ministry have in the past two weeks contacted two major Gaza business owners in the food sector, according to a Palestinian briefed on the contacts.

It was unclear what the Israeli side wanted to talk about, and the business owners, who are from the north of Gaza, refused to engage with the Israelis, according to the person.

A senior member of a different clan said Israeli officials had not contacted his clan, but would be given short shrift if they did.

"We are not collaborators. Israel should stop these games," the clan member, who also has no formal connection to Hamas, told Reuters.

ALTERNATIVE OPTION

Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, speaking last week, said the government had authorized the Israeli armed forces to find "a local leadership, willing to live side by side with Israel and not to devote its life to killing Israelis."

Speaking through a translator at a conference, he said the process was starting in the northern part of Gaza, and practical results should be seen soon.

Besides civil administration, the other pillars of Israels plan for post-war Gaza include bringing in a security force from outside to keep order, seeking international help with reconstruction, and searching for a long-term peace settlement.

The Arab states whose support Israel would need say they won't get involved unless Israel agrees a firm timeline for a Palestinian state  something Netanyahu says he will not be pushed into doing.

Throughout the war, Washington has advocated for reforms to strengthen the Palestinian Authority (PA) and prepare it to govern Gaza, which it used to run.

Netanyahu has said he doesn't trust the PA, which in turn says he seeks to keep Gaza and the West Bank divided. Support is weak among Gazans for the PA, according to a June 12 poll by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR).

However, two U.S. officials told Reuters Netanyahu may have little choice but to turn security over to the PA.

"It's going to be a fight. But there is no other short-to-medium term option," said one of the officials.

Israel has yet to develop a concrete post-war plan for governance and security in the enclave, said the officials, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Both said Israeli officials were considering a range of ideas but did not provide details.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

HAMAS HOLDING ON

While some Gazans blame Hamas for inciting the war, others, angered and radicalised by Israel's offensive, have drawn closer to the group, with its declared commitment to destroying Israel, PCPSR polls show.

Hamas has recognized it is unlikely to govern after the war, but expects to retain influence.

A Gaza resident said he saw members of the Hamas police force touring the streets of Gaza City in June, warning merchants against hiking prices. They were in plain clothes instead of their usual uniforms, and moved on bicycles, said the resident, who asked not be named fearing reprisal.

Hamas fighters have intervened to control aid shipments, including killing some clan figures at the start of this year who tried to take over the shipments in Gaza City, according to four residents from the city who spoke to Reuters.

Hamas declined to comment about the killings.

In April, Hamas said its security services arrested several members of a security apparatus loyal to the Palestinian Authority. Three people close to the PA said the arrested men were escorting a delivery of aid to northern Gaza Strip.

"There is no vacuum in Gaza, Hamas is still the prominent power," said Michael Milshtein, a former colonel in Israeli military intelligence who now heads the Palestinian Studies Forum at the Moshe Dayan Center, a research center in Israel.

(This story has been corrected to fix a typo in paragraph 15)

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Emily Rose in Jerusalem; Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Jonathan Landay in Washington and Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman; Writing by Christian Lowe; editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
Italy has appointed Carlo Formosa, an experienced diplomat who previously headed the embassy in Portugal, as its new ambassador to Ukraine.

Source: The Italian Embassy in Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Italian embassy noted that now Carlo Formosa will head the diplomatic mission in Ukraine.

In his comments, Formosa said that he would be proud to represent Italy and work to contribute to a just peace, the future reconstruction of Ukraine and its movement towards EU membership.

The Italian news agency ANSA reported that Ambassador Formosa, 61, has a degree in political science and has been working for the Italian Foreign Ministry since 1992, and since that initial period, he has been involved in economic cooperation with Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, and Central Asia.

In the subsequent years of his career, he worked at the embassy in Vietnam, then in Iran, after which he spent most of his time until 2017 in various positions in the Italian Foreign Ministry.

After a short period of work in the private sector, Formosa became Ambassador to Portugal in 2020 and was appointed Ambassador to Ukraine on 1 July 2024.

Background:

Prior to that, the Italian Embassy in Ukraine was headed by Pier Francesco Zazo. Since 1 January this year, he has led a group of ambassadors from the Group of Seven countries to Kyiv to help implement reforms in connection with Italy's presidency of the G7 in 2024. Accordingly, the new Italian ambassador will take on the same role after he officially starts work.

It is worth noting that Zazzo was one of the few ambassadors who did not leave Kyiv before or immediately after the outbreak of the full-scale war.

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ULAN BATOR, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The first session of Mongolia's new parliament convened here on Tuesday.

Duger Regdel, aged 72 and the oldest member of the parliament, presided over the inaugural session. The election of the official speaker is expected to occur soon.

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh addressed newly elected legislators during the session, saying, "The ninth parliamentary elections were conducted fairly and successfully. Now, it is imperative that we all focus on the environment, national production and strategic deposits, and implement industrialization policies to meet domestic needs for food, energy and fuel, and enhance trade and investment."

Khurelsukh urged the legislators to prioritize national interests over personal interests. 
ROME  Italy has seized Chinese military drones disguised as wind turbines that were heading to Libya in violation of a U.N. embargo, Italian authorities said.

Components making up the two drones were concealed in six containers sent on two container ships from China to the Port of Gioia Tauro in Italy, where they were impounded before they could be loaded onto vessels heading for Libya, according to officials.

The components were hidden among composite material replicas of wind turbine blades to conceal them and avoid checks, Italian tax police and customs officials said in a statement. One of the drones featured the slogan The energy saving world written along its side.

The drones were heading for Benghazi under orders from Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the military strongman controlling eastern Libya, sources told Defense News on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

The U.S. spotted the shipment and tipped off Italian authorities, the sources added.

A U.N. embargo prohibits the sale of armaments to Libya, which has been racked by civil conflict since the downfall of former ruler Col. Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Each drone was more than 10 meters (33 feet) long, with a wingspan of about 20 meters (66 feet) and a weight exceeding 3 tons, according to Italian authorities. The description matches reports by sources that the drones were Chinese Wing Loong II unmanned aerial vehicles.

Italian tax police and customs officials seize what they described as Chinese drone components at the Port of Gioia Tauro in southern Italy in July 2024. (Italian government)

In 2020, when Hifter was seeking to conquer Tripoli and take over western Libya from a U.N.-backed administration, he had the support of the United Arab Emirates, which reportedly sent that drone variant to Libya. Observers claimed the UAVs were involved in the killing of 26 cadets during a missile attack at a Tripoli military academy. The UAE denied involvement.

The seizure at the southern Italian port followed a Canadian police operation in April, which led to charges for two Libyan men living in Canada with conspiracy to buy Chinese drones with Libyan crude oil. Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek and Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh were former employees of the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. agency based in Montreal.

Hiftar, who was once on the CIAs payroll, has been forging ever-closer ties to Russia, allowing the country in recent months to unload thousands of tons of military equipment at Tobruk port in eastern Libya as it seeks to supply Russian operations across Africa.
I've visited over 50 cities in Europe. London and Paris were great, but these 5 lesser-known locations are worth a visit.

One of my favorite lesser-known locations to travel to is Heidelberg, Germany. Dasha Kofman

After traveling to over 50 cities in Europe, I've enjoyed visiting some lesser-known locations.

Bath, England, is a great place to visit for Roman ruins and beautiful architecture.

I also loved traveling to Bruges, Belgium, which is both historic and romantic.

I've visited over 50 cities in Europe, and while I love global tourist hubs like London and Paris, I also try to seek out smaller cities and towns.

With over 13 million Americans predicted to travel to Europe this summer, it could be the right time to check out the off-the-beaten-path destinations on your travel bucket list.

These are five lesser-known destinations in Europe I recommend visiting.

Bath, England, is just a 90-minute train ride from London.

Bath is known for having some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world. Evannovostro/Shutterstock

As you probably could have guessed from this city's name, Bath is known for its Roman baths. These baths, dating back to AD 70, are some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world.

Bath is known for its beautiful Georgian architecture, which can be admired in places like the Royal Crescent, which features a crescent-shaped row of 30 houses.

I also loved visiting the Circus, which is made up of townhouses arranged in a circular pattern. These areas showcase Georgian architecture and are what makes walking around Bath feel unique.

If you're a book lover, you can visit during the annual Jane Austen Festival in September, where people dress up, and the city is taken back in time.

The train from London to Bath takes about 90 minutes, making this city the perfect day trip.

Mostar is a beautiful city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Old Bridge in Mostar is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dasha Kofman

Mostar really surprised me. It didn't look like anywhere else I'd been, with the towering Old Bridge connecting the two sides of the city. The 16th-century bridge, rebuilt after the 1990s war, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The city also has a well-preserved Ottoman quarter with charming cobblestone streets. During my time in Mostar, I loved drinking Bosnian coffee, taking in the views of the city, and feasting on local dishes like cevapi.

Bruges, Belgium, is a romantic city.

In Bruges, I loved taking a boat ride on the canal. Dasha Kofman

Bruges is a well-preserved medieval town. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visiting feels like stepping back in time.

The best thing I did was take a boat ride on the canal, admiring the architecture while cruising through Minnewaterpark, commonly referred to as the Lake of Love.

Bruges is a laid-back destination that makes a convenient day trip from nearby Paris and Brussels. The city is perfect for couples looking to indulge in Belgian beer and chocolate.

Heidelberg, Germany, embraces modern life without losing its historical charm.

Heidelberg is home to a centuries-old castle. SerrNovik/Getty Images

Heidelberg has striking views around every corner. The city is home to a centuries-old castle as well as the oldest university in Germany.

I enjoyed walking along Philosophenweg (also called Philosopher's Way), where professors sought solitude and academic inspiration. The path was especially beautiful during my trip in the fall.

We loved spending time in the city, which had lots of nice restaurants and cool bars. Heidelberg does an amazing job of embracing the new while holding on to its historical charm.

Andorra La Vella is a hidden gem in the Pyrenees mountains.

Andorra La Vella is the capital of Andorra. Dasha Kofman

Andorra La Vella is the capital of Andorra, a country in the Pyrenees between France and Spain.

Every restaurant we dined at featured dishes influenced by the surrounding countries. If you want to try authentic Andorran food, head to a borda  a traditional house once used for agricultural purposes. Now, these buildings are used as charming restaurants.

Andorra la Vella is a great day trip from Barcelona, but the city deserves more than a one-day visit.

Read the original article on Business Insider
James Carville, one of the few establishment Democrats to have warned about Joe Bidens age before his disastrous debate performance, has called on his party to deliver change and replace the president as its nominee for Novembers election.

In an interview on Monday, the longtime strategist also said it would be in the USs best interest for Bidens Democratic presidential predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton to help persuade him to suspend his re-election  and support an open nomination convention in Chicago in August to select a new ticket for the party.

If its too hard for the Democrats to deliver change, then theyre going to hurt themselves bad  really bad, said Carville, who led Clintons successful 1992 presidential campaign. Change is messy. But you have to listen to the vox populi. We want something new. I see staggering talent in the Democratic party.

Let them speak their minds.

Related: Waiting in the wings: as Biden stumbles, Gavin Newsoms name is on everyones lips

Carvilles comments come after he has spent months saying Biden was too old, should not run again  and that the partys governors were among the most breathtaking talent, as he put it in a 16 December interview. He added: Were keeping it bottled up.

Democrats initially did not like hearing Carville attack Biden on the age issue. Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman told Politico he wished Carville would shut the fuck up!

Avoiding a tangle with Fetterman, Carville fell in behind Biden after his re-nomination became inevitable. But in February, when Biden refused an interview offer during the Super Bowl, Carville fumed on CNN: Its the biggest television audience, not even close, and you get a chance to do a 20-, 25-minute interview  and you dont do it, thats a kind of sign that the staff or yourself doesnt have much confidence in you.

Theres no other way to read this.

As Carville watched Biden debate Donald Trump in his room at the hotel where he was staying for the Ideas festival in Aspen, Colorado, Biden quickly began faltering. Text messages started arriving after three minutes.

I wasnt surprised this happened, he said. Its like knowing where you were the night JFK got shot, youll remember where you were on Thursday night. Every election is about one thing: is this a change election, or a stay-the-course election? Thats the axis on which politics operates. This is clearly a change election.

As the text traffic intensified, he got back to the Atlantics Ron Brownstein, saying: I tried, man. I tried.

He saw a theme emerge as people reacted to Bidens raspy voice and confusion in certain answers, saying: OMG  that was my daddy five years ago! Everyone understands old age as they go through it or help their parents through it. Everyone has helped an old lady across the street. This is a water-cooler issue.

Carville turns 80 in October. This is nothing to be ashamed of, he said. Aging happens.

But, Carville said, there are now two wars going on. On one hand, the ugly, mad supreme court is greenlighting every element of corporate rapacity in their rulings trying to gut the EPA.

The supreme court on Monday also issued a ruling granting absolute immunity from prosecution to presidents for acts that are considered official. Many interpreted the ruling as a boost to Trumps efforts to combat prosecutions against him in connection with a sprawling effort to subvert the outcome of the 2020 election that he lost to Biden  all of which are still pending after his conviction in the New York case involving hush money paid to Stormy Daniels.

Meanwhile, Carville said, Biden is being told to stay the course by the first lady, Jill Biden, and son Hunter, recently convicted on federal gun charges.

They have every reason in the world to love a tremendous dad, a guy who worships his wife, Carville said. My children love me, even though my oldest daughter says: Daddy, I wish you wouldnt say some of those things.

Change is hard, Carville said. The polls show 72% of the public wants change  and not the kind Trump and his cult offer.

Carville said organizers of an open convention could line up speakers including Californias governor, Gavin Newsom; Michigans governor, Gretchen Whitmer; former New Orleans mayor and Biden re-election campaign co-chairman Mitch Landrieu; Vice-President Kamala Harris; and Marylands governor, Wes Moore.

You know how many networks would cover that as major breaking news? Carville said. It could split the party, yes. Then go cut a deal! Soothe the hurt feelings  do the things that make politics what fascinates so many of us.

It was a lot of trouble for Magellan to go around the world. Martin Luther King Jr had a nice church in Montgomery  it was a lot of trouble to lead that bus boycott.
Representative Jim Clyburn, whose 2020 primary endorsement paved the way for Joe Biden to lock up the Democratic nomination for president, says he would support Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden were to step aside in Novembers election.



Clyburn, a 2024 Biden-Harris campaign co-chair, expressed his support for Harris on MSNBC Tuesday, defending her role in the White House and the Democratic Party.



I will support her if he were to step aside, Clyburn told Andrea Mitchell. I want this ticket to continue to be Biden-Harris, and then well see what happens after the next election. No. This party should not, in any way, do anything to work around Ms. Harris. We should do everything we can to bolster her whether shes in second place or at the top of the ticket.



"No. This party should not, in any way, do anything to work around Ms. Harris. We should do everything we can to bolster her whether she's in second place or at the top of the ticket."



WATCH: Rep. Clyburn defends VP Harris role in the Democratic party. pic.twitter.com/IBjn9FJ9Jh  MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 2, 2024

Is Clyburn alluding to the possibility of Biden being replaced? Whether he is or isnt, the South Carolina Democrat stressed that Harris should not be bypassed or replaced with anyone else, which could determine what happens with Bidens status on the Democratic ticket. Clyburn was very much the Democratic kingmaker in 2020, as his endorsement led to Biden winning South Carolina. His endorsement would be critical to any would-be Democratic replacement in the next few months.



Clyburns cryptic statement joins less vague rhetoric from other prominent Democrats who worry about whether Biden will have enough support to defeat Donald Trump. Notably, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi echoed those fears on Tuesday, and Representative Lloyd Doggett, a 15-term congressman, even called for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.

Meanwhile, Biden plans to speak with Democratic governors from across the country in a private phone call to try and allay their concerns, likely on Wednesday, which would be two days after governors discussed Biden in a phone call among themselves. Right now, the mood within the Democratic Party is tense and anxious, with even former President Barack Obama being unable to calm the party faithful.
[Source]

A Kyoto hotel allegedly refused to accommodate an Israeli man last week due to perceived ties to the Israeli military in Gaza.

The alleged action, which the hotel has declined to comment on, has sparked outrage among local officials, who deemed it a violation of the Hotel Business Act. In response, the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo condemned the act as a clear case of discrimination, though it emphasized that it was isolated and not reflective of Japans hospitality standards. Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa called it unacceptable.

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The very first prosecutor to consider criminal charges against Jeffrey Epstein, arguably the world's most prolific sexual predator with an estimated 500 victims, mysteriously weakened his own case before a 2006 grand jury, a 2019 Palm Beach Post investigation found, and now the public and victims may be on the verge of finding out why Epstein was able to molest, rape and traffic underage girls for 13 more years.

The Epstein saga began and could have ended in Palm Beach County. The Post sued in 2019 to find out why it didn't. The newspaper sought to find out what happened behind the veil of grand jury secrecy that resulted in Epstein being charged with only one count of solicitation of prostitution  what an adult john propositioning a sex worker might face.

Not only did former Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer's prosecutor undermine his own case before grand jurors, but she subverted the testimony of the lone 14-year-old witness. Several minors had told police strikingly similar stories about Epstein molesting, even raping them, but they did not testify.

A panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal decided in May that the trial judge was entitled to release the grand jury material that will show how strong or even how much of a case prosecutors presented.

Circuit Judge Luis Delgado ordered the clerk of courts to deliver the material to him on Monday so he can review it in private. Then he'll decide what can be released "in furtherance of justice," a part of Florida law that was a tenet of The Post's case.

It's not clear when or even if Delgado might release the material. The newspaper, for example, has encouraged victims' names be redacted. Depending on how voluminous the material is, it could take some time.

Read The Post's investigation Jeffrey Epstein case, the first failure: To the first prosecutors, Epstein's victims were prostitutes

Barry Krischer was Palm Beach County's state attorney for 16 years and was the first prosecutor to consider criminal charges against Jeffrey Epstein. Instead of charging Epstein directly, he took the highly unusual step of presenting the case to a grand jury.

Rarely is grand jury material made public. It is kept secret to allow jurors to be candid, prevent defendants from destroying evidence and protect the accused in cases in which they are later exonerated.

But these factors no longer apply, The Post argued.

It can no longer credibly be maintained that continued blanket secrecy over the proceedings that led to the egregiously flawed 2006 Epstein indictment is warranted under the law, The Posts complaint by Greenberg Traurig attorneys Mike Grygiel, Stephen Mendelsohn and Nina Boyajian reads.

Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Luis Delgado

To the contrary, transparency is required to promote public understanding of the criminal justice system and public confidence in the fair administration of justice.

"The case breaks new legal ground," Mendelsohn said. "This is the first time in Florida that a court has ordered release of grand jury materials to the media other than in public corruption criminal cases."

Post exclusive: Never-before-seen Jeffrey Epstein biography surfaces

The Post's lawsuit: Read the complaint here

Police chief to Krischer: 'I must urge you to consider ... if reason exists' for 'your disqualification from prosecution of these cases.'

In the wake of the 2006 indictment against Epstein, Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter took the case to the FBI, citing in a letter the "highly unusual" actions Krischer had taken in the case.

"I must urge you to consider ... if good and sufficient reason exists to require your disqualification from prosecution of these cases," Reiter said in his letter to Krischer. Palm Beach police said they had found 13 minors who said Epstein had molested or raped them.

The FBI found many more accusers and federal prosecutors put together a 53-page, 60-count indictment. After Epstein's arrest, however, Krischer, chief federal prosecutor Marie Villafana and Epstein's high-powered lawyers began to negotiate the "deal of the century," as one assistant state attorney later put it.

The infamous nonprosecution agreement they came up with shielded Epstein as well as several co-conspirators from federal prosecution. The Post successfully sued in 2009 to unseal the agreement.

Open secret at Royal Palm High: At least 15 students were lured to Jeffrey Epsteins Palm Beach mansion

Jeffrey Epstein, left, enters a Palm Beach County courtroom on June 30, 2008 with attorney Guy Lewis.

Victims weren't told about deal for Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 guilty plea

Epstein in 2008 pleaded guilty to the solicitation charge in addition to another prostitution-related felony involving minors, which required him to register as a sex offender. Victims were not told anything about the deal before he appeared in court.

Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in jail, not prison, as is usual for sentences longer than a year.

He served 13 months in a private wing of the Palm Beach County jail and was on work release 12 hours a day/six days a week. He claimed to be working at his newly formed Florida Science Foundation in West Palm Beach. An attorney who represents several victims said a teenager was flown in for sex with him at that office. Epstein paid for sheriff's deputies to monitor him while he was working.

Epstein was released from jail in 2009 and went on to continue hobnobbing with the rich and famous until federal authorities in New York charged him with sex trafficking in July 2019 and jailed him. In August of that year, he was found hanged. A medical examiner ruled his death a suicide.

More: Where to get help, hope in Palm Beach County if you're a victim of sexual assault

Two years later, Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years for conspiring to sex traffic minors, among other charges related to Epstein's scheme. She worked from as early as 1994 through 2004 enticing girls into sex with Epstein and participating in the abuse herself.

Maxwell lured Virginia Giuffre, who settled a lawsuit with Prince Andrew recently over an allegation he sexually abused her when she was 17, from Mar-a-Lago where Giuffre (formerly Roberts) was working in the spa at age 15.

At least one of the four victims who testified in Maxwell's trial lives in Palm Beach County. Carolyn Andriano, who recently went public, said Giuffre recruited her for Epstein.

More: Why was Jeffrey Epstein charged only as a john? Post sues to find out

Another Palm Beach County victim goes public

Andriano told the Daily Mail that she had a troubled past and chaotic life when she first visited Epstein in 2001 at age 14. Her mother was an alcoholic and addicted to drugs and Andriano had been sexually abused by her grandmother's partner when she was 4. Many of Epstein's victims had been sexually abused previously and their families struggled financially.

Andriano said she went to Epstein's mansion about 100 times, three or four times a week over the next four years. Lawyers said her testimony was pivotal in convicting Maxwell.

"Im not ashamed at being a victim of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell," she told the Daily Mail. "For other girls that have been victimized, I want them to know that it is OK to come out and tell somebody  even if you dont want to be identified  and the sooner the better.

I want people to know these terrible things have happened to me and that I am a survivor."

Holly Baltz is the investigations editor at The Palm Beach Post. Reach her at hbaltz@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jeffrey Epstein: Judge to start looking at what happened in grand jury
The home of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and all their friends is expected to be sold as part of a reshuffling by the Jim Henson Company.

As first reported by The Wrap, the company is in the process of selling the iconic Jim Henson Company Lot on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood.

The company has been headquartered at the property since 2000.

The Jim Henson Company plans to consolidate its headquarters and the Jim Henson Creature Shop into a single location, moving out of La Brea due to space limitations. The headquarters will be relocated to Burbank, bringing it under the same roof as the special and visual effects company.

The Jim Henson Company studio lot is shown on February 22, 2021 in Hollywood, California.(Getty Images)

While the company is selling the property itself, it will remain a tenant for the foreseeable future, the Wrap reports.

The lot was previously home to A&M Records for more than 30 years, and was the studio where the 1985 humanitarian anthem We Are the World was recorded.

Before that, it was the site of various television productions, including The Red Skelton Show, Perry Mason and the George Reeves Adventures of Superman series.

But its most famous tenant, even more so than the characters created by Henson and his collaborators, was one of Hollywoods greatest trailblazers.

It was originally built as the Charlie Chaplin Studios in 1917 and some of the legendary actors most beloved films were shot on the site, including City Lights, The Great Dictator and Modern Times.

British actor and director Charlie Chaplin wearing overalls and holding a wrench, sits on an enormous set of gears in a still from Chaplin's film, 'Modern Times'. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The lot was designated a historical cultural monument in 1969, the company says.

For the younger generations, the studio might be better known as the abandoned Muppet Studios that Kermit and the rest of the Muppets attempt to save from being razed by an oil tycoon hoping to make a fortune in the 2011 movie-musical The Muppets.

The Jim Henson Company purchased the property in 1999 and it underwent extensive renovations. Today, a statue of Kermit dressed as Chaplins most famous character, the Tramp, greets visitors to the Hollywood landmark.

In addition to serving as the companys headquarters, the lot also hosts occasional live theater productions. Puppet Up! Uncensored, an adult improv show created by Brian Henson, the current chairman of the Jim Henson Company and son of Jim and Jane Henson, will be performed on the Chaplin Stage on the studio property beginning July 26 through Aug. 4.

Its unclear who will be purchasing the property or how they intend to use the landmark piece of cinema history, but hopefully its not Tex Richman.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images

We all know what happened last week, and we all know the conversation that has happened since. Given that debate performance, should Joe Biden step down and let a different Democrat run for president against Donald Trump?

First, at the risk of engaging in some Sturm und Drang blame-storming, Id like to get a few things off my chest. I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. The debate was a disaster for Joe Biden. It was equally disastrous for the moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Worse, I would say.

The microphones were muted, wrote Michael Grynbaum of The New York Times. So were the moderators.

They might as well have not been there. CNN could have just as easily provided a list of questions rather than have moderators ask them. They could have been posted by a producer in a control room and spoken by an AI voice. This is a major reason I hate the way we do debates. Moderators ask the same boring questions and allow candidates to ramble on with tired talking points, hyperboles, overstatements, ad hominem attacks and outright falsehoods. They do a complete disservice to the viewers, voters and the nation.

Before the telecast, CNN chair Mark Thompson said the moderators would act as facilitators, not participants. If I were sitting in on one of those preproduction meetings, Id have told Thompson this: If we dont change the way we do debates in here, we will fail the voters out there. You dont need moderators. You dont need facilitators. Or even need journalists. You need referees to throw the flag every time a candidate utters a lie.

There were no real-time fact-checks of Trumps baseless assertions. There were plenty afterward when no one cared because they were more obsessed with Bidens performance and what Democrats should do next. The sad fact is, for most Americans, politics is not about the art of compromise, its about the art of perception. Over 50 million people saw what they saw without ever questioning what they heard. Politifact reviewed the debate. On 15 fact-checks, Trumps statements received 12 false and three mostly false ratings. Biden got three false and one mostly false on 11 fact-checks. One rating was because Biden said $15 for insulin instead of $35.

But viewers didnt hear that. One candidate lied nearly every time he opened his mouth. The other never came close to matching that. But he also couldnt match the liars bravado, and thats all voters saw. They now seem likely to decide that an entertaining autocrat is a better choice than a decent old man. The cult, of course, saw what they hoped to see. They werent listening to what Biden said either, nor to Trumps falsehoods. They didnt care about the falsehoods. To them, the libs were owned. Thats everything to them.

So now what? Debates  real ones  are raging among Democrats and political analysts alike. Bidens excruciatingly painful performance has raised concerns about his electability against a blustering showman. But if Biden should step down, how does that happen, and who replaces him?

There are no good options. Every path is fraught with challenges, and right now, they all seem to lead to electoral disaster and a Trump victory. Party rules make it almost impossible to replace nominees unless they willingly step down. Biden, who controls 99% of the pledged Democratic delegates, has said he will not. He could only open the door to another candidate by ending his candidacy and then releasing his delegates. But to whom?

At that point, youd have a free-for-all among Democrats, a feeding frenzy in the media (theyre still having one about Biden stepping down), and youd create a salacious talking point for Republicans: Democrats are in chaos! How could they possibly govern when they cant even pick a candidate?

As vice president, Kamala Harris is next in line for the presidency, but that doesnt mean she automatically becomes the Democratic candidate should Biden step down. Nor can Biden make that decision. Its up to the delegates, and many in the party have doubts about her electability.

Her approval numbers are lower than Bidens, and her disapproval rating is nearly as high. She ran a poor campaign in 2020, has been unremarkable as vice president, and faces pessimism about her future role in the party from a bloc of Democrats and a far larger share of independents.

I am afraid Democrats have internalized the Hillary Clinton lesson, one insider told Politico. That a woman cant win.

President Joe Biden walks off with first lady Jill Biden following the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia. Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

Yet, theres a bigger risk: the possibility of denying the nomination to a woman of color who is also the first woman to serve as vice president. That could tear the party apart, especially in a potentially chaotic convention process. It will give rise to cries of racism and misogyny, not only within the party and potentially souring a key voting bloc for Democrats, but, ironically, it would be a perfect stew of red meat Republicans can feed to voters well beyond their base. It fits perfectly into a common Trump ploy that the party has learned to emulate: Every accusation is a confession, the math to which the public never seems able to compute.

Other names being mentioned include several governors: Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Jared Polis of Colorado, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Gavin Newsom of California. Political wonks may know those names well, but most people would look at that list and, outside of Newsom, theyd say, Who?

Ramping up an effective campaign four months before the election would be a daunting task, at best. Democrats would have to reconfigure the entire convention process for a task they have not tackled since 1968 (a terrible year for the party). Divisions within the Democratic coalition could follow. The best potential candidates might simply stay away. After all, if youre the nominee, youll not only be vulnerable to the same attacks leveled at Biden, but youll likely have to deal with internal backbiting and party division.

If you are a Democrat with presidential ambitions, do you enter a race fraught with enormous challenges and perceptions of chaos, or do you wait until 2028 for a better, cleaner opportunity? Given that potential peril, the candidate Democrats might end up with is one with no chance of winning, even under normal circumstances.

Then there are the potential lawsuits. If Biden suddenly bails on the race, conservative groups have threatened to file lawsuits around the country to challenge the legal eligibility of any replacement Democrat on the ballot. On what grounds? Does it matter? Litigation is now so much a part of the election process that each party has created its own state-by-state litigation trackers: Democracy Docket on the left and Protect the Vote on the right. (Republicans have filed far more lawsuits.) Over 300 election-related lawsuits have already been filed this year in dozens of states, and both parties are laying the groundwork for post-election night litigation.

But this is the specter of a development that began brewing even before 2020. Manyanalystspointedoutthepotentialchallenges of nominating an older candidate in an election that required energetic campaigning, fresh perspectives, and guiding the party and the nation into the future amidst a rapidly evolving political landscape.

Those concerns continued after 2020. After winning, the question came year after year after year whether he was too old to run for reelection  in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Were there candidates better suited to running in 2020? Wrong question. Was there a better candidate in 2020 with better long-term prospects for the party?

Given Donald Trumps disastrous presidency and voters hyper-motivated against Republicans over the Supreme Court reversing Roe v. Wade, many strong Democratic candidates could have won and done a solid job in office.

Bidens extensive experience and calming we need an adult in office electability ultimately led to his nomination. But in going with that narrative, Democrats sacrificed the long-term future for a short-term gain. Maybe the party felt it owed it to Joe Biden for his life-long career of public service and apparent willingness to step aside in 2016 because it was Hillarys turn.

Dont get me wrong. Biden has had a successful run, and his age never seemed a barrier to his effectiveness as chief executive. In the end, though, he was too old to begin with, but Democrats rolled the dice and now the worst-case scenario has come back to bite them. And the media pile-on has been brutal.

Biden was more energized at a Friday campaign rally where he acknowledged his poor performance the previous night: I know Im not a young man, he told the appreciative crowd in Raleigh, North Carolina. I dont walk as easily as I used to. I dont talk as smoothly as I used to...but I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job, I know how to get things done.

The difference was night and day, but 50 million people didnt see that rally. Most only know what they saw the night before, leaving an enduring mark that may prove difficult, if not impossible, to overcome, particularly for undecided voters.

"Democrats must change the minds of voters who think Bidens age is an issue equal to a psychopath who could usher in the end of America." Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images

New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg writes that Bidens age is a campaign problem, not a governing one. A salient point, but in todays world, politics is largely performance art. The Biden who walks with a slow, careful gait, who doesnt move with vigor, thats the Biden the public responds to. Our world of the five-second sound bite has morphed into the three-second video stream. A stumble, a stammer, a gaffe becomes viral and defines reality to millions of voters. Whats policy got to do with it? Not much.

People often say that Trump is strong. Again, more performance art. Insulting people isnt strength. Cozying up to dictators isnt strength. Abandoning allies isnt strength. And certainly, lying in such an over-the-top manner is anything but strength.

But Trump has turned his campaign into something right out of professional wrestling. It has worked brilliantly for him, which sadly may say more about the electorate than it does about him.

Campaigns arent designed to make you think, question, ponder or fact-check. Campaigning is all about choosing people who make you feel good about yourself, not the nation. People mistakenly think Trump is strong, and that comforts them and makes them feel good. Biden does not. He is too busy trying to govern to engage in play-acting  and he is being out-acted.

Are we just more impelled by visuals and optics than substance? Certainly cable networks think so. Why do you think they present everything in colorful graphics and sound effects like swooshes, sweepers and buzzes?

Americans are a reactive, shallow-thinking, viscerally driven body politic. How many who watched that debate were equally disturbed by the countless false statements Trump made? How ironic that they would concern themselves with Bidens mental acuity while never bothering to exercise their own mental acumen to dissect the lies coming out of Trumps mouth.

Biden makes occasional mistakes that even tired people in their 20s and 30s make. Trump is completely detached from reality. For any reasonable person, the choice this fall is an easy, if unexciting, one.

The path forward for Democrats requires a delicate balance of pragmatism and unity. If Biden remains the candidate, the campaign must address the concerns raised by his debate performance. This includes smart debate preparation, strategic messaging, and leveraging his policy successes against a radically different and dangerous alternative.

If Biden steps down, he and the party must handle it with careful coordination, honesty and maturity.

He might address the nation this way: I love this country and care about nothing more than saving our democracy from Donald Trump. I did it in 2020 and was confident I could do it again. But recently, I see what you see, that Ive lost something  an edge, energy, but worst of all, your confidence. Unlike my opponent, I know this election isnt all about me

That would be a powerful statement, embodying candor and humility that could move voters, including the independents, the undecided, even the so-called double haters, to at least appreciate a quality not only entirely within Joe Bidens wheelhouse and completely beyond Trumps capacity as a human being, but rare among most elected officials.

Its fine to think Biden isnt the greatest candidate. But nothing about the debate changes the fact Trump is the most dishonest, extremist, authoritarian major party candidate for president in American history. To stick with the incumbent, Democrats must change the minds of voters who think Bidens age is an issue equal to a psychopath who could usher in the end of America and the democratic principles by which it has thrived for nearly 2 1/2 centuries.

Ultimately for Democrats, the decision hinges on a fundamental question: What is the best path to securing a victory in 2024? The party must weigh Bidens proven leadership and policy achievements against the imperative of electability in a high-stakes election. It is a dilemma that requires thoughtful deliberation, unity, and a focus on the ultimate goal of safeguarding democracy and advancing the Great American Experiment.

Or maybe your neighbors will just disappear in the middle of the night, and nobody will say anything.
This photo taken on July 2, 2024 shows the opening ceremony of the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

This photo taken on July 2, 2024 shows an installation marking the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

This photo taken on July 2, 2024 shows an intelligent patrol system displayed during the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

This photo taken on July 2, 2024 shows an unmanned autonomous driving vehicle displayed during the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

This photo taken on July 2, 2024 shows an installation marking the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

This photo taken on July 2, 2024 shows a rapid road surface detection robot displayed during the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

This photo taken on July 2, 2024 shows a smart modeling and digital twin building system during the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A staff member demonstrates his interaction with a virtual human during the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2024. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A visitor (front) tries a VR device during the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2024. Themed on "Opening Up a New Era of Digital Intelligence, Sharing a New Digital Future," the GDEC 2024 kicked off here on Tuesday and will last till July 5. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
John Dean, former White House counsel for the Nixon administration, said he believes former President Nixon would have survived the Watergate scandal if the Supreme Courts immunity ruling issued Monday, which largely shields former presidents from criminal prosecution for actions in office, existed at the time.

Asked what wouldve happened with Nixon if the immunity ruling was in place during the fallout from Watergate, Dean pointed to Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who split from the other conservative justices on a portion of the majority opinion regarding the use of presidents official acts as evidence in criminal prosecution against a former president.

Well, theres actually two rulings in this decision. Theres a 6-3 for presumptive immunity, but theres also a 5-4 on you cant even have the evidence of official conduct come to play, Dean said Monday. This is verythis to me, appears to certainly influence the existing law on presidential conduct [and] whats availableevidentiary speaking. Amy Coney Barrett said she didnt think that it should be so restricted as the decision of the court itself was, so I think that Nixon would have survived. I think he would have walked under this ruling.

The Supreme Court handed down the 6-3 decision on Monday, ruling along ideological lines presidents have absolute immunity for actions that fall within the core responsibilities of their office and are at least presumptively immune for all other official acts.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, ruled a former presidents official acts are protected against being introduced as evidence in a criminal case against a former president.

Barrett, in a concurring opinion, said she disagreed with this portion of ruling, writing, I disagree with that holding; on this score, I agree with the dissent The Constitution does not require blinding juries to the circumstances surrounding conduct for which Presidents can be held liable.

Nixon was mired in the Watergate controversy in 1972 that stemmed from a break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee, which were located in the Watergate building. The break-in was traced to officials working to reelect Nixon, some of whom later resigned and were convicted of offenses related to the cover-up.

Nixon denied involvement, but a Supreme Court ruling forced him to hand over tape recordings which showed he attempted to avoid the investigation. He resigned in 1973 to avoid an inevitable impeachment by Congress.

He was later pardoned by former President Ford for any crimes he may have committed in office.

Dean said he is looking at the known evidence at the time of the scandal, but looking at the bills of impeachment, Nixon is not responsible and has no criminal liability.

And that was considered to be one of the elements of a high crime and misdemeanor if a president had committed a crime. Well there are no more crimes for presidents in official conduct, he said.

The Supreme Courts immunity ruling Monday handed former President Trump a win as he stares down a federal criminal election subversion case, brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

The decision is likely to delay the trial, first sending the case back to a lower court to determine whether his actions on Jan. 6, 2021 merit protection from criminal prosecution for decisions made while in the White House.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Wherever Richard Nixon is today, I have no doubt he is smiling up at the Supreme Court. Just short of fifty years after he resigned from the White House, the nations highest court has come around to Nixons view that if the president does something it is by definition not illegal.

In May 1977 Nixon articulated this view during an interview conducted by the British journalist David Frost. Talking about the shady things Nixon had done to quash anti-Vietnam War protests and to covertly surveil activists, Frost asked Nixon, What you are saying is there are certain situations where the president can decide that its in the best interest of the nation or something and do something illegal?

With a gentle tilt of his head, Nixon responded, When the president does it, that means its not illegal.

Nixons brazen assertion that the president is above the law, or rather that presidential action defines what is or is not law, has long been regarded as an outlier in American history. But no more.

Mondays Supreme Courts decision on the immunity claim brought by former Pres. Donald Trump in the hope of shielding himself from criminal prosecution is nothing short of stunning. It signals that Nixon was something of a prophet and that his outlier view is now the law of the land.

Not only is the result stunning, so is the reasoning that produced it.

If anyone wades through its dense legal prose, Chief Justice Roberts majority opinion, written to express the view of the six conservative justices on the court, they should come away alarmed at the lengths to which those justices were willing to go to protect the twice impeached and now convicted felon who once sat in the Oval Office.

A Court supposedly dedicated to originalism offers only history lite. A Court that denigrates balancing tests embraced them to help Trump. At the same time, it almost entirely ignored some of the interests that needed to be balanced.

And theres more.

The Court articulated a view of presidential power that guts our system of checks and balances. Robertss opinion was entirely focused on the remote possibility that criminal liability might get in the way of an energetic and expansive use of that power. It largely ignores the context that brought this case before it. Given what happened during the oral argument, when the conservative majority piled one far-fetched scenario on another, we should not have been surprised that this court ignored the reality before it.

Instead of focusing on what Trump did and the threat that it posed to the survival of our constitutional republic, Roberts let his imagination free and conjured every possible hypothetical impediment that a president subject to the criminal law might encounter.

The Supreme Courts decision means that a president who is obligated to ensure that the law is faithfully executed need not be bound by the very laws that he is duty-bound to enforce. So long as the president is discharging their official responsibilities they are, from this point forward, freed from the obligation to obey the criminal law.

And, if that were not enough, Roberts made sure that Trump would not be brought to the bar of justice before the election. In place after place in his opinion he refers to the complexity of the findings that now will have to be made by courts where Trump is scheduled to be tried Robertss opinion sets up a lawyers paradise, ensuring months and years of litigation in the Trump cases.

And, if Nixon is smiling, Alexander Hamilton and those with whom he worked to craft the Constitution are rolling over in their graves. Their desire to set up a government in which powers would be limited so that they would not be abused suffered a grave setback at the hands of the Roberts court.

The president, Roberts wrote, occupies a unique position in the Constitutional scheme. Then, misreading the design and purpose of the Constitution itself, he argues that the Framers sought to encourage energetic, vigorous, decisive and speedy execution of the laws by placing in the hands of a single, constitutionally indispensable individual the ultimate authority that, in many in respect to the other branches, the Constitution divides among many.

The Chief Justice claims that there exists the greatest public interest in providing the president with the maximum ability to deal fearlessly and impartially with the duties of his office. (T)he nature of presidential power, Roberts explains, requires that a former president have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office. At least with respect to the presidents exercise of his core constitutional powers, this immunity must be absolute.

That immunity would ensure that when the president exercised authority, he may act even when the measures he takes are incompatible with the expressed or implied will of the Congress. And the courts have no power to control the presidents discretion when the acts pursuant to the powers vested exclusively in him by the Constitution.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson used her dissent to point out exactly what that kind of immunity means. Put simply, she said, immunity is exemption from the duties and liabilities imposed by law. In its purest form, the concept of immunity boils down to a maxim' the King can do no wrong a notion that was firmly rejected at the birth of our republic.

Surely Roberts and his conservative brethren understand the meaning of immunity. That is why it seems disingenuous for Roberts to insist that the Courts decision does not mean that the president is above the law.

Or maybe Roberts means that the Constitution authorizes the president to do whatever he sees fit in the exercise of his official duties, even if that means violating the law and committing crimes.

Recall what Trump said about the nature of presidential power. In his view, Article II of the Constitution means, as the former president put it, I have the right to do whatever I want as president.

Lets think for a minute about what Trump might do if he is returned to the Oval Office. One of the things that he has talked openly about is weaponizing the Department of Justice and prosecuting his political opponents, including the current president, Joe Biden.

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I couldnt help but think about that as I read the examples that Roberts gives of the core powers of the president, where the presidents immunity will henceforth be absolute.

On page 19 of his opinion, he points out that Jack Smiths indictment of Trump contains allegations regarding his effort to get the Justice Department to intervene and support his effort to overturn the results of the election he lost four years ago. Those allegations plainly implicate Trumps conclusive and preclusive authority. [I] investigation and prosecution of crimes is a quintessentially executive function.

Then, as if to drive the point home and please the former president, Roberts states that the president has exclusive authority and absolute discretion to decide which crimes to investigate and prosecute  Trump is therefore absolutely immune from prosecution for his effort to get the Justice Department to help in his scheme to stay in office.

Imagine that Trump is returned to the White House eager to launch vindictive or selective prosecutions of journalists, prosecutors who indicted him, judges who presided over his trials, and Biden administration officials. He is now emboldened by a Supreme Court decision that says he would be absolutely immune even if he violated the law in launching them.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor aptly describes the world that Roberts has created. A presidents use of any official power for any purpose, even the most corrupt, is immune from prosecution. And as she notes, The Constitutions text contains no provision for immunity from criminal prosecution for former presidents.

Even Hamilton, ever the advocate of energy in the executive, knew the difference between the British King and the kind of American president whose authority he sought to defend. As Sotomayor notes, Hamilton hoped that while the power of the king was sacred and inviolable, the  president of the United States Would be amenable to personal punishment in disgrace.

She is right to say that Robertss opinion shows that history matters to this court only when it is convenient and criticize the court for ignoring the public interest in having a president bound to follow the law.

So, where are we left? If we needed more proof, the immunity decision is a reminder that while the Supreme Court may be able to resurrect Richard Nixon, it will not save the Republic. That task is up to all of us.

Maybe, just maybe, the Courts decision will remind the voters of why it is important not to let the now-expanded powers of the president fall into the hands of someone who has already announced his intention to be a dictator on day one.
A Johnson County woman faces a second-degree manslaughter charge after DNA linked her to the 2001 death of her newborn daughter, according to a news release.

The Texas Attorney Generals office said in the release that Shelby Stotts is responsible for the death of the baby who bled out after she was dumped in a ditch between Alvarado and Burleson.

Stotts is accused of leaving her newborn daughter there after failing to seek medical care after giving birth and failing to clamp the umbilical cord, causing the baby girl to bleed to death.

The baby was found on Briaroaks Raod, according to the AGs office. The girl was referred to by the Johnson County Sheriffs Office as Angel Baby Doe since her discovery, with detectives investigating multiple persons of interest in the years since as they tried to determine her identity.

The sheriffs office requested help from the AGs Missing Persons and Cold Case Unit in June 2022, hoping to get assistance investigating new leads, according to the news release. They worked together and in September 2023 were able to use DNA samples taken from Stotts and the infant to identify Stotts as the biological mother.

Investigators believe the infant was alive and breathing when she was born and that Stotts is responsible for abandoning her, according to the news release. The case will be handled by the AGs Criminal Prosecutions Division in Johnson County and Stotts will be prosecuted under the laws as they were at the time of the offense.

After more than 20 years, we are closer to securing justice for Angel Baby Doe and ensuring that the person responsible for this tragedy is held accountable, Attorney General Paxton said in the news release. I am thankful for our investigators talent and tenacity, and I commend the law enforcement professionals with the Johnson County Sheriffs Office for their dedication to uncovering the truth.
Jonathan Kaye, millionaire banker accused of slugging woman at Brooklyn Pride event, heckled by protesters after getting charged with assault

The millionaire investment banker who allegedly slugged a woman in the face at a Brooklyn Pride event last month turned himself in to cops on Monday.

Jonathan Kaye, 52, faces two counts each of assault and menacing in the third degree, misdemeanors, and one count of second-degree harassement, a violation, over the caught-on-camera attack that sent the victim crashing down on a Park Slope street back on June 8, the NYPD said.

His surrender came after the footage blew up online and leaflets with photos of him were plastered on utility poles throughout the ritzy Park Slope neighborhood where he lives with his family in a $4 million, four-bedroom townhouse.

Jonathan Kaye was accosted by a group of protesters as he left court. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post

The quartet taunted him and tried to shove him. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post

The protesters ended up coming into contact with his lawyer, instead. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post

Kaye, who was initially put on leave from his job as outrage mounted, resigned from the Manhattan-based Moelis& Co. investment bank last week.

He avoided eye contact and skirted questions from reporters as detectives walked him out the NYPDs 78th Precinct in Prospect Heights just before noon, dressed in a blue polo shirt, beige cardigan, grey dress pants and wearing a navy mask over his face.

As he emerged from Brooklyn Criminal Court hours later, Kaye and his attorney were surrounded by four protesters who heckled the banker and followed him in the street, calling him a wife beater.

One clad in all black tried to shove Kaye from behind and ended up shoving his lawyer instead. The unknown assailants then got into a black van and sped away.

Hes a law abiding man is a middle aged guy with zero history of violence. He was attacked by a group of violent protesters and defended himself to get home to his family. So, you know, we will be presenting more and more evidence to the DA that this was nothing more than self defense, his attorney, Danya Perry, told The Post after Kayes arraignment.

New video shows a different perspective of the June 8 incident, in which Jonathan Kaye, 52, was seen slugging a woman in Park Slope.

The violence erupted June 8 when Kaye and members of an anti-Israel LGBTQ group clashed outside a cafe near the corner of Fifth Avenue and Third Street following the Pride event, according to police.

Sources close to Kaye insisted days later that hed only acted in self-defense after the group surrounded him and tossed liquid on him.

Perry doubled down on Monday, saying Kaye had been terrorized, assaulted, and surrounded by a group of unruly antisemitic protesters.

What the previously released video clip does not show is what another video and other evidence we have shared with the DA does show: that these agitators formed a ring at him, doused him with two unknown liquids, shoved him to the ground, and hurled antisemitic slurs at him, the attorney said in a statement.

Terrified and injured, Mr Kaye managed to act in self-defense to escape the situation and return safely to his family.

The alleged victim, however, insisted Kaye instigated the attack and denied the claims that she and her friends had first hurled antisemitic slurs.

He was literally a tornado of violence, the woman, only identified as Micah P, told NBC4 last month.

There was nothing  no slurs were said whatsoever, she added. We didnt even get a chance to get a read of him. He was enraged and terrifying. He was a big, strange man who ran up on us and started swinging almost immediately.

The initial footage of the incident didnt show the full context, where the group he confronted doused him in water and Gatorade and threw a plastic bottle at his face before things got physical. @hellosami/X

Kayes jacket could be seen splashed with Gatorade.

Kaye threw a right hook.

Micah, who claimed the chaos broke out after Kaye called them a bunch of useful idiots, copped to tossing water on the banker  but only after he allegedly rushed at them.

A 10-second clip of the ordeal, which doesnt show the moments leading up to the brutal smackdown, captured a flustered Kaye allegedly walking away from Micah with his jacket covered in liquid.

Its good that he has been arrested and brought under some form of carceral control, Ron Kuby, an attorney who reps the alleged victim, told The Post on Monday.

No slurs were hurled. They didnt know he was Jewish. They didnt know he was a supporter of Israel  he just seemed like a random crazy man, he added.

New video footage of the incident from a different perspective emerged Monday, showing the previously unseen moments leading up to the alleged assault.

Kaye was charged with second- and third-degree assault after turning himself in. Gregory P. Mango

In it, Kaye appears to be provoked and accosted by the group, who splash him with water and Gatorade before things get physical.

Kaye was released without bail at his arraignment.

We are hopeful that the District Attorney will fully and fairly consider these facts, along with the surge of antisemitic acts, protests, and attacks that is ravaging our city, his attorney said.

We will aggressively fight injustice, and we look forward to a full vindication for our client.

Kayes next court date is scheduled for Aug. 23.

Additional reporting by Desheania Andrews, Priscilla DeGregory and Chris Nesi
A judge has apparently ordered Heather Wyatt to take down her social media accounts, which include posts about the suicide of her daughter Aubreigh.

An emergency order, posted on TikTok and Facebook, says Wyatt must temporarily take down all her social media accounts to protect the minor children involved in this case.

The case, which appears in the electronic case file for Jackson County Chancery Court, was filed against Wyatt by the parents of four girls accused of bullying Aubreigh, who attended Ocean Springs Middle School.

While the parties are listed in the court record, the case documents  motions, judges orders and other records  are sealed from public view, so no other information is available about its contents. It is unclear how the emergency order, which appears to be authentic, wound up online.

To protect the identities of the minor girls, the Sun Herald is not naming the parents who filed the lawsuit.

But all four girls have been targeted by name on social media, especially on TikTok, and threatened because of Aubreighs death. None of the threats have come from Heather Wyatt. She also has never mentioned any of the girls names on social media.

While she talked about Aubreigh being bullied after she found her daughter dead in her room on Labor Day, Wyatt has even stopped talking online about bullying. Her videos instead focus on mental health and the grief suffered by her and her two surviving children, 16-year-old Taylor and 6-year-old Ryker.

I thnk it (bullying) is a subject that needs to be addressed, but I dont want to create hate for anyone, so I chose to only focus on the mental health aspect of it, said Wyatt, a former Ocean Springs teacher who resigned months after Aubreighs death. I felt like that would be helpful and it would also not cause any animosity or any conflict to any other individuals.

A four-leaf clover wreath Heather Wyatt had made following Aubreighs death stands inside her home in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The clover is in honor of Aubreighs birthday on St. Patricks Day.

Did cyberbullying lead to suicide?

Wyatt did call for justice for Aubreigh, but later said on social media that police were no longer pursuing the case, at least partly because Aubreigh was not alive to testify. Ocean Springs Police Chief Ryan Lemaire said the Wyatt investigation was completed and the results turned over to Youth Court, which found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

Heather Wyatt did file a lawsuit against social media companies, saying cyberbullying led to Aubreighs death.

Wyatt and her children have tried to go on with their lives. They visit Aubreighs grave on Sundays and recently celebrated Taylors 16th birthday, activities Heather Wyatt has shared on TikTok, the only social media where she has been active recently.

Last week, one of her TikTok videos went viral.

Wyatt said long ago that the family found no note from Aubreigh after her death. That changed last week. Heather Wyatt was videoing herself on her phone as she packed Aubreighs room for a family move. In the video, Wyatt screamed and burst into tears as she picked up sealed envelopes that Aubreigh had addressed to family members.

The video then cut to the envelopes laid out on the floor, each decorated with a hand-drawn heart and most signed Aubs. The video was short. It attracted more than 39 million page views and boosted Heather Wyatts following to more than 900,000 accounts.

Wyatt told the Sun Herald this week that she found the letters in a box of cards and other memorabilia in Aubreighs closet. The family hadnt previously noticed the envelopes among all the others stored in the box, but Wyatt said she was sorting through them closely to decide what to take during the move.

Aubreigh had left notes for Heather, Taylor, Ryker, Heathers brother Jeff Wyatt, who was like a father to Aubreigh, and one last letter addressed to everyone. Heather Wyatt is not ready to discuss what was in the notes, other than to tell the Sun Herald that the ever-thoughtful Aubreigh let family members know they could have whatever they wanted of her possessions.

It was hard to read but it provided us with another sense of love from Aubreigh, Wyatt said in an interview. We got to feel Aubreighs compassion and love again.

A photo of the Wyatt family sits in Heather Wyatts home in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Aubreigh is pictured on her mother Heathers right.

Social media accounts on Aubreigh spread

As Wyatts TIkTok following has grown, so have accounts from other users with names such as LLAW, which stands for #LiveLikeAubreigh, a hashtag family and friends started using after her death, on social media, bracelets and T-shirts.

The people behind the accounts are unknown. Some talk about justice for Aubreigh. Other commenters have left outright or implied threats and hateful comments about the girls who they believe were bullying Aubreigh.

At least one of the girls accused of bullying Aubreigh has even been doxxed, with her home address listed repeatedly in comments.

Heather Wyatt said she has nothing to do with those accounts. Her own TikTok account is no longer available. Before it was taken down, she posted a video that explained why she was sharing her personal experience with suicide. She featured notes from from young people and others touched by her videos.

As a result of her TikToks, Wyatt said, shes received thousands of messages from people who told her, Ive decided to stay.

A childhood photo of Aubreigh Wyatt sits in Heather Wyatts home in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
A St. Clair County judge on Monday ordered a Belleville area man to remain in jail on his first-degree murder charge despite his attorneys argument that he acted in self-defense in shooting another man and is not a threat to the community.

Elijah C. Nelson, 22, of Kingsway Drive in unincorporated Belleville, faces the murder charge in the May 27 shooting death of 49-year-old Anthony Wilbourn on Wilbourns driveway at 7300 W. A St. in Belleville.

The Memorial Day confrontation between Nelson and Wilbourn came in the wake of a domestic dispute between Nelson and a woman who is the daughter of Wilbourns fiance, according to police and a witness. The dispute included property damage to two vehicles.

Nelsons attorney, Joslyn R. Sandifer of Fairview Heights, argued in a detention hearing that Nelson should be released from the St. Clair County Jail before his trial because Nelson acted in self-defense in the confrontation with Wilbourn.

But St. Clair County Assistant States Attorney Levi Carwile told Associate Judge Sara L. Rice that Nelson should remain in jail because he brought a loaded, fully automatic gun to Wilbourns home.

He was looking to start a fight, Carwile said of Nelson.

Carwile said Nelson fired multiple times at Wilbourn, who was hit in one eye.

Rice ordered that Nelson remain in the St. Clair County Jail.

Along with the murder charge, Nelson also faces a charge of unlawful use of a weapon/automatic weapon. The firearm was recovered at the scene, Carwile said.

A witness previously told the Belleville News-Democrat that Wilbourn did not have a gun.

Sandifer and Carwile each declined to comment after the detention hearing.

Since Sept. 18 when Illinois ended its cash-bail system, judges have been conducting detention hearings to determine whether someone charged with a serious crime can be released from jail before their trial. One of the components of the new criminal justice system calls for judges to decide whether someone could be a threat to anyone in the community if released from jail.

In this case, Rice ruled that Nelson does pose a threat.

Sandifer told the judge that Nelson is not a threat to the community and would agree to stipulations such as house arrest if released on a pre-trial basis.

Sandifer also told Rice that Nelson called police about the shooting and did not flee the scene. She said Wilbourn was the aggressor and that Nelson made a terrible, split-second decision.

But Carwile said this was not a split-second decision. He said Nelson took time to get a loaded firearm and drive to Wilbourns house.

You dont get to bring a gun to a fistfight, Carwile said.
Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad, testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee in Washington on Sept. 13, 2023. A Utah judge dismissed a civil lawsuit filed against Ballard. | House Homeland Security Committe

A Utah judge on Thursday dismissed a civil lawsuit filed against Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard.

The suit was filed by Jordana Bree Righter, a former Marine and licensed clinical social worker. Utah 3rd District Judge Kristine Johnson issued the order dismissing the suit.

For the foregoing reasons, the Complaint as to OUR and Ballard is dismissed with prejudice because Righters claims are precluded by the release contained in paragraph 7.2 of the agreement, said the order. Alternatively, Righters claims against OUR and Ballard for Conspiracy, Negligence and Premises Liability are dismissed without prejudice, as is Righters claim against Ballard for Fraud.

The term dismissed with prejudice means it cannot be refiled, while dismissed without prejudice means it can. Ballard denied wrongdoing from the onset.

Righters claims against OUR and Ballard for conspiracy, negligence and premises liability as well as Righters claim against Ballard for fraud were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be filed again.

There are four other lawsuits filed against Ballard that are still making their way in the court system.

In the suit, Righter alleged she sustained an orbital blow fracture during an OUR cosplay training. She had claimed Ballard was present at the training, but refused to call emergency services.

Righter had alleged she was sexually touched under false pretenses by another man named Matthew Cooper. She alleged Ballard attempted to goad Cooper to be more sexually aggressive with her.

The judge found a liability agreement that Righter signed barred her from being able to file the suit.

The court ruled that the allegations made about the sexual touching under false pretenses do not rise to the level of criminal conduct.

The order dismissing the lawsuit said the suit filed by Righter does not specify if or how OUR had a meeting of the minds with Ballard, Cooper or others regarding using the ruse as a ploy to further sexual misconduct or sexual assault or battery. The court ruled that Righter has not pled facts to show this meeting occurred as its required for a claim of civil conspiracy.

In a statement to the Deseret News, Ballard said this case was based on vague allegations with no supporting facts and Im grateful that the court recognized that.

Ballard continued, The claims against us and our work generated a lot of media attention without real scrutiny and had a devastating impact on anti-trafficking operations, but they are finally being seen for what they are  unfounded.

Righters attorney Suzette Rasmussen said in a statement to the Deseret News, While our client is disappointed, all legal options are being explored to assure that Ms. Righter obtains justice.

There are four other lawsuits naming Ballard as a defendant.

Ballard has previously issued statements denying the allegations.
A judge has dismissed allegations in a lawsuit against former Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla accusing him of attempting to shake down the longtime operator of the Rickenbacker Marina by pressuring him to take on one of the commissioners associates as a business partner.

In a June 27 order, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mavel Ruiz ruled that, as an elected official, Diaz de la Portilla was protected by legislative immunity from claims leveled against him by former state representative and lobbyist Manuel Prieguez.

In September, Prieguez filed a lawsuit accusing Diaz de la Portilla and two associates of squeezing Prieguezs client, Rickenbacker Marina operator Aabad Melwani, in order to secure the commissioners vote during an intense battle in 2020 over who would redesign and run the aging city-owned marina.

In his lawsuit, Prieguez accuses Diaz de la Portilla of working through surrogates, including former city commissioner and convicted felon Humberto Bert Hernandez and real estate agent and attorney Anibal Duarte-Viera, in an attempt to shake down an upstanding member of the community  Melwani.

Hernandez and Duarte-Viera are still defendants in the case. Earlier this year, the judge denied a motion from Hernandez to dismiss him from the case. Duarte-Viera also asked for dismissal, but the judge has yet to rule on that motion.

Diaz de la Portilla was suspended from office in September after he was arrested in an unrelated matter and charged with money laundering, bribery and official misconduct. Those charges are being prosecuted by the Broward State Attorneys Office because of a conflict of interest involving Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

Diaz de la Portilla celebrated his dismissal from the Rickenbacker Marina lawsuit in a text message this weekend, taking aim at Prieguez and the prosecutors who are handling his criminal case.

This is the beginning of the road toward total vindication, Diaz de la Portilla said. The next victory is dismissing the weaponized, politically motivated and baseless case filed against me by the Broward State Attorney. Ive done nothing wrong and the evidence will prove it.

Diaz de la Portilla added: To quote Dr. Martin Luther King- the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.

Prieguez has 20 days to file an amended complaint, leaving the door open for Diaz de la Portilla to be pulled back into the litigation.

Stay tuned, Prieguez said when reached by phone Monday. He declined to comment further.

Hernandez told the Herald in a text message that his attorney had advised him not to comment on pending litigation, unlike Mr Prieguez and his lawyers, who desperately seek the attention of the media to abuse the judicial process.

Duarte-Viera acknowledged an email from the Herald but did not go into further detail about the case.

Manuel Manny Prieguez filed a lawsuit against Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla on Sept. 4, 2023, accusing the commissioner of a shakedown.

East hotel meeting

Melwani was one of two bidding teams hoping to redevelop the city-owned Rickenbacker Marina, but he could not prevail without Diaz de la Portillas vote on the City Commission, according to Prieguezs lawsuit.

They used this information to attempt to threaten Prieguez to participate in their criminal scheme. When Prieguez would not be corrupted, they then set out to harm Prieguez, the lawsuit states. Prieguez further alleged that Duarte-Viera at one point told him: The ONLY way to get the votes is to have me be a partner in this deal. Period, end of story, according to the lawsuit.

On the day that the City Commission was slated to discuss the proposed marina redevelopment in October 2020, Diaz de la Portilla allegedly texted Melwani to go to the East Miami hotel during the commissions lunch break. Diaz de la Portilla specifically asked Melwani to go alone, according to the complaint, and Melwani agreed, feeling like he had no other choice. When he arrived, Melwani was met in the hotel lobby not by the commissioner, but by three of Diaz de la Portillas associates, including Hernandez and Duarte-Viera, according to the lawsuit.

READ MORE: Commissioner spent 57 days in Miamis ultimate business playground. Then he was arrested

According to the complaint, the parties exchanged pleasantries and then went on to discuss the marina issue and what the possibilities were moving forward, the complaint alleged, but Melwani rejected the overtures. Diaz de la Portilla ultimately voted for the competitors proposal knowing that it would result in a tie, and he could then steer the City Commission towards deferring the item and ultimately throwing out all bids as Duarte-Viera had threatened, the lawsuit alleged.

Prieguez alleged in his complaint that he lost significant income due to Portillas scheme, missing out on at least $95,000 in income and losing his position as Melwanis lobbyist because he was no longer able to lobby Portilla. Prieguez further alleged that he suffered substantial emotional distress and loss of business as a result of Diaz de la Portilla, Hernandez and Duarte-Vieras alleged actions.

Melwani, who is not involved in the lawsuit, declined to comment on Diaz de la Portillas dismissal.

Rickenbacker Marina

In the judges order last week, Ruiz wrote that Prieguezs complaint lays out just two actions that Diaz de la Portilla allegedly undertook himself: sending a text message and voting on the marina proposal. The other accusations involved the alleged associates.

Portilla has legislative immunity as to his act of voting and of sending the text message, Ruiz wrote. She said that voting is a core legislative function and that sending a text message to arrange a meeting, even if in secret, is also an aspect of legislative function and is therefore protected by legislative immunity.

Ruiz further added that Prieguezs claim of intentional inflection of emotional distress is weak at best.

Duarte-Viera and Hernandez are accused in the civil suit of participating in a criminal conspiracy with Diaz de la Portilla and of attempted bribery of an elected official.

In denying Hernandezs motion to dismiss the allegations against him in March, Ruiz wrote that based on the facts alleged, it is reasonable to conclude that the Defendants actions constitute, at a minimum, attempted bribery.
FILE - Migrant parents socialize outside the Annunciation House, June 26, 2018, in El Paso, Texas. A Texas judge ruled against the state attorney general on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in his effort to shut down a migrant shelter in El Paso that he claimed encourages illegal migration. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

McALLEN, Texas (AP)  A judge blasted efforts by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to shutter one of the oldest and largest migrant shelters on the U.S.-Mexico border in a scathing ruling Tuesday, accusing the Republican of outrageous conduct over his claims that the shelter encourages migrants to enter the country illegally.

Judge Francisco X. Dominguez ruled that Paxton's attempts to enforce a subpoena for records of migrants who have been served at Annunciation House in the last few years violated the El Paso shelter's constitutional rights. His ruling prevents Paxton from seeking the records and protects the shelter from what Dominguez called harassment and overreaching by Paxtons office.

Paxton's office did not respond to requests for comment, but the state is expected to appeal.

Annunciation House is one of several nonprofit groups that help migrants from which Paxton's office has sought information in recent months. Team Brownsville, which assists migrants who are dropped off by federal agents in the border city of Brownsville, received a letter demanding documents in May. Paxton is also suing Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley seeking testimony.

Dominguez wrote that he previously expressed concern that Paxtons office had not identified which laws Annunciation House was allegedly breaking.

The record before this Court makes clear that the Texas Attorney Generals use of the request to examine documents from Annunciation House was a pretext to justify its harassment of Annunciation House employees and the persons seeking refuge, he wrote.

In fact, the record before the Court now establishes that the Attorney General was seeking evidence of alleged criminal activity all along, Dominguez went on to say. This is outrageous and intolerable.

Paxton alleged that by providing shelter to migrants regardless of their legal status, Annunciation House was facilitating illegal immigration and human smuggling, and operating a stash house.

State officials visited the El Paso shelter in early February demanding immediate access to records  including medical and immigration documents  of migrants who had received services there since 2022. Officials from Annunciation House, a Catholic nonprofit that oversees a network of shelters, said they were willing to comply but needed time to determine what they could legally share without violating their clients constitutional rights.

Investigators who sought to access records the day after requesting entry were not allowed inside the shelter. Jerry Wesevich, the attorney representing Annunciation House, said that corporations under the Constitution's Fourth Amendment are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.

Wesevich expressed relief after the ruling and said it could impact other organizations. He also questioned why Paxton wanted to close the shelter.

All thats going to mean is more people in El Paso streets. Who does that help? All it does is provide a narrative of chaos on the border, which is a narrative that some people politically want to promote," Wesevich said.
ISLAMABAD, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed nine terrorists in two separate operations in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the military said on Monday.

The security forces conducted intelligence-based operations in Khyber and Lakki Marwat districts of KP, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement.

During the first operation, seven terrorists, including two terrorist commanders, were killed in Tirah area of Khyber district, according to the ISPR statement.

The ISPR said that weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered during the operation, adding that the killed terrorists had remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities and were wanted by the security forces.

In a separate operation in Lakki Marwat district, security forces killed two terrorists.

Sanitation operations are being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.

The military said the security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the South Asian country. 
EL PASO (Nexstar)  A state district judge on Tuesday declined Attorney General Ken Paxtons request to shutter Annunciation House, a Catholic charity providing food and shelter to migrants and refugees near the U.S-Mexico border.

Judge Francisco Dominguez sided with the shelter, sharply criticizing Paxtons legal action as outrageous and intolerable, accusing him of acting outside of his authority for political motivations.

The Attorney Generals conduct in harassing and pursuing predetermined outcomes, without regard to the rights of Annunciation Houses employees and guests is imminent, ongoing and irreparable, Dominguez wrote.

Paxton has not yet responded to the ruling. Nexstar has requested a statement.

Paxton asked the court to pause the shelters operations after the shelter fought his offices requests for a swath of records. Paxton accuses the shelter of encouraging people to cross the border illegally and hindering law enforcements efforts to arrest illegal immigrants.

Paxton moves to shut down charity housing undocumented migrants

Any non-governmental organization (NGO) facilitating the unlawful entry of illegal aliens into Texas is undermining the rule of law and potentially jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of our citizens, Paxton said last month. All NGOs who are complicit in Joe Bidens illegal immigration catastrophe and think they are above the law should consider themselves on notice.

Annunciation Houses attorney accused the attorney general of violating the charitys religious freedom, subjecting them to unreasonable search and seizure, and making false claims to generate negative press about chaos on the border. He praised the ruling on Tuesday.

The Attorney Generals harassment of Annunciation House is morally and legally improper, and its not surprising that the court agreed with us on all of the grounds, Jerry Wesevich with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid said. If he ever succeeded on his claim that he should close Annunciation House, whats going to happen? All thats going to mean is more people in El Paso streets. Who does that help? All it does is provide a narrative of chaos on the border.

Wesevich said he expects the state will likely appeal.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA)  A judge in Sarasota ruled Monday that the search warrants conducted amid an investigation into the sexual assault and video voyeurism allegations against now-former Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler violated his constitutional rights.

Zieglers cell phone, Google Drive, and Instagram accounts were part of the series of search warrants. Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll said the Sarasota Police Departments warrants were severely overbroad.

Christian Ziegler would secretly take pics of women in bars to gauge Bridgets interest, police docs show

Law enforcements handling of the three overbroad warrants were patently unreasonable and violated Mr. Zieglers constitutional rights. For example, law enforcement rifled through 250,000+ photographs and 30,000+ videos, seizing an indeterminant amount despite concluding they showed no evidence of a crime. They also seized more than 1,200 text communications between Mr. Ziegler and his wife, most of which transpired two years before the alleged criminal incident arose on October 2, 2023. Almost all of these communications had no connection to the crime being investigated. Law enforcement also seized other personal information about Mr. Ziegler with no apparent nexus to the crime investigated, the final judgement document stated.

As part of the ruling, the police department and State Attorneys Office have been ordered to destroy almost all of the data seized as part of the three search warrants promptly and without delay.

Zieglers attorney Matt Sarelson sent News Channel 8 the following statement.

Were grateful the Court took the time to do a deep dive into Constitutional law because its the Constitution that gives us the victory. These were three, overbroad, general warrants to obtain literally everything on Christians phone, which is tantamount everything in this life. Our Constitution requires more nuance because broad general warrants are patently unlawful. And on top of this, Christian with neither arrested nor charged. This is a win for all Floridians, not just Christian and Bridget. Hopefully, something like this never happens to anyone else ever again.

The police department said it was aware of the ruling and it is working in coordination with the City Attorneys Office and the State Attorneys Office to review the decision.

This is going to be not good: Christian Ziegler seemed more concerned about public perception of rape allegations, transcripts show

Its possible there could bel an appeal.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability, an intervenor in the case, said it will consider an appeal after fully reviewing the Judges order.

We are still reviewing. The Florida Constitution expressly states that access to public records is not defeated by claims of privacy. The publics right to know should not be defeated by allegations of police misconduct, said Michael Barfield, director of public access for the center.

Ziegler was accused of raping a woman after a sexual encounter in October. However, the investigation was closed without any charges because they believed the encounter was consensual and there was no probable cause.

The investigation was also forwarded to the State Attorneys Office for review for possible video voyeurism charges after Ziegler showed a video of the encounter to prove it was consensual, but that was also closed without charges due to a lack of evidence.

Bridget Ziegler, his wife and also a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, became tied up in the allegations after admitting that she and her husband previously had a consensual threesome with the woman who made the accusations. Bridget Ziegler was never accused of a crime.

Bridget Ziegler has repeatedly faced calls to resign from the Sarasota County School Board since the allegations were made public, but she has said shell remain on the board.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
July 4 may bring dangerous heat to these areas of US

The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning of persistent, dangerous heat for much of the week, especially in the southern and southwestern parts of the country.

The early July heat wave is expected in the Southern Plains, Gulf Coast, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Coast, Central Valley of California and Mojave Desert of California and Nevada, the NWS said on Monday.

The NWS is warning specifically of significant heat on the July 4th holiday.

Independence Day activities may be impacted by dangerous heat, the NWS said. Use caution and check the forecast. Stay hydrated, and limit time outdoors in the heat.

Californias Central Valley and the Mojave Desert should expect many days of record high and low temperatures continuing throughout the week, with highs topping 110 degrees.

The western heat wave will continue into next week, expanding northward into the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West, NWS said.

In the south and southeast  especially along the coast stretching from eastern Texas into much of Florida  the NWS is warning of heat index values approaching or exceeding 110 degrees. The danger of the heat results from the high temperatures as well as the high humidity in these regions, NWS said.

Overall, the prolonged nature of the continued heat will increase the risk of heat-related illness, the NWS warned.

Sizzling heat will be the top story leading up to Independence Day across the South Central U.S., the NWS Weather Prediction Center said, also warning of stormy weather in parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Southeast.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The renovated House Chambers in the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., in Dec. 2023. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Gov. Jim Justice on Tuesday appointed Ryan Browning, of Wayne County, to fill the House of Delegates seat vacated by Del. Mark Ross, R-Wayne, earlier this year.

Ross, a retired school teacher, resigned from office on May 21, according to a resignation letter sent to the governors office that day. The letter did not include a reason for his departure. He was elected to the House in 2022 and was the lead sponsor of 45 bills  36 in 2023 and nine in 2024  during his two sessions in office.

Browning, 42, serves as president of Golden Bear Transport, according to records with the Secretary of States office. He will serve the remainder of Ross term, which is set to expire next year. He is also already the presumptive winner for that seat in the general election as no Democrat is running in the race and he secured the primary election over two other Republican candidates with about 43% of votes cast in his favor.

Browning, of Kenova, describes himself as a pro-life, pro-family, pro-[Second Amendment] conservative, according to his campaign website. In a candidate survey submitted to the Charleston Gazette-Mail before Mays primary, he said his policy priorities include support for career and technical educational programs, investing in tourism and generating more jobs for the local economy.

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Justice Clarence Thomas wants the Supreme Court to take aim at far-reaching workplace safety laws

The Supreme Court will not hear a challenge to a key federal agency that oversees workplace safety, which conservative Justice Clarence Thomas slammed as a far-reaching authority that threatens Americans constitutional rights.

On Tuesday, Supreme Court justices declined to hear a case that questioned the constitutionality of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an argument backed by right-wing legal groups and 23 Republican attorneys general.

The challengers had hoped to find a sympathetic court, on the heels of two major rulings that took a sledgehammer to regulatory agencies and the governments ability to go after lawbreakers.

Only Justices Thomas and Neil Gorsuch wanted to hear the case.

Congress purported to empower an administrative agency to impose whatever workplace-safety standards it deems appropriate, Thomas wrote in his dissent.

That power extends to virtually every business in the United States, he added. The agency claims authority to regulate everything from a power lawnmowers design  to the level of contact between trainers and whales at SeaWorld.

A protester calls for Justice Clarence Thomas to resign outside the Supreme Court on July 1 as the courts majority granted Donald Trump and other presidents sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution. (EPA)

The case stems from a fine imposed by OSHA against an Ohio contractor after a worker was injured by a broken catwalk on a worksite.

The company then sued President Joe Bidens administration, claiming that the agencys ability to set reasonably necessary or appropriate safety standards violates congress constitutional law-making authority.

An appeals court rejected that argument, and the company appealed up to the Supreme Court.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act may be the broadest delegation of power to an administrative agency found in the United States Code, Thomas wrote.

If this far-reaching grant of authority does not impermissibly confer legislative power on an agency, it is hard to imagine what would, he added.

The courts rejection of the case arrived the same day that the Biden administration announced sweeping OSHA protections for workers against heat, marking the first major regulations aimed at preventing heat-related deaths on the job.
Gov. Jim Justice announced on Monday, July 1, 2024, that revenue collections from fiscal year 2024 came about $826 million above estimates. (Office of the Gov. Jim Justice | Courtesy photo)

About four months out from an election that could make him West Virginias next U.S. senator, Gov. Jim Justice on Monday announced that the state has hit the trigger to phase out its personal income taxes while also directing the Legislature to convene for a special session to increase those tax cuts by another 5%.

The tax cuts that were triggered this week are based on revenue collections from fiscal year 2024, which came about $826 million above estimates. They will be enacted between 3% and 4%, though details for exactly what they will look like will be released on July 11, according to a news release.

Weve got another surplus of numbers that are just un-flat-believable in every way, Justice said. $826 million  today, with the tax cuts that we have in place and all that has been done, another $826 million. If you dont believe that thats a miracle from God above, you got something wrong with you 

According to an analysis from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, the average West Virginia family will see about 85 cents per week from these cuts, or about $44 per year.

When you look at the loss of child care subsidies or increases in the price of tuition, that amount of money is not going to address all of those needs, said Kelly Allen, director of the center. Thats too small for most families to notice or for it to make a difference in their lives. Contrast that with the paralysis this has caused at the Legislature and the collective impact on the state budget is huge while its so minimal for our families.

To date, no replacement revenue stream has been created or announced to help fill what will end up being a decline in the states income due to these cuts. The tax cuts that are already set to take place  and the larger ones the governor said Monday he wants to see  will also occur permanently year over year, presenting a long-term decline in the states largest general revenue stream.

There are still so many needs that are going unmet in this state and now, to promise additional tax cuts when that is still happening, well its reckless, Allen said.

In his announcement Monday, Justice said he would also ask lawmakers in any special session call to  first and foremost  pass the child care tax credit he proposed during this years regular session. The proposal would create a tax credit equal to 50% of the allowable federal child and dependent care credit. It would benefit more than 16,000 families, according to the governors office.

It was $4.2 million, Justice said. Its next to nothing. But do you not understand that really and truly what we need in this state now is young people? We need people with young families that go to our schools and all that stuff.

For Allen, the governor calling for the child tax credit while simultaneously lauding a tax cut that could total less than $50 annually for most families and asking for another cut presented somewhat of a disconnect between himself and the needs of the state.

It struck me that there is all this work being done to get Medicaid back to pre-pandemic levels, to ensure child care doesnt lose ground and many other things, Allen said. Its hard to focus on those things and prioritize them while talking about tax cuts.

Senate Finance Chair Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said in a statement Monday that the state is on track with spending forecasts and that he expect[s] to see further tax cuts come in the future. He did not comment specifically on whether doing so would be feasible in a special session this year.

Regarding the Legislature, controlling spending growth and investing in ourselves has been the practice that helped us here, and will continue to decrease demand on West Virginia tax payers, Tarr said. Im beyond excited to see so many of our ideas and efforts validated by West Virginias growth.

Justice urged state lawmakers to not be afraid about enacting the further cuts.

Im going to challenge you in every way to find some way, somehow, if it can be done and still minding the store in absolutely the most prudent way we possibly can, Justice said. But for God-sakes-a-livin, dont be afraid. Dont be afraid.

Justice acknowledged that work will need to be done later down the line to stabilize ourselves and keep ourselves going if legislators do increase tax cuts or dip into the states income tax reserve fund to do so, which he specifically outlined as an option on Monday.

That work, however, and any of the repercussions that come with it will likely not be faced by Justice as he is seeking a six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

The governor is on his way out the door so any consequences of current and additional tax cuts will really be borne by the next governor and the next legislature, Allen said. This governor has a history of not paying enough attention to the future impacts of policy decisions  we havent seen a six-year spending forecast in years, and that used to be the norm. Legislators are now being asked to enact additional tax cuts without any future information on the spending needs of the state.

Justice said the special session call could come in August or September. It would be the second one called since the regular legislative session ended in March.

In May, Justice called lawmakers for a special session to address budget issues. During the three-day session, lawmakers passed a bill giving more than $180 million to the Department of Human Services. Child care was not included in the call for that session.

In a statement, state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin criticized Justice for not saying where the additional 5% in income tax cuts would come from. He said that the state needs real, actionable solutions to the states most pressing problems rather than short-term political maneuvers.

Jim Justice is using tax dollars as if they were an extension of his campaign committee, said Del. Pushkin, D-Kanawha. He has no plan for how to come up with the money it would take to further reduce taxes, he just feels like theres a way to do it. This isnt a tax cut; its an attempted bribe.

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K-9 Bane died in the line of duty. Wichita man who strangled the dog is going to prison

The Wichita man who strangled a sheriffs office K-9 last year will serve 29 months in prison for battering a law enforcement officer, plus one year in jail for killing the dog, a spokesman for the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office said.

Kaylon Kirkwood, who pleaded guilty to the felony crimes in May, must also pay a $5,000 fine for killing the K-9, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois named Bane, plus $38,379.98 in restitution, which includes the cost of a new police dog and training, a K-9 ballistic vest and Banes necropsy and cremation.

Restitution was payable to multiple community entities because the Sheriffs Office received donations that covered some of the items and the restitution is payable to those who donated, Dan Dillon, the DAs Office spokesman, said by email.

Kirkwood was sentenced Monday by Sedgwick County District Judge Eric Williams, who also handed Kirkwood a three-year prison term for an unrelated aggravated battery with sexual motivation and interference with law enforcement case from 2020.

All counts were run consecutive to each other as were the cases. The sentences are the maximum allowed under Kansas law, Dillon said.

Kirkwoods public defender had asked the court to sentence him to no more than 27 months, suspend the term and place him on probation for two years. She said in a written motion that Kirkwood never intended for Bane to die, accepted responsibility by pleading guilty and recognizes that substance abuse and anger issues played a role in his decision making.

Bane, who worked alongside Sedgwick County Sheriffs Deputy Tyler Brooks, died in the line of duty on Nov. 16, 2023. Law enforcement deployed the dog after Kirkwood ran from officers looking for him in connection with alleged crimes, including domestic violence.

Authorities have said officers spotted Kirkwood while they were patrolling an area in southeast Wichita and he ran into a nearby creek bed, then the storm drain.

Law enforcement sent Bane and another K-9 into the drain to draw out Kirkwood. Both dogs were on extended leashes at the time, police have said. The standoff started a few minutes before noon and lasted more than 2 1/2 hours.

A service was held at the Sedgwick County Extension Center to honor fallen Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office K-9 Bane. Bane was killed on Nov. 16, 2023, after he was sent into a drainage pipe in an effort to apprehend a suspect.

Kirkwood was only trying to stop the biting and injury to himself, the public defender, Bonnie Corrado, wrote in the motion asking for leniency. Kaylon understands his actions of running are what led to him being in the position with the K9s and does not minimize his fault in the event.

Police have said first responders tried to resuscitate Bane for 30 to 40 minutes to no avail.

At the time of his death, Bane was working for the Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office but had previously been a Wichita Police Department dog. Banes former handler, Wichita police Officer Daniel Gumm, died of cancer in 2022. Before Bane, Gumm was the handler for K-9 Rooster, who was fatally shot during a call in 2017.

The other K-9 deployed into the storm drain on Nov. 16 wasnt hurt.

Bane was deployed a total of 583 times, apprehended 127 suspects and seized 88 1/2 pounds of marijuana, 58 1/2 pounds of methamphetamine, half a pound of fentanyl, 37 grams of cocaine, 43 grams of heroin, 30 firearms and $16,339 in U.S. currency during his career, the sheriffs office has said. He started working as a K-9 in 2017.

His death led Kansas legislators to pass a bill seeking to increase the criminal penalties for harming or killing police animals. Gov. Laura Kelly eventually vetoed the legislation because she disagreed with its harsher sentencing requirements.

Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter, left, and Lt. Clayton Bush bow their heads during a moment of silence during a service honoring fallen Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office K-9 Bane. Bane was killed on Nov. 16, 2023, after he was sent into a drainage pipe in an effort to apprehend a suspect.

Kaylong Kirkwood strangled sheriffs K-9 Bane to death on Nov. 16, 2023.

Pretty special dog: Deputy handler remembers K-9 Bane, who was killed in the line of duty

K-9 Bane dies after following wanted Wichita man into storm drain, police say

Why Gov. Kelly vetoed bill increasing penalties for killing or harming police animals
Vice President Kamala Harris is currently on the toughest tightrope walk in politics. Shes No. 2 behind the countrys oldest leader whose shaky debate performance on Thursday sent Democrats into a panic about whether he can win the election and serve out a second term. Her name and her political future are bonded to the success of Joe Bidens bid for a second term.

Harris has tried in recent days to both forcefully defend Bidens record and his fitness while at the same time acknowledge his obvious failings in his debate against Donald Trump. Ahead of an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper immediately after the debate, Harris informed Bidens aides she would veer slightly from talking points she had been given, according to a person familiar with her preparations. She acknowledged Biden got off to a slow start and then pivoted to warning about the dangers of electing Donald Trump who has said he would be a dictator on day one.

Her balancing act was further on display two days later at a Los Angeles fundraiser at the home of movie producer Rob Reiner. Amid a crowd of deep-pocketed liberal donors, many of whom were frustrated with Bidens struggle to land a compelling message with voters, Harris was blunt. Our President said it wasnt his finest hour. We all know it wasnt, she said, before launching into a forceful attack on Trumps threat to democracy and saying that the former President is still a liar.

You see how much hasnt changed? Harris continued. So, lets deal with what weve got, right? Lets deal with what weve got.

It was a lukewarm endorsement of her running mate, but reflected the reality of the moment, as Democrats scramble to assure party donors and voters that Biden can still beat Trump in November, even after a shaky 90 minutes on the debate stage.

Harris has been strong post-debate, says Jim Margolis, a Democratic consultant who has worked with Harris in the past. She hasnt tried to bullshit people pretending that what they saw didnt happen.

As many in the party question whether Biden should remain their nominee, much of the frantic conversations have circled on whether Harris could do better at the top of the ticket. Biden advisors have told Democratic donors in recent days that he remains the best candidate as he beat Trump once already and Harris would not fare as well. Its an argument that has struck some party insiders as ungracious to the second name on the ticket, and possibly misleading. These are Bidens advisors, and they are doing their job to protect Biden and get him over the finish line, says a Democratic strategist. While her name is bandied about in not so flattering ways, her popularity is just about where Biden is, the strategist says.

There are signs that Harris appeal to voters may even be changing in the wake of the debate.

A new CNN/SSRS poll conducted after Thursdays debate and released Tuesday found that three quarters of voters think the Democratic Party would have a better chance of winning the presidency in November if someone other than Biden was the nominee. The same poll found Harris would do better against Trump than Biden in a hypothetical match up, with 45% of registered voters supporting Harris and 47% supporting Trump, a separation within the polls margin of error.

So far, few Democrats have openly called for Biden to leave the race. Former Ohio congressman Tim Ryan became one of the first on Tuesday, penning an essay for Newsweek saying that its time to make Harris the partys nominee. We have to rip the band aid off! Too much is at stake, Ryan wrote on X. Harris has significantly grown into her job, she will destroy Trump in debate, highlight choice issue, energize our base, bring back young voters and give us generational change.

Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett on Tuesday became the first sitting member of Congress to call on Biden to withdraw, citing the Presidents weak poll numbers and debate performance. President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump, Doggett said in a statement. I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not.

One of Bidens crucial Democratic allies, South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, said on MSNBC Tuesday that he would support Vice President Harris if President Joe Biden were to step aside, an obvious statement for a co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign, but one that took on additional meaning during a week when party leaders are having closed door conversations about the future of Bidens candidacy.

Biden is still on track to become the partys official nominee in the coming weeks when the Democratic National Committee holds a virtual roll call of delegates ahead of the partys August convention in Chicago. The roll call vote is intended to ensure Bidens name will be on ballots in Ohio, a state with an early ballot deadline.

But in the coming days, the prospect of Harris taking over the nomination is likely to continue to be a source of quiet conversations throughout the party.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
How Kansas Democrats hope to end GOP supermajority, with key issues abortion and LGBTQ

SHAWNEE  Democratic state Senate candidate Andrew Mall breaks the Saturday morning silence in this Kansas suburb with a firm knock at a strangers door. A minute passes. Mall has turned to leave when a silver-haired woman materializes.

She entertains his stump speech at first. But the womans eyes drop when he mentions the word Democrat. She used to be a Democrat but believes the party has abandoned moderate values like hers.

Mall is ready for those kinds of responses. He sells himself as a moderate alternative to the conservative Republican who holds the seat.

Democrat Andrew Mall is one of the candidates hoping to beat an incumbent Republican and help break a GOP supermajority in the Kansas Statehouse.

Democrats and Republicans tussle over supermajority

I might be that Democrat youre looking for, Mall replies.

A purple splotch in the corner of a deep-red state, Johnson County contains more than half of the competitive races for the Kansas House and Senate in 2024, including Malls Senate District 10. Some other races that will help decide the makeup of the Legislature are scattered around Wichita, Topeka and Manhattan.

In Johnson County, registered Republican voters outnumber Democrats, and the conservative sheriff promotes unproven election fraud claims. Yet Johnson County also voted for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly twice and overwhelmingly voted to preserve the right to an abortion in a 2022 state referendum.

In 2024, voters here could reshape the balance of power in the entire Kansas Legislature.

The Kansas GOP holds more than two-thirds of seats in both the state House and Senate. This supermajority, as its known, means Republicans alone can pass a bill and then override the Democratic governors veto. Theyve done this repeatedly in recent years.

Democrat Andrew Mall during a day campaigning for the Kansas Senate.

Democrats have set their sights on breaking that supermajority this election, with a wave of fundraising and candidates hoping to pick up seats and make it much more difficult to override the governors veto on major issues.

Gender-affirming care, food stamp restrictions and abortion access have all hinged in recent years on the Legislatures ability  or lack thereof  to bypass the governors veto.

Last session, for example, the Legislature passed a bill that requires abortion providers to report details about why a patient is seeking care. The bill, which a group of physicians have challenged in court, bypassed the governors veto by the slimmest possible margin of 84 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate.

The Old Shawnee Days event was a chance for local candidates to campaign for Johnson County seats.

Moderates choosing between party and issues

On the same morning that Mall launches his ground game, his Republican opponent, Sen. Mike Thompson, rides in a float at the annual Old Shawnee Days parade.

Malls supporters cheer his name on the sidelines when Thompson drives past. His people yell back: Vote life!

Thompson is the incumbent in the race after winning by less than 4% in the last election. A former TV weatherman, he has made headlines by casting doubt on climate change and election integrity. He said in an interview that Democrats focus on topics like reproductive rights to avoid less favorable issues.

What they're trying to do is pivot toward a subject that's very divisive and a hot button issue that they think they have. But they really don't because the economy is the issue right now, he said.

But for some, reproductive rights are more than a political talking point.

At the Old Shawnee Days carnival following the parade, locals Shane and Cindy Gentry stroll through corridors of low white tents where vendors sell craft necklaces and graphic tees.

Shane Gentry said concern for his daughters health and safety are part of the reason hell be supporting Mall in this years election.

As a parent I worry, because if she had some kind of medical condition (and) she couldn't do an abortion to save her life  thats kind of important, he said.

Gentry is still a registered Republican, even though he plans to vote for the Democrat this time. Frustrated by the widening chasm between the parties, The couple say they care more about a candidates policy positions than their party affiliation.

Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, has questioned climate change and election integrity.

So does Asher Kier, an 18-year-old Shawnee resident. But unlike the Gentrys, Kier said his Christian faith gives him complicated feelings about abortion access.

We've talked about (abortion) in the church and it's like, I'm definitely against this. The Bible speaks against this, he said. I would want to vote for somebody that believes strongly about it the same way as I do.

Uncertain odds and high stakes in Kansas elections

Democrats would need to pick up two Republican-held seats in the House or three in the Senate to dismantle that supermajority. Sam Paisley, the national press secretary at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, believes that goal is within reach.

Kansans deserve to live in an environment where they are not waiting with bated breath to see if the Legislature is about to legislate their rights away, she said.

The DLCC works with state caucuses across the country and has spotlighted Kansas as a power building state for Democrats. Joining the support is Gov. Kelly, who formed a political action committee dedicated to fundraising for candidates who could possibly unseat staunch Republicans. As of the end of 2023, the PAC had raised nearly a million dollars.

While Republican Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins said Democrats come for the supermajority every cycle, the money and fanfare around this years efforts stand out.

I think you'll see millions spent in Johnson County trying to win that area, both on the Democrat and the Republican side, he said.

Hawkins predicts Republicans ultimately will pick up two more seats. But he doesnt deny Republicans in the Statehouse have a lot to lose if this election swings against them.

That just means that weve got to work harder, he said.

Zane Irwin reports on politics, campaigns and elections for the Kansas News Service.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Democrats hope to end the Republican supermajority
HOLTON (KSNT)  Kansas Governor Laura Kelly traveled to two northeast Kansas cities on Tuesday to ceremonially sign a tax cut package.

Kelly signed off on Senate Bill 1 in the cities of Hiawatha and Holton on Tuesday, July 2, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor. The bill modifies income tax rates for individuals, decreases the privilege tax normal tax, increases the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption and more.

This tax cuts package provides meaningful relief for hardworking Kansans while preserving our ability to continue fully funding our essential services and infrastructure, Kelly said. Now, because we have responsibly budgeted, Kansans will see significant tax cuts without sending us back to an era of fiscal shortfalls.

Kansas gets $45 million for infrastructure improvement projects

The bill received support from both sides of the political aisle and gives nearly $2 billion in tax cuts for Kansas residents for the next five years, according to the Office of the Governor. Some functions of the bill include a reduction on property taxes through increasing residential property tax exemption to $75,000 and eliminating state taxes on Social Security income.

Throughout my time in the Legislature, I have championed meaningful tax cuts for Kansans, said Republican Kansas State Senator Dennis Pyle, District 1. Eliminating the state tax on Social Security income has been a long-time goal of mine. I am thankful this is finally a reality for seniors in Kansas thanks to Senate Bill 1.

Kelly officially approved of the tax cuts on Friday, June 21 following a special session meeting with legislators. Kelly previously vetoed three other tax plans sent to her from the Kansas Legislature.

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BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- China will formulate more than 50 national and industrial standards for artificial intelligence (AI) by 2026 and develop a standard system to guide the high-quality development of the sector, according to guidelines jointly unveiled by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other government organs.

The guidelines specified seven key areas for developing the AI standard system in the country, including standards for key technologies, intelligent products and services, and industry applications.

Developing AI standards can help promote technological progress, enterprise development and industrial upgrading, thus better leveraging AI to empower new industrialization, according to the guidelines.

In recent years, China's AI industry has achieved progress in technological innovation, product creation, industry applications and other areas. The sector has presented new features with the accelerated development of new technologies like large models.

China now hosts more than 4,500 AI companies. Its core AI industry reached a scale of more than 578 billion yuan (about 81 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 13.9 percent year on year, according to official data.

In this year's government work report, China unveiled an AI Plus initiative, a strategic move designed to propel the digital economy's expansion and spearhead the transformation and modernization of manufacturing sectors. 
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, on Tuesday said she supports President Joe Biden amid calls for the 81-year-old chief executive to end his campaign after a weak debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

The debate last week brought a renewed surge of attention to Bidens age, as some Democrats questioned whether Biden, already the oldest president in history, is capable of serving another four-year term. The Biden campaign has acknowledged the president didnt do well but has dismissed calls to drop out as overblown.

While I have not been shy about standing up to Washington when its wrong for Kansas, the Presidents record of delivering bipartisan results speaks for itself, Kelly said in a statement. His efforts will continue to allow Kansas to recruit more manufacturing businesses, rebuild our infrastructure, and stand up for our fundamental freedoms. He is a decent man of strong character. I will support him in November.

Kellys office sent The Star the statement less than two hours after the governor didnt answer reporter questions about Biden following a ceremonial bill signing in Holton. A spokesperson said the statement was originally released on Friday following the debate.

After Kelly answered several questions related to taxes, an aide called last question and Kelly answered a question about her political action committee. The Star then asked the governor whether she has concerns about Bidens fitness to be the Democratic nominee.

I think she called it, Kelly said, referring to the aide, and walked away.

The New York Times and CNN reported Tuesday that Democratic governors held a conference call on Monday to discuss the presidential race. The Times also reported that the White House is planning a call on Wednesday for Democratic governors. Kelly didnt respond to a question about whether she had participated in the Monday call.

Kansas is not a competitive presidential state for Democrats. Trump won the state with 56% of the vote in both 2020 and 2016.

But Democratic governors collectively hold significant sway over the party as a whole, and several would-be candidates to replace Biden if he drops out are governors. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California are all frequently mentioned as potential contenders, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and other members of the Biden administration.

Since taking office in 2019, Kelly has often sidestepped questions about national political controversies, saying she is focused on Kansas. The reluctance to regularly discuss national politics has come as the Democratic governor navigates a conservative-leaning state with a Republican-controlled Legislature.

The past week has brought a political earthquake, however. Bidens rough debate performance, along with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that presidents enjoy substantial immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts has further raised the stakes of the election for Democrats. Trump and his supporters promise mass deportations, sharp tariff hikes and widespread firings of civil servants if he wins in November.

The debate performance was rough, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, told reporters, illustrating the alarm in Democratic circles.

It was a very bad night for the president. But he is still the candidate  only he can make decisions about his future candidacy, so as long as he continues to be in the race, I support him.

No major Democratic official in the Kansas City area has called on Biden to step aside. Former Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, said on MSNBC after the debate that she was heartbroken by Bidens debate performance and acknowledged that there was a conversation about whether Biden should step aside.

Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander on social media said that voters have made clear they dont want a Biden-Trump rematch. He also said that if Biden stays in the race, Ill do all I can for him, just like I did before.

Some elected Democrats have staunchly backed Biden. The die is not cast based on a poor debate performance, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, said last week.
The murder trial of Karen Read ended in a mistrial Monday after jurors couldnt reach a unanimous verdict, prolonging a case thats divided a Massachusetts community amid allegations of a sweeping cover-up by police and investigative misconduct.

While not an acquittal, the outcome was a boon for Read, who is accused of drunkenly driving into her then-boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, and leaving him to die on a snowy night in January 2022 outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts. The 45-year-old had pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a collision, and she faced up to life in prison if convicted.

But prosecutors with the Norfolk District Attorneys Office failed to convince the jury of six men and six women beyond a reasonable doubt. Over the last two days of the five-day deliberations, jurors repeatedly informed the judge they were hopelessly deadlocked, saying in a final note on Monday their perspectives were starkly divided.

Now, prosecutors must decide whether to rethink their approach. As they reconsider their case, they may decide to present evidence differently in hopes of securing a conviction, or avoid a second trial altogether and offer a plea deal, legal experts said.

Theyre going to make an assessment about basically what went wrong, trial attorney Misty Marris told CNN. You go back, and you do the diagnostic: Where does the evidence fail to meet those standards from the jurys perspective?

Heres what could happen next:

Prosecutors intend to retry the case

In a brief statement Monday, the office of Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said it plans to retry the case, which alleged Read and OKeefe had gotten into an argument the night of January 28, 2022, before she struck him with her SUV and fled the scene.

The couple had been out drinking at two bars with friends, then went to the home of OKeefes colleague for an after-party, court documents show. OKeefe was found the next morning bruised and battered in the snow outside the home in Canton.

John O'Keefe - Boston Police Department/AP

Read and her attorneys had, in turn, presented another theory: Read dropped OKeefe off, then left  while OKeefe was injured in a fight with off-duty officers inside the home, mauled by the homeowners dog, then tossed in the snow to die. The police then conspired to fabricate evidence and lie under oath to protect their own and frame Read, her defense alleged.

Court documents say Read went looking the next morning for OKeefe in the snowstorm and found his body in the front yard of the Canton home.

Prosecutors rejected that theory, presenting evidence the couple had a volatile relationship. Firefighters who responded the morning of January 29 to the site of OKeefes body asked about his injuries and were told by Read, I hit him, I hit him, according to their testimony. Additionally, Reads vehicle had a broken taillight, and pieces of the taillight were found at the scene.

Reads attorneys on Monday signaled they would not shy away from a retrial.

No matter how long it takes, no matter how long they keep trying, we will not stop fighting. We have no quit, Alan Jackson, one of Karen Reads attorneys, said in video provided by CNN affiliate WCVB outside the courthouse.

Prosecutors could rethink the case 

Prosecutors decision to quickly signal their intent to retry the case wasnt unexpected, said Rosanna Cavallaro, a professor of law at Suffolk University in Boston.

They dont want to be seen as thinking that they failed, or that they have nothing but a very strong case, she said. But the reality is, of course, that what a mistrial means is that the jury could not agree, and they were not persuaded.

But ahead of a status conference on July 22, prosecutors will be engaged in a post mortem of the case, said Daniel Medwed, a law professor at Northeastern University, and they will be asking themselves a series of questions.

What worked, what didnt work? If they were to proceed again, he said, would they choose the same charges?  Would they change their strategy in some ways? Where are places that they need to shore up their case, maybe through additional investigation?

Perhaps, Medwed said, prosecutors will look back and feel they overreached charging Read with murder, which requires intent, and instead focus on the other charge. They might just consider dropping the murder charge and going with manslaughter, he said.

Supporters of Karen Read display signs near Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham on Monday. - Steven Senne/AP

Indeed, Cavallaro said the indictment against Read and the charges stemming from it would not change. But prosecutors could offer another narrative that would make it easier for a second jury to convict Read on a lesser type of homicide than second-degree murder like manslaughter or reckless manslaughter.

The stories heard by the jury were binary and polarized, she said: In prosecutors telling, Read intended to kill OKeefe, while the defense argued she was innocent and framed. Its possible the second time around, the government says, Maybe we need to give the jury this intermediate possibility that she didnt mean to kill him, Cavallaro said, in addition to alleging Read intended to murder OKeefe.

It captures the idea that a reasonable person would have been more careful, and because of your lack of care, your recklessness, a death occurred that youre responsible for, she added.

That behavior is punishable as a homicide, but not as a murder, she said.

 or offer a plea deal

Former Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley indicated in an interview with WCVB that prosecutors could drop the most serious charge of second-degree murder, adding, They can also seek to plea bargain, which is something that Im guessing they will at least talk about.

If I were defense counsel, you owe it to your client to talk and the prosecution could talk about whether they could reduce charges and reach some plea agreement, Coakley said.

In jurors final note to the judge before she declared a mistrial, they said some members believed the prosecutors had met the burden of proof, proving the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. But others felt the evidence failed to meet that standard.

Jurors language signaled it was not a single holdout but multiple jurors who were unconvinced, Cavallaro said, which the defense would take as a win. Given that, she asked, is there any temptation for (Read) to plead?

Medwed echoed that idea, pointing out that Reads defense focused on her proclaimed innocence in OKeefes death. He would be surprised if she was interested in pleading guilty to anything that would include admitting she caused OKeefes death.

State troopers testimony appears to be key

A key decision could be whether to present testimony from a lead investigator who had to apologize on the stand for sexist and offensive texts he sent about Read in a private group chat, according to WCVB. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor called her a whack job, mocked her medical issues and told coworkers he found no nudes while searching her phone for evidence, the station reported.

Proctor was relieved of duty Monday following the mistrial, state police Col. John Mawn said in a news release.

This follows our previous decision to open an internal affairs investigation after information about serious misconduct emerged in testimony at the trial, Mawn said, adding the investigation is ongoing.

CNN has sought comment from the State Police Association of Massachusetts. An attorney for Proctor previously said he was cooperating with the internal inquiry and said his personal messages did not undermine the investigation into OKeefes death.

Theres no evidence Proctor tampered with any evidence, Julie Grant, a Court TV anchor and a former federal prosecutor, told CNNs Sara Sidner Tuesday. But his behavior and comments were unprofessional.

The Massachusetts State Police  you have to wonder if they felt as if he had any role in this hung jury, she said.

Still, experts who spoke to CNN saw Proctors testimony as key to the commonwealths case, which might force prosecutors to call on him despite the apparent baggage.

Hes the lead investigator, which means that his performance, his work, his efforts are inherently relevant to the case, Medwed said, adding the defense would likely call the trooper to impeach the investigation even if prosecutors didnt.

I just dont see how the government can avoid him as much as theyd like to, Medwed said.

CNNs Eric Levenson, Faith Karimi and Jean Casarez contributed to this report.

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Kazakh opposition activist and journalist Aidos Sadykov died in Kyiv on July 2, two weeks after being seriously wounded in an assassination attempt, said his wife, Natalya Sadykova.

Ukraine suspects two residents of Kazakhstan, Altai Zhakanbayev and Meiram Karatayev, of carrying out the attack against Sadykov on June 18.

The opposition activist, who was granted asylum in Ukraine in 2014, was shot in a parked car in the Shevchenkivskyi district and spent 13 days hospitalized in an intensive care unit.

"Aidos Sadykov left us today at 3 a.m. Kyiv time, my beloved husband, father of our three children, and the great son of the Kazakh people," Natalya Sadykova said on Facebook.

The killed oppositionist's wife has accused Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of being responsible for the attack. Astana denied the accusations, and Tokayev said Kazakhstan was ready to assist with the investigation.

Zhakanbayev, one of the suspected attackers, surrendered himself to the Kazakh authorities and was detained. Ukraine said it will seek the suspect's extradition. Karatayev remains wanted.

Aidos Sadykov and his wife Natalya Sadykova fled Kazakhstan and were granted political asylum in Ukraine 10 years ago. The couple founded the Base YouTube channel, which is critical of the Kazakh government and oligarchs and has over 1 million subscribers.

Until 2010, Sadykov was the leader of one of the branches of the opposition party Azat in Kazakhstan. He then founded the Gastat movement and organized actions in defense of civil and political rights, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RLE).

The Kazakh court sentenced the activist to two years in prison for "resisting the police" in a case the couple said was politically motivated.

Read also: Ukraine to demand extradition of suspects accused of attempting to assassinate Kazakh journalist

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Natalya Sadykova, the wife of Kazakh journalist Aidos Sadykov who was shot on 18 June in Kyiv, has said that her husband died on the night of 1-2 July and once again accused the President of Kazakhstan of his death.

Source: Sadykova on Facebook; Prosecutor Generals Office

Quote: "Aidos Sadykov left this world today at 03:00 Kyiv time. My adored husband, the father of our three children, a great son of the Kazakh people, Aidos gave his life for Kazakhstan, he was martyred by killers."

Details: She said that Sadykov fought for his life in intensive care for thirteen days, but no miracle happened. "His death is on the conscience of Tokayev (President of Kazakhstan  ed.)," she said.

Update. The Prosecutor General's Office later announced that due to the death of the Kazakh journalist, the suspects in the attempted assassination will have their charges changed.

The investigation has shown that two citizens of Kazakhstan were involved in the crime. "Currently, law enforcement agencies are preparing a notification to change the previously reported notices of suspicion to the persons involved from attempted murder to intentional murder committed to order and by prior conspiracy of a group of persons (articles 11, 12 of Article 115.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," the statement said.

Background:

Kazakh opposition journalist Aidos Sadykov was shot by an unknown assailant in Kyivs Shevchenkivskyi district on the afternoon of 18 June as he was sitting in a parked car.

His wife, Natalya Sadykova, told Ukrainska Pravda that her husband is in intensive care in a serious condition. She is convinced that Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was involved in the assassination attempt.

It was later reported that two citizens of Kazakhstan suspected of the attempted murder crossed the border with Moldova on the day of the crime and have been put on the international wanted list.

Commenting on the attack on Sadykov, Tokayev said that the official authorities of Kazakhstan are ready to join the investigation if necessary.

Altai Zhakanbayev, one of the suspects in the attempted murder of journalist Aidos Sadykov, was detained in Kazakhstan after he turned himself in to the police on 22 June.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  An Olathe, Kan. business owner has pleaded guilty in federal court on July 1, 2024, for her involvement in a money-laundering conspiracy that transferred the proceeds of heroin and meth trafficking to Mexico. A Kansas City, Mo. woman has also pleaded guilty for her role in the conspiracy.

Ana Lilia Leal-Martinez, 48, of Mexican citizenship, residing in Overland Park, pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a conspiracy to commit money laundering from May 23, 2020 to September 20, 2022.

Kansas has more than 100 new laws, here are 10 you should know

Leal-Martinez is the owner of Imagen Leal in Olathe, Kan., which offers money transfer services. By pleading guilty today, Leal-Martinez admits that she accepted drug proceeds from co-conspirators such as Jose Jesus Sanchez-Mendez, also known as Michoacano, 41, of Mexico. According to court documents, those drug proceeds were sent by wire transfer to individuals in Michoacan, Mexico.

According to court documents, Leal-Martinez sent wire transfers totaling $83,850 to Mexico from Imagen Leal in furtherance of the money-laundering conspiracy between January 1, 2022 and June 8, 2022. The transfers were sent under assumed names to avoid detection.

Leal-Martinez is just one of 44 defendants indicted in this case. According to the court, she was identified in 2022 after Homeland Security Investigations investigated a drug-trafficking organization that distributed more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine, 22 kilograms of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl among other drugs sourced from Mexico in the Kansas City area.

Investigators identified multiple bulk cash smugglers and drug traffickers working for the organization responsible for the $4.7 million conspiracy.

Flor Gonzalez-Celestine, 54, or Kansas City, Mo. has also pleaded guilty today to participating in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin from February 28, 2020 to September 20, 2022.

Man charged with assaulting, seriously injuring KCPD officer

According to court documents Gonzalez-Celestine participated in four controlled drug buys that were monitored by law enforcement. She sold more than a kilogram of methamphetamine to a confidential informant and was observed in possession of approximately 2.2 additional kilograms of methamphetamine.

Sanchez-Mendez has also pleaded guilty to his role in continuing a criminal enterprise, drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies and to illegally reentering the United States. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

According to federal statutes, Leal-Martinez is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Gonzalez-Celestine is subject to a mandatory minimum 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a life sentence in federal prison without parole. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Edwards and Megan A. Baker. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Drug Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Olmsted County, Minn., Sheriffs Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FBI, the Clay County, Mo., Sheriffs Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

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Kennebunkport's new causeway expected to protect island and pier for the next 50 years

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine  Standing alongside town and state officials, Governor Janet Mills snipped the large red ribbon in half at the Pier Road Causeway on Monday, July 1, and triumphantly raised her oversized pair of scissors above her head.

With that snip, the towns Pier Road Resiliency Project  its effort to protect the causeway against the elements for decades to come  is complete.

Before she wielded those scissors, Mills called the causeway, which connects Bickford Island and the Cape Porpoise Pier, the lifeline for the people who visit and live and do business there. She noted how the road had been damaged by weather-related events over the years, making projects such as this one a priority.

Governor Janet Mills, third from right, is seen here in Kennebunkport, Maine, with members of the town's Select Board on July 1, 2024. From left are Select Board members Jon Dykstra, Sheila Matthews-Bull, David Bancroft, MaryBeth Gilbert, and Chair Allen Daggett.

This harbor is home to the largest commercial fishing fleet between Portland and Portsmouth, Mills said. We cant leave Pier Road or other roads like it as vulnerable as it has been.

Mills said people have been drawn to the dockside streets of Kennebunkport, with its sights of a traditional fishing harbor, for more than a century.

The Town of Kennebunkport, Maine, celebrated the completion of its new Pier Road Causeway during a ribbon-cutting ceremony that Governor Janet Mills and other dignitaries attended on Monday, July 1, 2024.

Im proud that were working together to protect the character and the charm and the culture of this community and the health and safety of its people, its residents, its businesses, and its visitors, she said.

Mills congratulated the town on completing the project.

You have my gratitude for your continued partnership in the fight against Climate Change across Maine, she said.

A crew works on the Pier Road Causeway Resiliency Project in Kennebunkport, Maine, during the spring of 2024.

Moments before Mills arrived, Town Manager Laurie Smith said she was excited to see the idea of improving the causeway come to fruition, especially as the result of a collaboration between the town and state. Smith also expressed appreciation for the neighbors who live near the causeway and were impacted by the projects construction.

Smith called the project not just a cause for celebration for Kennebunkport but also for Mills and her administrations efforts to create resiliency projects throughout Maine.

Smith also applauded the towns Select Board for having the foresight to raise the road at an elevation that maybe not everyone was comfortable with at the time.

Kennebunkport Town Manager Laurie Smith, left, greets Maine Governor Janet Mills as she arrives at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new and improved Pier Road Causeway on Monday, July 1, 2024.

Carried out by Woodward & Curran Engineering and Sargent Construction, the project is the result of a $2.6 million grant the town secured from Maines Infrastructure Adaptation Fund Program. The town matched those funds to the tune of $66,314.

Eric LaBelle, starting his first day as the local director of public works, said the town wanted to limit the environmental impacts of the project.

We stayed within the existing footprint, he said.

Crews finished the project, which started in February, as recently as this past weekend, LaBelle added.

They were basically putting in plantings and such over the weekend, he said.

Bruce Van Note, the commissioner of the states Department of Transportation, called the project a testament of what you can do when you all work together.

Before the project started, the causeway had been battered by storms and flooding for years, most recently during the heavy rain and high tides of the twin weather events that hit the region back in January. During these king tides and surges, the town needed to close the passage.

The project celebrated on Monday is part of the towns community-wide effort to make local infrastructure resilient in the face of climate change projections and concerns. According to Smith, the new causeway is expected to last around 50 years.

The project, which covered the causeways 450-foot span, called for raising the road approximately four feet to guard against water surges, protect infrastructure, and maintain access for residents, fishermen, and first responders during storms and their aftermaths.

Smith said the improvements are meant to address the predicted rise in sea level in the next quarter-century. She also said the measures are consistent with the states and the towns climate action plans.

In a press release, Kennebunkport Select Board Chair Allen Daggett called Pier Road an integral part of the towns economic engine, given that it provides the sole access to the local commercial pier. As many as 50 commercial fishing vessels use that pier and boost the local economy by as much as $10 million each year, according to Daggett.

The raising of Pier Road was not only needed for the safety of residents and businesses today but also for the future of our town and the continued success of the regional fishing community, Daggett said.

Alongside town and state officials, engineers and construction crew members, Governor Janet Mills raises a large pair of scissors over her head after cutting the ribbon at the new and improved Pier Road Causeway in Kennebunkport, Maine, on July 1, 2024.

According to Smith, the Pier Road project is just the beginning, the first of several planned to increase resilience in Kennebunkport. Other projects in the works include the reconstruction of the Cape Porpoise Pier and addressing the impacts of flooding along the Kennebunk River.

The state established the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund in 2021. The following year, the states Department of Transportation awarded nearly $20 million in funds to 12 communities, including Kennebunkport.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Gov. Mills cuts the ribbon on new Pier Road Causeway in Kennebunkport
The outside of the Sugar Maple Square polling site in Bowling Green,May 21, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)

A grassroots advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against Kentucky election officials alleging the states process for removing voters from rolls violates federally protected voting rights.

The states top election official responded that undoing the law during a presidential election year would sow chaos and doubt.

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC) filed the lawsuit last week in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky against Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams and the State Board of Elections, which includes Republican and Democratic members.

The complaint alleges that Kentuckys election law, which was changed in response to the coronavirus pandemic and became permanent in 2021, violates the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. KFTC says the federal act requires registered voters who have moved to receive notice in writing to confirm their address and have time to respond before they are removed from voter rolls. Kentuckys law flagrantly violates these requirements, KFTC argues, by not giving voters notice before removal.

Adams issued a statement Tuesday saying he plans to defend the law in court. The 2021 changes, known as House Bill 574, were signed into law by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

Kentuckys elections are a national success story, Adams said. Three years ago, Kentucky enacted a bipartisan law to prevent voting in more than one state in a presidential election. Now that a presidential election is underway, a fringe left-wing activist group is trying to undo that law and sow chaos and doubt in our elections. We believe voters should vote in only one state, and we expect to prevail in court.

In addition to the removal process, the 2021 state law also has provisions for no-excuse in-person early voting and updates to regulations for absentee ballots.

The secretary of state also said that 4,362 individuals had been removed from the voter rolls in June. Of that group, 3,030 were deceased, 603 were convicted of felonies, 554 had moved out of the state, 78 voluntarily deregistered, 52 were duplicate registrations and 45 were adjudged mentally incompetent.

KFTC is asking the court to permanently enjoin election officials from canceling voter registrations without following provisions required by federal law.

The groups lawsuit also says it registered more than 2,000 new voters during last years governors race and plans to directly register even more prospective voters due to the presidential race.

KFTC will hire 15 people across the state for this years voter registration program, which includes field training and webinars.

Founded in 1981, KFTCs mission is to challenge and change unfair political, economic and social systems by working for a new balance of power and a just society.

Read Kentuckians for the Commonwealth v. Michael Adams

1

The post Kentuckys process for purging voter rolls challenged in federal court appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
BAGHDAD, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi military said Tuesday that three Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in an airstrike carried out the day before in the eastern province of Diyala.

Based on intelligence reports, the Iraqi warplanes carried out an airstrike on Monday on an IS hideout in the al-Adhaim area in the northern part of the province, destroying the hideout and killing all the militants inside, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.

The statement stated that earlier on Tuesday, an army force was sent to the scene and found three bodies, including the body of an IS leader.

Meanwhile, a security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the killed IS leader is an Iraqi national and is wanted by the security forces for crimes of killing civilians and security personnel.

The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. 
Kerry Washington is getting candid about her thoughts surrounding Donald Trumps conviction and how hes still able to run for president.

In a conversation with Bustle ahead of the release of UnPrisoned season two on July 17, she also opened up about the ways that felons may be seen differently now that the former president has been convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Everything has changed in terms of how I feel about the so-called justice system, she told the publication. Were in such an interesting moment when it comes to [the question of], What is a felon? I love what people have been sharing on social media, [saying that] if a person who is a convicted felon can still run for president, then we should be removing that box from job applications.

The actress and producer also pointed out that if a felon can run for president, they should be able to vote.

Thats huge. Huge. The irony is that [Gov.] Ron DeSantis has been trying to make it impossible in Trumps home state, she continued. A bill was passed in Florida to allow formerly incarcerated folks to vote, and DeSantis has been trying to do everything he can to [undercut] that. Donald Trump may not be able to vote in his home state.

She explained that being a felon has become another box people are put in that assumes who they are and what theyre capable of, similar to gender or race. She also noted that when she starred on Scandal, it was the first time a lot of people let a Black woman spend so much time in their home.

She was a real human being, beyond the label of Black woman. [She had] complexity, nuance, flaws, brilliance. She was aspirational and also such a mess, Washington said, adding, Now were allowing for that kind of social, psychological deepening with felons and returning citizens, too.

Elsewhere in the conversation, the actress shared how she felt attending white institutions, like The Spence School in New York City and George Washington University, gave her the opportunity to enter elite spaces in her adult career.

She revealed that having gone to those schools allowed her to have more confidence in typically white spaces as a Black woman.

When people find out that I went to Spence, theres an immediate softening and an invitation into their idea of normal, she said. Suddenly, I fit into the picture, as if, by just telling them that I went to Spence, we are all acknowledging that I understand their ground rules, that Im not going to do something to make them uncomfortable because Ive been trained well. And as a Black person, theres a sense that I must be exceptional to have been allowed in that space.

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A spate of criminal justice laws took effect in Tennessee on July 1..(Photo: John Partipilo)

A spate of criminal justice laws took effect in Tennessee on July 1..(Photo: John Partipilo)

Reacting to the death of a Belmont University student killed by a stray bullet, Tennessee lawmakers passed a measure this year that would allow judges to commit offenders to a mental health facility if theyre deemed incompetent to stand trial.

The law is one of several new measures that took effect Monday, July 1, designed to clamp down on crime and enact tougher punishments in some instances.

Tennessee lawmakers passed the bill in response to Jillian Ludwigs 2023 death after her mother, Jessica Ludwig, told legislators, there is nothing worse than losing a child. It leaves a giant hole in your heart that can never be filled.

Jillians Law provides critical resources so that dangerous individuals may no longer avoid responsibility for their crimes and continue to victimize innocent Tennesseans.

 House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland

Lawmakers passed the bill with ease, 92-0 in the House with four present not voting and 28-0 in the Senate with one present not voting. The new law also prohibits the offender from possessing or buying guns.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, who sponsored Jillians Law, said Monday the Legislature enacted several smart-on-crime policies over the last few sessions, emphasizing prevention, improving accountability and reducing recidivism.

Jillians Law provides critical resources so that dangerous individuals may no longer avoid responsibility for their crimes and continue to victimize innocent Tennesseans, Lamberth, a Portland Republican, said.

Gaining support for Jillians Law wasnt difficult. The man accused of the crime, Shaquille Taylor, had been released from jail in Nashville on another charge after being found incompetent to stand trial. Taylor, who reportedly has an intellectual disability, wasnt considered a danger to himself or others, even though he admitted to shooting into a car on Dickerson Pike in 2021.

Nashville NewsChannel 5 reported the state doesnt have enough staff to handle 800 open beds in four state mental facilities and private facilities, which have a total of 3,500 licensed psychiatric beds. The states four mental health hospitals have 577 beds.

The law could cost the state more than $2 million in staff and supplies if the number of new admissions exceeds the states ability to house them, according to a state financial analysis of the legislation.

Democratic state Rep. John Ray Clemmons said Monday lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have a sincere desire to deal with crime and public safety.

Unfortunately, most of the partisan bills Republicans keep touting are recycled policies from the 80s and 90s that have proven over time to be wholly ineffective, said Clemmons, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

The Legislature should focus instead on using expertise, data and proven outcomes to set criminal justice policies, he said.

State shoulders the cost

The state would pay the cost of a court-ordered mental evaluation and treatment for defendants charged with a misdemeanor who could be incompetent to stand trial.

The measure was sponsored by Lamberth and Republican Sen. Shane Reeves of Murfreesboro.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, left, sponsored several criminal justice bill during the 2024 legislative session that became law on July 1. (Photo: John Partipilo)

A financial analysis of the provision shows it could increase state expenditures by $3.3 million annually and cut local government expenditures by $1.3 million a year.

On average, 2,017 forensic outpatient evaluations were given annually over the last decade, about 18% of which were for misdemeanor offenses.

Death for child rape

Lamberth also passed HB1663, a measure that will allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for convictions of child rape, aggravated child rape and especially aggravated child rape.

During the session, Lamberth argued that the states toughest penalty should be reserved for crimes as heinous as child rape.

Critics of the bill have countered that the law is unconstitutional because the death penalty is allowed only for first-degree murder cases.

Opponents also contend that child victims will be forced to go to court and possibly testify against family members, forcing them to relive the trauma for years because of the length of time it takes to adjudicate a person on death row.

Under the new law, an offender also could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or just life in prison.

Penalizing mass threats

Lawmakers voted to increase the penalty for threatening to commit mass violence on school property or at a school-related event, making it a Class E felony rather than a misdemeanor.

The bill was sponsored by Democratic Rep. Bo Mitchell of Nashville and Republican Sen. Jon Lundberg of Bristol.

Two Williamson County families sued Gov. Bill Lee and Williamson County Schools this year, claiming their middle school children were arrested, strip-searched and placed in solitary confinement before being sent to alternative school for allegedly making threats of mass violence.

A 14-year-old boy involved in the case was accused by a Page Middle School principal of saying he was going to bring guns to school and also had a bomb at home.

Families say school officials misinterpreted the kids words and overreacted.

Clamping down on drag racers

Largely in reaction to Shelby County lawmakers complaints about interstate speeding, the Legislature passed a bill raising the penalty for drag racing to a Class E felony from a misdemeanor.

Sponsored by Memphis Republicans, Sen. Brent Taylor and Rep. John Gillespie, the bill passed the Senate 25-4 and the House 86-11. It is expected to cost the state $134,300 to imprison violators.

Back the Blue Act

A bill passed by Republican Rep. Kip Capley of Summertown and Republican Sen. Dawn White of Murfreesboro increases the penalty for assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Offenders could be charged with a Class E felony accompanied by a mandatory minimum 60-day sentence and $10,000 fine.

Lamberth called it one of the best bills passed during the recent session, saying on X, Law enforcement officers have been under siege from criminals and liberal politicians over the last few years but that in Tennessee we #backtheblue.

The Lookout could not find any bills from recent years that would cut funding for police or undermine officers.

New gun restriction

A measure passed by Republican Rep. Ryan Williams of Cookeville and Republican Sen. Paul Bailey of Sparta prohibits people from possessing or buying a gun under age 25 if they were guilty of certain crimes as a juvenile.

If found delinquent between 14 and 18 of a crime constituting aggravated assault, aggravated assault of a first responder or nurse, cruelty to animals or aggravated cruelty to animals, the person could face those gun restrictions until they turn 25.

New bail provision

Another bill sponsored by Taylor and Lamberth requires magistrates to consider community safety when deciding whether to require bail or other conditions for release.

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Del. Todd Kirby, R- Raleigh, speaks to the House of Delegates during the May 2024 special legislative session. Kirby has resigned from the House after being appointed to be circuit judge in Raleigh County. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Gov. Jim Justice has appointed Del. Todd Kirby to be circuit judge in Raleigh County. He replaces Judge Robert Burnside, who announced last year he would not seek reelection.

Kirby, R-Raleigh, resigned from the House of Delegates effective Tuesday, according to the letter he sent to House Speaker Roger Hanshaw Tuesday.

I am grateful for the support and collaboration of my colleagues and the opportunity to contribute to the legislative process, he wrote to Hanshaw. I have immense respect for the work we have accomplished together and the positive impact we have made within the Mountain State.

Kirby, of Beckley, earned degrees in political science and international studies from Marshall University, according to the governors office. He graduated with his Juris Doctorate from Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia. He has owned and operated his own law firm in Beckley since 2011.

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Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate hosted by CNN with President Joe Biden, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. The Supreme Court ruled Monday that presidents have immunity for their official acts under the Constitution. | Gerald Herbert

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.

Hello, friends. Happy holiday week to all.

3 things to know

Calls to replace Biden on the Democratic ticket are getting louder, and the first batch of post-debate polls show a rough path ahead for the president. A majority of Americans think President Joe Biden is too old or too cognitively impaired to serve another term, and almost half of Democrats think the party should pick another candidate. Read more here.

The S upreme Court ruled Monday that presidents have immunity for their official acts under the Constitution. Donald Trumps election interference case  which hinges upon the question of whether Trump had legal immunity during his time in office  will go back to a lower court. Read more here.

Kamala Harris visited Utah on Friday, participating in a fundraiser in Park City. She acknowledged that Bidens suffered from a slow start at last weeks debate, but said the president is a profound thinker. Read more here.

The Big Idea

Will Trump be held accountable?

Will Trump be held responsible for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election? Thats the question driving coverage of Mondays Supreme Court decision  though the court never took the question head-on.

The justices punted Trumps election subversion case back down to a lower court, providing only a framework for determining what actions a president can and cannot be held legally responsibly for while in office. The court determined, in a 6-3 decision, that U.S. presidents are immune from prosecution for their official acts as president but can be held accountable for their private conduct.

The decision was made along ideological lines: the six conservative-appointed justices concurred, and the three liberal-appointed justices dissented. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in drafting the dissenting opinion, said that the decision would allow presidents to be insulated from criminal prosecution, regardless of their actions as president: Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune, Sotomayor wrote. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, took a different tack: the president is not above the law, Roberts wrote. But he is immune from prosecution whenever he exercises his core constitutional powers.

What does that mean for Trumps case? Here are three things voters should know  just four months away from Election Day.

First: the line between official and unofficial is blurry. The majority opinion made it clear that U.S. presidents would be protected for actions performed in their official capacity as president  but the court isnt super clear where the line is, said James C. Phillips, the Constitutional Government Initiative director at Brigham Young Universitys Wheatley Institute. In the majority opinions parlance, Trump is protected for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority.

Second: There could be overlap between official and unofficial. Running for office, for example, is not an act within the presidents official capacity under the Constitution, but the court acknowledged that some of Trumps campaign-related activities  including those at the center of the prosecutions arguments in the election subversion case  are protected. For example, when Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to alter the election results, the court determined that he was at least presumptively immune from prosecution for doing this, since a president and vice president are engaged in official conduct whenever they discuss their official responsibilities.

Third: Trump may never be held accountable. Since the Supreme Court passed the case to lower courts, the trials could be prolonged  and almost certainly wont conclude this year. I just dont think were going to get to a trial before Inauguration Day, much less Election Day, said Phillips. If Trump is reelected, a sitting president cannot be prosecuted, so that would further delay any lingering cases. But, of course, as the chief executive, Trump would have tools at his disposal to keep the prosecutions from ever coming to light.

The Supreme Court opinion in former President Donald Trump's immunity case is photographed Monday, July 1, 2024. In a historic ruling the justices said for the first time former presidents can be shielded from prosecution for at least some of what they do in the Oval Office. | Jon Elswick

What Im reading

Trump will announce his VP pick sometime in the next few weeks  between now and the Republican National Convention. Much ado has been made of his shortlist. But that rumored roster  Doug Burgum, Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, or JD Vance  may not deliver Trump key voting blocs, like women, suburbanites or burn-it-down voters. The Absolute Best Vice-Presidential Options for Trump (Charlie Mahtesian, Politico Magazine)

Biden secured a record fundraising haul on debate day. But that hasnt stopped the Biden campaign from launching a frantic initiative to keep major donors from backing off. Sunday, the campaign held a conference call with big-money donors, attempting to tamp down panic about the presidents age and mental acuity. Biden Campaign Will Try to Reassure Big Donors (Michael D. Shear and Theodore Schleifer, The New York Times)

Should the U.S. let foreign students stay? Trump made that case a few weeks ago before his campaign walked his comments back. But offering a path to legal residency for international students who graduate from a U.S. university is a policy proposal that was once supported by Republicans and Democrats  and should spark renewed interest. Politicians Need To Get Serious About Retaining Foreign Graduates (Fiona Harrigan, Reason)

Tuesday trivia

Last Tuesdays question: Who is the oldest U.S. presidential candidate ever to participate in a general election debate?

The answer is Joe Biden, who made history in 2020 by debating as a 77-year-old. Both Trump (78) and Biden (81) broke that record again on Thursday. Kudos to reader Stevi Ashby for being the first to get it right.

This weeks question:

Attempts to replace Biden on the Democratic ticket could lead to a brokered convention  where no candidate reaches a majority vote on the first ballot. When is the last time this happened at the Democratic National Convention?

See you on the trail.

Editors Note: The Deseret News is committed to covering issues of substance in the 2024 presidential race from its unique perspective and editorial values. Our team of political reporters will bring you in-depth coverage of the most relevant news and information to help you make an informed decision. Find our complete coverage of the election here.
As Ohio has lessened restrictions on access to vouchers, which also is Tennessee Gov. Bill Lees plan, those vouchers turned into a subsidy for those already paying private-school tuition.

Knox County Board of Education Chair Betsy Henderson recently penned a Knoxville News Sentinel guest column, "We can support both public schools and school choice," in which she opined that supporting public schools is compatible with supporting school vouchers. Nope. Henderson uses the nauseating euphemism for vouchers: school choice.

She wrote, [W]e need to consider the benefits true school choice would have brought to families across our state. Imagine a mother of a child with dyslexia struggling to find a school that meets her child's needs. Or a low-income family, whose child has been bullied, seeking a different educational environment. Or a single mom who cant afford to move but knows the zoned school for her child is not right for them. For the first time in Tennessee, these parents would have had the means to make real choices for their children.

Someone needs to tell her that only public schools are required to serve dyslexic children. Private schools can offer no support or programs, or even refuse to enroll such students. Further, many counties, including Knox, already allow for variations on open enrollment for students to choose among public school environments and programs. Finally, voucher plans do not cover anywhere near the full cost of most private schools. The lived experience of other communities that have gone to vouchers is that the vast majority of the money goes to families of students already in private schools  and some of these are children who have never gone to public schools.

Knox Countys School Board chair even claimed, Weve all heard the opponents of school choice claim that it would drain our public schools of much-needed resources. Nothing could be further from the truth. Her proffered proof is recent increases in school budgets, an irrelevant point if our state legislature changes policy to allow private schools to get dollars from the public trough. Even if the system is not a dollar-for-dollar exchange, our states funding for public schools will need to shrivel to support paying for private schools (and implicitly to invite scam private school operators to get tax money).

For example, Ohio has gone heavily into vouchers, despite scandals and a major review showing low-income students actually lost ground academically by using them. One former state legislator figured out that since 1975 the percentage of the Ohio budget going to public schools has fallen from 40% to a record low of 20%. As that state has lessened restrictions on access to vouchers, which also is Tennessee Gov. Bill Lees plan, those vouchers turned into a subsidy for those already paying private-school tuition.

Henderson, of course, is not clear on where all this mystery money is coming from so public schools can remain fully funded while private schools get tax dollars. Our states and local communities are reluctant, to say the least, to raise taxes. Are we going to exhaust our surpluses or cut other programs just so parents already sending kids to private schools can get a subsidy?

Henderson notes that, to her credit, she is the mother of two children in public schools, and she has voted to increase teacher pay. Those are good things in and of themselves but should not be used as credentials to advocate, as she does, for the quick implementation of these voucher-skimming schemes. We know from experience they do not deliver what she promises.

Mark Harmon is a professor of journalism and media at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County School Board chair wrong about the benefits of vouchers
The Koenigsegg Jesko isnt the most efficient vehicle out there  except when it comes to setting records.

The futuristic hypercars Absolut variant closed out June on a high note, breaking the 0-400-0-km/h world record. The new mark, which was one of four set on the run, firmly establishes the vehicle as one of the fastest in the world.

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The records were set at an airfield in Orebro, Sweden, in the early hours of Thursday, June 27. On the run, the Jesko Absolut, which was piloted by Koenigsegg test driver Markus Lundh, went from zero to 400 km/h, or 249 mph, and back to zero in just 27.83 seconds. That beat the previous mark, which was set by a Koenigsegg Regera last year, by nearly a full second. To make things more impressive, Lundh didnt decelerate as soon as soon he hit 400 km/h, instead reaching a top speed of 412 km/h, or 256 mph. In addition to breaking the record for 0-400-0-km/h time, the car also broke the marks for fastest 0 to 400 km/h time (18.82 seconds), fastest 0-250-0 mph time (28.27 seconds), and fastest 0 to 250mph time (19.2 seconds).

As impressive as the Jekso Absoluts records may be, they shouldnt come as too much of a shock. The track-focused variant, which costs $3.4 million, was designed and engineered to set records. Its powered by the same twin-turbo V-8 as the regular Jesko, but has an even more aerodynamic body that includes to fighter jet-style wings.

And, as far as founder Christian von Koenigsegg is concerned, the Jesko Absolut isnt done yet. It sounds like the executive would also like to prove that the vehicles claimed 330 mph top speed, which would comfortably make it the worlds fastest production vehicle, is actually possible.

This record run validated the accuracy of the simulated and calculated performance of the Jesko Absolut, which gives us great confidence in its ability to be the fastest, fully homologated production car in the world, he said in a statement. Now it is all down to tire testing, development, and approval, before we finally can make an attempt at that record.

Of course, new speed records arent the only reason the Jesko has been in the news of late. Last month, Koenigsegg issued a do not drive order for the vehicle after a bespoke example burst into flame while its owner was driving it in a supercar rally in Greece last month. The company has since identified a compromised hydraulic hose as the source of the blaze. As a result, the company has pledged to checking hoses on all production Jesko models and is working on a software update that will be able to detect such leaks in the future.

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Dmitry Peskov, the Russian leaders press secretary, stated that Putin had no expectations for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans visit to Kyiv.

Source: Dmitry Peskov quoted by Russian Interfax

Details: The Russian rulers spokesman noted that Budapest had not contacted Moscow prior to the Hungarian prime ministers visit to Kyiv. At the same time, Peskov stressed that the Kremlin "does not expect anything from this visit".

Quote: "It is clear that Hungary, which began to preside over this period in the EU, must fulfil its responsibilities. As a result, I believe that obligations to Brussels interests will take primacy in this case, rather than national interests," Peskov stated.

At the same time, the press secretary added that Orban "is well known as a politician who is quite tough in defending the interests of his country."

Background:

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban revealed that he travelled to Ukraine almost immediately after Hungary assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union in order to better understand how to assist the Ukrainian government.

According to European Pravda, during the negotiations in Kyiv, Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Orban agreed to work on a bilateral deal that would resolve bilateral issues.

In addition, at the talks, Orban promoted the idea of an urgent truce with Russia, which is in all pro-Russian "peace plans", but did not insist on it.

Viktor Orban visited Ukraine for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Hungary has not provided arms to Ukraine and consistently opposes EU actions aimed at weakening Russia.

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Tuesdays Top Stories

Tuesdays Five Facts

[1] Increased containment in Ruidoso fires  Weekend moisture helped crews fight the wildfires in Ruidoso. As of Monday both the South Fork and Salt fires are 84% contained. Combined, the two fires have burned more than 25,000 acres. Crews are nearly done with structure assessment and are focusing on flood mitigation.

[2] New laws going into effect in New Mexico  Laws that were passed during the states most recent legislative session are now in effect. One of the biggest laws allows retired police officers and public safety workers to return to work without being forced to give up their pensions. Another law requires a yearly study to examine suicide prevention among veterans. Lawmakers are scheduled to meet later this month to have a special lawmaking session to try to address crime and justice in the state.

[3] Less widespread rain but muggy weather  Storms will likely begin later this morning in and around The Lincoln National Forest, as well the northeastern and southwestern hilly communities of the viewing area. Most areas will reach the upper 70s, 80s, 90s, and low triple digits. The main threats with the slow-moving storms to start will be flash flooding, especially in the burn-scar areas.

[4] City of Albuquerque prepares for Freedom Fourth celebrations  Albuquerque Fire Rescue is adding six additional wildland crews on the 3rd and 4th in an effort to make sure the holiday is celebrated safely. Officials are encouraging people to watch the fireworks celebration and not do illegal firework and report illegal fireworks by calling 311. Albuquerque is in stage one fire restrictions, meaning there is his risk for human started fires.

[5] Albuquerque woman crowned as Miss New Mexico  Mackenzie Sydow is the newly crowned Miss New Mexico. In 2019 Sydow became the full time caregiver of her brother Michael, who has autism, after both of their parents passed away unexpectedly. Monday, Sydow was crowned as Miss new Mexico and will go on to represent the state in the Miss U.S.A. pageant.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Fast-food workers have long complained of unstable schedules that make it difficult to plan their finances, child care, medical appointments and other obligations.

Now, a proposal by Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez aims to give these workers more stability and consistency in scheduling, as well as access to paid time off.

The proposal, which Soto-Martinez plans to introduce as a motion Tuesday, seeks to expand the reach of the citys Fair Work Week law  which requires that employers give retail workers their schedules in advance  to include some 2,500 large chain fast-food restaurants that employ roughly 50,000 workers.

It also proposes an annual mandatory six-hour paid training to help educate workers on their rights. And it would require that fast-food workers accrue an hour of paid time off for every 30 hours they work  on top of paid sick leave to which they are already entitled.

The push is the latest move by lawmakers across the state to improve working conditions for low-wage fast food workers who've struggled to make ends meet in expensive cities such as Los Angeles. Earlier this year, California adopted a minimum wage for fast-food workers of $20 an hour .

Read more: Higher prices on the menu as fast-food chains brace for California's big minimum wage jump

But the proposed city ordinance is likely to be met with stiff opposition from industry groups.

Several business and trade groups have said that this type of predictable scheduling policy complicates the process of scheduling staff.

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce had said that a similar L.A. County measure would hamper businesses already struggling to compete against e-commerce companies. And the California Grocers Assn. said it would make last-minute staffing changes extremely challenging.

Soto-Martinez said the idea behind the L.A. measure is to give fast-food workers the financial ability to attend a wedding, a quinceanera, a doctor's appointment, or their childs graduation  entitlements of many white-collar workers.

"Fast-food workers, their needs and their desires, are often ignored. We need to do our part as a city, he said.

A coalition of industry groups led by the International Franchise Assn. said Tuesday that the proposed regulation would burden small-business owners with costly new requirements at a time when they are already struggling with the recent wage hike.

I cut back on employee hours by 10%, and Ive been forced to raise prices to cope with the state minimum wage increase. I cant absorb any more costs, said Behzad Salehi, who owns Blaze Pizza franchises in Northridge and Encino, according to a statement by the coalition.

If the council decides to pass Soto-Martinez's motion  a vote that probably won't happen until at least late summer or the fall  the city attorney would then be tasked with formally drafting the ordinance for final approval.

Soto-Martinez's proposal is backed by Californias statewide union of fast-food workers, formed earlier this year. The California Fast Food Workers Union , created with help from the Service Employees International Union, is the culmination of years of employee walkouts over issues including the handling of sexual harassment claims, wage theft, safety and pay, such as the Fight for $15 movement to increase the minimum wage, which was organized by the SEIU in 2012.

The 50,000 of us who stand to gain important protections on the job through this ordinance are not just fast-food workers, we are parents, grandparents, students and providers, Anneisha Williams said in a statement by the union.

Williams, who works at a Los Angeles Jack in the Box, is a member of the states newly formed Fast Food Council.

She was among scores of fast-food workers sporting purple union T-shirts who gathered outside L.A. City Hall on Tuesday morning, where Soto-Martinez announced the effort.

Julieta Garcia, 36, who has worked at a Pizza Hut in Historic Filipinotown for 1 years, said her hours are very irregular, averaging about 20 hours a week.

Mentally, it has hurt me  the stress of figuring out how I will cover all of my bills, she said.

Garcia said it has also made it difficult to show up for her family. Paid time off would help her be able to attend her sons school plays, or visit a terminally ill family member, she said.

L.A. is among several cities nationwide, including Seattle, New York and Chicago, that have adopted scheduling laws .

L.A.'s Fair Work Week law, approved by the Los Angeles City Council in 2022, already requires large retail and grocery chains such as Target, Ralphs and Home Depot to give employees their work schedule at least two weeks in advance. It further requires businesses to give workers at least 10 hours rest between shifts, or provide extra pay for that work.

Researchers at the Shift Project, an initiative from Harvard University and UC San Francisco that is focused on service-sector workers, have found that unpredictable work schedules lead to unstable incomes as well as poor sleep and psychological distress .



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass launches her reelection bid, saying, 'We cannot afford to stop our momentum'

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass addresses a crowd of supporters in 2022. On Monday, she announced that she is launching her reelection campaign. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass kicked off her reelection bid on Monday, saying she is seeking a second four-year term while continuing to "deliver the change that Angelenos deserve."

In a fundraising email to supporters, Bass said her administration, which is less than 19 months old, has made major strides on homelessness, public safety, the delivery of city services and other issues.

"I am running for a second term because we cannot afford to stop our momentum," said Bass, who took office in December 2022.

Bass filed paperwork on Monday to form a fundraising committee for the June 2026 mayoral election. If she fails to obtain 50% of the vote in the primary, she would face an opponent in a runoff that November.

The mayor's pitch for donations went out three days after officials reported that the number of "unsheltered" homeless  those living in tents, vehicles and makeshift structures  went down by 10.4% citywide compared with the prior year. Many were moved into hotels, motels and other forms of interim housing as part of the mayor's Inside Safe initiative.

"Together with locked arms, we brought down street homelessness for the first time in years  bringing thousands more people inside last year than the year before," she said in her email.

Homelessness overall went down 2.2%  within the margin of error for this year's homelessness count, which was conducted in January.

In her email, Bass also touted her work on Executive Directive 1, which is fast-tracking the approval of affordable housing, as well as a reduction in homicides and her efforts to work collaboratively with city, state and federal agencies.

The fundraising period for the 2026 primary election began on June 2 for citywide offices  mayor, city attorney and city controller. Candidates for City Council in the 2026 election cannot begin raising money for their campaigns until December.

In the last election, Bass was massively outspent by her opponent, billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso, who put in more than $108 million  most of it his own money. That was over 10 times the amount spent by the Bass campaign, according to figures posted by the city's Ethics Commission.

A Caruso representative had no comment when contacted by The Times about the 2026 election. Last fall, Caruso told Politico he had not ruled out another run for public office.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov (R) shakes hands with visiting United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, July 2, 2024. (Presidential press service of Kyrgyzstan/Handout via Xinhua)

BISHKEK, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Tuesday held talks with visiting United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the press service of the Kyrgyz president reported.

Japarov said that Kyrgyzstan is implementing the UN sustainable development goals, which have become the basis of the country's state policy and are included in the long-term national development strategy.

The president noted the immediate plans for the implementation of such large projects as CASA-1000, which is aimed at connecting the energy systems of Central Asia with South Asia and the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which will facilitate fast and efficient trade between the participating countries and stimulate economic growth.

Japarov confirmed the country's desire to further strengthen its close partnership with the UN and all member states in order to strengthen international peace and security, and ensure sustainable development and human rights.

For his part, Guterres praised Kyrgyzstan as an example for other countries when it came to fulfilling international obligations, adding that the UN is always ready to support the country in all ongoing reforms. 

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov holds talks with visiting United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, July 2, 2024. (Presidential press service of Kyrgyzstan/Handout via Xinhua)
Los Angeles resident Maria Velazquez speaks at a news conference on Sept. 16, 2021, to protest the city's handling of an LAPD fireworks explosion that damaged many homes. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

Three years after Los Angeles police blew up a South L.A. neighborhood while detonating a cache of fireworks, the city will pay more than $21 million to resolve the claims of many residents who were displaced and are still living in a hotel.

Community members put up signs before the news conference. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

The City Council unanimously approved settlements with more than a dozen residents on Tuesday, days after the anniversary of the June 30, 2021, blast. The settlements will now go to Mayor Karen Bass for approval.

The city agreed to pay one resident, Lucia Gonzales, $175,000. Rosalina Reyes will receive $1.07 million, which the family's lawyer said is strictly for property damage and does not include personal injury.

But the largest settlement, to resolve property and personal injury claims of more than a dozen residents of the working-class neighborhood, is $20 million. The awards range from $100,000 to $2.8 million for the 17 claimants.

City Councilman Curren Price, in whose district the explosion occurred, said in a statement Tuesday that the process over the last three years "has been agonizingly slow, and on behalf of the City of Los Angeles, I regret that it took so long to reach this point."

"The victims of the 27th Street fireworks explosion have endured unimaginable pain and trauma that will last a lifetime," Price said. "Reaching these financial settlements were a crucial step toward their healing, rebuilding their lives, and finding stability and peace."

Price amended the motion for the $20-million settlement to also extend the stay at the Level hotel downtown through February for affected residents. He also moved to extend services of All Peoples Community Center, which has been providing assistance and resources to residents since the blast.

City Controller Kenneth Mejias office calculated that, as of February, the explosion has cost the city close to $10.5 million.

In an email, Diana Chang, a Mejia spokesperson, said the relocation of displaced residents has cost $5.3 million, in addition to $2.3 million for liability claims, $1.55 million for cleanup and repair, $1.3 million for the LAPDs containment vehicle  to replace the one destroyed by the blast  and a little more than $44,000 for city labor, not including the cost for police officers.

"The truth is, this incident should never have happened, was entirely preventable, and were still reeling from it all these years later," Price said.

Some homes have plywood covering window and door openings on East 27th Street after the LAPD's fireworks explosion. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Jose Bacerra inside his home in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, 2021. It was badly damaged by the explosion. He lived with 10 family members there. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

About 42 residents are still living in 13 rooms at Level. The settlements would cover many of those residents, according to city officials. But there are still outstanding claims, including an additional one from the Reyes family.

The city attorney's office did not provide a breakdown of how many claims remain.

Once the settlement checks are issued, families in the hotel will have up to 90 days to find alternative housing, according to Price's office.

The agreement "includes provisions allowing individuals adequate time to transition from the hotel," according to Price's office.

Kenia Quintanilla, who is part of the larger settlement, said her family is planning to buy a house. But they are waiting until they receive the money to start looking.

We dont know where were going to go ... but it doesnt really matter, Quintanilla said. Because I just dont want to be in the hotel. Im sick and tired of it."

Read more: LAPD fireworks explosion has cost the city $9.5 million so far, with number expected to rise

On June 30, 2021, the LAPD bomb squad bungled the detonation of a fireworks cache discovered in the backyard of a home on 27th Street. The blast injured 17 people and badly damaged homes. More than 80 residents were displaced.

The illegal fireworks were found at the home of Arturo Ceja III, who pleaded guilty in federal court to unlicensed transport of explosives from Nevada to California. He was sentenced to five months in prison and two years of supervised release. Ceja was not fined and will pay no restitution, the U.S. attorneys office said.

Despite repeated demands from residents who lost their homes to the blast, the names and formal discipline of officers involved in the matter had largely remained veiled, because of the LAPDs secretive disciplinary system and its refusal to discuss personnel matters. Last year, The Times identified the bomb squad personnel involved.

Among them was Det. Damien Levesque, the supervisor on scene who repeatedly walked away from critical discussions about the safety of the operation; Mell Hogg, the lead technician who did not weigh the powder from the fireworks the team intended to detonate and instead grossly underestimated its explosive power; Mark Richardson, who helped Hogg X-ray samples of the explosives; Brendan McCarty, who warned his fellow technicians and Levesque that the plan was not safe; Thomas Deluccia, who helped load the commercial fireworks discovered at the home; and Stefanie Alcocer, who was primarily responsible for constructing a countercharge, the explosive used to detonate the fireworks inside the departments total containment vessel, which failed in the blast.

Bomb technicians at the scene believed the maximum capability of the containment vessel was 40 pounds of net explosive weight, according to the Los Angeles Police Department inspector generals report. But the vessel actually was rated to handle only 33 pounds of explosives.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives later determined the bomb squad had loaded the vessel with 39.8 pounds of explosives. That amount includes the countercharge.

"It is my firm expectation that the LAPD has learned from this disaster and has taken every necessary step to prevent such tragedies from occurring ever again in the future for the sake of our City," Councilman Price said in his statement.

Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Labour could come into power for the first time in 14 years this Thursday - PA

Labour is talking to Donald Trumps team on a daily basis in the run up to Thursdays general election, as the party prepares for the possibility of new governments in both the US and UK, The Telegraph understands.

Staff working for David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, have been in near-constant talks with Trumps team for weeks, since he met the former presidents campaign manager Chris LaCivita in Washington in May.

Sir Keir Starmers party is expected to win a landslide majority on Thursday, propelling Labour to power for the first time in 14 years.

Some Labour figures, including Mr Lammy, were critical of Trump during his first administration. In 2018, he called the former president a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

But despite concerns from some Labour MPs, the party has recently adopted a more pragmatic approach towards Trump, who is odds-on to win this years US election.

Speaking earlier this year with Senator James Risch, a Trump ally, Mr Lammy said the Republican nominee had been often misunderstood in Europe and praised him for his call for Nato members to spend more on defence.

Last weekend, as Labour finalised its preparation for the election Mr Lammy held calls with Senator Lindsay Graham, a Trump acolyte, and Robert OBrien, his former national security adviser. Labour officials have been in contact with staff on the Trump campaign on a daily basis, The Telegraph understands.

However, on Tuesday night Trumps campaign team denied that they had any more than a perfunctory conversation with Mr Lammy in May, and that there had otherwise been no contact between the two sides.

Mr LaCivita described the claims by Labour sources as fake news.

If Sir Keir and Trump are both elected, there are likely to be significant policy differences between London and Washington next year.

Labour has backed British aid for Ukraine since its war with Russia began in February 2022, and Sir Keir has signalled there will be no change to government policy if his party wins power on Thursday.

In contrast, Trump has said he believes US support for Kyiv has been too high, and called for the war to end in one day if he beats Joe Biden in Novembers election.

He has declined to explain how peace would be achieved, but the strategy is assumed to involve a territorial negotiation with Russia that Labour opposes.

If he is appointed foreign secretary, Mr Lammy is planning three major resets in government policy: on Britains relationship with Europe; international climate policy; and engagement with the global south.

He will also launch three gear shifts on European security, global security and the relationship between growth and diplomacy, according to people familiar with the plans.

Some Labour figures are concerned that if the party is too critical of Trump, it would be impossible to work with him.

Sir Keir Starmer met with Trump's team when he was in the White House in 2020. Pictured with former secretary of state Mike Pompeo - HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

After the former presidents guilty verdict in the hush money case in New York in May, Sir Keir said Labour would work with whoever is US president after the next inauguration in January.

But he has since suggested he would prefer Joe Biden to win the election, breaking the usual protocol that party leaders do not comment on other countries elections before they take place.

[Mr Biden has] done a huge amount in office, and its very important that progressives win and its our sister party, he told Bloomberg on Friday.

Trump campaign sources have told The Telegraph they would be willing to work with any British government that engages with their foreign policy approach, and that they are not concerned about previous ideological differences with Labour figures.

Sir Keirs officials are now preparing for this years Nato conference in Washington next week, which begins five days after the general election on Thursday.

Although party staff working on foreign policy have been in touch with Mr Bidens National Security Council several times a week, much of the negotiation over the summit between member states has already taken place and there will be little opportunity for Labour to change the UKs stance if the party wins the election.

Nato members are expected to signal a well-lit bridge for Ukraine to join the alliance, but stop short of a formal timeline, after objections to a clearer pathway from the US and Germany.

The summit comes ahead of three other major foreign policy meetings during the first 100 days of the next government, including a European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace, a meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the next session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

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Tony Oulton runs Hulme Grammar School in Oldham  the most underprivileged borough in Manchester - Anna Wood Photography

How will Labours tax raid on private schools affect you? Get in touch: money@telegaph.co.uk.

The headmaster of a private school in one of Britains most deprived areas has accused Labour of punishing parents who prioritise education.

Tony Oulton, who runs Hulme Grammar School in Oldham  the most underprivileged borough in Manchester, according to census data  said the partys policy misrepresents parents and schools.

Even without the Labour policy, Hulmes fees are set to rise by 5.5pc next year. The school currently charges 9,840 a year for infants and juniors, and 13,470 for senior school and sixth-form pupils.

Mr Oulton told Sky News: The sector is not Eton or Harrow or Winchester, the big posh boarding schools largely based in the south of England.

The majority is made up of schools like mine where parents are making real sacrifices to pay the school fees because thats how they are choosing to prioritise their spending.

He said: I lament the political debate, the loss of nuance and insight into the impact on children.

The idea they are buying privilege and separation would not resonate with parents here.

They dont recognise the rhetoric that sits around this, that they are part of some privileged elite.

If elected, Labour plans to impose 20pc VAT on private school fees  a cost that will most likely be passed onto parents in the form of higher annual bills, according to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which represents around 1,300 private schools.

The party argues the tax raid will raise 1.7bn a year which can be spent on education, including 6,500 new state school teachers.

In October, Mr Oulton told The Telegraph that the policy would result in parents being priced out of private education.

He said: Few of the parents are writing a cheque [to pay the school fees] without making a significant dent in their finances  they are making real sacrifices to pay those fees.

We arent the sort of school that can cushion them and some of those parents will be priced out.

Mr Oulton told The Telegraph a good number of Hulmes 730 pupils are funded through bursaries, which provide free uniforms, PE kit and two free school trips a year  including one domestic and one international trip.

A total of 183,434 pupils in Britain currently receive help with private school fees, according to the ISC. An estimated 80pc of assistance is provided directly from the schools themselves.

The lobby group has previously warned that imposing VAT on private schools risks forcing a fifth of children out of the sector  equivalent to 40,000 pupils.

Last week, one of Britains top constitutional and human rights lawyers warned that the tax raid would likely breach ECHR law.

The Labour manifesto of 1983, under former leader Michael Foot, pledged to charge VAT on the fees paid to [private] schools.

However, the policy was eventually shot down by senior lawyers, who argued it would likely breach international human rights law to which Britain is signed up.

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(Bloomberg) -- Labour slipped to its worst rating of the UKs general election campaign, with its lead over Rishi Sunaks governing Conservatives also hitting a low for the period in Bloombergs poll of polls  but leader Keir Starmer nevertheless remains on course to win the keys to 10 Downing Street in Thursdays vote.

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Labour slipped to 40.5% on Tuesday, with the Tories gaining a fraction to 20.1%, according to Bloombergs composite, a rolling 14-day average using data from 11 polling companies stretching back to January 2021. Nigel Farages Reform UK party held at record 16.2%, while the Liberal Democrats are on their campaign high of 11.4%.

While both the oppositions rating and its 20.4-point advantage over the Tories are the lowest theyve been in the six-week campaign, the lead nevertheless looks unassailable with just two days to go until Britons head to the polling booths. Sunaks surprise decision to call an early general election appears not to have paid off. Since he made the announcement on May 22, Labours yawning lead has narrowed by just a single percentage point.

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Noah Grove boards miniature horses at Lakewood Equestrian Center. More than 100 horses are in danger of being displaced, including some that are too old to be moved and would need to be euthanized, after the city of Lakewood announced it could no longer afford to run the beloved equestrian center. (KTLA-TV)

Deeply in the red and in dire need of expensive improvements, the venerable Lakewood Equestrian Center may still find a way to endure  although probably not at its current size.

The Lakewood City Council was poised to pull the plug on the home of more than 100 horses in June, but after three hours of input from a capacity crowd of the center's supporters, the council decided to take one more stab at finding a way to keep it open. The council gave its staff 60 days to draft a plan for a smaller, more sustainable version of the facility.

Now occupying 19 acres, the center made its debut in the early 1950s as Spiller's Stable. It currently acts as a boarding house and training center for horses as well as a space for riding lessons. Five days a week, the center operates a petting zoo and offers pony rides to the public.

Some of the center's four-legged residents are close to retirement or are retired, including Jennifer Meeker's 31-year-old horse, Promise.

Meeker is a Long Beach resident who has two horses boarded at the center, Promise and 7-year-old Frankie.

They're just two of the 112 horses boarded in stalls on a monthly basis; the facility can hold nearly 100 more. Most of the current occupants' owners, like Meeker, are from out of town  only 16 belong to owners with Lakewood addresses.

And like Meeker, many of them are worried about the fate of the center.

Read more: Q&A: How long can Santa Anita Park survive? 'If things dont get better...shorter window'

The city owns half of the land occupied by the center, with the other half belonging to Southern California Edison. One family operated the center from 1987 until 2019, and since then the city has been "unable to find any willing or able to invest in the facility and operate it in line with state and federal regulations," the city said in a statement.

Toward the end of 2023 the city took over the center's operations, whose expenses have far outpaced their revenue. According to a city staff report, the center is expected to lose more than $175,000 in the current fiscal year, then more than $500,000 over the next two years.

The report also found that the city budget could fund horse boarding and riding activities, but it could not fund several necessary improvement projects or a full-time facility staff.

All told, the facility needs $6 million in repairs and capital improvements to keep it functional. Among the necessary projects: Eight of the nine arenas on the property need ground work because they haven't been repaired since 2019, raising the risk that horses could trip and fall.

During a special meeting June 25, the Lakewood City Council considered proposals from staff for reimagining the facility space, removing the horse boarding and training (but not the petting zoo and pony rides) and instead creating paths to a nature trail, Rynerson Park and the San Gabriel River bike path. City staff also tossed out the idea of using the space for pickleball courts or a skate park.

But supporters of the center launched an online petition that garnered nearly 4,000 signatures in opposition to the closure of the horse boarding amenities.

Read more: Historic Sportsmen's Lodge hotel may be demolished for 520-unit apartment complex

After a lively discussion and 54 public commenters making the case to keep the entire facility in place, the council agreed to explore a scaled-back center confined just to city property.

The city is looking to exclude Southern California Edison's land because the utility can revoke the use of its land at any time.

In its statement, the city said Edison's lease terms would hamper long-term planning and improvement for the facility.

At the end of 60 days, if a viable plan is developed that could garner the interest of an entity that can afford to make the necessary improvements, the council would prepare a request for a proposal to seek a new long-term operator, the city statement said.

Meeker said proposals will be presented by a working group that includes stakeholders and residents. A second community group also is coming together to create proposals for the city to consider, she said.

"I'm hoping that the City Council is realizing that not just Lakewood but also the surrounding gateway cities and those residents who don't have access to [these services] anywhere else are also very much opposed to the closure of the Lakewood Equestrian Center," she said.

Alexa Rodell, a social worker and psychotherapist, has started a GoFundMe page to raise money to develop proposals for the city to consider that would continue operating the center and its services.

Read more: Massive makeover of L.A. Convention Center moves ahead as Olympics loom

Prior to boarding her horses at the Lakewood facility, Meeker said, she boarded them in Rancho Palos Verdes, a 1-hour drive from her home.

When the owner of the stable where Promise was boarded decided to retire, Meeker was left searching for options closer to home, which were limited.

She found the Lakewood Equestrian Center in 2017. She said it was only three miles away from her residence and the most welcoming community.

"I remember walking up to the stall one night and there was horse cookies taped to my stall with a welcome note to me and Promise," she said.

The center benefits nonowners too in ways that are hard to quantify, Meeker said, noting how members of the public come in just to observe the horse trainers, and how riders will welcome people to pet their horses. She said she hopes the city will bring in programs, activities or services that will attract more of the public to the center and generate more revenue to keep the facility running.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
HASTINGS, Mich. (WOOD)  The Barry State Game Area is expanding thanks to a new donation by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.

A 200-acre property that was previously home to a camp owned by the Boys and Girls Club of Kalamazoo will join the fold, one that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says enhances biodiversity and habitat connections in the region.

Researchers go hunting for turtles to help keep them alive

We are thrilled to welcome this property into Barry State Game Area, Mark Mills, regional supervisor for the DNR Wildlife Division, said in a statement. Conserving land is an important step in our ongoing efforts to enhance wildlife habitat, biodiversity and hunting opportunities in the region.

An aerial view of the former Boys and Girls Club of Kalamazoo Camp that has become part of the Barry State Game Area. (Courtesy Keto Gyekis/Michigan DNR)

The Barry State Game Area already covered more than 16,000 acres south of Middleville. The camp property shared part of the BSGAs western boundary and tucks between two other nature preserves, the Audubon Warner Sanctuary to the north and the SWMLCs Freese Preserve to the south.

Video: Gustnado spins over Gun Lake

SWMLC Land Protection Director Kaleigh Winkler said the property has been on the organizations radar for years. The purchase was finally completed earlier this spring.

The property includes several acres of wetlands, access to Podunk Creek and Glass Creek and is considered a key piece to protecting the Glass Creek Watershed.

The addition of the property not only protects vital wetland ecosystems but also strengthens our commitment to conserving Michigans natural resources for future generations, Mills stated. Were grateful to have worked closely with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and other partners to ensure this areas ecological integrity is maintained and hunting and outdoor recreational opportunities can be enjoyed by all.

The DNR is hosting an event from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, July 15 at the property to celebrate the addition. Officials will make some brief remarks and offer guided walks on the property.

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LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE)  Las Vegas city members are putting together their own 4th of July celebration after the city canceled their normal festivities. The city canceled their 4th of July fiestas after flooding caused a water crisis in the area leading to city-wide water conservation efforts.

Water reserve doubles, restaurants open back up in Las Vegas

Now, community members are having an event at the Tecolote Race Horse Training Facility starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Theyre asking attendees to bring a dish, grills, and their own chairs to join in on the fun. Its just basically a community event not designed to replace the canceled fiestas. Its just simply an alternative that wont put any strain on city water or the city itself, said Candace Baca, community member.

There will be live music and activities at the event. To sign up for the event, click here.

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DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  The third and final defendant to be convicted of murder in a Danville triple homicide received his sentence on Tuesday.

The Vermilion County States Attorneys Office said Cloanger Robinson, 22, was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Derek Girton. A Vermilion County jury convicted Robinson in May of murdering Nathaniel Gentry, Anthony Jones and Cordell Reed  in 2020. Reed was Robinsons great uncle and Jones was Robinsons uncle.

All three men were in their 60s and were stabbed and bludgeoned to death. It was a crime Judge Girton said was the most brutal and senseless he had seen in his 35 years on the bench.

Evidence revealed that on Jan. 22, 2020, Reed invited Robinson, his nephew, to join him and his friends as they played cards at Reeds house. Robinson, who was 18 at the time, arrived at the house with two juveniles, who intended to steal marijuana from the victims.

Robinson and his two accomplices were all wearing latex gloves when the murders were committed, showing premeditation; the gloves, with their DNA still inside, were later found discarded near Reeds house.

Robinsons two defendants have already had their cases resolved. One of the juveniles  16-year-old Terrion Tinsley  was tried as an adult and received an identical life sentence. The other juvenile took a plea deal in exchange for testifying against his co-defendants.

18-year-old Jacksonville murder suspect arrested, police say

At Robinsons sentencing, States Attorney Jaqueline Lacy, who prosecuted the case along with two of her assistants, read victim impact statements from Gentrys daughter Marquita and Jones brother William.

Prior to his death, we were making plans for my son and father to meet for the very first time. Now that will never happen, Marquita wrote. Words cannot explain the pain that is in my soul. You cannot undo what you did [addressing Robinson], but you can become a brand-new person through the grace of God.

I have faith that restitution will present itself through remorse in the damages brought upon my family, not only in ripping a beloved family member from us, but also in the destruction of our family home, William wrote. The impact is that of what my brother Anthony left with all of those that loved him, through his kindnesshe served his country. He served his community in volunteering, and he served his Lord through his faith.

Springfield mother stabbed to death identified

In handing down his sentence, Girton noted the overwhelming evidence of Robinsons guilt, premeditation and planning, and spoke of where this crime ranks among all the others hes seen in his career.

You will have to work very hard to choose to change to be the person your family forgave, he said directly to Robinson.

In a statement to the media, Lacy expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped investigate the murders, including the Danville Police Department, Illinois State Police and forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton. She also thanked the jury for their service.

The brutal nature of these murders was inconceivable, especially considering the fact that Cloanger Robinson was related to two of the elderly victims. These innocent victims were lifelong residents of Danville, who loved their community. Their families did not deserve to have their loved ones stolen from them, she said. Judge Girtons sentence and words to the defendant today were a clear message that unconscionable acts of violence will not be accepted in our community. I hope the closure of this case helps the victims families to begin their true healing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Last week, a temporary election worker in Maricopa County, Arizona was arrested after allegedly stealing a security fob and keys from the countys voting tabulation center.

The challenge for election officials in the county, which was ground zero for election misinformation and threats against election workers following the 2020 election, is less about increasing security protocols  election experts and officials say those are highly effective. The challenge, election officials in the county told TPM, lies in cutting off election lies before they run rampant and cause any further destruction.

And for a county continually plagued by dangerous disinformation, it will be a herculean task to make sure conspiracy theorists dont latch onto this incident as fodder for more lies about the integrity of the election system  especially because the rumors are already being spread by right-wingers and those with ties to the Big Lie.

Just days after the temporary election worker Walter Ringfield was arrested for an alleged theft that occurred late last month, election deniers and conspiracy theorists posted on X spinning up a false narrative around the incident: that it was part of some larger Democratic conspiratorial plot against MAGA and that the media was deliberately not covering the incident.

Weve seen every election since 2020 that Maricopa County has run, whether it was a legitimate issue, a benign mistake, or even just a misunderstanding, Zachary Schira, executive director for Maricopa County said in an interview with TPM, I think there is a certain subset of folks that are going to take it and make it more of an issue than it is.

Following the alleged theft, former Donald Trump campaign fundraiser and advisor to election denier and failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, Caroline Wren, posted on X saying: Democrats get caught red handed. The media and left-wing twitter trolls immediately start to spin and make up false narratives blaming MAGA.

Bryan Blehm, an attorney for Lake while she unsuccessfully challenged her failed 2022 gubernatorial candidate, similarly described the incident on X as a story of a stolen security fob and access keys by a Democratic Party activist who had possession of them off campus over night.

Who else had access and why did he. Starting to sound like the deleted database from the 2020 election. What is Maricopa County hiding and why do many of these people still have jobs?, Blehm posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In reality, though, the fact that the alleged theft was discovered so quickly actually highlights the robust security protocols Maricopa County officials have put into place, David Becker, the executive director and founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research, told TPM.

Its a real credit to Maricopa County that they discovered this and it should inspire trust, he said.

While conducting standard inventory, officials discovered that a security device, or a security key to one of the precinct-based tabulators, was missing, one day after it was allegedly stolen. And within a short period of time officials contacted law enforcement. That same evening, Ringfield was arrested and terminated from his position, according to Jennifer Liewer, Maricopa County deputy director of elections for communications.

The system worked pretty darn well and we were able to address it very quickly, added Liewer. I think now our focus is explaining to the public what it was that occurred to try to address any misinformation that might be out there about the theft.

The fact that the incident has already been spun up as evidence of some sort of liberal scheme to attack Republicans is straight out of the 2020 MAGA playbook  bad actors leveraging mistakes, or real unfortunate incidents that are quickly corrected like this most recent one, as a way to sow seeds of distrust and chaos into the election system.

Election officials cant magically make everybody a good person, but they can make sure that in those rare instances where there are bad actors, that they wont impact your ability to vote and that the votes will be counted accurately, Becker said.

The county, the second largest voting jurisdiction in the country, does not plan on changing protocols, but will focus even more on transparency, so that voters can rest assured that elections will continue to run smoothly and safely, officials said. This includes helping voters understand the many challenges that come along with hiring between two and 3000 employees three times a year to successfully run an election. The county has a background check protocol and security protocols built into the hiring process, but these processes, as effective as they are, cant flag every potential bad actor.

Its just reminding folks that we train for this, given the nature of how we have to run elections, its something that we factor in and that when these instances occur, we take a deep breath and we act on our training, Schira, the countys executive director, said. Well just make sure that protocols are continuing to be followed inside the tabulation center.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A new bill went into effect on Monday, July 1, adding the Ten Commandments along with the Magna Carta to a list of approved historical documents and principles allowed to be studied in public schools.

H.B. 269, otherwise known as the Public School History Curricula Amendments, passed earlier this year with overwhelming majority votes in both the states House and Senate. Gov. Spencer Cox signed the bill on March 11 for it to go into effect in time for the 2024-25 school year.

Rep. Michael Petersen, the bills chief sponsor, said during the House debate that the bill was designed to simply enlarge the list of documents American history and government teachers can teach.

The Ten Commandments now joins a list of approved historical documents and principles that include the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the national anthem, among others.

Utahs new road rage bill goes into effect July 1

Proponents of the bill previously argued that the Ten Commandments, a list of religious and ethical directives that are said to be divinely revealed to Moses and engraved on two stone tablets, provide a basis for U.S. law. Rep. Tim Jimenez said at the time that without the Ten Commandments in the schools we allow the government to become a tyrant.

Critics, however, argued the Commandments were not fundamental to understanding American history. Sen. Kathleen Riebe debated on the Senate floor earlier this year saying that adding the Commandments to the list of approved historical documents and principles would bring religion into Utahs public schools. Rep. Angela Romero voiced concerns it could serve to alienate students who arent of the Christian faith.

Petersen had rebutted the claim, saying the Commandments religious aspects would not be the focus of study but their historical significance.

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MANILA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has approved a 6.352 trillion pesos (roughly 107.97 billion U.S. dollars) proposed national budget for 2025, 10.1 percent higher than the budget for 2024, the Department of Budget and Management said on Tuesday.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the budget, equivalent to 22 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

"We have crafted this carefully and meticulously to ensure that we stay on track with our economic growth targets while ensuring no one is left behind," she added.

Under the proposed budget, the agencies getting the lion's share of government appropriations include education, public works, health, interior and local government, and defense, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

The government will submit the proposed budget to Congress for further deliberations before it becomes a bill. 
A hemp crop. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

As of today, several varieties of intoxicating hemp products are illegal to sell or produce in the state of South Dakota.

That doesnt necessarily put them out of reach for South Dakotans.

It also doesnt mean death for the market in alternative intoxicants thats emerged across South Dakota and the nation in part thanks to a loophole in the 2018 federal farm bill, which legalized hemp.

Even if all the products now banned through the actions of the South Dakota Legislature last winter are pulled from store shelves in the state  an open question as the law takes effect  buyers can purchase them online with little fear of repercussion, as their possession isnt prohibited through the new law.

The law targets synthetically produced delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, THC-O, THC-P and HHC. Each are chemical cousins of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the high-inducing compound in cannabis flowers.

Sellers or producers of the hemp-derived products could be charged with a class 2 misdemeanor  the lowest-level crime in the state, punishable by up to 30 days in jail.

But the testing necessary to prove any product violates the law has limits and requires wait times for local law enforcement. The states largest policing agencies have no immediate plans to prioritize enforcement.

That puts the onus on retailers to follow a law that would cut into revenues or force them out of business.

A federal lawsuit from Pierre-based Hemp Quarters 605 is also in play. The company attempted to block the new law as an unconstitutional overreach that interferes with the interstate commerce permitted under the federal farm bill. But U.S. District Judge Eric Schulte declined to issue a preliminary injunction.

Even without the injunction, though, the companys lawsuit will proceed and could eventually upend the law.

Caleb Rose of Rapid City owns Black Hills Vapors and recently founded a trade group called South Dakota Retailers for Better Alternatives to advocate for stores that sell hemp-derived products.

Rose said he planned to pull the targeted products from the shelves of his West River stores, but the lack of certainty could mean other retailers opt to ignore the new law.

I think everybody in town and everybody in the state is going to have to make their own calls and consult their lawyers on what they want to do, Rose said.

Testing complications

Questions of enforcement are tied to product testing. A can of gummies on a retailers shelf might say delta-8, but prosecutors would have to prove the product is illegal beyond a reasonable doubt.

Doing that requires testing, which for the newly illegal substances involves a waiting period for local officers and prosecutors. There are field tests for some felony-level narcotics like methamphetamine, and some agencies can test for the presence of the active ingredient in traditional cannabis, but there are no such tests for products like hemp-derived gummies or delta-8 vape pens. For those, police would rely on the state Department of Health lab.

That lab can distinguish between delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10 THC, according to spokesperson Tia Kafka.

THC tests performed by SD state health lab

2020: 807

2021: 596

2022: 144

2023: 99

But there is no test that can show with certainty that the chemicals present in any particular product are naturally or synthetically derived. To run afoul of the new law, the offending chemical must have been altered from its original state. In theory, products with high levels of the chemicals would be legal if they were naturally derived.

Kafka said that shouldnt prevent police from making a call on enforcement. Delta-8 is only found in small amounts naturally, so Kafka said high levels of those compounds would be enough to show that theyve been modified and are therefore illegal to sell.

Even if a product claims to contain unaltered, unadulterated delta-8, Kafka wrote that testing can help triangulate an intoxicants origin.

Products with synthetically produced hemp chemicals often have contaminants from the chemical reaction which can be an indicator that a product is not 100% natural, Kafka said.

The legalization of hemp and medical marijuana has already slowed the pace of cannabis testing at the state lab, though. In 2020, the state conducted 807 tests for cannabis. Last year, the lab did 99.

Following legalization of industrial hemp and medical cannabis, state laws changed significantly leading to reduced cannabis testing, she said.

Law enforcement awaits guidance

Its unclear if the new law will spur more law enforcement interest in lab testing, but agencies have given no indication that enforcement will become a priority.

Decisions on enforcement come at the local level, Attorney General Marty Jackley said.

There are no plans to push for investigations of shops or hemp products from the state level just because theyre sold in hundreds of stores, he said.

No business can be searched or spot-checked for compliance with the law without probable cause and a warrant, he said.

What I can tell you is the Legislature took certain action. They made certain conduct illegal, Jackley said. Law enforcements job is to enforce that. We dont do anything special with respect to that.

In the Hemp Quarters 605 lawsuit, court records show that the Hughes County States Attorneys Office does not intend to immediately prosecute the companys owners for violations of the new law.

Sioux Falls Police Department spokesperson Sam Clemens said his agency awaits guidance from the Minnehaha County State Attorneys Office on what kinds of enforcement actions it might need to take to enforce the new misdemeanor.

Minnehaha County States Attorney Daniel Haggar has not offered guidance on enforcement, though. He told South Dakota Searchlight that his office will evaluate any cases brought by police to determine if prosecutions are necessary.

Katy Urban, spokesperson for the Pennington County States Attorneys Office, offered a similar response by email. She wrote that prosecutors in Rapid City will consider the merits of any case presented to them by police agencies.

Rapid City Police Department spokesperson Brendyn Medina, meanwhile, said his agency awaits enforcement guidance from the Pennington County States Attorneys Office.

Even if law enforcement were to doggedly investigate the sale of newly illegal products, plenty of other avenues for a legal high remain, both for sellers and users.

Other non-hemp products include kratom, kava and magic mushroom hallucinogens, the latter of which are produced with different mushrooms from the federally illegal fungus psilocybin. Some classes of non-alcoholic, hemp-derived beverages, available in bars, restaurants and grocery stores around the state, will also remain available.

Joshua Williston manages a Chasing Clouds vape and smoke shop in Sioux Falls, and said late last week hed remove the now-banned products from the shelf by July 1. Chasing Clouds is a chain store, and he said anything unsold and illegal today will be shipped off for sale in states without a ban.

Williston expects customers who relied on those products will either get medical marijuana cards, buy recreational marijuana on the black market or find other ways to get high.

Its probably going to slow business down, but it aint gonna stop, Williston said. Itll pick back up in other areas, because once its no longer an option, people will just find other things to substitute it with.

Sponsor: Federal fix needed

Rep. Brian Mulder, R-Sioux Falls, was the new laws prime sponsor. He told South Dakota Searchlight he understands his bills practical limitations, but that hes hopeful most retailers will reduce the supply of near-pot intoxicants by complying with the law.

Hes also hopeful because of ongoing discussions in Washington, D.C., about the next federal farm bill. Congress has debated the next version of that bill for more than a year, and a provision added by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee in May aims to close the loophole that created the market by drawing a legal distinction between hemp grown for chemical extraction and hemp grown to produce things like food or fiber.

Congress has already extended its deadline for passage of the farm bill once. The deadline for passage is now September.

However quickly that could go into law, it might be moot here in South Dakota for us to try to address anything else, Mulder said.

Requests for comment sent to all three members of South Dakotas congressional delegation on the farm bill and hemp went unanswered.

Mulder, who works with an organization called Volunteers of America that offers chemical dependency services, said lawmakers in South Dakota want to do what he thinks the federal government meant to do with the 2018 farm bill.

The feds didnt mean to legalize weed with a loophole, he said.

We were trying to deliver something that was the true intent of the 2018 farm bill, where hemp products were being sold for fiber, fabrics, building materials and some of the therapeutics made with CBD, he said.

This article first appeared in the South Dakota Searchlight, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.

The post SD law banning sale of some near-pot products takes effect, but wont prevent every legal high appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
"The First Amendment is spinning out of control," Columbia law professor Tim Wu warns in a New York Times essay. While Wu ostensibly objects to Supreme Court decisions that he thinks have interpreted freedom of speech too broadly, his complaint amounts to a rejection of the premise that the principle should be applied consistently, especially when it benefits speakers and messages he does not like.

The immediate provocation for Wu's diatribe is yesterday's Supreme Court decisions in two cases challenging Florida and Texas laws that aimed to restrict content moderation on social media. Although the justices remanded both cases for further consideration by the lower courts, Justice Elena Kagan's majority opinion in Moody v. NetChoice made it clear that the "editorial discretion" protected by the First Amendment extends to the choices that social media platforms make in deciding which content to host and how to present it, even when those decisions are inconsistent, biased, or arguably unfair. And that discretion, she said, includes the use of algorithms that reflect such value judgments.

Although Wu has reservations about "the wisdom and questionable constitutionality of the Florida and Texas laws," he thinks "the breadth of the court's reasoning should serve as a wake-up call." He faults the justices for "blithely assuming" that "algorithmic decisions are equivalent to the expressive decisions made by human editors at newspapers." The ruling, Wu says, reflects a broader trend in which "liberal as well as conservative judges and justices have extended the First Amendment to protect nearly anything that can be called 'speech,' regardless of its value or whether the speaker is a human or a corporation."

As Wu sees it, freedom of speech should hinge on the "value" of the ideas that people express. It is hard to imagine a broader license for government censorship.

Wu praises decisions that protected the speech rights of "political dissenters, religious outcasts, intrepid journalists and others whose ability to express their views was threatened by a powerful and sometimes overbearing state." In those cases, he says, "the First Amendment was a tool that helped the underdog" and ensured "robust political debate." It is not hard to imagine how "the underdog" or "robust political debate" would fare under a legal regime that empowered the government to decide which speech is valuable enough to merit toleration.

Wu faults the Supreme Court for holding, in the 2012 case United States v. Alvarez, that the First Amendment protects "even outright lies," as he puts it. Again, allowing the state to suppress speech that it deems inaccurate would pose a chilling threat to "dissenters" of all stripes.

The First Amendment, Wu worries, "is beginning to threaten many of the essential jobs of the state, such as protecting national security and the safety and privacy of its citizens." Like "value" and accuracy, "national security" and "safety" are vague, subjective excuses for speech restrictions that sweep much more broadly than Wu might like.

Under the rationale of "national security," Wu thinks the government should aggressively resist "informational warfare," which he says entails banning TikTok, despite the impact that would have on the 122 million Americans who use the platform for purposes that even he would concede have something to do with rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. The struggle against "informational warfare" presumably also would include censoring the online speech of people identified (perhaps incorrectly) as foreign agents. Wu might hope that speech restrictions justified in the name of national security would stop there, but history suggests otherwise.

Wu also thinks the First Amendment should not apply to individuals who organize themselves as corporations. He predictably criticizes Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the 2010 decision in which the Supreme Court rejected legal restrictions on political speech by labor unions and corporations, including small businesses and myriad nonprofits representing a wide variety of views. "If the First Amendment has any force," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority, "it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech." Kennedy rightly wondered why individuals should lose the right to freedom of speech merely because they seek to exercise it as "an association that has taken on the corporate form."

Glossing over the diversity of organizations affected by such a rule, Wu says "judges have transmuted a constitutional provision meant to protect unpopular opinion into an all-purpose tool of legislative nullification that now mostly protects corporate interests." That is especially worrisome, he avers, because "the power of private actors has grown to rival that of nation-states." Given his publishing history, you will not be surprised to learn that Wu thinks the "most powerful" of those private actors are "the Big Tech platforms, which in their cocoon-like encompassing of humanity have grown to control commerce and speech in ways that would make totalitarian states jealous."

Wu somehow overlooks a crucial distinction between Facebook et al. and "totalitarian states": While the former cannot use force to "control commerce and speech," blatant coercion is a defining feature of the latter. That difference has constitutional significance, although Wu apparently thinks it should not. To fight the supposedly state-like power of "Big Tech platforms," he wants to deploy actual state power, imitating the totalitarian techniques that he says pale in comparison to voluntary, consensual interactions with YouTube or Amazon.

The freedom of Big Tech (and Little Tech) to adopt a diversity of content-moderation policies, based on what they think users want, gives people options they would not have if the government overrode those decisions. And although Wu resists the idea, those choices are embodied by algorithms (created by humans!) that aim to organize an enormous amount of content in a way that is accessible, interesting, and useful. All of this supports the ability of individuals to go online, find information and opinions that interest them, and express themselves in one forum or another.

In case there was any doubt that Wu's beef is with the First Amendment itself, as opposed to any particular application of it, he closes by quoting Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson: "If the Court does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact." Jackson made that comment while dissenting from the Court's 1949 decision in Terminiello v. Chicago, which overturned the "breach of peace" conviction of a priest who delivered an inflammatory speech.

Like Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes' 1919 analogy to "falsely shouting fire in a theatre," which he drew in support of the proposition that there was nothing wrong with imprisoning people for distributing anti-draft leaflets, Jackson's "suicide pact" warning is a go-to reference for anyone who wants to justify restrictions on constitutionally protected speech. Although those remarks have not aged well, Wu is trying hard to rehabilitate the attitude underlying them.

The post A Law Professor's Beef With a First Amendment 'Spinning Out of Control': Too Much Speech of the Wrong Sort appeared first on Reason.com.
Lawmakers call for safety after teens go missing while swimming in Queens

Lawmakers call for safety after teens go missing while swimming in Queens

QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  Leaders are demanding new safety measures for New York City beaches on Tuesday in an effort to prevent drownings.

Two teenagers went missing last week in the water at the Jacob Riis Park beach. It led to a massive search effort by the NYPD, FDNY and Coast Guard.

More Local News

The boys, ages 16 and 17, tried to jump over a big wave and never came back up, according to authorities. They went missing just after lifeguards went off-duty at 6 p.m.

Two bodies were found on nearby beaches over the weekend, but police have not identified them as the missing teenagers.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. is calling for the hours lifeguards are on duty to be extended. Other safety measures he wants include extending the beach season beyond early September, addressing the citys lifeguard shortage and building new community pools on the Rockaway peninsula so that there are options for safer swimming.

Richards, along with other elected officials, will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Theyll also be joined by members of the Swim Strong Foundation, an organization that advocates for swim lessons and life-saving water skills.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Lawmakers listened to Coney Island outcry. It's time for CSO to do the same | Opinion

Coney Island's Sunlite Pool in Anderson Township was demolished in March 2024 to make way for Riverbend 2.0, an entertainment and music venue, at the site. Save Coney Islanders, a group organized to rescue Sunlite Pool, tried to raise money and get elected officials to help save it.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra owes this community a swimming pool. Price tag: $20 million.

After months of public outcry over the demolition of the fully operation, well-attended and historic Sunlite Pool, Ohio lawmakers are listening, with Statehouse politicians from both parties working to halt money for a local concert venue that would built in its place. It's finally time for CSO to listen, too.

How did we get here?

For nearly 100 years, Coney Island operated the world's largest recirculating swimming pool. About 40 years ago, the park donated part of its property to the nonprofit symphony. The CSO owns Music and Event Management, Inc., also a nonprofit, that operates two concert venues on the donated land and four others in the area. Last year, CSO and MEMI purchased all of Coney Island's 110-plus acres and announced the park and pool there would be closing.

So where did the symphony go wrong?

Coney Island and CSO are anchor institutions in Greater Cincinnati and, therefore, have a responsibility to the community. According to the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, a charity that advocates for community wealth building, the term "anchor institutions" refers to organizations which: "Have an important presence in a place, usually through a combination of: being largescale employers, the largest purchasers of goods and services in the locality, controlling large areas of land and/or having relatively xed assets; And are tied to a particular place by their mission, histories, physical assets and local relationships. Examples include local authorities, NHS trusts, universities, trade unions, large local businesses, the combined activities of the community and voluntary sector and housing associations."

President of MEMI Mike Smith (left) and CSO Chairman Johnathan Martin discuss the purchase of Coney Island on Friday March 8, 2024. Victoria Vogelgesang, organizer of Save Coney Islanders, says the CSO and MEMI failed to follow its own guidelines for community engagement when making the decision to demolish Sunlite Pool.

The CSO appears to have a "Community Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion" department, according to the symphony's website. For those unfamiliar with what a community engagement office does, community engagement is the process of collaborating with groups, individuals, or communities to address issues, solve problems and make decisions that affect them. It's based on the idea that everyone affected by an issue should have a say in the decision-making around it. Community engagement can involve building relationships, developing communications and managing interactions to achieve specific outcomes for the organization and the community.

To put it more succinctly, "Community engagement requires intentional interactions between communities and public decision makers. Emphasis on the lived experience of community members taking a front seat and local knowledges inflecting decision-making processes, challenges a top-down approach to public decision making."

The CSO even has an action plan outlining how it will make such decisions: "How the symphony orchestra serves its community must be informed by the community. A Community Advisory Council (CAC) will help the symphony orchestra approach this work from an asset-based perspective, defined as taking the lead from the community about what the symphony orchestra should be supporting, as opposed to assuming that we know what is needed."

It seems like they are familiar with asset-based community development and should have had no problem mapping the communitys assets: individuals, associations, fellow institutions, physical assets and connections. With these categories of stakeholders all represented, the CSO should have been able to create an inclusive development plan for the purchased land and assets.

However, this action plan was not followed, and the CSO chose to destroy assets that are highly valued in the community, as evidenced by months of public protest prior to demolition. The CSO needs to pay restitution to the community in order to restore their reputation, regain public trust and ensure future success in their endeavors.

Victoria Vogelgesang lives in Anderson Township and is organizer of Save Coney Islanders, a group organized in the wake of the park's closing.

Victoria Vogelgesang

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: CSO, MEMI need to pay restitution for demolition of Sunlite Pool
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Lawrence Police Department is investigating an alleged robbery at a Bank of America Tuesday morning.

According to officers, the robbery took place around 9:20 a.m. at 900 Ohio Street where a man wearing a black beanie, a black mask with a design on it, and possibly all black clothing attempted to rob the bank.

Car from KCK lot breaks down in two days, dealership refuses to amend

A photo of a suspect who robbed a Bank of America in Lawrence, Kansas.

Police said the man fled southbound from the bank down an alley between Tenessee and Ohio Street.

No injuries have been reported, police said, and Lawrence PD is currently on the scene.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX 4 for the latest updates and information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
The parents of an elementary school student have sued Bellingham Public Schools for allegedly failing to protect their son from repeated sexual assaults perpetrated by another male student while they were on a school bus, and for failing to report the allegations to law enforcement or state child welfare officials.

The parents of the 10-year-old boy filed their civil lawsuit June 24 in Whatcom County Superior Court against Bellingham Public Schools.

The lawsuit alleges the school district knew the male student, age 9, had a documented history of sexually abusing other children while on the school bus prior to abusing the 10-year-old boy; that the district has a special protective relationship with the children in its care and was negligent and failed in its duties to protect the 10-year-old and other children from the 9-year-old child; and that the district failed in its obligations to report the sexual abuse to law enforcement or state child welfare officials, as is required by law, according to court records obtained by The Herald.

As a direct and proximate cause of these breaches and failures, (the victim) was needlessly and repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped by offending student  while on BSDs school bus, the lawsuit states.

All school district employees are mandatory reporters and are required by state law to report any suspected abuse or neglect of a child to law enforcement or to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families. State law requires the report be made at the first opportunity available, but no longer than 48 hours after there is reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect.

The parents allege that, because of the districts failures, their son has suffered and continues to suffer emotional, psychological and other damages, and that their relationship with him has been damaged.

They are seeking general and special damages, reasonable attorneys fees and costs, and any other relief the court deems just and proper, according to the records.

The school district has 20 days from when it was served with the lawsuit to respond.

Bellingham Public Schools takes seriously our duty to protect and care for all students, and we are committed to standing with victims and survivors of any type of sexual misconduct, harassment or assault, the school district said in a July 1 emailed statement to The Herald and posted on the districts website July 2.

The district said it was aware of the lawsuit and that these types of allegations are upsetting. Many of our staff are parents, and we deeply understand the gravity of this subject, Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Greg Bakers July 2 statement reads.

The district said it could not provide many details due to student privacy laws and the pending lawsuit, but that staff work closely with students and families involved, as well as law enforcement and state child welfare officials, while using the districts policies and procedures.

This situation is sensitive and complex. We understand the communitys concerns, and we are sorry that we are unable to provide additional information, Bakers Tuesday afternoon statement says.

The health, safety and welfare of students is always the paramount concern of Bellingham School District. As such, any harm or injury to a student is extremely troubling to the school district. Bellingham School District is aware of the pending lawsuit, but I have instructed the school district not to provide any comment on the pending litigation, the districts attorneys, Michael McFarland and Sean Harkins, said in a July 1 statement to The Herald. McFarland and Harkins are attorneys with Evans, Craven & Lackie law firm out of Spokane, which specializes in business, employment, government liability and various malpractice defense, according to the firms website.

The Herald has reached out to the parents attorney, the school district and the Bellingham Police Department for more information and comment.

It is Bellingham Herald policy to avoid identifying potential victims of domestic and sexual violence when possible.

Prior assaults

The lawsuit accuses the school district of not only knowing the 9-year-old male student had been accused of sexually assaulting at least two other male children on the school bus prior to repeatedly sexually assaulting the 10-year-old boy during the 2022-2023 school year, but that the district failed to report the previous assaults, failed to institute an appropriate safety plan to protect other students from the 9-year-old, and attempted to use other students as a way to chaperone the 9-year-old while on the bus after allegations of abuse were disclosed to school officials, according to court records.

Both the 9-year-old student and 10-year-old student attended Wade King Elementary School during the 2022-2023 school year and rode the bus. The district knew the 9-year-old student had a history of sexually assaulting other students while on the school bus, according to the lawsuit.

In October 2022, the 9-year-old was accused of sexually assaulting a male student while the pair were on the bus. The 9-year-old allegedly encouraged the other student to sit next to him on the bus. Once seated next to one another, the 9-year-old sexually touched the other student, assaulting him, the court records state.

The victim reported the sexual abuse to his parents, who notified the school district of the assault, the records state.

The lawsuit claims the district should have fulfilled its mandatory reporting obligations and reported the sexual abuse to law enforcement or child welfare officials. The district also should have created a safety plan to protect other students, including requiring that the 9-year-old student no longer ride the school bus, that alternative transportation be provided for him or that a trained adult or paraprofessional sit with him while on the bus to ensure he did not abuse additional students.

Neither reasonably prudent action was taken by the District. Instead, and quite incredulously, the District allowed the offending student to continue to ride the bus, court documents state.

The district also allegedly asked the school bus driver to identify several older students who could sit next to the 9-year-old student on the bus. The lawsuit claims the district did not notify the students or their parents that they were being seated next to the 9-year-old as a way to chaperone him to keep him from sexually assaulting other students, records show.

Following the implementation of a safety plan put in place by the district after the first boys allegations were reported, the 9-year-old student was accused of raping a second boy while they were seated next to one another on the bus, according to court documents.

The second boy reported the sexual abuse to his parents, who also notified the school district.

The lawsuit claims the district should have reported the second boys allegations to law enforcement or child welfare officials, and that it should have modified its safety plan by removing the 9-year-old child from the bus indefinitely.

But remarkably, Defendant District did nothing, the lawsuit claims. Two credible sexual assaults by two young boys were reported, and the District did nothing.

Spanning a roughly four-month period in spring 2023, and roughly four months after the first boys assaults were disclosed, the 9-year-old child repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped the 10-year-old child  the third victim  while on the bus, according to court documents.

The two boys sat next to one another at least six times throughout spring 2023, court records show.

The 10-year-old reported the sexual abuse to his parents, who notified the district and law enforcement.

A search conducted by The Herald of juvenile court cases filed between June 1, 2023 through the current date do not show any cases with matching allegations.

Title IX investigation

At some point after the start of June 2023, the school district initiated a Title IX investigation into the 10-year-old boys allegations, the lawsuit shows.

During an interview with school district investigators, the boy told them he initially believed he and the 9-year-old boy were playing a game. He said the 9-year-old student told him they would pretend they were sleeping, that while they were sleeping we are going to pretend we dont know what happens to us, and that what they were doing was a secret, an excerpt from the Title IX investigation included in the lawsuit states.

The 9-year-old also allegedly placed his backpack on the edge of the bus seat to block others view of what they were doing, and told the 10-year-old to stop whenever the bus stopped moving, according to court records.

The districts Title IX investigator recommended that the districts decision-maker conclude that the 9-year-old students actions constituted sexual harassment, court records state.

A second allegation included in the districts Title IX investigation alleged that the 10-year-old boy had reported multiple previous incidents to school officials prior to early June 2023, in which the 9-year-old student sexually abused him while they were on the bus.

Bus footage reviewed by district investigators showed that the two students sat together six times during a monthlong span in spring 2023. While nothing in the footage  which does not show what was occurring in the bus seats  explicitly showed sexual misconduct, there are details in the footage that align with details supporting the allegations and accounts from both the 10-year-old student and other witnesses, court documents state.

Other children who rode the bus were also interviewed and corroborated the 10-year-old students accounts of the sexual abuse, court records state.

The Title IX investigator also recommended the districts decision-maker conclude that the 9-year-old boy repeatedly sexually assaulted the 10-year-old child during spring 2023 while they were on the bus, the court records show.

The Bellingham Public Schools new District Office is located at 1985 Barkley Blvd. in Bellingham, Wash. The $22 million building features an open concept and sustainable design throughout.

The districts policies and procedures on sexual harassment of students state the district will promptly take appropriate action to investigate and will take effective steps reasonably calculated to end harassment, eliminate any hostile environment, prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects as appropriate.

The districts procedure on sexual harassment states that if a sexual assault is alleged to have occurred, the school principal will immediately inform the districts Title IX coordinator, inform law enforcement and notify the student victim and their parent or guardian of their right to file a criminal complaint and a sexual harassment complaint simultaneously. The district will also notify and provide supportive measures to the student victim, the procedure states.

The district will designate a Title IX coordinator, who ensures the district complies with state and federal regulations, and will also designate a decision-maker who will reach the final determination of responsibility for the conduct alleged to violate Title IX. The decision-maker will either be Baker, the superintendent, or another designee, the districts procedure states.

The decision-makers report will include details regarding any corrective measures the district will take and notice of any possible sanctions or discipline for the perpetrators. Corrective measures deemed necessary will be instituted as quickly as possible, but no later than 30 days following the mailing of the decision-makers written response to the victim and state education officials, the districts procedure states.

The district will also conduct additional follow-up inquiries with the victim and their parent or legal guardian to see if there have been any new incidents, the districts website states.

In his statement July 2, Baker said Bellingham Public Schools staff members receive a variety of training related to their mandatory reporting duties.

Every fall, prior to the start of the school year, employees review state laws and the districts policies and procedures, including those related to mandatory reporting and sexual harassment. Staff are also required to complete online trainings on safety and education topics through a third-party company called Vector Solutions, including two 25-minute trainings titled Bullying: Recognition & Response and Child Abuse: Mandatory Reporting. The districts human resources department tracks employee participation and compliance with these trainings, according to Bakers statement.

All district administrators receive annual Title IX training, and all new employees review mandatory reporting laws, and the districts policies and procedures related to sexual harassment. New employees also go through a Vector Solutions training titled What Every Employee Must Be Told, which reportedly discusses topics related to child abuse, including mandatory reporting, discrimination and sexual harassment, according to the districts July 2 statement.

The Herald has asked the district whether these policies and procedures were followed in this situation.

Duty of care

The lawsuit accuses the district of violating the special protective relationship it has with the students entrusted in its care.

The district has a duty to protect students from reasonably foreseeable harm and to control individuals who present reasonably foreseeable harms to students, the lawsuit states.

Because the district knew the 10-year-old boy has autism, received special education services and that he is vulnerable to acts of bullying, harassment and other misconduct, and knew that the 9-year-old boy had previously been accused of sexually assaulting at least two other students while on the bus, the district failed in its duty to protect the 10-year-old from the reasonably foreseeable harm that the 9-year-old would sexually abuse him, the lawsuit alleges.

As a direct and proximate cause of these and other breaches and failures, (the victim) was subjected to repeated acts of rape and sexual assault while on the school bus. The District repeatedly failed to protect (the victim) and control (the 9-year-old boy), and the inevitable occurred: (the victim) was repeatedly sexually abused on the Defendants school bus, the lawsuit states.

The district is also accused of failing to report the sexual assaults of the first two boys to either law enforcement or child welfare officials. Because of this failure to report, the 9-year-old boy did not receive intervention services for his alleged sexual abuse of other students and measures to control his behaviors and protect other students were not put in place, which ultimately resulted in him sexually assaulting the 10-year-old student, the lawsuit claims.

Because of the districts negligence and failures, the relationship between the 10-year-old and his parents has been damaged, the lawsuit alleges.

The victim has suffered immense damages that are significant and ongoing, court records state.

Prior reporting failures

The lawsuit comes roughly seven months after three Bellingham Public Schools administrators resolved the criminal cases against them alleging that they failed to report a Squalicum High School female students repeated sexual assaults to law enforcement or child welfare officials, The Herald previously reported.

In that case, all three administrators were charged with one count of failure to report, a gross misdemeanor. They entered into an agreed-upon deferred prosecution agreement Dec. 5, where the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorneys Office agreed to continue the criminal cases for roughly 90 days while the administrators did community service. Following that, the prosecutors office stated it would dismiss the charges against all three administrators.

The Herald has asked court officials for an update regarding whether the three administrators cases were dismissed.

The female student who disclosed the sexual assaults to school district officials filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the district Dec. 7, 2022. Her lawsuit is still pending, federal court records show.

The student, who withdrew from the high school and began attending another school, accuses the district in her lawsuit of violating her federal Title IX rights, failing its duty to protect and care for her and neglecting its duties to report the sexual assaults to law enforcement.

She previously sought $1 million in damages from the district before filing the federal lawsuit, The Herald previously reported.

The district denied it mishandled the students reports in its January 2023 response to the lawsuit. The district said it took reasonable steps to stop the reported harassment, that the assault allegations contained in the students lawsuit were not reported to the administrators and that the conduct that was reported to them was not considered abuse or neglect under state law.

The school district said in a late-August email to The Herald that it continued to support the administrators, that it believes they acted in good faith and that it did not believe any of the three violated any policies. Baker, the district superintendent, reiterated this sentiment in a Dec. 5 statement, and said the information the administrators received did not require a mandatory report to law enforcement or child welfare officials.

Resources

 Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org

Brigid Collins Family Support Center professionals are on-call between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, to answer questions about children, families, abuse prevention or treatment at (360) 734-4616.

 Child Protective Services: Washington state hotline for reporting child abuse and neglect, 866-829-2153.

 Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.

 Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.

 Tlils Taaaltha Victims of Crime: 360-325-3310 or nooksacktribe.org/departments/youth-family-services/tlils-taaaltha-victims-of-crime-program/

 Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.

 WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.

If you or a child is in immediate danger, call 911 and make a report to law enforcement.

To report child abuse or neglect call 1-866-END HARM.
(Bloomberg) -- Officials from Marine Le Pens movement are in advanced talks with other far-right groups in the European Parliament that could see her party abandon its current political family to join forces with Hungarys Viktor Orban.

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Members of Le Pens Identity and Democracy group, which was set up in 2019 to represent far-right and extreme nationalist views across the bloc, plan to meet with EU allies the day after Frances election concludes this weekend to discuss the partys future, according to a person directly involved in the talks.

Several of the groups members are already deciding whether to join a new populist alliance announced this week by Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Asked about a potential alliance with Orban in a radio interview on Tuesday, Le Pen said her party will look into options following the election.

Dissolving ID is intended in part to further distance existing members from Germanys AfD party, according to people briefed on the plan. The far-right party was a key member of ID until earlier this year, when it was kicked out after AfD officials made statements minimizing Nazi war crimes.

To be formally recognized, the group needs members from at least seven countries. Among the parties who have expressed interest in joining Orbans nascent group, which was set up with nationalists in Austria and the Czech Republic, are Matteo Salvinis League party, and Le Pens National Rally itself, according to people familiar with the matter.

Salvinis decision to publicly back Orban comes just after Italys Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, both a coalition partner and a political opponent, pushed for more recognition in the upcoming top appointments in Brussels. The two politicians lead two far-right parties which belong to different groups in the EU Parliament.

Whether party leaders ultimately decide to join Orban, who is in Kyiv today on a state trip, will hinge on the results of the French election, which could affect whether or not Le Pen dissolves ID. If French politicians choose to join Orban, many others will follow, the people said.

Both Orban and Salvini said they are confident that their new alliance will become the third biggest in the EU Parliament.

Were that to happen, it would mark a big win for Hungarys far-right leader, who is seeking to cement his influence within the bloc. Orbans group, Patriots for Europe, wants to pursue a far-right populist agenda, which includes plans to curtail the European Unions influence in national politics, revert power to member states and limit immigration into the bloc.

Le Pen brushed off criticism that she was avoiding laying out EU parliamentary plans ahead of the French vote out of concern that they might be seen as too friendly to Russia. Allegations that she supports Russia, she said, are as false as ever.

--With assistance from Andras Gergely, Marton Eder, Donato Paolo Mancini and Marton Kasnyik.

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(Bloomberg) -- Marine Le Pens National Rally is trying to outmaneuver rivals that are pulling out well-worn tricks to keep the far-right out of power in the final round of legislative elections on Sunday.

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In what has become something of a French game of chess, the opposition to Le Pen  President Emmanuel Macrons centrist group and a left-wing alliance  is racing to coalesce and pull out candidates to shut her own people out. She, by turn, is trying to court supporters to back her.

There are two scenarios at stake. One would see her win an absolute majority that would allow the National Rally to easily pass legislation. The other would be a hung parliament where Macron would still dictate foreign policy and would need to compromise on a prime minister, who would be calling the shots on domestic policy.

The anti-National Rally parties are strategically removing certain third-placed candidates from the next round of voting to avoid splitting the vote, narrowing Le Pens path to an absolute majority.

A count by Le Monde newspaper showed more than 210 candidates from other parties in runoffs with more than two people chose not to submit the required documentation by a deadline of 6 p.m. Paris time on Tuesday. This included 131 from the leftist New Popular Front alliance and some 80 from Macrons centrists.

Pulling out of elections to avoid splitting the vote against the far right and form a so-called Republican Front is a mainstay tactic in French elections thats usually limited to a handful of districts. Yet surging turnout this time vastly increased the number of three-way contests in the second round to 306.

The Republican Front weve talked about a lot has come back together, former Socialist President Francois Hollande said on France 2 television. Even if it means losing seats, the left should be proud to stand in the way of the far right.

Macron? Le Pen? A Guide to Frances Crucial Election: QuickTake

Markets have been rattled by uncertainty around the ballot and the risk a far-right government would increase spending and clash with the European Union over deficits. As investors dumped French assets, the 10-year yield premium over German peers rose to highs not seen since 2012. But the stress has eased a little since the first-round vote to the lowest since June 13 on a closing basis at 71 basis points.

The final lineup for Sunday will likely not be published until Wednesday, but the number of intended withdrawals is a blow to Le Pen, even if around 95 three-way contests remain. There were also five four-way runoffs, which Le Monde said have now been reduced to one.

Bloomberg analysis of the French dailys count crossed with first-round results shows withdrawals were mainly in places where the National Rally was best placed to win. At 6 p.m., 152 candidates had withdrawn from the 161 races where the far right topped the first round.

According to analysis by research journal Le Grand Continent that also takes into account polling on how voters shift their support between rounds, the National Rally could get between 225 and 262 seats.

In a sign that Le Pen is starting to reckon with falling short of her ambition to win 289 districts in order to have an absolute majority in the 577-seat National Assembly, she said earlier on Tuesday that her party would reach out to other lawmakers to try to plug the gap.

National Rally leader Jordan Bardella has previously said he would only accept an invitation to be prime minister if the party and its allies win an absolute majority. It is accepted practice that the president nominates a premier from the largest group in the lower house.

If were just a few members of parliament away from a majority, well try to go find them, Le Pen told France Inter radio.

Hollande, who is leading in a three-way race, said the National Rally wouldnt have the capacity to act with only a relative majority. In such circumstances, he said it would be necessary to build a block based on a minimum of campaign pledges of different parties that could govern for at least a year before new elections would be constitutionally possible.

There is the principle of promises and of responsibility, the former president said. Our country cant come to a standstill.

National Rally and its allies dominated the first round of voting two days ago, getting 33.2% of the vote. The left-wing New Popular Front alliance got 28%, while Macrons coalition won 20.8%.

Some early projections Sunday night had indicated the far-right party may be able to get an absolute majority.

There have also been signs this week that the practice of consolidating opposition to the far-right would not hold up so universally in this election. While the parties in the New Popular Front called explicitly for voters to pick anyone but the National Rally, some centrists in Macrons party have been less clear.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire was among those saying he would not call for people to back candidates from France Unbowed, the far-left party of Jean-Luc Melenchon that makes up part of the New Popular Front. Still, he said not a single vote should go to the far right.

--With assistance from James Hirai and Richard Bravo.

(Updates with new details in the first four paragraphs.)

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JERUSALEM, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The electricity company in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday began works to reconnect power, aiming to boost a desalination plant's capacity to produce more water for the enclave's residents, an Israeli official confirmed to Xinhua.

The works have been approved and coordinated with Israel, whose ground forces are on a large-scale offensive in Gaza since Hamas' attack on its southern communities on Oct. 7, 2023.

Video footage on social networks showed workers from the Palestinian Electric Company on Tuesday began to repair power lines damaged by Israel during its nine-month offensive in the Palestinian enclave.

According to the official, the Israeli plan aims to provide power from Israel to a major water desalination plant in Khan Younis. No other power lines will be reconnected at the moment, the official said.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that the plan was first approved by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on June 16.

The facility, funded by the United Nations in 2017, was set up to supply drinking water to Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Mawasi -- areas where numerous Gazans sought refuge from Israeli attacks.

More than 37,900 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the enclave's health authorities, and aid groups described the damage to infrastructure and property as unprecedented.

At the outset of the war, Israel cut most of the supply of power, water, food, and fuel to Gaza. The extensive devastation prompted the International Court of Justice to conclude that there is "a plausible risk of genocide" in Gaza, an allegation that Israel denies.

Israel said that the offensive was launched to dismantle Hamas in Gaza following an attack by the group's militants last October, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of about 250 hostages. 
Learn about candidates running in August primary election for Congress in Tennessee

Tennessee citizens elect two U.S. senators and nine congressional district U.S. House of Representatives members.

In 2024, one Senate seat is up for election and all nine House seats are in play. Senators serve six-year terms and House members serve two-year terms.

The Tennessean Editorial Board invited candidates for the 2024 congressional elections to fill out our questionnaire. Scroll to link to individual candidates' answers.

First, here is a reminder of key dates:

July 2: Voter registration deadline

July 12-27: Early voting

July 25: Deadline to request absentee ballot

Aug. 1: Primary election

Nov. 5: General election

Emily Mimms carries her son Rufus into the voting booth as she casts her vote at Hadley Park on 28th Ave N in Nashville, Tenn. Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020

Here's what we asked 2024 congressional candidates

Aside from biographical information, we asked these 11 questions:

Why are you running for this office? What makes you qualified to hold this office and better qualified than your opponent(s)? If you are elected (or re-elected), what are your top 2 to 3 priorities for your new (or next) term in office? What are you hearing most from voters about what they want you to accomplish, if elected? Are you satisfied with the direction of the country? Explain why. What is your assessment of the performance of the President Joe Biden over the last four years? How should the U.S. approach foreign policy goals as it pertains to regions, nations and conflicts such as China, Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war? Americans in recent polling say immigration is one of the top issues, if not the most important issue, facing the U.S. What should Congress do to address the immigration and border security? What else do you want voters to know about you that will help them make an informed decision on Election Day? A "fun" question: When visitors ask you, "What should I do in Tennessee or your specific community?" what are the top 2 or 3 things or places you recommend? Will you commit to being civil in how you present yourself and the way you interact with opponents and others? (Our definition of civility is being a good, active, honest and respectable citizen)

Click on individual Q&A links below

Below find the candidates for Congress in Tennessee. You will find a hyperlink to an individual Q&A for those candidates who chose to fill it out. The Tennessean reached out to candidates in April and May and made efforts to ask them to answer the questions. Candidates who have not done so can request the Q&A anew by emailing dplazas@tennessean.com.

Note: Not all races have competition for the primary. Those will go on to the Nov. 5 general election.

U.S. Senate

Republicans

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (incumbent)

Tres Wittum

Democrats

Marquita Bradshaw

Lola Denise Brown

Gloria Johnson

Civil Miller-Watkins

U.S. House of Representatives

District 1 (East Tennessee)

Republicans

Rep. Diana Harshbarger (incumbent)

Democrats

Kevin Jenkins

Bennett H. Lapides

District 2 (East Tennessee)

Republicans

Rep. Tim Burchett (incumbent)

Democrats

Jane George

District 3 (East Tennessee)

Republicans

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (incumbent)

Democrats

Jack Allen

District 4 (Middle Tennessee)

Republicans

Thomas E. Davis

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (incumbent)

Joshua James

Democrats

Victoria Isabel Broderick

District 5 (Middle Tennessee)

Republicans

Courtney Johnston

Rep. Andy Ogles (incumbent)

Democrats

Maryam Abolfazli

District 6 (Middle Tennessee)

Republicans

Rep. John Rose (incumbent)

Democrats

District 7 (Middle Tennessee)

Republicans

Rep. Mark E. Green (incumbent)

Democrats

Megan Barry

District 8 (West Tennessee)

Republicans

Rep. David Kustoff (incumbent)

Democrats

Sarah Freeman

Leonard Perkins

Lawrence A. Pivnick

Lynnette P. Williams

Brenda Woods

District 9 (West Tennessee)

Republicans

Charlotte Bergmann

Democrats

M Latroy A-Williams

Rep. Steve Cohen (incumbent)

Kasandra L Smith

Corey Strong

Call Opinion and Engagement Director David Plazas at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X at @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee elections: Learn about the Congressional candidates
At least 59 arrested overnight near Pride Parade, including 9 juveniles, cops say

CHICAGO  At least 59 people, including nine juveniles, were arrested overnight near the Pride Parade on charges ranging from obstruction of traffic, failure to obey police and misdemeanor and felony infractions, Chicago police said.

At least four firearms were recovered in the arrests, police said.

Tuesday morning, Chicago police said 24 people were arrested and given various misdemeanor charges including reckless conduct, battery and assault, resisting/obstructing officers and criminal damage to property. At least 14 people were given felony charges.

Six people were written citations for disorderly conduct/failure to obey police, six were cited for obstruction of traffic by non-motorist, and one person was taken into custody on an arrest warrant, police said.

Of the arrested, at least 14 people were given felony charges which ranged from drug possession, weapons charges and battery to a police officer. Charges were pending for two individuals who were taken into custody.

____
FILE - Lebanese special forces sit in their vehicle as they patrol on a road that leads to the U.S. Embassy in Aukar, a northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, June 5, 2024. On Tuesday, July 2, a judge at Lebanon's military court charged the gunmen who opened fire at the U.S. embassy near Beirut with being affiliated to the militant Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File)

BEIRUT (AP)  A judge at Lebanon's military court on Tuesday charged the gunman who opened fire at the U.S. embassy near Beirut with being affiliated to the militant Islamic State group, security and judicial officials said.

Lebanese soldiers shot and arrested the gunman in early June, later identified as Kaiss Farraj from Syria, after a shootout that lasted almost 30 minutes and injured an embassy security guard.

The Islamic State group has not claimed responsibility for the attack, nor has any other group.

The attack took place as tensions simmered in the tiny Mediterranean country, where fighting between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops has displaced thousands along the border, following years of political deadlock and economic hardship.

Lebanese media published photos that appear to show a bloodied attacker wearing a black vest with the words Islamic State written in Arabic and the English initials I and S.

Judicial and security officials familiar with the investigation previously told The Associated Press that Farraj initially appeared to be a lone wolf and not linked to any extremist group. The Lebanese Army soon after the shootout raided the eastern Lebanese towns of Majdal Anjar and nearby Suweiri, where it arrested three relatives of the suspect and two other people believed to be associated with him.

The two officials added that Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Fadi Akiki also charged two others who sold weapons to the gunman with selling unlicensed firearms. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

The officials said that Farraj, who was shot three times in the shootout, is in poor health and remains unconscious.

In 1983, a deadly bombing attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut killed 63 people. U.S. officials blame the attack on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Following that attack, the embassy was moved from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar, north of the capital. Another bomb attack struck the new location on Sept. 20, 1984.

In September 2023, Lebanese security forces detained a Lebanese man who opened fire outside the U.S. Embassy. There were no casualties in that attack.

In October 2023, hundreds of protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces in demonstrations near the U.S. Embassy in support of Gazas people and the militant group Hamas in its war with Israel.
Against the background of the noise of exploding rockets and constant Israeli drone strikes, the people of southern Lebanon living in the port city of Tyre have decided to defy the hostilities to soak up the sun's rays and party.

Anyone who doesn't follow the news would not believe that just a few kilometres away towns have been destroyed in the daily rocket fire and people are getting killed.

"Coming here is an act of survival in a country where nothing is working," Batoul Ezzedine told dpa while she was sunbathing on the beach in Tyre.

A war has been brewing in the area for months on the Lebanese-Israeli border, but the recent increase in fighting suggests that the two sides could be on the verge of a much more dangerous escalation.

Clouds of smoke can often be seen rising in the distant sky, while Israeli warplanes frequently fly overhead, sending forth loud booms as they break the sound barrier.

The buzzing of Israeli drones is a constant noise as they hover, waiting for the chance to strike a passing vehicle driven by members of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia; The presence of the drones is an indication that the war is getting closer to Tyre and even to the capital Beirut, which is almost 85 kilometres away.

Since October 8, a day after the war broke out in Gaza, there have been daily battles between the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and the Israeli army. The Gaza war was prompted by unprecedented attacks from the coastal strip by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement on Israel that resulted in 1,200 deaths.

Hezbollah says it is acting in solidarity with its ally Hamas, but the daily exchange of rockets between the movement and Israel on the northern border are increasing by the day. Hezbollah says it will only stop when there is a ceasefire in Gaza.

More than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon so far, most of them Hezbollah members. Around 50 civilians have also been killed. In Israel 16 Israeli soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in attacks from Lebanon.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Hezbollah would be destroyed in a "total war," while Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned that "no place" in Israel would be safe if Lebanon is attacked.

These counter-threats have reminded many Lebanese of the 33-day war which Israel launched on Lebanon in 2006 targeting Hezbollah that destroyed much of the infrastructure of the country as well as killing more than 1,000 civilians and displacing thousands.

"People are in a dilemma: Either you sit home and listen to news all the time and become more stressed or you come to the beach for a few hours to relieve the daily tension," said Hassan Siklawi.

But for Ghassan Hudruj, a small restaurant owner near the beach, things are not as good as a just a few weeks ago.

"Many of my customers who are from Beirut and other areas close to the capital are not coming any more, and I can understand them. You cannot persuade people outside the south to come and try to pretend that life is great. No it is not great and we are affected by it," Hudruj said.

Less than 1 kilometre from the beach where people were enjoying the sunshine and drinking cold beers, displaced Lebanese who have fled from their border village have been living in tiny classrooms in several schools, where they have to combat the heat, electricity cuts and an increasingly strained economic situation.

"I have been living in this small classroom with my 11-year-old son and husband since October 2023. We do not know for how long we will stay here, but it seems that our stay will be very long," Fatima from the border village of Blida said.

"We do not know where we are heading. We are facing the unknown - and Lebanon is on verge of destruction," she said.

The ongoing war is not the only thing Lebanon is fighting: The country has been reeling since 2019 under the worst economic crisis in its history.

But despite all the economic woes, threats and the escalation down south, in the capital Beirut things look totally normal: Pubs are buzzing, music lovers attend concerts, luxurious weddings are held and restaurants are full of people who have come to spend their summer with their families.

Fadi al-Hassan, general director of civil aviation at Rafik Hariri International Airport told dpa that in June alone the airport welcomed some 408,000 people.

"These are great numbers and are almost close to numbers in June 2023, when arrivals stood at 427,000," al-Hassan said.

He stressed that the recent tensions "have not affected the number of arrivals so far."

"If I were to follow logic, I shouldn't be sitting here," said 25-year-old Tamara, sipping a drink in a bar in the Mar Mikhael district.

"But we live in a country in which nothing is logical. Life is too short and I have to enjoy it," 23-year-old Aziz said.
Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, discusses Democrats' property tax proposals for the 2025 session at the State Capitol on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Democrats in the Montana Legislature unveiled a property tax plan Tuesday they will bring forward on the first day of next years legislative session they say would reduce tax payments for most homes valued under $750,000, create new tax tiers based on a propertys value and reverse a tax burden shift to Montana homeowners.

Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, and Rep. Jonathan Karlen, D-Missoula, unveiled the three-tiered plan Tuesday at the State Capitol.

They again placed blame for the rise in property values and assessed taxes at the feet of the Republican supermajority and Gianforte administration for not changing assessment rates last year after the Department of Revenue warned property values would likely go up by more than 40%, and for utilizing one-time-only rebates to alleviate the burden.

Lets be clear: This crisis is one entirely of the governors and Republican Legislatures own making. They knew it was coming; they knew how to prevent it, and they did nothing, Flowers said. Worse, they deepened the crisis by giving tax breaks to major corporations and left the rest of us, including our Main Street business, picking up the bill.

The Democrats released details of several bills they plan to have drafted for 2025 as Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes Property Tax Task Force continues readying its proposal to the governor about how to change tax structures and mill levies to try and reduce costs for homeowners, and as interim legislative committees continue to finalize bill proposals for next session. The task force is set to meet as a whole body again next Monday.

Few ideas from Democrats, currently a superminority in both chambers, have garnered any traction so far in the interim committees, which also have a Republican supermajority structure following changes last session.

If (the task force has) got, you know, another idea that we can complement what were doing, or that gets to the same end, were all ears, Flowers said. But today, we have not heard that, and we think its important to get a proposal on the table that we know is going to create a fairer tax system and give working Montanans a break.

A graphic from legislative Democrats showing how their proposals would change property tax payments for people living in four different counties, as well as statewide. (Provided by House and Senate Democrats)

Flowers and Karlen said they would have several other bill drafts moving forward on the topic, but they outlined three primary proposals that they said would work in concert but would also be beneficial if only one or some of them pass.

The first would create a homestead exemption that would keep the first $50,000 of a homes value from being taxed, as well as the first $200,000 of a class 4 commercial property, which includes small businesses and some commercial and industrial property.

The second proposal would change residential property tax rates to a six-tiered structure by which a primary residential property owner would be taxed more as the value rises. Homes worth between $50,000 and $500,000 would be taxed at 1%, and rates would rise from there based on four higher tiers. The Tier 6 tax rate for homes valued over $1.5 million would be 1.89%. Currently, residential homes are taxed at 1.35% up to $1.5 million, when it moves up to 1.89%.

The third proposal would implement what the Democrats call a housing fairness tax credit to offset costs of rising property taxes for retired Montanans, renters, and lower and middle-income homeowners. The idea piggybacks off a bill Karlen introduced in 2023 and would have given a tax credit to homeowners making under $130,000 a year to offset property tax costs. Karlens bill was killed by Republicans on the House floor.

Karlen said for those that qualify, the tax credit would go up proportionally to their property tax bill and said it would be a backstop to make sure that nobody falls through the cracks.

Flowers and Karlen said the plan would lead to an estimated $214 million reduction in the amount of residential property taxes paid, a 15% reduction in the amount of taxes paid by a home worth the median value statewide, and a $14 million reduction in commercial taxes paid. They said the proposals would also result in a $100 million reversal of the corporate tax shift, resulting in $90 million less coming back to the state coffers when considering all the changes.

Flowers said the Democrats believe even with less revenue coming back to the state, counties and schools should see the same amount of money coming in. He said with a $700 to $800 million forecasted budget surplus, the package should be one of the highest priorities for lawmakers and the executive branch.

Flowers and Karlen said by increasing tax rates for higher-value homes, that money should offset some of the money the General Fund would lose by reducing rates for lower-priced homes, and that Democrats also hope to introduce companion bills that look at commercial property exemptions and loopholes that could offset the lost revenues.

Most business that are here have seen, we think, inappropriate exemptions and loopholes. And because of those, the burdens fallen on residential property owners because, in essence, its a zero-sum game, Flowers said. And if the residential property taxes go up, industrial and commercial has gone down, and thats what happened. And we want to right the ship a bit on that.

Flowers said the Democrats do see their proposals as a long-term fix that will have to be tweaked over time as Montanas economy and sources of revenue change.

Asked about how the business industry might respond to having more taxes shifted back onto them and their powerful lobbying representatives, Flowers said businesses would also get the commercial property exemption and have been trying to find ways to make it easier to hire employees to live in places with high costs of living.

Rep. Jonathan Karlen, D-Missoula, talks to reporters about Democrats' property tax proposals for 2025 on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Most lawmakers so far this interim have been opposed to the long-floated idea of implementing a sales tax in Montana to add another revenue source for the state and stop shifting the burden back and forth between homeowners and business owners.

The only way that youre going to have employees to run their business is if you also address affordable housing. Part of affordable housing is property tax, Flowers said. And so, we would hope that theyd see the value of this for the business community as well.

The Montana Department of Revenue and Gov. Gianforte sent out fliers that arrived in homeowners mailboxes this week reminding them they are again eligible for up to $675 in property tax relief if they apply by Aug. 15. Homeowners could also receive the rebate last year.

Sean Southard, a spokesperson for the Governors Office, said Democrats were grandstanding with press conferences and Twitter videos, referring to Tuesdays news conference and social media videos made by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse, but Gianforte is delivering solutions to the problems facing hardworking Montanans.

The governor is encouraged by the progress of the bipartisan property tax task force he launched, particularly the discussions about capping the growth of local spending which drives property tax increases and providing a homestead exemption to Montana residents to ensure out-of-staters, who own second homes in Montana, pay their fair share for our law enforcement, schools, and roads and bridges.

The post Legislative Democrats unveil Montana property tax proposals for 2025 appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Editors note: This story has been updated to report that Gov. Henry McMaster approved the earmark.

What does it take to get $300,000 from the state of South Carolina?

For one non-profit, it could be as little as five sentences. That is all of the explanation provided for an appropriation approved by both Houses of the legislature and signed by Gov. Henry McMaster.

The money is set to go to to the Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin Foundation, at 501c3 nonprofit run by Jeffrey Lampkin, public information officer for the Richland County Coroners Office, and his wife, Sumter lawyer Harriet Lampkin.

It will fund programs described as an arts camp and an effort to fight food insecurity, according to a request submitted by state Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Clarendon.

But documentation submitted as part of the request didnt offer details on the scope of the program. Neither did Johnson or state Rep. Fawn Pedalino, R-Clarendon, who also supported the funding.

Both legislators emphasized to The State that Lampkin did good work for the community. But the potential funding  with no website and less than $50,000 in revenue  raises fresh questions about the opaque system of earmarks in South Carolina.

Earmarks, also known as community investment projects, route state money to specific projects sponsored by individual lawmakers outside of the normal budget process. Earmarks pass through state agencies directly to the entity carrying out the project.

Each year, dozens of government, non-profit and other projects receive funding through earmarks. Legislators submit requests for earmarks, which are added to the budget without the normal scrutiny provided by state agencies.

This system has been a point of contention in South Carolina. Defenders say that they are a necessary part of doing business at the State House and send millions of dollars to small, deserving projects that benefit the state. But opponents of the system have described many earmarks as wasteful and the product of backroom deals at the State House.

Following The States 2021 series on earmarks, which included McMasters comments that the system created a government in the dark, which could create the impression of impropriety, laws were change to require legislators to submit request forms for earmarks to their budget writing committees with an explanation of the earmark and supporting documentation.

Those forms, obtained by The State newspaper, are then turned over to the governors office, which vets the earmarks. McMaster can then veto individual earmark requests.

No matter how deserving the project, the public must be confident that proper accountability measures are in place to ensure the funds are appropriately spent, McMaster said in 2022.

McMaster allowed the $300,000 earmark for the Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin Foundation to remain in the budget.The funds were not among McMasters 21 vetoes, which cut $2.29 million out of the budget.

Brandon Charochak, the press secretary for McMaster, said a decision was made not to veto earmarks to any charities registered with the South Carolina Secretary of State.

A 2023 financial report to the South Carolina Secretary of States Public Charities Division showed that the Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin Foundation raised $30,750 last year. Of that, $750 came from Kappa Alpha Psi, a historically African American fraternity, while $30,000 came from Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin.

The foundation spent $25,000 on multiple community feeding programs in Sumter, Lee, Clarendon and Williamsburg Counties as well as annual turkey giveaways. The foundation also spent $5,500 on a Christmas gas giveaway in Sumter County, according to the report.

Where will the money go?

Over his life and career, Lampkin has worn many hats. A one-time American Idol contestant, Lampkin has also hosted a talk show on Columbia-area TV station WACH, leads several gospel choirs and owns and operates the Country Boy Kitchen, a soul food restaurant with three locations in Sumter along with a food truck and catering business.

In addition to his work with the Richland County Coroners Office, he is also public information officer for his wifes law firm, The Lampkin Law Firm in Sumter.

The couple are heavily involved in charitable giving. For his birthday in 2021, Lampkin reportedly started a clothing and blankets drive and, according to the Lampkin Law Firm website, the couple have held multiple Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas toy give-aways as well as at least one free arts summer camp in 2014.

When contacted by The State, Johnson, the state senator who requested the earmark, said the Lampkins were very generous and theyre always looking for a way to improve the quality of life in their community.

The earmarked funds will go to a project titled Food Insecurity/Summer Camp. According to a five sentence description that contains typos, the state funds will go to address on a large scale food insecurity in Clarendon, Sumter, and Lee Counties and provide safe and global artistic training to rural youth.

Clarendon, Sumter and Lee Counties are known food deserts. Many residents live below the poverty line. By continued partnerships with churches and nonprofits, this need could be addressed on a greater scale. The youth arent able to travel to major cities for artistic development THe camp provides exposure and opportunity. (Typo in original)

My understanding is that they have identified food insecurity as a need and an opportunity, Johnson said. For many children in Clarendon, Lee and Sumter counties, most of their meals and most of their nutritious meals are at school. With school being out, this would fill a big void in our area.

Johnson said that the program was not being run in conjunction with Lampkins for-profit restaurants. The State was unable to contact Jeffrey Lampkin.

But Johnson stated that he wasnt familiar with the details of the submission because he had submitted it on behalf of state Rep. Fawn Pedalino, R-Clarendon. Pedalino said it was her understanding that Lampkin had reached out to both her and Johnson.

Pedalino said that she told Lampkin she would copy Johnson on an email with his application. The application then went before the House Ways and Means Committee, the committee that writes the initial draft of the state budget each year.

Committee staffers said they were trying to follow up with documentation for the committees vetting process, which is standard for all appropriations. Documents required by House staffers included an official request letter on the groups letterhead and supporting documentation including a detailed project description and a proposed budget.

A day or so later, they let me know that (Senator Johnson) had moved forward with the appropriation on the Senate side, which meant that there was no need for them to continue forward on the House side. So it was dropped, Pedalino said.

The initial appropriation request was for $450,000, however only $300,000 was approved through the earmark process, according to a request form obtained by The State. The form states that the Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin Foundation will provide $50,000 in matching funds, obtained through Contributions and Donations.

The Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin Foundation was granted tax exempt status in 2021. The State could not find a website for the foundation. In 2023 the foundation had gross receipts of less than $50,000, according to the IRS. The organization did not submit a complete 990 IRS form, required for most tax exempt organizations. A complete form is often not required when an organizations gross receipts are less than $50,000.

On his website and Facebook page, Lampkin advertises that he will be running an after-school arts camp from July 8 to July 11. The Jeffrey & Harriet Lampkin Summer 2024 Arts Institute will feature free classes on Drama, Choir, Dance, Mime, Stepping from 6 to 8 p.m., according to Facebook posts and promotional material. It is unclear if the earmark is intended to fund this program.

In 2024, Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin each donated $500 to Johnsons re-election campaign, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks political donations. Jeffrey Lampkin also gave Johnson $250 in 2016.

Johnson said the donation did not influence his decision to support the earmark. People who support me, sometimes when they come to me with something, sometimes I can help them, sometimes I can cant, but its never tied to anything like that, he said. As much as Jeffrey and Harriet have done for me over the years, I think this is the first time Ive ever done anything for them.

In this cycle, Johnson submitted six earmarks, including a $296,081 request to expand the facilities for the Clarendon Behavioral Health Center, which treats substance use disorders, as well as $1.4 million to renovate Sumter County Administration buildings and $1 million to improve downtown Sumters lighting and event infrastructure. Some of Pedalinos earmarks included $550,000 to replace a Clarendon County fire station, $879,000 for a sheriffs department training center and $40,000 to replace mildewed floors in Tuberville town hall.
Leonard Peltier was denied parole on Tuesday, meaning theres likely only one other way the ailing, 79-year-old Native American rights activist will ever be released after serving nearly 50 years in prison: If President Joe Biden intervenes and commutes his sentence.

Peltier has been in prison since 1977 when the U.S. government convicted him for killing two FBI agents in a 1975 shoot-out on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

But his trial was full of misconduct, including federal prosecutors hiding evidence that exonerated Peltier and the FBI threatening and coercing witnesses into lying. The governments case fell apart after these revelations, so it abruptly revised its charges against Peltier to aiding and abetting whoever did kill those agents  on the grounds that he was one of dozens of people present when the shoot-out occurred.

There was never evidence that Peltier committed a crime. The FBI and U.S. attorneys office never did figure out who killed those agents.

Peltier is widely considered Americas longest-serving political prisoner.

Todays announcement continues the injustice of this long ordeal for Leonard Peltier, said Kevin Sharp, Peltiers attorney. This decision is a missed opportunity for the United States to finally recognize the misconduct of the FBI and send a message to Indian Country regarding the impacts of the federal governments actions and policies of the 1970s.

Sharp, who is also a former federal judge appointed during Barack Obamas presidency, said he will immediately appeal to the Parole Commissions appeals board and in federal court.

I have not lost hope that Leonard Peltier will one day be free, said Sharp.

The FBI continues to oppose Peltiers release and is the main reason, if not the only reason, that hes still in prison. But its stated reasons for opposing Peltiers release are full of holes, outdated and remarkably easy to disprove.

The FBI also has not publicly addressed the key context of that 1975 shoot-out: That the FBI itself was intentionally fueling tensions on that reservation as part of a covert campaign to suppress the activities of the American Indian Movement, or AIM, a grassroots movement for Indigenous rights. Peltier was an active AIM member and an FBI target.

Today is a sad day for Indigenous Peoples and justice everywhere, Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy group, said in a statemet.

They denied parole to a survivor of genocidal Indian boarding schools and as he struggles to survive his unjust incarceration, they insist on holding him for a crime for which they have no physical evidence against him, said Tilsen. Clearly, the Parole Commission  which is supposed to be an independent body  was influenced by the FBI.

Peltier has maintained his innocence the entire time hes been in prison. It has almost certainly contributed to him being denied parole.

Prior to Tuesday, the last time Peltier was denied parole was in 2009. He is unlikely to live long enough to try for parole again, given the yearslong process involved, his advanced age and his poor health. Peltier has diabetes and an aortic aneurysm.

Leonard Peltier, nearly 80, was denied parole again after serving nearly 50 years in prison. It's likely on President Joe Biden now to decide if he can ever go home. via Associated Press

In his parole hearing last month, Peltiers team made the case that he be allowed to live out his final years in home confinement, with his family and tribe in North Dakota. His supporters have set up a house for him there.

Currently, Peltier spends most days confined to a cell with inches of space to move within, as his maximum security prison in Florida is regularly in a state of lockdown. He requires a walker to get around. He is blind in one eye from a stroke.

Biden is likely Peltiers last best hope for going home. The president has the authority to unilaterally release him at any time. Some of Peltiers allies have suggested they plan to throw everything theyve got at pressuring Biden to specifically commute his sentence  an action that would grant Peltier his freedom without the implicit forgiveness associated with a pardon.

So far, Biden hasnt said a thing about Peltier.

A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

In a rare interview in 2022, the imprisoned Native American rights activist said he knew what he would say to Biden if he had five minutes alone with him.

Im not guilty of this shooting. Im not guilty, he told HuffPost. I would like to go home to spend what years I have left with my great-grandkids and my people.

A human rights travesty.Paul OBrien, executive director of Amnesty International USA

Paul OBrien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, called Peltiers prolonged imprisonment a human rights travesty.

Not only are there ongoing, unresolved concerns about the fairness of his trial, he has spent nearly 50 years in prison, is approaching 80 years old, and suffers from several chronic health problems, OBrien said in a statement. We are now calling on President Biden, once again, to grant Leonard Peltier clemency on humanitarian grounds and as a matter of mercy and justice.

There is an argument to be made that Biden is uniquely positioned to be the president who finally lets Peltier go home.

Unlike virtually all of his predecessors, Biden has been a proud ally to Native communities and tribes since he stepped into the White House. He has overseen historic investments in Indian Country. He respects tribal sovereignty. He talks about the need for justice in Native communities, particularly when it comes to stopping violence against women. Hes put unprecedented numbers of Indigenous judges onto the federal bench, and several Indigenous people into senior positions in his administration.

He made history when he appointed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the nations first Native American Cabinet secretary. She passionately urged for Peltiers release in her former role as a member of Congress.

Beyond that, Bidens own party has been pleading with him to show compassion for Peltier. The Democratic National Committee voted unanimously in 2022 to pass a resolution urging the president to release Peltier. Dozens of senators and members of Congress, including Bidens former presidential rival Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Senate Indian Affairs Committee chairman Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), have called on the president at least four times to free Peltier.

Mr. Peltiers continued imprisonment defies the promises of justice, and the power to exercise mercy in this case lies solely within your discretion, reads one of the senators letters to Biden.

We commend the steps that your administration has taken to right past wrongs of our governments treatment of Native Americans, particularly through Secretary Haalands leadership and her Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. Furthermore, your administration has demonstrated a laudable commitment to upholding the core American values of liberty and justice, and rectifying inequities in the criminal justice system, said the senators.

Consistent with these actions, we urge you to grant clemency to Mr. Peltier by commuting the remainder of his sentence, they conclude.

President Joe Biden is proud of his record of lifting up Native American communities and people. Here, he embraces Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, his historic pick for the job. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

Indigenous leaders and human rights advocates have been stepping up their calls on Biden to release Peltier, too. Last year, the president of the National Congress of American Indians, the largest and most powerful Native American rights group in the country, told HuffPost that Peltiers freedom is a 2024 election priority for the organization.

Youve become complicit in this injustice for Indian Country, Fawn Sharp, the president of NCAI at the time, said of Biden for remaining silent about Peltiers release.

Suzan Harjo, a longtime Indigenous rights advocate and 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, has been urging Peltiers release for decades. In a call last month with reporters, she said people need to understand that Peltier has come to represent so much more than himself for Indigenous people.

Leonard is in prison for all of us, Harjo said, highlighting Peltiers activism with AIM to draw attention to treaty rights violations, discrimination and police brutality targeting Native Americans. He is an example of the AIM movement for all of us who could be in prison.

Theres a reason why people who are oppressed everywhere can identify with Peltiers fight for justice, she said. And if he is able to go home, she added, hell see that the country has changed for the better for Native Americans  in part because of the things he fought for.

He doesnt have to go out and defend us as he had to do before, Harjo said. Everyone will be very joyous and say, OK, lets stand down now.

Related...
To the editor: Since the kings and queens of England were not elected, the country's citizens had little control over the actions of these leaders. Because of this, the Founders of the United States decided that a monarchy system of government did not allow citizens enough input into national decisions.

This has all changed now. The Supreme Court effectively gave the president king-like powers. As Nixon said in his interview with David Frost: "When the president does it  that means that it is not illegal."

According to the Supreme Court, "official" acts aren't subject to prosecution. But what are official acts, and who will judge what they are? With the Chevron decision and now this decision, the Supreme Court has crowned itself ruler of this nation, conferring on itself almost all power to override the legislature. The U.S. is now heading toward the end of democracy as we know it.

Harry Schwarz, Agoura Hills

..

To the editor: It has been postulated for many years that no enemy of the United States of America can conquer this country, that it can only be destroyed from within. That postulate is now in force as the Supreme Court of this country has destroyed America by giving Donald Trump immunity for his crimes against this nation. The excuse that they have provided in the exclusionary phrase "official acts" lies hollow because they did not list the acts that are "official" and left that to the discretion of a common criminal.

This decision should not come to Americans as a surprise. The Roberts court is rogue and has been since 2010. It is just harming this country at a faster rate now.

Glenn Shockley, Winnetka

..

To the editor: I am a young voter in my 20s, and I have never been more afraid for American democracy. The 2024 presidential election will be only the second I have participated in, and I am fearful that it could be my last. Any naive optimism I once had about the intentions of our political establishment has crumbled in the face of a flagrantly corrupt Supreme Court and its Republican-appointed ideologues.

My generation has been forced to watch as our rights and protections are dismantled with prejudice. Now, it has become clear that our judiciary is committed not to the ideals of the Constitution, but to the constitution of their own ideals. I desperately hope that Americans of all generations see this unjust behavior for what it is: a mortal threat to democracy, both in the United States and abroad. If Donald Trump and the Republican Party are in power come next January, our Great Experiment will be a resounding failure.

Sam Dulys, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: How very thoughtful of the Supreme Court, on the eve of Independence Day, to give us back kings.

Kurt Weldon, Winnetka

..

To the editor: "The president enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the president does is official. The president is not above the law," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts. Is inciting a riot and plotting to overturn a legitimate election an official act by the president of the United States? Is it part of his responsibilities under the Constitution? In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, "Because our Constitution does not shield a former president for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent."

The court, however, fails to recognize the treasonous and criminal acts perpetrated by Donald Trump, so the Washington, D.C., District court is ordered to define what is an official act. A case for treason, violation of the Espionage Act and seditious conspiracy can be made against Trump. In addition, the July 11 sentencing date for his 34 felony convictions in New York would be a good day for Judge Juan Merchan to give Trump four years in prison, before the Republican nomination convention this month.

Craig Simmons, Northridge

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NANJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, on Tuesday held a memorial service to mourn Hu Youping, who lost her life after attempting to stop a knife attack that injured two Japanese nationals, and presented a heroic role model certificate to her family.

The "Righteous and Courageous Role Model" certificate was presented by officials from the city's Party committee and the municipal government at the memorial. The Suzhou New District granted the title of "Righteous and Courageous Personnel" to three residents who risked their lives to help subdue the suspect together.

The memorial was attended by Hu's family, friends, government officials, and representatives of local citizens, the medical team that treated her, as well as foreigners in Suzhou.

To promote the spirit of acting bravely for justice, the city plans to establish the "Youping Fund for Righteous and Courageous Deeds" in her name to better commemorate and pay tribute to heroes.

Hu was seriously injured in the attack on June 24 at a bus stop in the Suzhou New District and died in hospital two days later.

A Japanese woman injured in the incident said Hu attempted to restrain the assailant targeting women and children, allowing the Japanese woman's son to escape. The attacker then turned to Hu and stabbed her before being subdued by passers-by and police patrol who rushed to the scene.

"If she hadn't tried to hold back the assailant, there could have been more victims," one eyewitness has said. 
Perseverance paid off for homeowner Elizabeth Ferran in late June after the Lewisboro assessor rescinded an increase in her homes taxable value because she'd installed a climate-friendly heat pump to heat and cool her homes first floor.

Now Lewisboro Assessor Lise Richardson is waiting for the state to weigh in on whether the addition of a heat pump should make a property's assessment rise.

Richardson's move marked the latest turn in a two-year saga for Ferran, who decided to install a mini-split in her living room during a 2022 heat wave after her wall-unit air conditioner died. Heat pumps, which run on electricity, are promoted by environmentalists as a way to transition from fossil fuels like oil and natural gas.

Homeowner Elizabeth Ferran has had a string of troubles after installing the mini-split heat pump located behind her inside her South Salem home June 21, 2024. She's fighting a big tax increase in a grievance to the Board of Assessment Review.

Ferran, a visual arts teacher at the New Canaan Country School in Connecticut, said the mini-split also improved the heating system in her 95-year-old home by Lake Kitchawan in South Salem, which at the time relied upon an aging oil burner and baseboard electric heat.

The saga included a zoning variance that took 18 months to obtain, a successful appeal to the state Department of States fire code unit, and Ferran's appearance before the Lewisboro Board of Assessment Review on June 17.

Energy: Con Edison's popular heat pump program drains funds, fuels violations

Richardson intervened in late June, before the assessment board ruled on Ferran's grievance, which highlighted disparities in New York's property tax laws. Solar panels are exempt from property taxes in most municipalities, but state law is silent on heat pumps.

Richardsons decision to rescind the increase came just days after she discussed the matter with Supervisor Tony Goncalves and explained her justification for taxing Ferran's heat pump in an interview with Tax Watch.

Now Richardson said she wants an opinion from the state Department of Taxation and Finance before deciding whether to add $9,381 to Ferrans taxable value, which approximated the cost of the heat pump.

Homeowner Elizabeth Ferran has had a string of troubles after installing the mini-split heat pump located behind her outside her South Salem home June 21, 2024. She's fighting a big tax increase in a grievance to the Board of Assessment Review.

We are going to hold off until we hear from the state, said Robertson. Its the nicest and fairest thing we can do to help.

The assessment increase would have cost Ferran about $170 a year in property taxes.

Adding value boosts assessment on a home

Under state law, assessors are charged with setting the market value of a home, with the municipalitys tax rate applied to the value to come up with a tax bill. Assessors look to building permits for updates on work done on a property that may increase its value.

Money: Faced with growing outcry, Lewisboro nixes sale of town land to supervisor's secretary

Assessors say they typically dont increase the assessment on a home that upgrades an oil burner or natural gas boiler.

You cant penalize someone for doing that, said Ramapo Assessor Scott Shedler. How does that change the value of your house?

But the installation of a central air-conditioning unit can boost values, and those improvements can bring an increase in ones assessment.

Houses with air conditioning sell for more, said Robertson. Central air or a mini-split can add value to home.

Ryan Cleveland, a spokesman for New Yorks Department of Taxation and Finance, said adding air-conditioning can add value to home, and heat pumps serve as air conditioners as well as heaters.

As for heat pumps, if the assessor feels the heat pumps increase the value of the property, then the assessor has the authority to increase the assessment, he said. Its likely case specific. For instance, if a home that didnt have AC got a heat pump, maybe the assessor would feel that increases value more so than if it was replacing existing heat and AC.

Should heat pumps be treated like solar panels?

For assessors, heat pumps differ from solar panels installed on your roof. Under state law, homeowners can apply for an exemption for their panels as a way to promote clean energy. Some municipalities, however, have opted out of that program, so assessors in those municipalities can add taxable value for the panels.

In the Lower Hudson Valley, the value of your solar panels can be taxed if you live in the town of Patterson in Putnam County, and four Rockland jurisdictions: the towns of Orangetown and Ramapo, the village of Hillburn and the North Rockland school district, according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance.

All other jurisdictions in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam allow the exemption for solar panels.

At the Board of Assessment Review, Ferran argued that the taxation of heat pumps in Lewisboro counters the towns goals to encourage alternative energy sources. She said her heat pump functions more as a source of heat than cooling, with her first floor heated with the device from October through May. Its used to cool her home during some days in the summer.

My number one reason I opted for the pricy heat pump system was to decrease my use of oil while heating my home, she said. The proposed tax increase penalizes the addition of climate-friendly options, while at the same time incentivizing fossil fuel usage. This tax assessment simply makes no sense, both functionally and legally, as there is no distinction in current laws regarding heat sources and exemptions, other than solar panels.

Sign up for Wilson's weekly newsletter for insights into his Tax Watch columns.

David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lewisboro NY homeowner says adding heat pump shouldn't raise her taxes
A Lexington couple on Tuesday filed a product liability lawsuit in Fayette Circuit Court alleging they suffered severe burns from a defective table-top fire pit.

The couple, Erin Hurst and Trevor Jones, filed a lawsuit against Florida companies Colsen Fire Pits, LLC and Gusar, LLC; Amazon.com, Inc.; and Vanessa and Gaines Womack, at whose Lexington home they allegedly received injuries in April.

Colsen Fire Pits have been the subject of at least two federal lawsuits in Florida and Texas, respectively, according to federal court documents.

Attorneys for the defendants had not been identified in court documents or filed responses Tuesday.

The fire pit is a device manufactured by Colsen and Gusar, which is comprised of an 18x4 black concrete rectangular shell with a smaller rectangular metal insert in the middle of the shell, the lawsuit said.

The fire pit is used by pouring isopropyl alcohol or some other similar flammable liquid into the metal insert and lighting the liquid on fire.

Prior to the purchase of the fire pit by the Womacks, several reviews of the Colsen and Gusar fire pit were posted on Amazons website warning of the unreasonably dangerous nature of this product, the lawsuit said.

The same type of fire pit was banned in Australia and Canada prior to the Womacks purchase of the fire pit, according to the lawsuit.

Hurst and Jones, who married in June, suffered severe and permanent bodily injuries, including severe burns over significant portions of their bodies and were forced to cancel their St. Lucia honeymoon due to their injuries and in order to avoid any significant exposure to sunlight.

While both Erin and Trevor were burned, Trevor received the worst of it, said Al Grasch, their Lexington attorney. Trevor ended up suffering second and third degree burns over approximately 40% of his body.

Basically, the left half of his torso and his entire left arm and hand were burned. He initially was treated at UK but almost immediately transferred to a specialized burn unit at (the University of Louisville), he said.

He stayed there almost one week and then was transferred to Cardinal Hill in Lexington for about another week for further treatment and rehabilitation, Grasch added. Hes discharged now but has ongoing physical therapy. He has to wear specialized clothing and is required to stay out of the sun for one year. 

According to the lawsuit. on April 27, 2024, while the plaintiffs were at the Womacks residence, the Womacks were burning alcohol or some other flammable liquid in the Colsen/Gusar fire pit placed on a table around which Hurst and Jones and the Womacks were sitting.

The lawsuit said while the flammable liquid was still lit and burning, Vanessa Womack, squirted or poured isopropyl alcohol onto the existing flame in the fire pit. The adding of isopropyl alcohol by Vanessa Womack to the already burning flame in the fire pit caused the existing flame to ignite the vapors and liquid coming out of the alcohol container and the fire then extended into the alcohol container.

The alcohol inside the container then ignited resulting in a large flame extending from the opening in the container and shooting across the table, engulfing Hurst and Jones. The phenomena is sometimes referred to as flame jetting, the lawsuit said.

The fire pit was packaged and delivered to the Womacks with inadequate warnings, instructions, alerts or notifications as to safe and proper usage, the lawsuit said.

Amazons failure to properly vet the safety and reliability of ... Colsen and Gusar, and the fire pit and failure to properly investigate and warn about the dangerous latent condition of the fire pit even after being made aware of it significantly increased Plaintiffs risk of harm, the lawsuit said.

Hurst and Jones are asking for punitive damages and attorney fees.
Lexington mother sentenced to prison for the stabbing death of her 2 children

Court cases stemming from several deadly incidents in and around Central Kentucky neared their ends in June as defendants received their prison sentences.

These developments include a Lexington mother sentenced for the fatal stabbing death of her two children, as well as a man sentenced to prison after he was convicted of murdering a woman in 2020.

Here are updates on court cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.

Lexington mother sentenced to prison after killing her two kids

A Lexington mother was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday on amended charges for fatally stabbing her two children.

Nikki James, 45, was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of her children, who were 5 and 13 years old, Lexington police said previously.

On June 10, she pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter.

Fayette Circuit Judge Kimberly Bunnell sentenced James to 10 years for each count, to run consecutive to the other, according to court documents.

The children were stabbed to death at their Rogers Road apartment, according to court testimony in the case.

James originally faced life in prison for the murder charges. Potter said two psychiatrists found James to be experiencing psychosis at the time of the crimes.

James attorney, Bonnie Potter, said her client hopes that bringing light to her mental illness will encourage other women to seek help early on.

James was arrested in May 2022 after police responded to her apartment building to find her covered in blood, according to previous court testimony. Her children, Skyler and Deon, were inside the apartment with multiple stab wounds.

They were pronounced dead by the Fayette County Coroners Office after being transported to a hospital, police and the coroner said.

Joshua Crowe, a detective with the Lexington Police Department, testified previously that James neighbors called the police after hearing her say kill yourself and kill the kids, and seeing her covered in blood banging on their doors.

Convicted murderer sentenced to life in prison

A a man convicted of killing a Lexington woman after he suffocated her and stuffed her body in the closet, was sentenced to life in prison.

William Bill Parker Brown, 54, was charged with the murder of Ava Creech in 2020. In May, Brown was found guilty of murder, receiving stolen property and being a felon in possession of a handgun.

Prosecutors said Creech, 62, died September 11, 2020, but her body wasnt found by police until October 2 in her apartment closet.

Creech had been bound with duct tape and had paper towels shoved down her throat. Her cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation and blunt force trauma.

He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder charge.

His remaining charges were enhanced due to his persistent felony offender status, according to court documents.
Following nearly half a century in public service  including three decades in Beaufort County  Coroner David Ott is hanging up his last of many hats. His retirement in January will cap off a four-year term of continual achievements at his office, including his recent recognition as the states top coroner.

My heart has always been with helping the citizens of Beaufort County, said Ott, who last week was named 2024s coroner of the year at the South Carolina Coroners Associations annual conference. Its not only a first-time achievement for Ott, who had been nominated twice before; he also made history as the first coroner from Beaufort County to receive the statewide award.

Ott was elected coroner in 2020 following 11 years in the coroners office as both a deputy and chief deputy coroner. The Beaufort native graduated from Battery Creek High School in 1977 and quickly began a long career in law enforcement, including early positions at police departments in Jeffersonville, Ga., and Gray, Ga.

He made a return to the Lowcountry in 1986, working as a detective for the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office and Beaufort Police Department until 2009.

Beaufort County Coroner David Ott was named South Carolinas coroner of the year at an annual statewide conference in late June, making history as the first coroner from Beaufort County to receive the honor. Any elected coroner from the Palmetto States 46 counties can be nominated.

With 29 years in law enforcement under his belt, Ott carried heaps of valuable experience into his new career at the coroners office. Even while overseeing a different side of the investigative process, his keen eye for crime scenes made it easy to collaborate with police  an essential part of the job.

Its always appreciated when I go to a scene and the investigators ask me for my opinion: What do I think happened? What did I see? Ott told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. I value them, and at the same time, they value my opinion ... We work very well together.

Ott began considering retirement after his wife Kitty retired two years ago, he said. While far from an easy decision, he says stepping down was made less difficult by the phenomenal staff hes leaving behind  including Chief Deputy Coroner Debbie Youmans, who has filed to run for coroner herself in the Nov. 5 statewide general election.

Staff from the Beaufort County Coroners Office were recognized at the Dec. 11, 2023 County Council meeting for the agencys recent accreditation with the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. From left to right: Beaufort County Coroner David W. Ott, Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo ONeal, Deputy Coroner Andy McNese, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Joni Skipper, Accreditation Manager Jefferson Dowling, council vice chair Lawrence McElynn, Deputy Coroner Margaret Bowyer, Chief Deputy Coroner Debbie Youmans, Pathologist Assistant Sheldon Phillips.

Debbie is running unopposed, Ott said. I think she would carry the Beaufort County Coroners Office forward in the same manner that I and my staff have. I feel very, very comfortable with her accepting the position.

Ott gave special thanks to his wife and family for their support throughout his career.

The coroners office is responsible for investigating all suspicious, violent, sudden and unexpected deaths in Beaufort County. Staff members are responsible for notifying the next of kin after a death, conducting autopsies to make official medical rulings and working closely with law enforcement on homicides and other cases.

Three years of progress

Otts tenure as coroner was marked by innovation after innovation: He secured funds to complete a long-planned pathology department within the coroners facilities in Port Royal, saving taxpayers money with the ability to perform autopsies locally; his office became the first in the state to employ a forensic pathologist, a vital resource amid a nationwide shortage of the professionals; and late last year, his office unveiled two new pieces of advanced equipment that coincided with an elite accreditation status.

One accomplishment in particular holds a special place in Otts heart: finding homes for dozens of unidentified cremains that had been stored for years in the offices evidence room, some dating back to the early 1980s. After years of searching and researching, almost half found their way back to family members.

There was no action whatsoever by the coroners office until I took office, Ott said of the unclaimed ashes. When I did, I tasked my department to get the boxes down and go to the internet. Its so advanced  Google searches and background checks  the sources are wide open compared to what they were back in the 80s and 90s.

Out of 62 total unclaimed cremains, 27 were returned to relatives within the next two years, including those of Maria Telles-Gonzalez, a Florida woman murdered in Yemassee in 1995 who for 27 years had only been know as the Beaufort County Jane Doe.

Thirty-one cremains were interred in a mausoleum purchased by Beaufort County, while four belonging to veterans were laid to rest with military honors at the Beaufort National Cemetery, according to Ott.

The front entrance to Beaufort County Coroners Office as seen on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 located in Port Royal.

What a public servant should be

Despite the offices long list of accomplishments, Otts love for public service prevails above all else. While the job can be heartbreaking at times, he said, nothing holds more value than supporting community members through their darkest days.

Its the worst time in our career when we have to knock on a door at 3 oclock in the morning and tell a mom and dad that their child is not coming home, Ott said. It knocks the parents back, but at the same time, it knocks each one of us back. We try not to show our emotions or get involved, but sometimes, us being humans, you can get teary-eyed right beside them.

And the support extends far beyond an initial death notification. The main thing is to stay by their side long after you tell them the horrible news  for days, weeks, it can even be a year later, Ott added. We still see people a year or so down the road, and they come up and they thank us for being there.

Just as much as technical prowess, the job requires an abundance of grace and compassion. Its a much less palpable skillset, but Ott excels in the area all the same, his colleagues say.

Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner has worked with four coroners during his 26-tenure in office. They all have done a very difficult and respected service in Beaufort County, he told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. (Otts) retirement is very deserving, and I wish him the best.

David Ott sworn in as Beaufort County Coroner by Circuit Court Judge Carmen Mullen on January 5, 2021.

He has the utmost compassion when dealing with families who have lost a loved one, Youmans wrote in her letter nominating Ott for coroner of the year, calling him the true epitome of what a public servant should be.

Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo ONeal, a longtime friend of Ott, spoke passionately about the coroners big heart in a phone interview, also emphasizing how the offices local infrastructure improvements can be shared among neighboring counties as investments in public safety.

David himself has just accomplished more in three years of a term than probably any coroner Ive encountered, ONeal said. Its been an honor to have him as a neighbor.

Beaufort County Coroner David Ott
List of cooling centers open to public in Bay Area

(BCN)  Cities and counties in the Bay Area will be opening their cooling centers to the public starting Tuesday to help residents avoid the sweltering heat poised to prevail over the region through the weekend.

The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for 11 a.m. Tuesday through 8 p.m. Sunday for the Marin Coastal Range, Sonoma Coastal Range, North Bay Interior Mountains, North Bay Interior Valleys, East Bay Interior Valleys, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Clara Valley, Eastern Santa Clara Hills, East Bay Hills, Southern Salinas Valley, and Interior Monterey.

The following are the available cooling centers to the public:

American Canyon  American Canyon Library at 300 Crawford Way (from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Saturday; and from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday)

Calistoga  Calistoga Community Center at 1307 Washington Street (from noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday)

Concord  Concord Senior Center at 2727 Parkside Circle (from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Saturday)

Greenfield  City Hall at 599 El Camino Real (from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday to Friday)

Greenfield Community Science Workshop at 45 El Camino Real (from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday to Saturday)

Healdsburg  Healdsburg Senior Center at at 133 Matheson Street (from 11 a.m to 7 p.m., Tuesday to Wednesday)

Napa  Napa Library at 580 Coombs Street (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday)

Petaluma  COTS Mary Isaak Center at 900 Hopper Street in Petaluma (from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday)

Richmond  The County Employment and Health Services Department building at 1305 MacDonald Avenue (from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday).

The Nevin Park Resilience Hub at 589 Nevin Avenue (from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday)

Rohnert Park  Rohnert Park Community Center at 5401 Snyder Lane (8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Wednesday and Friday to Sunday)

San Jose  Camden Community Center at 3369 Union Avenue (1 p.m. to 9 p.m., from Tuesday until Saturday)

Emma Prusch Farm Park at 647 South King Road (1 p.m. to 9 p.m., from Tuesday until Saturday)

Roosevelt Community Center at 901 East Santa Clara Street (1 p.m. to 9 p.m., from Tuesday until Saturday)

City of Santa Clara  Senior Center at 1303 Fremont Street (from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday; and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday)

Community Recreation Center at 969 Kiely Boulevard (from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday)

Central Park Library at 2635 Homestead Road (from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday)

Mission Branch Library at 1098 Lexington Street (11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday)

Northside Branch Library at 695 Moreland Way (10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday)

Monterey County  Carmel Valley Library at 65 West Carmel Valley Road (from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday; and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday to Saturday)

King City Library at 402 Broadway Street ((from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday to Saturday)

San Ardo Library at 62350 College Street (1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday; 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday)

San Lucas Library at 54692 Teresa Street (from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday)

Napa County  Yountville Library at 6516 Washington Street in Yountville (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday to Saturday except Thursday)

Santa Rosa  Finley Community Center located at 2060 West College Ave (from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Wednesday)

Steele Lane Community Center at 415 Steele Lane (from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday except Thursday)

Person Senior Wing at 2060 West College Avenue (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday except Thursday)

Spray Ground at Prince Gateway Park at 171 Santa Rosa Ave. (from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily)

St. Helena  St. Helena Public Library at 1492 Library Lane (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until July 12)

Stockton  Arnold Rue Community Center at 5758 Lorraine Avenue (through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday to Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.)

Stribley Community Center at 1760 East Sonora Street (through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday to Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.)

Van Buskirk Community Center at 734 Houston Avenue (through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Seifert Community Center at 128 West Benjamin Holt Drive (through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Windsor  Senior Recreation Center Cooling Safe Haven at 9231 Foxwood Drive (from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Wednesday)

Vacaville  Ulatis Community Center at 1000 Ulatis Drive (from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday; from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday)

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Lithuania has submitted a diplomatic protest and has summoned diplomatic representatives from Russia's embassy in Vilnius after a Russian civilian aircraft entered the country's airspace without permission, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said on July 2.

In an incident on June 30, a Russian aircraft from the civilian Pobeda airline "illegally entered" Lithuanian airspace over the Baltic Sea for about one minute on route from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, Lithuania's foreign ministry said in a statement

In their summons, the foreign ministry demanded that a diplomatic representative "provide an explanation as soon as possible and take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future."

In recent months, Russia has continued to put pressure on the Baltic bloc of NATO states, testing their responses through various provocations.

In mid-June, NATO aircraft were scrambled 11 times to identify and escort Russian aircraft that had violated rules while flying in international airspace, Lithuania's LRT news agency reported. Most of the Russian aircraft were flying with no flight plans and had their onboard transponders turned off.

NATO aircraft are regularly involved in patrolling airspace in the Baltic Sea while escorting Russian fighter jets.

Russia has also been accused of being involved in the GPS jamming of commercial flight, with as many as 46,000 aircraft have reported problems over the Baltic Sea since August 2023, with most of them occurring in Eastern Europe near borders with Russia.

In a notable incident, Russia is believed to have jammed the satellite signal of a Royal Air Force aircraft used to transport U.K. Defence Minister Grant Shapps.

Russia is likely continuing to test the response of NATO states through its reported meddling with borders in and around the Baltic Sea.

On May 21, Russia moved to unilaterally change the maritime border with Lithuania and Finland in the Baltic Sea, according to a draft decree published on the Russian government's website. The draft decree was deleted from the government website the next day following swift condemnation from some NATO members.

In another incident in late May, Russian border guards removed the boundary markers from the Narva River that separate Russian and Estonian territory without providing an explanation for their actions.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Zelensky dismissed Orbans ceasefire proposal during his visit to Kyiv, official says





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The Supreme Court ended a tumultuous term with one final sledgehammer blow on Monday. Its decision on Donald Trumps claim of immunity from criminal charges forecloses any possibility that he will be tried for Jan. 6 before the election, substantially guts the prosecution and reshapes the Constitution to place the president singularly beyond the reach of criminal law.

The opinion was even more expansive in its grant of presidential immunity than commentators anticipated after the oral argument suggested the conservative majority was headed that way. And while it theoretically permits prosecution of some of the long list of Trumps pernicious and treacherous acts in the weeks after the 2020 election, it erects a series of legal roadblocks and presumptions that make it anyones guess whether Trump will ever face accountability under the indictment.

The courts essential holding is that constitutional principles of separation of powers forbid the criminal prosecution of a former president for official acts that took place during his term, while allowing it for unofficial acts. The 6-3 decision broke down along familiar lines, with the conservative majority continuing its project of remaking the law and the structure of the federal government.

Read more: Litman: This is Judge Aileen Cannon's big gamble in the Trump classified records case

How to draw the line between official and unofficial conduct? The court provides several criteria that, albeit somewhat opaque, clearly protect swaths of conduct that would strike nearly everyone as corrupt and lawless  not least much of what Trump undertook after the 2020 election.

For starters, the court prescribes absolute immunity for any exercise of core constitutional powers. These include at a minimum the enumerated presidential powers of Article 2 of the Constitution, such as acting as commander in chief of the armed forces, issuing pardons and appointing judges. A president acting within these areas is untouchable.

Importantly, the court holds that this immunity precludes any consideration of motive. So a president who, for example, issues a pardon in return for a bribe or fires an executive branch official out of racial animus is just as protected from the law as one who takes such actions for appropriate and conventional reasons.

Read more: Litman: Does it matter that Donald Trump just became a convicted criminal? Of course it does

This could authorize some of the most vicious and problematic presidential conduct. There is no apparent reason, for example, that it doesnt encompass what had been taken as a devastating hypothetical offered by Judge Florence Y. Pan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit: a presidents use of Navy SEALs to assassinate a political rival. If the reason for a presidents use of commander-in-chief powers is outside the bounds of inquiry, such conduct is indistinguishable from a conventional military mission.

Motive is the soul of the criminal law. Its what divides conduct society accepts from conduct for which we put people in prison. The declaration that it has no role to play in determining a presidents criminal liability is nearly tantamount to making him a king.

Yet the courts decision goes considerably further. It immunizes not just core constitutional functions but also any conduct within the outer perimeter of executive authority  the same capacious standard that already applies to civil lawsuits over presidential conduct.

And though there is some debate on this point, the court appears to go even further by imposing a presumption of immunity for conduct outside that perimeter unless the government shows that a prosecution would pose no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.

How this will play out in the Jan. 6 prosecution is to some extent for U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to try to figure out, with Trump challenging every move she makes along the way. The court emphasizes that distinguishing the Presidents official actions from his unofficial ones can be difficult and may necessitate a fact-specific inquiry into their context (not including the presidents motive).

But the court drops some very strong hints about which aspects of the prosecution are precluded. It essentially says that Trumps alleged efforts to level false accusations of election fraud in Georgia with the aid of a Justice Department functionary are off-limits. Thats because the charge implicates the presidents official power to investigate and prosecute crimes.

The opinion also strongly suggests that the alleged plot to strong-arm Vice President Mike Pence into violating the Constitution may be protected because it pertains to the interactions of the executive branchs top two officials.

And the court seems to want to give a pass to Trumps incendiary rhetoric near the Capitol on Jan. 6 on the basis that communication with the public is part of what the president does.

The only aspect of the indictment that the court seems disposed to preserve is the alleged extensive effort to set up fraudulent slates of electors. Even there, however, the court prescribes a detailed inquiry that puts the burden on special counsel Jack Smiths team to counter Trumps argument that his conduct was official because it was undertaken to ensure the integrity and proper administration of the federal election.

Even if Trump loses the election and the case is allowed to proceed beyond this year, it will require more time-consuming legal combat. Every aspect of the application of the courts opinion to the case could be appealed to the D.C. circuit and the Supreme Court.

And where does it all come from, this fundamental reordering of our tripartite system of government and the principle  to which the court continues to give lip service  that the president is not above the law?

The answer is no more than the courts view that the president must be able to take bold and energetic action without worrying about subsequent criminal prosecution. The justices are not, strictly speaking, interpreting any provision of the Constitution but rather applying their notion of what makes for an effective president. The conservative majority is essentially grafting its political science principles onto constitutional structure and using them to drive a truck through the principle of equality before the law.

The majority dismisses the liberal dissenters insistence that the decision puts the president above the law as amounting to ignoring the Constitutions separation of powers and the Courts precedent and instead fear mongering on the basis of extreme hypotheticals about a future where the president feels empowered to violate a federal criminal law. 

But there is nothing fearmongering, unrealistic or extreme about those worries. They concern a reality that is right before the justices eyes. They have chosen to ignore it, ensuring that justice for the most serious assault on the Constitution in our history will be much delayed and largely denied.

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.
Do you live in northern Milwaukee County? You might have a state Senate election today.

If you live in the northern third of Milwaukee County, you might have a special election today.

There's a primary election on July 2 for the 4th Senate District between two Democratic state representatives  LaKeshia Myers and Dora Drake.

The special election is being held to fill former Sen. Lena Taylor's seat, who left the state Legislature when she became a Milwaukee County circuit judge.

The primary winner advances to the July 30 special election, though there are no other candidates in the race, so the primary effectively determines who wins the seat.

However, the winner only serves the rest of Taylor's term, which concludes at the end of 2024. Both Myers and Drake are also running for a full four-year term. That primary election is Aug. 13 and the general election is Nov. 5, like all other state lawmakers.

Here's what to know about the candidates, whether this special election applies to you and what you need to bring to the polls.

More: What to know about the July 2 special primary election for a Milwaukee-area state Senate seat

Do I have a special election today?

You can type your address into this map of the 4th Senate District to figure out if the special election applies to you.

The district includes much of the northern third of Milwaukee County, with some carveouts like Brown Deer, Fox Point and Whitefish Bay.

The district didn't change boundaries under the new maps, unlike others in the Milwaukee area. So, if Taylor was most recently your state senator, you're still included in the 4th Senate District.

Where is my polling place, and when can I vote?

Polls are open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. As long as you're in line by 8 p.m., you'll be allowed to vote.

You can visit myvote.wi.gov to find information like your polling place. If you enter your address into "What's On My Ballot" and a sample ballot for the special election comes up, you'll know it applies to you.

More: Here's who's running for state Legislature in Milwaukee, suburbs in Wisconsin 2024 election

What do I need to bring to vote in Wisconsin?

To vote, you need to bring a current photo ID that has your name on it. The Wisconsin Elections Commission's website has a list of accepted forms of identification.

You also can register to vote at your polling place, or re-register if you've changed addresses since the last time you voted or if you haven't voted in the last four years. In that case, you'll need to bring a document that shows proof of residence.

A driver's license or ID card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles counts as proof as residence, if it shows your current address. Or, you can bring documents like a lease, utility bill or bank statement that has your new address.

What do I do if I still have an absentee ballot?

If you still have an absentee ballot, the Milwaukee Election Commission must receive it by the time polls close, so it's too late to mail it back.

You can bring your absentee ballot to your assigned polling place today. Or, you can drop it off at the Election Operations Center at 1901 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Why did I get two absentee ballots?

Voters in the 4th Senate District who requested absentee ballots will have received two ballots for two different elections with a few weeks of each other. That's due to the timing of the special election and a federal deadline.

The two ballots have the same candidates for Senate District 4  that's because Myers and Drake are running both to finish Taylor's term that runs through the end of 2024, and a full term that begins in 2025.

The Milwaukee Election Commission is using bright green mailing labels for the special election ballots, so use those ones for the July 2 and July 30 elections.

The ballot without a bright green label is for the Aug. 13 election. That ballot will still arrive in time if you send it in the mail.

The commission says anyone with questions about their ballot can call 414-286-8683.

Who is LaKeshia Myers?

Myers has served in the state Assembly since 2018, and she has a background in education. In an interview, Myers said her top issues include state education funding; addressing problems in the state's prisons, with a focus on rehabilitation; and curbing reckless driving.

Wisconsin State Representative LaKeshia Myers on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Myers represents the 12th assembly district in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Myers said she wants a "real, robust discussion" about the ability of municipalities to have policies like red-light cameras and aircraft enforcement. She also said stakeholders like district attorneys, judges and the public need to be on the same page about using the current statutes.

Myers said she's interested in joining the Senate to be a more effective legislator: Being in the upper chamber means more staff, more variety in committee assignments and a tighter group of colleagues.

She cited her past work on passing a law addressing sexual assault by a police officer. Myers has also worked on the CROWN Act in Wisconsin to prohibit discrimination based on hairstyle or hair texture.

On the issues facing Milwaukee Public Schools, Myers said she wants to see the results of audits for insights about how to effectively use the budget to serve families better. She's concerned about disparities in programming between schools, like some not having a librarian or art teacher every day. She also said there should be a student member on the school board.

"I'm an MPS graduate, my parents both retired from Milwaukee Public Schools, I went back to teach at Milwaukee Public Schools," Myers said. "I have a vested interest in Milwaukee Public Schools surviving and doing well."

Myers was working as a dean of students within the Wauwatosa School District but left under unclear circumstances earlier this year. Her departure came after the district suspended her, though Myers said she resigned on her own. Many lawmakers have a second job, but only a few work in two government-paid positions.

"I think Wauwatosa has been the fourth school district I've worked for in my career, out of 17 years. In 17 years, I had never had issues until I got to Wauwatosa," Myers said. "I think there was some consternation among folks in the district who did not like that I was a state representative and that I worked in Wauwatosa as an educator."

Here's a link to Myers' campaign website.

Who is Dora Drake?

Drake has served in the state Assembly since 2020. She has a background in social work. Her top priorities include public safety, mental health and issues that affect the workforce like child care, she said in an interview.

Wisconsin state Rep. Dora Drake on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Drake represents the 11th Assembly District in the Wisconsin Assembly.

On reckless driving, Drake said she wants to look at models of other cities and doesn't want to just introduce legislation that increases penalties. Drake said she supports red-light cameras. She also cites her co-sponsorship of a bipartisan law that created a grant program to help low-income students pay for driver's education and wants to see that program expanded.

Drake said she wants to work on the state's laws for extended supervision and the process for responding to a mental health crisis, and have an intergovernmental response to mental health.

"I know that there is a lot of unspoken trauma that's happened in our community, whether that's gun violence, whether that's just people needing to speak to someone," Drake said. Moving up to the Senate "would allow me the time to really work on that the way I want to, meaning that I want to have community input. I want to make sure residents are part of the solution."

Drake cited her past work creating the first regulations around vaping in the state, and she supports banning flavored menthol and tobacco products. She also referenced a police accountability law that requires transferring employment files if an officer moves departments.

On MPS, Drake said she supports an independent audit to learn the extent of the situation. She said political agendas have to be set aside.

"There needs to be a way to support our teachers in the classroom, and most importantly, making sure that (the children) have the resources they need to have a quality education," Drake said. "Moving forward, we should always strive towards accountability and transparency when it comes to our school system."

Myers challenged Drake's nomination papers for the election, but the Wisconsin Elections Commission kept Drake on the ballot. Drake had supporters sign the form for nonpartisan offices, such as judge, instead of the one for partisan positions, such as legislator. Her nomination papers did, however, have the phrase "Democratic Party" typed on the form. Drake called the challenge "frivolous."

Here's a link to Drake's campaign website.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 4th Senate District special election today in part of Milwaukee County
When livestock reach the highs in the heat zone it can be detrimental to their health

I spent much of the spring wondering if summer would ever arrive, and she definitely chose to bare her teeth last week. Weather-wise, conditions have completely flipped from a month earlier.

Many of you were struggling to get crops in the ground from the wet field conditions. Now, I think many of you are begging for a good rain. I know they have always joked, If you dont like the Ohio weather, wait until tomorrow, but this is a little crazy. I guess nothing is normal anymore.

While many of us may love the warmer weather, although not 90 degrees, it doesnt take much to create heat stress issues for our livestock. We will often hear the weathermen report the actual temperature and the feels like temperature, which can often be drastically different. In the livestock world, we go by a different measure to determine when animals may begin experiencing heat related stress.

The thermal heat index (THI) is a chart that was created to factor in the temperature and humidity to create thresholds for when animals could begin to experience heat stress. I am not sure of the math behind the THI, but you can readily find a chart on the internet.

More: The ins and outs of gathering and preserving your forage

In the heat zone: Recognize signs of heat stress on livestock

When we consider that our ruminant livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, etc.) have a heat generating fermentation vat in their bellies, the threshold where livestock experience heat issues can be surprisingly low. In fact, at a temperature of 76 degrees and humidity at or above 85%, we are entering the alert zone of 75 on the THI chart. A thermal heat index of 84 is the emergency zone where extreme caution needs to be taken for our livestock. The emergency level can be reached at a temperature of 86 degrees with a relative humidity of 85% or greater. It was easily reached last week with an air temperature of 94 degrees and a relative humidity of 50%.

It is important to be able to recognize the signs of heat stress. Stressed livestock will group up when on pasture, they will breathe with their mouths open and have a depressed disposition with their ears and head down. Stressed livestock produce higher levels of the hormone cortisol.

These elevated levels will interfere with many of the normal biological processes and can lead to digestive complications, infertility or early embryonic death, and the failure of vaccines and antibiotics. There is only so much you can do when livestock are housed outside.

The key is to provide ample access to cool, clean water and shade. You also should limit livestock handling activities. If you must work your livestock, try and coordinate the activities to happen early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Work animals in small groups to limit their time standing in the handling facility to 30 minutes or less.

Avoid working or transporting animals that are sick, lame or of low body condition. For animals housed in barns, maximize air flow through the facility. If you have a sprinkler system, periodically wet the animals, and give the water time to evaporate off before water is applied again. This will maximize cooling and also limit water usage.

John Yost

Summer programs: Grazing school, Manure Field Day

There are several summer programs I would like to make you aware of. First, the Richland County Soil and Water office will hold a grazing school July 23 and 25. If you would like to find more information or register for any of their programs, you can reach them at 419-747-8684.

The Tri-State Manure Field Day will be held July 11 at Green Top Acres in Payne. The day starts at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided. The topics include demonstrations of the 360 Rain manure applicator, emergency spill response and a rainfall simulator. There will be educational presentations on manure safety and regulations for Ohio and Indiana. The program will conclude with an optional tour of the Green Top Acres facility. For more information, or to register, contact Paulding County Soil and Water at 419-523-5159.

The Wayne-Ashland Dairy Service Unit has set the date and location for this years dairy producers summit and Twilight Tour. The event will be held July 16 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. The dairy producer summit will be held 3-5 p.m. The Twilight Tour will run 6-9 p.m. and feature a farm to table program. Attendees will get to experience how food is grown. Several local food vendors will be on hand to provide meals. One change for this year is there will be $10 per person charge for dinner. Attendees will get a voucher for free ice cream.

The 2024 OSU Manure Science Review will be held at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio, on Aug. 6. The program will feature presentations and demonstrations on manure placement and subsurface drainage, 360 RAIN liquid manure application, best manure applications practices, H2Ohio updates, manure spill mitigation, spreader calibration and autonomous tractor demos. You can find the event flyer and registration materials at https://ocamm.osu.edu.

As always, if you have any livestock or forage management questions, please feel free to contact me at the OSU Extension office  Wayne County at 330-264-8722 or email me at yost.77@osu.edu.

John Yost is an Extension Educator IV, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at OSU Extension-Wayne County.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Farmers urged to keep an eye out for heat stress on livestock
TASHKENT, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday to discuss support for reforms in the country and the UN, said the presidential press service.

"The current visit, which is Antonio Guterres' second visit to the republic, testifies to the UN's full support for the ongoing irreversible reforms within the framework of the 'Uzbekistan-2030' strategy," said the statement.

During their talks, the two leaders discussed a range of topics, including promoting global and regional security, stability, and sustainable development. They also focused on expanding multifaceted cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UN and reviewed the progress of joint projects aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Additionally, both leaders exchanged views on current national and regional situations. The president expressed support for the secretary-general's initiatives on promoting international security and stability, reforming the UN and its principal organs, and organizing the Summit of the Future in New York later this year.

According to the UN press service, Guterres is currently on a tour of Central Asian countries from June 29 to July 7. As part of the tour, he will attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana on Thursday.

Guterres last visited Central Asia in 2017. 
Lloyd Doggett becomes first sitting Democratic member of Congress to call on Biden to withdraw

Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas on Tuesday became the first sitting Democratic member of Congress to call on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, a huge moment for the Democratic Party as Doggett says publicly what many elected officials had been speculating about privately.

I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw, Doggett said in his statement. President Biden should do the same.

Doggetts statement magnifies the pressure surrounding the president and his team, who have been trying to tamp down party concerns in the wake of Bidens disappointing debate performance against former President Donald Trump last week, and Doggetts comments could embolden others to follow suit.

In calling on Biden to step aside, Doggett said the president could help usher in a new generation of leadership to help the party achieve its ultimate goal: defeating Trump.

Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw, Doggett said. I respectfully call on him to do so.

Asked by CNNs Anderson Cooper later Tuesday whether it was tough to be the first congressman to call for the president to step out of the race, Doggett said, In retrospect, I wish I had said it earlier because I think we needed  this needed to be a decision that was made much earlier in the process.

The 77-year-old said on AC360 that being an older member of Congress and not a particularly vulnerable member of Congress gave him the ability to say what perhaps some other members who share his view cannot.

He said he hopes some of those members will be calling the White House and voicing their private concerns if they cant join me publicly and that people around the country will let their members of Congress and the Senate know, just as my constituents have, how they feel about this.

Earlier on Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois had signaled an openness to replace Biden as the partys presidential nominee.

I think his four years are one of the great presidencies of our lifetime, but I think he has to be honest with himself, Quigley told Kasie Hunt on CNN This Morning. This is a decision hes going to have to make.

We have to be honest with ourselves that it wasnt just a horrible night, but I wont go beyond that out of my respect and understanding of President Joe Biden, a very proud person who has served us extraordinarily well for 50 years, he added.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a strong Biden ally, said on MSNBC that the president should be participating in multiple interviews as people evaluate him.

I think its essential for them to do that, Pelosi told MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday.

The former speaker, who emphasized it is Bidens decision about whether to step aside, said that she has heard mixed responses to the debate from donors and other people in her Democratic network.

I think its a legitimate question to say, is this an episode or is this a condition, Pelosi said, though she added that the same should be asked of Trump, citing his repeated lies during the debate.

Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a crucial ally for Biden, said on MSNBC he still supports Biden at the top of the ticket but added that he would support Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden were to withdraw as the Democratic presidential nominee.

I will support her if he were to step aside, Clyburn said when asked what he would do if Biden withdraws, later adding, This party should not in any way do anything to work around Miss Harris.

However, Clyburn reaffirmed his support for Biden. I want this ticket to continue to be Biden-Harris and then we will see what happens after the next election, he said.

Even more Democrats have been expressing their concerns behind the scenes.

While the Biden campaign and White House have maintained that the president is staying in the race and have chalked up Bidens debate performance to a bad night that doesnt overshadow his accomplishments, lawmakers from across the party have been reaching out to share their anxieties about Biden remaining at the top of the ticket.

A House Democratic lawmaker told CNN that, Theres a large and increasing group of House Democrats concerned about the presidents candidacy, representing a broad swath of the caucus. We are deeply concerned about his trajectory and his ability to win. We want to give him space to make a decision [to step aside] but we will be increasingly vocal about our concerns if he doesnt.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Jack Forrest contributed to this report.

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PLAQUEMINE, La. (BRPROUD)  The Plaquemine Lock is considered a historic site in Louisiana, according to the City of Plaquemine, and is being renovated.

A local nonprofit organization, Friends of the Lock, whose primary goal is to restore and protect the lock was founded in 2011 and started a blog to inform visitors and locals about the history of the structure.

Friends of the Lock is working to renovate and upgrade the lock site in phases.

This project includes two major parts: making much-needed repairs and upgrades to the Gary J. Hebert Lockhouse and installing a new visitor experience with new, engaging exhibits, said Hebert. Right now we have $675,000 in funds for the project ($500,000 in state capital outlay funds, $100,000 from Iberville Parish, and $75,000 from the City of Plaquemine). We are also conducting a Lock Legacy Campaign to ask businesses, residents, tourism organizations, and historic preservation organizations for donations/grants for the project. Our fundraising goal is $1 million. We are working with the nationally recognized exhibit company Howard + Revis Design on the new exhibit. They have done exhibits for the Smithsonian and National Park Service, among others.

A local group wants to raise funds to restore the historic Plaquemine Lockhouse.

What is the Plaquemine Lock?

The Plaquemine Lock was built in 1895 and completed in 1909. It was designed by Col. George W. Goethals, the assistant to the chief engineer of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

The lock allowed boats to travel between the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya Basin. According to Louisiana State Parks, Bayou Plaquemine was used as a commercial route, which ultimately brought economic development to the City of Plaquemine. By the year 1930, the lock had seen at least 3,900 boats.

Over time, barges started to grow in length and size, making it difficult for boats to pass through the narrow design of the lock. In 1961, the lock had been closed. By this time, engineers started constructing the present levee design at the mouth of Bayou Plaquemine, according to Louisiana State Parks.

Pentagon Barracks was former Baton Rouge military post, visited by famous American leaders

History of the Plaquemine Lock

The blog states that the Dow Chemical plant was introduced to Plaquemine, which created new jobs and brought in more people. This caused traffic jams, which led the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to suggest demolishing the lock and turning it into a bridge.

After the lock closed and there were talks about demolishing it, a local editor, Gary J. Hebert, used his platform to persuade officials to not destroy the lock but turn it into a historic site and attraction. According to Louisiana State Parks, it was deemed a National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The lockhouse has been named after Hebert for his efforts.

Friends of the Lock Restoration Committee Chairperson Ellie Hebert said by 1978, the lock was turned over to the state and is now a state historic site.

With budget issues in Louisiana, the state proposed closing the lock site, but the City of Plaquemine and Iberville Parish decided to take over its operation in 2011, according to the blog post. The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement allows the state to oversee maintenance and insurance, while Iberville Parish would offer tours and the City of Plaquemine covers utilities.

The Plaquemine Lock, now a tourist site, is at 57730 Main Street in Plaquemine, Louisiana.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Local mom says landscaper came into her home, showered, touched her as she slept

A landscaper in Cobb County has been charged with sexual battery after a woman said he came inside her home without permission, showered and touched her as she slept.

It all happened when her daughter was at home.

Channel 2s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell talked to the woman, who wished to remain anonymous. She said the incident happened in East Cobb nearly a year ago. She said the landscaper she hired, identified as Timothy Terranova, fished a job at her house and then went inside while she was asleep.

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He came into my house. He approached my daughter, the victim said. He used my daughters bathroom to take a shower and left the door open. My daughter was completely frightened when he dressed and came out.

The victims daughter made him leave the home, but the victim says he managed to get back in and go into her room. She was sleeping at the time.

I was screaming for him to get out and the only thing I could think was Wheres my daughter? she recalled. Somebody was touching me inappropriately. I opened up my eyes and he was standing over me next to my bed.

After nearly a year, Cobb County police have issued an arrest warrant for Terranova.

Newell spoke with the victim and Terranovas attorney, Charles Harbin, who said hes been charged with sexual battery. Its unclear if hes in custody.

Harbin Terranova, absolutely and emphatically denies that he is guilty of any wrongdoing.




JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  A non-profit started by an East Tennessee State University (ETSU) student is continuing to support people in Ukraine.

The goal of Restore Ukraine is to provide humanitarian support until all have food and a home within the country.

Carter County sheriff believes escaped inmate and missing man are connected

The organization is preparing for the winter, with the goal of raising $100,000 to purchase 100 vouchers worth $1,000 each for 100 families.

Places like peoples homes, hospitals, schools, kindergartens and so on become damaged, co-founder Yaroslav Hnatusko said. And our response is also to give people a safe refuge towards coming winter because the temperature, average temperature is around 20 degrees in winter.

Hnatusko said 100% of donations will go to those in need as Restore Ukraine does not take any money for administrative or fundraising expenses.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
A Long Beach man is dead after a shooting Monday night.

Vernont Murray, 39, was shot multiple times in the 6000 block of Long Beach Boulevard a few minutes before 10 p.m., police said in a news release.

Murray was found on the ground near the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and Victoria Street, and he was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The shooter or shooters fled before police arrived, and the motive behind the attack is not yet known.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detectives Eric Thai or Kelsey Myers at 562-570-7244.

Anonymous tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
What was the longest stretch of 100-degree days in Sacramento? How long will this one last?

Sacramento is facing a searing heat wave thats expected to last through the Fourth of July holiday.

However, its not the first time the city has encountered such extreme temperatures.

Temperatures in California have risen about three degrees since the beginning of the 20th century, said Katrina Hand, a meteorologist at the National Weather Services Sacramento office. The six warmest years on record have all occurred since 2014.

When was the hottest day in Sacramento history?

Downtown Sacramento reached an all-time high temperature of 116 degrees on Sept. 6, 2022, the National Weather Service said, breaking a record set nearly a century ago.

Prior to 2022, the hottest day in the citys history was recorded on July 17, 1925, when the temperature reached 114 degrees.

What was the citys longest 100-degree heat wave?





Since the National Weather Service started keeping temperature records in July 1877, Sacramento has seen more than two dozen heat waves with high temperatures reaching 100 degrees or higher that have lasted six consecutive days or longer.

The citys longest period of 100-degree heat was in July 2009 and lasted 11 consecutive days, the weather service said.

In 2022, downtown Sacramento recorded triple-digit temperatures for 10 consecutive days, from Aug. 31 to Sep. 9, according to the weather services book of Sacramento climate records.

There have been 100-degree heat waves lasting for nine consecutive days at least four times  in August 1996, June 1981, July 1984 and August 1996.

According to the weather service, the longest consecutive stretch of days in Sacramento with maximum temperatures of 105 degrees was in August 1990. That heat wave lasted seven days.

How common are heat waves with triple-digit temperatures?

Heat waves with one- or two-day breaks between consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures have occurred frequently in the past, the weather service said.

In July 2023, high temperatures rose above 100 degrees from July 13 to 17 and from July 20 to 23, topping 100 degrees once more on July 25.

In all, 10 out of 13 days measured maximum temperatures greater than 100 degrees.

In August 2020, high temperatures exceeded 100 degrees from Aug. 9 to 10, Aug. 12 to 19 and Aug. 22 to 23. In total, 12 out of 15 days had highs greater than 100 degrees.

Sacramento also saw periods of triple-digit heat in 1929, 1980 and 2003, according to the weather service.

Whats in the weather forecast for Sacramento?

The National Weather Service is forecasting an extreme heat wave this week, with highs breaking 100 degrees Monday through Friday.

Sacramento will see a high temperature of 108 degrees on Tuesday, according to the weather services seven-day forecast, while Wednesday will reach a high of 110 degrees.

The agency is forecasting a high of 107 degrees on Thursday for the Independence Day holiday, followed by a high of 109 degrees on Friday.

For the rest of this week and into the weekend, we do have major to extreme heat risk, Hand said. The hot temperatures will be impactful to everyone, not just those who are usually vulnerable.

On Monday, the weather service has issued an excessive heat warning for the Sacramento Valley from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Sunday, warning of dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures of 105 to 115 degrees.

There will be limited overnight relief, the agency said, when low temperatures drop to the upper 60s to mid 80s.

Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities, the weather service said.

Here are some ways Sacramento residents can practice heat safety:

Seek out places with air conditioning such as cooling centers.

Stay out of the sun.

Avoid outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day.

Drinking plenty of fluids.

Wear light clothing.

Never leave pets or people in unattended vehicles.

Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.
Go Cocks Go E*Rolls

Those four words have greeted drivers rolling along Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia for three decades. And while the sign that holds them now has a significant lean, Sherry Chen, co-owner of Eggroll Station, the Chinese takeout restaurant behind the sign, said she and her husband have no intention of changing the marquees message.

The signs going down a little bit, but we havent changed it, Chen said from behind the counter as she waited for her next customer.

The restaurant and its locally iconic sign might soon go by the wayside. Eggroll Stations building changed hands in December, at which point Chen said they were told they had between a year and a year and a half before they would need to vacate the space.

Baker Commercial Properties, which purchased the building, is looking to redevelop the nearby Capitol Square shopping center across from West Columbias House of Raeford chicken plant, and Eggroll Stations parcel is included in a recently revealed conceptual plan for that potential project.

The restaurant at 135 Sunset Blvd. is one of a pair of fast, affordable Chinese restaurants owned by the same family. Chen and her husband oversee the West Columbia eatery, which opened in 1990, while Chens brothers operate Eggroll Chen, located at 715 Crowson Rd. in Columbia, between Devine Street and Fort Jackson Boulevard.

The familys other restaurant, which opened in 1984, is in no danger of closing, Chen noted, explaining that they own the Eggroll Chen building.

Eggroll Station remains one of the cheaper eats in the area, offering plates ranging from chicken chow mein to spicy Taiwan beef to sweet and sour pork and beyond for less than $10.

Chen said she isnt sure if the restaurant will look to relocate when its time in its current building is done.

My husbands very tired. Weve been in business 34 years, she said. We are maybe looking for something that will be a little less or maybe a food truck or something like that. I dont know.

Chen said the timing is unfortunate, as business had just started to come back to where it was before disruptions brought by COVID.

The news of Eggroll Stations impending exodus comes after a rash of longtime businesses departing the surrounding River District of West Columbia, which has seen a lot of redevelopment in recent years, including the additions of the Brookland condo, retail and dining complex and Savage Craft Ale Works.

Italian fine-dining mainstay Als Upstairs, which owned both its building and the Eggroll Station space until it sold both to Baker, closed after 44 years in December. That same month saw the exit of New Brookland Tavern, which moved to Five Points after 26 years in West Columbia, and the closure of Chinese restaurant Jin Jin, which left the Capitol Square shopping center vacant when it shut down after 29 years.

Theres more population, Chen said of the area surrounding Eggroll Station. Its just changing.
The United States on Jan. 6, 2021. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Americans are gearing up to celebrate the Fourth of July, and their thoughts are most likely on how many hot dogs to buy for the cookout and whether a family member needs to go stake out a good spot to watch the parade and fireworks.

While the holiday is focused on revelry, July Fourth actually commemorates a solemn moment in the countrys history, when it declared independence from the colonial power Great Britain. The institutions of government imagined by the founders and their successors over the following decades  among them the presidency, Congress, the departments of State and Treasury, the Supreme Court  have retained their authority and legitimacy for more than 200 years, weathering challenges from wars both internal and abroad and massive economic, political and social upheaval.

But now, the Supreme Court, in the wake of a series of highly controversial rulings and ethical questions about some justices, is experiencing historically low public standing. And that has prompted a national conversation about the courts legitimacy. Its even drawn rare public comment from three sitting Supreme Court justices.

Whats referred to by experts as the problem of judicial legitimacy may seem abstract, but the courts faltering public support is about more than popularity.

Eroding legitimacy means that government officials and ordinary people become increasingly unlikely to accept public policies with which they disagree. And Americans need only look to the relatively recent past to understand the stakes of the courts growing legitimacy problem.

Cost paid in blood

The Supreme Courts 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education shined a light on many white Americans tenuous loyalty to the authority of the federal judiciary.

In Brown, the court unanimously held that racial segregation in public education violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The justices were abundantly aware that their decision would evoke strong emotions. So Chief Justice Earl Warren worked tirelessly to ensure that the court issued a unanimous, short and readable opinion designed to calm the anticipated popular opposition.

Warrens efforts were in vain. Rather than recognizing the courts authoritative interpretation of the Constitution, many white Americans participated in an extended, violent campaign of resistance to the desegregation ruling.

The integration of the University of Mississippi in 1962 provides a pointed example of this resistance.

The Supreme Court had backed a lower federal court that ordered the university to admit James Meredith, a Black Air Force veteran. But Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett led a wide-ranging effort to stop Meredith from enrolling at Ole Miss, including deploying state and local police to prevent Meredith from entering campus.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, 1962, Meredith nevertheless arrived on the universitys campus, guarded by dozens of federal marshals, to register and begin classes the next day. A crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered on campus and broke into a riot. Meredith and the marshals were attacked with Molotov cocktails and gunfire. The marshals fired tear gas in return.

In response, President John F. Kennedy invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807 and ordered the U.S. Army onto campus to restore order and protect Meredith. Overnight, thousands of troops arrived, battling rioters.

The violence finally ended after 15 hours, leaving two civilians dead  both killed by rioters  and dozens of wounded marshals and soldiers in addition to hundreds of injuries among the insurgent mob.

The next day, Oct. 1, Meredith enrolled in the university and attended his first class, but thousands of troops remained in Mississippi for months afterward to preserve order.

What some call the Battle of Oxford was fueled by white racism and segregation, but it played out against the backdrop of weak judicial legitimacy. Federal courts did not command enough respect among state officials or ordinary white Mississippians to protect the constitutional rights of Black Mississippians. Neither Gov. Barnett nor the thousands of Oxford rioters were willing to follow the court order for Meredith to enroll at the university.

In the end, the Constitution and the federal courts prevailed only because Kennedy backed them with the Army. But the cost of weak judicial legitimacy was paid in blood.

Legitimacy leads to acceptance

In contrast, when people believe in the legitimacy of their governing institutions, they are more likely to accept, respect and abide by the rules the government  including the courts  ask them to live under, even when the stakes are high and the consequences are far-reaching.

For example, two decades ago, the Supreme Court resolved a disputed presidential election in Bush v. Gore, centered on the counting of ballots in Florida. This time, the court was deeply divided along ideological lines, and its long, complicated and fragmented opinion was based on questionable legal reasoning.

But in 2000, the court enjoyed more robust legitimacy among the public than it does today. As a consequence, Florida officials ceased recounting disputed ballots. Vice President Al Gore conceded the election to Texas Gov. George W. Bush, specifically accepting the Supreme Courts pivotal ruling.

No Democratic senator challenged the validity of Floridas disputed Electoral College votes for Bush. Congress certified the Electoral Colleges vote, and Bush was inaugurated.

Democrats were surely disappointed, and some protested. But the court was viewed as sufficiently legitimate to produce enough acceptance by enough people to ensure a peaceful transition of power. There was no violent riot; there was no open resistance.

Indeed, on the very night that Gore conceded, the chants of his supporters gathered outside tacitly accepted the outcome: Gore in four!  as if to say, Well get you next time, because we believe there will be a next time.

Risks ahead

But what happens when institutions fail to retain citizens loyalty?

The Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection showcased the consequences of broken legitimacy. The rioters who stormed the Capitol had lost faith in systems that undergird American democracy: counting presidential votes in the states, tallying Electoral College ballots and settling disputes over election law in the courts.

The men and women who stormed the Capitol may have believed their country was being stolen, even if such beliefs were baseless. So, they rebelled in the face of a result they didnt like.

The threat of further unrest is real. Polls show the 2024 presidential election between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be a close call, and it is likely that election results in several states will be challenged in federal courts. Some of these claims may raise good-faith questions about the administration of elections, while others advance more spurious claims intended to undermine faith in the elections outcome.

In the end, Americans faith in the timely resolution of those cases and their peaceful acceptance of the presidential elections result will hinge on whether the losing candidates supporters accept the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and the judiciary more broadly.

Nothing is certain in politics, but the specter of constitutional crisis looms over the United States. Its dangerously unclear whether the Supreme Court retains enough legitimacy to ensure acceptance of decisions addressing the upcoming election among those who find themselves on the losing side. If it doesnt, the courts abstract legitimacy problem could once again lead to violence and insurrection.

This commentary was originally published in The Conversation.
A lot of work left to do: Second report on KY domestic violence shows too many victims.

The second annual report on Kentuckys domestic violence statistics was released Monday, and it confirms the problem remains a scourge of violence across the state that hurts far too many women, men and children.

The overall numbers from 2023 didnt budge much from the year before, though there were some slight improvements in the number of emergency orders served.

The numbers in this years report are similar to the previous year, which means we still have a lot of work left to do, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Keith Jackson said in a release.

I ask that the commonwealth increase collaboration among advocacy groups, law enforcement, prosecutors and the judicial system. Lets create a new Kentucky home together, one where our children are safer and victims have every opportunity to rebuild their lives.

According to the report:

 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men in Kentucky have experienced domestic violence. While 50 percent of Kentucky women and 30 percent of men have been victims, the report shows that accused abusers are 3.5 times more likely to be men.

 7,744 arrests were made for incidents involving domestic or dating violence and abuse. Last year, the number was 8,867. the discrepancy was explained because this years report excludes human trafficking to help provide a clearer picture.

 41,887 electronic JC-3 forms  the report made by police in all domestic violence complaints  filed compared to 38,708 filed last year.

 In 2023, Kentucky State Police served 17,036 Emergency Protective Orders (EPOs) compared to 16,402 the year before.

 15,104 individuals received services from ZeroV, the states 15 regional domestic violence programs, while 23,381 crisis/hotline calls were received.

 Thanks to a recommendation from ZeroV, the state coalition of domestic violence programs, the report this year showed that 26,582 unique reports of alleged child abuse were made to the cabinet through an adult or child abuse hotline in which there were also allegations of domestic violence.

Children are innocent victims in domestic violence situations, but the consequences follow them their whole lives, said Courtney Downs, chief innovation officer for Kentucky Youth Advocates.

Its so devastating and upsetting thinking about the lived experiences of these children, living in a home where theres a constant fear of violence, Downs said. Its important for people to know how widespread this is  it intersects with a lot of other issues, such as kids ending up in the welfare system or in juvenile justice or having trouble in school.

Downs said people need to educate themselves about the signs of domestic violence so they can offer a non-judgmental hand when its needed.

Its extremely hard, dangerous and scary  the last thing a survivor needs is to be met with judgment.

ZeroV is required to make a set of recommendations based on the data every fall to the legislature. Last fall, they made several regarding the clarity of the data, and one perennial suggestion to better fund the states advocates.

The group issued a statement saying they were glad to see some of their recommendations had been added to the report.

ZeroV believes that any level of violence greater than zero is a concern that deserves the attention of our Commonwealth, the group said.

We must also remember that the data in this report are not simply numbers; they represent real peoples lives impacted by violence. As such, our goal for the next few years is to increase the clarity, accuracy and precision of the data, which includes making it easier for different agencies to collaborate around data collection and sharing.

The report was created by Republican Sen. Whitney Westerfields Senate Bill 271 in 2022, which required the Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center to collect information from Kentucky State Police, Cabinet for Health and Family Service and the Administrative Office of the Courts, and local law enforcement agencies about domestic violence fatalities; domestic violence and abuse; dating violence and abuse; and protective orders issued within the commonwealth.

Before this report, domestic violence advocacy groups had used a newspaper clipping service to keep track of domestic violence homicides.

Whats still missing from the report is what really got it all started: the question of exactly how many people are killed each year because of domestic violence. According to the Administrative office of the Courts, Kentuckys circuit courts in 2023 showed 32 charges of murder and 21 charges of attempted murder, roughly the same as last year.

If we still dont know how many people have died, all I can say is that we are not seeing the full picture of domestic violence in Kentucky, Sen. Westerfield said, and we cant rest until we do.

Kentucky has 15 programs supporting survivors of domestic violence. Also available 24/7 are the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
GAZA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli attacks targeting several areas in the Gaza Strip, said Palestinian sources.

Security and medical sources told Xinhua that eight people were killed and more than 30 others were injured with varying injuries as a result of Israeli missile and artillery shelling that targeted various areas of the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah.

Meanwhile, five Palestinians were killed and seven others injured, some of them in serious condition, as a result of artillery shelling of a number of homes on the outskirts of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in northern Gaza, according to the sources.

The sources reported that a child was killed in an airstrike on a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, while several others were injured as a result of a similar raid that targeted a house northwest of the camp.

Meanwhile, local sources and eyewitnesses reported to Xinhua that the Israeli army is besieging residential homes in various areas of the Shujaiya neighborhood, which is witnessing a massive military operation for the sixth day in a row.

The attacks came as the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported in a press statement that its Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis is crowded with large numbers of displaced people after the Israeli army notified residents to evacuate the eastern areas of the city.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a press statement on Tuesday that warplanes, in cooperation with the Southern Command, raided "terrorist" targets the past night in Khan Younis, which witnessed the launching of about 20 rocket shells towards the towns surrounding the Gaza Strip.

He added that among the targets were a weapons depot, operational apartments, and other "terrorist structures."

Adraee accused Hamas of "continuously and systematically violating international law, exploiting civil society in Gaza as human shields for terrorist activities" against Israel.

During the past 24 hours, the Israeli military killed 25 people and wounded 81 others, bringing the total death toll to 37,925 and injuries to 87,141 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out in early October 2023, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday. 
In 2021, the Louisiana neighborhood of Bogalusa was terrorized by a Black man who rode around shooting aimlessly at children and families. Turns out he sent out a warning ahead of his shooting spree.



Angie resident Andrew Pernell was accused of shot Bogalusa High School senior Aaron Brown as he walked home from school August 23, 2021, per the Bogalusa Police Department. The following month, prosecutors say Pernell drove down Main Street and fired 18 shots into a home with children inside. Luckily, no one was injured. However, a few days later, Pernell shot a 13-year-old boy as he got off the school bus. He survived the shooting but was airlifted for treatment of the injuries he sustained, per WGNO.

That afternoon, Pernell wrecked his car resulting in the police taking him into custody. Upon the investigation, police said they discovered evidence to suggest the shooting spree may have been premeditated.

Read more from WDSU:

Pernells gun and phone were confiscated by police, which linked him to the shootings. Text messages from the phone showed Pernell used a man named Matthew Kennedy to purchase the weapons he used in the crimes. A text message to Kennedy from Pernell read, I kill ppl. As detectives investigated Browns murder, they found messages between Pernell and a man named Jayden Brister, who was also linked to the murder. Brister and Pernell planned the shooting for when students walked home from school on the day of Browns murder. Texts show Pernell said he had an AR and needed a body. The messages also revealed Pernells plan to dump the AR after the shooting.

Trial was nothing short of disturbing. District Attorney Colin Sims said during the testimonies of young witnesses, Pernell made gun gestures at them from his seat.

It only took 27 minutes for the jury to come back with a guilty verdict on charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and assault by drive-by shooting.

Pernell laughed at the verdict, per WDSU. He faces life in prison as a sentence.

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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry shakes hands with a Louisiana National Guard member during a May 10, 2024, trip to the Texas-Mexico border. (Governor's Office photo)

Engineers with the Louisiana National Guard will deploy in Texas to assist with border security through mid-November, Gov. Jeff Landry announced Monday. Their assignment extends Louisianas commitment of 150 personnel from its state militia for Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas to enforce immigration law, which is the federal governments responsibility.

Landry said the additional time Guard members will spend in Texas will not create an additional cost to taxpayers. State lawmakers approved $3 million for Operation Lone Star earlier this year, and there is $800,000 from that allocation, according to the governors office.

As the Biden Administration repeatedly ignores the crisis on our southern border, the Louisiana National Guard continues to step up and assist our neighbors in Texas as they work to protect our citizens and secure our countrys border, Landry said in a statement from his office. I am grateful to the Louisiana National Guard for their hard work defending and securing our nations border.

Landry is one of several Republican governors who have sent National Guard troops to Texas in support of Abbotts policy on immigration. In addition to busing migrants to Democratic-led cities, the Texas governor placed razor wire along the banks of the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass to hunder unauthorized border crossings.

Under Abbotts direction, the Texas National Guard has blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing the riverbank to take the razor wire down.

During their original 90-day deployment that ended early last month, Louisiana National Guard members provided support to the Texas counterparts border operations. Their duties were similar to those undertaken during hurricanes, including administrative tasks, driving vehicles and manning checkpoints.

In a letter to legislative leaders, Landry said Abbott and the Texas National Guard leadership requested additional engineering support from Louisiana. The governor said he has worked with Brig. Gen. Thomas Friloux of the Louisiana National Guard and Jacques Thibodeaux of the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to ensure that this will not impair our ability to mobilize troops here at home if necessary.

Louisiana National Guard members are among the first emergency response personnel put to work ahead of a pending disaster and during the recovery stages. The Atlantic hurricane season started June 1 and lasts until the end of November.

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One of Lubbock's newer upscale eateries suddenly closed without explanation this week, just one week after celebrating its 1-year anniversary, and another restaurant is honoring their gift cards.

The Fresh American, 3715 114th St., opened on June 21, 2023, as a "west coast flare, and a Texas soul," restaurant. On July 2, 2024, the restaurant's Facebook page had vanished and phone calls went to voicemail. Reservations showed as unavailable on the business's website.

The Fresh American has a chain locking their restaurant, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

While Google still had the eatery listed as open on Tuesday, the building itself had gone dark. A chain could be seen locking the gates around noon.

Just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, Harrigan's Prime Grill, 11814 Indiana Ave., Suite #3, posted on social media that the steakhouse would honor any leftover Fresh American gift cards.

More in business news: Lubbock business news includes restaurant closure, openings

"We're honoring these cards at 50% of face value (after gratuity)," the restaurant stated. "It's sad to see a Lubbock restaurant close, but we want to thank you for shopping local. Come see us!"

Jimenez Tortilleria y Taqueria, Chez Sami and The Co-Op Public House also took to social media later in the day and on Wednesday to announce that its restaurants would also accept Fresh American gift cards at 50% of face value.

The Fresh American has a chain locking their restaurant, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

The Fresh American's closure came shortly after Joe's Crab Shack, 5802 West Loop South 289, and Hooters, 4950 S. Loop 289. It is also the fourth business to close or is pending closure for July. The other businesses for June include Lubbock Escapes, 3025 34th St., which will close on July 14, and Urban Vibez Nutrition, 1110 Ave. J, which will close on July 3.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: The Fresh American Lubbock suddenly closes, Harrigan's accepts cards
The prosecutor said, "Lucy Letby has continually denied that she tried to kill this baby or any of the babies that she has been convicted of murdering"

EyePress News/Shutterstock Lucy Letby

Lucy Letby, the British neonatal nurse found guilty of killing seven infants and attempting to kill six others, has been convicted of the attempted murder of a newborn girl in a case in which the jury failed to reach a verdict last year.

Letby, 34, was found guilty at her retrial of the attempted murder of a baby known only as Child K. The Feb. 2016 incident allegedly happened while Letby was on shift in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, England, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Letby, 34, was accused of dislodging a breathing tube that was attached to a baby girl shortly after her birth, the BBC reported. The baby, who was born at 25 weeks and weighed 1 lb 8oz at birth, was taken to another hospital where she died three days later, per the BBC. According to the BBC, prosecutors have not alleged that Letby caused the girls death.

Letby was removed from the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2016, after senior hospital staff grew suspicious following a year of mysterious deaths and near-deaths of infants.

Related: Nurse Lucy Letby Found Guilty of Murdering 7 Infants in British Hospital

GETTY IMAGES Countess of Chester Hospital

She was arrested in July of 2018.



During her previous murder and attempted trial in Manchester Crown Court in 2022 and 2023, prosecutors accused her of force-feeding infants milk, poisoning some with insulin and injecting others with air.

In a statement following the verdict, Senior Crown Prosecutor Nicola Wyn Williams, of CPS Mersey-Cheshires Complex Casework Unit, said, Lucy Letby has continually denied that she tried to kill this baby or any of the babies that she has been convicted of murdering or attempting to murder. The jury has heard all of the detailed evidence including from her in her own defence and formed its own view."



The statement continued: Our case included direct evidence from a doctor who walked into the nursery to find a very premature baby desaturating with Letby standing by, taking no action to help or to raise the alarm. She had deliberately dislodged the breathing tube in an attempt to kill her.



Staff at the unit had to think the unthinkable  that one of their own was deliberately harming and killing babies in their care.



Letby dislodged the tube a further two times over the following few hours in an attempt to cover her tracks and suggest that the first dislodgment was accidental. These were the actions of a cold-blooded, calculated killer.



The grief that the family of Baby K have felt is unimaginable. Our thoughts remain with them and all those affected by this case at this time.



Cheshire Constabulary Lucy Letby

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In total, five boys and two girls were killed while under Letbys care.

Related: Lucy Letby: How Authorities Zeroed in on British Nurse Accused of Murdering Infants in Neonatal Unit

She was convicted and sentenced in Aug. 2023 of 14 of a possible 22 counts.

At her sentencing, a judge said Letby showed no remorse for her crimes and had waged a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable of children."

Letby has denied she had anything to do with the deaths.



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Read the original article on People.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) is proposing a less dramatic way to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress over his refusal to turn over the audio from President Bidens interview with special counsel Robert Hur regarding his handling of classified documents.

Rather than directing the House sergeant-at-arms to take Garland into custody to enforce the GOP subpoena for the tapes, a resolution from Luna filed Friday would fine Garland $10,000 per day until he complies.

This version of inherent contempt will become standard practice for those who seek to undermine Congress as an equal branch of government, Luna said in a post on the social media website X on Friday.

The new resolution comes as Luna faced GOP pushback to her proposal to arrest and detain Garland, and questions about how it would logistically work. It is also not entirely clear how the House could force Garland to pay the fines now suggested by Luna.

It also comes as House GOP leaders are pursuing an alternative method of getting Garland to comply with their subpoena, and after voting to hold Garland in contempt of Congress earlier this month: On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee filed a lawsuit to force Garland to turn over the tapes.

Luna argued against waiting for a lawsuit in a post on X last week: A lawsuit can take years  This is a national security issue, Luna said, in reference to memory issues that Hur had highlighted.

The special counsel said that any jury in a classified documents case would likely see Biden as an elderly man with a poor memory, citing portions of the interview in which Biden had trouble remembering dates or arguments about Afghanistan policy. Bidens counsel retorted that the gratuitous language by Hur is not supported by the facts, nor is it appropriately used by a federal prosecutor in this context.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) provided the House a written transcript of the conversation, and Biden has claimed executive privilege over the tapes. But Republicans argue that because the DOJ provided the transcript, it cannot withhold the audio, which it says it needs to ensure the transcript is accurate.

Lunas previous inherent contempt resolution would have directed the Speaker to issue a warrant commanding the Sergeant at Arms or the deputy of the Sergeant at Arms to take into custody the body of Attorney General Garland wherever found and keep him in custody. It would mark the first such use of inherent contempt in nearly 100 years.

While Luna had pledged that she would make a privileged move to force a vote on the matter last week, she did not.

On Friday, Luna told The Hill that attendance issues were a factor in her holding off, and that she would be bringing up a new contempt resolution that had the support of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who she had talked to on the House floor multiple times over the week.

Johnson has not confirmed his support for the new resolution that would fine Garland $10,000 per day.

Asked about Lunas inherent contempt push on Friday, Johnson expressed his preference for making Garland comply by going through the court system.

The easiest way, the best way, is to allow the third branch to resolve this dispute between the executive and legislative branch, Johnson said. There may be other avenues that we can pursue, and were looking into all that, but were not committed to anything yet.

What Anna Paulina Luna and I and all House Republicans agree upon is that weve got to use every tool in the toolbox here, so to speak, because this is very, very serious, Johnson added.

On X on Friday, Luna indicated that the new version will be brought to the floor this upcoming session week, indicating that she could make a move to force a vote on it. The House, which is out for the Independence Day holiday, returns on Monday.

Several of Lunas colleagues expressed reservations about Lunas previous inherent contempt resolution that would have directed Garlands arrest, raising questions about whether her move to force a vote would have been successful in the slim House GOP majority.

I just cannot [be] supportive of individual members to escalate an inherent contempt effort to go then arrest him at the Department of Justice and bring him back to confinement, Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) told The Hill last week. I mean this is, this is an extraordinary measure, and I dont think its something we should do lightly.

Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), the only Republican to oppose holding Garland in contempt of Congress earlier this month, had also signaled that he would vote against Lunas push for inherent contempt.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4)  It has been nearly a week since Utahs primary election, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Lyman says he doesnt plan to concede.

This comes despite unofficial election results showing Gov. Spencer Cox with a nearly 40,000 vote lead over Lyman. Lyman said he and his supporters want election data and Gov. Coxs signatures to be looked at by an independent third party.

Id like to verify signatures. Its not for myself. Im not trying to get into the governors seat. I think the people of Utah deserve a fair election, explained Lyman. I get calls constantly saying that, Hey, what were seeing does not match up with what is being reported we want to know if this election has been conducted fairly. And I think its a fair question.

Lyman also questioned ABC4s line of questioning, I dont know who youre asking these questions on behalf of. If those are your questions or what? He continued, Youre part of it. You are part of the cover-up.

Trent Staggs concedes U.S. Senate race to John Curtis

It isnt uncommon for a candidate on the losing end of election night results to want to contest the results or cast doubt on the system. Zoe Nemerever, an assistant professor of political science at Utah Valley University, says its been a trend seen on national, state, and local levels since 2016.

Almost always its the person on the losing end of the election who says that there was some sort of malpractice or malfeasance in the election, and they want it to be recounted, recertified, investigated, Nemerever said.

Asking for something like a recount in close races isnt out of the norm or dangerous to our elections. In fact, in some cases they are automatic. But, Nemerever says there is danger in sowing mistrust in the process.

Public opinion is important for elections. It affects not just attitudes towards potential political violence, but also turnout as well, she explained. People may stop engaging in their elections if they feel like its not a fair process.

In Utah, a voter can track their ballot and even ask election officials questions. Nemerever added that signatures to get on a ballot are vigorously verified just like a signature that youd put on a mail-in ballot. She said, Theyre not hokey signatures, even if theyre collected by paid signature gatherers. Theyre still legitimate citizens from the correct districts signatures.

Going forward, Phil Lyman said he is calling on his supporters to join his campaign in attending the state records committee meeting on July 18. He hopes it will show that there is a strong contingent of voters who want transparency.

What convinces people is to have a qualified, independent third-party review of the data. And that has never happened, Lyman said.

The Utah statewide canvass for the primary election is July 22nd.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
From her wooden dining table lit by a dim yellow light, Jess Attebery and Kody Gates discuss why gender-affirming care is life saving.

To Jess Attebery, left, Kody Gates, right, and many other transgender Idahoans, gender-affirming care is life saving. Attebery, president of Queer Club Idaho, helped start the Trans Lifeline Fund to help trans Idahoans pay for gender-affirming care. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)

Editors note: This story discusses gender dysphoria, suicide and self-harm. If you or someone you know is struggling, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

POCATELLO, IDAHO  In 2018, Kody Gates moved back to his hometown. But he was terrified about whether he could still access gender-affirming care.

He felt relieved when he found Dr. Neil Ragan, who founded Health West ISUs gender-affirming care clinic in Pocatello.

But in response to a new law that took effect Monday that bans public funds for gender-affirming care, Health West will stop providing gender-affirming care to everyone. Counseling will still be offered at the Idaho-based non-profit health center.

That beacon of hope that was Health West is being extinguished. And its very, very hard not to feel helpless, Gates said.

Health West ISUs Pocatello gender-affirming care clinic  in partnership with Idaho State University, and located on the public universitys campus  is the go-to for gender-affirming care in east Idaho, doctors and patients told the Idaho Capital Sun.

Health West mailed patients letters last week announcing the new policy. Some patients had already learned weeks earlier from their doctor.

We recognize the impact of this change and its effects on our patients, read the letter, which the Sun obtained. Health West remains dedicated to delivering the highest quality of care but is limited to providing care within the legal boundaries allowed.

Health West did not make executives available for an interview to explain the new policy. But in an internal email and letters to patients reviewed by the Sun, it appeared that the health center network was worried about risking its funding and complying with changes in the law.

The clinic also operates on Idaho State Universitys campus; the new law bans providing gender-affirming care on public property.

Even though they cant prescribe hormones for gender-affirming care anymore, doctors working in the clinic say they can still treat gender-diverse patients in other ways and hope patients can access gender-affirming care at other medical offices. Health West didnt perform gender-affirming surgeries.

Major medical groups say gender-affirming care is medically necessary and safe.

Several legislators called gender-affirming care medically harmful or at best  controversial. Every Idaho Republican legislator voted in favor of the bill, except Idaho Senate Assistant Majority Leader Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, who didnt run for re-election.

Preparing for the new law to go into effect, activists are fundraising to help transgender Idahoans access gender-affirming care.

One longtime Health West patient was already stockpiling hormones. Some are ready to pay out-of-pocket. Some patients moved out of Idaho.

Another barrier doesnt mean it is impossible to do this work, said Dr. Jessica Rolynn, who manages Health Wests gender-affirming care clinic but stressed that she was not speaking on Health Wests behalf.

Im not ready to give up. And I dont think I ever will be, Dr. Rolynn said. Its hard, but its worth it.

Why the Idaho Legislature passed House Bill 668

The new law, passed this legislative session through House Bill 668, bans public funds  and explicitly Idaho Medicaid  from covering gender-affirming puberty blockers, hormones and surgery procedures.

The new law doesnt outlaw gender-affirming care in Idaho. A previous Idaho law bans the care for minors.

A study recently found gender non-conforming people were at higher risk for being in a lower socioeconomic status. Around 300,000 Idahoans are on Medicaid, which largely covers low-income and disabled people.

About 7,000 Idaho adults and 1,000 Idahoans age 13 and up are transgender, according to estimates from the University of California-Los Angeles.

Three Idaho state legislators seated in a committee room

In March, the Idaho House and Senate passed House Bill 668 with 84 votes in support, and 19 votes against, before Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed it into law. (Two Republican legislators were absent during floor votes.)

Rep. Bruce Skaug, who co-sponsored the bill and the previous law to outlaw gender-affirming care for minors, has likened gender-affirming care to lobotomies, a common but inaccurate comparison among right-wing media and politicians.

Its a popular fad that will pass, and we shall see. Its not time for us to pay for these procedures, based on the science, Skaug told the Sun in an interview on June 25.

It is a controversial procedure, Skaug said. And we have authority to not use tax dollars in controversial health procedures, whatever those might be, as do health insurance companies. But Dr. Ragan  who emphasized he wasnt speaking on behalf of Health West  said claims that gender-affirming care is ineffective or harmful are false.

Over a dozen years practicing gender-affirming care, Dr. Ragan said hes seen patients whose lives have been saved and enriched by transitioning. Out of hundreds of transgender patients hes treated, he said, he only knows three adults who de-transitioned.

Are there physicians out there who are opposed to transgender health care? Yes. Are there patients who have transitioned and then regretted it and wanted to transition back? Yes. The numbers are vanishingly small.  That does not mean that we should not be providing care to these individuals, Dr. Ragan said.

There were fairly solid arguments for and against providing gender-affirming medications to minors, Dr. Ragan said, which Idaho outlawed in 2023. But expanding the ban to public funded transgender health care for adults is mean spirited, he said.

It makes me ashamed to live in Idaho. Makes me ashamed to be an Idaho physician, Dr. Ragan said.

What care can patients still access in Idaho?

The new law prohibits public funding for critical parts of gender-affirming care  medication and surgeries. But the new Idaho laws dont restrict all gender-affirming care, doctors told the Sun about last years ban for minors and the new public fund ban.

Even though Dr. Ragan cant prescribe hormones, he says he can still treat patients for issues like managing high blood pressure, diabetes and depression.

Like Dr. Rolynn, Dr. Ragan stressed he wasnt speaking on behalf of Health West. He now works for ISU but still practices in the clinic.

Dr. Jessica Rolynn

Dr. Rolynn said she isnt abandoning the 300 patients she provides gender-affirming care to. She said she wants patients to see her to help them access gender-affirming care thats still allowed, and to find hormone therapy at other health systems.

There are many ways to affirm a persons gender without hormone therapy that Dr. Rolynn says she can still help with, like treating acne, irregular periods or suppressing periods.

But dozens of her patients have left the state, or are in the process, she said.

Some people have lost hope for Idaho and have left. Some people dont have that ability, because of either family commitments or careers or schools or just money. For those patients, thats where, again, Im stressing I am not leaving, Dr. Rolynn said.

Health Wests letter to patients says the new law restricts public funds for gender affirming care related to surgical procedures and any hormonal therapies. This includes Medicaid reimbursement and the use of state-funded facilities for these services.

In an emailed statement on Thursday, Health West Director of Outreach Krysten Bullock said: Health West is committed to the care and privacy of our patients and is continuously working to ensure compliance with the law; additionally, the information provided in this article was made without the authorization or review of Health West and does not necessarily reflect the position of the organization.

How we reported this story

To report this story, we first connected separately with two Health West patients, one of which we did not interview or quote in this story.

We interviewed four Health West patients receiving gender-affirming care, along with the doctor who runs Health West ISUs current gender-affirming care and the clinics founder, who is now employed by Idaho State University.

Those two doctors  Dr. Jessica Rolynn and Dr. Neil Ragan  stressed they werent speaking on behalf of Health West.

We connected with Health West patients through a gender advocacy group  which patient Rowan Smith introduced this reporter to.

Ragan shared with the Idaho Capital Sun a copy of the May 9 email announcing Health West would stop offering gender-affirming care. The email was also made public in a recent federal court lawsuit filing.

Before this story was published, we shared our reporting findings and process with Health West. A Health West spokesperson did not make the clinics officials available for an interview, but offered a brief comment that did not directly address its decision to stop providing gender-affirming care.

In May, Health West internally announced plans to stop gender-affirming care

In a May 9 email to employees obtained by the Sun, Health West Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Horrocks wrote the decision wasnt driven by Health West, but was in response to certain political forces, including new legislation.

We recognize the impact of this change and its effects on our community. Health West remains dedicated to delivering the highest quality of care but is limited to providing care within the legal boundaries allowed, he wrote.

The new policy would apply across any Health West locations, Dr. Horrocks wrote. Health West has 19 locations across Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, according to its website.

In Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, various legal and political events have recently transpired governing gender affirming or transgender care, Dr. Horrocks wrote in the May 9 email. The Health West executive team and legal team have analyzed these changes in relation to the Health West situation, including patient care, the sustainability of services, risks to funding streams, the viability of the organization as a whole, and other factors.

Health West Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Horrocks announced to employees in a May 9 email that Health West would stop providing gender-affirming care.

Gender-affirming related diagnosis can be entered into patient charts, he wrote. But those diagnoses cannot be addressed in any manner that could be construed as offering gender affirming care, he wrote.

Prescriptions and refills of prescriptions cannot carry over past July 1, 2024. This is true for prescription assistance efforts, blood draws, injection services, and related services, Dr. Horrocks wrote.

If you have individual questions, please contact us, he wrote.

Need to get in touch?

Have a news tip?

CONTACT US

Dr. Rolynn replied in an email.

We have reached out to other clinics across Idaho and have not come across anyone interpreting this law so fiercely as Health West, she wrote in her reply, which Dr. Ragan shared with the Sun. I dont understand how I am supposed to cancel prescription refills that have already been signed on hundreds of patients. Can you please help me understand how I am supposed to do this? I am absolutely in shock right now.

She said she didnt hear back.

When Dr. Rolynn got home that night, she cried.

At first, she thought she should get away as far as she could, she said.

But, she said, the thought that people are gonna die wouldnt leave her head.

She knows its been proven  again and again  that not addressing gender dysphoria leads to increased suicide and depression, she said.

I dont want to live in a world where I can do something about that and I choose not to, Rolynn said.

Doctors hopeful for other gender-affirming care treatment options

Doctors working in the clinic say theyre hopeful their patients can continue receiving gender-affirming care.

Dr. Ragan said he is cautiously optimistic we will be able to come up with alternatives for all of our patients that they will find suitable.

Patients can pursue gender-affirming care through telehealth services at other clinics, he said. A plan to find local providers for patients is in progress, he said.

But other local options arent adequate, Dr. Ragan said.

Health West ISU's Pocatello gender-affirming care clinic  in partnership with Idaho State University, and located on the public universitys campus  is the go-to for gender-affirming care in east Idaho, doctors and patients say.

For Gates, a transgender man, his gender-affirming care is maintenance, he said.

In Denver, he had a hysterectomy due to medical complications unrelated to gender-affirming care, he said. That means being taken off testosterone could be life-threatening, he said, since he doesnt produce sex hormones and needs treatment to manage side effects that could risk stroke and blood pressure issues.

Gates said hes fortunate he can still pay for his medication. If gender-affirming care isnt covered by his insurance as a state of Idaho employee, thats like a double slap in the face, he said.

But many people cant pay on their own, he said.

And he worries what Health Wests decision to stop providing gender-affirming care means for patients in rural surrounding areas, where people traveled from to get care in Pocatello.

Whats left for them? Gates said. And what about those people that cant (privately) pay for their care? Its terrifying.

In an interview on June 21, Gates said he wishes the decision-makers at Health West would explain to patients why theyre terminating gender-affirming care.

They are abandoning some of the most vulnerable people, Gates said.

Health West notifies patients week before new policy takes effect

Last week, some patients received a letter in the mail from Health West announcing the new policy.

Starting July 1, Health West wont provide gender-affirming care, including prescriptions and prescription refills, the letter read. If patients needed a 30-day medication refill, the letter advised them to contact the office before June 26.

Three Health West patient letters  provided to the Sun  were postmarked on June 24. Three patients told the Sun they received the letter with only a day or two to request prescription refills.

If you need a 30-day refill on your medications, please notify our office prior to 6/26/2024 so we can ensure you have proper medication coverage, the letters read. If you would like Health West to forward your medical records to a provider of your choice who can better serve your gender affirming medical and pharmacy care needs, please feel free to reach out to our team.

Health West Letter

Elliott Womack, who is gender fluid, filed an ethics complaint through a third party reviewer over Health Wests delayed notification to patients.

Womack said he wasnt surprised by Health Wests new policy, which hed heard about weeks earlier from Dr. Rolynn, Womack told the Sun in an interview. Womack wrote in his complaint that he received Health Wests letter on June 25.

This information needs to come to patients in the form of official communication from the clinic, Womack wrote in the complaint. Many of our transgender community members would have gone to Health West ISU without knowing about the policy change and been rejected from receiving appropriate and necessary medical care.

Womack is considering getting a referral to an Idaho Falls doctor for gender-affirming care.

When they first visited Health West, Womack said a staff member helped him apply to Medicaid.

He said he recommended Health West to not only every queer person that I knew, but anyone looking for affordable, accessible care.

But now, Womack said, my trust in the clinic itself has eroded away.

Rowan Smith, a trans man whos been a Health West patient for eight years, said he received Health Wests letter on June 26. But he had also already heard about the new policy from Dr. Rolynn.

He said hed stockpiled eight to 10 months of testosterone.

Dr. Rolynn said she made every effort to contact patients early. But without having the resources of the larger office, I wasnt able to reach everyone, she said.

On June 26, she was at a conference. She said she spent most of the day filing prescription refills.

Transgender Idahoans say gender-affirming care is life-saving care

Jess Attebery, president of Queer Club Idaho, helped create a fund called the Trans Lifeline Fund dedicated to help trans people pay for gender-affirming care after the new law takes effect.

But the fund shouldnt be needed, she said.

Certain people disagree about this. But it is supposed to be the states responsibility to help care for those who dont have a way to do it themselves, Attebery said.

Attebery, a trans female, has been a Health West patient since 2018. Now, she said, she has to look elsewhere for hormone replacement therapy  which her Medicaid insurance also cant cover.

For myself, and for many of us, it is not only gender-affirming. It is life-saving care, she said.

Transitioning saved Gates life, he said. It gave him hope he would live past his 30s.

It was like taking a breath for the first time when youve been holding your breath underwater for a long time, Gates said. And seeing color for the first time.

Gates grew up in Pocatello. In 1999, he moved to Denver to feel more safe while he explored his gender and eventually medically transitioned.

Gates said he always knew my body didnt match what I felt. But early on, he didnt know the language to describe it.

Theres a million shades of red. It doesnt go from night to morning, Gates said. Everything in our natural universe is a spectrum. So why is it so hard to believe that maybe gender might be too?

Before he had top surgery, to remove breast tissue, Gates said he couldnt look in the mirror. He said hed fantasize about cutting off his breasts.

After he started testosterone, every change felt like sunlight on my face for the first time, he said.

If House Bill 668 and other new Idaho laws take effect, he worries suicide rates in the area will rise.

He remembers when he looked for a place to kill himself, where his wife wouldnt be the first to find his body.

I dont want to see anyone ever in that state. And Im afraid that these bills are going to put a lot of people there, he said.

Rowan Smith sits at a table outside The College Market in Pocatello.

Smith had a similar experience.

Smith, 25, had six mental health hospitalizations. Each stay, he said, was prompted by suicidal ideations in part caused by self-harm relapses and hormone changes linked to periods  called premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

In 2016, after another hospitalization and a decade of conversations in therapy and with family, Smith said he started hormones.

For years, he said he knew he was trans. But then, he said, he knew he would not make it another year without transitioning.

If I didnt transition, I was going to kill myself, Smith said.

Even if he stopped testosterone, he said, many effects would stay  like his lower voice and scruffy facial hair. But testosterone has also stopped his periods, helping him manage premenstrual dysphoric disorder, he said.

He hasnt self harmed in almost five years, he said.

Stockpiling testosterone has helped him buy time, he said. And, if he needs, he said he can continue to pay-out-of-pocket for medications and travel for health care while hes uninsured.

But he worries about people who traveled to Pocatello for care, and those who werent planning for a worst-case scenario.

Smith said he loves Pocatello  where hes lived since 2004, and where his mom, stepdad, sister, grandmother and two children live.

He doesnt want to have to move. But hes talked with his family about whether hed need to move without them.

Thats if things keep continuing to make it impossible for me to live here, Smith said.

Idaho Legislature tied the hands of these organizations, doctor says

Dr. Ragan said my beef is not with Health West or ISU  its with the Idaho Legislature.

They have tied the hands of these organizations who receive state funding with the threat being that the funding will be cut off, Dr. Ragan said.

Organizations that rely on public funds irrespective of their beliefs are not in a position to be pushing back against the state, Dr. Ragan said.

Dr. Neil Ragan, an Idaho doctor who practices gender-affirming care, smiles as he leans back, wearing a grey pop shirt, in the basement of Health West ISU.

It is unclear how the new law affects other Idaho federally qualified health centers.

The Community Health Center Network of Idaho couldnt be immediately reached for comment.

Full Circle Health, with locations in and around Boise, is still promoting on its website primary care and hormone therapy at its gender diverse clinic, including a sliding-fee discount program based on peoples income. Full Circle President and CEO Dr. Ted Epperly told the Sun gender-affirming care will only be provided to adults, the health center will abide by the law and no state dollars will be spent on the care.

An adult patient would need to become one of our patients to receive primary care services including hormone therapy, Epperly told the Sun in a Monday email.

Dr. Epperly said he couldnt speak to how the new law impacts other Idaho federally qualified health centers.

In an interview with the Sun, Terry Reilly Health Services spokesperson Claudia Weathermon didnt directly say if the federally qualified health center with locations across southern Idaho is blocked under the law from providing gender-affirming care. Terry Reilly hasnt performed surgeries, she said.

We deliver primary care for everybody that we see. And we do that for everybody, no matter their income status, or their background, or their gender status, all that. We do deliver that primary care fully complying with federal and state laws, Weathermon told the Sun.

Weathermon said she couldnt confirm how many Terry Reilly patients would be potentially affected.

It would be on a case-by-case basis if theres a change of care in what were able to offer them, she said.

The new law also prohibits administering gender-affirming medications and surgeries on state property.

Health Wests gender-affirming care clinic in Pocatello is based out of ISUs campus.

In response to a public records request for policies for Health West ISU operations in response to the new law, ISU replied it didnt have any records.

Health West independently reviewed HB668 and voluntarily ceased operations at the clinic that they believe are now prohibited under HB 668, Idaho State University Vice President for Health Sciences and Vice Provost Rex Force told the Sun in an email. While the university was prepared to discuss operations with Health West and how the bill may affect those operations, this was ultimately unneeded.

Rep. Skaug said he wasnt familiar with Health Wests clinic. He confirmed federal funding passed through state agencies would be public funds, and subject to the new legal ban on covering gender-affirming care through public funds.

If a clinic relies substantially on taxpayer dollars of Idahoans to carry out these procedures, then this is the result that would be expected, Skaug said.

Out of protest against what Gates calls hateful legislation, he said he resigned his job as a social worker at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. He said his job was open for a year before he started in October 2023.

Theyre creating their own problem. You dont have enough providers because its not a safe place for providers, Gates said.

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BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance and deliver a speech on July 4 in Shanghai, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced Tuesday.

Mao said at a press briefing that the rapid development of AI technology in recent years brings a multitude of risks and challenges as well as enormous socioeconomic benefits, while global AI governance has become a major task for all countries.

China advocates the principles of wide participation and consensus-based decision-making in global AI governance, and promotes broad international consensus based on full respect for differences in policies and practices of all countries, she said.

Having been held annually six times, the World AI Conference will focus on the theme "Governing AI for Good and for All" this year, with aims to establish international cooperation and exchange platforms featuring openness, inclusiveness, and equal participation, advance global AI governance, and develop an open, fair and effective governance mechanism, she said.

The conference will bring together government officials, and representatives of international organizations, industries, universities and research institutes, among others.

"We look forward to full exchange of insights in Shanghai in the spirit of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, to build consensus and promote the healthy, safe and orderly development of AI," the spokesperson said. 
A Madison County woman was scammed out of $149k. Heres how you can protect yourself

An elderly Edwardsville woman was met with a hard truth once she learned the law enforcement agents she had been sending money to turned out to be a group of scammers.

She lost $148,750 in one day.

According to court documents filed with the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the scammers told the woman her identity had been compromised, and that she needed to send money and other assets to fix the issue. She sent the scammers money from her Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association retirement account, but they didnt quit after that.

Almost a month later, she purchased Krugerrand gold coins that were valued at $148,750. A middleman for the operation, alleged to be 37-year-old Ligneshkumar Patel, came to her house to pick up the coins, and then the money was gone. Patel was arrested later in Plymouth, Wisconsin for allegedly being involved in scams there.

This scammers had targeted others, too, according to the court documents. Some victims were told to put money in Bitcoin ATM accounts. Once the money was in the account, the victims would never see it again, criminal complaints state.

In the digital age, scams are as prevalent and deceitful as ever. Its rare that youll ever get your money back once youre scammed, according to local law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so its best to take precautions first so you arent burned later.

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Price McCarty said vigilance and having a trustworthy group to talk to is key to protecting yourself from scams.

All scams depend on a lie being believed ... If you  as a potential victim  or the people you trust spot that lie, then you can be protected against a lot of scams, McCarty said.

He also said scamming is a full-time job for the scammers, who operate world-wide in nearly every continent.

In the same way we wake up and go to work in the morning, these scammers wake up to go do their jobs each morning, which is to steal money from people, McCarty said. Its an international operation that works every day of the year.

Major Mike Lybarger, with the Edwardsville Police Department, said the department receives scam reports on a weekly basis.

The most affected group is the elderly, he said, a point backed up by McCarty. Lybarger said older people tend to be more empathetic, and so they often fall for scams that exploit their desire to help family in need. McCarty said its usually because old people have the most at-hand money to be stolen from, and they may also be isolated from friends and family and therefor lack a strong support network.

This does not mean other age groups arent affected. Young adults in school are often targets of scams, as are middle-aged adults and even children. Scammers target everyone, both Lybarger and McCarty said.

The details of how scams can be executed are too numerous to list, but the FBI provides a list of the most common types of scams people may encounter. Most of them rely on similar tactics  exploiting peoples generosity, ignorance, trust, age, desire to help, or pursuit of love.

Scammers prey on our humanity, McCarty said.

Common scam types

Adoption Scams

These take advantage of parents wanting to adopt or people who are pregnant seeking to put their child up for adoption.

Always do research on the adoption companies and check for errors in information. Do not pay for services if you are unsure that they are legitimate.

These scams will often say the process will be quick and easy, ask for money before an opportunity passes, or be difficult to reach for questions.

Business and Investment Scams

These make promises that investments will have guaranteed returns that never come. Never send money to a group or individual that make such promises.

These scams can commonly take the form of Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, telemarketing scams or messages requesting immediate payment for a great return later.

Business Email Compromise

These deceive employees into giving away company information. These emails may come from people pretending to work for the company or masking as a customer needing help.

Always check with employers before sending any money or giving information, and double check whether the email is from a legitimate account by checking staff directories or by reaching out to the email sender in person or by calling them.

Do not download any files or attachments and dont visit website links from emails you find suspicious.

Charity and Disaster Scams

Fake organizations will tug on peoples heartstrings for donations after disasters or for charity.

It is best to do your own research and find reputable places to send money instead of waiting for a solicitation. Be cautious if these organizations reach out to you, and make sure theyre legit before sending them anything.

Scammed as an Elder

Many scammers try to take advantage of trusting or kindhearted older people to steal their money or identities.

It is best to always approach unsolicited contact from people with apprehension, even if they seem to be a relative or otherwise trustworthy.

Never give any financial information or money away unless entirely certain the person is reputable and can be trusted.

If you are an elder and are suspicious that youre being scammed, end contact with the person or reach out to people you know. Dont be afraid to report the scam, either.

Election Crimes and Security

These use various methods for election suppression, bribery or coercion.

Know that nobody can tell you how to vote, and that any attempt at voter suppression or other election related crimes should be reported to authorities.

Holiday Scams

Scammers create great deals around the holidays for things that likely dont exist.

Do research on and only purchase from trusted websites with real and plentiful reviews.

If purchasing from a direct source, such as using Facebook Marketplace, message the seller and ask questions and use your judgment to decide if theyre real.

Money Mules

These trick people into holding or moving illegally-obtained money as a form of laundering.

Never accept money from unknown people or employers and never open a bank account for them.

This type of scam can get you in serious legal trouble even if you were unaware of your involvement and are a victim, so always stay vigilant for this one.

Ransomware

This is a virus that locks computers and their files, only to be reopened by paying a ransom.

It is best to keep backups of your files and understand company protocols in the event of a ransomware attack.

Even if you pay  the government will not pay the ransom  the hackers still may not unlock the files, so doing a total sweep of files and systems will likely be necessary.

Romance Scams

Scammers trick people into thinking theyre compatible partners, and later, once trust is established, will ask for favors or money.

If people on dating sites seem constantly flaky about meeting up with you, its best to move on, as they may be a scammer.

Reverse image search pictures to see if theyve been posted elsewhere. If theyre asking for money before youve met them in person, its a scam.

Never send intimate photos online either, as they may be used as blackmail against you for payment. Like ransomware, this is not a problem guaranteed to be resolved after payment.

Skimming

Skimming devices are installed on card readers to steal card info. Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards are particularly susceptible since they dont have microchips for tap pay.

Check your bank account regularly and test card readers to see if anything was added onto them.

Scammers may attach fake card readers, pin-pad readers or even install the skimmers into the machine, making it impossible to see without breaking into it yourself.

To protect against this, use tap pay, credit cards and or card readers closest to an employees view. Microchips are hard to skim, fraudulent credit card spending is easier to get back and scammers are less likely to install skimmers on machines if an employee can see them do it.

Spoofing and Phishing

Spoofing is creating fake accounts that seem legitimate through small changes, which can create enough trust to send important information.

Make sure the account is who it says it is before interacting  differences can be as small as one letter.

Phishing is using fraudulent access points to get people to put in their information. Fake websites are an example.

Check the link of the website for misspellings and always type out websites on your own if not sent from a trusted person or source. If you think the website may be fake, do not enter passwords or emails into login boxes and dont run or open anything downloaded from the site.

These scams are often done as a pair of scams rather than one separate scam. Besides being online, they can also occur over phone calls and text messages.

How to protect yourself

Here are some general safety precautions and tips that are applicable to many different kinds of scams, also from the FBIs website:

If it seems too good to be true, it is.

In financial situations, always ask what the other person is getting out of the transaction. If the answer is not much, then it may be a scam.

Never apply for jobs that promise great pay for little work. These are almost always a scam. Direct job offers rarely ever come unsolicited, especially ones that seem like a good gig.

Be cautious if people seem to fall head over heels for you on dating sites. You may be awesome, but they may be vying for your money rather than your company.

Always verify messages are official before trusting them.

Check for small inconsistencies. If unsure, call or meet the person who is reaching out to you, and not with contact info sent from the suspicious email.

Do not download, run or open anything if youre unsure its safe.

Whether from an email, a website or a text message, never use any files that arent certainly safe. Sometimes, just opening the file can infect your computer. If left unopened, you should be safe.

Use reliable anti-virus software.

Viruses are inevitable, which is why you need good, reputable anti-virus software. Do your own research to find one that fits your needs.

Do regular scans for viruses on your computer or systems.

Be cautious of any unsolicited contact.

This is especially true for anything regarding finances or from someone claiming they know you.

Scam calls happen out of the blue, and they can be spotted by automated voices or if they say youre in deep, nondescript trouble that needs urgent attention.

Important emails arent usually unexpected, so if it is, be sure to check who is sending it and what its trying to get you to do.

If scammed, report as many details as possible to local government agencies.

While its highly unlikely, sometimes whatever you were scammed out of could be returned back to you, and so its always best to try.

Even if theres nothing in it for you, it can shut down a scammer or scamming operation that has and would continue to steal from others.

Watch what you post on social media and elsewhere.

Scammers can use your posts to learn more about you, which makes it easier for them to break into accounts.

Always remember what security questions and passwords you may have, as posting pet names, birthdays, hometowns or high schools may give answers to potential scammers.

Never write passwords on easily accessible materials such as sticky notes. If lost, stolen or spotted this can allow scammers or hackers to waltz into your account and do what they please.

Be observant of your financial accounts.

Checking your bank statements thoroughly is a good way to stay vigilant against scams. If you notice a transaction you dont remember doing or find suspicious, dont hesitate to report it to your bank.

If you have elderly family members, check their bank statements as well in case they may have missed something.

Dont be pressured into acting fast.

Scammers will create a sense of urgency to try to make you rush into something without thinking.

This is also utilized to create a fear of missing out, especially for investment scams.

Unless you know the person  and if they are actually that person  there arent too many situations where such urgency is vital.

Any situation where there is such urgency, asking for credentials or who the person is can be a good way to test if the situation is real.

Setup two-factor authentication on all accounts.

Two-factor authentication makes it much more difficult for scammers or hackers to break into your account. Ignoring this basic step creates needless risk.

Make strong passwords and use different passwords for your accounts.

If you use the same password or a weak password, it makes it easier for your account to be broken into.

According to a Forbes article from 2013, 30,000 websites are hacked daily. If you have an account on a hacked website, hackers and scammers may be able to get access to it and your password. This is why having different passwords is important.

Microsofts guideline for passwords says you should use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols; you should avoid using words you can find in a dictionary; and you should avoid using the names of people, pets or brands.

Take heed before a scam happens.

It is important to take scam protection seriously, because you may not always be able to get back what youve lost.

Or, in the worst case, you may be in legal trouble for compliance in certain scams  such as being a money mule  even if you were unaware of the scam.

Useful resources

While there isnt much to be recovered once youve been scammed, you should still report any and all scams you come across  who knows, you may get lucky. If not for you, then you can at least help prevent someone else from getting scammed.

The FBI has a website, ic3.gov, which provides a system where you can report scams. They also have a phone line, 1-800-225-5324.

Reporting scams to local law enforcement is also good idea, as law enforcement agencies will often collaborate with the FBI when breaking up scams.

Get to know the people that work at your bank because if they know you they may spot transactions that dont make sense and will report it to authorities or check up with you about it.
Major newspapers called on Biden to drop out. What have religious publications said?

The New York Times editorial board took a bold stance after Thursday nights presidential debate. Citing President Joe Bidens awkward performance, it urged Biden to leave the race.

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, the editorial said.

Other major papers have published similar pieces, either directly telling Biden to drop out or urging him to strongly consider whether hes doing the right thing by fighting for a second term.

The Chicago Tribune called on Biden to drop out in an editorial that was also highly critical of former President Donald Trump.

If President Biden had weekend plans, he should cancel them in favor of some soul-searching. His calamitous debate performance on Thursday raises legitimate questions about whether hes up for another four years in the worlds toughest job. Its incumbent on this incumbent to determine, in conversation with family and aides, whether continuing to seek reelection is in the best interests of the country, The Washington Post editorial board wrote in a piece published Friday.

The editorial board for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution jumped into the fray on Saturday, writing that the country will be better off if Biden doesnt remain in the race. The unfortunate truth is that Biden should withdraw from the race, for the good of the nation he has served so admirably for half a century, its editorial board said.

Faith-based news sites have also published columns on Bidens future, although the pieces were from individual columnists rather than the editorial board.

For example, Robert David Sullivan wrote a column about replacing Biden on the ballot for America, a Catholic magazine. He serves as the publications production editor.

After (Thursdays) debate, the Democratic Party will only feed conspiracy-mongering and heighten distrust of the electoral process if it sticks with Joe Biden as its nominee. Keeping Mr. Biden on the ballot is like telling voters: Trust us. Dont believe your eyes and ears, Sullivan argued.

Michael Sean Winters shared some similar observations in a column for National Catholic Reporter.

During the debate, concerns about Bidens age were not just reinforced. They were verified. It was a disaster for the sitting president, he wrote.

Christianity Today, which famously criticized evangelical Christians who support Trump during the 2020 presidential election, has not published a piece asking Biden to drop out. But editor in chief Russell Moore did write about the problem with putting too much stock in debates.

Presidential debates are of some value, but the real question is a much longer game, extending to the past  to the honesty, integrity, and gravity shown in candidates lives  and to the future  to how we might best predict the character traits, intuitions, and wisdom of this person in dealing with matters we cant even imagine now. Debates and forums can show us a little bit of that sometimes, but they cant get at the most important things, Moore wrote.

Will Biden drop out?

As of Tuesday morning, Biden has made no indication that hell leave the 2024 presidential race.

On Monday, the Biden campaign released a new ad emphasizing Bidens strengths.

Folks, I know Im not a young man, but I know how to do this job. I know how to tell the truth. Donald Trump does not, Biden wrote in his tweet about the ad.

A CBS/YouGov poll fielded after Thursdays debate found that 72% of registered voters in the U.S. think Biden does not have the mental and cognitive health to serve as president, as the Deseret News previously reported.
Delaware lawmakers just passed a capital spending plan with a $1.1 billion price tag.

Commonly known as the bond bill, it fuels construction and infrastructure projects across the state and closes out the latest throws of the legislative session. Roadways, new buildings, parks, community initiatives and many more line items pack nearly 100 pages of legislation.

And that, of course, includes funding for schools  particularly large-scale capital projects approved by the state.

These projects will not sound new, especially in their communities. But highlights among funds slated for new school buildings and other improvements stick out within some $200.4 million in total capital spending earmarked for education in fiscal year 2025.

These investments join local funding in most cases, as projects look to start or continue progress across the state.

Overall, the Department of Education had approved 50 certificate of necessity requests for consideration ahead of this bond bill, 44 of which involved state funding across six districts.

More from Dover: Lawmakers approve $1.1B capital budget; Senate overrides Carney veto in busy session day

Further fueling a new Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School

New Castle County Vocational Technical School District started construction of a new Hodgson Vo-Tech high in September 2023, while renderings like this one show the project vision.

New Castle County Vocational Technical School District broke ground on a new Hodgson Vo-Tech High just last fall.

The project sees about $54.1 million in combined state and local funds in the next fiscal year, as detailed in this spending plan. Its total cost will climb much higher, likely over $200 million.

"In order to continue to provide unparalleled opportunities for current and future students, NCCVT is constructing a new, state-of-the-art, 286,896-square-foot school on the current site of the playing fields," said the district in a press release last September. Next, they'll demolish the former building for new playing fields.

The new school aims for expanded career areas, a gymnasium, a theater, secure interior courtyards and more in a plan years in the making. The vision also includes a new high school fieldhouse. Initial estimates put completion sometime in 2026.

Headed to Gov. Carney: Senate narrowly passes end-of-life options bill after emotional debate

New Leach School coming in Bear

Back in 2021, the Colonial School District shared it would get to build a new school  with 100% state funding.

The John G. Leach School, well over 60 years old on Lander's Lane, has long served students from all over the state with various disabilities and other conditions. But the current building was no longer meeting needs. Design has begun, alongside input from staff and community, and the school system previously eyed 2024 for construction to begin.

Now, this capital spending bill delivers about $37.5 million to get started.

What made it past the last day? Bail reform moves forward and other final votes by Delaware General Assembly

Looking toward a new Sussex Tech campus

Visions for a new Sussex Technical High School complex have been long underway, and in 2023 the district's board of education unanimously approved plans.

Visions for a new Sussex Technical High School complex have been long underway.

This bond bill shows about $57 million in combined state and local funding heading toward the project in the next fiscal year. Last year, the district's board of education unanimously approved plans for the project, estimated to cost well over $200 million.

The sprawling campus looks to deliver a new, three-story high school and much more.

Smyrna revamps existing school, sets out for new construction

Smyrna School District will get to work on a new intermediate school, with some 66,000-square-feet, 26 classrooms, media center, gym and more for fourth and fifth graders. Voters approved a referendum concerning local funds for the project in June 2024.

Additions to Smyrna's Clayton Intermediate, soon-to-be middle, school total about $17.1 million in combined state and local funds within this spending plan, while a new intermediate school sees just over $8.8 million.

The latter just saw that local taxpayer support earlier last month.

Citing "critical need," the district held a second-chance referendum to secure local funds for the new school, looking to answer classroom-capacity needs with over 600 new students. With just 22 votes making the difference, Smyrna voters approved the boost.

That school will come with some 66,000 square feet, 26 classrooms, media center, gym and more for fourth and fifth graders, according to the district's webpage.

School taxes: Voters approve funding boost for Smyrna schools, by 22 votes

Renovations galore in Red Clay

Some nine different school buildings in Red Clay Consolidated School District also line the schedule for fiscal year 2025.

That's about $8.7 million in this spending plan. Overall, DOE approved some $192.3 million in state funds last fall for Red Clay renovations in certificate of necessity applications, with projects spread over the next few years. That's some 29 buildings slated for impact.

In this bill, renovation projects at AI duPont, Brandywine Springs, Dickinson, Heritage, Johnson, Lewis, McKean, Mote and Stanton are mentioned so far.

To explore other projects and expenditures in the bond bill, read its text posted on the General Assembly's website.

Flashback education roundup: State backs school funding requests for projects

Got a story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware school projects see major investement in 2025 bond bill
From the The Collision on The Dispatch

Welcome again to The Collision. Were back early this week because we finally got a decision from the Supreme Court on presidential immunity. Sort of. Well explain it all down below, then well be taking the rest of the week off for the holiday. Meanwhile, well take a page from the Supreme Court finishing up its term and consider the Docket for this week cleared.

The Supreme Court Establishes Some Immunity Guidelines

People hold anti-Trump signs in front of the Supreme Court building on July 1, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images)

Yes, we have a decision from the Supreme Court about whether a president is immune from criminal prosecution for acts committed during his presidency. The answer is yes, no, and maybe. And most of the substantive questions about whether the Department of Justice can continue its prosecution of Donald Trump have been sent back down to the federal district court in Washington, D.C.

Here was the punchline: A six-justice majority of the Supreme Court, all appointed by Republican presidents, held that immunity extends to official discussions between the President and his Attorney General and they sent back to the lower courts to determine in the first instance whether and to what extent Trumps remaining alleged conduct is entitled to immunity.

As Chief Justice John Roberts put it in his majority opinion, the case itself did not require the court to determine the full scope of presidential immunity.

Because we need not decide that question today, we do not decide it. [O]ne case in more than two centuries does not afford enough experience to definitively and comprehensively determine the Presidents scope of immunity from criminal prosecution, he wrote.

Thats not to say Mondays decision is without consequences. Practically speaking, this will further delay the start of Trumps trial in Washington, almost certainly until after the November election. The Supreme Courts decision has struck some specific elements of the indictment, most notably Trumps direction to Justice Department officials (specifically acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark) to investigate voter fraud after the 2020 election. And the decision rejects Trumps assertion that he has absolute immunity from all criminal prosecution because of his acquittal during his second impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Trump asserts a far broader immunity than the limited one we have recognized, reads Roberts opinion.

What the 6-3 majority opinion does do, however, is send the lower court and the federal prosecutors under special counsel Jack Smith back to work. Presidents are immune sometimes, but not all the time, and Judge Tanya Chutkan of the D.C. district court has to determine whether certain actions Trump took are prosecutable. To help, the Supreme Court sets out some classification rules and guidelines for how to think about presidential immunity.

Absolute immunity for core powers

First, a president does have absolute immunity from prosecution for actions taken in exercise of his core constitutional powers. In other words, if its a power granted to the president in Article II of the Constitution, the president cannot be prosecuted for it. The court cites past precedent for this, including an attempt by Congress to limit the pardoning power.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln granted a pardon and restoration of property to some former Confederates who had taken an oath of allegiance to the United States. In 1870, Congress passed a law to prohibit a president from restoring property rights as part of his pardoning power. In United States v. Klein, the Supreme Court ruled in 1872 that this law infringed upon the presidents exercise of his constitutional powers, several of which the court has deemed conclusive and preclusive.

This is relevant because one of the charges against Trump concerns his threats to replace his acting attorney general if he did not further investigate Trumps claims of election fraud. The court held that, like the pardon power, replacing certain members of his administration is a core presidential power. The Presidents power to remove executive officers of the United States whom he has appointed may not be regulated by Congress or reviewed by the courts, Mondays opinion says.

As such, the justices held that Trump is totally immune from prosecution for the alleged conduct involving his discussions with Justice Department officials.

But for Trump, this is the high-water mark of the opinion for his side.

Presumptive immunity for official acts

If an act does not implicate a core presidential power but is nevertheless an official act of the president, the court held that a former president is entitled to the presumption that he is immune from prosecution for that official act.

Such an immunity is required to safeguard the independence and effective functioning of the Executive Branch, and to enable the President to carry out his constitutional duties without undue caution, the chief justice wrote.

But that presumptive immunity can be overcome if the Government can show that applying a criminal prohibition to that act would pose no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.

Translation: A president must be able to exercise the duties and responsibilities the Constitution gives him without fear of being criminally charged later. So when conducting official acts, the president is immune from prosecution unless the government can prove prosecuting him would not endanger the ability of the executive branch to function in the future.

Thats bad news for Trump. He may start out with a presumption of immunity, but the chief justice and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, in her concurrence, lay out the prosecutors case for overcoming that presumption.

For example, the indictment alleges that the President asked the Arizona House Speaker to call the legislature into session to hold a hearing about election fraud claims, wrote Barrett. The President has no authority over state legislatures or their leadership, so it is hard to see how prosecuting him for crimes committed when dealing with the Arizona House Speaker would unconstitutionally intrude on executive power.

Roberts majority opinion actually bolstered the charge against Trump related to his pressure on Vice President Mike Pence not to certify the election results on January 6, 2021. Despite the Vice Presidents expansive role of advising and assisting the President within the Executive Branch, the Vice Presidents Article I responsibility of presiding over the Senate is not an executive branch function, he wrote. So the Government may argue that consideration of the Presidents communications with the Vice President concerning the certification proceeding does not pose dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.

Herein lies the rub on this whole presumption of immunity thing for Trump. In order to be granted immunity for all charges against him in this case, he not only has to prove that all his actions were officialsomething his own counsel conceded was not the case during oral argumentsbut also that prosecuting him for those specific actions would undermine the ability of future presidents to do their jobs.

All these questions go back to Judge Chutkan to decide.

No immunity for unofficial acts

Whats left to consider are unofficial actions taken by a sitting president but conducted in his personal capacity. The purpose of presidential immunity is not to shield the president as an individual from the law, but to protect that individuals ability to execute the duties of the office. The Supreme Courts majority opinion was clear from the get-go: As for a Presidents unofficial acts, there is no immunity.

But whats the line between official and unofficial? The courts have done very little in the past or in this specific case to establish whats considered an unofficial act, so the lines are often blurred. Did Trump make his speech at the Stop the Steal rally on the mall on January 6 as president or as a candidate? Its hard to say.

Most of a Presidents public communications are likely to fall comfortably within the outer perimeter of his official responsibilities, the majority opinion held, but there are times in which the President, notwithstanding the prominence of his position, speaks in an unofficial capacityperhaps as a candidate for office or party leader. And how is a judge supposed to tell the difference? By using an objective analysis of content, form, and context. Good luck with that, Judge Chutkan.

Is the President Now Above the Law?

There is no question that the Supreme Courts opinion will make it more difficult to prosecute both Donald Trump and future presidents. But the question will be how strong this new presumption of immunity is and where the courts draw the line on the outer perimeter of a presidents official acts.

As Roberts wrote:

Like everyone else, the President is subject to prosecution in his unofficial capacity. But unlike anyone else, the President is a branch of government, and the Constitution vests in him sweeping powers and duties. Accounting for that realityand ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he woulddoes not place him above the law; it preserves the basic structure of the Constitution from which that law derives.

What about that whole Seal Team 6 assassination idea?

As Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson:

The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

And shes not wrong. That indeed is the logical outgrowth of the majoritys reasoning. But Roberts dismissed the dissent as fear mongering on the basis of extreme hypotheticals. He wrote:

The dissents overlook the more likely prospect of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, with each successive President free to prosecute his predecessors, yet unable to boldly and fearlessly carry out his duties for fear that he may be next.  Without immunity, such types of prosecutions of ex-Presidents could quickly become routine. The enfeebling of the Presidency and our Government that would result from such a cycle of factional strife is exactly what the Framers intended to avoid. Ignoring those risks, the dissents are instead content to leave the preservation of our system of separated powers up to the good faith of prosecutors.

The dissenting justices were not persuaded. Let the President violate the law, let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain, let him use his official power for evil ends, Justice Sotomayor wrote. Because if he knew that he may one day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be.

In the end, perhaps this is the real debate. Which prospect is scarier: an unaccountable president breaking the law with impunity or former presidents routinely being convicted of failing to secure the border or protect the environment after leaving office? What types of people would run for president if they thought theyd likely be prosecuted upon leaving? Then again, we have no history of that kind of abuse, and yet the most recent president did in fact try to stay in power after losing a free and fair election.

Under this courts decision, the criminal justice system will not serve as the backstop to a presidents unlawful acts. Instead, that backstop may be Congress, which can impeach a president, remove him from office, and prevent him from holding future office. But, more importantly, that backstop should be the people of the United States, who can refuse to vote for such a candidate in the first place.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The man accused of strangling and then sexually assaulting a single mother of two, leading to her death, will remain in custody for now.

Larissa Garcia, 30, was also a daughter, a granddaughter and friend to many, friends said Tuesday. As the 8 News Now Investigators first reported, Garcia died on June 21 more than a week after the June 12 incident inside the Palms Casino Resort, documents said.

Last Friday, Jason Kendall, 35, surrendered 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, documents said. The 8 News Now Investigators first reported Kendalls arrest Friday evening.

In court Tuesday, Kendalls attorney told Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Amy Chelini that he would request she set bail in writing. Kendall will remain in custody for at least a month until a hearing on Aug. 6.

About 50 of Garcias family and friends attended the court appearance, a friend said. Garcia was an organ donor and helped five people after her death, a friend said.

On June 18, six days after the incident at the Palms, a nurse who specializes in sexual assault examinations noted Garcia had been strangled and possibly suffocated, documents said. Garcia died at the hospital on June 21 after a doctor declared her brain dead.

At just 30 years old, she was taken from us unexpectedly, leaving a void that can never be filled, a friend wrote about Garcia on a GoFundMe page for Garcias mother and children. She was a bright light in all of our lives, full of love and laughter. We want to make sure that Larissa has the beautiful and dignified farewell she deserves.

As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe had raised more than $12,000 of its $15,000 goal.

Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com.

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DEER PARK, N.Y. (PIX11)  The suspect in Fridays deadly crash at a Long Island nail salon allegedly drank 18 beers the night before the crash that killed four people and injured nine others, prosecutors said.

Steven Schwally, 64, of Dix Hills, was allegedly speeding when he crashed an SUV into the Hawaii Nail & Spa on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

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The crash killed four people, including off-duty NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack, police said.

Prosecutors said Schwally allegedly drank 18 beers the night before the deadly crash.

Schwally allegedly had bloodshot and glassy eyes and his speech was slurred when the police questioned him after the crash, according to court documents.

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Schwally was charged with driving while intoxicated. He pleaded not guilty in court on Monday.

Schwally was also arrested and charged with DWI in 2014.

The nail salon was open at the time of the crash, police said. The manager of the nail salon was among the four people killed, according to a GoFundMe page. His wife was also critically injured, the GoFundMe page said.

Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park, Jiancai Chen, 37, of Queens, Yan Xu, 41, of Queens, and Meizi Zhang, 50, of Queens, were identified by police as the victims who died in the crash.

Friends, family and community members were expected to attend a vigil outside the salon on Monday at 7 p.m.

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(KRON)  A man was arrested in Vallejo on Sunday after he allegedly kidnapped a woman and her child, the Vallejo Police Department said. The suspect was identified as Cordell Milton Shaw.

Police responded to the 100 block of Maher Court after a caller alleged a victim was being held hostage by a man with a gun, police said.

Passenger killed after drunk driver crashes into second story of San Jose residence

Police made contact with the victim, who said Shaw kidnapped her. She told police that he threatened her and was violent with her when she tried to escape.

VPD conducted a strategic surround and call-out operation and Shaw surrendered himself. The victim and her child were rescued safely.

Police searched the home and found two loaded guns, one of which was stolen out of Stanislaus County, according to VPD.

Shaw was arrested on counts of kidnapping, false imprisonment, domestic violence, and possession of a stolen firearm.

There was a separate case in Vallejo on Saturday in which a 14-day-old child was reported missing in a suspected parental abduction. The baby was later found safe.

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Man arrested in Georgia after a body was found in the shed of an SC home, cops say

A South Carolina man was arrested Monday in Georgia and charged with murder months after a body was found inside a backyard shed, according to the Aiken Department of Public Safety.

Jaquaez Bibbs, a 28-year-old North Augusta resident, was taken into custody in Richmond County, the department of public safety said Tuesday in a news release. Bibbs is being held without bond in an Augusta, Georgia, jail after being tracked down by members of the ATF Rage Task Force and the Richmond County Sheriffs Office, according to the release.

Information about how law enforcement officers discovered Bibbs was in Georgia was not available.

In addition to murder, Bibbs is also charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and hell remain in Georgia until an extradition hearing is held, the department of public safety said.

Despite the arrest, the May 6 shooting of Jalen Jones continues to be investigated, and more arrests are expected, officials said.

Jones, a 22-year-old Aiken resident, was found by department of public safety officers who were responding to a shooting in the 300 block of Greenwich Drive, according to officials. Thats in Aiken, in the area between Silver Bluff Road and Whiskey Road.

Officers discovered Jones body inside a backyard shed, the department of public safety said. Jones had been shot multiple times and died at the scene, according to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables.

There was no word about a motive for the shooting, but an arrest warrant said Bibbs along with others fired multiple shots and several hit Jones in the upper body.

Anyone with information is asked to call the department of public safety at 803-642-7620, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Tuesday upgraded the emergency response to disasters triggered by recent severe rainfall and flooding in central China's Hunan Province to Level III.

The China National Commission for Disaster Reduction has dispatched a team to guide and assist local governments with disaster relief work and rescue efforts, aiming to ensure the basic needs of affected residents.

In response to disasters in Hunan's Miluo City and Pingjiang County, China's Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) has dispatched two unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance emergency communication support. More than 560 rescue workers have participated in related flood control and relief efforts.

Since mid-June, heavy rains have persisted in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, leading to the continuous rise of water levels and flooding.

Water levels have exceeded warning marks in sections of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River located below an estuary of Dongting Lake, according to the Ministry of Water Resources on Tuesday.

MEM has urged increased attention to geological disasters, the advance relocation of residents of hazardous areas, the prompt restoration of affected flood-prevention facilities and telecommunication infrastructure, and accelerated reconstruction work. 
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 35-year-old man who jumped into the Colorado River with a bag of drugs as he tried to escape police in Laughlin is in custody and authorities are on the lookout for an accomplice.

Bullhead City police said Monday that Thomas Raymond Morgan was arrested on Thursday, June 27, in an investigation that also involved the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Mohave County Sheriffs Office. Morgan faces new charges after a vacuum-sealed package containing about 1,000 blue M-30 counterfeit fentanyl pills was recovered from the river.

Morgan was arrested on a charge of unlawful flight from law enforcement, and other charges are likely to be filed. He also faces older drug charges and one assault charge.

Thomas Raymond Morgan, left, and Ashley Fay Nail. (Photo: Bullhead City Police Department)

Detectives from the Bullhead City Police MAGNET (Mohave Area General Narcotic Enforcement Team) had been investigating Morgan and Ashley Fay Nail, 33, in connection with drug sales in the Bullhead City/Tri-State area. There were several outstanding felony warrants for their arrest.

At about 7 a.m. on June 27, the couple fled Mohave County Sheriffs deputies who had tried to stop their vehicle. At 8:30 a.m., Bullhead City detectives spotted their vehicle and tried to stop them, but the couple fled again. A chase through Bullhead City followed involving police and an Arizona state trooper. The suspects vehicle clipped another vehicle at Bullhead Parkway and Highway 95, but no injuries were reported.

Morgan and Nail continued on and crossed the Laughlin Bridge and abandoned the vehicle in the 1400 block of Casino Drive in Laughlin, fleeing on foot. As Morgan ran away, he jumped into the river before surrendering to officers.

Bullhead City Police boat officers and a dive team were deployed to search the river for possible additional drugs or evidence.

Police are looking for Nail, and anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the Bullhead City Police Department at (928) 763-1999.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 40-year-old Olathe man has been charged with first-degree murder after a 72-year-old woman was found dead in a home Saturday evening.

According to court documents filed Tuesday, Brian Christopher Thode is facing three counts of criminal charges  one count of first-degree murder and two counts of cruelty to animals.

Count I said that Thode unlawfully, feloniously, intentionally and with premeditation killed Nancy Thode on Saturday, June 29 at the 1000 block of East Oakview Street.

Thode is charged in connection with the death of his 72-year-old mom, Nancy Thode. He is also accused of killing a bird and a cat. Nancy was found just before 6 p.m. Saturday and pronounced dead at the scene.

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Counts II and III are based on animal cruelty charges. According to court documents, unlawfully, knowingly, maliciously and feloniously killed a cat and a bird in the home.

During his first appearance in court, the judge asked Thode if he had received a copy of his complaint and read through it. The judge also asked if Thode wanted him to read his complaint word for word. Thode said, No, I read it. With my mental issues, I dont understand why that happened.

The judge explained that the facts of the case didnt need to be discussed today during the first appearance, and the meeting continued.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said Brian lived with his mom, Nancy Thode, in an east Olathe neighborhood.

Another family member reported Nancys death to the Olathe Police Department.

FOX4 talked with one neighbor on Sunday.

Weve helped them with just a few things here and there, and Nancy used to come, and she would bring random gifts over to my kids and stuff like that, A neighbor said. We didnt know their children as well. Their older son was living with them. So we saw him a little bit more, but he was pretty to himself.

Thodes bond is set at $3 million.

Typically, what the courts will do is evaluate the risk of the individual based on the crime, their criminal history, and other factors that they use. Being that its a first-degree murder charge, its not uncommon for us to have that high of a bond for that serious of a charge, Howe said.

Details about what led up to Nancy Thodes death have not been released.

Olathe man pleads guilty to scheme to illegally export airplane parts to Russia

The thing that I will say is that were seeing a growing trend where individuals suffering from some form of mental health issues are committing violent crimes, Howe explained.

And its just another testament to this ongoing growth in our community of people with serious mental health issues intersecting with the criminal justice system. Its probably the biggest growth as far as the types of crimes that are occurring in our county.

Thode is being held on a $3 million bond and will be back in court on July 17.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. fire officials said a man was taken to the hospital in critical condition after a fire broke out at an apartment in Southeast.

In a post on the X platform, shortly before 5 p.m., D.C. Fire EMS said it responded to a box alarm in the 1600 block of Morris Road SE. Once at the scene, crews found a small fire in the kitchen of an apartment on the third floor.

Were told the man was rescued from the apartment and is in critical life-threatening condition.

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Firefighters said the fire was extinguished and there were no other reported injuries.

As of 5:31 p.m., investigators were on the scene, and a cause has not yet been determined.

(Photo Courtesy: x/@dcfireems)

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**Related Video Above: Fire prevention safety

DENVER (AP)  In between shifts at Amazon to earn money she could send home to her relatives in Senegal  working opposite times as her sister-in-law so they could care for each others children  Hassan Diol would call to talk to her husband several times a day.

Amadou Beye was still in Senegal, trying to get a visa so he could also come to the United States. His wife, joined by their infant daughter, would also video call every day. Amadou Beye couldnt wait to meet his child and see his wife again.

Standoff in local neighborhood ends in two arrests

But he never got that chance.

Diol, 25, and their little daughter, Hawa, and three other members of their extended family were killed in a house fire in Denver in 2020 that authorities said was set in the middle of the night by a group of teens in a case of mistaken revenge.

Kevin Bui, the last of the three suspects, was sentenced to prison for 60 years during a hearing Tuesday after pleading guilty to reduced charges in a plea deal.

Beye sees Bui, now 20, as a terrorist for taking five members of one family, which also included his wifes 29-year-old brother, Djibril Diol, who was an engineer; Djibril Diols 23-year-old wife, Adja Diol; and their 22-month-old daughter, Khadija.

Their bodies were found on the first floor of the home near the front door as they apparently tried to escape the flames. Members of another family that also lived in the home managed to escape.

When he was killed, Djibril Diol was working on a large rebuilding of Interstate 70 in Denver and dreamed about returning to Senegal to build roads there, according to previous testimony from friends and family.

Beye, who was granted an emergency visa after the fire, works as a mover and tries to avoid being alone in the evenings to keep from thinking about what he has lost. With his roommate working nights as an Uber driver, he goes to the gym or calls family and friends late at night back home.

I just dont want to be thinking about that when Im alone, said Beye.

Prosecutors have portrayed Bui as the ringleader of the group that started the fire. The son of immigrants from Vietnam, he had been helping his older sister, Tanya Bui, deliver drugs she was dealing around the time of the Aug. 5, 2020, fire, according to federal court documents. The sisters enterprise was accidentally discovered when police searched their familys suburban Denver home as part of the fire investigation, and she is currently serving a nearly 11-year federal prison sentence.

After being arrested in connection with the fire, Bui told investigators he had been robbed of his phone, money and shoes while trying to buy a gun, according to court testimony from the cases lead detective, Neil Baker. Using an app to track his phone, Bui said he learned it was at the home and believed the people who robbed him lived there, though he did not research the homes residents, Baker said at a hearing on the evidence in the case in 2021.

Bui admitted to setting the fire, only to realize the next day through news coverage that the victims were not the ones who robbed him, according to Baker. Investigators never said where Buis phone actually was.

In May, after a failed effort to challenge key evidence in the case, Bui pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. Sixty other charges Bui had faced, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, arson and burglary, were dropped by prosecutors, who recommended that Bui be sentenced to 60 years in prison.

Relatives largely support the deal, not because they view it as true justice, but because they see it as the best way to resolve the criminal case nearly four years after the fire.

Beye, who is Muslim, said he hopes God will provide justice some day. But, after nearly four years, the relatives left behind are tired and want the last of the criminal cases resolved, he said.

We just want to move forward because were going to have to live with this for the rest of our lives, Beye said.

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Last year, Dillon Siebert, who was 14 at the time of the fire, was sentenced to three years in juvenile detention and seven years in a state prison program for young inmates. In March, Gavin Seymour, 19, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of second-degree murder.

Surveillance video showed three suspects wearing full face masks and dark hoodies outside the home just before the fire started, but the investigation dragged on for months without any other leads. Amid fears that the fire had been a hate crime, some Senegalese immigrants installed security cameras at their homes in case they could also be targeted.

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The Merced County Sheriff Coroners Office has identified a man killed in a shooting which also injured a 2-year-old child in Atwater on Friday, as 26-year-old Francisco Hurtado, according to Deputy Michael Domingue.

Atwater officers responded around midnight Friday to the 100 block of Castle Drive for a report of a subject down and shots fired. Arriving officers located the man with multiple gunshot wounds and after attempting lifesaving measures, he was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.

A 2-year-old child also sustained a gunshot wound to the lower leg. Police said the child was transported to a hospital for treatment of what appeared to be a non-life-threatening injury. According to Atwater Police Chief Michael Salvador, it appears the shooting occurred outside of a residence and at this time it is unknown what the victim was doing at the time of the shooting.

Salvador said the department is in the early stages of the investigation and no possible motive has been determined at this time. No suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with the deadly shooting.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Atwater Police Department at 209-357-6384 and ask to speak with Detective-Sgt. Dave Sarginson.
Man killed after gunmen open fire on car in Austin

Man killed after gunmen open fire on car in Austin

CHICAGO  An investigation is underway on Tuesday after a group of gunmen opened fire on a man sitting inside a car on the citys West Side, leaving him fatally wounded.

Chicago police say the gunfire erupted just after 9:30 a.m. in the 200 block of North Kilpatrick Avenue in Austin.

2 Zion women accused of stealing over $1,400 worth of childrens clothes from Oak Brook Macys, leading police on chase

According to police, the victim, a 31-year-old man, was sitting inside a parked vehicle in the area when a sedan approached and four armed individuals got out and opened fire.

Officers say they believe the vehicle may have been a Nissan.

Following the shooting, the four individuals got back into the car and fled the scene, heading southbound.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

The man was struck several times throughout his body and was dropped off at a west suburban hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Authorities have not yet identified the victim.

Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and authorities say an investigation is underway.

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Anyone with information about the deadly shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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The Scene

CAPE TOWN  John Steenhuisen enjoys shooting clay pigeons to relax away from the hurly-burly of South African politics. He will need to put his target-shooting skills to good use, as he aims to make impact fast, in a whole new arrangement of South African politics.

Steenhuisen, 48, has emerged as one of South Africas most prominent politicians. On Monday, he led the opposition Democratic Alliance into what was previously unthinkable in South Africas intensely-racialized politics: a coalition cabinet with the African National Congress.

President Cyril Ramaphosa made him agriculture minister and appointed five of Steenhuisens colleagues to the 32-member cabinet which was due to be sworn in on Tuesday.

Its a big moment for the DA and the country, I think that it is a massively different path for where were heading, Steenhuisen told Semafor Africa in an interview.

Step Back

Agriculture provides new terrain for the career-politician who sold pharmaceutical goods in his first job after leaving school in the coastal town of Durban.

He said agriculture is a ministry from which he can make an impact. If you look at other countries who have been in a similar situation to South Africa, we have a large, unemployed unskilled population, that agriculture and agro processing has been the catalyst that has been able to allow those nations to progress.

Steenhuisen said he was very excited about the opportunities around agriculture and agri processing to grow the sector to create jobs and to contribute towards repairing the South African economy.

Steenhuisen was at the center of a tough negotiation process following the May 29 elections, in which the ANC lost its majority for the first time since Nelson Mandela led it to power in 1994. In talks that were at times fraught  so much so that negotiations stalled briefly over the number of ministers the DA would have in the cabinet. Ramaphosa, in a letter to Steenhuisen last week, even accused Steenhuisens party of attempting to create a parallel government.

Sams view

Many DA leaders before Steenhuisen have dreamt of attaining state power. Given the countrys history of apartheid and the view of many South Africans that the DA represents the interests of a white minority who make up only 7% of the country, it looked unlikely to become a reality.

The DAs elevation to government may provoke envy in Steenhuisens colleagues, a year before the party holds leadership elections. A few missteps on his part may make him vulnerable to internal criticisms before the DA election next year. He can also use the government to soar and bulletproof himself against an internal challenge.

The DAs leader has earned a reputation as a pugnacious chief whip in parliament from 2014, a role he held for five years. He brings a no frills approach to politics, far from the messianic fervor his predecessor Mmusi Maimane attempted to inject into the DAs offerings. In its place is a list of political priorities, shorn of grandiose ideological flourishes, that make up a commonsense-type approach.

Steenhuisens summaries of the DAs positions, which he set out to me in an interview earlier this year, are the legacy of these earlier attempts to frame a plausible liberal-inspired narrative in a society that, by some important measures, doesnt obviously lend itself to multiparty democracy. One of these features is inequality which, with mass unemployment and poverty, leaves millions without a stake in the market-dominated economy the DA proposes. Combined with a surge in lawlessness and gangsterism, the political center may be holding  but only just.

Know More

Those close to the DA leader paint a picture of a determined man who revels in his hobbies to relax.

Geordin Hill-Lewis, the mayor of Cape Town and a long-term DA colleague, says Steenhuisen is one of the most intelligent politicians he knows and his natural instincts are an asset.

One of those moments was the choice to lead the agriculture ministry when power-sharing with the ANC was discussed.

I often mock him about his history as a baby products salesman. He sold nappies, baby cream, and baby powder among others, said Hill-Lewis. But he says Steenhuisen had visceral political instincts that put him above most opponents.

Steenhuisen dropped out of university, where he was studying politics and political leaders. I sort of got caught up working and sort of trying to balance getting married and then working full time and started a family, he said in the interview with Semafor Africa. I just didnt finish and its one of the big regrets I have in life and I intend to go back and finish. That he dropped out often invites ridicule from his opponents, who claim he is not knowledgeable enough.

Steenhuisens critics say he is short-tempered and will likely find it hard to operate in a coalition cabinet where persuasion and debate will be crucial elements. But others, like Nelson Mandela University politics lecturer Ongama Mtimka, disagree.

At face value, John has the demeanor of someone who would bring combative politics in cabinet and also be amenable to working in a team, said Mtimka. He will have to manage the complex new realities of transitioning from an opposition leader to a part of a government with people he has seen as opponents before, without dropping any of the balls he is juggling.

Notable

Ramaphosa split what was previously one ministry for the coalition government. While the DA took agriculture, the ANC retained land reform and rural development. The move recognizes that calls by ANC off-shoots, such as the Economic Freedom Fighters, to redistribute land ownership resonate with voters.


Man Sentenced to Life for Shooting Dead Parents and 2 of Their Friends: 'I Deserve Worse'

In April 2023, Joseph M. Eaton killed his parents and their friends as they prepared to welcome him home from prison

Facebook (2) David and Cynthia Eaton, left, and Patricia and Robert Eger, right.

The woman returned to her sisters house for a forgotten sweatshirt and spotted two drops of blood on the front steps.

She opened the door to the Bowdoin, Maine, house and yelled, but no one answered that April 18, 2023 day, according to a later probable cause affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE.

Pushing into the door, Lisa Shea saw shattered glass and more blood. Walking into the kitchen, she found a mans body covered with a towel, who she believed to be her brother-in-law.

There were also several firearms laying out inside the home and bullet holes everywhere, according to the affidavit.

She also noticed drag marks leading to another part of the home, per the affidavit, but Shea stopped following them and called 911.

When authorities arrived on the scene, Shea told detectives that her sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Robert Eger, and their friends Cynthia and David Eaton had been awaiting the arrival of the couples adult son, Joseph M. Eaton, from prison.

Both couples were found dead at the home.

Less than two hours after Shea's 911 call, a trooper arrested Joseph on Interstate 295, following multiple 911 calls regarding a separate shooting on the highway, per the affidavit. He had blood on his hands, and authorities quickly named him as the prime suspect in the quadruple homicide.

Maine State Police Joseph M. Eaton in mugshot.

On Monday, July 1, Joseph  who ultimately pleaded guilty to a string of more than a dozen charges including murder, aggravated attempted murder and elevated aggravated assault  was sentenced to life in prison, according to a court document obtained by PEOPLE outlining the terms of his plea.

I wake up every day regretting what I did, Joseph told the judge at his sentencing hearing reported by The Associated Press.

I honestly think I deserve worse, he added of his life sentence, which was the maximum allowable. All I can say is: Im sorry.

Kristina DeRaps, Patricia Egers relative, testified at the sentencing hearing.

He killed the only four people in this world who actually loved and cared for him, she said per the AP, calling Joseph a selfish little boy.

Josephs lawyer, Andrew Wright, says he pleaded to 17 of the original 26 charges, agreeing to five life sentences. In Maine, a sentence of life imprisonment is not a term of years and there is no parole so life is life, Wright says, noting that his client agreed to a maximum punishment allowed by law.

In addition to the quadruple homicide, Joseph admitted to shooting at cars on Interstate 295 and injuring three more people, per The AP.

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.



At 10:48 a.m. on April 18, a man called emergency services, saying that there was a suspicious male who was standing in the middle of the road waving his hands with what appeared to be blood on them, per the affidavit.

Joseph has never provided a reason for the killings. (In December, he withdrew his claim that he was not criminally responsible.)

He still does not understand his actions nor why he did them, Wright tells PEOPLE. The case is one with no winners, no lessons, just sorrow and loss for all involved, including Joseph.

Wright says that they had originally been planning a defense by reason of insanity, but that the mental health defense in the state is extremely focused and that many people suffering from serious mental health issues do not meet the legal criteria.

He said that Joseph had made the morally correct decision to take responsibility and end the court case so that everyone, including himself, can begin to process the fallout.

At the crime scene, authorities found an unsigned note, which was not addressed to anyone, on the kitchen island. Per the affidavit, the writer claimed they wanted a new life and mentioned someone being freed of pain.

In the days before the shootings, Joseph posted several messages on Facebook, in which he wrote: Life as a whole is suffering.

In a Facebook Live, previously reported by PEOPLE, and since taken down, he discussed forgiveness and mentioned his mother in the caption, writing in part: Thanks for never giving up on me I love u.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Man shot to death outside senior housing building in Harlem: police

HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11)  A man was shot and killed outside a senior housing building in Harlem Tuesday afternoon, police said.

The shooting happened outside Wyatt Tee Walker Senior Housing at West 118th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard around 1:40 p.m., according to the NYPD.

More Local News

The 37-year-old victim was fighting with a man before the shooting happened, police sources said. The man was fatally shot in his back, according to police.

Some residents of the senior building were sitting outside when the shooting occurred.

Police are looking for a suspect who was wearing black pants and a black sweatshirt.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. 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.
Wakefield residents on high alert after woman sexually assaulted while sleeping

Wakefield residents on high alert after woman sexually assaulted while sleeping

WAKEFIELD, The Bronx (PIX11)  Residents of the Wakefield section of the Bronx are on high alert as police look for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman inside of her home.

The NYPD released a surveillance video of the suspect.

More Local News

As a female, I dont want to hear that around this area; its crazy. So, how did he get into her house? said resident Latifah.

Authorities told PIX11 News that the perpetrator broke through a window. According to police sources, the victim was asleep, and the man performed a sex act.

I hope whoever did it, whoever is responsible for it, is actually caught and put away because it is not safe for us, Shanon Swaby said.

It happened Saturday, around 4:30 a.m., near East 230 Street and White Plains Road.

A long-time neighborhood resident said it is changing and not for the better.

Officials said the suspect ran away after the attack. The victim was taken to an area hospital.

A man sexually assaulted a sleeping woman on Saturday inside of a Bronx home, sources told PIX11 News. (Credit: DCPI)

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BANGKOK, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Thailand received over 17.5 million foreign tourists in the first half of 2024, an increase of 35 percent from a year earlier, on course to meet the year-end target of 36.7 million foreign arrivals, official data showed on Tuesday.

With 3.43 million arrivals, Chinese tourists made up the largest source market for the Southeast Asian country in the first six months of this year, followed by 2.43 million from Malaysia and 1.04 million from India, according to the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

The ministry expects the number of inbound visitors to continue rising in the coming weeks, driven by factors such as the celebrity-induced tourism trend, the ongoing summer holiday season, and the government's ease of travel initiatives.

The Thai government is working with airlines to increase the number of flights to the kingdom and is expanding visa-free entry to more countries. This includes the mutual visa exemption agreement between Thailand and China, effective March 1, which helps boost confidence and facilitate convenient travel between the two countries, the ministry said in a statement.

Thailand has generated approximately 825 billion baht (about 22.39 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue from international tourists so far this year, the ministry said. The kingdom is targeting a tourism receipt target of 3.5 trillion baht (about 95 billion dollars) in 2024.

Last month, the Thai government raised its 2024 inbound tourist target by an additional 1 million to 36.7 million visitors as part of its strategy to elevate the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 3 percent.

In pre-pandemic 2019, Thailand welcomed a record 39.9 million foreign arrivals, generating 1.91 trillion baht (about 51.8 billion dollars) in revenue. Tourism, the key driver of the nation's economic growth, accounts for about 12 percent of its GDP. 
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was stabbed in the face several times following an argument at a North Portland apartment complex, according to court documents.

Brandon Kwok Lee, 32, is facing charges of attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon, according to court documents.

The stabbing happened on June 24 when officers responded to the scene to find a man on the ground bleeding heavily, according to the probable cause affidavit.

According to the affidavit, the man had numerous stab wounds on his face, neck and chest. He was quickly taken to the hospital.

MAX platform murder suspect surrenders to ClackCo deputy

Upon speaking to a witness at the scene, the documents said the man had been arguing with Lee outside the apartment complex and when the man left, Lee ran after him, jumped on his back and began stabbing him.

The witness said she was able to get Lee off of the victim using a grabber tool and then as Lee walked away he told the witness Youre next, you better watch your eyes, according to the court documents.

Later, in an interview with the stabbing victim, authorities said the stabbing victim told officers that Lee had been threatening to stab people at the apartment complex. The survivor also claimed he and Lee werent arguing and that he had just been walking around the complex when he was attacked.

However, the documents said that later after security camera footage of the incident had been reviewed, the victim admitted that he had confronted Lee, while holding a knife, about the stabbing threats. The victim said he threw the knife at Lee, who also had a knife, before walking away, according to court documents.

In the security video, the documents said that the pair can be seen arguing before Lee attempts to slash the victim with a butchers knife. The victim then throws two knives at Lee before walking away, which is when Lee can be seen running up behind him and attacking, according to the court documents. The witness can also be seen intervening.

A short time after the initial incident, a Portland police officer responded to a welfare check in Downtown Portland for a man who was bleeding and carrying a butchers knife, according to the court documents.

Oregon sees 229% increase in bias crime reports amid pervasive underreporting

The man who was later identified as Lee told police he had been stabbed in North Portland, the documents said.

On June 26, Lee was interviewed about the incident and Lee told police that he and the stabbing victim had been in an argument and that both of them were armed with knives and that the man had threatened to shoot him.

Lee then said that the initial stabbing victim threw the knife at him which hit him on the side, Lee then admitted to following the victim and stabbing him and according to the documents, Lee told detectives he was trying to kill the victim.

Lee is expected to face a Multnomah County judge again on July 8.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Mangy fox spotted in Hilltown. How to protect pets from mange from wild animals

Residents of Hilltown Township in Upper Bucks County spotted a wild animal on Monday that appears to have mange.

Residents posted a photo of the animal in a local Facebook group, expressing concern about their pets catching the skin disease, which is caused by mites. The animal was seen across from the Hilltown Township municipal building, one resident said.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission confirmed to this news organization from a photo that the animal is a fox with mange, not a coyote.

Mange causes severe itching and hair loss, and may cause infection if the animal scratches their skin open. Mange can be fatal if untreated, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The Hilltown police department said that it had not yet received a report of a mangy animal in the area, but that they would be looking into it. If the animal is found by police and appears to be very sick, the police would kill it, the department said Tuesday.

Are pets at risk of mange from wild animals?

File - Pets can catch the parasite that causes mange from wild animals in multiple ways, said Leah Stallings, executive director of the Aark Wildlife Center in Chalfont.

Pets can catch the parasite that causes mange from wild animals in multiple ways, said Leah Stallings, executive director of the Aark Wildlife Center in Chalfont.

"Pets can get mange from wildlife if they are in direct contact with the animal or if they roll in an area that the animal with mange has been rolling and itching [in]," said Stallings, who is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. "The best way to protect pets is to keep them on a leash when not in their own yards."

She also cautioned that foxes may linger in yards looking for food.

Wildlife with mange must be trapped in order to be treated, Stallings said, as the mange mite has become resistant to over-the-counter medications.

Dr. Adrienne Breaux of Dublin Veterinary Hospital said that parasites in the area have become immune to the most common preventatives, including Frontline. Other medications, such as NexGard, can effectively prevent mange in pets, Breaux said.

Hilltown police advised that as with any wild animal, residents should keep their distance from the mangy fox.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: How to protect pets from wild animals with mange after fox spotted
Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday moved former President Donald Trumps sentencing in the hush money case to Sep. 18, 2024, allowing him to hear arguments from Trumps lawyers about how the Monday immunity ruling should impact Trumps conviction.

The sentencing is now less than two months before the 2024 elections.

The move comes shortly after prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorneys Office agreed on Tuesday with a request from Trump to postpone his criminal sentencing. Trumps lawyers on Monday asked that the judge entertain arguments that the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity might have bearing on his conviction in the hush money trial, which took place earlier this year.

Sentencing was previously scheduled for July 11, 2024.

Although we believe defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Joshua Steinglass, an assistant district attorneys who worked the case, wrote.

In May, Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the New York hush money trial, making him the first former president in American history to be convicted of a felony.

On Monday, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents get criminal immunity for a wide range of acts they took as president. The decision also found that prosecutors cant cite evidence involving official acts at trial to prove allegations. Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote for the majority, did distinguish unofficial acts, writing there is no immunity for unofficial acts. In the decisions review of Trumps January 6 indictment, however, Roberts did not identify any acts that he believed were clearly unofficial, while he found several that he suggested may be official.

Its a decision that will undoubtedly have sweeping implications for the indictments Trump is named in, especially those focused on accountability for his actions related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The Manhattan hush money trial was not centered on Trumps presidency but rather on his actions while he was running for president in 2016. Part of the conduct covered by the trial, however, did take place after Trump was in the White House.

The Trump team argued  shortly after the Supreme Court opinion  that the prosecutors built their case partly on evidence from the former presidents time at the White House.

In a letter to Judge Merchan, Trumps lawyers argued that his conviction must be thrown out based on the Courts decision, asking him to postpone the sentencing while he reconsidered the results of that trial.
JOPLIN, Mo. (KSNF)  Over the past few years, there have been disruptions to the U.S. education system, resulting in challenges such as learning deficits, declining enrollment, and behavioral issues among students.

Among these challenges  the widespread surge in student absenteeism  affecting students across all demographic groups and persisting beyond the reopening of schools post COVID.

According to recent findings from the American Enterprise Institute, 26% of public school students were marked as chronically absent in the last school year  a significant increase from the pre-pandemic rate of 15%. Chronic absenteeism is typically defined as missing at least 10% of the school year, or roughly 18 days.

Experts in education point out that student absenteeism is a critical obstacle to overcome. Students who frequently miss school fall behind academically, and their absences also negatively impact their peers learning experience, as teachers must continually adapt their instruction to meet the needs of an inconsistent class roster.

Fining Parents For Child Absenteeism

In a comprehensive survey conducted by Test Prep Insight, which included 3,000 parents, respondents were asked their opinions about absenteeism. One question was whether they believe parents of chronically absent school children should be fined. The results revealed that 44% of Missourians support the idea of fines as a deterrent against absenteeism, with an average suggested fine of $22 per day.

For the 44% who opposed fines, concerns centered on the potential unfairness to parents from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds. Among these respondents, 70% believe that schools or authorities should provide additional support for struggling students, 20% advocate for financial incentives for good attendance, and 10% suggest increased communication with parents to address absenteeism.

Additionally, 85% of respondents agree that parents of truant children should attend workshops or counseling sessions if their child is chronically absent.

Child Mental Health Days

One major factor contributing to chronic absenteeism is the rise in mental health struggles among students. To explore this issue, Test Prep Insight also surveyed Missouri parents about mental health-related absences. 73% of respondents believe children should be allowed to take mental health days.

Regarding decision-making, 66% of parents believe they should have the final say on mental health days, 17% think it should be the childs physician or therapist, and 3% believe the school should decide.

Parents also shared how they think schools should support students taking mental health days: 33% suggested catch-up sessions, 30% recommended regular check-ins from counselors, 25% advocated for flexible deadlines, and 12% wanted assignments provided in advance.

When asked about changes they would like to see in handling mental health issues, 39% called for better teacher training on mental health awareness, 23% wanted mental health education in the curriculum, 21% sought improved communication between schools and parents, and 17% desired more on-site mental health professionals.

Youll find more information on the survey conducted by Test Prep Insight, 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson on Tuesday called for the Democratic Party to replace President Biden at the top of the 2024 ticket and said she would seek the top spot herself.

President Biden deserves our respect, our compassion, and our gratitude, Williamson said in a statement. The debate last week, however, made clear that the time is now for another Democratic candidate to take his place on the November ballot.

Today I throw my hat in the ring, added Williamson, who turns 72 next week.

Williamson said Democrats must restart the nominating process and hold an open convention in August, adding, We need to recalibrate, and we need to do so quickly.

Williamsons statement marks the third time she has announced her candidacy in this cycle.

The onetime spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey launched her long-shot campaign in March 2023, ending her bid in February after poor showings in early primary contests. She won just 5,000 votes in New Hampshires primary, before winning 2 percent of the vote in South Carolina and about 3 percent in Nevada.

Three weeks later, Williamson announced she was unsuspending her campaign for president, after there was some sign of discontent among primary voters in Michigan, where uncommitted got 13 percent of the vote, and Williamson, despite no longer being a candidate, got 3 percent.

Last month, Williamson thanked her supporters and wrote on the social platform X, Now that the primaries are complete, Im no longer a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president.

Williamson, a writer and progressive Democrat, ran to the left of Biden and hoped to appeal to voters who are not satisfied with establishment party politics. She first ran for president in 2020 but lost in the primary.

Williamsons announcement comes amid chatter about the prospect of replacing Biden at the top of the ticket, after his shaky debate performance worried some Democrats about his viability as a candidate.

On Tuesday, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) became the first House Democrat to urge Biden publicly to remove himself from the 2024 race.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Seven months after suing the United States for damages, a civilian engineer who says she was raped in her cabin by the civilian skipper of the Navy expeditionary fast transport Carson City in 2021 has been told she must instead petition the Department of Labor for workers compensation to resolve the matter.

Attorneys for the engineer, Elsie Dominguez, maintain that the case deserves a court remedy, saying rape always falls outside the scope of employee duties.

Dominguezs lawsuit, filed in November, seeks back pay and compensatory damages in connection with her alleged rape.

In a June 4 ruling, Judge Edward S. Kiel granted a motion by the government to stay the case, citing a 1952 Supreme Court decision holding that the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) program, which offers payouts to government workers for job-related injuries and illnesses, is the proper avenue for the case.

The government motion argued that the only option for relief available to civilian mariners on government ships was via a FECA claim with the Department of Labor.

Dominguezs attorneys objected to the governments motion and called the idea that rape was a job-related risk offensive and inconceivable.

USNS Carson City rape allegation sparks workers comp claim fight

It is really galling to even entertain the idea that being raped in her sleep is part of [Dominguezs] performance of her duties, Christine Dunn, one of the attorneys representing Dominguez, said in an interview. But also, the remedies at the Department of Labor and a workers compensation hearing tend to be more limited. And we really believe this matter belongs in court.

While remedies differ, FECAs top payout for total disability is capped at two-thirds of an employees wage.

Dominguez team has until December to make a claim with the Department of Labor, which can grant a payout or determine that the alleged rape is not covered by workers comp and send the matter back to court.

However, the Department of Labor has already issued an advisory opinion indicating it would find the matter to fall under workers comp, Dunn said.

In light of this, she said, the team is still exploring what it can do.

Dominguez has yet to comment publicly on the case and her experiences.

We feel a little bit helpless, Dunn said. We think she should be able to proceed in court  that this is not a workers comp issue. So were looking at all of our options.

Dominguezs lawsuit alleges the Carson Citys civilian captain, who is not named, used his master key to access Dominguezs room and assault her in her bed after a night of drinking.

The suit alleges Dominguez was told by a civilian victim advocate that shed couldnt report the rape anonymously and would be removed from her job if she made a report. It also alleges she was not granted additional protections she asked for following the alleged rape, including a deadbolt for her room.

Both Dominguez and her alleged assailant remain employed by U.S. Military Sealift Command. The accused captain was placed on administrative leave and sent back to the U.S. after Dominguez report triggered investigations by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Coast Guard Investigative Service. Military Sealift Command spokesman Thomas Van Leunen told Navy Times this month that the mans status had not changed and no charges had been filed.
Steve Bannon, the Republican strategist and former Trump White House adviser, added another title to his unique resume on Monday: federal prison inmate. Before surrendering himself to Federal Correctional Institution Danbury in Connecticut on Monday, Bannon hosted a farewell episode of his War Room broadcast with a little help from MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

Its Monday, 1 July in the year of our Lord 2024. This is federal prisoner 05635-509, Bannon dramatically declared at the start of the show.

Bannon, who unsuccessfully tried to make a last minute appeal to the Supreme Court that was rejected last week, is set to serve a four month sentence for defying a subpoena in conjunction with the congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He taped his final episode as a free man from what he described as a temporary studio right down the street from the Danbury prison.

Naturally, some very special guests joined the broadcast. Greene and her reported boyfriend, Brian Glenn, a right wing media personality who took a job with the network that airs Bannons show last month, were outside the prison with a small crowd of what they dubbed the War Room Posse. Greene and her beau interviewed some of these Bannon fans including a woman who gushed that she had watched him for four hours a day four years in a row.

At first, Bannon hung out in his makeshift studio to gush over Mondays Supreme Court ruling that appears to give former President Trump near-blanket immunity for his role in helping fuel the Jan. 6 attack. He then turned the broadcast over to a guest host and got in an SUV for the drive to the prison. The show featured live shots from Bannons car during the trip.

When Bannon arrived wearing his signature multiple button downs, he stood alongside Greene in front of their posse. Speaking to the cameras, the congresswoman made clear that she was there to support Bannon and others who were charged for their role in the Jan. 6 violence.

This is a war and its a political war, and its a political persecution, and it shouldnt be happening Steve, Greene declared. So, I came here to support you, support the American people, and the January 6 defendants that have been wrongly prosecuted, and President Trump.

Both Greene and Bannon were vocal promoters of the false conspiracies about the 2020 election that led crowds to storm the Capitol building as it was being certified. Greene, who was set to speak at one of the largest protests outside the Capitol that day, also helped organize official opposition to the electoral certification among congressional Republicans.

Outside the prison, both she and Bannon again surfaced their unfounded belief that the House investigation into the Capitol attack and efforts to overturn the election should be invalidated. Echoing a baseless conspiracy theory that Greene started promoting on the day of the attack, Bannon suggested there should be a new investigation that would find that the federal government was actually behind the violence. He said this was one of several things that could result in Trumps political enemies going to prison if the GOP candidate wins the next election.

For now, its Bannon who was headed behind bars. As he stood with Greene and his posse, Bannon declared he was proud and totally prepared mentally [and] physically to begin his sentence. He also predicted his show would be bigger than ever and boasted that the right wing was winning all around the world.

Bannon wasnt the only one who took the opportunity for a little strutting. The War Room Posse had apparently been infiltrated by anti-Trump protesters. As Bannon spoke, a Trump Lost LOL sign unfurled behind him, some people chanted traitor, and one of those weird balloon depictions of former President Trump in a diaper floated in the air.

Victory and death! Bannon said before stepping away from the microphones. Its time for me to surrender up at Danbury.

Bannon walked back to his SUV through a mixture of taunts and cheers.

Enjoy the toilet wine!  Paybacks a bitch, a woman shouted. Enjoy the toilet wine Steve, I know youre an alcoholic. Ill teach you how to make it.

The War Room producers eventually covered the sound with a blaring song about Jesus Love. As Bannons car pulled down the street and onto the prison, cheers could be heard over the music. It was unclear who exactly was cheering and what they were cheering for.

The Best Of TPM Today

Catch up on our live coverage of todays sweeping SCOTUS immunity ruling here:

What To Make Of The Sweeping Implications Of The SCOTUS Immunity Decision

And more from Kate Riga below:

Supreme Court Gives Trump Immunity For Official Acts, Threatening Jan. 6 Prosecution

One Awful Part Of Supreme Court Immunity Decision Proves Bridge Too Far For Barrett

The John Roberts Guide To Doing A Coup And Not Getting Caught

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Right-Wing Internet Cesspools Suspect A Trick  TPM Staff

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Democrats vow to get aggressive with SCOTUS after Trump ruling  Axios

Justice Roberts Drone Strike on George Washingtons Legacy  emptywheel

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Heres some devasting news from the Married at First Sight universe. Andrew Jury from Married at First Sight New Zealand was found dead recently while in a jail cell awaiting a court appearance. The sad news has left his MAFS castmates in mourning, and fans with a ton of questions about what happened.

Rest in Peace, Andrew

Andrew starred in the first season of Married At First Sight New Zealand back in 2019. He matched up with a lady named Vicky Gleeson-Stokes, but their relationship fizzled out after the finale. Since then, Andrew has largely remained out of the public eye. However, he may have been dealing with some mental health issues in the days since his reality TV appearance.

According to Page Six, he was being held in an Auckland jail after being charged with unlawfully entering a building, assault with intent to injure, wilful damage, possession of an offensive weapon, and threatening behavior.

While awaiting a court appearance in a jail cell, the 33-year-old was found dead by officials. Reports indicate that they tried to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful. The cause of his death remains unknown, but Auckland officials suggested that there was nothing suspicious about it. Meanwhile, Andrews dad said he feared that his son may be experiencing a mental health crisis in the days leading up to his death.

It should have been a red flag when Andy stopped communicating with family and friends, his father said. I and Andys extended family and friends are deeply saddened and bewildered by this distressing event.

In a touching statement, Andrews Married at First Sight castmates reacted to his passing, acknowledging that their experience on the show kept them bonded.

Its with the heaviest hearts weve come together to acknowledge the passing of Andrew Jury, the statement read. We had the absolute pleasure of filming and participating in a show which leaves us intricately linked for a lifetime.

TELL US  DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF SUPPORT FOR ANDREWS FAMILY? DO YOU REMEMBER ANDREW AND VICKY FROM MAFS?

The post Married at First Sight Star Found Dead in Jail Cell Before Court Appearance appeared first on Reality Tea.
(NewsNation)  July 2024 is promising to be a celestial feast for skygazers, with events ranging from meteor showers to planetary alignments.

July 1: The month kicked off with a rare sighting of Comet 13P/Olbers, visible for the first time in 69 years. Best viewed in early July, the comet could be spotted after sunset traveling beneath Ursa Major toward the northwest horizon until about midnight.

Mars was also to rise in the sky where skygazers would see a thin crescent moon just above the Red Planet, Popular Science reported. The Adler Planetarium said Mars would be slightly brighter than the first magnitude in July and would gradually get brighter as the year progresses.

Will China try to make a land grab on the moon?

July 3: Early risers can witness a conjunction between Jupiter and the moon. The celestial bodies will appear within five degrees of each other, with the moon sliding above Jupiter.

July 5: Earth reaches its farthest point from the sun, known as aphelion. At this point, our planet will be approximately 94,510,538 miles from the sun. However, this distance doesnt affect Earths seasons, which are determined by the planets axial tilt.

On the night of the new moon, stars and galaxies will be at their brightest, Travel and Leisure reported.

July 10: Hawaiians will experience Lahaina Noon when the sun is directly overhead at solar noon, in this biannual event.

July 12-13: New York City residents and visitors have another chance to experience Manhattanhenge. This phenomenon occurs when the setting sun aligns perfectly with Manhattans street grid, creating a stunning visual effect. The American Museum of Natural History recommends viewing from 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd or 57th streets.

Will we see the northern lights this summer?

July 21: The full Buck Moon rises, reaching peak illumination at 6:14 a.m. EDT. Named for the growing antlers on male deer during this season, its also known by other names in various Native American cultures.

Mercury will also reach its greatest eastern elongation, offering a rare opportunity to spot the elusive planet just after sunset in the constellation Leo.

July 29-30: The month concludes with the peak of the Delta Aquariid meteor shower. Stargazers can expect up to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The shower is best viewed from dusk to midnight, before moonrise.

For optimal viewing of these celestial events, experts recommend finding a dark location away from city lights and allowing eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 30 minutes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CANTON - Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the Karen Read case, was "relieved of duty" Monday, hours after a mistrial was declared in Norfolk Superior Court.

Who is Michael Proctor?

Proctor has been with the state police for about 10 years. He can no longer perform the duties of a state trooper.

On the witness stand during the trial, Proctor admitted sending inappropriate and offensive text messages about Read during the investigation. He was forced to read those texts to the jury in court.



Read's attorneys accused Proctor of covering for witnesses who are also his friends and planting evidence. He says he is not guilty of any wrongdoing. The defense has also questioned the relationship Proctor and his wife had with Canton Selectman Christopher Albert and his wife. Christopher Albert is the brother of retired Boston police officer Brian Albert, who owned the home where John O'Keefe's body was found in January 2022. Investigators say Read ran over O'Keefe with her SUV after dropping him off at the home in a snowstorm and left him to die.



Proctor has denied all allegations of bias and wrongdoing. According to WBZ-TV I-Team sources, he has been transferred out of the District Attorney's Office detective unit and into a field services division in South Boston as a formality.

State police said the decision is separate from an ongoing internal investigation into the entire Read case. Proctor has been placed on leave, which means while he is technically on the force and being paid, he is not allowed to function as a state trooper. He is still technically a trooper until his disciplinary hearing.

That hearing can end in one of four ways:

He gets his job back.He could be suspended with pay.He could be suspended without pay.He could receive restricted duties.

The state police union, State Police Association of Massachusetts, issued a statement on Tuesday.

"It is our understanding that this discipline came as a result of the trooper's private text message exchanges that were made public during the trial. We also understand that it has no relationship to salacious allegations of cover-ups, collusion or conspiracies offered by the defense," they said in a statement.

"At the same time, we must be clear that we do not condone the language used in text messages presented as evidence during the trial."

Proctor cannot be fired as a result of the hearing. It's the first step in the process that could lead to his eventual termination from the force.

A date for the hearing has not been scheduled yet.

Michael Proctor's texts

Proctor testified for the prosecution during the trial.

"These juvenile, unprofessional comments have zero impact on the facts and the evidence and the integrity of this investigation," Proctor told the court.

One message sent to his wife said, "waiting to lock whackjob up," referring to Read. Another to his bosses while he went through Read's phone said, "No nudes so far." He also texted his sister, "hopefully she kills herself," in another reference to Read.

Governor Maura Healey said she was "disgusted" by the text messages and said Proctor's actions could damage police work across Massachusetts.

Karen Read's attorney

Read's attorney, Alan Jackson, released this statement late Monday night after Proctor was relieved of duty:

"Conduct has consequences. DA Morrissey backed this misogynist, corrupt cop. And two hours after he announced he will pursue a second trial against an innocent woman, Karen Read, the MSP announced that Michael Proctor-the lead investigator for the Commonwealth-has been relieved of duty because of "serious misconduct that emerged in testimony at the trial." We look forward to another opportunity to reveal the truth about this unjust prosecution. Good luck."

Troopers need to "look in the mirror"

The interim head of the Massachusetts State Police, Col. John Mawn, told reporters Tuesday that his department needs to "look in the mirror" in the wake of Proctor's role in the Read investigation.

"We need to work very hard to engage the public in a more meaningful way so we can understand what it is that we need to do and where we want to go in order to maintain trust, build trust, and in some cases regain it," Mawn said.

Hurricane Beryl damages, destroys 90% of homes on island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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
SANTIAGO, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Chile's government has raised the country's minimum wage to 500,000 Chilean pesos (about 530 U.S. dollars), effective from Monday, marking the largest minimum wage hike in nearly 30 years.

"As of today, July 1, the minimum wage in Chile is 500,000 pesos, with support for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses," President Gabriel Boric announced on X, adding that the measure seeks to "build a fairer society, with better salaries and reduced inequalities."

During an event in Chile's capital Santiago, the president told local media that the "historic increase" would benefit approximately 800,000 workers.

Boric recalled when he took office in 2022, the minimum wage was 350,000 pesos, saying "in a little more than two years, we have achieved a historic increase of 150,000 pesos."

A bill proposing an increase in the minimum wage was sent to Congress in April 2023, following an agreement between the executive branch, the Workers' United Center, and business organizations.

Income poverty in Chile stands at 6.5 percent, indicating that 1,292,521 people live with income levels insufficient to meet their basic needs, according to the 2023 National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey. 
A teenage girl who police say was kidnapped from Stanly County was found safe in Massachusetts.

On Saturday night, police arrested Michael Oliver, 39, in Berlin, which is about 40 miles west of Boston.

Only on 9: Local drug operation targets deadly fentanyl sales

She got home recently, said the grandmother, who didnt want to be identified. Were still just trying to put all the pieces together.

Police said they found the teen with Oliver at a hotel in Berlin, Massachusetts.

I will say that we wanted to thank the informant for stepping forward and doing the right thing by letting us know what was going on, said the grandmother.

Oliver, of Clinton, Massachusetts, was arraigned on Monday for charges of human trafficking and abduction of a child as well as soliciting a child with an electronic device.

They met online and had had an online relationship for a little over a year, said Norwood Police Chief James Wilson. And he drove down here and picked her up and transported her back to Massachusetts.

Wilson said his department coordinated closely with law enforcement in Massachusetts.

We had used some investigative techniques that we were able to locate exactly where their position was. and the teams up there responded quickly, Wilson said.

He said its the only way to get a positive result when dealing with predators.

They give them attention, Wilson said. They give them affection online and a lot of times, thats just enough to draw them into that circle.

Its a lesson in vigilance that the grateful grandmother learned.

Im so glad that shes safe, her grandmother said. She is OK. It was a happy ending. Could have been a lot scarier. Hold your babies tight, monitor their social media, limit their access online without supervision.

ABC affiliate WCVB in Boston said Oliver waived extradition and will go to Stanly County to face other charges.

IN-CUSTODY Michael Oliver of Clinton Massachusetts was arrested and served with fugitive warrants last night in Berlin... Posted by Norwood Police Department on Saturday, June 29, 2024

>>Tune into Eyewitness News at 11 p.m. for complete coverage of this story.

VIDEO: Man in custody following high-speed chase in Stanly County, police say




The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing took over responsibility for many of Iowa's licensing boards in July 2023. (Photo illustration via Canva; logo courtesy of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing)

The State of Iowa has sanctioned a massage therapist whom it unwittingly licensed in 2018 despite a history of sex crimes.

The Iowa Board of Massage Therapy has issued a warning to Abelardo AJ Rodriguez of Iowa City and suspended his ability to practice for five years, after which he can apply for reinstatement.

The available public records show that last year the board issued an emergency order suspending the license of Rodriguez, citing a complaint from a female patient who alleged Rodriguez touched her inappropriately during an appointment.

The board also alleged that when Rodriguez applied for a massage-therapy license in 2018, he failed to voluntarily disclose his 2012 and 2016 criminal convictions for harassment.

Court records indicate that in September 2015, a woman complained to Iowa City police that Rodriguez had been sending her unwanted messages on Facebook, as well as multiple lewd photos of himself. On Nov. 30, 2015, he allegedly came into the victims place of employment and exposed himself to her on two different occasions. Court records indicate that the case resulted in Rodriguez pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassment.

According to the board, Rodriguez later obtained a massage therapy license from the state and began working at Rodriguez Bodywork in Iowa City.

During a massage appointment in March 2023, he allegedly massaged the breasts of a female client for 15 minutes without the womans consent. The board alleges that Rodriguez had previously told the woman he was certified in full chest and breast massage and presented her with a consent form to sign if she was interested in the service. The woman declined.

According to the board, Rodriguez later admitted to a board investigator that he massaged the womans breasts but said he did so with the womans oral consent. He allegedly stated that he had intended to get the womans written consent but neglected to do so.

It was when the womans subsequent complaint to the board was being investigated that the board concluded Rodriguez had intentionally withheld or misrepresented information about his past criminal convictions. The board said information about those crimes, if disclosed, may have impacted his ability to become licensed in Iowa as a massage therapist.

Its not clear why the board didnt learn of the criminal convictions in 2018 when Rodriguez applied for a license. The arrests are a matter of public record and details of at least one of the cases are readily available through Iowa Courts Online.

As a result of the 2023 allegations, Rodriguez was charged by the board with improper sexual contact with a client, engaging in unethical conduct, fraud in procuring a license and engaging in conduct that subverts or attempts to subvert a board investigation.

The board also concluded Rodriguezs conduct posed an immediate danger to the public health, safety, and welfare and voted to impose an immediate, indefinite suspension of his license, pending a final decision in the case.

In five years, Rodriguez will be allowed to apply for reinstatement by showing the basis for the revocation of his license  board documents refer to the sanction as both a revocation and a suspension  no longer exists and that reinstatement is in the public interest.

Prior to any reinstatement, Rodriguez must undergo a psychosexual evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment or training.

The post Massage therapist with history of sex crimes is sanctioned by state appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
People arrive to the polling stations at the Institut National Superieur (INS) in Nouakchott during the presidential election. Nicolas Remene/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

The Mauritanian authorities cut access to mobile internet services early Tuesday after protests took place the previous evening in several cities against presidential election results.

Protesters took to the streets on Monday evening in the capital Nouakchott, as well as the coastal city of Nouadhibou, Zouerat in the north and Rosso in the south-west.

President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani was re-elected after winning 56.12% of votes cast during Saturday's elections.

His main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, an anti-slavery human rights activist, came in second place after winning 22% of the vote.

Abeid rejected the results and alleged there was fraud, and urged his supporters to protest against the results.

After the results were officially announced on Monday, Ould Ghazouani, 67, said that his victory reflects the success of the democratic process in the north-west African nation and vowed to continue consultation and dialogue with all political parties.

Ould Ghazouani, a former defence minister, was elected in 2019 in the country's first peaceful transition of power.

His predecessor Mohamed Ould Abdel-Aziz took office after a 2008 military coup.

Earlier this year, the European Union promised Mauritania, a former French colony, financial support worth 210 million ($229 million), to be used to tackle migration and provide humanitarian aid for migrants.
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Mayor Eric Adams is pledging to clean up Midtown and says he wants to address everything from cleanliness to drug use to Times Square entertainers who go too far.

Eric Adams, please clean up Times Square, but leave alone the man in his underwear, crooned Robert Burck, better known as the Naked Cowboy.

More Local News

Burck says he generally supports the plan. I hope they crack down and make it a safer and better place for people who are legitimately working.

As for The Naked Cowboy? Were gonna leave him there, Adams joked.

It came as Mayor Adams outlined the broad strokes of a cleanup plan at his weekly open press conference Monday. It stems from a walk-through of 8th Avenue and the Theater District Friday evening.

On the check list of things to address: the costumed entertainers of Times Square.

We are dealing with people who appear to be under the influence of drugs that are just loitering, those with severe mental health issues in the area, we are dealing with Mickey and Spider-Man not in the area they are supposed to be, Adams said.

List of unexpected joys in New Yorks bustling lifestyle: Im lucky to be here

The Mayor also said he would like to address cleanliness in Midtown and all too frequent traffic jams along 8th Avenue, which has been narrowed to two lanes of traffic.

Plus, Adams previewed a coming plan to zero in on the most emotionally disturbed people in the subway system.

In the next couple of months you are not going to see the severely mentally ill people on the system without the care that they need, Adams pledged.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OSAGE COUNTY (KSNT)  A local marina is recovering with an outpouring of support from nearby communities after being ravaged by storm damage last week.

KSNT 27 News spoke with Eric Ratzloff, owner of Melvern Lake Marina in Osage County, who said his business is continuing to pick up the pieces after severe weather on Friday, June 28 caused extensive damage to the marina. Initially, the marina was closed indefinitely per a statement released on social media the day after the storm hit.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a report on social media on Saturday, June 29 stating three tornadoes were detected in northeast Kansas the day of the storm. One of these, ranked as an EF-0, hit the area around Melvern Lake with wind speeds of 85 mph.

(Photo Courtesy/National Weather Service)

Kansas gov. ceremonially signs off on tax plan

Ratzloff said as of Tuesday, July 2 three docks and dry storage has reopened. This came after winds knocked many of the docks loose, along with the marina store which is currently accessible only by boat.

















The anchors for A, B, C and D docks all pulled loose from the shorelines so all the docks came together and were thrown about a bit, Ratzloff said. Roof damage on several docks. All of the electrical, fuel, sewer and water lines were severed from the shore. The store is completely inoperable right now.

Work is still taking place around the marina to re-secure anchors for the wayward docks and get the marina store back in operation. No one was injured when the storm hit the marina.

Ratzloff said he hopes to have the docks straightened out in about a weeks time. However, the store could take weeks more before people are able to use it again.

Emporia police make arrest after man allegedly tries to rob apartment with family inside

While the amount of damage done to the marina is unfortunate, Ratzloff is staying positive. He said the amount of feedback and support hes received from locals has helped with the cleanup efforts.

Its been fantastic, Ratzloff said. Folks just show up and start picking up branches and making piles, cutting trees up and carrying them off.

KSNT 27 News asked Ratzloff if the amount of help hes received is something hed expected.

No, but it didnt surprise me either, Ratzloff said. Theres a lot of good folks around here. I like to see when people come together like that.

You can get in touch with the Melvern Lake Marina by calling 620-256-6566 or sending an email to melvernlakemarina@yahoo.com.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Former President Trumps chances of winning back the White House have soared in recent days  pitching Democrats into a stew of panic and despair.

A week ago Democrats clung to several hopes, only to see each of them dashed in a period shorter than 90 hours.

They believed President Biden could use an early first debate to prove his vigor and acuity. They thought the debate would focus voters minds on the perils of a potential second Trump presidency. And they hoped Trump might find himself on trial for Jan. 6-related offenses before November.

None of it happened.

Bidens dismal performance at Thursdays debate was the first earthquake. The aftershocks are still being felt, with the party in turmoil over the question of whether he should go forward as the nominee.

Then, on Monday, the Supreme Court carved out a sizable swath of immunity for Trump from any criminal prosecution.

The court did acknowledge that Trump, or any president, could still be prosecuted for unofficial acts. But it remanded the question of which of Trumps contentious acts were official and unofficial back to lower courts. Arguments over that question will almost certainly push any actual trial past Novembers election  if it ever happens.

The Supreme Court decision is a much more powerful one than some had expected it to be, Trump crowed on social media.

They just handed Donald Trump the keys to a dictatorship, the Biden campaigns principal deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks told reporters on a conference call.

Biden spoke from the White House about the Supreme Court decision Monday evening.

He lamented that it left virtually no limits on what a president can do and admitted that it is now highly, highly unlikely that Trump will face a Jan. 6-related trial before Novembers election.

His remarks were brief, lasting less than five minutes, but free of verbal miscues.

Still, Democratic stress levels will reach further into the stratosphere if Biden now gets hit by a wave of bad polls.

The early signs are ominous.

A Saint Anselm College poll on Monday found Trump leading Biden by 2 points among registered voters in New Hampshire. In 2020, Biden won the Granite State by 7 points, and it has not usually been classified as a battleground state this year.

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville told this column Monday afternoon the party had to make a change at the top of the ticket.

The country does not want to choose between President Biden and Trump. They are stuck, Carville said.

Asked about the uproar that would follow if Biden were to be pushed out of the race  perhaps opening the door to a contested convention in August where rival candidates would press their claims  Carville insisted chaos would be a price worth paying.

Ive got news for you. The United Statess history is difficult. And yeah, itll be a mess. Therell be a thousand reasons we cant do it. But 72 percent of the people want us to do it. Thats pretty powerful, he said.

The number appeared to be a reference to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday that showed 72 percent of registered voters do not believe Biden should be running for president.

Carville added: Every process argument you can imagine has been thrown at me. But I know this: We stay the course, were done.

The Biden campaign, of course, vehemently disagrees.

The tone was set by Biden campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon who blamed the beltway class for counting Joe Biden out in a Saturday memo. This will be a very close election. It was always going to be, she wrote, adding that the campaign remains confident of a Biden victory.

Biden loyalists are trying to use liberal outrage over the Supreme Court ruling as fuel to mobilize voters for the president.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said on the Biden campaign media call that voters are not powerless. We dont have to sit idly by as Donald Trump comes after our freedomsWe can come together and elect Joe Biden, a man who has always and always will stand up for our rights.

But right now, the concern among Democrats is that Biden is a candidate fatally flawed by his own seeming infirmity  and that a loss to Trump would be a cataclysm.

There are massive hurdles around trying to take the nomination away from Biden  not least the fact he ran the table in the party primaries and therefore has more than enough delegates to claim the nomination if he wants it.

Even if he were somehow persuaded to stand aside, the question of what next? looms over the party.

Bidens obvious heir apparent is Vice President Harris. But her approval ratings are similar to the presidents, her 2020 campaign for the nomination was underwhelming, and its not clear she would fare any better against Trump.

On the other hand, a fresh contest for the nomination that saw someone else become the nominee  the two most frequently mentioned names are California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D)  could infuriate some Black Democrats, who would surely feel Harris was being deprived of her rightful chance to become the first Black female president.

Democratic strategist Jim Manley said the dynamics around Harris made him hesitant about the idea of running a nominee other than Biden.

The problem I have is that if Kamala Harris wasnt then selected, it would tear apart the party. And her poll numbers are pretty poor, Manley said.

Manley cited several recent Supreme Court decisions  not just the Trump immunity case  as underscoring the stakes in the coming election. He highlighted the so-called Chevron decision last week, which hollows out regulatory powers, as one example.

All of these recent rulings really get to some core issues in our country and show that the Supreme Court has been hijacked by the hard-right in this country. We Democrats, he said, need to do a better job of selling [our message] to the American people.

Another Democratic strategist, Hank Sheinkopf, acknowledged the double blow of the Supreme Court decision and Bidens debate performance was a terrible combination for Democrats and the White House  in part because the high courts decision plays into Trumps arguments about the cases against him.

Biden is still reeling from that combination.

Its not clear yet whether he will be able to steady the ship.

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.
NEW YORK  On Election Day 2018, Bob Menendez won a third term in the Senate after his political career had been wounded at the start of his first corruption trial a year earlier.

That trial ended in a hung jury, and federal prosecutors dismissed the case, so voters in blue New Jersey decided to send him back to the Senate. But the day was not all happiness.

In a text message shown to jurors Monday in his latest trial, Menendez shared his emotions about breaking up with Nadine Arslanian.

I cared for her a great deal, he said in a message to Nadines sister, but I can not get over her being with [another man] while she was with me.

Menendez wound up marrying Nadine two years later. But his heartfelt election night text to his wifes sister two years before was to suggest that they were not together during a period that prosecutors say they were conspiring.

Menendezs defense attorneys called Nadines sister, his own sister and a forensic accountant to the stand to flesh out the alibi that they were on a break during part of the conspiracy and also to show that it wouldnt be unusual for Menendez and Nadine to keep their own cash and gold around the house.



The senators defense team is trying to rebut prosecutors claims that the couple conspired from early 2018 through 2022 to sell his office for gold bars and stacks of cash.

But prosecutors poked holes in the defense witnesses accounts that may have seriously wounded the senators defense case.

In particular, prosecutors emphasized that the forensic accountant, who Menendezs team has fought for weeks to call to testify, fabricated data Menendezs legal team presented to jurors.

Likewise, they undermined a key point made by the senators sister, Caridad Gonzalez. She testified that she could ask her brother to help friends who needed it. That was supposed to suggest Menendez makes calls on behalf of his constituents. But prosecutors showed text messages that suggest his own sister didnt get the kind of VIP treatment that prosecutors say the men who bribed the senator got.

When his sisters neighbor needed help with an immigration issue, Menendez directed her to contact his offices staff.

When the men accused of bribing the senator wanted help, according to prosecutors, the senator would take up their pet issues with the New Jersey attorney general, the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Jersey or with a senior official in the Trump administration.

Russell Richardson, a forensic accountant at the consulting firm of Guidepost Solutions, summarized years of financial records that seemed to confirm that the senator has routinely withdrawn hundreds of dollars of cash each month. Bank records indeed show Menendez regularly withdrew $400 in cash every few weeks, an amount that totaled over $150,000 since he joined the Senate.

The senator has said he stashes money to avoid government confiscation because of trauma his family had faced in Cuba. The records dont show whether that money was the same cash found stuffed in shopping bags, boots and jackets during an FBI search of his home in summer 2022.

And prosecutors emphasized that some of the accountants figures were completely fabricated.

Richardson presented one chart showing that Menendez might have withdrawn similar amounts of money during his earlier time in the U.S. House. But those numbers were based on assumptions, not actual bank records. They were, in his words, extrapolated based on the senators behavior while in the Senate. But that required pulling numbers from thin air to create a chart to show jurors.

The testimony also failed to account for $10,000 stacks of cash found in a search of the Menendez home, since Richardson said hed never seen Menendez withdraw that much at once. Some of the envelopes of cash found at Menendezs home had the fingerprints of one of the senators two co-defendants, Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer. His defense attorney has said he did give the Menendezes gifts of cash and gold, but Menendezs legal team has not acknowledged the senator received them.



Prosecutors have had witnesses stumble on the stand during the trial, now in its eighth week. For instance, their first witness, an FBI agent who led the search of Menendezs home, had to recant testimony about where he found one of the senators blazers during his search.

Still, the cross-examination of the accountant stood out as particularly brutal because Menendez plans to call only five witnesses. The senator himself could also testify, though that seems very unlikely. Menendez is, of course, presumed innocent, so the burden is on prosecutors to prove their case, but a key part of his defense is that its plausible the stacks of cash found in his home were rightly his.

To that end, Gonzalez, his sister, testified that at one point in the 1980s, shed known that her brother had stored cash in a boot box in his house. That, she said, was normal because hes a Cuban and their family had fled the country. Though that exit was years before Castro came to power, and Menendez was himself born in Manhattan, she said her father told the family not to trust banks and that forms a law inside of you.

The other part of the Menendez defense is that his wife, Nadine, was going behind his back.

To that end, his attorneys called her sister, Katia Tabourian, to talk about their breakup.

She also talked about her own familys heirlooms, which at one point included several kilograms of gold.

But she was unclear how much family gold her sister had beyond some coins and jewelry that are not at issue in the case.

Defense attorneys had more success trying to show that a closet where the FBI found much of the cash and all of the gold was a room Nadine primarily used and kept locked. The FBI agent who had to recant the testimony about the blazer had to do so because hed said he found the senators blazer inside that closet  when clearly the blazer was hanging on a nearby door.

Menendezs attorney Adam Fee also tried to rebut testimony that the senator had once summoned Nadine to a conspiratorial meeting by ringing a bell.

He asked Tabourian if shed ever seen her brother-in-law summon her sister with a bell.

Ive never seen a bell, Tabourian said.

Jurors were given Tuesday off because of ongoing fights between prosecutors and Menendezs defense team over what other evidence Menendez can show jurors in coming days.

Menendezs team wants to show evidence that Nadine was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend.

U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein, who is overseeing the case, warned the Menendez team last week that he does not want to turn the trial into a soap opera and has been frustrated by a tsunami of legal filings over the weekend about what to show jurors.

Youre not only making it a soap opera, youre making it a bad soap opera, Stein told Menendez's defense attorneys on Monday.
In Mexico, 19 bodies found in truck as violence spreads in southern state

Forensic technicians work at a scene where authorities found several bodies linked to a gunfight between criminal gangs, in La Concordia

By Lizbeth Diaz and Stephanie Hamel

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican security officials found the bodies of 19 men piled into the back of a truck, the local prosecutor's office said late on Monday, with the victims allegedly linked to a gunfight between a Guatemalan criminal gang and Mexico's powerful Sinaloa cartel.

Five of the men showed signs of gunshot wounds, and all were found in the back of a truck wearing dark clothing, tactical vests as well as firearm magazine clips, according to the prosecutor's statement.

The grim discovery in southern Chiapas state was made near the town of La Concordia, north of Mexico's southern border with Guatemala.

A government security source in Chiapas told Reuters the victims were Guatemalan members of a criminal group fighting for territorial control in the area.

"It's a criminal group that wants to get into the area. They're Guatemalans, and this is where they're facing off against several (criminal) cells, in this case from Sinaloa," the source said.

Guatemala's consulate in Chiapas is in the process of identifying some of the victims, as four to seven of the bodies are presumed to be Guatemalans, the Central American country's foreign affairs ministry told reporters.

The ministry said it was in touch with the Chiapas prosecutor's office, adding it will work to determine the nationalities of all of the victims.

Mexico's president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called the incident an "unfortunate confrontation" during his regular morning press conference on Tuesday, adding that both Mexicans and Guatemalans were among the dead.

In recent years, Chiapas has increasingly played host to gangland violence believed to be connected to criminal rackets including drugs and human smuggling.

"As a result of the increase in migrant trafficking in the area, the Sinaloa cartel, which previously controlled drug trafficking there, has become very strong," the Chiapas security source said.

(Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz and Stephanie Hamel, Additional reporting by Sofia Menchu; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Bill Berkrot)
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The New Mexico Department of Justice is celebrating the retirement of their electronic scent detection K9. After more than four years working in the Internet Crimes Against Children Divison, Special Agent Joey is hanging up his vest.

Report: New Mexico facing significant wildfire potential for August, September

Joey assisted with searching and arrest warrants for illicit online materials including child sexual abuse. His Special Agent in Charge Owen Pena said he provided emotional support no matter where he was needed. His presence brought comfort and reassurance to our team and other people when we would be on a scene and when there were kids involved he would also bring them comfort, said Pena.

The department will add two new K9s, Special Agent Nyx and Gadget.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
UNITED NATIONS, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Amid unequal progress in sexual and reproductive rights, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged expedited investment in the UN's population and development program of action.

In his message for World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, Guterres said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action, and must also be the year "we resolve to accelerate efforts and investments to turn its promises into a reality."

Central to the ICPD Program of Action is the recognition that women's sexual and reproductive health and rights are cornerstones of sustainable development, he said.

In the decades since the Program of Action was adopted, progress has been made, with more women than ever having access to modern contraception and maternal deaths having fallen 34 percent since Year 2000, Guterres said.

"But, progress has been unequal and unsteady," the UN chief said, noting that well into the 21st Century, around 800 women die needlessly every day in pregnancy and childbirth, the vast majority of whom are in developing countries.

As the theme of this year's World Population Day reminds us, investing in data collection is important to understanding problems, tailoring solutions and driving progress, and so is finance, he noted.

"Let's deliver on the ICPD Program of Action for everyone, everywhere," Guterres said, urging countries to make the most of the Summit of the Future in September this year to unleash affordable capital for sustainable development. 
Amid a growing chorus of complaints that state prosecutors are cheating in court to win at all costs, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said Monday that her office is reviewing allegations of misconduct and reassigning some prosecutors, and will create a forum for vetting systemic issues facing the criminal justice system in this county.

Fernandez Rundles comments to the Miami Herald came just hours after she met with representatives of the Miami chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, whod handed her a binder of misconduct allegations six weeks ago. Defense attorneys said prosecutors misbehavior robs defendants of a fair trial, and could lead to an innocent person being framed.

Fernandez Rundle said the vast majority of employees in her office are hard working, underpaid, dedicated, devoted people that work at the State Attorneys Office every day administering justice because they care about this community. But, she said, a handful of allegations warrant attention. In some cases, judges have already ruled that prosecutors made mistakes or acted inappropriately.

There are some things Ive heard and discovered that are of concern, Fernandez Rundle said.

Defense attorneys began clamoring for her attention after Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Andrea Wolfson removed two state prosecutors, Michael Von Zamft and Stephen Mitchell, from the high-profile, Death Row re-sentencing case of gangster Corey Smith. Von Zamft was accused of misconduct, including attempting to tamper with witnesses, and making what some saw as a veiled threat when one witness grew uncomfortable with testifying. Mitchell was ousted for vigorously defending Von Zamfts behavior.

Bolstered by Wolfsons order, defense attorneys in Miami coalesced on their claims of misconduct. In a meeting with Fernandez Rundle in May, Lauren Field Krasnoff, president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Miami chapter, delivered a stack of what defense lawyers said were 15 recent instances of misconduct.

If not for the Corey Smith order, none of this happens, Krasnoff told the Herald Monday.

In recent weeks, two additional judges ruled that prosecutors had violated the rules in other pending Miami-Dade criminal cases.

The cases in question

The material from Krasnoff, dubbed a binder of corruption on a Miami courthouse blog, contained allegations that have received mixed results from judges who ruled on them. The claims range from a prosecutor addressing an attorney by her first name and interfering with witnesses during depositions, to allegations that prosecutors withheld evidence, bullied a witness and engaged in selective prosecution of a mother whose son was shot and killed by police.

Also in the pile is the case of Taji Pearson, who was sentenced to life in prison in January in connection with a murder. Defense attorney Michele Borchew alleged the states witnesses were secretly compensated, and a judge partly agreed with her in a recent ruling. The Miami Herald reported on prosecutors use  in that case and others  of confessed murderer William Little Bill Brown to collect information from inside the jail over the past decade. Experts told the Herald the use of Brown was improper and likely unconstitutional.

The reporting about inmate Brown was highlighted by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in a June 17 statement calling for reforms in Fernandez Rundles office.

Until this serious problem is remedied, our legal system will continue to suffer, and the respect accorded it by the public will continue to diminish, Michael P. Heiskell, president of the organization, said.

Among the changes Fernandez Rundle announced Monday: She has replaced prosecutor Mitchell on the Pearson case. As with the Corey Smith case, Mitchell was co-prosecutor with Von Zamft on the Pearson case.

Both cases will be handled by prosecutors Justin Funck and Rebecca DiMeglio. They and other high-ranking attorneys in the office will pore through boxes of trial evidence in both cases to make sure it is given to defense attorneys. Failure to turn over important evidence was a key allegation made by defense attorneys.

Reached Monday, Krasnoff said the meeting was productive and it was cordial.

Rundle also agreed with the defense lawyers request for a committee where prosecutors and defense attorneys could meet to discuss problems. Fernandez Rundle said the committee would not air grievances related to specific cases, but rather would focus on systemic problems. It will be led by Marie Mato, who leaves the State Attorneys Office in January to take the bench as a circuit judge.

Its a big system that needs to work well together, and synchronize, the state attorney said.

The defense lawyers had hoped for a prosecution integrity unit, but that was not among the planned reforms. Krasnoff said her chapter will review the planned changes in a special meeting scheduled for next week.

I appreciate her time, she said. It was good to hear about the steps shes made.
Police believe three suspects were involved in a robbery that turned into a deadly shooting at a Wilson County marina Saturday and are working on leads.

A 27-year-old man was killed outside Cedar Creek Marina, 9120 Saundersville Road, around midnight.

The victim has not been identified due to requests from the family, Wilson County Sheriff's Capt. Scott Moore said. The man was described by police as an "innocent bystander."

Wilson County Sheriff's Office squad car.

Police believe the shooting occurred after an armed robbery, according to the initial investigation.

Mt. Juliet police had responded to a robbery report at the restaurant at Cedar Creek Marina just before the shooting was reported, according to the department.

The armed suspects ambushed staff in the restaurant, and two staff members were assaulted and forced to open a cash safe, police said.

Both workers were treated and released by medics at the scene.

The 27-year-old victim who died was found in his vehicle, according to police. Police tried to treat the man until medics arrived at the scene, but he died from his injuries, they said.

The restaurant is in Mt. Juliet's city limits, but the parking lot is in Wilson County's jurisdiction, according to police.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson Co. officers seek 3 suspects in fatal Tennessee marina shooting
To migrate or not? Some Venezuelans are pinning that decision on July's election

Venezuelan voters are weighing their options, depending who wins the presidential election on July 28

Venezuelan voters are weighing their options, depending who wins the presidential election on July 28

By Mariela Nava and Tathiana Ortiz

MARACAIBO/SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela - Daniel Briseno lives in a poor part of Maracaibo, Venezuela's once-rich oil city, where he checks almost daily to see if a letter confirming he has permission to move to the United States has finally arrived in the mail.

Briseno, who wants to move to the U.S. with his elderly mother, is fed up of dealing with the challenges of Maracaibo, which has suffered from acute shortages of basic services such as electricity and water for a decade.

But the 44-year-old Briseno might change his mind if there is a change of guard following July's presidential election.

"I'd like to stay in Venezuela because I know that if the government changes, the oil industry will return in full force," said Briseno, who spent 15 years supervising oil well drilling before losing his job in 2020 as crisis set in to Venezuela's economy.

Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who is trying to unseat Socialist President Nicolas Maduro, has focused part of his campaign on pledges to seek to bring back the 7.7 million Venezuelans who have fled the country during years of economic and political upheaval. Gonzalez has emphasized families' desire to be reunited.

If change does not follow July's election, swathes more of Venezuelans could seek to leave the country, ORC Consultores director Oswaldo Ramirez said.

Almost 16% of those polled by ORC Consultores in May said they will leave quickly if their preferred candidate does not win in the July 28 vote. Opposition supporters are significantly more likely to say they would seek to leave than Maduro supporters, the survey showed.

Some 2.8 million Venezuelans already live in Colombia, with 1.5 million in Peru and 568,000 in Brazil. There has also been a sharp increase heading north to cross into the United States.

Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 and is seeking his second reelection, has presided over economic collapse, with a loss of over 73% of Venezuela's gross domestic product during his government, according to researchers from the Institute of Superior Administration Studies in Caracas.

Many Venezuelans say they want to vote against Maduro because they want to halt the deterioration to their quality of life, said Ricardo Rios, president of Caracas-based consulting company Poder y Estrategia.

But Western governments have said there are significant obstacles to a free and fair vote. Maduro's 2018 re-election was rejected by the opposition and many Western governments as a sham.

'REBUILDING WILL TAKE TOO LONG'

Even if there were a change in government, that would be too little, too late for some.

No matter what, Briseno's mother wants to join his brother, who now lives in Utah where he works as a package deliveryman, a job that lets him send $300 each month for food and medicine to his family in Maracaibo.

Legally in the U.S., Briseno's brother can sponsor family members for up to a year while their case is heard, under a scheme run by the U.S. government for migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua.

Briseno's mother, Pragedis Rivero, is skeptical a change in leadership will help and plans on leaving anyway.

"This government has not left the country so good and to rebuild it to even half of what it was will take too long," she said while peeling garlic in her kitchen.

While Maduro once laughed at Venezuelan migrants who he said were cleaning toilets in richer countries, during the election campaign he has urged Venezuelans to return home amid a recovering economy.

Some 430 kilometers (267 miles) south of Maracaibo, in a hospital in San Cristobal near the Colombian border, Yubizay Chacon, 29, earns about $130 per month working as a nurse.

Occasionally, Chacon, who has a 6-year-old daughter, makes extra money caring for patients privately, charging $30 per day.

But it is hard to make ends meet. The average price of monthly groceries for a family of five was around $547 in May, according to data from the non-governmental Center for Documentation and Social Analysis of the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers.

Like so many other Venezuelans, Chacon has been contemplating leaving the country to seek a better life.

"You know that abroad you are going to work a lot, but you can be confident working will solve financial problems, which brings peace, tranquility and security that things can be obtained with sacrifice," Chacon said.

If Maduro stays in power, migrating may be the only option, she said.

But she was optimistic that a win for Gonzales would "give us more employment opportunities and more opportunities to have benefits as workers."

"Leaving the country would make me sad," Chacon said. "It depends on who wins."

(Report by Mariela Nava in Maracaibo, Tathiana Ortiz in San Cristobal, and Vivian Sequera in Caracas; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
The criminal investigative arms of the Pentagon and the U.S. Army descended on Florida last week to execute search warrants, officials confirmed to Army Times.

The raid took place June 25 and involved multiple facilities of the Orlando-based Cole Engineering Services, that company confirmed. Cole Engineering is located in the same office park housing the Armys Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, or PEO STRI. Officials would not confirm whether the office was involved in the raid, or if other companies and entities were also a part of it.

Cole Engineering CEO Bob Donahue addressed the raid in a companywide email sent last week and shared with Army Times on Monday.

While it remains early in the process, I want to be clear that we have no reason to believe that the company or any of our employees have been engaged in any kind of wrongdoing, Donahue wrote. As I said in my earlier note to you, By Light has always and continues to maintain an intense focus on conducting our business in an ethical and proper fashion. By Light is the parent company of Cole Engineering, a prominent defense contractor focused on tactical simulation tools.

Donahue added that the company had initiated its own investigation, engaging a former well-known, long-time Department of Justice senior prosecutor to conduct it.

We have launched this review to ensure we have the facts, and our policies and procedures are best practices, Donahue wrote. This action also reaffirms By Lights longstanding commitment to and reputation for outstanding mission performance while conducting ourselves in a manner that is above board and beyond question.

The company, he said, would continue to cooperate fully with government authorities.

To put to rest rumors that may have circulated, let me also confirm for you that no one in the company has been arrested or charged, Donahue said.

Reached for comment, the Armys Criminal Investigation Division and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, which falls under the Defense Department Inspector Generals office, provided nearly identical statements.

The entities executed multiple search warrants in Florida on June 25, 2024, Army CID spokesman Keith Smith said in a statement. As the investigation is still in progress, no additional information can be provided at this time.

Neither the Army nor PEO STRI responded to requests for comment or questions about the raid or whether the program office was involved. According to their website, PEO STRIs mission is to rapidly develop, deliver and sustain testing, training and information operations capabilities to enhance readiness across the operational spectrum.

In 2021, Cole Engineering became the prime contractor for the Armys new cyber training environment project, securing a contract worth as much as $957.7 million over eight years to complete the work. PEO STRI has already employed the system at events such as the Cyber Flag 2022 training exercise.

Last April, the company landed another $500 million, three-year contract for the Reconfigurable Virtual Collective Trainer system for aviation crew members.

Army CID and DCIS play a role in policing contracting fraud, which can include deceptive practices and overcharging, as well as violations of the Procurement Integrity Act, which prohibits the release of source selection, contracting or proposal information by government employees.
Hallowed ground.

Thats how Major General Gavin A. Lawrence, commanding general of Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, referred to Fort Johnston during the Assumption of Command Ceremony for Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU). Fort Johnston once served as the home of the commander of the 596th Transportation Brigade at MOTSU.

While the building is no longer a U.S. Army post, it often provides a scenic backdrop during MOTSUs change of command ceremonies. Tuesday was no exception. Overcast skies did not dampen the celebratory mood as the 596th Transportation Brigade of MOTSU welcomed Colonel Russell E. Henry as its new commander.

Colonel Russell E. Henry speaks at the Assumption of Command Ceremony on the lawn at Fort Johnston in Southport on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Col. Henry officially took command of Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point.

Henry expressed his appreciation for being able to have the ceremony in such a historic place.

Its very historic, hallowed ground for us to be a part of this community and supported by this community as weve really been partners with this community for the last almost 70 years, Henry said. Its really important to be integrated with the community as they continue to support us, and we continue to support them.

Henry said the thing he was looking forward most in his new role was the people.

The people support the mission, the people make the mission happen, and being a part of this organization and serving alongside the people of this organization to continue to make a difference for our Army, for our nation, and of course, partner with our community, as well, Henry said.

In addition to the members of the 596th Transportation Brigade, the ceremony drew crowds of onlookers and many local government officials from surrounding communities.

New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple was among those who attended the ceremony Tuesday to support MOTSU and all it does for the community and the nation. He noted MOTSU is critically important to Southeastern North Carolina, and most dont realize all that goes on to ensure Americas freedoms are protected.

We never hear anything about it, Zapple said. It just happens.

The Assumption of Command at Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point is marked by the passing of the colors at a ceremony on the lawn at Fort Johnston in Southport on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

He referenced the Assumption of Command Ceremony, noting the seamless transfer of command was one example of MOTSUs smooth operation as it supports military operations.

Russell thanked those for attending and concluded his remarks by pledging to continue the mission of the U.S. Army and the 596th Transportation Brigade.

We are the Ironclad Brigade, Russell said, and we will continue to make a difference for our nation.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point welcomes new commander in North Carolina
The town of Mills River has chosen a new town manager.

Matthew McKirahan, a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, with master's degree in public administration and government experience, will take over the role effective July 29, according to a town news release.

McKirahan called the job an honor and a privilege.

I appreciate the councils trust and confidence in me as I transition into this new role, McKirahan said in the release. The town of Mills River is a truly special community and I look forward to working with the council and the towns dedicated staff to ensure its continued success.

McKirahan now works for the village of Pinehurst as the organizational performance director. Here he worked with the villages strategic planning and performance processes, according to the release.

Before that, he worked in Raleigh in budget and management services.

McKirahan was an International City/County Management Association fellow for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he worked on muti-departmental performance to ensure success against desired goals.

He also has experience in communication and marketing while working at the UNC School of Government.

Mills River began looking for a new town manager after the resignation of then town manager Daniel Cobb, who took another position in Granite Falls.

According to the news release, the town evaluated 33 applicants with the help of Developmental Associates, a North Carolina-based firm. Five candidates were selected for an intensive two-day assessment process.

A reception for residents to meet McKirahan will be held at a later date.

The Mills River Council selected Matthew McKirahan after final in-person interviews, said Mills River Mayor Shanon Gonce in the release. The Town Council looks forward to working with him in the future and believes he will be a great fit, especially given his background in strategic planning.

Karrigan Monk is the reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kmonk@blackmountainnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Mills River names new town manager
Milwaukee has a new historic district. But some buildings were dropped to win city approval

Two homes in the 3000 block of West Wisconsin Avenue are now part of the Grand Avenue Historic District.

A new historic district on Milwaukee's near west side has won Common Council approval  but only after the number of its buildings was cut from five to two.

The Grand Avenue Historic District will cover two homes built in the early 20th century, at 3034 W. Wisconsin Ave. and 3046 W. Wisconsin Ave.

The district was to include three other houses at 3111 W. Wisconsin Ave., 3121 W. Wisconsin Ave., and 3127 W. Wisconsin Ave. That was recommended by both the Historic Preservation Commission and the council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee.

The five properties encompass the last remaining cluster of houses on West Wisconsin Avenue from the neighborhood's Grand Avenue era, when wealthy Milwaukee business operators built homes just west of downtown in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, according to a commission report.

The smaller historic district was approved Tuesday under a proposal from Ald. Sharlen Moore, whose aldermanic district includes the three houses that were dropped. Ald. Robert Bauman's aldermanic district includes the two houses that are within the historic district.

Moore's proposal was approved by the council with no objections.

She told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that her constituents who owned the properties didn't want them included in the historic district. That requires the property owners to obtain preservation commission approval for any exterior changes.

Moore took office in April, succeeding Ald. Michael Murphy after he decided against seeking another term. The historic district was recommended by the zoning committee before Moore joined the council.

The zoning committee endorsement came after a process that included profanity and a death wish targeting Bauman from an owner of a property that has since been dropped from the district.

Bauman told the Journal Sentinel that contracting the historic district was not his preference.

He added, "Elections matter."

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee historic district wins city approval after size is reduced
The union representing more than 300 Minneapolis parks workers announced Tuesday they will strike for one week beginning on the July 4th holiday after seven months of negotiations with the city yielded no new labor contract.

But hours after the announcement, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board said it would block any employee who walks off the job from returning to work until a new contract is ratified.

At a news conference Tuesday, AJ Lang, the business manager for Laborers' International Union of North America Local 363, said that for now, the union is keeping the strike to a week to minimize disruptions for residents, although he acknowledged the July 4th holiday is the "busiest" time of year for parks in the city.

"We love our parks," Lang said. "We want to minimize the disruption to residents as much as possible, hopefully by not having to walk at all. That's the idea of limiting it."

Should contract negotiations go nowhere before or after the holiday, "we reserve the right to file another strike notice," Lang said.

Hours later, a statement from board spokeswoman Robin Smothers said no employee who walks off the job would be allowed to return to work until the union approves a new contract.

The press contact for the union did not have a response to that late Tuesday.

Barring inclement weather, the July 4th holiday is expected to bring plenty of residents to the city's parks. After five years of no fireworks shows for Independence Day, the board is hosting the return of its "Red, White & Boom" show Thursday.

The board has developed a plan to adjust maintenance services to minimize the impact of the strike on park visitors, Smothers said.

Lang said it is unclear how big the impact could be, but he suspected that trash collection may be disrupted, pools could close and debris or damage from rainstorms may not be quickly resolved.

"It's in the board's hands to fix that," he said.

For years, Minneapolis' park workers have called for improved wages, health insurance and safety precautions. The union represents more than 200 permanent and more than 100 seasonal employees.

In late 2022, a strike among workers was averted when both sides agreed to a two-year contract that included a nearly 5% wage increase, expanded benefits and additional paid holidays.

Tuesday, union members said their pay continues to lag behind both inflation and that of parks workers of other nearby cities. They said they also lack safety precautions for arborists, who work near energized conductors, and other employees who work closely with encampments of unhoused people.

"We deserve a lot better," said Lanel Lane, a parks worker of 10 years.

The two sides negotiated for up to 16 hours Monday. Smothers said the board's final offer included a 10.25% wage increase over three years. It also included a $1 hourly market adjustment.

Lang called that offer "insufficient," and specified that workers are looking for a $5 hourly market adjustment.

"Parkkeepers" in Minneapolis earn an average of $30.99 an hour. That compares to the $35.55 to $44.98 an hour that "park maintenance workers" earn in 20 suburbs, according to the League of Minnesota Cities' 2023 local government salary survey.

In April, Smothers said the board's budget "is tighter than ever" while property tax collections are down. Property taxes account for 80% of the board's general fund.

But workers on Tuesday accused the board of devaluing its employees for decades.

"This is a long time coming," Lang said. "This is a decadeslong erosion of benefits and the degradation of the value of this position. People used to line up out of the door. These were coveted jobs."

Star Tribune reporters Susan Du, John Nguyen and Zoe Jackson contributed to this report.
FILE - Greta Kemp Martin speaks Aug. 31, 2023, at a news conference in Jackson, Miss. Martin is the litigation director for Disability Rights Mississippi, and she said Monday, July 1, 2024, that an updated state law will remove most restrictions on who can provide help on absentee voting by people who have a disability or who are unable to read or write. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Mississippi is revising the restrictions it put in place last year on who can provide absentee voting assistance to people who have disabilities or cannot read or write  restrictions that were blocked by a federal judge before ultimately being altered by lawmakers.

An updated state law took effect Monday, changing one that the GOP-controlled Legislature passed and Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed in 2023.

This legislative change is a monumental step forward for voting rights in Mississippi, ensuring that every citizens voice is heard and respected," Greta Kemp Martin, litigation director for Disability Rights Mississippi, said in a statement Monday.

Disability Rights Mississippi, the League of Women Voters of Mississippi and three voters sued the state in 2023, challenging the short list of people who could collect and transmit an absentee ballot. The list included employees of the U.S. Postal Service or other mail carriers such as FedEx or UPS, and any family member, household member or caregiver of the person to whom the ballot was mailed. A violation would have been punishable by up to a year in jail, a $3,000 fine or both.

U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate blocked the law from taking effect last year. He wrote that it violated the federal Voting Rights Act, which says any voter who is blind, disabled or unable to read or write may receive assistance by a person of the voters choice, other than their employer or union.

The new version of the Mississippi law reflects that portion of the Voting Rights Act. It also defines who is considered a caregiver, a family member or a member of a voter's household. Democratic lawmakers who opposed the 2023 law said it was vague and could hurt candidates, campaign workers, nursing home employees or others who make good-faith efforts to help people obtain and mail absentee ballots.

Republican-led states have tightened rules on voting by mail since the 2020 presidential election, in part because of the false narrative of widespread fraud in that race. When Reeves signed Mississippis law in 2023, he said it was to prevent ballot harvesting, a pejorative term for dropping off completed ballots for other people.

One of the residents who sued the state, Mamie Cunningham, is director of a community organizing group and involved with Black Voters Matter in northeast Mississippi.

Many people with disabilities in rural communities would not vote if they did not have assistance," Cunningham said in a statement Monday. In Mississippi, voting by absentee ballot is an overwhelming process even for people without disabilities.

Some states allow widespread use of voting by mail, but Mississippi restricts the reasons people may vote by absentee ballot. The absentee ballots are available  by mail or for early, in-person voting  to Mississippi voters who are 65 or older; any voter who has a temporary or permanent physical disability, or any voter who is that persons caretaker; and any voter who will be away from their home county on election day, including college students.
CANBERRA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Australia's agriculture minister has welcomed the parliament's passage of a ban on live sheep exports.

The Senate on Monday night passed a government legislation that will ban live sheep exports from Australia by May 1, 2028, after the bill passed the lower house of parliament in June.

Murray Watt, the minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, said on Tuesday that he was very pleased that the legislation has been passed.

"We now have certainty around the future of this industry," he told reporters in Canberra.

"The industry knows, once and for all, the date that it will be phased out."

The ban on live sheep exports was promised by the Labor Party in the lead-up to the 2022 general election in which it won power. Labor has ruled out banning live cattle exports.

Watt said on Tuesday that a majority of Australians supported the sheep export ban, including in Western Australia, which is the only Australian state or territory with a live sheep export industry.

The government in May announced a 107 million Australian dollar (about 71.17 million U.S. dollar) package to help the industry transition.

According to government figures, the value of Australia's live sheep exports has declined from 415 million Australian dollars (276.04 million U.S. dollars) in 2002-03 to 77 million Australian dollars (51.22 million U.S. dollars) in 2022-23.

By comparison, Australia's sheep meat exports were worth 4.5 billion Australian dollars (2.99 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022-23.

Supporters of the live sheep export industry on Tuesday gathered at Parliament House to protest the ban.

Mark Harvey-Sutton, chief executive of NGO the Livestock Exporters' Council, told reporters that the ban would be devastating for the livestock export community and said the government would regret the move. 
This article was originally published in Mississippi Today.

American Sign Language will count as a foreign language credit in Mississippi high schools, under a law that goes into effect July 1.

The force behind Senate Bill 2339 is Pearl Rver County high school teacher Miranda Loveless. Loveless teaches art and ASL at Pearl River Central High School. She fell in love with ASL as a teenager, which led her to becoming a special education teacher.

My hope for this new curriculum is not just for our students whether they are hearing, hard of hearing, or deaf. My hope is that we can grow as a community to accept everyone no matter their hearing abilities, she said.

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The new law calls for the state Board of Education to develop a curriculum related to the study of sign language and for any such class to count as an academic credit for a foreign language to meet high school graduation requirements.

Loveless got the idea for the bill after learning that thered never been an effort in the Legislature to make ASL a foreign language in Mississippi schools. She reached out to state Sen. Angela Hill, R-Picayune, through the lawmakers grandson, who took one of Loveless sign language classes.

Hill said the law can incentivize hearing people to become translators. The hope is that more young people will learn to communicate sign language and lead to potential careers in the field as translators for the hearing impaired, she said in an email.

There is a larger problem of children with disabilities lacking sufficient accommodations in Mississippi schools. Chauncey Spears, whose daughter is deaf, says the new law will help deaf students who use ASL as their first language.

Chauncey Spears, right, with his daughter, Selasie Spears, who is deaf. He says Mississippis new law allowing American Sign Language to count as a foreign language credit will help deaf students who use ASL as their first language.

Spears says there is a lack of support for deaf students who use ASL as their first language. Many teachers lack proper training, making it easier for students to fall behind.

He said parents and leaders at the Mississippi School for the Deaf started a movement to allow the state to classify deaf and hard-of-hearing students as English language learners. ASL is not English, and there is no written ASL for students to access written content in courses required for graduation.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing students must learn written English, the language of most textbooks and other instructional materials.

Spears hopes this curriculum change will be the first step towards change.

We are learning that there is untapped potential in these students and that their needs and potential can be better met with the proper investments and training and educational practices that can prove to be successful, he said.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Mississippi man has pleaded guilty to threatening a United States judge and federal law enforcement officer, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office Eastern District of Arkansas.

Joshua Goodin, 40 (Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center)

Joshua Matthew Goodin, 40, entered guilty pleas on July 1 for one count of threatening to assault and murder a United States judge and one count of threatening to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer.

The release says around July 5, 2022, while he was an inmate at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville, Goodin sent two letters to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Jackson, Miss., an investigation showed.

Springdale man pleads guilty to murder charge, sentenced to 30 years

In one of the letters, Goodin said in part, I swear Im going to kill you all, Im gonna blow your f****** office up. Your (sic) gonna die I promise nothing or no one will stop me.

The second letter revealed a second Goodin threat. Im Joshua Goodin I was recently in Federal Court on a gun charge. The b**** a** d.a. (name redacted), he talked real bad about me. For that he will pay with his life, him and the judge dont understand who I really am.

He was indicted on July 25, 2023, according to the release.

The release said Goodin will be sentenced at a later date. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of 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 KNWA FOX24.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  Four former Missouri guards have pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of a Black man in prison, and a fifth has pleaded not guilty to accessory to involuntary manslaughter.

Othel Moore Jr., 38, died on Dec. 8 in the Jefferson City Correctional Center. A criminal complaint filed Friday alleged that the guards pepper-sprayed Moore, placed a mask over his face and left him in a position that caused him to suffocate.

Cole County Associate Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh on Monday refused to allow bond for three of the men charged with second-degree murder: Aaron Brown, Jacob Case and Justin Leggins. Gregory Varner, also charged with second-degree murder, is jailed without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday. Each were fired in the wake of Moores death.

Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson on Monday said Bryanne Bradshaw, who is charged with accessory to involuntary manslaughter, paid bond and has been released from jail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 30.

Moore was searched and stripped down to his boxer shorts inside his cell during a prison contraband sweep. He was then handcuffed behind his back and led outside, according to a probable cause statement from deputies. Moore showed no aggression during the process and was complying with orders, investigators wrote.

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 Thompsons office. Guards told investigators that Moore was not following orders to be quiet and spit at them, although witnesses said Moore was spitting pepper spray out of his mouth.

Cottleville residents demand answers amid canceled planning meetings

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.

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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. His family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the defendants and the Missouri Department of Corrections on Friday.

The Corrections Department released a statement saying it cooperated with the Cole County Sheriffs Departments investigation and has made policy changes since Moores death.

Leggins and Brown on Monday told the judge that they are still trying to hire private lawyers to represent them. No one immediately responded to a Facebook message from The Associated Press to a person associated with Leggins.

It is unclear if Varner and Bradshaw have hired attorneys: Missouris online court record system was out statewide on Monday and the jail declined to allow the AP to speak with Varner. A phone message and email to contacts associated with Bradshaw were not immediately answered Monday.

Case said he has a lawyer, but it is unclear who that is because of the court records outage.

___

Researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed from New York.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Missouri man sentenced to 150 years for not updating his info on sex offender registry

A 65-year-old Missouri man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for failing to update his personal information in the sex offender registry, a common requirement for people convicted of sex crimes.

Michael Moll was given 150 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Its outrageous, Ashley Nellis, co-director of research at The Sentencing Project, said of Molls sentence. It is not at all what we in the general public think life imprisonment is reserved for.

The state keeps track of peoples whereabouts and other identifying information through the registry. In the years following Molls 2017 release from prison, he failed to register as a sex offender in a timely manner, failed to register a new phone number and vehicle, and failed to register several addresses, according to the Missouri Attorney Generals Office, which prosecuted the case.

Advocates like Nellis argue that sex offender registries dont prevent crimes. Instead they make it harder for people who have served their time to successfully reintegrate into the community, including finding employment or housing.

Violations of the requirements can send someone back to prison for years.

Molls de facto life sentence was lauded by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.

As a former prosecutor and now as your Attorney General, I look for every opportunity to protect Missourians, especially from sexually violent predators who seek to harm our most vulnerable, Bailey said in a news release. My office will continue to use every legal tool at our disposal to enforce the law and obtain justice for victims.

In April 1986, Moll was convicted in a 1982 rape in St. Louis County. He served the full sentence and was released in April 2017, according to Karen Pojmann, a spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Corrections.

He was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in Illinois in 2018 and again in 2021.

In April 2022, he was charged with five counts of registration violations in Missouri.

Because of his previous cases, he was charged as a persistent offender.

The maximum penalty on each charge is 30 years. Moll was convicted on all five counts. He was sentenced to 150 years, to run consecutively, by Warren County Circuit Judge Jason Lamb.

Lamb did not respond to an email or voicemails left with his office.

Moll was sent to Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center in central Missouri on June 6.

During a June 27 call from the prison, Moll said after spending decades behind bars on the rape conviction, he had a difficult time readjusting to life when he was released in 2017 and was just trying to survive out there.

It was hard to keep up with the requirements of registering and updating his information, he said. According to Moll, he had three days to submit any changes with his address, employment or vehicle. At least once, he could not get off work in time to get to the sheriffs office before it closed.

Moll said his case was a travesty of justice and that he believes the judge went just a little bit overboard.

Its a death sentence for me, he said.

Moll believes registration violations should be technical violations, not law violations.

Moll, who represented himself in court, said he plans to appeal his case.

It costs about $37,000 per year to incarcerate a person in Missouri, Pojmann said.
Missouri man will get to show DNA evidence, try to prove innocence before execution date

A man who faces execution will have his DNA evidence heard in court in August.

On Tuesday, Marcellus Khaliifah Williams, 55, was granted an evidentiary hearing, to take place on Aug. 21, just weeks before his scheduled execution on Sept. 24.

The hearing was requested after St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell in January used a Missouri law allowing prosecutors to file a motion to vacate a conviction.

A judge is expected to make a ruling on Williams innocence claims following the hearing, though its unclear how long that decision will take.

The court will now do its part to assess this never-before-considered exculpatory evidence, said Tricia Bushnell, an attorney with the Midwest Innocence Project. This is the procedure the Missouri Legislature created to ensure the state does not execute an innocent person like Mr. Williams. The Attorney General should not be trying to block the courts review and the Missouri Supreme Court should stay Mr. Williamss execution.

Williams was convicted in the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle.

Williams has faced execution twice, but both times were halted to conduct DNA testing and further investigation.

In 2017, former Gov. Eric Greitens issued the second stay and appointed a board of inquiry to look into the case.

Gov. Mike Parson lifted the stay and dissolved the board in June 2023.

The Missouri Supreme Court issued the execution warrant last month.

Williams attorneys argue he is not linked to evidence from the crime scene, including DNA on the murder weapon, shoe prints, fingerprints or hair.

They also said two witnesses who testified against Williams were incentivized by reward money and promises of leniency in their own separate criminal cases.

The Missouri Attorney Generals Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the evidentiary hearing.

In a motion to dismiss Bells case, the office argued Williams was guilty. His appeals have already been denied and that the Circuit Court of St. Louis County does not have authority to stay an execution.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 31: Former President and Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

The Missouri Republican Party must replace 54 national convention delegates and alternates selected at its chaotic state convention because of alarming irregularities in the process, the Republican National Convention Committee on Contests ruled Friday.

The list of rejected delegates includes two of the major GOP candidates for governor, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel.

The committee holds that the State Convention was not properly credentialed, and that any slate of delegates and alternate delegates adopted at the State Convention must be discarded, states the report signed by Chairwoman Jeanne Luckey of Mississippi.

Let us know what you think...

The committee acted after investigating complaints from state convention delegates Daniel OSullivan of St. Louis County and Derrick Good of Jefferson County.

They alleged delegates to the state convention were not properly credentialed as the convention was organized, that the rules for selecting the states at-large delegates were improperly changed during the convention and that some delegates were listed on more than one slate of names in violation of the rules.

The committee, after determining that the complaint about credentialing had merit, wrote that it did not need to consider the other complaints and made no ruling on them.

Contestants have provided ample proof of alarming irregularities in the state conventions credentialing procedures, including the absence of names on delegate lists, the distribution of delegate credentials to alternate delegates without confirming who they were replacing, and the failure to ensure alternate delegates were raised from the same counties as the delegates they were replacing, among other things, the report stated.

The committees ruling gives the state party executive committee until 5 p.m. Friday to select a new set of at-large delegates and alternates.

The executive committee will meet that deadline, the Missouri Republican Party said in a statement to The Independent.

The state party had no role in the determination by the national Contests Committee, the statement read.

We understand the urgency and importance of this matter and are working diligently to ensure that all proper procedures are followed within the constrained deadline, the statement read. While this process unfolds, we remain focused on selecting a delegation that will represent Missouri well at the RNC.

OSullivan, who ran for Congress in 1996 and has been a member of the St. Louis County Republican Central Committee for more than 20 years, said the ruling highlights just one set of problems springing from the convention.

They cant produce a list of who was in attendance, OSullivan said. They cant certify who the delegates to the convention were, so the committee cant say that the product of the convention was valid, and they therefore did not even deal with the questions we had regarding things that occurred during the event itself.

OSullivan expects to be on the list of delegates that will be selected to replace those elected at the convention.

So does Good, a Jefferson County attorney who also has been a long-time county committee member.

The State Executive Committee will put together a new delegate list by the end of the week, and Im confident those are folks that are committed and able to participate, Good said.

The main fight at the convention was between people relatively new to the convention process and those who had been party stalwarts with many conventions under their belts. It became clear after the congressional district conventions that the faction that would buck the party establishment had a convention majority.

The projected timeline for the convention was for it to have all delegates seated by 9 a.m., the time it was officially scheduled to begin, and for all business to be completed by 2 p.m. The credentialing process, however, took five hours and the only business completed by 2 p.m., when the convention took a lunch break, was the election of Sophia Shore of Camden County, as convention chair over Eddie Justice.

Shore manages Eigels campaign for governor.

The MO GOP, whether it be nefarious intentions or just incompetency, completely botched their one job  credentialing, Shore said in a statement to The Independent. It is asinine that the contest committee would accept a challenge that was orchestrated by the MO GOP on the basis of their own error and then reward them for their incompetence.

Missouri has 54 delegate votes at the GOP national convention in Milwaukee, which is set to begin July 15. Of that number, 24 were elected at eight congressional district conventions in April and 27 were elected as at-large delegates at the state convention on May 4. Three additional delegate slots are reserved for party leaders.

There were also 27 alternates selected at the state convention.

All delegates were elected on slates to fill all available seats but a change in rules during the afternoon session made The Truly Grassroots for Trump slate the only one presented for a vote.

The executive committee should restore the delegation without changes, Shore said in her statement.

The MO GOP should own their mistakes, re-submit the Truly Grassroots for Trump slate elected by the convention delegates, and be done with it, she said.

Many of the delegates selected at the convention have not reserved their hotel rooms in Milwaukee and seem unlikely to attend, Good said. But they would not have been removed as delegates if the rules written before the convention had been followed, he said.

If they just played by the rules, there would be no complaint, Good said. They had the votes. They did a good job of building a coalition going into it.

The delegate slates prepared, but ultimately withdrawn, had the same goal as the now-discarded delegates who were selected, to re-elect Trump, he said.

Theres a place to have these kinds of fights, he said. There are rules to have them under, and then at the end of the day, hopefully we find a way to come back together for the common goals.

The afternoon session was marked by disputes over whether those who left for lunch could re-enter the convention, whether the rules could be changed and how slates of delegates and amendments to the platform had to be presented to be in order.

When the credentialing went to hell, the confidence in the people running the convention was lost, OSullivan said.

After the vote, delegates drifted away and the convention ended, without adopting a platform, when there was no longer a quorum to conduct business.

The event itself was embarrassing, OSullivan said.

The post Missouri presidential delegates rejected by Republican National Convention committee appeared first on Missouri Independent.
How did we get here?

How did the media miss the biggest story in American politics? Many journalists were shocked by Joe Bidens decline, showcased on a debate stage. But how could the American media fail to see the President of the United States clearly? Did we ask the wrong questions, or fall for White House spin? Or did we, as Republicans claim, engage in a cover-up?

In this emergency pod, Nayeema, Ben and Max separate conspiracy from reality and reasonable reporting questions falling out of everything from Weekend at Bernies theories to Jill Bidens role. They take you inside the media and party machinery bringing spicy takes from top editors and other media elite. Finally, they make some predictions about where it goes from here and who would be the media savviest Biden-replacement ( if it comes to that).

If you have a take on whether it was the medias fault - drop us a line mixedsignals@semafor.com

Find us on X: @semaforben, @nayeema @maxwelltani or on Instagram @nayeemaraza

Sign up for Semafor Medias Sunday newsletter: https://www.semafor.com/newsletters/media

Subscribe to Mixed Signals

Listen and follow Mixed Signals on your favorite podcast platform:

Full episode transcript

Ben Smith: Then Ive caused you to be very vertical, both of you. Its great. It feels like were in a European railway car together sitting across from each other with our knees touching.

Nayeema Raza: This is mountain pose, standing Tadasana. In my other life I wouldve been a yoga teacher. Okay, here. Ready? Ben. Youre going to initiate.

Ben: What do I say?

Nayeema: You say Im Ben Smith, and then you say, this is Mixed Signals. You have literally three lines.

Max Tani: Oh man, we need to get him off-book.

[MUSIC]

Ben: Im Ben Smith.

Nayeema: Im Nayeema Raza.

Ben: And this is Mixed Signals from Semafor Media.

Nayeema: Its actually an emergency episode of Mixed Signals from Semafor Media. We were supposed to be luxuriating this whole 4th of July week, just indulging in the British elections and whatnot. But instead, since last Thursdays face plant of a debate, chaos abounds and, in case youve been under a rock, theres a mild war brewing now between the Democratic Party brass who are standing firmly behind Biden. The mainstream media as pundits or editorial boards, have been calling for the President to step down, and journalists have been reporting, largely with unnamed sources, on the tension within the party itself. And then democratic voters seem to be unhappy with one, the other, or both of these groups, even the Pod Save America Boys are no longer safe.

Ben: And finger pointing inside the Democratic Party has turned to the obvious target, which is us, the media, at least the mainstream media. And the questions are, did we conceal Bidens frailty or alternately did we set him up?

Nayeema: Did you Ben? Did you set him up?

Ben: It wasnt me.

Nayeema: It wasnt you. So well, to discuss this, we have the perfect person, Max Tani, Semafor Media, Editor, the man you know, who has no blind spots, who in his past life covered the Biden Administration for Politico, and since then has had, I think, Squillion scoops on the ongoing war between Bidens goals and the media. Max, welcome.

Max: Hey guys, hows it going?

Nayeema: So Max, I want to get to your experience covering this White House, in particular, in a second, but before we get there, I want to get into your coverage of the coverage. You just published, kind of fresh off the digital presses, the story where you went and asked two reporters, Evan Osnos, who just wrote the 14,000 word New Yorker profile on President Biden, and the Atlantics Franklin Foer, who just written the book, the Last Politician about President Biden. How did you guys miss this? Basically was the question for your piece, the striving questions of your piece, and I dont know, what did you learn?

Max: Yeah, I asked them a version of that and the answer really was they feel that they didnt miss it. They feel that Joe Biden has changed and that the Joe Biden that Evan Osnos spoke to. Franklin Foer doesnt say that he spoke to Biden, though he admits to obviously speaking to a lot of people close to him, that Joe Biden is very different than the one that was on stage on Thursday night. And they have various reasons for why that might be, whether that is, in Osnoss case, that he caught him at a good time when he was feeling loose and feeling very lucid or that possibly hes diminished even in the months in between when they reported those pieces and Thursday. But regardless, theres an open question that many in the media and in politics on the Right and Left have been wondering about why we were surprised by what happened on Thursday night and whether the media has a role to play in that.

Nayeema: You talked about Robert Hur, the special counsel who was appointed to investigate Bidens classified documents case, and, of course, the quote that made many within the media interested and made the Biden Administration very unhappy. When this was declassified by Merrick Garland, the quote was that, Biden was a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory. And also in the Hur report he kind of details the way in which the President trails off, or he wants to bring him back to focus. So there was data around this for some time. So do you buy the argument that he had deteriorated in the months since Evan Osnos had been behind closed doors with him?

Max: Its really hard to say because it certainly is speculative, but the question itself demonstrates the area in which the media has failed. Theres been a lot of discussion on cable news, theres been a lot of discussion in even within the Democratic ranks and publicly, and Biden has talked about his age and the number attached to how old he is.

Nayeema: Its a good description of age.

Max: Yeah, exactly Orwellian. But I think that what the question demonstrates is that there hasnt been a lot of reporting about the way in which Bidens age and his mental state has affected his ability to perform the presidency and to run. And I think that those are separate things. Theres been a lot of discussion about age and the hypothetical, but there hasnt been a lot of actual reporting about how the age has impacted his presidency and his candidacy.

Nayeema: That has been the big disconnect here because these big questions about Bidens age were raised as early as 2020. I mean, when he was running, he came in to see the New York Times editorial board. I remember I was in the opinion section at that time, he was asked very directly, bluntly about his age, gave a quite strong answer back about... And we thought the question again bubbled up in 2022 before the midterms. And in both cases, the noise kind of got quiet because of voters who pushed Biden through in South Carolina who pushed him through in the 2020 primaries. And then in 2022, when the Democrats delivered reasonably well in the midterms. But then these questions came up again, and youre right Max, it wasnt fresh reporting, but it was a lot of discussion in 2023. The Washington Post ad board asked that Spring, If Biden should be running at his age? The New York Times Upshot then asked, How much do voters care about Bidens age?

An AP-NORC poll found out the answer to that question. They said that fully almost 80% of people, I think it was 77% of people in the poll, said Biden was too old. And then in September of 2023, the Washington Post, David Ignatius, who is a columnist that I think Biden holds in high esteem, who, like Friedman of the New York Times, has spent time with Biden. He wrote this definitive headline in the papers opinion section. President Biden should not run for re-election in 2024. but reporting fundamentally is a question of doing the work, asking the questions and having the access. So I want to know what you think is the challenge here. Is it access or not having asked the questions?

Ben: And the end of getting the answers. I mean, I do think everything you described or most of what you described is basically punditry.

Nayeema: Yes.

Ben: Its you know, okay, as Max said, we know his age, but ultimately, this is the most powerful man in the world, should be the number one reporting target. And there are just factual questions about how does this guy spend his day? And I know Max and I talked about like months and months ago, How do we get this story? Its a hard story to get.

Nayeema: When you and Max talked about this months ago, what were the options? What are the ways in which to answer that question?

Ben: I mean, the only real way to answer it is to have your best reporters just run really hard at and ask the questions of how is this guy spending his day? What is it like to interact with him in meetings to try to piece that together? The Times had elements of it, the Wall Street Journal did a version of it that ultimately relied very heavily on the record Republican quotes that in this very partisan environment people didnt trust, although, seem pretty accurate right now.

Nayeema: The Wall Street Journal had that massive piece, now, last month with reporting from 40 plus sources, mostly Republicans, tackling this question, painting a picture of the President as not having the mental acuity the White House would like us to believe that he had. Max, when you spoke to Emma Tucker, the editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal this last week, she seemed to be taking a bit of a victory lap. What was her quote?

Max: Yeah, I basically just asked her straight up in the minutes after the debate, basically if she felt that she had taken a lot of flak and if she felt vindicated for pursuing that story and publishing that story? And she basically said that she did feel vindicated by it and that the reporters, and Im quoting from her here, That the reporters took a lot of grief for covering a story that needed to be covered and that no other mainstream publishers were willing to touch and that she was very proud of them.

Nayeema: The no other mainstream publishers were willing to touch it. Ben, I think you mightve heard from some other mainstream publishers-

Ben: Yeah.

Nayeema: -On that.

Ben: Yeah, say people really read into the newsletter to that quote from Emma Tucker, and I did hear from senior people at the New York Times who pointed out that, in fact, Peter Baker had done a piece the previous year that the Biden people were hysterical about pointing out that Biden, in particularly when he traveled, was skipping the dinners, was having trouble hearing things, was being treated by European leaders like a distinguished elderly relative. And what neither piece had was the killer anecdote that was undeniable and clear about how some real function of the presidency had been compromised by his age. I think they were suggestive, but I also think that the bubble until Thursday night sort of held.

Nayeema: Yeah, the stakes were implied and then Thursday gave us the anecdote plus, plus, plus, plus, plus that everyone needed. But I think it tells you something when youre getting notes back from senior editors at the New York Times with the hyperlinks to stories to prove that they had actually... It hits a nerve, right? Because the media feels defensive.

Ben: And theres also a lot of internal criticism. Its not all being voiced, but another I thought pretty remarkable email that we got after that newsletter Max and I sent out on Sunday was from Jill Abramson, the former executive editor of the New York Times, just a scalding email. Its clear the best news reporters in Washington have failed in the first studio of journalism to hold power accountable. She wrote, The Biden White House has clearly succeeded in a massive cover-up of the degree of the Presidents feebleness and is serious physical decline, which may simply be the result of old age. Shame on the White House press corps for not to have pierced the veil of secrecy surrounding the President. I basically just asked, Do you think this is the medias fault? And she began with that, and then she concluded that it is laughable and immoral for Democrats to blame the press now for overreacting to that reality. So good luck to everybody.

Nayeema: I should say these are all responses that Ben had written in the newsletter. Im curious what the sophisticated readers of the newsletter think, if only so I can sound smart on our episode of Mixed Signals this week.

Ben: Did it work?

Nayeema: What blame, if any, does the... You sound so smart, Ben.

Ben: This reminds me of that. Theres an incredible TikTok of women imitating all the anchors during the debates saying, Oh my God, my phone is blowing up with texts from very, very senior Democrats.

Nayeema: Right.

Ben: We were all doing it too.

Nayeema: Of course.

Ben: But now our emails were exploding with texts from very, very senior people.

Nayeema: Some on the record, which is always helpful.

Ben: Yeah, I know. Or at least I didnt ask, I think it was on the record. Jill is always on the record. Another one, Bubba Atkinson, who helped found Axios, another smart media gay.

Nayeema: Yes, what did Bubba say?

Ben: The media is almost entirely to blame for the Democratic Partys crisis.

Max: Actually, now that Im thinking about it, why have we not published these? I feel like we should publish some of these. The Jill thing, we should publish that.

Nayeema: Well, this is publishing it Max, its publishing in the podcast. Were breaking some news in the podcast. Dont try to scoop me.

Max: This is good stuff.

Nayeema: It is good stuff.

Ben: I mean, I dont think were going to have a slow July 4th newsletter, but we might, so we can always, well throw some of these in there. If youre extremely important, and you email us, well include you too.

Nayeema: Yeah. So you can plug to them.

Ben: But it was really ultimately a reporting failure, I think broadly, and on all of us, because I think I was just thinking about talking to Max right after the debate about how people gasped in the media file when Biden just appeared so frail immediately. And, I mean, the notion that the media is authentically surprised at what the President of the United States is like in a spontaneous setting is really shocking, would not have been true of Donald Trump, of Barack Obama, of Bill Clinton, of George W. Bush. These people interacted with the press, and I do think at some level, COVID allowed Biden to go into a kind of hiding where there just were not spontaneous public interactions, and we totally lost track of what is this guy like? And they managed to kind of maintain these gains of sort of secrecy that they took during COVID.

Nayeema: But Max, you were there during the early part of the Biden Administration, right? You were at Politico what years?

Max: Yeah, I was at Politico from the very end of 2021 through the fall of 2022.

Nayeema: What were your observations of the Biden White House, that kind of, tell me your craziest or most emblematic stories of how much the President was out and about post COVID, how much that COVID excuse went away?

Max: I mean, I certainly agree with Ben that there were some procedures and things put in place to kind of put some distance between the press and the President, and certainly there were a lot of complaints about the press that despite the Biden 2020 campaigns insistence that they were going to kind of restore normalcy to the relationship between journalists and the White House. That actually the results were quite different. And this was something I wrote a lot about in West Wing book, which was the daily newsletter that we were writing about Biden, which was this really, really limited access and press complaints about very, very limited access to the President. I mean, what I saw, I went on pool duty with him a few times to Delaware over the weekends and, of course, in the White House, watched speeches and appeared for various media things. And I guess I think what we really saw was fairly little spontaneity.

Occasionally, he would interact with reporters when he felt up to it, when there were shouted questions on a rope line or things like that. But what we saw was very, very little access in terms of interviews, except for in super, super tight kind of TV, short brief TV interviews or with very friendly media outlets. I mean, we saw them try to create their own media on the side, which was doing these interviews with Heather Cox Richardson, this sub pro Biden author and these kinds of Biden political influencer types. So what I really took note of was the way in which he severely limited access to the White House.

Ben: And Id add that... The surprise and when I reported about him around the same time was how little he talked to journalists behind the scenes. Trump was on the phone with Sean Hannity all day. Barack Obama was like having lunch with Jeffrey Goldberg. And when I talked to people who I thought of as the kind of people Biden would talk to, Thomas Friedman, Friedman was like, Yeah, maybe once a year, but there werent really reporters.

Nayeema: He had that one column, My Lunch With the President. It was not frequent.

Ben: But its funny, because I think you can talk about how theres something a little worrying about the press getting too cozy with the President about having these off the record chats with the White House, which is a long tradition, but also you just do have some sense of what the hell is going on with this person when you interact with them informally and off the record. And I do think the media, to a degree thats pretty wild, just lost track of what is going on back there.

Max: I think we have to hand the Biden White House and the campaign some credit for this, because I think that theyve done a fantastic job in limiting leaks to the press. These internal stories, even during the obviously there were thousands and thousands of stories during the Trump administration that were leaked for various reasons regarding these detailed play by plays of-

Ben: The gist was always that he was insane. And Biden, youre right.

Nayeema: Yes. That is the thing.

Max: For that is because Biden relies on a very, very close inner circle that really, really frowns on leaks, and they dont have this team of rivals that Biden or that Obama had during his presidency that occasionally did leak things for their own gain. And so I think that part of it is just that this White House has been relatively leak free, and so we havent gotten a lot of those.

Ben: But its an incredible lesson and how that kind of secrecy just massively backfires because the reality loses touch with the coverage when those things collide. Its a huge explosion.

Nayeema: I dont want to age you in this ageist episode that were doing, but when you were covering Obama in the early days for Politico around the O.A. Campaign, youre the star reporter. And in the early years of his administration, didnt Bidens White House, the communications approach have some similarities to Obamas. I mean, it wasnt that leaky, its quite controlled.

Ben: Obama was very locked down, very scripted in certain ways, but Obama liked nothing better than a 17-hour interview with David Remnick. Whatever Obama was trying to control, it wasnt that he lacked confidence in his own voice and his own ability to do unscripted directions. I actually remember when I interviewed Obama, I actually called Remnick up right before because he talked to the guy a lot and asked him his advice, and how do you interview Obama? And he said, Well, first thing, he just has a lot to say. So you kind of got to just let him talk himself out for a couple of hours of all whatever he wants to say, and then you can move on to the topics you want. And I was like, David, I have 20 minutes here.

But Obama was very engaged with the press, he read things. I remember he read blogs, I remember him grumbling when Jeffrey Goldberg left the Atlantic for Bloomberg. Because he couldnt read his blog anymore. I mean, there was a sense that there was a lot of control of information and of image, but there were senior journalists who just day-to-day had a sense of what the President was like. If he had been unable to complete sentences, it wouldve been clear.

Nayeema: Yes, thats fair. I mean, theres no shortage of grumbling from this White House. You hear it more from people around the President, from Anita Dunn, from Ben LaBolt, from others who are sharing that theyre unhappy with coverage, scolding the coverage about the age, and journalists have all kinds of interactions with people in D.C. I remember when a Democratic senator, a senior staffer was complaining to me about the New York Times running questions about Bidens age saying that they were just working for Donald Trump at this point was effectively his line, which I thought was bizarre. You talk about the New York Times as a kind of prestigious institution and entitled to an interview with the President, but it shows the entitlement of the White House to not be covered, not be scrutinized in a way that doesnt kind of seem to click with being the most powerful person and therefore the person that the press most needs to hold to account.

Ben: Yeah, theres just this sort of hacky playbook where if somebody accuses you of being senile, you say the other guy is senile and then the media says theyre both senile, and we have to write questions about age. And then what happened was you put them both on stage, and they were not similar.

Nayeema: Yeah.

Ben: The media had, to some degree, bought this kind of hacky, Well, theyre both old men, line that ultimately was kind of a Biden smokescreen.

Nayeema: Do you guys think it wouldve helped him to speak to the press more often?

Ben: Not if he cant talk.

Nayeema: Maureen Dowd raised these questions, saying that the staff had effectively muzzled him, that he, even the President, would limit his spontaneous questions to these duets, these kind of two plus twos after meetings with foreign leaders, and even those started to fall away, and youd hear the President kind of even fall of last year be like, Oh, got to go to bed. I would answer those questions but dont have time, would get in trouble, whatever the case may be. There was a sense that the staff was really reining him in and did that hurt his confidence, his readiness for this kind of spontaneous environment?

Max: I think the answer is no, partially for the reason that Ben said, but I mean, its one thing if youre not familiar with the types of questions that youre going to be asked. I think you saw that in 2012 with Obama. He just wasnt ready for some of the kind of types of questions that he was going to be asked and the types of rebuttals that were going to come at him real quick, which was different than Romney whod been campaigning and facing a lot of those types of questions, in 2012. Bidens issue was much deeper than that, which was that there were certain times where it was just completely unclear what he was saying. And without getting into too much into punditry, I think that the Biden campaign and the White House actually bought its own propaganda in some sort of ways or bought its own kind of line of reasoning in some sort of ways, which is that this is an unfair question that Biden would be completely ready for these types of instances. I think it was a bit hubris.

Ben: Some of thats now a reporting question, like, What happened in that debate prep? And I got to think its going to leak now. One of the things that happened when things start going badly is they start leaking.

Nayeema: Well, people have started, the reporting so far has been that Democratic donors are blaming the likes of Ron Klain, who, the former chief of staff who was preparing President Biden as well as Anita Dunn and her husband Bauer, whos standing in as Trump. Those were the three people in the inner circle, theres some kind of finger pointing to them. I know, Ben, you think all the finger pointing is to the media, but other people are being thrown under the bus too. Dont you worry.

Max: Its a bit surprising to me that there havent been more leaks. And again, I think this is something to Bidens credit, but it also gets at the tight circle that he keeps that very, very little of this stuff leaked out over the weekend at a time when major media publications are throwing really, really serious bodies and journalists at this question. The fact that there hasnt been a deeply reported New York Times story from the best reporters on the case with all of this information shows that its not particularly easy to get and that a lot of it still is quite locked down. And that was something that I encountered. This was not an easy circle to penetrate, and a lot of the people who are part of Bidens inner circle have been close and close to each other for decades.

Nayeema: There wasnt this direct exchange between the media and Biden, despite the media asking for it in a big way. And this comes back to something Max you pointed out, but something that Obama started trialing these kind of interviews with YouTubers. It was cool back in 2014, 2015. I remember Obama would give interviews to GloZell Green and Ingrid Nilsen, Hank Green. They werent done at the expense of press interviews, but they were certainly tested and began there.

And President Biden, a core part of his campaigning strategy has been this to give interviews to the Heather Cox Richardsons of the world, to give interviews to Howard Stern who dedicates minutes upon minutes to Bidens lifeguard career to give interviews to Betches Media, for example. And meanwhile, you have major journalistic publications, first and foremost, the New York Times, where The New York Times has said its crazy that the President has not sat down for a conversation with the newsroom. This is the first time since FDR that a sitting president has not sat down with the New York Times, and it wasnt just the New York Times, sit down with ABC, sit down with CNN, which the President has since done with Aaron Burnett, but sit down with anyone that isnt a social media influencer or an MSNBC correspondent.

Ben: I think people love to talk about citizen journalism and social media and broadening the sphere to influencers, but I mean, theres something to be said for adversarial journalism and you sort of skip over that page in the book or sort of decide to call in sick for that test, really at your peril. It seems to me it is totally reasonable to imagine that if somebody is avoiding journalists, its because they cant handle it, and that does seem like what happened here.

Nayeema: Or theyre too entitled and believe that they shouldnt be handling it, which is also its own kind of Democratic problem.

Max: I think that in this case, its a combination of both.

Nayeema: Yeah.

Max: Its a frustration that they had with the media dating back to the 2020 presidential campaign, not just the New York Times to all of the media for what they felt like was treating them unfairly and not taking them seriously. And the feeling that exists in the White House, that the media is focused on frivolous stories and not focused enough on policy and the things that are actually going on that are right and a fear of these types of stumbles, like the ones that we saw on Thursday night.

Nayeema: Right, but its come full circle now because originally this strategy was actually part of, I joked about the Pod Save America guys before, but Tommy Vietor, who, of course, was in the Obama Administration comms, but also is now one of the co-hosts of Pod Save America. I think he had written the piece in 2020 that was kind of like, look, the Republicans have Fox News and the mainstream media just is burdened by their ethics, and they stand up for Fox News when Fox News is denied access to the President. One of his, I think, tips to the Biden Administration was like, Hey, its time now for you to give interviews to influencers and podcasters, very self-serving since Tommy Vietor had become one, but I think it was part of the strategy.

And now the Biden-Harris campaign circulated some messaging this week that I thought was quite funny, where they said, we want to help you answer questions from your panicked aunt, your MAGA uncle, or some self-important podcasters, which seemed like a real diss to the boys of the pod. But I do think its worth giving a minute of what Politico called the petty feud between the New York Times and the Biden Administration. Youve reported this, out, youve spoken to the executive editor, Joe Kahn, at the New York Times, about the kind of confrontations that the New York Times and Biden Administration have had since really the primaries, when the editorial board backed a combination of Warren and Klobuchar over Biden, right?

Ben: Yeah.

Nayeema: This has been an ongoing dispute, so maybe you can talk a little bit about that and where you think it goes from here.

Ben: Sure. And there are two things happening here. One is that Biden has never been the New York Times kind of Democrat. He didnt go to a fancy school, in particular that. And then in the 80s, Maureen Dowd, then a reporter for the New York Times, reported that he had plagiarized a speech from the British leader, Neil Kinnock, and that ended his first campaign. So theres sort of old blood between The Times and Joe Biden, which really was crystallized in 2020. When the editorial board, which was really caught up in the kind of progressive moment, just could not bring itself to endorse the guy or even treat him with great respect in an editorial board meeting in his view, and decided to go with a co-endorsement of Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar.

And I think hes always thought, screw those guys. Conversely, the New York Times, I think right now, is attempting to kind of reestablish its sense of a really independent, strong journalistic institution. And just made no bones of how disappointed it was that the President of the United States wouldnt talk to them and maybe sort of felt like they ought to be on his team in some way. And so theres a level of kind of mutual resentment that has produced the worst possible outcome for America, I would say.

Nayeema: Yeah, it did. It is not looking good. And in that vein, there have been a series of conspiracies that have been floated over the course of the last weeks, but particularly since Thursday, and I want to revisit some of the conspiracies around Bidens age and the media, and lets actually just go through them and say whether or not we think theyre conspiracies, they have some truth to them. Whats going on here? So first of all, there was a conspiracy going into this that Biden was only looking old because of Republican clipping and cropping of viral clips. So youd see a lot of these viral clips of the President at D-Day in France or elsewhere, and Democrats would reply, Oh, thats just because they cropped this. I think we even had one of these conversations on our podcast. What do we think now?

Max: Yeah, I did one for Blindspots about Biden on D-Day, which obviously, what we said was true, which is that Biden did not poop himself at D-Day, the conservative conspiracy theory. Its worth noting that the people who were not surprised on Thursday night or viewers of conservative media or who read FoxNews.com or Drudge Report, they said Biden who showed up on Thursday night wasnt surprising. Thats exactly the Biden that weve been seeing over the last three years.

Nayeema: And I kind of feel that way. I mean, I think when we talked about this too, and many people understand what theyre seeing and the media trying to disintermediate what people are seeing doesnt really, I dont think it has that same power this day and age, but lets keep running through these. Theres also conspiracy that Democrats and or CNN set Biden up to fail. You saw kind of chatter out there. Ben has just put his palm all over his face. Theres chatter out there noting that Gavin Newsom was just there in the wings, ready to show like look hot and be so presidential, answer questions after the Presidents failure.

Ben: No accounting for tastes.

Nayeema: And even Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who writes about autocracy and propaganda, retweeted some theories and questions about the lights and camera angles that CNN had used, making Biden look old, leading Ken Klippenstein, who describes himself as an independent journalist, to call this quote Democratic Q&On

Max: Those people are obviously overthinking it and are trying to essentially not make us pay attention to what we saw with our own eyes, which is that most of Bidens failures were his own on Thursday night in his inability to communicate the basic talking points that he had prepared over a week for.

Nayeema: Yeah. Republicans liken some efforts to dismiss these kind of critiques of Bidens age as a bit of the Hunter laptop coverup, except in this case, instead of having dozens of intelligence officers say that it looks like a Russian hack, that this was party apparatus basically dismissing what was happening. Ben, what do you think of that?

Ben: Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of these theories that one included was an element of people getting too far into this conversation about AI and disinformation and the media itself and what is the medias role, and at some point, I think you can get lost in that conversation and lose contact with reality, and what that debate was, was basically reality.

Nayeema: So opposite of that, and the Republicans, conservatives are asking this question, which Im going to call the Weekend at Bernies Conspiracy, which is like, Who has been running the government? What is going on? I actually think its a question that has yet to be reported out.

Ben: Yeah, no, I mean I think thats a great question. Maxs old colleague, Alex Thomson, who we tried and failed to hire, its been reported, good reporter. Still a place for you here, Alex. He reported that Biden is really totally with it between 10 AM and 4 PM, and there are sometimes important things happening at other hours. That said, the Biden Administration has actually been defined by very complex international conflicts, which you can love or hate their strategy, but which they seem to have handled with aplomb. There havent been massively dropped balls because nobody could reach the President as far as we can tell, but we dont know yet.

Nayeema: Heres my personal favorite conspiracy after the Weekend at Bernies question is that the media coverage actually made him old because, in February 2024, a Washington Post piece, which the story itself was good, but there was a question of which came first, the Biden age question or the coverage of his age.

Ben: Oh my God, of all the stories that are going to age really, really badly, that February 2024 sort of suggestion that we had just imagined that he was old, just incredible Washington Post column that will live forever, I hope.

Nayeema: Excellent.

Max: Its the old journalism truism, which is if you put a question mark in the headline, the answer is almost always no. The conclusion that the post came to is that the reason why the coverage of Biden focuses on his age is because hes old.

Nayeema: Yes.

Max: And that was it.

Ben: I should have read to the end the column. Thats a relief to me.

Nayeema: But dont worry, you can create a conspiracy with just a headline, guys, I hate to be the one to tell you.

Max: Yes.

Nayeema: But you can. There is also pushback that Trump, and you hear this from a lot of reporters with Left leaning sympathies, I think where they will say, Look, Trump is just as senile, the media just doesnt cover it. Any response to that, I think.

Ben: People love these long-distance diagnoses, and I think somebody wrote a book in the first term about how Trump was suffering from some brain disease because his language had changed.

Nayeema: Oh yeah, I have that. The articles of impeachment.

Ben: Im sure he is obviously older than he was, but hes also obviously lucid and able to have conversations, which is, by the way, a very low bar that most of us meet most days.

Nayeema: To their credit, the Wall Street Journal story on Biden. Did it also include a list of gaffes by Trump as people were critiquing them? What we saw in the debate, we saw in the debate.

Ben: But what do you guys think of, I think the big conspiracy question, which is, did the media take a pass on this, because we screwed up, because we didnt do the reporting right because we werent sure? Or because were rooting for Joe Biden, and were trying to protect him from the sort of fear of a Donald Trump presidency.

Max: What do you think, Nayeema?

Nayeema: Its very hard to have any kind of conspiracy or any kind of read thats like the media as a monolith. I think that there are reporters who were unwilling to critique the President or ask questions or get those questions answered. Often, not political beat reporters, but just prominent pundits, people out there who preserved access and also bought into this Biden existential democracy moment of like, Are you going to back the Democratic Party? Or are you going to back Donald Trump? But I think ultimately the failure here is about the way in which the Biden Administration set up access to the President, and I think that questions were being raised. There wasnt sufficient reporting as weve talked about, but the questions were being raised, they were being raised time and time again, and actually voters kind of put them to bed. The results of elections in 2020 and 2022 kind of put them to bed. And so its interesting now to see where these polls go and whether it will quiet the pundits and the question asking again or whether it will continue.

Max: I think that in my experience in writing a daily newsletter about Biden for a little less than a year, essentially, the conclusion that I came to is that there are stories in which a lot of people or more people would talk to you, from the administration, would talk to you, and there are certainly things that the administration and many people within its ranks would not return your calls and what would get you hectored by members of the communications staff and even people in Bidens orbit who were not on the comm staff. But were certainly being good team players and things around Bidens age in particular were incredibly, incredibly sensitive. I think that reporters poked into it didnt really get very far and then moved on to other topics, so I do think it was probably a failure of persistence, but it wasnt for lack of trying.

Ben: We got an interesting email from a pretty prominent White House correspondent who basically said that he felt like the White House press corps was fighting for access. Because thats sort of what beat reporters do, is no matter if theyre engaged in these what seemed like very trivial micro and sometimes kind of annoying fights for which side of the rope line are you on and how close to the helicopter can you be and can you be at this table or that table at the dinner. And that they didnt get the kind of support from HQ that they were used to getting or that they thought they should get because the bosses in New York and Washington were maybe a little preoccupied with the big existential Trump story, and maybe it felt like these little battles for White House access were trivial by comparison.

Nayeema: Well, the HQ being editors in this case, just to translate for people, right? Editors the top brass of these organizations.

Ben: Yeah, network presidents.

Max: I think another part of this is the weakening of the networks in general. I mean, I think that part of it is just that these people used to be incredibly powerful figures who really did have a lot of sway and who people in positions of power, in the White House and in Congress were scared of. And now what weve seen is the diminishment of the power of the news networks with fragmentation and the way that the TV economy is moving. They had less leverage and less power than they used to, and so they were able to be pushed around a little bit more, and Biden wasnt as good for the bottom line as Trump was.

Nayeema: I also think theres, by the way, a generational reality to this reporting in some sense, because I just think back to that September 2023 podcast that we did with Franklin Foer and Jen Psaki, who is now, of course, MSNBC correspondent, and instead Hernan, Alex Thompson and myself and Kara. And it was like everyone under the age of 40 was very concerned about Bidens age and everyone older wasnt. I dont know if thats a reality as well of theres some kind of unwillingness to cover. Am I just being ageist, Ben? You can say if Im being ageist and starting a new conspiracy.

Ben: Im trying to figure out which side of this lines Jen Psaki is on, but...

Nayeema: Well, Jen Psaki is in her own special category, right? Because she, of course, was part of the Biden White House.

Ben: Part of the apparatus.

Nayeema: Yeah.

Ben: But I do think that questions about age are genuinely difficult for everybody, but particularly for older people that when Dianne Feinstein was dying, I talked to John Bresnahan, this great Capitol Hill reporter who had known her forever and just talked about, like, look, its really hard these are people youve known for a long time. Its not easy to go write a story about their decline. People who you have seen at their heights as these brilliant figures. And I think maybe theres a little of that. And I think as I get older, as you get older, you do develop more sympathy for people, but I actually think good luck to senators in their seventies now, because I think theres going to be ferocious coverage of peoples mental capacity now, because the media loves nothing more than fighting the last war. And so we are going to be out there putting the fear of God into every 72-year-old member of the US Senate who spills her soup or something like that. So yeah, watch out.

Nayeema: I think theres a little bit of cover your ass as well, of after a debate performance like that. You cant not say anything because its like, Well, if things really go down the rails, and you were there backing Biden... I mean, I think there is a desire to kind of come out and speak out when you see something, thats that clear.

Max: Yes.

Nayeema: Can we do two more conspiracies, by the way?

Ben: Yeah. Shoot.

Nayeema: Theres a sense that the media is giving Trump a free pass for his many lies, and you see this critique kind of all over Twitter or elsewhere where people are like, theyre like, Why are you asking these questions? You should be calling out Trump who lied 20 plus times over the course? And outside of the Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board, who noted that Trump is the only candidate that should drop out of this race, was, I think, their editorial. Not a lot of people. I mean, what do you guys think of that? That we are not covering Trump enough?

Max: All the media has done, a significant portion is built around covering Trumps lies. CNN employs its on-air fact-checker who was hired specifically because he went viral during Trumps first term to cover Trumps lies. And even though the network has laid off all different types of people, theyve kept their Trump lie fact-checker on there. And of course, these people who are complaining about this, how do they know that Trump lied about all these things? And of course, they knew some of these things, but theyre reading much of it in the media. Theres so much; I find that to just be one of the least compelling things that can be said.

Nayeema: I think that also, part of it comes down to what Ben, you said to Vik Ramaswamy in our first episode of the show, which is part of what makes news new is that something is new and there is a reality that Donald Trump has been lying and lying, and although there was lots of coverage of his fact checks. The big news coming out of Thursdays debate was that President Biden was not who he was expected to be.

Ben: And Biden secondarily, and possibly because he was a little befuddled, said a bunch of stuff that wasnt true during the debate as well. Yeah, I dont think that was the big news.

Nayeema: And then theres this conspiracy that it is all. This isnt really a media conspiracy, but I kind of think it is because theres this one clip that went viral of Dr. Jill Biden speaking to her husband right after the debate where she says.

Dr. Jill Biden: Joe, you did such a great job, you answered every question, you knew all the facts.

Nayeema: And this has led to this kind of conspiracy and a lot of coverage about the idea that its all down to Jill Biden. Monica Hesse wrote a piece about this, there was pieces about it in the Times elsewhere, but this idea that its all Jills fault, and Bill Ackman actually assures us that he no longer blames POTUS. He blames FLOTUS now, who he thinks wants to keep the job because she just loves West Wing Tea Time. Oh my God, this guy. But this idea that its all like Lady Macbeth.

Ben: Look, I mean, this is a reporting problem. You got to get, whats the Macbeths Castle called again? You just got to get into the castle and ask the servants whether Lady Macbeth put them up to it or not. Shakespeare got in there, and he told the story, and so I dont know, right?

Nayeema: This is the wild thing about this White House; even the resident staff doesnt have access to the President in the same way that previous White Houses have. And Joe from Scranton will say its because were not used to having staff there. Of course, that leads to all kinds of questions and conspiracies, but to who to ask the question.

Ben: And I think its hard to get into peoples marriages, right? And there was a quick backlash to the idea that Jill Biden is an important force in Joe Bidens life and might be deciding whether he stays or he goes. I dont know. It seems like a reporting question to me. She obviously is, I was just talking to somebody at a state dinner, one of my very important text friends, about how much she obviously is having a blast and is totally in the zone as First Lady, even as Joe sort of sometimes would like to go back to bed from this event now. And shes the most influential voice in his ear. And so I think...

Nayeema: Thats just marriage, Ben. Thats just marriage when you date a boring guy. But I will say that I got this question from people who are donors to the Democratic Party this weekend, and I said to them, I have expertise in dating men, Ive got on dates with lots of men.

Ben: Wheres this going Nayeema?

Nayeema: I just want to say, a man says to you, Baby, I want to be president. And youre like, Yeah, youd be great a president. I think the idea that shes driving the train versus being a supportive partner is the fundamental of that reporting question. Were going to cut all this, but I just want to put it out there.

Ben: No, no. This is the best part. Yeah.

Max: You cant cut this, this is good stuff.

Ben: I just want somebody at the end of this to be like, You did such a great job, Ben. You talked so well, you answered all the questions.

Nayeema: Call your wife and say that. She bought you a chair to watch the debate in Ben, dont complain.

Ben: That is true. That was pretty good.

Nayeema: But I think this idea that Joe Biden was set up is complete bullocks, but this idea that the Democrats were, it comes back to this major conspiracy that weve talked about a lot, which is like what happens when you tell your audience something they do not want to hear? And what Nate Silver spoke about, that there is some fear of polls and pundits telling people what they dont want to hear anymore. And right now in this moment, were seeing that the media is speaking out, but I do think that voters are not necessarily excited about that or embracing that conversation.

Max: Its a really interesting question because right now, obviously, members of the Democratic Party have not come out to call for Biden to step aside or for the party to nominate someone else. And voices that youve heard calling for this are people in the media. And I think you could look at this one of two ways. You could say, Well, Joe Biden hasnt stepped aside and decided to let someone else seek the nomination, so maybe the media is not particularly powerful. But on the other hand, what we actually have seen is that on the heels of Bidens poor performance, the media has driven the narrative and has driven the story forward, and pressure from the media has gotten people to kind of react. And so I think you could look at this and say, Oh, maybe the editorial pages still have a little bit of juice left in them, and maybe Ezra Klein and other influential pundits can still actually drive this in a significant way.

Ben: I tried to get Ezra on this show, but he said it was too meta.

Nayeema: Last time we spoke, Max, you said that the media matters because it could help change Bidens mind that this class, this political elite class, it has been several days. Bidens mind hasnt shifted, even though Joe Scarborough, the person the president watches every morning, has spoken. Thomas Friedman has spoken, who calls the President a close friend. Thomas Friedman has even said he wept alone in a hotel room in Portugal, watching these debates. David Ignatius has spoken yet again. Will any of it matter? Lets... Predictions.

Max: I dont remember exactly predicting that, but maybe Im a little bit like our president and I struggle, but...

Ben: Too soon.

Max: I do think that this has had an obvious impact on... I think that the media voices and this strong universal, almost nearly universal condemnation from everybody, from the New York Times editorial page to David Remnick, to Friedman, I think its had a real impact on the discourse and reflects something deeper, which is that there are a lot of people in the Democratic Party who would like to see Joe Biden step aside.

Nayeema: Ben, what do you think?

Ben: Yeah, I think that the media has managed to create a real storm here, but again, we talk about the media. Our job here is to tell you what happened in reality, and I think the Biden people managed to create a medium-sized bubble that kept out reality for a time, and the medias job is to bring it back, and thats whats happening here.

Nayeema: I think its interesting that these early polls coming back have not shown much difference. They still have Trump ahead by just a slight margin. I thought it was wild that around 60% of Americans thought that Trump had won the debate, and I was like, Should we give the man, woman, person test to the other 40% as well?

Ben: There was a poll in which 60 some percent said Biden should resign, but also he won the election in that poll. But also theres a legendary memo from Mark Penn in January, February of 2008 titled, Wheres The Bounce? Because Barack Obama had beat Hillary in Iowa, but the polls hadnt changed. So its a famous jinx to say the polls arent going to change. I would wait a couple of days here.

Nayeema: And I imagine that the administration will be watching the polls, as much as theyre listening to the conversation or as much as theyre actually trying not to listen to the conversation, but that indirectly, I dont imagine that someone like former President Obama doesnt pay attention to what the Pod Save America guys are saying, even if the Biden Administration would like not to.

Ben: So thats an empirical question. I do not know if Barack Obama is listening to Tommy Vietors podcast, but maybe one of them can call us and tell us.

Nayeema: I imagine President Obama is playing basketball, listening to that podcast, listening to some cool tunes on Spotify, reading a book hanging with Michelle. This is my imagination of post-presidential life. Its not that bad, Jill. You can go there too.

Ben: But seriously, the cycle here for a real collapse goes terrible debate, huge media firestorm, bad polls, and then Barack Obama and Bill Clinton saying he has to get out. And so the polls will be the really crucial part of whether Biden stays or goes.

Nayeema: Were a media podcast. Were not a political punditry podcast, but we each, I think, can answer this question within our lanes of all the names potentially out there as a Biden replacement. Who would be the most media savvy?

Max: I mean, I think, obviously, maybe based on my interview with him, I get access and I go immediately in the tank, but I think that Gavins been setting himself up for this. Hes been doing national media all year answering questions around this type of thing. He did a fake debate with DeSantis for reasons that are completely unclear for both sides, and so, I think he clearly has set himself up for something like this. He is waiting in the wings, just like those people in the other conspiracy are thinking.

Nayeema: I would say maybe the media savviest would actually be someone who is like lower in name, but Secretary Mayor Pete, or as he might become Presidents Secretary, Mayor Pete. I think that he just has been a king of Fox News, is young, is fresh, is energizing in a way.

Ben: Yeah, those are both two people who do really, really get what we do. There are other ways to run for president, but those two are going to dominate the media primary, and I think there isnt actually a third.

Nayeema: Really? Nobody; Gretchen Whitmer, Kamala Harris.

Ben: These are all accomplished politicians, but nobody whos just kind of be their own communications director type.

Nayeema: All right, thanks guys for doing this. That was great.

[MUSIC]

Nayeema: Thanks for listening to Mixed Signals from Semafor Media. Our show is produced by Max Tani, Alison Rodgers, Alan Haburchak, Sheena Ozaki, and Kate Gallagher. What special thanks to Anna Pizzino, Britta Galanis, Chad Lewis, Rachel Oppenheim, Garett Wiley, and Jules Zirn. Our engineer is Fernando Arruda. Our theme music is by Bill Libby and our public editor is, of course, the Biden White House. Just kidding. Its Jill Biden, obviously. Jill Biden, Lady Macbeth.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Some tenants at a Fox Meadows apartment complex are concerned they may lose utility service next week after they received a notice from MLGW of termination of service with the landlord.

MLGW said there is still the possibility the issue will be handled before any problems arise, but the scorching temperatures have a resident of the Emerald Pointe Apartments worried.

The notice warns of utility service termination in the next week, saying Circumstances require termination of MLGWs current business relationship with your landlord.

Residents complain about rodents, trash at Fox Meadows apartment complex

Theyre charging people all of this money, theyre not fixing anything and at the same time we get a notice from MLGW letting us know theyre going to cut our power off due to non-payment by the office, said the resident.

He says he is already dealing with not having hot water. This new possible problem makes things even worse.

Right now with us finding out through this notice, its kinda, its scary. I have kids. I have a pet and a wife here, said the man. I called MLGW. MLGW said as of right now, theres nothing that I can do on my behalf, but its something I have to discuss with the apartment complex.

He says he has yet to hear anything from the property managers.

We also tried to ask, but when we approached the leasing office, we saw someone inside lock the door, and no one answered when we knocked.

When we called we got a recording saying, The mailbox of the person you are calling is currently full.

Residents at risk of losing utilities blame apartment management

A spokesperson with MLGW did tell us this:

Some apartments have a master water meter and handle the billing of individual tenants. Therefore, individual tenants are not MLGWs water customers and MLGW has no means of restoring water to individual units once disconnected. In terms of electricity, a disconnection would only affect common areas.

These notices are standard operating procedure to make tenants aware of a possible cut-off and generally the bill is paid in time to avoid disconnection. Individual tenants have remedies against their landlords.

The deadline is July 9. We will keep you posted if the bill is paid in 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 WREG.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and Belmont Campus Security apprehended a suspect that fled from authorities Monday night.

According to an email alert from Belmonts Office of Campus Security, a suspect fled from MNPD around 7:35 p.m. and ran onto campus grounds. The suspect was eventually apprehended around the Bell Tower with the assistance of Belmont Campus Security.

RELATED: Most Wanted fugitive arrested after chase on Belmont University campus

You will see a larger than normal police presence on campus through this evening, but there is no ongoing threat to the campus community, the email read.

News 2 later learned that the suspect was one of Nashville Most Wanted fugitives. The man  identified as 23-year-old Elijah Maitland  had five outstanding warrants for aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, domestic assault and two counts of interference with an emergency call.

Belmont University investigates vandalism on campus

News 2 has reached out to MNPD for more information on the incident, though no additional details were immediately released.

 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.
Update

MISSOURI  Missouri Judiciarys web-based information portal, CaseNet is back online as of July 3, 2024.

The restore comes after round-the-clock efforts from IT staff and experts at Supreme Court of Missouris state courts administrators office (OSCA), the state supreme court said in a release.

All three appellate districts and all but one of the states 46 circuit courts, including municipal divisions, are back online. The 42nd Judicial Circuit (Crawford, Dent, Iron, Reynolds and Wayne counties) is expected to be restored by Monday, July 8.

The incident reportedly lasted four days with online court access varying in unavailability across the state. It all began with an electrical failure Saturday, June 29. The court added that there is no reason to believe the failure was due to a cyber incident.

Court staff are expected to begin processing the backlog of filings over the past few days.

MO CaseNet down

MISSOURI  Court systems around Missouri are at a standstill after whats being called an electrical failure.



According to a Missouri Court System spokesperson, an electrical failure on Saturday damaged computer equipment at one of the Missouri Judiciarys data centers. That caused various systems around the state to either be unavailable or have limited functionality  including case net and e-filing.

And its having a direct effect on our local courts.

Newton County prosecutor William Lynch says his office can transmit cases, but the courts cannot accept them within their system. Jasper County prosecutor Theresa Kenney says her office is having to send in-custody charges directly to the judge.

Barton and Vernon County courts have made the decision to cancel court for the rest of the week.

Communications counsel for the Missouri Supreme Court, Beth Riggert, says their first priority is to get the system up and running. She says they will investigate the cause after the system is restored.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
NAIROBI, July 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 39 people were killed and many injured in the recent anti-tax hike protests across Kenya as youth took to the streets Tuesday for a new round of protests.

"Data from our records indicates that 39 people have died and 361 injured in relation to the protests countrywide," state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Chairperson Roseline Odede said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Monday evening.

The KNCHR said there were 32 cases of involuntary disappearances and 627 instances of arrests of protesters who were demonstrating against a wide range of unpopular tax increases that have now since been withdrawn.

The national human rights watchdog said the data, which covered the period from June 18 to July 1, show that Nairobi leads the number of fatalities, standing at 17.

Odede, who condemned the force that was inflicted on protesters, faulted those who destroyed and burned critical government infrastructure such as Parliament buildings and the National Library, urging them to respect the rule of law. "We maintain that the force used against the protesters was excessive and disproportionate," Odede said.

The protests led by mostly young Gen-Z protesters began in cities and towns across Kenya and online after the Finance Bill 2024 was introduced in parliament on June 18.

The protesters expressed outrage over provisions of the bill that would raise taxes on goods and services that many people depend on, such as bread, and mobile money transfers, to meet the government's revenue targets.

On June 25, the protesters breached the heavily guarded Parliament premises to enter both the National Assembly and the Senate, where they destroyed property, a few hours after the lawmakers passed the contentious Finance Bill 2024, seeking to raise an additional 346.7 billion shillings (about 2.67 billion U.S. dollars).

A section of the building was set ablaze by the angry protesters, many of whom were wearing black clothes and carrying Kenyan flags as they chanted anti-government slogans.

The incident prompted the security forces to fire live bullets at the protesters, killing at least four of them in the clashes.

In a televised interview Sunday, President William Ruto reiterated his previous calls for dialogue with young people, noting that he was prepared to do this in a forum of their choice, including the social media of X Spaces, where Gen-Z often gather to discuss issues and strategies.

The young protesters, however, rejected the call for dialogue and instead organized fresh protests Tuesday, insisting that the president should first release those who had been detained by the police. They urged people to occupy roads across the country, including central business districts. 
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  A mobile DMV will soon be rolling up to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to assist with all your ID needs.

Champaign Unit 4 holding job fair for select positions

The Illinois Secretary of State Mobile DMV will arrive on July 12. It will be at the location on 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign from 10 a.m. to noon.

Officials will be able to provide drivers license renewals, new ID cards, REAL ID cards, and stickers for purchase. To see a list of required documents to bring, visit the Secretary of States website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A Mobile woman was arrested after she allegedly shot another person on Friday night, according to the Mobile Police Department.

Mobile County Sheriffs Office K-9 dies after tracking down burglary suspect

42-year-old Sarah Terrell-McGill of Mobile was booked into Mobile Metro Jail late Friday, June 28.

Sara Terrell-McGill (Photo courtesy of the Mobile County Sheriffs Office).

Mobile police officers responded to a reported shooting Friday night around 8:30 on the 6500 block of Athey Court.

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4 arrested in Baldwin County, charged with manslaughter after overdose death

Officers learned once they arrived a female had already been transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

During the investigation, officers learned the alleged suspect and victim knew each other, and the shooting occurred during an argument between the two.

Terrell-McGill faces a first-degree assault charge.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
One of the leaders of a group of moderate and conservative House Democrats added to President Joe Bidens political woes on Tuesday, saying in an op-ed that he wasnt buying the idea a second Donald Trump term would be a unique threat to American democracy.

I reject the premise. Unlike Biden and many others, I refuse to participate in a campaign to scare voters with the idea that Trump will end our democratic system, wrote Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine).

Golden is a co-chair of a vanishing but key group of House Democrats called the Blue Dog Coalition, which has often been a thorn in the side of party leaders by pushing for more centrist policy proposals, even as the Democrats liberal wing has been ascendant in recent years.

The 10-member groups roster also reads like a whos who of vulnerable Democratic House members. In addition to Golden, the other two group co-chairs, Reps. Mary Peltola (Alaska) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.) are on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Frontline list of vulnerable members.

Goldens op-ed for the Bangor Daily News adds to pressure for Biden to withdraw from the White House race over concerns about his age and mental acuity.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) has also called for Biden to step back, but his seat is considered safely Democratic. (Also, Doggett called Trump a criminal and expressed fears that he could become president again.)

As a member in a swing district, Golden is not only saying hed be OK with a Trump victory, but is giving space to other vulnerable Democrats to publicly express concerns about Biden that they may have kept confidential in order to show loyalty.

In the op-ed, Golden said he was not surprised by Bidens sometimes halting debate performance and its implications.

It also didnt rattle me as it has others, because the outcome of this election has been clear to me for months: While I dont plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And Im OK with that, he wrote.

Golden said the election was about the economy, not democracy, and argued that it was more important for Democrats to hold a chamber of Congress than the White House. In doing so, he dismissed widespread worry among Democrats that the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection was just a warmup for more antidemocratic actions Trump could take if he returned to the White House.

Jan. 6, 2021, was a dark day. But Americans stood strong, Golden wrote.

Hundreds of police officers protected the democratic process against thousands who tried to use violence to upend it. Judges and state election officials upheld our election laws. Members of Congress, including leaders from both parties, certified the election results.

Golden said a Trump victory would mean that whoever was elected from Maine would have to be able to bargain with him.

Maines representatives will need to work with him when it benefits Mainers, hold him accountable when it does not and work independently across the aisle no matter what, he wrote.
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.

Mark Lee Dickson holds a sign about the Comstock Act in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on March 26, 2024, while justices heard oral arguments in a since-rejected challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone. (Sofia Resnick | States Newsroom)

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 70 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.

Molly Gaebe, a performer and activist with Abortion Access Front, dressed like 19th century anti-vice crusader Anthony Comstock, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court the day of oral arguments in the abortion-pill case, March 26, 2024. (Sofia Resnick | States Newsroom)

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.

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(Bloomberg) -- Worried by deepening China-Russia relations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to Moscow next week for talks with President Vladimir Putin, his first visit to the country since the Kremlins 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

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The meeting, which will help Putin to counter Western efforts to cast him as a pariah, comes two months after Putin went to China for the first foreign visit of his new term. That trip underlined Moscows increasing dependence on Beijing, which India has eyed warily.

The deepening of the strategic alignment between Russia and China is uncomfortable for New Delhi because its like your best friend sleeping with the enemy, said Swasti Rao, an associate fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute For Defence Studies and Analyses, a Defense Ministry-backed research group in New Delhi. Given that we have these concerns it makes sense for the prime minister to go there and talk to Putin at the highest level.

It will be Modis first bilateral visit since he won a third term in office, with the prime minister breaking convention by visiting Russia instead of neighboring countries like Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, where he chose to go after previous election wins.

That underlines the importance New Delhi places on its ties with Moscow, people familiar with the matter said. India, the worlds third-largest crude consumer, has become a major buyer of Russian oil, and is reliant on its military hardware supplies. At the same, relations between China and India have been at a low point since land-border clashes in 2020.

The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues although no breakthrough agreements are likely, according to Indian officials familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. The agenda includes a logistics supply agreement to bolster cooperation between the two militaries, restarting discussions on the joint development of a fifth generation fighter aircraft, and collaboration on nuclear power, the people said.

Indias Ministry of External Affairs wasnt immediately available to comment when contacted for further information.

The visit to Moscow, which is expected to take place on July 8-9, partly coincides with a separate summit in Washington of members of the North American Treaty Organization. Modis Russia trip was long overdue and the timing had no connection with the alliances meeting, people familiar with the matter said. Modi is expected to visit Vienna on a two-day trip after Moscow.

The US has sought to strengthen ties with India to counter Chinas dominance in Asia and has been tolerant of New Delhis relations with Russia. Asked about those relations, Kurt Campbell, the US deputy secretary of state, said last week Washington has raised concerns about India-Russia ties with New Delhi, but that it had confidence in India and wants to expand relations with the South Asian country.

Modi has skipped annual in-person summits with Putin for the past two years amid discomfort in New Delhi over the worst fighting in Europe since World War II. Even so, India has avoided censuring Russia for invading neighboring Ukraine, abstaining at United Nations votes on the issue, and has advocated diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

Cheap Oil

Oil sales by Russia to India are helping to maintain ties, even if they arent as close as during the Soviet era. As Russia offers deeper discounts on its oil amid Western energy restrictions, India has increased its purchases of Russian crude more than 20 times compared to 2021, exceeding 2 million barrels a day.

India saved $13 billion by importing cheaper crude oil from Russia over the previous 23 months, according to a study by ICRA, the rating agency, published in April.

A Moscow meeting with the Indian prime minister is a diplomatic win for Putin, whose countrys been hit with unprecedented sanctions over its attack on Ukraine. Hes also wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, which has restricted his travel abroad.

In June, Putin on a rare foreign tour visited North Korea, where he signed a military defense pact with Kim Jong Un that alarmed the US and its allies. Last year, he didnt attend the Group of 20 leaders meeting hosted by India or the BRICS emerging economies summit held in South Africa.

A former Indian envoy to Russia, who asked not to be identified, said New Delhis ties with Moscow are stable and strong, although economic and defense interactions have slowed recently. The relationship has always been driven from the top, and summits between the leadership have their own importance, the person said.

The visit of a leader of a state such as India demonstrates that Russia isnt facing international isolation, and for the Kremlin this is very important, said Aleksei Zakharov, an expert on India based in Moscow.

India, which has refused to join punitive measures against Russia, has worked to resolve problems affecting trade caused by Moscows need to reduce its use of the US dollar.

India now pays largely in UAE dirham for Russian oil, and the two countries have found a solution to a deadlocked payment system for weapons and other goods. That had led to Russian companies amassing as much as $8 billion worth of rupees in accounts in India which they couldnt spend, according to senior officials who didnt want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Under the agreement, Russia has used the funds to invest in Indian enterprises and buy more electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, agricultural tools and textiles, said officials directly aware of the details.

Arms Deals

From New Delhis perspective, the commercial relationship remains unbalanced, however, with India importing about $60 billion a year and Russia buying less than $5 billion from India.

Russia, meanwhile, is seeing its once-dominant position in Indias arms market weaken as New Delhi looks to Western suppliers led by France and the US, as well as to its own defense industry. There have been no new major arms deals with Russia for the last three years, and Indias push to diversify looks set to continue after delays in the delivery of Russian S-400 air defense systems.

Russia for now remains Indias main supplier, accounting for 36% of arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. But thats down more than half from a decade ago.

Wary of sanctions risks and payments difficulties, Indian businesses also are cautious about operating in Russia, and top Indian officials and executives have been reluctant to attend major economic gatherings in the country.

Modis last trip to Russia was in 2019, when he attended a far eastern economic forum in Vladivostok.

This is about maintaining the status quo, said Zakharov, the Moscow-based India specialist. Ties are not deteriorating but theres no particular drive to improve relations either.

--With assistance from Rakesh Sharma and Dan Strumpf.

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A 29-year-old Cocoa woman who authorities said rammed a gate at Patrick Space Force Base, then carjacked a vehicle with her 4-year-old child in tow and led deputies on a two-county, high-speed chase, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury.

New signs at the South Gate of U.S. Space Force Patrick Space Force Base, formerly Patrick Air Force Base.

Krishna Jade Janosky was indicted on charges of unauthorized entry onto a military installation, grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding law enforcement and damaging government property in connection with the Feb. 7 incident at the base.

If convicted, Janosky  who court records show suffered from several mental health challenges, including anxiety  could face up to 30 years in federal prison.

I know what I did was wrong, Janosky told Indian River County deputies who took her into custody following a chase in Brevard and Indian River counties, arrest records show. Prosecutors said that Janosky has no connection to the military base, located along State Highway A1A just south of Cocoa Beach.

Deputies and other officers were alerted to respond to the base on Feb. 7 after a woman, later identified as Janosky, drove through the flightline gate, causing at least $1,000 in damage to the property. Investigators said she then jumped out of her car with her child and walked to another vehicle, and she asked that driver to exit.

More: Brevard pelicans released near Patrick Space Force Base, after healing from broken wings

Janosky got into the stolen vehicle, a Kia Sportage, and sped south on A1A. Deputies used stop sticks but Janosky continued driving. She later veered off the road in Indian River County, where deputies took her and the child into custody.

Janosky told deputies that she was following the car ahead of her, which pulled into the base. She told deputies that she was directed, possibly by military police, to pull over but that she became fearful of what might happen to her, the arrest report states.

Janosky was arrested and booked into the Indian River County Jail. She pleaded not guilty to the state charges.

Court records show that Janoskys case was transferred to a mental health court diversion program in Indian River. In June, federal prosecutors sought an indictment and once it was secured, issued an arrest warrant for Janosky in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The state later decided to not pursue charges once federal prosecutors took up the case, court records show.

The case was investigated by the 45th Security Forces Squadron and the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, along with Brevard and Indian River sheriffs offices. The child's status was not immediately known.

No court date has been set.

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Or X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Feds: Cocoa woman indicted for breaching Patrick Space Force Base gate
President Joe Biden announces th designation of 31 new regional tech hubs across the state aimed at advancing U.S. technology, including one in Montana.

President Joe Biden announces th designation of 31 new regional tech hubs across the state aimed at advancing U.S. technology, including one in Montana. (Screenshot via White House)

The U.S. Department of Commerce and Montanas U.S. senators announced Tuesday that a technology consortium known as the Headwaters Tech Hub will receive a $41 million grant to help build out jobs within the optical and laser technologies field in four regions of Montana.

Last October, the White House announced the Headwaters Tech Hub, led by Accelerate Montana, was one of 31 consortiums to be designated a Regional Innovation and Technology Hub and would get $500,000 to help launch a strategy.

The hub will involve photonics, which includes optical and laser technology, autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning. The consortium wants to figure out how to use the technology for self-driving vehicles, LiDAR emission tracking, agriculture and wildfire management, according to its proposal.

Led by Accelerate Montana at the University of Montana, the consortium has 18 members, including the Montana Department of Commerce, the Commissioner of Higher Education the Montana Chamber of Commerce, the Montana University System, Montana State University, Salish Kootenai College, and several businesses.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, said the $41 million in grant money, which comes from a provision in CHIPS and Science Act Tester supported in 2022, is a Phase 2 investment in the project. Only 11 other tech hubs received Phase 2 funding; including Montana, the hubs will receive about $504 million. Tester had pressed the Biden administration in February to award the Headwaters Tech Hub with another round of money.

Montana is a big state that can do big things, and weve proven that we have what it takes to lead the nation in technological innovation that will ensure American can continue to outcompete countries like China, Tester said in a statement.

The Headwaters Tech Hub will encompass the Kalispell, Missoula, Butte-Silver Bow and Bozeman regions. The group believes it could create 4,000 new jobs within the photonics industry and continue to grow the sector beyond the current 1,000 jobs. In the groups application last year, it referenced needing to keep up with similar development in Asia.

This growing market demand, and the opportunities it creates, exceeds current capacity, both in Montana and nationally, to commercialize and manufacture new technologies and train the skilled workforce needed to support the sector, the application said. There is an urgent need for growth in domestic photonics capabilities to offset the rapid shift toward Asia.

Last October, members of the tech hub said it would give the state a better chance to compete for grant money. The president of the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance in October said the tech hub designation marked a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the coalition and industry.

Tester said that is why hes pushed for the hub and the grant money for several years.

Bringing good-paying jobs back to the United States, securing our domestic supply chains, and developing next generation technology starts with investments right here in the Treasure State, and I will continue to partner with the Headwaters team to make sure they have the resources they need to succeed, he said in a statement.

Sen. Tester has been a critical partner working to ensure that the Headwaters Hub has the resources we need to become a global leader in smart, autonomous, photonic remote sensing technologies, said Headwaters Executive Director Dr. Tim VanReken. We agree with Sen. Tester that there is an enormous amount of untapped potential in rural America, and we are grateful for his years-long work that made this transformative award possible.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, said the money would help create good-paying jobs in Montana and help us win the race against China.

From optics and photonics to quantum computing, I am grateful to help advance Montanas ability to contribute even further to the important research, development, and jobs that will help strengthen our national security and help the country stay competitive globally, Daines said in a statement.

Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a statement that Montana continues to lead the nation in innovation.

Thanks to our growing dominance in new and emerging industries like photonics and quantum computing, Montana is quickly becoming the envy of the nation, Gianforte said. This investment in Headwaters Hub, alongside our pro-business and pro-jobs policies, will help further make Montana the center of gravity for next generation research and technology, not only in the United States, but around the world.

Editors note: This story has been updated to include more information from the Department of Commerce and comments from Sen. Daines, Gov. Gianforte and Dr. VanReken.

The post Montanas Headwaters Tech Hub gets $41M grant from feds appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Montana State University is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights for discrimination. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

Montana State University announced this week it is opening a new Campus Civil Rights office this summer, a consolidation of a couple of other units at the Bozeman campus.

CCR will respond to concerns regarding all types of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, MSU said in an email Monday to the campus community. It will also respond to concerns of stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

CCR will be a resource for all students, faculty, staff and campus visitors.

MSU spokesperson Michael Becker said the unit is a reorganization of other offices to better serve our students, faculty and staff.

MSU is not adding staff or increasing funds for the budget neutral unit, which will provide sexual assault prevention training, peer education, civil rights investigations and other services on campus.

Student leaders asked us to offer a highly visible unit that would provide better access and services to the university community, Becker said in an email. By consolidating efforts, we are able to respond to the students recommendations and to expand services in a more effective manner.

MSU is facing allegations it failed to respond to discrimination after a rash of students filed complaints last year with the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights.

Since October 2023, the Office for Civil Rights has opened six investigations into Montanas largest public university. The federal office enforces civil rights at universities that receive money from the U.S. government.

MSU said it has cooperated with federal investigators and the cases are pending.

Letters from the Office for Civil Rights to MSU President Waded Cruzado also warn against retaliation by MSU against individuals who assert their rights under the law, file discrimination complaints, or help others participate in a proceeding.

In an email, Becker did not specifically address whether the new Campus Civil Rights unit would conduct administrator education in addition to peer education. He said research shows peer education approaches increase effectiveness and satisfaction, irrespective of groups, titles or categories.

MSU Campus Civil Rights will avail itself of best practices to ensure that optimum services are offered to the university community, Becker said.

A student who has led the call for reform at MSU said she appreciates the campus forming the new unit but also has questions about whether it will be a meaningful change for students, especially victims of discrimination.

I hope this is a first step towards justice and resolution for all those who were harmed by the universitys lack of action in cases of death threats, sexual assault, discrimination and harassment, said Alexandra Lin, who is studying wetland biology at MSU. But I have concerns that it is a Band-Aid over a bullet wound.

In spring 2023, Lin led a campaign to encourage peers who faced violence, threats of violence and racism at MSU to file complaints with the feds. Lin, who is queer and Taiwanese, filed her own complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, and her case is among those pending.

The email from MSU to the campus said the new unit will combine the Office of Institutional Equity and the VOICE Center to strengthen access to resources and support.

The Office of Institutional Equity investigated complaints and coordinated compliance with federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex. The VOICE Center provided support for those affected by sexual assault and harassment and offered prevention presentations and trainings.

The announcement outlined five services the new Campus Civil Rights unit will provide as follows:

Preventative education and training to include workshops on topics such as affirmative consent and combating discrimination in the workplace;

A peer educator program made up of volunteers who will lead educational sessions on topics such as sexual assault prevention;

Student resource advocates to help students experiencing any type of discrimination and connect them with resources such as mental health counseling;

Case managers, who can help coordinate support such as changes to housing and class schedules, mutual no-contact orders, and parenting accommodations; and

Civil rights investigations into reports of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Becker said the change will benefit students, in particular with the assignment of case managers, who will coordinate support for students such as changes in housing and extensions on tests. In the past, he said, different offices would address those different needs separately.

The CCR brings together various campus programs and offices that provided support in a dispersed manner in the past and which will now operate under the same tent and in a coordinated way, Becker said in an email. With this reorganization, students, faculty and staff can find access to the resources they need easier, whether that is training, education or to seek help with a complaint.

In a text, Lin said she hopes the new unit will be more than a new public relations tool for a campus that has been plagued with complaints about racism, sexism and homophobia, and for MSU President Cruzado, who has tried to maintain distance from the problems.

Cruzado has declined numerous requests for interviews from the Daily Montanan and did so again Tuesday through Becker.

The president acknowledged the federal probe in an email to the campus community in February 2024 in advance of a site visit from Office for Civil Rights investigators but has otherwise stayed silent.

Previous university administration actions have showed that even the most egregious cases of discrimination, sexual assault and harassment can be swept under the rug if they are inconvenient for the image of the university and Cruzado, Lin said.

I hope that more resources and support for people who experience harm on campus will be a net good, but I am concerned that the new CCR will simply be used as a bureaucratic device and PR distraction.

The Office for Civil Rights is investigating allegations MSU didnt appropriately address discrimination against people based on sex, race, disability and Jewish origin. It is also investigating whether MSU retaliated against Lin, who advocated on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.

In an email, Becker also addressed how MSU will encourage students to seek services at the new unit given some recent distrust of the campus administration and preference to seek intervention from the federal Office for Civil Rights instead.

In the last few years, MSU instituted a Resource Fair as a mechanism to better inform our students, faculty and staff about resources available on campus, Becker said. MSU will continue to encourage individuals to make use of CCRs services through promoting awareness at events such as student orientation sessions, as well as through marketing efforts such as posters and social media, and through referrals from other campus units.

The post Montana State University opens Campus Civil Rights unit appeared first on Daily Montanan.
'More news' on air defense for Ukraine may come ahead of NATO summit, Blinken says

Ukraine is expected to get "more news" on air defense capabilities before the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on July 1.

Kyiv has been calling on its partners to provide additional air defenses since Russia intensified strikes against Ukrainian population centers and infrastructure in the spring, destroying all thermal power plants and killing civilians.

According to Blinken, Ukraine needs air defense capabilities to develop its military and economic potential.

"There is extraordinary potential in Ukraines economy with the right investment. Now, of course, for both its military capacity and its economic capacity, youve got to make sure that you have air defenses in place to try to protect the areas in which youre making investments," he said at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

"Were driving that. I think youll see more news on that in the coming weeks as we get to the NATO summit."

An unnamed senior U.S. State Department official told Reuters on July 2 that "some new announcements on air defense" could be made at the event.

"You've heard that the Ukrainians are keen to secure additional Patriots or similar systems. And I think we'll have some additional good news for them on that front," the source told Reuters.

Washington announced in June it had deprioritized the near-term planned deliveries of foreign military sales to other countries, particularly Patriot and NASAMS missiles, to supply them to Ukraine first.

A few days later, the Financial Times reported that the U.S., Israel, and Ukraine are in negotiations on providing Ukraine with up to eight Patriot air defense systems.

Ukraine operates at least three Patriot systems provided by the U.S., the Netherlands, and Germany, with Berlin and Bucharest recently pledging to deliver two more systems.

The next NATO summit will take place on July 9-11 in Washington.

Kyiv has voiced hope that the summit will bring a more definite signal about Ukraine's future membership in the alliance. American officials made it clear that the country is unlikely to receive an invitation.

Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit, Ukraine aims to secure a "guaranteed" military funding commitment from allies, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said in late June.

Read also: US to announce $2.3 billion military aid package to Ukraine soon

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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Xi was warmly welcomed by Tokayev and a group of Kazakhstan senior officials upon his arrival at the airport. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

ASTANA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China and Kazakhstan have established a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival in Astana for a state visit to Kazakhstan, where he will also attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Chinese president said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and to attend the SCO summit, adding that he, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, conveyed sincere greetings and best wishes to Tokayev and the friendly Kazakh people.

China and Kazakhstan share a long tradition of friendship, Xi noted.

More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road closely connected the two countries, marking the beginning of a history of friendly exchanges, he said.

Over the past 32 years since China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic ties, the relationship has withstood the test of time and the vicissitudes of the international landscape, evolving into a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi added.

He also said that the everlasting friendship of the two nations has grown stronger over time, and set an example of solidarity, mutual benefit, and mutual success between neighboring countries.

Xi recalled that 11 years ago, he first put forward the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan, adding that today, Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has yielded fruitful results.

Two-way economic and trade cooperation has reached new highs, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have featured numerous highlights, and the two sides' international cooperation has been close and efficient, which has not only improved the well-being of the two peoples, but also injected more stability and positive energy into the international and regional situation, Xi added.

He said that during the visit, he will have talks with President Tokayev and have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Kazakhstan relations, all-round cooperation and other international and regional issues of common concern, in a bid to make new plans and arrangements for the development of China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi also said that he looks forward to attending the SCO summit, and discussing with all parties the future of the organization and ways to advance cooperation, so as to achieve new and greater progress for this important multilateral mechanism.

Three Kazakh Air Force fighter jets took off to escort Xi's plane after it entered the country's airspace. Tokayev held a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport to welcome Xi. A group of Kazakh children sang the song "Ode to the Motherland" in Chinese. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Xi was warmly welcomed by Tokayev and a group of Kazakhstan senior officials upon his arrival at the airport. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev held a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport to welcome Xi. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev held a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport to welcome Xi. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev held a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport to welcome Xi. A group of Kazakh children sang the song "Ode to the Motherland" in Chinese. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Moscow court orders arrest of Ukraine's former PM, ex-ministers in absentia

A Moscow court on July 2 ordered the arrest in absentia of Ukraine's former Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, former Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, former Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak, and Ihor Dovhan, the head of Western Operational Command of Ukraine's Ground Forces.

All four were charged with the "use of prohibited means and methods of warfare," according to the court statement published on Telegram.

Russia has launched criminal proceedings against a number of Ukrainian officials since the start of the full-scale war on vague charges, often connected to their role in resisting Russian aggression.

Moscow has also put dozens of European politicians on the wanted list, including Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, as well as high-ranking Ukrainian officials, military officers, and alleged "foreign mercenaries" in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet.

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All four Ukrainian officials were sentenced to two months in custody, according to the statements.

Russia's Investigative Committee charged Groysman, Klimkin, and Information Policy Minister Yurii Stets in April 2024. The charges were connected to their role in Ukraine's military response to Russia's invasion of Donbas in 2014.

Later, the Russian Interior Ministry put Groysman on the wanted list, together with former National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksii Danilov, former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, former Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Ruslan Khomchak, and Vasyl Krutov, a former head of the anti-terrorist unit of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

In May, the Russian Interior Ministry also put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, former President Petro Poroshenko, Ground Forces commander Oleksandr Pavliuk, and former head of the Defense Ministry Mykhailo Koval on the wanted list.

Read also: Russian court sentences Ukrainian lawmaker to 10 years in prison in absentia

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MOSCOW MILLS, Mo.  City officials say the Moscow Mills City Hall has closed temporarily due to an elevated presence of mold.

The City Hall offices are closed for mold remediation efforts as of Tuesday. The city says there are elevated levels of mold in four specific offices within City Hall.

LIST: These St. Louis-area Fourth of July events are postponed due to weather

Out of an abundance of caution, the City of Moscow Mills has decided to undertake comprehensive mold remediation efforts. These efforts are essential to prevent future mold and moisture intrusion, maintaining a healthy environment for all who work and visit City Hall, said the city in a statement.

Its unclear when the Moscow Mills City Hall plans to reopen, but updates will be shared to their social media channels and city website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
ST. LOUIS  A local woman takes her fight to stop gun violence to the nations capital after the murder of her son and prevent other mothers from experiencing similar grief.

Sheleasa Blackwells son, Corey Blackwell-Gines, was gunned down on April 5, 2022. Police said Corey was sitting in a vehicle in the 5000 block of Minerva Avenue, located in the citys Academy neighborhood, when someone opened fire on his car and fled.

Blackwell wants to make sure the case does not remain unsolved.

Im getting no kind of justice. But I wont give up until the people who are responsible for his death are behind bars, she said.

Blackwell said Corey was a loving and caring person who was always giving back to the community. To help keep his memory alive, she launched the Coreys Way of Caring nonprofit foundation to help spark change in the community with the hope of ending senseless gun violence.

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I started because I was in deep depression and a lot of grieving and everything. This broke my family down, she said. So, I said, I have to do something, because I used to go to different meetings in the community about gun violence, not knowing that I would have to tell my story one day.

Blackwell remains heartbroken and continues to turn her pain into something positive by hosting numerous events and speaking with other parents who have lost loved ones due to violence.

We just actually got back from Washington, D.C., speaking about the gun laws. The laws, they have to be changed because its too easy for guns (to get into) the hands of the wrong people, she said.

Meanwhile, homicide detectives are asking anyone with information about Coreys murder to contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  The MTA has announced a new pilot program that involves checking tickets for passengers on the Long Island Rail Road prior to boarding.

The process, known as gating, was already implemented at stations, including Mets-Willets Point and Forest Hills, and will now be enacted at Penn Station.

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Gating will dissuade the delayed activation of e-tickets or passengers boarding without a ticket, according to the MTA. Passengers will be expected to show their paper tickets or activated e-tickets to a railroad employee before boarding.

This isnt the first time the LIRR has piloted gating programs at Penn Station.

During one of the MTAs committee meetings, LIRR Acting President Rob Free discussed two other gating programs, including placing physical barriers at entrance points to the platform levels.

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The gating programs allow the LIRR to determine the most effective and sustainable methods moving forward, according to President Free.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  At 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre called for a national emergency as the outer bands of Hurricane Beryl hammered the Caribbean island.

Locals piled sandbags in front of their doors as waters crept up several inches into surrounding buildings. Thomas Hodge saw it all.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Hodge

The Murrells Inlet native and musician traveled to the nation of nearly 200,000 for a steelpan competition at the Saint Lucia National Panorama.

Two nights ago, we were at a point where the top of the eye is sitting at the top of Saint Vincent, Hodge said. Thats right there. You can see it from Saint Lucia.

Hodge planned to spend eight more days throughout the competition but wanted to call his father, Sam, to make sure it was safe. Sam Hodge is Horry Countys emergency management director.

Hodge told his son the storm was moving toward Trinidad and also knew that being from the south meant Thomas was prepared for the power that hurricanes can bring.

Thomas is staying in Laborie, a village of 700 on St. Lucias southern coast. Many of its structures are built from concrete, which kept them from sustaining heavy damage, although severe rain and heavy flooding were common.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Hodge

Yesterday at night, you could tell people were starting to see it was getting kind of serious, Hodge said. I think it took them to actually see it firsthand.

Over the weekend, all leave had been canceled for the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force as officers were directed to be on duty by 6 p.m. Sunday.

This is a pretty unprecedented thing for them, Hodge said.

Hodge said hes grateful Beryl spared St. Lucia much of its wrath and now worries for others that are in its path.

Everyone in Saint Lucia seems to be doing OK. Luckily, our power has held up, and I think that we got the best-case scenario of what couldve happened, he said. It definitely could have been a lot, lot worse.

* * *

Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

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City officials continue to monitor the Mississippi River forecast while beginning the process of implementing the citys flood plan, according to a news release.

The Mississippi River crossed into the moderate flood stage Monday (July 1) and is now at 18.31 feet according to the latest observed values at 3:15 p.m. Monday. At the present time the river is predicted to reach major flood stage Thursday at 20.0 feet and climb to 21.5 feet by Sunday night.

Flood preparations are subject to change based on the river forecast. Crests have not been predicted as yet by the National Weather Service and river levels may continue to change over the next week due to anticipated heavy rains in the Upper Basin over the next several days.

As the river reached moderate flood stage, the Department of Public Works (DPW) and Parks and Recreation (PRD) staff blocked off sections of Riverside Park that are already being affected by flood waters. The barricades will be moved as the river continues to rise closing down more of the Riverside Park area.

DPW staff spent most of Monday setting out signage in preparation for the downtown detour for the Fourth of July celebration and for the subsequent flood detour. DPW anticipates closing Flood Gate #1 (at the eastern end of Mississippi Drive) Tuesday, depending on Heinz rail traffic and HNI truck traffic needs. Also on Tuesday, River Road will be closed from Canon to Sherman as the river is predicted to climb above 18.6 feet. Access to Spillway Lane and to the Running River Trail system in this area will also be affected.

A hard close of Mississippi Drive for the Fourth of July celebration will begin Wednesday morning from Chestnut Street to the roundabout on Mulberry Avenue. Northbound traffic will be diverted off of Grandview/Hershey to Main Street, then to 8th Street, Cypress Street, Washington Street, and finally to Park Avenue. Southbound traffic will be detoured at the roundabout on 2nd Street to Mulberry, and directed to 5th Street (for Downtown Muscatine traffic) or to 8th Street (all other traffic), to Main Street, and to Grandview/Hershey intersection.

The Fourth of July events previously scheduled for Riverside Park will now be held on the closed section of Mississippi Drive. Spectators can set up to view the firework display on the closed streets with free parking throughout the downtown district. Spectators are cautioned that there may be some water near the catch basins on Mississippi Drive at Walnut Street, so please be careful and stay away from flood waters.

Access to Riverside Park will be closed at both the Cedar Street and Iowa Avenue entrances Wednesday as the river is predicted to rise to 19.5 feet. The Running River Trail through the park will also be closed to the public.

The current forecast indicates that the river will reach major flood stage (20-feet) Thursday evening with a current projection that the river will level out at 21.5 feet Sunday. However, additional heavy rain is in the forecast this week for the upper Mississippi River watershed, and that has the potential to raise the anticipated river levels and delay the crests.

The City currently anticipates closing Flood Gate #2 (2nd Street at Mad Creek) on Friday and altering the detour route established for the Fourth of July celebration in Downtown Muscatine. A hard close of Mississippi Drive will be executed from Iowa Avenue on the west to the roundabout on Mulberry Avenue on the east. The closure would include 2nd Street from Oak Street to Iowa Highway 92 once Flood Gate #2 is closed.

The flood detour will then be implemented.

Northbound traffic on Mississippi Drive will be diverted at Iowa, to 5th or 8th streets, to Cypress Street, to Washington Street, and to Park Avenue. Traffic for Mississippi Drive or Downtown Muscatine from Illinois (Highway 92) will be diverted to Park Avenue, to 5th Street, to Iowa Avenue, and to Mississippi Drive. Truck traffic may be diverted to 8th Street to Main Street and then to Grandview/Hershey.

Park Avenue traffic for Downtown Muscatine or Mississippi Drive will be diverted at 8th Street, to Main Street, and to Grandview/Hershey, or vehicles other than trucks can take 5th Street from Park Avenue to Iowa Avenue.

Depending on the river forecast the City may put the muscle wall flood barrier in place on Mississippi Drive between Cedar and Iowa early next week.

Flood preparations are subject to change based on the river forecast. Residents are urged to be alert to changing conditions especially if they live in low lying areas or along the riverfront.

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(The Hill)  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to avoid a brand of mushroom-infused chocolates and sweets after the foods were linked to dozens of illnesses and some hospitalizations.

Diamond Shruumz brand chocolate, gummies and cones were recalled Thursday by manufacturer Prophet Premium Blends. The foods were linked to severe symptoms including seizures, central nervous system depression, agitation, abnormal heart rates, hyper/hypotension, nausea and vomiting, the FDA said.

At least 39 people have been made ill by the foods, including 23 who were hospitalized, the FDA said. The products have been under investigation since early last month.

States that reported cases are Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.

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The company said the recall was related to the ingredient muscimol, a chemical found in some mushrooms, which could be a potential cause of the illness symptoms.

The FDA said Prophet Premium Blends discovered higher than normal amounts of muscimol in its products during an investigation into the reported illnesses.

The agency has recommended consumers avoid eating the foods and retailers take the products off shelves. The products continue to be under a joint investigation by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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VIENTIANE, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Laos' National Assembly (NA)'s ninth legislature has closed its seventh ordinary session, with its closing ceremony witnessing the presence of Party Secretary General and State President Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Lao NA President Xaysomphone Phomvihane.

The session wrapped up on Tuesday, following the election of Vathana Dalaloy, former deputy governor of the Lao central bank, the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL), as the new governor of the BOL.

Former BOL Governor Bounleua Sinxayvoravong will take up a new post in Luang Prabang province, Lao national TV reported on Tuesday.

The meeting approved revised growth targets, amendments to 11 laws, two new draft laws and other documents of national importance.

The meeting also approved the government's reports on the implementation of the national socio-economic development plan, the state budget plan, and the monetary plan, as well as the two national agendas on addressing economic and financial difficulties and drug issues in the first six months of 2024, and targets set for the second half of the year.

The NA's ninth legislature kicked off its seventh ordinary session on June 10, to discuss issues of national importance. 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer and team leader Michael Eastwood checks a spectrometer used to identify sources of greenhouse gas emissions before its next flight at Hollywood Burbank Airport. A new proposed program would monitor such emissions from space. (Noah Haggerty/For The Times)

It was almost 10 years ago when Andrew Thorpe received a text from the crew flying overhead in a small aircraft: They had spotted a new methane hot spot.

Thorpe drove along winding dirt and mountain roads in an unwieldy rental SUV near the Four Corners region of the southwestern U.S. When he arrived at the spot relayed from the plane, he pulled out a thermal camera to scan for the plume. Sure enough, methane was seeping out of the ground, likely from a pipeline leak.

He found a marker sticking out of the desert with the phone number for a gas company, so he gave them a call. I had the most confused individual on the other side of the phone, Thorpe said. I was trying to explain to them why I was calling, but this was back many years ago when there really werent any technologies that could do this.

Over the years, the work has gotten Thorpe some unwanted attention. I did some driving surveys in California . A rent-a-cop was very suspicious of me and tried to scare me off, said Thorpe. If you set up a thermal camera on a public road and youre pointing it at a tank beyond the fence, people are going to get nervous. Ive been heckled by some oil and gas workers, but thats par for the course.

Today, Thorpe is part of a group that is at the forefront of greenhouse gas monitoring at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge. For over 40 years, the Microdevices Laboratory at JPL has developed specialized instruments to measure methane and carbon dioxide with extreme precision.

The instruments, called spectrometers, detect gases based on which colors of sunlight they absorb. Earlier this year, a team of researchers from JPL, Caltech and research nonprofit Carnegie Science was selected as a finalist for a NASA award to put the technology into orbit.

JPL technicians work on an Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer, or AVIRIS, that will be installed in an airplane to search for methane and other greenhouse gases. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

If chosen for the satellite mission, the team's carbon investigation, called Carbon-I, would launch in the early 2030s. Over the course of three years, Carbon-I would continuously map greenhouse gas emissions around the globe and take daily snapshots of areas of interest, allowing scientists to identify sources of climate pollution, such as power plants, pipeline leaks, farms and landfills.

While there are already multiple satellites monitoring these gases, Carbon-Is resolution is unprecedented and would eliminate any guesswork in determining where the gas was emitted. Theres no denying it anymore  once we see a plume, theres no other potential source, said Christian Frankenberg, co-principal investigator for Carbon-I and a professor of environmental science and engineering at Caltech.

Caltech professor Christian Frankenberg, co-principal investigator for the proposed space-based Carbon-I emission-monitoring system, peers into an AVIRIS monitor under construction in a JPL lab. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Carbon-Is finest, 100-foot resolution is a very high resolution from space. Thats an incredible resolution to be able to get, said Debra Wunch, a professor at the University of Toronto who studies Earths carbon cycle and is not involved in the Carbon-I proposal. It would be able to give us much more insight into exactly the source of emissions . This would be groundbreaking. You would be able to see individual stacks, individual parts of landfills, even.

Historically, monitoring the release of greenhouse gases from individual emitters has been challenging  both carbon dioxide and methane are colorless and odorless. So scientists have often had to rely on adding up self-reported values from companies and estimates from research. For example, to estimate the amount of methane cows produce, scientists would have to determine how much methane one cow releases and multiply it by the total number of cows on Earth.

If you look at international policies  currently theyre all based on these bottom-up inventories, said Anna Michalak, co-principal investigator for Carbon-I and the founding director of the Carnegie Climate and Resilience Hub at Carnegie Science. We need to get to a point where  we actually have an independent way of tracking what the emissions are.

Carbon-Is resolution will also give scientists new access to the atmosphere of the tropics, where clouds currently obscure most forms of satellite surveillance. Its their Achilles' heel, said Frankenberg.

Since tropical and subtropical forests absorb roughly a quarter of the CO2 humanity produces by burning fossil fuels, accurate data from this region of the globe is badly needed.

Satellites currently orbiting Earth with lower resolution can't see through small gaps in the cloud coverage. They only see a blurred average of the cloudy and clear spots in the sky for each pixel. Carbon-I, with each pixel's area almost 50 times smaller than that of most other satellites, can see the clearings and take measurements through them. In an April 2024 paper , Frankenberg, Michalak and their collaborators estimated that Carbon-I would be able to see past the clouds in the tropics anywhere from 10 to 100 times more frequently than its predecessors.

Carbon-I is going to see things where people dont know whats going on, said Thorpe, who has moved on from his graduate school days pointing thermal cameras at gas leaks and now works as a research technologist with the Microdevices Laboratory. Its going to open a whole new realm of science.

JPLs airborne greenhouse gas-monitoring program goes back decades, but the field of space monitoring is still fairly new. Near the start of 2016, NASA headquarters contacted the JPL team. There was an ongoing massive blowout at the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility near Porter Ranch, and NASA wanted the team to check it out.

The team flew over the site in a variant of a 1960s-era spy plane on three days over the course of a month while the Southern California Gas Co. fought to contain the blowout. At the same time, NASAs Goddard Flight Center in Maryland pointed the NASA Earth Observing spacecrafts Hyperion spectrometer at the leak.

Hyperion was designed to make observations of the Earths surface and filter out noise from the atmosphere. Now, they were trying to observe the atmosphere and filter out the surface, and for the first time , scientists observed a human-made point source of methane from orbit.

The Hyperion result was pretty noisy, but you could still see the plume, said Thorpe. This was really a proof of concept that we could do it from space.

Even if Carbon-I launches, it doesnt mean the team will stop putting instruments on planes. From aircraft, the team is able to monitor areas of interest in even sharper resolution and for consecutive days at a time. Right now, a leaner, meaner version of the spectrometers that observed the Four Corners leak and Aliso Canyon blowout is flying a series of missions to monitor the emissions of offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

The twin-engine King Air plane used by JPL to conduct greenhouse gas-monitoring flights in its hangar at Hollywood Burbank Airport. (Noah Haggerty/Los Angeles Times)

Plane missions also give the team an opportunity to try out new and improve spectrometers. You can fix them, and you can upgrade them, said JPL engineer Michael Eastwood, whos worked with the spectrometers for over three decades and regularly flies with them. You can take more risks, as opposed to spacecraft that need really mature, really well-known, high reliability  were not constrained like that.

The air team is nimble, too. Typically, two crew members sit in the second row of a King Air twin-propeller aircraft looking at a stack of laptops and instruments with enough buttons to rival the plane's cockpit. On the screens, they can look at real-time GPS data and spectrometer results and coordinate a flight plan with the pilots. The spectrometer  called AVIRIS, short for Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer  sits in the third row, looking down through a window cut out in the floor.

The NASA program for which Carbon-I was selected as a finalist aims to fund space-based Earth science that will benefit society. The team was awarded $5 million to sharpen its project proposal before a final NASA review in 2025. There are three other finalists, and two will be selected for the launch.

This two-step process for selecting missions is new for NASA's Earth science programs and requires JPL to compete with the rest of the scientific community, independent of their association with the space agency.

If were talking about grocery money, [$5 million] seems like a lot of money, but its really a bargain, said Michalak. If you think about the fact that youre committing $300 million toward a mission, spending 1.5% of that to really make sure its going to be fabulous and successful is extremely smart.

In the meantime, the Carbon-I team is focused on showing NASA that it has the technical know-how to execute the project on time and under budget.

I think all four of the missions in the current phase are absolutely worthwhile scientific missions, said Michalak, and 50% odds are not bad odds for a satellite mission.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Democratic Assemblywoman Angie Taylor, who is now running for state Senate, is one seven candidates being backed by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. (Trevor Bexon / Nevada Current)

Efforts by the Nevada Democrats to maintain majority control and expand to a supermajority in the state legislature will receive a boost this election cycle from the national party.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC)  an official arm of Democratic Party focused on state legislative races  announced Tuesday it will bolster seven legislative candidates in Nevada as part of its Summer of States initiative, which will include a $10 million investment across the country. Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager is a DLCC board member.

Heather Williams, president of the DLCC, said the initiative will help build and cement Democratic power and prevent state-level attacks on Democratic priorities around reproductive rights and voting access.

The DLCC has long engaged in Nevada, and our victories in 2022 ensured that fundamental freedoms are protected against GOP extremism, she said in a statement. This year we must build upon that progress by supporting this slate of strong candidates to strengthen our Democratic majorities.

The DLCC supported five Democratic legislators in 2022. They all won their races.

This years election will determine whether Democrats secure a veto-proof majority in both chambers.

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a record number 75 bills during the 2023 Legislative Session and blocked Democratic priorities around tenant protections, eviction reforms, universal free lunch for K-12 schools, and health care for pregnant undocumented women.

Senate seats targeted for red-to-blue flips

The two state Senate candidates being highlighted by the DLCC are Assemblywoman Angie Taylor, who is seeking to flip an open seat in Senate District 15, and Jennifer Atlas, who is attempting to unseat Republican state Sen. Carrie Buck in Senate District 5.

Democrats hold 13 of 21 Senate seats, which is one shy of a two-thirds supermajority.

SD 15 in Northern Nevada has historically been Republican held, but Democrats redrew the political boundary lines in 2021 to give them an advantage. The district is currently represented by Republican state Sen. Heidi Seevers Gansert, who decided not to seek re-election.

According to May active registration numbers from the Nevada Secretary of States office, there are 31,631 Democrats compared to 26,654 Republicans in the district. There are another 29,178 registered nonpartisan voters.

Taylor, who is serving her first term in the Assembly, will face Republican Mike Ginsburg for the newly drawn district.

In Southern Nevadas SD 5, Republicans hold a voter advantage  with 31,419 active registered voters compared to Democrats 30,637. An additional 35,529 active registered voters are nonpartisan.

Atlas, a former lobbyist and legal professional, is looking to unseat Buck, who has represented the district since 2020.

Four Assembly incumbents, one newcomer to benefit

The Nevada Assembly Democratic Caucus is defending its slim supermajority in the Assembly where they currently hold 28 of the 42 seats.

Of the five Assembly candidates being bolstered by the DLCC, four are incumbents: Assemblywomen Sandra Jauregui, Selena La Rue Hatch, Shea Backus, and Elaine Marzola. The fifth candidate  Ryan Hampton  is running in an open seat currently controlled by Republicans.

All five Democrats are facing Republicans backed by Gov. Lombardo, who has made it a priority to flip seats in the Assembly. If Republicans can maintain their existing 14 seats and flip just one Democratic seat, they will break the supermajority.

Of the five Assembly districts being supported by the DLCC, Assembly District 4 is the only district where Republicans outnumber Democrats, though, as is true with all the targeted districts, nonpartisans makeup a significant portion of voters and have the potential to swing the election either way.

In AD 4, there are 16,354 active registered Republican voters compared to 15,551 Democratic voters. Additionally, there are 16,288 registered nonpartisan voters.

The seat is currently held by Republican Assemblyman Richard McArthur, who this year opted to run for a state senate seat instead of reelection in the assembly. (He lost in the Republican primary.)

Democrat Ryan Hampton and Republican Lisa Cole are now vying to succeed him.

Assembly District 41, which has been represented by Jauregui since 2016, has the largest Democratic advantage of the Assembly seats the DLCC is focusing on. There are 15,644 active registered Democrats compared to 12,947 active registered Republican voters in AD 41, according to Mays registration numbers. The district also has 18,562 active nonpartisan voters.

Jauregui will compete against Rafael Arroyo.

In Assembly District 37, Backus first won her seat in 2018. She was unseated in 2020 by Republican Andy Matthews then reclaimed the seat in 2022 when Matthews didnt seek re-election and instead successfully ran for state controller.

Backus now faces David Brog.

The district currently has 16,955 registered Democrats, 16,032 registered Republicans and 16,421 registered nonpartisan voters.

In Assembly District 21, Assemblywoman Elaine Marzola, who is serving her first term, will face April Arndt.

The district has 15,510 registered Democrats,13,596 registered Republicans, and 16,799 registered nonpartisan voters.

Jauregui, Backus, and Marzola were bolstered by the DLCC in previous election cycles.

In Assembly District 25, Assemblywoman Selena La Rue Hatch, who is serving her first term, will face off against Diana Sande.

There are 16,732 registered Democrats, 15,767 active Republican voters, and 13,842 nonpartisan voters in the district.

[Editors Note: This story has been corrected to indicate Ryan Hampton is running in Assembly District 4.]
The Fourth of July is a national holiday that many Native Americans have a hard time celebrating. The reasons vary, but one reason is that it reminds them of what was lost to many tribal communities to make room for what is now the United States.

Join Levi Rickert, publisher and editor of Native News Online, on Thursday, July 4, as he interviews author and lecturer Mark Charles (Navajo) about how he observes Independence Day.

In June 2015, Charles wrote an op/ed for Native News Online, entitled The Dilemma of the Fourth of July. We publish it every year. And, every year it is well received by our readers.

A provocative thinker, Charles links the Declaration of Independence to the Doctrine of Discovery, a topic he examines in his widely received book, "Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery."

During the interview, Charles provides a history lesson of why many Native Americans choose not to celebrate Independence Day.



Tune in to Native Bidaske LIVE this Thursday, July 4, at 12 Noon ET on Native News Online's Facebook, X (Twitter), or YouTube channel.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
NATO plans to establish a senior representative post in Kyiv, as well as a new command in Germany to coordinate assistance for Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on July 1, citing U.S. and allied officials.

This is part of the alliance's effort to safeguard long-term aid for Ukraine should Donald Trump return to the White House after the U.S. presidential election later this year, the outlet wrote.

Ex-President Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, has repeatedly criticized NATO and assistance for Kyiv.

The new measures, which are expected to be announced at an upcoming NATO summit in Washington, will involve the new command center in Germany's Wiesbaden coordinating the flow of military equipment and the training of Ukrainian soldiers, the WSJ wrote.

The steps should help better coordinate the assistance and bring the Ukrainian military closer to NATO standards.

Allied leaders previously said that the July 9-11 Washington summit would contain "new language" on Ukraine's NATO prospects and focus on a roadmap toward its eventual membership.

Ukraine also hopes to secure "guaranteed" military funding commitment from NATO allies. While no decision has been reached so far, outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg proposed to provide Ukraine with at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military support each year "for as long as necessary."

Read also: Ukraine working to secure guaranteed military funding agreement from NATO allies, Deputy PM says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NATO is preparing a series of measures aimed at maintaining and strengthening its long-term support for Ukraine amid growing support on the European right wing for former President Donald Trump's election victory, including plans to send a senior civilian official to Kyiv and establish a new command in Germany to coordinate military assistance and training for Ukrainian troops.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, citing US and NATO officials

Details: All of these steps will be announced at a summit in Washington next week.

The measures are intended to support Ukraine's prospects of joining the Alliance without offering it membership. They come amid a surge in support for right-wing political forces in Europe and the growing possibility that former President Donald Trump could return to the White House and reduce American support for Ukraine.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is also establishing a new command in Wiesbaden, Germany, to coordinate the provision of military equipment to Kyiv and training for Ukrainian troops.

The operation, which will be called NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, will be staffed by nearly 700 US and other military personnel from 32 member states. It will take over much of the mission that the US military has been carrying out since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The newspaper writes that the new initiatives have been in the offing for several months, but they are gaining new urgency after President Joe Biden's weak performance in last week's televised debate with Trump and Trump's complaints about the amount of money the US has spent on Ukraine.

Quote from Ivo Daalder, US Ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013: "A big reason for the change is to Trump-proof the assistance effort to Ukraine. Rather than having Washington in charge of managing the training and assistance, NATO will be in charge. So even if the U.S. reduces or withdraws support for the effort, it wont be eliminated."

Current and former US officials have said that these steps will allow the alliance to better coordinate Western efforts to provide military support to Ukraine in countering Russian aggression. The plan also aims to make Ukraine's armed forces more similar to those in NATO.

The WSJ noted that all the alliance leaders will attend the NATO summit, which will highlight Ukrainian initiatives. The event will take place in Washington, where the treaty establishing the Alliance was signed 75 years ago. The treaty's purpose was to protect the Allies from threats from Moscow, a mission that NATO is once again taking on.

Allies hope that the summit will also result in an agreement on an annual financial commitment to military support for Ukraine, although the terms are still being negotiated.

It is stressed that while many NATO members believe that the alliance should invite Ukraine to join, starting a process that could take years, the United States and Germany are set to oppose such a move at next week's summit.

Under initiatives already agreed upon for final approval at the summit, non-NATO staff will work alongside Americans in the new NATO command to match donations of military equipment with Ukraine's needs and coordinate deliveries. They will also coordinate training for the Ukrainian military to ensure that what is offered meets Kyiv's needs. The officials said NATO staff would not conduct any training themselves.

Quote: "The new steps also signal an important shift in alliance posture. NATO initially kept its distance from Ukraines military campaign to avoid accusations it was a party to the conflict. The organisational changes mean it is now prepared to take a more substantial role in helping Kyiv fight Russia."

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CARR, Colo. (KDVR)  A man in northern Colorado hopes the saying is true that lightning never strikes twice. Thats because lightning struck his rented home in Carr.

That spark set the house on fire and destroyed it.

The wind was so bad it was pushing the fire so fast, so quickly, Chas Mosby said. Eventually it got to the back of house, and the flames just erupted.

Doula services now covered under Medicaid in Colorado

Mosbys heart still races as he recounts the moment when his home went up in flames.

I was in my garage. My buddy Caleb, he was visiting. We were working on his vehicle doing an oil change. As we were doing the oil change, a storm was coming in, he said.

It was then that he heard a terrifying noise.

We heard a big boom and a big lightning strike hit right next to our house, Mosby said.

A burned home destroyed by fire

No fire hydrants near lightning-caused house fire

Video captured the flames Saturday around 9:30 p.m. as fire crews raced to the scene to battle the flames. Mosby told FOX31 crews were on the scene for nearly 10 hours.

50-60 units showed up to the house because theres no fire hydrants anywhere, so they had to bring a bunch of fire and rescue because they needed lots of water, Mosby said. The biggest flame Ive ever seen. It was like a big bonfire, then a huge gust of wind started pushing it towards us.

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Mosby and his friends tried putting the fire out as well.

The first thing we do is grab a bucket of water  filling up the bucket we have and were pouring water onto the fire, and Im on the phone with 911, he said.

He also ran back inside the home to turn off the propane tank.

I called my landlord and he told me if you can go inside and turn off the propane, Mosby said. Thats what I did. I covered my mouth, went inside. It was so smoky in there. Now I know what it feels like to inhale smoke in your body. My lungs were so tight in my body.

Everything else is gone but his truck

Mosby said he moved into his new home at the beginning of June.

Even though I was only there for a month, I had so many memories, he said.

He hoped to one day own the now burned-down home.

Sitting there for three hours watching everything go away. We saw a couple of propane tanks explode, Mosby said.

The fire left him with some money he saved, his truck and the clothes on his back.

Everything else is gone, he said.

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While his material things are gone, hes thankful for making it out safely and for the support he has received.

Stuff happens. You cant do anything about it sometimes, Mosby said. Nature takes its course.

Mosby is staying with his parents as he figures out his next steps. There is a GoFundMe set up to help him rebuild.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis on Tuesday said President Bidens debate performance was a disaster and added he needs to step up if he remains in the race.

Davis, who represents North Carolinas first congressional district in eastern North Carolina, made the comments at a press conference as he met with farmers impacted by recent drought conditions.

Critics doubt global leadership after Bidens poor debate performance

When I look at the debate, Im just gonna be plainspoken. I believe the presidents delivery at the debate was a disaster, said Davis. My takeaway from the debate was people want a fighter and they want the truth. Even if they cant find that in one person, they want a fighter.

Davis is running for re-election this year in whats considered to be the only tossup House district in North Carolina and is among several that likely will determine which party controls the chamber in 2025.

Davis declined to say whether Biden should remain in the race.

So, the message would simply be for the campaign, if this is what you want, then I believe all this response is people simply saying we want to see you fighting, he said. Im not about telling the president, its not my job to have him step out. But, I can say this clearly. If hes gonna stay in, he needs to step up.

Davis, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is running against Republican Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army Colonel.

Don Davis answer on Joe Bidens debate performance made about as much sense as Joe Biden trying to answer a question at the debate. Rather than demand a Commander-in-Chief who is up to the challenges of the job, Don Davis deflected, said Buckhout in a statement provided by her campaign. I spent 26 years in the Army, I know when I see a fighter and I agree that North Carolinians want someone to fight for them, but neither Joe Biden or Don Davis are fighters. Working families across the 1st District of NC are suffering due to Bidens economic disaster. During the debate, Joe Biden made clear for the world to see that he is not up to that task.

Davis is serving his first term in Congress after spending more than a decade in the state Senate.

Schumer: Bidens mental acuity is great

We have to fight for the East. And, my takeaway from all of this is Im gonna stay in this doggone fight for the people of eastern North Carolina, he said.

GOP Army veteran to face Democratic incumbent in toss-up North Carolina district

Delanie Bomar, a spokesperson for the National Republican Campaign Committee, wrote in an email, Once again, Don Davis is falling in line with his Democrat party bosses instead of advocating for whats best for North Carolina. We all saw in the debate that Biden is unfit to serve as president and Davis should be honest with North Carolinians about that, but unfortunately, he wont be.

Following last weeks debate, the Biden campaign has highlighted the presidents rally in North Carolina the following day where he sought to energetically motivate voters in this key swing state and acknowledged his performance the night before.

Campaign leaders have viewed North Carolina as their best opportunity to flip a state previously won by former President Donald Trump.

I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know what to do: I know how to tell the truth, Biden told the crowd at the rally.

The campaign released a memo over the weekend, saying they dont believe the debate changed the horse race.

Bidens difficult debate puts spotlight on Harris

For all the hand-wringing coming out of Thursday, heres the truth: this election was incredibly close before Thursday, and by every metric weve seen since, it remains just as close, writes Jen OMalley Dillon, Biden-Harris campaign chair.

State Atty. Gen. Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee for governor, spoke at Bidens rally as well last week, saying hes ready to turn North Carolina blue.

Raleigh-Richmond rail line groundbreaking prompts visit from U.S. Transportation Secretary

This week, officials in the Biden administration are in the state highlighting various projects, including some funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which President Biden signed in 2021.

Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg attended the groundbreaking for the Raleigh-to-Richmond rail line, which is receiving more than $1 billion in federal funding.

Buttigieg was asked to address the concerns about the presidents performance at the debate.

Rules prevent me from speaking about campaigns and elections while Im in this capacity. What I will say is how proud I am to be working in President Bidens administration and team, he said. President Bidens leadership has delivered things that up until now were just talk. We saw a lot of talk before back when I was mayor. We heard a lot of talk about national infrastructure funding, didnt come together. Now, its coming together.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio (WCMH)  The owner of a restaurant north of Grandview Heights that has weathered almost six decades in business has decided to close its doors.

Paul Panzera will be shutting down his diner, Pauls on Fifth Avenue, on Sunday, his oldest son Anthony told NBC4. Anthony explained his father made the decision for a collective of reasons, including the changing restaurant industry after the pandemic as well as the demand of running one at 76 years old.

Ohio fireworks law: Is it legal to set off fireworks at home?

It is impossible to put hard number on it, but when we estimate, weve served something like 7 million meals. As my father wouldve said: not too bad, Paul said. Now on to the next adventure  whatever that might be.

Pauls on Fifth grew through the 1980s with his recipes offering Italian wedding soup, lasagna, veal, chicken, and pasta dishes. Anthony noted that when his father launched Pauls on Fifth, there were only six other restaurants nearby. As that number grew, Paul adapted the restaurants menu in more recent years to help ensure it still stood out.

Pauls on Fifth later traded its dinner menu for breakfast and lunch diner-styled food, including omelets, home fries and other unique recipes. Anthony explained that certain customers and workers quirky creations became menu staples, like the Dennis sandwich. Joe Fries came to be after a cook consistently burned home fries, and Callahans were created by a woman who would order omelet fixings on fries.

Pauls on Fifth Avenue. (NBC4 Photo)

Pauls on Fifth Avenue. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor)

Pauls on Fifth Avenue. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor)

The closure of Pauls restaurant marks the latest in his history as a chef and first-generation American. He has a term as president of the Columbus chapter of the American Culinary Association and an accreditation as a certified executive chef under his belt. Anthony also said his father was a mentor to many apprentice chefs over the years.

Why the Ohio Cannabis Festival has been canceled

All of that came from humble beginnings. Paul was born in Italy and immigrated to the U.S. at age 7. While his mother worked at an Italian restaurant and his father in the Marble Cliff Quarry, Paul started work at a local Italian bakery. While in high school, he later turned the bakery site into his first restaurant in 1966. He ran Pauls Pantry restaurants in multiple parts of Columbus before being drafted into the Vietnam War.

Upon returning, he eventually launched Pauls at Fifth Avenue in 1979 at its 1565 W. Fifth Ave. location. It grew in popularity through the 1980s and 1990s, and Anthony said that also gave rise to Pauls Catering service, which lasted until 2005. In 2024, it was the last restaurant left under Pauls management.

The Panzera family will still have a name in the restaurant industry, albeit under a different owner. Anthony confirmed that a sibling of Pauls, whose last name changed with marriage, started Panzeras Pizza close by. In fact, he noted the pizzeria predates Pauls on Fifth by four years. Franklin County Auditor records showed Fred Lombardi owned the pizzeria property from 1992 to 2007 when Carlo Lombardi bought it for $300,000.

South Korea-based bakery expands with second central Ohio location

Auditor records also show the change of hands that Pauls on Fifth went through in the last four decades. Charles Calvert owned the property until his son Charles Jr. acquired it in June 2004, but Paul bought the restaurant outright from him the next month for $475,000. In 2021, an LLC called 1565 West Fifth Ave. took ownership of the property at no cost, and still held it as of Tuesday.

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Anthony grew up in Grandview Heights and worked in Pauls for decades, but more recently moved into his own business format of real estate. But he always had one leg in Pauls, in what he called his volunteer shifts.

The son said Pauls has seen an influx of customers hoping to get one last bite in at the diner before it closes. While he said many of Pauls regulars expressed sadness at the closing announcement, he viewed this positively, in a way.

Its only sad because it was great, Anthony said. When youve done something that right for so long, is it sad? People are really expressing their emotions this way.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The National Disease Control and Prevention Administration has released a circular on redoubling efforts to prevent and control schistosomiasis during this year's flood season, aiming to effectively stem the emergence and outbreak of the infectious disease.

The circular urges local disease response departments to work with relevant authorities on coordinated, prompt and targeted measures such as blood fluke extermination, proper livestock management and key-demographic monitoring work.

Schistosomiasis, a Class B infectious disease in China, was in the past common in 12 provincial-level regions in the Yangtze River basin and south of the river. Infection follows contact with water that is infested with larval forms of blood flukes.

A "Healthy China 2030" outline issued in 2016 called for the elimination of schistosomiasis in all endemic counties nationwide by 2030. 
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen visits with members of the Nebraska National Guard he deployed to Texas in April to help that state patrol its border with Mexico. (Courtesy of the Governor's Office)

LINCOLN  This years two border deployments ordered by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen cost a combined $1.27 million.

The state says it paid $1.2 million of that total using interest accrued from the second wave of $48 million in federal pandemic relief funds that Congress set aside for rental assistance.

State taxpayers paid the remaining $71,675.23 in general funds, the Nebraska State Patrol confirmed. The Patrol and the Nebraska Military Department both sent people south.

The Examiner requested the costs of Pillens 2024 deployments a year after he spent nearly $1 million in pandemic-related funds and general funds on two similar deployments in 2023.

Not all are pleased with spending

Some legislators, including State Sens. Carol Blood of Bellevue and Megan Hunt of Omaha, have said those funds could have been better used on other in-state priorities.

Hunt said this spending wont help constituents. She said it doesnt address problems Nebraskans tell senators and the governor they want fixed, such as workforce and housing needs.

This spending is political and partisan, she said. Its misusing political power for political gain. I think Governor Pillen is hoping that Nebraskans dont notice.

Some support Pillens deployments

Pillen deployed 34 members of the Nebraska National Guard between April 1 until June 27 to help near the Texas-Mexico border in the Del Rio area  28 from the Army Guard and six from the Air Guard.

Pillen similarly sent 10 State Patrol troopers to the El Paso area of the Texas-Mexico border from April 14-28, where they were paired with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.

Pillen has argued that public safety and national security dictate the need for every state to send help until the federal government does more to stem the flow of migrants to the border.

Like many other GOP governors seeking to draw attention to the issue in a presidential election year, he defends the spending on border security as necessary and worthwhile.

Questions about effectiveness

He calls every state a border state and speaks about the failures of the federal government. Local and national critics have described the spending as ineffective and wasteful.

Pillen dismissed such questions about the cost-effectiveness of state efforts during his three trips to the border as governor, including stops to visit the Nebraskans he sent.

He and leaders with the State Patrol have said their efforts help reduce the number of people and illegal substances being trafficked across the border.

Pillens predecessor, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, also sent state employees to the Texas border as part of efforts to help his friend and fellow Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Texas has spent billions in state money on border security, arguing that border security has been a problem under both Republican and Democrat administrations.

Congress spends nearly $20 billion on border security.

Approach draws supporters, critics

Red-state governors have found political support at home for the spending. Pillen took Speaker of the Legislature John Arch and State Sen. Tom Brewer to the border last month.

Every member of Nebraskas all-GOP congressional delegation has said polling shows border security is a top issue for voters. It is discussed often on conservative Fox News and Newsmax.

Immigrant advocates and Latino Nebraskans argue that some of the rhetoric Pillen, Ricketts and others have used to describe migrants contributes to fear and anger against them.

One Omaha-based group, LULAC of Nebraska, has argued that the governor would rather spend money on political stunts rather than work to help people who contribute to Nebraskas business dynamism.

Immigrant and refugee labor account for more than 8% of the states economic output, one study indicated. More than 60,000 undocumented workers call Nebraska home, estimates show.

Pillen has said he will keep sending Texas help until the feds get more serious about stopping the flow of people and products across the border. No next deployment has been announced.

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The post Nebraskas 2024 border deployments cost $1.27 million appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Neighbors describe what they saw and heard the night fire killed pastor, family in Necedah

NECEDAH  Nadine Zielinski was watching television in the middle of the night, hours before dawn Sunday, when she heard what sounded like "the mortar of fireworks" going off next door. She called police to report the noise, and was told the rental home was on fire, and the local fire department was already responding.

Zielinski hurried to the window and saw flames above the tree line, and the trees were engulfed in glowing bright orange flames.

Flames leap far above the tree line in a fire early Sunday morning in Necedah. A former Wisconsin pastor, two of his daughters and three granddaughters died in the blaze.

"I heard fireworks," she said. "I know the sound of fireworks intimately."

Her guess was that people renting the home were staying for the week, and had fireworks in the house for a Fourth of July celebration.

The Juneau County Sheriff's Office offered no such detail Monday in a press release, or later when reached by phone. It said only that three adults and three children  all related  died in a fire that was considered accidental. They offered no specifics on survivors. The release just said: "Upon arrival, deputies ... located multiple individuals in the driveway near the residence. While escorting the individuals a safe distance away, deputies asked if everyone was accounted for."

The fire was reported at about 2:35 a.m. Sunday on Morros Mile Road in Necedah. Fire department crews battled the fire for about three hours and were on the scene for more than 12 hours, according to the release. The usually quiet neighborhood is populated mostly by cabins, and seasonal or vacation homes, sitting near Castle Rock Lake.

As of Monday evening, the investigation was continuing, with the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the State Fire Marshal assisting.

Longtime minister and family members lost lives

The victims were identified as Rev. Steve Witte; his daughters Lydia Witte and Charis Kuehl; and his granddaughters Stella Kuehl, Lena Henselin and Merci Henselin, according to the multiple posts on social media and church websites connected with Witte.

Witte served as a minister in the early 2000s at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Green Bay, according to Mike Pfeifer, a staff minister at the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod church. After a number of years, he received a call to serve overseas and has been serving in southeast Asia for about 15 years.

Witte and his wife were on furlough back in the United States and had been in the country for a couple of weeks. They planned to stay another two weeks before Sundays tragedy.

Pfeifer said he has known Witte for about 30 years, and the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church community "is both in shock at the news and the sadness of it," he said.

The front of the Beautiful Savior website on Monday was dedicated to the Witte family, and said: "The Epistle reading for this week contained Paul's words that he was "perplexed, but not in despair."

It went on to say: "Though 'perplexed' a Christian never need be 'in despair.' God's thoughts are hidden, but He has promised that He works through tragedy to accomplish what will be revealed as part of His good and gracious love for His children. Please keep all who mourn in your prayers!"

Larry Schlomer, administrator of WELS World Missions, said Witte had about one year left before he returned to the U.S. permanently, and "he was doing what he loved" when he was back this summer spending time with his family.

"Steve was looking forward to his time with Jesus," Schlomer said. "It just came sooner than any of us would have hoped."

Neighbors mentioned number of people staying in home

Bill Reczek from Palatine, Illinois, owns a vacation home down the road. He was away at the time of the fire but felt the impact of the tragedy.

Its not like youre immune to having feelings on something like this, Reczek said. Ive got grandkids, Ive got kids  its just a sad, tragic thing that people lose their lives.

Multiple neighbors expressed concern about the number of guests staying at the house. According to a listing on Zillow, the two-story house had four bedrooms and a basement. Neighbors estimated 18 people were staying there.

The blackened remains of a rented home in Necedah is seen from behind police tape Monday. Three adults and three children died early Sunday morning in a fire at the two-story home.

The home is often rented out, he added, and frequently loud at night. These visitors were different.

At 1:30 in the morning, that place was quiet and pitch black. By 2:30 in the morning, the whole house was on fire, he said.

By Monday evening, it was hard to make out from the black rubble that a house had stood on the site. A handful of people drove up to take a look. A lone deputy sat in his car, guarding the site from trespassers. The smell of smoke still hung heavy in the air.

Zielinski said she was grateful for the recent rain in Necedah, as that might have prevented the fire from spreading to the heavily wooded area. Chunks of ash fell into her yard, she added.

Thank God this wasnt last year. If it was last year, we would not have a home  because it was so dry, Zielinski said.

But that gave her small comfort.

Whats really heartbreaking is we listened to those kids for three days, she said.

This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: What neighbors saw, heard when fire killed pastor, family in Necedah
Rockets can be seen in the sky flying towards Israel. Around 20 rockets have been fired at Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, with Israeli artillery responding, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Monday. Mohammed Talatene/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said he believed that the main phase of the war against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip would soon be concluded.

"We are moving towards the end of the phase of dismantling Hamas' terror army," he said in Jerusalem at a reception for cadets of the National Defence Academy. "We will continue to fight their remnants."

Netanyahu had earlier visited the Gaza Division, which is currently deployed in the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. He had seen "very considerable progress" there, he said.

Israel has been bombarding Gaza for months and started a ground offensive after Hamas' mass attack on southern Israel on October 7. At least 37,765 Palestinians have been killed and another 86,429 injured in Gaza since then, according to the health authority in the coastal strip.

The offensive in Rafah on the border with Egypt is aimed at dismantling the last major Hamas combat units, Netanyahu said. However, the Islamist militia remains militarily active in the form of smaller units.

The words of the Israeli prime minister indicate that the army's major ground offensive in the Gaza Strip could soon come to an end.

Netanyahu and senior military officials have often pointed out that Israeli troops would remain in strategic locations in the sealed-off coastal area even after the phase of intense fighting. This would primarily include the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometre-long, narrow strip that runs along the border with Egypt near Rafah on the Gaza side.

Earlier on Monday, around 20 rockets were fired at Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, with Israeli artillery responding, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

Some of the rockets had been intercepted, while others had come down in open countryside, it said. Air-raid sirens sounded in locations near the border ordering residents to seek shelter. The IDF said it had fired on the launch sites with artillery.

The attacks were the heaviest for some time, Israeli media reported.

Thousands of rockets were fired in the initial months of the war at Israeli targets as far away as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The attacks have since declined in frequency.

Air defense missiles are fired from the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system. Around 20 rockets have been fired at Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, with Israeli artillery responding, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Monday. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Netherlands completes export license for 24 F-16s, jets to reach Ukraine 'soon'

The Netherlands has finalized export licenses for the fleet of F-16 fighter jets that will be delivered to Ukraine, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on July 1.

The Netherlands has pledged to deliver 24 of its fourth-generation U.S.-made jets to Ukraine as Kyiv seeks to bolster its Air Force. Denmark, Belgium, and Norway have promised additional F-16s.

"(D)elivery of the first aircraft will proceed soon," Ollongren said.

The defense minister did not disclose the exact date or other delivery details, citing "operational security" concerns. The announcement confirmed that export licenses for the aircraft had been issued.

Ollongren told the media in June that the Dutch F-16s would reach Ukraine at some point in the summer. Previous projections were more pessimistic, suggesting a fall delivery date.

The jets will arrive a year after Denmark and the Netherlands co-founded the "fighter-jet coalition" for Ukraine at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 1 that Ukraine expects to expand and strengthen its air defense capacities in the coming month.

Read also: Politico: Democrats urge Pentagon to train more Ukrainian F-16 pilots

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Longtime Wilson Middle School Principal John Davis II was placed on leave in April this year.

After 19 years as the principal of Wilson Middle School in Newark, John Davis II was put on paid administrative leave in late April, according to Newark City Schools Board of Education meeting notes from May 13.

That decision followed reports of anti-LGBTQ+ harassment at the school, 805 W. Church St., and a recently launched investigation into a Title IX complaint against Davis.

In an April 26 letter to Davis, Newark City Schools Superintendent David Lewis confirmed his leave immediately and until further written notice. The letter informed Davis he was not to enter school grounds or attend any school-related events, nor was he to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any staff or student who is, or who you suspect may be, involved in this investigation.

In his place, Leslie JR Shumate, the Newark High School assistant principal for the past 10 years, acted as the interim principal for the rest of the 2023-2024 school year.

A Title IX complaint can cover discrimination or harassment based upon gender and sexuality.

One parent who filed a complaint with the school district about Davis is Summer Kuehner, who said her daughter, a 12-year-old sixth-grade student at Wilson Middle School, was assaulted on a bus ride home from school on March 7. Kuehner said her daughter, who is openly bisexual, was physically and verbally assaulted on a school bus by a fellow Wilson student, a seventh-grade girl, after being repeatedly called homophobic slurs.

After the assault, Kuehner, a Newark resident, said middle school officials did little to intervene, even failing to inform her of the incident. Notably, Kuehner said, Davis, as a school administrator, did not follow the required steps under Title IX, when presented with an allegation of anti-LGBTQ+ harassment.

Kuehner plans to pull her daughter out of Wilson for her seventh and eighth grade years to be homeschooled.

When contacted by phone by The Reporting Project, Davis declined to answer questions.

Seth Roy, the Newark City Schools communications coordinator, also declined to comment on Davis leave, saying he was not able to discuss disciplinary actions, Title IX or anything related to personnel.

A trend at Wilson?

The allegations of a weak response by Davis are not an isolated incident, according to other parents who have pulled their students from Wilson during his tenure, and they say it has become a pattern of administrative behavior.

Jill Hetrick is the parent of a student who was at Wilson in 2013 and who had a similar story. While in sixth grade, Hetrick said, her daughter was the victim of severe bullying. Hetrick said a fellow Wilson student repeatedly told her daughter to kill herself and harassed her for months. After months of incessant bullying, Hetrick said, her daughter retaliated. She said that her daughter was the only student punished by the administration. In a meeting with Davis, Hetrick said he accused her daughter of being a baby.

Similar language has been documented by parents and students who had meetings with Davis, including in a recent meeting in which a parent said Davis called a student fragile in response to another student harassing him.

Kuehner said fighting has been a common occurrence at Wilson Middle School. She described it as an eat or be eaten culture.

This school is creating an environment where, if you are not doing the beating and the bullying, then you are the one getting beaten and bullied, Kuehner said.

Roy said the school district was aware of that incident, though the district wouldnt respond to claims posted on social media. The school would, however, reach out privately to parents.

Ultimately, we want students to have a positive experience. We want families to have a positive experience, Roy said in early June. If theyre not having a positive experience, we want to try to address that.

More often than not, studies show that students being bullied identify as LGBTQ+.

In 2020, 65% of surveyed middle school students who identify as LGBTQ+ reported online or in-person bullying, according to The Trevor Projects 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.

The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, also found that LGBTQ+ students are four times more likely to attempt suicide as their cisgender and straight counterparts.

What happened?

On April 29, Davis was put on paid administrative leave for an undetermined amount of time, according to documents The Reporting Project obtained from Newark City Schools after filing a public-records request under the Ohio Public Records Act.

Records show that Davis, who has been the principal at Wilson Middle School since 2004, was placed on leave only days after Summer Kuehner met with Lewis to discuss the way Davis handled her daughters attack. In the April 26 letter obtained by The Reporting Project, Lewis confirmed the leave, citing a pending investigation into three matters related to your employment with the Newark City School District Board of Education.

Those three matters, according to a subsequent letter delivered to Davis on May 14, include professional misconduct related to student discipline, FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) compliance; and Title IX and other district harassment compliance and/or reporting procedures.

The May 14 letter alerted Davis that an outside investigation was being conducted by Janice Collette, an associate with Neola, an independent school policy provider for districts across the country.

While records indicate this is the first time Davis has faced such an investigation during his time at Newark City Schools, his annual reviews done by the superintendent in recent years said that student social and emotional help was consistently an area needing refinement by Davis.

In a 2020-2021 assessment done by Lewis, Davis was advised to continue to strengthen building your PBIS system.

PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, a three-tiered system to support student social, emotional, and behavioral health. Additionally, in an undated Ohio Principal Evaluation System report, Davis scored below average, described as developing marks on categories titled, establish and maintain a safe school environment and principals create a nurturing learning environment that addresses the physical and mental health needs of all.

Kuehner described similar issues when dealing with Davis after her daughter's assault. In a meeting the day after, Kuehner said Davis told her that anti-bullying education is not his responsibility.

During the assault, Kuehners daughter, who was sitting with a friend on the bus ride home, was pulled out of her seat by her hair and repeatedly hit on the head, according to a police report from the Newark Division of Police.

Kuehner and her daughter chose not to press charges, and they did not want to identify the student who they said assaulted her.

What troubled the Kuehner family was Davis response to the attack.

My daughter put her hand on his desk and said, Please, Mr. Davis. Please help me and my friends, Kuehner said. He rolled his eyes.

This attack came after months of her daughter being accosted with homophobic slurs by the same girl who she said attacked her on the bus.

Kuehner said Davis failed to abide by the Newark City Schools Title IX policy for reporting harassment.

According to the Newark City Schools website, there is an Anti-Harassment Policy, which sets guidelines for what is considered harassment and how employees of the district should respond to complaints about harassment.

The guidelines say the (school) board will also take immediate steps to impose disciplinary action on individuals engaging in any way in the following prohibited acts:  disregarding, failing to investigate adequately, or delaying investigation of allegations of harassment.

Kuehner said she and her daughter filed a Title IX complaint in light of Davis failure to follow the steps outlined in the districts policies after being notified of the harassment. The case was scheduled for mediation on May 30.

As a result of the mediation, Kuehner said, district officials said they would implement multiple anti-bullying initiatives. According to Kuehner, Newark City Schools will conduct a districtwide culture audit, along with redoing the anti-bullying policy and bringing in medical experts to explain the physical effects of bullying.

The Ohio School Report Card, a government website, shows that Wilson Middle School fell short of student growth expectations and needs support to meet state standards. The school of more than 300 students received a three out of five overall quality rating.

Sarah Sollinger writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison Universitys Journalism program is funded in part by donations from readers.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark middle school principal on leave after reports of bullying
Caddo Parish's first Black sheriff Henry Whitehorn was sworn in Monday.

Whitehorn was elected to the position on March 23 after securing 53 percent of the in-person vote, a percentage that didn't change once the roughly 25,000 early votes were counted.

Henry Whitehorn (right), with his hand on the Holy Bible held by his son Henry Whitehorn, Jr., is sworn in as the Caddo Parish Sheriff Monday afternoon, July 1, 2024, by the Honorable Ramona Emanuel at the Shreveport Convention Center.

Democrat Whitehorn defeated Republican John Nickelson in three separate ballot countings. Following the November 18, 2023 election, Nickelson contested Whitehorn's win by a one-vote margin. Whitehorn received 21,621 votes while Nickelson received 21,620.

After a November 27, 2023 recount that still determined Whitehorn as the winner, Nickelson filed a lawsuit outlining allegations of irregularities in votes during the runoff election. Retired Louisiana Court Justice Joseph Bleich ordered a new runoff election between Whitehorn and Nickelson. Whitehorn appealed the ruling. However, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals uphold Bleich's ruling.

"As I look out in this space, I see a community  a community of people who one-way or another helped make this possible," Whitehorn said during his inaugural address at the Shreveport Convention Center. "Possible for me to be standing here before you today as your sheriff of Caddo Parish. Sheriff [Victor] Jones, I'm reminded today that I stand in a line of twenty-four previous sheriffs. I'm also reminded that I'm standing on the shoulders of men and women who bled, sweat and died so that I can have this opportunity."

"Now it's my honor to serve with the brave and courageous men and women of the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office and I do believe that it is one of the best law enforcement agencies in the state."

Henry Whitehorn (left) shares a moment with his son Henry Whitehorn, Jr., and Congressman Troy Carter during his swearing in ceremony as the Caddo Parish Sheriff Monday afternoon, July 1, 2024, at the Shreveport Convention Center.

Whitehorn has decades of law enforcement experience and has served as the city's Chief Administrative Officer. In 1978, he joined the Louisiana State Police and served in various capacities, leaving as LSP Superintendent in 2007 to become the Shreveport Police Chief under Mayor Cedric Glover, becoming the first Black to serve in the position.

In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Whitehorn as the United States Marshal for the Western District of Louisiana, a position he served until 2020.

As Caddo Parish's newly elected Sheriff, Whitehorn said he pledged to serve with integrity, lead with courage and remember the lessons learned on the path that led him to his new role.

"Our mission is clear  we aim to become a beacon of law enforcement agencies, not just in Louisiana, but across the nation," he said. "We are committed to upholding law and order, ensuring that peace and security are not just clear concepts but tangible realities that every citizen in our parish can experience. Safety is the cornerstone of our community. It is the foundation upon which we build our dreams, nurture our families and conduct our daily lives. As your sheriff, I pledge to foster an environment where safety in a communal achievement... sustained by every member of our society."

Whitehorn said he will leverage relationships with other agencies to prevent crime, and collaborate with the community and faith organizations to provide more opportunities for parish youth to keep them out of trouble.

"Together we will work tirelessly to create a Caddo Parish that is safe, just, innovative and respectful," Whitehorn said. "A community where law is respected. Where peace is the norm and where every citizen can look to the future with confidence and hope. Thank you for your support, your faith, your commitment."

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinsonand on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

Henry Whitehorn during his swearing-in ceremony as the Caddo Parish Sheriff Monday afternoon, July 1, 2024, at the Shreveport Convention Center.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Henry Whitehorn, first Black sheriff of Caddo Parish sworn in
A grand jury in Palm Beach County on July 19, 2006, heard from two alleged underage victims of Jeffrey Epstein, two police officers and an investigator with the state's attorney's office in a proceeding that lasted less than four hours, according to newly unsealed transcripts released by a judge in Florida.

During the testimony of the two alleged victims, each was confronted with questions about whether they understood that they had engaged in prostitution and could be charged with a crime, according to the newly released transcripts.

"It was just atrocious the way they handled it," said Spencer Kuvin, an attorney who represented one of the alleged underage victims who testified. "They basically tanked their own case."

The previously secret testimony was made public on Monday in response to a motion from the Palm Beach Post, joined by numerous other news agencies. Earlier this year, the Florida legislature passed a new law tailored to ensure that the Epstein documents were made public because of the intense public interest in understanding how the grand jury returned an indictment of Epstein on just a single charge of solicitation of prostitution. The transcript of the grand jury proceedings, however, does not indicate what charging options were presented to grand jurors before they reached their decision.

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The grand jury was convened in 2006 by then State's Attorney Barry Krischer, who had for months resisted efforts by the Palm Beach Police Department to charge Epstein with multiple felonies for his alleged sexual exploitation of underage girls.

The opening witness before the grand jury was Palm Beach Police Detective Joseph Recarey, who led the investigation of Epstein and interviewed more than a dozen alleged underage victims. Recarey recounted the onset of the investigation when the stepmother of a 14-year-old girl reported that her daughter had received $300 to massage an older man on Palm Beach Island.

Prosecutors then called that teen girl, who had since turned 15. She testified that she went once to Epstein's mansion the previous year. She said she was asked by Epstein's assistant to strip down to her underwear and to wait for Epstein to enter the room. She said she massaged Epstein and then, at his request, agreed to allow him to use a vibrator on her for an extra $100. She admitted that she lied and told Epstein that she was 18. Her parents found out about her trip to Epstein's, she said, because she had gotten into an altercation at school and the money was found in her purse.

During her testimony, prosecutors asked the girl about her drug and alcohol use, body piercings and postings on her MySpace page in which she boasted of shoplifting and lied about her age and her income, claiming to make $250,000. "Yeah, it's a joke," she testified. "Like, all my friends do that, cause it's kind of funny and random and stupid."

A juror then asked the witness if she had "any idea deep down inside of you thatwhat you're doing is wrong?"

"Yeah, I did," she answered.

PHOTO: Jeffrey Epstein (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, FILE)

"And you're well aware that what you're doing to your own reputation," the juror asked.

"Yes, I do," she recalled.

A prosecutor, Lanna Belohlavek, then asked the 15-year-old witness: "You aware that you committed a crime?"

"Now I am. I didn't know it was a crime when I was doing it," she replied. "Now, I guess it's prostitution or something like that."

Reading those exchanges on Monday, Kuvin -- who represented the witness during the Epstein investigation -- said he was appalled but not surprised.

"It just reaffirmed what we always knew was happening is that the state attorney was afraid to prosecute him, and that they tanked their own case by attacking their own witnesses during the grand jury proceeding," he said. "It was almost like the grand jury proceeding was an attempt to prosecute the teenagers and ignore Epstein."

In subsequent testimony, Detective Recarey, who died in 2018, recounted the now familiar deviant scheme in which Epstein enlisted his assistants and his alleged victims to recruit other underage girls to his homes for illicit massages. Recarey told the grand jury that two alleged victims had intercourse with Epstein without their consent while under the age of 18.

One alleged victim, Recarey testified, had gone to Epstein's mansion over 100 times, and had received $200 each time, and gifts, including a rented car for her use. He testified that on one occasion, Epstein had intercourse with her without her consent. "She screamed no," Recarey said when asked by a grand juror if the victim had asked Epstein to stop. Epstein stopped, apologized and paid her $1000, Recarey testified.

Belohlavek then questioned Recarey about the money the alleged victim made from all her visits to Epstein's home.

MORE: Hypothetical SEAL Team 6 political assassination resurfaces in Supreme Court presidential immunity dissent

"That day she took a thousand dollars. Let's say it's only $200 for a hundred times; she's  we're talking a lot of money she got, at a minimum, plus a car," the prosecutor said. "Did you ask her what she did with all that money?"

"I did ask her and she didn't want to tell me," Recarey replied. "She said that it was too personal."

"After you  she's just described all these sex acts to you? Okay," Belohlavek replied.

The only other alleged victim to testify before the grand jury said she went to Epstein's mansion about 10 times, starting when she was 16.

"He was well aware of my age from the very beginning," she said.

The sexual activity escalated gradually, she testified, until her last encounter when Epstein initiated intercourse. It was the day before her 18th birthday, she said. She testified that she did not want to have intercourse with him but did not ask him to stop.

The young girl said she was reluctant to testify and didn't really know if she wanted to see Epstein prosecuted.

"You understand that you in effect were committing prostitution yourself," a prosecutor asked.

"Yes," the witness replied.

The final witness of the day was an investigator with the state's attorney's office who was guided through testimony covering the backgrounds of the alleged teen victims, including shoplifting, arrests, drinking and drug use. The investigator was also questioned about the MySpace pages of the alleged 14-year-old victim. Much of that information had been provided to the prosecutor by Epstein's defense attorneys in an attempt to dissuade the office from bringing charges.

"And does her website also include pictures of her in skimpy attire, drinking alcohol and sexually provocative photos?" the witness was asked.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied.

Following this grand jury's indictment on one charge of solicitation of prostitution -- with no mention of minor victims -- Epstein was arrested, booked and released on bond. The outcome of the grand jury incensed then Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter, who publicly apologized to the victims and turned over the case to the FBI. Two years later, federal prosecutors crafted a deal with Epstein that allowed him to escape federal prosecution in exchange for his guilty plea to the original grand jury indictment plus one additional charge of soliciting a minor into prostitution. He served 13 months of an 18-month sentence in a private wing of the Palm Beach County stockade. Epstein was also allowed liberal work release, which permitted him to spend up to 16 hours a day at his office in West Palm Beach.

Following Epstein's 2019 arrest in New York, Krischer pushed back on claims that his handling of the case more than a decade earlier had forced federal prosecutors to enter into that infamously lenient deal with Epstein.

"No matter how my office resolved the state charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office always had the ability to file its own federal charges," Krischer said in a statement at the time.

Newly released grand jury documents in Epstein case reveal alleged victims accused of prostitution originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5)  In support of the Armed Services YMCA, Nexstar Media Inc. presented the nonprofit with a $10,000 donation ahead of this years Big Bay Boom.

FOX 5 also thanks its many other generous partners who have supported the Armed Services YMCA this year, including Raising Canes, San Diego Seals, San Diego Strike Force, Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Legion.

FOX 5 will have cameras around the bay  on the ground and in the sky  to give you the best view of the July 4th fireworks show. Coverage starts at 8 p.m. on FOX 5 and on fox5sandiego.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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The development project for an offshore oilfield cluster began operations on Monday in Beibu Gulf, south China, according to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

This is also China's first comprehensive green-designed offshore oil field, demonstrating the importance of low-carbon transformation in the country's energy industry.

The average water depth in the oilfield cluster is about 28 meters. The development plan is to drill and operate 43 oil wells, including 28 production wells and 15 water injection wells.

It is estimated to achieve a peak production of approximately 18,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2026.

The oilfield cluster features a crude oil processing station, a liquefied natural gas station, a liquefied petroleum gas station, a production water treatment station, a substation and a 5G base station.

During the oil field production process, water and associated natural gas can be produced. The production water treatment station can achieve zero emissions and pollution, while the integrated natural gas processing equipment and storage tanks can efficiently liquefy associated natural gas, allowing for efficient utilization of associated natural gas.

The oilfield cluster was designed to save 20,000 tonnes of standard coal and reduce 44,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which is equivalent to the annual carbon sequestration of about 5,800 hectares of forest. 
Two fishing companies challenged regulations that required Atlantic herring fishers to pay some costs for observers on their boats. (Joe Raedle | Getty Images)

Federal Chevron deference is dead. On June 28, 2024, in a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court overturned the 40-year-old legal tenet that when a federal statute is silent or ambiguous about a particular regulatory issue, courts should defer to the implementing agencys reasonable interpretation of the law.

The reversal came in a ruling on two fishery regulation cases, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce.

This decision means that federal courts will have the final say on what an ambiguous federal statute means. Whats not clear is whether most courts will still listen to expert federal agencies in determining which interpretations make the most sense.

While courts and judges will vary, as a scholar in environmental law, I expect that the demise of Chevron deference will make it easier for federal judges to focus on the exact meaning of Congress individual words, rather than on Congress goals or the real-life workability of federal laws.

Who decides what the law means?

Chevron deference emerged from a 1984 case that addressed the Environmental Protection Agencys interpretation of the term stationary source in the Clean Air Act. The EPA asserted that a source could be a facility that contained many individual sources of air pollutant emissions. This meant, for example, that a factory with several smokestacks could be treated as a single source for regulatory purposes, as if it were enclosed in an imaginary bubble.

In upholding the EPAs decision, the Supreme Court created a two-step test for deciding whether to defer to a federal agencys interpretation of a statute that it administers.

In Step 1, the court asks whether Congress directly addressed the issue in the statute. If so, then both the court and the agency have to do what Congress directs.

In Step 2, however, if Congress is silent or unclear, then the court should defer to the agencys interpretation if it is reasonable because agency staff is presumed to be experts on the issue. Justice John Paul Stevens reportedly told his colleagues, When I am so confused, I go with the agency.

The central question in both the Loper Bright and Relentless cases was whether the U.S. secretary of commerce could require commercial fishers to pay for onboard observers they were required to bring on some fishing voyages to collect catch data. Lower courts in these cases deferred to the agencys interpretation that, under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, it could require fishers to pay.

However, in an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court majority concluded that Chevron deference contradicts the Administrative Procedure Act. This broad law governs both the procedures that federal agencies must follow and, more importantly, the standards that federal courts must use to review agency actions.

As the majority pointed out, under the Administrative Procedure Act, courts must decide all relevant questions of law  explicitly including interpreting statutes.

Curbing the administrative state

Since 1984, Chevron deference has become pervasive in federal administrative law. By the Supreme Courts count, 70 of its own decisions in that time have turned on Chevron deference.

More importantly, thousands of lower federal court decisions  more than 400 a year on average  have deployed Chevron deference on issues ranging from Social Security benefits to workplace safety standards, immigration eligibility and environmental protection requirements.

Chevron deference gave many federal agencies broad flexibility to use laws to address new and emerging problems that Congress did not anticipate. But some members of the current Supreme Court  as well as some federal appellate judges  criticized this doctrine, for two key reasons.

First, it authorized executive branch agencies to interpret federal law and forced courts to accept agencies reasonable interpretations. However, since the Supreme Courts 1803 decision in Marbury v. Madison, it has been the duty of courts  not federal agencies  to say what the law is.

Second, Chevron deference arguably allowed federal agencies to grab more regulatory authority than Congress intended them to have, usurping the legislative branchs responsibility to make law and delegate authority.

EPA infographic outlining the regulatory process.

The court majority emphasized that prior court decisions upholding agency interpretations based on Chevron deference cannot be challenged solely because of that fact. As Roberts wrote, these holdings are still subject to statutory stare decisis.

Stare decisis, or the thing is decided, is legalese for why courts will respect prior decisions. In other words, no challenger can go back to a court that relied on Chevron deference and ask the court to change its original decision that the agencys interpretation was OK.

Thats good so far as it goes. However, many agency interpretations of statutes can be challenged multiple times.

For example, the Clean Water Act protects waters of the United States. In 2023, the Biden administration issued new regulations interpreting which bodies of water the law covers. Challengers who disagree with that interpretation can attack the regulations directly and argue that the agencies reading of the law is wrong, as the fishing companies did in the Loper Bright cases.

However, under many laws, businesses and individuals can also challenge an agency interpretation at the moment when the agency decides that a general regulation applies specifically to them. These are called as applied challenges. After Loper Bright, any time an agency that benefited from Chevron deference goes to apply its interpretation to a new regulated entity, that regulated entity can challenge the agency interpretation  and this time the agency wont get Chevron deference.

Will federal courts still listen to regulators?

Eliminating Chevron deference will likely worsen an existing division among judges, and justices, about how to go about interpreting statutes. It centers on how much a statutes purpose and context should matter  or, instead, how much the judge should focus on the plain meaning of the particular words that Congress chose to use.

Suppose, for example, that a federal court faced the issue of how to define a vegetable for purposes of determining whether import taxes apply to imported tomato sauce. A plain meaning approach would emphasize that Congress decided to tax vegetables and that tomatoes are fruits; hence, tomato sauce is not subject to the import tax.

An approach focused on Congress purpose, in contrast, would emphasize that Congress wanted to tax all imports of savory foods that the public generally considers to be vegetables. Using this approach, the Supreme Court in 1893, in fact, decided that tomatoes were vegetables subject to import taxes.

Federal agencies typically take Congress purpose and the context in which regulators act very much into account when they decide what laws mean. For example, when the Food and Drug Administration had to distinguish proteins, which qualify as biologics for regulatory purposes, from chains of amino acids, which qualify as drugs, it focused on Congress reasons for creating the two categories. Ultimately, the agency decided that a molecule made up of amino acids had to have a certain level of complexity to qualify as a protein, and hence a biologic.

In contrast, ever since the late Justice Antonin Scalia joined the Supreme Court in 1986, federal judges  and especially Supreme Court justices  have taken an increasingly plain meaning, or textualist approach, to statutory interpretation. The current Supreme Court, for example, would almost certainly never have allowed a tomato to be a vegetable.

Dissenting Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown-Jackson, along with many other legal experts, foresee serious problems for future cases that turn on highly technical issues. What will happen when a statutes nonexpert plain meaning makes no practical sense in a highly technical or scientifically nuanced regulatory regime, such as the FDA classifying biologics and drugs?

How long will the APA matter?

This ruling also may signal that the court plans to pay greater attention to the 1946 Administrative Procedure Acts primacy in federal administrative law. This statute had been in place for almost 40 years when the Supreme Court decided Chevron in 1984, and the Chevron majority did not see it as a problem at the time.

Now, however, it has become a reason to overturn Chevron deference. Other court-created glosses on administrative law may also be dead doctrines walking.

Congress can and has created different standards of review in other statutes, including the Clean Air Act that led to the Chevron decision. What if a future Congress specifically directs that the implementing agency should take the lead in interpreting a particular statute?

I expect that the Supreme Court would reach for the Constitution and declare any such delegation unconstitutional. In other words, it is probably only a matter of time before Loper Brights overruling of Chevron deference becomes a matter of federal constitutional law.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
NJ Transit fare hike takes effect: They need to get their act together with all the delays

NJ Transit fare hike takes effect: They need to get their act together with all the delays

NEWARK N.J. (PIX11)  Leon Williams from East Orange is waiting for a NJ Transit train to take him to his ailing mother, and no fare hike will stop him.

I gotta go see my mom. If I got money in my pocket, I gotta pay what I got to, said Williams. My mom is my heart; shes the one who raised me, so I gotta go see her.

But he, like everyone else riding NJ Transit, has no choice but to pay the 15% higher fares that went into effect Monday.

More Transit News

The fare hike was approved in April, and its not sitting well with many riders, especially after several weeks of nightmare morning and evening commutes.

I believe that before New Jersey Transit starts going up on the fares, they need to get their act together with all the delays, all the confusion, all the overhead problems, said Daniel Clyburn of East Orange. Its not fair to the consumers to be going up on the fares.

We requested an in-person interview with New Jersey Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett on Monday but were told he was unavailable.

In a written statement, Corbett said the agencys strategy for financial stability for fiscal year 2025 involves efforts to maximize cost-savings, solve the immediate need for their operating budget gap of more than $100 million, and solve long-term funding needs.

More New Jersey News

In his statement, he said, in part, quote:

While a fare increase is always an option of last resort  as evidenced by the six straight years of no fare increases under this administration  we recognize the impact an increase of any size has on all our customers and remain strongly committed to ensuring that overall service levels are not reduced through FY25. New Jersey Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett

Sometimes the trains are not as tidy as they should, said Gifty Annobil, a NJ Transit rider from Newark. I expect that you know they hire some cleaners to clean the trains before they start working the next morning.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Police in Albuquerque in mid-September, 2021. (Photo by Marisa Demarco / Source NM)

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants regular, statewide updates on gun violence from police departments across New Mexico.

A two-page draft discussed with lawmakers last week would require all police departments in New Mexico to turn in monthly reports on criminal activity and ballistic information to the Department of Public Safety.

The proposal is one of five that Lujan Grisham wants lawmakers to consider in the special session scheduled to begin July 18.

The law already requires police departments to turn in monthly reports on crime in their jurisdictions to the department of public safety, but the bill seeks to add ballistic information to what must be included in the reports.

The department would have to provide standards and procedures and related training to state and local police departments as needed for them to turn in reports every month under the draft bill.

That information would be used to formulate responses, to make informed presentations on the current situation, Lujan Grishams senior public safety advisor Benjamin Baker told lawmakers.

I think that is statistical data for helping inform us whats good policy, whats good lawmaking, and whats good advice to bodies such as this, Baker told the Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee on June 26.

Rep. Alan Martinez (R-Rio Rancho) asked if the crime reporting is not already being done.

No, it is not being done in a way that is enforceable by anybody else, Baker responded. We have worked towards getting it.

Baker said the National Incident-Based Reporting System run by the FBI is a functional, great way that it specifically categorizes crime, but it is voluntary.

It is very difficult to pull together relevant and contemporary data that paints a picture statewide, Baker said.

Bernalillo County started to provide the data to the state eight months ago, Baker said, but there are 193 public safety agencies throughout New Mexico. Only 95 agencies in New Mexico reported their data to the national system in 2022, according to FBI data.

Getting them to share and collaborate on the data piece is critical from our perspective, he said.

Rep. Jared Hembree (R-Roswell) pointed out New Mexico law already requires a uniform crime reporting system, and every police department shall submit crime incident reports to DPS each month.

So that doesnt seem voluntary, and seems to be very similar to this draft we have right here, Hembree said.

Baker said the administration thinks the law needs to be revisited to also include ballistic data, because there is new technology related to ballistic information which wasnt considered by previous legislation.

Technology has changed, the reporting repository has changed, and I think what we need is a new way of getting that information to us so we will be able to use it on our level, Baker said.

He said the goals of the legislation would be to make it easier for local departments to get plugged into the FBI reporting system, and to get more specific information about what we would call a violent crime gun epidemic that is happening within our state.

Martinez asked what would happen if police departments do not comply with the law.

What do we do when the cops dont do what we tell them to do? Baker asked. I think there are a number of things that, when legislation is passed by this legislature, particularly as it relates to any government agency that receives funding, there is an appropriate mechanism to hold to account folks who do not comply with laws that have been passed by this Legislature.

The post All NM police departments could report monthly gun violence stats under gov proposal appeared first on Source New Mexico.
No hate crime charge in Bellingham park assault; racial slurs went both ways, police say

Prosecutors will not pursue a hate crime charge against a Bellingham man who was arrested Saturday in connection with an altercation at Cornwall Park, during which one man was repeatedly punched in the face and threatened with a screwdriver. Court documents indicate both the victim and his alleged assailant used racially charged language during the fight.

An official with the Whatcom County Prosecutors Office told The Bellingham Herald late Monday that Timothy Duane Franklin, 51, will only face a single count of second-degree assault for an incident that injured a 31-year-old Bellingham man.

In a hearing Monday afternoon in the jail courtroom, court Commissioner Ann Vetter-Hansen set bail at $20,000, with a cash alternative. Vetter-Hansen set another court hearing for July 12.

Although police booked Franklin, who is black, into the Whatcom County Jail on assault and hate crime charges Saturday, a probable cause affidavit indicates both Franklin and the victim, who is white, used racial slurs during the 5 p.m. Saturday incident.

Franklin called the victim a (racial slur) first. The victim called Franklin a (racial slur) after being assaulted and being called a (racial slur) first, police Officer Obed Camacho wrote in a probable cause statement that was included with charging documents filed Monday in Whatcom County Superior Court.

Statements from both the victim and a witness  who is related to Franklin  showed disagreement over how the fight started, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Both parties accused the other of being the aggressor.

Franklin seemingly attacked (the victim) unprovoked. Franklin punched the victim in the face. The victim has lacerations on his neck and back that were consistent with puncture wounds from a screwdriver. Franklin caused significant physical harm to the victim, Camacho said in the statement.

A second witness saw the victim following Franklin through the park and helped the victim call 911. The victim was treated and released from St. Joseph Medical Center, police said.

Franklin has been arrested several times for crimes involving violence, and was sentenced to a year in prison in 2023, according to online court records.

Most recently, he was released May 16 after serving 45 days for spitting on a man and threatening him with a machete.

Second-degree assault is a class B felony under Washington state law, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, or both.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 1: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the media following the Supreme Court's ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election, at the White House on July 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their "constitutional authority," but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024 (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

 President Joe Biden

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
ISTANBUL/ANKARA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Eleven suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) have been detained in Turkiye's western province of Izmir on Tuesday, local media reported.

Counter-terrorism units initiated the operation as part of an investigation led by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the state-run TRT broadcaster said.

The suspects were accused of engaging in IS-related activities in the Menemen district.

Police also seized weapons, organizational publications, and numerous digital materials during searches conducted at the suspects' residences.

The Turkish government designated IS as a terrorist organization in 2013, blaming it for a spate of deadly attacks in the country since 2015, including a January attack on a Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul that killed one person.

Meanwhile, Turkiye said on Tuesday it "neutralized" a total of 13 "terrorists" in northern Iraq and northern Syria.

"The Turkish Armed Forces neutralized 10 Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists detected in Operation Claw and Operation Claw-Lock zones in northern Iraq, and three Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) terrorists in Operation Olive Branch zone in northern Syria," the country's Defense Ministry said on social media platform X, without specifying the time frame of the operations.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply the "terrorists" in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Turkiye sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the PKK group, which, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. 
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 1: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the media following the Supreme Court's ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election, at the White House on July 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their "constitutional authority," but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images).

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Missouri Independent.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Andrew Harnik | Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

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The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
President Joe Biden speaks to the media following the Supreme Court's ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election, at the White House on July 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their "constitutional authority," but do not have absolute immunity. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Michigan Advance.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled, 6-3, that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Andrew Harnik | Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- China and Switzerland on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding and agreed to officially start negotiations for the upgrade of the Sino-Swiss free trade agreement (FTA) as soon as possible, according to Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao held talks with Swiss Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, also head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research on Monday, discussing the robust development of Sino-Swiss economic and trade relations. 
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on July 1, 2024, following the Supreme Courts ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their constitutional authority, but do not have absolute immunity. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening.

Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the countrys founding  set to be celebrated nationwide this week on the Fourth of July  that no one is above the law.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

The immunity decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts for the courts conservative majority, undermined that principle, Biden said.

Biden added that the decision would almost certainly mean a jury would not decide the criminal case accusing former President Donald Trump of conspiring to illegally overturn his 2020 loss before Novembers election, which Biden called a disservice to the American people.

Roberts opinion

The ruling tasked a federal trial court with determining which actions then-President Trump took seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election were conducted as official acts of the president. Those actions are entitled to the presumption of immunity, Roberts wrote.

The ruling protected the power of an office that itself makes up an entire branch of government, Roberts said, and was consistent with the constitutional framers view that the president has broad powers and responsibilities.

Accounting for that reality  and ensuring that the President may exercise those powers forcefully, as the Framers anticipated he would  does not place him above the law, Roberts wrote. It preserves the basic structure of the Constitution.

But Biden called the decision a dangerous precedent that would give presidents nearly unrestrained power.

The power of the president will no longer be constrained by the law, even by the Supreme Court of the United States, he said. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

Biden invoked the example of George Washington, who he said restrained the power of the presidency, and pledged he would continue to respect the limits of the presidential powers.

But, he said, the ruling empowered future presidents, possibly including Trump, to ignore the law.

Jan. 6 attack

Biden said Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the certification of Bidens defeat of Trump in the 2020 election. Trumps efforts to undermine the election results, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack, are the subject of the federal indictment the former president challenged by asserting presidential immunity.

Four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power, Biden said. We all saw with our own eyes. We saw what happened that day  I think its fair to say its one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Now, the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction.

Biden, whose reelection campaign was still reeling Monday from a debate performance against Trump last week described even by Democrats as poor, called on voters to do what the court should have been willing to do but would not, and reject Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, at the ballot box.

The president endorsed Justice Sonia Sotomayors forceful dissent in the case, quoting her phrase that the majority opinion fueled fear for our democracy and urging voters, too, to dissent.

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The post No kings in America: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Are alligators being used to stop illegal crossings at the southern border? A viral video with nearly 2 million views claims that the National Guard has released the reptiles into the Rio Grande for extra border protection.

TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD GATORTexans have released gators and they are now patrolling the river near Eagle Pass. The gators will stop the Illegal immigrants. pic.twitter.com/bfnCNTnQzQ  TRUMP ARMY (@TRUMP_ARMY_) June 21, 2024

The claim is false. Alligators do live in parts of the Rio Grande, but they were not released there by the Texas National Guard or U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

The Rio Grande runs along the eastern half of the U.S. border with Mexico, stretching from El Paso, Texas, to the rivers terminus in the Gulf of Mexico. Alligators are commonly spotted in the river, and, as shared by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in April, warning signs about their presence are posted in certain sectors. American alligators in the lower Rio Grande are native to the region and part of the natural ecosystem, a CPB spokesman told The Dispatch Fact Check. According to the spokesman, rumors of the alligators being used by Border Patrol and the National Guard began in Spanish-language media but quickly spread into English-language social media.

While the alligators might make someone think twice before diving into the river, they are not deliberately used for border protection by either the National Guard or CPB. The National Guard does not, and will not, place alligators in any rivers to prevent migrant border crossings, a National Guard spokesman told The Dispatch Fact Check.

As Dr. Jeff Tamplin, a professor of biology at the University of Northern Iowa, explained to The Dispatch Fact Check in March regarding a similar claim, even if reptiles were to be used at the border, alligators would probably not be the most effective choice. He said,

If the Louisiana National Guard wants to use a more aggressive species of crocodilian to deter border crossings, they would be better off importing Nile Crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) and/or Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus). Both of those species are much more aggressive than the usually docile American alligator.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

Read more at The Dispatch

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.
PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A Porterville family is living out of a hotel after a fire suspected to be caused by illegal fireworks burned down their home. Chris Nanamura, who is now living in temporary accommodation with his wife Nikki Matson, and their 10-month-old son says there is no accountability for those who caused that fire.

Our biggest problem is that you have these kids setting off fireworks out in the street unsupervised, Nanamura said. They burn down four structures, no ones taken responsibility  Im not sure who their father is, but thats not a man, you dont raise kids like that.

Nanamura says on June 7, he was hundreds of miles away from his family in Colorado celebrating a friend getting their PhD when he got a frantic call from his wife that their home was on fire.

Mid-conversation she says Oh my God the house is on fire  and she hangs up.

Nanamura says his wife rushed to get their baby and he started calling everyone he could to help, keep himself updated on the situation at home, and warn everyone of the potential dangers.

One of my big concerns, because I was a firefighter in Yosemite National Park, was I reload my own ammunition, Nanamura said.

I [also] had an oxygen, acetylene cutting torch  I was on the phone with firefighters making sure they knew where that stuff was. It wouldve leveled a lot.

Matson says she initially heard popping and assumed it was fireworks on the property. To her surprise, she says her neighbors house and her own were engulfed in flames.

I ran in, grabbed him [their baby] got him out of the house, I was able to go back in and get our dogs, and then we watched it go.

About 10 days before the fire, Nanamura says he had a conversation with his landlord about fireworks. He says his landlord thought the loud noises she heard were from Nanamura working on something.

I told her, no, it was these kids across the street  and I went over and yelled at them.

It hasnt gotten any easier: Father of fallen Porterville firefighter reflects on 4-year anniversary of library fire

Nanamura says he had hoped his warning would be enough.

It stopped that night, but obviously it didnt stop because were here.

Nanamura and Matson say they are grateful to the Porterville community and their neighbors who came to their aid following the fire. A GoFundMe online fundraiser has helped them take with some of the financial burdens associated with losing their home.

Were both pretty strong-willed people, Matson said. But just to know that our son has that and the things that were really special to him are going to be replaced with no sweat off our back has been such a blessing and a relief.

Nanamura says they have not had to use the money from the GoFundMe fundraiser yet, but that is partly because he and his family do not have any room for anything as they are still living in a hotel.

We lost everything, Nanamura said. Theres intangible stuff, thats memories, more than the value.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nope, those SLO County Rite Aids arent closing. So whats up with the empty shelves?

The bankruptcy of major drug store corporation Rite Aid has left some San Luis Obispo County drug stores understocked  and customers are starting to notice.

In recent weeks, multiple local Rite Aid customers posted to Nextdoor complaining of empty shelves and back-ordered prescriptions.

Customers on Nextdoor from Morro Bay, South County, San Luis Obispo and other locations across the county reported shortages of food, personal care items and some medications.

Same thing in (Morro Bay) and Atascadero! I cant find hair products, lipsticks, Scotch that Ive bought there for years. It looks as though 20% of shelves are totally empty, a Cayucos resident wrote on Nextdoor. Ive been told it is in bankruptcy; I expect a closed sign every time I go to one of the locations.

Other users said in addition to empty shelves, some prescriptions have not been filled on time in recent weeks.

The Tribune took a look at four Rite Aid stores to find whats out of stock  and determine why inventory is lacking  as part of its Reality Check series.

Rite Aid locations across San Luis Obispo County such as the Foothill Boulevard location in San Luis Obispo, pictured here, are experiencing shortages of several products including food, personal care items and some medications.

Bankruptcy limits San Luis Obispo County drug store inventory

Rite Aid is one of the largest drug store retailers in the United States, but has closed more than 200 stores across the country since filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year.

The corporation will close more than 20 locations in California this year according to Feb. 28 court filings.

San Luis Obispo County, meanwhile, is home to 10 Rite Aids:

1251 Johnson Ave., San Luis Obispo

956 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo

1110 Los Osos Valley Road, Baywood-Los Osos

740 Quintana Road, Morro Bay

7025 El Camino Real, Atascadero

1151 Creston Rd., Paso Robles

2424 Spring St., Paso Robles

531 5 Cities Drive, Pismo Beach

1690 E Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande

1207 E Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande

Rite Aid locations across San Luis Obispo County such as the East Grand Avenue location in Arroyo Grande, pictured here, are experiencing shortages of several products including food, personal care items and some medications.

The company has no immediate plans to close any San Luis Obispo County locations, a Rite Aid spokesperson told The Tribune.

The under-stocked shelves at some of its locations are just the result of the bankruptcy process, the spokesperson said.

We are diligently working with our supplier partners to restock our shelves during our Chapter 11 process, during which we continue to successfully meet major milestones on our way to becoming a stronger, financially healthy company, the spokesperson said in an email.

At four San Luis Obispo County Rite Aid locations in San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach, The Tribune observed multiple unstocked shelves that normally carried feminine hygiene products, shaving and grooming products, food and other personal care items.

Individual store managers were not available to comment on the stock issue or potential business decisions.

We appreciate our customers patience while we restock our shelves and encourage them to talk with our store associates, who would be happy to recommend alternative products if something is temporarily unavailable, the Rite Aid spokesperson said.

Rite Aid locations across San Luis Obispo County such as the Five Cities Drive location in Pismo Beach, pictured here, are experiencing shortages of several products including food, personal care items and some medications.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A Norman man has been sentenced to Federal Prison for illegal possession of a firearm and meth, according to authorities.

This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Norman Police Department involving Dustin Lance Powell, 48, of Norman.

Authorities confirm, May 3, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Indictment against Dustin Powell, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession

of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

According to public record, in March 2023, Powell was found to be possessing several firearms, as well as over 500 grams of methamphetamine and over 40 grams of fentanyl.

On June 28, 2024, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Powell to serve 300 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

In announcing the sentence, Judge Wyrick noted his possession of ten firearms in this case, including a Heavy Counter Assault Rifle, as well as the extent and nature of Powells criminal history.

Public record further reflected that Powell has several previous felony convictions, including attempting to elude a police officer in Grady County, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of paraphernalia in Cleveland County, and malicious injury to property in Cleveland County, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

Headlines

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A private Chinese rocket took an unscheduled flight over the weekend.

The Beijing-based company Space Pioneer conducted a "static fire" test with the first stage of its new Tianlong-3 rocket on Sunday (June 30) in Gongyi, a city of about 800,000 people in the central Chinese province of Henan.

Space Pioneer briefly ignited the stage's engines while the vehicle remained anchored to the launch pad. That's how it was supposed to work, anyway. But the anchoring mechanism failed on Sunday, and the rocket lifted off on a dramatic and frightening surprise mission.

The mission was also brief, ending after just 50 seconds when Tianlong-3 crashed into a hilly area near Gongyi, creating a massive fireball that some onlookers caught on video.

The explosion did not injure anyone, Henan emergency-management officials told The Paper, a Shanghai-based media outlet.

Related: China's Space Pioneer reaches orbit with Tianlong-2 rocket launch (video)

Space Pioneer has some spaceflight bona fides: Its Tianlong-2 rocket reached orbit in April 2023, becoming the first private Chinese launch vehicle to do so. Tianlong-3 is envisioned to be a significant leap forward for the company; the rocket is modeled after SpaceX's Falcon 9, according to SpaceNews, and, like that workhorse vehicle, is planned to be partially reusable.

Tianlong-3 will also be considerably more powerful than its older cousin; it will be capable of carrying 17 tons of payload to low Earth orbit (LEO), SpaceNews reported, compared to Tianlong-2's approximately 2-ton limit.

RELATED STORIES:

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 China continues remote-sensing buildup with new launch of Yaogan satellites (video)

Tianlong-3 is still in development, and it's unclear at this point how Sunday's accident will affect the rocket's test campaign and timelines going forward.

"Tianlong," by the way, translates as "Heavenly Dragon." The name is similar to that of China's space station in LEO, Tiangong, which means "Heavenly Palace."
U.S. President Biden delivers remarks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Trump's bid for immunity from federal prosecution for 2020 election subversion, in Washington

U.S. President Biden delivers remarks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Trump's bid for immunity from federal prosecution for 2020 election subversion, in Washington

By Patrick Wingrove and Manas Mishra

(Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders called on Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to reduce the prices of their weight-loss and diabetes drugs, in a jointly authored opinion piece published in USA Today on Tuesday.

Surging demand for Novo and Lilly's drugs, which have been shown to help patients lose as much as 20% of their weight, has propelled their shares to record highs, and led some analysts to forecast the market for those treatments reaching $150 billion by the early 2030s.

More than 40% of Americans are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Biden and Sanders in their opinion piece said it could cost $411 billion per year if only half of obese adults took Novo and Lilly's weight-loss drugs, which is $5 billion more than Americans spent on all prescription drugs in 2022.

"If the prices of these drugs are not substantially reduced, they have the potential to bankrupt the American healthcare system," Biden and Sanders said.

"If Novo Nordisk and other pharmaceutical companies refuse to substantially lower prescription drug prices in our country and end their greed, we will do everything within our power to end it for them. Novo Nordisk must substantially reduce the price of Ozempic and Wegovy," they said.

Shares of the Danish drugmaker closed down 1.1% on Tuesday. Indianapolis-based Lilly closed down 0.8%.

A month's supply of Novo's diabetes drug Ozempic carries a list price of $935.77 in the U.S., while its obesity treatment Wegovy is priced at $1,349.02 per month, according to the drugmaker's website. Lilly's Mounjaro, a diabetes drug that is also used off-label for weight loss in the U.S., costs about $1,100 per month.

"The cost of both Ozempic and Wegovy has decreased about 40% since launch and over 80 percent of Americans with insurance only pay $25 or less per month for these important medicines", Novo Nordisk told Reuters in an emailed response.

"Unfortunately, even when we lower our prices, patients in the United States often don't receive the savings - this is a problem," Novo said.

Lilly said, "We offer Zepbound and Mounjaro for as low as $25 a month to those eligible for our savings card program", adding that, "treating these conditions today will save money."

HIGH LIST PRICES

Shares of other drugmakers including AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer closed down between 1% and 3% on Tuesday. "Eli Lilly and Novo are the leaders in the space - when they start to show weakness, the whole group suffers," said Dennis Dick, an investor at Triple D Trading.

Most Americans pay a percentage of the list price out-of-pocket typically set by their healthcare insurance plans.

Novo and Lilly also offer discounts that can bring the out-of-pocket cost of their treatments down to as little as $0 a month for patients with insurance and $550 for those without.

Sanders earlier this year noted that Wegovy can be purchased for $140 in Germany and $92 in the UK.

Although Biden and Sanders did not say what actions they might take, both have records of pushing drugmakers to lower prices.

"Comparing list prices in the U.S. to other countries ignores patient affordability programs and hundreds of billions of dollars in discounts and fees paid to PBMs by pharmaceutical companies that should lower the costs of medicines for Americans, but unfortunately this system can drive prices higher", Lilly said.

Sanders last year questioned insulin makers, including Novo and Lilly, and pharmacy benefits middlemen on their roles in keeping drug prices high, and is expected to grill Novo CEO Lars Jorgensen on the price of Ozempic and Wegovy in September.

Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in 2022, aims to save $25 billion annually by 2031 by requiring drugmakers to negotiate the prices of select expensive drugs with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, which oversees the Medicare plan for millions of Americans age 65 and older.

(Reporting by Patrick Wingrove in London, Manas Mishra and Pratik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Anil D'Silva, Bill Berkrot and David Gregorio)
People view a painting exhibition at the Shenyang Palace Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 2, 2024. A series of exhibitions were held at Shenyang Palace Museum to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its inscription on the World Heritage List. (Photo by Jia Yicheng/Xinhua)

A journalist views a painting exhibition at the Shenyang Palace Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 2, 2024. A series of exhibitions were held at Shenyang Palace Museum to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its inscription on the World Heritage List. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

A journalist views a painting exhibition at the Shenyang Palace Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 2, 2024. A series of exhibitions were held at Shenyang Palace Museum to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its inscription on the World Heritage List. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Tourists visit an exhibition featuring restored relics at the Shenyang Palace Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 2, 2024. A series of exhibitions were held at Shenyang Palace Museum to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its inscription on the World Heritage List. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Tourists visit an exhibition featuring restored relics at the Shenyang Palace Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 2, 2024. A series of exhibitions were held at Shenyang Palace Museum to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its inscription on the World Heritage List. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

People view a painting exhibition at the Shenyang Palace Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 2, 2024. A series of exhibitions were held at Shenyang Palace Museum to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its inscription on the World Heritage List. (Photo by Jia Yicheng/Xinhua)
Insights from Bloomberg, The Futurum Group, and Project Syndicate.

The News

Nvidia could soon face antitrust charges in France, Reuters reported. It would mark the first time a regulator has brought such charges against the US chipmaker, which is one of the most valuable publicly traded companies in the world.

While the exact nature of the potential charges is not clear, they could relate to the companys highly sought-after graphics cards  last year, French anticompetition inspectors raided Nvidias Paris offices citing concerns over the cards. Its estimated that Nvidia controls about 80% of the market for AI chips.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Nvidias success comes with a side of regulatory scrutiny

Sources: Bloomberg, Semafor, The New York Times Dealbook

The bigger Nvidia gets, the more regulators are paying attention to the company. The chipmaker is worth about $3 trillion, and its dominance of the global semiconductor market helped it to become the worlds most valuable company for a short time in June. With success has come scrutiny: the UK and other European countries are believed to be examining Nvidias business practices, as is the US. The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice have eyed an antitrust probe into the chipmaker, alongside other AI giants Microsoft and OpenAI, as the Biden administration makes regulating Big Tech a priority.

Aggressive EU regulation of Big Tech slows innovation

Source: Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group

Frances potential antitrust probe is unlikely to curb Nvidias meteoric rise  and such probes slow European innovation, argued Daniel Newman, CEO of tech research firm The Futurum Group. The EUs aggressive regulation of Big Tech has seen it impose large fines on US firms such as Google, Apple and Microsoft, without notably changing their behavior but hampering their European competitors. The policy and taxation of companies have long been two key areas that have slowed the development of the most innovative technologies in Europe and has likely set the region back meaningfully, creating a dependence on US tech, Newman said.

AI likely to fuel Big Techs competition abuses

Sources: Bloomberg, Project Syndicate

Competition abuses already rampant in Big Tech will only grow with the rise of AI, Bloomberg reported the top German antitrust official as saying. Andreas Mundt, the head of Germanys Federal Cartel Office, namechecked Nvidia at an annual press conference as he described AI as a first-class fire accelerator for anti-competitive behavior that will make all the problems only worse. Its because Big Tech firms have access to the resources to build superior AI tools, a professor of public policy argued in Project Syndicate, a media NGO, making it more likely that they will cement their dominance.
New York City must hire more lifeguards and do more to teach kids to swim, local leaders said Tuesday, days after two teens drowned while trying to beat the heat in the waters off the Rockaways.

Were an oceanfront city, 9 million people. Under no circumstances should we be struggling to hire lifeguards, said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. Enough of the back and forth. This is about saving lives.

The urgent plea followed the recovery of two bodies believed to be those of two swimmers who disappeared in the water off Jacob Riis Park on June 21, the first full day of summer.

One body was already identified as Elyjha Chandler, 16, and authorities believe the other body is likely that of Christian Perkins, 17.

The two teens went into the water that evening and never returned, officials said. Elyjhas relatives said there were no lifeguards on the beach at the time.

Richards said the deaths were a preventable tragedy that should spark having more lifeguards on duty, especially on hot days.

We lost two or three years to COVID, Richards said of the lifeguard shortage. We already were down in lifeguard coverage. Each year we would fight to ensure the whole peninsula was covered and we could never get all of the coverage we wanted because of the challenges around having enough lifeguards.

Richards said he did not want to see standards lowered, but he argued something has to give

You always want to be careful when youre loosening qualifications,, he said. But there were some things negotiated that would make the lifeguard test more standard with what we see around the country. That was good news that came out of negotiations with the Parks Department and the union this year, which will hopefully help us really see that number increase.

It would help, too, if more kids knew how to swim, said the BP.

The most important thing is access and opportunity, Richard said at a news conference along the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk.

If you ask kids here if they know how to swim, and they live in a waterfront community, a large percentage of them will say they do not know how to swim. Part of that is because of the lack of access.

He said the city should make a real commitment to teaching children to swim.

It should be in the citys interest to ensure that every child  especially with schools that have pools  actually are learning how to swim, Richards said. It should be a requirement. Every school has a physical ed teacher, or should, or they have several. These are individuals who can also be helpful in this conversation.

Richards also touched briefly on climate change and the impact that is having on beach safety.

Dolores Orr, the chairwoman of Queens Community Board 14, said local residents have been calling on the Education Department to make swimming a requirement.

When I went to high school you could not graduate unless you could swim, she said. The community board has been asking for a number of years to reinstate that. It has not happened. We need to get every child that has access to a pool in.
INWOOD, MANHATTAN (PIX11)  After months of protest and public pressure, full funding to the Citys network of public libraries has been restored.

The three systems had been operating without Sunday hours for months.

More Local News

On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams, who initially said the cuts were necessary, celebrated the restoration of some $58 million to bring back seven-day service.

Library officials across the Brooklyn, Queens, and New York systems said bigger branches would have full service restored by mid-July, but it will take several more weeks to staff up smaller branches.

Adams continues to defend the deeply unpopular and now officially reversed cut. It was one of several he announced a year ago when he told New Yorkers, the city was in dire financial straits due to the migrant crisis, expiring federal aid, and new public union contracts.

However, the cuts were slowly walked back over time culminating with last weeks $112 billion budget officially restoring everything from library service to NYPD academy classes and sanitation services.

The Mayor called his decisions to cut and then restore once costs were brought under control and tax revenues improved smart fiscal management pointing to bond rating agencies upgrading New York as proof.

Mayor Adams on how $112.4 billion budget will shape future of NYC

We were able to find $7 billion in savings, Adams said. No layoffs, no increase in taxes, then we sat down with the City Council, and said lets look at the top priorities and libraries were on top of that.

For all the wrangling, libraries may have come out ahead in the long run. In the budget, libraries had their funding was base-lined financial speak for the funding will not go down next year.

If were going to back up every year, we cant invest we cant hire we cant provide New Yorkers what they need, said Anthony Marx, President of the New York Public Library.

The New York City Council has long questioned the cuts made by the Adams Administration still, Councilwoman Carlina Rivera struck a hopeful note Monday with libraries on the path back to seven-day service.

Theres money in the budget to produce something thats balanced and responsible, we knew that was possible, she said. We knew that eventually the Mayor got there, too, and were hoping we can start off on a better foot next year.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Since the launch of Operation Padlock to Protect, the New York City Sherriffs Joint Compliance Task Force teams have shut down almost 500 illegal cannabis shops across New York City.

Nearly 1,000 locations were inspected and over $40 million in penalties have been issued, according to the Office of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

More Local News

The law enforcement task force plans to investigate nearly 2,900 reports of potential illegal smoke shops throughout New York Citys five boroughs.

There are a little less than 2,900 locations that have been identified for investigation, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda said. We get that information from community complaints. We also get that information from the police department, elected officials, and anyone else who makes the observation.

Law enforcement will also conduct follow-up inspections to make sure unlicensed weed shops that were ordered to be sealed actually remain closed. The NYPD has the authority to arrest people violating the sheriffs closure orders.

Smoke shops accused of illegally selling weed fight back with class action suit

Sealing orders are also issued, which makes it easier for a landlord to evict a tenant who operated an illegal smoke shop. The Sheriffs Office will then work with landlords who are interested in re-leasing their properties and assist them in the process of getting another tenant, according to the Office of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Meanwhile, more than two dozen smoke shops and convenience stores accused of selling marijuana without a license have filed a federal class action lawsuit against New York City.

The suit alleges the city has violated their constitutional right to due process.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
NYC store clerk beaten, dragged by shoplifters in brutal caught-on-video clash: Next thing I knew I was at the hospital

A Bronx convenience store clerk recalled how a pair of shoplifting goons dragged him out onto the sidewalk and beat him unconscious before running off  leaving him bloodied on the ground.

Sam Balfour, 63, was behind the counter at the Mobil gas station mart where hes worked for 13 years when the two thugs walked in shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday to rob the store, he told The Post.

Sam Balfour said he tried to stop a pair of shoplifters at the Mobil convenience mart where he works in the Bronx and they knocked him unconscious and fled. Matthew McDermott

I didnt realize they were together, Balfour, still shaken from the assault, said Monday. One of them came to the counter and asked me if I had Newports. I told him we dont have Newports. Meanwhile, the other guy was stealing from the fridge.

Surveillance footage shows the second crook cleaning out the stores supply of Ensure from a freezer in the back, stuffing a backpack with the high-protein drink while Balfour was distracted.

When I saw that the was stealing I tried to lock the door to protect my stock, the clerk said. But I didnt realize [the two men] were together. One of them kicked the door to open it and they started pulling me out from the store.

One of the crooks kept clerk Sam Balfour busy while the second ransacked the freezer at the Bronx convenience mart on Saturday. Obtained by the NY Post

Sam Blafour tried to keep the crooks from getting away with merchandise and they slugged him and knocked him out cold. Obtained by the NY Post

I grabbed the backpack and was trying to pull back, Balfour said. And all of a sudden they pulled me all the way out, and one of them hit me in the neck and pulled the bag from me. I fell and hit my head on the concrete. I blacked out. The next thing I knew I was at the hospital.

The footage from the store captured the attack and shows what appears to be an employee at the shop and a second person checking on the unconscious clerk after the thieves flee.

Balfour was taken to Montefiore Medical Center and was in stable condition.

A hard-working native of Ghana, Balfour said he now suffers from dizzy spells and is plagued by pain in his head, neck and shoulder as a result of the cowardly attack.

NYPD says this is one of two thugs who robbed and beat Bronx convenience store clerk Sam Balfour on Saturday. DCPI

One of the thugs sought for beating and robbing Bronx Mobil convenience store clerk Sam Balfour. DCPI

Photos released by the NYPD show one suspect wearing a Super Mario cap and a black t-shirt with a Game Boy logo, and the other with a black cap and a black, long-sleeved shirt with a photo on the front.

Its not fair, he said. These are young people. They can go to find a job. To steal from somebodys business, the business collapses and I dont have a job to feed my family. I try to protect my job, you know?

He said Saturdays horror wasnt his first encounter with crooks at the store.

One time, about eight months ago, a guy came and tried to take the whole register, Balfour said.

So, I called the police. I wouldnt allow him. He was pulling on it and I was pulling back, and he ran away before the police got there, he added. Eventually they found him and arrested him.
Oakley founder lists $68 million brutalist home  see inside the concrete compound that looks like a Bond villain's lair

Oakley's founder, James Jannard, listed his Beverly Hills cement compound for $68 million. Courtesy of Westside Estate Agency

James Jannard listed a Beverly Hills compound for $68 million shortly after his record Malibu sale.

The Oakley founder recently set a record with a $210 million Malibu mansion sale, surpassing Jay-Z.

Forbes estimates Jannard's net worth to be $1.3 billion.

Just days after making a record-breaking Malibu mansion sale for $210 million, James Jannard is back with another mammoth listing.

The sunglasses mogul, who founded Oakley, just put his Beverly Hills, California, cement compound up for sale at $68 million, as first reported by Realtor.com.

Jannard recently surpassed Jay-Z and Beyonce to claim the title of California's most expensive home real-estate sale, and Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.3 billion.

After starting Oakley in 1975, Jannard eventually sold the company 32 years later for $2.1 billion to the Italian company Luxottica. He later founded the digital cinema camera company Red Digital Cinema before retiring in 2019.

Scroll down to check out inside the mansion.

The futuristic fortress, which spans 18,000 square feet, features five bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and an intimidatingly giant oval courtyard.

The giant oval courtyard is opened by two massive metal doors. Westside Estate Agency

The property, which Jannard purchased in 2009 for $19.9 million, was originally built in 2016, according to the listing. It's in Trousdale Estates, which sits in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains.

Trousdale Estates has housed several stars since the 1950s, including Elvis, Elton John, and Jane Fonda.

The central lounge area is centered for a full view of the pool and Los Angeles. Westside Estate Agency

Resting on one of Beverly Hills' highest points, the luxurious neighborhood offers a sweeping view of Los Angeles and easy access to Sunset Boulevard. Its average home value is about $7 million, according to Zillow.

The mansion, which took five years to finish, boasts a brutalist design with bare cement walls, aluminum ceilings and accessories, and all-metal fixtures.

The bathroom and appliances are all also fully metal. Westside Estate Agency

Inspired by Stonehenge, according to Wallpaper, the cavernous manor includes floor-to-ceiling windows and oversize columns. Jeff Vance, the owner of the architecture firm iDGroup, designed acoustic panels to remove echo and create a cozier living experience despite its cold appearance.

Jannard reportedly also owns property in Newport Beach, California, two islands in Fiji, and a third in the Pacific Northwest.

The living room has a gas hearth covered with a large metal hood. Westside Estate Agency

The former Oakley CEO shelled out $7 million for a Newport Beach house back in 1999, the Los Angeles Times reported. Jannard reportedly also bought an acre of land north of the area and Corona del Mar for an additional $8 million.

The kitchen is fully chrome, and nearly all the house's furniture is custom-made.

The fully chrome kitchen is both a shiny showstopper and fully functional. Westside Estate Agency

There is both a gourmet kitchen and a full chef's kitchen, as well as a bar, according to the listing.

Some rooms are softened by wooden floors and expansive windows and skylights for the sun to brighten.

The mansion has five bedrooms and 10 full bathrooms. Westside Estate Agency

The property is just under 2 acres, according to the listing, and is priced at roughly $3,700 per square foot.

Curved walls lead to the guest bedroom and a separate guest apartment.

The curved hallway leads to the owner's suite, where an 1880s Gatling gun is displayed. Westside Estate Agency

The guest and owner's rooms flank one side of the living area, while service rooms reside on the other side for a symmetrical layout.

The central lounge area overlooks a massive infinity pool.

The lounge area overlooks a large infinity pool and the entire Los Angeles basin. Westside Estate Agency

The living room has a full glass wall that can retract into the ground for an unobstructed view of the Los Angeles basin.

The light fixtures are made with tumbled aluminum, as is nearly all the seating and hardware.

Westside Estate Agency

Some rooms have wood accents to cut through the overwhelming industrial design furniture.

The owner's bathroom includes a metal tub inscribed with a sentence written in J.R.R. Tolkien's Elvish language.

Westside Estate Agency

Red, Jannards second company, manufactured the digital cameras that were used to film the "Hobbit" franchise.

The concrete fort also includes a movie theater, a gym, a wine cellar, and an elevator.

The mansion's has a home theatre. Westside Estate Agency

The home theater stays on the sci-fi theme with gray lounge seats and cement blocks adorning even grayer walls.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Off-duty NYPD cop, husband broke into her sister-in-laws home before choking her: prosecutors

An off-duty NYPD cop was arrested Sunday after she and her husband allegedly broke down the door of her sister-in-laws Queens home and choked their relative, prosecutors and police said.

Maria and Robert Villalta, both 39, also allegedly hit the victim in the face during the predawn break-in that started around 2:15 a.m., according to a criminal complaint.

After entering the home, Robert Villalta allegedly shoved his sister onto a bed and choked her.

He then allegedly hit her in the face, prosecutors said.

The victim told authorities that Maria Villalta also hit her and then wrapped both of her hands around her neck during the attack, according to the complaint.

The NYPD said the officer was suspended without pay. Christopher Sadowski

Robert Villalta also allegedly punched a man who was in the apartment with his sister and then choked him, the Queens District Attorneys Office said.

Both victims complained about trouble breathing as a result of the alleged assault. The cops sister-in-law also had marks on her face, neck and arm, as well as a bloody nose, according to the complaint.

The NYPD said Sunday evening Maria Villalta was arrested around 4:15 a.m. in Queens. She was suspended without pay, the department said.

She and her husband are facing charges of second-degree burglary, third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and second-degree harassment, prosecutors said.
Officer involved in Tamir Rice shooting resigns from latest job, says city official

(WJW)  The former Cleveland police officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice has resigned from his latest job as a police officer in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

A councilman for the resort-town posted on social media, Timothy Loehmann resigned from the position Monday, July 1.

Councilman Ryan Lockhart said Loehmann had been employed and working for the city for some time before he and others learned about the officers past.

Ex-NFL players missing son last seen in NE Ohio

Rice was killed outside the Cudell Recreation Center on the citys west side on Nov. 22, 2014.

Police were called for a report of a man with a gun. Police said Officer Loehmann opened fire when he said the boy reached towards his waistband. The gun turned out to be an airsoft pistol.

Loehmann was never charged for firing the deadly shot that killed Rice, but he was fired from the Cleveland police department for lying on his application. The city said he did not fully disclose his employment history.

This is a small resort community nestled in Appalachia, weve never been faced with such a controversial occurrence and unfortunately did not have the proper operating procedures in place to verify something like this couldnt happen, weve certainly learned from it, and I want to make sure in the future that policies are implemented within our city to verify something like this can never happen again, wrote Lockhart.

Dont remember anything: Jamie Foxx says of health

Attorney Subodh Chandra, who represents Tamirs mother, released a blistering statement on Friday that read, in part:

Every time Loehmann resurfaces in his game of bad-cop whack-a-mole, he torments the family of Tamir Rice. Why cant he just go away and live the rest of his lifelife he deprived Tamir ofin humility? Why does he insist on being a cop? It seems pathological at this point.

The FOX 8 I-Team texted Loehmann to ask about the job but have not heard back.

In 2022, Loehmann resigned from a small Pennsylvania police department, following protests over his hiring.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Officer who shot Tamir Rice dead in Cleveland resigns from new police job in West Virginia

Officer who shot Tamir Rice dead in Cleveland resigns from new police job in West Virginia

Timothy Loehmann, the former Cleveland police officer who fatally shot Black 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, kicking off nationwide protests, resigned from a small town West Virginia police department, according to local officials.

As of July 1, 2024, Timothy Loehmann has resigned his position and is no longer an employee, according to a statement to NBC News from White Sulpher Springs mayor Kathy Glover, adding that she wouldnt comment further on a personnel matter.

The Independent has contacted Loehmann for comment.

City Council member Thomas Taylor told Cleveland.com the decision was due to the public outcry around the hiring of Loehmann, who shot the youth outside of a rec center in 2014 within seconds of arriving on the scene, thinking the boys toy gun was a real one.

Activists, including the head of Black Lives Matter Cleveland, had called attention to Loehmanns hiring in recent days on social media.

Loehmann, who was not charged in state or federal court with any crimes, has previously resigned from positions in Ohio in 2018 and Pennsylvania under similar circumstances.

People display sigs at Cudell Commons Park in Cleveland, Ohio, November 24, 2014 during a rally for Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy shot by police on November 23 (AFP via Getty Images)

White Sulphur Springs police Chief D.S. Teubert told local media that he met Loehmann through friends from his time in the military and that he spent a year researching the officers background before the hiring decision was made.

Just as a person, I looked at the whole situation, Teubert said. I did a background check. I researched everything. Its just a sad situation. Does any police officer in the world stand a chance when theyre involved in a shooting? Do they deserve to never work again as a police officer, or is it just this shooting?
Stampede at religious event in India kills at least 116 people, mostly women and children

People mourn next to the bodies of their relatives outside the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district about 350 kilometers (217 miles) southwest of Lucknow, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. A stampede among thousands of people at a religious gathering in northern India killed at least 60 and left scores injured, officials said Tuesday, adding that many women and children were among the dead and the toll could rise. (AP Photo)

LUCKNOW, India (AP)  Thousands of people at a religious gathering in India rushed to leave a makeshift tent, setting off a stampede Tuesday that killed at least 116 people and injured scores, officials said.

It was not immediately clear what triggered the panic following an event with a Hindu guru known locally as Bhole Baba. Local news reports cited authorities who said heat and suffocation in the tent could have been a factor. Video of the aftermath showed the structure appeared to have collapsed.

At least 116 people died, most of them women and children, said Prashant Kumar, the director-general of police in northern India's state of Uttar Pradesh, where the stampede occurred.

More than 80 others were injured and admitted to hospitals, senior police officer Shalabh Mathur said.

People started falling one upon another, one upon another. Those who were crushed died. People there pulled them out, witness Shakuntala Devi told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Relatives wailed in distress as bodies of the dead, placed on stretchers and covered in white sheets, lined the grounds of a local hospital. A bus that arrived there carried more victims, whose bodies were lying on the seats inside.

Deadly stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with shoddy infrastructure and few safety measures.

Police officer Rajesh Singh said there was likely overcrowding at the event in a village in Hathras district about 350 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of the state capital, Lucknow.

Initial reports said organizers had permission to host about 5,000 people, but more than 15,000 came for the event by the Hindu preacher, who used to be a police officer in the state before he left his job to give religious sermons. He has led other such gatherings over the last two decades.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of the dead and said the federal government was working with state authorities to ensure the injured received help.

Uttar Pradesh's chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, called the stampede "heart-wrenching in a post on X. He said authorities were investigating.

Look what happened and how many people have lost their lives. Will anyone be accountable? Rajesh Kumar Jha, a member of parliament, told reporters. He said the stampede was a failure by the state and federal governments to manage large crowds, adding that people will keep on dying if authorities do not take safety protocols seriously enough.

In 2013, pilgrims visiting a temple for a popular Hindu festival in central Madhya Pradesh state trampled each other amid fears that a bridge would collapse. At least 115 were crushed to death or died in the river.

In 2011, more than 100 Hindu devotees died in a crush at a religious festival in the southern state of Kerala.

___

Pathi reported from New Delhi.
Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, introduces the draft resolution on "Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence" during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) plenary session at the UN headquarters in New York, July 1, 2024.

The 78th session of the UNGA on Monday unanimously adopted the resolution, proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 140 countries, on strengthening international cooperation in the capacity building of artificial intelligence (AI). (Xinhua/Wang Jiangang)

UNITED NATIONS, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday unanimously adopted the resolution, proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 140 countries, on strengthening international cooperation in the capacity building of artificial intelligence (AI).

The resolution on "Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence" emphasizes that the development of artificial intelligence should adhere to "the principles of being human-centered," promoting beneficial intelligence, and benefiting humanity.

It encourages international cooperation and practical actions to help countries, especially developing countries, strengthen their AI capacity building, enhance their representation and voice in global AI governance, advocate for "an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment," and support the United Nations in playing a central role in international cooperation.

The resolution aims to achieve inclusive, beneficial, and sustainable development of artificial intelligence, thereby contributing to the realization of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, stated while introducing the draft resolution at the General Assembly plenary session that the rapid development of global AI technology is having a profound impact on the economic and social development of countries and the progress of human civilization.

However, most countries, especially developing ones, have yet to truly access, use, and benefit from AI, and the global digital divide continues to widen, he noted.

"Many UN member states widely anticipate strengthening international cooperation on AI capacity building, developing and utilizing AI technology equally, and sharing the knowledge and achievements of AI," he said.

Fu noted that this resolution focuses on AI capacity building, proposing a series of significant and practical measures to strengthen related international cooperation.

"The goal is to help all countries, especially developing ones, equally benefit from AI development, bridge the digital divide, improve global AI governance, and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," said the ambassador.

"The unanimous adoption of the resolution indicates broad agreement among member states to enhance global AI governance through dialogue and cooperation, fully demonstrating China's responsible attitude and leading role in AI development and governance," said Fu.

The ambassador added that China looks forward to using the adoption of this resolution as an opportunity "to actively promote its subsequent implementation with the broad membership," adhering to development priorities, being human-centered, ensuring equality and mutual benefit, and upholding innovation.

"China aims to help developing countries strengthen AI capacity building with practical actions, promote sustainable development empowered by AI, enhance the common well-being of humanity, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

A spokesperson of the Chinese permanent mission to the United Nations stated that UN member states, especially developing countries, warmly welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolution and highly appreciated China's leadership role in promoting global AI cooperation and governance, as well as accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

They unanimously agreed that the resolution's focus on AI capacity building and its series of practical measures are of significant milestone importance in bridging the global digital divide and promoting the shared benefits of AI development among countries, he said.

The spokesperson also mentioned that in October 2023, the Chinese leader announced the Global AI Governance Initiative, which provides direction for global AI development and governance.

As the UN's first resolution on international cooperation in AI capacity building, it fully reflects the core essence of the Global AI Governance Initiative and the Global Development Initiative. It meets "the eager expectations" of the broad membership, especially developing countries, and "demonstrates strong support for multilateralism and the United Nations," the spokesperson said.

"It is another major step in practicing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind on the UN platform," the spokesperson noted. 
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  While some will be celebrating freedom this Fourth of July, others will be breaking the law.

Due to increased wildfire risk and safety concerns, setting off fireworks is forbidden in Portland.

Local fire officials want to get the message out of firework safety so there isnt a repeat of three years ago when three people died after fireworks set a Portland apartment complex on fire.

Personal fireworks banned in City of Portland for third consecutive year

Enjoy your Fourth but do so safely so we can all talk about the great Independence Day we had on July 5th rather than discussing a significant emergency incident that is completely preventable, Portland Fire & Rescue said in a release.

Over the last several years, dozens of fires have started from fireworks in the area. Just last month, a family in Aloha nearly lost their home after someone lit fireworks catching several trees on fire in their backyard, officials said.

Things are dry right now. We did have a bit of a wet spring, and we might have had a little shower recently. Its still a lot of the fuels are dry, so that means a firework that gets away from you, especially if youre lighting it near bushes and shrubs and grasses could catch fire very quickly, said Stefan Myers with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. If we had a house fire that was suspected to be started by a firework, people can be liable for starting a fire. And that would be referred to law enforcement.

TVFR spokesperson Stefan Myers, July 1, 2024 (KOIN)

If you are in an area that does not have a ban on fireworks but plan to set some off, Myers recommends having a bucket or hose, keeping a close eye on children, buying fireworks from a licensed vendor and keeping them away from dry shrubbery and trees.

These things are real safety concerns, and peoples vigilance and self-awareness can make a huge impact, Meyers said. The sparklers that you see, those can get up to (1,000 degrees Fahrenheit). And so that can cause injury and burns.

Its the third consecutive year that personal fireworks are banned within Portland city limits. PF&R spokesperson Rick Graves said that citizens are encouraged to call the Portland Fire & Rescue Arson Information Line to report the use of illegal fireworks in the city: (503) 823-3473.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  With the Fourth of July around the corner, Ohioans may be looking to set off their own fireworks display at home, but whether thats legal can differ based on a variety of factors.

Ohioans can legally set off fireworks on certain holidays, unless limited by local laws, under legislation signed by Gov. Mike DeWine that went into effect in 2022.

Everything you need to know for Red, White and BOOM!

The law permits the detonation of 1.4G consumer-grade fireworks, defined as having no more than 50 milligrams of flash powder for ground displays or 130 milligrams of flash powder for aerial displays.

The legislation allows residents to light fireworks on July 3, 4 and 5, as well as the Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays immediately before and after Independence Day. Along with Fourth of July celebrations, the law allows fireworks to be lit on Labor Day weekend, Diwali, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day weekend and Juneteenth. The fireworks must be set off between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m., except for New Years Eve which is extended until 11:59 p.m. and New Years Day, which allows fireworks between 12 a.m. to 1 a.m., along with 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Ohioans may discharge fireworks on their property, or another persons property who has given them explicit permission, but there are guidelines. No one under 18 years old is allowed to light or handle the fireworks, and they cannot be within 150 feet of the discharge point.

Additionally, no one may use fireworks under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. Anyone who violates this is guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor under the law. Aerial devices, such as Roman candles and bottle rockets, cannot be discharged within 150 feet of spectators, and nonaerial devices, such as fountains and firecrackers, cannot be discharged within 50 feet of spectators.

Why the Ohio Cannabis Festival has been canceled

Only fireworks purchased in Ohio are allowed to be discharged in Ohio. Consumers can purchase fireworks from any of the licensed sales locations throughout the state. Retailers are required to provide the customer with safety glasses and a safety pamphlet.

Municipalities where residents are prohibited from lighting fireworks

Cities like Reynoldsburg, New Albany, Powell, Obetz and Whitehall allow residents to set off fireworks during the holidays specified in Ohio law.

The following central Ohio areas maintain a ban:

Bexley

Canal Winchester

Columbus

Delaware

Dublin

Gahanna

Grandview Heights

Grove City

Groveport

Hilliard

Marysville

Pickerington

Upper Arlington

Westerville

Worthington

Even the municipalities that allow fireworks may have their own guidelines, so residents should check their local ordinances to ensure they are following the law.

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As America gets ready to celebrate its independence, the Ohio National Guard took time on Monday to honor some less-known Black heroes who helped keep the country unified during the Civil War.

The Ohio National Guard held its "Freedom to Serve" campaign, which began last year as a way to commemorate the 75th anniversary of President Harry Truman signing executive orders that integrated the U.S. military and federal workforce.

This years event was a celebration of the social media posts the Ohio National Guard produced about the four Black men from Ohio who received the Medal of Honor for their service in the Civil War. It was held Monday at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory complex at 2825 W Dublin-Granville Road on Columbus' Northwest Side.

Kelly Mezurek, Walsh University professor of history and historian of 'colored troops,' receives an honorary Buckeye Colonel award from Ohio's Adjutant General John Harris. Photo taken June 1.

The first celebration featured talks about an all-female, all-Black battalion in World War II, according to the Ohio National Guards website.

Kelly Mezurek, a professor of history at Walsh University and historian of U.S. colored troops, was this year's keynote speaker. She said to the audience at the armory that anytime she gets the opportunity to tell stories of Black soldiers in the Civil War she will take advantage of it.

Photos: Ohio Army National Guards Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 174th Air Defense

At the end of the ceremony, Mezurek was awarded an honorary "Buckeye Colonel" award for her work.

What I have found over the years is we put time into things that we think matter, Mezurek said at the event. For too long, historians have not put time into these men, and I hope those videos join me in some of the work Im doing to make that change.

Ohio Adjutant Gen. John Harris said at the event that people in the face of adversity mostly lean toward their personal survival, which tends to be the status quo. The story of these four individuals is significant, he said, because they went beyond their comfort zone and personal survival to make a difference.

Who are the four men who were awarded the Medal of Honor?

Three Black soldiers from the Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for their service in the 5th U.S. Colored Infantry from Ohio. From left to right: Sgt. Maj. Milton Holland, 1st Sgt. Robert Pinn and 1st Sgt. Powhatan Beaty. There is no known picture of the fourth recipient, 1st GSgt. James Bronson.

The four men who received the Medal of Honor were members of the 5th U.S. Colored Infantry, a regiment made of Black men from Ohio.

Mezurek explained to the crowd that the 5th regiment saw more battles than most "colored regiments," which were largely assigned fatigue duty.

The four members, Sgt. Maj. Milton Holland, 1st Sgt. Robert Pinn, 1st Sgt. Powhatan Beaty and 1st Sgt. James Bronson, received the Medal of Honor for their bravery at the Battle of New Market Heights in Virginia.

More: Ohio lawmaker's quest for Freedpeople justice includes state land for slavery descendants

Holland raised and recruited a company of 149 men in Athens County before joining the 5th regiment. Mezurek shared a story that after Holland was denied a promotion to captain, Benjamin Butler, a major general of the Union Army, said if he was in charge he would have personally promoted him to brigadier general, for gallantry on the field.

Mezurek said Beaty and Pinn also received some recognition, including having some memorials dedicated after them. The shooting facility at the University of Akron was renamed for Pinn, for example.

Mezurek said that Holland, Pinn and Beaty represented the intelligence, skill and talent of Black people that deserves to be recognized more than it has. Bronson, she said to the group, was representative of the more typical experience Black soldiers who served in the Civil War went through.

There is no known photo of Bronson currently, and much less is known about him than the other three. He also struggled greatly after returning to civilian life, never getting a pension for his service.

Mezurek said at the event memorials are important to remembering people for their service and would approve of armories being renamed after these men.

In the day of social media this would have been all over," Mezurek said in her talk, "Nobody in Ohio really knows about this ... I think this is such a tragedy.

The event also included a panel discussion with members of the Ohio National Guard about what this story meant to them.

Ohio National Guard members listening to a presentation at the second Freedom to Serve celebration at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory complex June 1.

DHunt@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio National Guard honors four Black Civil War heroes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Ohio National Guard marked a turning point in Americas military history Monday with the 2024 Freedom to Serve campaign.

This marks the 76th anniversary of President Truman ordering the integration of the U.S. military and federal workforce.

Mondays ceremony shared the story of four African American Medal of Honor recipients from Ohio who served in the Civil War in segregated units.

Their stories reflect how they overcame historic barriers.

The commemoration also marked the 1948 passage of the Womens Armed Services Integration Act, which enabled women to serve as permanent regular members of the U.S. Armed 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, oversees a Senate session. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.)

Nobody, but showboating extremists in the Ohio legislature, gives a damn about which school bathroom is used by a minuscule number of transgender students. Ask anyone not cocooned in a right-wing media bubble of religious zealotry, fear, and grievance about bathroom policing of trans youth and chances are they couldnt care less.

Unlike state lawmakers  consumed with slipping bogus bathroom bans into an unrelated Ohio House bill last week  most Ohioans are preoccupied with issues that affect everyday people. Like stretching lean budgets to cover hefty bills. Affording child care. Another rent increase. Surviving hand-to-mouth on low pay. Enduring daily gun violence.

Yet the big legislative priority of Ohio House Republicans, before adjourning for the summer, was passage of a silly bathroom bill to ostracize a handful of trans students in K-12 and college. The measure heads to the Ohio Senate and Gov. Mike DeWine, ever the closet extremist, vowed to sign the contrived anti-trans legislation into law if given the chance.

Other manufactured Statehouse controversies targeting LGBTQ+ youth are also in the right-wing pipeline to the governors desk, including an Ohio version of Floridas Dont Say Gay bill that restricts how (vaguely defined) sexuality content is discussed in classrooms, and requires schools to out LGBTQ+ students to their families.

Again, this legislated extremism, advancing toward enacted statute, resonates not at all with Ohio voters stressed out over the cost of living. Same goes for the nonsense cooked up in the Ohio Senate to wield an authoritarian hammer over the states highly regarded colleges and universities. Its a kneejerk response to a long-running Fox News narrative about leftist indoctrination ruining higher ed.

The MAGA Republican fever dream to own campus libs by censoring them lives in the Senate bill stalled in the Ohio House that nobody  except gerrymandered ideologues  wants or needs in the state. It doesnt improve life for students or faculty and threatens to make it worse with tyrannical rule over great academic institutions. The garbage legislation fits a pattern of fanatical policymaking by lawmakers wildly out of touch with much of the electorate.

Ultra-right state senators and state representatives grab MAGA wedge issues to exploit. Then they foist unpopular, unwarranted and often harmful stupidity on an unsuspecting public that is fast-tracked to the Ohio Revised Code. Its legislative malpractice but thats how Republican supermajorities roll under the sweet gerrymandering deals they cut for themselves. Partisan-rigged districts insulate lawmakers from defeat at the ballot box so they can swing to the extreme right with impunity and looney legislation.

The tragic result for Ohioans, besides the state rapidly devolving into a worst case scenario, is a Republican-dominated legislature high on hubris and indifferent to the vast majority of voters who are generally not far right or far left but somewhere in the middle. Most Ohioans, its safe to say, do not lean extreme like their legislators.

They are broadly not okay with agendas that stoke fear and loathing of vulnerable trans communities or jeopardize the freedom and independence of public universities or pour massive amounts of state education dollars into unaccountable private and religious schools or reject all commonsense gun safety protections in Ohio.

People who cherish their state parks are outraged that Ohio Republicans, including DeWine, sold them out to the highest fossil fuel bidder to pollute for profit. Ohioans were never the ones urging Republican lawmakers to keep coming up with new ways to make voting harder, especially for targeted demographics that traditionally vote Democratic. Voter suppression is not fine with center-right or center-left Ohioans.

That Ohio centrism as a moderating force at the polls was underscored by voters in two statewide elections last year. MAGA Republicans, who control every lever of power in the state, tried to hoodwink Ohioans into relinquishing their only recourse around a rotten state government and to scare them into banning abortion access without exception. But the arrogance of commanding partisans took voters for granted. State Republicans assumed unaware, apathetic Ohioans would surrender 100 years of direct democracy without a fight.

The GOP goal was to rob citizens of their majority voting rights to pass grassroots referendums as a means to stop a majority vote on the right to abortion. But Ohioans smelled a rat and were steamed. They retained their voting clout to circumvent a corrupt legislature and enshrined the constitutional right to abortion in the state by overwhelming statewide margins.

The underhanded and outright deceptive tactics waged by top Republicans on both Issue 1sand against the people who elected themwoke a sleeping giant in Ohio of newly engaged voters. The length that anti-democratic fundamentalists were willing to go for absolute power lit a fire under many Ohioans that was empowering. A democracy comeback.

A year later Ohioans are mobilizing with other Ohioans to do what legislators wont from ensuring fair, representative voting districts to raising minimum wage and restoring voting rights. The campaign to establish a citizens redistricting commission in Ohio and remove politicians from the process altogether moved closer to its objective of placing an amendment on the statewide ballot in November.

It turned in more than 731,000 voter signatures on its initiative to state officials this week and needs roughly 413,000 to qualify. This voter-led movement is building. Showboating extremists in Columbus could be in for a reckoning.

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Retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen OConnor speaks to supporters at the Citizens Not Politicians rally, July 1, 2024, at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish only with original story.)

Reporting more than 731,000 signatures submitted to the Ohio Secretary of States Office, Citizens Not Politicians said it cleared a massive hurdle in their plan to reform the states redistricting process by replacing politicians with a citizen commission.

The group hoping to get a citizen-led redistricting commission inserted as an amendment to the Ohio Constitution was required to collect 413,487 signatures by July 3 in order to qualify for the Nov. 5 general election. That number accounts for 10% of the total votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, a threshold state law requires for ballot initiatives.

Ohio also requires petitions to receive at least 5% of the vote in at least 44 counties. Citizens Not Politicians said it did this in 57 counties, while also collecting signatures in all 88 counties in the state.

During a rally celebrating the submission of the signatures on Monday, retired Republican Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen OConnor told a crowd of hundreds in the Statehouse atrium that the initiative received the third highest signature total the state has seen in more than a century. She said it was one of the most widely supported citizen-initiated constitutional amendments in Ohios history.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me let you in on a little secret, she told supporters who attended the rally. This amendment will pass. We will prevail.

The signatures will now be verified by the Secretary of States Office, to filter out possible duplicate or invalid voter signatures, before a final count will be released.

OConnor joined in on the redistricting reform process after being chief justice of a supreme court that rejected six different maps adopted by the Ohio Redistricting Commission, a commission made up of elected officials.

The current seven-member Ohio Redistricting Commission includes the Ohio House Speaker and Ohio Senate President, along with the governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, and two minority party legislative leaders. If approved by the voters, the amendment would replace the politician commission with the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission, which would have 15 members, five matching the political party of the governor at the time, five from the party of the gubernatorial candidate who received the second-most votes in the most recent election, and five unaffiliated members.

The most recent map adopted by the current redistricting commission was cleared by the states highest court after OConnor left due to age limits, and the head chair was taken up by Republican Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy.

Ohios congressional map passed by the commission was also ruled unconstitutional, but challengers to the map chose to step back from legal fights to focus on redistricting reform.

The rally and the reason for it brought out all sorts, from education and nurses association members to bricklayers and religious leaders.

Maria Montanez is a part of the Ohio Organizing Collaboratives Building Freedom Ohio, which works with residents who have been a part of the criminal justice system.

Montanez said she is a convicted felon, but one who served her time while also obtaining a Bachelors degree in business administration.

When I got out of prison, I wasnt given a fair chance, Montanez said. Even though I came out with an accolade and prepared myself to be a productive citizen within the community, Im still looked at as a felon.

She wants to see changes to collateral sanctions in Ohio, and thinks making changes to voting rules and making voting districts representative can help make that happen.

Theres plenty of people that look like me, feel like me and are living the same civil debt that I am living today, she said.

For Cleveland-area school nurse David Spanos, changing the way redistricting is done could help bring more funding to public schools, and lift fair partisan representation into reality, rather than map manipulations meant to help incumbents hold on to power.

I dont think Ohio would be a Republican state if it werent for gerrymandering, Spanos said.

Cincinnati resident and salon owner Desirae Futel works hard to help her customers learn where and when to vote, and what their voice means when it comes to change in politics.

Gerrymandering has long silenced communities like mine, but today, we stand to change that, she told the crowd.

With the signatures now submitted, the campaign to get voters to the ballot in support of the measure begins. That strategy includes battling against those who oppose the new redistricting plan, according to OConnor.

Theyre going to scheme and spread disinformation, and try and muddy the waters and confuse the voters, she said.

But if the motivation encapsulated in the Statehouse atrium spreads to the rest of Ohio voters, Montanez said the votes will go their way.

Its in the numbers that we move this, its in the capacity, its not just one person, she said.

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An electricity meter. Getty Images.

This monthly newsletter provides updates on Ohios ongoing utility corruption scandal. Was this forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe.

Ohio utility regulators will continue to consider four FirstEnergy cases related to HB 6 separately, despite requests by the utility, customer advocates, and others to combine the cases. Meanwhile, intervenors say the timeline set in two of the cases puts them at a disadvantage as they struggle to keep up with several hundred thousand pages of discovery documents.

Other recent developments in Ohios ongoing utility corruption scandal include:

Text messages show Gov. Mike DeWine played a more active role in soliciting money from FirstEnergy than was previously known.

A former FirstEnergy executive plans to call both DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted as witnesses at his criminal trial.

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is advancing a new argument on appeal from his criminal conviction in federal court last year.

Piecemeal approach continues at PUCO

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is sticking with a piecemeal approach to four HB 6-related cases despite requests earlier this month from the company and challengers asking for different degrees of consolidation.

FirstEnergy wanted issues in three HB 6 cases to be considered together next year, and would have split a fourth case over whether the company improperly used ratepayer money to subsidize affiliated businesses, including FirstEnergy Solutions unregulated coal and nuclear plant operations.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers Counsel, Ohio Manufacturers Association Energy Group and several other parties urged the PUCO to consolidate all four HB 6 cases. In addition to the corporate separation case, one case requires FirstEnergys utilities to show ratepayer money was not used for charitable or political purposes, and the other two deal with the companys use of funds from two riders.

Regulators stayed all four cases in mid-2022 after a request from the federal prosecutors office. Administrative Law Judge Jacky St. John ruled last week that the commission would not order further consolidation beyond its combination of the two rider cases when the stay was lifted in late February.

The Commission is vested with broad discretion to manage its dockets, she wrote, adding that more delay was not warranted.

Critics see the decision not to combine the cases as a missed opportunity for a big-picture review of FirstEnergys operations and governance in the wake of HB 6.

I dont understand the logic, said Ashley Brown, a former PUCO commissioner. Its hard to find any public policy or private interest not to consolidate.

Multiple cases also require duplicative efforts and increase legal costs. The commission is making us try HB 6 cases multiple times, said Kim Bojko, an attorney for the Ohio Manufacturers Association Energy Group.

The PUCO seems like its still piecemealing it and kicking some of the can down the road, while trying to fast-track the rest, said Dave Anderson, policy and communications manager for the Energy and Policy Institute. He noted the commissions limited approach to addressing the HB 6 case began under former PUCO chair Sam Randazzo, who died from an apparent suicide this spring after criminal indictments in federal and state courts, plus charges of legal ethics violations.

Read more:

A punitive schedule

The PUCO set schedules in its June 21 orders which call for testimony in the rider cases to be filed in early August, with an evidentiary hearing set to start later that month.

Testimony in the corporate separation case must be filed in September, with a hearing to start in October. The PUCO also said it would move ahead in that case without an additional audit on the HB 6-related issues. A 2021 report by Daymark Energy Advisors found no major violations of corporate separation, but noted the company hadnt gotten numerous documents for the time period relevant to HB 6.

An independent audit still has not been completed in the political and charitable spending case. That case doesnt have a hearing date yet.

Several intervenors have raised concerns about the pace, noting that its still unclear when pre-hearing fact-finding will wrap up. The commission put that process on hold for a year and a half after federal prosecutors asked for a pause in state regulators investigations as they pursued criminal cases related to HB 6.

FirstEnergy still has not produced all the documents parties in the four cases asked for nearly three years ago, because the PUCO didnt require the company to comply with earlier document requests when it stayed the cases.

From February through mid-June of this year, FirstEnergy produced roughly 725,000 pages of documents. We just got another 500 pages last week, with more still to come, Bojko said. Yet now she and other parties will have to file witnesses testimony in roughly six weeks without knowing whether theyll have all the documents.

Its punitive, Bojko said, adding that lawyers for intervening parties are still scrambling to try to review the materials theyve recently gotten. In her view, factors that frustrate intervenors ability to prepare their cases will work to FirstEnergys advantage.

Maureen Willis, agency director for the Office of the Ohio Consumers Counsel, said the office is evaluating the PUCOs approach to the cases.

OCC will continue to advocate for a fair process that allows all the facts to come out, Willis said.

FirstEnergy spokesperson Jennifer Young declined to comment due to the ongoing nature of the proceedings.

Read more:

Spotlight on DeWine and Husted

Newly revealed documents show Gov. DeWine played a larger role in soliciting money from FirstEnergy executives than was previously known.

FirstEnergy and its affiliates gave roughly $4 million to dark money groups supporting DeWine and Husteds 2018 campaigns. Less than a month before the election, DeWine texted Chuck Jones, then CEO of FirstEnergy, to set up a call. Three days later, Mike Dowling, then a FirstEnergy vice president, texted Jones to let DeWine know $500,000 was going to a dark money group called State Solutions.

Other texts recently obtained by journalists show Husted trading statements about Ohio energy policy with Dowling in the summer of 2018. Documents produced earlier show Husted also performed battlefield triage to assure the appointment of Randazzo to chair the PUCO.

DeWine claimed he didnt remember the call. Spokesperson Dan Tierney told the Energy News Network the texts all document legal campaign fundraising and independent expenditures, which have been previously reported. The Governor follows all applicable campaign finance laws, he added. Husted spokesperson Hayley Carducci did not respond to Energy News Networks request for comment.

The newly produced documents dont show a bribe or quid pro quo, and neither DeWine nor Husted has been named as a defendant in any criminal or civil cases relating to HB 6.

However, the timing so close to the election raises questions, Anderson said, because DeWines campaign staff likely knew FirstEnergy executives and the companys political action committee would already have reached their limits for direct campaign contributions. Under federal campaign finance law, candidates are not supposed to coordinate fundraising or other activities with groups that make so-called independent expenditures in political races.

Read more:

On the witness list

Dowling, the former FirstEnergy vice president, listed both DeWine and Husted as potential witnesses in a June 18 filing in the state of Ohios criminal case against him, Jones and two companies that were controlled by Randazzo. The two also have received subpoenas in civil cases filed by FirstEnergy shareholders.

Others on Dowlings witness list include former American Electric Power executives Nicholas Akins and Tom Froehle. AEP holds the largest interest among Ohio electric utilities in the two 1950s coal plants that ratepayers continue to subsidize as a result of HB 6. An estimate by RunnerStone for the Ohio Manufacturers Association found Ohioans will pay nearly $1 billion for those subsidies through 2030.

Jones was also named as a defendant in the case against Dowling, along with Randazzo and two companies he controlled before his death. The state is still pursuing charges against those companies, said Steve Irwin, press secretary for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Read more:

Householder and Borges appeals

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder wants to add an argument to his appeal of a criminal conviction in federal court last year. A June 11 filing argues Judge Timothy Black erred in instructing Householder not to talk about his ongoing testimony while he was still under oath during an overnight break on March 1 last year. Householders lawyers did not object to the instruction, and the judge told Householder he could otherwise talk with his attorneys.

The government has objected to allowing the extra argument, first raised months after Householders initial brief of more than 16,000 words was filed in late February. Even if the court doesnt allow the extra argument, a June 21 filing said the government still needs another four weeks to file its response.

Briefing in lobbyist Matt Borges appeal from his criminal conviction in last years federal trial should wrap up by the end of this month, unless his lawyers ask for more time to reply to the federal governments brief.

Householder is currently serving a 20-year sentence, and Borges is serving a five-year sentence. Their appeals are pending before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

This article first appeared on Energy News Network and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  An Oklahoma man arrested after allegedly robbing a Siloam Springs restaurant pleads not guilty, according to court documents.

Noah Leffingwell, 20 (Courtesy: Benton County Detention Center)

Noah Leffingwell, 20, of Proctor, Okla., was arrested on May 11 for aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, four counts of theft of property, aggravated assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, two counts of interfering with emergency communications, and no insurance.

A probable cause affidavit said on May 11, Siloam Springs police responded to Barnetts Dairyette for a robbery in progress. Dispatch said there was a man inside the restaurant with a shotgun, pointing it at people and robbing them.

Employees told officers once they were on the scene, the man who attempted to rob them had already left.

Springdale man pleads guilty to murder charge, sentenced to 30 years

As the officers responded to the incident, a witness told them they saw a man come from near the restaurant and enter a red truck.

A few officers went to search for the suspect, according to the affidavit. An officer later stopped the truck driven by Leffingwell mentioned by the witness, and he was detained on the scene.

Leffingwells vehicle was searched and police found a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, numerous boxes of ammunition, $768 in cash, a notebook, multiple phones and duct tape.

The manager of the restaurant provided security footage to police and the man in the video matched the man who was detained, the affidavit said.

Video footage showed Leffingwell enter the restaurant with a shotgun and was allegedly seen chambering a round into the gun and pointing it at an employee. He reportedly told the employee to give him all of the phones and money.

Rogers man arrested in connection with fentanyl death pleads not guilty

The employee gave Leffingwell two cell phones and money from the register, according to the affidavit.

In the notebook found in Leffingwells vehicle, handwritten notes were found that read:

Everywhere has bright lights and cameras, Harps  bright cameras, Dollar General  dim. Cameras. Gas Stations  bright. Cameras.

Watch for cop cars on patrol, watch for others eyes watching to film you, write you down, call 911.

Mask your face. Dress obscurely, MUG the guy. Punch. Tape mouth and arms and legs.

Mask yourself. Duct tape on you, to tape him, take his phone, his wallet. Park your truck where no one sees it. Take him into a spot with no cameras. No lighting most of all. No watching eyes. Take him, bound to truck. Tell me where to get your money. The bank. Withdraw it. Smash his phone. Put in bucket of water.

Materials: duct tape: lots, truck. Shotgun + slugs + buckshot. Knife. Ballpeen hammer. Fists. Guts. Will. Mask. Black. Item to trade. Brains. Cold hard action.

During his arrest, Leffingwell decided to remain silent but later told police he wanted to make statements. He said he started planning to rob a business on the day of the incident and he was tired of being broke.

Fayetteville man arrested on capital murder charge pleads not guilty

Leffingwell told police he hoped this was the only time he ever had to do anything like this, and chose Barnetts, claiming it was an easier target.

He talked about the notebook during the interview and said that he wrote notes in it about how he was going to carry out the attack, according to the affidavit.

Court documents say the total value of items stolen was $1,568.

Leffingwell is being held in the Benton County Jail on a $200,000 bond. He has an omnibus hearing scheduled for September 25.

He has been ordered to have no contact with the staff or employees of Barnetts Dairyette.

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Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat speaks about the governor's call for a special session at a news conference Sept. 13, 2023, at the state Capitol. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma senators during the interim are expected to take a deep dive into cellphones in schools, voucher costs and other topics.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, approved 39 interim study requests. The requests have been assigned to committees.

The committee chairperson will determine whether or not the study will proceed.

Senate interim studies are expected to be concluded by Nov. 1.

Interim studies are a great way for lawmakers to dig into topics that are important to Oklahomans as they craft legislation for next year, Treat said. These studies provide legislators with the opportunity to thoroughly investigate complex issues, gather relevant data, and engage with experts and stakeholders outside of the regular legislative session.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, requested a study on banning cellphone use in schools, something already done in some districts.

Pugh filed legislation last session to incentivize schools to ban cellphones, but it didnt make it across the finish line.

He said lots of other states are tackling the issue.

Its a crisis among young people, he said.

Young people are struggling with mental health, depression, teen suicide, loneliness, despair and bullying, and cellphone use is contributing factor, he said.

Districts that have banned cellphones have seen a drop in disruptive behavior, an increase in academic performance, less bullying and more socially engaged students, Pugh said.

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, has an interim study on youth vaping and policy solutions.

The outcome could be a bill that would raise the age to purchase the product to 21 years old and more regulations, Hicks said.

She said vaping has serious negative impacts on health.

Hicks has another interim study looking at the impact voucher programs have on funding for public schools.

The state recently enacted a law allowing for tax credits for parents who send students to private schools or homeschool their children.

Hicks said she would love to know who is accessing the voucher program and get the outcomes.

Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, has an interim study on restarting a prison rodeo in McAlester.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections last session sought $8.3 million to restart the program at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, but backed off the request and opted for a study to answer critical questions.

In 2010, state budget cuts, low attendance and crumbling facilities contributed to the rodeo closing.

Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, was granted an interim study on self-managed abortions.

Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, has a study on business courts.

Gov. Kevin Stitt made the creation of business courts a priority during recent budget negotiations.

Friday was the deadline to request interim studies in the lower chamber, said a House spokesperson.

The House-approved studies are expected to be announced later this month.

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Old feud leads Kansas man to shoot at father, daughter stuck in a ditch, officials say

A 52-year-old Kansas man remained jailed Tuesday in Reno County after shooting a rifle and revolver at a man and his daughter after her truck got stuck in the ditch next to his property, Reno County Capt. Steve Lutz said.

Thomas Morrison remained jailed on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated child endangerment.

The shooting happened around 7:46 p.m. Saturday around Trail West Road and Langdon Road, which is near Plevna in rural Reno County. The suspect told officers it was over a years-long feud he had with the 59-year-old Plevna man, Lutz said.

Think the victim and us are still trying to figure out what the deal is, Lutz said, adding the victim was unsure what that feud was. I dont think its ever been established really.

Officers recovered the two guns the suspect allegedly shot at the victims with from his yard. He reportedly fired four shots from a .22 caliber revolver and two more from a long rifle.

Lutz said the only thing struck by the gunfire was a tree. He said they dont believe alcohol or any of that was a factor.

Morrison was arrested at his home.

The daughter was following her father home in the truck from working in the field when she got stuck in the ditch, the sheriffs office said in a news release. They used the tractor she was following to pull out the truck.

The shooting happened then. The father got the vehicle freed and called 911.

Lutz said the daughter is a juvenile and would not release her age.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Tuesday said that any act that challenges the one-China principle and provokes the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will definitely be punished and is doomed to fail.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to a press inquiry regarding the separatist rhetoric made by Lai Ching-te and an official with Taiwan's mainland affairs council recently.

Since he assumed the role of the Taiwan region's new leader, Lai has blatantly advocated the so-called "two states" theory based on distorted facts and legal basis, which has sparked strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition across the Strait, Chen said.

Lai's deceitful narrative of "Taiwan independence" will not fool the public in Taiwan, nor will it whitewash Lai's nature as a worker for "Taiwan independence" and a troublemaker, Chen added.

Based clearly on history and jurisprudence, the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China. Although the two sides of the Strait have yet to be completely reunified, the sovereignty and territory of China have never been divided and will never be allowed to be divided, and Taiwan's status as part of China's territory has never changed and will never be allowed to change, Chen said. 
After travelling 3,000 years through the galaxy, light from an exploding star will soon appear in our night sky, in what astronomers say is a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event.

First spotted more than 800 years ago, the T Coronae Borealis nova  also known as the Blaze Star  has not been seen since 1946.

It is not possible to accurately predict the exact date that T CrB (pronounced tee-core-bore) will be visible in the night sky, though astronomers say it will appear as an extremely bright star that will be difficult to miss with the naked eye within the next few days or weeks.

The bright light is a result of a recurring thermonuclear explosion taking place within the binary star system, consisting of a red giant star and an Earth-sized white dwarf that has a mass comparable to that of our Sun.

The gravity from the white dwarf pulls in the hydrogen from the red giant, causing pressure and heat to build until a massive explosion occurs.

Its a once-in-a-lifetime event that will create a lot of new astronomers out there, giving young people a cosmic event they can observe for themselves, ask their own questions, and collect their own data, said Dr. Rebekah Hounsell, an assistant research scientist specialising in nova events at Nasas Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

There are a few recurrent novae with very short cycles, but typically, we dont often see a repeated outburst in a human lifetime, and rarely one so relatively close to our own system. Its incredibly exciting to have this front-row seat.

To find the T Coronae Borealis, Nasa says to Look up after sunset during summer months to find Hercules, then scan between Vega and Arcturus, where the distinct pattern of T CrB nova may be identified (Nasa)

The nova event will be visible for around a week around the Hercules constellation, which can be best found using a dedicated astronomy app on a smartphone or tablet.

Nasa scientists said the appearance of the rare celestial spectacle could help inspire the next generation of astronomers and scientists.

The nova will also provide a unique opportunity to study the structure and dynamics of stellar explosions.

Typically, nova events are so faint and far away that its hard to clearly identify where the erupting energy is concentrated, said

This one will be really close, with a lot of eyes on it, studying the various wavelengths and hopefully giving us data to start unlocking the structure and specific processes involved.
One airman was killed and five others were injured in an accident involving a Humvee on Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Saturday, the Air Force said.

Staff Sgt. Jorge Delgado, a 37-year-old airman assigned to the 341st Security Forces Squadron, died in the accident, the Air Force confirmed. He was one of four airmen traveling to work on base in the up-armored High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, the service said. Delgado enlisted in March 2014, according to Air Force personnel records.

Humvee mishaps kill 2 airmen in 2 months, prompting investigations

Two first responders were also injured after arriving on the scene. The Air Force said two of the hurt airmen are in stable condition at a local medical facility; three have been discharged.

Team Malmstrom and our surrounding community grieve not only the loss of an outstanding airman, but a family member and a friend, 341st Missile Wing Commander Col. Dan Voorhies said in a statement. As we help our impacted airmen and families, I urge us all to spend a little extra time checking in on one another, wrap our arms around those in need, and provide love and support, so we can keep enduring. Wing One is committed to the safety and security of our members, and we will continue to stand strong during this time.

Additional information about the accident was not immediately available Tuesday. The Air Force said an investigation is ongoing.

Report: Airmen in fatal Humvee accident werent properly wearing seatbelts, helmets

This is the second Humvee-related death tied to Malmstrom since last October, and the third overall death related to the vehicle within the Air Force since September. Airman Trinity Reinhart, of the 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, died Sept. 16 in an accident in a Colorado nuclear missile field near the Wyoming border. Another airman survived the crash.

About a month later, Airman Alton John, of the 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron, was hospitalized following a highway rollover south of the base; he died Oct. 27. Another airman was also hurt in the crash.

The Air Force has opened investigations into those accidents as well. Following those incidents, 20th Air Force  which oversees the services land-based nuclear missiles  changed the way Humvees with upgraded armor are used off-base, said Air Force Global Strike Command spokesperson Charles Hoffman. He declined to say what those changes entailed.

Nine airmen have died in government-owned motor vehicle accidents since October 2018, according to June 2024 Air Force Safety Center data.

A 2021 Government Accountability Office report found that 123 people had died in more than 3,750 noncombat ground vehicle accidents in the Army and Marine Corps between fiscal 2010 and 2019. Humvees were involved in more of those accidents than any other type of tactical vehicle, with rollovers accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total crashes. Military families, lawmakers and the Pentagon have pushed for years to avoid such accidents.

The U.S. military is in the process of replacing some of its four-decade-old Humvee fleet, which the Air Force uses to secure the nations missile sites, with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle  which promises a faster, smoother and more secure ride for ground troops. The Air Force plans to buy nearly 2,100 JLTVs.

A previous version of this story misstated Staff Sgt. Jorge Delgados age. He was 37.
Editors Note: Julian Zelizer, a CNN political analyst, is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. He is the author and editor of 25 books, including the forthcoming book, Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue. Follow him on Twitter @julianzelizer. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

President Joe Biden has been huddled up in Camp David trying to figure out what to do after a terrible debate performance against former President Donald Trump. The president had so much difficulty articulating his thoughts and maintaining his physical composure during the proceedings that it sent the party into a serious conversation about replacing him.

Biden and his family are standing firm about his determination to stay in the race and ability to win, but the pressure has not abated. Throughout the mainstream press, the calls for him to step down have continued while privately Democratic officials and donors continue to have this conversation as well, waiting to see the post-debate polls. According to a new CNN poll, three-quarters of US voters say the Democrats would have a better chance to keep the presidency in 2024 with someone other than Biden as the nominee.

Several Democratic officials started to say the silent part out loud. Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett called on Biden to step down. South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, whose endorsement was pivotal to Bidens nomination in 2020, said he would support Vice President Kamala Harris if she were the nominee. Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan called for Biden to step aside and other Democrats made comments raising questions about what should come next.

Bidens struggle during the debate worsened preexisting perceptions in the electorate that the president is too old for a second term.

Moreover, this moment of crisis comes at a time that polls show Trump slightly ahead in most swing states. Democrats are terrified that the president can no longer prevent a second Trump term, which many believe would be a genuine threat to democracy.

But Democrats clamoring for change should also remember that switching the person at the top of ticket might not have the kind of impact they are hoping for. During the 1968 election, President Lyndon B. Johnson shocked the nation on March 31 by announcing, I shall not seek, and will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president. Students ran outside their apartments and onto the streets of Greenwich Village to celebrate the news.

Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey shakes hands with supporters at MacArthur Airport in Bohemia, New York during a campaign rally on November 2, 1968. - Dick Benjamin/Newsday/Getty Images

With the nation in the throes of urban unrest and a disastrous war in Vietnam, LBJ  the architect of the Great Society  found himself deeply unpopular among Americans. The chant, Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today? had replaced All the way with LBJ. He was also wrestling a global financial crisis, centering on a gold run. Johnson promised that he would respond through a policy of stringency, cutting spending and raising taxes, so as to stabilize the US budget.

After Sen. Eugene McCarthy, running as an anti-war candidate, nearly defeated Johnson in the New Hampshire primary, Johnson decided to step out of the race. He would use the political freedom that afforded him to try bringing the war to an end before his term ended.

His plan didnt work. Not only did Vietnam continue to rage for many more years but former Republican Vice President Richard Nixon, a politician detested by liberals for his ferocious anti-communism, won, after LBJ announced he would not accept the Democratic nomination.

In other words, switching out Johnson for his vice president, Hubert Humphrey, did not solve the electoral problems the party confronted.

What went wrong?

At the most basic level, criticisms that were directed toward LBJ were transferred to Humphrey. While Humphrey had been known to be the voice of liberalism and a personally likable politician, by 1968 most Democrats had become the face of the establishment in the eyes of younger progressives.

Rather than becoming a fresh voice for change, Humphrey confronted the same criticism for his role in bringing US soldiers deep into the jungles of the war. Had a different Democrat received the nomination, such as McCarthy or Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated following his victory of Californias Democratic Primary, the outcome might have been different. However, well never know whether those candidates could have separated themselves from the baggage of LBJ.

The party divisions that put Democrats at a disadvantage  then between anti-war protesters and the establishment  did not disappear, instead quickly resurfacing with the new candidate. With Humphrey running as the nominee, the divisions within the party exploded at the 1968 Democratic Convention as anti-war protesters clashed on the streets with the Chicago police.

Nor did the basic policy problems that at the heart of Johnsons disapproval disappear. Policy mattered. Vietnam did not suddenly end with Johnsons shocking announcement. And the tensions over the war only worsened in the coming months, providing Nixon an opening to promise that he would end the war (without saying how).

The fury in many parts of the country about anti-war protesters on the campuses and over the direction of the civil rights conflict intensified as the GOP mounted their campaign promising to restore law and order. When Nixon rallied the silent majority it didnt really matter who the candidate was.

Republicans undercut the benefits Johnson had hoped to provide his party by engaging in hardball politics and dirty tricks. Intermediaries to Nixon secretly persuaded South Vietnam to reject any deals, holding out for something better under Nixon. John Farrells Richard Nixon offered bombshell evidence that Nixon knew of the operation, which Johnson privately told Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen was treason.

Richard Nixon is inaugurated as the 37th President of the United States in 1969. - dpa/United Archives / WHA/picture alliance/United Archives

Almost 60 years later, the question now is whether a Democrat replacing Biden, whether it would be Harris or Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or someone else, would eventually face the same polling problems once the honeymoon period ends. That question is further complicated by the particulars of our current moment, with rampant disinformation, manipulation and conspiracy theories, where opponents can deftly transform the image of opponents in the age of social media.

Given the nature of Bidens Republican opponent in 2024, it is safe to predict that Nixons dirty tricks would look mild compared to what any Democrat will confront in the coming months.

Of course, historical comparisons are imperfect. The history of 1968 is a reason for Democrats to be cautious.In 2024, the concerns are about whether Biden has the stamina to continue the campaign, and to handle the challenges of governance in a second term.

Moreover, the current electorate is much more polarized along party lines than it was in 1968, which means that the electoral map will generally not move if Biden resigns, giving Democrats the chance to boost their standing just with a slight bump in swing states under a new candidacy.

Although Democrats are far more united today than they were in 1968, as historian Kevin Boyle argues, the current political landscape only requires minute shifts within small parts of the electorate to shift election outcomes.

The willingness to take this step might also be greater given that Democrats feel Trump, a convicted felon and accused insurrectionist, poses an existential threat to democracy that is far greater than Nixon. Even with the negative lessons of what happened after Johnson stepped out, Democrats might still be very determined to make this historic decision.

But as Democrats move through this crossroads, they would do well to consider the potential limitations of this risky decision.

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Opinion: Ive been on the frontline of disasters. We must get better at evacuating people

Editors Note: Robert Lewin is the former chief California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)/San Luis Obispo County Fire, capping off a 38-year fire service career, and former director of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. He is principal at Resolute Associates, an emergency management consulting firm. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN.

In 2003, we were already days into an overwhelming Southern California fire siege when I was reassigned to the Grand Prix fire ripping through San Bernadino and Los Angeles counties. I was immediately deployed to direct the night operations on the branch where the wildfire was running west at a critical rate of spread under the hot and ferocious Santa Ana wind.

As my L.A. County Fire partner and I were trying to get ahead of the flames, we drove up a narrow road into a canyon neighborhood above the endless sea of homes in the flat valley below. Appropriately called Live Oak Canyon, the neighborhood was tight with homes surrounded by native brush and oak trees  now threatened by fire in the hills above.

When the residents went to bed that night, the fire was miles away and no threat. But now it was here, and they were struggling to understand their situation as they stood in the street in their night clothes gazing at the mesmerizing fire.

Along with a few police officers, my partner and I told the residents they must evacuate now. But the small road out of the canyon rapidly became backed up with cars  a potentially deadly traffic jam. We got out to the intersection with a four-lane thoroughfare only to find that the evacuees were stopped by oncoming drivers who were unaware of the disaster unfolding in the canyon above. I saw a police officer nearby, ran out to him and clearly requested that he stop all traffic until the people evacuating the canyon could get out. Until that moment, he just didnt know the extent of the emergency.

Robert Lewin - Courtesy Robert Lewin

When eliminating an emergency threat is not possible, protecting people is limited to only a few possible actions: You can alert people to shelter-in-place, evacuate a building, evacuate a neighborhood or evacuate a community. Evacuation of people and animals is always complex  and often fails for a few and sometimes for many.

It also can vary from county to county since disaster response and recovery in the United States primarily rests with local governments. As well intentioned as they are, these localities may not have the resources or the experience that a disaster requires  especially when they need to evacuate people.

But what happens when people cant  or wont  get out of harms way?

There are two types of disasters: one that you know is coming at you and one that suddenly happens. An approaching storm, a tsunami or a wildfire usually gives responders some time to alert and attempt to evacuate a community. An earthquake, an explosion or a levee break may give you no time. In both cases, disasters require quick decisions and fast action by authorities in real time to prevent or limit injuries and deaths.

An immediate threat makes the decision to order evacuations clear. When a fire, chemical leak or active-shooter emergency is occurring, people obviously must leave and they understand the threat. But more often, the decision of whether to evacuate is nuanced.

Is the storm or hurricane growing in strength? Where will it strike? Is that area prone to flooding? And how much time do we have?

The wildfire is a ridge away from the community. Are the winds and temperatures increasing? How long would it take for everyone to leave? Do we have that kind of time? Do we evacuate the entire neighborhood or just the first few streets next to the wildland?

Worse than being at home during a flood or wildfire is being on a road impacted by those threats where there is no protection. Should we have issued a shelter-in-place order instead of evacuation? People in institutions such as hospitals, care facilities, schools and certain hazardous industrial facilities may be better off sheltering in place depending how hardened the facility is from the threat and whether time will allow for a complicated evacuation. Protecting it may be a better option.

First responders have two options when responding to an emergency. They can go on the offense and stop the threat where it is, or they can go on defense, focusing their efforts on protecting people and property. Firefighters, for example, can go offensive and extinguish the wildfire to prevent its spread to the community. When the fire intensity is too great or the terrain too difficult to take this strategy, it forces them to back off, evacuate the community and focus protection on key points of a threatened neighborhood.

Some communities in these types of scenarios have tried to prepare for a future emergency that may require evacuation by developing procedures, purchasing alerting systems, providing dedicated emergency management staff and conducting continuous training of responsible agencies. They realize authorities cannot issue an emergency alert if they do not have the equipment, the staff to operate it and the procedures and training for that staff on how to do it.

Burned vehicles on the road in Paradise, California, after the Camp Fire tore through the area on November 10, 2018. - Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

Why people dont go

Stacy Willett, a University of Akron professor in the Department of Disaster Science and Emergency Services, studied evacuations after Hurricane Katrina and singled out six major reasons why people ignore the warning to flee: older age, gender (men are more likely to ignore evacuation orders), previous personal experiences with emergencies, cost, pets and peer pressure-type influence from others.

Evacuations must meet the true needs of the entire affected community. In addition to supporting the needs of people with access and functional needs, including seniors and people with disabilities, warnings and other critical information should be broadcast simultaneously in all the primary languages that are spoken in a community.

Emergency managers need to truly partner with Red Cross and other relief organizations to ensure all people who need emergency shelter are provided equal access, physical access and access to effective communication. Evacuation preparedness must always consider the needs of peoples pets and livestock. People will hesitate or not evacuate at all if they are not confident their pets will be taken care of.

Older adults are more likely to die from a disaster. The average age of victims who died in the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, was 72. Many adults cant easily evacuate  some because they dont drive, others because they are physically unable. And some people simply refuse to evacuate. Capable neighbors must commit to helping their elderly neighbors safely evacuate during an emergency.

Ultimately it is the individual and family, not the authorities urging them to leave, who make the decision to evacuate or not. Even within families there may be conflict with one person wanting to leave and the other arguing that they should stay and protect their home. After the deadly Montecito, California, debris flow  a mudslide that killed 23 people on January 9, 2018  we kept hearing stories of families who debated whether they should follow the evacuation order that was issued 24 hours before the disaster. In some cases, families would split up and some members would stay behind.

Some people will have evacuation fatigue  they have been evacuated multiple times before and nothing happened, they reason. An already skeptical population will often find the validation they seek to make their argument to stay or go. Government officials who say people in the path of disaster must leave now may not hold as much influence as the neighbor down the street who is choosing to stay.

Communities must learn from each others experiences with disaster evacuations. Unfortunately, we do not seem to do this very well. It is as if we all must touch the hot stove to learn it is hot.

How many news conferences do we have to hear authorities say we have never seen anything like this before  when only a county or two away they had a similar experience just a few years earlier? Lake County, California, in 2015; Sonoma County, California, in 2017; the Town of Paradise, California, in 2018; northwest Oregon in 2020; and Maui County, Hawaii, in 2023 are just a few examples of deadly disasters where the public criticized authorities for similar evacuation failures.

All too often we see these same failures repeat despite countless disaster after-action reports detailing recommended improvements. Local governments in the United States, with the assistance of state and federal governments, should be able to learn from each others experiences, create effective evacuation processes and ensure that the authorities who must implement them are ready.

Members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Search and Rescue crew work on a car trapped under debris from a mudslide in Montecito, California, on January 10, 2018. - Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Making the danger clear

When faced with an emergency, authorities in all communities must be able to identify when to evacuate, where to evacuate from and where to evacuate to, and be able to successfully alert and notify the community of the evacuation. Procedures must be in place and training exercises should occur regularly.

When people are better informed, they have the tools to make better decisions about evacuating. When the government puts out information, the public expects it to be accurate. But information released during an emergency also must be fast, often at the expense of full verification and accuracy. Threading this needle is essential. Using terminology that is standardized and intuitively understood will help. And yet that too can be a challenge.

For example, look at weather forecasting: Most disasters are weather-related, and all disasters are impacted by weather. The National Weather Service (NWS) is a national treasure as NWS scientists throughout the country use an amazing array of technology and vast experience to provide us with life-saving predictions. Even so, NWS terminology can be confusing.

To deliver critical weather threats, the NWS created standardized terminology for weather-related emergencies: watch, warning and advisory. But most people do not understand what those terms mean. Even the most experienced emergency manager may struggle to not only get the NWS terminology correct but convey that message internally and to the public. The public needs to know if a weather disaster is imminent or possible  or if bad weather will just cause inconvenience.

Fortunately, the NWS has committed to making some plain language changes to their alerts in 2026. One helpful benchmark may be the UK, where they use a color-coded warning impact matrix that tells you how likely the event is and what impact it will have. Red indicates a very high likelihood of a very high-impact weather event.

Standardization of terminology that drives decisions on protective actions is essential. The catastrophic California wildfires of 2017 and 2018 exposed inconsistencies that often led to confusion among the public at the very moment that clarity and certainty were needed.

When the Thomas fire began in Ventura County, California, on December 4, 2017, Ventura County immediately began evacuations using the words mandatory and voluntary, depending on the areas threat level. After destroying over a thousand homes and killing a woman, the fire marched into Santa Barbara County, where our policy had been to use the terms evacuation order and evacuation warning. But for days the public had been hearing, and were now educated on, the terms used in Ventura County, where authorities were still issuing new evacuations.

I was the director of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management and part of the leadership team overseeing the fire response. Rather than use our terminology we chose to align with the neighboring county by using voluntary and mandatory for the tens of thousands of people we would evacuate. When we had to call for evacuations again prior to the torrential rains that fell on the burn-scarred mountains above Montecito, we continued using these terms.

The terminology may have caused confusion and contributed to lives being lost when people in the voluntary evacuation area chose to stay. California law enforcement agencies came together in 2020 to standardize the terminology: evacuation order, evacuation warning, shelter in place.

This standardization of terminology needs to be used and emulated across the country. The terms mandatory evacuation and particularly voluntary evacuation should be discontinued; they are only causing confusion. People in threatened areas should be either ordered to evacuate now or warned there is a possibility they will be evacuated, giving them valuable time to prepare.

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, on June 17, 2024. - Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Reuters

Preparing before disaster strikes

Most disasters cross jurisdictional lines and involve many agencies. When each jurisdiction and agency individually issues critical information to the public, that inevitably leads to confusion and mistakes. Bringing all these entities together into a joint information center at one central location improves the ability to deliver a consistent and complete message. It also gives bench strength to smaller entities with limited communications staff.

But all of these intersecting agencies must practice together long before a disaster occurs. They should agree upon and create press release templates, websites and interactive maps. They should identify a call center location to field inquiries and pick a location where they will all hold press conferences. Waiting until a disaster strikes will result in a community distrusting disjointed messaging, thereby reducing the number of people who will leave when told to evacuate.

Similarly, people  especially in disaster-prone areas  should consider ahead of time how they would act if asked to evacuate.

For many years wildland fire agencies have been using the Ready, Set, Go! method to prepare a community for the steps they must take when wildfire is a threat. Their homes should be ready for fire season. When a wildfire is nearby, residents need to get set by loading their car, checking on elderly and disabled neighbors and moving large animals such as horses to a safer place. Then be ready to go if imminently threatened or ordered to evacuate.

Following the 2018 Montecito debris flow disaster, this clear messaging was successfully used to prepare people for more approaching atmospheric river storms that continued to threaten the community below the denuded mountains. We could see that instructing people to be ready and set improved residents response to the evacuation order when we said go. This type of messaging could easily be adapted for hurricanes, floods and storms as well as emergencies involving dams and nuclear or chemical facilities.

We have plenty of knowledge and experience supported by endless studies and incident reports showing how we can improve evacuations. We have to apply this in a way that moves people to heed warnings. If we do not, we will continue to see a repeat of evacuation failures and an unnecessary loss of life.

Local authorities must prioritize evacuation preparedness including having adequate staffing, incorporating lessons learned, crafting standardized messaging, updating alert systems and increasing community education. A community must see that when an evacuation is ordered it is confidently followed. If we learn key lessons from past emergencies, we can do better.

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Editors Note: Jennifer Huddleston is a technology policy research fellow at the Cato Institute and an adjunct professor at George Mason Universitys Antonin Scalia Law School. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. Read more opinion at CNN.

The Supreme Court released its decision Monday in NetChoice v. Paxton and Moody v. NetChoice, two cases that will have long-lasting effects on free speech rights on the internet. But while much of the conversation around this decision will focus on the impact these cases have on so-called Big Tech companies, the reality is this decisions emphasis on the online application of existing First Amendment jurisprudence is a critical win for smaller platforms as well as users who have found an opportunity to express themselves.

Jennifer Huddleston - Courtesy Cato Institute

These cases concerned two state laws that sought to regulate what content or users that online platforms must allow. Both laws were focused on political speech, but with some significant differences.

The 2021 Florida law, SB 7072, focused on candidates for political office and allowed them to sue social media companies for deplatforming, while the 2021 Texas law, HB 20, focused on social media moderation that impacts specific viewpoints. Additionally, both laws contained transparency requirements mandating that social media platforms must disclose information about content moderation decisions.

NetChoice, an industry association representing affected companies, challenged both laws. The 5th Circuit and 11th Circuit appeals courts had reached different conclusions on the preliminary injunction issued upon the initial challenge to these laws.

In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court held that the challenges were not properly considered with regard to the underlying First Amendment issues at the lower court level; however, the majority opinion noted that the editorial judgments influencing the content of those feeds are, contrary to the 5th Circuits view, protected expressive activity.

As Justice Elena Kagan wrote in her opinion, In sum, there is much work to do below on both these cases, given the facial nature of NetChoices challenges. But that work must be done consistent with the First Amendment, which does not go on leave when social media are involved.

While the overall decision was 9-0, all parts of the decision were not equally joined by the justices. Justice Amy Coney Barretts concurrence notes, While the governing constitutional principles are straightforward, applying them in one fell swoop to the entire social-media universe is not. She further noted an as-applied challenge, in which a law has already been applied as opposed to analyzing all situations in which it could apply, would more easily analyze questions such as whether such regulations impact private messaging or just public feeds. Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksons concurrence emphasized the difficulty in evaluating a facial challenge, in which the law is alleged to be unconstitutional in all circumstances.

Justice Clarence Thomas concurred with the decision to vacate and remand, sending the cases back to the lower courts, but disagreed with Kagan opin[ing] on certain applications of those statutes and expressed other further concerns including about the courts current approach to accepting such challenges to overly broad laws. Similarly, Justice Samuel Alitos concurrence, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch and Thomas, focused on the need for the courts decision to be read narrowly as it relates to the underlying matters, arguing there is not current evidence to prove that the Florida and Texas laws they challenged are facially unconstitutional and criticizing the majoritys decision to inexplicably single out a few provisions and a couple of platforms for special treatment.

While the decision did not fully reach conclusions about the underlying constitutionality of the laws in Texas and Florida, the majority seemed to indicate strong skepticism that such laws would pass the appropriate degrees of legal scrutiny. Mondays decision and the decisions to follow are not only about Big Tech, but will continue to be much more impactful to the future of free speech in general.

A Supreme Court decision expressly upholding the states requirements would prevent private platforms from engaging in content moderation on certain issues or taking certain censorship actions, thus making it harder for marginalized groups to create and maintain spaces that support their communities. This would be damaging not only for innovative services and the rights of private actors to make decisions about the content they do or do not host, but for the millions of Americans who have found a voice and community online. As Kagans opinion notes, The government cannot get its way just by asserting an interest in improving, or better balancing, the marketplace of ideas.

Under the states attempts to regulate viewpoints or the speech of political candidates, a platform or group serving the LGBTQ+ community may have to allow homophobic content to be posted, and a platform serving the Jewish community may have to allow access to a member of the American Nazi Party running for political office. A platform featuring important conversations about eating disorder recovery, for example, might have to shut down or be forced to host pro-anorexia content to avoid being subject to claims that they are engaging in viewpoint discrimination.

Such issues extend far beyond the popular, large social media platforms. For example, the cases oral arguments cited how these laws might impact sites like Etsy, Discord and even Uber as they all have some element of user-generated content. Notably, the decision and particularly several of the concurrences seek clarity on the full the application of these laws in their remand to the lower courts.

Much of the content we interact with online is created by other users. Requirements like these laws in Florida and Texas would make it more difficult to host such content by dictating how it must be handled. Even comments sections on news sites could find themselves caught up in the requirements of these laws with significant daily fines, making it more difficult to remove spam or other problematic content.

In the aftermath of Mondays ruling, we are likely to hear calls once again from critics of social media to change Section 230, the law that protects online platforms from lawsuits based on things their individual users might say on the platform and affirms their right to make content moderation decisions.

But the underlying issues are actually about the First Amendment rights of private businesses, not a special privilege of certain tech companies, and the lower courts are now tasked with more directly examining the issue.

While questions about social media may seem novel, these cases build on existing First Amendment jurisprudence. As Kagans opinion notes, The principle does not change because the curated compilation has gone from the physical to the virtual world. Most of us correctly recognize this curation in the offline context: While we may dislike that a coffee shop allows certain meetings in its private room or that a bookstore carries certain books, we choose whether or not we patronize those places rather than calling on the government to shut them down.

The NetChoice cases will now move back to the 5th and 11th circuits for further analysis of the underlying First Amendment claims, but for now the laws remain blocked. Ultimately, they could end up back at the Supreme Court. Yet the majority opinion indicates a strong skepticism at best for the underlying claims of Florida and Texas, which claimed these laws were needed to ensure that online discussions were not skewed against conservative voices or certain political figures such as former President Donald Trump. As such, these cases will continue to serve an important role in discussions surrounding how the First Amendment works in the online world of the 21st century as well as the offline world.

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Orban announces first steps to peace during his visit to Kyiv

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has promised to take the "first steps" to help bring peace to Ukraine on the eve of his visit to Kyiv.

Source: European Pravda, citing Orban's interview with Hungarian TV channel M1, as quoted by Hungarian news website Index

Details: The interview took place on the evening of 1 July. When asked what Hungary could do during its presidency of the EU Council to end the war in Ukraine, Orban said that the first steps to promote peace would be taken on 2 July.

"If you look at tomorrow's press, you will already see the first steps," the Hungarian prime minister said, after which it became known that he would be visiting the Ukrainian capital.

Orban also noted that the Americans should not be left out when it comes to the future of the EU and the Russian-Ukrainian war. He believes that the EU will have to prepare for the situation that sooner or later the Russians and Americans will reach an agreement with each other.

"Where will Europe be here? Who will represent your interests? And what are your interests?" he said, adding that the Hungarian presidency cannot answer these questions on its own.

Background:

Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 2 July. The Hungarian prime minister's motorcade of numerous cars arrived at the Hungarian embassy.

He is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials. A Hungarian government spokesperson confirmed that the most important topic of discussion would be the possibility of creating peace.

Late last week, Orban and Zelenskyy crossed paths on the sidelines of the EU leaders' summit in Brussels.

At that time, European Pravda found out that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week (i.e. this week) to take a step towards improving relations between Kyiv and Budapest under pressure from the EU.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 2 July, making it his first visit in many years.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Reports say a motorcade of numerous cars has arrived at the Hungarian embassy.

The newspaper recalls that Orban has not not visited Ukraine either during the term of Volodymyr Zelenskyy or the previous president, Petro Poroshenko. Orban last visited Kyiv in 2012 to meet with the then president Viktor Yanukovych.

Orban is expected to hold talks with President Zelenskyy and other top officials on Tuesday.

Background:

Late last week, Orban and Zelenskyy crossed paths on the sidelines of the EU leaders' summit in Brussels.

At that time, European Pravda found out that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week (i.e. this week) to take a step towards improving relations between Kyiv and Budapest under pressure from the EU.

Prior to this, as part of the agreement to launch negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, Ukraine agreed to meet a number of Hungary's conditions, as reported by European Pravda, but some of these conditions are impossible to fulfil, and it is clear that this will require agreement at the level of the leaders.

On 1 July, Hungary began its six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council, taking over the role from Belgium, and Zelenskyy congratulated Budapest on its presidency.

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Orban asks Zelenskyy for ceasefire with Russia, is "grateful for his frank opinion"

During talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on 2 July, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed an urgent truce, which is part of all pro-Russian "peace plans", but did not insist on it.

Source: European Pravda

Details: In press statements following recent bilateral discussions, the Hungarian leader admitted to offering Zelenskyy an urgent ceasefire on the current line of contact with Russian soldiers.

Orban reiterated that he was not opposed to Ukrainian measures to stop the war, but that they were taking too long.

Quote: "I informed Mr President that his plans require a significant amount of time due to international diplomatic rules. So I advised Mr President to consider doing something a bit differently: halt the fire, and then engage with Russia, because a ceasefire would speed the pace of these negotiations," Orban said.

However, Viktor Orban stated that he did not insist on his initiative and accepted Ukraines reasons.

"I am very grateful to the president for his frank opinion on this issue," he said, promising to convey what he heard to other state leaders of the European Union.

It should be noted that President Zelenskyy did not address this topic in his statement, although he did say that Hungary backed Ukraine's peace endeavours at the Summit in Switzerland.

"Hungary took part in the first Peace Summit and supported the communique of the summit, and this indicates Hungary's readiness to be effective for the return of real long-term security," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

According to European Pravda, during the negotiations in Kyiv, Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Orban agreed to work on a bilateral deal that would resolve bilateral issues.

Orban also vowed to open and finance Hungary's first Ukrainian school.

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In April 2024, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) officially issued Guidelines No. 14 of Shanghai Stock Exchange for Self-regulation of Listed Companies - Sustainability Report (Trial) (hereinafter referred to as the "Sustainability Report Guidelines"). In the 2023 ESG report compilation process, nearly 600 SSE-listed companies referred to the relevant content of the Sustainability Report Guidelines, and about 400 companies have incorporated these guidelines into their compilation basis. ESG information disclosure is gradually becoming standardized and regulated. How to effectively manage ESG, the "second financial report" is crucial.

SSE-listed companies actively explore the path of ESG construction, with disclosure efforts booming.

According to statistics, in 2023, 1,149 SSE-listed companies separately disclosed 2023 social responsibility reports, ESG reports, sustainable development reports, etc. (hereinafter referred to as ESG-related reports), and the disclosure rate reached 50.6%, an increase of 3.6 percentage points year on year. The majority of companies are increasingly disclosing more detailed content, with nearly 700 companies publishing ESG reports that focus on the external economic, social, and environmental impacts of their production and operations, and 107 companies releasing sustainability reports that emphasize the risks and opportunities associated with corporate, social and economic sustainability.

At present, the SSE has developed a stable group of listed companies that regularly disclose ESG-related reports. This group includes most large-cap blue-chip companies, key-index companies, and those listed both domestically and internationally, achieving near full coverage. The SSE 50 Index and STAR 50 index companies all disclosed ESG-related reports, with a disclosure rate of 93% for SSE 180 index companies. The disclosure rate reached 99% for 138 companies that are simultaneously listed domestically and internationally. Many SSE-listed companies have maintained continuous disclosure over several years, accumulating extensive practical experience. 786 companies have disclosed ESG-related reports for more than three consecutive years, 522 companies for more than five consecutive years, and 313 companies for more than 10 consecutive years. For instance, Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. has disclosed reports for 21 consecutive years and has shifted to disclosing sustainability reports.

China United Network Communications Limited has been proactively disclosing its performance in environmental and social responsibility and corporate governance for more than 10 consecutive years, leading the industry. In March 2022 and March 2023, the social responsibility report was upgraded to a "sustainability report". The 2023 report is more substantial and comprehensive, including "striving to be a practitioner of ecological civilization development", "building a booster for the development of people's livelihood undertakings", "creating a new atmosphere and forging a new landscape of modern governance", which have garnered wide acclaim from both the industry and society.

Since its inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report in 2009, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. has consistently disclosed information related to its sustainability development and continuously improved the quality of its disclosures. As of the end of 2023, the company has published its CSR reports for fifteen consecutive years (2008-2022) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports for the last three years (2020-2022). In 2024, in order to better address stakeholders' concerns regarding corporate sustainability, the company merged the Corporate Social Responsibility Report and the Environmental, Social and Governance Report into the ESG and Sustainability Report to further enhance the integrity, consistency and readability of the report, with a view to using transparent non-financial indicators to help stakeholders more comprehensively and systematically track the economic externalities resulting from business operations, and better evaluate the company's sustainable development capabilities.

Enhance market recognition and consensus on value, continuously improving disclosure quality and ratings

The mainstream adoption of ESG signifies a new understanding in the market regarding the external impacts of corporate operations and establishes new evaluation standards for corporate value. SSE-listed companies have engaged extensively with stakeholders through surveys, interviews, and research to assess the impact levels of various issues, establishing a robust mechanism for identifying substantive concerns. Through more comprehensive and higher-quality ESG disclosures, these companies aim to secure investor recognition. For instance, Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd. underscores its proactive approach by conducting diverse communication channels, both online and offline, before preparing each ESG report. This ensures active and effective dialogue with stakeholders. Based on stakeholder feedback, Fuyao Glass conducts an assessment of significant ESG issues to align the corporate operations with the expectations and needs of all stakeholders. Concurrently, the company engages a third-party intermediary to provide authentication services, enhancing the report's credibility, accuracy, and investor acceptance. Moreover, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation has continuously improved the disclosure quality and issued sustainability reports for 18 consecutive years. The company benchmarks regulatory requirements and advanced practices of domestic and international peers, enhancing quantitative data disclosure. In 2023, the number of quantitative data points in the Sustainability Report reached 119, a 34% year-on-year increase. The company integrates sustainable disclosure into its internal control processes, continuously expands the scope of third-party verification indicators, and saw a 33% year-on-year increase in the number of verification indicators in 2023. Enhancing communication among stakeholders and integrating disclosure standards and stakeholders' feedback into corporate strategy and operations establishes a virtuous circle of coordination and mutual promotion between disclosure and management.

SSE-listed companies have further strengthened their sustainable development governance structure and mechanisms. Over 800 companies have their chairman serving as the head of the highest decision-making body on sustainable development matters, while over 600 companies have established internal governance structures and mechanisms to address and manage sustainable development-related risks and opportunities. For instance, China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. integrates ESG management mechanisms into daily operational management, advancing enterprise compliance management, implementing carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, and fulfilling social responsibilities, to maximize ESG value creation and optimize value realization. By assessing and tracking the risks and opportunities of ESG indicators and comprehensively optimizing the resource efficiency of business operations, the company can enhance its ability to address environmental, social and governance uncertainties, comprehensively improve its capability to address risks, and consolidate the foundation for sustainable development.

With the continuous accumulation of mature and excellent practical experience, SSE-listed companies have steadily improved the reliability and ratings of their ESG information disclosure. Among the 1,149 companies that disclosed ESG-related reports, 129 engaged third-party verification organizations to authenticate report content, enhancing the reliability and credibility of their ESG disclosures.

The responsibility-oriented approach under the new quality productive forces injects new momentum into sustainable development

The core principles of green and sustainable development promoted by ESG align closely with the new quality productive forces. Emphasizing technological innovation, SSE-listed companies aim to bolster their ESG capabilities, striving for breakthroughs in the harmonized development of economy, environment, and society.

SSE-listed companies further enhance their technological innovation capabilities to significantly bolster green environmental development, and take active measures to help achieve the "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" goals. According to annual reports and ESG disclosures of listed companies, 1,896 companies established environmental protection mechanisms in 2023, accounting for 83.45% of the total, with nearly 290 billion yuan invested in environmental protection. Furthermore, 811 companies disclosed total carbon emissions in their annual or ESG-related reports, while 1,598 companies reported on carbon reduction measures and their effectiveness. Over 400 companies engaged external organizations to conduct carbon emissions accounting.

For instance, China Southern Airlines Company Limited has been serving the national "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" goals. In 2023 and as of May 2024, the company has saved 255,500 tons of fuel and reduced carbon emissions by 804,800 tons. Through the "Green Flight" initiative, over 7,212,900 meals were adjusted based on demand, and 2,697 passengers participated in the carbon offset service. CMOC Group Limited announced its carbon peak and carbon neutrality plan to strengthen climate financial information disclosure, with annual environmental protection investments reaching 252 million yuan. The company has achieved significant environmental performance: carbon intensity is 95% lower than the industry average, renewable energy accounts for 41% globally, and 80% of water is recycled. These efforts have raised CMOC's MSCI ESG rating to AA, placing it among the leaders in the global industry. In 2023, the six cascade power stations of China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. generated a total of 276.263 billion kWh, equivalent to replacing 83.07 million tons of standard coal consumption compared to coal-fired power plants. This contributed to reducing CO2 emissions by 227 million tons, SO2 emissions by 22,900 tons, and NOx emissions by 36,700 tons, contributing to ensuring energy supply, reducing pollution and carbon emissions, preventing and controlling smog, and addressing climate change.

In addition, SSE-listed companies take advantage of digitalization and intelligence, and more than 1,800 companies have disclosed specific measures and effects in terms of ensuring supply chain security and bolstering industrial and supply chains. For instance, China United Network Communications Limited serves the digital economy, strengthens its Unicom Cloud, and continuously enhances its position as the leading "5G+ Industrial Internet" brand. The Gewu Unilink platform has been selected as a national cross-industry platform, with a total of 30,000 5G industry application projects. China United Network Communications Limited supports the construction and operation of digital economy platforms in 16 provinces. It also serves the national cultural digitization strategy by creating digital exhibition platforms for institutions such as the National Natural History Museum of China and the Shaoshan Mao Zedong Memorial Museum. Building an inclusive and convenient digital society, China United Network Communications Limited is upgrading urban digital brains and expanding its digital rural platform to cover 255,000 administrative villages, comprehensively supporting rural revitalization. China United Network Communications Limited actively practices the "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" goals, jointly building and sharing 4G/5G networks, saving approximately 20 billion kWh annually, and reducing carbon emissions by over 11.5 million tons per year, contributing to the building of a Beautiful China. For instance, Smartsens Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a company listed on the STAR Market, has begun mass-producing and supplying several high-end 50-megapixel CIS chips such as SC580XS, SC550XS, and SC520XS to major domestic smartphone manufacturers. These chips are replacing those from Japan's Sony, addressing customers' bottleneck issues in core component areas and helping achieve over 90% localization of key components. China Southern Power Grid Energy Storage Co., Ltd. has overcome the blockade of foreign manufacturers and mastered the key core technology of pumped storage equipment, achieving comprehensive autonomy in pumped storage technology. This advancement has promoted the enhancement of national manufacturing capabilities, ensuring the security of the pumped storage industry chain and supply chain. By the end of 2023, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. had listed four rare disease drugs, with an additional pipeline of 10 rare disease drugs under research. The independently developed artemisinin-based products continue to support anti-malarial efforts in Africa, with a global cumulative supply of over 340 million doses, treating more than 68 million severe malaria patients. The eCME multimedia online medical training project covers eight African countries, helping to enhance local medical professionals' expertise and promote the capacity building of public health in developing countries.

Harnessing the functional value of SSE-listed companies to enhance people's living standards

Based on their own resource advantages and characteristics of their industry, SSE-listed companies actively consolidate the results of poverty alleviation, help achieve rural revitalization, and further unleash their corporate functional value. This effort aims to effectively serve economic and social development, and serve the people's better life more comprehensively and fully. About 1,177 SSE-listed companies have disclosed relevant content, with a total investment of more than 100 billion yuan, to promote the sustainable and high-quality development of local industries through various re-lending and re-discounting measures such as fund assistance, consumption assistance, industrial assistance, employment assistance, talent revitalization, agriculture-related loans, agricultural and small business support.

China Shenhua Energy Company Limited has made outstanding contributions in serving the overall situation of energy and other aspects. In ensuring energy security through coal, it has achieved stable and high production levels under safe and compliant conditions. In power stability through coal-fired electricity, it fully utilizes coal-fired power as a reliable backup. In 2023, the company achieved a production of 325 million tons of commercial coal, sales of 450 million tons of coal, and a total electricity sales of 199.75 billion kWh. At the same time, the company focuses on social concerns and fulfills its responsibilities as a central state-owned enterprise. It continues to engage in public welfare activities in rural revitalization, education funding, and livelihood security. In 2023, the company donated a total of 438 million yuan and spent approximately 74.55 million yuan on rural revitalization, implementing 31 projects.

In 2023, due to Typhoon Doksuri, severe floods, landslides and other natural disasters occurred in many places. China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC) carried out emergency rescue operations on the Fengtai-Shacheng Railway, Beijing-Kowloon Railway, Beijing-Xiong'an Railway, Beijing-Yuanping Railway, Zhoukoudian Railway Station in Fangshan, Liangxiang-Chenjiafen Railway as well as Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, with a total of 40,758 employees and 4,972 sets of mechanical equipment. After a 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit Jishishan in Linxia, Gansu province, CRCC immediately engaged in rescuing the injured, establishing rescue channels, providing earthquake relief supplies, assisting affected villagers, clearing mudslides, demolishing dangerous sites, building temporary shelters, and conducting post-disaster surveys.

In fulfilling its social responsibilities, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation has established three distinctive brand initiatives: industry assistance, education support, and consumer assistance. These efforts significantly contribute to rural revitalization, with a total investment of 230 million yuan in 2023. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation continues to implement public welfare projects such as the "Sinopec Lifeline Express for Brightness", which over the past 20 years has provided free treatment for cataract patients from low-income backgrounds, totaling 56,000 individuals across 18 provinces and regions nationwide. Moreover, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation is committed to fostering positive community relations by actively engaging in social communication and supervision. The company regularly hosts public open days, inviting stakeholders to visit their facilities. Over the past decade, more than 220,000 people have visited their sites through these events.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban revealed that he travelled to Ukraine almost immediately after Hungary assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union in order to better understand how to assist the Ukrainian government.

Source: Orban at a bilateral meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Hungarian prime minister termed the war in Ukraine the most significant problem for Europe today and expressed confidence that it will remain so during Hungary's six-month leadership of the EU Council.

I welcome Hungarys Prime Minister @PM_ViktorOrban on his first visit to Ukraine in 12 years.



Today, we will discuss ways to bring a just and lasting peace closer. I thank Hungary for attending the Peace Summit and supporting its final communique. Our work in this format truly pic.twitter.com/eLMfeC8hUn  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) July 2, 2024

Quote: "The purpose of my visit is to understand how we can help Ukraine in the next six months," Orban said.

He also wants to use the meeting to discuss the situation of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine and understand how to help it, Viktor Orban added.

"You are aware that we are eager to support you in the humanitarian sphere. We are in support of peace, and I would like to comprehend your view of peace opportunities, which I regard to be my mission. I am optimistic and grateful for the invitation," Orban said.

According to European Pravda, during the negotiations in Kyiv, Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Orban agreed to work on a bilateral deal that would resolve bilateral issues.

In addition, at the talks, Orban promoted the idea of an urgent truce with Russia, which is in all pro-Russian "peace plans", but did not insist on it.

Orban also vowed to open and finance Hungary's first Ukrainian school.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and Viktor Orban, Hungarian Prime Minister, have agreed to open the first school for Ukrainian-speaking children on the territory of Hungary.

Source: a correspondent of European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy raised the question of the education for Ukrainian children currently living in Hungary during his talks with the Hungarian PM on 2 July in Kyiv.

"Specifically, we discussed the opening of the first Ukrainian school in Hungary, the first such school, and Mr Prime Minister assured me he would support this project," Zelenskyy said.

Orban confirmed that the Ukrainian side had raised this question and he had completely supported this decision of Zelenskyy.

He stated that after many Ukrainian refugees arrived in Hungary, the need to educate them arised.

"Ukrainians have lived in Hungary before, but now a whole range of additional needs arised, we must take care of these peopleSo I was very glad to hear about the Presidents initiative about opening a Ukrainian school in Hungary," Orban said.

He explained that at the moment Ukrainian children, specifically in Budapest, study in many different schools, and this system is "not bad" but Hungary understands the need to create a school with Ukrainian as the first language.

"We do not just understand this need. The Hungarian state will fund this school. As many Ukrainian schools as needed will be opened. It is important to us that Ukrainians feel at home in Hungary," Orban added.

He did not link this decision to corresponding expectations from Ukraine but noted that he expected Ukraine to understand the needs of the Hungarian-speaking minority which traditionally lives in Zakarpattia Oblast of Ukraine.

Following the results of the negotiations in Kyiv, Zelenskyy and Orban agreed to work on the agreement on bilateral relations which would solve bilateral issues.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on the morning of 2 July, making it his first visit in many years and his first visit since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Orban urges Zelensky to consider ceasefire during visit to Kyiv

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv on July 2 and urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire in order to "speed up peace talks."

"I asked the president to think about whether we could reverse the order, and speed up peace talks with making a ceasefire first," Orban said in a statement to reporters after the two leaders met.

"A ceasefire connected to a deadline would give a chance to speed up peace talks. I explored this possibility with the president and I am grateful for his honest answers and negotiation."

While praising Ukraine's peace initiatives, Orban said that they take "too long."

Kyiv previously rejected a temporary break to hostilities, saying it would only provide a window of opportunity for Russia to regroup its forces.

Instead, Ukraine and Switzerland organized a global peace summit in June without Russia's participation to consider possible steps toward peace.

Orban and Zelensky also addressed long-standing issues between the two countries and steps toward improving relations.

Orban's first visit to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion comes as Hungary takes over the European Union's rotating presidency of the EU Council.

The appointment has sparked controversy, with some European officials calling on European Council President Charles Michel to suspend Hungary's presidency.

Budapest has repeatedly opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO and the EU, sanctions on Russia, undermined Western aid efforts for Ukraine, and maintained close relations with Moscow throughout the full-scale war.

This has led to deteriorating relations between Ukraine and Hungary, which had already been strained before 2022.

Following their bilateral talks, Zelensky and Orban told journalists that their meeting was an important step toward solving long-standing problems between the two countries.

"The content of our talks today can become the basis for a future bilateral agreement between our states, which will regulate our relations," Zelensky said, as reported by European Pravda.

"We want to establish relations between our countries and to sign a cooperation agreement with Ukraine similar to those Hungary has already signed with other neighbors," Orban noted.

Read also: Orban: Russia couldnt swallow NATO as it struggles to defeat Ukraine

The Hungarian prime minister also offered support for modernizing Ukraine and praised progress in resolving the issues of the Hungarian minority in the country

Orban and Zelensky also agreed to open the first school for Ukrainian-speaking children in Hungary.

The previous day, unnamed sources in Budapest told the Guardian that the visit was confirmed after negotiations on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority living in Ukraine.

"It was a precondition for the meeting that the issue of nationality rights was resolved," the source said.

"In recent weeks, an agreement has been reached. They will be able to announce this as a success."

Budapest has repeatedly accused Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority concentrated in southwestern Ukraine, an accusation that the Ukrainian leadership denies.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has visited Russia at least five times since the onset of the full-scale war. He also visited Belarus in June in violation of EU sanctions.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to consider a cease-fire during his first visit to Kyiv since Russias invasion, putting on display the deep differences between the two leaders.

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While Orbans comments reflect his long-standing call for a peace settlement, Zelenskiy has repeatedly dismissed demands for a cease-fire with Moscow, insisting that Russian forces withdraw from Ukrainian territory.

Still, Orbans presence alone was a reconciliation of sorts between Ukraines wartime leader and the Hungarian premier, who has maintained ties with the Kremlin and at times stalled aid. The two could be seen having an apparently heated exchange at a summit in Brussels last week.

We focused on the period ahead, Orban, who arrived as he takes over the European Unions six-month rotating presidency, said. We would like to see a much better relationship between the two countries.

Zelenskiy and Orban didnt take questions from reporters after delivering their statements. The president spoke first and didnt respond to Orbans plea to speed up peace talks with a quick cease-fire.

Zelenskiy earlier noted Orbans participation in a Swiss-hosted summit last month aimed at advancing Kyivs demands  and thanked him for taking up the Ukrainian issue during the EU presidency.

This is a clear signal of our common priorities, of how important it is to return a just peace to Ukraine and all of Europe, Zelenskiy said.

Russian Call

It was a steady exchange with Orban, who has acted as a disruptor among EU leaders since the invasion began in 2022, seeking to limit sanctions targeting Moscow.

Yet on the same day, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, with the ministers praising cooperation between their countries and agreeing that Kyiv should unconditionally ensure the rights of all national minorities living in the country, according to a readout from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia and Hungary hadnt discussed Orbans trip to Kyiv ahead of time, according to Russian news agency Tass.

The US ambassador in Budapest welcomed the talks between Orban and Zelenskiy.

The two have until now only met briefly at larger gatherings. Hungarys state-backed media network has pushed messaging that echoes Kremlin disinformation campaigns, while portraying Orban as a harbinger of peace  most recently in the European parliamentary campaign.

Although Orban has eventually consented to the EUs measures, Ukrainian forces have suffered from delays in deliveries.

Orban on Sunday announced the formation of a political group with nationalist forces in the EU, which are likely to support many of his views on Ukraine.

Zelenskiy last week signed an agreement for a long-term security commitment with the 27-member bloc as Western allies pledged to maintain support for Kyiv. The EU also formally opened negotiations with Ukraine over its membership in the bloc, a key symbolic step in a process thats likely to take years to play out.

Hungary had been blocking that move as well, citing concerns including the protection of the Hungarian minorities in Ukraine, a longstanding demand that Brussels and Kyiv insist has been addressed.

--With assistance from Daryna Krasnolutska and Marton Kasnyik.

(Adds phone call between Russian, Hungarian foreign ministers in 9th paragraph.)

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Young people hold a climate strike at the Oregon State Capitol in September 2019, joining cities across the world. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)

More than three dozen Congressional Democrats, led by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, are hoping to help revive a landmark lawsuit against the U.S. government by 21 young Americans  including 11 Oregonians  over continued federal support for fossil fuel production and a failure to urgently mitigate the worst effects of climate change, violating the plaintiffs right to a livable environment.

The case, Juliana v. United States, was first filed in the U.S. District Court in Eugene nearly 10 years ago. At the time, the youth behind the suit were between eight- and 18-years old. It has not gone to trial following pressure from three presidential administrations, which asked the court multiple times to have the case dismissed.

The intervention from lawmakers follows other briefs in support of a rehearing submitted in June by several law professors and more than a dozen international climate rights experts. The case is the longest running such suit. Young people have also sued state governments in Montana and Hawaii for violating state constitutional rights to safe and livable environments  and they won.

In the Juliana suit, fossil fuel companies, the U.S. Department of Justice, former President Donald Trump and Republican states attorneys general have filed court documents against the case. It was deemed effectively dead in May, when three Trump-appointed judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco sided with the U.S. Department of Justice in ordering the case to be dismissed.

In response, the attorney for the youth behind the case, Julia Olson, filed a request June 17 for a rehearing by the Ninth Circuit. On Friday, Wyden and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, filed an amicus brief or friend of the court brief urging the court to grant it. It was signed by 39 other Congressional Democrats, including Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and Oregon Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Val Hoyle.

The climate crisis poses a clear and present danger, Wyden said in an emailed statement. These young leaders  more than half of whom are from Oregon  have long been working to spotlight that deadly impact and the urgent need for action. I share their concerns and am proud to work with them to achieve the day in court that they deserve to make their case.

If the majority of the 29 judges on the Ninth Circuit agree the case can be reheard, 11 of them will listen to the arguments from both sides and issue a new decision about a trial. If they again deny a trial, the 21 plaintiffs could petition the U.S. Supreme Court as a last resort.

These youth plaintiffs are among the youngest generation and most vulnerable citizens of our country, the lawmakers wrote in the brief. Since youth cannot vote, they depend upon each branch of government to act in their best interests when exercising authority. Sadly, at this time, each branch is betraying the intergenerational trust bestowed upon them for our Posterity in the face of the climate crisis.

Olson argued that the three-judge panel in May wrongly denied oral arguments by the plaintiffs and acted incorrectly in ordering an immediate dismissal of the case rather than issuing an opinion, effectively denying the plaintiffs their right to an appeal.

The courts obscure legal tactics prevent young people from accessing justice, she said in a news release. Not only is this an injustice to the 21 young people who have fought for nearly 10 years, but the courts order cheapens the integrity of the judicial process.

Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X.

The post Democratic lawmakers urge rehearing on landmark youth climate case appeared first on Washington State Standard.
Young people hold a climate strike at the Oregon State Capitol in September 2019, joining cities across the world. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)

More than three dozen Congressional Democrats, led by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, are hoping to help revive a landmark lawsuit against the U.S. government by 21 young Americans  including 11 Oregonians  over continued federal support for fossil fuel production and a failure to urgently mitigate the worst effects of climate change, violating the plaintiffs right to a livable environment.

The case, Juliana v. United States, was first filed in the U.S. District Court in Eugene nearly 10 years ago. At the time, the youth behind the suit were between eight- and 18-years old. It has not gone to trial following pressure from three presidential administrations, which asked the court multiple times to have the case dismissed.

The intervention from lawmakers follows other briefs in support of a rehearing submitted in June by several law professors and more than a dozen international climate rights experts. The case is the longest running such suit. Young people have also sued state governments in Montana and Hawaii for violating state constitutional rights to safe and livable environments  and they won.

In the Juliana suit, fossil fuel companies, the U.S. Department of Justice, former President Donald Trump and Republican states attorneys general have filed court documents against the case. It was deemed effectively dead in May, when three Trump-appointed judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco sided with the U.S. Department of Justice in ordering the case to be dismissed.

In response, the attorney for the youth behind the case, Julia Olson, filed a request June 17 for a rehearing by the Ninth Circuit. On Friday, Wyden and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, filed an amicus brief or friend of the court brief urging the court to grant it. It was signed by 39 other Congressional Democrats, including Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and Oregon Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Val Hoyle.

The climate crisis poses a clear and present danger, Wyden said in an emailed statement. These young leaders  more than half of whom are from Oregon  have long been working to spotlight that deadly impact and the urgent need for action. I share their concerns and am proud to work with them to achieve the day in court that they deserve to make their case.

If the majority of the 29 judges on the Ninth Circuit agree the case can be reheard, 11 of them will listen to the arguments from both sides and issue a new decision about a trial. If they again deny a trial, the 21 plaintiffs could petition the U.S. Supreme Court as a last resort.

These youth plaintiffs are among the youngest generation and most vulnerable citizens of our country, the lawmakers wrote in the brief. Since youth cannot vote, they depend upon each branch of government to act in their best interests when exercising authority. Sadly, at this time, each branch is betraying the intergenerational trust bestowed upon them for our Posterity in the face of the climate crisis.

Olson argued that the three-judge panel in May wrongly denied oral arguments by the plaintiffs and acted incorrectly in ordering an immediate dismissal of the case rather than issuing an opinion, effectively denying the plaintiffs their right to an appeal.

The courts obscure legal tactics prevent young people from accessing justice, she said in a news release. Not only is this an injustice to the 21 young people who have fought for nearly 10 years, but the courts order cheapens the integrity of the judicial process.

The post Oregon Democrats join 40 federal lawmakers urging rehearing on landmark youth climate case appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Orlando, NYC, Boston: Here are Nashville flights for $100 or less round trip in July 2024

July is the height of the summer travel season. But even in this busy time, bargains on airfare out of Nashville International Airport can still be found.

The online travel agency Hopper found nine roundtrip domestics flights out of Nashville in July for $100 or less. The cheapest flight in July is a $60 roundtrip flight to Orlando, Florida.

A Southwest Airlines flight lands at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

In May, Hopper found a dozen flights out of Nashville for $100 or less, while the month before there were 14.

Looking for a last minute international flight out of Nashville in July? The cheapest roundtrip flights are to Reykjavik, Iceland for $629, Dublin, Ireland for $672 and Paris, the site of the Summer Olympics, for $782.

Where is the cheapest place to fly right now?

Tickets to Florida are some of the best deals out of Nashville in July, according to Hopper. Along with the $60 flights to Orlando, Hopper found roundtrip tickets to both Fort Lauderdale and Miami for $70.

Do you prefer colder climes during the summer? Tickets to Boston could be found for as low as $72 and Denver for $95.

Be aware that discount airlines like Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit, which often have the lowest fares, also charge fees that can add up to significant costs for carry-on bags as well as checked bags, seat assignments and other amenities. New rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation that go into effect this fall will require airlines to be more transparent about fees.

Cheap places to fly out of Nashville in July 2024

These are the cheapest roundtrip flights out of Nashville in July that Hopper could find:

Orlando, Florida: $60

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: $70

New York City: $70

Miami: $70

Boston: $72

Dallas: $72

Chicago: $77

Newark, New Jersey: $80

Denver: $95

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville flights: Dallas, Miami, Chicago for $100 or less July 2024
OSU star running back arrested on DUI charge

CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  Oklahoma State Universitys star running back was arrested by Oklahoma Highway Patrol on charges including DUI early Sunday morning.

Ollie Gordon II. Photo courtesy Cleveland County Jail.

According to an affidavit, Ollie Gordon II was stopped by an OHP trooper at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 30, after the trooper reportedly clocked Gordons car going 82 mph on I-35 southbound near SW 19th Street. The posted speed limit in that are is 65 mph.

When the trooper approached Gordons car during the traffic stop, he allegedly smelled strongly of alcohol and was asked by the trooper to come back to the patrol car.

4-year-old in critical condition after accidental shooting in NE OKC

The affidavit says Gordon denied drinking any alcohol before driving, but said his friends had been drinking. Gordon allegedly refused to take a sobriety test before admitting to having one drink.

After reportedly telling the trooper he had open containers in his car, the trooper found two bottles of liquor in the car.

Gordon then allegedly refused to take a sobriety test again, and was arrested on charges of DUI under 21 years of age, transporting open containers of alcohol, failure to maintain a single lane of traffic, and speeding 16 to 20 mph over the speed limit.

Gordon was booked into the Cleveland County Jail following his arrest, and blew a 0.11 and 0.10 during a breathalyzer test, according to the affidavit.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MIAMI, Okla.  An autopsy report shows an Ottawa County man fatally shot during an argument tested positive for drugs and alcohol.

Matthew Vincent Locastro, 27, of Miami, died on Jan. 5 from a gunshot wound to his head. The manner of death is listed as a homicide, according to the nine-page autopsy report released June 13.

Travis Wilbur

Travis Christian Wilbur, 34, is charged in Ottawa County District Court with first-degree murder in Locastros death. Online court records show that he remains in the Ottawa County jail and is being held without bond.

Locastros toxicology report shows he tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine and his blood alcohol level registered at .18, which is over twice the legal limit in Oklahoma.

Court records show Locastro was shot in the left eye and the autopsy report spells out the path of the fatal bullet.

A gunshot wound was visible to the left temple with the projectile passing through the skin, soft tissue, skull and brain exiting the right occipital and rupturing the globe of the left eye, before exiting the body, the autopsy report states.

There are lacerations and contusions to the area, the autopsy states.

Wilbur confessed to police he shot Locastro in self-defense.

Before the shooting, Wilbur said Locastro hit him with a gun, or his fist and their fight continued outside the garage. Wilbur claims the fight ended up in the alley where Wilburs truck was parked and as the two men were wrestling over a gun, the weapon discharged, according to an arrest affidavit.

LocastroDownload

Wilbur has claimed he is immune from prosecution under Oklahomas Castle Doctrine. The statute, 21-1289.25, reads in part:

B. Any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, including but not limited to deadly force, against another person who has made an unlawful entry into that dwelling, and when the occupant has a reasonable belief that such other person might use any physical force, no matter how slight, against any occupant of the dwelling.

In Wilburs case, his attorney argues it was Locastro who entered Wilburs friends garage and assaulted Wilbur, with an object that turned out to be a gun. His attorney filed a Motion for Immunity from Prosecution on June 6, 2024, and has requested a hearing on the matter.

Section C. of Oklahomas Castle Doctrine states, Any occupant of a dwelling using physical force, including but not limited to deadly force, pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of this section, shall have an affirmative defense in any criminal prosecution for an offense arising from the reasonable use of such force and shall be immune from any civil liability for injuries or death resulting from the reasonable use of such force.

Wilbur is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 18, but his attorney has requested a separate hearing on his Motion for Immunity because he believes the case should be dismissed prior to any preliminary hearing occurs.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
3,171 convicts released on parole have arrived at the military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to serve in the military under contract.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine with reference to the Office of the Prosecutor General

Quote: "As of 27 June 2024, the courts adopted 3,424 petitions of the relevant category, and 3,171 people arrived at the military unit."

The agency reported that penitentiary institutions prepared 3,822 petitions for the release of paroled convicts for contract military service.

3,632 of these petitions have already been sent to the courts, of which 3,424 have been adopted.

Background:

On 13 March 2024, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) registered a legislative initiative to amend governing parole to undergo military service under a contract during a specific period.

On May 8, the Verkhovna Rada backed a draft law in the second reading that provides for the voluntary mobilisation of certain categories of convicts.

On 17 May, President Zelenskyy signed the bill into law.

On 29 May, the Ministry of Justice reported that the first convicts to join the Armed Forces are currently undergoing training, and some have already distinguished themselves by capturing Russian soldiers.

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BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- China and Switzerland on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding and agreed to officially start negotiations for the upgrade of the Sino-Swiss free trade agreement (FTA) as soon as possible, according to Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao held talks with Swiss Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, also head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research on Monday, discussing the robust development of Sino-Swiss economic and trade relations.

Wang highlighted the close economic ties and strong complementarity between the two nations, and the positive impact of the bilateral FTA over the past decade on trade and investment growth.

The Chinese side expressed its willingness to work with Switzerland to implement the important economic and trade consensus reached by the leaders of both countries.

Wang called for the swift initiation of negotiations to upgrade the Sino-Swiss FTA, aiming to enhance the quality of bilateral economic cooperation.

He also urged the Swiss side to maintain free trade principles, oppose protectionism and unilateralism, and continue to provide a fair and open investment environment for Chinese enterprises.

Parmelin, acknowledging China as one of Switzerland's most important trading partners, praised the positive role of the Swiss-Sino FTA and expressed the Swiss business community's anticipation for its upgrade.

He said, as an open economy, Switzerland had consistently opposed protectionism and restrictions on trade cooperation, and expressed Switzerland's willingness to strengthen cooperation with China in regulatory policies and intellectual property protection to create a fair and non-discriminatory business environment.

The meeting was attended by nearly 30 representatives from Swiss business associations such as the Swiss Business Federation, Swissmem, and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, as well as companies including Nestle, Novartis, and Glencore.

Switzerland is China's sixth largest trading partner in Europe, and China is Switzerland's largest trading partner in Asia. In 2023, the trade volume between China and Switzerland was 59.5 billion U.S. dollars, of which exports to Switzerland were 5.74 billion U.S. dollars, and imports from Switzerland were 53.76 billion U.S. dollars.

Trade between the two countries reached 16.76 billion U.S. dollars during the first two months this year, up 90.3 percent year on year, official data showed. 
Owner feels left in the dark after dog dies at daycare

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  There are disturbing allegations surrounding a popular business catering to pets. The posts on social media have been circulating after Lindsey Walton posted that her dog died while at Puppy Paws Hotel & Spa last week.

Walton took her four dogs there to keep them out of the heat after they lost power from the storm.

Two men charged in street racing crash that killed 26-year-old Moore woman

A day later, she got a phone call she never expected.

About 26 hours later is when they called and said he was found unresponsive in his room, said Lindsey Walton, whos dog died at Puppy Paws Hotel & Spa.

Walton said her dog, Sawyer, was six years old.

Now, shes been trying to get answers on what happened from Puppy Paws, but isnt getting anywhere.

Ive asked for that and camera footage, which they will not provide to me, said Walton.

So, she reached out online for help.

Her social media posts garnered hundreds of comments with some people replying theyve also had issues with Puppy Paws in the past.

Police investigating reported shooting at NE OKC home

One previous customer told News 4 he almost left with the wrong dog.

Obviously mistakes can happenthey did bring out a doodle, also a similar breed. But the doodle they brought was pure black. My dog is white, black and brown, said Chris Royce, who is no longer a customer at Puppy Paws Hotel & Spa.

Even past employees told News 4 they saw issues when they worked there.

They really pride themselves in providing a luxury daycare experience. But its really far from that. Overcapacity was an issue that I had brought up more than once, said Madison Mendoza, who no longer works at Puppy Paws Hotel & Spa.

They would be standing outside all day and the heat and extreme cold, said Linda Crider, who also no longer works at Puppy Paws Hotel & Spa.

Puppy Paws Hotel & Spa sent News 4 the following statement.

Puppy Paws has been serving Edmond and Oklahoma City families for 18 years. We strive to maintain strong partnerships with local veterinarians and assistant vet technicians across the metroplex. When Sawyers medical event occurred, a certified vet assistant was present and able to immediately respond, provide care, and transport Sawyer to a local veterinarian. We at Puppy Paws are grieving because of the event and are working in a concerted effort with medical professionals, our staff, and others to determine what could have happened. Our understanding is that further testing is being performed by the owners through Oklahoma State University to assist in discovering why Sawyer had this medical crisis. We hope the results allow everyone to reconcile and process the grief associated with Sawyers passing. Chad and Stephanie Cramer, Puppy Paws owners

Lindsey still has questions, though.

It was like traumatizing because I have no answer. Im like, what do you mean? Hes a perfectly healthy dog. Theres no reason he should be unresponsive, like at all, said Walton.

Moore PD seek two men in connection with a stolen credit card case

Lindsey said she wants to warn others about her experience.

Shes also now filed a police report with Oklahoma City 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Owner of Henderson, Las Vegas salons owes ex-employees nearly $20K in unpaid wages: docs

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Documents 8 News Now obtained show a beauty salon owner in Las Vegas and Henderson owes her former employees nearly $20,000 in unpaid wages.

Jaymee Lawrence closed all five of her Fantastic Sams locations and is nowhere to be found.

Melissa Snyder worked for Lawrence at the 55 South Valle Verde Drive location in Henderson.

Snyder saw employees leaving.

Im beginning to see that they werent the problem, shes always been the problem, Snyder said.

Records from the state reveal what was the true problem.

Lawrence owes at least 17 of her former Fantastic Sams employees an estimated $19,500, according to documents from the Nevada Department of Labor.

Those records indicate that Lawrence owes Snyder $3,200.

Melissa Snyder worked for Lawrence at the 55 South Valle Verde Drive location in Henderson. Snyder saw employees leaving. Im beginning to see that they werent the problem, shes always been the problem, Snyder said. (KLAS)

Not a good business person. Not a good person at all, Snyder said.

Snyder also worked at the Fantastic Sams on 9775 Maryland Parkway.

According to a document dated May 7, Lawrence owed $11,500 in rent at that location.

Her former employees complained to the Nevada Department of Labor, and shared text messages where they asked Lawrence, We getting paid today?

Another text message stated, My rent is due. I dont have an alternate source of income.

A document showed the Nevada State Labor Commissioner fined Lawrence $10,000 on June 12.

Among the many statutes shes accused of violating, the commissioner threatened to refer the matter to the Nevada Attorney General for criminal prosecution for Lawrence failing to pay her employees and not providing advance notice of the closures.

As for Snyder, shes renting a chair at Elements Salon located on Water Street near Ocean Avenue in Henderson and loves her new shop.

I dont have to worry about anybody paying me. I dont have to worry about, Oh my gosh am I going to get paid on Friday? Or anything like that, because I am my own boss, she said.

8 News Now reached out to Lawrence multiple times for answers.

In a text message requesting a response, Lawrence wrote, You have the wrong number.

The number was shared to 8 News Now by a family member who requested anonymity.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Wood table top with blur of people in coffee shop or restaurant, nightclub, pub on background.

(Getty Images)

With budget talks ongoing, lawmakers have found something they can largely agree on.

The Pennsylvania Senate voted almost unanimously on Tuesday to make COVID-era regulations on outdoor seating for bars and restaurants permanent.

The changes to outdoor seating regulation date back to 2020, when much of the country was shut down and the CDC advised only gathering outdoors with 6 feet of distance. Many states, including Pennsylvania, created exemptions to regulations that would allow bars and restaurants to seat people outdoors, to safely maintain their business.

House Bill 829 would make those changes permanent.

These outdoor extension areas were a lifeline, said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), in support of the bill. Restaurants found that these extensions were popular with customers and helped with their bottom line.

The bill will also allow bars and restaurants to offer happy hour discounts up to 24 hours a week, instead of 14.

The legislation passed the Senate 47-3. It had already passed the House, but it will need another vote in that chamber after a technical amendment was made in the Senate.

The post Pa. Senate votes to make COVID-era outdoor seating regulations permanent, allow more happy hour appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Insights from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Financial Times

The News

Thousands of Palestinians fled parts of Khan Younis Tuesday after Israels military ordered a mass evacuation, signaling the possibility of a ground assault in Gazas second-largest city.

While Israel hasnt said whether it will send forces back to the southern Gaza city, it struck parts of the city overnight, targeting areas from which Palestinian group Islamic Jihad had fired a volley of about 20 rockets into Israel on Monday.

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Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Thousands fleeing as hospitals, shelters push to evacuate

Sources: BBC, Al Jazeera

The evacuation order covers about 250,000 Palestinians, the UN said, and people  including patients and medical staff from the European Gaza hospital  have been fleeing however they can. We no longer know where we should go next? We have no other choice now but to die in our homes because there is no place left that we have not been displaced to, one Palestinian told the BBC. The evacuation order has put people in a harrowing, horrific, and incredibly difficult situation, a UN official told Al Jazeera, as many Palestinains, already displaced multiple times, are once more forced to flee into overcrowded, under-resourced humanitarian zones.

Israeli military wants a ceasefire in Gaza

Sources: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal

Israels military leadership wants a truce in Gaza, even if Hamas is not defeated, The New York Times reported  a stance in direct opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus stated goal of dismantling the militant group entirely. Israels generals are worried that the potential for a conflict with Hezbollah would mean sending exhausted troops straight from Gaza into a far more deadly war on Israels northern border. The military has also warned that Hamas cannot be destroyed outright. Ultimately, tensions between the military and Netanyahus Office are at a record high, a retired Israeli general told The Wall Street Journal.

Israel floats post-war model for humanitarian enclaves

Source: Financial Times

Israel is preparing to pilot Hamas-free humanitarian enclaves in Gaza as a potential post-war solution, the Financial Times reported. The plan relies on the Israeli military cooperating with local Palestinians to distribute aid and manage security in specific neighborhoods in northern Gaza, with the bubbles eventually expanding to other parts of Gaza. The proposal has been met with skepticism, and people familiar with the plan say that Israeli efforts to identify local partners have floundered. We already tried this in three different parts of central and north Gaza, including with local clans. They were all either beaten up or killed by Hamas, a former senior Israeli official said.
Palestinians mourn a child relative at the Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah who was killed in Israeli bombardments in the central Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

At least 31 people have been killed in the latest Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian reports on Tuesday.

Seventeen Palestinians died in the city of Gaza alone, medical sources in the sealed-off coastal region said as Israeli forces continued their operations.

The information could not initially be independently verified. When asked, Israel's army said it was checking the reports.

According to medical sources, eight people were killed in attacks in the south of Gaza.

Israel's army said earlier it had attacked targets after rockets were fired at Israeli towns during the night. Residents of eastern parts of the city of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip had been ordered to leave the area.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack the previous day on Israeli border towns with around 20 rockets.

According to the Israeli army, fighting also continued in other parts of Gaza. The military reported the deaths of two soldiers in an operation in the area, while another was seriously injured.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza said at least 37,925 people have been killed and a further 87,141 injured in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war last October.

The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified.

The war in Gaza was triggered by the October 7 massacre of more than 1,200 people in southern Israel by gunmen of Hamas and allied militant groups.

Palestinians perform funeral prayer for their relatives at the Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah who were killed in Israeli bombardments in the central Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Palestinians mourn the death of their relatives at the Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah who were killed in Israeli bombardments in the central Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Palestinians mourn a child relative at the Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah who was killed in Israeli bombardments in the central Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Palestinians perform funeral prayer for their relatives at the Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah who were killed in Israeli bombardments in the central Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
As more and more young people are becoming involved in violence across metro Atlanta, many parents are asking what can be done.

Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes sat down with a community advocate who has been protecting youth for years.

Bruce Griggs, the founder and director of one of the only youth violence protection agencies in the state, says he has an event in the works aimed at empowering young people.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

First thing you can do is get them involved in something positive, Griggs said.

Hes calling his event Operation Correct Start Street Academy.

Were losing these children and we almost have become desensitized to the problem that its not our family, its not touching us directly, we dont get involved, he said.

Early Tuesday morning, two 13-year-olds were shot and killed, and a 12-year-old was shot.

Griggs says that should be a wake-up call to those who think youth violence does not affect them.

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Find programs that deal with these kids anger, that deal with their fear, that deal with their pain because these are the things that are resulting in gun violence. Its a disease thats attacking our community, Griggs said.

He partnered with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to empower young people to make better decisions as they head back to school.

But its gonna take more than just the mayor and the commitment of the mayor and council, he said. we cant arrest ourselves out this problem. Its gonna take the schools, its gonna take individuals. But more than anything else, its gonna take the parents.

He is also challenging rappers, musicians, athletes and tech entrepreneurs who live in Atlanta to get more involved in changing childrens mindsets.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Memphis couple said their daughter was attending a high school graduation party at a short-term rental in the Cooper-Young area Sunday night when someone fired at the house, killing one person and injuring another.

Shooting in Midtown leaves man dead, woman injured

Gary Johnson said the party was for Overton High School grads, and his daughter planned to spend the night at the rental on Felix before someone drove by and opened fire. Police have since released video of a white 2012 Chevrolet Traverse fleeing the scene.

Johnson said he received a frantic call from his daughter around midnight.

She dived to the floor and called me, said Johnson. Screaming and hollering that someone was shooting, so I rushed over and saw all the chaos.

Johnson said his daughter was sitting on the front porch and noticed a vehicle circling the area and ran inside the house right before the shots were fired. He said his daughter didnt know the person who was killed, but her friend was wounded.

Its ridiculous. My daughter cant even have fun. Kids cant have fun, Johnson said. The Overton guys just graduated. Its crazy.

Neighbors say the home where the shooting took place has been a short-term rental for a while, but it has never been a problem before.

Johnson and his wife returned to the Cooper-Young house hours after the shooting to get their daughters purse and luggage, but no one was there. Someone had cleaned up and covered the glass in the front and side doors with moving blankets.

Over the last eight months, police have responded to at least a half dozen incidents at short-term rentals in the Midtown area, including two more deadly shootings.

Johnson said he thought his daughter was in a safe area. He said his daughter didnt know who rented the house for the night, and they were just grateful she wasnt hurt.

She woke up crying this morning, but shes all right, he said.

Airbnb told WREG that the property at this address had not been rented out via its platform when this incident happened.

WREG story archives show weve covered at least six shootings that involved parties at short-term rental houses in Midtown since October:

Oct. 15: 1 dead in shooting, 2100 block Madison

Nov. 8: 1 injured in shooting, 2000 block Carr

Jan. 1: 1 injured in shooting, 1000 block New York

Feb. 13: 1 dead in shooting, 2100 block of Harbert

March 16: 1 dead, 3 injured in shooting, 800 block of Roland

July 1: 1 dead, 1 injured in shooting, 2000 block Felix

If you have seen the vehicle in the video or have any information about the shooting, call Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A prayer for Leonard Peltier is sung to a drumbeat on June 20, 2024, outside the federal courthouse in Fargo, North Dakota. Demonstrators were calling for the release of Peltier, who was convicted at a trial in Fargo for the deaths of FBI agents in South Dakota in 1975. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

A prayer for Leonard Peltier is sung to a drumbeat on June 20, 2024, outside the federal courthouse in Fargo, North Dakota. Demonstrators were calling for the release of Peltier, who was convicted at a trial in Fargo for the deaths of FBI agents in South Dakota in 1975. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

A Native American man convicted of killing two FBI agents 49 years ago in South Dakota has lost what could be his final chance at parole, after widespread activism in support of his release.

Leonard Peltier, 79, is serving two consecutive life terms in prison and is reportedly in failing health. His latest parole hearing was last month, and he wont be eligible for parole again until June 2026.

Peltier is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. He was active in the American Indian Movement in 1975 when the shootings occurred.

According to the FBI, agents Ron Williams and Jack Coler were attempting to arrest a man on the Pine Ridge Reservation who was wanted for robbery. They pursued a vehicle containing several occupants, including Peltier, into an area of the reservation where the fatal shootout ensued.

AIM member Joseph Stuntz also died  from a shot by a law enforcement sniper, according to federal authorities. The lack of an investigation into Stuntzs death is one of numerous criticisms that has been leveled against the governments handling of the incident, the trial and Peltiers conviction.

Peltier has maintained his innocence, and numerous people and organizations have rallied to support his parole request. Amnesty International USAs executive director, Paul OBrien, said in a statement Tuesday that President Joe Biden should grant Peltier clemency and that continuing to keep Leonard Peltier locked behind bars is a human rights travesty.

Not only are there ongoing, unresolved concerns about the fairness of his trial, he has spent nearly 50 years in prison, is approaching 80 years old, and suffers from several chronic health problems, OBrien said.

NDN Collective, an Indigenous rights organization in Rapid City, released a statement from President and CEO Nick Tilsen.

Today is a sad day for Indigenous peoples and justice everywhere, Tilsen said. The U.S. Parole Commissions denial of parole for Leonard Peltier, Americas longest serving Indigenous political prisoner, is a travesty.

The FBI opposed Peltiers parole request. Director Christopher Wray wrote to the Parole Commission that Peltier is a remorseless killer who brutally murdered two of our own before embarking on a violent flight from justice.

Throughout the years, Peltier has never accepted responsibility or shown remorse, Wray wrote. He is wholly unfit for parole.

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A prayer for Leonard Peltier is sung to a drumbeat on June 20, 2024, outside the federal courthouse in Fargo, North Dakota. Demonstrators were calling for the release of Peltier, who was convicted at a trial in Fargo in the deaths of FBI agents in South Dakota in 1975. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

A Native American man convicted of killing two FBI agents 49 years ago in South Dakota has lost what could be his final chance at parole, after widespread activism in support of his release.

Leonard Peltier, 79, is serving two consecutive life terms in prison and is reportedly in failing health. His latest parole hearing was last month, and he wont be eligible for parole again until June 2026.

Peltier is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. He was active in the American Indian Movement in 1975 when the shootings occurred.

According to the FBI, agents Ron Williams and Jack Coler were attempting to arrest a man on the Pine Ridge Reservation who was wanted for robbery. They pursued a vehicle containing several occupants, including Peltier, into an area of the reservation where the fatal shootout ensued.

AIM member Joseph Stuntz also died  from a shot by a law enforcement sniper, according to federal authorities. The lack of an investigation into Stuntzs death is one of numerous criticisms that has been leveled against the governments handling of the incident, the trial and Peltiers conviction.

Peltier has maintained his innocence, and numerous people and organizations have rallied to support his parole request. Amnesty International USAs executive director, Paul OBrien, said in a statement Tuesday that continuing to keep Leonard Peltier locked behind bars is a human rights travesty.

Not only are there ongoing, unresolved concerns about the fairness of his trial, he has spent nearly 50 years in prison, is approaching 80 years old, and suffers from several chronic health problems, OBrien said.

NDN Collective, an Indigenous rights organization in Rapid City, released a statement from President and CEO Nick Tilsen.

Today is a sad day for Indigenous peoples and justice everywhere, Tilsen said. The U.S. Parole Commissions denial of parole for Leonard Peltier, Americas longest serving Indigenous political prisoner, is a travesty.

The FBI opposed Peltiers parole request. Director Christopher Wray wrote to the Parole Commission that Peltier is a remorseless killer who brutally murdered two of our own before embarking on a violent flight from justice.

Throughout the years, Peltier has never accepted responsibility or shown remorse, Wray wrote. He is wholly unfit for parole.

South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seth Tupper for questions: info@southdakotasearchlight.com. Follow South Dakota Searchlight on Facebook and X.

The post Parole denied for Indigenous activist convicted of killing FBI agents appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
People search for survivors from a collapsed building in Assiut, Egypt, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Haitham Albadry/Xinhua)

CAIRO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the collapse of a three-story building in Egypt's southern governorate of Assiut rose to 14, while six other residents were injured, said a statement by local authorities on Tuesday.

The building collapsed in East Assiut district on Monday, and rescue teams have been searching for survivors over the past 24 hours, according to the statement issued by the media office of Assiut province.

Assiut Governor Essam Saad has arrived at the accident scene and ordered coordination with concerned authorities to ensure urgent financial assistance to the victims' families and all necessary support to the injured.

The governor also asked to form an engineering committee to check the collapsed building and the surrounding ones, find out the causes of the collapse, and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of nearby houses, the statement said.

"The neighboring houses were inspected to ensure their safety, and some of the damaged houses were evacuated, and the necessary urgent measures were taken to preserve the lives of citizens," said the media office. 

People search for survivors from a collapsed building in Assiut, Egypt, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Haitham Albadry/Xinhua)

People search for survivors from a collapsed building in Assiut, Egypt, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Haitham Albadry/Xinhua)

People search for survivors from a collapsed building in Assiut, Egypt, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Haitham Albadry/Xinhua)

People search for survivors from a collapsed building in Assiut, Egypt, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Haitham Albadry/Xinhua)
FILE - An unidentified FBI agent, one of the nearly 500 current and retired FBI agents protesting clemency for Leonard Peltier, marches toward the White House, Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, holding an image of two FBI agents, Ron Williams and Jack Coler, who were killed on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota in 1975. Peltier, who has spent most of his life in prison for the killings, has a parole hearing Monday, June 10, 2024, at a federal prison in Florida. (AP Photo/Hillery Smith Garrison, File)

Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who has spent most of his life in prison since his conviction in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents in South Dakota, has been denied parole.

The U.S. Parole Commission said in a statement Tuesday announcing the decision that he won't be eligible for another parole hearing until June 2026. Peltier is serving life in prison for the killing the agents during a standoff on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He was convicted in 1977.

His attorney, Kevin Sharp, a former federal judge, vowed to appeal. He had argued that Peltier was wrongly convicted and that the health of the 79-year-old was failing.

This decision is a missed opportunity for the United States to finally recognize the misconduct of the FBI and send a message to Indian Country regarding the impacts of the federal governments actions and policies of the 1970s," he said in a statement.

The fight for Peltiers freedom is embroiled in the Indigenous rights movements. Nearly half a century later, his name remains a rallying cry and Free Peltier T-shirts are hawked online.

The way they have treated Leonard is the way they have treated Indigenous people historically throughout this country," said Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of the NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy group. That is why Indigenous people and oppressed people everywhere see a little bit of ourselves in Leonard Peltier. Although today is a sad day, we are not going to stop fighting.

The FBI and its current and former agents dispute the claims of innocence.

They were down, they were wounded, they were helpless and he shot them point blank," said Mike Clark, president of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. "It is a heinous crime.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement that justice continues to prevail. And Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, described Peltier in a statement as an unremorseful murderer.

We believe this decision upholds justice for our fallen colleagues and their families, the statement said.

An enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota, Peltier was active in the American Indian Movement, which began in the 1960s as a local organization in Minneapolis that grappled with issues of police brutality and discrimination against Native Americans. It quickly became a national force.

Tilsen, a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, credits AIM and others for most of the rights Native Americans have today, including religious freedom and the ability to operate casinos and tribal colleges and enter into contracts with the federal government to oversee schools and other services.

AIM grabbed headlines in 1973 when it took over the village of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation, leading to a 71-day standoff with federal agents. Tensions between AIM and the government remained high for years.

On June 26, 1975, agents came to Pine Ridge to serve arrest warrants amid battles over Native treaty rights and self-determination.

After being injured in a shootout, agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams were shot in the head at close range, Wray said. Also killed in the shootout was AIM member Joseph Stuntz. The Justice Department concluded that a law enforcement sniper killed Stuntz.

Two other AIM members, Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were acquitted of killing Coler and Williams.

After fleeing to Canada and being extradited to the United States, Peltier was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced in 1977 to life in prison, despite defense claims that evidence against him had been falsified.

Amnesty International has been among his backers, writing in a statement that keeping him locked up is a human rights tragedy.

His latest parole hearing was in June at a high-security lockup in Florida that is part of the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman. Afterward, his attorney, Sharp, said the commission was obligated legally to look forward, focusing on issues such as whether he is likely to commit another crime if he is released.

Relatives of the two agents have long argued that Peltier should remain behind bars. In a 2022 letter to Wray, Colers son Ronald Coler said the campaign for Peltier's release has been painful for the family.

Not only has my family suffered the loss of my father, but we have also been forced to endure the insult that Peltier has become a favorite cause and figurehead championed by Hollywood, the music industry, politicians and well-intentioned activists who assume or believe he is being punished unfairly, he wrote. Peltier allows himself to be celebrated thus. He knows his guilt.

Parole also was rejected at a hearing in 2009, and then-President Barack Obama denied a clemency request in 2017. Another clemency request is pending before President Joe Biden.

___

John Hanna contributed to this report from Topeka, Kansas. Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Peltiers parole hearing was in June, he wasnt last denied parole in June.
Is it any wonder Starmer appears to believe that, even in Number 10, his wellbeing ought to come before the job (or country)? - Kin Cheung/AP Pool

Shapeshifting Starmer is at it again. Having spent much of the campaign stressing his commitment to service and the need to put country first, the Labour leader has now suggested he would want to finish work at 6pm on Fridays pretty well come what may.

As commander-in-chief of the worlds sixth largest economy, its highly probable diary demands will limit sofa time spent with the family.

Running the country isnt a typical nine-to-five job. Margaret Thatcher famously slept only four hours a night. Rishi Sunak hasnt hesitated to remind us, in response to Sir Keir Starmers Virgin Radio interview, that he hasnt finished at 6pm ever.

In our modern economy, a shrinking number of jobs conform to normal working patterns. Just ask the junior doctors, who may find it a little easier to negotiate with Starmer now that he has made his own expectations around working conditions quite clear.

Some will sympathise with the Labour leaders insistence that clocking off relaxes him, and the implication that he can be a better decision-maker if he allows himself the space to be a dad and have fun with his kids. Judging by the outcry which has erupted over the past 12 hours, many more will raise an eyebrow.

But is it any wonder Starmer appears to believe that, even in Number 10, his wellbeing ought to come before the job (or country)?

After all, the warning signs have been flashing for some time: within 100 days of a Labour government Angela Rayner intends to set in motion legislation that will hand workers the biggest shake-up of their entitlements in a generation. An end to fire and rehire, restrictions on exploitative zero hours contracts, right to entitlements such as sick pay from day one of a new job.

The unions Labour intends to strengthen want to take this further. Unison has officially backed a four-day working week (with no loss of pay) while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has set out a roadmap to a 15-an-hour minimum wage for all (it is currently 11.44). Meanwhile the Labour Welsh government recently launched a universal basic income project (which will not be continued after the initial pilot ends in 2025 because of cost).

Underpinning all these demands and crackpot schemes is the idea that employers exist not to provide products and services which people want to buy or need to use  and in so doing creating wealth and jobs  but rather to enhance the contentment of the staff who work within them.

This is justified with the insistence, as Starmer hints at, that better conditions will boost output, but these claims arent grounded in the evidence. Productivity shrunk 0.3pc in the first quarter of this year. London suffered the biggest decline, which economists have attributed to remote working. Working zero days from the office, which you can see in the Civil Service, is just not working out, warns Adrian Pabst, of the NIESR.

Of course, there are some roles which can be performed as easily  if not better  from home, or the beach or with irregular hours. But we shouldnt forget that all labour market regulation comes at a cost: were this not the case, compulsion wouldnt be needed, as some employers would experiment by offering cost-neutral variations in working arrangements which better suited workers. Workers rights have become a one-sided bargain, but what of the needs of business owners who are already drowning in red tape?

And as we toy with the idea of implementing shorter working weeks or a right to disconnect, in Greece workers have been told they can put in a sixth day of labour in a move designed to turbocharge productivity  rather putting our work ethic to shame.

Despite our economic stagnation, flatlining productivity and declining living standards, the Labour Party appears to believe we can indulge the needs and wishes of our increasingly entitled workforce. Britain is getting poorer and the example Starmer intends to set will do little to quell concerns that he has no clue how to go for growth.

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By Alexandre Lago

NATAL, Brazil (Reuters) -Passengers from an Air Europa flight diverted to northeastern Brazil due to severe turbulence on Monday said they feared for their lives during the incident which injured around 40 people, four of whom were taken to intensive care units.

"There are passengers with fractures and injuries to their arms, faces, and legs," one passenger told Reuters in the Brazilian city of Natal, where flight UX045 from Madrid to the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo, made an unscheduled landing just after 2.30 a.m. local time (0530 GMT).

"It was a pretty horrible feeling. We thought we were going to die there," said the man, Stevan, giving only his first name.

Another passenger, Maximiliano, said the plane - a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 325 passengers on board - had suddenly started to plunge.

"From one moment to the next, the plane destabilized and went into a dive," he said. "The people who didn't have seat belts went up in the air and hit the ceiling, and they got hurt - those who had seat belts on, not so much."

Air Europa said in a statement on Tuesday that six people were still in hospital in Natal and were being assisted by ground personnel from Brazil and Spain.

"Air Europa deeply regrets what happened, as well as the inconvenience caused to its customers. The airline hopes for a speedy recovery of the affected passengers and is at the disposal of all its customers to assist them," the airline added.

The secretariat from the government of Rio Grande do Norte state, where Natal is located, said on Tuesday that four people had been taken to intensive care units, from a total of 40 passengers that had been sent to hospitals, up from some 30 initially reported on Monday.

Air Europa said a replacement flight to take the passengers on to Montevideo had left earlier in the day, with passengers transported from Natal to Recife's larger airport by bus.

It added that the aircraft was being reviewed to establish the extent of the damage.

The airline did not immediately respond to a request for further comment about the incident, which took place less than two months after a passenger died and dozens were hurt when turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore.

Some scientists have warned of worsening turbulence tied to climate change.

The most common cause of turbulence are unstable weather patterns that trigger storms. These can normally be detected by weather radar, allowing pilots to fly around them.

Recent incidents have increased concern in the air travel industry about seat belt and safety practices.

An international agreement, the Montreal Convention, makes airlines liable for physical injuries from accidents on international flights, which can include turbulence, regardless of whether they were negligent.

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska in London, Emma Pinedo Gonzalez in Madrid and Gabriel Araujo in Sao Paulo, Writing by Joanna Plucinska; Editing by Christina Fincher and Stephen Coates)
(KRON)  It could be days, or even weeks, before full service is restored, according to an update Dublin-based credit union Patelco provided to customers Monday night following a security incident. The credit union announced on Saturday that its systems were experiencing a serious security incident, requiring many of its banking systems to be shut down.

On Monday, Patelco confirmed that it had suffered a ransomware attack.

The security incident was confirmed today to be a ransomware attack and one of the top cybersecurity forensic firms continues to help us investigate and recover as soon as possible, Patelco said in an email to customers.

Elderly woman dies after being pushed into BART train, suspect arrested

The credit union assured customers that checks written from accounts would be paid as usual, but that there could be a delay in accounts being debited. Transactions initiated at other banks or credit unions, such as ACH transfers, would also be processed as usual, although again, delays in crediting/debiting accounts were possible.

ACH debits initiated by billers, such as utility bills, would also be processed as usual.

Rent checks and mortgage payments paid by personal check from Patelco checking accounts would be processed as usual, Patelco said, with a possible delay in accounts being debited.

The credit union also assured customers it would reimburse them for any late fees, waive overdraft, late payment and ATM fees, and write letters on customers behalf if the disruption impacted their credit scores.

As a result of the attack, electronic transfers, direct deposits, and balance inquiries remain unavailable. Debit and credit card transactions are functioning in a limited capacity, ACH transfers or bill payments established with Patelco accounts wont be processed.

Direct deposits will be processed before any withdrawals. Customers can access direct deposit funds by writing a check, using an ATM card to get cash, or making a purchase.

The credit union has also created a dedicated web page on the security-related outage.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that this cyber-attack has caused for our members, Patelco said. We truly appreciate your patience and support during this difficult time.

The next few days  and coming weeks  may present challenges for our members, as we continue to navigate around the limited functionality we are experiencing due to this incident, Patelco continued. Please know we have a talented, experienced team of experts working alongside our team to help us recover.

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Indiana's new managed care program, PathWays for Aging, officially launched Monday. (Getty Images)

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) on Monday announced its PathWays for Aging program launched for more than 123,000 eligible Hoosiers aged 60 and over.

This is an exciting day for Indiana as we go live with this transformative program, Indiana Medicaid Director Cora Steinmetz said. We thank our partners across the state who have been instrumental in helping us design a program that will make a difference for this population, and the state.

FSSA said PathWays for Aging is a Medicaid managed care program designed to improve the health and wellbeing of the Hoosiers it serves, provide choice for those members who want to age in their homes or communities, and better manage the rising costs of providing Medicaid coverage to the aging population.

This becomes the states fourth managed care program in addition to the Healthy Indiana Plan, Hoosier Healthwise and Hoosier Care Connect.

Before PathWays, the aging individuals on Medicaid had to navigate a complicated healthcare and supports system on their own, FSSA Secretary Dr. Dan Rusyniak said. Now, individuals need only one point of contact for assistance, making it easier for more Hoosiers to stay in their homes, surrounded by family and friends.

Managed Care Entities (MCEs) will now administer long-term supports and services, meaning the state will pay a flat rate to cover member health benefits rather than individually paying for claims. On PathWays, individuals contact a care coordinator who can help them access services or find other resources to meet their needs.

I am glad to hear that FSSA has heard from people who are having success and no issues with the transition taking place today with the new waivers, said Kim Dodson, CEO at Arc of Indiana. However, we know there are some individuals and families in our state who are not having success and remain concerned about how they or their loved one will continue to get important services.

She said some families have yet to hear from their care manager, dont have a transition plan approved, or didnt hear from their provider on how to log in to start structured family caregiving.

The crisis of a workforce shortage has plagued our state for several years and we should be looking for ways to resolve this conference  allowing legally responsible individuals to provide necessary and appropriate care should be allowed under guidelines and restrictions, Dodson said.

Waiver services also change

July 1 also marks the end of the Aged and Disabled Waiver. Two new waivers, the PathWays Waiver for individuals aged 60 and older and the Health and Wellness Waiver for individuals 59 and younger, will provide home and community-based services to eligible Hoosiers who need nursing facility level of care.

Per the federal approvals, both waivers have a designated number of slots available:

PathWays for Aging Waiver: 39,842 slots, of which 29,268 are filled by Hoosiers already receiving services. 10,574 slots will remain for newly eligible individuals.

Health and Wellness Waiver: 16,127 slots, of which 13,190 are filled by Hoosiers already receiving services. 2,937 slots will remain for newly eligible individuals.

A slot can only be used by one person during the July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 waiver year. The slot cannot be re-used by a different person if a member no longer needs services, like if the member moves out of state.

In April, FSSA established a waiting list for the former Aged and Disabled Waiver. Beginning this month, the agency will begin inviting eligible individuals on the waiting list to continue the process to access either the PathWays Waiver or Health and Wellness Waiver.

At this time, 9,015 people are on the waiting list for the PathWays Waiver, and 3,762 are on the waiting list for the Health and Wellness Waiver.

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Dodson said there are real concerns with the health and wellness waiver waiting an estimated 30 months for services. She said this is because only 125 people will be targeted to transition per month.

The state used to target 300 people per month on the Family Support Waiver  This is concerning as people who are in need of services will not have access for nearly 3 years. We do not want to see moved into nursing homes or group homes because HCBS waiver services are not available, she said.

No waitlist will exist for the overall PathWays program; only individuals eligible for waiver services under PathWays may be placed on a waitlist.

Structured care move

Also starting Monday, legally responsible individuals are no longer permitted to provide attendant care. Two options were offered: Structured Family Caregiving or Attendant Care from a caregiver who is not a legally responsible individual.

This change saves the state money but has been opposed by parents of medically complex disabled children who cant find nurses or home health aides to provide all the needed care.

More than 1,700 members, or the vast majority of those affected, had completed a newly approved service plan and can begin their new services. After July 1, all Health and Wellness waiver members 17 and younger who select Structured Family Caregiving for the first time will be assessed by care managers to determine the appropriate tier of service. Families who transitioned to Structured Family Caregiving before the July 1 start were placed in a tier based on the Attendant Care hours they were already utilizing.

In mid-2025, a new Structured Family Caregiving Level of Service Assessment will be in place.

Rusyniak acknowledged that some families will be paid less than they were under the previous attendant care program but said the state has to balance state fiscal constraints with members needs.
Palestinian patients transferred from the European Hospital to Nasser Hospital after the Israeli army's evacuation order of the eastern part of Khan Younis

Palestinian patients transferred from the European Hospital to Nasser Hospital after the Israeli army's evacuation order of the eastern part of Khan Younis

GENEVA (Reuters) -Gaza's European Hospital in Khan Younis is virtually empty with staff and patients fleeing the facility after the Israeli army ordered residents in the surrounding areas to evacuate, a World Health Official spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Thousands of Palestinians, many of them already displaced multiple times in the more than eight-month conflict, have fled parts of southern Gaza since Monday amid Israeli bombardments.

"The hospital staff and the patients decided to already evacuate themselves," said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territories, adding that just three patients remained. "We plea the European Gaza hospital will be spared, will be non-damaged," he told the U.N. press briefing, speaking by video link from Jerusalem.

An Israeli defence official said that although evacuation orders had been issued for the area in which the hospital is located, staff and patients were told they could stay.

We didn't give them any order to evacuate. So patients and the medical teams can stay over there. It's safe for them," said Colonel Elad Goren of COGAT, the Israeli Defence Ministry agency that coordinates with the Palestinians in a phone briefing with reporters.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which had a medical team in the hospital, including surgeons, is moving its team and patients to a field hospital in Rafah-Mawasi, it said in a statement.

"As evacuations continue to affect so many people, it is critical that safe transport for those who are disabled, the elderly, and the sick is provided," it said.

(Reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva and Emily Rose in Jerusalem: Editing by Madeline Chambers and Sharon Singleton)
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An El Paso woman was arrested after she falsely reported that her child was missing on Sunday, June 30, according to El Paso Police.

Police say Stacie Dashay Marie Smith, 19, is facing a charge of false alarm or report after she provided a fake name of a child in order for police to locate her friends stolen car quicker.

Police say on Sunday afternoon, they received a call about a reported vehicle theft.

Smith then placed a second call to 911, stating that her child was missing and that she believed whoever had taken her friends vehicle had also taken the child, according to police.

Police say officers at the scene met with the person who initially reported the theft along with Smith and eventually ended up finding the vehicle. However, the child was still missing.

Crimes Against Persons then were called in to assist in the investigation which revealed that the child did not exist.

Smith was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $5,000 bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  The pedestrian who was struck and killed by a vehicle Tuesday morning on a local interstate has been identified.

It happened just before 11:30 a.m. on the off-ramp of Interstate 480 West to Transportation Boulevard, according to Garfield Heights Police Chief Mark Kaye.

The victim was identified as 55-year-old Maurice Montgomery of Garfield Heights, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office said.

He was reportedly found in the road.

Family sues after little girl drowns in unsupervised hotel pool

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The incident is still under investigation and no other information has been released. It was not clear why the man was in the roadway.

Standoff in local neighborhood ends in two arrests

As of Monday, July 1, there have been 12 crashes involving pedestrians on Cuyahoga Countys portion of I-480 in the last five years, according to crash statistics from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. One of those crashes in 2021 was fatal.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Pennsylvania Governor signs six bills into law; what are they?

Pennsylvania Governor signs six bills into law; what are they?

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Governor Josh Shapiro signed six bills into law on Monday. What are they, and what do they do?

House Bill 73, introduced by Rep. Joe Kerwin (R-Dauphin), directs PennDOT to create a license plate for veterans who served in Operation Inherent Resolve, the battle against the Islamic State overseas.

READ MORE > Pennsylvania legislator deployed with National Guard has bill signed into law

House Bill 797, introduced by Rep. Brett Miller (R-Lancaster), requires PennDOT to plant native vegetation along state highways.

Through the years non-native plants have been introduced throughout the state with some of them becoming noxious and invasive resulting in substantial disruption to the states ecosystem, Miller said in his sponsorship memorandum. Plants that are native to Pennsylvania are naturally part of the state eco-system and their use throughout the Commonwealth helps to maintain the environmental balance that has been developed over many years. 

PennDOT will be required to develop a list of native species that can be used in roadside work throughout the state.

House Bill 1490, sponsored by Rep. Pat Gallagher (D-Philadelphia), amends and modernizes the Acupuncture Licensure Act.

Acupuncture, while ancient in its origins, has become a fast-growing and increasingly mainstream therapy for people suffering from pain, inflammation, musculoskeletal conditions and various diseases, Gallagher said in his sponsorship memorandum. The practice has grown steadily in the United States for the last 50 years and has become a vital part of an integrated approach to health care.

House Bill 1754, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna), would increase access to biomarker testing and require state-regulated insurance companies to cover such testing when supported by medical and scientific evidence.

The field of precision medicine holds great promise for Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvanias health care systems because it will help ensure the delivery of effective and efficient treatment for a patient at the earliest possible time, Mullins wrote. Increasing access to precision medicine avoids treatment or treatment plans that may cause physical or financial detriment. Precision medicine also maximizes the efficient use of medical staff and resources which are already over extended.

House Bill 1760, sponsored by Rep. Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery), will bar elder abusers from benefiting from the estate of the abused.

The addition of these provisions will bar elder abusers from benefiting from the estate of the abused elder, unless the victim of the abuse knew of the conviction, but still ratified their intent to transfer property, benefit, or interest to the abuser, or if the victim and abuser reconciled following a conviction of elder abuse, Hanbidge wrote.

Senate Bill 1084, sponsored by Senator Greg Rothman (R-Dauphin/Cumberland/Perry), updates and modernizes the Uniform Commercial Code to provide clear and uniform rules to govern digital asset transactions.

The UCC provides commercial law rules for broad categories of transactions and has been adopted in every state since Pennsylvania led the initiative in 1954, Rothman wrote. Today, the UCC provides clear and consistent guidance for interstate commerce, giving Americans legal confidence when transacting business with strangers. The UCC also preserves the primacy of state law to govern private commercial transactions as an alternative to ever expanding federal preemption.

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The last major revisions to the UCC took effect in 2001. In the two decades since, commercial parties have more expansively begun utilizing electronic property, or digital assets, in commercial transactions, Rothman continued.

The bill establishes guidelines to govern transactions including assets such as virtual tokens, NFTs, and electronic accounts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Serbian Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Tomislav Momirovic has said that the free trade agreement (FTA) with China, which took effect Monday, will enhance trade, foster investment cooperation and integrate industrial chains, to ultimately maximize economic benefits for both nations and boost their international competitiveness. #XinhuaNews
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  A local State Representative is abroad, serving his country in the National Guard. Here at home, a bill he introduced to recognize fellow servicemembers and veterans has become law.

Representative Joe Kerwin (R-Dauphin), a National Guard Captain, was deployed to East Africa in December as part of Task Force Paxton. There, he is commanding an infantry company responsible for securing key American assets from terrorist threats, according to his office.

Pennsylvania National Guard deployment ceremony held in Harrisburg

While he hasnt been on the house floor for votes, a piece of legislation he sponsored was signed into law Monday by Governor Josh Shapiro.

House Bill 73 creates a license plate for veterans who served in Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led battle against the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria, and Libya.

The bill will direct PennDOT to create a registration plate for these veterans to proudly display their service on their vehicles, the sponsorship memorandum reads.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Pentagon has no evidence of North Korea sending its troops to Ukraine

The US Department of Defence cannot confirm that North Korea might have sent its troops to Ukraine to participate in the war on Russias side.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the briefing of Sabrina Singh, spokesperson of the Pentagon

Details: Singh was asked whether the Pentagon had any indication that Korea sent their troops to Ukraine to support Russia.

"We certainly know that North Korea is supporting Russia's efforts in Ukraine by supplying them with different military support, but I don't have anything for you on any specific troops going into Russia at this time," she noted.

Recently Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed an agreement which obliges each side to supply one another with immediate military aid in case armed aggression is unleashed against one of them.

After that Pat Ryder, spokesperson of the Pentagon, noted that a possible deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine is "something to keep an eye on".

"I think that if I were North Korean military personnel management, I would be questioning my choices on sending my forces to be cannon fodder in an illegal war against Ukraine. And we've seen the kinds of casualties that Russian forces [have suffered]," he said.

The US believes that North Korea might ask for technologies for improving long-range missiles and nuclear weapons from Russia in exchange for military aid from Pyongyang.

In his turn, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated that the agreement between Russia and North Korea demonstrates more and more alignment between authoritarian states and stresses the importance of unity between democracies.

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TAMPA, Fla.  Three years after launching an effort to help combatant commands adopt artificial intelligence tools and concepts, the Pentagon is crafting a long-term vision for the program.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks announced the AI and Data Acceleration initiative in May 2021, just months after she took office. The goal was to use experimentation and exercises to help combatant commands apply digital tools to operational concepts like joint all-domain command and control and other key functions, including maintenance and logistics.

As part of the effort, the department embedded teams of data scientists, engineers and coders in each of the 11 combatant commands. Those experts were tasked with assessing each commands digital readiness and providing feedback about where the Defense Department should invest to speed up their progress.

Radha Plumb, the Pentagons chief digital and AI officer, told C4ISRNET in a recent visit to U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Fla., the teams have been wildly successful  so much so that DoD leaders want to find the right model for making them a more permanent fixture.

Having this capability in the COCOMs with connectivity back to the Pentagon headquarters and [the Office of the Secretary of Defense] is really valuable for a lot of reasons  highlighting data blockers, identifying where there are priority needs that we need to accelerate or invest in at a central level, she said. Now, were working through what is the long-term model.

The initial funding for ADA ends this fiscal year, and the Pentagon plans to extend that through 2029 while it determines what a longer-term model might look like. The department requested $14 million for the program in its fiscal 2025 budget.

Plumb said shes in the early phases of developing that plan. Part of her reason for traveling to CENTCOM was to meet with their ADA team, get a sense for how theyre organized within the command and hear about their successes and their needs.

That effort involves understanding how ADA teams fit within a commands organizational construct, how big they are and how theyre being utilized. Those three areas, she said, will help the department determine how to manage and provide funding for the ADA hubs  whether through a centralized data team within CDAO, as it does today, or a different model.

Scaling tools

The team at CENTCOM is well integrated into the command, Plumb said. Since ADA began, theyve completed their readiness assessment and have worked with the innovation office and operators to create multiple AI and data tools.

Theyre building tools they can experiment with and can make them operational, she said. And then if they want to mature and scale them, we at CDAO can get pathways for them.

If the tools are adapted from commercial products, she said, that could mean finding resources to expand their use. For government-owned tools, CDAO may help provide the necessary authorizations to scale them more broadly.

Plumbs office recently announced a new approach to scaling AI and analytics tools across the department that could make this process easier for the ADA teams. The Open Data and Applications Government-owned Interoperable Repositories construct, or Open DAGIR, aims to help DoD and industry bring together data platforms, development tools and applications.

The effort focuses on three types of capabilities: mature applications that it wants to make buy enterprise licenses for; experimental apps that address high-priority needs but require funding to accelerate their development; and applications built within a combatant command.

While Open DAGIR is meant to provide a pathway to make digital tools more widely available, Plumb said shes heard from the ADA teams that data access is a significant roadblock.

One reason for that is DoDs own struggle to automate and centralize data. Having the ADA teams identify where those bottlenecks are and why that data is needed helps Plumb and her office know where to focus their efforts and devote more resources.

We have work to do, she said. The demand signal theyre creating, while it can be frustrating for them, gives us the signal and confidence we need to go and make those back end improvements.
The Nebraska State Capitol's west entrance. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Voters facing the final day of a busy election year for ballot initiatives in Nebraska are not taking the pressure tactics of some petition circulators quietly.

Nebraskans by Tuesday had filed at least 14 formal complaints against circulators with state election officials, driven largely by competing abortion-related initiatives.

One petition effort, Protect Our Rights, wants to put abortion rights in the state constitution. Two others, Protect Women and Children and Now Choose Life, take different approaches to restricting, limiting or banning abortions.

Its not unusual to get a few complaints about circulators, Secretary of State spokeswoman Jackie Ourada said. Other high-profile petitions  have garnered similar complaints.

Some paid circulators draw complaints

Political observers have seen more social media posts alleging bad behavior by circulators from some saying pushy people approached them in parking lots, on sidewalks and at home.

Others discussed petitioners not reading out loud the language of the petition before they signed, as required by law, or misleading them about what a petition would do.

Some have encouraged people to file with the Nebraska Secretary of States Office to remove their signatures from competing petitions, if they suspect they signed in error.

By 2 p.m. Tuesday, 133 people had filed to have signatures removed, state election officials say. Abortion-rights advocates say they turned in signature-removal affidavits for another 100 people late Tuesday.

The Secretary of States Office expects to update the official count Wednesday. Abortion opponents had no immediate comment.

Not the first time for removals

If the added signatures are confirmed, that would top the unusual pace set in 2023, when nearly 200 filed to remove their names from the petition to repeal the state tax credit for donors to scholarships for private K-12 schools.

The states figures from 2 p.m. Tuesday show 97 people filed affidavits to remove their signatures from the Protect Women and Children petition, 10 from Protect Our Rights and 10 from Now Choose Life.

Nine also sought to remove their names from a defunct petition effort called Nebraska Human Life Protection.

Allie Berry of Protect Our Rights said supporters of her abortion-rights initiative have faced a lot of misinformation and misrepresentation from people adjusting their messages to different audiences.

She urged people to consider whether they signed the initiative they support.

Brenna Grasz of Protect Women and Children said her petitioners read the object statement to voters and give them a handout saying what their abortion-capping initiative would do.

She said the effort to pull signatures sounds like a desperate last-ditch effort.

Among the other petitions, four sought to remove their names from the one seeking to adopt the EPIC Option consumption tax, which would replace property, income and corporate taxes, and three sought removal from the paid sick leave push. The state had received no affidavits about petitions seeking to legalize and regulate medical marijuana.

Affidavits must be returned by the end of the day the petition is turned in to the Secretary of States Office. Petitions are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Ballot initiatives seeking to change state law need about 87,000 signatures from registered voters spread throughout the state. Constitutional amendments need signatures from about 123,000 voters.

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The post People pulling names off Nebraska petitions in final drive for signatures appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Percentage of those supporting greater military assistance to Ukraine grows in US

Almost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States does not provide enough military assistance to Ukraine, and this share has increased since November last year.

Source: European Pravda, Pew Research Centre poll data, released on 2 July

Details: Approximately a quarter of interviewed Americans (24%) believe that the United States does not provide enough assistance to Ukraine, compared to 18% in November 2023, when the poll was conducted last time.

However, even more Americans (31%) believe that the United States provides too much assistance, and 25% believe that it provides enough assistance.

The United States appears to be the only place where there are significant ideological differences on this issue: 51% of Americans who identify as right-wing believe that the US provides too much support to Ukraine, compared to 13% of those who hold left-wing views.

Polls similar to the one in the US were conducted in Hungary, Turkiye and Poland.

The most common opinion in Hungary and Turkey is that their countries provide approximately enough support to Ukraine (61% and 46% respectively).

Opinions in Poland are split: almost equal shares of those polled believe that their country provides too much (44%) or enough (45%) assistance to Ukraine. Only 6% believe that Poland provides insufficient amounts of assistance to Ukraine.

Additionally, the Pew Research Centre poll found that the trust of people in a number of European countries and the United States in the Ukrainian president has decreased compared to last year.

Another poll showed earlier that half of Hungarians stand against the EU providing any assistance to Ukraine.

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Philippines to be 'relentless' in protecting interests in South China Sea, it says

FILE PHOTO: Aerial view of the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea

By Mikhail Flores and Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines and China agreed on Tuesday of the need to "restore trust" and "rebuild confidence" to better manage maritime disputes, even as Manila told its neighbour it will be "relentless" in protecting its interests in the South China Sea.

The Philippine foreign ministry said it had "frank and constructive" discussions with China on the South China Sea during the ninth round of talks under their Bilateral Consultation Mechanism, hosted by Manila.

The high-level meeting between senior foreign ministry officials followed what the Philippine military described as the "most aggressive" actions in recent history by China's Coast Guard against its vessels during last month's routine resupply mission that seriously injured a Filipino sailor.

"There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, the Vatican's foreign minister Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, called for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, including in the South China Sea, which China mostly claims as its own territory.

"We encourage parties in conflict to abide by international law," Gallagher, who is in Manila for an official visit, said in a joint press briefing with his Philippine counterpart.

Manila has sought wider international support on its maritime claims, seeking closer ties with countries to advocate for a rules-based order that recognises international law.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's expansive claims had no legal basis.

But China, which maintained that its actions in the South China Sea have been lawful and professional, has said that it does not accept any claim or action based on the ruling.

"The Philippines will be relentless in protecting interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea," the DFA said in the statement using the term Manila uses to refer to waters within its exclusive economic zone.

Manila and Beijing discussed their respective positions on the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines maintains a rusting warship manned by a small crew, that it beached in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claims.

The two sides, the DFA said "affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions."

"Both sides agreed to continue discussions to find mutually-acceptable resolution to the issues," the DFA said.

The Chinese side, including representatives from its coast guard, reiterated China's "sovereignty" over the Spratly Islands, including the Second Thomas Shoal and their adjacent waters, China's foreign ministry said in a statement.

It urged The Philippines to stop "maritime infringement and provocative actions", handle differences through dialogue, and work with China to cool down the situation and stabilise bilateral relations.

The Philippines and China have also agreed to explore a possible cooperation between their coast guards and a platform where scientists can collaborate.

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores and Karen Lema; Additional reporting by Beijing Newsroom;Editing by Ed Davies and Sharon Singleton)
The News

China and the Philippines agreed to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea following several direct confrontations between the Philippine Navy and the Chinese Coast Guard in recent weeks. Despite frank and constructive discussions in Manila on Tuesday, according to the Philippines foreign ministry, officials admitted that significant differences remain and did not outline specific actions to ease tensions.

China, which claims most of the sea as its maritime territory, has been using water cannons and military-grade lasers against Philippine Navy ships guarding disputed reefs, which experts have warned is bringing the world dangerously close to an armed conflict. Beijing is also testing the extent of Washingtons commitment to defend the Philippines as the US expands its military presence in the country.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Firefighters battled an attic fire in a Southeast Portland house late Tuesday morning.

The fire happened on Southeast 97th Avenue near Harold Street, according to Portland Fire & Rescue.

Man stabbed in face, neck after argument at North Portland apartment complex: court documents

The fire was primarily the homes attic space, but crews worked to extinguish the blaze from both below and above it in an effort to control it.

No injuries have been reported, according to PF&R.

Neighbors told KOIN 6 News the home was unoccupied at the time.

Smoke fills the air as crews battle a SE Portland house fire on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 (Credit: KOIN)

Firefighters seen on the roof of a SE Portland home, where fire officials say a fire was primarily contained to the attic space on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Credit: KOIN)

Firefighters seen on the roof of a SE Portland home, where fire officials say a fire was primarily contained to the attic space on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Credit: KOIN)

Flames from an attic space fire rip through the roof of a SE Portland home on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Credit: Portland Fire & Rescue)

Firefighters on the roof of a SE Portland home, where a fire was reported in the attic space. (Credit: Portland Fire & Rescue)

Crews at the scene of a SE Portland house fire, where the flames were primarily in the attic space, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Credit: Portland Fire & Rescue)

No other details about the fire 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 KOIN.com.
(Photo illustration by Getty Images)

The North Dakota Industrial Commission last week approved a pilot program to support the development of rural workforce housing.

The program is limited to North Dakota communities with 20,000 residents or fewer, according to an announcement from the commission.

It will be supported by up to $10 million from the Bank of North Dakota. The money will go toward financing new family housing, or to rehabilitate existing residences when it is more cost-effective than new construction.

The goal is to make housing less expensive to build in growing rural communities so its ultimately less expensive to rent to workers, according to the announcement.

To be eligible for the program, a North Dakota community must be experiencing workforce-related population growth. A community can be eligible if it has a new company that recently moved to town or an existing company that has recently expanded by more than 10 employees, according to the announcement.

The program requires the communitys local government and the expanding company to support the project.

Projects chosen for the program can receive financing of up to 20% of the project costs, up to $3.5 million, or a match that equals the contribution from a private company  whichever is less.

The new program will enable rural communities experiencing a rapid period of growth to partner with the company and the state to address employee housing needs, the commission said in a Wednesday statement.

The Industrial Commission comprises Gov. Doug Burgum, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.

The pilot program follows the creation of the Housing Initiative Advisory Committee by Burgum. The committee, dedicated to finding solutions to housing issues across the state, has been directed to put together policy recommendations for the 2025 Legislature.

The post Pilot program aims to spur workforce housing in rural North Dakota appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
ANKARA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appointed new health and environment ministers in a minor reshuffle of his cabinet early Tuesday.

According to the Official Gazette, Murat Kurum will replace Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Ozhaseki, who has tendered his resignation over health reasons.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca will be replaced by Kemal Memisoglu, who has served as head of the Istanbul provincial health directorate. 
U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) walks in the U.S. Capitol during a vote on July 21, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Some members of Maines congressional delegation are raising alarm of serious consequences to come from Mondays U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of immunity from criminal charges for some official actions taken by presidents, calling the ruling an undermining of the countrys founding principles.

However, Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine told Maine Morning Star he thinks judgment on whether the decision is flawed should be withheld until seeing how lower courts apply the framework.

The landmark 6-3 decision by the courts conservatives found that while U.S. presidents do not have immunity from criminal charges for unofficial acts, they do enjoy full immunity from criminal charges for their official core constitutional acts.

Two of the four members of Maines congressional delegation  Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree and independent Sen. Angus King  have criticized the high courts decision. King is also considering taking Congressional action, which his spokesperson said may be necessary to protect the public and the rule of law.

Pingree, King and other critics fear the implications the decision will have for former President Donald Trump, whose requests for protection from federal criminal charges alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential results prompted the decision.

A federal indictment in August 2023 alleged Trump knowingly plotted with co-conspirators to overturn election results, working his base into a frenzy that culminated in a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the day Congress was to certify electoral votes.

While the timing of the Supreme Courts decision makes the possibility of Trumps election subversion case heading to trial before Election Day unlikely, the trial court now must decide whether Trumps alleged conspiring and falsehoods qualify as official presidential action.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins did not respond to a request for comment regarding the decision by the time of publication, however in a statement later provided to the Portland Press Herald, Collins struck a similar tone to Golden, abstaining from passing judgment about the ruling.

The real question

How the lower courts apply this new framework is the focus of Golden, who did not join Pingree and King in denouncing the Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity.

It would seem to me that there is a meaningful difference between official acts undertaken as a president and unofficial acts taken while holding the office, Golden wrote in a statement to Maine Morning Star. The real question is how lower courts apply this new framework in cases that seek to hold former presidents accountable for alleged wrongdoing.

Golden wrote that he did not want to rush to judge whether the decision is fundamentally flawed before seeing how the framework is applied.

Collins is also looking to how the lower court applies the new precedent.

The Supreme Court decision distinguishes between official acts and unofficial acts, in which a president is acting in a personal capacity and is not immune from prosecution, Collins wrote in a statement. The court, therefore, is sending the case back to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for further fact finding. It is clear that this case and other criminal proceedings involving former President Trump will continue to play out in the months ahead.

The Court has undermined the foundation of our Constitution

According to Pingree, Mondays decision solidified the court as one of the most partisan and extreme benches the country has ever seen.

This is the Supreme Court that overturned 50 years of precedent protecting reproductive rights, struck down affirmative action, and stripped significant rulemaking authority from federal agencies to further empower the Judicial Branch, Pingree wrote in a statement to Maine Morning Star  the latter referring to a ruling issued Friday flipping precedent that for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations.

Now, by expanding a Presidents immunity from prosecution for so-called official acts, Pingree went on, the Court has undermined the foundation of our Constitution that no man is above the law.

A spokesperson for King similarly shared in a statement on his behalf that the senator believes the decision is a violation of the countrys founding values.

The idea of broad presidential immunity as outlined by the court violates a bedrock principle of American law and practice  that no one, not even the president, is above the law, Kings spokesperson wrote. This ruling, which essentially removes the check of potential criminal liability on any future chief executive, is especially troubling given the enormous power of the modern presidency.

Pingree and Kings concerns about the ruling echo those voiced by President Joe Biden on Monday night.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, Biden said. Each of us is equal before the law. No one  no one  is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

Congressional action may be necessary

While Golden and Collins did not comment on potential implications, Pingree pointed to Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissenting opinion when explaining the consequences she expects will come of the decision.

Mr. Trumps desperate attempt to cling to power fueled a violent insurrection on January 6, 2021, Pingree wrote. The Supreme Courts decision today not only opens the door to absolving this treasonous act but gives any future president seemingly unchecked freedom to commit crimes at will for political gain. Its a sad day for America. Its a sad day for democracy.

Also concerned about implications for unchecked presidential authority in the future, King may try to intervene.

Kings spokesperson said the senator and his team are taking a close look at the majority ruling and minority dissent to determine whether Congressional action may be necessary to protect the public and the rule of law.

Editors Note: This story was updated on July 3 to include comment from U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
Gunsight Lake in Glacier National Park. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

Just because climate change could affect bull trout doesnt mean federal agencies can move them to Gunsight Lake from other St. Mary watershed lakes without complying with the law.

Thats according to a notice sent Monday to Glacier National Park, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by two conservation groups alleging violations of the federal Endangered Species Act.

No one doubts that climate change is already causing drastic impacts on species across the globe, said the notice. Climate change could affect bull trout because warmer water temperatures stress native trout, degrade habitat, and favor non-native species.

But that imperative does not give agencies license to ignore the (Endangered Species Act).

The Friends of the Wild Swan and Council on Wildlife and Fish filed the notice alleging the plan illegally threatens bull trout. They said if the federal agencies dont change course, they will file a lawsuit in federal court.

The law requires such groups to put federal agencies on alert that they plan to sue and offer them one last chance to correct problems. The notice is final warning in advance of litigation.

This project is an experiment, said Arlene Montgomery, program director for Friends of the Wild Swan, in a statement. The Park did not have a proper permit to relocate threatened bull trout wherever it wanted.

Yet the Fish and Wildlife Service went along with the scheme.

In August 2023, Glacier National Park announced it had approved a project for Gunsight Lake, roughly six miles from the Jackson Glacier Overlook trailhead on the east side of the park.

As planned, the project would remove non-native rainbow trout from the lake in 2023 and would later stock native fish, bull trout, mountain whitefish and westslope cutthroat trout.

According to Glacier National Park, an environmental assessment found no significant adverse impacts for the plan.

Glacier Park could not be immediately reached Monday afternoon about the status of stocking bull trout in Gunsight Lake or for comment on the alleged violations.

However, a Glacier scientist earlier said the project was an attempt to preserve the native species as the climate warms by putting them in a cold lake, a potentially ideal location.

The Fish and Wildlife Service also could not be immediately reached by voicemail.

But Gunsight Lake was historically fishless, bull trout are threatened, and the Park Service plan illegally creates an experimental population, the conservation groups allege. For one thing, they said, only the Fish and Wildlife Service can designate an experimental population.

The Park Service is acting outside of its lane, said Jared Pettinato, a lawyer for the conservation groups. Congress assigned responsibility for expanding ranges of endangered and threatened species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The conservation groups argue that putting bull trout in Gunsight Lake is experimental by a couple of different definitions.

First, the plan puts the population outside its current range, the groups said.

Secondly, in Gunsight Lake, the population wont overlap with any nonexperimental bull trout, they said; some bull trout might swim over the waterfalls and out of Gunsight Lake, but none could return.

To ensure Fish and Wildlife considers all of the factors when introducing an experimental population, the ESA prohibits creating experimental listed populations by introducing threatened species outside their current range except by regulation, the groups said in their notice.

Fish and Wildlife never issued a regulation.

Therefore, the Park Services approval of the plan violates the Endangered Species Act, and the introduction of bull trout to Gunsight Lake constitutes an illegal taking of the threatened species, the groups allege.

The Park Service has done these illegal introductions before, and the ESA requires it to stop, the notice said.

The groups also allege the Fish and Wildlife Service is breaching its duties to enforce the Endangered Species Act by failing to pursue civil and criminal penalties against the Park Service.

Moving bull trout, a species under Endangered Species Act protection, to an unproven new location outside its current and historic range is risky, costly, controversial, and unlawful, said Steve Kelly, president of the Council on Wildlife and Fish, in a statement.

Friends of the Wild Swan Fish is an advocacy group with a mission in part to improve fish and wildlife habitat. Council on Wildlife and Fish is a Bozeman-based nonprofit that works to ensure ecological integrity of natural ecosystems.

The post Plan for bull trout in Gunsight Lake violates federal law, groups allege appeared first on Daily Montanan.
A plan to fund $1 million in security for Jewish spaces is amended after a protest at City Hall

For the record:

4:07 p.m. July 2, 2024: Earlier captions accompanying this article stated that city funding was being proposed to pay for pro-Israel vigilante groups. The proposal called for funding for pro-Israel security companies.



A Los Angeles City Council proposal to give $1 million in security services to Jewish houses of worship, community centers and schools was amended Tuesday to bolster security at spaces of all denominations.

The original motion drew protests from both Palestinian and Jewish organizations that gathered outside of L.A. City Hall on Tuesday.

The motion, introduced on June 26 by Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Bob Blumenfield, comes after a protest in front of a synagogue in the mostly Jewish neighborhood of Pico-Robertson turned violent, the latest in a series of clashes in the U.S. over the Israeli war in Gaza.

A group of speakers voices opposition at Los Angeles City Hall on Tuesday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The original motion would allocate $400,000 to the Jewish Federation's Community Security Initiative, $350,000 for a contract with the nonprofit private security firm Magen Am, and $250,000 to the Jewish Community Foundation to bolster "security for places of worship, community centers, and schools, particularly within the Jewish community," according to a news release.

During the Tuesday council meeting, Yaroslavsky asked to make a substitute motion to be discussed at a July 31 meeting because the original motions context will change to provide funding to organizations of all denominations. The change happened after Yaroslavsky spoke with city officials and other community leaders, who made it clear that this type of "funding is needed beyond the scope of the initial motion," she said.

The new proposal will increase the funding amount from $1 million to $2 million.

"I believe this is an appropriate and necessary change to ensure that all faith communities across Los Angeles are able to access these funds while also addressing the urgent need to increase security of Jewish institutions," Yaroslavsky said.

The proposal is intended to mirror Gov. Gavin Newsom's California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which aims to provide funding for "security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs or mission." While funding from Newson's program won't be available until the fall, Yaroslavskys proposal would expedite that funding.

Read more: LAPD, feds look for synagogue protesters as city mulls over mask restrictions, added security

Protesters at the City Hall rally, including pro-Palestinian and Jewish groups, spoke out against the original measure and its funding of Magem Am, which they accuse of training and recruiting former members of the Israeli Defense Forces to use violence and warfare tactics." Instead, they argue, the money should be used to fund affordable housing and other community programs in L.A.

Magen Am is a nonprofit organization licensed to provide physical, armed security services across the United States, according to its website.

Members of Magen Am, created by Rabbi Yossi Eilfort, were present both at the synagogue protest and the violent counterprotests at the UCLA student encampment earlier this year.

Estee Chandler, founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, said at the Tuesday rally that Yaroslavsky and Blumenfield are "part of an insidious effort to perpetuate the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism to mislead confused and frightened people from speaking out against that movement's decades-long oppression of Palestinians."

The council members, Chandler said, are "disingenuously promoting the fallacy that more guns on our streets will keep Jews safer when we all know the opposite is true."

Groups against a proposed City Council resolution speak out during public comments. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

"Every dollar spent on additional policing takes money away from our public services that promote the well-being of our community members," she added.

The recent motion was spurred in part by the protest outside the Adas Torah synagogue on June 23, in which pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel supporters violently clashed, eventually spilling over into side streets of the neighborhood. Both sides assert that they were doused with pepper spray and attacked by the other side and that L.A. police did little to intervene in the violence.

The demonstration was vilified as antisemitic by national and local elected officials, but pro-Palestinian supporters say they were protesting a real estate event at the synagogue that advertised "housing projects in all the best Anglo neighborhoods in Israel." Anglo is a translation from Hebrew meaning English-speaking. The ad that ran in the Jewish Journal did not specify the location of the real estate.

According to an archive of the website for My Home in Israel, one of the companies listed on the advertisement, homes were listed at between $435,000 and $4.1 million in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the West Bank territories of Efrat and Ariel. Much of the international community  including the U.S. and the U.N.  says settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.

The protest in front of the synagogue was criticized by President Biden and Mayor Karen Bass, among other politicians.

Yesterday was abhorrent, and blocking access to a place of worship is absolutely unacceptable, Bass said at the news conference. This violence was designed to stoke fear. It was designed to divide. But hear me loud and clear: It will fail.

Read more: Protest violence outside L.A. synagogue spurs widespread condemnation. Bass vows quick action

Biden called the demonstration "dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic and un-American."

Protesters oppose a resolution in which the Los Angeles City Council would approve upward of $1 million for extra security at houses of worship. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worship  and engaging in violence  is never acceptable," he said in a statement.

John Parker, coordinator of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice, said at the City Hall protest that Bass and Biden "wanted to encourage the fascist militia to attack us and deny the little constitutional rights that we have left" and the proposal will "inspire more racist attacks by the LAPD."

"What if the Ku Klux Klan was selling our land? If it occurred in a Christian church or a mosque or a synagogue, we would still protest that racist sale," he added.

Ron Gochez, a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District who wasn't speaking on behalf of the district, participated in the UCLA campus protest a few weeks ago as an alumnus supporting the student encampments. He said he was pushed around and pepper sprayed when a mob of pro-Israel counterprotesters attacked the encampment.

Ron Gochez of Union del Barrio is among the speakers at City Hall. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

My life was threatened by one of the Zionists that was there," he said at the City Hall protest. "Will the LAPD spend a million dollars, will the city spend a million dollars to protect me, to protect us? No, they wont do that. Theyre trying to score political points with people who will fund their campaigns for their reelection.

Read more: What really happened when protesters, counterprotesters and police converged at an L.A. synagogue

Interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi said last week that a mobile field force tried to disperse the crowd at the temple on West Pico Boulevard after at least 100 pro-Palestinian supporters attempted to block the entrance of the synagogue. About 150 pro-Israel protesters arrived, getting into violent skirmishes with the protesters.

Multiple pro-Palestinian protesters told The Times that LAPD officers pushed and struck them with batons during the demonstration and that they tried to leave the area but were pursued and attacked by pro-Israel supporters for more than an hour. Counterprotesters also told The Times that they were injured and punched by pro-Palestinian protesters, and that they had begged the LAPD to stop the fighting, to no avail.

Bass and LAPD Cmdr. Steve Lurie denied the allegations at a public security briefing last week that police were told to do nothing. No officials, Lurie said, gave the other to "stand down and slow or stop any action."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PORT CLINTON - The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a non-injury airplane crash that occurred Friday at a about 1:30 p.m. at the Erie-Ottawa International Airport, Portage Township, Ottawa County.

Ernest Halter, 49, of Yorktown, Indiana, was operating a 1990 Mooney M20J. He began his decent onto runway 27 and the landing gear failed to lower, according to a news release from the patrol. The underside of the plane struck the runway before sliding to a stop.

Halter suffered no injuries as a result of the crash, according to the release.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a non-injury airplane crash, that occurred on June 28 at the Erie-Ottawa International Airport,

The crash remains under investigation.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by Erie- Ottawa International Airport staff and Federal Aviation Administration.

The News-Messenger/News Herald

This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Indiana man escapes injury when plane crashes in Ottawa County
Planning to shoot fireworks for Fourth of July? Laws in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson

The season for fireworks has arrived, and people are eager to brighten the sky with colorful explosions and dazzling displays.

While fireworks can be exciting, following the law and prioritizing safety during celebrations is essential.

"The only responsible way to experience fireworks is to attend a professional show," said Tristan Johnson, Chief of Administration at the Greenville City Fire Department. "Shooting fireworks can be dangerous, and we have seen an uptick in structural fires and dumpster fires around this time of the year.

"The best approach is to attend a professional fireworks display to prevent accidental fires.

"However, if you do choose to purchase fireworks, buy them from a reputable source," Johnson said. "Do not allow children to play with fireworks, do not use fireworks while intoxicated, and do not engage in horseplay with these explosives. It can be dangerous to others and yourself."

Several towns and counties have rules against shooting fireworks at certain times of the day and inside the city limits.

Here are laws and regulations to follow to ensure a safe celebration.

South Carolina: Fireworks laws

Most states have laws regarding the use of fireworks, and some explosive fireworks cannot be used without special permits.

According to the South Carolina Code of Laws, it is legal to purchase fireworks year-round, and there is no distinction between fireworks, explosives, or sparkling devices.

However, residents should be aware of recent changes to fireworks regulations in the Upstate.

Here is a list of updated fireworks ordinances.

Greenville County

A firework explodes in the air at Clemson MBA Fireworks on the Fourth at Unity Park after a weather warning delayed the celebration in Greenville, SC, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The fireworks ended abruptly due to a malfunction caused by heavy rainfall.

Greenville County allows fireworks until 1 a.m. going into July 5.

According to the Greenville County Code of Ordinance. "It is illegal for any person to use, fire, shoot, or discharge any fireworks within the unincorporated area of Greenville County during the following times:

"On the 4th of July before 10 a.m. and after 1 a.m. the following day.

"On Dec. 31, before 10 a.m. and after 1 a.m. the following day.

"On any other day before 10 a.m. and after 11 p.m.

The ordinance states, "A person who uses, fires, shoots, or discharges any fireworks within the unincorporated area of Greenville County and who fails to comply with the provisions of  15-141 shall be deemed guilty of an infraction for each occurrence of noncompliance."

An infraction is punishable by a fine of $100. Each occurrence of a violation of this Article shall be considered a separate and distinct infraction.

City of Greenville

In the city of Greenville, according to the City of Greenville Code of Ordinance: "It is illegal for any person to use, discharge, shoot, or ignite fireworks or similar explosives within the city's corporate limits between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m."

An infraction of this article is punishable by a fine of $I00, any part of which may besuspended. Each subsequent violation occurring within one calendar year of determining another infraction is punishable by a fine of not less than $500.

The law says. "An exception shall be granted for the hours to be extended on the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve, so the discharge of fireworks shall be prohibited after 12:30 a.m. on July 5 and Jan. 1."

Fireworks in Spartanburg

According to the Spartanburg County Ordinance, fireworks are legal in Spartanburg County.

According to the City of Spartanburg Code of Ordinance, "Fireworks are illegal within the limits of the city for any person to sell or expose for sale, keep, store, maintain, have in possession, transport, give or pass any squibs, torpedoes, firecracker or any other type or form of fireworks, including salutes, Roman candles, fountains, balloons carrying any lighted substance, cannon, cane, skyrockets, bombs or other similar articles of fireworks, which will be fired, lighted, ignited, set off or thrown."

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Fireworks in Anderson

According to the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, fireworks are legal in both Anderson County and within Anderson city limits.

Fireworks in surrounding areas

Fireworks are not allowed within the Mauldin and Travelers Rest city limits.

Fireworks are allowed in the Greer, Fountain Inn, and Simpsonville city limits.

Tips for handling fireworks safely

According to the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 23 Chapter 35, consumer-grade fireworks are legal for those 16 and older to buy, store, and shoot.

The National Safety Council stated that fireworks start an average of 19,000 fires yearly.

These fires can cause significant damage to homes, forests, and structures.

Celebrate safely with firework safety tips

The Anderson County Emergency Medical Service Department has provided some safety tips to ensure a safe and successful celebration.

Never allow young children to handle fireworks. Older children should use them only under close adult supervision.

Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands.

Never light them indoors.

Only use them away from people, houses, and flammable materials.

Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

Never ignite devices in a container.

Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.

Soak used and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.

Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire.

Never use illegal fireworks.

Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Fireworks for Fourth of July, what to know about laws in Upstate
A woman visits the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, which is now a memorial to the 26 people who were killed by a gunman in 2017. The 100-year-old building has served as a memorial since the shooting, but now some want to raze the building. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (AP)  Plans to tear down a small Texas church where a gunman in 2017 killed more than two dozen worshippers drew visitors Tuesday as a last-minute push was made to stop the demolition.

Leaders of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs have not publicly announced when it plans to demolish the sanctuary, where authorities put the number of dead from the shooting at 26 people, including a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, in what remains the deadliest church shooting in U.S. history.

Inside the church Tuesday, victims relatives and community members who came to see the memorial, possibly for the last time, sat on the floor in somber silence. Roses were placed in remembrance of the lives lost.

Roxanna Avants, 71, moved to Sutherland Springs after the shooting and said she came to support those who lost loved ones in the shooting. Avants said even if people dont want to walk past a reminder of a tragedy, the church is still a house of God and a memorial for those who died in 2017.

Outside the church, the Wilson County Sheriffs Office told journalists to leave the area, saying neighbors had made the request for reasons related to private property. News cameras were not allowed in the church or parking lot.

On Tuesday, a Texas judge approved a temporary restraining order sought by some families to delay the demolition. The order signed by Judge Jennifer Dillingham instructs the church to not to begin demolition and to appear before the court later this month.

But Sam Fugate II, an attorney for the families that sought the restraining order, said the church had still not been served the order as of Tuesday afternoon and expressed concern that the demolition could still proceed.

Christine Earnhardt, a secretary for the church, said Tuesday that she could not confirm whether a demolition was scheduled and that the church had no plans to comment or make a statement.

Following the shooting, the sanctuary was turned into a memorial. The interior was painted white and chairs with the names of those who were killed were placed there, the lawsuit said.

The church then voted in 2021 to tear down the building, which opponents have contended was against the wishes of many surviving family members. A new church was completed for the congregation about a year and a half after the shooting.

We're not after money. We're after what's fair, Fugate said. We want our clients to say their peace about whether the church should stand and take another vote.

Amber Holder, a church member who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said she wanted to make sure survivors of the shooting and the victims' families have a vote. "So many victims families were told: Youre not allowed to vote because youre no longer a member here, Holder said.

Holder said she wasnt at the service the day of the shooting but got there shortly after. As a teen she was taken in by the family of the pastor at the time, whose 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy, was among those killed.

Terrie Smith, president of the Sutherland Springs Community Association, said that as news of the upcoming demolition spread in the community of less than 1,000 people, those she had spoken with were devastated. Smith said that a woman who was like a daughter to her  Joann Ward  and her two daughters, ages 7 and 5, were among those killed in the shooting.

Smith, who is not a member of the church, said she often visits the memorial sanctuary. Its just a beautiful, beautiful memorial the way it is now, she said.

You feel the comfort of everybody that was lost there, Smith said.

Communities across the U.S. have grappled with what should happen to the sites of mass shootings. Last month, demolition began on the three-story building where 17 people died in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, it was torn down and replaced.

Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo, New York, and the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where racist mass shootings happened, both reopened. In Colorado, Columbine High School still stands  though its library, where most of the victims were killed, was replaced.

In Texas, officials closed Robb Elementary in Uvalde after the 2022 shooting there and plan to demolish it.

___

Stengle contributed to this report from Dallas. Associated Press reporter Paul J. Weber contributed to this report from Austin.
Ray Holmberg (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly)

A plea hearing for former North Dakota state Sen. Ray Holmberg will take place at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8 in Fargo, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland ordered Monday.

Holmberg last week signed an agreement indicating he plans to plead guilty to a charge of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.

In the agreement, Holmberg admits to repeatedly traveling from North Dakota to the Czech Republic between June 24, 2011, and Nov. 1, 2016, for the purpose of having sex with adolescents under age 18.

A federal indictment of Holmberg also charged him with receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss that charge. Prosecutors also indicated in the agreement they will seek a sentence on the low end of federal sentencing guidelines.

Defense attorney Mark Friese previously told the North Dakota Monitor that the sentencing guidelines advise a sentence of around three to four years in prison for the charge. The charge has a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervised release.

The case was previously scheduled for a five-day trial in September.

The 80-year old Republican from Grand Forks resigned from the North Dakota Legislature in 2022. He served in the statehouse for more than 45 years and held the powerful position of chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The post Plea hearing set in former state lawmaker child sex abuse case appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Police ID pedestrian who was struck, killed in Northeast El Paso

Police ID pedestrian who was struck, killed in Northeast El Paso

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Police have identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed Monday morning, July 1, in Northeast El Paso.

Police say at around 10:30 a.m., Jaime Lara Arenivas, 50, was crossing east to west on the 8600 block of Dyer when a 79-year-old man traveling north on Dyer in an SUV struck Arenivas.

First aid was rendered by the 79-year-old man, and police add that the man was unable to avoid Arenivas.

Arenivas was transported to a local hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries.

Police say the contributing factor in this crash was a pedestrian in the roadway.

This is the 34th traffic fatality this year compared to 39 last year.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The lead investigator in the sensational Karen Read casewhich ended in a mistrial on Mondayhas been transferred out of the local Detectives Unit for serious misconduct in connection with the trial, according to a statement released Monday by the Massachusetts State Police.

The detective, Trooper Michael Proctor, was leading the high profile investigation against Read, who was accused of killing her boyfriend and former Boston-area cop John OKeefe.

Last month, Proctor testified on the stand that he had sent his friends and coworkers various vulgar texts ridiculing Read, calling her a whack-job and wishing she would kill herself.

Massachusetts State Police Colonel John E. Mawn said that the department is still investigating Proctors behavior but that he condemns those comments in the strongest terms possible.

Proctor feebly admitted during the trial that his comments were unprofessional but argued that they didnt affect the outcome of the case, although a large part of Reads defense is hinged on her belief that the local police department was framing her for a crime someone in the department did.

Shortly after the mistrial was announced, the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office confirmed that they will be retrying Read later on in the month.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Police found what looked to be dozens of computer towers stacked in a cargo van and a public storage unit. (Los Angeles Police Department)

Los Angeles police have arrested a Canyon Country man on suspicion of possessing $579,000 in stolen bitcoin mining computers.

Bryan Thola, 26, was released on his own recognizance from a Van Nuys jail early Friday morning, according to inmate jail records. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, a felony.

Police found what looked to be dozens of computer towers stacked in Thola's cargo van and a public storage unit.

Bitcoin mining computers are specialized devices that create new units of cryptocurrency by solving difficult mathematical puzzles using trial and error. The more computers you have, the faster you can create more bitcoin. Bitcoin miners make sure each transaction is verified within minutes and publicly available, according to Fidelity Investments.

LAPD Lt. Michael McComas said the investigation was ongoing and he could not release any other information about the case or the stolen computers. Police ask anyone with information to call the LAPD Commercial Crimes Division at (213) 486-5920.

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.
NEW DELHI, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in Tuesday's stampede at a religious gathering in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh rose to "over 60," according to a senior local administration official.

The stampede had occurred in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras area, around 150 miles southeast of New Delhi. Those injured were admitted to a government hospital in nearby Etah district. The death toll was feared to rise further.

Meanwhile, local media NDTV reported that 87 people, including women and children, were killed and many others injured in the tragedy.

Most people died by falling in a drain by the side of the road, an eyewitness told local media.

News agency "Press Trust of India" (PTI) quoted the eyewitness lady, identified as Shakuntala, as saying that after the religious ceremony had ended, people had started leaving the venue. "Outside the road was built on a height with a drain below. One after the other, people started falling into it. Some people got crushed," she added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences at the loss of lives in the stampede. Speaking in Indian Parliament's lower house "Lok Sabha," Modi said, "All possible help will be provided to the victims."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed a couple of his ministers to reach the spot. He also directed the local administration and police officials to provide all possible help to the injured. 
DENVER (KDVR)  Denver police are seeking information in a homicide investigation after a 16-year-olds body was found near Sanderson Gulch in the Mar Lee neighborhood in September 2023.

According to the Denver Police Department and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, police want information about the killing of 16-year-old Joshua Melbihess.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Police reported finding him at about 7:19 a.m. on Sept. 26, 2023, near the area of South Julian Way and West Mexico Avenue.

At first, police said they were responding to an outdoor death investigation. Later that day, police confirmed they were working on a homicide investigation.

Joshua Melbihess, 16, was found dead by police in September 2023.

Now Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is releasing the teens picture in hopes that someone might know what happened to Melbihess.

Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or contact the group via metrodenvercrimestoppers.com. Anyone who contacts the tip line or submits information online can remain anonymous and qualify for a reward up to $2,000. The case number for this crime is 23-518851.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jeff Kahrs, a former staff member to U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kansas, said he would seek the GOP nomination in the 2nd District to replace LaTurner, who chose not to seek reelection. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of image from Kahrs' campaign announcement)

Jeff Kahrs, a former staff member to U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kansas, said he would seek the GOP nomination in the 2nd District to replace LaTurner, who chose not to seek reelection. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of image from Kahrs' campaign announcement)

TOPEKA  Two attorneys battling for the Republican Partys nomination in Kansas second congressional district portrayed as a victory for the rule of law the U.S. Supreme Courts decision insulating presidents from prosecution for actions that were part of official duties.

Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt as well as Jeff Kahrs, who worked in the administration of former President Donald Trump, praised the 6-3 decision issued Monday. The opinion fell along partisan lines with the majority expanding presidential power by offering substantial immunity from prosecution of presidents accused of wrongdoing linked to presidential duties.

Kahrs, a graduate of the Washburn University law school and a Trump appointee in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said the decision was the latest piece to fall off the crumbling political prosecution of Donald Trump.

From New York to Washington to Georgia, Kahrs said, partisan liberal prosecutors have broken the law, violated professional ethics and tortured prosecutorial norms to invent charges designed to derail the Trump campaign. Its not working. It wont work. The rule of law will prevail when Donald Trump is elected president again.

Schmidt, a University of Kansas law school graduate who was state attorney general from 2011 to 2023, said the Supreme Court appropriately stepped in to deter politically inspired prosecution of former presidents.

He said the wise U.S. Supreme Court decision should put the brakes on politically motivated lawfare against former presidents  lawfare that undermines respect for the rule of law.

Schmidt also echoed Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion that said Congress was forbidden to criminalize a presidents conduct while carrying out responsibilities of the executive branch under the U.S. Constitution.

The Supreme Courts decision complicated prosecution of Trump on charges he attempted to reverse outcome of his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden. Trump lawyers relied on the decision to propose a New York judge set aside his conviction on 34 felony counts associated with attempts to conceal a sex scandal prior to the 2016 presidential election. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced July 11.

Schmidt and Kahrs are in a five-candidate GOP primary race in the 2nd District, which covers eastern Kansas outside the Kansas City area. The U.S. House seat is held by Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican who chose not to seek reelection in 2024.

The post Kansas GOP rivals Schmidt, Kahrs celebrate Supreme Court opinion on presidential immunity appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
A 26-year-old Pontiac man has been charged in the fatal police pursuit that left a 42-year-old mom of two dead over the weekend.

James L. Hudson Jr. was arraigned Tuesday in 37th District Court in Warren on charges including second-degree murder in connection with the crash that killed Katrina Michael, of Warren, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido and Warren Police Commissioner Charles Rushton announced at a news conference the same day.

The officials raised concern with reckless driving in the area and stood by police actions in the pursuit, which started when officers spotted three Dodge Chargers driving fast on 8 Mile Road at 1:34 a.m. Saturday and tried to stop the vehicles for suspected drag racing, police said.

While one Dodge Charger stopped  police initially said none had  the others continued, with one eventually striking a Jeep Cherokee carrying Michael and the Jeep driver, Rushton said.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido watches police dashboard camera footage of a Saturday, June 29 fatal police chase during a July 2, 2024, press conference at the Warren Police Department.

Hudson, his two passengers and the driver of the Jeep were all injured but listed in stable condition Saturday. Police on Tuesday were still seeking one driver who continued to flee after the crash and the matter remains under investigation.

Rushton said Hudson chose to drag race, chose to flee, and chose to drive in a reckless manner that ended in tragedy. And Rushton said police have a duty to act in these cases.

These people are driving in such a manner that it makes their vehicle a weapon, he said. It's basically a 5,000-pound bullet driving down 8 Mile."

Police dashboard camera videos shown at the news conference showed police attempted to deploy a tire deflation device, but one voice can be heard saying might have went too early.

Rushton said the suspect vehicle unfortunately changed directions.

This is the latest of several Warren police pursuits that have ended in fatalities since December.

In December 2023, police reported a suspect fleeing a stop on an expired license plate crashed while driving through a red light, according to Fox 2 Detroit (WJBK-TV).

In May, police reported a suspect fleeing a stop for speeding rolled their vehicle as police began to end their pursuit, according to WXYZ-TV (Channel 7).

Speaking Tuesday, Rushton pushed back on terming prior incidents nonviolent stops, saying one suspect was wanted on multiple felonies including a homicide and the other was found to have had a handgun when not legally allowed.

Part of the problem is, even if we terminate the pursuit (it) doesn't necessarily mean that driver is immediately going to slow back down  to the speed limit and start driving in a normal manner, he said.

He said in the last month, two pursuits police terminated resulted in serious injuries after the fact, with one happening eight minutes after the pursuit ended. He said the chances that a person keeps driving recklessly plays into whether police pursue someone or continue a pursuit.

Pursuits are down 50% over two years, and about a year and a half ago, the department made a change to require remote supervision of pursuits where supervisors can tap into police car cameras in real-time, Rushton said. That was done on Saturday.

Just looking at the dashboard video, Rushton estimated the drivers were going well over 100 mph.

Michael was the mother of two boys, one 18 and one 14, officials said.

Hudson faces life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. He faces eight charges in total, with multiple counts of lesser charges including fleeing and eluding, and reckless driving causing serious injury.

Hudson is being held on a $1 million cash or surety bond and is slated to return to court for a probable cause hearing July 15 and a preliminary examination July 23, Lucido said.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pontiac man charged in police pursuit that killed Warren mom
dog-food-recall-listeria

Pet parents care a lot about what we feed our fur babies, and in addition to containing premium ingredients to keep our cats and dogs happy and healthy, we also want to be sure what we feed them is safe. Sometimes the worst happens and the food that we thought was safe for our pets turns out not to be so. Recalls happen frequently, and it's important to be paying attention so we don't end up feeding our pets food that is unsafe.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to cat and dog owners to avoid feeding their pets a type of raw food which contains a serious health risk.

The FDA announced on Monday, July 1 that Viva Raw LLC of North Carolina is voluntarily recalling some of its dog and cat foods as they have been found to contain listeria monocytogenes. This poses a health risk both to pets and their owners who come into contact with the food.

Related: FDA Expands Major Recall of Popular Animal Food

The FDA posted on their website, "Viva Raw LLC, Hillsborough, NC is voluntarily recalling dog and cat foods, including the Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground, Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked, Viva Turkey for Cats, Viva Pure Turkey, and Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies all manufactured under Lot 21244 because this lot, which includes these five products are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and is a potential health risk to people and pets."

Only products from Lot 21244 are affected, Viva Raw is notifying all customers who were shipped any Turkey or Beef & Turkey for Puppies products between May 16th and June 28th, 2024.

How To Tell If You or Your Pet Has Contracted Listeria

Pets infected by listeria may show signs of mild to severe diarrhea, anorexia, fever, nervous, muscular and respiratory signs, miscarriage, depression, shock and death. Pets may be infected but show no outward signs of symptoms. Infected pets can spread listeria through feces and saliva to other pets and people.

The FDA also explains, "Healthy people infected with Listeria monocytogenes may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, aches, fever and diarrhea. Listeria monocytogenes infections can spread through the bloodstream to the nervous system (including the brain), resulting in meningitis and other potentially fatal illnesses. Pregnant women are especially susceptible to Listeria infection, which can result in miscarriage. The young, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are more vulnerable to infection. People exhibiting signs of Listeria monocytogenes infection after having contact with recalled product(s) or a pet that has eaten recalled product(s) should contact their healthcare providers."

If you find that you have products from Lot 21244, please contact Viva Raw at info@vivarawpets.com for a refund on any remaining productyou should then destroy the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access. Do not feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals.

FDA recommends humans do not touch the contaminated food product with bare hands. While wearing gloves or using paper towels, place the contaminated food in a sealed plastic bag and throw it in the garbage. Areas that may have come in contact with the contaminated product should be sanitized. Do not sell or donate the recalled products..

If you have any questions, please email us at info@vivarawpets.com or call/text us at (919) 371-8882 between 9:00 am  5:00 pm EST Monday to Friday.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The limited ban on camping on public property is now in effect in Portland. But its going to take a while before residents notice a difference.

The City of Portland posts notices before removing a campsite, giving the campers several days to clear out. A team from the Street Services Coordination Center goes to the camps to begin the process of offering shelter beds  and letting campers know that have to pack and leave if theyre offered a bed and refuse it.

Legal chess playing likely as Portland camping ban takes effect

Police officials told KOIN 6 News they can be called to step in, but its not their job or intention to do mass clearing of tents and camps. Law enforcement is a last resort if outreach doesnt work.

A notice posted by the City of Portland at a homeless camp, July 1, 2024 (KOIN)

And thats when police could fine a camper $100 or send them to jail for a week.

No one with the City of Portland, Multnomah County or the Portland Police Bureau agreed to an interview with KOIN 6 News about this issue on this day.

The initial focus of the camping ban is to clear out camps along high-traffic streets, near schools, in a public right-of-way like a sidewalk or road, blocking businesses or homes.

Residents can report an unsanctioned homeless camp by calling 311.

A homeless camp at SW Jefferson and 12th in Portland was cleaned out, July 1, 2024 (KOIN)

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson last week announced a freeze on buying any more tents or tarps to hand out to the homeless. The City of Portland has spent millions to get rid of them.

County officials on Monday told KOIN 6 News the Joint Office of Homeless Services has 747 tents remaining in stock, plus 11,080 tarps.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PANAMA CITY  Residents soon might have a larger area downtown to openly consume alcohol.

Panama City commissioners on Tuesday held the first reading of an ordinance to expand the Downtown Panama City Social District, or a region in the downtown area where people can openly carry and consume alcoholic drinks.

Panama City commissioners on Tuesday held the first reading of an ordinance to expand the Downtown Panama City Social District, or a region in the downtown area where people can openly carry and consume alcoholic drinks.

The existing social district was approved by commissioners in November. It has a northern border near Sixth Street, a southern border near the Panama City Marina, an eastern border near Luverne Avenue and a western border near Grace Avenue and West Fourth Street.

The ordinance proposed Tuesday would expand the district west to include areas of Jenks Avenue, Mercer Avenue and other portions of Oak Avenue and Beach Drive. It also would allow commissioners to update the district to accommodate future growth, as well as increase its days of operation from only Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., to everyday during the same hours.

"It's been an incredible part of the downtown experience," Commissioner Jenna Haligas said. "People are really enjoying it."

During the meeting, Maria Williams, executive director of the Panama City Downtown Improvement Board, agreed with Haligas that the district has proved to be a success.

"It's brought vitality and economic growth to downtown," Williams said. "The businesses have thrived. Foot traffic has definitely increased, and both residents and visitors have enjoyed the enhanced social atmosphere.

"The positive impact has been evident."

Williams said expanding the district is the city's "logical step forward." For her, this would extend the economic benefits to other downtown businesses and provide additional opportunities for community engagement.

"This expansion signifies progress toward a vibrant and prosperous city," Williams said. "The new ordinance streamlines future adjustments, allowing the city to respond quickly to changes needed and opportunities."

This rendering shows the existing Downtown Panama City Social District in blue, as well as the proposed expansion in green.

Dave Parmer, owner of Millie's Cafe, said his business is among those in the area that have benefited from the social district. Located at 228 Harrison Ave., Millie's has been part of downtown for more than a dozen years.

Parmer said that he has noticed not only an uptick in revenue since the district was established, but also an increase in people simply walking around downtown.

More from the commission: Panama City awards Break-N-Ground LLC $498,789 contract to demolish Marina Civic Center

Like Haligas and Williams, Parmer supports expanding the district's region, along with increasing it to seven days a week  an addition he said will boost tourism throughout the area.

The second reading for the ordinance will be held July 9.

"It's been a big help," he said of the district. "It increases the visibility of downtown, (and) businesses profit from it. ... It's made downtown more visible, I think, to a lot of people."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City commissioners consider expanding downtown social district
Postal vote delays: Whats happening and what to do if yours hasnt arrived before the election

The government is investigating reports that voters in constituencies across the UK have not yet received their postal votes ahead of general election polling day on 4 July.

There are concerns that thousands could miss out on the chance to vote as people in up to 90 constituencies have raised concerns about their ballots not yet arriving, according to reports.

Royal Mail has come in for criticism but the company denied it is the source of the issue, saying there is no backlog.

Postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake told The Telegraph: We urge Royal Mail to do all they can to make sure that postal votes get to the right people at the right time, and time is completely of the essence now.

For the latest political updates ahead of the general election, follow The Independents live coverage

Theres a resourcing issue. They have recruited extra people and I welcome that but theyve got to make sure theyve got the right number of people to deliver the mail at busy times like this.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: Where concerns have been raised, we have investigated and confirmed ballot packs are being delivered as soon as they arrive in our network.

The option to vote by post is offered to all registered voters in the UK, but must be applied for in advance. Voters should then receive their ballot in the post, fill it out as soon as possible, and post it to their local polling station to arrive in time for 10pm on polling day.

People may choose to vote by post for a number of reasons, most commonly because they are away on polling day. Only voters in Northern Ireland are required to give a reason.

What should I do if Ive not yet received my postal vote?

If youve been affected by this issue and have not yet received the ballot you applied for in the post, you will still be able to vote.

Anyone in this situation must request a replacement postal ballot pack in person from their local authority. This can be done by up to 5pm on polling day, and you must take ID.

The authoritys elections office will usually be located at the town hall or the main council building. Most will offer the option to complete a ballot on site and hand it back to them, ensuring your vote is received.

Alternatively, a replacement can also be sent by post up until 5pm on Wednesday 3 July or voters can authorise someone to collect it on their behalf, according to the Electoral Commission, which oversees elections in the UK.

The independent elections body also offers a handy postcode checker to find the contact details of your local election team.

Voters can also choose to hand their postal vote in to their local polling station if they are concerned about posting it, or ask a trusted person to do so for them (who must fill out a form).

If you still choose to post your ballot, the Royal Mail says it should be sent no later than Wednesday 3 July. You must ensure it arrives in the post box before final collection time.
RIYADH, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that inbound visitors spent 45 billion Saudi riyals (about 12 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2024, growing by 22.9 percent, compared to the same period last year, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The kingdom also recorded a surplus in the travel account amounting to 24 billion riyals, representing a growth rate of over 46 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

During the same period, outbound travelers from the kingdom spent an estimated 21 billion riyals, according to preliminary data from the Saudi Central Bank's travel account in the balance of payments.

The increase in spending by inbound visitors is part of the continuous efforts achieved by the tourism sector in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia ranked first on the United Nations tourism list for the growth rate of international tourists, and the growth rate of tourism revenues is among the top major tourist destinations globally in 2023. 
President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Photo/Wikipedia)

The White House on Monday released a presidential proclamation to remember the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act that was signed 60 years ago today, July 2, 1964 by then President Lyndon B. Johnsion.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major acheivement when it passed Congress. It sought to end discriminaton for all Americans, including Native Americans.

"It is still the task of our time to build a democracy where every American is treated with dignity and has an equal opportunity to follow their dreams. We must continue to move forward together, stand with one another, and choose democracy over autocracy and beloved community over chaos," Biden writes.

Read the full presidential proclamation:

60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT



By the President of the United States of America



A Proclamation

Sxity years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in history -- the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. That day, our Nation moved closer to our North Star, the founding ideal of America: We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully lived up to that idea, but we have never walked away from it either. On this anniversary, we promise we will not walk away from it now

On July 2, 1964, when President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, a crowd gathered behind him. Among them were some of the Black leaders and activists who had led the movement that made it possible: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., A. Philip Randolph, Dr. Dorothy Height, and others, who had fought, protested, and prayed for this moment. It was the work of changemakers like them -- from the countless protests, sit-ins, and marches they organized to the many speeches and sermons they gave -- and the courageous activism and participation of everyday Americans that brought the bill to President Johnson's desk. It was an answer to President John F. Kennedy's call for national action to guarantee the equal treatment of every American regardless of race. Change only rippled out from there: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 also helped set the foundation for other critical legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965.



The legacies of those activists and extraordinary Americans have had a profound impact on me and others of my generation. It inspired me to become a public defender and then a county councilman, working to change our State's politics to embrace the cause of civil rights. Their efforts made us fundamentally better as Americans, opening the doors of opportunity wider and bringing our Nation closer to its promise of liberty, equality, and justice for all.



Despite this critical step forward, securing our civil rights remains the unfinished fight of our time. Our country is still facing attacks to some of our most fundamental civil liberties and rights, including the right to vote and have that vote counted and the right to live free from the threat of violence, hate, and discrimination. That is why my Administration is remaining vigilant -- fighting actively to protect the rights of every American. I signed the Electoral Count Reform Act to protect the will of the people and the peaceful transfer of power. I appointed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be on the Supreme Court, and have appointed more Black women to the Federal appellate court than every other President in history.

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We are also working to reverse the shameful legacy of segregation in our country and creating new opportunities for every American to thrive. My Administration is investing more money than ever in Black families and Black communities. We are reconnecting historic business districts and neighborhoods cut off by old highways, redlining, and decades of discrimination and disinvestment. We have invested over $16 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which will help raise the next generation of Black leaders. At the same time, we are creating good-paying jobs that people can raise a family on; making capital and loans for starting small businesses and buying homes more accessible; and making health insurance and prescription drugs more affordable. I also signed the boldest policing reform Executive Order in history. My Administration is changing our Nation's failed approach to marijuana, which disproportionately impacts communities of color. I have used executive clemency more than any recent President at this point in my Presidency in pursuit of justice and fairness. And I continue to call on the Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act -- it is the only way to fully secure the sacred right to vote.



On this anniversary, may we recommit to continuing the work that the Civil Rights Act began six decades ago -- it is still the task of our time to build a democracy where every American is treated with dignity and has an equal opportunity to follow their dreams. We must continue to move forward together, stand with one another, and choose democracy over autocracy and beloved community over chaos. We must choose to be believers, dreamers, and doers.



NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 2, 2024, as the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate this accomplishment and advance civil rights in our time.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.



JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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President Joe Biden slammed the Supreme Courts ruling on presidential immunity in a short address from the White House on Monday evening.

This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, he said from the White House. Each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

Biden added that for all practical purposes, that idea fundamentally changed after the judges ruling.

Todays decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits to what a president can do.

Its a fundamentally new principle and its a dangerous precedent, he added.

Biden said if the ruling holds, the president would be outside even the Supreme Courts jurisdiction.

The opaque decision says presidents have an absolute immunity from prosecution for core official acts.

Biden said that means only the president can put limits on his own power and that Donald Trump would pose a grave risk if reelected.

He added that the decision has made it unlikely that Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, will stand trial for criminal charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection before the election.

I know I will respect the limits of the presidential powers Ive had for 3 1/2 years, but any president  including Donald Trump  will now be free to ignore the law, Biden said.

Coming off a widely panned performance in last weeks presidential debate, he argued that the ruling marks the latest example of the Supreme Court undermining a wide range of long-established legal principles in recent years, further heightening the stakes of the November contest.

The American people must decide if they want to entrust ... the presidency to Donald Trump, now knowing that hell be even more emboldened to do whatever he pleases whenever he wants to do it, Biden added.

I concur with Justice (Sonia) Sotomayors dissent today. Heres what she said  she said, In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law. With fear for our democracy, I dissent, end of quote. So should the American people dissent. I dissent.

The president did not take any questions and left immediately after delivering the five-minute speech.

Bidens warning was measured compared to the response from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who described the ruling as an assault on American democracy and pledged to remove the corrupt conservative judges behind the ruling.

It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture. I intend on filing articles of impeachment, she wrote on social media.

_____
Prichard police investigating 2 homicides on the same day

Prichard police investigating 2 homicides on the same day

PRICHARD, Ala. (WKRG)  The Prichard Police Department is investigating after two homicides happened on the same day, News 5 has learned.

Officials with the PPD shared the following information about the homicides that happened on Sunday, June 30.

Spanish Fort murder-suicide under investigation

The first homicide reportedly happened around 6:19 p.m. at a gas station located at 200 Meaher Avenue.

LOCATION:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

According to officials, the homicide happened after three people between the ages of 17 and 20 met at a store, and an argument broke out.

One male was shot and killed in the incident that police believe involved five people.

The second homicide happened around 10 p.m. on Allenby Street near Elm Street.

LOCATION:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The PPD says the incident happened in the middle of the neighborhood.

There is no indication of what led up to the homicide, according to officials.

4 arrested in Baldwin County, charged with manslaughter after overdose death

Police say that the victims in both homicides were believed to have known each other but could not confirm if the incidents were related.

There have been no arrests in the incidents, although the PPD said they believe they have potential suspects.

This is a developing story. News 5 will update this article as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
The prisoner accused of coordinating an ambush at a Boise hospital that led to his escape and to the shooting of three Idaho Department of Correction officers pleaded guilty Tuesday to an enhancement crime, bypassing a jury trial.

Hell now face sentencing for a litany of crimes later this month.

Skylar Meade, 32, who was serving a minimum 10-year prison sentence at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution outside of Boise, pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal to an enhancement for causing bodily injury during the escape  which increases the minimum prison time. In exchange, an enhancement for crimes tied to his alleged involvement in a white supremacist gang was dismissed.

Meade, who was taken by three correction officers to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for self-inflicted injuries in March, escaped from custody at the Boise hospital after alleged co-conspirator Nicholas Umphenhour, 29, shot two of the officers as they were loading Meade into a prison van, according to testimony from law enforcement during an April hearing. The third officer was shot and injured by a Boise police officer.

The officers all survived.

The men, said by police to be members of a prison gang known as the Aryan Knights, fled and drove to North Idaho  where they are suspected of killing two men but so far have been charged in only one death  before law enforcement apprehended them the next day near Twin Falls.

Meade pleaded guilty in May  without a plea deal  to felony escaping from prison and an enhancement for being a persistent violator, a charge that can be added by prosecutors when someone has been convicted of three felonies. It adds at least another five years of prison time, with a maximum of life in prison.

Skylar Meade listens to his attorney, Rob Chastain, during a hearing at the Ada County Courthouse, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Meade entered a guilty plea to escaping custody at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center where he was receiving treatment for self-inflicted injuries on March 20.

Meade didnt enter pleas on the other enhancements during that May 15 hearing, causing 4th District Judge Nancy Baskin to schedule a June hearing to give prosecutors additional time to decide whether theyd take Meade to trial or dismiss the remaining charges, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

Ada County Prosecutor Heather Reilly told the court during that June hearing that if a deal wasnt reached, the prosecution planned to take Meade to trial. Robert Chastain, one of Meades attorneys, asked Baskin for some additional time to review the offer.

Meades sentencing on all of his outstanding crimes is now set for July 19, as his cases were consolidated in court Tuesday. He also has pleaded guilty to a drug charge and a contraband charge for having methamphetamine in prison.

At the time of his escape, Meade was in prison for assaulting a police officer, drug possession and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Umphenhour is expected to face a jury trial in October on six felonies, including several assault charges and a persistent violator enhancement, according to court records. Baskin entered not guilty pleas on his behalf in May after Umphenhour stood silent, a tactic in which a defendant refuses to enter a plea, causing the judge to do it for them, according to prior reporting.

Nicholas Umphenour, the man who helped an Idaho inmate escape from prison at a local hospital, appears in 4th District Court for his arraignment at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Idaho State Police investigation into North Idaho homicide ongoing

Once Meades criminal charges are finalized in Ada County, hell likely be taken to the Nez Perce County Jail to appear on a first-degree murder charge. Quickly following Meades and Umphenours apprehension in March, law enforcement announced that the men were suspects in a pair of homicides.

After fleeing the Boise area, Meade and Umphenour encountered James Mauney, 83, in Juliaetta, north of Lewiston, while he was walking his dogs, according to Idaho State Police. His body was later found in a desolate area. That same day, deputies from neighboring Clearwater County found the body of Gerald Don Henderson, 72, in his cabin outside of Orofino. Police said shackles that belonged to Meade, along with Mauneys dogs, were found in the cabin.

Nicholas Umphenour and Skylar Meade are under investigation for several crimes including the homicides of two men.

Meade and Umphenour were indicted by a Nez Perce grand jury and charged in mid-June with first-degree murder in the death of Mauney, according to the Nez Perce County Prosecutors Office. Grand jury proceedings arent public, even to those accused of the crimes, and give prosecutors a way to charge someone while bypassing a preliminary hearing.

Nez Perce County isnt expecting any updates until the defendants are transported and appear in our court, Nez Perce Prosecutor Justin Coleman said in a statement provided to the Statesman.

Any additional information about the charges has been sparse, as their cases havent been unsealed and arent available on the states online public court system. Meade and Umphenour are also suspected in the killing of Henderson, but face no charges yet in that death.

This case remains under investigation, Idaho State Police previously said in a news release.
There are times in all of our lives when we see things we wish we hadnt. It could be a text, sent or received by a loved one, that reveals a secret. It could be a bill or bank statement, left out at a friends house, that tells a different financial story than what you thought you knew about your friend. It could be a shitty test result, confirming something youd previously been able to deny.

Or it could be last Thursdays presidential debate, which revealed that President Biden is indeed an old man who appears to be in no condition to be running this country, even nownot to mention in another four years.

The debate was shocking, upsetting, nearly impossible to watch. Based on my anecdotal research, lots of folks turned it off after 10 minutes, unable to witness the humiliating performance by our current president. Others held out hope it would turn around in real time, that Bidens jaw would be vacuumed shut again, eyes refocused. Still more of us had the sinking, correct assumption: This would not come to pass. We knew what was happening. We were watching the president of the United States, un-teleprompted, fail in a spectacularly human way in front of us. He was not OK. Which meant the impending presidential election was more like an impending disaster.

But even worse than those unbearable 90 minutes has been the spin that followed. Democratic operatives and Bidens friends in high places came to his defense; Barack Obama himself brushed off the presidents dismal performance, posting on Twitter that bad debate nights happen. Cmon. Yes, a bad debate night happened to Obama when he was running again in 2012. A bad debate night is not what happened last week.

Pushing this line is offensive, and contemptuous of the American voting public. Everyone saw the same debate: It was reality rubbing human mortality in our faces. Biden is old, and the process of his aging seems to be accelerating, as it is wont to do. We all know old people. We know how different the 60s are from the 70s, and the 70s are from the 80s. Weve all witnessed the decline that comes in the slow march toward the end, likely in circumstances that were unbelievably personal and sorrowful. What I am trying to say is: We know what we saw last Thursday. And like those relationship-changing texts and bad test results, we cannot unsee what we saw.

The effort to convince us that it really wasnt that bad will continue. Bidens campaign will keep reiterating that those closest to the presidenthis wife Jill and son Hunter, first and foremostare standing by him, urging him to stay in, because they are the ones who know what he is really like, and they think hes up for it. But the swell from the media is building to counter that, and thats good. Its our job to say what is really happening out there, even if it is unpleasant and inconvenient.

Could we have been more forcefully pushing on Bidens age before? Sure, and some reporters have been trying. But even with the evidence of the numberBiden is 81pressing too hard seemed to be edging into a hypothetical space. He seemed good; the State of the Union was a success, he looked invigorated at rallies. Only now does it feel so obvious that in those encounters, Biden was scripted, prompted, controlled. Everything mediated by people motivated to protect him personally and politically. Now, we regular folks have seen him unplugged. Its not pretty. Aging only goes in one direction.

On Friday morning, my 78-year-old mom, a rational, registered independent in Pennsylvania, texted me: We are not Trump fans, but poor Biden was so bad last night I felt sorry for the man. That is kindness from a fellow senior citizen. But I felt rage, and still do. My anger isnt even really at Biden himself. I am mad at the Democratic Party, which seems to truck along with a mission of its own while remaining wedded to the past. I know what it feels like for voters to be energized by their candidate. Remember 2008? It was seemingly against all odds that Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee, beating Hillary Clinton who  then became the predetermined candidate in 2016. And that time, the energy was different. I got on board and voted for her, dont get me wrong. But everything about that candidacy was locked down. There was little room for a prospective challenger. Bernie Sanders, whose candidacy I dismissed too easily (because I thought he was too old!) and Martin OMalley (remember him?) were the only two to step up. It was Hillarys turn. We got with the program. And then we lost.

Now, we are being urged again to get on board and do this thing. Finish the job! We need to go with the guy with the record, with the experience, with the delegates. He beat Trump beforeno one else has done that, dont you realize that? No one else can do that, Biden defenders keep telling us.

Well, who knows. But I do know that trying to wish last Thursday night away is only going to make me angrier. Im up for rolling the dice. We cant unsee what we saw. And I, for one, dont want to see it again.
The Manatee County Sheriffs Office arrested a Bradenton man they deem to be a prolific burglar after he allegedly burglarized five businesses in three days.

A news release said deputies arrested Leslie S. Guthrie, 53, and charged him with five counts of burglary to an unoccupied structure.

Burglary of an unoccupied structure is a third-degree felony.

Guthrie allegedly broke into Judys Restaurant and American Lock and Key, located in the 9500 block of Cortez Road W., on Wednesday. The sheriffs office said he stole several hundred dollars.

Additional businesses that had break-ins included Pub in a Tub, 8108 Cortez Road W., and Mez Comics and Games, 8208 Cortez Road W.

The news release said a suspect went through the front door at both businesses and tampered with the cash register. Surveillance cameras inside the comic book store led detectives to name Guthrie as a suspect, the sheriffs office said.

On Saturday, a task force tracked Guthrie to a plaza in the 2800 block of State Road 64 East, where he allegedly was casing businesses. Shortly after 2 a.m., an alarm went off at a fifth business at 2852 State Road 64 East. Detectives saw damage at the business, followed Guthrie to a nearby motel and arrested him, the news release said.

According to the news release, detectives gathered evidence from Guthries vehicle and motel room. Video evidence from the fifth business showed Guthrie wearing the same clothing he wore when he was arrested, according to the news release.

Additional charges are expected for Guthrie, who allegedly committed other burglaries in Manatee County, the news release said.

The investigation is ongoing.
Property owners are being buried by taxes. Cash-strapped should be able to delay payments.

Sept. 26, 2023; Bexley, Oh., USA; A "Coming Soon" sign in front of a home in Bexley.

Michael Stinziano is Franklin County auditor.

The challenge for many Franklin County residents impacted by the burden of Ohios current laws in how property taxes are established remains. Some of our neighbors are even left in the impossible position of wondering how they can remain in the neighborhoods they desire to live in unless Ohio laws are changed.

The Franklin County auditors office continues to advocate to our state lawmakers on legislation that could help modernize current laws and also provide options that would provide impactful property tax relief.

First, we should modernize existing options that help homeowners.

The Homestead Exemption allows older and disabled homeowners with incomes of less than $36,100 to exempt $26,200 of home value from being taxed.

We should increase the amount of value exempted and increase the income threshold to help more homeowners. We can also increase the owner-occupied credit to provide real tax relief for homeowners who live in their homes.

Advice on challenging appraisal value: Think your property taxes too high? Challenging your appraisal value may help.

In addition, there are several pieces of legislation I support that can help overburdened property owners.

Legislation is the key to taxes that work for the people

I support Senate Bill 244 and the creation of resident stability zones, which use our existing abatement system to exempt property value increases based on need rather than just development. The bill would protect low-to-moderate income homeowners from future value spikes.

I also support legislation that would create property tax circuit breakers, such as Senate Bill 271, which would provide a refundable tax credit if property taxes exceeded a defined portion of income.

For years, I have supported legislation to cap property tax increases at a specific percentage, to prevent sudden large changes in taxes. Those bills have languished at the Statehouse.

The "Stinziano solution"

I support a Stinziano solution, a property tax deferral program like those that currently exist in many states, which allows eligible homeowners to delay, but not avoid, paying property taxes if they cant afford to at that very moment.

More on Stinziano solutions to taxes: Franklin County Auditor addresses property values, taxes, levies and being 'house poor'

These proposals would help overburdened homeowners at this time of ongoing growth occurring while our housing values are increasing to historic highs.

Michael Stinziano

If I could enact these proposals on my own, I would, but we need the legislature to act on them.

I am asking Franklin County residents to contact their state legislators and direct them to act on these solutions. I urge you to reach out and let them know you support these changes.

Thats the only way these fixes become reality

Michael Stinziano is Franklin County auditor.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Cash-strapped Ohio property owners should be able to defer paying taxes
California farmers operate under one of the strictest regulatory environments in the world. This is not a complaint, its simply an acknowledgment of fact.

In many cases, our fertile soils and culture of innovation allow Californias agricultural economy to thrive even while complying with ever-changing regulations. New policies from Sacramento often come at a cost to our bottom line, but, ultimately, we respect the process and work hard to continue putting food on tables across the nation and world.

Opinion

Unfortunately, some legislators in the Capitol do not respect the process, and are trying to make life more difficult for growers under faulty assumptions.

The latest errant shot at farmers is Assembly Bill 1963, authored by Asm. Laura Friedman, D-Burbank, an unnecessary and unscientific proposal for a one-off ban on a common, effective herbicide called paraquat, which is used by many California farmers to control a broad spectrum of weeds while minimizing damage to nearby trees.

Many almond and pistachio farmers use paraquat to prepare orchards for harvest. Strictly adhering to Californias safety guidelines, we are required to use a state-certified applicator to apply paraquat to our tree rows to clean out harmful weeds and provide a clean surface before harvesting tree nuts.

Although more and more farmers are exploring ways to reduce their reliance on chemicals like paraquat, it is still imperative that it remain an option in our integrated pest management toolbox.

Without access to paraquat, farmers would be forced to use a more costly and carbon-intensive alternative  making several passes with tractors and equipment through each row to disc up and smooth out the surface in preparation.

Our farms and our communities benefit from paraquats ability to tackle weeds not controlled by other pesticides while avoiding adverse effects on soil microbes and microorganisms that preserve healthy soils.

The effectiveness of paraquat allows farmers like me to keep weeds managed and protect the health of crops, reduce the amount of nutrients applied and saving growers between 50,000 to 100,000 gallons of water per acre every year.

There are obstacles to using paraquat, and its use is already strictly regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Pesticide Regulation to protect the health and safety of farmers and farm employees. To apply the herbicide, you must be state-certified; complete regular, mandatory trainings; use a closed system with regulations on droplet size, wind speed limitations and buffers to keep paraquat out of the wrong hands and protect applicators.

When applied under Californias stringent standards, paraquat is a safe, highly effective herbicide that gives California growers a leg up on jurisdictions without the regulatory environment in place for the safe handling of the substance.

AB 1963s proponents want to institute an outright ban on paraquat under the guise of public health claims  including the allegation that exposure to paraquat causes Parkinsons Disease. But thorough reviews by regulatory agencies, including the U.S. EPA, have found those claims to be unsubstantiated. Even so, agencies, including the California Department of Pesticide Regulations, are continuing to evaluate public health claims  and farmers welcome the increased scrutiny.

Unfortunately, AB 1963 would enforce a near-immediate ban in direct conflict with the current science and before any further review by state and federal agencies is available. The proposal would jump the gun and leave farmers like me scrambling for alternatives for weed control that will have more harmful effects on the environment and drive up the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables for California families.

I encourage state legislators to trust the process, trust the experts and trust the science.

Karun Samran is the manager of Bapu Farming Company in Madera, which grows almonds, pistachios and other crops throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Samran also serves on the board of directors for the American Pistachio Growers.
GAZA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a gathering in Gaza City on Monday, while the Israeli army urged residents of eastern Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, to evacuate immediately.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli aircraft targeted the gathering on Al-Jala Street in Gaza City. Video clips circulated on Facebook showed youths lying on the ground following the airstrike.

Medical sources reported that the airstrike resulted in the killing of five people and injuries to 10 others, all of whom were transported to the hospital.

The attack came after Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, in a post on social media platform X, urged residents and displaced persons in areas east of Khan Younis to evacuate immediately to the humanitarian zone.

Also on Monday, the Gaza health authorities said in a press statement that the Israeli army killed 23 Palestinians and wounded 91 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll in the strip to 37,900 and injuries to 87,060 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. 
(FOX40.COM)  Over 80 people were recently busted in connection to prostitution and solicitation in Northern California.

On June 29, the Stockton Police Department conducted an operation that it said targeted areas known for prostitution and related issues; Sierra Nevada Street, Wilson Way, and the MLK corridor. The mission resulted in 39 alleged prostitutes being cited and processed, along with one 17-year-old girl who was returned to her family.

New California housing law that limits security deposits on rentals goes into effect

The Stockton Police Departments efforts to combat human trafficking are a testament to their commitment to protecting its community, SPD said on social media. By conducting targeted operations in high crime areas, the department is able to disrupt and dismantle human trafficking networks, rescue victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.

SPD said the operation also led to another 36 traffic citations issued to men for alleged solicitation of prostitution, six arrests, and 15 vehicles towed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Editors Note: This article has been updated with new information to reflect the exact location of the incident which happened in Mahoning Township.

MAHONING TOWNSHIP, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) say a man was found dead in Carbon County on Monday.

Troopers from the PSP Lehighton Criminal Investigation Unit were called for a death investigation on Monday at around 12:30 p.m. in Mahoning Township.

Officials discovered a body in the Lehigh River, identified as 33-year-old Felix Dejesus, of Jim Thorpe.

The coroners office explains the incident happened downriver from the sewage treatment plant in Jim Thorpe.

Man arrested at Frances Slocum facing stalking charges

State police say Dejesus was previously reported as a missing person by the Jim Thorpe Police Department. PSP explained an investigation into Dejesus death is ongoing.

The coroners office says the autopsy has finished and they are awaiting results from a pending toxicology testing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Oklahoma's Newest Decision Requiring Public School Teachers To Teach From The Bible Is Going Viral, And People Are Losing Their Minds

Last week, Oklahoma's Republican-elected superintendent went viral for requiring the Bible be incorporated into lessons for all 5th12th-grade classrooms.

The state of Oklahoma currently ranks 49th in education. Key & Peele via YouTube / Via youtube.com

In a now-viral video, Superintendent Ryan Walters stated: "We will be issuing a memo today that every school district will adhere to, which is that every teacher and every classroom in the state will have a Bible in the classroom and will be teaching from the Bible in the classroom."

Oklahoma kids will learn that the Bible and the Ten Commandments are foundational for western civilization. The left is upset, but one cannot rewrite history. pic.twitter.com/iZKhv9tKoc  Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) June 27, 2024

@RyanWaltersSupt

Walters described the Bible as a "necessary historical document" and called the separation of church and state a "myth" in a recent interview.

Here's the official memo:

Walters recently said that President Trump inspired the Bible requirement, highlighting Trump's support and appointment of Supreme Court justices who are "originalists." "Were very proud to be the first state to do that, and were proud to be leading the effort to put the Bible back in schools," Walters told US News. NBC News / Via documentcloud.org

Walters has also insinuated that any teacher who refuses to follow the new requirement could have their teaching license revoked.

"Any teacher that would knowingly, willfully disobey the law and disobey our standards  there are repercussions for that, Walters told NBC News. "So we deal with that on a case-by-case basis, but yes, teachers have to teach Oklahoma Academic Standards, and this is absolutely going to be part of them." @RyanWaltersSupt / Via x.com

Now, Walters is facing major backlash online, with many arguing that his requirement goes against a foundational principle in America: the separation between church and state.

is this not unconstitutional???  kemi (@kemywemy2) June 29, 2024

@kemywemy2

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has vowed to fight the requirement in court:

We will take action to stop Oklahoma state Superintendent Ryan Walters from forcing the bible and the Ten Commandments into Oklahomas public schools. https://t.co/vrpb19OXjN  FFRF (@FFRF) June 27, 2024

@FFRF

One teacher wrote that the Bible has "zero place in my 8th grade math classroom."

Im a teacher who owns a Bible and reads from it almost dailyFact: that Bible has zero place in my 8th grade math classroomOklahoma is going to water down their education with this nonsense. But theyre also weakening the Bible, a great book that doesnt need this silly trick  Jay Wamsted (@JayWamsted) June 28, 2024

@JayWamsted

This user agreed, arguing that a teacher isn't "qualified" to teach the Bible.

A public school teacher isnt qualified to teach the Bible any more than a priest is qualified to teach geometry. Religion has no place in public schools.  KD  (@kdnerak33) June 29, 2024

@kdnerak33

This user called out Oklahoma's 49th place education ranking:

How does having a Bible in the classroom help move Oklahoma Public Education from 49th position?  mutabi (@mutabi) June 27, 2024

@mutabi

I'd like to know what you think about Oklahoma's newest Bible requirement in schools. Let us know in the comments below or via this anonymous Google form. Your response may be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed post!
This Publix near Surf City, North Carolina, is one of about 1,400 the grocer operates.

It's official. Almost a year after rumors started swirling about a Publix Super Market opening in Florence, the grocer has finally confirmed it.

A Publix spokesperson said Tuesday that a 55,325-square-foot store is coming to Farmview Commons, located at the northeast corner of U.S. 42. It will include an adjacent Publix Liquors that will sell beer, wine and spirits.

In September, The Enquirer reported on conceptual plans for the 11.8 acre development.

North Carolina-based developers Crosland Southeast and local design consultant firm Bayer Becker hashed out plans for Farmview Commons shopping center to include two separate commercial buildings with the possibility for each to have a drive-through window.

The company did not specify an opening date for the new store.

That brings the grand total of Publix Super Markets in Northern Kentucky to four.

The company announced its first Northern Kentucky location at the Triple Crown Shopping Center in Boone County in November. A Cold Spring location was announced in April. Just yesterday, the company confirmed a third location in Independence.

Publix Super Markets first announced it would expand into Kentucky in 2022, when the company broke ground at its Louisville location (which opened in January) and announced at least three additional stores slated to open in Kentucky this year.

How big a player will Publix ultimately become in Northern Kentucky or the Bluegrass State as a whole? The company isn't saying.

Still, the last two times Publix moved into a new state was Virginia in 2017 and North Carolina in 2014.

Now, Publix has is the No. 4 grocer in Richmond, Virginia with 14 stores and 11% of local market share, according to industry tracker Chain Store Guide. Similarly, Publix is also No. 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina with 26 stores and 10% market share.

The Florida-based grocery chain, which has about 1,360 supermarkets, has been inching into Kentucky and will now be challenging grocery store giant Kroger, which is headquartered in Cincinnati.

More: Publix just confirmed its third Northern Kentucky store. It's likely eyeing at least 4

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Publix opening grocery store in Florence
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark.  Controversy over a groups efforts to take ballot measures behind jail bars in Pulaski County has resulted in the jail denying access to canvassers in the final week of signature gathering.

The law is said to be a gray area, but the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility is pointing to a state law as its reason for not allowing this.

Arkansas voting access group sues state over recent wet signature rule

Bill Kopsky with the group For AR Kids said it wouldnt be the first time a groups gone into jails to register voters, but added his group has also had inmates who are registered sign ballot measures in the past.

Kopsky said the organization intended to do the same with their current ballot measure that focuses on education in Arkansas. State law doesnt stop anyone from registering voters in county jails but does say organizers cant use public resources for ballot measures.

For AR Kids ballot initiative aims to create free access to Pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds and establish the minimum academic standards for Arkansas schools and require all schools that accept state taxpayer funds to follow the same rules and standards.

For AR Kids kicks off effort to gather signatures for education amendment

Nic Horton with Opportunity Arkansas, who discovered that For AR Kids aimed to collect signatures from inmates, said it all seemed questionable at best. He added that any taxpayer-funded resource shouldnt be swayed one way more than the other.

I think this is a very serious thing. When you have taxpayer-funded resources that should be a neutral forum. Whatever the forum is, it should be neutral, Horton said. It shouldnt be for it, shouldnt be against, because you have taxpayers on both sides. Their money and the resources they provide shouldnt be going into something thats political like this.

Horton said that had the group planned to go in and register voters after the petition deadline on July 5, he might not have thought anything of it, but the timing of their plan is what first sounded alarms for Opportunity Arkansas.

Kopsky said his group would have gotten maybe a few dozen signatures had they gone into the jails.

The allegation coming in from whats his name (Horton) was inane because hes arguing were somehow trying to game the system and get some magic massive number of signatures and thats just not the case, Kopsky said.

Arkansas Supreme Court dismisses suit attempting to change ballot initiative process

The deadline for these ballot groups to get all of their signatures is 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 KARK.
LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue grad student Anik Paul stepped off the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge in the wee hours of July 3, 2023, and other than the first officers who saw him flailing in the river after his jump, he's not been seen since.

After months of searching the Wabash River from Attica to the pedestrian bridge, no one has found Paul's body.

In his 18 years as an Indiana conservation officer, Lt. Blaine Gillam can recall only two incidents in which a victim's body has not been recovered from a river or lake.

The first was 4-year-old Owen Jones, who drowned in Deer Creek on May 23, 2019, when he was swept away by the strong current after heavy rains. Owen's body was never found despite a search that continued the entire summer.

Anik Paul, a 31-year-old Purdue graduate student from Bangladesh, leaped from the John T. Myer Pedestrian Bridge just before 3 a.m. July 3, 2023. He's not been seen or heard from since. The missing person case remains open but unsolved.

The other is Paul, who leaped from the bridge just before 3 a.m.

"It's never a good feeling when we get a report of someone in the water," Gillam said, noting they want to rescue the person or at least find recover the missing person's remains.

"That weighs on us, too," he said about not finding drowning victims' bodies.

"Rivers are different," Gillam said about water rescue and recovery efforts fighting the currents, the debris and obstacles that can be a danger to divers. "It's harder to get divers into a moving body of water."

West Lafayette police detective Lt. Jon Eager said they've investigated every lead they've uncovered and still don't know where Paul is or what prompted him to jump.

Police know Paul was 31, from Bangladesh and a graduate student at Purdue. He messaged his friend about 2:40 a.m. July 3, 2023, saying the water wasn't deep enough.

More: The last known communications from missing Purdue student

The friend found the message disturbing and called police out of concern, police said last year. Paul's message did not specify what body of water wasn't deep enough, so officers began searching bodies of water in the West Lafayette and Lafayette area.

One officer was near the Celery Bog when the call came in, and he searched the bog. Then he headed toward Tapawingo Park, arriving at 2:50 a.m., Eager said last year. That officer heard someone in the water and saw splashing between the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge and the South Street bridge.

That man flailing in the river shrouded by darkness was the last glimpse of Paul by another person.

Paul's family's yearlong struggle without him

"Still now we dont have any clear idea behind the reason of Anik's disappearance from (the) bridge," Anik's sister, Bithi Paul, wrote in an email Wednesday to the Journal & Courier. "Police cannot give us any information about my brother after that incident."

Anik Paul, a 31-year-old Purdue graduate student from Bangladesh, leaped from the John T. Myer Pedestrian Bridge just before 3 a.m. July 3, 2023. He's not been seen or heard from since. The missing person case remains open but unsolved.

Police don't have any more information about Anik after he jumped, Eager said several times during interviews with the J&C over the last year.

"We don't have any reason to believe he's alive based on all the evidence we have," Eager said last week.

Anik's apparent death leaves his family in Bangladesh emotionally and financially devastated, Bithi Paul said in her email.

"My parents are still alive for him back and waiting for their son," wrote Bithi, who is not quite fluent in English. "And I am struggling with all issues including financial problem because Anik was responsible for family financial supports."

Officially a missing person

Eager noted that they continue to try to get DNA from Anik's family so that if or when his remains are discovered, investigators can positively identify them.

Gillam noted that conservation officers sometimes get calls about bones discovered in or near rivers, and they have experts determine whether the bones are human or animal.

Having DNA on file will be helpful if Anik's remains are found, Eager said.

Gillam encourages water safety

"We obviously encourage wearing a life jacket," Gillam said about people playing in the water.

Even people who are familiar with the creek, river or lake can be caught by surprise by something unexpected, he said.

"By the time you realize it, it's swept you away," Gillam said.

Owen Jones, the 4-year-old, is a prime example of how a life jacket might have spared his life by keeping him afloat in the swift current.

Paul's intentions for jumping into the river, however, appear to reflect a personal struggle as opposed to recreational swimming.

People with thoughts of harming themselves may call or text 988, a 24/7 lifeline number that connects the person to mental health professionals.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue student from Bangladesh who jumped from bridge presumed dead
The Licht Judicial Complex in Providence houses the Rhode Island Supreme Court and Providence/Bristol County Superior Court. (Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)

The namesake of a 2021 state law that gives offenders convicted before their 22nd birthday the chance for parole can now seek a hearing for his own possible release after serving over 20 years in prison.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled 4-1 Tuesday that 40-year-old Mario Monteiro, along with three other offenders convicted of crimes during their youth, have the right to a parole hearing under the Youthful Offenders Act, also called Marios Law.

Mondays decision came over a year after Superior Court Justice Stephen Nugent ruled that Monteiro should immediately be released on parole due to his rehabilitation efforts. That ruling was appealed by the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General, which argued Marios Law did not apply to Monteiro. State prosecutors argued the law only applies to those sentenced for any offense, not offenders serving life sentences for multiple crimes.

Monteiro was convicted in 2002 for a murder he committed at the age of 17 in 2001. He was sentenced to life on the murder charge and a mandatory consecutive life sentence for discharging a firearm during a days-long gang feud that resulted in the death of 31-year-old Cambodian immigrant Rom Pov.

Monteiro was unanimously granted parole for his first life sentence in 2022, but not for his second conviction.

Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg dismissed the states arguments, writing that the 2021 law mandates the aggregation of an offenders sentences, including consecutive sentences.

While the state attributes great importance to the singular usage of the term offense, we conclude that this emphasis is misplaced, Goldberg wrote.

The court also found that Nugent overstepped his authority when he ordered the parole board to immediately release Monteiro. That same argument applied to a 2022 ruling by Nugent to release Pablo Ortega, Joao Neves and Keith Nunes  all of whom the state had similarly argued were not eligible for parole.

In his lone dissent, Justice William Robinson concluded that any offense does indeed mean any single offense and that the defendants were ineligible for parole because they were convicted of multiple offenses.

If the General Assembly had deliberately opted to exercise legislative grace towards youthful offenders serving sentences for having committed multiple offenses, it would have been a straightforward and easy task to draft statutory language that would make reference to a youthful offender sentenced to any offense or offenses, Robinson wrote.

The courts ruling was meant to provide clarity for the state, observed Roger Williams University School of Law Professor Michael Yelnosky.

A core function of the highest court in a state is to issue controlling interpretations of statutes when the meaning of those statutes is not crystal clear, Yelnosky said in an email to Rhode Island Current.

The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union called the courts ruling a major victory for criminal justice reform.

The science supports the position that juveniles and young adults do not have the same impulse control that adults do, Sonja Deyoe, one of the attorneys representing Monteiro, said in a statement Tuesday.

Accordingly, if they can prove they are rehabilitated, it makes sense to parole these now adult men and women to the community.

Brian Hodge, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals office, said in an email Wednesday We respect the Courts decision and interpretation of the parole statute as it applies to youthful offenders.

This decision provides much needed clarity, not only to this Office, but to the trial courts, the Department of Corrections, defendants, victims families, and the public at large  all of whom deserve to understand what these sentences really mean at the time they are imposed, Hodge said.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the day of the courts decision and to add comment from the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General.

The post R.I. Supreme Court rules Marios Law namesake can seek parole appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Following the Supreme Courts ruling on Monday regarding former President Donald Trumps executive immunity while in office, many legal scholars, political commentators and politicians have shared their opinions  including a strong reaction from the White House.

As President Biden has said, nobody is above the law, White House spokesman Ian Sams said in a statement, per ABC News. That is a core American principle and how our system of justice works. We need leaders like President Biden who respect the justice system and dont tear it down.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee posted on X following the ruling, Todays decision by the Supreme Court is a big win for constitutional separation of powers and a huge loss for those who want to weaponize the federal government against their political opponents.

Todays decision by the Supreme Court is a big win for constitutional separation of powers and a huge loss for those who want to weaponize the federal government against their political opponents. pic.twitter.com/u2lggMG20N  Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) July 1, 2024

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., shared an opposing viewpoint, This is a sad day for America and a sad day for our democracy, he posted on X. The very basis of our judicial system is that no one is above the law. Treason or incitement of an insurrection should not be considered a core constitutional power afforded to a president.

This is a sad day for America and a sad day for our democracy.



The very basis of our judicial system is that no one is above the law.



Treason or incitement of an insurrection should not be considered a core constitutional power afforded to a president. https://t.co/wCNI42U5Ki  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 1, 2024

CNN political commentator Van Jones told CNNs Anderson Cooper that the top court ruling is bad from a political perspective, per CNN. It makes the Supreme Court look very partisan, adding that the justices are supposed to be political and objective umpires but look more like MAGA supporters. If Trump were to be reelected, Jones said, Mondays ruling gives Trump a license to thug in a way, he said, emphasizing that Trump will be able to do whatever he wants and the Supreme Court is probably going to let you (Trump) get away with it. That is very frightening.

On Fox News, constitutional law attorney Jonathan Turley said the majority of the Supreme Court was trying to find something in the middle and not fully take Trumps full immunity claims or the three-judge federal appeals court panels ruling back in February that ruled he could not claim presidential immunity.

However, Turley added, This is a major victory for former President Trump.

What this mean for Trumps election subversion case

The 6-3 ruling by the Supreme Court grants Trump  and all other presidents  immunity from criminal prosecution over official actions made while in office, but not over unofficial ones. The justices explained the difference in their ruling:

In dividing official from unofficial conduct, courts may not inquire into the presidents motives, the ruling said. Such a highly intrusive inquiry would risk exposing even the most obvious instances of official conduct to judicial examination on the mere allegation of improper purpose. ... Nor may courts deem an action unofficial merely because it allegedly violates a generally applicable law. Otherwise, presidents would be subject to trial on every allegation that an action was unlawful, depriving immunity of its intended effect.

Legal proceedings were paused back in February in special counsel Jack Smiths election interference case against Trump after Trumps legal team appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. Following the ruling Monday, Smiths case may not hold enough against the presumptive presidential nominee and is pretty much guaranteed not to reach trial until after the 2024 presidential election. If that were to happen and Trump wins the presidential election, hes likely to have the Justice Department drop the charges.

Going forward, (There) are likely to be more hearings, written arguments and even proceedings with witness testimony and debates over evidence before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., according to CNN. Once Chutkan works through the legal issues, its possible that more appeals of her preliminary decisions could put the case on hold again  adding in significant delay.

Chutkan initially planned for the trial to begin in March but had to delay it due to Trumps immunity appeals. Now, she must apply the Supreme Courts recent ruling to assess whether any of the allegations against Trump can proceed.

On remand, the District Court must carefully analyze the indictments remaining allegations to determine whether they too involve conduct for which a president must be immune from prosecution, the court ruling said. And the parties and the District Court must ensure that sufficient allegations support the indictments charges without such conduct. Testimony or private records of the president or his advisers probing such conduct may not be admitted as evidence at trial.

Smiths office has yet to comment on the recent ruling publicly.
Wielding the ceremonial scissors, Gov. Andy Beshear helps cut the ribbon on the Yellow Banks Recovery Center in Owensboro. Beshear is flanked by Tim Robinson, founder and CEO of Addiction Recovery Care, third from left in the photo, and Rocky Adkins, senior adviser to Beshear, Aug. 3, 2023. The center was ARC's first in Western Kentucky. (Photo courtesy of ARC)

FRANKFORT  In his State of the Commonwealth speech in January, Gov. Andy Beshear took a moment to address the scourge of addiction in Kentucky, singling out for praise the states largest provider of treatment services.

In his State of the Commonwealth speech, Beshear, left, recognized Robinson and highlighted the story of Brad Bentley, right, a native of Marrowbone in Pike County who went from active addiction to program director at ARCs Crown Recovery Center in Springfield. (Photo courtesy of ARC)

Addiction Recovery Care, or ARC, the Eastern Kentucky-based company  with about 75% of the states treatment beds  has grown rapidly over the past decade to dominate the treatment business, financed mostly through Medicaid.

With us today, Beshear said, is Tim Robinson, founder and CEO of ARC, an essential partner in our fight against addiction.  Im proud to say we now have more treatment beds per capita than any other state in the country.

But as he worked to open more addiction recovery beds, Robinson was doing something else that surely didnt hurt his chances of winning such high praise from the governor during the speech televised statewide on KET.

Robinson was donating big to Beshear.

From mid-2021 through the end of 2023 Robinson, his corporations and employees gave at least $252,500 to political committees supporting Beshear, according to Kentucky Lanterns analysis of online government databases of political contributions.

The donations to Democrat Beshear were a shift in the giving pattern for Robinson, a lifelong and loyal Republican. He even gave big to Beshears opponent in the 2019 governors race, Republican incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin.

The Lanterns analysis shows that  including money contributed to Beshear committees  Robinson, his corporations and employees have made at least $570,000 in political contributions over the past decade as his for-profit company grew from a single halfway house to about 1,800 residential beds and outpatient care for hundreds more clients. That care is mostly financed through Medicaid, the government health plan that expanded care for substance use disorder in 2014.

Except for the money given to Beshear political committees, virtually all of the rest went to Republicans like Bevin, Attorney General Russell Coleman, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers and candidates for the Kentucky legislature.

Tim Robinson, right, was presented with the 2022 Congressman Hal Rogers Beacon of Hope Award at the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta. Rogers is standing at left. Nancy Hale, former head of Operation UNITE, holds the award. Thousands of officials and experts in addiction and opioid use gather annually to share research and strategies at the summits. (Photo courtesy ARC)

In an interview Robinson explained, Ive never been for anybody like Ive been for Andy Beshear, saying that of all the public officials he has met, Beshear has a unique ability to bring people together.

I hope he runs for president, Robinson said. Im a Republican and I dont care who sees that.

Total giving: $570,838

The Lantern found 266 contributions totaling $570,838 over the past decade from Robinson, his companies and his employees listed in online databases of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, Federal Election Commission, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Read more about Tim Robinson and ARC: Kentucky lawyer climbed out of alcoholism, launched a recovery boom

Of that total, Robinson made 92 contributions totaling $262,405. (Included here are a few donated by his wife Lelia.)

A huge share of the donations  $216,050  came from Robinson corporations.

And the remaining $92,383 came in scores of mostly small contributions from officials and employees of Robinsons companies primarily Addiction Recovery Care, the Kentucky Lantern analysis shows.

Robinson said that the total of more than $570,000 seems high to me. But he added, Whatever the record is, the record is.

Robinson, a recovering alcoholic who grew up poor, said he has no compunctions about his political donations, after years of struggling financially to build ARC from a single halfway house to a statewide network of treatment centers with an annual revenue of about $130 million a year.

Biggest share to Beshear

Kentucky Lanterns analysis showed that Robinson employees began donating relatively small amounts to Beshears campaign committee at the very outset of his reelection campaign in late 2021.

Before the election was over, Robinson and his employees and a small political action committee he funded donated $26,525 to the Beshear campaign, the Kentucky Democratic Party and other political committees backing Beshear.

Thats a modest amount, but what made Robinson a major donor to Beshear were the larger contributions his corporations made to the Democratic Governors Association. The corporations  primarily London Valu-Rite Pharmacy  donated $197,000 to the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) in 2022 and 2023.

The DGA financed a $19 million independent campaign last year to reelect Beshear. The DGA is a tax-exempt 527 organization that can accept contributions of unlimited amounts from people, corporations or labor unions.

Robinson said he gives through companies he controls, including the pharmacy and health clinic, for the obvious reason that there is no legal limit on how much a donor can give to such groups. (State and federal law limit how much a person can give to a candidate for statewide office per election to $2,100 and limit to $15,000 how much a person can give to a state political party. Corporations are forbidden from contributing to a campaign for state office or to a state political party.)

Robinson giving to Beshear political causes continued last December when Robinson gave $29,000 to the committee that paid for Beshears inauguration celebration. Inaugural committees are allowed to take contributions of unlimited amounts and Robinsons is the largest contribution by any individual to Beshears inaugural committee.

Support for Russell Coleman, Republicans

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman (Kentucky Lantern photo by Mathew Mueller)

The biggest Republican beneficiary of Robinson contributions in the last election cycle has been Attorney General Russell Coleman, who now holds an office that is second only to the governor in setting and enforcing policy in Kentuckys fight to reduce substance abuse and addiction.

Robinson, his corporations and employees gave at least $37,700 to Coleman political committees since late 2022.

Robinson gave $10,416 to a super PAC supporting Coleman called Safer Kentucky in late 2023. He also gave $6,000 to the committee that financed Colemans inauguration celebration.

His London Valu-Rite Pharmacy also donated $10,000 in 2023 to the Safer Kentucky PAC. Contributions from Robinson and his employees to Colemans campaign bring the total contributions from the Robinson group to Coleman to about $37,700.

Robinson said he has known Coleman for years, respects Colemans background as a U.S attorney and FBI agent, and agrees with Colemans stance on policy and enforcement.

I went to law school with Russell. He and I have been friends since then, Robinson said. I think hes probably the most qualified person weve ever had as attorney general.

Patrick Morrisey is the Republican nominee for governor of West Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Kentucky Lanterns analysis shows Robinson has supported many Republicans through the past decade.

Besides his big support for Bevin in 2019 and Coleman in 2023, he has long been a donor to the political committees of U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers. He regularly donates to the Republican caucuses of the Kentucky House and Senate as well as individual Republicans running for seats in the General Assembly.

He and his employees have been particularly persistent donors who have provided a strong and reliable flow of campaign dollars to three eastern Kentucky legislators: Sen. Phillip Wheeler of Pikeville, Rep. Patrick Flannery of Olive Hill and Rep. Danny Bentley, of Russell.

And recent contributions show that for the first time Robinson is reaching beyond Kentuckys borders. Early this year he and ARC employees gave at least $20,000 to a political committee of Patrick Morrisey, West Virginias attorney general and Republican nominee for governor in this falls election.

The post Recovery CEO gives big to support Democrat Beshear and a host of Republicans appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
The Atalco Gramercy complex in St. James Parish, formerly Noranda Alumina, in 2022. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, environmental advocates and local residents are asking Louisiana to investigate what they say is mercury-laden dust from the refinery, which produces alumina, an ingredient in making aluminum. (Photo courtesy of Healthy Gulf)

Environmental law advocates have asked Louisianas environmental regulating agency not to renew the air permits for a controversial planned plastics manufacturing facility, citing new federal air quality standards limiting toxic soot and dust pollution.

In a separate action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, environmental advocates and local residents also are asking Louisiana to investigate what they say is mercury-laden dust from the Atalco Gramercy refinery, which produces alumina, an ingredient in making aluminum.

Attorneys with the national nonprofit environmental law group EarthJustice say the massive complex Formosa Plastics intends to build in St. James Parish would cause widespread violations of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for particulate matter, commonly referred to as soot.

EarthJustice, representing six environmental justice groups, alleges the mammoth 2,400-acre, $9.4 billion complex would exceed whats allowed under federal Clean Air Act standards for many miles around. The facility would exacerbate the already poor air plaguing communities in the heavily-industrialized corridor between New Orleans and Baton Rouge known as Cancer Alley, EarthJustice said.

We wanted to get this in now so that (Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality) was aware of the problem, at a time when it can work to correct it, said Mike Brown, a senior attorney with EarthJustice based in New Orleans. When they get this application, they need to reduce Formosa Plastics emissions so that it isnt worsening the problem.

EarthJustice on Thursday submitted a nearly 30-page letter to LDEQ asking the agency to deny Formosas impending renewal of its air permits. The group cited modeling conducted by an independent engineering firm and new federal soot standards enacted in May.

LDEQ did not respond to requests for comment from Floodlight about the letter or any related questions. Formosa Plastics also did not respond to a request from Floodlight seeking comment on EarthJustices complaint.

Long legal fight continues

Formosa Plastics, a Taiwanese petrochemical company, has been locked in a legal battle with local environmental advocates for several years. The company plans to build a manufacturing complex that would include 16 factories in a predominantly Black and lower-income community in St. James Parish. The massive complex would produce resins and polymers used to manufacture single-use plastics, artificial turf and other products.

The project was halted in 2022 when a Louisiana district court judge sided with local advocates who legally challenged the air permits LDEQ had awarded. The plaintiffs argued the states environmental agency did not comply with the federal Clean Air Act by failing to consider the cumulative harms that emissions from the proposed facility would place on the surrounding community.

But in February, a state appeals court reversed that decision, clearing the way for the project to move forward despite the staunch opposition from the residents seeking to block further industrial development in their backyards. Plaintiffs have asked the Louisiana Supreme Court to take up their appeal.

The original air permits issued to Formosa in January 2020 are set to expire soon. The company has until July 6 to submit its renewal application for them.

However, in February, the EPA released new rules strengthening air quality standards around soot pollution by lowering its annual emissions level from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter to provide increased protections to the public.

Exposure to toxic soot has been linked to a variety of lung and heart-related issues. EPA has said lowering the allowable levels of particulate matter in the air could save as much as $77 in human health benefits in 2032 for every dollar spent to mitigate exposure.

Based on the findings in June from Wingra Engineering, EarthJustice claims soot levels would be more than five times higher than allowable levels when Formosa and the existing cluster of industrial facilities are factored in.

The main bloc of violations stretches more than 17 miles long and 9 miles wide in an unbroken area along both sides of the Mississippi River, the EarthJustice complaint said. This includes numerous residential communities.

Brown added that the Clean Air Act requires Louisiana to take a look at the cumulative impact of all of the sources of soot, because it forbids new sources from causing or contributing to ongoing violations of these standards.

These are rags used by Jo Banner to clean the tables at her familys restaurant, Fee-Fo-Lay Cafe, in Wallace. Banner says red mercury-laden dust on the rag on the left is emitted by Atalco, the nearby alumina refinery. (Photo courtesy of Healthy Gulf for the Descendants Project)

Alumina plant targeted

EarthJustice and the EPA have also raised concerns about renewal of an air permit for Atalco Gramercy, an alumina refinery complex that sprawls across St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes.

Residents like Jo Banner, who lives near the refinery, have complained to state and federal agencies about thick clouds of red mercury-laden dust spewing from the refinery.

Its been horrible. I call it chemical warfare, said Banner, co-founder of the local nonprofit advocacy group The Descendants Project. We wake up in the morning and our outdoor furniture is covered in this red soot; our cars, our homes, our pets. The smell of it, it makes your eyes burn. Im sick of what were continually having to bear with this plant.

Louisiana environmental activists and twins Jo Banner, right, and Joy Banner. (Courtesy of the Descendants Project)

The EPA, in a June 14 letter to LDEQ, recommended the agency conduct fence line and mobile air monitoring for mercury and soot around Atalco to gauge its impact on the surrounding communities and to make that data available to the public. The federal agency is also asking Louisiana to lower hazardous emissions in the area.

Mercury exposure has been linked to damaged brain function and birth defects.

Atalco did not respond to questions submitted about the EPAs letter or EarthJustices compliant.

EarthJustice called on the state to conduct a full and fair public trust analysis to ensure that environmental impacts are minimized.

Floodlight is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powerful interests stalling climate action.

The post Regulators asked to deny permits for giant Louisiana plastics plant appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with a delegation led by Mahamat Zen Bada, secretary general of the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement of Chad, in Beijing on Tuesday.

The two sides exchanged views on strengthening inter-party exchanges and cooperation, deepening practical cooperation in various fields, promoting the development of China-Chad relations and building a China-Africa community with a shared future. 
A Los Angeles man who died serving his country during World War II will be returning home for burial after he was successfully identified by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The remains of U.S. Army Air Force Tech. Sgt. Donald V. Banta were positively identified and accounted for last September, and his surviving family members were just officially briefed on the matter.

Banta was assigned to the 703rd Bombardment Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force in the European Theater, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), an agency within the Defense Department whose mission is to recover and identify the remains of service members who were prisoners of war or went missing in action during past military conflicts around the world.

Banta worked as an engineer and machine-gunner on a B-24J Liberator, the DPAA said. He died on Feb. 24, 1944 when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire after taking off from an airbase in England for a bombing mission against enemy targets near Gotha, Germany.

During the mission, this aircraft sustained damage from enemy fighter attack and exploded in mid-air near Leimbach, Germany, officials said.

California airman who died following Bataan Death March identified

Banta was one of nine crew members on board when the plane went down. Two were able to parachute to safety before being captured by German troops; the other seven, including Banta, died in the crash. He was 21 at the time.

The remains of one of his fellow crew members were recovered by German soldiers and buried in a local cemetery, but Bantas and the remains of the other deceased were never accounted for, officials said.

But in 1952, years after the end of the Second World War, an American organization that searched for and recovered the remains of fallen American military members in Europe, received the unidentified comingled remains of several men buried at Bad Salzungen Cemetery in central Germany.

It was theorized at the time that the remains of the men were related to Bantas downed aircraft, but it was impossible to positively identify them at the time.

Instead, their remains were interred at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.

Photos of Donald V. Banta, 21, of Los Angeles, whose plane was shot down over Germany on Feb. 24, 1944. (DPAA)

Photos of Donald V. Banta, 21, of Los Angeles, whose plane was shot down over Germany on Feb. 24, 1944. (DPAA)

Photos of Donald V. Banta, 21, of Los Angeles, whose plane was shot down over Germany on Feb. 24, 1944. (DPAA)

Decades later, in June 2021, historians from DPAA and the American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed the remains of those men and transferred them to a laboratory for identification.

Using modern scientific technology and analysis, scientists were able to confirm that one of the remains was Banta.

His name is currently recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Hombourg, Belgium. A rosette will now be placed next to his name to indicate that he has finally been accounted for and has returned home.

Banta will now be buried Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside. A date has yet to be determined, but anyone seeking funeral or family information can contact the Army Casualty Office at 800-892-2490.

To read more of Bantas story, visit his bio page on the DPAA website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is standing resolutely by President Joe Biden, even as she acknowledged it was not a good performance in last weeks debate with former President Donald Trump.

President Biden had obviously, arguably a pretty poor performance in the debate, Wasserman Schultz said Tuesday.

Still, she said, Democrats should be concentrating on campaign efforts, not spending time rehashing what happened during the debate. I have two hands, and I think we should be using our hands for door knocking and phone calling  not pearl-clutching and hand-wringing, she said.

And, during an interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, the Broward Democrat dismissed the notion that Biden should drop out in favor of a Democrat who might have a better chance at defeating Trump in November.

I dont expect, nor think its wise for us to change horses just before the finish line, Wasserman Schultz said.

Wasserman Schultz is the senior Democrat in the Florida congressional delegation and a former chair of the Democratic National Committee.

I agree with Vice President (Kamala Harris) and others who have said that you do not chalk up the capability of a president to his performance in 90 minutes, when compared to 3.5 years of the remarkable success that weve had.

Wasserman Schultz rejected the notion that Biden might not be up to the challenge of competing against Trump or serving a full term if reelected in November.

Im confident in what Ive seen. Ive seen President Biden recently and been able to interact with him recently in person. And I can tell you based on my interactions with President Biden, Im confident not only that he can take on (but) beat Donald Trump, she said.

Wasserman said the priority for Democrats in the coming months shouldnt be agonizing over Bidens performance. Instead Democrats need to be able to make sure that we can continue to organize and mobilize across the country to ensure that President Biden can get to 270 electoral votes.

Wasserman Schultz said polls still show that its close.

The needle has not moved, really, very much. The race is still close. It was a close race before the debate. Its still a close race, and this race will be a photo finish most likely, Wasserman Schultz said.

Theres been limited high-quality, independent public opinion polling since the debate.

A nationwide CBS News poll conducted June 28-29 found 72% of voters think Biden does not have the mental and cognitive health to serve as president. (As for Trump, 49% of voters said he didnt have the mental and cognitive ability to serve.)

The CBS poll found 72% of registered voters and 46% of Democrats believe Biden should not be running for president.

My voters, my constituents, they support President Biden, Wasserman Schultz said. Like many Democrats, she pointed to accomplishments since Biden took office in 2021, calling him the most successful president in modern times. And I dont think thats a close call.

Out front

Wasserman Schultz has been more outspoken in support of Biden than other South Florida members of Congress.

Shortly after the debate ended, Wasserman Schultz posted a statement that highlighted policy differences between Biden and Trump. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, posted a similar statement.

In subsequent days, as chatter grew among pundits and anonymous Democrats that Biden should drop out, Wasserman Schultz rejected that idea.

Theres just honesty, goodness and no quit in @JoeBiden, she wrote in a social media post. In another post, she said that Americans do not want four more years of Trump lies and chaos. I stand with @JoeBiden. And a day after that she praised Biden, criticized Trump and ended a post with Im #RidenWithBiden.

Other South Florida Democrats were more restrained on social media.

An hour before the debate, Frankel posted that she was Looking forward to tonights debate! Excited to support President Biden and highlight the incredible progress weve made under his leadership.

As of midday Tuesday, Frankel hadnt posted anything about Bidens performance, though on Saturday she posted that June was Mens Health Month! Lets encourage the men in our lives to prioritize their health by getting regular check-ups, staying active, and talking openly about mental well-being. A healthier future starts today.

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, commented only indirectly. Just as the debate was ending, he wrote that In the last hour, I have 25 tweets in my draft folder. He didnt post any.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who also represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, didnt address Bidens performance.

She posed with three other Black women members of Congress on the steps of the Capitol. The representatives said it was a Busy day in Congress doing our Black jobs representing our constituents and fighting for justice and opportunity. That was a commentary on one of Trumps debate comments, in which he asserted that undocumented immigrants were taking Black jobs from citizens.

Long alliance

Wasserman Schultzs assessment of Biden on Tuesday was similar to her assessment before the March 2020 Florida presidential primary when she endorsed him in what at the time was still a competitive contest for the Democratic nomination.

She said in an interview at the time that it was a very easy decision because Biden was the Democrat best equipped to defeat Trump and effectively lead the country.

The congresswoman has a long history with Biden.

When Biden was a U.S. senator from Delaware, he was the lead Senate sponsor and Wasserman Schultz was the lead House sponsor of legislation to combat child exploitation. It was signed into law by then-President George W. Bush in 2008.

When he was vice president and Congress was considering then-President Barack Obamas controversial Iran nuclear deal, Biden visited Davie for a session with Jewish community leaders invited by Wasserman Schultz.

And when he was vice president, Biden gave the commencement address to the Cypress Bay High School class of 2012. Cypress Bay is in Wasserman Schultzs hometown of Weston.

As a student at the University of Florida, she supported Biden in his first presidential campaign  in 1988.

I have been supporting Joe Biden and believed that he should be president of the United States someday for my whole adult life, from my first vote for president, Wasserman Schultz said in 2020.

Wasserman Schultz has often praised Biden, once introducing him as a national treasure and a mensch.

_____
Rep. Lloyd Doggett becomes first elected Democrat to call for Biden to bow out

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 16, 2015. Doggett has become the first in the party to publicly call for President Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee for president, citing Biden's debate performance failing to "effectively defend his many accomplishments." | Lauren Victoria Burke

A House Democrat from Texas has called for President Joe Biden to bow out of the 2024 presidential race, citing Bidens performance at last weeks debate.

Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, released a statement Tuesday that said Biden should make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. Doggett is the first House Democrat to call for Biden to bow out in the fallout of the first presidential debate.

My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved, Doggett said. Recognizing that, unlike (Donald) Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.

Who is Lloyd Doggett?

Doggett, 77, is serving his 15th term in Congress and represents Austin.

According to The Associated Press, the Texas Democrat is saying what many House members have been privately whispering behind closed doors since last weeks debate.

In his statement, Doggett lauded achievements made by Biden during his term. However, he argued that now is a moment to pass the torch in the Democratic Party, The Hill reported.

Doggett also likened the choice Biden faces to former President Lyndon Johnsons 1968 decision to not seek reelection.

I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same, Doggett said. While much of his work has been transformational, he pledged to be transitional.

How did Karine Jean-Pierre respond to questions about Bidens fitness for office?

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to a question Tuesday about Bidens mental acuity and the debate performance.

We understand the concerns. We get it, Jean-Pierre said. The president did not have a great night. ... The president had a cold ...

Karine Jean-Pierre scrambles as she's pressed on Biden's horrible debate performance.



Q: "There are growing calls from Democrats, including members of Congress, for the president to step aside for the 2024 election because he's not capable of serving another 4 years. What is pic.twitter.com/9QLNXtwl3m  Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 2, 2024

Jean-Pierre said she believes Bidens record overall is more important than his poor debate performance.

Who else is calling for President Biden to bow out?

Several media outlets, including The New York Times, have called for Biden to step down. Democratic Party strategist James Carville also called for Biden to bow out of the race Monday, according to Fox News.

Everybody saw what they saw Thursday night. I dont take any pleasure in this, Carville said during a CNN interview.

Former Ohio Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang have also called for Biden to bow out of the race, according to Newsweek.

How are Democrats reacting to Biden at the debate?

Politico reported that Bidens debate performance has also prompted Democratic governors to set up a meeting with Biden.

Two dozen Democratic governors were on a Monday call to vent fears and frustration over the presidents poor debate performance, per the report, which was also reported by CNN anchor Jake Tapper.

Folks want to know  whats the plan, Joe? What is the plan not only for you, but the rest of us to get out there and carry the flag? Are you able and is the campaign able to maintain the pace? one source told Politico. Many of the governors want to know, whats next? Weve got to rebound.

Independent Sen. Joe Manchin was reportedly talked out of calling for Biden to bow out of the race over the weekend, a move he wanted to make after the debate, according to The Washington Post.
Rep. Nancy Mace: Human trafficking is rising in South Carolina. Heres how we fight it. | Opinion

In South Carolina, the scourge of human trafficking is not just a news segment or a distant tragedy; it is a pervasive threat to our children, our neighbors and our collective conscience. Last year alone, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reported an alarming 357 human trafficking cases involving nearly 500 potential victims, predominantly minors entrapped in sex trafficking.

This is a stark increase from 416 victims in 2022, signaling a critical and urgent need for action.

The high incidence rates in the Lowcountry, where 93 cases were opened last year, not only shatter the peace of our neighborhoods but also call for an immediate and tailored response to protect our most vulnerable.

The state has made commendable strides with initiatives such as TraffickProofSC, a series of free, educational videos and materials aimed at educating our youth and community members about the dangers of human trafficking. Yet, while prevention is crucial, the need for robust victim support cannot be overstated. Attorney General Alan Wilson has rightfully advocated for increased funding to develop more shelters specifically for child victims  a testament to the states commitment to not only combating this crime but also healing its survivors.

Despite these efforts, challenges persist, driven by insufficient community awareness and the need for stronger legal frameworks to prosecute perpetrators effectively. Its hard to imagine this kind of sick activity is happening right here at home.

Human traffickers exploit the vulnerable, but they also thrive in silence and ignorance.

To break this cycle, it is essential that we are vigilant. Reporting suspicious activities and understanding the signs of human trafficking can save lives and help law enforcement bring traffickers to justice.

I have been at the forefront of national efforts in Congress to combat human and sex trafficking. I was an original cosponsor of the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, aiming to strengthen the tools available to law enforcement and enhance the support systems for survivors.

This bipartisan legislation, signed into law in 2022, not only bolsters law enforcements capabilities but also requires the posting of national human trafficking hotline information in visible places across various public locations, including federal buildings, restrooms of U.S. aircraft, airports, bus stations, trains and ports of entry.

This ensures that help is just a phone call away for those who need it.

It is imperative we continue to support these initiatives at both the state and federal levels. Funding for victim services and preventive education cannot be episodic but must be sustained and increased. We need every school, every law enforcement agency and every community organization involved in these efforts.

Let us be clear: The fight against human trafficking is not just about law enforcement; it is about community engagement. It is about recognizing that behind every statistic is a person  a life altered by profound trauma.

We must come together to protect, to prevent and to prosecute, ensuring our region is safe for all its residents.

Moreover, growing up in Goose Creek and living in the Lowcountry my entire life, Ive seen firsthand the impact that human trafficking has on our communities. The stories of young women and men being lured and forced to face unimaginable horrors are heart-wrenching.

By creating a robust support system for victims that addresses their immediate and long-term needs, we can offer them a path to recovery and reintegration.

Additionally, we must advocate for policies that target the root causes of trafficking, such as poverty and lack of education, which traffickers often exploit.

Only by addressing these underlying issues can we hope to eliminate human trafficking from the globe, starting with the United States.

Mace represents South Carolinas 1st Congressional District, which includes Charleston and Beaufort.
The vast majority of corporations are failing when it comes to ensuring human rights, ethical conduct and decent work across their operations and supply chains.

In fact, 90 percent of the worlds 2,000 most influential companies are completely missing the mark on these three objectives, according to the World Benchmarking Alliances (WBA) first social benchmark study.

More from Sourcing Journal

The group assessed brands across the apparel, footwear, food, energy, technology and supply chain space that are responsible for 45 percent of the worlds GDP, employing 95 million people directly and hundreds of millions within their value chains, and found that nine out of 10 companies arent even halfway to achieving fundamental societal expectations tied to human interests.

Whats more, more than 30 percent scored between 0 and 2 points out of 20 possible points for their efforts. Only 4 percent of companies were found to pay employees a living wage, and only 3 percent currently comply with the International Labor Organizations (ILO) standards on working hours. Just one-fifth conduct due diligence measures or risk assessments, and only 29 percent actively monitor the health and safety of their suppliers workplaces.

These figures fly in the face of both internally set sustainability goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which many companies have signed onto and have pledged to achieve by 2030. According to WBA, theres a major disconnect between what society expects from corporations and what theyre actually reporting.

These are systemic issues, WBA social transformation lead Namit Agarwal told Sourcing Journal. Only about 10 percent of companies that were assessed performed decently in the groups measurement areas. When we look at issues at a systems level, theres a role for policy, for civil society organizations, for investors and businesses to come together and address this, he explained.

Notably, companies based in countries with human rights legislation in place scored a whopping 60 percent higher on average on human rights due diligence (HRDD) than countries without such regulations. Still, only about 6 percent of companies on the whole have implemented due diligence policies.

Companies within that 6 percent have certain attributes in common: theyre chiefly from regions with robust government guidance, like Europe and parts of East Asia, and theyre often part of sectors that have been subject to public scrutiny.

Governments can set minimum legal standards of behavior expected from companies of all sizes and operating contexts on HRDD to prevent and address their human rights risks and impacts in alignment with the U.N. Guiding Principles on Human Rights, while investors and the civil society should continue applying collective pressure on low-scoring companies and advocating for robust due diligence processes, the firm recommended.

But its not just about regulation, Agarwal echoed. What we have found is also in sectors like apparel, where there has been a lot of spotlight, there is sectoral guidance, and there is generally more awareness of the negative impact or the potential positive impact that companies can have, he explained.

Notably, companies in the apparel, footwear and retail sectors outperformed their peers, scoring highest out of all industries assessed. While the average performance of all 2,000 companies was dismal (23 percent achievement of goals), apparel and footwear scored 33 percent, and retail scored 28 percent. Companies in those sectors also tend to perform better, Agarwal said, and that may be due in part to the fact that they or their supply chains are based in locales with modern slavery acts in place or supply chain transparency laws.

Regulation, guidance and external pressure are all necessary to push businesses to accelerate progress, Agarwal believes.

In the apparel and retail sector there has been a longstanding trend of consumer demands on brands; I think even investors are quite conscious about it, he said. Companies are also aware of what could be the potential pitfalls of them not performing in a better way. because there have been a lot of controversies in the past in the apparel sector.

Regionally, companies headquartered in the Pacific (excluding Central Asia), Europe and North America performed better than the rest of the world, representing the top 10 percent of companies. Asia performed the best overall (35 percent), while Europe displayed the largest proportion of companies that disclose their employees are already being paid a living wage or that targets are in place, contributing to the regions 33 percent achievement of goals.

Meanwhile, companies based in North America came in third, regionally, with an average score of 24 percent. Among the top scoring companies was VF Corp.

VF Corporation scored quite a few points across the three measurement areas, particularly initial stages and steps of human rights and decent work, Agarwal said. However, they have a lot of unmet requirements in the third measurement area, which is on ethical action.

Because they are in the apparel and footwear sector supply chain, a lot of labor and transparency [is required], so it shows that they are aware of their responsibilities, what kind of steps they need to take and what commitments they need to make for decent work and the human rights issues.

Comparatively, companies based in the Middle East and North Africa scored lowest, with an average score of 11 percent across measurement areas. Just 6 percent of companies in these areas commit to the ILO core labor rights in their own operations, while none demonstrate efforts to pay workers in the supply chain a living wage.

But Agarwal believes the problem isnt a regional one, reallybecause so many industry supply chains are diverse and global. What we are trying to show is there needs to be harmonization of policies, of actions and what companies do across these regions, he said.

There are a lot of nuances across sectors and regions, but because of the mainstreaming of a lot of these expectationswhether its about wages, working hours, health and safety, human rights issuesthere is a lot of awareness now in boardrooms, in companies, on shop floors, he added. So now I think the next milestone would be for companies to convert and translate that awareness into action.
The legal team of former President Donald Trump on Monday asked a judge in New York to postpone his sentencing later this month to consider the implications of a recent Supreme Court decision concerning the immunity he enjoins in another criminal case he is facing. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

July 2 (UPI) -- In the wake of Monday's Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, the judge in former President Donald Trump's New York hush-money trial has pushed back the original July 11 sentencing date to September.

Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday postponed Trump's 34 felony conviction sentencing now to September 18, closer to the presidential election and "if such is still necessary," he said.

After the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling saying Trump has partial immunity from prosecution for official acts, Trump lawyers then moved to dismiss his recent New York conviction for crimes committed prior to being president, according to reports.

On Tuesday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office agreed with Merchan's decision.

"Although we believe defendant's arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion," Assistant DA Josh Steinglass wrote Tuesday in a letter.

On Monday, the ex-president's attorneys sent a letter to Merchan, who oversaw the election interference and hush money trial, asking for Trump's conviction to be squashed, The New York Times, NBC News and ABC News reported, citing unidentified sources with knowledge of the development.

His original July 11 sentencing date was slated to arrive days before he is expected to officially accept the Republican presidential nomination in Milwaukee.

Trump faces up to four years in prison on September 18 when he is set to be sentenced on his 34 charges for doctoring business records to hide hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run up to the 2016 election. The prosecution had argued the payments were made over fears that Daniels going public about the alleged affair would cost Trump votes.

The former president was convicted in late May in that case, but he still faces dozens of charges in three other trials.

In Washington, he is fighting four counts related to his role in attempting to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election of then-former Vice President Joe Biden during the deadly Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

In that case, his attorneys have argued Trump is shielded by absolute presidential immunity, a claim that the government took all the way to the Supreme Court.

The justices ruled 6-3 along the ideological split Monday that Trump does enjoy some immunity for official presidential acts.

According to the reports, Trump's lawyers asked Merchan to postpone sentencing Trump in order for his legal team to make their case that the Supreme Court's ruling affects the New York verdict.

It has been a tactic of Trump's legal team to postpone their client's trials as he runs as the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee for a third time.

However, it was not fully clear if Monday's request would have any bearing on Trump's conviction as the prosecution's case focused on actions Trump took before he was elected president in November 2016.

He is also fighting a second election interference case in Georgia and a third federal indictment over the mishandling of classified documents.
Republicans are hailing the Supreme Courts ruling that presidents have immunity from prosecution for official acts as a major victory over government weaponization as the decision deals a blow to special counsel Jack Smiths prosecution of former President Trump over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Todays ruling by the Court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Bidens weaponized Department of Justice and Jack Smith, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement, adding that it is based on the obviously unique power and position of the presidency, and comports with the Constitution and common sense.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) similarly said the weaponization of the Justice Departments case against Trump is outrageous, unconstitutional, and must cease.

While its becoming increasingly clear Democrats believe their only path to victory in November is through prosecuting their political opponent, todays decision makes it clear this is not allowed in our constitutional system, Scalise said in a statement.

Claims of a government weaponized against Bidens political opponents have become core to the Republican party as Trump has faced numerous lawsuits, criminal charges, convictions, and investigations since he rose to power. Combined, it has fueled GOP defenses of the former president.

Sen. John Barrasso (Wyo.), the chair of the Senate GOP and the highest-ranking Republican to comment on the decision as of Monday afternoon, called the opinion another victory for democracy and the rule of law against Democrat lawlessness, accusing Democrats and Biden of weaponizing the justice system against Trump.

There is no evidence that Biden directed any prosecution of Trump. His campaign, though, said on Monday that the ruling has amplified the presidents arguments about the threat Trump poses.

The Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision on Monday ruled that presidents have immunity from prosecution for official acts. It sent the case back to the D.C. District Court, where proceedings had been paused to weigh Trumps immunity claims.

The ruling gives space, however, for areas of the prosecution to move forward, such as Trumps pressure campaign on former Vice President Mike Pence leading up to Jan. 6, to move forward in court.

Chief Justice John Roberts directed the lower court to assess whether a prosecution involving Trumps alleged attempts to influence the Vice Presidents oversight of the certification proceeding in his capacity as President of the Senate would pose any dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.

Dissenting justices and Democrats expressed alarm about the implications of the decision, and questioned how far that immunity could reach.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor in her dissent suggested that the ruling meant a president could order the assassination of his political rivals.

Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune, she wrote. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) took direct aim at that dissent.

The Supreme Courts dissent in this case is foolish in every way, particularly Justice Sotomayor and Justice Jacksons argument that this decision allows a president to assassinate their opponent. The liberal members of the Court and the Left have lost their minds when it comes to President Trump, Graham wrote on the social platform X.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and its select subcommittee on government weaponization, called on the ideological left to stop its attacks on President Trump and uphold democratic norms while hailing the decision  adopting phrasing about democratic norms that Democrats have often used to express alarm about Trumps refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 riot that defied the tradition of a peaceful transfer of 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 The Hill.
Researchers say they've used cutting-edge gravitational wave research to shed new light on a nearly 2,000-year-old mystery.

In 1901, researchers discovered what's now known as the Antikythera mechanism in a sunken shipwreck, an ancient artifact that dates back to the second century BC, making it the world's "oldest computer."

There's a chance you may have spotted a replica, directly inspired by it and featured in the blockbuster "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" last year.

Well over a century after its discovery, researchers at the University of Glasgow say they've used statistical modeling techniques, originally designed to analyze gravitational waves  ripples in spacetime caused by major celestial events such as two black holes merging  to suggest that the Antikythera mechanism was likely used to track the Greek lunar year.

In short, it's a fascinating collision between modern-day science and the mysteries of an ancient artifact.

In a 2021 paper, researchers found that previously discovered and regularly spaced holes in a "calendar ring" were marked to describe the "motions of the sun, Moon, and all five planets known in antiquity and how they were displayed at the front as an ancient Greek cosmos."

Now, in a new study published in the Oficial Journal of the British Horological Institute, University of Glasgow gravitational wave researcher Graham Woan and research associate Joseph Bayley suggest that the ring was likely perforated with 354 holes, which happens to be the number of days in a lunar year.

The researchers ruled out the possibility of it measuring a solar year.

"A ring of 360 holes is strongly disfavoured, and one of 365 holes is not plausible, given our model assumptions," their paper reads.

The team used statistical models derived from gravitational wave research, including data from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), a large-scale physics experiment designed to measure ripples in spacetime millions of light-years from Earth.

The technique, called Bayesian analysis, uses "probability to quantify uncertainty based on incomplete data, to calculate the likely number of holes in the mechanism using the positions of the surviving holes and the placement of the rings surviving six fragments," according to a press release about the research.

Surprisingly, the inspiration for the paper came from a YouTuber who has been attempting to physically recreate the ancient mechanism.

"Towards the end of last year, a colleague pointed to me to data acquired by YouTuber Chris Budiselic, who was looking to make a replica of the calendar ring and was investigating ways to determine just how many holes it contained," said Woan in a statement.

"Its a neat symmetry that weve adapted techniques we use to study the universe today to understand more about a mechanism that helped people keep track of the heavens nearly two millennia ago," he added.

It may not amount to the kind of discovery fit for a Hollywood action blockbuster script  but it's an intriguing new ripple in a mystery that has puzzled scientists for over a century nonetheless.

"We hope that our findings about the Antikythera mechanism, although less supernaturally spectacular than those made by Indiana Jones, will help deepen our understanding of how this remarkable device was made and used by the Greeks," Woan said.

More on ancient Greece: The Riddle of the Antikythera Mechanism Deepen
Live updates: Police take 1 into custody after hours-long standoff at SLO apartment ends

This is a developing story. Check back to sanluisobispo.com for updates.

To get breaking news alerts, click here

Update, Tuesday, 12:20 a.m.:





An hours-long standoff at a San Luis Obispo apartment complex ended late Monday night with one person being arrested after he allegedly fired a gun in the neighborhood.

According to a San Luis Obispo Police Department news release, the department received reports of gunshots in the vicinity of the 1500 block of Madonna Road late Sunday evening.

Responding officers however did not find any evidence of gunshots, according to the release.

The next morning, the department received a report from a resident in the same block of a bullet hole in the trunk of their car, the release said.

Investigation revealed Luis Martin Barron, 30 and a resident of San Luis Obispo, was suspected of firing a gun in the neighborhood, police said.

At around 5:15 p.m. on Monday, the department received a 911 call that Barron was banging on the door and window of a neighbors apartment while holding a gun.

Officers responded immediately to the apartment complex and located Barron who retreated into his apartment and refused to come out, the release said.

The San Luis Obispo Regional SWAT Team was called to assist and a perimeter was established around the residence while nearby apartments and buildings were evacuated, according to the release.

Officers at first attempted to contact Barron at his residence via loudspeaker, but were not successful, the release said. Later, SLOPD Crisis Negotiators were able to reach Barron on a cell phone and spoke with him for several hours, attempting to deescalate and negotiate a peaceful resolution, the release said.

Barron exited the apartment and was taken into custody without incident at around 11:26 p.m.

He was transported to San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of a felony charge for unlawful discharge of a weapon, the release said.

San Luis Obispo Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office and Cal Fire all also provided assistance with the incident.

Update, Tuesday, 12:05 a.m.:

A person was taken into custody with no injuries to the person or to law enforcement personnel, the San Luis Obispo Police Department posted on social media just before midnight.

Further details were expected to be provided shortly.

UPDATE: Monday, 7/1/2024 11:58 pm: The incident has concluded on the 1500 block of Madonna Road, the suspect has been taken into custody, no injuries to the suspect or law enforcement personnel. A media release will be provided shortly with full details. pic.twitter.com/edPDPYX0cX  San Luis Obispo Police Department (@SLOCityPolice) July 2, 2024

Update, 10:05 p.m.:

Over a dozen police cars lined up outside of El Tigre Court and Madonna Road through much of Monday evening as law enforcement continued to respond to a potentially armed subject.

San Luis Obispo Police Department Deputy Chief Brian Amoroso told The Tribune there was only one person barricaded in the Madonna Road Apartment unit.

Nearby, several residents awaited the go ahead to return to their homes as the standoff continued into its nearly fourth hour.

Zach Maxwell told The Tribune he got a phone call from his mom saying shed been evacuated from the house with his little brother.

Law enforcement surrounded a San Luis Obispo apartment complex on July 1, 2024 as they attempted to negotiate with a barricaded subject. The stand-off lasted into the night.

So I just came home from work and just trying to make sure everythings okay, Maxwell said.

Another neighbor, Tony Cordero, said he tried to go home after work but was blocked by police.

I dont know how long these situations, how long they last, Cordero said.

Law enforcement surrounded a San Luis Obispo apartment complex on July 1, 2024 as they attempted to negotiate with a barricaded subject. The stand-off lasted into the night.

Update, 8:35 p.m.:

Police have contained an apartment with a barricaded subject inside, the San Luis Obispo Police Department posted on X at 8:26 p.m.

According to the department, officers were attempting to negotiate with the person. People were still being asked to avoid the area.

As of early Monday evening, law enforcement could be seen assembled in the area of the Madonna Road Apartments.

Residents in a San Luis Obispo neighborhood were told to shelter in place while police responded to a potentially armed person in the area of the Madonna Road Apartments on July 1, 2024.

Update, 7:25 p.m.:

San Luis Obispo Police Department spokesperson Christine Wallace said the person of interest in the Monday evening incident was in an apartment in the area.

We are seeking a suspect we believe has a gun, Wallace told The Tribune. We will share information when the shelter in place is lifted.

Residents in a San Luis Obispo neighborhood were told to shelter in place while police responded to a potentially armed person in the area of Madonna Road on July 1, 2024.

Original story:

Residents in a San Luis Obispo neighborhood were told to shelter in place while police responded to a potentially armed person in the area on Monday evening.

According to a post from the San Luis Obispo Police Department on X, there was heavy police activity on the 1500 block of Madonna Road as of 6:12 p.m.

Residents were asked to shelter in place, while others were asked to avoid the area of Madonna Road, El Tigre Court and Eto Circle while the SWAT operation was ongoing, according to Deputy Chief Fred Mickel.

Heavy police activity in the 1500 block of Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo prompted a shelter in place order for residents on July 1, 2024.

Right now we have a potential armed suspect we are dealing with, he told The Tribune. We want to make sure everybody is safe, so we want people to stay away from the area for now.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office, California Highway Patrol and the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department were all also on scene.

Residents in a San Luis Obispo neighborhood were told to shelter in place while police responded to a potentially armed person in the area of Madonna Road on July 1, 2024.

According to emergency response app PulsePoint, a medical emergency was reported in the same area around 4:15 p.m.

Monday 7/1/2024 6:12 pm: there is heavy police activity on the 1500 block of Madonna Road. If you are nearby resident, please shelter in place. If you are not, please avoid the area. More information will be provided when we are able. pic.twitter.com/HWFsfvei8v  San Luis Obispo Police Department (@SLOCityPolice) July 2, 2024
Many in the community are riled by a new development set to bring a combined 550 houses, townhomes and senior-living units to an unused spot along the shore of Lake Murray.

But while concerns have been raised about traffic along the two-lane road in Irmo where the development is slated to go, the mayor of the town of about 12,000 said the project will allow for investment in local infrastructure and keep higher-density proposals from taking over the property.

Taking up 65 acres centered at 2947 Dreher Shoals Rd./S.C. 6, plans for the Water Walk development call for 308 single-family homes and townhomes (148 on 21.5 acres and 160 on 14 acres) along with 242 senior-living units on 15.1 acres.

Plans also call for 13.2 acres of commercial space, with the project website noting that the developers hope to include dining and retail options in a walkable, open-air setting, ideally attracting local favorites from around South Carolina plus new regional concepts.

Developers also hope to have a small boutique hotel with a rooftop patio to provide a venue for community events, weddings and celebrations with views of the lake.

After receiving feedback at a public information session hosted by the town last month, the developers, Charleston-based Material Capital Partners, asked to delay their appearance before the Irmo Planning Commission from July to August, meaning the earliest Town Council could approve their request to change zoning for the land would be September.

We are not doing any interviews about the project as it is still in the early conceptual and planning stages, Sam Tate, a senior associate with Material, said in reply to an email from The State, noting that the same project details on the Water Walk website were shared at the public meeting. We will update the website regularly as the project progresses.

Online comments against the project  including many of the more than 100 comments on the towns Facebook post announcing last months public meeting  have centered on impacts to traffic and infrastructure, with many complaining that traffic along Dreher Shoals Road, which connects the Lake Murray Dam to Ballentine, is already too thick.

Nope! Just that simple, Barry Wiseman commented on Facebook. (S.C. 6) already needs to be widened and there is no way in hell it should happen before that and even then it would need to be fewer units. Make it only accessible by boat.

Too much traffic, too much density. It doesnt fit within the current surrounding homes and development, another Facebook user, Kaz Zimmer Burnz, commented. I dont see any benefits for anyone other than the developer with this type of density!!

Concept plan for the proposed Water Walk development

Irmo Mayor Bill Danielson said the public needs to be further educated about the project, which he said appears to be a good option for the site. At present, the property is zoned such that more than 700 residences could be placed on it. Pushing Water Walk forward will mitigate that impact, the mayor said, with fewer residential units and an emphasis on catering to senior citizens who might start out in one of the independent residences and then transition into the senior-living section of the development.

Danielson added that Material has experience with this kind of development emphasizing seniors. The companys website details seven other residential developments its completed, ranging in size from 82 to 240 units. The mayor noted that the homes wont be inexpensive, as theyre expected to sell for somewhere between $400,000 and $800,000 apiece.

Danielson said the developers are putting money aside to help with upgrading roads, including widening parts of Dreher Shoals Road and adding turn lanes and potential traffic lights. The project moving forward will likely allow the town to more quickly improve the road, which is maintained by the state.

I sit on the Central Midlands Council of Governments and Im on the executive committee, and we just now this past year authorized a $250,000 expenditure expenditure for a complete analysis of the widening of Dreher Shoals Road from the dam to Ballentine, Danielson said. Thats 10 years away. This might happen within three.

The mayor pointed out other ways the developers are looking to mitigate the projects impact, noting that the propertys tree line along the lake should remain intact.

The master plan incorporates a series of pocket parks and ecological corridors to support wildlife and native plant species, the Water Walk website details. Neighborhoods will be laid out around a network of walking and biking trails. Existing tree line buffers along the boundaries of the property will maintain current view corridors.

Danielson said hes excited for the potential boost Irmo could get from the dining, retail and hotel components of the development, explaining that the town doesnt collect property taxes.

It will be a place for for everybody to recreate, to go to dine, out to shop. It would be pretty upscale, so Im told, he said.

Hopefully it will offset the cost of us servicing that area with police and fire, with the tax base from the businesses, the mayor added. Thats really all the town gets out of that from a financial picture.
ULAN BATOR, July 2 (Xinhua) -- A total of 126 newly elected legislators took the oath of office in the inaugural session of the new parliament at the State House here on Tuesday, following the ninth parliamentary elections held last Friday.

Their oath was administered by Duger Regdel, aged 72 and the oldest member of the State Great Khural, the country's parliament.

In the 126-seat parliament, the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) won 68 seats, while the opposition Democratic Party got 42 seats. 
BOSTON  The efforts to unionize rideshare drivers continued Tuesday as organizers presented the last remaining signatures needed to ensure a place on the November ballot. Their initiative asks state voters to approve a drivers union and secure a seat at the table to bargain for better working conditions, salary and benefits.

Wilson Perez of Worcester is eager to have a union, better wages and working conditions to ensure he makes it to the end of the month.

The 12,429 signatures were surrendered to Secretary William Galvin by the Drivers Demand Justice Coalition just one day before the July 3 deadline. If the question is approved by voters, drivers will be authorized to form a union with collective bargaining rights.

Wilson Perez, a Worcester-based driver, doesnt make enough money driving for the company to meet his monthly bills. He works as a rideshare driver because he needs to support his wife and children.

Edward Calderon also works as a rideshare driver based in Worcester. He likes the work, which allows him to set his own schedule and be more flexible in his work life. However, in the time he has driven for the companies, he said he has found they take advantage of their drivers.

Edward Calderon of Worcester likes the independence of working as a rideshare driver, but decries the bite taken out of his earnings by the companies.

To ensure high-paying rides, drivers invest in expensive vehicles and the companies have been taking greater shares of each fare, more than 50%, Calderon said, leaving drivers unable to make their car payments. And like Perez and Calderon, unable to make it to the end of the month.

Roxana Rivera, assistant to the president of 32BJ SEIU, one of the unions supporting rideshare drivers, said the coalition will continue to push for the right despite recent developments surrounding the employment status and compensation for app-based workers.

Union protections, a right for millions of Massachusetts workers, are denied to the rideshare drivers by Uber and Lyft, Rivera said. By putting the question to Massachusetts voters, millions who favor unions for all workers, the coalition is confident that the ballot question will be approved.

No driver should have to work 70 hours and have to choose which bills to pay, said Michael Vartabedian with District 15 of the International Association of Machinists. Drivers deserve respect, deserve a living wage, not disrespect and poverty wages.

Roxana Rivera, assistant to the president of 32BJ SEIU, is flanked by Mike Vartabedian of District 15, International Association of Machinists, and dozens of rideshare drivers Tuesday in Boston.

The organizers continue their push despite recent developments in Massachusetts concerning the status of rideshare drivers.

June 27, the state Supreme Judicial Court allowed six questions pertaining to the rideshare industry to be placed on the November ballot. On the same day, Attorney General Andrea Campbell settled a 4-year-old lawsuit filed by her predecessor against Uber/Lyft.

The settlement reached by Campbell and the technology companies that control the applications directing rideshare drivers prompted the companies to abandon their five ballot questions. Those offered drivers different ranges of benefits while asking Massachusetts voters to decide whether the drivers are employees or independent contractors.

The sixth ballot question authorizes unionization.

Gov. Maura T. Healey sued the technology companies in 2020 in her role as AG, claiming they had falsely classified the drivers as independent contractors. In her suit, Healey contended that, under state law, they were employees. That classification denied the drivers the basic rights enjoyed by all Massachusetts workers: A minimum wage, now at $15 an hour, the right to accrue paid sick time, health insurance, family leave, workers' compensation and unemployment benefits.

The classification also cost the state millions. Employers pay into the states unemployment and worker compensation insurance. An April report released by the state auditor Diana DiZoglio estimates that the state lost more than $20 million in unemployment payments for 2023 and another $17 million in workers' compensation.

The New Jersey department of labor settled a similar claim against Uber in 2022. The company paid the state $100 million. Currently, New Jersey is pursuing a claim against Lyft, stating that the company falsely classified its drivers and owes the state $17 million for unemployment, temporary disability and family-leave contributions.

In Massachusetts, the agreement between the AG and Uber and Lyft does not address the question of employee classification. However, the two giants in the app-based economy did concede to pay Massachusetts $175 million, $148 million from Uber. Those funds will be pooled and distributed to drivers and former drivers as restitution, as they have been underpaid, according to the AG.

For years, these companies have underpaid their drivers and denied them basic benefits. (Todays) agreement holds Uber and Lyft accountable and provides their drivers, for the very first time in Massachusetts, guaranteed minimum pay, paid sick leave, occupational accident insurance and health care stipends, Campbell said in a prepared statement. I want to thank my team, whose hard work has secured a standard of dignity for every driver across the state, and our labor allies and the drivers themselves for the tireless work and advocacy.

The two companies have also agreed to institute a $32.50-an-hour minimum wage while drivers were actively engaged, starting from the moment they accept a fare through to leaving them at their destinations. There is no guaranteed income while drivers wait for fares.

Included in the agreement is the ability to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year. Drivers will receive a stipend to buy into the states paid family and medical leave act and even health and occupational accident insurance.

A union is the only way to defend against future mistreatment of the drivers by Lyft and Uber. It ensures them a voice in their jobs, a seat at the table to bargain for better working conditions, benefits and wages, Rivera said, calling the proposed ballot question the drivers "Declaration of Independence."

The AG's agreement, she said, serves as a base to build on; a union will ensure the drivers will not be exploited again.

Denis Rubio, an East Boston Uber driver, records the speeches and chants of the dozens of rideshare drivers gathered to deliver thousands of signatures to Secretary of State William Galvin Tuesday to ensure their ballot initiative makes the November ballot.

Our settlement with Uber and Lyft secured an unprecedented package of minimum wage, benefits and protections for workers, Campbell said. Its a strong foundation that can and should be built upon. Im proud to support this ballot question, which if passed would empower and allow workers to collectively bargain for even greater pay and benefits.

Other benefits included in the agreement include wage transparency, allowing drivers to get detailed rate information about accepted trips. The companies are also barred from discriminating and retaliating against drivers.

The companies will provide in-app chat support in four languages  English, Spanish, Portuguese and French  and provide reasons for deactivation as well as an appeals process to challenge the deactivation.

The AGs office will monitor the companies to ensure compliance with the agreement.

State lawmakers have filed bills that would create a pathway to unionization, legislatively, for the drivers. Time to act on the bills is eroding as the legislative session ends July 31.

The Legislature also empaneled a special joint committee to review all ballot initiatives proposed for November; there were 10 in all in the spring. Despite testimony and sometimes acrimonious interactions between lawmakers and proponents of the questions, the lawmakers failed to make any changes. Their choices included passing legislation, replacing ballot questions with similar proposals or doing nothing.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts rideshare drivers escort union question to ballot
Students in the RISE summer program participated in a forum for candidates of Waynesboro City Council and School Board Friday, June 28.

WAYNESBORO  Students in the RISE summer program spent time this past June studying issues that they felt were important for youth in the Waynesboro area. They narrowed their topics down to one issue and, on Friday, about 20 students presented the topic during a forum with candidates for Waynesboro City Council and School Board.

"The common thread was to expand the community center," said Chanda McGuffin, co-founder of RISE, an advocacy group whose mission is to give voice and hope to the Black community. The educational wing of the organization provides after-school and summer tutoring programs for area youth working to build confidence and teach critical thinking.

The students presented their ideas to the candidates Friday. Among the ideas was expanding the Rosenwald Community Center on Port Republic Road by adding a bowling alley, a pool and a jump park.

"We would like to expand the community center with a jump park," one of the students explained. "Because a jump park is a fun place for kids."

The students explained that physical activity was good for kids and a great place to bond with other kids. They even came armed with statistics, including information from the Virginia Department of Health that says 13% of the state's youth between 10 and 17 years old are overweight. The RISE students told the candidates it was important to find ways to keep youth active.

The candidates carefully responded to the ideas, explaining that, while they were good ideas and that youth did need more things to do in the area, a lot of research would have to be done to make sure the ideas were viable.

"I want to commend all of you for being able to remember these statistics and the information you are relaying back, and your bravery for standing up to ask these questions," said Nigel Stewart, a candidate for the school board's at-large seat.

Stewart is a graduate of Waynesboro High School and Virginia State University. He is currently the vice-chair of the Waynesboro planning commission.

"It's important that (the kids) see someone who looks like me and is somewhat close to their age," said Stewart, who is African-American and graduated from high school in 2019. "Representation is a real thing. I remember going to middle school and high school and not seeing a lot of educators who looked like me."

When he did see those educators, especially in college, it impacted his development.

"It gave me a lot of hope and the possibility that I could actually achieve these things," Stewart said. "My outlook has always been not only for the well-being of my family, my community, but also those who are coming after me. That's who we're really setting the stage for. Programs and activities like these benefit that future development."

Stewart was one of two school board candidates who took part in the event Friday, joining Erika Smith, the current Ward B representative who is running for reelection. On the city council side, Ward A candidates David Goetze and Lorie Strother, Ward B candidate Will Flory and at-large candidate Jeremy Sloat took part in the forum.

Like Stewart, Smith was also impressed with the presentation by the students Friday.

"It says a lot for our students and teachers and schools," Smith said. "And our community partnerships, like RISE and other community organizations, are doing good things. They asked really hard questions and I'm not sure my answers were as good as their questions."

More: 'A patriotic American': Kaine kicks off campaign tour by reassuring supporters about Biden

More: Staunton school board to elect officers, D.M. Conner returns for round three: THE AGENDA

 Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: RISE students hold forum for Waynesboro council, school board candidates
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities have identified a man accused of assaulting a driver during an apparent road rage incident in Franklin last weekend.

The incident happened in a parking lot near Franklin Road and Moores Lane on the afternoon of Saturday, June 29.

I-24 West closed near Rutherford County line after deadly rollover crash

(Courtesy: Franklin Police Department)

(Courtesy: Franklin Police Department)

(Courtesy: Franklin Police Department)

(Courtesy: Franklin Police Department)

According to the victim, the man approached his car window, upset that the victim had cut him off in his vehicle prior to the altercation, according to Franklin police.

The victim told officers the man punched him in the face, causing pain and bruising to his mouth and eye area. The driver then left the scene in what is believed to be a silver Toyota Tundra.

Franklin police reported Tuesday morning the suspect has been identified.

No additional information was immediately released.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 7, 2024, in New York City. Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face trial on criminal charges. (Photo by Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Images)

By Marshall H. Tanick, Minnesota Reformer

Regrettably, but not surprisingly, the Supreme Court has now unleashed SEAL Team Six to murder anyone the president directs it to kill.

By focusing only on whether the presidents actions fall within his official constitutional duties, rather than the nature of the underlying conduct itself, the majority decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts in the presidential immunity case, Trump v. United States, gives carte blanche to the ex-president, the current one and future Commanders-in-Chief.

Its not only political rivals who can be killed at the whim of the president regardless of motivation and without recourse. That indulgence also would extend to anyone he or she wants eliminated.

It looks like ex-President Trump was correct when he famously said he could shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters.

It not only would be devoid of deleterious impact on his supporters, but it would bar any legal consequences as long as its done by the military at his behest  even if the militia considers it to be unlawful.

Indeed, if a president, now or in the future, is upset by a ruling of the Supreme Court, he or she could order the Seal Team or other SWAT commandos under his authority to charge into the Supreme Courts chambers  across the street from the site of the Jan. 6 insurrection, by the way  and slay the justices. Its all within his official duties as Commander-in-Chief.

The Chief Justice wove together his six-member majority with two gimmes: Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. The former was indisputably in the bag and flying his flag high in favor of even broader full-scale immunity based upon his remark at oral arguments in April that a president needs to be free of legal constraints to assure that he (or she) will follow the law without fear of being prosecuted by later administrations.

Thats probably one of the grossest non-sequiturs issued from that once-exalted body since it declared, before the Civil War, that a Black person is not a person in the eyes of the law. Or, nearly 40 years later, that segregation of people of color constitutes separate but equal treatment.

As for Thomas, he joined the majority opinion despite it not engaging in the three-pronged analysis that he deems talismanic to constitutional adjudication: text, history, and tradition.

Criminal immunity for a president lacks all three: nothing that says so in the Constitution, although it does refer to potential criminal prosecution in connection with impeachment offenses; there is no historical analog for immunity ever since King George IIIs statute was toppled 248 years ago this week following adoption of the Declaration of Independence; and no tradition exists of any president seeking or obtaining immunity for criminality, even the venal Richard Nixon, who didnt need one after his pardon by his successor, Gerald Ford.

Yet, the absence of all three of those features didnt deter Thomas from subscribing to the decision by the Chief Justice  perhaps before taking off for another all-expense paid luxury vacation provided by a right-wing billionaire friend or a jaunt around the country with his MAGA wife, Ginny, in the ultra RV furnished to him by his wealthy pal.

But the logical extension of Roberts rationale has broad tentacles in addition to permitting outright murder. Since the presidents constitutional authority includes providing pardons, nothing would prevent  or penalize  him from taking bribes for granting them.

By the same reasoning, the chief executives constitutional authority to appoint ambassadors and other officials and employees of the federal government could be used to solicit pay-offs to the president, the Presidents party, family members, friends, or anyone else for that matter, auctioning the positions off them to the highest bidders. That could make for an engaging reality television show: Were Making a Deal or Americas Got Graft.

There are a myriad of other illegalities that could occur within the official presidential duties enumerated in Article II of the Constitution or implied from them that are given free passes by the deplorable ruling that might go down in infamy as Roberts Rules of Disorder.

One of the justices, Neil Gorsuch, remarked at oral arguments that the Courts ruling would be one for the ages.

This one is not going to age well.

Marshall H. Tanick is a Minnesota employment law attorney with the law firm of Meyer Njus Tanick.

Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: info@minnesotareformer.com. Follow Minnesota Reformer on Facebook and X.

The post Roberts Rules: Presidents can kill like despots appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 7, 2024, in New York City. Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face trial on criminal charges. Photo by Sarah Yenesel | Pool/Getty Images

Regrettably, but not surprisingly, the Supreme Court has now unleashed SEAL Team Six to murder anyone the president directs it to kill.

By focusing only on whether the presidents actions fall within his official constitutional duties, rather than the nature of the underlying conduct itself, the majority decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts in the presidential immunity case, Trump v. United States, gives carte blanche to the ex-president, the current one and future commanders-in-chief.

Its not only political rivals who can be killed at the whim of the president regardless of motivation and without recourse. That indulgence also would extend to anyone he or she wants eliminated.

It looks like ex-President Trump was correct when he famously said he could shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters.

It not only would be devoid of deleterious impact on his supporters, but it would bar any legal consequences as long as its done by the military at his behest  even if the militia considers it to be unlawful.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Indeed, if a president, now or in the future, is upset by a ruling of the Supreme Court, he or she could order the Seal Team or other SWAT commandos under his authority to charge into the Supreme Courts chambers  across the street from the site of the Jan. 6 insurrection, by the way  and slay the justices. Its all within his official duties as Commander-in-Chief.

The Chief Justice wove together his six-member majority with two gimmes: Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. The former was indisputably in the bag and flying his flag high in favor of even broader full-scale immunity based upon his remark at oral arguments in April that a president needs to be free of legal constraints to assure that he (or she) will follow the law without fear of being prosecuted by later administrations.

Thats probably one of the grossest non-sequiturs issued from that once-exalted body since it declared, before the Civil War, that a Black person is not a person in the eyes of the law. Or, nearly 40 years later, that segregation of people of color constitutes separate but equal treatment.

As for Thomas, he joined the majority opinion despite it not engaging in the three-pronged analysis that he deems talismanic to constitutional adjudication: text, history, and tradition.

Criminal immunity for a president lacks all three: nothing that says so in the Constitution, although it does refer to potential criminal prosecution in connection with impeachment offenses; there is no historical analog for immunity ever since King George IIIs statute was toppled 248 years ago this week following adoption of the Declaration of Independence; and no tradition exists of any president seeking or obtaining immunity for criminality, even the venal Richard Nixon, who didnt need one after his pardon by his successor, Gerald Ford.

Yet, the absence of all three of those features didnt deter Thomas from subscribing to the decision by the Chief Justice  perhaps before taking off for another all-expense paid luxury vacation provided by a right-wing billionaire friend or a jaunt around the country with his MAGA wife, Ginny, in the ultra RV furnished to him by his wealthy pal.

But the logical extension of Roberts rationale has broad tentacles in addition to permitting outright murder. Since the presidents constitutional authority includes providing pardons, nothing would prevent  or penalize  him from taking bribes for granting them.

By the same reasoning, the chief executives constitutional authority to appoint ambassadors and other officials and employees of the federal government could be used to solicit pay-offs to the president, the Presidents party, family members, friends, or anyone else for that matter, auctioning the positions off them to the highest bidders. That could make for an engaging reality television show: Were Making a Deal or Americas Got Graft.

There are a myriad of other illegalities that could occur within the official presidential duties enumerated in Article II of the Constitution or implied from them that are given free passes by the deplorable ruling that might go down in infamy as Roberts Rules of Disorder.

One of the justices, Neil Gorsuch, remarked at oral arguments that the Courts ruling would be one for the ages.

This one is not going to age well.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 7, 2024 in New York City. (Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Images)

This commentary originally appeared in the Minnesota Reformer.

Regrettably, but not surprisingly, the Supreme Court has now unleashed SEAL Team Six to murder anyone the president directs it to kill.

By focusing only on whether the presidents actions fall within his official constitutional duties, rather than the nature of the underlying conduct itself, the majority decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts in the presidential immunity case, Trump v. United States, gives carte blanche to the ex-president, the current one and future commanders-in-chief.

Its not only political rivals who can be killed at the whim of the president regardless of motivation and without recourse. That indulgence also would extend to anyone he or she wants eliminated.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

It looks like ex-President Trump was correct when he famously said he could shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters.

It not only would be devoid of deleterious impact on his supporters, but it would bar any legal consequences as long as its done by the military at his behest  even if the militia considers it to be unlawful.

Indeed, if a president, now or in the future, is upset by a ruling of the Supreme Court, he or she could order the Seal Team or other SWAT commandos under his authority to charge into the Supreme Courts chambers  across the street from the site of the Jan. 6 insurrection, by the way  and slay the justices. Its all within his official duties as Commander-in-Chief.

The Chief Justice wove together his six-member majority with two gimmes: Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. The former was indisputably in the bag and flying his flag high in favor of even broader full-scale immunity based upon his remark at oral arguments in April that a president needs to be free of legal constraints to assure that he (or she) will follow the law without fear of being prosecuted by later administrations.

If a president, now or in the future, is upset by a ruling of the Supreme Court, he or she could order the Seal Team or other SWAT commandos under his authority to charge into the Supreme Courts chambers  across the street from the site of the Jan. 6 insurrection, by the way  and slay the justices.

Thats probably one of the grossest non-sequiturs issued from that once-exalted body since it declared, before the Civil War, that a Black person is not a person in the eyes of the law. Or, nearly 40 years later, that segregation of people of color constitutes separate but equal treatment.

As for Thomas, he joined the majority opinion despite it not engaging in the three-pronged analysis that he deems talismanic to constitutional adjudication: text, history, and tradition.

Criminal immunity for a president lacks all three: nothing that says so in the Constitution, although it does refer to potential criminal prosecution in connection with impeachment offenses; there is no historical analog for immunity ever since King George IIIs statute was toppled 248 years ago this week following adoption of the Declaration of Independence; and no tradition exists of any president seeking or obtaining immunity for criminality, even the venal Richard Nixon, who didnt need one after his pardon by his successor, Gerald Ford.

Yet, the absence of all three of those features didnt deter Thomas from subscribing to the decision by the Chief Justice  perhaps before taking off for another all-expense paid luxury vacation provided by a right-wing billionaire friend or a jaunt around the country with his MAGA wife, Ginny, in the ultra RV furnished to him by his wealthy pal.

But the logical extension of Roberts rationale has broad tentacles in addition to permitting outright murder. Since the presidents constitutional authority includes providing pardons, nothing would prevent  or penalize  him from taking bribes for granting them.

By the same reasoning, the chief executives constitutional authority to appoint ambassadors and other officials and employees of the federal government could be used to solicit pay-offs to the president, the presidents party, family members, friends, or anyone else for that matter, auctioning the positions off them to the highest bidders. That could make for an engaging reality television show: Were Making a Deal or Americas Got Graft.

There are a myriad of other illegalities that could occur within the official presidential duties enumerated in Article II of the Constitution or implied from them that are given free passes by the deplorable ruling that might go down in infamy as Roberts Rules of Disorder.

One of the justices, Neil Gorsuch, remarked at oral arguments that the Courts ruling would be one for the ages.

This one is not going to age well.

Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: info@minnesotareformer.com. Follow Minnesota Reformer on Facebook and X.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
Photo by Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Images.

Regrettably, but not surprisingly, the Supreme Court has now unleashed SEAL Team Six to murder anyone the president directs it to kill.

By focusing only on whether the presidents actions fall within his official constitutional duties, rather than the nature of the underlying conduct itself, the majority decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts in the presidential immunity case, Trump v. United States, gives carte blanche to the ex-president, the current one and future commanders-in-chief.

Its not only political rivals who can be killed at the whim of the president regardless of motivation and without recourse. That indulgence also would extend to anyone he or she wants eliminated.

It looks like ex-President Trump was correct when he famously said he could shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters.

It not only would be devoid of deleterious impact on his supporters, but it would bar any legal consequences as long as its done by the military at his behest  even if the militia considers it to be unlawful.

Indeed, if a president, now or in the future, is upset by a ruling of the Supreme Court, he or she could order the Seal Team or other SWAT commandos under his authority to charge into the Supreme Courts chambers  across the street from the site of the Jan. 6 insurrection, by the way  and slay the justices. Its all within his official duties as Commander-in-Chief.

The Chief Justice wove together his six-member majority with two gimmes: Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. The former was indisputably in the bag and flying his flag high in favor of even broader full-scale immunity based upon his remark at oral arguments in April that a president needs to be free of legal constraints to assure that he (or she) will follow the law without fear of being prosecuted by later administrations.

Thats probably one of the grossest non-sequiturs issued from that once-exalted body since it declared, before the Civil War, that a Black person is not a person in the eyes of the law. Or, nearly 40 years later, that segregation of people of color constitutes separate but equal treatment.

As for Thomas, he joined the majority opinion despite it not engaging in the three-pronged analysis that he deems talismanic to constitutional adjudication: text, history, and tradition.

Criminal immunity for a president lacks all three: nothing that says so in the Constitution, although it does refer to potential criminal prosecution in connection with impeachment offenses; there is no historical analog for immunity ever since King George IIIs statute was toppled 248 years ago this week following adoption of the Declaration of Independence; and no tradition exists of any president seeking or obtaining immunity for criminality, even the venal Richard Nixon, who didnt need one after his pardon by his successor, Gerald Ford.

Yet, the absence of all three of those features didnt deter Thomas from subscribing to the decision by the Chief Justice  perhaps before taking off for another all-expense paid luxury vacation provided by a right-wing billionaire friend or a jaunt around the country with his MAGA wife, Ginny, in the ultra RV furnished to him by his wealthy pal.

But the logical extension of Roberts rationale has broad tentacles in addition to permitting outright murder. Since the presidents constitutional authority includes providing pardons, nothing would prevent  or penalize  him from taking bribes for granting them.

By the same reasoning, the chief executives constitutional authority to appoint ambassadors and other officials and employees of the federal government could be used to solicit pay-offs to the president, the Presidents party, family members, friends, or anyone else for that matter, auctioning the positions off them to the highest bidders. That could make for an engaging reality television show: Were Making a Deal or Americas Got Graft.

There are a myriad of other illegalities that could occur within the official presidential duties enumerated in Article II of the Constitution or implied from them that are given free passes by the deplorable ruling that might go down in infamy as Roberts Rules of Disorder.

One of the justices, Neil Gorsuch, remarked at oral arguments that the Courts ruling would be one for the ages.

This one is not going to age well.
Guest columnist writes that by focusing only on whether the presidents actions fall within his official constitutional duties, the Supreme Court gives carte blanche to the ex-president, the current one and future Commanders-in-Chief.. Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Images

Regrettably, but not surprisingly, the Supreme Court has now unleashed SEAL Team Six to murder anyone the president directs it to kill.

By focusing only on whether the presidents actions fall within his official constitutional duties, rather than the nature of the underlying conduct itself, the majority decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts in the presidential immunity case, Trump v. United States, gives carte blanche to the ex-president, the current one and future Commanders-in-Chief.

Its not only political rivals who can be killed at the whim of the president regardless of motivation and without recourse. That indulgence also would extend to anyone he or she wants eliminated.

It looks like ex-President Trump was correct when he famously said he could shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters.

It not only would be devoid of deleterious impact on his supporters, but it would bar any legal consequences as long as its done by the military at his behest  even if the militia considers it to be unlawful.

Indeed, if a president, now or in the future, is upset by a ruling of the Supreme Court, he or she could order the Seal Team or other SWAT commandos under his authority to charge into the Supreme Courts chambers  across the street from the site of the Jan. 6 insurrection, by the way  and slay the justices. Its all within his official duties as Commander-in-Chief.

The Chief Justice wove together his six-member majority with two gimmes: Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. The former was indisputably in the bag and flying his flag high in favor of even broader full-scale immunity based upon his remark at oral arguments in April that a president needs to be free of legal constraints to assure that he (or she) will follow the law without fear of being prosecuted by later administrations.

Thats probably one of the grossest non-sequiturs issued from that once-exalted body since it declared, before the Civil War, that a Black person is not a person in the eyes of the law. Or, nearly 40 years later, that segregation of people of color constitutes separate but equal treatment.

As for Thomas, he joined the majority opinion despite it not engaging in the three-pronged analysis that he deems talismanic to constitutional adjudication: text, history, and tradition.

Criminal immunity for a president lacks all three: nothing that says so in the Constitution, although it does refer to potential criminal prosecution in connection with impeachment offenses; there is no historical analog for immunity ever since King George IIIs statute was toppled 248 years ago this week following adoption of the Declaration of Independence; and no tradition exists of any president seeking or obtaining immunity for criminality, even the venal Richard Nixon, who didnt need one after his pardon by his successor, Gerald Ford.

Yet, the absence of all three of those features didnt deter Thomas from subscribing to the decision by the Chief Justice  perhaps before taking off for another all-expense paid luxury vacation provided by a right-wing billionaire friend or a jaunt around the country with his MAGA wife, Ginny, in the ultra RV furnished to him by his wealthy pal.

But the logical extension of Roberts rationale has broad tentacles in addition to permitting outright murder. Since the presidents constitutional authority includes providing pardons, nothing would prevent  or penalize  him from taking bribes for granting them.

By the same reasoning, the chief executives constitutional authority to appoint ambassadors and other officials and employees of the federal government could be used to solicit pay-offs to the president, the Presidents party, family members, friends, or anyone else for that matter, auctioning the positions off them to the highest bidders. That could make for an engaging reality television show: Were Making a Deal or Americas Got Graft.

There are a myriad of other illegalities that could occur within the official presidential duties enumerated in Article II of the Constitution or implied from them that are given free passes by the deplorable ruling that might go down in infamy as Roberts Rules of Disorder.

One of the justices, Neil Gorsuch, remarked at oral arguments that the Courts ruling would be one for the ages.

This one is not going to age well.

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HAVERSTRAW, N.Y. (PIX11)  A wild and deadly chain of events unfolded in a small Rockland County community on Monday.

Police said a heated argument ended with a man being shot to death inside his car, causing him to run off the road.

More Local News

Neighbor Julio Ortiz said his daughter heard the shots and told her parents to get on the floor.

I saw from outside the car and saw him slumped over, so I didnt try to do anything, Adaris Ortiz said.

The victim, Christian Alvarado, 29, of Pomona, slammed into a parked car after losing consciousness outside the Ortiz family home on Fairmount Avenue.

I only saw the vehicle make the turn at high speed and collide with that vehicle, said Junior Borgen, who heard the shots while working at a nearby autobody shop.

Police said a gunman likely targeted Alvarado downtown.

There was some dispute between the victim and suspect. The victim ended up getting in his vehicle. The suspect ran up on him and fired into the vehicle, Haverstraw Police Chief John Gould said.

Detectives discovered evidence that supports their belief that this was not a random attack.

We had video surveillance of them interacting; it appeared they knew each other. Then some dispute happened and escalated from there, Gould explained.

More News from the Northern Suburbs

Neighbors are concerned for everyones safety, including children on summer vacation.

That was very terrifying; there were kids there riding their bikes, said Borgen.

Junior Mendia, 11, went back inside his house.

I got scared something bad could happen, so I made sure to lock the windows and doors, Mendia said.

Investigators and witnesses said the shooter calmly walked away after. Police said they have strong leads on the suspects identity.

Authorities asked the public to call the Haverstraw Police Department at (845) 354-1500 with any information about the murder.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
From Roe to Dobbs and Beyond: The Birmingham bombing, and the aftermath

Emily Lyons and husband Jeff Lyons speak to reporters outside the Hugo L. Black Federal Courthouse on April 13, 2005, in Birmingham, Alabama. Emily Lyons, the head nurse at New Woman All Women Clinic in Birmingham, lost an eye after Eric Rudolph bombed the clinic on Jan. 29, 1998. Robert Sanderson, an off-duty Birmingham police officer who worked security at the clinic, was killed in the attack. Rudolph later pleaded guilty to the attack and three others, receiving two life sentences in prison. (Brian Schoenhals/Getty Images)

This is part two in a four-part series.

Diane Derzis had worked in abortion care in Birmingham in the 1980s and 1990s. She had lobbied the Alabama Legislature for abortion rights protections, earning the nickname The Abortion Queen. She had faced threats to her life. And protesters who once trapped her and her patients in the clinic.

By her early 40s, she was burned out. On her therapists advice, she left Alabama and returned to Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she first went to college.

In Virginia, life was slower and less exciting compared with what she had just given up. But it was peaceful. She served as an instructor in a vocational higher education setting and worked in real estate. She lived about 15 minutes away from her family and often had Sunday dinner with them. Derzis hadnt had that kind of time with family in years.

But life away from abortion care would prove to be fleeting. Just six months.

From Roe to Dobbs and Beyond

Diane Derzis Lifetime in Abortion Care

June 24 was the 2nd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which ended federal abortion rights protections in the United States. This is the second of a four-part profile of Diane Derzis, the owner of the clinic at the center of the decision, and her lifetime in abortion care.

Part 1: Diane Derzis went from working at an abortion clinic in Birmingham in the 1970s to running Summit Medical Center in the 1980s and 90s. She quickly became acquainted with the need  and the threats.

Part 2: Diane Derzis bought an abortion clinic in Birmingham and came face-to-face with violence.

Part 3: She had an opportunity to buy an abortion clinic in Mississippi and took it. And that clinic, Jackson Womens Health Organization, was at the center of a lawsuit that ended abortion rights protections in the United States.

Part 4: How Derzis navigated the post-Dobbs landscape, and found a new home for the Jackson clinic

In 1996, Derzis got a phone call about a clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. Did Derzis want to buy it?

The clinic, New Woman All Women Health Care Clinic, would be the first Derzis owned. The clinic wasnt brand new, and her co-owner was one of the physicians who worked there. Derzis didnt have to worry about the minute-by-minute, day-by-day operations. She hoped she would be able to do the work she loved in a new way that might address the burnout that led her to leave the field.

But that was not how it played out.

At least every other day, Derzis was on the phone. Sometimes shed visit the clinic in person, driving over in her recreational vehicle. Derzis would stay for four or five days, once again the Abortion Queen.

On Jan. 29, 1998, Derzis was getting dressed and having some coffee in Harrisonburg. She got a call. On the other end of the line was New Woman All Women Health Care Clinics administrator.

The sirens you hear are coming for us, Derzis remembered the administrator saying. Theyve blown up the clinic.

The line disconnected. Derzis turned on the TV. Every channel she flipped to had coverage of the bombing.

She repeatedly tried calling the administrator back. No answer.

It was cloudy and frigid that morning in Birmingham. Robert Sanderson, an off-duty Birmingham police officer, was at the clinic, working a shift as a security guard. Outside the front door, before any patients had arrived for appointments, Sanderson noticed something odd in the shrubbery.

Just then, New Woman All Women Health Care Clinics head nurse, Emily Lyons, was at the door about to enter. As Sanderson leaned over to investigate, a man named Eric Rudolph, watching from across the street, used a remote control to detonate the bomb.

It was 7:33 a.m.

The blast was felt for miles.

Sanderson was killed by the bomb.

Lyons was severely injured. The explosion damaged her eyes, tore off teeth and eyelashes, and put a hole in her chest. Her face was full of rocks. The right side of her skull was broken.

The bomb shattered her left leg, ripped skin from her shins, and burned her right arm. Shrapnel lodged itself in her chest.

The bomb was housed in a plastic toolbox. The toolbox had been purchased at Walmart. Nails and gravel made up at least some of the shrapnel that was inside the bomb. Shrapnel reached the chairs and the front desk inside the clinics lobby on the ground floor and even up into a second floor waiting area.

Derzis doesnt think the bomb was designed to damage the clinic. Instead, she said, it was made to kill patients and staff.

At the time of the bombing, Rudolph was 31 years old and a resident of Murphy, North Carolina. Later that year, the U.S. Department of Justice would charge Rudolph with the 1996 bombing at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia, that killed one person and injured at least 111 others, and bombings that happened in 1997 at an area health clinic in Atlanta and an Atlanta nightclub. The latter injured five people. By the time the Justice Department announced those charges, Rudolph had already been charged for the bombing attack at New Woman All Women Clinic.

  

Instantly that morning in Virginia, Derzis thought the bombing was her fault.

Clinics in the country at that time, most of them were very quiet. People didnt do press, she said. It was just quiet, but thats not how I thought it should be. I thought it should be not tucked aside and shameful, but it should be talked about. There should be a face there, and theres someone to answer questions and, you know, and all of that. But all of that also had a price, cause I called attention.

People at the clinic paid the price for Derzis being who she was, she felt. After all, there were three clinics in Birmingham at the time, and Rudolph chose hers.

Derzis had to get to the clinic the morning of the bombing. She got a flight out of Charlottesville, Virginia, to Birmingham, with a connecting flight in Atlanta. While watching the news in Atlanta and waiting to board her flight, an agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives walked over and introduced himself. Theyd sit with each other on the flight to Birmingham and talk for the whole flight.

A crowd of journalists was waiting for Derzis at the airport in Birmingham. Hollering at her, they tried to get a comment. They stunned her. She wasnt expecting them  and there were so many of them. Skipping them, Derzis headed straight to her clinic. But she couldnt get to it. Streets were barricaded off for three or four blocks.

  

Derzis didnt see any option but to stay in Birmingham and make sure the clinic was running again. She needed to do something positive. And there was an emotional-support element, too. She wanted to help.

The would reopen a week after the bombing.

On reopening day  Feb. 5, 1998  the clinics windows were still damaged. Replacements had to be specially ordered. A handful of TV satellite trucks were there. Friends of hers  owners of other clinics  were there, too. Two were from North Carolina, one from Atlanta. They helped out.

Despite everything, the clinics phones rang nonstop that day, just like normal. Women came in for care, even from as far as Huntsville, a 90-minute drive. Most of the women that showed up didnt even know a bombing had occurred.

That normalcy, it was such  I dont even know. You think about, you know, Emilys fighting for her life, Sandys dead, and were open and back in business, Derzis said. It was just surreal.

Derzis would stay in Birmingham for about a week or so after her clinic reopened.

The clinic didnt need me there, Derzis explained. That healing had to be from within.

Her first week home at her farm in Virginia, Derzis was antsy. Naturally a big reader, she started devouring books left and right. She slept little. This would go on for weeks. And she couldnt shake the thought that the bombing was her fault. Randomly, shed start crying. Crying made her think she was weak  Derzis doesnt like weakness.

Family dinners during those first few weeks back home were filled with silence from her loved ones about the bombing. That silence ate Derzis up.

Derzis had hardly known Lyons before the bombing. But she visited Lyons during her monthlong stay in the hospital. For at least two of those weeks in the hospital, Lyons was on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma. Shortly after the explosion, her left eye had to be removed along with some of her intestine.

The first time after the bombing that Lyons remembers seeing Derzis was after her stint in the hospital and then a monthlong stay in rehab for physical therapy. Derzis visited her at her house. She was in a hospital bed in the living room.

The second time, they went out to dinner. Lyonss husband, Jeff, went, too. Lyons was in a wheelchair. Jeff had to read the menu to her. And she had to have help with eating.

The first year after the bombing was physically challenging for Lyons. There was physical therapy. She had to relearn how to walk up the stairs in their three-story home. Doctor visits took place every week. A nurse would come to the house and do dressing changes every day. Lyons remembers the nurse cleaning holes in Lyonss legs with Q-tips and peroxide before applying gauze soaked in iodine. She would try to take a pain pill before the visits, because its like pouring salt in a wound, Lyons said.

The fire is unimaginable, she said. And then at nighttime, Jeffrey would have to do the same thing. And he hated to see that he had to cause pain.

Seeing Lyons in that first year was a reality check for Derzis. She said Lyons suffering put her own struggles in perspective.

Over the years, Lyons would have more than 50 surgeries resulting from the bombing. At some point, a doctor told her he had never seen anything outside of war like what Lyons endured. In one operation, in April 2023, a piece of plastic  about a quarter of an inch in size  was removed from Lyonss sinus. That piece of plastic was part of the tool box that the bomb was housed in. It had been in her sinus for 25 years. Though faded, there was still a hint of green to it.

Dinners with Lyons and Jeff would continue over the years for Derzis. Theyd become friends.

  

The morning of the bombing at New Woman All Women Health Care Clinic, Doug Jones was headed to Birminghams Southside neighborhood. Jones was the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama at the time. Hed later become a U.S. senator, representing Alabama as a Democrat. He had a breakfast meeting with a journalist from the Birmingham News to get to. They were going to talk about Joness first five months on the job. On the way to breakfast, he heard about the bombing.

Jones made his way to the scene. Robert Sandersons dead body was still there when he arrived.

A task force was created that morning to work on the investigation into the attack. Birminghams police department, the FBI, and the Justice Departments Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were all part of it.

Jones helped coordinate things for the task force: where investigations should go, who would be doing those investigations and how, as well as the legal ramifications that always come up, he explained. For instance, when you needed to get a search warrant, when you need to get an arrest warrant, when you need to get a material witness warrant, when to go public.

That morning, a student attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham noticed something.

This was an 18-year-old kid, OK? This was an 18-year-old kid at the time, who heard the bomb, Jones said. He was doing his laundry in the basement of a dorm, heard the explosion, looked out the window, saw people moving toward the plume of smoke from the bombing  except for one person, who appeared to be wearing a disguise and was walking very hurriedly away. And he thought that was very suspicious, and he went outside, walked around his car, [and] saw him.

That was Eric Rudolph. But then the student lost sight of him. After a little while, the student got another person to help search.

Before long, the two spotted Rudolph getting into a gray Nissan pickup truck. And theyd go on to get the trucks license plate information.

And thats how we identified him. Of course, we didnt know Eric Rudolphs name at the time. We knew that Eric Rudolph owned the truck, but we werent able to identify him, per se, Jones said. But Im tellin you, without the fortitude of that 18-year-old kid, I dont know if that case would ever have been solved.

Rudolph would get charged with the bombing within weeks. By then, he was on the run.

During his time on the case, Jones interacted with Derzis. He remembers she was thankful for the work that law enforcement was doing on the case.

In 2003, the manhunt for Rudolph came to an end. Five years had come and gone since he bombed Derziss clinic and then disappeared. Finally, he was caught.

A journalist called Derzis within an hour of Rudolphs apprehension. She was at the clinic, and hadnt heard yet.

Thank God, she thought.

In 2005, Rudolph pleaded guilty to the bombings. He was sentenced to two life terms behind bars.

Next: Diane Derzis gets an opportunity to buy an abortion clinic in Jackson, Mississippi  one that will be at the center of the most important Supreme Court case of the 21st Century. This story first appeared in the Alabama Reflector, with the Phoenix a member of the nonprofit States Newsroom network.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The great journey of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has spanned more than a century, and Xibaipo -- the last rural command post of the Chinese revolution -- is a significant landmark on that epic voyage.

In 2013, the old revolutionary base in the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains welcomed a familiar guest, President Xi Jinping.

When he visited Xibaipo Memorial Hall, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stopped to examine a display board. The board was inscribed with six rules: no grand birthday celebrations, no giving gifts, toast less, clap less, no naming places after individuals, and no equating Chinese comrades with Marx, Engels, Lenin or Stalin.

These rules were put forward by Mao Zedong in Xibaipo, where the leadership of the CPC was stationed from May 1948 to March 1949.

With the Chinese revolution poised for a sweeping victory, Mao reportedly likened the approaching entry into Beijing to found New China to "going to the capital for a big exam."

"We must achieve excellent results," Mao once declared, emphasizing the importance of remaining humble, prudent and dedicated to hard work. To uphold these values, he outlined the six rules to improve conduct, expecting the principles to guide the CPC through challenges ahead.

Standing before the display board, Xi scrutinized each item at length, noting the progress that had been made and the areas that still required attention.

"We have achieved the first, which is no grand birthday celebrations. The second -- no giving gifts -- still needs improvement, so we need to address this issue as part of our efforts to combat the 'Four Malfeasances'..." he said.

The Four Malfeasances refer to pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance.

During the visit, Xi recalled that he had been to Xibaipo many times. "Each time, I have come with a lot of respect and left with many thoughts," he said, calling on Party members and officials to serve the people wholeheartedly and continue to pass the "exams" the people set for the Party.

Throughout his career, Xi has placed great emphasis on conduct and discipline, and set the bar high for the standards of all Party members and officials. He leads by example.

In the early 1980s, when he was serving in Hebei's Zhengding County, about 85 km from Xibaipo, Xi was often seen riding his bicycle to villages to talk and work with local farmers.

Less than 20 days after assuming the Party's top post in 2012, Xi spearheaded the formulation of the eight-point code of conduct, laying down rules to improve conduct within the Party. This effectively put an end to undesirable practices, such as excessive banqueting and extravagant spending.

"Only when we are under pressure and supervision can people enjoy a more comfortable and satisfying life and have a higher opinion of us," Xi once said.

The ultimate purpose of the CPC is to serve the people wholeheartedly, Xi said on many occasions, stressing that the CPC owes its governing status to the support of the people. Therefore, it must maintain its flesh-and-blood relations with the people.

Xi excels at exploring the rich, profound heritage of the CPC, utilizing its invaluable legacies to illuminate the minds of Party members. In August 2022, when inspecting Jinzhou City in Liaoning Province, Xi recounted a story of People's Liberation Army soldiers in 1948 who endured hunger and thirst without reaching for the apples grown by local farmers.

"We are not allowed to eat those apples -- the apples of the people --not even today," Xi stressed.

Similar to the six rules of Xibaipo, the eight-point code has reinforced the bond between the Party and the people.

Statistics show that in 2023 alone, 107,547 cases of violations of the eight-point code were investigated nationwide, resulting in punishments being handed to 108,695 Party and government officials.

At the end of that year, a nationwide survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics recorded that 95.7 percent of respondents were satisfied with the enforcement of the eight-point code, a testament to its role in enhancing ethical conduct within the Party and government.

"It is up to the people to judge how the Party performs in the test of the times. We must continue to perform well, take on an entirely new look in the new era, and make new accomplishments on our new journey," Xi has said. 
French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden pose ahead of an official state dinner as part of U.S. President's state visit to France on June 8, 2024 in Paris. Credit - Marc PiaseckiGetty Images

Americas semiquincentennial anniversary is just two years away. Its a milestone opportunity to unite the country and recognize the vast history and strength that lies in its future. While many founding figures played vital roles to attain independence, the crucial support from the nations first ally, France, is often overlooked.

Today the Franco-American alliance is a multifaceted relationship where, despite different perspectives and experiences, the countries are connected by shared political ideals, educational and scientific endeavors, alongside culture and cuisine. Many leaders, wars, crises, economic booms and busts have alternately shaped, strained, and strengthened this alliance over the past 250 years. But few realize that this relationships foundations lie in Americas smallest state. The story that emerged on the shores of a popular tourist destination  Newport, R.I.  offers an important lesson on accepting differences that still applies today.

Although the U.S. declared independence in 1776, victory at Yorktown in 1781 was impossible without the assistance of France. Achieving independence required Benjamin Franklin and other American diplomats to find an ally, but France was not a natural choice.

American colonists were long-standing members of an English-speaking, maritime oriented, Protestant culture that just one generation earlier had fought a bloody war against Catholic, continental French-speaking forces and their Native American allies. But French citizens were drawn to the cause of American independence and Louis XVI was drawn to an opportunity to strike at Frances traditional foes in Britain. In 1778, the Treaty of Alliance established this new partnership. The alliance led to the first military cooperation between the Americans and French during the Battle of Rhode Island (August 1778) with the goal of capturing the British garrison that had occupied Newport since late 1776. Although they did not win this battle, this effort showed promise that the Franco-American alliance could ultimately win the war.

Read More: Macron Uses White House Visit to Voice Frustration With Two U.S. Laws

Following British withdrawal from Newport in late 1779, Rhode Island soon helped the roots of the Franco-American alliance flourish. When 6,000 French officers and soldiers of lExpedition Particuliere, led by General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, landed in July 1780, Newporters were initially unwelcoming. Locals saw the French as another occupying army  this one was comprised of soldiers with distinct linguistic, cultural, and religious differences that had long put them at odds with Anglo-Americans.

However, during their 11-month residency, the two sides established respect and mutual understanding with their new military and civilian partners. Rochambeau understood the citizens concerns and the French rebuilt the city, which had been physically and economically devastated by their common enemy. Teas, balls, and other social gatherings helped locals warm to their ally. Surviving documents suggest flirtations between French officers and local women were abundant, and the French even hosted a ball honoring the ladies they celebrated in song as Belles of Newport.

During Newports French occupation, George Washington and Rochambeau laid the foundation for the cooperation that empowered Americas success. These leaders, who overcame differences in age, temperament, and experience, corresponded and met repeatedly to develop a military strategy to defeat British forces. During Washingtons visit to Newport in March 1781, he foresaw the alliance as a happy presage of future harmony, a pleasing evidence that an intercourse between the two nations will more and more cement the union by the solid and lasting ties of mutual affection.

In June 1781, the French Army departed Newport and marched with Washington to Yorktown, Va., where they trapped British forces under Lord Charles Cornwallis with the decisive assistance of the French Navy. This victory led to Britains recognition of an independent U.S. through the 1783 Treaty of Paris.

Read More: Last WWII Vets Converge on Normandy for D-Day and Fallen Friends

Over the last 250 years, French and American people, along with leaders like Rochambeau and Washington, have grown a partnership that has allowed the two countries to stand together in the most challenging of times. The ideals of freedom established during the American Revolution influenced the French Revolution, and this connection has extended to areas as diverse as medicine, art, literature, music, and technology. An alliance that emerged amid Americas quest for independence was strengthened by a different people who found a common thread.

Rhode Islands roots in the Franco-American alliance are evidence that, by collaborating, showing grace, and accepting our differences, whether cultural or political, we can learn from those whose beliefs contradict our own. During an election year that looks set to highlight starkly opposite perspectives on international engagement and cooperation, this insight from the past remains relevant.

Elizabeth Sulock, associate director for the John Brown House Museum at the Rhode Island Historical Society, is a member of the state of Rhode Islands 250 Commission. Don Thieme is Olmsted Scholar and associate professor at the U.S. Naval War College. Rachel Bahn works in the field of international development as technical director for economic analysis with Limestone Analytics.

The Road to 250 series is a collaboration between Made by History and Historians for 2026, a group of early Americanists devoted to shaping an accurate, inclusive, and just public memory of the American Founding for the upcoming 250th anniversary.

Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.

Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com.
Three horses were "swiftly and safely recovered" after getting loose on July 1, the Ministry of Defence confirmed

Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty A photo of royal horses bolting through London on April 24, 2024.

Royal horses broke loose in London for the second time in three months.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that three horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment "became loose from their riders" on the morning of Monday, July 1 after the lead animal, which was being led rather than ridden, got spooked by a bus during a routine exercise, a statement obtained by PEOPLE confirmed.

This led to two riders being unseated from their horses, who also got loose. Six horses and five soldiers were conducting the exercise at the time.

"They were swiftly and safely recovered," an Army spokesperson said of the animals. "One horse received minor injuries, but no further treatment is required and there were no injuries to the soldiers involved."

The MoD confirmed all of the animals were returned to Hyde Park Barracks by 9.55 a.m. local time after they bolted from Seville Street to South Eaton Place in Belgravia, where one of the animals was recovered.

The other two horses continued to Vauxhall Bridge before being stopped.

Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty A royal horse bolts through London on April 24, 2024.

Related: 2 Royal Horses in 'Serious Condition' After Bolting Through London

"Were aware that a number of horses were loose in central London and worked with the Army to locate them. We're pleased to confirm that all of the horses have been accounted for. We are continuing to liaise with the Army," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

One of the horses could be seen running into a car while the other ran behind it in footage shared by a taxi driver on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The latest incident comes after five horses belonging to the Household Cavalry  named Vida, Trojan, Quaker, Tennyson and Vanquish  ran through the British capital on the morning of April 24.

Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty A photo of royal horses bolting through London on April 24, 2024.

The MoD confirmed none of the horses involved in the previous incident broke loose on July 1.

On April 24, the animals had been exercising with three other horses in the Belgravia neighborhood when they became spooked by the sound of some construction concrete falling to the floor.

Two of the horses, Quaker and Vida, underwent surgery, but the Army said at the end of April that they were expected to make a full recovery.

Trojan, Tennyson and Vanquish are all back on duty after spending time recuperating at The Horse Trust in Chiltern Hills, located about an hour's drive outside the city.

Related: King Charles' Guard Breaks Protocol to Allow Elderly Veteran to Pet His Horse

Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Royal horses bolt through London on April 24, 2024.

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They returned to duty for Trooping the Colour last month. "Tennyson will be riding in the prestigious Sovereigns Escort at the rear rank of the second division on Saturdays Kings Birthday Parade," the Army said on its website ahead of the June 15 celebrations.

"Trojan and Vanquish will also be back in the public eye as part of The Kings Life Guard at Horse Guards, providing the ceremonial guard for the official entrance to the Royal Palaces on this, the most important date in the Royal Calendar," the release added.

"Tennyson will be ridden by Corporal of Horse Harvey, the Life Guards Squadron Equitation Instructor and the most experienced rider in the division, to give the horse extra confidence on this, his first major parade since the incident in April," the message continued.



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Rudy Giuliani admitted hes in no way shocked by the Bar Associations decision to revoke his license to practice law in the state of New York, which is the consequence for his nefarious involvement in the 2020 presidential election.

Im not surprised that Ive been disbarred by a Bar Assn which is a politically and ideologically integral part of the Democrat one-party, corrupted court system for a long time, Giuliani wrote on X Tuesday, blaming his disbarment on the Bar Associations supposed ties to the Democratic Party.

He went on to say that judges like Judge Juan Merchan  who presided over Donald Trumps hush-money case  are all tied to the Party and are unjustly selected, not elected, by Dem leaders.

Judges, like Merchan and [Arthur] Engoron in NYC are selected by local Democrat bosses. These judges, just like in a one-party Communist dictatorship, are not really elected but selected by the Democrat local bosses and often run unopposed, Giuliani continued. The case is based on an activist complaint, replete with false arguments, a hearing officer who was a former judge from the same corrupt Democrat selection process, and a tape with almost 1/4 of the most critical parts erased and covered up by either the Chief NY Bar persecutor and his staff, or the Secy of State of Georgia.

Im not surprised that Ive been disbarred by a Bar Assn which is a politically and ideologically integral part of the Democrat one party corrupted court system for a long time.



Judges, like Merchan and Engoron in NYC are selected by local Democrat bosses. These judges, just  Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) July 2, 2024

In a statement to TMZ, Giulianis legal team said they are disappointed by the decision.

Of course, we are disappointed by it all, but we cant say we are surprised. The court has been very heavy handed with Mayor Giuliani from the inception of this matter. We are exploring any appellate options, lawyer Arthur Aidala said. Rudy and I traded some text messages  he was not surprised at all  he felt there was no likelihood he would get a fair shake.

The revocation of Giulianis law license comes two years after it was suspended over him making demonstrably false and misleading statements to the legislators and the public about the 2020 presidential election. Most notably, Giuliani falsely claimed that the election was rigged in President Joe Bidens favor and that Trump was the true victor in the presidential battle.

As a result, the states bar named Giuliani as an immediate threat, particularly following his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection (While hes yet to plead, Giuliani was also charged in Arizona over his meddling with the election).

However, his attorney L. Allyn Stockton said Giuliani was just doing his job, noting, If what New York has revoked his license for is similar to his conduct in Georgia, then they have revoked his license for merely representing a client zealously.

The post Rudy Giuliani Admits Hes Not Surprised to Have Been Disbarred in New York appeared first on TheWrap.
Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred effective immediately for his efforts to defraud the country and put up a slate of fake pro-Trump electors, a panel of judges in a New York state appeals court ruled Tuesday, The Hill reported.

The former mayor and Trump personal attorney was initially suspended from practicing law while the New York court weighed discipline proceedings against him, CNN reported. Now the verdict is in: The seriousness of [his] misconduct cannot be overstated, the court wrote.

In its decision, the court said that Giuliani essentially conceded most facts that support the alleged acts of misconduct. Instead, he argued that he lacked knowledge that he was making false statements and claimed to have good reason to support his claim that the 2020 Presidential election was stolen from his client, The Washington Post reported.

The court found that the former mob prosecutor falsely and dishonestly made claims that thousands of votes were cast in the name of dead people in Philadelphia. He also falsely claimed that people from nearby Camden, New Jersey, were taken to vote illegally in the Pennsylvania city, the court stated.

The New Yorks Appellate Division, First Department ruled that Giuliani flagrantly misused his position as Trumps former attorney and his campaign to create intentionally false statements some of which were perjurious, to the federal court, state lawmakers, the public, the AGC, and this Court concerning the 2020 Presidential election, in which he baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this countrys electoral process.

In so doing, respondent not only deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession, but he also actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 Presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant, it read.

Arthur Aidala, Giulianis attorney, said they were obviously disappointed, but not altogether that surprised. He maintained that they put up a valiant effort to prevent the outcome from turning out the way it did but we saw the writing on the wall, the Post reported.

A spokesperson from Giuliani's camp blasted the decision, calling it "politically and ideologically corrupted," adding that the former mayor plans to appeal an "objectively flawed decision."
Rudy Giuliani's association with former President Donald Trump has cost him his law license.

The former New York City mayor was disbarred on Tuesday in a decision handed down by the Appellate Division First Department in New York.

The ruling is a consequence of Giuliani's "demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump's failed effort at reelection in 2020."

MORE: Rudy Giuliani served with Arizona fake electors indictment after 80th birthday party

Giuliani claimed he believed the statements at the time he was making them but the court was not persuaded.

PHOTO: Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor of New York, attends a ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York, Sept. 11, 2022. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE)

The decision added, "Contrary to respondent's allegations, there is nothing on the record before us that would permit the conclusion that respondent lacked knowledge of the falsehood of the numerous statements that he made, and that he had a good faith basis to believe them to be true."

As a lawyer, the decision said, Giuliani should have known better.

"The seriousness of respondent's misconduct cannot be overstated," the ruling said. "[R]espondent not only deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession, but he also actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 Presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant."

Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, said he would appeal the court's decision.

"Members of the legal community who respect the rule of law in this country should immediately come forward and speak out against this politically and ideologically corrupted decision. We will be appealing this objectively flawed decision in hopes that the appellate process will restore integrity into our system of justice," Goodman said in a statement.

Giuliani, several allies of Trump and alleged fake electors pleaded not guilty in May in a Maricopa County, Arizona, court for their alleged efforts to overturn the election results in the state.

That same month, Giuliani agreed to cease accusations of election fraud against two former Georgia election workers who won a $148 judgment after a judge found him guilty of defaming the two women.

Rudy Giuliani disbarred over 'false and misleading' statements on 2020 election originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
*Video of previous Rudy Giuliani coverage.

(The Hill)  Rudy Giuliani, who once served as New York Citys mayor and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has been disbarred effective immediately for his efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday.

A panel of judges in New Yorks Appellate Division, First Department wrote that Giuliani flagrantly misused his position as an attorney for former President Donald Trump and his campaign to make intentionally false statements to courts, lawmakers and the public.

In so doing, respondent not only deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession, but he also actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 Presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant, they wrote in a 31-page ruling.

The New York appeals panel ordered Giuliani to desist and refrain from practicing law in any form, appearing as an attorney before any court or public authority, providing legal advice or presenting himself in any way as an attorney.

The decision cited Giulianis false claims of smuggled ballots, dead or non-U.S. citizen voters casting ballots in the election as part of their reasoning. It focused on false claims he made about the election in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Manhattan DA wont oppose delaying Trumps hush money sentencing

Giuliani was admitted to New Yorks bar more than 50 years ago, in 1969, but his license to practice law was suspended in 2021 over his efforts to keep Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 presidential election. His law license has also been suspended in Washington, D.C., over the same issues.

Once dubbed Americas mayor for his response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack in New York, Giuliani has since been indicted in Georgia and Arizona for his efforts to overturn the election in Trumps favor. Hes also an unnamed and unindicted co-conspirator in Trumps federal election subversion case.

He filed for bankruptcy in December a jury ordered him to pay a staggering $148 million to two ex-election workers in Georgia whom he baselessly accused of committing fraud.

The Hill requested comment from Giulianis political adviser. The Attorney Grievance Committee declined to comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A New York appeals court ruled on July 2 that the former attorney to Donald Trump has lost his right to practice law, writing that the "seriousness of [his] misconduct cannot be overstated"

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Rudy Giuliani hosts a press conference after the 2020 presidential election to argue that Donald Trump still had a path to victory

Rudy Giuliani  the former mayor of New York City and ex-lawyer for Donald Trump  has been disbarred in New York over the lies he spread about the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.

On July 2, the First Department of the New York Supreme Court's Appellate Division ruled that Giuliani lost his right to practice law for violating "some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession."

"The seriousness of respondents misconduct cannot be overstated," reads the ruling. "Respondent flagrantly misused his prominent position as the personal attorney for former President Trump and his campaign, through which respondent repeatedly and intentionally made false statements, some of which were perjurious, to the federal court, state lawmakers, the public, the [Attorney Grievance Committee], and this Court concerning the 2020 Presidential election, in which he baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this countrys electoral process."



Related: Rudy Giulianis 60-Point Dive in Popularity Poll Stuns Data Reporter: Never Seen Anything Like This

Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Rudy Giuliani speaks at the "Save America Rally" in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol

Giuliani's close connection with the former president, and his attempts to bend the law on Trump's behalf, have led to a near-unraveling of the legal career of a man once known as "America's mayor."



In 2021, a New York appellate court ruled that Giuliani, who served as Trump's personal lawyer during the post-election frenzy, made "demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large" related to the election, in which Trump lost to Biden by about 7 million votes but nonetheless claimed it was rigged.

The court then temporarily suspended Giuliani's law license in New York. Shortly after that, his D.C. law license was temporarily suspended.

Related: Rudy Giuliani Now Admits He Made False Statements About Georgia Poll Workers After 2020 Election

Fulton County Sheriff's Office Rudy Giuliani's mug shot after he surrendered to Fulton County, Ga., authorities in August 2023

Giuliani has been mired in multiple other legal issues related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Giuliani was indicted in a Georgia election subversion case in August 2023, alongside Trump himself and 17 other MAGA allies. He was indicted in May 2024 in a similar election interference case in Arizona. He has pleaded not guilty.

Giuliani has faced a number of reported financial issues, too  the result of millions of dollars in legal bills stemming from the 2020 election and from a probe into whether he acted as an unregistered lobbyist for Ukrainian officials.

Related: Rudy Giuliani Ordered to Pay $148 Million for Defaming Georgia Election Workers

Unrelated to the 2020 election, he was sued by a former staffer for sexual harassment in May 2023. The staffer, Noelle Dunphy, accused Giuliani of forcing her to have oral sex and intercourse. The lawsuit also alleged Giuliani was selling presidential pardons for $2 million.

Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson later alleged in her 2023 memoir that, shortly before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot began, Giuliani groped her beneath her skirt while claiming the administration would find a way to stay in power. He denied the accusation.

Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in December 2023, citing $500 million of debt.

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Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred in New York after he was found to have made repeated false statements about the 2020 election.

The decision, by a New York Appellate Court on Tuesday, was a stunning conclusion for a man who was once one of the most powerful and revered prosecutors in the country.

As US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Giuliani became known as a tough prosecutor who went after organized crime. It was a reputation he leveraged to become New York mayor, leading the city through the devastation of the 9/11 terror attack in 2001.

Giuliani is disbarred from the practice of law, effective immediately, and until the further order of this Court, and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York, the 31-page ruling states.

The court justified its decision by saying that Giuliani had made demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large when he was lawyer for Donald Trump, and part of the failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

On Tuesday, a Giuliani spokesperson told The Independent: Members of the legal community who respect the rule of law in this country should immediately come forward and speak out against this politically and ideologically corrupted decision by the New York Bar Association.

We will be appealing this objectively flawed decision in hopes that the appellate process will restore integrity into our system of justice.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani departs the US District courthouse after he was ordered to pay $148m in his defamation case in Washington on December 15, 2023. He was disbarred in New York on July 2, 2024 (AP)

Giulianis New York law license was suspended in June 2021 after the division ruled that Giualinis false claims about the 2020 election constituted a threat to the public interest, democracy, and the legal profession.

The 80-year-old has faced increasing legal and financial jeopardy over the last few years. He was indicted in Arizona in May, along with 17 other defendants, for supposedly being a part of a scheme to overturn Trumps 2020 loss in the state.

Last December, he filed for bankruptcy after a defamation judgment ordered him to pay damages of $148m after he made false claims about election workers.

Retired Judge Barry Kamins, who represented Giuliani during the disbarrment proceedings, told the New York Law Journal that Giuliani is obviously disappointed in the decision and we are weighing our appellate options.

A Washington DC disciplinary committee has recommended that Giuliani be disbarred there as well.

The former mayor is also the subject of criminal charges in Georgia over his alleged role in a plot to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.
(Bloomberg) -- Rudolph Giuliani has been stripped of his law license in New York for aiding Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, the latest blow to the once celebrated federal prosecutor and New York mayor.

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Disbarring the 80-year-old attorney was amply supported by the record, a New York appeals court held in an order Tuesday, finding that he flagrantly misused his prominent position as the personal attorney for former President Trump and his campaign and baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this countrys electoral process.

The seriousness of respondents misconduct cannot be overstated, the five-member panel wrote. Giuliani not only deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession, but he also actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant.

Giulianis attorney Barry Kamins said in an email that his client is obviously disappointed in the decision and that they are weighing options to appeal.

Stunning Fall

Though not unexpected, Giulianis disbarment caps a stunning fall from grace for a man who made his name as a hard-charging federal prosecutor in Manhattan before becoming New Yorks mayor and winning praise for his leadership after the terrorist attacks of September 2001. After he left office, his services as a lawyer were in such great demand that a firm he joined adopted his name for a time.

His fortunes declined after he spearheaded the Trump campaigns legal challenges to Joe Bidens wins in battleground states in the 2020 election. He is separately fighting disbarment in Washington, where two panels of attorney regulators have recommended that he lose his license to practice for his work after the election. The citys highest court hasnt ruled yet.

Other top legal advisers to Trump, including former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark and law professor John Eastman, are facing state disbarment proceedings, but no court has entered final rulings in those cases. Giulianis law license has been suspended in New York since 2021.

Giuliani has faced significant legal fallout for promoting false claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020. He is fighting criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona and was ordered to pay $148 million for defaming two Georgia election workers. He is appealing that verdict.

Designed to Deceive

In Tuesdays order, the New York appeals court rebuffed Giulianis claim that he had a good faith basis for his fraud claims after the election.

There is nothing on the record before us that would permit the conclusion that respondent lacked knowledge of the falsehood of the numerous statements that he made, the court wrote. The 16 acts of falsehoods carried out by respondent were deliberate and constituted a transparent pattern of conduct intended and designed to deceive.

The case is In the Matter of Rudolph W. Giuliani, 2021-00506, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st Judicial Department.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, communicates with local emergency-response staff at a dike in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 1, 2024. Li inspected flood-prevention and control work in the city of Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

NANCHANG, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has stressed remaining alert to risks, strengthening preparedness and working unswervingly on flood control, disaster relief and rescue work to ensure the safety of people's lives and property, as well as overall social stability.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when inspecting flood-prevention and control work in the city of Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, from Monday to Tuesday.

When visiting a hydrologic station at the confluence of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, Li highlighted the important role of forecasting and early warning in disaster prevention, urging efforts to strengthen interdepartmental joint consultation and improve the accuracy of forecasting.

Li was also briefed on the work on Yangtze River levee reinforcement and checked the storage of flood-control materials. When communicating with local emergency-response staff, he underlined the need to enhance the inspection and protection of embankments during harsh weather conditions and stockpile adequate materials.

At a geological disaster site in Bailu Town, in the city of Lushan, Li urged prioritizing disaster prevention in a period when landslides and debris flows occur frequently, and evacuating residents in areas prone to disasters promptly once dangers have been detected.

Li also presided over a meeting on flood control in the town of Bailu. Noting the frequent occurrence of extreme weather conditions this year, Li called for efforts to strictly prevent secondary disasters caused by heavy rainfall, investigate weak links in urban flood-control and drainage systems, and strengthen flood prevention on farmland.

He also urged giving full play to the role of water-conservancy projects in flood-control work, preparing adequate precautionary measures for extreme situations, and carrying out rescue work immediately in the event of disasters. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presides over a meeting on flood control in Bailu Town, Lushan City, east China's Jiangxi Province, July 2, 2024. Li inspected flood-prevention and control work in the city of Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trumps former lawyer and New York Citys former mayor, is now a former practicing attorney. He was disbarred by the state of New York Tuesday.

Giuliani is disbarred from the practice of law, effective immediately, and until the further order of this Court, and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York, ruled a New York appeals court, citing his many false statements about the 2020 presidential election.



The seriousness of respondents misconduct cannot be overstated, the court wrote. [Giuliani] flagrantly misused his prominent position as the personal attorney for former President Trump and his campaign, through which [he] repeatedly and intentionally made false statements, some of which were perjurious, to the federal court, state lawmakers, the public  and this Court concerning the 2020 Presidential election, in which he baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this countrys electoral process.



A spokesperson for Giuliani, Ted Goodman, issued a statement decrying the disbarment.



Members of the legal community who respect the rule of law in this country should immediately come forward and speak out against this politically and ideologically corrupted decision. We will be appealing this objectively flawed decision in hopes that the appellate process will restore integrity into our system of justice, the statement said.

The onetime presidential candidate keeps sinking lower and lower. Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in 2023 but is still spending lavishly and ignoring his many creditors. Desperately trying to make money, he has resorted to selling his own brand of coffee but cant find a new accountant after his old one dropped him. One of his former cronies, Lev Parnas, spilled the beans on how Giuliani tried to manufacture a Biden-Ukraine scandal, something that Giuliani still hasnt given up on.

Will Giuliani dial back on the behavior that got him disbarred, or will he go into overdrive? He was indicted in Arizona for his election machinations there, and doubled down on his allegations of fraud. He had a pitiful defense for his actions: highlighting all of the states where he challenged election results. He even taunted the Arizona attorney general in trying to dodge a subpoena, only to be served near his Florida residence anyway. And Trump still hasnt paid him for all of that legal work, either.
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE)  It has become one crisis after another for the Village of Ruidoso lately. Within hours of the South Fork and Salt Fires sparking, the entire village was under evacuation as the fire quickly spread to homes and businesses. At least two people were killed in the wildfire, around 1,400 structures were burned, and the feds are now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of person(s) responsible for the fires.

This week on the New Mexico News Podcast, Chris and Gabby talk to a 74-year-old veteran who lost his home in the wildfire and stayed behind to help family and neighbors save theirs. Don Spencer explains how he and three city workers put out hot spots and flames at his sisters back fence to save her home.

Spencer said he would like to find out who those three people are, and thank them personally. These arent firefighters, he explained. These are city employees. They took it out of their own initiative and saved these three homes here.

As noted in the full discussion above, Spencers daughter set up a GoFundMe page for her dad. Click here to visit that page.

Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Podcast every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Podbean among others.

Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term KRQE or New Mexico News Podcast (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each respective service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post.

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion as to who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email the hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has vowed to file impeachment articles against at least one U.S. Supreme Court justice after Monday's ruling to grant partial immunity to former President Donald Trump, as she accused the court of being "consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

July 1 (UPI) -- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., says she plans to file impeachment articles against at least one U.S. Supreme Court justice after Monday's ruling to grant partial immunity to former President Donald Trump.

"The Supreme Court has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control," the prominent liberal on the House Oversight Committee wrote Monday in a post on X, without naming any justices.

"Today's ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture," Ocasio-Cortez added. "I intend on filing articles of impeachment upon our return."

Earlier Monday, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 -- in a decision split along conservative and liberal lines -- that Trump had absolute immunity to execute core constitutional powers, presumption of immunity for official acts related to his role as president and no immunity for unofficial acts.

In writing the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts said it was up to the lower courts to determine into which category Trump's alleged acts fall.

"Because those courts categorically rejected any form of presidential immunity, they did not analyze the conduct alleged in the indictment to decide which of it should be categorized as official and which unofficial," Roberts wrote.

Trump, who is facing felony charges for alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, called Monday's Supreme Court decision "brilliantly written and wise" and a "big win for our Constitution and Democracy."

Last year, Ocasio-Cortez called for the impeachment of Justice Clarence Thomas, following reports he accepted gifts and luxury travel provided by a Republican donor, but did not file articles of impeachment because they were unlikely to advance in the Republican-controlled House.

Last week, Ocasio-Cortez introduced the High Court Gift Ban Act that would prohibit Supreme Court justices from receiving gifts valued at more than $50.

"It is appalling that the members of the highest court in the land have been accepting millions of dollars in unreported gifts and transactions from parties with interests before the court," Ocasio-Cortez claimed. "This is not about politics -- it's about safeguarding the strength and integrity of our democracy."

Only one justice in the history of the United States has ever been impeached. Justice Samuel Chase was impeached in 1804 after Congress accused him of refusing to dismiss biased jurors, and excluding defense witnesses in a couple of politically charged cases. The Senate later acquitted Chase.

Other Democrats joined Ocasio-Cortez in blasting Monday's Supreme Court decision, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., but stopped short of calling for impeachment of justices.

"The Framers of the Constitution envisioned a democracy governed by the rule of law and the consent of the American people," Jeffries said. "They did not intend for our nation to be ruled by a king or monarch who could act with absolute impunity."

As Democrats blasted the Supreme Court's decision, which could push Trump's election interference trial past the date of the November general election, Republicans have accused the Biden administration of "weaponizing" the Justice Department to damage a political opponent.

"The president of the United States must have immunity, like members of Congress and federal judges, which is necessary for any presidency to function properly," Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said Monday in a statement.
RUSSELL, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Corporation Commission has awarded a grant to the city of Russell.

The city has received $122,783 through the KCC Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, which is focused on projects in rural communities in Kansas. The funds will be used to upgrade city streetlights to more energy-efficient technology.

The City of Russell is honored to receive this grant, which will allow us to make significant improvements to our citys infrastructure, said Mayor Jim Cross. Upgrading to energy-efficient streetlights is a major step forward for our community. It helps us reduce energy consumption and costs while enhancing lighting quality throughout the community.

Cargill roof in Dodge City collapses after heavy rain

Work is expected to begin in August and be completed in October. Through the grant, 311 streetlights in Russell will be replaced.

Funding for the $1.9 million Block Grant from the Department of Energy comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Russian forces attacked the Myrhorod military airfield in Poltava Oblast, resulting in "some losses," former Air Force Spokesperson Yurii Ihnat confirmed on social media July 1.

Russian media sources previously circulated video footage of the strike and claimed to have damaged multiple Su-27 aircraft.

"There was an attack. There are some losses, but not the ones the enemy claims," Ihnat said.

Ihnat did not provide details on the damage sustained at the airfield.

Earlier reports of the attack drew outrage on social media, with some criticizing the Air Force for failing to properly protect the airfield despite advance warnings of a Russian strike.

Ihnat defended the military's efforts and urged moderation from media commentators, saying that Russian sources have exaggerated their achievements "since the beginning of the invasion."

"The Air Force is doing everything to counteract the enemy, to mislead him, including with the help of models and other means," he said. He also stressed that Ukrainian airfields are under constant threat from Russian missile and drone attacks.

Ihnat was dismissed from his role as spokesperson on March 16, though he continues to work with the Air Force.

Russian forces previously carried out an intensive aerial attack against the Myrhorod military airfield in June 2023.

Read also: Ukraine should be allowed to strike valid military targets in Russia, US House Intelligence Committee chair says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia sent Kilo-class attack submarines close to the Irish Sea on two separate occasions since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Bloomberg reported on July 1, citing unnamed sources.

Russian submarines have been repeatedly deployed near the maritime borders of its Western foes. A Russian nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Cuba in June on what the Russian Defense Ministry called a training exercise. At the same time, U.S. officials characterized the trip as an attempt for Russia to show that it could still project naval strength after a series of successful Ukrainian strikes on Moscow's Black Sea Fleet.

According to the sources, the first instance that a Russian kilo-class submarine approached the Irish Sea, which separates the island of Ireland from Great Britain, was a little less than two years ago. Another incident occurred more recently, but the sources did not specify exactly when.

The sources said that the U.S. was "aware" of the submarines' presence in the Irish Sea, but the U.K. Defense Ministry said it "doesn't comment on operations." The Irish Defense Department also declined to comment.

According to the unnamed sources, the deployment of the submarines "could be an attempt to identify potential weaknesses in British and Irish Sea defenses, or to try to intimidate the U.K. in response to its support for Ukraine."

Irish media reported in 2023 that a U.K. helicopter and battleship "chased off" a Russian submarine off of Ireland's Cork Harbor.

Ireland is not a member of NATO, and has one of the lowest rates of defense spending across the EU, at around 0.2% of its GDP. As a result, it has effectively outsourced much of its defense to the U.K. and does not have the capability to respond to naval threats, such as the presence of Russian submarines off its coast.

Read also: In rare defense investment, Ireland will spend around $13 million to replenish EU arms stocks

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A Russian court on July 2 sentenced a 19-year-old to 12 years in prison for "treason" after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army.

"The Rostov regional court found the man guilty and sentenced him to a punishment in the form of 12 years in a strict penal colony," Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in comments reported by Kremlin state media.

It said the teenager had sent money to help Ukraine's army buy food and drones.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on dissent since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has seen thousands of his citizens arrested and many jailed.

In 2023, at least 21,000 people were targeted by Russia's "repressive laws" used to "crack down on anti-war activists," according to Amnesty International.

Last month, a Russian court sentenced five citizens from the U.K., Sweden, and Croatia in absentia to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 23 years on June 26 for fighting alongside Ukraine amid Russia's full-scale war, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office claimed.

The court accused British citizen John Harding, Swedish citizen Mathias Gustafsson, and Croatian citizen Vjekoslav Prebeg of training for the so-called "violent seizure of power," attempting to change Russia's constitutional order, and participating in the war as "mercenaries."

Each of these three was sentenced in absentia to 23 years' imprisonment, with five years to be served in prison and the remainder in a strict regime colony, as stated in the official announcement.

Two other British citizens, Andrew Hill and Dylan Healy, were convicted of participating in the war as a "mercenary" and "complicity in the recruitment of mercenaries," respectively. Hill received a four-year sentence, while Healy was sentenced to three years and six months, both to be served in a general regime colony.

Read also: Ukrainian sentenced to 12 years in Russia over peaceful protest

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Russia has displayed what it claims is a new counter-drone interceptor, a single-use drone with an explosive warhead thats expressly designed to bring down the kinds of Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) that have taken a steady toll on Russian troops and equipment on the battlefield. The claimed development parallels similar capabilities elsewhere in the world, where, at least in some circumstances, a drone is increasingly viewed as the best defense against another drone. As we have made the case for many years, sometimes the best way to down a drone is indeed with another drone. The Vogan-9SP counter-drone interceptor was developed by Russias Red Line company, seemingly a new entrant in the field. The firm unveiled the system at a conference in St. Petersburg yesterday concerned with detecting and countering drones, Russias state-owned TASS agency reports. According to a company spokesman, the engagement process starts with a hostile drone being detected by radar, after which it is targeted using a laser designator. The pusher-propeller-driven Vogan-9SP takes off from a ground launcher angled at 45 degrees at the command of its operator. The quadcopter can accelerate to about 124 mph and once close to the target it apparently continues the engagement at least semi-autonomously. The precise final guidance method is unclear, but this suggests that the target drone doesnt have to be lased by the laser designator in the terminal phase. Optically locking onto the target on its own is well within capabilities that exist today even for lower-end drones. Using the laser designator to get it to the point where it can achieve a lock is an interesting hybrid concept we really havent seen before in the counter-drone effector space, although using laser designation of drones all the way to an effectors detonation is now a well-established capability. A winder view of the Vogan-9SP counter-drone interceptor. The drone has a quadcopter configuration, with not all of the propellers fitted here. Russian state media Nevertheless, the Vogan-9SP is claimed to retain a man in the loop, with a video camera transmitting a picture of the engagement to the operator on the ground. The same operator is also said to be responsible for triggering the explosive warhead in the nose of the drone. While this would seem to run counter to the description of an autonomous end-phase to the engagement, it may be the case that two guidance options are available, manual and semi-autonomous. For the time being, we cannot be completely sure if the Vogan-9SP is a genuine piece of hardware, albeit one in development, or vaporware of the kind that has cropped up in Russia in the past. However, the basic premise behind the system is an increasingly familiar one and there is clearly a massive requirement for such a counter-drone device in the Russian military. It could even be argued that developing such a system would be an extreme priority. Its objective is to precisely intercept kamikaze drones that fly [in Ukraine] with hostile intentions, the Red Line spokesman told TASS. Ukrainian FPV drones lay waste to a column of Russian vehicles in the Donetsk region recently: #Ukraine, Donetsk front, Vuhledar sector. 01/07/2024.The Ukrainian 72nd Mechanized Brigade shows footage of strikes with FPV drones targeting Russian armored vehicles while they attempted to advance in the area of Vuhledar, southwest of Donetsk.Notice the amount of motorbikes pic.twitter.com/g5L9SkP8kv Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) July 1, 2024 The same spokesman said that the counter-drone interceptor is currently undergoing tests, and the company is also working on an improved version. This will have a quadcopter configuration and is planned to be able to reach a speed of over 150 mph. The proliferation of lower-end drones used for surveillance and targeting as well as attacks in theaters around the world is currently driving the development of this new class of counter-drone interceptors. These are just part of a growing arsenal focused on trying to tackle the threat of lower-end aerial drones, but, until now, systems of this kind had appeared to be somewhat neglected in Russia. On multiple occasions, we have seen video evidence of small drones being used as kamikaze interceptors, slamming into hostile drones to bring them down. Indeed, this has now become so prevalent as to be formalized as part of the drone war doctrines on both sides of the conflict. Ukraine downs Russian reconnaissance ORLAN UAV in drone dogfight The FPV drone strike by soldiers from SBU's M2 SOF was made several weeks back thanks to crowdfunding from @sternenko community ()"Emergence of a full-fledged FPV-based anti-drone system is only a matter of pic.twitter.com/drNe1AocBF Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) June 1, 2024 Existing air defense systems of various kinds have also been employed against smaller drones by both sides in the war, especially shoulder-launched and other short-range air defense systems (SHORADS). But systems like these are needed for higher-end threats, primarily crewed aircraft as well as cruise missiles and larger drones, while the missiles they fire are very expensive and are in limited supply. They are also currently unable to provide coverage against smaller drones wherever this is needed. According to numerous accounts, Russia has enjoyed considerable success in using electronic warfare systems against Ukrainian drones, especially the more numerous and less resilient first-person view (FPV) types. These jammers range from vehicle-mounted equipment to individual rifle-style anti-drone guns. The interference you see on the drone's video feed is from a Russian aiming at it with an anti-drone gun. The results of the interaction indicate it was made in Russia.#OSINT #Counteroffensive #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/9BpV12jiQ5 OSINT (Uri Kikaski) (@UKikaski) September 18, 2023 However, even with electronic warfare systems, there is still a great need for kinetic counter-drone measures, especially to deal with Ukrainian drones that have not been brought down by jamming or other measures and pose an immediate threat to soldiers and equipment. Improvised Russian anti-drone buggy. https://t.co/qZg1HTm86n pic.twitter.com/a2ZQMllyCb Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) July 1, 2024 Filling the gaps, therefore, has been left to machine guns and anti-aircraft artillery systems, as well as soldiers armed with small arms, or even, in more desperate situations, with sticks and stones. A foreign mercenary, presumably from Africa, was destroyed by FPV drone of the Signum group of the Ukrainian 93rd Mech. Brigade in the Bakhmut directionI wonder if it was the Russians who taught him to try to shoot down a drone with a stick. pic.twitter.com/G7hDT4ssYn Cloooud | (@GloOouD) May 20, 2024 While its unclear exactly how the Vogan-9SP is intended to be fielded, once in production, it would appear to offer a very useful additional layer to the anti-drone umbrella that Russia is fielding in an effort to keep abreast of the Ukrainian drone threat. In particular, the ability to loiter would make the new system especially useful, maintaining coverage over a particular area of vulnerability, or even troops or vehicles on the move for an extended period and engaging threats as they appear. Russias new counter-drone interceptor also parallels developments in Ukraine, and elsewhere. In April this year, it was reported that Ukraine was working to develop a counter-drone interceptor, in a project announced by Mykhailo Fedorov, the countrys minister of digital transformation. On his Telegram channel, Fedorov asked for assistance from engineers to develop drones of this kind as a cheaper option than using surface-to-air missiles to target Russian UAVs. Fedorov said the new drone would need to fly at up to 100 mph and reach a height of up to 5,000 feet. Ukraine's Mykhailo Fedorov announced the project to develop a drone interceptor to go after Russian UAVs -the interceptor should fly at 100-150 km/h at an altitude of up to 1,500 meters. https://t.co/IlYFH5yzk0 pic.twitter.com/XAFTw9GlKH Samuel Bendett (@sambendett) April 3, 2024 As of June, Ukrainian drones developed under this program had begun bringing down Russian reconnaissance UAVs, confirmed by a video posted by Ukraines Border Guards showing the interception of a Russian Zala drone by an FPV-type interceptor drone. Border guards of Ukraine destroyed the Russian reconnaissance drone "Zala" with an FPV dronehttps://t.co/2ESXi2XXta https://t.co/mKarIWaxHG pic.twitter.com/C2YK3TzKLt Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 12, 2024 Videos of additional drone-versus-drone encounters, involving Ukrainian types acting as interceptors, have appeared since then and this seems to be one area of the conflict in which Russia is trying to enhance its abilities, hence the appearance now of the Vogan-9SP. Border guards of Ukraine destroyed the Russian reconnaissance drone "Zala" with an FPV dronehttps://t.co/2ESXi2XXta https://t.co/mKarIWaxHG pic.twitter.com/C2YK3TzKLt Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 12, 2024 Russian Orlan reconnaissance UAV targeted by FPVhttps://t.co/QDXGVCu5wH https://t.co/YniYyCiwLB pic.twitter.com/26w4zB8rnM Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 14, 2024 Outside of the war in Ukraine, there has also been a flurry of interest in counter-drone interceptors in the United States for years, driven by lessons from this conflict but also in the Middle East and the projected threats that would likely be encountered in a future conflict with China in the Pacific. The U.S. Army plans to significantly expand its inventory of Coyote counter-drone interceptors over the coming years, buying thousands more of the drones as well as associated launchers and radars  as you can read more about here. Unlike the Vogan-9SP, Raytheons Coyote counter-drone loitering interceptor comes in a jet-powered configuration as well as a propeller-driven one, and is offered with an explosive warhead or an optional unspecified non-kinetic payload. In terms of fielding, the U.S. Army issues its Coyotes in two-round launchers on 44 mine-resistant vehicles, which are also fitted with radar, electro-optical sensors, and a 30mm cannon, while palletized systems with four-round launchers are used to defend static targets. Russia may well opt for a similar approach with its Vogan-9SP, although since the launcher has not been unveiled, we dont yet know how suitable this will be for different platforms and what kind of capacity it has. The cost of a single Coyote interceptor is also worth considering, reportedly around $100,000, which is relatively low cost compared to traditional surface-to-air missiles. The same factor has been noted by Ukraine in its drive to develop counter-drone interceptors and Russias will Vogan-9SP be driven, at least in part, by the same thinking. Even with its relative cost efficiency, an interceptor like the Coyote is still notably more expensive than many types of lower-tier drones, especially of the kinds that might be expected to appear in larger numbers. With that in mind, U.S. defense contractor Anduril has developed the Interceptor quadcopter for counter-drone missions. More sophisticated  and expensive  is the jet-powered Roadrunner-M, also from Anduril, which has the advantage of being readily reusable if it does not prosecute a target in the course of a single sortie. The reusability of Vogan-9SP isnt clear at this stage. The Coyote, Interceptor, and Roadrunner also represent just some of the counter-drone capabilities different branches of the U.S. military have been working to develop and field in recent years. The use of drones as loitering interceptors is likely to drastically expand in the coming years and could have major application value in the maritime space. It remains to be seen whether Russia manages to progress the development of the Vogan-9SP and get this potentially very useful weapon onto the battlefield in Ukraine. Hampered by sanctions, the capacity of the Russian defense industry to produce high-technology weapons has been repeatedly questioned since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Even if it remains aspirational, the appearance of the Vogan-9SP points again to the very real threat that drones, especially lower-end designs and weaponized commercial types, pose on and off traditional battlefields  not just in Ukraine. With these threats only expected to grow in the coming years, counter-drone interceptors in this category are fast becoming a growth segment. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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Russia not elected to one of UN principal organs, Kuleba says

Russia has not been elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced on July 1 on X.

"This vote once again demonstrates that Russia can hit the wall as many times as it wants, but the outcome will remain the same: international criminals are not welcome in international bodies," Kuleba wrote.

ECOSOC, as well as the General Assembly, Secretariat, International Court of Justice, Security Council, and Trusteeship Council, are the main principal organs of the U.N.

The body coordinates the economic activities of the U.N. and the specialized agencies associated with it. It is the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and creating policy recommendations addressed to member states.

ECOSOC consists of 54 member states elected by the U.N. General Assembly for a three-year term, with 18 members elected annually. Ukraine has been repeatedly elected as a member of the body.

"Our dedication to upholding the U.N. Charter's Purposes and Principles remains unwavering. We continue to advance these goals with the steadfast support of our international partners," Kuleba said.

Russia also failed to win back its seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council last October.

Moscow attempted to compete with Albania and Bulgaria for the Human Rights Council's two open eastern European seats. Russia was kicked out of the U.N.'s human rights body during a special session on April 7, 2022, shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has committed a number of human rights violations during its all-out war against Ukraine.

Read also: Sanctioned Russian Interior Minister attends UN meeting in New York

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Russia starts to chair UN Security Council in July, Ukraine not on agenda

Russia took over the presidency of the United Nations Security Council on July 1. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's envoy to the U.N., said during a press briefing in New York that Ukraine is not on the agenda for this month.

Any member of the Security Council can propose the issue for consideration, Nebenzya added.

Each of the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council, including Russia, holds the presidency for a month. Russia last chaired the organization in April 2023.

At Moscow's initiative, the Security Council will discuss the conflict in the Middle East in July, particularly the situation in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Nebenzya said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in New York at the end of the month to participate in the Security Council meetings if "visa issues are resolved."

Answering journalists' questions about Donald Trump's promises to end the war between Russia and Ukraine "quickly," Russia's envoy to the U.N. said that it "cannot be resolved in one day."

A correspondent for Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform also asked Nebenzya about a recent Washington Post article claiming that Russia inadvertently dropped glide bombs on its own territory nearly 40 times in a year.

"Wouldn't you like to raise the issue of the security of the Russian population at the U.N. Security Council to protect it from its own armed forces?" the reporter asked.

Nebenzya replied that Ukraine and "its Western sponsors" are allegedly making up stories about how "Russia is bombing itself."

Several incidents of Russian munitions landing in the Belgorod region have previously been reported, most notably one in April 2023 that resulted in a massive crater in downtown Belgorod.

On May 12, an explosion led to the partial collapse of a Belgorod apartment building, killing 17 people. The Kremlin blamed the incident on a Ukrainian missile, but OSINT researchers concluded it was a Russian bomb.

A document obtained by the Washington Post suggests such events are far more widespread than previously thought, as many of the bombs do not explode and land in the less populated areas around the city, sometimes being discovered days later by farmers and park rangers.

Read also: Russia not elected to one of UN principal organs, Kuleba says

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BEIRUT, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot Ambassador to Lebanon said on Tuesday that Cyprus will not allow the use of its lands to wage military attacks against Lebanon, Lebanese National News Agency reported.

"We affirm our country's position regarding not allowing the use of Cypriot lands as a launching platform for military operations against Lebanon," said Cypriot Ambassador to Lebanon Maria Hadjitheodosiou during her meeting with Fadi Alameh, Lebanese member of parliament and head of the Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Committee.

The two officials discussed the security situation in the south, the extent of damage resulting from the continuous Hezbollah-Israeli confrontations, and Lebanon's adherence to implementing UN Resolution 1701.

The Cypriot ambassador said she hoped "to reach a political settlement to end the current situation."

On June 19, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Cyprus that if it helped Israel attack Lebanon, it would become a target.

On June 20, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus is not involved in any way in the conflicts in the Middle East, dismissing Nasrallah's claims.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 
Vassily Nebenzia, Russias United Nations ambassador, on Monday refuted former President Trumps frequent claim that he could end the war in Ukraine in a day if he is elected to another term in the White House.

The Ukrainian crisis cannot be solved in one day, Nebenzia said at a news conference when asked about Trumps pledge to do so. Thats objective.

Trump has often touted his deal-making skills in suggesting he could negotiate an end to foreign crises, especially Russias war in Ukraine. He has not provided details on his plans, however.

If its not solved, I will have it solved in 24 hours with Zelensky and with Putin, Trump said last March in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And theres a very easy negotiation to take place. But I dont want to tell you what it is because then I cant use that negotiation; itll never work. But its a very easy negotiation to take place. I will have it solved within one day, a peace between them. Now thats a year and a half. Thats a long time. I cant imagine something not happening, Trump added.

At a CNN town hall two months later, in May 2023, Trump made similar remarks.

Theyre dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And Ill have that done  Ill have that done in 24 hours, Trump said, adding that the resolution would come after he first met with Zelensky and Putin.

Nebenzia, in his response to the reporter on Monday, detailed some of the complexities of the negotiation process. He suggested there was an opportunity to end the fighting in April 2022, but he blamed Western allies for blocking the deal. He also scoffed at last months conference in Switzerland, where 80 countries said Ukraines territorial integrity must be the basis for a peace deal.

Putin offered a cease-fire and the start of negotiations in June, in exchange for Ukraine withdrawing from some of its own territory that Russia seized at the start of its invasion and abandoning plans to join NATO. Zelensky has said that giving up land is a non-starter.

A Trump spokesperson responded to Nebenzias remarks in a statement to The Hill, saying, President Trump is the most effective statesman and negotiator in history, and he will solve this conflict when he is elected.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Russia to use UN Security Council presidency to demonstrate power and influence in international system  ISW

Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have suggested that Russia will take advantage of the month-long rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to project power and influence in the international system.

Source: ISW

Details: On 1 July, Russia resumed its role as the monthly rotating president of the UN Security Council, a position it last held in April 2023. ISW analysts predict that Russia will likely use this opportunity to project its influence on the global stage, consistent with its historical approach.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to lead the UN Security Council debates on 16-17 July. The ISW stresses that during Russia's presidency in April 2023, the country capitalised on its position to advance narratives supporting its international ambitions.

Experts highlight that Russia frequently employs its veto power in the UNSC as a tool to assert dominance. Recently, high-ranking Russian officials have launched information campaigns to deflect blame for Russia's documented breaches of international law in Ukraine. These actions seem designed to pave the way for future UNSC presidencies.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 1 July:

Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) Head Vladimir Kolokoltsev boasted that Russian authorities have increased detentions and prosecutions related to illegal migration into Russia while calling for intensified Russian government crackdowns against illegal migration.

Russia assumed its one-month-long rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 1 July for the first time since April 2023 and will likely use this position as a power projection base within the international system as it historically has.

South Korea's Ministry of Unification announced on 1 July that North Korean state TV channel Korean Central TV switched to transmitting broadcasts via Russian satellites instead of Chinese satellites, reportedly affecting South Korea's ability to monitor North Korean state TV.

Hungary assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) Council on 1 July.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Kreminna, and Russian forces recently advanced near Avdiivka.

The Russian information space continues to discuss the mistreatment of wounded and disabled Russian servicemembers in Ukraine.

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Rescue workers have retrieved the body of a woman from the rubble of a residential building that was hit by a Russian missile on 28 June in the city of Dnipro.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "At night, rescue workers found the body of a woman in a high-rise building in Dnipro that the enemy destroyed on Friday.

This means we already know of two people who were killed that tragic evening."

More details: Lysak added that a search and rescue operation at the scene is ongoing. Rescue workers have dismantled about 70% of the damaged structures.

Background:

On the evening of 28 June, the Russian army launched a missile attack on a high-rise building in Dnipro.

By 2 July, one person had been reported killed and 12 injured.

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A Russian missile attack destroyed five warplanes at a Ukrainian airbase primed to receive F-16 fighter jets from Kyivs Nato allies.

The Kremlin claimed the missile strike on Monday on the Myrhorod airbase destroyed five Su-27 fighter jets and damaged two more.

It published aerial footage after the alleged attack that showed damaged fighter jets parked outside hangars and tarmac scarred with black scorch marks.

Ukraines air force admitted that Russian missiles had hit the airbase but played down the damage.

There are certain losses, but not at all what the enemy attributes to himself, said Yuri Ignat, a Ukrainian air force spokesman.

The missile strike is a blow to Ukraines air force which analysts have said is heavily outnumbered by the Kremlins more technologically advanced fleet of warplanes.

It is also a major embarrassment to Ukraines top military commanders who are on the brink of finally receiving F-16 fighter jets. On Tuesday, the Netherlands approved an export licence for all its 42 F-16s to be sent to Ukraine.

On Telegram, Russian military bloggers praised the attack on the Myrhorod airbase in central Ukraine next to the town of Poltava and said that it showed that F-16 fighter jets could also be destroyed.

This is the most effective strike on an airfield from our side, said Fighterbomber. Its great that a separate team is now effectively working on destroying airfields. This is not the first airfield they have targeted and I hope not the last.

Russian blogger Fighterbomber said it was the 'most effective strike on an airfield from our side' - X/Archer83Able

Footage from Russian strikes targeting the Myrhorod airbase with Iskander-M ballistic missiles - X/Archer83Able

Ukrainian war commentators were, in contrast, incensed with the Russian missile strike and blamed sloppy Ukrainian commanders.

There must be responsibility for chronically allowing such things to happen to Ukraines air force. Systemic negligence may get us all six feet under in this war, said Illia Ponomarenko, the former military correspondent for the Kyiv Independent newspaper.

One of the reasons that the US initially dragged its feet over allowing Nato allies to give F-16s to Ukraine was because Ukrainian airfields were ill-equipped to protect the fighter jets from Russian attacks. Airbases hosting F-16s must also be specially prepared because the fighter jets need clean areas and long runways.

Ukraine has not said which airbases will host F16s but analysts have previously highlighted Myrhorod. It has been modernised and previously hosted visiting US air force F16s before Russias initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

Justin Bronk, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, said that all of Ukraines airbases were vulnerable to Russian missile attacks.

Any ground-based air defence coverage can be saturated if the Russians care enough to fire enough missiles at one target, he said.

Nato members had considered allowing Ukraine to fly F-16 combat sorties from its airbases in Central Europe but this was ruled out because it could spread the war. They will still store reserve Ukrainian air force F-16 warplanes.

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Number of people injured in Russian attack on Kharkiv rises to 4  photo

Russian forces launched two FAB-500 aerial bombs on an industrial area in Kharkivs Nemyshlianskyi and Industrialnyi districts at around 16:00 on 2 July, injuring four people.

Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Terekhov: "Three civilians were injured in the attack on Kharkiv; they were near the site of the strike. A girl, 12, and a boy, 15, both suffered contusions. A 26-year-old woman sustained injuries to her arms."

Details: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, reported that the city was under Russian attack at 16:06 Kyiv time.

Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Update: The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office later reported that another person was injured.

Quote: "A 51-year-old woman, an employee of one of the businesses that came under the enemy attack, suffered minor injuries and an acute stress reaction."

Details: The Russians are reported to have attacked the city with two FAB-500s from Belgorod Oblast in the Russian Federation.

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Russia launched an attack against the central part of the southern city of Kherson on July 2, injuring at least five residents, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Two of the victims  a 52-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman  are currently in doctors' care, Prokudin said.

An 80-year-old man was also hospitalized with shrapnel wounds to his chest, right hand, and left foot, said Roman Mrochko, the head of the city's military administration.

Multiple residential buildings in the western Korabelnyi district were damaged in the attack, Mrochko reported.

Kherson and other regional settlements west of the Dnipro River have been subjected to near-daily Russian strikes since Ukraine liberated the area in November 2022, and Russian troops were pushed to the river's east bank.

Just over the past day, Russian attacks injured nine people in Kherson Oblast, Prokudin said in his morning report on July 2.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian casualties six times larger than those of Ukraine, Zelensky says

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Russian troops attacked the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on July 2, killing four people and injuring 10, including children, regional Governor Serhii Lysak reported citing preliminary information.

Nikopol, situated on the banks of the dried-up Kakhovka Reservoir, just across from Russian-occupied Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is a regular target of Russian attacks.

The killed victims were three women and a man. Among the injured were two children, aged 9 and 17, the governor said.

The attack damaged houses, educational institutions, shops, a clinic, a beauty salon and a car, according to the governor.

Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day killed at least four people and injured at least 42, regional authorities said.

Read also: Death toll of Russias June 28 attack on Dnipro rises to 2

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Russian submarines have been making their presence felt in the Irish Sea - AFP/Yamil Lage

Russian submarines twice conducted unprecedented missions in the Irish Sea after Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine, it has emerged.

UK forces moved to protect British and Irish waters after the two deployments of the Kilo-class attack subs. One was about 18 months ago, while the other was more recent.

The extent of the Russian submarine movements went beyond what UK officials had previously seen, Bloomberg reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

Kilo-class submarines can fire Russian Kalibr cruise missiles, torpedoes and lay mines.

Russia has more than 60 Kilo-class submarines, which have a top speed of 17 knots while surfaced, or 20 knots submerged, and have been used to attack Ukraine from the Black Sea.

The US Naval Institute says Kilo is one of the most successful naval programs in modern history.

US officials were reported to be aware of the movements, which could be an effort to intimidate Britain over its support for Ukraine or to identify weaknesses in British and Irish defence.

It would be difficult for a Russian submarine to navigate the Irish Sea without breaking international law because legally they can only travel on the surface of territorial waters.

The varying depths of the Irish Sea would make it difficult for a Russian vessel to travel in the waters submerged, Bloomberg reported.

The deployment of Russian submarines in waters around Britain and western Ireland during the war in Ukraine was known. However, it had not been previously reported that they had travelled in the Irish Sea which separates Britain from Ireland.

Irish media reported that a British warship and helicopter chased off a Russian submarine outside Cork Harbour in the south west of Ireland. The UK reportedly stepped in because Irish forces could not meet the underwater threat in Cork, which is the landing point for an undersea cable linking the UK and Canada.

Last month, the BBC reported that a Russian submarine had been spotted off the coast of Scotland before travelling on to Cuba. At the same time Russian state media reported that navy assets, including the Yasen-class Kazan submarine, conducted drills in the Atlantic Ocean before visiting the Caribbean country.

The Yasen-class Kazan submarine was part of a Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba in June - Getty Images/Adalberto Roque

The Ministry of Defence told Bloomberg it doesnt comment on operations, while the White House also refused to comment. Russias Defence Ministry also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An Irish defence department spokesman said it would not comment on other countries operations. Without linking it to the submarine reports, the official said offshore energy infrastructure in the Irish Sea was under extra patrols and governments were also discussing the protection of data cables.

Many European governments moved to bolster security around their offshore energy infrastructure after suspected Russian sabotage of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in 2022.

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Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day killed at least four people and injured at least 42, regional authorities said on July 2.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed four people and injured 27, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

Two civilians were reportedly killed in the town of Ukrainsk, and two others in Novodmytrivka and Selydove.

Thirteen people were also injured in Ukrainsk, four in Novodmytrivka, three in Selydove, three in Sukha Balka, and one in Niu-York, Kurakhivka, Komar, and Zarichne each, according to the governor.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a Russian strike against the town of Pivdenne on the evening of July 1 injured four people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

An attack against a wheat field near the village of Karasivka resulted in a fire, with Syniehubov calling it a purposeful attempt to destroy the harvest.

Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast over the past day resulted in nine people injured, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

A school, a kindergarten, a medical institution, a church, a farm, and other buildings were hit.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, two women were injured in Russian attacks against the Vasylivka and Polohy districts, the regional military administration reported.

Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, and Sumy oblasts also came under attack, but no casualties were reported.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian casualties six times larger than those of Ukraine, Zelensky says

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Two women were killed in the Russian attack on the city of Nikopol on 2 July.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Two women, aged 61 and 86, were killed in Nikopol as a result of Russian attacks. Nine people were injured, according to preliminary reports. Among them were two boys, aged 9 and 17. They have been given the treatment they require."

Details: Lysak also said that several residential buildings, educational establishments and a clinic in Nikopol were damaged. A store, a beauty salon, and several cars were also damaged.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Xi was warmly welcomed by Tokayev and a group of Kazakhstan senior officials upon his arrival at the airport. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

ASTANA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan on Tuesday for a state visit and to attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

This is Xi's fifth visit to Kazakhstan and the second one in less than two years, following his previous state visit in September 2022. The visit this time is expected to bring a renewed focus on the multifaceted aspects of bilateral ties and cooperation.

Calling the China-Kazakhstan partnership "unique," Xi said upon his arrival here that the everlasting friendship of the two nations has grown stronger over time, and set an example of solidarity, mutual benefit, and mutual success between neighboring countries.

In a series of meetings scheduled with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Xi is expected to engage in detailed discussions aimed at further strengthening cooperation between the two nations. The focal points of these talks are expected to cover trade and investment, infrastructure development, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

"The leaders of our countries launched a new 'golden 30 years' of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China," said Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of Kazakhstan's China Studies Center, referring to a joint announcement by the two heads of state during Xi's visit in 2022.

With Kazakhstan-China relations growing at a high level, it is believed that Xi's visit to Kazakhstan will open up new prospects for bilateral cooperation, she said.

During Tokayev's visit to China in 2019, the two countries decided to elevate their ties to a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. Speaking at a daily briefing in Beijing on Monday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that it is expected that Xi's visit this time will further strengthen bilateral relations.

The deepening mutual trust and political ties between China and Kazakhstan have been accompanied by a remarkable growth in their trade and economic cooperation over the past three decades.

China was Kazakhstan's largest trading partner in 2023, with two-way trade up by 32 percent year-on-year to reach 41 billion U.S. dollars. Key exports from Kazakhstan to China include crude oil, metals, and agricultural products, and in turn China has supplied Kazakhstan with machinery, electronics, and consumer goods, according to Kazakh government data.

The Central Asian nation has also become a critical partner in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to boost connectivity and promote global prosperity through infrastructure development and trade and investment facilitation. It was in Kazakhstan in 2013 that Xi first proposed the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

"This marked a magnificent chapter in Belt and Road cooperation between our two countries. And the development of China-Kazakhstan relations has since entered a new stage," Xi said in a signed article in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper and Kazinform International News Agency on Tuesday.

Since then, the two countries have made significant strides in enhancing connectivity and economic integration through various BRI projects.

Among the recently completed and commissioned ventures are the Zhanatas wind farm, the Turgusun hydropower station, and the modernization of the Shymkent Oil Refinery. These developments underscore the robust energy cooperation fueling both countries' development. The China-Kazakhstan crude oil and natural gas pipelines are also operating with remarkable stability and safety, ensuring a consistent energy supply vital for both economies.

This dynamic partnership has also extended into transportation infrastructure, with key transport and logistics hubs, such as the terminal in Xi'an, the Western Europe-Western China Highway, and the China-Europe Railway Express, functioning seamlessly.

BRI's support for cross-border transport infrastructure has benefited Kazakh connectivity, according to a World Bank report, entitled "South Caucasus and Central Asia: The Belt and Road Initiative Kazakhstan Country Case Study."

For more than a decade, Kazakhstan has invested substantially to improve its own transport network, but due to more limited improvements in trade facilitation and limitations of resources in many neighboring countries, the gaps have been difficult to fill.

The focus of BRI on expanding transport infrastructure and economic integration and China's drive to connect its western and central regions more effectively to Europe and to West Asia provide an opportunity to address these gaps, according to the World Bank report.

"Kazakhstan is likely to be among the larger beneficiaries of the BRI," it concluded.

Meanwhile, consensus on deepening cultural and people-to-people exchanges is expected to be reached during Xi's visit. Both nations have for long recognized the importance of fostering greater understanding and friendship between their peoples, viewing cultural exchanges as one major cornerstone of their bilateral relationship.

So far, a China-Kazakhstan agreement on mutual establishment of cultural centers has been signed. Chinese and Kazakh filmmakers have co-produced a film entitled "The Composer," which is their first co-production. Bilateral programs for cultural cooperation, including a Chinese university campus in Kazakhstan, a Luban Workshop, and a center of traditional Chinese medicine, have been implemented.

Thanks to the mutual visa-exemption arrangements, a total of 600,000 cross-border trips were recorded in 2023. In the first quarter of this year, the number of visits in both directions amounted to 200,000 and are expected to reach a new high, official data from both sides have shown.

In an exclusive written interview with Xinhua before Xi arrived here, Tokayev emphasized the significance of cultural and people-to-people communications between the two countries, as the opening ceremony of the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year" in China was held in March in Beijing.

"Cultural and people-to-people cooperation plays an important role in strengthening bilateral ties and fostering friendship between the peoples of our countries," he said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Xi was warmly welcomed by Tokayev and a group of Kazakhstan senior officials upon his arrival at the airport. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev held a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport to welcome Xi. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev held a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport to welcome Xi. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 2, 2024, for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev held a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport to welcome Xi. A group of Kazakh children sang the song "Ode to the Motherland" in Chinese. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Russian kids will go to 'excellent' summer camps in North Korea this year as the two countries move close

Russian children will be sent to summer camp in North Korea at the end of July, per RIA Novosti.

The initiative follows a new strategic partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea.

The camp includes a statue of North Korea's founder, an aquarium, a beach, and an archery range.

A group of Russian school children will go to a summer camp in North Korea at the end of July, Grigory Gurov, the chair of the Movement of the First, told Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti.

According to a RIA Novosti Telegram post, Gurov said a large number of Russian children are expected to attend the camp, where he added the conditions will be "excellent."

Gurov, who leads the youth movement started by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2022, also said the North Korean summer camp will be the equivalent of Artek.

Artek is a youth center in Crimea that was previously a camp for the Young Pioneers  a Communist organization for children during the Soviet era.

North Korean Young Pioneers rowing at Songdowon in 2011. Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Getty Images

Gurov told state-run Russian news agency TASS that Russian children will be sent to Songdowon International Children's Camp, with the trip tentatively set for July 24 to August 2.

According to Songdowon's website, the camp exists to "help North Korea develop relations with foreign countries."

It said that international visitors from Russia, China, Thailand, Mongolia, and Mexico are welcomed each year, with their places subsidized by the state.

Kim Il Sung statue at the Songdowon summer camp in 2008. Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Getty Images

The website says the campsite includes a statue of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea, surrounded by children, a full-size water park, an archery range, an aquarium, and a beach.

Songdowon did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Children take part in a cookery lesson at Songdowon International School Children's Camp on August 22, 2018. Carl Court/Getty Images

Gurov also told TASS that Russia would invite North Korean children to attend Russian summer camps, including Artek and others, as part of an exchange program.

He said there are also plans for children to go to other Russia-friendly countries, including Vietnam and China.

Last month, the two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement, which North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un said upgraded their relationship to a "new high of alliance."

The new agreement includes a clause requiring the countries to come to each other's aid should there be aggression against either of them.

It also set guidelines for deepening ties on political, trade and investment, cultural, and humanitarian fields, as well as the security sphere, according to TASS.

Russian tourists of all ages will also be able to vacation on North Korean beaches this summer, according to a RIA Novosti Telegram post from April.



It said that tour programs have been developed lasting between eight and 12 days.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian missile shot down in Dnipro Oblast

Ukraine's defence forces shot down a Russian Kh-59/69 missile in the sky over Dnipro Oblast.

Source: the Head of Dnipro Oblast Military Administration Serhii Lysak; Air Command Skhid (East), Ukraine's Air Force

Quote from Lysak: "An enemy missile was destroyed in Dnipro Oblast. I would like to thank the Air Command Skhid."

Details: The Air Command clarified that at around 21:00 on 2 July 2024, their unit shot down a missile, probably a Kh-59/69.

Earlier in the day, the Air Force reported a missile fired in the direction of Dnipro.

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The Russians attacked a wheat field in Kharkiv Oblast. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

The Russians have attacked a wheat field in the village of Karasivka in Zolochiv hromada, Kharkiv Oblast, causing a fire. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: The State Emergency Service noted that a fire had broken out at the scene.

Quote: "Firefighters had quickly contained the fire to prevent the destruction of the entire field, which has a total area of 110 hectares."

The Russians attacked a wheat field in Kharkiv Oblast

.Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

The Russians attacked a wheat field in Kharkiv Oblast

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

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Russian forces dropped an aerial bomb on the settlement of Selydove in Donetsk Oblast on 2 July, killing a 63-year-old woman and injuring two other civilians.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office; Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "At least one person was killed and two others were injured as a result of an attack on Selydove. The town came under fire at midday today  the Russians once again struck civilians with an aerial bomb."

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

Details: The Russians reportedly dropped an unguided aerial bomb, likely an FAB-500, on a residential area, killing a 63-year-old woman. A married couple and their neighbour received shrapnel wounds and have been hospitalised.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

The Russians also damaged 24 houses and two cars. Vadym Filashkin, Head of the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, once again urged people living in the region to evacuate.

"Im emphasising once again: it is dangerous to stay in Donetsk Oblast! Evacuate to stay safe," Filashkin noted.

In addition, the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office reports that the Russian army targeted the settlement of Horniak on 2 July 2024. The attack injured a 55-year-old local while at home. The town of New-York was also hit by the Russian attack, and a 76-year-old resident was killed, while a 54-year-old man was injured in the village of Pivnichne, Bakhmut district.

In addition, the Russian army targeted Siversk, injuring two members of the same family aged 37 and 56.

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Sacramento-area casino is hiring for more than 100 open jobs. Heres how to apply

Looking for work?

Thunder Valley Casino Resort will host a series of job fairs this month to fill more than 100 part-time and full-time positions ranging from servers to technicians.

Walk-in interviews begin Wednesday and continue through July 30 at the casinos employment center, 1200 Athens Ave. in Lincoln, according to a news release.

Benefits for full-time employees include medical, dental and vision insurance.

Workers also get paid time off, life insurance, tuition reimbursement and long-term disability insurance perks.

All employees receive free parking and meals, as well as discounts, training and advancement opportunities.

The casino in Placer County also provides free wellness counseling and matching funds for 401k retirement plans.

What jobs are available at Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln?

Though its not required, candidates are encouraged to arrive at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort job fair after completing applications, according to the release.

The casino is looking to fill positions in the following employment sectors:

Food and beverage

Security

Table games

Housekeeping

Internal maintenance

Open jobs include housekeepers, emergency medical technicians, cooks, table game dealers, beverage servers, drivers and cage cashiers.

Successful candidates must be at least 18 years old, pass drug and background checks, and be able to work weekends and holidays.

Some jobs require applicants to be at least 21 years old.

When are interview times at Placer County casino?

Heres a list of the scheduled interview times:

Culinary: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday

Open job fair : 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday

Housekeeping and internal maintenance : 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9

Food and Beverage : 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10

Security/emergency medical yechnician : 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 12

Table games (open to candidates with experience) : 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16

Culinary : 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17

Housekeeping and internal maintenance : 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23

Food and beverage : 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24

Security/emergency medical technician: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 26

Table games (open to candidates with experience): 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30

Folks unable to attend a specific job fair can participate in any employment event throughout the month, according to the release.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
When a Sacramentan loses their home and is forced to live on the streets, they lose access to a safe and reliable water supply as well. Access to water is simply not an option. We can do better.

Currently, under the official water delivery program for people who live outside in Sacramento, the county contracts with Safer Alternatives through Networking & Education (SANE), a non-profit, to deliver water to the unhoused. SANE has one van and two full-time staff to cover every homeless encampment in the county and city on a rotating basis.

Everyday, two people load the van with pallets of plastic, one-gallon containers of water. Then they drive to the next camps in their rotation.

Opinion

Shilo Jama, the director of SANE, estimates that they reach each camp once every four to six weeks and give out six gallons of water per person at a time.

Jama says that they are not delivering meaningful amounts of water to drink, wash or prepare food. All they can do is try to prevent deaths from dehydration. When people call 311 in a heat event to beg for water, they are directed to this county program, where they are fit into the monthly rotation. The contract for this inadequate water delivery costs the county about $200,000 annually.

It would make a great deal more sense, however, for the city of Sacramento to use its wonderful engineered system to deliver water to people experiencing homelessness.

The existing water system reaches into every corner of the city  which is where people live, either indoors or outdoors. For the price point of $200,000 a year that the county now spends, the city could provide much better water services than six gallons of water in plastic jugs every four weeks. Providing water where people live would decrease unauthorized tapping into the water system, keeping costs down and the system safer for everyone.

It is nearly impossible for people who arent connected to water infrastructure to get enough water to use for hydration and basic hygiene. Water is heavy, it must be held in containers  and nothing else can substitute.

When water is not delivered to our unhoused neighbors, they must spend a great deal of their day acquiring water. When people need water so that they do not die in multi-day heat events, they will do anything they must to get water: One woman who spoke at a city advisory commission meeting said that when she turned the handle on a city water valve to fill her containers, the police cited her for utility vandalism and spilled out the water from her containers  twice.

But turning a valve is not the worst thing people will do to get water. When the alternative is to die of thirst in the heat, people will use any means to reach the water in our public system. Giving people safe and sanctioned ways to access water will prevent them from breaking into our delivery system.

Our current method offends my engineers soul. It is outrageous that humans are picking up, driving and delivering plastic gallon jugs of water when we have plumbing right now. We have mastered delivering clean, pressurized, on-demand water to our people.

That people are dying of thirst in a place with complete water infrastructure is a sign that we have failed at decency.

Two main things prevent us from using city water infrastructure to serve homeless residents: First, the city council has not directed the Department of Utilities to serve the thousands of people who do not have houses (there are over 9,000 individuals experiencing homelessness within Sacramento County).

The second issue is Proposition 218, passed by California voters in 1996, which restricts how local governments can spend fees such as water bills. Prop. 218 requires that someone must pay for any water that gets delivered in the city. The Department of Utilities is not allowed to use money that people pay for water to cover someone elses water. But this is a solvable problem: The county could pay for the water bill using state and federal grant money. One of the non-profits that serve people experiencing homelessness could foot the bill. The cost of the water itself, delivered through the citys system, would be very low: a few thousand dollars per year.

The reality is that people who dont have houses still have human bodies that need water. I am certain that we can provide water to many more people more cheaply using existing infrastructure. We can give the gifts of modern infrastructure to all residents of Sacramento, whether they have a house with a water meter or not.

Megan Fidell is chair of the City of Sacramentos Utility Rate-setting Advisory Commission.
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 last 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, 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.

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, 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 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.

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.

Mike Mease, 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 that 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 .
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Salt Lake City will be bringing back its drone show for both the Fourth of July and Pioneer Day on July 24.

The city said the decision to bring back the drone show comes after a successful inaugural year and offers a fun, safe, and sustainable way to celebrate Independence Day and Pioneer Day.

The first drone show will be held on Friday, July 5, at Jordan Park (1060 South 900 West) and a second show will be on Wednesday, July 24, at Liberty Park (600 East Harvey Milk Blvd). Both shows will begin at 10 p.m.

The drone shows will light up the night sky with displays of lights, aerial acrobatics, and choreographed formations of iconic local imagery.

LIST: Where to watch fireworks and drone shows in Utah for July 4th

Salt Lake City made the decision in 2023 to replace firework shows with drones. Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the decision was made in part to combat the citys high fire danger and to alleviate air quality concerns.

As temperatures rise and fire danger increases, we must be conscientious of both our air quality and the potential for wildfires, Mendenhall said at the time. The summer holiday shows are a mainstay for Salt Lakers and were excited about adapting to new technology which will provide a safe alternative for our residents and visitors.

Both drone shows are free and open to all ages. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages but food trucks will also be at the parks.

More information can be found online at slcityevents.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
On Feb. 6, 2023, after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Turkish-Syrian border, becoming the deadliest disaster in the regions modern history, Syrian director Waad Al-Kateab was in London fretting about her family and friends, and feeling helpless.

The activist and helmer of For Sama  the Oscar-nominated civil war diary that traveled around the world  was unable to reach the stricken area, having fled the Bashar Assad regime. But she immediately reached out to people on the ground, including her friends Fadi Al Halabi, a cinematographer on Oscar-winning short The White Helmets, and Fuad Sayed Issa, founder of Syrian refugee-led humanitarian group Violet.

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Shortly thereafter Al-Kateab got a call from prominent producer Sheila Nevins. This led to her directing Death Without Mercy the powerful observational doc from MTV Documentary Films that premiered at Sheffield DocFest in June. It weaves together intimate first-hand footage with TV news reports, social media, CCTV, drone shots, archive material and master interviews, following a you are there narrative structure that chronicles the first 10 days in the aftermath of the quake that took more than 60,000 lives.

Al Kateab chose this device to frame the story because thats when we found out everything, she tells Variety in an interview, pointing out that after the tenth day nobody under the rubble could still be alive.

What was your first reaction upon first learning of this devastating earthquake?

Like so many other Syrians around the world, I was shocked. And, from the first second that I heard what was going on, as a filmmaker, I was saying to myself: We need to do something about this. But I found myself hopeless and helpless being a refugee, living in the U.K. Not able to go there; not able to do anything more than calling people, and being on the phone, first with my own family who, luckily, survived. They were out on the street until they managed to get to Ankara.

How did you start shaping the doc?

I immediately started reaching out to people through groups we have as activists. We started trying to help in any possible way. We were just sharing locations of some people whom we used to know, and pictures of people who were not being found, and doing fundraising. I remember one of the very early calls I had was with Fadi. Ive known Fadi since since 2011 when he worked on The White Helmets. His brother, Yaman, who was missing under the rubble, was also a friend of ours. I called him, and he was speechless. I was just trying to tell him: Please, be strong, Fadi. The only way you can do this is [to] film yourself. But we werent really thinking about the [specifics of] of a film. Our first thought was just, lets document everything we can.

As I understand it, things moved to the next level when you got a call from producer Sheila Nevin. Right?

Yes, when Sheila Nevins contacted me, she told me she wanted to do an observational film about the earthquake. I thought: Yes, this might be an opportunity for them, to tell their story. So I contacted both of them because I knew Fadi had lots of footage of the first 10 days. As for Fouad, Id seen his Instagram, hes not a filmmaker himself, but he had people around him who were filming. Also, hed published so many stories on Instagram, and the survival of his wife and baby was just an amazing story. So I thought: we can do this!

In telling the stories of two Syrian families in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake you clearly had to make some quick decisions. Was that tough?

To be honest, I was living with them second-by-second, minute-by-minute. We couldnt sleep for the first couple of days. And, when I thought: Okay, well do this. The first thing I said to myself is I will try to put myself in their shoes and think: What do they know at this time? What is important for them? Thats a very important element in the film. To be with them in their experience. Its like its a race against time. And weve expressed this in the film. That every second counts; every minute counts. Thats why I decided to start the film with the earthquake. And then we go with these characters individually to understand their position, their circumstances and their situation. I was trying to get the audience to experience the predicament of each one of them. And, yes, time was the most critical element in that experience.

My impression is that this film can be considered a form of therapy. A way for its protagonists to try and come to terms with this huge tragedy. Is that a fair assessment of what happened on their end?

The first thing they said is: We want do this film because we wanted to talk about our families. It was just very important to give them space to see who we lost, because 60,000 people, thats a a big number, a huge number. For each one of these people who has been lost, theres family. Theres someone whos still really affected by this loss. And they wanted just to bring them back to life, in a different way, to remember them in a good way.

The piece also shows the level of mismanagement. First of all, in terms of construction. And then in the reaction of the Turkish Government and various other institutions. Do you think it can help bolster the notion of the incompetence and complete negligence that led to these 60,000 deaths?

I think its definitely what they [the films protagonists] are looking for, and so am I. Its a call for justice because these people didnt die just due to a natural disaster. Theres corruption; theres a systematic failure on the part of the Turkish Government, and of the U.N. Theres no way we can just accept this, and live with it. I think it will support other legal work that is happening in Turkey, and also around the world, toward accountability on the part of the Turkish Government for their failure.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Watch Death Without Merci trailer below:

Death Without Merci

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MANDEVILLE, La. (WGNO)  Mandeville police say theyre trying to find an armed robber who targeted women at the same bank, only two nights apart. St. Tammany deputies believe the same man is responsible for an armed robbery on one of those same nights, but in the Covington area.

The cases are the latest one to roll on the Wheel of Justice.

According to Mandeville police, the first case happened on the night of Wednesday, June 26, at the Capital One bank in the 3800 block of Highway 22. They say a woman was withdrawing money from one of the drive-up ATMs when a robber with a gun and mask approached and grabbed the $300 the woman had just withdrawn as well as her cell phone. Police say he jumped into the passenger side of an SUV and made his escape.

Wheel of Justice reaches 470 arrests!

Two days later, on June 28, around 9:20 that night, police say a woman was trying to withdraw money from an ATM at the same bank when she was also confronted by a masked gunman who forced her to withdraw $1,000. After that robbery, the man left in a dark colored four-door car.

About 45 minutes after the second Mandeville robbery, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office reports an armed robber approached a man at an ATM in the Covington area and stole money that he was preparing to deposit. Deputies say they believe it was the same robber who targeted the women during the Mandeville cases.

Mandeville police: Suspect stole $930 in hair dryers from Target

To see the latest Wheel of Justice report, including security camera images of the suspect and cars in the Mandeville robberies, watch the video at the top of this story.

If you have information that could help identify or locate the robber, call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. You dont have to reveal your name or testify in court, and you could be eligible to earn a cash reward.

So far, more than 470 people have been booked after their cases rolled on the Wheel of Justice.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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CARACAS, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Monday night that his government will resume direct dialogue with the U.S. authorities, aiming to enhance the bilateral relationship and promote joint political agreements.

In a televised address, the president conveyed his acceptance of the U.S. government's proposal to resume direct dialogues, which he said would resume on Wednesday.

According to the president, Jorge Rodriguez Gomez, president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, will represent the Venezuelan government as the head of the National Dialogue Commission in the upcoming direct dialogues with the U.S. authorities.

Jorge Rodriguez Gomez will be accompanied by Hector Rodriguez Castro, the governor of the central state of Miranda, who has previously participated in dialogue processes.

The president emphasized as a condition that any initiative of dialogue or political negotiations in which Caracas participates will always be developed "under absolute sovereignty and independence of Venezuela."

He emphasized that these talks present "the opportunity to reestablish the terms of the dialogue with respect, without manipulation, and also that they be public dialogues without speculation."

"I am a man of dialogue and I want, through dialogue, to respect Venezuela, its democracy and its people; I want to overcome this conflict with the north (the United States), it will be up to them to comply," said the president.

The Venezuelan government has expressed on several occasions its willingness to engage in a respectful dialogue with Washington. Additionally, it has revealed that previous private conversations have taken place with representatives of the White House. 
(KRON)  A Santa Cruz math teacher is accused of grooming one of his Pacific Collegiate School students and planning to meet the student to engage in lewd acts, police said.

Math teacher Trung Minh Lai was arrested on June 28 and charged by the Santa Cruz County District Attorneys Office with three felonies: attempted unlawful intercourse, arranging to meet a minor to commit lewd and lascivious acts, and communicating with a minor with intent to commit lewd acts.

Court records show 41-year-old Lai bailed out of jail on Monday.

Police said the victim was a 17-year-old Pacific Collegiate School student who lives in Santa Cruz.

Lai had engaged in grooming behavior of a student over the past couple of months. On June 28  Mr. Lai had arranged to meet with the student off campus to engage in lewd acts, which was when he was taken into custody by Santa Cruz PD Detectives, the police department wrote.

Detectives alerted school officials about the investigation and arrested the teacher in a park.

Monster music teacher accused of sexually abusing students in 3 San Jose schools

PCS Head of School Maria Reitano told Lookout that Lai will not be returning to the classroom when the new school year begins in August. Lais staff biography states that he previously lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and earned a degree from Stanford University. He moved to Santa Cruz in 2013 to begin teaching at PCS.

The teacher is slated to appear in court for an arraignment on Wednesday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Saudi Arabia is getting a Trump Tower as it ramps up its luxury property push

Saudi Arabia is getting a Trump Tower.

The Trump Organization and Dar Global announced plans to develop a residential project in Jeddah.

The plans are aimed at the luxury Saudi market and international investors.

It's full steam ahead for Sauda Arabia's Neom megacity, but the kingdom is also giving the green light to other luxury projects too.

Property developer Dar Global, the international arm of Saudi developer Dar Al Arkan, announced a new deal Monday to develop a residential development in Jeddah with the Trump Organization.

The plans include the future launch of a Trump Tower in the Saudi city, which would mark the Trump company's first project in the country.

Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global, said in a statement: "The new agreement in Saudi Arabia will leverage the strengths of both organizations to attract more international investors and vacationers. This collaboration underscores our commitment to grow our footprint by elevating the standards of luxury living in the region."

Eric Trump said in a statement that the deal would expand his family company's presence in the Middle East.

Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global (second from left), with Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. Dar Global

The Trump Organization and Dar Global have announced a similar deal in Oman for a $500 million Trump International hotel complex.

The deal permits use of Trump branding under license to developers, but the Trump International Oman is not owned by the Trump Organization.

Saudi Arabia is aiming to woo the luxury international market, in part to differentiate itself from nearby Dubai.

The kingdom has other luxury projects on the boil, including resorts along the Red Sea. Sindalah, one of the island resorts aimed at luxury clientele, is scheduled to open by the end of the year.

Antoni Vives, Neom's chief urban planning and islands officer, said in a press release that Sindalah will be a "new model for luxury travel and living."

Representatives for the Trump Organization and Dar Global did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Port of Charlestons newest terminal finally expects to welcome container vessels three years after the carriers began avoiding the gateway due to a major labor dispute.

The South Carolina Ports Authority has reached an agreement with the International Longshoremens Association (ILA) that will make way for the full reopening of the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal. The ports board of directors voted unanimously in support of the agreement.

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SC Ports and ILA proudly announce that after productive and collaborative conversations, we have mutually developed and agreed to the framework for an operating agreement that will create long-term stability and competitiveness for the Port of Charleston while providing an enhanced product, the groups said in a joint statement.

More importantly, SC Ports and ILA worked together to protect jobs to create a seamless transition toward a future that recognizes a trained and experienced workforce across all SC Ports terminals, the statement read. SC Ports and ILA are ready to welcome our USMX partners at the Leatherman Terminal for many years to come without hesitation as all obstacles to operations have been removed.

Neither party has officially stated when the terminal is set for reopening, but a report from Charleston-based publication The Post and Courier indicated that the gateway is prepping a July 2024 reopening. This would give the port additional capacity to handle up to 700,000 20-foot containers (TEUs).

Leatherman opened its first berth in March 2021, but the terminal has remained largely idle in the time since due to an ongoing labor dispute between the union, its maritime employers and multiple ocean carriers over a hybrid employment model in which non-union members were performing union-designated tasks.

A month after the terminal opened, the ILA filed a $300-million suit against the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), as well as ocean carriers Hapag-Lloyd and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), for allowing non-union workers to unload a cargo ship at the terminal. That lawsuit, still in arbitration, has scared off container lines from docking at Leatherman over the past three years.

The ILA effectively won the labor dispute in February when the Supreme Court denied a separate petition from the South Carolina Ports Authority, requesting they hear a dispute over who gets to operate cranes at the terminal.

Leatherman Terminal already has 1,400 feet of berth space and five ship-to-shore cranes, and is the first container terminal in the U.S. to open since 2009. Once fully developed, the terminal will have three ship berths with space for 2.4 million cargo containers, effectively doubling its current capacity.

The opening of Leatherman would be a big deal for cargo flowing into the East Coast. The Port of Charleston is the fourth busiest port by tonnage on the East Coast after the Port of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Savannah and the Port of Virginia.

As the port awaits the opening of the Leatherman Terminal, it is looking for ways to reduce its vessel queue in the wake of the brief shutdown of the wider South Carolina port system in late May due to a two-day software issue.

On Monday, the authority said it was implementing creative operational solutions and temporarily pausing toe wall construction for ocean carriers and shippers. The ports said the operational solutions have already helped decrease both wait times and the number of ships waiting. At the time of the notice, three ships were at anchor.

Our SC Ports team and maritime partners are working together to ensure fluidity for our customers amid this critical infrastructure project, SC Ports president and CEO Barbara Melvin said in a statement. Our ability to provide creative solutions when challenges arise, along with the incredible support we receive from our customers, makes all the difference in navigating short-term supply chain challenges.

Construction of the toe wall at the Wando Welch Terminal began in March 2024. The work of installing steel sheets along the wharf is done in sections, allowing SC Ports to accommodate three ships at the terminal for most of the spring. As work progressed down the wharf, only two berths were available, causing longer wait times for vessels.

Beginning Wednesday, SC Ports will pause work on the toe wall project to reopen all three berths at Wando Welch Terminal through July 14. This pause in construction will enable SC Ports and the maritime community to work ships faster and work through the remaining anchorage.

SC Ports expects to work ships on arrival by mid-July. As the toe wall construction resumes going into August, a 48-hour average wait is anticipated. The planned reopening of Leatherman will aid in providing additional berth for carriers.
The home of an electric grid simulator operated by Clemson University, located at the former U.S. Naval Base in North Charleston. Federal funding announced Tuesday, July 2, 2024 will allow for upgrades to the system. (Provided by Clemson University)

COLUMBIA  A conglomerate of South Carolina colleges, a federal nuclear research laboratory and the states economic development agency won a $45 million federal grant to establish a technology hub focused on developing new energy technologies.

The hub, known as SC Nexus, was one of just a dozen federally recognized tech hubs awarded federal funding Tuesday after more than a year-long application process with the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration.

The U.S. Commerce Department designated a total of 31 hubs across the country with the aim of creating more high-paying technology jobs and making the nation more competitive in high-tech industries. But only 12 of those hubs went on to receive federal financial backing.

Were incredibly excited. Today really is a transformational day for South Carolina and for Nexus, said Ashely Teasdel, deputy secretary with the S.C. Department of Commerce. This effort is really about strengthening the state and Americas economic competitiveness and national security.

The effort has been a priority for Gov. Henry McMaster and members of the state Legislature, with $15 million set aside as a one-time expenditure in the proposed budget, and $5 million in recurring support.

SC Nexus will spend its federal funding on four projects:

Building a simulator for testing the nations ability to protect its electric grid from hackers and cyber attacks. The simulator will cost $10 million and be operated by the Savannah River National Laboratory near Aiken.

$12.5 million worth of upgrades to an electric grid simulator operated by Clemson University. The simulator, located at the former U.S. Naval Base in North Charleston, can mimic the electric grid of any country in the world and is paired with testing equipment for wind-turbines. The effort will help improve renewable energy generation, such as wind and solar.

Building a pilot manufacturing line for batteries to be operated by the University of South Carolina. The $10.2 million manufacturing line will help researchers develop and produce longer-lasting, faster-charging batteries essential to the states growing electric vehicle industry. Better batteries are also needed to improve storage of power produced by solar panels and wind turbines for use when the sun isnt shining or the wind isnt blowing.

$12.6 million for the SC Technical College System to encourage more people to work in energy-focused industries and develop coursework for training more workers in these fields. Teasdel said these will include mobile labs that can be brought to Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg and Union counties, five economically challenged counties that the Nexus program is particularly focusing on.

The Department of Commerce will be setting up a division to oversee the Nexus projects, and will continue to seek additional funding. Two of the initially planned six projects did not receive federal grants, and those projects are being reviewed. At least one will not move forward as initially planned.

This is just the beginning for us, and were excited about the growth potential, the economic competitiveness that were going to have and then have a really, really big hand in national security too, Teasdel said.

The Department of Commerce did not have a total cost estimate for all six of the projects readily available on Tuesday.

Out of hundreds of applications, our state was chosen as one of twelve tech hubs to receive funding to focus on the increasing energy demands and needs of our nation, said Sen. Lindsey Graham in a statement Tuesday afternoon. Hats off to the South Carolina Department of Commerce and all those involved in putting this application together.
By Andreas Rinke and Barbara Erling

WARSAW (Reuters) -Pro-European politicians must act decisively in tackling issues of concern to ordinary voters like illegal migration to counter rising nationalism, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday, after far-right gains in French and EU elections.

Tusk was speaking alongside Chancellor Olaf Scholz after intergovernmental consultations between the Polish and German cabinets as they look to deepen ties.

France, the third member of the 'Weimar Triangle' grouping, is reeling from the far-right's victory in Sunday's first round of its parliamentary election.

"The French election is not the only quite critical moment, in many places we can see the growth of forces that do not hide their eurosceptic attitude," Tusk told a joint news conference with Scholz in Warsaw.

"That is why it is so important that moderate, reasonable, pro-European forces... find convincing answers to what has become important for ordinary people - the effective fight against illegal migration, security, greater economic sustainability, increased industrial coordination."

Scholz said he was sure that relations between Paris, Berlin and Warsaw would remain strong despite Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party making historic gains in France, which will hold a second round of voting next Sunday.

"We are of course two very pro-European nations and two very pro-European governments," Scholz said of Poland and Germany. "We know that our future can only succeed together with Europe and that is also the basis for why, in my view, we have reached very concrete agreements on what we will do next."

ACTION PLAN

Following Tuesday's intergovernmental talks, the first since 2018, Germany and Poland presented a joint action plan in which they agreed to discuss boosting defence cooperation, including a stronger NATO presence on the alliance's eastern border, and the coordination of Ukraine aid.

However, differences on defence were also visible.

Tusk has been a vocal proponent of common EU financing of defence projects, but Scholz has said the bloc should not be involved in financing arms purchases or national defence budgets.

Tusk said he would continue to stress to EU partners including Germany the importance of coordination in defence purchases.

"Poland spends huge amounts of money on armaments," Tusk said. "I would like our efforts to be well coordinated with the efforts of other countries."

Relations between Berlin and Warsaw have warmed since Tusk's pro-European coalition came to power in December, ending eight years of nationalist rule in Poland during which the Law and Justice government regularly painted Germany as a hostile force.

However, 85 years on from the start of World War Two, many in Poland still feel Germany has not done enough to make amends for a conflict that left the country in ruins and killed about a fifth of its population, including the vast majority of its 3 million Jewish citizens.

"Germany will... endeavour to take measures to support the surviving victims of the German aggression and occupation between 1939 and 1945," Scholz said.

The German government has already approved funding for the founding of a "German-Polish House" in Berlin as a memorial to victims of Nazi Germany's occupation of Poland.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Marek Strzelecki, Barbara Erling, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw, Rachel More and Miranda Murray in Berlin, writing by Alan Charlish; Editing by Toby Chopra and Gareth Jones)
Fact Check: Viral Posts Say Schools Don't Teach Cursive Anymore Because AI Can't Read It. Here's the Truth

Claim:

Schools stopped teaching students how to write in cursive because AI tools cannot read it.

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

In the past 20 years, whether schools should teach cursive writing has been frequently debated: In the mid-2000s and 2010s, cursive writing was largely discontinued in favor of typing skills. However, the practice has come back in the last decade. As of writing, 24 states have laws requiring students to learn cursive. Meanwhile, there are plenty of tools that can read cursive handwriting with relatively high accuracy, not all of which rely on artificial intelligence.

In mid-June 2024, posts advocating for cursive writing began appearing on social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram and X. The posts, shared using the same language, claimed that schools had stopped teaching children how to write in cursive in an effort to restrict freedom of thought. As the post puts it, "they" stopped teaching cursive "because it was compact, elegant, clear writing. Because it connects neural pathways that are only connected in this way. And because AI cannot read it."

BPUSA



Have you ever wondered why they don't teach kids to write in cursive anymore?"

And no, it's not a coincidence that they tend to use it less and less.

Writing in cursive means translating thoughts into words; it forces you not to take your hand off the paper.

A pic.twitter.com/YMcbGP4Qhu  VAL THOR (@CMDRVALTHOR) June 19, 2024

Have you ever wondered why they don't teach kids to write in cursive anymore?" And no, it's not a coincidence that they tend to use it less and less. Writing in cursive means translating thoughts into words; it forces you not to take your hand off the paper. A thought-stimulating effort, that allows you to associate ideas, tie them and put them into relation. Not by any chance the word cursive comes from the Latin currere, which runs, which flows, because the thought is winged, runs, flies. Of course cursive has no place in today's world, a world that does its best to slow down the development of thought, to stuff it. Think that cursive was born in Italy and then spread all over the world. Why ? Because it was compact, elegant, clear writing. Because it connects neural pathways that are only connected in this way. And because AI cannot read it.

As with many widely-shared copypasta posts, there is a lot of information to unpack, and not all of it is relevant to the conjecture at hand. By largely discarding the flowery prose defending cursive in the middle of the post, we can simplify the claim into two facts we can then examine. First, that children do not learn how to write in cursive anymore, and second, that artificial intelligence cannot read cursive. Both of these statements are false.

Many Kids Still Learn Cursive

In the United States, school curriculum is set at the state level, not at the federal level. For a long time, cursive writing was a part of state curricula across the country because it was considered the traditional way to write. But with the arrival of home computers and the internet, some people began questioning whether it was worth teaching.

In 2010, in an effort to standardize the education curriculum across state lines, 41 states signed on to the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Cursive writing did not make the cut, and typing skills largely replaced it. But even before then, cursive was slowly being phased out of elementary school curricula across the nation  ask people between the ages of 10 and 25 years old to write in cursive, and there's a decent chance they'll struggle. In fact, former Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust opened her 2022 article in The Atlantic about the topic with a story in which two-thirds of the students in a history seminar she was teaching said they couldn't read or write cursive.

The backlash to Common Core's cursive cut was immediate. Faust referenced cursive defenders calling for its reinstatement in major publications, including The Atlantic and The New York Times, less than a year after Common Core's 2011 implementation.

It didn't take that long for cursive to come back in vogue, either. Mycursive.com, a blog dedicated to teaching cursive, maintains a list of states that require cursive to be taught in schools. In 2016, just 14 states had such laws on the books. In the next eight years, that number jumped to 24.

In other words, many kids do still learn cursive across the United States, although it's certainly less common than it was 30 years ago.

Computers Can Read Cursive Handwriting

The second problem with the claim is that, in fact, computers can read and decipher cursive handwriting, even without the use of large language models (artificial intelligence).

As just one example, anyone with an iPhone running higher than iOS 15 (released in 2021) can scan handwritten and cursive notes using the phone camera. Snopes tested this feature using two cursive handwriting samples to see how well it worked.

First, we ran it with relatively neat cursive that read "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog," chosen because it contains every letter in the alphabet. The scan returned the text with just two mistakes  "fox" became "sop" (we admit, we're not sure how this happened) and the finishing flourish on the "g," in "dog" became an extra "s."

Second, we ran it with more "human" (read: sloppy) cursive that read "This is a test to see if Artificial Intelligence can read cursive handwriting." The scan returned the text as follows: "This is a toot to sce e Artificial dintelligence can read cursive bantwate." Certainly not great, but not that bad either! A person given the original message would likely be able to correct the typos without too much difficulty.

So while there are some problems and issues, there are absolutely pieces of technology that can interpret cursive handwriting.

One Final Note

When the message describes the origin of the word "cursive," (from the latin currere, meaning to run), it does so as follows: currere. This is enough to practically confirm that this message was written by someone whose first language isn't English. Most written languages across the world use quotation marks. However, depending on the language in question, the style of those marks will change, generally using one of the following three styles.

First, there is the style used in German: the leading quotation mark is on the bottom and the ending quotation mark is on top.

This style is also common in many languages spoken in central Europe, like Croatian, Czech and Polish.

Second, there is the style used in English: "two quotation marks for the Americans," and 'one quotation mark for the Brits.'

This style is also commonly found outside of Europe. It's used in Indian languages such as Hindi and Tamil, as well as in Brazilian Portuguese and many languages spoken in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnamese or Thai.

Third, there is the style used in French: the double chevrons, called les guillemets in French.

This style is used in Romance languages, including Spanish, French and Italian. It's also used in Greek, Arabic, and many languages spoken in former Soviet states, including Russian, Ukranian, Belarussian, Kazakh, Armenian and Azerbaijani.

Given the presence of the guillemet quotation marks, Snopes suspects the post was written by someone whose first language also uses that quotation style.

Sources:

23 States That Require Cursive Writing in Public Schools. 17 May 2019, https://mycursive.com/the-14-states-that-require-cursive-writing-state-by-state/.

About Us - My Cursive. https://mycursive.com/about-us/. Accessed 1 July 2024.

California Signs Cursive Writing into Law  What Are the Brain Benefits? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240122-california-signs-cursive-writing-into-law-what-are-the-brain-benefits. Accessed 1 July 2024.

Faust, Drew Gilpin. "Gen Z Never Learned to Read Cursive." The Atlantic, 16 Sept. 2022. The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/10/gen-z-handwriting-teaching-cursive-history/671246/.

Geer, Wil. "The 50 Year History of the Common Core." Educational Foundations, vol. 31, 2018, pp. 10017. ERIC, https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1212104.

Heubeck, Elizabeth. "More States Require Schools to Teach Cursive Writing. Why?" Education Week, 16 Nov. 2023. www.edweek.org, https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/more-states-require-schools-to-teach-cursive-writing-why/2023/11.

"iOS 15 Is Available Today." Apple Newsroom, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/09/ios-15-is-available-today/. Accessed 1 July 2024.

Loewus, Liana. "Why Don't the Common-Core Standards Include Cursive Writing?" Education Week, 10 Oct. 2016. www.edweek.org, https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/why-dont-the-common-core-standards-include-cursive-writing/2016/10.

Martin, Michel. "What Students Lost since Cursive Writing Was Cut from the Common Core Standards." NPR, 3 Dec. 2022. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2022/12/03/1140610714/what-students-lost-since-cursive-writing-was-cut-from-the-common-core-standards.

Povich, Elaine. "Around the Country, Some States Are Mandating Cursive Writing in Public Schools  Missouri Independent." Missouri Independent, 28 Nov. 2023, https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/28/cursive-makes-a-comeback-by-law-in-public-schools/.

"Scan Text and Documents in Notes Using the iPhone Camera." Apple Support, https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/scan-text-and-documents-iph653f28965/17.0/ios/17.0. Accessed 1 July 2024.

Tenner, Edward. "Handwriting Is a 21st-Century Skill." The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2011, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/04/handwriting-is-a-21st-century-skill/237998/.

"Use of Quotation Marks in the Different Languages - EU Vocabularies - Publications Office of the EU." EU Vocabularies, https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/formex/physical-specifications/character-encoding/use-of-quotation-marks-in-the-different-languages. Accessed 1 July 2024.

"X.Com." X (Formerly Twitter), https://x.com/alextopol/status/1801895569641619665. Accessed 1 July 2024.

Zezima, Katie. "The Case for Cursive." The New York Times, 28 Apr. 2011. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/us/28cursive.html.
The claim that the U.S. Supreme Court made a sitting president immune from prosecution for ordering elements of the military  such as Seal Team 6  to kill a political opponent arose as a common talking point in the aftermath of the high court's July 1, 2024, ruling in Trump v. United States:

While several Supreme Court justices agree that the decision could provide the immunity described in viral tweets like the one shown above, the decision did not explicitly argue that this power existed. That language stems from Justice Sonya Sotomayor's dissenting opinion, but carries no legal weight, and references to an exchange between a Trump lawyer and an appellate judge involved in the case.

Trump v. United States

Trump v. United States arose in response to a federal indictment issued against the former president in August 2023 that alleged Trump conspired to "defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defeat the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, counted, and certified by the federal government" following his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.

In October 2023, Trump's lawyers asked District of Columbia Circuit Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to throw out the case, in part based on the premise that the charges against Trump related to actions he took as president which, they argued, were "absolutely immune from prosecution." Legal precedent favored at least some presidential immunity for "official acts" taken as president on the premise that fear of prosecution would prevent swift and decisive presidential action.

Chutkan declined to dismiss the case, and Trump's lawyers appealed her ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, putting Trump's motion to dismiss in the hands of a panel of three appellate judges. The Seal Team 6 assassination example was first raised at this stage of the legal proceedings during oral arguments, as reported by The Washington Post in January 2024:

"A president could sell pardons, could sell military secrets, could order SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival?" Judge Florence Y. Pan asked. "Would such a president be subject to criminal prosecution if he's not impeached?" D. John Sauer, representing Trump, insisted that for any crime connected to a president's "official duties," the "political process" of impeachment and conviction by the Senate "would have to occur" before prosecution. He predicted that if a president was involved in murder, he would be "speedily" impeached.

Ultimately, the panel of judges rejected that argument. Trump's team again appealed, and in February 2024 the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. In a 6-3 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court largely supported Trump's broad view of immunity with some exceptions.

Official Actions?

Roberts argued that acts taken by a president in their "core constitutional capacity" are immune from prosecution, and that "official actions" taken by a president are entitled to "presumptive immunity." Roberts stated that this immunity did not carry over to "unofficial" acts:

The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official. The President is not above the law. But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts.

For most of the questions of immunity related specifically to Trump's 2020 election case case, Roberts required the lower courts to start from the beginning, in essence, and make a ruling on the official or unofficial nature of Trump's actions. In making that determination, Roberts stated that "courts may not inquire into the President's motives," as this would "risk exposing even the most obvious instances of official conduct" to legal scrutiny "on the mere allegation of improper purpose."

The "core constitutional powers" for which Presidents have absolute immunity are those explicitly stated in Article II of the Constitution  things like serving as commander in chief of the United States armed forces.

Sotomayor, in her dissenting opinion, argued that the court had effectively created "a law free zone around the President." She referenced the Seal Team 6 example, stating her view that Roberts' logic would exempt a president from prosecution for using the military to kill political opponents, in part because commanding the military is a core constitutional role:

This new official-acts immunity now "lies about like a loaded weapon" for any President that wishes to place his own interests, his own political survival, or his own financial gain, above the interests of the Nation. The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majority's reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navy's Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

The Bottom Line

A dissenting view carries no legal or precedent-setting weight, and as a result it is incorrect to say the ruling made sitting presidents immune from being prosecuted for carrying out military assassinations of political rivals. Technically and thankfully, that question remains untested.

It is, however  according to dissenting Supreme Court justices and legal experts  entirely plausible that such conduct would be protected under the high court's broadened view of presidential immunity.

Sources:

"Article II." LII / Legal Information Institute, https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleii. Accessed 1 July 2024.

"Dissenting Opinion." LII / Legal Information Institute, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/dissenting_opinion. Accessed 1 July 2024.

Feuer, Alan, and Charlie Savage. "Trump Seeks Dismissal of Federal Election Case, Claiming Immunity." The New York Times, 5 Oct. 2023. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/05/us/politics/trump-jan-6-case-dismissal.html.

Millhiser, Ian. "The Supreme Court's Trump Immunity Decision Is a Blueprint for Dictatorship." Vox, 1 July 2024, https://www.vox.com/scotus/358292/supreme-court-trump-immunity-dictatorship.

"Read the Indictment." AP News, https://apnews.com/trump-election-2020-indictment. Accessed 1 July 2024.

Trump v. United States. 1 July 2024, https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf.

Weiner, Rachel, et al. "Judges Skeptical That Trump Is Immune from Jan. 6 Prosecution." Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/01/09/trump-immunity-appeals-court-arguments/.
The U.S. Supreme Court is shown June 21, 2021 (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

I have never met anyone who I believed to be intelligent who was also humorless. When comedian Nate Bargatze took the stage last week at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis he spent a few moments making sure the crowd knew he was not an educated man.

Bargatze is intelligent though. And hes as funny they come.

In contrast, the Supreme Court of the United States was once regarded as the sage, learned body, epitomizing intelligence, credibility and thoughtfulness. This once esteemed tribunal personified its supremacy for rational, unhumorous reasons. However, as of Monday, July 1, 2024, its self-desecration is complete. It has now become a laughingstock.

The conservative majority of the court has twisted itself into knots to help Donald Trump with the absurdity that he should have some immunity from prosecution for his criminal acts. The mantra of no man is above the law ended this week in America.

The 6-3 Trump v. United States ruling produced dissenting language in a tone unheard of in the courts storied history. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote on behalf of the minority, With fear for our democracy, I dissent.

The cloud of this debacle will feel like a diversion soon though, because theres so much more.

Chevron and more

Lets discuss nitrous oxide. Youve likely heard of it. Its what dentists give patients to relax them before needles and drills are used to bludgeon their mouths. Its laughing gas. Its fun. And it should never be confused with nitrogen oxides, which is what the Environmental Protection Agency regulates to control pollution.

To listen to a podcast version of this column, go here.

Justice Neil Gorsuch famously mistook one for the other, five times, in his Ohio v. EPA ruling on Thursday. Then on Friday, SCOTUS ruled that courts are better positioned to do what regulatory experts have broadly done since 1984. In Loper Bright v. Raimondo, the supremes ruled that courts are more suited to decide anything and everything, scientific and complicated, than actual experts. Experts like those who know the difference between pollutants and laughing gas.

The 1984 decision, Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, established what has become known as the Chevron deference. The late Justice Antonin Scalia was a notorious supporter of the deference, because it provided a dependable background rule of law against which Congress can legislate. He believed Congress wanted agencies, or subject matter experts, to exercise discretion on the implementation of their laws. Ive been a regulator and a legislative consultant, and I know this to be historically true.

Scalia has been revered by the right ad nauseam, as the smartest, most supreme of all supremes. Todays right wing, however, apparently thinks it knows better, while simultaneously proving it doesnt.

Fun fact, Scalia also had a grand reputation for his sense of humor. Go figure.

Experience matters

When I was a regulator, my agency had a staff of economists, engineers and accountants who knew things politicians didnt. They made sense of what was fact, what was real, and most importantly, what was reasonable before the political appointees decided anything. Rulings were then made in the public interest. That term drives the regulatory world. Decisions arent simply made in favor of the best lawyering, or legal wrangling on behalf of one interest or the other. They are also made with an eye toward how the decision would impact society.

Courts regularly reviewed those decisions, most often to decide whether an agency had been reasonable. The system worked. There wasnt any reason to change it.

There are two important things that ended with the killing of the Chevron deference. First, serving the public interest will no longer be the driving reason for every regulatory decision. Second, what serves as reasonable can be unabashedly partisan, biased or corrupt. The robe-wearers will rule however theyd like, often showing their plan before they even take the bench.

The best example of our future is the recent case involving the abortion medication, mifepristone. Anti-abortion U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the drug should be banned last year, overruling the Food and Drug Administrations approval of it two decades earlier. SCOTUS overturned his decision a few weeks ago stating that the original complainants had no standing to bring the case. With the Chevron deference eliminated, the next time SCOTUS hears a case banning mifepristone, it will almost certainly be upheld.

Write that one down in ink.

As Bargatze prepared to take the stage Wednesday night, the crowd was treated to a small clip of his role as General George Washington in a Saturday Night Live skit. In it, Washington is inspiring troops during the American Revolution with the hilarious and ridiculous things we will do with our freedom.

SCOTUS is performing that skit in real life today. But its not funny. Not one bit.
After a historic ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that upholds city and state laws barring people experiencing homelessness from sleeping and camping in public spaces, Austin-based advocates protested camping bans like the one Austin has and renewed calls for the city to invest in housing and other supportive services.

"We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness. It comes from support," Sasha Rose, lead organizer with Austin Mutual Aid, said at a news conference outside Austin City Hall on Tuesday morning. "We call on our city leadership to invest in affordable housing."

In addition to the grassroots organization Austin Mutual Aid, leaders and organizers with VOCAL-TX, the Healing Project and more spoke at Tuesday's news conference.

From left, Alfredo Reyes Jr., Fran Tatu, outreach director at Austin Mutual Aid, Sasha Rose, lead organizer of Austin Mutual Aid, and Linda Jackson chanted Tuesday at a news conference about homeless camping bans. "We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness," Rose said.

More: Inside Black Mamas Village ATX, previously occupied by Whole Womans Health abortion clinic

"How can we move people and say, "You can't sleep here,' and then we give them no other place to go because the shelters are full?" said Andi Brauer, who works with homeless services for Central Presbyterian Church. "Fund a safe outdoor spaces program for Austin and let people be, let people live and give people the assistance they need now."

The 6-3 Supreme Court opinion issued Friday finds that laws that ban homeless people from sleeping or camping in public places are not cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment, overturning a lower court's ruling in a case stemming from Grants Pass, Oregon.

Such laws have been criticized by many advocates for people experiencing homelessness as shelter space is limited across the country.

A man lies down in the shade Tuesday under Interstate 35 in downtown Austin near a sign prohibiting camping.

The city of Austin currently deems it a criminal offense, a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine, for "anyone to sit, lie down, or camp in public areas" and prohibits "solicitation of money or other things of value at specific hours and locations," the city's website states.

The Austin City Council had repealed a city ordinance that made it illegal to sleep in public spaces. But Austin voters opted to reinstate the camping ban in 2021.

It is estimated that more than 6,200 people were experiencing homelessness in Austin in May, according to data from the Ending Community Homeless Coalition. The city, though it has made progress on the front, still lacks shelter and permanent supportive housing beds to match the needs of the homeless population, which has significantly grown over the past few years.

After the ruling from the nation's highest court, Chrisola Webb, a spokesperson for the city's Homeless Strategy Office, on Friday shared a statement that said the city "recognizes that homelessness is not a crime" and remains committed to developing solutions for housing and support.

The statement said more than 2,200 people are benefiting from city-funded rapid rehousing programs and more than 1,000 new housing units are being built across Austin for people experiencing homelessness.

"Enforcement of applicable laws related to camping in public places is one of many tools and solutions used by the City in appropriate circumstances," the statement said. "We will continue working with neighbors and stakeholders to ensure actions and policies balance public safety with peoples rights and needs."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: After SCOTUS ruling, local advocates protest homeless camping ban laws
THE HAGUE, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The new Dutch government was officially sworn in on Tuesday at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, more than 220 days after the general elections on November 22 last year.

Following the honorable discharge of the former government, 16 new ministers were sworn in, followed by 13 state secretaries.

The new Dutch government consists of the far-right populist Party for Freedom (PVV), the center-right party New Social Contract (NSC), the rightist People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB). These parties reached a coalition agreement on May 15.

The new Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, met with King Willem-Alexander for an introductory meeting prior to the ceremony.

The swearing-in ceremony marked the official start of the new Dutch government. The first cabinet meeting is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. One of the first tasks of the new government is to draft its program based on the coalition agreement. 
Search Called Off for Retired Cop Who Went Missing in Greece

The brother of Albert Calibet, who went missing during a hike, suggests that "foul play" had to do with his disappearance

Municipality of Amorgos Albert Calibet

The search for retired police officer Albert Calibet has seemingly come to an end, roughly three weeks after he went missing during a heat wave in Greece.

On Monday, June 1, Calibets brother, Oliver, posted an update to the GoFundMe page created to aid in funding the search for the missing person. "It is with heavy heart that I announce the conclusion of our search for our beloved Albert," Oliver wrote. "Despite our relentless efforts and determination, Albert remains missing."

Calibet, 59, was reported missing on June 11 after he did not return from a hike on the island of Amorgos that he embarked on earlier that day. He had been traveling "to Amorgos almost every year" for the last 10 years, Amorgos deputy mayor of tourism, Popi Despotidi, told CNN.

A friend who was vacationing with Calibet at the time of his disappearance told authorities that the ex-cop left for the hike to Katapola Amorgos around 7 a.m. local time, according to the outlet. He contacted local authorities when he was unable to reach Calibet.

Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The island of Amorgos

In Olivers statement, he suggests that "foul play" had to do with his brothers absence as they "found zero evidence of Albert anywhere on the island." He also alleged that the family has "encountered numerous obstacles and roadblocks" with the Greek authorities and received "little assistance" from the U.S. Embassy.

"As a result, we have left the island fearing for our own health and safety; endless hiking of the island was taking a huge toll on our bodies. At this time, I am uncertain of our next steps," Oliver continued.

He added that Greek officials should create a cohesive process and procedure for missing persons cases, as they occur commonly in the country. The brother further suggested that the law should allow cellphone tower data to be accessed in similar cases.

He concluded by noting that he is staying nearby in Europe in case new information is shared.

Related: Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Paddleboarder with 'Heavy Hearts': 'Never an Easy Decision'

Last month, family friend Robin Wynston Lynn told CW-affiliate KTLA that the island has "few resources" to aid in the search, particularly where Calibet is believed to have gone missing.

Calibets sister-in-law, Sandrine Cutright, also gave insight into the rescue mission, stating that the rescue teams had to pause their search each night due to the terrain.

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.

Calibet joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in April 1998 and formally retired two decades later, in 2018, according to CBS affiliate KCBS-TV. However, the department said he still worked part-time shifts to help with staffing shortages.

His disappearance came two days after British television doctor Michael Mosleys body was found on the island of Symi in Greece.

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Read the original article on People.
Search called off for retired sheriffs deputy who vanished on hike on Greek island

Search called off for retired sheriffs deputy who vanished on hike on Greek island

The search for a retired US police officer has been called off after zero evidence of him was found on the Greek island where he went missing more than two weeks ago.

The brother of Eric Albert Calibet  known by his family as Albert  said that the 59-year-old remained missing and that he deeply suspected that foul play had occurred.

Calibet, a former Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy, had been vacationing on the idyllic island of Amorgos before he was reported missing by a friend on June 11.

Prior to his disappearance, he had embarked on a challenging four-hour hike from a route toward the village of Katapola in the scorching temperatures. According to his family, Calibet still worked part-time for the sheriffs department after retiring in 2018 and knew the 49-square mile islands rugged terrain extremely well.

The department was one of multiple agencies that collaborated in the effort to find him.

Calibet, a former Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy, had been vacationing on the idyllic island of Amorgos before he was reported missing by a friend on June 11 (Municipality of Amorgos)

However, on Monday, Oliver Calibet, announced with a heavy heart that the search for his beloved brother had been ended.

Despite our relentless efforts and determination, Albert remains missing. I deeply fear that foul play has occurred as we found zero evidence of Albert anywhere on the island, Calibet wrote, in an update on a GoFundMe page set up for his brother.

Oliver Calibet said that throughout the ordeal the family had encountered numerous obstacles and roadblocks from the Greek authorities, as well as little assistance from the US embassy.

As a result, we have left the island fearing for our own health and safety; endless hiking of the island was taking a huge toll on our bodies. At this time, I am uncertain of our next steps.

He continued: I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who sent their thoughts and prayers. Your support has been a source of strength for us during this incredibly challenging time.

I also wish to thank the search and rescue teams who assisted us and those that donated to the GoFundMe to make search and rescue efforts possible. We were truly hoping for a different outcome.

It comes amid multiple disappearances of foreign tourists, including another American and a 74-year-old from the Netherlands, across various Greek islands.

Greece, Italy, the Canary Islands, Spain, Turkey and Cyprus have already recorded temperatures above 100F, with Greece also ravaged by a series of fires (AP)

British celebrity doctor Michael Mosley, a physician and TV star known for advocating healthy lifestyles and intermittent fasting, was also found dead on the island of Symi last month.

Oliver Calibets statement on Monday continued: Given that missing tourists seem to be commonplace in Greece, I deeply urge the Greek government to create a cohesive process and procedure for this type of event.

From what I was told the current EU law prohibits the release of cell phone tower data, however in missing person cases such as this, the law should be modified.

He added that the family remained hopeful of new information but requested privacy at this time.

Tourists traveling to holiday hotspots across the Mediterranean have been warned to brace for extreme weather conditions as heatwaves continue to boil southern Europe.

Greece, Italy, the Canary Islands, Spain, Turkey, and Cyprus have already recorded temperatures above 100F, with Greece also ravaged by a series of fires.
His father hid money under the false bottom of their grandfather clock. His mother stashed cash in the closet. His aunt concealed money in the television console, while other relatives packed plastic bags with bills they stored in their basement  which then almost burned up when their house caught on fire.

After prosecutors rested their case Friday, Sen. Bob Menendezs attorneys kicked off their defense Monday in his federal bribery trial in Manhattan, setting out to show jurors that mistrust of banks was a family tradition.

Daddy always said: Dont trust the banks. If you trust the banks, you never know what can happen, so you must always have money at home. And this was something, so to speak, that they say to you and say it to you so many times that its  it sort of forms a law inside of you, the senators older sister Caridad Gonzalez testified.

Gonzalez, 80, was one of three witnesses the defense called Monday, offering jurors ordinary explanations for the $486,000 in cash investigators found around the senators Englewood Cliffs home during a June 2022 search and tens of thousands more in a bank where his wife had a safe deposit box.

Gonzalez told jurors she worked as a secretary for her brother when he practiced law before he became a full-time politician, recounting a time he asked her to retrieve cash from a box in his closet in the early 1980s. Stockpiling cash at home is normal among Cuban refugees like her family, she added.

They were afraid of losing everything they worked so hard for, because, in Cuba, they took everything away from you, whether you liked it or not, Gonzalez said.

United States Senator, Bob Menendez walks towards the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse where he will be on trial for bribery and corruption charges. The jury selection for the trial is expected to start today, Monday, May 13, 2024.

Defense attorneys also called Nadine Menendezs younger sister, Katia Tabourian, to the stand Monday for a similar reason  to show that the 13 gold bars, gold coins, and jewelry investigators found in the couples home had more to do with family than bribery.

Tabourian said their parents left the sisters gold as an inheritance, narrating evidentiary photos of jewelry the FBI had seized, saying they were family heirlooms or gifts.

She also insisted the couples locked bedroom closet was Nadines alone, and that she kept it locked after a nanny stole from her years ago.

Custody of the closet is key, because Menendezs defense team has said he wasnt aware of cash, gold, and other valuables his wife stored there because it was her closet and he didnt have access to it.

Prosecutor Lara Pomerantz pushed back on the testimony of both women, reminding jurors that investigators traced much of the seized gold and cash to the couples codefendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, through fingerprints, DNA, and serial numbers on the gold bars. The indictment alleges that Hana and Daibes bribed the couple in exchange for his interference in foreign policy matters and domestic criminal investigations.

To be clear, Fred Daibes isnt a member of your family, right? Pomerantz said. And Wael Hana isnt a member of your family, right?

No, hes not, Tabourian responded to both questions.

Gonzalez conceded, under Pomerantzs cross-examination, that her family immigrated to New York in 1951, three years before Menendez was born.

Defense attorneys wanted to introduce testimony and evidence showing Nadine Menendez was struggling to escape an abusive relationship when she began dating the senator. That toxic past would show jurors that Menendez tracked his new girlfriends whereabouts on a phone app to ensure her safety, rather than facilitate any bribery scheme, they said.

But Judge Sidney H. Stein limited what they could introduce to avoid prejudicing jurors, calling domestic violence too hot a topic and so tangential to the issues here.

I said, dont make this a soap opera. Youre not only making it a soap opera, youre making it a bad soap opera, Stein told defense attorneys during an argument Monday without jurors present.

So Tabourian told jurors only that Nadine had been in an unhealthy relationship. Defense attorney Adam Fee also used Tabourian to suggest the couple could not have been co-conspirators during the fall of 2018, when prosecutors say their alleged bribery scheme was well underway, because they had broken up temporarily after the senator discovered she was still with her ex-boyfriend.

I cared for her a great deal, but I can not get over her being with Doug while she was with me, the senator texted Tabourian, who tried to persuade him to reconcile with Nadine. Maybe time will heal wounds but not today. Wish it was different. Thanks.

The defense also called forensic accountant Russell Richardson, who found Menendezs bank balance rose between 2018 and June 2022  the period prosecutors say the bribery scheme unfolded  because his salary climbed, he began collecting his pension in New Jersey, and he quit paying apartment rent when he moved in with Nadine. The implication was that the increase accounted for at least some of the cash stashed in his home.

But that gain didnt remotely add up to the $552,000 in cash the FBI seized from the home and Nadine Menendezs safe deposit box, Richardson conceded on cross-examination.

Richardson also acknowledged he did not look at how much cash the senator spent during that time. And he told jurors the senator typically withdrew about $400 at a time, which didnt explain the multiple bank envelopes containing $10,000 and banded stacks of cash worth far more than $400 that investigators found jammed in jacket pockets, boots, boxes, and bags around their home.

Did Menendez ever withdraw $10,000 in cash at once from a bank? prosecutor Catherine Ghosh asked him.

Not from my review of the records, Richardson said.

Mike Kelly: Bob Menendez needs to explain himself to NJ voters. He has to testify

Will the Sen. Bob Menendez testify?

Stein gave jurors the day off Tuesday so that he could read and rule on the tsunami of submissions prosecutors and defense attorneys filed over the weekend as they battled over exhibits and evidence defense attorneys want to introduce.

Both sides have filed so many briefs and motions and argued so endlessly out of jurors presence that prosecutor Daniel Richenthal told Stein last week theyre barely sleeping, and the trial has fallen about two weeks behind schedule.

The frenzy of the weekend has got to stop, the judge barked at both sides before the jury entered court for the day. Its an abuse of the court system. Were going to get this back on track.

Testimony will resume Wednesday before the trial pauses again until Monday for the Fourth of July weekend. The defense is expected to rest and jurors to begin deliberations by the end of next week.

The defense team said they aim to call several more witnesses and havent ruled out the defendants  including Menendez  taking the stand in their own defense.

Thats still under consideration, Fee told Stein.

Editor's note: This story was originally published by the New Jersey Monitor, for which Dana DeFilippo is a staff writer. The New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bob Menendez trial: Defense says hoarded riches were normal
Corrections Director Steven Harpe gives an update at the Board of Corrections meeting on June 26.

Although Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe told members of the corrections board last week that several state lawmakers were part of the team that helped negotiate a new contract with the GEO Group, at least two of those lawmakers said they had no knowledge of any meetings and were not involved in any negotiations with the GEO Group.

Last week, during the Department of Corrections Board of Directors meeting, Harpe told his board and public audience members that several state lawmakers including Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton; House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka; Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher; and Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus were brought in to help with contract negotiations between the state Corrections Department and the GEO Group, the owners of the Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility.

"The proposal for the board review that, if approved will go to the attorney general's office for signature, was a team effort between the House, the Senate and the executive branch," a recording of the meeting has Harpe saying. "Speaker McCall was a big help, as was Vice Chair Trey Caldwell and then Sen. Jech and Sen. Howard were instrumental (in) us getting to this place. Obviously the governor has been in contact with me often through the last couple of weeks since we got to this deal."

More: Oklahoma DOC extends contract with GEO group to keep troubled Lawton prison open

However, both Jech and Howard said they didn't attend any meeting and weren't involved in contract negotiations.

"Sens. Jech and Howard both confirmed they had no knowledge of the meeting and were not involved in negotiations with DOC and GEO," said Senate communications director Alex Gerszewski. Both senators, Gerszewski said, were unaware of any meetings between GEO and state officials.

"They weren't there. They didn't go," he said.

Monday afternoon, Corrections Department spokeswoman Kay Thompson said she "wasn't sure where you are getting that Director Harpe stated the senators were instrumental. During the meeting, he said James Rudek was instrumental. Harpe thanked the legislators in the press release for being supportive and providing guidance. They were not involved in the negotiations. It was important to speak with them due to their involvement with the Public Safety committees," Thompson's statement said.

The Oklahoman's recording of the meeting indicates otherwise. Rudek was never mentioned in Harpe's early comments. Harpe thanked lawmakers and said they "were instrumental (in) us getting to this place."

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Thompson's statement included a second quote from Harpe: "We echo GEO's gratitude for Representative Caldwell and would also like to thank Governor Stitt, Speaker Charles McCall, Representative Kyle Hilbert, Senator Darcy Jech and Senator Brent Howard for their guidance through this negotiation process, Harpe's statement said.

However, Rep. Caldwell said three members of the House of Representatives were involved in negotiations and Caldwell said he was asked to mediate because negotiations had broken down.

The board meeting followed a terse email sent earlier that week by the GEO Group's lobbyist to a handful of state lawmakers. That email said the company would be terminating its contracts and the state would need to find housing for about 4,000 high-security inmates.

I wanted to make you aware of the termination letter GEO has submitted to DOC regarding the Lawton Correctional Facility, as well as a breach of contract letter for the Hinton Great Plains Facility, GEO Group lobbyist Tonya Lee wrote to several state lawmakers and corrections officials. These two facilities, combined, house close to 4,000 high security inmates that the state will need to find alternative housing for.

In a letter attached the email, GEO Group President George Zoley wrote the company was discontinuing the lease of the Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility because it could not continue to provide the facility and the associated correctional services without adequate funding and relief from facility overcrowding.

Caldwell, the state representative from Lawton, said he was asked to help mediate the dispute between the state and the GEO group. He said the "main group" of lawmakers involved included McCall, Rep. Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston) and himself. Caldwell said the group held a meeting at the state Capitol on June 20, the same day as a meeting of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency.

"Both sides were bickering right at the end of the session and it got sideways really, really bad," Caldwell said. "It was not good. Then both sides started really, really posturing."

Caldwell said he spoke with Harpe, and eventually he, Harpe and Zoley spoke in a conference call.

Not long after those meetings, on June 26, Harpe asked the Board of Corrections to approve a one-year extension for Lawton. The board voted 6-to-0 to approve the contract. The seventh board member, Gerszewski, abstained.

The seven-member Board of Corrections listens to Director Steven Harpe's update.

State Rep. agrees with decision, but calls for accountability

State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, chair of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, said he wasnt surprised by the quick pace of the contract extension. He said the state shouldn't use private prisons, but added the state hasnt run the corrections system any better than a private company.

Ive been reporting all of these types of incidents for two years. DOC called me a liar, said everything I said was false, he told The Oklahoman. Now they are talking differently. Its shocking that DOC is now claiming that GEO is doing a terrible job.

Humphrey said he agreed with Gov. Kevin Stitts recent post on X that Enough is enough on how the prison has been managed. He said he asked when Stitt would hold Harpe accountable for the problems at Lawton and other prisons such as Allen Gamble Correctional Center in Holdenville and Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton. In his comments before the board voted, Harpe acknowledged the issues surrounding the Lawton facility.

He said the governor's office said Stitt was fine with the extension because "it will save millions of taxpayer dollars while giving DOC time to safely transition to a new arrangement."

I recognize that this facility and its reputation and its maintenance and its operation and the violence has got to stop, and so this is our first leg towards that, Harpe said. This whole thing around we change lives is not a joke.

Harpe said the new agreement would save the state $1.7 million and allow them to get personnel inside the Lawton facility working with GEO. He said other mechanisms for programming were in progress, but specific details have not been released yet.

The hallways of the chapel were filled with family members and media who waited for the Board of Corrections to end its executive session discussion on the Geo Group contract.

Family members say they are worried about loved ones in Lawton, Hinton facilities

Concerned family members lined two narrow hallways in the chapel at the Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, waiting for the board's decision last week. Some family members told The Oklahoman they drove two and a half hours to attend the meeting.

Jane R., who asked that her last name not be used because she feared retaliation for her family member who is incarcerated, said her goal was being a voice for her loved one and every inmate in Oklahoma regarding safety, lack of classes and lack of rehabilitation. She said she wanted to make sure inmates were treated as more than criminals and given their civil rights.

Were all human and some of us make mistakes, she said. Some of us just make bigger mistakes than others, and they end up being incarcerated because of it.

The Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, Oklahoma on June 26, 2024.

Suzanne T. told the Oklahoman her family member has already been sliced in the legs, and when he was sent to medical, it was a filthy cell full of urine.

"The public doesnt have a clue as to what happens in prisons because of the decisions that take place behind closed doors, she said. Its the run-around. Its not the truth.

Emily Barnes, founder of the advocate group Hooked on Justice, said she was glad inmates were not being moved out of state, as prior rumors indicated, and that the department was willing to work with her. Barnes said she wants the department to address drugs, gang activity, violence, medical issues and provide better training for staff.

She agreed the Lawton situation was a serious wakeup call.

"More family members are starting to speak up," she said. "We can't sit back and just keep letting them be handled any old way."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: New questions raised over Lawton Oklahoma prison contract extension
Seoul's military disputed North Korea's claim of a successful "super-large warhead" missile test on Tuesday, saying the missile appeared to fail and land in an empty field. Another North Korean missile test appeared to have failed last week. Photo by Yonhap

SEOUL. July 2 (UPI) -- North Korea test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead, state media reported Tuesday, a claim that South Korean defense officials disputed as a likely "deception."

According to a report in state-run Korean Central News Agency, the North successfully launched its new Hwasong-11Da-4.5 missile on Monday. The weapon is capable of carrying a 4.5 ton-class super-large warhead, the report claimed.

"The test-fire was conducted with a missile tipped with a simulated heavy warhead to verify flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 km (310 miles) and the minimum range of 90 km (55 miles)," the KCNA report said.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that it detected the launch of two short-range missiles from the southwestern corner of North Korea. One flew 370 miles and landed in waters off the east coast, but the other traveled only 75 miles, leading to speculation that it failed and may have exploded over land.

At a press briefing Tuesday, a JCS spokesman cast doubt on the North's claims of a successful test.

"We are weighing the possibility of deception in North Korea's public reporting," spokesman Col. Lee Sung-jun said. "The second missile, which flew abnormally yesterday, appears to have landed in a field where there are no private houses."

"In addition, it is extremely rare for a test launch to be carried out inland, and it is likely that it would be false to say that it was successful," Lee added.

Last week, another North Korean missile appeared to fail in mid-flight.

Pyongyang claimed that it had successfully conducted its first multiple-warhead missile test, but the South's military on Friday released video footage showing a missile spiraling on an abnormal flight path before disintegrating over the East Sea.

North Korea did not release images of Monday's launches, which it generally does after announcing weapons test results.

The KCNA report said that Pyongyang will conduct another test of the missile in July to "verify flight characteristics, hit accuracy and explosion power of super-large warhead at the medium range of 250 km (155 miles)."

A super-large nuclear warhead was on a wish list of weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un laid out at a party congress in January 2021, alongside nuclear-powered submarines, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and military satellites.

The recent launches come amid growing military ties and a new mutual defense treaty between North Korea and Russia, with speculation that Pyongyang is conducting tests and ramping up weapons production in anticipation of sales to Moscow and other buyers.

Washington said earlier this month that the North has transferred dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to Moscow for its war effort in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea have denied the allegations, but on Friday the head of a weapons research group presented evidence to the U.N. Security Council that he said "irrefutably" proves a missile from North Korea was used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The University of Minnesota would get $13 million to put toward pollution cleanup at UMore Park under a proposed settlement with E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. and the federal government, ending a dispute over contamination left in the south metro by a World War II-era gunpowder plant.

DuPont designed, built and ran the Gopher Ordnance Works smokeless gunpowder facility on the site, which once spanned 13,600 acres in Rosemount and what was then Empire Township. The plant was briefly operational from November 1944 through August 1945. Some of the land was then returned to farmers, but about 8,000 acres was deeded to the U.

The proposed consent decree, which summarizes the settlement, is open to public comment until July 29, and then a public hearing will be held Sept. 4, before a judge decides whether to approve it.

"We're happy to have reached an agreement with the federal government and hope for the court's approval," said Jake Ricker, a University of Minnesota spokesperson.

The $13 million payment to the U would come "in return for a release of claims against the United States and DuPont," Ricker said in an email.

The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on the proposed settlement. Attorneys for the company referred questions to Chemours, a DuPont spinoff, and representatives there declined to comment.

The UMore Park land has had several uses after being deeded to the U in 1947.

The U.S. Army and Navy both leased land from the U for a period after that; hazardous substances were disposed of during those times, the lawsuit alleges. The U used the land mostly for lab waste and agricultural research for half a century.

About 2,800 acres in the area became the Vermillion Highlands, a wildlife and recreation area jointly administered by the U and the Department of Natural Resources.

More recently, the U had planned an ambitious, environmentally friendly development for 20,000 to 30,000 people at UMore, but those plans have stalled. Gravel mining in the area began more than a decade ago.

University officials filed the lawsuit in 2017, seeking to recover costs associated with cleaning up pollution on the property.

Cleanup work ahead

Because Gopher Ordnance Works was "never fully activated ... the magnitude of contamination at this site is actually pretty limited," said Tom Higgins, manager of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Superfund remedial section.

But UMore is on Minnesota's Superfund list of hazardous waste sites being investigated and cleaned up through state and federal programs. The pollution  mostly arsenic, lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)  contaminated the soil in the north-central part of UMore, Higgins said.

The U's lawsuit says it has performed "an extensive environmental investigation at a cost in excess of several million dollars to determine the source, nature and extent" of contamination on the site. Elsewhere in the lawsuit, the U said it has spent at least $3 million investigating the site.

DuPont and the United States both filed multiple countersuits, saying the site was eligible for assistance through the federal Superfund law. The United States also filed a counterclaim saying the U breached contracts that stated it would hold the federal government harmless for any liability related to pollution.

Higgins said the U has already gathered a trove of data about the site and is still working on a risk assessment and feasibility study of possible cleanup methods.

The easiest way to clean up contaminated soil near the surface is to excavate and remove it, Higgins said. From there, contaminants can be burned off "by applying tremendous heat" or the soil can be taken to a landfill approved to take hazardous waste.

"It's my hope that we eventually can delist it from the state Superfund [list]," Higgins said, adding that the consent decree is a "net positive for everybody."

More development planned?

Dakota County Commissioner Bill Droste, who served as Rosemount's mayor for two decades, called the proposed settlement "a good thing," noting that next year will mark 80 years since WWII ended. There were once 900 buildings on-site; many still remain on the east side of UMore in the form of concrete structures and foundations, he said.

Rosemount City Administrator Logan Martin said, "We've always wanted to see UMore get addressed as needed and I think it's wonderful to see it happen."

Martin said he hopes the proposed settlement could make way for more development of the land, if that's the U's vision.

The U recently sold off UMore land for two big projects: Amber Fields, a 479-acre housing development that borders Dakota County Technical College and is south of 145th Street E., and the Meta data center, slated for 280 acres in the property's northeast section.
Settlement reached with company that disposed millions of gallons of waste in Jackson's sewers

A waste-hauling company that took part in a scheme to illegally dispose of millions of gallons of industrial waste into Jackson's sewer system has settled with the city.

The company in question, Partridge-Sibley Industrial Services, has agreed to settle with the city for $630,000. The Jackson City Council will vote on whether to approve the settlement during their Tuesday meeting.

Three defendants associated with Partridge-Sibley were also named in the city's complaint. Those defendants include Justin Mahfouz, Louie Garrett and Charles Carroll Partridge, the executor of the estate of Donald Richard Partridge who died in March. It is unclear what each of the defendants positions are in the company.

Partridge-Sibley is just one of three companies the city has sued, alleging they took part in consistently dumping corrosive waste into the sewer system. The two other companies are Gold Coast Commodities, a fats and oils refinery in Brandon, and Rebel High Velocity Sewer Services, based in Jackson.

Raw sewage spills onto Northside Drive, seen here in this August 11, 2022 file photo. The City of Jackson has reached a settlement with Partridge-Sibley, a waste-hauling company, that helped to illegally dump millions of gallons of waste in the city's sewer system, helping to contribute to Jackson's wastewater woes, according to the city's lawsuit.

Where does waste go in Jackson? How Jackson sewage is treated: From the toilet to the Savanna Plant to the Pearl River

A quick look at the scheme

In 2021, the city filed a lawsuit alleging Gold Coast Commodities has "consistently discharged its corrosive waste into the sewer system near its facility, with the waste running into the Jackson sewer system through transmission lines that connect to Jackson's wastewater treatment plants," according to the city's lawsuit obtained by the Clarion Ledger.

According to past Clarion Ledger reporting, city officials previously asserted the untreated waste has damaged the city's infrastructure, helping contribute to Jackson's wastewater woes. The city is currently under a consent decree from the Environmental Protection Agency for violations of the Clean Water Act for overflows of sewage from its pipes across the city and at the Savanna Wastewater Treatment Facility.

"Gold Coast's illegal dumping into the sewer system contributed to the capacity strain and sewage overflows that have plagued the City's wastewater collection and sewer system for many years," the lawsuit states.

Gold Coast, which was investigated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for numerous violations beginning in 2016, brought in Partridge-Sibley to haul the waste away to Rebel High Velocity Sewer Services' facility. The city alleged the companies illegally disposed of the waste into the the sewer system "on hundreds of separate occasions" without a permit or treatment efforts.

"After transporting Gold Coast's waste to the Rebel facility, which was not a permitted waste disposal location, Partridge-Sibley disposed of the waste into the public sewer at an illegal discharge point," the lawsuit states.

Fixing Jackson's sewers: Ted Henifin to lead team in charge of Jackson sewer

The City of Brandon also filed a lawsuit against Gold Coast in 2018.

In January 2021, Andrew Walker, the owner of Rebel High Velocity Sewer Services, admitted to having illegally discharged 3 million gallons of industrial waste into the Jackson Sewer System in an effort to avoid the expense of treating the waste. It's unclear if Walker has been sentenced as no record is on file.

Gold Coast's president, Thomas Douglas, plant manager, John Welch Sr. and vice president, Robert David Douglas, have also all been indicted.

Jackson ward boundaries set to change: Jackson residents frustrated over lack of community input regarding redistricting. See more

How Gold Coast produces waste

In operation since 1983, Gold Coast Commodities refines various agricultural products and makes them into fats and oils. Among other applications, the fats and oils are used for industrial processing, animal feed and biofuels.

Gold Coast also refines used cooking oil purchased from restaurants and food processing facilities. The refining process involves using sulfuric acid to split soap stock into its oil and water component parts. The fatty acid or oil phase can then be sold as a biofuel or animal feed ingredient, while the acid water phase must be properly disposed of as an industrial waste, according to past Clarion Ledger reporting.

The refinement process creates a byproduct that produces thousands of gallons of acidic and highly-corrosive wastewater every week, according to the city's lawsuit. If the wastewater isn't kept at an extremely high temperature it becomes too thick to flow at normal temperatures, which could lead to blockages if not disposed of properly.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS reaches settlement with company that dumped waste into sewers
ISLAMABAD, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The month of June in Pakistan saw the least number of militant attacks in 2024 so far, resulting in fewer deaths and injuries, a local think-tank has said.

The militants carried out 69 attacks across the country during last month, which caused 60 deaths, including 33 security forces personnel, 26 civilians, and one militant, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said in a report on Monday.

Additionally, 65 people were injured, comprising 33 civilians, 31 security forces personnel, and one militant, the figures showed.

In comparison to May, there was a 20 percent decline in militant attacks, a 33 percent fall in resultant deaths and a 25 percent decrease in injuries, it added.

In the first six months of the year, Pakistan faced 478 attacks with 474 deaths and 539 people injured, the report noted.

During the same period in 2023, the South Asian country witnessed 271 attacks, resulting in 391 deaths and 656 injuries, according to official data. 
Credit - Getty Images/iStock

Dozens aboard an Air Europa flight from Spain to Uruguay on Monday were injured from severe turbulence, and the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Brazil, marking the second such mid-air crisis since May to make international headlines and see harrowing images make the rounds on social media.

The Spanish airline, in posts on X, said its Flight UX045 bound for Montevideo was diverted to Natal, Brazil, so that passengers who had been injured could be quickly treated.

At least 30 people among the over 300 passengers on board were injured, Brazilian media reported, citing local officials. At least one passenger reportedly suffered fractured ribs, while Natal emergency medical services said others suffered cervical fractures, facial injuries, and chest pain.

Photos and videos, which TIME is unable to verify, believed to be of the aftermath of the turbulence show broken ceiling panels and seats in the plane and ambulances parked on the tarmac to receive injured passengers.

There is also footage circulating of a person apparently stuck above an overhead compartment, with their feet sticking out, as well as of what appears to be the same person later dislodged by fellow passengers.

A person was left hanging between the plastic roof and the metal roof that is behind it, and they had to be brought down. The same thing happened to a baby, Evangelina Saravia, a passenger, told Spanish-language news channel Telemundo. She added that, after passengers were warned of turbulence and told to fasten their seatbelts, they experienced about 20 minutes of minimal turbulence. But as people started relaxing, walking around or sleeping without seatbelts, it was like we entered an air well. Another passenger told Telemundo that the cabin was filled with screams and the smell of blood.

The accident aboard Flight UX045 comes just weeks after a Singapore Airlines flight was similarly disrupted by severe turbulence on May 21, forcing the aircraft flying from London to Singapore to emergency land in Bangkok. Dozens were hospitalizedincluding with brain and spinal cord injuriesand one man died of a suspected heart attack.

Read More: Investigation Reveals Terrifying Five Seconds in Timeline of Turbulent Singapore Airlines Flight

Understanding turbulence and its risks

Turbulence refers to irregular air movement caused by a range of factors, such as jet streams, thunderstorms, or hot weatherwhen the earths varied surfaces, ranging from sand to grass to water, are heated unevenly by the sun, the rising of warm air and descending of cool air creates convective currents.

At high altitudes, planes can run into clear-air turbulence, which is dangerously invisible to the eye and to radars, often striking with no warning. You obviously cant see it. But when you hit it, its an abrupt drop, a former pilot told Mashable of what clear-air turbulence feels like.

Depending on its severity, the effects of turbulence can range from slight bumpiness to structural damage to the plane.

According to the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research, about 65,000 flights in the U.S. experience moderate turbulence in a year, while about 5,500 experience severe turbulence.

Read More: These Are the Worlds Busiest Flight Routes and Airports

But despite the recent headlines, injuries are actually quite rare. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees the flight travel of millions of passengers every day, 163 people, including crew members, suffered serious injuries (defined as hospitalization for over 48 hours, fractures, severe hemorrhages, or burns) from turbulence from 2009 to 2022.

Whether from wear and tear to aircraft, flight delays, or injuriesturbulence is estimated to cost the U.S. aviation industry between $150 to $500 million annually.

Things are likely, however, to get worse.

Scientists have found that warming air temperatures from climate change have exacerbated turbulence: the annual duration of severe turbulence has increased by 55% over the last 40 years, with the North Atlantic charting the biggest increases.

Responding to turbulence

Aviation companies have their own protocol to ensure safety when dealing with turbulence. Airbus recommends, among other measures, that pilots remove loose objects from the cockpit and keep the plane on autopilot during severe turbulence, since the mode is designed to cope with turbulence and will keep the aircraft close to the intended flight path without the risk of overcorrection.

In the wake of its high-profile turbulence episode, Singapore Airlines changed its in-flight rules to suspend meal services when the seatbelt sign is on, expanding upon an existing policy of withholding hot beverages, and to require crew members to also be seated and strapped in when passengers are asked to do so.

Researchers have recommended improving existing turbulence detection and forecasting systems so that flight crews and passengers can avoid bumpy rides.

At the individual level, passengers can take precautions such as keeping their seat belts fastened (even when the sign is off) and stowing away their personal belongings. And if you find yourself away from your seat when turbulence hits, its recommended to head to the nearest open seat and avoid the aisle and galley where falling luggage or equipment could hit you.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Sharks, jellyfish and rip currents, oh my! How safe is ocean for July 4 in Myrtle Beach area

For many in the Myrtle Beach area, Fourth of July means a day to take in the sun and waves at the beach.

But with elevated rip currents, Portuguese Man o Wars washing up on the beach and a shark sighting that cleared the waters, the ocean recently has had beach officials and swimmers on their toes.

With the upcoming holiday weekend, heres what you can expect on the sand and in the surf.

Surf conditions

Beachgoers may deal with rip currents and large swells on July 4, said Beach Service Ltd. Supervisor Alec Betts in a text to The Sun News.

There is a moderate threat, although it can be difficult to predict rip currents, especially with Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, said Betts and Stephen Keebler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Ocean conditions change often, so check again before entering the water.

When waves wash up against the shore, the water, as its leaving the beach, can congregate and create a strong stream going back into the ocean. This is called a rip current, or, a riptide.

One way to tell if youre in a rip tide is if you are swimming toward the shore and getting tired without making progress. Try swimming sideways to escape the flow. If you cant escape, float or tread water and wave or yell for help.

Myrtle Beach dealt with high rip currents the week of June 20, The Sun News reported.

 High risk of rip currents continues today at east-facing beaches in the area, with a moderate rip risk in Brunswick county. Today is expected to be the last day of high rip risk for our beaches. #BeachSafety #ncwx #scwx https://t.co/QnRDXWuF6x pic.twitter.com/lXUO7uYpaN  NWS Wilmington, NC (@NWSWilmingtonNC) June 21, 2024

Dangerous sea creatures

In June, man o wars made appearances in the Grand Strand, being spotted on the beaches from North Myrtle Beach to Georgetown. North Myrtle Beach found around 20 on the beach during the last week of June, said Monty Reed, North Myrtle Beach beach patrol manager, in an email.

Reed said he hadnt seen any Sunday or Monday but Facebook posts show man o wars are still in the Myrtle Beach area.

Man o war on the beach near 62nd Avenue in Myrtle Beach sent in by a reader.

The jellyfish-like animal doesnt appear in the Myrtle Beach area very often but sometimes strong winds blow them in. Man o wars have a body similar to a balloon that sits on top of the water and stingers up to 20 feet long. They leave a very painful sting, so keep a distance and do not touch one, even if its dead.

If stung, remove any tentacles with tweezers and rinse the area with hot water or seawater for around 20 minutes, Surfer Today recommends. Over the counter medications and hot compresses also can help with the pain. If things escalate, such as having trouble breathing, chest pains, or any other complications, get to a hospital.

There have also been four stings from stingrays since Memorial Day, Betts said. This is high as Beach Services Ltd. usually sees four to six stings a summer. Betts recommends to shuffle your feet when in the water to scare them away.

A shark was spotted near the shore in Cherry Grove in North Myrtle Beach the last week of June, but that is normal, Reed said. South Carolina usually sees four shark bites a year, but hasnt had a shark fatality since the 1840s, The Sun News reported.

Bait balls, a tactic used by fish when they are in open water and sense a predator nearby, have been seen near the shore in the Myrtle Beach area. The bait balls appear as black blobs and are a sign that animals, such as sharks, are close.

Safety tips

Before diving into the water, take a look at the lifeguards flags. A green flag means theres low risks, a yellow flag means moderate and red means there is a high surf or strong currents, according to North Myrtle Beach.

A double red flag means to stay out of the water and a purple flag means theres dangerous marine life nearby.

Garrett Watts, owner of Beach Services Ltd., recommends beachgoers go no further than waist deep into the water and swim near a lifeguard. Its also smart to check-in with the lifeguard when arriving to get the most up-to-date information on water conditions, Betts said in a text.
She lost her restaurant lease in June. But after a feverish search, shes found a new spot

It took her a few weeks and a frenzied search full of dead ends, but Bann Thai owner Wanwaree Jackson has found a space to reopen her Thai restaurant, which closed on June 15.

On Monday, she signed a lease at Maize Center, the strip center at 5255 N. Maize Road in Maize. Shes hoping that in a few weeks she can reopen Bann Thai in the space that Perfect Plate occupied until Kira Watt closed her Wichita-area meal prep businesses early this year.

Wanwaree Jackson said she is relieved to have found a new spot for her Bann Thai restaurant.

Jackson said she plans to clean the space this week and move her things in this weekend. She hopes to get the health department out to inspect as soon as possible then reopen the restaurant within a few weeks.

The space, which is at West 53rd North and Maize Road, has about 1,200 square feet and room for eight or nine tables, she said.

Bann Thai left Woodbridge Center at 13th and West in the middle of June.

Bann Thai, known for its spicy fare, had operated at 3911 W. 13th St. for eight years, but Jackson suddenly lost her lease in June. Her fans had just a few days notice before she had to shut down and move out. She told Dining with Denise, though, that she intended to reopen the restaurant as soon as she could find a new spot,

On Monday evening, an excited Jackson shared a photo of the keys to her new place on her Facebook page.

She also shared that a devoted Bann Thai customer had set up a Go Fund Me campaign intended to help her with moving costs, utility initiation fees and other expenses shell incur moving the business. So far, its raised $350 of its $4,000 goal. Its at www.gofundme.com/f/bring-back-bann-thai

Jackson told her supporters on social media that she appreciated all the encouragement as she searched for a new spot for her restaurant.

Thank you so much for all your love and support, she wrote.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 39-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly stealing a pickup truck, crashing it into several properties, and attempting to break into a home early Friday morning, June 28, in Canutillo, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office.

The Sheriffs Office says just after 5 a.m. that Friday, Gabriel Sandoval, 39, stole a pickup truck from a residence located on the 600 block of Brothers. Sandoval then drove the truck and allegedly crashed it into six properties near the area causing damage.

The Sheriffs Office says Sandoval then crashed into a canal area at the intersection of Gillet and Canutillo-La Union and fled the scene on foot.

Sandoval then attempted to break into a house on the 100 block of Kelly Way where he was arrested, according to the Sheriffs Office.

The Sheriffs Office says they received multiple calls on the incidents and were able to take Sandoval into custody.

Sandoval was also wanted on several outstanding warrants with no bond. He was charged with three counts of duty on striking in the state of Texas, theft of vehicle criminal mischief, and criminal trespass (habitation). He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A Sherwood woman will be spending 15 months in prison after being sentenced on money laundering charges Monday.

The charges stem from Feb. 2021 when 63-year-old Karen Hoskins son Brian Jeffery Litton and eight others were indicted on conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other charges.

Little Rock man given 20 years in federal prison after setting fire to two coffee shops

Litton was released to home detention with electronic monitoring with the condition that he reside in Arkansas and maintain regular contact with his probation officer and defense attorney.

Officials said in May Litton failed to report to his probation officer and defense counsel and his whereabouts were unknown. He was then declared a fugitive and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Later that month, Hoskins denied knowing Littons location and returned his electronic monitoring equipment, telling officials he had removed the equipment and was missing.

In August, Litton was found to be living in a wooded area of Pulaski County and Hoskins was spotted meeting with him in this location.

North Little Rock felon gets 15-plus years for firearm possession in Little Rock federal court

During the investigation, officials learned that Hoskins was engaged in a money laundering scheme with her son in 2020 and 2021 that involved him bringing her money from drug sales that she concealed at her home and used to pay her sons living expenses and bills.

Investigators said that Hoskins used more than $150,000 in drug proceeds to fund her gambling habit.

In October 2021, Hoskins was charged in a superseding indictment with harboring a fugitive and in July 2022, a second superseding indictment was returned charging her with conspiracy to money launder, in addition to five counts of money laundering in connection with her sons drug trafficking activity.

Two executives sentenced in bribery, embezzlement scheme that has placed several Arkansas lawmakers in federal prison

Hoskins pleaded guilty in Aug. 2023 to one count of money laundering.

In addition to 15 months in prison, Hoskins was also sentenced to two years of supervised release, and she was ordered to pay a money judgement in the amount of $200,000 as part of the plea agreement.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Oklahoma Veterans Commission announced Monday the selection of another retired admiral to head the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, an agency embroiled in controversy since 2023.

The Oklahoma Veterans Commission announced on Monday the appointment of Rear Admiral James (Jay) Bynum, USN (Ret.) as the new Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Bynum will officially begin his role on August 1, 2024.

Retired Rear Adm. James (Jay) Bynum will assume his duties Aug. 1, succeeding retired Rear Adm. Greg Slavonic, who will be leaving after leading the veterans agency since March 2023.

In announcing the appointment, the commission said Bynum would bring "a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to serving the veteran community" after three decades of operational leadership, government finance, data analytics and congressional relations experience.

Earlier the commission had said it received nearly 50 applicants for the position and interviewed half a dozen in person. Slavonic announced his intention to retire in April, but agreed to remain in his post until a successor was found.

Greg Slavonic, executive director of Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, is pictured June 28, 2023, at his office in Oklahoma City. He is retiring.

Slavonic was named to head the agency after a 2023 conflict between Joel Kintsel, then its executive director, and Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Kintsel, who had run unsuccessfully against Stitt in the 2022 Republican primary for governor, was fired after a dispute over appointments to the Veterans Commission, refusing at one point even to allow commissioners to meet inside the building because he claimed they had been illegally appointed by the governor.

Four of the nine commission positions remain unfilled.

Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs in legal battle with contractors over Sallisaw veterans facility

During the same time period it became known that a new veterans facility being constructed in Sallisaw would not open on time and would require extensive modifications because of errors made in the design process. Revisions were estimated to cost more than $20 million.

The agency has filed a lawsuit against two contractors accused of negligence in designing the new 175-bed facility. It said design firm Orcutt Winslow and Cooper Project Advisors were responsible for the multi-million-dollar mistakes that held up completion of the center.

According to the lawsuit filed in Sequoyah County, the department hired Cooper to represent and advise it during the design phase of the project. Orcutt Winslow was hired as a subcontractor under the primary construction contractor, Flintco.

During construction, Flintco reportedly encountered numerous issues with the documents Orcutt Winslow submitted. For example, the lawsuit alleges Orcutt Winslow failed to incorporate the correct fire rating required by building codes.

Orcutt Winslow and Cooper have declined to comment on the lawsuit.

A special appropriation from the state legislature was needed to get construction of the center back on track.

The commission said Bynum's background has included consulting for mid-sized defense engineering and manufacturing companies, and serving as senior fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. He has also held positions at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C., and served as a military legislative assistant/confrere for the staff of the late U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Bynum graduated from the University of Oklahomas Navy ROTC program and earned a Bachelor of Arts in management of information systems at OU. The commission said he completed the Capitol Hill Fellow program at Georgetown University, and received executive education from the Harvard Kennedy School, the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, and the Naval Post Graduate School. He holds subspecialties in financial management and strategy.

His operational assignments include tours with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, VFA-22 and a tour under the services Personnel Exchange Program where he deployed with the U.S. Air Forces 94th Fighter Squadron. He commanded VFA-27, as part of the forward deployed U.S. Naval Forces in Japan, and Carrier Air Wing 3 as part of the Harry S. Truman Strike Group where he deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom respectively.

The department currently operates five facilities for veterans in Claremore, Ardmore, Sulphur, Norman and Lawton. A center in Talihina was recently closed in anticipation of opening the Sallisaw facility this fall.

After a meeting last month, the commission announced it was giving consideration to reducing the number of beds at its facilities throughout the state. A spokesman for the department said the current occupancy rate at state homes was less than 77% against a goal of 90%.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs names new director
The News

The next Republican Party platform will be written behind closed doors.

In a break from decades-long precedent, reporters and spectators will not be allowed to watch next weeks party platform committee proceedings in Milwaukee. C-SPAN, which has previously broadcast the committees work, was never offered access this year, and told that the three-day meeting will be closed to the press.

Its in contrast with the Democratic Party, which will once again stream its platform negotiations, and allow reporters to cover them, and a source of concern from some RNC members who had hoped to watch or participate in the first revision of the platform since the end of Roe v. Wade.

While an RNC spokesperson said that guest passes will be available, and all RNC members will be able to view the platform committees work, emails seen by Semafor show some activists being told that committee meetings are only open to members of that particular committee, and not being offered the passes.

That wasnt the case in prior years. Footage from prior RNC platform meetings show rows of committee members making arguments for amendments and language change in front of a sizable public audience.

The lack of transparency is unwelcome, said Oscar Brock, an RNC committeeman from Tennessee. When people operate behind closed doors, you always have to wonder what the outcome is going to be.

Know More

Questions about this years platform have focused largely on potential changes to abortion language. In 2016, the party platform endorsed a bevy of national abortion limits, including legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendments protections apply to children before birth.

Four years later, the party never updated the platform, citing the COVID pandemic and the difficulty of gathering committee members in one place. The full RNC passed a stopgap resolution instead, pledging to enthusiastically support the Presidents America-first agenda.

That eight-year gap makes the platform process more significant this time, since its the first that will incorporate not just the partys current thinking on abortion, but a wide range of issues where Trumps presidency, election loss, and subsequent revival, along with other world events, have influenced its stance.

Anti-abortion activists, frustrated by Donald Trumps promise to leave the issue to the states, have called for strong language to stay in the platform. Watering down the GOP platforms stance on life would entail an abandonment of its defense of the human dignity of all people, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of SBA Pro-Life America, in a statement to CNN last month.

When activists asked for access to this years meeting, some learned that there would be no access. The decision to keep spectators and media out of the room, at Milwaukees Baird Center, was reported last week by the New York Times.

I was on the committee in 1992, and Phyllis Schlafly was there on behalf of Eagle Forum, Iowa RNC committeeman Steve Scheffler recalled in an interview. They couldnt participate, but they could advocate for their position during breaks. Its a little bit concerning, why that wont be allowed.

Davids view

Party platforms are interesting for historians, activists, reporters, and typically no one else. If a campaign is being asked about them, its usually a problem.

If Gaza ceasefire protesters make themselves heard during the Democrats platform meetings, well all see it, as we saw the Sanders/Clinton factions fight over details in 2016. If anti-abortion activists want to tell the RNC to keep its personhood language, we wont  and they might not be able to, anyway.

The Trump-era RNC has taken numerous steps, for years, to keep internal party business out of the news. The press has very limited access to regularly-scheduled party meetings, though reporters show up and work sources anyway. The decision to pull curtains around the platform wont stop coverage of whats in it, but it will prevent the real-time drama of prior years.

Thats intentional. In a memo distributed on the day of the Trump-Biden CNN debate, Trump campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles urged the RNC to write a streamlined platform, not an unnecessarily verbose treatise that could be picked apart by pundits.

For decades, Republicans have published textbook-long platforms that are scrutinized and intentionally misrepresented by our political opponents, LaCivita and Wiles wrote. The mainstream media uses their bully pulpit to perpetuate lies and misrepresentations, and the voters are often left believing we stand for something different than we actually do.

They did not cite examples in the memo, but in 2016, the committees tweak to language about defending Ukraine generated bad headlines; well into 2018, it was inspiring questions from a special counsel. In 2020, the decision to punt on the platform inspired some embarrassing coverage, but not too much.

The takeaway, however, was that platforms could be unnecessary distractions  and that the medias desire for details about a second Trump term should be fed rarely and cautiously. After a string of high-profile New York Times stories looked at Project 2025, a conservative effort to write an agenda for the next administration and to help staff it, Wiles and LaCivita said that none of these groups or individuals speak for President Trump or his campaign.

That was before the debate, and a news cycle that drowned out all other coverage of Trump and Biden. Democrats will continue to accuse Republicans of risking abortion access and considering a national ban, whatever Trump or the platform says. The activists protesting changes to the platform wont have a live TV audience. But the iron law of meetings is that anything happening behind closed doors is more interesting, and news-worthy, than anything happening in front of them.

The View From Democrats

Theyre bringing the platform committee together on July 16, and asking for citizen input on a new DNC portal ahead of time,

Well be able to hear from more Americans and receive more input than ever before as we chart the road to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, DNC chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement. Well build a platform that is rooted in the collective experience of Americans and mobilize people to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in November.

Notable

In National Review, Tim Chapman writes that the platform must be fought for and defended every four years at the Republican convention, and that the social conservative wins in 2016  including language condemning abortion and same-sex marriage  should be protected.
Various coins and cultural relics exhibits of Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) are displayed at the Jin Shangjing History Museum in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Tang Tiefu)

HARBIN, July 2 (Xinhua) -- At the Jin Shangjing History Museum in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, a gleaming thumb-sized silver coin attracts curious visitors. With unique curved edges unlike other Chinese and Western coins, the silver money in the shape of a double-bit ax tells its remarkable history.

The silver money minted by the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) government was the first official currency made of silver in Chinese history, said Hu Zhiyuan, director of the interpretation department of the museum.

The engraved traditional Chinese characters on the silver indicated its information, with "Cheng'an" representing the name of the era (1196-1200) and "Baohuo" meaning currency, said Hu.

The institutions in charge of forging money and its central government management agency were also inscribed on the silver.

Hu said the piece's unique appearance and its Chinese inscription reflected the influence of traditional Chinese culture in the Jin Dynasty, showcasing the integration of different ethnic cultures during its century-long reign.

The Jin Dynasty, founded by the Jurchen people, ruled over northern and northeastern China, coexisting with the Song, Liao, Yuan, and Western Xia regimes that controlled parts of the country during the historical period.

Hu explained that the Jurchens initially lived by fishing and hunting and bartered within their tribes for a long time. However, as trade between the three peoples grew, they soon began using bronze coins from the Liao and Song dynasties ruled by the Khitan and Han people.

In 1125, after the Jin regime overthrew the Liao regime and advanced southward into the Song territory, a significant influx of currency and craftsmen from the southern part of China reached Jin's heartland, leaving profound impacts on its own monetary system, according to Hu, adding that the shape and the layout of the Chinese inscriptions of some coins from the Song and the Jin dynasties are similar -- another sign of ethnic integration.

Hu said that during the century-long interactions between the Song and Jin dynasties, peace prevailed for over 60 years, with the trade of fur, ginseng, tea, and textiles flourishing through designated border markets. Peculiar silver coins and ingots of the Jin Dynasty were used and then carried across China.

"Through such ingots discovered in what is Lintong District now in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, researchers can see close economic and trade exchanges between the Jurchen and other ethnic groups in different regions of China," said Hu.

As the ice and snow resources have brought more and more tourists to Harbin, an increasing number of visitors are flocking to the museum, delving into the lesser-known stories of the Jurchen and other northern Chinese ethnic groups through these relics.

Mu Changqing, deputy director of the museum's cultural relics preservation department, said the museum welcomed nearly 180,000 visitors from January to June this year, with a maximum of 15,023 visitors in a single day.

The museum plans to provide multimedia displays, replicate historical scenes, and organize educational lectures so visitors can better learn about the history of the Jin Dynasty and the cultures of different ethnic groups. 

A coin container of Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) is displayed at the Jin Shangjing History Museum in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 26, 2024.(Xinhua/Tang Tiefu)

The "Cheng'an Baohuo" silver coin (in red) of Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) is displayed at the Jin Shangjing History Museum in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 26, 2024.(Xinhua/Tang Tiefu)

Ancient copper coins of Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) named Zhenglong Yuanbao are displayed at the Jin Shangjing History Museum in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 26, 2024.(Xinhua/Tang Tiefu)

The "Cheng'an Baohuo" silver coin of Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) is displayed at the Jin Shangjing History Museum in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 26, 2024.(Xinhua/Yang Xuan)
Hurricane Beryl shattered records as it unleashed its fury across the Windward Islands, leaving behind a trail of destruction unprecedented for this point in the hurricane season. The monstrous storm made landfall on Carriacou at 11 a.m. EDT Monday as a Category 4 with winds of 140, the first time a hurricane has made landfall on the island since recordkeeping began in the 1850s. Beryl strengthened into a rare Category 5 hurricane early Monday night after passing over the islands.

At least six fatalities have been reported in the wake of the powerful storm, including three in Grenada, another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and two people in northern Venezuela, according to The Associated Press. Officials warned the death toll could rise in the coming days.

Intense winds ripped apart buildings and snapped trees in Carriacou, Grenada, during the height of the hurricane late Sunday night and early Monday.

Conditions started to improve late Monday as Beryl shifted over the Caribbean Sea, allowing people across the islands to assess the destruction.

"The situation is grim," Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told a news conference Tuesday, according to the AP. "There is no power, and there is almost complete destruction of homes and buildings on the island."

Boats were strewn across Barbados's shorelines, where winds and storm surge carried them inland, leaving them aground as the storm waters receded. Roads were also cluttered with debris, making travel to remote areas a monumental task.

Hurricane Beryl continues to charge across the Caribbean and is expected to swipe Jamaica at midweek before arriving in Mexico before the weekend. AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the storm could then track across the Gulf of Mexico and impact parts of the United States.
The Lost Valley Farm was located in this area in Morrow County. (Brian Posewitz/WaterWatch of Oregon)

Oregons factory farms jeopardize our access to fresh air and clean water, our land and our communities.

Thats why Food & Water Watch and our allies in the Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition successfully pressured the Department of Agriculture six years ago to shut down Lost Valley Farms, one of Oregons most notorious mega-dairy polluters. Lost Valley, which was slated to confine 30,000 dairy cows, racked up over 200 environmental violations in just 18 months. The operation failed to provide workers with clean water or working bathrooms, cows were found standing ankle-deep in their own waste and the nitrates stemming from mishandled manure further jeopardized the groundwater used by nearby communities.

After the Lost Valley disaster, the site was quickly sold to the Easterday family, which attempted to reopen the mega-dairy. Like Lost Valley, they were quickly embroiled in scandal, including Cody Easterday being sued by Tyson Foods for fleecing more than $200 million, and the site racked up dozens of water quality violations.

Unable to obtain full permitting, the operation was again sold in 2023. Now the site sits inactive, but we mustnt let our guard down. The threat of another entity applying for a new permit to reopen the problematic operation is bigger than ever.

This site is located in Morrow County, home to two-thirds of our states Latinx population, where throughout three decades of state inaction residents have been continuously raising the alarms over dangerously high nitrate contamination. While no community deserves to live near a factory farm, the perpetual threat of another mega-dairy in an area already burdened with nitrate contamination is a serious issue of environmental justice. Oregonians deserve better.

Along with the Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition, we have achieved several victories since the battles against Lost Valley and Easterday. Most notably, we helped establish a key law, Senate Bill 85, that increases local control over factory farm siting, limits water waste by capping the stockwater exemption loophole and requires stronger protections for water quality near factory farms.

Using this new authority, Linn County has already enacted property setbacks prohibiting mega-poultry farms from opening up within a mile of residential property. Local farmer groups have successfully pressured the Department of Agriculture to reconsider its approval of JS Ranch  a mega-chicken facility also slated to be built in Linn County. Even with these victories, we know there is still a lot of work to be done.

In the years since Lost Valley was shut down, we have watched determined communities in Morrow and Umatilla Counties continue their battle against dangerously high nitrate levels in groundwater stemming in part from the reckless mismanagement of nearby factory farms. We have seen a mega-dairy in Tillamook county spill 300,000 gallons of liquid animal waste into Tillamook Bay. We saw two factory farms in the Willamette Valley slaughter 800,000 chickens after flocks were infected with the highly contagious avian flu. And we have witnessed the heartbreaking decline of family farms coinciding with the expansion of industrialized factory farms; from 2002 to 2022 Oregon lost half its family-scale dairies  a net loss of 620  while mega-dairies doubled in size, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

To be clear, Lost Valley and Easterday are not simply a case of a few bad actors. In fact, the corporate factory farm model requires the exploitation of our land, labor and resources and it inevitably kills family farms.

Six years after we beat Lost Valley, communities across Oregon are still fighting, still demanding our elected officials build on SB 85 and take action to stop the flagrant disregard for our environment, public health and hardworking family farmers. We wont stop until Big Ag is held accountable for the damages inflicted on our communities. Thats why Food & Water Watch and our allies are continuing to call on our legislators to stop the expansion of factory farms and prioritize a sustainable, safe, clean and fair food system that protects family farmers, our land and our communities.

The post Six years later, Oregon advocates call again for fighting factory farms appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
The News

More than 800,000 South Koreans signed a petition calling on parliament to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, crashing the website where it was posted, a lawmaker said on Monday. The petition accuses Yoon of raising tensions with the North to dangerous new levels as well as claims of corruption, including allegedly whitewashing an investigation into a marines death last year. Yoon remains highly unpopular, and his conservative People Power Party underperformed in the countrys most recent parliamentary elections in April. Korean law requires parliament to consider petitions that get more than 50,000 signatures, but its unclear if the opposition Democratic Party will actually try to impeach Yoon.
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Piney Volunteer Fire Department successfully rescued two people stuck in Fall Creek Falls State Park just two days ago last week despite the difficult terrain, high temperatures, and low availability of volunteers.

You just dont realize how the heat and the humidity can affect you especially when you go to the base of Fall Creek Falls. That trail is like four-tenths of a mile that climbs 300 feet, thats pretty exertional, said Tiwanna Bricker with the Piney Volunteer Fire Department.

On Sunday, June 23, the Piney Volunteer Fire Department received word that a hiker was injured at the base of Cane Creek Falls in the Cable Trail area.

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According to the Piney Fire Facebook page, state park rangers found the hiker in the water at the base of the falls suffering from a hip injury.

Bricker was at church at the time and immediately left to help.

I dont know if they understand how much dedication it takes from a regular member to just drop everything in their work [and] family lifethe whole thing to go take care of somebody elses emergency, Bricker said. I had waters in the cooler from a birthday party the previous night that all went down to help take care of the people.

With the help of several other agencies, the crew worked for four hours to move the injured hiker. Bricker said despite conducting rescues like this eight to ten times a year, a 50-person operation like they had last Sunday is rare.

Source: Piney Volunteer Fire Department

This call particularly was difficult because of the patients size. He was over 300 pounds. That required more work, rope work, and then just more people to carry. And then also the heatso our people were just getting exhausted and dehydrated from trying to carry him out, Bricker said.

It took crews approximately four hours to remove the injured hiker and first responders had to take frequent breaks and prioritize hydration to complete the rescue.

Theres no easy carry out. Theres no easy way around. There are no roads into that area, Bricker said.

Dunlap Fire Department, Pikeville Department, Doyle Volunteer Fire Department, White County Office of Emergency Management, Sparta Rescue Squad, Bledsoe County Rescue Squad, Bledsoe County EMA, White County Rescue Squad, Sequatchie County Rescue Squad, and the Mt. Crest Volunteer Fire Department all assisted in the hours-long rescue.

Crews perform second rescue in a week at Fall Creek Falls

Bricker said many of these teams had trained together to tackle calls like these.

Weve been working to foster a close relationship and learn to work on rope training together. And so that works great to have them and then weve all worked together and training scenarios, she said.

The following Tuesday the Piney Fire Department was called out to the park again after a man reportedly fell near the plunge pool at the base of a trail.

Bricker said despite the demands on her and the rest of the team, she is honored to serve her community.

Theres days when youre like okay, Im done. Im just gonna quit. And then you get up the next morning and just go back and do it some morewe just have a great love for our local fire department, our local people and so we just keep working to get better and to take care of them and then that just extends to the citizens that visit the site park thats in our area, Bricker said.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

As the temperatures continue to rise, Bricker is urging people to stay safe on the trail and also reminding visitors its illegal to jump from one of the ledges into the plunge pool below.

However, if anyone is in danger or injured, she is ready to go help.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Up in smoke: North Canton votes against allowing marijuana businesses in community

A display of marijuana tinctures are in seen in a locked display case at the Botanist, a medical marijuana dispensary in Akron.

NORTH CANTON  Marijuana dispensaries aren't welcome in the Dogwood City.

City Council voted 4-3 on Monday to ban them from the community.

Mayor Stephan Wilder is expected to sign the legislation, which takes effect in 30 days.

North Canton joins at least 61 other Ohio municipalities that have approved moratoriums prohibiting adult-use cannabis businesses as of June 13, according to the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. The law school has been tracking the issue statewide as communities decide whether to permit such businesses after Ohio voters approved allowing recreational marijuana last fall.

The four council members who voted to ban marijuana dispensaries were council President Matthew Stroia, Melissa Owens, Jamie McCleaster and Stephanie Werren. Christina Weyrick, Dave Metheney and John Orr voted against the ban.

Orr asked why people who need cannabis for medicinal purposes have to leave the city to buy it.

"I think we're making a big mistake," he said.

Metheney said the city could allow marijuana dispensaries but also require that they pay licensing fees and following zoning and signage rules.

Stroia said that Metheney had taken issue with the city regulating businesses but Metheney was himself suggesting regulations.

Owens argued that the vote by the city's voters last November was very split on approving recreational marijuana. She thought it was better the city take a "pause" before agreeing to allow marijuana dispensaries.

Weyrick said the city years ago banned tattoo parlors. And she knows a woman who had to move her tattoo business to Plain Township, where Weyrick said it is thriving. She said bans against types of businesses such as marijuana dispensaries don't help boost the city's economy.

"Being dry has not served us as well. Not allowing microblading of eyebrows has not served as well," she said.

McCleaster said he was not supportive of allowing dispensaries as long as the state legislature delayed passing legislation deciding how much cities could tax dispensaries.

Stroia said he did not want to allow the sale of a drug in North Canton that was unregulated, especially in terms of THC content.

Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: North Canton council votes against allowing marijuana businesses
Aerial view of the Marine Discovery Center's 22-acre campus in New Smyrna Beach. The center has begun work on a project to create over 300 feet of living shoreline and coastal habitat for plants and animals in part of the Indian River Lagoon south of the center's parking lot.

Joni Mitchell famously lamented in her 1970 environmental anthem "Big Yellow Taxi" that "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot." The Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach is trying to do just the opposite.

The center's project, dubbed "Promoting Paradise and Removing a Parking Lot," aims to remove 13,000 square feet of impervious surfaces in the centers campus and replace them with living shoreline and coastal habitats.

The project restores coastal wetland habitat where concrete and asphalt stood for decades and serves as an expansion of the living shoreline demonstration area, according to the center.

Most of the work will be creating a little over 300 feet of living shoreline along the southwest part of the centers campus, where its biggest parking lot is located.

We have this steep slope of concrete material that was used to kind of keep the sediment in place, said Tess Sailor-Tynes, the centers conservation science coordinator, in an interview. We dug all that out, we maintained the mangroves that have grown up through the (impervious) material, and we are looking to plant about 1,000 different plants, if not a little bit more, in that area.

Last year: New trailhead and trail extension project to add to NSBs Marine Discovery Center

Some of the plant species  all of which are native to the area and serve specific purposes related to their proximity to the water and elevation along the shoreline slope  include grasses, berries, Palmettos, Live Oak trees, Gumbo limbo trees, and more.

All kinds of plants that we are working with that are meant to be in those areas will kind of flourish and create this large area of habitat and a rewilding of that area, Sailor-Tynes said.

Being an example for the community

Work began Friday morning, when volunteers with the center helped put in about 600 plants, according to Sailor-Tynes.

The center will count on the help of more volunteers over the next few weeks to continue the work on the project.

Part of the funds for the project, whose price tag is close to $500,000, came from the Disney Conservation Fund, which has been awarding monies to nonprofits since 2014 for water stewardship efforts, according to the center.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and St. Johns River Water Management District have also provided funds and groundwork for the project, according to Sailor-Tynes.

Local landscaping companies Lindleys Nursery and Justin Kennedy Landscapes are also helping by providing some of the planting materials for the project.

Mangroves in pots ready to join the others growing in the marsh at the Marine Discovery Center, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in New Smyrna Beach.

A lot of moving parts, a lot of big goals, but its going to be a really cool project, Sailor-Tynes said.

Another goal for the project is to incorporate the new shoreline into the center living shoreline demonstration area.

This is an area we first started to establish in the 5-acre salt marsh we restored ten years ago, she added. And this living shoreline demonstration area is an example of what us restoration practitioners do, but also of what homeowners and residents can do to better rewild their properties, while also adding ecological and economic benefits.

Natural defense: Marine Discovery Center's restored salt marsh, projects show resilience after Ian, Nicole

Living shorelines and their grasses, mangroves, oyster and other plant species help protect riverfront properties from rising waters or natural events like hurricanes, Sailor-Tynes explained.

There is a lot going on, she added. We want to make sure that we are doing all that we can to add nature back.

The Marine Discovery Center is located at 520 Barracuda Blvd. in New Smyrna Beach and is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Marine Discovery Center new project to create 300 feet of living shoreline
(Bloomberg) -- Societe Generale SA Chairman Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said Germanys finance minister crossed a line last week by appearing to undermine the independence of the European Central Bank.

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I think its quite shocking, Bini Smaghi, a former ECB Executive Board member, said in an interview in Sintra, Portugal on Tuesday. The treaty says that politicians should seek to avoid putting pressure on the ECB.

Christian Lindner said it could be illegal for the ECB to intervene if the French legislative election triggers a dangerous sell off in the countrys government bonds. President Emmanuel Macrons surprise June 9 decision to call the vote unsettled bond investors, who demanded a wider-yield premium over German debt in an echo of the euro-area crisis more than a decade ago.

The ECB has its own tools, Bini Smaghi said on Bloomberg Television. Clearly there are conditions to these tools.

Lindner had said a strong intervention by the ECB would raise some economic and constitutional questions.

He referred to tools available to the central bank under its Transmission Protection Instrument that have so far only existed as a press release. Their use would also test the German finance minister to see whether all this is still in line with treaty law, he added. Thats why I dont want that.

Bini Smaghi also said:

SocGen is contending with increased market volatility as a result of the elections and in terms of investment, of consumption, behavior of our customers, I think they are waiting to see what the outcome is

The actions of an elected government can differ from pledges while campaigning and politicians are mindful of the turmoil during the brief tenure of Liz Truss as UK Prime Minister

One has to see that the markets are going to make their own discipline in any case and the ECB is there to do what it has to do

The markets have reacted slightly. Were not concerned I would say, clearly the markets are doing their job, theyre assessing risks

The election of governments that are more focused on domestic issues than Europe will make it more difficult to forge closer ties on financial markets, banking, energy and security in the region

Bini Smaghi added that previous challenges of ECB policies have failed in German courts and that the country has several pressing issues to deal with. If I can give any advice to the German finance minister think about your own problems, you have enough I think in Germany, he said.

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ASTANA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China and Kazakhstan have established a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival in Astana for a state visit to Kazakhstan, where he will also attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Chinese president said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and to attend the SCO summit, adding that he, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, conveyed sincere greetings and best wishes to Tokayev and the friendly Kazakh people.

China and Kazakhstan share a long tradition of friendship, Xi noted.

More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road closely connected the two countries, marking the beginning of a history of friendly exchanges, he said.

Over the past 32 years since China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic ties, the relationship has withstood the test of time and the vicissitudes of the international landscape, evolving into a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi added.

He also said that the everlasting friendship of the two nations has grown stronger over time, and set an example of solidarity, mutual benefit, and mutual success between neighboring countries.

Xi recalled that 11 years ago, he first put forward the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan, adding that today, Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has yielded fruitful results.

Two-way economic and trade cooperation has reached new highs, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have featured numerous highlights, and the two sides' international cooperation has been close and efficient, which has not only improved the well-being of the two peoples, but also injected more stability and positive energy into the international and regional situation, Xi added.

He said that during the visit, he will have talks with President Tokayev and have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Kazakhstan relations, all-round cooperation and other international and regional issues of common concern, in a bid to make new plans and arrangements for the development of China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi also said that he looks forward to attending the SCO summit, and discussing with all parties the future of the organization and ways to advance cooperation, so as to achieve new and greater progress for this important multilateral mechanism. 
TEL AVIV, IsraelA 28-page document that lays out the clearest plan for postwar Gaza to date has circulated at the highest level of Israels security apparatus. In the proposal obtained by The Dispatch, a team of researchers looked to the past to chart out a better future for the war-torn Strip.

The draft proposal, which has not yet been made public, seeks to tackle perhaps the most difficult question facing Israeli decision-makers today: how to create the conditions for Gaza to exist peacefully alongside the state of Israel. To do so, Israeli researchers Netta Barak-Corren of Hebrew University, Danny Orbach of Hebrew University, Netanel Flamer of Bar-Ilan University, and Harel Chorev-Halewa of Tel Aviv University analyzed historical examples of military occupation and attempted societal transformation to learn from the successes and failures.

Though the academics findings were first distributed to government officials in February, momentum for such a plan has built in recent weeksparticularly as Israeli forces fight to prevent Hamas from resurfacing in areas of Gaza that were previously cleared. While its unclear how the document is being received, it has reached the top echelon of the Israeli government and military.

Calls for a postwar plan for Gaza, which has seen widespread destruction and tens of thousands of deaths from the nearly nine-month war between Israel and Hamas, have increased recently as negotiations for a ceasefire and return of Israeli hostages stalled. During Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallants trip to Washington last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel to come up with a reconstruction and security blueprint for Gaza and its 2.3 million residents.

If we dont bring something else to Gaza, at the end of the day we will get Hamas, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, warned last month.

And that day after could come sooner than previously thought. As Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal noted in a recent report, Hamas has now lost 95 percent of its rocket arsenal, most of its smuggling routes, and all of its munitions-production capacity. An estimated 35 percent of the terrorist groups fighters have been killed, while an even larger portion have been injured and taken off the battlefield. The time to plan for Gaza after Hamas is now, argues the team of Israeli researchers that includes a pair of Middle East experts, a military historian, and a legal scholar.

The paper, From a Murderous Ideology to a Moderate Society: Transforming and Rebuilding Gaza After Hamas, outlines a series of pragmatic steps that must be taken to reform a society shaped by its terrorist sovereigns for more than 15 years.

Israels ability to achieve its goals depends not only on the military and political campaign going on today, but also on its ability to facilitate rebuilding and transforming a nation that was led by a murderous ideology, the document asserts, such that it will grow stable institutions and an Arab culture that does not educate for jihad and that reconciles with the existence of Israel as a state.

Though the report doesnt wade into military strategy, its starting condition is clear and controversial: the total defeat of Hamas. Rehabilitation under fire isnt possible, with the authors pointing to the historical examples of the U.S. campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Iraq, U.S. forces early failure to secure the borders allowed for the flow of jihadists into the country, with those fighters eventually backed by locals disillusioned by the lengthy American occupation. The Obama administrations 2011 military withdrawal amid that instability worsened the situation, fueling sectarian conflicts and eventually creating the conditions for the Islamic State to win supporters and conquer territory.

A similar vacuum in Gaza could prove disastrous for Israel, as it did after Jerusalem pulled its forces and settlements from the Strip following a wave of terror attacks in 2005. Hamas launched a bloody civil war to oust the Palestinian Authority just two years later and has used the territory as a launch pad for attacks on Israel ever since.

It should be expected that even in the best case, any governmental structure in Gaza will require guidance, security intervention from time to time, and even assistance from Israel and other partner countries, the report notes. The idea that it is possible to abandon Gaza and throw the keys to the sea proved to be a disaster already in the years after the disengagement and is also a dangerous illusion today.

The U.S.s phased withdrawal from Afghanistan, likewise, expedited the collapse of the American-supported government in Kabul. By broadcasting to the Taliban the date by which U.S. forces planned to depart, Washington empowered the jihadist fighters and undermined morale among its own allies. Thus the reports authors recommend measuring progress in Gazas reform process by achievements, rather than setting a strict timeline for occupation forces eventual withdrawal.

If you want the reform efforts to be successful, you need to focus on achieving qualitative measures and not adhering to a strict timeline, Barak-Corren, one of the papers authors and a legal scholar whose work focuses on conflict resolution, told The Dispatch. Otherwise, your allies know that you are going to abandon them at that time point and they will not have anyone to rely on, and your enemies know that they just need to survive and prepare themselves for your departure.

Unsuccessful U.S. efforts to transform Iraq and Afghanistan into liberal democracies should also serve as cautionary tales for Israel, the researchers argue. The key to change is some continuity, the report notes, arguing that Gaza should maintain aspects of its cultural character. But it also concedes the difficulty of achieving deradicalization when religionand in particular, Hamas brand of Islamic fundamentalismplays a central role in Gazan society. The close connection between extremism and religion in Gaza makes it difficult to create an alternative narrative to the Hamas narrative.

But history offers examples of successful religious reforms, even from recent years. In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has led a top-down effort to lessen the role of Wahhabisman ultraconservative form of Sunni Islamin the everyday lives of his people. The shedding of this ideology has included a relaxation of restrictions on women, crackdowns on imams for incitement, and revisions to the curricula taught in schools. Riyadh recently overhauled the countrys textbooks, removing denunciations of Zionism as a racist European movement and references to Israel as an enemy state.

Given Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states steps toward tolerance, the draft proposal advocates for closely involving them in the rehabilitation of Gaza. In particular, it envisions heavy Arab state participation in reworking its education system and religious order in a way that promotes peace but maintains the societys cultural character.

In the short-term, a regional coalition could also help provide for Gazas immediate humanitarian needs, thereby depriving Hamas of the opportunity to reconstitute under the auspices of a civil administration. In the medium- to long-term, the continued involvement of moderate Arab countries is vital for reorienting Gaza away from the Iran-Qatar axis.

Strengthening the defeated regimes ties to the American orbit was a key component in the two reconstruction success stories analyzed by the postwar report: West Germany and Japan after World War II.

The transformation of postwar Germany, which underwent a dramatic deradicalization, hinged on the complete defeat and unconditional surrender of the Nazi regime. For many Germans, the humiliation of World War II undermined the very basis of the dictatorial and fanatical leadership that brought it about. Thus, when the Allies occupied and began the process of rebuilding and reforming Germany, they encountered very little resistance from the local population. While the researchers note a surge in Palestinian support for Hamas post-October 7, they argue that public opinion can change quickly. The terror groups defeat, in particular, could bring about the collapse of its support base.

The German example also demonstrates the effectiveness of a phased occupation, particularly if the end goal of restored sovereignty is always in sight. Allied forces directly occupied Western Germany for five years after the war, after which they moved to an indirect occupation until 1955. From that point onward, Germany resumed its independence while maintaining close security and political ties with the U.S. and its allies thanks to NATO. Allowing the country into the regional fold ensured that it maintained its progress toward becoming a prosperous, Western-oriented liberal democracy.

In Gaza, too, the researchers argue there must be an interim period in which the Strip is run by outside forcespreferably, an international and regional coalition but possibly Israelfollowed by a gradual return to Palestinian management and sovereignty. That end goal may be something the Israeli government is beginning to consider. In an address before a joint session of Congress on July 24, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly expected to announce his support for a pathway to Palestinian statehood in exchange for a deal that would see normalized ties with Saudi Arabia and the release of Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity.

Creating a positive horizon for independence and international acceptance is crucial for gaining buy-in from local populations, according to the researchers proposal. But so is some degree of continuity.

In postwar Japan, in many ways the closest parallel to Gaza today, allowing the emperor to continue his largely ceremonial role lended legitimacy to the U.S. reform efforts. The symbolic figure blessed the process of demilitarization, including through the adoption of a new constitution that enshrined the democratic and pacifist character of the country. The Japanese army and navy were blamed for imperial Japans descent into militarism, just as the authors of the postwar document argue Hamas should be held responsible for the war amid Gazas eventual reconstruction process.

Japan during World War II, under the auspices of an out-of-control army and navy, developed a suicidal, violent military culture of blind sacrifice that in important ways is actually very similar to the jihadi, death cult culture of Hamas, Barak-Corren said. There are also many similarities in the methods: indifference to human suffering, prevalent wartime rape, brutal assassinations both of political opponents and of the enemy. The cruelty of the Japanese army was a very well-known phenomenon during the war.

That makes the Japanese transformation all the more fascinating, because the Japan we know today is pacifist, she added.

Read more at The Dispatch

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DOVER  A Somersworth man is facing charges for allegedly posting an anti-LGBTQ message on the front door of the First Parish Church at 218 Central Ave.

Isaac Santiago, 49, was charged with criminal threatening, a Class A misdemeanor, according to Dover Police Chief William Breault.

The sign was discovered on the morning of June 20, according to police and the Rev. Dana Mann. The sign contained anti-LGBTQ messaging and stated, Be saved today or you will perish in your sins!

Santiago faces the "possibility of an extended term of imprisonment under the state's hate crime statute," police stated in a press release, "specifically alleging this crime was substantially motived towards the victims religion, creed, or sexual orientation."

Isaac Santiago, 49, of Somersworth, has been charged with posting an anti-LGBTQ message at a Dover church.

Dover detectives executed a search warrant at Santiagos residence and later obtained a warrant for his arrest, according to police. Santiago surrendered Tuesday and was released on personal recognizance bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 12 at 8:30 a.m. at the 7th Circuit Court in Dover.

It was not immediately known if Santiago has an attorney.

Dover police ask anyone with information to call the department at 603-742-4646. Tips can also be reported anonymously to the Dover Crimeline at 603-749-6000 or via dovernhcrimeline.org.

First Parish Congregational Church in Dover, New Hampshire.

The church has celebrated same-sex marriages for many years. Mann previously called the incident "an opportunity to open the door to open conversation" and "to affirm that all people are welcome."

This story may be udpated.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Somersworth man charged for anti-LGBTQ message at Dover church
The Supreme Courts striking 63 ruling in Donald Trumps immunity case on Monday means that it will be that much more difficult to use the criminal courts to hold a former president accountable, giving the president more power to act with impunity. The same justices who ruled to jail people who are homeless and sleeping outdoors even if there is no shelter, whose ruling in Dobbs turned millions of peoples abortions into a crime, now say that applying the same criminal justice system to the president as to the voters that elected him threatens the rule of law.

After former President Trump was charged with myriad federal offenses related to his attempts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election, the former presidents legal team contended that he should be immune from prosecution for those acts because he was the president when he committed them. Lower courts disagreed, landing the case before the Supreme Court. This gave the courts Republican-appointed majority an opportunity to redefine presidential immunity, a decision that will have wide-ranging consequences, far beyond Trumps own case: While the president is not completely above the law, the majority ruled, he is mostly above the law when he is acting in official capacity.

Whenever the President wields the enormous power of his office, the majority says, the criminal law (at least presumptively) cannot touch him, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent. This official-acts immunity has no firm grounding in constitutional text, history, or precedent, she added, pointedly citing an argument this same majority-coalition of justices made when ruling in the Dobbs case to overturn Roe v. Wade. After detailing the historic case against absolute presidential immunity, she concluded, again with a citation to Dobbs, It seems history matters to this Court only when it is convenient. The callback to the landmark abortion case is more than just a good little dig. It highlights several abuses of power within the court itself.

In essence, Mondays majority opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts rests on the idea that without expansive immunity protections, the president could not carry out the duties of his office with the necessary bold and unhesitating action. Roberts elaborated the stakes in the majoritys view: A President inclined to take one course of action based on the public interest may instead opt for another, apprehensive that criminal penalties may befall him upon his departure from office. That the public interest might also be served, perhaps, by using the criminal courts to hold the president accountable for attempting a coup, is absent from this opinion.

In her dissent, Sotomayor characterized this as the majority arguing against prosecution in the public interest based on the idea that the president is incapable of navigating the difficult decisions his job requires while staying within the bounds of the law. The same, sincerely, could be said of some of the conservative majority. After reporting by ProPublica uncovered substantial gifts made to Justice Clarence Thomas, including luxury trips with Republican uber-donor and power broker Harlan Crow, public trust in the court sank to record lows. Between that and Dobbs, the calls to hold the court itself accountable have become unignorable, blunted only by the sense that there appear to be few ways to do that meaningfully.

The majority opinion attempts to justify its capacious version of presidential immunity by looking to the Framers design of the Presidency. From this, the majority plucked the notion that exempting the former president from prosecution, far from eroding the rule of law, would be an attack on the power of the presidency, which in turn would threaten our constitutional order, as Justice Thomas put it. Its a circular argumentwe have to reject the law in order to protect it! More so, this destroy to protect line illustrates what the conservative majority wants: the power to make that call always. A majority of this Court, applying an indeterminate test, will pick and choose which laws apply to which Presidents, wrote Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in her dissent. The Court has now declared for the first time in history that the most powerful official in the United States can (under circumstances yet to be fully determined) become a law unto himself. Its a flex hardly unique to this decision: Just last week, in the majority opinion in Loper Bright, the court took power over federal agency regulations away from federal agencies and Congress and moved it to the courts, overturning 40 years of precedent set by its Chevron ruling. Far from the fantasy of the court as some detached umpire, here they demand the power to alter the rules to suit their game.

Todays ruling is yet another facet of what legal journalist Chris Geidner recently called a continued judicial aggrandizement project, whereby the conservatives on the court will gladly blow past precedent when they feel they have the power (and votes) to do so. The era of the Imperial Supreme Court is upon us, Stanford law professor Mark A. Lemley has argued, in which we have seen the court implement the policy preferences of its conservative majority in a new and troubling way: by simultaneously stripping power from every political entity except the Supreme Court itself.

Dobbs was one moment in recent history when this power dynamic was impossible to ignore, as Roe was dispensed by justices who claimed to follow settled law, replaced with a raft of fairy tales about how Roe never should have been decided the way it was in the first placesomething that Trump now loves to parrot when at a loss for anything else to say on abortion. But if Dobbs activated people to push back on the courts power grabs, then Loper Bright, coming just days before the immunity decision, should make the pattern and the stakes very clear: In accruing power, the majority on the court was willing to undermine decades of regulations on everything from greenhouse gas emissions to prescription drug approvals.

Now, in Trump v. United States, the power grab is the substance of the decision. Some of the justices are saying that plainly, for what that is worth: As Jackson concluded, because the risks (and power) the Court has now assumed are intolerable, unwarranted, and plainly antithetical to bedrock constitutional norms, I dissent.
Consider the following hypothetical: You are jailed for two years as you await trial for murder. You are facing the death penalty. You have cancer, which relapsed during your incarceration without access to adequate treatment. And it turns out you were charged based on a false witness confession, which the local prosecutor allegedly destroyed evidence to obscure.

Now imagine suing that prosecutor and being told you have no recourse, because such government employees are entitled to absolute immunity.

This is the backdrop for Justice Sonia Sotomayor's opinion Tuesday arguing that the Supreme Court may need to reevaluate the confines of that legal doctrineabsolute prosecutorial immunitywhich prevents victims of alleged prosecutorial misconduct from getting recourse in the vast majority of circumstances.

The case at issue centers around Nickie Miller, a Kentucky man whom a woman named Natasha Martin implicated in a bizarre murder plot after the government offered her a deal to avoid prison time. The primary issue: She almost immediately sought to recant that confession. Law enforcement wouldn't accept that. So she testified before a grand jury, and then tried to recant again, writing in jailhouse letters to another man she implicated that her statement came in response to "coercive interrogation techniques, threats, and undisclosed promises of consideration."

When Miller's defense team heard about those letters, it tried to obtain them. Martin reportedly asked Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Keith Craycraft how she should comply with the order, to which he allegedly responded that she should destroy the correspondence. She obliged.

The state eventually dropped the charges against Miller. The two years in jail, however, took a toll, according to his criminal defense attorney, who said that his cancer was in remission but recurred after the state locked him up, as he could not access his medication.

After his release, he sued Craycraft; the district court concluded he was entitled to absolute immunity. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit subsequently noted that Craycraft's alleged misconduct was "difficult to justify and seemingly unbecoming of an official entrusted with enforcing the criminal law." And then that court, too, confirmed the grant of absolute immunity, a testament to the sort of behavior the doctrine greenlights with its sweeping inoculation.

Miller has since died, and his estate is continuing the litigation on his behalf.

"Craycraft's alleged misconduct of advising a witness to destroy evidence to thwart a court order is stunning," writes Sotomayor. "If this is what absolute prosecutorial immunity protects, the Court may need to step in to ensure that the doctrine does not exceed its 'quite sparing' bounds."

She also notes that "it is difficult to see how the conduct alleged here, including destruction of evidence to thwart a court orderis 'intimately associated with the judicial phase of the criminal process.'"

That latter quote comes from Imbler v. Pachtman (1976), the precedent in which the Supreme Court announced the doctrine of absolute prosecutorial immunity. A man who had spent years in prison, the Court ruled, could not sue a prosecutor who allegedly withheld evidence that eventually exonerated him.

Plaintiffs may find a rare exception to absolute immunity if they can show a prosecutor committed malfeasance outside the scope of his or her prosecutorial duties. It's a difficult task. Louisiana woman Priscilla Lefebure sued local prosecutor Samuel C. D'Aquilla after he sabotaged her rape case against his colleague in the justice system, Barrett Boeker, then an assistant warden at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.

D'Aquilla, as I wrote in the January 2023 issue of Reason, "declined to present the results of a medical exam that found bruises, redness, and irritation on Lefebure's legs, arms, and cervix. Instead, he offered a police report with his own handwritten notes, which aimed to highlight discrepancies in her story." He also "opted not to call as witnesses the two investigators on the case, the nurse who took Lefebure's rape kit, or the coroner who stored it. And he refused to meet or speak with Lefebure at all, telling local news outlets he was 'uncomfortable' doing so."

Upon evaluating Lefebure's suit, Judge Shelly D. Dick of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana concluded that some of D'Aquilla's actions fell under prosecutorial functions. But his "alleged conduct in failing to request, obtain, and examine the rape kit; making notes on the police report; and failing to interview the Plaintiff prior to the grand jury hearing," she wrote, "were investigative functions for which absolute immunity does not apply." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit later overturned that, ruling that Lefebure didn't have standing.

There are other ways to punish prosecutors for corruption, as they "may still face criminal liability or 'professional discipline,'" Sotomayor notes today. "Yet, these safeguards are effective only if employed."

It's an important caveat. A core part of the Court's justification for absolute immunity is the notion that prosecutors face professional consequences for going rogue. But just as it is rare that a plaintiff can clear the former hurdle, so too is the latter option rarely exercised.

The post Sotomayor Is Right: The Supreme Court Should Reevaluate Absolute Immunity for Prosecutors appeared first on Reason.com.
CHICAGO  Since his widely panned debate performance, prominent Democratic officials have mostly stood behind President Biden in public. But in private, skepticism is growing.

On Monday, Democratic governors discussed Biden on a call organized by Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. A source tells WGN-TV that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker participated in the call. The call was first reported by CNN.

Among those who have gone public with their concerns is Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Illinois).

President Biden has been one of the most successful presidents in my lifetime, he said in a Tuesday interview on CNN This Morning. But obviously the debate night was more than a bad night, and that does have implications for all the elections that take place in November.

Although Quigley is worried Biden might drag down Democrats running for Congress, he said its up to the president whether or not he should stop aside.

This has to be President Bidens decision and his decision alone, he said.

The Hill: Quigley says polling only thing that can change Bidens mind

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) on Tuesday became the first House Democrat to publicly urge Biden to remove himself from the 2024 race. Former Ohio congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Tim Ryan has stated the same. In a Newsweek op-ed, Ryan wrote: I love America. I love our Party. I love Joe Biden. The Democratic Nominee in 2024 should be Kamala Harris.

A new CNN poll finds Harris within striking distance of Republican Donald Trump. In a hypothetical matchup, 47 percent of voters back Trump while 45 percent Harris. And in that same poll, three-quarters of voters say Democrats would have a better shot winning with someone other than Biden at the top of the ticket.





There was strong pushback Tuesday from the White House.

He had a cold and a bad night, said Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. He understands that hes not a young man, obviously, he said that.  He knows how to do the job and he knows how to do the job not because he says it because his record proves it.

To shore up support among anxious party leaders, Biden plans to hold a meeting with Democratic governors on Wednesday, some in person and some virtually. Hes scheduled to do a network TV interview from the campaign trail on Friday.

The campaign and the Democratic National Committee report raising $264 million in the second quarter fundraising period, while former President Trump and Republicans raised $331 million.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A South Bay plastic surgeon accused of murder in connection to a patients death following a botched surgery changed his plea to guilty on Monday in a deal that reduced the charges against him.

Carlos Chacon, 50, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and three medical malpractice charges for the death of 36-year-old Megan Espinoza shortly after undergoing a breast augmentation procedure at his plastic surgery practice in December 2018.

A nurse at the practice, Heather Lang Vass, similarly pleaded guilty in May to involuntary manslaughter in connection to Espinozas death.

Antifa demonstrators involved in 2021 Pacific Beach riot sentenced

Prosecutors with the San Diego County District Attorneys Office said the mother of two went into cardiac arrest during the operation at Divino Plastic Surgery in Bonita, but Chacon did not seek emergency services for her until about three hours later.

During that time, Chacon saw four other patients, prosecutors added. Once her condition worsened, the surgeon phoned other doctors for advice about what to do about Espinoza, prompting paramedics to finally be contacted.

An unlicensed medical assistant was also allegedly who was instructed to inject Espinoza with local anesthesia during the operation. Espinoza died a month after the surgery.

According to a court spokesperson, the surgeon can face up to three years behind bars in a state prison with his guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter. His license to practice medicine will also be suspended indefinitely. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 20.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
An attorney from Alhambra is set to be disbarred after misappropriating nearly $5 million and falsifying bank records.

According to the State Bar of California, Evie Pei Jeang entered a no contest plea related to her case regarding the misappropriation of funds, which is considered to be an admission of culpability based on a stipulation that recommends her disbarment.

Jeangs conduct caused significant harm not only to the parties, including her client whose funds she misappropriated, but also to the court, which along with the parties, had to expend significant resources to untangle the fraud perpetrated by Jeang through her disregard of court orders and her misrepresentations to the parties and the court, Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona said in a statement.

Californias deadliest road is likely one you drive on every day

Jeang admitted that between September 2015 and May 2017, she did not properly maintain $4.8 million in a client trust account as required by a court order issued in August 2015.

Instead of properly disbursing the funds to the two relevant parties, paying capital gains taxes, attorneys fees and other legally required costs, she used much of the funds for personal use and other purposes, all unrelated to the dissolution matter, the State Bar of California said. This included cash withdrawals of over $500,000 and more than $240,000 in credit card payments.

Subsequently, for nearly five years, Jeang misled her client, the opposing party and the court regarding the status of the money, attempting to conceal the misappropriation by producing fabricated bank documents to opposing counsel and to the court purporting to show that she had maintained the funds in her account as required when she had already misappropriated nearly all the funds, the State Bar added.

Camping at this California recreation site could cost more in 2025

After a March 2022 court order requesting a new attorney for Jeangs client, Jeangs bank sent just under $2 million from her trust account to the new attorney, and a week after the receiving the funds, the new attorney filed a complaint with the State Bar upon learning of Jeangs false claims that there was $3.9 million in the trust account.

The parties are still owed nearly $2.5 million, the State Bar noted.

Jeangs disbarment recommendation will now go to the California Supreme Court for a final ruling.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) was charged with a weapons violation last week after she brought a handgun to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, authorities and Spartzs office say.

The incident occurred Friday, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Spartzs office all confirmed to The Hill on Monday.

The TSA  which does not confirm names of passengers  said officers at Dulles Airport detected a .380 caliber firearm during passenger security screening on Friday. The gun, which was found in the travelers carry-on bag, was unloaded, TSA said.

Spartzs office said the congresswoman accidentally brought the empty handgun in her suitcase. She was issued a citation then moved ahead with her trip to Europe for a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Indiana Republicans office said.

Last Friday, Rep. Spartz accidentally carried an empty handgun in her suitcase with no magazine or bullets, which she did not realize was in the pocket of her suitcase, while going through security at Dulles airport. Rep. Spartz was issued a citation and proceeded on her international flight to the OSCE PA meeting in Europe, Spartzs office said.

Spartz, who was first elected to represent Indianas 5th Congressional district in 2020, won the GOP nomination for reelection in May, fending off a conservative primary challenger.

The congresswoman announced last February that she would retire at the end of her current term  opting out of another bid for the House or a run for Indianas open Senate seat  writing in a statement, I need to spend more time with my two high school girls back home.

In February of the next year, however, she reversed course, announcing that she would run for reelection. Spartz is the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress.

The TSA seized 6,737 firearms in 2023, the agency announced in January, marking a record number of guns. The previous year, 6,542 were intercepted at TSA checkpoints.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at a rally for former Vice President Joe Biden in Detroit, March 9, 2020 | Andrew Roth

As President Joe Biden faces a fractious path to reelection, made even more so by his poor debate performance, Gov. Gretchen Whitmers role is now center stage in not only holding the Democratic coalition of voters together, but also energizing them heading into the November election.

That is, unless you believe speculation that she may be on the shortlist to replace Biden, and has had to tamp down any idea of a Draft Gretch campaign, all of which avoids the likelihood that pushing aside Vice President Kamala Harris would shatter the very coalition Whitmer is trying to keep unified.

She is definitely the talk of the town, especially when she dropped her new book on the day of the debate and was in California for a Star-studded debate party, said Andrea Bitely, a GOP consultant and founder of Lansing-based Bitely Communications.

Whitmer, who last year was named a co-chair of Bidens reelection campaign, was also a finalist for the vice presidency in 2020, the very intense process that she discussed with the Advance in May. She and Biden have developed a friendship, with the president being one of the first to call her after the arrest of suspects in the 2020 kidnapping and assassination plot against her. During that interview, Whitmer also vowed to stay governor through the end of her term.

Bitely, who has served in a variety of communications roles, including as a spokesperson for former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, whom Whitmer defeated in the 2018 gubernatorial race, told the Michigan Advance that Whitmer has three paths forward in the fallout from the debate.

In the unlikely scenario that Biden decides to bow out, she is definitely on the shortlist and will have to battle it out on the convention floor against Harris, [California Gov. Gavin] Newsom, and maybe [Pennsylvania Gov. Josh] Shapiro, Bitley said. The second scenario is if Biden wins, she has two years left as governor, but its four years until the next presidential election. Will Biden make her a cabinet member to keep her profile up? Only if she works hard to make sure he wins Michigan. Right now, she is doing everything she can to toe the line.

Bitely says the third scenario is one that would be best for Whitmers long-term political prospects, although not one she would publicly acknowledge: Trump winning in November.

She could then use the last two years of her time as governor fighting with Trump, making herself increasingly visible and his foil. She capitalized on the woman from Michigan comment with fundraising and increased notoriety, I can only imagine how her team would set her up for success during a second Trump term. I would imagine a significant number of lawsuits against the federal government, many Sunday morning [talk show] appearances, time in early primary states and then two solid years to campaign, said Bitely.

Of course, that assessment assumes another Trump term would be a typical presidency, albeit a highly conservative one. But thats an assumption many arent willing to make, especially in light of Mondays Supreme Court ruling that said U.S. presidents enjoy full immunity from criminal charges for their official core constitutional acts, which in a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote makes the president immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate criminal law.

Thats not to mention Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump term that would seek to ban abortion nationwide, restrict access to contraception, force would-be immigrants to be detained in concentration camps, and deploy the U.S. military to quell domestic protests, to name just a few of its goals. And then theres the rhetoric coming from the Trump campaign, and the candidate himself, who has said he doesnt want to be a dictator Except for day one, while also saying if reelected he would have Biden indicted, as well as many of his other political opponents.

Whitmer even referenced those potential actions in her statement supporting Biden the day after the debate.

Donald Trump is a convicted felon whose focus is on Donald Trump. And hes told us what he will do if he gets back into the White House. He will take his attacks on womens reproductive rights even further, try to get rid of the Affordable Care Act and spike families health costs, and send auto jobs to China, she said.

However, she had a much more direct response on Monday to a report in Politico which quoted an unnamed source as saying she told the Biden campaign Michigan was no longer winnable for the president.

Anyone who claims I would say that we cant win Michigan is full of shit. Lets go, she posted, along with a link to her Fight Like Hell federal political action committee (PAC), which she formed last year.

Anyone who claims I would say that we cant win Michigan is full of shit. Lets go. https://t.co/1K5E6K7rJu pic.twitter.com/04c3vGfhO5  Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) July 1, 2024

Also helping dispel the idea that Democrats are in freefall following the debate is the money continuing to flow in from donors.

Charles Gaba is a health care analyst who also raises money for hundreds of Democrats at the state and federal level. He told the Advance that fundraising has spiked since Thursday.

I was averaging around ~$3,000/day for the week or so prior to the debate on Thursday; this jumped to $11K on Thursday night, $16K Friday and over $4K Saturday before a massive $55K yesterday [Sunday], he said in a direct message via X.

Gaba did note that Sunday was both the end of the month and the end of the second quarter, which normally will see increased spending. However, he reported his efforts were up 86% versus this same time four years ago during the 2020 cycle.

Either way, Whitmer remains a political tour de force who Bitely notes has been deployed to key states and in front of key constituencies for not just Bidens campaign, but Democrats across the country.

I just saw something recently with her and Chasten Buttigieg in Milwaukee referencing comments that former President Trump had made about Milwaukee being not a lovely place, said Bitely, referring to the husband of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. That gave us some insight into how much travel shes doing. Wisconsin, like Michigan, is also a swing state. They could elect Trump or they could elect Biden. We dont know what theyre going to do, so her presence in a state like Wisconsin is very telling.

Whitmers appearance at the Out for Biden event followed her participation earlier that day in Madison, Wisc., on a panel discussion on abortion hosted by the Biden-Harris campaign. The discussion also featured fellow Democrat, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. Afterward, Whitmer told reporters that the message she is helping the campaign deliver is that there is only going to be one choice in November to protect reproductive rights for everyone.

If theres a national abortion ban, theres nothing we can do at the state levels, and thats why even in a state like Michigan it is so important that we are continuing to organize and continuing to remind people that Joe Biden is the only person on the ballot who can win the White House and will protect these fundamental rights, she said.

The Wisconsin events were just the latest trips across the country made by Whitmer, including earlier in the week to support local Democrats in Illinois, June 3 in North Carolina, June 8 in El Paso, Texas, to speak at the Texas Democratic Party Convention, and at a coffee shop in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 3 for a Biden-Harris campaign event that included Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a vocal abortion advocate.

Most recently, the governor spoke last week at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado where she weighed in on recent rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court on mifepristone and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), saying some are breathing a sigh of relief, but adding, Theyre temporary. None of this is settled.

And as busy as she has been, some pundits say it needs to be even more.

There are very few politicians of either political party with favorable approval ratings and a national profile, said Adrian Hemond, a Democratic consultant who heads up Lansing-based Grassroots Midwest. Shes the best surrogate the Biden campaign has, and they should frankly use her even more.

Hilarie DeCesare, a regional political director for the Maricopa County Democratic Party in Arizona, attended the Phoenix gathering in April and told the Advance that Whitmer was clearly the headliner for that event.

Thats who everybody was there to see. She was the draw, DeCesare said.

DeCesare added that Whitmers experience in leading Michigan Democrats to victory in 2022 is something of which Democrats across the country have taken note.

I feel like shes really kind of set the blueprint for states like Arizona where we were thrown back recently 160 years to an 1864 abortion ban when women couldnt even vote. We werent even a state; age of consent was 10 years old. So, I appreciated that she came here and shes working to mobilize voters like she did in Michigan, she said.

The blueprint Whitmer laid down for victory in 2022 was largely built around her fierce support of abortion rights, which she articulated to cheers at the Mackinac Policy Conference that year, and was best embodied by her statement on social media that she was fighting like hell for every Michiganders right to abortion. It was also lent a helping hand by a citizen-led redistricting process that voters had approved in 2018 which resulted in more competitive districts, allowing Democrats to retake the Legislature for the first time in nearly 40 years.

She is definitely the talk of the town, especially when she dropped her new book on the day of the debate and was in California for a Star-studded debate party.

 Andrea Bitely, a GOP consultant and founder of Lansing-based Bitely Communications

Whitmer spotlighted the abortion issue last year when she launched the Fight Like Hell political action committee (PAC) to raise money for Democratic candidates who are unapologetic in their fight for working people and their basic freedoms heading into the 2024 election. The PAC gave Whitmer a practical application to funnel support, in the form of money, to key Democratic candidates and help build public support for the Biden-Harris reelection campaign.

Michigan congressional candidates receiving an endorsement through the PAC include U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids), as well as former state Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-Lansing) and Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City). But Whitmer has also branched out to lend her support to candidates outside the state, including U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), Susan Wild (D-Penn.) and Steven Horsford (D-N.V.), as well as U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mon.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.).

The PACs creation also continued to burnish Whitmers reputation as a leading contender for the 2028 presidential campaign, which has only grown since she was among those under consideration to be Bidens 2020 running mate before he selected Harris. There has also been feverish speculation that Whitmer should replace Harris on this years ticket, and even some analysts who contend the only chance Democrats have to win in 2024 is if Whitmer replaces Biden.

Pundits aside, the chances of any change this late in the election season seem, at best, highly unlikely. But that hasnt slowed questions about Whitmers 2028 aspirations  and likely have only served to heighten them.

While she has officially downplayed her 2028 plans, Whitmer has slyly acknowledged them, as she did in March at the annual Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner in Washington, D.C., when she closed her speech by saying, See you in 2029.

At the Aspen Ideas Festival, she was asked point-blank about a 2028 run.

Im making no plans right now and then Ill see what happens next.  I know enough about myself  maybe theres someone Im gonna be excited about. Maybe another scenario. Thats as far as I am down that path, she said.

But the speculation that there is a path to the White House for Whitmer has only been stoked by the planned release next month of her book, True Gretch: What Ive Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between, a traditional step on the list of items used to build a national profile. She told a June 22 New York Times podcast, it was less a memoir, and more of a handbook on how to navigate the negativity of our current political environment and retain a positive outlook.

This is going to be another heavy year, 2024. Sure, its going to feel very dark at times with the political rhetoric and this important election coming up and I thought if I can put some light out into the world right now, maybe you can laugh at my expense or maybe theres a little inspiration here thatll help you get through whatever you were navigating, she said.

In that same podcast, Whitmer was asked about her plans for 2028, noting that she is term-limited and will finish as Michigans governor in 2026. While she demurred from giving a yes or no answer, Whitmer again hinted that as a member of Generation X (she turns 53 in August), she would fit the bill for what kind of president would be needed.

Our parents generation had a lot of excess [Baby Boomers] and certainly I worry about so many of the decisions that were made prior to my kids generation and what they are worried about. And so lm hopeful that we can really move the needle, whether its around bringing down our nations debt or ensuring that we are active when it comes to climate and solidifying and protecting individual rights, she said. These are really the existential issues that my kids generation is worried about, gun violence, etc. So Im hopeful that in 2028 we see a Gen Xer running for the White House. Let someone from my generation  take the mantle.

But for now, sly hints are all Whitmer is giving, as she pours her efforts into getting Biden reelected. According to Fight Like Hell PAC, that has included nearly a dozen events leading up to the Jan. 22 anniversary of Roe v. Wade that was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, in which she laid out the stark difference between Biden and former President Donald Trump on reproductive rights. There also have been at least 30 voter activation events prior to Michigans Feb. 27 presidential primary, as she worked to bring the president a solid victory despite an anti-Biden campaign that targeted his support for Israel in its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

Whitmers PAC says making the case for a second Biden term is absolutely aligned with her determination to keep Michigan on the path charted by the Democratic takeover of the Legislature in 2022.

Whether its lowering insulin costs for Michigan families, bringing back manufacturing jobs and supply chains, or standing up for reproductive freedom, Gov. Whitmer has seen firsthand what a difference it makes when the president of the United States has Michigans back like Joe Biden does. Meanwhile, Donald Trump would ban abortion nationwide if he got the chance, ship auto jobs back to China, and spike families health care costs. Gov. Whitmer is doing everything she can leading up to November to make sure Joe Biden is reelected and can keep helping her deliver for Michigan families, said Helen Hare, a spokesperson for the Fight Like Hell PAC.

Whitmer has also continued to be active in Michigan politics, although her endorsement track record was mixed.

In January, she endorsed two Democrats in special primary elections following the resignation of two members after they won local mayoral races. In the metro Detroit state House districts, Whitmer rallied behind Mai Xiong in the 13th District and Andrea Rutkowski in the 25th District. While Xiong won her primary, Rutkowski lost to Peter Herzberg. Whitmer then endorsed Herzberg, and both he and Xiong went on to win the special general election, which had been called after two House Democrats won mayoral races in their districts. That meant the state House stayed in Democrats hands.

Shes also continued to do more personal voter outreach efforts like her Grillin With Gretchen events that she held during the 2022 campaign across the state. She held her first one for 2024 on Sunday in Lansing, doubling as a Biden-Harris event, designed to talk with and organize voters ahead of the November election.

Bitely says Whitmers get-out-the-vote efforts are absolutely necessary in a year which will not explicitly feature issues like abortion or voting rights on the ballot, as they were in 2022, and to which recent polling has indicated may create a motivation deficit.

Not having a significant ballot initiative on the ballot this go around is definitely changing things and quite honestly is forcing people to work harder to make sure that certain demographics, mostly college-educated women, are actually getting out to vote and theyre not just saying, Oh, Trump and Biden are both terrible candidates. Ill just set it out this year. You have to actively work to remind people how those candidates feel as opposed to the reproductive rights conversation being a major part of that, said Bitely. So having Gretchen Whitmers potential future on the line means that she is going to be out working hard both here in Michigan and in other states where reproductive rights are a big conversation.

Often, however, that conversation revolves around concerns that voters have about Bidens age, which were only heightened by his debate performance. When asked about that issue prior to the debate by the New York Times, Whitmer said that while it was important to acknowledge the essential truth that both candidates are 80ish (Biden is 81; Trump is 78), it was also essential to point out the differences.

President Biden has a record of delivering and thats the kind of leadership I think that we will see for the next four years if hes reelected. On the contrary, the other 80ish-year-old is someone who has not articulated any sort of vision for our country. Someone who has been more about dividing us. Someone who, when they dont like someone, will attack them and mobilize their supporters to threaten them. Someone who has only talked about grievance, and I think people want a leader who is going to make their lives better.

The problem that Democrats have right now in communicating that difference is something that many see Whitmer uniquely qualified to do. DeCesare certainly thinks so, telling the Advance that Whitmers ability to connect on an authentic level on heavy issues like reproductive rights makes her irreplaceable as a campaign advocate.

She personalizes this issue, and in the world of social justice and human rights that Ive been in for quite some time now, we understand, and she understands, that in order to make any progress on any issue, you have to put those who are most affected at the forefront  she said, noting Whitmer has shared her story of being sexually assaulted while in college. Many people have seen this issue as black and white for so long. Either youre for it or youre against it, and I think Gov. Whitmers approach, bringing people in who have experienced this, who can really personalize it for people, is going to motivate people and I think, perhaps change some minds, as well.

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The post As speculation peaks in wake of debate, Whitmer remains a key Biden reelection surrogate appeared first on Michigan Advance.




Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor in Maryland, the United States, Feb. 24, 2024. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking for the majority, dismissed Donald Trump's expansive immunity arguments, stating that Trump is only immune for his actions conducted in an "official" capacity as president.

WASHINGTON, July 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has some immunity from criminal charges for trying to reverse the 2020 election results, which makes a trial before election unlikely.

The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority that includes three justices appointed by Trump himself, voted 6-3 along ideological lines, ordering the lower courts to reconsider the case and determine which allegations cannot be prosecuted.

Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking for the majority, dismissed Trump's expansive immunity arguments, stating that Trump is only immune for his actions conducted in an "official" capacity as president.

"The President is not above the law," the ruling said. "But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts."

"There is no immunity for unofficial acts," the ruling said.

The Supreme Court did not define what qualifies as an official act in this instance, delegating that decision to the lower court.

Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the majority decision.

"It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law," they argued.

Relying on little more than its own "misguided wisdom" about the need for "bold and unhesitating action" by the President, the Court gives former President Trump "all the immunity he asked for and more," they said.

Photo taken on March 4, 2024 shows the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Trump, meanwhile, praised the Supreme Court's ruling. "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY," the former president said on a post on his social networking site Truth Social.

A federal grand jury indicted Trump on four counts for conduct that occurred during his Presidency following the November 2020 election. The indictment alleged that after losing that election to Joe Biden, Trump conspired to overturn it by "spreading knowingly false claims of election fraud" to obstruct the collecting, counting, and certifying of the election results, the ruling noted.

Trump moved to dismiss the indictment based on Presidential immunity, arguing that a President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution.

In February, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit delivered a ruling denying Trump broad immunity from federal prosecution.

Previously, the Supreme Court already received strong disapproval from Democrats for agreeing to hear the Trump case, which delayed a trial that could have started in March.

The extended period the court has taken to address this high-profile case has aided Trump by diminishing the probability that a trial stemming from the charges would conclude before the Nov. 5 election. 
How to spot the newest ATM skimmers uncovered by St. Louis police

How to spot the newest ATM skimmers uncovered by St. Louis police

ST. LOUIS  The latest ATM skimmer device that can clone your bank debit card data is made of thin plastic thats hidden inside the card reader.

I was surprised how small it is, Detective Andre Nikolov, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, said. And that they were homemade.

Nikolov uncovered an alleged crime family connected to the latest device.

A picture of a compromised system shows how hard it is to detect. In one example, you can see a slot in the back where criminals hide a pinhole camera. The camera allows them to record you entering your pin.

Cottleville residents demand answers amid canceled planning meetings

After going through different video, coordinating with different agencies all over the country, we found that it was a Romanian crime family, Nikolov said.

St. Louis has been targeted by Romanian organized crime. Last year, St. Charles police nabbed a group of alleged Romanian jewel thieves. The year before, Arnold police busted a Romanian sleight of hand theft ring.

The latest St. Louis police sting found the Romanian ATM skimmer suspects working out of a short-term rental home in north St. Louis County. Police arrested two people who are now charged. Three others were captured in Texas. Police need your help locating one suspect seen in surveillance pictures. Two other suspects may have left the country.

They also use a lot of fake identification, so their names are different, Nikolov said. They might actually get arrested in one name but thats not actually who they are.

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Police need you to call more than just your bank when you notice a strange charge.

If we dont know about it, we cant hold people accountable for it, Nikolov said.

That includes a small charge, which the detective said could be a warning.

A lot of times what these guys are doing is theyre going to use the ATM and theyre doing inquiries just to see how much money is in there, Nikolov said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
ST. LOUIS (KTVI)  The latest ATM skimmer device that can clone your bank debit card data is made of thin plastic and hidden inside the card reader.

I was surprised how small it is, Detective Andre Nikolov with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department told Nexstars KTVI. And that they were homemade.

Nikolov uncovered an alleged crime family connected to the latest device.

Spotting a card skimmer is hard. Heres how to do it

A picture of a compromised system shows how hard it is to detect. In one example, you can see a slot in the back where criminals hide a pinhole camera. The camera allows them to record you entering your PIN.

After going through different video, coordinating with different agencies all over the country, we found that it was a Romanian crime family, Nikolov said.

St. Louis has been targeted by Romanian organized crime. Last year, St. Charles police nabbed a group of alleged Romanian jewel thieves. The year before, Arnold police busted a Romanian sleight-of-hand theft ring.

The latest St. Louis police sting found the Romanian ATM skimmer suspects working out of a short-term rental home in north St. Louis County. Police arrested two people who are now charged. Three others were captured in Texas. Two other suspects may have left the country.

They also use a lot of fake identification, so their names are different, Nikolov said. They might actually get arrested in one name, but thats not actually who they are.

Is it possible to have your card skimmed through Apple Pay?

In addition to warning your bank of a strange charge, Nikolov recommended notifying police: If we dont know about it, we cant hold people accountable for it. That includes a small charge, which the detective said could be a warning.

A lot of times what these guys are doing is theyre going to use the ATM and theyre doing inquiries just to see how much money is in there, Nikolov said.

What is a skimming scam?

Skimming scams are targeted at people using ATMs, gas pumps, or credit card readers at retail outlets, the FBI says. The scammers carefully craft devices that look like legitimate card readers, which they then attempt to blend right in to the actual machine, according to the FBI.

That device can then store the victims information for the criminals to retrieve or it be sent to them.

How can you spot a skimming device?

The FBI recommends inspecting a card reader before using it and looking for any loose parts, damage, scratches or defects in the adhesive tape holding it. If you give the skimmer a light shake and it feels loose, tell an employee.

To prevent cameras from capturing your passwords, the FBI recommends users cover the keypad with one hand while punching in the PIN with the other.

Police in Concord, New Hampshire, recently warned that some scammers will try to keep you from using the cards chip by blocking that slot on a machine, forcing you to swipe the card  a method that makes it easier to steal your information.

If you are concerned an ATM or other card reader has been tampered with, authorities recommend notifying management at the business or bank.

Michael Bartiromo and Nick DeGray contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A deputy was involved in a shooting in Spotsylvania County early Sunday morning.

At around 3:16 a.m., deputies responded to the 10400 block of Spotswood Dr. for a domestic disturbance. There, deputies saw a man pointing a gun at a woman.

20-year-old killed in overnight crash in Spotsylvania

A deputy then fired his gun, hitting the man. The 38-year-old man died as a result, according to the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office.

The woman was not hurt.

Virginia State Police was helping to investigate the shooting and that deputy was placed on routine administrative leave, the sheriffs office said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Now that does have dropped their fawns all across Tennessee in May and June, the state is navigating a new law designed to combat the spread of chronic wasting disease. Wildlife rehabilitators there are now barred from accepting whitetail fawns for treatment over worries that CWD might spread faster throughout the state.

The recent law change was a recommendation presented by TWRA and voted on by the states wildlife commission last summer to better align with the CWD Management Plan and to reduce the spread of the disease, TWRA spokesperson Emily Buck tells Outdoor Life. It  changed the rehabilitation and transport rules on all whitetails, not just fawns.

People often drive fawns long distances to reach rehab facilities, and fawns are often transported similar distances when theyre returned to the wild, according to TWRA. The new prohibition falls in line with modern CWD mitigation protocols used by many other states. In Texas, for example, transport of live, captive deer is prohibited until those deer test negative for CWD.

The goal was to stop the transportation of live deer, Buck says of the Tennessee rule change. Because rehabilitating deer would often require them being transported over county lines, it was an unfortunate but necessary decision to make sure the agency was being proactive in slowing the spread of CWD.

An injured fawn is transported to a wildlife rehab facility in Florida. Transporting fawns is now illegal in Tennessee due to concerns over CWD; injured fawns should be reported to TWRA. Photos by Karen Parker / FWC

So far, chronic wasting disease has been detected in 16 counties in Western Tennessee. An additional five counties are considered high-risk for the spread of CWD. The highest concentrations of infections are in Fayette and Hardeman counties, which both border northern Mississippi.

Theyre being really proactive with this decision because we do not want that to be a problem that we have to deal with, Waldens Puddle Animal Care director Joanna Prosser tells WKRN. We would have to shut down our center if the contamination reaches us. So, theyre doing this to prevent that from becoming a problem.

A positive outcome of the new law is that the public may be less inclined to rescue whitetail fawns that appear abandoned. In many cases perfectly healthy fawns are often captured and transported to rehabilitation facilities. The public should report fawns that are visibly injured to TWRA. If a fawn isnt visibly injured, dont touch it and back out of the area.

Read Next: Can Ticks Kill Fawns?

It is best to leave the fawn where you found it as the doe will return to nurse the fawn when it is safe, TWRA advises. If you have picked up the fawn, please return it to the location it was found.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  The Sangamon County Coroner has named the 51-year-old mother who was killed in a stabbing that Springfield Police say may have been perpetrated by her 16-year-old son.

READ MORE: Teen arrested for stabbing his mother to death

Police found Misty Long in a home on Shadowfax Drive with several stab wounds. Coroner Jim Allmon said she was taken by EMS to Springfield Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m. on Saturday.

Longs teenage son was also located at the scene, Springfield Police said. He was taken to the Springfield Police Department and was later charged with first degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, and unlawful use of a weapon.

Initial autopsy results suggest Long died from multiple sharp force injuries, Allmon said. The Coroner and Springfield Police Department continue to investigate the incident.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
MURRAY, Utah (ABC4)  A few dozen people in Murray have been left without power thanks to the menacing acts of a local squirrel.

Murray City Power said the squirrel caused damage to the power just after noon on Tuesday, July 2. The damage sparked an outage that has affected about 50 Murray City Power customers in the area of 700 West near I-15 and 5900 South near I-215.

Utahs new road rage bill goes into effect July 1

Crews are onsite and repairs to the damaged infrastructure are underway.

Murray City Power did not provide details on how the squirrel damaged the power or the condition of the squirrel. Customers in the area reported on social media hearing a loud boom before the power cut out. One customer said their power simply flickered immediately after the boom.

There is no estimate on when power will be fully restored to the affected customers.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will provide more information as updates become available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
ST. CLOUD  Minnesota House District 14B candidate Sue Ek looks to bring a Republican voice to the DFL-controlled statehouse. As the familiar face canvasses the streets of St. Cloud, constituents are reminded of her 2005 campaign, which focused on anti-LGBTQ+ and pro-life legislation.

I don't think the Defense of Marriage Act is enough because it (opens) the door for marriages between two men done in a different state to be recognized here, Ek said in a 2005 St. Cloud Times article. She also said, "We need to do everything we can to protect life from conception to death."

Now, nearly two decades later, the St. Cloud Times sat down with Ek to see where she stands on these issues as she seeks office yet again. While her current pitch to voters varies slightly from her 2005 run, her opinions remain consistent.

Republican Minnesota House District 14B candidate Sue Ek is hoping to make her way to St. Paul this election cycle.

Eks opponent, incumbent DFL Rep. Dan Wolgamott, 33, alleges her views are extreme even among pro-life and anti-LGBTQ+ advocates, and criticizes Ek for trying to bring national politics to St. Paul rather than focusing on local issues. Attacks against Eks stances come in part after she spoke against birth control pills and abortions on religious talk shows like "The Good Fight."

Rather than focusing on these divisive social issues that arent really responding to problems in our community, we need a leader who knows the people of this district and the issues it's facing, Wolgamott said.

However, the 61-year-old Ek told the St. Cloud Times shes going to listen to the will of the voters, which she says appears to want abortion access. To respect these wishes while still adhering to her pro-life beliefs, Ek said she plans to provide resources for pregnant women who might want to keep their baby but might not have the funds to undergo a pregnancy.

There's so many other options out there, Ek said. There's adoption and pregnancy resource centers that will help them. Sometimes it's just getting the next month's rent covered that will give pregnant women peace of mind and know that there's hope for the future.

However, Ek wouldnt commit to protecting these voters wishes if there was a Republican-led effort to repeal the states codification of abortion access  something Democrats fear could happen if Republicans win the Minnesota House majority.

I would need to see the wording on that (effort to repeal) before giving a yes or no answer, Ek said.

LGBTQ+ community deserves respect, but not marriage

The Republican candidates 2005 campaign also had a stance on LGBTQ+ rights, particularly opposing same-sex couples' right to marriage.

Ek in 2005 voiced concerns about Minnesotas 1997 Defense of Marriage Act, which stated lawful marriage may be contracted only between persons of the opposite sex. Her opposing voice to the law alleged it didnt go far enough, and she didnt want same-sex couples married in other states to be recognized in Minnesota.

Now, nearly two decades and a supreme court ruling protecting same-sex marriage later, the St. Cloud Times asked Ek about her current beliefs. To which, Ek said LGBTQ+ people deserve basic respect but not marriage.

I (still) believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, Ek said. I believe that all life should be protected, including the homosexual life.

More: St. Cloud's LGBTQ+ community St. Cloud LGBTQ+ community includes the generation that forged the way for equality

While same-sex marriage is protected by the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, Ek said her political ideology regarding LGBTQ+ rights is similar to Floridas Parental Rights in Education Act, sometimes referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, which prohibits speaking about sexual orientation or identity in kindergarten through grade 12 classrooms unless needed for mandated topics like AIDS or HIV. Ek told the St. Cloud Times her ideology is similar because she believes instruction on these topics should be up to the parent.

I would seriously look at that type of legislation because I think it should be a family and parental issue, Ek said. Parents can decide whether their children are old enough to learn about that.

She also expressed her opposition to transgender athletes competing with their identified gender during school-sponsored events. When it comes to gender identity and transition surgeries, Ek said parental involvement is essential.

Eks newfound interest in education

Eks approach to LGBTQ+ legislation in a post-Obergefell v. Hodges society takes a largely education-based approach, explaining those topics should be up to the parent.

Similarly, Ek said education is one of her main talking points this election cycle. This shift to include an education platform comes after hearing constituents' desires for increased parental involvement in curriculum offerings. She says it demonstrates her commitment to listening to the local audience, countering Wolgamotts claims of her agenda not reflecting local concerns.

I'm not married and haven't had kids, but I think parents should have more say in the educational process, Ek said. (So respecting these wishes for) more parental input at the local level makes sense to me.

Ek said subject areas impacted by this should include history and current events. Her idea comes from believing schools need to focus on the basics like mathematics and reading.

Through the pandemic, we've all heard that reading levels and math skills have gone down, so just getting back to the basics would be a huge accomplishment, Ek said.

More: Sartell's educational politics Divided Sartell school board approves 21 staff contracts amid conflict

Ek told the St. Cloud Times the teacher licensing process should also be reformed, saying a college degree in education isnt always necessary. She said theres plenty of professionals whod love to teach youth but cannot because they dont meet the K-12 licensure education requirements.

I would love to work on a bill that would allow people who have really valuable work experience to go into the schools and teach from their experience without needing a teaching degree, Ek said.

She said her licensing proposal wouldnt give anybody full classroom control as shed want these life experience teachers to receive guidance from those with an education-focused background when developing materials like lesson plans.

Ek is the communications director for Natural Family Planning Outreach, a Catholic organization helping women prepare for marriage and family planning. She was previously the director of operations for the Billings Ovulation Method Association and holds a journalism degree from St. Marys College where she was an editor for the school newspaper, The Cardinal.

Corey Schmidt covers local government for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud's Minnesota House candidate talks pro-life, anti-LGBTQ views
The Hmong Cultural Center Museum in St. Paul, one of few public institutions dedicated to displaying Hmong material culture and history, is growing.

The museum, which opened its storefront exhibition space in 2021, has just finished an expansion that increases its footprint by two-thirds, to about 2,000 total square feet.

Visitors can tour the expanded museum for free during an open house, from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday. Regular hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with a $7 admission fee per person.

The Hmong Cultural Center, founded in 1992, has been headquartered for the past decade or so in second-floor offices near Western and University avenues. The center provides a variety of support services for the Hmong community as well as research and education programs aimed both at Hmong and non-Hmong people.

Even before the street-level museum opened in 2021, a few rooms in the office space were dedicated cultural exhibits. These were technically open to the public, said Hmong Cultural Center program manager Mark Pfeifer, but people didnt necessarily realize they could go upstairs.

More exhibition space

The storefront museum has been transformative, he said. Its open seven days a week and staffed full time for walk-in visitors, and the cultural center has designed 12 different curriculum packets for school field trips. So far in 2024 alone, Pfeifer said, about 1,400 people have come through the space, including over 60 school groups from not just the Metro but greater Minnesota and western Wisconsin, too.

Recently, the center took over another storefront next door to the museum, directly below its offices. The space had previously been storage for Mays Market, a neighboring herb and supplement shop, and adds about 800 additional square feet of exhibition space.

As part of the expansion, the center also installed track lighting throughout both levels to better illuminate displays and educational panels.

The expansion also creates space for the third and final phase of the museum project, which involves connecting the downstairs museum with the upstairs cultural center and library  not currently possible without stepping outside. Integrating the museum with the office-level exhibits upstairs  which still exist  would both grow the centers capacity for more in-depth rotating exhibits and also allow visitors easier access to the centers research library, Pfeifer said.

The center is also planning a comprehensive security upgrade to the whole facility.

This third expansion phase is probably the last for the foreseeable future, though, Pfeifer said.

A small admission fee helps cover some operating expenses, but this years expansions have really only been possible due to public and private grants, Pfeifer said. Money from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, part of the states Legacy program, has been particularly influential, as have other gifts from funders like the McKnight Foundation and the Freeman Foundation.

With the museum, the idea was to take our work to another level and to reach a lot more people, particularly so schools can come in and learn about Hmong culture and history, Pfeifer said. This work is not new to the Hmong Cultural Center  weve been doing it a long time  but the museum allows us to reach a lot more people.

Currently on view and coming soon:

The museums permanent exhibition includes a variety of paj ntaub, or storytelling tapestries, tools and artifacts brought from Laos by Hmong immigrants fleeing the Vietnam War, and traditional instruments like the qeej.

A new exhibit in the expanded space showcases photographs taken by James E. Williams, who served as a U.S. Agency for International Development financial officer in Laos from 1965 to 1968. The black-and-white photos show celebrations, landscapes and various aspects of everyday life before many Hmong people were forced into exile.

Once the downstairs museum and upstairs cultural center are connected, Pfeifer said, the museum will continue upstairs with a new exhibit on the history of the Hmong Cultural Center itself.

The Hmong Cultural Center Museum is located at 375 W. University Ave.; 651-917-9937, ext. 17; hmongculturalcentermuseum.org

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New Delhi  At least 121 people were killed in a stampede at a religious gathering in central India's Uttar Pradesh state on Tuesday, police said, as an investigation into the organizers was launched and the Hindu guru who hosted the event disappeared. The Uttar Pradesh government ordered a judicial probe into the stampede, and the state police force registered a case against the organisers.

The Uttar Pradesh police said they were looking for the Hindu preacher, Suraj Pal, known by his followers as "Bhole Baba," who hosted the gathering. It was widely reported that the preacher went into hiding soon after the stampede.

Pal, in his late 50s, is a former police officer who quit his job 20 years ago to turn to preaching. His popularity has grown over the years, and he's held periodic public gatherings that draw thousands of devotees to seek his blessings.

Relatives and villagers in Sokna village mourn those who died in a stampede, during a cremation ceremony on July 3, 2024 in Hathras, India, after at least 121 people were confirmed killed in a devastating stampede at a religious event in Hathras, in India's densely populated Uttar Pradesh state the previous day. / Credit: RITESH SHUKLA/Getty

NOTE: This article includes images of death that some readers may find disturbing.

The stampede occurred during a "satsang," a prayer meeting hosted by Pal in the village of Rati Bhanpur in the Uttar Pradesh's Hathras area. Thousands of his devotees showed up to listen to his address, crowding under tents to avoid the harsh sun, before there was a panic and people started running.

The Uttar Pradesh Police force confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that at least 121 people were killed in the crush.

Women mourn next to the body of a relative outside the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh state, India, July 2, 2024, after dozens of people were killed and scores injured in a stampede at a religious gathering. / Credit: Manoj Aligadi/AP

It was not immediately clear what caused the panic, but some eyewitnesses told local media outlets that the stampede started when the event ended and people rushed to leave.

Videos shared widely on social media showed dozens of bodies, mostly women, being brought to regional hospitals.

The top official in Uttar Pradesh state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, ordered an investigation into the incident as residents started voicing anger and allegations that proper arrangements had not been made for the large gathering, which was held amid hot and humid conditions.

Senior police officer Shalabh Mathur said Tuesday that "temporary permission" had been granted for the religious event.

People mourn next to the bodies of victims of a stampede at a Hindu religious event, outside a hospital in Hathras district, in the northern India state of Uttar Pradesh, July 2, 2024. / Credit: Stringer/REUTERS

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Uttar Pradesh state government was providing all possible help to the victims.

Opposition Congress party leader Pawan Khera accused the state government, which is run by Modi's Bhartiya Janata Party, of being unprepared for the event. He said the hospitals where the injured were sent didn't have enough doctors or facilities to treat them.

Stampedes at religious events in India are not uncommon, as the gatherings are mostly managed privately, and often without adequate safety or crowd control measures put in place.

One of India's deadliest stampedes at a religious event was in 2005, when more than 340 people died at the Mandhardevi temple in the western state of Maharashtra. More than 250 people died in another stampede at Rajasthan state's Chamunda Devi temple in 2008. In the same year, more than 160 people died in a stampede at a religious gathering at the Naina Devi temple in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.

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JINAN, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The third ministerial forum on agriculture between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) opened on Tuesday in the city of Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, focusing on cooperation and green development.

The event has attracted 290 attendees, including 24 ministers or vice ministers and 13 ambassadors from 25 countries, as well as representatives of agricultural research institutes, enterprises and regional organizations.

In a live video speech, Han Jun, Party chief of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said that over the past decade, China and CELAC have achieved fruitful results in their agricultural cooperation.

China has established agricultural cooperation mechanisms with 19 CELAC countries, he noted. Agricultural trade and economic cooperation have been expanding rapidly, with bilateral agricultural trade doubling to over 81 billion U.S. dollars from 2014 to 2023, he added.

Han made four proposals in his speech, including one on implementing agricultural cooperation projects focused on common concerns like food security and green development, and another on working to double agricultural trade again in the next decade.

His other proposals were on strengthening sci-tech exchange and capacity-building, and on deepening poverty reduction cooperation to make greater contributions to the building of a world free of poverty and hunger.

Laura Elena Suazo Torres, Honduran secretary of agriculture and livestock, praised China's efforts in promoting South-South cooperation on food.

She said that she expects China-CELAC agricultural cooperation to be elevated to a new height, with increased exchange and experience-sharing in the areas of sustainable agricultural production capacities and agricultural sci-tech.

The event also includes sub-forums on agricultural trade and poverty reduction. 
Don Morgan, president and CEO of Starion Bank, interviews to become president of the Bank of North Dakota with the Industrial Commission on July 2, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

The North Dakota Industrial Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to hire the next president and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota.

Don Morgan, president and CEO of Starion Bank, was selected to enter into negotiations to lead the bank after members of the commission conducted hourlong interviews with two finalists for the position.

Farms, ranches and businesses are my passion, Morgan said in an interview with the North Dakota Monitor. The chance to run the Bank of North Dakota and help all the banks, and by extension, all the farms and ranches in this state, its just a greater, expansive opportunity and its just one that excites me and I look at it as a challenge.

Morgan has worked for North Dakota-based Starion Bank since 2012 and was named bank president in 2020. He became CEO in 2022 following the departure of Craig Larson who left the position after 25 years.

In a news release, members of the commission said, Dons impressive experience over his decades long career in the banking industry and his deep understanding of the critical role BNDs community bank partners play in supporting farmers, ranchers and businesses in the state make him exceptionally well-positioned to lead this unique institution.

During the meeting, Gov. Doug Burgum praised both finalists for their qualifications, experience and willingness to go through a public interview process. The other finalist who interviewed for the position was Kelvin Hullet, chief business development officer for the Bank of North Dakota.

We dont always have as strong of a finalist pool as this, Burgum said.

More than 130 candidates applied for the position and the finalists were selected by a search committee.

Karen Tyler, executive director for the commission, was authorized to begin discussions with Morgan on an employee agreement and salary. If accepted, Morgan would begin work as president of the Bank of North Dakota by Aug. 1.

The advertised salary for the position during the application process was between $350,000 to $450,000.

Morgan will take over from outgoing Bank of North Dakota President Todd Steinwand who served in the position since 2021. Rob Pfennig, chief financial officer for the bank, will continue to serve as interim president until Morgan officially accepts the position and begins his first day at the bank.

In 2023, the Bank of North Dakota reported total assets of $10.1 billion and record profits of $192.7 million. Its the nations only state-owned bank.

The post Starion Bank CEO selected as next Bank of North Dakota president appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
State senator says she intends to take Walters, education officials to court

Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, attend a special session of the state Senate on June 12, 2024, at the Oklahoma State Capitol. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  A state senator says she intends to take the states top school board, the state superintendent and the Oklahoma State Department of Education to court after she was denied entry to a closed-door meeting last week.

Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, said shes deciding whether to pursue legal action through the Attorney Generals Office, the Oklahoma County district attorney or a private lawsuit.

Boren attempted to attend the private executive session of the Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday, citing a law that allows state legislators to listen to portions of state board meetings that are closed to the rest of the public. A lawmaker must sit on a related committee in the state Legislature to be allowed entry.

Boren is a member of an appropriations subcommittee focusing on education funding and on the Senate Judiciary Committee, among other panels.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters said the boards legal counsel saw it as an attorney-client privilege issue to allow her to attend.

Boren said Walters, who leads the board, and his administration blocked her from trying to hold his agency to account.

Its very disappointing that thats where were at now, is that law and order is just a one-sided thing with them and it doesnt apply to him, Boren said. He is leading an agency that really impacts the lives of children and Oklahomans all throughout our state in a way that doesnt want to be held accountable.

Executive sessions are held in private so a board can receive confidential information from its attorney, often about pending legal cases, investigations or a process  like purchasing property or hiring employees  that could be jeopardized if the conversations were to take place in public.

Still, state law allows legislators to listen in, and it makes no stipulations about denying them attendance over attorney-client confidentiality.

Refusing to allow entry to a state lawmaker who sits on a relevant committee would be a violation of Oklahoma Open Meetings Act, said Phil Bacharach, spokesperson for Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

Bacharach confirmed Boren has been in contact with the AGs Office about the matter.

Anyone who willfully violates the Open Meetings Act could be found guilty of a misdemeanor, fined up to $500 and jailed for up to a year, according to state law.

Legislators have been permitted to attend the state Board of Educations executive session before. Other state agencies also have complied.

Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, said he has attended the Board of Educations executive session. McBride, the leader of the House subcommittee on education funding, said he also did so several times with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents and the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.

In 2019, then-Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, listened to the state Board of Educations private discussion on investigations into Epic Charter Schools and educators facing suspension of their certification.

Boren said she was interested in all of the items up for discussion in executive session on Thursday. The issues ranged from suspending teaching licenses to student transfer requests.

As a state senator overseeing education funding, Boren said she wanted to know if the board would consider the potential risk of costly litigation and the expense to taxpayers when making its decisions. Walters and the board already have been sued multiple times.

But when she tried to enter the private meeting, the boards general counsel, Cara Nicklas, stopped her, she said.

Boren said Nicklas questioned whether the senators committees related to any of the executive session items and contended it would violate attorney-client confidentiality for the lawmaker to attend.

Boren, a practicing attorney, said she tried to argue her case and offered to sign a pledge to keep whatever she heard secret, but it was to no avail. She returned to the public meeting room and later left.

She said she intends to try again in the future.

I think we dont have enough people in positions of power, holding (accountable) Ryan Walters and politicians that go rogue and dont want to follow the law, Boren said. And I feel like its a duty and responsibility to have a court of some sort respond to that violation of the Open Meetings Act.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)Officials with the El Paso Police Department said a woman stole an ambulance and initiated a police pursuit Tuesday morning, July 2.

At approximately 8 a.m. this morning, an El Paso Fire Department ambulance was stolen from the Del Sol Emergency Room, said Enrique Duenas, spokesperson with EPFD.

The El Paso Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety deployed units and detained the woman at Altura and Gateway North, he added.

El Paso Fire did clarify that projectiles with pepper spray were used while detaining the woman.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, all lanes are closed on Gateway North, and the clearing time is one hour.

Well keep you updated as we learn more.

This is a developing story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
(KRON)  Two San Francisco residents were found with multiple credit cards not in their name in a petty theft arrest, according to the Colma Police Department.

The theft occurred around 9:18 p.m. on Thursday at a business on Colma Boulevard. Responding officers were made aware that two men stole merchandise, fled through the emergency fire exit and were seen walking towards a nearby cemetery.

Officers conducted an area check at the cemetery where police said they located the suspects and the merchandise. After the stores loss prevention officer positively identified the suspects, they were arrested.

Oakland City Council to vote on putting Thao recall on November ballot

Colma PD said they located multiple credit cards that did not belong to the suspects on both suspects persons.

According to the police investigation, the suspects stole approximately $500.64 worth of merchandise combined.

The suspects were identified as San Francisco residents 22-year-old Anthony Ball and 27-year-old Cody Thomas. Both were arrested for petty theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and misappropriation of found property. The suspects were issued a citation for the charges and released on the promise to appear in court, police said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Student loan borrowers enrolled in a new federal repayment plan could see their monthly payments cut in half in the near future, thanks to a last-minute reprieve by a federal appeals court.

At the moment, though, the legal wrangling is sowing confusion throughout the student-aid system, with millions of borrowers' monthly payments thrown into doubt. And the relief granted by the court was only temporary, so the Saving on a Valuable Education plan, or SAVE, may not be able to offer reduced payments in the long run.

"It is nearly impossible to know what to do at this point," said Persis Yu, deputy executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center. "Where we are is just not fair for student loan borrowers."

The Education Department continues to work on a separate rule that would offer debt relief to an estimated 30 million student borrowers. But that effort will almost certainly wind up in court as well.

Here's the latest on where things stand for borrowers with federal student loans.

What's happening with student loans?

First and foremost, the only program affected by the legal turmoil is the SAVE plan, which is available just for federal student loans. Private loans and other loan repayment programs continue to operate as usual.

The SAVE plan was designed to lower monthly payments and, for borrowers who took out smaller loans, forgive debts sooner. Both of those efforts have been challenged in court by Republican officials from several states.

SAVE allows borrowers to make monthly payments based on their income, not on the amount they borrowed. In exchange, most borrowers have to continue paying considerably longer than they would under a standard plan, in which debts are paid off over 10 years. Under SAVE, the typical borrower makes payments for 20 years on undergraduate loans and for 25 years on graduate school loans. Then, any unpaid balance is forgiven.

As of July 1, monthly payments on undergraduate loans for those enrolled in the SAVE plan were scheduled to be cut in half, dropping from 10% of their discretionary income to 5%. But in early June, the Education Department informed borrowers whose next payments were due in the first half of July that they would be put into forbearance for one month while their monthly bills were recalculated. Their next payment would be due in August and, for undergraduate loans, based on 5% of their discretionary income.

Last week a federal judge in Kansas issued a temporary injunction, barring the Education Department from cutting the repayment rate to 5%. The department responded by telling 3 million additional SAVE participants that they, too, would be put into forbearance until August while their monthly payments were re-recalculated. Unlike the other borrowers in forbearance, though, these borrowers would have their repayment periods extended by a month, according to Natalia Abrams, president and founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center.

Then on Sunday, a divided three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals put the injunction on hold pending the department's appeal. It's impossible to predict how long the relief will last because even if the department wins on appeal, the case could move on to the U.S. Supreme Court for possible reversal.

What should borrowers in the SAVE plan do?

SAVE plan borrowers who've received notices that they are in temporary forbearance will stay in forbearance until August. Some SAVE plan participants, however, had already received bills from their loan servicer for July that reflected the 5% repayment rate. These borrowers will need to make their payments this month, the department says.

The SAVE plan borrowers least affected by the legal back-and-forth are the estimated 4.5 million whose incomes are so low, their monthly payments are $0.

Borrowers unsure of where they stand should first log into studentaid.gov to see whether they're enrolled in the SAVE plan. If they are, the next step would be to ask their loan servicer  whose contact information should also be available at studentaid.gov  when their next payment is due and how much they owe.

That could be hard to do, given how many other borrowers are also trying to contact their servicers. "From what I have heard, it is hard to get through," Yu said. "If they can find out the information online, that is probably the ideal solution."

Otherwise, she said, SAVE participants will need to wait for more information from the Education Department and their loan servicer, as uncomfortable as that may be.

Can borrowers in other plans sign up for SAVE?

Yes. The department temporarily closed its online application portal after the injunctions were issued, but loan servicers continue to accept the downloadable application form that the department makes available on studentaid.gov. Abrams said the department expects to reopen its online application portal soon.

In addition to payments based on 5% of discretionary income, the plan gives borrowers more breathing room by raising the amount of income considered nondiscretionary by 50%. And if the reduced monthly payment isn't large enough to cover the interest that would accrue on the loan, the SAVE plan waives the excess interest charges rather than adding them to the borrower's debt.

What about debt relief?

A federal judge in Missouri issued a temporary injunction last week against a provision of the SAVE plan that would have forgiven the unpaid balance after 10 years of repayments for anyone who borrowed no more than $12,000 in undergraduate loans. (Loan forgiveness would have been delayed by one year's worth of payments for each additional $1,000 borrowed.)

That injunction was not covered by the appeals court's stay.

Separately, the Biden administration is finalizing a proposed rule that would cancel the debts for borrowers whod been repaying their undergraduate loans for at least 20 years, or their graduate school loans for at least 25 years. Significantly, the rule would also reduce or eliminate the unpaid interest charges accrued by about 25 million borrowers, including all the unpaid interest by borrowers in income-driven repayment plans.

Although many of the people who filed comments on the rule supported it, Yu said, not all did. Opponents of Biden's student debt relief measures have argued that it's not fair to shift the cost of college onto taxpayers, many of whom made sacrifices to pay off their student loans.

Still, Yu said, even people who've paid off their loans "overwhelmingly support debt cancellation" because they understand how burdensome college costs have become and the struggles that borrowers face. "Young folks are unable now to start families, to buy homes, to start businesses, and thats not what we want for future generations," she said.

When the administration laid out its plans for student debt relief in April, it also said it would seek to partially or fully cancel the debt of borrowers who were experiencing financial hardship in repaying their federal loans. The administration has yet to propose a rule to implement that change, however, prompting more than 220 groups representing borrowers, workers, veterans, people with disabilities and consumers to submit a letter to the Education Department on Monday urging it to move ahead immediately.

"Tens of millions of borrowers were robbed of sweeping relief when the conservative majority of the Supreme Court struck down President Bidens original debt relief program," the letter says. The hardship rule "represents a glimmer of hope for the millions of borrowers and their families who have been forced to wait for nearly two years for much-needed relief," it adds.

Abrams said that thousands of people have also written the White House to urge action now on the hardship proposal. If the rulemaking process starts too late this year, she said, implementation of the final rule would be delayed until next year  when Biden may no longer be president.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Students speak out regarding $2M settlement after being Tased by APD officers during 2020 protests

Two college students are reacting after the Atlanta City Council voted to give them $2 million.

In 2020, when thousands of people were protesting the murder of George Floyd, officers pulled the two students out of their car, Tased and detained them.

Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes learned why the students are struggling to move forward.

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Its a memory Ive been wanting to forget and Im sure Messiah has too. But unfortunately, it is etched into our memory, Spelman student Taniyah Pilgrim said.

Pilgrim and her friend Messiah Young, who attended Morehouse will never forget what happened to them in May of 2020.

They went out for a bite to eat and got caught in the traffic of a protest for George Floyd, that they were not part of.

But because then-Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms had just put Atlanta on a 9 p.m. curfew, these officers stopped the two college students and warned them to move their car 11 times.

When they did not comply, the students were yanked out of the car, Tased and detained.

What most of you dont know is later that night, an officer just opened the back of the van, took off her handcuffs and pushed her away, attorney Chris Stewart said.

They were never charged with a crime.

Then Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard decided the officers did not use excessive force. The officers never faced charges.

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The students attorney, Harold Spence, says that the decision was political.

Because of who was chosen to look into whether these officers should be prosecuted, the outcome was baked in from the outset, Spence said.

Thats when the legal team filed a civil suit, which forced all 10 officers involved and former Police Chief Erika Shields, to sit down for depositions that lasted seven hours each.

Spence said in her deposition that all the officers, including the former chief, said the students did nothing wrong that night.

Four years later, the Atlanta City Council voted 13 to 1 to give the students $1 million each.

The city wouldnt just pay $2 million for no reason, Stewart said.

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Two California metropolitan areas rank among the ten Most Educated Cities in the nation, while several agricultural areas in the Golden State land at the bottom of the list, according to a new study from WalletHub.

The financial services company compared the 150 most populated cities in the U.S., grading them based on a formula that included the share of adults with high school diplomas and college degrees and the quality of public education.

It also weighted racial and gender gaps.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, ranked No. 1 for the second straight year, followed by Californias San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area.

The San Jose metro area is the second-most educated in America, with residents pursuing higher education at high rates, WalletHub notes. Over 54% of adults ages 25 and older have at least a bachelors degree, and over 26% have a graduate or professional degree. San Jose also ranks first in the country for university quality, and it also has the fourth-most summer learning opportunities per capita.

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley dropped two spots to 6th. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim climbed seven spots to 87th.

10 Most Educated Cities in the U.S. (Source: WalletHub)

Ann Arbor, Michigan San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Madison, WI San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Raleigh-Cary, NC Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Source: WalletHub

On the opposite end of WalletHubs list, several cities in Californias agricultural areas, namely the Central Valley, fared poorly. Visalia was dead last, Bakersfield ranked 147th, Modesto 146th, Stockton 145th, Salinas 142nd and Fresno 140th.

Other California Rankings

23. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

49. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

52. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA

64. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

92. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA

121. Vallejo, CA

137. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

140. Fresno, CA

142. Salinas, CA

145. Stockton, CA

146. Modesto, CA

147. Bakersfield, CA

150. Visalia, CA

Stephanie Helms Pickett, the head of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Antioch University and a WalletHub expert, says communities should reexamine how public education supports their local economies.

Our countrys educational model fails to account the diverse ways that people learn, process information and what best aligns not only with their interests but their skills, Pickett says. The most important step we can take as a country to develop a more educated and skilled workforce is a partnership between higher education and industry  encompassing local businesses in forecasting the needed skills and training individuals to meet those needs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Study ranks three Texas lakes among 'dirtiest' in U.S.

Correction: An incorrect reference regarding the meaning of the pH of Lake Wichita has been removed from this online version of the story.

A new study ranks three Texas lakes in the top 10 dirtiest lakes in the U.S.

The study was released by Lake.com, a vacation rental platform that used data from the National Water Quality Monitoring Council, which is part of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Texas lakes were in West Texas, North Texas and near Austin.

Lake J.B. Thomas in West Texas ranked as second dirtiest in the nation because its dissolved oxygen measurements were below acceptable levels.

A steel barrel is partially covered by the waters of Lake J.B. Thomas, located 12 miles southwest of Snyder in Scurry County on Tuesday. The lake was named in a national study as the second dirtiest in the nation.

Lake Wichita in North Texas was named third dirtiest for smelliness, dissolved solids and other issues. Lake Buchanan near Austin placed sixth worst, also because of dissolved oxygen measurements.

Florida topped the cleanest lakes list with six out of the top 10.

An advocate responded to the study's findings about the lake in his area.

The findings indicate Lake Wichita has an odor, contains high volumes of total dissolved solids, an unusually high pH of 9.9, and chemical analysis shows water near the dam is cloudiest of all the 276 U.S. lakes sampled between Jan. 1, 2023, and May 28 this year.

The assessment is one that Lake Wichita supporter David Coleman does not agree with and finds the term dirtiest misleading.

Coleman is a member of the Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee that has worked since 2013 to improve the lake and its image. Much of Wichita Falls' Circle Trail has been extended around the lake, a kayak launch was constructed, veterans memorials were erected on the shore and the parking lot at Lake Wichita Park was overhauled.

Coleman said the study was done at a time when the water was very low due to a lingering drought.

Murphy's Mountain rises on the shores of Lake Wichita on a recent morning. A study has ranked the lake as one of the dirtiest in the nation.

If the same measurements were taken right now with the lake full, it would be very different, especially the pH, dissolved solids and turbidity, he said.

He also said because the lake does not provide drinking water, it is not maintained as a reservoir and has accumulated clay and silt, which make the water brown or cloudy.

Many of the lakes chronic problems are due to its low water levels.

The city is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a plan to possibly dredge and deepen part of the lake on a cost-share arrangement, which could alleviate many of the problems.

Coleman said the city may know in September if the plan will move forward..

Construction of Lake Wichita was completed in 1901 as a water supply for Wichita Falls, but the needs of a growing city soon outstripped the small reservoirs capacity and other reservoirs were constructed.

The lake served as a major recreational and tourist draw for years before silt, drought and algae took their tolls and the lake slipped into decline.

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This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Study ranks three Texas lakes as 'dirtiest' in U.S.
Study uncovers how wildfire-related air pollution affects our skin: 'These findings can inform patient counseling and management'

Adult acne is now on the growing list of health issues exacerbated by wildfires and air pollution.

As Medical Xpress reported, dermatology clinic visits have increased following wildfires in California. The visit statistics indicated a connection between wildlife smoke and acne-related skin issues.

What's happening?

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, conducted a study to assess how environmental factors affect acne vulgaris, a common form of acne and a chronic condition. They analyzed 2,054 visits of 1,549 patients and compared acne visits at a San Francisco care center before, during, and after the Camp Fire of 2018.

Based on measurements of fire status, satellite-based plume density, and concentration of particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5), the researchers found significant increases in adult acne clinic visits compared to times with no wildfires.

"With the worldwide increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, these findings can inform patient counseling and management," wrote the study's authors. The study was presented at an American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in San Diego.

Why is wildfires' effect on the skin significant?

This news about the effect of wildfires on skin is not an isolated finding but rather part of a growing body of evidence about how impactful extreme weather can be. Months earlier, researchers found a connection between wildfire smoke and eczema.

"The list of bad things air pollution causes keeps growing!" one LinkedIn user commented on a Clean Air Fund post about the eczema finding.

As global temperatures continue to rise, wildfires become more frequent and severe. The aftermath of wildfires now goes far beyond burning down homes and forests. Studies keep revealing the long-term effects of wildfires on human health. Inhaling wildfire smoke is as bad as smoking half a pack of cigarettes and increases the risk of cardiac illnesses and premature death.

What's being done about wildfire-related air pollution?

With new scientific evidence about the effects of wildfire air pollution on the skin, dermatologists can be better prepared to address their patient's needs and develop treatment plans centered on environmental resilience and improving damaged skin.

Other ways to prepare yourself to be more resilient to wildfires include packing a go-bag to grab quickly in case of an emergency and using a HEPA air purifier to filter dirty air in your home. On poor air quality days, keep windows and doors closed, keep your air conditioning in recirculate mode, and stay inside as much as possible to protect your skin and overall health.

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In participating states, low-income families will receive $40 each month for each eligible school-aged child, up to $120, to buy groceries, beginning in the summer of 2024. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.

Thousands of kids in low-income families lose access to free meals from their schools when students are released for summer break, even if those families still struggle to afford food during the summer months.

Thats why hunger relief advocates are excited about a new federal benefit that will provide extra funds to help eligible families afford their groceries, aiming to bridge the so-called summer hunger gap.

Maryland officials predict that the new grocery benefit will bring in $60 million in federal funding to help about 543,000 kids across the state.

Summer hunger is a problem  and we need to do something, LaMonika Jones, interim president for the Maryland Hunger Solution, said Monday. We want to do everything we can to maximize the reach of meals while kids are out over the summer.

Maryland Sun Bucks is the kid-friendly name for the states Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, a new federal benefit that provides low-income families an additional $120 over three months to spend on groceries and help stave off food insecurity when children are on summer break from school.

Hunger spikes during the summer because children lose access to the school breakfasts and lunches they rely on in the school year, according to a statement from the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit aiming to reduce poverty-related hunger.

To bridge the summer hunger gap, Congress in December 2022 established a new, permanent, nationwide program  to provide families $120 in federally funded grocery benefits, the center said in a statement on the federal program, which is also known as Sun Bucks.

Maryland is one of 37 states and the District of Columbia that opted into the new program for summer 2024, along with five territories and the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) promoted the new grocery benefit in a press release Monday.

Tackling childhood poverty requires consistent, targeted action so all Marylanders can stay healthy as they play, grow, and learn. The launch of Maryland SUN Bucks marks one such action  and it wont be the last, Moore said in a written statement.

According to the press release, about 90% of families that are eligible for Sun Bucks will receive them automatically, though some will need to apply online or submit a paper application to receive the benefit.

Families that qualify will receive $40 per child for the months of June, July and August, or $120 per child for the summer. For families on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the benefit will automatically go on their existing electronic benefits transfer card.

Something is better than nothing, Jones with Maryland Hunger Solution said. That $120 per child  is going to support any sort of additional funding that is going to be needed for a family to purchase groceries.

The post Sun Bucks aims to combat summer hunger kids can face when schools out appeared first on Maryland Matters.
An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

This photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows direction signs of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

This photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows the Yanchi toll gate on the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

A car runs on the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2024. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

This photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows the Yanchi toll gate on the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

This photo taken on July 1, 2024 shows the Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Yuxian Expressway officially opened to traffic on Monday, reducing road travel time from the Junzhuang interchange on Beijing's west sixth ring road to Lingshan Mountain from 2 hours to 45 minutes. The expressway section will help lower traffic pressure in both the northwest and the southwest of Beijing. It will also contribute to disaster relief in the capital's mountainous areas and promote regional development. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
(Bloomberg) -- Labour leader Keir Starmer dismissed as desperate Rishi Sunaks last-gasp efforts to stoke fears about the opposition party winning a huge majority at Thursdays UK election, with the prime ministers campaign turning increasingly frantic as it sought to avert a crushing Conservative defeat.

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Two days out from the vote, Sunak ramped up attacks on Labour and warned that typical Conservative voters staying home could hand Starmer a result in line with current opinion polls which project him securing a parliamentary majority of more than 200 seats. That would mean the incoming government would have a blank check to do what it likes, Sunak said.

While Sunak denied hes given up on victory, the Tories have pivoted in the past two weeks to issuing warnings about the scale of a Labour victory  an apparent concession that the governing party is not going to win after a succession of surveys deploying seat-by-seat analysis projected the opposition is heading for a victory of historic proportions. In all, 10 of 11 so-called MRP polls project Labour will take more seats than in Tony Blairs landslide in 1997.

The polls  and Labours stubborn 20-point lead thats budged little over the campaign  highlight how little the Tories initial messaging around sticking with Sunaks plan cut through with voters. The last campaign days appear now to be an exercise in damage limitation, geared toward convincing former Tory supporters who are either considering not voting or backing Nigel Farages right-wing Reform UK party to turn out on Thursday and vote Conservative.

In a video on Sunaks X social media account, the Tory campaign suggested a Labour government would crash the FTSE 100 and cause energy blackouts. Yet Bloomberg reporting shows investors increasingly see the UK as a safe haven due to political and economic stability brought by a change of government.

Throughout Tuesday, the Tories have also attacked Starmer over comments he made to Virgin Radio, that he blocks out appointments after 6 p.m. on Fridays to spend time with his family. Starmers wife comes from a Jewish family, and the Labour leader has spoken about the importance of their Friday evenings.

Even so, prominent Tories took aim at Starmers remarks. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps accused him of planning to be a part-time prime minister while minister Maria Caulfield told broadcasters Starmer wanted to work a four-day week  something the Labour leader did not say.

It really is desperate. My familys really important to me as they will be to every single person watching this, Starmer told reporters on his own campaign visit. Its increasing desperation bordering on hysterical now.

The Conservative attacks, which were widely criticized by leaders in Britains Jewish community, come despite Sunak saying just two weeks ago that he admired Starmer for ensuring he has family time.

He does a very good job of balancing family life and work life and making sure that he prioritizes that and makes time for it, Sunak told LBC radio then.

Asked by Bloomberg if he endorsed the comments by his campaign alleging Starmer would not be able to defend the country because hed finish work at 6 p.m., Sunak replied: I do worry about our countrys security under Keir Starmer and I have deep concerns about it.

Yet the overall vibe is of a campaigning running out of ideas to try to close the polling gap to Labour.

Tory leaflets warn of French-style union laws, national road charging and more money spent on welfare benefits. Thats despite Labour saying changes to working rights will be carried out in communication with business, pledging to get people off benefits and into work, and having announced no plans for national pay-per-mile charging on roads.

On the BBC, the premier warned that illegal migrants will be out on the street if Labour wins, and that asylum-seekers were queuing up at Calais in northern France, waiting for a Starmer government before attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats. Thats despite the Channel crossings through the end of June reaching a record for the first six months of the year.

Labour has denied any plan to raise taxes, insisting it will not put up any on working people and categorically ruling out rises to income tax, the national insurance payroll tax, corporation tax and valued-added tax. The party has also accused Sunak of lying to the public about their policies on borders and the work ethic of their would-be premier.

The stench of their lies and hypocrisy is overwhelming, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said on social media.

(Updates with Starmer comment in eighth paragraph.)

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What is a supermajority  and could Labour secure one at the general election?

Britain's prime minister Rishi Sunak and opposition Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer take part in the BBC's Prime Ministerial Debate (Phil Noble/Pool via AP)

Rishi Sunak has warned voters against enabling a Labour supermajority at the general election on Thursday as his party continues to lag behind in the polls.

The prime minister tested out the new line on the campaign trail in the run-up to polling day in a decidedly defensive move against Sir Keir Starmers Labour Party.

The outcome of this election is not a foregone conclusion, said Mr Sunak. If just 130,000 people switch their vote and lend us their support, we can deny Starmer that supermajority.

Just think about that: you have the power to use your vote to prevent an unchecked Labour government.

For the latest political updates ahead of the general election, follow The Independents live coverage

Rishi Sunak delivers a speech in central London while on the general election campaign trai (James Manning/PA Wire)

In making this warning, the prime minister doubtless has in mind his partys position in the polls. Most experts are putting Conservatives an average of 20 points behind Labour, with the gap only widening since the general election was called.

Some worst-case projections for the Tories see the party gaining as few as 120 seats. This would be a drop of 245 from 2019, and mark the partys worst-ever result.

Meanwhile, Labour could win as many as 420 seats, up by 217 and far exceeding the 326 needed for a majority. This would give them a majority of 190.

This would even pip Labours 1997 result under Tony Blair when the party won 419 seats and secured a majority of 179, a figure that remains the record high for any political party.

If these predictions become reality, it would certainly be a very large majority for Labour  but is the prime minister right in warning of a supermajority?

Heres everything you need to know about the term and what it could mean for UK politics.

What is a supermajority?

The term supermajority is most typically used in reference to US politics. This is because it is a crucial part of the US federal system, where a supermajority refers to a qualified majority of two-thirds.

In the US Congress a supermajority vote is needed for some major legislative actions, such as removing an impeached president from office, declaring a president incapable of serving, or amending the constitution.

It is slightly different for the Senate, where a majority of 60 per cent (meaning 60 of the 100 members) is needed to close a debate or bill without interference from minority members.

However, actually achieving these numbers is exceedingly rare, meaning bargains often need to be made. The last time any party enjoyed a supermajority in Congress was in 1965, when the Democrats under Lyndon B. Johnson had a majority of 68 per cent.

Sir Keir Starmer may be on the verge of becoming Britains next prime minister (PA Wire)

Could we get a supermajority in the UK?

If considering just the technical definition of the term, the concept of a supermajority does not apply to UK parliament.

The governing party in the country will generally be whichever won a majority of seats at the general election. If no party gains a majority, it is a hung parliament and the leader can either form a minority government or strike a deal with another party to push them over the line. This is what happened after both the 2010 and 2017 general elections.

To pass legislation in the House of Commons, 50 per cent of MPs (plus one) need to vote on legislation for it to pass. This means the governing party is rarely defeated when attempting to pass a bill. The last time a government bill was outvoted in its final stage was 1977.

In parliamentary terms, the difference between an 80-seat and 200-seat majority is not material, writes Institute for Government director Dr Hannah White.

The most significant factor for democracy is the attitude a government takes to the role of parliament and the value of scrutiny.

It is this last point that Mr Sunak may have been alluding to more in his campaigning. In parliament, a key scrutiny measure comes from select committees, cross-party groups of backbench MPs will will hold the government to account on specific issues.

The chairs and members of these committees will be distributed based on the strength of each party in parliament. If Labour holds a record majority, they will have more of their own members holding them to account.

Another factor likely hanging over the prime minister is the reduction of funds allocated to parties with fewer seats. Short money is given to opposition parties with either two seats of more than 150,000 votes in one seat.

These parties will receive 21,438 a year for every seat they win, plus 42.82 for every 200 votes and a portion of travel expenses. The leader of the oppositions office also gets an annual 998,817.

However, none of this is much different to the situation Labour and smaller parties face currently. Experts have generally criticised Mr Sunak for stoking fears of a supermajority, pointing out that it would simply be a similar scenario to the circumstances his party has enjoyed for the last 14 years.
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!)

We werent cynical enough. Prior to the oral argument in Trump v. United States, we wrote in Slate that only the most cynical could believe that the Supreme Court of the United States would hold that a president can use his official powers to violate generally applicable criminal law. But on Monday, in a stunning 63 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the six Republican appointees decided just that. The presidentwhen exercising his official dutiesis immune from criminal prosecution.

For any criminally inclined chief executive, the court put the cherry on top of the sundae by directing lower courts to interpret the scope of official duty very broadly and stating that, no matter the charged crime, a trial court may not allow a jury to even hear of a presidents criminal actions if they fall within the broad and indeterminate category of official conduct.

This amounts to a form of absolute immunity unheard of in criminal law. The court has now effectively placed the president above the law, no matter the chief justices protestations otherwise. Richard Nixon could only have dreamed of such a ruling. However sadistic the purpose, however outrageous the conduct, its not a crime if the president does it. Officially direct a drone strike on a political rival: not a crime. Send federal troops to gun down peaceful protesters in Chicago: not a crime. Have the FBI seize voting machines in Philadelphia: not a crime. Permit foreign agents to kidnap a troublesome House member or governor from their home: not a crime. As Justice Sotomayor says in a fearful dissent: The Court effectively creates a law-free zone around the President, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the Founding.

Trump has loudly advertised his authoritarian ambitions. He has said that he will be a dictator, but only on Day 1. He has promised to turn the entire executive branch into his instrument of personal vengeance. Once respectable right-leaning think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, with their 2025 plan, are creating both the administrative infrastructure and (more importantly) lists of personnel to populate a one-party dictatorship.

Ironically, the courts ruling depends entirely on the assumption of the good behavior of the current president, Joe Biden. Its as if the Supreme Court cannot imagine that Joe Biden wouldfor exampleinstruct the Justice Department to arrest members of the Supreme Court for corruption and then crow triumphantly about it on social media. Or that Joe Biden would announce that he was sending a detachment of armored cavalry to supervise the elections in the red counties of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona in November. Or that he would declare a state of emergency in the nations capital to prevent a quorum of the Congress from meeting to certify the electoral votes.

The court has written an opinion for a president who respects limits. Its a tacit recognition that the current occupant of the White House will not abuse his power to remain in power. But, in a further irony, the court has done so in a case that exists only because on Jan. 6, 2021, President Trump demonstrated that he respects no limits and would do anythingeven break the lawto remain president. The majority worries about reciprocal criminal prosecutions of elected leaders once theres a peaceful transfer of power. But if the chief executive can officially engineer his permanent succession without any consequences, one need not worry about a tit-for-tat cycle of factionalist prosecutions of former presidents.

Because the difference between a president and a despot now is almost entirely dependent on the character of the person in the Oval Office, the Supreme Court has crystalized the choice this electionAmerican democracy and the rule of law are on the ballot come November. Perhaps more terrifyingly, this will be true of every future election. Whether we can continue to hold free and fair elections depends on Novembers result, and has become far more uncertain after this shockingly authoritarian-friendly decision.
With a set of rulings handed down over the past week, the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court decisively stood up for the due process rights of Americans who come into conflict with the administrative state.

On their own, each of those rulings is significant. In a pair of cases decided together last week, the Supreme Court overturned a decades-old precedent that required judges to defer to the supposed expertise of executive agencies. In scrapping the so-called Chevron doctrine, the Court leveled the playing field for legal challenges to regulatory rules.

In a separate case decided on Thursday, S.E.C. v. Jarkesy, the Court said that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must try civil fraud suits in federal district court rather than using its own, internal administrative law courts. The decision protects the right to a trial by jury and will ensure that fewer Americans will be forced to navigate the expensive, time-consuming administrative law system before getting their case heard by a real court.

Finally, on Monday, the Court ruled that businesses can challenge federal regulations within six years of suffering some harm at the hands of the administrative state. Previously, those challenges were limited to six years after the regulation itself was approvedan arrangement that effectively eliminated any hope of due process for those victimized by longstanding rules.

Linked together, the outcome of these four cases and three decisions is even greater than the sum of their parts. In identical 63 decisions, the Court's conservative majority sent a clear signal that federal judges ought to have the final say on matters involving the regulatory statebecause that's the system our Constitution requires.

That's not a power grab by the federal judiciaryas some commentators have claimedbut a restoration of the proper role of judges as a check on executive agencies' power.

"Most people understand that, when it comes to criminal defendants, people deserve their day in court in front of a neutral arbiter. It should be equally common-sensical that when the accused is a family-run fishing business contesting an agency's power, or a man accused of breaking securities law, they also deserve these due process rights," Anastasia Boden, a senior attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, told Reason after these rulings were announced.

Boden said the Court's decisions over the past week are "merely an extension of due process rights for the accused to the behemoth administrative state. This is something that champions of a fair and just society should celebratejust as they do in other contexts."

Not everyone is celebrating, however. In a dissenting opinion to Monday's Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve ruling, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned that"the tsunami of lawsuits against agencies that the Court's holdings in this case and [the case that overturned the Chevron doctrine] have authorized has the potential to devastate the functioning of the Federal Government."

While that might sound awesome to libertarians, it's sadly not exactly true. The promised tsunami of cases will only materialize if the federal government continues to steamroll Americans' rights via the administrative state.

In so many words, Jackson is arguing that if the government violates due process frequently enough, then it should be allowed to keep doing that because fixing the situationthat is, ensuring that justice is served to the victims of federal overreachwill simply be too difficult for the courts. But if that's true, then why have courts and constitutional promises about due process in the first place?

The regulatory state will still exist. But now it will have to defend itself in front of real judges and juries and without the expectation that those judges and juries will simply go along with the idea that regulators must know best.

For a more rational view of what the Supreme Court is doing here, look to the majority opinion that overturned Chevron. In it, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the legal doctrine requiring judicial deference to the regulatory state had created "an eternal fog of uncertainty" about what the law actually says and that it had effectively allowed the administrative state to usurp the federal courts.

"Perhaps most fundamentally," Roberts wrote, "Chevron's presumption is misguided because agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do."

Due process matters, and judges are the arbiters of due process within our legal system. This should not be a controversial or radical perspective.

Trying to derive broad narratives from a series of Supreme Court rulings can be a fraught thing to do. Most cases are decided on narrow, legalistic grounds rather than being the sweeping statements that political media makes them out to be.

This, however, seems like an exception to that rule. The conservative majority on the Supreme Court has spoken with a clear voice. In doing so, it has confirmed that individuals and businesses subject to federal regulations have the right to defend themselves without having to navigate a rigged quasi-judicial process inside the executive branch.

Going forward, that means judges and courts will have fewer opportunities to dismiss cases and will instead have to consider the merits and constitutionality of the rules in question. That helps to restore the balance of power, not break it.

The post The Supreme Court Didn't Destroy the Regulatory State. It Stood Up for Due Process. appeared first on Reason.com.
The Supreme Courts decision that Donald Trump has full immunity for official acts he took as president is so sweeping and vague that it opens the door for sitting presidents to do whatever they want without any accountability, including assassinating a political rival.

Legal experts said Monday that yes, as horrific and authoritarian as that sounds, the 6-3 decision by the courts conservative supermajority means that President Joe Biden could theoretically order that Trump be killed and be immune from criminal prosecution.

Presumptively, he has the power to assassinate a rival, John Dean, who was White House counsel to former President Richard Nixon, told HuffPost on a call with the Defend Democracy Project, a group that advocates for free and fair elections.

Making matters worse, said Dean, is that the court ruled that official acts by a president cant be used as evidence of criminal conduct for unofficial acts. So in a hypothetical scenario involving Biden ordering people to kill Trump, his actual giving of the order would be potentially unavailable for evidence, he said.

The former White House counsel, who called the Supreme Courts decision radical, said the conservative majority also just raised questions about immunity for people who carry out a presidents official but criminal activities.

When Nixon warned that, When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal, he went on to say, How could staff operate if they didnt have a president who was totally immune? said Dean. Presidents are good at giving orders. They dont execute those orders themselves. So you have a whole lot of people who have criminal exposure, and this opinion in my quick reading doesnt cover that.

Norm Eisen, who served as former President Barack Obamas ethics czar and as special counsel for Democrats during Trumps 2019 impeachment trial, said the dissenting opinion by the three Democrat-appointed justices is an unprecedented and dire warning.

Led by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the dissent says the immunity created by the ruling now lies about like a loaded weapon for any president to use however they want, for their own financial interests or political gain, knowing they are insulated from criminal prosecution.

Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune, Sotomayor wrote.

When dissenting justices warn that the majority may have just legalized murder by one individual in our country, that warning is to be taken very seriously, Eisen said. No more are the consequences of the majority opinion able to be read in isolation. One of the majority party candidates has repeatedly, not in isolation, made a variety of autocratic promises, including to be a dictator on day one.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (right) and Justice Clarence Thomas both concurred in the court's opinion that Donald Trump enjoys complete immunity for "official acts" he took as president. Alex Wong via Getty Images

During Supreme Court oral arguments in this case in April, Trumps lawyers argued that it might well be an official act if a president ordered the assassination of a political rival, or ordered the military to carry out a coup to keep him in office, and therefore a president would be immune from criminal prosecution for breaking these laws.

Trump, of course, hailed the courts decision on Monday.

BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! he wrote on social media in all caps.

Biden, meanwhile, slammed the courts decision as a dangerous new precedent and vowed he wouldnt be the one to break the law in office.

Eisen, who also co-founded State Democracy Defenders Action, a nonpartisan group advancing fair and secure elections, said Trump has been laying out extreme plans for a second term and that people should be horrified by his autocratic tendencies. He cited an online tracker hes helped put together that spells out all the things that he wants to do.

This opinion, as the dissents warn and other voices are now being heard to say, opens a dangerous tear in the American constitutional fabric, in the checks and balances that have helped us to survive this country for two and a half centuries, said Eisen. The opinion and the permissions it grants, for the first time in our history, must be read in that context.

Donald Trump's lawyers argued before the Supreme Court in April that he should have complete immunity from criminal prosecution as president, even in cases like ordering the assassination of a political rival. Looks like conservatives on the court agree with this insane argument! via Associated Press

Matthew Seligman, a fellow at the Center for Constitutional Law at Stanford Law School and a partner at the law firm Stris & Maher, suggested the courts decision reflects something much larger about the countrys political and legal culture  namely that were at a point where we have to even talk how much immunity from criminal behavior should be granted to whoever wins the next presidential election.

Whether its actually not illegal anymore, or it is illegal but you just cant be prosecuted for it, we used to live in a country where there was more respect for the law than contemplating realistic hypotheticals of the president assassinating his political opponents, he said.

As to whether he thinks the court just gave Biden the OK to assassinate Trump, Seligman said, I dont think Joe Biden would ever do something like that.

Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, a co-founder and partner at Lawrence & Bundy LLC in Atlanta, Georgia, said people should not overlook that Sotomayor specifically warned that the door is now open to presidents beyond the next election potentially killing their political opponents.

Its important to note this clarion call from these dissenting justices, said Lawrence-Hardy. Because as preposterous as some of these possibilities seem to us right now, that we would be having this conversation right now seemed completely unthinkable a decade ago.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court just overturned a longstanding legal principle of deferring to federal agencies power to interpret and implement laws. The ruling Friday will weaken the governments hand in setting environmental policy and could erode existing protections for the climate, air and water.

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And if former President Donald Trump wins back the White House in November, it will empower his quest to roll back his predecessors climate regulations.

This opens space for industry to challenge every single thing that an agency does and to drag it through court for years, said Doug Kysar, a professor of environmental law at Yale University.

A victorious Trump would certainly rely on the decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo to unwind President Joe Bidens rules, said Jeff Holmstead, a former assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under George W. Bush and now a partner at Bracewell LLP. It will obviously make it harder for a future administration to come back in and try to reinstate it.

The Trump administration also could lean on the ruling to propel oil and gas development, said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, an energy trade group. I think the rollback rulemaking will be quicker, she said.

Loper Bright ended what was known as Chevron deference, a legal doctrine holding that courts should defer to the technical expertise of agency staff in interpreting unclear laws. As an example of the reasoning behind it, Justice Elena Kagan noted in a dissent, staff scientists in the US Fish and Wildlife Service can distinguish rare squirrels from common squirrels much better than judges can, for the purpose of designating them endangered.

I dont think anybody would say, looking at the Supreme Court or judges in general, that theyre squirrel experts, right?, asked Andrew Mergen, faculty director of the environmental law clinic at Harvard Law School and previously an environmental attorney in the Department of Justice. The notion is that the question of squirrelness should be left to people who are experts in wildlife biology and zoology.

On its face, the ruling is politically neutral: All executive agencies, whether working under a Republican or a Democratic president, now have less freedom to maneuver. But environmental groups and legal scholars say it will drive deregulation.

The net effect will be to weaken our governments capacity to meet the real problems the world is throwing at us, said David Doniger, a senior strategic director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Its not a neutral sword, Kysar said. Its a sword that one side can wield with way more destructive power than the other, given that industry has deeper pockets than environmental groups.

Many challenges are likely to come before Trump-appointed judges, selected in large part for their conservative bona fides and confirmed at a record pace.

Two Biden-era regulations that are particularly vulnerable to pullback are EPA rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and tailpipe emissions from vehicles. Trump has already made clear he plans to repeal both measures, but Loper Bright adds another legal justification for the shift. Any regulation that hasnt made its way all the way to the Supreme Court  including these measures  could, with a very reasonable argument, be pulled back and re-examined, said former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler, now a partner at Holland and Hart LLP.

Trump has vowed to green light hundreds of new power plants and to repeal Bidens rule. Hes also pledged to end what he calls Bidens EV mandate, referring to the stringent pollution limits that compel automakers to shift to selling mostly electric cars and hybrids by 2032.

For years, the EPA has provided carmakers flexibility in complying with tailpipe standards by allowing them to do so on an average basis, across their entire fleets. But though the vehicle pollution limits are rooted in the Clean Air Act, that fleet-wide averaging approach isnt spelled out in the text of the law.

We dont see anything in the statute that gives them that authority, said Devin Watkins, an attorney at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute, which is challenging the regulation. That could be a bigger legal vulnerability now that Chevron deference has been scrapped.

The reversal on Chevron comes after the Supreme Courts weakening of clean water protections last year. In Sackett v. EPA, the court ruled that streams that flow only when they fill with rain werent subject to the protections of the Clean Water Act. A scientific study published last week found that some 55% of water flowing out of US river mouths comes from these so-called ephemeral streams.

Compounding Loper Brights possible impact, a separate high court decision on Monday effectively removed the six-year statute of limitations to challenge existing agency rules. Now, the formation of new businesses affected by old regulations is enough to start that six-year clock.

Environmentalists are vowing to fight to defend Bidens rules. And in the face of intensifying storms, heat domes and other impacts of global warming, there will be more pressure on Congress to act, said Sam Sankar, senior vice president of programs at Earthjustice.

Yes, this makes it harder for agencies to use old laws to address new problems, he said. But that doesnt mean we cant address the threats of climate, and we will. Problems are getting bad enough that Congress  even the right wing  is going to start to need to react to this thing in federal lawmaking.

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Monday's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to vastly expand the notion of presidential immunity was an incredibly beneficent favor for one of the men hoping to win your vote in November.

Just not the guy you're thinking of.

President Joe Biden desperately needed something to change the conversation after his calamitous performance in last Thursday's debate, which prompted a full three-day weekend of Democratic hand-wringing, with public and private debate about whether he should be swapped out for a more capable candidate.

What better way to interrupt that clamor than to have the court's conservative justices  the kind of folks who came of age thinking Richard Nixon got a raw deal  declare that former President Donald Trump might not have really broken the laws that we all saw him break, if he was acting as president at the time and not as a petulant narcissist who can't stomach being a loser.

Yo, Joe, send those justices a gift basket or something. You know Clarence Thomas isn't turning away free stuff.

Supreme Court ruling on immunity helps Biden's campaign

'I can do this job': President Biden defiant after debate disappointment

Sure, sure, the more progressive justices worried about the damage to democracy in allowing a former president to claim law-breaking is just part of the job. Trump and the Republican National Committee sent out email blasts to supporters, seeking donations based on what he called "a big win for democracy and our Constitution."

Biden's campaign scrambled to host a call with members of the news media Monday morning to decry the ruling. The very first question asked during that call was: Will Biden now "be running against the Supreme Court," particularly due to his performance during the debate?

Trump on mail-in voting: Trump campaign should've just ignored this ad on his mail-in ballot flip-flop. Oops.

Quentin Fulks, Biden's principal deputy campaign manager, said the campaign would embrace the ruling as "an amplifier" to emphasize concerns about Trump's despotic aspirations.

It's one thing for a former president to randomly declare he'll be a dictator only on Day One if reelected. It's another for the highest court in the land to say: Go on now, be the worst version of you.

The fear that SCOTUS clears the way for dictator Trump

Fulks clearly didn't want to discuss the debate. But, like a Supreme Court that openly snubs the rule of law, it was too hard to ignore for the folks on the line with the Biden campaign.

"Our campaign is going to continue to make the case that the stakes of this election cannot be higher," he said. "And honestly, because of this opinion from the Supreme Court today, it just puts up a finer point on the fact that if Donald Trump gets anywhere near the Oval Office again, he will rule as a dictator."

Nadine Seiler holds a banner outside the Supreme Court, after justices rule on former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's bid for immunity from federal prosecution for 2020 election subversion in Washington, on July 1, 2024.

Trump, now a convicted felon in New York for covering up his 2016 hush-money payments to an adult film star to keep silent about an affair, still faces criminal charges in federal court in Washington, D.C., and in state court in Georgia on trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election. And he has another federal case in Florida, where he is accused of refusing to return classified government documents he took home after his election loss to Biden.

His many lawyers will now rush to court to argue  again  that all of it was official president-style stuff and not the frantic malfeasance of a sore loser.

Biden says Supreme Court decision removes presidential limits

Reporters on the Biden call had more questions. One of them: Where is Biden?

If his campaign sees this as a day of demarcation for democracy, will he publicly talk about it? Again, this question was framed in the context of Biden's debate performance and claims that he should be doing more in public to assuage concerns among his supporters.

First Amendment case: Louisiana law isn't about the Ten Commandments. It's Christian nationalist bait for the Supreme Court.

Biden had an answer for that Monday evening in brief remarks delivered from the White House, where he spent five minutes warning about the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling.

"This nation is founded on the principle that there are no kings in America," Biden said. "Each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law, not even the president of the United States. With today's Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, that fundamentally changed. For all practical purposes, today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do."

Biden called it a dangerous precedent to have a president constrained only by the limits "self-imposed" by the president himself.

We've seen Trump set his own rules. Things go horribly wrong that way.

The next step for Biden's campaign

It was smart for Biden to get out there and embrace the attention to something other than the debate.

A USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll released Monday found that 41% of Democrats think their party should replace Biden as their nominee. Among the 1,000 registered voters polled, they called Trump the debate winner by nearly 5 to 1.

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I wonder whether the pollsters are out there now, dialing up voters to ask how they feel about the Supreme Court and that old-time concept of nobody being above the law.

If not, Biden should take on that task. It's not new to him. He campaigned in 2020 to end Trump's brand of chaos. His best argument for a second term is still Trump's first term.

And he's still losing the fight. Time to change up the tactics.

The Supreme Court may be the only institution left that is less popular than the presidency. Biden should hit the road and take his case against the justices to the public.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court immunity decision helps Biden deflect debate disaster
(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court hasnt always jumped to help former President Donald Trump in his legal travails. But in perhaps the biggest case of Trumps life, the court he shaped did enough.

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The court once treaded carefully around Trumps private legal fights. The justices repeatedly rejected Trump and his allies as they sought to overturn Joe Bidens 2020 election victory, turned down his bid to keep his tax returns from Congress, and rebuffed him four times in document-related battles with prosecutors and lawmakers once he left office.

The losing streak is over. The courts 6-3 decision means Trump might never stand trial for trying to overturn the 2020 election results. While the court didnt grant Trump the complete and total immunity from prosecution he sought, it conferred enough of a shield to run the clock past his November election rematch with Biden.

The ruling was the second major Supreme Court victory for Trump this year, following the March 4 decision that said he can appear on presidential ballots, notwithstanding a Colorado court finding that he was an insurrectionist who incited the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The two decisions mark a new phase in the courts relationship with a former and potentially future president who put three of its justices on the bench  Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. The appointments created a 6-3 conservative majority that has overturned Roe v. Wade, pummeled the administrative state and abolished affirmative action in higher education.

Trumps three nominations in a single term are more than Barack Obama, George W. Bush or Bill Clinton had in two terms apiece.

Trumps Goal

In the immunity case, the conservatives provided Trump enough of a win to ensure he wont stand trial this fall while running to reclaim the White House. Should Trump win, he could order the Justice Department to fire Special Counsel Jack Smith and drop the case next year.

Trumps fundamental goal was to delay any trial until after the election on the theory that if he wins the election, he can instruct the attorney general to end Jack Smiths office, said Michael Dorf, a constitutional law professor at Cornell Law School. He has effectively gotten that.

After a federal appeals court ruled 3-0 against Trump, saying his sweeping claims would give him unbounded authority to commit crimes, many legal observers questioned whether the nations highest court would even get involved.

The Supreme Court instead took up the case and immediately put it on a schedule likely to be favorable to Trump. The justices rejected Smiths request for a fast track akin to the one in the Colorado ballot case, instead scheduling a hearing for the last argument day of the term and eventually ruling on the last opinion day Monday.

It is clear that the court was very concerned to avoid a trial before the election, said Donald Ayer, a retired Supreme Court advocate who served in two Republican administrations. I am not sure why, but it is possible some of them think a major criminal trial of one candidate would somehow disrupt the peoples electoral decisions. But is that really more important than the voters basic interest in knowing what the facts are before they vote?

The timeline created a contrast with the Colorado case, in which the court rushed to issue a ruling the day before the primary election that was at issue.

Although the Colorado ruling was unanimous, the courts three liberals complained in strong terms that the majority didnt need to go as far as it did in limiting use of the Constitutions insurrection clause. Barrett also said the court went too far, though with less pointed language.

Strong President

The immunity ruling broadly aligns with the current courts predilection toward a strong president, said Jessica Levinson, a professor who teaches constitutional law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

The court under Chief Justice John Roberts seems much more concerned with protecting the office of the presidency than trying to protect Donald Trump, Levinson said. Maybe things are different for one or two of the conservative justices, but I think a majority of the conservative wing are making conservative decisions.

Even so, the rulings effect was to give Trump a political boost, shielding him from a trial that might have reminded voters of his role in the Capitol assault. The upshot might be to help Trump recapture the presidency  and potentially appoint more Supreme Court justices in a second term.

We thank the Supreme Court for recognizing the importance of presidential immunity, said Jenny Beth Martin, honorary chair of the conservative Tea Party Patriots Action. The ruling is also a fresh reminder about the importance of the Supreme Court as the American people consider who their next president should be.

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If Donald Trump commits a crime in office, writes Justice Sonia Sotomayor in her dissent for Trump v. United States, "he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune."

In conclusion, Sotomayor writes in the final decision of the Supreme Court's term, "Because our Constitution does not shield a former President from answering for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent."

Most of the media coverage of Monday's Supreme Court decision was focused on the impact it could have on the felony charges against the former president for planning and attempting a coup in 2020, which led to the insurrection of January 6, 2021. The news on that front is bad. As legal analysts quickly detailed, the six Republican justices shot down many of the charges special prosecutor Jack Smith included in his indictment, and even more broadly eliminated most of the evidence Smith could otherwise bring to court. Even if the case somehow survives, figuring out how to try it now will eat up so much time there's no chance of a trial before the election in November.

In itself, that would be bad enough. It is yet another reminder that this Supreme Court is a lawless entity whose only legal guideline is "What's good for the Republican Party and their political goals?" But, by helping Trump's presidential campaign, the six Federalist Society-linked justices went a step further, setting up Trump to return to the White House as a dictator instead of a president. For, as Sotomayor writes, "the President is now a king above the law."

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

A Republican president anyway. For all the people who are semi-joking that President Joe Biden now has a legal right to have the military assassinate Trump, Chief Justice John Roberts gave himself an out. Roberts insists that the president "is not above the law." It can still be a crime if the court determines that the behavior falls outside of "his official acts." But what makes something an official act? Well, that's a little hazy, you see. As Los Angeles Times legal analyst Harry Litman noted on Twitter, the "test" appears to be whether a prosecution presents a serious "threat of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch."

As close as we get to the test: "At a minimum, the President must be immune from prosecution for an official act unless the Gov can show that applying a criminal prohibition to that act would pose no

dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.  Harry Litman (@harrylitman) July 1, 2024

With the nakedly partisan tilt of this court, it's not hard to see what would distinguish a legitimate vs. illegitimate intrusion on a president's authority: his political party.

Biden orders a hit on a political enemy? That's outrageous and therefore cannot be "official." Trump orders a political assassination? Well, he must have had a good reason! As liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in her dissent, "The official-versus-unofficial act distinction also seems both arbitrary and irrational."

If that sounds hyperbolic, the context shows it is not. Last week, the conservative justices ruled that their opinions of scientific fact should overrule those of legitimate scientific or medical experts hired to work in federal agencies. But what makes something a "fact" in the eyes of the Republican justices was not evidence, but whether or not it fits their pre-existing policy preferences. For instance, in a related case overturning an environment regulation, Justice Neil Gorsuch repeatedly referenced in his decision "nitrous oxide," which is laughing gas, instead of "nitrogen oxide," the toxic emission that causes smog. Now something as concrete as the chemical composition of air pollutants can be legally redefined according to the wishes of a right-wing Supreme Court justice.

.@chrislhayes on how a typo highlights just how wrong the Supreme Court was for overturning the Chevron precedent.



Going forward when we are trying to figure out, say, how to implement an environmental regulation about clean air, that decision will not be made by the experts pic.twitter.com/cc6YemL1Jd  All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) June 29, 2024

There is little hope for a fair or objective measure of what counts as an "official" or "unofficial" executive action. Republicans already speak and act generally as if a president can only be legitimate if he's a member of their party. As Jamelle Bouie wrote in the New York Times on the eve of January 6, Republicans have embraced the view "that a Democrat has no right to hold power." Whatever pretzel logic the Republican justices employ, the guiding principle of whether a criminal act is "immune" will likely depend on whether the president is a Republican or a Democrat.

It's clear reading this tortured decision by Roberts that he wanted to shield Trump from criminal liability while maintaining the pretense that this is anything but a Republican power grab. The problem is that Trump's crimes are so sprawling and the evidence of his guilt is so overwhelming that a more limited definition of "immunity" that would protect Trump from prosecution wasn't possible. The only way to make the shield big enough to cover every bit of Trump's criminal exposure was to declare "immunity" for every evil thing a president might want to do.

But, as this decision shows, there was also no way to spare Trump from all the consequences of his past crimes without creating an all-encompassing invitation for all future crimes Trump would wish to commit, at least if he's in the White House. That Trump will go hog wild with such permission is beyond dispute. Trump commits crimes with the frequency most of us bring to tasks like eating meals or using the restroom. Trump has already indicated he plans to be a dictator on "day one." His policy arm, Project 2025, has laid out a blueprint for such a dictatorship, including plans to order the military to shut down peaceful protests, the creation of concentration camps for migrants, and the mass firing of any bureaucrats who refuse Trump's illegal orders. Many of these plans involve committing acts that, prior to this decision, could be prosecuted as crimes. No longer.

Indeed, if Trump makes good on his hints he'll stay past his second term, this could make that president-for-life dream a reality. Another coup would require committing more crimes, but now the Supreme Court said that it's fine for Trump to do that, as long as he does it "officially."
From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch

Happy Tuesday! The social media app BeReal is premised on the idea that once a day, at a random time determined by the app, you take a picture of yourself and whatever youre doing and share it with your followers.

Easy enough, but it leads to some awkward moments when youre the prime minister of France and your party just got blown out by its nemesis. Time to bea little tooreal.

Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories

SCOTUS Term Goes Out With a Bang

The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Photo via Geoff Livingston/Getty Images.)

When the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Trump v. United States on the question of presidential immunity from prosecution, there was laughter in the chamber as Justice Samuel Alito proposed a hypothetical having to do with a president ordering SEAL Team Sixelite U.S. Navy commandosto do something plausibly illegal, even if the president clearly had a right to give them an order.

It seemed an outlandish hypothetical at the timeand indeed, Alito caveated the notion by saying the U.S. Navy officers could not follow orders that would require them to break the law. But after the Supreme Courts 6-3 ruling on Monday holding the president had absolute immunity from prosecution for some core executive functions, its safe to say the scenario wasnt put to bed quite as conclusively as we might have expected.

The court on Monday granted some immunity to presidents for official acts performed while in office, placing presidential activity into three buckets, to coin a phrase: private acts, core presidential functions, and all other official acts for which the president has presumptive immunity. Many questions remain about how that rulingwhich former President Donald Trump hailed as a victorywill play out in practice, including what exactly constitutes an official act of the president and how courts should make that determination, as well as what effect this will have on the cases against Trump currently winding their way through the court system.

The decision was handed down with high drama, the third of the day and the very last of the term. Chief Justice John Roberts penned the majority opinion, joined in full or in part by the five other conservative justices, which held that a president is immune from prosecution for an official act unless the government can show that applying a criminal prohibition to that act would pose no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the executive branch.

So why is the court ruling on presidential immunity? It started with the four-count indictment special counsel Jack Smith brought against Trump last August. The former presidents legal team moved in October to have the special counsels charges dismissed on the grounds that a president has absolute immunity for any actions taken while in office.

The judge in the case, Tanya Chutkan, issued a sweeping ruling against the former president in December, holding that former presidents had no immunity at all from criminal prosecution for acts performed while in office. Defendants four-year service as commander in chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens, she wrote in the ruling.

A three-judge panel on the Washington, D.C., Court of Appeals took up the immunity question in January and affirmed Chutkans ruling in February. The Supreme Court decided to hear the immunity question three weeks later.

On Monday, the justices provided their answer. As was anticipated, the court disagreed with the D.C. circuits expansive position that a former president can be prosecuted for any official act once out of office. But the majority opinion not only rejected the lower courts ruling, it also articulated a new, broad vision of absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for a presidents actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority.

In other words, if the conduct in question involves the exercise of a core executive power clearly outlined in the Constitutionlike pardoning or removing appointed executive branch officialsthen the president is immune from criminal prosecution, full stop. Congress cannot act on, and courts cannot examine, the presidents actions on subjects within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority, Roberts wrote.

The majority added that the presidents intentionshowever corruptcannot and do not provide an exception to this absolute immunity, nor can they be used to help parse whether an action was itself private or official. Such a highly intrusive inquiry would risk exposing even the most obvious instances of official conduct to judicial examination on the mere allegation of improper purpose, Roberts asserted.

The idea that there are some activities for which a president could never be prosecutedregardless of obvious nefarious motivesraises some problematic hypotheticals for the use of presidential power, as Sarah and David pointed out on yesterdays episode of Advisory Opinions. The president, for example, presumably now has free reign to corruptly deploy exclusive executive power, like by selling pardons to the highest bidder. The ruling creates an almost sovereign view of immunity, David said.

There is a second bucket of so-called official acts for which a president could face prosecution: those within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility, Roberts wrote, without explicitly defining what kind of acts might fall within this outer perimeter.

Such an immunity is required, he nevertheless argued, to safeguard the independence and effective functioning of the Executive Branch, and to enable the President to carry out his constitutional duties without undue caution.

To overcome such presumptive immunity for certain official acts, prosecutors would have to show they werent intruding on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch. Only once that extremely high bar had been clearedlikely affirmed by a court rulingcould such prosecution move forward.

In the final bucket, the Supreme Court did affirm that the president has no immunity for unofficial actsthings that have nothing to do with the job of the presidency. In that regard, a president would be just as open to prosecution as any of us commoners.

The trick now for the Smith case is deciding what alleged conduct in the indictment constitutes an official act (as well as which kind of official) and what constitutes a private act. The district court will now have to determine which part of this was candidate Trump, Gabriel Malor, a Virginia appellate lawyer, told TMD. Is the January 6 speech candidate Trump or President Trump? Is the fake electors scheme candidate Trump or President Trump?

On one of these questions, the Supreme Court made it easy. Trump is alleged to have threatened to fire then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen after Rosen refused to go along with the former presidents efforts to cast doubt on the election results and pressure the states to submit fraudulent alternate slates of electors. Mondays majority opinion says that clearly falls within the presidents core executive acts, and so for that conduct Trump is immune from prosecution.

Trumps efforts to pressure former Vice President Mike Pence into stopping the certification of the 2020 election results on January 6, however, could potentially fall outside the presumptively immune activity. While the majority opinion remanded the specific question to the district court, Roberts suggested prosecutors could argue that Pences role as president of the Senate is not an executive branch functionbut rather a legislative role under Article I of the Constitution. If so, the presidents communications about that role could be prosecuted without intruding on the function of executive authority.

Trump could also face legal exposure for his communications with private attorneys and state-level officials pushing for the election to be overturned, as well as his public statements to supporters on January 6which may be considered private actions.

Justice Amy Coney Barretts concurring opinion on Monday provided a roadmap for prosecutors on some of this conduct. For example, the indictment alleges that the President asked the Arizona House Speaker to call the legislature into session to hold a hearing about election fraud claims, she wrote. The President has no authority over state legislatures or their leadership, so it is hard to see how prosecuting him for crimes committed when dealing with the Arizona House Speaker would unconstitutionally intrude on executive power.

As our own David French explained, No one should think that this [opinion] means that as a legal matter, the case against Trump is in jeopardy in its totality. Trump can definitely be prosecuted for the unofficial conduct related to his effort to hold onto powerand potentially also the official conduct on the perimeter.

Nevertheless, the former president was quick to claim this ruling for his column. BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY, Trump wrote on Truth Social at 10:41 a.m. ET, just minutes after the court had published its decision. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

Trump continued truthing in that vein for the rest of the day, praising the wisdom of the decision even if its perhaps something of a mixed bag for him legally. THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IS A MUCH MORE POWERFUL ONE THAN SOME HAD EXPECTED IT TO BE, he wrote Monday afternoon. IT IS BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN AND WISE, AND CLEARS THE STENCH FROM THE BIDEN TRIALS AND HOAXES, ALL OF THEM, THAT HAVE BEEN USED AS AN UNFAIR ATTACK ON CROOKED JOE BIDENS POLITICAL OPPONENT, ME. MANY OF THESE FAKE CASES WILL NOW DISAPPEAR, OR WITHER INTO OBSCURITY. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Despite what the former president suggested, the cases are unlikely to just disappearat least not before the electionand he certainly didnt get everything he wanted. At the most fundamental level, in fact, the court shot him down: Trump asserts a far broader immunity than the limited one we have recognized, the chief justice wrote in the majority opinion.

But Trump may be less interested in the legal question than the logistical one: While the former president remains in legal jeopardy, the timeline for an actual verdict in the case has almost certainly been extended beyond Novembers election. The district court will now take some daysor weeksto deliberate on the question of whether the alleged conduct is official or private. Once the court has ruled, Trump will have an opportunity to appeal yet again, which itself could take weeks or longer.

Plus, the former president is already trying to use the ruling to overturn his 34-count conviction in May in New York City. Trumps lawyers reportedly plan to argue that the jury in that case heard evidence that should have been privileged under this new standard of presidential immunity.

Theres only one person for whom the Supreme Courts ruling is even more immediately relevant: President Joe Biden. With todays Supreme Court decision, once again it will depend on the character of the men and women who hold that presidency that are going to define the limits of the power of the presidency because the law will no longer do it, Biden said in a brief evening address at the White House on Monday. I know I will respect the limits of the presidential powers Ive had for three-and-a-half years, but any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.

Biden concluded by noting that he concurred with Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissent in the case, and indeed, her opinion painted a bleak picture of a brave new world under the majority ruling. The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world, Sotomayor wrote. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

Roberts criticized the dissents tone of chilling doom as fearmongering on the basis of extreme hypotheticals, arguing Sotomayor ignores the more likely prospect of presidents prosecuting their successors and future leaders of the free world unable to carry out their duties.

But Trumps presidency and his current candidacy lend credence to both the majority and the dissents nightmare scenarios. He tried to violently overthrow an election the last time around and is now threatening to prosecute his political opponents this time around. As Mike and Sarah noted in yesterdays Collision:

In the end, perhaps this is the real debate. Which prospect is scarier: an unaccountable president breaking the law with impunity or former presidents routinely being convicted of failing to secure the border or protect the environment after leaving office? What types of people would run for president if they thought theyd likely be prosecuted upon leaving? Then again, we have no history of that kind of abuse, and yet the most recent president did in fact try to stay in power after losing a free and fair election.

The question of which future is more frighteningand whether Trumps prosecution will continue, since at least in this case it will not be concluded before the electionnow lies with voters. If President Biden wins, then the case will continue, Malor told TMD. If President Trump wins the election, then this case is finished.

The Dispatchs Fifth Editorial

Last weeks presidential debate laid bare the devastating reality of President Joe Bidens condition, and the Dispatch Editors argue on the site today that Democrats have a difficultbut obviousdecision to make:

Elected Democrats and their allies in the media have made a habit over the past decade of spotlighting their Republican counterparts cowardice, and theyve been right to do so. Presented with ample opportunities over the years to stand up to the demagogue who hijacked their party and their movement, the vast majority of GOP lawmakers and right-wing pundits opted time and again for political expediency, self-preservation, and the path of least resistance. Theyve sacrificed their principles, abandoned the importance of decency and honor, and contributed to the spread of dangerous liesbecause to do otherwise might cost them an election, their audience, or their proximity to power. Democrats like Pelosi have had no problem diagnosing such gutlessness when it comes with an R next to its name. This is about being afraid, she said last summer about then-Speaker Kevin McCarthys efforts to retroactively expunge Donald Trumps impeachments. These people look pathetic. Implicit in such criticism is the idea that her party would never stoop to such a level. But now faced with a collective-action problem of their own, most leading Democrats moral clarity has vanished. Several prominent media figures have broken from the party line, but the ongoing effort by Bidens allies to shut down legitimate questions about the presidents clearly deteriorating facultiesas well as his ability to carry out his current job responsibilitiesis as shameless and irresponsible as just about anything Trump and his enablers have done over the past eight years. And if Biden refuses to step aside, itd be an act of political selfishness surpassed in recent memory only by Trumps efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election. In press releases and on cable news, the Biden campaign has repeatedly insisted that 90 minutes does not negate three-and-a-half years of results. Setting aside that fewer than 4 in 10 voters approve of those results and only 1 in 4 believe the country is on the right track, a second term in office is not a reward for a job well done. No, presidential elections are forward-looking, and this coming Novembers contest will be a referendum on whether the incumbent can effectively do the job for another four years. He cannot.

Read the Entire Editorial Here

Worth Your Time

Our very own Jonah Goldberg joined Damon Linker on his Notes From The Middleground Substack to discuss the future of conservatism and the Republican Party, proposing several reasons the GOP may have descended into populismfrom the Rush Limbaugh effect to Americans propensity be fall for con men. I think the Trumpification of the GOP is what social scientists call an overdetermined phenomenon, Jonah told Linker. I can agree with all of your proposed explanations to one extent or another for some conservatives or some Republicans. But I dont think any one of them alone explains whats happened, or why. Again, I dont think this explains everything, not even close. But the behavior of the left elicited a response from the right. I am happy to concede that the way Rush Limbaugh. Fox, et. al. covered the left and the Democrats made the rights response worse than it should have been in some respects, Jonah noted. And that gets me to the explanation [that] is most sorely missing from your menu.  What I think is missing from a lot of these kinds of debates is that we overlook the fact that both right and left suffer from many of the same problems.

How did New York Times columnist David Brooks come away from his interview with longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon in 2019? I felt like I was talking with Leon Trotsky in the years before the Russian Revolution, Brooks wrote for the Times. Brooks checked in with Bannon again before he reported to jail on Monday, to see how the right-wing provocateur and Trump confidant views the current moment. Im not a journalist, Bannon told Brooks, describing his War Room podcast. Im not in the media. This is a military headquarters for a populist revolt. This is how we motivate people. This show is an activist show. If you watch this show, youre a foot soldier. We call it the Army of the Awakened.  So even though [viewership] may not be the biggest, it doesnt have to be. Its the people that are out there in the hinterland that are on the school boards. They now control so many state parties. Our mantra is you must use your agency. Its a spiritual war. The divine providence works through your agency.

Presented Without Comment

New York Times: Stephen Bannon Goes to Prison, but His Podcast Wont Stop

He has prepared for this moment for months, he said, enlisting a team of nearly 20 guest hosts to continue pumping out the show, which streams its distinctive stew of unvaryingly pro-Trump political patter for four hours a day, Monday through Friday, and for two additional hours on Saturdays. That group includes Andrew Giuliani, the son of Mr. Trumps former lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani; Mr. Bannons daughter, Maureen; Noor bin Laden, the niece of Osama bin Laden, who is known for her belief in conspiracy theories; and Jeffrey Clark, who served in the Justice Department under Mr. Trump and faces criminal charges in Georgia in connection with efforts to overturn Mr. Trumps 2020 election loss there.

Also Presented Without Comment

National Review: Jill Biden, Featured on Cover of Vogue, Vows to Continue to Fight after Disastrous Debate

Also Also Presented Without Comment

Daily Beast: Watergate Reporter Carl Bernstein: Biden Has Bad Days

Carl Bernstein, the former Washington Post reporter and current CNN political analyst, said on the air Monday that he has heard from sources very close to President Joe Biden who say that his poor debate performance last Thursday was not a rarity. As concerns about the presidents age and fitness for office mount, Bernstein told AC360 anchor Anderson Cooper that his sources are adamant that what we saw the other nightthe Joe Biden we sawwas not a one-off, and that there have been 15, 20 occasions in the last year, year and a half, when the president has appeared somewhat as he did in that horror show that we witnessed.

In the Zeitgeist

Quincy Wilsonthe 16-year-old track and field phenom from the Washington, D.C., areawill become the youngest American male track athlete to compete in the Olympics when he arrives in Paris at the end of this month. Were very excited not just to see him race, but for more of his fantastic post-race interviews.

Toeing the Company Line

In the newsletters: Kevin rebutted () the notion that Americans can vote for an administration come November and not the president himself, the Dispatch Politics crew checked in on Democrats damage control after Bidens poor debate performance last week, Nick argued () that the Bidens are setting themselves up to be villains of history, and Sarah and Mike broke down the presidential immunity decision in The Collision .

On the podcasts: Sarah and David tackled the presidential immunity decision on an emergency edition of Advisory Opinions .

On the site: Chris compares the coming Trump-Biden rematch to the 1944 presidential election, Charlotte reports on a blueprint for post-war Gaza circulating in the Israeli government, and Timothy Sandefur argues that the Supreme Court made the right call in its NetChoice decision released Monday.

Let Us Know

What do you make of the argument the editors laid out in their editorial today?

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ANKARA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 474 more suspects late Monday over "provocative protests" against Syrian refugees across Turkiye, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Tuesday.

Yerlikaya said that "provocative actions were organized" against Syrians on Monday night in some cities across the country after a Syrian girl was harassed by a Syrian man in Turkiye's central Kayseri province on June 30.

"285 of the detainees had previous criminal records for offenses such as drugs, looting, theft, damage to property, and sexual harassment," the Turkish minister said on the social media platform X.

The anti-Syrian riots first started in Kayseri province, where residents on Sunday set fire to houses and businesses belonging to Syrians and vandalized their vehicles.

The violence spread to the provinces of Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Konya and Antalya while the Turkish government has been urging for calm.

The riots against Syrians in Turkiye also sparked a backlash in northern Syria.

Footages of a group of people desecrating the Turkish flag and attacking trucks from Turkiye circulated across social media.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday that "exploitation" of the incidents in Kayseri for provocations in Syria is wrong and warned against provocations. 
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump can claim immunity from prosecution. The landmark decision could delay the trial relating to the case accusing Trump of planning to overturn the 2020 election.

In February, a federal appeals court ruled that Trump could not claim immunity from special counsel Jack Smiths charges that he attempted to overturn the 2020 election while he was president.

Donald Trump brought his returning bid for the White House to Greenville, S.C. The former President was in town for a Ingraham Angle Town Hall at the Greenville Convention Center on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Host Laura Ingraham greets Trump as he arrives to the stage.

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court says former presidents can claim immunity for official actions.

The President is not above the law. But Congress may not criminalize the Presidents conduct in carrying out the responsibilities of the Executive Branch under the Constitution, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.

Supreme Court forces lengthy review: Is Trump immune from charges because he was president?

The split decision came down to partisan lines, with only liberal judges Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. Justice Sotomayor wrote a scathing opinion, ending the dissent by saying, With fear for our democracy, I dissent.

Todays decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency. It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law, Justice Sotomayor wrote.

The former president called the decision a big win for our constitution and democracy on Truth Social.

Heres how South Carolinas politicians reacted on social media.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), front, along with Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) at a press conference on Dec. 7, 2023 in Washington, D.C, regarding issues related to border security and President Joe Biden policy.

Sen. Lindsey Graham

The Supreme Courts ruling on presidential immunity will serve the presidency and the nation well in the future. Presidents have specific designated constitutional authorities and responsibilities such as being commander in chief, negotiating treaties, the appointment of high public officials, and the ability to decide whether or not crimes are investigated or prosecuted.

These core constitutional authorities specifically granted to the presidency must come with absolute immunity, or we will have chaos in America forever. What defines an official act will be determined by factual analysis going forward, with the presumption in favor of immunity. This makes perfect sense to me.

The Supreme Courts dissent in this case is foolish in every way, particularly Justice Sotomayor and Justice Jacksons argument that this decision allows a president to assassinate their opponent. The liberal members of the Court and the Left have lost their minds when it comes to President Trump.

What does this mean? It means that Jack Smiths January 6 case has deservedly been dealt a severe blow and that from now on, presidents will be less likely to be politically persecuted by out-of-control state and federal officials who use the law as a political weapon.

Today is a good day for President Trump and a good day for America.

U.S. Rep. William Timmons, 4th Congressional District

"Joe Bidens bad week just got worse. For years, President Trump has been a target of lawfare and political persecution from Joe Biden and his administration. Todays ruling from the Supreme Court on presidential immunity is a win for the Constitution and the rule of law."

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, 5th Congressional District

"Very important ruling out of SCOTUS today. Big win for the U.S. Constitution."

U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, 3rd Congressional District

"#SCOTUS vindicated President Trump by affirming the right of Presidential immunity. They have now ordered lower Courts to review the case considering this immunity. What they will find is that both Jack Smith and Fani Willis are bringing cases against Trump in violation of his Presidential immunity. That means these bogus cases against President Trump must come to an end! This is justice for #Trump!"

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, 1st Congressional District

"Presidential immunity for official acts is essential for any president to perform their constitutional duties without fear of political prosecution. This precedent, supported by Nixon v. Fitzgerald and the Constitution, must apply to all presidents to uphold our democratic process."

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina politicians react to Supreme Court immunity ruling
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Former president Donald Trump will likely not face trial ahead of this years election for charges stemming from January 6.

It comes after a historic Supreme Court ruling that gives presidents broad immunity from prosecution.

The courts conservative majority ruled that presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts but not unofficial ones.

The decision means that Trump has immunity in some capacity from criminal charges alleging he tried to overturn the 2020 election.

Its a dangerous precedent, said Biden.

President Biden criticized the court saying Trump should go to trial for his actions on January 6.

The American people deserve to have an answer in the courts before the upcoming election, said Biden.

Trump allies praised the ruling.

Were winning everywhere. And were going to win more, said former Trump advisor Steve Bannon.

On Truth Social, the former president said this was a win for the constitution and democracy.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said quote, If a former Presidents official acts are routinely subjected to scrutiny in criminal prosecutions, the independence of the Executive Branch may be significantly undermined.

The courts liberal wing disagreed with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing the ruling makes quote a mockery of the principlethat no man is above the law.

The justices didnt define an official act versus an unofficial act.

They left that for lower courts to decide.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The Supreme Court has put environmental protections under threat  issuing decisions that limit the power of agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to combat climate change and pollution.

Two of the courts recent rulings, both of which were decided 6-3 along ideological lines, could have a far-reaching impact on agencies ability to make and defend rules governing greenhouse gas emissions as well as air and water pollution.

Stan Meiburg, who was the EPAs acting No. 2 official under the Obama administration, said people should be very concerned about the implications of the decisions and how they impact the governments ability to respond to real crises that we are facing right now in our environment.

Last week, the court struck down a legal precedent known as the Chevron deference that instructed judges to defer to federal agencies in cases where the law is ambiguous.

The elimination of that doctrine means that in close-call cases, judges are more likely to substitute their own interpretation of the law instead of a federal agencys, making it more likely that an agency action will be overturned.

On Monday, the court also gave opponents of federal rules more opportunities to challenge them in court, extending the time a rules opponent has to sue over it. In practice, this is expected to enable new companies to challenge rules previously believed to be long settled.

Fridays ruling overturning the Chevron deference raised significant alarm among environmental advocates.

Although the ruling technically applies equally to administrations of both parties, Sam Sankar, senior vice president of programs for Earthjustice, described it as deeply deregulatory, particularly given the conservative makeup of the judiciary.

This court is saying we get to read the statutes in the first instance, not the agencies. Were the ones who resolve ambiguities. We dont listen to the agencies, except as, you know, third parties in litigation. And this is a profoundly conservative court that reads statutes as narrowly as possible, Sankar told reporters.

The federal government and environmental groups are going to be up to our ears in litigation, just trying to preserve the status quo, and the industries and the right-wing groups that support them are going to be throwing everything theyve got at this tool to try to make hay with it, he said.

Sanjay Narayan, a managing attorney with the Sierra Clubs Environmental Law Program, said the Chevron decision also upends the historical deference to technical and logistical expertise within agencies.

What that means, I think, is that this decision is likely, even in small, everyday ways, to undermine the effectiveness of a vast array of policies, he said in a call with reporters.

Meiburg, the former EPA official, believes the Monday ruling allowing for later legal challenges could be even more consequential.

It does seem to create an endless opportunity for no regulation to be ever settled, he said.

They basically said, Well, theres no statute of limitations. [It] doesnt run out until the injury actually occurs and all you have to do is to create a new company and say, Oh, weve been injured and then you can reopen almost any rule, he added.

Meiburg said regulations that are particularly vulnerable include longstanding limitations on how much air or water pollution an industry can release, including restrictions on hazardous air pollutants.

Meanwhile Nina Mendelson, a professor at University of Michigan Law School, said that in light of recent rulings, she doesnt believe that one particular type of environmental regulation is more vulnerable than another, stating that theyre all vulnerable.

The message here is agencies can get sued even decades later, and they have to prepare for a gotcha game in the courts, both on their detailed analysis of highly technical questions and on their best efforts to offer an interpretation of the law that makes sense and that is true to Congresss purposes in enacting the law, Mendelson said.

This is particularly true, she said, in light of a third ruling last week, which halted the Biden administrations cross-state air pollution rule.

One of the reasons why the rule was stayed is because the court felt that EPA had not adequately addressed a particular concern raised by challengers  even though EPA had gone to extensive efforts to address many concerns around the rule, and even though the particular issue  had not been presented directly to the agency, Mendelson said.

That tells agencies be prepared to have to fight lawsuits about nitpicky issues that you may never have  heard about before,' she 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.
What Supreme Court rulings mean for Trump and conservative America's war on Big Tech

For years Republicans hammered the message that powerful technology companies are biased against conservatives.

That grievance intensified in 2021 when major social media platforms suspended former President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Florida and Texas responded by passing laws meant to limit how tech companies moderate content on their platforms.

"There is a dangerous movement by some social media companies to silence conservative ideas and values," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said when he signed his state's law in 2021. "This is wrong and we will not allow it in Texas."

Anti-tech sentiment did not gin up as much partisan fervor as abortion or immigration, but it rallied a GOP base devoted to the former president. Then the popular conservative campaign hit a major snag: The nations high court.

Monday, the Supreme Court returned legal challenges to the Florida and Texas laws to the lower courts, saying the laws require further analysis to determine if they are constitutional. Though parts of the laws could be upheld, Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the majority, signaled key elements were unlikely to withstand scrutiny, dealing a blow to conservatives.

In sum, there is much work to do below on both these cases, Justice Kagan said, adding, that work must be done consistent with the First Amendment, which does not go on leave when social media are involved.

Political commentator Dan Schnur said the decision will enrage conservatives who believe their views are being suppressed by "wealthy technology executives."

"Since the courts wont save them anytime soon, this will become an issue for GOP congressional candidates in the fall. But nothing will happen in Congress either, so the anger from the right will continue to grow," said Schnur, who teaches at the University of California  Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies and at the University of Southern Californias Annenberg School of Communications.

In this photo illustration, social media apps are displayed on an iPad on February 26, 2024, in Miami, Florida.

Supreme Court social media rulings anger Republicans

The high hopes conservatives had when the censorship debate landed on the Supreme Court docket seem to be fading.

Even with conservative judges like Amy Coney Barrett, we cant expect any help from the Courts, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a Trump ally, tweeted last week after the Supreme Court rebuffed a lawsuit brought by the Republican attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri and a small number of social media users who accused the Biden administration of crossing the line when it leaned on social media platforms to suppress content about COVID-19 and election fraud.

Legal experts said Mondays ruling could also affect how state lawmakers attempt to regulate online speech and platforms in the future.

While the decision today doesnt definitively resolve the future of the Florida and Texas laws, a majority bloc of justices  led by Justice Kagan  articulated some important principles that represent a major victory for the First Amendment freedoms of social media services, Santa Clara University School of Law professor Eric Goldman said.

Florida and Texas stuck to their ideological guns.

Big Tech censorship is one of the biggest threats to free public discourse and election integrity, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement on X. I will keep fighting for our law that protects Texans voices.

Trump and GOP campaign against social media losing momentum

Allegations that social media platforms violate the First Amendment rights of conservatives soared in recent years, becoming a key flashpoint in the nations culture wars.

The GOP says social media companies have been too quick to throttle conservative viewpoints and disclose too little about how they decide what content to remove. Social media companies say they don't target conservatives, only harmful speech that violates their rules.

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to a rally at Greenbrier Farms on June 28, 2024 in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Republican activists are still pressing the point in states around the country. States have introduced similar legislation to address the censorship allegations, but no new laws have been signed, said Computer & Communications Industry Associations State Director Khara Boender.

"Today's Supreme Court decision underscores the level of scrutiny such similar laws would face with regard to protections provided under the First Amendment, Boender told USA TODAY.

Florida and Texas social media 'censorship' laws remain blocked

Had Florida and Texas prevailed in the Supreme Court, the laws would have led to sweeping changes in what content Americans see in their social media feeds during a hotly contested presidential election.

Florida's law would require large social media platforms to "host some speech that they might otherwise prefer not to host" by prohibiting the censorship or banning of a political candidate or "journalistic enterprise."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

The Texas law would prohibit social media companies with at least 50 million monthly active users from censoring users based on "viewpoint," and would allow either users or the Texas attorney general to sue.

The laws were challenged by tech industry trade groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include Facebook parent Meta, Googles YouTube and TikTok, and were blocked before they could take effect. One federal appeal struck down Floridas statute, while another upheld the Texas law.

Without the ability to downgrade or block content, social media companies warned that users would be flooded by hate speech, spam, disinformation and other toxic content.

"Normal people do not want to go on websites and just see a ton of lawful but awful content," Chris Marchese, who oversees litigation for tech industry trade group NetChoice, previously told USA TODAY.

Both laws remain blocked.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What the Supreme Court rulings mean for GOP war on social media 'bias'
The Supreme Court has sidestepped a challenge to the federal law used to convict the presidents son, Hunter Biden.

On Tuesday, the justices asked the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to look again at the recent ruling in US v Daniels, the SCOTUS decision which overturned a conviction on drug users owning guns.

Hunter Bidens defense attorneys cited the ruling in their appeal to his case, where he was found guilty last month of buying a gun while addicted to crack cocaine.

Last year, the Fifth Circuit reversed the conviction of a Mississippi man who owned two guns while using marijuana, saying US history and tradition does not justify disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug usage.

Should the lower federal court uphold its ruling, it could be useful for Bidens appeal.

The case involving the Mississippi man is just one of eight cases the Supreme Court returned to lower courts in light of their June 2024 decision in United States v Rahimi, which determined that the Second Amendment has restrictions for potentially violent individuals.

Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden, exits the J Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 10, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware during his federal gun charges trial (AFP via Getty Images)

Other cases that the Supreme Court asked lower courts to revisit include disputes to laws that prevent people convicted of a felony or a nonviolent felony from owning a firearm.

One challenge asks whether a New York law requiring a person seeking a gun license to prove they are of good moral character and place restrictions on sensitive locations is a violation of the Second Amendment.

Those lower courts - which include the Second, Third, Fifth, Eighth and Tenth - will need to consider Rahimi when deciding if their original rulings remain valid. Those decisions could be brought back to the Supreme Court at a later time if there is a further constitutional question.

It has been a contentious term for the Supreme Court with strong criticism of the justices decisions to significantly scale back the authority of the administrative state like federal agencies. Their decisions this term may cause lower courts, like the Fifth Circuit, to face a massive docket of cases to revise.

The gun cases make up just a small portion of those cases to revise.

Tuesdays list of cases going back to lower courts also includes nine requests that relied upon the recently overturned 40-year precedent in Chevron v Natural Resources, a landmark case that gave federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and more the authority to defer to their own expertise when interpreting vague language.

Nine other cases are going back to the lower courts thanks to a ruling that found juries are required in criminal cases that invoke a law carrying minimum sentencings of 15 years.

The Supreme Court has agreed to take up only four cases in the next term, two of which are notable. One has to do with the FDAs ban on flavored vapes and the other has to do with age verification requirements on websites containing sexual content.
This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Alongside Amicus, we kicked things off this year by explaining How Originalism Ate the Law. The best way to support our work is by joining Slate Plus. (If you are already a member, consider a donation or merch!)

In the midst of a blizzard of Supreme Court decisions destabilizing the government as we have known it, many people might have missed a seemingly workaday case in which the court determined whether a lawsuit challenging a federal agencys regulation was filed on time. In that case, Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the court held that the federal statute setting a six-year deadline for lawsuits against the government allowed a company to challenge a federal regulation long after it was enacted because the challenge came within six years of the date when the companywhich was incorporated several years after the rule was issuedwas first injured by the rule. In doing so, the courts six-justice conservative supermajority disagreed with every federal appeals court that had squarely faced the same issue and opened the courthouse doors to challenges to long-standing, long-settled agency regulations.

Before Corner Post, the federal courts position on the required timing of a lawsuit challenging an agency rule was clear: Parties that wished to file a facial challengethe kind of challenge that broadly questions the lawfulness of a rule as applied to anyone, not as applied to a specific person or entity in specific circumstanceshad to do so within six years of the date the final rule was issued. This approach promoted legal stability by assuring agencies, Congress, regulated entities, and everyone else that a rules legal status would be cemented within six years after it became final. Now, after Corner Post, anyone with a brand-new grievance against a regulation can, no matter how long the regulation has been in effect, file a lawsuit to undo it.

To understand how disruptive the Supreme Courts decision in Corner Post will be, consider another (seemingly unrelated) case from the courts last term. In Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, an anti-abortion group and affiliated doctors challenged both the Food and Drug Administrations original approval, issued in 2000, of mifepristone, a medicine used to induce abortions, and the agencys more recent adjustments to the protocols for prescribing and administering the drug. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryka Texas-based federal trial court judge known for opposing both abortion and government regulationheld that the FDAs original approval of mifepristone was unlawful and that removing the drug from the market was the right remedy. The federal appeals court in Texas rejected Kacsmaryks invalidation of the FDAs original approval of mifepristone, not because it thought Kacsmaryks decision was wrong on the merits, but because the legal challenge to the approval hadnt been filed within six years of the FDAs final decision approving the drug.

Once anti-abortion litigants regroup and find a person or entity who, unlike the litigants in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, has standing to sue, you can be sure that they will renew their challenge to the FDAs original approval, a quarter of a century ago, of mifepristone. Corner Post will be there to speed them on their way. (This is probably no accident. The same law firm that represented Corner Post in the Supreme Court, Consovoy McCarthy, also represented anti-abortion groups in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. It would be naive to suppose that the connection between Corner Post and mifepristone went unnoticed by one of the conservative legal movements go-to legal advocates.)

The potential for disruption caused by Corner Post is greatly magnified by the courts decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, overruling Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Whereas Chevron had instructed courts to defer to agencies reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes, Loper Bright now forbids courts to defer to agencies and proclaims that every statute has oneand only onebest and permissible meaning, to be determined by judges, not administrators. There are thousands of long-standing agency rules that were upheld by courts based on the principle of deference embraced by Chevron. There are almost certainly also legions of long-standing rules whose statutory basis was not even challenged when those rules went into effect due to the strength and pervasiveness of Chevron deference. All of these rules are now vulnerable to lawsuits brought by newly aggrieved litigants thanks to the combination of Corner Post and Loper Bright.

The conservative justices attempts in these cases to wave away concerns about legal instability and mushrooming litigation against the government are risible. In Loper Bright, after eviscerating Chevron, Chief Justice John Roberts promised that the court was not questioning its prior cases upholding agencies decisions based on Chevron. It is strange that the lesser decisions, upholding one rule at a time, apparently deserve more precedential respect than the blockbuster case that dominated administrative law for 40 years. Even apart from that, it is hard to credit the courts reassurance about stare decisis in the middle of a decision disrespecting stare decisis. And the courts pinkie-swear promise about the continuing validity of its own cases relying on Chevron says nothing about what the lower courts will do with their own, far more voluminous precedent on Chevron. Will the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuitwhere federal regulations go to diecling to its prior Chevron-based treatments of long-standing agency rules? Dont hold your breath.

Justice Amy Coney Barretts reassurances in her majority opinion in Corner Post are equally hollow. She, too, thinks that stare decisis will largely take care of concerns about legal instability and judicial workload. New challenges to old rules will, she observes, often be resolved through binding precedent at the appeals court or Supreme Court level. This begs the question of how binding the courts will believe their precedent to be when it relies on Chevron. Moreover, since not all of the circuit courts hear every challenge to a rule, and since the Supreme Court only handles about 60 cases every year, well-funded litigants will almost always be able to find a congenial, and precedent-free, venue in which to press a challenge against a long-standing rule. In some federal courts in Texas, moreover, theyll even be able to pick their judge.
Over opposition from two conservative justices, the Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away a challenge that couldve gutted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

An Ohio-based construction contractor backed by Republican-led states and anti-regulatory interests contended Congress unconstitutionally delegated its legislative powers to the executive branch when it gave such broad authority to the agency, which sets and enforces workplace standards.

In a brief order, the court declined to take up the contractors appeal after a lower court rejected the challenge. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch publicly indicated they wouldve taken up the case, but at least four votes were needed.

Gorsuch did not provide an explanation, but Thomas did, arguing the OSHA challenge presented an excellent vehicle to tackle the weighty constitutional issue.

The question whether the Occupational Health and Safety Administrations broad authority is consistent with our constitutional structure is undeniably important, Thomas wrote.

He noted that other conservatives on the Supreme Court  Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh  have over the years expressed an interest in reconsidering this Courts approach to Congresss delegations of power to federal agencies.

Thomas contended that the Labor Department agencys power extends to virtually every business in the United States, quoting a years-old dissent from Kavanaugh where he said the agency asserts authority from the design of a power lawnmower to the amount of contact allowed between trainers and whales at SeaWorld.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act may be the broadest delegation of power to an administrative agency found in the United States Code, Thomas wrote. If this far-reaching grant of authority does not impermissibly confer legislative power on an agency, it is hard to imagine what would.

He further argued that it would be no less objectionable if Congress allowed the IRS to tax anyone it deemed appropriate.

The challenge to OSHA was brought by Allstates Refractory LLC, a small general contractor in Ohio that provides furnace services to the glass, metal and petrochemical industries. It was backed by 23 Republican state attorneys general and a variety of libertarian legal groups.

They looked to use the case to take another bite at shrinking the size of the administrative state following the Supreme Courts decisive victory for conservative and anti-regulatory interests in recent years.

The contractor was represented before the high court by Don McGahn, who served as White House counsel to former President Trump.

The high courts decision on Tuesday to turn away the appeal comes days after it invalidated the Securities and Exchange Commissions in-house enforcement system used to seek civil fraud penalties. Though the case presented a similar issue to the OSHA petition, the court resolved the case on other grounds.

And last week, the court took a sledgehammer to the power of executive agencies by overruling the Chevron deference, a now-defunct legal doctrine that instructed judges to defer to agencies in cases where the law is ambiguous.

Earlier in the term, however, the court preserved the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by upholding its funding mechanism.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Three variations of the AR-15 assault rifle are displayed at the California Department of Justice in Sacramento. (Associated Press)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down a 2nd Amendment challenge to state laws in Illinois that prohibited the sale of rapid-fire assault weapons.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. dissented.

Had the court granted the appeals, it would have threatened California's long-standing ban of most rapid-fire assault rifles as well.

Thomas said the court refused to hear the appeals now because the cases are still pending in the lower courts. "I hope we will consider the important issues presented by these petitions after the cases reach final judgment," he wrote.

Tuesday's order suggests the justices are not anxious to rule on rapid-fire guns at this time, but it probably does not signal the majority leans in favor of upholding these laws.

In the brief order, the justices said they would not review a ruling by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, which in a 2-1 vote refused to block a new Illinois law that forbids the sale of semiautomatic rifles and pistols as well as large-capacity magazines.

Read more: Top 10 Supreme Court rulings of the 2023-24 term

The measure was enacted last year after a shooter armed with an AR-15-style rifle and 30-round magazines fired 83 rounds in less than a minute, killing seven people and wounding 48, at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago.

At issue was whether the state's ban on these popular but potentially dangerous weapons violates the 2nd Amendment and the right to "keep and bear arms."

The National Foundation for Gun Rights called Tuesday's order a temporary setback.

"For now at least, the 2nd Amendment is a second-class right, and it will remain so until the Supreme Court decides to stop ducking the issue, said Hannah Hill, the group's executive director. The case will now proceed to the discovery, trial, and summary judgment phases at the district court, she added.

When the Supreme Court first upheld individual gun rights in 2008, Justice Antonin Scalia said the 2nd Amendment protects firearms that are "in common use" but not "dangerous and unusual weapons."

Those comments shape the current debate.

Gun-rights advocates say semiautomatic rifles and handguns are in common use. They are among the most popular weapons in this country, they say, and may be used for self-defense and target shooting.

State legislators and gun-control advocates stress the danger posed by rapid-fire weapons that can shoot dozens of rounds. They describe AR-15 style guns as weapons of war and the weapon of choice in mass shootings.

Read more: Supreme Court gives Trump broad immunity from prosecution  for the past and perhaps future

In addition to California and Illinois, the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Washington also forbid most semiautomatic rifles.

In the past, both Thomas and Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh have dissented from decisions upholding bans on assault weapons.

In upholding the Illinois law, 7th Circuit Judge Diane Wood said courts had historically made a distinction between military-style weapons like the M-16 rifle and guns that were for private use.

"These assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are much more like machine guns and military-grade weaponry than they are like the many different types of firearms that are used for individual self-defense," she wrote in an opinion joined by Judge Frank Easterbrook. "Indeed, the AR-15 is almost the same gun as the M-16 machine gun."

Separately, the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco is weighing a 2nd Amendment challenge to California's ban on assault weapons.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Five members of the Supreme Court of the United States want to take us back to seventeenth-century absolutism. In a stunning rejection of originalist interpretation, and in defiance of the single statement carved onto the front of the majestic building where they work (Equal justice under law), the justices ruled Monday that the president does not have to abide by the laws of the land. They agreed that presidents might be liable for purely private acts, such as Bill Clinton lying about engaging in oral sex in the Oval Office. But in the appropriately titled Trump v. the United States, they have narrowed the scope of possible prosecution so dramatically that in effect Donald Trump cannot be held accountable for almost any of his efforts on January 6, 2021, to retain power beyond his term. The result, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in her dissent, is that the court has created a paradigm shift: The Court has unilaterally altered the balance of power between the three coordinate branches of our Government as it relates to the Rule of Law, aggrandizing power in the Judiciary and the Executive. The 63 majorityfive of them in particularcreated a ticking time bomb that ignored the Constitutions most fundamental principles, making it easy for future presidents to become dictators and act with impunity.



Last October, special counsel Jack Smith finally indicted Trump on four counts. These included conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct the counting of Electoral College votes on January 6, actually obstructing the counting of those votes, and preventing the exercise of the fundamental right to vote. For many of us, having watched in horror the events of that day, the counts were long overdue. These counts were modest (no actual counts of treason or seditious conspiracy, for example, even though substantial evidence for both exists), but they were enough that, should he be convicted, Trump faced years in jail. They seemed to promise some accountability for the leader of the coup attempt. They fulfilled what Trumps own lawyers and Mitch McConnell, at the time the Senate majority leader, had argued during Trumps second impeachment trial: Trump should not be impeached because the Senate did not provide the proper forum for such judgment. Instead, he was accountable before the regular courts. Brought by a grand jury, the cases were scheduled to be heard before a jury on March 4, 2024.

By then, Trump had new lawyers who argued exactly the opposite of his lawyers in the impeachment case: that as president he was above the law. Their theory was that because the chief executive under the common law of England before the Revolution had certain privileges and immunities, those must have been retained by the president after the revolution. I worried that the conservative majority on the Supreme Court might believe this ahistorical interpretation. Because I have read so widely in legal treatises of the 1790s, I agreed to compose the first draft of an historians amicus brief for the court on this case. With support from the Brennan Center for Justice and a major law firm, I and 14 other historians explained as clearly as possible a central principle of nearly every founding-era legal treatise and the Constitutional Convention, ratifying conventions, and state constitutional conventions. Presidents were not like kings, but accountable to the law like any other citizen. It was both humbling and gratifying during the oral argument, then, when the conservatives on the court avoided addressing historical arguments, even as Justices Jackson, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor quoted from our brief.

That any intervention by this court would be de novo was emphasized by Michael Dreeben, who argued the case on behalf of Jack Smith. Halfway through oral arguments in April, Chief Justice Roberts asserted that the fact of prosecution was enough, enough to take away any official immunity. Dreeben answered: I would take issue, Mr. Chief Justice, with the idea of taking away immunity. There is no immunity that is in the Constitution, unless this Court creates it today. Dreeben could state this so clearly partly because of our briefand he was absolutely right.

In his majority opinion on Monday, Roberts did not disagree with Dreeben. He knew the court was creating a new precedent, and knew that instead of relying on constitutional interpretation, either in terms of text or first principles, they were relying on a few secondary considerations raised by other Supreme Court cases in the recent past. Aside from a few airy references to the Constitution envisioning a vigorous executive, Roberts argued that they had to adhere in particular to the 1983 case of Nixon v. Fitzgerald, which they cited dozens of times. But that was a civil case, whereby a former federal employee sought damages against Nixon for firing him. It is an elementary principle of English and American law that civil and criminal law are two entirely separate issues. By stating that they had to adhere to Fitzgerald, and creating a principle for criminal culpability for the president that adhered to the standard set in a case about civil liability, the courts majority made a completely new ruling. And they did so without discussing any of the relevant historical sources from the founding era; only the dissenting justices did that.



Furthermore, the majority decision created a vast scope of presidential immunity, alleging that presidents should have presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for a Presidents acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility, by which they mean any acts that might by any conceivable way be understood to be part of his job.

But the scariest parts are in two details. One is that if an acteven one done for criminal purposesmight possibly be deemed official, it cannot be used to prosecute the president for something that might be deemed private, and therefore prosecutable. They deemed that the presidents intention was irrelevant. The second, the one that stunned me, was when they wrote, Nor may courts deem an action unofficial merely because it allegedly violates a generally applicable law. Official acts cannot be prosecuted, even when they clearly violate a law, any law. Jackson was correct in her dissent when she wrote that future presidents would be unconstrained. Even a president who admits to having ordered the assassinations of his political rivals or critics  or one who indisputably instigates an unsuccessful coup  has a fair shot at getting immunity under the majoritys new Presidential accountability model. It is a five alarm fire that threatens to consume democratic self-governance.

The Founders were hardly all wise or all knowing, but they did understand a history that we have now forgotten. Theres a reason that they so carefully included accountability for governors, and presidents, and wanted it for kings. They not only experienced abuses of power at the hands of royal governors, and at the whims of kings, abuses they recounted in the Declaration of Independence. They knew as basic history that this question was at the center of disputes over the actions of unrestrained monarchs during Englands two revolutions in the seventeenth century.

The 1686 case of Godden v. Hales affirmed the power of James II, king of England, to ignore all laws and not be bound by them. Like the decision in Trump v. U.S., the judges could cite no substantial precedent. Before the decision, James II personally interrogated the justices, all of whom held their positions at his pleasure. When it appeared that some of the 12 justices on Englands highest court might not rule as he wished, James II fired them and replaced them with other more amenable justices. After the decision, which cited the Kings will, James IIs actions became increasingly egregious, so much so that there was a revolution against him, called the Glorious Revolution because his soldiers refused to fight for him. The Convention Parliament that met afterward, in the spring of 1689, requested all of the records from the case be brought to them. They then fired all of the high court justices, levied fines on them, ruled that they could never again hold any office. They also decreed that no high court decisions from the reign of James II could ever be cited as precedent.

Todays Supreme Court has just recreated one of the most despicable cases in English history, a case that signified the apex of absolutism in British history and was repudiated by a revolution for the damage it caused. Their language about presidents facing no responsibility for criminal actions if they are remotely related to their official responsibilities is substantially the same ruling for Trump that Godden v. Hales was for the king of England in 1686.

As Sotomayor summarized in her dissent: When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he will now be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune. She concluded that in every use of official power, a power that includes pretty much any part of a presidents official role, the president is now a king above the law.

There is still a slim chance for prosecuting Trump for January 6, as the majority allowed that some of the charges, such as those involving Trumps interactions with the Vice President, state officials, and certain private parties, and his comments to the general public  present more difficult questions. But their insistence that Trumps attempts to pressure Vice President Mike Pence not to certify Joe Bidens victory involve official conduct and that Trump is at least presumptively immune from prosecution for such conduct, will make it nearly impossible for Smith to move forward with any prosecution.

Because impeachment of justices under our Constitution is so difficult, requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate for conviction, it seems impossible to hold them accountable for a decision that must be expeditiously remedied. But this decision also has persuaded me that President Biden needs to overbalance these wingnuts. He must take advantage of the fact that the number of justices on the court is flexible. He should appoint four new justices who have some integrity, to match the number of district courts (now 13). In the 1790s, when the nation was much smaller, we had six. This partisan court is doing so much to undermine the U.S. government and Constitution, with not only this absolutist decision but their other precedent-destroying decisions of the past weeks and years, that they are inviting a level of chaos that even they dont have the power to containand thats exactly the kind of environment in which authoritarians like Donald Trump thrive. The Supreme Court has effectively ruled that 250 years of U.S. history under a republic is enough.
The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Illinoiss ban on certain semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines Tuesday, avoiding what wouldve been a blockbuster Second Amendment case.

In a brief order, the justices turned away a series of challenges to Illinoiss law and local ordinances. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito publicly dissented, voting to take up the case.

The decision leaves the bans in place, for now, though the challenges will continue in lower courts. Taking up the appeals couldve stood to impact laws passed in more than a dozen states banning assault-style weapons like the AR-15 rifle or certain magazines.

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a statement indicating the court is rightly wary of taking up the challenges now because they remain in a preliminary posture, but Thomas said the issue is worth taking up down the road.

But, if the Seventh Circuit ultimately allows Illinois to ban Americas most common civilian rifle, we canand shouldreview that decision once the cases reach a final judgment, Thomas wrote.

Bans on assault-style rifles have become a flashpoint of the constitutional debate surrounding gun control following the Supreme Courts landmark Second Amendment decision two years ago that changed the test for weighing the constitutionality of gun laws.

That ruling has led lower courts to strike down a dizzying array of restrictions.

In six related cases consolidated by a lower court, more than two dozen plaintiffs  which include gun-rights groups, gun shop owners and individual Illinois residents  contended bans like those passed in Illinois are unconstitutional under the new test.

The lawsuits each challenge Illinoiss law or similar ordinances passed in Chicago, Cook County and Naperville.

This Court needs to intervene before this open defiance spreads further, lawyers for one group of plaintiffs wrote in their petition to the Supreme Court.

The Court has repeatedly reminded courts and legislatures that the Second Amendment is not a second-class right. Unfortunately, the Court now needs to instruct them that Bruena recent, emphatic 6-3 decision of this Courtis not a second-class precedent, they continued.

Democrats passed some of the measures following a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Ill., which killed seven people while wounding dozens of others in 2022.

The Supreme Court declined to intervene in the case on their emergency docket twice previously. In May, the justices turned away a challenge to a similar ban on assault-style rifles in Maryland.

In court papers, Illinois and the three local governments urged the Supreme Court to continue staying out of the case and let the lower ruling stand that keeps in place the various restrictions.

There is thus no conflict among the federal courts of appeal on the question presented, their attorneys wrote.

Meanwhile, the question continues to percolate in at least seven circuits. In addition, this case is a poor vehicle to resolve the question presented, they continued.



On Tuesday, the Supreme Court refused the Biden administrations request to take up various cases implicating the constitutionality of the federal law making it a crime for felons to possess guns.



The court sent those cases and various other Second Amendment petitions, including one that implicates the charge Hunter Biden was convicted of, back to lower courts for another look in the wake of the Supreme Courts recent gun decision.

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Israeli troops are seen in Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel has killed about 900 militants in Rafah since the beginning of Israel's ground assault on the southernmost city in Gaza in early May, Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday.

The casualties include "at least one battalion commander, many company commanders, and many operatives," Halevi said when inspecting a military logistic post in the southern Gaza Strip, according to a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces.

Halevi said that the offensive in Rafah is expected to be completed within weeks.

"Now the effort focuses on the destruction of the infrastructure and the destruction of the underground infrastructure, and it takes time," he said, noting, "This campaign is long because we don't want to leave Rafah with the infrastructure intact."

Before the launch of the ground offensive, Rafah was one of the few locations where civilians sought refuge from the massive Israeli bombardments across the Palestinian enclave. 

Israeli troops are seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli armored vehicle is seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Israeli troops are seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Israeli troops are seen in Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Then-President Trump speaks at a rally outside the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, before his followers stormed the Capitol as Congress was certifying Joe Biden's election win. (Associated Press)

The Supreme Court chose an unusual time to declare for the first time that presidents  past and future  are immune from the criminal law when it comes to their use of official or constitutional powers.

It comes just as former President Trump  who once promised to be "dictator for one day"  prepares to accept the Republican nomination to return to the White House.

Trump was also the nation's first chief executive to refuse to accept his defeat in an election, insisting it was "stolen" and calling thousands of his supporters to come to Washington and to "fight like hell."

Read more: Top 10 Supreme Court rulings of the 2023-24 term

The mob riot at the Capitol prompted the House to impeach him, a majority of senators to vote to convict him, and the Justice Department to bring criminal charges against him for conspiring to overturn the election results.

But the Supreme Court sent the opposite message Monday in the case of Trump vs. United States. The court's six conservatives, all Republican appointees, said the Constitution has an unwritten immunity clause that shields presidents from being prosecuted or held to account for violating criminal laws when they are exercising their official powers.

Legal experts were surprised by the court's opinion and predicted danger ahead.

"I can't fathom what they were thinking," said Donald Ayer, a former Justice Department attorney in the Reagan administration. "They know who Trump is. This will embolden him."

Trump said recently he will seek "revenge" against those who have crossed him and his supporters. Earlier this week, Trump reposted an image calling Republican former Rep. Liz Cheney guilty of treason and and saying she should be prosecuted in televised military tribunals for her leading role in the House Jan. 6 committee's investigation of the attack on the Capitol.

Fifty years ago this week, attorney Philip Lacovara went before the Supreme Court and urged the justices to order President Nixon to turn over the White House tapes. He won a unanimous decision, with three Nixon appointees joining in.

Read more: Supreme Court turns down a 2nd Amendment challenge to state bans on assault weapons

Lacovara was taken aback by Monday's opinion, which he called the "most dangerous and anticonstitutional decision" since the 19th century.

"At the time of the Watergate investigations, not a single Supreme Court justice of any political affiliation would have taken seriously a claim that the president is immune from complying with federal criminal law. Not even Nixon in his wildest dreams ever imagined that any court would dignify such a claim," he said. "This is part of a disturbing trend, as in, for example, Poland and Hungary, in which conservative justices on the right favor authoritarian concepts of presidential power."

Today's court conservatives believe in a strong role for the president as chief executive. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh served as White House lawyers under Republican presidents, and they are skeptical of limits on the president's powers. The court's other conservatives have worked in Washington for decades, and they also wary of politically driven investigations and prosecutions.

At the same time, however, they have sharply limited the power of executive agencies. The so-called Chevron doctrine held that judges should defer to executive agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency or the Education Department when the president's appointees adopt new regulations. But the court overturned that doctrine last week by the same 6-3 vote that expanded the president's power this week.

John Malcolm, senior attorney at the conservative Heritage Foundation, hailed the immunity ruling as historic.

It is "undoubtedly one of the most significant constitutional decisions [the court] has ever issued with respect to the separation of powers and the powers of the presidency." It "will likely have a bigger impact on how presidents are likely to act in the future while in office," he added.

The idea that a Supreme Court, with justices picked by Trump, are ruling on a matter of this import right before an election, it just seems stunningly bad timing beyond the merits of the decision itself, which i think were really suspect, said Chris Whipple, who has written two books on the presidency.

Prior to this week, "you already have orange lights going off for what Trump might do in a second term in terms what he himself has said, said William Kristol, a conservative critic of Trump who served in the George H.W. Bush White House. That includes using the pardon power and a raft of hard-right ideological proposals in the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 report, which lays out an action plan for a second Trump term.

This just turns the orange light into a red light, Kristol said.

In addition to the legal changes, it creates psychological and political pressure on Republicans to carry out Trumps most extreme impulses, experts say.

Republican senators are already inclined to go along with Trump  and incidentally the court says he can do this and it will be used as an argument against anyone who is critical or hesitant to go along, Kristol said.

Kristol envisions Trump obliterating post-Watergate norms that gave the Justice Department a measure of independence, and a trickle-down effect that would give license to Trumps aides  inducing ideologues like Trump advisor Stephen Miller  to make demands of officials on Trumps behalf.

John Bolton, Trumps former national security advisor, argues that Trump never worried about guardrails in the first place.

He has always thought that he could beat whatever rules anyone tried to impose on him, Bolton said.

Trumps mind-set is: I'm going to do what I want and if somebody doesn't like it, let em litigate, Bolton said.

But Trump could be talked out of things in his first term, Bolton said. Trump would demand every few months to prosecute former Secretary of State John F. Kerry for allegedly violating the Logan Act by intervening in his Iran policy, Bolton recalled. His White House counsel would ignore or obfuscate, but the people he chooses in the second term are less likely to do that, he said.

In the second term there will be people around him who will say, Convene the grand jury, he said.What happens if he declares martial law because of the invasion across the border?  I think the courts will continue to be a buffer. I hope so.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Supreme Court's ruling that former President Donald Trump is presumptively immune from criminal prosecution for official acts carried out while in office is likely to have a ripple effect on each of his four criminal cases, potentially resulting in delays and complications that will further bog them down, experts told ABC News.

In the months leading up to the Supreme Court's decision, Trump's lawyers invoked presidential immunity as a defense in each of the four cases, including moving to dismiss Trump's Florida and Georgia cases as well as exclude evidence in Trump's New York hush money case.

While Monday's ruling entitling Trump to immunity from prosecution for official acts while president will most directly impact his federal election interference case -- potentially reshaping charges faced by the former president related to his conduct to overturn the 2020 election results -- the Supreme Court's decision could provide Trump's lawyers additional ammunition to challenge and delay the other cases.

MORE: Supreme Court rejects Trump's immunity claim for 'unofficial acts' but grants some for 'official' ones

Following Monday's landmark Supreme Court decision, Trump's lawyers made their first move to capitalize on the ruling by seeking to throw out the former president's conviction in New York for falsifying business records.

Experts suggested that both Trump's federal and state election interference cases -- brought by both special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis -- could be reshaped to conform to Monday's decision. Trump's Florida criminal case -- related to the alleged retention of classified documents -- could face further delays to address the Supreme Court ruling.

"Trump's lawyers are now going to make every argument they can make based on the Supreme Court's decision," said Pace University School of Law professor Bennett L. Gershman.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges in each case, and has accused the cases of being politically motivated.

Federal election interference case

The Supreme Court determined that presidents are presumed to be protected by immunity for any official acts, but the court did not clearly apply the ruling to Trump's alleged criminal conduct, leaving that decision to the trial judge overseeing the case.

Judge Tanya Chutkan -- who froze the proceedings for six months during Trump's Supreme Court appeal -- will now need to determine if Trump's alleged conduct comprised official or private acts. To answer that question, Chutkan will need to consider whether Trump's conduct fell within the "outer perimeter" of Trump's presidential duties or if the actions were committed in Trump's capacity as president, rather than a candidate for office or party leader.

While the justices found that some of the conduct -- such as Trump's interactions with Department of Justice officials -- are absolutely official acts, they acknowledged Trump's interactions with his vice president or state officials could present "difficult questions" for Chutkan.

Adding to the challenge, the justices limited Chutkan's ability to inquire about Trump's motives because such an inquiry would be "highly intrusive" and "'seriously cripple" the president's ability to conduct their official duties.

"I expect there'll be hearings about what counts can stand, and what counts can't stand, and what evidence can be presented and what evidence can't be presented," said Jeffrey Cohen, a Boston College associate law professor.

Those hearings could also allow prosecutors to air evidence and testimony ahead of Election Day -- though Chutkan is not permitted to set any hearings for another month until the Supreme Court's decision is formally issued.

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton, June 22, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court also prohibited prosecutors from using any testimony or private records from Trump or any of his advisers related to official acts as evidence at trial, further complicating the case.

Smith might consider modifying the case against Trump by going back to a grand jury to secure a superseding indictment, according to Justin Levitt, a constitutional law professor at Loyola Law School.

Through a series of hearings and or an updated indictment, Chutkan could carve out a version of the case against Trump that meets the Supreme Court's new standards, Levitt said.

Overall, experts ABC News spoke with agreed that Monday's ruling significantly limited the breadth of the case and the kind of evidence that might be permissible at trial -- and all but guaranteed that a trial would not take place before the election.

Either side can appeal Chutkan's final decision about the bounds of the case, and that appeal could take up to a year and go all the way back to the Supreme Court.

"I think that this is a major hurdle for the prosecution," said Fordham Law Professor Cheryl Bader. "This was a real gut punch."

Georgia election interference case

The former president's criminal case in Fulton County, Georgia, could also be reshaped by Monday's ruling from the Supreme Court, experts said, because both the federal and the state case focus on Trump's conduct while president.

"I would say that the rule for absolute immunity would apply pretty much equally in both instances, federal and state," Gershman said.

Earlier this year, Trump's lawyers sought to dismiss the state case based on the claim of presidential immunity, though the judge overseeing that case has yet to issue a decision, waiting for the Supreme Court's final ruling.

"The indictment in this case charges President Trump for acts that lie at the heart of his official responsibilities as President," Trump's lawyers wrote in a January motion. "The indictment is barred by presidential immunity and should be dismissed with prejudice."

Bader suggested that the Georgia case's emphasis on conduct related to state officials and private individuals could help prosecutors, since those interactions are less likely to be considered official acts.

The Georgia case is currently delayed as an appeals court considers Trump's challenge to Judge Scott McAfee's decision not to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis, though experts suggested Trump could likely use the immunity ruling to extend the delay if or when the case is remanded back to McAfee.

Federal classified documents case

In February, Trump's lawyers moved to dismiss the former president's federal case related to the alleged retention of classified documents by arguing that Trump's conduct was covered by presidential immunity.

Trump's lawyers argued that the criminal charges "stem directly from official acts by President Trump while in office" because Trump allegedly designated the classified documents as personal records while he was in office.

Legal experts who spoke with ABC News were skeptical of the argument because the case inherently focuses on Trump's conduct following the presidency, though Judge Aileen Cannon has yet to issue a ruling on the motion.

"There's a good argument there that there is no official action in holding on to documents after he leaves the office," Gershman said.

MORE: Hypothetical SEAL Team 6 political assassination resurfaces in Supreme Court presidential immunity dissent

Monday's ruling might prompt Cannon to reconsider the question of immunity by applying the Supreme Court's test for official acts -- a move that could further delay the proceedings, experts said.

"I could definitely see Judge Cannon using this as an additional vehicle for delay," Bader added, though she emphasized the case was already unlikely to go to trial before the election.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas also provided support for the defense argument that Smith was illegally appointed as special counsel, which Cannon considered during a two-day hearing in June.

"If there is no law establishing the office that the Special Counsel occupies then he cannot proceed with this prosecution. A private citizen cannot criminally prosecute anyone, let alone a former President," Thomas wrote.

New York hush money case

In May, a New York jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying records related to a hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost his chances in the 2016 presidential election.

Ahead of the trial, Trump's lawyers asked that the judge overseeing the case limit certain evidence based on Trump's immunity claim. The evidence -- a government ethics form disclosing the reimbursement at the center of the case, and Trump's social media posts from his official Twitter account in 2018 related to an alleged "pressure campaign" against his former lawyer Michael Cohen -- was admitted into evidence during the trial after Judge Juan Merchan rejected the immunity argument as "untimely."

"The Court declines to consider whether the doctrine of presidential immunity precludes the introduction of evidence of purported official presidential acts in a criminal proceeding," Merchan wrote in an April decision.

In a letter to the Merchan on Monday -- described by sources to ABC News -- Trump's lawyers argued that the verdict should be thrown out because the jury saw evidence that should have been protected by Trump's immunity for official acts.

MORE: Supreme Court's liberal justices warn of 'law-free zone' stemming from Trump immunity ruling

Trump's lawyers could ask Merchan or an appeals court to reconsider if the conviction would stand without the social media posts and ethics form, if the evidence was deemed protected as an official act, according to Gershman.

"There's just a mountain of other evidence that would support the jury's verdict, so I don't see it really having any appreciable impact, if any impact, on the New York case," Gershman said.

A federal judge who heard arguments related to Trump's effort to remove the case to federal court already dismissed the argument that any of Trump's conduct in the case was protected "under the color of the official acts of a President."

"The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the matter was purely a personal item of the President -- a cover-up of an embarrassing event," Judge Alvin Hellerstein wrote in a July 2023 decision denying Trump's effort to remove the case to federal court. "Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a President's official acts. It does not reflect in any way the color of the President's official duties."

How will the Supreme Court's immunity decision impact Trump's 4 criminal cases? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A rental building in Surfside Beach has been shut down after an inspection deemed it an unsafe structure.

Sandfiddler, a multi-unit vacation rental building, had yellow caution tape around it. It was inspected just before noon on June 22.

News13 photo: Alec Daniels

News13 photo: Alec Daniels

News13 photo: Alec Daniels

News13 photo: Alec Daniels

While conducting a routine fire inspection, structural deficiencies were noticed in the stairways and means of egress, an inspection report obtained by News13 shows. The Surfside Beach Building Inspector and Property Management were notified, and a second site survey was conducted.

After the site survey was completed, the building inspector asked an engineer to conduct a structural assessment of the property. After the assessment, the property was deemed unsafe, a fire hazard and otherwise dangerous to human life or the public welfare.

The building is located at 813 S. Ocean Boulevard. A Google search shows the building is temporarily closed.

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 Sign up for WBTW email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WBTW.com for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee.

Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
More and more tenants are asking their landlords to serve them Section 21 notices so they can access council housing, a law firm has claimed.

Landlord Action, a solicitor firm which specialises in evictions and housing law, said tenants regularly ask their landlord clients to serve them eviction notices, rather than the other way round.

If a tenant leaves before they are served with an eviction notice, they are deemed voluntarily homeless and therefore far less likely to get access to council housing. It costs landlords around 1,500 to get a court order for repossession.

Paul Shamplina, the firms founder, said: Were seeing more and more tenants requesting landlords to serve a Section 21 because theyve had advice from their council on the process to get council housing.

There were 31,000 court proceedings under accelerated possession orders last year, the highest number since 2015.

Tenants ask for Section 21s for a number of reasons. Some might be on part-benefits or lower incomes, and with rents having shot right up over the past few years many are suddenly facing affordability issues.

Rents increased by 11.4pc in 2022, and again by 8.2pc in 2023 according to property portal Zoopla. This means renters across the UK are now paying 1,223 per month on average, ranging from 695 in the North East to 2,121 in London.

Other tenants just want to move locations, Mr Shamplina said, and in some cases a landlord might be trying to do a tenant a favour if there have been issues with antisocial behaviour and they dont want it on their record.

He added: Its been happening for years, but this is the worst Ive known. Its rife. Once an eviction takes place, the council will put tenants in temporary accommodation  or emergency housing  before placing them somewhere permanent. They could end up in anything from a bedsit to a hotel.

Councils are absolutely desperate. Many tenants are in hotels at a massive cost to taxpayers.

Over 7,863 households in England were served with a Section 21 notice between January and March this year, marking a 15pc increase year on year, according to homelessness charity Crisis.

There has also been a 19pc increase in households being evicted by bailiffs in the same period, with 2,682 carried out in between January and March this year.

The Conservatives promised to ban no-fault evictions back in 2019, but failed to pass the Renters Reform Bill before the general election was called.

The Labour Party has said it will ban Section 21 immediately, but if elected, it would need to pass a new Act to do this.

Back in 2016, former housing minister Brandon Lewis wrote to chief executives of every local council telling them they should not routinely be advising tenants to stay until the bailiffs arrive.

He said at the time: There is no barrier to them assisting the tenant before this. By doing this, local authorities miss a valuable opportunity to prevent homelessness.

The cost of temporary accommodation has weighed heavily on councils. In London alone, local authorities are spending 90m a month on it. This, the London Assembly has said, has been down to a surge in homelessness and the increased reliance on B&Bs.

The Local Government Association was approached for comment.

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FILE - Flags of NATO member countries blow in the wind outside at NATO headquarters in Brussels, March 14, 2024. A survey of people in 13 of the nations belonging to NATO found about 6 in 10 of them held a favorable view of the Western military alliance, the Pew Research Center said Tuesday, July 2. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

WASHINGTON (AP)  A survey of people in 13 of the nations belonging to NATO found a median of about 6 in 10 held a favorable view of the Western military alliance, the Pew Research Center said Tuesday.

The poll was released ahead of a July 9-11 NATO summit in Washington, which is being held at a challenging time for the 75-year-old Western military alliance. The 32 NATO member countries are adjusting their long-term plans and strategies to counteract a more aggressive Russian President Vladimir Putin and respond to Ukraine's need for sustained support against invading Russian forces.

Meanwhile, the presidential reelection bid of Donald Trump, who long has spoken scathingly of NATO allies and admiringly of Putin, has some NATO members worrying about the future commitment of the alliance's most powerful military and economy.

Support for NATO among the 13 nations surveyed peaked at 91% in Poland followed by 75% in the Netherlands and 72% in Sweden. Poland and Sweden are neighbors of Russia  Sweden through a maritime border and Poland with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad  and Sweden is one of the alliance's newest members, formally joining this year in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Just 37% of adults in Greece said they supported NATO, the lowest percentage of the countries surveyed, while 59% of adults there said they hold an unfavorable view of the alliance. Greece shares religious and cultural ties with Russia.

The survey found 63% of people in Canada viewed NATO favorably, 66% in Britain, 64% in Germany, 63% in Hungary, 60% in Italy, 54% in France, 45% in Spain and 42% in Turkey. The figure for Turkey represented a near-doubling in support for NATO since the question was asked in 2019.

Pew earlier released results for the U.S., which show 58% support for NATO. The survey was conducted from early January to mid-May.
Suspect accused of nearly running over 7 deputies in Loveland

DENVER (KDVR)  A man who was wanted for multiple charges was arrested after law enforcement said he refused to cooperate and drove recklessly toward seven Larimer County Sheriffs deputies.

The agency reported that the incident took place just before 1 p.m. Friday in the 2300 block of East 9th Street in Loveland.

FBI, police looking for older female suspect in Lakewood bank robbery

Ultimately, the incident ended when deputies arrested Jason Beezley, 43, of Loveland, on several warrants and eight further counts of attempted second-degree murder. According to the Larimer County Sheriffs Office, Beezley was wanted on charges that included assault, child abuse, criminal mischief, domestic violence and possession of drugs.

The agency reported that Beezley refused to cooperate with law enforcement and tried to leave his truck. His passenger remained outside the vehicle, and as events unfolded, Beezley allegedly ran over the passengers leg and drove recklessly toward seven LCSO deputies.

Beezleys passenger had minor injuries, but no deputies were injured thanks to a vehicle pinch maneuver that stopped the vehicles forward momentum.

Beezley was given a $250,000 cash or surety bond by Larimer County Court and is scheduled to appear again in court on July 9.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One of Nashvilles Most Wanted fugitives was taken into custody last week following a high-speed pursuit in a stolen car.

Darius Witherspoon, 37, was wanted on seven outstanding warrants stemming from a string of alleged shootings that took place in October 2021 and February 2023, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

The first incident was at an apartment complex on 25th Avenue North in the Cumberland View Housing Development. Police said the whole incident was captured on camera.

Nashvilles Top 10 Most Wanted fugitives: Several rape suspects sought

In the video, Witherspoon could reportedly be seen getting out of a black SUV and firing shots at two men, who told investigators they thought they were friends with Witherspoon.

Investigators suspect the shooting may have been related to an argument one of the victims was having with a woman. According to an arrest affidavit, Witherspoon had spoken with the woman, who lived at the same apartment complex, right before the shooting.

(Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

More than a full year later, on Feb. 10, 2023, police responded to another shooting in which Witherspoon was the suspect.

Officers were flagged down by a couple driving on Clarksville Pike, who said Witherspoon had pulled up next to their car in a blue Dodge Charger and fired a shot after they refused to pull over.

Most Wanted fugitive arrested after chase on Belmont University campus

The couple said they turned around at the KFC near MLK bridge and tried to get away, but Witherspoon continued to follow them. Once they spotted the police officers, Witherspoon reportedly drove off.

While speaking with the couple, officers said they noticed a bullet hole on the passenger side of their vehicle. According to officials, Witherspoon had previously been in a romantic relationship with one of the victims.

Witherspoon was added to the police departments Top 10 Most Wanted list in March 2023 as detectives continued searching for him. It wasnt until June 27 that an officer patrolling the area of Brick Church Pike and West Trinity Lane happened to come across a suspicious vehicle.

In an arrest affidavit, the officer said he ran the tag of the white Dodge Charger with a Mississippi plate, and the query showed the vehicle had been reported stolen almost three weeks ago.

Shirtless man arrested nearly 1 year after deadly fight outside Nashville store

Detectives followed the vehicle for some time before trying to make a traffic stop at the intersection of Highland Trace Drive and Revels Drive. Thats when authorities said the driver took off and began fleeing at a high rate of speed.

Police successfully deployed spike strips at the intersection of Whites Creek Pike and Green Lane. The driver continued heading northbound on Whites Creek Pike for about a mile before losing control and spinning out.

At that point, officials said they were able to identify Witherspoon as the driver and he was taken into custody. During a search of the vehicle, officers said they found a white powdery substance in the center console area that tested positive for fentanyl.

Witherspoon is now facing a total of 12 charges, including four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of evading arrest, domestic assault, felon in possession of a weapon, vandalism, vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

As of Tuesday, July 2, he was still behind bars with a $221,500 bond.

He is among at least 120 Most Wanted fugitives who have been taken into custody since the program was launched in October 2022. Investigators have largely attributed the programs success to tips theyve received from the public.

To view the latest list of Nashvilles Most Wanted fugitives, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Suspected Chinese spy bases in Cuba are growing, including one near a US naval base: report

Suspected spy bases linked to China are expanding in Cuba, per a US think tank.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies found a new potential site near a US naval base.

Cuba's proximity to the US gives China an intelligence window that is unreachable from its own land.

Potential spy bases believed to be linked to China have been found in Cuba, with one near the Guantanamo Bay US naval base, according to a report by the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

CSIS analysts looked at satellite imagery and open-source information and identified four "active" sites in Cuba that they say are capable of conducting electronic surveillance operations.

One of them is a previously undisclosed building located about 70 miles from the US naval facility in Guantanamo Bay, the report said.

"These four sites are among the most likely locations supporting China's efforts to spy on the United States," it said.

Last year, multiple news outlets  citing officials with knowledge of sensitive intelligence  reported that China wanted to set up a spy base in Cuba.

Two unnamed US officials told Politico at the time that Beijing and Havana were negotiating to build a station about 100 miles off the coast of Florida, possibly to gather signal information on military sites there.

Unnamed US officials also told The Wall Street Journal last year that China and Cuba had agreed in principle to a multibillion-dollar project for the development of the base.

CNN and The New York Times also reported on the agreement and planned facilities.

At the time, the Department of Defense and the White House pushed back on the reports.

An unnamed US official also told the Associated Press last year that China had been operating in Cuba since at least 2019.

China's spy bases in Cuba

CSIS analysts say they have located four bases on the island of Cuba: in Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay, and Calabazar.

The CSIS provided satellite imagery of each site from March and April 2024, showing how they had undergone upgrades over the past decade.

Bejucal, located south of Havana and identified by CSIS as the largest active Cuban facility, has seen the building of a "mysterious" new radome that CSIS believes may include a radar or ELINT device.

Satellite image of a SIGINT facility in Bejucal, Cuba, on March 16, 2024. CSIS/Hidden Reach/Maxar 2024

Meanwhile, in Wajay, a compound has "gradually" expanded over the past two decades, from just one antenna and several small buildings in 2002 to 12 antennas of various sizes and orientations, significant operations and support facilities, and even a small solar farm, it said.

Calabazar, a small Cuban military complex, now has two visible pole antenna arrays and more than a dozen dish antennas of various sizes dispersed across a gated area, images suggest.

Satellite image of a SIGINT facility in Calabazar, Cuba, on April 6, 2024. CSIS/Hidden Reach/Maxar 2024

The antennas' number, position, and direction have shifted significantly, likely in response to changes in the site's mission, the report said.

CSIS analysts also uncovered a new, previously unreported installation in El Salao, south of Cuba, near Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, a vital US military base in the region.

Satellite image of a CDAA site in El Salao, Cuba, on March 2, 2024. CSIS/Hidden Reach/Airbus DS 2024

"These are active locations with an evolving mission set," Matthew Funaiole, a senior fellow at the China Power Project at CSIS and the report's chief author, told The Wall Street Journal.

A strategic location for spycraft

Some of the systems supposedly set up in Cuba, notably antennas, can gather intelligence by intercepting signals  a practice known in the defense community as signals intelligence, or SIGINT.

These systems' capacities and functions are determined by their size, quantity, orientation, and arrangement, per the CSIS report.

Cuba's proximity to the US provides China with a "significant" intelligence window that is inaccessible from Chinese territory, the CSIS report said.

The White House and the Pentagon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to provide a statement.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Chinese officials boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating near China's coast close to a Taiwan-controlled island late Tuesday and took it to a Chinese port, Taiwan's coast guard said, in a further escalation of tensions.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up pressure on Taipei since May when President Lai Ching-te took office, a man Beijing accuses of being a "separatist".

The squid fishing boat was near the Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands, which sit next to the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou, but in Chinese waters on Tuesday night when it was boarded and seized by two Chinese maritime administration boats, Taiwan's coast guard said.

The Taiwanese boat was operating during China's no-fishing period, the coast guard said, adding Taiwan will communicate with China and urge them to release the fishermen as soon as possible.

Coast guard officials in southern Fujian seized the Taiwan boat, China's coast guard said in a statement, as it violated a summer ban on fishing and carried out illegal trawling operations.

The nets used were also far smaller than the minimum size China stipulates, so damaging marine fishery resources and the environment, it added.

During this period, Taiwan vessels tried to "interfere with" China's normal law enforcement, and the Fujian officials warned and "drove them away" in line with the law, it said.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday that Washington was closely monitoring the incident.

Taiwan sent its own coast guard ships to assist and broadcast warnings asking China to release the fishing boat, but China's ships broadcast back saying not to interfere, Taiwan's coast guard said.

Taiwan's ships then backed off to avoid a conflict and the Taiwanese fishing vessel was then taken to a Chinese port, it added, saying three of the five fishermen were Indonesian migrant workers.

Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin told reporters in Taipei that China should explain why it had seized the boat, and pointed out that in previous cases, fishermen had been released after paying fines when operating during China's no-fishing season.

Taiwanese fishing boats need to raise their alert level and the coast guard will also strengthen its patrols, he added.

"The coast guard also calls on the mainland side not to use political factors to handle this situation," Hsieh said.

Taiwan's top China policy-making body the Mainland Affairs Council said it will contact Chinese authorities to seek an explanation of what had happened and "dispel unnecessary speculation".

Judha Nugraha, director for citizen protection at Indonesia's foreign ministry, told Reuters the country's consulate general in Guangzhou will assist the detained Indonesians.

This is not the first time a Taiwan fishing boat has taken by Chinese authorities after operating in that country's waters, an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.

A Taiwan official, who's familiar with the island's security planning, told Reuters they have issued alerts to fishing and transport authorities around Taiwan to pay attention to "possible risks" amid frequent Chinese coast guard activities in the region, including near Japan and the Philippines.

It is not uncommon for Taiwan and China to detain each other's trespassing fishing boats. So far this year Taiwan has detained five such boats from China, Taiwan coast guard data shows.

Chinese maritime enforcement and coast guard ships have been regularly operating around Kinmen since February after two Chinese fishermen died trying to flee Taiwan's coast guard.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Ananda Teresia in Jakarta, Bernard Orr in Beijing and Andrea Shalal and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Josie Kao, Clarence Fernandez and Deepa Babington)
Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of the China Studies Center in Kazakhstan, poses for photo at her office in Kazakhstan, Feb. 29, 2020.

ASTANA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's ongoing trip to Kazakhstan underscores China's commitment to regional cooperation and growing efforts to deepen closer partnerships while promoting unity within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of Kazakhstan's China Studies Center.

Xi's trip, which includes a state visit to Kazakhstan and attending the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, bears great significance, Shaimergenova said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"President Xi's presence at the summit highlights China's leadership role and its vision for a more interconnected and prosperous region," she said.

The visit also demonstrates China's focus on regional cooperation and its strategic interests in the region, and will "strengthen the unity and effectiveness of the SCO," she added.

The expert noted that over 23 years since its establishment, the SCO has successfully developed an effective model for maintaining and strengthening regional security, and has also "become a driving force for economic integration and development."

"Member states have leveraged the organization's strengths to deepen trade ties, enhance connectivity, and unlock investment opportunities," she said.

Meanwhile, she pointed out that Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the SCO during the past year came amid increasing geopolitical tensions, growing challenges, and the risk of worsening and new conflicts.

Despite all the challenges, "Kazakhstan will make every effort to modernize the organization and further transform it into a more effective multilateral platform to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and traditional ties of friendship between SCO member states," she said.

Relations between Kazakhstan and China have also been steadily progressing in the spirit of friendship, good neighborliness, and a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. The leaders of both countries have opened a new "golden 30 years" of bilateral cooperation, Shaimergenova said.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has visited China three times since 2023, and the mutual trade turnover between the two countries has reached an unprecedented level of 41 billion U.S. dollars last year, she said.

Kazakhstan and China must develop comprehensive cooperation in key areas such as trade, economy, energy, finance, transport, nuclear industry, mechanical engineering, tourism, e-commerce, and high technology, according to the expert.

"Kazakhstan and China are close neighbors, true friends, and partners. Today, both countries are at a key stage of their development and revival," she said.

Joint work of the SCO member states will bring tangible benefits, which will contribute to long-term peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region, said the expert.
FILE - A fisherman leaps to his boat docked in harbor in Toucheng, north eastern Taiwan, Aug. 21, 2013. Taiwan said the Chinese coast guard boarded a Taiwanese fishing boat Tuesday, July 2, 2024, before steering it to a port in mainland China, and demanded that Beijing release the vessel. (AP Photo/Wally Santana, File)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwan said the Chinese coast guard boarded a Taiwanese fishing boat Tuesday before steering it to a port in mainland China, and demanded that Beijing release the vessel.

The Tachinman 88 was intercepted by two Chinese vessels Tuesday evening near the Kinmen archipelago, which lies a short distance off Chinas coast but is controlled by Taiwan, Taiwanese maritime authorities said in a statement.

Taiwan dispatched three vessels to rescue the Tachinman 88, but the one that got close to the fishing boat were blocked by three Chinese boats and told not to interfere, the statement said. The pursuit was called off to avoid escalating the conflict after Taiwan's maritime authorities detected that four more Chinese vessels were moving closer, the statement added.

The Coast Guard calls on the mainland to refrain from engaging in political manipulation and harming cross-strait relations, and to release the Tachinman ship and crew as soon as possible, the statement read.

The boat had six crew onboard, including the captain and five migrant workers, according to Taiwans official Central News Agency. The vessel was just over 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from Jinjiang in mainland China when it was boarded, Taiwanese authorities said.

China claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory and says the island must come under its control. The Chinese military regularly sends warplanes and ships toward the island and staged a large exercise with dozens of aircraft and vessels in May.

Fishermen from both Taiwan and China regularly sail the stretch of water near the Kinmen archipelago, which has seen a rise in tensions as the number of Chinese vessels  including sand dredgers and fishing boats  have notably increased in the area.

In February, two Chinese fishermen were drowned while being chased by Taiwan's Coast Guard off the coast of Kinmen, prompting Beijing to step up patrols in the waters.
Aeromexicos first flight into Tampa International Airport landed on Monday afternoon to much fanfare.

The new service connecting Tampa Bay to Mexico City was celebrated with Mariachi music, a ballet performance and other traditional treats.

Tampa Bay was once Aeromexicos largest unserved market in the United States, according to a media release. Now its the airlines 23rd destination in America and the third in Florida. Aeromexico also serves Orlando and Miami.

Nearly 80,000 people in Tampa Bay are from Mexico, the release said, which makes this group the second-largest foreign-born population in Tampa Bay behind Cuba. Airport officials estimate this new route to Mexico City will generate nearly $70 million annually.

Passengers munched on Aguas Frescas and Mexican pastries Monday afternoon as they waited for the flight to arrive at the Tampa terminal. The Tampa City Ballet performing a piece from its show If I Cry, inspired by the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

The new nonstop route is offered on an Embraer E190 aircraft with 99 seats, with 11 in a premium cabin. Aeromexico is a founding member of the SkyTeam Alliance alongside Delta Air Lines.

The flight is offered daily, leaving Mexico City at 9:55 a.m. and arriving in Tampa at 3:15 p.m. And leaving Tampa at 4:36 p.m. and arriving in Mexico City at 6:15 p.m.
Editors note: Some of the details in this story may be disturbing to some readers.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Tampa police arrested a woman after she allegedly murdered her own son, according to a release.

The Tampa Police Department said at 4:37 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a 911 call from Arayiah Hudson, 36, after she said her son, 4-year-old Joseph Hudson, was unresponsive.

Groom shot in the head during wedding party robbery attempt

The responding officers performed CPR on the child and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators said Hudson told officers that her son began coughing after eating potato chips and drinking water, but a medical examination found that Joseph numerous injuries, including bruises, abrasions, and internal bleeding. The autopsy found that Joseph died from blunt force trauma to the head and torso.

Arayiah Hudson (Credit: Tampa Police Department)

According to police, his mother tried to conceal evidence of his abuse by saying she was just disciplining him and used makeup to conceal bruises around his eyes.

Officers arrived to the home and also found Hudsons two other sons, a 9-year-old and an 8-year-old, according to a pre-trial detention motion.

The 9-year-old son told police that Hudson kicked the 4-year-old in the stomach and pushed his head into the wall multiple times, and that the child was almost unconscious, prosecutors wrote.

The 9-year-old said he didnt want to be too truthful because he didnt want his mom to go to jail, according to the motion. The child said Hudson would frequently hit the 4-year-old in the mouth, scrotum, and buttocks with a shoe.

An autopsy revealed that the 4-year-old had multiple impact marks to his head and his brain was swollen, prosecutors said. He also had a laceration on his liver, 150ml of blood in his stomach and contusions on his intestines.

This is a heinous crime, Chief Lee Bercaw said. Every child deserves to feel safe in their own home and especially with their own mother. The Tampa Police Department is committed to bringing justice for Joseph and ensuring the safety of all children in our community.

Hudson was arrested Monday at 7:30 p.m. on a charge of murder in the first degree while engaged in aggravated child abuse.

Police said her other children were transferred to the custody of their biological fathers, who did not live with Hudson.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Taylor County Commissioners issue burn ban ahead of July Fourth. What about fireworks?

The Taylor County Commissioners Court issued a county-wide burn ban Tuesday ahead of the July Fourth holiday.

At a meeting Tuesday, the court unanimously agreed to implement a burn ban for outdoor burning for the next 90 days, expiring Sept. 30.

Commissioners Court members made sure to clarify the burn ban would not affect firework sales or fireworks shows.

Commissioner Chuck Statler encouraged the public to have fire suppression equipment with them and to be cautious when using fireworks for the Fourth of July.

The forecast issued July 1 by Texas A&M Forest Service Fire issued a high fire danger for Taylor County for July 2 and 3. Danger ratings describe conditions which reflect the potentials for a fire to ignite, spread and require suppression action.

The Texas A&M Forest Service forecast high fire danger for Taylor County due to recent drought conditions.

During discussions, Statler said three grass fires started in the Lawn area June 27 from outdoor burnings.

These fires were started by people not paying attention to their burn piles, and they did not understand the strong south winds would carry it, Statler said.

"I would very much be in favor of implementing the order banning outdoor burning," he said.

Actions prohibited by the burn ban order include "knowingly or intentionally" burning combustible material outside contained enclosures and engaging in any outdoor activities where flames or sparks could result in a fire.

A violation of the Taylor County burn ban will result in enforcement of a class C misdemeanor, and the person will be held liable for damages as a result of their actions.

Taylor County is one of 80 Texas counties with burn bans in place.

Commissioner Randy Williams of Precinct 1 was not present at Tuesday's meeting so he did not participate in the burn ban vote.

More: UPDATED: What's up with Big Country fireworks, shows and burn bans?

More: Cue the sparklers: Fourth of July events and where to get fireworks in Abilene

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Taylor County Commissioners issue county-wide burn ban. Fireworks?
TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Taylor County commissioners have issued a burn ban ahead of the July 4th holiday.

An Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning was enacted Tuesday, July 2 and will be in effect for the next 90 days or sooner, if determined by commissioners.

Anyone who, knowingly or intentionally engages in any activity outdoors which could allow flames or sparks that could result in a fire will be in violation of the ban and is could subject to a Class C Misdemeanor fine.

Firework sales are currently still allowed in Taylor County and can still be discharged on private property within county limits, according to Taylor County Commissioner Chuck Statler.

Fireworks are prohibited in the City of Abilene.

Read the full order below:

Burn Ban Order Executed 7-2-24Download

Most Big Country counties have put similar bans in place. Here is a map of active burn bans across the State of Texas.

No further information is available at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Teen Is Accused of Killing Exs Mom in Retaliation for Girlfriend Breaking Up with Him

The suspect has been charged with first-degree murder and firearm possession by a minor

Go Fund Me Eulalia Gonzalez Martin De Osorio

A Florida teen has been arrested and after Miami-Dade police allege he fatally shot his ex-girlfriend's mother after the girlfriend broke up with him.

On Thursday, June 27, the 16-year-old suspect allegedly shot Eulalia Gonzalez, 38, in the head around 7:40 p.m. while she was holding her infant daughter on the front porch of her home, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

According to the affidavit, Gonzalez was taken to Jackson South Medical Center after the shooting, where she was later pronounced dead.

The suspect has been charged with first-degree murder and firearm possession by a minor. It's not immediately clear if he has entered pleas or retained an attorney.

Police say Gonzalezs daughter ended a nine-month relationship with the suspect roughly two months before the shooting. During that time, the suspect had allegedly been in communication with the victim and had threatened her daughter, telling her that "if she was not with him, she could not be with anyone else," the affidavit claims.

Gonzalezs neighbor was outside when she allegedly saw the suspect approach the victim with a handgun, per the affidavit. The neighbor went inside her home to seek help. Then, she exited her residence and saw the "unresponsive" victim with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the affidavit.

The victims infant daughter was not injured during the incident.

The suspect was taken into custody after police obtained a search warrant for his residence. Police allege he confessed to using a ride-share app to arrive at and then flee the scene of the crime. He allegedly said he was carrying "out his plan of killing one of his ex-girlfriend's family members" in retaliation for her ending their relationship, according to the affidavit.

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A GoFundMe page created for Gonzalez states that she was "full of life and laughter and love, especially for her kids." She was a mother of four children; her youngest child was 1 month old.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of my sister, who was taken from us far too soon," the description reads. "In this incredibly difficult time, we are seeking financial support to help cover the unexpected expenses that have arisen, including funeral costs, legal fees, and other related expenses."

At press time, the fundraiser had raised $1,420 of its $20,000 goal.

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Read the original article on People.
Teen arrested after deadly wreck that left victim 250 feet from crash, Columbia police say

A teenager was arrested weeks after a South Carolina man was killed in a crash on a busy road, according to the Columbia Police Department.

Madeline C. Kuester, 18, was charged with reckless homicide Monday, police said in news release.

At about 11 p.m. on June 18, Kuester was driving a speeding vehicle in the 1900 block of Rosewood Drive, according to the release. The vehicle was traveling at 88 mph when it hit a pedestrian, who the Richland County Coroners Office identified as 47-year-old Charlton E. Ard, police said.

Ard was walking south on Rosewood Drive when he was struck by a Honda traveling east on Rosewood, police previously said.

The collision left Ards body 250 feet from where the crash occurred, and he died at the scene, according to the release.

Kuester was driving recklessly with willful disregard for the safety of others by traveling 53 miles over the posted speed limit of 35 (mph), police said.

On Monday, Kuester surrendered to police and was taken to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, according to the release. Richland County court records show her bond was set at $20,000 and posted, and Kuester is no longer listed on the jails inmate roster.

Kuester is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 27, judicial records show.

The crash

Jamal Suber, who lives near the crash site on South Edisto Avenue, said he has video of the crash from cameras mounted on his home for security purposes.

In the video, the pedestrian reached Rosewood Drive stopped, he looked and then started to walk, Suber said. When he got to about the middle of Rosewood, you can see two cars. They are wide open.

Suber said the video shows that the man then tries to run, to get out of the road. There was no braking, nothing. He was struck and you can see (him) fly into the air.
CAIRO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Tuesday the launch of a new tourist project in the country's North Coast on the Mediterranean Sea with an investment of 1 trillion Egyptian pounds (20.76 billion U.S. dollars).

The new project is expected to generate 1.6 trillion Egyptian pounds in sales and 1.6 million direct job opportunities through construction-related industries, according to a statement by the Egyptian cabinet.

The South Med project, which is going to be carried out in partnership with the private sector, integrates with the projects implemented and being implemented in this promising area to achieve the goals that include doubling the current number of tourists by 2030, Madbouly told a press conference in Egypt's New Administrative Capital.

"We are keen to make the North Coast of Egypt a destination that is focused on by various state agencies to maximize the tourism sector and provide a large number of hotel and tourist rooms in this area," Madbouly said.

Madbouly said the state seeks to provide more job opportunities for young people in North Coast to encourage and attract many of them to reside in the area through the implementation of a large and integrated group of projects, including New Alamein City.

Madbouly said the government expects that this project, along with other mega projects being implemented in New Alamein City, will attract people to reside and foreign tourists to visit.

In February, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a deal to build a new city on Egypt's North Coast to boost tourism, investment and foreign currency reserves.

The tourism sector is one of the main sources of foreign currency for Egypt, contributing about 12 percent to the GDP and providing jobs for around 3 million people. 
Teens plead guilty to robbing 8 USPS mail carriers in Dallas-Fort Worth, some at gunpoint

Two men accused of robbing eight mail carriers in North Texas have pleaded guilty, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton said in a news release.

Jerrad Coleman and Louis Dixon, both 18, were each charged in April with robbery of property of the United States and conspiracy to rob and unlawfully possess property of the United States.

The U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will never cease placing employee safety as one of our top priorities, said Inspector in Charge Kai Pickens, of the Fort Worth Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, in the news release Tuesday. Let this serve as a warning to anyone who seeks to harm and traumatize our employees: The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will utilize every resource to find you and bring you to justice.

According to court documents, Coleman and Dixon looked for USPS mail carriers through Dallas-Fort Worth to obtain an arrow key, a master key used by USPS employees to collect mail deposited in blue USPS collection boxes.

Unauthorized possession of these keys allow thieves to illicitly gain access to mailboxes to steal mail containing sensitive information, according to the release.

Over a span of four months, the defendants conspired to commit robberies against USPS mail carriers, including the robberies that happened on the following dates and cities:

Jan. 17, Jan. 18, March 15, and April 17 in Fort Worth

Jan. 25, Jan. 29 in Dallas

March 28 in Arlington

April 4 in Frisco

After robbing the mail carriers, some of which happened at gunpoint, the two men fled in vehicles, federal authorities said. They then used, sold or disposed of the arrow keys.

They each face up to 15 years in prison at sentencing.

At a Feb. 22 rally in Dallas, members with the National Letter Carriers Association and USPS employees spoke about a surge of robberies of mail carriers, asking federal prosecutors to arrest and charge people suspected of the crimes.

The NALC asked people to report any crimes against mail carriers they might witness.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with the help of the Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Frisco Police Departments.
Editor's note: The Tennessean Editorial Board invited candidates for the 2024 congressional elections to fill out our questionnaire. They include biographical information and answers to 11 questions on variety of topics from key policy issues to their recommendation for visitors on what to see or do in their congressional districts.

Election Guide: Learn about candidates running in Aug. 1 Tennessee primary election for U.S. Congress

Key dates:

July 2: Voter registration deadline

July 12-27: Early voting

July 25: Deadline to request absentee ballot

Aug. 1: Primary election

Nov. 5: General election

Biographical Information

Name: Cyril Focht (Focht rhymes with vote)

Which office are you seeking? U.S. House District 6. One of three Democrats in the primary election.

Age at the time of election: 29

What city/town in Tennessee do you live in? Cookeville

Education: B.S. in computer science from Tennessee Tech, 2017. M.S. in computational media from University of California Santa Cruz, 2019.

Job history: Computer science instructor at Tennessee Tech

Family: I'm single with no kids

Cyril Focht

11 questions for the candidates

Why are you running for this office?

I decided to run for federal House, instead of state House, because of my platform on software and technology. While there's plenty that should be done a state level, it would be a lot more effective to bring that expertise to Congress.

What makes you qualified to hold this office and better qualified than your opponent(s)?

I've been volunteering for years as a community organizer in Cookeville, which has given me the experience with the political process and working with constituents that it takes to be a successful representative.

If you are elected (or re-elected), what are your top 2 to 3 priorities for your new (or next) term in office?

As soon as I'm elected I want to hit the ground running with a breadth of new bills to set policy for our technology landscape in areas like artificial intelligence, internet and social media, data privacy, rural access to broadband, and the right to repair. I will also be pushing for government accountability measures for congress that includes term limits, campaign finance reform, and limiting legislators' ability to profit from holding office.

What are you hearing most from voters about what they want you to accomplish, if elected?

The number one issue I hear from voters is reproductive rights. Nearly everyone I speak with disagrees with last year's overturning of Roe v Wade. In rural communities, people have a lot of concerns about access to food. There are a lot of communities in the district where people are having to drive half an hour or more to be able to get groceries, and that's not financially sustainable for most of those communities.

Are you satisfied with the direction of the country? Explain why.

I never really have been, and that's why I started thinking about running for office in the first place. Our systems of government are designed for elected officials to be able to profit from holding office, and as long as that's the case we will never have a legislative body that truly represents its constituents.

What is your assessment of the performance of the President Joe Biden over the last four years?

Over the last four years, Biden has proven to be an ineffective president at best. He's failed to deliver on most of his campaign promises, and the only notable legislation he's passed was the bipartisan infrastructure bill. As beneficial as that infrastructure bill has been for everyday Americans, it should have been the baseline for a strong presidential term, not the sole highlight. My personal opinion is that his failings as president have far outshadowed his successes.

How should the U.S. approach foreign policy goals as it pertains to regions, nations and conflicts such as China, Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war?

In general, we should be spending our taxpayers' money on taking care of our own problems as a country, rather than spending billions of dollars a year to perpetuate forever-wars.

Americans in recent polling say immigration is one of the top issues, if not the most important issue, facing the U.S. What should Congress do to address the immigration and border security?

We should increase the number of and support for immigration judges and their staff so that immigration status can be decided more quickly. Most immigrants who come into the U.S. do so seeking a path to citizenship, and because our immigration processing is so backlogged, applicants get stuck in a legal limbo while waiting on a decision for their own applications.

What else do you want voters to know about you that will help them make an informed decision on Election Day?

Whatever your political leanings, there's one thing I've been able to agree on with every single person I've spoken with on my campaign, and that's the fact that across the board most of our elected officials aren't truly representing the American people. They're far more interested in using their office to line their own pockets and put their party before their constituents. That will never change unless we elect representatives who want to change our systems of governance to make it harder to profit from serving in office and hold our government accountable to its people.

A "fun" question: When visitors ask you, "What should I do in Tennessee or your specific community?" what are the top 2 or 3 things or places you recommend?

It's so hard to narrow it down to two or three! Of course we're known for our beautiful state parks like Cummins Falls, Burgess Falls, and my personal favorite Savage Gulf. And I've always got to recommend people stop by Tennessee Legends and Father Tom's Pub when they're looking for food, drinks, and good company.

Will you commit to being civil in how you present yourself and the way you interact with opponents and others? (Our definition of civility is being a good, active, honest and respectable citizen)

Yes

Call Opinion and Engagement Director David Plazas at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X at @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee election for Congress: Cyril Focht, House District 6
Israeli hostage Noa Argamani, 26, reacts while speaking on her phone at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after being freed from captivity in the Gaza Strip. Just over three weeks after 26-year-old hostage Noa Argamani was rescued from captivity in the Gaza Strip, her terminally ill mother Liora has died, Israeli sources said on Tuesday. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa

Just over three weeks after 26-year-old hostage Noa Argamani was rescued from captivity in the Gaza Strip, her terminally ill mother Liora has died, Israeli sources said on Tuesday.

The cause of death was cancer, according to the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which was created after hundreds of people were abducted in last October's attack on southern Israel by Hamas gunmen.

Liora Argamani, who was reportedly 61 at the time of her death, made a series of emotional videos appealing to her daughter's captors to allow her to see her again before she died.

In June, Israeli special forces rescued Noa and three more hostages from the hands of the Islamist militia force.

Writing on X, Benny Gantz, until recently a member of the now dissolved war cabinet, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed their condolences to Noa and her father.

The fate of the young Israeli woman, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, deeply touched people in Israel and around the world.

Footage of her being abducted by terrorists on a motorbike and crying desperately became symbolic of the plight of the hostages seized on October 7. Her boyfriend, who was also kidnapped, is still being held in Gaza.

At a demonstration against the Israeli government at the weekend, Noa Argamani made her first public appeal against hatred since her release.

"I wish for all of us to have more peaceful days, quieter days, to be surrounded by family, friends and good people," she said in the message shown in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening. "Most importantly, may we learn to love and not to hate."
Correction: Reggie Dupre dropped out of law school, not high school in 1980.

A Point-Aux-Chenes man retired from over 40 years of public service. Over 20 current and former elected officials took turns congratulating and thanking him.

Reggie Paul Dupre Jr. retired from his position as Terrebonne Parish Levee Board Director, July 1. Ending 45 years of public service during a Terrebonne Parish Levee Board meeting held at the St. Annes Community Center in Bourg. Angela Hidalgo, Dupres recommendation as a replacement, was appointed immediately after. The many collegues and friends described Dupre as a gentleman, a statesman, a public servant, a mentor, and a negotiator. Now retired, Dupre said he intends to spend time with his family and do some camping, but people could still call on him for advice.

His daughter Brittney Dupre said its the family's turn to have him.

"It's not just him retiring, it's all of us, because where he was with you guys, he had to sacrifice a lot with us... Of course we will miss you guys," she said. "Yall can still call, but try to keep it brief."

Reggie Dupre Jr. and his wife Yvonne hug Godfrey Naquin, July 1, at the St. Ann Community Center during Dupre's retirement party. Dupre concluded 45 years of public service.

Hidalgo, Dupre's replacement, has worked for 22 years at the levee district in roles including Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Executive Director.

Local, state, and federal elected officials took turns cracking inside jokes and well-wishing Dupre in his future endeavors. Dupre has worn many public servant hats over his many years ranging from Terrebonne Parish Deputy, Parish Councilman, Louisiana State Senator, Louisiana State Rep., and Levee Director. According to Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District Col. Cullen Jones, Dupre is the author of three Louisiana State Constitutional Amendments, but his efforts went far beyond just legislation.

You were involved with the Morganza to the Gulf project since its inception in the late 80s to where it is at now at $1.1 billion dollar investment that continues to grow, Jones said. What an amazing legacy.

Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District Col. Cullen Jones awards Reggie Dupre Jr. with a personal Coin of Excellence, July 1, as Dupre retired after 45 years of public service at the St. Ann Community Center in Bourg.

He then gifted Dupre a personal Coin of Excellence.

Dupre grew up the son of Alida D. Naquin and Reggie Dupre Sr., the owners of the Bourg Supermarket. He said one piece of advice from his mother that always stuck with him was Never forget the people you come from.

Reggie Dupre Jr. dancing with his wife Yvonne during his retirement party, July 1, at the St. Ann Community Center in Bourg.

He didnt. During his farewell speech, Dupre turned to Godfrey Naquin, 96, the man whose faith in Dupre was unwavering. Dupre told how he dropped out of LSU Law, but Naquin wouldnt have it. In 1987, Godfrey said Dupre would get a law degree and become a State Senator.

And I told him that night, Godfrey, you are insane. Theres no way that people from Houma and Bayou Lafourche are going to vote for somebody from Point-Aux-Chenes to be their Senator, Dupre said. In 2001, the night he won the State Senator seat, he had written a concession speech because he thought he would lose. He didn't know what he'd say, It took me a half-hour to get to the podium. Right in front of the podium, the first person was Godfrey.

Naquin said he was proud of everything Dupre had accomplished. When he returned from the marine corps and saw that Dupre had quit school, he stopped him and told him if anyone was going to make a difference for the down-the-bayou communities, it was him. He said his prediction came true.

It fills my heart and I know that his mother and his father would be so proud of him, Naquin said.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Terrebonne Parish Levee Director retires, 45 years of public service
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden excoriated the Supreme Court's decision Monday giving former President Donald Trump broad immunity from criminal prosecution, calling it a "dangerous precedent" and arguing Americans will now have to be the final arbiters of Trump's behavior.

Biden, in a special evening address from the White House Cross Hall, said the American people deserve to have an answer in the courts before the November election regarding Trump's role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

"Now, because of today's decision that is highly, highly unlikely. It's a terrible disservice to the people of this nation," Biden said, adding that Americans will "have to do what the courts should have been willing to do but were not."

"The American people will have to render a judgment about Donald Trump's behavior," he said. "The American people will have to decide whether Donald Trump's assault on our democracy on January 6 makes him unfit for public office. The American people must decide if Trump's embrace of violence to preserve his power is acceptable."

He added: "Perhaps most importantly, the American people must decide if they want to entrust the presidency once again to Donald Trump now knowing he will be even more emboldened to do whatever he pleases whenever he wants to do it."

President Joe Biden speaks to the media following the Supreme Court's ruling on charges against former President Donald Trump that he sought to subvert the 2020 election, at the White House on July 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. The highest court ruled 6-3 that presidents have some level of immunity from prosecution when operating within their "constitutional authority," but do not have absolute immunity.

In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump is entitled to immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct that is part of "official acts as president but not "unofficial" acts he took as a candidate.

Trump celebrated the decision, which could severely handcuff Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Biden said the court's ruling effectively ends the long-held principles in the United States that "there are no kings in America" and that "no one is above the law."

"For all practical purposes, today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do. This is a fundamentally new principle and it's a dangerous precedent," Biden said.

He said the decision means the power of the presidency "will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court of the United States. The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone."

Biden said he will "respect the limits of the presidential powers I've had for the three and half years, but any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law."

Biden concluded by saying he concurs with the dissent opinion of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who said, "In every official power, the president is now a king above the law ... With fear for our democracy, I dissent."

"So should the American people dissent. I dissent" Biden said.

Biden delivered his remarks after returning from the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, where he spent the weekend as his reelection campaign sought to limit the fallout of Biden's disastrous debate performance last Thursday. Biden has vowed he will stay in the race amid calls that he bow out and let a different Democrat run against Trump.

Biden did not respond to shouted questions from reporters following his remarks, including one about whether he would end his campaign.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden slams Supreme Court decision giving Trump partial immunity
Tesla Megapack to power world's largest offshore wind farm: 'The battery will help ensure that renewable energy is used in the best possible way'

There's a way to put a value on areas prone to strong winds. Thanks to the developments in clean energy technology, we can harness wind power and distribute it when it is most needed.

The Danish multinational energy company rsted has chosen the Tesla Megapack, a large-scale and rechargeable energy storage battery, to support the world's largest wind farm off the shores of the United Kingdom.

This development is set to deliver stabilization to the U.K.'s energy grid as well as reduce price volatility for accessible electricity.

The battery energy storage system is expected to be installed in Swardeston, in the eastern part of England, and is slated to be in full operation by 2026.

"The battery will help ensure that renewable energy is used in the best possible way by storing it when demand is lower and then releasing it back into the system when it's really needed, thereby maximizing the potential of renewable energy while providing increased energy security and value to consumers," said Duncan Clark, Head of rsted UK and Ireland.

The Megapack is a testament to the power of clean energy, as the system has a 600 MWh capacity and 300 MW power rating, equal to the amount of energy 80,000 U.K. homes consume daily.

To date, rsted holds 660 MW (1,850 MWh) of energy storage systems in the U.K. and U.S. combined, growing storage solutions for communities to enjoy uninterrupted energy while lowering harmful air pollution.

Wind farms rely on wind spinning the blades of turbines to convert kinetic to electrical energy.

Power producers in Europe reached a milestone in the final quarter of 2023 after generating more electricity from wind at 193 terawatt hours (TWh) compared to the 184 TWh from coal, highlighting the improved production of clean energy.

As European nations continue to boost their wind power footprint to benefit citizens, it is estimated the nations will achieve wind generation past the 604 TWh total produced in 2023.

"This project demonstrates the value and flexibility of Tesla's best-in-class power electronics, providing enhanced grid stability and enabling more renewables on the grid," Senior Director of Tesla Megapack Mike Snyder said in a statement.

Tesla's technology has been critical in the shift to clean energy, from making electric vehicles cheaper and more accessible to offering solar panels for homeowners. The Tesla Megapack, meanwhile, is set to bring clean energy storage to yet another part of the world.

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Tesla has announced its second quarter figures, with the company producing 410,831 and delivering 443,956 EVs in Q2. Production decreased by a little over 20,000 units compared to quarter one, but deliveries increased by nearly 15 percent. However, its distribution numbers are 4.8 percent lower than the same period in 2023. Tesla notes it "deployed 9.4 GWh of energy storage products in Q2, the highest quarterly deployment yet."

The car manufacturer's first quarter of 2024 was the first time since 2020 that the company reported a year-over-year sales drop. The car manufacturer blamed the decrease partly on "the early phase of the production ramp of the updated Model 3 at our Fremont factory and factory shutdowns resulting from shipping diversions caused by the Red Sea conflict and an arson attack at Gigafactory Berlin." A group of people called "Volcano Group" claimed responsibility for cutting the power to Tesla's factory outside Berlin. The plant is Tesla's only one in Europe and had to close for a week while power was restored.

Notably, on April 1 Tesla increased the price of every Model Y in the US by $1,000, but we'll have to wait until July 23 to see if it impacted the company's Q2 financial results. Earlier this year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that a lower-cost EV should arrive in the second half of 2025, but that its production might lower sales growth this year.
Here are all the Democratic lawmakers who have publicly called for Biden to drop out

Here are all the Democratic lawmakers who have publicly called for Biden to drop out

Democratic members of Congress are still calling on Biden to drop out of the race.

Thirty-one House Democrats and four Democratic senators have done so as of Friday, July 19.

Despite those calls, Biden has continued to insist that he's not going anywhere.

In the weeks since President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance in June, the list of Democrats in the House and Senate calling for him to drop out of the race has only grown.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic member of Congress, calling for Biden to step aside in a statement on July 2.

Amid a tense intraparty debate about the president's political viability, more and more Democratic lawmakers have joined him.

Despite those calls, Biden has stubbornly insisted that he will remain the party's nominee.

The lawmakers who've issued public drop-out calls come from a variety of factions within the party  some of them face competitive reelection fights this year, while many represent safe seats.

Some have stopped short of calling on Biden to drop out but have flatly predicted that he will lose to former President Donald Trump. One of them, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, went as far as to say that he is "OK" with Trump winning and rejects the idea that Trump is a "unique threat to our democracy."

If Biden steps aside, Vice President Kamala Harris is one of several Democratic contenders who could replace him.

Here are the four Democratic senators who have publicly called on Biden to drop out:

Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont

Sen. Jon Tester of Montana

Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico

Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio

Here are the 31 House Democrats who have publicly called on Biden to drop out:

Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas

Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona

Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts

Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois

Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota

Rep. Adam Smith of Washington

Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey

Rep. Pat Ryan of New York

Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon

Rep. Hillary Scholten of Michigan

Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois

Rep. Ed Case of Hawaii

Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut

Rep. Scott Peters of California

Rep. Eric Sorensen of Illinois

Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado

Rep. Mike Levin of California

Rep. Adam Schiff of California

Rep. Jim Costa of California

Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois

Rep. Jared Huffman of California

Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas

Rep. Chuy Garcia of Illinois

Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin

Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio

Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California

Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota

Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky

Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida

Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico

Read the original article on Business Insider
SANAA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said on Tuesday that they, along with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, launched cruise missiles at "a vital target" in the Israeli city of Haifa.

"The joint military operation targeting a vital target in Haifa with several cruise missiles. The operation achieved its goals successfully," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

He vowed to launch more attacks against Israel until the war in the Gaza Strip stops.

Since November last year, the Houthi group has been conducting drone and missile attacks against Israeli cities and ships in the Red Sea that are related to Israel, to show its solidarity with the Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition has since January been conducting air raids and missile strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, but failed so far to deter the group from launching further attacks on Israeli targets and ships in the Red Sea. 
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The ethics committee for the Texas House of Representatives will meet publicly for the first time since its seismic votes last year that led to the impeachment of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

A notice went up Monday that the Texas Committee on General Investigating will hold a hearing on July 17 at 11 a.m. The agenda includes no information about what the committees five members will discuss, only generalizing that theyll consider committee business and possibly go behind closed doors to talk in executive session. Numerous committees announced hearings in the weeks ahead, though, to talk about interim charges or newly-enforced state laws ahead of next years regular legislative session.

However, its still significant because the House General Investigating Committee has not met since May 28 last year. Thats when the members approved issuing at least a dozen subpoenas related to their investigation into Paxton. Three days prior to that meeting, the panel rocked the Texas political world by agreeing unanimously to move forward with impeaching Paxton after they heard from a team of lawyers specializing in public corruption lay out extensive details about alleged misconduct by the three-term Republican official.

Those investigators said they began looking into Paxton in March 2023 after a proposal emerged to use state funds to pay $3.3 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit filed by four former employees who accused Paxton of wrongdoing. Testimony from those former workers played significantly in the September impeachment trial held for nearly two weeks in the Texas Senate, which ended with state senators voting to acquit Paxton on all the articles of impeachment.

That contentious period fueled Paxtons revenge tour during the primary elections this spring, as he endorsed and actively campaigned for dozens of challengers to unseat some of the GOP incumbents who supported his impeachment. Reporting shows eight of the candidates he backed ended up winning their primaries in March, while nine races advanced to runoffs in May.

The last regular legislative session significantly raised the profile of this House committee, which usually operated quietly and drew little attention in years past. According to the Texas House rules, its responsibilities center on looking further into workplace conduct and inappropriate workplace conduct to ensure that members, officers, and employees may exercise their rights and responsibilities under those rules and policies.

In addition to the splashy Paxton investigation last year, this same panel looked into a complaint about Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton, which led to his eventual expulsion from the House. The lower chamber voted unanimously in early May 2023 to oust the Republican lawmaker over allegations he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 19-year-old female staffer. A report released by the committee detailed Slaton showing a pattern of inappropriate behavior with the aide.

Slaton became the first state representative to be expelled from the Texas House since 1927.

Given the high-profile work it did during the last regular legislative session, there will be undoubtedly be lots of eyes tuning into the committees next hearing and seeing what potentially could come from that.

The agenda for the committees next meeting in a little over two weeks denotes that it should be led by its chairman, Republican Rep. Andrew Murr of Junction. Following Paxtons acquittal last fall, Murr announced in November that he would not seek reelection to the seat he held for a decade. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A juvenile accused of making more than 100 swatting calls and fake bomb threats has been identified and will face charges, according to a news release from the Collin County Sheriffs Office.

The suspect, whose name has not been released because of their age, is accused of making these calls to several states, according to the news release. The investigation into the calls began with a swatting incident in May, where police were called to a home in St. Paul, Minnesota, based on a false report.

Swatting is when someone calls police to make a false report, usually with the apparent intention of getting a response from SWAT teams.

Investigators said the juvenile made these calls to authorities in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. While investigators arent done looking into the suspects calls, they have already identified more than 100 instances across those states.

A search warrant was executed in Smith County, east of DFW on Interstate 20, on June 29, during which investigators were able to confirm the identity of the suspect. In addition to swatting calls, the Collin County Sheriffs Office said the juvenile made bomb threats to Brookshires grocery stores and schools in the Tyler area and at Cypress-Fairbanks school district and Mission school district.

The sheriffs office said the juvenile employed sophisticated techniques to stay hidden, but that investigators were able to determine an identity.

Swatting and bomb threats pose significant dangers and law enforcement has seen a marked increase of these events in recent years, the shierffs office said in the news release. These malicious hoaxes create panic, endanger lives, and divert valuable resources from police, fire, and emergency medical services.

Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner said swatting hoaxes and bomb threats potentially endanger innocent civilians and that his office is committed to identifying people who make those calls.
President Joe Biden speaks at the White House on May 31, 2024.

President Joe Biden speaks at the White House on May 31, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Texas U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett called for President Joe Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee Tuesday, becoming the first congressional Democrat to do so after Bidens poor performance in last weeks presidential debate that has sent the party reeling four months before the November presidential election.

Biden has acknowledged a shaky debate performance but has maintained he is still fit for the job and remains a better alternative than his GOP rival, former President Donald Trump.

Doggett praised Bidens record, but said the stakes of an election that could hand power back to Trump  newly empowered by a Supreme Court ruling Monday granting broad presidential immunity  meant Biden should step aside.

Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw, Doggett said in a statement.

Doggett said that during the 90-minute debate, Biden failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trumps many lies.

After the debate on CNN, Democrats have raised concerns about Bidens performance, which included a raspy, low voice and confusing answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic.

Biden, 81, addressed his performance at the debate during a campaign event the next day in North Carolina, where he acknowledged that hes not a young man, but that hes still up for four more years on the job because Trump, 78, is a genuine threat to this nation.

Leading Democrats have largely remained supportive of Biden in public.

Im with Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a press conference in Syracuse, New York, on Tuesday, according to a local report.

Speculation

But the discontent with the presidents debate performance has prompted speculation that Biden could withdraw before he is officially nominated next month.

Democratic Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Andy Beshear of Kentucky have each sought to distance themselves from speculation they could be on a short list of replacements.

A co-chair of the Biden-Harris Campaign, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, said Tuesday he would support Vice President Kamala Harris should Biden decide to step down.

I will support her, if he were to step aside, he said during a Tuesday interview with MSNBC.

Clyburn, a close ally of Bidens who was instrumental in helping him secure the Democratic nomination in 2020, reiterated that he still supported Biden at the top of the ticket.

We should do everything we can to bolster her, whether shes in second place or at the top of the ticket, he said of Harris.

President Joe Biden, right, and the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, participate in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A bad night

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that its a legitimate question on whether Biden is mentally fit for another four years.

I think its a legitimate question to say, is this an episode or is this a condition? Pelosi said during a Tuesday interview with MSNBC. She called on Biden to agree to interviews with serious journalists.

Biden is scheduled to be interviewed by ABC News George Stephanopoulos on Friday and will participate in a press conference during a NATO conference next week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at Tuesdays press briefing.

Jean-Pierre said Pelosi asked a fair question and that we understand the concerns.

It was a bad night, she said repeatedly over the course of the roughly hour-long briefing where virtually every question related to Bidens fitness for office, debate performance or Doggetts statement.

Jean-Pierre added that Biden had a cold, which is why his voice was hoarse during the debate.

She said Biden is scheduled to meet with Democratic congressional leaders and governors this week, but declined to give details about what would be discussed during those meetings.

More voices

Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio wrote an op-ed Tuesday, calling for Biden to withdraw and Harris to pick up the mantle.

Ryan ran against Biden and Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

Moderate Maine Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden also published an op-ed Tuesday, writing that Bidens performance at the debate wasnt unexpected and that hes fine with a second Trump presidency.

Unlike Biden and many others, I refuse to participate in a campaign to scare voters with the idea that Trump will end our democratic system, Golden said.

Moving forward

Despite the concerns, Democrats are still moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August.

Because of the deadline for candidates to get on Ohios ballot, the all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election.

Any final decisions about Bidens candidacy would likely need to take place in July.

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Business as usual

As the debate about Bidens future continued Tuesday, the president stuck to his regular schedule.

Biden delivered remarks at the District of Columbias Emergency Operations Center on his administrations efforts to address extreme weather.

The president noted the Department of Labors new rule aimed to protect workers from heat-related illnesses, as well as $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for projects to mitigate effects of flooding and other extreme weather.

Biden announced that he will hold the first ever White House Summit on Extreme Heat to bring together state, local and tribal leaders to develop solutions and protections, as well as the launch of a new government website showing in real-time the communities that face dangerous heat conditions.

We want the American people to know help is here and how to get that help, Biden said.

He didnt answer a reporters question about Doggetts statement calling for him to withdraw, according to White House pool reports.

Lia Chien contributed to this report.

The post Texas U.S. House member calls for Biden to withdraw amid debate fallout appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 31: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former U.S. President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush-money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Texas U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett called for President Joe Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee Tuesday, becoming the first congressional Democrat to do so after Bidens poor performance in last weeks presidential debate that has sent the party reeling four months before the November presidential election.

Biden has acknowledged a shaky debate performance but has maintained he is still fit for the job and remains a better alternative than his GOP rival, former President Donald Trump.

Doggett praised Bidens record, but said the stakes of an election that could hand power back to Trump  newly empowered by a Supreme Court ruling Monday granting broad presidential immunity  meant Biden should step aside.

Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw, Doggett said in a statement.

Doggett said that during the 90-minute debate, Biden failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trumps many lies.

After the debate on CNN, Democrats have raised concerns about Bidens performance, which included a raspy, low voice and confusing answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic.

Biden, 81, addressed his performance at the debate during a campaign event the next day in North Carolina, where he acknowledged that hes not a young man, but that hes still up for four more years on the job because Trump, 78, is a genuine threat to this nation.

Leading Democrats have largely remained supportive of Biden in public.

Im with Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a press conference in Syracuse, New York, on Tuesday, according to a local report.

Speculation

But the discontent with the presidents debate performance has prompted speculation that Biden could withdraw before he is officially nominated next month.

Democratic Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Andy Beshear of Kentucky have each sought to distance themselves from speculation they could be on a short list of replacements.

A co-chair of the Biden-Harris Campaign, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, said Tuesday he would support Vice President Kamala Harris should Biden decide to step down.

I will support her, if he were to step aside, he said during a Tuesday interview with MSNBC.

Clyburn, a close ally of Bidens who was instrumental in helping him secure the Democratic nomination in 2020, reiterated that he still supported Biden at the top of the ticket.

We should do everything we can to bolster her, whether shes in second place or at the top of the ticket, he said of Harris.

A bad night

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that its a legitimate question on whether Biden is mentally fit for another four years.

I think its a legitimate question to say, is this an episode or is this a condition? Pelosi said during a Tuesday interview with MSNBC. She called on Biden to agree to interviews with serious journalists.

Biden is scheduled to be interviewed by ABC News George Stephanopoulos on Friday and will participate in a press conference during a NATO conference next week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at Tuesdays press briefing.

Jean-Pierre said Pelosi asked a fair question and that we understand the concerns.

It was a bad night, she said repeatedly over the course of the roughly hour-long briefing where virtually every question related to Bidens fitness for office, debate performance or Doggetts statement.

Jean-Pierre added that Biden had a cold, which is why his voice was hoarse during the debate.

She said Biden is scheduled to meet with Democratic congressional leaders and governors this week, but declined to give details about what would be discussed during those meetings.

More voices

Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio wrote an op-ed Tuesday, calling for Biden to withdraw and Harris to pick up the mantle.

Ryan ran against Biden and Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

Moderate Maine Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden also published an op-ed Tuesday, writing that Bidens performance at the debate wasnt unexpected and that hes fine with a second Trump presidency.

Unlike Biden and many others, I refuse to participate in a campaign to scare voters with the idea that Trump will end our democratic system, Golden said.

Moving forward

Despite the concerns, Democrats are still moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August.

Because of the deadline for candidates to get on Ohios ballot, the all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election.

Any final decisions about Bidens candidacy would likely need to take place in July.

Business as usual

As the debate about Bidens future continued Tuesday, the president stuck to his regular schedule.

Biden delivered remarks at the District of Columbias Emergency Operations Center on his administrations efforts to address extreme weather.

The president noted the Department of Labors new rule aimed to protect workers from heat-related illnesses, as well as $1 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for projects to mitigate effects of flooding and other extreme weather.

Biden announced that he will hold the first ever White House Summit on Extreme Heat to bring together state, local and tribal leaders to develop solutions and protections, as well as the launch of a new government website showing in real-time the communities that face dangerous heat conditions.

We want the American people to know help is here and how to get that help, Biden said.

He didnt answer a reporters question about Doggetts statement calling for him to withdraw, according to White House pool reports.

Lia Chien contributed to this report.

The post Texas U.S. House member calls for Biden to withdraw amid debate fallout appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
A therapist says these 5 dark psychology tricks are used a lot in dating. Here's how to spot them early on.

A therapist says these 5 dark psychology tricks are used a lot in dating. Here's how to spot them early on.

Narcissists and manipulative people often use dark psychology tricks when dating new people.

A therapist shared the most common ones, according to her clients' dating experiences.

Love bombing, gaslighting, and isolation are among the dark psychology tricks used in dating.

Dating someone new can be scary. Beyond first-date jitters and worrying that they like you back, there are grimmer possibilities, such as missing red flags or dating a narcissist. Of the latter, social media is littered with posts about the idea of "dark psychology" and how it's used to manipulate partners.

"They're hacks or cheats to get what you want faster," Annie Wright, a relational-trauma therapist in Berkeley, California, told Business Insider. "What you're doing is fundamentally not getting what you want, which is a relationship based on trust and mutuality."

She said she'd seen dark psychology tricks being used a lot in dating. At her practice, her clients have reported experiencing these tricks the most. Wright also gave advice on how to spot them early on.

1. They go overboard with affection

Wright said love bombing was one of the most common manipulation tactics she'd seen. She described it as someone "showering you with excessive attention and affection early and often to gain your trust and dependency."

For example, one of her clients dated someone who would "plan very extravagant outings and send constant, affectionate messages" only days after meeting, she said.

It's a tactic used by narcissists and dark empaths because it can speed up the bonding process, which otherwise takes time and consistency, she said.

Of course, some people are genuinely that excited early on, and not all grand gestures are necessarily love bombing. Wright said a good way to tell the difference is by the intensity and severity of the affection. Someone saying they really like you on the first date isn't the same as someone sending flowers after every date or declaring love after a few weeks.

If you're still unsure, she said to think of the people you know really well in your life, such as your close friends or family. Would they seem as intense as this person if they were madly in love with you?

2. They gradually belittle you

Wright said devaluation is another common dark psychology trick  and it usually happens after the idealization or love bombing phase. She said it can look "super subtle" and tricky to spot sometimes because negative comments can be disguised as helpful notes.

One client said they were put on a pedestal at the very beginning of the relationship, only to have their partner switch to making "suggestions" on how they could improve, such as their appearance. Suddenly, they went from being absolutely perfect to needing an Equinox membership.

"It's a basic, fundamental human need to feel attached," Wright said, whether we're dealing with romantic partners or our parents. "When something happens that threatens that attachment, we organize ourselves in ways to try to get that attachment back."

Hot-and-cold dynamics can be intoxicating; however, the instability can cause damage to your physical and mental health, Wright warned.

3. They only want to spend time alone

When it comes to isolation, Wright said people usually think it only shows up after a couple has been together for a while. But it can also appear in the early stages.

One of her clients wanted to introduce her new date to her friend group. They would respond with, "I thought you wanted to focus on us tonight," as if including other people meant they didn't think their partner was enough on their own.

Isolation is a serious abuse tactic, so it's important to question why a new partner seems reluctant to interact with your friends and family.

4. They allude to better options

Manipulators love "introducing a third party into the relationship dynamics to create jealousy and competition," Wright said. The intention is to lower their partner's self-esteem and make them easier to control.

A few of her clients have said their date would mention how attractive or interesting a mutual friend was, subtly suggesting the said friend could be a better match for them.

Wright said it would make her clients "feel insecure and eager to prove their worth."

5. They only have one version of truth  theirs

Gaslighting is when the manipulator makes their victim question their own reality, Wright said.

In the early stages of dating, one of Wright's clients "noticed their date was frequently contradicting things they had previously said or done," she said. When called out, the date would accuse Wright's client of misremembering conversations, causing them to second-guess themselves.

"When you're imbalanced and disoriented, that can make you more susceptible to other seeds or agendas that are planted," Wright said.

She noted that while it's possible for two people to remember an event differently, a tell-tale sign of goodwill is "a person's willingness to even be curious" about the other's perspective.

If a partner can't admit fault or consider different points of view, that's the biggest sign they're not emotionally mature enough for a healthy relationship. No amount of dark psychology tricks will ever bring them close.

Read the original article on Business Insider
UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for strengthened collaboration to counter terrorism and extremism across Africa -- from Sudan and the Horn of Africa, to the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and beyond.

In a video message to the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, Guterres said the international community must support Africa's potential as the world's food basket and its ambition to become a renewable energy superpower, while making sure that critical minerals benefit Africans in the first place.

"Above all, we need peace," the UN chief stressed, noting: "We must strengthen our collaboration to safeguard human rights, counter terrorism and violent extremism, and silence the guns across Africa -- from Sudan and the Horn of Africa, to the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and beyond."

The UN Security Council's recent resolution, which calls for supporting peace operations led by regional partners, notably the African Union, with mandates from the council and funded by assessed contributions, "will help us do this," he said.

Guterres said the Aswan forum arrives at a difficult moment for Africa and the global family, as sustainable peace and development are being obstructed by enormous challenges that affect Africa and Africans, "in outsized ways."

From poverty, hunger, inequalities, climate change, and crushing debt burdens, to conflicts, terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government, "the path forward is clear," he stated.

"We must accelerate efforts to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals," he noted.

Affordable, long-term financing is the fuel of development, but many African countries are running on empty, Guterres pointed out, emphasizing that they need massive debt relief, lower borrowing costs, and expanded access to concessional finance.

"That is why I am calling for an SDG Stimulus, and for deep reforms to the global financial architecture, so developing countries can invest in jobs, gender equality and education -- the African Union's theme this year," he said.

The UN chief added that Africa also need "a quantum leap" in infrastructure development to support the people and economies of the continent, including massive investments in universal electrification, broadband access and closing the digital divide.

The forum's theme this year, "Africa in a Changing World: Re-Envisioning Global Governance for Peace and Development," also reminds us of the need to re-envision global governance, and amplify Africa's voice and leadership on the world stage, including the UN Security Council and across the global financial system, Guterres said.

"I look forward to strong and vocal African leadership at September's Summit of the Future in New York," said the UN chief.

The fourth Aswan forum is held in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday and Wednesday. 
A Biden political appointee in the Department of the Interior has resigned in protest over the presidents support for Israel, criticizing its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip as a genocide against the Palestinians living there.

Maryam Hassanein, who was a former special assistant, credited protests on college campuses in support of Palestinians in Gaza, particularly at George Washington University, for cementing her decision to resign. A Muslim-American, Hassanein criticized the administration for dehumanizing Muslims and Arabs.

It has become clear to me that I do not have a place in this administration, she wrote in a statement posted to the social media site X.

The Institute for Middle East Understanding, a nonprofit organization, said Hassanein is the first Muslim-American to resign from the Biden administration in opposition to the Israeli war.

When my family and I, alongside other Muslims and Arab Americans, turned up to vote for President Biden in 2020, it was because the Biden campaign promised justice. That promise and faith in the administration has been shattered, she wrote.

Other public resignations include Josh Paul, a career foreign service officer overseeing U.S. weapons deliveries to Israel, who criticized the pace and lack of oversight in deliveries that were scaled up following Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Lily Greenberg Call, another political appointee in the Department of Interior, resigned in May, while Tariq Habash, a Palestinian-American, resigned from his position at the Department of Education in January.

President Biden has defended his support for Israel as standing with a democratic ally in the face of Hamass brutal terrorist attack of Oct. 7, but has criticized the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for carrying out a punishing campaign in Gaza to rout Hamas.

Critics of Bidens policy toward Israel have called for the president to halt U.S. weapons supplies as leverage against Israel to stop its military operations.

Biden has called for a six-week cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, contingent on Hamas releasing an estimated 120 hostages it kidnapped from Israel on Oct 7. The administration wants to use the pause in fighting to scale up humanitarian aid delivery to Palestinians in Gaza and work to negotiate a permanent end to the war.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(FOX40.COM)  What started as a local grassland fire led by CAL FIRE/ Butte County Fire, the Thompson Fire has now become a 1,438-personnel fire with hundreds of resources on hand.

Starting at 11:45 a.m. in the area of Cherokee Road and Thompson Flat Road as a 15-acre fire, the Thompson has rapidly spread to burn more than 3,000 acres in less than 24 hours.

As the sun rose on Wednesday on the shores of Lake Oroville, a little over 500 fire personnel and a few dozen pieces of heavy equipment were working hard to fight and contain the Thompson Fire.

Those numbers have now more than doubled after Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County and is allocating all available resources to Oroville.

Fire mapping by CAL FIRE shows the fire is burning on both side of the Feather River between Oroville Dam Road and Big O Road.

The fire has burned as far south as Sharlo Lane and north of the Cherokee Road and Oregon Gulch Road split.

Fire mapping shows that flames have reached along the shoreline of Lake Oroville near the Spillway Boat Launch Parking area.

As of 9:02 a.m., there is 1,438 personnel battling back the flames with assistance from 199 fire engines, 49 water tenders, 46 dozers and 8 helicopters.

These nearly 1,500 firefighters have been brought to the Northern California community to help the some 13,000 residents that have been evacuated from the fire area and the thousands more that could be forced to evacuate.

There are around three dozen zones that have been forced to evacuate, according to the Butte County evacuation map.

Evacuation shelters have been established at Oroville Church of the Nazarene, 2238 Monte Vista Ave., Oroville and Gridley Fairgrounds, 199 E HAzel St, Gridley.

A large animal shelter has been established at the Camelot Equestrian Park, 1985 Clark Rd, Oroville. A small animal shelter has been established at 2279 Del Oro Ave, Oroville.

Wildfire Information

Zonehaven, CAL FIRE and NIXLE: Websites you can use for wildfire information

AlertCalifornia live cams to provide more insight into natural disasters

These are the items to include in your emergency kit in case of a disaster

Air tankers from CAL FIRE have been dropping fire retardant on the fires perimeter. After nearly a day of combatting the fire, the City of Oroville declared a local emergency because of the extreme conditions the fire has imposed.

The California Governors Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) has provided their Region 3 incident support unit to help with mobile command and enhance fire mapping capabilities, according to the Butte County Sheriffs Office.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
The News

Thousands of Palestinians fled Khan Younis on Tuesday after Israels military ordered a mass evacuation, signaling that a ground invasion of Gazas second-largest city is likely. The order has put already-displaced Palestinians in a harrowing, horrific, and incredibly difficult situation, a UN official said, forcing them into overcrowded and under-resourced camps. We have no other choice now but to die in our homes because there is no place left that we have not been displaced to, one Palestinian told the BBC. The order comes as tensions between Israels military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government hit a record high as Israeli generals  worried about a potential conflict with Hezbollah  press for a truce in Gaza, even if Hamas is not defeated.
Smoke rises from Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel

Smoke rises from Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Mohammad Salem

CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -Israeli forces bombarded several areas of the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday and thousands of Palestinians fled their homes in what could be part of a final push of Israel's intensive military operations in nine months of war.

Eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded, health officials said. Israel's military said that two soldiers had been killed in battle a day earlier.

Israel's leaders have said they were winding down the phase of intense fighting against Hamas, the Islamist group that has governed Gaza since 2007, and would soon shift to more targeted operations.

Later on Tuesday, 17 Palestinians were killed in Israeli tank shelling of a street in the densely populated Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City in the north of the Strip, medics said. Footage on some Palestinian social media that Reuters was not immediately able to verify showed the scene at a local market, with bread scattered on a floor stained with blood.

The Israeli army ordered residents of several towns and villages in eastern Khan Younis to evacuate their homes on Monday, prior to tanks re-entering the area the military had left several weeks ago.

Thousands who had not heeded the call were forced to flee their homes in the dark overnight, as Israeli tanks and planes bombed Karara, Abassan and other areas that had been named in the evacuation orders, residents and Hamas media said.

"Where will we go?" said Tamer, a 55-year-old businessman, who has been displaced six times since Oct. 7.

"Every time people go back to their homes and begin to rebuild some of their lives even on the rubble of their houses, the occupation sends the tanks back to destroy what is left," he told Reuters via a chat app.

The Israeli military said its forces had struck areas in Khan Younis from where around 20 rockets had been fired on Monday. Targets included weapon storage facilities and operational centres, it added.

It said measures were taken before the strikes to enable civilians to evacuate the area. The military has accused Hamas of using civilian infrastructure and the wider population as human shields. The Islamist group denies that.

Islamic Jihad, an allied group of Hamas, said it was responsible for firing the rockets.

ENDGAME IN RAFAH

Israel, which has been under growing international pressure to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, said on Tuesday it connected a power line to a desalination plant in the enclave to provide additional drinking water.

Production will jump fourfold to 20,000 cubic metres of drinking water per day from, the Israeli military said.

Though that is far from enough to supply the population of Gaza, Israeli officials said it was significant.

"It'll be quite a game changer in terms of addressing immediate sanitation issues and access to water resources," said an Israeli defence official, adding that it was part of a wider humanitarian effort pushed by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas burst into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages, including civilians and soldiers, back into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

The offensive launched by Israel in retaliation has killed nearly 38,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and has left the heavily built-up coastal enclave in ruins.

The Gaza health ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, but officials say most of the dead are civilians. Israel says 320 of its soldiers have been killed in Gaza and that at least a third of the Palestinian dead are fighters.

Herzi Halevi, Israel's chief of general staff, said 900 Hamas militants, including commanders, have been killed by Israeli forces in the Rafah Brigade and the current effort is focused on destroying "terrorist" underground infrastructure, which takes time.

"This is a long campaign," he said. "With determination and perseverance we are accomplishing our missions and wearing down the other side."

Within the areas subject to evacuation orders was the European Gaza Hospital, which serves both Khan Younis and Rafah, and medical officials had to evacuate patients and families who had taken shelter in the facility, witnesses and medics said.

Some residents headed west towards the Mawasi area via the beach, which is designated as a humanitarian area but is overcrowded by displaced families. Some slept in the street as they could not find shelter.

Israel says that its operation in Rafah, in southern Gaza near the border with Egypt, that was meant to stamp out Hamas in its final redoubt will soon be concluded.

After the intense phase of the war is over, its forces will focus on smaller-scale operations meant to stop Hamas from regrouping, officials say.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was nearing its goal of destroying the military capabilities of Hamas.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue to stage attacks against Israeli forces operating inside Gaza and fire rockets into Israel. Hamas says Israel has failed to achieve the goals of the war and the group is ready to fight for years.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza have stalled. Hamas says any deal must end the war and bring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in the fighting until Hamas is eradicated.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch, Maayan Lubell and Steven Scheer; Editing by Alex Richardson and Christina Fincher)
Mercedes employees take part in a rally as part of a nationwide day of action for the future of Mercedes-Benz branch employees in front of the Mercedes-Benz branch center in Berlin. Christoph Soeder/dpa

Around 25,000 Mercedes-Benz employees have demonstrated against the planned sale of the company's car dealerships, workers' representatives in Germany said on Tuesday.

Some 10,000 people joined a protest at the luxury car-builder's plant in Sindelfingen in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, according to the General Works Council and the IG Metall trade union.

Under the slogan "We stick together - on July 2 and every day," more protesters gathered at the Mercedes-Benz Group headquarters in Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, and in the cities of Rastatt, Dusseldorf, Bremen and Berlin.

The rallies were attended not only by employees of the car dealerships, but also of the Mercedes plants, with protesters venting their anger with drums, whistles and banners.

"The employees are furious," said General Works Council Chairman Ergun Lumali. "Anyone who attacks one of us is attacking us all."

All Mercedes production lines were at a standstill and numerous branches are also closed. Works meetings had already been held at many locations in the spring.

According to earlier reports, around 8,000 people are employed at Mercedes-Benz branches in around 80 plants. One company can include several car dealerships.

The group said in March that it intended to sell the dealerships and that each one would be examined individually. According to a spokesperson, no dealerships have yet been sold.

The company wants to select the buyers according to several criteria, including having to bring retail expertise, economic strength, entrepreneurial competence, willingness to invest and open-mindedness towards employee representatives.

The criteria for potential buyers also include collectively agreed standards such as salaries and pension schemes and have been under discussion for several months. A result of the talks is expected in the coming weeks.

The locations are not to be sold as a whole, and the Group has also ruled out purely financial investors. The aim is to retain jobs in Germany, it said.

The General Works Council and trade union fear that working conditions could deteriorate significantly as a result of the sale.

Mercedes employees take part in a rally as part of a nationwide day of action for the future of Mercedes-Benz branch employees in front of the Mercedes-Benz branch center in Berlin. Christoph Soeder/dpa

Participants walk behind a banner reading "Future or resistance", during a rally as part of a nationwide day of action for the future of Mercedes-Benz branch employees in front of the Mercedes-Benz branch center in Berlin. Christoph Soeder/dpa
ISTANBUL  Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria have activated a naval task force dedicated to countering mine warfare in the Black Sea.

The move comes as Ukraine fights off a Russian invasion, which has involved clashes in and around the body of water.

The top officers of the Turkish, Romanian and Bulgarian navies met in Istanbul for the initial launch of the task force on Monday. About six months prior, the officials signed a memorandum of understanding to move forward with the initiative.

Vice Adm. Mihai Panait, the chief of Romanias Naval Forces, said the task force not only enhances our collective operational capabilities but also addresses the conflict in our region, which has imposed the mobilization of the three riparian NATO states to ensure the freedom of navigation, respecting the Montreux Convention.

The Black Sea is of strategic importance to NATO, of which all three countries are members. The organization last year encouraged allies to uphold the security and stability of the region, including through the use of the 1936 Montreux Convention. Under that agreement, Turkey manages the movement of commercial and military ships in and out of the Bosporus and Dardanelles.

Rear Admiral Yusuf Akyuz of the Turkish Naval Forces commands the task force, which is charged with ensuring the safety of maritime traffic against mines and strengthening cooperation and interoperability among participants. This initial activation will last July 1-16, and will reform again Sept. 20-29, then finally Nov. 3-13 November.

During these scheduled activations, the task group will also participate in the Bulgarian-led exercise Breeze, the Turkish-run drill Nusret and the Romanian-led exercise Poseidon, respectively, to hone their mine countermeasures skills.

On Jan. 2, 2025, Bulgaria will take command of the task force from Turkey. There are currently two activations planned for that year.

For now, the Turksih support ship TCG Yzb. Gungor Durmus will act as the flagship. Other vessels assigned to the task force are the Bulgarian mine-hunter BGS Struma, the Romanian mine-sweeper ROS Slt. Alexandru Axente and the Turkish mine-hunter TCG Akcay.
A group of teenagers setting off fireworks ignited a 100-acre blaze last Friday near Southeast Boise, according to a news release from the Ada County Sheriffs Office.

The grass fire started at around 4 p.m. in the area of E. Plexi Court and S. Leeds Lane near the Boise River when a 16-year-old launched a mortar-style firework. The juvenile was with several friends at the time of the incident, and they immediately called 911 to report the fire.

The teens attempted to extinguish the blaze but were unsuccessful.

The Bureau of Land Management responded to the fire with one overhead, four engines, one dozer, one water tender, one helicopter and one fire investigator, according to a Facebook post from BLM. It was contained by 6 p.m.

The juvenile was cited and released for misdemeanor firing timber or prairie land.

Setting off fireworks on BLM land is prohibited, and the Sheriffs Office reminded residents that the Ada County fireworks ban prohibits the use of any fireworks in unincorporated areas outside of fire protection districts. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor.

The only fireworks that are legal in Idaho are nonaerial common fireworks, which excludes devices containing explosive material that will burn when ignited, such as M-80s and cherry bombs; fireworks that leave the ground of their own accord, such as sky and bottle rockets; or fireworks that emit sparks more than 20 feet vertically, the Idaho Statesman has previously reported.
What is known about intimate partner violence in Kentucky isnt the whole picture; research suggests only around 54% of of domestic violence incidents like rape or assault are reported to police. (Getty Images)

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

You can also contact any of Kentuckys 15 domestic violence programs.

Over a seven-month period last year, there were nearly 27,000 alleged cases of child abuse with a domestic violence component in Kentucky, the 2023 Domestic Violence Data Report shows.

From April 22 to Dec. 31, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and help hotlines received 26,582 unique reports of child abuse in which there were also allegations of domestic violence, according to the statewide report, released Monday.

Cortney Downs, chief equity officer for Kentucky Youth Advocates, said this number is pretty alarming.

Those are real people, and  this is a significant part of their life, day in and day out, Downs told the Lantern. Parents, the non-offending caregivers, are having to think every day about how to keep their kids safe in a very different way than a lot of other parents. You have older siblings who are having to think about how to keep their younger siblings safe in a very different way than a lot of other people.

The report also shows the number of adult Kentuckians who experienced intimate partner violence decreased slightly in 2023 from 2022.

In 2022, the first of its kind report showed about half of Kentucky women  45.3%  and around 35.5% of men experienced intimate partner violence  or threat of it  in their lifetimes.

The 2023 report shows that from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, that number decreased to 44.5% of women and 32.9% of men.

This includes, according to the report, being fearful or concerned for safety, any post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, injury, need for medical care, housing services, victim advocate services, and/or legal services, missing at least one day of work or school, and/or contacting a crisis hotline.

The state began gathering this data in compliance with a 2022 Republican bill that directed agencies to annually gather and publish data on domestic and dating violence and abuse.

Data in it comes from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinets Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Kentucky State Police, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

By the numbers

The report shows that in Kentucky last year:

41,887 electronic JC-3 forms (documenting alleged violence) were filed. This is up from 2022, when there were 38,708 electronic JC-3 forms filed across Kentucky.

7,744 arrests were made for incidents involving domestic or dating violence and abuse. This is down from 2022, when there were 8,867 arrests. The decrease is because the report excluded human trafficking this year, according to the Justice & Public Safety Cabinet, to help provide the state a better snapshot for progress to be made.

17,036 emergency protective orders were served by the Kentucky State Police. This is an increase from 2022, when police served 16,402 emergency protective orders (EPOs), which are short-term restrictions on the accuseds movements until the issue can go before a judge, which the court system aims to do within two weeks.

15,104 individuals received services from ZeroVs 15 regional domestic violence programs.

23,381 crisis/hotline calls were received through ZeroVs 15 regional domestic violence programs. This is an increase from the 21,241 crisis calls in 2022.

Scary to report

What is known about intimate partner violence in Kentucky isnt the whole picture; research suggests only around 54% of domestic violence incidents like rape or assault are reported to police.

The true prevalence and impact of domestic violence goes far beyond the scope of the data captured within this report, the report says.

The data that is known is almost like the tip of the iceberg, said Downs. There are probably a lot more people  hundreds, thousands, potentially, of other people  across the state who are experiencing this currently, have experienced intimate partner violence at some point in their lives, and just didnt say anything.

And any amount of interpersonal violence is too much, advocates say.

Angela Yannelli, the CEO of ZeroV (formerly known as the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence), said any level of violence greater than zero is a concern that deserves the attention of our commonwealth.

Ending such violence needs a comprehensive approach, she said.

We need a strong support system that makes sure everyone can access food, healthcare and housing, which would make it easier for survivors to get away from abusive relationships, Yannelli said in a statement. And finally, we need to abolish the cultural norms that allow for and perpetuate (intimate partner violence) to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Community members  and lawmakers  need to band together to end cycles of violence and the stigma around reporting it, Downs with KYA said.

In general, I think it is very hard, its very scary, its very dangerous to even report at all, to tell anyone about whats going on, she said.

Solutions to ending violence will be different in different areas of the state, Downs said. Its 2024. This isnt a new or emerging issue, and so reading this report, to me, felt like an urgent call for action.

Lawmakers should work to find solutions to ending violence, she said, and listen to input from the experts in different regions.

We all know somebody or multiple people who have gone through it. Non-offending parents and their children really cannot afford to have those in positions of power spending another year being just horrified or shocked by the data and then not following through with action.

The post Tip of the iceberg: Kentucky releases domestic violence data report appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Toccoa man wanted after shooting at police officers and running away, GBI says

Police are searching for a man accused of shooting at officers in Toccoa. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in after an officer fired back at the suspect.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The GBI said Montavious Cantrell Winkfield, 37, is wanted in connection to the incident.

On Monday, not long after 2 p.m., Toccoa PD officers stopped a car near Diagonal Street.

Winkfield got out of the car and started shooting at the officers, according to the GBI.

An officer fired a gun at him, and he ran away. No officers were injured in this incident. The GBI said Winkfield is still on the run.

TRENDING STORIES:

The Toccoa Police Department has issued warrants for Winkfield for two counts of aggravated assault against law enforcement officers.

Anyone with information about this incident or Winkfields location should call the Toccoa PD tip line at 706-282-3236.

Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-8477, online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  I have always had a fascination with national holidays that go unnoticed. They can be super quirky, but often times they highlight certain groups or jobs that deserve recognition.

I will start a daily post on the different national days throughout the year.

Today is National Wildland Firefighter Day.

July 2 honors the dedicated personnel who coordinate their efforts to protect the nations wildlands and remember the sacrifices made each time a firefighter steps into a wildland fire.

Photo by: Village of Ruidoso

This is such a fitting national holiday as our regions brave men and women have valiantly fought off two wildfires that have devasted our sister community in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

We have seen nearly 1,000 firefighters battle this monstrous blaze that has scorched over 20,000 acres.

There were 18 crews, four helicopters, 31 engines, four bulldozers and 10 water tenders used at one point to put out the Salt and South Fork Fires, which are now nearly 85 percent contained.

To read more about it what is happening in Ruidoso, here is a link:

Fire officials fill 18K sandbags to support Ruidoso communities | KTSM 9 News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
GAZA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Unexploded ordnance poses a massive threat to people in the Gaza Strip as more people return to areas that have been bombarded or seen heavy fighting, a UN refugee agency said on Tuesday.

"Children rummaging through rubble face terrible risks every day. Nowhere is safe in Gaza," the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said in a post on the social media platform X.

Over 37 million tons of debris in the Gaza Strip contain about 800,000 tons of asbestos, other contaminants, and unexploded ordnance, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service. At least 10 percent of the fired ammunition potentially failed to function.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza climbed to 37,877, the Gaza-based health authorities said on Sunday. 
On Aug. 6, Missourians will go to the polls to cast votes in the primary for candidates vying for local, state and national offices. In addition, well be asked to weigh in on two constitutional amendments. Amendment 4 asks voters whether the Kansas City Police Department should receive adequate funding to keep our community safe. This question is identical to a ballot measure passed overwhelmingly by Missouri voters in 2022. The election results were set aside and a new election was ordered by the Missouri Supreme Court based on a technical issue with the fiscal note that accompanied the ballot question in 2022.

If passed, Amendment 4 would revise Missouris Constitution to set a minimum funding level for the Kansas City Police Department that reflects historical funding levels and stops future attempts to defund the police. This constitutional question is the second half of a two-part effort I led to provide the KCPD with the resources it needs to ensure public safety and protect our community. In 2022, I sponsored Amendment 4 and its companion bill after the radical actions by the Kansas City mayor and City Council in 2021 to strip $42 million from the police departments budget. The mayor and council discussed these cuts in secret and excluded Kansas City Northland members from the discussion  its no surprise that all four Northland council members at the time voted no.

The 2021 cuts constituted one-fifth of the KCPDs budget and, if permitted, would have impacted officer salaries, resulted in layoffs and devastated the KCPDs ability to keep Kansas City safe. A court eventually overturned the budget cuts as illegal, but that ruling didnt prevent future efforts by the city to defund the police. Thats why we need Amendment 4.

Amendment 4 would stabilize the KCPD budget and set a minimum funding level of 25% of city funds, which matches the historic funding the department has recently received. The 2021 attempt to slash KCPDs budget was an attempt to undermine the police boards budget authority and redirect funds to ill-defined community programs controlled by bureaucrats. The largest police force in Missouri, the KCPD is governed by a five-member Board of Police Commissioners made up entirely of Kansas City residents, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. This independent, bipartisan commission structure has existed since the 1930s and protects the KCPD from City Hall politics.

Since the 1950s, Missouris Constitution has required the city to devote 20% of its budget to the KCPD, but the city has historically funded the department at around 25%. The 25% threshold required by Amendment 4 is in line with the modern funding needs of the department and is consistent with the level of funding provided by the city in recent decades.

Over the past several years, Ive heard from many of you concerned about rising crime and the lack of support for law enforcement in our community. We can do something about it.

On Aug. 6, I will again enthusiastically cast a yes vote on Amendment 4. The time has come to stop city politicians attempts to play games with the police budget and prevent future attempts of defunding the Kansas City Police Department. Amendment 4 would ensure stability and give the officers of the KCPD the resources they need to keep our community safe, and in turn, contribute to economic prosperity across the entire state of Missouri.

I hope you will join me in standing with the brave men and women of law enforcement and voting yes on Amendment 4.

Tony Luetkemeyer represents the 34th District in the Missouri Senate.
Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said Monday he expects the federal election subversion case against former President Trump will never head to trial, after the Supreme Court ruled core presidential powers are immune from criminal prosecution.

Its a big, big victory for Donald Trump, Toobin said on CNNs AC360, referring to the 6-3 ruling that sends Trumps federal election case back to district court to determine whether his acts leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, merit protection.

It means that the January 6 case  the case before Judge Chutkan in the District of Columbia  is, at a minimum, delayed until after the election, but I think will never be tried, he continued.

Toobin noted Chief Justice John Robertss majority opinion specified that official conduct cannot even be part of the evidence presented when prosecuting unofficial acts, making it difficult to find admissible evidence to support the case.

Toobin also said the official conduct definition is so broad that it seems to eat up the entire indictment, in my view, in the Jan. 6 case.

So, I think, either Judge [Tanya] Chutkan, or an appeals court or the Supreme Court will wind up dismissing the January 6 case, because it involves official conduct, he said.

In the majority opinion, Roberts wrote that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution  a decision that stopped just short of granting Trump the total immunity he sought, but that nonetheless helped him by likely delaying that trial beyond the November election.

The decision also took a sledgehammer to some of special counsel Jack Smiths indictment of Trump, determining various actions Trump took to remain in power after losing the election were indeed protected.

At least with respect to the presidents exercise of his core constitutional powers, this immunity must be absolute. As for his remaining official actions, he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity, Roberts wrote in his majority opinion.

There is no immunity for unofficial acts, the court determined elsewhere in the opinion.

The decision returns the case to district court, where proceedings in the case have been paused while the high court weighed Trumps immunity claims. Chutkan, who is overseeing the matter, must now weigh the issue for a second time as well as other pending efforts by Trump seeking to toss the case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Leonid Pasechnik, the Russia-installed head of the occupied territories in Luhansk Oblast, was found guilty of undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity and collaborationism, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported on July 2.

He was sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property and banned from holding public office in Ukraine for 13 years.

According to the SBU, Pasechnik signed an agreement between the occupied Luhansk Oblast and Moscow shortly before the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "Such decisions" were used as a "formal pretext" by Russian President Vladimir Putin who ordered the invasion, the SBU said.

Pasechnik also organized a sham referendum on "joining the Russian Federation" that was held in the occupied parts of Luhansk Oblast in September 2023.

Following the sham referendums in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Kherson oblasts, Putin claimed that Russia was annexing these Ukrainian regions in an attempt to solidify Russia's territorial gains in the full-scale invasion.

Russia partially occupies the four oblasts and controls the regional centers in just two of them. Donetsk and Luhansk have been occupied since Russia's initial invasion of the Donbas in 2014.

Pasechnik also organized illegal elections in the occupied region, which were held at gunpoint, the SBU said.

Luhansk-born Pasechnik, 54, was the SBU colonel before he backed Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014. He became the top Russian proxy in the occupied parts of Luhansk Oblast in 2018 replacing other collaborator, Igor Plotnitskyi.

Read also: Russia claims Ukrainian missile strike on occupied Luhansk, partisans say oil depot hit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A hulking manufacturing plant in Irmo is being accused of contaminating the lower Saluda River and drinking water supplies after dumping toxic forever chemicals into the scenic waterway and its floodplain for years.

Environmentalists sued the Shaw Industries company Tuesday, arguing that forever chemical pollution is still occurring and should be stopped by a federal court. Shaw is a major textile manufacturing plant that produces fiber and nylon for carpets at the factory on St. Andrews Road.

The Congaree Riverkeeper organization and the Southern Environmental Law Center had threatened in March to sue Shaw if it did not take action. An attorney said the law center filed the suit because Shaw had not stopped its discharges of forever chemicals from a pipe along the Saluda, as the environmental groups had asked.

Thats important because the lower Saluda is being polluted above the West Columbia and Cayce drinking water systems, which have shown evidence of forever chemical pollution in the water, said Carl Brzorad, an attorney with the law center. Fish that people eat also are being contaminated below the Shaw Industries plant, he said.

They are discharging PFAS directly into a drinking water source, Brzorad said. These municipalities dont have the advanced treatment installed that you need to remove this stuff from the source water.

That source water originates in the lower Saluda, an 11-mile stretch of river extending from the Lake Murray dam to the confluence with the Broad near downtown Columbia. Together, the two rivers form the Congaree. The chilly lower Saluda is often considered the jewel of the three waterways because it has whitewater rapids and an active trout fishery, unusual for central South Carolina. It is a state designated Scenic River.

Shaw officials were not immediately available for comment Tuesday, but said in March that the company stopped using some PFAS treatments in carpet manufacturing five years ago. The company suggested that it was looking for forever chemicals that may have come through its plant. The company said Shaw is taking steps to address inadvertent sources of PFAS and resolve public concerns. A spokeswoman said the company had complied with all of its permits to discharge wastewater.

Shaw Industries has run the Irmo plant for 19 years, but the manufacturing facility has operated since at least the 1960s. Once operated by Honeywell, the plant on St. Andrews Road is easily visible to anyone driving through Irmo. Shaw, headquartered in Dalton, Ga., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway and one of the worlds largest carpet manufacturers. It has about 20,000 employees and reports $6 billion in annual sales worldwide.

Carpets manufactured by Shaw have shown high levels of PFAS, according to the lawsuit. Company plants in Georgia and Alabama have been the target of lawsuits about the problem in those states, the South Carolina suit said.

The Shaw Industries fibers plant in Irmo is a factory with deep roots in the community. It is located on St. Andrews Road near the Saluda River.

This weeks lawsuit by the environmental groups could result in substantial fines by state or federal agencies if successful in court, but Brzorad said the main goal is for Shaw to stop the discharges, whether through a court order or a negotiated settlement.

We are in active discussions with Shaw, and we expect those discussions to continue, Brzorad said. We certainly hope that they take this as seriously as the threat that this poses to the environment.

West Columbia and Cayce did not participate in the legal action but the cities could benefit from any action to reduce PFAS releases to the lower Saluda River. Cayce spokeswoman Ashley Hunter said the city, which heard from the riverkeeper that a suit was pending, wants to safeguard its drinking water.

Our city administration was provided notice of the generalities of the concerns, but were not aware of the specifics on the lawsuit, Hunter said in a text. We appreciate the work of the Congaree Riverkeeper. Having safe drinking water for our citizens is of the utmost importance to our city.

A spokeswoman for West Columbia was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.

Tuesdays suit by the environmental groups is among a growing number of legal cases against the manufacturers and users of forever chemicals across the state and nation.

In South Carolina, major PFAS lawsuits include cases on behalf of firefighters who used foam to extinguish fires and cities that say forever chemicals polluted their water. Attorney General Alan Wilson has two of his own cases, while private legal teams interested in filing class action lawsuits are actively soliciting information from people who may have been exposed to forever chemicals in water. Residents of a rural area of Darlington County have filed suit over drinking water pollution they say resulted from sludge fertilizer provided by a textile plant.

One of the biggest cases in South Carolina is a suit the city of Columbia filed against more than 40 manufacturers or users of forever chemicals.

Like West Columbia and Cayce, Columbia has had elevated levels of forever chemicals in drinking water, causing what officials say will be a need for an expensive upgrade to its water system. Shaw was among those named in Columbias suit last month. The city is seeking tens of millions of dollars to pay for drinking water system upgrades.

Forever chemicals, formally known as per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, can cause cancer and an array of physical ailments to those who drink water or eat food contaminated with the material over time. The chemicals have been used by industry for the past 80 years because they are useful in waterproofing clothing and carpets, and coating non-stick frying pans, among other things. They also are key ingredients in firefighting foam.

Manufacturers knew about the hazards, but kept the threat largely out of the public eye for decades, according to media reports and legal notices. . In the past 20 years, state and federal agencies have learned more about the threats. But only recently has public awareness grown. PFAS chemicals are problematic because they dont break down easily in the environment, thus the name forever chemicals.

Tuesdays lawsuit by the law center and the riverkeeper organization said they took action because neither the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency nor state regulators in South Carolina had pushed to stop the discharges. It is illegal under the federal Clean Water Act to discharge any contaminant without a permit, even though there are no specific limits on PFAS releases. Suits like the one filed by the law center are allowed if the government doesnt enforce the law.

Among allegations in the suit:

Wastewater piped from a treatment pond at Shaw to a ditch is polluted by PFAS. The ditch carries water from an outfall pipe to the lower Saluda River at Irmo.

Shaws wastewater treatment plant cannot effectively remove PFAS before it is discharged

An array of toxins is leaking through unlined waste lagoons and into groundwater that flows toward the Saluda. Unlike lead and arsenic, there has been no documentation that PFAS is among the pollutants leaking through the lagoons into groundwater. But based on what else has gotten into groundwater, PFAS are likely leaching from the unlined lagoons and basins.

Shaw engaged in dumping PFAS-tinged material on its property

Forever chemicals have likely run off the plant site after heavy rains and polluted the lower Saluda and a tributary, Kinley Creek.

Shaws Irmo plant has discharged and continues to discharge PFAS from outfall 1 and other sources into the Saluda River, the lawsuit says.

The suit said PFAS may have played a role in the deaths of about 6.5 million people across the country. It also said the pollution violates federal clean water and hazardous waste laws.

Every fish tested in the Congaree, just below where the Saluda connects with it, contained forever chemicals in 2022, the suit said. Those fish included popular sport species such as largemouth bass and channel catfish, the suit said. Some fish had levels rivaling the amount found in the Cape Fear River of North Carolina, which carries warnings against eating more than moderate amounts of fish, the suit said.

The Lower Saluda River is a symbol for Columbia  a beloved home for wildlife, destination for recreation, and designated State Scenic River, according to a statement from Bill Stangler, the Congaree Riverkeeper, whose organization advocates for safe water in the Saluda and Broad rivers, as well. By discharging PFAS into the Lower Saluda, Shaw harms our precious resources and the drinking water source for the communities of West Columbia and Cayce.

The Shaw Industries plant in Irmo is a factory with deep roots in the community. It is located on St. Andrews Road near the Saluda River. The plant makes material for carpets.
Tractor Supply, a rural lifestyle retail chain with locations across the country, including many in the Bluegrass State, is altering its company initiatives after backlash from conservative consumers.

According to a statement released on Thursday, the company said the "hard-earned dollars" of consumers should go to communities "we all love," therefore, they will ensure "activities and giving" tie directly to the business through a series of changes. Many LGBTQ+ supporters replied on social media, saying they'll take their business elsewhere.

Here's what we know.

Kentucky Farmers Kentucky losing family farms and farmland at a rapid clip  at what cost?

Tractor Supply Co. eliminates DEI efforts amidst backlash from conservative consumers

Tractor Supply announced five major changes to better "represent the values of the communities and customers we serve" in Thursday's release, including no longer submitting data to the Human Rights Campaign, refocusing Team Member Engagement Groups on mentoring, networking and supporting the business, focusing 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, eliminating DEI roles and retiring current DEI goals while still ensuring a respectful environment and withdrawing carbon emission goals and focusing on land and water conservation efforts.

As previously reported by The Tennessean, the changes follow backlash from Robby Starbuck, a former Hollywood director turned conservative activist who shared a nearly eight-minute video on X exposing the company's support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Robby Starbuck posts to X about LGBTQ+ support from Tractor Supply, with Kentucky reference

Starbuck's nearly eight-minute post started by showing LGBTQ+ flags at a distribution center in Franklin, Kentucky.

"I take no pleasure in doing this. I am a Tennessean. I do not want to hurt a Tennessee company, but conservatives deserve to know that this is where their money's going and it gets worse, there is more," he said in the video. Click here for more information.

Its time to expose Tractor Supply.



Its one of the most beloved brands in  by conservatives but what do they REALLY stand for under CEO @hallawtons leadership?



 LGBTQIA+ training for employees

 Funding pride/drag events

 They have a DEI Council

 Funding sex changes pic.twitter.com/F4tvNmNZ9f  Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) June 6, 2024

Why are people mad at Tractor Supply?

After backlash from conservative consumers, Tractor Supply is eliminating DEI initiatives and refocusing efforts on other things. According to an opinion piece published in The Tennessean in 2021, CEO Hal Lawton said he hoped to address multiple long-term DEI initiatives including increasing employees of color at the management level and above by 50% by 2026, increasing funding for education for African American communities by 30% by 2026 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

The company is now reprioritizing the "future of rural America" through support of veteran causes, emergency response, animal shelters, state fairs, rodeos, Future Farmers of America and more.

What does the statement from Tractor Supply Co. say?

Statement from Tractor Supply pic.twitter.com/ZMweR8JVuy  Tractor Supply (@TractorSupply) June 27, 2024

In response to the statement, some LGBTQ+ supporters posted that they'll no longer shop there.

Tractor Supply locations in Kentucky

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Tractor Supply Co. controversy: Post about LGBTQ+ support causes backlash
Two teenage victims of Jeffrey Epstein testified before a Florida grand jury in 2006

AP/Shutterstock Jeffrey Epstein

Newly unsealed transcripts reveal that Florida prosecutors knew Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused teenage girls years before the disgraced financier and prosecutors agreed to a plea deal that was widely seen as too lax.

The transcripts, reviewed by PEOPLE, were released on Monday, July 1, following an order from a Florida judge. Featured are testimonies from detectives who investigated abuse claims against Epstein and two teenage victims who testified before a grand jury in 2006, two years before the plea deal.

Epstein, who lived in New York and Florida, served just over a year behind bars in Palm Beach County as a result of his 2008 guilty plea to soliciting a person under 18 for prostitution, though was allowed to go to his office nearly every day on work release, PEOPLE previously reported. Epstein, who had personal ties to Prince Andrew and former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, died by suicide in a New York City jail in 2019, according to authorities.

Related: What to Know About the Jeffrey Epstein Sex Abuse Case and Prince Andrew's Ties to Him

The release of the grand jury transcripts was made possible after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in February allowing Circuit Judge Luis Delgado to make the witnesses' testimonies public.

The Court finds that the request involves a matter of public interest, Delgado wrote in his order. The criminal prosecutions of the most infamous pedophile in American history began in Palm Beach County with much controversy. For almost 20 years, the story of how Jeffrey Epstein victimized some of Palm Beach Countys most vulnerable has been the subject of much anger and has at times diminished the publics perception of the criminal justice system.

Among the testimonies given to the grand jury was that of Palm Beach Police Detective Joseph Recarey, who said the investigation into Epstein began after the stepmother of a 14-year-old girl reported that her stepdaughter had received $300 from Epstein to give him a massage.

The girl, who was 16 at the time of the grand jury, then testified that she had first received $200 from Epstein to give him a massage at his Palm Beach mansion, and then received $100 more after he performed sexual acts on her.

After the girl described, in detail, her encounter with Epstein, the prosecutor asked her if she had ever shoplifted and questioned her about past drug use. The assistant state attorney also asked the victim if she knew she had committed a crime when she had taken money from Epstein.

I didn't know it was a crime when I was doing it, the girl said. Now, I guess it's prostitution or something like that.

Rick Friedman/Getty Images Jeffrey Epstein

Spencer Kuvin, an attorney who represented the girl, told ABC News that after reading the transcript, he believes prosecutors tried to undercut their own case.

"It just reaffirmed what we always knew was happening is that the state attorney was afraid to prosecute him, and that they tanked their own case by attacking their own witnesses during the grand jury proceeding," Kuvin told ABC.

The other teenage victim testified during the grand jury proceedings that she went to Epsteins home several times, beginning when she was a junior in high school. The second teen told the grand jury that Epstein had originally paid her for massages and, after several meetings, raped her on the day before her 18th birthday.

The prosecutor also asked the second teen if she knew she was engaging in what the prosecutor said was prostitution.

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.



More than 150 pages of transcripts were released as part of Delgados order. The judge pointed out in his order that none of the information is new to investigators and prosecutors, who have been aware of the allegations since they were first reported.

Tragically, the record reveals that Epstein used children to find more victims, Delgado wrote. The record also shows that some of the children knew the type of people they could be exposed to and the infamous nature of such 'notable' people.

Related: Ghislaine Maxwell, Accomplice to Jeffrey Epstein, Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking

Before his death, Epstein, whose high-profile connections had been publicized, was arrested and accused of abusing dozens of underaged girls.

In June 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of helping Epstein recruit and groom sex trafficking victims and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.



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Read the original article on People.
A homeless man allegedly pushed a 74-year-old woman into an arriving San Francisco Bay Area commuter train, killing her, police said Tuesday.

Authorities with Bay Area Rapid Transit, better known as BART, said in a statement that the woman hit her head on the train and fell onto the platform in downtown San Francisco. She died at a local hospital.

The woman was pushed shortly after 11 p.m. Monday at the Powell Street station, authorities said. A 49-year-old man described by police as transient was booked into jail early Tuesday.

Study ranks Californias most and least educated cities

BART police did not identify the woman and did not provide a motive. The investigation is ongoing.

Homicides are rare on BART, which travels throughout much of the Bay Area. This is the first homicide of the year.

In New York City, a passenger died in March after being pushed into an oncoming subway train in an unprovoked attack by a person experiencing mental health issues. Two years ago, a homeless man pushed an Asian American woman into the NYC subway at the Times Square station, killing her.

Such seemingly random crimes attract widespread attention, but advocates for people who are homeless say they are more likely to be victims and not perpetrators of crime.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
I tried the same chicken sandwich at McDonald's and Chick-fil-A, and I'd stick with the cheaper one next time

I tried the same chicken sandwich at McDonald's and Chick-fil-A, and I'd stick with the cheaper one next time

McDonald's previously released a chicken sandwich amid the "Chicken Sandwich Wars."

The sandwich immediately drew comparisons with Chick-fil-A's iconic chicken sandwich.

I tried McDonald's McCrispy chicken sandwich and thought it was very similar to Chick-fil-A's.

The chicken sandwich wars are still in full swing, but which chain has the best chicken sandwich at the best value?

In 2021, McDonald's replaced its buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich with a new lineup of chicken sandwiches: the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, the Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and the Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich.

Immediately, fans and industry experts began to notice the new offerings seemed very similar to Chick-fil-A's and Popeyes' iconic chicken sandwiches. Business Insider's Kate Taylor reported on a leaked menu that revealed McDonald's plans to release a new chicken sandwich, saying the chain was planning to "take a page out of Chick-fil-A's playbook."

Former McDonald's chef Mike Haracz told Business Insider it was "very apparent" that McDonald's was following Chick-fil-A's lead with its sandwich. "It comes in a foil bag just like Chick-fil-A, from what I understand it has a very similar flavor profile," he said before the sandwich's release.

In 2024, the chicken sandwich wars are still underway, and not just at fast-food chains. Bloomberg noted that chicken sandwiches now appear on 47% of restaurant menus, citing data from research firm Technomic. The publication reported that not only do chefs want to showcase their take on chicken, but it's cheaper and considered healthier than beef  and Gen Z loves it.

At McDonald's, the crispy chicken sandwich has since been renamed the McCrispy. It is described as a "southern-style fried chicken sandwich" with crinkle-cut pickles and a toasted, buttered potato roll. Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich also comes on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips.

I wasn't going to assume that the sandwiches were identical: I had to try them for myself.

Here's how the McDonald's McCrispy compares to Chick-fil-A's original chicken sandwich.

The sandwiches were similar in size, though Chick-fil-A's bun and chicken fillet looked ever-so-slightly bigger.

McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich and Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Both sandwiches came in foil bags. They also both stayed warm despite half an hour passing between the time I picked them up and when I finally got them home.

I noticed that each sandwich had a very different bun. McDonald's bun, pictured on the right, was harder and slightly denser, while Chick-fil-A's was softer and slightly bigger than the fillet inside.

I've had the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich countless times, but I tried to go into this taste test with a fresh perspective.

Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A cost me $8.65 at my local Chick-fil-A in New York City, making it slightly more expensive than the McDonald's sandwich.

Chick-fil-A has consistently ranked as one of America's biggest fast-food chains, and customer loyalty is high.

"Chick-fil-A has very strong brand loyalists," former McDonald's chef Mike Haracz told Business Insider. "I've sat in panels when I was doing chicken work. They will try the food, but when you tell them it's not from Chick-fil-A they'll say, 'Well, I think it's great but I'm not going to buy it because I am a Chick-fil-A consumer.'"

However, Haracz said that "there are some people who might go to Chick-fil-A strictly for the flavor" alone, and if McDonald's can match that, they may be swayed.

Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich, which comes served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips, is a favorite among customers.

Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Chicken sandwiches have been mainstays on most fast-food menus since 2020, but Chick-fil-A is often considered the original.

The chain also consistently outperforms its competitors. A recent ranking by Technomic ranks Chick-fil-A as the biggest chicken-focused fast-food chain in the country and the third-biggest fast-food chain overall. McDonald's still ranks as the No. 1 biggest fast-food chain in the country.

However, at the franchisee level, Chick-fil-A might be coming out on top. CNBC recently reported that the average franchised Chick-fil-A restaurant (not including ones in malls) brings in about $8.7 million in sales each year, compared to the average franchised McDonald's restaurant, which makes about $3.7 million in annual sales.

This is especially impressive considering that unlike McDonald's, which is often open 24/7, Chick-fil-A is only open six days a week.

The bun was light and fluffy and the chicken breast was the perfect thickness.

Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Chick-fil-A's chicken breast was flakier rather than juicy. Looking at both of the sandwiches, the fillet itself also looked slightly bigger. The breading was thinner and clung to the chicken breast well, which gave it a great texture.

However, I was slightly disappointed by Chick-fil-A's pickles  they didn't have the strong briny flavor or crunchiness I usually look for.

Next up was the McDonald's McCrispy chicken sandwich.

McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich cost $7.49 at my local chain in Brooklyn, New York.

The chicken fillet was thick  right off the bat, it looked really similar to sandwiches I've had from other chains.

McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I've been a fan of McDonald's chicken sandwiches for years, but I could already tell that I was going to like this new sandwich a lot more.

The sandwich came with a few whole pickle chips on top of the chicken fillet.

McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The bun held the contents of the sandwich together perfectly, and in terms of size, I thought McDonald's did a great job at nailing the bun-to-chicken ratio.

Biting in, I was immediately impressed.

McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The sandwich's breading had a slight sweetness. However, the tart, crunchy pickles, which had a strong briny flavor, perfectly balanced it out. The chicken was thick, juicy, and flavorful.

The only aspect of the sandwich I wasn't in love with was the bun  though it was a good size, I thought it was slightly too thick. I'm of the opinion that a sandwich bun's sole purpose is to hold everything together, without overpowering the other ingredients. I think this thicker potato bun slightly missed the mark on that.

It was hard to say which one I liked more. However, McDonald's has a great chicken sandwich at a great value.

McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich and Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider

So, how similar were the two sandwiches? Pretty similar, in my opinion. If I was to do a blind taste test, I might not even know which was which, unless one was slathered in Chick-fil-A sauce. However, this is not to say that McDonald's is actively trying to copy or imitate Chick-fil-A's most iconic offering.

There is a trend in what consumers are looking for in a chicken sandwich, whether they're ordering from Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, Popeyes, or any other chain.

Judging by the success of the chicken-war competitors, consumers want a Southern-inspired flavor with juicy, flavorful chicken and tart and crunchy pickles. McDonald's definitely delivered on all counts.

As far as this food reporter is concerned, the McDonald's chicken sandwich stacks up well against fan favorites  and you save a little bit of money by ordering from the bigger chain.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Trump is already testing the limits of the SCOTUS immunity ruling and is trying to get his Manhattan conviction thrown out

Trump is already testing the limits of the SCOTUS immunity ruling and is trying to get his Manhattan conviction thrown out

Former President Donald Trump aims to capitalize on the Supreme Court presidential-immunity ruling.

His lawyers asked a Manhattan judge whether they could move to toss his recent criminal conviction.

Trump's sentencing for the hush-money case is set for July 11.

It took less than a day for former President Donald Trump's attorneys to test the Monday Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

Trump's lawyers sent a letter to the judge who oversaw the New York hush-money trial in which the former president was found guilty of 34 felony counts, The New York Times, which obtained the letter, reported. The Associated Press later confirmed the Times' reporting.

The attorneys asked the judge whether they could move to have the former president's criminal conviction thrown out, citing the Supreme Court's decision issued Monday morning that found presidents are largely immune from prosecution over official actions taken while in office.

An attorney for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Manhattan's district attorney, Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the hush-money case, declined to comment.

The letter sent by Trump's lawyers was not set to be made public until Tuesday, the Times reported.

Trump's sentencing for his hush-money trial is set for July 11.

It's unclear how successful Trump's efforts to overturn his conviction will be. The Times reported that the deadline for filing motions after the trial passed in June.

Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and the president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, told Business Insider that Trump's attempt to overturn his conviction was "a long shot."

The Manhattan trial dealt primarily with actions Trump took before he was president, centering on hush-money payments made to the porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

"These were payments made from Trump's personal account and the Trump Organization employees involved  Michael Cohen was his personal attorney," Rahmani said.

Rahmani predicted that Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the hush-money case, would deny a motion to overturn Trump's conviction. Trump's attorneys would likely then ask for a pause on sentencing while the motion worked its way through appeals. Merchan could stay the entire case while the motion is litigated or opt to move forward with sentencing, Rahmani said.

"Even if he substantially doesn't have a good argument, Trump's approach has always been to delay," Rahmani said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Dutch King Willem-Alexander (front, 3rd R) and members of the new Dutch government led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof (front, 3rd L) pose for a group photo at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)

THE HAGUE, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The new Dutch government was officially sworn in on Tuesday at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, more than 220 days after the general elections in November last year.

Following the honorable discharge of the former government, 16 new ministers were sworn in, followed by 13 state secretaries.

The new government was formed after intense negotiations among the four coalition parties: the Party for Freedom (PVV), the New Social Contract (NSC), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB). The coalition leaders, including PVV leader Geert Wilders, agreed that none of them would become the prime minister.

Dick Schoof, a top Dutch civil servant and supported by all the coalition parties, was named in May as the new prime minister despite not being a member of any political party. Schoof had previously held various positions as a civil servant.

One of the primary tasks for the 67-year-old Schoof and his government is to shape public policy based on the coalition agreement.

As outlined in the agreement, the new government aims for "the strictest asylum admission regime and the most comprehensive migration control package ever."

This includes a temporary asylum crisis act, allowing for far-reaching measures such as an "asylum decision freeze" during crises.

The coalition parties have expressed their intention to "stem the excessive influx of asylum seekers and immigrants" and will seek permission from the European Commission to opt out of European asylum and migration policies.

Beyond immigration, the new Dutch government will focus on improving social security and household purchasing power, promoting housing construction and energy transformation, advancing agricultural development to ensure food security, and strengthening national security and international cooperation.

"Whether it concerns social security, health care, or money in our pockets, or the availability of sufficient housing, our ambition is great," the coalition parties stated in their agreement. 

New Dutch Prime Minister Dick Shoof (L) arrives at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)
An attorney for former President Trump suggested the so-called fake electors scheme qualifies as an official act, which would prevent it from being prosecuted under the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

Trump attorney Will Scharf told CNN Monday night that some acts alleged in the former presidents federal election subversion indictment do constitute private conduct but the effort to put forth slates of alternate electors in 2020 from key battleground states is not one of them.

We believe the assembly of those alternate slates of electors was an official act of the presidency, Scharf said, noting the Supreme Court left that question for lower courts to decide.

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that core presidential powers are immune from criminal prosecution and that presidents are presumptively entitled to immunity for all official acts. They do not enjoy immunity for unofficial, or private, actions, the high court said.

In Trumps federal election subversion case, the justices made clear that some allegations in the indictment fall squarely in his official duties, like meetings with Justice Department officials to investigate purported election fraud.

But allegations like the scheme to overturn the election results by putting forth slates of pro-Trump electors in seven key states requires further analysis at the district court level, they determined.

On that point, Justice Amy Coney Barrett broke with the majority, which she otherwise signed on to, writing that she sees no plausible argument for barring prosecution of that alleged conduct.

In his CNN interview Monday night, Scharf contended that once the official acts are stripped from Trumps federal election subversion indictment, special counsel Jack Smith doesnt have a case.

I dont think theres sufficient private conduct here to support the indictment, to support the ongoing prosecution, and thats what were going to be litigating in front of the district court now, he said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Lawyers for former President Donald Trump asked a judge to postpone sentencing in his Manhattan hush money trial, the first step in their effort to throw out the verdict following a Supreme Court ruling that granted him broad immunity from prosecution on Monday.

Trumps attorneys wrote a letter to Judge Juan Merchan, who has overseen the hush money case, asking for permission to file a motion to set aside the verdict, The New York Times first reported. In the missive, they asked Merchan to postpone the former presidents sentencing on July 11 while he considers whether the recent high court ruling impacts Trumps conviction.

The former president was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up allegations of a sexual encounter with the porn star Stormy Daniels in May. The Supreme Court ruled Monday, however, that as president, Trump enjoyed wide immunity for any presidential act that was official in nature.

The gambit by Trumps attorneys may be far-fetched as the ruling only protects a presidents actions while in office, not while they are a candidate, like when those acts central to the hush money trial took place. The Times notes it may also be too late for Merchan to revisit the conviction as a deadline to file post-trial motions has already passed. The judge could inform Trumps lawyers to air their concerns when they file an eventual appeal.

Donald Trump sits in a Manhattan courtroom in April in an artist's sketch. via Associated Press

Still, the former president will likely argue that prosecutors relied on some evidence from Trumps time in the White House, which would be barred under the Supreme Court decision.

The letter will not be made public until Tuesday at the earliest. Prosecutors in the case will file their own response with the judge afterward.

Trumps sentencing will be a highly watched moment in political history and comes amid his ongoing campaign for the presidency. While he faces time in prison, Merchan has wide latitude in sentencing guidelines and could order probation or home confinement instead.

The Supreme Court decision is all but certain to push any trials in Trumps other indictments far beyond the November election as lower courts consider how it impacts the proceedings. If Trump wins reelection, he will almost certainly direct the Justice Department to dismiss the charges against him.

Related...
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Representative Bob Good (R-VA), chair of the Freedom Caucus, speaks to reporters before attending a meeting in the offices of U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) in Washington

By Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Representative Bob Good, the leader of a hardline House group, lost a Virginia primary for his seat to state Senator John McGuire, who was endorsed by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Good, chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, immediately demanded a recount.

McGuire, a former Navy SEAL, won 50.3% of the vote against Good's 49.7%, the state election agency said, two weeks after the June 18 primary. State law allows for a recount in a race with such a close margin of victory.

"We will pursue the recount to settle any questions about the fairness or transparency of the election process," Diana Shores, Good's campaign manager, said in a statement.

The ultimate winner of the recount is expected to easily carry the strongly Republican-leaning southern Virginia district in the Nov. 5 election, when control of the White House and both chambers of Congress will be up for grabs.

Good angered former President Trump by endorsing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his Republican presidential primary campaign against Trump, switching his endorsement to Trump only after DeSantis dropped out.

Good also angered moderate Republicans after he voted to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his role in October, launching weeks of chaos and bitter, highly public infighting as Republicans attempted to coalesce around a replacement.

(Reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Bob Good is pictured in May on the US Capitol steps (Getty Images)

Donald Trump has taken his revenge against the chair of the House Freedom Caucus in a primary that proves his endorsement is still a kingmaker within the Republican Party.

The race in Virginias 5th district was called Tuesday afternoon, with all 24 localities reporting. Virginias Department of Elections declared that John McGuire, a retired Navy SEAL and state senator, won the primary with 31,583 votes compared to Representative Bob Goods 31,209, creating a margin of just 374 votes.

The results took days to come in as the race remained on a knife edge, and Good has already said that he will ask for a recount.

McGuire declared victory and thanked Trump for the endorsement in a statement on X/Twitter.

Number one, I want to thank God, he said. We could not have done this without my wife Tracy, our incredible team, and of course President Trump! This is the honor of a lifetime.

On Friday, before results had been called, Good told The Independent he planned to contest them.

We will challenge and contest the race, he said. I think we owe it to the 31,000 people who voted for us to make sure it's accurate, and that it truly reflects the intent of the legal legitimate voters.

Good, who has chaired the Houses most conservative caucus since January, became a target of the former presidents ire when he endorsed Trumps primary challenger Ron DeSantis in May of 2023.

When Good endorsed him, DeSantis looked to be possibly the strongest Republican in the primary, as Trumps legal woes were beginning to mount. The Florida governor was riding high after winning a resounding victory in his battle for re-election in 2022.

DeSantis would eventually bow out of the Republican primary days after the Iowa caucuses in January, having failed to come close to overtaking Trump in a state where his campaign had almost exclusively focused its time and efforts.

Trump-endorsed candidate John McGuire meets voters in June 2024 at a campaign stop (Facebook: John McGuire)

In the end, he was nearly overtaken by a surging Nikki Haley, who would go on to be the only Republican other than Trump to win a state in the GOP primary this year.

In response, Trump swiftly endorsed McGuire.

John is running against Bob Good, who is not good, he posted on Truth Social ahead of the primary.  Despite his name, hes very bad for Virginia.

Good said that Trumps endorsement of his opponent had an effect on the race and said it was based on inaccurate information.

Obviously I haven't fought against President Trump, he told The Independent. I haven't been bad for Virginia. Obviously, after three and a half years, I wasn't going to suddenly turn on the people in my district and all of that was suggested in the endorsement from the President and so certainly was disappointing.

Good also earned the ire of former House speaker Kevin McCarthy, whom Good opposed as speaker and whom Good voted to oust. McCarthys political action committee poured $10,000 into the race against Good.

Goods opponent successfully squeezed the congressman out as Good sought to reaffirm his loyalty to Trump in 2024.

Bob Good, left, listens as his colleague Matt Gaetz speaks at a Republican press conference outside of Donald Trumps courtroom in Manhattan (Getty Images)

Good attended court to show support for Trump the same day, even wearing the signature blue suit/red tie combo favored by Trumps acolytes. But it was McGuire who came away with the former presidents endorsement from the showdown possibly unsurprising, given that he was the only non-incumbent granted a spot in the former presidents limousine.

If there was any doubt as to why McGuire won the endorsement in the end, it was settled by Trump himself as the former president spoke virtually at a tele-rally for Goods challenger on Monday evening.

After I won the primary he became a big fan  thats not good enough, Trump told McGuires fans.

Virginias 5th district is solidly Republican, meaning McGuire is all but guaranteed to come to Washington in January.
GREEN BAY  It turns out Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders do have something in common: Their presidential campaigns all owe the city of Green Bay money.

The city on Tuesday said the 2016 and 2024 presidential candidates' campaigns owe the city a combined total of $64,264.19 for police, fire, public works and traffic services provided during three campaign events during 2016 and two campaign events this year.

By the end of Tuesday, one of the campaigns said it initiated payment of its bill this week.

The city incurs substantial costs to protect candidates and the public during campaign events and the campaigns should cover those costs, Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich said in a media release.

Former president Donald Trump addresses his supporters during a campaign rally on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis. Green Bay on July 2 said the Trump campaign owes the city more than $33,000 for public safety costs related to the event.

"We are honored to host visits from presidential candidates and appreciate the significance these events hold for our community," Genrich said. "At the same time, there are very real costs associated with the public safety resources these events require, and it is crucial that the financial responsibilities associated with these services are borne by the campaigns, not our taxpayers."

Trump has made eight stops in Green Bay, seven of them for campaign events between 2016 and 2024. First Lady Jill Biden already visited Green Bay twice this year. Sanders hosted several campaign rallies in the Green Bay area during the 2016 campaign. Clinton visited once in 2016.

First lady Jill Biden campaigns during a Seniors for Biden-Harris event on June 13, 2024, at the Brown County Central Library in Green Bay, Wis. The Biden campaign as of July 2 owes the city almost $7,000 for public safety costs related to the event. Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Here's a look at the events and the unpaid invoices:

The Biden-Harris campaign on Tuesday afternoon issued a statement in response to the mayor's notice and indicated it has initiated a payment to the city for services for Jill Biden's June 13 visit.

"Unlike Donald Trump, who lies and cheats at the expense of working people so he can get ahead, we paid our bills and will continue to engage voters across Green Bay in the lead up to November," the statement said.

Amaad Rivera, Genrich's chief of staff, said the city has attempted to contact all four of the campaigns regarding the unpaid invoices and as of Tuesday afternoon, two had responded.

The city only bills campaign events, not official visits of elected officials like Congressional representatives, presidents or cabinet members, Rivera said.

For example, First Lady Jill Biden's June 13 Seniors for Biden-Harris campaign event was billed for public safety costs, but her Feb. 16 visit to the Rail Yard Innovation District to tout the White House's investment in youth apprenticeships was not billed. Similarly, Trump's April 2 downtown Green Bay campaign rally was billed for public safety costs, but HUD Secretary Ben Carson's September 2020 tour of Broadway Lofts to highlight affordable housing needs was not.

Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or jbollier@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay seeks $64,000 from Trump, Biden, Clinton, Sanders campaigns
Donald Trump is leading Joe Biden by two points in the crucial swing state of New Hampshire, according to a survey conducted days after the presidents disastrous debate performance.

The new poll, from Saint Anselm College, found that 44 percent of voters in the Granite State would vote for Trump over Biden if the election were held today.

It constitutes a massive 12-point boost for Trump after a nearly-identical poll in December gave Biden a 10-point lead in the state.

After a remarkable six months that saw him swiftly dispatch his primary rivals and become the first former President to be convicted of a felony, Donald Trump has erased a ten-point polling deficit and now leads President Joe Biden by a narrow 2-point margin, said Neil Levesque, the executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

However, with 17 percent of voters having an unfavorable opinion of both candidates, this race is likely to remain volatile all the way to the finish, Levesque added.

More than half of the survey respondents said they view both candidates unfavorably with Biden perceived slightly less favorably than Trump.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden during the first presidential debate on June 27 (Getty)

Saint Anselm Colleges poll also found that independent voters  the key group who may ultimately decide the election  are swinging more in favor of Trump than Biden.

The new polling may reflect public sentiment towards Biden after his lackluster debate performance against Trump. Bidens strained voice and meandering statements gave an overall impression of weakness compared to Trumps booming voice and rants, though the former president lied throughout the 90-minute faceoff.

Some Democrats have subsequently raised concerns about Bidens ability to campaign or hold office, with some suggesting the president should drop out of the 2024 race entirely.

The Biden campaign remains firm that the president will stay in the race, and that he is the better candidate for the country.

Separate polls and some Democratic lawmakers have warned the Biden campaign that his debate performance may impact voters decisions.

A poll from USA TODAY and Suffolk University on Tuesday found that Trump is polling at 41 percent while Biden is at 38 percent. Another from CBS News found that 72 percent of voters think Biden should not be running for president.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer warned Biden that his chances of winning her swing state are at risk after the debate.

The Biden campaign has gone on the offense, warning voters that Trump is a threat to democracy and using recent Supreme Court rulings to prove their point.
Hours after the Supreme Court ruled Monday that presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for official acts committed while in office, Donald Trump moved to have his hush money conviction in New York tossed.

According to CNN, in a letter to the judge overseeing the case, the former presidents legal team sought permission on Monday to file a motion to challenge the verdict. The filing arrived 10 days before Judge Juan Merchan was set to sentence Trump for his crimes in the Manhattan case, where the former president was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records stemming from a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

In the letter, Trumps attorneys asked the judge to move the sentencing to next week, and argued that the immunity decision confirmed their stance that District Attorney Alvin Bragg did not have the authority to introduce evidence at trial over the former presidents official acts, thus undoing the jurys guilty verdict.

The district attorneys office did not submit a sentencing submission on Monday, as was expected, per the outlet.

In the 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the nature of presidential power entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.

The case will be sent back to Washingtons lower court to determine which alleged acts in Trumps indictment are official or unofficial.

Trumps New York case is one of four criminal indictments against him. The high court ruling on Monday effectively guarantees the Justice Departments ongoing election interference case against the former president will not go to trial before the election in November.

Following news of the decision, Will Scharf, an attorney for Trump, told CNNs Kaitlan Collins that the fake electors scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election was actually an official act of the presidency.

Scharf: We believe the assembly of those alternate slates of electors was an official act of the presidency. pic.twitter.com/JNczpFCSJZ  Acyn (@Acyn) July 2, 2024

In a sharp dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, wrote that the ruling made the president into a king above the law.

The president of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world, Sotomayor wrote. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majoritys reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. Trumps attorney has asked the court to set aside the guilty verdicts, the first for a former U.S. president, after a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity. (File/Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on July 2, 2024. On Tuesday evening, Xi and Tokayev had a cordial and friendly exchange over dinner in a pleasant and warm atmosphere, discussing issues related to China-Kazakhstan relations and issues of common concerns. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

ASTANA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China and Kazakhstan have established a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival in Astana for a state visit to Kazakhstan, where he will also attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Chinese president said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and to attend the SCO summit, adding that he, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, conveyed sincere greetings and best wishes to Tokayev and the friendly Kazakh people.

China and Kazakhstan share a long tradition of friendship, Xi noted.

More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road closely connected the two countries, marking the beginning of a history of friendly exchanges, he said.

Over the past 32 years since China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic ties, the relationship has withstood the test of time and the vicissitudes of the international landscape, evolving into a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi added.

He also said that the everlasting friendship of the two nations has grown stronger over time, and set an example of solidarity, mutual benefit, and mutual success between neighboring countries.

Xi recalled that 11 years ago, he first put forward the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan, adding that today, Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has yielded fruitful results.

Two-way economic and trade cooperation has reached new highs, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have featured numerous highlights, and the two sides' international cooperation has been close and efficient, which has not only improved the well-being of the two peoples, but also injected more stability and positive energy into the international and regional situation, Xi added.

He said that during the visit, he will have talks with President Tokayev and have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Kazakhstan relations, all-round cooperation and other international and regional issues of common concern, in a bid to make new plans and arrangements for the development of China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi also said that he looks forward to attending the SCO summit, and discussing with all parties the future of the organization and ways to advance cooperation, so as to achieve new and greater progress for this important multilateral mechanism.

Three Kazakh Air Force fighter jets took off to escort Xi's plane after it entered the country's airspace. Tokayev held a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport to welcome Xi. A group of Kazakh children sang the song "Ode to the Motherland" in Chinese.

On Tuesday evening, Xi and Tokayev had a cordial and friendly exchange over dinner in a pleasant and warm atmosphere, discussing issues related to China-Kazakhstan relations and issues of common concerns. 
Donald Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out. (Photo by Justin Lane-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. Trumps attorney has asked the court to set aside the guilty verdicts, the first for a former U.S. president, after a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity. (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. Trumps attorney has asked the court to set aside the guilty verdicts, the first for a former U.S. president, after a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity. (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 30: Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. Trumps attorney has asked the court to set aside the guilty verdicts, the first for a former U.S. president, after a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. Trumps attorney has asked the court to set aside the guilty verdicts, the first for a former U.S. president, after a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. Trumps attorney has asked the court to set aside the guilty verdicts, the first for a former U.S. president, after a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity. Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images.

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Former US President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he leaves court for the day at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 18, 2024 in New York City. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face trial on criminal charges. (Photo by Brendan McDermid-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the New York hush money case will likely be delayed while the judge reviews Mondays U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity ruling, according to multiple media reports.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, is expected to review whether or how the Supreme Courts immunity ruling weighs on the sentencing, according to reports in the New York Times and Associated Press that cite court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays Supreme Court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter provided to States Newsroom by Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

New York state court records are not immediately available online.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg reportedly agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to media reports.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. A two-week delay would push the sentencing until after the nomination.

An official delay order had not been posted as of Tuesday afternoon on the New York courts webpage where orders related to the case are published.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

New York verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

The Manhattan District Attorneys office did not respond to requests for comment.

The post Trump questions NY guilty verdicts after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. Trumps attorney has asked the court to set aside the guilty verdicts, the first for a former U.S. president, after a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday affects Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe [the] defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan had scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under [Trump v. U.S.], this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, [Trump v. U.S.] forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

This story has been updated to include additional details.
People visit a Microsoft store at Oxford Circus, in London, Britain, Nov. 13, 2021. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

U.S. technology company Microsoft leads the top 10 ranking with a value of 3.32 trillion U.S. dollars, surpassing the combined market capitalization of Germany's blue-chip DAX companies.

BERLIN, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The stock market value of the world's 100 largest publicly traded companies rose by 17 percent in the first six months (H1) of 2024, reaching a record high of 42.3 trillion U.S. dollars, according to a study published by consulting firm Ernst and Young (EY) on Tuesday.

The study highlighted a "record chase" on stock markets, driven primarily by companies in the technology sector benefiting from the boom of artificial intelligence (AI).

"Artificial intelligence is a megatrend that is leading to a reorganization of the business world at breathtaking speed, fueling the imagination of investors and stock market prices," said Henrik Ahlers, chairman of EY's management board.

This photo taken on March 18, 2024 shows a logo of a new Apple store, which is set to launch on March 21, beside Jing'an Temple in east China's Shanghai. Apple Inc. gears up to unveil its eighth store in Shanghai this month, augmenting its expansive network. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

The report also indicated that eight of the ten most valuable companies are headquartered in the United States, with most operating digital business models.

U.S. technology company Microsoft leads the top 10 ranking with a value of 3.32 trillion U.S. dollars, surpassing the combined market capitalization of Germany's blue-chip DAX companies, which totaled 1.87 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of June.

Apple, which topped the rankings at the end of 2023, fell to second place, followed by Nvidia, whose market value surged nearly 150 percent in H1.

Photo taken on June 28, 2021 shows the industrial estate of Saudi oil giant Aramco in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Hu Guan)

The top 10 also includes non-U.S. companies Saudi Aramco, which dropped from third to sixth place, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, ranking 10th.

Europe, however, continues to struggle to benefit from the AI boom. Only 19 of the world's 100 most valuable companies are headquartered in Europe, compared to 46 in 2007 before the financial crisis. The most valuable company is the Danish pharmaceutical group Novo Nordisk, ranked twelfth.

Ahlers noted that in the past two decades, Europe has seen a steady decline in housing tech giants compared to the United States. He added that since most of Europe's top companies are not in the tech sector, it is unlikely that the continent will reverse this trend in the coming years.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

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The post Trump questions NY guilty verdicts after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. Trumps attorney has asked the court to set aside the guilty verdicts, the first for a former U.S. president, after a Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision absolves him.

New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could hear arguments on how the Supreme Courts immunity decision on Monday impacts Trumps state-level convictions, according to court filings.

Trump claims his 34 New York felony guilty verdicts violate Mondays high court ruling and should be thrown out, according to a letter to Merchan from Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

The verdicts in this case violate the presidential immunity doctrine and create grave risks of an Executive Branch that cannibalizes itself, Blanche wrote, adding that after further review, it will be manifest that the trial result cannot stand.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to a porn star in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed in a letter to Merchan to a two-week delay in Trumps sentencing, according to the court filings.

Trumps team has until July 10 to file its argument. Bragg agreed to a July 24 deadline for his reply.

Although we believe (the) defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion, Bragg wrote Tuesday.

Merchan scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before Trump is scheduled to be officially nominated as his partys 2024 presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The new date pushes the sentencing less than two months before Election Day.

Presidential immunity opinion

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former U.S. presidents enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core Constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts, but are not immune from criminal prosecution for unofficial acts.

Trump escalated the question of presidential immunity to the Supreme Court after two lower courts denied his requests for immunity from federal criminal charges alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during his last months in the Oval Office.

The justices majority opinion ordered the 2020 election interference case back to the lower district court to decide whether Trumps actions were official or unofficial acts. Those actions include Trumps conversations with state officials about overturning election results and his social media posts claiming election fraud.

NY verdict

Blanche asked Merchan to set aside Trumps guilty verdict based on Mondays Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States, according to the July 1 letter.

Blanche claimed that evidence presented by the prosecution against Trump during the New York case were likely official acts.

The New York state case centered on actions Trump took during his first year in office, including an Oval Office meeting to discuss financial transactions with his former personal attorney and checks that he personally signed.

Under (Trump v. U.S.), this official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury, Blanche wrote.

Moreover, as we argued previously, (Trump v. U.S.) forbids the [u]se of evidence about such [official] conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct. This includes President Trumps Tweets and public address[es], Blanche wrote, quoting directly from the Supreme Court opinion.

New York prosecutors presented mounds of evidence, including business records and witness testimony, during the seven-week trial illustrating that Trump repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for giving $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump later recorded the payments as legal expenses and increased the amount to Cohen to account for taxes and a bonus.

Testimony also revealed an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Cohen to discuss the repayment scheme, and evidence included nine checks bearing Trumps personal signature.

The post Trump questions NY guilty verdicts after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump raised $331 million in the second quarter, a fundraising haul that leaves him with more cash on hand than President Joe Biden, a development likely to intensify Democratic anxiety about the incumbents campaign.

Most Read from Bloomberg

That amount, raised by Trump and the Republican National Committee, surpasses the $264 million Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised in the quarter. The campaign said it now has nearly $285 million cash on hand compared to the $240 million reported by Biden  a stunning reversal in a fundraising fight that saw the presidents war chest crush his rivals for months.

Winning this quarter brought us a cash on hand advantage, said top Trump campaign officials Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles in a joint statement, jabbing at a Biden burn rate that grows while yielding no tangible results for them.

Trump outraised Biden in the months of April and May, the first time he won the monthly money race. But the presumptive Republican nominee fell short in June, with Biden raising $127 million to his $112 million.

Trumps cash advantage, though, deals a blow to Biden at a time when his campaign is facing intense scrutiny from fellow Democrats in the wake of a calamitous debate that has spurred calls for him to step aside and let another candidate run.

Bidens campaign has reacted angrily to calls from party members, lawmakers and media personalities calling for him to not seek reelection. Biden at fundraisers over the weekend sought to reassure donors that he is able to beat Trump and he plans to speak with Democratic governors on Wednesday.

His campaign on Monday released their June and quarterly fundraising totals in a bid to show strength and ease donor anxiety. Officials said that Biden had enjoyed his best fundraising month yet and that the reelection team managed to build up their cash even as they made investments in paid media and staffed offices in battleground states.

Earlier: Biden Touts $127 Million June Haul to Counter Post-Debate Angst

Bidens campaign said it raised $38 million in the four days starting on June 27, the day of the debate. Trumps campaign said it raised $8 million on the day of the event, but didnt release updated totals.

Trump, for his part, has erased Bidens fundraising advantage by ramping up appeals to deep-pocketed donors and harnessing Republican anger over his May 30 conviction in a Manhattan trial for hiding hush-money payments. The campaign said Trump raised $52.8 million online in the 24 hours after the verdict making him the first former US president in history found guilty of a felony.

Trumps financial situation was weaker earlier in the campaign, when his coffers were drained by legal challenges and a contested primary that drew more than a dozen challengers.

Some of the partys biggest donors have opened their checkbooks for Trump. Crypto billionaires Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss each made donations in Bitcoin worth $844,600 to the Trump 47 Committee, which raises money for his campaign and the Republican Party. Billionaire Miriam Adelson of Las Vegas Sands and Blackstone Inc. Chief Executive Officer Steve Schwarzman both donated to it in May.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Claim:

While greeting North Korean dignitaries during his summit meeting with Chairman Kim Jong Un in 2018, then-U.S. President Donald Trump returned the military salute of a North Korean general.

Rating:

Rating: True

A photograph allegedly showing then-U.S. President Donald Trump saluting a North Korean military leader during a 2018 summit in Singapore was reshared on social media in mid-2024 during the run-up to the November election, in which Trump is slated to face Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden.

(@N1S65 / X)

The image is genuine. It was captured from video footage aired on North Korean television on June 13, 2018, when Trump, as president, attended a summit meeting in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The full video shows Trump being introduced to a line of North Korean dignitaries. When he reached out to shake an unidentified general's hand, the latter quickly withdrew his hand and responded instead with a military salute. Trump respectfully saluted in return.

The somewhat awkward exchange wasn't caught on film by Western media sources, but can be seen in a clip tweeted by the BBC:

North Korean TV has aired its first footage of the #TrumpKimSummit. Look out for the handshake/salute confusion 55 seconds in. pic.twitter.com/JS5yEUprgz  BBC Monitoring (@BBCMonitoring) June 14, 2018

The footage was part of a 42-minute propaganda video by Korean Central Television touting Kim's "supernormal political acumen" at what it termed "the meeting of the century." Trump's salute takes place just after the 23-and-a-half-minute mark (and he appears to return a salute from the same military officer again again 36 minutes into the video):

Controversy ensued, of course  just as it did when President Barack Obama bowed while greeting King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and, later, Emperor Akihito of Japan in 2009. In the first case, critics accused Obama of showing obeisance to a foreign ruler and Islam. In the second, they called his behavior "treasonous."

Critics of Trump's behavior in Singapore noted that despite the friendly tone of the summit, North Korea is still an "adversarial" nation ruled by an authoritarian regime with a long history of egregious human rights violations.

In a statement issued after the release of the North Korea video, retired U.S. Army Major General Paul D. Eaton called Trump's behavior "wholly inappropriate," saying, "It is wholly inappropriate for the commander in chief of our armed forces to salute the military of our adversary... We must talk with them, for the sake of avoiding a disastrous war. But they have not earned the salute of a president."

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said Trump's salute was disrespectful to American troops:

Saluting the military leader of an adversarial regime is disrespectful to our troops and their service. https://t.co/Vzj56o6WP2  Martin Heinrich (@SenatorHeinrich) June 14, 2018

But even as partisan critics started hauling out stronger epithets like "traitor" and "treasonous," then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders made a statement defending the salute as "a common courtesy":

Sanders downplays Trump's salute of a North Korean military official as "a common courtesy" pic.twitter.com/fjNtRD6PeM  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 14, 2018

Similarly, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told CNN, "Returning a salute is not the same as saluting someone. You always return a salute given to you." And Trump himself dismissed the significance of the salute during an impromptu interview on the Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends," saying, "I met a general. He saluted me and I saluted him back."

As in the case of Obama's bowing to foreign royalty, there appears to be no basis in law or protocol for claiming that Trump's actions were illegal or a breach of presidential etiquette. U.S. military protocol holds that it is "customary to salute officers of friendly foreign nations when recognized as such." While saluting officers of unfriendly foreign nations isn't explicitly forbidden, we can assume it is frowned upon  although in any case these protocols don't apply to the commander-in-chief, who, despite exercising ultimate authority over the U.S. military, is by law a civilian officer with no military rank or standing.

Sources:

Dallesandro, Robert J. Army Officer's Guide. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2014. ISBN 9780811746670.

Rogers, Katie. "White House Defends Trump's Salute to a North Korean Military Officer." The New York Times. 14 June 2018.

Sang-Hun, Choe. "North Korea Film Glorifies Kim's World Debut, with Trump in Starring Role." The New York Times. 14 June 2018.

Specia, Megan. "Trump Saluted a North Korean General, Setting Off a Debate." The New York Times. 14 June 2018.

Sykes, Michael. "What We're Watcing: Trump Salutes North Korean General." Axios. 14 June 2018.

Fox News. "Obama's Apparent Bow to Saudi King Outrages Conservatives." 10 April 2009.

Fox News. "Trump Makes Impromptu Visit to 'Fox & Friends,' Claims IG Report on Clinton Probe 'Totally Exonerates' Him." 15 June 2018.

The Telegraph. "Barack Obama Criticized for 'Treasonous' Bow to Japanese Emperor." 16 November 2009.
Trump says he can end the Russia-Ukraine war in one day. Russia's UN ambassador says he can't

In this photo provided by the United Nations, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, and President of the Security Council for the month of July, briefs reporters on the program of work of the Security Council, at the United Nations, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo via AP)

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Donald Trump has repeatedly said he could settle the war between Russia and Ukraine in one day if hes elected president again. Russias United Nations ambassador says he cant.

When asked to respond to the claim from the presumptive Republican nominee, Vassily Nebenzia told reporters Monday that "the Ukrainian crisis cannot be solved in one day.

At a CNN town hall in May 2023, Trump said: Theyre dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And Ill have that done  Ill have that done in 24 hours. He said that would happen after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. And he keeps repeating the claim on the campaign trail.

During last week's debate with President Joe Biden, Trump claimed, If we had a real president, a president that knew  that was respected by Putin ... he would have never invaded Ukraine.

Trump campaign's communications director Steven Cheung said Tuesday that a top priority in his second term will be to quickly negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Trump believes European nations should be paying more of the cost of the conflict, Cheung said.

Nebenzia said the war could have ended in April 2022 in Istanbul when Russia and Ukraine were very close to an agreement. Moscow invaded its neighbor two months earlier on Feb. 24, 2022, though Russia insists its special military operation began in 2014 after clashes in Ukraines east resulted in Moscow seizing the Crimea Peninsula.

The Russian ambassador blamed Ukraines Western backers for blocking the April 2022 peace deal and telling Kyiv to keep fighting Russia.

Now, he said, Zelenskyy is running around with his so-called peace plan which, of course, is not a peace plan but a joke. While meeting in Switzerland last month, nearly 80 countries called for the territorial integrity of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end the war. But some key developing nations did not join in and Russia did not attend the conference.

Nebenzia pointed to Putins offer on June 14 to immediately order a cease-fire in Ukraine and start negotiations if Kyiv begins withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounces plans to join NATO.

Zelenskyy, who has vowed not to give up any territory, rejected what he called an ultimatum by Putin to surrender more land.

The Trump campaign didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment about Nebenzia's remarks.

After Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian forces thwarted their drive to the capital. Much of the fighting has been focused in Ukraines south and east, where Moscow illegally seized four regions, although it doesnt fully control any of them.

But Ukraine is still struggling to stabilize parts of its front line after desperately needed military assistance from the United States was delayed for months before being approved in April. And Russia took advantage of the Ukrainian weapons shortage to launch an offensive and has made gains.

Nebenzia called Zelenskyys peace formula a nonstarter and said he needs to be realistic and take into account whats happened since April. The more difficult the situation becomes for Ukraine on the ground, he warned, the more difficult diplomacy will become to end the war.
Former President Trump said early Tuesday that the Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision delivered a high level SPANKING! to special counsel Jack Smith, whose independent probe of the former president led to two criminal indictments against him.

A really bad day for Deranged Jack Smith, the wacko prosecutor used for Crooked Joe Bidens attack on his Political Opponent, Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform just after midnight Tuesday.

Today, as in the past, the Supreme Court gave the Deranged One a high level SPANKING! he added.

The Supreme Court handed down a 6-3 ruling Monday that determined presidents have absolute immunity for actions that fall within the core responsibilities of their office and are at least presumptively immune for all other official acts.

The decision marks a significant win for the presumptive GOP nominee, whose federal election subversion case is now unlikely to head to trial before the November election. The case will head back to district court to determine whether the former presidents efforts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election warrant protection.

Trump said that Smiths bosses at the Department of Justice (DOJ), including Attorney General Merrick Garland, must be furious at him. He then dissed Garland, saying his once great reputation has been shattered by these Thugs.

The former president also suggested DOJ officials drop the case against him.

Garland ought to call an end to this never ending HOAX, and let people focus on bringing back Greatness to America! he wrote on Truth Social.

Minutes after the high court handed down its decision, Trump heralded the ruling as a big win for democracy.

Trump, in an unrelated New York criminal case, was found guilty in late May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records with the intent to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election when he reimbursed his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, for a hush money payment to an adult film star who claimed she had an affair with Trump. The former president has denied the claim and vowed to appeal the conviction.

Trumps sentencing is set for July 11, but, on Monday, Trumps legal team launched a new effort aimed at throwing out the jurys guilty verdict. His lawyers wrote to the New York judge and asked him to set aside the conviction, contending the prosecution at trial introduced evidence that is protected under the Supreme Courts new test, and requested the sentencing be delayed.

The judge had rejected Trumps presidential immunity defense as untimely, enabling the case to reach a jury, which ultimately delivered the first criminal conviction of a former U.S. president.

The July 11 date is just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to be selected as the official GOP nominee for president.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Luc Cohen and Susan Heavey

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump's sentencing for his conviction on criminal charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star was delayed on Tuesday until Sept. 18, less than seven weeks before the U.S. election.

Justice Juan Merchan pushed back the sentencing date so he can weigh the former U.S. president's argument he should have been immune from prosecution under Monday's landmark Supreme Court ruling that presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted for official acts.

The new timeline means Merchan could decide the Republican presidential candidate's punishment, including whether to jail him, in the thick of the campaign season before the Nov. 5 election.

The sentencing had previously been set for July 11, just days before the July 15 kickoff of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Trump faces an uphill battle getting the hush money conviction overturned, since much of the conduct at issue in the case predated his time in office.

Trump's lawyers on Monday asked Merchan to allow them to argue his conviction should be overturned due to the justices' 6-3 ruling on July 1, which also held that evidence related to presidents' official actions cannot be used to help prove criminal cases involving unofficial actions

Prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said earlier on Tuesday that Trump's argument was "without merit," but agreed to delay the sentencing to give Trump the chance to make his case.

A Manhattan jury on May 30 found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter until after the 2016 election, in which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Prosecutors said the payment was part of an illicit scheme to influence the election.

Trump denies having had sex with Daniels and has vowed to appeal the conviction after his sentencing.

'A PURELY PERSONAL ITEM'

In their letter to Merchan, defense lawyers argued that prosecutors had presented evidence involving Trump's official acts as president, including social media posts he made and conversations he had while in the White House.

"This official-acts evidence should never have been put before the jury," lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote.

Last year, Trump made a similar argument as part of an unsuccessful push to move the hush money case to federal court. In denying Trump's request in July 2023, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein wrote that the payment to Daniels "was a purely personal item."

"Hush money paid to an adult film star is not related to a president's official acts," Hellerstein wrote.

Trump's lawyers appealed Hellerstein's decision, but later abandoned the effort.

In his written ruling, Merchan said he would rule on Trump's request to set aside the jury's verdict by Sept. 6, with sentencing to follow less than two weeks later should the judge decide to uphold the conviction. Trump's lawyers must submit their arguments by July 10, and prosecutors face a July 24 deadline to respond.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller and Daniel Wallis)
The News

New York Judge Juan Merchan has a request filed by Trumps lawyers to decide whether his hush money conviction should be overturned after the US Supreme Court granted presidents immunity for official actions taken in office.

The Courts ruling does not give immunity for unofficial acts, although it is not clear from their decision what would constitute an official or unofficial act. Trump was found guilty in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records around the 2016 election.

Manhattan prosecutors had said Tuesday they would not oppose such a delay, adding that Trumps arguments were without merit. Merchan will make a decision on Sept. 6, and Trumps sentencing will take place on Sept. 18, if such is still necessary, Merchan wrote.
UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Tuesday that ongoing violence and instability in Haiti have displaced over 300,000 children, averaging one child every minute since March.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF executive director, underscored the grave impact of the violence, saying, "The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes is taking a devastating toll on children. Displaced children are in desperate need of a safe and protective environment, and increased support and funding from the international community."

Approximately 3 million children across Haiti require humanitarian assistance, exacerbated by years of political turmoil, widespread poverty, rampant disease, and multiple disasters, according to UNICEF.

Displaced children face increased risks of violence, including sexual assault, exploitation, abuse, and family separation. Access to essential services such as safe spaces, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation is severely disrupted. Poor hygiene in camps and settlements heightens susceptibility to diseases like cholera, while school closures and economic constraints force many children to abandon their education.

With limited means of survival or protection, children are increasingly forced to join armed groups, violating their rights and breaching international law, UNICEF stressed.

Compounding these issues are additional hazards. Haiti's National Emergency Operations Center warned of a "hyperactive" cyclone season, further endangering the displaced population. A tornado in Bassin Bleu, Northwest Department, recently destroyed the homes of 650 children.

UNICEF warned that the already strained healthcare system, barely coping with the current demand, faces further challenges from an ongoing rainy season, threatening to spike water-borne diseases.

"The needs in Haiti continue to grow, alongside the dangers for children," said Russell.

She emphasized that everyone has a role in changing the trajectory to ensure children are protected, have access to education, and can access basic services, adding: "Children should not be paying with their lives and their futures for a crisis created by adults." 
Former President Trump on Monday asked his hush money judge to set aside the recent guilty verdict after the Supreme Courts immunity ruling, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The Supreme Court provided former presidents with a broad shield against criminal prosecution, ruling 6-3 along ideological lines that they enjoy absolute criminal immunity for core constitutional powers and a presumption of immunity for all other official acts.

Following the ruling, Trumps lawyers on Monday filed a letter with New York Judge Juan Merchan seeking to set aside the jurys recent guilty verdict, contending the prosecution at trial introduced evidence that is protected under the Supreme Courts new test, the person said.

The letter also asks to delay Trumps July 11 sentencing, according to the person.

The development was first reported by The New York Times.

Trump has argued he is immune from charges in his three remaining criminal cases that have not yet gone to trial  a battle set to play out in the lower courts in the coming weeks as trial judges apply the Supreme Courts immunity standard.

Just before he went to trial in his hush money case, Trump had mounted a last-minute immunity defense as part of efforts to seek delays, claiming some of prosecutors expected trial evidence, like tweets during his presidency, was protected.

Merchan had rejected Trumps presidential immunity defense as untimely, enabling the case to reach a jury, which ultimately delivered the first criminal conviction of a former U.S. president.

The Court declines to consider whether the doctrine of presidential immunity precludes the introduction of evidence of purported official presidential acts in a criminal proceeding, Merchan said at the time.

Trump was convicted on 34 counts for lying in New York business records with the intent to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election when he reimbursed his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, for a hush money payment to a porn star who was claiming an affair with Trump. Trump denies the affair.

The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) and Trumps attorney for comment.

The Supreme Courts majority opinion on Monday specified that immunized acts cannot be used as evidence to prosecute unofficial conduct.

If official conduct for which the President is immune may be scrutinized to help secure his conviction, even on charges that purport to be based only on his unofficial conduct, the intended effect of immunity would be defeated, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court.

That argument was joined by four of his fellow conservatives. But Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Trumps final appointee to the high court who otherwise joined the majority, disagreed, writing that she agreed with the three liberal dissenters on that point.

The Constitution does not require blinding juries to the circumstances surrounding conduct for which Presidents can be held liable, Barrett wrote.

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The Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump had immunity over some actions taken while he was president - Julia Nikhinson/AP

Prosecutors in Donald Trumps hush money trial have agreed to his legal teams demand to delay the sentencing after the immunity ruling by the Supreme Court.

The final decision now lies with Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial. He will consider the request from Trumps legal team for the process to be paused.

The possible delay comes after the Supreme Court ruled that official actions taken as a president cannot be used as evidence in cases concerning unofficial actions.

Joshua Steinglass, one of the assistant district attorneys who tried the case against the former president, wrote: Although we believe defendants arguments to be without merit, we do not oppose his request for leave to file and his putative request to adjourn sentencing pending determination of his motion.

During the trial, in which Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records, prosecutors used tweets from his presidential account to explain his relationship with Michael Cohen, the star prosecution witness.

He was convicted of covering up hush money payments to Ms Daniels, a porn star, in the run-up to his first presidential campaign in 2016, and was due to be sentenced on July 11.

Trumps legal team now argues that the Supreme Court ruling undermines his conviction, and that the sentencing should be paused for the court to consider the ruling.

The New York district attorneys office said that while it believed Trumps request to be without merit, it would not oppose a delay. The former presidents lawyers said they would file papers making their case by July 10, and the prosecutors said they would respond two weeks later.

It could mean Trump will not be sentenced before the Republican National Convention, which begins on July 15.

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UPDATE: 3:08 p.m. ET Former President Donald Trumps sentencing has officially been postponed to Sept. 18th. Read more here.

PREVIOUSLY:

New York prosecutors do not oppose former President Donald Trumps request to argue that his hush money conviction should be thrown out, almost certainly delaying the sentencing hearing that had been set for July 11.

Trumps lawyers sent Judge Juan Merchan a letter Monday requesting leave to file a motion setting aside the verdict, citing the shock Supreme Court decision handed down that day granting presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office requested a deadline of July 24 to respond to Trumps team.

The prosecutors noted in their Tuesday letter that they believe defendants arguments to be without merit.

If Merchan agrees to the delay, it will push the sentencing past the date of the Republican National Convention, meaning that Trump will become his partys official presidential nominee while awaiting a criminal sentence.

A panel of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in May, marking the first time a U.S. president has ever been tried and convicted of a crime.

The case revolved around a hush money payment that Trumps former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, made on behalf of his boss to silence the porn actor Stormy Daniels in the days before the 2016 presidential election. Daniels allegedly had a sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies.

On Monday, however, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office.

The court did not define the parameters of those actions that would be considered official.

While the hush money payment to Daniels was made before Trump took office, a scheme to reimburse Cohen for the hush money was carried out during Trumps tenure. The checks and other documents relating to that repayment scheme are the backbone of the New York case.

It remains unclear how the Supreme Court ruling might affect the hush money case. The decision came in response to a challenge to federal criminal charges stemming from Trumps attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. A lower court is now tasked with determining how the Supreme Courts ruling will affect the federal charges.

Trump asked Merchan for permission to have until July 10 to file his missive.

NEW - The Manhattan DAs office said Tuesday it would not oppose Trumps request to file a motion arguing his conviction should be tossed, a move that will almost certainly delay Trumps sentencing, which is currently set for July 11. Reporting w/ @AaronKatersky & @PCCharalambouspic.twitter.com/z6VzU8L2ug  Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) July 2, 2024

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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  It fell from the sky. Like a rug being pulled out from under you. That is how the captain of a doomed USAir flight described the crash that killed 37 passengers. It happened on a stormy approach to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Tuesday marks the 30th anniversary. A lot has changed since then. Chief Transportation Correspondent and Pilot Maycay Beeler remembers USAir flight 1016 with two professionals who worked the crash scene.

To this day, they said it remains the most tragic event they ever covered.

The plane broke into three sections when it crashed on approach into Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, Reporter Mark Rumsey said.

Ive seen the result of war, famine, but to see this in my own backyard really struck me, Photojournalist Terrance Allen said, who covered the crash.

Parts of the wreckage slammed into a house that officials say was unoccupied at the time, Rumsey explained.

Its something that stays with you. You dont just forget about it, a lasting memory, Col. Steve Martin said, who is now retired.

Several crash victims suffered serious burns, others had broken bones, Rumsey said,

I can still visualize seeing the aircraft over there in the trees, pretty sobering you know, pretty sobering, Allen said.

USAir said all five crew members survived apparently without critical injuries, Rumsey said.

I was like most people that worked the site that day. I was sunburned, dehydrated, emotionally, physically, mentally worn-out because you see things that people should not have to see, Martin said.

It was July 3, 1994. The morning after one of the darkest days in Charlottes aviation history. Thats when Col. Steve Martin and Photojournalist Terrance Allen found themselves working at a smoldering grave site.

It really shakes you to the core, Allen said.

You look at life a little bit differently when you see death on a large scale, when you see how fragile life can be, Martin said.

The colonel served as the disaster preparedness officer for the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard.

His job, that day, was to direct the body recovery. Of the 57 people onboard USAir flight 1016, 37 died in the fiery crash.

It was a day when the first body you recover is an infant, and as a parentthat gives you a different perspective on everything, Martin said.

For Allen, it wasnt just another day covering breaking news.

The thing that stood out to me was standing there and seeing this broken up fuselage and the debris field and standing there looking at the flight deck or cockpit, a few feet from it, and Im thinking, my goodnessI felt so bad for the people involved, Allen said.

It was one of the worst air disasters in Charlottes history. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded the crash was the result of wind shear  rapidly shifting winds from a thunderstorm-induced microburst  a violent downdraft that slammed the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 to the ground. It happened in the blink of an eye after the pilots aborted a landing during an intense rainstorm on approach to the airport.

When you see children and older peopleno one should have to die in that mannerwhen you see that, it changes youthings can be calm one minute, and the next can be a disaster, Martin said.

Although a few previous wind shear accidents had made headlines, little was known about the destructive forces of microbursts. Retired United Airlines Captain and Aero Consulting Expert Ross Aimer said almost all regulations and safety rules are written in blood.

Crashes like USAir 1016 were valuable lessons in how we deal with one of the greatest forces in nature  the weather.

Before Flight 1016after, congress pushed for Doppler radar to be installed in the nations busiest airports, including Charlotte, Chief Meteorologist Tara Lane said.

No words can lessen the grief of the families of the loved ones lost in Flight 1016.

Significant positive changes and new safety measures resulted from the accident. Better training for pilots and air traffic controllers, better decision-making, advancements in weather prediction, thunderstorm avoidance, and wind shear detection. It was a game-changer. As a result, USAir Flight 1016 was the last U.S. airline passenger jet to crash from wind shear.

There is a new airport overlook at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. It is chock full of play space. A happy place of family fun. Laughter. Kids full of life. In stark contrast, just yards away, sits the memorial for USAir Flight 1016.

A solemn place to remember, reflect, and pay respects to all affected by the crash.

Its an interesting place to put a memorial, in a place of such happiness and frivolity, Allen said. I think when you go by and see that memorial, it reminds you, to put all your petty beefs away with people. Hug your wife, your kidsfamily, call mom and dadwere not guaranteed tomorrow.

Those people got on a plane going on vacation or business or whatever they had to do, and now 37 of them arent here anymore.

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Tulsa race massacre survivor Lessie Benningfield Randle, 109, made her first public appearance since the Oklahoma supreme court dismissed her historic lawsuit last month. Randle, along with fellow survivor Viola Fletcher, 110, had sought restitution for the survivors and descendants of the 1921 massacre, in which an estimated 300 Black Tulsans were killed, thousands were displaced, and Greenwood, the thriving district once known as Black Wall Street, was decimated in an act of racist violence.

A judgment in Randle and Fletchers favor would have been the first ruling to address the longstanding damage the massacre had on Tulsas Black community. But the court said that while the plaintiffs grievances were legitimate, the suit did not fall within the scope of the states public nuisance statute.

Randle and Fletchers statement on Tuesday, recited by a litigation associate on their behalf, read: We are deeply saddened that we may not live long enough to see the state of Oklahoma or the United States of America honestly comfort and right the wrongs of one of the darkest days in American history. At 109 and 110 years old, we are elderly and we know that we are living on borrowed time  Oklahoma and the United States of America have failed its Black citizens. This failure is profound, systemic and marred by lip service and clever platitudes.

The statement described how the two survivors witnessed the atrocities of the massacre, including white pilots flying over the neighborhood and dropping dynamite into the streets, an act considered to be one of the first aerial bombardments of a US city.

No one was prosecuted for the crimes, the city of Tulsa never paid victims reparations or otherwise redressed the massacre and insurance payments were unpaid or insignificant. The Black Tulsans who survived either fled or remained in Oklahoma and lived in fear.

Multiple speakers at the press conference cited Joe Bidens meeting in 2021, when he met with Randle, Fletcher, Fletchers younger brother, Hughes Van Ellis, who died last year at 102, and other descendants.

He sat down with my clients. He promised them that he would see that they get justice, Damario Solomon-Simmons, the lead attorney for the Tulsa survivors, said. Then he went to the next room and had a robust speech where he told the nation that he stood with the survivors and descendants of the Tulsa race massacre. But now that we have been failed by the courts, now that we have been failed by the Congress, we are calling upon President Biden to fulfill his promise to these survivors, to this community and for Black people across the nation.

The survivors have called for the president and the Department of Justice to investigate the Tulsa race massacre. With the Oklahoma supreme courts decision, those calls have been amplified. In the meantime, the survivors counsel have filed a petition for a rehearing. During the press conference, they highlighted inconsistencies and alleged issues with the supreme courts decision.

This is the American reality, no matter how much politicians seek to instill policies that hide our history, this is our collective truth, Randles statement read. It seems that the only justice permitted for Black Americans are sympathetic words and supposed promises that white Americans, our government and our justice system will do better. But the lip service continues and tangible justice is denied.

The survivors promised to continue to shine a light on the darkest days in American history, while repeating the call for the DoJ to investigate Tulsa. The lawsuit included the survivors claim of the citys unjust enrichment: there are multiple Black Wall Street tours and other cultural tours and events that seek to show tourists about the Tulsa race massacre, but do not benefit the survivors in any way.

Tiffany Crutcher, whose great-grandmother survived the massacre, also spoke, citing Bidens speech to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the massacre.

Some injustices are so heinous, so horrific, so egregious they cant be buried no matter how hard people try, Crutcher said, quoting Bidens words.

I agree 100% with President Biden, she continued. We must face it and we must give respect to our survivors, the descendants and this community by demanding that the Department of Justice immediately investigate what happened here on this sacred ground over 100 years ago. This community is watching, this nation is watching, history is watching and the very survivors who are depicted on these walls are calling out for peace, and this administration has the power to help them rest in peace.
Allegations of sexual abuse against a child by a Syrian man in Kayseri, Turkey, have sparked overnight riots that targeted Syrian businesses and cars in the city.

According to Turkish state news agency Anadolu, a Syrian man was arrested on allegations that he sexually abused his seven-year-old female cousin, who is also Syrian, in a public bathroom at a market.

Reports of the purported abuse quickly spread across social media, prompting outraged local residents to riot  setting fire to cars and Syrian-run businesses in the central Anatolian city.

An investigation was immediately launched on the issue. However, later our citizens gathered in this region, acted illegally in an attitude that does not suit our human values, and damaged houses, workplaces, and vehicles belonging to Syrian nationals, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. He said that dozens of people were detained, and the crowd was only dispersed in the early morning hours.

The local governor of Kayseri called on people to act calmly, with moderation and common sense.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed opposition parties, some of which have taken a hard line on removing the estimated 3.6 million Syrians from the country, for stoking hatred politics.

Erdogan himself has pledged to create the conditions for large numbers of Syrians to voluntarily return to Syria.

Xenophobia and hatred towards refugees in our country should not be ignited because this does not give any positive results, he said in a speech on Monday.

The riots in Kayseri also sparked backlash inside Syria. Video from the town of Atareb, which is currently under the control of Turkish troops, showed people chanting against the Turkish armys presence and throwing things at an armored vehicle. Another video showed the chaotic situation that followed, with plumes of smoke and the sound of gunshots. A local resident told CNN troops had used a smoke grenade and fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd. CNN cannot independently verify the residents account.

Protesters in al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria, attack a Turkish truck during demonstrations against Turkey on July 1, 2024. - Bakr Alkasem/AFP/Getty Images

In another town, Ghazawiah, also in northwest Syria, protesters were seen pulling the Turkish flag town from a military site. A local resident there confirmed to CNN that the incident took place.

At the Bab al-Salama border crossing with Turkey, the Turkish flag was removed, burned and replaced with a Free Syrian Army flag, according to a local resident and images circulating on social media.

Several internet providers in northern Syria appeared to be disconnected late Monday. Only satellite internet was still working.

The largest umbrella group representing the Syrian opposition, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces released a statement urging Syrians on both sides of the border to exercise self-restraint.

The sole beneficiaries of this chaos, violations, and disorder are the regime and terrorist organizations, the statement read.

Yerlikaya blamed bots and provocateurs for sowing discord on social media. He said that more than a third of accounts sharing content about the events in Kayseri on X were bots and that 10 accounts had been referred to prosecutors.

We will not tolerate those who threaten the peace and security of our country, make provocative posts, or engage in hate speech, he wrote on X.

Turkey hosts more Syrian refugees than any other country, but Turkey has often struggled to integrate Syrian refugees fully into society. That, combined with a struggling economy, has turned Syrians into a political lightning rod in Turkey. Many Syrians accuse Turks of racist treatment. Countless Syrian children are not in schools because of a requirement that Syrians remain in the districts they were registered in originally  even after events such as last years deadly earthquake in southern Turkey forced many of them to relocate.

All of this comes just days after Erdogan said he was open to meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to restore ties between the two countries  though last year Assad made clear the meeting could not take place so long as Turkish troops remained in Syria. Assad and Erdogan were once close and even vacationed together, but Erdogan eventually backed the Free Syrian Army that sought to oust Assad from power in Syrias civil war.

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ORANGE BEACH  The Tuscaloosa News has won 14 awards from the Alabama Press Association, including overall photo of the year by Gary Cosby Jr.

The APA Media Awards drew 1,770 entries from 56 publications across the state and was judged by members of the Hoosier State Press Association in Indiana. The News competed in a category that included Alabama's largest media outlets.

Cosby's winning photo features the University of Alabama's women's wheelchair team celebrating a championship last March. Judges praised the emotion captured by the image. "You can feel the joy and pride in these girls," judges said.

Cosby also won individual awards for best news photo, best features photo and best sports photo, as well as two other awards for column writing.

Mar 11, 2023; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama's Abby Bauleke (4) and Alabama's Lindsey Zurbrugg (11) celebrate after the Crimson Tide defeated UT-Arlington 88-41 to claim the teamOs 9th national championship Saturday in Stran-Harden Arena.

Tuscaloosa News APA Media Awards

The News' sister paper, the Montgomery Advertiser, also won 14 awards for its 2023 news coverage, including best spot news story and best spot news photograph.

The Advertiser's coverage of a mass shooting at a teen's birthday party and the tragedy's continuing impact on the community won three awards. Judges praised the approach to "a tough, heartbreaking story."

Advertiser photographers Jake Crandall and Mickey Welsh combined for eight other awards, including best photo essay for Crandall.

Fire crews clean the sidewalk following Saturdays mass shooting at Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville , Ala., on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Montgomery Advertiser APA Media Awards

Monarch, right center, leads chants in front of the Alabama Statehouse doors as protestors participate in the Drag Me to the Capitol march and rally against anti-trans bills in Montgomery, Alabama, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

The awards were presented Saturday during the APA's summer convention in Orange Beach.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Tuscaloosa News wins 14 awards from Alabama Press Association
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz bids farewell to Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, after the press conference following the German-Polish government consultations. These are the first government consultations with Donald Tusk's center-left government, which replaced a right-wing conservative government at the end of 2023. Michael Kappeler/dpa

The compensation announced by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the victims of the Nazi occupation in Poland during World War II will start being distributed soon, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

"This is not a matter of years, but of months," Tusk said in Warsaw after German-Polish government consultations involving ministers from both sides.

Scholz had promised compensation for the approximately 40,000 victims of the German occupation of Poland who are still alive, but he did not say when and how much compensation would be paid.

Tusk described the Scholz's announcement as a step in the right direction. "There is no amount of money that would compensate for everything that happened during World War II," he said.

He acknowledged that in a formal and legal sense, the issue of reparations was closed. Nevertheless, the aid promised by the German government for the victims of the occupation could serve to improve German-Polish relations, "because good gestures are also very important in politics," said Tusk.

The previous nationalist conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) government had demanded reparations totalling 1.3 trillion ($1.39 trillion). Since a change of government in Poland in December, the tone towards Germany has become friendlier.

Tusk said Germany's commitment to security in Europe is currently a key issue. "For me, it is important that Germany is prepared to take on much greater responsibility for the security of the continent, to ensure that there will be no war in Europe," he said.
GAZA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Residents in the Gaza Strip have no safe place due to the Israeli war, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday, referring to an evacuation order issued by the Israeli army.

Israel on Monday issued evacuation orders stretching from the southernmost regions of Rafah to the eastern parts of Khan Younis, including the European Gaza Hospital (EGH), the ICRC said in a press statement.

"Thousands of people learned of the evacuation instructions late in the day and fled in panic and fear," it added, noting that this group includes patients, families and the medical professionals who are crucial for the running of EGH.

"Wherever people flee to, they will arrive scarred and traumatized. They will face a lack of food, drinking water, sanitation, health care - and the prospect of needing to flee again," it said.

On Monday, the Israeli army issued an evacuation order to the neighborhoods and areas in the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

This came hours after the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, claimed responsibility for launching 20 rockets at southern Israel.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Tuesday estimated that 250,000 people will have to flee Khan Younis, just weeks after people were forced to return to the devastated Khan Younis.

So far about 1.9 million people, or 80 percent of Gaza's population, have been displaced across Gaza, the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag said on Tuesday.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 37,877, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Sunday. 
Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com.

A teachers union is raising concerns about what they call an accelerated timeline to fill a vacant board position at Twin Rivers Unified School District. The board plans to replace the retiring trustee within two weeks.

This process should be as transparent as possible, union President Rebecca LeDoux said. This is something that is meant for the community to be heard and participate in and it should not be a secretive rushed process.

District staff said that the process must be executed quickly to avoid triggering a special election that would cost approximately $145,000. Education code says that the board must appoint a new member or order a special election within 60 days of the resignation. If this is not met, then County Superintendent David Gordon will call for a special election.

Board President Michelle Rivas, who has served on the school board for nearly 20 years and whose term would have ended in 2026, submitted a letter of resignation in late May because she is moving out of the district.

The contention surrounds when the 60 days to replace her begins  Superintendent Steven Martinez and attorney Cynthia Smith say that it began when Rivas submitted her letter of deferred resignation in May, while other parties interpret the law to say that the countdown began when she actually left her post on June 25.

Martinez said that a provisional appointment can only be approved at a regularly scheduled board meeting, so the appointee must be approved at the July 9 meeting because the board is not scheduled to meet again until Aug. 27.

If the Twin Rivers Unified board does not make a provisional appointment within the laws timeline, the county superintendent of schools will order a special election. Smith said that it is too late to put this item on the November general election ballot, so the earliest a special election could be held is March 2025. The winner would take office at the next regularly scheduled board meeting following the election.

Members of the Twin Rivers Unified teachers union have taken issue with this unnecessarily expedited timeline to replace Rivas. With the support of the California Teachers Association, LeDoux penned a letter to the superintendent saying that the rushed process is a result of a misinterpretation of the law, or worse, an intentional attempt by administration to reduce the pool of applicants and reduce the opportunity for public input and transparency associated with this appointment.

More people should have the opportunity to be a part of the application process, LeDoux said. She said the estimated $145,000 price tag is a drop in the bucket for a district with a budget of over $400 million.

In this short timeline, its really limiting to people who might be interested, she said. It feels to me like the voters should really be the ones to make the decision.

If a board member is appointed, they will have to run for reelection in 2026 to remain in their seat. At the June 25 meeting district staff stressed that filling the seat via appointment would fill the seat months earlier than going the special election route.

LeDoux suspects that this rushed timeline is a purposeful move on the part of the school administration to place a preferred candidate on the board. She characterized the leaving Rivas and Linda Fowler, who lost her reelection campaign, as historically being rubber stampers for the superintendent.

If the only voice you ever listen to is the superintendent, then youre not doing a good job of oversight, she said. I think the person he would like to have in that position has the same philosophy.

What the law says

Twin Rivers Unified administrators cite Education Code 5091, which says that the school board shall within 60 days of the vacancy or the filing of the deferred resignation, either order an election or make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy. Smith said that the submission of the letter on May 20 triggered the 60 day countdown.

In her letter to the superintendent, LeDoux cited Twin Rivers Unified board bylaw 9223, which says that vacancy resulting from resignation occurs when the written resignation is filed with the County Superintendent of Schools having jurisdiction over the district, except where a deferred effective date is specified in the resignation so filed, in which case the resignation shall become operative on that date. A Board member may not defer the effective date of his/her resignation for more than 60 days after he/she files the resignation with the County Superintendent. This bylaw is copied exactly from the California School Board Associations sample bylaws.

Rivas performed her duties until at least June 25, given that she participated in and voted on items at the board meeting that day.

In a response letter to LeDoux, Smith said that Bylaw 9223 actually supports the districts interpretation of the law, saying that the language is necessary to ensure there is no overlap between a provisional appointee and a board member that defers the effective date of their resignation beyond the 60 day window.

A spokesperson from the Sacramento County Office of Education did not know when County Superintendent David Gordon would call for an election in this scenario. Gordon and the deputy superintendent did not respond to direct requests for comment.

A spokesperson from Twin Rivers Unified told the Sacramento Bee that they stood by their interpretation of the law, but did not respond to a question asking why they began the appointment process over one month after Rivas resignation letter.

The application deadline to be considered to fill the vacancy was July 1 and interviews will be conducted at a special board meeting July 8.
Two thefts reported in one day at Arlington Lululemon store

ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now)  Police were investigating two thefts that reportedly happened at an Arlington Lululemon store on Monday.

The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) said officers first responded to the 2800 block of Clarendon Blvd. for a report of suspicious circumstances. Police determined that two female suspects had gone into the store and left with items that they had not paid for.

Police searched for the two suspects but did not find them.

Fairfax police arrest man for robbing Safeway

Later, around 7:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the same Lululemon for a reported theft. ACPD said that three female suspects had gone into the store and left with stolen merchandise.

As of 7:45 p.m. on Monday, ACPD said that officers were still investigating the second incident to determine whether or not they were connected.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb criticized Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissent on the high courts presidential immunity ruling, calling it a little hysterical.

So, I thought her dissent was a little hysterical, and it really offered no analysis, a lot ofscreaming, no analysis, and I think that was unfortunate, Cobb said Monday in an interview on CNN.

In a 6-3 ruling Monday, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling that presidents have absolute immunity for actions that fall within the core responsibilities of their office and are at least presumptively immune for all other official acts.

Sotomayor, in a forceful 30-page dissent, said the Supreme Courts decision granting former President Trump immunity for official acts completely insulate[s] presidents from criminal liability. She was joined by fellow liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

The dissent listed off a series of hypothetical crimes that presidents could potentially be shielded from under the ruling, such as ordering the Navys Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival.

Cobb said he was disappointed Justice Elena Kagan did not write a dissent that sharply focused on the separation of powers issues, which he said are the core issues.

You cant design a rule that is solely about Trump without putting the democracy at risk and eliminating some of the restraints that have historically gotten us through 250 years. Separation of powers is the cornerstone of the Constitution, Cobb said. And as much as I wish Trump would get his comeuppance that is due for his evil conduct, the reality is you just cant go out and have a result-oriented effort by the Supreme Court.

It needs to be based on principle and precedent and I think for the most part, I was disappointed that Justice Sotomayor didnt address at all the separation of powers issue, which is what the case was decided on, he added.

Cobb said he largely expected the high court would draw a line with the official acts pertaining to a president

That was pretty clear from the oral argument and from the precedents they were working with, particularly U.S. versus Nixon and Fitzgerald, that that line would have something to do with the official acts, that they were going to do something like that, Cobb said, in reference to the two Supreme Court cases involving former President Nixon.

Nixon v. Fitzgerald dealt with presidential immunity from civil liability for actions taken while in office, while U.S. v. Nixon addressed whether a president has executive privilege in immunity from subpoenas or other civil court actions, which it ruled they do not.

Cobb said he was a bit disappointed and confused by the portion of the majority opinion regarding the use of the presidents official acts as evidence in criminal prosecution against a former president.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, ruled a former presidents official acts are protected against being introduced as evidence in a criminal case against a former president.

But they were always going to draw a constitutional line here or separation of powers line and theydrew it and its a tight line, but its not a line that eliminates this case, Cobb said. Jack Smith can process.

The ruling was considered a win for former President Trump as he stares down a federal criminal election subversion case, brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

The decision is likely to delay the trial, first sending the case back to a lower court to determine whether his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, merit protection from criminal prosecution for decisions made while in the White House.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference on Jan. 12, 2023, at the Justice Department to announce the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the discovery of classified documents held by President Joe Biden at an office and his home. The investigation did not result in any charges against Biden. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Judiciary Committee Monday filed suit against Attorney General Merrick Garland, in an ongoing effort to obtain audio recordings from President Joe Bidens interview with a special counsel during an investigation of the presidents handling of classified documents.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asks to overturn Bidens assertion of executive privilege over the recordings of his interviews with Robert K. Hur.

The Republican-controlled committee argues in the suit that the tapes are relevant in its impeachment inquiry into Biden and whether the President willfully retained the classified materials to benefit either his family  or himself.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department said in a statement to States Newsroom that the Department is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond in court at the appropriate time.

The suit also asks for audio recordings of Hurs interview with Mark Zwonitzer, the ghostwriter of Bidens 2017 memoir.

Its one of several efforts by Republicans to obtain the tapes, after Hur declined to bring charges against Biden and described him as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory. Biden rebuffed many of those claims.

The Committee thus needs those recordings to assess the Special Counsels characterization of the President, which he and White House lawyers have forcefully disputed, and ultimate recommendation that President Biden should not be prosecuted, according to the suit.

Separately, Florida GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is leading efforts to hold an inherent contempt vote when lawmakers return next week against Garland with the hope of obtaining the tapes.

Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said that House Republicans will be as aggressive as we can and use every tool in our arsenal to make sure that the audio tapes are released.

The House in early June voted to hold Garland in contempt for not releasing the audio recordings. However, the Department of Justice provided a written transcript of Hurs interviews with Biden to the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.

The post U.S. House Judiciary files suit to obtain audio tapes of Biden special counsel interview appeared first on Source New Mexico.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department to announce the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate the discovery of classified documents held by President Joe Biden at an office and his home on January 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. Garland announce that former U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert Hur was appointed as Special Counsel for the investigation. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. House Judiciary Committee Monday filed suit against Attorney General Merrick Garland, in an ongoing effort to obtain audio recordings from President Joe Bidens interview with a special counsel during an investigation of the presidents handling of classified documents.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asks to overturn Bidens assertion of executive privilege over the recordings of his interviews with Robert K. Hur.

The Republican-controlled committee argues in the suit that the tapes are relevant in its impeachment inquiry into Biden and whether the President willfully retained the classified materials to benefit either his family  or himself.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department said in a statement to States Newsroom that the Department is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond in court at the appropriate time.

The suit also asks for audio recordings of Hurs interview with Mark Zwonitzer, the ghostwriter of Bidens 2017 memoir.

Its one of several efforts by Republicans to obtain the tapes, after Hur declined to bring charges against Biden and described him as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory. Biden rebuffed many of those claims.

The Committee thus needs those recordings to assess the Special Counsels characterization of the President, which he and White House lawyers have forcefully disputed, and ultimate recommendation that President Biden should not be prosecuted, according to the suit.

Separately, Florida GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is leading efforts to hold an inherent contempt vote when lawmakers return next week against Garland with the hope of obtaining the tapes.

Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said that House Republicans will be as aggressive as we can and use every tool in our arsenal to make sure that the audio tapes are released.

The House in early June voted to hold Garland in contempt for not releasing the audio recordings. However, the Department of Justice provided a written transcript of Hurs interviews with Biden to the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.

The post U.S. House Judiciary files suit to obtain audio tapes of Biden special counsel interview appeared first on Michigan Advance.
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles campaign effort again relies on support from Americans for Prosperity super PAC

Freshman U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles is again leaning on support from the super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action as he seeks reelection to Tennessees 5th Congressional District, as new federal guidelines allow campaigns to work with supportive super PACs more closely than ever before.

Before running for Maury County Mayor, a position he held until running for Congress, Ogles was state director of Americans for Prosperity of Tennessee, a national group that advocates for conservative and libertarian policies. AFP and its affiliate network are funded by the billionaire Koch family.

Republican candidate Andy Ogles declares victory as his campaign manager former AFP Grassroots Director Grant Henry (left) looks on, winning the House of Representatives in Tennessee's newly created 5th Congressional District at an election night watch party at Puckett's in Columbia, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022., Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean

During the crowded Republican primary in 2022, Ogles campaign was propelled by financial and pavement-pounding support from AFP Action, the group's affiliated super PAC, and other super PACs, including one funded primarily by his then-campaign treasurer Nashville auto magnate Lee Beaman.

But this election cycle, AFP Action's support is more crucial than ever to Ogles cause. Earlier this year, Ogles filed updated documents with the FEC acknowledging he falsely reported a $320,000 self-loan and that the money was never in his campaign account. At the time, he called it a pledge to self fund. That left his reelection campaign with only $95,349 in the bank at the end of the first quarter.

AFP Action is spending big.

Last month, AFP Action spent $75,843 in media buys, postage, and doorhanger printing costs to back Ogles, according to FEC filings.

Republican candidate Andy Ogles talks to the press after winning the House of Representatives in Tennessee's newly created 5th Congressional District at an election night watch party at Puckett's in Columbia, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.

Federal law limits individual donors from contributing more than $2,900 per election to federal candidates, but super PACs have no limit on donors contributions, nor are there limits on spending.

While federal law still bans coordination between campaigns and super PACs on mass communications, a recent FEC advisory opinion paved the way for campaigns and PACs to work more closely than ever.

According to the opinion, candidates and their campaigns may now openly work together with canvassers paid by super PACs, as communications made by canvassers are not considered public communications under the FEC's coordination rules. Campaigns are even allowed to purchase voter data collected by canvassers paid by super PACs to knock doors on their behalf.

"We've been calling it coordination in plain sight, and the FEC doesn't regulate this. It allows this to happen," Shanna Ports, a campaign finance attorney at the Campaign Legal Center told The Tennessean. "Campaigns and super PACs are just getting more and more cozy each election cycle. This recent advisory opinion is, I think, the next step in that  a very large step  allowing them to openly coordinate on field work."

Campaign Legal Center filed an ethics complaint against Ogles over $1 million in financial discrepancies in his disclosures earlier this year.

AFP Action kicks off Ogles' reelection campaign

AFP Action organized a "campaign kickoff" event for Ogles last month, which Ogles personally attended to speak with AFP Action-funded grassroots canvassers, according to the organizations social media posts. AFP Action endorsed Ogles in June.

During the Day of Action, the group knocked on 3,500 doors for Ogles, according to a social media post. AFP is paying canvassers at least $20 per hour to knock doors, according to an Indeed job ad.

During the event, canvassers organized by AFP Action distributed door hangers paid for by AFP Action encouraging voters to support Ogles. An ad recruiting for the event included a photo of Ogles which appears to be the same as one on Ogles campaign website.

"[The FEC advisory opinion] basically said that coordination is okay on field operations," Ports said. "So it looks to me like they're taking advantage of that new allowance under FEC precedent to coordinate on the field organizing."

A spokesperson for AFP Action told The Tennessean that the organization "was in full compliance with the FEC Advisory Opinion" for the event.

Ogles' campaign did not respond to questions about whether Ogles requested or consulted with AFP Action about the campaign launch event, mailers or ad buys AFP has made this cycle. Ogles has not responded to requests for an interview with The Tennessean.

Dick Williams, director of Common Cause Tennessee, a group that advocates for accountability from public officials and public institutions, said the situation "warrants more scrutiny from the FEC."

"I think it would be very appropriate to refer to the Federal Election Commission," Williams told The Tennessean. "Basically, weve got a very blurry line between independent and not independent. ... This is a clear example of that line being very fuzzy, at the minimum.

At least one of Ogles congressional staffers who worked on his 2022 campaign was present at the campaign kickoff event. Congressional ethics rules allow congressional staff to support campaigns outside of official office work. Ogles' chief of staff, Grant Henry, is also moonlighting as his reelection campaign manager, and congressional press secretary Emma Settle is also handling communications for the campaign.

AFP won't confirm firewall

Federal law prohibits coordination between candidates and super PACs spending independently to support them. If a communication is deemed coordinated by the FEC, it can be considered an illegal in-kind contribution beyond contribution limits. Coordinated communications happen when a PAC pays for a communication that is made in cooperation, consultation with or at the request of a candidate or their committee, according to the FEC.

AFP Action has spent just over $64,000 in the last month on mailers and media placements in support of Ogles. Buys occurred both before and after the door-knocking event that Ogles attended.

Ports said it's common practice for PACs to adopt a firewall policy to separate staff who work on mass communication buys and those that communicate with candidates and campaigns to prevent illegal coordination or information sharing between the campaign and PAC.

"If they were complying with the law and doing both coordinated canvases and digital ads, they would need to have that firewall and have separate staffers working on those two components," Ports said.

AFP Action declined to provide a copy of any firewall policy to The Tennessean, or confirm if one exists.

Ports said single candidate super PACs supporting campaigns are becoming increasingly common  most viable candidates now have them.

"Super PACs in general do raise the importance of big money and special interest money to candidates," she said. "When the contribution limits were universal, there was not an opportunity for very wealthy people and for well-funded groups to spend this much money in support of a candidate. Now that that's allowed, I think it does disadvantage candidates who are not connected to those networks of big donors."

AFP Action and Ogles worked together in 2022

In 2022, Ogles admitted during a radio interview that his campaign had adopted a strategy of directing donors away from his campaign to super PACs which were purchasing positive ads in tandem with the campaign.

Of course, you cant coordinate. You cant communicate, Ogles said at the time. "But J.D. Vance, you know, his campaign worked in parallel with a PAC that did positive things on his behalf.  We chose that strategy. We firewalled off some of our donors away from the campaign to go run positive ads.

Ogles repeatedly declined to answer questions about his comments at the time, denying any coordination between his campaign and any PAC.

Americans for Prosperity Action Tennessee Director Tori Venable (right) stands with other supporters watching results come in during his GOP primary election night celebration at the Residence Inn Franklin Berry Farms Thursday, Aug 4, 2022 in Franklin, Tennessee. Alan Poizner-The Tennessean

But close ties between Ogles and the group remained evident. Henry, Ogles' campaign manager, was previously a grassroots director for AFP. AFP Action top officials attended Ogles primary and general election victory parties in 2022. During the events, Ogles touted the number of doors AFP Action paid canvassers knocked on for him  something he would not have known had they not communicated about their activity on his behalf.

No overlap in expenditures

During the campaign in 2022, there was almost zero overlap in expenditures made by the Ogles campaign and AFP Action, as the super PAC made expenditures for several items typically handled directly by campaigns  like mailers and door hangers  which Ogles' campaign never bought. But throughout the campaign, Ogles denied any coordination between the groups.

Andy Ogles speaks to supporters at his election night celebration at the Residence Inn Franklin Berry Farms Thursday, Aug 4, 2022; Franklin, Tennessee, USA Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-The Tennessean

Theres been radio, theres been mailers, theres been doors knocked that I have not been able to control because the campaign wasnt doing it, Ogles explained during a radio interview in 2022, adding that the strategy saved money for his campaign, allowing him to keep a lean campaign staff and costs low.

FEC regulations don't prohibit communication from the PAC to the candidate  leaving room for PACs to announce plans for specific kinds of support to the candidate.

"The super PAC could put out there, you know, 'hey, we plan to do all your mailers,' and the FEC does not restrict that," Ports said. "That is something we have seen some of even in this election cycle, is campaigns and super PACs posting stuff to publicly available websites about their plans."

During the 2022 election cycle, AFP Action paid for canvassing, mailers and door hangers, phone banking and digital ads, according to FEC filings.

$174,792 for mailer production and postage

$18,754 door hanger production

$44,196 for canvassing

$113,297 for digital ad production and media placements

Meanwhile, the Ogles campaign paid directly for candidate and staff travel costs, digital marketing, a voter database, polling, and food and beverage, according to FEC disclosures. But there is no record of the campaign directly paying for mailers or canvassing.

$453,517 in digital marketing, web ads, media placements and radio ads

$69,855 in staff payroll wages plus $54,625 in campaign and fundraising consulting fees

$39,156 for polling

$17,982 for voter database

$24,691 food and beverage, including in-kind contributions

$18,100 in travel and lodging costs

$115,388 contribution to the state GOP to fund a mailer sent on his behalf

$11,688 in credit card fees

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X @Vivian_E_Jones.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ogles reelection bid relies on big support from AFT super PAC
Booking photos from the Fulton County conspiracy case charging Donald Trump and allies with trying to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results. Top row, from left Jeffrey Clark, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Michael Roman, Ray Smith, David Shafer, Sen. Shawn Still. Center row, from left, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro. Bottom row from left, Robert Cheeley, Harrison Floyd, Stephen Lee, Scott Hall, Misty Hampton, Cathleen Latham, Trevian Kutti. Photos from Fulton County Sheriff's Office

A U.S. Supreme Court decision Monday establishing a legal standard for presidential immunity could further slow down Georgias 2020 presidential election interference case, several legal experts predict.

The nations highest court ruling Monday shields U.S. presidents from criminal prosecution while engaging in official conduct related to their core constitutional presidential acts and removes immunity if the conduct is unrelated to their unofficial responsibilities. The ruling is in response to a federal election interference case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Trump, who is accused of allegedly plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

According to the majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, Trumps claim of blanket presidential immunity was rejected and a legal test was established as to what type of presidential conduct is protected under the U.S. Constitution.

Several other pending criminal cases against Trump will be affected by Mondays ruling, including a case in Fulton County Superior Court where Trump and 14 co-defendants are accused of committing felonies while conspiring to rig the 2020 presidential election.

The Supreme Court decision is another blow to the already minimal chances of jury selection in the Fulton election interference case beginning prior to the Nov. 5 presidential election. The fight over immunity is expected to draw out the case into 2025, with multiple court motions and appeals taking place, according to Anthony Michael Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University.

The Supreme Court ruling doesnt directly impact Trumps co-defendants in Georgia, which include several members of Trumps inner circle, former Trump attorneys, and other Republican allies. Four of his indicted co-defendants who pleaded guilty last year reached agreements with prosecutors that will let them avoid jail time if they cooperate as state witnesses.

Legal experts say two of the eight acts detailed in the DOJ indictment could be significantly impacted by the Supreme Courts decision.

Kreis also said its likely that several of Trumps interactions listed in the Fulton indictment, including a post-election phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, will be considered outside the scope of presidential authority.

The Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity makes state prosecutions of presidents for unlawful acts to subvert a presidential election even more important now because the evidence from state prosecutions will be focused on extra-federal executive conduct, Kreis wrote on X Monday.

The way in which the Supreme Courts immunity ruling is applied in the Justice Departments Washington D.C. election interference case could serve as a template for the Fulton County case, according to legal experts.

Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will have to determine whether Trumps interactions with federal and state officials are protected from criminal prosecution as official presidential duties.

In both the DOJ and Fulton cases, Trump is accused of illegally pressuring Raffensperger in January 2021 to overturn Georgias election results and of obstructing the certification of the election by arranging for a false slate of Republican electors to meet in December 2020 to vote for Trump.

Previous federal court rulings in Georgia can give some guidance as U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan holds hearings to determine how immunity will be applied in Trumps DOJ case, according to CNN analyst Norm Eisen, who served as legal counsel in the first impeachment trial of Trump.

Last year, Atlanta-based federal Judge Steve Jones rejected requests from Fulton co-defendants, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, who wanted their case moved to federal court under claims they were acting in their official roles as federal officers.

Jones ruled Clark and Meadows criminal charges werent related to their federal jobs, including Meadows role in setting up the infamous Trump recorded phone call with Georgias election chief several weeks after the 2020 election.

The issues at play in the Georgia removal proceedings are strikingly similar to the ones Chutkan will be forced to consider with respect to Trump, Eisen wrote Mondays opinion column published by CNN. The Supreme Court has explicitly directed Chutkan to determine whether Trumps interactions with state officials and private parties were official and left open the door for her to hold hearings over allegations that involved Pence, too.

Chutkan can give both parties the opportunity to develop facts supporting their competing positions and then make her ruling on immunity, ensuring that Trump continues to receive due process throughout, Eisen said.

The Fulton case is on hold while the Georgia Court of Appeals reviews McAfees decision to reject defense attorneys arguments that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the case because her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade constituted prosecutorial misconduct. Willis hired Wade to lead the probe in November 2021 and she contends the relationship started after they started working on the case.

In August, a Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and 18 others for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 Georgia presidential election results. President Joe Bidens win was confirmed by multiple recounts and audits, and all court challenges were unsuccessful.

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The Illinois ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines will remain in place, at least for now.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Tuesday it will not take up any of the pending challenges to the law until the cases have been fully heard in lower courts.

Illinois lawmakers enacted the ban last year in response to a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park in 2022 that left seven people dead and dozens more injured.

A federal judge in southern Illinois put a temporary hold on the law in March of last year. But the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals later reversed that decision, allowing the law to remain in effect while various challenges are heard.

The announcement by the Supreme Court leaves the appellate courts order in place as challenges progress.

In a separate statement, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas said he doubts the law will withstand constitutional scrutiny, and he hopes the court will hear the case once the lower courts render final decisions. But he also said the high court should clarify what kinds of firearms are protected by the Second Amendment.

This story will be updated.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
A tourist visits the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, Egypt on July 2, 2024. Egypt announced on Monday that its tourism revenue hit 6.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2024, surpassing the 6.3 billion dollars during the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Egypt announced on Monday that its tourism revenue hit 6.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2024, surpassing the 6.3 billion dollars during the same period in 2023.

In a statement, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the number of tourist arrivals during the first half of 2024 reached a record high of 7.069 million.

The number of tourist nights reached 70.2 million between January and June, exceeding the record of 67.6 million during the same period of last year.

As part of a national strategy to enhance tourism, Egypt is ramping up the availability of inbound airline seats and hotel rooms nationwide, aiming to cater to 30 million tourists by 2028.

Egypt received a record number of 14.9 million tourists in 2023. The tourism sector is one of the main sources of foreign currency for Egypt, contributing about 12 percent to the GDP and providing jobs for around three million people. 

Tourists visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, Egypt on July 2, 2024. Egypt announced on Monday that its tourism revenue hit 6.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2024, surpassing the 6.3 billion dollars during the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A tourist visits the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, Egypt on July 2, 2024. Egypt announced on Monday that its tourism revenue hit 6.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2024, surpassing the 6.3 billion dollars during the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Tourists visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, Egypt on July 2, 2024. Egypt announced on Monday that its tourism revenue hit 6.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2024, surpassing the 6.3 billion dollars during the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
In the center, from left: RJ Reed, 5, Rodrick Reed, and Sandra Reed, join hands as they pray during a rally at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11, 2022. Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to give Rodney Reed the chance to have his murder case reviewed, delivering a blow to the death row inmate who has for more than a quarter century maintained that he is innocent of the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites.

Reed, a Black man, was convicted in 1998 of killing a 19-year-old white woman in the Central Texas town of Bastrop. For years, Reeds guilt has been questioned, with his supporters pointing blame at Stites fiance, Jimmy Fennell.

In 2019, Texas highest criminal court halted Reeds execution, sending the case back to the trial court for further review. But a district judge ruled against granting Reed a new trial in 2021, and two years later the states highest criminal court also rejected Reeds claims of innocence.

Without offering any comment, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Reeds petition for a writ of certiorari, which would have ordered the lower court to deliver the case records to the higher court for review.

The ruling does not mean that Reeds execution will immediately be scheduled. In another appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court last year sided with Reed, who is now 56, and cleared the way for his team to pursue DNA testing on crime scene evidence that his attorneys said could exonerate him.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in that case in August, Reeds legal team said.

[Reed] has litigation pending in several courts and his legal team is continuing to pursue all available avenues to secure his relief, said Parker Rider-Longmaid, an attorney representing Reed. Mr. Reeds legal fight to test key DNA evidence and prove his innocence is far from over.

Reed's attorneys maintain that their client was sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit. They say that Reed was having an affair with Stites and that the courts have not allowed for DNA testing of crucial evidence, including the belt used to strangle Stites.

Stites sister, Debra Oliver, meanwhile, said that Reed is guilty and should accept responsibility for the crime.

It is time to stop retraumatizing Staceys loved ones for the benefit of activists and those seeking notoriety from this nightmare, the statement said.

Oliver also said that Reed is guilty of raping her sister, who she says had no romantic relationship with Reed.

Both Reed and Stites' fiance have been accused of multiple sexual assaults. Reed was indicted in several rape cases. Fennell spent 10 years in prison after he kidnapped and allegedly raped a woman while on duty as a police officer in 2007.

Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!
The U.S. Supreme Court has reignited the legal battle over controversial Florida and Texas laws aimed at placing restrictions on social media platforms, sending the cases back to appeals courts for reconsideration.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Mondays highly anticipated ruling, issued on the last day of the courts term, did not resolve the constitutionality of the laws but kept in place an injunction that has blocked the Florida law.

The laws sought to limit the ability of social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to moderate content on their sites. Tech-industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association filed challenges, alleging that the laws violated constitutional limits on government restrictions of speech.

In Mondays main opinion, Justice Elena Kagan said that to the extent that social-media platforms create expressive products, they receive the First Amendments protection.

The principle does not change because the curated compilation has gone from the physical to the virtual world. In the latter, as in the former, government efforts to alter an edited compilation of third-party expression are subject to judicial review for compliance with the First Amendment, Kagan wrote in an opinion joined fully by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonya Sotomayor, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett and partly by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

But, Kagan added, appellate courts failed to properly consider the facial nature of the challenges to the laws, a critical element in deciding whether they met constitutional muster.

To make that judgment, a court must determine a laws full set of applications, evaluate which are constitutional and which are not, and compare the one to the other. Neither court performed that necessary inquiry, she wrote.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Barrett, and Jackson wrote or joined concurring opinions.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law after Facebook and Twitter, now known as X, blocked former President Donald Trump from their platforms after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals kept in place most of a preliminary injunction that U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued to block the Florida law in 2021. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, however, rejected a challenge to Texas similar law.

The tech groups praised Mondays decision as a victory.

The Supreme Court agreed with all our First Amendment arguments, NetChoice Litigation Center director Chris Marchese said in a statement.

Free speech is a cornerstone of our republic. As we prepare to celebrate the 248th anniversary of American independence this week, we are gratified to see the Supreme Court acknowledge the Constitutions unparalleled protections for free speech, including the worlds most important communications tool, the internet, Marchese added.

But Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody also called the ruling a win  for the state.

We are pleased that SCOTUS (the Supreme Court) agreed with Florida and rejected the lower courts flawed reasoning  invalidating our social media law. While there are aspects of the decision we disagree with, we look forward to continuing to defend state law, Moody said on X.

BREAKING NEWS: SCOTUS Unanimously Sides with Florida in Social Media Case



We are pleased that SCOTUS agreed with Florida and rejected the lower courts flawed reasoninginvalidating our social media law. While there are aspects of the decision we disagree with, we look  AG Ashley Moody (@AGAshleyMoody) July 1, 2024

The courts ruling decisively rejects the broadest arguments made by the states and the social media platforms, Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute, said in a statement. The institute submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in the Supreme Court cases.

It properly recognizes that platforms are editors under the First Amendment, but it also dismisses, for good reasons, the argument that regulation in this sphere is categorically unconstitutional. The social media companies asked for a sweeping ruling that would have placed their business models beyond the reach of regulation. The states asked for a ruling that would have given them immense power to manipulate and control public discourse online. The court was entirely right to reject these requests, both of which would have done real harm to our democracy, Jaffer said.

As examples of the disputed issues in the Florida case, part of the law would prevent platforms from banning political candidates from their sites and require companies to publish  and apply consistently  standards about issues such as banning users or blocking their content. The law seeks to regulate social media platforms that have annual gross revenue of over $100 million or more than 100 million monthly active users. Companies could face steep penalties for violating restrictions in the law.

In issuing the preliminary injunction in 2021, Hinkle described the law as riddled with imprecision and ambiguity.

Although the Supreme Court did not rule on the First Amendment issue, the majority opinion and concurring opinions provided a glimpse into the justices takes on social media restrictions.

On the spectrum of dangers to free expression, there are few greater than allowing the government to change the speech of private actors in order to achieve its own conception of speech nirvana, Kagan wrote in the main opinion.

The Florida and Texas cases present a complex clash between two novel state laws and the alleged First Amendment rights of several of the largest social media platforms, Jackson wrote in an opinion that concurred in part with the main opinion.

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Some things are already clear. Not every potential action taken by a social media company will qualify as expression protected under the First Amendment. But not every hypothesized regulation of such a companys operations will necessarily be able to withstand the force of the First Amendments protection either. Beyond those broadest of statements, it is difficult to say much more at this time, she wrote.

Thomas said he agreed the cases should be sent back to the lower courts.

I cannot agree, however, with the courts decision to opine on certain applications of those statutes. The courts discussion is unnecessary to its holding, he wrote in a concurring opinion.

In a separate concurring opinion, Alito chastised the majority for weighing in on the restrictions merits.

The holding in these cases is narrow: NetChoice failed to prove that the Florida and Texas laws they challenged are facially unconstitutional. Everything else in the opinion of the court is nonbinding dicta, Alito wrote in an opinion joined by Thomas and Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Matt Schruers, president of the Computer Communications & Industry Association, predicted the tech companies would again prevail.

The courts opinion is unmistakably clear  that all of the propositions that we were citing are sound, that the precedents we were pointing to apply. And from that, it seems inescapable that the outcome that we called for is apparent, but the lower courts need to revise their analyses based on this guidance, Schruers said.

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By Sam Tobin

LONDON (Reuters) -Pfizer and Moderna's legal battle over their rival COVID-19 vaccines looks set to continue after London's High Court gave a mixed ruling on two of Moderna's patents, likely prompting a flurry of appeals in the London leg of the litigation.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech sued Moderna in London in September 2022, seeking to revoke two patents held by Moderna, which hit back days later alleging its patents had been infringed.

The competing lawsuits over the companies' two vaccines, which helped save millions of lives and made the companies billions of dollars, are just one strand of ongoing litigation around the world focusing on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.

Moderna had argued Pfizer and BioNTech copied mRNA advances it had pioneered and patented well before the COVID-19 pandemic began in late 2019.

U.S.-based Moderna was seeking damages for alleged infringement of its patents by Pfizer and BioNTech's Comirnaty shot on sales since March 2022.

Pfizer made $11.2 billion in sales from Comirnaty last year, while Moderna earned $6.7 billion from its vaccine Spikevax, illustrating the potentially huge sums at stake.

Pfizer and BioNTech, however, asked the High Court to revoke Moderna's patents, arguing that Moderna's developments of mRNA technology were obvious improvements on previous work.

The High Court ruled on Tuesday that one of Moderna's two patents relating to mRNA technology was invalid, but that another similar patent was valid and that Pfizer and BioNTech's Comirnaty vaccine had infringed it.

LIKELY APPEALS

All three companies said they disagreed with the parts of the court's decision on which they lost, and it is expected that all parties will seek permission to appeal.

Pfizer and BioNTech said in a statement: "These proceedings have no bearing on the safety and efficacy profile of our vaccine, as established by regulators worldwide.

"Irrespective of the outcome of this legal matter, we will continue to manufacture and supply the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in line with our agreements and established supply schedules."

A spokesperson for Moderna said the company was pleased the court "recognized the innovation of Moderna scientists by confirming the validity and infringement" of one of its patents.

Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna are also involved in parallel proceedings in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States, much of which has been put on hold, as well as at the European Patent Office.

The London ruling comes at a time of financial strain for Moderna, whose shares have plummeted by more than 70% since the peak of the pandemic as demand and sales for Spikevax have fallen. Shares of Pfizer, meanwhile, are down about 29% since mid-2021.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Additional reporting by Maggie Fick and Patrick Wingrove; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar and Louise Heavens)
Russia resorts to legal persecution of migrants, mainly from Central Asia, to force them to join the armed forces and fight in Ukraine.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence update dated 2 July on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The review states that during a speech at the St Petersburg International Legal Forum on 27 June, Aleksander Bastrykin, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, said that the Russian authorities had identified 30,000 migrants who had recently become Russian citizens and were not registered for military service.

Bastrykin also boasted that 10,000 of them had already been sent to the war zone in Ukraine. Bastrykin claimed that these migrants would be "digging trenches" and performing other duties in the rear.

Russian independent media have previously reported that Russian law enforcement agencies are conducting a campaign of legal persecution of migrants, especially from Central Asia, in an attempt to persuade them to join the Russian armed forces in exchange for citizenship or to avoid arrest on trumped-up charges.

This is another way for the Russian Federation to increase recruitment while trying to limit its influence on those parts of the Russian population that are more politically active.

Background:

The UK Defence Ministry noted the first anniversary of the Wagner Group's "March for Justice" in its Russian-Ukrainian war intelligence review dated 24 June.

UK Defence Intelligence has assessed the risks for the Russian government associated with the practice of sending prisoners to fight in Ukraine and their return to Russia.

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Ukraine-born Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz was charged with a weapons violation at Dulles Aiport in Virginia, an airport spokesperson confirmed to NBC News on July 1.

The charge, which occurred on June 28, was reportedly on the grounds that Spartz carried a gun into the airport.

"Last Friday, Representative Spartz accidentally carried an empty handgun in her suitcase with no magazine or bullets, which she did not realize was in the pocket of her suitcase, while going through security at Dulles airport," a spokesperson for the congresswoman told NBC News. Under Virginia law, the charge is a misdemeanor.

Spartz was born in a small city in Chernihiv Oblast and moved to the U.S. in 2000. She is known for her staunch support of former President Donald Trump.

In the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Spartz supported aid for Ukraine and spoke about the war in deeply personal terms, but also attracted controversy for her attacks against President Volodymyr Zelensky and head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak.

Spartz shifted her stance on Ukraine over the following years and grew increasingly critical of U.S. aid for the country. She began to call for more "accountability" for the funding and was among the 112 Republicans in Congress who voted against $61 billion in aid to Ukraine in April.

Politico also reported in June that Spartz was under a preliminary inquiry by the House Ethics Committee due to allegations of abusive treatment of staff and "general toxicity."

Spartz won the Republican primary in her district of Indiana in May, beating back eight challengers to secure a place on the ballot for the November election. As her district in Indiana is solidly Republican, she is favored to win reelection.

Read also: Trump rejects Putins peace terms while Biden unnerves Democrats at historic debate

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Ukraine doing all it can to boost electricity imports from the EU  Zelenskyy

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the Ukrainian government is currently in the process of obtaining approval from the European Union to increase electricity imports to Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy in his evening video address, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "The Prime Minister reported on defensive measures for energy facilities: active defence, electronic warfare and everything else. He also reported on reconstruction and our work with European partners to expand electricity imports to Ukraine. We are now consuming the full volume of imports agreed with the EU, and I am grateful to all our neighbours for this assistance."

Details: Zelenskyy said that the government is doing everything it can to increase these imports, and this has to be a European decision.

"Our government officials are working on the respective approval [from the European Union]," the president said.

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Ukraine and The Gambia revive diplomatic relations after 20-year pause

President Volodymyr Zelensky held his first conversation with Gambian leader Adama Barrow, marking a renewal of diplomatic relations after a 20-year pause.



Zelensky thanked Barrow for The Gambia's participation in the first peace summit, emphasizing that the peace formula is crucial for global security, including food and energy security.



They discussed future potential cooperation between Ukraine and Africa to restore peace and ensure food stability.



Zelensky highlighted Ukraine's role as a key guarantor of food security for Africa and the world and expressed readiness to welcome back Gambian students and expand educational programs. He also expressed his pleasure at resuming high-level contact with The Gambia.



President Volodymyr Zelensky said in December 2023 that one of Ukraine's foreign policy priorities for 2024 is continuing to develop ties with African countries, as Moscow seeks to expand its influence on the continent.



In December 2022, Zelensky said he would like to see Ukraine eventually have a presence in 30 African countries.

Read also: Yermak: Grain from Ukraine program to expand further, strengthening global food security efforts

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Ukraine is expecting "good news" with regard to its request for more air defence systems at next week's NATO meeting in Washington.

Source: a senior US State Department official cited by Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "We hope we'll be able to get to the summit and make some new announcements on air defence," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"You've heard that the Ukrainians are keen to secure additional Patriots or similar systems. And I think we'll have some additional good news for them on that front," he said.

The official provided no further information.

Ukrainian officials have been pressing partners for months to deliver more air defence equipment so that Ukraine can protect its population and infrastructure against frequent Russian missile and drone attacks.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin stated on 2 July that the US would soon announce the allocation of supplementary military aid for Ukraine in the security sector valued at US$2.3 billion. The package will include anti-tank weapons, interceptors and ammunition for Patriot and other air defence systems.

Earlier it was revealed that the US has decided to prioritise the supply of anti-aircraft missiles  specifically missiles for Patriot and NASAMS systems  to Ukraine ahead of other states which have requested them.

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The Ukrainian Air Force struck an ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Crimea on July 1, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported on July 2.

"Once again, Ukrainian aircraft 'destroyed' by enemy propaganda continue to successfully perform combat missions, launch missile and bomb attacks on (Russian) occupied positions, and eliminate important military facilities in the enemy's deep rear," Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram.

Oleshchuk's statement comes after news about explosions on July 1 in Balaklava, a municipal district of the city of Sevastopol.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian proxy leader in Sevastopol, claimed that air defenses were operating in the city.

Razvozhayev claimed that according to the preliminary data, five air targets were destroyed near Balaklava, "but the wreckage fell in the coastal zone." No casualties were reported.

Telegram channel Crimean Wind shared a photo reportedly taken by locals showing a tall column of smoke rising above Balaklava, presumably near a local thermal power plant.

Explosions were also reported in the area of Cape Fiolent, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Krym Realii project reported.

Oleshchuk did not specify which settlement the ammunition depot was hit in.

Ukraine has carried out several successful attacks against Russian targets in occupied Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Ukrainian forces struck around 15 air defense systems in Russian-occupied Crimea over the past two months, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications (Stratcom) reported on June 17.

Read also: Source: Ukrainian cyberattack leaves at least 250,000 consumers without connection in Russian-occupied territories

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and Viktor Orban, Hungarian Prime Minister, have agreed to work on a decree which would solve bilateral issues.

Source: the two leaders on 2 July following a meeting in Kyiv, as reported by a European Pravda correspondent

Details: The two leaders stressed that the meeting became an important step for solving problems which have piled up over a long time.

Quote by Zelenskyy: "The content of our dialogue on all current issues may become a foundation for a future bilateral document between our states which would regulate our relations and would be based on a mirror effect in the relations between countries."

Viktor Orban also believes that the negotiations brought the two countries closer to signing the agreement.

"Our aim is to settle the relations between our countries, we want to sign a global agreement on cooperation with Ukraine, similar to those agreements signed with Hungarys other neighbours," Orban stated.

In addition to this, Orban stressed that Hungary is ready to support the modernisation of the Ukrainian economy and intends to help Ukraine during its presidency in the EU Council.

"I wish all the best to Ukraine, and we will help you in everything we can during our presidency," he added.

Background:

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on the morning of 2 July, making it his first visit in many years and his first visit since the beginning of Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Orban promised to take the "first steps" to help bring peace to Ukraine on the eve of his visit to Kyiv. He explained that Hungary aims to solve the challenges the EU faces during its presidency.

The spokesperson of the Hungarian government confirmed that the possibility of achieving peace would become the most important topic of the talks in Kyiv.

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People read books at a mobile taxi library in Alexandria, Egypt, June 29, 2024.(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, July 2 (Xinhua) -- On a street in northern Egypt's coastal governorate of Alexandria, several passers-by were checking a variety of books placed on a taxi. The taxi driver, Mohammed Azzam, has turned his cab into a mobile library three or four days a week to encourage people to read.

"I have loved reading since childhood, that is one of the reasons why I decided to launch a mobile taxi library initiative," 42-year-old Azzam told Xinhua, satisfied to see pedestrians being interested in his books.

Azzam provided people with books during his non-working time, allowing them to read for up to three hours each time.

Putting forward the initiative three years ago, the taxi driver has now become widely known in Alexandria.

He then opened a small library on the street for bookworms, where he also sold books such as school textbooks and stationery to help fund his taxi library initiative.

The middle-aged man cited the main reason for launching the initiative as people's reluctance to read after the spread of the Internet and social networks.

"People waste their time playing games on mobile phones or surfing social media pages," Azzam said, explaining, "People may get some benefit from these behaviors, but there is nothing better than holding and reading a book."

Samia Mohammed, a 22-year-old college student, said she stumbled upon the taxi-turned-library by chance and then frequented it for reading.

"It was a bit strange for me to see a taxi driver showcasing books on his car for pedestrians," Mohammed said, adding that she greatly admired the idea.

"With no hesitation, I picked up a psychology book that interested me," the student told Xinhua, adding most of her friends have now become frequent visitors to the unique library.

"We have gotten Azzam's phone number. We will call to know when and where he is going to be stationed," she said, flashing a smile.

Mahmoud Abdo, a high schooler who also visited the mobile library, said such an initiative "will certainly attract more people and encourage them to read."

"People rarely read in current days ... I read my school textbooks only. Through this initiative, I also prefer to read some literature and scientific books now," Abdo told Xinhua.

Azzam said he wishes to promote the initiative by opening more small libraries inside Alexandria and inviting others to join him.

"I also hope that similar initiatives will be launched across the country, mainly in remote areas," Azzam told Xinhua. 
Video emerged on social media showing a missile attack on the Ukraines Mirgorod Air Base in Poltava Oblast on Monday. The base, home to Ukraines 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, is located in central Ukraine, about 100 miles southwest of the border. The attack and loss of aircraft has been confirmed by the Ukrainian Air Force. The video, posted by the Russian Aerospace Forces-connected Fighterbomber Telegram channel opens with a surveillance drone view of the airfield with Su-27 Flanker fighter jets parked on the apron. Myrhorod Air Base. Not the first time that Russian recon drones have been able to quietly observe before striking with an Iskander cluster missile. It appears that at least 1 Ukrainian Su-27 has been destroyed, while several others are also believed to have been damaged. pic.twitter.com/OsZeeuCMp1 NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) July 1, 2024 It later cuts to scattered puffs of smoke from a cluster munitions strike that Russian milbloggers say was carried out by Iskander short-range ballistic missiles. Iskander-E variants can contain those, according to the U.S. Army. We have previously reported on their use in Ukraine. Video of the attack on the Mirrored AirBase shows it was hit by cluster munitions. Twitter screencap The video then shows a burst of flame on the apron and ends with two plumes of smoke rising from that location. An image from NASAs Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) confirmed that there was a fire at the location captured in the video. FIRMS The attack was confirmed by Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Col. Yuri Ignat as well as Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels. However, the battle damage assessment remained in dispute. Its a war, and unfortunately not without loss of technology, Ignat said on Facebook. The blow was there. There are some losses, but not at all as the enemy attributes, after all, they always do so since the beginning of the invasion. The Air Force is doing everything it can to counter the enemy, mislead the enemy, including through mockups and other means. The Russian Rybar Telegram channel claims that two aircraft were destroyed and four damaged by the cluster munitions attack. The War Zone cannot independently verify that claim. As a result, in one raid, the Russian Armed Forces disabled six combat aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is the best result since the beginning of the Northern Military District, Rybar bragged. Most likely, the Ukrainian formations also suffered losses in flight and engineering personnel  this is indirectly indicated by reports of enemy resources. The Iskander, as we have previously noted, is among Russias most valuable precision-guided standoff weapons. They are now being used for fast-reaction strikes for exactly these kinds of time-sensitive targets. Its really the only major precision strike munition Russia has capable of reliably hitting these kinds of high-value targets on very short notice as the Russian Air Forces have not achieved air superiority. Russian Telegram claims Mirgorod was hit by an Iskader-M short-range ballistic missile. Russian MoD Russian MOD Ukrainian Telegram channels also confirmed the attack and expressed outrage that the drones were able to loiter so long over Mirgorod. There was information about the presence of a Russian [drone] in the air, and in advance, Serhii Sternenko, a major figure in Ukraines drone development and production efforts, complained on his Telegram channel. However, no appropriate measures were taken. Starting with negligence, continuing with the lack of shelters for aviation, ending with a lack of personnel due to sending to the infantry. There have already been at least two similar strikes on this airfield with reconnaissance broadcasts in the last two weeks, he added. There have also been claims that the base was hit in May, as we noted at the time. The Ukrainian Sofa Assault Brigade Telegram channel also shared its dismay about a drone over the base. For almost three hours, an Orlan-10 hovered over the city at an altitude of about 5 km (about 3 miles), which aimed the missiles, Sofa Assault Brigade chided. Though Sofa Assault Brigade challenged Russian claims on the number of aircraft damaged, this does not negate the fact that the drone calmly flew over Mirgorod for 3 hours, aimed the Iskander [missiles] and recorded the consequences. Mirgorod Air Base is about 100 miles from the border with Russia. Google Earth image This is a problem for both sides. Ukraine and Russia alike lack enough air defense systems to protect all major potential target areas. In addition, the systems that do exist have been heavily targeted. Moreover, defeating small drones can require specialized short-range air defense systems (SHORADS). That Russia can operate a drone and communicate the location of targets in real time so far from territory it controls adds to Ukraines woes. The drones are likely using an airborne relay or even potentially patching into local cellular networks in order to provide real-time connectivity over such long distances. The Fighterbomber video also captured silhouettes painted on the apron. This is something both sides have done in an apparent attempt to fool adversaries, but given current technology it is a tactic of extremely limited value. It is clear even by the drone screenshot below that these are not three-dimensional, something Sofa Assault Brigade also lashed out at. You can also see painted silhouettes of airplanes in the parking lots, but that didnt help, it scoffed. Mirgorod Airbase painted jet silhouettes on the apron. Twitter screencap Ryber suggested the strike on Mirgorod was evidence of a qualitative increase in the capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces to detect and quickly destroy targets in the deep rear of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is also possible that Russia might have hit non-operational or even decoy aircraft, something the Ukrainian Air Force spokesman hinted at earlier in this story. Ukraine regularly moves its active fighter aircraft around to various bases and locations on those bases in order to complicate Russias ability to target them. Regardless of what was hit, given that Ukraine will soon be receiving dozens of donated F-16s, the issue of sheltering jets and preventing drones from loitering overhead is only going to become more critical. These aircraft will be the absolute top targets for Russian airstrikes. Before diving into more developments from the conflict in Ukraine, The War Zone readers can review our previous coverage here. The Latest The western Donetsk Oblast coal mining town of Vuhledar continues to be a bulwark against Russian attempts to punch through and encircle Ukrainian troops in the region. Sitting on high ground along the key T0532 highway, the ruined city is once again a graveyard for Russian troops and vehicles. More than a year after Russian Col.-Gen. Rustam Muradov was sacked for ordering deadly assaults on this city that resulted in tremendous losses of men and equipment, video is emerging of the charred remains of another unsuccessful effort to take Vuhledar. Video from Ukraines 72nd Mechanized Brigade of strikes on a Russian armored assault on the Vuhledar front with tanks, BMP, MT-LB, BTR, and motorcycles. https://t.co/6pFeid4nGp pic.twitter.com/JOu5iCSiIS Rob Lee (@RALee85) July 1, 2024 Produced by Ukraines 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the video shows tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled mortars and other armored vehicles destroyed in yet another attempt to take the city. This latest attack also involved Russian troops on motorcycles, many of which were destroyed. Through the efforts of the Black Cossacks of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the Road of Fury near Vuhledar for Russian troops turned into a real killing field, Ukrainian journalist Yurii Butusov, who posted the video, wrote on Telegram Monday. Among the cemetery of enemy armored vehicles, a considerable number of motorcycles destroyed by our soldiers and burned out attract attention. The enemy command sent this speedway section into battle along with heavy equipment, that is, they deliberately threw manpower under the Ukrainian death harvester without any chance of survival. A well-known Russian milblogger recently acknowledged the difficulty faced by Moscows forces attacking Vuhledar and promised an assault to the rear. We are pressing, but a breakthrough of the front is not yet possible, Alexander Sladkov wrote on Telegram Friday. Actually, why? A blow to the Ukrainians in the back, or rather from the rear, is brewing there. For this we need to advance the front from Kurakhov and Karlovka, and we are doing a lot for this. And then  the encirclement, or the flight of the Ukrainian Armed Forces group in Vuhledar. Just 3 days ago, propagandist Sladkov was promising another assault on Vuhledar. He said that they were about to go to the rear of the citys garrison. We see the result in the third picture. pic.twitter.com/XDp8i8gHji WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) July 1, 2024 To date Vuhledar remains in Ukrainian hands. There is little doubt though that Russia will keep trying to take the city as part of Russian President Vladimir Putins desire to grind Kyivs forces down in a protracted battle of attrition. Elsewhere on the battlefield, there was little change of positions, according to the latest assessment from the Institute for the Study of War. In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces recently advanced within central Vovchansk north of Kharkiv City near Lypsti. In Luhansk Oblast Russian forces recently advanced southeast of Kupyansk, and Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Kreminna amid continued Russian ground attacks along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line. In Donetsk Oblast Russian forces reportedly advanced in the Toretsk and Siversk directions. Russian forces continued offensive operations near Chasiv Yar on June 30, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline. They also recently advanced southwest of Avdiivka and continued operations southwest of Donetsk CIty with no confirmed changes to the frontlines. Positional engagements continued in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area south of Velyka Novosilka near Urozhaine, Staromayorske, and Makarivka and in western Zaporizhia Oblast but there were no changes to the frontline. Russian forces continued ground assaults near Robotyne, north of Robotyne near Novodanylivka, east of Robotyne near Verbove, and northeast of Robotyne near Mala Tokmachka and Charivne. In Kherson Oblast, fighting continued on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast, including near Krynky. 2/ The West must hasten to provide Ukraine the support it needs to conduct counteroffensive operations to invalidate Putin's theory of victory and avoid protracting the war more than necessary to secure a peace acceptable to Ukraine and its partners. https://t.co/U2lzOvm3iH pic.twitter.com/dHnhkQ5B31 Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) July 1, 2024 The intensity of fighting in Vovchansk is captured in this video of Russian troops running for cover under fire. As they hustle toward the relative shelter of a bombed-out building, you can hear the ceaseless sound of small arms and the occasional explosion. Apocalyptic vibe: Russian soldiers under very heavy fire running into an apartment building in Vovchansk. pic.twitter.com/Hb2AGCuCqU Clash Report (@clashreport) June 30, 2024 You can get a sense of the destruction in Robotyne after a year of back-and-forth battles in this video. Frontline update: Ukraine is gaining momentum. pic.twitter.com/xAzreD2wVw Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (@SarahAshtonLV) June 30, 2024 Russia has taken great losses in these attacks, losing an average of more than 1,000 troops a day killed or injured in May, according to The New York Times, citing U.S., British and Western intelligence agencies. But despite its losses, Russia is recruiting 25,000 to 30,000 new soldiers a month  roughly as many as are exiting the battlefield, U.S. officials said, The Times reported. That has allowed its army to keep sending wave after wave of troops at Ukrainian defenses, hoping to overwhelm them and break through the trench lines. It is a style of warfare that Russian soldiers have likened to being put into a meat grinder, with commanding officers seemingly oblivious to the fact that they are sending infantry soldiers to die, the paper added. Russia Sends Waves of Troops to the Front in a Brutal Style of Fighting:More than 1,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine were killed or wounded on average each day in May, according to NATO and Western military officials. https://t.co/45iJeXqzCS Steven Chase (@stevenchase) June 30, 2024 During these meat assaults, Russia is using motorcycles with sidecars to carry troops and ferry out the wounded. Since the early days of this all-out war, both sides have used small, fast, highly maneuverable motorcycles to carry out a variety of missions. "The Second Army of the World". The orc shows the equipment that will carry his comrades into meat assaults. pic.twitter.com/P0ilqPb7r6  Albina Fella  (@albafella1) June 28, 2024 The glide-bombs used by Russia to attack Ukrainian cities have also been falling on its own territory, The Washington Post reported Monday, citing an internal Russian document. At least 38 of the bombs, which have been credited with helping drive Russias recent territorial advances, crashed into the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine between April 2023 and April 2024, according to the publication, adding that most did not detonate. The powerful glide-bombs that Russia has used to such great effect to pound Ukrainian cities into rubble have also been falling on its own territory, an internal Russian document has revealed. https://t.co/ZJ8pEPYCUH The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 1, 2024 Most of the bombs were discovered by civilians, the Post reported. For the most part, the Russian Defense Ministry didnt know when the bombs had been launched, indicating that some of them could have been there for days. At least four of the bombs fell on Belgorod City, a regional hub with a population of about 400,000 people, the publication wrote. The most glide bombs, 11, fell in the Graivoron border region where some could not be recovered because of the difficult operational situation. Russian aviation dropped at least 38 bombs on its own Belgorod region, according to The Washington Post.#StandWithUkraine #RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/V9d2NjMO48 UATV English (@UATV_en) July 1, 2024 The Post also noted that Astra, an independent Russian media outlet, verified that many of the incidents in the document matched those it had collected from local governments and reports in local news media. People mentioned as witnesses have been confirmed as residents. Meanwhile, the Russian Baza news outlet reported on Telegram that five bombs were discovered in Belgorord over the past two days, including the three-ton FAB-3000. The reasons for the appearance of aircraft ammunition are being clarified, Baza wrote. The discovered FABs are being prepared to be destroyed. According to sources, there were no casualties. There was no need to evacuate residents. These incidents, however, are not new. Last year, we reported that a Russian Su-34 Fullback strike fighter accidentally dropped a bomb or other type of offensive weapon on Belgorod. @GirkinGirkin releases post from a Russian source that states multiple FABs have been found within Belgorod, Russia, where they apparently dropped prematurely. These premature ejections are often reported as Ukrainian strikes. Translation:BazaFive aviation munitions of https://t.co/cWV01l7k8l OSINT Aggregator (@AggregateOsint) July 1, 2024 A civilian was killed and 10 others were injured in Kharkiv on Sunday when Russian forces struck a post office, the head of that regions administration said on Telegram. Today in Kharkiv there is another hit by a Russian-guided air bomb, Oleh Syniehubov wrote. The postal terminal was hit, a normal civilian object. We are now aware of 10 wounded. Everyone is given the necessary help. One person, unfortunately, died. was killed. Russia has been shelling that northeastern corridor relentlessly in recent months, trying to create what the Kremlin is calling a buffer zone between Kharkiv and the oft-targeted Russian city of Belgorod, the Kyiv Post reported. Meanwhile, in the nations capital, a tall building in the Obolonskyi district was destroyed by falling missile debris, causing a fire to break out, the publication reported. Six were injured in the attack, including a child. Strikes on #Kharkiv post office and Kyiv high-rise kill one, injure dozens; #KanyeWest makes #Moscow visit; #UK warns of #Kremlin elections meddling; #AFU tightens grip on #Vovchansk plant.https://t.co/4GeRYyqoNJ KyivPost (@KyivPost) July 1, 2024 During the protracted debate over whether the U.S. should send Ukraine M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, one of the biggest concerns raised was whether they could be maintained properly. The official Ukrainian United24 media outlet recently published a video showing how mechanics were able to swap an old engine for a new one. The five-minute video also highlighted how Ukrainian tank crews, on their own initiative, added M-19 Abrams Reactive Armor Tiles (ARAT) to Abrams turrets. Thats because the standard armor of the turret proved to be not enough for the modern battlefield, one Ukrainian tanker said. Ukraine has lost at least a third of the 31 Abrams delivered by the U.S., according to the Oryx open-source tracking group. Of those, at least three were destroyed, one damaged and six damaged and abandoned, the most recent on June 11. Those figures could be higher because Oryx only tracks losses for which it has visual confirmation. Russian troops were recently seen riding aboard a cope cage-covered T-72B3M tank. While cope cages might offer extremely limited protection against drones, they offer nothing in the way of solace from the bumpy, noisey ride. View from a Russian T-72B3M turtle tank https://t.co/59pP5OThqN pic.twitter.com/EnqOvzaCo9 Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 30, 2024 A so-called cope cage didnt help the crew of this Russian Bm-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) from a Ukrainian First-Person View (FPV) drone chasing it. The FPV in this video approached the Grad. The video then cut to another drone view of the resulting catastrophic explosion. Zaporizhia Oblast, a Ukrainian FPV drone chases down a cope-cage equipped, fully loaded Russian Bm-21 Grad, hitting the Russian MRL and causing a catastrophic ammunition detonation. pic.twitter.com/hYNjubOHs8 OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 30, 2024 Russian All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) seen in the following video compilation were easy prey for the FPV drones. A beautiful selection of footage of the work of Ukrainian FPV drone pilots: the destruction of Orcs ATVs vehicles at full speed and the liquidation of their drivers and passengers in the Donetsk region. pic.twitter.com/A3qiHLdx6N Getty (@gettylegion) July 1, 2024 This Russian soldier didnt fare much better when Ukrainian forces dropped an FPV on his lap. Ukrainian drone drops a large explosive right into a Russian soldiers lap. pic.twitter.com/NnkzO2P0u1 Clash Report (@clashreport) July 1, 2024 After their boat was damaged in the Dnipro River, these Russian soldiers tried to swim to safety, but were targeted by Ukrainian drone-dropped munitions. It looks like one soldier was at least badly injured but it is unclear what happened to the others. Russina invaders swimming in DniproTips for a Safe and Enjoyable SwimStay Hydrated: Remember to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your swim to prevent dehydration.Apply Sunscreen: Protect your skin from harmful UV rays by applying a waterproof sunscreen pic.twitter.com/LPxNPoU48x Slava (@Heroiam_Slava) July 1, 2024 A pair of Russian soldiers tried unsuccessfully to hide from a Ukrainian FPV drone in the rubble of a destroyed building. They were unable to avoid being hit. Warning, the following video that shows the attack is extremely graphic. STRIKE DRONES COMPANY serves strong coffee to the occupiers pic.twitter.com/50moPVlMQN TOGA (@TOGAjano21) June 29, 2024 It takes training to learn how to fly FPV drones like the ones seen in umpteen social media posts. Here, Russian troops are seen learning how to fly them. Operators of FPV drones of the Airborne Forces undergo training before performing combat missions in a special operation zoneParatroopers improve their skills in conducting reconnaissance, adjusting artillery fire, and recording the moments when targets are hit when the enemy pic.twitter.com/1ifVLT8JPb Black Diamond (@blackdiammon) June 29, 2024 With so many wounded, Russia is using what it can for battlefield casualty evacuation. The ride in this wagon being pulled along a bumpy road does not look comfortable. Evacuation of wounded RussiansEven pigs get a better treatment pic.twitter.com/6cEpM2GxvK PS01 (@PStyle0ne1) June 28, 2024 Special Operations Forces (SOF) from the Ukrainian Special Services (SBU) have released video claiming to show drone strikes on several Russian air defense systems. The targets included four Tor-M2 anti-aircraft systems, three Pantsir-S1 systems and one Buk, SBU claimed. Video of loitering munition and possible FPV strikes on Russian Tor-M2, Pantsir-S1, and a Buk air defense transloader by Ukrainian SBU. https://t.co/TNU3O1xtlQ pic.twitter.com/my9A9ioc9S Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 29, 2024 Images of an apparent Ukrainian jet drone found somewhere in Russia were posted by the Ukrainian Informant Telegram channel. The drone reportedly had a 20 kilogram (about 44 pound) warhead. Debris of an unknown Ukrainian jet drone found somewhere by Russians. As said the warhead is 20kg. https://t.co/8SUT2ulCaZ pic.twitter.com/pKqmQzxvc2 Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 27, 2024 With drones an ever-present menace, Russia has created what is dubbed the ZVeraBoy buggy, according to the official Russian TASS news agency. It is an attempt to create a mobile very low-end anti-aircraft system to protect against fast, highly maneuverable drones. The buggy is equipped with two machine guns mounted on the front, six shotguns on a rack in the rear and six launch tubes around the vehicles perimeter that shoot out wooden spikes. pic.twitter.com/4ojo3rpq7H Andrei_bt (@AndreiBtvt) July 1, 2024 A Russian Iskander missile reportedly struck a Ukrainian S-300 air defense system in Odesa region. According to the Russian The_Wrong_Side Telegram channel, an S-300s 30N6 illumination and guidance radar and combat control cabin were destroyed. Russian Iskander missile strike on Ukrainian S-300 air defense system in Odesa region.S-300's 30N6 illumination and guidance radar & combat control cabin were destroyed pic.twitter.com/jHtbngCIqM Clash Report (@clashreport) June 29, 2024 If you ever wanted to see how Russia builds out its dugouts, check out the video below. As you can see, this one contains a lot of comforts of home, including a kitchen, cabinets, seating and a large-screen television. Construction of a Russian dugout pic.twitter.com/asV3Y4pSDm GoClips (@GoreClipps) June 30, 2024 Not all of Russias underground facilities are as nicely appointed. Underground positions of the Russian military somewhere near the frontline in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/dfPjwdTXC7 Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) June 30, 2024 Russia seems to be protecting these dugouts with wooden pyramids topped with a cross. The significance, beyond religious, if any, is not entirely clear. Ecclesiastical electronic warfare. The Russians are protecting their dugouts against FPVs with wooden pyramids topped with a cross. pic.twitter.com/dgNS6EZJmV Roy (@GrandpaRoy2) June 28, 2024 During this war both sides fly low to avoid air defenses, but this helicopter ventured so low that it literally flew by an oncoming truck, nearly cockpit to cab. surprise surprise on the highway pic.twitter.com/D4uRMWMWoC Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 30, 2024 Thats it for now. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

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Ukraine says it thwarted a plot to overthrow the government

Ukraine has foiled an alleged plot to overthrow the government that would have played into Russias hands, security officials in the war-torn country said Monday.

In a Telegram post, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed the plot organizers planned to trigger a riot in Kyiv on June 30 as a distraction to seize control of the Ukrainian parliament and remove the military and political leadership from power.

It is unclear how viable the planned plot was, or if those accused have any connection with Russia, which has waged a devastating full-scale invasion against its southwestern neighbor for nearly two and a half years.

Four suspects have been identified, with two held in custody, the SBU said. They face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. The SBU said it seized weapons and ammunition, as well as cellphones, computers and other records with evidence of criminal action.

The office of Ukraines prosecutor general said the alleged leader of the plot is a head of a non-governmental entity, who already had the experience of participating in fruitless provocative events.

The suspect rented a hall with a capacity of 2,000 people and was looking to recruit military personnel and armed guards from private companies to carry out the seizure of parliament, the prosecutors office said. It is unclear if authorities are seeking any more suspects.

To implement the criminal plan, the main organizer involved several accomplicesrepresentatives of the community organizations from Kyiv, Dnipro, and other regions, the SBU said.

The alleged scheme in Kyiv comes as Russia has made slow but steady battlefield gains in recent months, exploiting Ukraines diminishing manpower and reliance on the West for weapons  and uncertainty over the future of that military aid.

Russian forces killed seven people, including three children, in a missile strike on the southern town of Vilniansk Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to appeal for more long-range weapons.

I am grateful to all partners who are helping. And the decisions we need must be accelerated. Any delay in decisions in this war means losing human lives, Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

Concerns have grown over the future of US military support for Ukraine with the potential for another Donald Trump presidency on the horizon.

During last weeks presidential debate, Trump questioned whether the United States should continue to fund Ukraines fight against Russia.

Trumps comments on the war in Ukraine were worrying, Ukrainian politician Oleksiy Goncharenko told CNN.

CNNs Maria Kostenko and Alex Stambaugh contributed to this report.

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Ukraine to be told it is too corrupt to join Nato

Volodymyr Zelensky has his sights set on Nato membership after the war - Sean Gallup/Getty

Ukraine will be told it is currently too corrupt to join Nato, in a major blow to Volodymyr Zelensky.

The alliance will request additional steps from Kyiv before membership talks progress, a senior official in the US State Department said.

The position will be set out in writing in the Nato communique to be signed at the alliances annual summit on July 9.

We have to step back and applaud everything that Ukraine has done in the name of reforms over the last two-plus years, the official told The Telegraph.

As they continue to make those reforms, we want to commend them, we want to talk about additional steps that need to be taken, particularly in the area of anti-corruption. It is a priority for many of us around the table, the source added.

Mr Zelensky, Ukraines president, is pushing for swift Nato membership after the war ends to protect from future invasion. It would compel the US and Europe to come to the defence of Kyiv in the event of any Russian attack.

But corruption has been a sticking point in recent talks between Nato member states over whether to offer Ukraine a concrete timetable for joining the Western military alliance.

The Telegraph recently revealed that the US is blocking British and European efforts to put in writing an irreversible path towards Nato membership for Ukraine.

Ukraine has suffered from corruption, particularly in its armed forces, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Mr Zelensky has sacked military chiefs as part of an effort to curb the problem, especially in the area of defence procurement.

Joe Biden raised significant corruption in an interview with Time magazine this year, during which he ruled out supporting the Nato-isation of Ukraine.

Nato diplomats and officials have given Ukraine a list of reforms it will be expected to carry out before its membership ambitions can be realised, a US defence official said.

Thats something Nato has been doing quietly under the radar that helps them get closer to membership, the source added.

Mr Zelensky, who is attending the summit in Washington, is likely to be offered a promise of a well-lit bridge to Nato membership, a term preferred by the US.

Nato allies still disagree over whether they should upgrade the statement they made last year at their summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, to make their offer to Kyiv irreversible.

At this years meeting, allies are expected to offer further air defence systems to meet Ukraines growing needs, including US Patriots, after Washington agreed to prioritise deliveries of its flagship system to Kyiv.

Despite the lack of Nato promises, almost 20 countries have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. They will come together to celebrate those new pacts in a joint statement at the Nato summit

The summit is likely to be the first major international event for Sir Keir Starmer if he is elected as prime minister.

Writing in The Telegraph on Wednesday, Lord Cameron urged Labour to commit to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence.

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Ukraine war latest: Zelensky dismissed Orban's ceasefire proposal during his visit to Kyiv, official says

Key developments on July 2:

Orban urges Zelensky to consider ceasefire during visit to Kyiv

U.S. to announce $2.3 billion military aid package to Ukraine 'soon'

Ukraine hit ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Crimea, Air Force confirms

Active Russia-Ukraine front line has expanded, Syrskyi says

NATO plans to establish new post in Kyiv, 'Trump-proof' Ukraine aid, WSJ reports

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv on July 2 and urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire in order to "speed up peace talks."

"I asked the president to think about whether we could reverse the order, and speed up peace talks with making a ceasefire first," Orban said in a statement to reporters after the two leaders met.

"A ceasefire connected to a deadline would give a chance to speed up peace talks. I explored this possibility with the president and I am grateful for his honest answers and negotiations."

While praising Ukraine's peace initiatives, Orban said that they take "too long."

Zelensky dismissed Orban's proposal, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva said.

"The President of Ukraine listened to him, but in response, he stated Ukraine's position  clear, understandable, and well-known," Zhovkva added.

Kyiv previously rejected a temporary break to hostilities, saying it would only provide a window of opportunity for Russia to regroup its forces.

Instead, Ukraine organized a global peace summit in Switzerland in June without Russia's participation to consider possible steps toward peace.

Orban and Zelensky also addressed long-standing issues between the two countries and steps toward improving relations.

Orban's first visit to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion comes as Hungary takes over the European Union's rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

This has sparked controversy, with some European officials calling on European Council President Charles Michel to suspend Hungary's presidency.

Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister (L), and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's president, shake hands at a news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 2, 2024. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Budapest has repeatedly opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO and the EU, sanctions on Russia, undermined Western aid efforts for Ukraine, and maintained close relations with Moscow throughout the full-scale war.

This has led to deteriorating relations between Ukraine and Hungary, which had already been strained before 2022.

Following their bilateral talks, Zelensky and Orban told journalists that their meeting was an important step toward solving long-standing problems between the two countries.

"The content of our talks today can become the basis for a future bilateral agreement between our states, which will regulate our relations," Zelensky said, as reported by European Pravda.

"We want to establish relations between our countries and to sign a cooperation agreement with Ukraine similar to those Hungary has already signed with other neighbors," Orban noted.

The Hungarian prime minister also offered support for modernizing Ukraine and praised progress in resolving the issues of the Hungarian minority in the country

Orban and Zelensky also agreed to open the first school for Ukrainian-speaking children in Hungary.

The previous day, unnamed sources in Budapest told the Guardian that the visit was confirmed after negotiations on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority living in Ukraine.

Read also: Stoltenberg: Hungary wont join NATO initiatives for Ukraine but wont block them either

US to announce $2.3 billion military aid package to Ukraine 'soon'

Washington is preparing to announce "soon" a military aid package for Ukraine worth more than $2.3 billion, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on July 2, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Austin made the announcement during a meeting with Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Washington.

The Pentagon chief said that the package will include air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons "and other critical munitions from U.S. stockpiles," VOA reported.

According to late June reports, the U.S. was preparing to announce new assistance for Kyiv worth about $150 million. The new package could include HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) rockets, anti-armor weaponry, small arms and grenades, as well as 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells, as well as HAWK air defense interceptors, several media outlets reported, citing their unnamed sources.

President Volodymyr Zelensky tasked Umerov to "receive specific dates for the delivery of additional Patriot systems" that Ukraine has agreed on with its partners, he said in his evening address on July 2.

Washington announced in June it had deprioritized the near-term planned deliveries of foreign military sales to other countries, particularly Patriot and NASAMS missiles, to supply them to Ukraine first.

In April, the U.S. Senate passed a long-awaited aid package, which included $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

The Pentagon announced on April 26 that it was ready to move forward with sending $1 billion worth of weapons to Kyiv from U.S. stockpiles. The U.S. subsequently sent three other aid packages in the following months, authorizing a $400 million defense aid package, followed by $275 million and $225 million aid packages.

Over the winter months, Ukraine suffered a critical shortage of artillery shells, in large part due to delays in U.S. military aid. Russia has taken advantage of this, taking the city of Avdiivka in February.

Read also: Warsaw, Berlin agree to boost defense cooperation, coordination on Ukraine aid

Ukraine hit ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Crimea, Air Force confirms

The Ukrainian Air Force struck an ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Crimea on July 1, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported on July 2.

"Once again, Ukrainian aircraft 'destroyed' by enemy propaganda continue to successfully perform combat missions, launch missile and bomb attacks on occupied positions, and eliminate important military facilities in the enemy's deep rear," Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram.

Oleshchuk's statement comes after news about explosions on July 1 in Balaklava, a municipal district of the city of Sevastopol.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian proxy leader in Sevastopol, claimed that air defenses were operating in the city.

Razvozhayev claimed that according to the preliminary data, five air targets were destroyed near Balaklava, "but the wreckage fell in the coastal zone." No casualties were reported.

Telegram channel Crimean Wind shared a photo reportedly taken by locals showing a tall column of smoke rising above Balaklava, presumably near a local thermal power plant.

Explosions were also reported in the area of Cape Fiolent, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Krym Realii project reported.

Oleshchuk did not specify which settlement the ammunition depot was hit in.

Ukraine has carried out multiple successful attacks against Russian targets in occupied Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Ukrainian forces struck around 15 air defense systems in Russian-occupied Crimea over the past two months, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications (Stratcom) reported on June 17.

Read also: As Russian tank losses in Ukraine continue to mount, heres what you need to know

Active Russia-Ukraine front line has expanded, Syrskyi says

The active Russia-Ukraine front line has recently expanded as intense fighting continues in the areas of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, Ukraine's Chief Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 2.

He added that the intensity of fighting in other segments of the front line has recently decreased.

The Toretsk sector in Donetsk Oblast has become another hotspot in recent weeks, the general said. Fierce fighting of different intensity is also ongoing in the Kurakhove, Vremivka, Kramatorsk and Kharkiv sectors, according to Syrskyi.

Moscow's troops have increased their attacks near the town of Toretsk in June after a "long lull" in fighting in the area. Russia carried out 17 attacks in this direction, Ukraine's General staff said in its latest update on July 2.

The situation in the Pokrovsk sector is difficult, according to Syrskyi. Russia wants to break through Ukraine's defenses and has rotated strike units, removing the units "whose assault forces have completely lost their combat capability," Syrskyi said.

"Despite the reinforcement of our units with reserves, this area requires constant attention and additional ammunition and firepower," he added.

The key problem for Ukrainian commanders are "manning units with motivated, well-trained military," Syrskyi said, as well as providing soldiers with modern electronic warfare and air defense equipment capable of effectively countering Russian drones.

"We have an advantage in the number and quality of combat copters, primarily bombers and FPV drones, and the skill of the operators who use them. This is the key to our success and the safety of our soldiers," Syrskyi said.

Read also: Ukraines defense of Kharkiv unconditional success, says ex-Polish defense minister

NATO plans to establish new post in Kyiv, 'Trump-proof' Ukraine aid, WSJ reports

NATO plans to establish a senior representative post in Kyiv, as well as a new command in Germany to coordinate assistance for Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on July 1, citing U.S. and allied officials.

This is part of the alliance's effort to safeguard long-term aid for Ukraine should Donald Trump return to the White House after the U.S. presidential election later this year, the outlet wrote.

Ex-President Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, has repeatedly criticized NATO and assistance for Kyiv.

The new measures, which are expected to be announced at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, will involve the new command center in Germany's Wiesbaden coordinating the flow of military equipment and the training of Ukrainian soldiers, the WSJ wrote.

The steps should help better coordinate the assistance and bring the Ukrainian military closer to NATO standards.

Allied leaders previously said that the July 9-11 Washington summit would contain "new language" on Ukraine's NATO prospects and focus on a roadmap toward its eventual membership.

Ukraine also hopes to secure "guaranteed" military funding commitment from NATO allies. While no decision has been reached so far, outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg proposed to provide Ukraine with at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military support each year "for as long as necessary."

Read also: Russia starts to chair UN Security Council in July, Ukraine not on agenda

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Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief comments on Ukraine's use of drones and tactical medicine after frontline work trip

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has said that he will hold a meeting with commanders of drone units to discuss the work of the Ukrainian defence forces in the country's east. The goal of the meeting is for drone unit commanders to share experience with one another and discuss the prospects of using drones in warfare.

Source: Oleksandr Syrskyi on Facebook

Quote: "I have spent the past week on the eastern front. I visited nearly every brigade deployed on the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Vremivka, Toretsk, and Kramatorsk fronts, as well as those taking part in the defence of Vovchansk near Kharkiv.

First and foremost, I would like to thank all those soldiers, sergeants, and officers who are bearing the brunt of fighting.

Fierce fighting of varying degrees of intensity continues all over the front line. Compared to my previous work trip two weeks ago, the Toretsk front is now particularly active; there, soldiers from the 95th [Airborne] Assault Brigade are heroically inflicting losses on the enemy forces."

Details: Syrskyi said that the situation on the Pokrovsk front remains difficult, with the Russian army replacing the assault units that have lost their combat capability and continuing to carry out offensive operations.

Despite significant losses of armoured vehicles, Russian forces are continuing to actively deploy them, as well as artillery and FPV drones, to attack Ukrainian forces.

According to Syrskyi, even though reserve units have been deployed to this front to support the Ukrainian armed forces fighting there, the area requires constant attention, additional ammunition and firepower.

Meanwhile, the intensity of fighting has diminished on other fronts, even though the front line now stretches over a larger area.

Syrskyi further added that the main problem currently faced by Ukrainian commanders is manning units with trained and motivated military personnel.

Ensuring that all units have access to electronic warfare and air defence equipment that can effectively combat Russian drones is another key issue the Ukrainian forces are facing.

Ukrainian forces have an advantage in the number and quality of combat copters, primarily bomber drones and FPV drones, and in the skill of their operators.

Syrskyi also said that upon his return to Kyiv, he will begin implementing proposals to improve the tactical medicine system and integrating it with the Medical Forces.

Another important area of change is adapting the basic training programme for Ukrainian soldiers in light of drones domination on the battlefield.

A meeting with drone unit commanders is planned, where they will be able to share their experience of using drones with each other and consider ways to further develop this promising weapon.

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Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, has visited the Liut (Fury) Assault Brigade of Ukraine's National Police, which continues to repel fierce Russian assaults and constant attempts to capture Ukrainian cities in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: the Liut Brigades press office; the National Police of Ukraine

Details: During the visit, Brigade Commander Oleksandr Netrebko reported on the success of the Liut fighters and Russian operations in specific sectors of the front. Deputy Commander Maksym Kazban briefed him on the operational situation within the brigade's areas of responsibility.

Additionally, the head and brigade commander awarded the soldiers of the Liut Brigade with state and departmental honours.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by  '      (@liut.npu)

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Russia's offensive in Kharkiv Oblast has failed and is an "unconditional success of the Ukrainian army," former Polish Defense Minister Janusz Onyszkiewicz said on July 2.

In an interview with Ukrinform, Onyszkiewicz said it raised hopes that Moscow's forces would not launch another offensive in northern Ukraine, including an attack from the territory of Belarus.

Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in Kharkiv Oblast, where it managed to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) before Ukraine halted the advance at the first line of defense.

During a single month of the offensive in the northeastern oblast, Russian forces suffered around 4,000 troops killed or injured, according to the Ukrainian military.

According to the crowd-sourced DeepState monitoring service, Russia still controls a handful of villages on two separate axes in Kharkiv Oblast, one near the Lyptsi village and the other near the embattled town of Vovchansk.

Onyszkiewicz said if Russia did launch another offensive then the issue of allowing Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russian and even Belarusian territory than current restrictions permit, would have to be raised.

The U.S. gave Ukraine permission on June 1 to use American-supplied weapons, including HIMARS rockets, to strike targets in Russia located near the border with Kharkiv Oblast.

U.S. officials later clarified that Ukrainian troops may use U.S. weapons to strike targets within Russia wherever Russian forces launch cross-border assaults on Ukrainian territory, not just near the Kharkiv Oblast border.

Ukraine is still prohibited from using ATACMS and other long-range U.S.-supplied weapons for strikes deeper inside Russia.

"I think that this limit of 100 kilometers will soon be expanded because from an operational point of view, 100 kilometers is not enough," Onyszkiewicz said.

"Because it allows the Russian army to take certain actions in strategic depth."

"Therefore, this zone should be covered with the possibility of launching missile strikes up to 300 kilometers deep."

He echoed views expressed a day earlier in Kyiv by Mike Turner, chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a Republican congressman from Ohio, who said Ukraine should be allowed to strike "valid military targets" in Russia.

Visiting Kyiv as part of a bipartisan delegation of U.S. members of Congress, Turner said his position on Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory was "broader than the (Biden) administration's."

Read also: With all eyes on Kharkiv, Russian troops take one Donbas village after another

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Ukraine's first F-16s from the Netherlands will arrive 'soon,' defense minister says, with export licenses now issued

Ukraine's first F-16s from the Netherlands will arrive 'soon,' defense minister says, with export licenses now issued

The Netherlands said the first F-16s it's giving to Ukraine are due to arrive in the country "soon."

Denmark also said the F-16s it's giving to Ukraine are due to arrive this summer.

Military experts say the jets will aid Ukraine's fight against Russia but won't be a total game changer.

The first F-16s that Ukraine is to receive from the Netherlands are due to arrive "soon," according to the Dutch defense minister, who said that export licenses for the fighter jets had now been issued.

Kajsa Ollongren said on Monday that the delivery of the "first aircraft will proceed soon," Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported, according to a translation by the Kyiv Independent.

She did not say exactly when they would arrive, or give any other details about their delivery, stating that there were "operational security" concerns.

Denmark, another Ukrainian ally that is providing it with F-16s, has said that its first jets are due to arrive in Ukraine this summer.

It's unclear which of the jets will arrive first.

Ukraine has been promised an estimated 85 jets from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium. This includes 24 from the Netherlands.

Military experts say they expect the aircraft to be a boost for Ukraine, though not a total game changer in its fightback against Russia's invasion.

Multiple experts previously told Business Insider that they expect the jets to boost Ukraine's air defenses by shooting down Russian drones and missiles, replenish the Ukrainian aircraft already lost to Russia, and deter Russian jets.

They said the jets could also do some limited raids close to the front lines or even into Russian territory to hit high-value targets, but that they expect such events to be limited as it would put the F-16s in extreme danger.

However, some said that not enough jets had been promised to Ukraine to make a major difference, particularly during this summer when only a proportion of the ones promised are likely to arrive.

Some experts also said that Ukraine's allies should have pledged the jets earlier, as it would have meant that areas like training and integrating the aircraft into Ukraine's military would have been solved earlier.

"If the West donated F-16s a year earlier, then most of these problems would be solved by now," Michael Clarke, a Russia and Ukraine expert and a British national security advisor, told BI.

"But as usual, we left it until the last possible moment when it would make a difference and then expected the Ukrainians to work miracles with them, which is not going to happen," he added.

Ukraine has been asking for F-16s since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, but the US only dropped its opposition to allies sending the US-made planes in May 2023.

Experts previously told BI that Ukraine also had not been promised enough.

Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and a defense-strategy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told BI that it's unfair to expect Ukraine to make any breakthroughs with the jets unless it gets many more.

He said the US has major dominance in the air because it employs "hundreds of aircraft with extensive support systems on the ground," and expecting Ukraine to be similarly dominant would not be fair.

Even so, he said: "Whenever they arrive, that's a good time for Ukraine."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his UK counterpart, David Cameron, have discussed a number of defence-related topics.

Source: Kuleba on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kuleba said the two ministers had discussed the continued implementation of Ukraines Peace Formula, preparations for the July NATO summit in Washington, and weapon deliveries to Ukraine.

Kuleba expressed gratitude to his British counterpart for his support, joint efforts and achievements.

Quote: "We both believe that the Ukrainian-UK partnership is on a roll and will only grow stronger."

Earlier, the media reported that discussions continue among members of the North Atlantic Alliance on how strong the wording of the decision at NATOs Washington summit on Ukraine's future membership should be.

CNN sources report that the US and Germany propose to include wording about Ukraine having a "bridge" to NATO membership in the Summits decision  similar wording was included in the recently signed US-Ukrainian security agreement.

Meanwhile, the UK and some Central and Eastern European countries are backing the wording used by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about Ukraines "irreversible path" to the Alliance.

Earlier, Julianne Smith, US ambassador to NATO, stated that important changes in the wording regarding Ukraine's membership prospects would be made at the upcoming meeting of NATO leaders in Washington.

The Ukrainian government hopes that the summits decision will contain a specific position on the irreversibility of Ukraines membership.

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Ukrainian border guards are killing the Russians using artillery with sniper-like accuracy in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: press service for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Quote: "Border guards are firing using artillery at the Russian occupiers on the Bakhmut front. It hit a window and more."

Details: "Two 105-calibre artillery pieces. There were days when we fired 90 shots a day. And they worked very, very well. Roughly speaking, it was like a big artillery sniper," one of the soldiers says in the video.

The Russians losses are being confirmed.

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GABORONE, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Botswana plans to construct 750 small-scale biogas digesters nationwide by 2026, aiming to make a substantial contribution to reducing the carbon footprint in the energy sector, an official announced Tuesday.

"This development is a demonstration that Botswana is in full support of global transition to clean energy," said Lefoko Moagi, Botswana's minister of Minerals and Energy, when addressing councilors during a full council session in Francistown, the southern African country's second-largest city.

In November 2019, Botswana joined hands with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to launch a comprehensive biogas program. The primary use of biogas includes cooking, heating, and lighting purposes.

According to Moagi, with Botswana having developed capacity for biogas investment and enhanced agro-waste management and regulations, the country aims to train 200 biogas builders by leveraging existing expertise.

Botswana, which still relies on fossil fuel for energy production, has set ambitious targets to increase the contribution of renewable energy to 30 percent by 2030 as well as reducing carbon emissions to 15 percent by the same year, Moagi said.

By setting such an ambitious target, Moagi said Botswana fully understands its responsibility to safeguard the planet for future generations, which underscores the country's dedication to being part of the global green energy solutions. 
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov will visit Washington and meet with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin.

Source: Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Singh said at a briefing on 1 July that Umierov would arrive at the Pentagon the following day and meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

"Secretary Austin and Minister Umierov will discuss the bilateral defence cooperation, regional security issues and ways to strengthen the defence partnership between the United States and Ukraine," Singh said.

Prior to that, Umierov met with Austin in Brussels at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as Ramstein-format meetings).

Background:

On 13 June, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement aimed at strengthening Kyiv's defence capabilities.

The President's Office stated that the legal mechanism in the agreement differs from all previous documents signed by Ukraine with partner countries, and the agreement will be legally binding.

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Stanislav Aseyev, Ukrainian writer and journalist, winner of the Taras Shevchenko Prize, former captive of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republics forces, has been injured in the combat zone once again. Two months ago he was injured near the settlement of Ocheretyne.

Aseyev reported about his injury on social media and shared photos from the hospital.

"A miracle happened to me again. This piece of shrapnel entered my neck, missed the artery, and got stuck in soft tissue. And a fragment that got into my chest did not penetrate the lung. Another one was pulled out of my ear," he wrote.

Stanislav Aseyev was injured again.

Photo: @AseyevStanislav on Twitter

Aseyev also showed a photo of the projectile fragment and his blood-stained military uniform.

"Just need to update my wardrobe," he added.

Photo: @AseyevStanislav on Twitter

Stanislav Aseyev is a Ukrainian writer, journalist, and member of the PEN Ukraine organisation. He worked as a journalist in the occupied city of Donetsk under the pseudonym Stanislav Vasin, wrote for Radio Liberty and Ukrainskyi Tyzhden.

On 11 May 2017 he was kidnapped by the so-called DPR forces who accused him of "spying" and illegally held him until 29 December 2019. He was then liberated during a prisoners of war swap.

Aseyev has written poetry, the autobiographical novel The Melchior Elephant, or A Man Who Thought, and The Underhill Witches, a play. He was awarded the Shevchenko National Prize, Ukraines highest award for culture and the arts, for the book In Isolation in 2021, and in 2022 he claimed the prize again with The Torture Camp on Paradise Street.

In 2022 he created the Justice Initiative Fund which collects information about Russian war criminals. In March 2024 he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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Ukrainian optimism about war clashes with European skepticism in new poll

A new public opinion survey has revealed a widening gulf between Ukrainian hopes of a battlefield victory against Russia and European resignation that the war will only end with a negotiated settlement.

Conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the poll found that while support for Ukraine and a willingness to provide arms to Kyiv remain high, the differing views could have profound political effects in the coming months and years.

"The findings are superficially reassuring," the report reads, adding, "Support for the war has stayed steady in the European countries surveyed  and morale is strong in Ukraine."

"Yet just below the surface, the poll identifies a profound chasm between European and Ukrainian opinion about how the war will end  and about the purpose of Europes support.

"In short, Ukrainians want weapons in order to win, while most Europeans send weapons hoping this will help lead to an acceptable eventual settlement."

Despite Russia only making small grinding gains in eastern Ukraine, and a thwarted Kremlin offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, any kind of negotiated settlement is still some way off.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 14 said Moscow would only cease fire and enter peace talks if Ukraine withdraws from the four Ukrainian regions claimed  but not fully controlled  by the Kremlin.

The demands also included the recognition of Crimea and Sevastopol as "subjects of the Russian Federation."

The terms were immediately rejected by Kyiv which insists a full withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian territory is necessary for peace negotiations to begin.

Most recently, on July 2 President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to consider a ceasefire in order to "speed up peace talks."

The ECFR poll, titled "The meaning of sovereignty: Ukrainian and European views of Russias war on Ukraine," surveyed respondents in 15 countries  Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Across Europe, publics are skeptical about Ukraine's ability to win the war, and in every country surveyed except for Estonia, a majority believe it will only end with a negotiated settlement.

(European Council on Foreign Relations)

Even when asked to imagine a scenario in which the supply of weapons to Ukraine dramatically increases, a settlement is still seen as the most likely outcome in 11 out of the 15 countries surveyed.

Despite this, across Europe, there is strong support for increasing Western weapons supplies to Kyiv, particularly in Sweden, Poland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal.

But in Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy, a majority of respondents think it is a "bad idea."

A majority of Ukrainians continue to believe they can win the war against Russia, with just 1% saying it will end with a victory for the Kremlin.

Ukrainians have high confidence in the reliability of their Western allies, with the UK coming out on top of those who think it has been "very" or "mostly" reliable.

(European Council on Foreign Relations)

While there is broad support for sending weapons among Europeans, the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine is opposed by a majority in every country surveyed, even those most hawkish about the war.

(European Council on Foreign Relations)

The wide-ranging survey also found:

A majority of Ukrainians (64%) believe joining NATO and joining the EU are equally important.

47% of Ukrainians are concerned the U.S. could negotiate a peace deal with Russia without involving Kyiv.

71% of Ukrainians think Ukraine should either "definitely" or "probably" not give up territory in exchange for NATO membership.

"Our new polling suggests that one of the key challenges for Western leaders will be reconciling the conflicting positions between Europeans and Ukrainians on how the war will end," co-author and founding director of the ECFR, Mark Leonard, said.

"While both groups recognize the need for continued military provision, to help Ukraine push back at Russian aggression, there is a profound gulf around what constitutes a victory  and what the purpose of Europes support actually is.

"While Europeans predominantly see a negotiated settlement as the most likely outcome, Ukrainians are not yet ready to countenance territorial trade-offs for NATO accession, nor engage with the idea of Finlandization, in which they would keep their territory but forgo their EU and NATO ambitions.

The full report can be read here.

Read also: Less than half of Ukrainians say society is united, survey finds

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Stanislav Aseyev, a Ukrainian writer, journalist, and activist who has joined Ukraine's Armed Forces, suffered shrapnel wounds to his neck, chest, and ear, he said on July 2.

This is Aseyev's second injury in recent months. In May, he suffered a concussion in combat in Donetsk Oblast.

"A miracle happened to me again. This piece of shrapnel entered my neck, missed the artery, and got stuck in soft tissue," Aseyev wrote on X.

"And a fragment that got into my chest did not penetrate the lung. Another one was pulled out of my ear," the writer-turned-soldier said, adding that he was doing "fine."

Aseyev did not provide further details on how he suffered the injury.

Aseyev, a 34-year-old native of Donetsk, remained in his home city after it was occupied by Russia in 2014 and continued reporting on the situation in occupied territories for Ukrainian media.

The writer was abducted by Russian proxies in 2017 and jailed in the infamous Izolyatsia torture prison in Donetsk. He was released in December 2019 in a prisoner exchange. During the full-scale war, Aseyev joined Ukraine's Armed Forces as a volunteer.

Aseyev is also a popular prose writer and received the Shevchenko Award, the country's most prestigious prize for achievements in culture and arts, in 2021.

Read also: Head of notorious Russian torture prison in occupied Donetsk sentenced to 15 years

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Umerov to meet with Austin at the Pentagon on July 2

On July 2, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon. This was announced by U.S. Department of Defense Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh during a Monday press briefing.



This visit emphasizes the constant commitment of the United States to support the sovereignty and security of Ukraine," Singh said.



The discussions will cover bilateral defense cooperation and regional security, aiming to strengthen the defense partnership between the two nations.



Fifteen House Democrats called on the U.S. Department of Defense to expand the scale and speed of training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, Politico reported on July 1, citing a letter it obtained.



The group of lawmakers, led by U.S. Congressman from California Adam Schiff, ask Pentagon support Ukraine's request and ask to train 10 more F-16 pilots this year, according to the outlet.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that U.S. aid helps give Ukraine "a chance at victory" in Russia's full-scale war.

Read also: FT: Ukraine signs first major deal with US company for LNG supplies

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
UN weather agency says Tropical Cyclone Freddy that hit eastern Africa last year was longest ever

FILE - A view of a damaged road connecting the two cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe following heavy rains caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, March 14 2023. The U.N. weather agency said Tuesday, July 2, 2024 that Tropical Cyclone Freddy, a deadly Indian Ocean storm that lashed eastern Africa last year, was confirmed to be the longest-lasting cyclone ever recorded at 36 days. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi, File)

GENEVA (AP)  The U.N. weather agency said Tuesday that Tropical Cyclone Freddy, a deadly Indian Ocean storm that lashed eastern Africa last year, was confirmed to be the longest-lasting cyclone ever recorded at 36 days.

Freddy topped the previous record held by Hurricane John, which struck Hawaii and lasted almost 30 days in the northern Pacific three decades ago, the World Meteorological Organization said as it released a study which began as Freddy waned in March last year.

It was also the second-longest in terms of distance traveled, at some 12,785 kilometers (7,945 miles)  while John was more than 13,000 kilometers, the agency said.

In the wake of Freddy, which pounded eastern Africa in two phases, more than 1,200 were reported dead or missing in Malawi while more than 180 people died in Mozambique, the WMO said.

It didnt make just one landfall, which is what we normally see with a tropical cyclone," said Clare Nullis, a WMO spokeswoman. "It had multiple landfalls in what very are vulnerable countries: Mozambique, Madagascar, it also had big impacts in Malawi, other southern African countries.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Officers broke up an underground rave at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park just after midnight on Monday, San Diego police confirmed  the second such party dispersed at the site in less than a week.

Three officers and a sergeant first responded to the party shortly after midnight in the area of Ladera Street and Cornish Drive, Lt. Dan Meyer said in an emailed statement on the incident. An unknown number of partygoers were at rave when police arrived on scene.

Meyer said he was not aware of any citations that were issued as a result of the party, and was unsure whether any damage or trash was left behind.

Two stabbed by group of teenagers in Pacific Beach: SDPD

Meyer said it was the second underground rave that has taken over the spot over the last few weeks, the last being on Sunday, June 23. According to Meyer, officers from SDPDs Beach Team were the ones who stopped that party from happening.

There have been past raves at the location throughout the years, he continued in the emailed statement. Western Division is aware these parties are becoming more of a problem recently and are attempting to address the issue.

No additional information was immediately available about the incident.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
FILE - Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker speaks at at Philadelphia International Airport, Feb. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. A union that represents thousands of Philadelphia city employees has asked a judge to block Parker's mandate that they must return to working full-time in their offices as of Monday, July 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

A union that represents thousands of Philadelphia city employees asked a judge Tuesday to block Mayor Cherelle Parkers requirement that they return to their offices full time as of July 15.

The lawsuit, filed by District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, claims the mandate violates its contract and will harm city workers. The union, which represents 6,000 administrative and supervisory employees, also filed an unfair-practices complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

Parker announced the mandate in May, saying she wanted to create a more visible and accessible government. The decision ended the citys virtual work policy, put in place in 2021, and essentially returns employee scheduling to what it was before the coronavirus pandemic.

About 80% of the citys 26,000 employees have been working fully on site since last year, while the rest have worked on site 31 to 75 hours per pay period, Parker said. Former Mayor Jim Kenney had left hybrid work decisions up to department heads.

The union sharply criticized the decision when it was announced, saying it was unilaterally imposed instead of going through collective bargaining. They also believe the policy will worsen the worker shortage the city has suffered since the pandemic.

They also argue that the city lacks enough office space to bring all employees back and that making the change over the summer, when children are out of school, complicates schedules for parents.

Parker, a Democrat, has said her administration does not believe the new policy is subject to collective bargaining. She also noted changes that were made to be more worker friendly, such as extending paid parental leave from six to eight weeks and designating the Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday. Officials have also said there will be relaxed restrictions on sick leave to care for family members.

Business leaders welcomed the announcement, saying it will benefit workers and the vibrancy of Philadelphias downtown.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  University of Kansas Health System and Liberty Hospital have officially merged after KU Health acquired the Northland hospital on Monday.

The two confirmed the merger back in May when leaders from each hospital had a meeting to discuss the potential partnership.

53-year-old man killed by lightning at Holden, Missouri rodeo

Leaders announced the merger had been completed Monday, July 1.

CEO of Liberty Hospital Raghu Adiga said the hospitals board of trustees and senior leaders evaluated more than 30 potential partners and that it was clear KU Health was the right partner.

We believe this relationship not only strengthens Liberty Hospital but the Liberty community and the entire Northland, Adiga said. Im more than convinced that this is the right decision and path forward for Liberty Hospital.

This is such an exciting day for us as well, President of the Health Systems Kansas City division Tammy Peterman said. While we werent proactively looking for another growth opportunity, we knew the importance of the Northland to our region and to its continued growth.

Peterman also said 35% of their patients come from Missouri. It is also KU Healths very first hospital in Missouri.

While we have several locations in Missouri, we knew eventually we would need a way to care for more patients in Missouri and the Northland to keep care close to home.

Kansas has more than 100 new laws, here are 10 you should know

KU Health said they will invest more than $300 million over the next 12 years and bring new services to Liberty.

You can see the announcement on the merger here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
TOKYO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Five kindergartners sustained minor injuries when their shuttle bus was involved in a rear-end collision with two other vehicles on Tuesday morning in the western Japanese prefecture of Shiga, local media reported.

The accident took place at about 8:50 a.m. local time in the Nagara Tunnel on National Route 161 in the city of Otsu, Japanese newspaper the Mainichi Shimbun reported, citing local authorities.

The injured children, all transported to a hospital, were able to walk on their own, with their injuries deemed minor, according to the city fire department.

Carrying a total of 18 people, including 16 children, at the time of the accident, the kindergarten shuttle bus rear-ended a passenger car, which then collided with another vehicle in front, Otsu police station reported. 
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub in Upstate New York was awarded $40 million in federal funding that will go toward making the region a semiconductor center for the world, Sen. Chuck Schumers Office announced Tuesday.

The federal investment, one of just 12 across the nation, will allow the region to build out its workforce training initiatives, strengthen existing manufacturing and innovation, and help attract new supply chains, according to a release. Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse will all be aided by the funding.

Buffalo to join Rochester, Syracuse as federal Tech Hub

This is a monumental victory for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region as the first major Tech Hub award in the nation, Schumer said in a release. Americas semiconductor future runs through the heart of Upstate NY along the I-90 corridor. From the fields near Syracuse that will become Microns massive mega-fab to the cutting-edge research labs in Rochester and workers learning these manufacturing skills in Buffalo, this award helps connect the region to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity and establish Upstate NY as the heart of Americas semiconductor industry.

The multi-region consortium beat out nearly 400 initial applications in the first phase of the Tech Hub competition, and was one of 31 that eventually received the designation, which allowed it to compete for the funding awarded Tuesday. The designation is part of the CHIPS & Science Act that Congress passed in 2022

Latest Local News

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
US to announce $2.3 billion military aid package to Ukraine 'soon'

Washington is preparing to announce "soon" a military aid package for Ukraine worth more than $2.3 billion, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on July 2, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Austin made the announcement during a meeting with Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Washington.

The Pentagon chief said that the package will include air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons "and other critical munitions from U.S. stockpiles," VOA reported.

According to late June reports, the U.S. was preparing to announce new assistance for Kyiv worth about $150 million. The new package could include HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) rockets, anti-armor weaponry, small arms and grenades, as well as 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells, as well as HAWK air defense interceptors, several media outlets reported, citing their unnamed sources.

President Volodymyr Zelensky tasked Umerov to "receive specific dates for the delivery of additional Patriot systems" that Ukraine has agreed on with its partners, he said in his evening address on July 2.

Washington announced in June it had deprioritized the near-term planned deliveries of foreign military sales to other countries, particularly Patriot and NASAMS missiles, to supply them to Ukraine first.

In April, the U.S. Senate passed a long-awaited aid package, which included $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

The Pentagon announced on April 26 that it was ready to move forward with sending $1 billion worth of weapons to Kyiv from U.S. stockpiles. The U.S. subsequently sent three other aid packages in the following months, authorizing a $400 million defense aid package, followed by $275 million and $225 million aid packages.

Over the winter months, Ukraine suffered a critical shortage of artillery shells, in large part due to delays in U.S. military aid. Russia has taken advantage of this, taking the city of Avdiivka in February.

Read also: Ukraine expects strengthened air defenses in July, Zelensky says

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US to announce new US$2.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine  Head of Pentagon

Lloyd Austin, Head of the Pentagon, stated on 2 July that the US would soon announce the allocation of supplementary military aid for Ukraine in the security sector valued at US$2.3 billion. The package will include anti-tank weapons, interceptors and ammunition for Patriot and other air defence systems.

Source: European Pravda; AP

Details: The statement about the supplementary aid was made during the meeting between Austin with Rustem Umierov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine, in the Pentagon.

"U.S. will soon announce an additional $2.3 billion in security assistance for Ukraine," Austin said at the beginning of the meeting with Umierov.

"This packagewill include anti-tank weapons, interceptors and other critical munitions" from the US stockpiles, he noted.

This statement was a decisive response to Kyivs request for aid in its fight against Russian troops.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, stated on 30 June that Russia had dropped over 800 guided bombs on the territory of Ukraine over the past week alone. He urged Western leaders to ease the limitations on using Western weapons for striking military targets in the territory of Russia. Specifically, he stated that Ukraine needed the "means necessary to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are".

At the end of June it was reported that Joe Bidens administration would supply Ukraine with interceptor missiles for the HAWK air defence systems within its new aid package valued at US$150 million.

The US has provided Ukraine with over US$50 billion of military aid since 2022.

A previous military aid package for Ukraine valued at US$225 million was announced by the US on 7 June.

Moreover, the US decided to prioritise the supply of anti-aircraft missiles for Ukraine before other states which requested it. Specifically, the missiles for Patriot and NASAMS will be provided.

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US announces more than $2 billion package for Ukraine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a $2.3 billion security assistance package for Ukraine ahead of a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Tuesday.

The package will include critical air defense interceptors and other weapons. A spokesperson for the Pentagon said more details on the package would be made available soon.

Austin met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the Pentagon on Tuesday and underscored the U.S. commitment to defending the country against a Russian invasion.

Ukraine is in a tough fight, Austin said in remarks ahead of the meeting, adding make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone.

The Pentagon chief also noted that the U.S. has signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, providing Kyiv with defense cooperation guarantees over a decade. He added that he would discuss with Umerov additional ways to strengthen the partnership.

The U.S. has announced billions of dollars of assistance to Ukraine since the last congressional package of some $60 billion was approved in April. That legislation came after months of delays, giving Russia the advantage on the battlefield before more U.S. aid began arriving on the battlefield.

Ukrainian troops are fighting across the 600-mile front against Russian forces, including in the northeastern Kharkiv region, where Moscow opened a new front in May.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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FILE PHOTO: Test tubes are seen in front of a displayed Moderna logo in this illustration

FILE PHOTO: Test tubes are seen in front of a displayed Moderna logo in this illustration

By Julie Steenhuysen and Leah Douglas

(Reuters) -The U.S. government has awarded $176 million to Moderna to advance development of its bird flu vaccine, the company said on Tuesday, as concerns rise over a multi-state outbreak of H5N1 virus in dairy cows and infections of three dairy workers since March.

Funds from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority will be used to complete late-stage development and testing of a pre-pandemic mRNA-based vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza.

U.S. officials said on a press call that late-stage testing would begin in 2025, pending results expected in the coming weeks of Moderna's phase 1 trial. The late-stage trial would likely focus on safety and immune response.

The contract includes options to accelerate the development timeline if needed, based on an increase in human cases, the severity of cases or human-to-human transmission of the virus.

It is too early to tell how many doses Moderna will be able to manufacture, said Robert Johnson, director of the medical countermeasures program at HHS, on the call.

In March, U.S. officials reported the first outbreak of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle, which has since infected more than 130 herds in 12 states.

Scientists are concerned that exposure to the virus in poultry and dairy operations could increase the risk that the virus will mutate and gain the ability to spread easily among people, touching off a pandemic.

The risk to the general public from bird flu remains low, and vaccination is not currently recommended for any segment of the population, Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said on a call with reporters.

However, "robust discussions" are occurring within government agencies about whether vaccinating farm workers would be helpful, said Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adding that no final decisions have been made.

The government expects to have more announcements on H5N1 vaccines in the near future, O'Connell said. In a previous briefing, O'Connell said her agency was also negotiating with Pfizer for an mRNA vaccine against H5N1.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use messenger RNA, the technology used in their COVID-19 vaccines.

"mRNA vaccine technology offers advantages in efficacy, speed of development and production, scalability, and reliability in addressing infectious disease outbreaks, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic," Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement.

Manufacturing of conventional flu vaccines using cell or egg-based technology can take four to six months.

U.S. officials previously announced they were moving bulk vaccine from CSL Seqirus that closely matches the current virus into finished shots that could provide 4.8 million doses if needed.

Some of those doses could be available as early as this month, O'Connell said. Those shots could potentially be used to inoculate farm workers and others at risk of exposure to the virus.

Lab experiments from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue to confirm that pasteurization inactivates the bird flu virus in dairy products, said Don Prater, director of the agency's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

The FDA is conducting ongoing tests of retail dairy products for traces of avian flu and has cautioned against consuming raw milk.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Leah Douglas in Washigton; Additional reporting by Bhanvi Satija, Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
David Pressman, US Ambassador to Hungary, has called Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans visit to Kyiv "progress".

Source: David Pressman on X (Twitter) as reported by European Pravda

Details: The diplomat noted that the United States welcomed Prime Minister Orbans trip to Kyiv to interact with the Ukrainian leadership.

"Progress," the ambassador wrote briefly on X (Twitter).

We welcome Prime Minister Orbans trip to Kyiv to engage Ukraines leadership. Progress.  Ambassador David Pressman (@USAmbHungary) July 2, 2024

Viktor Orban, whose country took over the EU presidency on 1 July, arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 2 July. He met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Background:

On the eve of the visit, Orban announced the "first steps" to promote peace in Ukraine and, on Tuesday, explained that the visit was the Hungarian presidency's attempt to address the challenges faced by the European Union.

A Hungarian government spokesperson confirmed that the most important topic of Orban's talks in Kyiv will be the possibility of creating peace.

At the end of last week, Orban and Zelenskyy crossed paths on the sidelines of the EU leaders' summit in Brussels.

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Defense Secretary Austin says the US will provide $2.3 billion more in military aid to Ukraine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, stands with Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov during an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the U.S. will soon announce an additional $2.3 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, to include anti-tank weapons, interceptors and munitions for Patriot and other air defense systems.

Austin's remarks came as Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with him at the Pentagon. And they mark a strong response to pleas from Kyiv for help in battling Russian forces in the Donetsk region.

Of that total, $150 million of the aid will come from presidential drawdown authority (PDA) and the remainder will be provided by Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). PDA allows the Pentagon to take the weapons from its stocks and send them more quickly to Ukraine; USAI puts weapons on longer-term contracts.

Make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone, and the United States will never waver in our support, Austin said as he opened the meeting with Umerov. Alongside some 50 allies and partners, well continue to provide critical capabilities that Ukraine needs to push back Russian aggression today and to deter Russian aggression tomorrow."

The announcement comes just days before the U.S. hosts the NATO summit in Washington and as Ukraine has continued to lobby for military support and acceptance into the alliance.

Well take steps to build a bridge to NATO membership for Ukraine, Austin told Umerov.

Hopefully soon Ukraine will receive its invitation, the Ukrainian minister responded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia had dropped more than 800 powerful glide bombs in Ukraine in the last week alone. And he urged national leaders to relax restrictions on the use of Western weapons to strike military targets inside Russia. In particular, he said, Ukraine needs the necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are.

Austin did not refer to the restrictions in his opening comments, but he told Umerov that they would discuss more ways to meet Ukraine's immediate security needs and to build a future force to ward off more Russian aggression.

Including the latest $2.3 billion, the U.S. has committed more than $53.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas attends a briefing on the 2024 hurricane and wildfire outlook at the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that it sent 116 Chinese migrants from the United States back home in the first large charter flight in five years.

The flight, which happened over the weekend, comes as Chinese immigration has become the subject of intense political debate in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

"We will continue to enforce our immigration laws and remove individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

The department said it was working with China to reduce and deter irregular migration and to disrupt illicit human smuggling through expanded law enforcement efforts. It did not respond to questions about how long the migrants had been in the U.S.

In recent years, the United States has had a difficult time returning Chinese nationals who do not have the right to stay in America because China has resisted taking them back. Last year, the United States saw a drastic surge in the number of Chinese immigrants entering the country illegally from Mexico.

U.S. border officials arrested more than 37,000 Chinese nationals on the southern border in 2023, 10 times the number during the previous year.

Chinese migration has increasingly become a rallying cry for Republicans and former President Donald Trump who have raised suspicions about why Chinese migrants are coming to the U.S.

Asian advocacy organizations are concerned that the rhetoric could encourage harassment of Asians, while migrants themselves have said theyre coming to escape poverty and repression.

Earlier this year, the U.S. and China resumed cooperation on migration issues.

The Chinese government has said it is firmly opposed to all forms of illegal immigration. In a statement in May, China's Embassy in the U.S. said the country's law enforcement was cracking down hard on crimes that harm the tranquility of national border, and maintained a high pressure against all kinds of smuggling organizations and offenders.

Homeland Security said they are working with China on more removal flights in the future but did not give a timeline for when the next one would happen.

Earlier this year, a charter flight carried a small but unknown number of deportees to the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, according to Thomas Cartwright of Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks deportation flights.

Homeland Security officials did not say how many people were on that March 30 flight, but the Gulfstream V aircraft typically has a seating capacity of 14. It also made a stop in South Korea before heading back to the U.S., Cartwright said.

The announcement of the large charter flight comes after Ecuador cut off a key route used by Chinese migrants to get to the Western Hemisphere. Ecuador was one of only two mainland countries in the Americas to offer visa-free entry to Chinese nationals and had become a popular starting point for Chinese migrants to then trek north to the U.S.

As of July 1, Ecuador has effectively reinstated visas for Chinese nationals after the South American country said it had seen a worrying increase in irregular migration.
An injured woman receives medical treatment after a stampede at a hospital in Hathras of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua)

NEW DELHI, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in Tuesday's stampede in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh rose to 116, out of which 88 victims' bodies were lying at a local trauma center, 27 at Etah Hospital and one at a hospital in the Hathras town, confirmed a local administration official to Xinhua over phone.

Another local official, Divisional Commissioner of Aligarh Chaitra V. reportedly told media that the death toll had "risen to 107."

The death toll was feared to rise further as many injured persons were admitted at various hospitals, out of whom some were said to be in critical conditions.

According to preliminary reports, nearly 50,000 people had congregated at a religious gathering in Sikandra Rao area of Hathras. But there were only 40 police posted at the spot to manage the huge crowd, added the reports.

Most among the killed were women and children who died after slipping on the wet ground and falling into a ditch by the roadside. The tragedy was said to have struck after the ceremony, lasting nearly two hours, had ended and people had started to leave.

A religious figure was leaving the venue and people ran towards him to touch his feet and take his blessings. Suddenly there was chaos and people started slipping on the wet ground while running, and began falling on each other, an eyewitness told "Aaj Tak" news channel.

News agency "Press Trust of India" (PTI) quoted an eyewitness lady, identified as Shakuntala, as saying that after the religious ceremony had ended, people had started leaving the venue. "Outside the road was built on a height with a drain below. One after the other, people started falling into it. Some people got crushed," she added.

Media reports suggested that "callous attitude" on the part of the local administration and the police, by giving a blind eye to ensuring adequate arrangements at the venue of the religious gathering, had led to the stampede.

Local resident Ram Asrey Dubey told Xinhua over phone, "For many years, the religious figure has been giving weekly sermons on every Tuesday in several areas in western Uttar Pradesh. His programs draw hundreds of thousands of people, but hardly any care is taken to ensure adequate arrangements." 

Injured people receive medical treatment after a stampede at a hospital in Hathras of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua)

People carry the body of a stampede victim on a stretcher outside a hospital in Hathras of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua)

Injured people receive medical treatment after a stampede at a hospital in Hathras of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua)
FILE PHOTO: Lilly Biotechnology Center is shown in San Diego after cutting price of insulin

By Julie Steenhuysen and Mariam Sunny

(Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Eli Lilly's treatment for early Alzheimer's, making it the second therapy for slowing progression of the brain-wasting disease that will be available to U.S. patients.

The approval for donanemab, to be sold under the brand name Kisunla, followed the recommendations of the agency's outside experts, who unanimously backed its use in patients with early Alzheimer's disease, saying the benefits of the drug outweighed its risks.

This is real progress," said Joanne Pike of the Alzheimers Association. Having multiple treatment options is the kind of advancement weve all been waiting for  all of us who have been touched, even blindsided, by this difficult and devastating disease.

Like Eisai and Biogen's rival drug Leqembi, which was approved a year ago, donanemab is designed to clear an Alzheimer's-related protein called beta amyloid from the brain.

A key differentiating factor for donanemab is the drug's finite dosing, which allows patients to stop taking the treatment once brain scans no longer show amyloid plaques.

Lilly priced its drug at $695.65 per vial, or about $32,000 for 12-months of treatment consisting of 13 infusions. That's slightly higher than Eisai's Leqembi, which costs $26,500 a year.

BMO analyst Evan Seigerman said the price reflects the fact that patients can stop treatment versus chronic treatment with Leqembi.

"The details of how it will play out in clinical practice are still unclear, but I think it will save a lot of money and patients will like that a lot better," said Dr. Erik Musiek, a Washington University neurologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

"I think that, coupled with the monthly dosing, will make this an attractive option," he added.

In Lilly's large, late-stage trial, donanemab slowed the progression of memory and thinking problems by 29% compared with a placebo. It also caused brain swelling in nearly a quarter of patients and brain bleeding in nearly a third, but most cases were mild.

As it did for Leqembi, the FDA placed its strongest "boxed" safety warning on donanemab's prescribing label, flagging the risk of potentially dangerous brain swelling and bleeding.

One key difference is that donanemab will require five MRI scans to check for side effects, while Leqembi requires four, which could be an advantage for the Eisai drug in centers where such scans are scarce, RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams said in a research note.

Eisai and Biogen have started submitting data to the FDA to support approval of a monthly maintenance dose to be given as an IV infusion, as well as a weekly injected version of Leqembi that patients could receive at home.

Lilly's drug is expected to be used mostly by patients enrolled in the U.S. government's Medicare health plan for people age 65 and older. Medicare last year began covering Alzheimer's drugs that receive standard FDA approval.

Morningstar analyst Damien Conover said he expects Lilly's drug to generate peak annual sales of over $5 billion, and "a fairly evenly split market between donanemab and Biogens Leqembi."

More than 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chiccago, Deena Beasley in Los Angeles and Bhanvi Satija and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
US and Panama sign agreement that aims to close the Darien Gap to illegal migrants

The US and Panama have signed an agreement on immigration issues that aims to close the passage of illegal migrants through the Darien Gap, the Central American government announced Monday.

In the agreement signed today by the Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha and the Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States Alejandro Mayorcas, the US government undertakes to cover the cost of the repatriation of immigrants who enter illegally through Darien, the Panama government said in a statement.

It said that under the memorandum of understanding the US would also support Panama with equipment, transportation and logistics regarding foreigners found in violation of the immigration laws of Panama.

Panama agreed to comply with all international agreements and conventions on the rights of immigrants and those in refugee status, it added.

Panama is home to the Darien Gap, a mountainous rainforest region connecting South and Central America, that has seen an increase in the number of migrants willing to risk their lives and safety to cross it. The 66-mile (106-kilometer) hike through the Darien Gap brings migrants from Colombia to Panama and is a crucial passage for those hoping to reach the United States and Canada.

News of the agreement comes after Panamas new President Jose Raul Mulino vowed on Monday that the Central American nation would no longer be a country of transit for migrants.

I will not allow Panama to be a path open to thousands of people who enter our country illegally supported by an entire international organization related to drug and human trafficking, Mulino said at his swearing-in ceremony.

Panama will no longer be a transit country for illegals, he said amid cheers from those present.

The numbers of illegal immigrants passing through the Darien are shocking, Mulino said, adding that he intends to appeal to international solidarity regarding the cause that generates the problem and will seek solutions with the countries involved, especially with the United States, which is the final destination of such immigrants.

Mulino said that hes seen first-hand the magnitude of the problem and the dimension of the humanitarian and environmental crisis that migration causes to the Darien Gap.

The Darien must continue to be a great green lung, not only for us but for the entire region. We must defend it and take care of it. Its biodiversity cannot be put at risk by illicit activities.

Panamanian figures show at least 174,513 migrants crossed the treacherous Darien Gap, from January to June 6 of this year.

The latest figures are higher than around the same period in 2023, when more than 166,000 crossings were reported, according to Panamas National Migration Service. According to migration service figures, a record 520,000 people crossed the jungle last year.

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The US will pay for migrants' flights out of Panama to close a route used by over 700,000 people to reach the US-Mexico border

The US is trying to shut down the Darien Gap, a land route used by thousands to reach its borders.

It's paying for migrants' repatriation out of Panama in exchange for the latter closing the corridor.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants pass through Panama on their way to the US from South America.

The US has agreed to fund repatriation for people who entered Panama illegally in exchange for the latter shutting down a main corridor for migrants traveling by land to the US-Mexico border.

"This program will help the Panamanian government to remove foreign nationals who do not have a legal basis to remain in Panama," the Department of Homeland Security wrote in a statement on Monday.

The funding will involve the US paying for flights out of Panama and "supporting training and capacity building to strengthen and institutionalize safe, humane repatriation processes," the statement said.

The amount allocated to these flights, provided by the State Department, was not announced.

Migrants arrive at the Reception Center for Migrant Care in Lajas Blancas, in the jungle province of Darien, Panama, on June 28, 2024. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images

The Associated Press reported that the new deal will see the US paying for charter and commercial flights to return migrants to their home countries.

It cited two senior administration officials who were not named, who also said Panama would choose who is repatriated based on its laws.

This agreement, signed by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, comes as Panama inaugurates its new president, Jose Raul Mulino.

It will see Panama closing off the Darien Gap, a treacherous stretch of rainforest that at least 520,000 migrants walked through in 2023 on their way north. Another 174,000 people were recorded using the route this year.

Migrants walk by the jungle near Bajo Chiquito village, the first border control of the Darien Province in Panama, on September 22, 2023. LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images

The corridor, regularly plied by cartels and paramilitary forces, starts in Colombia and ends in Panama. It typically takes about 5 days or more of arduous trekking to finish the 66-mile journey.

Several popular exit points from the Darien Gap are staffed by humanitarian agencies such as Doctors Without Borders and UNICEF, who provide medical aid and essentials to the migrants but are increasingly overwhelmed by a growing influx of trekkers.

Migrants line up to receive food at the Reception Center for Migrant Care in Lajas Blancas, in the jungle province of Darien, Panama, on June 27, 2024. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images

The Panamanian government has typically not repatriated migrants who enter the country via the Darien Gap, but it's been managing some infrastructure to house them as they pass through.

Once in Panama, many migrants continue their journey through Central America, crossing at least five transnational borders to reach Mexico and eventually making their way to the US southern border.

US border patrol encounters with migrants in the southwest hit record highs in December, with over 301,000 incidents logged. Nearly 2.5 million migrant encounters were reported in the 2023 fiscal year, and this year's numbers are on track to hit a similar level.

Authorities already struggle to manage the Darien Gap

Yet closing the Darien Gap is no small feat. In April 2023, the US and Panama launched a 60-day campaign to curb illegal migration from the corridor.

In June of that year, Panama assigned 1,200 immigration agents, border police, and naval air service members to target criminal groups that guide and exploit migrants traveling through the Darien Gap.

Hundreds of thousands still used the crossing afterward.

Migrants walk by the jungle near Bajo Chiquito village, the first border control of the Darien Province in Panama, on September 22, 2023. LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images

Mulino, Panama's new president, has vowed to solve immigration issues in the country. He announced on his first day in office that the country would no longer be "a path open to thousands of people who enter our country illegally."

Illegal immigration has increasingly come under the spotlight in US politics, particularly for Republican leaders who have accused the Biden administration of allowing border security to grow lax.

On June 4, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation that temporarily restricts entry for non-US citizens who enter through the southwest border illegally. His campaign highlighted that border officials' seven-day encounter average dropped 40%.

But managing the immigration crisis is proving to be a delicate political and economic balancing act. Biden previously came under fire from progressives for referring to a Venezuelan migrant charged with murder as "an illegal."

Several analysts also say immigrants have helped relieve a labor shortage in the US and that overly aggressive deportation programs, such as the one suggested by presidential candidate Donald Trump, would risk stagnating the economy.

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US set to announce over $2.3 billion arms package for Ukraine, Pentagon says

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart at the Pentagon.

Austin also gave a nod to Ukraine's aspirations to eventually join NATO, more than two years after Russia's full-scale invasion. Referring to next week's NATO summit in Washington, he said, "We will take steps to build a bridge to NATO membership for Ukraine."

He did not elaborate.

Ukrainian officials have been urging their allies for months to supply more air defense systems to counter frequent missile and drone attacks from Russian forces.

Austin said the latest weapons package for Ukraine would include arms such as anti-tank weapons and air defense interceptors, and would allow accelerated procurement of NASAMS and Patriot air defense interceptors.

"I am proud that the United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine," Austin said just before entering a meeting with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.

"This package, under presidential drawdown authority, will provide more air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons and other critical munitions from the U.S. inventories."

The United States has provided Ukraine with more than $50 billion worth of military aid since 2022, but there are concerns about the future of U.S. support for Kyiv should Donald Trump win the Nov. 5 presidential election.

Two key advisers to Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine, if he is elected. It involves telling Ukraine that it will get more U.S. weapons only if it enters peace talks with Moscow.

The proposal would mark a big shift in the U.S. position on the war and face opposition from European allies and within Trump's own Republican Party.

NATO MEMBERSHIP

During the meeting with Austin, Umerov said Ukraine was looking forward to becoming a member of NATO. "Hopefully soon Ukraine will receive its invitation."

Umerov, in comments posted later on the Telegram messaging app, expressed thanks for the new assistance.

Work is proceeding "so that Ukraine will receive more air defence systems as quickly as possible," he said.

He added that Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyn had described as vital that detailed steps be taken at the NATO summit, particularly to ensure funding from the alliance to boost Ukraine's defence capability.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who lobbied unsuccessfully for a political invitation to join the alliance at its summit in Vilnius last summer, has said that this year's summit should resolve the matter of inviting Kyiv to join.

While NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Washington have both said they do not expect the alliance's 32 members at the July 9-11 summit to invite Ukraine to join while it remained at war with Russia, Stoltenberg has said he hopes to show Kyiv that it is moving closer to membership.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Heinrich, Ron Popeski and Richard Chang)
By Tom Hals

(Reuters) - Challengers to federal rules covering a range of industries including mining and farming got a fresh shot on Tuesday at rolling back regulations as the U.S. Supreme Court applied a new standard for reviewing the power of federal agencies.

Nine lower-court rulings were vacated by the Supreme Court and sent back to be reconsidered in light of Friday's decision reversing the decades-old Chevron doctrine that said judges should defer to agencies to interpret laws they administer.

The cases were the first of what is expected to be a wave of rulings reassessing the power of federal regulators, who make rules covering everything from food and drugs to airlines and drinking water.

"This is going to have a widespread effect that we're going to be feeling for the months and years to come," said Loren Seehase, senior counsel at conservative legal group Liberty Justice Center.

Friday's ruling, in a case known as Loper Bright, does not mean any particular regulation will be overturned and some experts cautioned about reading too much into its impact.

But the ruling does mean judges must perform an independent assessment of whether a regulation is legal.

Before the Supreme Court overturned the 1984 Chevron precedent, judges were instructed to defer to an agency's interpretation when a statute was ambiguous.

The cases that were returned on Tuesday to lower courts of appeals included a 13-year dispute between South Dakota farmer Arlen Foster and Department of Agriculture regulators who concluded that an eight-inch pool of water on his property was a protected wetland.

Foster's case turned in part on the interpretation of the Swampbuster Act and the deference given to regulators by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis last year.

Our clients may now make their case in court without judges putting their thumb on the scale in favor of the government, said Paige Gilliard, an attorney for Foster at the Pacific Legal Foundation.

Other cases that were returned to lower courts challenged regulations covering coal mining, solar power, immigration and whistleblower rewards for exposing tax dodgers.

Proponents for rolling back the Chevron deference said they expected the Loper Bright ruling to strengthen other challenges to regulations in cases that have yet to reach the Supreme Court.

These include what is known as the ESG investing rule, which allows fiduciaries to consider environmental, social and governance factors when evaluating financial plan investments.

A trial court upheld the rule in September by applying the Chevron deference. Oral arguments in the appeal are being heard by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Tuesday and both sides already have raised the Loper Bright ruling in the appeal.

Challengers argued it meant the ESG rule must be struck down, while the Department of Justice noted that Chevron was never raised by the government to defend the regulation.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; additional reporting by Nate Raymond and Dan Wiessner; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Rod Nickel)
US Supreme Court to hear e-cigarette, porn cases, but rejects several gun rights suits

The News

Fresh from a term marked by historic decisions that will reshape the US government and presidency, the US Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to add several cases to its docket for next session.

Among the issues the justices will take up are the US Food and Drug Administrations strict regulations for e-cigarettes  another chance for the courts conservative majority to potentially cut into federal regulatory power  and a First Amendment case over Texas age-verification requirements for porn websites.

The court also decided several cases it wont hear, including a challenge to portions of a federal law barring convicted felons and drug users from possessing guns  which could have had implications Hunter Bidens recent federal firearms conviction  and an Illinois ban on assault-style weapons.

The court will hear arguments beginning in October.
By Andrew Chung

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court turned away appeals challenging a Democratic-backed ban in Illinois on assault-style rifles such as AR-15s and sidestepped several other gun-related disputes on Tuesday, though it already has agreed to hear one major firearms case in its next term concerning homemade "ghost guns."

The justices declined to hear a group of cases appealing a lower court's rejection of the argument raised by challengers that the Illinois ban violates the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

The justices also ordered lower courts to re-examine challenges to New York state's Democratic-backed law that bars firearms in numerous "sensitive places" and to federal laws that prohibit gun possession by people convicted of serious crimes and users of illegal drugs.

In these cases, the justices directed the lower courts to reassess their various decisions in light of the Supreme Court's June 21 ruling in a case called U.S. v. Rahimi that upheld a federal law banning domestic abusers from having guns.

The Supreme Court in April agreed to decide the legality of a federal regulation aimed at reining in "ghost guns" as President Joe Biden's administration combats the increasing use of these largely untraceable weapons in crimes nationwide. It is set to hear the case in its next term, which starts in October.

The justices took up the administration's appeal of a lower court's decision finding that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) exceeded its authority in issuing the 2022 rule targeting parts and kits for ghost guns, which can be assembled at home in minutes.

The court in the nine-month term it has just completed issued a pair of important gun rulings. In addition to the Rahimi decision, the justices on June 14 rejected a federal ban on "bump stock" devices that enable semiautomatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns.

ILLINOIS LAW

The Illinois law bans the sale and distribution of many kinds of high-powered semiautomatic "assault weapons," including AK-47 and AR-15 rifles, as well as large-capacity magazines. It was passed in 2023 after a massacre at a 2022 Independence Day parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park that killed seven people.

The Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2023 that the challengers were unlikely to prevail, in part because the Second Amendment does not apply to the banned rifles and magazines, which it concluded "are much more like machine guns and military-grade weaponry than they are like the many different types of firearms that are used for individual self-defense."

The Supreme Court, in a landmark 2008 ruling expanding gun rights, noted that "M-16 rifles and the like" are not protected under the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court on May 20 also declined to hear a challenge to Maryland's assault rifle ban.

Justice Samuel Alito indicated he would have heard the Illinois cases, while fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas in an opinion voiced doubt about the 7th Circuit's decision on the state's ban. Thomas said the matter was still at a preliminary stage and the justices should review it in due course.

The availability of assault rifles, which are popular among gun enthusiasts, continues to provoke fierce debate in a nation bitterly divided over how to address persistent firearms violence including frequent mass shootings.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of Second Amendment rights.

In 2022, it recognized a Second Amendment right to carry a handgun in public for self defense, striking struck down New York state gun limits. That ruling established a legal standard requiring such measures to be comparable with the nation's "historical tradition" of firearm restrictions in order to comply with the Second Amendment.

However, the Rahimi ruling clarified that modern gun restrictions need only a historical "analogue," not a "twin," signaling the limits of the Bruen standard.

The New York law now at issue, enacted after the Bruen ruling, prohibits possessing a gun in "sensitive" locations such as courts, government buildings, schools, medical offices, public parks, theaters and New York City's popular Times Square.

The cases concerning the scope of the ban on felons owning guns included challengers convicted of nonviolent crimes, such as Bryan Range, a Pennsylvania man convicted of welfare fraud. The Biden administration appealed a judicial decision that applying the ban to Range violated his Second Amendment rights.

The administration also appealed a judicial decision backing an admitted marijuana user caught with guns in his car who claimed the drug user gun ban violated his Second Amendment rights. This is the same law under which Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was convicted last month in Delaware.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Tuesday to hear a Texas teen's bid to revive his lawsuit accusing Snapchat owner Snap of failing to protect underage users of its social media platform from sexual predators - in this case, a female teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting him.

The justices turned away up an appeal brought by the plaintiff, who was not identified by name in the case because he was a minor when it was filed, after lower courts dismissed his lawsuit. Lower courts found that Snapchat was shielded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which safeguards internet companies from liability for content posted by users.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch said they would have granted the appeal.

The case involves a relationship between Bonnie Guess-Mazock, a high school science teacher who was 36 at the time it started in 2021, and the plaintiff, who was 15, in the Texas city of Conroe, about 40 miles (65 km) north of Houston.

Criminal charges were brought against Guess-Mazock, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault of a child, according to court filings.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit accused Guess-Mazock of using Snapchat - known for its disappearing photos and videos - to groom him by sending him sexually explicit content. Over nearly a year and a half starting in 2021, Guess-Mazock sexually assaulted him until the abuse was discovered when he overdosed on drugs she either provided or paid for, the lawsuit alleged.

In 2022, Doe sued Guess-Mazock, the local public school district and Snap. Only his claims against the Santa Monica, California-based company, seeking unspecified monetary damages, were at issue in his appeal to the Supreme Court.

The plaintiff's civil lawsuit alleged three counts of negligence against Snapchat under Texas law. He accused the company of breaching its legal duty to protect its minor users "from sexual predators who are drawn to the Snapchat application by the privacy assurances granted by the disappearing messages feature of the application."

Houston-based U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal in 2022 dismissed the suit against Snapchat, finding the company was shielded by Section 230. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2023 affirmed Rosenthal's ruling, prompting the plaintiff's appeal to the Supreme Court.

The justices in 2023 declined to address the scope of Section 230 in cases involving Google's video-sharing platform YouTube and the social media platform Twitter, now called X.

Section 230 provides safeguards for "interactive computer services" by ensuring they cannot be treated for legal purposes as the "publisher or speaker" of information provided by users.

Thomas criticized the court's decision to deny the appeal in a dissenting opinion that was joined by Gorsuch, arguing that social media platforms increasingly use Section 230 as a "get-out-of-jail free card."

"In the platforms' world, they are fully responsible for their websites when it results in constitutional protections," Thomas wrote, "but the moment that responsibility could lead to liability, they can disclaim any obligations and enjoy greater protections from suit than nearly any other industry."

Calls have come from across the ideological and political spectrum - including Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump - for a rethink of Section 230 to ensure that companies can be held accountable for content on their platforms.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham)
People watch former US President Donald Trump participating in the first 2024 presidential election debate with US President Joe Biden at CNN Atlanta studios. Sue Dorfman/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

In a significant partial win for former US president Donald Trump, the US Supreme Court ruled on Monday that presidents have presumed immunity from prosecution for official acts while in office.

The judges returned the case, an appeal of an earlier ruling, to the lower court and instructed that court to determine how the decision should be applied to Trump's case.

This is likely to further delay the start of a possible trial against Trump for attempted election fraud in the US capital Washington in connection with the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol by Trump's supporters. It is considered unlikely that the trial will start before the presidential election in November.

The Supreme Court justices ruled 6-3 that former presidents enjoy immunity for actions they take within their constitutional authority, but do not for actions taken in a private capacity.

Biden denounces Supreme Court decision

US President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court's ruling, calling it a "dangerous precedent."

"Today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits to what the president can do," Biden said in a short address at the White House on Monday evening.

Biden warned that every president, including his predecessor and potential successor Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.

The Supreme Court's decision had created a "fundamentally new principle," he added.

"The power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court in the United States, the only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.

US Media: Trump seeks to overturn hush money conviction

According to US media, Trump is attempting to overturn his conviction in New York following the Supreme Court's ruling.

Shortly after the decision, Trump's lawyers reportedly initiated the process by writing to the judge in New York, CNN and the New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources.

According to the reports, the lawyers also asked the judge to delay his sentencing scheduled for July 11.

In late May, Trump was found guilty of all 34 charges in a criminal case concerning hush money payments in New York.

It was the first time in the history of the US that a former president had been convicted of a criminal offence. In the worst case, Trump could face several years in prison.

Trump's legal immunity case returns to lower court

It is now up to the competent lower court to find out which actions Trump's immunity applies to. This is likely to be a lengthy process.

Before the storming the Capitol, Trump had attempted on various levels to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election and reverse his defeat against Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump's lawyers argued that Trump could not be legally prosecuted for actions that were part of his duties as president.

They had already failed with this argument before an appeals court in the US capital. The judge in charge of the case had also previously rejected this argument. Trump's lawyers filed an appeal, which is why the case ended up before the Supreme Court.
The Facts Behind Biden's Claim the US Trade Deficit with China Is Smallest Since 2010

Claim:

U.S. President Joe Biden accurately claimed in June 2024 that the U.S. trade deficit with China had reached its lowest level since 2010.

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U.S. President Joe Biden claimed during the June 27, 2024, debate against his Republican opponent Donald Trump that under Biden's administration, the U.S. trade deficit with China had dropped to its lowest level in 14 years:

Here is Biden's exact quote, pulled from a debate transcript:

We are [sic] the lowest trade deficit with China since 2010.

This claim has appeared on social media platforms, especially on X, since February 2024.

A country's trade surplus or deficit is the result of a simple subtraction: exported goods minus imported goods. A trade surplus means a country is selling more goods and services than it is buying from its trading partners. As the U.S. and China vie for power on the international scene, and as a fearful electorate often responds well to protectionism, politicians might use a surplus or a smaller deficit as a campaign argument to defend their record, using it as a measure of their ability to reduce their country's dependence on other nations.

Biden's claim is true. Based on government data, we created the following chart tracking the U.S. trade deficit with China from 2010 (under President Barack Obama) to 2023. In 2010, the U.S. had bought $273 billion worth of goods more than it sold to China  the world's manufacturing leader. This trade deficit soared under Trump at $418 billion. While it rose in 2021 and 2022 as the world caught up on trade after the COVID-19 pandemic, it dropped again in 2023 to $279 billion:

(Census.gov)

The question of whether a trade deficit matters is up for debate, however. While some economists believe it to be a problem, many disagree, arguing instead that a high trade deficit can be a sign of a strong economy and urge world leaders not to make it a flashpoint of political strife (archived).

These economists believe that the money a country spends on goods from other nations will often return to its shores, often via financial markets. These "capital flows" in the form of foreign investments into the country, they believe, can help sustain the domestic economy. And in fact, net foreign ownership of U.S. capital has grown steadily from $2.5 trillion in 2010 to $21.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2024, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve.

This logic has borne true under Biden, as the U.S. economy has largely outpaced the economies of the West since 2021.

Sources:

Bureau, US Census. International Trade. https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html. Accessed 1 July 2024.

Curran, Enda. 'US Trade Deficit With China Narrows to Lowest Since 2010'. Bloomberg, 7 Feb. 2024, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-07/us-trade-deficit-with-china-narrows-to-lowest-level-since-2010. https://archive.is/09vUO.

Mankiw, N. Gregory. 'Want to Rev Up the Economy? Don't Worry About the Trade Deficit'. The New York Times, 2 Dec. 2016. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/02/upshot/want-to-rev-up-the-economy-dont-worry-about-the-trade-deficit.html.

The U.S. Trade Deficit: How Much Does It Matter? | Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-trade-deficit-how-much-does-it-matter. Accessed 1 July 2024.

U.S. Net International Investment Position. 26 June 2024, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/IIPUSNETIQ.

Why US Economy Is Powering Ahead of Europe's. 13 Feb. 2024. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68203820.

Updates:

July 2, 2024: This story was corrected to say the trade deficit soared to $418 billion, not million, under Trump. The graphic also was corrected.
SUVA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Fiji launched the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Week on Tuesday, with the theme "Be responsible, make the right choice and stay away from drugs."

During the opening ceremony, Assistant Minister for Education Iliesa Vanawalu said Fiji can prevent drug abuse through a united front in education and awareness programs, urging all sectors of society to join forces in the war against drugs, reported Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.

If a student decides to use or abuse drugs or any other substance now, the cost can range from heart and lung damage, school dropout, unemployment, family problems and many more negative repercussions, Vanawalu said.

He said everyone needs to be more vigilant to protect children and youths from the drug pandemic, which could cause various health issues, including mental ill-health and the rise in HIV cases due to unsafe drug practices.

Serious concerns have been raised in Fiji over the impact of drugs in the Pacific island nation.

According to Acting Chief Executive Officer for Substance Abuse Advisory Council Josua Naisele, drug abuse cases in Fiji's schools have been increasing in the past three years, with 2,200 drug cases recorded in 2021, 2,800 cases in 2022 and 3,500 cases last year. 
By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) - The Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled a long-awaited proposal that would require many U.S. employers to protect 36 million workers from extreme heat.

The proposed rule from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which enforces workplace safety laws, would require employers to provide workers with water and shaded or air-conditioned areas to take breaks when temperatures at indoor or outdoor work sites reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).

At 90 F, workers would be guaranteed 15-minute breaks every two hours and employers would be required to monitor workers for heat-related illness. When businesses hire new employees, the rule would mandate that their workload gradually increases to allow them to adjust to high temperatures.

Private employers already have a "general duty" to maintain safe workplaces, which can include addressing heat-related hazards. But Tuesday's proposal would for the first time establish specific protections from heat exposure, opening the door for OSHA to fine employers who flout the rule.

If finalized, the regulation will almost certainly face lawsuits from businesses and trade groups. Those challenges could be bolstered by a ruling issued last week by the U.S. Supreme Court eliminating the deference that courts owed to agency rulemaking.

OSHA, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, said that the proposed rule was designed to reduce work-related deaths and injuries caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

"Workers all over the country are passing out, suffering heat stroke and dying from heat exposure from just doing their jobs, and something must be done to protect them, said Douglas Parker, OSHA's head.

Advocates have for years called on OSHA to address heat hazards. The agency first said it was working on the rule in 2021.

Heat exposure on the job has killed more than 1,000 U.S. workers since 1992. From 2011 to 2020, there were nearly 34,000 cases where heat-related injuries caused employees to miss work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Several U.S. cities experienced record-breaking heat in June, and the release of the proposed rule on Tuesday coincided with the beginning of a heat wave in California and other West Coast states. Many climate scientists have predicted that 2024 will be the hottest year on record.

The OSHA proposal does not apply to "sedentary" or remote workers, emergency-response workers, or employees at indoor job sites where temperatures are kept below 80 F. OSHA rules do not apply to government employers.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Rod Nickel)
A fleet of Marine Corps wheeled Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) is now forward deployed to the island of Okinawa, Japan, marking an important step in modernizing the services Pacific theater assets. Its arrival comes as the Marines are rapidly restructuring for the high-end fight of the future, with an emphasis on preparing for a potential island-hopping conflict in the Indo-Pacific involving China, where amphibious capabilities would be critical. The shipment was received on June 29 at the Naha Military Port, Okinawa. The 4th Marine Regiment, III Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Schwab in Okinawa is set to receive a total of 12 ACV-Ps, the baseline personnel carrier of the Marines new ACV, this month according to Tim Hough, commanding officer and program manager Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA). Those vehicles, which are manufactured by BAE Systems, are replacing the services aging tracked Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAV). U.S. Marines disembark Amphibious Combat Vehicles at Naha Military Port, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2024. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alyssa Chuluda Sgt. Alyssa Chuluda The arrival of the ACV [in Japan] realizes a long-projected update to the current armed ship-to-shore connection and ground combat capabilities of the AAV, the service noted. Over the coming days, the vehicles will be transported from the Naha Military Port, southern Okinawa, to Camp Schwab further north, a roughly 50-mile journey by road. The forward deployment of these modernized vehicles to Japan is particularly significant given the critical role they would play in a possible future conflict in the Indo-Pacific. This is an eventuality the service has been preparing for as a growing possibility for some time, and which some senior U.S. military officials believe could materialize within the next few years. Such a conflict would require Marines to rapidly deploy to remote islands, a challenging prospect logistically given the scale of a region dominated by water. Amphibious operations would be key in this instance, in which relatively small groups of Marines would need to establish themselves on various islands and rapidly reposition as necessary. This is beyond potentially much larger amphibious assaults that could occur during such a conflict. The ACVs ability to use the ocean and waterways to carry Marines and equipment make it well-suited for a variety of operating environments, notably within the Indo-Pacific, the service highlights. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alyssa Chuluda Sgt. Alyssa Chuluda III Marine Expeditionary Force is a modern, ready force, said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Roger B. Turner, III MEF commanding general. Upgrading our fleet with amphibious combat vehicles capable of supporting sea denial and maritime operations will further bolster our ability to support deterrence efforts and respond to contingencies in the Indo-Pacific. Able to transport up to 13 Marines, the ACV-P is one of several mission-role variants of the baseline ACV  the others being an ACV-C command and control type and an ACV-R recovery variant. The Marines will also receive an ACV-30 armed with a 30mm cannon. Its Mk 44 Stretch Bushmaster dual-fed cannon will in fact be the largest gun on a mechanized vehicle in the services inventory, following the divestment of Marine M1 Abrams tanks. One of the production-representative test vehicles (PRTVs) for the ACV-30 program. BAE Systems The ACV-P itself constitutes an important capability upgrade for the service over its existing AAVs, the first versions of which were introduced into service in the early 1970s. The legacy AAVs have themselves suffered a number of serious accidents in the recent past, most notably the deadly sinking of one during an exercise off the Californian island of San Clemente, resulting in the deaths of nine crew members. The Marine Corps decision to replace a tracked vehicle with a wheeled design has been the subject of much debate. Wheeled vehicles have had mixed performance traditionally on softer terrain such as sandy beaches compared to hard surfaces. The ACV and AAV both move at about the same speed in the water, as well. On improved surfaces ashore, the ACVs stated top speed is around 20 miles per hour faster than that of the AAV. Unlike the flat-bottomed AAV, the ACV also notably has a v-shaped hull, reducing the risk to its occupants from mines and improvised explosive devices. The ACV features a more modern communications suite and other improvements. You can read more about the key differences between the two types in this past War Zone article. Marines from the Amphibious Combat Vehicle New Equipment Training Team (NETT) complete an operator course in the vehicle. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Ashley Calingo It should be noted that the forward deployment of Marine Corps ACVs to Japan comes after the type arrived in the country for the first time last month. During training exercises on June 24, ACV-Ps with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a unit out of Camp Pendleton, California, took them ashore at the White Beach training area, Okinawa. U.S. Marines assigned to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to conduct a troop transfer during an Amphibious Combat Vehicle egress drill at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, June 24, 2024. Harpers Ferry and embarked elements of the 15th MEU are conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navys largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle Intriguingly, one of the ACV-Ps pictured during that exercise bears the slogan Make Peace Or Die on its bow plane, which is designed to help it move around in the water. That particular vehicle looks to have been nicknamed Cerberus, which in Greek mythology refers to the multi-headed hound of Hades, a name that has also been used for other, higher-profile U.S. military assets. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle Before that, the 15th MEUs ACVs made their operational debut in the Pacific during Exercise Balikatan 24, an annual bilateral exercise conducted between the Philippines and the U.S. There, ACVs conducted a live-fire, waterborne gunnery range exercise in Oyster Bay in the Philippines, on May 4. A U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicle attached to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, splashes off the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Exercise Balikatan 24 in Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines, May 4, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle The Marines are still in the process of receiving the different ACV variants from BAE Systems, which in cooperation with Italys Iveco, won the competition to build the vehicles for the service in 2018. As of May, the Corps has received a total of 184 ACV-Ps and three ACV-Cs, for a grand total of 187 vehicles. It is expected that the Corps will eventually have a total of 390 ACV-Ps, 33 ACV-Cs, 34 ACV-Rs, and 175 ACV-30s, for a grand total of 632 vehicles. Production on the ACV-30 is expected to start in Fiscal Year 2025, with deliveries of the first six examples anticipated in Fiscal Year 2026. BAE Systems delivered the first production-ready ACV-C in January. An ACV-C. DOD The ACV program has been working through certain technical and other issues since the first operational examples of the baseline personnel carrier version were delivered in 2020. That year, a report by the Defense Departments top weapons tester noted survivability issues with the design, as well as cramped internal conditions for personnel. Just last year, then-Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger, highlighted problems with the vehicles shock absorbers and concerns over possible water incursion. A that time Berger still noted the ACVs potential to greatly enhance [the Marine Corps] littoral mobility and expeditionary reach. Of course, this investment in technologically advanced ACVs is symptomatic of the wider restructuring of Marine capabilities of late; in which the service is moving away from counterinsurgency campaigns of the past to the sorts of distributed operations that would characterize the future of high-end conflict, such as in the Indo-Pacific. And while many of the services ACVs have yet to be delivered, the vehicles forward deployment to Japan represents an important stepping stone in preparing for that likelihood. Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com

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Va. school board member to be jailed for his role in Jan. 6 riot and more state headlines

The state Capitol. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

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Friends of VMSDEP co-founder Kayla Owen (center) speaks to the media after the Virginia Senate again failed to pass a bill reversing changes to the tuition program for military families. (Graham Moomaw/Virginia Mercury)

For the second time this summer, the Virginia Senate returned to Richmond and failed to pass a bill most General Assembly members and many military families want to see advance.

Another five hours at the Capitol Monday produced no breakthroughs in the slow-burning controversy over the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), which provides tuition-free college to spouses and children of military members killed or disabled as a result of their service.

For weeks, military families and advocates for veterans have been calling for the immediate reversal of cost-cutting measures aimed at VMSDEP that the legislature and Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved earlier this year. On Friday, the House of Delegates unanimously approved the full repeal bill the families support.

After watching Mondays Senate session devolve into multi-directional bickering that produced nothing, military families described Virginias halls of power as a place where rampant egos have gotten in the way of listening to regular people.

We are living a political nightmare, said Kayla Owen, a Fredericksburg-area military spouse leading Friends of VMSDEP, the main advocacy group pushing for the programs restoration.

The lack of action means the recently approved changes to the VMSDEP program wont be rolled back under the deadline policymakers have been working toward for weeks. Monday was the official beginning of the states fiscal year, which meant the new budget containing the VMSDEP reforms went into effect.

The new changes, which dont apply to current VMSDEP recipients but will apply to anyone attempting to begin using the program in the future, impose a stricter Virginia residency requirement, prevent the waivers from being used for advanced degrees or a second undergraduate degree and require participants to first pursue other forms of financial aid.

On Monday, the Senates Democratic leaders battled Youngkins administration, the Democratic-led House and Senate Republicans. At the end of the day, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, portrayed his caucus as the only group in the mix making a serious effort to preserve VMSDEP while reining in its ballooning costs. He accused others of playing politics.

The Friends of VMSDEP group said that, as far as its concerned, the blame for the current situation lies squarely with Surovell and Senate Finance and Appropriations Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.

Lucas and Surovell havent gotten on board with proposals to fully repeal the VMSDEP changes. Instead, theyve offered a series of alternate proposals, none of which have passed their own chamber.

The latest proposal Senate Democrats unveiled Monday would have provided $45 million in new funding to offset VMSDEPs growing financial impact on the states public colleges and universities, which legislative analysts say have grown from about $19 million in 2019 to more than $65 million in 2023. Their offer came close to fully repealing the stricter eligibility rules imposed earlier this year, but preserved one modest reform that wouldve required VMSDEP participants to make satisfactory academic progress toward earning a degree. The academic progress rule wouldnt take effect until 2025.

That proposal, Surovell said on the Senate floor, gave VMSDEP supporters pretty much everything they asked for, plus tens of millions in new funding.

Unfortunately we are unable to get some good work done that we had hoped to get done, Surovell said after it became clear that Senate Republicans were not going to lend their votes to help the body fast-track the bill and allow it to pass on Monday.

Because the Senate is in a special summertime session, the body needed to take a two-thirds vote to waive a rule requiring the VMSDEP bill to be published for at least 48 hours prior to Mondays vote.

Senate Republicans, who repeatedly asked their Democratic counterparts to pass a clean repeal bill as the House had done, noted that the General Assemblys rules also required the House to agree to waive the 48-hour rule. Because of that, they said, the Senate technically couldnt even execute the plan Democratic leaders had come up with for Monday.

If the Senate had passed a clean repeal bill, the Republicans argued, the VMSDEP controversy could have been over on Monday.

We want to get it done today. This is not politics, said Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover. This is a disagreement about how we get it done.

At a meeting of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Monday afternoon, Surovell said the Houses clean repeal bill was constitutionally defective because of a technical formatting issue that had nothing to do with the underlying policy. Therefore, he said, the Senate could not pass that bill and could instead only pass the slightly different repeal bill Lucas had introduced on Monday.

Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, offered to draft a new bill addressing the technical issue Surovell flagged. Lucas said that, according to Senate customs, she is the only senator allowed to introduce budget-related legislation as the chair of the committee that handled the budget.

It is my hope that the governor and the House will join me in announcing that we have an agreement, Lucas said as she introduced her latest proposal.

Lucas and Surovell said they spent several hours meeting with Youngkin Monday morning attempting to come to an agreement on the VMSDEP issue.

It didnt work.

In a statement Monday evening, Youngkin criticized the Senate for failing to pass a VMSDEP bill after a similarly fruitless outcome when the Senate took up the issue on June 18.

The Senate Democrat leadership is hurting our military heroes, first responders and their families every time they show up and do nothing, as well as wasting time and taxpayer money, Youngkin said. A full, clean repeal, which passed out of the House unanimously, and was supported by a bipartisan majority in the Senate, could have been signed today.

Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, a high-ranking House member who works on budget issues, briefly appeared before his Senate counterparts during their committee hearing. Sickles too said that if the Senate could go just a little further toward agreeing with the position of the House and the governor, the issue would be over today. If the Senate insisted on trying to pass a bill that didnt quite match, he said, the way forward would remain unclear.

Really, theres not that much difference between the two bills now, Sickles said in an interview.

At the end of the day, the Senate left town without announcing any plans to return.

If the legislature cant pass a bill, Youngkin hinted he might force both chambers to return.

The Senate and House need to agree to return next week, on the same day, so we can settle this issue once and for all, with the clean, and full, repeal bill, the governor said. If they cant agree on coming back together to fix this, I will call them back to do exactly that.
Police are looking for whoever caused thousands of dollars of damage to vehicles in a southeast Charlotte neighborhood.

Over a dozen cars broken into at Atrium parking deck

At least eight car owners reported the vandalism early Sunday, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.

Victims believe someone intentionally slashed the tires and keyed the doors of vehicles parked on Marshbrooke Road, off Margaret Wallace Road.

In the morning, we saw these scratches right here, said Alejandro Gomez, a victim. We saw their tires were kind of slashed, but they werent popped yet.

Call Crime Stoppers if you have any information.

VIDEO: More than 20 vehicles vandalized at east Charlotte apartments
CURRITUCK COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY)  A Virginia Beach man is dead after a crash in Currituck County, N.C.

It happened Monday around 3 p.m. on Route 158 near Shortcut Road. Troopers say a small Penske moving SUV was traveling east on Route 158 when it crossed the center turn lane and swiped a minivan traveling in the opposite direction and then hit a Dominion Energy service truck head-on.

Troopers said the passenger in Penske, Larry Edwin Walters, 87, of Virginia Beach was killed in the crash.

The driver of the Penske was taken to Sentara Norfolk and is listed in critical condition. Everyone else involved in the crash has been treated and released.

Walters and the driver of the SUV were employees of Penske who transport vehicles from one place to another.

According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, charges are pending the completion of the investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
(Bloomberg) -- Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro said his government will resume talks this month with the Biden administration ahead of the July 28 presidential elections.

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Talks resuming next Wednesday aim at reaching new agreements to meet the conditions of a Qatar-brokered accord on electoral guarantees in exchange for sanctions relief, Maduro said Monday evening during his television show.

In a statement, a National Security Council spokeswoman said the US welcomes dialogue and is committed to democracy in Venezuela, without confirming details of talks with Maduro.

Direct talks have been stalled since a secret meeting between the parties in Mexico in early April. The Venezuelan government said that during that last encounter it had pointed out the failure of the Biden administration to comply with a scheduled lifting of sanctions. The US later reinstated the sanctions as Maduro failed to comply with an electoral agreement sealed with the opposition.

Maduro said that National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez and Miranda state Governor Hector Rodriguez will represent Venezuela during this new meeting. The dialogue will be public, he said, to prevent speculation.

The resumption of talks between the two governments is positive, said Omar Barboza, head of the Venezuela opposition coalition known as the Unitary Platform. The group, which has ties to opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and prominent leader Maria Corina Machado, stands ready to get its delegates involved in the discussions if invited, he said on a webcast.

Maduro is running for reelection against former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez a stand-by for Machado  who according to most polls leads the race by 20 percentage points. Still, Maduro remains convinced he can beat Gonzalez at the ballot box and according to people with direct knowledge of his plans has alternatives to hold on to power if hes miscalculated.

Venezuelas government in late May withdrew an invitation to European Union election monitors, reducing the chances that the international community will accept the results of the election. On the domestic front, the government has stepped up repression of political dissent, issuing arrest warrants against Machados aides and allies and disqualifying provincial leaders.

(Updates with Venezuela opposition comment in sixth paragraph.)

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Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro signs an agreement to recognize the electoral results of the presidential elections of July 28, in Caracas

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday that he has accepted a proposal to restart direct talks with the United States.

"After thinking about it, I have accepted and next Wednesday the talks will restart with the United States government to comply with the agreements signed in Qatar and to reestablish the terms of the dialogue with respect," Maduro said in a televised broadcast.

In late 2023, Washington and Caracas secured a prisoner exchange deal following months of negotiations mediated by Qatar.

Venezuelan official negotiator and National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez will travel for the talks, Maduro said, without detailing the specific topics to be discussed.

The talks started some two years ago, but after U.S. oil sanctions were reimposed last April, Maduro's government accused the United States of violating the Qatar accord.

(Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle)
The Scene

LA CROSSE, Wis.  Bernie Sanders arrived here on Saturday morning to talk hope into nervous Democrats.

The Biden-Trump debate was distressing in a number of respects, he admitted. Donald Trump was a pathological liar, and Democrats needed to call him out on his record. The president did not have a good night, but Americans werent voting on whos the best dancer, whos the best songwriter.

When the Vermont senator wrapped up, Eric Leitzen lifted the sign hed made for the event: RUN BERNIE RUN.

Its be a heck of a curveball to throw at Trump, explained Leitzen, 39, a candidate for the Minnesota state House. Look at Bernie up there! He doesnt sound anything like [Joe] Biden sounded at that debate.

Politically, it was an odd moment for Sanders. Biden was the moderate candidate who beat him for the 2020 nomination by winning over Democrats on electability grounds. This time, Sanders was the one making the case that Biden was both worth supporting and able to win  even as many of the same pragmatic pundits who opposed his own 2020 run were demanding the president drop out.

The presidents shaky debate performance has terrified Democrats. Some wondered how he could bounce back from an off night. Others argued that he had already started to. Some started to talk about replacing him on the ticket.

For Sanders-style progressives, who lost the 2020 primary to Biden and grew restless over Israels war in Gaza, the crisis had no bottom. A portion were already on the fence about voting for him; the Wisconsin visit was about convincing them not to stay home or turn to a protest candidate. Now they were figuring out how to incorporate questions about Bidens health and competence into their calculation.

Sanders, who shepherded some of Bidens most popular healthcare policies through the Senate, had made the case that Bidens domestic record was strong. in Eau Claire, he politely brushed off a Gaza ceasefire activist who asked him to rescind his endorsement. Our Revolution, the organizing group founded by Sanders after his 2016 campaign, conducted a quick member poll after the debate and found two-thirds of them demanding a new nominee. Left-leaning groups created to pressure the president on Gaza were now calling on him to quit.

Far too many have been killed under the watchful guise of a man who cannot remember what he has and hasnt seen, while requiring a teleprompter to form coherent sentences, declared the Abandon Biden campaign, which until the debate had been urging voters to reject the Democratic ticket in protest of the war.

Davids view

Forty-eight hours before the debate, Sanders and progressives were focused on a very different election  the defeat of New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman. When I planned my trip to cover Sanders in Wisconsin, the looming questions were about his part of the Democratic coalition, and how it could be motivated when, as Sanders put it, the electoral system allows billionaire-funded super PACs to buy elections.

The left is still wrestling with that, and it makes the Biden problem even more complicated. The party infrastructure that defeated Sanders in two primaries, and did little to rescue Bowman from his primary challenge, is now suddenly grappling with a polycrisis: A president whos secured his partys nomination, but is being urged to concede it, which would create an opening on the ticket that the left has no power to fill.

Sanders, who is just over a year older than Biden, was not joining the panic parade around the presidents viability. In an interview at an earlier stop of his Wisconsin tour, he said that Biden was not a great debater or great speaker, problems that a strong and message-focused campaign could overcome. Asked about his own experience with a health-focused feeding frenzy  his heart attack after a 2019 campaign stop in Las Vegas  Sanders said that the media takes itself a little too seriously, and that Democrats needed to go out and defend the Biden record.

I think you can learn a lot from Trump, in that regard, said Sanders. Trump goes out and talks to people, a lot of people, and he keeps talking to them. Thats what weve got to do. Were going all over the state, were getting good crowds. He slapped his hand on a table for emphasis. Talk. To. People. About. Issues. Relevant. To. Their. Lives. Dont worry about the media so much.

One way to do that, said Sanders, was to push for progressive agenda items in the partys platform, and to speak frequently about what could be done in a second Biden term. When you talk about, for example, expanding Medicare to cover dental and vision and hearing, the last polling I saw on that had 90% support, he said.

Sanders has decades of experience selling the partys more tenuous voters on incremental gains come election time. But the trickier issue to manage is still Israel, where the divide between the candidate and the left is more fundamental.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris continue to face Gaza protests nearly everywhere they go. Sanders, who opposes new unconditional aid to Israel, said that the issue was not hard: People could condemn the violence of Hamas while opposing a right-wing extremist government in Jerusalem that was doing terrible, terrible things that we should not be financing.

But that was not the Biden position, and the ticket was going to face protests in Chicago, and likely at party meetings, no matter what happened at the debate. If the Biden-Harris ticket remains intact, the work of turning out the 2020 coalition again got harder for every faction. The pro-Biden left will cast the election as a choice between economic and social progress and democratic backsliding; the emboldened anti-Biden left will argue that the president is too incompetent to serve again and that the usual electability arguments for ignoring their demands sound ridiculous with him as the nominee.

What if the president follows Lyndon Johnson, and withdraws from the race? The left didnt challenge him seriously in the primary. Marianne Williamsons progressive campaign won zero delegates, and the Uncommitted campaign won just 37 of them, less than 1% of the total. If there is a new ticket, it will be picked by Biden delegates and a Biden-led DNC.

We remain open to supporting an open convention if that becomes viable, said Abbas Alawieh, a spokesman for the Uncommitted campaign, on Saturday. But right now, American bombs are still dropping on civilians in Gaza and Biden is the current president with the immediate power to stop this.

The View From Voters

Voters who showed up to hear Sanders at large and crowded events ran the gamut. All of them were devastated by how Biden had debated, but some wanted reassurance that he could win, which Sanders helped with.

It was a disaster, said Paige Sechrest, 33, who saw Sanders in Eau Claire. I understand the assignment. We cant have another four years of Trump. But the debate made me feel really, really sad about the lack of choice.

Boris Krichevsky, a 39-year-old immigrant from Russia who had moved to the city with Secrest, said that Sanders reinforced his thinking about oligarchy and how the country could be saved and improved  even if it looked hopeless after Thursday.

We need to keep up that fight, moving the needle toward the progressive positions. The arc bends toward justice, hopefully, he said. I want to believe that idea.

In LaCrosse, 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party Chair William Garcia said that the debate was a cheap and easy story for the press. It was frustrating to him that Biden hadnt challenged Trump effectively, leaving MAGA talking points about immigration and healthcare hanging in the air, but it wasnt the end of the race.

I think were gonna get past it, said Garcia. Were going to have another debate. Were going to hope that Biden is feeling better that day. Were going to see Biden out in front of cameras, giving speeches, talking to people, and were going to show that this was a one-off, a fluke.

Notable

Elsewhere in Semafor, Joseph Zeballos-Roig talked to Sanderss partner in the Vermont delegation , Sen. Pete Welch, who said that the Biden campaign had a lot to prove. I really do criticize the campaign for a dismissive attitude towards people who are raising questions for discussion.

In The Texas Tribune, Matthew Choi interviewed Rep. Lloyd Doggett after he became the first Democrat to urge Biden to leave the ticket. There are many people who would like to make a statement like this but are concerned about, among other things, doing anything that might make it even more difficult for President Biden, he said.
[Source]

Tran Thi Huong, a cleaner at Da Nang International Airport, discovered a bag containing $54,900 in cash while cleaning on Wednesday and promptly reported the find to airport authorities.

A Japanese tourist retrieved his belongings on Thursday, explaining that he forgot his bag at the international terminal before his flight to South Korea on the day it was found. Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Company and Hoan My company rewarded Tran with 5 million dong ($196) and 1 million dong ($40) for her honesty on Friday.

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SEOUL, July 2 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will focus on the conservation of marine environment and biodiversity as the Asian economy cannot keep growing without a preserved environment, the country's oceans and fisheries minister said Tuesday.

"Without a preserved environment, it's not easy to build economic wealth. Unless the environment for dwelling, forest and agriculture as well as the marine environment are properly preserved, the balance will be broken," Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung told a press conference with foreign correspondents in Seoul.

Kang vowed to make his best efforts to conserve the marine environment and ecosystem diversity as biodiversity restoration and carbon dioxide reduction cannot be achieved without a preserved ocean.

To conserve marine biodiversity, the ministry planned to designate 30 percent of the country's ocean as protected marine areas while pushing for enactment of the protected marine area act.

It was in line with the global trend, in which the international community set the goal of designating 30 percent of their land and ocean as protected areas by 2030, Kang noted.

To tackle climate change challenges, the ministry planned to scale up blue carbon, or the carbon absorbed by the marine ecosystem such as marine organisms and algae.

Under the plan, it aims to absorb about 1.36 million tons of carbon emissions by 2050. It is known that about 23 percent of the globally produced greenhouse gas emissions are absorbed by the ocean.

For the reduction of marine plastic pollution, the ministry launched a so-called fishing gear deposit system this year, in which fishermen pay a certain amount of money, or deposit, when purchasing fishing gear and receive back the deposit after returning the used fishing gear.

Of the country's marine-produced waste estimated at 50,000 tons per year, discarded fishing gear and aquafarm waste accounted for 75.5 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively, according to the ministry.

The country has developed and distributed biodegradable fishing gear to local fishermen since 2007, supplying more than 30 million units of eco-friendly buoy since 2015.

Through the marine environment policies, the country will create a healthy marine environment that can be enjoyed by future generations, Kang stressed.

South Korea will host the 10th Our Ocean Conference in the southeastern port city of Busan in April next year.

About 1,000 people, including government officials from some 100 countries and representatives of some 400 non-profit and international organizations, are expected to attend the conference where issues on protected marine area, marine pollution, climate change, sustainable fishing, marine economy and marine security will be discussed, Kang added. 
Insights from Le Monde, the Financial Times, and The Washington Post

The News

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv on a surprise visit Tuesday, shortly after Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, the grouping of the blocs leaders.

The trip marks the first time that Orban, an EU skeptic who is sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has visited Ukraine since Moscows 2022 invasion. As the far right rises in Europe, voices like Orbans could become more prevalent in Europes operations, potentially creating a complicated future for the alliance.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Orbans presidency has worried critics

Source: Le Monde

Orban has, in recent months, adopted a Make Europe Great Again (MEGA) slogan, riffing on the Make America Great Again adage commonly used by former US President Donald Trump. Orban has wanted to deconstruct the EU, turning it into a Europe of nations, French newspaper Le Monde noted. While the six months during which Hungary will hold the presidency wont be enough for Orban to achieve his goals, the nations Parliament is now in charge of setting the EUs agenda. The power that Hungary now holds has worried critics in key roles in the European Parliament, especially with war raging in Ukraine and at a time when the far right has been knocking on the doors of power in France, Le Monde added.

Rise of far-right in Europe could hamper EU operations

Source: Financial Times

With the far-right on track to win elections in key European countries, including France, a minority of the bloc could hold up decision-making in Brussels. If four nations representing 35% of the bloc abstain from voting or vote against legislation, it cannot pass. Together, a far-right French government, alongside Giorgia Meloni in Italy, Hungarys Orban, a new, far-right Dutch government, and euroskeptic Slovakia would make up 35.7% of Europe  paving the way for a tiny minority of nations that could block any legislation, the Financial Times noted. Conservative governments dont always agree on everything, French MEP Pascal Canfin told the FT, but on migration, green issues, human rights progress, they will likely coalesce and that will mean there will be a collective veto for [the] extreme right if they start working together.

Orban already taunting his critics

Source: The Washington Post

Hungary has been a holdout in the implementation of several policies from Brussels in recent years, most notably over funding packages for Ukraine. Hungary wont have the time to hugely upend EU operations, since its presidency is following the recent European elections, and no big files are coming up for discussion. As a result, Orban and his supporters are using the opportunity to troll Brussels, The Washington Post noted. The challenge for lawmakers in Brussels over the next six months will be to separate noise from actual impact, Zselyke Csaky, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, told the Post.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made his first visit to Kyiv since Russias full-scale war began, and urged Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire in order to speed up peace talks with Moscow.

Standing alongside Zelensky on Tuesday, Orban, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has criticized European support for Ukraine, said: I asked the president to think about whether we could reverse the order, and speed up peace talks, with making a ceasefire first.

Orban continued: A ceasefire connected to a deadline would give a chance to speed up peace talks. I explored this possibility with the president and I am grateful for his honest answers and negotiation.

The Hungarian leader has touted the idea of ending the war with a ceasefire as opposed to military support for Ukraine numerous times since Russias military flooded across the border in 2022.

Zelensky dismissed the idea, according to his office.

Speaking on national TV on Monday, Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of Zelenskys office, said that even though Orban was given the opportunity to express his thoughts during his visit to Kyiv, Zelenskys position on this issue is clear, understandable and known.

Zelensky previously rejected French President Emmanuel Macrons Olympic ceasefire proposal citing its potential to inadvertently benefit Russians on the ground.

According to Zhovkva, Kyivs number one tool to end hostilities is through a second peace summit, which Ukraine is already preparing for.

We are saying that Ukraine will draft its peace plan, a roadmap for establishing peace in Ukraine. It will develop it with all the states that are ready. Hungary is also ready for this. And then, if the aggressor country is ready to listen to this plan, ready to talk about this plan, and not to speak the language of ultimatums, then yes, during the second summit, we can say that representatives of the Russian Federation may attend this summit in one way or another, he said.

Orban also stated his desire to improve relations between Budapest and Kyiv, which have been strained by the Hungarian leaders close relationship with Putin.

We would like to make the relationship between the two countries better, Orban said. We would like to make a broad bilateral agreement with Ukraine, similar to the ones we already made with our neighbors (in the past). We would be happy to take part in the modernization of Ukraines economy, we would like an ordered framework for this.

The authoritarian Hungarian leader has regularly attempted to block European Union initiatives offering further military and financial support to Kyiv during the conflict.

The Hungarian prime ministers close relationship with Putin has frequently come under scrutiny. Their bond is underpinned by both economic cooperation and some shared values.

Both leaders have also enacted anti-LGBTQ policies and clamped down on freedom of speech in their countries. Hungary has supported Russia at a United Nations level and rejected EU sanctions following Putins aggression in Ukraine as early as 2014, after Russia illegally annexed Crimea.

Tuesdays meeting comes as Orban and Hungary take control of the EU Councils rotating presidency, which changes every six months. During each six-month period, the country controlling the presidency does not take control of the EUs overall agenda, but does have a platform through which they can hammer home their own priorities.

On the EU Councils website, it likens holding the presidency to someone hosting a dinner, making sure their guests all gather in harmony, adding that to guarantee effectiveness, the presidency acts as an honest broker, rising above the holders own national interest.

Orban took control of the presidency on Monday with a call to Make Europe Great Again, a reference to Donald Trumps political slogan that will alarm many of his European counterparts who are braced for the former US presidents potential return to the White House, concerned about what it will mean for the EU.

Other key European diplomatic meetings are planned for July. NATO will celebrate 75 years of the alliance in Washington, DC between July 9 and 11. The agenda for that event is expected to be dominated by long-term plans to support Ukraine and conversations about its eventual accession to the alliance.

Talks between the two leaders will focus on possibilities for achieving peace, as well as current issues in Hungarian-Ukrainian bilateral relations, a Hungarian government spokesperson said. - Zoltan Fischer/MTI/AP

The European Political Community (EPC), a forum for 47 European countries, inside and outside the EU, to discuss the continents strategic challenges, will also meet on July 18 in the United Kingdom. Ukraine and Hungary are both members of the EPC.

It is expected that Ukraine will dominate that agenda and Zelensky may attend the meeting in person. Orban may have had this in mind when timing this trip to Kyiv, ensuring that his first meeting with Ukraines president since the start of the war was not in such a public and high-stakes diplomatic setting.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Amy Cassidy and Niamh Kennedy contributed reporting.

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FILE - Virginia state Sen. John McGuire, a candidate in the Republican primary in the state's 5th Congressional District, joins supporters, June 18, 2024, in Lynchburg, Va. On Monday, July 2, 2024, The Associated Press said the race between McGuire and Rep. Bob Good was still too close to call. (AP Photo/Skip Rowland, File)

RICHMOND. Va. (AP)  The Virginia State Board of Elections on Tuesday certified the apparent narrow defeat of Republican Rep. Bob Good, one of America's most conservative congressmen, to a challenger endorsed by former President Donald Trump in the state's June 18 primaries.

The board's unanimous vote to certify the results does not end the matter, though. Good, who chairs the hard-right House Freedom Caucus in Congress, has said he will seek a recount now that the state has declared his opponent, state Sen. John McGuire, the winner of the primary in Virginia's 5th Congressional District.

The margin of victory certified by the electoral board was roughly 375 votes out of nearly 63,000 ballots cast, or 0.6 percentage points. That falls within the 1% margin allowing a recount to be requested. But because the margin is larger than 0.5 percentage points, Good will be required to pay for the cost of a recount himself.

Last week the AP declared the race too close to call, citing the likelihood of a recount.

Good has said he will pursue both a recount and legal challenges to block a McGuire victory. On social media he called for a do-over in the city of Lynchburg, the largest city in the district and a Good stronghold, citing alleged irregularities there.

Good and others have claimed that the city botched the vote count by accepting ballots from a drop box after Election Night.

The Lynchburg registrar has said due to a procedural error that seven ballots were retrieved from a drop box on the Friday after the election rather than on Election Night. The registrar said, though, that they believe the ballots were dropped off on Election Day and that no one witnessed any of the seven ballots being dropped off after Election Day.

Goods campaign, in a social media post, also raised skepticism about three fire alarms that went off at polling places in three different district precincts on Election Day.

AI estimates the probability being 0.0000000318% chance, the campaign said of the likelihood.

Virginia elections commissioner Susan Beals said at Tuesdays meeting that the fire alarms were triggered by maintenance activities at schools that were hosting the polling places. She praised the work of elections officers to secure ballots and said workers ensured that no voters were turned away.

She said that occasional issues always crop up in elections administration, but these are not systemic problems that call into question the results of our elections.

At Tuesday's meeting an election lawyer representing the McGuire campaign, Daniel Bruce, said there is no reason to doubt the results despite efforts to undermine confidence. Bruce noted the complaints about the Lynchburg drop box and said that at most we're talking about seven votes.

We are confident in the integrity of the election and the legitimacy of the results, Bruce said.

No one from the Good campaign spoke at Tuesday's meeting. Good's campaign manager, Diana Shores, said in an email that Good remains committed to seeking a recount.

Now that the results have been certified, Good's campaign has a 10-day window in which to file a recount petition with one of the circuit courts in the 5th District.

Shores said the campaign does not yet have information it can share on where it will file its petition.

Both Good and McGuire are among Republicans who have raised concerns about election integrity in the wake of Trumps false claims of voter fraud in his 2020 reelection defeat. Good was among more than 100 GOP House members who voted in January 2021 to object to the Electoral College count from states that Trump disputed.

In an Election Eve telephone rally with Trump, McGuire urged supporters to deliver him a margin of victory too big to rig.

If Good loses, he would be the first House incumbent nationally to lose a primary challenge this year, with the exception of one race in which two incumbents faced off due to redistricting.

The Good-McGuire race highlighted the frictions in the party and was seen as a test of Trump's hold on the GOP electorate. Trump labeled Good a backstabber because Good endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the Republican candidate for president.

Either Republican would be favored in November over the Democratic nominee, Gloria Witt, in a district that tilts conservative.
Very tragic, very sad: One person died following crash into water at MMMBT

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY)  A 55-year-old Florida man has died following a two-vehicle crash Monday morning that sent one of the vehicles into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.

We did lose one person and that individual was inside that single vehicle that we pulled out, said David Lewis, Newport News Fire Assistant Fire Chief.

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Virginia State Police reported that two cars crashed around 6:58 a.m.

They determined through its investigation that a 2011 Chevy Traverse was traveling in the right lane of southbound Interstate 664 when it tried to make a lane change and struck a 2005 Dodge Durango in the left lane, State Police said. The Traverse then spun and went over the bridge wall and into the water.

The driver of the Traverse, a 55-year-old man from Orlando, Florida, died in the crash, State Police said.

A witness to the crash told 10 On Your Sides Kiahnna Patterson that she saw one car roll several times before going into the water. The woman, who was behind the crash, then called 911.

Several agencies with resources rushed to Interstate 664, including; Newport News police & fire, Suffolk police & fire, Norfolk Police, Virginia State Police, Marine Police, the Port of Virginia and the Coast Guard.

Darin Ward lives near the bridge and witnessed the large scene on and above the area.

It really scary. Its frightening.  Thats everybodys nightmare, Ward said.

Once we arrived on scene, unfortunately, the vehicle was already submerged. So now it creates a different layer of challenges to get down to the vehicle to access it, said Demitri Wilson, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Special Operations. The currents were choppy this morning. It rained all night. The wind was up with very choppy conditions, which adds a layer of challenges to this type of incident.

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Numerous agencies worked to recover a vehicle that crashed into the water at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. (Photo  Newport News Fire Department)

Initially, divers with Suffolk Police went into water and found the vehicle, but the currents and wind were still too strong for them to recover it.

We couldnt safely get rescuers down to where the vehicle was located, Lewis said. Sonar was picking up that there was an object in a certain location right off the bridge and thats where we ended up sending down an underwater vehicle with the assistance of Chesapeake and Suffolk Fire Department. They were able to confirm that there was a vehicle located at the bottom  about 35 feet down.

On their second attempt, divers with Newport News Fire were able to recover the car from the water. That happened at around 2:32 p.m. It was all part of a multi-agency marine emergency response.

(Courtesy: VDOT)

Within several hours, once the current slowed down,  we were to send crews down there, make attachments with a tow truck that was on scene, and we were able to get out of the way, Lewis said.

State Police will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash and identify the person.

Unfortunately, we lost somebody and theres a family thats suffering, Lewis said. I would just ask that everybody  to keep the thoughts and prayers towards those who have been severely impacted today.

The crash halted southbound traffic for upwards of an hour.

Right about 7:10 a.m. as I approached the MMMBT, the traffic started to slow and once I got up to that hill on the bridge, traffic pretty much stopped, Caitlin Knox said.

When Knox saw the police and fire response as she waited in traffic, she immediately knew what happened.

Im a full-time police officer and part-time Coast Guard, so as soon as I saw the patrol boats heading over there, I kind of had a suspicion, Knox said. Its unfortunate but living in a coastal area with a lot of waterways and bridges, accidents happen a lot around the water, Knox stated.

The crash is still under investigation. There was no structural damage to the MMMBT.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
After Vulgar Testimony, Lead Investigator in Karen Read Case Is 'Relieved of Duty' After Mistrial

In text messages State Police Trooper Michael Proctor was made to read on the stand, he called Read a wack job and said he hoped she would kill herself

David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty; Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via Getty Karen Read; Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor

The lead investigator in the Karen Read case whose degrading and inflammatory text messages about her came to light during the high-profile trial has been relieved of his duties, state officials announced.

On Monday, July 1, after the shocking news that the sensational, months-long case had ended in a mistrial, Colonel John E. Mawn, Jr., interim superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced that Trooper Michael Proctor had been relieved of duty effective immediately.

Upon learning todays result, the Department took immediate action to relieve Trooper Michael Proctor of duty and formally transfer him out of the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office State Police Detectives Unit, Mawn said in a statement.

This follows our previous decision to open an internal affairs investigation after information about serious misconduct emerged in testimony at the trial. This investigation is ongoing.

Related: Defense Slams Prosecutors After Karen Read Mistrial as State Says It Will Retry Case

Proctor will be transferred from the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office detective unit on Sunday, July 7. He did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

On Monday, an NBC Boston reporter in the street outside Proctor's home asked him if he thought his actions impacted the outcome of the trial. He did not reply and went inside his house.

Related: Mistrial Declared in Karen Read Case After Jury Can't Reach a Verdict in Murder Trial

His wife told the reporter, who was standing in the street, to "get off our lawn," before walking toward the house saying, "I fully support my husband. Karen Read is a murderer, per the outlet.

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 announcement about Proctor came hours after Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial because jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Prosecutors said in a statement immediately afterward that they intend to retry Read.

Read, 44, was charged with second-degree murder after prosecutors claimed she backed her SUV into her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, 46, and left him to die in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2022, in Canton.

She told authorities she dropped him off at a house party at the home of retired Boston police officer Brian Albert after a night of bar hopping and left.

Read and her lawyers allege that O'Keefe got into a physical fight with someone at the party and was carried into the yard and left there.

They also allege that Albert and others know what happened inside the house that night and that Read is the victim of a massive coverup among local and state law enforcement officials and others who are framing her to protect their own.

Reads lawyers accused Proctor of helping to frame Read, claiming che planted evidence of a broken taillight at the scene to protect the Alberts and others, with whom he has personal ties.

Related: Lead Investigator in Karen Read Case Admits on Stand He Texted that He Wanted Her to Die by Suicide

During the trial, Reads lawyers had Proctor read aloud the derogatory messages he sent fellow troopers about her, CBS News reports.

She's a whack-job," he texted. He then texted a vulgar word he called her, which he spelled out on the stand.

The judge stopped him and said, "These are your words, Trooper Proctor" and made him say the word, "c---," out loud, NBC Boston reports.

Proctor called the texts unprofessional and "regrettable, Boston 25 News reports.

Proctor is the subject of an internal investigation by the Massachusetts State Police into a potential violation of Department policy, which jurors were not told about, NBC Boston reports.



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A new fraud report released Monday by the Washington State Auditors Office showed that a management analyst with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) fiscal department misappropriated nearly $900,000 in state funds to a consulting business registered under the analysts name.

According to the report, the misappropriation of $878,115 is the largest from a state agency in at least 15 years.

The charges took place between 2019 and 2023 and were found using a new data analysis tool developed by the Auditors Office. That analysis found the charges on the credit card belonging to OAH, which was charging a consulting business registered with the Department of Revenue under the employees name.

Auditors have long known that fraud frequently begins with a series of small transactions that people use as (a) test scheme to secretly move money to themselves or others, according to a news release from the Auditors Office on Monday. If the smaller misappropriations are not detected, they often balloon in frequency and size.

OAHs Chief Financial Officer did not recognize the consulting business when auditors asked for supporting documentation about it.

Auditors found that no one at the agency was reviewing the credit card charges, which allowed the analyst to charge four different business names the analyst created and allowed the analyst to charge personal expenses to the card.

The Auditors Office noted in their news release that the employee is no longer working for the agency but they plan to forward the report to the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

I am greatly concerned by the increasing boldness of misappropriations of public funds at all levels of government, State Auditor Pat McCarthy said in a statement. This is the second case of six-figure losses we have reported this year, in addition to multiple smaller cases. We offer several fraud-prevention resources and trainings, and I encourage every local government and state agency to take advantage of them.

The other case of misappropriated funds noted by McCarthy was found earlier this year in Cusick, the headquarters of the Kalispel Indian Community. The case found a nearly $278,000 loss in public funds for the small community in northeast Washington. Cusick operates on an average annual budget of $838,000, according to the report.
Gavin Newsom speaks to members of the press on the day of the first 2024 presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, on 27 June 2024.

Gavin Newsom speaks to members of the press on the day of the first 2024 presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, on 27 June 2024. Photograph: Marco Bello/Reuters

To paraphrase Jan Brady of the Brady Bunch, lately its been Newsom, Newsom, Newsom all day long.

Hes been at the Vatican for a climate summit, and in Alpharetta, Georgia, for a televised debate with Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Hes all over the TV, actually  on Fox News and MSNBC, and in advertisements airing in Tennessee.

And ever since Joe Bidens catastrophic performance at the first presidential debate on CNN, his name has popped up in nearly every list of possible successors. With just four months to go until the presidential election, chances that the president would step aside now are exceedingly remote  but that hasnt stopped the speculation. Online political betting odds that Gavin Newsom, the California governor, would end up at the top of the presidential ticket this year tripled to a one-in-four chance last week.

For the ambitious governor of the most populous US state, this crowning moment has been a long time in the making. For years, Newsoms flair for a photo op and steady pursuit of network news spots have fueled speculation about his presidential ambitions, and sparked scepticism among constituents whod rather he stick to his day job. Now, it seems, the man who has spent the last several years seeking a national stage has finally found himself at the centre of one.

I think its been clear that hes been waiting in the wings for some time, said Emily Hoeven, an opinion columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle and politics reporter who has followed Newsoms career closely. But I think that now there is a far bigger opening for him than there ever has been.

The governor was swarmed by the press the moment the debate ended. It was like human piranhas descending on the governor after the end of this debate, marvelled MSNBC host Alex Wagner, as she settled in for a post-debate interview with him.

Newsom, who is top surrogate for Bidens 2024 campaign, waved away the buzz about whether he would replace Biden on the Democratic ticket. When Wagner asked about growing calls for Biden to step down, he quickly said such talk was unhelpful and unnecessary  before highlighting Bidens record on the economy and abortion, and the threats his opponent poses to the continuation of US democracy.

I think what youve seen is this, what Gavin Newsom has to say is really not so different from what Joe Biden has to say, said Bill Whalen, a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution thinktank in Palo Alto, California. But he takes Joe Bidens message, and he delivers it much more effectively.

For Democrats across the US, Whalen said, Newsom is living out a dream scenario  leading a blue state with a Democratic supermajority in the legislature, where he can easily pass liberal reforms that would be nearly impossible to get through in other states or at a national level. A lot of what Democrats would love to do nationally, California is doing, Whalen said.

It has also helped that as California governor  one who handily defeated a recall campaign in 2021  Newsom has amassed formidable political funds that he has been using not only to aid other Democratic candidates including Biden, but also his own political aspirations. Since his easy re-election in 2022, the governor has funnelled millions in campaign funds towards ads and appearances outside his home state.

Whether he can translate that momentum into a successful national campaign remains uncertain, Whalen and other political analysts said.

While he has been busy pursuing the national limelight, his reputation at home has soured. Only 47% of likely voters in California approved of his job performance in a Public Policy Institute of California survey in June, down from 57% in March 2023.

It may not help Newsoms case that amid recent budget shortages, the state has been grappling with a spiralling homelessness crisis, an underperforming education system and growing economic inequality.

I think that his actions demonstrate that his priorities are increasingly lying outside of California, said Hoeven. And I think that that is frustrating to Californians who obviously did not elect him to be the president.

In recent months, Newsom has appeared to abandon some of his more progressive political stances  including backtracking on support for supervised injection sites, vetoing a bill to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms and occasionally siding with Republicans and against allies in the legislature  which some supporters have perceived as an appeal to swing voters.

But it remains unclear whether the liberal governor of a blue state will ever truly have what it takes to amass national support in an increasingly divided country. And while his powerful political connections have helped his star rise in California, it is unclear whether he will be able to shed a certain elitist affect that has dogged his campaigns here.

Then theres the enduring image thats haunted the governors political career for two decades: a photograph of Newsom stretched across a luxurious rug in Ann Gettys penthouse, with his ex-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle  who is now a rightwing TV personality and Donald Trumps daughter-in-law.

It will be easy for opponents to hearken back to the governors infamously ill-timed visit to the Michelin-starred French Laundry restaurant amid a Covid-19 surge, or to point out his familys decision to move, part-time, from Californias capitol in Sacramento to the wealthy Bay Area enclave of Marin  to enrol their child in a private academy.

In a recent bit on Jimmy Kimmel Live, comedian Josh Meyers plays your lovin Govin in a fake political ad where Meyers-as-Newsom attempts a bench press in his signature startup-chic navy business jacket and half-buttoned white shirt while promoting lunar power. He huffs a vape and when someone asks for a hit he says: Sure, but I only vape merlot without breaking out of his toothpaste commercial smile.

There is such a thing as perhaps being too attractive, or, more to the point, looking like the person whose photo comes with the new wallet that you buy at the department store, said Whalen. Thats Gavin Newsom.

Hoeven thinks back to Newsoms inauguration in 2023, when he led what was billed as an anti-January 6 march to the capitol. He was meant to march about a quarter-mile, alongside supporters, down to the governors office. But in reality, there were these massive fences up on either side of the promenade, basically, so the average person could not participate or really even watch the parade, she recalled.

The governor walked only a little bit, before getting into a car. It was emblematic of some of the ways that hes failed to connect, I think, with the average person, she said.
Germany and Poland have reaffirmed their security cooperation in a joint action plan, Reuters reported on July 2.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Poland on July 2 to meet Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. For the first time since 2018, Berlin and Warsaw participated in intergovernmental consultations between the cabinets.

The parties agreed to discuss boosting defense cooperation, including a stronger NATO presence on the alliance's eastern border and the coordination of Ukraine aid, according to the plan Reuters saw after the intergovernmental talks.

"We will endeavor to ensure transatlantic political unity and an optimal military presence of the North American allies in Europe, including the eastern flank," the text said, according to Reuters.

The plan also included additional assistance to Ukraine, like maintaining Leopard 2 tanks, Reuters said, citing the obtained document.

However, Berlin and Warsaw had different views on the EU's financing of defense projects.

Tusk has advocated that the bloc should be involved in common financing of such initiatives, but Scholz has disagreed with the idea of EU's involvement in financing arms purchases or national defense budgets.

Tusk said he would continue to stress the importance of coordinating defense purchases within the bloc.

"Poland spends huge amounts of money on armaments," Tusk said. "I would like our efforts to be well coordinated with the efforts of other countries."

Warsaw also reiterated its willingness to join the European Sky Shield initiative, which currently involves 21 countries. The initiative aims to create an Iron Dome-style air defense system covering several European NATO member states.

Tusk said that Warsaw and Berlin would work together despite "differences in how defense projects should be financed."

In late May, Tusk announced that the Polish government signed a contract with the European Investment Bank (EIB) worth 300 million euros (around $326 million) to construct its part of the pan-European air defense.

Read also: Opinion: The EU needs to shift focus as war returns to Europe

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A stack of past Thurston County voter guides. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

Starting next week, many Washington counties will send out voter guides for the states Aug. 6 primary.

The sometimes 100-plus-page pamphlets are the pride and joy of many Washington election officials, providing free information on candidates, ballot measures and election resources directly to voters mailboxes.

Though whats in the booklet, how much it costs and who sends it out has changed since the first one was delivered 110 years ago, the goal is the same: to inform voters.

This is a really important piece of literature for candidates and voters, Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall told the Standard.

Over a century of voter education

VotersPamphlet1914

The 1914 voters pamphlet. (Courtesy of the Secretary of States Office)

As part of a constitutional amendment setting up Washingtons referenda and initiative process, state voters in 1912 also approved requirements for an accompanying pamphlet to explain measures appearing on the ballot.

The original language called on the Legislature to provide methods of publicity for all laws or constitutional amendments referred to voters for final approval. That publicity was required to have arguments for and against and to be delivered to voters 50 days before the election.

The Legislature passed a law a year later setting up the process for how the secretary of state would publish and distribute the pamphlets.

The first one went out in 1914 with 63 pages. It included information on measures to ban liquor, to employ prisoners on highway projects, and to require businesses to repay medical bills for workers in extra-hazardous jobs.

More than a century after the first edition, the secretary of states office produces guides for all statewide elections, such as the one this November. For others, including primaries and local odd-year races, county auditors are in charge of producing and distributing the pamphlet.

Over the years, dozens of different versions of the guide have hit voters kitchen tables. There are many covers decorated with students designs, featuring American flags, bald eagles and the Statue of Liberty. Theres the 1991 edition celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. And, of course, the most recent green design with the state seal.

State law requires the guides to include statements from candidates in federal, statewide and local races as well as their photos and contact information if submitted.

They must also include arguments for and against ballot measures and other useful information to voters, such as important deadlines and how to return a ballot.

Hall said Thurston Countys primary guide will also include information on the security of the elections process, maps showing the locations of county election offices and reminders for how to fix signature problems on a completed ballot.

We use them as best we can to build trust, she said.

Heavy lift

For the local pamphlets, county elections workers must read every candidates statement to check that they meet ethical guidelines. The statements must only be used to promote the candidate running and cannot be used to attack an opponent.

If the statements dont meet the guidelines, counties can reject them and ask for a rewrite, Hall said.

Under current law, the state cannot reject statements in the statewide guide, except in rare circumstances.

County auditors are trying to get the state to align its requirements more closely with local ones, Hall said, but the Legislature has not approved any laws to do so, in part because of concerns over limiting free speech.

The statements can have shortcomings. Just because elections officials read each one before publishing the guides, it doesnt mean theyre grammatically correct, or even factual.

Elections officials dont edit, Hall said. They only check to make sure the statements follow ethics guidelines.

Washington does allow candidates to sue opponents over false statements in the statewide voter guide, but the statement must be defamatory to be removed.

All this voter education has a price. In Thurston County, for example, producing around 144,000 August primary guides will cost about $45,000, though some of that can be reimbursed by the state. The countys primary guide is 103 pages.

To send out the November statewide guide, the cost is estimated to be between $1.2 million and $1.5 million, according to Derrick Nunnally, spokesman for the secretary of states office. The exact price will depend on printing costs.

In California, the cost of a 112-page March voter guide was $13.2 million, CalMatters reported in May. Thats about 10 times the estimated cost of Washingtons statewide guide this year. California does have four to five times as many voters as Washington.

Washington produces dozens of different versions of its guide based on county, language and accessibility. In 2020, there were 32 variations. The state also compiles all information in an online voter guide at voteWA.gov.

What to know about Washingtons 2024 August primary

When will ballots be delivered?

Ballots will be mailed out before July 19, the start of the states 18-day voting period.

When are ballots due?

Ballots must be postmarked or in official drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Aug. 6.

Where can I drop off my ballot?

Ballots can be left at an official drop box, sent in the mail or delivered in person at a county voting center. Voters who need assistance can also go to a county voting center to vote in person by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The states map of drop box and voting center locations can be found here.

Can I still register to vote?

Yes. Voters can register online or by mail up until July 29. Those wishing to register after that day can do so in person at a voting center up until 8 p.m. on Election Day. A full list of election year dates and deadlines can be found here.

Whos on my ballot?

There are 654 races across the state this August. The Washington Office of the Secretary of State and the county auditors compile voter guides for every district. Visit VoteWA.gov for a personalized guide to whats on your ballot.

When will results be posted?

Results will vary by county, but most begin posting around 8:15 p.m. on election night, though votes are tallied as they come in, meaning results can change in the days following the election. County canvassing boards certify the results by Aug. 20, and the secretary of state certifies the results by Aug. 23. For statewide results and links to county results, visit results.vote.wa.gov.

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The post How the Washington state voter guide became a 110-year democratic tradition appeared first on Washington State Standard.
COLOMBO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a proposal to implement a special loan scheme to remove obstacles for women to engage in economic activities, a statement from the government's information department said on Tuesday.

The department said the cabinet decided to allocate 20 billion Sri Lankan rupees (65 million U.S. dollars) as an investment scheme to re-strengthen the enterprise sector.

It said 2 billion rupees (6.5 million U.S. dollars) out of it will be used to implement the women-related loan scheme.

It is observed that women's participation in Sri Lanka's economic affairs is at a lower level than other regional and Asian countries.

According to the 2022 survey of Sri Lanka's workforce, 35 percent of the economically active population are women. It shows a significant disparity in the gender contribution rates of economic participation, according to the department.

The department said opportunities for accessing financial resources are limited due to reasons such as women's limited financial literacy and lack of property or security required to obtain a loan.

These have been identified as the main obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, the department added. 
Democrats are publicly sharing their concerns about President Joe Bidens re-election and urging his campaign to be open about his condition after Bidens disastrous debate performance last Thursday.

Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., criticized the Biden campaign for dismissing concerns about the presidents health and well-being, Semafor reported. The campaign has raised the concerns themselves, he told the outlet. So then to be dismissive of others who raise those concerns, I think its inappropriate."

The senator stressed the importance of having a Democratic candidate strong enough to beat Donald Trump, especially in light of Mondays Supreme Court ruling granting the president immunity for official acts. Though Welch said Democrats respect Biden immensely, the party must do everything it can to ensure victory come November.

Passivity is not the response that is going to work for us. We all have to be self conscious, Welch said. We all have to be acutely aware that our obligation is to the country, even more than the party. Thats the obligation we have  whats best for the country.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., expressed similar concern in an interview with 12 News. I think like a lot of people I was pretty horrified by the debate, said. The blips of President Biden and the barrage of lying from President Trump were not what one would hope for in a presidential debate.

Whitehouse said he was surprised by Bidens shaky performance, as he hadnt seen the president in such a state before. If the Democrats are to keep Trump out of office, Whitehouse said they need to take a more aggressive approach.

Ive been critical of the campaign all along, so the upside is that this could be the jolt that they need to make a more compelling case against Donald Trump and for President Biden and the goals Democrats want to achieve," Whitehouse said.

Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., argued that Democrats need to be honest with ourselves and accept that Bidens debate performance wasnt just a horrible night, Politico reported.

Though Quigley said Biden has served the U.S. extraordinarily for 50 years, he told CNNs Kasie Hunt that Biden too has to be honest with himself about the viability of his candidacy, as the November election will have implications for decades to come."

It probably takes up to a week to get decent polling  I do think thats probably the only thing out there right now that could change his mind or influence that critical decision that, again, only he can make," Quigley said.

On Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) became the first Democratic lawmaker to publicly call on Biden to drop out of the race.

My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved, Doggett said in a statement. Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Bidens first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.

Former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan also called for Biden to withdraw and for Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place. In an opinion piece for Newsweek, Ryan stated his love and support for Biden while arguing it was time for the president to step down and pass "the torch to the next generation."

"Joe Biden's debate performance was deeply troubling," Ryan wrote. "But it isn't just about a 90-minute debate and a terrible performance. This election needs to be about generational change  something about which I have been shouting for more than a year now."

He praised Harris's comments in a CNN interview on debate night. "Across cable news stations, the Vice President's performance was stellar, a ray of light in the darkness.

"In short, she is ready for the job. And, more importantly, she deserves a chance to go to the American people and show us her mettle," he wrote.

Despite concern, right now there are no signs that Biden, supported strongly by his family, will drop out of the race.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is standing resolutely by President Joe Biden, even as she acknowledged it was not a good performance in last weeks debate with former President Donald Trump.

President Biden had obviously, arguably a pretty poor performance in the debate, Wasserman Schultz said Tuesday.

Still, she said, Democrats should be concentrating on campaign efforts, not spending time rehashing what happened during the debate. I have two hands, and I think we should be using our hands for door knocking and phone calling  not pearl-clutching and hand-wringing, she said.

And, during an interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, the Broward Democrat dismissed the notion that Biden should drop out in favor of a Democrat who might have a better chance at defeating Trump in November.

I dont expect, nor think its wise for us to change horses just before the finish line, Wasserman Schultz said.

Wasserman Schultz is the senior Democrat in the Florida congressional delegation and a former chair of the Democratic National Committee.

I agree with Vice President (Kamala Harris) and others who have said that you do not chalk up the capability of a president to his performance in 90 minutes, when compared to 3.5 years of the remarkable success that weve had.

Wasserman Schultz rejected the notion that Biden might not be up to the challenge of competing against Trump or serving a full term if reelected in November.

Im confident in what Ive seen. Ive seen President Biden recently and been able to interact with him recently in person. And I can tell you based on my interactions with President Biden, Im confident not only that he can take on (but) beat Donald Trump, she said.

Wasserman said the priority for Democrats in the coming months shouldnt be agonizing over Bidens performance. Instead Democrats need to be able to make sure that we can continue to organize and mobilize across the country to ensure that President Biden can get to 270 electoral votes.

Wasserman Schultz said polls still show that its close.

The needle has not moved, really, very much. The race is still close. It was a close race before the debate. Its still a close race, and this race will be a photo finish most likely, Wasserman Schultz said.

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Theres been limited high-quality, independent public opinion polling since the debate.

A nationwide CBS News poll conducted June 28-29 found 72% of voters think Biden does not have the mental and cognitive health to serve as president. (As for Trump, 49% of voters said he didnt have the mental and cognitive ability to serve.)

The CBS poll found 72% of registered voters and 46% of Democrats believe Biden should not be running for president.

My voters, my constituents, they support President Biden, Wasserman Schultz said. Like many Democrats, she pointed to accomplishments since Biden took office in 2021, calling him the most successful president in modern times. And I dont think thats a close call.

Out front

Wasserman Schultz has been more outspoken in support of Biden than other South Florida members of Congress.

Shortly after the debate ended, Wasserman Schultz posted a statement that highlighted policy differences between Biden and Trump. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, posted a similar statement.

In subsequent days, as chatter grew among pundits and anonymous Democrats that Biden should drop out, Wasserman Schultz rejected that idea.

Theres just honesty, goodness and no quit in @JoeBiden, she wrote in a social media post. In another post, she said that Americans do not want four more years of Trump lies and chaos. I stand with @JoeBiden. And a day after that she praised Biden, criticized Trump and ended a post with Im #RidenWithBiden.

Other South Florida Democrats were more restrained on social media.

An hour before the debate, Frankel posted that she was Looking forward to tonights debate! Excited to support President Biden and highlight the incredible progress weve made under his leadership.

As of midday Tuesday, Frankel hadnt posted anything about Bidens performance, though on Saturday she posted that June was Mens Health Month! Lets encourage the men in our lives to prioritize their health by getting regular check-ups, staying active, and talking openly about mental well-being. A healthier future starts today.

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, commented only indirectly. Just as the debate was ending, he wrote that In the last hour, I have 25 tweets in my draft folder. He didnt post any.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who also represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, didnt address Bidens performance.

She posed with three other Black women members of Congress on the steps of the Capitol. The representatives said it was a Busy day in Congress doing our Black jobs representing our constituents and fighting for justice and opportunity. That was a commentary on one of Trumps debate comments, in which he asserted that undocumented immigrants were taking Black jobs from citizens.

Long alliance

Wasserman Schultzs assessment of Biden on Tuesday was similar to her assessment before the March 2020 Florida presidential primary when she endorsed him in what at the time was still a competitive contest for the Democratic nomination.

She said in an interview at the time that it was a very easy decision because Biden was the Democrat best equipped to defeat Trump and effectively lead the country.

The congresswoman has a long history with Biden.

When Biden was a U.S. senator from Delaware, he was the lead Senate sponsor and Wasserman Schultz was the lead House sponsor of legislation to combat child exploitation. It was signed into law by then-President George W. Bush in 2008.

When he was vice president and Congress was considering then-President Barack Obamas controversial Iran nuclear deal, Biden visited Davie for a session with Jewish community leaders invited by Wasserman Schultz.

And when he was vice president, Biden gave the commencement address to the Cypress Bay High School class of 2012. Cypress Bay is in Wasserman Schultzs hometown of Weston.

As a student at the University of Florida, she supported Biden in his first presidential campaign  in 1988.

I have been supporting Joe Biden and believed that he should be president of the United States someday for my whole adult life, from my first vote for president, Wasserman Schultz said in 2020.

Wasserman Schultz has often praised Biden, once introducing him as a national treasure and a mensch.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr couldnt help but laugh at the mention of Donald Trumps erstwhile strategist Steve Bannon sitting in a federal prison cell.

During an interview on Fox Newss Your World Monday night, host Neil Cavuto asked Barr what impact he believed that presidential immunity, which Trump was freshly granted by the Supreme Court earlier that day, would have on Trumps behavior if reelected to the White House. Cavuto asked Barr if he thought Trump would even care about being punished if hed be 82 years old by the time he left office.

Well, I would say, you know, the president acts through people, said Barr. And maybe he wouldnt worry about it, although I think he would, but his, the people who are around him and are being asked to do things, certainly I think are going to make sure that theyre behaving within the law.

I understand peoples concern given his frequently incendiary rhetoric, Im just saying, having experienced working with a person and being a subordinate of his, Barr continued. You know, Bannon says Im the first person to go to prison under President Trump. I dont lose any sleep over it. Im not worried about that.

Cavuto laughed, before pointing out, I think hes in prison right now, himself.

Barr burst into laughter.

I dont mean to make light of that, Cavuto said, moving on to his next question.

Bannon chaotically reported to Danbury federal prison in Connecticut on Monday, after being found guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress. In recent weeks, the former Trump strategist made several desperate attempts to avoid jail time, all of which were clearly unsuccessful. While the American system of mass incarceration is no laughing matter, perhaps the MAGA mastermind will reenter society with a new perspective on prison abolition?



During his appearance on Fox News, Barr also took aim at Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissent in the immunity case, in which she slammed the majority opinion for making the president a king by giving him the immunity to assassinate his political enemies.

The president has the authority to defend the country against foreign enemies, armed conflict and so forth. He has the authority to direct the justice system against criminals at home. He doesnt have authority to go and assassinate people. So whether he uses the SEAL team or a private hitman, it doesnt matter, it doesnt make it a carrying out of his authority. So all these horror stories really are false, Barr said.

This isnt the first time that Barr has downplayed the violent rhetoric of his former boss. In April, Barr claimed that Trump would lose his temper and blow off steam by calling for the execution of his enemies, but said, I doubt he wouldve actually carried it out. In just the past 24 hours, the possibility of Trump following through on any of his wild remarks promising violent retribution has become all the more real.
The view from the second stage of Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket during the vehicle's fifth-ever flight, which took place on July 4, 2024. | Credit: Firefly Aerospace/NASASpaceflight.com

Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket launched for the fifth time ever early Thursday morning (July 4), sending eight cubesats to orbit.

The mission, which Firefly called "Noise of Summer," launched from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base at 12:04 a.m. EDT (0404 GMT; 9:04 p.m. on July 3 local California time).

That was two days later than originally planned; an attempt early Tuesday morning (July 2) was scrubbed due to issues with ground support equipment, and Firefly took another day after that to continue analyzing the issue.

The view from the second stage of Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket during the vehicle's fifth-ever flight, which took place on July 4, 2024.

"Noise of Summer" sent eight cubesats toward low Earth orbit atop the 95-foot-tall (29-meter-tall) Alpha. The little spacecraft were selected via NASA's Cubesat Launch Initiative, which aims to help pave a path to space for satellites developed at U.S. colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations.

The eight cubesats that went up on "Noise of Summer" were developed by teams at the University of Arizona, the University of Kansas, the University of Maine, the University of Washington, a nonprofit called Teachers in Space, and two NASA facilities  Johnson Space Center in Houston and Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley.

All eight were scheduled to deploy by 55 minutes after launch. By about an hour after liftoff, Firefly had confirmed that seven had indeed separated as planned; the mission team was still working to determine if the University of Arizona craft, known as CatSat, had deployed as well.

"Noise of Summer" was also designed to demonstrate Firefly's ability to respond quickly to a launch directive.

The company conducted the mission "as another responsive space operation, which includes transporting the payload fairing to the launch pad and mating it to Firefly's Alpha rocket within hours of the scheduled liftoff, compared to weeks in a typical operation," Firefly wrote in a mission description.

Firefly is practiced in such expedited activity. In September 2023, for example, the company launched the "Victus Nox" mission for the U.S. Space Force just 27 hours after receiving the official order  the fastest such turnaround for any national security mission, according to the company.

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Alpha debuted in September 2021, on a test flight that failed shortly after liftoff. The rocket's second mission, in October 2022, was a partial success; it delivered seven satellites to orbit but apparently deployed them too low.

Alpha aced its third mission, the aforementioned "Victus Nox." Flight number four, which launched on Dec. 22 of last year, was more of a mixed bag. The rocket delivered its payload, an electronically steerable antenna developed by aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, to low Earth orbit but did not achieve the target orbit.

Still, Lockheed Martin was able to "successfully complete their primary mission objectives, including rapid commissioning of the satellite following insertion," Firefly wrote in an update about the mission in February.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. EDT on July 2 with news of the scrubbed first attempt and the new launch target date of July 3. It was updated again at 2:40 am ET on July 4 with news of launch of successful deployment of at least seven of the eight payloads.
House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared on Fox News Monday night to downplay the alarming implications of the Supreme Courts decision in Trump v. United States, which grants Trump absolute immunity from federal prosecution for crimes he committed in office.

No one who is elected to that office [of the president] is going to be prone to this kind of crazy criminal activity, Johnson argued in defense of the Supreme Court ruling, ignoring that the case was brought to the bench after the former president was charged with committing crazy criminal activity. What the court is saying here follows common sense, and, of course, our Constitution as well, Johnson added.

Speaker Mike Johnson on Fox News: "The president and VP are the only two offices in our constitutional system that are elected by all the people. No one who is elected to that office is going to be prone to this kind of crazy criminal activity." pic.twitter.com/jxb3yWBJz0  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 2, 2024

Johnsons comments came in response to a statement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stating that Congress would engage in aggressive oversight and legislative activity with respect to the Supreme Court to ensure that the extreme, far-right justices in the majority are brought into compliance with the Constitution. Prior to Jeffriess statement, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued a declaration that she would be pursuing articles of impeachment against the Supreme Court, which she described as being consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control.

Trump brought the case to the Supreme Court in an effort to undermine his federal election interference case, arguing that any actions he took as president, such as conspiring to submit fake electors to fraudulently win an election, were inherently official presidential duties. In addition to ruling that presidents are shielded from prosecution for their core constitutional duties, the Supreme Court also limited what evidence can be brought against them to prosecute criminal private activities and suggested the federal case against Trump cant continue. The combination essentially makes presidential power limitless and holding Trump to account effectively impossible.

As Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted in her dissent, which Johnson wrote off alongside widespread condemnation of the Supreme Court decision as all sorts of hyperbole, the decision effectively turns presidents into a king above the law based on ahistorical reasoning that makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government. Johnson cast these criticisms aside, describing concern for the death of the rule of law simply a charade.
(Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

The president of a nonpartisan corporate watchdog urged Colorado authorities Monday to investigate whether five companies colluded to artificially inflate rent prices. The companies manage thousands of properties across the Front Range.

Caroline Ciccone, president of Accountable.US, said in a letter to Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser that his office should look into the companies that were included in a lawsuit from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, which alleges the companies illegally raised rent for residents by working together and sharing data with property management software company RealPage.

In the D.C. case, RealPage is accused of using an algorithm to artificially raise prices for more than 50,000 units managed by a set of corporate landlords, which shared their data with the software company. The companies working together to fix rent prices would be a violation of D.C.s antitrust laws.

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Mid-America Apartments, AvalonBay Communities, Equity Residential, Camden Property Trust, and UDR are the companies named in the lawsuit that also operate rentals in Colorado. According to Ciccones letter, as of the end of March, Mid-America Apartments operated 1,202 units in Denver, AvalonBay Communities 1,539 units, Camden Property Trust 2,873 units, Equity Residential has 2,505, and UDR 218 units.

Accountable.US did not offer direct evidence showing collusion is occurring between the companies in Colorado. Its suspicions are based on investigations in other locations.

Your office has the ability to determine whether these companies also stooped to illegal price-fixing and collusion in Colorado to further pad their profits, as they allegedly have elsewhere  and power to hold them accountable if they did, Ciccone said in her letter.

A spokesperson for Weisers office said the attorney general cannot confirm or otherwise comment on investigations.

An AvalonBay representative told Newsline that the company has been dismissed from the D.C. case and is not a party to any other lawsuits related to the Accountable allegations.

Newsline contacted each of the five landlord companies for comment but had not received a reply from others by the time of publication.

Bill targeted algorithmic rent pricing

The push from Accountable.US comes after a report from the organization that found the six largest publicly traded apartment companies reported nearly $300 million in increased profits in the first quarter of 2024. The five companies Ciccone mentioned in her letter to Weiser are included in that group.

Zach Neumann, executive director of the Community Economic Defense Project, said Denver set a June record for the most evictions reported in the city. He said algorithmic pricing programs are used to set vacancy rates and market prices, which leads to higher prices for housing than they would have had otherwise.

Neumanns organization is based in Denver and works to build economic and racial equity through partnerships with low-income and working people. It started in April 2020 to prevent evictions and displacement throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said its deeply harmful and problematic that corporate landlords can use algorithmic pricing to drive up prices when so many people are suffering and paying more than they can afford in rent and are being pushed out of their homes. He said its time for Weisers office to take action against the practice.

With algorithmic pricing, Neumann said landlords are able to push prices higher by holding a certain number of units off the market.

A bill introduced in the Colorado Legislature this year intended to make algorithmic rent pricing illegal under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. While the bill passed the House, it failed in the Senate. Neumann said the Legislature should take the bill back up, because the states housing policy is so tilted against tenants.

We could be living in a world right now where this is no longer an issue, and where we had a legislative fix, Neumann said. From the perspective of a tenant advocate who represents people in court, its really frustrating to see the state Senate not take action.

After that bill failed, the Federal Bureau of Investigations raided a corporate landlord in Atlanta accused of artificially inflating rent prices through its use of RealPage. Attorneys general in North Carolina and Arizona have pursued legal action against RealPage for allegedly helping landlords inflate rent prices.

Ciccone wrote similar letters to attorneys general in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. Including Colorado, each of the states she addressed have some of the highest average monthly rent prices in the country.

We know that your office is committed to doing its part to help Colorado residents struggling through no fault of their own to deal with high housing costs  costs fueled in many cases by big landlords that would rather price-gouge tenants and put profits over people, Ciccones letter reads.

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Your Waymo got pulled over. What happens next in Phoenix?

A Waymo car arrives with food ordered by Amanda Ventura, public affairs manager at Waymo, through a fully autonomous delivery via Uber Eats in Mesa on April 3, 2024.

The police officer hits their lights, pulling over the vehicle in front of them, walks up to the driver's window, and ... there's no one inside.

It prompts a question that can only be asked in the handful of U.S. cities that allow autonomous vehicles: What happens when an officer stops a car and there's no driver?

That question, accompanied by a photograph of a Waymo autonomous vehicle that had been pulled over in central Phoenix on June 19, was posted on the social media website Reddit last month. Phoenix police and Waymo officials confirmed the vehicle was driving in an oncoming traffic lane near Seventh Avenue and Osborn Road. There was no passenger, and no other cars involved.

Here's what happened in Phoenix, and what you need to know.

The Phoenix traffic stop

Just after 11 a.m. on June 19, a Phoenix police officer initiated a traffic stop on the Waymo, according to police dispatch records. The vehicle drove into oncoming traffic, ran a red light and "FREAKED OUT," said the dispatch records, which are typed in all capital letters.

A spokesperson for Waymo initially declined to comment for this story. After The Arizona Republic confirmed it would still report on the traffic stop, Waymo provided a statement saying it wanted to offer more context than was posted on Reddit.

The vehicle "encountered inconsistent construction signage" and went into an oncoming lane of traffic, according to Waymo. That's consistent with the Reddit post, too.

The driverless car "was blocked from navigating back into the correct lane" for approximately 30 seconds, according to the company. That's when the officer pulled in behind the car.

"In an effort to clear the intersection, the Waymo vehicle proceeded forward a short distance and pulled into the next available parking lot," Waymo said, describing the traffic incident as lasting "approximately one minute."

The situation was cleared without further action. "UNABLE TO ISSUE CITATION TO COMPUTER," the police dispatch records say.

What happens when a driverless car gets pulled over?

Phoenix police and Waymo confirmed the autonomous vehicles have equipment that senses emergency vehicles, so they should know when to pull over. Waymo's training guide for first responders says the cars can detect emergency vehicles, their lights and sirens.

When a vehicle is stopped, a Waymo can unlock its doors and roll down the windows, according to the guide.

Officers can use an intercom in the car to speak to an operator in real time or call a dedicated phone number, according to Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Bower. The cars can also be put into a manual override so first responders can move them if necessary, Bower said.

The vehicle's in-car audio system allows first responders to communicate with Waymo Rider Support, which can provide insurance information and further instructions. If necessary, Waymo will dispatch support staff, the company's law enforcement guidance says.

What should a passenger do if the vehicle gets pulled over?

Passengers should cooperate with police and any directions from the vehicle's dialed-in or on-scene operator, according to Phoenix police.

The debate over driverless vehicles

About a dozen autonomous vehicle companies have been approved to test or operate in Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

While so-called robotaxis could improve mobility for people who cannot drive themselves or are broadly hailed the way of the future, self-driving vehicles have also prompted safety concerns.

In May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it was opening an investigation of Waymo because of 31 incidents, of which 14 were in Arizona. Those incidents included potential violations of traffic laws and crashes when the self-driving car was the only one involved. Waymo, whose biggest market is Phoenix, says its data shows autonomous vehicles have fewer crashes than human drivers.

Another company, Cruise, last month returned to self-driving status with a safety driver present. The company halted operations here after California regulators deemed the vehicles unsafe. An autonomous Uber with a safety driver was involved in a fatal collision in Arizona in 2018. The vehicle hit and killed a pedestrian in Tempe.

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What happens when a Waymo gets pulled over in Phoenix?
Wayne County man sentenced to more than 12 years for pandemic fraud

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  A Wayne County man is behind bars after committing pandemic fraud.

The United States Attorneys Office says 36-year-old Christopher Miller, formerly of Newfoundland, was sentenced on June 28 to more than 12 years in prison following his convictions of bank fraud, and other related charges.

Governor Shapiro announces property tax distribution, rebates for 2023

Officials say Miller filed more than 50 fraudulent applications for pandemic stimulus funds.

Some of the applications submitted by Miller were filed on behalf of corporate entities.

Miller and his associates secured over $2,100,000 in pandemic stimulus funds.

Miller was sentenced to 149 months in prison and five years of supervision after his 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 PAhomepage.com.
WCSO: Man arrested after taking victims dog while armed with pepper projectile gun

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  A Gray man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly took a victims dog and pointed a pepper projectile gun at them.

According to a news release from the Washington County, Tennessee Sheriffs Office (WCSO), deputies were called to a home in the 100 block of Adams Street shortly before 9 a.m.

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When deputies arrived, they encountered Michael Bawgus, 49, who was immediately detained.

Bawgus admitted to entering the home with a pepper projectile gun and taking the victims dog, the release states.

According to the WCSO, the victim tried to stop Bawgus, who then pointed the weapon at the victim and threatened to shoot them. The victim believed the gun was a real handgun, the sheriffs office reports.

Bawgus was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic assault. He was transported to the Washington County Detention Center, where he made a $30,000 bond after being held for 12 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Who's really running the show? Following President Joe Biden's abysmal performance at Thursday's debate, press coverage has sought to investigate how exactly Biden's cognitive decline got this bad without it becoming a major scandal earlier. The story Politico has offered: Biden's public appearances are so tightly controlled by his shrinking inner circle, which has been running interference for him as his mind atrophies.

"The number of people who have access to the president has gotten smaller and smaller and smaller. They've been digging deeper into the bunker for months now," a Democratic strategist in a critical battleground state told Politico. Some of those people include senior adviser Anita Dunn (who advocated for the early debate, in a break with tradition) and Ron Klain, Biden's former chief of staff who handled the debate prep, as well as Bob Bauer, Dunn's husband and Biden's personal lawyer.

("To their allies, the two are loyal and steely under fire," says The New York Times of Dunn and Bauer. "To their critics, the coupleand Ms. Dunn in particularare the embodiment of Mr. Biden's affinity for revolving-door Washington operatives who move back and forth between high-powered political jobs and lucrative corporate clients.")

"It's the same people," one Democratic operative told Politico. "He has not changed those people for 40 years." Of course, it's not uncommon for career politicians to have close advisers who have worked with them for decades, whose judgment they trust. What is confusing is that the president's enablers seem unable to sound the alarms that Biden is a bad candidate to run, ill-suited to the job ahead, and that their inability to do so has seemingly sabotaged the Democratic party, leaving it without a nominee who can beat former President Donald Trump.

It feels like a Weekend at Bernie's situationadvisers are the ones actually running the show, not the person we've elected. (Using we generously, as I certainly played no part in electing this guy.)

Immunity ruling handed down: Yesterday, the Supreme Court handed down a 6-3 ruling in the presidential immunity case. "A President inclined to take one course of action based on the public interest may instead opt for another, apprehensive that criminal penalties may befall him upon his departure from office," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the majority. "And if a former President's official acts are routinely subjected to scrutiny in criminal prosecutions, 'the independence of the Executive Branch' may be significantly undermined."

Do not read this as a victory for Trump, though. The ruling was a thoroughly mixed bag. "The Court held that a former president enjoys 'absolute' immunity for 'actions within his exclusive constitutional power,' 'presumptive' immunity for other 'official acts,' and no immunity for unofficial acts," writes Reason's Jacob Sullum. At the same time, the Court swatted away Trump's argument"that former presidents can be prosecuted for 'official acts' only if they are first impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate based on the same conduct," writes Sullum, following Trump's federal prosecution for his election-overturning attemptsand remanded the case to U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Hard to delineate: There are disagreements between the justices as to what type of presidential behavior falls into each category, and thus is granted or denied immunity. For example, "Trump tried to persuade state officials that the election results had been tainted by systematic fraud, and his campaign enlisted 'alternate' electors whom he wanted state legislators to recognize instead of the Biden slates," writes Sullum. Was that Trump "trying to ensure the integrity of a federal election" and thus operating in an official capacity? Or was that Trump undermining the election results, operating in his own political self-interest as a candidate, not as a president fulfilling his official duties?

"Supreme Court's Trump immunity ruling poses risk for democracy, experts say," reads a Washington Post headline from yesterday. (The Washington Post declares democracy at risk every four days, so it's hard to take seriously.) Nothing about this ruling was particularly unexpected, but to give credit where due, there are some hypotheticals dismissed by Roberts that could present major problems: Justice Sonia Sotomayor previewed some of these in her dissent, writing, "Orders the Navy's Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune."

She continued: "The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law."

Justice Amy Coney Barrett issued a partial concurrence that perhaps strikes the best balance, agreeing with the majority but offering some additional wisdom: "Properly conceived, the President's constitutional protection from prosecution is narrow."

Scenes from New York: Illegal immigrants who have come to New York, frequently seeking asylum after harrowing journeys, now get pre-loaded debit cards to buy food, costing the city $2.6 million to feed 7,300 migrants over the next six months. "City officials say the program is significantly less expensive than a previous program that delivered meals, which was expected to cost about $5.6 million over the next six months," reports The New York Times. Still, one must wonder: Is there any cap to the number of non-New Yorkers that the city will use residents' taxpayer dollars to feed? Why isn't our money being used to improve public services from which we benefit?

QUICK HITS

"If Harris replaces Biden, we won't even get one of the key benefits we'd want from replacing our nominee: cleaning the slate and having less responsibility for the incumbent's record," writes Josh Barro at Very Serious.

The head of Gaza City's Al Shifa Hospital, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, was freed Monday and returned to Gaza. He alleges that he was held in inhumane conditions and tortured by Israeli prison guards. The Israeli prison service denies these allegations while some government officials said it was "security negligence" to release this man, a sign of the government's "lawlessness and dysfunction."

Hurricane Beryl has strengthened into a Category 5 and is barreling toward Jamaica right now.

"There is a longstanding debatefor centuries in factas to whether you should consider only your national (or regional) interest, or whether you should think in cosmopolitan terms when evaluating policies with cross-national ramifications," writes Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution. "Some commentators, for instance, suggest that American immigration policy should be set to serve the interests of current American citizens only. But what if an American is evaluating a French decision to take in or exclude some potential Algerian migrants? You might think the French should take a French point of view, and that the Algerians should take an Algerian point of view. But is the American allowed to be cosmopolitan in his judgment?"

Possibly the most cringe thing I've ever seen. Proceed with caution.

Yes:

This reminds me of the thing @mcmoynihan has been saying about how you can tell these people are full of shit when they don't just say "he's not that bad" but instead say "he's the most lucid President ever! More physically agile than a 26 year old! Wittier than Dorothy Parker!" https://t.co/YCD4t4sE5s  Ben Dreyfuss (@bendreyfuss) July 1, 2024

The post Weekend at Biden's appeared first on Reason.com.
XI'AN, July 2 (Xinhua) -- In a bustling freight terminal in northwest China, rows of brand-new electric vehicles gleam in the noonday sun, while workers use forklifts and cranes to stack containers onto waiting trains.

This is a typical scene at the China-Kazakhstan (Xi'an) Trade Logistics terminal in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. The freight terminal was launched in February to facilitate the operation of China-Europe freight trains, which are often referred to as the "steel-camel caravans."

It was jointly launched by KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan's national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), and Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd. Its counterpart in Almaty is expected to be put into operation later this year.

Olzhas Aleibekov, deputy general manager of the Chinese branch of KTZ Express, said the terminal, located at a crucial logistics hub, can effectively alleviate customs congestion and enhance the stability of transportation times.

Trains traveling between China and Kazakhstan have to be transferred to different tracks at the border due to varying track gauges, a process that can take up precious time. Also, the customs clearance process can be complex, and in the past, this often took three to five days.

Located more than 3,000 km from the border, the new terminal provides solutions for both of these problems. When the trains are still at Xi'an, KTZ Express communicates with partners in Kazakhstan to pre-arrange containers and railcars based on the cargo, ensuring efficient transfers and timely delivery.

In addition, trains at the Xi'an terminal are prepared for customs clearance, which means the procedures can be completed within an hour of the train reaching the border in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

To date, more than 35,000 tonnes of goods have been transferred through the terminal in Xi'an.

With enhanced operational capacity, the delivery time between Xi'an and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has been reduced to nine days from 13 days, and the combined rail-sea transportation across the Caspian Sea has been shortened from 20 days to 12 days.

"This terminal has facilitated more efficient cargo transportation between China, Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Europe," said Aleibekov. "Particularly in light of disruptions to the Suez Canal and Red Sea routes due to escalating geopolitical tensions, the reliability of the China-Europe freight trains has been further proven."

PFIT International Logistics Co., Ltd. in Xi'an was among the first group of beneficiaries.

Ma Dong, the company's general manager, said that previously, the company relied on sea routes that took up to two months to transport seamless steel tubes to Baku, Azerbaijan. Now, by using the Xi'an terminal, the journey takes just 12 days, saving 800 U.S. dollars per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU).

China was Kazakhstan's largest trading partner in 2023, with two-way trade up by 32 percent year on year to reach 41 billion U.S. dollars.

Trains speeding along rail tracks have become a symbol of international trade in the new era, just like camel caravans were in ancient times.

Since the first China-Europe freight train left southwest China's Chongqing Municipality in March 2011, the trains have completed over 90,000 trips, reaching 223 cities in 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. More than 8.7 million TEU containers of goods were transported, valued over 380 billion U.S. dollars.

Cross-border e-commerce companies are leveraging China-Europe freight trains to gain convenient access to affordable international delivery services.

So far, 27 companies in Xi'an have built 51 overseas warehouses across 24 countries and regions. The city's cross-border e-commerce transactions exceeded 16.8 billion yuan (about 2.36 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, marking a 16.7 percent increase from 2022.

"Overseas customers can now purchase Chinese products and enjoy door-to-door service with just a few clicks of the mouse," said Jumekenova Anita, a Kazakh entrepreneur who founded a cross-border e-commerce platform called Silkroad City Shop and built warehouses in Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus.

"The terminal sets a precedent for multinational cooperation in the development of China-Europe freight trains," said Yuan Xiaojun, general manager of Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd. 
Welfare check leads to arrest for firearm and drug possession in Monroe

A routine welfare check by a Monroe police officer led to the discovery of a stolen firearm and suspected methamphetamine, resulting in criminal charges for a convicted felon.

A few weeks ago, an officer conducted a welfare check on a person suspected of overdosing in their car.

The officer recognized the person as a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.

Upon seeing a firearm magazine in the car, the officer suspected the person may have a prohibited firearm.

When the person refused to let the police search the car, the officer impounded it and applied for a search warrant.

A search revealed a stolen Smith & Wesson M&P handgun and approximately 17 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

The driver now faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and possession a stolen vehicle.

Great work by one of our dedicated night-shift officers a few weeks ago! An officer conducted a welfare check on a... Posted by Monroe Police Department on Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Reality Check is a Fresno Bee series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email tips@fresnobee.com.

Police officer Jordan Wamhoffs attempt to gain concessions from the city over Fresno Chief Paco Balderramas affair with his wife does not rise to the level of extortion or appear to cross legal lines, according to scholars contacted by The Bee.

But from an ethics standpoint, Wamhoff, who is also a Madera County supervisor, was in more questionable moral waters when he sent a list of demands to city leaders in exchange for not filing a lawsuit, the same legal experts said.

The demands included firing the chief within 30 days, granting Wamhoff a more flexible work schedule, and the parties somehow signing nondisclosure agreements.

The Bee paraphrased the demands in Wamhoffs text message to longtime Fresno attorney David R. Mugridge, who said it appeared Wamhoff had not done anything improper in his ultimatum to the city because threatening to sue is not illegal.

He certainly has the right to sue the city of Fresno, and to sue Paco Balderrama, Mugridge said. Its not as if hes demanded that they pay him any money.

Sending demands in a text message to city leaders was a bad idea, however, because Wamhoff exposed it, Mugridge said. The text message may also serve as a presumption of a waiver of confidentiality, the lawyer said.

As an elected official, Wamhoff retains his right to file a lawsuit, Mugridge said. The key is, is he doing anything that he couldnt otherwise do? he said. Is he taking advantage of his position?

But, the Madera supervisor has also given up the expectation of anonymity afforded to a regular citizen, Mugridge said.

The demands were ethically questionable, according to Lawrence Giventer, a professor emeritus at Stanislaus State University who has more than 40 years of experience in political science and public administration. The City Council should not give in to any of Wamhoffs demands, he said.

Wamhoffs role as a Madera County supervisor potentially complicates the issue because elected officials are held to a higher standard than typical citizens, he said, but the ultimatum made by Wamhoff out of the public eye alone stirs suspicion. Nobody should be making demands, he said.

Along with the ultimatum, Wamhoffs text message called for a nondisclosure agreement between the city and the officer. Giventer said public business should not be done out of the public view, and bristled over the request of a non-disclosure agreement.

That is a bunch of BS, he said. If they (city leaders) caved in, they would be in violation of the Brown Act.

The 1953 Ralph M. Brown Act ensures that matters of public interest are conducted openly, and regulates what City Council votes must be held publicly, how topics are addressed on public agendas and other open government policies.

Giventer pointed to the clash at City Hall as a reason why cities and police departments could benefit from active citizen oversight boards.

Giventer said he recommends the Fresno County Civil Grand Jury take up Fresnos issue because it has more power to request information than regular people. They could partner with a counterpart grand jury in Madera County, he said.

Another scholar who spoke to The Bee came to a different conclusion.

Wamhoff has the right to negotiate with the city over his job if he has been passed over for a promotion or a schedule he desired, according to John P. Pelissero, the director of government ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University and a professor emeritus of political science at Loyola University Chicago.

You have a leader of the police department whos violated his oath of office and engaged in inappropriate behavior with one of his subordinates spouses, he said in a phone interview with The Bee. But the issue here, at the end of the day is really, whos looking out for the publics interest here rather than the private interest of the chief? He clearly put his personal interests ahead of serving the public here.

City Manager Georgeanne White and Mayor Jerry Dyer said last week an internal investigation turned up no violations of the abuse of power by the chief.

The most ethical route for handling what had happened in the police department boils down to fairness, Pelissero said.

It is not uncommon for cities to sign a nondisclosure agreement with another party involved in a negotiation, he said, but its not always the best option.

So you want to ensure that youre being fair to this officer in resolving the matter in the most appropriate fashion, but you also have to be fair to the taxpayers, he said. And sometimes when if you want to be fair to the taxpayers, you have to be willing to disclose what has taken place.

The mess at City Hall continued last week, when Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama, 47, announced he will resign from the city as of July 25 in the wake of the affair with an officers wife and the internal city investigation that followed.

City officials have not named the other officer who was entangled in the affair and described as a victim by his attorney and the Fresno Police Officers Association union. The officer alleged Balderrama had passed him over for a promotion in order to further the affair.

The Bee confirmed that the officer was Wamhoff, a Fresno officer for about a decade who won a seat on the Madera County Board of Supervisors at the end of 2022. The Bee also confirmed for an earlier story that Wamhoff sent a text message to city leaders listing demands in exchange for agreeing not filing a lawsuit against the city of Fresno, multiple city leaders confirmed.

While Wamhoffs negotiations tactics were not unusual, according to Pelissero, the perception of the handling of the affair and its aftermath is paramount because taxpayers are watching, he said.

It becomes an issue for the city to deal with, because it impacts the trust that the public has in its police department and in the city government in general, he said.
West Chester Township police ask the public for help in death investigation

West Chester police are investigating the death of Brittany Sands, 33.

West Chester police are asking the public to assist in the investigation after a woman was found dead Sunday evening.

In a Monday news release, police said they are investigating the death of 33-year-old Brittany Sands. She was found dead in the tree line near the 6000 block of Schumacher Park Drive around 5:50 p.m.

Sands was from Kentucky but was known to frequent downtown Cincinnati.

Authorities ask anyone with details on her most recent whereabouts to contact the West Chester Police Department at 513-759-7272. You can also submit a tip through the township's website.

Sands had blonde hair, tattoos on both wrists and on her right ankle.

Authorities have not released any information on the manner of Sands' death.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: West Chester Township: Help police with death investigation
West Palm gunman who beat murder charge will spend decades in prison for manslaughter instead

WEST PALM BEACH  Two families made emotional bids in a West Palm Beach courtroom Friday; one in search of justice for Angel Vargas, and the other urging mercy for the man who killed him.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Howard Coates landed somewhere in between. He sentenced 33-year-old Albert Clark to 45 years in prison, ending a years-old case that spawned two murder trials earlier this year after the first ended in a mistrial. The sentence is 15 years fewer than prosecutors recommended but several decades more than Clark's defense attorneys did.

Jurors convicted Clark of manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and shooting into an occupied vehicle at the conclusion of his second murder trial in April. Over the span of a week, prosecutors and Clark's team of public defenders offered competing versions of what happened on May 27, 2020.

Both versions began in a crowded Kmart parking lot along Federal Highway, where Vargas and his friend Carlos Hernandez met Clark to inspect the Ford F-150 he listed for sale online. By all accounts, the sale did not go through. The reason remains in dispute.

Related: They thought the 'stand your ground' defense would save them. Only once did a judge agree.

Hernandez said that after the sale went sour, Clark lured them to a secluded parking lot and demanded the money anyway, killing Vargas and paralyzing Hernandez as they tried to drive away. Clark testified that the opposite was true  that after he called off the sale, the men followed him to the empty lot and trapped him there, giving him no choice but to draw his rifle and shoot.

His self-defense argument, given first to police, then years later to Coates, didn't stop prosecutors from charging him with first-degree murder and attempted murder. It did make an impression with jurors. Their manslaughter verdict put an end to Clark's hope for an acquittal but spared him an automatic life sentence in prison, too.

If Coates' sentence stands, Clark will be 78 by the time it ends.

Gunman apologized to victim's family at sentencing hearing

Circuit Judge Howard Coates Jr. denied Albert Clark's motion to dismiss the murder charges against him on the basis of "stand your ground."

Coates' decision Friday followed an apology from Clark to Vargas' family and his own.

"I'm terribly sorry about what happened," he said. "I'm truly sorry for you losing a loved one, me potentially losing whatever I'm about to lose right now."

Public Defender Carey Haughwout described Clark as a hard worker, one who was taken from his biological mother when he was a child and had no notable criminal record before his arrest in 2020. She called Clark's loved ones to testify about his character and how the death of his brother and stepmother in 2019 negatively impacted him.

She also gave the judge a spreadsheet of 26 other defendants convicted of manslaughter with a firearm in Florida between 2022 and 2023. Cindy Anderson, a former software developer and current assistant public defender, testified that the average sentence was about 12 years, with a maximum of 25 and a minimum of one.

"Is Mr. Clark the worst of the worst?" Haughwout asked, urging Coates to heed the examples contained in the spreadsheet. "I would submit not."

More: Ex-teacher, who avoided jail for loaded gun on campus, arrested after missed therapy sessions

Assistant State Attorney Marci Rex pointed out that the spreadsheet didn't mention Larry Darnell Young, who Coates sentenced to 40 years in prison for manslaughter with a firearm in 2023. Haughwout objected when Rex began to question Anderson about its absence but was quickly overruled.

"I know what I did in Young, and that's not on here," Coates said. "It should be."

Rex called upon Vargas' mother, Maria Moreno, and sister, Beatriz Vargas, to testify, with the help of a Spanish translator. Both spoke of the pain they'd endured since Vargas' death in 2020. Beatriz said she feared Clark would hurt someone else if given the chance. She held up a photo of her brother.

Clark's brother Brent Clark Jr. did the same.

"I'm sorry for what happened to the family, but he was in fear for his life," he said.

Investigators found no evidence that either Vargas or Hernandez was armed. Rex reminded the judge that Clark didn't call 911 in the aftermath of the shooting, but instead fled from the police. When they arrested him, he "lied and lied and lied."

His actions were not those of a frightened man, Rex said.

Hannah Phillips covers public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Gunman Albert Clark avoids maximum sentence for fatal 2020 Lantana shooting
Effective July 1, West Virginia no longer has a tax on soft drinks. (Leann Ray | West Virginia Watch)

Beginning this week, for the first time in more than 70 years, West Virginia has no tax on soft drinks.

Lawmakers approved a bill repealing the tax during the 2022 regular legislative session. The legislation repealed the tax effective July 1.

During his revenue report Monday, Gov. Jim Justice noted the tax had been eliminated and told the audience they should really clap for it.

Thank goodness its gone, Justice said of the tax.

Enacted in 1951, the tax imposed a charge of one cent for each half liter of bottled soft drinks, 80 cents for each gallon of soft drink syrup and 1 cent for each ounce of dry mixture used for making soft drinks.

The money collected supported the construction of a new Health Sciences building and university hospital for West Virginia University. WVUs School of Medicine moved into the Health Sciences building in 1957 and the universitys hospital opened in 1960, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

The tax brought in about $13.7 million in revenue in 2023, according to the state tax office.

As it eliminated the soda tax, the legislation dedicated $14 million a year in insurance tax proceeds to the WVU schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing and related programs, $5.5 million to the medical school at Marshall University and $3.9 million to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

The West Virginia Beverage Association, an organization whose board members comprise representatives from Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated, Pepsi Bottling Group and Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group, has opposed the tax. In a statement, organization president Larry Swann called repealing the tax a win for West Virginias working families, small businesses and the state economy.

This tax unfairly raised prices on hundreds of everyday beverage products for 71 years, and the historic action taken by our Governor and the legislature improves the competitive edge of West Virginia businesses, Swann said.

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A new Whataburger is being built along this busy road in Lexington. Check out where

A new Whataburger is on the way in the Midlands as the company continues its march into South Carolina.

Whataburger is planning a store at 888 South Lake Drive in Lexington. Thats at the northwest corner of the intersection of South Lake and Industrial drives, just north of Interstate 20. Other nearby businesses and institutions include Circle K and QT gas stations, and the American Leadership Academy school.

Town of Lexington planning and zoning documents note the Whataburger project is underway, and construction work was ongoing when a reporter rode by the site Monday morning.

There are more than 1,000 Whataburger locations nationwide, according to data site ScrapeHero. The company was founded in 1950 as a roadside burger stand by Harmon Dobson in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Dobson family sold a majority interest in the company in 2019 to Chicago-based investment firm BDT Capital, which began an expansion program.

There are a host of Whataburgers planned across South Carolina, including in Anderson, Greenville and elsewhere. At least three locations are under construction in the Midlands, including the South Lake Drive Lexington spot, a location at 1185 Dutch Fork Road in Irmo and on Bridgeberry Lane in northeast Columbia.

Whataburger is known, naturally, for its menu of hamburgers, along with fries, chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, salads, milkshakes and more.
Where are you allowed to set off fireworks in the Tri-Cities?

TRI-CITIES, Tenn./Va. (WJHL)  As the 4th of July nears and fireworks tents see more business, the question on several minds is where can fireworks be set off without repercussions?

In the Tri-Cities region, the answer varies.

Tennessee fireworks laws you should know ahead of July 4th

Virginia law prohibits the use of fireworks that explode in the air. Those include firecrackers, torpedos, skyrockets or any other type of compound or substance that explodes or sends projectiles into the air.

Virginia does allow some permissible fireworks such as sparklers, fountains and other small forms of fireworks to be used.

Russell County Sheriff Bill Watson told News Channel 11 that, in general, most exploding fireworks are illegal in Virginia without a permit. He also said they can pose a serious fire risk this year amid the dry and hot weather. Wise County Sheriff Grant Kilgore advised the same and said people should be careful not to cause property damage or create a nuisance.

In Tennessee, firework laws vary by local ordinance. The vast majority of towns and cities do not allow fireworks to be set off within the town or city limits. Several, like Johnson City, Kingsport and Tusculum, encourage their citizens to instead attend public events and celebrations that include permitted fireworks shows.

Tennessee also only allows fireworks to be purchased by anyone ages 16 or older. Fireworks cannot be set off within 600 feet of any church, hospital, asylum or public school or within 200 feet of where they were purchased.

The Johnson City Police Department issued nine illegal fireworks citations on July 4, 2023.

Below is a list of different fireworks laws by locality and county (News Channel 11 is working to obtain information from more localities and counties):

Abingdon, Virginia  All fireworks prohibited in Virginia are illegal within the town limits with a penalty of fines or even jail time. Virginias permissible fireworks, such as sparklers and fountains, are allowed.

Bristol, Tennessee  The citys ordinance does not allow the possession, use or sale of fireworks in the city limits without authorization from the fire chief.

Bristol, Virginia  Mos fireworks are illegal within the city limits, excluding those that Virginia state law permits, such as sparklers. Bristol Fire Chief Mike Armstrong said as a general rule, his department asks people to refrain from setting off fireworks that could pose a hazard to themselves or others.

Carter County  The county does not have any ordinance in place regarding fireworks.

Elizabethton  Discharging fireworks is not permitted in the city limits unless an application has been approved by the fire marshal and police chief. Those who are found in violation can be fined and forced to pay court costs. Residents are instead encouraged to attend River Rider ballgames, the citys 4th of July celebration and other events.

Erwin  Fireworks are prohibited in the town limits.

Greene County  According to the Greene County Sheriffs Department, fireworks are allowed to be set off in the county.

Greeneville  Fireworks are not allowed to be kept, sold or used in Greenevilles city limits without specific approval from the fire marshal.

Johnson City  The city does not allow fireworks. Instead, city leaders encourage residents to attend the 37th annual Pepsi Fireworks Celebration. The fireworks show will also air on News Channel 11 and ABC Tri-Cities and stream on WJHL.com.

Johnson County  Johnson County Mayor Larry Potter said fireworks are permitted in the county so long as they are set off safely.

Jonesborough  According to the towns website, local ordinance does not allow the sale, possession or use of fireworks in Jonesborough, unless it is part of a public display that has received official approval.

Hawkins County  Sheriff Ronnie Lawson told News Channel 11 that fireworks can be set off in Hawkins County until 10 p.m.

Kingsport  The Kingsport Police Department issued a reminder Monday that fireworks are illegal in the city limits. Police also asked that anyone wishing to report a fireworks disturbance call the non-emergency dispatch number at 423-246-9111. People should only call 911 for fireworks if there is a subsequent fire or serious injury.

Marion  Sparklers, fountains, pinwheels, whirligigs and spinning jennies are permitted on private properties. However, in accordance with Virginia law, fireworks that fire projectiles or explode in the air are not allowed.

Mountain City  Fireworks are not allowed in the town limits.

Norton  City ordinance prohibits fireworks in the city limits. A permit is required to set any off inside Norton.

Sullivan County  Fireworks cannot be fired from or at a vehicle or toward a person or group of people. The county also prohibits fireworks from being set off between midnight and 10 a.m., and any violators could be fined up to $500.

Tusculum  Any and all fireworks are illegal in the City of Tusculum. Tusculum Police Chief Danny Greene suggested in a news release that anyone wanting to view fireworks go to the Greeneville Flyboys game at Pioneer Park on July 4.

Unicoi  The Town of Unicoi does not have an ordinance regarding fireworks, and the Unicoi Police Department confirmed that fireworks are permissible in the town.

Washington County, Virginia  Pursuant to Code of Virginia,  59.1-144, the county administrator or designee is authorized and empowered to issue permits, upon application in writing, for the display of fireworks in the county by fair associations, amusement parks, or by any organization or group of individuals under such terms and conditions as the board of supervisors or the county administrator may prescribe.

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Joe Bidens presidency went from teetering on the brink to being in full freefall on Tuesday.

The day started with former congressman and Ohio Senate candidate Tim Ryan calling on Biden to step aside and for Vice President Kamala Harris to take the reins as the partys nominee.

The floodgates then began to break open following the noon release of a punishing CNN poll which showed Biden had fallen six points behind Trump. Within minutes of the poll dropping, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the word condition as a potential explanation for Bidens debate performance.

I think its a legitimate question to say, is this an episode or is this a condition? When people ask that question, its completely legitimateof both candidates, Pelosi said on MSNBC. Even though Pelosi said she personally supports Biden remaining as the Democratic nominee, her choice of words provided plenty of cover for other Democrats.

Dem Dam Breaks on Biden: Pelosi Says Fitness is Legitimate Question

At that point, an even greater degree of panic began to permeate through Democratic circles.

There comes a time in a re-election campaign where you have to stop governing, and he should be doing events every single day, a senior Democratic strategist told The Daily Beast. If you want the clips to stop flying around, you need to give the media new content. Small pressers are not enough. He needs to be out and be angry. It shouldnt be that hardor maybe it is, and thats the problem.

Trumpworld, meanwhile, was thrilled.

Following Pelosis remarks, one of Donald Trumps top advisers simply made repeated use of the exclamation point reaction feature when texting with The Daily Beast about the former speaker.

Things then went from bad to worse when the first sitting Democratic House member called on Biden to fall on his sword.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)who noted the irony of being from former President Lyndon B. Johnsons district in his statementwas shortly followed by Adam Frisch, a Democratic congressional candidate who would have been poised for a rematch with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) before she switched districts.

Then Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) published an op-ed in the Bangor Daily News predicting a Trump victory in November.

After the first presidential debate, lots of Democrats are panicking about whether President Joe Biden should step down as the partys nominee, Golden writes. Bidens poor performance in the debate was not a surprise. It also didnt rattle me as it has others, because the outcome of this election has been clear to me for months: While I dont plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And Im OK with that.

Plugged-in Democrats who spoke with The Daily Beast said they thought the floodgates wouldnt break until well after the Fourth of July holiday weekend, leading some candidates to huddle for contingency plans.

Well before Bidens debate debacle, The Daily Beast learned of multiple potential 2028 contenders who had conducted their own version of a war games exercise to work out what would happen if Biden announced he would not seek re-election in 2024, according to three sources familiar with the discussions. These private conversations were before the 2022 midterms, where a strong performance from the party quelled such chatter.

For one of the camps who conducted the thought experiment, they determined that if Biden announced his intention not to seek re-election, he would likely have to resign shortly afterward because of outside pressure around whether he could still do the jobnot just campaign for itaccording to one of the sources involved, who requested anonymity for the would-be candidate.

The Biden campaign did not return a request for comment, and would not go on the record Monday when asked whether the president would do a live town hall-style event to assuage the public over concerns around his cognitive fitness.

Although Biden could have addressed the swelling anxiety around his party at the White House, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre instead delivered an entirely lackluster briefing where she repeatedly delegated to the campaign and would not make any firm commitments around Bidens availability beyond a NATO address in Europe next week.

Jean-Pierre also claimed Biden is still suffering from a cold.

Most likely, the first time the public will hear from Biden in an unscripted setting will be on Friday, July 5, when the president sits down with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News. Portions of the interview will air that night, with the rest airing on This Week With George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

Biden Grants First Post-Debate Interview to ABCs George Stephanopoulos

On Wednesday, Bidens White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients will hold an all-staff call at 12:30, where the presidents fate could become more clear.

Former Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), an elder statesman of the party, told The Daily Beast the situation around Biden does not have a lot of precedent.

Frank emphasized the party needs to figure out what to do about their nominee internally, not in public.

But Ill tell ya my practice is, if Im giving advice to someone on a difficult subject, to give it to that person only, Frank said, skirting around whether its time for Biden to step aside.

When asked if he had tried to reach Biden directly, Frank said he had not, and that the president has advisers who can relay that sort of a message.

Yet when asked if he thought its time for the party to embrace Harris as a new nominee, Frank was less diplomatic in his response.

You think I forgot what I told you ten seconds ago?

Meanwhile, The New York Times has a fresh poll which could come as early as Wednesday. If it is as dire as the CNN poll, or even worse, it could be another nail in Joe Bidens presidency.

Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the congressional district Adam Frisch is running to represent.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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KABUL, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 115,000 Afghan refugees have returned to homeland from neighboring Pakistan and Iran over the past one month, the country's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has said.

"In the past month, nearly 115,000 Afghan citizens have returned from Pakistan and Iran," local media TOLOnews channel quoted Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, the spokesman of the ministry, as saying.

Haqqani said cash and food have been distributed to the returnees.

Over 2.5 million Afghan refugees have reportedly been living in Pakistan and about the same number in Iran.

The Afghan caretaker government has been urging Afghan migrants living abroad to return home and contribute to rebuilding their war-ravaged country. 
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday dodged questions over President Bidens mental state in the first briefing at the White House since his poor debate performance.

When peppered with questions over the debate, she noted that the president has received medical examinations, which have been made public, and that he will keep traversing the country throughout the 2024 campaign.



This is why were going to go out there and continue to go out there and do interviews and talk to the American people. At the end of the day  the American people will see for themselves, she said.

She added that Biden has worked incredibly hard for the American people and is committed to continuing his leadership.

She noted that the president has upcoming public engagements, including two unscripted events  a solo press conference at next weeks NATO summit in Washington, D.C., and an interview with ABC.

The announcement of the unscripted events comes as Democrats, including Biden ally Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), have called for him to conduct more interviews and impromptu events since the debate.

Were going to turn the page, were going to get out there across the country, Americans are going to see him for themselves, Jean-Pierre said.

While taking questions on his ability to serve as president, Jean-Pierre declared, I think Ive litigated this a lot already in the briefing.

She also multiple times acknowledged that it was a bad night for Biden and stressed that she is taking the questions about Bidens ability to serve seriously, while some Democrats have expressed that the campaign is dismissing concerns post-debate.

I see it as a legitimate question, I do and I understand, it is a fair question to ask. The president sees it as a legitimate question, she said. We are acknowledging what people are seeing.

The presidents poor performance in the debate, during which he struggled to finish sentences and spoke in a quiet, raspy voice, has led to shock and panic among Democrats, with some operatives, former aides and a House Democrat calling on him to step aside.

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The White House said that President Bidens son, Hunter Biden, was in a meeting with advisers on Monday to prepare for a speech later that day.

He came back with his dad from Camp David, walked him into the speech prep and he was in the room. I can tell you he was in the room, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said when asked about reporting that Hunter Biden was advising his father.

NBC reported that Hunter Biden has joined meetings with the president and top aides since the debate Thursday. The presidents poor performance in the debate has led to shock and panic among Democrats, with some operatives, former aides and a House Democrat calling on him to step aside.

Jean-Pierre on Tuesday said Hunter Biden returned to the White House from Camp David with Biden on Monday afternoon, and the meeting happened quickly upon return. The meeting was to prepare Biden for a speech later that evening about the Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision.

She argued that its the week of Fourth of July, so there are going to be family members around Biden this week, noting the president is very close to his family.

The Biden family was together at Camp David over the weekend, during which first lady Jill Biden called Vogue to insist that her husband isnt dropping out of the 2024 race.

The Bidens are a very close-knit family, and major decisions, like those involving the presidents political future, are largely considered to be made among the first lady and his family.

A jury delivered a guilty verdict for Hunter Biden last month on three charges related to the purchase of a gun in 2018. Since then, the president has ruled out the possibility of communing the sentence.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Employers would have to take steps to protect tens of millions of U.S. workers from extreme heat under a rule proposed by the Biden Administration on Tuesday.

In what would be the first major regulation of its kind, the new rule would add safeguards for workers nationwide, requiring employer training to identify heat hazards and provide "rest breaks, access to shade and water and heat acclimatization for new employees," the White House said in a news release.

Those affected by excessive heat at work include farmworkers, delivery and construction workers, landscapers as well as those who earn a living in warehouses, factories and kitchens.

Under the proposal by the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the agency would adopt two heat index thresholds nationally, factoring in both humidity and temperature.

"If finalized, OSHA projects the rule would affect approximately 36 million workers and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses and deaths in the workplace," according to the statement.

At 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers would have to provide drinking water and break areas. At 90 degrees, workers would have mandatory 15-minute breaks every two hours and be monitored for signs of heat illness.

As average temperatures rise, heat illness is a growing safety and health concern for workers around the globe, including in the U.S. There were an average of 32 heat-related workplace deaths a year from 1992 to 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 43 such fatalities in 2022, up from 36 the year before. That said, statistics for occupational heat-related illnesses, injuries and deaths are likely "vast underestimates," according to the agency.

The fatalities include a 26-year-old man who suffered fatal heat-related injuries while working in an open sugar cane field in Belle Glade, Florida, as the heat index hit 97 degrees, the DOL said in April, citing a contractor for not protecting the worker.

"This young man's life ended on his first day on the job because his employer did not fulfill its duty to protect employees from heat exposure, a known and increasingly dangerous hazard," Condell Eastmond, OSHA's area director in Fort Lauderdale, stated of the September death.

Extreme heat is more deadly than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined, killing more than 2,300 people across the U.S. last year, including 350 in New York City. Experts warn that heat stress can turn deadly even sooner than previously thought.

According to a recent report by Public Citizen, as many as 2,000 workers die of heat stroke, kidney failure and heat-induced cardiac arrest each year in the U.S. from laboring in extreme heat, and 170,000 are injured.

Five states  California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington  have workplace heat safety laws.

"The smattering of heat protection rules is inadequate, leaving the vast majority of workers in the U.S. in 45 states without any protection from dangerously high heat on the job," stated Juley Fulcher, a worker health and safety advocate with Public Citizen.

The Labor Department has been developing a standard for how workplaces deal with heat since 2021, with OSHA holding a meeting in 2023 to hear about how its proposal could impact small businesses.

Heat protection laws in the U.S. have faced steady industry opposition, including from chambers of commerce and other business associations. Many say a blanket mandate would be difficult to implement across such a wide range of industries.

Some regulations have recently come under attack by the GOP. Over the past year, Florida and Texas, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Gov. Greg Abbott, both Republicans, passed legislation preventing local governments from requiring heat protections for outdoor workers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Supreme Court gives Trump a win, rules presidents have immunity for official acts in office

Zero chance" Supreme Court will rule that Trump has "absolute immunity," Jan Crawford says

Hurricane Beryl an "extremely dangerous" storm with Caribbean in its sights
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A Texas congressman became the first Democrat to publicly call on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, (D-Texas.), said the presidents debate performance against former president Donald Trump failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments.

Doggett continued, President Biden saved our democracy by delivering us from Trump in 2020. He must not deliver us to Trump in 2024.

In the first press briefing since the debate, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday President Biden is still battling a cold, and his reelection campaign is not going anywhere.

He knows how to do the job, Jean-Pierre said.

Other Democrats have publicly criticized President Biden since the debate but stopped short of calling on him to withdraw.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, (D-R.I.), said he was horrified by the presidents frail appearance.

People want to make sure that this is a campaign thats ready to go and win, that the president and his team are being candid with us about his condition, said Whitehouse.

But the Senates top Democrat, Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-N.Y.), said President Biden remains fit to serve.

Weve worked hard together for four years and delivered a lot for America and for central New York, Schumer said. Im for Biden.

The Democratic National Committee could formally nominate President Biden as its candidate as early as mid-July ahead of the August convention in Chicago.

President Biden plans to speak with Democratic governors Wednesday, along with calls to other Democratic leaders and members of Congress this week.

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The Biden administration announced on Tuesday the sale of 1 million barrels of gasoline, making its latest effort to reduce gas prices ahead of the Fourth of July travel blitz.

The Department of Energys (DOE) Office of Petroleum Reserves will release the 1 million barrels  about 42 million gallons of gasoline  from a Northeast reserve to drive down prices at the pump before whats expected to be record-breaking travel for the July 4 holiday, the DOE said in a statement.

Gas prices have come down nearly 20 cents in the last two months, but we know there is more to do. This release will help lower prices at the pump, building on other actions by President Biden, including historic releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, record energy production, and the largest-ever investment in clean energy, National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard wrote Tuesday.

Brainard took a swipe at Congressional Republicans Tuesday, arguing they have yet to offer a signal proposal to lower costs, while Biden is fighting every day for hardworking families.

More than 70 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more the week of July 4, AAA predicted last week. This is 5 percent higher than the number of travelers during last years Fourth of July and up 8 percent from 2019s numbers, the company said.

By releasing this reserve ahead of July 4th, we are ensuring sufficient supply flows to the northeast at a time hardworking Americans need it the most, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said Tuesday.

Contracts were awarded to five companies including BP; George E. Warren, LLC; Vitol, Freepoint Commodities and Irving Oil. The barrels were sold at an average of $2.34 per gallon.

The release from the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve was expected to be complete by Monday and will hit the market shortly after, per the DOE.

The sale will ensure gasoline supply for local retailers in a variety of states including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts,

Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Gas prices started this summer lower than usual, with experts citing the mild demand and cheaper factors as reasons for the moderate costs.

The White Houses latest move to drive down gas prices comes ahead of the 2024 presidential election, in which President Biden is vying for a second Oval Office term. While presidents have little or nothing directly to do with gas prices, they are often credited or blamed for it by voters.

Prices on Monday sat at a national average of $3.49, slightly higher than last weeks average of $3.45, according to AAA. This is about 5 cents lower than the national average last year, when prices were about $3.54.

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Why California GOP Senate nominee Steve Garvey wont be going to the Republican convention

Steve Garvey, Californias Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, wont be going to the GOP convention this month, campaign spokesman Matt Shupe told The Bee..

Its not a priority in this campaign, Shupe said.

Garvey also skipped the state Republican convention in May. Former President Donald Trump is expected to be formally nominated at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which runs from July 15 to 18.

Garvey is an underdog in the U.S. Senate race against Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank. Schiff was far ahead in the latest poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, 62% to 37%.

Garvey was also far behind Schiff in cash on hand in the latest Federal Election Commission report, but did raise nearly as much as Schiff during the last reporting cycle, February 15 to March 31.

Traditionally candidates for other offices fight hard for a speaking spot at their national partys convention.

Even a few minutes at the podium, speaking to sign-waving, cheering party loyalists, not only get the candidate national attention but often provide clips of adoring crowds that can be used in ads.

The convention is also arguably the election years best networking opportunity, a place where donors, power brokers, elected officials and others are all nearby, eager to make connections.

Garvey, though, has said that hes not running as a diehard partisan.

From day one Ive said I never played for Republicans, Democrats, or IndependentsI played for all the fans, he said on Twitter last month. Garvey is former All-Star Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres first baseman.

When he skipped the state GOP convention, Garvey campaign manager Andy Gharakhani echoed those thoughts.

Steve Garvey has said since the launch of the campaign that he is running for all the people, not specifically for Republicans, Democrats, or Independents, Gharakhani said.

Garvey has said he voted twice for Trump in the past but would not say earlier this year how he may vote this time.

Trump remains unpopular in California. He lost the state by big margins in 2016 and 2024. He trails President Joe Biden, 55% to 31%, in the May 23-June poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.
Why did Ramapo Indian Hills school board rescind new super's contract? No one's saying

OAKLAND  Ramapo Indian Hills school board members did not comment at Monday night's special meeting about what comes next following their decision to rescind the new superintendent's $1.9 million, five-year contract four days before he was scheduled to join the district.

The board, without explanation, voted 5-0-3 last Thursday to rescind the contract they approved unanimously on May 28 to hire Ronnie Tarchichi, then superintendent of the Pennsauken School District in Camden County. Tarchichi's first day of work with the district had been scheduled for July 1.

Four of the seven members of the public at the meeting on Monday addressed the board for 20 minutes. The board then went into a closed session to discuss "personnel." Business Administrator Dora Zeno announced the board would not publicly reconvene for a vote following the closed session.

Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education met July 1 at their conference room in Indian Hills High School.

Former Ramapo Indian Hills Oakland school board trustee Vivian King told board members they had "opened up the district to a huge lawsuit."

"Anyone with half a brain will sue the pants off of us, and the taxpayers are going to pay for it," King said. "You guys are running the schools and you are running it into the ground. The public needs to wake up, show up, and start holding you accountable for your actions."

Former Franklin Lakes grade school board trustee Margaret Bennett urged the board to consult an attorney with contract expertise.

The Ramapo Indian Hills school board hired Ronnie Tarchichi to serve as it's superintendent of schools. Photo provided by Ramapo Indian Hills School District

"I'd like you to really think about how you are handling public funds," Bennett said. "You broke a contract and somebody is now out of a job, left a job because of your promises. I would get some really good advice on that."

District officials, school board members and Tarchichi have not returned calls seeking more information.

Board President Kim Ansh on June 16 said that the board had held discussions with Tarchichi after his contract was approved about him continuing as a paid consultant with his previous district because he had given them one month's notice rather than the standard three months. However, Ansh said Tarchichi had decided to waive the paid consultancy and remained "committed to RIH" 11 days before the district rescinded his contract.

It is unclear what happened in those 11 days that the board, Tarchichi or both decided to end the agreement.

Acting Superintendent Melissa Quackenbush remains at the helm, having received a 60-day extension of her contract at the June 27 meeting where Tarchichi's contract was rescinded.

Former Franklin Lakes grade school district trustee Kathie Schwartz spoke out against making Quackenbush a permanent superintendent for the district in the future.

"Dr. Quackenbush has never been a building principal or superintendent, and from a review of LinkedIn it is unclear if she has ever held a tenured leadership position in any of the districts she worked in," said Schwartz. "She does not have the experience to lead our district out of the mess that you have caused. She doesnt even meet the criteria that this board had discussed publicly or set for its search for a new superintendent."

The Pennsauken School District has appointed Caroline Steer as acting superintendent, according to its website. There is no statement on the site about Tarchichi's status since the board accepted his resignation at its June 10 meeting.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ramapo Indian Hills school superintendent contract rescinded. Why?
On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 ruling that gave government agencies broad discretion to interpret "ambiguous" laws. "Critics have long complained that Chevron deference allowed bureaucrats to usurp a judicial function and systematically disadvantaged 'the little guy' in disputes with an overweening administrative state," wrote Reason's Jacob Sullum of the Friday decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Department of Commerce.

The decision will impact the way agencies regulate fields such as environmental and public health policy. Broadly speaking, it's been celebrated on the right and criticized on the left. But "immigration is an area of the law where the partisan alignments break down over Chevron," says Michael Kagan, a law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and director of the university's Immigration Clinic.

"We normally think of immigrant rights as part of the progressive coalition politically, and that coalition feared Chevron's demise," Kagan continues. "But Chevron was consistently bad for immigrants."

This was on Justice Neil Gorsuch's mind as he wrote his concurrence. Gorsuch described a case he heard as a court of appeals judge in which the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the administrative body that applies and interprets immigration laws, "invoked Chevron to overrule a judicial precedent on which many immigrants had relied." The agency then tried "to apply its new interpretation retroactively to punish those immigrants," Gorsuch explained. "Our court ruled that this retrospective application of the BIA's new interpretation of the law violated" one of those immigrants' "due process rights."

"But as a lower court, we could treat only the symptom, not the disease. So Chevron permitted the agency going forward to overrule a judicial decision about the best reading of the law with its own different 'reasonable' one," he continued, "and in that way deny relief to countless future immigrants."

Immigration lawyers and analysts who spoke with Reason about the end of Chevron stressed that it might take years to see the full effects of Friday's decision and cautioned against viewing it as a massive win for immigrants. That said, it represents a significant shift in several areas of immigration policy.

"On balance, I think getting rid of Chevron will be a modest net plus for immigration liberalization," says Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University and a contributor to The Volokh Conspiracy. "I think overruling Chevron could potentially constrain some executive attempts at immigration restriction, especially really sweeping ones, like some of the ones contemplated by [former President Donald] Trump, should he return to power."

But Somin notes there are "strictures" to keep in mindand adds that Chevron "seemed to be used a bit less in the immigration field than some others."

David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, says he's "skeptical" that the ruling "will have a major effect in most immigration areas." On "certain employment-based issues, it could have an effect, though not entirely positive," he explains. Optional Practical Training, a temporary period of employment related to an international student's course of study, "was just upheld on deference grounds," Bier points out.

Still, immigrants in certain legal situations could benefit from the end of Chevron. "In blunt terms, it made it easier for the government to deport people and it made it harder to win asylum for refugees fleeing really awful harm," says Kagan. "Chevron told federal judges to defer to people like [former Attorney General] Jeff Sessions, who was stridently anti-immigrant, or to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which has often leaned toward restrictionist interpretations of the immigration statutes."

One big factor in this conversation is the way U.S. immigration policy is made. "Congress has passed almost no immigration legislation in the past 20 years," says Greg Siskind, an immigration attorney and founding partner of Siskind Susser, but "presidents still have to administer the immigration system even as the legislation becomes more and more out of date." In practice, that means presidents have "gotten more and more creative in interpreting existing statute language to achieve their policy objectives in the absence of Congress playing a role."

Presidents "have issued an assortment of administrative rules and policies to implement those policies," Siskind continueswhether they're pro-immigration policies like former President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or President Joe Biden's parole programs, or those implemented by former President Donald Trump "aimed at restricting legal immigration."

"Agencies will still be able to defend interpretations of ambiguous statutes, but they will need to provide a lot more evidence that their interpretation is consistent with the statute and a judge will have a lot more authority to disagree and impose his or her own view of what that statute means," adds Siskind. "So I expect both pro-immigration and anti-immigration plaintiffs to attack a variety of policies and for the courts to play a much bigger role in setting immigration policies for the country."

The Supreme Court's ruling on Chevron deference makes it all the more important for members of Congress to write clearly worded bills moving forward. (Of course, it remains to be seen whether Congress will actually do that.) That seems like an even bigger stretch for immigration bills, which Congress can't manage to pass in the first place.

"Chevron's demise is a win for conservatives, and for immigrants. It's important, and it may take time to understand its full importance," concludes Kagan. "But overall it's probably not the radical game changer that many people hope or fear it will be."

The post Why the End of <i>Chevron</i> Could Be a Win for Immigrants appeared first on Reason.com.
Why Jill Biden is unlikely to convince Joe to step down, despite mounting pressure

Why Jill Biden is unlikely to convince Joe to step down, despite mounting pressure

Jill Biden has led efforts to counter concerns about Joe Biden's age after his shaky debate.

The first lady is unlikely to join calls for her husband to step down, experts say.

A former advisor to Jill told the New York Times that she doesn't want to have her hand forced.

Joe Biden's inner circle is working overtime to convince voters he has what it takes to be president, and the first lady is leading the charge.

Jill Biden  the president's wife of 47 years  responded to criticism of her husband's age at a Manhatten fundraiser on Friday, saying the 81-year-old is "not a young man."

"When he gets knocked down, Joe gets back up, and that's what we're doing today," Jill said, according to The Washington Post.

Speaking to Vogue magazine over the weekend, Jill said the family "will not let those 90 minutes define the four years he's been president. We will continue to fight."

Despite mounting pressure, Jill is holding her ground.

Michael LaRosa, a former advisor to Jill, told The New York Times that the couple's political partnership has been partly shaped by Biden bowing out of the 1988 presidential race.

It came after an investigation revealed that Biden lifted portions of a speech by United Kingdom Labour MP and Margaret Thatcher challenger Neil Kinnock. It led the media to suspect plagiarism.

"In 1987, she saw him be forced out by the press, pundits and polls, and it was really a scarring experience for both of them," LaRosa told the Times. "I think they learned from that experience and they weren't going to have their hands forced like they were in 1987."

Jill is unlikely to convince the president to drop out

According to a Politico report cited by Business Insider, Democrats close to Biden said his wife is the only person who could convince him to step down.

Katie Rogers, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, wrote in her new book that Jill has a strong influence on her husband's decision-making process.

Jill Biden has always publicly supported the president. Megan Varner/Getty Images

In an excerpt from the book, titled "American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, From Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden," Rogers wrote that the first lady discouraged Biden from running for president in 2004 by walking into an aide meeting wearing a halter top that had the word "No" written on the stomach.

Andrew Payne, a lecturer in foreign policy at City University of London, told BI that Jill's support for her husband isn't unusual. He said the Biden family's first instinct has historically been "to encourage the president to double down, not tap out."

Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science at University College London (UCL), cautioned that voters should be mindful of speculation about the president and first lady's relationship.

"In public, it's expected that Mrs Biden will support her husband. Behind closed doors, we can only guess at what she's advocating," he said.

The Bidens are out of touch, experts say

Nadia Hilliard, a senior lecturer in US politics at University College London, told BI that Jill will play a "supportive and enabling" role as first lady.

However, she added that Jill and the wider Biden camp's unwavering support could be more harmful than helpful.

"It's possible the Bidens have surrounded themselves with 'yes men' and psyching themselves up to say, 'we can do this,' without being in touch with the millions of people saying, 'you have to step down,'" Hilliard said.

She said this mindset extends to the Democratic party, adding that many will automatically support Biden because of a "genuine fear" that the party doesn't stand a chance with a replacement nominee.

"There's a sense that if he withdraws, Trump wins. That would be a disastrous move," she said.

The Biden campaign downplayed Biden's performance on Thursday, branding it as insignificant in the long run.

President Joe Biden put up an extremely poor performance at the first debate. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Jen O'Malley Dillon, Biden's top campaign strategist, said any drop in the polls after the debate would be due to an "overblown media narrative," according to The New York Times.

The president's deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, told staff that "nothing fundamentally changed about this election" after the debate, the outlet said.

Payne agrees with Hilliard's argument, saying there's a broader question of "whether the president actually should be listening primarily to his inner circle at this stage."

"Many have blamed his advisors for the poor debate performance in recent days, claiming that efforts to shield the president's apparent frailty from the public contributed to the blowback he is now experiencing," Payne said.

"To win in November, the president needs to bring along a diverse range of donors, political elites, and, ultimately, voters. His family will be with him to the end.

"Whether the others will remains to be seen."

Read the original article on Business Insider
ULAN BATOR, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia welcomed the highest number of single-day tourist arrivals ever recorded on Tuesday, announced the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

According to a statement from the ministry, Mongolia received a total of 5,174 foreign tourists on Tuesday. This surpasses the previous record set in mid-July last year, during the peak of tourism season, when 4,485 foreign tourists visited in a single day.

The Asian country has been implementing measures to promote tourism as part of its strategy to diversify the economy, which currently relies heavily on its export-oriented mining sector. The country has designated 2023-2025 as "Years to Visit Mongolia," aiming to attract at least 1 million foreign tourists annually.

Since the beginning of this year, Mongolia has welcomed 314,148 foreign tourists. Last year, the country attracted over 650,000 foreign tourists and generated 1.2 billion U.S. dollars from the tourism sector, marking an all-time high. 
Sub-Neptune planets that dance in time with the rest of their planetary systems are less dense than those that don't, planetary scientists have found.

Though notably absent from the solar system, the most common planets in the Milky Way are known as "sub-Neptunes," or worlds with sizes between those of Earth and the ice giant Neptune. It is estimated that between 30% and 50% of sun-like stars are orbited by at least one sub-Neptune  but despite these worlds' ubiquity, scientists studying extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, have traditionally had difficulty measuring sub-Neptunes' densities.

Depending on the techniques used for these measurements, sub-Neptunes seem to split into two distinct categories: "puffy" and "non-puffy." Yet, the question has been whether there are actually two distinct populations of sub-Neptunes or whether these differences are the result of what method was used to measure densities. On that front, new research from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University of Bern (UNIBE) suggests that there are indeed actually two physically different families of sub-Neptunes. And puffy sub-Neptunes are more likely to be in resonance with their planetary siblings.

Waltzing with planetary partners

Planets are said to be in resonance when, for instance, one planet completes one orbit in the same time it takes another planet to complete two orbits.

One extraordinary resonant planetary system recently discovered is HD 110067, located 100 light-years from Earth. The six sub-Neptune worlds in this system dance around each other in a precise cosmic waltz. The inner planet completes an orbit in 9.1 Earth days, the next planet out orbits in 13.6 days, the third in 20.5 days, the fourth in 30.8 days, the fifth in 41 days, and the outermost planet in 54.7 days.

Thus, for each orbit of the star the outer planet completes, the inner planet completes six orbits. That means these sub-Neptunes said to be in a 6:1 resonance. The other resonances between different pairs of planets in the HD 110067 system are 3:2, 3:2, 3:2, 4:3 and 4:3.

Related: Scientists find a surprise ingredient in exoplanet cake mix  sulfur dioxide

This rhythmic dance has existed around the bright orange star HD 110067 for around 4 billion years, about equal to the time the solar system has existed. As fascinating as it is, however, it doesn't tell us why the sub-Neptunes in this system seem to be less dense.

The team behind this new research has proposed a few possible explanations for the lightness of resonant sub-Neptunes; the most probably appears to suggest the process is linked to how these were formed.

an orange star is orbited by six planets, each a different color. their orbits are outlined with white circles

It's possible, the team says, that all planetary systems converge toward a resonant chain during their early existence. However, they believe only 5% of systems can maintain this rhythm.

The breaking of the resonance chain can lead to a series of catastrophic events, with planets slamming together and often merging to become denser conglomerate worlds. This means resonant chain systems can also maintain their puffy sub-Neptunes, the team says, as collisions and mergers increase the density of the same planets in non-resonant systems.

"The numerical models of planetary system formation and evolution that we have developed at Bern over the last two decades reproduce exactly this trend: planets in resonance are less dense," Yann Alibert, a professor at UNIBE's Space Research and Planetary Sciences Division and member of the discovery team, said in a statement. "This study, moreover, confirms that most planetary systems have been the site of giant collisions, similar or even more violent than the one that gave rise to our moon."

Sub-Neptune confusion and detection bias

To estimate the density of a planet, astronomers need two pieces of information: the planet's mass and its radius. Two methods used to obtain mass measurements are the Transit Timing Variation (TTV), which only works if a planet crosses the face of its star from our vantage point on Earth, and the radial velocity method, which uses the gravitational tug a planet exerts on its star to measure mass.

"The TTV method involves measuring variations in transit timing. Gravitational interactions between planets in the same system will slightly modify the moment the planets pass in front of their star," team member Jean-Baptiste Delisle, of the Astronomy Department of the UNIGE Faculty of Science, said in the statement. "The radial velocity method, on the other hand, involves measuring the variations in the stars velocity induced by the presence of the planet around it."

The TTV method, the scientists realized, tended to turn up sub-Neptune planets with less density than those measured with the radial velocity technique.

Performing a statistical analysis, the team found that the radial velocity method requires more time to detect large and low-mass planets, such as puffy sub-Neptunes. That means observations using radial velocity are more at risk of being interrupted before a planet's mass is estimated. This results in a bias in favor of higher masses and densities for planets characterized by the radial velocity method, with less dense planets being excluded.

Further investigation showed that, not only was the TTV method more likely to pick up on less dense exoplanets, but the densities of these planets were also lower in resonant systems than their counterparts were in non-resonant systems  regardless of the method used to determine their mass.

RELATED STORIES:

 James Webb Space Telescope detects clues about how Earth formed billions of years ago

 Two potentially habitable Earth-like worlds orbit a star in our cosmic backyard

 2 'super-Earth' exoplanets spotted in habitable zone of nearby star

With the existence of two distinct families of sub-Neptunes confirmed and the discovery of a link between puffy planets and resonant planetary systems, scientists are better positioned to understand the evolution of our galaxy's most common planet type.

They may also soon be able to explain, at last, why our solar system lacks such a world.

The team's research is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Wife charged with murder after fatal shooting in Washington, Missouri

Wife charged with murder after fatal shooting in Washington, Missouri

WASHINGTON, Mo.  A man is dead after police say his wife shot and killed him.

The Washington Police Department received a shocking 911 call Sunday morning from a woman claiming she had just shot her husband.

When officers got to the home on East 8th Street in Washington, Missouri, between Roosevelt and Lincoln streets, they found 31-year-old Matthew Lackey dead from a gunshot wound.

How to spot the newest ATM skimmers uncovered by St. Louis police

Police say 31-year-old Samantha Lackey admitted to the shooting when police got to the home. According to investigators, a fight between the couple escalated and Samantha fired a single shot from a handgun, killing her husband.

On Monday, this information was handed over to the Franklin County prosecuting attorney. Samantha Lackey is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Lackey is being held at the Franklin County Adult Detention Center without bond. Her husbands death is still under investigation.

This is reportedly the first homicide of 2024 in Washington, a city of about 15,000 people.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A family in San Bernardino is counting their blessings and thanking firefighters after the Sierra Fire, which charred more than 400 acres, came dangerously close to their home and dozens of others.

The two-alarm brushfire in Fontana near Sierra and Jurupa avenues was first reported at around 2:30 p.m., with the wind-driven flames quickly spreading from 40 to 350 acres in just two hours.

Fontana resident Isaac Van Setten told KTLAs Shelby Nelson that he saw the flames cresting the hillside near his familys home and their neighbors the moment he got onto his street.

The closer and closer I got, I was seeing more fire, and I was like this is pretty scary, he said.

Another neighbor captured video of a line of firefighters directly on the other side of his retaining wall where crews were battling the blaze.

It got as close to these houses as it possibly could have, Van Setten said.

Worried about what was going to happen, Van Setten called his parents, Debby and Bob, who were not at their home at the time.

He was a little nervous, Debby explained. He said, Its bad, mom. He called and said its really bad.

A wildfire seen dangerously close to homes in Fontana on June 30, 2024. (Isaac Van Setten)

A wildfire seen dangerously close to homes in Fontana on June 30, 2024. (Isaac Van Setten)

Firefighters seen directly behind a Fontana residents house while battling a wildfire on June 30, 2024. (viewer photo)

Flames from the Sierra Fire in Fontana seen threatening several homes on June 30, 2024. (Inland News)

Flames from the Sierra Fire in Fontana seen threatening several homes on June 30, 2024. (Inland News)

Flames from the Sierra Fire in Fontana seen threatening several homes on June 30, 2024. (Inland News)

Firefighters battling the Sierra Fire in Fontana on June 30, 2024. (viewer photo)

Crews with the San Bernardino County Fire Department seen on June 30, 2024, in response to the Sierra Fire. (Inland News)

The charred hillside behind the homes now serves as a reminder of just how quickly fires can start and spread, but its not the first time this has happened to these Fontana residents.

Its pretty dry over here and we get a fire just about every year now, Van Setten said. At least, thats what it seems like.

In Moreno Valley, the Round Fire scorched nearly 350 acres before it was fully contained over the weekend.

Now, much of the Inland Empire, including Fontana, Moreno Valley and Corona are under excessive heat warnings for an extended period of time, with some cities expected to move into the triple digits in the coming days.

We do have that grass crop that has dried out and like weve seen throughout San Bernardino County, in the high desert, in the valleys, everything is looking to burn, Eric Sherwin with the San Bernardino County Fire Department explained.

Residents of popular Southern California city on edge amid wave of violence

One small ignition source can quickly lead to a disaster and now with the Fourth of July holiday approaching, officials are urging people not to set off illegal fireworks.

A fire, whether its caused accidentally or not, still has the same potential to threaten residences, Sherwin added.

Fortunately, the Sierra Fire, which is now at 95% containment did not damage any of the nearby homes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Latest on Thompson Fire: Four homes destroyed, 13k remain evacuated as blaze burns 3,000 acres in Butte County

Original story:

Two wildfires that sparked Tuesday in Northern California have prompted mandatory evacuations amid bone-dry vegetation heated up by extremely high temperatures and gusty winds.

The Thompson Fire, which was reported shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday on the outskirts of Oroville in Butte County, had burned 2,136 acres as of 5:20 p.m., according to Cal Fire. The area south of Oroville Lake and several miles downhill from areas that had been de-energized as part of PG&Es public safety power shutoff around Concow.

Cal Fire officials had said there was a spot fire that was about 30 to 40 acres across the diversion pool in the Lakeland Boulevard area. Cal Fire mapping of the blaze showed the spot fire south of the Feather River had grown significantly by mid-afternoon, but most of the Thompson Fire was still burning along on the north of the river.

The fire conditions in the Oroville area are much different than the past two summers, said Cal Fire Butte Unit Chief Garrett Sjolund. This summer, he said, the vegetation that can fuel a wildfire is dense and dry.

Any wind will move a fire out very quickly, Sjolund said during a 6 p.m. news conference.

Authorities have issued dozens of evacuation orders throughout the day, some of them well within the Oroville city limits, as the wildfire grew from 15 acres to more than 2,100 acres (3.3 square miles) within six hours of its start.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said about 13,000 residents living in 32 zones had been told to evacuate on Tuesday, and residents in 16 additional zones remained under a evacuation warning.

By noon Tuesday, the fire had grown to 40 acres and flames were threatening infrastructure such as power supply and water supply to the Oroville area, Sjolund said.

Cal Fire investigators had not determined a cause of the Thompson Fire as of Tuesday evening.

Evacuations in and near Oroville

Oroville Hospital at 257 Olive Highway is in zone 964, one of the zones that remained under an evacuation warning at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Raquel Harp, executive assistant to the chief executive officer at the hospital, said hospital staff was sheltering in place and taking care of the patients.

The Sheriffs Office said zones 965 south of Highway 162, 804, 805, 811, 816, 806, 807, 801, 808, 809 and 810 also were under an evacuation warning due to the Thompson Fire.

At 11:35 a.m., the Butte County Sheriffs Office issued a mandatory evacuation order for people in Zone 536 in the Cherokee area of Oroville due to the Thompson Fire. The evacuation order included the area of Cherokee Road north of Thermalito Power Canal and the area north past Big O Road to just south of Oregon Gulch Road.

Five minutes later the Sheriffs Office issued an evacuation warning for people in Zone 731 in northeast Oroville. But that warning in Zone 731 was upgraded to a mandatory evacuation order shortly after noon Tuesday, according to the Sheriffs Office.

Zone 731 includes the area of Feather River at the Diversion Dam, east to Oroville Dam Boulevard East Diversion pool, south to Long Bar Road/Brereton Way. The warning also includes the areas of Long Bar Court, Almond Street, Colina Way, Lausen Street, Lakeland Boulevard, Incline Avenue, Gold Avenue, Perkins Street and Reyman Street.

Smoke from the Thompson Fire burning in Butte County is seen in an AlertCalifornia wildfire camera at Lake Oroville. The wildfire, which started Tuesday, July 2, 2024, prompted evacuations orders.

At 12:50 p.m., the Sheriffs Office announced mandatory evacuation orders were issued for zones 534, 535, 953 and 954 in Butte County. A temporary evacuation shelter has been opened at the Oroville Church of the Nazarene at 2238 Monte Vista Ave. in Oroville, sheriffs officials said.

As of 2:45 p.m., sheriffs officials have issued evacuation orders for zones 965 north of Highway 162, 958, 959, 960, 730, 800, 851, 700 through 716; all areas southeast of where the fire was burning in Butte County. Only Zone 964 remains under an evacuation warning.

Honea said every mutual aid agency in the county was providing the Sheriffs Office with assistance on the Thompson Fire, including the Chico Police Department which also was responding to the sheriffs priority calls in the northern part of the county. He said 20 law enforcement agencies outside Butte County were sending 75 law enforcement officials to assist.

The sheriff said deputies and other law enforcement officials will be patrol overnight to ensure safety and prevent looting in the evacuated zones. Some residents did not evacuate when they ordered to leave, and the sheriff said those residents must stay indoors and be ready to leave if the fire gets closer.

If youre out and about driving around, expect to be stopped by one of those law enforcement officers, Honea said at the news conference. And if turns into an issue where youre continuing to drive around and creating a problem for us, you will be escorted out (of the evacuated zones).

Fire burns to Oroville Dams spillway

At 4:30 p.m., the California Department of Water Resources announced that it is closely monitoring the fire, which started just north of its Oroville Field Division facilities. Several facilities are under evacuation orders issued by Butte sheriffs officials, including the Hyatt Powerplant facility, the division main office on Glen Drive and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center in Kelly Ridge.

At this time, staff have been evacuated from impacted facilities, with essential staff relocated to the Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant, the state agency said in a Facebook post. While State Water Project operations can continue remotely, Hyatt Powerplant is currently offline due to deenergized high-voltage powerlines operated by PG&E... There are no risks to Oroville Dam.

Oroville Dams main spillway has been reopened to maintain water releases and temperature control in the Feather River. The state agency said the Thompson Fire had progressed to the area of Oroville Dams main spillway, and DWR has provided access to fire and emergency personnel.

The Feather River Fish Hatchery continues to have power to maintain hatchery operations with an available emergency backup generator. The state agency has carried out precautionary measures, including wetting down potentially at-risk areas with water trucks, placing backup generators at key field division facilities and creating staffing plans to continue managing State Water Project operations remotely upon evacuation.

Smoke was billowing from the Thompson Fire burning Tuesday, July 2, 2024, and prompting evacuation orders in Butte County, near Oroville, California.

The Cal Fire Butte Unit chief said the wildfire was holding north of the Long Bar Road area, and firefighters have contained the spot fire south of the river in the Rusty Dusty Road area.

Our first priority is holding the fire at the Oroville Dam and keeping it out of Kelly Ridge, Sjolund said Tuesday evening.

He said the second priority for Cal Fire is focused on the two heads of the fire, one moving up toward the Cherokee Road area and the other near Red Tape Road where firefighters are trying to hold it below the Oregon City area.

The fire on the western end of the blaze, closer to Oroville, was more stable Tuesday evening.

The fire (on the west end) is holding, Sjolund said. We dont anticipate growth there as we move through the night.

There were 14 aircraft, more than 50 fire engines, 15 bulldozers and 11 grounds crews on Tuesday battling the Thompson Fire. Three helicopters would be dropping water to assist ground crews overnight. More firefighting resources were expected to arrive in the area Wednesday.

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, Sjolund warned residents that fireworks are banned in Butte County, and only legal fireworks are allowed in the cities of Oroville, Biggs and Gridley.

The sheriff also warned residents about using fireworks as Northern Californias current heat wave intensifies and increases the risk of a dangerous wildfire.

This is a bad fire season, Honea said. Dont be an idiot and cause a fire and create more problems for us.

The Thompson Fire was burning just west of where the Bar Fire burned 36 acres since Thursday and was now 100% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for areas of the Sacramento Valley and northern Sierra Nevada foothills. The warning, which is issued when theres a forecast for a long period of dry weather creating potentially critical conditions for a wildfire, will be in effect from 11 p.m. Monday through 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Wind-driven fire halted in Napa County

The Toll Fire, which started about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday off of Old Lawley Toll Road and north of Calistoga in Napa County, and spreading in a southwesterly direction. Cal Fire officials said the Tolls Fire is wind-driven and burning side-slope along the terrain to the southwest and is still east of Silverado Trail. About 300 firefighters were battling the fire, which sparked south of parcels along the Napa-Lake county line that PG&E had shut off amid the high fire danger.

The #TollFire burning north of Calistoga remains at approximately 50 acres. Crews are actively engaged in the firefight and working to construct control lines from both the air and the ground. The fire remains at zero containment. pic.twitter.com/z7tfv5vRfD  CAL FIRE LNU (@CALFIRELNU) July 2, 2024

About 12:45 p.m., Cal Fire officials said crews were actively engaged in the firefight and working to construct control lines from both the air and the ground.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the firefighters had stopped forward progress on the Toll Fire, said Jason Clay, a spokesman for the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Lake-Napa unit. Clay said mapping had more accurately measured the fire to 40.6 acres. The fire was initially reported as 50 acres of burned vegetation.

The Napa County Sheriffs Office issued mandatory evacuation orders for zones NPA-E103 and NPA-E113, and evacuation warnings for zones NPA-E104 and NPA-E105. Cal Fire said more than 100 people were in the Toll Fire evacuation order and warning zones.

A cooling station and evacuation point has been set up at the Calistoga Community Center, 1307 Washington St.

Another blaze, the Denverton Fire, near Travis Air Force Base had charred at least 25 acres Tuesday but had prompted no evacuations by 1 p.m.

#TollFire: Firefighters are at scene of an approximate 10-acre vegetation fire northwest of Calistoga off Old Lawley Toll Road. The fire is wind-driven, mid-slope pushing down valley with short range spotting. pic.twitter.com/K3rXqUoak8  CAL FIRE LNU (@CALFIRELNU) July 2, 2024
A wine bar, restaurants and a workout studio: See what's new in Milwaukee's west suburbs

A wine bar, a restaurant revival, French fare and a workout studio.

Check out these businesses that recently opened or plan to open soon in Brookfield and Wauwatosa.

Pipsqueak Wine now open in Wauwatosa

A new wine bar and shop has officially opened in East Tosa. Pipsqueak Wine, 6410 W. North Ave., focuses on small production wine with minimal intervention.

Pipsqueak Wine is open noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The shop is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Buy a bottle to take home or saddle up to the bar and enjoy a glass or bottle in-house.

Co-owners Heather Mitchell and Jonathan Blechman curated the business with decades of wine industry experience in Europe and New York City. East Tosa's walkability and the growing number of young families in Wauwatosa made the North Avenue location feel like a good fit for the couple's dream wine bar, Mitchell told the Journal Sentinel in March.

Follow Pipsqueak on Instagram @pipsqueakwinemke to stay up to date on their wine tastings and other events.

Solidcore will open in the fall at The Corners of Brookfield

The workout company [solidcore] will open a studio in the Corners of Brookfield shopping center in fall 2024, according to a press release.

The Corners of Brookfield shopping mall will get a new place to sweat in the fall of 2024. Solidcore, the Washington D.C.-based workout company that brands itself as [solidcore], specializes in low-impact, high-intensity, strength training.

Construction began in May to build the workout studio in a 2,276-square-foot space near North Lord and Union streets, across from the Sendik's Home store.

Solidcore's 50-minute core, lower and upper body workout is done on "sweatlana," the nicknamed custom reformer machine. The Solidcore at The Corners will be the company's third studio in Wisconsin, following Milwaukee and Madison.

Margaux Brasserie shines at The Corners of Brookfield

Margaux, a French brasserie, opened to the public June 1 at 20107 N. Lord St. in The Corners of Brookfield.

Restaurateur Kristyn Eitel is the mind behind the French-inspired bar and restaurant located beside Von Maur. Margaux is Eitel's second restaurant concept at the town of Brookfield's shopping center and the first since she bought the majority stock in the BelAir Cantina and Fuel Cafe hospitality brands in 2022.

Her team includes executive chef Nick Aprahamian, who most recently was Chef de Cuisine at Mr. Bs  A Bartolotta Steakhouse, and certified sommelier Joshua Steiner.

"Margaux will be a place where youll fall in love with dining out all over again," Eitel said in a press release.

Escargot, tuna tartare, four unique charcuterie selections and a Parisian Benedict make Margaux's brunch and lunch stand out among other Milwaukee-area menus.

Dinner entrees include Hudson Canyon Scallops (charred asparagus, sage beurre blanc, carrot puree), Bouillabaisse (sea scallops, halibut, colossal shrimp, mussels, saffron tomato broth) and Au Poivre Filet Mignon (black pepper crusted filet medallions, potato puree, brandy peppercorn sauce).

And don't miss Margaux's wine, beer, cocktail and zero-proof mocktail offerings. Their cocktail list follows the restaurant's commitment to French cuisine with a modern twist  just try the Creme Brulee Espresso Martini or the Lemon Meringue Margarita.

Margaux is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Margaux can accommodate parties of up to 12 guests and accepts reservations online.

The Elbow Room reopens in Brookfield

Seth Dehne (left), Jake Dehne (center) and Robert Jude (right), plan to open The Elbow Room on North Brookfield Road in June.

A beloved Brookfield bar and restaurant came back in June with new ownership and a new name.

CC's Elbow Room, 2850 N. Brookfield Road, has been revived as The Elbow Room by a trio that includes two Brookfield residents.

Jake Dehne, owner of Sydra Group which operates the downtown Milwaukee bars Red White and Blue and Lucky Clover Irish Pub, purchased the bar with his business partners Robert Jude and Seth Dehne. Jude and Jake Dehne are from Brookfield.

The Elbow Room had its grand reopening the last weekend of June with a jam-packed schedule of grilling, DJ sets, mimosa-tasting and Brewer's game viewings.

The Elbow Room menu still has its staples of smash burgers, pizza and wings, as well as tap beers, cocktails and wines. Hours are as follows: closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday and Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to midnight. Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cee Cee Ceman closed CC's Elbow Room and put the business up for sale in November 2023 to spend more time with her family following her daughter's cancer diagnosis. Ceman opened CC's Elbow Room in 2021 in the space that was formerly Sabella's Pub, fulfilling a dream in her home of Brookfield, she told the Journal Sentinel.

Ceman told the Journal Sentinel she's excited for the new owners to experience running the business in "the kind neighborhood of the Brookfield Village."

"With Vino Cappuccino, Coffeeville, the new brewery Venture, and now The Elbow Room reopening, our little Village is becoming more social and I love it!" Ceman said.

Do you know of a business opening in the west suburbs? Contact the reporter Bridget Fogarty at bfogarty@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Say hello to these new businesses in the Brookfield, Wauwatosa areas
When will we have a winner? Maloys slim lead keeps shrinking  but still not within recount range

Utahs 2nd Congressional district debate between Colby Jenkins and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy at the KUED studios at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Pool photo by Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)

Almost a week after the primary, the Republican race for Utahs 2nd Congressional District is still undecided and as close as ever.

While Rep. Celeste Maloys razor-thin lead over her challenger Colby Jenkins continues to slightly shrink day by day, its looking increasingly unlikely that Jenkins will overtake her. His best hope at this point is for a recount  which remains out of reach, but inching closer.

Updated election results posted after 4 p.m. Monday afternoon showed Maloy had 50.15% of the vote (53,372 votes) to Jenkins 49.85% (53,063 votes).

Friday evening, only 381 votes had separated the two candidates. As of Monday afternoon, that margin shrank to 309. While close, its still not within the roughly 266-vote margin needed to qualify for a recount, which under Utah law would need to be equal to or less than 0.25% of the total number of votes cast.

As of Monday, Maloys campaign had not declared victory, and Jenkins had not conceded, though Jenkins campaign last week told Deseret News it was holding out hope for the possibility of a recount.

Because of its razor-thin margins, its possible this race will remain undecided until after counties canvass deadline on July 9. The election isnt final until after the statewide canvass certifies the results on July 22.

Every vote counts, every vote will matter, Jenkins said Friday on X.

Since last week, the number of yet-to-be-counted ballots has steadily decreased to a trickle. County clerks in counties that could decide the race  including Washington County, where Jenkins lives and found a stronghold support in both number and percentage of votes  have reported a dwindling number of outstanding ballots.

As of Friday, the Washington County Clerk reported poll workers were still working to cure about 650 remaining ballots by contacting voters to correct errors or verify signatures. As of Monday, Jenkins continued to hold a healthy lead over Maloy in Washington County, with more than 59% to Maloys nearly 41% out of about 35,755 votes cast.

Jenkins is trailing Maloy, however, in most other counties across the state, including along the Wasatch Front. Tooele County was the only other moderately-sized county where Jenkins is ahead of Maloy, leading with just over 52%. Hes also leading her in tiny Juab County, with 70 votes to Maloys 52 votes.

Matthew Burbank, political science professor at the University of Utah, told Utah News Dispatch on Thursday that while Maloys lead could shrink as more ballots are counted, he said its appearing unlikely that the race will flip.

I think unless something odd happens here, he said, shes probably going to win.

The post When will we have a winner? Maloys slim lead keeps shrinking  but still not within recount range appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
Forward Biolabs in Madison, a nonprofit that helps launch startup biotech companies companies, is a member of the the state consortium of biohealth companies that is part of Wisconsin's new biohealth tech hub. The Wisconsin tech hub has been awarded $49 million in federal support, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday. (Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. photo)

Wisconsin will get $49 million in federal support to develop a tech hub for biohealth, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday.

The goal of the states tech hub project is to advance technology to improve diagnosis and treatment for illness and centers on personalized health care  tailoring medical care to the distinctive genetic differences among patients.

Wisconsins biohealth tech hub will be an economic driver for the state, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) said in a news conference she held Monday to preview the announcement. It will help entrepreneurs scale up their operations and grow. It will help expand lab space and support new research. It will support people at all educational levels get the skills that they need to land a job in this emerging sector, and it will serve as a central hub for private and public partners in biotech to coordinate and collaborate so that our state can drive innovation that benefits people around the world.

Wisconsins project was one of 12 tech hub proposals in the U.S. selected for full funding, Baldwin said, winnowed from nearly 200 applications initially. The tech hub program was established under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.

Baldwin said the Wisconsin project has been projected to create more than 30,000 jobs and spark $9 billion in economic development over the next decade.

Wisconsins proposal benefitted from collaboration that brought biohealth companies together with the states university and technical college systems as well as training programs in skilled trades, said Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes.

The range of jobs that will be available will be very broad, Hughes said. And we are going to provide the training to make sure that those in underrepresented, underserved communities have an opportunity to participate.

The jobs will range from manufacturing and technical jobs requiring a high school diploma or a post-high-school credential to those requiring degrees from a technical college, a four-year university or a graduate degree.

Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward, a trade association for Wisconsin biohealth companies, said the award builds on the states history of leadership in the biohealth sector.

This didnt happen overnight. This is decades of building this industry, Johnson said.

Biohealth is going to be taking off  it is the word of the future, Johnson added. It combines work, such as drug development, with diagnostic technologies from companies such as GE Healthcare, which makes X-ray equipment and other diagnostic imaging technologies, and therapeutic technologies.

The primary focus of the work is on the emerging technologies of personalized medicine  customizing diagnosis and treatment to a patients individual genetic makeup.

For example, when prescribing a drug to treat cancer, it used to be one size fits all, Johnson said. Increasingly its becoming possible to adjust the medication based on the patients genetic profile, she added, and more ways of diagnosing and treating disease are being made possible by this research.

The post Wisconsin gets $49M in federal funds for biohealth tech hub appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Wisconsin man leads deputies on 110mph pursuit on I-43 before crashing into median

(WFRV)  A Wisconsin man was arrested on Sunday after fleeing a traffic stop and leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 43.

According to a release, deputies with the Walworth County Sheriffs Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with an Illinois registration for unlawful side window tint and no front license plate.

Authorities in Wisconsin respond to cheese-related throwing incident, police say its un-brie-lievable

The driver, identified as Jerry Hamilton from Milwaukee, pulled over and provided the deputies with his Illinois drivers license. While the deputies were interacting with Hamilton, they observed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Deputies reportedly ordered Hamilton to exit the vehicle so they could investigate, but he shifted the vehicle into drive and fled the scene of the stop.

As Hamilton fled, his vehicle hit the arm of one of the deputies, causing a minor injury. The deputy returned to his squad car, and a pursuit ensued.

Authorities followed Hamilton south on Interstate 43 into Rock County. During the pursuit, Hamilton consistently traveled at around 110 miles per hour. In Rock County, a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper attempted to deploy spike strips to deflate Hamiltons tires.

Hamilton reportedly swerved his car as he approached the troopers location, losing control of the vehicle and crashing through the median barrier.

Hamilton was quickly taken into custody at the scene of the crash, and first aid was rendered. The vehicle was traveling at around 110 miles per hour at the time of the crash.

Wisconsin State Patrol to ride along with semi-trucks, targeting distracted driving

After searching Hamiltons vehicle, authorities reportedly found half a pound of marijuana in separate packages for distribution, 20 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, and other THC ingestion products such as gummies and a vape device.

Hamilton was transported to the Walworth County Jail and booked on the following charges:

Vehicle Operator Fleeing/Eluding a Traffic Officer

Operating While Intoxicated  First Offense

Battery to Public Officers

First-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety

Resisting or Obstructing an Officer

Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine

Possession with Intent to Deliver THC

25-year-old Wisconsin man dead after crashing into semi-truck that was hauling steel

Additionally, Hamilton will face 16 other traffic citations. Wisconsin Circuit Court records show that Hamilton has not officially been charged at this time.

No additional details were provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
The seven members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court hear oral arguments. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that it would hear two cases filed by Attorney General Josh Kaul and Planned Parenthood that will determine if Wisconsinites have a right to abortion care.

The cases, accepted concurrently, ask if the states 1849 law widely seen as banning abortion actually does so and if abortion is a right protected by the state Constitution.

Additionally, the Court ruled that it would not allow the states three largest anti-abortion groups to intervene in the lawsuits, finding that just having an interest in a hotly debated issue is not enough to clear the legal bar of joining a lawsuit as a non-party. The groups, Wisconsin Right to Life, Wisconsin Family Action, and Pro-Life Wisconsin, will be allowed to file amicus briefs.

Merely propounding a general position on a topic of debate in society, lobbying for that position, or wishing to make legal arguments consistent with that position does not give them a legal claim or defense that is sufficient to support permissive intervention, the Courts order states. Moreover, if we were to permit intervention by the Proposed Intervenors, there would be no logical distinction that would preclude intervention by all of the many other lobbying and education organizations on both sides of the abortion debate.

Conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn concurred with the decision to not allow the groups to intervene.

The U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, the precedent that had guaranteed the right to an abortion, triggered Wisconsins 1849 law, which states that anyone other than the mother, who intentionally destroys the life of an unborn child is guilty of a felony. Days after that decision, Kaul filed his lawsuit against the District Attorneys of Dane, Milwaukee and Sheboygan counties, the locations of the states three Planned Parenthood clinics.

Last year, a Dane County judge ruled in the case, Kaul v. Urmanski, that the law actually applied only to feticide and not consensual abortions. Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski appealed the decision, requesting that the state Supreme Court allow the case to bypass the appellate level.

24AP330-OA PPWI v. Urmanski 7.2.24

The other lawsuit, filed in February by Planned Parenthood, two abortion providers and a group of anonymous women who have received abortions, asks the Court to find that the state Constitutions right to equal protection grants a right to receive an abortion and a doctors right to provide one. The suit, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Urmanski was filed as an original action, beginning at the Supreme Court level without first being heard by lower courts.

This is the fourth original action the Court has accepted this term. During the 2020-21 term the Court, under a conservative majority, accepted three original actions and in the 2019-20 term it accepted seven.

Prior to the orders Tuesday release, a draft version of the order was leaked to Wisconsin Watch, an act that drew calls from the justices for an investigation by law enforcement.

Today the entire court was shocked to learn that a confidential draft document was ostensibly leaked to the press, Chief Justice Annette Ziegler said in a statement. I have contacted law enforcement to request that a full investigation be conducted. We are all united behind this investigation to identify the source of the apparent leak. The seven of us condemn this breach.

Like many of the Courts actions this term under a liberal majority, the decision Tuesday drew the ire of conservative justices who accused the majority of partisanship.

In a dissent that included screenshots of social media posts, Justice Rebecca Bradley accused the Courts four liberals of pre-determining the cases outcome and called for Justice Janet Protasiewicz to recuse herself from the case because of comments she made on the campaign trail that she personally supports abortion access.

By granting this petition, Ann Walsh Bradley, Rebecca Frank Dallet, Jill Karofsky, and Janet Protasiewicz continue their crusade to impose their values on the people of Wisconsin, wielding raw political power constitutionally vested in the legislature alone, Bradley wrote. The people of Wisconsin never consented to unchecked rule by four lawyers who continue to disgrace the institution of the judiciary by entangling this court in policy issues constitutionally reserved to the People and their legislative representatives. This case again marks the courts perilous entrance into the political arena where it does not belong and further delegitimizes this court as a non-partisan institution.

24AP330-OA PPWI v. Urmanski 7.2.24  Motion to Intervene

In a concurrence responding to Bradleys attacks, Karofsky defended herself and her liberal colleagues, writing that Bradley herself has acted similarly on her campaigns and when she was in the majority.

Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley engages in ad hominem attacks that would be more at home in an ill-advised late-night rant on social media than in a judicial writing  including attempts to paint the court as illegitimate, cell phone screenshots of celebrity tweets, and calling members of the majority  the horror  lawyers, Karofsky wrote. How can Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley have standing to criticize a colleague for signaling her values on the campaign trail while she did that on her own? How can she call for the recusal of one of her colleagues when she herself voted against a stronger recusal rule while in the majority? And how can she complain about the court granting an original action petition when in the past she too voted to grant original actions tackling controversial constitutional issues?

The orders issued Tuesday set deadlines for parties to file briefs in the two cases but dont set a schedule for oral arguments.

The post Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts abortion rights cases appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
FILE - Demonstrators protest outside the Wisconsin Capitol, May 3, 2022, in Madison, Wis. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided Monday, July 1, 2024, to consider two challenges to a 175-year-old law that conservatives maintain bans abortion without letting the cases wind through lower courts. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File)

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided Tuesday to consider two challenges to a 175-year-old law that conservatives maintain bans abortion without letting the cases wind through lower courts.

Abortion advocates stand an excellent chance of prevailing in both cases given the high court's liberal tilt and remarks a liberal justice made on the campaign trail about how she supports abortion rights.

Wisconsin lawmakers enacted statutes in 1849 that had been widely interpreted as outlawing abortion in all cases except to save the mother's life. The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion nullified the statutes, but legislators never repealed them. The high court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade reactivated them.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit challenging the statutes in 2022, arguing they were too old to enforce and a 1985 law that permits abortions before a fetus can survive outside the womb supersedes them. A Dane County judge ruled last year that the statutes outlaw attacking a woman in an attempt to kill her unborn baby but doesn't ban abortions. The decision emboldened Planned Parenthood to resume offering abortions in Wisconsin after halting procedures when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski, a Republican, asked the state Supreme Court in February to overturn the ruling without letting an appeal move through the state's lower appellate courts. He argued the ruling will have a statewide impact and guide lawmakers and the case will ultimately end at the Supreme Court anyway.

Days after Urmanski filed his request, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin sued Urmanski and asked the Supreme Court to take it directly. The organization is seeking a ruling that the 1849 statutes are unconstitutional, arguing that the state constitution's declaration that people have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness means women have a right to control their own bodies  essentially asking the court to declare a constitutional right to abortion.

The court released orders indicating the justices voted unanimously to take Urmanski's appeal and voted 4-3 to take the Planned Parenthood case. The court's four liberal justices voted to take that case, and the three conservative justices voted against taking it.

Urmanskis attorneys, Andrew Phillips and Matthew Thome, didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Persuading the court's liberal majority to uphold the statutes looks next to impossible. Liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz even went so far as stating openly during her campaign that she supports abortion rights, a major departure for a judicial candidate. Typically such candidates refrain from speaking about their personal views out of concerns they could appear biased on the bench.

The conservative justices accused the liberal majority in their Planned Parenthood dissents of playing politics.

The signal to a watching public is that, when certain policy issues touch the right nerve, this court will follow the party line, not the law, Hagedorn wrote.

Liberal Justice Jill Karofsky countered in a concurrence that the state Supreme Court is supposed to decide important state constitutional questions.

Regardless of one's views on the morality, legality, or constitutionality of abortion, it is undeniable that abortion regulation is an issue with immense personal and practical significance to many Wisconsinites, Karofsky wrote.

Michelle Velasquez, chief strategy officer for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, said in a statement that the organization was grateful the court agreed to take its case and Wisconsin residents need to know whether abortion is legal in the state.

Wisconsin Watch, a media outlet, obtained a leaked draft of the order accepting the case last week, prompting Chief Justice Annette Ziegler to call for an investigation.

Anti-abortion groups decried the Supreme Court's decision to take the Planned Parenthood case.

Every Wisconsinite should be troubled by this blatant weaponization of the court system to enshrine death on demand, Heather Weininger, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, said in a statement.

___

This story has been updated to correct the day of week in the first sentence to Tuesday, not Monday.
TOKYO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) infections has exceeded the warning level nationwide in Japan for the first time in nearly five years, the country's National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) reported on Tuesday.

An average of 6.31 patients per medical institution were reported in about 3,000 pediatric clinics nationwide during the week leading up to June 23, the latest NIID report said.

Marking the 13th consecutive week of increase, the figure exceeded the warning-level threshold of five patients per medical institution, which had not been surpassed since August 2019.

Regionally, the central Japanese prefecture of Mie reported the highest number of cases with an average of 16.36 patients per clinic, followed by Hyogo prefecture at 11.12.

HFMD, a viral infection causing blister-like rashes on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth, primarily affects children under the age of four.

Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, feeling unwell, skin rashes and sore throat. Mouth sores and ulcers on the tongue, gums and the inside of the cheeks can also indicate HFMD infection.

Children are at higher risk of contracting the illness which may lead to serious complications such as encephalitis or dehydration.

Given that HFMD peaks in summer, Japan's health ministry is urging the public to practice thorough handwashing to prevent the spread of the disease. 
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  A Wisconsin woman was taken into custody on Tuesday after allegedly stabbing another woman with a Fiskars pruning saw.

According to a release, officers with the Madison Police Department were sent to the area of State Street and West Mifflin Street shortly before 9:00 p.m. Monday night for a fight involving a knife.

Wisconsin man leads deputies on 110mph pursuit on I-43 before crashing into median

One of the reporting parties stated to officers that a female involved in the fight was bleeding profusely. Upon arrival, the Madison Police Department found the female victim with significant lacerations from an edged weapon.

While some of the officers rendered aid to the victim, others searched for a suspect, later identified as Alicia Padilla, who fled the scene. The unnamed victim was transported to a nearby hospital for her injuries and is reportedly in stable condition.

Authorities in Wisconsin respond to cheese-related throwing incident, police say its un-brie-lievable

Madison Police found a pruning saw nearby and determined that it was Padillas weapon in the altercation. Officers believe that Padilla and the victim are known to each other, and the attack with the saw was the result of a disagreement between the two.

Padilla was missing overnight, but officers were able to locate her and take her into custody on Tuesday morning. She was booked into the Dane County Jail on the following charges:

First-Degree Reckless Injury

Substantial Battery

Disorderly Conduct While Armed

Bail Jumping

Wisconsin State Patrol to ride along with semi-trucks, targeting distracted driving

According to the release, Padilla was also wanted on a probation warrant through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Wisconsin Circuit Court records show that Padilla did not appear in court for the possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia charges.

Padilla has not been officially charged in the alleged stabbing incident.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
PORTER COUNTY, Ind.  A Chicago woman was arrested after allegedly biting an Indiana State Trooper and spitting on a jail officer.

Indiana State Police said the incident began after Shelby Foster, 22, of Chicago, was allegedly going 105 mph on I-94 in Porter County.

Police allege Foster showed signs of alcohol impairment.

Foster allegedly removed one handcuff while being transported to the jail. In an attempt to handcuff her again, Foster bite the right arm of an Indiana State trooper, police allege.

When she got to the jail, Foster was accused of spitting on a jail officer during the booking process.

Brought a lot of joy: 10-year-old Northwest Indiana boys death ruled homicide while in foster care

Foster faces the following charges; battery by bodily waste, intimidation, battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, disorderly conduct, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of false identification.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Woman charged in connection to officer hit by truck during Dayton traffic stop punished

A woman charged in connection to a police officer being hit by a stolen truck back in April has learned her punishment.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man learns sentence after hitting officer with truck during traffic stop

Diamond Grody, 29, was granted the intervention in lieu of a conviction by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Montgomery on June 27, according to court documents.

Grody will avoid jail time and has been ordered to undergo a period of rehabilitation from one to five years.

She has also been ordered not to have contact with her co-defendant Daniel Payton, court documents said.

>>RELATED: 2 formally charged in connection to officer hit by truck during traffic stop

As News Center 7 previously reported, Dayton officers responded around 9:50 p.m. on April 24 to a traffic stop in the area of West Fairview Avenue and Catalpa Drive for a vehicle that was suspected to be stolen.

When officers stopped it, Diamond Grody allegedly got out and ran away, according to the Dayton Police Department.

>>RELATED: 2 facing charges in connection to officer hit by truck during traffic stop in Dayton

Daniel Payton then got into the drivers seat and took off, hitting a Dayton police officer in the process, police said.

Police, along with neighboring agencies, chased the truck that took off on I-70 westbound into Indiana where Payton was taken into custody.

Officers located Grody, who was later taken into custody as well.

>>RELATED: Officer hit by car during traffic stop in Dayton; driver arrested in Indiana

News Center 7 also reported back in May that Payton was sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and receiving stolen property.

Grody was originally charged with one count of obstructing official business.
Woman killed in Kherson by Russian attack, number of casualties increases

Eight people have been injured and one woman has been killed in a Russian attack in Kherson.

Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Eight people were injured in the recent Russian bombardment of Kherson.

Unfortunately, the Russian army killed a 54-year-old woman. My condolences to the family and friends..."

Details: Prokudin said that utility workers came under attack in the central part of the city. A 63-year-old employee sustained an explosive injury and a shrapnel wound to her leg. Her colleague, a 53-year-old woman, was diagnosed with a concussion, blast and brain injuries.

Also, a 54-year-old man is currently in hospital with contusion, blast and brain injuries.

Two men were injured in the yards of their homes in the Korabelnyi district of the city.

A man, 80, sustained a contusion and shrapnel wounds to the chest, arm and leg, as well as explosive and brain injuries. A 65-year-old man from Kherson was diagnosed with a contusion, blast and brain injuries.

Two other injured, a man, 52, and a woman, 56, came to hospital on their own with explosive injuries.

All the injured are under the supervision of Kherson doctors and are being provided with the necessary medical care, Prokudin said.

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A Kansas City woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a fatal crash last year that happened as she and two other women ran from police in Johnson County, leading police on a high-speed chase after they allegedly stole merchandise from an Overland Park store.

As part of a plea agreement, Shyanne Brina Canady, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery in Johnson County District Court in May. The 10-year sentence was imposed Friday.

According to the Johnson County District Attorneys Office, one of Canadys accomplices in the thefts  identified in court documents as Imari Collins  died. The 75 items that the women allegedly stole from the T.J. Maxx store at 7921 West 160th Street in Overland Park had a collective value of about $2,000, according to police.

Canadys attorney, Zane Todd Jr., declined to comment for this story.

Police were called to the store for a theft in progress call Nov. 27, and Canady, Collins and another woman were later identified as the suspects, according to police. An Overland Park police sergeant responded and saw the three women run from the store and get into a car.

Loss prevention staff at the store later reported Canady was leaving the store when she saw a police vehicle outside, and the three women dropped the items they were leaving with and ran outside, according to court documents.

The sergeant pursued the vehicle, which reportedly hit speeds of more than 90 miles an hour in a posted 55 mph construction zone, and at one point their vehicles collided, which the sergeant thought was intentional on the part of the suspect driver, according to court documents. The vehicle continued onto Blue Valley Parkway, went through a red light at the West 119th Street intersection and was hit by a SUV going through a green light, police said.

Per department policy, Overland Park officers are allowed to pursue vehicles in circumstances approved by the police chief to address specific crime trends, and more generally if they have reasonable suspicion a suspect has committed or attempted felony crimes like robbery or more serious offenses. When an officer has reasonable suspicion that a person is a danger to themselves or others based on the totality of the circumstances, police can also attempt to stop a vehicle.

Overland Park police were not immediately available to respond to The Stars questions about the police response in this case.

In an interview with police, one of the women allegedly admitted that she, Canady and Collins had been in the store and picked up merchandise but dropped the items after Canady had spotted a police officer in the parking lot. She said they then ran to Canadys vehicle and that Canady drove from the scene.

Collins was unresponsive at the scene of the crash and was taken to the intensive care unit at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, where she reportedly had no brain activity, a police sergeant wrote in a report at the time. She was later declared dead.

In an interview with police after the crash, Canady said it was Collins who had been driving, but police said the claim was not supported by evidence.

Police determined the three women had stolen from the T.J. Maxx store previously. Canady allegedly identified the three women as having been involved in thefts from the store on Nov. 15 and 19.

According to an investigation by The Star, at least 28 law enforcement policies around the metro area have broad police pursuit policies that allow officers and troopers to pursue a vehicle for almost any offense. These broad policies often create risks to public safety that outweigh the benefits of a potential arrest, according to many policing experts.

Other police departments, like Grandview, only allow for pursuits when theres a suspected felony offense.
Woman dies days after deer runs in front of SUV, crashes through windshield on GA highway

A woman has died days after a SUV and deer crashed on a north Georgia highway over the weekend.

Ellen Fiorenza, 72, of Conyers died from her injuries at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville on Monday, according to Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Saturday, Georgia State Patrol said Fiorenza was a passenger in Toyota Venza traveling on Ga. 15 when a deer ran in front of the SUV near Tom Born Road.

The SUV hit the deer, which went through the windshield, and Fiorenza was injured. Officials did not specify if the driver was injured.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Fiorenzas family and friends and with all those impacted, McEntire said.

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A still from a cell phone video files show four New Castle County Police Department officers forcefully arresting a woman in a Route 40 Royal Farms parking lot. The incident is under investigation, according to a Facebook post by New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer.

New Castle County police are investigating an incident in which four county officers are captured on video forcefully arresting a woman in a Route 40 Royal Farms parking lot, according to New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer.

Meyer's statement, posted to New Castle County Government's Facebook page, also promised to release police body-worn camera footage of the Saturday incident.

"We are aware of the recent video recording circulating on social media regarding a New Castle County Police use of force in a parking lot on Route 40," Meyer said in his statement posted on Facebook on Monday afternoon.

The video, which has been circulating on social media and was provided to Delaware Online/The News Journal by the woman's attorney, Emeka Igwe, starts with three officers detaining a woman who has her back pinned up against an SUV.

As police struggle to arrest her, an officer is seen pulling her hair as the woman pulls away, almost going down on her right knee.

After the woman is brought down to the ground, the officer who had been pulling her hair is seen striking her. A fourth officer is seen running toward the group. When this officer arrives, he also is seen on the video repeatedly striking the woman in the head area.

The video ends shortly after that.

The video posted on social media does not explain why police were arresting her, but charging documents obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal indicate the incident originally began as a traffic violation, including improperly tinted windows and following another vehicle too closely. This then escalated to include two counts of offensive touching of a police officer and resisting arrest.

"Police have an obligation to serve and protect communities in a manner that first preserves the health and safety of all residents. And we have an obligation to do so equally across all communities in our county," Meyer's comment states, adding the body-worn camera footage will be released to the public "imminently."

County police Col. Joseph S. Bloch has ordered the incident be investigated by New Castle County Police's Professional Standards and Use of Force units, the statement said.

"In addition, in collaboration with the New Castle County Police Accountability Board, we will be conducting a review of all policies, training and practices with regard to de-escalation and cultural competency," Meyer said.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: New Castle County police forceful arrest of woman under review
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Prince William County Commonwealths Attorneys Office has announced that a drug dealer was sentenced to life for providing illegal substances to teenage girls and sexually abusing them.

The attorneys office announced that 36-year-old Balmore Ortiz Guardado, of Woodbridge, actively recruited and provided Percocet pills that were laced with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, Xanax and alcohol to teens. He then sexually abused and raped his victims while threatening them with a gun.

The Attorneys Office said these acts took place in the late 2021 through 2022.

Man stabs another, throws bike under train in DC, police say

On Jan. 17, Guardado plead guilty to 14 charges including three counts of rape and object sexual penetration, seven counts of distribution of a Schedule I or II to a Minor, and Possession of Child Pornography. He was also ordered to register with the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry.

After hearing the evidence in court, a judge sentenced Guardado to six life sentences, and an additional 215 years with 179 suspended.

The Attorneys Office said the judges reasoning for departing from the Sentencing Guidelines, which recommended a range of 35 to 86 years, included the violence of the crimes, the number of victims and the effect [of the crimes] on the victims, the use of a firearm, and the recommendation of the Commonwealth.

In a news release, the Attorney Amy Ashworth released the following statement:

This was a very complex and difficult case as there were so many allegations and very little evidence to corroborate what the victims were telling us occurred due to the late report. However, with the hard work of the police detectives investigating the case, multiple search warrants, and the digital forensic investigative work, we were able to piece together the evidence and paint the picture of horrific abuse these minors suffered. The Defendant engaged in a pattern of grooming the victims by initially giving them Percocet laced with fentanyl, in exchange for money and gradually escalated to providing drugs for free in order to sexually abuse them. This calculated manipulation demonstrated a clear intent to exploit the vulnerabilities of the victims for his personal satisfaction. It doesnt get much worse. Our hearts go out to these victims and their families who will forever struggle to recover from the pain inflicted by Mr. Ortiz Guardado and we are grateful for the justice we were able to obtain on their behalf.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Customers of an Arkansas contractor are raising concerns after experiencing problems with leaks.

They say the BJs Roofing & Home Maintenance Co. offered a good deal but problems quickly crept up and when they asked for repairs the issues didnt stop, and they were eventually blocked from messaging the roofer further.

Working 4 You: Man accusing Van Buren County deputy of excessive force makes claims of prosecutorial misconduct

Working4You traveled through the state to look into the complaints and get answers from the company responsible for the work.

David Rodriguez said the one-year-old roof on his home in Kingsland does not keep water out. He said it was replaced in June 2023, but by January and the melting of the first snowfall, he started noticing problems.

Ive got rain running down between my walls on my cabinets down to my floor, Rodriguez said.

Courtesy of David Rodriguez

Courtesy of David Rodriguez

Courtesy of David Rodriguez

Rodriguez said the first two leaks he found have grown to seven spots. His first thought was to call his roofer, B.J.s Roofing and Home Maintenance Company, who came out and said a storm caused new damage.

After getting a second opinion from Rhino Roofing, Rodriguez said he got a very different story.

Working 4 You: Little Rock Animal Village refuses help from non-profit despite high euthanizing rates

He said an inspection found issues ranging from the shingles not reaching the drip edge to the lack of mod-bit specialized flat roof section material being used. Rodriguez said the inspector also noted elements like the chimney flashing that should have been replaced instead of caulked over.

Just these small things, these small mishaps that he missed out on as a roofer just trying to cut costs, its going to hurt a lot in the backend, a Rhino Roofing worker told Rodriguez in a video. This is a really bad way to do a roof, and whoever was the roofer definitely needs to be held accountable.





Working4You contacted BJs Roofing owner Bobby Scarberry, who didnt want to interview, but said over text that the other inspector was dumb and didnt know what he was talking about.

According to Scarberry his offer of $7,000, which he claimed was $5,000 cheaper than the competitor, was what Rodriguez could afford and leaving out the replacements and additional materials was the homeowners choice. He didnt address other issues brought up by the homeowner.

Rodriguez said the only optional feature he was made aware of was replacing a vent, which he was told would not be a problem.

Im not a roofer, so I dont know what these things are expected to cost, Rodriguez said. Were looking to rectify and get compensation over this because we should not have leaks in our home.

Working4You: Mayor says work is beginning on flooding issues in Bryant neighborhood, residents still frustrated

Rodriguez said he filed a complaint with the office of Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. He was not the only one.

Michelle Taylor said her back porch addition leaks between her home and what BJs Roofing installed. Scarberry claimed the issue was because Taylor and he agreed to reuse some material, but Anthony Gilbert, a former foreman at Shaffers Roofing, said the leaks were for a different reason. The counterflash is visibly higher than the roof in some places.

If your roof is lower than what its running to, then water is never going to make it off the edge, Gilbert said.





He (Scarberry) tried to make it look like it was our fault for whatever was happening, Taylor said.

Scarberry told his customers and Working4You that he was insured, but when asked about a license or roofing registration, he said he had none.

The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board confirmed his lack of license, with board administrator and executive director James D. Lawson sharing a statement on the license requirement.

Contractors must be licensed if they undertake a residential project the cost of which is more than $2,000.00, the statement said in part.

Working4You: Arkansas attorney generals office wins lawsuit against unlicensed contractor Stephen Rast

Lawson added if a contractor is found to have entered into a contract or undertaken a project without having the appropriate license, the contractor may be assessed a fine by the boards residential committee. Generally, the fine is $400 per day for each day of activity on the project.

I just, you know, hope no one else gets scammed by him, Taylor said.

Working4You is aware of four customers who have voiced complaints about the workmanship of BJs Roofing, but the two who were interviewed were the only ones who filed complaints with the attorney generals office.

The attorney generals office is currently mediating between the consumers and the company. If the two sides cant agree on a resolution, their next option would be to turn to the court system.

Rodriguez and Taylor said Scarberry has blocked them online after they asked for repairs and publicly called him out over social media. Scarberry told Working4You he has done thousands of roofs and plans to sue these two customers.

The witness I have and the insurance companies I have and proof I have Im not worried about it, Scarberry said in a text.

Maumelle families still seeking closure months after cemetery theft

Working4You asked Scarberry for his lawyers name to speak with him and was told he would rather not give his name and would reach out if he wished.

Unfortunately, I dont feel like he (Scarberry) is going to resolve anything because hes put threats out to us, Rodriguez said.

Have concerns about this company or others? Call the Working4You hotline at 501-340-4448.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ISLAMABAD, July 2 (Xinhua) -- A security person was killed and four others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, police said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred when roadside-planted explosives hit a vehicle of the security forces in Kalat district of the province, police sources in the area told Xinhua.

The forces' vehicle was on a routine patrol in the area when the explosion happened, said the police sources.

After the explosion, police and security forces rushed to the site immediately. Police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in the surroundings to arrest the culprits.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility of the attack yet. 
Out of this world: Space car pulled over on Missouri highway comes in peace

**Related Video Above: Military pilots first-hand UFO encounter

CUBA, Mo. (WJW)  It wasnt an unidentified flying object, but rather an unidentified driving object that got the attention of a sheriffs deputy in Missouri Friday.

You never know what will be traveling through Crawford County but this one was a little out of this world, Crawford County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

We all watched it vanish: Dozens saw bizarre UFO sighting at Red Rocks

A vehicle that looked very much like a spaceship was rolling down Interstate 44, reportedly on its way to Roswell, New Mexico. Take a look at photos below:

Photo courtesy Crawford County Sheriffs Office Missouri/Facebook

Photo courtesy Crawford County Sheriffs Office Missouri/Facebook

Photo courtesy Crawford County Sheriffs Office Missouri/Facebook

The deputy took photos with the friendly humanoids and had a conversation about making sure the vehicles registration was up to date.

No signs of alien life: Pentagon study

He was also warned about our strict enforcement of warp speed on the interstate and to keep his phasers on stun only while traveling, the office said in the post.

The drivers of the vehicle reportedly came in peace.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On World UFO Day on Tuesday, people across the globe are turning their eyes to the sky in search of unidentified flying objects. Residents of Michigan are familiar with the unexplained phenomenon, with plenty of sightings, stories and spooky encounters earning headlines in Michigan's history:

Lake Huron  2023

On Feb. 12, 2023, U.S. Air Force and National Guard pilots shot down an unidentified object flying 20,000 feet over Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The Huron UFO was shot down amid a slew of mysterious flying objects that February. This marked the third UFO shot down by the United States in the span of a week. Two days prior, an unidentified object was shot down in Alaska, then another was taken down in Canada the day before.

The Pentagon later reported that they believed the object could be "benign," though it was never entirely explained or recovered.

Lake Michigan  1994

Unfamiliar lights filled up the skies  nearly 200 miles along Lake Michigan's shoreline from Ludington south to the Indiana border, on March 8, 1994. This incident is one of the most prominent UFO sightings in Michigan history.

UFO reports were made by hundreds, not only to 911 dispatchers but also to the Mutual UFO Network's (MUFON) Michigan chapter. Sightings were reported by citizens, police officers, a meteorologist and others.

Cindy Pravda of Grand Haven told the Free Press in 2019 that four lights in the sky looked like "full moons" over the line of trees behind her horse pasture. She still believes the lights were UFOs.

A conversation between a National Weather Service meteorologist and a Holland police officer was reported by the Detroit Free Press in 1995.

There were three and sometimes four blips, and they werent planes, the NWS radar operator said. Planes show as pinpoints on the scope, these were the size of half a thumbnail. They were from 5 to 12,000 feet at times, moving all over the place. Three were moving toward Chicago. I never saw anything like it before, not even when Im doing severe weather.

Wurtsmith Air Force Base  1975

In October 1975, a bright white disc was spotted hovering over Wurtsmith Air Force Base. A plane was sent to pursue it, but the UFO reportedly shot into space before they could reach it.

There were nuclear weapons at that base, Bill Konkolesky, Michigan director of the Mutual UFO Network, told the Free Press in 2021. It was seen on the ground by the soldiers on the ground. It was seen from the air traffic tower, it was caught on radar, so multiple ways that this was being observed. And then the other thing, too, is that within a two-week period, at least four other bases altogether in the United States that have nuclear weapons were visited by a very similar UFO.

More: 'Unsolved Mysteries' investigates 1994 alleged UFO sighting that still haunts witnesses

Swamp gas  1966

Speculation began on March 14, 1966, when Washtenaw County officers and Selfridge Air Force Base observers said they saw lights in the sky, moving at high speeds. Then on March 20, 1966, the sheriff's office received reports of a UFO landing in a swamp in Dexter Township.

The headline on page 1 of the Detroit Free Press on Saturday, March 26, 1966 read: Those Saucers? Just Marsh Gas, Experts finds. It was a story about UFO sightings in Dexter and Hillsdale.

It was sort of shaped like a pyramid, with a blue-green light on the right-hand side and on the left, a white light. I didnt see no antenna or porthole. The body was like a yellowish coral rock and looked like it had holes in it  sort of like if you took a piece of cardboard box and split it open, truck driver Frank Mannor told WDIV-TV (Channel 4) at the time. Mannor went into the swamp and "got about 500 yards of the thing" with his son Ronald.

Hundreds of sightings continued throughout the county all week.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek,was a United States astronomer, professor, and ufologist.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek from Project Blue Book, a part of the Air Force that investigated UFOs, said the incident was just swamp gas. This drew criticism and accusations of a government cover-up.

Kinross  1953

An Air Force jet disappeared over Lake Superior on Nov. 23, 1953.

A blip appeared on the radar in a restricted air space near Soo Locks, an important commercial gateway, and the U.S. Air Force at the Kinross base sent two experienced pilots in an F-89 Scorpion jet to investigate.

The jet chased the object for about 30 minutes and then the two radars, the jet, and the unidentified object, seemingly intersected over Lake Superior. They lost radio contact and the Air Force pilots were never heard from again.

Reporters Emma Stein and Nour Rahal contributed to this report.

Contact Liam Rappleye: Lrappleye@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: World UFO day: History of sightings in Michigan
The News

The worlds largest William Shakespeare collection has reopened after an $80 million renovation.

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is hoping to revive interest in the English languages most famous writer at a time when Shakespeares exalted place in the public imagination is increasingly under threat, at least in America, The Economist wrote, with the political right decrying his work as obscene and some on the left considering it colonialist, racist, and misogynistic.

The Folger is making the case that Shakespeare belongs to everyone, and a new exhibition aims to tackle race head-on, featuring a portrait of Ira Aldridge, the first Black actor to play Othello.
Estates of at least three people who died in a fiery Nov. 14 chain-reaction crash in Licking County that killed six Tuscarawas Valley students, staff and parents filed wrongful death lawsuits against a central Ohio trucking company and its driver.

The estate of 18-year-old bus passenger and Tuscarawas Valley Student John Wyatt Mosley filed suit in June, and the estate of 15-year-old Tuscarawas Valley clarinet player Katelyn Owens filed suit in March against defendants Fyda Freightliner Columbus; Timothy J. Fyda; Pioneer Trails, Inc.; Mid-State Systems, along with Lee Zazworsky, Donald Ray Wagler and Jacob DeWayne McDonald, who was driving the tractor-trailer that caused the chain reaction at the time of the crash.

Fyda is an officer at Fyda Freightliner. Pioneer Trails is a for-hire motor carrier. Mid-State Systems is a motor carrier company and Zazworsky is its president.

Students walk the football field during the community prayer vigil, Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Tuscarawas Valley Schools football stadium in Zoarville, Ohio. Most of the students picture were on the bus that crashed earlier in the day on I-70 in Licking County, killing 6 people.

A third lawsuit filed in April by the estate of Shannon Wigfield, 45, a New Philadelphia English teacher who was in a car involved in the crash, also included Honda Logistics North America, One World Logistics of America, CEVA Contract Logistics U.S. and Daimler Truck North America as defendants.

The lawsuits are all filed in Franklin County.

What do the Tusky Valley bus crash lawsuits say?

In the complaints, attorneys argue that Fyda Freightliner, a truck dealership with a location in Columbus, sold the semi to Mid-State Systems without standard safety systems. The companies have denied responsibility for the crash in response to the complaints.

Attorneys who filed the lawsuits on behalf of the families say that the semi-truck was not equipped with crash prevention safety systems that could have prevented the crash and accused the driver, the trucking company, and the company that sold the truck of negligence.

What happened in the Nov. 14 crash?

On the day of the crash, 54 students, teachers and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools in Zoarville, Tuscarawas County, were traveling to the final day of The Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus.

That morning, a semi-truck owned by Hebron-based trucking company Mid State Systems following too closely in traffic failed to slow down and struck another vehicle before hitting the charter bus on I-70 in Licking County, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

The impact forced the bus into two more vehicles. At least 18 others suffered injuries in the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

What is next in the lawsuits?

Court records show a schedule is in the process of being made for attorneys to take depositions of the key people involved, including McDonald, Fyda and witnesses.

A trial in the case is currently scheduled for 2025 but depending on how long the discovery process takes  or how long the attorneys take to share information with each other  that date could change.

bagallion@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio bus crash prompts lawsuits from Tusky Valley victims' estates
Motorists travel on Wales Road NE at Hankins Road NE last week in Massillon. About 95% of the Wales Road repaving and widening project is completed.

MASSILLON  A multiyear effort to widen and improve Wales Road NE is heading down the home stretch.

Altogether, the work has been part of a $7.2 million project to resurface and widen a 1.4-mile section from Lincoln Way E to Hills and Dales Road NE. The scheduled completion date is July 31.

"I'd say we're about 95% of the way home," said Justin Chesnic, an Ohio Department of Transportation public information officer for District 4, which includes Massillon. "Most of what's left to do is off the road."

Motorists travel north and southbound Thursday on a newly resurfaced and widened Wales Road NE in Massillon. The project to redo a 1.4-mile stretch of the road started in early 2021.

Some primary tasks remaining include a final striping of the roadway, smoothing over some asphalt and updating traffic signals at intersections, Chesnic said.

The project also includes new sidewalks, landscaping, curb and gutter replacement, and new traffic lights.

Road redo: Massillon's $2.54M street repaving plan to fix parts of 49 streets in 2024

The majority of work has been grant funded, as the city is picking up around $1.4 million. The city's share came out of the Massillon Marketplace tax increment financing district.

Construction was put on hold last December by ODOT as a winter safety precaution.

The work kicked off in January 2021 with tree removal and utility work. ODOT came on-site a year later.

The effort hit a standstill in parts of 2022 because of supply chain issues for equipment and materials from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of the Wales Road NE repaving and widening project in Massillon has been completed.

But city Engineer Alex Pitts said the project has been back on track for some time, calling it 90% to 95% finished.

He noted some "punch-list" items are remaining, which likely would be addressed in a final inspection in late July. That may include adjusting manhole covers and adjusting traffic light sequences.

"The majority of things are done. We like how work has been progressing," Pitts said.

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Project to upgrade, widen Wales Road NE in Massillon nears finish line
CAIRO (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthis said on Tuesday that they, along with the Islamic resistance in Iraq, have conducted a joint military operation, attacking a vital target in Israel's Haifa.

The military operation has been carried out with "a number of winged missiles," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement, without identifying the target that was attacked.

The Houthi group has been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes since November, in what it says is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The Iran-aligned Houthis first launched drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes in November. In dozens of attacks, they have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three seafarers.

(Reporting by Muhammad Al Gebaly and Jaidaa Taha; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Ukraine plans to expand its Grain From Ukraine humanitarian program to further supply food to Africa, the Caribbean, and other regions, according to Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office.



Since the initiative's launch in fall 2022, Ukraine has sent over 220,000 tons of agricultural products to ten countries in Africa and Asia, providing food security to 8 million people.



According to Yermak, products sent through this program have included 195,000 tons of wheat, 22,200 tons of wheat flour and 4,100 tons of cracked nuts.



In early 2024, Ukrainian food was supplied to Sudan, Nigeria, Mauritania, Djibouti, Mozambique, and the Congo, with shipments currently en route to Malawi and other countries. Discussions are underway for potential supplies to Haiti, Chad, Cameroon, Tanzania, and more.



Ukrainian diplomats are promoting the program globally through various diplomatic efforts and projects like Together We Rise in Nairobi.



Ukraine is one of the world's leading agricultural producers and has been a major supplier of grain and other products to countries in Africa and Asia.

Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was the fifth-largest wheat exporter globally.

Russia's full-scale war against the country and its attempted blockade of the Black Sea forced Ukrainian exporters to seek alternative routes and markets, which in turn led to clashes between Ukrainian and European producers.

Read also: Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria start Black Sea demining operations to foster Ukraine exports

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Young Thug's racketeering case in Atlanta hit another roadblock weeks after the rapper's lawyer was accused of contempt of court. (Paras Griffin / Getty Images)

Young Thug's months-long racketeering trial faces yet another delay. This time, defendants are calling on an Atlanta judge to recuse himself from the case.

The "Go Crazy" rapper's lawyer and those for other defendants filed motions demanding that Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville be removed from the case and that another judge oversee the trial, according to the Associated Press. The motions accused Glanville of holding an "improper" meeting with prosecutors and a prosecution witness, which did not include defendants and their attorneys.

In a Monday hearing without jurors (who are on break until July 8), Glanville announced that he would release the transcript of his meeting in June with prosecutor's witness Kenneth Copeland and his attorneys. He said he would cancel Wednesday's hearing "indefinitely" and that he would send the attorneys' motions to recuse to another judge.

Read more: Young Thug's lawyer avoids 10 weekends in jail as Georgia high court puts order on hold

"So this written order is entered, I will enter the order transferring it. Until such time that those things are decided, then we'll be in recess until that time," Glanville said.

The judge's decision to further delay the drawn-out trial comes weeks after he found Young Thug's lawyer Brian Steel in criminal contempt of court. In June, Glanville ordered Steel to spend 10 weekends in jail after the defense attorney refused to disclose how he knew about the judge's meeting with Copeland and his attorneys.

Steel was to report to Fulton County Jail but then was cleared of the sentence. At the time, attorney Ashleigh Merchant, a legal representative for Steel, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a statement that her team was thrilled that Brian will be home with his family for Fathers Day this weekend.

Read more: YSL RICO trial on hold until January after Young Thug co-defendant stabbed in jail

Opening statements for Young Thug's high-profile racketeering trial began in November, a year after he was named in a sweeping 2022 indictment in which Georgia officials accused the rapper of being a founding member of the criminal gang Young Slime Life, or YSL. The gang shares that acronym with the rappers Young Stoner Life record label.

Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, is one of 28 people  including rappers Gunna and Unfoonk  allegedly associated with YSL and targeted in the indictment.

Since the trial began, it has faced several issues that prompted delays, including an online leak of a juror's identity and a defendant's stabbing in Fulton County Jail.

Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The judge overseeing the racketeering and gang prosecution against Young Thug and others on Monday put the long-running trial on hold until another judge rules on requests by several defendants that he step aside from the case.

Lawyers for the rapper and several other defendants had filed motions seeking the recusal of Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville after he held a meeting with prosecutors and a prosecution witness at which defendants and defense attorneys were not present. They said the meeting was improper and said the judge and prosecutors tried to pressure the witness, who had been granted immunity, into giving testimony.

More from Billboard

Jurors, who were already on a break until July 8, would be notified that they will not be needed until the matter is resolved, Glanville said.

This is the latest delay in the trial that has dragged on for over a year, in part because of numerous problems. Jury selection in the case began in January 2023 and took nearly 10 months. Opening statements were in November and the prosecution has been presenting its case since then, calling dozens of witnesses.

Young Thug, a Grammy winner whose given name is Jeffery Williams, was charged two years ago in a sprawling indictment accusing him and more than two dozen other people of conspiring to violate Georgias anti-racketeering law. He also is charged with gang, drug and gun crimes and is standing trial with five of the others indicted with him.

Glanville last month held Young Thugs attorney Brian Steel in contempt for refusing to tell the judge how he found out about the out-of-court meeting. Steel was ordered to serve 10 consecutive weekends in jail, but the Georgia Supreme Court put that penalty on hold pending an appeal.

During a hearing Monday without jurors present, Glanville said he would release the transcript of the meeting that he had with prosecutors and state witness Kenneth Copeland and Copelands lawyer. He said he would also allow another judge to decide whether he should be removed from the case.

Glanville told the lawyers he would enter the order sending the recusal matter to another judge, adding, Well see you in a little bit, depending upon how its ruled upon, alright?

Your honor, do we have a timeline of when the motion to recuse may be heard? prosecutor Simone Hylton asked.

Dont know, Glanville responded, saying the court clerk has to assign it to another judge. I dont have anything to do with that.

Hylton asked if the matter could be expedited, citing concerns about holding jurors indefinitely.

Glanville said he understood that concern and that he hoped it would be acted upon quickly.

Glanville has maintained there was nothing improper about the meeting. He said prosecutors requested it to talk about Copelands immunity agreement.

Young Thug has been wildly successful since he began rapping as a teenager and he serves as CEO of his own record label, Young Stoner Life, or YSL. Artists on his record label are considered part of the Slime Family, and a compilation album, Slime Language 2, rose to No. 1 on the charts in April 2021.

But prosecutors say YSL also stands for Young Slime Life, which they allege is an Atlanta-based violent street gang affiliated with the national Bloods gang and founded by Young Thug and two others in 2012. Prosecutors say people named in the indictment are responsible for violent crimes  including killings, shootings and carjackings  to collect money for the gang, burnish its reputation and expand its power and territory.

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MOSCOW, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Yury Borisov, head of Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos, has approved the schedule for the creation of a Russian orbital station by 2033, the corporation said in a press release Tuesday.

The schedule includes the design and construction of the space modules, flight tests of a new-generation manned spaceship, the creation of launch vehicles and space infrastructure on Earth, and a timetable for the work of scientific institutes supporting the project, the statement said.

The document was also signed by the general directors of 19 enterprises which are involved in the construction of the new orbital station.

The scientific and energy module will be launched first in 2027, and three other core modules, namely the universal nodal, gateway and base modules, will be launched by 2030. Two other target modules are scheduled to be launched by 2033.

A total of 608.9 billion rubles (around 6.9 billion U.S. dollars) has been allocated to finance the project, Roscosmos said.

The corporation further said the creation of the Russian orbital station would ensure the continuity of Russia's space program and address issues of national security and scientific and technological development. The station would also serve as a platform for testing space technologies, it noted. 
President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to consider a ceasefire in order to "speed up peace talks," Kyiv said on July 2.

Speaking on national TV, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva, said that during meetings in the capital, Orban was given the "opportunity to express his thoughts."

"The President of Ukraine listened to him, but in response, he stated Ukraine's position  clear, understandable, and well-known," Zhovkva added.

Kyiv previously rejected a temporary break to hostilities, saying it would only provide a window of opportunity for Russia to regroup its forces.

Instead, Ukraine organized a global peace summit in Switzerland in June without Russia's participation to discuss possible steps toward peace.

In an earlier statement to reporters after the two leaders met, Orban said they had discussed the issue.

"I asked the president to think about whether we could reverse the order, and speed up peace talks with making a ceasefire first," he said.

"A ceasefire connected to a deadline would give a chance to speed up peace talks. I explored this possibility with the president and I am grateful for his honest answers and negotiations."

While praising Ukraine's peace initiatives, Orban said that they take "too long."

Orban's first visit to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion comes as Hungary takes over the European Union's rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

This has sparked controversy, with some European officials calling on European Council President Charles Michel to suspend Hungary's presidency.

Budapest has repeatedly opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO and the EU, sanctions on Russia, undermined Western aid efforts for Ukraine, and maintained close relations with Moscow throughout the full-scale war.

This has led to deteriorating relations between Ukraine and Hungary, which were already strained before 2022.

Following their bilateral talks, Zelensky and Orban told journalists that their meeting was an important step toward solving long-standing problems between the two countries.

"The content of our talks today can become the basis for a future bilateral agreement between our states, which will regulate our relations," Zelensky said, as reported by European Pravda.

"We want to establish relations between our countries and to sign a cooperation agreement with Ukraine similar to those Hungary has already signed with other neighbors," Orban noted.

Read also: European MPs call on Charles Michel to suspend Hungarian presidency of EU Council

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Mark Rutte, who has just quit the post of Prime Minister of the Netherlands and will start working as NATO Secretary General in October.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter); European Pravda

Details: The head of state thanked Rutte personally, his government, and the people of the Netherlands for what they have done for Ukraine, for "all the timely and extensive defence, humanitarian, and political support".

I had a phone call with my friend, Mark Rutte. I sincerely thanked him for everything he, his government, and the people of the Netherlands have done for Ukraine  all the timely and extensive defense, humanitarian, and political support.



We will continue to stay in touch as he pic.twitter.com/1QBsn78SIM  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) July 2, 2024

Zelenskyy said that he will continue to stay in touch with Rutte in the role of the new NATO Secretary General. The president congratulated Rutte on his appointment and discussed Ukraine's future cooperation with the Alliance.

Background:

On 2 July, a new Dutch government was headed by Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

Rutte served as prime minister for the longest time in the Netherlands' modern history. On 26 June, the North Atlantic Council decided to assign him as the next NATO Secretary General.

Rutte will take office on 1 October, when the mandate of the current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ends.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken of "good prospects" following a meeting with Oleh Ivashchenko, the head of Ukraines Foreign Intelligence Service.

Source: Zelenskyy on social media

Quote: "The head of external intelligence has presented his report. We discussed the current threats and the opportunities that we can make use of. There are some good prospects."

Details: Zelenskyy also reported on the measures being taken to protect energy facilities, such as active defence and radio-electronic warfare, and on rebuilding and Ukraines cooperation with European partners to expand electricity imports. "We are currently determining the amount of imports coordinated with the EU, and Im grateful to all our neighbours for this assistance."

Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is doing all it can to increase electricity imports, and that this had to be a European decision. The officials concerned are working on an agreement.

Zelenskyy ordered Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, who is currently visiting the US, to obtain specific information as to when the supplementary Patriot systems that Ukraines partners have agreed to send would be delivered.

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CUDA is Nvidia's secret sauce  and now it's in the sights of European regulators

Nvidia is on the cusp of being charged by French regulators.

The chipmaker is set to face antitrust charges, Reuters reported, citing sources.

Among regulators' concerns is CUDA, the software that makes Nvidia's hardware tick.

Nvidia has had a blistering ride in its journey to become a $3 trillion heavyweight in the AI industry. Now, authorities want to know if it has got there fairly.

French regulators are set to charge the Silicon Valley chip giant over concerns that it has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, a Reuters report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

It follows developments last month involving the US Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission that could see Nvidia and other AI industry giants, like Microsoft, face tough questions over how they use their market power.

A Nvidia spokesperson declined to comment to BI.

Nvidia has emerged as a dominant force in the generative AI boom as companies including OpenAI, Google, and Meta have all bowed before its billionaire CEO Jensen Huang to secure access to the chips  known as GPUs  that the company specializes in.

Demand has been driven by these GPUs' role in training hyped AI models. In May, Nvidia gave its latest indication of just how relentless demand has been after it revealed a 262% year-on-year jump in first-quarter revenue to $26 billion.

The company's dominance was further cemented last month after it briefly surpassed Microsoft to become the world's most valuable company, with a market capitalization of around $3.34 trillion.

But while Nvidia's hardware has attracted attention, regulators also seem keen to highlight the software part of its business: CUDA.

In its first opinion on the "competitive functioning" of the generative AI sector, published on Friday following the launch of an inquiry in February, France's competition regulator raised concerns over "the sector's dependence on Nvidia's CUDA" software.

What is CUDA?

Nvidia's CUDA software helps make its hardware easy to use. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for The New York Times; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI

CUDA, which stands for "compute unified device architecture," is a computing platform that Nvidia unveiled in 2006.

At the time, Nvidia's GPUs had been built to cater to the then-niche gaming market. They boasted an ability to process the graphics of games better than chips from rivals, thanks to a neat trick they performed called parallel computing.

But Nvidia was ready to expand the use of its GPUs to handle other kinds of computing tasks. That's where CUDA would come in. Nvidia wanted to create a software package that could allow its GPUs to handle a whole range of computing tasks.

It succeeded. CUDA's advantage today is that it effectively works as a plug-and-play system. No matter how varied or complex the workload of an AI company, CUDA operates in a way that makes Nvidia's GPUs useful to all companies working on AI projects. How has it managed this?

What makes Nvidia tick

Jensen Huang presents at Nvidia's GTC conference. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

After Nvidia's GTC conference in March, dubbed the "Woodstock of AI" by analysts, James Wang, general partner at Creative Ventures, a VC firm, wrote a blog explaining how Nvidia's reveal of new GPUs was less important to its success than CUDA.

He has a few explanations for this.

For one, CUDA is adaptable. The software "continues to be forward and backward-compatible," even when new GPUs come out, Wang wrote in a Substack blog.

Wang also noted it also has a bunch of "super pleasant tools," which are supported by a dedicated community of CUDA developers. Simply, these tools are designed and updated to make life easy for companies looking to use Nvidia's chips.

"The reasons for Nvidia's dominance are years and billions of dollars in investment in the CUDA ecosystem, evangelism, and education of the community that builds AI," Wang wrote.

While Huang has gained credit within Silicon Valley for building such a powerful software system that has given Nvidia a competitive moat, others have tried to build rival offerings.

For instance, Nvidia's chip rival AMD, led by Huang's cousin Lisa Su, operates a CUDA alternative called ROCm. It was, however, released in 2016, 10 years after CUDA, and has not gained a similar kind of traction.

For regulators now, the question is whether Nvidia has achieved its dominance by unfairly locking companies using its GPUs into CUDA.

As French regulators noted in their opinion on Friday, the software is "the only one that is 100% compatible with the GPUs that have become essential for accelerated computing."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Extreme heat is affecting workers this summer. New federal rules would require bosses to provide rest, water, and shade.

Extreme heat is affecting workers this summer. New federal rules would require bosses to provide rest, water, and shade.

The Biden administration proposed the first-ever national heat protection standards for workers.

The rule targets about 35 million workers in industries like construction and agriculture.

The proposal comes amid record heat waves exacerbated by the climate crisis.

The Biden administration on Tuesday proposed the first-ever national standards for protecting workers during excessive heat.

The rule, if finalized, would affect about 35 million workers across the country in industries like construction, agriculture, delivery, landscaping, and utility line repair. Workers in restaurants and factories where there isn't access to air conditioning could also be covered by new requirements for employers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has to accept public comments before drafting a final regulation in the coming months. If finalized, Republican-led states and business groups are likely to sue the administration to block the rule, and a string of recent Supreme Court rulings curtailing federal agencies' power could also make it harder for regulations to survive legal challenges. Former president Donald Trump would likely block the rule from becoming final if he wins a second term in November.

The proposal comes as millions of indoor and outdoor workers have been exposed to record-setting heat waves this summer. On Tuesday, more than 75 million Americans were under heat alerts, according to the National Weather Service. The climate crisis is causing more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting heat waves in major cities across the US, federal climate scientists have found.

"Heat is a problem and a growing one," Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su told Business Insider. "For workers, it's not just inconvenient or uncomfortable, it's it's actually potentially deadly. So we are doing this because no worker should have to do a job that's life threatening."

More than 436 workers died on the job due to heat exposure between 2011 and 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly 34,000 workers suffered heat-related injuries that required time away from work.

OSHA last year said these figures are "vast underestimates" because the definition of a heat-related illness varies by jurisdiction and there's a lack of recognition that heat is a "causal or contributing factor to illness." That leads to inconsistent reporting by medical professionals and employers also underreport these cases, OSHA said. The agency has been criticized by worker safety advocates for failing to conduct more heat inspections, as well.

What will employers have to do and when?

OSHA is proposing two heat index thresholds that kick in requirements for employers. The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when humidity is combined with the air temperature.

Employers with workers exposed to 80 degrees Fahrenheit either indoors or outdoors would have to regularly monitor the temperature and create an injury and illness prevention plan that details how to respond when workers express symptoms of heat illness.

Access to drinking water, a shaded or cool break area, and rest breaks would be required. So would an "acclimatization" plan that ensures new employees can gradually adjust to the heat, such as slowly increasing their workload or giving them 15-minute rest breaks every two hours.

"Notably, acclimatization is the leading killer among the different factors related to heat illness," a senior administration official said. "So 3 out of 4 workers who die on the job due to heat-related heat illness die on that first week and on the job."

At 90 degrees additional requirements kick in, including checking in with workers on the job alone, mandatory paid rest breaks every two hours, and a hazard alert system that reminds employees how to stay safe.

The rule doesn't cover government employees or emergency responders.

Didn't Texas and Florida block heat safety mandates?

Yes, Texas and Florida have blocked local ordinances aimed at protecting workers during extreme heat.

A Florida law that took effect on July 1 bars cities and counties in the state from imposing their own rules on business, like requiring water breaks  something Miami-Dade County considered last year.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last year also signed a law that preempts local labor, agriculture, environmental, and other policies that don't align with state codes. Critics said the law overrode the few protections that construction workers in Austin and Houston were guaranteed, including 10-minute breaks every four hours to drink water and rest in the shade. Abbott said the goal was to prevent a patchwork of different rules that would be confusing for businesses.

A senior administration official said OSHA's proposal, if finalized, would apply to all states including Texas and Florida.

Su said she's talked to workers in Texas and Florida, who've asked what a nationwide standard would mean for them. She's reassured them that federal rules would apply in those states, too.

"This rule is meant to make sure that in every state, employers know what the standard is," Su said. "I hear this all the time from employers that having consistency and predictability is very, very important."

Do any states already have heat protection laws?

Yes. Five states have laws that aim to protect employees exposed to heat: Minnesota, California, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado.

A senior administration official said OSHA's proposal is similar to standards that have been successful in those states.

California has had its law on the books since 2006. Washington and Oregon created worker protections after several farm workers died during a heat wave in June 2021.

A senior administration official said OSHA will review state plans to ensure they are at least as effective as the federal rules.

Are businesses opposed to OSHA's rule?

The Guardian reported that some groups representing agriculture and construction companies have lobbied against state and federal efforts to enact heat protection standards. These groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Construction Industry Safety Coalition, argued that the requirements could be too complex and costly.

But groups that represent farmworkers who pick fruits and vegetables in extreme heat in states like California, Arizona, and Florida have pressured OSHA for years to enact a federal standard.

A senior administration official said OSHA also convened a national advisory committee of construction representatives comprised of management and labor interests.

"That group voted unanimously that we proceed expeditiously with rulemaking," the official said. "So while we may not agree on the contents of the proposal, there are fair number of of employer groups out there that that recognize the importance of a level playing field when it comes to a heat rule."

Are you a business owner or worker who would be affected by heat protection rules? Contact this reporter at cboudreau@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Florida man admitted to shooting a Walmart drone last week, law enforcement officials said.

For the past decade, gun owners have been shooting at UAVs  in violation of Federal regulations.

Now, as more retailers use drones, armed Americans may add further complication to delivery by air.

Retailers have had to solve a long list of technological, regulatory, and commercial challenges in order to offer deliveries by drone.

But one complication remains especially difficult to predict: US gun owners.

In the latest episode, the Lake County Sheriff said last week that Dennis Winn admitted to shooting a Walmart drone with a 9mm pistol as it flew near his home in Florida.

According to the arrest affidavit, Winn told officers he had prior experience with drones flying over his house and believed the aircraft to be surveilling him.

He then went inside, got his gun from a safe, came out, and fired one shot at the drone, which was roughly 75 feet in the air, the affidavit said.

"I then told him that he had struck a Walmart drone," the Sheriff's deputy said in the affidavit. "The defendant looked in disbelief and questioned, 'Really?'"

The Sheriff's Office said a bullet hole was found in the payload area of the drone after it flew back to a nearby Walmart.

The office said Winn was taken into custody and faces three charges, including "shooting at an aircraft."

In the past decade, some US gun owners have shot at unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, but what many may not realize is they are committing a serious crime in the eyes of the federal government.

The Federal Aviation Administration doesn't distinguish between a small drone and a jumbo passenger jet when it comes to attempts to sabotage commercial aircraft: shooting at one is a felony, punishable by a fine and up to 20 years in prison.

Even though the FAA has held this position since 2016, the message doesn't seem to have gotten through to some people. The agency only recently started allowing unmanned commercial aircraft to fly beyond the operator's direct line of sight.

In the past two years alone, incidents in North Carolina, Florida, and California made headlines when individuals with guns targeted drones  two of which belonged to law enforcement.

As more retailers use drones, armed Americans pose a potential complication to deliveries by air.

Two years ago, when Amazon was rolling out a test of its drone delivery service in California, The Washington Post reported that one man at a local archery shop joked that it was "Target practice!"

Now Walmart is expanding its use of drones beyond the initial test markets, where the company says it has conducted over 20,000 safe deliveries. The retail giant's goal is to have the "largest drone delivery footprint of any US retailer."

And Walmart isn't alone. Earlier this year, DoorDash announced a drone delivery test with a Wendy's restaurant in Virginia, and several Chick-fil-A restaurants have tested the tech in recent years as well.

Perhaps if drones become common enough, people will simply stop noticing  or shooting  them.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A young woman found murdered in downtown Yakima on July 25, 1977, has been identified as Vereta Jon "Joni" Gates.

Gates grew up in Vermont. Yakima Police Department investigators had a news conference Tuesday morning at City Hall to announce her identity and share a photo of her. She was 24 when she was found.

She was last seen in a Chicago hospital a few weeks before she was found murdered in downtown Yakima, investigators and officials with the Yakima Police Department said. Her family said she was known to hitchhike between Vermont and New York and across the country, and spent time in Northern California. She was reported missing years later in Berkeley, Calif.

Gates was identified by genetic genealogy and DNA technology, which has advanced significantly in the past several years. Her identification is "a long-sought conclusion" to the work of dozens of people over the years since Gates was found.

"Today we acknowledge the work that has been done for decades," said interim Yakima Police Chief Shawn Boyle, the first of several who spoke during the Tuesday morning news conference at Yakima City Hall.

Gates' decomposed body was discovered about 8:15 a.m. in a disabled van parked in a fenced Yakima Hardware Co. parking lot at 309 S. Front St. Gates died of strangulation. She had been hit on the head three times with a heavy object, sexually mutilated and left face-down on her hands and knees in the back of the van. She also had a scar that may have been from a hysterectomy.

She wore only light-colored socks; a green sweater had been placed over the upper part of her body.

Gates' body was exhumed from Tahoma Cemetery on July 28, 2004, so DNA could be extracted to develop profiles for the FBIs National DNA Index System and its National Crime Information Center, an electronic clearinghouse of crime data accessible to criminal justice agencies nationwide.

Since she was exhumed and reburied at Tahoma 2 months later, DNA technology has advanced. Genetic genealogy  an investigative technique combining DNA extraction and traditional genealogical research to establish relationships among individuals  continues to help identify killers, as well as Jane and John Does whove been lost to their families for decades.

Three of Gates' siblings expressed their appreciation in a statement read by Yakima Detective Drew Shaw.

"We are eternally grateful for the many hours and efforts of the Yakima Police Department and the Othram Corporation have contributed to the mission of identifying her and notifying us," said Meri Gates Perkins, Geoffrey Gates and David Gates.

"This has thankfully allowed bringing closure to our family after a 45-year search for her and for a wound that never healed."

 This story will be updated.
SARAJEVO, July 1 (Xinhua) -- An agreement aimed at enhancing academic collaboration between the University of Banja Luka and Tianjin University of Technology and Education was signed on Saturday in Republic of Srpska, one of the entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Zeljko Budimir, minister of science and technology development and higher education of Republic of Srpska, emphasized that China remains a strategic partner in various sectors, underscoring the significance of advancing educational ties. He expressed optimism that the agreement will foster fruitful exchanges of students and academic staff between the two institutions.

"With the establishment of the Confucius Institute and the Center for Innovation Projects of Engineering Practice, this agreement signifies a profound cooperation in higher education that extends beyond universities to secondary and primary schools," Budimir noted.

Radoslav Gajanin, rector of the University of Banja Luka, reflected on the longstanding relationship between the two universities, which began with the creation of the Confucius Institute in 2018. He highlighted that the partnership facilitated greater understanding of Chinese language, culture, and economic developments.

Luo Xiaoru, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Banja Luka, described the institution as a pivotal platform for fostering bilateral academic exchanges. "In the past six years, we have witnessed substantial growth in the Confucius Institute, with increasing numbers of students eager to learn Chinese language and culture. This new agreement will further deepen our collaboration," Luo said. 
MOSCOW, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The Russian armed forces launched a missile strike on an airfield in Ukraine's Poltava region, destroying five Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets, Russia's defense ministry said Tuesday.

The attack by an Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system targeted the aircraft parking area at the Myrhorod airfield, destroyed five Su-27 fighter jets belonging to the Ukrainian armed forces, and damaged two more undergoing repairs at the time, the ministry said via its official social media channel.

The ministry also released video footage of the strike. Ukrainian authorities have issued no immediate response. 
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Brighton Welcomes Yankuba Minteh in 30m Transfer from Newcastle

Brighton & Hove Albion have secured the signature of the Gambia winger Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle United for an impressive sum of 30 million, marking a significant investment in their squad.

We are pleased to confirm the signing of Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle United!   Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 30, 2024

Strategic Acquisition Amid Financial Constraints

As the Premier Leagues financial scrutiny tightens, Newcastles decision to offload Minteh aligns with their strategy to navigate profit and sustainability regulations effectively. This move comes alongside their recent sale of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest, suggesting a reshaping of their squad to meet regulatory demands.

Mintehs Promising Track Record

At just 19, Minteh has demonstrated considerable promise, a fact underlined by his contract with the Seagulls, extending until June 2029. His development was particularly notable during a loan spell at Feyenoord, where he netted 10 goals across 27 league appearances and also made his mark in the Champions League by scoring against Celtic. Brightons technical director, David Weir, expressed his enthusiasm for Mintehs arrival, stating, Yankuba is a young talent that has attracted a lot of interest, so were delighted to welcome him to the club.

Future Prospects at Brighton

Brightons commitment to Mintehs development is clear. Weir added, He is an exciting attacking player with incredible speed. He had a very impressive campaign with Feyenoord, gaining experience in both the Champions League and Europa League. Now we will give him the time and support he needs to ensure that he settles in. This support is crucial for Minteh to transition smoothly and unleash his potential on the Premier League stages.
Maruti Suzuki Sales In June 2024: Maruti Suzuki India, the biggest car manufacturer in India, reported a 12% increase in total wholesales to 1,79,228 units in June 2024, compared to 1,59,418 units dispatched to its dealers in the same month last year, the company said in a statement on Monday. Total sales for the month include domestic sales of 1,39,918 units, sales to other OEMs of 8,277 units, and exports of 31,033 units.

Domestic Passenger Vehicle Sales

The total domestic passenger vehicle sales were 1,37,160 units in June 2024 compared to 1,33,027 units in the year-ago month, a growth of 3%, it added. Sales of mini-segment cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, declined to 9,395 units from 14,054 units in June 2023.

On the other hand, sales of compact cars, including Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, Tour S, and WagonR, stood at 64,049 units compared to 64,471 units in the year-ago month.

Whereas, the utility vehicles segment, consisting of Brezza, Ertiga, S-Cross, and XL6 clocked sales of 52,373 units last month compared to 43,404 units a year earlier. Sales of Eeco were at 10,771 units last month against 9,354 units in June last year.

Light commercial vehicle Super Carry sales stood at 2,758 units compared to 2,992 units in the year-ago period. MSI said its exports last month stood at 31,033 units against 19,770 units in the same month of the last year.

MSI Statement

Rahul Bharti, Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, MSI said, Customers in India are likely to choose models which they know are favorites of customers across many countries of the world. Maruti Suzuki contributes about 42% of all car exports from India.

(Inputs- PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Russia on July 8-9, and Austria on July 9-10, his second foreign visit after taking oath for the third time. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi visited Italy for the G7 summit on the invitation of the host nation. Notably, PM Modi will be visiting Russia for the first time since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Also, Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister in the last 41 years to visit Austria after Indira Gandhi's visit in 1983.

Historical Context of India-Austria Relations

India and Austria established diplomatic relations on November 10, 1949. Indira Gandhi's visit to Austria in 1983 was followed by a reciprocal visit to India by Austrian Chancellor Fred Sinowatz in 1984. Subsequent significant visits include President KR Narayanan's state visit to Austria in November 1999 and Austrian President Heinz Fischer's visit to India in February 2005. President Pratibha Patil also visited Austria from October 4-7, 2011.

The launch of the 'India-Austria Startup Bridge' in February this year aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship between the two countries.

Modi's Russia Visit

PM Modi's last visit to Russia was in 2019, when he attended an event in Vladivostok. The upcoming visit is part of the annual bilateral summits that Indian and Russian leaders have held since 2000.

Officials anticipate that Modi's visit will further strengthen bilateral relations.
The Bihar government has formed a high-level committee to investigate the recent bridge collapses across the state, including six incidents in the past 13 days. The latest collapse took place at Khausi Dangi village in Kishanganj on Sunday, involving a small bridge built over Boond River in 2009-10 with MPLAD funds.

Most of the collapsed bridges, including those under construction, were either built or being constructed by the state's rural works department. RWD Minister Ashok Choudhary told PTI on Tuesday that the committee, headed by the chief engineer, will analyse the causes behind these collapses and recommend necessary corrective actions.

"The department has constituted a high-level committee headed by the chief engineer to probe recent incidents of bridge collapse that have been reported from different parts of the state. The committee will find out the reasons and also suggest remedial measures," he said.

The committee, tasked specifically with incidents related to RWD-built bridges, is expected to submit its findings within two to three days. Choudhary mentioned initial reports suggesting some bridges were non-operational or required maintenance.

"For instance, a newly constructed 182-metre bridge over Bakra river in Pararia village collapsed on June 18. It was built under PMGSY, but not yet opened due to unfinished approach roads," he added.

The committee has been instructed to thoroughly examine all aspects, including the quality of materials used in bridge foundations and structures.

While addressing concerns raised by Union Minister and founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) Jitan Ram Manjhi, who suspected a conspiracy behind the collapses, Choudhary refrained from commenting directly.

"Why is the state suddenly witnessing so many bridge collapses? Why is it happening after the Lok Sabha polls? I suspect a conspiracy behind it. Authorities concerned must look into it," Majhi said recently.

Recent incidents included collapses in Madhubani, Araria, Siwan, and East Champaran districts, with two bridges collapsing in Kishanganj district over the past six days.
Delhi's Patiala House Court will pass an order on Member of Parliament-elect Engineer Rashid's bail plea today. The verdict will be delivered by special judge Chander Jit Singh a day after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave its consent to permit jailed Kashmiri leader Abdul Rashid Sheikh to take oath as Baramulla MP on July 5 in Parliament. Rashid had won the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla constituency in Jammu and Kashmir but was unable to take oath during the official ceremony in the 18th Lok Sabha.

A counsel representing the NIA said in court yesterday that the consent should be subject to certain conditions, which include him not interacting with the media. Rashid won the elections from Baramulla while he was in custody in an NIA case. Rashid had sought interim bail or custody parole for taking oath as a Lok Sabha MP.

Rashid has been in custody for the last five years in a terror funding case filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Despite this, he recently defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla constituency during the general elections. The counsel for the NIA suggested three possible dates from July 5 to 7 for Rashid to take his oath of office. Defense counsel Vikhyat Oberoi agreed that July 5 would be suitable since July 6 and 7 are holidays.

His counsel also urged the court to allow Rashid to obtain his Identity card and CGHS card and to facilitate him to open a bank account. The council has also urged the court to permit the presence of family members at the time of taking oath as an MP.
The death toll from a stampede at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district on Tuesday has risen to 116, including several women and children, officials said. According to Aligarh Range IG Shalabh Mathur, 116 deaths have been confirmed thus far. Twenty-seven bodies are in an Etah mortuary, with the rest in Hathras. The bodies are being transported to various hospitals for post-mortem examinations.

The injured and deceased were transported to hospitals in Hathras and the nearby Etah district. A number of women and children were killed. Addressing the media shortly after the incident, senior police officer Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the stampede occurred at a religious event in a village in Hathras district.



Another police officer said the stampede was most likely caused by overcrowding and high humidity. The stampede occurred as the event came to an end, when some people attempted to leave the pandal despite the humid conditions, while others attempted to push them back, causing confusion and chaos.



Uttar Pradesh: A major incident has occurred in Ratibhanpur, Sikandra Rao, Hathras. A stampede in a satsang pavilion has resulted in the deaths of 27 people, including 19 women, and the death toll may rise. A large number of women, elderly people, and children have been injured, https://t.co/UgKbWE7rYm pic.twitter.com/WmE2SRE57V  IANS (@ians_india) July 2, 2024

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs 2 lakh in compensation for the deceased's kin and Rs 50,000 each for those injured in the incident. The Chief Minister's office has requested a report on the stampede and the organisers of the discourse, and strict action is being planned against them.



Senior officials have arrived at the scene to oversee rescue operations. A police force from neighbouring districts has also been called in. Aparna Kulshretra, ADG Agra, has also reached Hathras.


New Delhi: Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Exam is undoubtedly a challenging task. Every year, millions of candidates apply for the UPSC CSE, but only around 1,000 manage to pass this high-profile exam to become IAS, IPS, IFS, and other civil servants. One such inspiring individual is IAS Manuj Jindal, who secured an All India Rank of 53 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. But who exactly is Manuj Jindal?

Achieving Rank 18 in NDA Exam

Manuj Jindal, a 2017 batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, is currently serving as the CEO of the District Council in Thane. Before his IAS journey, he was an NDA cadet, where he achieved an All India Rank of 18 in the UPSC NDA exam. Originally from Ghaziabad, Manuj moved to Dehradun for his schooling and cracked the NDA exam at the age of 18.

Dismissal from National Defence Academy

Despite performing exceptionally well during his initial training term, Manuj faced severe anxiety and depression in his second term. Due to his deteriorating condition, the academy deemed him unfit and decided to disqualify him from the course.

Decision to Pursue Civil Services

Following his dismissal from the NDA, Manuj decided to study abroad and completed his graduation from the University of Virginia. He then worked at Barclays for three years with a lucrative salary package. Eventually, he decided to return to India, where his younger brother was preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam. Inspired, Manuj decided to prepare for the exam himself.

In 2014, he appeared for the UPSC exam. Although he cleared the prelims and mains, he didn't make it to the final list. However, in his second attempt, he passed the exam but was placed on the reserve list. It was in his third attempt in 2017 that he finally cracked the exam, securing an All India Rank of 53.

Author and Mentor

Manuj Jindal has also authored a book on UPSC answer writing titled Acing the Art of Answer Writing. In addition, he runs a YouTube channel where he guides and mentors students preparing for the UPSC exam.
Description

Everyone's favorite yoga program returns to Bryant Park for summer 2024! From May 29 through September 25, join us for classes Tuesday mornings on the Upper Terrace, and Wednesday evenings on the lawn. Our yoga classes are appropriate for all levels of practice.

Join us on Tuesday, July 2 for a yoga class led by Dre Drummond! Dre is a freelance artist in New York City under the name DRE.SPEAKS. DRE.Speaks LLC is a multifaceted platform in which Dre expresses himself through the movement of his body such as Yoga, Dance, and choreography, to other mediums like poetry, spoken word, and film.

Yoga mats are not provided, and bringing your own water and towel is recommended. The program is free, but please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bryant-park-yoga-tuesday-morning-classes-2024-tickets-893695345837
Samajwadi Party leader and Kannauj MP Akhilesh Yadav today rued lack of development in the Varanasi village adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking in Lok Sabha while replying to Motion of Thanks to President's address, Yadav alleged that despite claims of development at par with cities, the villages are still behind with broken roads and lack other basic amenities.

Modi had adopted seven villages in his constituency Varanasi including Kakrahiya, Jayapur, Nagepur, Parampur, Pure Bariyar, Pure Gaon, and Kuruhua.

Akhilesh Yadav launched a stinging attack on the NDA government in Lok Sabha today. He raised various concerns including paper leaks and EVMs. Speaking On Elections, he said, "Election results a moral victory for INDIA bloc. Elections have ended communal politics."

He added, " EVMs have to go; SP will keep pressing for it. Even if I win 80 out of 80 seats of UP then also I will not trust EVM. EVM issue will never die." He also alleged that paper leaks are deliberately being done by the government to deny jobs to the youth.

"Why are paper leaks happening? The truth is that this is being done by the government so that it doesn't have to give jobs to youth," he said. Proceeding the speech, he said, "We are in favour of caste censusWe can never accept the Agniveer scheme. When the INDIA alliance comes to power, the Agniveer scheme will be scrapped. Legal guarantee of MSP on crops has not be implemented. Horticulture crops should also be given MSP.."
A new challenge has cropped up for the security forces as terrorists have reverted to the old traditional routes of infiltration. Data show that there has been a sudden rise in infiltration attempts from old traditional routes close to the LoC and the International Border. The rise in terror-related incidents indicates that a significant number of foreign terrorists have infiltrated into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Police DGP had earlier said that more than 70-80 foreign terrorists are active in the region. The Jammu and Kashmir Police DGP admitted that the old traditional routes have been reactivated and that a substantial terror infrastructure remains intact across the LoC in PoK.

DGP Jammu and Kashmir R. R. Swain said, "This is the obvious reality; there is no doubt that there (in Pakistan), I always say it is true that there are camps, there are factories of terrorism, there are such organizations operating there, and their business is running on bloodshed here. If they are not able to do so, then their money stops." He added, "It is a challenge, and we have seen it before. The answer to your question is whether they have started new routes which were closed earlier and have been opened again. The answer is 'yes.' Are they trying to activate it? The answer is 'yes.' The reason is, we all know."

Security forces say that the entire LoC and the International Border have been put on high alert due to increased terrorist activities. There has been an increase in the presence of terrorists in the Jammu region's Poonch-Rajouri belt and the North Kashmir belt of the Kashmir region, with many foreign terrorists present. Recently, two major infiltration attempts were foiled by security forces on the LoC. For the first time in decades, security forces launched a search operation in the upper hills of the Gulmarg area, a famous tourist destination in the Baramulla district of North Kashmir, after receiving information about some suspicious activities. However, the security forces have succeeded in reducing the number of locally active terrorists, and the recruitment of local Kashmiri youth into the terrorist ranks has decreased.

DGP Jammu and Kashmir R. R. Swain said, "It is now a fact that our youth are joining terrorism very little. The last lowest figure of our youth's involvement was in 2013, but this time it is even less than that."

The security forces say that they are ready to deal with any kind of situation and will give a befitting reply to the terrorists and their masters across the border. The DGP said, "We are ready. I constantly say that our biggest source is the people. They are trying but are not succeeding."

Meanwhile, security forces have continued to increase the deployment of troops for a strong counter-infiltration grid. According to sources, due to no heavy snowfall, all the old infiltration routes have remained open, and infiltration attempts are continuing.

There has been a new surge in terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, where infiltration peaks before the onset of winter, which has forced the security forces to re-evaluate their counter-terrorism strategy in the Union Territory. Sources said the revised counter-terror strategy will consider that infiltration attempts are likely to increase in the Valley ahead of winter when heavy snowfall makes such attempts difficult.

Security experts attribute the rise in terror attacks to several factors, such as the topography of the Pir Panjal hills in south Kashmir and Shamsawari hills in north Kashmir, close to the Line of Control, traditional routes and easy infiltration routes, and dense forests with natural caves. Experts said Pakistan keeps changing its strategy. Some places were inactive for a long time, and that inactivity made the security forces a little careless. The terrorists took advantage of the situation, and that is exactly what is happening now.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday at around 4 p.m will responded to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha. In Parliament, PM Modi said that the people have given his government a mandate for stability and continuity for the third consecutive term after testing it on every criterion. Replying to a two-day debate on the President's address to both houses of Parliament, the PM said that the people have seen the dedication with which his government served them for 10 years.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks sparked a massive uproar in the Lok Sabha. The BJP has accused the Raebareli MP of "insulting" the Hindu community. Prime Minister Modi also slammed Rahul Gandhi for his remarks, saying that calling "the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter." Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that the Congress leader apologise for his remarks.

During the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address, Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led government, claiming there has been a "systematic attack" on the idea of India.

While the BJP later held a press conference to condemn Rahul Gandhi's remarks, the Congress held an evening press conference to criticise the ruling party at the Centre. Rahul Gandhi launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP, citing its remarks during the Lok Sabha campaign, the NEET-UG controversy, and the Agniveer scheme.

Here are the updates on the Lok Sabha:

05: 30 PM: In Lok Sabha, PM Narendra Modi slammed the grand old party and said, "These days the Congress people and their eco-system are busy entertaining children (the child who falls while riding a bicycle, but they lie to encourage him by saying that he is riding well). Congress has now become a parasitic Congress. It eats up the votes of the party it joins forces with."

Mosi further added that the Congress Party conspires to make one caste fight against another.

05: 15 PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi called out Congessa for electoral defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He added that it would have been better if Congress had accepted its defeat.

"It would have been better if Congress had accepted its defeat and respected the mandate of the people but they are busy doing some 'Sirsasana' and Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the minds of the citizens of India that they have defeated us," Modi said.

05:00 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the BJP will take each sector, each success to newer heights. PM added that his party made India the world's 5th largest economy within just 10 years and now, the pace with which BJP has been moving ahead will soon make our country shine as the world's 3rd largest economy.

04:50 PM: In Parliament, PM Modi assured the countrymen that we will leave no stone unturned to fulfil the resolution of building a Viksit Bharat.

04:40 PM: While addressing Lok Sabha today, PM Narendra Modi stated that the country has blessed us for our zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. "Today India's credibility has increased across the world...The sole aim of our every policy, every decision, every action has been India first," Modi said.

04:35 PM: PM Modi stated that the country witnessed appeasement politics for a long time. We have followed "santushtikaran" rather than "tushtikaran".

04:30 PM: During his speech in Lok Sabha, PM Narendra Modi said that our only mission is 'Nation First' and the BJP's works, steps and policies have been oriented towards this very mission and goal.

04:25 PM: "Several MPs expressed their views on the President's address yesterday and earlier today. I would like express my gratitude to the first-time MPs who expressed their views on President's address while following all the rules of the House," says PM Modi.

04:20 PM: "I am present here to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. Our President, in her speech, has detailed our resolve of Viksit Bharat. The honourable President has raised crucial issues, she has guided us and the country," says PM Modi.

04:15 PM: Congress MP and LoP Rahul Gandhi arrives at the Parliament, as PM Narendra Modi replies to Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, in the Lok Sabha.

04:10 PM: PM Modi begins his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha.
New Delhi: Following the incident that occurred near the Bhushi Dam, the Pune administration has now come into action and outlined a series of safety measures for hazardous tourist locations in the district. The notification said to Identify the dangerous spots at various tourist places so that tourists do not venture beyond them.

Pune Collector Dr Suhas Divase issued a set of guidelines on Monday instructing the authorities to conduct surveys at tourist spots to identify potential hazards and implement necessary safety measures for visitors.

"Identify the dangerous spots at various tourist places, such as dams, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, cliffs, and mark them as prohibited areas by installing perimeter lines and warning boards, so that tourists do not venture beyond them," Divase said, PTI reported.

Tourist spots prone to disasters and where safety measures cannot be implemented must be shut down for tourists, he said.

They should involve NGOs, rescue foundations, trekkers, NDRF, and local residents to manage disasters at these locations. The collector added that ambulances with first aid facilities should also be deployed.

Direction To Forest Department

The forest department should take action against encroachments at tourist spots in forest areas. The local administration should decide the timings for visitors and ensure they do not stop there after sunset, the Collector said.

He added that the visitors will not be allowed to enter tourist spots located in forest areas after 6 pm.

Waterfall Tragedy In Lonavala

The unfortunate incident took place on Sunday when a woman and four children were swept away at a waterfall near the Bhushi Dam, which is a well-known picnic spot in the picturesque Lonavala hill station of Maharashtra's Pune district.

The rescue organisation named the Vanyajeev Rakshak Maval (VRM) reported recovering 27 bodies from various water bodies in Maval tehsil between March and May this year.
Highlighting the importance of enacting new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir to combat terrorism and provide justice to victims, Director General of J&K Police, R.R. Swain, said that the new laws are crucial in eliminating the terror ecosystem from the region.

Swain stressed that J&K Police is committed to eradicating terrorism from the Union Territory and ensuring that people who have suffered at the hands of terrorists get justice. He stated that while traditional methods like using arms and ammunition have been effective in fighting terrorism, having a strong legal system is equally essential to uproot the entire terror network in J&K.

Pointing out the large number of civilians killed by terrorists in the region over the last few decades, Swain highlighted that many of the criminals responsible for these heinous acts have escaped conviction due to various obstacles. However, with the introduction of new criminal laws, there is now a significant opportunity for the victims to get justice and dismantle the terrorist network established in Jammu and Kashmir.

The implementation of these new laws has already begun, with police stations in Srinagar, Anantnag, and Baramulla being among the first to register cases under the newly introduced criminal law provisions known as the Indian Justice Code (BNS).

The move to implement these new criminal laws is being seen as a significant step towards enhancing security measures in Jammu and Kashmir and ensuring that people affected by terrorism get the justice they deserve.

On this occasion, Jammu and Kashmir's Deputy Governor Manoj Sinha was also present. He implemented these laws in Jammu and Kashmir and said that Home Minister Amit Shah has worked hard on bringing these laws and that the dictatorial law, which reminded us of the slavery of the British, has finally been abolished.
The Allahabad High Court has issued a significant statement, warning that if the large-scale illegal religious conversions continue, the majority population of the country may become a minority. The court emphasized the need for an immediate halt to gatherings that facilitate the conversion of the country's citizens.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal made this remark while rejecting the bail plea of Kailash, a resident of Maudaha in Hamirpur, under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.

Kailash was charged with illegal religious conversion. The complainant, Ramkali Prajapati, had filed an FIR stating that Kailash took her brother, Ramphal, to Delhi to attend a social event. Several other villagers were also taken to this event, where they were allegedly lured and converted to Christianity.

According to Ramkali, her brother was mentally ill. After Kailash's arrest, his lawyer claimed that Kailash did not convert the complainant's brother. The event was organized by Pastor Sonu, who carried out the conversions and has since been released on bail.

The Additional Advocate General for the state argued that such gatherings are being organized on a large scale to convert people to Christianity, with Kailash being involved in taking villagers and facilitating these conversions in exchange for substantial money.

The court stated that Article 25 of the Constitution grants individuals the freedom to choose their religion voluntarily, but it does not permit conversions through inducement. Promoting one's religion does not mean converting individuals from other religions to one's own.

The court reiterated the necessity of immediately stopping gatherings that aim to convert citizens. Article 25 does not provide for conversion. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal made these remarks while rejecting the bail plea of Kailash, accused in the conversion case.

Ramkali Prajapati from Hamirpur had filed the FIR, stating that her mentally ill brother was taken to Delhi by Kailash for a week, allegedly for treatment. However, he did not return within a week. After several days, Kailash brought her brother back and took several villagers to Delhi again, where they were converted to Christianity during an event in exchange for money. (With agency inputs)
In a rare move, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has decided to expunge several portions of Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi's speech made in the House yesterday. According to the reports, the portions taken off records include his comments on Hindus and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS among others.

Yesterday Rahul Gandhi gave his first speech in Lok Sabha as the leader of opposition. He openly criticized the BJP and RSS and accused them of spreading fear and hatred in India. He made several remarks related to Hindus, as well as PM Narendra Modi.



Speaking in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, "All religions talk about courage; cites Islam, Sikhism to underline one should be fearless."The LoP attacked the BJP in Lok Sabha, saying "Hinduism is not about spreading fear, hatred and falsehoods. If you look at Lord Shiva's image you would know that Hindus can never spread fear, hatred but BJP spreads fear, and hatred 24X7," said Rahul Gandhi."BJP threatens minorities, spreads hatred, violence against Muslims, Sikhs, Christians." "Minorities represent India in all spheres, bring pride to the nation; they stand like a rock with country, are patriots," He added.On the Manipur violence issue, Rahul Gandhi Said, "Politics, policies of BJP have burnt down Manipur, pushed it into civil war; still PM Modi yet to visit the state."
Pakistan-backed terror handlers across the border after failing in Kashmir attempted to create a divide and provoke communal tension in the Jammu region, but the common people joined hands and foiled their nefarious designs, Police said.

After security forces busted modules responsible for targeted killings of members belonging to the minority community across Kashmir valley, terrorist handlers shifted their focus to Jammu as they intended to create communal tension in the region

A modus operandi was adopted by the Pakistan-based terrorist handlers in the late 1990s too and the Doda district and frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch, Reasi had witnessed massacres of innocent citizens.

Now again the frequent incidents of terrorist violence in the frontier district of Rajouri and Poonch area of Jammu division and terror attacks in Doda, Bhaderwah indicating that terrorists have shifted their base from Kashmir division to Jammu division, Infiltration attempts were also made by the terrorists from across the line of control and international border and residents were targeted inside their homes and pilgrims were killed by terrorists in the area as security grid failed to plug the many gaps.

Reports suggested that the terrorists had planned to target the maximum civilian of one community to provoke a backlash.

DGP Jammu Kashmir police also accepted that terrorists had nefarious plans of creating communal fire in Jammu province as the area has a composite population.

R R Swain DGP of Jammu Kashmir said Our biggest source of strength is people you see in Jammu side, they are trying to do this primarily because they want to make it communal, they know there is composite population, mix people live there and they want to disturb it, Both communities respond and said its terror act its not Hindu vs Muslims its an act of terrorists. This is a pure act of terrorism and no Muslim no Islam supports this."

"The Hindu community has prevented it from becoming communal thats our core strength. I believe that the police forces which are .also composite and are guarded and are armed with not only arms and ammunition but with public faith and government of India and government of Jammu Kashmir infrastructure of security," Swain added.

Former DGP of Jammu Kashmir S P Vaid said, "Jammu was targeted because of its mixed population and the advantage terrorists have due to the hilly terrain. Unlike the plains of Kashmir, Jammu faces connectivity issues with fewer roads and a diverse population. The attacks on pilgrims were intended to provoke communal backlash between Hindus and Muslims. It has always been Pakistan's policy to sow divisions between communities. However, Pakistan will not succeed as the people of India and Jammu & Kashmir understand Pakistan's tactics."

Pakistan and terror handlers aimed to divide the people of Jammu along religious lines and create unrest. This would have impacted the Kashmir Valley, where thousands of outsiders, including tourists, labourers, and employees, are present.
Manisha Dharve Success Story: Winston Churchill's famous line 'Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm' is an apt line to define the hard work of IAS Manisha Dharve. 23-year-old Manisha Dharve hails from Bondarnya village in Khargone's Jhirniya block. Manisha Dharve, achieved success in the UPSC 2023 on her fourth attempt, securing a rank of 257.

Where others might have given up, Manisha neither faltered nor tired. She had complete faith in her hard work, and today, she stands as a proud officer. Manisha's early education began at an Anganwadi in Bondarnya village. Her father, Gangaram Dharve, an engineer, chose not to pursue a job in a big city but returned to his village to educate the children there. He, along with his wife Jamna Dharve, who also taught in government schools, ensured that Manisha received her education locally.

Manisha was always a bright student. She completed her studies up to the 8th grade in a government school and finished her 10th and 12th grades in schools in Khargone. She chose Mathematics and Science for her 12th-grade subjects but always aspired to become an officer.

Manisha scored 75% in her 10th-grade exams and 78% in her 12th-grade exams. She then pursued a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Holkar College in Indore. Following her graduation, she decided to prepare for the UPSC exam and sought permission from her parents to go to Delhi. Initially, her family was hesitant, but they eventually agreed.

Despite her hard work, Manisha failed in her first attempt and had to return to her village from Delhi. She continued to strive, facing multiple setbacks and three failed attempts. Throughout this period, she endured criticism from others but chose to ignore it and remained dedicated to her goal. Her perseverance paid off when she cracked the UPSC exam in 2023.

Manisha's story is a testament to determination and resilience, demonstrating that with unwavering effort and self-belief, success is attainable, no matter the obstacles.
Religious Preacher Sakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba is no stranger to controversy. On Tuesday, at least 107 peopleincluding women and childrendied in a stampede during his "satsang," or religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras. Suraj Pal, also known as Bhole Baba by his followers, is from Bahadur Nagar in the Patiyali area of Kasganj district. Formerly known as Saurabh Kumar, he left his job with the state police 17 years ago to become a preacher. While his followers spread beyond Uttar Pradesh to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, both the preacher and his disciples keep a low profile in the media.

According to a devotee, Bhole Baba had no religious mentor, and shortly after his voluntary retirement from service, he had a 'vision' of the deity, which led him to become interested in spiritual pursuits. He used to hold'satsangs' every Tuesday, and just before Hathras, he held a similar event in Mainpuri district last week.

Bhole Baba Courted Controversy During Covid Pandemic

During the Covid pandemic, he courted controversy by requesting permission to hold a satsang in Farrukhabad district in May 2022 with only 50 people attending. However, the congregation grew to over 50,000, causing significant problems for the local administration.

According to reports, the stampede at the Hathras event on Tuesday began when Bhole Baba's servants prevented people from leaving the venue due to the heat and humidity, allowing the preacher and his entourage to depart first. As people were given permission to leave, chaos ensued, resulting in the stampede.


Yoga is beneficial for both the body and mind. It is an ancient practice that encompasses a variety of physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines. Yoga is a Sanskrit word which means to unite. It aims to unite the mind, spirit, and body. It can be practiced by people of all ages and abilities. However, concentration may help you to avoid distractions and dedicate your full attention to the assigned task.

Yoga combines physical postures with focused breathing and meditation. Not only this but yoga can calm the body and mind, yoga creates a more focused and clear state for better concentration. Certain yoga poses, like balancing postures, require concentration to maintain stability. Many yoga poses can help you to improve concentration power and can work for calming the mind, improving posture, and regulating breathing.

1 Paschimottanasana - Paschimottanasana is also known as Seated Forward Bend. It is a seated forward-bending pose in Hatha yoga and modern yoga practiced for exercise. This deep forward bend stretches the back of the body, improving flexibility and posture. This posture can help to increase the blood flow to the spine and skeletal muscles while promoting overall circulation. Stimulating the abdominal organs it may support digestion.

2 Padmasana - Padmasana is also known as Lotus Pose and it is a seated meditation pose known for its seated in position with Knees bent, one leg in front of the body, and one leg tucked behind the hibs. The pose is a classic pose in Hatha yoga and traditions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Padmasana can help to improve spinal cord alignment. This pose stretches the hips, ankles, and knees, promoting flexibility. Padmasana may help to improve concentration by maintaining improved meditation and mindfulness practices.

3 Camel Pose - Camel pose is also known as Ustrasana in Sanskrit and it is a deep backbend pose in Hatha yoga and modern yoga practiced for exercise. It is a powerful pose that stretches and strengthens the entire front of the body while opening the chest and heart. Camel pose engages the back muscles while promoting strength and stability in the spine. The pose helps to stretch the chest, shoulders, and hip, improving flexibility and posture.

4 Sukhasana - Sukhasana is also referred to as Easy Pose and it is a fundamental seated yoga posture known for its simplicity and comfort. It is a great pose for beginners and experienced yogis because it offers a foundation for meditation, breathing exercises, and relaxation. Sitting with a straight spine in Sukhasana helps to elongate the spine and improve overall posture. The calming and meditative quality of Sukhasana can promote relaxation and reduce stress.

5 Spine Twist - Spine twist is a category of yoga poses that involves twisting the chest, abdomen, and pelvis to elongate and stretch the spine, while also engaging the core muscles. There are many different variations of spine twists, suitable for various levels of experience and targeting different areas of the spine. Regular practice of spine twists can improve the range of motion in your spine, making it more flexible. The twisting motion can help to massage the internal organs and promote relaxation, potentially reducing stress and anxiety.

Yoga offers an approach to well-being by combining physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. This practice not only improves flexibility and posture but also calms the mind and enhances concentration. With various poses like Paschimottanasana, Padmasana and Sukhasana yoga can be practiced by anyone. Regularly incorporating yoga into your routine can promote a balanced and healthier life.

This article is meant for informational purposes only and must not be considered a substitute for advice provided by qualified medical professionals
New Delhi: Shares of Kotak Mahindra Bank on Tuesday declined over 2 per cent, wiping out Rs 7,777.33 crore from its market capitalisation as the company's name cropped up in the Adani-Hindenburg row.

The stock went lower by 2.16 per cent to settle at Rs 1,769.60 apiece on the BSE. During the day, it tumbled 3.98 per cent to Rs 1,736.65. On the NSE, it declined 2.12 per cent to Rs 1,769.60 per share. The company's market valuation eroded by Rs 7,777.33 crore to Rs 3,51,787.86 crore.

Billionaire banker Uday Kotak founded a bank and brokerage that created and oversaw an offshore fund used by an unnamed investor to profit from a plunge in Adani shares that followed a damning Hindenburg report, the US short-seller said.

Hindenburg Research, which had in a January 2023 report alleged stock market manipulations and accounting fraud at the Adani group, said it has received a show cause notice from Indian markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) over gains made from betting on the conglomerate's shares.

The US short-seller said it had disclosed that it had bets against the group, adding that its gains were only over USD 4 million. While Kotak Mahindra Investments Ltd (KMIL) - the asset management company is said to have created the offshore fund -- stated that Hindenburg was "never" its client, Sebi's show cause notice cited chats between Kingdon Capital -- a client of the US short-seller who was privy to the report before its release -- and Kotak fund executives.

Calling the Sebi show cause notice as attempted intimidation, Hindenburg asked why the market regulator did not name Kotak. Sebi's notice "conspicuously failed to name the party that has an actual tie to India: Kotak Bank, one of India's largest banks and brokerage firms founded by Uday Kotak, which created and oversaw the offshore fund structure used by our investor partner to bet against Adani," Hindenburg said.

Meanwhile, other bank stocks also declined on Tuesday, with Bank of Baroda slumping 2.65 per cent, IndusInd Bank (1.89 per cent), State Bank of India (1.87 per cent), ICICI Bank (1.79 per cent), Canara Bank (1.69 per cent), Federal Bank (1.55 per cent) and Axis Bank (0.63 per cent). The BSE Bankex index ended lower by 0.91 per cent at 59,307.59.
New Delhi: Private sector lender HDFC Bank has announced that it is going to temporarily halt UPI services on July 13 due to migration of its Core Banking System (CBS) to a new engineered platform.

HDFC UPI Services To Be Unavailable At THESE Timings On July 13

HDFC UPI Services will be unavailable at two intervals --one is from 3:00 AM to 3:45 AM and the other is from 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM --informed the bank.

NetBanking, Mobile Banking, Online Fund Transfer To Be Unavailable On July 13

A report in the Moneycontrol said that NetBanking and Mobile Banking services will be unavailable throughout the entire upgrade period i.e, from 3:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Meanwhile, online fund transfer modes --IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, HDFC Bank account-to-account online transfers as well as branch transfers --will also remain unavailable throughout the upgrade period, said the Moneycontrol report.

Can You Use Your HDFC ATM Card On July 13?

During the upgrade period, HDFC customers can withdraw cash from ATMs with the HDFC Bank debit card and credit cards. Though there will be some restricted limits on the usage, said Moneycontrol. Usage of debit and credit cards on swipe machines will be permitted.

HDFC Credit Card Charges To Be Revised From August

HDFC Bank has meanwhile made an important announcement relating to its Credit Card. The bank has said that effective from 1st August 2024, it will be making following revision to the Credit card charges.

The new payment charges pertain to Rental Transactions, Fuel Transactions, Utility Transactions, Educational Transactions, International / Cross Currency Transactions, Rewards Redemption towards Statement Credit, Finance Charges and Easy-EMI Processing Fee.
New Delhi: Studio Green's much-awaited 'Kanguva', starring Suriya, is one of the biggest releases eagerly awaited by the audience. The teaser has already given a glimpse of its thrilling world, leaving excitement continuously rising. As the makers recently announced the release date as October 10, 2024, they have now started the countdown for the film's release with 100 days remaining.

Taking to their social media, the makers of 'Kanguva' shared an intriguing video giving a glimpse of its enthralling world and starting the countdown of 100 days to the film's release. They further captioned it -

"100 days to go for the King's arrival

Brace yourselves

For #Kanguva

#KanguvaFromOct10"

Kanguva is touted as one of the most expensive films of this year. With an estimated budget of over 350 Cr., it's bigger than the likes of Pushpa, Singham and several other big films.

Moreover, the film has been shot across 7 different countries on various continents of India. The makers had a very specific look in mind as this is a very unique film showing the prehistoric period. The makers hired experts from Hollywood for the technical departments like action and cinematography. The film has one of the biggest war sequences featuring over 10,000 people.

Studio Green has signed up with top distribution houses to release the film on a massive scale across the globe on October 10, 2024.
Bengaluru: Jailed Kannada superstar Darshans mother, brother, wife and son, who had not visited him till date, met him at the Central Prison of the Parappana Agrahara on the outskirts of Bengaluru city on Monday.

Police sources confirmed that Darshan's mother Meena, brother Dinakar, wife Vijayalakshmi and son Vineesh visited him on Monday morning.

Both Darshan and his mother Meena turned emotional at the meeting and the actors brother consoled them both.

However, the preferential treatment given to Darshan in terms of allowing visits of family members has stirred a row in Karnataka.

Significantly, Darshans family had not visited him while he was in police custody and after he was shifted to the prison also.

Darshan, his partner Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others have been arrested on charges of murdering 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga, whose wife is pregnant with the couples first child.

The probe revealed that Renukaswamy, a big fan of Darshan, had sent derogatory messages to Pavithra Gowda on social media.

The victim was allegedly kidnapped, brought to Bengaluru, kept in a shed, and tortured to death.

Darshan is in judicial custody until July 4.
New Delhi: Chinese smartphone brand Oppo has launched the Oppo A3 in the Chinese market. The handset is available in three colour options: Mountain Stream Green, Aurora Purple, and Quiet Sea Black (translated from Chinese). The handset is offered in three storage models: 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB.

The dual-SIM (Nano) Oppo A3 runs on ColorOS 14.0. The smartphone's battery features a durability of up to four years. It comes with a fast charging technology that can charge the battery from 0 to 50 per cent in just 30 minutes. Adding further, a 10-minute charge provides up to 1.53 hours of video playback time.

Oppo A3 Price And Availability:

The Oppo A3 smartphone is priced at CNY 1,599 (roughly Rs. 18,000) for the 8GB + 256GB storage model. The 12GB + 256GB carries a price tag of CNY 1,799 (roughly Rs. 21,000) and the 12GB + 512GB model is priced at CNY 2,099 (roughly Rs. 25,000). It is available for pre-orders and consumers can pre-book the phone via Oppo online store in China. The phone will go on sale from July 5.

Oppo A3 Specifications:

The smartphone features a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,412 pixels) AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and up to 240Hz touch sampling rate. It offers up to 1,200nits of peak brightness in sunlight. The Oppo A3 handset is powered by an octa-core 6nm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset.

The handset is loaded with a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging support.

On the optics front, the smartphone packs a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor with support for autofocus alongside a 2-megapixel portrait camera. For selfies and video chats, there is a 8-megapixel shooter on the front.

It has an IP65-rated build. For connectivity, the Oppo A3 supports 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB Type-C port.
If you are a dividend investor, you will want to take a closer look at Agree Realty (NYSE: ADC), Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN), and Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD) in July. The stories behind these financial stocks are slightly different, but the passive income opportunities are all attractive. Here's a quick look at each so you'll know which one you might want to add to your portfolio.

Agree Realty is priced for growth

Agree Realty's dividend yield is 4.8%. That's actually a pretty high yield relative to the average real estate investment trust (REIT) and the broader stock market. But it is not the highest yield within the net-lease peer group in which Agree competes. (Net leases require tenants to pay for most property-level operating expenses.)

But there's a reason investors are giving Agree a premium relative to its peers: dividend growth. During the past decade, Agree's dividend has increased at a roughly 6% annual rate, which is about twice the rate of its most prominent competitors. To be fair, Agree is not an exciting company; it just buys single-tenant retail properties and leases them out. But it has proven adept at expanding, and there's no reason to believe that's going to change in the near future. If you are looking for a mix of dividend yield and dividend growth, Agree should be on your short list.

Franklin Resources is rolling up the asset management sector

Franklin Resources operates like an umbrella company, with a host of different asset management subsidiaries living underneath the corporate parent. Asset management companies charge fees for their services and tend to serve a customer base that's pretty loyal (people don't like to move money between asset managers very often). It has the scale needed to be an industry consolidator, so growth will likely come from acquisitions. That's a hard narrative to sell to investors at the moment because the big issue for asset managers is the growth of lower-cost alternatives like exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Basically, Franklin Resources is slowly leaking assets to things like ETFs on one side and expanding via acquisitions on the other. Nevertheless, the dividend that has been increased for an astounding 44 consecutive years. If you are looking for a reliable income stream, that should be very attractive to you. The problem is that you need to accept that Franklin Resources is just milking a cash cow business. Growth probably won't be exciting, but with a dividend yield of 5.6%, it really doesn't need to be.

Story continues

Toronto-Dominion Bank is getting slapped on the wrist

Toronto-Dominion Bank is a special situation stock right now, which is kind of unusual given the bank's long and successful history. Remarkably, it has paid uninterrupted dividends since it started paying a dividend in 1857. The bank's yield today is a historically high 5.4%.

So what's going on? Employees of TD Bank's U.S. business appear to have helped launder money for drug dealers. That's not good, and the bank rightfully got in trouble for the weakness of its money-laundering controls. It is working with regulators to improve its controls and it will suffer some hefty fines. But the bank is financially strong and should muddle through this in stride. That said, growth in the U.S. market is likely to stall until this issue has been resolved and the bank has mended its bruised relationship with regulators. That's not good news, but the yield of the average bank is just 2.8%, so you are getting paid pretty well to ride out the uncertainty here. For more aggressive investors, the risk-reward trade-off here is probably worth it.

There are interesting dividend stocks to buy in July

Agree, Franklin Resources, and TD Bank each has a different story to tell investors, but they are all interesting options if you like dividends. Agree will be a good choice for growth and income investors, Franklin Resources will be appreciated by those in search of reliable dividends, and TD Bank is a special situation stock for the more aggressive investors out there. If you take the time to dig into these stocks, one (or more) may find its way into your portfolio in July.

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Amid a backdrop of mixed performances across major European stock indexes and rising government bond yields, the Netherlands market presents unique opportunities for investors seeking steady income through high-yield dividend stocks. Given the current economic environment, selecting stocks with a strong track record of dividend reliability and potential for sustainable payouts becomes even more crucial.

Top 5 Dividend Stocks In The Netherlands

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Acomo (ENXTAM:ACOMO) 6.62%  ABN AMRO Bank (ENXTAM:ABN) 9.64%  Randstad (ENXTAM:RAND) 5.33%  Signify (ENXTAM:LIGHT) 6.57%  Koninklijke Heijmans (ENXTAM:HEIJM) 4.58%  Koninklijke KPN (ENXTAM:KPN) 4.16% 

Click here to see the full list of 6 stocks from our Top Euronext Amsterdam Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's dive into some prime choices out of from the screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: ABN AMRO Bank N.V. offers a range of banking products and financial services to retail, private, and business clients both in the Netherlands and globally, with a market capitalization of approximately 13.05 billion.

Operations: ABN AMRO Bank N.V. generates its revenue primarily through Personal & Business Banking (4.07 billion), Corporate Banking (3.50 billion), and Wealth Management (1.59 billion).

Dividend Yield: 9.6%

ABN AMRO Bank offers a dividend yield of 9.64%, ranking it in the top 25% of Dutch dividend payers, supported by a sustainable payout ratio of 47.9%. Despite its robust current earnings coverage, ABN's dividends have shown volatility and an unreliable growth pattern over its eight-year history. The bank is actively expanding in the wealth management sector, recently targeting acquisitions to boost assets under management significantly. However, earnings are projected to decline by an average of 11.1% annually over the next three years, posing potential challenges for future dividend sustainability.

ENXTAM:ABN Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Acomo N.V. is a company that sources, trades, processes, packages, and distributes both conventional and organic food ingredients for the food and beverage industry across Europe, North America, and other global markets, with a market capitalization of approximately 514.16 million.

Operations: Acomo N.V. generates revenue through various segments, including Tea (120.62 million), Edible Seeds (257.29 million), Food Solutions (24.07 million), Spices and Nuts (429.96 million), and Organic Ingredients (436.38 million).

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Dividend Yield: 6.6%

Acomo's dividend yield of 6.62% places it among the top 25% in the Dutch market, supported by a payout ratio of 85.7%, indicating earnings cover current dividends adequately. However, its dividend history shows instability with volatile payments over the past decade and an unreliable growth pattern despite a recent increase. Trading at 53.4% below estimated fair value suggests potential undervaluation, but high debt levels and historical payment fluctuations may raise concerns about future dividend reliability and growth sustainability.

ENXTAM:ACOMO Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Koninklijke Heijmans N.V. operates in property development, construction, and infrastructure sectors primarily in the Netherlands, with a market capitalization of approximately 0.52 billion.

Operations: Koninklijke Heijmans N.V. generates revenue from several key segments, including Real Estate (411.79 million), Van Wanrooij (124.76 million), Infrastructure Works (800.03 million), and Construction & Technology (1.08 billion).

Dividend Yield: 4.6%

Koninklijke Heijmans offers a dividend yield of 4.58%, lower than the top quartile in the Dutch market at 5.57%. Despite this, its dividends are well-supported by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 37.1% and 59% respectively. The stock trades at a 10% discount to perceived fair value, suggesting potential undervaluation. However, investors should note HEIJM's volatile dividend history over the last decade, marked by significant fluctuations and unreliable growth patterns in payouts.

ENXTAM:HEIJM Dividend History as at Jul 2024

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include ENXTAM:ABN ENXTAM:ACOMO and ENXTAM:HEIJM.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com




Image source: Getty Images

One of the primary benefits of getting a Costco membership is to save money on grocery purchases. Costco can offer lower prices than many of its competitors because it sells these items in bulk. You'll generally spend less on a per-ounce or per-unit basis than you would at a traditional supermarket.

You can save even more money on groceries at Costco by purchasing the Kirkland version of whatever it is you're looking for. Costco specifically aims to sell its signature Kirkland products for at least 20% less than what it sells national brands for. So a $10 bulk box of cereal from a brand you know might only cost you $8 (or less) if you buy the Kirkland version.

But while you can potentially save a lot of money by buying groceries at Costco, that's not necessarily a smart move. Here are a few good reasons not to buy groceries at Costco.

1. You don't do a lot of cooking

Costco can be a lifeline for people who do a fair amount of cooking at home. You can buy everything from grains to oil to spices in bulk, thereby lowering your costs.

But if you don't tend to cook very often, then buying these items at Costco doesn't make a lot of sense. Believe it or not, oils and spices don't have an unlimited shelf life, and their quality can degrade over time. If you only cook once a week, then you're probably better off buying these items in smaller quantities.

2. You don't have a large household

If you have a larger household, then loading up on perishable items at Costco could be a nice source of savings. But if your household is just you, or you and a partner, you may not be able to use up your perishables before they start to go bad.

Say you cook pretty often, so you decide to buy ground beef from Costco in bulk. If it's just you, there may only be so many meatballs you can eat in a single week.

Granted, some items do freeze well. But you'll need to be careful with bulk grocery purchases when you're talking about perishables specifically.

3. You don't have a lot of room to store food

Regardless of your cooking habits and household size, you need to be realistic about the amount of storage space you have at home. And if you're limited to a tiny freezer and smaller-sized fridge, then it may not make sense to buy your groceries at Costco.

Cramming too many items into a fridge isn't a good idea. You risk having your fridge work overtime to maintain its temperature, and things might get cooled unevenly so that the items in the back wind up frozen. That's not what you want in the context of products like butter and milk.

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A Costco membership could still make sense even if you never buy groceries there

Buying bulk groceries at Costco isn't always a good idea, so it's important to think carefully before spending the money on them. That said, even if you never buy groceries at Costco, a membership could still pay off.

You might save a lot of money on household essentials at Costco, from tissues to paper towels to laundry detergent. And you might benefit from buying items like electronics from Costco due to the competitive prices and extended warranty you get. So don't assume you shouldn't get a Costco membership, even if buying groceries in bulk isn't the right thing for you.

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If youre shopping with a debit card, you could be missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. These versatile credit cards offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco, and are rated the best cards of 2024 by our experts because they offer hefty sign-up bonuses and outstanding cash rewards. Plus, youll save on credit card interest because all of these recommendations include a competitive 0% interest period.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Reasons Not to Buy Your Groceries at Costco was originally published by The Motley Fool
Amid a backdrop of global economic fluctuations and localized pressures, the Hong Kong market has shown resilience, with particular interest in sectors offering stable returns. Dividend stocks remain a focal point for investors seeking yield in uncertain times, making them an attractive option for those looking to balance risk with potential income generation.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Hong Kong

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank (SEHK:3618) 8.10%  CITIC Telecom International Holdings (SEHK:1883) 9.66%  China Construction Bank (SEHK:939) 7.45%  S.A.S. Dragon Holdings (SEHK:1184) 8.86%  China Electronics Huada Technology (SEHK:85) 8.33%  Playmates Toys (SEHK:869) 8.96%  Bank of China (SEHK:3988) 6.60%  China Mobile (SEHK:941) 6.21%  Sinopharm Group (SEHK:1099) 4.24%  China Overseas Grand Oceans Group (SEHK:81) 8.09% 

Click here to see the full list of 86 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

We'll examine a selection from our screener results.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Wasion Holdings Limited is an investment holding company that specializes in the development, production, and sale of energy metering and energy efficiency management solutions across China, Africa, the US, Europe, and other Asian regions, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$6.81 billion.

Operations: Wasion Holdings Limited generates its revenue primarily through three segments: Advanced Distribution Operations (CN2.48 billion), Power Advanced Metering Infrastructure (CN2.67 billion), and Communication and Fluid Advanced Metering Infrastructure (CN2.21 billion).

Dividend Yield: 4.1%

Wasion Holdings Limited, despite a volatile dividend history over the past decade, declared a final dividend of HK$0.28 per share for 2023. The company's dividends are well-covered by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios at 48.9% and 27.6% respectively. Recent contract wins totaling approximately HK$445.79 million bolster its financial position, although its dividend yield of 4.05% remains below the Hong Kong market's top quartile average of 7.98%.

SEHK:3393 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: China Communications Services Corporation Limited offers telecommunications support services globally, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$29.16 billion.

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Operations: China Communications Services Corporation Limited generates revenue primarily through the provision of integrated comprehensive solutions, totaling CN148.61 billion.

Dividend Yield: 5.5%

China Communications Services recently declared a final dividend of RMB 0.2174 per share for 2023, payable on August 16, 2024. Despite this increase, the company's dividends have shown volatility over the past decade and its current yield of 5.55% is below Hong Kong's top quartile average. The dividend coverage is strong with a payout ratio of 42% and cash payout ratio of 36.4%, supported by last years earnings growth of 6.7%. However, its historical dividend unreliability poses a concern for stability-focused investors.

SEHK:552 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Shougang Fushan Resources Group Limited is an investment holding company focused on mining and processing raw coal, as well as selling raw and clean coal in the People's Republic of China, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$15.77 billion.

Operations: Shougang Fushan Resources Group primarily generates revenue through its coking coal mining segment, which produced HK$5.89 billion in sales.

Dividend Yield: 8.7%

Shougang Fushan Resources Group offers a dividend yield of 8.75%, ranking it among the top 25% in Hong Kong's market. Despite its appealing price-to-earnings ratio of 8.3x, which is below the market average, dividends have shown volatility and unreliability over the past decade. The company maintains a sustainable payout with earnings covering 74.4% and cash flows covering 34.2% of dividends, though earnings are projected to decline by an average of 6.8% annually over the next three years.

SEHK:639 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:3393SEHK:552 and SEHK:639

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
(Left to right) Utility worker Rosalyn Burch, Michael Alexander, and Lawrence Parker feed linens through an automatic folder at one of the largest laundry facilities in Wisconsin, providing laundry and linen services for hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and the military throughout Wisconsin and Northern Illinois on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at the James O Wright Goodwill Workforce Connection Center in Milwaukee, Wis.

For 50 years Goodwill Industries commercial laundry division has cleaned, folded and washed linen for a myriad of clients, including for sailors at Naval Station Great Lakes, the Navys largest training installation, in northern Illinois.

That will end this August.

Goodwill Manufacturing, the laundry arm of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago, will permanently close its laundry service located at 6055 N. 91st St.

The closure will not affect other services, including its retail outlet, home-delivered meals program and its day service program offered at the far northwest side facility, which employs nearly 300 people.

The closure will lay off 136 employees from the commercial laundry and linen services, one of the largest laundry facilities operated by Goodwill in Wisconsin. Annually, the facility processed over 13 million pounds of laundry for healthcare providers, the military, and clinics throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

But that was not enough to keep the doors open. Goodwills commercial laundry and linen service has been losing money every year for the last six years. Goodwill Manufacturing ran a deficit of $3.2 million in 2017 mushrooming to $28 million in 2022, the most recent year for which numbers are available, according to company tax filings.

Just in 2022, Goodwill Manufacturing generated more than $3 million in revenue but then spent $7 million, creating a net loss of more than $4 million for the year. It was the sixth consecutive year the nonprofit lost millions of dollars.

The last year Goodwill Manufacturing turned a profit was in 2016 when revenue topped $5.5 million.

Goodwill officials point to market changes, including competition, customers, market dynamics, and operational costs. The nonprofit known for its employment training services and retail stores looked at every option before closing the facility.

We take these decisions very seriously, said Anita Guerrero, vice president of corporate communications and brand management. I think the assessment of the profitability and healthy margins is essentially what got us to that point.

Heres what we know:

As business winds down Goodwill still committed to employees and customers

Goodwill is one of the leading providers of educational and work-related services to lift people out of poverty. Last year Goodwill supported more than 50,000 people across Wisconsin and Illinois through employment programs and services.

Employees affected by the layoff will now be using those same services. Goodwill, Guerrero said, remains committed to those affected by the closure.

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Impacted employees will have access to free in-person and virtual employment services, including workshops, skill training, resume writing, job search, and application assistance. Guerrero noted some employees could be placed with other Goodwill locations.

We have already started providing supportive services and guidance for impacted employees, Guerrero said.

Affected employees will have access to Goodwill Talent Bridge, a full-service staffing and recruiting agency. The program helps place job seekers into entry-level jobs as well as professional positions. Also, employees can receive assistance through Goodwills Employment Empowerment Network. This program helps with emergency housing, rental and utility assistance, and childcare, which Guerrero noted are barriers to employment.

We are committed to these 136 employees to make sure that they have placement by the time the operation closes, Guerrero said.

Guerrero would not disclose the number of customers affected by the closure. But she said the laundry service had several long-term customers across greater Milwaukee and Chicago.

Like any business, she noted, the number of customers fluctuated over the years. The agency is working with those customers to connect them to new providers and ensure a smooth transition as the laundry division winds down.

Even though laundry clients fluctuated over time, Guerrero said that did not impact the amount of laundry processed. Last year, the laundry service processed more than 10 million pounds of linen, a 10.6% increase over 2022, she said.

Job opportunities for disabilities and hard-to-employ individuals

The laundry services provided job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and for those facing barriers to employment. When Goodwill started processing laundry for the Great Lakes naval base, Guerrero said leaders saw it as an opportunity to provide work experience for people with disability and drive revenue for our organization.

Goodwill partnered with AbilityOne which provided employees for the laundry division. AbilityOne provides quality employment opportunities for the blind or individuals with disabilities. Partnering with AbilityOne funded our ability to run that operation and be able to provide employment opportunities, Guerrero said.

The goal was to give people with disabilities an opportunity to be part of the workforce, Guerrero said.

At the time that when we started this business, we saw a great need for people with disabilities to be able to enter the workforce, she said.

Guerrero declined to say how many persons with disability are employed with the laundry division or would be affected by the layoffs. She noted case managers with AbilityOne will help them through this process, but Goodwills employment services will also be available to them.

Guerrero said she is confident those employed at the laundry service through AbilityOne gained the work experience needed to help them in their next employment opportunity.

From navy base to servicing laundry for other healthcare industries

Goodwill began operating its commercial laundry service in 1974. Since then, Goodwill expanded its customer base to include hospitals, clinics and nursing homes throughout southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

Though Goodwill will no longer provide laundry service for the Great Lake naval base, it will continueother services including food service, administrative and logistics services, such as mail delivery, and uniform issuance for the sailors and recruits at the naval base.

We believe with closing this (laundry) business, we can reinvest back into our other business to maintain and grow the impact for our mission in the communities that we serve, Guerrero said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Goodwill Industries' laundry division closes after 50 years
RainStar / iStock/Getty Images

Credit card debt is a common issue. The average credit card debt among American consumers is $6,218, according to a TransUnion report. Additionally, according to the latest Federal Reserve data, the average credit card APR is 22.63%. If you know anything about how credit and debt work, you know a high balance coupled with a high rate can quickly get out of hand.

Find Out: You Can Get These 3 Debts Canceled Forever

Read Next: $10K or More in Debt? See If You Could Become Debt-Free (for Less Than You Owe)

But high balances and APRs arent the only concerns you should have when it comes to credit card debt. And its vital that you separate facts from fiction.

Here are the credit card debt myths you need to know to help you manage your finances wisely.

Myth 1: Carrying a Balance Improves Your Credit Score

Dennis Shirshikov, head of growth at GoSummer and finance professor at the City University of New York, said that this is one of the most pervasive myths

The reality is that carrying a balance does not improve your credit score and can actually harm it, he said. Credit scores are influenced by credit utilization, which is the percentage of your credit limit that you are using. High credit utilization can lower your score. Additionally, carrying a balance accrues interest, leading to unnecessary financial costs.

Instead, Shirshikov said you should always pay off your credit card balance in full each month.

This ensures you avoid interest charges and maintain a low credit utilization ratio, which positively impacts your credit score, he explained.

Try This: 12 Ways To Get Ahead of 99% of People Financially According to ChatGPT

Myth 2: Closing Old Credit Cards Is Good for Your Credit Score

Although you might be under the impression that closing old credit cards that no longer have any debt is beneficial for your credit, it can actually harm your credit score.

This is because the length of your credit history accounts for a significant portion of your credit score, Shirshikov explained. Closing an old account reduces the average age of your credit accounts, which can negatively impact your score. Moreover, it reduces your overall available credit, potentially increasing your credit utilization ratio.

Shirshikov recommends keeping your old credit accounts open, especially those with no annual fee.

If youre not using them, he suggested, put a small recurring charge on them and pay it off each month to keep the accounts active.

Myth 3: Applying for Multiple Cards Within a Short Period Is OK

While it might seem advantageous to have multiple credit cards to manage expenses and earn rewards, applying for several cards in a short span can negatively impact your credit score, Shirshikov explained. Each application results in a hard inquiry on your credit report, and multiple inquiries within a short period can signal to lenders that you are in financial distress or seeking to overextend your credit.

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Instead, Shirshikov recommended spacing out your credit card applications and only applying for new cards when necessary.

Consider your credit needs carefully and plan applications strategically to minimize hard inquiries, he said.

Myth 4: Accepting a Higher Credit Limit Is Always the Right Move

While a higher credit limit can help with credit utilization, it can also lead to overspending if not managed carefully, explained Shirshikov. Accepting a higher limit might make it easier to accumulate debt that you cannot pay off, leading to high interest charges and financial stress.

Shirshikov recommended evaluating your spending habits and financial discipline before accepting a higher credit limit.

Ensure you have a solid budget and stick to it, using the increased limit only if it aligns with your financial goals and not as an excuse to spend more, he said.

Myth 5: Making Minimum Payments Is Always Enough

Kelan Kline, personal finance expert and co-owner of the personal finance blog The Savvy Couple, said that, although making minimum payments might keep you in good standing, it wont help you make headway if youre carrying a large balance.

The rest of the balance racks up interest, which makes it take longer to pay off the balance, he explained.

To avoid being trapped in a cycle of perpetual credit card debt, Kline recommended paying more than the minimum whenever possible. Itll save you money in the long run and help you clear that debt faster, he said.

Myth 6: Debt Relief Will Ruin Your Credit Score Forever

Emma Davidson, MBA, high-risk payment consultant with eMerchant Authority, said credit card debt relief strategies like debt settlement can impact your credit, but the effect they have is not necessarily a permanent or catastrophic effect.

Believing this myth might prevent people from seeking help when they need it, she said.

Davidson said you should educate yourself on the actual impacts of different debt relief options. Consult with a financial advisor or credit counselor to understand how various strategies might affect your specific situation, she suggested.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Credit Card Debt Myths That Nobody Should Believe in 2024
Major companies are moving at high speed to capture the promises of artificial intelligence in healthcare while doctors and experts attempt to integrate the technology safely into patient care.

"Healthcare is probably the most impactful utility of generative AI that there will be, Kimberly Powell, vice president of healthcare at AI hardware giant Nvidia (NVDA), which has partnered with Roches Genentech (RHHBY) to enhance drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry, among other investments in healthcare companies, declared at the company's AI Summit in June.

Other tech names such as Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG, GOOGL), Intel (INTC), and Microsoft (MSFT) have also emphasized AI's potential in healthcare and landed partnerships aimed at improving AI models.

Growing demand for more efficient healthcare operations has had tech companies racing to develop AI applications that assist with everything from appointment scheduling and drug development to billing to assisting with reading and interpreting scans.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger demonstrates an AI-powered ultrasound monitoring heartbeats in real time during his keynote speech at Computex 2024 in Taipei on June 4, 2024. (I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images) (I-HWA CHENG via Getty Images)

The overall market for AI in healthcare is expected to grow to $188 billion by 2030 from $11 billion in 2021, according to Precedence Research. The market for clinical software alone is expected to increase by $2.76 billion from 2023 to 2028, according to Technavio.

Practitioners, meanwhile, are preparing for the potential technological revolution.

Sneha Jain, a chief fellow at Stanford University's Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, said that AI has the potential to become as integrated with the healthcare system as the internet while also stressing the importance of using the technology responsibly.

People want to err on the side of caution because in the oath of becoming a doctor and for healthcare providers, its, 'First, do no harm', Jain told Yahoo Finance. So how do we make sure that we 'First, do no harm' while also really pushing forward and advancing the way AI is used in healthcare?

Potential patients seem wary: A recent Deloitte Consumer Health Care survey found that 30% of respondents stated they "don't trust the information" provided by generative AI for healthcare, compared to 23% a year ago.

The fear: 'Garbage in, garbage out'

Patients seem to have reason to doubt AI's current capabilities.

A study published in May evaluating large multimodal models (LMMs), which interpret media like images and videos, found that AI models like OpenAIs GPT-4V performed worse in medical settings than random guessing when asked questions regarding medical diagnosis.

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"These findings underscore the urgent need for robust evaluation methodologies to ensure the reliability and accuracy of LMMs in medical imaging," the study's authors wrote.

Dr. Safwan Halabi, vice chair of imaging informatics at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, highlighted the trust issues surrounding the implementation of these models by comparing the use of AI in healthcare without testing to the use of self-driving cars without conducting proper test drives.

Doctors and nurses prepare a knee surgery tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) at a hospital in Bandung, Indonesia, on June 24, 2024. (Ryan Suherlan/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In particular, Halabi expressed concern about bias. If a model was trained using health data about Caucasians in Northern California, he said, it may not be able to provide appropriate and accurate care to African Americans on the South Side of Chicago.

"The data is only as good as its source, and so the concern is garbage in, garbage out," Halabi told Yahoo Finance. He added that "good medicine is slow medicine" and stressed the importance of safety tests before putting the technology into practice.

But others, like Dr. John Halamka, president of the technology initiative Mayo Clinic Platform, emphasized AIs potential to leverage the expertise of millions of doctors.

Wouldn't you like the experience of millions and millions of patient journeys to be captured in a predictive algorithm so that a clinician could say, 'Well, yes, I have my training and my experience, but can I leverage the patients of the past to help me treat patients of the future in the best possible way?' Halamka told Yahoo Finance.

Creating guardrails

Following an executive order signed by President Biden last year to develop policies that would advance the technology while managing risks, Halamka and other researchers have argued for standardized, agreed-upon principles to assess AI models for bias, among other concerns.

AI, whether predictive or generative, is math not magic," Halamka said. "We recognize the need to build a public-private collaboration, bringing government, academia, and industry together to create the guardrails and the guidelines so that anyone who is doing healthcare and AI has a way of measuring: Well, is this fair? Is it appropriate? Is it valid? Is it effective? Is it safe?

They also stressed the need for a national network of assurance laboratories  spaces to test the validity and ethics of AI models. Jain is at the center of these discussions, as she's starting one such laboratory at Stanford.

"The regulatory environment, the cultural environment, and the technical environment are ripe for this kind of progress on how to think about assurance and safety for AI, so it's an exciting time," she said.

An 81-year-old patient undergoes an injected brain scanner to detect a stroke. (BSIP/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (BSIP via Getty Images)

However, training these models also introduces privacy concerns, given the sensitive nature of a patient's medical data, including their full legal name and date of birth.

While waiting for rules around the technology to be formalized, Lurie Children's Hospital has instituted its own regulations regarding AI use within its practice and has worked to ensure it doesn't disclose patient information on the internet.

"My predictions are [that AI is] here to stay, and we're going to see more and more of it," Lurie Children's Halabi said. "But we won't really notice it because it's going to be happening in the background or it's going to be happening in the whole care process and not overtly announced or disclosed."

Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest health industry news and events impacting stock prices
Spirit Airlines, known for its cheap fares and a la carte flight upgrades, is rolling out another perk it hopes will draw travelers: fewer fees.

In May, the Miramar, Florida-based carrier stopped charging customers for canceling and changing flights, a move Spirit executives expect will pay off despite the loss of fee revenue. The airline also increased the weight for checked bags from 40 pounds to 50 pounds, the industry standard.

Although the airline's domestic business is growing, it saw a dip in traffic for international flights in the first quarter, federal transportation data shows.

"What we've seen over time is that less people are actually flying on Spirit," Matt Klein, the airline's chief commercial officer, told CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave. "So we believe the changes we're making are about attracting new customers."

Klein added that eliminating fees was also about lowering fares for loyal Spirit passengers, noting that "it's something our customers wanted."

Spirit isn't alone in dropping fees. Delta and American Airlines, which had axed their change flight fees early in the pandemic, eliminated cancellation charges in late 2023. Budget carrier Frontier Airlines, a direct competitor to Spirit, also cut cancellation fees in May.

Along with nixing charges that many travelers regard as onerous, airlines are also facing government scrutiny. Biden administration officials have targeted a range of so-called junk fees, and in May announced final consumer protection rules that will require airlines and travel agents to reveal service charges upfront, among other things. As a result, airlines must now disclose the fees on the first website page where they quote the price for a flight.

Travel experts and consumer advocates have also long criticized carriers for using "drip pricing" to mask the true price of airfare.

To be sure, eliminating cancellation and change flight fees will cost Spirit big bucks  in 2023, the carrier generated $150 million in those fees alone. But one industry analyst said low-fare airlines like Spirit must do what it takes to retain customers. JetBlue in March abandoned a bid to buy Spirit after a federal judge blocked the $3.8 billion deal over concerns the merger would hurt competition in the airline industry.

Collapse of the deal left Spirit reeling, and the carrier's financial performance has continued to skid amid mounting competition from larger airlines. For the first quarter, Spirit reported a net loss of $142.6 million, up from a loss of $103.9 million in the year-ago period, while operating revenue dipped roughly 6% to $1.3 billion. Its stock prices, which hovered above $16 at the start of the year, has descended to $3.64.

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"Right now, Spirit and Frontier are fighting, fighting to stay in business," Henry Harteveldt, an airlines industry analyst at Atmosphere Research, told CBS News. "They're reacting to the changes that larger airlines have made."

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Key Insights

The considerable ownership by individual investors in AirAsia X Berhad indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

50% of the business is held by the top 22 shareholders

Insiders own 14% of AirAsia X Berhad

Every investor in AirAsia X Berhad (KLSE:AAX) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that individual investors own the lion's share in the company with 48% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Meanwhile, private companies make up 15% of the companys shareholders.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about AirAsia X Berhad.

View our latest analysis for AirAsia X Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About AirAsia X Berhad?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in AirAsia X Berhad. 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. 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 AirAsia X Berhad's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

AirAsia X Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Capital A Berhad is currently the largest shareholder, with 13% of shares outstanding. With 12% and 8.3% of the shares outstanding respectively, Tune Group Sdn Bhd and Kamarudin bin Meranun are the second and third largest shareholders. Kamarudin bin Meranun, who is the third-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Member of the Board of Directors.

A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 22 shareholders have a combined ownership of 50% implying that no single shareholder has a majority.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time.

Insider Ownership Of AirAsia X Berhad

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

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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.

It seems insiders own a significant proportion of AirAsia X Berhad. It has a market capitalization of just RM666m, and insiders have RM95m worth of shares in their own names. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

With a 48% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over AirAsia X Berhad. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 15%, of the shares on issue. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research.

Public Company Ownership

We can see that public companies hold 13% of the AirAsia X Berhad shares on issue. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for AirAsia X Berhad that you should be aware of.

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
Diamond producer Alrosa has expanded its mining portfolio by acquiring the Degdekanskoye ore field gold deposit in Russia from mining company Polyus.

The deal, completed by Alrosa's subsidiary, JSC Almazy Anabara, involves a 100% stake purchase in Magadan Geological Exploration Enterprise (MGRP), which owns the gold deposit, from JSC Polyus Krasnoyarsk, a subsidiary of PJSC Polyus.

Located in the Tenkinsky District of the Magadan Region, the Degdekanskoye gold ore field is estimated to hold 38.3 tonnes (t) of gold in the C1+C2 category with an average grade of 2.2g/t, excluding off-balance-sheet reserves, according to the State Reserves Commission.

The acquisition forms part of Alrosa's strategy to foray into gold to bolster its financial strength, without significantly altering its core business strategy.

Alrosa is planning to make an initial investment of Rbs24bn for the development of the Degdekan deposit, reported Reuters.

JSC Almazy Anabara general director Alexey Okorokov said: The development of the deposit is planned to begin after the feasibility study is updated. The deposit has convenient access to transport and energy infrastructure  5km from the transport artery.

According to the preliminary plan, the deposit is planned to be put into operation in 2028. It is planned to build a quarry, a gold extraction plant, a tailings storage facility, infrastructure and energy facilities. Initial investments in the project are estimated at Rbs24bn.

The development of the Degdekan site is projected to continue until 2046. Starting from 2030, the Degdekan project is expected to have peak annual gold production capacity of 3.3t.

Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev said: The development of the gold ore deposit will provide an additional synergistic effect for Alrosa's business and will contribute to increasing its financial stability in the long term.

The sale forms part of Polyus efforts to streamline its exploration portfolio. This decision comes as Polyus gears up to commence development on the Sukhoi Log gold deposit in Siberia.

"Alrosa acquires Russian gold deposit from Polyus" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Arafura Rare Earths has announced conditional approval for a substantial debt financing package of $150m (A$225.66m) from the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).

This move marks a significant step towards funding the Nolans rare earths project located around 135km from Alice Springs in Australias Northern Territory (NT).

Arafura stated that its project is expected to help in diversifying the global supply chain for neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide.

The financing package from KEXIM includes a direct loan facility of up to $75.1m and a loan guarantee for up to $74.9m, both with a tenure of up to ten years.

Arafura said the financial support is instrumental in advancing its goal to secure the $775m in senior debt funding needed for the development of the Nolans project.

KEXIM's conditional approval follows a letter of interest issued in December 2023.

Arafura has already secured cornerstone binding offtake agreements with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia.

These agreements ensure the supply of up to 1,500 tonnes per annum of NdPr oxide once the Nolans project reaches its full production capacity.

Arafura managing director Darryl Cuzzubbo said: Hyundai and Kia are Arafuras cornerstone customers and our strategic alliance with Korea has been fortified by KEXIMs $150m in financing support for the Nolans Project.

Together, KEXIM and Arafura are embarking on the development of a diversified global NdPr supply chain to achieve a lower-carbon future.

Arafura is actively engaging with commercial lenders, including KEXIM Global in Singapore, to secure credit approval for participation under the Export Credit Agency-covered tranches and other senior debt facilities.

The funds will go towards Arafuras flagship Nolans rare earths project in the NT, which is set to become a major supplier of NdPr to South Koreas automotive manufacturing sector.

The Nolans project will include a mine and a processing plant comprising beneficiation, extraction and separation plants as well as related infrastructure.

"Arafura secures $150m debt financing from KEXIM" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2024 / Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:ARK) ("Arras" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced an Induced Polarization ("IP") survey on its 531 square kilometer Elemes project in northeastern Kazakhstan ("Elemes" or the "Project"), to help further define the most prospective drill targets.

Highlights

125km long Pole-Dipole Induced Polarization survey covering the entire Berezski 8.8km x 1.5km NE-SW trending long copper ("Cu") soil anomaly (+150ppm Cu).

Initial focus of the survey will be the 2.8km x 1.6km coherent Molybdenum ("Mo") bulls-eye anomaly (> 5ppm Mo) interpreted to be the core of untested porphyry copper-gold system.

The survey will also extend over the 3km x 2.2km Novi arsenic ("As") anomaly (>25ppm As) thought to be associated with a large high-sulphidation epithermal above a preserved porphyry deposit.

The commencement of the IP survey works follows the recent closing of an upsized financing in which the Company successfully raised C$5.2 million to support ongoing exploration activities on the Company's copper-gold projects in Kazakhstan.

The IP survey will cover the extensive Berezski copper anomaly, associated with highly altered diorites, that displays remarkably similar geological and structural characteristics to the Bozshakol copper-gold mine located approximately 60 km northwest.

Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals, announced, "With the recent completion of the C$5.2 million equity financing, we are well-positioned to advance our exploration programs on our key copper-gold projects across a number of targets areas. The start of the IP survey at the Berezski target on the Elemes project will assist with further defining high-priority targets ahead of drill testing in the following months this summer and fall."

Figure 1. The 8.8km Berezski copper soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Figure 2. The 8.8km Berezski molybdenum soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Figure 3. The 8.8km Berezski arsenic soil anomaly identified by Arras within the Elemes project. Also shown are proposed IP lines and the results of the re-assayed historical drillholes announced by Arras on 8 January 2024, and 22 January 2024 respectively.

Induced Polarization (IP) Survey

The IP and resistivity surveys are being undertaken by Aurora Geophysics of Astana, Kazakhstan. The survey includes 125km of survey lines and will utilize a poledipole array with an electrode spacing of 200m, and an average line spacing of 500m. The survey is designed to measure to a depth of ~250m.

Mineralization in porphyry deposits is associated with sulphide minerals, predominantly pyrite and chalcopyrite, which makes the IP survey an important tool in targeting sulphide mineralization at depth and enhancing the definition of drill targets. Additionally, the resistivity function of the survey will assist in identifying silica enriched zones, another import vector tool for future drill planning.

The Berezski Target is located within the 531 square kilometre Elemes/Aimandai license area ("Elemes Project"). The property benefits from excellent modern infrastructure and ease of accessibility, being located only 20 kilometres ("km") from Arras' operational base in the city of Ekibastuz, Pavlodar. A paved highway runs through the license, and within 5 km of the Berezski target. 1100 KVA power lines and heavy rail all lie within a 15-kilometer radius of the project.

The Elemes Project is located within the Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt that also hosts the Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver project approximately 80 km to the east, and KAZ Minerals' Bozshakol porphyry copper-gold mine (2022 production 102kt Cu and 113Koz Au 2 ) approximately 60 km to the northwest.

Figure 4. Arras's License Package showing Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance Areas as "Package A" and "Package B" as well as the Elemes, Aimandai, Stepnoe, Ekidos and Tay licences which are 100% owned by Arras.

Qualified Person: The scientific and technical disclosure for this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Matthew Booth, Vice President of Exploration, of Arras Minerals Corp., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Booth has over 19 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Qualified Person member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG 12044).

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim Barry"

Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo)

Chief Executive Officer and Director

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

+1 604 687 5800

info@arrasminerals.com

Further information can be found on the Company's website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrasminerals

About Arras Minerals Corp.

Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue). In December 2023, the Company entered into a strategic alliance with Teck Resources ("Teck") in which Teck will sole fund a US$5 million generative exploration program over a portion of the Arras license package in 2024-2025 focusing on critical minerals. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol "ARK".

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies.

Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras' future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras' exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras' management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management's control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR on February 28, 2024 and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 28, 2024 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

SOURCE: Arras Minerals Corp.





View the original press release on accesswire.com




Dividend-paying stocks are often sought after for their potential to provide a steady income stream. However, it's crucial to examine the sustainability of these dividends. Companies like Metro Holdings, with high payout ratios, may indicate that their dividends could be at risk, making them less attractive for long-term investment stability.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Singapore

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating BRC Asia (SGX:BEC) 7.34%  China Sunsine Chemical Holdings (SGX:QES) 6.34%  Civmec (SGX:P9D) 6.00%  Singapore Exchange (SGX:S68) 3.62%  Multi-Chem (SGX:AWZ) 8.80%  UOB-Kay Hian Holdings (SGX:U10) 6.87%  UOL Group (SGX:U14) 3.82%  Bumitama Agri (SGX:P8Z) 6.77%  Singapore Airlines (SGX:C6L) 6.98%  YHI International (SGX:BPF) 6.56% 

Click here to see the full list of 21 stocks from our Top SGX Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's uncover one of the gems from our specialized screener and one you can probably ignore.

Top Pick

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Multi-Chem Limited, primarily an investment holding company, operates in the distribution of information technology products across regions including Singapore, Greater China, Australia, and India, with a market capitalization of SGD 248.66 million.

Operations: The company generates revenue from its IT business in Singapore (SGD 372.78 million), Australia (SGD 54.60 million), India (SGD 40.56 million), Greater China (SGD 34.96 million), and other regions (SGD 153.93 million), along with a smaller segment in PCB business in Singapore (SGD 1.79 million).

Dividend Yield: 8.8%

Multi-Chem Limited, a Singapore-based company, maintains a stable dividend cover with its earnings and cash flows adequately covering an 80.7% payout ratio and an 88.1% cash payout ratio respectively. This financial prudence contrasts sharply with some peers struggling with unsustainable high payout ratios. However, investors should note Multi-Chem's dividend history has been marked by volatility over the past decade, reflecting some inconsistency in payouts despite recent improvements in earnings growth (35.6% year-over-year). Recent board enhancements could signal stronger governance ahead, potentially stabilizing future dividends.

SGX:AWZ Dividend History as at Jul 2024

One To Reconsider

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Metro Holdings Limited operates in retail, as well as property development and investment, across Singapore, China, Indonesia, the UK, and Australia, with a market capitalization of approximately SGD 397.46 million.

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Operations: The company generates revenue through two main segments: retail, which brought in SGD 105.44 million, and property development and investment, contributing SGD 5.48 million.

Dividend Yield: 4.2%

Metro Holdings Limited faces significant challenges as a dividend stock. With a high payout ratio of 113.8% and an even higher cash payout ratio of 18.42, its dividends are poorly covered by both earnings and cash flows, indicating potential sustainability issues. Additionally, the company's dividend yield of 4.17% is below the top quartile in Singapore's market, further diminishing its attractiveness to income-focused investors. Recent financials show declining revenues and net income, compounding concerns about its ability to maintain dividends without financial strain.

SGX:M01 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Click this link to deep-dive into the 21 companies within our Top SGX Dividend Stocks screener.

Are any of these companies part of your investment strategy? Use Simply Wall St to consolidate your holdings into a portfolio and gain insights with our comprehensive analysis tools.

Take control of your financial future using Simply Wall St, offering free, in-depth knowledge of international markets to every investor.

Interested In Other Possibilities?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SGX:AWZSGX:M01 and

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The Swiss market recently displayed resilience, closing moderately higher as investors anticipated key economic data, including an upcoming report on Swiss inflation. Amidst this optimistic backdrop, where indices like the SMI are showing gains, dividend stocks such as Banque Cantonale Vaudoise become particularly appealing for their potential to offer steady returns in a robust economic environment.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Switzerland

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Vontobel Holding (SWX:VONN) 5.55%  Cembra Money Bank (SWX:CMBN) 5.18%  Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (SWX:BCVN) 4.46%  St. Galler Kantonalbank (SWX:SGKN) 4.37%  Novartis (SWX:NOVN) 3.35%  Roche Holding (SWX:ROG) 3.84%  Julius Bar Gruppe (SWX:BAER) 5.09%  Holcim (SWX:HOLN) 3.50%  Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank (SWX:BLKB) 4.75%  Helvetia Holding (SWX:HELN) 5.11% 

Click here to see the full list of 26 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Banque Cantonale Vaudoise operates as a financial services provider in Vaud Canton, across Switzerland, the European Union, North America, and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 8.29 billion.

Operations: Banque Cantonale Vaudoise generates revenue through several segments, including Trading (CHF 58 million), Retail Banking (CHF 231.50 million), Corporate Center (CHF 158.80 million), Corporate Banking (CHF 273.30 million), and Wealth Management (CHF 438.40 million).

Dividend Yield: 4.5%

Banque Cantonale Vaudoise offers a compelling case for dividend-focused investors, with a stable dividend yield of 4.46%, ranking in the top 25% in the Swiss market. The bank maintains a payout ratio of 78.7%, ensuring dividends are well covered by earnings, a trend expected to continue with an anticipated payout ratio of 85.4% in three years. Despite modest forecasted earnings growth of 0.21% annually, BCVN has consistently increased its dividends over the past decade and demonstrated reliability in its payments amidst varying economic conditions.

SWX:BCVN Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: LEM Holding SA operates globally, offering solutions for measuring electrical parameters across various regions including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 1.61 billion.

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Operations: LEM Holding SA generates revenue primarily from two segments: Asia (CHF 201.98 million) and Europe/Americas (CHF 203.80 million).

Dividend Yield: 3.5%

LEM Holding SA's dividend yield of 3.55% trails behind the top Swiss dividend payers. Despite a decade of stable and increasing dividends, the current cash payout ratio at 125.8% suggests these are not well supported by cash flow, posing risks to sustainability. Recent earnings show a decline with net income dropping from CHF 75.34 million to CHF 65.33 million year-over-year, further challenging future dividend reliability despite trading below estimated fair value by 15.6%.

SWX:LEHN Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Vontobel Holding AG offers a range of financial services to private and institutional clients across multiple countries including Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Italy, North America, and several Asian regions, with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 2.99 billion.

Operations: Vontobel Holding AG generates revenue primarily through three segments: Asset Management (CHF 384.10 million), Digital Investing (CHF 154.30 million), and Wealth Management (CHF 746.90 million).

Dividend Yield: 5.5%

Vontobel Holding offers a robust dividend yield at 5.55%, ranking well among Swiss firms. Over the past decade, its dividends have shown growth and stability, supported by a conservative payout ratio of 77.7%. Looking ahead, dividends are expected to be comfortably covered with a forecasted payout ratio of 58.5% in three years. Despite trading at a significant discount to fair value (44.2% below), investors should note that 63% of Vontobel's liabilities stem from higher-risk funding sources.

SWX:VONN Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Where To Now?

Navigate through the entire inventory of 26 Top Dividend Stocks here.

Have a stake in these businesses? Integrate your holdings into Simply Wall St's portfolio for notifications and detailed stock reports.

Invest smarter with the free Simply Wall St app providing detailed insights into every stock market around the globe.

Seeking Other Investments?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SWX:BCVN SWX:LEHN and SWX:VONN.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Biden Enforcing A 28% Corporate Tax Rate Would Make The U.S. 'The Most Uncompetitive Country In The G7' Says Kevin O'Leary

President Biden is pushing for significant changes to make big corporations pay more taxes and quadruple the tax on stock buybacks, which benefit wealthy investors and CEOs with low-tax payouts. He wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% and the corporate minimum tax to 21%.

Don't Miss:

Amid the ongoing EV revolution, previously overlooked low-income communities now harbor a huge investment opportunity at just $500.

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are bullish on one city that could dethrone New York and become the new financial capital of the US. Investing in its booming real estate market has never been more accessible.

Biden's plan aims to fix the problem of big companies paying little to no taxes, which many Americans find unfair. The goal is to have these large corporations contribute more to the country's finances, which can be used for public services and infrastructure. However, not everyone thinks this is a good idea.

Kevin O'Leary, a business owner and TV personality, recently said raising the corporate tax rate to 28% would make the U.S. the least competitive country in the G7.

OLeary explained, "Tax rates matter. You heard Trump talk about 15 to 21 percent. Add three to four for each state, and you get into the range of 21 to 24, 25 for U.S. corporate tax. Thats sort of in the middle of the road regarding the competition. Not the best, but if you go to 28 and add four percent, you are the most uncompetitive country in the G7."

This isnt the first time OLeary has criticized increasing corporate tax rates. A few years ago, he warned that such hikes would stifle economic growth by making it harder for U.S. companies to compete with businesses in other countries, which could slow down the economy and reduce job creation.

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On the other hand, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on inequality, urging governments to protect their economies.

In a recent report, the IMF said it is really worried about big changes in the job market and more inequality as AI becomes more common. It thinks countries should improve unemployment benefits and prepare for job losses, especially in higher-skilled jobs, which is different from past technological changes.

Instead of imposing special taxes on AI, the IMF suggested raising taxes on capital gains, profits, and corporate income to address wealth inequality.

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"We want people to be able to benefit more broadly from the potential that this technology holds, and we want to ensure that there are opportunities created for people," said Era Dabla-Norris, Deputy Director at the IMFs Fiscal Affairs Department and co-author of the report, for the Financial Times.

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This article Biden Enforcing A 28% Corporate Tax Rate Would Make The U.S. 'The Most Uncompetitive Country In The G7' Says Kevin O'Leary originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan eyes next 'golden 30 years' of bilateral ties

People's Daily Online) 17:26, July 01, 2024

A filming crew from People's Daily Online recently visited Kazakhstan to interview Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xiao about the future of China-Kazakhstan relations. The interview, part of the media organization's "Cultural Silk Road" series, covered topics such as Belt and Road cooperation, intercultural exchanges, and mutual learning among civilizations.

Zhang said that China and Kazakhstan are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers with a shared future.

China-Kazakhstan relations have progressed by leaps and bounds since the establishment of diplomatic relations 32 years ago, reaching a historic high as a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. Their relationship sets a strong example of good neighborly cooperation on the global stage.

He noted that Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries started early with solid foundations, and has yielded tangible outcomes and far-reaching impact. China and Kazakhstan have established a multi-dimensional pattern of mutual learning among civilizations, setting a good example for increasing exchanges among civilizations and implementing the Global Civilization Initiative.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
U.S. President Biden delivers remarks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Trump's bid for immunity from federal prosecution for 2020 election subversion, in Washington

By Alexandra Alper

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration has revoked eight licenses this year that had allowed some companies to ship goods to Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei, according to a document first reported by Reuters, as it seeks to pressure the resurgent company.

The Commerce Department, which oversees U.S. export policy, said in May it had revoked "certain" licenses, as first reported by Reuters, but did not specify the name or number of suppliers that were impacted. Licenses for Qualcomm and Intel were among those revoked, Reuters reported at the time.

"Since the beginning of 2024, (the Commerce Department) has revoked eight additional licenses involving Huawei," the agency said in the document, prepared in response to an inquiry by Republican Congressman Michael McCaul.

According to the document, license approvals for Huawei include "exercise equipment and office furniture and low-technology components for consumer mass-market items, such as touchpad and touchscreen sensors for tablets," which are widely available in China from Chinese and foreign sources, the Commerce Department said.

Huawei and Qualcomm did not respond to requests for comment. Intel declined to comment. A spokesperson for the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which is chaired by McCaul, said it had received the data on Tuesday and is reviewing it.

The details shed new light on measures the Biden administration is taking to thwart Huawei, as the company has started to rebound despite Washington's efforts to cripple it on national security grounds. Huawei has denied it is a security risk.

It also comes amid pressure from Republican China hardliners in Congress to hammer the company, which shocked industry last August with a new phone powered by a sophisticated chip manufactured by Chinese chipmaker SMIC despite U.S. export restrictions on both companies.

The phone helped Huawei smartphone sales spike 64% year on year in the first six weeks of 2024, according to research firm Counterpoint. Its smart car component business has also contributed to Huawei's resurgence, with the company notching its fastest revenue growth in four years in 2023.

Huawei was placed on a U.S. trade restriction list in 2019 amid fears it could spy on Americans. Being added to the list means the company's suppliers have to seek a special, difficult-to-obtain license before shipping.

But Huawei suppliers have received licenses worth billions of dollars to sell Huawei goods and technology, thanks to a policy introduced by the Trump administration that allowed a much broader swathe of items to flow to the firm than is typical for an entity-listed company.

The summary also states that from 2018 to 2023, the agency approved $335 billion worth of licenses out of a total $880 billion applications seeking permission to sell to Chinese parties on the entity list. Of those approvals, $222 billion worth came in 2021, Biden's first year in office, out of $560 billion in applications received that year, the agency added.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Additional reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Sandra Maler)
Bill Gates Was The 'World's Richest Man' For A Record 18 Years. His Secret To Success? 'Saving Like A Pessimist, Investing Like An Optimist'

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most influential figures in the tech industry, is renowned for his business acumen and unique approach to financial management. After dropping out of college at 19, Gates cofounded Microsoft with Paul Allen, transforming it from a small startup into a global tech giant.

Don't Miss:

Gates dominated the Forbes list of the worlds wealthiest individuals from 1995 to 2017, holding the top spot for 18 out of 23 years. This unprecedented run showcases his ability to accumulate wealth and maintain and grow it over an extended period despite market fluctuations and economic challenges.

At the heart of Gates financial philosophy lies a seemingly contradictory lesson which author and psychologist Morgan Housel observed in a 2021 CNBC article: "Save like a pessimist, invest like an optimist." This maxim encapsulates his balanced approach to money management, a cornerstone of his success.

The Pessimists Safety Net

Gates pessimistic approach to saving is exemplified by a practice he implemented in Microsofts early days. He insisted on always having enough cash in the bank to keep the company running for 12 months, even if revenue dropped to zero. This conservative strategy ensured Microsofts survival during potential downturns and provided a solid foundation for growth.

In an interview with Charlie Rose, Gates reportedly expressed his concerns and the reasons for maintaining a consistent cash reserve. He stated, "I was always worried because people who worked for me were older than me and had kids, and I always thought, What if we dont get paid? Will I be able to meet the payroll?"

Trending: Want to invest in homes? $10 is enough on this platform that lets you cash out whenever you want.

The Optimists Growth Mindset

While maintaining a pessimistic approach to saving, Gates advocated for optimism in investments. He believed in the long-term potential of markets and technology, making bold bets that ultimately paid off. This optimistic outlook drove Microsofts innovation and expansion, contributing significantly to its dominant position in the tech industry.

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Housel noted Gates approach is rooted in a deep understanding of market dynamics. He believes that long-term progress is the general trend while short-term setbacks are inevitable. By preparing for immediate challenges (the pessimists view) while remaining confident in future growth (the optimists perspective), Gates created a stellar strategy for sustained success.

Anyone can apply this mindset to personal financial management:

Build an emergency fund (save like a pessimist): Aim to have 3-6 months of living expenses saved, preparing for unexpected challenges. Invest for the long term (invest like an optimist): Despite market fluctuations, maintain faith in the long-term growth potential of diversified investments. Balance risk and security: While taking calculated risks for growth, ensure a safety net to weather short-term storms. Continuous learning: Stay informed about financial markets and emerging opportunities, adapting your strategy as needed. Plan for the worst, hope for the best: Create contingency plans while working towards ambitious financial goals.

Bill Gates financial philosophy offers a valuable lesson in balancing caution and ambition. This balanced strategy, proven successful by one of the worlds most prominent business leaders, provides a road map for achieving lasting financial stability and growth.

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This article Bill Gates Was The 'World's Richest Man' For A Record 18 Years. His Secret To Success? 'Saving Like A Pessimist, Investing Like An Optimist' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Bob's Stores, a subsidiary of GoDigital Media Group, has revealed plans to close all its stores and liquidate all its inventory in the US.

The move is in line with the companys Chapter 11 restructuring petition filed on 18 June 2024.

The liquidation sale, managed by Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers, began on 28 June with discounts ranging from 30% to 70%.

The event will affect all Bob's Stores across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

Customers can expect significant reductions on workwear, footwear, team wear and everyday clothing.

The company will also offer select store fixtures, furniture and equipment.

The announcement for liquidation comes as Bob's Stores is unable to secure necessary finances to continue operations, despite aggressive restructuring efforts.

As stated in its court filing in June 2024, the retailer operated 50 stores and employed 771 people.

Bob's Stores president Dave Barton said: We regret that our financial position necessitated the liquidation of Bobs Stores. Bobs has been a stalwart of our local communities for nearly 70 years, and we know our customers remember us as having been there for major moments in their lives.

We remain grateful to our vendors, suppliers, customers and employees for all of their support over the years."

The company has announced that gift cards and merchandise credits will be honoured until the close of business on 14 July 2024.

The retailer will enable customers to make exchanges in line with its policies until the same date, but no exchanges will be accepted for purchases made after this.

"Bobs Stores confirms closures under Chapter 11 restructuring " was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
'Boots increasingly resembled some distant and forgotten outpost' - Martin Keene/PA

The sale of Boots 5bn pension fund at the end of last year was widely seen as a prelude to the retailer shaking off the dead hand of American pharmacy giant Walgreens and being revived under new owners. A return to the public markets was also on the table.

Not for the first time, it wasnt to be. The decision of Walgreens to abandon plans for an overdue exit for the second time in just two years comes as a heavy blow to one of Britains most crucial retailers.

Its bad enough that Boots cannot seem to break free of a weak owner, but the resignation of Sebastian James, Boots chief executive, just days later leaves it facing a full-blown crisis.

Walgreens insists Boots has benefited from a decade under its umbrella but a visit to your local store probably tells a different story.

In a country with an ageing population and overrun health and social care systems, Boots provides an essential service for many communities. In a world where online transactions are expected to capture more than 40pc of retail sales by 2027, according to Boston Consulting Group, it is a blessing that Boots still has more than 2,000 high street stores in the UK.

With such a vast estate it is no surprise that many of them look forlorn and outdated. My nearest one feels half abandoned, by staff and customers alike. The only signs of real life are in the long queue for the pharmacy. Service is so painfully slow and lacking in any urgency that its a wonder no one has yet expired waiting for their prescription.

Its a similar story when it comes to technology. Senior insiders acknowledge the company has been desperately slow to embrace 21st-century shopping habits. One told me privately that until fairly recently there were people on the management team that believed the internet would be a short-lived fad.

That sleepy culture has clearly held back change but the malaise at Boots owes most to chronic under-investment. The financial squeeze can be traced back to an ill-fated 2007 takeover at the hands of private equity giant KKR and Italian billionaire Stefano Pessina.

The deal was transformative but not in the way its architects promised. Boots was turned into a dividend factory that diverted billions of pounds away from the frontline. Profits were directed into the pockets of already wealthy owners and spent on servicing the loans that financed the takeover in the first place.

Yet, if the fate of Boots is a terrible indictment of the debt-fuelled buyout craze that has undermined swathes of the economy and weakened the financial system, then it should also serve as a painful reminder that disengaged ownership can be equally damaging.

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Once considered the jewel in the crown of Pessinas pharmacy empire, Boots increasingly resembled some distant and forgotten outpost after he had engineered an audacious tie-up with Walgreens in 2014, though that didnt stop its UK interests from being a source of cash.

Walgreens has reportedly extracted more than 1bn in dividends directly from Boots since taking full control in 2014. Meanwhile, the US outfit awarded itself more than $5.3bn (4.2bn) of payouts from its UK holding companies prior to and during the pandemic despite benefiting from hundreds of millions of pounds of government Covid support.

Unless Boots can escape Walgreens grasp it risks an even tighter squeeze as the struggles of its parent become more acute.

Shares in the American retailer plummeted to a 27-year low last week after it downgraded its forecasts and announced more store closures in the face of waning demand. It was this slump that prompted its U-turn on selling Boots, which performed better.

While we believe there is significant interest in Boots at the right time, its growth, strategic strength and cash flow remain key contributors to the company, Tim Wentworth, chief executive of Walgreens Boots Alliance, told Wall Street analysts.

James can point to some progress on his watch. Hundreds of the worst stores have been jettisoned and another 300 earmarked for the chop. What money has been made available is being channelled into a core estate of 400 larger stores offering both beauty and healthcare products.

Hundreds more Boots stores in struggling towns and suburbs surely do not fit the new profile, however.

Plans to grab a bigger slice of Britains booming 30bn beauty industry with a range of glitzy new make-up and skincare emporiums are exciting, yet Boots has opened just one  in Battersea.

Boots digital offering is also getting better. Its website is faster and more secure and the payment and search functions together with processing and delivery times have improved, boosting online sales.

But the traction risks being short-lived without Jamess energy and direction. Who would want to replace him knowing Walgreens bosses see it as a cash machine?

This is not just bad news for Boots, it is bad for Britain. Once upon a time, it produced some of the most promising chemists in the country, including a team who invented ibuprofen in the 1960s. That is heritage that deserves to be nurtured.

It is also one of the few remaining pillars of the high street in some struggling places. A rejuvenated Boots could be a tonic for them. The fear now is that the chains condition will only get worse.

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) - Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) has decided to suspend with immediate effect the validity of Meta's new privacy policy for the use of personal data to train generative artificial intelligence systems in the country.

ANPD's preventive measure was published in Brazil's official gazette on Tuesday and puts on hold the processing of personal data across all Meta products, including those of people who are not users of the tech giant's platforms.

The authority, an arm of Brazil's Justice Ministry, set a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,836.58) in case of non-compliance.

ANPD cited in its decision the "imminent risk of serious and irreparable or difficult-to-repair damage to the fundamental rights of affected holders."

Meta will need to adapt its privacy policy to exclude the section related to the processing of personal data for generative AI training, according to the Brazilian authority. It will also be required to present an official statement saying it suspended the processing of personal data for that purpose.

Meta said in a statement that it was "disappointed" by ANPD's decision, adding that the move represents a "setback for innovation" and will delay the arrival of AI benefits to the people of Brazil.

"We are more transparent than many players in this industry who have used public content to train their models and products," Meta said. "Our approach complies with privacy laws and regulations in Brazil."

($1 = 5.6583 reais)

(Reporting by Paula Arend Laier; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
A rendering of what the coworking space at Innovate New Albany will look like when it opens.

The city of New Albany is stepping up its efforts to help small businesses and startups.

The city has announced that it is opening Brick House Blue at Innovate New Albany. The project includes the addition of a Barry Bagels shop at the location.

Innovate New Albany is the citys incubator for technology startups, entrepreneurs and small businesses at 7775 Walton Parkway in the city's business park that opened in 2008. Government officials, area businesses, venture capitalists and others provide guidance, expertise, and services that new businesses need to succeed.

Tech Incubator

Brick House Blue, founded in 2018, is a Dublin-based company that offers coworking options, private offices, executive suites and meeting places.

As part of the plan, the city is renovating 22,000 square feet of space on the first floor at Innovate New Albany. Innovate New Albany is currently on the third floor and will move to the first floor when the work is complete, which is expected in December.

Brick House Blue will operate the space, which incudes offices, huddle rooms, a podcasting suite, refreshment stations and 24-hour access.

Brick House Blue also will manage meeting and event space that can accommodate groups of eight to more than 100 people that is available to anyone who wants space.

Together with Brick House Blue, our new coworking partner, we are excited to offer a one-of-a-kind model to help businesses accelerate growth while navigating barriers, Mayor Sloan Spalding said in a statement. Its another example of the innovation ecosystem that leverages partnerships and builds productive alliances to allow our city to attract and retain a remarkable range and caliber of companies.

We are excited to find a partner that shares our commitment to inspire individuals, teams, and organizations to discover, build, and grow, Brick House Blue founder and co-CEO Cid Rhomberg said. Our goal at Brick House Blue is to offer a collaborative work community for people of all backgrounds, from entrepreneurs and remote workers to corporate executives and New Albanys commitment to partnerships and community make it the right fit for us.

The deal with Blue will allow Innovate New Albany to expand the suite of services, and educational and training programs it offers.

Its a great opportunity to pivot and focus our attention on providing more of the programs and services that businesses need to succeed, Neil Collins, Innovate New Albany hub leader, said in a statement.

The arrival of Brick House Blue also will mark the debut of Barry Bagels. Barry Bagels, which has served bagels that are boiled and baked fresh daily since 1972, will open a lobby cafe to provide drinks, bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, salads and catering.

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mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New Albany, Brick House Blue to open space to help businesses grow
Key Insights

Build-A-Bear Workshop's estimated fair value is US$42.57 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Build-A-Bear Workshop is estimated to be 41% undervalued based on current share price of US$25.19

Analyst price target for BBW is US$39.00 which is 8.4% below our fair value estimate

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Build-A-Bear Workshop

The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$37.7m US$35.6m US$34.5m US$34.0m US$33.9m US$34.1m US$34.5m US$35.0m US$35.6m US$36.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -8.79% Est @ -5.44% Est @ -3.10% Est @ -1.45% Est @ -0.30% Est @ 0.50% Est @ 1.07% Est @ 1.46% Est @ 1.74% Est @ 1.93% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.7% US$35.0 US$30.7 US$27.7 US$25.3 US$23.5 US$21.9 US$20.6 US$19.4 US$18.3 US$17.3

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$240m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.4%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.7%.

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Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$36m (1 + 2.4%)  (7.7% 2.4%) = US$702m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$702m ( 1 + 7.7%)10= US$336m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$575m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$25.2, 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

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Build-A-Bear Workshop 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 7.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.149. 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 Build-A-Bear Workshop

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Currently debt free.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Specialty Retail market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Build-A-Bear Workshop, there are three additional aspects you should further research:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Build-A-Bear Workshop that you should be aware of. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for BBW's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. 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 NYSE 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
Even the best stock pickers will make plenty of bad investments. Unfortunately, shareholders of Burberry Group plc (LON:BRBY) have suffered share price declines over the last year. In that relatively short period, the share price has plunged 59%. We note that it has not been easy for shareholders over three years, either; the share price is down 58% in that time. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 26% in the last three months.

After losing 15% this past week, it's worth investigating the company's fundamentals to see what we can infer from past performance.

View our latest analysis for Burberry Group

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Unhappily, Burberry Group had to report a 42% decline in EPS over the last year. This reduction in EPS is not as bad as the 59% share price fall. Unsurprisingly, given the lack of EPS growth, the market seems to be more cautious about the stock. The P/E ratio of 11.40 also points to the negative market sentiment.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

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?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Burberry Group, it has a TSR of -57% for the last 1 year. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

Burberry Group shareholders are down 57% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 11%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 8% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Burberry Group better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Burberry Group that you should be aware of before investing here.

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If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: most of them are flying under the radar).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British 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
Burlington Stores, a national discount retailer known for carrying major brand names for a fraction of the price, will open a new downtown Indianapolis location this fall.

A Burlington store at Washington Square Mall on Indianapolis' east side shown on Jan. 3, 2020. The store was set to close on Jan. 24, property manager Keith Lee said.

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, will open in the basement of the Claypool Court building at 110 West Washington Street. The space previously housed the 20,000-square-foot Rhythm! Discovery Center, an interactive drum and percussion museum run by the Percussive Arts Society, which is headquartered in Indianapolis.

In December 2022, a pipe burst on the third floor of the Claypool Court building, eventually trickling down and flooding the basement floor with two to three inches of water within 45 minutes.

Joshua Simonds, executive director of the museum and society, previously told IndyStar water issues had plagued the museum since it moved there in 2009. The water break resulted in thousands of dollars in damage and led the society to move out in search of a new location.

The Rhythm! Discovery Center still does not have a new home, an employee told IndyStar Monday.

Read more: Downtown Indianapolis museum is looking for a new home after flooding damaged its building

This fall when the new Burlington moves into the museum's former home, it will be the brand's 19th location in Indiana.

Other Burlington stores in the Indianapolis metro area include Speedway, Plainfield, Castleton and U.S. 31 near Southport. A location at Washington Square Mall closed in 2020.

Alysa Guffey covers growth and development for IndyStar. Know a business closing or opening? Contact her at amguffey@gannett.com or on X/Twitter: @AlysaGuffeyNews.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: burlington store downtown indianapolis
Carrefour, operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is endorsing the adoption of sustainable alternatives in stores as it celebrates the Plastic Free July campaign.

The initiative promotes the use of durable, reusable juco bags with attractive offers and rewards, while also reducing the availability of single-use plastic bags across its stores in the country, a press release published via Zawya revealed.

To commemorate the start of Plastic Free July, Carrefour is offering a 33% discount on its durable, reusable juco bags.

Additionally, customers who bring their own reusable bags or purchase one in-store will receive five extra SHARE points.

The retailer will also offer complimentary reusable bags for those spending more than Dh40 ($11) in the fruit and vegetable section.

Starting from 3 July 2024, which coincides with International Plastic Bag Free Day, Carrefour will eliminate plastic bags entirely from all its stores every Wednesday.

This initiative aligns with the companys larger commitment to phase out plastic bags and promote sustainable shopping habits.

Carrefour is complying with the UAE government initiative to ban certain single-use plastic items from 1 June.

In addition, the retailer will start offering reusable bags that are thicker than 57 microns, in compliance with new regulations, at affordable prices to encourage the adoption of reusable alternatives.

Majid Al Futtaim Retail human capital and sustainability senior vice-president Samar Elmnhrawy said: With over 80 thousand customers entering our stores daily, we see a significant opportunity to positively impact our planet and encourage sustainable lifestyles for future generations. This Plastic Free July, we are embarking on a bigger plastic-free journey to drive awareness and inspire positive change.

Our efforts are aligned with the UAE leaderships goals to eliminate single-use plastics. We hope to create tangible results that shift customer attitudes towards more sustainable shopping behaviour for a greener future.

In its dedication to sustainability, Majid Al Futtaim Retail has already partnered with BEEAH and Sparklo through its Reverse Vending Machine initiative.

This partnership resulted in the collection of more than 20mt of recyclables and preventing the release of over 125mt of CO.

Carrefour has also seen a 70% reduction in the use of single-use plastic bags since the national ban.

"Carrefour supports Plastic Free July with sustainable bag initiatives" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.

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The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Chewy shares opened 9% higher before reversing lower after Keith Gill disclosed a big stake.

The investor known as "Roaring Kitty" investor is company's third-largest shareholder, a new filing shows.

Last week Gill spurred a brief rally in Chewy by posting an image of a dog on his X account.

Shares in the online pet retailer Chewy opened 9% higher on Monday before reversing lower after famed meme-stock trader Keith Gill unveiled a multi-million-dollar stake.

The stock fell as much as 7% at intraday lows, and had declined 6% as of 12:56 p.m. in New York.

The investor, best known as "Roaring Kitty" on social media, disclosed a 6.6% stake in the firm, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The document shows he owns just over 9 million Class A shares, worth $245 million as of Friday's closing price. Gill is now one of the company's top five largest shareholders.

The disclosure officially cements Chewy as a meme stock, given that frenetic buying around Gill's actions ignores the firm's fundamentals, Mizuho Securities said in a note.

"CHWY shares are now trading at the upper end of recent valuation parameters (>20x EV/EBITDA), despite evidence of a clear turn in underlying fundamental trends and a return to sustainable active customer growth," the firm wrote on Monday.

It suggested using the recent surge as an exit strategy.

The volatile trading in Chewy follows a gain of as much as 34% last Thursday after Gill posted a captionless dog graphic on his X account. The stock ultimately closed 0.3% lower for the session.

Gill is famous for sparking the 2021 GameStop meme rally, a trade he revived in May with a post of a person playing video games.

While that's sent the social media-favored retailer spiking 180% in past months, it's also placed Gill in hot water. On Friday, the investor was sued in a proposed class action lawsuit for allegedly leading a "pump and dump" scheme for his own gains, Bloomberg reports.

As of mid-June, he held over 9 million shares in GameStop.

13G SEC Filing related to Keith Gill's Chewy stake

In Monday's SEC filing, Gill also marked down that "I am not a cat." The line references a statement he made during congressional hearings in 2021, during GameStop's previous record frenzy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
In a diplomatic win for Beijing on Monday, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a China-led resolution that urges the international community to create a "free, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory" business environment among wealthy and developing nations for artificial intelligence development.

More than 140 nations, including the United States, co-sponsored the non-binding resolution affirming that all nations should "enjoy equal opportunities" in the non-military domain, calling for global cooperation to assist developing countries facing "unique challenges" and ensure "they will not be further left behind".

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said after the assembly session that a "fragmented approach toward AI, toward the digital technology, is not going to benefit anybody".

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He added that the resolution was proposed to "emphasize the important role that the UN could play" on AI governance as the "most inclusive organization".

Describing the significance of the measure as "great and far-reaching", the envoy noted that AI technology was advancing quickly and the "gap between the North and South, especially between the developing countries and the developed countries, is also widening".

Ambassador Fu, who served as the director-general of the department of arms control at the Chinese foreign affairs ministry from 2018 to 2022, also said that China was "very thankful, and we're very appreciative of the positive role that the US has played in this whole process".

He added that the issue of AI had been discussed at "a very senior level, at the foreign-ministers level, and also even at the head-of-state level".

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said Beijing had conferred with Washington at "a very senior level" concerning the resolution. Photo: Xinhua alt=Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said Beijing had conferred with Washington at "a very senior level" concerning the resolution. Photo: Xinhua>

"So we do look forward to intensifying our cooperation with the United States, and, for that matter, with all countries in the world on this issue," he said.

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Beijing's initiative also follows the assembly's adoption of the first global resolution on AI in March. Proposed by Washington and co-sponsored by China and over 120 nations, the measure encouraged countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data and monitor AI for potential risks.

A senior official from US President Joe Biden's administration later said that consensus had been achieved after "intense discussions" among countries with differing views.

On Monday, Ambassador Fu called the two resolutions "complementary", saying the earlier one was "more general" and the Chinese one was "more focused on the capacity building".

Beijing has sought to incorporate voices from the developing world into discussions on managing AI. In October, China released its Global AI Governance Initiative, saying that "all countries, regardless of their size, strength, or social system, should have equal rights to develop and use AI".

And during the inaugural AI safety dialogue between Beijing and Washington in Geneva in May, China advocated for "enhancing global governance of artificial intelligence" and proposed expanding the UN role.

Beijing is seen as trying to ensure that the US solely does not dominate the discourse on setting global standards for AI.

The US and China also remain locked in a competition to advance in the hi-tech fields of AI and semiconductors.

In March, Washington revised regulations further limiting China's access to US-made AI chips and chip-making tools. The export controls were initially introduced in October 2022 to prevent Beijing from leveraging American technology for military modernization. They were updated a year later to eliminate loopholes.

In another push to hobble Beijing's ability to gain cutting-edge technologies like semiconductors, quantum computing and AI, Biden signed an executive order in August 2023 banning US individuals and companies from investing in "sensitive" sectors in China.

The US Treasury Department, which is defining the restrictions in the measure, said last week that they would focus on "the next generation of military, intelligence, surveillance or cyber-enabled capabilities that pose national security risks to the United States".

On Monday, Ambassador Fu called on the US to lift the sanctions in line with the newly adopted resolution.

"If people are true to the content of this resolution, it says that it is important to foster inclusive business environment. We don't think that the US actions ... [are] along that line," he said.

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.
Swiss private equity firm Partners Group is working with China Investment Corp (CIC) and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds to curate growing investment flows as the two regions cosy up.

The Zug-based firm has long-established relationships with CIC, which has assets of US$1.35 trillion, and some of the large Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds to invest their money globally. These relationships allow the firm to understand the funds' investment objectives and find opportunities to collaborate between regions and organisations, Kevin Lu, chairman of Asia for Partners Group, said in an interview.

"We see strong and growing economic linkages between the Middle East and Asia today," Lu said. "As a trusted general partner with a long-term relationship with sovereigns on both sides, curating that investment flow is quite interesting."

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CIC, China's sovereign wealth fund established to help diversify its foreign-exchange reserves, has shown strong interest in investing in the Middle East, especially after President Xi Jinping's visit to the region in December 2022. CIC set up a US$1 billion fund earlier this year to invest in companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with the aim of eventually bringing them to the mainland China market.

State-owned investors in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - the six GCC nations - invested more than US$2.3 billion in China in 2023, compared with just US$100 million in 2022, according to data provider Global SWF. The oil-producing nations are working to diversify their economies and broaden their portfolios.

Partners Group, which has around US$150 billion of assets under management, is eyeing the opportunities brought by warming ties between the two regions. Its relationship with CIC is part of a China strategy of bringing capital in and out of the country as well as creating value for its global companies with Chinese opportunities, according to Lu.

"We own a lot of companies in the US and Europe, and many of them have an angle on China, one way or the other," Lu said. "They believe they could manufacture better, improve their supply chain or broaden their market in China. For us, China is as essential as ever because China is not just about investing in China. It's about all the other things."

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He added that CIC will continue to play a role as Partners Group's fund investor, or limited partner, and support the private equity firm in helping its assets venture into China when the business strategy makes sense, while Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, which he did not name, will work with both parties to invest.

"Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds are also interested in investing in global assets and often believe that China is the part of value creation for some of the assets," Lu said. "We could get their capital together to invest in assets globally but create value from the China angle where this makes sense for the asset."

Last week, Partners Group opened a Hong Kong office to expand its wealth-management business, adding to its 20 other global locations. Meanwhile, it has been channelling capital from China to global private equity markets, including sovereign wealth funds, central bank capital, insurance companies, and private wealth, said Lu.

Kevin Lu, Asia chairman with Partners Group. Photo: Milken Institute alt=Kevin Lu, Asia chairman with Partners Group. Photo: Milken Institute>

In 2016, Partners Group teamed up with CIC and the Canadian province of Quebec's pension fund in a 1.8 billion (US$1.9 billion) acquisition of French property management company Foncia Group from private equity firms Bridgepoint and Eurazeo.

Lu said his firm has been highly selective with investments in China itself, focusing on sectors that are "China for China", such as domestic consumption and healthcare.

Apex Logistics, casual dining chain Green Tea Restaurant, maternal and child products retailer Shanghai Aiyingshi, and retail display firm BCR Group are in its portfolio.

"We look for assets that will stay immune to geopolitical tensions and show resiliency through economic cycles," Lu said.

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.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. targeting of certain investments in artificial intelligence in China is not helpful to the "healthy development" of AI technology and will be divisive when it comes to global governance, China's U.N. envoy said on Monday.

The United States last month issued draft rules for banning or requiring notification of certain investments in artificial intelligence and other technology sectors in China that could threaten U.S. national security.

"We are firmly opposed to these sanctions," Chinese U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong told reporters after the 193-member U.N. General Assembly adopted by consensus a Chinese-drafted resolution aimed at boosting international cooperation on AI capacity-building.

The U.N resolution calls upon the international community to "provide and promote a fair, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory business environment across the life cycle of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems."

Fu said the U.S. actions do not foster an inclusive business environment and he urged Washington to reverse its decision.

"We don't believe that the U.S. government's position or decision will be helpful to the healthy development of the AI technology, per se, and will - by extension - divide the world in terms of the standards and in terms of the rules governing the AI," he said.

The U.S. Treasury Department published the proposed rules after U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order last August as part of a broader push to prevent U.S. know-how from helping the Chinese to develop sophisticated technology and dominate global markets.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Chinese and Philippine officials met to discuss the South China Sea on Tuesday, even as Beijing accused Manila of "undermining peace and stability" in the disputed waters.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed the talks - the first of their kind since January - were taking place in Manila and said he was "hoping for the best", news portal rappler.com reported.

Last week he had said he hoped talks between the two sides would help manage tensions.

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The two sides have been involved in a series of confrontations in the disputed waters this year.

These include an incident where Chinese coastguards intercepted a Philippine naval mission to resupply troops stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal on June 17, leading to clashes in which a Philippine sailor lost a thumb.

The Chinese intervention was the first since new rules came into force allowing them to carry out "boarding inspections" in waters China claims as its own.

Manila said the Chinese coastguards had been armed with machetes and knives, and Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said their actions had been "deliberate, planned and escalatory" and the "most aggressive" in recent years.

Since then the two sides have continued to trade accusations, most recently with Beijing accusing the Philippines of "undermining peace and stability" for sending supplies to a coastguard vessel stranded at Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands on Monday.

China said it had "followed and supervised the whole process" as three Philippine coastguard vessels "transferred personnel and materials" to the "illegally stranded" ship.

The coastguard statement released on Tuesday afternoon asserted Beijing's "indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters, including Xianbin Reef" - the Chinese names for the Spratly chain and the reef.

It also accused the stranded Philippine vessel of "violating China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests".

It went on to say that the Chinese coastguard would "safeguard rights and enforce the law in the waters under its jurisdiction and resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests".

The Shandong aircraft carrier has been spotted in the region. Photo: Weibo/  alt=The Shandong aircraft carrier has been spotted in the region. Photo: Weibo/ >

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Sabina Shoal - which is disputed between the two sides and Vietnam - also serves as the meeting point for Philippine vessels on resupply missions to troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a second world war vessel deliberately grounded on Second Thomas Shoal to assert Manila's territorial claims.

Second Thomas Shoal has been the scene of repeated clashes between the two sides in recent years, with Chinese coastguards regularly blocking resupply missions to the reef. Beijing is worried that these missions could be used to transfer construction materials to fortify the ageing ship and bolster the Philippine presence there.

Meanwhile, Manila has accused Beijing of attempting to create an "artificial island" at Sabina Shoal - which is 75 nautical miles (140km) from the Philippine island of Palawan.

China has rejected the claims and is concerned that the other side is trying to build an outpost on the reef.

Meanwhile, Beijing has been building up its presence in the South China Sea over the past couple of weeks.

The 12,000-tonne Ship 5901 - which is believed to be the world's largest coastguard vessel - has been spotted near Second Thomas Shoal and the Philippine-controlled Thitu island, while the Shandong aircraft carrier has been spotted around 200 nautical miles off Luzon, the country's largest island.

On Tuesday the Philippine Navy said it was "aware of" both ships.

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.
The University Hospital Centre in Zagreb, Croatia, has suffered a significant data breach, with stolen data reportedly leaked on the LockBit ransomware group's dark leak site.

This incident occurred barely a week after the hospital was targeted by a cyberattack on 27 June, reported Cybernews.com.

Local media reports indicate that the publicly funded teaching hospital, also known as KBC Zagreb, resumed online operations within 24 hours of the attack, which was carried out by the Russian-affiliated cybergang. Restoring the hospital's IT systems required the expertise of over one hundred professionals.

Hospital officials have disclosed that the cyberattack had a severe impact on their networks, leading to emergency patients being redirected to other hospitals in Zagreb. According to Croatian Radio, the facility was described as having been taken "back 50 yearsto paper and pencil". Despite the challenges, patient safety was reportedly not compromised.

"All tests can be done to some extent, but the radiological system, which is particularly dependent on information support, is perhaps the most severely affected," stated KBC Zagrebs head of Emergency Admissions professor Ivan Gornik.

Established in 1942, the University Hospital Centre is recognised as Croatia's largest medical facility. It caters to approximately 10,000 citizens daily, operating across two main campuses and three additional locations in the city. The hospital boasts 30 clinics, seven specialised institutes, over 2,000 beds, and a workforce exceeding 7,500, which includes nearly 1,000 doctors. It is also home to one of Europe's few gamma knife treatment centres.

The report from Cybernews.com revealed that LockBit claims to have stolen a vast array of files, including "medical records, patient exams and studies; doctors' research papers; surgery, organ and donor data; organ and tissue banks; employee data, addresses, phone numbers, etc.; employee legal documents; data on donations and relationships with private companies; donation book; medication reserve data; personal data breach reports and much more".

The cybergang has also allegedly uploaded a sample of 12 documents as evidence of the attack.

While the hospital has not confirmed the specifics of the data leaked, it has engaged the appropriate authorities to initiate a criminal investigation to determine the full extent of the incident's impact.

"Croatian hospitals data leaked on dark web after cyberattack" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.

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The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Ave Maria will soon be home to another large manufacturer.

On Tuesday, Barron Collier Cos. announced the sale of a 10-acre plot in the burgeoning town to Dialum, a Chilean-based glass manufacturer.

The manufacturer specializes in glass processing for commercial and residential applications. The new plant would serve as its U.S. headquarters.

The TALBA Group acted as Dialum's broker for the transaction. The choice to locate in Ave Maria followed a year-long search across the state, noted Roberto Alvarez Vela, the group's CEO.

Ave Maria emerged as the "clear winner" due to its location, the local workforce, the university  and the overall community, according to a press release by Barron Collier Cos.

Dialum, a glass manufacturer based in Chile, will build a new U.S. headquarters in Ave Maria. It has closed on the land for it.

The collaboration with Collier County's economic development team and the support of Barron Collier Cos. also influenced Dialum's final decision.

Barron Collier Cos. is the force behind the town, in partnership with Tom Monaghan, the creator of Domino's Pizza and founder of Ave Maria University.

Dialum will build a new glass manufacturing plant in Ave Maria. It has purchased 10 acres of land for it.

Plant to be built in Innovation Zone

The finishing plant for Dialum would be built within Ave Maria's Innovation Zone. The company has been awarded $1.5 million in county incentives, which would come from property taxes generated in the zone.

The county created Innovation Zones in 2010 to promote economic development and diversify the local economy by encouraging the construction of corporate headquarters and manufacturing plants. There are three such zones.

Choosing Ave Maria was an easy decision for several reasons. First is its ideal location between Miami and Tampa, and only a short, straightforward drive to Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, where shipments of glass will arrive from suppliers," said Fernando Diez Vidal, director of Dialum, in a statement.

He added: "Secondly, Collier County offered our organization a monetary incentive, through the Ave Maria Innovation Zone, and was very welcoming."

Dialums owner Don Fernando Diez in a portrait.

Under the incentive agreement, the company would receive $500,000 after the certificate of occupancy is issued, allowing for move-in. The remainder of the money would be doled out equally over the following four years.

A groundbreaking is anticipated in the first quarter of 2025. Site preparation has already begun for the $25 million, 100,000-square-foot plant.

An expansion of another 60,000 to 80,000 square feet is envisioned in the future.

Dialum would join North Naples-based medical device manufacturer Arthrex, which has also received incentives for its expansion and growth in Ave Maria, east of Naples.

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A showroom for customers

The glass plant will serve as a showroom where homeowners, window contractors and interior designers can go to see the choices and applications for themselves  and make custom orders.

A showroom is very important because people need to see, touch and try things before they buy them, Diez Vidal said.

Dialum is a family business founded in 1987 in Talcahuano, Chile.

The company's products include hurricane-resistant glass; fireproof and bulletproof glass for public buildings, banks or other high-security structures, anti-slip and shower glass for bathrooms, lacquered glass for walls and furniture, and privacy glass, commonly used for conference rooms.

In a presentation to Collier commissioners last year, Diez Vadal, shared that nearly 80% of the products Dialum is building today are for U.S. customers.

The company had been doing business in this country for more than 15 years, and the new headquarters would put it closer to some of its best customers, he explained.

The project could create 80 to 100 local jobs.

County commissioners unanimously approved the incentives for Dialum in August of last year.

During discussions, Rick LoCastro commented that the company picked a "great location," and it would be another "fantastic add" to Ave Maria, and the county.

He described the proposal as a good example of managed growth  and as the right type of growth and investment for the community "for sure."

Property records show Dialum paid $2.5 million for the land.

At its build out, Ave Maria will include up to 11,000 homes and 1.8 million square feet of retail, office and business park uses in its 5,000 acres, off Oil Well Road.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Chile-based glass manufacturer to build U.S. headquarters in Ave Maria
One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt AG (ETR:DEF).

Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

View our latest analysis for DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt

How Is ROE Calculated?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt is:

9.5% = 4.2m  44m (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

The 'return' is the yearly profit. Another way to think of that is that for every 1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn 0.10 in profit.

Does DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt Have A Good Return On Equity?

Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As is clear from the image below, DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt has a better ROE than the average (6.9%) in the Real Estate industry.

roe

That's clearly a positive. However, bear in mind that a high ROE doesnt necessarily indicate efficient profit generation. Aside from changes in net income, a high ROE can also be the outcome of high debt relative to equity, which indicates risk. To know the 3 risks we have identified for DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt visit our risks dashboard for free.

How Does Debt Impact ROE?

Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Combining DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt's Debt And Its 9.5% Return On Equity

It seems that DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt uses a huge volume of debt to fund the business, since it has an extremely high debt to equity ratio of 3.76. Most investors would need a low share price to be interested in a company with low ROE and high debt to equity.

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Conclusion

Return on equity is one way we can compare its business quality of different companies. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

If you would prefer 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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The breadth of product innovation within the beauty and cosmetics industry calls for a wide range of packaging solutions, as Berlin Packaging | Premi Industries general manager Vivien Charrey asserts.

From eyeshadow palettes to lipsticks, beauty products require packaging concepts that are both durable and malleable to protect liquid, powder and cream formulations.

Beauty and fragrance specialist Berlin Packaging | Premi Industries is developing its portfolio of beauty offerings through a central solution: refillable packaging.

Charrey dissects how refillable solutions are sating consumer demand for sustainable packaging and the research and development (R&D) that makes this possible for brands.

Beauty packaging trends

Attempting to pin down the ever-expanding segment of beauty packaging, Charrey explains that Berlin Packaging | Premi Industries has identified the key trends that will drive this segment.

As sustainability requirements emerge, there will be growing pressure to reduce packaging waste through regulations that are in the process of being drafted but will become increasingly stricter, " he says.

Secondly, the growth of e-commerce may lead to a convergence of primary and secondary packaging and to new designs that facilitate the demand for greater automation of logistics processes.

Alongside these factors, changing consumer preferences are a point of consideration within packaging development. These are increasingly driven by factors such as comfort, personalisation and value, explains Charrey. This is particularly important for hero products which are flagship products that introduce consumers to a brand.

This must be balanced alongside the increasing costs in the packaging value chain, resulting in reduced retail sales margins.

The final trend is technologies such as AI, which Charrey affirms can simplify the entire packaging design process and help companies in reducing material waste, thanks to a precise monitoring of design and material selection phases.

Refillable solutions have a role to play in each of these industry trends by reducing material waste, increasing customer loyalty and imposing consistency in packaging R&D.

Refillable packaging R&D

Berlin Packaging | Premi Industries is seeing increased demand from brands to promote packaging reuse and reduce material usage and emissions, Charrey says.

The company has invested heavily in R&D and production units to aid the development of its refillable beauty solutions.

For fragrances, its Euphoria collection of refillable glass bottles and the Refill Twist cap are aimed at helping consumers easily and safely reuse perfume bottles.

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The Double Glass Refill & Go is targeted towards premium skincare and makeup segments and the Luxe Refill allows consumers to reuse the outer glass jar and its accessories, while the glass mouth design houses mono-material PP (polypropylene).

Design is crucial to determining success

As Charrey confirms: In recent years, we are experiencing a change in packaging from a simple container to a real selling point, so the design is crucial in determining the success of a product.

The company uses its "design consciousness" principle which targets the lowest environmental impact possible. But what does the R&D process look like?

Several departments are involved. We evaluate and manage each project with a comprehensive approach: product design of primary and secondary packaging, design engineering, rapid and high-level prototyping, branding and graphic design, explains Charrey.

Berlin Packaging | Premi Industries business model maximises the entire product creation value chain.

Additionally, as a hybrid packaging supplier, Charrey clarifies that our independence from any specific material or production process grants us the freedom to continually seek the best solutions.

At Luxe Pack Monaco 2023, the companys EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region and chief marketing officer Dario Bassetti told Packaging Gateway that the company is material agnostic.

This allows for refillable solutions to be implemented using any kind of substrate: glass, plastic, metal or flexibles.

The modern consumer is increasingly aware of sustainability

Charrey explains that some beauty brands are afraid to adopt refillable solutions due to consumers potentially misunderstanding how the packaging works.

This fear is based around price positioning and product management becoming more complex. We resolve this with different packaging proposals and see it as an opportunity to work on product innovation.

Despite these potential challenges, the key draw of offering refillable packaging is the boost it gives to a brands sustainability credentials.

The modern consumer is increasingly becoming aware of packaging sustainability and the attention that beauty companies pay to their environmental impact. In order to retain their loyalty, a real commitment to sustainable solutions is required, and there is no doubt that refillable and reusable solutions are playing a major role in increasing consumer engagement, concludes Charrey.

"Diving into refillable beauty with Berlin Packaging" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Legarda commends Angara's appointment as the new DepEd chief

Senator Loren Legarda today commended the appointment of Senator Sonny Angara as the new Education Secretary. She highlighted Angara's dedication and efficiency, emphasizing his commitment to addressing the needs and welfare of the Filipino youth.

Angara, whose second six-year term as senator expires in 2025, will succeed Vice President Sara Duterte for the post.

"I would like to congratulate Senator Sonny Angara, our new Department of Education Secretary! With a strong educational background and significant contributions as the Commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), his leadership promises a bright future for Philippine education," Legarda said.

"Senator Sonny is one of the most hardworking and efficient senators our country has ever had," she added.

The two share a common bond as they have both served as chairpersons of the important Senate Committee on Finance, which helps determine the yearly National Budget.

Both Legarda and Angara are also staunch supporters of local arts and culture, helping pass important legislation that has improved the cultural movement in the country.

They pushed for the improvement of the livelihood of many Filipinos seeking to better their lives through honest work.

Legarda expounded that her fellow lawmaker had significantly improved the state of education in the country with laws such as the Ladderized Education Act, the Open Learning and Distance Education Act, the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, among others.

"I am confident that Senator Angara will drive progress and innovation, ensuring a promising future for all Filipino students," remarked Legarda.

"Congratulations, Senator Sonny Angara! We wish you great success in your new role."
The Indian market has shown robust performance, climbing 1.1% in the last week and achieving a notable 44% increase over the past year, with earnings projected to grow by 16% annually. In such a thriving environment, stocks like Dixon Technologies India, which feature high insider ownership, are particularly compelling as they often signal strong confidence from those who know the company best.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In India

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Archean Chemical Industries (NSEI:ACI) 22.9% 28.9% Pitti Engineering (BSE:513519) 33.6% 28.0% Shivalik Bimetal Controls (BSE:513097) 19.5% 28.7% Rajratan Global Wire (BSE:517522) 19.8% 33.5% Dixon Technologies (India) (NSEI:DIXON) 24.9% 33.7% Jupiter Wagons (NSEI:JWL) 11.1% 27.2% Paisalo Digital (BSE:532900) 16.3% 23.8% JNK India (NSEI:JNKINDIA) 23.8% 31.8% Chalet Hotels (NSEI:CHALET) 13.1% 27.6% Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (NSEI:APOLLOHOSP) 10.4% 33.2%

Click here to see the full list of 84 stocks from our Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Underneath we present a selection of stocks filtered out by our screen.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Dixon Technologies (India) Limited specializes in providing electronic manufacturing services across India, with a market capitalization of approximately 74.47 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is generated from various segments including Home Appliances at 12.05 billion, Security Systems at 6.33 billion, Lighting Products at 7.87 billion, Mobile & EMS Division at 109.19 billion, and Consumer Electronics & Appliances at 41.48 billion.

Insider Ownership: 24.9%

Dixon Technologies, a key player in India's electronics manufacturing sector, has demonstrated robust growth with a significant 33.7% annual earnings increase expected to outpace the broader Indian market. This growth is supported by strong revenue projections at 23.3% annually, also above market trends. Despite no recent insider trading activity, the company's high forecasted return on equity of 30.2% suggests efficient management and potential for sustained profitability. Recent strategic moves include a MOU with Acerpure India for manufacturing consumer appliances, indicating expansion and diversification efforts.

NSEI:DIXON Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

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Overview: Info Edge (India) Limited, with a market cap of 895.00 billion, operates as an online classifieds company in sectors including recruitment, matrimony, real estate, and education both in India and internationally.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through recruitment solutions and real estate services, amounting to 18.80 billion and 3.51 billion respectively.

Insider Ownership: 37.9%

Info Edge (India) has shown a promising turnaround, transitioning from a net loss to a net income of INR 603.89 million in Q4 2024, with annual revenue rising to INR 29.50 billion. This growth is supported by earnings forecasted to outpace the Indian market significantly over the next few years. Despite this, the company's return on equity is expected to remain low at 5.9% in three years, suggesting potential efficiency challenges ahead. Recent insider activity shows more buying than selling, indicating confidence from those closest to the company.

NSEI:NAUKRI Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Persistent Systems Limited, with a market cap of 660.48 billion, operates globally offering software products, services, and technology solutions in India and North America.

Operations: The company generates revenue from three primary segments: Healthcare & Life Sciences (20.88 billion), Software, Hi-Tech and Emerging Industries (45.95 billion), and Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) at 31.39 billion.

Insider Ownership: 34.3%

Persistent Systems, a key player in India's tech sector, demonstrates robust growth with high insider ownership, signaling strong confidence from those closest to the company. Recently, Persistent launched GenAI Hub to enhance enterprise AI applications, reflecting its innovative edge and commitment to growth despite recent executive resignations. While its revenue grows at 13.4% annuallyoutpacing the Indian marketits earnings are also set to rise by 18.5% per year. However, it's worth noting that this growth rate does not exceed 20%, which may temper expectations for some investors seeking very rapid expansion.

NSEI:PERSISTENT Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024

Next Steps

Take a closer look at our Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership list of 84 companies by clicking here.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include NSEI:DIXON NSEI:NAUKRI and NSEI:PERSISTENT

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - A Delaware judge rebuffed a request by GSK and other drugmakers to appeal a ruling allowing more than 70,000 lawsuits claiming that the heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer to go forward.

The ruling by Judge Vivian Medinilla of the Delaware Superior Court means that the drugmakers, which also include Pfizer, Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim, will have to ask the Delaware Supreme Court directly for permission to appeal. GSK said it already submitted its appeal to that court.

If the state high court declines to take the appeal, it will clear the way for the Zantac lawsuits to go to trial.

"Judge Medinilla resoundingly rejected GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, and Sanofi's attempt to end run around the jury system in Delaware," said Jennifer Moore, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

GSK in a statement said "the scientific consensus remains that there is no consistent or reliable evidence that ranitidine increases the risk of any cancer." Ranitidine is the active ingredient in the now discontinued drug.

Lawsuits began piling up after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020 asked manufacturers to pull the drug off the market over concerns that ranitidine could degrade into a cancer-causing chemical called NDMA over time or when exposed to heat.

The drugmakers say Medinilla should have kept the plaintiffs from introducing expert testimony that Zantac can cause cancer, as a federal judge did in 2022 in about 50,000 claims centralized in Florida.

The plaintiffs' cases depend on that testimony, and cannot go to trial without it.

Industry groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce backed the drugmakers' appeal in a filing last month, saying letting Medinilla's ruling stand had relaxed the standards for evidence in the traditionally business-friendly state and threatened to turn it into "a hotbed of products-liability and mass-tort litigation."

Medinilla wrote on Monday that she had not adopted a different standard from the Florida federal judge, but simply reached a different conclusion about the evidence in the case.

First approved in 1983, Zantac became the world's best-selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first to top $1 billion in annual sales. It was originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK and later sold successively to other companies.

The vast majority of pending cases are in Delaware. Only one case, against GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim in Illinois, has gone to trial, ending in a victory for the companies last month.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
While Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE:EXP) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 19% in the last quarter. But in stark contrast, the returns over the last half decade have impressed. Indeed, the share price is up an impressive 145% in that time. Generally speaking the long term returns will give you a better idea of business quality than short periods can. Only time will tell if there is still too much optimism currently reflected in the share price.

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 Eagle Materials

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Over half a decade, Eagle Materials managed to grow its earnings per share at 24% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 20% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

This free interactive report on Eagle Materials' earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Eagle Materials, it has a TSR of 151% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

Eagle Materials shareholders gained a total return of 16% during the year. But that return falls short of the market. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 20% over five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. 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. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Eagle Materials that you should be aware of.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: many of them are unnoticed AND have attractive valuation).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted AstraZeneca's marketing authorisation application for sipavibart as Covid-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis (preventive treatment) in immunocompromised patients, under an accelerated assessment approach.

A long-acting antibody, sipavibart has been designed to neutralise the spike protein interaction with the ACE2 receptor, providing protection from Omicron and other ancestral viral variants.

Licensed from RQ Biotechnology in May 2022, the antibody has been developed to safeguard immunocompromised individuals from Covid-19. These patients are at a heightened risk of severe outcomes from the disease.

The EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) granted sipavibart an accelerated assessment due to its potential for public health and as a therapeutic innovation.

The submission for sipavibart is based on the positive outcomes from the Phase III SUPERNOVA clinical trial.

This international, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial analysed the efficacy and safety of sipavibart versus control (tixagevimab/cilgavimab or placebo).

The variants of Covid-19 observed during the trial included several different SARS-CoV-2 strains.

Sipavibart prevented symptomatic Covid-19 in immunocompromised individuals versus the control group.

AstraZeneca is also engaging with other regulatory bodies to discuss potential authorisation or approval pathways for sipavibart.

AstraZeneca vaccines and immune therapies executive vice-president Iskra Reic stated: Immunocompromised patients currently have no options for Covid-19 protection in Europe beyond vaccination, which often is not sufficient to protect them against serious Covid-19 outcomes.

We are pleased that the EMA has accepted this regulatory submission with an accelerated assessment procedure and will work to bring sipavibart to these highly vulnerable patients.

"EMA fast-tracks review of AstraZenecas sipavibart to stop Covid" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
BERLIN  The European Unions lending arm and NATOs venture capital fund will share information and work more closely together to support small and midsized companies across the continent that focus on security and defense, the organizations announced Tuesday.

Under a memorandum of understanding, signed July 2, the European Investment Fund and the NATO Innovation Fund will set expectations for closer cooperation well into the future, including sharing know-how and raising awareness about potential investments, according to an information sheet the European Investment Bank provided to Defense News.

The document also noted the two funds will also exchange information with the European Commission, when relevant.

However, the memorandum does not refer to joint investments, a European Investment Bank spokesperson told Defense News. Both parties will continue to fund projects separately and for their respective member states  24 countries in the NATO group and 28 in the EU organization.

Founded by the alliance in 2023, the NATO Innovation Fund is an ostensibly stand-alone organization backed by two dozen member states. All NIF countries are located in Europe, but four  Turkey, Norway, Iceland and the U.K.  are not EU members.

The fund has up to 1 billion (U.S. $1.1 billion) to disburse, and it focuses on deep tech, which includes artificial intelligence, quantum computing and robotics. The NIFs relationship with NATO as a whole helps the funds stakeholders find potential buyers of innovations among alliance members.

The European Investment Bank, jointly owned by EU member states, supports businesses on the continent with several financial products, including loans. Through its European Investment Fund, the bank claims to have helped 2 million European small businesses access capital over the past 30 years. The fund aims to generate about 145 billion in investments for businesses, according to its website.

Financing for Europes security and defense industry is among the EIB groups strategic priorities, the bank said in a news release ahead of Tuesdays signing. Some prioritized sectors included reconnaissance, spectrum control, cybersecurity, infrastructure and mobility, the bank added.

[Partnering with] the NATO Innovation Fund affirms the EIB Groups commitment to step up its support for Europes security and defense industry, said Robert De Groot, EIBs vice president.

He added that recent revisions to the banks lending policies to allow for more security-oriented companies to receive European funding are already bearing fruit. A few weeks ago, we announced the financing of dual-use satellites in Poland and the dual-use upgrade and expansion of a Danish port, he said.

Story continues

Russias attack on Ukraine has driven the EU to flex its economic muscle in the military tech space. Key institutions, including the EIB, have revised lending rules and announced fresh strategic priorities to facilitate money going to companies that work on primarily defense-related projects.

Not all EU states are NATO members, although Sweden and Finland recently joined the alliance. Still, the bloc and alliance communicate regularly to discuss common interests. Despite the EU having its collective defense mechanism, the blocs treaty specifies NATO as the primary means for collective self-defense for those countries who are members in both organizations.
(Bloomberg) -- A former jet-setting Chicago billionaire was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for a $1 billion fraud at an advertising startup that included investors such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Google parent Alphabet Inc. and Illinois Governor JB Pritzkers venture capital firm.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Rishi Shah, 38, the co-founder of Outcome Health, which provided ads on TVs in doctors offices, was convicted of more than a dozen fraud and money laundering charges by a federal jury last year. He and two other Outcome executives were sentenced last week in Chicago by US District Judge Thomas Durkin, the US Attorneys Office said in a statement Monday.

Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence, describing Shah as the driving force behind a dizzying array of lies to clients, lenders, investors and an audit firm. He and the other executives were accused of lying to pharmaceutical company clients and taking money for ads that were never placed, and then misrepresenting the health of the company to investors.

Before the fraud was revealed in a 2017 Wall Street Journal article, Shah was a budding star in Democratic circles. Shah got the idea for Outcome  then known as Context Media Health  in 2006 while he was a student at Northwestern University just north of Chicago, and the companys rapid rise over the next decade boosted his public profile. Then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel declared at a company press conference, as Outcome goes, so goes Chicago.

Oversold Ads

But Outcomes claims of exponential revenue growth were driven by fraud, as the company sold more ads than it could broadcast and lied to clients like pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk A/S about the size of its network of TVs in doctors offices, according to prosecutors and securities regulators.

The companys surge in cash from ad sales and financings allowed Shah to extract hundreds of millions of dollars from Outcome to live a lavish lifestyle, with weekend trips on private yachts and jets as well as a $10 million home, the government said. After raising more money from lenders and investors based on bogus financial statements in 2016, Shahs net worth was reported at more than $4 billion, prosecutors said.

Outcomes former executives deceived their clients, their auditor, their lenders, and their investors for years, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, said in the statement. Their sentences should serve as yet another reminder that faking it until you make it is not an acceptable practice for any business.

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Shah told the judge last week in a prepared statement that he was ashamed and embarrassed by his failure to properly manage the companys aggressive push for growth, which led to a number of fatal mistakes that included not tracking the delivery of ads paid for by clients.

The culture I created permissioned people on my team to think it was okay to create false data in response to client questions, he said in the statement, which was filed with the court.

Shah was convicted in April 2023 along with Outcome President and co-founder Shradha Agarwal and Chief Financial Officer Brad Purdy. Prosecutors had sought 10-year sentences for Agarwal, 38, and Purdy, 35. But Durkin sentenced Agarwal to three years in a half-way house and Purdy got two years and three months in prison.

A group of funds, including those owned by Goldman, Alphabet and Pritzker, were among the investors that sued Outcome in 2017, claiming fraud tied to a $487.5 million fundraising that year that led to a $225 million dividend pocketed by Shah and Agarwal.

In addition, the US Securities and Exchange Commission sued Shah, Agarwal, Purdy and former chief growth officer Ashik Desai, claiming they used false financial statements to raise cash. Desai and two other Outcome employees pleaded guilty to charges before the criminal trial against the companys top executives.

The criminal case is US v. Shah, 19-cr-00864, US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
As the United Kingdom braces for heightened market volatility ahead of the July 4 election, with recent economic indicators showing a mixed bag of results, investors are closely monitoring small-cap stocks for potential opportunities. In this context, understanding what constitutes a good stock can be crucial, especially when insider actions suggest confidence in the undervalued segments of the market.

Top 10 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying In The United Kingdom

Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Stelrad Group 9.2x 0.5x 45.21%  Ultimate Products 10.3x 0.8x 12.97%  Norcros 7.5x 0.5x 44.81%  THG NA 0.4x 43.03%  Bytes Technology Group 28.3x 6.4x 17.25%  CVS Group 21.6x 1.2x 40.48%  J D Wetherspoon 21.2x 0.4x -57.95%  Savills 36.6x 0.7x 28.30%  Robert Walters 20.8x 0.3x 37.76%  Hochschild Mining NA 1.7x 38.65% 

Click here to see the full list of 36 stocks from our Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying screener.

Here's a peek at a few of the choices from the screener.

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Polar Capital Holdings is a specialist, investment management company with a market capitalization of approximately 0.56 billion.

Operations: The Investment Management Business generates revenue primarily through management fees, evidenced by a consistent gross profit margin averaging approximately 92.5% over recent periods. Notably, operating expenses have been managed within a range of 90 million to 120 million in the latest fiscal quarters.

PE: 13.7x

Polar Capital Holdings, a distinguished player among UK's smaller companies, recently affirmed its commitment to shareholder returns by maintaining its dividend at 46.0 pence. With a revenue jump to 197.59 million and net income rising to 40.79 million for the fiscal year ending March 2024, their financial health appears robust. Insider confidence is evidenced by recent strategic appointments, enhancing governance and potentially steering future growth. This trajectory is supported by an earnings forecast projecting an annual growth of nearly 12%, positioning Polar Capital as a compelling entity in its sector with promising prospects.

AIM:POLR Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Assura is a healthcare real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, operation, and development of primary care facilities across the UK, with a market capitalization of approximately 1.76 billion.

Story continues

Operations: The business generates revenue primarily through its core operations, with a consistent gross profit margin averaging approximately 92.4% over recent years. Notably, the company has managed to maintain high gross profitability despite fluctuations in net income margins due to varying non-operating expenses.

PE: -41.7x

Recently, Assura has demonstrated notable insider confidence with strategic share purchases, underscoring the belief in its growth prospects. This aligns with their recent formation of a 250 million joint venture aimed at enhancing NHS infrastructure, reflecting a robust commitment to long-term value creation. Despite a challenging year with a net loss reduction to 28.8 million from 119.2 million, the company's revenue growth and forward-looking initiatives like this partnership indicate potential for substantial development in the healthcare sector.

LSE:AGR Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Robert Walters is a professional recruitment consultancy operating globally, with a focus on placing candidates in specialist sectors, and has a market capitalization of approximately 407 million.

Operations: Robert Walters and its division, Resource Solutions, generated revenues of 836 million and 228.1 million respectively. The company's gross profit margin has demonstrated a trend of fluctuation, with a notable figure of 36.43% in the most recent period reported.

PE: 20.8x

Recently, insider confidence in Robert Walters has been demonstrated through share purchases, signaling a strong belief in the company's prospects. Despite relying entirely on external borrowinga higher risk funding methodRobert Walters is poised for growth with earnings expected to rise by 29% annually. However, its profit margins have dipped from 3.6% to 1.3% over the past year. At its latest AGM, a dividend of 0.17 per share was affirmed, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns amidst challenging conditions.

LSE:RWA Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Make It Happen

Get an in-depth perspective on all 36 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying by using our screener here.

Invested in any of these stocks? Simplify your portfolio management with Simply Wall St and stay ahead with our alerts for any critical updates on your stocks.

Join a community of smart investors by using Simply Wall St. It's free and delivers expert-level analysis on worldwide markets.

Ready For A Different Approach?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include AIM:POLR LSE:AGR and LSE:RWA.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
BANGKOK, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The first order of the Hi-MO X6 Ultra Black solar module in the Thai market has been signed, marking a new step for LONGi's high-end solar module in Thailand.

Treerat Sirichantaropas, CEO of NEPS, expressed his confidence in this cooperation. "NEPS and LONGi share the same vision for renewable energy. This is about more than just renewable energy; it's also about the aesthetics, quality, and technological innovation of the building. High-end, beautiful solar modules make residential and office spaces more attractive. LONGi is recognized as one of the world's most innovative and technologically advanced solar module manufacturers, but Thai consumers may only be familiar with common solar modules. Therefore, NEPS is glad to introduce the first Ultra Black Solar Module in Thailand."

With HPBC ultra-black cell and low-reflective textured technology, Ultra Black is equipped with excellent power generation capabilities that can not only meet the growing electricity demand but also effectively address the challenge provoked by rising power costs in Thailand, reducing energy expenses for households and companies. The rougher surface of the fold pattern creates a deeper light-trapping structure, increasing light absorption by 1.2% and achieving high efficiency in photovoltaic conversion.

Thailand is characterized by high temperature and humidity all year round, Hi-MO X6 Ultra Black, with a power temperature coefficient of -0.29%/, can ensure stable power generation under different temperature conditions and has significant gains compared to conventional modules.

The first order in the Thai high-end market is not only a recognition of LONGi's advanced solar technology and brand strength, but also a practice of green energy transition.

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world's leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.

Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com

Cision

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SOURCE LONGi
Ford has said it expects to launch a $30,000 EV that could be profitable in about two and a half years, news agencies report.

The comments were made by its CEO Jim Farley during the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado.

The automaker did not provide any further details on the vehicle, according to CNBC.

In April, Mr Farley had hinted at the automaker's expectations of being profitable in the $25,000 to $30,000 range for EVs.

Ford did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment.

Mr Farley said Ford is first focusing on smaller EVs instead of larger all-electric trucks and SUVs, which have historically been gas-powered profit engines for the company, because such vehicles are never going to make money, according to CNBC.

"Ford expects moneymaking $30,000 EV by 2027" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Georgia has achieved a 9.3% economic growth in the first five months of 2024, leading among EU membership candidates and surpassing the growth rates within the EU, announced Shalva Papuashvili, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, on the X social network.Papuashvili highlighted that Georgia also ranks first among candidate countries in international ratings of the rule of law and perception of corruption."According to the indicator of five months of 2024, the economic growth of Georgia is 9.3%. Georgia is the first in terms of economic growth, compared to both EU membership candidates and the EU itself," wrote Papuashvili.He emphasized the government's focus on building democratic institutions and improving citizens' welfare. "Building democratic and effectively functioning institutions and increasing the welfare of citizens is the main concern of our government. The facts speak for themselves - Georgia is a leader among the candidates for EU membership, both in terms of economic growth and institutional development," Papuashvili added.Tina Bokuchava, Chairwoman of the United National Movement, participated in the 31st annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest, delivering a speech that addressed the pressing issues of human rights in Georgia's occupied regions.During the plenary session, which included a debate on the influence of Russia in Moldova and Ukraine, Bokuchava drew attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in the regions of Georgia occupied by Russia."Bokuchava also noted that together with Ukraine and Moldova, Georgia was once an advanced country on the path to European integration in the so-called Associated Trio," stated the press service of the National Movement. "However, the Georgian government has endangered the aspiration of the Georgian people towards the European Union, although the Georgian people loudly and clearly declare that they belong to Europe."
By Nora Eckert

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor (F) is trying to get more of its managers to buy electric vehicles, according to an internal email the automaker sent last week that was reviewed by Reuters.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based company changed a leasing program it offers to eligible current and former managers, now requiring them to order an electric Mustang Mach-E SUV or F-150 Lightning pickup if they wish to lease a supplemental vehicle. Workers are allowed a set number of leased vehicles, typically one to two, depending on their management level, before ordering a supplemental car.

This is the first time Ford has restricted employees to buying EVs for the supplemental lease program, a company spokesman said.

"By encouraging our employees to drive an electric vehicle through the optional program, they can learn firsthand how easy it is and better share their experiences with friends and family  a key way to increase familiarity with new technology," the spokesman said.

Ford has thousands of managers, but the company declined to say how many would be affected by the policy change. Vehicles leased by Ford managers count as a sale for the automaker.

Sales of the F-150 Lightning have come in slower than Ford CEO Jim Farley initially projected. After twice expanding production capacity for the F-150 Lightning plant and adding a third shift to the facility, Ford halved production of the electric truck earlier this year.

Farley expected the plant to churn out trucks at a 150,000-vehicle annualized run rate, before walking back those goals over the last year. Ford sold about 24,000 Lightnings in 2023 and about 41,000 Mach-E SUVs the same year.

Ford slashed prices of the Mach-E and Lightning several times since early 2023 to spur demand and compete with price cuts made by EV leader Tesla.

While the growth rate for EVs has slowed, demand for hybrids has soared. Sales of Ford hybrids increased 25.3% in 2023 over the year-ago period, outpacing the sales growth of EVs, which logged a 17.9% increase over the same timeframe. Ford is set to release first-half sales results Wednesday.

Farley has increasingly emphasized his focus on hybrid production in recent months, saying these vehicles will be a substantial part of Ford's portfolio for the foreseeable future.

If employees are driving a supplemental lease vehicle different from the two EVs Ford designated, they must return their vehicle or purchase it by May 15, 2025 the email sent to managers said.

(Reporting by Nora Eckert; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
Fayetteville State University's Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business Hub has helped to launch numerous businesses, generating jobs and opportunities for people in Fayetteville and surrounding areas since its inception in September 2022.

Tamara Colvin, executive director of the business hub at Bronco Square, across Murchison Road from Fayetteville State Universitys main campus, said that the 6,500-square-foot hub has evolved into a "one-stop shop" where members of the community can receive essential tools and training needed to start and maintain a business. She added that in less than two years since opening, the hub has helped create 71 new businesses, adding more than 490 new jobs in Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson and Scotland counties. Colvin could not provide examples of these businesses due to confidentiality reasons.

"We have become a support system for these small businesses to be able to grow and thrive," Colvin said Wednesday.

More: Fayetteville State University launches 'first-of-its-kind' entrepreneur and business hub

A Women in Construction Summit event was held in March at the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business Hub.

Small business counseling

Colvin said the business hub is not an incubator, as they have resource partners that assist businesses inside the hub, such as the Veterans Business Outreach Center and Small Business Technology Development Center. Instead, through its small business advisers and counselors, the hub assists new business owners by helping them navigate paperwork, credentials, certifications and general questions they may have.

"Since the start of the hub in September of 2022, we have helped over 71 new businesses launch throughout our region, and those businesses are very diverse, from consulting services, manufacturing companies, construction, to hair salons and restaurants," Colvin said.

Colvin said that most residents hear about the hub and its services through the events they organize, such as "how to access more capital" and events centered around learning how to work with the government. She added that many attendees visit an event and are then encouraged to sign up for a counseling appointment for a one-on-one training or counseling session, providing an opportunity to get started with individualized advice at no cost to them.

Tamara Colvin is the executive director of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business Hub.

"A lot of times in how they reach out to us, is from a one-on-one training that they saw on our website or through other partnerships that we have ... and that's how they have the opportunity to get started ... or if they're an existing business or whatever interest that they have on expanding or growing that existing business," Colvin said.

Fayetteville State University's Chancellor Darell T. Allison said last week that the business hub was formerly the FSU bookstore and was converted into what it is today through university investments.

"We wanted to do our part for those budding small business leaders and entrepreneurs that want to make a living here in Fayetteville-Cumberland and the Sandhills region, that we can help them in that regard," Allison said.

Cumberland County and the City of Fayetteville matched the university's $250,000 investment, enabling the university to secure a $1 million allocation from the state of North Carolina for the hub.

"We wanted to make sure that every citizen that is looking to start a business or grow their business, whether it be in Cumberland or the nine surrounding counties in the Sandhills region, that this hub is there for them," Allison said.

The Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business Hub hosted a business networking event for veterans on Feb. 6, 2024.

Is there a cost to use the Hub?

The business hub offers its resources free of charge to residents within the listed counties, due to government funding.

"Taxpayer dollars have paid for this service to allow them to not have to pay a fee to attend either our training sessions or have a consultation with our small business advisers and counselors," Colvin said.

She said that the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business Hub offers a curriculum called Contractor's College that provides contractors with the necessary tools and resources to apply for and execute government contracts. Colvin said that the hub also provides HUD certification classes and financial literacy classes to help residents improve and increase their credit scores, enabling them to access capital for new equipment, hire employees and purchase supplies to grow their businesses.

"Here at the hub, we want to help foster economic prosperity for our community through investing in our small businesses to help them create jobs and generational wealth," Colvin said.

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: How many jobs has the Fayetteville-Cumberland Business Hub created?
Can You Guess How Much Billionaires Contribute To Charitable Causes? It's Less Than You Think

There's certainly no shortage of billionaires today, with Forbes revealing that there are 2,781 billionaires in the world in 2024. But while there are more billionaires worldwide, they're also much more stingy. Here are some surprising facts about how much some of the wealthiest billionaires give away to charity.

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Forbes has revealed its list of the stingiest billionaires, and the names might shock you. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk are currently running for the title of World's Stingiest Billionaire. Bezos and Musk are worth big bucks and are known for their ongoing feud. The latest fight between the two billionaires is the space race between Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX. But now, these billionaires are fighting for another title, one they don't even know they're competing in.

Despite the surging of the stock market post-COVID-19 pandemic, Forbes has discovered that the wealthy have slowed down on their charitable giving, especially Musk and Bezos. To summarize their findings, the clever folks at Forbes have categorized their findings into five tiers of charitable giving: less than 1%, between 1% and 5%, between 5% and 10%, between 10% and 20%, and 20% or higher. Bezos and Musk are in the 1% tier, meaning they have only donated about 1% of their wealth to charity. So Musk, who is worth $195 billion and Bezos, who is worth $194 billion, are some of the world's wealthiest and stingiest people. This ranking has not included any private foundations or donor-advised funds.

Trending: Gen Z and Millennial millionaires couldn't care less for stocks and bonds  Here's what they're buying instead.

Business Insider reported that earlier in the year, Bezos did make a generous donation of $400 million in gifts to Van Jones, the Smithsonian and Jose Andres. He also pledged a further $865 million to fight climate change, just a tiny fraction of the $22 billion he made in a year. Forbes explained that if the median American household donated $1,200 to charity throughout their life span, this would still be more generous than Bezos and Musk.

Musk has always had a rocky relationship with donating his money to charitable causes. For example, the New York Times analyzed the billionaire Musk Foundation's record of donations and failed to find anything to justify the tax breaks gained from the foundation. CNN Business reported that the analysis revealed that the foundation is "haphazard and largely self-serving," and has "failed in recent years to give away the bare minimum required by law."

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So what about the billionaires who donate a good portion of their wealth? While Musk and Bezos may be particularly stringent in sharing their money, others like Bill Gates and George Soros are known to be some of the most generous donors. Fox News reported on Forbes list of the most generous billionaires, and Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, holds the title of being the most generous. Buffett, with a net worth of $133 billion, focuses on charities dealing with health and poverty alleviation. So far, the billionaire has given away $56.7 billion within his lifetime. In second place is Bill Gates and his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has a total donation of $42.5 billion. George Soros, a hedge fund founder, has a lifetime donation amount of $21 billion, more than his net worth of $6.7 billion. When you compare these figures with two of the world's wealthiest men, it's clear that Musk and Bezos have some serious catching up to do.

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By Carolina Mandl

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global hedge funds in June sold U.S. shares of technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) companies at the fastest pace since 2016, mainly driven by semiconductor stocks, Goldman Sachs said in note.

The sales could indicate that portfolio managers have become more bearish on tech stocks, after the sector's powerful rally in the first half of the year, although the note does not provide any reason behind the trend.

The bank, which compiles its clients' positioning for the data, said semiconductor and software were the top two most sold sectors in June, while hedge funds increased their allocation to tech hardware and electronic equipment.

Tech stocks led the S&P 500 index's strong performance in the first half of the year, with artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia up 150% and generating 30% of the index's 15% return.

Overall, Goldman Sachs said hedge funds net sold global equities for a third straight month, almost entirely driven by short sellers who borrowed shares to sell on bets that the price will decline, enabling them to buy them back for less.

"This month's notional net selling was the largest since June 2022," the bank said in the note.

(Reporting by Carolina Mandl in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Everest Group (NYSE:EG). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.

See our latest analysis for Everest Group

How Quickly Is Everest Group Increasing Earnings Per Share?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. Everest Group's shareholders have have plenty to be happy about as their annual EPS growth for the last 3 years was 46%. That sort of growth rarely ever lasts long, but it is well worth paying attention to when it happens.

It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. The music to the ears of Everest Group shareholders is that EBIT margins have grown from 7.9% to 17% in the last 12 months and revenues are on an upwards trend as well. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our book.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. For finer detail, click on the image.

In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Everest Group's forecast profits?

Are Everest Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Insider interest in a company always sparks a bit of intrigue and many investors are on the lookout for companies where insiders are putting their money where their mouth is. Because often, the purchase of stock is a sign that the buyer views it as undervalued. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions.

The US$380k worth of shares that insiders sold during the last 12 months pales in comparison to the US$1.4m they spent on acquiring shares in the company. We find this encouraging because it suggests they are optimistic about Everest Group'sfuture. We also note that it was the Executive VP & Group CFO, Mark Kociancic, who made the biggest single acquisition, paying US$349k for shares at about US$349 each.

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Along with the insider buying, another encouraging sign for Everest Group is that insiders, as a group, have a considerable shareholding. We note that their impressive stake in the company is worth US$229m. Holders should find this level of insider commitment quite encouraging, since it would ensure that the leaders of the company would also experience their success, or failure, with the stock.

While insiders are apparently happy to hold and accumulate shares, that is just part of the big picture. That's because on our analysis the CEO, Juan Andrade, is paid less than the median for similar sized companies. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Everest Group, with market caps over US$8.0b, is around US$13m.

Everest Group offered total compensation worth US$9.9m to its CEO in the year to December 2023. That comes in below the average for similar sized companies and seems pretty reasonable. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally.

Should You Add Everest Group To Your Watchlist?

Everest Group's earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. Just as heartening; insiders both own and are buying more stock. These factors seem to indicate the company's potential and that it has reached an inflection point. We'd suggest Everest Group belongs near the top of your watchlist. Now, you could try to make up your mind on Everest Group by focusing on just these factors, or you could also consider how its price-to-earnings ratio compares to other companies in its industry.

The good news is that Everest Group is not the only stock with insider buying. Here's a list of small cap, undervalued companies in the US with insider buying in the last three months!

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

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
Owens-Corning Inc (NYSE:OC), a leading global producer of insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites, recently witnessed a significant transaction by one of its top executives. Todd Fister, the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, sold 3,000 shares of the company on June 27, 2024. The transaction was executed at a price of $173.65 per share, as detailed in the SEC Filing. Following this sale, the insider now owns 31,626.217 shares of Owens-Corning Inc.

Over the past year, Todd Fister has sold a total of 11,375 shares and has not made any purchases of the company's stock. This recent sale is part of a broader trend observed within the company, where there have been 16 insider sells and no insider buys over the last year.

Owens-Corning Inc is currently valued at a market cap of $14.52 billion. The stock's price-earnings ratio stands at 13.57, which is below both the industry median of 15.26 and the companys historical median. This valuation places the company in a potentially favorable position compared to its peers.

However, according to the GF Value, the stock is considered Significantly Overvalued with a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 1.36. The GF Value of $127.32 suggests a discrepancy between the current trading price and the estimated fair value, indicating potential overvaluation concerns.

The GF Value is calculated based on historical trading multiples such as the price-earnings ratio, price-sales ratio, price-book ratio, and price-to-free cash flow, adjusted for the companys past performance and expected future business outcomes.

Insider Sale: EVP & CFO Todd Fister Sells 3,000 Shares of Owens-Corning Inc (OC)

Insider Sale: EVP & CFO Todd Fister Sells 3,000 Shares of Owens-Corning Inc (OC)

This insider activity and valuation analysis provide critical data points for investors monitoring Owens-Corning Inc's stock performance and executive transactions.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But on the bright side, you can make far more than 100% on a really good stock. Long term The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) shareholders would be well aware of this, since the stock is up 125% in five years. On top of that, the share price is up 13% in about a quarter.

So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Goldman Sachs Group

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. 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 five years of share price growth, Goldman Sachs Group achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 1.1% per year. This EPS growth is lower than the 18% average annual increase in the share price. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. And that's hardly shocking given the track record of growth.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

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. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Goldman Sachs Group's TSR for the last 5 years was 155%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

It's good to see that Goldman Sachs Group has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 46% in the last twelve months. Of course, that includes the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 21%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Goldman Sachs Group , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

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
Stellantis says it is cutting a shift at its Warren Truck Assembly Plant north of Detroit during July as the automaker tries to recalibrate its production and sales numbers, which fell sharply in the United States in the second quarter.

The automaker also said Tuesday that it is making production changes at its plants in Toledo, Ohio.

The shift cut and resulting layoffs will affect about 1,600 workers at the plant in Warren, which has about 3,300 represented hourly workers. The plant normally runs two shifts per day.

The plant produces the Jeep Wagoneer, Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer, as well as the Ram 1500 Classic, the older version of its Ram pickup.

An employee at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant works on the Jeep Wagoneer in this 2021 company photo. Stellantis is cutting a shift at the plant just north of Detroit for the month of July.

"Stellantis is adjusting the operating pattern at its Warren Truck Assembly Plant to align production with sales. The plant will run one shift for the month of July. The company will continue to monitor demand and take the necessary action to balance inventories," according to an emailed statement provided by company spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.

The Free Press has asked in recent weeks about any planned job cuts in North America, but the company did not provide any affirmative response.

On Tuesday, after confirming its plans for Warren, the automaker released a statement about Toledo. The Jeep Gladiator is produced there at the South plant, and the Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler 4xe are built at the North plant.

"Toledo South will be down starting the week of July 8 and resuming production the week of Aug. 19 to align production with sales, retool the plant for a new model and observe a week for summer vacation. Employees will be reassigned to support production at the Toledo North plant during this period, except during their summer vacation the week of Aug. 5," according to a statement provided by Tinson.

At the company's Investor Day in Auburn Hills last month, CEO Carlos Tavares made references to the need for a turnaround at two Stellantis plants in the United States but declined to provide specifics. The company also highlighted plans to shift more production to "best-cost countries."

An analysis released this week from AutoForecast Solutions noted that "Stellantis continues to struggle as their foreign executives try to figure out how to manage the American brands they purchased in 2021. The production forecast at Stellantis is down 35,000 units from the prior forecast driven by the Ram full-sized truck and ProMaster commercial van."

Stellantis on Tuesday released its second-quarter 2024 U.S. sales numbers, showing a 21% decline compared with the same period in 2023.

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UAW President Shawn Fain criticized the shift cut at Warren, reported earlier by Automotive News, in a response to a Free Press request for comment.

Stellantis can afford to keep Warren Truck running at two shifts, they just want to find another penny to pinch at the expense of hardworking autoworkers. Thanks to our contract, these workers will get layoff pay and benefits in the meantime while we fight to make sure Stellantis stops trying to kill U.S. jobs, according to the statement provided by the Feldman Strategies public relations firm.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stellantis cites sales in shift cut at Warren, changes in Toledo
On the inaugural day of the ShenZhong Link, GDToday visited MYSE Group, the leading new energy company. They explored the transformation and upgrade of the industrial parks in Zhongshan's towns and villages at an exhibition, and also toured the Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport Zhongshan Terminal, a regional land and air transport hub.

GDToday's interviews with relevant personnel revealed that all sectors in Zhongshan have been well-prepared for the opening of the Link. They are eagerly anticipating a host of development opportunities, including business growth, investment attraction, industrial transfer, and more convenience to improve people's lives.

On the day of the Link's inauguration, GDToday interviewed Alina Yi, Vice President of Mingyang Smart Energy Group Limited. She emphasized that the Link's significance extends beyond reducing physical distances. "It's about establishing a presence in Zhongshan and connecting with Shenzhen and Hong Kong to bring together industries, technologies, talents, and capital resources," Yi said. She highlighted the potential for Chinese companies to participate more actively in global energy transformation.

Deng Yuwen, Deputy Director of the Zhongshan Bureau of Natural Resources, disclosed that extensive preparatory work has been conducted, including land consolidation and industrial space transformation, to attract related industries and support the integration of the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The introduction of industries from Shenzhen, particularly those that complement Zhongshan's existing industrial base, is expected to bolster the city's economic prospects.

Sun Rong, Head of the Public Transport Management Section at the Zhongshan Transport Bureau, reported that 27 cross-city buses have been dispatched. The aim is to promote economic and cultural exchanges and enhance people-to-people interactions between Zhongshan and Shenzhen. The service is anticipated to cater to future commuters and tourists, fostering a new lifestyle where residents can live in Zhongshan and work in Shenzhen, or vice versa.

The opening of the ShenZhong Link is not just an infrastructural milestone; it is a catalyst for Zhongshan's integration into the GBA. It offers a comprehensive production chain, financial services, and support for the upstream and downstream industries. This strategic move positions Zhongshan as a key player in the region, ready to contribute significantly to the region's sustainable and high-quality growth.


By Neil Jerome Morales

(Reuters) - The Philippines' biggest fast-food chain Jollibee Foods will acquire a majority stake in South Korea's Compose Coffee, as part of a deal valuing the target at $340 million, the company said on Tuesday.

Jollibee's largest acquisition by number of stores continues the company's expansion overseas, which will account for majority of its branches in the future.

Jollibee's unit Jollibee Worldwide Pte will acquire 70% of privately held Compose Coffee for $238 million, and its majority-owned Titan Fund will take 5%, the fast-food firm said in a statement. The remaining 25% will be held by private equity firm Elevation, it said.

Shares in Jollibee, which has a market value of $4.29 billion, rose 0.44% on Tuesday, outpacing the 0.62% decline in the broader stock market index.

"This is a good move by Jollibee to further expand its global footprint and take advantage of attractive opportunities in promising markets," said Juan Paolo Colet, managing director at investment bank China Bank Capital in Manila. The acquisition is expected to be cash accretive, creating shareholder value over the long run, he added.

Compose Coffee has 2,470 stores, all franchised, giving it a debt-free balance sheet, and good cash returns and profit margins, said Jollibee, which will increase its global store network to 10,000 with the deal.

The investment gives Jollibee access to South Korea, which ranks third globally in terms of coffee consumption per capita, the company said.

Compose Coffee and its roasting facility were founded in Busan in 2014.

Known for its sweet-style spaghetti, burgers and fried chicken, Jollibee is dominant in the Philippines, outselling McDonald's and Yum Brands' KFC.

In 2019, Jollibee invested $100 million to acquire loss-making Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

($1 = 58.79 Philippine pesos)

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila and Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema, Neil Fullick and Louise Heavens)
Kuehne+Nagel began freighter service to Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport in April 2023. (Photo: BMH Airport Authority)

Logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel has moved into a new home base at Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), making it easier to manage weekly chartered freight flights from Stuttgart, Germany, that began last year.

The Birmingham Airport Authority last week held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of a 53,000-square-foot facility with warehouse space plus administrative offices, 17 dock doors for trucks and five airside bays. It is the airports first dedicated terminal for general cargo, part of a new focus on attracting cargo business.

The project took a year to finish and cost $28.4 million  up from the original estimate of $27 million  not including design work. Kuehne+Nagel (CXE: KNIN) is leasing the building for an initial period of six years. It temporarily operated out of an existing hangar subleased from another BHM tenant since launching service in April 2023 from Stuttgart to support demand from companies in the automotive, aerospace and pharmaceutical industries with business in the Southeast. Mercedes-Benz has an SUV assembly plant about 34 miles from Birmingham and a nearby lithium-ion battery factory.

Atlas Air operates the dedicated flights for Kuehne+Nagel utilizing Boeing 747 cargo jets, which rotate through Chicago OHare airport on the return trip to Germany. Alliance Ground International provides the ramp services and cargo processing.

K+N has scaled back from twice-weekly service last year to once per week and is no longer using Cargolux as a co-partner with Atlas Air, said Birmingham Airport Authority spokeswoman Kim Hunt.

K+N previously routed Mercedes shipments through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. BHM is much closer to the Mercedes plant, providing the company faster transit and more flexibility. The lease of a cargo terminal in Birmingham underscores how freight forwarding agents have increasingly migrated some operations to secondary airports because of operational constraints, congestion and higher costs at major airports that generally cater to passenger airlines.

This facility is the result of a lot of hard work and a strong belief that Birmingham should play a key role in moving cargo in the southeast, said Ronald Mathieu, president and CEO of the Birmingham Airport Authority, in a news release.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

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The post Kuehne+Nagel moves into new cargo facility at Birmingham airport appeared first on FreightWaves.
A new contender has emerged in the ongoing saga over who will take control of Paramount Global. And in true Succession fashion, the latest entrant is a familiar face chasing his white whale that got away.

Barry Diller, the billionaire media giant who once was CEO and chairman of Paramount Pictures during the film studios New Hollywood heyday, is reportedly exploring a bid to take control of Paramount Global, according to a report in The New York Times.

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Dillers IAC, according to the Times, has signed non-disclosure agreements with National Amusements (NAI), the company that holds a majority of Paramount stock. Diller and IAC reportedly started exploring talks at some point after Shari Redstone walked away from conversations with Skydance, right when they were at the finish line. Its unclear how far along talks are or any specific details of the bid.

IAC told IndieWire it does not comment on rumors or speculation. Reps for NAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If Diller, 82, were to take control of Paramount, he would finally win control of the company after he was previously outbid for Paramount in the 90s by none other than Sumner Redstone. Diller would be buying the company from Redstones daughter Shari.

But more importantly, Diller would be back at home at the studio that launched his career. Diller was in charge of Paramount Pictures for 10 years beginning in 1974. Under his watch the studio made Raiders of the Lost Ark, Grease, Terms of Endearment, Nashville, The Godfather Part II, Saturday Night Fever, Days of Heaven, with the TV department even making all time hit sitcoms like Cheers and Taxi. The list goes on.

He had a lot of help. The Killer Dillers were the media executives who he helped shepherd into Hollywood superstars in their own right. Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Strauss Zelnick, and Don Simpson were all some of his lieutenants.

Diller is not the only one still chasing Paramount and NAI specifically. Edgar Bronfman Jr., who is an heir to the Seagrams fortune, and Steven Paul, best known for producing Baby Geniuses, are some of the other sharks still circling. Sony and Apollo also still have a deal on the table for the bulk of Paramount Global. It just wont be David Ellison and Skydance running things.

But if Diller were to take control of Paramount, hed inherit $12 billion in debt, a struggling streaming service, and decisions to make about the future of linear media channels like CBS, Nickelodeon, and MTV. Three CEOs are currently in charge at Paramount exploring just how to right the ship, and theyve got their work cut out for them.

Story continues

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Key Insights

The projected fair value for Only World Group Holdings Berhad is RM0.60 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM0.48 suggests Only World Group Holdings Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value

The average premium for Only World Group Holdings Berhad's competitorsis currently 27%

Does the July share price for Only World Group Holdings Berhad (KLSE:OWG) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Only World Group Holdings Berhad

Crunching The Numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM33.2m RM30.7m RM29.4m RM28.9m RM28.8m RM29.1m RM29.6m RM30.3m RM31.1m RM32.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -12.12% Est @ -7.42% Est @ -4.13% Est @ -1.82% Est @ -0.21% Est @ 0.92% Est @ 1.71% Est @ 2.26% Est @ 2.65% Est @ 2.92% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 13% RM29.4 RM24.2 RM20.6 RM17.9 RM15.9 RM14.2 RM12.8 RM11.6 RM10.6 RM9.7

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM167m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 13%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM32m (1 + 3.6%)  (13% 3.6%) = RM362m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM362m ( 1 + 13%)10= RM109m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM276m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.5, the company appears about fair value at a 19% 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

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the 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 Only World Group Holdings Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 13%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.441. 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 Only World Group Holdings Berhad

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Hospitality market.

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine OWG's earnings prospects.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for OWG.

Moving On:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Only World Group Holdings Berhad, there are three important factors you should assess:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Only World Group Holdings Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Macmahon has secured a contract to provide mining services for the Dawson South project, part of the Dawson Mine in Queensland, Australia.

Under the reappointment, the company will maintain its role in providing open-cut mining services including load and haul, and equipment maintenance.

Effective from 1 July 2024, the new contract has a period of up to three years.

Macmahon expects the new contract to contribute nearly A$130m ($86.7m) annually to its secured order book.

The company was initially awarded a three-year A$200m ($133.5m) surface mining contract by Anglo American in July 2021.

Macmahon's capex for the Dawson South project is expected to be considerably lower due to the prior sale of its equipment fleet.

The sold assets will remain operational on the project, reducing the capital intensity over the new term, the company noted.

Macmahon CEO and managing director Michael Finnegan said: We are delighted to be reappointed as mining contractor for the Dawson South project where we have worked to build an excellent relationship with our client.

Macmahon recently sold a substantial portion of the Dawson South equipment fleet, which will continue to be used at the mine. I believe the new contract structure benefits our client, is aligned with Macmahons capital light strategy and improves return on average capital employed (ROACE) performance, where we recently increased the target from 15% to 20%.

The Dawson South mine is situated at the southern end of the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland near the town of Moura.

Last year, Macmahon was selected to provide load and haul services for the Greenbushes lithium project in Western Australia.

"Macmahon reappointed to provide mining services for Australian coal mine" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
(Bloomberg) -- In May, Microsoft Corp. and G42, the United Arab Emirates artificial intelligence firm, announced plans to spend $1 billion on projects in Kenya, including a massive geothermal-powered data center. The deal was negotiated with input from the US and UAE governments and coincided with a summit meeting in Washington between President Joe Biden and Kenyan President William Ruto.

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Proponents of the Kenya project see it as a potential blueprint for similar government-business partnerships that could help the US expand its political and economic clout in the Global South  emerging markets in Africa and Central Asia where China is already firmly entrenched. Microsoft and G42 have pledged to team up on multiple projects in coming years, leveraging the UAEs regional ties.

But already theres growing concern in Washington that relying on Microsoft, G42 and the Emirati government could imperil national security  and without US officials on board, the firms wont be able to get the technology they need to make their partnership a success.

The linchpin of the two companies relationship is an agreement, blessed earlier this year by the Biden administration, for Microsoft to invest $1.5 billion in the UAE firm in exchange for G42s agreement to cut ties with Chinese companies. Pentagon officials are skeptical G42 will entirely uncouple from China, according to people familiar with the situation.

Microsofts chronic cybersecurity failures, enumerated recently in a scathing government report, also have stoked fears that foreign powers could access sensitive US networks. Other officials wonder if its a good idea shipping advanced AI to Gulf states with questionable human-rights records.

The most immediate question is whether to approve shipments to the Middle East of Nvidia Corp.s H100 chips, semiconductors used in AI data centers. Some officials have come to see the issue as tantamount to nuclear proliferation, with Nvidia chips as the most desired weapon in an AI arms race.

While the Biden administration hashes out a broader regional strategy, it has slowed license approvals for high-volume AI chip shipments to the entire Gulf. Its unclear whether those approvals will be granted, but US officials are hoping to reach a consensus in the coming months, according to people familiar with the matter.

Story continues

The resistance to the G42-Microsoft deal could hinder the administrations efforts to help US companies grab a global lead in the development of artificial intelligence, which is already emerging as the next front in Washingtons Cold War with Beijing. US officials want to make sure that American firms  not their Chinese rivals  benefit from Gulf states ambitions to fund and build big AI projects. By dangling the promise of access to American technology, they hope to persuade Middle Eastern states to sever ties to Beijing.

Were working closely with the National Security Council and Department of Commerce, and US national security will continue to be a principal priority, Microsoft spokesperson David Cuddy said in an emailed statement.

The Pentagon, Commerce and G42 declined to comment. The NSC didnt respond to requests for comment.

The US government has long partnered with big business to extend Americas geopolitical reach. And the Biden administration is no exception  touting a series of so-called economic corridors that promise local jobs and investment.

So far, these efforts mostly pale in comparison to Chinese investments in developing countries. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, US officials have gone all but silent on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor  an effort to link the emerging industrial powers of South Asia with Europe. Biden also has trumpeted the Lobito Corridor, a rail project through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Angola, but the policy has been criticized for echoing Chinese efforts and focusing on resource extraction rather than sustainable business.

Of the various efforts so far, the deal that Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo worked on with the Emiratis, Microsoft and G42 holds the most promise  if Washington can find a way to get comfortable with it. The UAE has the money and ties to the Global South. Microsoft has the technology and, in President Brad Smith, a kind of corporate secretary of state who has developed relationships around the globe. G42s Khazna division, a subsidiary that has built data centers in the UAE, is now expanding across Africa and Asia.

Kenya is a logical place to establish a foothold. With its fast-growing, youthful and increasingly tech-savvy population, the East African nation has emerged as a rival tech hub to Nigeria and South Africa. Nicknamed Silicon Savannah, Kenya has a vibrant startup ecosystem and is home to M-Pesa, a thriving fintech company that provides mobile financial services.

Microsofts Smith says the nation reminds him of Southeast Asia in the early 1990s. You see this enormous potential, he said. I think thats important to the United States. China recognizes that as well.

In 2022, Biden named veteran tech executive Meg Whitman US ambassador to Kenya. The former Hewlett-Packard chief quickly established herself as a bridge between Kenyan officials and US tech leaders, last year accompanying President Ruto on a tour of Silicon Valley, with stops at Google and Apple Inc. In May, Google announced plans to build an undersea fiber-optic cable connecting Australia to Kenya and six other African nations.

Still, operating in Kenya is challenging. Last month, protests forced Ruto to withdraw a law that would have raised taxes to help stabilize the countrys finances. Kenyans stormed the National Assembly, chanting Ruto Must Go, and as many as two dozen people were killed when the police opened fire. Rutos reversal means Kenya will now struggle to balance its budget and pay its creditors.

Corruption is endemic. Money laundering is an issue. And the US Treasury recently sanctioned a number of Kenyan entities for their links to terrorist funding. The country is also struggling to build out its physical infrastructure, including adequate roads and transport systems, water and power capacity. A State Department spokesperson said the US is working closely with the Kenyan government to create a business-friendly environment, and encourages companies to embrace opportunities there.

Competing with China, let alone dislodging it, wont be easy. As part of Beijings Digital Silk Road effort, Chinese companies like Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. have long targeted the Global South, dangling state-backed loans, discounted hardware, training and technical help. Huawei has played a key role in helping to build and fund a $14.5 billion smart city in Kenya called Konza Technopolis.

Many African nations have based their IT systems on Chinese standards for digital data, a regulatory environment Microsoft could struggle to navigate, according to Olena Borodyna, a senior geopolitical risks advisor for ODI, a global affairs think tank. The company also could be outmaneuvered by Chinese firms that have spent years doing business there. Its a bit like selling a Tesla in Kenya or Uzbekistan, she said. You see Chinese cars. You dont see many Teslas. Its the same story in digital infrastructure.

The key advantage the US has over China  for the moment  is a distinct lead in cloud computing and the large language models undergirding AI. But much will depend on Washingtons willingness to deploy the technology.

In a place like the UAE, where you have G42 working very closely with Huawei, for example, we have an interest in changing that picture, Tarun Chhabra, the National Security Councils senior director for technology, said at a Council on Foreign Relations event in late June. We see the effort to work with Microsoft as an alternative to Huawei as generally a positive development  and one that we want to encourage. However, he also said it will take time to transition from an untrusted vendor.

The US curbed the sale of advanced chips and semiconductor equipment to China in 2022, and added much of the Gulf region to that framework last year. Commerce Department officials have been talking with their counterparts in the UAE and other affected countries about the export license process for high-end chips including Nvidias, as well as strategies to safeguard sensitive technology, people familiar with the situation have said. G42s chairman, UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussed the matter during a visit to Washington and Seattle in early June, other people said.

The US governments licensing decision hinges in part on how well Microsoft and G42 can secure the chips once theyre in the data centers. One possibility is that Microsoft will put the most sensitive technology in a restricted-access area, something the company has done before. Others have thrown out ideas like putting a kill switch on the Nvidia chips, according to several people familiar with the conversations, or having the entire operation remotely controlled from the US. Microsoft has also pledged to follow so-called know-your-customer rules to determine who is using its data centers, and wont allow Chinese customers to train their models.

All of this is predicated on G42 removing Chinese gear from its supply chains. In recent months, the company hired a third-party auditor to determine whether its abiding by those terms, several people said, prompting some US officials to worry that the large sum G42 is paying amounts to a conflict of interest. Asked how the US will enforce such agreements, the NSCs Chhabra said it will vary by context. That could mean direct diplomatic talks, he said, or it might include a push from a US vendor that itself is going to want those assurances  because they generally want to continue working with the US government.

Theres a growing feeling on Capitol Hill that the Microsoft-G42 deal needs congressional oversight. Several bipartisan staff delegations have visited the UAE in recent weeks, according to a House Foreign Affairs Committee Republican staffer who was briefed on the trips, with more outreach to come. The goal, the staffer said, is to make the UAE cognizant of growing concerns in Washington  and make clear that they need to honor their commitments, whatever they may be.

--With assistance from Loni Prinsloo, Michelle Jamrisko, Kate O'Keeffe and Olivia Solon.

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Premier Li Qiang of the State Council will attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance and deliver a speech on July 4 in Shanghai.

Dragon TV: You announced that Premier Li Qiang will attend the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. Can you share more details?

Mao Ning: The rapid development of AI technology in recent years brings a multitude of risks and challenges as well as enormous socioeconomic benefits. Global AI governance has become a major task for all countries.

China advocates the principles of wide participation and consensus-based decision-making in global AI governance, and promotes broad international consensus based on full respect for differences in policies and practices of all countries. The World AI Conference has been held annually six times. The Conference this year, with the theme of Governing AI for Good and for All, aims to establish international cooperation and exchange platforms featuring openness, inclusiveness, and equal participation, advance global AI governance and develop an open, fair and effective governance mechanism.

The Conference brings together government officials, and representatives of international organizations, industries, universities and research institutes, among others. We look forward to full exchange of insights in Shanghai in the spirit of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, to build consensus and promote the healthy, safe and orderly development of AI.

Beijing Daily: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO views Chinas behaviors as challenging the alliances values, interests and security. Russia is producing missiles and drones with the support of advanced technology imported from China, which makes Beijing accountable for instigating the largest conflict on the European soils since World War II. Whats your comment?



Mao Ning: Im not sure what exactly he meant by NATOs values. But if the values are to draw lines based on ideology and to create conflicts, stoke confrontation and escalate tensions along those lines, then China indeed cannot agree with it. The reality is, it is NATO that has been challenging China, interfering in Chinas domestic affairs, misrepresenting and vilifying our domestic and foreign policies and seriously challenging Chinas interests and security.

Speaking of the Ukraine crisis, China has been committed to promoting talks for peace and finding a political solution to the crisis. NATO needs to see the root cause of the crisis and take a hard look at what kind of role it has played for the peace of Europe and the world, rather than divert the attention and blame it all on others.

CCTV: Weve learned that the resolution entitled Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence submitted by China was reviewed and adopted by the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. Can you give us more details?



Mao Ning: The 78th session of the UNGA yesterday adopted by consensus the resolution Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 140 countries. The resolution reflects the extensive consensus among countries on enhancing AI capacity-building and speaks volumes about the political will of countries on enhancing capacity-building and bridging the AI divide through solidarity and cooperation.

The resolution, in line with the human-centric principle and the principle of artificial intelligence for good for all, is focused on AI capacity-building, stresses the importance of increasing the representation and say of developing countries in global AI governance, advocates a fair and nondiscriminatory business environment, supports the United Nations in playing a central role, encourages effective capacity-building assistance for developing countries through international cooperation and concrete actions, so as to realize the healthy and sustainable development of AI.

As the country that introduced the resolution, China followed the principles of transparency, openness, and inclusiveness during the discussions of the Resolution, widely accommodated legitimate opinions and suggestions, and strived to bridge the differences among all parties. Chinas efforts were spoken highly of by all the member states. The adoption of the resolution reflects that the international community and particularly developing countries are paying great attention to capacity-building, and have the strong will of actively participating in global AI governance. China highly commends all the member states for their tremendous support for the resolution, and for their important contribution to its adoption. China will take this adopted resolution as an opportunity to step up communication and cooperation with the international community, follow up on the implementation of the resolution, assist relevant countries in faster development of related capacities under the UN framework, so as to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Reuters: Yesterday, the Chinese Embassy and the Vanuatu government held a ceremony to hand over the government buildings that China had built. And the new Solomon Islands Prime Minister is visiting China recently. Could you please speak to the strategic importance of these connections with the Pacific Islands region for China?



Mao Ning: China is committed to growing friendship and cooperation with Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and other Pacific Island countries and contributing to their endeavor to promote economic and social development, improve peoples life and realize development and prosperity.

China News Service: To follow up on the resolution on Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence proposed by China to the UN General Assembly (UNGA), we learned that the US is one of its co-sponsors. How would you assess Chinas dialogue and cooperation with the US on AI?



Mao Ning: China commends the US and other UN member states for actively participating in the consultation on the UNGA draft resolution for enhancing international cooperation on AI capacity-building. We appreciate their support for the resolutions adoption by consensus.

China stands ready to work with the US to act on the common understandings reached by the two presidents in San Francisco, step up bilateral and multilateral dialogue and cooperation on AI, and make sure all humanity can share the benefits of AI.

Reuters: Chinas Embassy in the Philippines announced that a Chinese national had been kidnapped and killed. Could you please provide more information on what happened?



Mao Ning: According to verified information, a Chinese national was kidnapped and killed. After the kidnap took place, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines stayed in close touch with the Philippine side and urged it to make every possible effort to work on the case and take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese nationals in the Philippines. Our Embassy also provided support and facilitation to the family of the victim. The Foreign Ministry will work with relevant departments to provide instructions to our Embassy in Manila to closely follow up on the case and make sure everything is properly handled.

Reuters: The Philippines has called the Chinese Coast Guards actions on June 17 escalatory and the most aggressive in recent history. Do you have any comment on this?



Mao Ning: We have said clearly several times what recently happened between China and the Philippines near Renai Jiao and what our position is. Renai Jiao is Chinas territory. The root cause of the current situation is that the Philippines infringed on Chinas rights and made deliberate provocations. The Philippines needs to stop those infringement activities and provocations at once, and return as soon as possible to the track of resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.
June 30th, 2024, marked National Girls in Automotive Day; a day to promote the automotive industry and career opportunities within it. As we currently stand, women are very underrepresented in the industry, making up less than 20% of the UKs automotive sector workforce.

This low statistic is surprising considering the industry is suffering from an ongoing shortage of skilled professionals, predicted to amount to over 160,000 vacancies by 2031.

Frankie Youd spoke with Irene Castelanotti, Digital Business Director at Autodata, to learn more about the day and to discuss if the tide for female mechanics is shifting.

Irene Castelanotti

Just Auto (JA): What is National Girls in Automotive Day, and what is its importance?

Irene Castelanotti (IC): National Girls in Automotive Day is a yearly awareness day celebrating the incredible women working in the automotive industry in the UK.

While some progress has been made, women still currently only make up 20% of the automotive workforce, lagging behind so many other industries. For example, other traditionally male dominated industries like the science industry now have 44% of the industry comprised of women. This is thanks to a concerted effort to encourage more females to enter the profession.

Whilst we have already supported this event, it doesnt mean encouraging more people into the industry stops. Women should be recognised in this incredible industry all year long, and I wont stop supporting this cause until we see greater representation.

Why do you think that women only make up less than 20% of the UKs automotive workforce?

I see two main issues at play here. Firstly, the failure of industry professionals to empower young women. Despite the great work of the 30% Club in recent years to increase gender diversity, many still view the industry as male-dominated due to the lack of celebrated female leaders.

Secondly, this industry fails to promote the extensive range of roles in the automotive industry. Technological innovations mean the industry is going through the largest transformation in history. The workforce requires a larger variety of talent with a broader range of skills than it did even just ten years ago. These roles can range from AI experts to scientists developing future generations of EV batteries.

Many still view the industry as male-dominated due to the lack of celebrated female leaders.

We must challenge the common misconception that the automotive industry consists only of all-male mechanics tightening bolts and highlight the extraordinary breadth of roles available.

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What challenges do technicians face in keeping up with ever complex repairs?

Cars are modernising. With this, there is more demand for tasks involving software updates and car upgrades. These new tasks require a fresh set of skills - ones that blend technical expertise with creative problem-solving.

A fresh set of skills does not require a new workforce. Garage owners should invest in the skills of their current technicians, this is a significantly more cost-effective approach than repeatedly onboarding new hires.

Another solution to these challenges is implementing software designed to support mechanics and vehicle technicians. Autodata, for instance, can provide information on the specific tools required for each vehicle model to help manage and streamline repairs.

Responsibility should not rest solely on the workshops. A collective effort is required to address this skills gap and ensure the workforce is equipped to meet the new demands of the automotive industry.

Is the tide for female mechanics shifting?

The very celebration of Girls in Automotive Day shows the tide is shifting for females in the automotive industry. But this shift is slow, and we need to find ways to speed it up.

Organisations are waking up to the fact that diverse teams perform better. Technology enables success, but good performance starts with a businesss people, their peers, and their teamwork. With research showing that gender-diverse and inclusive teams outperform gender-homogenous teams by as much as 50%, the benefits of closing the gender gap in the automotive industry are undeniable.

Role models and support networks for women in or entering the industry will further catalyse this trend. Currently, many of the established European and North American OEM brands have women on their senior management teams. These women serve as vital role models, demonstrating that women can and do reach the top in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Finally, platforms like the Women Automotive Network, where people can meet and hear from women of all levels from all kinds of backgrounds and domains, act as further inspiration that the automotive industry is a supportive environment for women.

What else is needed to further support growth of women entering the industry?

Inclusive and approachable apprenticeship schemes are necessary to support the continued growth of women entering the industry.

The great news is advertising for apprentices in the automotive space has continued to grow since 2020, with job postings increasing by more than double since 2021, according to the Institute of the Motor Industry.

Although much work remains, the situation is always improving, and everyone can play a role in accelerating this progress. We can share our stories, offer support to those in need, provide advice to one another, and, as leaders, make sure to actively cultivate workplace cultures and communities that support women.

Inclusive and approachable apprenticeship schemes are necessary to support the continued growth of women entering the industry.

"National Girls in Automotive Day: Highlighting the female contribution and opportunity" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The Winn-Dixie on McFarland Blvd in Northport will close temporarily and re-open as Aldi.

The grocery store at 10 McFarland Blvd., will close mid-July as it prepares to transition to the Aldi format.

More: Tuscaloosa Farmers Market will add Tuesdays to its schedule in July

Meredith Hurley, senior director of communications and community for Southeastern Grocers, released a statement on the store's closure and how the change will affect its employees.

"... the Winn-Dixie located at 10 McFarland Blvd. will convert to a new Aldi store to best support the Tuscaloosa community. All associates working at the store received official advanced notice that their store is projected to close in mid-July to convert to an Aldi location," Hurley said.

Aldi supermarkets will convert the Winn-Dixie on McFarland Boulevard at Watermelon Road into an Aldi store.

During the transition, Hurley said associates will have the first opportunity to apply to roles at newly converted Aldi stores or transfer to neighboring Winn-Dixie stores. Winn-Dixie has two other stores in Tuscaloosa County: 4205 University Blvd. E and 9750 Alabama Highway 69 S.

Right now, Aldi has stores at 5801 McFarland Blvd. in Northport and 1349 McFarland Blvd. in Tuscaloosa. The Northport Aldi opened in 2019, while the Tuscaloosa Aldi opened in 2015.

More: Northport hopes Aldi spurs retail growth

The site at 10 McFarland Blvd. will be Tuscaloosa County's third Aldi.

"To ensure a smooth transition for our associates, SEG (Southeastern Grocers) has worked diligently with Aldi to provide support and opportunities to each associate at converting stores, including having the first opportunity to apply to roles at newly converted Aldi stores or remain with Winn-Dixie and transfer to a neighboring store," Hurley said.

More details about the new Aldi will be released at a later date, Hurley said.

"As we work through this transition period, conversion plans are still being finalized and we will share more information as it becomes available. We appreciate the support and understanding of our valued associates, customers and communities throughout this process," Hurley said.

Aldi supermarkets will convert the Winn Dixie on McFarland Boulevard at Watermelon Road into an Aldi store. This photo shows the Aldi in Tuscaloosa.

Last year, Aldi announced in a news release that the chain has entered into an agreement to acquire Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket. All three stores are owned by Southeastern Grocers.

Aldi is buying roughly 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, the release states.

Like Aldi, Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket have long histories and many loyal customers in the Southeast and we look forward to serving them in the years to come, said Jason Hart, CEO of Aldi, in a news release.

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The time was right to build on our growth momentum and help residents in the Southeast save on their grocery bills. The transaction supports our long-term growth strategy across the United States, including plans to add 120 new stores nationwide this year to reach a total of more than 2,400 stores by year-end," Hart said.

Hart said some stores will convert to the Aldi format, while others will continue to operate as Winn-Dixie.

Aldi will operate Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores with the same level of care and focus onquality and service, as we also evaluate which locations will convert to the Aldi format to better supportthe neighborhoods well now have the privilege of serving, Hart said.

For those stores we do not convert, our intention is that these continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores. he said.

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Northport Winn-Dixie grocery store will convert into Aldi format
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Key Takeaways

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly shares lost ground Tuesday after U.S. President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders called out the companies in an op-ed for the cost of their medicines.

Biden and Sanders said big pharmaceutical firms of charge "outrageous prices" for prescription drugs, and cited the cost of weight-loss drugs made by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Biden and Sanders warned they would take action if Novo Nordisk and other pharmaceutical companies do not substantially lower" prescription drug prices.







Novo Nordisk (NVO) American depositary receipts (ADRs) and Eli Lilly (LLY) shares lost ground Tuesday after U.S. President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders called out the companies in an op-ed for the cost of their medicines.

Sanders and Biden wrote that the pharmaceutical industry charges outrageous prices for prescription drugs, and cited popular weight-loss treatments including Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, and Mounjaro from Eli Lilly, calling their costs unconscionably high.

Biden, Sanders Call on Novo Nordisk and Others To Lower Prices

Biden and Sanders warned that if Novo Nordisk and other pharmaceutical companies dont substantially lower prescription drug prices in our country and end their greed, we will do everything within our power to end it for them.

They said Novo Nordisk must substantially reduce the price of Ozempic and Wegovy," and that Novo Nordisk charges more than $1,000 a month for those drugs, while they can be manufactured for less than $5.

Novo Nordisk said that it was disappointed that a very difficult and complex problem is being oversimplified and mischaracterized for political purposes," adding that over 80% of Americans with insurance pay $25 or less per month for Ozempic and Wegovy.

Eli Lilly did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Novo Nordisk ADRs fell 1.7% to close at $142.98 Tuesday, while Eli Lilly shares finished 0.8% lower at $906.71. Even with Tuesdays losses, Novo Nordisk ADRs have gained over 38% since the start of the year, while Eli Lilly shares have surged more than 55% over the same period.



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With just a few members exceeding their agreed limits, oil production from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has remained constant for the third month in a row.

The intergovernmental body produced an average of just under 27 million barrels per day (mbbl/d) in June, some 80,000 barrels a day (bpd) less than during the previous month.

According to a Bloomberg survey, small reductions in Iraq and Nigerias output prompted the decline.

However, the analysis showed that Iraq and the United Arab Emirates have still not fully adopted the cutbacks agreed within the group earlier this year.

Iraq reduced output by 30,000bpd in June, to 4.25 million, although it still remains 250,000bpd above the new quota. Saudi Arabias production was just under 9mbbl/d.

Back in May, the International Energy Agency lowered its oil demand growth forecast for 2024, indicating weaker global demand than previously anticipated.

It now expects oil demand to grow by 1.1mbbl/d in 2024, a reduction of 140,000bpd from its previous forecast.

The OPEC member reductions were aimed at balancing global oil markets as production increased in several regions in the world, notably the US.

According to research from Bloomberg, the stabilisation should help increase crude oil revenues for members of OPEC, and its expanded sister organisation OPEC+.

Saudia Arabia, OPECs driving force and main producer, is planning huge infrastructure developments as it tries to slowly move its economy away from hydrocarbons and into renewables and other business areas.

For that to happen, it needs oil prices to stay around $100 for the foreseeable future. Brent crude on Tuesday morning was at $87 a barrel, while WTI was just under $84, having topped $90 in late September 2023.

OPEC+ recently announced it would ease up on self-imposed supply constraints, but senior figures within the body have been quick to say that any proposed increases are merely provisional and could be paused.

Meanwhile, there could be bigger issues ahead for OPEC, with the budget committee of the US Senate having just started an investigation into suspicions of collusion between several domestic oil producers and OPEC members over possible price adjustment and coordination.

The committee, which has the responsibility to oversee federal spending, will examine the activities and communications of almost 20 oil and gas producers.

"OPECs oil output remains steady but some members still pumping too much" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.

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Paxos Gains Approval from Singapore to Issue Stablecoins, Partners With DBS Bank

Paxos has received approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to offer digital payment token services, paving the way for the firm to issue stablecoins compliant with the country's regulatory framework. This approval, granted to Paxos Digital Singapore Pte. Ltd., allows the company to operate as a major payments institution in the region.

Paxos is now authorized to issue stablecoins in the U.S., United Arab Emirates, and Singapore. The firm joins 18 other companies, including Blockchain.com, Circle, and Coinbase, that hold a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license in Singapore. To qualify for an MPI license, firms must meet several criteria, including maintaining a base capital of 250,000 Singapore dollars and having a permanent place of business or a registered office in Singapore.

Walter Hessert, head of strategy at Paxos, emphasized the significance of this milestone. "Stablecoins issued in accordance with standards set by a regulator like MAS  known for its rigorous regulatory standards  represent a significant step towards democratizing access to commerce and financial services.

In addition to receiving regulatory approval, Paxos announced a new partnership with Singapore-based DBS Bank for cash management and custody of stablecoin reserves. This collaboration marks another step in DBS Bank's extensive involvement in the digital asset ecosystem. Evy Theunis, head of digital assets at DBS Bank's institutional banking group, noted, "This partnership further expands DBS wide-ranging involvement across the digital asset ecosystem, of which we have been a pioneer and innovator for several years now."
Dividend stocks can be excellent investments to generate passive income. The best dividend-paying companies have steady earnings growth, and in turn, they increase their payouts to shareholders. The elite among them eventually may earn entry into the category of Dividend Kings -- companies that have raised their payouts annually for at least 50 consecutive years.

In addition to being a Dividend King, PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) has a yield of 3.3% at its current share price -- high relative to the average yield of 1.3% for the S&P 500. It also has a fairly recession-resistant business, which makes it exactly the kind of consistent company that many risk-averse income investors look for.

Pepsi is a top-tier dividend stock and a familiar name to most consumers, but the less widely known Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW) may be an even better Dividend King to buy now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Getting to know ITW

Illinois Tool Works, which also goes by ITW, is a global industrial conglomerate with a diversified product portfolio spanning several industries. The company mainly sells products to businesses, so it would be understandable if you were unfamiliar with many of its brands.

It doesn't make massive earth-moving equipment or highly complex machinery. Rather, many of its products act as role players in larger systems. Here's a breakdown of its segments and some product examples.

Segment Product Examples 2023 Revenue 2023 Operating Margin Automotive Fasteners, interior and exterior components, powertrain components $3.2 billion 17% Test & Measurement and Electronics Laboratory testing and assembly equipment, accessories, consumables, aftermarket parts and services $2.8 billion 24% Food Equipment Advanced warewash, services, equipment for cooking, refrigeration, and food processing $2.6 billion 27% Construction Products Fasting solutions, complementary fasteners and accessories, construction design and engineering software $2 billion 28% Welding Welding equipment, specialty consumables, safety solutions $1.9 billion 32% Polymers & Fluids Engineered adhesives, sealants, coatings, lubricants, additives, automotive wiper blades, cleaners $1.8 billion 27% Specialty Products Zippers and six-pack rings for packaged goods, medical device products, aircraft ground support equipment, coating and metalizing businesses for product branding and national security markets $1.7 billion 27%

Data source: Illinois Tool Works.

One thing that separates ITW from other industrial conglomerates is that none of its seven segments dominate its revenue mix. And aside from automotive -- which has been struggling in North America but growing rapidly in China -- all of its segments have excellent operating margins. The overall business notched an operating margin of more than 25% in 2023.

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Management is projectng for an even better 26% to 27% operating margin in 2024 and a 30% operating margin by 2030.

Growth concerns

ITW's main challenge has been sluggish organic growth. Its organic revenue actually declined 0.6% last quarter. ITW is forecasting for just 1% to 3% organic growth for the year and 2% to 4% revenue growth. Earnings per share (EPS) growth is expected to be a little better at 6% to 10% for a total of $10.30 to $10.70 in full-year EPS -- partially thanks to a one-off accounting change.

Zoom out a bit further, and you'll see that ITW's EPS only increased by 20.6% during the past three years. That's not a terrible growth rate for a stodgy dividend payer, but it's not exactly great, either. Revenue has grown even slower, at 14.7%. However, take a look at an even longer time frame, and you'll notice that its earnings have grown much faster than revenue -- which is a testament to ITW becoming a more efficient, higher-margin business.

ITW EPS Diluted (TTM) Chart

A leaner business with widening margins is better than an overextended model that leans heavily on sales growth at the expense of margins. But eventually, ITW will need to chart a path toward both wider margins and higher revenue, especially because there's a limit to how many efficiency improvements a business can make.

If you tune in to a typical ITW earnings call, you'll find that most of the conversation centers around margins. It might seem trivial to go back and forth about a single percentage point in margins. But ITW generated $16.1 billion in trailing 12-month revenue and $4.2 billion in operating income -- so each percentage point change in margin equates to a $160 million difference in operating income.

Since ITW is involved in so many different industries (and generates a significant amount of sales from outside North America), no company is an exact competitor. However, some companies compete with it in one or more segments. And ITW has significantly higher margins than many of these peers.

ITW Operating Margin (TTM) Chart

Despite having lower revenue than Genuine Parts, Parker Hannifin, W.W. Grainger, and Emerson Electric, ITW has the highest operating income of any company on this list. What makes it such a special company is that it combines size with wide margins across many different product categories. Conglomerates can often be bulky and inefficient, but ITW is a good example of an effective conglomerate that is benefiting from diversification.

Expect a dividend raise soon

Last August, ITW announced a 7% dividend hike to $1.40 per share per quarter. ITW typically announces its annual payout raises in the summer, with the first affected payout coming in October. Given the consistency of its dividend program, investors should expect an announcement sometime in the next couple of months.

Not all Dividend Kings use stock buybacks as a primary way to return capital to shareholders, but ITW plans to repurchase $1.5 billion of its shares this year. By comparison, it distributed $418 million in dividends last quarter -- or roughly $1.7 billion during the past year. So on the surface, ITW's 2.4% yield may not look super attractive, but its capital return program is much stronger when one factors in the buyback program.

High margins help ITW squeeze more profit from every dollar in revenue. But buying back stock reduces its share count, leading to higher earnings per share. During the past five years, it has reduced its shares outstanding by 7.8%, which has boosted EPS by 36.1% even as net income rose by 24.2%.

Buybacks have also helped keep a lid on ITW's valuation. The recent sell-off in the stock paired with steady earnings growth has dropped its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio down to just 23.4 -- which is below its three-, five- and seven-year median P/E ratios. And ITW was trading above these key levels just a few months ago.

ITW PE Ratio Chart

ITW is a well-rounded buy

ITW is a phenomenal business, but its valuation was pricey, and its revenue growth is weak. Now that the stock has sold off, the conglomerate's only bad quality is its low sales growth.

There are nearly perfect businesses, but there's no such thing as a perfect stock. The best companies are usually expensive relative to their trailing or projected earnings, while bad companies trade at cheap levels for good reasons.

However, ITW is close to a perfect blue chip dividend stock. It is an extremely efficient business with high margins, an over 50-year track record of raising dividends, a sizable buyback program, and a reasonable valuation. The conglomerate model works well for ITW and helps the company offset much of the cyclicality of its various end markets.

Add it all up, and there's a lot to like about ITW as a top-tier Dividend King to buy and hold for years to come.

Should you invest $1,000 in Illinois Tool Works right now?

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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!*

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Pepsi Is a Rock-Solid Dividend King, but So Is This Blue Chip Stock That's Down 12% in the Past 3 Months was originally published by The Motley Fool
Percentage Of Americans Without Homeowners Insurance More Than Doubles In Five Years

The Insurance Information Institute recently conducted a study which revealed that the percentage of Americans without homeowner's insurance has more than doubled since 2019. Currently, 12% of American homeowners have opted to go without insurance, compared to only 5% in 2019. Rising premiums across some of America's most highly populated states appear to be pricing many homeowners out of the market.

Don't Miss:

Not carrying a homeowner's policy is called "going bare" because it leaves homeowners naked against risks like fire, theft, or natural disasters. The latest results from the Insurance Information Institute are not just high compared to five years ago; they are the highest percentage of American homeowners going bare that the Institute has ever recorded.

Mark Friedlander, the Director of Corporate Communications at the Insurance Information Institute, expressed concern about the risk to homeowners in an interview with USA Today, saying, "It is a very concerning trend as catastrophe losses continue to escalate. It is not feasible for most Americans to pay out of pocket for a significant loss to their property."

It's worth noting that many homeowners do not want to go bare. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence data firm, home insurance premiums have increased 11% nationally in the last year. That's an alarming increase, but it doesn't tell the full story.

Trending: Want to invest in homes? $10 is enough on this platform that lets you cash out whenever you want.

California, Florida, and Texas are some of America's most populous states. In the past decade, they have all been beset by natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires, and mudslides. These natural disasters have combined to do billions of dollars in damages to property. The cost of covering the claims has become so prohibitive that many of America's largest insurance companies have stopped writing policies in states at high risk for natural disasters.

The lack of market competition will drive prices up on its own. However, the increased power and frequency of natural disasters (which many scientists attribute to climate change) also contribute to the premium increases. A recent USA Today article reports that Floridians pay the highest premiums in the country. So many carriers have left the market that state-run carrier Citizens Property Insurance is the largest insurer in the state.

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A similar situation exists in California, where the state's public insurance carrier of last resort was getting so many applications that its website intermittently crashed earlier this year. For those who are fortunate enough to get policies, they have a tremendous number of exclusions and high deductibles. This is what is leading so many homeowners to "go bare." They want insurance, but they simply can't find it.

Trending: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100.

California homeowner Anjali Tierra's recent experience with home insurance provides a revealing snapshot of the difficulty in obtaining an affordable policy. She told USA Today that she dropped her insurer in 2019 after getting a policy renewal notice increasing her premium from $100/month to $350/month, which she didn't think she could afford on her fixed income. Since then, she has been unable to find an insurer willing to cover her at any price.

Tierra told USA Today, "Every year, usually in the springtime, I will start to do the research again. I will randomly choose an insurance company to see if theyll cover me. And since 2019, Ive been rejected by every insurance company, large and small." Now, she lives with the risk that a fire could wipe out her most valuable asset and leave her with nothing.

Every fire season, she takes as many precautions as possible to protect her home in the Tehachapi Mountains. She actively keeps brush away from her home and even has trouble installing ember-resistant vents on her roof. Despite that, she sits on pins and needles for every fire season. Tierra knows the risk, but she just can't stop it.

She told USA Today, "This is my nest egg. I do everything I can do to protect my pets and to protect my emotional welfare, but it has been emotionally draining." She's not alone. The scary part about this is that these problems are only beginning. As property values and climate risk rise, so will insurance premiums and the number of homeowners who "go bare."

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No generation before Gen Z has had this investment opportunity  How successful Zoomers plan to retire in their 30's .

Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg?  How does it compare to the average?

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This article Percentage Of Americans Without Homeowners Insurance More Than Doubles In Five Years originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
For many investors, the main point of stock picking is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But the risk of stock picking is that you will likely buy under-performing companies. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSE:PNC.B) shareholders, since the share price is down 39% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return of around 17%. And over the last year the share price fell 33%, so we doubt many shareholders are delighted. More recently, the share price has dropped a further 9.6% in a month.

It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that.

View our latest analysis for Postmedia Network Canada

Because Postmedia Network Canada made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally hope to see good revenue growth. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth.

Over the last three years, Postmedia Network Canada's revenue dropped 0.2% per year. That is not a good result. The stock has disappointed holders over the last three years, falling 11%, annualized. That makes sense given the lack of either profits or revenue growth. Of course, sentiment could become too negative, and the company may actually be making progress to profitability.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

If you are thinking of buying or selling Postmedia Network Canada stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

Postmedia Network Canada shareholders are down 33% for the year, but the market itself is up 12%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 0.3% over the last half decade. 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. 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. Case in point: We've spotted 5 warning signs for Postmedia Network Canada you should be aware of, and 4 of them are a bit unpleasant.

But note: Postmedia Network Canada may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian 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
Ulviyya Shahin

Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, currently visiting Italy, met with Alessandro Bresciani, Senior Vice President for Climate Technology Solutions at Baker Hughes, Azernews reports citing the ministry.

The meeting focused on strengthening the energy technology company's involvement in the energy transition and enhancing cooperation with Azerbaijan to increase productivity and efficiency through new technologies. Discussions also included sustainable energy solutions and collaboration towards decarbonization efforts. Additionally, there was an exchange of views on advancing the energy transition through COP29 and cooperation with Baker Hughes in this regard.

During another meeting with Alessandra Pasini, Co-Founder and CEO of Zhero Europe, discussions centered on potential cooperation concerning electric natural gas (e-NG) derived from green hydrogen. They explored the role of these "green molecules" in achieving net-zero emissions, particularly in large-scale renewable energy projects linking Europe with Africa. Zhero expressed interest in collaborating with Azerbaijan on electric natural gas within the framework of projects like the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe and Central Asia-Azerbaijan-Europe green energy corridors, as well as hydrogen production-export plans.
PeopleImages / iStock.com

Back in the day, going on vacation or visiting your family out of town usually resulted in having to find a hotel. In these modern times, Airbnb is a go-to choice for travelers looking to book accommodations for themselves and property owners who are looking to take advantage of some additional income.

Check Out: How To Generate Passive Income With Just $1,000

For You: 5 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

The question of how much you can make varies from host to host in this short term rental game. According to Airbnbs pricing strategies, most hosts pay a flat service fee of 3% of the booking subtotal, which is your nightly price plus any optional fees you charge guests, like a cleaning fee, but not including Airbnb fees and taxes.

So how much profit do you really make if you own an Airbnb? GOBankingRates asked a few hosts and found out.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Consider Both Profits and Costs

As an Airbnb host, you can make good money, but you need to be aware of both the profit potential and hidden costs, said Ben Julius, the founder of Tourist Italy.

For example, the average U.S. Airbnb hosts earn around $13,800 per year, but this can vary depending on location and season, Julius explained. High-demand periods like holidays or peak tourist seasons can significantly boost your earnings. During these times, Ive seen my nightly rates jump from $100 to $200, easily bringing in an extra $1,500 during a busy week.

Hidden costs are a big factor. Julius highlighted the fact that hosts tend to face higher utility bills  about $50 extra per month  cleaning fees, which are around $75 per stay, local taxes and Airbnbs host fee.

Dont forget about local regulations, as some areas might require a business license or additional taxes, Julius added. Plus, youll need to spend on maintenance and providing basic amenities for guests, which can add up to $100 monthly.

I also charge a refundable security deposit of $200 to cover any minor damages, which has been backed by Airbnb when needed, Julius shared. While Airbnbs $1 million host guarantee and liability insurance provide some peace of mind, they dont cover everything. I strongly recommend making sure your homeowners insurance policy covers your rental activities, and consider additional coverage if necessary.

In my experience, a well-located property in a popular area of New Jersey can generate about 20%-30% more income through Airbnb compared to traditional long-term rentals, said Raf Pereira, the founder of Stocks.News.

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For instance, my two-bedroom apartment in Jersey City, which would typically rent for $2,500 monthly, brings in an average of $3,200 per month on Airbnb, offered Pereira. However, its crucial to factor in the hidden costs: cleaning fees about $100 per turnover  higher utility bills  roughly 30% more  and increased wear and tear on furnishings.

Pereira also pointed out that some often overlooked profit margin is the ability to block off dates for personal use, essentially giving owners free vacations, as well as the potential for long-term guests during off-peak seasons, which can help to stabilize income.

Learn More: Rich Dad Robert Kiyosaki: Buy These 8 Assets To Get So Rich You Can Quit Your Job Forever

Demand Fluctuates

Shaun Bettman, part of Eden Emerald Mortgages in Sydney, Australia, commented that  in a high-demand area like Sydneys city center, a well-furnished one-bedroom apartment can generate anywhere from AUD $200 to $400 per night. However, actual profits depend on occupancy rates, which can fluctuate seasonally. On average, hosts might see a profit margin of 50%-60% after expenses, assuming an occupancy rate of 60%-70%.

There are several areas where Airbnb hosts can find unrealized profit margins, such as dynamic pricing strategies  adjust pricing based on demand  adding unique experiences [like] offering local tours or experiences, and optimizing tax deductions, said Bettman.

Recalling from personal experience, Bettman shared, One of my clients in Melbourne operates a two-bedroom Airbnb property that grossed approximately AUD $90,000 last year.

After accounting for all expenses, including a mortgage, the net profit was around AUD $40,000.

This represents a significant profit margin, particularly when considering additional revenue from upselling experiences and maximizing tax deductions, Bettman explained.

Have Realistic Expectations

While you might be making additional income, much of which could be considered passive, some Airbnb hosts feel that the money is not exactly what was advertised when they put their additional room, in-law unit or home on the app.

Airbnb hosting can be lucrative, but profit margins are often exaggerated, said Chris Yang, co-founder of Coins Value, who also understood that the figures vary wildly depending on location, property type and market demand.

In my case, I converted a spare bedroom in my San Francisco apartment into an Airbnb rental, Yang explained. Initially, I projected a monthly profit of $2,000. However, after accounting for all expenses, my monthly profit averaged $1,350. This 32.5% reduction in expected earnings was eye-opening.

Hidden costs significantly impact profitability, added Yang. Cleaning fees averaged $150 per turnover and consumed 15% of my gross income. Additionally, utilities increased by 30%, and I spent $200 monthly on amenities and supplies. These expenses and Airbnbs 3% host fee reduced my profit margin to 55% of the gross income.

Watch for Opportunities

But in the end, Yang admitted that unrealized profit opportunities also exist from being an Airbnb host  you just have to keep an open mind and seize opportunities when they arrive.

By offering paid add-ons like airport transfers or local experience packages, I boosted my monthly income by an additional $300, Yang said. Furthermore, strategic pricing during peak seasons and events increased my occupancy rate by 20%, allowing for a 15% premium on nightly rates.

What most hosts agreed on is that you have to understand the margins that come with your Airbnb. To keep profits up, understand your expenses, set competitive pricing, optimize your listing with high quality pictures and positive guest reviews, and take advantage of tax deductions from expenses related to your Airbnb rental  such as utilities, maintenance and insurance.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Rent Out a Home on Airbnb: Heres How Much Profit I Actually Bring In
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Rivian on Tuesday said it had no plans to produce vehicles with Volkswagen after a media report said the U.S. electric vehicle maker was in early talks with the German automaker to extend a recent partnership beyond software.

Shares of Rivian dipped 1.5% in extended trade.

German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter, that an extended partnership might include producing Rivian's smaller and less expensive R2 SUVs at VW's South Carolina plant that is currently being built.

"There are no plans for production of vehicles with Volkswagen Group," a Rivian spokesperson said in an email to Reuters. Volkswagen declined to comment on the media report and said its clear focus was on the JV.

Rivian has not changed its plans to start producing the R2 at its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, followed by production at a planned Georgia plant, the Rivian spokesperson said.

The companies said last week that VW would invest up to $5 billion in Rivian as part of a deal to share electrical architecture and software - a big shot in the arm for the startup amid slowing EV demand. For VW, the JV gives much needed EV technology that traditional automakers have struggled to build.

VW has said it plans to produce its Scout-branded electric SUVs and pickups at the South Carolina plant from 2026. A spokesperson for Scout Motors said, "We have not had any conversations about producing Rivian vehicles."

(Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco and Victoria Waldersee in Berlin; Editing by Cynthia OstermanAdditional reporting by Noel Randewich in Oakland, CaliforniaEditing by Matthew Lewis)
During the Republican National Convention later this month, 100 local businesses will have the opportunity to share their products on a national stage.

Convention Fest will be a marketplace for those with credentials to sample local products.

Here's what to know about the vendor fair.

Who can attend Convention Fest?

Organizers have decided that the event will only be accessible to those with RNC credentials., Visit Milwaukee President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith said at a recent Milwaukee Press Club event.

"Although we wanted it to be a public event, this is safer for everyone involved," Williams-Smith said.

Convention Fest will be located within the inner security perimeter, or the "hard zone." The only individuals permitted in this area will be delegates, other officials, and members of the media.

Even though Convention Fest will not be open to the public, there will be no shortage of people in attendance. An estimated 15,000 journalists alone are expected, along with delegates and other officials.

Which vendors will be at Convention Fest?

Immy's African Cuisine is one of the vendors, and restaurant owner Immy Kaggwa is thrilled. Although she has had years of experience catering to major events in the area, such as Bastille Days and the Holiday Folk Fair, this will be her largest event.

"It's very exciting to be part of the convention. ... To talk to new people and see their reactions and interact. All of that is wonderful," Kaggwa said.

A combination plate at Immy's African Cuisine is served at 2847 N. Oakland Ave., in Milwaukee.

On the menu, she has curated a selection of customer favorites. Expect to see coconut curry chicken with spinach, goat curry, smoked jerk chicken with a vegetable stew, and vegan coconut chickpea curry. All of these East African dishes will be served with basmati rice.

Originally from Uganda, Kaggwa describes this type of food as "unique and flavorful." She has been living in Milwaukee since 1990, and especially loves the city in the summertime.

Waukesha's Scrima's Pizza will also be at the event.

Owner Joe Scrima insists on using local, quality ingredients such as olive oil and Wisconsin Grande cheese on the pizzas. Sauce is always made by hand, and Scrima himself grinds the pork into sausage using his grandfather's recipe.

Although the food selection for the event has not been decided yet, breadsticks and lemonade will be on the menu. Scrima is considering adding "Italian Nachos" to the list; thin corn chips smothered in homemade Alfredo sauce with sausage and topped with giardiniera.

Scrima didn't always work in the culinary business. The retired army veteran worked in construction until 2008, when he decided to take a chance and open up a small pizza shop in a gas station. He soon realized that competition can be intense and knew that he needed to do something different to stand out.

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"I decided to build a wood-fired pizza oven that's on a trailer and go to different flea markets and things. Now, over the 12 years I've built up, I have three of these wood-fired ovens," says Scrima.

Slo' Motion BBQ, based in Sussex, is also gearing up for Convention Fest. Owner Adam Geggare hopes by attending to "define what it means to be Wisconsin-based barbecue."

Ribs, mac n' cheese, and its bestseller, brisket, will be on the menu. Attendees will also be able to sample scratch-made sauces, including their "Cheesehead Gravy," a tangy and bold mustard sauerkraut blend.

Geggare praises the organizers of the event, saying the process of being a vendor has been smooth.

"You can tell they know what they're doing. ... The RNC organizers are doing a great job," says Geggare.

Slo' Motion BBQ is based in Sussex and offers a variety of barbecue dishes.

Ainnie's Sweets will have a spread of specialty desserts. Peanut butter bars, turtle brownies and butter pecan cheesecake are some of her most popular items.

Owner Tonya McCarty has been running her business since 2020. She was inspired after her grandmother and great aunt, Ainnie, appeared to her in a dream. The two had taught McCarty to bake when she was nine years old, and she took this as a sign to return to baking. She makes all of her desserts from scratch and is excited for the event.

What was the process like to be a vendor?

On National Small Business Day, the Committee of Arrangements and the 2024 Milwaukee Host Committee put out a press release encouraging local businesses to take part in Convention Fest. There was a link provided to apply, and the deadline was May 22.

Businesses who wished to participate submitted an application with their information. Participation was approved by both the COA and the Host Committee, with limited space a factor in the decision.

Practical information regarding the event

Convention Fest will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, July 15, to Thursday, July 18. It will be held outside the Baird Center on Kilbourn Avenue, facing the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Immy's, Scrima's among local vendors at RNC 'Convention Fest'
Shares of Chewy (NYSE: CHWY) jumped about 18% in pre-market trading on July 1. Folks were responding to recent activity from the highly influential retail stock trader Keith Gill, aka Roaring Kitty.

On the afternoon of June 27, Gill posted a generic dog illustration on his preferred social media platform. Chewy stock jumped in response to the cryptic post because many of Gill's followers know that Chewy's founder and former CEO, Ryan Cohen, is also chairman of GameStop's board of directors and its CEO.

Chewy's stock rally fizzled out on Friday, June 28, only to resume in force on the morning of Monday, July 1, after Gill disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a 6.6% stake in the online pet product retailer.

Is Chewy a stock to buy, sell, or hold now that the internet's most popular trader has a significant stake? Let's explore our options.

Reasons to buy Chewy stock

At the end of March, Chewy had 19.98 million customers. This is enough to give the niche retailer significant negotiating power with Mars, Nestle, and other major pet product manufacturers.

For example, a 16-pound bag of my cats' favorite dry food costs a few dollars less at Chewy than it does at Walmart if I get it automatically shipped. Auto-ship orders make up 77.6% of Chewy's net sales, and they're extra sticky because members with auto-ship orders are eligible for free chats with licensed veterinarians.

Despite selling pet food at a lower price than America's largest retailer, Chewy is reporting a profit. During the 12 months ended April 28, net income reached $84 million, which was 65.7% more than it reported in the previous-year period.

A reason to sell Chewy stock

Negotiating power that comes with a large customer base is an important advantage, but it isn't a very strong one. Amazon keeps its Prime membership numbers under wraps, but it's estimated at roughly 75% of all U.S. consumers.

Walmart isn't competing for my cat food budget, but Amazon is. At the moment, automatic shipments of my cats' favorite dry food from Amazon cost the exact same amount as auto shipments from Chewy. Amazon doesn't offer free chats with veterinarians, but it has the resources to do so if it chooses.

All this means competition from Amazon is making it hard for Chewy to retain customers. At the end of its fiscal first quarter, there were 2.1% fewer active customers than the company reported a year earlier.

A reason to hold Chewy stock

The Roaring Kitty-induced stock bump that began in the pre-market session on July 1 didn't survive the opening bell. By 10:45 a.m. ET, the stock was 4% lower than it was at the end of the previous session.

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At the moment, it doesn't look like Chewy is going to become the next big meme stock, but it still could.

At recent prices, you can buy Chewy for about 27.6 times forward-looking earnings expectations. That's not an unreasonable valuation for a company that recently reported trailing earnings that rose by nearly two-thirds over the past 12 months.

The best move for most investors

If Gill's disclosure had driven Chewy's stock price up to an unreasonable multiple of forward-looking earnings, I'd be shouting "sell," but that didn't happen.

Buying up Chewy stock while the company is losing customers to fierce competition with Amazon is probably a bad idea, despite Gill's endorsement.

Generally speaking, doing nothing is usually the best decision an investor can make, and that's the case with Chewy right now. Holding the stock if it's already in your portfolio looks like the smartest move investors can make.

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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Cory Renauer has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Chewy, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Nestle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Roaring Kitty Has a Big Chewy Position. Is It Time to Buy, Sell, or Hold the Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Russia is seeking China's help in developing an Arctic sea route that could almost halve the journey time between Europe and Asia, although the heightened geopolitical risk and Moscow's suspicion about Beijing's intentions in the region may limit their scope for cooperation.

Russia hopes the Northern Sea Route (NSR) will become a year-round shipping lane as global warming makes it possible to send ships through waters that were previously only passable in summer.

Some shipping is already using the route, but at the moment it is only passable for around 20 to 30 days a year along a 5,600km stretch between the Kara Sea, off the northwest coast of Siberia, to the Bering Strait, which separates Russia from Alaska.

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.

But as more of the Arctic's ice melts, the route may eventually be extended to Scandinavia and offer easier access to the North Sea than the Baltic.

Travelling between Shanghai and St Petersburg along this route would take a cargo ship around 20 days, compared with around 36 days via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, according to Russian media.

Cargo carried along the route could reach 270 million tonnes by 2035 - a nearly 10-fold increase on 2022, according to Rosatom, the Russian agency that oversees the sea lane.

The impact of Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has increased Moscow's sense of urgency in developing and expanding its use.

Although China relies on the sea to transport more than 60 per cent of its trade by volume so the route could help offset the risk from using existing routes, Wang Yue, a doctoral researcher at Tampere University in Finland, said "Russia is significantly more motivated than China" to develop the route.

Wang, who specialises in security and geopolitics in the Arctic, said the importance the two countries attached to the route "greatly varied".

"For Russia, the Arctic region is a top strategic and economic priority, and the NSR is crucial for transporting its abundant Arctic resources to the market," he said.

"In contrast, while the Arctic is important to China, it is just one of many emerging strategic areas, and the NSR is merely a valuable alternative to traditional shipping routes."

Russia has just over half the Arctic Ocean's coastline. For a long time, particularly during the Cold War, security was its main concern in the region, although Mikhail Gorbachev introduced a series of measures to start developing its resources and boost scientific research in the last years of the Soviet Union.

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But Russia remained deeply suspicious of foreign involvement in the Arctic, particularly from non-Arctic nations. It opposed granting China observer status on the Arctic Council, the main international forum for coordinating policy, until 2013.

Faced with economic isolation over its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is now turning to China for help in developing the sea route with President Vladimir Putin saying last year there were "promising" signs in this regard.

In May the two sides agreed to set up a committee to "push forward the development of the Arctic shipping route into an important international transportation corridor" and increase shipping traffic and infrastructure.

Zhao Long, a senior research fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said: "In the face of the deepening crisis in the Red Sea, [China] could also help explore the economic, technical and environmental viability of NSR as a 'complementary corridor' for international transportation."

In recent months shipping passing through the Red Sea en route for the Suez Canal has come under attack from Yemen's Houthi rebels in what they say is a show of support for Gaza.

The route's importance - and its vulnerability as a potential choke point - was highlighted three years ago when a ship became stuck in the canal, blocking an estimated US$9.6 billion worth of trade.

Other major sea lanes are also becoming increasingly risky.

The South China Sea, which is used by an estimated 60 per cent of global maritime trade, has seen an increase in tensions after a series of confrontations between Beijing and rival claimants, most notably the Philippines.

Chinese shipping passing through the waters has to pass through the Strait of Malacca, where a blockade could cut vital lines of communication between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean - a problem known as the Malacca dilemma.

Meanwhile in the Panama Canal, a prolonged drought has forced substantial cuts to the number of daily ship crossings that have been in force since October.

Zhao said developing the Arctic route could also boost cooperation between China and Russia in areas such as infrastructure, shipbuilding and energy exploration - but warned that the benefits for Beijing should not be overstated.

Currently the sea lane is only crossed by a relatively small number of cargo ships.

According to Rosatom, last year saw 80 transit voyages along the sea route with a total tonnage of more than 36 million tonnes. By contrast Suez saw more than 26,000 ships passing through.

Chinese firms also risk being targeted by Western efforts to tighten sanctions on Russia, including moves by the European Union to target Russian supplies of liquefied natural gas.

Last month the first Chinese shipyard - Penglai Jutal Offshore Engineering Heavy Industries, which builds and ships natural gas liquefaction technology - was sanctioned by the US over its involvement in Russian oil and gas projects.

A few days later, Wison New Energies, a Chinese engineering firm that had been providing equipment for Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project in northern Siberia, said it was suspending its operations in the country "after careful and thorough evaluation".

"These [measures] will increase the commercial risks of joint Chinese-Russian development of the NSR. Shipping and offshore companies, which build modules and engineering equipment for Russia's Arctic projects, as well as the transport companies involved in the NSR will be subjected to long-arm jurisdiction risks," Zhao said.

Wang, from Tampere University, warned there were still major hurdles to overcome in developing the route, including the harsh environment, short shipping window, the need for specialised equipment and, most critically, the lack of infrastructure.

"In theory, Chinese investment could help bridge these infrastructure gaps. However, several factors may deter Chinese investors from committing substantial funds, including China's focus on domestic economic development under the dual circulation strategy, the relatively low trade volume between China and Russia and escalating geopolitical tensions," he said.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, trade between Russia and China has expanded dramatically -from US$146.9 billion in 2021 to US$240.1 billion last year - but this is dwarfed by trade with the United States, which last year stood at US$664.4 billion.

Fuel is currently the main cargo shipped through the Arctic, but Artyom Lukin, an associate professor at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, said it was unclear how interested China would be in exploiting the region's hydrocarbon resources given its goal of reaching peak emissions by 2030.

Vladimir Putin pictured with Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing in May. Photo: AP alt=Vladimir Putin pictured with Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing in May. Photo: AP>

He also said the proposed new route may not resolve the Malacca dilemma because it passes through the Bering Strait, a key choke point between Russia and Alaska.

"It stands to reason that if there is a major military confrontation between the US and China, the US may just as well attempt to block the Bering Strait, denying it to Chinese shipping," Lukin said.

To avoid this risk China and Russia could instead focus on developing waterways in the continental Eurasia to link China to the Northern Sea Route via Siberia's great rivers, but this would be expensive.

"However, if realised, China and Russia will get a link connecting Asia and the Arctic Ocean, which, among other things, will be immune to US interference," Lukin said.

There are signs the two sides have made progress on the scheme since Putin's most recent visit to China in May.

Soon after, the Chinese supply chain and real estate development corporation Xiamen C&D Group agreed to help develop Russia's Baltic Sea Ust-Luga Container Terminal in the Leningrad region along with the operator Delo group, according to the news portal portseurope.com.

Meanwhile, Rosatom and Hainan Yangpu NewNew Shipping have agreed a deal to operate a year-round container line on the Northern Sea Route.

This will include a joint venture agreement to design and build ice-class container ships and jointly operate the line. Last year, NewNew Shipping made seven voyages on the Northern Sea Route, a number expected to grow to 12 this year.

The report by Ports Europe also said that Ke Jin, a Russia-based executive from NewNew, had also expressed interest in developing Russia's Barents Sea port of Arkhangelsk , the western terminus of the Northern Sea Route.

Dmitry Yurkov, the official responsible for Arctic development in the Arkhangelsk region, told Russia's Tass news agency that there had been some 40 voyages between Arkhangelsk and Shanghai this year.

In 2016, the local government signed an agreement with Beijing-based Poly Group to construct a deep-water port there in 2016, but no significant progress has been made since then.

Wang said he expected further cooperation between the two countries, "but the extent and significance remain uncertain in the foreseeable future".

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.
Samsung Bioepis has announced US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for PYZCHIVA (ustekinumab-ttwe / SB17) as a biosimilar to Stelara (ustekinumab).

The approval includes subcutaneous injections of 45 mg/0.5 mL and 90 mg/mL, and an intravenous 130 mg/26 mL solution of the product.

PYZCHIVA is indicated for multiple conditions including moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis and moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The US regulator granted a provisional determination for PYZCHIVAs interchangeability designation.

The approval is based on comprehensive evidence confirming its biosimilarity to Stelara.

This includes analytical, non-clinical and clinical data that show no significant differences in safety, purity and potency.

A Phase I clinical trial demonstrated pharmacokinetic equivalence and comparable safety and immunogenicity profiles between PYZCHIVA and Stelara in healthy volunteers.

Further clinical evidence from a Phase III trial involving patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis supported the biosimilarity of SB17 to Stelara.

The study showed equivalent efficacy and comparable safety and pharmacokinetic profiles up to week 28.

The Phase III study also confirmed the biosimilarity of SB17 to Stelara in terms of efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity up to week 28.

Samsung Bioepis vice-president and regulatory affairs team leader Byoung In Jung stated: The FDA approval of PYZCHIVA as a biosimilar to Stelara is an important milestone for patients living with inflammatory conditions, as biosimilars can offer more choice and access to biologic treatments.

In addition, biosimilars have a potential to reduce the financial burden of healthcare systems, especially in the US where biologics account for more than 46% of the annual drug spending.

Samsung Bioepiss PYZCHIVA will be commercialised by Sandoz in the US.

In September 2023, the companies signed a commercialisation agreement for SB17 covering the US, Europe, Canada, Switzerland and the UK.

According to the settlement and licence agreement between Samsung Bioepis and Janssen Biotech, the licence period for PYZCHIVA in the US will commence on 22 February 2025.

"Samsung Bioepis PYZCHIVA gains FDA approval as Stelara biosimilar" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has secured an order to supply a fleet of mining equipment to Portuguese mining company Almina Minas do Alentejo.

The order, facilitated through Portuguese distributor Cimertex, includes a 32-unit fleet of loaders, autonomous trucks and underground drills. It is intended to double Almina's production capacity.

Under the contract, Sandvik will deliver 20 Toro TH663i trucks, five Toro LH621i loaders, four Sandvik DS411 rock bolters and three Sandlink DL421 longhole production drills.

The company plans to commence deliveries in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 and extend into 2025.

This move is set to enhance Almina's operations within the Iberian pyrite belt, increasing its output to six million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

This agreement builds on a previous 2023 order from Cimertex for 18 Toro TH663i trucks, which have all been delivered.

Cimertex executive director Alvaro Bastos said: Almina will soon operate one of the largest Sandvik fleets in all of Europe.

Almina is seeking higher productivity and lower costs, and Sandviks autonomous loaders and longhole drills have already proven to deliver higher utilisation operating during shift change.

Sandvik said that 12 of the 20 Toro TH663i trucks included in the new order will feature AutoMine Fleet automation system.

The system enables the seamless management of a fleet of Sandvik underground loaders and trucks within the same production space, offering remote control and monitoring capabilities.

The service contract with Sandvik spans seven years, ensuring full aftermarket service for Almina.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions Iberia territory manager Enrique Mota said: This cooperation represents a strong mutual trust among Almina, Cimertex and Sandvik, and strengthens more than 20 years of collaboration with our strategic partner and Portuguese distributor Cimertex.

In a separate announcement, Sandvik has also announced an order from an undisclosed mining client in South East Asia for the delivery of Sandvik DD422i development drills, Sandvik DL432i longhole drills, a Sandvik DL422i longhole drill and Sandvik DS422i rock bolters.

Deliveries are expected to start in Q3 2024 and conclude by Q2 2025.

Last month, Sandvik Mining unveiled the electric Sandvik DR416iE, a rotary blasthole drill that extends the company's intelligent drilling range.

"Sandvik to supply mining equipment to Almina in Portugal" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in Universal Electronics Inc.'s (NASDAQ:UEIC) instance, it's good news for shareholders.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

Check out our latest analysis for Universal Electronics

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Universal Electronics

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Chairman & CEO Paul Arling bought US$99k worth of shares at a price of US$9.97 per share. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of US$11.22. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.

While Universal Electronics 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!

Universal Electronics 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 Universal Electronics Boast High Insider Ownership?

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. From our data, it seems that Universal Electronics insiders own 5.8% of the company, worth about US$8.7m. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing!

What Might The Insider Transactions At Universal Electronics Tell Us?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Universal Electronics shares in the last quarter. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. The transactions are fine but it'd be more encouraging if Universal Electronics insiders bought more shares in the company. 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.

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.

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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
Ulviyya Shahin

"Prospects for cooperation between the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) were discussed."

Azernews reports that CBA Chairman Taleh Kazimov shared this information on his "X" social network account.

"During a business trip to Tajikistan, we held bilateral talks with Tomas Jordan, Chairman of the Central Bank of Tajikistan. We discussed the current situation and future prospects for cooperation between our central banks. T. Jordan emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration between our institutions and fostering close partnerships within the Electoral Group countries. We expressed gratitude for his significant contributions to promoting these initiatives. We wished Mr. Jordan success in his new endeavors," Kazimov stated.

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) is the country's monetary authority responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy, regulating financial institutions, and maintaining price stability.

It plays a crucial role in overseeing Azerbaijan's financial system and promoting economic stability through its monetary policy decisions.

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is Switzerland's central bank, responsible for monetary policy, issuing Swiss franc banknotes, and managing Switzerland's foreign exchange reserves.

It is known for its independence and its role in maintaining price stability and supporting the Swiss economy.
As the global travel sector shows signs of robust recovery, reflected by companies like Currensea rapidly expanding their market presence, investors are keenly watching market trends and opportunities. In Singapore, the focus on dividend stocks remains strong as they offer potential for steady income in a fluctuating economic landscape. A good stock in this context is one that not only provides reliable dividends but also demonstrates stability and growth potential amid current market conditions.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Singapore

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating BRC Asia (SGX:BEC) 7.34%  China Sunsine Chemical Holdings (SGX:QES) 6.34%  Civmec (SGX:P9D) 6.00%  Singapore Exchange (SGX:S68) 3.62%  Multi-Chem (SGX:AWZ) 8.80%  UOB-Kay Hian Holdings (SGX:U10) 6.87%  UOL Group (SGX:U14) 3.82%  Bumitama Agri (SGX:P8Z) 6.77%  Singapore Airlines (SGX:C6L) 6.98%  YHI International (SGX:BPF) 6.56% 

Click here to see the full list of 21 stocks from our Top SGX Dividend Stocks screener.

We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Multi-Chem Limited is an investment holding company that distributes information technology products across Singapore, Greater China, Australia, India, and other international markets, with a market capitalization of SGD 248.66 million.

Operations: Multi-Chem Limited generates revenue primarily through its IT business in Singapore (SGD 372.78 million), followed by other international markets (SGD 153.93 million), Australia (SGD 54.60 million), India (SGD 40.56 million), and Greater China (SGD 34.96 million).

Dividend Yield: 8.8%

Multi-Chem Limited, a player in Singapore's dividend stock arena, is trading at 42.9% below its estimated fair value, making it an attractive option for value-focused investors. Despite a volatile dividend history over the past decade, the company maintains a payout ratio of 80.7%, with dividends well-covered by both earnings and cash flows (cash payout ratio at 88.1%). Recent board changes, including the appointment of Chong Teck Sin as Chairman and ARMC head on April 30, 2024, could signal strategic shifts enhancing governance and potentially stabilizing future dividends.

SGX:AWZ Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Boustead Singapore Limited operates as an investment holding company, offering energy engineering, real estate, geospatial, and healthcare technology solutions across various global regions including Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, the US, Europe, and more. The company has a market capitalization of approximately SGD 491.80 million.

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Operations: Boustead Singapore Limited generates revenue through its geospatial, healthcare technology, energy engineering, and real estate solutions segments, with earnings of SGD 212.67 million, SGD 10.58 million, SGD 174.41 million, and SGD 369.46 million respectively.

Dividend Yield: 5.3%

Boustead Singapore Limited, despite a projected average earnings decline of 9.9% over the next three years, maintains a solid dividend profile with a low cash payout ratio of 28.6% and an earnings coverage ratio of 40.9%. However, its dividend yield of 5.34% falls short compared to Singapore's top dividend payers at 6.25%. The company recently reported substantial growth in sales and net income for the year ending March 31, 2024, with sales reaching SGD 767.57 million and net income at SGD 64.19 million.

SGX:F9D Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: United Overseas Bank Limited operates globally, offering a broad range of banking products and services, with a market capitalization of approximately SGD 52.39 billion.

Operations: United Overseas Bank Limited generates its revenue from a diverse array of banking products and services offered worldwide.

Dividend Yield: 5.4%

United Overseas Bank has a history of volatile dividends over the past decade, reflecting an unstable dividend track record. Despite this, the bank's recent financial performance shows a slight dip in net interest income and net income for Q1 2024. It recently initiated a share repurchase program, aiming to buy back up to 5.01% of its issued share capital using internal funds or borrowings. The bank's dividends are currently well-covered by earnings with a payout ratio of 50.8%, though its dividend yield at 5.43% is below the market's top quartile at 6.25%.

SGX:U11 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Next Steps

Take a closer look at our Top SGX Dividend Stocks list of 21 companies by clicking here.

Are any of these part of your asset mix? Tap into the analytical power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to get a 360-degree view on how they're shaping up.

Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world.

Contemplating Other Strategies?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SGX:AWZ SGX:F9D and SGX:U11.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad (KLSE:HENGYUAN) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 47% over a half decade. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 11% in the last three months.

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.

Check out our latest analysis for Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad

Because Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

In the last half decade, Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad saw its revenue increase by 14% per year. That's a pretty good rate for a long time period. We doubt many shareholders are ok with the fact the share price has fallen 8% each year for half a decade. Those who bought back then clearly believed in stronger growth - and maybe even profits. There is always a big risk of losing money yourself when you buy shares in a company that loses money.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

A Different Perspective

Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad shareholders are down 8.9% for the year, but the market itself is up 24%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. However, the loss over the last year isn't as bad as the 8% per annum loss investors have suffered over the last half decade. We'd need to see some sustained improvements in the key metrics before we could muster much enthusiasm. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad (1 is concerning) that you should be aware of.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: many of them are unnoticed AND have attractive valuation).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
US-based doughnut chain Shipley Do-Nuts has expanded its breakfast offerings with the introduction of new Egg & Cheese Kolaches [a Czech pastry].

The new offerings will be available in its 350 locations in the US until 30 September 2024.

Customers can order the pastries in-store and online for pickup or delivery.

Egg & Cheese Kolaches come in three varieties: classic Egg & Cheese, Egg, Cheese & Sausage, and Egg, Cheese, Sausage & Jalapeno.

Pricing starts at $2.99, while the Egg, Cheese & Sausage and the Egg, Cheese, Sausage & Jalapeno options start at $3.49.

Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Flynn Dekker said: Breakfast has always been a strong suit for us, and with Gen Z, demand is only growing. Our new kolaches check a lot of boxes for them  they are hot, protein-filled, affordable and easy to eat on the go.

Our new Egg & Cheese kolaches have tested off the charts with consumers. We soft-launched the new products in June at select stores, and sales have been more than 10 times our expectations.

We're already working on what we can do with our kolaches next as new consumers discover them.

Shipley has been selling kolaches for more than 25 years, and the pastries have become a cornerstone of its menu, now accounting for 34% of the company's sales.

The kolaches are handmade and baked fresh daily and feature a light yeast dough filled with a choice of sausage, ham, cheese and jalapeno.

The kolache was brought to Texas by Czech settlers in the mid-to-late 1800s.

Originally a sweet, fruit-filled pastry, the Texas kolache has evolved to include savoury options.

In October 2024, Shipley Do-Nuts signed a development agreement to further expand its presence in North Carolina.

"Shipley Do-Nuts adds Egg & Cheese Kolaches to breakfast menu" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
By Dawn Chmielewski

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Shares of Paramount Global jumped 6.5% on Wednesday after reports said Shari Redstone's National Amusements had reached a preliminary deal to sell its controlling interest in the storied media company to David Ellison's Skydance Media.

Skydance would pay $1.75 billion for National Amusements, which owns 77% of the voting shares of Paramount, as per the tentative agreement, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

The deal includes a 45-day "go-shop" period, in which other bidders could submit offers, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news.

CNBC reported on Wednesday that Skydance would buy 50% of the media company's Class B non-voting stock at $15 per share.

Paramount shares were trading at $11.42.

Others who have expressed interest in acquiring National Amusements include film producer Steven Paul, Seagram heir Edgar Bronfman Jr. and IAC's Barry Diller.

One source with ties to a potential bidder told Reuters it was unlikely the others would abandon their efforts, in part because they may put forth bids that are more lucrative for Paramount shareholders or Redstone personally.

National Amusements has referred the Skydance deal to a special committee of Paramount's board for review, according to two people familiar with the matter. Under the new arrangement,

National Amusements is not mandating that the Paramount merger be approved by a majority of non-Redstone shareholders, a previous sticking point, the Wall Street Journal said.

The sale is envisioned as the first part of a two-phase transaction, in which the smaller independent studio Skydance would merge with Paramount, home of the namesake film studio, CBS and cable networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon.

The century-old Paramount Pictures is known for films such as "Titanic", "The Godfather" and the "Transformers" franchise. Skydance has co-produced Paramount movies such as "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Star Trek Into Darkness".

Paramount declined to comment on a possible deal with Skydance, and a spokesperson for the special committee could not immediately be reached for comment.

Ellison, the son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has spent months in pursuit of Paramount, a combination that Redstone, daughter of late media tycoon Sumner Redstone, enthusiastically embraced, according to multiple sources. She nonetheless nixed the deal, after Skydance adjusted its offer to provide more money for other shareholders.

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National Amusements re-engaged with Skydance over the past week, even as it continued conversations with other interested parties, according to one source familiar with the talks.

Redstone always saw a strategic value in the combination of Paramount and Skydance, the source said.

National Amusements owns movie theaters in the United States, Britain and Latin America, and holds the Redstone family's 77% of Paramount's class A voting stock.

(Reporting Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles ; Additional reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese and Juby Babu; Writing by Lisa Richwine;Editing by Shinjini Ganguli, Lincoln Feast and Pooja Desai)
Some of the products of Smithfield Foods.

Virginia-based Smithfield Foods says it will shutter its Altoona ham boning facility, a move that will leave 314 workers without jobs.

Smithfield's announcement this week comes on the heels of Tyson Foods closing its plant Friday in Perry, displacing 1,300 workers. The plant was Perry's largest employer.

Smithfield, owned by publicly traded WH Group, a Hong Kong-based company, says it will close the Altoona operation Aug. 30. The company said the move will improve manufacturing efficiency, with central Iowa production moving to Smithfield plants in Monmouth, Illinois; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Crete, Nebraska.

Smithfield said officials will meet with employees individually to discuss severance pay, financial incentives "to assure business continuity," and other employment opportunities within the company.

We appreciate the good work our Altoona employees have done over the years and are committed to supporting every employee through this transition, Doug Sutton, chief manufacturing officer for Smithfield Foods, said in a statement. He said Smithfield has been "successful in retaining many of our people" in other positions "during previous consolidations."

Smithfield operated in Lineage Inc.'s 325,000-square-foot cold storage facility at 612 Adventureland Drive N.E. The food processor uses about 10% of the space, said Altoona Economic Development Director Chad Quick. Iowa Cold Storage also shares the space.

Smithfield said it had operated in Altoona since 2020.

Altoona City Manager Randy Pierce said Lineage said state officials have agreed to help workers find new employment. The fast-growing city is home to large employers like Adventureland Park, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Bass Pro Shops and Meta's Facebook data center.

2023 was tough year for pork industry

An employee walks past a Tyson-branded trailer at the Perry pork packaging plant.

A glut of pigs has hurt profits for meatpackers as well as Iowa and U.S. pork producers, who experienced the largest losses in history last year.

More: Iowa pork producers' losses worst in 25 years amid high costs and declining demand

In April, WH Group said its first-quarter operating losses for U.S. and Mexico pork were $62 million. That, however, was a big improvement from the $218 million it said it lost during the same period a year earlier, thanks, in part, to operational improvements.

Smithfield said it employs nearly 4,000 people in Iowa at its farms and its food-processing facilities in Carroll, Denison, Des Moines, Mason City, Orange City, Sioux Center and Sioux City.

Last month, Arkansas-based Tyson reported second-quarter net earnings of $145 million compared with $97 million in losses a year earlier.

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Tyson, with operations across Iowa, said in March it would permanently close the Perry plant. The company said as the shutdown came last week that about 200 of the displaced employees have agreed to take jobs at other Tyson plants. It also retained nearly 70 employees to finish some work in connection with the closure, a city official said.

Perry city and business leaders expressed optimism that they eventually will find a new tenant for the building.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Smithfield closing its Altoona ham boning facility, cutting 314 jobs
shapecharge / Getty Images

The ongoing debate over retirement age has become a big topic this election year. Joe Biden and Donald Trump have talked about Social Security and whether to lower the retirement age.

Learn: Im a Retirement Planner: 4 Moves You Should Make if You Think Trump Will Win the 2024 Election

Retire: The Surprising Way You Can Get Guaranteed Retirement Income for Life

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Voter Opinions

Its a popular topic among the candidates for good reason  its one of the issues voters have said is important to them. In fact, according to research from Atticus, 79% of working Americans said a candidates stance on Social Security will influence their votes in the upcoming election.

Further, 47% said they would vote for a candidate advocating to lower the retirement age. Biden and Trump have talked about the retirement age and concerns about the future of Social Security.

Consider: Can You Realistically Follow Dave Ramseys 8% Retirement Rule?

Positive Impacts

Lets start with the positive. According to Brandon Gregg, an advisor and market president with BBK Wealth Management, there are many obvious reasons why many Americans want to lower the retirement age. Those include allowing some workers to retire earlier than expected for more time to enjoy retirement and providing more freedom for workers in their later years to pursue a career change.

Negative Impacts

However, one big sticking point is the already uncertain future of the Social Security program. According to a report from the Social Security trustees board in May, the agencys reserves will run out in 2035. Unless Congress takes action, recipients will then only receive 83% of their full benefits.

Such a large cut could severely impact the millions of people who rely on Social Security benefits for money to live in retirement. Workers and employers fund Social Security through payroll tax deductions.

Money and the Workforce

As you can imagine, lowering the retirement age and allowing more people to participate in the program would require much more money to fund Social Security. In addition, having more workers retire early would be a challenge for companies and the American workforce.

According to Gregg, More folks taking earlier retirement would only add to the problem of Social Security assets running out sooner, and a large influx of earlier retirees would impact the workforce as a whole.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security Retirement Age: Americans Want Biden or Trump to Lower It  but Would This Doom the Program?
In the roughly 24-month period leading up to their all-time high in December 2014, shares of Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) skyrocketed 400%. But it's been a turbulent journey since then, with the stock plunging 96% from that peak price.

Even this year, the airline stock is down a gut-wrenching 78%. That's truly disappointing considering that the broader market is in record territory.

Can Spirit Airlines stock, which sells for $3.66 (as of June 28), rise 173% to reach $10 by 2030? For what it's worth, shares were at that level as recently as January.

Spirit's troubles are hard to overlook

One big reason the stock has nosedived in 2024 was because the proposed merger with JetBlue fell through after regulators blocked the deal from happening. Shareholders were looking forward to the creation of a more powerful budget airline. With no suitor anymore, Spirit's troubling financial situation is now fully in the spotlight.

The first problem is the simple fact that this business has been struggling for a while to post positive earnings. In 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Spirit reported huge operating losses. And during the first three months of this year, the operating loss totaled $207 million. It's anyone's guess when -- or if -- Spirit can reverse this worrisome trend.

Adding to its financial woes is Spirit's alarming balance sheet. At the end of Q1, the company carried a massive debt load of $3.3 billion. That's a much higher balance than its cash and cash equivalents of $765 million. And even more striking, Spirit's debt burden is an eye-popping 750% larger than its current market cap of $388 million. Unless the business can get to profitability sooner rather than later, it could run out of money.

Spirit's challenges stand out when compared to the "big four" U.S. airlines. Delta, Southwest, American, and United all reported positive sales growth in their most recent quarters. Moreover, they were all profitable in 2023.

Meanwhile, Spirit posted a revenue decline of 6.2% in Q1, marking its third straight quarterly drop. And executives believe the company's sales will fall 7.2% in the current quarter (at the midpoint), continuing the disappointing streak. Matt Klein, Spirit's chief commercial officer, blamed the industry's capacity growth, which is making it difficult to drive demand.

In order to try and stabilize the business, the management team is making cost cuts. And there are ongoing discussions happening with creditors. The hope is that Spirit can renegotiate some of its debt so that it can find some breathing room and create some near-term relief.

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Investors should temper expectations

I think investors should seriously be questioning whether this is a smart stock to buy at all, given the company's monumental struggles. Revenue is falling, operating losses are sizable, and the debt is worrisome. It's hard to have any bit of optimism as we look to the future.

But the stock is dirt cheap right now. It trades a price-to-sales ratio of just 0.076. This is close to the cheapest shares have ever been. It appears as though the pessimism has never been higher.

Based purely on a valuation perspective, some investors might want to take a chance on the stock. However, I believe Spirit is a value trap. Its financials are trending in the wrong direction, with no end in sight. And I think the business lacks any competitive advantages. This makes it a terrible investment candidate, in my opinion.

For the stock to reach $10 by 2030, it would need to rise 173%. This theoretical gain, which translates into about 18% per year, would most likely beat the S&P 500's return during that time frame. But that lofty target is a pipe dream. Spirit shares are poised to keep disappointing investors for the foreseeable future.

Should you invest $1,000 in Spirit Airlines right now?

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Can Spirit Airlines Stock Reach $10 by 2030? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Stellantis saw its U.S. sales drop significantly in the second quarter of 2024, the latest in a series of declines in recent reporting periods for the automaker that owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands.

The news was not unexpected, but the level of decline was more substantial than previous periods. Stellantis last had a quarterly sales increase in the second quarter of 2023.

Stellantis said it had U.S. sales of 344,993 in the second quarter, down 21% compared with the same period a year ago, when the company sold 434,648 vehicles.

Detroit Three rival General Motors, by contrast, reported a slight gain in U.S. sales for the quarter, up 0.6% to 696,086 vehicles. Ford is scheduled to report sales later this week.

Stellantis reported a substantial U.S. sales decline in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2023.

Among its brands sold in the United States, only the low-volume Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands were up for the quarter. Jeep dropped 19%, Ram was down 26%, Chrysler fell 19% and Dodge declined 17% for the quarter compared with the same period in 2023. Alfa was up 8%, and Fiat reported sales of 316 vehicles for the quarter compared with 144 a year ago. As is typical, the company did not release sales numbers for its luxury Maserati brand.

One bright spot was an increase in sales for a couple of its more expensive and profitable models, the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.

More: Stellantis CEO lays out company vision at Investor Day

Stellantis also continued to note its strength with plug-in hybrid models. Citing the S&P Global Mobility U.S. State Registrations database through April 30, the release said that the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, Dodge Hornet R/T and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid held their ranking as four of the top-five best-selling plug-in hybrids in the U.S.

Matt Thompson, head of U.S. retail sales for Stellantis, touted changes underway in its strategy, including pricing adjustments and incentives.

With the moves we made the first half of the year, including working toward a multi-energy strategy consisting of (electric, hybrid and internal combustion engine) vehicles that meets the demand of our customers, and pricing adjustments across our U.S. brands, including Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler and Ram, were seeing significant momentum this quarter over the previous quarter of 2024, both in total U.S. sales, which saw an increase of 4% during the period, and in market share, Thompson said in the release. Additionally, beginning today, we are launching a national Summer Select Inventory Bonus Cash incentive campaign, which will provide up to $2,000 cash back across many of our nameplates.

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The leadership of the sales team has been one piece of a significant shake-up at the automaker this year and last, with the departure of numerous executives in different roles in North America. Thompson, for instance, replaced Jason Stoicevich as senior vice president of U.S. retail sales less than three months after Stoicevich, who has left the company, took over the position in a reorganization this year.

More: Stellantis profits beat rivals but sales in US prompt reset

Stellantis, in its news release, did not reference the cyberattack on Chicago-based CDK Global believed to have affected about half of the dealers in the United States, including those who sell Stellantis vehicles. The situation forced dealers in at least some cases to resort to using paper records. The attack hit in the second half of June, but has not yet been fully resolved. CDK Global spokeswoman Lisa Finney issued a statement Monday saying all dealers are expected to have their connections restored by Thursday morning.

However, the release did quote Kevin Farrish, National Dealer Council chairman for Stellantis, related to a range of issues.

Weve been working very closely with Stellantis leadership to better serve our customers by providing the mix of products they desire and at competitive pricing, Farrish said. Its been a very open, collaborative effort working together as a team, and we'll continue to tackle these important issues together on behalf of our customers."

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jeep-parent Stellantis had big sales drop in second quarter
Shama Suasana Johor Bahru has officially been rebranded from Suasana Suites Johor Bahru, marking the introduction of the Shama brand to Malaysia.

This development represents the second collaboration between ONYX Hospitality Group and UMLand.

This follows the launch of the Amari Johor Bahru in 2017.

With this relaunch, Malaysia is said to become the first country outside of Thailand to host all three of ONYX Hospitality Group's brands, namely Amari, OZO, and Shama.

The relaunched property has 87 all-suite accommodations, each with modern amenities, living areas, and kitchenettes.

The suites range from one-bedroom suites of 644ft for up to two adults, two-bedroom suites of 968ft for up to four adults, to three-bedroom suites spanning 1,935ft for up to six adults.

Additionally, the hotel offers a fitness centre and a swimming pool.

Shama Suasana Johor Bahru executive assistant manager Syed Ali Syed Othman said: This rebranding reflects our dedication to creating a sophisticated living environment that meets the needs of visitors to Johor Bahru. We are committed to delivering unmatched comfort and convenience to our guests.

Shama Suasana Johor Bahru is situated next to the Zenith Lifestyle Centre, and opposite KOMTAR JBCC and City Square Johor Bahru.

The announcement comes on the heels of ONYX Hospitality Group's expansion news across Thailand, in April.

Shama Rayong was signed at Amari Bangkok, with plans for the property to open in the first quarter of 2026.

Currently, ONYX includes a range of brands such as Oriental Residence, Saffron Collection, The Mosaic Collection and more.

"Suasana Johor Bahru relaunches under Shama brand in Malaysia" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court sent a pair of cases about state laws that restrict social media content curation back to lower courts, ruling there isnt enough information about how the laws apply to Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc.s Google and other major tech companies.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Voting 9-0, the court said the Republican-backed Texas and Florida measures require further analysis, declining to decide whether theyre constitutional. The court did find that the lower courts failed to properly assess the First Amendment issues central to the dispute  though the case elicited five different opinions from the justices.

The ruling is a partial victory for trade groups representing the tech companies that argue they have the right to moderate their sites as they see fit, in the run-up to the November election and beyond.

Both laws seek to prevent the companies from removing certain kinds of political speech, a response to claims that platforms like Metas Facebook and Googles YouTube censor conservatives. The court said the states shouldnt curtail the editorial decisions of the social media companies.

Vision of Balance

A state may not interfere with private actors speech to advance its own vision of ideological balance, Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court. She compared the social media platforms curation to editors shaping news coverage.

The principle does not change because the curated compilation has gone from the physical to the virtual world, she wrote.

Despite the unanimous decision, a raft of concurring opinions in the case exposed stark divisions among the justices over whether the laws might violate the First Amendments free speech protections  and signaled how the court might split on such cases in the future.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Sonia Sotomayor joined Kagans opinion, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined it in part. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas and Barrett filed concurring opinions with some disagreements over the details of the cases.

And both Thomas and Alito lambasted the others for making what they said were sweeping statements about the First Amendments application to social media content curation.

Deplatforming Trump

The laws, backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, were enacted in response to decisions by some platforms to oust former President Donald Trump from their sites after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The court in particular challenged the Texas law, which bars large platforms from discriminating based on viewpoint. Kagan wrote that the law is unlikely to withstand First Amendment scrutiny.

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This court has many times held, in many contexts, that it is no job for government to decide what counts as the right balance of private expression, she wrote.

The Florida law includes a dozen major provisions, including a requirement that platforms provide a thorough rationale for each content moderation decision. The law says they cant deplatform political candidates or use an algorithm to limit the visibility of their posts or posts about them. Platforms also cant censor or ban journalists based on what they say online.

The case arrived at the high court even as social media companies were pulling back from their efforts to combat political falsehoods online. The shift has been especially dramatic at X, formerly Twitter, which owner Elon Musk has said he intends to make into a bastion of free speech.

Onerous Rules

The trade groups  NetChoice LLC and the Computer & Communications Industry Association  said the laws would impose onerous and confusing restrictions. They argued that the Texas measure would unconstitutionally bar platforms from removing neo-Nazi and Ku Klux Klan screeds or Russian propaganda about its invasion of Ukraine.

Todays ruling from the Supreme Court is a victory for First Amendment rights online, said Chris Marchese, director of Netchoices litigation center.

But two of the conservative justices in particular, Alito and Thomas, criticized the court for declaring that the First Amendment likely protects Facebooks right to curate its News Feed and YouTubes right to curate its video-sharing platform. Thomas has previously said the social media companies should be subject to stricter government scrutiny because they have become powerful communication tools with the power to restrict certain viewpoints.

In an opinion supported by Thomas and Justice Neil Gorsuch, Alito wrote that the Kagan opinion unreflectively assumes the truth of NetChoices unsupported assertion that social-media platforms  which use secret algorithms to review and moderate an almost unimaginable quantity of data today  are just as expressive as the newspaper editors who marked up typescripts in blue pencil 50 years ago.

Danger of Embarrassments

When faced with the application of a constitutional requirement to new technology, we should proceed with caution, he wrote. Premature resolution of such questions creates the risk of decisions that will quickly turn into embarrassments.

All the justices criticized the tech companies decision to bring a facial challenge, an approach that normally requires a litigant to show that all aspects of the law are unconstitutional. Barrett, in her concurrence, wrote that it was difficult to determine how the laws will apply to services like Uber and Gmail.

In his concurrence, Thomas took issue with the facial challenges targeting the laws constitutionality rather than simply how the laws regulate the sites. Such challenges force courts to take a maximalist approach, he wrote.

The Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals had blocked most of Floridas law as probably violating the First Amendment. The New Orleans-based 5th Circuit upheld the Texas law but left the measure on hold to allow time for an appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Florida case is Moody v. NetChoice, 22-277. The Texas case is NetChoice v. Paxton, 22-555.

--With assistance from Erik Larson.

(Updates with fresh details and context throughout, starting in second paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Fatime Letifova

Azerbaijans Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov met with Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, and CEO/General Manager at Italys Saipem Alessandro Puliti, as part of the Green Energy Transition Congress and Exhibition held in Milan, Italy, Azernews reports.

During the meeting with Minister Musadik Malik, the parties hailed the high-level relations between the two countries, highlighting the activity of the Joint Working Group on Energy in evolving cooperation in the energy sector.

The two exchanged views on the implementation of the signed agreement on long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply to Pakistan, as well as cooperation within the COP29 and issues of ensuring global energy transition issues.

The meeting with Saipem CEO Alessandro Puliti mainly focused on developing existing cooperation with the company. The sides deliberated the opportunities for cooperation, especially within the framework of Azerbaijans plans to create wind energy production and export infrastructures in the Caspian Sea.
JGalione / Getty Images

Half of the revenue the federal government collects comes from individual income taxes, according to figures from the Office of Management and Budget. That means it relies heavily on individual taxpayers to keep it up and running. However, taxpayers might not always agree with the ways the government spends their money.

To find out to what extent Americans agree or disagree with how their tax dollars are being spent, GOBankingRates surveyed 1,000 adults across the U.S. Respondents were asked whether they believe their tax dollars are being spent effectively and how they would like to see that money spent. They also were asked whether theyre paying a fair share in taxes.

Not surprisingly, the results show that there isnt a consensus about whether tax dollars are being spent the right way. There is some disagreement on the amount of emphasis that should be given to particular programs, but that is to be expected in a country as large and as diverse as the U.S., said Mark Mazur, the Robert C. Pozen director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. But he said the bottom line is that Americans tend to realize that the government does a lot of valuable things with the taxes that are paid.

Key Findings

More than half of Americans dont believe their tax dollars are being spent effectively compared with nearly 18% who do think their tax dollars are being spent the right way. However, nearly 27% said they dont know how their tax dollars are being spent.

About 51% of Americans think theyre paying too much in taxes versus 46% who believe they are paying a fair share. Only about 3% said they pay too little in taxes.

A majority of Americans would choose to spend their tax dollars on social insurance such as Social Security and Medicare. About 53% of respondents said this area would be of top importance if they could choose how tax dollars are spent.

Find Out: The Wildest Things Your Taxes Are Paying For

Majority Dont Think Tax Dollars Are Being Spent Effectively

Mazur said that its not surprising that nearly 56% of respondents dont think their tax dollars are being used the right way. There have been decades of politicians telling the public that their tax dollars are being wasted in various ways, he said. Obviously, this critique has permeated the majority of respondents.

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Americans tend to feel this way if they arent seeing the benefits personally of government spending. Unless they see funding toward something that directly affects them or is in line with their political views, they tend to believe the money is being wasted, said Sebastian Leguizamon, assistant professor and director of the Center for Applied Economics at Western Kentucky University.

Only about 18% of respondents believe their tax dollars are being spent well. Nearly 27% said they didnt know how their tax dollars were being spent.

The survey also found that older adults are more likely to think their tax dollars are being wasted. About 63% of adults 65 and older and nearly 64% of adults ages 55 to 64 said they didnt believe their tax dollars were being spent effectively. However, less than half of adults ages 18 to 24 think their tax dollars are being wasted.

The difference in age I think is probably due to growing skepticism as one gets older, Leguizamon said. Younger people are a bit more idealistic, believing in some of their representatives. Older folk tend to grow skeptical of the same old politicians.

Men are slightly more likely than women to believe their tax dollars arent being spent effectively  58% versus 53%. And Republicans are more likely than Democrats to think their tax dollars arent being used in the right way  60% versus 55%.

Learn: What Do You Need To File Taxes? A List of All the Documents To Have

More Than Half Want Taxes Spent on Social Insurance

When asked if they could choose how their tax dollars were spent, 53% of respondents said spending on social insurance such as Social Security and Medicare would be of top importance. This was the most popular choice, followed by education and infrastructure. Respondents were least likely to say that the national debt should be a top priority.

People are more likely to want their tax dollars to go to Social Security and Medicare because its money coming back to them, said Tom Wheelwright, a certified public accountant and author of Tax-Free Wealth. Workers pay into these programs through payroll taxes on their wages. In fact, payroll taxes account for 35% of the revenue collected by the federal government, according to the Tax Policy Center.

Not surprisingly, the survey found that older adults were much more likely than younger adults to say that social insurance would be of top importance if they could choose how their tax dollars are spent. Thats likely because adults 65 and older benefit from programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Young adults ages 18 to 24, on the other hand, said overwhelmingly  71%  that education would be a priority if they could choose how their tax dollars were spent.

If You Could Choose How Your Tax Dollars Were Spent, Which of These Areas Would Be of Top Importance? How Tax Dollars Should Be Spent Demographic Ages 18-24 Ages 25-34 Ages 35-44 Ages 45-54 Ages 55-64 65 and Older Social insurance 37.98% 35.85% 49.64% 53.13% 61.90% 63.84% Defense and international security 17.83% 19.81% 25.90% 34.38% 31.90% 31.70% National debt 27.91% 12.26% 23.02% 22.40% 25.24% 29.46% Public assistance programs 31.01% 26.42% 30.94% 23.96% 20.95% 18.30% Education 71.32% 59.43% 58.27% 45.31% 36.67% 30.80% Infrastructure 35.66% 40.57% 43.17% 39.06% 36.67% 37.50% Environmental protections and research 44.96% 36.79% 33.81% 21.35% 22.38% 24.55% Note: Respondents could select multiple answers.

Americans Are Divided Over Whether Theyre Paying Too Much in Taxes

Polls have found that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe it is their civic duty to pay taxes. However, the GOBankingRates survey found that Americans are divided over whether theyre paying their fair share.

While 46% of respondents said they think they are paying their fair share, 51% said they are paying too much. We all want some level of public goods and services, but we do not want to pay for them  or, at least, we want to pay the least amount possible, Leguizamon said. When we couple this with the fact that most are unsatisfied with the way that government spends their tax money, then we start believing that we are paying too much for what we are getting.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to believe that they are paying too much in taxes  56% versus 43%. And women are more likely than men to think that theyre paying too much in taxes. Generation Xers ages 45 to 54 were the most likely of any age group  60%  to say they are paying too much in taxes.

Need To Know: When Will You Get Your Tax Refund?

One-Third Dont Want Tax Dollars Paying for War

When asked what they werent OK with their tax dollars paying for, respondents top response was war  with one-third choosing this option. War also was the top thing that respondents in all age groups and men and women said they didnt want their tax dollars paying for.

However, war was not the top response among Republicans. GOP respondents were most likely to say they didnt want their tax dollars going to public assistance programs. Public assistance programs may have a negative connotation among the respondents because they may not have benefited from these programs recently or at all, Mazur said.

Nearly 40% Think the U.S. Doesnt Spend Enough on Public Assistance Programs

The survey found that, overall, Americans are split over whether the government spends the right amount of their tax dollars on public assistance programs. However, the divide is much more prominent between Democrat and Republican respondents.

The government spent 11.8% of the federal budget on public assistance programs in 2018. About 27% of all respondents said this was the right amount. Nearly 35% said this was too much. And about 39% of respondents said the government didnt spend enough on public assistance programs.

What this suggests is that there is only about 20% of people in the middle, Leguizamon said. As we see in politics, there seems to be a reduction in what we call the median voter. A greater amount of people are identifying with one of the two major parties, which then translates into preferences for public assistance. Democrats tend to favor these programs, while Republicans think they are very inefficient.

The survey results support that. About 65% of Democrat respondents said they didnt think the government spent enough on public assistance programs. However, 52% of Republicans said the government spent too much on public assistance.

Do You Believe the Government Spends the Right Amount of Your Tax Dollars on Public Assistance Programs? Answer Democrat Republican Yes 24.48% 26.97% No, they dont spend enough on these programs 64.58% 20.60% No, they spend too much on these programs 10.94% 52.43%

How the Government Spends Your Tax Dollars

The experts agree that its not surprising a majority of Americans arent happy with the way tax dollars are being spent and that about half think theyre paying more than their fair share. There seems to be a correlation here, Wheelwright said. People probably feel theyre paying too much in taxes because they dont think its being used effectively.

However, its important to note that the survey highlights that a significant percentage of taxpayers  27%  dont even know where their tax dollars are going. This lack of knowledge about how their money is being used might be contributing to a sense that its being used ineffectively.

More than 60% of government spending goes toward funding mandatory entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits and income security, according to a Tax Policy Center analysis of Congressional Budget Office data. About one-third goes toward what is called discretionary spending  programs with spending levels that are voted on by Congress. About half of discretionary spending goes toward national defense, and the rest is divided among transportation, education, employment training, healthcare, veterans benefits and income security programs that arent included in mandatory spending. And about 7% of government spending goes toward paying down the national debt.

Its understandable that you might not agree with all of the ways the government spends your tax dollars. But it is important to recognize that you will benefit from some of the ways your tax dollars are spent, while others might benefit from different types of government spending. The bottom line is that Americans generally realize that government does a lot of valuable things with the taxes we all pay, Mazur said.

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 1,000 Americans age 18 and older between Jan. 20 and Jan. 21, 2020, asking six different questions: (1) Do you believe your tax dollars are being spent effectively?; (2) If you could choose how your tax dollars were spent, which of these areas would be of top importance?; (3) Do you believe you are paying too much, too little or a fair share in taxes?; (4) Which of the following are you NOT OK with your tax dollars going toward?; (5) Do you believe the government spends the right amount of your tax dollars on public assistance programs, such as low-income housing and disability payments? For context, the U.S. government spent 11.8% ($495.3 billion) on these programs in 2018; and (6) Which political party do you identify with? All respondents had to have answered Yes to the following screener question to participate in the survey: Will you file personal income taxes in 2020 for 2019? GOBankingRates used Survatas survey platform to conduct the poll.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Survey: Only 18% of Americans Believe Their Tax Dollars Are Being Spent the Right Way
We recently compiled a list of the 10 Cheap and High-Quality Stocks Picked by Former SAC Capital Analyst. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) stands against the other cheap and high-quality stocks.

Jonathan Tepper, the chief investment officer of little-known hedge fund Prevatt Capital, has an interesting approach towards investing. Tepper, whose stock picks generally focus on quality and value of firms, believes that investors would be better served learning about the modern history of finance, as it relates to the rise and fall of big businesses as well as financial meltdowns, instead of being bogged down by economic theory based on mathematics that might not play out in the real world as it does in books. Tepper leads Prevatt Capital which had a 13F stock portfolio worth more than $296 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024.

Tepper is the author of The Myth of Capitalism, a book that dives deep into the public policy surrounding industrial concentration in the United States and the rise of powerful monopolies. Tepper, in a recent appearance on Capital Allocators with Ted Seides, a finance podcast, underlined that his investing thesis was based on his studies about powerful monopolies that were owned by investors he admired. Tepper noticed how a lot of these monopolies were businesses that, if they did not exist, somebody would have to invent them. He remarked that he thus learned to invest in firms that had a natural reason for existing.

His comments can be seen in action if we look at the latest financial disclosures of his hedge fund. More than 60% of the stock portfolio of Prevatt Capital is concentrated in the consumer goods and services sectors. Tepper has doubled down on many of his long bets, increasing stakes in four of the top ten stocks in the portfolio of Prevatt Capital during the first quarter of 2024. The total value of the 13F portfolio has increased by more than $25 million in the first three months of the year due to this buying activity, compared to the previous quarter. His top ten holdings comprise nearly 80% of the total portfolio.

There are several reasons why Tepper prefers the value-based long term investing approach of his mentors to create wealth, as opposed to the shorting strategy adopted by many other hedge fund managers on Wall Street. Some of the reasons include short squeezes, lots of hype around new firms, high borrowing costs, and several funds shorting the same firms. In contrast, a value-based approach creates wealth at a healthy pace and avoids permanent loss of capital or significant drawdowns. Buying quality firms also comes with the added benefit of strong cash flows, steady dividend payouts, and thoughtful share buybacks to increase value.

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Our Methodology

For this article, we scanned the stock portfolio of Prevatt Capital according to the 13F filings submitted at the end of the first quarter of 2024. We selected the top 10 stocks from this portfolio. 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).

20 Most Meat Eating States Per Capita

A butcher shop showcasing fresh meats and seafood for customers.

Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 46

Prevatt Capitals Stake: $19,483,200

Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) distributes food and related products. Tepper only invests in companies that have wide moats, and Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) has shown over the years that it holds significant competitive advantages over peers. For example, the firm is the largest distributor for food and related products, evidenced by the 16% market share it holds in the US foodservice market, more than double that of the nearest competitor. It has also shown historical resilience in the face of recessions, most recently in the 2007 financial crisis during which the company grew revenues and maintained gross profit margins.

As the food business returns to growth after a long post-pandemic recovery arc, the company is well-positioned to rake in new business with higher inventory levels, superior customer service, and the ability to provide value and confidence to new customers as a result of existing partnerships with top restaurant brands, especially in view of the national shift in the US from smaller, independent restaurants towards chain and national brands. A couple of months ago, Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) posted earnings for the third quarter of 2024, reporting earnings per share of $0.96, beating market estimates by $0.01. The revenue over the period was $19.4 billion, up more than 2.5% compared to the revenue over the same period last year.

In its Q1 2024 investor letter, Diamond Hill Capital, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

Portfolio activity has remained modest as valuations have risen, and it is increasingly challenging to find high-quality companies trading at interesting valuations. However, we did identify two new investments in Q1: Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) and KeyCorp. Sysco is the market-share leader in the US food-service industry, in which scale and size are critical. We believe Sysco is exiting the pandemic in a stronger position after investing organically and inorganically in its business. It is well-positioned to harvest these investments over the next several years. However, Sysco trades at a discount to its historical multiple, which we think makes for an attractive entry point into this high-quality company.

Overall SYY ranks 10th on our list of the cheap and high-quality stocks picked by former SAC Capital Analyst Jonathan Tepper. You can visit 10 Cheap and High-Quality Stocks Picked by Former SAC Capital Analyst to see the other cheap and high-quality stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of SYY 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 SYY but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Temenos has signed an agreement with Tech Mahindra, a global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions, for Tech Mahindra to provide a core banking offering on Temenos SaaS specifically designed for Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs) in the UK and Europe.

By leveraging Temenos composable banking capabilities and Tech Mahindra services, EMIs will benefit from faster time to market, lower operational costs, scalable architecture and access to over 100 curated Temenos Exchange fintech partners, to offer customised and differentiated services to their end customers.

This new offering on Temenos SaaS is designed to offer EMIs a cost-effective, scalable, and secure banking platform, enhancing their ability to launch operations swiftly with a suite of pre-configured, composable banking capabilities that cater specifically to the EMI sector, with features such as multi-currency accounts, virtual and physical cards, client onboarding checks, domestic and international payments orchestration and routing, transactions screening, and regulatory reporting.

The service facilitates dynamic scaling, cost efficiency and sustainability

It also provides the flexibility to incorporate additional banking functionalities as EMIs evolve, supporting their growth and future-proofing their operations.

This SaaS offering is designed to be a springboard for financial innovation, which can also be leveraged by start-up/challenger banks, smaller established banks, and building societies as a cost-effective yet functionally rich and robust foundation to develop and deploy financial products and services rapidly.

Currently being rolled out at an EMI in the UK, this service is set to initially cater to the UK market, home to approximately 250 EMIs, and will subsequently extend its reach across the European Union. In total there are just under 600 EMIs across Europe, holding an estimated 35bn in client funds.

Mark Yamin-Ali, Managing Director, Europe, Temenos, said: With almost 600 EMIs in Europe, this partnership opens a large new addressable market for Temenos, and combines our market-leading SaaS banking capabilities with Tech Mahindras technology services expertise. This collaboration will help us to bring the agility, cost-efficiency and sustainability benefits of Temenos SaaS to even more financial institutions. Together, we can help EMIs launch innovative payments services faster, reduce operational costs and gain greater speed to market.

"Temenos and Tech Mahindra launch new service" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.

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The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
SOMERVILLE  The Somerset County Business Partnership (SCBP) has opened its Somerset Business Hub, a multi-conference room space designed to be used by small businesses.

The idea for the business hub was born when the SCBP staff saw the lack of meeting space for small businesses as they began to downsize after the pandemic according to President/CEO Chris Edwards.

The hub, open around the clock during the week, is open to all county businesses whether or not they belong to the Somerset County Partnership.

The hub, which had its opening ceremonies on June 26, contains two conference rooms.

One holds up to 50 people for any type of event or meeting.

The other conference room holds between four and six people and is suited for small meetings or one-on-ones.

The Somerset County Business Hub Opening Ceremonies.

The hub, located in downtown Somerville at 50 Division St., at the corner of Division Street and Veterans Memorial Drive.

Every aspect of the project was also completed by local companies, according to Edwards.

Whether it was the painting job or the cubicles for their employees, everything was purchased or serviced from Somerset County businesses, he said.

More: New Downtown Somerville Alliance director sets this lofty goal

The opening attracted more than 300 businesses to see the space, Edwards said.

At first, the Partnership planned only two opening sessions, but the response prompted the Partnership to increase the number to five sessions.

Somerset County Business Hub opening ceremonies.

Any business which wants to use the space may reserve through the link on the SCBP website or contact Member Experience Coordinator Jackie Highland.

According to Highland, businesses have already started to make bookings throughout the rest of the year for both rooms.

The larger room is equipped with an audio-visual system that includes three cameras and allows events to be livestreamed or recorded.

The Partnership hopes to turn the smaller room into a podcast studio, allowing small businesses to rent the room and use the equipment to create a podcast.

The Somerset County Business Hub Opening Ceremonies.

The Partnership also hopes to launch its own podcast, Edwards said

The business hub will host 10-12 of its own events a month, helping small businesses learn new skills, said Edwards.

This, Edwards hopes, will give the the Partnership more of a business education role in the community, instead of a networking role.

Ethan Mannello: EMannello@mycentraljersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerset NJ Business Hub promotes small business collaboration
Amidst the backdrop of heightened volatility and upcoming elections, the United Kingdom's financial markets, particularly the FTSE 100, are displaying cautious movements. In such a climate, identifying stocks that appear undervalued could present opportunities for investors seeking potential in a fluctuating market environment.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks Based On Cash Flows In The United Kingdom

Name Current Price Fair Value (Est) Discount (Est) TBC Bank Group (LSE:TBCG) 26.15 48.93 46.6% LSL Property Services (LSE:LSL) 3.27 6.47 49.4% WPP (LSE:WPP) 7.192 13.93 48.4% BATM Advanced Communications (LSE:BVC) 0.1655 0.33 49.6% Mercia Asset Management (AIM:MERC) 0.31 0.58 46.8% Ricardo (LSE:RCDO) 4.86 9.50 48.9% Entain (LSE:ENT) 6.296 12.24 48.6% Accsys Technologies (AIM:AXS) 0.544 1.05 48.3% Tortilla Mexican Grill (AIM:MEX) 0.59 1.11 47% Auction Technology Group (LSE:ATG) 4.765 8.98 46.9%

Click here to see the full list of 59 stocks from our Undervalued UK Stocks Based On Cash Flows screener.

We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool

Overview: Keywords Studios plc offers creative and technical services to the global video game industry, with a market capitalization of approximately 1.85 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through three primary segments: Create (336.07 million), Engage (164.89 million), and Globalize (279.49 million).

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 16.9%

Keywords Studios, currently trading at 23.08, is perceived as undervalued against a fair value of 27.79 based on discounted cash flow analysis. Despite a recent net profit margin decline to 2.6% from last year's 6.9%, the company's revenue growth outlook remains robust at 9.6% annually, outpacing the UK market forecast of 3.5%. Earnings are expected to surge by approximately 31.62% per year over the next three years, indicating potential for significant value appreciation despite current share price volatility and recent one-off financial impacts.

AIM:KWS Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Overview: Moonpig Group PLC operates an online platform for greeting cards and gifts, primarily serving the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with a market capitalization of approximately 640.51 million.

Operations: The company's revenue is generated through three main segments: Greetz contributing 51.24 million, Moonpig at 241.33 million, and Experiences bringing in 48.58 million.

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Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 38.6%

Moonpig Group PLC, priced at 1.86, is significantly undervalued with a fair value estimate of 3.04, reflecting a 38.6% discount based on cash flow analysis. The company's revenue and earnings are expected to grow at 7.5% and 20% per year respectively, outperforming the UK market projections of 3.5% and 12.6%. Despite high debt levels and share price volatility, Moonpig's strong operating cash generation supports strategic M&A activities while maintaining potential for shareholder returns.

LSE:MOON Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Overview: Sage Group plc, a technology solutions provider for small and medium businesses across the U.S., the U.K., France, and globally, has a market capitalization of approximately 10.72 billion.

Operations: Sage Group's revenue is primarily generated from Europe (0.60 billion), North America (1.01 billion), and the United Kingdom & Ireland (0.49 billion).

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 32.1%

Sage Group, valued at 10.74, trades 32.1% below its estimated fair value of 15.81, highlighting its undervaluation based on cash flows. Despite high debt levels, Sage's earnings are projected to grow by 14.3% annually, outpacing the UK market's expectation of 12.6%. Recent product enhancements in Sage Estimating and Intacct aim to boost operational efficiency and financial insight, further supporting the companys growth trajectory amidst competitive market conditions.

LSE:SGE Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Click this link to deep-dive into the 59 companies within our Undervalued UK Stocks Based On Cash Flows screener.

Shareholder in one or more of these companies? Ensure you're never caught off-guard by adding your portfolio in Simply Wall St for timely alerts on significant stock developments.

Take control of your financial future using Simply Wall St, offering free, in-depth knowledge of international markets to every investor.

Searching for a Fresh Perspective?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include AIM:KWS LSE:MOON and LSE:SGE.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As of late, the Chinese stock market has shown signs of weakening, with major indices like the Shanghai Composite and the CSI 300 experiencing slight declines amid economic slowdown concerns. This backdrop sets a cautious stage for investors looking at dividend stocks in China, where stability and consistent yield become even more crucial in navigating uncertain times.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In China

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Shandong Wit Dyne HealthLtd (SZSE:000915) 6.67%  Midea Group (SZSE:000333) 4.76%  Changhong Meiling (SZSE:000521) 3.97%  Wuliangye YibinLtd (SZSE:000858) 3.55%  Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group (SHSE:600887) 4.66%  Ping An Bank (SZSE:000001) 6.91%  Huangshan NovelLtd (SZSE:002014) 5.60%  China South Publishing & Media Group (SHSE:601098) 4.30%  Chacha Food Company (SZSE:002557) 3.54%  Zhejiang Jiaxin SilkLtd (SZSE:002404) 5.59% 

Click here to see the full list of 235 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Bank of Hangzhou Co., Ltd. offers a range of banking products and services to individuals, corporations, and small to micro businesses in China, with a market capitalization of approximately CN80.65 billion.

Operations: Bank of Hangzhou Co., Ltd. generates revenue by providing diverse banking products and services tailored for individual customers, corporations, and small to micro-sized enterprises across China.

Dividend Yield: 3.8%

Bank of Hangzhou has shown a robust financial performance with a notable increase in net income from CNY 11.68 billion to CNY 14.38 billion year-over-year and consistent growth in quarterly earnings, highlighting its potential for sustained profitability. Despite a relatively short history of dividend paymentsonly seven yearsthe dividends are well-covered by earnings with a low payout ratio of 21.1%, indicating reliability and potential for future increases. However, the track record is not long enough to confirm long-term stability, and the dividend yield, while competitive at 3.82%, accompanies an unstable dividend history which could concern conservative investors seeking predictable returns.

SHSE:600926 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Bank of Chengdu Co., Ltd. operates as a commercial bank offering a range of banking products and services in China, with a market capitalization of approximately CN60.45 billion.

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Operations: Bank of Chengdu Co., Ltd. does not provide detailed breakdowns of its revenue segments in the provided text.

Dividend Yield: 5.7%

Bank of Chengdu reported a solid increase in Q1 2024 earnings, with net interest income rising to CNY 4.63 billion and net income up to CNY 2.85 billion. Despite a short dividend history of six years, the bank has shown consistent dividend growth with a stable payout ratio of 29.1%, suggesting reliability in its payments. The dividends are currently well-covered by earnings and expected to remain so over the next three years, although the bank's brief history of dividend payments may raise concerns about long-term sustainability.

SHSE:601838 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Xinjiang East Universe Gas Co., Ltd. operates in natural gas sales, equipment installation, and heating services with a market capitalization of approximately CN2.88 billion.

Operations: Xinjiang East Universe Gas Co., Ltd. generates its revenue primarily from three activities: selling natural gas, installing natural gas facilities, and providing natural gas heating services.

Dividend Yield: 5.9%

Xinjiang East Universe Gas Co. Ltd. has demonstrated robust earnings growth, with a 45.5% increase over the past year, supporting a sustainable dividend yield of 5.91%, among the top quartile in the Chinese market. Despite trading at 56.9% below estimated fair value and maintaining dividends with an earnings payout ratio of 84% and cash payout ratio of 48.6%, its dividend history under ten years suggests potential concerns about long-term stability and reliability in future payouts.

SHSE:603706 Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Summing It All Up

Get an in-depth perspective on all 235 Top Dividend Stocks by using our screener here.

Have you diversified into these companies? Leverage the power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to keep a close eye on market movements affecting your investments.

Take control of your financial future using Simply Wall St, offering free, in-depth knowledge of international markets to every investor.

Ready For A Different Approach?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SHSE:600926 SHSE:601838 and SHSE:603706.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
TotalEnergies has expanded its operations by acquiring Tecoil, a Finland-based company that specialises in the production of RRBOs.

Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed.

Tecoil operates a facility in Hamina, eastern Finland capable of producing 50,000tpa of RRBOs.

The company has established a circular economy network across Europe to collect used lubricants and supply its processing plant.

Tecoil's re-refining process transforms used oils into high-quality base oils with properties comparable with virgin base oils.

These oils are then used to create lubricants that meet increasing consumer demand for sustainable and circular products.

According to TotalEnergies, RRBOs play a significant role in reducing the carbon footprint of lubricants without compromising the performance standards required by many car manufacturers.

TotalEnergies senior vice-president of lubricants and specialties Pierre Duhot said: The integration of Tecoil into TotalEnergies will allow us to accelerate the use of RRBOs in the production of our high-end lubricants to meet our customers growing demand for increasingly high-performance, environmentally friendly products.

We are delighted to welcome the Tecoil teams and combine their know-how in base oil processing with TotalEnergies recognised expertise in the production and distribution of lubricants.

Tecoil CEO Juha Kokko said: Joining TotalEnergies is a great satisfaction and an opportunity to strengthen and develop the activities of Tecoil. It will allow us to jointly build on our work, knowledge and development of the lubricant sector, and meet the new challenges and ambitions of our customers.

In a separate development last week, TotalEnergies reached an agreement for the divestment of its entire interest in its West of Shetland assets in the UK to Prax Group.

The transaction includes the Laggan, Tormore, Glenlivet, Edradour and Glendronach fields, as well as the Shetland Gas Plant and adjacent exploration licences.

Furthermore, TotalEnergies recently entered into an agreement to acquire a 60% stake and operatorship in Block STP02 offshore Sao Tome and Principe.

The stake in Block STP02, which spans an area of 4,969km in a prospective basin approximately 60km from the coast of Principe, will be purchased from the National Petroleum Agency of Sao Tome and Principe.

"TotalEnergies acquires lubricant specialist Tecoil " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Coca-Cola Icecek (CCI) has secured four loans from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support its ESG efforts in four countries.

The loans, totalling $250m, will be used on projects at CCIs facilities in Turkey and its three subsidiaries in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Iraq.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, said the financing will help the Turkey-based Coca-Cola bottler implement sustainable manufacturing processes in four countries including reducing energy and water usage and improving circular economy practices.

It added that the fresh funds will support the creation of many direct and indirect jobs as CCI looks to increase recycled PET bottling capacities, energy-efficient equipment, renewable energy projects and water savings measures.

Our companys purpose is to create value for our consumers and customers, our people, and our community. We also seek to positively impact peoples lives, communities, and the planet through our sustainability initiatives, Erdi Kursunoglu, CCIs chief financial officer, said.

This deal is an important milestone in achieving CCIs long-term expansion plans in some of its fastest-growing markets.

Boosting female labour participation and womens empowerment, particularly in management and board positions, is another key objective for CCI, according to the statement.

The bottler has committed to increasing female representation among new hires and at the management level to 35% and 40% respectively by 2030.

Through our collaboration with CCI, we will help elevate the beverage sectors sustainability path and enhance industry practices, said Wiebke Schloemer, IFC director for Turkey and Central Asia.

This financing will support CCI in implementing sustainable manufacturing processes, promoting gender equality, and boosting job creation. The investment aligns with our mission to foster inclusive economic development by stimulating growth in the project countries supply chain, logistics, and distribution sectors.

CCI has committed to make 100% of its packaging recyclable and use at least 50% recycled material in its plastic packaging by 2030, according to its sustainability targets.

It also is aiming to increase water efficiency by 20% by 2030, with 2020 as the base year.

Meanwhile, the bottler has pledged to reduce its total absolute GHG emissions by 13% by 2030 and emissions per litre of product by 50% by 2030 while growing the business, with the base year of 2015.

In May, CCI signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijans government to establish a production site in the country.

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The proposed $30m facility is set to be built in the Azerbaijan city of Ismayll.

"Turkeys Coca-Cola Icecek secures four sustainability-focused loans" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
U.S. and German Government's Bitcoin Movements Raise Market Concerns

The German government has made significant Bitcoin transactions again, moving large amounts of the cryptocurrency after similar actions last week contributed to a dip in Bitcoin's price. On Monday morning, wallets known to be linked to the German government transferred 1,500 BTC (approximately $94.94 million) across various destinations, including Bitstamp, Coinbase and Kraken, according to Arkham Intelligence.

Germany is one of the largest state holders of Bitcoin, with around $2.8 billion worth of the cryptocurrency seized from various operations, including from a movie piracy website. Last month, the EU nation began liquidating part of its holdings, offloading over $195 million worth of BTC within 24 hours. This sell-off exerted downward pressure on Bitcoins price, causing it to drop by about 3.5%.

The U.S. government also executed notable crypto transactions on Monday. Wallets associated with American authorities moved 3,375 ETH, valued at $11.75 million, to an unknown address. This move follows last week's transfer of 3,940 BTC, worth approximately $248 million, to a Coinbase Prime account. These funds were seized from Banmeet Singh, an Indian drug kingpin who sold narcotics via dark web marketplaces. Singh, who pleaded guilty earlier this year, forfeited his crypto holdings as part of his plea deal, marking the largest crypto and cash seizure ever by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Currently, the U.S. government holds more than $13.8 billion worth of cryptocurrency, with over 97% of that in Bitcoin, according to Arkham. As the largest state holder of crypto, the U.S.'s movements in the market are closely watched by traders and analysts.
The landmark case means if a UK fashion retailer knowingly, or with suspicion, imports goods that have been made in criminal circumstances, such as through forced Uyghur labour, they could be prosecuted under the Proceeds of Crime Act for trading criminal property.

The Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), which took the case to the Court of Appeal alongside the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), claimed this is the "first case in the world" involving Uyghur forced labour to "successfully disrupt supply chains which are complicit in the ongoing genocide of Uyghur and other Turkic peoples in East Turkestan / Xinjiang, China."

GLAN said: "Companies must now clean up their supply chains or risk prosecution."

The organisation added that the case challenged the so-called failure of the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) to investigate companies suspected of importing and trading in forced labour cotton.

GLAN and WUC hope the overturned decision will lead to a full investigation into imports from the Uyghur region, and a commitment from the NCA to stopping tainted goods entering UK markets.

GLAN's senior lawyer Dearbhla Minogue commented: This litigation has been critical in recognising the mass atrocities being committed against Uyghur and other Turkic Muslim people by the Chinese government, and holding to account those complicit in, or profiting from, these crimes.

"There is an abundance of evidence that UK companies are importing forced labour cotton from China. Following this ruling, we expect the National Crime Agency will investigate and prosecute where appropriate to prevent forced labour cotton from flooding the UK market.

GLAN lawyer Leanna Burnard added: This judgement is a watershed moment for supply chains profiting from forced labour and other crimes. Where companies know or suspect they are trading the proceeds of crime, they will themselves be committing a crime whenever they transfer those goods. We hope this will mark the end of the UK market being used to launder the profits of mass atrocities, and that UK high street shoppers can expect that their purchases will no longer support the suffering of others.

UK director of the WUC Rahima Mahmut stated: "Now, we urgently call on the government to implement tougher legislation.

In April 2024, the European Parliament approved legislation that will prohibit the sale, import, and export of goods manufactured using forced labour within the EU from 2027.

"UK fashion retailers trading forced labour goods risk prosecution" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.

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The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Fatime Letifova

The informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) scheduled to take place on July 5-6 in Shusha is a significant event for strengthening the solid ties and cooperation between Azerbaijan and other Turkic states. Such summits are crucial steps aimed at enhancing the economic, political, and cultural cooperation of the Turkic world.

Shusha hosting this summit holds special importance. Recognized as the cultural capital of the Islamic World and Azerbaijan, Shusha occupies a unique place in Azerbaijani culture. Its liberation by Azerbaijan following the Second Garabagh War in 2020 has further increased its strategic and symbolic significance. Hosting an international event in Shusha highlights Azerbaijan's sovereignty over these territories and draws international attention to the reconstruction process in Garabagh.

It should be noted that the summit serves as an important platform for strengthening political cooperation among Turkic states. The Shusha Summit is crucial for enhancing mutual trust among countries, discussing common issues, and taking steps toward resolving them.

The Organization of Turkic States places great importance on developing economic relations among its member countries. Such summits provide significant opportunities for increasing trade and investment prospects and promoting regional economic integration processes. Additionally, they play a vital role in strengthening cultural ties among Turkic states and in preserving and promoting common cultural heritage. Shusha, symbolic in this regard, can contribute to the further strengthening of cultural relations through such an event.

It's important to remember that the Turkic world brings together states that are geographically widespread and culturally, historically, linguistically, and ethnically connected. The Turkic states are strategically located between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This enhances the region's geopolitical significance, making it a crucial factor in international relations and energy policies. For example, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan's energy resources, along with Turkye's role as a transit hub between Europe and Asia, amplify this importance.

Moreover, these countries possess rich natural resources, especially oil and natural gas reserves. Countries like Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, in addition to Azerbaijan, make significant contributions to the global energy market. These resources are essential for economic development and regional stability. The Turkic world also boasts important transportation and logistics corridors between Central Asia and Europe, fostering regional trade and economic growth. Projects like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway enhance the region's transit potential.

The rapidly growing economies of these countries offer substantial trade and investment opportunities in the region. The presence of common cultural connections among these nations provides a solid foundation for strengthening inter-state cooperation. Within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, various initiatives aimed at enhancing economic cooperation, trade, and investment are being implemented.

The organization also covers cooperation in military and security spheres, addressing issues of ensuring peace and stability in the region. Turkic states, particularly Azerbaijan and Turkiye, work together to defend shared interests on the international stage. This enables them to hold stronger positions in international organizations and forums.

The strength and significance of the Turkic world illustrate its growing influence and role both regionally and internationally. Further developing this potential will help the Turkic states become stronger and more influential actors, both individually and collectively.

The increasing cooperation among the members of the Organization of Turkic States could alter the balance of power in the region and create new geopolitical realities. This is especially important for Azerbaijan, which is among the states strengthening their positions regionally and internationally.

The counter-offensive operation carried out by the Azerbaijani army in 2020 and the liberation of Garabagh from Armenian occupation in just 44 days is proof of this. Additionally, the COP29 event to be held in Azerbaijan in November further demonstrates the country's comprehensive development.

In a nutshell, the planned informal summit of the OTS in Shusha is a significant event in terms of strengthening the unity of the Turkic states and perspectives for closer cooperation in the future.
(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration is kicking off a program to cultivate the US computer-chip workforce, aiming to stave off a labor shortage that threatens to undermine domestic semiconductor production.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The program, described as a workforce partner alliance, will use some of the $5 billion in federal funding set aside for a new National Semiconductor Technology Center. Officials plan to award grants to as many as 10 workforce development projects with budgets of $500,000 to $2 million.

Theyll launch additional application processes in the coming months, and will determine the total level of spending once all the proposals have been considered.

The money comes from the 2022 Chips and Science Act, a landmark law that set aside $39 billion in grants to boost US chipmaking, plus $11 billion for semiconductor research and development, including the NSTC. Firms have pledged to invest more than 10 times that in response to the incentives  a surge thats set to reshape the global supply chain for semiconductors. Mondays effort is the legislations first workforce-focused funding opportunity.

Industry and government officials have warned that those new factories could falter without significant investment in labor. Some estimates project that the US will be short 90,000 technicians by 2030  when the country aims to produce at least a fifth of the worlds most advanced chips.

It is imperative that we develop a domestic semiconductor workforce ecosystem that can support the industrys anticipated growth, said Michael Barnes, senior manager of workforce development programs at Natcast, the nonprofit organization set up to operate the NSTC.

Since Biden signed the Chips Act two years ago, more than 50 community colleges have announced new or expanded semiconductor-related programs. The four biggest Chips Act manufacturing awards  to Intel Corp., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Samsung Electronics Co. and Micron Technology Inc.  each included $40 million to $50 million in dedicated workforce funding.

The Commerce Department unveiled its 12th grant from that manufacturing program on Monday: $6.7 million for Rogue Valley Microdevices. That money will support a new Florida factory focused on chips with defense and biomedical applications.

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(Updates with chart after sixth paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether NAGA Group (ETR:N4G) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn.

View our latest analysis for NAGA Group

Does NAGA Group Have A Long Cash Runway?

You can calculate a company's cash runway by dividing the amount of cash it has by the rate at which it is spending that cash. In December 2023, NAGA Group had 4.5m in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through 4.4m. That means it had a cash runway of around 12 months as of December 2023. Importantly, analysts think that NAGA Group will reach cashflow breakeven in around 14 months. So there's a very good chance it won't need more cash, when you consider the burn rate will be reducing in that period. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

How Well Is NAGA Group Growing?

NAGA Group managed to reduce its cash burn by 87% over the last twelve months, which is extremely promising, when it comes to considering its need for cash. Unfortunately, however, operating revenue dropped 34% during the same time frame. On balance, we'd say the company is improving over time. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company.

How Hard Would It Be For NAGA Group To Raise More Cash For Growth?

While NAGA Group seems to be in a fairly good position, it's still worth considering how easily it could raise more cash, even just to fuel faster growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Since it has a market capitalisation of 39m, NAGA Group's 4.4m in cash burn equates to about 11% of its market value. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted.

Is NAGA Group's Cash Burn A Worry?

As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about NAGA Group's cash burn. In particular, we think its cash burn reduction stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. While its falling revenue wasn't great, the other factors mentioned in this article more than make up for weakness on that measure. There's no doubt that shareholders can take a lot of heart from the fact that analysts are forecasting it will reach breakeven before too long. Looking at all the measures in this article, together, we're not worried about its rate of cash burn; the company seems well on top of its medium-term spending needs. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 2 warning signs for NAGA Group you should be aware of, and 1 of them is concerning.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

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
67 Pall Mall members and wine professionals experience an exclusive tasting of the best wines from the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards

MACAU, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the recent debut of the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards in Macao, Wynn hosted its first overseas wine tasting at the private members' wine club 67 Pall Mall in Singapore on May 25. Close to 100 members from 67 Pall Mall, wine professionals and media were invited to the exclusive event, where they were given an opportunity to taste the top Chinese wines honored at the awards event in April. The Singapore event is part of Wynn's ongoing commitment to present high-quality wines from China on a global stage.

Ten of the top wine producers which received trophies at the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards showcased their wines at 67 Pall Mall in Singapore.

Ms. Linda Chen, President, Vice Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, Limited said of Singapore event: "We are pleased to have partnered with 67 Pall Mall in an exclusive wine tasting event to showcase the very best of Chinese wines. This marks the first time for 67 Pall Mall members and wine industry professionals in Singapore to experience the award-winning Chinese wines from the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards. By hosting events such as these abroad, our long-term goal is to spread awareness about high-quality Chinese wines internationally and expand the global appetite for Chinese wines."

Mr. Richard Hemming MW, Head of Wine, Asia of 67 Pall Mall, said "As part of 67 Pall Mall's mission to provide the ultimate destination for wine lovers, it was our pleasure to host such a diverse range of Chinese wines for this walkaround tasting. The fact that tickets sold out across all three sessions indicates the enthusiasm among our membership to learn about Chinese wine. We will continue to support the category and look forward to seeing the results of future editions of the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards."

Designed by Mr. Eddie McDougall, Chair of Judges for the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards, the "Award-winning China: Exclusive Walk-Around Wine Tasting" event at 67 Pall Mall featured some of China's most prestigious names  already well-known for competing with the world's best bottles  as well as new discoveries that represent the cutting edge of Chinese winemaking. Ten of the top wine producers which received trophies at the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards showcased their wines at 67 Pall Mall in Singapore, including Xige Estate, Chateau Changyu Castel, Domaine de Long Dai, Shangri-La Winery, Domaine Freemind, Chateau Nine Peaks, Longting Vineyard, Domaine Franco-Chinois, Zixuan and Pabala.

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About Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards

Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards is the largest gathering of its kind to evaluate Chinese wines based on international standards. The awards featured more than 700 exceptional wines from 200 wineries, evaluated by a panel of 27 esteemed judges, including seven Masters of Wine. Under the supervision of a professional auditing firm, the competition used an internationally recognized 100-point scoring system and blind tasting to select 23 award winners that exemplify quality. During the judging, which took place in March, wine luminaries participated in dinners, Masterclasses, and more at Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace. The inaugural Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards was held on April 13, 2024 before an audience of 500 international wine enthusiasts, winemakers, industry experts and regional media.

About 67 Pall Mall

Founded in 2015 in London, the idea for the Club was envisioned when founder and wine collector Grant Ashton found that he had wanted to share his collection with like-minded people. Thus, the idea of the Club was born. 67 Pall Mall's first Club in London opened in December 2015 and was the start of a group of premier private Members' Clubs for wine lovers and fine dining. With Clubs open in Verbier, Singapore and 67 Pall Mall Melbourne, Bordeaux and Beaune opening in 2025, membership of 67 Pall Mall offers global access to these locations.

The award-winning 67 Pall Mall is the global home of fine wine, with each Club boasting an expert sommelier team. Members benefit from the low-margin wine list, access to all global reciprocal Clubs and the option to store their own wine at each location. Members also have access to an impressive events calendar including non-wine-related events, catering to music, health, wellbeing, art, jewellery and watches, and travel.

(PRNewsfoto/Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace)

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SOURCE Wynn Resorts (Macau)
SYDNEY (Reuters) -New Zealand's conservative coalition government will proceed with a bill that would make it compulsory for digital technology platforms to pay media companies for news, it said on Tuesday.

The bill is being introduced as New Zealand media companies struggle against technology firms for advertising dollars, leading them to find new ways to provide news programming.

The Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, introduced last year by the previous Labour government, will be presented in Parliament with amendments to support "our local media companies to earn revenue for the news they produce", Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said.

The proposed changes would align it more closely with Australia's digital bargaining law, Goldsmith said.

That law, which took effect in Australia in March 2021, gives the government power to force internet firms such as Facebook owner Meta Platforms and Alphabet Inc's Google to negotiate content supply deals with media outlets, if the parties fail to reach an agreement on payments.

Meta said the New Zealand bill ignored the realities of how its platforms work, their voluntary nature, the preferences of users and the free value it provided news outlets.

"We will continue to be open and transparent with the government and publishers on our business decisions as this bill progresses," a Meta spokesperson said in an email.

Google did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

After Canada introduced a similar law in 2023, Meta blocked news content from appearing on Facebook there. Meta has also said it plans to stop paying Australian media companies for news and the government is still considering whether to intervene.

Goldsmith said the proposed changes would give power to the communications minister to decide which digital platforms would come under the law. An independent regulator will be appointed as the bill's authority, he said.

One of the governing coalition's partners, the right-wing ACT New Zealand party, will not support the bill, Goldsmith said, which means it must have the support of other parties to pass.

The opposition Labour party said it would check the amendments but supported the intent of the bill.

"I am relieved the government is seeing sense and progressing with legislation to make the media landscape fairer for news companies operating online," Willie Jackson, Labour spokesperson for media and broadcasting, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Stephen Coates)
Current 4-H and FFA members can submit up to four photos that they have taken during the year to be featured in NDAs 2025 poultry calendar. Official contest rules and entry forms are available at nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian/. Entries must be submitted online at https://tinyurl.com/NDAPhotoContest by the July 15 deadline.
Fremont chicken slaughterhouse and processing company Lincoln Premium Poultry was recently recognized and honored for the companys COVID-19 pandemic action plan and response, being tabbed as a Lamplighter.

Jessica Kolterman, director of administration for LPP, said she went to Washington, D.C., to receive the Lamplighter award from the organization American Democracy and Health Security Initiative.

According to its website, the ADHSI chose the more than two dozen Lamplighter honorees based on the ideal that, The path forward is illuminated by state and local leaders who innovated in the pandemics darkest days. This cross-section of leaders  lamplighters  reveal a host of solutions, strategies and systems  practical, actionable steps  to advance Americas health security.

Kolterman said LPP was a critical food sector production facility that had to stay open during the pandemic to continue helping feed the nation. The company had only opened its doors in September 2019, about six months prior to the unofficial beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020.

Were very proud of how we handled the pandemic, Kolterman said. (This honor) made us very proud that, that we are being acknowledged for that because it was, you know, a trying time in our industry and, and we felt like we had worked really hard to take good care of our team members, and we appreciated, you know, being recognized for that.

Like many local large-scale agriculture firms, LPP announced regular updates in the first year of the pandemic, detailing how many employees had tested positive for COVID-19, the number of staff who were isolated and in rare instances, reporting the deaths of workers from COVID-19.

Kolterman said that the recognition for LPPs approach to safety and well-being of their employees during the pandemic began with outreach by the ADHSI, which was seeking input and information on how a range of entities, governments and businesses handled the pandemic.

It was surprising to get the communication that we were being recognized, but also very exciting, Kolterman said. I had done an interview with a group of researchers from Brown University probably about a year ago where they had reached out with the assignment from partners. They are working with the government to try to understand how different sectors of America responded to the pandemic within their organizations.

Researchers spoke with people in the health care industry, state governments, local health departments, education, hospitals and the private sector.

Kolterman said she and officials from LPP were happy to share that information if it could be helpful to other people.

Fast forward a year and they reached out and they said, well, we interviewed hundreds of people across the United States and weve identified 30, you know, people and organizations that have, we believe were, you know, some of the best across the United States for working through this, Kolterman said. And wed like to recognize you as a Lamplighter and talk about your story and how you guys move forward in the pandemic in a positive way, which was extremely humbling.

Kolterman said LPPs approach to coping with all the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic centered on a multi-faceted approach.

We have kind of come up with three foundational pillars on our response that we sat down as a leadership team and mapped out from day one, she said. The first one was, its important for us to always do right by our people, to take care of the people. Everything we did to respond to this pandemic has to be done through the lens of protecting and supporting our people.

Once the pandemic had officially started in March 2020, LPP had just added 300 new employees to the facilitys new second shift, which made the task of implementing protections and best practices more important, Kolterman said.

The second (pillar) was transparency with our team, but also with the public, Kolterman said. I think a lot of the rhetoric around food processing specifically was negative. So we tried to be very transparent when we did have cases but also transparent in how we were handling them and that we were trying. So everyone was familiar with and hopefully would get comfortable with all the things we were doing to keep both our team safe, but also to prevent the spread within the community as a whole. The transparency was very important to that.

Kolterman said that the companys final pillar was communicate often about what was happening as things morphed and changed and evolved during the pandemic time period.

That meant both communicate often internally, but it also meant communicate often externally, she said. So in addition to doing all the internal communication we were doing, I also spent a lot of time talking to public bodies and you know, groups about what we were doing, so everyone was comfortable.

Finally, I would say that under the doing right by our people, taking care of our people banner, if I was to say one thing that they were probably the most, I guess the thing they got the most excited about when we originally talked, was what I would call a wraparound approach to supporting our people, Kolterman said. It wasnt just how, do we support them when theyre in our building? It was, how do we support them in their lives?

LPP offered a range of outside-work resources to the employees, she said, including working with the Fremont Public Schools on how to keep education efforts going for the children of staff, helping secure groceries and other needed supplies if a worker contracted the COVID-19 virus, and also assisting and connecting employees with needed medical care.

We drove a lot of them to appointments, Kolterman said. We called to find them places they could get in, we would find their testing in the early days before testing was widely available.

Kolterman flew to Washington, D.C. for one day to attend the conference, where she was honored to be asked to speak to attendees about how LPP handled the pandemic.

They actually asked me to speak at the dinner and the dinner was attended by White House representatives, she said. And so there were five of us who spoke at the dinner out of the 30, then after we spoke they allowed the CDC and the White House to respond to our remarks. It was really humbling to have, you know, somebody from the White House stand up and say, wow, Im just touched by this story and thank you for what you did.

Officials from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness were present, which Kolterman said added to the prestige and thankfulness she felt for LPPs efforts.

We were really proud of (the recognition), she said I think it says a lot about our team. When youre living it and youre in it, youre just doing it. Youre not thinking about four years from the road when someone might call you and say youre being recognized for this achievement.

It is certainly not an experience any of us would choose to go through, Kolterman said. That being said, from our perspective as a company, I think it was a very good opportunity for us to really show our team members the kind of company we wanted to be and demonstrate to them how we wanted to support them, not only within our organization as a working environment, but also support them in their lives. How we really, when we say we care about you as individuals, we really mean that and we put action behind those words.
Interview: Kazakhstan-China permanent comprehensive strategic partnership to usher in new chapter, says Kazakh president

Xinhua) 08:07, July 02, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

The Kazakhstan-China relationship is built upon strong bonds of solid friendship and good neighborliness, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

ASTANA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming meeting between the heads of state of Kazakhstan and China will benefit people of the two countries, and the agreements to be reached will open a new chapter in the Kazakhstan-China permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan and attend the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) later this week.

"We look forward to President Xi's visit and believe it will inject powerful impetus into the development momentum of bilateral ties," said Tokayev in a recent exclusive written interview with Xinhua.

The Kazakhstan-China relationship is built upon strong bonds of solid friendship and good neighborliness, said the Kazakh president, noting that bilateral cooperation embarked on a new "golden 30 years" during Xi's visit to Kazakhstan in September 2022.

This aerial photo taken on Jan. 1, 2024 shows containers being loaded at China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)

"I cherish those warm memories of our meetings with esteemed President Xi, where we discussed current issues and prospects for strengthening our permanent comprehensive strategic partnership in an open and trusting atmosphere," he said.

Frequent high-level exchanges have further strengthened bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and China, he said.

Over the past year alone, a number of important agreements have been sealed, including the implementation of a mutual visa-free policy, the construction of a third railway checkpoint, the establishment of cultural centers, and the announcement of 2024 as the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year" in China, noted Tokayev.

"As an outstanding leader and a wise statesman, President Xi will lead China to achieve tremendous growth and significantly strengthen China's global influence with his foresight," he said.

Citing the Kazakh saying "Just as a river needs its bed, people rely on leaders," Tokayev said he believes that China is continuously marching towards the grand goal of realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation under the wise guidance of its leader.

Recalling his eight-year stay in China, the Kazakh leader said he still has vivid memories from his time in Beijing as a foreign student and later as a diplomat at the beginning of his career, which is connected to China.

"During my experience in China, I delved deeply into the Chinese culture, history, language and customs, and discovered the richness and diversity of the Chinese cuisine," he said, adding that he now reads books in Chinese regularly and stays informed about Chinese political and socio-economic development.

Kazakhstan and China have established close interaction within international frameworks including the United Nations, the SCO, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, and the China-Central Asia mechanism, Tokayev pointed out.

"We share similar positions with China on many pressing global and regional issues, and Kazakhstan fully supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and stands ready to actively participate in the ongoing integration of our national development strategies," he said.

The Kazakh president called for promoting cooperation in five key areas, namely deepening investment cooperation, increasing bilateral trade turnover, strengthening Belt and Road cooperation, expanding transport cooperation, and fostering cultural and people-to-people interaction.

In particular, he emphasized the significance of cultural and people-to-people communications between the two countries, as the opening ceremony of the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year" in China was held in March in Beijing.

This photo taken on June 29, 2024 shows a view of Astana's central axis, in Astana, Kazakhstan. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

More than 35 events are expected to be held across China to celebrate the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year," aiming to promote Kazakh tourism, culture, and traditional customs, he said.

"Cultural and people-to-people cooperation plays an important role in strengthening bilateral ties and fostering friendship between the peoples of our countries," he added.

In a world of profound transformation, heightened instability and growing conflicts, humanity needs to develop consolidated and effective solutions to ensure global security and foster economic growth, said Tokayev.

"In this context, Kazakhstan highly values President Xi's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, which is gaining new relevance in the current international landscape and contributing to the formation of an equal and multipolar world," he said.

"The China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative will make great contributions to ensuring global security and the implementation of the sustainable development goals," he added.

Speaking of Kazakhstan's rotating chairmanship of the SCO, Tokayev vowed to make an effort to develop common approaches to solving security problems, strengthen trade and economic cooperation, promote environmental protection, and consolidate friendship between member countries.

He also said his nation aims to further strengthen the organization's international influence by expanding its contacts with major international and regional organizations.

He expected that the summit's outcome will fully reflect the Shanghai Spirit, which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and the pursuit of common development.

"The Shanghai Spirit is congruent with the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, as they both promote sustainable development, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness," he said, noting that these concepts should be recognized as the norm in international relations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Leyla Tariverdiyeva





Armenia and the European Union are a strange and irrational combination in themselves. When there is talk of joining the EU in Yerevan, there is a feeling that someone is breeding someone.





Because Armenia does not meet the criteria of the European Union (from whatever angle you look at it), and the European Union cannot really need such a problematic ally. That is, some kind of game with certain stakes is being played on both sides. The statement made by Nikol Pashinyan the day before further confirmed us in this thought.



Armenia is ready to be closer to the EU as much as the EU deems it possible, Pashinyan said during the Armenian Democratic Forum.



A very strange statement. It means that Yerevan is ready for anything and agrees to be anything for Europe, as long as they pay. I remembered a dialogue from a very good American movie: "If you want a guy, I'll be your guy, if you want a girl, I'll be your girl. I can be anything you want! - Really? - Of course! And all this for the ridiculous price of two hundred dollars!"



Roughly, but the quote describes the situation very well. And this is a big problem for Armenia. She is always in search of a new guardian and is always ready for anything. As long as they pay. At one time, she received Karabakh and seven districts as payment for "services", and for many years she was provided almost free of charge with weapons and other basic necessities, so to speak.





The fact that she was unable to manage all this is no longer the fault of the guardian. The guardian tried in good faith. There are ladies who, no matter how you dress them, you can't see anything on them - neither their faces nor their figures.



In principle, it is clear why Pashinyan expressed himself in this way. He tried to avoid a direct answer to the question in an original way: is Armenia going to Europe or not? He explained it in a very peculiar way too. "I'm sorry, if I thought that the people of Armenia did not support this idea, I would not have made such a statement, or if I had made such a statement under the conditions that the people of Armenia did not support this idea, I would not have been Prime Minister of Armenia, at least after this statement," - He said.



Hardly anyone understood anything from this statement. The Armenian prime Minister is a great original and when he needs to get away from a direct answer, he remembers that there are a hundred thousand words in the Armenian language.



Today, Armenia promises Europe to be whatever the new patrons wish. Even a guy, even a girl. And Europe, it seems, does not intend to integrate Armenians in an accelerated manner, as they once found themselves in the CSTO and the EAEU. Why? Because unlike Russia, Europe does not need Armenia. Absolutely. The West has not yet decided how much and with what it is ready to pay Yerevan for loyalty. The processes that began violently, when Armenians already saw Yerevan as a suburb of Paris, suddenly stopped. Something went wrong as expected.





The price offered, apparently, was not what the Armenian side had hoped for. More precisely, the new patrons were not ready to give it, or were not even going to do so. With all the seemingly stormy and large-scale support from the West that Armenia had, September 2023 happened, and Azerbaijan, as they say, "did not arrive" for this. One hundred thousand Karabakh tribesmen moved to Armenia, and no promised and calculated sanctions and other punitive measures against Baku followed. It seems that it was then that the sky stopped being flowery for the Armenian side.



In May, during a discussion at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia is ready to join the European Union by the end of 2024. It was black humor. It is as gloomy as Armenia's readiness to sign a peace treaty before the end of summer. Pashinyan has already realized that Europe does not need his country and it will not tear its vest to face Russia on the Armenian front as well. The only thing Armenia is counting on is funds from the European Peace Fund. Pashinyan also talked about this in Copenhagen. That is, it's about money again. Money, money again.

In March, the Armenian media wrote that a new document on cooperation with the EU is being developed, which will be signed in July, and soon the republic expects to be ready for candidacy. In April, at a meeting in Brussels, Armenia was promised only 270 million euros, and even those over four years. The EU also agreed to sell (sell, not donate at the expense of the peace fund) non-lethal weapons for the Armenians.

Armenia is clearly unhappy with this situation. While on a visit to Tallinn, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan blasphemously compared Armenia with Ukraine. By doing this, he wanted to make it clear to the Europeans that his country deserves the same amount of assistance. Why do Ukrainians have billions and the most modern weapons, and Armenians have some pathetic millions, when Armenians, it turns out, have experienced "the same thing"?



In short, Nikol Pashinyan is no longer as optimistic as before. Everything turned out to be much more problematic and made him doubt Europe's desire to get his country at all costs. He doesn't even know if they want Armenia in the European Union anymore. The day before, answering the questions of the participants of the "Armenian Democratic Forum", he admitted that he did not know whether the EU was ready and willing to accept Armenia. At the very least, there are questions related to the elections to the European Parliament, he said. That's the minimum. And what is the maximum? We have already explained this above for him.



The question of the referendum arose in connection with recent statements by the Speaker of the Parliament, Alain Simonyan. He announced that Armenia may hold a referendum on joining the European Union in the near future.



We have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that there is confusion in the ruling circles of Armenia, when the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. Although Armenia, as Simonyan says, is "the bearer of the European democratic system," there should be no discrepancies between the legislative and executive authorities on issues such as the country's accession to the EU. The Speaker of the Parliament cannot declare a referendum, looking ahead of the first person of the country, if the issue has not been discussed and a decision has not been made. Judging by Pashinyan's latest statements, there will be no referendum, and he himself is disappointed, although Armenia is still ready to do whatever Europe asks.



Yes, Pashinyan spoke earlier about the referendum, but not about EU membership. The Prime Minister wanted to blame the issue of the delimitation of the border with Azerbaijan on the "will of the people". He knows what he has to do, but he is afraid of these decisions.





The prime minister hopes that he will be able to refuse Azerbaijan the return of some territories, based on the fact that the Armenian people, they say, are against and they can do nothing. But this is a very frivolous approach and vain hopes. Yerevan has every right to hold a plebiscite on joining the European Union, but delimitation issues are not put to referendums. In any case, he will have to make decisions within internationally recognized borders, whether his people agree with this or not.



All these are such elementary truths that it is somehow even inconvenient to remind them once again. I would like to hope that Yerevan has already begun to realize today that it has wasted precious time. A country that is tightly occupied with groundless hopes has not made a single step forward. Four whole years have been wasted, and Armenia is back in the same broken trough.






Several bills that were passed during the 2024 legislative session and signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis will take effect on July 1.

Here are a few of the most significant pieces of legislation set to become effective in just a few days:

SB 131: Prohibit Carrying Firearms in Sensitive Spaces

This bill is one of the most contentious of the 2024 session. The bill prohibits the carrying of firearms, concealed or otherwise, in a number of locations considered "sensitive spaces," including government buildings, child care centers, and public schools.

In a recent interview with Colorado Politics, John Kellner, district attorney for the 18th Judicial District, said his concern with the new law is that the penalty for unlawfully carrying a gun onto school grounds was decreased in the bill's language. Kellner questions the "tough on gun" messaging when the new law will make carrying a gun on school grounds a lesser offense.

Under SB 131, a violation of the law is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor. Before, Kellner, who is not running for reelection this year, said it was a felony to carry any weapon on school grounds, noting that now a person carrying a knife on school grounds will be penalized more heavily than someone caught with a gun.

While the misdemeanor charge is one step down from the Class 6 felony the offense was before, it does change the penalties. Before, a person caught with a gun could face over a year in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.

Under SB 131, someone caught carrying a gun on school grounds faces a shorter jail sentence and a maximum of $1,000 in fines.

The bill was sponsored by Sens. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Lafayette, Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Reps. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, and Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora.

Read more about the bill here.

HB 1007: Prohibit Residential Occupancy Limits

This bill prohibits local governments from limiting the number of unrelated people who can live together in a single household, with several exceptions. Residential occupancy limits can still be enforced if they are necessary to uphold health and safety standards or to comply with local, federal, or political subdivision affordable housing guidelines.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City, and Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, and Sens. Tony Exum, D-Denver, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver.

Read more about the bill here.

HB 1147: Candidate Election Deepfake Disclosures

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This bill regulates the use of deepfake images, videos, and audio in communications about candidates for elected office. It mandates that any manipulated media about a candidate must include a disclosure statement indicating that it has been altered.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, and Sens. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora.

Read more about the bill here.

HB 1081: Regulate Sale Transfer Sodium Nitrite

This bill prohibits the sale and transfer of products containing sodium nitrite in concentrations greater than 10%. While sodium nitrite is commonly used as a food additive and preservative in small concentrations, highly concentrated forms of the compound have become an increasingly popular method of suicide in recent years.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, and Sens. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Byron Pelton, R-Sterling

Read more about the bill here.

HB 1150: False Slates of Electors

This bill classifies the creation of a false slate of electors, serving as an elector in a false slate, and conspiring to create or serve in such a slate as perjury and forgery, punishable by a fine of up to $10,000. The bill was introduced in response to the 2020 election, during which a group of false electors not officially designated by political parties signed certificates falsely claiming that Donald Trump had won in their states.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Lorena Garcia, D-Denver, and Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie, and Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, D-Denver.

Read more about the bill here.

Other laws that go into effect on July 1 include:

Thelma Grimes contributed to this report.
After President Joe Biden's administration designated the Mountain Wests quantum industry as one of 31 tech hubs in October, Colorado state leaders hoped the region would get on the program's shortlist for more funding  and more recognition.

The second phase of the new federal tech hub program was a key part in cementing Colorado as the center of the quantum computing industry.

This week, state leaders got what they were hoping for.

The Economic Development Administration announced Tuesday that Colorado's Elevate Quantum is among 12 tech hubs to receive funding for the U.S.s most critical technologies  beating out Illinois' quantum tech hub.

Elevate Quantum is a nonprofit based in Denver representing the Mountain West tech hub covering Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. It won an extra $40.5 million grant from the Biden administration.

"This decision shows that America is serious about being a global leader in quantum technology, the future of computing, Gov. Jared Polis said in a the news release.

Quantum computing is a growing field of technology developing super-fast computers designed to solve problems most classical computers would take years to compute.

The CEO of Elevate Quantum explained the difference as going through a maze. Classical computers would find their way through by either going left or right before turning back to find the way out, while quantum computers go both ways at the same time and explore the different possibilities at every turn of every path instantaneously.

Some companies developed out of University of Colorado Boulder used quantum tech for methane detection or a breathalyzer spotting viruses in real time.

The technology is still in early adoption, but some of the biggest companies such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft have opted into the Colorado hub collaborative.

Colorado was competing against Illinois  the only other federally designated quantum region  to make the Biden administration's tech hub program's shortlist for the second phase of funding.

Illinois still won a federal grant, but for its fermentation and biomanufacturing tech hub.

The investment aims to solidify Colorados quantum computing technology role in advancing artificial intelligence, climate tech and healthcare, the EDA said.

The grant is also a down payment on the next 50 years of Americas quantum technology, according to a statement from the University of Colorado Boulder, and expected to attract more private capital to the state.

The state could see an influx of $2 billion in private investment as a result of this announcement, university officials said.

The Mountain Wests roots in quantum date back to the 1940s and 1950s when Los Alamos was established in New Mexico and Boulders National Institute of Standards and Technology were built in remote locations away from Nazi or Soviet Union reach.

The quantum physics science that brought the nuclear bomb and a precise atomic clock set a strong foundation for the area to become a quantum computing hub.

Then there's the regions access to military infrastructure and leading research universities that helped shape the ecosystem.

The Elevate Quantum region is home to four Nobel laureates, three national labs and more than 40 research labs, according to the university.

The second-phase of Bidens tech hub program also unlocked $74 million in state funding into the quantum industry that was conditional on the federal award.

We were always looking to get the most bang for our buck with our limited dollars. And so when we can leverage them and have a multiplier effect, we always seek to do that, Polis told The Denver Gazette about tying the state dollars to the federal grant.

The governor said the state had done the groundwork to be a leader in the industry and this is, in many ways, an acknowledgement that America's bet on quantum technology is on Colorado.

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Colorado aims to be the Silicon Valley of quantum computing.

But the state also doesnt want to be like Murray Hill, N.J, said Corban Tillemann-Dick, CEO of Denver-based Maybell Quantum Industries.

The New Jersey town is famous for being the birthplace of a computer building block, the transistor, but struggled to become a computing hub as California did. Investments like this are key to ensuring the Mountain West doesnt lose its advantage, he said.

The state is now in a position where we can capitalize on our early lead in this race and turn it into global leadership for decades and decades to come, Tillemann-Dick said.

With both state and federal funding infusing more than $125 million into the region, he said, this just supercharges everything we're doing for the ecosystem.

The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC have been working with Elevate Quantum and that relationship will likely become more formal now that the grant has been awarded, said Jim Lovewell, chief operating officer for the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC in an interview Tuesday.

We are looking to unite the region and make this a quantum corridor of excellence, he said.

Quantum computing allows information to be shared in a chain fashion, so that one piece of the chain cant be separated by a hacker and put back into place, he said.

It is exponentially more secure based on the physics, he said.

The five military bases in town and combatant commands housed here, such as Space Command, are expected to be key customers for the technology, along with the large cyber security industry, Lovewell said. It will also have applications for industries such as finance and healthcare.

"This Phase 2 Quantum Tech Hub award will provide unprecedented opportunities for CU Boulder and other Colorado research institutions and businesses to translate cutting-edge quantum research into real-world impact for Colorados people and economy, CU Boulder Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Massimo Ruzzene said in the release.

He later told The Denver Gazette that the funding will make it much easier to spin out more companies from the universitys labs.

Starting a quantum computing startup is extremely expensive due to the machines needed to power their ideas. Its a steep barrier to entry and private investors take on higher risk by funding new ideas with little evidence the ideas work.

Starting from scratch would increase tremendously the risk of them failing early on, rather than being able to to start with low investment and then slowly build up, Ruzzene said.

But the extra funding coming in from government officials can go toward building open-access facilities for startups to use, Ruzzene said, lowering costs of entry and giving venture capital investors more concepts to back with less risk.

We need to make sure that that pipeline is continuously being fed by the innovation ecosystem. Ruzzene said. This funding will really enable that pipeline to exist and so were going to be scaling up through this pipeline.

The Gazette military reporter Mary Shinn contributed to this story.
With the holiday quickly approaching, residents of Colorado Springs and surrounding towns are looking forward to the bright light shows that coincide with Fourth of July celebrations.

In general, the state of Colorado has outlawed for private use any fireworks that explode or leave the ground.

Depending on where one lives or is planning to celebrate the holiday in El Paso County, certain types of fireworks may be allowed. Permissible fireworks cannot contain more than 50 milligrams of explosive composition.

The types of fireworks that are permissible in Colorado are:

Fountains

Ground Spinners

Illuminating Torches

Dipped Sticks and Sparklers

Toy Propellants

Trick Noise Makers

Tube Devices

The types of fireworks that are always illegal to use in Colorado are:

Firecrackers

Rockets (including bottle rockets)

Roman Candles

Cherry Bombs

Mortars and similar items, such as M-80s

Only in public and professional displays are the above types of fireworks permissible.

Here are the rules and regulations for the following areas:

Colorado Springs

Within the Colorado Springs city limits, all fireworks  including sparklers that need to be ignited with a flame are illegal to purchase and possess. If caught with fireworks, citizens can face a fine of up to $2,500 or up to 189 days in jail.

According to Colorado Springs Fire Department media spokesperson Ashley Franco, there are more fires reported in the U.S. on the Fourth of July than on any other day.

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"We live in a very fire-prone area and are no stranger to devastating wildland fires in Colorado Springs," Franco stated in an email to the Gazette. "We hear the frustrations people have regarding the law and get a lot of negative feedback for it, but at the end of the day we would rather you be here alive to argue with us than you suffer a serious medical emergency or fire as a result of a firework."

Within Colorado Springs, there are nine approved firework shows. Each show must undergo an extensive approval process with the fire department and is required to follow specific rules day of.

Fountain

At this time, fireworks are legal inside the city limits of Fountain as long as they comply with state law, according to ordinance No. 1788.

The sale and use of any fireworks is approved only from May 31 to July 6. Legal fireworks are the ones sold in El Paso County fireworks booths and citizens must be 16 years of age or older to purchase, transport or sell.

The office of Fire Prevention Division recommends discharging all legal fireworks in a safe location. Safe locations are typically outside of homes and businesses, away from dry and/or combustible vegetation and combustible structures.

Manitou Springs

Similar to Colorado Springs, all types of fireworks are banned within Manitou Springs city limits, according to the local police department. Only public and professional displays of fireworks are allowed.

Woodland Park

The use and sale of all fireworks within Woodland Park is prohibited per Chapter 9.80 of the town's code of ordinances. If convicted of unlawful use or sale of fireworks, citizens can face a penalty of up to a year in the county jail and/or a fine of up of $1,000

Monument

All fireworks, permissible and illegal, are unlawful within the town in accordance with Ordinance No. 15-2017. Any person caught selling or igniting fireworks is subject to a fine up to $500 for each violation.
With the holiday quickly approaching, residents of Colorado Springs and surrounding towns are looking forward to the bright light shows that coincide with Fourth of July celebrations.

In general, the state of Colorado has outlawed for private use any fireworks that explode or leave the ground.

Depending on where one lives or is planning to celebrate the holiday in El Paso County, certain types of fireworks may be allowed. Permissible fireworks cannot contain more than 50 milligrams of explosive composition.

The types of fireworks that are permissible in Colorado are:

Fountains

Ground Spinners

Illuminating Torches

Dipped Sticks and Sparklers

Toy Propellants

Trick Noise Makers

Tube Devices

The types of fireworks that are always illegal to use in Colorado are:

Firecrackers

Rockets (including bottle rockets)

Roman Candles

Cherry Bombs

Mortars and similar items, such as M-80s

Only in public and professional displays are the above types of fireworks permissible.

Here are the rules and regulations for the following areas:

Colorado Springs

Within the Colorado Springs city limits, all fireworks  including sparklers that need to be ignited with a flame are illegal to purchase and possess. If caught with fireworks, citizens can face a fine of up to $2,500 or up to 189 days in jail.

According to Colorado Springs Fire Department media spokesperson Ashley Franco, there are more fires reported in the U.S. on the Fourth of July than on any other day.

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"We live in a very fire-prone area and are no stranger to devastating wildland fires in Colorado Springs," Franco stated in an email to the Gazette. "We hear the frustrations people have regarding the law and get a lot of negative feedback for it, but at the end of the day we would rather you be here alive to argue with us than you suffer a serious medical emergency or fire as a result of a firework."

Within Colorado Springs, there are nine approved firework shows. Each show must undergo an extensive approval process with the fire department and is required to follow specific rules day of.

Fountain

At this time, fireworks are legal inside the city limits of Fountain as long as they comply with state law, according to ordinance No. 1788.

The sale and use of any fireworks is approved only from May 31 to July 6. Legal fireworks are the ones sold in El Paso County fireworks booths and citizens must be 16 years of age or older to purchase, transport or sell.

The office of Fire Prevention Division recommends discharging all legal fireworks in a safe location. Safe locations are typically outside of homes and businesses, away from dry and/or combustible vegetation and combustible structures.

Manitou Springs

Similar to Colorado Springs, all types of fireworks are banned within Manitou Springs city limits, according to the local police department. Only public and professional displays of fireworks are allowed.

Woodland Park

The use and sale of all fireworks within Woodland Park is prohibited per Chapter 9.80 of the town's code of ordinances. If convicted of unlawful use or sale of fireworks, citizens can face a penalty of up to a year in the county jail and/or a fine of up of $1,000

Monument

All fireworks, permissible and illegal, are unlawful within the town in accordance with Ordinance No. 15-2017. Any person caught selling or igniting fireworks is subject to a fine up to $500 for each violation.
The owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home have been offered a plea deal in their state-level case, according to an email sent to affected family members and acquired by The Gazette.

Jon and Carie Hallford face 286 criminal charges stemming from the discovery in October of 189 bodies improperly stored at the funeral home in Penrose.

According to the email sent out to family members, a plea deal has been offered to Jon and Carie Hallford. The offer  according to the email  would see both Hallfords plead guilty to 190 counts of abuse of a corpse. If accepted, Jon Hallford would serve a mandatory sentence of 20 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections while Carie Hallford would serve a sentence of 15 to 20 years.

Tanya Wilson said she was more than surprised to learn that the couple accused of lying about her late mothers cremation, and allegedly presenting the family with fake ashes, had been offered a deal in the numerous state charges against them.

Victim families, she said, had been promised they would be notified if a plea deal was on the horizon. They were not.

To find out one had already been extended was a shock, said Wilson, whose 76-year-old mothers remains were positively identified in late October. It feels almost disrespectful to the families to not have included us in this discussion.

Wilson said Tuesday that she also felt disheartened by the justice system that failed to reflect the gravity and vile nature of the crimes, or the harm to victim families  in the charges, and subsequent attempt at swift resolution, of the state charges against the Hallfords.

It goes way beyond counts 71-261 Abuse of a Corpse, Wilson said. Despite having all of this evidence, they chose to offer a plea deal.

If the Hallfords accept the plea deal, there wont be a trial on the state charges.

Wilson said she had planned to travel from her Georgia home to Colorado Springs to see the justice process through, for her mom, Yong Anderson, and families such as hers whose loved ones were identified  and the many hundreds of families still waiting for answers that probably will never come.

I feel like we deserve the chance to hear the truth and see justice served in court, so its very distressing, to say the least, that the DAs Office has stripped that from us, Wilson said. This deal also eliminates the opportunity for us to get some answers, or even some sense of closure, through a trial. Now Im finding out that there is a possibility they could accept the plea deal on [July 11] at the arraignment.

Crystina Page, a victim whose son David was found among the bodies at the Penrose funeral home, expressed significant displeasure with the plea deal offered by the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office, based in Colorado Springs.

I havent slept yet; most of us got the news when we were on the Zoom call last night. Were p----d. I dont know how were going to get through this, Page said when speaking with The Gazette.

I know for myself that Im represented; my son is represented. I know one of those charges will represent him. If they decided to take the plea deals, we have over 1,000 families who wont have representation.

To be honest with you, I dont care if hes in jail or not. That doesnt do anything for me, knowing where he is geographically, that doesnt help me. What does have an effect on me is these families not having answers  Heather (DeWolf) needs to know what happened to her son.

According to previous Gazette reporting, hundreds of families who are not listed as victims in the case remain without answers about what happened to their loved ones after they worked with Return to Nature.

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Heather DeWolf, who used Return to Nature to cremate her son Zach, is one of the hundreds who are unsure if they actually have the correct remains. DeWolf also was unhappy with the plea deal offer.

That was quite a bit of a shock to see that, and I think thats the case for most folks. It came out of the blue, DeWolf said. It was a bit of a gut punch ... Every time there is something that comes up like this it just starts everything all over again. The whole thing is ridiculous. At this point, I dont feel like we have anyone on our side. I feel like our voice is being slowly taken away.

The email sent to families notes that the plea offer could be accepted at the Hallfords upcoming arraignment hearing July 11. At the Hallfords previous hearing in June, where an El Paso County judge ruled that they could not be tried together, attorneys for Jon and Carie Hallford each informed the court their clients intended to plead not guilty at the next hearing and be scheduled for trial.

The offer will expire on Oct. 4, according to the email.

The maximum sentence faced by the Hallfords if their case were to go to trial remains unclear, due in part to the number of charges they face.

The Hallfords top charge in their state-level case is money laundering, a Class 3 felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years. Jon and Carie Hallford each faces four counts of money laundering.

The Hallfords also face 86 counts of Class 5 forgery, which carries with it a maximum sentence of six years in prison.

Abuse of corpse, a Class 6 felony, carries a maximum sentence of 18 months. Abuse of a corpse makes up the bulk of the charges against the Hallfords, each facing 190 counts.

If the Hallfords were to be convicted at trial, its unclear how much of the sentence would run consecutively as opposed to concurrently.

Michael Stuzynski, an attorney representing Carie Hallford, said he was unable to comment on any potential plea negotiations.

Court order prohibits us from making comments on this case as well as the rules of professional conduct, Stuzynski said.

Kate Singh, a spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office, also declined to comment, citing ethical rules.

The funeral home about 35 miles southwest of Colorado Springs came under a multiagency investigation in October after reports of a complaint about a foul odor in the area. Investigators said they found more than 180 bodies in various states of decomposition there that were not properly stored. The Hallfords were arrested in Oklahoma in November.

In addition to their state case, the Hallfords face charges at the federal level. In April, the Hallfords appeared in federal court in Denver and pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of wire fraud.

Tim Neff, the attorney prosecuting the Hallfords at the federal level, said that the Hallfords are facing about seven years in prison if convicted on the 15 wire fraud charges. The Hallfords attorneys said they believe a sentence on federal charges wouldnt be as severe as the states.

At the Hallfords previous state-level hearing, prosecutor Rachael Powell told the court that the trial in the federal case is set for Oct. 22.

Jon Hallford is being held on a no-bond hold pending the outcome of his federal case, despite being released on a $100,000 bond in his state-level case.

Carie Hallford remains out on a $100,000 bond.
By Alimat Aliyeva

China and Kazakhstan can increase cooperation in energy, agriculture, investment and mining, Azernews reports.

This is stated in the article by Chinese President Xi Jinping "China and Kazakhstan: a common desire for new horizons", who will visit Kazakhstan on a state visit on July 2-4.

"The economies of China and Kazakhstan complement each other in their structure and have great prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation. We will intensify the coupling of the joint implementation of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative with the promotion of the economic course of a fair Kazakhstan, expand access for Kazakhstani goods to the giant Chinese market to share China's development opportunities. It is necessary to increase cooperation in such traditional areas as trade and economy, industry, investment, energy, mining and agriculture, the article says.

He also noted that it is necessary to increase the capacity of border crossings, contribute to improving the maintenance of China-Europe freight trains and the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM) in order to improve the extensive network of transport connectivity.

It should be noted that during the visit, Xi Jinping will hold talks with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and will also take part in the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which will be held on July 3-4 in Astana.
The chief of Colorado Parks & Wildlife insisted that "non-lethal" means of managing wolves that kill livestock is crucial especially now that the two wolves brought to Colorado have a pup.

"And we believe that there are more pups within the recently named pack," Jeff Davis said in a round of letters in June with Sen. Janice Rich, who questioned whether he is taking the concerns of citizens who are being impacted by wolf depredation seriously.

"Again," Davis said, "deployment of non-lethal actions will be critical in avoiding and minimizing future interactions between wolves and livestock as well as people."

The round of letters confirmed the familiar points of contention between Davis and state policymakers who have criticized the state's handling of the wolf reintroduction program. The letters also offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the conflict that has strained the relationship between wildlife officials and ranchers.

In her letter to Davis, Rich highlighted the problems ranchers directly affected by the wolves' reintroduction.

In June 10, Rich expressed her disappointment in the state's May 28 response to worries raised by the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association.

CPW has a different perspective than the association on some of the things stated in the letter and doesnt believe that it would be productive or appropriate to provide specific responses to each of the issues raised in the letter, the state agency said in its May 28 letter to the livestock association.

In response, Rich complained that letter "seems rather dismissive by CPW leadership (from the Front Range) with regard to the concerns raised by the ranchers."

Rich added: "I have no doubt the perspective is different. Several letters from the Cattlemens Association have clearly stated the situation on the ground with documented dates and times of sightings around the livestock and depredation or harassment by the wolves.

In particular, the lawmakers from Mesa County pointed to the ranchers insistence that the state's non-lethal policy state is not working.

In his response to Rich, the CPW director communicated the state's preference for "non-lethal" means of dealing with wolf depredation.

We will also continue to work with CDA to provide funds to the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association for non-lethal tools, such as range riders and non-lethal potentially injurious permits intended to haze the wolves away from livestock and people, Davis wrote in his June 21 response.

In late May, Davis said CPW finalized regulations authorizing livestock owners to use artificial light and other night vision technologies to manage gray wolves, allowing pooled grazers to apply for wolf permits and compensation. As part of these regulations, Davis said domestic bison can now be defined as "livestock."

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Davis said there has been a decrease in wolves killing livestock since the height of calving season since May 11.

In a vote reached after Rich's letter, a divided Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission on June 17 moved to allow for the lethal management of wolves under certain situations.

The commission approved a staff recommendation allowing several permits, including the lethal taking of chronically depredating wolves  those that have demonstrated repeated killing and harassment of livestock or working dogs.

Even with the commission's decision, CPW insisted it's best to use non-lethal means  because of the new pup or pups.

Davis said the state has established a working group to try and improve relationships among the agency, producers and wolf restoration advocates.

The group, he said, will "explore potential alternatives to lethal control to address wolf depredation and provide feedback on criteria that will trigger a situation-by-situation review by CPW in consideration for lethal management actions."

Davis said CPW will present the working groups findings this summer and accept public comment in response.

I want to make it clear that this effort is not a change to the wolf restoration plan, Davis stressed in the letter to Rich. The plan states that CPW will determine when lethal management will occur. We are simply utilizing the temporary group to provide us feedback on the criteria we are considering in review of other western states and our current experience in Colorado.

Davis also said CPW will work with livestock owners to provide fair compensation for losses.

We understand that compensation cannot address the stress that wolf restoration has had on impact producers, Davis said. We are committed to continuing to work on minimizing and avoiding additional conflicts and, where appropriate, conducting lethal management actions.

Rich, on the other hand, stressed that the financial losses in Grand and Jackson counties are mounting, along with the mental toll the reintroduction program has taken on ranchers.

Other western Colorado livestock producers are concerned for what the future holds as more wolves are introduced, Rich said. Trust and confidence in the states ability to manage wildlife is eroding daily.
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
City Councilman Dave Donelson calls for campaign finance transparency and is joined by a crowd of supporters during a news conference on the steps of Colorado Springs City Hall.
After the Supreme Court ruled former President Donald Trump has some immunity from charges surrounding his conduct after the 2020 election, the presumptive GOP nominee slammed special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday. A really bad day for Deranged Jack Smith, the wacko prosecutor used for Crooked Joe Bidens attack on his Political Opponent, Trump said []
As Colorado's Alexander Mountain wildfire in Larimer county continues to spread, it stands as a stark reminder of how destructive wildfires can be, how fast they can spread and bad memories of some recent ones.
A quarry with a history of noncompliance in western Benton County owes Oregon nearly $8,000 for failing to monitor stormwater, the fourth fine from the states environmental regulator in about three years.

Alsea Quarries did not file an annual report or regular test results of water discharged from its basalt mine about 2 miles south of the unincorporated town of the same name, according to a civil penalty notice from the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Oregon allows the quarry to discharge water from its rock digging and crushing operations but requires managers to test for and measure water pollutants four times each year. Alsea Quarries must submit the results by July 31 of the following year under conditions in the business water quality permit, so those pollutants are tracked in a federal database, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Mackenzie Foster, manager at the quarry, said early Monday, July 1, that no one was available to comment on the fines.

That would be a question for the boss, and hes out of the office right now, Foster said.

The quarry turned in no report or pollution tests for the 2022-23 monitoring year, enforcement officials said in the May 21 notice, a violation of accountability and transparency rules.

Oregon previously fined the quarry $1,600 in 2021, when managers similarly did not submit data from or failed to conduct stormwater tests.

Given DEQs previous and ongoing communication with respondent regarding late annual reports, continuing to disregard this risk constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would observe in this situation, an enforcement official wrote.

Alsea Quarries also received fines for violating the terms of its air pollution permit.

Oregon charged the company $4,000 in 2020 for failing to report how much dust Alsea Quarries generated by smashing basalt in a rock crusher at the site during the year. The quarry was about two months late filing an annual air pollution report in 2022, drawing another, $1,700 fine from the state environment department.

Department of Environmental Quality fined Alsea Quarries a total $15,027 between 2021 and 2024.

In the companys latest report, Foster estimated the machine crushed about 35,000 tons of rock in 2023 and burned about 7,500 gallons of diesel.

The rock crusher broke down close to 40,000 tons in 2022 and nearly 49,000 tons the year before, according to reports filed with the department.

Spokane, Washington-based RiverBend Materials crushed around 240,000 tons and Knife River Corp. smashed about 151,000 tons of material in 2023, both at rock crushers in Benton County.

George Foster incorporated Alsea Quarries in 2010 after buying the property from Byrel Perin, records show. He owned a mechanics shop, Georges Service and Repair in Philomath, and operates a rock-hauling truck business as a subsidiary of the quarry, AQ Construction.

George Foster and spouse Tracy Foster own more than 300 acres of land across several properties in Benton County, including a stand of timber.

Most mines across the mid-Willamette Valley dig up basalt, an igneous or volcanic rock used in road construction and land development  about 42 of the 77 active mines in the region, according to Department of Environmental Quality records, with 30 of those in Linn County.

But mines in Benton County generated 1.55 tons of material in 2022, No. 8 out of all Oregon counties and about 4% of the statewide yield of around 40 million tons. Linn County-based mines generated about 1.2 tons the same year, ranking the neighboring jurisdiction No. 13.
By Alimat Aliyeva

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the resumption of direct dialogue with the US authorities to strengthen bilateral relations and promote joint political agreements, Azernews reports.

During a televised address, the president said that he accepted the proposal of the US government to resume direct dialogues, which will continue on Wednesday. According to Nicolas Maduro, the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez Gomez, will represent the Venezuelan government as the head of the National Dialogue Commission in the upcoming direct dialogues with the US authorities.

The President stressed that these negotiations "provide an opportunity to restore the conditions of dialogue with respect, without manipulation, as well as public dialogue without speculation."

It should be noted that Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with the United States in January 2019. Washington and its allies have unilaterally imposed more than 930 sanctions against Venezuela. The biggest damage to the republic's economy was caused by the sanctions imposed on the State Oil and Gas Company.
nightblade354

Insurgent political parties that are profoundly dissatisfied with the dominant partys reign and justificatory ideology always produce factions whose views and aims differ as greatly from each others as they do from the dominant partys. Although these factions ignore their own disagreements for the sake of defeating the dominant party, their disagreements inevitably come forward upon victory. Therefore, _____________.



Which one of the following is the most logical completion of the argument?



(A) no victorious insurgent party ever manages to stay in power for as long as the party it displaces did



(B) a victorious insurgent party must address the disagreements between its factions if it is to stay in power



(C) the heretofore insurgent party will not always promulgate a new ideology to justify its own policies, once it is victorious



(D) a victorious insurgent party always faces opposition from the party it recently ousted



(E) it is impossible for the different factions of a victorious insurgent party to effect the compromises necessary to keep the new party in power

Premises:

Conclusion:

(A) No victorious insurgent party ever manages to stay in power for as long as the party it displaces did

(B) A victorious insurgent party must address the disagreements between its factions if it is to stay in power

(C) The heretofore insurgent party will not always promulgate a new ideology to justify its own policies, once it is victorious

(D) A victorious insurgent party always faces opposition from the party it recently ousted

(E) It is impossible for the different factions of a victorious insurgent party to effect the compromises necessary to keep the new party in power

Answer (B)

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Insurgent political parties that are profoundly dissatisfied with the dominant partys reign and justificatory ideology always produce factions whose views and aims differ as greatly from each others as they do from the dominant partys.Although these factions ignore their own disagreements for the sake of defeating the dominant party, their disagreements inevitably come forward upon victory._____________The premises tell us that insurgent political parties which are dissatisfied with the dominants party reign always consists of factions with very different views. Though these factions come together to topple the dominant party, their differences come forward later. We are looking for a conclusion here.We dont know how long each party stays in power.Correct. We are given that the differences will rise again later. So these should be addressed to stay in power.We dont know whether it will or will not promulgate a new ideology.We are not given whether the previously dominant party opposes the insurgent party.We cannot say that the difference cannot be resolved._________________
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended the strong collaboration between the UN and Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports.

According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he made the remarks during a meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev in Kyrgyzstan.

Guterres expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz side for actively promoting the mountain agenda on a global level. He noted that Kyrgyzstan, with its beautiful natural landscapes, sets an example for other countries in biodiversity conservation.

In discussions on regional and international security issues, including Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz side detailed its priorities as a candidate for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the 20272028 term.

During his visit, Guterres also met with President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov. At the meeting, he emphasized that Kyrgyzstan serves as an example for other countries and that the UN is always ready to support the country in all its ongoing reforms.

On July 34, Guterres is set to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan's Astana.
As in previous years, state-run schools will once again be offering free optional remedial courses as part of the Summerschool programme. This offer from the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth for pupils wishing to catch up or improve in a subject will be held this year from 3 to 13 September 2024 in basic education and from 2 to 13 September 2024 in secondary education.

Organised since 2020, Summerschool is part of the support measures that the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth wishes to provide for pupils with difficulties or who are behind at school. Nearly 6,300 students registered for the 2023 edition.

Here are the details of the organisation of Summerschool 2024:

1. Elementary education (3 to 13 September)

At the mid-term review meeting in the third trimester, depending on the pupil's needs, the class teacher will suggest that parents enrol their child in a guided Summerschool activity. It can also be requested by parents. If agreed, the teacher enrols the student in the proposed activity.

The activities offered in elementary schools vary according to the cycle.

Pupils in cycles 2, 3 and 4.1

Guided activities in mathematics and German will be organised for pupils in cycles 2.1 and 2.2;

Guided activities in mathematics, German and French will be organised for pupils in cycles 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1.

The guided mathematics activities will take place from 3 to 6 September 2024. Activities in German and French will take place from 9 to 13 September.

Pupils in cycle 4.2

Pupils in cycle 4.2 will be able to follow refresher courses organised by the lycee in which they are enrolled for the 2024/2025 school year. They will receive a form from their class teacher indicating the course they are advised to take. They give this form to the secretariat of their future lycee.

Pupils at state-run international schools

For pupils attending a primary school class at a state international school, parents should contact the school's secretariat directly.

2. Secondary education (from 2 to 13 September)

At secondary school, two types of course will be offered:

Remedial courses are intended for students who have to take a deferral test in September (subjects: German, English, French, mathematics, biology, natural sciences, chemistry, physics and others);

Remedial courses are intended for students who wish to remedy their shortcomings (subjects: German, English, French, mathematics).

Students may register for a maximum of two subjects. Courses are limited to five days per student.

Courses in German, French, Maths and English (known as 'in-house courses') will take place at each secondary school ('lycee').

Courses for all other subjects (known as 'regional courses') will be taught at regional level, i.e. at the Lycee classique de Diekirch (LCD), the Lycee Aline Mayrisch Luxembourg (LAML), the Lycee des arts et metiers (LAM), the Lycee de garcons Esch (LGE) and the Maacher Lycee Grevenmacher (MLG).

Each course has ten lessons, taught in blocks of two. One lesson is 50 minutes. Secondary schools will be able to spread lessons over one or two weeks.

Registrations must be made directly with the secondary school's secretariat, subject to availability, until 17 July 2024.

3. Thematic files for Summerschool or at home

As in previous years, Summerschool courses in primary and secondary education will be based on thematic dossiers prepared by the Ministry's Service de coordination de la recherche et de l'innovation pedagogiques et technologiques (SCRIPT) for each subject and each class.

These files will be accessible via the student's IAM on the www.summerschool.lu platform from 15 July 2024. They will also include model answer keys, so they can be used independently or accompanied by parents at any time during the school holidays.

If necessary, parents and students can contact the helpline on 8002-9090.

Press release by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth
The good news is that police appear to be doing a better job of getting guns off the street. The bad news is that gun crime has increased this year in Greensboro.

As of June 23, Greensboro police had seized 807 firearms this year  significantly higher than the 646 they had sized by the same time in 2023.

I think it just shows the prevalence of guns, and the number of shootings, and the access to guns, police Capt. Anthony Price says. So, I think thats why you see a lot of firearm confiscations taking place ... because theres just a lot of firearms in the community.

As of June 23, there were 586 aggravated assaults committed with a firearm compared to 491 by the same time last year. Additionally, as of June 23, there have been 356 total shootings into occupied dwellings compared to 303 by the same time in 2023.

On the positive side, however, homicides are down  18 as of June 23 compared with 30 by the same time last year.

Police say the increase in gun confiscations is not entirely driven, however, by more gun crimes being committed this year. More efficient police practices are also contributing to higher arrest rates for gun crimes.

Our focus is crime gun-centric meaning what were trying to do ... is not just seize guns, Price said. We want the people that are doing the shootings, the robberies, and the homicides.

Price credits Chief John Thompson for bringing a more data and analytics driven approach to the department.

He specifically pointed to the departments adoption of the model of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center 16 months ago as a driving force behind increased arrests in cases dealing with gun crimes.

The Crime Gun Intelligence Center takes shell casings from crime scenes, then uses ballistics to determine what type of gun fired the round and hopefully pinpoint the precise weapon used in a shooting which can be traced back to an owner.

Its evidence-based right, Price said. The evidence is whats driving us to the person holding the crime gun, not just saying, hmm that person may have a gun.

According to data provided by spokeswoman Annette Ayres, Greensboro Police seized 1,582 firearms in 2022 and 1,541 firearms in 2023.

Kelly Moore, the director of forensics for the Greensboro Police Department, said the department is on track to substantially surpass those numbers this year.

Were on pace for over 1,700 right now, Moore said.

Where to put them?

While increased gun confiscations improve safety in the community, those guns have to be stored somewhere, and the police evidence storage facility designed to accommodate 3,056 firearms is currently housing nearly 12,000.

Over 80% of the guns that are seized or collected by members of the Greensboro Police Department are evidence, Moore said. They are seized with the intent to be used and produced at a trial or for prosecution.

Other firearms that end up in the vault are often lost guns that were found and turned over to the police or guns taken by police for the purposes of safekeeping.

Gun storage has become a problem for the police department largely as a result of policy changes dating back to 2013, Moore said.

Before 2013, police departments were allowed to destroy firearms if they were no longer needed as evidence and couldnt be returned to their owners. Since the laws changed, police are allowed to destroy firearms only if they dont have a legible serial or identification number or if they are unsafe for use.

It can be very difficult to return guns to their owners for a variety of reasons  one being sometimes the owner loses their legal right to possess a firearm.

If a gun is confiscated as evidence for a felony and the owner is convicted, they would legally lose the right to own a firearm under North Carolina law and that gun would remain in storage indefinitely.

Additionally, sometimes the owner of a gun is unknown or police may not have accurate contact information to reach them.

Couple this with the fact that the average annual number of guns seized by the Greensboro Police has increased sharply since 2013 and the result is major storage issues.

Before the law change, for every 100 guns coming in, 70 were going out; now for every 100 coming in were adding 70 to our inventory, Moore said.

Before the law change, the department destroyed around 200 firearms a month. In the decade since the new regulations have been in effect, theyve destroyed roughly 200 firearms, total.

To account for the decades worth of collected firearms, shelving and containers have been added to the vault. But Moore said the situation has put a lot of stress on the department.

A lot of manpower focus is placed on ... where are we going to fit this gun? Like theres no more room, Moore said. Some of the shelving units are kind of like bowed, you know, and its like youre waiting for something to topple over, and you dont want that to happen either.

Under the law, police departments do have the right to sale, trade or exchange confiscated firearms under certain conditions, but Moore said the department doesnt do this regularly because the record keeping would be burdensome.

Theres a lot of work that would go into continuously engaging in the option for sale, trade, exchange, Moore said.

Last March, state Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, successfully introduced House Bill 284 intended to restore the ability of police departments across the state to destroy firearms that cant be returned to their owners.

The legislation is currently in committee, and Moore said she hopes the bill is revisited and passed during the next legislative session.

It would be a tremendous benefit, Moore said.

The other bad news is increased confiscations also worsen the departments already existing issues with evidence storage.
(Guam Visitors Bureau)

Weaving Chamorro and Hawaiian culture together, Hafaloha is an Only on Guam brand that takes shave ice to a whole new level. Hafaloha serves up soft, snowy Hawaiian-style shave ice, sweetened by flavored syrups and piled high over a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream. With more than 40 syrup flavors to choose from, you can create your own masterpiece or try one of their bestselling flavors such as latiya (a Chamorro vanilla custard cake dessert), orange dreamsicle and strawberry shortcake.

Visit the Hafaloha shop at the Flame Tree Plaza across from Pacific Islands Club in Tumon.
In the background, dawn breaks as the New York skyline rises to meet it.

Sauntering about the stage, a group of misfit kids with tilted cabbie hats and satchels slung across their shoulders, sing their cares away as they prepare for another workday:

Ain't it a fine life carrying the banner through it all? A mighty fine life carrying the banner tough and tall.

This summer, be transported to turn-of-the-century New York City when Grandstreet Theatre sings and dances its way into its 2024-2025 season with its production of Disneys Newsies.

Based on the 1992 film and inspired by the true story of the newsboy strike of 1899, this high-energy, family-friendly musical celebrates the resilience, camaraderie, and determination possible in a group of young people. The play opened on June 28 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through July 21.

If you go ... What: Grandstreet Theatre presents Disneys Newsies When: June 28-July 21 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Note: There is no evening show on July 4 or July 20. Where: Grandstreet Theatre, 325 N. Park Ave. Cost: Ticket prices range from $17-$27. Tickets can be purchased online at grandstreettheatre.com, by phone at 406-447-1574, or in person at the Grandstreet Theatre Box Office. Contact: 406-447-1574 Info: grandstreettheatre.com

Its such a high energy piece and the story is compelling, Director Retta Leaphart said.

Set in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies is the inspiring tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When the titans of publishing raise paper costs at the newsies' expense, Jack rallies them to unionize and organize a strike to fight against the publishing giants for fair working conditions.

The production features music by the Tony Award-winning team of Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman based on the book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. The score includes the now-classic songs, Carrying the Banner, Seize the Day and Santa Fe.

Newsies will be the ninth Grandstreet show Leaphart has directed, but she has been part of the Grandstreet family for most of her life.

According to Leaphart, she first experienced the thrill of a Grandstreet production at 3 years old when she went to see her older sister in a performance of Pinnochio. She was immediately hooked.

I really wanted to be one of the donkey boys so I just started to beg my parents to let me be in the program, Leaphart said. I started (Grandstreet) in kindergarten and never looked back.

Leaphart currently serves on Grandsteets Theatre School faculty and some of her favorite Grandstreet directing credits include Our Town, Speech and Debate, Sense and Sensibility and A Real Boy (co-director).

When Marianne Adams, director of education for Grandstreet, first approached Leaphart about directing Newsies, she didnt need much convincing to accept the job.

Ive always loved 'Newsies,' Leaphart said. I fell in love with it when the movie came out when I was young, and its always been one of the few musicals that I love because I really love the story and Im interested in the history behind the story.

Carrying the banner of "Newsies" onto the Grandstreet stage for the first time in nine years is a cast of 37 actors.

While most Grandstreet shows are either theater school productions open only to Grandstreet students or community theater productions open to anyone in the Helena area, Leaphart shared that a wider casting call was put out for Newsies.

According to Leaphart, they received about 500 submissions for Newsies from all over. The finalized list of actors includes 15 paid summer stock actors, 16 high school conservatory students, two elementary school students and five community actors.

Its a big cast  its a real crazy mix, Leaphart said.

There is a challenge in terms of being aware of all the different levels in the room, but I also think theres something beautiful about bringing people together from all those different parts of the community, Leaphart said. Its true to life and true to storytelling that you have people of all different ages involved.

Gracie Petersen, a sophomore at Helena High School, has been part of the Grandstreet family since she was in kindergarten. And while it was her parents who initially signed her up for theater classes, something struck a chord with her early on that made her stick with it.

Its just such a great community, Petersen said of Grandstreet. Everyone is so welcoming and its a lot of fun to just be able to get up and sing your heart out on stage.

While Petersen has lost track of exactly how many Grandstreet productions she has been part of over the years, she was excited at the prospect of joining the Newsies cast.

Newsies just sounded like a really fun show and a great way to spend my summer, so I decided to audition, said Petersen.

Petersen shared that she gets to take on a variety of roles within the Newsies ensemble including a Scab, a Brooklyn Newsie, and a refuge kid.

I just like being able to change characters and being a newsie is just so much fun because theyre a big part of the show even if youre just in the ensemble, said Petersen. Im in a lot of the big numbers because theyre the 'Newsies' numbers. Ive just had a lot of fun being a Newsie.

Alex Pletikapich, a 2024 graduate of Marymount Manhattan Colleges BFA Musical Theatre program, will make his Grandstreet debut playing the character of Race  a loudmouthed smart-aleck member of the newsies.

Pletikapich said he first learned of Grandstreets upcoming production of Newsies following Christmas break at school. Summer stock auditions were starting to get passed around and someone encouraged him to audition for it.

While he admitted he wasnt previously very familiar with Newsies, once he learned a bit more about the show, he was eager to get involved.

It wasnt until I was auditioning for the show and reading the script that I was like, oh, theres an actual message behind this, Pletikapich said.

Traveling over 2,000 miles from New York to Helena has made the process an even bigger adventure for the young actor.

This is my first time in Montana, Pletikapich said. The air is so clean. I feel like I can actually breathe. It smells gorgeous here.

Pletikapich arrived in Helena about three weeks ago, but from the moment he arrived, he hit the stage running (or dancing rather) alongside the rest of the cast.

Of all the people and contracts Ive worked with, this is the nicest group of people Ive worked with which is the best feeling when you come from somewhere else, he said.

Leaphart shared that while most Grandstreet productions have nine weeks of preparation and rehearsal time, their summer show is always done on an accelerated schedule. Rehearsals started on June 10 and the cast has been working upward of six to eight hours a day most days getting ready for opening night.

Its been a long few weeks, said Petersen.

Its just learning how my body works and pacing myself because theres always a stigma that you need to go 100% all the time, especially in a show like this where youre singing to the gods and dancing crazy, said Pletikapich. I think thats been the toughest to figure out when I can lay back a little bit but when I need to go for it."

Because of the amount of dancing required in the show, Leaphart and the cast have relied on the expertise of choreographer, Michael Brian.

Ive just been really grateful to have him on board for his knowledge on the show and his expertise in working with this really diverse group of people in the cast, said Leaphart. Hes working with people who have professional level dance experience and then hes working with students who have never tap danced before. Hes doing an amazing job of melding all of those needs.

With the jitters of opening night now over with, the cast of Newsies is hitting their stride and they are ready to sing, dance, and strike their way through two more weeks of performances.

Its so much fun to watch, Leaphart said. Its so high energy and the talent in this cast is pretty mind blowing. We have some incredible voices and some really amazing dancers.

Its such a great story, said Petersen. I feel like its a really important story to tell and its fun to watch so you should come see it.

Though the show takes place in 1899, theres so much thats relevant to today, especially with whats happening out in the world, Pletikapich said. The themes of standing up for what you believe in and using your voice for good and for what matters to you are why I think this show will be relevant forever.

Photos: 'A real crazy mix': High-energy musical 'Newsies' comes to Grandstreet
The Manlove Homestead, East Helenas oldest structure, needs to be moved  but no one can decide where.

The Manlove Homestead, a 20-by-16-foot log cabin, was built by Jonathan and Elmira Manlove in 1864 after they parted from an Iowa wagon train through the Oregon Trail. What started as a rest and repair stop became a permanent settlement, digging some of the first potato fields in the Helena area.

Its barely beaten by Pioneer Cabin on South Park Avenue in Helena for the oldest cabin in the county, instead taking the crown of oldest in East Helena.

But even after being moved by the East Helena Kiwanis Club years ago, the Manlove cabin is still on the move. Its current location on Montana Secondary Highway Route 518 near U.S. 287 is at risk due to nearby construction.

The Montana Environmental Trust Group secured the $38,000 needed to move the cabin and plenty of volunteers are ready to help with the labor, but no property owners seem to be biting, East Helena Historical Society President Marty Folio said.

These things are important, Folio said. But no one seems to want the liability.

To Folio, liability seems to be code for not wanting to deal with it.

So far, the East Helena City Council has voted against moving the cabin to its parking lot, where a preserved train depot has already been placed.

We would all like to see the cabin cared for and kept nearby, Councilman Wes Feist said in an email, however, the City of East Helena does not have discretion over the property.

Council members listed ideas for where the cabin could go instead at a May meeting, and in the last month, Folio and the historical society have hunted elsewhere.

They may place it on a cemetery, rodeo grounds, an empty lot near U.S. Highway 12 or even inside the upcoming history museum, but no one option has shown much promise.

These things can take years, Pam Attardo with the Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council said. As someone whos personally worked with moving historic sites, she knows the back-and-forth of who-does-what can rarely be rushed.

Theyre also often done by word and can have flimsy paper trails, she said.

Bureaucracy slows down an already slow process, but it means people directly involved in the conversations are usually the only ones fully in the know until an official application is written.

That was the case for the Manlove cabin, Folio said.

Former East Helena Historical Society President Rick Pyfer, who died in December 2023, led the conversation for its move at least eight months before his death. Folio suspected hed been surveying the problem months before even then.

Were doing our best to pick up where he left off, Folio said. But this was Ricks project.

Although the official deadline of June 1 for the cabins move has passed, Folio said hes prepared to defend its place until it finds a home.

The cabin has no special protections as a historic site, Attardo said, nor does East Helena have anti-demolition rules that would majorly protect the cabin.

Because it left its original placement and has been in its most recent home less than 50 years, the city of East Helena could choose to flatten it without much issue.

However, Attardo said shes confident the cabin will find a home before it comes to that.

East Helena is special in how much it cares for history, Attardo said.

Folio said hes concerned East Helenans dont care enough. The East Helena Historical Society has watched the historic smelter disappear without much outcry, and Folio said they're worried people are forgetting their roots.

Even if there isnt much momentum now, he said hes determined to keep the cabin safe.

We are so vulnerable, but we havent felt the pain, Folio said. Well keep fighting, and well find a way.
DECATUR  Decatur police are seeking the community's help in solving a burglary, this week's Crime of the Week.

Decatur police were dispatched on June 24 to Decatur Masonic Temple, 244 W. William St., in reference to the burglary.

"Police arrived on scene and observed forced entry to the west side entrance of the building," the police stated in a news release.

No suspects were found inside the building.

According to police, a witness had observed two suspects on bicycles near the west side of the building before the police arrived.

"One suspect was observed to have long blonde hair," the police stated.

Items removed from the temple included books, swords and trophies that once belonged to several different Masonry chapters.

Anyone with information on the theft is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay $500 or more for information that leads to an arrest on the Crime of the Week.

From the archives: The Decatur Masonic Temple
SALISBURY  Catawba College was recognized for its social impact and sustainability achievements when the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) results were launched on June 18 at the UN PRIME Global Forum. The Ketner School of Business at Catawba was one of 88 business schools from 30 countries worldwide that took part in the rating this year and achieved level 4, making it a Transforming School within the PIR.

The PIR is a rating conducted by students and for students. For the fifth time, students worldwide assessed their business schools on how they perceive their positive impact on the world. The positive impact of business schools goes beyond their contribution to business and the economy; it addresses the need for their positive impact on society.

Participating in the PIR demonstrates the value Catawba gives to student feedback and voice.

This is an extremely significant accomplishment that speaks to how positive societal impact is already an important concern at the Ketner School of Business (KSOB) and sets a baseline for further growth in this space for both the business school and Catawba College as a whole, said Dr. Imran Chowdhury, dean of KSOB. With our PIR level 4 rating, we received numerical assessments of our societal impact-related activities and programs and detailed feedback from students on areas where we are doing well and how we might improve. Going forward, this feedback will be invaluable to KSOB as we seek to solidify and improve our position as a sustainability  and societal impact-focused business school in the years to come.

A Level 4 rate in the PIR rating methodology is the second highest rating and characterizes schools showing a positive impact culture, embedded in governance and systems, with visible results in many impact dimensions. For 2024, there are six schools rated in the top level 5 and 43 schools in level 4. Other colleges in level 4 include the business schools at Case Western, Drexel, Colorado State, Fordham, Saint Josephs University, University of Vermont, Maastricht University, Imperial College London, Leeds University, and the University of Saint Andrews.

Executive Vice President and Provost Monica Cowart emphasized the importance of this achievement, stating, Our commitment to sustainability and social impact is a cornerstone of Catawba Colleges mission. This recognition by the Positive Impact Rating underscores our dedication to creating a positive and lasting impact on society through our educational programs and initiatives.

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) student organization in Catawbas Ketner School of Business distributed the survey through in-class visits, email, and social media. Students assessed how Catawba addresses societal and sustainable challenges and prepares its students to be responsible business leaders.

KSOB would not have been able to accomplish this without the support of President David Nelson and Executive Vice President and Provost Monica Cowart, both of whom have identified sustainability and societal impact-oriented initiatives as key to Catawbas institutional identity, added Chowdhury. We are also extremely grateful for the Center for the Environments support of our efforts to integrate sustainability, societal impact, and climate issues into the heart of the business school at Catawba.

The rating survey asks students 20 questions in seven relevant impact dimensions that sit within three areas: energizing, educating, and engaging. The overall PIR score of the business school is used to position the schools across five levels. The different levels refer to the developmental stage of the business school, rating it by a certain level of achievement. Business schools are provided with a defined social impact and a tool that they can use for change.

You can learn more about the 2024 PIR report on their website: https://www.positiveimpactrating.org/report2024
STALLINGS  A Union County intersection will temporarily close on Monday to be converted to a roundabout, thanks to a $1 million contract the N.C. Department of Transportation awarded to Charlotte contractor Blythe Development Company.

Contract crews will close the intersection of Lawyers Road at Emerald Lake Drive/Hawthorne Drive for up to seven weeks to allow for roundabout construction.

A marked detour will take drivers from Lawyers Road to Stevens Mill Road, Idlewild Road and Mill Grove Road, returning to Lawyers Road.

Other lane closures required for the project must occur during non-peak travel times in the mornings and afternoons, and outside major holidays.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
On July 1, 1974, Dr. Tom Long III, who at the time was part of a research fellowship at Duke University, made medical history, opening Cabarrus Countys first gastroenterology clinic.

It was a small operation at the time, with only Long, a nurse and a secretary.

Though Long retired in 2005, Northeast Digestive Health Center and Cabarrus Gastroenterology Associates, which currently has 11 board-certified gastroenterologists and seven physician assistants, has continued to serve the public, recently achieving the 50-year milestone.

Its amazing and very gratifying that the practice is still going very strong at age 50, Long said.

Although hes been away from the practice for nearly two decades, Long, who recently spoke with The Independent Tribune at his home, remains as sharp, engaging, and personable as ever. These traits also contribute to explaining the enduring success of the practice.

I get very positive feedback from people in the community whove been in the practice, either as long-term patients or new patients, including physicians and other professionals, and the feedback I almost always get is what a good place it is, Long said. They felt comfortable and they felt like they were important and received good care.

Long first arrived at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital (now Atrium Health Cabarrus) in 1973 to help coordinate an educational program between the hospital and Duke University Medical Center.

They made me an offer I couldnt refuse, he said, and in the spring of 1974, Long officially moved to Concord, though he still traveled back to Durham one day a week to keep up with his own education.

There were around 60 physicians in the county at the time Long started his practice in 1974. They all were interested in providing good medical care and taking good care of the local patients, Long said. They were also very much interested in trying to help the patients remain in Cabarrus County and not have to leave to go to surrounding cities.

From his standpoint, Longs service in Concord was a win-win situation; I just had to work hard and take good care of patients and everything would move forward from there.

In 1981, Long recruited Dr. Frank Pancotto to be his first partner. After that, the practice gradually expanded as more physicians came on board. The practice moved to its current location on Vinehaven Drive in the early 2000s, a few years before Long retired.

David Rhodes, who was the third physician to join the practice in 1990, quickly understood just how special Northeast Digestive was during his interview.

During the interview process, they handed me a chart and said, Go see this patient, Rhodes recalled. That was the only interview I had like that and it really impressed me because thats how you get to know whether or not someone is worth hiring.

Ever since Longs retirement, whenever Rhodes has seen him or his wife Sandra, he takes the time to thank Long for hiring him. I cannot imagine a better place to have practiced medicine, particularly gastroenterology, Rhodes said. I feel just incredibly fortunate.

For Mark Aldous, who has been with the practice since 2001 and is the managing partner, it was very comforting knowing he was going to work at Northeast Digestive, as it had built a quality reputation in the medical community.

I knew what I was getting into, he said. I knew the caliber of the people I was going to be working with.

Whether it was Rhodes, Aldous or any of the other physicians, a key part of building the practice for Long was hiring people who were smarter in certain areas than he was. I always thought you should get someone who knew more than you do, if you could, Long said.

Ultimately, what has continued to be the guiding light for Northeast Digestive, which opened a satellite office at 9965 Poplar Tent Road in 2020, for the past five decades has been a patient-first attitude, according to Rhodes.

If you put your patient care first, everything else will follow, Rhodes said. It helps that the practice is independent and small enough to allow physicians and other staff to get to know patients on a very personal level.

When you call this office, we know who you are, Rhodes said. This has allowed Northeast Digestive to provide quality service to generations of families. Rhodes, for example, said he has been performing procedures on some of his patients grandchildren.

During a clinic visit, its not just how are you feeling? Its how is your family, how are you doing, whats going on in life? Aldous said. You always keep it professional, but there is also this personal relationship.

The personal relationships ultimately help to forge long-lasting trust between the patients and physicians  a hallmark of any successful practice.

When you ask someone to help with a problem, or the patient asks a question, I think the bottom line should always be, Ill take care of it, Long said.
GUEST OPINION: The current business landscape is witnessing an increased deployment of Generative Artificial Intelligence (genAI)  enabled tools like Microsoft Copilot to reimagine business models in the name of innovation. Unfortunately, this has directly contributed to an alarming spike in cyberattack frequency, severity and diversity. In line with this, recent research suggests that 75% of cybersecurity professionals have seen an increase in AI-powered cyberattacks over the past year, with 85% attributing it to threat actors weaponising AI.

When large language models (LLMs) are given access to proprietary corporate data and equipped with the ability to make decisions and take actions, new attack surfaces are introduced that enable surprising new attack techniques. And oftentimes, cybersecurity defences become an afterthought.

As businesses continue to digitise their operations, traditional security measures may no longer suffice and the need for more robust cybersecurity measures become more pressing. How does digital innovation leave businesses susceptible to cyberattacks?

Third-party access leads to rapid rise in identity-based attacks

As enterprises modernise their IT infrastructure with genAI technologies and methodologies, they are integrating not just AI and machine learning (ML), but also with third-party applications, contractors and outside services. Maintaining strict access control to sensitive networks, services, and applications becomes more challenging as more third-party partners, contractors and suppliers are used, increasing the risk of identity-based attacks. For example, attackers can use Microsoft identities to gain access to connected Microsoft applications and federated SaaS applications like Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure ID).

Despite the estimated $7.3 billion spent on security and risk management products this year, 90% of organisations have experienced identity attacks. With GenAI further providing new opportunities for adversaries to exploit vulnerabilities in identity-related systems to perpetrate ransomware, scams and business email compromise (BEC), organisations will continue to be targeted. Its clear that current preventive security controls are not enough to fight genAI driven attacks. Companies need to consider alternate options like threat detection and response to close the widening exposure gap.

Lateral movement exposes hybrid cloud vulnerabilities

With hybrid attacks on the rise, the complexity of managing security in hybrid environments is daunting. Malicious actors are not just looking at social engineering traps, but also vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. The biggest issue in the cloud is credential theft through repositories like GitHub or Bitbucket  when a developer mistakenly uploads the credentials, or if the clouds complexity leads to misconfigurations being used or abused.

Lateral movement in the hybrid world further amplifies the problem as threat actors live off the land using available tools and infrastructure to disguise themselves as legitimate users to obtain the necessary credentials to access sensitive data. Identity-based attacks corelates with lateral movement when new identities continue to be compromised as the attacker move around a network. Monitoring how an identity has been compromised and maintaining visibility and a consistency of risk and control is critical. Moreso when most identities are contained in federated domains which dont fully integrate with one another, creating blind spots for attackers to hide. GenAI tools can be abused to increase the speed of lateral movements. In the past, ransomware attacks used to take between eight to 14 days, but with Microsoft Copilot this reconnaissance could take minutes instead of days.

Fighting AI threats with AI

Despite these challenges, genAI presents an exciting opportunity to use AI technology to aid in the fight against cyberattacks. If businesses go back to basics, leverage proven security expertise, and create a robust foundation of security measures, they are well-placed for innovation without the potential fallout. Key factors to consider include:

Focus on basic TTPs : While cybercrime continues to grow, the threat vectors  potential pathways into the system  remain the same. Organisations should apply the same defence mechanisms while expanding their digital footprint and focus on basic techniques and tactics, procedures and protocols (TTPs) that can help prevent and remediate security incidents.

: While cybercrime continues to grow, the threat vectors  potential pathways into the system  remain the same. Organisations should apply the same defence mechanisms while expanding their digital footprint and focus on basic techniques and tactics, procedures and protocols (TTPs) that can help prevent and remediate security incidents. Invest in security controls : A recent Proofpoint 2024 Voice of the CISO report cited human error topping cyber vulnerability threats. Social engineering is further used to exploit employees to hand over credentials to bad actors. Aside from up-to-date security trainings, organisations must tighten protocols for privilege control  ensuring users only have access to the data and functionality that they need to perform their roles to limit opportunities for leaks.

: A recent Proofpoint 2024 Voice of the CISO report cited human error topping cyber vulnerability threats. Social engineering is further used to exploit employees to hand over credentials to bad actors. Aside from up-to-date security trainings, organisations must tighten protocols for privilege control  ensuring users only have access to the data and functionality that they need to perform their roles to limit opportunities for leaks. Find solutions that leverage AI the right way : Defending against the unknown today requires a security solution that combines both security research and data science. Instant AI-driven remediation enables security teams to stop unauthorised behaviour, eliminate access and prevent breaches, application abuse, exfiltration and other damage, within minutes not months.

: Defending against the unknown today requires a security solution that combines both security research and data science. Instant AI-driven remediation enables security teams to stop unauthorised behaviour, eliminate access and prevent breaches, application abuse, exfiltration and other damage, within minutes not months. Build out visibility, awareness and insights: Security teams need quick visibility and situational awareness across their environments to stay ahead of unusual activity they might not have noticed without enriched security insights. As we move into a cloud-native world, frameworks that deliver cloud telemetry specific to your cloud infrastructure are ideal. The MITRE ATT&CK framework uses patented AI to learn the behaviour of privileged users. By identifying what is normal and what isnt, analysts have real-time visibility into their hybrid environments. This stops lateral movement and ransomware by detecting attackers before they do any damage.

As organisations get more innovative, so do attackers

The potential of genAI to transform workforce productivity and boost innovation is more than just hype. As genAI capabilities continue to evolve, it will advance security tools, improve threat intelligence and transform security operations centres. Security leaders must adopt AI as part of their defence and response strategies to ensure they remain resilient, agile and one step ahead of cyber-attackers.
GUEST OPINION: In Melbourne, brand exposure and business success are closely tied to effective content marketing. Crafting and executing a successful strategy demands expertise, creativity, and a deep understanding of local and global industry trends. Selecting the right agency can significantly influence your ability to meet your marketing goals.

Here are some essential tips to help you choose the perfect marketing agency for your Melbourne-based business.

1. Assess Your Needs and Goals

To enhance your brand's digital presence, consider checking out a list of content agencies in Melbourne. These agencies offer various services to help you create engaging and compelling blog posts or good copies for your audience.

Before starting the search, it's critical to comprehend your marketing objectives and organisation requirements. Are you trying to boost consumer interaction, create leads, or raise brand awareness? Different agencies specialise in various aspects of marketing, such as SEO, social media, video production, or blogging. By defining the objectives, you can narrow the options and find an agency that aligns with the needs.

For example, if raising the website's search engine ranks is the main objective, you want to find a firm with experience in SEO. Conversely, an agency with a robust social media marketing portfolio would be more suitable if your focus is on social media engagement.

2. Evaluate Their Expertise and Experience

Selecting an agency requires careful consideration of experience and skills. A company that is aware of the subtleties of the industry will be more capable of producing interesting and pertinent material.

Analyse their case studies and portfolios to determine their level of experience. Please consider their entire content marketing strategy, the calibre of their material, and the outcomes they have produced for previous clients. Additionally, check their credentials and industry certifications, which can further validate their skills and knowledge.

3. Understand Their Process and Approach

A successful campaign requires a well-defined strategy and a systematic approach. During evaluation, ask potential agencies about their content creation and marketing processes. How do they conduct research and develop strategies? What tools and techniques do they use to measure and optimise performance?

A reputable agency should have a transparent and structured process for creating and distributing content. They should explain their methodology and show how it aligns with the business goals. Look for agencies emphasising collaboration and communication, which are critical to a successful partnership.

4. Check Client Reviews and Testimonials

Client reviews and testimonials can provide valuable insights into an agency's reliability and performance. Check for reviews on industry forums, social media sites, and unaffiliated websites. Please pay attention to feedback related to their creativity, responsiveness, and ability to deliver results.

Furthermore, while checking the list of content agencies in Melbourne, please consider contacting a few of their existing or former clients to hear directly from them about their experiences with the agency. This can help gauge their professionalism, work ethic, and commitment to client success.

5. Assess Their Content Marketing Tools and Technologies

The effectiveness of a content marketing strategy often hinges on the tools and technologies used. Inquire about the agency's content creation, distribution, and analytics software and platforms. Advanced tools can enhance the quality of writing, streamline processes, and provide valuable insights into campaign performance.

For businesses seeking top-notch content creation services, exploring a list of agencies in Melbourne can provide various excellent options. An agency investing in the latest technologies will likely stay ahead of industry trends and deliver superior results. Ensure that their tools align with the requirements and that they can integrate seamlessly with the existing systems.

Selecting the best firm is an important choice that may significantly influence the company's success. Consider the needs, the firm's experience and skills, its approach, customer testimonials, and its tools. Thoroughly investigating potential partners and choosing those who share the vision and goals can ensure a successful and long-lasting partnership.
Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG), the IT pioneer that delivers the world's most advanced data storage technology and services, in partnership with The University of Technology Sydneys (UTS) Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), today released a report on AI adoption in Australia that highlights a worrying fact: technology managers are unaware of the energy demands of AI and its impact on environmental sustainability. The report, Drivers of Change: Meeting the Energy and Data Demands of AI Adoption in Australia and New Zealand, details awareness of and approaches taken by leading IT managers in the region towards the impact of AI adoption on sustainability outcomes.

Industry Significance:

A recent report from the World Economic Forum states that the computational power required for sustaining AI's rise is doubling roughly every 100 days. The energy required to run AI tasks is already accelerating, with an annual growth rate between 26% and 36%. This means by 2028, AI could be using more power than the entire country of Iceland used in 2021. Most AI is run out of data centres which today account for approximately 4% of global greenhouse gases. In Australia, data centres are estimated to consume up to 5% of the energy grid, and some analysts expect that to double by the end of the decade. The rapid growth of Australias data centre industry comes at a time of increasing climate risks and an unprecedented level of focus from regulators, consumers and investors on how companies reduce emissions.

Survey Highlights:

AI is here to stay, but IT managers are concerned about energy consumption increasing due to AI adoption The use of AI technology is becoming part of everyday practice, with 72% of respondents either already adopted it or are piloting AI technologies However, 68% of respondents indicated that they had at least some concerns about increased energy consumption for AI needs When asked how much energy consumption would increase on AI deployment, a picture of uncertainty emerged, with 53% indicating that they were unsure



Despite sustainability responsibilities being allocated to IT managers, they are relatively less engaged in energy and sustainability issues One-third of respondents were key decision-makers, with 36% of respondents having the authority to influence sustainability initiatives Respondents ranked sustainability and ESG (38%) as one of their top three overlooked issues



IT managers understand that to meet ESG goals, IT infrastructure is critical, but they are not considering limiting AI usage 69% IT managers understand that to meet ESG goals, IT infrastructure is critical Only 4% have adopted the strategy of limiting AI usage to offset energy consumption



Employee skills in AI technology are the most overlooked issue when it comes to AI deployment Employee skills in AI technology (58%) are considered the most overlooked issue when it comes to deploying AI technologies



Executive Insight:

It is good to see Australia and New Zealand embracing AI, and it will no doubt benefit organisations, individuals and the economies in the region, but we have to be aware of its impact on the environment. This report should serve as a wake-up call for the government, regulators, boards of directors and investors that the pace of development needs to be tampered with by equally robust scrutiny on environmental sustainability.  Amy Rushall, Area Vice President, Australia & New Zealand, Pure Storage.

A clear picture is emerging that while Australia & New Zealand are adopting AI and data centres at a rapid rate, little or no attention is being paid to the significant sustainability impacts they will cause. This should be concerning not only for regulators but also for the multi-billion-dollar superannuation and investment sectors, who increasingly see data centres as a source of income. Left unchecked, this will contribute to worsening carbon emissions, risking a further exacerbation of our global warming challenge.  Gordon Noble, Research Director, Business, Economy and Governance, ISF and author of the report Drivers of Change: Meeting the Energy and Data Demands of AI Adoption in Australia and New Zealand.

Learn more:

About Pure Storage

Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG) delivers the industrys most advanced data storage platform to store, manage, and protect the worlds data at any scale. With Pure Storage, organizations have ultimate simplicity and flexibility, saving time, money, and energy. From AI to archive, Pure Storage delivers a cloud experience with one unified storage-as-a-service platform across on-premises, cloud, and hosted environments. Our platform is built on our Evergreen architecture that evolves with your business  always getting newer and better with zero planned downtime, guaranteed. Our customers are actively increasing their capacity and processing power while significantly reducing their carbon and energy footprint. Its easy to fall in love with Pure Storage, as evidenced by the highest Net Promoter Score in the industry. For more information, visit www.purestorage.com.

Pure Storage, the Pure Storage P Logo, and the marks on the Pure Storage Trademark List are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pure Storage Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. The Trademark List can be found at purestorage.com/trademarks. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Global provider of ethical reporting services, Report It Now, has officially launched its operations in Australia, introducing its software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform to the market.

Report It Now says EthicsPro SaaS platform aims to assist organisations of all sizes in navigating the complex and often uncertain regulatory landscape surrounding whistleblowing and ethical conduct in the country.

According to Report It Now, recent high-profile cases have highlighted the risk and uncertainty faced by organisations aiming to maintain ethical operations and support those who speak out about wrongdoing in the workplace.



With the Australian launch of Report It Now AU and the EthicsPro platform, organisations in Australia will be better equipped to manage ethical reporting in this uncertain environment, said Craig McFarlane, director of Report It Now.

We're helping Australian organisations protect themselves and their employees by providing compliant and effective anonymous whistleblowing channels, delivering ongoing ethical training for staff, and creating meaningful codes of ethics that genuinely help foster a culture of accountability.

A recent survey conducted by the Australia Institute found that an overwhelming majority of Australians (84%) support stronger legal protection for whistleblowers.

And incident reports are increasing. The number of whistleblower reports submitted to ASIC surged by 194% from FY2019 to FY2021, from 278 to 817 twelve months later.

Report It Now's flagship EthicsPro product provides organisations with a complete solution for ethical reporting. It offers confidential 24/7 hotlines where employees can anonymously report workplace misconduct and receive one-to-one support from trained staff. The platform automates case management, ensuring discreet handling of reports by dedicated teams during investigations. It also provides automated benchmarking, analytics, and seamless access across mobile, desktop, and tablet devices.

1 https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Polling-Whistleblowing-and-secrecy-

Web.pdf

2 https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/speeches/whistleblower-policies-and-the-compliance-

gap/

The launch of Report It Now and the EthicsPro platform in Australia addresses a critical need for organisations looking to effectively manage ethical reporting, navigate regulatory uncertainties, mitigate risks, and foster open, honest workplaces, says Greg Dunn, fellow director at Report It Now.

In light of cases like Richard Boylethe ATO whistleblower facing decades in prison, and David McBride, a former military lawyer sentenced to jail for exposing alleged war crimesit's clear that embracing transparency and accountability at an organisation-wide level is not just ethical; it's essential for risk management and organisational health.

There is a growing call for more robust whistleblower protections in Australia. While there have been several attempts

3 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-25/richard-boyle-case-biggest-test-of-whistleblower-

protection-laws/104006208

4 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/14/australian-war-crimes-whistleblower-david-mcbride-

jailed-for-six-years
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

Growing up in Okinawa, ice cream bars and popsicles were my go-to sweets during hot summer days.

While a double scoop or a soft serve was a special treat, a cold sweet on a stick offered a regular comfort food I could easily turn to whenever I needed a quick and (cheap) sugar rush.

All I had to do was to make a quick run to the drug store just 100 feet away from my home with a 100-yen coin in hand.

Another bonus was the possibility of winning another ice cream. Some popsicle brands stamp some sticks with the word  (bingo). If youre lucky and your popsicle stick has the stamp, you win another popsicle.

It wasnt only the icy treats sugar flavors that made me happy, but also the fun of knowing that I could win another. I was always anxious to get to the popsicle stick to see if it was a winner. (This get one, win one rule is still carried on by some brands today.)

More than four decades later, ice cream bars and popsicles continue to be very popular in Okinawa. At supermarket stores and convenience stores, I still see the same brands that I bought at that local drugstore. Of course, many new brands have also been introduced to offer more variety.

Listed below are some of the ice cream bars and popsicles that I like. Most of them have been around for a long time and might make Okinawans nostalgic.

Why not give them a try and satisfy your craving for cool sweets and test your luck?

*Prices vary depending upon each store. The numbers listed for the items below are what I saw at a local supermarket.

1. Homerun bar (338 yen plus tax for a box with 10 bars)

(Homerun bar)

According to Nihon Ice Cream Kyokai (Japan Ice Cream Association), this was the first ice cream bar to introduce the (bingo) rule by mixing bars with printed words such as grand slam, homerun and hit.

Since its launch back in 1960, its popularity still holds today. This bar comes in different flavors like vanilla, chocolate, chocolate chip, strawberry, soda, and orange.

2. GariGarikun (68 yen plus tax)

(GariGarikun)

This is arguably the most famous popsicle brand in Japan now. The brand name means Mr. GariGari or GariGari boy, which reminds consumers of the crunching sound when they eat a popsicle. It is also the name of its mascot, a cartoon boy with a big whopping mouth.

According to GariGairkun Archive, this character is an elementary school kid from Fukaya City in Saitama prefecture. He can turn into ShariShari kun, which probably refers to melting ice.

Since it went on sale in 1980, this has been loved by many kids and adults alike. GariGarikun comes in various flavors, including energy drink, cola, grapefruit, melon soda, etc. But my favorite is the most basic blue ramune soda flavor.

3. Big Suika Bar (98 yen plus tax)

(Big Suika Bar)

Suika means watermelon in Japanese. As its name suggests, this popsicle looks exactly like a slice of the sweet summer melon. Its top portion is a red triangle, like real flesh, which includes watermelon juice, while the bottom portion is colored green, simulating the skin. To give complete the look, chocolate chips replicate the seeds.

Much like GariGarikun, this unique popsicle has its own mascot. Suikabaman is a hippopotamus superhero with a watermelon mask. Kaba means hippopotamus.

4. Yambaru Kuina chocolate flavor (80 yen plus tax)

(Yambaru Kuina chocolate flavor)

This is a local popsicle you can buy in Okinawa. If youre expecting a popsicle in the shape of the indigenous bird, dont be disappointed. Though its shaped like a regular popsicle, the simple flavor of Yambaru Kuinas chocolate offering is nice. More importantly, some portion of the sale goes to the preservation of yambaru birds. Delicious ice cream and environmental preservation make this bar a win-win.

5. American Crunch (90 yen plus tax)

(American Crunch)

American Crunch has been around Okinawan a long time. The treat features vanilla ice cream coated with crunch biscuits and chocolate. The crispy texture of the biscuits and smooth ice cream go well together. There is a version with chocolate ice cream inside as well. This ice cream keeps the winning  tradition alive, so make sure to check your popsicle stick after devouring.

6. White (90 yen plus tax)

(White)

This was my favorite when I was a kid, and it still is. Whites sweet milky taste never failed to make me feel happy when I was in need of a pick-me-up. This is a textbook example of shinpuru daga akinai, or simple it may seem, it never gets outdated. Almost 40 years after I first tried this, I still keep coming back to this milky flavor.

7. Blue Seal Polar Bear (138 yen plus tax)

(Blue Seal Polar Bear)

Another all-time Okinawan favorite, this ice cream bar wrapped in silver paper is related to the childhood memory of many locals on the island. The ensemble of vanilla ice cream and cocoa cookies can be addictive. Beware when you try one.

8. Soda 7 (56 yen plus tax)

(Soda 7)

To me, this is the quintessential Okinawan popsicle. Much like White, this is a very simple and ordinary popsicle with a soda flavor. Priced at about 50 yen (approx. $0.36 cents), Soda 7 saved me so many times when I had only 10-yen coins in my pocket.

9. Anpanman Ice Bar (90 yen plus tax)

(Anpanman Ice Bar)

Anpanman is a popular Japanese cartoon superhero with a face made from red beans. So, you may be surprised to hear that the Anpanman Ice Bar is exclusive to Okinawa.

Since it went on sale in 1990, this milk-flavored popsicle with chocolate sauce hidden inside has been making many kids on the island smile just like the cartoon Ampanman did with his bread face.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Monday accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of destroying part of a main bridge in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

In continuation of its systematic targeting of the countrys infrastructure and capabilities, the RSF militia on Sunday evening destroyed the eastern part of the Al-Halfaya Bridge, the SAF said in a statement.

The Al-Halfaya Bridge is one of the ten bridges linking the three main cities in the capital metropolitan area, namely Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman. It is also the largest on the Nile, stretching 911 meters long and 27 meters wide.

The bridge connects Bahri city, now mostly controlled by the RSF, to the Karari locality, north of Omdurman, controlled by the SAF.

The RSF has not yet commented on the accusation.

Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has claimed more than 16,650 lives, according to the Sudan situation report updated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on June 24.
MATTOON  Lincoln Home National Historic Site Superintendent Timothy Good is scheduled to speak at the Coles County Historical Society Founders' Day dinner July 15 at the Charleston Country Club.

The event is open to the public, but seating is limited. Reservations are required and due by Friday, July 5.

The dinner is set to begin at 6 p.m. and the cost is $25, with a choice of ribeye steak, chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi or grilled salmon. Reservations can be made by contacting Sandra Graven at sgraven2808@yahoo.com or 217-273-8968.

The historic site superintendent will speak on the 1860 Republican Nomination of Abraham Lincoln.

Good, a 34-year veteran of the National Park Service, graduated from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, with a bachelor's degree in American history. He attained his master's degree in history through the University of Durham, England, and earned a diploma from the U.S. Naval War College.

He began his career serving at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Fords Theatre National Historic Site in Washington D.C. He spent 14 months working for the National Park Service Washington Office in the Information & Telecommunications Division, where he helped to develop the Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System, a computerized database of 6.3 million soldier records and several thousand-unit histories.

He then served on the National Mall in Washington; Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield; Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Brecksville, Ohio; Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio; the Midwest Regional Office in Omaha, Nebraska; and Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in St. Louis, before returning to Springfield in 2018. He also worked assignments at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Acadia National Park.

Good has authored five published books, "The American Eagle Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, Operational Records and Combat Reports, 1940-1942" (2020); "American Privateers in the War of 1812: The Vessels and their Prizes as Recorded in Niles Weekly Register" (2012); "Lincoln for President: An Underdogs Path to the 1860 Republican Nomination" (2009); "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates and the Making of a President" (2007) and "We Saw Lincoln Shot: One Hundred Eyewitness Accounts" (1996).

For more information about the Coles County Historical Society, visit coleshistory.net or fb.com/ColesHistoricalSociety. The public is welcome to attend.
Prepare yourselves, Triad residents, as another heat wave approaches.

According to the National Weather Service, North Carolina is in for scorching temperatures over the Fourth of July weekend. From Thursday through Saturday, expect the state to sizzle with highs well over 90 degrees.

In Winston-Salem, temperatures will start to climb on Wednesday, reaching 95 degrees on Thursday, 97 degrees on Friday and 96 degrees on Saturday. In Greensboro, temperatures are forecast to be 94 on Thursday, 96 on Friday and 94 on Saturday. Temperatures are expected to drop slightly on Sunday, but not significantly.

We always recommend that if youre going to spend a lot of time outdoors, frequently hydrate and ideally take breaks with air conditioning, said Nicholas Luchetti, a meteorologist of National Weather Service based in Raleigh. Avoiding direct sunlight and taking breaks in the shade is important, Luchetti added, noting that people should also check on their neighbors.

This July, the Triad is expecting a 60% to 70% chance of above-normal temperatures throughout the month.

Luchetti, however, clarified that there isnt a persistent and anomalous heat dome similar to the one the state encountered less than two weeks ago, but rather the current warmer weather in the region is mainly due to the beginning of the summer season and enhanced southerly flow. This means that as summer advances, warmer air from southern regions is moving northward into NC, thereby contributing to the increasing temperatures across the state.

Meanwhile, Corey Davis, assistant state climatologist at North Carolina State Climate Office, explained the rarity of the expected high temperatures, noting the similar patterns between the upcoming heat waves and the unusual heat dome from about a week ago.

A high temperature of at least 96F in Greensboro historically occurs 2.1 times each July, on average, Davis said. So it is something we can usually expect at some point in the summer, but its not an every day, or even every week sort of occurrence.

If the forecasted high of 96 occurs, Greensboro would experience such warmth twice within a ten-day span, as it was also 96 last Friday, June 26.

A prolonged heat wave like this certainly matches what we expect to see more of due to climate change, Davis told the Journal.

According to Davis, the upcoming heat wave is driven by a deep high-pressure system that spans the entire atmosphere. By Friday, this heat dome will be directly over the Carolinas, which is why it projects to be the hottest day.

He also pointed out a record-setting warm low temperature on June 23rd, where Greensboro recorded a minimum temperature of 74 degrees, matching the previous record set for the highest minimum temperature in 2015.

Noting the suggestions among researchers that heat events like this are getting more severe, Davis referred to a study published last year, which says that the intensities of heat extremes linked to dome-like patterns are increasing faster than the overall global warming trend, both historically and in future projections.

In other words, these already-hot heat dome events are getting even hotter, and are warming faster than overall summer temperatures, which in the Triad have been increasing by half a degree per decade over the past 60 years, he said.
Key Points

Regardless of race and ethnicity, older adults with kidney failure residing in or receiving care at dialysis facilities located in high-segregation neighborhoods were at a 1.63-fold and 1.53-fold higher risk of dementia diagnosis, respectively.

Older adults with kidney failure residing in minority-predominant high-segregation neighborhoods had a 2.19-fold higher risk of dementia diagnosis compared with White individuals in White-predominant neighborhoods.

Background

Dementia disproportionately affects older minoritized adults with kidney failure. To better understand the mechanism of this disparity, we studied the role of racial and ethnic segregation (segregation hereafter), i.e., a form of structural racism recently identified as a mechanism in numerous other health disparities.

Methods

We identified 901,065 older adults (aged 55 years) with kidney failure from 2003 to 2019 using the United States Renal Data System. We quantified dementia risk across tertiles of residential neighborhood segregation score using cause-specific hazard models, adjusting for individual- and neighborhood-level factors. We included an interaction term to quantify the differential effect of segregation on dementia diagnosis by race and ethnicity.

Results

We identified 79,851 older adults with kidney failure diagnosed with dementia between 2003 and 2019 (median follow-up: 2.2 years). Compared with those in low-segregation neighborhoods, older adults with kidney failure in high-segregation neighborhoods had a 1.63-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60 to 1.66) higher risk of dementia diagnosis, an association that differed by race and ethnicity (Asian: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.26, 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.38; Black: aHR = 1.66, 95% CI, 1.61 to 1.71; Hispanic: aHR = 2.05, 95% CI, 1.93 to 2.18; White: aHR = 1.59, 95% CI, 1.55 to 1.64; P interaction < 0.001). Notably, older Asian (aHR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.64 to 1.89), Black (aHR = 2.65; 95% CI, 2.54 to 2.77), Hispanic (aHR = 2.15; 95% CI, 2.04 to 2.26), and White (aHR = 2.20; 95% CI, 2.09 to 2.31) adults with kidney failure residing in minority-predominant high-segregation neighborhoods had a higher risk of dementia diagnosis compared with older White adults with kidney failure in White-predominant high-segregation neighborhoods. Moreover, older adults with kidney failure receiving care at dialysis facilities located in high-segregation neighborhoods also experienced a higher risk of dementia diagnosis (aHR = 1.53; 95% CI, 1.50 to 1.56); this association differed by race and ethnicity (P interaction < 0.001).

Conclusions

Residing in or receiving care at dialysis facilities located in high-segregation neighborhoods was associated with a higher risk of dementia diagnosis among older individuals with kidney failure, particularly minoritized individuals.
By African Bulletin on May 30, 2024

Rwandas National Electoral Commission has released the final list of voters, indicating 9.7 million people are eligible to vote in July presidential and legislative elections across Rwandas 30 districts and the diaspora.

With over 13 million people, the final list released after the update of the voter register closed on Saturday, showed 3.7 million youth are eligible to vote.

All Rwandans aged 18 years and above with national identification cards appear on the list. Voters will be required to present their national identification cards to polling officials to be allowed to vote unlike previously when a voters card was used, the commission chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa told national television on Sunday.

The commission also announced that 2,591 polling stations have been demarcated to facilitate free fair election.

The election will be conducted over a three-day period between July 14 and 16.

Rwandans abroad will cast their ballots for the president and 53 members of parliament on July 14 at the countrys diplomatic missions while in the country voters will head to the polls on July 15.

On July 16, 24 female members of parliament will be elected by electoral colleges.

There are three candidates in the presidential race, including incumbent President Paul Kagame, Frank Habineza of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate.

The electoral body also cleared over 500 parliamentary candidates vying for 80 seats in the lower chamber of parliament.
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
Each summer, the Polisario Front launches a program called Vacations in Peace, which allegedly sends hundreds of Sahrawi children from the Tindouf refugee camps to spend a few weeks with host families in several European countries, particularly Spain.

However, the Forsatin Forum of Support for the Autonomists of Tindouf (FORSATIN) is sounding the alarm that the program is actually a cover for illegal emigration and child trafficking to European associations and families for adoption.

In a statement, FORSATIN explained that the complex operation, which is supervised by Polisario armed militias, involves several stages disguised under various names like recreational activities, visits, trips, and even therapeutic campaigns.

FORSATIN stressed that the real aim is to brainwash the minors, uproot them from their origins, separate them from their parents, and force them to abandon their Muslim faith. Upon arriving in Europe, the children are distributed to foreign families who have been waiting to adopt a Sahrawi child.

The NGO noted that the Polisario separatists do not select the children randomly for this operation. They target children who belong to tribal minorities or orphans to avoid protests when these children do not return to the camp at the end of summer, having been left with foreign families.

In addition to what appears to be child trafficking, it was reported that the separatist movements leaders also engage in another lucrative operationenabling individuals to emigrate by passing them off as Polisario Front executives or chaperones in exchange for payment.

FORSATIN said these operations seem risk-free for the separatists thanks to facilities granted by the European host countries, as well as by the Algerian regime, which mobilizes its institutions and officials for the expatriation and sale of Sahrawi minors abroad.

The NGO accompanied its statement with photographs showing a first group of Sahrawi children who arrived in France in the summer of 2024. The images depict the minors attending a religious service in a church, listening to a priests sermon, learning foreign religious rituals, and even being baptized in Catholic rituals.

This forced religious conversion is in flagrant violation of the Muslim religious teachings passed on to them by their parents and a violation of their fundamental rights as children.

A Troubling Track Record

This is not the first time the Polisario has been criticized for exploiting Sahrawi children. In August 2020, FORSATIN also revealed the extent of the military exploitation of children in the Tindouf camps, with hundreds being used as soldiers by the separatist militias and even forced to clear minefields.

The first edition of Vacations in Peace dates back to the summer of 1979 when the Spanish Communist Party organized a trip to Spain for 100 Sahrawi children. Since then, adoption by European families has become part of the program despite causing family dramas.

In some cases, families in the camps have revolted and refused to let their children be uprooted, even going so far as to sequester them upon their return to Tindouf.

Human Rights Watch has also previously called on the Polisario to facilitate the release of women being held by their families in Tindouf after they or their children were adopted in Spain.

The Polisario was forced to comply to avoid a repeat of popular protests that followed the November 2014 exfiltration of Mahjouba Mohamed Hamdidaf, a Spanish national who her biological parents barred from rejoining her adoptive family in Spain for months.

The Polisarios exploitation of the Vacations in Peace children is not just limited to adoption. In August 2018, the Vatican had to issue a clarification that they were not involved politically after a photo of Pope Francis with Sahrawi children in Rome was used for propaganda purposes by the separatists.
James Beeby officially assumed the role of chancellor Monday at UW-La Crosse, becoming the 11th leader in the schools 115-year history.

Beeby takes the reins from interim chancellor Betsy Morgan, who stepped in after previous chancellor Joe Gow was fired by the UW Board of Regents when it was discovered in December that he and his wife had been producing and starring in adult online content with porn stars.

In his most recent role, Beeby was provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Keene State College in New Hampshire. He was appointed chancellor of UW-L in March after an extensive national search.

Beeby has spent the past few months connecting with stakeholders to learn as much as he can about the campus and the community.

This is a critical first step in order for me to understand the challenges and opportunities that are ahead, says Beeby, 54. I am excited to continue those conversations and look for ways we can work together to move UW-L forward. From that, my hope is that we can build a shared vision of where we would like UW-L to be in the next 10 years and then craft a collaborative plan that will allow us to get there.

Beebys priorities include building upon UW-Ls reputation for academic excellence, engaging with community partners and friends of the university and creating an environment where all students feel welcome.

A first-generation college student who left his native England to attend graduate school, Beeby has seen the transformative power of higher education firsthand.

Attending college transformed my life and opened so many doors and opportunities for me, he says. I arrived in the U.S. in 1993 to attend graduate school for one year but ended up staying for 31 years and becoming an American citizen and have enjoyed a wonderful career in higher education. I have been very fortunate in life and had wonderful mentors and good friends who have supported me over many, many years.

Before arriving at Keene State, Beeby served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern Indiana. He also spent time as a professor and chair in the Department of History at Middle Tennessee State University.

Beebys academic background centers mainly on U.S. history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a focus on African American history, the U.S. South and populism.

He holds a bachelors degree in history with honors from the University of Wales and both a masters degree and a Ph.D. in American culture studies from Bowling Green State University.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is arresting more people than ever for marijuana possession, even as arrests at the local level have fallen and the state remains an outlier in a sea of legal weed in the Midwest.

Arrests for marijuana possession on Wisconsin highways grew to 1,666 in 2022 compared to 1,292 in 2019, according to arrest data kept by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

As more Wisconsinites are getting arrested for something that is legal on the other side of the state line, the number of Black people arrested as a percentage of all pot arrests has doubled.

In 2015, Black people made up 18% of the 825 people the State Patrol arrested for marijuana possession, according to the FBI. In 2022, they made up 36% of the 1,666 arrested.

About 7.7% of the states population is Black, up from 7.1% in 2010. White and Black people, though, have long used marijuana at comparable rates, according to national studies on drug use.

Its devastating, said Amanda Merkwae, the advocacy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin. The harm from this continued, antiquated mindset of drug war policing is really derailing peoples lives.

Over the last five years, three of Wisconsins neighbors  Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota  legalized marijuana. Rules for driving with marijuana in those states vary, but people can drive with more than an ounce in the vehicle in all three as long as its secured and inaccessible to the driver.

About half of Wisconsinites live within a 75-minute drive of a dispensary in a different state, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum. Wisconsinites making weed runs into Illinois contributed about $36 million in tax revenue there in 2022.

In counties with Interstates near the border with Illinois, arrests for marijuana possession jumped in 2021 but fell the following year, according to State Patrol data obtained through an open records request.

Across Kenosha, Racine and Rock counties, state troopers arrested 146 people in 2021 for having pot and related paraphernalia, compared to 104 in 2019. In 2022, 103 were arrested in those three counties.

The biggest post-legalization jump happened in Rock County. In 2019, only seven arrests were made there. After legalization between 2020 and 2022, an average of 31 people were arrested there annually.

Those arrests coincide with the 2020 opening of the Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary in South Beloit about 2,000 feet from the Rock County line on the Wisconsin border.

Possession of marijuana remains illegal under Wisconsin law, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which oversees the State Patrol, said in a statement about the growing number of marijuana arrests.

In the data, its unclear what is leading state troopers to arrest more people for having marijuana or the probable cause used to search a vehicle for pot. Troopers commonly establish cause to search a vehicle for marijuana from the smell of it, visible evidence, people in a vehicle admitting to having it and drug dogs, according to the DOT.

It does not matter if the marijuana was obtained legally in another state, the DOT said. When officers with the Wisconsin State Patrol or other Wisconsin law enforcement agencies locate illegal substances such as marijuana, they will take appropriate enforcement action based on the circumstances.

The DOT declined to release any demographic information about who is getting arrested for weed possession on the border, citing privacy protections, even though the State Journal did not request identifying information such as names or addresses.

Its highly improper for them to withhold demographic information, said Bill Lueders, the president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council. Ive never ever heard somebody in law enforcement say that a person whos been charged with a crime has privacy.

State Patrol an outlier

On marijuana enforcement, the State Patrol is bucking trends seen in other law enforcement agencies, as Wisconsins largest communities move to effectively decriminalize marijuana under local ordinances.

In 2010, the Milwaukee Police Department arrested 3,702 people for marijuana possession, according to the FBI. In 2022, Milwaukee police arrested 256 people.

Over the same period, arrests made by Madison police fell from 423 to 66.

Any entry into the criminal legal system even for something as simple as marijuana possession can have some real, serious, life-altering consequences when it seems like a pretty ridiculous use of law enforcement resources, Merkwae said.

Very few of the State Patrols arrests are for the more serious offense of intent to sell or deliver marijuana. Statewide, state troopers arrested 65 people on suspicion of trafficking pot in 2022.

Trafficking accounted for just 23 of the arrests on the border with Illinois between 2019 and 2022, according to State Patrol data.

At least five people were arrested in those border counties for having less than a gram of marijuana.

But in the data provided to the State Journal, most of the arrests do not list the amount of marijuana the person had.

Other law enforcement agencies near the border with Illinois said they have not changed their approach to marijuana and that the amount of weed they see in the community has not changed.

Id say more of it is from dispensaries than before, but the amount is the same, said Sgt. Zach Dutter of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department. It was a common problem before legalization. It continues to be a problem after.

State Journal reporters Abby Machtig and Seth Nelson contributed to this report.

'Behind the 8 ball': How research is trying to catch up on cannabis and kids 'Behind the 8 ball': How research is trying to catch up on cannabis and kids 'Behind the 8 ball': How research is trying to catch up on cannabis and kids
U.S. Supreme Court rules Trump has some immunity from criminal prosecution

Xinhua) 08:14, July 02, 2024

Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor in Maryland, the United States, Feb. 24, 2024. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking for the majority, dismissed Donald Trump's expansive immunity arguments, stating that Trump is only immune for his actions conducted in an "official" capacity as president.

WASHINGTON, July 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has some immunity from criminal charges for trying to reverse the 2020 election results, which makes a trial before election unlikely.

The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority that includes three justices appointed by Trump himself, voted 6-3 along ideological lines, ordering the lower courts to reconsider the case and determine which allegations cannot be prosecuted.

Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking for the majority, dismissed Trump's expansive immunity arguments, stating that Trump is only immune for his actions conducted in an "official" capacity as president.

"The President is not above the law," the ruling said. "But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts."

"There is no immunity for unofficial acts," the ruling said.

The Supreme Court did not define what qualifies as an official act in this instance, delegating that decision to the lower court.

Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the majority decision.

"It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law," they argued.

Relying on little more than its own "misguided wisdom" about the need for "bold and unhesitating action" by the President, the Court gives former President Trump "all the immunity he asked for and more," they said.

Photo taken on March 4, 2024 shows the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Trump, meanwhile, praised the Supreme Court's ruling. "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY," the former president said on a post on his social networking site Truth Social.

A federal grand jury indicted Trump on four counts for conduct that occurred during his Presidency following the November 2020 election. The indictment alleged that after losing that election to Joe Biden, Trump conspired to overturn it by "spreading knowingly false claims of election fraud" to obstruct the collecting, counting, and certifying of the election results, the ruling noted.

Trump moved to dismiss the indictment based on Presidential immunity, arguing that a President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution.

In February, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit delivered a ruling denying Trump broad immunity from federal prosecution.

Previously, the Supreme Court already received strong disapproval from Democrats for agreeing to hear the Trump case, which delayed a trial that could have started in March.

The extended period the court has taken to address this high-profile case has aided Trump by diminishing the probability that a trial stemming from the charges would conclude before the Nov. 5 election.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Global Outpouring of Condolences Following the Death of King Mohammed VIs Mother Princess Lalla Latifa

Dignitaries from around the world have expressed their condolences following Princess Lalla Latifas passing on Saturday. Moroccan authorities announced the news on June 29, eliciting an outpouring of sympathy and support from global leaders.

Martin Simon, the United Kingdoms ambassador to Morocco, conveyed his deepest sympathies in a solemn message posted on X on Saturday.

My deepest condolences to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Royal Family, and the people of Morocco on the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Latifa, Simon wrote. My thoughts are with all Moroccans during this time of grief. May her memory be a blessing.

The official page of the UK Embassy in Morocco further honored Princess Lalla Latifa by announcing that the Union Jack would fly at half-mast across all their diplomatic missions in Morocco.

In honor of Her Late Royal Highness Princess Lalla Latifa, the UK flag will fly at half-mast at our Embassy and Consulates across Morocco, the statement read. We join the nation in mourning and extend our deepest condolences to the Royal Family.

Closer to home, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, expressed his sorrow on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar. I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Princess Lalla Latifa, the post read.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the Royal Family and the people of Morocco during this time of mourning. May she rest in peace.

Internationally, leaders also shared their condolences. The president of Pakistan conveyed his sympathies on X.

Deeply saddened over the passing of HRH Princess Lalla Latifa, mother of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the post read. I extend my sincere condolences to King Mohammed VI on behalf of the entire Pakistani nation on the sad demise of his mother.
On 1 July Mexicos federal public security ministry (SSPC) announced that at least 19 people had been killed in a recent clash between criminal groups in La Concordia municipality, Chiapas state.

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On 1 July Bolivias government admonished Argentinas ambassador in La Paz,, after Argentinas Presidentaccused Presidentof falsely claiming to be the target of a coup attempt.

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On 1 July Brazils environment minister,, said that authorities are investigating the causes of the forest fires that have been devastating the Pantanal tropical wetlands near the countrys south-western borders.

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On 1 July Paraguays Presidentdelivered his first state-of-the-nation address to congress, promising, among other things, to invest nearly US$500m on public security in the coming years.

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From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

As temperatures and humidity rise outside, what happens inside the human body can become a life or death situation. And a difference of just a few degrees can mean living or dying.

Researchers say the danger point outdoors for illness and death from ongoing heat is lower than experts once thought. This discovery comes from new information, including putting people in hot boxes to see what happens to them. We will talk about this process later in the story.

At rest, the bodys core temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius. That is only 4 degrees Celsius away from possible death from heatstroke.

Several doctors and other experts explained to The Associated Press what happens to the human body in such heat.

Ollie Jay is a professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney in Australia. That is where he runs the Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory. Jay explains that heat kills in three main ways.

Heatstroke

Usually the first way is heatstroke. This is a severe increase in body temperature that causes organs to fail. When the inner body gets too hot, the body redirects blood flow toward the skin to cool down. But that sends blood and oxygen away from the stomach and intestines.

This can permit poisons normally found in the stomach and intestinal areas to get into the blood. Jay said this leads to organ failure and death.

Pressure on the heart

Number two is the bigger killer in heat  pressure on the heart. This is especially true for people who have cardiovascular disease. The danger starts with blood quickly flowing to the skin to help reduce body heat. That causes blood pressure to drop. The heart reacts by trying to pump more blood to keep you from passing out.

Jay said, "Youre asking the heart to do a lot more work than it usually has to do." For someone with a heart condition, he compared this situation to running for the bus with an injured leg. "Something (is) going to give," he warns.

Dr. Neil Gandhi is emergency medicine director at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. He said during heat waves, anyone who comes in with a fever of 37.7 degrees Celsius or higher and no evidence of infection will be checked for heat exhaustion or the more serious heatstroke.

Gandhi said he often sees temperatures greater than 40 to 40.5 degrees Celsius during extreme heat events. Another degree or three and such a patient is at high risk of death, he added.

Dehydration

The third way heat kills is by lack of water in the body, or dehydration. As people sweat, they lose liquids to a point that can severely hurt kidneys, Professor Jay said. He added that dehydration also reduces blood flow and worsens cardiac problems.

Renee Salas is a Harvard University professor of public health and an emergency room doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Dehydration can be very dangerous and even deadly for everyone if it gets bad enough, Salas said. But it is especially dangerous for those with medical conditions and on certain medications," she added.

How heat affects the brain

Heat also affects the brain. It can interfere with thinking and reasoning.

Kris Ebi is a public health and climate professor at the University of Washington. She said one of the first signs that heat has become dangerous is mental confusion. However, the person suffering from the heat is unlikely to see it, she said. This becomes a bigger problem as people age.

Many people may not realize their danger, Houstons Gandhi said. Dehydration can progress into shock. This causes organs to shut down from a lack of blood, oxygen, and nutrients.

One definition of heatstroke is having a core body temperature of 40 degrees Celsius combined with mental confusion and difficulty thinking said Pennsylvania State University physiology professor W. Larry Kenney.

Wet bulb and hot box test

Some scientists use a complex measurement tool called wet bulb globe temperature. It records humidity, solar radiation, and wind. In the past, it was thought that a wet bulb reading of 35 Celsius (or 95 Fahrenheit) was the danger point.

Kenney also runs a hot box laboratory and has done nearly 600 tests. He said his tests show the wet-bulb danger point is closer to 30.5 Celsius.

And that temperature is for young healthy people. For older people, the danger point is a wet bulb temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, he said.

He adds that the amount of moisture in the air, or humidity, plays a big part. "Humid heat waves kill a lot more people than dry heat waves," Kenney said.

Heatstroke is an emergency. Medical workers try to cool a victim down within 30 minutes, Salas said. Shes the professor and emergency room doctor in Massachusetts.

The best treatment is a cold water bath. But Salas said that those baths are not always available. So, emergency rooms pump patients with cool fluids intravenously, apply cold water to the skin, put ice packs in armpits and groins, and place them on a cold mat with cold water running inside it.

However, sometimes all these treatments do not work. Experts call it a silent killer: You do not see the damage happening.

Much of the United States, Mexico, India, and the Middle East suffer through extreme heat waves. These heat events are worsened by human-caused climate change.

Climate change made a killer heat wave in Mexico and the Southwest U.S. even warmer and also made it 35 times more likely to happen more often.

Extreme heat in India has killed more than 100 people in the past three and a half months.

And thats the Health & Lifestyle report.

I'm Anna Matteo.

And I'm Andrew Smith.

Seth Borenstein reported this story for The Associated Press Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - How Heat Kills Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

humidity  n. a moderate degree of wetness especially of the atmosphere

core temperature  n. the temperature deep within a living bod

heatstroke  n. a condition marked especially by the stopping of sweating, a high body temperature, and exhaustion that results from exposure to high temperature for a long time

cardiovascular  adj. of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels

heat exhaustion  n. a condition marked by weakness, nausea, dizziness, and profuse sweating that results from physical exertion in a hot environment

dehydration  n. an abnormal depletion of body fluids

sweat  v. to give off salty moisture through the pores of the skin

confusion  n. disturbance of consciousness characterized by inability to engage in orderly thought or by lack of power to distinguish, choose, or act decisively

physiology  adj. a branch of biology dealing with the processes and activities by which life is carried on and which are special features of the functioning of living things, tissues, and cells

intravenously  adv. being within or entering by way of the veins

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Researchers say a new study on an ancient pig-like animal is helping them learn more about brain development in mammals.

The animal is known as Gordonia. It is believed to have lived more than 250 million years ago in what is present-day Scotland. Back then, Scotland was part of a sandy desert. Today, it receives a lot of rain and enjoys four seasons.

Gordonia was known as a protomammal  a predecessor of mammals. The creature lived during the Permian Period. Some protomammals kept some qualities of their reptile ancestors.

An international group of researchers used high-quality, 3D imaging equipment to examine a Gordonia fossil. This permitted the team to make a digital copy of the animals brain. The researchers said this led them to learn new details about the size and shape of the brain in early mammal development.

The team recently released their findings about the fossil in a study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

The lead writer of the study was doctoral student Hady George, who attends Britains University of Bristol. She told Reuters news agency, "Overall, Gordonia's brain looks more like a reptile than a mammal despite it being more closely related to us than any modern living reptile."

The researchers noted that the animals brain was very different from those of modern mammals. However, the size of its brain compared to its body seemed to suggest the beginning of gains in intelligence seen later on in mammals and humans. George said the front of Gordonia's brain  called the forebrain - is comparatively much smaller than any other mammal.

Another leader of the research was Steve Brusatte, a scientist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He told Reuters the brain the team studied was not as circular as a human brain. Rather, it is shaped more like "a long, arched tube."

Brusatte noted that upon close examination, the researchers realized the animals brain was pretty big compared to the size of the body."

He added that it is difficult to measure intelligence in modern-day humans. So it is even more difficult to measure this in long-disappeared animals. "But we can at least say generally that it would have been a smart creature for its time, Brusatte said.

The researchers estimated Gordonia was about one meter long, weighing 20 kilograms. The animals head was tall and wide, with a pointed mouth and tusks to help it eat desert plant material. It had a pig-like build, but its legs were not as long as a pigs, they noted.

Gordonia belonged to a group of protomammals called dicynodonts. The group survived the worst mass extinction in Earth's history 252 million years ago at the end of the Permian Period. The extinction event is thought to have been caused by extreme volcanic activity.

Scientists believe the first dinosaurs began appearing about 230 million years ago, while mammals came about around 20 million years later.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

__________________________________________

Words in This Story

mammal  n. an animal that feeds its babies on milk from its body

predecessor  n. a person or thing that existed before another

three-dimensional (3D)  adj. having or appearing to have length, depth and height

fossil  n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) from a plant or animal that lived in ancient times and that you can see in old rocks

tube  n. a long, think container with a round center

arched  adj. something that has a curved shape like an arch

tusk  n. one of two long, pointed teeth that come out of the mouth of some animals

extinct  adj. not existing anymore
The United States Supreme Court on Monday ruled that American presidents have "immunity" from prosecution over what the ruling calls "official acts."

The ruling recognizes - for the first time ever - any form of presidential immunity from prosecution.

The decision was six to three. The ruling also declared that presidents do not have such immunity for unofficial acts.

The decision is critical to a criminal case against former President Donald Trump on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

The Supreme Court said the first step is to distinguish his official from unofficial actions. The ruling directs a lower court to reexamine whether the charges are related to official or unofficial presidential actions.

In a social media post, Trump cheered the ruling. It read: "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!"

Special Counsel Jack Smiths office which oversees the case against Trump did not provide comment on the ruling.

The case against Trump

Smiths office accuses Trump of four crimes: plotting to defraud the government, blocking an official meeting of Congress and plotting to do so, and threatening peoples right to vote.

The charging document called an indictment, said the former president tried to get Justice Department officials to support his claims that widespread fraud had kept him from winning reelection. It said that Trump and others pressured state lawmakers to provide false results through false electors. It said Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to block or delay certification of Joe Bidens victory as Congress considered the final vote count at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In the months following the 2020 election, Trump lost several court cases in which he claimed he was cheated out of reelection to a second four-year term.

Before the Supreme Court, Trump claimed presidential, or executive, immunity for his actions. He said he acted to protect the integrity of the election. Trumps lawyers argued that his actions sat at the heart of Trumps official responsibilities as president.

The defense said a president would be immune even if they used military forces to murder a political opponent.

The Supreme Court decision makes it unlikely that the case against Trump will be tried before the 2024 election. And Trump and Biden will likely face each other again when America votes on November 5.

I'm Caty Weaver.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on VOA News and Associated Press news reports.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

immunity - n. special protection from what is required for most people by law

prosecution - n. the act or process of holding a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty

distinguish - v. to notice or recognize a difference between people or things

defraud - v. to cheat in order to get something

integrity - n. the quality of being honest and fair
King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, Directs Review of Family Code Revisions in Accordance with Islamic Principles

The monarchs directive aims to ensure that the proposed revisions to the family code align with the principles and precepts of Islam and its inclusive objectives, a statement from the royal cabinet said today.

Additionally, the King has instructed the Council to draft a Fatwaa religious decreeabout these proposals accordingly.

This referral comes after the Body in charge of revising the Family Code accomplished its mission within the allotted time and submitted its proposals to the High Appreciation of His Majesty the King , the statement said.

The King also called on the council to consider the content of the royal letter addressed to the Head of Government, which called for adopting the virtues of moderation and open and constructive Ijtihad.

Ijtihad is an Islamic legal term referring to independent reasoning by experts in Islamic law.

In September last year, King Mohammed VI instructed the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch to ensure the revision of Moroccos family code.

The monarch gave his instructions in a letter he addressed to Akhannouch.

In a speech in 2022, the monarch stressed the importance of social inclusion in family law, emphasizing that all decisions and recommendations should respect Islamic Law, also known as Sharia.

As the Commander of the Faithful, I pointed out before Parliament in 2023, when introducing the Moudawana, or Family Law, that I shall not make licit that which the Almighty has forbidden, nor shall I forbid that which he has authorized, particularly when it comes to matters of government by unequivocal Quranic prescriptions, the monarch said in his speech
Princess Diana, a member of the British royal family, has always been considered a style icon. She has never been afraid to combine bright colors in her looks and choose clothing styles that are atypical for her status.

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Today, on July 1, the Princess of Wales would have turned 63. In this regard, OBOZ.UA has prepared a selection of 10 of the most spectacular dresses Lady Dee has worn in public.

Wedding dress

Princess Diana married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981. At the official ceremony, which took place at St. Paul's Cathedral, the monarch impressed everyone with her stunning outfit. The bride chose an antique ivory lace dress made of silk taffeta, decorated with pearls and rhinestones. A special feature of her look, created by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, was a 762-centimeter train.

"Revenge Dress"

A shimmering black dress with off-the-shoulder and a small chiffon train became the British royal family's most memorable and impressive look. Appearing in a spectacular look for a fundraising dinner at the Serpentine Gallery, Princess Diana broke several rules at once by wearing things that are forbidden for a person of her status: a bold neckline, high heels, and a skirt above the knee. The outfit that evening was called the "revenge dress" because Lady Dee chose it in response to her husband's public confession of infidelity with Camilla Parker Bowles.

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Red off-the-shoulder dress

Princess Diana appeared at a formal dinner in Argentina in 1995, wearing a red off-the-shoulder lace dress designed by Catherine Walker.

Light blue dress with rhinestones

The Princess of Wales attended the English National Ballet's performance of Swan Lake in a shimmering light blue dress. This look also stood out from the usual outfits of the royal family because it did not meet all the standards.

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White dress with sequins

In 1997, Lady Dee appeared at the Christie's pre-auction party in a white dress decorated with shimmering sequins. The dress was designed by Catherine Walker.

An iridescent dress

The monarch's love for bright things can be seen through the image created for her appearance at the premiere of the Burke and Wills movie in Melbourne. Princess Diana attended the event in a long iridescent silver dress.

Navy blue dress

Lady Dee appeared at the 1995 charity premiere of the movie "Ghosts" wearing a navy blue evening dress with a plunging neckline.

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White dress with black polka dots

The Princess of Wales appeared in front of the public in a white dress with black polka dots, designed by British fashion designer Victor Edelstein. She complemented the look with a hat of the same color scheme, designed by Frederick Fox.

Red and purple dress

Princess Diana wore a colorful outfit to the premiere of the movie A Burning Secret in 1989. The monarch chose a rich red and purple dress modeled by Katherine Walker.

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Bright pink dress

For the official Australian reception in 1983, Lady Dee chose a bright pink dress designed by Victor Edelstein.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Foundation of the Portuguese School of Macau () has praised the news that the Portuguese education authorities are investigating the dismissal of five staff members.

In a statement by the president of the Board of Directors of the foundation, Jorge Neto Valente, the EPM Foundation said this was good news and a way for the Portuguese authorities to appreciate the schools situation and its problems as well as to investigate the irregularities that have been detected within the institution procedures and methods.

Neto Valente has said that, in reality, the probe was a request from the foundation that wanted to see a full investigation into the schools operation and previous management.

The president of the Board of Directors insisted that the foundation was always in favor of launching a full probe of the school operations by a third party and not just an audit by the Court of Auditors of the foundation.

In the same statement, the foundation expressed concern about the timing of this procedure at a time when preparations for the upcoming academic year have [been] finalized. The foundation claims further that the delay from the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation of Portugal (MECI) in approving the authorization for the new teachers special licenses is starting to worry the students, parents, and EPMs governing bodies.

Neto Valente also said that those licenses aim to allow the teachers previously authorized to teach in Macau, last May, to replace some of those who expressed their wishes to leave the school.

The EPM Foundation also clarified that it is not trying to replace any of the four teachers and one technician whose working contracts were not renewed, since the institution dismissed them as unnecessary for the school operations.

Responding to an alleged claim of lack of information from the EPM Foundation on the recent polemic, Neto Valente said that EPM governing bodies have refrained from making too many comments to not add fuel to the noise [around the issue] which is likely to harm people and jeopardize the reputation of the institution.

The statement was issued following news that the MECI had requested the Inspectorate-General of Education and Science (IGEC) to open an investigation into the EPM, so as to determine the circumstances in which the director [Acacio de Brito] dismissed four teachers and one senior technician.

MECI also said that the investigation has immediate effects on the dismissal of the staff members who will stay on duty at the school, at least until the investigation is concluded.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau and Wynn Resorts (Macau), S.A. are co-hosting the 1st Macao International Childrens Arts Festival  Music Camp from August 16-21, featuring world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell and musicians from the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Orchestra. The camp offers young string instrument students one-on-one lessons, master classes, and the opportunity to perform in a concert with Bell and the orchestra. Outstanding violin participants will even have the opportunity to play the solo part of Bachs Double Violin Concerto with Bell. Registration is now open to both local and foreign musicians born between 2006 and 2016.

Related
Macaus amended civil code has taken effect, bringing a more digital marriage registration system. The changes include an upcoming Marriage in One Step online application program allowing residents to apply through their One Account starting in August. The old process required submitting documents first to schedule an appointment before finalizing marriage in-person, said Wong Iok Mui of Civil Affairs Registry. Now its simpler with approval within five days, she added. Private notaries can also officiate ceremonies anywhere as the updated rules aim to ease procedures. Most Macau residents typically host wedding banquets and ceremonies together at hotels according to Wong.

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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) will roll out a four-day Experience Macao Malaysia Roadshow at the popular Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall in Kuala Lumpur from July 5 to 8. The roadshow will introduce Macaus latest tourism offerings, exclusive products, and discounted travel packages to Malaysian visitors. The event will also feature performances by Malaysian and Macau artists, interactive games, and a grand lucky draw with over RM80,000 in Macau travel prizes.

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For the first time, North Korean officials have been seen wearing lapel pins with the image of leader Kim Jong Un, another sign the North is boosting his personality cult to the level bestowed on his late dictator father and grandfather.

North Koreans are required to wear pins over their hearts which for decades bore images of either the countrys founder, Kim Il Sung, or his son Kim Jong Il, or both. The existence of pins dedicated to Kim Jong Un had not been verified until state media published photos on Sunday showing officials wearing his pins at a ruling Workers Party meeting.

The pins are part of a state-sponsored mythology surrounding the Kim family which treats Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il like gods. They are memorialized with numerous statues across North Korea, their birthdays are two of the countrys main holidays and their portraits are hung in all homes and offices.

Few question current leader Kim Jong Uns hold on power, but few images honoring the 40-year-old have been displayed in public since he took power in late 2011 upon his fathers death. Recently, however, he has begun taking steps to boost his own personality cult while also trying to further move out of the shadow of his fathers and grandfathers legacies.

In May, his portrait was publicly displayed along with those of the two other Kims for the first time at a Workers Party-run training school. In January, Kim announced he will no longer pursue peaceful unification with South Korea, a decadeslong policy cherished by his father and grandfather. Observers also say North Korea appears to be refraining from using terms like the Day of Sun, a reference to the April 15 birthday of Kim Il Sung.

The latest series of efforts to idolize Kim Jong Un is assessed as a move to dilute his predecessors while establishing his authority as a leader different from them, Kim Inae, a deputy spokesperson for South Koreas Unification Ministry, told reporters Monday.

She said Kim is also likely trying to boost internal solidary behind his leadership as he grapples with economic hardships and the influence of South Korean pop culture.

Ahn Kyung-su, head of dprkhealth.org, a website focusing on health issues in North Korea, said Kim Jong Un is trying to phase out the symbols representing the legacies of his predecessors to promote his own era. But as the third-generation leader in the Kim family, he will find it difficult to push too far because that would weaken the legitimacy of its dynastic rule, said Ahn, who has interviewed many North Korean defectors and closely monitors North Korean state media.

Kim Jong Un is in a dilemma. He wants to stay away from his fathers and grandfathers legacies more but he cant do so, Ahn said.

He said North Koreans are now expected to wear Kim Jong Un pins.

Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said the wearing of Kim Jong Un pins isnt surprising, given that he has been consolidating his rule for over a decade.

The question is, now that Kim has stepped out from the shadow of his predecessors, whether he will undertake policy adjustments to break with North Koreas past economic failures, Easley said.

In recent years, North Koreas fragile economy has suffered further setbacks because of strict pandemic restrictions, persistent U.N. sanctions and its own mismanagement. During a Workers Party meeting on Saturday, Kim spoke about some deviations obstructing efforts to improve the countrys economic status, according to state media.

Some experts say Kims moves are also related to his reported push to make his preteen daughter his heir in another hereditary power transfer.

South Koreas spy agency said in January that it sees Kims daughter, reportedly named Ju Ae and aged about 11, as her fathers likely heir apparent. But some analysts say its still too early to call her Kims successor, citing her age and North Koreas male-dominated hierarchy. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP
Morocco and Germany have agreed on an energy alliance that will see the European country supporting Moroccos renewable energy efforts.

The announcement came amid a visit to Berlin by a Moroccan delegation led by Moroccos Foreign Affairs Minister, Nasser Bourita.

Reuters reported that the agreement is part of Germanys plan to expand its reliance on hydrogen as a future energy source to cut greenhouse emissions in polluting industrial sectors.

Morocco has the best conditions for the energy transition and the production of green hydrogen, Germanys Development Minister, Svenja Schulze, said today in Berlin.

Schulze, who signed the alliance declaration with Bourita, added that her country wants to import hydrogen.

In a press conference today, Bourita expressed his satisfaction with the announcement, describing Germany as a strategic trade partner to Morocco.

Germany has a very special position as an economic partner, as a trade partner, but also, of course, as a political partner, Reuters quoted Moroccos Foreign Minister as saying.

Schulze echoed the same sentiment, noting that her country aims to secure a partnership that will allow Morocco to drive forward its energy transition.

In the past few years, Germany and Morocco have been expressing their commitment to boosting cooperation in all sectors, including renewable energies.

Last July, the German Foreign Office outlined Moroccos efforts in fighting climate change challenges, highlighting the German-Moroccan shared goals towards energy transition and noting that both countries have achieved strong results.

Next year, Germany and Morocco will engage in a comprehensive dialogue, the German office added.

Since 2021, Germany has frequently stressed Moroccos position as a strategic partnerparticularly following a political crisis between the two countries in 2021.

In May 2021, Morocco decided to recall its ambassador to Berlin for consultation due to Germanys antagonistic activism following the US decision to recognize Moroccos sovereignty over its southern provinces in the Western Sahara region.

Months after intense political dialogue, Germanys new government publicly voiced support for Moroccos Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Starting today, July 2, the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government will begin distributing cash subsidies to eligible residents as part of its Wealth Partaking Scheme 2024.

The subsidies from the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) will be disbursed through two methods: bank transfer and mailed crossed checks.

A total of 717,018 permanent residents will each receive MOP10,000, while 30,850 non-permanent residents will receive MOP6,000. The payments will be made via bank transfer or mailed crossed checks over the next five weeks until July 31.

Priority groups, including senior citizens, disabled individuals, and students receiving government assistance, will receive their payments first via direct bank transfer starting July 2. The remaining residents will receive mailed checks starting July 9, with the distribution staggered by birth year. Residents born in 1975 or earlier will receive their checks from July 9-12, followed by younger age groups in subsequent weeks.

Residents can check the status of their payments and apply for reissued checks online through the Wealth Partaking Scheme website or their Macau One Account. They can also update their mailing address through these channels or directly with the Identification Services Bureau.

The government has allocated over MOP7 billion for this years scheme, which was first introduced in 2008 to help protect Macaus economic prosperity with its residents. NS
The state Department of Transportation is saying some 1.4 million people will be traveling the roads this Fourth of July weekend and is reminding them that while much road construction will pause for the holiday, certain projects can still affect travel.

The DOT said in a news release that peak travel times are expected to be 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Wisconsinites are expected to travel in record numbers for the Fourth of July weekend, so we urge drivers to keep their eyes up and speeds down, DOT Secretary Craig Thompson said. Together, we can make a difference on our roads with safe driving behaviors. Buckle up, drive sober and be courteous to other motorists. These simple steps can help save lives and prevent crashes on Wisconsin roads.

Projects in southern Wisconsin that could affect travel are:

Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties: Expect intermittent ramp and local street closures in certain segments along Interstate 43 between Glendale and Grafton.

Milwaukee County: Motorists should expect various ramp closures and single lane closures along I-43 between Capitol Drive and the Marquette Interchange.

Milwaukee County: At least two lanes of travel remain open in each direction on I-894 between the Mitchell Interchange and 84th Street.

Racine County: The intersection of State Highway 11 and County Highway J near the city of Burlington is closed for roundabout construction.

Walworth and Racine counties: State Highway 20, between East Troy and Waterford, is closed to through traffic for a bridge replacement and resurfacing project. Traffic is detoured via State Highway 83, I-43 and State Highway 120.

Walworth County: U.S. Highway 12 between State Highway 20 and the State Highway 67/U.S. Highway 12 split, north of the city of Elkhorn, is closed to through traffic for a resurfacing and bridge replacement project. Traffic is detoured via 20, I-43 and 67.

Walworth County: State Highway 36 between Burlington and Lake Geneva is closed to through traffic for a bridge replacement and resurfacing project. The signed detour follows state highways 11, 83 and 50, and U.S. Highway 12 and State Highway 120.

Walworth County: State Highway 11 near Elkhorn is closed to through traffic for a box culvert replacement project. Traffic is detoured via State Highway 67 and I-43.

Columbia County: Three lanes are open in each direction on the I-39-90-94 bridge over the Wisconsin River, south of Portage. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speeds.

Jefferson County: Two lanes are open on I-90-94 westbound bridges over Newville Road and Rock Lake Road near Lake Mills. Be alert for reduced speeds and lane shifts.

Monroe County: Two lanes remain open in both directions on I-90-94 near Tomah. Watch for reduced s

peed limits.

Sauk County: I-90-94 is open to two lanes in each direction between Wisconsin Dells and Portage.

States where it's easiestand hardestto charge an electric vehicle States where it's easiestand hardestto charge an electric vehicle Top 10 states for charging your electric vehicle Charging infrastructure lags behind demand
A plea deal is in the works for the driver of a car that was found to contain more than $1 million in methamphetamine and fentanyl in April 2023 after a traffic stop in Twin Falls County.

Wilson Fontes Mendivil, 26, of Mexico, was scheduled Monday for a change of plea hearing related to felony charges of drug trafficking of more than 400 grams of meth and possession of a controlled substance. Attorney Anthony Valdez, however, said that although close, a plea deal hasnt been finalized.

A counteroffer was sent to deputy prosecutor Jill Sweesy on Monday morning, but she didnt have time to review it before the hearing.

District Judge Bill Hancock set a status conference for July 15 in case an agreement isnt reached by then.

Both parties have spent a lot of time trying to reach a resolution in this case, Valdez said.

Mendivil is the last of the three people in the vehicle in the traffic stop along U.S. Highway 93 that hasnt either pleaded guilty or been found guilty in trial.

Elton Loza, a passenger in the car, was found guilty after a jury trial in February and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. His attorney, arguing that the search of the car  which yielded almost 25 pounds of methamphetamine and 5 pounds of fentanyl  wasnt legal, has appealed the case to the Idaho Supreme Court.

His attorney, Aaron J. Tribble, argued unsuccessfully in district court in October that the traffic stop that uncovered the drugs was a warrantless and illegal stop and seizure.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, said there were multiple reasons for a Twin Falls deputy to suspect drugs were in the car, from one of the passengers smelling like marijuana to an image of a patron saint seen in the car, which is common for drug traffickers to carry in their vehicles.
A humanitarian convoy was attacked in the war-ravaged eastern DR Congo, an area blighted by clashes between M23 rebels and government forces, sources told AFP on Monday.

Two members of staff are still missing following the attack that took place in North Kivu province, UK organization Tearfund said in a statement.

Other sources told AFP that the attack had led to two deaths.

Tearfund strongly condemns the attack on humanitarian aid staff who are working tirelessly to serve the people of the DRC, the statement read.

The convoy was leaving a combat zone and heading north when it was attacked near the town of Butembo in the Lubero territory by youths who suspected rebel infiltration, local sources said.

The North Kivu province has been racked by violence since 2021 when the M23 resumed its armed campaign in the region.

The charity said their vehicles were burnt and destroyed in the attack.

Five vehicles, carrying around fifteen people, all of Congolese nationality, were set on fire, according to a humanitarian source.

We urge all parties to respect and protect aid workers, ensuring their safety as they carry out their vital mission, Tearfund said.

The Rwanda-backed M23 continued to tighten its grip in North Kivu at the end of last week, seizing more towns.

At the weekend, the group captured the strategic town of Kanyabayonga, which is seen as a gateway to the major commercial centers of Butembo and Beni.

According to officials and security sources, other towns near Kanyabayonga have also been seized by M23.

Clashes between the M23 and Congolese armed forces took place on Monday to the north of Kirumba, which the rebels seized on Sunday, a local civil society member said.

At least four civilians were also killed further south in Masisi territory  also in North Kivu  where fighting was taking place, a local administrative source said.

Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing the Tutsi-led M23 rebel group, which Kigali denies.

DR Congos mineral-rich east has been racked for 30 years by fighting between both local and foreign-based armed groups, going back to regional wars of the 1990s.
The advancement of education choice options for children in Idaho has hit one frustrating roadblock after another. But that hasnt been the case in most other states.

Thirty-three states now have some type of education choice law on the books to empower families with limited to middle-class incomes to access private and religious school options for their children. The U.S. Congress may also step up to expand school choice to children in every state.

Twelve of these 33 states, including neighboring Utah, are implementing near universal education choice where almost every family with school-age children will have the option of choosing the best, most suitable school available.

Idaho is not one of these 33 states, which means Idaho families have thus far been left out of the education choice revolution sweeping America, which accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, and continues apace.

Idahos absence of education choice opportunities is not for lack of interest. During the recently concluded state legislative session in Boise, a bill to provide individual tax credits to families to offset private school tuition and other education expenses was voted down in a House committee. Last year, another bill that would have provided education savings accounts to families to cover education expenses was defeated on the Senate floor.

The U.S. Congress looks ready to expand education freedom for students in grades kindergarten through 12, which would especially help families in states like Idaho that continue to lack this opportunity.

Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska, who represents a mostly rural district, and Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have proposed the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) that would provide credits against federal individual and corporate income taxes for donations to scholarship-granting organizations.

Scholarships would be awarded to as many as two million students nationwide, including more than 13,000 in Idaho, which can be used for private school tuition or educational services and materials akin to how a 529 plan works for higher education expenses. This latter option means that a child who remained in a district public school could still obtain a scholarship to address learning gaps.

Importantly, the ECCA would not open the door to Washington dictating education policy in public or private schools. This legislation is carefully designed as a tax bill to spur private sector support for education. It contains no role for or spending by the U.S. Department of Education and would not impose mandates or directives on states, school districts or participating scholarship entities and schools.

The recent defeats of education choice legislation in Idaho are not unusual in the history of expanding educational options. Education choice means a change to the status quo of education and brings new competition to public schools. Thats a positive for the most important stakeholders in educationchildren and their parents. For the education system, and a multitude of adults that comprise that system, change typically is unwelcomed and resisted.

If more of Idahos lawmakers in Boise and Washington focus on the right prioritieschildren and parentsthen education choice will be understood as an obvious benefit, both in popularity with a cross-section of voters and in effectiveness for students. After several state legislators who are opponents of education choice lost their primary elections last month, perhaps more lawmakers will get the message that parents mean business.

More than perhaps any other issue, education choice has robust support among voters and over extended time periods. Last summer, RealClear Opinion Research polled 1,000 registered voters and found that education choice was supported by a lopsided margin of 71 to 13 percent, with Democrats (66%), Republicans (80%) and independents (69%) strongly in favor, along with Blacks (73%), Latinos (70%) and Asians (70%).

Studies continue to show that education choice offers a range of benefits for elementary and secondary school students. The overwhelming number of studies on education choice programs, both recent and going back decades, confirm their impact is overwhelmingly positive regarding academic improvement  including for students who remain in the district public schools  and on taxpayer savings, integration, school safety, and parent satisfaction.

Federal and state lawmakers should take noticeand take actionto bring education freedom to Idaho children by financially empowering their parents to determine the best education available for them. Otherwise, our families will lose out as more and more states leave us in the educational dustbin of history.
Its a new move in Idaho, this process on the part of some local Republican county central committees to censure elected officials, who have won their partys nomination in primary elections, on grounds that they inadequately dance to the tune of party officials.

The latest to try this has been the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee. (Social note which may help describe the groups perspective: Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake is scheduled to be their Lincoln Day speaker next month.) The Bonneville Republicans last week voted to censure two local Republican legislators, Sen. Kevin Cook and Rep. Stephanie Mickelson. Leaders in the county organization have been critical of them for a while, though this development takes things to a new level.

Two censures from a Republican committee (whether legislative district, county or state organization), under current rules, can lead to a demand that the elected official, though nominated and elected as a Republican, remove Party support and prohibit the use of Republican Party identifiers in their campaign.

That has the sound of a serious threat, since so many Idaho voters apparently look for those Republican identifiers, and not much more (such as candidate background, qualifications and well-thought-out positions), when deciding how to fill elected offices.

In an opinion piece, Mickelson noted that, When I ran for office, I needed to secure a majority of votes from over 52,000 people in my district. Now, 20 precinct committeemen on the District 32 Legislative Committee will vote on whether I can call myself a Republican. Of those 20, only nine were elected. The other 11 were appointed. Which, she asked, ought to have primacy?

Mickelson also said that if a demand actually is made to remove any kind of party support, Some have suggested theyll pursue legal action to enforce this decision. Indeed, some have suggested as much, and it would be interesting to see how that would play out in a court of law.

But theres also a larger question: Who gets to call themselves a Republican, or a Democrat, or something else, for that matter?

Idaho Democrats and other groups of voters havent made much of an issue out of it (nor have the minor parties), and the Republicans whose political dominance in the state isnt in any way immediately under threat likewise seldom did, until recently. If someone was considered far enough outside the partys mainstream (however that might be defined), the usual view was that they could be defeated in a primary election.

That approach began to change after 2011 when, after a court decision allowing political parties to limit their primaries to registered members, Idaho Republicans closed their primaries to allow party registrants only. (Other Idaho parties have not chosen that limitation.) Of course, anyone could register as a Republican, so that didnt completely solve the (perceived) problem of participation by non-true believers.

As the Idaho Republican party structure has been taken over increasingly by more extreme groups, a conflict between the party and its voters started to become almost inevitable. Now were starting to see it arrive.

Theres a key question here: Who gets to decide what a real Republican is? This isnt a one-sided question. A lot of long-time Republican former elected officials have decried the current party leadership  and some of its elected officials  as virtual invaders who have taken the party far away from its roots and meaning. Theres a real dispute about what a real Republican is or should be.

One approach since has been growing imposition of doctrine and dogma, and ever more extreme positions in party platforms and resolutions: You must support all of this, or else youre not a real Republican.

Whats worth pointing out is how different this is from the historic norm, when the decision of what was a real Republican (or Democrat) was left to the people who voted in the primaries, even if that process sometimes was a little messy. Of course, when you have a one-party state, those stakes get higher.

And when that happens, the extremes become more so.
Home-grown fast-food chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) is acquiring a 70-percent stake in South Korean coffee brand Compose Coffee for $340 million as it aims to grow its coffee and tea business.

JFC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday its unit Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. signed a definitive agreement with Compose Coffee Co., Ltd., a move that will allow the company to get a share in the fast-growing international value coffee market in South Korea, which ranks third globally in terms of coffee consumption per capita.

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The business that Compose Coffee has built in the past 10 years is impressive and we are excited to play a major role in its next phase of growth. We believe that Compose Coffee is a compelling strategic fit for JFC and is on track to becoming the largest, fastest growing and leading value coffee player in South Korea, said JFC chairman Tony Tan Caktiong.

The remaining shareholdings will be held by Titan Dining II LP (Titan Fund II) and Elevation Equity Partners Korea Limited (Elevation) with effective shareholdings of 5 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

Following the disclosure, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) suspended the trading of JFC shares since the acquisition cost is more than 10 percent of the companys book value.

Founded in Busan, Compose Coffee had more than 2,600 stores as of end-June 2024, making it one South Koreas leading coffee franchises. On its 10th anniversary, Compose Coffee announced V (Kim Taehyung) of BTS as their new brand ambassador.

It will be JFCs biggest brand in terms of number of stores. This will bring Jollibee Groups store network closer to 10,000 stores, more than 66 percent of which will be outside the Philippines.

JFC said Compose Coffee has a debt-free balance sheet, superior cash returns and excellent profitability margins, evidenced by its high double-digit Earnings before Interests, taxes and depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and EBIT margins due to its capital-light, 100 percent franchised business model.

Compose Coffee will be consolidated into JFCs financial statements immediately upon completion of the acquisition.

The fast-food giant said the acquisition would add 2 percent to its revenues, 12 percent to EBIT and 34 percent to store count.

The purchase will also further strengthen JFCs balance sheet since Compose Coffee has no existing loans nor non-trade obligations.

JFC started investing in coffee and tea segment of the restaurant market when it acquired American specialty coffee and tea brand The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) in 2019 for $350 million.

Jollibee announced in March its investment in Botrista Inc. (Botrista), a company that has developed a robotic drinks solution for the food industry.

Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Jollibee expands brand portfolio, acquires 70% stake in South Koreas Compose Coffee.
Manila, PhilippinesPhilippine carrier Cebu Pacific said Tuesday it will buy up to 152 Airbus planes worth $24 billion in a deal it described as the largest aircraft order in the countrys aviation history.

The order is designed to provide Cebu Pacific with maximum flexibility to adapt fleet growth to market conditions, with the ability to switch between the A321neo and A320neo, Cebu Pacific chief executive Michael Szucs said in a statement.

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The company said it had signed a binding memorandum of understanding with Airbus that covered firm orders for up to 102 A321neo aircraft and purchase rights for 50 A320neo.

The order was worth $24 billion based on list prices, it added.

Cebu Pacific said it would use Pratt & Whitney engines for the planes despite previously reporting problems with the firms engines that had forced the airline to ground at least 10 planes.

When finalised, the deal will be a significant milestone for the local airline industry, Szucs said.

The transaction would be finalised in the third quarter of the year, according to the statement.

Airlines have roared back after the Covid-19 pandemic, with passenger numbers and revenues expected to hit record highs this year, trade body IATA said in June.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said nearly five billion passengers were expected to fly in 2024 and revenues would near $1 trillion.

But airlines are also facing a sharp rise in costs caused by shortages of parts and labour, and challenges related to climate change.

Their total expenses are also expected to hit a record high this year, climbing 9.4 percent to $936 billion, IATA said.

At a Singapore airshow in February, Szucs told Agence France Presse (AFP) that Cebu Pacific had a shortfall in capacity owing to aircraft grounded or delays in deliveries.

Its just never been more difficult to keep the fleet flying, he said.
Brussels, BelgiumThe European Union (EU) accused Facebook owner Meta on Monday of breaching the blocs digital rules, paving the way for potential fines worth billions of euros.

The charges against the US tech titan follow a finding last week against Apple that marked the first time Brussels had levelled formal accusations under the EUs ground-breaking Digital Markets Act (DMA).

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The latest case focuses on Metas new ad-free subscription model for Facebook and Instagram, which has sparked multiple complaints over privacy concerns.

Metas pay or consent system means users have to pay to avoid data collection, or agree to share their data with Facebook and Instagram to keep using the platforms for free.

Meta has forced millions of users across the EU into a binary choice: pay or consent,' the EUs top tech enforcer, commissioner Thierry Breton, said.

The European Commission said it informed Meta of its preliminary view that the model the company launched last year fails to comply with the DMA.

The findings come after a probe into Meta began in March under the DMA, which forces the worlds biggest tech companies to give European users more choice online.

Meta insisted its model complies with the DMA.

We look forward to further constructive dialogue with the European Commission to bring this investigation to a close, a Meta spokesperson said.

Meta can now reply to the findings and avoid a fine if it offers an alternative to address the EUs concerns.

If the commissions view is confirmed, however, it can slap fines of up to 10 percent of Metas total global turnover under the DMA. This can rise to up to 20 percent for repeat offenders.

Metas total revenue last year stood at around $135 billion (125 billion euros).

The EU also has the right to break up firms, but only as a last resort.
BEIJING  Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan Tuesday for a state visit, during which he will attend a meeting of Shanghai alliance nations in the Kazakh capital Astana.

The nine-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which encompasses a vast stretch of the globe from Moscow to Beijing, includes around half the worlds population.

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Its permanent members are this years host Kazakhstan, India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and, as of last year, Iran.

This year, Belarus is expected to join after being told at 2023s SCO summit, hosted virtually by India, that it would become a member.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Tuesday for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and a state visit to Kazakhstan, state news agency Xinhua reported from Astana.

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV said Xis plane was escorted by two Kazakh fighter jets when it entered the countrys airspace.

Xinhua reported that Xis entourage included Cai Qi, a top-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Monday said Beijing believed the SCO summit would help build more consensus among all parties and make contributions to promoting security, stability and development of member countries, and advance lasting peace and common prosperity in the world.

During Xis trip to Kazakhstan  his fifth  he will attend various state events, including a welcoming ceremony, signing ceremony and a banquet.

He will hold in depth talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on bilateral relations, cooperation in key areas, and the regional and international landscape, Mao said.

Xi will then head to Tajikistan for his second state visit to Chinas western neighbour, where he will make new plans for the growth of China-Tajikistan relations with President Emomali Rahmon, according to the spokeswoman.

Beijing has ramped up diplomatic efforts in Central Asia, with Xi calling for a deepening of economic ties during a summit China hosted last May that was attended by leaders of several countries in the region.

Central Asia is a vital link in Chinas flagship Belt and Road international infrastructure development project.

Beijing has sought to fill a void in the region created by Moscows 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as former Soviet states worry about an increasingly bellicose Russia.

The Central Asia summit last May saw China pledge to expand transport links with the region and forge ahead with a Central Asia-China gas pipeline.

After the Astana meeting, China will assume the SCOs rotating presidency for the 2024-2025 period.
Philippine Navy Spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad on Tuesday confirmed the sighting of a Chinese aircraft carrier off the Western part of Luzon recently.

In a press briefing held in Camp Aguinaldo, Trinidad said that the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces were aware of the said China Naval assets. He noted, however, that the other ships from China such as the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Chinese Coast Guard Maritime Militia vessels were also passing the WPS.

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We have to understand that the WPS is a nautical highway, it could be likened to EDSA. On an ordinary day, ships are coming there from the straits of Malacca exit to the South China Sea, Trinidad said.

On the report of the Chinese Coast Guard aircraft carrier and monster ship of the China Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy monitors our maritime domain and we are aware of them, he added.

Trinidad explained that some of the challenged ships from China responded and many of them ignored the Philippine warnings. He noted that challenging a ship entering Philippine waters is part of Navy practices worldwide.

Some of them respond, some of them do not. Not only the PLA Navy, but even the other warships. Some of them respond, some of them do not, he said.

All ships to include merchant vessels that transit through sea lines of communications are regularly challenged. On a given day, we challenged hundreds of them all over the country, Trinidad added.

Global Times on Sunday reported that PLA Navys aircraft carrier Shandong recently arrived about 200 nautical miles away from Luzon or within the edge of the WPS.

Shandong, one of the two aircraft carriers under the PLA-Ns fleet, is also likely on a scheduled exercise in preparation for a potential voyage into the West Pacific Ocean, the Global Times also reported.

From June 17 until June 27, China Coast Guards (CCG) biggest vessel dubbed as monster ship conducted what maritime expert Ray Powell described an intrusive patrol in the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

Also on June 17, CCG personnel also rammed, towed, and even boarded Philippine Navy boats during a resupply mission in the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, which the Philippine military said led to what they deem as looting and even caused serious injuries to one of its naval personnel.

Based on the recent monitoring of the Philippine Navy, there were a total of 95 Chinese vessels roaming Philippine water features.

Thirteen of them were CCG vessels, five of which were spotted in Bajo de Masinloc and Ayungin Shoal, two ships passed by Sabina Shoal, and one ship was seen in Pag-asa Islands.

Six PLA Navy ships were spotted also in Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Pag-asa and Panatag Islands and Sabina Shoal, while 75 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels were monitored in Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin and Sabina Shoals, Pag-asa, Parola and Panata Islands and Julian Felipe Reef.

In an interview with PTV, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Junior reiterated that the occupied water features in the WPS were part of the country.

Atin yan, at dapat natin na ipaglaban yan (Those are ours and we have to defend them), Brawner said.

Meanwhile, Trinidad said all ships enjoy freedom of navigation or freedom of rights to innocent passage. He, however, assured that the Philippine Navy and the AFP will continue monitoring the vast expanse of the Philippines maritime domain.
Europes new Ariane 6 rocket is set for its first-ever launch next week, carrying with it the continents hopes of regaining independent access to space and fending off soaring competition from Elon Musks SpaceX.

After four years of delays, the European Space Agencys (ESA) most powerful rocket is finally due to blast off from Europes spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 3:00 pm (1800 GMT) on July 9.

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Since the last flight of the rockets workhorse predecessor, Ariane 5, a year ago, Europe has been unable to launch satellites or other missions into space without relying on rivals such as the US firm SpaceX.

Kourou was the site of launches by Russias Soyuz rockets for more than a decade, before Moscow withdrew them after invading Ukraine in 2022.

Later that year, Europes Vega-C light launcher was grounded after a launch failure. Delays to Ariane 6s first flight  originally scheduled for 2020  compounded the crisis.

Everything that could go wrong went wrong, ESA chief Josef Aschbacher said.

That is why Ariane 6 is crucial for Europe, he added. Its absolutely mandatory for Europe to have independent access to space.

After the struggles of the 4.5-billion-euro ($4.8 billion) programme, Europes space industry has been nervously observing the run-up to the launch.

A wet dress rehearsal late last month ran through all the launch procedures, right up to the moment before the engines ignited on the launchpad.

It went very smoothly like a Swiss watch, ESA space transportation acting director Toni Tolker-Nielsen said, adding that there was nothing to call the launch date into question.

Ariane 6 will put satellites into geostationary orbit, which appears stationary by matching Earths speed at 36,000 kilometres (22,000 miles) above Earth. It can also launch constellations a few hundred kilometres up.

The rockets upper stage, powered by the Vinci engine, ignites after take-off to place satellites in orbit before falling into the Pacific Ocean  a special feature to prevent space debris.

Ariane 6s first launch will use two boosters, with a more powerful four-booster version scheduled for liftoff in the middle of next year.

However, the boosters and other parts of the rocket are not reusable  unlike SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket.

Billionaire Musk has repeatedly criticised Ariane 6 for not being reusable.

The European response has been that it would not make economic sense for the rocket to be reusable because it was designed for far fewer launches than the Falcon 9.

The rocket will initially carry out nine launches a year  a far cry from the Falcon 9, which managed 14 in May alone.

The rockets inaugural flight will carry 18 different smaller items, including university micro-satellites and scientific experiments.

Its first commercial flight is scheduled for later in 2024, with 14 more planned over the next two years.

One positive for Ariane 6 is that space business is booming.

The amount spent on launchers, satellites and other parts of the space economy is projected to surge to $822 billion by 2032, up from $508 billion last year, according to consulting firm Novaspace.

But this has not yet been enough to make Ariane 6 profitable.

The financing for the first 15 launches has been secured.

But the ESAs 22 member states have agreed to subsidise the rocket for up to 340 million euros a year from its 16th to 42nd flights  in return for an 11 percent discount.

Ariane 6 already has an order book of 30 missions, including 18 to deploy some of Amazons Kuiper constellation of internet satellites.

That is absolutely unprecedented for a rocket that has not flown, said Stephane Israel, CEO of launch service provider Arianespace.

However, just days before the inaugural flight, Europes weather satellite operator EUMETSAT cancelled plans to use the European Ariane 6 in favour of SpaceXs Falcon 9, citing exceptional circumstances.

Philippe Baptiste, head of Frances CNES space agency, called it a very disappointing day for European space efforts.

Faced with such stiff competition, the challenge for Ariane 6 will be to survive in a market that needs rockets, ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion said.

After all, Ariane 6 is Europes sovereignty launcher, he added.
Provisional results showed Mauritanias President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has won Saturdays election in the northwest African country by a wide margin, well ahead of his rival Biram Dah Abeid, according to the electoral commission.

The 67-year-old incumbent has been re-elected, having secured 56.12% of the vote, according to provisional results from over 99.27% of polling stations released by the countrys Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) this Monday July 1.

Ghazouanis nearest rival, anti-slavery rights activist Biram Dah Abeid, lagged far behind, winning 22.10%, CENI said.

Faced with six challengers in the general election, Ghazouani was, however, widely expected to win. The president has vowed, if reelected, to bring in more investments to stimulate higher economic growth and the implementation of social programs to eradicate poverty and prevent extremism in the vast desert nation, where many people live in poverty. The country possesses mineral wealth and is set to become a gas producer soon.

While widely considered as a hub of relative stability in a region characterized by much unrest, Mauritania has been denounced for human rights abuses, with the continuous existence of slavery casting a long shadow over its history. The country is deeply divided between the Arab-Berber community at the helm and a Black Mauritanian populace from the northwest Sahara still suffering the effects of slavery. The latter slam curbs on linguistic diversity in the form of a controversial law making Arabic the official language in schools, which has been stirring discontent.

But Ghazouani, a former security boss and army chief, is widely regarded as the mastermind behind the countrys relative security in a region that has in recent years seen a string of military coups and escalating jihadism, particularly in Mali.
In the wake of rejected tax increases and violent protests, Kenyan President William Ruto has announced plans to borrow heavily to address the countrys growing budget deficit. This decision comes after Ruto declined to sign a controversial finance bill that would have boosted tax revenue but sparked widespread unrest.

During a televised interview, Ruto acknowledged that the bills failure has complicated efforts to ease Kenyas substantial debt burden, with about 60% of the nations revenues currently allocated to debt servicing. The government now aims to secure approximately $7.6 billion in loans to fund social services and other essential programs.

The proposed tax hikes, which would have generated an estimated $2.7 billion, were met with fierce opposition from citizens who argue that the government should prioritize reducing corruption and wasteful spending. In response, Ruto has pledged to trim the presidential budget and eliminate non-essential expenditures.

Kenyas total debt, surpassing $80 billion with a significant portion in foreign currency, presents a formidable challenge. As the East African economic powerhouse grapples with this fiscal predicament, the governments ability to balance financial stability with public demands will be crucial in shaping the countrys economic future.
The death toll from multiple suicide bombings in the northeastern Nigerian town of Gwoza over the weekend has risen to 32, the countrys vice president Kashim Shettima said Monday.

Saturdays attacks involving female suicide bombers targeting a wedding, a hospital and a funeral was one of the worst in northeast Nigeria in years, a reminder of the darker days of the countrys long-running struggle with jihadist militants.

So far, 32 people lost their lives. Forty-two (injured) were brought from Gwoza, Shettima said, visiting a hospital in the Borno State capital Maiduguri where some of the wounded were being treated.

Initial reports had estimated the death toll at 18 people.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, but the Boko Haram jihadist group is active around Gwoza.

More than 40,000 people have been killed and another two million people displaced by fighting which started in 2009.

Suicide bombings in towns have become rare since the army pushed militants back from territory they controlled at the height of the conflict in 2014, though they still carry out attacks and ambushes in rural areas.

This incident is very shocking, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Borno senator for the ruling APC party, told reporters.

This is a wake-up call for all of us in Borno State, that we should not be relaxed about security, he added.

The story of suicide bombing had gone from Borno, but its unfortunate it is rearing its ugly head again.

 Female bombers 

On Saturday, Gwoza was the target of four almost simultaneous suicide attacks, including at least three perpetrated by female bombers, according to local emergency services. Dozens more were injured.

The first attack took place during a wedding ceremony, around 3:00 pm, when a suicide bomber set off explosives among the guests, officials said.

As funeral prayers for the victims of the wedding attack were ongoing, another female suicide bomber detonated her device, according to Barkindo Saidu, head of the local emergency services (SEMA), in a report seen by AFP.

A few minutes later, a teenage girl blew up another device near the citys general hospital, the report said.

A member of the anti-jihadist militia, who work with the army in the city, told AFP that a fourth suicide attack had targeted a security post, killing three people including a soldier.

That has not yet been confirmed by officials.

This is a change in approach, said Emeka Okoro, an analyst at the Nigerian risk consultancy SBM Intelligence. They are being more daring and more coordinated.

He warned there was a very high possibility of another attack in the coming days or weeks.

Suicide attacks, including by women, have always been part of the militants armed struggle to establish a caliphate in the northeast of Africas most populous country.

A witness said one of the women attackers had two children with her, though officials have not confirmed those details.

Boko Haram jihadists seized Gwoza in 2014 after taking over parts of Borno State.

The town was retaken by the Nigerian army with the help of Chadian forces in 2015, but jihadists still launch attacks from the mountains overlooking the town on the border with Cameroon.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the attacks in a statement on Sunday, saying the assault was a manifestation of pressure mounted against terrorists and the success in degrading their capacity, and called it an isolated episode.

An army spokesman did not respond to requests for comment about the attack.

When Tinubu came to power a year ago, he said dealing with insecurity was one of the main challenges for his government.

Nigerias armed forces are also fighting heavily-armed gangs of kidnappers in the countrys northwest and simmering separatist tensions in the southeast.
Turkey has launched a diplomatic initiative to mediate talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, aiming to resolve tensions sparked by Ethiopias controversial port deal with Somaliland earlier this year. The negotiations, held in Ankara, mark a significant effort to mend the strained relations between the East African neighbors.

The dispute arose when Ethiopia agreed to lease the coastline from Somaliland, a breakaway region seeking international recognition, in exchange for acknowledging its independence. This move prompted a strong reaction from Somalia, including the expulsion of Ethiopias ambassador and threats to remove Ethiopian troops assisting in the fight against insurgents.

Turkeys Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted his Somali and Ethiopian counterparts, resulting in a joint statement that described the talks as candid, cordial and forward-looking. The parties agreed to continue discussions, with another round scheduled for September.

However, expectations for a swift resolution remain low, given Somalias firm stance against the Somaliland agreement. Turkeys involvement stems from its close alliance with Somalia, developed through extensive aid and security cooperation over the past decade.

This mediation effort underscores Turkeys growing influence in the Horn of Africa and its strategic interests in the regions geopolitics and maritime routes.
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

Transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people face barriers to accessing surgery and to the health system in general, describe authors in two new research papers published in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

In many areas of life, people who identify as transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse experience discrimination even where there are laws to protect transgender human rights. Health systems also pose barriers for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people, who are more likely to delay obtaining medical care because of fear of discrimination and other factors.

In two research articles, authors describe the experiences of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people in accessing gender-affirming surgery. A related humanities article argues that gender self-determination is a medical right.

As there are few Canadian studies on the surgical experiences of people who self-identify as members of these populations, the authors sought to understand the experience of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people when seeking gender-affirming care. Participants in the research studies reported barriers in accessing gender-affirming care, which also affected their general experiences with the health care system.

"The stress of negotiating presurgical bureaucracy often stood in sharp contrast to the positive feelings [participants] experienced when deciding to seek gender-affirming surgery," writes Dr. Hilary MacCormick, an anesthesiologist in the Department of Women's and Obstetric Anesthesia, IWK Health, and assistant professor at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, with co-authors in one of the studies.

"Participants described the need to self-advocate when interacting with health care professionals who had a lack of experience with or negative attitude toward [transgender or nonbinary] people."

These barriers and marginalization can cause additional trauma in a situation where patients of any background might feel stress and anxiety because of surgery.

"Our data support the need for more in-depth and nuanced discussions surrounding shared decision-making, and consideration of potential effects of past traumas, instances of invalidation, or negative interactions within health care," the authors conclude.

The findings of the study on the lived experiences of people seeking publicly funded penile-inversion vaginoplasty were similar. "Health care systems need to improve access to gender-affirmation surgery, reduce wait times for care by increasing capacity for gender-affirmation surgery, and improve care experiences," writes Dr. Gianni Lorello, a scientist at the Women's College Research and Innovation Institute, anesthesiologist at University Health Network, and associate professor at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, with co-authors.

In a related humanities article, Florence Ashley, assistant professor, Faculty of Law and John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, argues that gender self-determination is a medical right and that health care providers are ethically bound to respect this and examine their gatekeeping practices.

"The burden of justifying barriers to care should fall on the health care providers who erect them and not on those seeking care to affirm their gender," Ashley argues. "Health care providers working with transgender communities should carefully examine their gatekeeping practices to ascertain whether they are justified by clear and compelling evidence and abandon those that cannot meet this justificatory threshold."

Dr. Kirsten Patrick, Editor-in-Chief of CMAJ, comments in an editorial that "receiving care that validates their chosen identity is associated with better physical and mental health for transgender and gender-diverse patients. Even if access to interventions is limited, compassionate and kind care need not be."
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:

Simron Singh, a medical oncologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and associate professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, is principal investigator of a study that found that radioligand therapy significantly reduces the risk of advanced neuroendocrine tumor progression and death. Credit: Kevin Van Paassen, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

A novel approach for early cancer treatment known as radioligand therapy (RLT) has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of advanced neuroendocrine tumor progression and death, according to research led by scientists at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto.

Results of the multi-center clinical trial, which were published in The Lancet, provided evidence for the first time that RLTwhen applied in the early stages after a patient's diagnosisslowed down the progression of aggressive grade 2 and 3 neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

The treatment was shown to extend the average time of "progression-free survival" from approximately 8.5 months to 22.8 months.

"This is the first study to show the effectiveness of RLT as the 'first-line' treatment with advanced uncurable cancer, or any cancer," said the study's global principal investigator Simron Singh, a medical oncologist at Sunnybrook and associate professor in the department of medicine at U of T's Temerty Faculty of Medicine. "This trial is groundbreaking not only for patients with neuroendocrine cancers, but for all cancer patients as it has implications for the practice of cancer treatment broadly."

Singh described RLT as a "game changer" in the treatment of cancer, which has traditionally been carried out by surgery, drugs or radiation.

"While it's technically radiation, it is given via a chemotherapy route through the blood until it reaches the precise location of the tumor," said Singh, who is also an affiliate scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and co-founder of the Susan Leslie Clinic for Neuroendocrine Tumors at Sunnybrook's Odette Cancer Centre.

RLT involves injecting radioactive isotopesin this case, the drug lutatherathrough an IV. This method targets specific cancer cell receptors, delivering precise radiation to kill cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue.

The study evaluated the use of RLT earlier as a first-line (or "up front") treatment for patients newly diagnosed with grade 2 or 3 advanced gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Although neuroendocrine cancer is uncommon, incidence is rising rapidly, and few treatments exist for patients. This cancer is resistant to most therapies, making it challenging to treat.

The results confirm the clinical benefit of earlier use of RLT for patients diagnosed with aggressive and life-threatening tumors, said Singh. "This is the next step in personalized targeted cancer therapy for patients, focused on more effectively killing cancer cells, while limiting the damage to surrounding healthy tissues."

Further investigations of RLT as a therapeutic option are ongoing to evaluate overall survival and long-term safety, which will better define next steps for how this therapy will change cancer treatment world-wide.

The multi-site trial included investigators and participants from Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and the UK. An overview of the results was presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers Symposium in January 2024.

More information: Simron Singh et al, [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE plus long-acting octreotide versus highdose long-acting octreotide for the treatment of newly diagnosed, advanced grade 23, well-differentiated, gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETTER-2): an open-label, randomised, phase 3 study, The Lancet (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00701-3 Journal information: The Lancet
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: MART PRODUCTION from Pexels

A University of Alberta study shows that PET/CT imaging using a new tracing agent is more accurate at determining the extent of prostate cancer than the current standard MRI for intermediate and high-risk cases.

In research published this week in the journal JAMA Oncology, the researchers report that the new test correctly predicted the location and margin of tumors in 45% of casesnearly twice as often as the rate of 28% for MRI.

"This is very important because we make a lot of treatment decisions based on where the cancer is in the prostate," explains Adam Kinnaird, assistant professor of surgery and adjunct assistant professor of oncology, as well as the Frank and Carla Sojonky Chair in Prostate Cancer Research and a member of the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta.

"If you're having your prostate removed and the cancer is sneaking outside of the prostate, then we go a little bit wider with our treatment margins so we don't leave any cancer behind. If you're having radiation to your prostate, the radiation oncologist sometimes provides a boost to the center of the cancer for better cancer control," Kinnaird says. "This imaging test gives us a better degree of accuracy in terms of where exactly we need to treat."

Potential new gold standard for testing

The test involves injecting a new radioactive prostate-tumor-specific tracer called 18F-PSMA-1007 into the blood of patients, then tracking it using a combination of positron-emitting tomography (PET) and computerized tomography (CT). Previous studies of PET/CT scans using other tracing agents have not proven as useful, Kinnaird says.

Both the PET/CT and MRI tests were performed within two weeks of each other on 134 Alberta men who were about to undergo radical prostatectomysurgery that involves removing the prostate gland, surrounding tissues and nearby lymph nodes. The accuracy of the tests' predictions were then compared with the size and location of the actual tumors later found by surgeons.

"This clinical trial has great implications for clinical practice worldwide," says Kinnaird, explaining that he expects the PET/CT scan using the new tracer to become the gold standard.

The test involves a small dose of radiation exposure, but Kinnaird says no patients in the study experienced adverse reactions. He expects that the test will eventually replace other CT and bone scans that are currently required for prostate cancer patients, meaning fewer hospital visits, less time waiting for results and less exposure to radiation for patients, but that will require further study.

"It will be very exciting if you can get more accurate information and replace three tests with one test, because these scans are only available in Edmonton or Calgary," says graduate research fellow Patrick Albers, a co-author on the study.

The positive results from this trial have already prompted another clinical trial led by Kinnaird to determine whether the PET/CT scan can be used to guide ablation, a procedure that uses energy such as heat, cold or electricity to kill cancer cells within the prostate.

The new imaging agent is offered at only a few treatment centers across the country while it awaits Health Canada approval, but the Alberta government has just announced $3 million for 2,000 men to have the new scans in the meantime.

Ensuring better outcomes for Black men

A second recently published study from Kinnaird's research team shows that Black men with prostate cancer have similar outcomes to those of other men in Alberta. However, Black men are diagnosed an average of two years earlierat age 64 rather than 66leading Kinnaird to recommend that they be offered routine screening at 45 rather than 50.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study was based on data from the Alberta Prostate Cancer Research Initiative (APCaRI), which Kinnaird chairs. A total of 6,534 men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2014 and 2023 were included, with 177 of them self-identifying as Black. The study showed that the Black men were just as likely to survive and remain metastasis-free as the general patient population.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, other studies have shown that men of African and Caribbean descent face double the lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer compared with Caucasian men, suggesting a biological causation.

However, those countries have two-tier or mainly private health-care systems, Kinnaird notes. The Alberta results from within a publicly funded health-care system indicate that these differences in the U.K. and U.S. may be more strongly influenced by socioeconomic factors such as racism, poverty and limited access to health care than by genetics, he says.

Both the American Urology Association and the European Urology Association recommend earlier screening for men of African ancestry and other high-risk populations, but the Canadian guidelines do not. Kinnaird would like to see that change.

Kinnaird points to previous research by his team showing that Indigenous men get fewer tests for prostate cancer and have worse outcomes than others. He suspects that may be due to poorer access to health care for rural Albertans in general, but further study is necessary.

"The crux of it is that if you can detect it at an early, localized, treatable stage, we have a cure rate of 95% or greater. But if you wait until the cancer metastasizes, then we currently do not have any cures available," he says. "When detected late, it is now a lethal disease."
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In the fight to beat cancer, scientists have recognized the importance of catching it early.

As a result, a growing market for cancer tests has added to recommendations for cancer-specific screenings at certain ages. A Dallas company has added another product to this market, and says it can detect cancer earlier than ever with a $1,500 blood test. Cancer Check Labs calls the test a "breakthrough" in early detection, testing for more than 200 kinds of cancer with a blood draw.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and the second leading cause of death in Texas. Around 40% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life, according to the National Cancer Institute. In 2023, the American Cancer Society estimated 44,140 new cancer deaths in Texas.

But catching cancer early, before it has grown or spread, makes it easier to treat. The global market for cancer diagnostics was valued at $114.8 billion in 2023 by Dimension Market Research, and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.6%.

Within this market, blood tests have risen in popularity as a way to try to detect cancer, but not without trial, error and controversy.

Doctors have concerns over whether or not these tests will improve outcomes for patients. And in 2022, CEO Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty for fraud after her blood testing company, Theranos, misled investors, falsely claiming it could test accurately for cancer and diabetes through a finger stick.

The Food and Drug Administration has not approved the Cancer Check test, although the test is certified through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, or CLIA, which regulates clinical lab testing.

The FDA hasn't enforced requirements for most lab developed tests. The agency balances allowing quick development of technology with the need to ensure safety and effectiveness of tests. But in April, the FDA announced it would start regulating lab tests over the course of four years, citing the need to make sure tests work before patients rely on their results.

Despite regulation concerns and with high demand for screens that can find tumors early, companies such as GRAIL and Irving-based Caris Life Sciences are developing tests that screen for multiple cancers at once.

According to a 2021 report by AdvaMed, a medical technology association, Texas ranked sixth in the country for the state with the most revenue from the medical technology industry. The manufacturing of diagnostic tests that look at blood or tissue was the largest sub-sector by global revenue in this industry in 2021, according to Statista.

In this growing market, Dallas-based Cancer Check Labs is adding a technology with a slightly different approach.

How the test works

While many other blood tests look for chemicals, proteins or scraps of DNA shed from tumor cells that could indicate someone has cancer, Cancer Check's technology can extract whole, intact tumor cells from a blood sample. The $1,495 test screens 40 ml of blood, about four vials, and looks for more than 200 types of tumors. The test looks for solid tumors, which grow in organ systems, such as breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.

"The mechanism by which the test operates is very different than everything else in the world," said Sumit Rai, Cancer Check Labs CEO.

The circulating tumor cells, or CTCs, that the company says it can detect based on cells' shared features, are shed from the tumor. They travel through the bloodstream and can indicate that a person may have cancer. Cancer Check says the process it's developed to filter through the blood can extract tumor cells at an "unprecedented scale."

Rai said the Cancer Check test can process a more statistically significant amount of blood than other tests. He said they are also able to mechanically separate tumor cells from the blood sample, processing tests faster and more accurately than other technologies. The company has three patents for its filter system's technology, according to the CEO.

"We've developed a technology that allows us to extract those CTCs from blood and that's extremely different than anything today," Rai said. "We're not using imaging. We are detecting at the cellular level."

In scans that look at images of the body, only tumors that are large enough to show up in the image will be detected. But Rai said that for early detection, finding the presence of cancer in cells themselves is key.

Still, Cancer Check's test is not intended to replace other guidelines and practices for detecting cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends regular cancer screening tests for people without symptoms as young as 21. The CDC recommends screenings as well to try to find breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers early.

Challenges in early detection

Dr. Chris Amos, a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine who studies early-stage lung cancer, appreciates the two-step design of the Cancer Check test, where it first identifies if tumor cells are present and then seeks to find which organ the cells came from with a follow-up test from another blood draw.

The test does not screen for blood cancers like leukemia, but Rai said the company is working on developing that technology, too.

Amos said that looking for circulating tumor cells is an emerging and exciting area of research. But there are still many obstacles and challenges in detecting cancer early, and the company has more to do to prove their method works.

Early-stage cancers are smaller and harder to detect. Tests sensitive enough to detect small tumors can also be very expensive, which makes them harder to test on large populations. Cancer Check's price tag of nearly $1,500 is a steep barrier for many customers and for increased testing.

Another challenge with detecting cancer early is knowing whether or not it will actually pose a problem to a person's health, according to the National Cancer Institute. Sometimes a patient's immune system will detect cancer and clear it. Finding cancer early also doesn't always mean it can be effectively treated, researchers at the institute wrote.

The risk of overdiagnosis involves finding cancer that might never have been harmful or could lead to unnecessary treatment. It's not clear yet if screening for certain cancers reduces mortality. Some tests may also detect cancer when it is not in the body, giving a false positive result.

Rai and Dr. Arun Balakumaran, the chairman of the scientific advisory board for Cancer Check Labs, said that because the test functions similar to a tissue biopsy, there isn't much risk of a false positive result with Cancer Check. They place cells on a glass slide, which is analyzed by a pathologist, who determines whether or not there are cancer cells present.

"The false positive with this is zero," Balakumaran said. "And that's another big differentiator with the other tests, which look at parts of the cell, not the whole cell by itself, and can make these erroneous mistakes to come up with false positives."

In May, the company released findings that their test found cancerous cells in a blood sample when the tumor was at stage zero. Stage zero cancer, also called pre-cancer, refers to abnormal cells that might become cancer or spread. The study was co-published with CHRISTUS Cancer Center and the Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center in California.

"If you can detect that early, you can almost eradicate mortality from cancer and that has profound implications," Rai said. "That is really the key to curing cancer and changing outcomes."

The study is limited, and far from proves that the company's method can detect cancer before it's able to be detected through imaging, Amos of the Baylor College of Medicine wrote in an email. The company's findings were based on three breast cancer patients.

"These are very early proof of concept studies," Amos wrote. "The methods look interesting but scaling up to making publicly available tests and validating the sensitivity and specificity are major factors that need to be accomplished."

Balakumaran said the company is gathering more data and continuing to research their test. The technology is 14 years in the making across different companies, Rai said, and it cost around $80 million to develop the filter technology.

Taking the test

Customers can buy the test online. The company sends a phlebotomist to customers, who use a kit sent from the company to draw the blood samples, which are shipped to the lab in Dallas. Currently, Cancer Check says they can send results back in three to five days, and expects to stay in this range even with more demand for the test.

"We're not using any kind of magic," Rai said. "We don't need weeks and weeks of analysis and processing. We literally just want to look at the tissue. We don't want to guess."

Rai said the company has seen enormous demand for the product, which hit the market this year. The test is also working with dozens of medical practices to supply their patients with the test. Rai said medical practices can trust the board-certified pathology report that comes from the test's analysis.

The company raised the price of the test by around $200 to nearly $1,500 this summer because of more demand from customers and other businesses, Rai said. Cancer Check does not work with insurance companies, but the test is eligible for Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account pre-tax benefits.

A passion for cancer research

Rai's endeavors in cancer research are personal. His sister and only sibling died of cancer 12 years ago, and the former Silicon Valley venture capitalist has since dedicated much of his time and investments to cancer research and related initiatives. He said his company is largely self-funded through friends and family.

"I didn't decide to go from venture capital and tech and mobile media into cancer because I saw some huge opportunity to go build a giant company and make money," Rai said. "It was really driven by passion."

Blood tests are an emerging area of research in cancer diagnostics. While many companies have jumped on the possibilities for early diagnosis, doctors say more testing is needed to fully understand their impact in cancer treatment. But for customers who can afford the test, Cancer Check Labs is offering a new technology to try and spot tumors early.

"No one, till today, has been able to detect circulating tumor cells with such high precision," Balakumaran said. "There's not been this nice filtration technique that anyone has."

2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Two people have fallen ill with dengue fever in the Florida Keys after being bit by infected mosquitoes, prompting health officials to issue an alert for the island chain.

The alert comes just days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory warning of an increased risk of dengue infections in the country as cases surge globally.

Dengue fever can cause flu-like symptoms "with severe muscle aches and joint pain, fever, and sometimes a rash," according to the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spread dengue to people through bites.

The two confirmed dengue cases in the Keys were locally acquired, according to the mosquito-born illness alert issued Saturday by the health department. That means the infections are not associated with travel.

Miami-Dade, Pasco and Hillsborough counties have also reported locally acquired dengue cases this year, state data shows.

Dengue is not contagious and can only spread to people by bites from infected mosquitoes.

Monroe health officials say they're working with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District to coordinate surveillance and prevention along the island chain. That includes more trapping and monitoring of mosquitoes, intensifying door-to-door mosquito inspections, and deploying aerial and truck-mounted mosquito spraying.

People are urged to take precautions, including draining and covering still water and using EPA-registered mosquito repellents, to reduce getting bit by the bloodsuckers.

Dengue infection risk rises in US, CDC says

The dengue cases in the Keys come just days after the CDC issued a health advisory alerting health care providers and public health officials of an increased risk of dengue infections in the country this year. There's been a record number of dengue cases globally this year, and the illness has surged in Latin American countries, with more than 9.7 million dengue cases reported so far in 2024, according to the CDC. That's twice as many cases as in 2023.

Sweltering temperatures, stronger storms and "more erratic and frequent rainfall" are "contributing to outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses around the world," according to Yale Climate Connections. These "warmer winters, hotter summers, and particularly milder springs and falls" are helping the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species that spreads dengue, "to move into new areas and higher elevations that have historically been too harsh for their survival."

And the U.S. has already seen more dengue cases then expected this year, with 2,241 cases reported from January through June 24, according to the CDC advisory. More then half of the cases were in Puerto Rico, which declared a public health emergency in March after seeing a rise in dengue infections during its low dengue season. Dr. Carlos Mellado Lopez, the secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Health, said dengue cases had "surpassed historical figures."

In Florida, there has been more than 200 dengue cases reported this year, but nearly all are associated with international travel, state data shows. If you count the new cases in the Keys, at least 10 locally acquired dengue cases have been identified in the state this year. Six of the cases were reported in Miami-Dade County, which has been under a mosquito-borne illness alert since last year.

Most people infected with dengue don't get symptoms, and many recover within a week, according to the Mayo Clinic. But some do get seriously ill and die. People with severe cases of dengue fever can experience severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, difficulty or rapid breathing, internal bleeding, and organ failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The CDC has issued multiple travel health notices related to mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and oropouche, including for Colombia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Nigeria and Argentina.

The federal public health agency said it's expanding laboratory capacity to improve testing for dengue and is urging doctors to "have increased suspicion of dengue" in patients who have fever and had recently traveled (within 14 days before feeling ill) to areas with "frequent or continuous" cases of dengue.

2024 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Electron micrograph of a negatively stained human papilloma virus (HPV) which occurs in human warts. Credit: public domain

In 2019, more than 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed and upwards of 4,000 patients died in the U.S. The causal link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the development of cervical cancer is well documented. Cervical cancer screening guidelines are currently in the review process for updates.

On May 15, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved patient-collected testing (vaginal self-collection) for HPV. Several countries, including the Netherlands and Australia, have introduced HPV self-collection as a part of their national screening programs.

In a new study from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing, researchers found more than half of health care providers would definitely or possibly offer HPV self-collection to their patients if the FDA approved the procedure, indicating substantial acceptance of this technology among the health care provider community.

The findings are published in the journal Women's Health Issues.

"Health care providers felt that self-collection would be particularly beneficial for those who did not have access to clinician-collected screening, as well as for patients who may have difficulty with pelvic exams for any reason, such as those with history of trauma, sexual or gender minority patients and those with mobility issues," explained senior author Rebecca B. Perkins, MD, MSc, professor of obstetrics & gynecology at BU and an obstetrician & gynecologist at Boston Medical Center.

This study incorporated a mixed methods design including conducting a national survey and interviews of health care providers who perform cervical cancer screening. Quantitative measures consisted of provider/practice characteristics, willingness to recommend and preferences related to self-collection. Interviews further elucidated the provider perspectives.

The study found that male providers, advanced practice providers, internal and family physicians, and those practicing in an academic medical center, hospital, or community health setting were more likely to support self-collection than female participants, OB-GYN physicians, and those in private practice.

"While we found providers considered HPV self-collection to be a way to expand access for patients, they also expressed concerns related to the quality of the sample in generating accurate results," added Holly Fontenot, Ph.D., RN/NP, FAAN, professor of nursing at University of Hawaii and lead author of the study.

According to the researchers, the recent approval of HPV self-collection in the U.S. provides another option for cervical cancer screening, which can help reduce barriers related to access or to personal medical conditions.

More information: Holly B. Fontenot et al, Health Care Provider Willingness to Recommend Self-collected Tests for Human Papillomavirus: A Mixed Methods Examination of Associated Factors, Women's Health Issues (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2024.05.005
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Close-up of insulinoma cells expressing insulin (red). Credit: Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)

A study led by Pompeu Fabra University describes the mechanism whereby insulinomas, a rare type of neuroendocrine tumor that affects pancreatic beta cells, form. According to the study, insulinomas are the result of the accumulation of rare mutations that lead to a homogeneous change in the epigenetic profile of pancreatic beta cells. This profile change causes beta cells to express unusually high levels of oncogenes, growth and transcription factors, and genes related to insulin production.

Insulinomas are rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors that involve the excessive growth of beta cells, which are responsible for secreting insulin. Often, they are diagnosed because they involve excessive insulin production that usually leads to hypoglycemia.

Each year, four people in one million are diagnosed with insulinomas, and in most cases, they are benign. If detected early and surgically removed, they have a good prognosis and only about in one in ten insulinomas are malignant.

In a study published in the journal Cell Genomics, a mechanism whereby beta cells undergo a transformation towards a neoplastic phenotype is proposed for the first time. "This is the accumulation of rare mutations that converge in a change in the epigenetic profile of beta cells," explains Mireia Ramos, co-first author of the study.

These mutations vary among the 42 insulinomas analyzed, and most accumulate in regulatory regions of the genome. "The uniqueness of insulinomas is that all of them, regardless of the mutations they have, end up acquiring the same epigenetic profile," adds Lorenzo Pasquali, director of the UPF Endocrine Regulatory Genomics Group, who led the research.

This new epigenetic profile causes tumor beta cells to lose their repression marks and, unlike healthy beta cells, have a series of active oncogenes, growth and transcription factors and genes related to insulin production, which alter their function.

Fragment of one of the figures of the paper. Simplified model illustrating the molecular mechanisms underlying insulinoma neoplastic transformation. Credit: Cell Genomics

The biology of beta cells

Apart from insulinomas, pancreatic beta cells are also implicated in other disabling diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Hence, "we are especially interested in understanding how these cells lose control, upset the expression of the genes that made them function normally and end up altering insulin secretion," Pasquali said.

Now, the group is already working to better understand the mechanism whereby excess beta cell growth occurs, which could, in the future, have therapeutic implications in the treatment of other diseases in which beta cells are altered.

This study also involved the Scientific Institute of Hospital San Raffaele in Milan (Italy); the University of Barcelona; IDIBELL, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute; the University of Colorado Boulder (U.S.); the Parc Tauli Research and Innovation Institute, I3PT; IRB Barcelona and the Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Center (CIBERDEM).
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HIV particles (tiny yellow spheres) are attacking a CD4+ T cell shown in blue. The virus preferentially targets T cells, which play a critical role in the body's immune response against invaders like bacteria and viruses. Credit: Seth Pincus, Elizabeth Fischer and Austin Athman, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health

A multinational team led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators developed a test that will help measure the persistence of HIV in people affected by viral strains found predominantly in Africaa vital tool in the search for an HIV cure that will benefit patients around the world.

The study, published in Nature Communications on July 2, helps fill a major gap in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research. Most HIV studies have focused on strains circulating in Western countries, predominantly in men who have sex with men affected by subtype B. Few studies have examined strains circulating in Africa, where women are disproportionately affected.

"HIV cure research tends to focus on viral strains circulating in developed countries, but to achieve a cure that is globally applicable, we must study viral strains that are affecting other regions of the world," said lead author Dr. Guinevere Lee, assistant professor of virology in medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

The findings showlike other studies in developed countriesthat HIV strains circulating in Africa establish viral reservoirs in the human body. Although antiretroviral therapy can reduce the level of HIV in the blood to an undetectable level, these dormant reservoirs continue to survive.

They contain a large number of defective proviral DNA genomes which can't produce new infectious viruses, but a small number of genomes remain genetically intact and ready to produce active viruses if antiretroviral treatment is interrupted.

The large proportion of defective viral genomes obscures researchers' attempts to accurately quantify the copies of intact proviruses.

"We are looking for a needle in a haystack: To achieve an HIV cure, we need to first find out whether any genome-intact proviruses remain in the body during antiretroviral treatment. Our new assay allows us to do this. Then we need to target and eliminate the intact proviral DNA capable of producing new viruses," Dr. Lee explained.

Broadening the lens of HIV research with a new assay

Dr. Lee and her colleagues analyzed DNA from immune cells called CD4+ T cells, where viral DNA hides, of 16 women and seven men receiving antiretroviral HIV treatment in Uganda. Genetic sequencing of the virus revealed two predominant HIV-1 subtypes: A1 and D (a notoriously aggressive strain). The study also identified viral hybrids of A1 and D.

The team then modified existing laboratory tests that identify HIV subtype B proviruses to detect proviruses that are subtypes A1 and D. "The new assay we've developed will help researchers home in on the intact proviral genomes relevant to HIV cure research for patients affected by these under studied strains," Dr. Lee said.

Dr. Lee and her multinational, multi-institution collaborators are already using the new assay to study long-term viral persistence in Uganda. Their findings show that the composition of the HIV proviral genomic landscape is broadly comparable between subtypes A1, D and B suggesting that approaches to target intact HIV reservoirs in Africa will face similar "needle-in-a-haystack" challenges as in North America and Europe.

Future studies will also need to evaluate differences in non-B subtypes to understand whether subtype-specific factors impact persistence, reactivation or clearance in viral reservoirs.

Researchers from Simon Fraser University, Canada; British Columbia Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Canada; Rakai Health Sciences Program, Uganda; University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine also contributed to this study.

More information: Lee, G.Q., et al. HIV-1 subtype A1, D, and recombinant proviral genome landscapes during long-term suppressive therapy. Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48985-9 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Doctors in virtual online health care contacts are no more likely to prescribe antibiotics for infections than doctors in regular health centers, quite the opposite. This is shown by a new study of doctor's visits in Sormland during 20202021 led from Umea University, Sweden.

"The results indicate that doctors, regardless of employer, follow current recommendations on prescribing antibiotics," says Andy Wallman, pharmacist and senior lecturer in pharmacy at Umea University and the study's first author.

The paper is published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

In the study, the researchers analyzed all health care contacts in infectious diseases within Region Sormland from January 2020 to March 2021. A total of 160,000 care visits were included, of which about 124,000 took place at traditional, physical, health centers and 36,000 at online doctors.

Of the care visits, 18,000 led to a diagnosis of infection. Among these patients with infectious disease, 61% received antibiotics for the infection at traditional health centers, but only 26% at online doctors.

However, there were major differences in who sought the different types of health care contacts. Visits to traditional health centers were most common in the age group 6080 years, while visits to online doctors were highest in the age group 2030 years.

After adjusting for factors such as age, gender and whether the prescription was issued before or during the COVID pandemic, a difference remained, so that the probability of being prescribed antibiotics when visiting an online doctor could be calculated to be less than half, 0.230.39, compared to a physical health center.

"There are several possible explanations for the difference, such as the type and severity of infection you seek a physical health center and an online doctor for. It can also be easier for doctors during a physical visit to determine whether it is really a bacterial infection where antibiotics have an effect," says Andy Wallman.

The study shows that there were also some differences in the types of antibiotics that were prescribed. Both doctors at physical health centers and online doctors followed the national and regional recommendations for antibiotic prescribing, but during visits to traditional health centers, a broader spectrum of antibiotics were prescribed.

More information: Andy Wallman et al, Antibiotic Prescribing by Digital Health Care Providers as Compared to Traditional Primary Health Care Providers: Cohort Study Using Register Data, Journal of Medical Internet Research (2024). DOI: 10.2196/55228 Journal information: Journal of Medical Internet Research
This is the tenth edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI). This report provides a comprehensive summary of the key global trends and patterns in terrorism over the last decade. The calculation of the GTI score considers not only deaths but also incidents, hostages and injuries from terrorism, weighted over a five-year period

The GTI report is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) using data from TerrorismTracker and other sources. TerrorismTracker provides event records on terrorist attacks since 1 January 2007. The dataset contains almost 66,000 terrorist incidents for the period 2007 to 2022.

In 2022, deaths from terrorism fell by nine per cent to 6,701 deaths and is now 38 per cent lower than at its peak in 2015. The fall in deaths was mirrored by a reduction in the number of incidents, with attacks declining by almost 28 per cent from 5,463 in 2021 to 3,955 in 2022. However, if Afghanistan was removed from the index, terrorism deaths would have increased by four per cent.

Afghanistan remained the country most impacted by terrorism for the fourth consecutive year, despite attacks and deaths falling by 75 per cent and 58 per cent respectively. The GTI does not include acts of state repression and violence by state actors and, as such, acts committed by the Taliban are no longer included in the scope of the report since they took control of the government.

The deadliest terrorist groups in the world in 2022 were Islamic State (IS) and its affiliates, followed by al-Shabaab, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM).

IS remained the deadliest terror group globally for the eighth consecutive year, recording the most attacks and deaths of any group in 2022. Despite this, terrorism deaths attributed to IS and its affiliate groups, Islamic State  Khorasan Province (ISK), Islamic State  Sinai Province (ISS) and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA), declined by 16 per cent. However, there has been a rapid increase in deaths attributed to unknown jihadists in the countries where ISWA operates, increasing by 17 times since 2017 to 1,766 terrorism deaths. Given the location, many of these are likely unclaimed attacks by ISWA. If most of the deaths caused by unknown jihadists were included as IS terrorism deaths, then the outcome would have been similar to 2021. Eighteen countries experienced a death from terrorism caused by IS in 2022, a slight decrease from 20 countries the year prior.

After the substantial falls in terrorism between 2015 and 2019, improvements have plateaued in the last three years. Highlighting the point, the number of countries experiencing deaths has remained almost constant for the last three years, ranging from 43 in 2020 to 42 in 2022. This is down from the peak of 56 countries in 2015. The number of countries experiencing increases and decreases in terrorism deaths remained roughly the same in 2022, with 25 countries recording reductions, while another 24 countries recorded increases. Terrorism is dynamic and, although the overall change in the last three years has been minimal, there have been sharp rises and falls in terrorism in many countries during this period, notably Niger, Myanmar and Iraq.

Terrorist attacks became more deadly in 2022, killing on average 1.7 people per attack in 2022 compared to 1.3 deaths per attack in 2021. This is the first increase in lethality rate in five years.

Violent conflict remains the primary driver of terrorism, with over 88 per cent of attacks and 98 per cent of terrorism deaths in 2022 taking place in countries in conflict. All ten countries most impacted by terrorism in 2022 were also involved in an armed conflict. Attacks in countries involved in conflict are seven times deadlier than attacks in peaceful countries.

The Sahel region in sub-Saharan Africa is now the epicentre of terrorism, with the Sahel accounting for more terrorism deaths in 2022 than both South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) combined. Deaths in the Sahel constituted 43 per cent of the global total in 2022, compared to just one per cent in 2007. Of particular concern are two countries, Burkina Faso and Mali, which accounted for 73 per cent of terrorism deaths in the Sahel in 2022 and 52 per cent of all deaths from terrorism in sub-Saharan Africa. Both countries recorded substantial increases in terrorism, with deaths in Burkina Faso increasing by 50 per cent to 1,135 and in Mali by 56 per cent to 944. Attacks in these countries are also becoming more deadly, with the number of people killed per attack increasing by 48 per cent from 2021. Most attacks in these countries are attributed to unknown jihadists though both IS and JNIM operate in these countries. The escalation in violence in Burkina Faso has also spread to neighbouring countries, with Togo and Benin recording their worst GTI scores on record.

The increase in terrorism in the Sahel has been dramatic, rising by over 2,000 percent in the last 15 years. The political situation in the Sahel compounds this increase, with six coup attempts since 2021, of which four were successful. The underlying drivers are complex and systemic including poor water utilisation, lack of food, ethnic polarisation, strong population growth, external interventions, geopolitical competition, pastoral conflict, the growth of transnational Salafi-Islam ideology and weak governments. Most of the terrorist activity occurs along borders where government control is weakest. Significantly, of the 830 million people facing food insecurity globally, 58 per cent live in the 20 countries most affected by terrorism. Adding to the complexity, many criminal organisations increasingly represent themselves as Islamic insurgents, which partly accounts for attacks attributed to unknown jihadists.

North America had the largest regional improvement in score, while sub-Saharan Africa recorded the largest deterioration. North America consists of two countries, the US and Canada, with neither country having a high score; however, the region is the only region where no countries have a nil GTI score.

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the largest increase in terrorism deaths, rising by eight per cent. Sixty per cent, or 4,023, of all terrorism deaths globally occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Four of the ten countries with the largest deteriorations in GTI score are located in sub-Saharan Africa: Togo, Djibouti, Central African Republic and Benin. Terrorism deaths in subSaharan Africa increased by eight per cent, reversing the small improvement recorded in 2021.

The MENA region recorded only 791 deaths in 2022, a fall of 32 per cent and the lowest number in the region since 2013. Attacks almost halved in the last year, from 1,331 in 2021 to 695 in 2022. Underscoring the changing dynamics in terrorism, the region has dropped from 57 per cent of global terrorism deaths in 2016 to just 12 per cent in 2022. There has also been a substantial drop in suicide bombings in MENA. In 2016, suicide bombings resulted in 1,947 deaths; while in 2022, MENA recorded only six suicide bombings that killed eight people.

South Asia remains the region with the worst average GTI score in 2022. The region recorded 1,354 deaths from terrorism in 2022, a decrease of 30 per cent when compared to the previous year; however, if the improvement in Afghanistan was excluded, then terrorism deaths would have increased by 71 per cent. In Afghanistan, both the Khorasan chapter of IS and the emerging National Resistance Front (NRF) pose a serious threat. Afghanistan and Pakistan remain amongst the ten countries most affected by terrorism in 2022, with deaths in Pakistan rising significantly to 643, a 120 per cent increase from 292 deaths in 2021. The BLA were responsible for a third of these deaths in Pakistan, a ninefold increase from the prior year, making it the fastest growing terrorist group in the world.

In the West, the number of attacks continues to fall, with successive falls each year since 2017. Forty attacks were recorded in 2022, a decrease of 27 per cent when compared to the 55 attacks in 2021. However, the number of deaths more than doubled, albeit from a low base; from nine deaths in 2021 to 19 in 2022, with 11 of these occurring in the US. This was the first increase in terrorism deaths in the West since 2019. In Europe, Islamist extremists carried out two attacks in 2022. Attacks in the US remained low, with only eight attacks recorded in 2022. None were attributed to any known terrorist group. The UK recorded only four attacks and no deaths this year, the first year since 2014 that no deaths have been recorded; while Germany recorded the lowest number of attacks since 2015.

Ideologically motivated terrorism continues to be the most common type of terrorism in the West, with religiously  motivated terrorism declining by 95 per cent since its peak in 2016. All 14 ideologically-motivated deaths can be attributed to far-right terrorism.

Drones are rapidly evolving and changing the way conflicts are conducted. It is also an emerging trend in terrorist attacks, with groups such as IS, Boko Haram and Houthi rebels using the technology for attacks. Current estimates suggest that 65 non-state actors are now able to deploy drones, which can be easily accessible in public marketplaces. They can travel up to 1,500 kilometres, be deployed in swarms, be used in targeted assassinations, hold biological weapons, require little training, and are highly accessible. Additionally, advances in AI will provide the crafts with launch-and-forget capabilities. At the time of writing, counter-measures to the use of drones by terrorists have not been sufficiently considered and will be an emerging area of concern in the near future.
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H5N1 has spread rapidly through wild birds and commercial poultry, for whom it is often deadly. Credit: Thomas Quinn/Pixabay

Four years ago, as attention locked onto COVID-19, another virus began circling the globe. A major outbreak of a new strain of bird fluformally named influenza A virus subtype H5N1has since killed millions of wild birds and infected poultry, dairy cattle, domestic cats and a small number of humans.

In the United States, four people have contracted the virus. The most recently confirmed case, a dairy worker in Michigan, was the first to experience flu-like respiratory symptoms. For now, federal health officials have deemed the virus a low risk to public health, while launching new studies and monitoring the virus's spread.

But what exactly are public health officials looking for? How is this virus different from previous H5N1 outbreaks? And how can a bird flu become humanity's problem, anyway?

UW News brought these questions and more to University of Washington experts Peter Rabinowitz, a professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and of family medicine, and Julianne Meisner, an assistant professor of epidemiology and of global health. They are director and deputy director, respectively, of UW's Center for One Health Research, which studies the connections between the health of people, animals and our shared environment.

Peter, you recently called the current H5N1 outbreak "unprecedented" for bird flu. What makes this outbreak different, and why is it drawing so much attention from health officials?

Peter Rabinowitz: Thirty years ago, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza were rare in birds. Beginning around 2003, a deadly strain of H5N1 avian influenza started spreading widely, but mostly impacted domestic poultry. Now this recent strain of H5N1 that has been circulating worldwide for the past two years is unprecedented in its ability to affect mammals.

The H5N1 virus started with birds before "jumping" to dairy cattle and now a handful of humans. How does a virus "jump" between species like that, and what makes certain species vulnerable while others seem to resist the virus?

PR: As they circulate, influenza viruses are continually changing some of their genetic material, acquiring new mutations in a process known as "genetic drift." Sometimes when two different strains of a virus are present in the same host human (or animal), they can "recombine" to create a quite different strain.

Health officials have said the chances of H5N1 becoming a major threat to humans are minimal, but that they're monitoring the situation for any changes. What are they looking for?

PR: Health officials are looking for evidence of mammal-to-mammal transmission in non-human mammals, and any evidence of person-to-person transmission, which could be a definite warning about H5N1's potential to become an epidemic.

The earliest cases of H5N1 in humans were mildtwo dairy workers with eye infectionsbut the most recent case appears to be causing respiratory symptoms. That's triggered alarm, of course, but what does that say about how the virus is evolving?

Julianne Meisner: The location of symptoms can sometimesthough not alwaystell us something about transmission. When symptoms are restricted to just the eye, it's likely that transmission would require contact with the tissues around or fluids from the eye, similar to how pink eye (conjunctivitis) is transmitted.

When health professionals see respiratory symptoms, we get concerned about transmission through droplets or aerosols. Because breathing is something every one of us needs to do, all of the time, respiratory transmission is incredibly efficient, and difficult to avoid. Also, some respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, can propel virus particles further, increasing the efficiency of transmission.

Much has been made of H5N1 as the next possible pandemic. Should that happen, are there lessons we've learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that could help us navigate this one?

PR: Yes, the lessons learned from COVID-19 in terms of rapid development of vaccines and the effectiveness of control measures such as masks would allow us to respond quickly. Unfortunately, everyone is quite tired of hearing about pandemics, so a challenge would be to capitalize on the helpful lessons learned and find a way to avoid misinformation and public backlash to a public health response.

JM: While COVID has been very divisive in many ways, it has also familiarized many people with public health: People now know how to navigate dashboards on the health department's website, and we have muscle memory regarding social distancing, mask wearing, handwashing, etc.

Basic epidemiology principles such as quarantine, isolation, transmission rate, etc. are familiar to the general public now. But there is also a lot of fatigue, as Peter mentions, which may make it harder to implement public health countermeasures if they become necessary.

You both study the connection between human and animal health. It's easy for people to understand that animal diseases can spread to humans, but how else should we consider that relationship?

PR: We should raise awareness about the terrible impact of the current avian influenza outbreak on wild and domestic animal populations: millions of poultry dying because of spreading infections, also hundreds of thousands of wild birds and mammals, including sea mammals such as sea lions and seals.

An event like this represents a threat to biodiversity and the health of ecosystems, which we have learned is extremely important for human health. The concept of "One Health" stresses these vital connections between the health of humans, other species, and our shared ecosystems.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Exposure to trauma is associated with many negative outcomes, especially for at-risk populations like incarcerated women and perinatal women. The Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) is a common measure of exposure to trauma, but no published studies have validated the instrument with these two understudied groups.

In a new study published in Women & Health, researchers at Idaho State University (ISU) explored the THQ to shed light on these groups.

"Given the long-term physical and mental health risks associated with exposure to trauma, especially in vulnerable populations, valid measures of different types of trauma exposures are critical," explains Shannon Lynch, professor of psychology at ISU, who coauthored the study. Lynch is an expert whose work is promoted by the NCJA Crime and Justice Research Alliance.

More than half of women in the United States will experience at least one traumatic event in their lives. Exposure to trauma is linked to rises in rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, social isolation, and chronic health problems, the effects of which are especially concerning for women experiencing incarceration or pregnancy. The high-risk life circumstances of these women may differentially affect the ways they experience and recover from traumatic events.

The THQ is frequently used to assess traumatic experiences in various populations. In this study, researchers sought to address the lack of studies on the instrument's validity with incarcerated women and perinatal women. They analyzed two samples of incarcerated women (the Trauma Exposure and Treatment Needs Study and the Seeking Safety Study) and one sample of prenatal women, that is, women immediately before and after the birth of their child (the IDAHO Mom Study); all three studies were conducted in the northwestern United States.

In particular, the study examined the validity of constructs with other measures and indices of trauma, convergent validity with related constructs (i.e., depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, social support), and the predictive validity of prenatal THQ scores with postnatal depression. The study also compared the incarcerated women with the perinatal women to identify unique interactions between gender and life circumstances in relation to trauma.

The THQ performed roughly as expected with the perinatal and incarcerated samples and demonstrated sufficient psychometric properties for use in future research with these populations.

It demonstrated a strong relation to a similar trauma measure (the Severity of Violence Against Women Scale) for both groups of women, as well as relations to relevant constructs of symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychological distress in these samples. Incarcerated women had significantly higher THQ scores than perinatal women, and prenatal women's THQ scores predicted later postpartum symptoms of depression.

Based on these findings, the authors suggest that while exposure to trauma may differ within subgroups of understudied female populations, robust connections exist between trauma and mental health outcomes across life circumstances.

In light of the elevated rates of exposure to trauma in the two groups of incarcerated women, as well as the strong associations between trauma and negative mental health outcomes, they recommend increased attention to mental health care in women's prisons. And in light of the relation between trauma and depression in the perinatal group and research on the negative effects of trauma and depression on maternal and fetal well-being, they recommend increased mental health care and support for women exposed to trauma in the perinatal period.

Among the study's limitations, the authors note that each study used different measures, which limits direct comparison among samples. In addition, data for the studies were collected at different points in time. Finally, all three studies were conducted in the same region, which limits the generalizability of the results to other demographically distinct regions.

"Our findings increase our understanding of the kinds of trauma experienced by incarcerated women and perinatal women, and they can help inform the utility of trauma assessments for these vulnerable groups," says Lillian Bengtson, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at ISU, who led the study.

"Accurately measuring trauma in these groups will allow researchers and practitioners to better understand risk factors and long-term outcomes, and provide a focus for prevention and treatment involving vulnerable populations of women."

More information: Lillian Bengtson et al, Trauma History Questionnaire: validation with novel samples of incarcerated women and perinatal women, Women & Health (2024). DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2024.2344503

Provided by Crime and Justice Research Alliance
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Tert and Terc specific antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) suppress CNV growth. A) Schematic representation of the ASO treatment in laser-induced CNV mouse model. B) Representative confocal images of FITC- isolectin B4 stained RPE/choroid/scleral flatmount showing CNV lesion C) Quantification of CNV volume. Credit: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)Molecular Basis of Disease (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167156

A new study in mice hints at the promise of an eventual alternative treatment option for the "wet" version of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Researchers determined in mice that an enzyme related to cell growth and division is a culprit in the blood vessel invasion in the back of the eye that causes blurred central vision in wet AMD. Targeting the enzyme, called telomerase, with an experimental drug suppressed abnormal vascular growth in the animals' retina.

The only current treatment for wet AMD is injection into the eye of a medication that blocks the activity of a growth factor protein, called VEGF, which is also known to prompt formation of abnormal blood vessel growth in this condition.

"Anti-VEGF treatment has shortcomingsafter two years, about half of people stop responding. And patients can develop scarring under the retina," said senior study author Nagaraj Kerur, associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences in The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

"There is a need for better understanding of the mechanisms behind this problem, which, to me, means newer targets need to be tested."

The study was published recently in the journal Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)Molecular Basis of Disease.

Dry age-related macular degeneration constitutes about 80% of all AMD cases, and occurs when the macula, a part of the retina, gets thinner, leading to buildup of proteins and cell death, which blur a person's central vision.

Wet AMD, also known as neovascular AMD, is caused by the growth of new blood vessels that invade the retina, a space normally free of vascular activity.

"You don't want to have blood vessels there," said Kerur, who also has a faculty appointment in microbial infection and immunity at Ohio State. "And the blood vessels that invade are often not healthythey leak their contents and cause inflammation."

Previous cancer research has linked high activity of telomerase to rapid production and migration of cells lining blood vessels that enables tumor growth, and has also shown the enzyme can stimulate production of VEGF. Based on those findings, Kerur and colleagues sought in this study to see if telomerase could have a similar damaging effect in the eye.

A series of experiments first confirmed telomerase has a role in abnormal blood vessel formation in a mouse model of wet AMD. Researchers found that, compared to control mice, expression and activity of one of two genes carrying instructions for making telomerase were higher in the eyes of mice in which rapid growth of new blood vessels was induced with a laser.

In addition, the abnormal blood vessel response to laser injury was significantly lower in mice lacking both telomerase genes, "providing genetically clear evidence that telomerase plays a critical role in development of the disease," Kerur said.

The team then tested the effects of an experimental compound that inhibits telomerase activity. They confirmed that the drug lowered telomerase activity in healthy mice, and found that injecting it into the eyes of mice with symptoms mimicking wet AMD significantly reduced the abnormal blood vessel invasion.

Telomerase's job is to rebuild telomeres, which function as protective caps at the end of chromosomes. Telomeres are known to shorten in many types of cells as a consequence of aging, but Kerur said the study suggested localized blocking of telomerase in the eye had no bearing on the enzyme's telomere-building function.

The experimental treatment's effectiveness at curbing abnormal blood vessel growth in mice was similar to the current anti-VEGF treatment, Kerur said. But the researchers made an intriguing finding when testing both drugs at lower doses: Individually, a lower dose did not have much of a therapeutic effect, but a combination of both drugs at lower doses gave the best results of all.

"Possibly, one goal would be using a combination therapy rather than one alone," Kerur said. "But telomerase inhibition by itself can also be pursued independently, and that is the plan."

More information: Aman Kumar et al, Therapeutic targeting of telomerase ameliorates experimental choroidal neovascularization, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)Molecular Basis of Disease (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167156
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Predictor selection, SHAP visualization and performance of machine-learning classification model based on behavior-related phenotypes. a, Sequential forward selection of behavior-related variables. b, SHAP visualization of selected predictors. c, AUC plots for the behavior-related phenotype-based SA classification model. Credit: Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01903-x

In the largest study of its kind, scientists at the University of Warwick have investigated a range of contributing risk factors for suicidehelping to identify individuals who might benefit from interventions.

The behavioral and biological predictors, include elevated white blood cells, neuroticism, childhood experiences and reduced gray matter in the brain. Previous research had focused on much smaller sample groups and on fewer risk factorspotentially overlooking some impactors.

It is hoped that the research will tackle the global challenge of suicidea leading cause of deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, more than 700,000 people die from suicide every year.

The study also helps to identify individuals most at risk, who could be targeted for preventive treatmentssuch as those suffering mental distress and feelings of worthlessnessby GPs. By using data from more than 500,000 participants from the UK Biobank, a population-based study cohort, its broader approach provides a wider understanding of risk factors, to contribute to more effective preventions.

The team used a variety of methods to investigate suicidal risk factors, including brain scans, blood samples and questionnaires. This led to more than 400 behaviors (including smoking), biological factors (such as amount of gray matter in the brain), and genetics being investigated. A type of artificial intelligence known as machine learning was used to comprehensively analyze the huge dataset.

The paper is published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

Factors that associated with suicide included suffering from mental distress, neuroticism, lower gray matter in the brain, size of the emotional regulation areas of the brain and increased white blood cells. The study highlighted how these vastly different influencers could contribute to suicidal behaviors.

Study author Professor Jianfeng Feng, Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, said, "Our study developed a machine learning model based on behavioral factors. The top 16 predictors showed high accuracy in distinguishing individuals, both with and without suicide attempts. This may be useful in identifying people at high risk of suicide in the future.

"The top behavioral predictors, in addition to the few related to mental illness and depression, are childhood experiences and survivors of sexual assault. These factors provide potential actionable targets for clinicians to develop better prevention strategies."

Co-Author Dr. Bei Zhang, Fudan University, added, "Suicide is a major public health concern that arises from a complex interplay of various factors. While existing research has often focused on a narrow set of behavioral hypotheses often within small clinical samples, our study fills the gap by systematically assessing a broad range of risk factors for suicide attempts in large, community-based samples.

"By identifying and understanding these factors, we hope to improve predictive models, better identify those at risk, and inform more effective prevention and intervention strategies, ultimately reducing the global burden of suicide."

Professor Barbara Sahakian from the University of Cambridge commented, "Suicide is a tragic loss of life, but it also leaves family and friends devastated. By identifying key risk factors for suicide, this study brings us closer to understanding how we might identify vulnerable individuals and intervene to save lives."

For future research, the team emphasized the need for a similar determination of the risk factors for suicide in adolescents, especially as suicide in adolescence is on the increase.

More information: Bei Zhang et al, Identifying behaviour-related and physiological risk factors for suicide attempts in the UK Biobank, Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01903-x Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour
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Credit: SHVETS production from Pexels

In a new study, Oregon Health & Science University researchers find that women veterans who had recently attempted suicide were more likely than men to feel social rejection and betrayed by military institutions. They also reported feeling less independent and compassionate toward themselves.

The findings, recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggest that women veterans may be at higher risk of repeat suicide attempts.

It's the first longitudinalmeaning following individuals over timenational study aimed at understanding how psychosocial symptoms change over time among veterans who recently attempted suicide; it's also the first to specifically focus on differences between genders in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

"Historically, a lot of the research done on veterans in suicide prevention have enrolled samples that are predominantly men, and that's partly an artifact of the fact that the veteran population is predominantly men," said lead author Lauren Denneson, Ph.D., M.S., professor of psychiatry in the OHSU School of Medicine and associate director of the Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care at the VA Portland Health Care System.

The research team enlisted female veterans who had a documented nonfatal suicide attempt within six months prior to the survey, along with a carefully selected group of male veterans for comparison. Surveys were administered to 968 veterans at the start of the study, after six months, and then again at 12 months.

The surveys evaluated psychological factors, the severity of suicidal thoughts, and actual suicidal behavior. Administrative data from health care records tracked outcomesincluding suicide attemptsover the one-year follow-up period.

They examined suicide risk factors like psychological distress, self-compassion, perceived social rejection, well-being and institutional betrayal. Over the one-year period, women veterans consistently reported experiencing more social rejection and institutional betrayal, and lower levels of autonomy and self-compassion compared with men.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that women in the general population attempt suicide more often than men. Although men have higher rates of suicide, the suicide rate among women increased twice as much as among men from 2021 to 2022. Denneson also noted that women are increasingly using firearms in suicide attempts, raising the risk of fatal outcomes.

"A lot of what we're seeing likely goes back to women's experiences in society," Denneson said. "For example, in studies of depression, women have higher rates of depression because of harmful relationship experiences and lower power in society.

"In addition," she continued, "across all our qualitative and quantitative data, women veterans did not receive as much social support as men. Men reported they had spouses, children, neighbors rallying around them in a way that women didn't. In fact, when women tried to seek social support from a spouse, family member or friend, frequently those people were not only not supportive, but retraumatized them."

Denneson said their findings speak to the need to bolster existing therapies to improve self-compassion and address healthy relationships, as well as developing new interventions that help women veterans in these areas.

"We shouldn't limit ourselves to only current therapies," she said. "We need creative solutions to address these concerns and support our women veterans."

In addition to Denneson, the following authors also contributed to this study: Derek J. Smolenski, Ph.D., M.P.H., Psychological Health Center of Excellence, Defense Health Agency; Katie L. McDonald, B.S. and Sarah Shull, Ph.D., Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care; Claire A. Hoffmire, Ph.D., Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC; Peter C. Britton, Ph.D., Department of Veteran Affairs, Canandaigua, NY, and Kathleen F. Carlson, Ph.D., M.S., and Steven K. Dobscha, M.D., both with OHSU.

More information: Lauren M. Denneson et al, Gender differences in risk and resilience for suicidal thoughts and behaviors: A national longitudinal survey study of United States veterans with a recent suicide attempt, Journal of Affective Disorders (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.133 Journal information: Journal of Affective Disorders
This new smartwatch from TechLife is the device of choice for any hobby and lifestyle EVERYONE HAS different hobbies and lifestyles. Whether...
A small N.C. burrito chain has made its first foray into the Triad, opening in mid-June at 4016 Battleground Ave. in Greensboro.

David Longo opened the first Burrito Shak in 2015 in Hampstead, near Topsail Island. He began franchising in 2019 and now has 11 stores open with five more set to open this year.

Kelly Hampton is the owner of the Greensboro franchise, which is in the Shoppes at Battleground North center at Battleground and Old Battleground avenues.

The fast-casual chain sells not only burritos, but also bowls, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and salads.

Sides include rice and beans as well as chips, salsa, guacamole and queso.

The burritos, tacos and quesadillas come with chips and salsa.

Salsas and sauces all are made in-house.

For all of the entrees, customers first choose a protein: spiced chicken, pulled pork, seasoned ground beef, carne asada, battered Atlantic cod or seasoned tofu.

Then they can choose from among several assortments of other fixings. There are a few that we put together with certain ingredients for a reason, Hampton said. But the customer can turn around and customize whatever they want.

There is seating inside for about 50. Customers order at the counter, and in most cases, wait while the order is assembled. In fact, like many fast-casual chains, orders are assembled right in front of the customer, so they can pick and choose various ingredients as they go.

Most of the proteins are cooked and kept hot on the steam table, so orders can be filled quickly. The exceptions are the battered cod and the tofu, which are cooked to order and take a couple more minutes.

Also, the quesadillas are grilled to order, which takes about 6 minutes. People generally wait and pick up at the counter, but in cases of a wait of more than a few minutes, employees will bring an order to the table.

Customers also serve themselves sodas from the soda machine, and can choose from among a handful of sauces.

Burritos are probably what we sell the most of, but we also sell a lot of bowls and nachos, Hampton said.

Burritos and bowls run $8.79 to $10.29. They typically include rice, beans, cheese, lettuce and pico de gallo. The Aloha adds cotija cheese, Baja slaw and pineapple salsa. That ones not so spicy; its a little sweet, Hampton said.

For spicy, theres the Fire Shot with ghost-pepper jack cheese and habanera salsa.

Tacos are available with corn (hard or soft) or flour tortillas and start at $7.79 for two. Choices include The Jolly Roger with cotija, roasted poblano crema, slaw, pico de gallo and lime sour cream, and The Reggae with cheese, chipotle chile sauce, lettuce, pico de gallo and cilantro.

Quesadillas run $8.99 to $10.49. The B-Shak salad costs $7.99 plus $1.99 for each protein.

Nachos come with queso, beans, pico de gallo and sour cream. Guacamole can be added for $1.50.

For $3.99 extra, any meal can become a combo with a drink and 2-ounce guaca

Also, all of the dishes carry an upcharge for cod ($1.29), carne asada ($1.29), and tofu ($0.75).

On Mondays, the restaurant runs a loaded-potato special. On Wednesdays, it offers waffle fries.

Hampton is a first-time restaurateur. He spent years in nonprofit management, notably with the Boy Scouts of America, before coming back home to North Carolina. For the past 10 years or so, he has been in the insurance business.

He had no plans to own a restaurant  and wouldnt if not for his daughter Anna Hampton.

His daughter went to school at UNC-Wilmington and settled in Wilmington once she started working as a mental-health counselor.

When we would go visit, she would always find a restaurant like that  fast-casual burritos. And Burrito Shak became her absolute favorite, Hampton said.

Later, she called Hampton to say she read that Burrito Shak was looking to expand.

One thing led to another. I started innocently, Hampton said with a laugh. I kept looking for reasons not to do it and I still havent found them.

Founder Longo is a Wilmington native who grew up in Topsail. He graduated from the Johnson & Wales Universitys culinary school and had cooked in restaurants in Charleston and Hawaii as well as around Wilmington. He has said that that he started Burrito Shak after he had children and wanted to go restaurants that served high-quality but quick meals.

Longo opened his first franchises, in Wilmington and Swansboro, in 2019. Six more opened in 2022. A Sneads Ferry location is set to open in July, and more are in the works.

Hampton said that what really sold him on the franchise was Longos involvement.

The secret sauce is the owner founder and his family are still completely engaged. Its that kind of hands-on to make everything work.
SIOUX CITY  The owner of a Sanborn, Iowa, cheese plant is suing the City of Sanborn and a water tower contractor because it had to discard nearly $4 million worth of cheese after shards of sandblasting aggregate contaminated the plant's water supply.

Associated Milk Producers Inc., a New Ulm, Minnesota, dairy cooperative said Maguire Iron Inc.'s negligence while cleaning the city's water tower resulted in jagged shards of the aggregate entering the city's water system and the plant's water supply.

Once the aggregate was detected in the water supply, the lawsuit said, the city failed to adequately test and investigate the water after taking mitigation steps to remove the contaminants and resuming water flow from the tower.

AMPI said the aggregate was found in more than 1 million pounds of cheese, and the company had to discard it. The company also said it lost several days of production and sales while the plant, which produces approximately 280,000 pounds of cheese a day, was shut down to clean and repair its production line and had to either dump large quantities of milk it couldn't process or resell it at a loss.

The city's attorney, Daniel DeKoter, of Sibley, Iowa, said he was not aware of other businesses or residents that had contaminants in their water. He declined to comment further on the allegations against the city.

According to the lawsuit, filed June 26 in federal court in Sioux City, Maguire Iron, of Sioux Falls, performed maintenance and repair on the city's water tower in the summer of 2022 and sandblasted the tower's interior to clean it, using a coal slag abrasive known as "Black Magic." AMPI said in the suit that during sandblasting, Maguire filed to adequately seal the tower's inlet/outlet pipe, resulting in the aggregate and other debris entering the city's water system.

When replacing a valve on the tower's standpipe, city workers noticed aggregate flowing from the valve. After replacing the valve, they attempted to flush aggregate from the system from a fire hydrant next to the tower. The lawsuit said the city drained and refilled the tower approximately six times to clear the aggregate from the tower. After the flushing, the lawsuit said, the city tested water for bacteria but didn't adequately ensure no aggregate remained in the tower.

The cheese plant is the first user on the water line that runs from the tower, and on Aug. 9, 2022, AMPI discovered large amounts of the black sandblasting aggregate in its water, equipment and processed cheese. So much aggregate was flowing in, AMPI said, that the plant's filtration system was unable to prevent it all from entering the production line, and piles of aggregate formed on the plant's floor where the aggregate had blasted off the filters.

AMPI reported the contamination to the city, which spent the next several days attempting to flush the aggregate from AMPI's water supply from nearby fire hydrants.

AMPI said in the lawsuit that after the city discovered sandblasting aggregate in the water system, it should not have resumed supplying residents and businesses with water from the tower until sufficiently testing or hiring a third party to ensure the city's water supply was free of the contaminants.

AMPI has requested a jury trial and said the precise amount of damages would be determined at trial.

Photos: March against new Iowa immigration law 070124jr-protest-rally-1 070124jr-protest-rally-2 070123jr-protest-rally-3 070123jr-protest-rally-4 070123jr-protest-rally-6
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is actively investigating and apprehending treasonous criminals who exploited the anti-finance bill protests on Tuesday, June 25.

In a statement issued on July 1, the DCI revealed that groups with criminal intentions had taken advantage of nationwide peaceful protests organized by Kenyan youth (Gen Z) to loot businesses in Nairobi and other parts of the country.

Posing as demonstrators, the bad elements who were also well-organized earmarked several business premises including boutiques, electronic shops and supermarkets, breaking in and massively looting to the detriment of innocent business owners, the DCI stated.

The DCI emphasized that these actions deprived many Kenyans of their livelihoods and threatened an essential constitutional right.

In that regard, the DCIs Imaging and Acoustic Unit domiciled at the National Forensic Laboratory has since retrieved numerous CCTV footages that captured identifiable persons, whose felonious acts isolate them from the hundreds of thousands that stuck to their course, the Directorate added.

This incident happened along Ronald Ngara street in Nairobi CBD on 25th June, 2024, and team of Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau detectives from DCI Headquarters are pursuing the suspects. pic.twitter.com/ocgSxpyxz6  DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) July 1, 2024



The DCI also disclosed that some of the accused individuals have already been arrested and brought before various courts across the country.

However, the DCI underscored that others remain at large and could continue to pose harm, endangering more Kenyans.

Whereas some have already been arrested and arraigned in various courts today, more are still out there on the streets waiting for other opportune times to strike again, causing more damage and risking the lives of innocent citizens caught up in the course of quelling the crimes, the DCI stated.

The DCI stressed the importance of public assistance in locating these criminals who do not adhere to shared principles and values.

The Agency reiterated that these individuals are unfit to coexist with law-abiding citizens.

We can flush them out from among our numbers because they do not share the principles that define what we stand for, and more so for the sake of those who did not deserve to lose their only means of livelihood in this manner, the DCI statement emphasized.

The DCI urged the public to report any identified suspects to the nearest police station or through their toll-free hotline.

Do you know any of them? Please report to any police station or #FichuakwaDCI by calling our toll-free hotline 0800 722 203, the DCI urged.

The DCI mentioned that it is their responsibility as a criminal investigative agency to thoroughly investigate and prosecute any individuals involved in such blatant criminal activities.
Radio presenter Jaymo Ule Msee (born Wilson Muirania Gathoni) has announced his departure from Trace Eastern Africa Media Group.

Taking to social media on June 30, Jaymo expressed his gratitude, praising his boss and colleagues for their support.

Today is the last day ya BarTalk Show pale @traceeasternafrica. A huge shout to all BarTalk Fans, my cohost @cliff_the_cliff and all team members that we have shared the platform, he wrote.

He added, You have all made the BarTalk show to what it is today. Salute to our boss @dannymucira for trusting us with platform and all @traceeasternafrica colleagues for everything we did together.

Jaymo has been a radio host at Trace Eastern Africa, airing shows from 7 pm to 10 pm every Monday to Friday. He also co-hosted a podcast, bartalkpodcastke, with fellow radio host Cliff the Cliff.

He disclosed that the boss at Trace Eastern Africa informed their radio department about the stations closure due to challenging economic conditions in the country.

The boss called all of us working in the radio department and told us that they were going to close the radio business because people dont have money to advertise, people dont have money to go to the media, and the best decision he had was to close the business, Jaymo said in a recent podcast.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) dismissed President William Rutos claims on Sunday night accusing the state-funded rights watchdog of providing misleading information to the public about a reported massacre in Githurai 45.

At a media roundtable at State House Nairobi on Sunday, Ruto faced questions about the total number of casualties resulting from the countrywide anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests, which he asserted were 19, contrasting with higher figures reported by rights groups.

Ruto alleged that the commission had falsely stated that 20 people were killed in the Githurai alone.

The same Kenya National Commission on Human Rights told the nation that there was a massacre in Githurai and 20 people were killed in Githurai. Were 20 people killed in Githurai really? The same KNCHR told the country blatant fake news, falsehood that there was a massacre, Ruto asserted.

However, KNCHR chairperson Roseline Odede refuted Rutos claims, asserting that the commission did not issue such a statement.

We the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights have not issued any statement on Githurai. We are still in the process of confirming the happenings in Githurai, Rongai, Migori, Nakuru, and other parts of the country, Odede said.

From data in our possession, we had reports of 22 deaths arising from the protests as of Wednesday when we made our last statement, and that is what we reported.

The Commission further disclosed that it has confirmed a total of 39 deaths since the protests commenced on June 18.

The fatalities include:

Nairobi: 17

Nakuru: 3

Laikipia: 1

Narok: 1

Kajiado: 3

Uasin Gishu: 4

Kakamega: 1

Kisumu: 2

Kisii: 1

Mombasa: 3

Siaya: 1

Kiambu: 1

Nandi: 1

Additionally, the commission reported 32 cases of involuntary disappearances and 627 instances of protester arrests.
Frank Okoth, a protester who sustained six gunshot wounds last Tuesday during the anti-Finance Bill protests in Nairobi, is still recuperating after a series of life-saving surgeries.

Viral videos showed him gasping for air and being taken into an ambulance, sparking speculations about his death. His name was included in the list of Gen Z protesters allegedly killed during the demonstrations.

Bullets hit Okoth in the chest and abdomen, and he was discharged from Kenyatta National Hospital on June 29. Upon regaining consciousness, Okoth learned from a friend about the false reports of his death.

My friend came and told me that Kenyans had already killed me. I told him I am okay and not dead, he said.

Frank Okoth noted that he is still in pain, but he is grateful to be alive. He is an orphan and lives with his grandmother and uncle in the Land Mawe slums in Nairobi.

Okoth said he joined Tuesdays protest out of frustration over long-term unemployment.

On that particular Tuesday, after unsuccessfully searching for work in the nearby Industrial Area, Okoth returned home hungry and helpless.

Frustrated, he decided to join his friends who were heading to town to protest the anti-finance bill.

I had not gone to protest but to look for a job, but I missed it, he said.

Protesters Occupy Parliament

When he arrived at the Parliament buildings, chaos erupted and he found himself in the middle of a battle between police and protesters.

We were many but I was at the forefront. We started telling the police that we had come in peace. Police threw tear gas at us, so my focus was on the officers ahead of us, but those who shot me were on the side, Okoth narrated.

Police began firing bullets, both live and rubber. Within seconds, I was bleeding and in pain, he added.

Okoth woke up days later at Kenyatta National Hospital, having undergone multiple surgeries. He was discharged from the hospital four days after admission.

Now bedridden and in pain, Okoth says he struggles to afford his subsequent hospital visits and check-ups.

Since I was discharged from the hospital, no one bothers to take care of me. Life here is just sleeping; I cant even turn, he stated.

According to his grandmother, the hospital bill was Kes. 45,000, which they could not afford. They have been seeking help from friends and well-wishers.

Despite everything, Okoth expressed no regret, insisting that the protesters were advocating for their welfare and should not stop until their voices were heard.

Meanwhile, his friend complained that the millions of funds raised online to help those affected havent reached many of the protest victims, including Frank.

I heard that there is money being contributed to cater for the protest victims. I tried texting Hanifa, sent her the details and pictures, but she did not respond, the friend told the media.
Religious leaders in Siaya are urging the government to engage an international mediator to resolve the current impasse that has led young Kenyans to protest the passage of the finance bill.

The Siaya Church Leaders Forum (SCLF) emphasized that the situation may escalate if not addressed urgently and asserted that the government can only succeed by involving an independent international mediator to engage the youths.

Archbishop James Opiyo Anyango, chairman of the church leaders forum, praised the governments efforts to engage the youths and consider their demands.

Bishop Wilfred Amollo, the forums organizing secretary, noted that Kenyan youths seem to have lost hope and trust in the current government and may not feel comfortable engaging with President William Ruto directly.

The church leaders commended Kenyan youths for exercising their rights firmly but urged them to maintain peace and avoid property destruction during their anti-government protests.

Bishop Elias Sewe and Bishop Martin Arara, who also spoke at the media briefing, called on the government to reduce public resource wastage to help quell the Gen Z protests.
Xi to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit

President Xi Jinping will discuss development blueprints with other SCO leaders in the summit in Kazakhstan. File photo: Xinhua
NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 2: TVS Motor Company recorded monthly sales of 333,646 units in June 2024 with a growth of 5 per cent as against 316,411 units in the month of June 2023. Two-Wheeler Total two-wheelers registered a growth of 6 per cent with sales increasing from 304,401 units in June 2023 to 322,168 units in June 2024. Domestic two-wheeler registered growth of 8 per cent with sales increasing from 235,833 units in June 2023 to 255,734 units in June 2024. Motorcycle registered a growth of 3 per cent with sales increasing from 148,208 units in June 2023 to 152,701 units in June 2024. Scooter registered a growth of 6 per cent with sales increasing from 121,364 units in June 2023 to 128,986 units in June 2024. Electric Vehicle EV sales registered a growth of 10 per cent with sales increasing from 14,462 units in June 2023 to 15,859 units in June 2024. International Business The Company's total exports registered sales of 76,074 units in June 2024 as against 79,144 units in June 2023. Two-wheeler exports registered sales of 66,434 units in June 2024 as against 68,568 units in July 2023. Customer retails are robust. However, There have been challenges in container availability due to prevailing conditions in the Red Sea. Three-Wheeler Three-wheeler registered sales of 11,478 units in June 2024 as against 12,010 units in June 2023. First Quarter Sales Performance FY 2023-24: During the first quarter of the financial year 2024-25, two-wheeler of the company registered a growth of 15 per cent with sales increasing from 9.18 Lakh units in the first quarter of financial year 2023-24 to 10.56 Lakh units in the first quarter of 2024-25. Three-wheeler of the company registered sales of 0.31 Lakh units in the first quarter of financial year 2024-25 as against 0.35 Lakh units in 2023-24. Total exports registered a growth of 12 per cent with sales increasing from 2.27 Lakh units in the first quarter of FY 2023-24 to 2.54 Lakh units in the current quarter. TVS Motor Company (BSE:532343 and NSE: TVSMOTOR) is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer globally, championing progress through sustainable mobility with four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in India and Indonesia. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of trust, value, and passion for customers, it takes pride in making internationally accepted products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. TVS Motor is the only two-wheeler company to have won the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL surveys. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in the J.D. Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for four consecutive years. Our group company Norton Motorcycles, based in the United Kingdom, is one of the most emotive motorcycle brands in the world. Our subsidiaries in the personal e-mobility space, Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) and EGO Movement have a leading position in the e-bike market in Switzerland. TVS Motor Company endeavours to deliver the most superior customer experience across 80 countries in which we operate. For more information, please visit www.tvsmotor.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)